bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Malentendus et inattendus autour de la participation habitante. La « coopérative » d’accession sociale Le Grand Portail à Nanterre (France)
Authors: Carriou Claire
Published: June 2015

L’article propose d’étudier les modalités de la participation habitante dans une opération expérimentale d’accession sociale initiée par l’établissement d’aménagement La Défense Seine Arche et la municipalité de Nanterre. Cette configuration particulière, qui place les habitants face à une injonction participative, pose des questions quant à l’articulation possible entre encadrement public et participation. L’étude montre que les futurs habitants ont fait de la promesse d’accéder à la propriété privée le fondement d’une identité collective et d’une implication croissante dans le projet. Institutions et professionnels peinent néanmoins à accorder une reconnaissance positive à cette dynamique, en raison de décalages entre leurs attentes et leurs représentations implicites, et les valeurs défendues par les habitants.
Identification of a lipid scrambling domain in ANO6/TMEM16F
Authors: Yu Kuai , Whitlock Jarred M , Lee Kyleen , Ortlund Eric A , Yuan Cui Yuan , Hartzell H Criss
Published: June 2015

Phospholipid scrambling (PLS) is a ubiquitous cellular mechanism involving the regulated bidirectional transport of phospholipids down their concentration gradient between membrane leaflets. ANO6/TMEM16F has been shown to be essential for Ca2+-dependent PLS, but controversy surrounds whether ANO6 is a phospholipid scramblase or an ion channel like other ANO/TMEM16 family members. Combining patch clamp recording with measurement of PLS, we show that ANO6 elicits robust Ca2+-dependent PLS coinciding with ionic currents that are explained by ionic leak during phospholipid translocation. By analyzing ANO1-ANO6 chimeric proteins, we identify a domain in ANO6 necessary for PLS and sufficient to confer this function on ANO1, which normally does not scramble. Homology modeling shows that the scramblase domain forms an unusual hydrophilic cleft that faces the lipid bilayer and may function to facilitate translocation of phospholipid between membrane leaflets. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for understanding PLS and how ANO6 functions in this process.
Autonomous identification and classification of ionospheric sporadicEin digital ionograms
Authors: Ghosh Payel , Berkey F. T.
Published: June 2015

This paper introduces a methodology to autonomously identify and classify ionospheric sporadicElayers (Es) from digital ionograms acquired using a NOAA dynasonde operated at the Bear Lake Observatory (BLO) in northern Utah. This approach uses a windowed‐fuzzy clustering technique to group ionospheric echoes present in digital ionograms, employing the transitive property of equivalence. The algorithm introduces a variance constraint to automatically determine the number and size of the clusters present in the data set. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the cluster shapes is employed for curvature estimation and to enable classification of the data into the four principal types of temperate latitude sporadicE. A visual evaluation of the autonomously classified ionograms suggests that the algorithm accurately identifies ∼95% of the sporadicEechoes present in the BLO data set. The paper also includes a “proof‐of‐concept” analysis of the methodology, derivingEsparameters for summer and winter intervals, that explicitly characterizes the diurnal and seasonal variations present in theEregion at 42∘N. This analysis was derived from approximately 34,000 digital ionograms acquired over 4 months. While the experimental data show lower peakEregion heights than predicted by modeling studies, they are generally consistent with GPS satellite occultation measurements. Our analysis of the temporal variation offoEduring summer and winter intervals is inconsistent with previous results that suggest a seasonalEregion density anomaly. The results confirm, however, the ionospheric effect of increased NO densities in both the summer and winterEregion, as predicted by modeling studies. The identification of sporadicEusing the approach outlined in this work markedly facilitates the analysis ofEsparameters, as well as eliminating any human biases from the ionogram analysis process.
Airborne flux measurements of methane and volatile organic compounds over the Haynesville and Marcellus shale gas production regions
Authors: Yuan Bin , Kaser Lisa , Karl Thomas , Graus Martin , Peischl Jeff , Campos Teresa L. , Shertz Steve , Apel Eric C. , Hornbrook Rebecca S. , Hills Alan , Gilman Jessica B. , Lerner Brian M. , Warneke Carsten , Flocke Frank M. , Ryerson Thomas B. , Guenther Alex B. , de Gouw Joost A.
Published: June 2015

Emissions of methane (CH4) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from oil and gas production may have large impacts on air quality and climate change. Methane and VOCs were measured over the Haynesville and Marcellus shale gas plays on board the National Center for Atmospheric Research C‐130 and NOAA WP‐3D research aircraft in June–July of 2013. We used an eddy covariance technique to measure in situ fluxes of CH4 and benzene from both C‐130 flights with high‐resolution data (10 Hz) and WP‐3D flights with low‐resolution data (1 Hz). Correlation (R = 0.65) between CH4 and benzene fluxes was observed when flying over shale gas operations, and the enhancement ratio of fluxes was consistent with the corresponding concentration observations. Fluxes calculated by the eddy covariance method show agreement with a mass balance approach within their combined uncertainties. In general, CH4 fluxes in the shale gas regions follow a lognormal distribution, with some deviations for relatively large fluxes (>10 µg m−2 s−1). Statistical analysis of the fluxes shows that a small number of facilities (i.e., ~10%) are responsible for up to ~40% of the total CH4 emissions in the two regions. We show that the airborne eddy covariance method can also be applied in some circumstances when meteorological conditions do not favor application of the mass balance method. We suggest that the airborne eddy covariance method is a reliable alternative and complementary analysis method to estimate emissions from oil and gas extraction.
Extended followup of a cohort of chromium production workers
Authors: Gibb Herman Jones , Lees Peter St. John , Wang Jing , Grace O'Leary Keri
Published: June 2015

Background

The current study evaluates the mortality of 2,354 workers first employed at a Baltimore chromate production plant between 1950 and 1974.

Methods

The National Death Index (NDI Plus) was used to determine vital status and cause of death. Cumulative chromium (VI) exposure and nasal and skin irritation were evaluated as risk factors for lung cancer mortality.

Results

There are 91,186 person‐years of observation and 217 lung cancer deaths. Cumulative chromium (VI) exposure, nasal irritation, nasal perforation, nasal ulceration, and other forms of irritation (e.g., skin irritation) were associated with lung cancer mortality.

Conclusion

Cumulative chromium (VI) exposure was a risk factor for lung cancer death. Cancer deaths, other than lung cancer, were not significantly elevated. Irritation may be a possible mechanism for chromium (VI)‐induced lung cancer. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:905–913, 2015. © 2015 The Authors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Self‐Folding Deep Cavitand with Acetamidoquinoxaline Flaps: Hindered Ring Inversion of Cyclohexane in a Confined Cavity by CH–π Interaction
Authors: Nguyen Quoc‐Thiet , Oh Dong‐Won , Kim Won , Sahoo Suban K , Choi Heung‐Jin
Published: June 2015

A cavitand with acetamidoquinoxaline flaps self‐folds to form a deep confined cavity rigidified by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The cavity formed by this compound is suitable for the selective encapsulation of cyclohexane. The chair‐to‐chair interconversion of encapsulated cyclohexane and free cyclohexane was investigated by dynamic NMR spectroscopy in CDCl3 at 400 MHz. Significant slowdown in the chair‐to‐chair interconversion of encapsulated cyclohexane was recorded due to the CH–π stabilization compared with free cyclohexane.
The First Circuit Reinstates an Award, With Questions On ADR, Statutes of Limitations, and Choice of Law
Authors: Loree Philip J.
Published: June 2015

In the vast majority of cases, the odds of successfully challenging an arbitration award under the Federal Arbitration Act are slim at best. A successful challenge usually means an appeal, and a reversal based on some level of deference to the panel is almost automatically on the table.
Tracking Cancer Metastasis In Vivo by Using an Iridium‐Based Hypoxia‐Activated Optical Oxygen Nanosensor
Authors: Zheng Xianchuang , Tang Huang , Xie Chen , Zhang Jialiang , Wu Wei , Jiang Xiqun
Published: June 2015

We have developed a nanosensor for tracking cancer metastasis by noninvasive real‐time whole‐body optical imaging. The nanosensor is prepared by the formation of co‐micelles from a poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone)‐conjugated iridium(III) complex (Ir‐PVP) and poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐b‐poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) (PCL‐PVP). The near‐infrared phosphorescence emission of the nanosensor could be selectively activated in the hypoxic microenvironment induced by cancer cells. The detection ability of the nanosensor was examined in cells and different animal models. After intravenous injection, the nanosensor can be effectively delivered to the lung and lymph node, and cancer cell metastasis through bloodstream or lymphatics can be quickly detected with high signal‐to‐background ratio by whole‐body imaging and organ imaging. Moreover, the nanosensor exhibits good biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. The nanosensor is believed to be a powerful tool for the diagnosis of cancer metastasis.
Synthesis and Molecular Recognition of Water‐Soluble S6‐Corona[3]arene[3]pyridazines
Authors: Guo Qing‐Hui , Zhao Liang , Wang Mei‐Xiang
Published: June 2015

We report the efficient and scalable synthesis and molecular‐recognition properties of novel and water‐soluble S6‐corona[3]arene[3]pyridazines. The synthesis comprises a one‐pot nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction between diesters of 2,5‐dimercaptoterephthalate and 3,6‐dichlorotetrazine followed by the inverse electron‐demand Diels–Alder reaction of the tetrazine moieties with an enamine and exhaustive saponification of esters. The resulting S6‐corona[3]arene[3]pyridazines, which adopt a 1,3,5‐alternate conformation in the crystalline state, are able to selectively form stable 1:1 complexes with dicationic guest species in water with association constants ranging from (1.10±0.06)×103 M−1 to (1.18±0.06)×105 M−1. The easy availability, large cavity size, strong and selective binding power render the water‐soluble S6‐corona[3]arene[3]pyridazines useful macrocyclic hosts in various disciplines of supramolecular chemistry.
Effect of different concentration of rapeseed‐oil‐based polyol and water on structure and mechanical properties of flexible polyurethane foams
Authors: Malewska Elżbieta , Bąk Szymon , Prociak Aleksander
Published: June 2015

Flexible polyurethane foams (FPURFs) with varied concentration of water from 3.2 to 4.2% and rapeseed oil based polyol (ROP) in the range of 13–22% in polyol premix were obtained. Effects of changes in polyurethane (PUR) formulation on the foaming process and mechanical properties of FPURFs were analyzed. It was found that the change of water content in PUR formulation influences its foaming process. Higher water content in the PUR formulation increases the growth velocity and the temperature of reaction mixture. In the case of foams modified with ROP, an opposite effect can be observed, where higher content of that component resulted in overall downturn of the foaming process and decreases of registered temperature inside the foams core. An addition of ROP beneficially influences on foams cellular structure favoring creation of finer cells. Such modification of PUR formulation with ROP increased apparent density, reduced hardness, and resilience of flexible foams. What is more the support factor of FPURFs with ROP was higher in comparison to the reference foam. Along with higher water content in the PUR formulation, apparent density and hardness has decreased and foams ability to absorb energy has been increased. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42372.
Flame retardancy and crack resistance of transparent intumescent fire‐resistive coatings
Authors: Hong Ling , Hu Xiaoxian , Rao Weiwei , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: June 2015

In this article, dihydroxy polydimethylsiloxane (n = 5–10) was introduced into the structure of polyphosphate (PPE) to get siloxane‐modified polyphosphate (SiPPE). Five kinds of SiPPEs with different Si contents were obtained. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy) ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy), 31P NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) and TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis) were used to characterize the composition and structure of PPE and SiPPEs. Six kinds of transparent fire‐resistive coatings were prepared by the mixing of amino resin with PPE and five kinds of SiPPEs. The results of the fire protection test showed that both the fire‐resistive time of coatings and intumescent factor of char layers increased with the increase in content of Si. The results of TGA demonstrated that the carbonaceous residue of coating also increased regularly. The hardness, flexibility, digital photos, SEM (Scanning Electronic Microscopy) and other testing results showed that the introduction of silicon oxygen segment can effectively improve the crack resistance. The charcoal layer structure was more solid than before and collapse was not obvious after long time flame shock. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42423.
Surface‐pegylated chitin whiskers as an effective additive to enhance the mechanical properties of recycled ABS
Authors: de Sousa Mol Alberto , Martins Isabella , Oréfice Rodrigo Lambert
Published: June 2015

The recyclability of materials is a key issue related to the use of polymers in the automotive and electronic industries, among others. The multiple thermal and mechanical operations used in recycling can cause severe damage to the molecular architecture and microstructure of polymers that frequently leads to a reduction in their mechanical properties, which restricts their recyclability. In this work, nanocomponents (whiskers) derived from chitin were surface‐modified by grafting different molar masses of methoxylated poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG). The modified chitin whiskers were then incorporated into reprocessed ABS (acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) to yield nanocomposites with 0.5% (mass/mass) whiskers. The obtained whiskers and nanocomposites were investigated using techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The properties of the nanocomposites were also investigated using tensile tests and dynamic mechanical tests. The results show that the surface‐modified chitin whiskers with high molar mass mPEG grafts increased the strength, elongation at break, and stiffness of the reprocessed ABS over virgin and reprocessed ABS and reprocessed ABS nanocomposites with unmodified whiskers. This indicates that the use of surface‐modified chitin whiskers can be valuable in improving the mechanical properties of recycled polymers and, consequently, enhancing their recyclability. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42463.
Enhancing mechanical properties of aromatic polyamide fibers containing benzimidazole units via temporarily suppressing hydrogen bonding and crystallization
Authors: Li Ke , Luo Longbo , Huang Jieyang , Wang Huina , Feng Yan , Liu Xiangyang
Published: June 2015

The copolymerization modified poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) containing 2‐(4‐aminophenyl)−5‐aminobenzimidazole (PABZ) units in the main chain was synthesized and the corresponding poly‐p‐phenylene‐benzimidazole‐terephthalamide (PBIA) fibers were prepared by wet spinning. The HCl, the by‐product released during polymerization, can complex with PABZ units to prevent the formation of hydrogen bonding between PABZ units, resulting in amorphous PBIA fibers and a lower glass transition temperature (Tg). Therefore, for the purpose of gaining strong hydrogen bonding and high orientation degree at the same time in PBIA fibers, two‐step drawing–annealing processing was adopted. The as‐spun PBIA/HCl complex fibers were drawn first at 280°C, higher than the Tg of the PBIA/HCl complex fibers and lower than the decomplexed temperature of HCl, which temporarily suppresses the formation of hydrogen bonding and crystallization. Subsequently, the fibers were annealed to reform hydrogen bonding between PABZ units and crystallization via decomplexation of HCl at 400°C. However, when the drawing is above the decomplexed temperature of HCl, the decomplexation of HCl begins to occur which leads to the reform of hydrogen bonding and crystallization, and the tensile strength of the drawn‐annealed PBIA/HCl complex fibers decreases with a decrease in the HCl content of fibers. The tensile strength of two‐step drawn‐annealed fibers increased by approximately 15% compared to that of one‐step drawn PBIA/HCl complex fibers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42482.
Long‐term effect of a short interprofessional education interaction between medical and physical therapy students
Authors: Sytsma Terin T. , Haller Elizabeth P. , Youdas James W. , Krause David A. , Hellyer Nathan J. , Pawlina Wojciech , Lachman Nirusha
Published: June 2015

Medicine is increasingly focused on team‐based practice as interprofessional cooperation leads to better patient care. Thus, it is necessary to teach teamwork and collaboration with other health care professionals in undergraduate medical education to ensure that trainees entering the workforce are prepared to work in teams. Gross anatomy provides an opportunity to expose students to interprofessional education (IPE) early in their training. The purpose of this study is to describe an IPE experience and report if the experience has lasting influence on the participating students. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) questionnaire was administered to first year medical (MD) and physical therapy (PT) students at Mayo Medical School and Mayo School of Health Sciences. Results demonstrated an openness on the part of the students to IPE. Interprofessional education experiences were incorporated into gross anatomy courses in both medical and PT curricula. The IPE experiences included a social event, peer‐teaching, and collaborative clinical problem‐solving sessions. These sessions enhanced gross anatomy education by reinforcing previous material and providing the opportunity to work on clinical cases from the perspective of two healthcare disciplines. After course completion, students again completed the RIPLS. Finally, one year after course completion, students were asked to provide feedback on their experience. The post‐curricular RIPLS, similar to the pre‐curricular RIPLS, illustrated openness to IPE from both MD and PT students. There were however, significant differences in MD and PT perceptions of roles and responsibilities. One‐year follow‐up indicated long‐term retention of lessons learned during IPE. Anat Sci Educ 8: 317–323. © 2015 American Association of Anatomists.
Student perceptions of an interprofessional educational experience: The importance of goal articulation
Authors: McBride Jennifer M. , Drake Richard L.
Published: June 2015

The education of future health care professionals must involve activities where interprofessional collaboration and the functioning of interdisciplinary teams are the goals and not the exceptions. This type of interprofessional education (IPE) will benefit students as they will be better able to communicate with and mobilize the skills of other health care workers, work toward common goals related to patient care, and develop a more cost‐effective treatment strategy in the long term. Such an IPE program was initiated in the clinical anatomy course for physician assistant students from the University of Mount Union that was taught, in part, by medical students from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. Surveys of both student groups at the end of the course indicated that although this was a useful IPE experience, the value of this program as an IPE experience was not entirely appreciated by the participating students. It turned out that although the goals and importance of these types of IPE activities are clear to the faculty, they must also be made clear to all of the students. Anat Sci Educ 8: 381–385. © 2015 American Association of Anatomists.
Sodium‐Doped Mesoporous Ni2P2O7 Hexagonal Tablets for High‐Performance Flexible All‐Solid‐State Hybrid Supercapacitors
Authors: Wei Chengzhen , Cheng Cheng , Wang Shanshan , Xu Yazhou , Wang Jindi , Pang Huan
Published: June 2015

A simple hydrothermal method has been developed to prepare hexagonal tablet precursors, which are then transformed into porous sodium‐doped Ni2P2O7 hexagonal tablets by a simple calcination method. The obtained samples were evaluated as electrode materials for supercapacitors. Electrochemical measurements show that the electrode based on the porous sodium‐doped Ni2P2O7 hexagonal tablets exhibits a specific capacitance of 557.7 F g−1 at a current density of 1.2 A g−1. Furthermore, the porous sodium‐doped Ni2P2O7 hexagonal tablets were successfully used to construct flexible solid‐state hybrid supercapacitors. The device is highly flexible and achieves a maximum energy density of 23.4 Wh kg−1 and a good cycling stability after 5000 cycles, which confirms that the porous sodium‐doped Ni2P2O7 hexagonal tablets are promising active materials for flexible supercapacitors.
Thalidomide embryopathy: Follow‐up of cases born between 1959 and 2010
Authors: Kowalski Thayne Woycinck , Sanseverino Maria Teresa Vieira , Schuler‐Faccini Lavinia , Vianna Fernanda Sales Luiz
Published: June 2015

Background

Thalidomide is a known teratogen and it is estimated that more than ten thousand babies were affected by thalidomide embryopathy (TE), which is characterized mainly by limb defects, but can involve many organs and systems. Most people with TE were only evaluated at birth and it is not well established if thalidomide exposure during embryonic development leads to later effects. We analyzed the clinical history of adults with TE to better understand this gap in the clinical findings of TE.

Methods

Brazilian individuals with TE were invited to answer a clinical questionnaire which considered family history, social information, medical history, and current clinical and psychological health status. A clinical examination was also performed, including on the infant subjects to evaluate congenital anomalies. The characterization of the features was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi‐square or Fisher's exact test.

Results

The congenital anomalies caused by thalidomide were reviewed in 28 Brazilian individuals, and the questionnaire was applied to the 23 adult subjects with TE (aged 19 to 55). Progressive deafness and dental loss were reported. From the comparison of TE individuals with the general Brazilian population, the early onset of cardiovascular diseases (p = 0.009) and a higher frequency of psychological disorders (p = 0.011) were observed.

Conclusion

Although there is no sufficient evidence that thalidomide exposure caused or worsened the described events, this approach helps to better understand the TE phenotype, improves the clinical diagnosis, and can lead to adequate health support for these individuals. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 103:794–803, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Systematic review of intervention design and delivery in pragmatic and explanatory surgical randomized clinical trials
Authors: Blencowe N S , Boddy A P , Harris A , Hanna T , Whiting P , Cook J A , Blazeby J M
Published: June 2015

Background

Surgical interventions are complex, with multiple components that require consideration in trial reporting. This review examines the reporting of details of surgical interventions in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) within the context of explanatory and pragmatic study designs.

Methods

Systematic searches identified RCTs of surgical interventions published in 2010 and 2011. Included studies were categorized as predominantly explanatory or pragmatic. The extent of intervention details in the reports were compared with the CONSORT statement for reporting trials of non-pharmacological treatments (CONSORT-NPT). CONSORT-NPT recommends reporting the descriptions of surgical interventions, whether they were standardized and adhered to (items 4a, 4b and 4c). Reporting of the context of intervention delivery (items 3 and 15) and operator expertise (item 15) were assessed.

Results

Of 4541 abstracts and 131 full-text articles, 80 were included (of which 39 were classified as predominantly pragmatic), reporting 160 interventions. Descriptions of 129 interventions (80·6 per cent) were provided. Standardization was mentioned for 47 (29·4 per cent) of the 160 interventions, and 22 articles (28 per cent) reported measurement of adherence to at least one aspect of the intervention. Seventy-one papers (89 per cent) provided some information about context. For one-third of interventions (55, 34·4 per cent), some data were provided regarding the expertise of personnel involved. Reporting standards were similar in trials classified as pragmatic or explanatory.

Conclusion

The lack of detail in trial reports about surgical interventions creates difficulties in understanding which operations were actually evaluated. Methods for designing and reporting surgical interventions in RCTs, contributing to the quality of the overall study design, are required. This should allow better implementation of trial results into practice.
Long-term morbidity after multivisceral resection for retroperitoneal sarcoma
Authors: Callegaro D , Miceli R , Brunelli C , Colombo C , Sanfilippo R , Radaelli S , Casali P G , Caraceni A , Gronchi A , Fiore M
Published: June 2015

Background

More than 60 per cent of patients treated surgically for primary retroperitoneal sarcoma survive for at least 5 years. Extended surgical resection has been proposed for primary disease, but long-term morbidity data are lacking. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the long-term morbidity of patients undergoing surgery for retroperitoneal sarcoma.

Methods

Patients operated on between January 2002 and December 2011 were eligible for the study. Long-term morbidity was evaluated based on a semistructured clinical interview. Lower limb function was assessed by means of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), a self-report questionnaire with a total score ranging from 0 (low functioning) to 80 (high functioning). Pain was investigated by means of the Brief Pain Inventory – Short Form, with pain intensity scores reported on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain).

Results

Some 243 patients underwent surgery, and 101 of 160 patients who were alive at the time of the investigation responded to the study invitation letter. Finally, 95 patients were enrolled in the study. Sensory impairment of the limbs was reported in 72 patients (76 per cent). The median LEFS score was 60 (i.q.r. 43–73). Mean scores for the pain intensity items varied from 1·23 to 2·68. In multivariable analysis, there was no difference in median levels of creatinine at survey between patients who did or did not undergo nephrectomy (difference between median values 13 (95 per cent c.i. −4 to 30) µmol/l; P = 0·170).

Conclusion

Severe chronic pain and lower limb motor impairment after multivisceral resection for retroperitoneal sarcomas are rare. Long-term renal function is not significantly impaired when nephrectomy is performed.
Impact of a fast-track surgery programme for pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Williamsson C , Karlsson N , Sturesson C , Lindell G , Andersson R , Tingstedt B
Published: June 2015

Background

Fast-track (FT) programmes are multimodal, evidence-based approaches to optimize patient outcome after surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, clinical outcome and patients' experience of a FT programme after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in a high-volume institution in Sweden.

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing PD were studied before and after implementation of the FT programme. FT changes included earlier mobilization, standardized removal of the nasogastric tube and drain, and earlier start of oral intake. Patient experience was evaluated with European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-PAN26 questionnaires 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery.

Results

Between 2011 and 2014, 100 consecutive patients undergoing PD were studied, of whom 50 received standard care (controls), followed by 50 patients treated after implementation of the FT programme. The nasogastric tube was removed significantly earlier in the FT group, and these patients were able fully to tolerate fluids and solid food sooner after PD. Delayed gastric emptying was significantly reduced in the FT group (26 versus 48 per cent; P = 0·030). Overall morbidity remained unchanged and there were no deaths in either group. Postoperative length of hospital stay was reduced from 14 to 10 days and hospital costs were decreased significantly. Health-related quality-of-life questionnaires showed similar patterns of change, with no significant difference between groups before or after surgery.

Conclusion

The FT programme after PD was safe. Delayed gastric emptying, hospital stay and hospital costs were all reduced significantly. Although patients were discharged 4 days earlier in the FT group, this did not influence health-related quality of life compared with standard care.
Triimidosulfonates as Acute Bite‐Angle Chelates: Slow Relaxation of the Magnetization in Zero Field and Hysteresis Loop of a CoII Complex
Authors: Carl Elena , Demeshko Serhiy , Meyer Franc , Stalke Dietmar
Published: June 2015

Starting from a polyimido sulfonate the four‐coordinate, N,N′‐chelated CoII complex [Co{(NtBu)3SMe}2] (1) was synthesized, and its molecular structure was elucidated by single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis. The acute N‐Co‐N bite angle imposed by the N,N′‐chelating ligand (NtBu)3SMe− leads to pronounced C2v distortion of the tetrahedral coordination environment and thus to high anisotropy of the CoII ion (D≈−58 cm−1), favorable for single‐molecule‐magnet (SMM) properties. Magnetic measurements revealed a high barrier to spin reversal (Ueff=75 cm−1) that gives rise to the observation of slow relaxation of the magnetization in zero field and a hysteresis loop at 2 K for this unique complex.
Mononuclear Polypyridylruthenium(II) Complexes with High Membrane Permeability in Gram‐Negative Bacteria—in particular Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Gorle Anil K. , Feterl Marshall , Warner Jeffrey M. , Primrose Sebastian , Constantinoiu Constantin C. , Keene F. Richard , Collins J. Grant
Published: June 2015

Ruthenium(II) complexes containing the tetradentate ligand bis[4(4′‐methyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyl)]‐1,n‐alkane (“bbn”; n=10 and 12) have been synthesised and their geometric isomers separated. All [Ru(phen)(bbn)]2+ (phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) complexes exhibited excellent activity against Gram‐positive bacteria, but only the cis‐α‐[Ru(phen)(bb12)]2+ species showed good activity against Gram‐negative species. In particular, the cis‐α‐[Ru(phen)(bb12)]2+ complex was two to four times more active than the cis‐β‐[Ru(phen)(bb12)]2+ complex against the Gram‐negative strains. The cis‐α‐ and cis‐β‐[Ru(phen)(bb12)]2+ complexes readily accumulated in the bacteria but, significantly, showed the highest level of uptake in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, the accumulation of the cis‐α‐ and cis‐β‐[Ru(phen)(bb12)]2+ complexes in P. aeruginosa was considerably greater than in Escherichia coli. The uptake of the cis‐α‐[Ru(phen)(bb12)]2+ complex into live P. aeruginosa was confirmed by using fluorescence microscopy. The water/octanol partition coefficients (log P) were determined to gain understanding of the relative cellular uptake. The cis‐α‐ and cis‐β‐[Ru(phen)(bbn)]2+ complexes exhibited relatively strong binding to DNA (Kb≈106 M−1), but no significant difference between the geometric isomers was observed.
Steric Enhancement of the Chemiluminescence of Luminols
Authors: Griesbeck Axel G. , Díaz‐Miara Yrene , Fichtler Robert , Jacobi von Wangelin Axel , Pérez‐Ruiz Raúl , Sampedro Diego
Published: June 2015

A surprising 20‐fold increase in chemiluminescence efficiency was observed for dialkyl luminol derivatives in comparison with the parent compound. This effect could be a direct consequence of steric gearing which facilitates the transition from the intermediate endoperoxide to the electronically excited phthalate. Mechanistic aspects of this process have been supported by computational calculations (CASPT2//CASSCF).
Optimized Finite‐Difference Operator Based on Chebyshev Auto‐Convolution Combined Window Function
Authors: Zhi‐Yang WANG , Hong LIU , Xiang‐De TANG , Yang WANG
Published: June 2015

The finite‐difference method has been widely utilized in seismic wave numerical modeling, seismic imaging, and full waveform inversion; the accuracy of finite‐difference numerical solution directly affects the result of seismic imaging and inversion. We can truncate spatial convolutional counterpart of the pseudo‐spectral method to get finite‐difference operators using truncated windows, and the properties of truncated windows in their amplitude responses play a major role in finite‐difference approximation. In specific, the accuracy of finite‐difference approximation can be determined by the properties of main lobe and side lobe in the amplitude response of window functions, narrower main lobe and larger attenuation of side lobe bring higher accuracy of finite‐difference approximation, and significantly suppress numerical dispersion. According to it, we propose an optimized method based on Chebyshev auto‐convolution combined window function which has narrow main lobe and large attenuation of side lobe. Through adjusting three parameters of the Chebyshev auto‐convolution combined window function, we visually and more intuitively control the properties of main lobe and side lobe to adjust the accuracy of finite‐difference approximation. The optimized explicit finite‐difference operator increases the accurate wave number coverage range and reduces the volatility of accuracy error, which indicates that the accuracy of low‐order operators can reach that of high‐order operators. In respect of economics, it effectively reduces the computational cost and improves the computational efficiency.
Salinity Tolerance in Wheat Cultivars Is Related to Enhanced Activities of Enzymatic Antioxidants and Reduced Lipid Peroxidation
Authors: Khaliq Abdul , Zia‐ul‐Haq Muhammad , Ali Faizan , Aslam Farhena , Matloob Amar , Navab Abubakr , Hussain Saddam
Published: June 2015

Soil salinity is a stringent abiotic constraint limiting crop productivity. Studies were undertaken to appraise the performance of six diverse wheat cultivars (LU‐26S, MH‐97, AARI‐2011, Millat‐2011, Lasani‐2008, and FSD‐2008) under non‐saline (control) and saline soil (8 and 16 dS m−1) conditions. Increasing the salinity level severely diminished emergence and seedling growth attributes in all wheat cultivars. Nevertheless, cultivar specific responses were evident and a significant salinity × cultivar was observed in most cases. The lowest (23%) reduction in final emergence was observed for AARI‐2011 as compared with the maximum recorded for LU‐26S (56%). AARI‐2011 and Millat‐2011 recorded the highest seedling dry biomass at a salinity level of 16 dS m−1. The highest salinity level resulted in the maximum inhibition of chlorophyll content in Millat‐2011 and MH‐97 by 59 and 68%, respectively, as compared with their respective control. With an increase in the salinity level, enhanced activities of antioxidants like superoxide dismutase and catalase were observed in AARI‐2011 compared with all other wheat cultivars. Lasani‐2008 showed a maximum (70%) increase in malondialdehyde content compared with control. AARI‐2011 and FSD‐2008 appeared as promising wheat cultivars manifesting salt tolerance that was related to enhanced activities of enzymatic antioxidants and reduced lipid peroxidation, respectively.
Combined intensity‐modulated radiotherapy plus raster‐scanned carbon ion boost for advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck results in superior locoregional control and overall survival
Authors: Jensen Alexandra D. , Nikoghosyan Anna V. , Poulakis Melanie , Höss Angelika , Haberer Thomas , Jäkel Oliver , Münter Marc W. , Schulz‐Ertner Daniela , Huber Peter E. , Debus Jürgen
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND

Local control in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck remains a challenge because of the relative radioresistance of these tumors. This prospective carbon ion pilot project was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plus carbon ion (C12) boost (C12 therapy). The authors present the first analysis of long‐term outcomes of raster‐scanned C12 therapy compared with modern photon techniques.

METHODS

Patients with inoperable or subtotally resected ACC received C12 therapy within the pilot project. Whenever C12 was not available, patients were offered IMRT or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT). Patients received either C12 therapy at a C12 dose of 3 Gray equivalents (GyE) per fraction up to 18 GyE followed by 54 Gray (Gy) of IMRT or IMRT up to a median total dose of 66 Gy. Toxicity was evaluated according to version 3 of the Common Toxicity Terminology for Adverse Events. Locoregional control (LC), progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan‐Meier method.

RESULTS

Fifty‐eight patients received C12 therapy, and 37 received photons (IMRT or FSRT). The median follow‐up was 74 months in the C12 group and 63 months in the photon group. Overall, 90% of patients in the C12 group and 94% of those in the photon group had T4 tumors; and the most common disease sites were paranasal sinus, parotid with skull base invasion, and nasopharynx. LC, PFS, and OS at 5 years were significantly higher in the C12 group (59.6%, 48.4%, 76.5%, respectively) compared with the photon group (39.9%, 27%, and 58.7%, respectively). There was no significant difference between patients who had subtotally resected and inoperable ACC.

CONCLUSIONS

C12 therapy resulted in superior LC, PFS, and OS without a significant difference between patients with inoperable and partially resected ACC. Extensive and morbid resections in patients with advanced ACC may need to be reconsidered. The most common site of locoregional recurrence remains in field, and further C12 dose escalation should be evaluated. Cancer 2015;121:3001–3009. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
The mu opioid receptor: A new target for cancer therapy?
Authors: Singleton Patrick A. , Moss Jonathan , Karp Daniel D. , Atkins Johnique T. , Janku Filip
Published: June 2015

Mu opioids are among the most widely used drugs for patients with cancer with both acute and chronic pain as well as in the perioperative period. Several retrospective studies have suggested that opioid use might promote tumor progression and as a result negatively impact survival in patients with advanced cancer; however, in the absence of appropriate prospective validation, any changes in recommendations for opioid use are not warranted. In this review, the authors present preclinical and clinical data that support their hypothesis that the mu opioid receptor is a potential target for cancer therapy because of its plausible role in tumor progression. The authors also propose the hypothesis that peripheral opioid antagonists such as methylnaltrexone, which reverses the peripheral effects of mu opioids but maintains centrally mediated analgesia and is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of opioid‐induced constipation, can be used to target the mu opioid receptor. Cancer 2015;121:2681‐2688. © 2015 American Cancer Society
Elimination of cost‐sharing and receipt of screening for colorectal and breast cancer
Authors: Fedewa Stacey A. , Goodman Michael , Flanders W. Dana , Han Xuesong , Smith Robert A. , M. Ward Elizabeth , Doubeni Chyke A. , Sauer Ann Goding , Jemal Ahmedin
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND

The aim of the cost‐sharing provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to reduce financial barriers for preventive services, including screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC) among privately and Medicare‐insured individuals. Whether the provision has affected CRC and BC screening prevalence is unknown. The current study investigated whether CRC and BC screening prevalence among privately and Medicare‐insured adults by socioeconomic status (SES) changed before and after the ACA.

METHODS

Data obtained from the National Health Interview Survey pertaining to privately and Medicare‐insured adults from 2008 (before the ACA) and 2013 (after the ACA) were used. There were 15,786 adults aged 50 to 75 years in the CRC screening analysis and 14,530 women aged ≥40 years in the BC screening analysis. Changes in guideline‐recommended screening between 2008 and 2013 by SES were expressed as the prevalence difference (PD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) adjusted for demographics, insurance, income, education, body mass index, and having a usual provider.

RESULTS

Overall, CRC screening prevalence increased from 57.3% to 61.2% between 2008 and 2013 (P<.001). Adjusted CRC screening prevalence during the corresponding period increased in low‐income (PD, 5.9; 95% CI, 1.8 to 10.2), least‐educated (PD, 7.2; 95% CI, 0.9 to 13.5), and Medicare‐insured (PD, 6.2; 95% CI, 1.7 to 10.7) individuals, but not in high‐income, most‐educated, and privately insured respondents. BC screening remained unchanged overall (70.5% in 2008 vs 70.2% in 2013) and in the low SES groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Increases in CRC screening prevalence between 2008 and 2013 were confined to respondents with low SES. These findings may in part reflect the ACA's removal of financial barriers. Cancer 2015;121:3272–3280. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
US Food and Drug Administration regulatory oversight of laboratory‐developed tests: Commentary on the draft guidance
Authors: Sidawy Mary K.
Published: June 2015

In 1976, Congress introduced the Medical Device Amendments to regulate medical devices intended for use in humans. The definition of “device” encompasses diagnostic devices manufactured by manufacturers as well as laboratory‐developed tests (LDTs). To ensure that LDTs are safe and effective, on October 3, 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a draft document outlining a plan to enforce its authority. A second draft document outlines the laboratory requirements for reporting their LDTs and adverse events related to testing.
In Situ Detection of Particle Aggregation on Electrode Surfaces
Authors: Ngamchuea Kamonwad , Tschulik Kristina , Eloul Shaltiel , Compton Richard G.
Published: June 2015

Partially blocked electrodes (PBEs) are important; many applications use non‐conductive nanoparticles (NPs) to introduce new electrode functionalities. As aggregation is a problem in NP immobilization, developing an in situ method to detect aggregation is vital to characterise such modified electrodes. We present chronoamperometry as a method for detection of NP surface aggregation and semi‐quantitative sizing of the formed aggregates, based on the diffusion limited current measured at PBEs as compared with the values calculated numerically for different blocking feature sizes. In contrast to voltammetry, no approximations on electrode kinetics are needed, making chronoamperometry a more general and reliable method. Sizing is shown for two modification methods. Upon drop casting, significant aggregation is observed, while it is minimized in electrophoretic NP deposition. The aggregate sizes determined are in semi‐quantitative agreement with ex situ microscopic analysis of the PBEs.
Influence of Aromatic Residues on the Material Characteristics of Aβ Amyloid Protofibrils at the Atomic Scale
Authors: Chang Hyun Joon , Baek Inchul , Lee Myeongsang , Na Sungsoo
Published: June 2015

Amyloid fibrils, which cause a number of degenerative diseases, are insoluble under physiological conditions and are supported by native contacts. Recently, the effects of the aromatic residues on the Aβ amyloid protofibril were investigated in a ThT fluorescence study. However, the relationship between the material characteristics of the Aβ protofibril and its aromatic residues has not yet been investigated on the atomic scale. Here, we successfully constructed wild‐type (WT) and mutated types of Aβ protofibrils by using molecular dynamics simulations. Through principle component analysis, we established the structural stability and vibrational characteristics of F20L Aβ protofibrils and compared them with WT and other mutated models such as F19L and F19LF20L. In addition, structural stability was assessed by calculating the elastic modulus, which showed that the F20L model has higher values than the other models studied. From our results, it is shown that aromatic residues influence the structural and material characteristics of Aβ protofibrils.
Metal–Organic Frameworks via Emissive Metal‐Carboxylate Zwitterion Intermediates
Authors: Armaghan Mahsa , Shang Xiu‐Juan , Yuan Yan‐Qiu , Young David J. , Zhang Wen‐Hua , Hor T. S. Andy , Lang Jian‐Ping
Published: June 2015

Pyridinemethanol‐carboxylate esters form octahedral complexes with Zn(NO3)2 in aqueous DMF that subsequently undergo hydrolysis at elevated temperatures to form metal‐carboxylate zwitterions. In situ deprotonation of the hydroxy group leads to thermally robust, neutral MOFs. This stepwise synthesis can be controlled by temperature and is made possible by the subtle difference in reactivity of the functional groups.
Coordination of Ln3+ Ions to Perhydroxycucurbit[5]uril and the Formation of Supramolecular Self‐Assemblies in the Presence of [SiW12O40]4– Anions and Transition Metal Salts – Potential Application in the Isolation of Light Lanthanides
Authors: Hou Hai‐Ting , Chen Hai‐Yong , Zhang Yun‐Qian , Tao Zhu , Zhou Qing‐Di
Published: June 2015

The coordination and supramolecular assemblies of lanthanide cations and perhydroxycucurbit[5]uril {(HO)10Q[5]} in the presence of [SiW12O40]4– anions and transition metal salts show significant differences as the lanthanide atomic number increases. The molecular capsule (HO)10Q[5] coordinates with the light lanthanide cations Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, and Tb3+ but does not coordinate with heavier Ln3+ cations. However, (HO)10Q[5]/Na+‐based molecular capsules form in the presence of the heavier lanthanide cations Ho3+, Er3+, Tm3+, Yb3+, and Lu3+ under the same synthetic conditions. These differences could be key in establishing a strategy for the isolation of light lanthanides from their heavier counterparts.
Unexpected Reactivity of Red Phosphorus in Ionic Liquids
Authors: Groh Matthias F. , Paasch Silvia , Weiz Alexander , Ruck Michael , Brunner Eike
Published: June 2015

Red phosphorus is far less reactive than the white allotrope. On the other hand, it is easier to handle and not as toxic as white phosphorus. In the Lewis‐acidic ionic liquid (IL) [BMIm]Cl·2AlCl3 ([BMIm] = 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium), red phosphorus and elemental iodine form several iodides at moderate temperature. 31P liquid‐ and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy was used to rationalize the reaction at various temperatures and ratios of the starting materials. Monitoring of the reaction revealed nanoscale red‐phosphorus particles. In addition to this top‐down formation, phosphorus nanoparticles were also obtained in a bottom‐up synthesis by dissociation of P2I4 in the IL. Depending on the ratio of red phosphorus and iodine, as well as the reaction temperature, P2I4, PI3, or P2I5+ dominate.