bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative determination of opioids in whole blood using fully automated dried blood spot desorption coupled to on‐line SPE‐LC‐MS/MS
Authors: Verplaetse Ruth , Henion Jack
Published: November 2015

Opioids are well known, widely used painkillers. Increased stability of opioids in the dried blood spot (DBS) matrix compared to blood/plasma has been described. Other benefits provided by DBS techniques include point‐of‐care collection, less invasive micro sampling, more economical shipment, and convenient storage. Current methodology for analysis of micro whole blood samples for opioids is limited to the classical DBS workflow, including tedious manual punching of the DBS cards followed by extraction and liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) bioanalysis. The goal of this study was to develop and validate a fully automated on‐line sample preparation procedure for the analysis of DBS micro samples relevant to the detection of opioids in finger prick blood. To this end, automated flow‐through elution of DBS cards was followed by on‐line solid‐phase extraction (SPE) and analysis by LC‐MS/MS. Selective, sensitive, accurate, and reproducible quantitation of five representative opioids in human blood at sub‐therapeutic, therapeutic, and toxic levels was achieved. The range of reliable response (R2 ≥0.997) was 1 to 500 ng/mL whole blood for morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone; and 0.1 to 50 ng/mL for fentanyl. Inter‐day, intra‐day, and matrix inter‐lot accuracy and precision was less than 15% (even at lower limits of quantitation (LLOQ) level). The method was successfully used to measure hydrocodone and its major metabolite norhydrocodone in incurred human samples. Our data support the enormous potential of DBS sampling and automated analysis for monitoring opioids as well as other pharmaceuticals in both anti‐doping and pain management regimens. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Eating disorder examination: Factor structure and norms in a clinical female pediatric eating disorder sample
Authors: O'Brien Amy , Watson Hunna J. , Hoiles Kimberley J. , Egan Sarah J. , Anderson Rebecca A. , Hamilton Matthew J. , Shu Chloe , McCormack Julie
Published: November 2015

Objective

The factor structure of the eating disorder examination (EDE) has never been tested in a clinical pediatric sample, and no normative data exist.

Method

The factor structure of an adapted EDE was examined in a clinical sample of 665 females aged 9–17 years with anorexia nervosa spectrum (70%), bulimia nervosa spectrum (12%), purging disorder (3%), and unspecified feeding and eating disorders (15%).

Results

The original four‐factor model was a good fit in a confirmatory factor analysis as well a higher order model with three dimensions of restraint, eating concern, and combined weight concern/shape concern. Normative data are reported for clinicians to identify the percentiles in which their patients' score.

Discussion

The findings support dimensions of restraint, eating concern, weight concern, and shape concern in a clinical pediatric sample. This supports the factorial validity of the EDE, and the norms may assist clinicians to evaluate symptoms in females under 18 years. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:107–110)
A preliminary evaluation of the validity of binge‐eating disorder defining features in a community‐based sample
Authors: Klein Kelly M. , Forney K. Jean , Keel Pamela K.
Published: November 2015

Objective

Little empirical attention has been paid to the DSM‐5 definition of binge‐eating disorder (BED), particularly to the associated features of binge episodes. The present study sought to determine how the associated features and undue influence of weight/shape on self‐evaluation contribute to evidence of a clinically significant eating disorder.

Method

Secondary analyses were conducted on data (N = 80; 76.3% women, 76.3% Caucasian, ages 18–43) collected through an epidemiological study of eating patterns. Descriptive statistics were used to report the sample prevalence of the features, independently and in combination. Correlations and alpha reliability were employed to examine relationships among associated features, distress regarding bingeing, and clinical diagnosis. Regression models and receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the utility of the features for explaining variance in distress.

Results

Internal consistency reliability for indicators was low, and several features demonstrated low or nonsignificant associations with distress and diagnosis. Feeling disgusted/depressed/guilty was the only unique predictor of distress (p = 0.001). For the ROC curves, three features was the best threshold for predicting distress.

Discussion

Results support the need to refine the features to ensure better detection of clinically significant eating pathology for research inclusion and treatment of the illness. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:524–528).
Rapid and repeatable shifts in life‐history timing of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) following colonization of novel host plants in the Pacific Northwestern United States
Authors: Mattsson Monte , Hood Glen R. , Feder Jeffrey L. , Ruedas Luis A.
Published: November 2015

Host shifts of phytophagous insect specialists to novel plants can result in divergent ecological adaptation, generating reproductive isolation and potentially new species. Rhagoletis pomonella fruit flies in eastern North America underwent a host shift ~160 ya from native downy hawthorn (Crataegus mollis) to introduced, domesticated apple (Malus domestica). Divergent selection on diapause phenology related to the earlier fruiting time of apples versus downy hawthorns resulted in partial allochronic reproductive isolation between the fly races. Here, we test for how rapid and repeatable shifts in life‐history timing are driving ecological divergence of R. pomonella in the Pacific Northwestern USA. The fly was introduced into the region via larval‐infested apples 40–65 ya and now attacks native black hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) and introduced ornamental hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), in addition to early‐ and late‐maturing apple varieties in the region. To investigate the life‐history timing hypothesis, we used a field‐based experiment to characterize the host‐associated eclosion and flight activity patterns of adults, and the feeding times of larvae at a field site in Vancouver, Washington. We also assessed the degree to which differences in host‐fruiting time generate allochronic isolation among apple‐, black hawthorn‐, and ornamental hawthorn‐associated fly populations. We conclude that host‐associated fly populations are temporally offset 24.4% to 92.6% in their seasonal distributions. Our results imply that R. pomonella possesses the capacity for rapid and repeatable shifts in diapause life history to match host‐fruiting phenology, which can generate ecologically based reproductive isolation, and potentially biodiversity in the process.
A dimensionless statistical analysis of logjam form and process
Authors: Dixon Simon James
Published: November 2015

Large wood in rivers and logjams are linked to the presence of varied riverine morphologies and increased abundance and diversity of aquatic biota. Current research into the ecohydrological, morphological and geochemical effects of logjams is restricted by difficulties in comparing findings between river systems. The problem is exacerbated by a lack of standardized metrics for recording and reporting logjams and a scale dependence of logjam effects with river size. In this paper, a new method for analysing logjams is presented based on a set of seven dimensionless metrics of structure and morphological effects. These metrics are used along with a cluster analysis to identify key logjam types within a study river. The analysis framework is applied to data from a small forest river in the UK and identifies that 73% of logjams in this system can be grouped into eight distinct classes. Of these classes, two are logjams that only partly fill the channel, and six are channel spanning. The individual classes are differentiated from each other principally by the degree of lateral and vertical erosions found in association with the logjams. The dimensionless metrics are also applied qualitatively to a range of logjams described in the literature and show the potential for the method to be applied as a standard survey and analysis framework for logjams across diverse river environments. The potential to link logjam form with function, and therefore provision of specific habitats, has wide applicability to the design and monitoring of river restoration schemes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recurrent translocation t(10;17)(p15;q21) in minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia results in ZMYND11/MBTD1 fusion
Authors: de Rooij Jasmijn D.E. , van den Heuvel‐Eibrink Marry M. , Kollen Wouter J.W. , Sonneveld Edwin , Kaspers Gertjan J.L. , Beverloo H. Berna , Fornerod Maarten , Pieters Rob , Zwaan C. Michel
Published: November 2015

Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease, characterized by different collaborating karyotypic and molecular abnormalities, which are used in risk group stratification. In ∼20% of the pediatric AML cases a specific genetic aberration is still unknown. Minimally differentiated myeloid leukemia or FAB‐type M0 is a rare morphological subtype of AML. The translocation t(10;17)(p15;q21) is described to be recurrent in minimally differentiated AML, but the involved genes and location of the breakpoints have so far not been identified. In this study, we show that this translocation results in an in‐frame translocation fusing exon 12 of the tumor suppressor gene ZMYND11 to exon 3 of the chromatin protein MBTD1, encoding a protein of 1,054 amino acids, while the reciprocal fusion product is predicted to lack a productive start codon. Gene expression profiling of the leukemic cells showed high HOXA expression. ZMYND11, also known as BS69, is a tumor suppressor that specifically recognizes H3K36me3, which is linked to aberrant HOXA expression in leukemogenesis. Aberrant expression of the genes involved in this fusion may thus contribute to the HOXA‐phenotype observed with gene expression profiling. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Whole exome sequencing of relapsed/refractory patients expands the repertoire of somatic mutations in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Mareschal Sylvain , Dubois Sydney , Viailly Pierre‐Julien , Bertrand Philippe , Bohers Elodie , Maingonnat Catherine , Jaïs Jean‐Philippe , Tesson Bruno , Ruminy Philippe , Peyrouze Pauline , Copie‐Bergman Christiane , Fest Thierry , Jo Molina Thierry , Haioun Corinne , Salles Gilles , Tilly Hervé , Lecroq Thierry , Leroy Karen , Jardin Fabrice
Published: November 2015

Despite the many efforts already spent to enumerate somatic mutations in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), previous whole‐genome and whole‐exome studies conducted on patients of mixed outcomes failed at characterizing the 30% of patients who will relapse or resist current immunochemotherapies. To address this issue, we performed whole‐exome sequencing of normal/tumoral DNA pairs in 14 relapsed/refractory (R/R) patients subclassified by full‐transcriptome arrays (six activated B‐cell like, three germinal center B‐cell like, and five primary mediastinal B‐cell lymphomas), from the LNH‐03 LYSA clinical trial program. Aside from well‐known DLBCL features, gene and pathway level recurrence analyses proposed several interesting leads including TBL1XR1 and activating mutations in IRF4 or in the insulin regulation pathway. Sequencing‐based copy number analysis defined 23 short recurrently altered regions involving genes such as REL, CDKN2A, HYAL2, and TP53. Moreover, it highlighted mutations in genes such as GNA13, CARD11, MFHAS1, and PCLO as associated with secondary variant allele amplification events. The five primary mediastinal B‐cell lymphomas (PMBL), while unexpected in a R/R cohort, showed a significantly higher mutation rate (P = 0.003) and provided many insights on this classical Hodgkin lymphoma related subtype. Novel genes such as XPO1, MFHAS1, and ITPKB were found particularly mutated, along with various cytokine‐based signaling pathways. Among these analyses, somatic events in the NF‐κB pathway were found preponderant in the three DLBCL subtypes, confirming its major implication in DLBCL aggressiveness and pinpointing several new candidate genes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Personality and complex brain networks: The role of openness to experience in default network efficiency
Authors: Beaty Roger E. , Kaufman Scott Barry , Benedek Mathias , Jung Rex E. , Kenett Yoed N. , Jauk Emanuel , Neubauer Aljoscha C. , Silvia Paul J.
Published: November 2015

The brain's default network (DN) has been a topic of considerable empirical interest. In fMRI research, DN activity is associated with spontaneous and self‐generated cognition, such as mind‐wandering, episodic memory retrieval, future thinking, mental simulation, theory of mind reasoning, and creative cognition. Despite large literatures on developmental and disease‐related influences on the DN, surprisingly little is known about the factors that impact normal variation in DN functioning. Using structural equation modeling and graph theoretical analysis of resting‐state fMRI data, we provide evidence that Openness to Experience—a normally distributed personality trait reflecting a tendency to engage in imaginative, creative, and abstract cognitive processes—underlies efficiency of information processing within the DN. Across two studies, Openness predicted the global efficiency of a functional network comprised of DN nodes and corresponding edges. In Study 2, Openness remained a robust predictor—even after controlling for intelligence, age, gender, and other personality variables—explaining 18% of the variance in DN functioning. These findings point to a biological basis of Openness to Experience, and suggest that normally distributed personality traits affect the intrinsic architecture of large‐scale brain systems. Hum Brain Mapp 37:773–779, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Can High‐frequency Trading Strategies Constantly Beat the Market?
Authors: Manahov Viktor
Published: November 2015

Policymakers are still debating whether or not high‐frequency trading (HFT) is beneficial or harmful to financial markets. We develop four artificial stock markets populated with HFT scalpers and aggressive high‐frequency traders using Strongly Typed Genetic Programming trading algorithm. We simulate real‐life HFT by applying Strongly Typed Genetic Programming to real‐time millisecond data of Apple, Bank of America, Russell 1000 and Russell 2000 and observe that HFT scalpers front‐run the order flow generating persistent profits. We also use combinations of forecasting techniques as benchmarks to demonstrate that HFT scalping strategies anticipate the trading order flow and constantly beat the market. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Citrate anticoagulation: Are blood donors donating bone?
Authors: Bialkowski Walter , Bruhn Roberta , Edgren Gustaf , Papanek Paula
Published: November 2015

An estimated 2.4 million volunteer apheresis blood donation procedures were performed in the United States in 2010, and increases in the proportion of transfused blood products derived from apheresis blood collections have been consistently reported. Anticoagulation is required during apheresis and is achieved with citrate. Donor exposure to citrate causes an acute physiological response to maintain serum mineral homeostasis. Some data are available on the sequelae of this acute response in the days and weeks following exposure, raising questions about bone mineral density in regular apheresis donors. New research is emerging that addresses the potential long‐term health outcomes of repeated citrate exposure. This article reviews the acute physiological response to citrate anticoagulation in volunteer blood donors, presents contrasting perspectives on the potential effects of citrate exposure on bone density, and identifies key knowledge gaps in our understanding of long‐term health outcomes in apheresis donors. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:459–463, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ultrasound‐guided peripheral deep vein cannulation to perform automated red cell exchange—A pilot study in a single centre
Authors: Putensen Daniel , Pilcher Linda , Collier Dawn , McInerney Karen
Published: November 2015

Background

Securing adequate vascular access is essential for a successful apheresis procedure. In most, peripheral access is preferred but it is not always technically possible. Ultrasound‐Guided Peripheral Vascular Access (USG‐PIVA) is a well‐documented technique in the setting of Emergency departments. However, limited data exists reporting its use in the context of automated red cell exchanges (a‐RCEx).

Purpose

To assess the effectiveness and feasibility of USG‐PIVA to undertake successful a‐RCEx.

Methods

Data was collected prospectively from patients with sickle cell disease and difficult venous access, undergoing a‐RCEx at a single centre. The USG‐PIVA technique was attempted and data relating to each attempt was collected and analysed.

Results

Between April 2014 and July 2015 84 USG‐PIVA procedures were performed on 38 patients. 71 USG‐PIVA (85%) were successful, 13 (15%) were unsuccessful. Veins successfully cannulated: in the upper arm, basilic (22), brachial (33) and cephalic (2) veins; in the antecubital fossa, basilic (3) and median cubital (7) and in the lower arm, cephalic (2) and radial (2). Cannulas used: Introcan Safety® Braun 22 g (1), 20 g (9) and 18 g (61). Inlet flow rates achieved: 30–60 ml/min (mean 45 ml/min). Depth of veins cannulated: 2–12 mm (mean 5 mm). two complications were observed—one cannula displacement and one nerve injury. No arterial punctures occurred. Central Venous Catheters avoided (49).

Conclusion

The US‐PIVA method offers an effective alternative to Central Venous Access in patients requiring a‐RCEx procedures who lack visual or palpable peripheral access, with minimal complications seen in this series. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:501–506, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
UV‐photoexcitation and ultrafast dynamics of HCFC‐132b (CF2ClCH2Cl)
Authors: Rodrigues Gessenildo Pereira , Ventura Elizete , Andrade do Monte Silmar , Barbatti Mario
Published: November 2015

The UV‐induced photochemistry of HCFC‐132b (CF2ClCH2Cl) was investigated by computing excited‐state properties with time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), multiconfigurational second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2), and coupled cluster with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples (CCSD(T)). Excited states calculated with TDDFT show good agreement with CASPT2 and CCSD(T) results, correctly predicting the main excited‐states properties. Simulations of ultrafast nonadiabatic dynamics in the gas phase were performed, taking into account 25 electronic states at TDDFT level starting in two different spectral windows (8.5 ± 0.25 and 10.0 ± 0.25 eV). Experimental data measured at 123.6 nm (10 eV) is in very good agreement with our simulations. The excited‐state lifetimes are 106 and 191 fs for the 8.5 and 10.0 eV spectral windows, respectively. Internal conversion to the ground state occurred through several different reaction pathways with different products, where 2Cl, C‐Cl bond breakage, and HCl are the main photochemical pathways in the low‐excitation region, representing 95% of all processes. On the other hand, HCl, HF, and C‐Cl bond breakage are the main reaction pathways in the higher excitation region, with 77% of the total yield. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Applications of biofiltration in drinking water treatment – a review
Authors: Basu Onita D , Dhawan Sahil , Black Kerry
Published: November 2015

Biofiltration is a process in which an otherwise conventional granular filter is designed to remove not only fine particulates but also dissolved organic compounds through microbial degradation. Biofiltration can reduce the need for chemicals in drinking water treatment and thus improved applications of biofiltration in drinking water treatment can be viewed as green or sustainable engineering technology. Recent trends in biofiltration technology for drinking water treatment have or have attempted to extend the performance of biofilters through gaining a better understanding of operational constraints. This review articles summarizes important operational parameters influencing biofiltration performance such as hydraulic loading, empty bed contact time (EBCT), temperature, media type, and backwashing conditions. In addition, recent advancements in biofiltration operations including, ozonation, ammonia removal and the influence of nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorous) supplementation to facilitate carbon removal are explored. � 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Trapping behavior of GaN HEMTs and its implications on class B PA bias point selection
Authors: Cabral Pedro M. , Nunes Luis C. , Ressurreição Tiago , Pedro José C.
Published: November 2015

Gallium nitride high electron mobility transistors (GaN HEMTs) have been accused of suffering from soft‐compression, a recognized form of nonlinearity. Recently published works showed that this phenomenon – explained with the devices' charge‐trapping effects – is only observed under CW operation, which has little in common with generally used communication signals. In real operation, those effects (modeled as a self‐biasing phenomenon visible as a threshold voltage variation) are also observable, but in an apparently different way. Several nonlinear models already take into account this variation and, more recently, the authors presented an extraction methodology for such complicated systems. Based on that information, this paper presents the trapping behavior of GaN HEMTs and a physically based way of adjusting the quiescent point of a desired class B GaN HEMT‐based PA, designed to operate under dynamically varying signals. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Temperature, extreme precipitation, and diurnal rainfall changes in the urbanized Jakarta city during the past 130 years
Authors: Siswanto Siswanto , van Oldenborgh Geert Jan , van der Schrier Gerard , Jilderda Rudmer , van den Hurk Bart
Published: November 2015

Using a newly available 134‐years long record of daily and 114‐years hourly observations at Jakarta observatory, trends and variability in temperature, extreme precipitation, and changes in the diurnal cycle over Jakarta have been analysed. Although the number of days with rainfall has decreased over the 1866–2010 period, the fraction of events with rainfall exceeding 50 mm day−1 exhibits a positive trend over the 1866–2010 period with an even stronger trend over the period 1961–2010. The number of days with rainfall exceeding 50 and 100 mm day−1 has shown a statistically significant increase over the 1961–2010 period as well. Over the recent decades, the heaviest 1% of all precipitation events (q99%) also exhibits an increasing trend. These trends in extremes are strongest during the wet season. The rainfall intensity with 200 mm return level has a shorter return period in the most recent decade than earlier in the historic time series. Over the last century, the annual mean temperature in Jakarta has increased about 1.6 °C per century, which exceeds the rise of the global mean land temperature. The increase in the daily maximum temperature is stronger than the increase in mean and minimum temperature, although the trend in minimum temperature is stronger during the last 50 years. The mean diurnal cycles of Jakarta temperature and precipitation have changed markedly as well. This analysis was enabled by the availability of high quality hourly observations in the historic record. Comparing the 2001–2010 period to historic decades, a considerable increase in night‐time temperature was found. During the wet season, the early morning rainfall has increased in intensity, while in other seasons a delay of the late afternoon rainfall peak was observed for the recent observation periods.
Lumbar spine endplate fractures: Biomechanical evaluation and clinical considerations through experimental induction of injury
Authors: Curry William H. , Pintar Frank A. , Doan Ninh B. , Nguyen Ha Son , Eckardt Gerald , Baisden Jamie L. , Maiman Dennis J. , Paskoff Glenn R. , Shender Barry S. , Stemper Brian D.
Published: November 2015

Lumbar endplate fractures were investigated in different experimental scenarios, however the biomechanical effect of segmental alignment was not outlined. The objectives of this study were to quantify effects of spinal orientation on lumbar spine injuries during single‐cycle compressive loads and understand lumbar spine endplate injury tolerance. Twenty lumbar motion segments were compressed to failure. Two methods were used in the preparation of the lumbar motion segments. Group 1 (n = 7) preparation maintained pre‐test sagittal lordosis, whereas Group 2 (n = 13) specimens had a free‐rotational end condition for the cranial vertebra, allowing sagittal rotation of the cranial vertebra to create parallel endplates. Five Group 1 specimens experienced posterior vertebral body fracture prior to endplate fracture, whereas two sustained endplate fracture only. Group 2 specimens sustained isolated endplate fractures. Group 2 fractures occurred at approximately 41% of the axial force required for Group 1 fracture (p < 0.05). Imaging and specimen dissection indicate endplate injury consistently took place within the confines of the endplate boundaries, away from the vertebral periphery. These findings indicate that spinal alignment during compressive loading influences the resulting injury pattern. This investigation identified the specific mechanical conditions under which an endplate breach will take place. Development of endplate injuries has significant clinical implication as previous research identified internal disc disruption (IDD) and degenerative disc disease (DDD) as long‐term consequences of the axial load‐shift that occurs following a breach of the endplate. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1084–1091, 2016.
Joint analysis of IVD herniation and degeneration by rat caudal needle puncture model
Authors: Cunha Carla , Lamas Sofia , Gonçalves Raquel M. , Barbosa Mário A.
Published: November 2015

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is responsible for various spine pathologies and present clinical treatments are insufficient. Concurrently, the mechanisms behind IVD degeneration are still not completely understood, so as to allow development of efficient tissue engineering approaches. A model of rat IVD degeneration directly coupled to herniation is here proposed in a pilot study. Disc injury is induced by needle puncture, using two different needles gauges: a low caliber 25‐G needle and a high caliber 21‐G needle. Histological, biochemical, and radiographic degeneration was evaluated at 2 and 6 weeks post‐injury. We show that the larger caliber needle results in a more extended histological and radiographic degeneration within the IVD, compared to the smaller one. TUNEL quantification indicates also increased cell death in the 21‐G group. Analyses of collagen type I (Picrosirius red staining), collagen type II (immunofluorescence), and GAG content (Blyscan assay) indicate that degeneration features spontaneously recover from 2 to 6 weeks, for both needle types. Moreover, we show the occurrence of hernia proportional to the needle gauge. The number of CD68+ macrophages present, as well as cell apoptosis within the herniated tissue are both proportional to hernia volume. Moreover, hernias formed after lesion tend to spontaneously diminish in volume after 6 weeks. Finally, MMP3 is increased in the hernia in the 21‐G group at 2 weeks. This model, by uniquely combining IVD degeneration and IVD herniation in the same animal, may help to understand mechanisms behind IVD pathophysiology, such as hernia formation and spontaneous regression. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:258–268, 2017.
Rapid determination of flavonoids in licorice and comparison of three licorice species
Authors: zhu Zhenhua , Tao Weiwei , Li Jianping , Guo Sheng , Qian Dawei , Shang Erxin , Su Shulan , Duan Jin‐ao
Published: November 2015

A simple, sensitive and fast method for the simultaneous quantitation of 15 flavonoids in licorice based on an ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole electrospray tandem mass spectrometry had been established and validated in this study. The analysis was performed on an ACQUITY HSS T3 column with gradient elution using a mobile phase consisted of A (0.1% formic acid in water)/B (acetonitrile) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Satisfactory separation of these compounds was obtained in less than 9 min. All calibration curves showed good linearity (r2 = 0.9940) during the test ranges. The precision, repeatability, accuracy, limit of detection and limit of quantification were also fully investigated. The validated method was successfully applied for the simultaneous quantitation of 15 flavonoids in 106 licorice samples which contained 83 batches of G. uralensis, 14 batches of G. glabra and 9 batches of G. inflata. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis (using principal components analysis) was performed to classify the samples based on the contents of the 15 analyzed compounds. The results showed that all of these licorice samples were rich in flavonoids, although their contents were obviously various, and the proposed method could serve as a prerequisite for quality control of licorice products.
Reversed‐phase ion‐pair high‐performance liquid chromatography assay of polyprenyl diphosphate oligomer homologues
Authors: Kozlov Vyacheslav V. , Danilov Leonid L.
Published: November 2015

A reversed‐phase ion‐pair high‐performance liquid chromatography procedure was developed for the separation of polyprenyl diphosphate oligomer homologues obtained chemically from plant polyprenols. Tetrabutylammonium phosphate was used as the ion‐pair reagent, and the dependence of the separation quality on pH of ion‐pair reagent was investigated for the first time. The procedure is applicable for the control of commercial available polyprenyl monophosphates (the active components of veterinary drugs Phosprenyl and Gamapren) for the possible presence of polyprenyl diphosphate byproducts.
Is recurrent respiratory papillomatosis a manageable or curable disease?
Authors: Kim Hyung‐Tae , Baizhumanova Aigul Saparadievna
Published: November 2015

Objectives

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a relatively rare disease with potentially devastating consequences for the patient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patterns of recurrence of RRP after surgery and determine the effectiveness of combined concurrent adjuvant therapy.

Methods

A total of 86 patients were diagnosed with and operated on for RRP. The clinical characteristics of 29 of the 86 patients who had undergone operations at other hospitals and who were followed up for >2 years were evaluated retrospectively. A combined concurrent adjuvant therapy was performed with microlaryngeal surgery, 585‐nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) application, and an intralesional cidofovir injection. To evaluate the recurrence pattern, the larynx was divided into 10 subsites, and patients were investigated for the frequency of recurrence at the subsites after the operation.

Results

Twenty‐nine subjects required a mean of 3.0 operations to achieve complete remission for 2 years. The most common subsites for recurrence were the anterior commissure, subglottis, and epiglottis according to increasing number of operations. The subsites of recurrence tended to be closely correlated with the laryngeal submucosal glandular density distribution. A complete en‐bloc layer excision, including the submucosal glands, using cold instruments decreased the recurrence rate of RRP. Applying PDL minimized scarring and provided significant posttreatment voice‐quality improvement.

Conclusions

The results of the recurrent pattern analysis suggest that a combined concurrent adjunctive treatment might be promising as a cure for RRP and restoration of vocal function after treatment.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 126:1359–1364, 2016
Measuring and structuring the spatial coherence length of organic light‐emitting diodes
Authors: Xie Guohua , Chen Mingzhou , Mazilu Michael , Zhang Shuyu , Bansal A.K. , Dholakia Kishan , Samuel Ifor D. W.
Published: November 2015

The spatial coherence of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) is an important parameter that has gained little attention to date. Here, we present a method for making quantitative measurements of the spatial coherence of OLEDs using a Young's double‐slit experiment. The usefulness of the method is demonstrated by making measurements on a range of OLEDs with different emitters (iridium and europium complexes) and architectures (bottom and top emitting) and the fringe visibility is further manipulated by gratings embedded in external diffractive optical elements. Based on the experiments and simulation of the results, we quantitatively determine the spatial coherence lengths of several OLEDs and find them to be a few micrometers. A 60% increase in the spatial coherence length was observed when using a narrow bandwidth emitter and a metal‐coated grating.

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Usefulness of liver stiffness measurement during acute cellular rejection in liver transplantation
Authors: Crespo Gonzalo , Castro‐Narro Graciela , García‐Juárez Ignacio , Benítez Carlos , Ruiz Pablo , Sastre Lydia , Colmenero Jordi , Miquel Rosa , Sánchez‐Fueyo Alberto , Forns Xavier , Navasa Miquel
Published: November 2015

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is a useful method to estimate liver fibrosis and portal hypertension. The inflammatory process that takes place in post–liver transplant acute cellular rejection (ACR) may also increase liver stiffness. We aimed to explore the association between liver stiffness and the severity of ACR, as well as to assess the relationship between liver stiffness and response to rejection treatment in a prospective study that included 27 liver recipients with biopsy‐proven ACR, 30 stable recipients with normal liver tests, and 30 hepatitis C virus (HCV)–infected LT recipients with histologically diagnosed HCV recurrence. Patients with rejection were stratified into 2 groups (mild and moderate/severe) according to the severity of rejection evaluated with the Banff score. Routine biomarkers and LSM with FibroScan were performed at the time of liver biopsy (baseline) and at 7, 30, and 90 days in patients with rejection and at baseline in control patients. Median baseline liver stiffness was 5.9 kPa in the mild rejection group, 11 kPa in the moderate/severe group (P = 0.001), 4.2 kPa in stable recipients (P = 0.02 versus mild rejection), and 13.6 kPa in patients with recurrent HCV (P = 0.17 versus moderate/severe rejection). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of LSM to discriminate mild versus moderate/severe ACR was 0.924, and a LSM value of 8.5 kPa yielded a positive predictive value of 100% to diagnose moderate/severe rejection. Liver stiffness improved in 7%, 21%, and 64% of patients with moderate/severe rejection at 7, 30, and 90 days. In conclusion, according to the results of this exploratory study, LSM is associated with the severity of ACR in liver transplantation and thus may be of help in its assessment. Liver Transpl 22:298–304, 2016. © 2015 AASLD.
Variations in seasonal snow surface energy exchange during a snowmelt period: an example from the Tianshan Mountains, China
Authors: Lu H. , Wei W. S. , Liu M. Z. , Han X. , Li M. , Hong W.
Published: November 2015

The energy exchange on a snow surface is important for snowmelt and sublimation. Furthermore, a comparison of the snow surface energy exchange between different years at the same location is beneficial for understanding the influence of climate change on snowmelt. In the present study, based in the Tianshan Mountains, China, meteorological factors and the snowmelt rate were measured using an automatic weather station and snow lysimeter during the snowmelt period in a normal snowfall year (2009), an abnormally light snowfall year (2012) and two abnormally heavy snowfall years (2010 and 2013). The energy exchange was calculated according to these meteorological data sets. The climate during the snowmelt periods in 2010 and 2013 was warmer and wetter than that in 2009 and 2012. For all years, net short wave radiation and sensible heat flux were positive, and net long wave radiation and latent heat flux were negative. The maximum difference in the snow surface energy exchange for each of the different years is given as net turbulence. The snowmelt periods in 2010 and 2013 were 15–20 days longer than those in 2009 and 2012. The snowmelt rates in 2010 and 2013 were higher than those in 2009 and 2012, especially during the latter days of the snowmelt period. Against the background of a warming and more humid climate in the western Tianshan Mountains, the snowmelt rate will inevitably increase, especially towards the end of the snowmelt period.
Performance of super high resolution numerical weather prediction model in forecasting terrain‐disrupted airflow at the Hong Kong International Airport: case studies
Authors: Chan P. W. , Hon K. K.
Published: November 2015

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is situated in an area of complex terrain. Mountains near the airport can lead to terrain‐disrupted airflow disturbances, which may bring about hazardous weather phenomena for aviation, such as low‐level windshear and turbulence. Timely forecasting of such airflow disturbances would be useful in providing early warnings to the pilots. The Hong Kong Observatory has been running a super high resolution numerical weather prediction model suite, the aviation model (AVM), since late 2013, with spatial resolution up to 200 m immediately around HKIA. After testing and tuning over the past year, the performance of the AVM in forecasting terrain‐disrupted airflow at the airport area is investigated in this study. Two typical cases of such complex airflow are considered, Foehn wind and mountain wave. The AVM is found to capture successfully some salient features of the airflow as observed around HKIA through comparison with light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and weather buoy observations. The model also helps in shedding new light on the airflow from the vertical cross sections of the winds across the mountains. Limitations of the AVM are also discussed.
High‐temporospatial‐resolution dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) wrist MRI with variable‐density pseudo‐random circular Cartesian undersampling (CIRCUS) acquisition: evaluation of perfusion in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Liu Jing , Pedoia Valentina , Heilmeier Ursula , Ku Eric , Su Favian , Khanna Sameer , Imboden John , Graf Jonathan , Link Thomas , Li Xiaojuan
Published: November 2015

This study is to evaluate highly accelerated three‐dimensional (3D) dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) wrist MRI for assessment of perfusion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. A pseudo‐random variable‐density undersampling strategy, circular Cartesian undersampling (CIRCUS), was combined with k–t SPARSE‐SENSE reconstruction to achieve a highly accelerated 3D DCE wrist MRI. Two healthy volunteers and 10 RA patients were studied. Two patients were on methotrexate (MTX) only (Group I) and the other eight were treated with a combination therapy of MTX and anti‐tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy (Group II). Patients were scanned at baseline and 3 month follow‐up. DCE MR images were used to evaluate perfusion in synovitis and bone marrow edema pattern in the RA wrist joints. A series of perfusion parameters was derived and compared with clinical disease activity scores of 28 joints (DAS28). 3D DCE wrist MR images were obtained with a spatial resolution of 0.3 × 0.3 × 1.5 mm3 and temporal resolution of 5 s (with an acceleration factor of 20). The derived perfusion parameters, most notably transition time (dT) of synovitis, showed significant negative correlations with DAS28‐ESR (r = −0.80, p < 0.05) and DAS28‐CRP (r = −0.87, p < 0.05) at baseline and also correlated significantly with treatment responses evaluated by clinical score changes between baseline and 3 month follow‐up (with DAS28‐ESR r = −0.79, p < 0.05, and DAS28‐CRP r = −0.82, p < 0.05). Highly accelerated 3D DCE wrist MRI with improved temporospatial resolution has been achieved in RA patients and provides accurate assessment of neovascularization and perfusion in RA joints, showing promise as a potential tool for evaluating treatment responses. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Controlling the electrical characteristics of Au/n‐Si structure with and without (biphenyl‐CoPc) and (OHSubs‐ZnPc) interfacial layers at room temperature
Authors: Baraz Nalan , Yücedağ İbrahim , Demir Ahmet , Ersöz Gülçin , Altındal Şemsettin , Kandaz Mehmet
Published: November 2015

In order to interpret well whether or not the organic or polymer interfacial layer is effective on performance of the conventional Au/n‐Si (metal semiconductor [MS]) type Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs), in respect to ideality factor (n), leakage current, rectifying rate (RR), series and shunt resistances (Rs, Rsh) and surface states (Nss) at room temperature, both Au/biphenyl‐CoPc/n‐Si (MPS1) and Au/OHSubs‐ZnPc/n‐Si (MPS2) type SBDs were fabricated. The electrical characteristics of these devices have been investigated and compared by using forward and reverse bias current–voltage (I–V) characteristics in the voltage range of (−4 V)–(4 V) for with and without (biphenyl‐CoPc) and (OHSubs‐ZnPc) interfacial layers at room temperature. The main electrical parameters of these diodes such as reverse saturation current (I0), ideality factor (n), zero‐bias barrier height (ΦB0), RR, Rs and Rsh were found as 1.14 × 10−5 A, 5.8, 0.6 eV, 362, 44 Ω and 15.9 kΩ for reference sample (MS), 7.05 × 10−10 A, 3.8, 0.84 eV, 2360, 115 Ω and 270 kΩ for MPS1 and 2.16 × 10−7 A, 4.8, 0.7 eV, 3903, 62 Ω and 242 kΩ for MPS2, respectively. It is clear that all of these parameters considerably change by using an organic interfacial layer. The energy density distribution profile of Nss was found for each sample by taking into account the voltage dependence of effective barrier height (Φe) and ideality factor, and they were compared. Experimental results confirmed that the use of biphenyl‐CoPc and OHSubs‐ZnPc interfacial layer has led to an important increase in the performance of the conventional of MS type SBD. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteome and pathway effects of chronic haloperidol treatment in mouse hippocampus
Authors: Schubert Klaus Oliver , Föcking Melanie , Wynne Kieran , Cotter David R.
Published: November 2015

Proteomic exploration of the effects of psychotropic drugs on specific brain areas in rodents has the potential to uncover novel molecular networks and pathways affected by psychotropic medications, and may inform etiologic hypotheses on mental disorders. Haloperidol, a widely used first‐generation antipsychotic, has been shown to produce structural and functional changes of the hippocampus, a brain region also implicated in the neuropathology of disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Seven adult male C57BL/6 mice were injected daily intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg of haloperidol, for 28 days. A control group of six animals was injected with vehicle only (saline). Protein levels of postmortem hippocampus homogenate were determined using label‐free LC/MS/MS. In the treatment group, 216 differentially expressed hippocampal proteins were identified as compared to controls. Ingenuity pathway analysis implicated oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial function as top canonical pathways, and local networks involved in tubulin‐mediated cytoskeleton dynamics, clathrin‐mediated endocytosis, and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase signaling. The findings of this study could stimulate further research into the cellular mechanisms associated with haloperidol treatment and the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders, assisting treatment biomarker discovery. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD002250 (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD002250).
Climate and Terrain Characteristics Linked to Mud Ejection Occurrence in the Canadian High Arctic
Authors: Holloway Jean E. , Lamoureux Scott F. , Montross Scott N. , Lafrenière Melissa J.
Published: November 2015

Pressurised slurries of fine‐grained sediment expelled from the base of the active layer have been observed in recent years in the High Arctic. Such mud ejections, however, are poorly understood in terms of how exactly climate and landscape factors determine when and where they occur. Mud ejections at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory, Melville Island, Nunavut, were systematically mapped in 2012 and 2013, and this was combined with observations of mud ejection activity and climatic measurements carried out since 2003. The mud ejections occur late in the melt season during warm years and closely following major rainfall events. High‐resolution satellite imagery demonstrates that mud ejections are associated with polar semi‐desert vegetative settings, flat or low‐sloping terrain and south‐facing slopes. The localised occurrence of mud ejections appears to be related to differential soil moisture retention. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Localised metallisation process for silicon solar cells
Authors: Delbos Elise , Aureau Damien , Belghiti Hanane El , Vigneron Jackie , Bouttemy Muriel , Etcheberry Arnaud
Published: November 2015

In photovoltaic field, specifically for the silicon solar cells, one of the today challenges is to replace the screen‐printed silver contact lines by other processes or materials with a nanometric precision. An alternative method consists in the deposition of nickel‐copper contacts by wet deposition process on silicon substrate, inside lines etched throughout the anti‐reflective layer. In this research work, a four‐step process was chosen: 1. Ni(P) chemical deposition, 2. annealing to form a silicide, 3. fresh Ni(P) layer to guaranty the barrier effect and 4. copper metallisation. In this study, the deposition mechanisms of electroless nickel and the annealing procedure to generate a 100 nm‐NiSi layer are studied. The Ni diffusion dependence with the initial Ni(P) layer thickness is demonstrated, combining an overall approach based on top and cross section imaging (SEM) and chemical analysis (EDS) reinforced by an accurate diagnostic by XPS depth profiling. Particularly, XPS profiles performed enabled us to finely determine the depth diffusion of the NiSi alloy, allowing to optimize the process to satisfy both the adherence between Si and the Ni/Cu stack and a low contact resistance of the final lines. The elaboration of the complete stack NiSi/Ni(P)/Cu is then performed and characterized. The selectivity of the metallisation process (electroless nickel and electrolytic copper plating) is certified by XPS line profile showing only low overburden on the anti‐reflective layer. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)