bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Factors for Overall Survival in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor–Targeted Agents: Results From a Large, Multicenter Study
Authors: Heng Daniel Y.C. , Xie Wanling , Regan Meredith M. , Warren Mark A. , Golshayan Ali Reza , Sahi Chakshu , Eigl Bernhard J. , Ruether J. Dean , Cheng Tina , North Scott , Venner Peter , Knox Jennifer J. , Chi Kim N. , Kollmannsberger Christian , McDermott David F. , Oh William K. , Atkins Michael B. , Bukowski Ronald M. , Rini Brian I. , Choueiri Toni K.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

There are no robust data on prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) –targeted therapy.

Methods

Baseline characteristics and outcomes on 645 patients with anti-VEGF therapy–naïve metastatic RCC were collected from three US and four Canadian cancer centers. Cox proportional hazards regression, followed by bootstrap validation, was used to identify independent prognostic factors for OS.

Results

The median OS for the whole cohort was 22 months (95% CI, 20.2 to 26.5 months), and the median follow-up was 24.5 months. Overall, 396, 200, and 49 patients were treated with sunitinib, sorafenib, and bevacizumab, respectively. Four of the five adverse prognostic factors according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) were independent predictors of short survival: hemoglobin less than the lower limit of normal (P < .0001), corrected calcium greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN; P = .0006), Karnofsky performance status less than 80% (P < .0001), and time from diagnosis to treatment of less than 1 year (P = .01). In addition, neutrophils greater than the ULN (P < .0001) and platelets greater than the ULN (P = .01) were independent adverse prognostic factors. Patients were segregated into three risk categories: the favorable-risk group (no prognostic factors; n = 133), in which median OS (mOS) was not reached and 2-year OS (2y OS) was 75%; the intermediate-risk group (one or two prognostic factors; n = 301), in which mOS was 27 months and 2y OS was 53%; and the poor-risk group (three to six prognostic factors; n = 152), in which mOS was 8.8 months and 2y OS was 7% (log-rank P < .0001). The C-index was 0.73.

Conclusion

This model validates components of the MSKCC model with the addition of platelet and neutrophil counts and can be incorporated into patient care and into clinical trials that use VEGF-targeted agents.
Phase II Multi-Institutional Trial of the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Romidepsin As Monotherapy for Patients With Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Piekarz Richard L. , Frye Robin , Turner Maria , Wright John J. , Allen Steven L. , Kirschbaum Mark H. , Zain Jasmine , Prince H. Miles , Leonard John P. , Geskin Larisa J. , Reeder Craig , Joske David , Figg William D. , Gardner Erin R. , Steinberg Seth M. , Jaffe Elaine S. , Stetler-Stevenson Maryalice , Lade Stephen , Fojo A. Tito , Bates Susan E.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Romidepsin (depsipeptide or FK228) is a member of a new class of antineoplastic agents active in T-cell lymphoma, the histone deacetylase inhibitors. On the basis of observed responses in a phase I trial, a phase II trial of romidepsin in patients with T-cell lymphoma was initiated.

Patients and Methods

The initial cohort was limited to patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), or subtypes mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome, who had received no more than two prior cytotoxic regimens. There were no limits on other types of therapy. Subsequently, the protocol was expanded to enroll patients who had received more than two prior cytotoxic regimens.

Results

Twenty-seven patients were enrolled onto the first cohort, and a total of 71 patients are included in this analysis. These patients had undergone a median of four prior treatments, and 62 patients (87%) had advanced-stage disease (stage IIB, n = 15; stage III, n= 6; or stage IV, n = 41). Toxicities included nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and transient thrombocytopenia and granulocytopenia. Pharmacokinetics were evaluated with the first administration of romidepsin. Complete responses were observed in four patients, and partial responses were observed in 20 patients for an overall response rate of 34% (95% CI, 23% to 46%). The median duration of response was 13.7 months.

Conclusion

The histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin has single-agent clinical activity with significant and durable responses in patients with CTCL.
Prospective Multicenter Comparison of Models to Predict Four or More Involved Axillary Lymph Nodes in Patients With Breast Cancer With One to Three Metastatic Sentinel Lymph Nodes
Authors: Werkoff Gabrielle , Lambaudie Eric , Fondrinier Eric , Levêque Jean , Marchal Fréderic , Uzan Michele , Barranger Emmanuel , Guillemin François , Darai Emile , Uzan Serge , Houvenaeghel Gilles , Rouzier Roman , Coutant Charles
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Three models have been developed to predict four or more involved axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) in patients with breast cancer with one to three involved sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Two scores were developed by Chagpar et al (Louisville scores excluding or including method of detection), and a nomogram was developed by Katz et al. The purpose of our investigation was to compare these models in a prospective, multicenter study.

Patients and Methods

Our study involved a cohort of 536 patients having one to three involved SLNs who underwent ALN dissection. We evaluated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration (for the Katz nomogram only), false-negative (FN) rate, and clinical utility of the three models. Results were compared with the optimal logistic regression (OLR) model that was developed from the validation cohort.

Results

Among the 536 patients, 57 patients (10.6%) had ≥ four involved ALNs. The AUC for the Katz nomogram was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.81 to 0.86). The Louisville score excluding method of detection was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.72 to 0.78). The Louisville score including method of detection was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.79). The FN rates were 2.5% (eight of 321 patients), 1.8% (two of 109 patients), and 0% (zero of 27 patients) for the Katz nomogram and the Louisville scores excluding and including method of detection, respectively. The Katz nomogram was well calibrated. Optimism-corrected bootstrap estimate AUC of the OLR model was 0.86. Using this result as a reasonable target for an external model, the performance of the Katz nomogram was remarkable.

Conclusion

We validated the three models for their use in clinical practice. The Katz nomogram outperformed the two other models.
Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a Yields High Rates of Hematologic and Molecular Response in Patients With Advanced Essential Thrombocythemia and Polycythemia Vera
Authors: Quintás-Cardama Alfonso , Kantarjian Hagop , Manshouri Taghi , Luthra Rajyalakshmi , Estrov Zeev , Pierce Sherry , Richie Mary Ann , Borthakur Gautam , Konopleva Marina , Cortes Jorge , Verstovsek Srdan
Published: October 2009

Purpose

We conducted a phase II study of pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN-α-2a) in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV).

Patients and Methods

Seventy-nine patients (40 with PV and 39 with ET) have been treated. Median time from diagnosis to PEG-IFN-α-2a was 54 months in patients with PV and 33 months in patients with ET. Eighty-one percent of patients had received prior therapy. The first three patients received PEG-IFN-α-2a at 450 μg weekly. As a result of poor tolerance, this dose was decreased in a stepwise manner to a current starting dose of 90 μg weekly. Seventy-seven patients are evaluable and have been observed for a median of 21 months.

Results

The overall hematologic response rate was 80% in PV and 81% in ET (complete in 70% and 76% of patients, respectively). The JAK2V617F mutation was detected in 18 patients with ET and 38 patients with PV; sequential measurements by a pyrosequencing assay were available in 16 patients with ET and 35 patients with PV. The molecular response rate was 38% in ET and 54% in PV, being complete (undetectable JAK2V617F) in 6% and 14%, respectively. The JAK2V617F mutant allele burden continued to decrease with no clear evidence for a plateau. The tolerability of PEG-IFN-α-2a at 90 μg weekly was excellent.

Conclusion

PEG-IFN-α-2a resulted in remarkable clinical activity, high rates of molecular response, and acceptable toxicity in patients with advanced ET or PV. The ability of PEG-IFN-α-2a to induce complete molecular responses suggests selective targeting of the malignant clone.
Phosphatidylinositol 3 Kinase/Akt Signal Relay Cooperates with Smad in Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2-Induced Colony Stimulating Factor-1 (CSF-1) Expression and Osteoclast Differentiation
Authors: Mandal Chandi C. , Ghosh Choudhury Goutam , Ghosh-Choudhury Nandini
Published: October 2009

Murine spleen cells produce mature osteoclasts when cocultured with osteoblastic cells. Colony-stimulating factor (CSF)-1 is the growth factor required for differentiating the monocyte-macrophage precursor cells into preosteoclasts. Bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling in osteoblasts regulates bone mass in mice, suggesting a role of BMP in osteoclastogenesis along with osteoblast activity. The intracellular signal transduction cross talk regulating the osteoblastic production of CSF-1 as a mechanism of BMP-induced osteoclastogenesis is described in this report. We have recently described the involvement of Smad 1/5 in BMP-2-induced CSF-1 expression and osteoclast formation. In this study, using the pharmacological inhibitors and the adenovirus (Ad) vectors expressing dominant-negative (DN) phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), the PI3K-signaling inhibitor, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome 10 (PTEN) or DN Akt kinase in the in vitro coculture assay, we show an essential role of the lipid kinase cascade in BMP-2-mediated multinucleated osteoclast formation and CSF-1 mRNA expression, transcription, and secretion. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling blocked the binding of Smads 1/5 to the CSF-1 BMP-responsive element present in the CSF-1 promoter, resulting in attenuation of Smad-dependent CSF-1 transcription. Furthermore, PI3K inhibition and DN Akt prevented association of the transcriptional coactivator, CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) binding protein (CBP), with Smads 1/5. Together, these data for the first time demonstrate that PI3K-dependent Akt activation regulates BMP-2-induced CSF-1 expression and provides a mechanism for osteoblastic cell-assisted osteoclast differentiation.
Central Administration of Resveratrol Improves Diet-Induced Diabetes
Authors: Ramadori Giorgio , Gautron Laurent , Fujikawa Teppei , Vianna Claudia R. , Elmquist Joel K. , Coppari Roberto
Published: October 2009

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound that activates nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase SIRT1. Resveratrol has recently been shown to exert potent antidiabetic actions when orally delivered to animal models of type 2 diabetes. However, the tissue(s) mediating these beneficial effects is unknown. Because SIRT1 is expressed in central nervous system (CNS) neurons known to control glucose and insulin homeostasis, we hypothesized that resveratrol antidiabetic effects are mediated by the brain. Here, we report that long-term intracerebroventricular infusion of resveratrol normalizes hyperglycemia and greatly improves hyperinsulinemia in diet-induced obese and diabetic mice. It is noteworthy that these effects are independent of changes in body weight, food intake, and circulating leptin levels. In addition, CNS resveratrol delivery improves hypothalamic nuclear factor-κB inflammatory signaling by reducing acetylated-RelA/p65 and total RelA/p65 protein contents, and inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB α and IκB kinase β mRNA levels. Furthermore, this treatment leads to reduced hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 mRNA and protein levels and ameliorates pyruvate-induced hyperglycemia in this mouse model of type 2 diabetes. Collectively, our results unveiled a previously unrecognized key role for the CNS in mediating the antidiabetic actions of resveratrol.
The Insulin Effect on Cerebrocortical Theta Activity Is Associated with Serum Concentrations of Saturated Nonesterified Fatty Acids
Authors: Tschritter Otto , Preissl Hubert , Hennige Anita M. , Sartorius Tina , Grichisch Yuko , Stefan Norbert , Guthoff Martina , Düsing Stephan , Machann Jürgen , Schleicher Erwin , Cegan Alexander , Birbaumer Niels , Fritsche Andreas , Häring Hans-Ulrich
Published: October 2009

Context: Insulin action in the brain contributes to adequate regulation of body weight, neuronal survival, and suppression of endogenous glucose production. We previously demonstrated by magnetoencephalography in lean humans that insulin stimulates activity in beta and theta frequency bands, whereas this effect was abolished in obese individuals.

Objective: The present study aims to define metabolic signals associated with the suppression of the cerebrocortical response in obese humans.

Design and Setting: We determined insulin-mediated modulation of spontaneous cerebrocortical activity by magnetoencephalography during a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and related it to measures of ectopic fat deposition and mediators of peripheral insulin resistance. Visceral fat mass and intrahepatic lipid content were quantified by magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze associations of cerebrocortical insulin sensitivity and metabolic markers related to obesity.

Participants: Forty-nine healthy, nondiabetic humans participated in the study.

Results: In a multiple regression, insulin-mediated stimulation of theta activity was negatively correlated to body mass index, visceral fat mass, and intrahepatic lipid content. Although fasting saturated nonesterified fatty acids mediated the correlations of theta activity with abdominal and intrahepatic lipid stores, adipocytokines displayed no independent correlation with insulin-mediated cortical activity in the theta frequency band.

Conclusions: Thus, insulin action at the level of cerebrocortical activity in the brain is diminished in the presence of elevated levels of saturated nonesterified fatty acids.

High serum concentrations of saturated nonesterified fatty acids are associated with a decreased insulin effect on cortical activity in the human brain.
Effects of Aromatase Inhibition on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Turnover in Older Men with Low Testosterone Levels
Authors: Burnett-Bowie Sherri-Ann M. , McKay Elizabeth A. , Lee Hang , Leder Benjamin Z.
Published: October 2009

Context: Aging is associated with declining gonadal steroid production, low bone mineral density (BMD), and fragility fractures. The efficacy and safety of testosterone replacement in older men remains uncertain.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the effects of aromatase inhibition on BMD in older men with low testosterone levels.

Design and Setting: This was a 1-yr, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that was conducted at a tertiary care academic center in Boston, MA.

Participants: Participants included 69 men aged 60+ yr with borderline or low testosterone levels and hypogonadal symptoms.

Intervention: Intervention included 1 mg anastrozole daily or placebo.

Main Outcome Measures: Changes in gonadal steroid hormone levels, BMD, and bone turnover markers were measured.

Results: Mean serum testosterone increased from 319 ± 93 ng/dl at baseline to 524±139 ng/dl at month 3 (P < 0.0001) and declined slightly to 474 ± 145 ng/dl by 1 yr. Estradiol levels decreased from 15 ± 4 pg/ml at baseline to 12 ± 4 pg/ml at month 3 and then remained stable (P < 0.0001). Posterior-anterior (PA) spine BMD decreased in the anastrozole group as compared with placebo (P = 0.0014). In the anastrozole group, PA spine BMD decreased from 1.121 ± 0.141 g/cm2 to 1.102 ± 0.138 g/cm2, whereas in the placebo group, PA spine BMD increased from 1.180 ± 0.145 g/cm2 to 1.189 ± 0.146 g/cm2. Qualitatively similar, but not statistically significant, changes occurred at the other sites. Bone turnover markers were not affected by anastrozole therapy.

Conclusions: In older men, aromatase inhibition increases testosterone levels, decreases estradiol levels, and appears to decrease BMD. Aromatase inhibition does not improve skeletal health in aging men with low or low normal testosterone levels.
The transmembrane protein CBP plays a role in transiently anchoring small clusters of Thy-1, a GPI-anchored protein, to the cytoskeleton
Authors: Chen Yun , Veracini Laurence , Benistant Christine , Jacobson Ken
Published: October 2009

It remains unclear how GPI-anchored proteins (GPIAPs), which lack cytoplasmic domains, transduce signals triggered by specific ligation. Such signal transduction has been speculated to require the ligated GPIAP to associate with membrane-spanning proteins that communicate with obligate cytoplasmic proteins. Transient anchorage of crosslinked proteins on the cell surface was previously characterized by single-particle tracking, and temporary association with the actin cytoskeleton was hypothesized to cause regulated anchorage. GPIAPs, such as Thy-1, require clustering, cholesterol and Src-family kinase (SFK) activity to become transiently anchored. By contrast, a transmembrane protein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which has a PDZ-binding motif in its cytoplasmic C-terminus that binds the ERM adaptor EBP50, exhibits anchorage that strictly requires EBP50 but has little dependence on cholesterol or SFK. We hypothesized that a transmembrane protein would be required to mediate the linkage between Thy-1 and the cytoskeleton. Here, we present evidence, obtained by shRNA knockdown, that the transmembrane protein Csk-binding protein (CBP) plays an obligatory role in the transient anchorage of Thy1. Furthermore, either a dominant-negative form of CBP that did not bind EBP50 or a dominant-negative EBP50 drastically reduced transient anchorage of Thy-1, indicating the involvement of this adaptor. Finally, we speculate on the role of phosphorylation in the regulation of transient anchorage.
Dominant pro-vasopressin mutants that cause diabetes insipidus form disulfide-linked fibrillar aggregates in the endoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Birk Julia , Friberg Michael A. , Prescianotto-Baschong Cristina , Spiess Martin , Rutishauser Jonas
Published: October 2009

Autosomal dominant neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus results from mutations in the precursor protein of the antidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressin. Mutant prohormone is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum of vasopressinergic neurons and causes their progressive degeneration by an unknown mechanism. Here, we show that several dominant pro-vasopressin mutants form disulfide-linked homo-oligomers and develop large aggregations visible by immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy, both in a fibroblast and a neuronal cell line. Double-labeling showed the pro-vasopressin aggregates to colocalize with the chaperone calreticulin, indicating that they originated from the endoplasmic reticulum. The aggregates revealed a remarkable fibrillar substructure. Bacterially expressed and purified mutant pro-vasopressin spontaneously formed fibrils under oxidizing conditions. Mutagenesis experiments showed that the presence of cysteines, but no specific single cysteine, is essential for disulfide oligomerization and aggregation in vivo. Our findings assign autosomal dominant diabetes insipidus to the group of neurodegenerative diseases associated with the formation of fibrillar protein aggregates.
Identification of targets of Prox1 during in vitro vascular differentiation from embryonic stem cells: functional roles of HoxD8 in lymphangiogenesis
Authors: Harada Kaori , Yamazaki Tomoko , Iwata Caname , Yoshimatsu Yasuhiro , Sase Hitoshi , Mishima Koichi , Morishita Yasuyuki , Hirashima Masanori , Oike Yuichi , Suda Toshio , Miura Naoyuki , Watabe Tetsuro , Miyazono Kohei
Published: October 2009

During lymphatic development, Prox1 plays central roles in the differentiation of blood vascular endothelial cells (BECs) into lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), and subsequently in the maturation and maintenance of lymphatic vessels. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Prox1 elicits these functions remain to be elucidated. Here, we identified FoxC2 and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), which play important roles in the maturation of lymphatic vessels, as novel targets of Prox1 in mouse embryonic-stem-cell-derived endothelial cells (MESECs). Furthermore, we found that expression of HoxD8 was significantly induced by Prox1 in MESECs, a finding confirmed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human dermal LECs (HDLECs). In mouse embryos, HoxD8 expression was significantly higher in LECs than in BECs. In a model of inflammatory lymphangiogenesis, diameters of lymphatic vessels of the diaphragm were increased by adenovirally transduced HoxD8. We also found that HoxD8 induces Ang2 expression in HDLECs and HUVECs. Moreover, we found that HoxD8 induces Prox1 expression in HUVECs and that knockdown of HoxD8 reduces this expression in HDLECs, suggesting that Prox1 expression in LECs is maintained by HoxD8. These findings indicate that transcriptional networks of Prox1 and HoxD8 play important roles in the maturation and maintenance of lymphatic vessels.
Viability of Biomass Fueled Steam Turbine Cogeneration with Power Export for an Asian Plywood Industry
Authors: Mujeebu M. Abdul , Abdullah M. Z. , Ashok S.
Published: October 2009

Cogeneration is proved to be one of the promising energy management techniques, which offers an efficient method of producing electricity and useful thermal energy from a common source. In the present study the economic and technical feasibility of implementing steam turbine based on cogeneration in a plywood industry at south India with power export is analyzed. On the basis of “Heat to Power Ratio”, it is found that steam turbine cogeneration is the best option. Detailed thermal analysis shows that the cogeneration system with waste wood as fuel can improve the energy efficiency by 41%. The economic evaluation shows that the revenue from power export and sale of excess waste wood can provide almost 100% saving in the annual operating cost compared to the existing facility. The additional investment incurred is expected to be paid back within 2 years.
Alteration Effects of Hydrocarbon Dissipation in the Dongsheng Uranium Deposit, Ordos Basin — Explanation for Green Alteration and Bleaching Phenomenon
Authors: Bolin Wu , Guowu Xu , Chiyang Liu , Xinwei Qiu , Jianqiang Wang , Liang Hu , Benhao Zhang
Published: October 2009

Obvious features of the Neopaleozoic natural gas dissipation have been known in the north part of the mid of Ordos Basin where the natural gas had concentrated. Because of mutual actions of the superficial blanket where the natural gas effused through the surrounding light ground, various reductive alterations were formed. Large scale of green-color alteration zone was formed in the Zhiluo formation of the north-easern basin, and bleaching phenomenon occurred on the top of the Yan'an formation. Studies have shown that green sandstone is molded by low organic carbon and sulfur, high ratio of Fe2+ / Fe3+ and Th / U (non-mineralized rock). Mineral containing abundant alkaline and reduced state of iron magnesium chlorite clay minerals is the internal cause of green. Fluid composition and carbon-sulfur isotope tests have shown that the fluid has the characteristics of organic matter (gas). From a geological point of view, green alteration containing oxidation rocks, residue can be seen with “tongue” or “roll-like” shape in interlayer oxidation zone. The bleached sandstones on the top of Yan'an Formation under Dongsheng deposit belt have low contents of iron, high ratio of Fe2+ / Fe3+ and Th / U. Minerals that contain abundant clay mineral kaolinite are the internal cause of white coloring. The study of fluid from Shanxi formation in north part of the basin indicated that the dissipative direction of natural gas was from south to north, and finally converged in northeastern part of the study area. Ultimately the gas leakage “window” formed in the Wulangeer paleohigh in northeast of the basin which was found to contain abundant oil seepages. Alteration zone located in the scale of hydrocarbon dissipation and closed to the leakage “window” region has a favorable reduction geochemical environment on the space. The time of hydrocarbon dissipation, alteration and uranium mineralization are consistent with the ages. Therefore the escaped hydrocarbon and its reductive alteration had a good coupling relation between time and space. According to the tests in the study area, high contents of aliphatic acid carbomethoxy compound were found in the organic material of uranium bearing sandstone of Zhiluo formation. Research has shown that they were formed by the reaction of dispersed Neopaleozoic natural gas and the groundwater solution containing uranylion. Similarly, the truth also proved that the north east part of Dongsheng area had experienced large-scale dissipative and reductive alteration effect caused by natural gas.
Subdivisions of the Central-East Asia Multi-Energy Minerals Metallogenetic Domain and Types of Those Basins
Authors: Liu Chiyang , Qiu Xinwei , Wu Bolin , Zhao Hongge
Published: October 2009

More than 82 percent of confirmed sandstone-type uranium deposits coexist with confirmed oil-gas or coalfields in the world, which reflects a ubiquitous phenomenon of coexistence and accumulation of multi-energy minerals including oil, gas, coal and uranium in the same basin. It happens mostly in the Central-east Asia energy basins. Across China, Mongolia and some central Asian countries, the giant Central-east Asia metallogenetic domain (CEAMD) stretches for more than 6000 km, from Songliao Basin of China in the east to Caspian Sea in the west. We have divided CEAMD into four mineralization zones according to the different characteristics of regional structures, basins evolution and mineralization conditions: Songliao-Ordos, Alashan-Hexi corridor, Xinjiang and Central Asia. There are remarkable differences in the basic characteristics, evolution process, energy minerals occurrence conditions of the energy basins in these mineralization zones. The authors propose that the relatively stable regional tectonic background and moderate (weaker) structural deformation are probably the necessary conditions for the formation, coexistence and preservation of large and medium-scaled sandstone-type uranium deposits, oil-gas fields and coalfields. This indicates that primarily large to medium scale intracraton basins, intermediate massif basins are suitable to co-exist with medium to small scale residue basins and accumulates oil-gas, coal and uranium in great volumes. Medium scale rift basins which developed in the late of Mesozoic were also provided with relatively good conditions for accumulation/mineralization and coexistence of multi-energy minerals.
An Approximate Solution for the Rayleigh-Stokes Problem for a Heated Generalized Second Grade Fluid with Fractional Derivative Model Using the Adomian Decomposition Method
Authors: Yu Q. , Song J. , Liu F. , Anh V. , Turner I.
Published: October 2009

The Rayleigh-Stokes problem for a generalized second grade fluid subject to a flow on a heated flat plate and within a heated edge is investigated. Fractional calculus is used for description of such a viscoelastic fluid. We employ the Adomian decomposition method to construct an approximate solution. Some examples are presented to show the efficiency and simplicity of the method.
Application of Genetic Algorithm to the Position Optimization of the Outriggers for Trimaran
Authors: Chen Shunhuai , Cui Lianqiong
Published: October 2009

In multi-hulls ship development the position optimization of the outriggers for Trimaran has to be taken into account. This problem may be solved by multi-objects nonlinear program. In this paper, The Rankine Source method based on the potential flow theory is used to predict the wave-making resistance of the trimaran and the Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithms (MOGAs) is used to optimize the position of the outriggers and the optimum results of CFD method were given too. The results show that MOGAs is an efficient and qualified engineering optimum design method in ship design.
Proper Scoring Rules, Dominated Forecasts, and Coherence
Authors: Schervish Mark J. , Seidenfeld Teddy , Kadane Joseph B.
Published: October 2009

The concept of coherent probabilities and conditional probabilities through a gambling argument and through a parallel argument based on a quadratic scoring rule was introduced by de Finetti (de Finetti, B. 1974. The Theory of Probability. John Wiley & Sons, New York). He showed that the two arguments lead to the same concept of coherence. When dealing with events only, there is a rich class of scoring rules that might be used in place of the quadratic scoring rule. We give conditions under which a general strictly proper scoring rule can replace the quadratic scoring rule while preserving the equivalence of de Finetti's two arguments. In proving our results, we present a strengthening of the usual minimax theorem. We also present generalizations of de Finetti's fundamental theorem of probability to deal with conditional probabilities.
On the Choice of Baselines in Multiattribute Portfolio Analysis: A Cautionary Note
Authors: Clemen Robert T. , Smith James E.
Published: October 2009

In multiattribute portfolio optimization, a decision maker must evaluate a number of projects on multiple dimensions and then select the set of projects that optimizes the portfolio's overall value. In this note, we discuss the importance of establishing an appropriate baseline score for not doing a project in multiattribute portfolio analysis. We believe that practitioners often implicitly assume that not doing a project results in the worst possible score on all attributes. We argue that this assumption is often inappropriate and may lead to incorrect recommendations.
Depth Profiling of the Optical Absorption Coefficient in Ultraviolet-Degraded Poly(Vinylchloride) Films by Dual Beam Light Profile Microscopy
Authors: Power J. F. , Fu S. W. , Nepotchatykh O. V.
Published: October 2009

Dual beam laser light profile microscopy (LPM) was applied in this work to the depth mapping of the optical absorption coefficient in photo-degraded poly(vinyl chloride) films. Depth profiles followed the absorption coefficient of a conjugated polyene photoproduct at visible wavelengths in photolyzed films of approximately 200 μm thickness. Both continuous and layered (separable laminate) films were studied. The absorption coefficient profiles reconstructed from photo-degraded thin films showed the classic concentration profiles seen in the literature for PVC degraded in the presence of oxygen and nitrogen atmospheres. In the case of single thin layers with continuous properties, the depth profiles were smooth and regular with minimum spatial noise. In the LPM of laminate structures, more optical anomalies were present because of the multi-ply interfacial structures that appeared in both the images and the reconstructed depth profiles. Notwithstanding, it was possible to profile the optical absorption coefficient at a level of error comparable to standard microtome methods. The latter was determined by comparing the LPM results to a destructive layer-by-layer analysis performed in parallel on the imaged materials. The dual beam LPM method should be generally useful for establishing polyene concentration profiles in industrial materials produced by photochemical, thermal, and chemical degradation mechanisms.
A High-Sensitivity Femtosecond to Microsecond Time-Resolved Infrared Vibrational Spectrometer
Authors: Towrie Michael , Gabrielsson Anders , Matousek Pavel , Parker Anthony W. , Rodriguez Ana Maria Blanco , Vlček Antonín
Published: October 2009

We describe an apparatus that provides, for the first time, a seamless bridge between femtosecond and microsecond time-resolved Raman and infrared vibrational spectroscopy. The laser system comprises an actively Q-switched sub-nanosecond pulsed kilohertz laser electronically synchronized to an ultrafast titanium sapphire regenerative amplifier to within 0.2 ns. The ultrafast amplifier provides the stable probe light source enabling high-sensitivity infrared vibrational spectroscopy of transients. Time-resolved infrared spectra of the excited-state relaxation dynamics of metal carbonyl compounds are presented to illustrate the capability of the apparatus, and transient data is resolved from 1 picosecond to over 100 microseconds. The results are compared to conventional nanosecond Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and laser based flash photolysis time-resolved infrared technology.
Mid-Infrared Fiber-Optic Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy of the Solid—Liquid Phase Transition of Water
Authors: Millo Arnon , Raichlin Yosef , Katzir Abraham
Published: October 2009

Measurements of mid-infrared (MIR) absorption spectra of water and heavy water were carried out by fiber-optic evanescent wave spectroscopy, using silver halide (AgClBr) infrared fibers. Such measurements were performed for the first time on one sample, during the solid–liquid phase transition. From the variation of the spectra with temperature we found a new isosbestic point (at 3280 cm−1 for H2O or at 2475 cm−1 for D2O) and we identified five components of the O–H (O–D) stretch band. These phenomena have provided new information about the molecular structure of water.
Real-Time Imaging of Tunable Adenosine 5-Triphosphate Release from an MCM-41-Type Mesoporous Silica Nanosphere-Based Delivery System
Authors: Gruenhagen Jason A. , Lai Cheng-Yu , Radu Daniela R. , Lin Victor S.-Y. , Yeung Edward S.
Published: October 2009

We studied a mesoporous silica nanosphere (MSN) material with tunable release capability for drug delivery applications. We employed luciferase chemiluminescence imaging to investigate the kinetics and mechanism of the adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP) release with various disulfide-reducing agents as uncapping triggers. ATP molecules were encapsulated within the MSNs by immersing dry nanospheres in aqueous solutions of ATP followed by capping of the mesopores with chemically removable caps, such as cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles and poly(amido amine) dendrimers (PAMAM), via a disulfide linkage. By varying the chemical nature of the “cap” and “trigger” molecules in our MSN system, we discovered that the release profiles could indeed be regulated in a controllable fashion.
Attenuated Total Internal Reflection Infrared Microspectroscopic Imaging Using a Large-Radius Germanium Internal Reflection Element and a Linear Array Detector
Authors: Patterson Brian M. , Havrilla George J.
Published: October 2009

The number of techniques and instruments available for Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopic imaging has grown significantly over the past few years. Attenuated total internal reflectance (ATR) FT-IR microspectroscopy reduces sample preparation time and has simplified the analysis of many difficult samples. FT-IR imaging has become a powerful analytical tool using either a focal plane array or a linear array detector, especially when coupled with a chemometric analysis package. The field of view of the ATR-IR microspectroscopic imaging area can be greatly increased from 300 × 300 μm to 2500 × 2500 μm using a larger internal reflection element of 12.5 mm radius instead of the typical 1.5 mm radius. This gives an area increase of 70× before aberrant effects become too great. Parameters evaluated include the change in penetration depth as a function of beam displacement, measurements of the active area, magnification factor, and change in spatial resolution over the imaging area. Drawbacks such as large file size will also be discussed. This technique has been successfully applied to the FT-IR imaging of polydimethylsiloxane foam cross-sections, latent human fingerprints, and a model inorganic mixture, which demonstrates the usefulness of the method for pharmaceuticals.
Detection and Mapping of Latent Fingerprints by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Taschuk M. T. , Tsui Y. Y. , Fedosejevs R.
Published: October 2009

Detection of latent fingerprints on a Si wafer by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is demonstrated using approximately 120 fs pulses at 400 nm with energies of 84 ± 7 μJ. The presence of a fingerprint ridge is found by observing the Na emission lines from the transferred skin oil. The presence of the thin layer of transferred oil was also found to be sufficient to suppress the LIBS signal from the Si substrate, giving an alternative method of mapping the latent fingerprint using the Si emission. A two-dimensional image of a latent fingerprint can be successfully collected using these techniques.
Identification and Characterization of Artists' Red Dyes and Their Mixtures by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Whitney Alyson V. , Casadio Francesca , Van Duyne Richard P.
Published: October 2009

Silver film over nanospheres (AgFONs) were successfully employed as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates to characterize several artists' red dyes including: alizarin, purpurin, carminic acid, cochineal, and lac dye. Spectra were collected on sample volumes (1 × 10−6 M or 15 ng/μL) similar to those that would be found in a museum setting and were found to be higher in resolution and consistency than those collected on silver island films (AgIFs). In fact, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this work presents the highest resolution spectrum of the artists' material cochineal to date. In order to determine an optimized SERS system for dye identification, experiments were conducted in which laser excitation wavelengths were matched with correlating AgFON localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) maxima. Enhancements of approximately two orders of magnitude were seen when resonance SERS conditions were met in comparison to non-resonance SERS conditions. Finally, because most samples collected in a museum contain multiple dyestuffs, AgFONs were employed to simultaneously identify individual dyes within several dye mixtures. These results indicate that AgFONs have great potential to be used to identify not only real artwork samples containing a single dye but also samples containing dyes mixtures.
A Practical Algorithm to Remove Cosmic Spikes in Raman Imaging Data for Pharmaceutical Applications
Authors: Zhang Lin , Henson Mark J.
Published: October 2009

Raman dispersive microscopic imaging techniques are finding ever-increasing applications in pharmaceutical research for their ability to provide spatial and spectral information about the sample. Spectral data acquired from dispersive Raman instruments utilizing charge-coupled device detectors are characterized by occasional high intensity spikes arising from cosmic ray events. These random cosmic spikes are superimposed on chemically meaningful spectra. Due to their high intensity and potential influence on variance structures, it is often crucial to filter cosmic spikes from data prior to the use of multivariate algorithms to extract chemical information from the image cube. Some extremely challenging cosmic spikes are found to seriously interfere with multivariate data analysis for our application, e.g., spikes with bandwidth greater than the bandwidth from species of interest, spikes in neighboring image pixels occurring at the same spectral channels, spikes right on top of the band of interest, etc. A practical algorithm is proposed for semi-automated cosmic spike removal. The algorithm is computationally efficient, conceptually simple, and easy to implement. It is an alternative to methods using repetitive measurements by taking advantage of the spatial characteristic of imaging techniques and existing knowledge from the formulation. The algorithm has been shown to generate recovered spectra with negligible spectral distortion. The utility of the algorithm will be illustrated by the analysis of Raman images of pharmaceutical samples.
Vibrational and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectra of 1,6-Diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene
Authors: Osorio-Roman Igor O. , Vargas Victor C. , Aroca Ricardo F.
Published: October 2009

The vibrational spectra and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) are discussed. The fundamental vibrational frequencies, overtones, and combinations observed in the infrared and Raman spectra of DPH are reported. The interpretation of the observed vibrational spectra was supported by a complete geometry optimization, followed by vibrational frequency and intensity computations for the cis- and trans- isomers of the DPH using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. Because the molecule is photo-chemically active on Ag metal surfaces, the best SERS results for silver islands were obtained at low temperature and low energy density of the exciting laser line. DPH SERS on Au films was obtained at room temperature.
Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of Solid Polymer Films: Effects of Sample Orientation
Authors: Merten Christian , Kowalik Thomas , Hartwig Andreas
Published: October 2009

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of anisotropic thin solid samples are often superimposed with large contributions of linear birefringence and linear dichroism. In this study a theoretical approach is given on how to extract the true VCD spectrum out of such superimposed spectra. To verify this approach, the VCD spectra of achiral polymer films were examined. The polymers are supposed to give a zero line as VCD spectrum after eliminating the linear contributions. Applying our approach, in which four VCD spectra in different but selected sample orientations are recorded, and calculating their average, leads to the expected result, i.e., a zero line for achiral polymers. The advantage of this method for the elimination of artifacts from solid-state VCD spectra is that no further measurements are required (e.g., linear dichroism measurements or the determination of the orientation with the maximum anisotropy).
Removal of Surface Reflection from Above-Water Visible—Near Infrared Spectroscopic Measurements
Authors: Singh Nitin K. , Bajwa Sreekala G. , Chaubey Indrajeet
Published: October 2009

Water quality estimation in fresh and marine water systems with in situ above-water spectroscopy requires measurement of the volume reflectance (ρv) of water bodies. However, the above-water radiometric measurements include surface reflection ( Lr) as a significant component along with volume reflection. The Lr carries no information on water quality, and hence it is considered as a major source of error in in situ above-water spectroscopy. Currently, there are no methods to directly measure Lr. The common method to estimate Lr assumes a constant water surface reflectance (ρs) of 2%, and then subtracts the Lr thus calculated from the above-water radiance measurements to obtain the volume reflection ( Lv). The problem with this method is that the amount of ρs varies with environmental conditions. Therefore, a methodology was developed in this study for direct measurement of water volume reflectance above water at nadir view geometry. Other objectives of this study were to analyze the contribution of Lr to the total water reflectance under various environmental conditions in a controlled setup and to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model to estimate ρs from environmental conditions. The results showed that Lr contributed 20–54% of total upwelling radiance from water at nadir. The ρs was highly variable with environmental conditions. Using sun altitude, wind speed, diffuse lighting, and wavelength as inputs, the ANN model was able to accurately simulate ρs, with a low root mean square error of 0.003. A sensitivity analysis with the ANN model indicated that sun altitude and diffuse light had the highest influence on ρs, contributing to over 82% of predictability of the ANN model. Therefore, the ANN modeling framework can be an accurate tool for estimating surface reflectance in applications that require volume reflectance of water.
A New Optical Parametric Amplifier Based on Lithium Thioindate Used for Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopic Studies of the Amide I Mode of an Interfacial Model Peptide
Authors: York Roger L. , Holinga George J. , Guyer Dean R. , McCrea Keith R. , Ward Robert S. , Somorjai Gabor A.
Published: October 2009

We describe a new optical parametric amplifier (OPA) that employs lithium thioindate, LiInS2 (LIS), to create tunable infrared light between 1500 cm−1 and 2000 cm−1. The OPA based on LIS described within provides intense infrared light with a good beam profile relative to similar OPAs built on silver gallium sulfide, AgGaS2 (AGS), or silver gallium selenide, AgGaSe2 (AGSe). We have used the new LIS OPA to perform surface-specific sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy of the amide I vibrational mode of a model peptide at the hydrophobic deuterated polystyrene ( d8-PS)–phosphate buffered saline interface. This model polypeptide (which is known to be an α-helix in the bulk solution under the high ionic strength conditions employed here) contains hydrophobic leucyl (L) residues and hydrophilic lysyl (K) residues, with sequence Ac-LKKLLKLLKKLLKL-NH2. The amide I mode at the d8-PS-buffer interface was found to be centered around 1655 cm−1. This can be interpreted as the peptide having maintained its α-helical structure when adsorbed on the hydrophobic surface, although other interpretations are discussed.
Potential of Far-Ultraviolet Absorption Spectroscopy as a Highly Sensitive Analysis Method for Aqueous Solutions. Part II: Monitoring the Quality of Semiconductor Wafer Cleaning Solutions Using Attenuated Total Reflection
Authors: Higashi Noboru , Ikehata Akifumi , Kariyama Naomi , Ozaki Yukihiro
Published: October 2009

Far-ultraviolet (FUV) spectroscopy combined with attenuated total reflection (ATR) is employed for direct measurement of the concentrations of semiconductor wafer cleaning fluids such as SC-1 (aqueous solution of NH3 and H2O2) and SC-2 (aqueous solution of HCl and H2O2). FUV spectra of these aqueous solutions in the 170–200 nm region are highly sensitive to changes in both hydrogen bonding and hydration. Although ATR measurement results in lower absorptivity compared to transmittance measurement, it is possible to increase absorption with greater evanescent wave penetration depth using a low refractive index internal reflection element (IRE). We adopt quartz as an IRE material. Since the refractive index of quartz becomes lower than that of water in the low energy side of an intense absorption band due to the n → σ* transition of water, the quartz IRE yields non-total reflection wavelength regions. However, near 175 nm the effective absorptivity of the tail of water's absorption band can be successfully enlarged, making the FUV-ATR technique suitable for measuring the concentrations of the components in the semiconductor wafer cleaning fluids. In the present study we prepared the same cleaning fluids as those used in actual semiconductor fabrication and measured their FUV-ATR spectra in the 150–300 nm wavelength range. It was found that even with the quartz IRE one can measure FUV-ATR spectra under total reflection conditions at 175 nm or above. We created calibration models for predicting both NH3 and H2O2 in the concentration ranges of 0–10% in SC-1 using multiple linear regression (MLR). The standard deviations of the models were 0.033% and 0.265% for NH3 and H2O2, respectively. The same procedure was repeated under the same conditions for HCl and H2O2 in SC-2, yielding corresponding values of 0.018% for HCl and 0.178% for H2O2.