bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermochemical Energy Storage
Authors: Kerskes Henner , Bertsch Florian , Mette Barbara , Wörner Antje , Schaube Franziska
Published: September 2011

Das Interesse an innovativen, verlustfreien, thermischen Energiespeichern mit hoher Speicherkapazität ist in den letzten Jahren zunehmend gestiegen. Als vielversprechende Technologie wird hier vor allem die thermochemische Energiespeicherung angesehen. Dieser Artikel beschreibt den Stand der Wissenschaft im Bereich der Materialforschung, Prozessführung, Verfahrensentwicklung und zeigt die technischen Herausforderungen und Potenziale der thermochemischen Energiespeicherung auf. Beispielhaft werden zwei Systemkonzepte, eins für den Niedertemperaturbereich und eins für den Hochtemperaturbereich, diskutiert. Anhand dieser werden die Einsatzmöglichkeiten der thermochemischen Energiespeicherung aufgezeigt.
Synthesis of Layered Hydroxide Zinc m‐Aminobenzoate Compounds and Their Exfoliation Reactions
Authors: Zhao Lifang , Wang Hongshe , Wang Yan , Miao Jianyin , Feng Qi
Published: September 2011

Two types of layered hydroxide zinc m‐aminobenzoate compounds with structures of layered basic metal salt (LBMS) were prepared by the reaction of zinc hydroxide with m‐aminobenzoic acid solution in the temperature range of 40–120°C. The formation reactions, structures, chemical compositions, and exfoliation reactions of the layered compounds in alcohol solvents were investigated by XRD, TG‐DTA, SEM, and TEM. One layered phase with a basal spacing of 1.08 nm has a α‐Ni(OH)2‐like structure, and its chemical formula can be written as Zn(OH)0.67(m‐NH2C6H4COO)1.33. This phase has strip‐like particle morphology and cannot be exfoliated into its nanosheets in alcohol solvents. The other layered phase with a basal spacing of 2.66 nm has a zinc hydroxide‐nitrate‐like structure, and can be exfoliated in alcohol solvents.
Room Temperature Synthesis of Gold Nanokites in Polyvinyl Alcohol‐Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Aggregations Aqueous Solution
Authors: Ren Yueping , Liu Jia , Feng Feng , Chen Tingzhong , Fang Yun
Published: September 2011

Controlled synthesis of asymmetrical gold nanokites was realized by reducing HAuCl4 with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in PVA‐sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aggregations aqueous solution at room temperature without any additional reducing agents. The crystal structures, optical property and growth process of the gold nanokites were investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Vis‐NIR spectrum and transmission electron microscope (TEM). HAuCl4 concentration dramatically influenced the morphologies of the products. When HAuCl4 concentration was increased from 0.5 mmol·L−1 to 2.2 mmol·L−1, the products changed from network‐like nanostructures to nanokites, nanoleaves and microplates. SDS was indispensable for the formation of gold nanokites and without SDS super‐branched structures became the dominant products.
UV‐Irradiation Cured Organic‐inorganic Hybrid Nanocomposite Initiated by Ethoxysilane‐modified Multifunctional Polymeric Photoinitiator through Sol‐gel Process
Authors: Hu Lihua , Shi Wenfang
Published: September 2011

The UV‐cured organic‐inorganic hybrid nanocomposite (nano‐Si‐m‐PI) was prepared through the photopolymerization of acrylic resin initiated by ethoxysilane‐modified multifunctional oligomeric photoinitiator (Si‐m‐PI). The esterification reaction of 2‐hydroxy‐4′‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐2‐methylpropiophenone (Irgacure 2959) with thioglycolic acid, and the following addition reactions with dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate and then 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane were carried out for preparing the Si‐m‐PI. The Si‐m‐PI exhibits the similar UV absorption and molar extinction coefficient with Irgacure 2959. The photoinitiating activity study by photo‐DSC analysis showed that the Si‐m‐PI possesses high photopolymerization rate at the peak maximum (Rpmax) and final unsaturation conversion (Pf) in the cured hybrid films. From the scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation, the SiO2 nanoparticles dispersed uniformly in the formed nano‐Si‐m‐PI, whereas the aggregation of nanoparticals occurred in nano‐Irg, which was prepared through the photopolymerization of acrylic resin initiated by Irgacure 2959. Moreover, compared with the UV‐cured pure polymer and nano‐Irg, the nano‐Si‐m‐PI showed remarkably enhanced thermal stability and mechanical properties.
KAl(SO4)2·12H2O (Alum) Catalyzed One‐Pot Three‐Component Synthesis of 2‐Alkyl and 2‐Aryl‐4(3H)‐quinazolinone under Microwave Irradiation and Solvent Free Conditions
Authors: Mohammadi Ali A. , Sadat Hossini S. S.
Published: September 2011

Twenty 2,3‐disubstituted‐4(3H)‐quinazolinones were synthesed by one‐pot three‐component method with isatoic anhydride, orthoesters and amines as raw materials in the presence of KAl(SO4)2·12H2O (Alum) under microwave irradiation and solvent‐free conditions. 6‐Bromo‐2‐propyl‐3‐p‐tolylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one (4m), 6‐bromo‐2‐methyl‐3‐phenethylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one (4n) and 6‐bromo‐2‐ethyl‐3‐phenethylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one (4o) were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis.
Docking Analysis and Resistance Evaluation of Clinically Relevant Mutations Associated with the HIV‐1 Non‐nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Nevirapine, Efavirenz and Etravirine
Authors: Alcaro Stefano , Alteri Claudia , Artese Anna , Ceccherini‐Silberstein Francesca , Costa Giosuè , Ortuso Francesco , Bertoli Ada , Forbici Federica , Santoro Maria Mercedes , Parrotta Lucia , Flandre Philippe , Masquelier Bernard , Descamps Diane , Calvez Vincent , Marcelin Anne‐Genevieve , Perno Carlo Federico , Sing Tobias , Svicher Valentina
Published: September 2011

An integrated computational and statistical approach was used to determine the association of non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) nevirapine, efavirenz and etravirine with resistance mutations that cause therapeutic failure and their impact on NNRTI resistance. Mutations detected for nevirapine virological failure with a prevalence greater than 10 % in the used patient set were: K103N, Y181C, G190A, and K101E. A support vector regression model, based on matched genotypic/phenotypic data (n=850), showed that among 6365 analyzed mutations, K103N, Y181C and G190A have the first, third, and sixth greatest significance for nevirapine resistance, respectively. The most common indicator of treatment failure for efavirenz was K103N mutation present in 56.7 % of the patients where the drug failed, followed by V108I, L100I, and G190A. For efavirenz resistance, K103N, G190, and L100I have the first, fourth, and eighth greatest significance, respectively, as determined in support vector regression model. No positive interactions were observed among nevirapine resistance mutations, while a more complex situation was observed with treatment failure of efavirenz and etravirine, characterized by the accumulation of multiple mutations. Docking simulations and free energy analysis based on docking scores of mutated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RT complexes were used to evaluate the influence of selected mutations on drug recognition. Results from support vector regression were confirmed by docking analysis. In particular, for nevirapine and efavirenz, a single mutation K103N was associated with the most unfavorable energetic profile compared to the wild‐type sequence. This is in line with recent clinical data reporting that diarylpyrimidine etravirine, a very potent third generation drug effective against a wide range of drug‐resistant HIV‐1 variants, shows increased affinity towards K103N/S mutants due to its high conformational flexibility.
Thrombin induces osteosarcoma growth, a function inhibited by low molecular weight heparin in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Ichikawa Jiro , Cole Heather A. , Magnussen Robert A. , Mignemi Nicholas A. , Butler Matthew , Holt Ginger E. , O'Rear Lynda , Yuasa Masato , Pabla Baldeep , Haro Hirotaka , Cates Justin M. M. , Hamm Heidi E. , Schwartz Herbert S. , Schoenecker Jonathan G.
Published: September 2011

BACKGROUND:

Procoagulant states, leading to activation of the coagulation protease thrombin, are common in cancer and portend a poor clinical outcome. Although procoagulant states in osteosarcoma patients have been described, studies exploring osteosarcoma cells' ability to directly contribute to procoagulant activity have not been reported. This study explores the hypothesis that osteosarcoma can regulate thrombin generation and proliferate in response to thrombin, and that attenuating thrombin generation with anticoagulants can slow tumor growth.

METHODS:

Pathologic analysis of osteosarcoma with adjacent venous thrombus was performed. In vitro proliferation assays, cell‐based coagulant activity assays, and quantification of coagulation cofactor expression were performed on human and murine osteosarcoma cell lines with varying aggressiveness. The efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) attenuation of tumor‐dependent thrombin generation and growth in vitro and in vivo was determined.

RESULTS:

Venous thrombi adjacent to osteosarcoma were found to harbor tumor surrounded by fibrin expressing coagulation cofactors, a finding associated with poor clinical outcome. More aggressive osteosarcoma cell lines had greater surface expression of procoagulant factors and generated more thrombin than less aggressive cell lines and were found to proliferate in response to thrombin. Treatment with LMWH reduced in vitro osteosarcoma proliferation and procoagulant activity as well as tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that elements of the coagulation cascade may play a role in and represent a pharmaceutical target to disrupt osteosarcoma growth. They also have broader implications, as they suggest that, to be effective, dosing of anticoagulants must take into account an individual tumor's capacity to generate thrombin. Cancer 2012. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
A zonohedral approach to optimal colours
Authors: Centore Paul
Published: September 2011

This article demonstrates that the CIE XYZ colour solid is a zonoid. An approximating zonohedral colour solid is constructed explicitly from a set of generating vectors, which are integrals of colour‐matching functions over narrow intervals of the visible spectrum. The zonohedral approach yields an intuitive, constructive proof of the Optimal Colour Theorem: the reflectance function of an optimal colour takes on only the values 0 or 1, with at most two transition wavelengths. In addition, zonohedral techniques can simplify computations: for example, optimal colours can be found without calculating transition wavelengths. Finally, zonohedra provide a simple, unified approach to colour space and eliminate much of the confusion arising from chromaticity diagrams. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2013
Basis‐Set Quality and Basis‐Set Bias in Molecular Property Calculations
Authors: Rappoport Dmitrij
Published: September 2011

Quality measures for Gaussian basis sets are proposed that are based on principal angles between the basis set and reference molecular orbitals. The principal angles are obtained from the cosine–sine (CS) decomposition of orthogonal matrices and yield detailed information about basis‐set convergence with respect to different regions of space. Principal angles for occupied orbitals show excellent correlation with basis‐set errors in ground‐state energies. Furthermore, ground‐state bias in finite basis sets can be estimated from the relation between principal angles for occupied and Rydberg orbitals. Ground‐state bias is observed in basis sets including extensive diffuse augmentation and affects the quality of computed molecular response properties. Principal angles and ground‐state bias are investigated for the H–Ne atoms and a series of diatomics using numerical Hartree–Fock calculations as a reference. Convergence of ground‐state energies and static polarizabilities is studied for the hierarchies of correlation‐consistent and Karlsruhe segmented def2 basis sets including different levels of diffuse augmentation.
Developing laryngeal muscle of Xenopus laevis as a model system: Androgen‐driven myogenesis controls fiber type transformation
Authors: Nasipak Brian , Kelley Darcy B.
Published: September 2011

The developmental programs that contribute to myogenic stem cell proliferation and muscle fiber differentiation control fiber numbers and twitch type. In this study, we describe the use of an experimental model system—androgen‐regulated laryngeal muscle of juvenile clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis—to examine the contribution of proliferation by specific populations of myogenic stem cells to expression of the larynx‐specific myosin heavy chain isoform, LM. Androgen treatment of juveniles (Stage PM0) resulted in upregulation of an early (Myf‐5) and a late (myogenin) myogenic regulatory factor; the time course of LM upregulation tracked that of myogenin. Myogenic stem cells stimulated to proliferate by androgen include a population that expresses Pax‐7, a marker for the satellite cell myogenic stem cell population. Since androgen can switch muscle fiber types from fast to slow even in denervated larynges, we developed an ex vivo culture system to explore the relation between proliferation and LM expression. Cultured whole larynges maintain sensitivity to androgen, increasing in size and LM expression. Blockade of cell proliferation with cis‐platin prevents the switch from slow to fast twitch muscle fibers as assayed by ATPase activity. Blockade of cell proliferation in vivo also resulted in inhibition of LM expression. Thus, both in vivo and ex vivo, inhibition of myogenic stem cell proliferation blocks androgen‐induced LM expression and fiber type switching in juveniles. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 72: 664–675, 2012
Drosophila as a model of wound healing and tissue regeneration in vertebrates
Authors: Belacortu Yaiza , Paricio Nuria
Published: September 2011

Understanding the molecular basis of wound healing and regeneration in vertebrates is one of the main challenges in biology and medicine. This understanding will lead to medical advances allowing accelerated tissue repair after wounding, rebuilding new tissues/organs and restoring homeostasis. Drosophila has emerged as a valuable model for studying these processes because the genetic networks and cytoskeletal machinery involved in epithelial movements occurring during embryonic dorsal closure, larval imaginal disc fusion/regeneration, and epithelial repair are similar to those acting during wound healing and regeneration in vertebrates. Recent studies have also focused on the use of Drosophila adult stem cells to maintain tissue homeostasis. Here, we review how Drosophila has contributed to our understanding of these processes, primarily through live‐imaging and genetic tools that are impractical in mammals. Furthermore, we highlight future research areas where this insect may provide novel insights and potential therapeutic strategies for wound healing and regeneration. Developmental Dynamics 240:2739–2404, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TREM‐2, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell‐2, negatively regulates TLR responses in dendritic cells
Authors: Ito Hiroaki , Hamerman Jessica A.
Published: September 2011

DCs play a key role in defense against infections and also in preventing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The response of DCs to pathogens is tightly regulated by many mechanisms to allow for appropriate, but not pathogenic, responses. We previously showed that DCs with deficiencies for two ITAM‐bearing signaling adapters, DAP12 and FcRγ, produce more inflammatory cytokines upon treatment with Toll‐like receptor (TLR) agonists than WT DCs. Here, we investigated whether the TREM‐2 receptor pairs with DAP12 to inhibit TLR responses in DCs. TREM‐2‐deficient BMDCs showed increased inflammatory cytokine and type I IFN production in response to TLR ligation. Additionally, TREM‐2‐deficient BMDCs had increased TLR‐induced maturation and were more efficient at inducing antigen‐specific T‐cell proliferation upon CpG DNA stimulation compared with WT BMDCs. Finally, we showed that a TREM‐2 ligand is expressed on the surface of BMDCs, suggesting that the TREM‐2 receptor transduces inhibitory signals due to recognition of an endogenous ligand.
Graphical method to select vegetable oils as potential feedstock for biodiesel production
Authors: Viola Egidio , Zimbardi Francesco , Valerio Vito
Published: September 2011

Chemical compositions of 80 vegetable oils were collected from literature and the properties of the obtainable biodiesel (methyl esters) have been predicted by empirical relationships. The purpose has been to check the viability of predicting if a biodiesel could meet the EN 14214 standards knowing only the fatty acid profile (FAP) of the parent oil. Two parameters were used in this investigation: (i) average number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid chains, (ii) average number of double bonds (CC) per molecule. Two new empirical relationships have been proposed to predict the viscosity and the cetane number of biodiesel from the two parameters. The range of values of the two parameters leading to biodiesel meeting the EN 14214 standard for viscosity, cetane number, iodine value, and cold filter plugging point have been graphically obtained by overlapping the corresponding level surfaces.

Practical applications: This work provides biodiesel producers with indications of the quality of biodiesel without the need for analytical testing of the product (indeed, of the product itself). Only the fatty acid profile of the starting vegetable oil is required. The quality of biodiesel can be estimated by using a chart developed in this work, allowing to estimate, e.g. if the biodiesel meets the European standards. The work can be useful to rapidly screen oil seed crops in studies of genetic engineering that require high throughput.
Modeling the electrophoresis of oligolysines
Authors: Allison Stuart A. , Perrin Catherine , Cottet Hervé
Published: September 2011

CE is used to measure the electrophoretic mobility of low molecular mass oligo‐L‐lysines (n=1–8) in aqueous LiH2PO4 buffer, BGE, at pH 2.5 over a range of temperatures (25–50°C) and ionic strengths (10–100 mM). Mobilities are corrected for Joule heating and under the conditions of the experiment, interaction of the peptides with the capillary walls can be ignored. A “coarse grained” bead modeling methodology (BMM) (H. Pei et al., J. Chromatogr. A 2009, 1216, 1908–1916) is used to model the mobilities. This model partially accounts for peptide conformation as well as the assumed form of its secondary structure. For highly charged oligolysines, it is necessary to properly account for the relaxation effect. In the present study, the BMM approach tends to overestimate oligolysine mobility and that effect tends to increase with increasing ionic strength and peptide length. It is proposed that association between the oligolysines and buffer components (H2PO4− in this case) that go beyond classical electrostatic interactions are responsible for this discrepancy. A simple binding model is introduced that illustrates how this association can reconcile model and experiment.
A generation dispatch model internalizing external costs of power plants
Authors: Wei Xuehao , Yan Zheng , Jia Yanbing , Feng Donghan
Published: September 2011

There are two kinds of generation dispatch models under trial operation in today's Chinese electric power industry, that is, the model based on the electricity market and the model based on energy‐saving generation. In this paper, the theory of energy consumption rights trading and pricing is firstly presented. And then a new generation dispatch model based on internalization of external costs of electric power plants is proposed. The model revises the market settlement with external cost. Through the simulation analysis on East China electricity market, it is shown that the new model achieves a joint optimization of energy saving, emission reduction, and economic benefits. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance of opportunistic relaying with truncated ARQ over Nakagami‐m fading channels
Authors: Zhai Chao , Xu Hongji , Liu Ju , Zheng Lina , Zhou Yong
Published: September 2011

On the basis of the decode‐and‐forward protocol, the opportunistic relaying scheme selects the best relay out of the N available relays with the correct data copy of the source. The best relay forwards the data of source to the destination in the second time slot. While in the truncated automatic repeat request scheme, the relay will cooperatively do the data transmission only when the original signal is erroneously received by the destination. Through combining these two conceptions, the system throughput can be improved without sacrificing the space diversity. The performance of traditional noncooperative and such cooperative schemes with M‐ary phase‐shift keying and M‐ary quadrature amplitude modulation symbols over Nakagami‐m fading channels is analysed in terms of packet error rate, symbol error rate and throughput. In addition, we suppose that the destination either combines the previous and retransmitted packets using maximal ratio combining technique or simply (SIM) discards the previous wrong packet and uses the current packet alone (SIM). Monte Carlo simulations are included to verify the accuracy of analytical results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Human Monoclonal Antibody Targeting Scavenger Receptor Class B Type I Precludes Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Viral Spread In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Meuleman Philip , Teresa Catanese Maria , Verhoye Lieven , Desombere Isabelle , Farhoudi Ali , Jones Christopher T. , Sheahan Timothy , Grzyb Katarzyna , Cortese Riccardo , Rice Charles M. , Leroux-Roels Geert , Nicosia Alfredo
Published: September 2011

Endstage liver disease caused by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation in the Western world. However, immediate reinfection of the grafted donor liver by circulating virus is inevitable and liver disease progresses much faster than the original disease. Standard antiviral therapy is not well tolerated and usually ineffective in liver transplant patients, whereas anti-HCV immunotherapy is hampered by the extreme genetic diversity of the virus and its ability to spread by way of cell-cell contacts. We generated a human monoclonal antibody against scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), monoclonal antibody (mAb)16-71, which can efficiently prevent infection of Huh-7.5 hepatoma cells and primary hepatocytes by cell-culture-derived HCV (HCVcc). Using an

Huh7.5

coculture system we demonstrated that mAb16-71 interferes with direct cell-to-cell transmission of HCV. Finally we evaluated the

in vivo

efficacy of mAb16-71 in “human liver urokinase-type plasminogen activator, severe combined immune deficiency (uPA-SCID) mice” (chimeric mice). A 2-week anti-SR-BI therapy that was initiated 1 day before viral inoculation completely protected all chimeric mice from infection with serum-derived HCV of different genotypes. Moreover, a 9-day postexposure therapy that was initiated 3 days after viral inoculation (when viremia was already observed in the animals) suppressed the rapid viral spread observed in untreated control animals. After cessation of anti-SR-BI-specific antibody therapy, a rise of the viral load was observed.

Conclusion :

Using

in vitro

cell culture and human liver-chimeric mouse models, we show that a human mAb targeting the HCV coreceptor SR-BI completely prevents infection and intrahepatic spread of multiple HCV genotypes. This strategy may be an efficacious way to prevent infection of allografts following liver transplantation in chronic HCV patients, and may even hold promise for the prevention of virus rebound during or following antiviral therapy. (Hepatology 2012)
The Transcription Factor c-Jun Protects Against Sustained Hepatic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Thereby Promoting Hepatocyte Survival
Authors: Fuest Matthias , Willim Karolina , MacNelly Sabine , Fellner Nicole , Resch Guenter P. , Blum Hubert E. , Hasselblatt Peter
Published: September 2011

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress due to accumulation of hepatoviral or misfolded proteins is increasingly recognized as an important step in the pathogenesis of inflammatory, toxic, and metabolic liver diseases. ER stress results in the activation of several intracellular signaling pathways including Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). The AP-1 (activating protein 1) transcription factor c-Jun is a prototypic JNK target and important regulator of hepatocyte survival, proliferation, and liver tumorigenesis. Because the functions of c-Jun during the ER stress response are poorly understood, we addressed this issue in primary hepatocytes and livers of hepatocyte-specific

c-Jun

knockout mice. ER stress was induced pharmacologically

in vitro

and

in vivo

and resulted in a rapid and robust induction of c-Jun protein expression. Interestingly, ER-stressed hepatocytes lacking

c-Jun

displayed massive cytoplasmic vacuolization due to ER distension. This phenotype correlated with exacerbated and sustained activation of canonical ER stress signaling pathways. Moreover, sustained ER stress in hepatocytes lacking

c-Jun

resulted in increased cell damage and apoptosis. ER stress is also a strong inducer of macroautophagy, a cell-protective mechanism of self-degradation of cytoplasmic components and organelles. Interestingly, autophagosome numbers in response to ER stress were reduced in hepatocytes lacking

c-Jun

. To further validate these findings, macroautophagy was inhibited chemically in ER-stressed wildtype hepatocytes, which resulted in cytoplasmic vacuolization and increased cell damage closely resembling the phenotypes observed in

c-Jun

-deficient cells.

Conclusion:

Our findings indicate that c-Jun protects hepatocytes against excessive activation of the ER stress response and subsequent cell death and provide evidence that c-Jun functionally links ER stress responses and macroautophagy. (Hepatology 2012)
Identification of Osteopontin as a Novel Marker for Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Shang Sufen , Plymoth Amelie , Ge Shaokui , Feng Ziding , Rosen Hugo R. , Sangrajrang Suleeporn , Hainaut Pierre , Marrero Jorge A. , Beretta Laura
Published: September 2011

The aim of this study was to identify a biomarker that could improve alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) performance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance among patients with cirrhosis. We performed proteomic profiling of plasma from patients with cirrhosis or HCC and validated selected candidate HCC biomarkers in two geographically distinct cohorts to include HCC of different etiologies. Mass spectrometry profiling of highly fractionated plasma from 18 cirrhosis and 17 HCC patients identified osteopontin (OPN) as significantly up-regulated in HCC cases, compared to cirrhosis controls. OPN levels were subsequently measured in 312 plasma samples collected from 131 HCC patients, 76 cirrhosis patients, 52 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and B (CHB) patients, and 53 healthy controls in two independent cohorts. OPN plasma levels were significantly elevated in HCC patients, compared to cirrhosis, CHC, CHB, or healthy controls, in both cohorts. OPN alone or in combination with AFP had significantly better area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, compared to AFP, in comparing cirrhosis and HCC in both cohorts. OPN overall performance remained higher than AFP in comparing cirrhosis and the following HCC groups: HCV-related HCC, HBV-associated HCC, and early HCC. OPN also had a good sensitivity in AFP-negative HCC. In a pilot prospective study including 22 patients who developed HCC during follow-up, OPN was already elevated 1 year before diagnosis.

Conclusion :

OPN was more sensitive than AFP for the diagnosis of HCC in all studied HCC groups. In addition, OPN performance remained intact in samples collected 1 year before diagnosis. (Hepatology 2012)
Trust dynamics in acquisitions: A case survey
Authors: Stahl Günter K. , Larsson Rikard , Kremershof Ina , Sitkin Sim B.
Published: September 2011

Drawing on the organizational trust literature and research on postmerger integration, the authors develop a model that conceptually synthesizes the antecedents and consequences of trust in acquired organizations. The model proposes that the acquiring and target firms' relationship history, the interfirm distance, and the acquirer's integration approach will affect target firm member trust in the acquiring firm's management. Target firm member trust, in turn, may influence several sociocultural integration outcomes as well as postacquisition performance. The results of a case survey suggest that certain aspects of the relationship history and interfirm distance, such as the firms' collaboration history and preacquisition performance differences, are poor predictors of trust, whereas integration process variables, such as speed of integration, communication quality, and acquirer multiculturalism are major factors influencing trust. The implications for postmerger integration research and practice are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wellbore flow‐rate solution for a constant‐head test in two‐zone finite confined aquifers
Authors: Tsai Chi‐Shan , Yeh Hund‐Der
Published: September 2011

The solution describing the wellbore flow rate in a constant‐head test integrated with an optimization approach is commonly used to analyze observed wellbore flow‐rate data for estimating the hydrogeological parameters of low‐permeability aquifers. To our knowledge, the wellbore flow‐rate solution for the constant‐head test in a two‐zone finite‐extent confined aquifer has never been reported so far in the literature. This article is first to develop a mathematical model for describing the head distribution in the two‐zone aquifer. The Laplace domain solutions for the head distributions and wellbore flow rate in a two‐zone finite confined aquifer are derived using the Laplace transform, and their corresponding time domain solutions are then obtained using the Bromwich integral method and residue theorem. These new solutions are expressed in terms of an infinite series with Bessel functions and not straightforward to calculate numerically. A large‐time solution for the wellbore flow rate is therefore developed by employing the relationship of small Laplace variable versus large time variable and L'Hospital's rule. The result shows that the large‐time solution is identical to the steady‐state solution obtained after applying the Tauberian theorem into the Laplace domain solution. This large‐time solution can reduce to the Thiem equation in the case of no skin. Finally, the newly developed solution is used to investigate the effects of outer boundary distance and conductivity ratio on the wellbore flow rate. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Peripheral blood reverse transcription PCR assay for prostate stem cell antigen correlates with androgen‐independent progression in advanced prostate cancer
Authors: Zhao Zhigang , Zeng Guohua , Ma Wenjing , Ou Lili , Liang Yeping
Published: September 2011

Recent studies show that prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) mRNA positivity in peripheral blood correlates with disease progression in prostate cancer (PCa). Our study is to evaluate the association between peripheral blood PSCA status and androgen‐independent progression (AIP) in a cohort of patients with advanced PCa under androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). PSCA mRNA was measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay in peripheral blood samples from 116 patients with locally advanced or metastatic PCa who were treated with primary ADT and from 40 healthy controls. The Kaplan–Meier and the Cox proportional hazards methods were used to assess potential predictors of AIP. Pretreatment RT‐PCR‐PSCA was positive in 37 (31.9%) of 116 patients. All healthy volunteers were negative for PSCA mRNA. Although seven (14.9%) of 47 patients with Gleason score ≤7 were PSCA positive, 30 (43.5%) of 69 patients with Gleason score >7 were PSCA positive (p = 0.016). PSCA mRNA was detected in 28 (58.3%) of 48 patients with metastatic PCa, compared to nine (13.2%) of 68 patients with locally advanced disease (p = 0.012). AIP developed in 59 (50.9%) patients during a median follow‐up period of 35.4 months (range: 4–78 months). Patients with PSCA negativity experienced significantly longer remissions compared to those with PSCA positivity (log‐rank test: p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis further demonstrated that PSCA positivity had a significantly increased risk of AIP (HR = 4.303, 95% CI: 3.761–7.482, p < 0.001). Pretreatment RT‐PCR PSCA positivity in peripheral blood independently signals the presence of AIP in patients with advanced PCa treated with ADT.
Comparison of the effects of genetic and environmental risk factors on in situ and invasive ductal breast cancer
Authors: Reeves Gillian K. , Pirie Kirstin , Green Jane , Bull Diana , Beral Valerie ,   For the Million Women Study Collaborators
Published: September 2011

Little is known about the etiology of in situ ductal breast cancer (DCIS) or what influences its possible progression to invasive ductal disease. Comparison of risk factors for DCIS and invasive ductal cancer may throw some light on these issues. We estimated relative risks for DCIS and invasive ductal breast cancer according to 12 genetic and eight environmental risk factors among 1.1 million postmenopausal women in a large prospective UK study. There was no strong evidence of a different association with DCIS versus invasive ductal cancer for any of the 12 susceptibility loci examined. We also found similar associations of age at menarche, age at first birth, parity, age at menopause, family history of breast cancer and use of hormone replacement therapy with DCIS and invasive ductal cancer. Only body mass index (BMI) showed a clear difference in association in that it was positively associated with the risk of invasive ductal cancer but not DCIS (RRs per 5 kg/m2 = 1.20 and 1.01, respectively; p‐value for heterogeneity = 0.002). The very similar risk factor profiles observed here for DCIS and invasive ductal cancer suggest that DCIS is a precursor of invasive ductal cancer and most risk factors affect the risk of invasive ductal cancer primarily through their effects on the risk of DCIS. The lack of association between BMI and DCIS suggests a greater influence of BMI on disease progression.
Porous poly(D,L‐lactic acid) foams with tunable structure and mechanical anisotropy prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Floren Michael , Spilimbergo Sara , Motta Antonella , Migliaresi Claudio
Published: September 2011

The design and tunability of tissue scaffolds, such as pore size and geometry, is crucial to the success of an engineered tissue replacement. Moreover, the mechanical nature of a tissue scaffold should display properties similar to the tissue of interest; therefore, tunability of the foam mechanical properties is desirable. Polymeric foams prepared using supercritical carbon dioxide as a blowing agent has emerged in recent years as a promising technique to prepare porous scaffolds. While a number of groups have reported on the tailoring of scaffold morphologies by using gas foaming techniques, few have considered the effects of such processing conditions on the physical and mechanical anisotropy achieved. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the tunability of the structure and mechanical anisotropy of foams prepared using a variety of different gas foaming conditions. Porous poly(D,L lactic acid) foams were prepared by the systematic adjustment of processing conditions, namely pressure, temperature and venting time, resulting in an extensive range of scaffold morphologies. Characterization of sample anisotropy was achieved by mechanical evaluation of foam specimens both longitudinal and transverse to the foaming direction. The obtained mechanical properties demonstrated a strong dependence of the processing conditions on mechanical anisotropy and performance. Furthermore, results indicate that factors other than pore geometry may be necessary to define the mechanical behavior of the foam specimens. The favorable compressive moduli, coupled with large degrees of anisotropy, suggests these foams may have suitable application as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
Failures in cognitive‐behavior therapy for children
Authors: Rey Yasmin , Marin Carla E. , Silverman Wendy K.
Published: September 2011

This article discusses treatment failures in child therapy, specifically cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety and its disorders. The theoretical foundations and principles of CBT are discussed first, followed by a summary of the treatment outcome literature. Also discussed is how treatment failure is defined and gauged in CBT, as well as factors implicated in treatment failure. A case illustration highlights these factors, which resulted in the child not advancing positively in treatment. The article concludes with key practice recommendations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 67:1–11, 2011.
Unusual combination of bilateral testicular microlithiasis and tubular ectasia of the rete testis with left intra‐ and extratesticular varicocele in a 17‐year‐old boy
Authors: Hansen Neil , Sanchez Ramon , Ivancic Vesna
Published: September 2011

We describe the rare combination of testicular microlithiasis, unilateral intra/extratesticular varicocele, and tubular ectasia of the rete testis in a 17‐year‐old boy who presented with testicular pain following a trauma. He had a prior history of undescended testis and orchiopexy in childhood. His workup included a normal abdominal ultrasound and a sperm analysis demonstrating a low sperm count with sperm dysmotility. A follow‐up ultrasound was unchanged, and he has been managed conservatively. This combined set of findings has not been previously reported. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2012
Ten‐year survival of esophageal cancer after an en‐bloc esophagectomy
Authors: Oezcelik Arzu , Kaiser Gernot M. , Niebel Wolfgang , Sleyman Christopher , Treckmann Juergen W. , Sotiropoulos Georgios C. , Reinhardt Renate , Trarbach Tanja , Malamutmann Eugen , Paul Andreas
Published: September 2011

Background

Esophagectomy with gastric pull‐up is the optimal treatment for patients with resectable esophageal cancer. Although the morbidity and mortality of an esophagectomy is reduced, the long‐term outcome remains poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 10‐year survival of a standardized multidisciplinary therapy concept for esophageal cancer.

Methods

Between 1989 and 1999, 114 patients were treated for esophageal cancer at the University of Essen. All patients underwent an en‐bloc esophagectomy with systematic lymphadenectomy. Patients with locally advanced disease (stage III) received neoadjuvant therapy. All patients were followed‐up for 10 years or more or until death.

Results

The 3‐year survival was 35%, the 5‐year survival 25%, and the 10‐year survival was 18%. The recurrence rate was 44% with a median time of 13 months. There was no significant difference in survival between patients with locally advanced disease who received neoadjuvant therapy and patients with early disease (stadium I + II) who underwent surgery alone. Of the patients who achieved 10‐year survival, 60% had locally advanced disease and received neoadjuvant therapy.

Conclusion

Patients with locally advanced disease, managed by a multidisciplinary treatment strategy, achieved a similar long‐term survival to patients with early disease (stadium I + II). J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 105:284–287. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatio‐temporal variation in male white‐tailed deer harvest rates in Pennsylvania: Implications for estimating abundance
Authors: Norton Andrew S. , Diefenbach Duane R. , Wallingford Bret D. , Rosenberry Christopher S.
Published: September 2011

The performance of 2 popular methods that use age‐at‐harvest data to estimate abundance of white‐tailed deer is contingent on assumptions about variation in estimates of subadult (1.5 yr old) and adult (≥2.5 yr old) male harvest rates. Auxiliary data (e.g., estimates of survival or harvest rates from radiocollared animals) can be used to relax some assumptions, but unless these population parameters exhibit limited temporal or spatial variation, these auxiliary data may not improve accuracy. Unfortunately maintaining sufficient sample sizes of radiocollared deer for parameter estimation in every wildlife management unit (WMU) is not feasible for most state agencies. We monitored the fates of 397 subadult and 225 adult male white‐tailed deer across 4 WMUs from 2002 to 2008 using radio telemetry. We investigated spatial and temporal variation in harvest rates and investigated covariates related to the patterns observed. We found that most variation in harvest rates was explained spatially and that adult harvest rates (0.36–0.69) were more variable among study areas than subadult harvest rates (0.26–0.42). We found that hunter effort during the archery and firearms season best explained variation in harvest rates of adult males among WMUs, whereas hunter effort during only the firearms season best explained harvest rates for subadult males. From a population estimation perspective, it is advantageous that most variation was spatial and explained by a readily obtained covariate (hunter effort). However, harvest rates may vary if hunting regulations or hunter behavior change, requiring additional field studies to obtain accurate estimates of harvest rates. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
AdOPTION AND ADAPTATION OF IMPROVED SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE EASTERN UGANDAN HILLS
Authors: Mcdonagh J. , Lu Y. , Semalulu O.
Published: September 2011

This research investigated empirically the qualities of improved soil management practices (ISMPs) most likely to lead to land user adoption. Land users' perceptions of soil‐related constraints were investigated in two hillside districts of eastern Uganda. The research looked at land user rationale for adopting and adapting specific ISMPs at the end of a two‐year period of increased advice and support. Land user engagement with soil management improved markedly after this period of support and multifunctionality, that is, provision of a number of different products or benefits, was seen to be a common characteristic of those ISMPs taken up by land users. It is argued that in the search for ‘best‐bet’ ISMPs, multifunctionality may be a particularly relevant and easily measurable indicator of likely adoption of a practice by land users. The research also demonstrates the value of supporting land users in their efforts to adapt ISMPs to fit with their own circumstances. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integrated optical devices for lab‐on‐a‐chip biosensing applications
Authors: Estevez M.C. , Alvarez M. , Lechuga L.M.
Published: September 2011

The application of portable, easy‐to‐use and highly sensitive lab‐on‐a‐chip biosensing devices for real‐time diagnosis could offer significant advantages over current analytical methods. Integrated optics‐based biosensors have become the most suitable technology for lab‐on‐chip integration due to their ability for miniaturization, their extreme sensitivity, robustness, reliability, and their potential for multiplexing and mass production at low cost. This review provides an extended overview of the state‐of‐the‐art in integrated photonic biosensors technology including interferometers, grating couplers, microring resonators, photonic crystals and other novel nanophotonic transducers. Particular emphasis has been placed on describing their real biosensing applications and wherever possible a comparison of the sensing performances between each type of device is included. The way towards achieving operative lab‐on‐a‐chip platform incorporating the photonic biosensors is also reviewed. Concluding remarks regarding the future prospects and potential impact of this technology are also provided.
Laser photobiostimulation of wound healing: Reciprocity of irradiance and exposure time on energy density for splinted wounds in diabetic mice
Authors: Peplow Philip V. , Chung Tzu‐Yun , Ryan Brigid , Baxter G. David
Published: September 2011

Background and Objectives

We have used a 660 nm laser diode in genetic diabetic mice to stimulate the healing of wounds covered with a Tegaderm HP dressing that causes a retardation of contraction (splinted wounds). The influence of irradiance (power density) on wound healing has been examined with the same energy dose delivered to the wounds. This energy dose caused maximal stimulation of healing in a previous study.

Materials and Methods

A circular excisional wound was made on the left flank of diabetic mice using a 5‐mm skin punch, and covered with a Tegaderm HP dressing. Four different treatments were tested: Treatment 1, not irradiated (control); treatment 2, 100 mW, 20 seconds; treatment 3, 50 mW, 40 seconds; treatment 4, 25 mW, 80 seconds. Treatments were given daily for 7 days. The irradiances for treatments 2, 3, and 4 were estimated to be 233–313, 116–156, and 58–78 mW/cm2, respectively. In total, 53 mice were used. Wounds were harvested on day 14 and healing assessed from hematoxylin–eosin stained sections examined by light microscopy.

Results

The wounds were splinted in 42 of the mice, and splinting caused a retardation of healing. The findings showed that wound healing was stimulated to a similar extent by treatments 2, 3, and 4 and occurred mainly by reepithelization and granulation tissue formation. The laser parameters used represent an energy dose of 2.0 J per irradiation and, for an estimated area of irradiation of 32–43 mm2, corresponds to an energy density of 4.7–6.3 J/cm2.

Conclusion

Irradiation 660 nm with irradiances estimated to be 233–313, 116–156, and 58–78 mW/cm2 and an estimated energy density of 4.7–6.3 J/cm2 each day for 7 days stimulated healing to a similar extent in splinted wounds of diabetic mice. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oscillation criteria for fourth‐order differential equations with middle term
Authors: Amara Jamel Ben
Published: September 2011

Oscillation criteria for self‐adjoint fourth‐order differential equations

were established for various conditions on the coefficients r(x) > 0, q(x) and p(x). However, most of these results deal with the case when limx → ∞∫x1q(s) ds < +∞. In this note we give a new oscillation criterion in the case when this condition is not fulfilled, in particular when q(x)↗ + ∞ (even with exponential growth).
Caffeine in Parkinson's disease: A pilot open‐label, dose‐escalation study
Authors: Altman Robert D. , Lang Anthony E. , Postuma Ronald B.
Published: September 2011

Introduction:

Epidemiologic studies consistently find an inverse association between caffeine use and PD. Numerous explanations exist, but are difficult to evaluate as caffeine's symptomatic effect and tolerability in PD are unknown.

Patients and Methods:

We designed an open‐label, 6‐week dose‐escalation study of caffeine to establish dose tolerability and evaluate potential motor/nonmotor benefits. Caffeine was started at 200 mg daily and was increased to a maximum of 1,000 mg.

Results:

Of 25 subjects, 20 tolerated 200 mg, 17 tolerated 400 mg, 7 tolerated 800 mg, and 3 tolerated 1,000 mg. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal discomfort, anxiety, and worsening/emerging tremor. At 400 mg daily, we found potential improvements in motor manifestations and somnolence (UPDRS III: −4.5 ± 4.6, P = 0.003; Epworth: −2.0 ± 3.0, P = 0.015).

Conclusion:

Maximum dose tolerability for caffeine in PD appears to be 100 to 200 mg BID. We found pilot preliminary evidence that caffeine may improve some motor and nonmotor aspects of PD, which must be confirmed in longer term, placebo‐controlled, clinical trials. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society