bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovery of Discrete Structured Bubbles within Lunar Regolith Impact Glasses
Authors: Zbik Marek S. , Song Yen-Fang , Wang Chun-Chieh , Frost Ray L.
Published: January 2012

The unusual morphology and internal structure of bubbles within lunar regolith impact glasses have been studied using traditional scanning electron microscopy and the novel technique transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM), with 3D tomography reconstruction. Here, we show the previously unknown phenomenon of building a highly porous cellular structure within bubbles in glassy particles of the dust fraction of lunar regolith. Vesicles within studied lunar glasses are filled in with submicron-sized particles as shown in the presented micrograph. These particles consist of glass nano in size elements. What is shown in the TXM tomography reconstruction anaglyph demonstrates cellular-like, 3D structure where oblique probably glassy fine particles down to 100 nm in diameter build chains of sophisticated network. It also may be suggested that submicron and nano-sized grains present in lunar regolith are the result of particle liberation from broken glassy vesicles. This liberation takes place when regolith is exposed to constant impact pulverisation. Liberated particles are permanently enriching lunar soil in the finest soil constituent. This constituent presence in lunar regolith may be responsible for the unusual behaviour of lunar material. This unusual constituent of lunar regolith and its properties have to be better understood before our permanent lunar exploration begins.
Pesticide Concentrations in Vacuum Dust from Farm Homes: Variation between Planting and Nonplanting Seasons
Authors: Golla Vijay , Curwin Brian , Sanderson Wayne , Nishioka Marcia
Published: January 2012

The hazards of chronic low-level pesticide exposures inside homes have received little attention. Research to date does not provide answers regarding the long-term potential bioavailability of pesticides in homes and its risk factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate pesticide levels in Iowa homes during one year and assess the relationship between exposure levels and potential sources of pesticide contamination. The study involved sampling surveys of the target pesticide atrazine among 32 farm families in a three-county area of Iowa during the planting season (April–June) and nonplanting season (November-December). Dust samples were collected, and information gathered through questionnaires to evaluate pesticide migration inside homes. This study found that dust in every farm home surveyed was contaminated with atrazine during both seasons and these concentrations significantly decreased by the nonplanting season. Pesticide amounts, acreage, and spraying time determined the presence and persistence of this herbicide inside farm homes.
Ovarian Reserve Assessment for Infertility Investigation
Authors: Ramalho de Carvalho Bruno , Gomes Sobrinho David Barreira , Vieira Andréa Duarte Damasceno , Resende Manoela Porto Silva , Barbosa Antônio César Paes , Silva Adelino Amaral , Nakagava Hitomi Miura
Published: January 2012

The current trends to postpone motherhood and the increase in demand for assistance in reproductive medicine highlight the need for seeking guidelines for the establishment of individualized treatment protocols. Currently available ovarian reserve tests do not provide sufficient evidence to be solely considered ideal, but they may occupy important place in initial counseling, predicting unsatisfactory results that could be improved by individualized induction schemes and reducing excessive psychological and financial burdens, and adverse effects. In this paper, we revise the role of hormonal basal and dynamic tests, as well as ultrasonographic markers, as ovarian reserve markers, in order to provide embasement for propaedeutic strategies and their interpretation in order to have reproductive success.
Course of Antibody Response in Lyme Borreliosis Patients before and after Therapy
Authors: Aberer Elisabeth , Schwantzer Gerold
Published: January 2012

The early immune response (IR) in European Lyme borreliosis patients has not yet been studied in detail. The aim of the study was to analyse retrospectively the antibody development in 61 erythema migrans (EMs) patients depending on the duration of infection from tick bite by using a whole-cell lysate B. garinii immunoblot. The evolution of antibodies proved to be undulatory in untreated patients with two peaks for IgM at weeks 5 and 9 and for IgG at weeks 4 and 8. The analysis of IR courses after therapy identified patients constantly seropositive or seronegative and patients with repeated seroconversions with a switch, disappearance, or reappearance of anti-23 kD or anti-39 kD antibodies during the one-year period. We suggest that the antibody production in EM patients may be missed due to an undulatory IR. This phenomenon might be an as yet insufficiently researched aspect in Lyme borreliosis.
Effect of Wind Stress on the Dynamics and Stability of Nonisothermal Power-Law Film down an Inclined Plane
Authors: Uma B.
Published: January 2012

Dynamics and stability of a nonisothermal power-law liquid film down an inclined plane is considered in the presence of interfacial shear. Linear stability characteristics of the power-law liquid film using normal mode approach reveal that isothermal and evaporating films are unstable for any value of power-law index while there exists a critical value of power-law index for the case of condensate film above which condensate film ow system is always stable. This critical value of power-law index increases with the increase in shear stress at the interface. Weakly nonlinear stability analysis using method of multiple scales divulges the existence of zones due to supercritical stability and subcritical instability. The nonlinear evolution equation is solved numerically in a periodic domain. The results reveal that (1) for an isothermal dilatant (pseudoplastic) liquids, the maximum wave amplitude is always smaller (larger) than that for a Newtonian liquid and the amplitude of permanent wave increases with the increase in interfacial shear; (2) condensation of pseudoplastic film happens for the earlier instant of time when the phase change parameter increases and the effect of interfacial shear makes the film more corrugated; (3) dilatant (pseudoplastic) evaporating liquid film attains rupture faster (slower) than that of Newtonian liquid film, and the interfacial shear does not influence the time at which rupture occurs.
An Algorithm for Generating a Family of Alternating Knots
Authors: Velarde Carlos , Bribiesca Ernesto , Aguilar Wendy
Published: January 2012

An algorithm for generating a family of alternating knots (which are described by means of a chain code) is presented. The family of alternating knots is represented on the cubic lattice, that is, each alternating knot is composed of constant orthogonal straight-line segments and is described by means of a chain code. This chain code is represented by a numerical string of finite length over a finite alphabet, allowing the usage of formal-language techniques for alternating-knot representation. When an alternating knot is described by a chain, it is possible to obtain its mirroring image in an easy way. Also, we have a compression efficiency for representing alternating knots, because chain codes preserve information and allow a considerable data reduction.
Fertility Preservation in Female Cancer Patients
Authors: Kim Chung-Hoon , Jeon Gyun-Ho
Published: January 2012

With improved survival rates among cancer patients, fertility preservation is now being recognized as an issue of great importance. There are currently several methods of fertility preservation available in female cancer patients and the options and techniques via assisted reproduction and cryopreservation are increasing, but some are still experimental and continues to be evaluated. The established means of preserving fertility include embryo cryopreservation, gonadal shielding during radiation therapy, ovarian transposition, conservative gynecologic surgery such as radical trachelectomy, donor embryos/oocytes, gestational surrogacy, and adoption. The experimental methods include oocyte cryopreservation, ovarian cryopreservation and transplantation, in vitro maturation, and ovarian suppression. With advances in methods for the preservation of fertility, providing information about risk of infertility and possible options of fertility preservation to all young patients with cancer, and discussing future fertility with them should be also considered as one of the important parts of consultation at the time of cancer diagnosis.
Brouwer's Fixed Point Theorem with Isolated Fixed Points and His Fan Theorem
Authors: Tanaka Yasuhito
Published: January 2012

We show that Brouwer’s fixed point theorem with isolated fixed points is equivalent to Brouwer’s fan theorem.
Communication: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
Authors: McElroy Rob
Published: January 2012

The best way for a utility to survive a crisis is to gain customer confidence long before disaster strikes. If you wait until after a crisis occurs, the odds of winning customer support are stacked against you. That's why effective communication is a continuous, ongoing process.
How Can I Establish Water Quality Goals for Taste‐and‐Odor Control?
Authors: Burlingame Gary A.
Published: January 2012

Because water quality standards for taste‐and‐odor control aren't health based, maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for them don't exist. This article discusses how to establish your own standards based on local water conditions and consumer sensitivities and preferences.
Two‐Stage Reactive Polymer Network Forming Systems
Authors: Nair Devatha P. , Cramer Neil B. , Gaipa John C. , McBride Matthew K. , Matherly Emily M. , McLeod Robert R. , Shandas Robin , Bowman Christopher N.
Published: January 2012

There are distinct advantages to designing polymer systems that afford two distinct sets of material properties– an intermediate polymer that would enable optimum handling and processing of the material, while maintaining the ability to tune in different, final polymer properties that enable the optimal functioning of the material. In this study, by designing a series of non‐stoichiometric thiol‐acrylate systems, a polymer network is initially formed via a base catalyzed Michael addition reaction that proceeds stoichiometrically via the thiol‐acrylate “click” reaction. This self‐limiting reaction results in a polymer with excess acrylic functional groups within the network. At a later point in time, the photoinitiated, free radical polymerization of the excess acrylic functional groups results in a highly crosslinked, robust material system. These two stage reactive thiol‐acrylate networks that have intermediate stage rubbery moduli and glass transition temperatures that range from 0.5 MPa and ‐10 °C to 22 MPa and 22 °C, respectively, are formulated and characterized. The same polymer networks can then attain glass transition temperatures that range from 5 °C to 195 °C and rubbery moduli of up to 200 MPa after the subsequent photocuring stage. The two stage reactive networks formed by varying the stoichiometric ratios of the thiol and acrylate monomers were shown to perform as substrates for three specific applications: shape memory polymers, impression materials, and as optical materials for writing refractive index patterns.
Influence of Aggregation on the Performance of All‐Polymer Solar Cells Containing Low‐Bandgap Naphthalenediimide Copolymers
Authors: Schubert Marcel , Dolfen Daniel , Frisch Johannes , Roland Steffen , Steyrleuthner Robert , Stiller Burkhard , Chen Zhihua , Scherf Ullrich , Koch Norbert , Facchetti Antonio , Neher Dieter
Published: January 2012

The authors present efficient all‐polymer solar cells comprising two different low‐bandgap naphthalenediimide (NDI)‐based copolymers as acceptors and regioregular P3HT as the donor. It is shown that these naphthalene copolymers have a strong tendency to preaggregate in specific organic solvents, and that preaggregation can be completely suppressed when using suitable solvents with large and highly polarizable aromatic cores. Organic solar cells prepared from such nonaggregated polymer solutions show dramatically increased power conversion efficiencies of up to 1.4%, which is mainly due to a large increase of the short circuit current. In addition, optimized solar cells show remarkable high fill factors of up to 70%. The analysis of the blend absorbance spectra reveals a surprising anticorrelation between the degree of polymer aggregation in the solid P3HT:NDI copolymer blends and their photovoltaic performance. Scanning near‐field optical microscopy (SNOM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements reveal important information on the blend morphology. It is shown that films with high degree of aggregation and low photocurrents exhibit large‐scale phase‐separation into rather pure donor and acceptor domains. It is proposed that, by suppressing the aggregation of NDI copolymers at the early stage of film formation, the intermixing of the donor and acceptor component is improved, thereby allowing efficient harvesting of photogenerated excitons at the donor–acceptor heterojunction.
Discovery of Miller's Grizzled Langur (Presbytis hosei canicrus) in Wehea Forest Confirms the Continued Existence and Extends Known Geographical Range of an Endangered Primate
Authors: LHOTA STANISLAV , LOKEN BRENT , SPEHAR STEPHANIE , FELL ERIC , POSPĚCH ALEXANDR , KASYANTO NUNUK
Published: January 2012

Miller's Grizzled Langur (Presbytis hosei canicrus) is one of the least known and rarest primates in Borneo. With a limited geographic range along the central coast of East Kalimantan and the highly degraded Kutai National Park, its former stronghold, this subspecies is now extremely rare and has been listed as one of the world's 25 most endangered primates. From June 6 to August 2, 2011, we carried out both direct observation and camera trap surveys at two mineral springs (sepans) in the Wehea Forest, East Kutai district, East Kalimantan. Presbytis hosei canicrus was observed at the large sepan on 3 of 6 observation days and at the small sepan on 2 of 3 observation days with up to 11 individuals observed in a single day at a single site. Camera traps recorded a per day capture rate of 0.72 at the small sepan and 0.25 at the large sepan and a per photo capture rate of 0.50 and 0.005, respectively. These data suggest relatively frequent occurrence of P. h. canicrus at the sepans, but the langurs are rarely encountered elsewhere in the Wehea Forest. The discovery of P. h. canicrus in the Wehea Forest confirms the continued existence of this endangered primate and is the first solid evidence demonstrating that its geographic range extends further inland than previously thought. It is not known whether the population of P. h. canicrus within Wehea Forest is large and stable enough to be considered viable, but it is likely part of a larger population that may possibly occur across surrounding protected forests and logging concessions. Surveying this potentially large population, and securing its protection, should be a priority measure for ensuring the continued existence of P. h. canicrus.
Preparation of porous honeycomb monolith from UV‐curable monomer/dioxane solution via unidirectional freezing and UV irradiation
Authors: Okaji Rika , Taki Kentaro , Nagamine Shinsuke , Ohshima Masahiro
Published: January 2012

A well‐ordered micrometer‐scale honeycomb monolith porous polymeric material with aligned channels was successfully prepared from UV‐curable urethane diacrylate monomer and 1,4‐dioxane solutions by conducting unidirectional freezing, photopolymerization, and sublimation of the frozen solvent. UV light was irradiated into the frozen solution, and the monomer was photopolymerized and solidified in a template of 1,4‐dioxane crystals. The effects of monomer concentration, freezing rate, and viscosity of the solution on the porous structure were investigated. High monomer concentration increases the solution viscosity, decreases the diffusivity of solute, and consequently, increases the degree of the supercooling. Thus, the pore size was decreased, and the channel wall feature was changed from smooth to dendrite as the solution viscosity increased. Pre‐UV irradiation was also conducted before the unidirectional freezing process so as to control the solution viscosity and change the porous structure. Experiments elucidated that the solution viscosity is one of the key factors of determining the cell structure in the unidirectional freezing technique. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Preparation of superabsorbent based on the graft copolymerization of acrylic acid and acrylamide onto konjac glucomannan and its application in the water retention in soils
Authors: Tian Da‐Ting , Li Shi‐Rong , Liu Xin‐Ping , Wang Jing‐Shou , Hu Sheng , Liu Cheng‐Mei , Xie Hong‐Quan
Published: January 2012

A new konjac glucomannan (KGM)‐based superabsorbent polymer, KGM‐g‐poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide), was prepared by the free radical grafting solution polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) monomers onto KGM in the presence of N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker with potassium persulfate as an initiator. The effects of reaction parameters, including the amount of crosslinking agent and initiator, the weight ratio of both (AA + AM) to KGM and AM to (AA + AM), neutralization degree of AA, bath temperature, and reaction time, on the water absorbency of the superabsorbent were investigated. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize the structures of the copolymer. The maximum water absorbency of the optimized product was 650 g/g for distilled water and 70 g/g for a 0.9 wt % aqueous NaCl solution. Furthermore, the water retention of the copolymer in soils was studied. The effect of the copolymers on the aggregate distribution of soils was also evaluated. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Recasting shortfalls of marine protected areas as opportunities through adaptive management
Authors: Ban Natalie C. , Cinner Joshua E. , Adams Vanessa M. , Mills Morena , Almany Glenn R. , Ban Stephen S. , Mccook Laurence J. , White Alan
Published: January 2012

Many marine ecosystems are in critical decline.

Iterative assessments of the costs, benefits, and problems associated with conservation initiatives such as marine protected areas (MPAs) can help to improve their effectiveness.

The increasingly popular framework of marine spatial planning (MSP) provides opportunities for improving marine management but also needs to avoid similar shortfalls to those identified for MPAs.

There is a critical need for realistic presentation of the scope and capacity of MPAs to counteract biodiversity loss, both in isolation and as part of marine spatial planning or other approaches to complementary management.

The purpose of this viewpoint is to generate increased momentum to integrate MPAs with other strategies and to recognize the important advances that have been made in MPA planning, implementation and management. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inorganic Photocatalysts for Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Xing Jun , Fang Wen Qi , Zhao Hui Jun , Yang Hua Gui
Published: January 2012

Photocatalytic water splitting using semiconductor photocatalysts has been considered as a “green” process for converting solar energy into hydrogen. The pioneering work on electrochemical photolysis of water at TiO2 electrode, reported by Fujishima and Honda in 1972, ushered in the area of solar fuel. As the real ultimate solution for solar fuel‐generation, overall water splitting has attracted interest from researchers for some time, and a variety of inorganic photocatalysts have been developed to meet the challenge of this dream reaction. To date, high‐efficiency hydrogen production from pure water without the assistance of sacrificial reagents remains an open challenge. In this Focus Review, we aim to provide a whole picture of overall water splitting and give an outlook for future research.
A new lost time estimation method for right‐turn traffic in Japan considering signal phasing and sneakers
Authors: Tang Keshuang , Ono Takeshi , Kuwahara Masao , Tanaka Shinji
Published: January 2012

Precise estimation of the capacity for right‐turn traffic (comparable to left‐turn traffic in the USA) is of great importance to determine signal phasing schemes at signalized intersections in Japan, where the left‐hand driving rule is valid. However, in most signal timing procedures across the world, the lost time of right‐turn traffic is simply determined by the duration of intergreen intervals and thus lacks considerations of various signal phasing and driver behavior. Meanwhile, sneakers per cycle are usually applied to account for the number of drivers completing right turns during the effective red portion of the clearance‐and‐change intervals. As a result, an initial cycle length must be hypothesized in order to assess the total number of sneakers within the analysis period. Consequently, a time‐consuming iterative calculation process often becomes necessary. Therefore, the present study aims to develop a new lost time estimation method for right‐turn traffic to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. Lost times of right‐turn traffic under three conventional phasing plans are theoretically formulated on the basis of a time–space diagram and shock‐wave theory. The new method is validated using field data, with case studies of its application in the signal timing procedure. Results indicated that the proposed method is capable of offering more accurate estimation than conventional approaches, which leads to shorter cycle length and simplifies signal timing process by eliminating an iterative check to determine the number of sneakers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microflotation performance for algal separation
Authors: Hanotu James , Bandulasena H.C. Hemaka , Zimmerman William B.
Published: January 2012

The performance of microflotation, dispersed air flotation with microbubble clouds with bubble size about 50 µm, for algae separation using fluidic oscillation for microbubble generation is investigated. This fluidic oscillator converts continuous air supply into oscillatory flow with a regular frequency to generate bubbles of the scale of the exit pore. Bubble characterization results showed that average bubble size generated under oscillatory air flow state was 86 µm, approximately twice the size of the diffuser pore size of 38 µm. In contrast, continuous air flow at the same rate through the same diffusers yielded an average bubble size of 1,059 µm, 28 times larger than the pore size. Following microbubble generation, the separation of algal cells under fluidic oscillator generated microbubbles was investigated by varying metallic coagulant types, concentration and pH. Best performances were recorded at the highest coagulant dose (150 mg/L) applied under acidic conditions (pH 5). Amongst the three metallic coagulants studied, ferric chloride yielded the overall best result of 99.2% under the optimum conditions followed closely by ferric sulfate (98.1%) and aluminum sulfate with 95.2%. This compares well with conventional dissolved air flotation (DAF) benchmarks, but has a highly turbulent flow, whereas microflotation is laminar with several orders of magnitude lower energy density. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:1663–1673. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cannabinoids and Atherosclerotic Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Singla Sandeep , Sachdeva Rajesh , Mehta Jawahar L.
Published: January 2012

Marijuana is the most abused recreational drug in the United States. Cannabinoids, the active ingredients of marijuana, affect multiple organ systems in the human body. The pharmacologic effects of marijuana, based on stimulation of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, which are widely distributed in the cardiovascular system, have been well described. Activation of these receptors modulates the function of various cellular elements of the vessel wall, and may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Clinically, there are reports linking marijuana smoking to the precipitation of angina and acute coronary syndromes. Recently, large published clinical trials with CB1 antagonist rimonabant did not show any significant benefit of this agent in preventing progression of atherosclerosis. In light of these findings and emerging data on multiple pathways linking cannabinoids to atherosclerosis, we discuss the literature on the role of cannabinoids in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. We also propose a marijuana paradox, which implies that inhalation of marijuana may be linked to precipitation of acute coronary syndromes, but modulation of the endocannabinoid system by a noninhalation route may have a salutary effect on the development of atherosclerosis.

The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Exploring biomarkers in head and neck cancer
Authors: Langer Corey J.
Published: January 2012

Personalized medicine based on predictive markers linked to drug response, it is hoped, will lead to improvements in outcomes and avoidance of unnecessary treatment in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Recent research has shown that expression of ERCC1 may predict resistance to treatment with platinum agents. Future testing for this marker may help select the optimal type of chemotherapy. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with less aggressive disease and better prognosis in locally advanced SCCHN treated with chemoradiation or radiation alone; HPV‐positive patients may ultimately benefit from less intensive, less toxic therapy. K‐RAS mutations, occurring in about 40% of colorectal cancers and associated with lack of benefit from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies in this disease, are found in <5% of SCCHN patients, making routine testing for K‐RAS mutations unwarranted at this time. Virtually all head and neck tumors overexpress EGFR, which limits the usefulness of EGFR expression as a marker for treatment selection. Although the incidence of EGFR tyrosine kinase domain mutations is very rare, a better understanding of the role of EGFR mutations, expression, amplification, and downstream effects in SCCHN may help define the role of EGFR in this setting. These observations caution against extrapolating results obtained with biomarkers in other types of cancer to SCCHN. Validation of each biomarker in the context of SCCHN clinical trials will be required before a specific marker can be incorporated into daily practice. Cancer 2012;. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Copy number alterations of c‐MYC and PTEN are prognostic factors for relapse after prostate cancer radiotherapy
Authors: Zafarana Gaetano , Ishkanian Adrian S. , Malloff Chad A. , Locke Jennifer A. , Sykes Jenna , Thoms John , Lam Wan L. , Squire Jeremy A. , Yoshimoto Maisa , Ramnarine Varune Rohan , Meng Alice , Ahmed Omar , Jurisca Igor , Milosevic Michael , Pintilie Melania , van der Kwast Theo , Bristow Robert G.
Published: January 2012

Despite the use of PSA, Gleason score, and T‐category as prognosticators in intermediate‐risk prostate cancer, 20–40% of patients will fail local therapy. In order to optimize treatment approaches for intermediate‐risk patients, additional genetic prognosticators are needed. Previous reports using array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) in radical prostatectomy cohorts suggested a combination of allelic loss of the PTEN gene on 10q and allelic gain of the c‐MYC gene on 8q were associated with metastatic disease. We tested whether copy number alterations (CNAs) in PTEN (allelic loss) and c‐MYC (allelic gain) were associated with biochemical relapse following modern‐era, image‐guided radiotherapy (mean dose 76.4 Gy). We used aCGH analyses validated by fluorescence in‐situ hybridization (FISH) of DNA was derived from frozen, pre‐treatment biopsies in 126 intermediate‐risk prostate cancer patients. Patients whose tumors had CNAs in both PTEN and c‐MYC had significantly increased genetic instability (percent genome alteration; PGA) compared to tumors with normal PTEN and c‐MYC status (p < 0.0001). We demonstrate that c‐MYC gain alone, or combined c‐MYC gain and PTEN loss, were increasingly prognostic for relapse on multivariable analyses (hazard ratios (HR) of 2.58/p = 0.005 and 3.21/p = 0.0004; respectively). Triaging patients by the use of CNAs within pre‐treatment biopsies may allow for better use of systemic therapies to target sub‐clinical metastases or locally recurrent disease and improve clinical outcomes. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
An open‐label, phase 2 trial of RPI.4610 (angiozyme) in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Morrow Phuong Khanh , Murthy Rashmi K. , Ensor Joe D. , Gordon Gilad S. , Margolin Kim A. , Elias Anthony D. , Urba Walter J. , Weng David E. , Rugo Hope S. , Hortobagyi Gabriel N.
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND:

Serum and plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) correlate with prognosis in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). VEGF binds to 2 receptors on endothelial cells, VEGFR‐1 and VEGFR‐2. RPI.4610 (Angiozyme0) is an antiangiogenic ribozyme targeting the VEGFR‐1 mRNA. Preclinical and phase 1 studies suggested that RPI.4610 is a well‐tolerated agent with clinical activity in solid tumors. The authors' trial evaluated the efficacy of RPI.4610 in the treatment of patients with progressive MBC.

METHODS:

This phase 2, multicenter, single‐arm study was designed to assess the objective response rate of RPI.4610 in patients with MBC who had experienced disease progression with at least 1 course of chemotherapy for MBC. Patients received daily subcutaneous injections of RPI.4610 100 mg/m2 for 12 weeks.

RESULTS:

Most patients (93%) had received at least 2 lines of chemotherapy previously; 69% of patients had received at least 3 lines of chemotherapy. Median follow‐up was 2.76 months (range, 0.89‐36.6 months). No partial responses nor complete responses were found. Median progression‐free survival was 1.41 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35‐1.45). The median overall survival from start of treatment was 11.89 months (95% CI, 4.11‐23.66). Treatment‐related adverse events (AEs) were primarily grade 1 to 2 in intensity. Most common AEs were: injection site reactions, abdominal pain, anorexia, chromaturia, constipation, dyspnea, fatigue, headache, pain at the injection site, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although RPI.4610 demonstrated a well‐tolerated safety profile, its lack of clinical efficacy precludes this drug from further development. Cancer 2012.© 2012 American Cancer Society.
The impact of insurance status on outcomes after surgery for spinal metastases
Authors: Dasenbrock Hormuzdiyar H. , Wolinsky Jean‐Paul , Sciubba Daniel M. , Witham Timothy F. , Gokaslan Ziya L. , Bydon Ali
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND:

Disparities based on insurance status in the American health care system are well established. However, to the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate variables that may explain differences based on payer type in the outcomes after surgery for spinal metastases.

METHODS:

Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2005‐2008) were retrospectively extracted. Patients ages 18 to 64 years who underwent surgery for spinal metastases were included. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to calculate the adjusted odds of in‐hospital death and the development of a complication for Medicaid recipients and for those without insurance compared with privately insured patients. All analyses were adjusted for differences in patient age, gender, primary tumor histology, socioeconomic status, hospital bed size, and hospital teaching status.

RESULTS:

A total of 2157 hospital admissions were evaluated. The adjusted odds of in‐hospital death were significantly higher for Medicaid recipients (crude rate: 6.5%; odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.11‐2.88 [P = .02]) and uninsured patients (crude rate: 7.7%; OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.04‐4.46 [P = .04]) compared with privately insured patients (crude rate: 3.8%). Complication rates were also significantly higher for Medicaid recipients (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.72 [P = .02]). However, after also adjusting for acuity of presentation, the odds of in‐hospital death were not significantly different for Medicaid (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.86‐2.21 [P = .18]) or uninsured patients (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 0.90‐3.83 [P = .09]); in addition, complication rates did not appear to differ significantly.

CONCLUSIONS:

This nationwide study suggests that disparities based on insurance status for patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastases may be attributable to a higher acuity of presentation. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society
A non‐Markovian stochastic Petri net‐based approach to performance evaluation of ontology‐based service composition
Authors: Xia Yunni , Wan Neng , Dai Gang , Luo Xin , Sun Tianhao
Published: January 2012

The Ontology Web Language (OWL)‐based web service ontology is one of the major standards for modeling and description of distributed service composition. To analyze the performance of composite service, processes specified in OWL‐S give way to tell whether the process meets the performance requirements and to choose the process with higher efficiency from those with similar function. In this paper, we propose a stochastic Petri net‐based approach for performance analysis of OWL‐S processes, which employs non‐Markovian stochastic Petri nets as the intermediate representation. The main innovation of this research includes a translation from OWL‐S to non‐Markovian stochastic Petri nets and a performance (using expected‐process‐normal‐completion‐time as the metric) analysis method. We also validate the correctness of the approach in the case study by showing 90% CI obtained from experimental results that cover corresponding theoretical prediction values. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A component‐based middleware for hybrid grid/cloud computing platforms
Authors: Manias Elton , Baude Françoise
Published: January 2012

Current solutions for hybrid grid/cloud computing have been developed to hide from heterogeneity, dynamicity, and distributed nature of resources. These solutions are, however, insufficient to support distributed applications with non‐trivial communication patterns among processes or that are structured so as to reflect the organization of resources they are deployed onto. In this paper, we present a generic, adaptable, and extensible component‐based middleware that seamlessly enables a transition of non‐trivial applications from traditional grids to hybrid grid–cloud platforms. This middleware goes beyond the resolution of well‐known technical challenges for multi‐domain computing, as it offers mechanisms to exploit the hierarchical, heterogeneous, and dynamic natures of platforms. We validate its capabilities and versatility through two use cases: an Internet‐wide federation of Distributed Service Buses and a runtime supporting DD high‐performance computing in heterogeneous computing environments using programming that is similar to message‐passing interface. Performance results show the efficiency and usefulness of our middleware and so contribute to promote research efforts geared toward flexible, on‐demand information technology solutions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Effect of Temperature on Single‐Polypeptide Adsorption
Authors: Kienle Sandra , Liese Susanne , Schwierz Nadine , Netz Roland R. , Hugel Thorsten
Published: January 2012

The hydrophobic attraction (HA) is believed to be one of the main driving forces for protein folding. Understanding its temperature dependence promises a deeper understanding of protein folding. Herein, we present an approach to investigate the HA with a combined experimental and simulation approach, which is complementary to previous studies on the temperature dependence of the solvation of small hydrophobic spherical particles. We determine the temperature dependence of the free‐energy change and detachment length upon desorption of single polypeptides from hydrophobic substrates in aqueous environment. Both the atomic force microscopy (AFM) based experiments and the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show only a weak dependence of the free energy change on temperature. In fact, depending on the substrate, we find a maximum or a minimum in the temperature‐dependent free energy change, meaning that the entropy increases or decreases with temperature for different substrates. These observations are in contrast to the solvation of small hydrophobic particles and can be rationalized by a compensation mechanism between the various contributions to the desorption force. On the one hand this is reminiscent of the protein folding process, where large entropic and enthalpic contributions compensate each other to result in a small free energy difference between the folded and unfolded state. On the other hand, the protein folding process shows much stronger temperature dependence, pointing to a fundamental difference between protein folding and adsorption. Nevertheless such temperature dependent single molecule desorption studies open large possibilities to study equilibrium and non‐equilibrium processes dominated by the hydrophobic attraction.
Structural and optical response of 2‐Mercaptoethonal capped CdS nanocrystals to Fe3+ ions
Authors: Murali G. , Reddy D. Amaranatha , Poornaprakash B. , Vijayalakshmi R. P.
Published: January 2012

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) doped with Fe3+ have been synthesized via a solution‐based method utilizing dopant concentrations of (0–5%) and employing 2‐mercaptoehonal as a capping agent. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the undoped CdS NCs are in mixed phase of cubic and hexagonal, where as the doped CdS NCs are in hexagonal phase. The crystallite size was increased from ∼1.2 nm to ∼2 nm. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy studies (DRS) reveals that the band gap energy was decreased with Fe doping and it lies in the range of 2.58 ‐ 2.88 eV. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of undoped CdS NCs show a strong green emission peak centered at 530 nm and a weak red emission shoulder positioned at 580 nm. After doping all the luminescence intensity was highly quenched and the green emission peak was shifted to orange region (580 nm), but the position of weak red emission shoulder was unaltered with doping. FTIR studies revealed that the NCs were sterically stabilized by 2‐mercaptoethanol. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
3,5‐Di‐t‐Butylcatechol as a Ryanodine Receptor Agonist in Rat Intact Skeletal Muscle Fibers
Authors: Lacava Caterina , Sgaragli Giampietro , Fusi Fabio
Published: January 2012

Strategy, Management and Health Policy

Enabling Technology, Genomics, Proteomics
Preclinical Research
Preclinical Development Toxicology, Formulation Drug Delivery, Pharmacokinetics
Clinical Development Phases I‐III Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing
Postmarketing Phase IV

3,5‐Di‐t‐butylcatechol (DTCAT) stimulates the rat skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptor (RyR). In the present study, its effects on the contractile response of diaphragm preparation were characterized using electrically stimulated phrenic nerve–diaphragm preparations and diaphragm strips. DTCAT reduced, concentration‐dependently, twitch contraction of the phrenic nerve–diaphragm preparation evoked by both direct and indirect stimulation and increased spontaneous tone. Twitch amplitude reduction was irreversible, while the increase of spontaneous tone was only partially reversible upon DTCAT washout. In diaphragm strips, caffeine > 4‐chloro‐m‐cresol >> 3,5‐diisopropylcatechol ≅ ryanodine > DTCAT enhanced spontaneous tone, whereas quercetin reduced it with all the compounds reducing twitch amplitude. DTCAT‐induced contracture was partly dependent on extracellular Ca2+ influx and antagonized by a Cd2+/La3+ mixture. In intact skeletal muscle preparations, DTCAT behaved as a RyR agonist.
Dipyridine‐Containing Macrocyclic Polyamine – Nafion‐Modified Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrode for Voltammetric Detection of Lead
Authors: Bettazzi Francesca , Giorgi Claudia , Laschi Serena , Palchetti Ilaria
Published: January 2012

In this paper, a screen‐printed, mercury‐free, Nafion modified carbon sensor incorporated with a dipyridine‐containing macrocyclic polyamine [5,8,11‐trimethyl‐2,5,8,11,14‐pentaaza [15]‐[15] (2,2′)[1,15]‐bipyridylophane (BipyMe3N5)] for voltammetric stripping detection of Pb(II) has been explored. The measurement procedure, consisting of an accumulation step at open circuit condition followed by a “medium exchange” square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV), was optimized. Calibration plot of Pb(II) was linear in a concentration range 0–200 µg/L, with a resulting limit of detection of 2 µg/L and a relative standard deviation of 14 %, for 120 s accumulation time.
A semi‐implicit scheme for large Eddy simulation of piston engine flow and combustion
Authors: Yu R. , Bai X. S.
Published: January 2012

A semi‐implicit scheme is presented for large eddy simulation of turbulent reactive flow and combustion in reciprocating piston engines. First, the governing equations in a deforming coordinate system are formulated to accommodate the moving piston. The numerical scheme is made up of a fourth‐order central difference for the diffusion terms in the transport equations and a fifth‐order weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) scheme for the convective terms. A second‐ order Adams–Bashforth scheme is used for time integration. For higher density ratios, it is combined with a predictor–corrector scheme. The numerical scheme is explicit for time integration of the transport equations, except for the continuity equation which is used together with the momentum equation to determine the pressure field and velocity field by using a Poisson equation for the pressure correction field. The scheme is aimed at the simulation of low Mach number flows typically found in piston engines. An efficient multigrid method that can handle high grid aspect ratio is presented for solving the pressure correction equation. The numerical scheme is evaluated on two test engines, a laboratory four‐stroke engine with rectangular‐shaped engine geometry where detailed velocity measurements are available, and a modified truck engine with practical cylinder geometry where lean ethanol/air mixture is combusted under a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) condition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of an intraoperative shunt for easy resection of complicated carotid body tumors
Authors: Zeng Guojun , Zhao Jichun , Ma Yukui , Huang Bin
Published: January 2012

Background

This study was carried out to explore the use of an intraoperative shunt during surgical resection of complicated carotid body tumors (CBTs).

Methods

Of the 47 patients who underwent surgical resection for CBT, an intraoperative shunt was performed in 10 patients with complicated CBTs involving the carotid artery wall between January 2005 and August 2010, and their clinical materials were respectively reviewed.

Results

No severe complications occurred intraoperatively and postoperatively in all the 10 patients with complicated CBTs involving the carotid artery wall. No recurrence and metastasis occurred during follow‐up period for a mean of 35.3 months (range, 12–60 months).

Conclusions

An intraoperative shunt maintained cerebral circulation, decreased the size of tumor by excluding the vascular supply of the external carotid artery, and guided the resection of CBT. The intraoperative shunt was a safe and effective way during surgical resection of complicated CBTs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
On the limnology of two alkaline lakes (Nakuru and Naivasha) in the East Rift Valley System in Kenya
Authors: Milbrink Göran
Published: January 2012

The present study aims to contribute to the general knowledge of Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru, the latter lake strongly saline and alkaline. Results are presented concerning water chemistry, chlorophyll a concentrations, phytoplankton, Zooplankton, bottom fauna and fish material obtained from these lakes. Algal photosynthetic rates were calculated by the oxygen method.
Pigment diversity in freshwater phytoplankton. II. Summer‐succession in three Dutch lakes with different trophic characteristics
Authors: Hallegraeff Gustaaf M.
Published: January 2012

Spectrophotometric and paper chromatographic analyses of chloroplast pigments in the phytoplankton have been made from early spring until the end of summer in three Dutch freshwater lakes with different trophic characteristics. Pigment ratios and carotenoid: chlorophyll‐a ratios are inaccurate and insensitive pigment characteristics, and in the description of diversity of pigments there is no alternative to chromatographic analysis. The chromatographically purified chlorophyll‐a fraction together with the occurrence of breakdown products of chlorophyll‐a give valuable information on the stage of growth of phytoplankton populations. The pigment fractions fucoxanthin, peridinin, lutein and/or chlorophyll‐b, and myxoxanthophyll can be used to indicate the contribution of the different major algal types to total phytoplankton community pigments. In this way chromatographic pigment analysis may be an important tool in the description of phytoplankton community structure, particularly when used against the background of results of microscopic phytoplankton analysis.
Cluster‐analytic definition of species ecological groups for a submerged barrier reef in Barbados, West Indies
Authors: Ott Bruce , Auclair Allan N.
Published: January 2012

Cluster analytic techniques were employed to define significant ecological groups of benthic species sampled in 2237 0.5 m × 1 m quadrats on a submerged barrier reef located off the Barbados west coast. For measures of species cover, number of colonies, presence‐absence, and cover of dead skeletal material, Lance and Williams' flexible sorting procedure defined eight species groups. Only four of these groups could be interpreted with confidence.

Resolution of species groups increased with increasing environmental severity and decreased with decreasing species abundance. Highly resolved groups under strong environmental limitation included an Agaricia lamarcki‐sponge‐antipatharian association on deep outer slopes and a distinctive Acropora cervicornis‐Madracis mirabilis‐rubble association of ridge‐top positions. The next two groups, in order of resolution, differentiated under strong competitive interaction. Associations dominated by Siderastrea siderea‐Montastrea cavernosa and Montastrea annularis‐Porites astreoides consisted of large colony‐forming species as part of a larger complex “mixed” coral association. The other four groups consisted of rare but widely‐occurring species. Probable reasons for the low resolution of these groups including severe disturbance, random colonization, niche specialization, and methodological idiosyncracies, were discussed.

The efficacy of clustering procedures was discussed in relation to objectivity and efficiency of field recognition.