bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of silane treatment on poly‐lactic acid(PLA)/sepiolite nanocomposite thin films
Authors: Moazeni Nima , Mohamad Zurina , Dehbari Nazila
Published: September 2014

Poly‐lactic acid (PLA) nanocomposite film was prepared with untreated and silane treated sepiolite through solution casting method. Sepiolite is found to be promising nano inorganic filler used to prepare biodegradable PLA nanocomposite films. The effect of sepiolite loading on the thermal, mechanical, gas permeability, and water vapor permeability (WVP) properties of the films was investigated. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed the crystallinity index and well dispersed sepiolite in PLA/sepiolite thin films. By modifying sepiolite, depending on the nanoclay content, the mechanical properties of films were enhanced. PLA/sepiolite films exhibited improved gas barrier and WVP properties compared to neat PLA. The scanning electron microscope results demonstrated that there is a good interface interaction between sepiolite and PLA. The surface treatment of sepiolite increased the adhesion of the PLA matrix to the sepiolite nanoclay which yielded better mechanical properties of the films as compared to pure PLA. It was observed after 1.5% wt sepiolite, nano‐filler tended to agglomerate, therefore mechanical and barrier properties of films decreased. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41428.
Distribution of maternal age and birth order groups in cases with unclassified multiple congenital abnormalities according to the number of component abnormalities: A national population‐based case‐control study
Authors: Csermely Gyula , Czeizel Andrew E. , Veszprémi Béla
Published: September 2014

Background

Multiple congenital abnormalities are caused by chromosomal aberrations, mutant major genes and teratogens. A minor proportion of these patients are identified as syndromes but the major part belonging to the group of unclassified multiple CAs (UMCAs). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the maternal age and birth order in pregnant women who had offspring affected with UMCA. The strong association between numerical chromosomal aberrations, e.g., Down syndrome and advanced maternal age is well‐known and tested here.

Methods

The Hungarian Case‐Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980 to 1996, yielded a large population‐based national data set with 22,843 malformed newborns or fetuses (“informative cases”) included 1349 UMCA cases with their 2407 matched controls. Case‐control comparison of maternal age and birth order was made for cases with UMCA, stratified by component numbers and their controls. In addition, 834 cases with Down syndrome were compared to 1432 matched controls.

Results

The well‐known advanced maternal age with the higher risk for Down syndrome was confirmed. The findings of the study suggest that the young age of mothers associates with the higher risk of UMCA, in addition birth order 4 or more associates with the higher risk for UMCA with 2 and 3 component CAs.

Conclusion

This study was the first to analyze the possible maternal and birth order effect for cases with UMCA, and the young age and higher birth order associated with a higher risk for UMCA. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 103:67–75, 2015 © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using conditional power of network meta‐analysis (NMA) to inform the design of future clinical trials
Authors: Nikolakopoulou Adriani , Mavridis Dimitris , Salanti Georgia
Published: September 2014

Clinical trials are typically designed with an aim to reach sufficient power to test a hypothesis about relative effectiveness of two or more interventions. Their role in informing evidence‐based decision‐making demands, however, that they are considered in the context of the existing evidence. Consequently, their planning can be informed by characteristics of relevant systematic reviews and meta‐analyses. In the presence of multiple competing interventions the evidence base has the form of a network of trials, which provides information not only about the required sample size but also about the interventions that should be compared in a future trial. In this paper we present a methodology to evaluate the impact of new studies, their information size, the comparisons involved, and the anticipated heterogeneity on the conditional power (CP) of the updated network meta‐analysis. The methods presented are an extension of the idea of CP initially suggested for a pairwise meta‐analysis and we show how to estimate the required sample size using various combinations of direct and indirect evidence in future trials. We apply the methods to two previously published networks and we show that CP for a treatment comparison is dependent on the magnitude of heterogeneity and the ratio of direct to indirect information in existing and future trials for that comparison. Our methodology can help investigators calculate the required sample size under different assumptions about heterogeneity and make decisions about the number and design of future studies (set of treatments compared).
Outcomes after surgery in patients with previous stroke
Authors: Liao C C , Chang P Y , Yeh C C , Hu C J , Wu C H , Chen T L
Published: September 2014

Background

Limited information is available on the association between a medical history of stroke and postoperative outcomes. This study investigated the outcomes following non-neurological surgery in patients with previous stroke.

Methods

Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, a nationwide cohort study was conducted of patients who underwent non-neurological surgery between 2008 and 2010 with a medical history of stroke in the 24-month period before operation. Patients who had non-neurological surgeries without previous stroke were selected as controls by the propensity score-matched pair method. Thirty-day postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality were compared between the two groups.

Results

Some 1 426 795 adults underwent major inpatient non-neurological surgery, of whom 45 420 had a medical history of previous stroke. Patients with previous stroke who underwent surgery had an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia, septicaemia, acute renal failure, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism and 30-day in-hospital mortality (adjusted rate ratio (RR) 1·79, 95 per cent c.i. 1·61 to 1·99). Compared with controls, patients with previous stroke due to intracerebral haemorrhage (RR 3·41, 2·97 to 3·91), and those who were treated in intensive care (RR 2·55, 2·24 to 2·90) or underwent neurosurgery (RR 2·49, 2·12 to 2·92), had an increased 30-day in-hospital mortality rate. Postoperative mortality also increased with stroke-related co-morbidities, and with stroke 1–6 months before surgery (RR 3·31, 2·91 to 3·75).

Conclusion

Patients with previous stroke had a higher risk of adverse postoperative outcomes; their 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was nearly twice that of patients without previous stroke.
Evolution equation for thermodynamic systems with correlated states
Authors: Figarova Sophia R. , Figarov Vagif R.
Published: September 2014

We have derived time evolution equations for thermodynamic systems with correlated states, considering the change in a probability density, entropy, and phase space metric at fixed phase‐space locations and obtained simple relations between these quantities for the separate systems. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 162–165, 2015
Cnicus benedictus as a potential low input oil crop
Authors: Horn Gert , Kupfer Astrid , Rademacher Annett , Kluge Holger , Kalbitz Jutta , Eißner Helmut , Dräger Birgit
Published: September 2014

Cultivation of oil plants in locations less suited for prime oil plants may provide variation in vegetable oil availability and may contribute to land use diversification. Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus L.) offers potential as an alternative oil crop for cultivation in central Europe. Fruit yields of approximately 2.0–2.5 t/ha and oil yields of 500–700 kg/ha result from sowing in early autumn. Plants are cultivated on medium‐quality soil and demand only limited nitrogen fertilization. Linoleic acid dominates among the fatty acids of C. benedictus oil, similar to other Asteraceae fruit oils. The high tocopherol content in the oil is composed of over 90% α‐tocopherol. C. benedictus fruits contain the lignan glycoside arctiin with 2.5% of grain dry mass.

Practical applications: Cnicus benedictus plants can be cultivated in middle Europe with low agricultural costs and efforts. Plants grow well on medium‐quality soil and are not susceptible to illnesses and pests. Regular fruit yields are approximately 2.0–2.5 t/ha. C. benedictus oil is a good source of linoleic acid (>70% of total fatty acids) and of α‐tocopherol (>90% α‐tocopherol of total tocopherols). The oil appears attractive for cosmetics and for technical applications, e.g., as a coating agent. C. benedictus oil may also be suitable for human nutrition, an admission as appropriate food ingredient provided. In addition, C. benedictus oil cake can be exploited as a source for the lignan glycoside arctiin.

Fruits of Cnicus benedictus, Asteraceae, contain a fatty oil with high linoleic acid and α‐tocopherol contents. Grain yields of 2.0–2.5 t/ha on medium‐quality soil classify C. benedictus as promising alternative oil crop in mid‐Europe.
Seaweed enrichment of feed supplied to farm‐raised Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is associated with higher total fatty acid and LC n‐3 PUFA concentrations in fish flesh
Authors: Wilke Toine , Faulkner Simon , Murphy Laura , Kealy Laura , Kraan Stefan , Brouns Fred
Published: September 2014

Seaweeds have great potential as feed ingredients for fish farming, though their effects on the fatty acid content and profile of fish flesh are not well established. Recent studies suggest that seaweed supplementation can increase the concentration of long chain omega‐3 PUFA (LC n‐3 PUFAs) in various animal species, though this effect has never been assessed in salmon. Primarily, this study compared the fatty acid profiles of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) that were fed a high quality diet containing seaweed (Diet A), with those on a high quality control diet without seaweed (Diet B). In addition, fatty acid profiles of Atlantic salmon that were fed a standard industrial quality diet containing seaweed (Diet C), were compared to those on a similar diet without seaweed (Diet D). Total fatty acid concentrations were significantly higher (+30%, p<0.05) in the flesh of the fish that were fed seaweed. Flesh concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA were 30% and 62% higher (p<0.05) in Diet A and Diet C groups compared to salmon in Diet B and Diet D groups respectively. Analysis of the fish lipid revealed no significant differences in LC‐3 PUFAs between the high quality diet groups, while significantly higher (+ 45%, p<0.005) concentrations EPA + DHA were found in fish that consumed Diet C compared to Diet D. These findings support the hypothesis that the inclusion of seaweed in fish farm diets alters lipid partitioning and profiles of Atlantic salmon.

Practical Applications: This study reveals a possible way to substantially increase EPA and DHA concentrations in farmed salmon. Both EPA and DHA are LC n‐3 PUFAs and are essential components of the human diet. Unfortunately, consumption of such PUFAs is generally below RDI levels, which is in turn linked to several non‐communicable diseases. Moreover, EPA + DHA concentrations in farmed salmon are now declining due to the replacement of scarce fish oils (rich in LC n‐3 PUFA) by more sustainable plant‐based oils (low in EPA + DHA) in fish feeds. Since salmon is one of the world's most consumed fish and one of the few major sources of LC n‐3 PUFAs, it is of great importance to maintain or increase EPA + DHA levels in farmed salmon. The results of this study show that this could be achieved by dietary inclusion of seaweed.

Seaweed can increase LC n‐3 PUFA levels in salmon.
Isomerization of anacardic acid: A possible route to the synthesis of an unsaturated benzolactone and a kairomone
Authors: Mgaya James E. , Mubofu Egid B. , Mgani Quintino A. , Cordes David B. , Slawin Alexandra M. , Cole‐Hamilton David J.
Published: September 2014

Crystalline unsaturated lactone, 8‐hydroxy‐3‐tridecyl‐1H‐isochromen‐1‐one (6) has been synthesized by isomerization of anacardic acid having heterogeneous alkyl side chains (a mixture of mono‐, di‐, and tri‐unsaturated anacardic acid) (1). Hydrogenation of 8‐hydroxy‐3‐tridecyl‐1H‐isochromen‐1‐one produced a saturated lactone, 8‐hydroxy‐3‐tridecyl‐3,4‐dihydroisochromen‐1‐one (7). Isomerization of monoene anacardic acid resulted in a crystalline isoanacardic acid, (E)‐2‐hydroxy‐6‐(pentadec‐1‐enyl)benzoic acid (8) as a major product. This was then metathesized with 2‐butene to give 3‐prop‐1‐enylphenol (10). Both isomerization reactions used a 1,2‐bis(ditertiarybutylphosphinomethyl)benzene modified palladium catalyst. The two products, 8‐hydroxy‐3‐tridecyl‐1H‐isochromen‐1‐one and (E)‐2‐hydroxy‐6‐(pentadec‐1‐enyl)benzoic acid have been crystallographically characterized.

Practical applications: Unsaturated lactones are structural elements often found in natural products, which have medicinal value. Benzolactones derived from anacardic acid reported in this work have some structural similarity with lactones such as massoia lactone having medicinal value. Therefore with this idea in mind, the unsaturated benzolactones reported in this work will be tested for their anti pathogenic activity. 3‐Propylphenol is used in combination with racemic 1‐octen‐3‐ol and p‐cresol to prepare a kairomone for tsetse fly traps. Results from this work describe the suitability of anacardic acid for synthesizing 3‐propylphenol. The fact that 3‐propylphenol can be synthesized from anacardic acid, a component of cashew nut shell liquid is of particular interest since most of the areas affected with tsetse flies are suitable for growing cashew plants. This means the raw materials (CNSL) for synthesis of 3‐propylphenol will be obtained from within the same region where the kairomone is to be applied, although we appreciate that specialized facilities would be required for the types of transformation described.

Unsaturated benzolactone and a desired isomer of anacardic acid for synthesis of kairomone have been synthesized by isomerization of heterogeneous and monoene anacardic acid, respectively.
DMAP‐Catalysed Sulfinylation of Diacetone‐D‐Glucose: Improved Method for the Synthesis of Enantiopure tert‐Butyl Sulfoxides and tert‐Butanesulfinamides
Authors: Chelouan Ahmed , Recio Rocío , Alcudia Ana , Khiar Noureddine , Fernández Inmaculada
Published: September 2014

An improved method for the tert‐butanesulfinylation of diacetone glucose with tert‐butanesulfinyl chloride is reported. The method is based on a beneficial effect of catalytic DMAP, which enhances both the rate of the reaction and the enantioselectivity of the process to give (RS)‐diastereomer 2RS with a 94 % de and in quantitative yield. (RS)‐DAG sulfinate ester 2RS is an excellent intermediate for the synthesis of enantiopure tert‐butyl sulfoxides. Grignard agents and organolithium reagents can displace smoothly the diacetone glucose moiety to give synthetically relevant enantiopure sulfoxides, including highly functionalized derivatives, in high yields and with high enantioselectivities. (RS)‐DAG sulfinate ester 2RS is also an excellent N‐sulfinylating agent; simple addition of LiHMDS (lithium hexamethyldisilazide) in THF gives (SS)‐tert‐butanesulfinamide, and N‐tert‐butanesulfinylimines are then formed in a two‐step one‐pot manner. N‐Alkylated tert‐butanesulfinamides are formed by the condensation of 2RS with lithium amides.
Aberrant proteins featured in the saliva of habitual betel quid chewers: An indication of early oral premalignancy?
Authors: Jessie Kala , Jayapalan Jaime Jacqueline , Rahim Zubaidah Haji Abdul , Hashim Onn Haji
Published: September 2014

Prolonged chewing of betel quid is known to cause oral diseases, including cancer. The present study was performed to screen for aberrant proteins in the saliva of habitual betel quid chewers compared to nonchewers. Saliva of female subjects (n = 10) who had been chewing betel quid for more than 20 years and nonbetel quid chewers (n = 10) of the same gender and range of age was analyzed by gel‐based proteomics. Increased structural microheterogeneity of saliva haptoglobin beta chains indicated by shifts of focused spots similar to that earlier reported in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, and their relatively higher abundance compared to nonbetel quid chewers, were detected in saliva protein profiles of all chewers. In addition, the majority of the betel quid chewers also showed significant higher abundance of hemopexin, alpha‐1B glycoprotein, alpha1‐antitrypsin, complement C3, and transthyretin. These proteins had previously been associated with several different cancers. Our data demonstrated different forms of protein aberration in the saliva of betel quid chewers, which may be indicative of early oral precancerous conditions.
A serial dual‐electrode detector based on electrogenerated bromine for capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Du Fuying , Cao Shunan , Fung Ying‐Sing
Published: September 2014

A new serial dual‐electrode detector for CE has been designed and fabricated for postcolumn reaction detection based on electrogenerated bromine. A coaxial postcolumn reactor was employed to introduce bromide reagent and facilitate the fabrication of upstream generation electrode by simply sputtering Pt film onto the outer surface of the separation capillary. Bromide introduced could be efficiently converted to bromine at this Pt film electrode and subsequently detected by the downstream Pt microdisk detection electrode. Analytes that react with bromine could be determined by the decrease of bromine reduction current at the downstream electrode resulting from the reaction between analytes and bromine. The effects of serial dual‐electrode detector working conditions including electrode potentials, bromide flow rate, and bromide concentration on analytical performance were investigated using glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) as test analytes. Under the optimal conditions, detection limits down to 0.16 μM for GSH and 0.14 μM for GSSG (S/N = 3) as well as linear working ranges of two orders of magnitude for GSH and GSSG were achieved. Furthermore, the separation efficiency obtained by our dual‐electrode detector design was greatly improved compared with previous reported design. The developed method has been successfully applied to determine the GSH and GSSG impurity in commercial GSH supplement.
Statistical modeling and forecasting of fruit crop phenology under climate change
Authors: Cai S. , Zidek James V. , Newlands Nathaniel K. , Neilsen Denise
Published: September 2014

Phenology, the study of the association between biological development stages and variations in climate, has greatly increased in importance because of concerns arising from climate change. This paper presents a general stochastic approach to the modeling of the relationship between phenological events and climate variables, and gives a prediction method based on this approach to provide full predictive distributions for future events. The proposed methods are then applied to the modeling and prediction of the bloom dates of six high‐valued fruit crops. In particular, we use our approach to explore how the bloom dates are related to the accumulation of growing degree days, to provide a sensible estimate of an important parameter Tbase in phenological study, and to assess the prediction of bloom dates with a leave‐one‐out procedure. Most importantly, the impact of future climate change on bloom dates is studied with temperature outputs from well‐established coupled global climate models under a high greenhouse gases scenario. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing fit in Bayesian models for spatial processes
Authors: Jun M. , Katzfuss M. , Hu J. , Johnson V. E.
Published: September 2014

Gaussian random fields are frequently used to model spatial and spatial–temporal data, particularly in geostatistical settings. As much of the attention of the statistics community has been focused on defining and estimating the mean and covariance functions of these processes, little effort has been devoted to developing goodness‐of‐fit tests to allow users to assess the models' adequacy. We describe a general goodness‐of‐fit test and related graphical diagnostics for assessing the fit of Bayesian Gaussian process models using pivotal discrepancy measures. Our method is applicable for both regularly and irregularly spaced observation locations on planar and spherical domains. The essential idea behind our method is to evaluate pivotal quantities defined for a realization of a Gaussian random field at parameter values drawn from the posterior distribution. Because the nominal distribution of the resulting pivotal discrepancy measures is known, it is possible to quantitatively assess model fit directly from the output of Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms used to sample from the posterior distribution on the parameter space. We illustrate our method in a simulation study and in two applications. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploratory study of long‐term health‐related quality of life in patients with surgically treated primary parotid gland cancer
Authors: Stenner Markus , Beenen Franziska , Hahn Moritz , Koopmann Mario , Weiss Daniel , Hüttenbrink Karl‐Bernd
Published: September 2014

Background

Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) has received more and more attention as an outcome in cancer therapy. In this exploratory study, we assessed the long‐term HRQOL among 77 surgically treated patients with parotid gland cancer.

Methods

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core 30‐questions (EORTC‐QLQ‐C30) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core 30 Head and Neck 35‐questions (EORTC‐QLQ‐C30‐H&N35) questionnaires were used in a cross‐sectional design. The mean time‐lag between initial diagnosis and completion of the questionnaire was 89.7 months.

Results

The HRQOL significantly increased with the time‐lag to surgery and decreased with the patients' age. Factors with clinically significant effects in several areas of long‐term HRQOL (ie, more than 4 scores) were age, type of neck dissection, preoperative facial nerve palsy, and postoperative radiation therapy.

Conclusion

In parotid gland cancer surgery, factors, such as sex, age, type of surgery, facial nerve palsy, and radiation therapy, seem to be associated with clinically meaningful differences in long‐term HRQOL scores. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 111–117, 2016
Comparison of the American Joint Committee on Cancer N1 versus N2a nodal categories for predicting survival and recurrence in patients with oral cancer: Time to acknowledge an arbitrary distinction and modify the system
Authors: Ebrahimi Ardalan , Gil Ziv , Amit Moran , Yen Tzu‐Chen , Liao Chun‐Ta , Chatturvedi Pankaj , Agarwal Jaiprakash , Kowalski Luiz , Kreppel Matthias , Cernea Claudio , Brandao Jose , Bachar Gideon , Villaret Andrea Bolzoni , Fliss Dan , Fridman Eran , Robbins K. Thomas , Shah Jatin , Patel Snehal , Clark Jonathan ,   The International Consortium for Outcome Research (ICOR) in Head and Neck Cancer
Published: September 2014

Background

We hypothesized that pathological N1 (pN1) and N2a (pN2a) nodal disease portend a similar prognosis in patients with oral cancer.

Methods

An international multicenter study of 739 oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients with pN1 or pN2a stage disease was conducted. Multivariable analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazard models to compare locoregional failure, disease‐specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS). Institutional heterogeneity was assessed using 2‐stage random effects meta‐analysis techniques.

Results

Univariate analysis revealed no difference in locoregional failure (p = .184), DSS (p = .761), or OS (p = .475). Similar results were obtained in adjusted multivariable models and no evidence of institutional heterogeneity was demonstrated.

Conclusion

The prognosis of pN2a and pN1 disease is similar in oral SCC suggesting these categories could be combined in future revisions of the nodal staging system to enhance prognostic accuracy. However, these results may reflect more aggressive treatment of N2a disease; hence, we caution against using these data to deintensify treatment. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 135–139, 2016
Transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2 activates hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Esumi Mariko , Ishibashi Mariko , Yamaguchi Hiromi , Nakajima Satomi , Tai Yuhi , Kikuta Sachiko , Sugitani Masahiko , Takayama Tadatoshi , Tahara Maino , Takeda Makoto , Wakita Takaji
Published: September 2014

The human liver reacts to hepatitis C virus (HCV) with a balanced response consisting of host anti‐ and proviral activities. To explore these subtle host responses, we used oligonucleotide microarrays to investigate the differential gene expression between two groups of liver samples with high and low HCV loads (>100‐fold difference). We identified and validated 26 genes that were up‐regulated in livers with high HCV loads, including transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Trypsin inhibitors inhibited the infection of Huh7‐25‐CD81 cells with cell‐culture–derived HCV (HCVcc) of Japanese fulminant hepatitis 1 isolate at the postbinding and entry step, and trypsin enhanced HCVcc infection at an early stage of infection. Several major transmembrane serine proteases, in particular, furin and hepsin, were detected in Huh7‐25‐CD81 cells, but TMPRSS2 was not. Huh7‐25‐CD81 cell clones stably expressing TMPRSS2‐ WT (wild type) and inactive TMPRSS2‐mutant genes showed positive and negative enhancement of their susceptibility to HCVcc infection, respectively. The enhanced susceptibility of TMPRSS2‐WT Huh7‐25‐CD81 cells was confirmed by knockdown of TMPRSS2 using small interfering RNA. The cell‐surface protease activity of TMPRSS2‐WT cells was markedly active in the cleavage of QAR and QGR, corresponding to amino acid residues at P3 to P1. Conclusion: The cell‐surface activity of a trypsin‐like serine protease, such as TMPRSS2, activates HCV infection at the postbinding and entry stage. Host transmembrane serine proteases may be involved in the sensitivity, persistence, and pathogenesis of HCV infection and be possible targets for antiviral therapy. (Hepatology 2015;61:438‐447)
The absolute lymphocyte to monocyte ratio is associated with poor prognosis in classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients younger than 60 years of age
Authors: Koh Young Wha , Jung Se Jin , Yoon Dok Hyun , Suh Cheolwon , Cha Hee Jeong , Go Heounjeong , Kim Ji Eun , Kim Chul‐Woo , Huh Jooryung
Published: September 2014

Recent studies suggest that absolute lymphocyte count, absolute monocyte count and their ratio [lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR)] at diagnosis may predict survival in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Here, we investigated the prognostic significance of LMR in cHL patients in relation to age of patients. Subjects included 351 cHL patients (age range from 4 to 84 years, median age 34 years, sex ratio 1.58) who had been followed‐up for a median period of 59 months (range, 0.1–245 months). The estimated 5‐year overall survival (OS) rate was 86.8%. Subgroup analysis was performed according to patients' age; non‐elderly group (<60 years of age) versus elderly group (≥60 years of age). There was no significant difference in the level of absolute lymphocyte count, absolute monocyte count or LMR between the age groups. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cut‐off value of LMR for the entire cohort was determined at 2.8, whereas the optimal cut‐off for the elderly group was 2.2. In the non‐elderly group (<60 years old), patients with LMR <2.8 had significantly lower OS or lymphoma‐specific survival compared with those with LMR ≥2.8 (p < 0.001, both). In contrast, neither the LMR value of 2.8 or 2.2 predicted survival in the elderly group. In multivariate analysis, LMR remained a significant prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.049). The results of our analysis suggest that low LMR is associated with poor OS in patients of <60 years old. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Methylation of viral and host genes and severity of cervical lesions associated with human papillomavirus type 16
Authors: Louvanto Karolina , Franco Eduardo L. , Ramanakumar Agnihotram V. , Vasiljević Nataša , Scibior‐Bentkowska Dorota , Koushik Anita , Cuzick Jack , Coutlée Francois , Lorincz Attila T. ,   the Biomarkers of Cervical Cancer Risk Study Team
Published: September 2014

Methylation of human papillomavirus (HPV) and host genes may predict cervical cancer risk. We examined the methylation status of selected sites in HPV16 and human genes in DNA extracted from exfoliated cervical cell samples of 244 women harboring HPV16‐positive cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or negative for intraepithelial lesions or malignancy (NILM). We quantified the methylation of CpG sites in the HPV16 L1 gene (CpG 6367 and 6389) and in the human genes EPB41L3 (CpG 438, 427, 425) and LMX1 (CpG 260, 262, 266, 274) following bisulfite treatment and pyrosequencing. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the diagnostic utility of methylation level for the different sites and for a joint predictor score. Methylation in all sites significantly increased with lesion severity (p < 0.0001). Area under the curve (AUC) was highest among the CIN2/3 vs. cancer ranging from 0.786 to 0.853 among the different sites. Site‐specific methylation levels strongly discriminated CIN2/3 from NILM/CIN1 and cancer from CIN2/3 (range of odds ratios [OR]: 3.69–12.76, range of lower 95% confidence bounds: 1.03–4.01). When methylation levels were mutually adjusted for each other EPB41L3 was the only independent predictor of CIN2/3 vs. NILM/CIN1 contrasts (OR = 9.94, 95%CI: 2.46–40.27). High methylation levels of viral and host genes are common among precancerous and cancer lesions and can serve as independent risk biomarkers. Methylation of host genes LMX1 and EPB41L3 and of the viral HPV16 L1 sites has the potential to distinguish among precancerous lesions and to distinguish the latter from invasive disease.
Structural disruption increases toxicity of graphene nanoribbons
Authors: Mullick Chowdhury Sayan , Dasgupta Subham , McElroy Anne E. , Sitharaman Balaji
Published: September 2014

The increased utilization of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) for biomedical and material science applications necessitates the thorough evaluation of potential toxicity of these materials under both intentional and accidental exposure scenarios. We here investigated the effects of structural disruption of GNRs (induced by low‐energy bath and high‐energy probe sonication) to in vitro (human cell lines), and in vivo (Oryzias latipes embryo) biological systems. Our results demonstrate that low concentration (20 µg ml−1) suspensions of GNRs prepared by as little as 1 min of probe sonication can cause significant decreases in the overall metabolic state of cells in vitro, and increased embryo/larval mortality in vivo, as compared to bath sonicated or unsonicated suspensions. Structural analysis indicates that probe sonication leads to disruption in GNR structure and production of smaller carbonaceous debris, which may be the cause of the toxicity observed. These results point out the importance of assessing post‐production structural modifications for any application using nanomaterials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
pH‐dependent immobilization of urease on glutathione‐capped gold nanoparticles
Authors: Garg Seema , De Arnab , Mozumdar Subho
Published: September 2014

Urease is a nickel‐dependent metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea to form ammonia and carbon dioxide. Although the enzyme serves a significant role in several detoxification and analytical processes, its usability is restricted due to high cost, availability in small amounts, instability, and a limited possibility of economic recovery from a reaction mixture. Hence, there is a need to develop an efficient, simple, and reliable immobilization strategy for the enzyme. In this study, the carboxyl terminated surface of glutathione‐capped gold nanoparticles have been utilized as a solid support for the covalent attachment of urease. The immobilization has been carried out at different pH conditions so as to elucidate its effect on the immobilization efficiency and enzyme bioactivity. The binding of the enzyme has been quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed through techniques like ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, intrinsic steady state fluorescence, and circular dichorism. The bioactivity of the immobilized enzyme was investigated with respect to the native enzyme under different thermal conditions. Recyclability and shelf life studies of the immobilized enzyme have also been carried out. Results reveal that the immobilization is most effective at pH of 7.4 followed by that in an acidic medium and is least in alkaline environment. The immobilized enzyme also exhibits enhance activity in comparison to the native form at physiological temperature. The immobilized urease (on gold glutathione nanoconjugates surface) can be effectively employed for biosensor fabrication, immunoassays and as an in vivo diagnostic tool in the future. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 1771–1783, 2015.
Anthropogenic influence on summer precipitation trends over South America in CMIP5 models
Authors: Vera Carolina S. , Díaz Leandro
Published: September 2014

Austral summer rainfall trends are analysed over South America from observations and simulations of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project version 5 between 1902 and 2005. Positive trends in southeastern South America (SESA) and negative ones in the southern Andes (SAn) are the most significant observed features. Mean trends obtained from an ensemble of 59 simulations from 14 models for the historical experiment (including both natural and anthropogenic forcings) are able to reproduce those precipitation changes, although weaker than observed. Most of the simulations reproduce the right sign of the precipitation changes at both regions. However, associated uncertainty ranges (due to both inter‐model dispersion and internal climate variability) are still large. Mean trends for the historical experiment are statistically distinguishable from those obtained for the natural‐forcing‐only experiment, which exhibit negligible mean values at both regions. Results allow concluding that the anthropogenic forcing has at least a partial contribution in explaining the precipitation changes observed in both SESA and SAn regions during the last century.
Investigating the Attractiveness of an Emerging Long‐Haul Destination: Implications for Loyalty
Authors: Vigolo Vania
Published: September 2014

Although several studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between destination attractiveness and loyalty, most published research has focused on travellers from geographically close markets and on mature destinations. This study adopts a demand‐side perspective to investigate these concepts for an emerging long‐haul destination (South Africa). A survey was conducted among a sample of Italian tourists to explore the determinants of destination attractiveness and to investigate the effect of destination attractiveness on tourists' loyalty. Moreover, this study considers the moderating role of previous travel experience on the relationship between attractiveness and loyalty. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of a new contralateral routing of signal microphone in established unilateral cochlear implant recipients
Authors: Grewal Amandeep S. , Kuthubutheen Jafri , Smilsky Kari , Nedzelski Julian M. , Chen Joseph M. , Friesen Lendra , Lin Vincent Y.W.
Published: September 2014

Objectives/Hypothesis

To investigate whether a contralateral routing of signal (CROS) microphone combined with a unilateral cochlear implant (CI) results in hearing improvement after a prolonged trial period.

Study Design

A prospective experimental trial was undertaken on a group of 10 postlingually deafened adults who are experienced CI users.

Methods

Participants completed audiometric testing and validated questionnaires with their unilateral CI alone, followed by addition of a CROS microphone (CI‐CROS). This was worn daily for the 2‐week trial, after which hearing performance was reevaluated using the same measures. Objective tests included AzBio sentences in quiet and noise and consonant–vowel nucleus–consonant (CNC) words. Subjective measures included the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB); Speech, Spatial, Qualities of Hearing Index (SSQ); Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index; an institutional questionnaire; and a daily log sheet.

Results

There is statistically significant enhanced speech discrimination with the CI‐CROS when speech is presented on the CROS side. However, scores are markedly diminished when background noise is introduced, particularly to the CROS side. Subjective results indicate lower satisfaction scores for the global and ease of communication subdomains of the APHAB with the CI‐CROS, but increased scores on the spatial hearing subdomain of the SSQ (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The CI‐CROS provides significant benefit in certain situations, particularly speech recognition in quiet. CI‐CROS performance with background noise is poor, leading to low satisfaction scores. Further refinement of the device may yield a useful tool for unilateral CI users in the future.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 125:197–202, 2015
Lower plasma apolipoprotein A1 levels are found in Parkinson's disease and associate with apolipoprotein A1 genotype
Authors: Swanson Christine R. , Li Katherine , Unger Travis L. , Gallagher Michael D. , Van Deerlin Vivianna M. , Agarwal Pinky , Leverenz James , Roberts John , Samii Ali , Gross Rachel Goldmann , Hurtig Howard , Rick Jacqueline , Weintraub Daniel , Trojanowski John Q. , Zabetian Cyrus , Chen‐Plotkin Alice S.
Published: September 2014

The discovery of novel plasma‐based biomarkers could lead to new approaches in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we explore the role of plasma apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) as a risk marker for PD and evaluate the influence of APOA1 promoter variation on plasma ApoA1 levels. Plasma ApoA1 and the single‐nucleotide polymorphism, rs670, were assayed in a discovery cohort (cohort 1) of 301 PD patients, 80 normal controls (NCs), and 165 subjects with other neurodegenerative diseases, as well as a cohort (cohort 2) of 158 PD patients from a second clinical site. Additionally, rs670 was genotyped in a third cohort of 1,494 PD and 925 NC subjects from both clinical sites. Compared to both normal and disease controls, PD patients have lower plasma ApoA1 (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). Moreover, in PD patients, plasma ApoA1 levels are correlated with genotype at the APOA1 promoter polymorphism, rs670. Specifically, lower plasma ApoA1 levels were found in rs670 major allele (G) homozygotes in both cohort 1 (P = 0.009) and in a replication cohort (cohort 2; n = 158 PD patients; P = 0.024). Finally, evaluating rs670 genotype frequencies in 1,930 PD cases versus 997 NCs, the rs670 GG genotype shows a trend toward association (odds ratio: 1.1; P = 0.10) with PD. Our results are compatible with a model whereby circulating ApoA1 levels may be useful in risk‐stratifying subjects for the development of PD, with higher ApoA1 levels suggesting relative protection. Future studies evaluating modulation of ApoA1 as a novel therapeutic strategy in PD are warranted. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Balanced SSFP Dixon imaging with banding‐artifact reduction at 3 Tesla
Authors: Quist Brady , Hargreaves Brian A. , Daniel Bruce L. , Saranathan Manojkumar
Published: September 2014

Purpose

To develop a three‐dimensional (3D) balanced steady‐state free‐precession (bSSFP) two‐point Dixon method with banding‐artifact suppression to offer robust high‐resolution 3D bright‐fluid imaging.

Methods

A complex sum reconstruction that combines phase‐cycled bSSFP images acquired at specific echo times for robust fat/water separation without banding was investigated and compared with a magnitude‐based method. Bloch simulations using both single‐peak and multiple‐peak fat models were performed to predict the performance of these methods for a wide range of echo times and repetition times. The quality and degree of fat/water separation was evaluated in both simulations and using in vivo imaging.

Results

Simulations predicted that both effective banding‐artifact suppression and substantial improvements in fat/water separation are possible at echo times that are different from conventional echo times, enabling improved spatial resolution. Comparisons between various echo times and repetition times in vivo validated the improved fat/water separation and effective banding‐artifact removal predicted by the simulations.

Conclusion

The proposed complex sum Dixon 3D bSSFP method is able to effectively separate fat and water at different sets of echo times, while removing banding‐artifacts, providing a fast, high‐resolution, T2‐like sequence without blurring. Magn Reson Med 74:706–715, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A parallel finite element variational multiscale method based on fully overlapping domain decomposition for incompressible flows
Authors: Shang Yueqiang
Published: September 2014

Based on fully overlapping domain decomposition and a recent variational multiscale method, a parallel finite element variational multiscale method for convection dominated incompressible flows is proposed and analyzed. In this method, each processor computes a local finite element solution in its own subdomain using a global mesh that is locally refined around its own subdomain, where a stabilization term based on two local Gauss integrations is adopted to stabilize the numerical form of the Navier–Stokes equations. Using the technical tool of local a priori estimate for the finite element solution, error bounds of the discrete solution are estimated. Algorithmic parameter scalings are derived. Numerical tests are also given to verify the theoretical predictions and demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 31: 856–875, 2015
Photovoltaics literature survey (No. 113)
Authors: Shrestha Santosh
Published: September 2014

In order to help keep readers up‐to‐date in the field each issue of Progress in Photovoltaics will contain a list of recently published journal articles most relevant to its aims and scope. This list is drawn from an extremely wide range of journals, including IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Journal of Applied Physics, Applied Physics Letters, Progress in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. To assist the reader, the list is separated into broad categories, but please note that these classifications are by no means strict. Also note that inclusion in the list is not an endorsement of a paper's quality. If you have any suggestions please email Santosh Shrestha at s.shrestha@unsw.edu.au.
Violations of the independent increment assumption when using generalized estimating equation in longitudinal group sequential trials
Authors: Shoben Abigail B. , Emerson Scott S.
Published: September 2014

In phase 3 clinical trials, ethical and financial concerns motivate sequential analyses in which the data are analyzed prior to completion of the entire planned study. Existing group sequential software accounts for the effects of these interim analyses on the sampling density by assuming that the contribution of subsequent increments is independent of the contribution from previous data. This independent increment assumption is satisfied in many common circumstances, including when using the efficient estimator. However, certain circumstances may dictate using an inefficient estimator, and the independent increment assumption may then be violated. Consequences of assuming independent increments in a setting where the assumption does not hold have not been previously explored. One important setting in which independent increments may not hold is the setting of longitudinal clinical trials. This paper considers dependent increments that arise because of heteroscedastic and correlated data in the context of longitudinal clinical trials that use a generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach. Both heteroscedasticity over time and correlation of observations within subjects may lead to departures from the independent increment assumption when using GEE. We characterize situations leading to greater departures in this paper. Despite violations of the independent increment assumption, simulation results suggest that operating characteristics of sequential designs are largely maintained for typically observed patterns of accrual, correlation, and heteroscedasticity even when using analyses that use standard software that depends on an independent increment structure. More extreme scenarios may require greater care to avoid departures from the nominal type I error rate and power. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐Throughput, Miniaturized Clonogenic Analysis of a Limiting Dilution Assay on a Micropillar/Microwell Chip with Brain Tumor Cells
Authors: Lee Dong Woo , Choi Yeon‐Sook , Seo Yun Jee , Lee Moo‐Yeal , Jeon Sang Youl , Ku Bosung , Nam Do‐Hyun
Published: September 2014

The limiting dilution assay (LDA) is a clonogenic drug efficacy test designed to determine a value for drug efficacy based on an all‐or‐none (positive or negative) response within replicates. It also attempts to calculate minimum cell numbers for cells to form colony in each drugged conditions, wherein a large value implies high drug efficacy (as a large number of extant cells are required to start a colony). However, traditional LDAs are time‐consuming to set up, often requiring many replicates for statistical analysis, and manual colony identification under a microscope to determine a positive or negative response is tedious and is susceptible to human error. To address these issues, a high‐throughput miniaturized LDA assay is developed using a micropillar/microwell chip platform using an automatic colony identification method. Three glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumor isolates (448T, 464T, and 775T) are used to test this new assay, using the c‐Met kinase inhibitors SU11274 and PHA665752 as the target drugs. The results show that the minimum cell number of 775T is larger than that of the other two cell types (SU11274 and PHA665752) in both the sampled drugs, a result that is in good agreement with the results of previous conventional experiments using 96 well plates.