bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Future-oriented and Progress in DNA Vaccine and Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Human Diseases
Authors: Biragi Shivani , Dod Satish , Singh Tejas , Prajapati Upendra , Chaudhary Shaily
Published: July 2024

In the domain of vaccination, DNA antibodies have transformed into a striking methodology that appreciates different high grounds over ordinary vaccination modalities. A design of the vital considerations behind DNA vaccinations, their technique for action, and energy upgrades in their assessment are given in this hypothetical. Trustworthy immunity is made by DNA courses of action, which use plasmid DNA encoding antigenic proteins to move humoral and cell-safe responses. They are in like manner a secured and versatile stage for immunization considering their capacity to replicate a trademark illness without spreading disorder. DNA inoculations are dynamic against different versatile contaminations, including those achieved by microorganisms, diseases, and parasite organisms. Furthermore, updates in adjuvants, plan frameworks, and association techniques have raised their immunogenicity and adequacy. Notwithstanding the way that there have been a couple of sure new developments, enormous checks really ought to be addressed to redesign power." DNA inoculations, by and large, address a promising street for making state-of-the-art antibodies arranged to effectively fight emerging overwhelming risks.
Exploring the Floral Biology of Salix alba: Insights into Reproductive Dynamics, Pollen Production and Pollen Morphology in Kashmir Himalayas
Authors: Wagay Oyais Ahmad , Mugloo J.A. , Masoodi T.H , Pala Nazir A. , Hussain Barkat , Khan Imran , Jeelani M Iqbal , Bhat G. M. , Rafeeq Jauhar
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the floral phenology, pollen production and pollen characteristics of Salix alba (white willow) over the years 2022 and 2023, highlighting inter-annual and individual tree variations. In 2022, male catkins began flowering between March 8 and March 10, while female catkins initiated between March 14 and March 22. Flowering for male catkins lasted until mid-May and for female catkins until late May. In 2023, male catkins started flowering from March 10 to March 14 and female catkins from March 17 to March 24, with similar flowering durations. Inflorescence diameters varied among individual trees, ranging from 4.4 mm to 7.7 mm for male catkins and 6.1 mm to 8.1 mm for female catkins across the two years. Pollen production exhibited significant variability with the highest recorded at 4,600,995,000 grains per tree and the lowest at 498,312,500 grains per tree. On average, trees produced approximately 2,164,836,667 pollen grains. Pollen viability ranged from 75% to 80%, with sizes between 16 µm and 26 µm. The pollen-ovule ratio also showed substantial differences, with the highest ratio observed at 7600:2 and the lowest at 2345:7. These findings underscore the considerable year-to-year and tree-to-tree variation in the reproductive traits of Salix alba, which may have implications for its breeding and conservation strategies.
Collection Efficiency of Fresh Pollen under Different Pollen Trapping Frequencies by Apis mellifera L. Colonies in Mustard
Authors: Naveen  , Yadav Ashok Singh , Singh UC
Published: July 2024

The present experiment was carried out at apiary of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Morena and at beekeeper’s apiary in Morena, M.P. during 2022-23 and 2023-24 to evaluate the consumption pattern of different artificial diets by Apis mellifera L. colonies during dearth periods. Front mounted wooden pollen traps were mounted under five different pollen trapping frequencies as treatments, including control and the amount of pollen collection was recorded per colony per day. The results revealed that, colonies with daily trapping had the highest average pollen collection rate (167.45 and 157.34 g/colony/day) and the lowest average pollen collection rate (13.34 and 12.79 g/colony/day) was observed in weekly trapping across the trapping period of both the consecutive years. However, the control group, with no pollen trapping, was observed with no pollen collection. Additionally, the total pollen collection across the trapping frequencies was highest in daily trapping (1.340 and 1.259 kg/colony) and lowest in weekly trapping (0.107 and 0.102 kg/colony) during 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively. During the trapping weeks, the lowest amount of pollen (17.89 and 20.67 g/colony/day) was collected in 1st week i.e. during 03 – 09 December at the initiation of the mustard flora. However, the highest amount of pollen collection (101.03 g/colony/day pollen) was recorded in 4th week (24 - 31 December, 2022) while during 2023-24 it was recorded highest in 6th week (8 - 14 January) with 99.24 g/colony/day pollen. The correlation analysis showed that the average amount of collected pollen was significantly negative correlated with wind speed.
Effective Media Validation, Benefits and Costs for Achieving High Yield in Ribbed Gourd in Soilless Culture under Matric Suction Irrigation
Authors: N. Elakiya , Arulmozhiselvan K.
Published: July 2024

Aims: To standardize an appropriate method of finding suitable particulate organic substrates for composing soilless media, a soilless experiment was conducted in an open wasteland area in pandal system under matric suction irrigation
Study Design:  Completely Randomized Design
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Trichy, Tamil Nadu during Rabi 2020-2021
Methodology: Three growing media were tested with ten replications. For composing the growing media equal proportion (on a weight basis) of substrates viz., coir pith, vermicompost, fly ash, green manure (Dhaincha), and sand were mixed in different combinations. Ribbed gourd CoH-1 was raised in growing media in containers that were interconnected by tubs and tubes to maintain moisture always by matric suction irrigation technique.
Results: Growing media having Coir pith: Vermicompost: Green Manure: Sand registered the highest fruit yield (10.033 kg pot-1), water use efficiency (411.2 kg fresh fruit mm-1) and benefit-cost ratio (1.95) than that of the growing media combination with fly ash. This green manure combination significantly recorded 18% more yield and water use efficiency than that of the coir pith and vermicompost combination. Apparent nutrient recovery was highest in the growing media with coir pith: vermicompost: green manure: sand for N (22.42%), P (23.47%), and K (192.9%).
Conclusion: Exploitation of the potentiality of particulate organic materials demonstrated in this soilless system technique may be useful for farmers to generate additional farm income with proper use of particulate organic substrates obtainable/ available in their farm.
Ontogenic Predisposition of Tomato Foliage to Early Blight Caused by Alternaria solani under Mountainous Conditions of Kashmir
Authors: Anwar Ali , Jan Roohi , Shabir Zohra , Nisa Qadrul , Rashid Junaid , Shakeel Mehnaz , Nabi Asha , Wani Tanveer A. , Gupta Vikas , Gupta Shivanshi
Published: July 2024

This study explores the susceptibility of tomato plants to early blight caused by Alternaria solani concerning their chronological and physiological ages. While previous research has noted higher resistance in younger potato plants and an acropetal increase in resistance within plant leaves, such investigations are limited in tomatoes. Our study aimed to address this gap by investigating the influence of chronological and physiological ages on early blight resistance in tomato plants. Using the Keck Ruth Ageti cultivar, we conducted experiments at various plant growth stages. Chronological age variations were achieved by sowing seeds at 10-day intervals, with inoculation occurring when the youngest seedlings reached 20 days. Leaf sampling from different sections facilitated the evaluation of physiological age effects. Results showed a direct relationship between plant age and disease susceptibility, with older plants exhibiting higher incidence rates. Moreover, resistance increased from lower to upper leaves, with top leaves demonstrating the highest resistance.
Was fügt der EuGH in Scalable Capital zur Prüfung von Art. 82 DSGVO hinzu? — Ein weiterer Baustein in der Rechtsprechungslinie zum immateriellen Schadensersatz
Authors: Schneider Ruben , Lennartz Markus , Banken Beatrice
Published: July 2024

Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der Rechtsprechung des EuGH zum datenschutzrechtlichen Schadensersatzanspruch gem. Art. 82 Abs. 1 DSGVO. Sein Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Analyse und Einordnung des jüngsten Urteils des EuGH zur Thematik in der Rs. Scalable Capital (I.). Im Anschluss daran werden die Erkenntnisse der weiteren Urteile des EuGH zu Art. 82 DSGVO konsolidiert (II.). Der Beitrag schließt mit einer Summa und einem Ausblick auf die weitere Entwicklung (III.).
Verändert das Steuerrecht das Personengesellschaftsrecht? – Neue Entwicklungen zu Gewinnabführungsverträgen mit Personengesellschaften
Authors: Krüger Astrid
Published: July 2024

Die Verfasserin stellt fest, dass das Gesellschaftsrecht der Organschaft mit einer optierenden Personengesellschaft nicht entgegensteht und der erforderliche Gewinnabführungsvertrag ohne größere praktische Schwierigkeiten abgeschlossen werden kann. Offene bleibe jedoch die Frage nach der Eintragung des Gewinnabführungsvertrags in das Handelsregister der abführenden Personengesellschaft.
Substanznormen: Substanz in der Missbrauchsvermeidung: Die Substanzanforderungen der §§ 7 ff. AStG und des § 50d Abs. 3 EStG
Authors: Steiner Natalie , Stumpf Tim , Ullmann Robert
Published: July 2024

„Substanz“ ist in zahlreichen deutsch-steuerlichen Normen von zentraler Bedeutung. Obgleich die norm- und tätigkeitsspezifische Auslegung der Substanzanforderungen über alle Substanznormen hinweg wesentliche Gemeinsamkeiten aufweist, ergeben sich gleichwohl vereinzelt Besonderheiten. In dem vorliegenden Beitrag wird dargelegt, dass jedenfalls bei Substanznormen, denen ein einheitlicher Normzweck zugrunde liegt, eine normübergreifend einheitliche Auslegung geboten ist. Dies wird konkret anhand der beiden Substanznormen der Hinzurechnungsbesteuerung gem. §§ 7 ff. AStG und des Quellensteuervorbehalts gem. § 50d Abs. 3 EStG herausgearbeitet. Insbesondere sind die sich aus dem Wortlaut der beiden Substanznormen ergebenden Unterschiede letztlich jedenfalls in EU/EWR-Sachverhalten nicht haltbar.
Risikotragung für fehlerhafte oder überhöhte Rechnungen im Haftungsrecht des Straßenverkehrs
Authors: Zwickel Martin
Published: July 2024

Nach Verkehrsunfällen im Straßenverkehr weigern sich Kfz- Haftpflichtversicherungen auf Basis entsprechender interner oder externer Prüfberichte oft, Teile einer Reparatur- oder Sachverständigenrechnung zu zahlen. Für den Geschädigten ist aber bei der Beauftragung der Werkstatt bzw. des Sachverständigen nicht abzusehen, in welcher Höhe diese Leistungsträger abrechnen werden. Die Rechtsprechung hat daher Grundsätze dafür entwickelt, wer das Risiko einer überhöhten oder fehlerhaften Rechnung trägt. Seit Beginn des Jahres 2024 hat sich der BGH in mehreren Urteilen mit dieser Thematik befasst, deren Kernaussagen im folgenden Beitrag zu einem Gesamtsystem der Risikotragung für fehlerhafte bzw. überhöhte Rechnungen im Haftungsrecht des Straßenverkehrs zusammengeführt werden.
James Van Allen and His Namesake NASA Mission
Authors: Baker D. N. , Hoxie V. C. , Jaynes A. , Kale A. , Kanekal S. G. , Li X. , Reeves G. D. , Spence H. E.
Published: December 2013

In many ways, James A. Van Allen defined and “invented” modern space research. His example showed the way for government‐university partners to pursue basic research that also served important national and international goals. He was a tireless advocate for space exploration and for the role of space science in the spectrum of national priorities.
Emerging Technological Needs for Terrestrial Biogeochemistry Measurements
Authors: Hamada Yuki , Graham Robin L. , Matamala Roser
Published: December 2013

With the Earth's climate, flora, and fauna undergoing rapid change, understanding terrestrial ecosystem processes and their sensitivity to environmental and biotic conditions has become paramount. Many theories and models remain rudimentary due to sensor and environmental data inadequacies that persist despite rapid developments in sensor, computing, and networking technologies. This situation has prompted researchers to focus on the development of novel sensors to vastly improve our capability of capturing the high spatial and temporal variations within biogeochemical processes.
Cyber‐Infrastructure and Synergistic Opportunities Across the Geosciences
Authors: Gomez Basil , Pearthree Genevieve , Cutcher‐Gershenfeld Joel
Published: December 2013

To enable transformational research and education within and across geoscience disciplines, as part of the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) EarthCube initiative, over the past 2 years NSF has sponsored 26 end user workshops in diverse geoscience domains. EarthCube is a collaboration among NSF, other government agencies, and the geoscience and cyber‐infrastructure communities. The workshops engaged more than 1200 participants from the academic, government, and private sectors of the Earth, atmospheric, ocean, computer, information, and social science communities with the overarching objectives of better understanding the limitations of existing cyber‐infrastructure and identifying synergistic opportunities that will help make Web‐based technologies for sharing data, tools, and models accessible to the majority of geoscientists.
Tying bulk watershed properties to mountain river channel evolution
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: December 2013

Rivers evolve over tens to thousands of years, winding and drifting and branching from single channels to braided, complex flows. Understanding exactly how and why rivers change course is a complex problem that depends on the erosion of the landscape and incorporates a range of variables, from local environmental conditions, such as the precipitation rate, to the topography, water chemistry, and properties of the rocks in the watershed. At smaller scales, channel evolution depends on the physical properties of, and interactions between, individual grains of sediment. Correlating across this entire range of scales is incredibly difficult, but using a set of comparable observations from 83 watersheds in the U.S. Rocky Mountains, Mueller and Pitlick tie climatic, topographic, and geologic features to sediment processes and river evolution.
New optical observations of auroral flames
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: December 2013

Auroral arcs are a visible manifestation of space weather. A common dynamic observed during geomagnetically disturbed periods is the breakup of auroral arcs into a multitude of small‐scale filaments less than 1 kilometer across. These filaments can move rapidly upward along the geomagnetic field lines. Dahlgren et al. observed such “auroral flames” during a breakup event on 1 March 2011 using an advanced high‐speed optical system with sensitive low‐light detectors. The data provide new insight into the energy and flux of electrons in individual auroral flames and could help scientists better understand the dynamic processes involved in auroral breakup.
Mean circulation of the Coral Sea
Authors: Kessler William S. , Cravatte Sophie
Published: December 2013

The mean absolute geostrophic circulation of the Coral Sea is constructed from climatological hydrographic data referenced to a 1000 m velocity field derived from Argo float drift. Two branches of the South Equatorial Current (SEC) enter the Coral Sea between New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands: the broad, upper thermocline North Vanuatu Jet (NVJ), and the narrow North Caledonian Jet (NCJ) extending to at least 1500 m. Most of this incoming flow leaves to the Solomon Sea. Four distinct pathways through the Coral Sea are traced by their water properties: (1) The NCJ crosses the Sea to the coast of Australia and turns north at densities sigma 25–27.4 as the main source of the Gulf of Papua (GPC) western boundary current, eventually feeding the New Guinea Coastal Undercurrent; (2) part of the shallow NVJ turns into the Solomon Sea in midbasin, carrying high‐salinity water above sigma 25.5; (3) another part of the NVJ continues to Australia, then turns north to join the GPC, extending it to the surface; (4) a shallow finger of NVJ water, traced by low oxygen above sigma 25, turns south along the coast, beginning the East Australian Current (EAC) at 15°S. Total transport from the Coral to the Tasman Sea is small and shallow; instead, most of the EAC is fed from south of New Caledonia, consistent with the Island Rule. However, large transport fractions occur in narrow jets close to coastlines and reefs and are not well sampled, precluding a quantitative estimate of meridional redistribution of the incoming SEC.
Change of Psychological Distress and Physical Disability in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Over the Last Two Decades
Authors: Overman Cécile L. , Jurgens Maud S. , Bossema Ercolie R. , Jacobs Johannes W. G. , Bijlsma Johannes W. J. , Geenen Rinie
Published: December 2013

Objective

During the past decades, a more cautious approach with respect to prescribing medication and physical exercise progressed toward evidence‐based guidelines regarding the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Currently, physical activity and other means to improve well‐being and functioning are encouraged, and the disease is targeted earlier with more intensive and aggressive pharmacologic treatment. The current study examined whether psychological distress and physical disability in patients with RA reduced over the last 2 decades and whether this is explained by a reduction of disease activity.

Methods

From 1990–2011, consecutive patients with RA (n = 1,151, age range 17–86 years, 68% female, 62% rheumatoid factor positive) were monitored at diagnosis and after 3–5 years of treatment (followup). Depressed mood, anxiety, and physical disability were predicted in multiple linear regression analyses by year of assessment, disease activity, and patient demographics.

Results

Over the decades, depressed mood (P = 0.01), anxiety (P = 0.001), and physical disability (P = 0.02) reduced at diagnosis and within‐treatment improvement of anxiety (P = 0.04) and physical disability (P < 0.001) increased. Percentages of patients with depressed mood, anxiety, and physical disability at followup changed from 25%, 23%, and 53%, respectively, 2 decades ago to 14%, 12%, and 31%, respectively, currently. After taking account of reduction in disease activity, the decrease in physical disability remained significant (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Over the last 2 decades, psychological distress and physical disability decreased. This favorable trend might partly be due to reduced disease activity. The results indicate that patients with RA have a better opportunity to live a valued life currently than 20 years ago.
SODAR observations of inertia‐gravity waves in the atmospheric boundary layer during the passage of tropical cyclone
Authors: Niranjan Kumar K. , Rao Ch. Kanaka , Sandeep A. , Rao T. N.
Published: December 2013

This study reports characteristics of inertia‐gravity waves (IGWs) in the atmospheric boundary layer during the passage of Tropical Cylone‐03B, using the Doppler Sound Detection and Ranging (SODAR) observations at the Indian tropical station of Gadanki (13.45°N, 79.2°E; near the east coast of India). Wavelet analysis of horizontal winds indicates significant wave motion (˜60 h) near the characteristic inertial period. The hodograph analysis of the filtered winds shows an anti‐cyclonic turning of horizontal wind with height and time, indicating the presence of IGW. This study finds important implications in boundary layer dynamics during the passage of tropical cyclones.
3T MRI and 128‐slice dual‐source CT cisternography images of the cranial nerves a brief pictorial review for clinicians
Authors: Roldan‐Valadez Ernesto , Martinez‐Anda Jaime J. , Corona‐Cedillo Roberto
Published: December 2013

There is a broad community of health sciences professionals interested in the anatomy of the cranial nerves (CNs): specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, radiology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, maxillofacial surgery, radiation oncology, and emergency medicine, as well as other related fields. Advances in neuroimaging using high‐resolution images from computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) have made highly‐detailed visualization of brain structures possible, allowing normal findings to be routinely assessed and nervous system pathology to be detected. In this article we present an integrated perspective of the normal anatomy of the CNs established by radiologists and neurosurgeons in order to provide a practical imaging review, which combines 128‐slice dual‐source multiplanar images from CT cisternography and 3T MR curved reconstructed images. The information about the CNs includes their origin, course (with emphasis on the cisternal segments and location of the orifices at the skull base transmitting them), function, and a brief listing of the most common pathologies affecting them. The scope of the article is clinical anatomy; readers will find specialized texts presenting detailed information about particular topics. Our aim in this article is to provide a helpful reference for understanding the complex anatomy of the cranial nerves. Clin. Anat. 27:31–45, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Review of thoracic duct anatomical variations and clinical implications
Authors: Phang K. , Bowman M. , Phillips A. , Windsor J.
Published: December 2013

The thoracic duct (TD) transports ingested fat, drains lymph from the gastrointestinal vascular bed, and delivers the lymph to central veins in the neck. Preliminary evidence suggests that diversion of TD lymph may mitigate the severity of end‐organ dysfunction in critical illness. Variations in the anatomy of the TD may determine whether reliable and safe cannulation of the duct, a necessary step for diversion, is possible. A systematic review was undertaken using the Google Scholar, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus databases until 31st March, 2013. Both English and non‐English articles were searched for, and surgical, cadaveric, and radiologic studies were included. Fifty‐seven articles from the past 102 years were retrieved. There are significant variations in the anatomy of the TD in terms of its formation at the cisterna chyli, its course through the thorax, and its termination in the venous system. The most common site of termination is at the internal jugular vein (46%), followed by the jugulosubclavian angle (32%), and the subclavian vein (18%). An improved understanding of the anatomy of the TD would help surgeons to avoid inadvertent injury and potentially afford new opportunities for diagnosis and intervention in patients with critical illness. Clin. Anat. 637–644, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Novel Model for Predicting the Dense Phase Behavior of 3D Gas‐Solid Fluidized Beds
Authors: Movahedirad Salman , Ghafari Mohsen , Molaei Dehkordi Asghar
Published: December 2013

A novel phenomenological discrete bubble model was developed and tested for prediction of the hydrodynamic behavior of the dense phase of a 3D gas‐solid cylindrical fluidized bed. The mirror image technique was applied to take into account the effects of the bed wall. The simulation results were validated against experimental data reported in the literature that were obtained by positron emission particle tracking. The time‐averaged velocity profiles of particles predicted by the developed model were found to agree well with experimental data. The initial bubble diameter had no significant influence on the time‐averaged circulating pattern of solids in the bed. The model predictions clearly indicate that the developed model can fairly predict the hydrodynamic behavior of the dense phase of 3D gas‐solid cylindrical fluidized beds.
Mass transfer around oblate spheroidal drops in a biaxial stretching motion
Authors: Favelukis Moshe , Lavrenteva Olga M.
Published: December 2013

Mass transfer around a small eccentricity oblate spheroidal drop in a biaxial stretching and creeping flow, was investigated theoretically. The results at small capillary (Ca ≪ 1) and large Peclet numbers (Pe ≫ 1), obtained via regular perturbations in Ca, suggest that: at very short times, the mass transfer rate to or from the drop represents, at O(Ca), mass transfer by diffusion only around a sphere. At long times or at steady‐state, the mass transfer rate is, at O(Ca), slightly larger than that of a spherical drop, it increases with increasing the capillary number and decreases with increasing the viscosity ratio. Steady‐state is established faster, as the viscosity ratio decreases and as the capillary number increases. Exact and approximate analytical solutions, valid at all times, which converge to the asymptotic solutions for short and long times, are also presented.
Stability of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical ThinPrep specimens previously lysed with glacial acetic acid: Effect on cobas 4800 HPV test performance
Authors: McMenamin Mary , McKenna Michael
Published: December 2013

BACKGROUND

The authors previously demonstrated that lysing samples with glacial acetic acid (GAA) before human papillomavirus (HPV) testing does not adversely affect HPV detection with the cobas 4800 HPV Test. However, the long‐term impact of GAA on HPV DNA was not explored in that study, and inherent cell loss with the lysing protocol used also was observed. The current study considered the long‐term effects of GAA treatment of cervical ThinPrep samples on HPV detection with the cobas 4800 HPV Test. They also modified the manufacturer's lysing procedure for ThinPrep specimens to help prevent cell loss.

METHODS

Seventy‐eight ThinPrep samples, including previously lysed, archived specimens, were split; then, 1 part was treated with GAA according to the manufacturer's protocol or using a modified protocol, and the other part was left untreated. All samples were tested for HPV using the cobas 4800 HPV Test. The HPV‐positive/HPV‐negative status of tested samples was used to determine the level of agreement between treated and untreated fractions. Performance of the modified lysing procedure was assessed relative to the manufacturer's protocol.

RESULTS

Positive HPV status produced 97% agreement between the GAA‐treated/untreated fractions. Concordance between the GAA‐treated/untreated fractions did not differ between the 2 lysing methods; however, the average percentage increases in β‐globin and HPV cycle threshold values after lysing were less discernible for the modified lysing method.

CONCLUSIONS

GAA treatment of cervical ThinPrep specimens does not have long‐term adverse effects on HPV detection with the cobas 4800 HPV Test. The manufacturer's GAA lysing procedure for ThinPrep specimens can be reliably modified for specimens that may subsequently undergo HPV testing. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2014;122:250–256. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Comparison of fine‐needle aspiration and fine‐needle capillary sampling of thyroid nodules: A prospective study with emphasis on the influence of nodule size
Authors: Zhou Jian‐Qiao , Zhang Jing‐Wen , Zhan Wei‐Wei , Zhou Wei , Ye Ting‐Jun , Zhu Ying , Yao Jie‐Jie , Liu Jun , Hu Yun‐Yun , Grant Edward G.
Published: December 2013

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to compare the sampling efficiency of ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) and fine‐needle capillary (FNC) sampling in thyroid nodules, in which the authors specifically analyzed the influence of nodule size.

METHODS

This study included 280 thyroid nodules in 275 consecutive patients. The nodules were divided into 4 size subgroups: ≤5.0 mm, from 5.1 to 10.0 mm, from 10.1 to 20.0 mm, and >20.0 mm. Each nodule was sampled by both FNA and FNC. The final cytopathologic findings were reported. The smears were scored and then categorized as diagnostically inadequate, adequate, or superior on the basis of 4 parameters, which included background clot or blood, the number of obtained cells, preserved tissue architecture, and cellular degeneration.

RESULTS

The κ scores for agreement of the cytopathologic results between FNA and FNC sampling in the 4 size subgroups were 0.377, 0.455, 0.751, and 0.352 for nodules that measured ≤5.0 mm, from 5.1 to 10.0 mm, from 10.1 to 20.0 mm, and >20.0 mm, respectively. The proportion of nondiagnostic of FNAs was significantly lower than the proportion of nondiagnostic FNC samples in nodules that measured >20.0 mm (P = .037). Scores for the 4 diagnostic parameters were significantly greater in FNAs than in FNC samples in nodules that measured from 5.1 to 10.0 mm and >20.0 mm (all P < .05); however, similar results were not observed in the nodules that measured ≤5.0 mm or from 10.1 to 20.0 mm (all P > .05). Also, FNA yielded significantly more diagnostically superior specimens than FNC sampling in nodules that measured from 5.1 to 10.0 mm and >20.0 mm (P < .05 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings indicated that FNA may be more suitable than FNC for sampling nodules that measure from 5.1 to 10.0 mm and >20.0 mm; whereas, for nodules that measure ≤5.0 mm and from 10.1 to 20.0 mm, the 2 techniques could yield specimens with similar quality. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2014;122:266–273. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Colour, contrast and gestalt theories of perception: The impact in contemporary visual communications design
Authors: O'Connor Zena
Published: December 2013

Visual communications design, which generally relates to design projects with specific communication objectives, includes most forms of graphic and digital design that have a commercial or an educational purpose. The effectiveness of such design projects rests on how well the embedded communications objectives are met from the perspective of the target audience. In advertising as in education, various post‐campaign evaluation techniques are used to measure effectiveness. The challenge for designers is to create designs that are aesthetically appropriate and visually engaging for the target audience, but which are also functionally‐legible and support the encoding of communication messages so that these are effectively decoded as intended. This is particularly important given that the effectiveness of visual communications is not guaranteed in the visually‐cluttered environment of the 21st century. Of the design elements available to the designer of visual communications, colour and contrast play key roles in visual perception, and the strategic use of these can contribute to the effectiveness of visual communications design. Examining the roles that colour and contrast within the context of Gestalt theories of perception provides additional insight into the ways in which these design elements can be harnessed to improve the effectiveness of visual communications design. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 85–92, 2015
CAT02 and HPE triangles
Authors: Li Changjun , Ji Changjie , Luo Ronnier , Melgosa Manuel , Brill Michael H.
Published: December 2013

Here, we investigated the CAT02 and HPE triangles in both x,y and u′,v′ spaces. It was found that in u′,v′ space, the HPE triangle is separated into two regions by the line 3u′ − 8v′ + 6 = 0, which is the u′,v′ image of X + Y + Z = 0 under the mapping from (X,Y,Z) to (u′,v′). One of these two regions admits all‐positive R,G,B triplets and the other all‐negative R,G,B triplets, under the case of (X + Y + Z) > 0. The findings of this study explained the computation problems of CAT02 and provided methods for solving the Yellow‐Blue and Purple problems simultaneously. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 30–39, 2015
Uric acid and risk of periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Verdoia Monica , Schaffer Alon , Barbieri Lucia , Di Giovine Gabriella , Marino Paolo , De Luca Giuseppe ,   on behalf of the Novara Atherosclerosis Study Group (NAS)
Published: December 2013

Background

Periprocedural myocardial infarction still occurs in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. However, very little is known about the role of biomarkers possibly predicting this complication. Serum uric acid has been associated with enhanced inflammatory status, higher thrombotic risk and poorer outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention. We therefore, evaluated the association between uric acid levels and periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods

We evaluated 1272 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. We measured myonecrosis biomarkers at intervals from 8 to 48 h after percutaneous coronary intervention. Periprocedural myonecrosis was defined as a troponin I increase by 3 times the upper limit normal (ULN) or by 50% of an elevated baseline value and periprocedural myocardial infarction as creatine kinase‐Myocardial Band increase by 3 times the ULN or 50% of baseline.

Results

Patients were divided according to tertile values of uric acid (<5.40, ≥6.70 mg/dL). Serum uric acid was related to age, male gender, hypertension, smoking, renal failure (p < 0.001), previous coronary artery bypass grafts (p = 0.05), therapy with ACE inhibitors (p = 0.001) and diuretics (p < 0.001), glycaemia (p = 0.001), creatinine (p < 0.001), haemoglobin (p = 0.002) and white blood cells (p = 0.02). Serum uric acid was inversely related to type C lesions (p = 0.03) and coronary thrombus (p = 0.02). SUA did not affect the risk of periprocedural myocardial infarction (p = 0.29; adjusted odds ratio = 1.11[0.93–1.32], p = 0.26) or periprocedural myonecrosis (p = 0.97; adjusted odds ratio = 0.99[0.86–1.14], p = 0.89). Results were confirmed at subgroup analyses of higher‐risk subsets of patients.

Conclusion

This is the first large study showing that serum uric acid is not associated with an increase in the risk of periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Renin angiotensin system inhibitors may attenuate low LDL cholesterol‐related cancer risk in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Yang Xilin , Ma Ronald C. W. , So Wing Yee , Wang Ying , Kong Alice P. S. , Ozaki Risa , Xu Gang , Chan Juliana C. N.
Published: December 2013

Background

In type 2 diabetes (T2D), copresence of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) <2.8 mmol/L with triglyceride <1.7 mmol/L or with albuminuria synergistically increased cancer risk. We tested whether use of renin angiotensin system inhibitors attenuated the increased cancer risk associated with these two risk subphenotypes.

Methods

A prospective cohort of 4307 patients with T2D enrolled from December 1996 to January 2005 was analysed using a new user cohort design. Cox model analysis was used to obtain hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The study measured additive interactions between nonuse of renin angiotensin system inhibitors and low LDL‐C plus low triglyceride or albuminuria for the risk of cancer. A positive interaction suggests a specific drug effect on the low LDL‐C‐related cancer risk.

Results

During 18 769 person years of follow‐up (median follow‐up years: 4.44), 4.48% (n = 193) of patients developed cancer. Use of renin angiotensin system inhibitors was associated with reduced cancer risk among patients with copresence of low LDL‐C plus low triglyceride or low LDL‐C plus albuminuria but not in patients without these subphenotypes. In multivariable analysis, renin angiotensin system inhibitor usage attenuated the hazard ratio of copresence of low LDL‐C plus low triglyceride versus lack of this subphenotype for cancer from 2.08 (95% CI: 1.25–3.47) to 1.13 (0.61–2.11) with significant additive interaction (p = 0.0225). Similarly, RAS inhibitor usage attenuated the hazard ratio of copresence of low LDL‐C plus albuminuria versus lack of this subphenotype for cancer from 1.99 (95% CI: 1.12–3.56) to 0.82 (0.43–1.54) with significant additive interaction (p = 0.0009).

Conclusion

In T2D, renin angiotensin system inhibitor usage may specifically attenuate the low LDL‐C‐related cancer risk. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lithiated MoO2 Nanorods with Greatly Improved Electrochemical Performance for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Xia , Zeng Xianzhong , Yang Min , Qi Yanxing
Published: December 2013

Highly uniform MoO2 nanorods were successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method, and the resultant sample was easily lithiated by subsequent treatment with LiCl solution. After lithiation, the MoO2 nanorods possessed a similar crystalline structure to the unlithiated sample. At a current density of 20 mA g–1, the lithiated specimen with better coulombic efficiency displayed a preferable cycling performance and exhibited excellent reversible charge‐discharge capacity, while the unlithiated MoO2 exhibited more irreversible behavior. This conclusion was also supported by δ, the fraction loss per cycle, which was 2.5 % and 5.2 % for the lithiated and unlithiated MoO2, respectively. Finally, the XRD patterns for the lithitated and unlithiated MoO2 showed that the former retained better crystallization than the latter after a 15‐cycle charge‐discharge process.
Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of [Cu(phen)2]ClO2: Aerobic Oxidation of Cl– to ClO2– at Room Temperature
Authors: Hossain Md. Munkir , Tseng Mei‐Chun , Lee Chi‐Rung , Shyu Shin‐Guang
Published: December 2013

An unusual 4e– oxidation of Cl– into ClO2– occurred during the reaction between CuCl and phenanthroline (phen) in air to form a [Cu(phen)2]ClO2 complex, which is capable of oxidizing catechol into the highly substituted pentenone derivative methyl 1‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐4,5,5‐trimethoxycyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐carboxylate through contraction of the aromatic ring by extradiol C–C bond cleavage concomitant with the further formation of a C–C bond.
Alkylation Effects in Lanthanide Complexes Involving Tetrathiafulvalene Chromophores: Experimental and Theoretical Correlation between Magnetism and Near‐Infrared Emission
Authors: Cosquer Goulven , Pointillart Fabrice , Jung Julie , Le Guennic Boris , Golhen Stéphane , Cador Olivier , Guyot Yannick , Brenier Alain , Maury Olivier , Ouahab Lahcène
Published: December 2013

Mononuclear complexes with the formula [Ln(hfac)3(L1)] and [Ln(hfac)3(L2)] with hfac– = 1,1,1,5,5,5‐hexafluoroacetylacetonate, L1 = 2‐{4,5‐[4,5‐bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvalenyl]‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl}pyridine and L2 = 2‐{1‐methylpyridyl‐4,5‐[4,5‐bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvalenyl]‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl}pyridine are reported for Ln = YIII, ErIII and YbIII. The X‐ray structures reveal that the Ln(hfac)3 moieties are coordinated to the bidentate 1‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)benzimidazole acceptor. The coordination polyhedron is described as a more or less distorted triangular dodecahedron prism (D2d symmetry), depending on the degree of alkylation of the ligand. The influence of this distortion on the magnetic and photophysical properties is determined by the fit of the static magnetic measurements and luminescence spectra. Irradiation of the lowest‐energy intraligand charge transfer (ILCTs) bands (21740 cm–1) induces the metal‐centred 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 and 2F5/2 → 2F7/2 luminescence for the ErIII and YbIII complexes, respectively. The alkylation enhances both the intensity and lifetime of the YbIII luminescence. The ErIII luminescence can be sensitised by the antenna effect, whereas the YbIII luminescence could involve a photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Finally, the evolution of the YbIII luminescence spectra shape due to the alkylation is directly correlated to the energy splitting of the MJ states that stem from the 2F7/2 multiplet ground state. Ab initio calculations give evidence of the nature of the MJ ground state as well as the orientation of the associated magnetic anisotropy axis (i.e., the one that lies along the less electronegative direction). The key role of the imidazole proton of L2 is highlighted. The calculated energy splitting of the 2F5/2 multiplet state perfectly matches the emission lines.
Electrolyte system strategies for anionic ITP with ESI‐MS detection. 3. The ITP spacer technique in moving‐boundary systems and configurations with two self‐maintained ITP subsystems
Authors: Gebauer Petr , Malá Zdena , Boček Petr
Published: December 2013

This contribution is the third part of the project on strategies used in the selection and tuning of electrolyte systems for anionic ITP with ESI‐MS detection. The strategy presented here is based on the creation of self‐maintained ITP subsystems in moving‐boundary systems and describes two new principal approaches offering physical separation of analyte zones from their common ITP stack and/or simultaneous selective stacking of two different analyte groups. Both strategic directions are based on extending the number of components forming the electrolyte system by adding a third suitable anion. The first method is the application of the spacer technique to moving‐boundary anionic ITP systems, the second method is a technique utilizing a moving‐boundary ITP system in which two ITP subsystems exist and move with mutually different velocities. It is essential for ESI detection that both methods can be based on electrolyte systems containing only several simple chemicals, such as simple volatile organic acids (formic and acetic) and their ammonium salts. The properties of both techniques are defined theoretically and discussed from the viewpoint of their applicability to trace analysis by ITP‐ESI‐MS. Examples of system design for selected model separations of preservatives and pharmaceuticals illustrate the validity of the theoretical model and application potential of the proposed techniques by both computer simulations and experiments. Both new methods enhance the application range of ITP‐MS and may be beneficial particularly for complex multicomponent samples or for analytes with identical molecular mass.
Evolution of fluorinated enzymes: An emerging trend for biocatalyst stabilization
Authors: Biava Hernan , Budisa Nediljko
Published: December 2013

Nature uses remarkably limited sets of chemistries in its repertoire, especially when compared to synthetic organic chemistry. This limits both the chemical and structural diversity that can ultimately be achieved with biocatalysis, unless the powers of chemical synthesis are merged with biological systems by integrating nonnatural synthetic chemistries into the protoplasma of living cells. Of particular interest, here is the fluorous effect that has recently established the potential to generate enzymes with an increased resistance toward both high temperature and organic solvents. For these reasons, we are witnessing a rapid development of efficient methodologies for the incorporation of fluorinated amino acids in protein synthesis, using both in vivo and in vitro strategies. In this review, we highlight relevant and trendsetting results in the design and engineering of stable fluorinated proteins and peptides along with whole‐cell biocatalysis as an economically attractive and convenient application with exclusive focus on industrial biocatalysis. Finally, we envision new strategies to improve current achievements and enable the field to progress far beyond the current state‐of‐the‐art.
Combining single‐use stirred bioreactor with standard cross‐flow technology in biphasic protein production processes at pilot scale
Authors: Blaschczok Katharina , Löffelholz Christian , Eibl Regine , Eibl Dieter
Published: December 2013

The increasing implementation of single‐use bioreactors arrived hand‐in‐hand with the development of new technologies contributing to increased productivity, process flexibility, and additional savings in time and costs. As a result, hollow fiber technology has recently gained renewed interest in upstream processing. Using a Chinese hamster ovary cell line in a biphasic protein production process with chemically defined minimal culture media, we combined Sartorius Stedim's BIOSTAT STR 50 L with GE Healthcare Life Sciences’ reusable Hollow Fiber Cartridge CFP‐6‐D‐55A. After a 3‐day feeding growth phase, secretion of the model protein secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) was introduced by replacing the growth medium with production medium using cross‐flow filtration. The process was then continued and harvested as a batch with temperature shift. High cell densities exceeding 1 × 107 cells mL−1 were achieved 5 days post inoculation and maximum secreted alkaline phosphatase activities of 24 U mL−1 11 days post inoculation. Our results showed that a further decrease in processing time is possible by reducing the number of diafiltration steps from three to two.
Semiparametric Tests for Identifying Differentially Methylated Loci With Case–Control Designs Using Illumina Arrays
Authors: Chen Yong , Ning Yang , Hong Chuan , Wang Shuang
Published: December 2013

DNA methylation plays an important role in the development of many types of cancer. Identifying differentially methylated loci between cancer and normal patients is one of the central tasks to understand the contributions of the methylation process on cancer development. Through investigation of the methylation measurements generated by the Illumina methylation arrays, we notice that the methylation measurements of the cancer and normal groups could differ not only in means but also in variances. Therefore, we propose a generalized exponential tilt model to capture the differences in both means and variances between the cancer and normal groups. We derive the semiparametric tests to obtain model robustness. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed tests and a much improved power of the proposed tests than that of thet‐test and the regression‐based tests when the cancer and normal groups are different in variances only or in both means and variances. Hence the proposed tests can serve as useful complements to the standard tests that only test differences in means. We also illustrate the proposed methods by applying to a real methylation data from a recent study on ovarian cancer where the proposed methods identified additional methylation loci that were missed by the existing method.
Validation of the Perceived Stress Scale in a community sample of older adults
Authors: Ezzati Ali , Jiang Julie , Katz Mindy J. , Sliwinski Martin J. , Zimmerman Molly E. , Lipton Richard B.
Published: December 2013

Background

Three versions of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS‐14, PSS‐10, and PSS‐4) are among the most widely used measures of stress. The aim of the current study was to validate this instrument in a sample of nondemented older adults to facilitate studies of the impact of stress on health.

Methods

Seven hundred sixty‐eight nondemented adults over the age of 70 years completed the PSS‐14 questionnaire and other neuropsychological tests. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the underlying factor structure of all PSS versions, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the construct validity of factors. The internal consistency reliability of the scales was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and concurrent validity was evaluated by examining PSS relation with age, gender, depression, anxiety, and Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule.

Results

A two‐factor model was the optimal fit for the 14‐item and 10‐item versions of PSS. For PSS‐14, all items' loadings exceeded 0.4 for one of the two factors except item 12. Therefore, we studied a 13‐item version of PSS and 10‐item and 4‐item subsets representing PSS‐10 and PSS‐4. Internal consistency coefficients were satisfactory for the full scale of PSS‐13 and PSS‐10 but not for PSS‐4. Women reported higher levels of stress than men. Higher levels of total PSS scores showed association with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and negative affect, and lower level of positive affect.

Conclusions

The 13‐item and 10‐item versions of PSS may be used to understand the experience of stress among older adults. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.