bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Style and Concept Mapping Performance
Authors: Jablokow Kathryn W. , DeFranco Joanna F. , Richmond Sally Sue , Piovoso Michael J. , Bilén Sven G.
Published: July 2015

Background

Cognitive style has been shown to influence the number, type, and organization of an individual's ideas. Concept maps are used regularly to assess students’ organization and mastery of knowledge (their cognitive level) in engineering courses, yet very few studies have analyzed concept maps with respect to cognitive style.

Purpose/Hypothesis

This study sought to investigate the relationship between cognitive style and concept mapping performance. Using principles of cognitive psychology and concept mapping assessment, we hypothesized that correlations between cognitive style and the selected concept map metrics are not statistically significant.

Design/Method

Concept maps from 104 engineering undergraduates in a first‐year design course were analyzed using 12 traditional scoring metrics and four holistic scoring metrics. One holistic metric was expanded to allow more detailed evaluation, bringing the number of map metrics to 20. Cognitive style was measured using the Kirton Adaption–Innovation Inventory, a psychometric instrument previously applied in engineering education contexts. Relationships between the concept map metrics and cognitive style were investigated using standard linear techniques.

Results

Results show substantial support for the null hypothesis that cognitive style and concept mapping performance are uncorrelated.

Conclusions

Engineering educators can be confident that the concept map metrics used here reflect cognitive level and not cognitive style. Cognitive style inventories and concept maps are likely measuring two separate aspects of an individual's cognition and are therefore complementary rather than duplicative.
Ferrocenyl, Alkyl, and Aryl‐Pyrido[2,3‐d]Pyrimidines as Vasorelaxant of Smooth Muscle of Rat Aorta via cAMP Conservation Through Phosphodiesterase Inhibition
Authors: Arellano Ivonne , Rodríguez‐Ramos Fernando , González‐Andrade Martín , Navarrete Andrés , Sharma Manju , Rosas Noé , Sharma Pankaj
Published: July 2015

New pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidines 11, 12, 13, and 21 have been synthesized. The vasorelaxant effect on smooth muscle isolated from rat aorta, via PDEs inhibition, of these compounds along with other pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidines 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 reported earlier by our group, has also been determined. These pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidines 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 were synthesized by the reaction of ferrocenyl‐ethynyl ketones (1, 2, 3, 4) or α‐alkynyl ketones (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) with 6‐amino‐1,3‐dimethyluracil using [Ni(CN)4]−4 as an active catalytic species, formed in situ in a Ni(CN)2/NaOH/H2O/CO/KCN aqueous system. Evaluation of the vasorelaxant effect of compounds 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 demonstrated that all compounds relax the tissue in a concentration‐dependent manner. The structural changes do not alter the effectiveness; however, there are differences related to potency expressed as EC50. Compounds 12 (7‐ferrocenyl‐1,3‐dimethyl‐5‐(m‐tolyl)‐pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine) and 13 (7‐ferrocenyl‐1,3‐dipropyl‐5‐(4‐metoxyphenyl)‐pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine) were the most potent compounds, even more than rolipram, reference drug; the EC50 was 0.41 ± 0.02 μM and 0.81 ± 0.11 μM for 12 and 13, correspondingly. The EC50 of compounds 15 (7‐ferrocenyl‐1,3‐dimethyl‐5‐phenyl‐pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine), 14 (7‐ferrocenyl‐5‐(3,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐1,3‐dimethylpyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine), and 19 (5‐n‐butyl‐7‐ethyl‐1,3‐dimethylpyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine) was similar to EC50 of rolipram. Compounds 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 significantly induce concentration‐dependent vasorelaxation in endothelium‐intact aortic rings. In addition, the relaxation responses to each compound in either endothelium‐intact or endothelium denuded aortic rings were comparable, suggesting that removal of the functional endothelium has no significant influence on its intrinsic vasorelaxant activity. In vitro capability of conserving cyclic‐AMP or cyclic‐GMP (adenosine and guanosine 3′, 5′‐cyclic monophosphate) via PDE inhibition for compounds 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 was evaluated. Compounds 15 and 19 show the highest percent inhibition effect (94.83% and 83.98%, respectively) for the decomposition of c‐AMP. Docking studies showed that the compound 15 was selective for the inhibition of PDE‐4.
Lectins as probes for assessing the accessibility of N‐linked glycans in relation to the conformational changes of fibronectin
Authors: Agniel Rémy , Vendrely Charlotte , Poulouin Laurent , Bascetin Rümeyza , Benachour Hamanou , Gallet Olivier , Leroy‐Dudal Johanne
Published: July 2015

Fibronectin, a ≈450‐kDa protein with 4–9% (w/w) glycosylation, is a key component of extracellular matrices and has a high conformational lability regarding its functions. However, the accessibility and the role of glycosylated moieties associated with the conformational changes of fibronectin are poorly understood. Using lectins as probes, we developed an approach comprising dynamic light scattering, turbidimetry measurements, and isothermal titration calorimetry to assess the accessibility of glycosylated moieties of fibronectin undergoing thermal‐induced conformational changes. Among a set of 14 lectins, fibronectin mainly reacted with mannose‐binding lectins, specifically concanavalin A. When temperature was raised from 25 to 50 °C, fibronectin underwent progressive unfolding, but the conformation of concanavalin A was unaffected. Dynamic light scattering, turbidimetry measurements, and isothermal titration calorimetry showed increased concanavalin A binding to fibronectin during progressive thermal‐induced unfolding of the protein core. Such data suggest that mannosylated residues are progressively exposed as fibronectin unfolds.

Because oligosaccharide moieties can be differently exposed to cells, and the cell's responses could be modified physiologically or pathologically, modulation of fibronectin sugar chains could be relevant to its biological functions. Thus, lectins might be useful tools to probe the glycosylation accessibility accompanying changes in protein core folding, for which a better understanding would be of value for biological and biomedical research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Feasibility of magnetic resonance elastography for the pancreas at 3T
Authors: Itoh Yohei , Takehara Yasuo , Kawase Toshihiro , Terashima Kenichi , Ohkawa Yoshihisa , Hirose Yuko , Koda Ai , Hyodo Naoko , Ushio Takasuke , Hirai Yuki , Yoshizawa Nobuko , Yamashita Shuhei , Nasu Hatsuko , Ohishi Naoki , Sakahara Harumi
Published: July 2015

Purpose

1) To assess the usefulness of an elastic belt bracing the upper abdomen for reducing the miscalculated areas of the pancreas on 3.0T magnetic resonance elastography (MRE); 2) to test whether MRE can detect difference of stiffness between normal pancreas and the focal pancreatic diseases.

Materials and Methods

Using an initial eight normal volunteers, miscalculated areas were compared between MRE with the elastic belt and without the belt on 3.0T MRI. Then, using the belt, MRE of the normal pancreas was measured using 14 volunteers and 11 patients with focal pancreatic lesions.

Results

The median (95% confidence interval [CI]) percentages of correctly calculated areas were 57.4% (32.9–63.0) with the elastic belt and 35.3% (11.4–60.4) without the belt (P = 0.0078). The stiffness of each pancreatic segment of the normal volunteers (mean ± SE) was 2.37 ± 0.16 kPa for the head, 2.46 ± 0.17 kPa for the body, and 2.58 ± 0.26 kPa for the tail. The stiffness of seven pancreatic cancers was 6.06 ± 0.49 kPa, which was higher than the overall pancreatic stiffness of the normal volunteers (2.47 ± 0.11 kPa, P < 0.0001). Stiffness of the pancreatic lesions in the head of 6.03 ± 0.42 kPa, body of 5.57 ± 0.82 kPa, and tail of 5.9 ± 1.9 kPa were also higher than those of corresponding segments of the normal volunteers (P = 0.0011, 0.0029, and 0.029, respectively).

Conclusion

With the elastic belt, miscalculation of the pancreatic stiffness was reduced. MRE showed differences of stiffness between normal pancreas and pancreatic lesions. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;43:384–390.
Oral pseudoephedrine decreases the rate of transmucosal nitrous oxide exchange for the middle ear
Authors: Teixeira Miriam S. , Alper Cuneyt M. , Martin Brian S. , Doyle Brendan M. Cullen , Doyle William J.
Published: July 2015

Objectives/Hypothesis

Determine if oral treatment with a vasoconstrictor decreases the blood to middle ear exchange rate of the perfusion‐limited gas, nitrous oxide (N2O).

Study Design

Randomized, double‐blind, crossover study.

Methods

Ten adult subjects with and 10 without past middle ear disease completed paired experimental sessions, identical except for oral treatment with either pseudoephedrine hydrochloride or lactose placebo. At each session, subjects were fitted with a nonrebreathing mask and breathed room air for 20 minutes (acclimation period), 50% N2O:50% O2 for 20 minutes (experimental period), and 100% O2 for 10 minutes (recovery period). Throughout, heart rate, blood pressure, and O2 saturation were monitored, and bilateral middle ear pressures were recorded by tympanometry every minute. The primary outcome was the slope of the middle ear pressure‐time function for the experimental period, which estimates the volume N2O exchange rate. Using repeated measures analysis of variance, the effects of group (disease history), treatment (active vs. placebo), and period (1 vs. 2) on the recorded vital signs, and of group, treatment, and ear (left/right) on the middle ear pressure‐time slope were evaluated for statistical significance.

Results

Statistically significant effects of period on O2 saturation (period 2 > period 1) and of treatment on heart rate (active > placebo) were documented. Only treatment was statistically significant for the middle ear pressure‐time slope, with a shallower slope characterizing the active treatment session.

Conclusions

The volume exchange rate across the middle ear mucosa of perfusion‐limited gases can be modulated pharmacologically. Theoretically, similar drugs can be used to reduce the requisite eustachian tube opening efficiency for adequate middle ear pressure regulation.

Level of Evidence

1b Laryngoscope, 125:2181–2186, 2015
The effect of cochlear implantation on tinnitus in patients with bilateral hearing loss: A systematic review
Authors: Ramakers Geerte G. J. , van Zon Alice , Stegeman Inge , Grolman Wilko
Published: July 2015

Objectives

To present an overview of the effect of cochlear implantation on tinnitus in adults with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

Data Sources

PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Embase databases were searched for articles from database inception up to January 13, 2015.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted. Original studies reporting on cochlear implantation and the effect on tinnitus, measured with a tinnitus questionnaire, were included. The directness of evidence and risk of bias were assessed. Studies with a moderate or high directness of evidence and a low or moderate risk of bias were included for analysis. The pre‐ and postimplantation tinnitus scores were extracted.

Results

In total, 786 unique articles were retrieved. Although there was lack of high level of evidence studies, 10 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria. Overall, there was a reduction of mean tinnitus score. There was a decrease in tinnitus score in 25% to 72%, and a total suppression of tinnitus after implantation was reported in 8% to 45% of patients. Tinnitus was stable in 0% to 36% of patients, and increase of tinnitus occurred in 0% to 25%. Tinnitus induction rates in the patients without preoperative tinnitus varied from 0% to 10%.

Conclusions

There are no high level of evidence studies concerning cochlear implantation and the effect on tinnitus. Overall, current literature shows that there is a decrease of mean tinnitus questionnaire score after unilateral cochlear implantation. However, there is also a chance of increasing burden of existing tinnitus, and the induction of tinnitus is reported.

Level of Evidence

NALaryngoscope, 125:2584–2592, 2015
Aging voice and the laryngeal muscle atrophy
Authors: Martins Regina Helena Garcia , Benito Pessin Adriana Bueno , Nassib Douglas Jorge , Branco Anete , Rodrigues Sergio Augusto , Matheus Selma Maria Michelim
Published: July 2015

Objectives/Hypothesis

To study by means of morphometric measurements the severity of vocal muscle atrophy in the elderly.

Study Design

Cadaver study.

Setting

Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu Medical School, Brazil.

Subjects and Methods

Thirty vocal folds were collected from necropsies distributed into three groups: aged 60 to 75 years (n = 10); aged 76 to 90 years (n = 10); and a control group aged 30 to 50 years (n = 10). Specimens for histology were obtained from the middle portion of the vocal folds. The stained specimens were analyzed using Axion Vision software (coupled to a Zeiss [Oberkochen, Germany] microscope) and used in the morphometric analyses conducted with the ImageJ software. The diameters of 200 muscle fibers from each slide were measured, and the mean values were statistically analyzed.

Results

The mean values of the diameters of the vocal muscle fibers of the elderly age groups were smaller than in the control: control (30–50 years: 16.389 μm); elderly (60–75 years: 14.412 μm; 76–90 years: 14.162 μm) (P < 0.01). No statistical differences were observed between genders.

Conclusion

The morphometric analysis showed smaller diameters of vocal muscle fibers in the elderly when compared to controls, demonstrating the atrophy of the muscle. No statistical differences were observed between genders.

Level of Evidence

N/A. Laryngoscope, 125:2518–2521, 2015
The role of routine hearing screening in children with cystic fibrosis on aminoglycosides: A systematic review
Authors: Farzal Zainab , Kou Yann‐Fuu , St. John Rachel , Shah Gopi B. , Mitchell Ron B.
Published: July 2015

Objective

To review the role of routine hearing screening for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have been on aminoglycoside therapy.

Data Sources

PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Ovid databases.

Review Methods

A systematic review of the literature was performed in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed from 1970 to 2014. Randomized controlled trials, case‐control studies, cohort studies, and case series including pediatric subjects with baseline auditory evaluations were included.

Results

Twelve studies (1979–2014) were reviewed. The study population included 762 children (5 months–20 years). Hearing screening measures included pure‐tone audiometry (PTA) at standard ± high frequency threshold (HFPTA) (12/12), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) (4/12), transient‐evoked otoacoustic emissions (1/12), and automated auditory brainstem response (1/12). The overall prevalence of SNHL ranged from 0% to 29%. However, on subset analysis of children with greater than 10 courses of intravenous (IV) aminoglycosides, up to 44% had SNHL. Eight studies recommended hearing screening in CF children on aminoglycosides; of these, two studies recommended screening even without aminoglycoside exposure, and four studies made no recommendations. HFPTA was the most commonly recommended screening measure followed by DPOAEs.

Conclusion

This systematic review supports a recommendation for clinicians to perform routine hearing screening in children with CF during and after aminoglycoside exposure based on the high prevalence of SNHL in this population. Future studies should define the optimal timing for hearing screening during and after aminoglycoside therapy in children with CF.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 126:228–235, 2016
Laryngomalacia and swallowing function in children
Authors: Simons Jeffrey P. , Greenberg Laura L. , Mehta Deepak K. , Fabio Anthony , Maguire Raymond C. , Mandell David L.
Published: July 2015

Objectives/Hypothesis

1) To determine the prevalence of dysphagia in children with laryngomalacia, 2) To ascertain whether severity of laryngomalacia influences the presence of swallowing dysfunction, and 3) To examine whether patients with medical comorbidities and laryngomalacia have a higher prevalence of swallowing dysfunction.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

All patients seen in the aerodigestive center at our institution between January 2007 and December 2012 with the diagnosis of laryngomalacia were included. Swallowing function was assessed by symptoms, clinical swallowing evaluations (CSE) performed by speech pathologists, modified barium swallow (MBS) studies, and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluations of swallowing (FEES).

Results

There were 324 patients with laryngomalacia identified (41.4% female, 58.6% male). Severity of laryngomalacia was categorized in 279 patients, with 62.7% mild, 28.7% moderate, and 8.6% severe. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was diagnosed in 69.8% of patients. Other medical comorbidities included Down syndrome (3.1%), neurological impairment (6.5%), and congenital heart disease (0.9%). Symptoms of dysphagia or feeding difficulty were present in 163/324 (50.3%), and failure to thrive was present in 31/324 patients (9.6%). At least one abnormal swallowing assessment was present in 97/120 (80.8%) patients presenting with subjective dysphagia and 43/65 (66.2%) patients without subjective dysphagia. A total of 140/185 (75.7%) patients had at least one abnormal baseline swallowing assessment. There was no significant relationship between severity of laryngomalacia and presence of abnormal swallowing function based on symptoms, CSE, MBS, or FEES. However, patients with greater severity were more likely to have failure to thrive. There was not a significant association between the presence of swallowing dysfunction or disease severity and medical comorbidities such as Down syndrome, neurological impairment, or congenital heart disease. However, GERD was more likely to be present in patients with moderate and severe laryngomalacia than in patients with mild disease.

Conclusions

Swallowing dysfunction is common in children with laryngomalacia regardless of disease severity or other medical comorbidities. Swallowing studies are frequently abnormal in laryngomalacia patients presenting both with and without subjective symptoms of dysphagia. Dysphagia assessment should be considered as part of the evaluation of infants with laryngomalacia.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 126:478–484, 2016
Congenital stapes malformation: Rare conductive hearing loss in a patient with Waardenburg syndrome
Authors: Melzer Jonathan M. , Eliason Michael , Conley George S.
Published: July 2015

Waardenburg syndrome is a known autosomal dominant cause of congenital hearing loss. It is characterized by a distinctive phenotypic appearance and often involves sensorineural hearing loss. Temporal bone abnormalities and inner ear dysmorphisms have been described in association with the disease. However, middle ear abnormalities as causes of conductive hearing loss are not typically seen in Waardenburg syndrome. We discuss a case of an 8‐year‐old female who meets diagnostic criteria for Waardenburg syndrome type 3 and who presented with a bilateral conductive hearing loss associated with congenital stapes fixation. We discuss management strategy in this previously unreported phenotype.

Laryngoscope, 126:992–995, 2016
Hypernasality after using the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for skull base tumors
Authors: Kim Boo‐Young , Shin Ji‐Hyeon , Kim Sung Won , Hong Yong Kil , Jeun Sin‐Soo , Kim Soo Whan , Hwang Jae Hyung , Yoo Soon‐il , Lee Yong Joo , Shim Mi‐Ran , Hwang Yeon‐Shin
Published: July 2015

Objectives/Hypothesis

The increasing number of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches (EETSA) has resulted in several sinonasal complications, including voice changes. Here, we compared preoperative and postoperative voice changes according to age.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records. Patients were divided into the following three groups according to age: ≤ 30 years, 31 to 60 years, and ≥ 60 years. Patients underwent preoperative voice evaluation using acoustic analysis, a nasometer, and the voice handicap index (VHI). A nasometer was used to measure the nasalance scores. The subjects read or repeated three speech stimuli. For each stimulus, mean nasalance scores were obtained and age dependence was analyzed. Repeat testing was performed 6 months postoperatively.

Results

One hundred and seventy patients who underwent binostril four‐hand EETSA with a bilateral modified rescue flap were included in this study. Mean nasalance scores for the oral passage, oronasal passage, and nasal passage—as well as mean jitter scores, shimmer scores, and VHI—were significantly increased in all of the EETSA patients (P < 0.05 for all). Mean nasalance scores for the nasal sentences were significantly increased in the ≤ 30 age group (all, P < 0.05). Scores for the oronasal passage and nasal passage were significantly increased in the 31 to 60 age group (all, P < 0.05). Scores for the oronasal passage, nasal passage, jitter, and shimmer were significantly increased in the > 60 age group (all, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches might contribute to voice changes. In addition, older age might produce hypernasality and roughness after EETSA. Patients who plan to undergo EETSA should be informed that their voice may change after the operation.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 126:329–333, 2016
Systematic review of site of obstruction identification and non‐CPAP treatment options for children with persistent pediatric obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Manickam P. Vairavan , Shott Sally R. , Boss Emily F. , Cohen Aliza P. , Meinzen‐Derr Jareen K. , Amin Raouf S. , Ishman Stacey L.
Published: July 2015

Objectives/Hypothesis

Although adenotonsillectomy is accepted as a first‐line therapy for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), there is currently no consensus regarding optimal methods for identifying the sites of obstruction or treatment of children with persistent disease after surgery. With this in mind, our aim was to systematically review the English‐language literature pertaining to these issues.

Study Design

Systematic review.

Methods

We searched all indexed years of Pubmed, Cochrane CENTRAL, DynaMed, UpToDate, CINAHL, and Scopus for English‐language articles containing original human data, with ≥ 7 participants, all < 18 years old. Data regarding study design, demographics, clinical characteristics/outcomes, level of evidence, and risk of bias were obtained. Articles were independently reviewed by two investigators.

Results

Of 758 identified abstracts, 24 articles (combined population = 960) were ultimately included. Seventeen (71%) described methods to identify site(s) of obstruction: drug‐induced sleep endoscopy (11/24), cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (3/24), and alternative imaging (3/24). Treatment options included lingual tonsillectomy (n = 6), with success rates of 57% to 88% (Cohen's effect size d = 1.38), as well as supraglottoplasty (n = 4), with success rates of 58% to 72% (d = 0.64). Additional treatments included medications and surgery (e.g., partial midline glossectomy and tongue suspension).

Conclusions

Drug‐induced sleep endoscopy and cine MRI are the most commonly reported tools to identify sites of obstruction for children with persistent OSA; however, these techniques have not yet been clearly linked to outcomes. Evidence for treatment is extremely limited and focuses primarily on lingual tonsillectomy and supraglottoplasty. Also, reports regarding appropriate patient selection and outcomes in obese or otherwise healthy children are scant. Laryngoscope, 126:491–500, 2016
Upregulation of miR‐372 and ‐373 associates with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis of oral carcinomas
Authors: Tu Hsi‐Feng , Chang Kuo‐Wei , Cheng Hui‐Wen , Liu Chung‐Ji
Published: July 2015

Objectives/Hypothesis

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is prevalent worldwide, and survival in OSCC has not improved significantly in the last few decades. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have an important regulatory role in human cancer, including oral carcinogenesis. MiR‐372 and miR‐373 perform oncogenic and tumor‐suppressive functions of between different human malignancies. This study investigated the miR‐372 and miR‐373 expression and their clinical implication in OSCC.

Methods

Fifty patients with primary OSCC were included in the study. Primary cancer cells and matched normal oral epithelium were purified by laser capture microdissection. RNA were extracted from these samples. The expression levels of miR‐372 and miR‐373 in the tissue of OSCC patients were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) protein expression level was measured by Western blotting.

Results

Both miR‐372 and miR‐373 was up‐regulated in OSCC tissue relative to control mucosa. Among different clinical variables, over‐expression of miR‐372 and miR‐373 were associated with nodal metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, and poor survival. Multivariate analysis showed that both high miR‐372 and miR‐373 expression were independent predictors for poor survival in OSCC. MiR‐372 regulated LATS2 expression in OSCC cell lines. LATS2 expression levels are inversely correlated miR‐372 in OSCC tissues.

Conclusion

Over‐expression of miR‐372 and miR‐373 indicate worse survival in OSCC.

Level of Evidence

N/A. Laryngoscope, 125:E365–E370, 2015
Repair of short type IV laryngotracheoesophageal cleft using long, tapered, engaging graft without need for tracheotomy
Authors: Propst Evan J.
Published: July 2015

An infant with a type IV laryngotracheoesophageal cleft underwent transcervical repair using a long tapered cartilage graft. A laryngofissure was carried down to the innominate artery to expose the cleft that extended 5 mm inferior to the vessel. The edges of the cleft were excised, the trachealis was separated from the esophagus that was reapproximated, and clavicular periosteum was placed. A long posterior costal cartilage graft that tapered inferiorly in anteroposterior dimension and engaged behind the cricoid plate was inserted. This added rigidity to the repair and obviated the need for a tracheotomy while providing a four‐layer closure.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 126:1006–1008, 2016
In vivo investigation of acidified pepsin exposure to porcine vocal fold epithelia
Authors: Durkes Abigail , Sivasankar M. Preeti
Published: July 2015

Objectives/Hypothesis

The study objective was to investigate epithelial changes in response to direct, repeated, acidified pepsin exposures in an in vivo porcine model. We hypothesized that 12 acidified pepsin applications to simulate reflux would elicit a vocal fold response characterized by inflammation, epithelial proliferation, and increased intercellular space, as well as changes in the gene expression of epithelial junctional proteins, ion transporter proteins, and proinflammatory cytokines.

Study Design

Prospective, in vivo study.

Methods

Pigs received acidified pepsin (pH = 4) or saline (sham) applied directly to vocal folds. Larynges were collected following three exposures per week for 4 weeks. Vocal fold tissue morphology, collagen, and elastin were evaluated histologically. Gene expression of E‐cadherin, zona occludens‐1, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, epithelial sodium channel, interleukin‐1β, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and interferon‐γ were measured. Ultrastructural alterations, epithelial intercellular space diameter, and microridge height were measured using transmission electron microscopy.

Results

There were no significant differences in histology, gene transcripts, epithelial ultrastructure, intercellular space, and microridge height after acidified pepsin exposure.

Conclusions

Twelve simulated reflux challenges were insufficient to elicit epithelial changes, demonstrating the resistance of healthy vocal folds to direct, repeated acidified pepsin exposures. These data increase our understanding of healthy vocal fold defenses and lay the groundwork for a prospective, uninjured, nonsurgical, laryngopharyngeal reflux model where pigs can be exposed directly to acidified pepsin.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 126:E12–E17, 2016
Interactive effects of light, nitrogen source, and carbon dioxide on energy metabolism in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana
Authors: Shi Dalin , Li Weiying , Hopkinson Brian M. , Hong Haizheng , Li Dongmei , Kao Shuh‐Ji , Lin Wenfang
Published: July 2015

Due to the ongoing effects of climate change, phytoplankton are likely to experience enhanced irradiance, more reduced nitrogen, and increased water acidity in the future ocean. Here, we used Thalassiosira pseudonana as a model organism to examine how phytoplankton adjust energy production and expenditure to cope with these multiple, interrelated environmental factors. Following acclimation to a matrix of irradiance, nitrogen source, and CO2 levels, the diatom's energy production and expenditures were quantified and incorporated into an energetic budget to predict how photosynthesis was affected by growth conditions. Increased light intensity and a shift from
to
led to increased energy generation, through higher rates of light capture at high light and greater investment in photosynthetic proteins when grown on
. Secondary energetic expenditures were adjusted modestly at different culture conditions, except that
utilization was systematically reduced by increasing pCO2. The subsequent changes in element stoichiometry, biochemical composition, and release of dissolved organic compounds may have important implications for marine biogeochemical cycles. The predicted effects of changing environmental conditions on photosynthesis, made using an energetic budget, were in good agreement with observations at low light, when energy is clearly limiting, but the energetic budget over‐predicts the response to
at high light, which might be due to relief of energetic limitations and/or increased percentage of inactive photosystem II at high light. Taken together, our study demonstrates that energetic budgets offered significant insight into the response of phytoplankton energy metabolism to the changing environment and did a reasonable job predicting them.
Visualizing the Inner Architecture of Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)‐Based Biomaterials and Its Impact on Performance Optimization
Authors: Bauer Adam J. P. , Wu Yitian , Liu Jianzhao , Li Bingbing
Published: July 2015

The performance of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐based biomaterials is defined by spatial distributions of PCL's amorphous and crystalline domains. Unfortunately, directly visualizing their inner architectures has been challenging. This study demonstrates, the superior degradation selectivity of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) enzyme; when used at low concentrations, it preferentially breaks down the amorphous chains prior to the crystalline chains. Top‐down dissection using this enzyme is performed on several PCL‐based systems. Self‐assembled nanolamellae (e.g., thin films) or hierarchically nanostructured crystalline skeletons (e.g., fibers) are clearly captured. Thus, the spatial distribution of the amorphous compartments can be precisely mapped out, which otherwise cannot be achieved.
Targeting Consumers Who Care about Future Generations
Authors: Lacroix Caroline , Jolibert Alain
Published: July 2015

Generativity, as an adult's preoccupation with the well‐being of future generations, is a well‐studied concept in the social psychology literature. However, to this day, little is known about this concept within a consumer context. This article presents two studies that aimed to better understand the attitudes and behaviors of generative consumers. A first study was conducted to develop a more appropriate measure of generativity for consumer situations. It produced a two‐factor consumer generativity scale of six items, one factor of which measures the motivation for symbolic immortality (agentic generativity) whereas the other factor measures the motivation to be useful (communal generativity). The second study showed the predictive validity of the new scale. Highly generative consumers have more favorable attitudes toward ads and products that are generatively positioned. Generative consumers intend to buy products positioned as generative. In addition, the second study presents some sociodemographic characteristics of generative consumers. This research presents a valid and parsimonious scale of consumer generativity, and demonstrates the relevance of using a generative positioning strategy when targeting highly generative consumers.
Age‐Related Differences in Emotion Regulation within the Context of Sad and Happy TV Programs
Authors: Droulers Olivier , Lacoste‐Badie Sophie , Malek Faten
Published: July 2015

The marketing literature on program context includes several studies on the influence of program‐induced positive and negative emotions on the evaluation of embedded television advertisements. While the majority of these studies have been conducted with younger adults, new discoveries on the differentiated processes of emotion regulation among younger and older adults are reviving interest in this topic. The present study examined the impact of television program context on program‐induced affective reactions and on the processing of embedded television advertisements among younger and older adults. Program‐induced mood valence was manipulated by using excerpts from sad and happy films. This research shows that affective reactions elicited by sad and happy television programs, as well as attitude toward the advertisement, differ between younger and older adults. The level of sadness reported by older adults was lower than that of younger adults within a sad program context. The results also show a negative influence of a sad (versus a happy) program on attitude toward the advertisement among younger adults but not among older adults. These results confirm that in advancing age, it is possible to shape emotional responses to suit regulation goals.
On the Role of Brand Stereotypes in Shaping Consumer Response toward Brands: An Empirical Examination of Direct and Mediating Effects of Warmth and Competence
Authors: Ivens Bjoern S. , Leischnig Alexander , Muller Brigitte , Valta Katharina
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this article is to contribute to the branding literature by examining the critical role of brand stereotypes in shaping consumers’ brand‐related responses. Drawing on the Stereotype Content Model, this article examines how warmth and competence stereotypes impact consumers’ emotional reaction toward brands and in turn consumers’ brand attitudes and behavioral intention. In addition, this article examines how brand stereotypes mediate the relationships between brand personality and consumers’ brand emotions. The results from this study support the dual role of brand stereotypes as relevant predictors of brand emotions, and intervening variables mediating the effects from brand personality perceptions on brand emotions. The findings support the view that mechanisms of social perception apply to brand perception and provide new insights about the relationship between consumers’ brand perceptions and their responses toward brands.
Modeling Consumers’ Adoption Intentions of Remote Mobile Payments in the United Kingdom: Extending UTAUT with Innovativeness, Risk, and Trust
Authors: Slade Emma L. , Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Piercy Niall C. , Williams Michael D.
Published: July 2015

Mobile payments (MPs) are predicted to be one of the future's most successful mobile services but have achieved limited acceptance in developed countries to date. PCs are still the preferred technology for online shopping in the United Kingdom but the continued growth of mobile commerce (MC) is highly correlated with the success of remote MPs (RMPs). Currently MP research has largely ignored the variations between different MP solutions, and existing MP adoption studies have predominantly utilized Davis’ (1989) Technology Acceptance Model, which has been criticized for having a deterministic approach without much consideration for users’ individual characteristics. Therefore, this study applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), extended with more consumer‐related constructs, to explore the factors affecting nonusers’ intentions to adopt RMP in the United Kingdom. Quantitative data were collected (n = 268) and structural equation modeling was undertaken. The findings revealed that performance expectancy, social influence, innovativeness, and perceived risk significantly influenced nonusers’ intentions to adopt RMP, whereas effort expectancy did not. Inclusion of MP knowledge as a moderating variable revealed that there was a significant difference in the effect of trust on behavioral intention for those who knew about MP than for those who did not. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications, particularly for the development and marketing of RMP, which will support the long‐term success of MC.
Validation of the 1290 MHz wind profiler at Payerne, Switzerland, using radiosonde GPS wind measurements
Authors: Haefele A. , Ruffieux D.
Published: July 2015

The validation of a 1290 MHz wind profiler using 3 years of collocated wind profiler and radiosonde wind measurements is presented. The radiosonde wind information is derived from global positioning system data and is vertically averaged to match the vertical resolution of the wind profiler measurements. The integration period of the wind profiler is chosen such that it is centred around the radiosonde measurement time. Periods where bird migration must be expected have been systematically excluded. The standard deviation of the differences between wind profiler and radiosonde in the wind components u and v is between 1.75 and 2 m s−1 and the bias is smaller than 0.75 m s−1 for heights below 6 km for both modes. Some part of the obtained standard deviation can be explained by the fact that radiosonde and wind profiler measurements are not representative for each other. In order to reduce the representativeness error, a subset of cases has been selected, for which the wind field was stationary during the measurement period and uniform across the sampled volume of the wind profiler. The standard deviation derived from the subset is between 1 and 1.5 m s−1 while the bias changes only little. This reduction can be attributed to a reduction in the representativeness error and in the retrieval error of the wind profiler since atmospheric homogeneity is a basic assumption in the wind retrieval. The obtained value of 1.5 m s−1 can be taken as an upper limit of the measurement uncertainty of the wind profiler in favourable measurement conditions.
Explosive solutions of a stochastic non‐local reaction–diffusion equation arising in shear band formation
Authors: Kavallaris Nikos I.
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we consider a non‐local stochastic parabolic equation that actually serves as a mathematical model describing the adiabatic shear banding formation phenomena in strained metals. We first present the derivation of the mathematical model. Then we investigate under which circumstances a finite‐time explosion for this non‐local stochastic partial differential equation, corresponding to shear banding formation, occurs. For that purpose, some results related to the maximum principle for this non‐local stochastic partial differential equation are derived, and afterwards the Kaplan eigenfunction method is employed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The ImageJ ecosystem: An open platform for biomedical image analysis
Authors: Schindelin Johannes , Rueden Curtis T. , Hiner Mark C. , Eliceiri Kevin W.
Published: July 2015

Technology in microscopy advances rapidly, enabling increasingly affordable, faster, and more precise quantitative biomedical imaging, which necessitates correspondingly more‐advanced image processing and analysis techniques. A wide range of software is available—from commercial to academic, special‐purpose to Swiss army knife, small to large—but a key characteristic of software that is suitable for scientific inquiry is its accessibility. Open‐source software is ideal for scientific endeavors because it can be freely inspected, modified, and redistributed; in particular, the open‐software platform ImageJ has had a huge impact on the life sciences, and continues to do so. From its inception, ImageJ has grown significantly due largely to being freely available and its vibrant and helpful user community. Scientists as diverse as interested hobbyists, technical assistants, students, scientific staff, and advanced biology researchers use ImageJ on a daily basis, and exchange knowledge via its dedicated mailing list. Uses of ImageJ range from data visualization and teaching to advanced image processing and statistical analysis. The software's extensibility continues to attract biologists at all career stages as well as computer scientists who wish to effectively implement specific image‐processing algorithms. In this review, we use the ImageJ project as a case study of how open‐source software fosters its suites of software tools, making multitudes of image‐analysis technology easily accessible to the scientific community. We specifically explore what makes ImageJ so popular, how it impacts the life sciences, how it inspires other projects, and how it is self‐influenced by coevolving projects within the ImageJ ecosystem. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 518–529, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improved dynamic parallel imaging coil calibration method robust to respiratory motion with application to first‐pass contrast‐enhanced myocardial perfusion imaging
Authors: Fair Merlin J. , Gatehouse Peter D. , Drivas Peter , Firmin David N.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

To develop an accurate method of performing free‐breathing coil calibration for application to parallel imaging reconstructions of dynamic single‐shot datasets.

Methods

Coil calibration data are produced through acquisition of multiple prescans before the accelerated scan, applied during free‐breathing. These multiple free‐breathing prescans (MFPs) provide the necessary coil information for accurate parallel imaging reconstruction of each accelerated frame of a dynamic series, under guidance of an appropriate respiratory position based matching algorithm. This is investigated in myocardial first‐pass perfusion with retrospectively undersampled datasets for analysis with standard calibration techniques to guide prospectively undersampled experiments for specific demonstration of performance against a range of “temporal” calibration techniques.

Results

Reconstruction of the retrospectively subsampled datasets with MFP‐calibrated parallel imaging showed significant improvements in relative root‐mean‐square error comparative to all other techniques (all P < 0.05; n = 6) for acceleration factors R > 3. Accelerated acquisitions, reconstructed by means of various temporal calibration techniques and analyzed by visual observer artifact scoring, also demonstrated a large improvement with use of MFPs. Artifact levels were reduced from an average of 2.5 ± 0.6 for the best performing implementation of TGRAPPA to 0.8 ± 0.4 for MFP‐GRAPPA (P < 0.001; n = 20) (0 = none to 4 = strong, nondiagnostic).

Conclusion

MFP as parallel imaging coil calibration data can give improved performance in free‐breathing dynamic MR while maintaining maximal acceleration. Magn Reson Med 75:2315–2323, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improved spoiling efficiency in dynamic RF‐spoiled imaging by ghost phase modulation and temporal filtering
Authors: Nielsen Jon‐Fredrik , Noll Douglas C.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

Radiofrequency‐spoiled steady‐state sequences offer rapid data acquisition with T1‐ or T2*‐weighting. The spoiler gradients in these sequences must be large enough to suppress ghost artifacts, and are chosen empirically. However, certain factors such as the need to minimize gradient first moments or acoustic noise can limit the spoiler size and, hence, the ability to suppress ghosts. We present an acquisition and preprocessing strategy for improved spoiling efficiency in conventional and echo‐shifted dynamic radiofrequency‐spoiled 3D imaging.

Theory and Methods

By requiring each time‐frame in a dynamic imaging sequence to contain a particular (restricted) number of total radiofrequency shots, the ghost signal can be made to alternate in sign every other frame. The ghost is then suppressed by Fourier transforming along the temporal dimension, and removing the Nyquist frequency in preprocessing (similar to UNFOLD). The method works for both Cartesian and non‐Cartesian imaging.

Results

We demonstrate improved ghost suppression with the proposed approach, for both conventional and echo‐shifted spoiled gradient echo imaging in stationary phantoms and in vivo. Cartesian echo‐shifted spoiled gradient echo imaging produces two ghosts shifted in opposite directions, both of which are suppressed with our method.

Conclusion

For a given spoiler gradient area, the proposed approach substantially suppresses the ghost signal in both conventional and echo‐shifted dynamic radiofrequency‐spoiled imaging. Magn Reson Med 75:2388–2393, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A well‐conditioned and optimally convergent XFEM for 3D linear elastic fracture
Authors: Agathos Konstantinos , Chatzi Eleni , Bordas Stéphane P. A. , Talaslidis Demosthenes
Published: July 2015

A variation of the extended finite element method for three‐dimensional fracture mechanics is proposed. It utilizes a novel form of enrichment and point‐wise and integral matching of displacements of the standard and enriched elements in order to achieve higher accuracy, optimal convergence rates, and improved conditioning for two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional crack problems. A bespoke benchmark problem is introduced to determine the method's accuracy in the general three‐dimensional case where it is demonstrated that the proposed approach improves the accuracy and reduces the number of iterations required for the iterative solution of the resulting system of equations by 40% for moderately refined meshes and topological enrichment. Moreover, when a fixed enrichment volume is used, the number of iterations required grows at a rate which is reduced by a factor of 2 compared with standard extended finite element method, diminishing the number of iterations by almost one order of magnitude. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.