bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catheter-directed thrombolysis for iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Saunders J H , Arya P H , Abisi S , Yong Y P , MacSweeney S , Braithwaite B , Altaf N
Published: May 2013

Background

Recent international guidance recommends the use of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) in selected patients with symptomatic iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The aim of this study was to estimate the potential increase in workload as a result of this recommendation.

Methods

Using the radiology database, a review was performed of all DVTs diagnosed between August 2010 and February 2012 at a large tertiary referral hospital. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and American College of Chest Physicians guidance was applied retrospectively to this cohort, using case-note review by two independent clinicians to determine which patients would have been suitable for CDT.

Results

Some 563 patients had DVT confirmed radiologically over the 18-month interval. Fifty-three of the 128 patients with iliofemoral DVT would have been eligible for intervention with CDT, equivalent to 4·4 patients per 100 000 per year. Only eight (15 per cent) of the 53 were actually referred to vascular services for treatment. All eight patients had successful CDT, which involved a stay in critical care for monitoring (median 2 (range 1–3) sessions).

Conclusion

Vascular units should be prepared for a major increase in the requirement for CDT for iliofemoral DVT. This increase will affect inpatient beds, the interventional radiology suite, critical care and interhospital referrals.
Randomized clinical trial on enhanced recovery versus standard care following open liver resection
Authors: Jones C , Kelliher L , Dickinson M , Riga A , Worthington T , Scott M J , Vandrevala T , Fry C H , Karanjia N , Quiney N
Published: May 2013

Background

Enhanced recovery programmes (ERPs) have been shown to reduce length of hospital stay (LOS) and complications in colorectal surgery. Whether ERPs have the same benefits in open liver resection surgery is unclear, and randomized clinical trials are lacking.

Methods

Consecutive patients scheduled for open liver resection were randomized to an ERP group or standard care. Primary endpoints were time until medically fit for discharge (MFD) and LOS. Secondary endpoints were postoperative morbidity, pain scores, readmission rate, mortality, quality of life (QoL) and patient satisfaction. ERP elements included greater preoperative education, preoperative oral carbohydrate loading, postoperative goal-directed fluid therapy, early mobilization and physiotherapy. Both groups received standardized anaesthesia with epidural analgesia.

Results

The analysis included 46 patients in the ERP group and 45 in the standard care group. Median MFD time was reduced in the ERP group (3 days versus 6 days with standard care; P < 0·001), as was LOS (4 days versus 7 days; P < 0·001). The ERP significantly reduced the rate of medical complications (7 versus 27 per cent; P = 0·020), but not surgical complications (15 versus 11 per cent; P = 0·612), readmissions (4 versus 0 per cent; P = 0·153) or mortality (both 2 per cent; P = 0·987). QoL over 28 days was significantly better in the ERP group (P = 0·002). There was no difference in patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

ERPs for open liver resection surgery are safe and effective. Patients treated in the ERP recovered faster, were discharged sooner, and had fewer medical-related complications and improved QoL. Registration number: ISRCTN03274575 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).
Population-based data from the Swedish Colon Cancer Registry
Authors: Kodeda K , Nathanaelsson L , Jung B , Olsson H , Jestin P , Sjövall A , Glimelius B , Påhlman L , Syk I
Published: May 2013

Background

Evaluating the external validity of clinical trials requires knowledge not only of the study population but also of a relevant reference population. The main aim of this study was to present data from a large, contemporary, population-based cohort of patients with colonic cancer.

Methods

Data on patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2011 were extracted from the Swedish Colon Cancer Registry. The data, registered prospectively in a national population of almost 10 million, included over 99 per cent of all diagnosed adenocarcinomas of the colon.

Results

This analysis included 18 889 patients with 19 526 tumours (3·0 per cent had synchronous tumours). The sex distribution was fairly equal, and the median age was 74·1 (interquartile range 65–81) years. The overall and relative (cancer-specific) survival rates after 3 years were 62·7 and 71·4 per cent respectively. Some 88·0 per cent of the patients were operated on, and 83·8 per cent had tumours resected. Median blood loss during bowel resection was 200 (mean 311) ml, and the median operating time was 160 min; 5·6 per cent of the procedures were laparoscopic. Preoperative chemotherapy was administered to 2·1 per cent of patients; postoperative chemotherapy was planned in 90·1 per cent of fit patients aged less than 75 years with stage III disease. In patients operated on in an emergency setting (21·5 per cent), the preoperative evaluation was less extensive, the proportion of R0 resections was lower, and the outcomes were poorer, in both the short and long term.

Conclusion

These population-based data represent good-quality reference points.
Profiling the effects of process changes on residual host cell proteins in biotherapeutics by mass spectrometry
Authors: Schenauer Matthew R. , Flynn Gregory C. , Goetze Andrew M.
Published: May 2013

An advanced liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (MS) platform was used to identify and quantify residual Escherichia coli host cell proteins (HCPs) in the drug substance (DS) of several peptibodies (Pbs). Significantly different HCP impurity profiles were observed among different biotherapeutic Pbs as well as one Pb purified via multiple processes. The results can be rationally interpreted in terms of differences among the purification processes, and demonstrate the power of this technique to sensitively monitor both the quantity and composition of residual HCPs in DS, where these may represent a safety risk to patients. The breadth of information obtained using MS is compared to traditional multiproduct enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) values for total HCP in the same samples and shows that, in this case, the ELISA failed to detect multiple HCPs. The HCP composition of two upstream samples was also analyzed and used to demonstrate that HCPs that carry through purification processes to be detectable in DS are not always among those that are the most abundant upstream. Compared to ELISA, we demonstrate that MS can provide a more comprehensive, and accurate, characterization of DS HCPs, thereby facilitating process development as well as more rationally assessing potential safety risks posed by individual, identified HCPs. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:951–957, 2013
Ultrafast Energy Transfer in Triptycene‐Grafted Bodipy Scaffoldings
Authors: Bura Thomas , Nastasi Francesco , Puntoriero Fausto , Campagna Sebastiano , Ziessel Raymond
Published: May 2013

A series of new compounds in which various Bodipy dyes are grafted logically on triptycene rigid structures are synthesized and characterized, and their absorption spectra and photophysical properties are studied, also by pump‐probe transient absorption spectroscopy. The studied compounds are: the mono‐Bodipy species TA, TB, and TC (where A, B, and C identify different Bodipy subunits absorbing and emitting at different wavelengths), the multichromophore species TA3, which bears three identical A subunits, and the three multichromophoric species TAB, TBC, and TABC, all of them containing at least two different types of Bodipy subunits. The triptycene moiety plays the role of a rigid scaffold, keeping the various dyes at predetermined distances and allowing for a three‐dimensional structural arrangement of the multichromophoric species. The absorption spectra of the multichromophoric Bodipy species are essentially additive, indicating that negligible inter‐chromophoric interaction takes place at the ground state. Luminescence properties and transient absorption spectroscopy indicate that a very fast (on the picosecond time scale) and efficient photoinduced energy transfer occurs in all the multi‐Bodipy species, with the lower‐energy Bodipy subunits of each multi‐Bodipy compounds playing the role of an electronic energy collector. In TAB, an energy transfer from the A‐type Bodipy subunit to the B‐type one takes place with a rate constant of 1.6×1010 s−1, whereas in TBC an energy transfer from the B‐type Bodipy subunit to the C‐type subunit is bi‐exponential, exhibiting rate constants of 1.7×1011 and 1.9×1010 s−1; the possible presence of different conformers with different donor–acceptor distances in this bichromophoric species is proposed to cause the bi‐exponential energy‐transfer process. Interpretation of the intricate energy‐transfer pathways occurring in TABC is made with the help of the processes identified in the bichromophoric compounds. In all cases, the measured energy‐transfer rate constants agree with a Förster mechanism for the energy‐transfer processes.
CuI‐Catalyzed Multicomponent Synthesis of Aminoindolizines from Aldehydes, Amines, and Alkynes under Solvent‐Free Conditions
Authors: Pan Changming , Zou Jianping , Zeng Runsheng
Published: May 2013

A direct and efficient approach to 1‐aminoindolizines through three‐component one‐pot reaction of heteroaryl aldehydes, secondary amines and terminal alkynes catalyzed by CuI under solvent‐free conditions has been developed. This methodology provides a rapid access to substituted aminoindolizines with good yields (up to 97%).
Continuous Detection of pH‐responsive Drug Delivery System in Cells in situ by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy
Authors: Sun Yang , Ran Zhipeng , Tang Hongyan , Li Yong , Song Wenshuang , Ren Qingguang , Yang Wuli , Kong Jilie
Published: May 2013

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were coated by pH‐responsive polymer chitosan‐poly (methacrylic acid) (CS‐PMAA). This nano drug delivery system showed good application prospects and the polymer‐coated microspheres were promising site‐specific anticancer drug delivery carriers in biomedical field. A continuous detection of pH‐responsive drug delivery system in cells in situ, utilizing MSN/CS‐PMAA composite microspheres, was proposed. Two kinds of different cell lines, tumor cell line (Hela) and normal somatic cells (293T), were used to investigate the behaviours of the drug loaded system in the cells. Conclusions could be drawn from the fluorescent images obtained by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), modified drug‐loaded microspheres (MSN/CS‐PMAA) were ingested into cells more easily, the uptake of DOX@FITC‐MSN/CS‐PMAA by HeLa/293T cells were performed at pH 7.4/pH 6.8, DOX was released during the ingestion process, fluorescence intensity decreased with time because of efflux transport and photo‐bleaching. Fluoresence detection by flow cytometry was performed as comparison. The continuous fluorescent observation in situ could be widely used in the pH‐responsive releasing process of drug delivery system in the cells.
Highly Efficient Low Melting Mixture Catalyzed Synthesis of 1,8‐Dioxo‐dodecahydroxanthene Derivatives
Authors: Li Peihe , Ma Feiping , Wang Ping , Zhang Zhanhui
Published: May 2013

A low melting citric acid‐urea mixture was found to be a new and effective promoting medium for the environmentally friendly synthesis of 1,8‐dioxo‐dodecahydroxanthene derivatives by condensation of aromatic aldehydes and cyclic 1,3‐dicarbobonyl compounds. This deep eutectic solvent acts as both the reaction medium and catalyst, furnishing xanthenediones in high to excellent yields.
Cyclodextrin‐Based Porous Nanocapsules
Authors: Wang Youqing , Han Baohang
Published: May 2013

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are regarded as one kind of the most important and promising macrocyclic oligosaccharides, which contain hydrophobic internal cavities capable of hosting various guest molecules. CDs are water‐soluble, non‐toxic, commercially available as well as low‐cost. Because of these favorable characteristics, cyclodextrin chemistry has created a great number of interesting works covering different fields, in particular CD‐based porous nanocapsules (CDPNCs). Chemical cross‐linking is an important way developed to prepare CDPNCs. CDPNCs can be obtained using different cross‐linkers and preparation methods, such as homogeneous method, miniemulsion polymerization, and emulsion‐solvent evaporation method. Because of cross‐linking, a three‐dimensional network is built which forms the porous structure in CDPNCs with the cavities of CDs. Attributed to the porous structure, CDPNCs exhibit excellent performances in encapsulation of targeted molecules and realization of controllable release, indicating a promising prospect in applications such as drug delivery systems and environment protection.
Sulfate Binding with a Tripodal Tris(4‐pyridylurea) Receptor
Authors: Zhang Rui , Zhang Yanlei , Wang Jiamin , Ji Liguo , Huang Xiaojuan , Wu Biao
Published: May 2013

The tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine (tren)‐based tris(4‐pyridylurea) receptor L has been synthesized and its anion binding properties were studied. The ligand forms a 2:1 (host/guest) complex with MgSO4, [SO42−⊂L2], in which a sulfate ion is encapsulated by six urea groups from the two ligands through multiple hydrogen bonds. The metal ions do not coordinate to the pyridyl groups but exist as the hydrate [Mg(H2O)6]2+ and interact with the [SO4⊂L2] capsules in the outer coordination sphere to form a three dimensional extended structure. The anion binding behavior of ligand L in solution was studied.
Metastatic non–clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with targeted therapy agents: Characterization of survival outcome and application of the International mRCC Database Consortium criteria
Authors: Kroeger Nils , Xie Wanling , Lee Jae‐Lyn , Bjarnason Georg A. , Knox Jennifer J. , MacKenzie Mary J. , Wood Lori , Srinivas Sandy , Vaishamayan Ulka N. , Rha Sun‐Young , Pal Sumanta K. , Yuasa Takeshi , Donskov Frede , Agarwal Neeraj , Kollmannsberger Christian K. , Tan Min‐Han , North Scott A. , Rini Brian I. , Choueiri Toni K. , Heng Daniel Y.C.
Published: May 2013

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to apply the International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC) prognostic model in metastatic non–clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC). In addition, the survival outcome of metastatic nccRCC patients was characterized.

METHODS

Data on 2215 patients (1963 with clear‐cell RCC [ccRCC] and 252 with nccRCC) treated with first‐line VEGF‐ and mTOR‐targeted therapies were collected from the IMDC. Time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) were compared in groups with favorable, intermediate, and poor prognoses according to IMDC prognostic criteria

RESULTS

The median OS of the entire cohort was 20.9 months. nccRCC patients were younger (P < .0001) and more often presented with low hemoglobin (P = .014) and elevated neutrophils (P = .0001), but otherwise had clinicopathological features similar to those of ccRCC patients. OS (12.8 vs 22.3 months; P < .0001) and TTF (4.2 vs 7.8 months; P < .0001) were worse in nccRCC patients compared with ccRCC patients. The hazard ratio for death and TTF when adjusted for the prognostic factors was 1.41 (95% CI, 1.19‐1.67; P < .0001) and 1.54 (95% CI, 1.33‐1.79; P < .0001), respectively. The IMDC prognostic model reliably discriminated 3 risk groups to predict OS and TTF in nccRCC; the median OS of the favorable, intermediate, and poor prognosis groups was 31.4, 16.1, and 5.1 months, respectively (P < .0001), and the median TTF was 9.6, 4.9, and 2.1 months, respectively (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Although targeted agents have significantly improved the outcome of patients with nccRCC, for the majority survival is still inferior compared with patients with ccRCC. The IMDC prognostic model reliably predicts OS and TTF in nccRCC and ccRCC patients. Cancer 2013;119:2999—3006. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Calretinin inputs are confined to motoneurons for upward eye movements in monkey
Authors: Zeeh Christina , Hess Bernhard J. , Horn Anja K.E.
Published: May 2013

Motoneurons of extraocular muscles are controlled by different premotor pathways, whose selective damage may cause directionally selective eye movement disorders. The fact that clinical disorders can affect only one direction, e.g., isolated up‐/downgaze palsy or up‐/downbeat nystagmus, indicates that up‐ and downgaze pathways are organized separately. Recent work in monkey revealed that a subpopulation of premotor neurons of the vertical eye movement system contains the calcium‐binding protein calretinin (CR). With combined tract‐tracing and immunofluorescence, the motoneurons of vertically pulling eye muscles in monkey were investigated for the presence of CR‐positive afferent terminals. In the oculomotor nucleus, CR was specifically found in punctate profiles contacting superior rectus and inferior oblique motoneurons, as well as levator palpebrae motoneurons, all of which participate in upward eye movements. Double‐immunofluorescence labeling revealed that CR‐positive terminals lacked the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐synthesizing enzyme glutamate decarboxylase, which is present in inhibitory afferents to all motoneurons mediating vertical eye movements. Therefore, CR‐containing afferents are considered to be excitatory. In conclusion, a strong CR input is confined to motoneurons mediating upgaze, which derive from premotor pathways mediating saccades and smooth pursuit, but not from secondary vestibulo‐ocular neurons in the magnocellular part of the medial vestibular nucleus. The functional significance of CR in these connections is unclear, but it may serve as a useful marker to locate upgaze pathways in the human brain. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:3154–3166, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Conditional viral tracing reveals that steroidogenic factor 1‐positive neurons of the dorsomedial subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamus project to autonomic centers of the hypothalamus and hindbrain
Authors: Lindberg Daniel , Chen Peilin , Li Chien
Published: May 2013

Excitation of neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), especially those residing in the dorsomedial part of the nucleus (VMHdm), evokes sympathetic nervous system (SNS) outflow, modulating a number of physiological functions including feeding and blood glucose homeostasis. However, the anatomical basis of VMH‐mediated SNS activation has thus far proved elusive. To understand how VMH neurons exercise output functions and describe an anatomical link between these neurons and the SNS, we identified downstream neural targets of the VMHdm by injecting an adenoviral vector encoding Cre recombinase (Cre)‐regulated farnesylated green fluorescent protein (GFPf) into the VMHdm of mice that express Cre in neurons expressing the VMH‐specific transcription factor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1). We confirm previously described projection patterns of the VMHdm and report the existence of a formerly unidentified projection pathway to a number of autonomic centers in the brainstem. These VMH efferents travel caudally through the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and then ventrally through the lateral lemniscus to the ventral surface of the brain, where they eventually reach caudal autonomic centers including the C1 catecholamine cell group of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), where VMH efferents make close contacts with catecholaminergic neurons. We also found that VMHdm fibers reach a number of brainstem areas, including the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), which are important in regulating respiration. Thus, the present study indicates that the VMH may modulate sympathetic and autonomic activity via synaptic contacts in the RTN, NTS, and RVLM and provides significant anatomical evidence to support a role of the VMH in respiratory regulation. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:3167–3190, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Amygdala projections to the lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the macaque: Comparison with ventral striatal afferents
Authors: deCampo Danielle M. , Fudge Julie L.
Published: May 2013

The lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTL) is involved in mediating anxiety‐related behaviors to sustained aversive stimuli. The BSTL forms part of the central extended amygdala, a continuum composed of the BSTL, the amygdala central nucleus, and cell columns running between the two. The central subdivision (BSTLcn) and the juxtacapsular subdivision (BSTLJ) are two BSTL regions that lie above the anterior commissure, near the ventral striatum. The amygdala, a heterogeneous structure that encodes emotional salience, projects to both the BSTL and ventral striatum. We placed small injections of retrograde tracers into the BSTL, focusing on the BSTLcn and BSTLJ, and analyzed the distribution of labeled cells in amygdala subregions. We compared this to the pattern of labeled cells following injections into the ventral striatum. All retrograde results were confirmed by anterograde studies. We found that the BSTLcn receives stronger amygdala inputs relative to the BSTLJ. Furthermore, the BSTLcn is defined by inputs from the corticoamygdaloid transition area and central nucleus, while the BSTLJ receives inputs mainly from the magnocellular accessory basal and basal nucleus. In the ventral striatum, the dorsomedial shell receives inputs that are similar, but not identical, to inputs to the BSTLcn. In contrast, amygdala projections to the ventral shell/core are similar to projections to the BSTLJ. These findings indicate that the BSTLcn and BSTLJ receive distinct amygdala afferent inputs and that the dorsomedial shell is a transition zone with the BSTLcn, while the ventral shell/core are transition zones with the BSTLJ. J. Comp. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:3191–3216, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The contribution of ciliary neurotrophic factor receptors to adult motor neuron survival in vivo is specific to insult type and distinct from that for embryonic motor neurons
Authors: Lee Nancy , Rydyznski Carolyn E. , Spearry Rachel P. , Robitz Rachel , MacLennan A. John
Published: May 2013

Exogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) promotes motor neuron (MN) survival following trauma and in genetic models of MN disease. Unconditional disruption of the mouse CNTF receptor α (CNTFRα) gene leads to MN loss, demonstrating a developmental role for endogenous CNTF receptor signaling. These data also suggest that CNTF receptors may promote adult MN survival and that appropriately manipulating the receptors could effectively treat adult MN disorders. This effort would greatly benefit from a better understanding of the roles played by CNTF receptors in adult MNs. We have previously found that adult onset disruption of CNTFRα in facial MNs of “floxed CNTFRα” mice by AAV‐Cre vector injection leads to significantly more MN loss than in identically treated controls. While indicating that CNTF receptors can promote adult MN survival, the data did not distinguish between potential roles in MN maintenance versus roles in protecting MNs from the injection associated trauma or the toxicity of the chronic Cre recombinase (Cre) produced by the AAV‐Cre. Here we used an inducible Cre gene construct to produce adult‐onset CNTFRα disruption in facial MNs without the traumatic and toxic effects of the AAV‐Cre procedure. The MNs survive without CNTFRα, even when challenged by facial nerve crush or the injection‐associated trauma, thereby suggesting, in conjunction with our previous study, that endogenous CNTF receptor signaling can protect MNs against toxic insult, such as that produced by chronic Cre. The data also indicate that in vivo CNTF receptors play very different roles in adult and embryonic MNs. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:3217–3225, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Phenological indices of avian reproduction: cryptic shifts and prediction across large spatial and temporal scales
Authors: Gullett Philippa , Hatchwell Ben J. , Robinson Robert A. , Evans Karl L.
Published: May 2013

Climate change‐induced shifts in phenology have important demographic consequences, and are frequently used to assess species' sensitivity to climate change. Therefore, developing accurate phenological predictions is an important step in modeling species' responses to climate change. The ability of such phenological models to predict effects at larger spatial and temporal scales has rarely been assessed. It is also not clear whether the most frequently used phenological index, namely the average date of a phenological event across a population, adequately captures phenological shifts in the distribution of events across the season. We use the long‐tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus (Fig. 1) as a case study to explore these issues. We use an intensive 17‐year local study to model mean breeding date and test the capacity of this local model to predict phenology at larger spatial and temporal scales. We assess whether local models of breeding initiation, termination, and renesting reveal phenological shifts and responses to climate not detected by a standard phenological index, that is, population average lay date. These models take predation timing/intensity into account. The locally‐derived model performs well at predicting phenology at the national scale over several decades, at both high and low temperatures. In the local model, a trend toward warmer Aprils is associated with a significant advance in termination dates, probably in response to phenological shifts in food supply. This results in a 33% reduction in breeding season length over 17 years – a substantial loss of reproductive opportunity that is not detected by the index of population average lay date. We show that standard phenological indices can fail to detect patterns indicative of negative climatic effects, potentially biasing assessments of species' vulnerability to climate change. More positively, we demonstrate the potential of detailed local studies for developing broader‐scale predictive models of future phenological shifts.
MHCclassIIB diversity in blue tits: a preliminary study
Authors: de Aguilar Juan Rivero‐ , Schut Elske , Merino Santiago , Martínez Javier , Komdeur Jan , Westerdahl Helena
Published: May 2013

In this study, we partly characterize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classIIB in the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). A total of 22 individuals from three different European locations: Spain, The Netherlands, and Sweden were screened forMHCallelic diversity. TheMHCgenes were investigated using bothPCR‐based methods and unamplified genomicDNAwith restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and southern blots. A total of 13 different exon 2 sequences were obtained independently fromDNAand/orRNA, thus confirming gene transcription and likely functionality of the genes. Nine out of 13 alleles were found in more than one country, and two alleles appeared in all countries. Positive selection was detected in the region coding for the peptide binding region (PBR). A maximum of three alleles per individual was detected by sequencing and theRFLPpattern consisted of 4–7 fragments, indicating a minimum number of 2–4 loci per individual. A phylogenetic analysis, demonstrated that the blue tit sequences are divergent compared to sequences from other passerines resembling a differentMHClineage than those possessed by most passerines studied to date.
Controlled Synthesis of Polyoxopalladates, and Their Gas‐Phase Fragmentation Study by Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Lin Zhengguo , Wang Bo , Cao Jie , Chen Baokuan , Xu Chong , Huang Xianqiang , Fan Yanxuan , Hu Changwen
Published: May 2013

Two new polyoxopalladates Na2H3[Pd12(μ3‐SeO3)8(μ4‐O)6(μ3‐O)2Cr]·25H2O (1) and Na8H7[Pd12(μ3‐SeO3)8(μ4‐O)8In]3·24H2O (2) have been synthesized by using Cr3+ and In3+ ions as structural directing agents. The two polyoxopalladates have been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SXRD), FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis (EA), ESI‐MS, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Detailed SXRD analysis combined with the ESI‐MS and a collision‐induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation study shows that the coordination configurations of the central ions are different; this affects the stability and fragmentation mechanism of the clusters in the gas phase. This approach may help us to understand the dissociation chemistry and the catalysis mechanism of polyoxopalladates.
Organic and Organometallic Derivatives of Propargylallene: Syntheses, Structures, Reactivity and Rearrangements
Authors: McGlinchey Michael J. , Hopf Henning
Published: May 2013

Propargylallenes offer the varied reactivity patterns of two different multiple bond linkages either separately or in concert. Their syntheses, structures, rearrangement mechanisms and synthetic utility are reviewed, together with their behaviour when treated with transition‐metal reagents such as gold(I), silver(I), platinum metals or metal carbonyls.
Synthesis of Alkyl‐Ynol‐Ethers by “Anti‐Michael Addition” of Metal Alkoxides to β‐Substituted Alkynylsulfones
Authors: Marzo Leyre , Parra Alejandro , Frías María , Alemán José , García Ruano José Luis
Published: May 2013

The reaction of metal alkoxides with β‐substituted 2‐(p‐tolylsulfonyl)acetylenes, involving an anti‐Michael addition reaction followed by the in situ elimination of the sulfonyl moiety, provides a direct method for the synthesis of alkyl alkynyl ethers bearing aryl or TIPS groups joined to the triple bond. Arylalkynyl ethers derived from primary alkoxides are in situ hydrolyzed into arylacetic esters.
An Intramolecular Heck Approach To Obtain 17‐Membered Macrocyclic Diversity and the Identification of an Antiangiogenesis Agent from a Zebrafish Assay
Authors: Aeluri Madhu , Gaddam Jagan , Trinath Devarakonda V. K. S. , Chandrasekar Gayathri , Kitambi Satish Srinivas , Arya Prabhat
Published: May 2013

We report a practical and modular approach to obtain two different types of 17‐membered ring macrocyclic compounds through an intramolecular Heck reaction. These macrocyclic compounds are functionalized, that is, they contain two contiguous stereogenic hydroxy functional groups and an amino acid moiety in the macrocyclic ring skeleton. The macrocycles were then screened against a zebrafish assay to determine the antiangiogenesis activity of these small molecules. Macrocyclic compound 2.2a was identified as a potent inhibitor at 2.5 μM, whereas its acyclic precursor and the other related macrocyclic compounds did not show any effect.
NERC Matters: Too Many Cooks in Electric‐Gas Interdependency Issues
Authors: Carpentier Deborah
Published: May 2013

Given its relatively stable, low cost in recent years and expected growth in shale gas supply, as well as the efficiency of gas‐fired generation, natural gas will be the primary fuel for most new generation projected over the next decade.1
Biosphere model simulations of interannual variability in terrestrial 13C/12C exchange
Authors: van der Velde I. R. , Miller J. B. , Schaefer K. , Masarie K. A. , Denning S. , White J. W. C. , Tans P. P. , Krol M. C. , Peters W.
Published: May 2013

Previous studies suggest that a large part of the variability in the atmospheric ratio of 13CO2/12CO2originates from carbon exchange with the terrestrial biosphere rather than with the oceans. Since this variability is used to quantitatively partition the total carbon sink, we here investigate the contribution of interannual variability (IAV) in biospheric exchange to the observed atmospheric 13C variations. We use the Simple Biosphere ‐ Carnegie‐Ames‐Stanford Approach biogeochemical model, including a detailed isotopic fractionation scheme, separate 12C and 13C biogeochemical pools, and satellite‐observed fire disturbances. This model of 12CO2 and 13CO2 thus also produces return fluxes of 13CO2from its differently aged pools, contributing to the so‐called disequilibrium flux. Our simulated terrestrial 13C budget closely resembles previously published model results for plant discrimination and disequilibrium fluxes and similarly suggests that variations in C3 discrimination and year‐to‐year variations in C3and C4 productivity are the main drivers of their IAV. But the year‐to‐year variability in the isotopic disequilibrium flux is much lower (1σ=±1.5 PgC ‰ yr−1) than required (±12.5 PgC ‰ yr−1) to match atmospheric observations, under the common assumption of low variability in net ocean CO2 fluxes. This contrasts with earlier published results. It is currently unclear how to increase IAV in these drivers suggesting that SiBCASA still misses processes that enhance variability in plant discrimination and relative C3/C4productivity. Alternatively, 13C budget terms other than terrestrial disequilibrium fluxes, including possibly the atmospheric growth rate, must have significantly different IAV in order to close the atmospheric 13C budget on a year‐to‐year basis.
MEASURING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COSTS AND OUTCOMES: THE EXAMPLE OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN GERMAN HOSPITALS
Authors: Stargardt Tom , Schreyögg Jonas , Kondofersky Ivan
Published: May 2013

In this paper, we propose a methodological approach to measure the relationship between hospital costs and health outcomes. We propose to investigate the relationship for each condition or disease area by using patient‐level data. We examine health outcomes as a function of costs and other patient‐level variables by using the following: (1) two‐stage residual inclusion with Murphy–Topel adjustment to address costs being endogenous to health outcomes, (2) random‐effects models in both stages to correct for correlation between observation, and (3) Cox proportional hazard models in the second stage to ensure that the available information is exploited. To demonstrate its application, data on mortality following hospital treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from a large German sickness fund were used. Provider reimbursement was used as a proxy for treatment costs. We relied on the Ontario Acute Myocardial Infarction Mortality Prediction Rules as a disease‐specific risk‐adjustment instrument. A total of 12,284 patients with treatment for AMI in 2004–2006 were included. The results showed a reduction in hospital costs by €100 to increase the hazard of dying, that is, mortality, by 0.43%. The negative association between costs and mortality confirms that decreased resource input leads to worse outcomes for treatment after AMI. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IN GERMANY: THE IGNORED RISK SELECTION PROBLEM
Authors: Grunow Martina , Nuscheler Robert
Published: May 2013

We investigate risk selection between public and private health insurance in Germany. With risk‐rated premiums in the private system and community‐rated premiums in the public system, advantageous selection in favor of private insurers is expected. Using 2000 to 2007 data from the German Socio‐Economic Panel Study (SOEP), we find such selection. While private insurers are unable to select the healthy upon enrollment, they profit from an increase in the probability to switch from private to public health insurance of those individuals who have experienced a negative health shock. To avoid distorted competition between the two branches of health care financing, risk‐adjusted transfers from private to public insurers should be instituted. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
American college of radiology appropriateness criteria® treatment of stage I T1 glottic cancer
Authors: Ridge John A. , Lawson Joshua , Yom Sue S. , Garg Madhur Kumar , McDonald Mark W. , Quon Harry , Saba Nabil , Salama Joseph K. , Smith Richard V. , Worden Francis , Yeung Anamaria Reyna , Beitler Jonathan J.
Published: May 2013

Background

Controversy surrounds the appropriate therapy for T1 glottic cancer. Both transoral endolaryngeal resection and radiation offer excellent local control and voice quality; some lesions are best addressed with resection and others with radiation.

Methods

The American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria are evidence‐based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development includes an analysis of current literature from peer reviewed journals and the well‐established “modified Delphi” consensus methodology to rate the appropriateness of treatment. Where evidence is not definitive, expert opinion informed recommendations.

Results

The ACR Expert Panel on Radiation Oncology – Head and Neck Cancer developed consensus recommendations for treatment of T1 glottic cancer. Treatment planning is complex and decisions nuanced.

Conclusion

Best treatment for a particular cancer cannot be defined without consideration of the lesion's location, extent, depth of invasion, and quality of surgical exposure during direct laryngoscopy. © 2013 American College of Radiology. Head & Neck © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 3–8, 2014
Feature extraction based on sparse representation with application to epileptic EEG classification
Authors: Wang Jing , Gao X. Z. , Guo Ping
Published: May 2013

Epilepsy seizure detection in electroencephalogram (EEG) is a major issue in the diagnosis of epilepsy, and it can be considered as a classification problem. Considering the particular property of EEG, which is sparse in Garbor dictionary, a feature extraction method based on sparse representation has been applied to epilepsy detection. To improve classification accuracy, in this article, a novel feature vector is developed, which not only can reflect the main structure, but also can give expression to the relation between main structure and residual information. Classification accuracy, efficiency, and robustness to noise of the new feature are explored and analyzed with publicly available data set. It is demonstrated by experiments that the classification accuracy and the efficiency are simultaneously enhanced with this new feature extraction method, and that the novel classification feature proposed in this work greatly improves the classification performance of epilepsy detection. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 104–113, 2013
Probing of human implicit intent based on eye movement and pupillary analysis for augmented cognition
Authors: Hwang Byunghun , Jang Young‐Min , Mallipeddi Rammohan , Lee Minho
Published: May 2013

The ultimate purpose of augmented cognition is to enhance human cognitive abilities, which are intrinsically limited. To enhance limited human cognitive abilities, we developed a human augmented cognition system that can offer appropriate information or services by actively responding to the user's intention. This article mainly describes a framework for probing human implicit intentions for the purpose of augmented cognition. The type of user intention, either task‐free human implicit intention or task‐oriented human implicit intention, can be predicted based on fixation count, fixation length, and pupil size variation induced by eye response. Further, these features are used to detect the transition point between task‐free human implicit intention and task‐oriented human implicit intention. Maximum a Posteriori in Naïve Bayes classification model is used for selecting relevant query keywords to search and retrieve specific information from a personalized knowledge database. The experimental results show that the proposed human intention recognition and probing models are suitable for achieving the goal of augmented cognition. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 114–126, 2013
A shrinkage method for causal network detection of brain regions
Authors: Ahmad Fayyaz , Lee Namgil , Kim Eunwoo , Kim Sung‐Ho , Park HyunWook
Published: May 2013

We present a computationally as well as statistically efficient method of inferring causal networks for the brain regions. It is based on James‐Stein‐type shrinkage estimation of covariance matrix, suggested by (Opgen‐Rhein and Strimmer, BMC Syst Biol 1 (), 37‐40), among different brain regions of interest of the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment, that enhance the accuracy of vector autoregressive (VAR) model coefficient estimates. We have shown that this approach is well suited for the small number of samples in time and large number of brain regions encountered in real fMRI experiments of seventeen healthy individuals. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 140–146, 2013
A stretching transform‐based automatic nonrigid registration system for cerebrovascular digital subtraction angiography images
Authors: Liu Bin , Zhao Qiaochu , Dong Jiahao , Jia Xianyong , Yue Zongge
Published: May 2013

In the cerebrovascular digital subtraction angiography (DSA), patient motion is the primary cause of image quality degradation. In this article, we describe a nonrigid image registration system for motion artifact reduction in DSA which is fully automatic, effective, and computationally very efficient. In this system, the mask image is partitioned to generate the appropriate control points. The energy of histogram of differences method is adopted as similarity measurement, and the Powell algorithm is utilized for acceleration. A forward stretching transformation is used to complete the motion estimation, and an inverse stretching transformation is used to generate the target image by pixel mapping strategy. The method of this system is effective to maintain the topological relationships of the gray value before and after the image deformation. Preliminary experiments on the cerebrovascular DSA images illustrate the applicability of the system. After the deformation, the mask image remains clear and accurate contours, and the quality of the subtraction image after the registration is favorable. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 171–187, 2013
A systematic review on the effectiveness of thermography in diagnosis of diseases
Authors: Sajjadi Haniyeh Sadate , Seyedin Hesam , Aryankhesal Aidin , Asiabar Ali Sarabi
Published: May 2013

Collecting and analyzing appropriate information and performing comprehensive systematic studies, considering safety, effectiveness, and cost effectiveness of the technologies are prerequisites for making decisions on buying and using different diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. This study aimed to systematically identify and analyze available evidences related to the effectiveness of contact thermography technique in diagnosis of different diseases. This study was a systematic review of published and gray literature. We searched relevant databases, bibliography of related papers, and companies' websites, using appropriate search strategies and key words. The CASP tool was used by two experts to evaluate the quality of retrieved papers and inconsistencies were resolved by discussion. After removal of duplicate citations, 308 titles were identified through database searching, among which 276 were excluded on reviewing of the titles and abstracts. The full texts of the remaining papers (32) were assessed against the inclusion criteria and 14 papers were recognized qualified, which were categorized into three groups of: breast cancer, DVT, and others. The results showed although contact thermography is a safe, rapid and cheap technique to be used in screening and diagnosing different diseases, but results did not show any acceptable diagnostic value in comparison to other diagnostic techniques. It might be beneficial to use it as a complementary technique. More research is recommended in this area. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 188–193, 2013
The effects of soil erosion on chironomid assemblages in Lugu Lake over the past 120 years
Authors: Zhang Enlou , Tang Hongqu , Cao Yanmin , Langdon Peter , Wang Rong , Yang Xiangdong , Shen Ji
Published: May 2013

Lakes in Yunnan Province, SW China, have been subjected to increased environmental stress over the last century. In order to assess the impacts of these stresses on the biota, a sediment core was collected from Lugu Lake covering the past 120 years, and detailed chemical, biological (subfossil chironomids), and physical analyses of the lake sediments were undertaken. The analyses indicated consistent trends of increased soil erosion since the early 1970s associated with significant changes in chironomid assemblages, which occurred simultaneously with the sedimentological proxies. A redundancy analysis (RDA) using a range of sedimentary proxies indicated that the shifts in the chironomid communities were mainly attributable to soil erosion. Constant soil erosion caused dramatic reductions in the available organic materials and large increases in fine sediments, leading to changes in the chironomid fauna and reduced chironomid abundance. The chironomid succession revealed that Procladius, the likely top predator in the chironomid community food chain, decreased in abundance under the impact of soil erosion, whereas the proportion of small forms of filter feeders, represented by Tanytarsus mendax‐type, increased rapidly. Due to the loss of suitable habitats, the population of some bottom collector‐gatherers (e.g., Polypedilum nubeculosum‐type) decreased sharply. The results of this study suggest that increased catchment soil erosion may seriously impact benthic communities and potentially alter ecosystem functioning.
Life cycles and habitat selection of two sympatric mayflies under extreme continental climate (River Kharaa, Mongolia)
Authors: Avlyush Saulyegul , Schäffer Michael , Borchardt Dietrich
Published: May 2013

Autecologic information of aquatic insects in the river systems under extreme continental climatic conditions is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze life cycles, larval development, densities, microhabitat distribution, and secondary production of two sympatric burrowing mayfly species, Ephemera orientalis and Ephoron nigridorsum, in the Kharaa River, Northern Mongolia. Both species were typically distributed within the middle reaches of the focus river, displaying significant different larval densities across the three study sites. Four distinct microhabitats for E. orientalis and E. nigridorsum were identified. The preferred habitats of both species were substrates composed of rocks, cobbles, or coarse gravels with variable smaller mineral fractions of finer sandy, muddy, or organic substrates beside. Based on larval body size distribution and the emergence period, it was concluded that E. orientalis has a univoltine winter life cycle. The estimated annual production of larvae at two investigated sites in the middle stretch of the river in the year 2009 was 1.65 and 2.25 g DW m−2 year−1. Biomass was 294.8 and 490.3 mg DW m−2, and the annual production to biomass rate (P/B) was 4.5 and 5.6 year−1, respectively. In contrast, E. nigridorsum displayed a univoltine summer life cycle with a very likely egg diapause of approximately 8 months. Annual production estimates were 5.27 and 7.89 g DW m−2 year−1, biomass was 281.2 and 443.2 mg DW m−2; the annual P/B rates were 17.9 and 18.7 year−1 at the two sites reflecting the extremely shortened life cycle of this species. We conclude that the two sympatric species showed a difference in life cycles but no separation in habitat selection.