bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relation between the level of lymph node metastasis and survival in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Xing Yan , Zhang Jianjun , Lin Heather , Gold Kathryn A. , Sturgis Erich M. , Garden Adam S. , Lee J. Jack , William William N.
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

The current head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) staging system may not capture the full prognostic implications of regional lymph node involvement. This study investigated the impact of the level of lymph node metastasis (LNM) on survival.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was queried for oral cavity (OC), oropharynx (OP), larynx (LAR), and hypopharynx (HP) HNSCC. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate whether the level of LNM was an independent prognostic factor. Site‐specific recursive‐partitioning analysis was performed to classify patients into different risk groups.

RESULTS

In all, 14,499 patients, including OC (n = 2463), OP (n = 8567), LAR (n = 2332), and HP patients (n = 1137), were analyzed. Both the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) N classification and the level of LNM showed significant effects on overall survival (OS) in patients with OC, OP, or LAR HNSCC but not in patients with HP HNSCC. In patients with N2 disease, the AJCC subclassification (N2a, N2b, or N2c) was significantly associated with the OS of patients with OP and LAR HNSCC but not with the OS of patients with OC or HP HNSCC, whereas the level of LNM (primary, secondary, or tertiary) was significantly associated with the OS of patients with OC, OP, and LAR HNSCC but not HP HNSCC. With recursive‐partitioning analysis, a simple, primary site–specific prognostic tool integrating the AJCC T and N classifications and the level of LNM was designed, and it could be easily used by health care providers in clinic.

CONCLUSIONS

The level of LNM is an independent prognostic factor for patients with locally advanced HNSCC and could add to the prognostic value of AJCC T and N classifications in patients with locally advanced HNSCC.Cancer2016;122:534–545.©2015 American Cancer Society.
A Facile Route to Thin Films of Zinc Carbodiimide Using Aerosol‐assisted CVD
Authors: Kaye Karl M. , Grantham William , Hyett Geoffrey
Published: November 2015

There has been a resurgence of interest in metal carbodiimides in recent years and in this paper we present a route to the synthesis of one of these phases, zinc carbodiimide, previously known as zinc cyanamide, in the form of a sub‐micrometer thin film, using aerosol‐assisted (AA)CVD from a solution of zinc acetate and urea in methanol, with the carbodiimide ion being formed from the decomposition of the urea molecule. Thin film synthesis is achieved over a deposition temperature range 375 − 500 °C, with a minimum ratio of urea to zinc acetate of 2:1 and a maximum of 5:1 established as viable for film formation. This work presents the first example of the synthesis of a ZnNCN thin film, or indeed any metal carbodiimide thin film, using a CVD technique.
Electrochemical Performance of Vanadium Oxide Coatings Grown using Atmospheric Pressure CVD
Authors: Vernardou Dimitra , Apostolopoulou Maria , Louloudakis Dimitris , Katsarakis Nikolaos , Koudoumas Emmanouil
Published: November 2015

The growth of vanadium dioxide is carried out using chemical vapor deposition with N2 flow rates of 1, 1.4 and 2.2 L min−1 through the vanadium precursor bubbler. The presence of both monoclinic and metastable vanadium dioxide phases with the co‐existence of nanocrystallites and outgrowths on the coating surface is observed for the 1 L min−1. Additionally, the electrochemical performance for this sample is enhanced and the specific discharge capacity was the highest presenting capacitance retention of 97% after 500 scans. Finally, it is found that the diffusion of Li+ through the cathode/electrolyte interface is easier enhancing its capacitive performance.
N,N′‐Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxamidates: Synthesis and Thermal, Electrochemical, Spectroscopic, and Structural Properties
Authors: Sprenger Jan A. P. , Konieczka Szymon Z. , Brede Franziska A. , Kerpen Christoph , Drisch Michael , Franz Klaus‐Dieter , Ignat'ev Nikolai , Reiss Guido J. , Frank Walter , Finze Maik
Published: November 2015

Salts of the N,N′‐bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxamidate dianion (12–) were obtained by deprotonation of the oxamide {CF3SO2NHC(O)}2 (H21) with triethylamine, tri‐n‐octylamine, 1‐methylimidazole (MIM), and lithium hydride in yields of 61–92 %. The synthesis of H21 starting from oxalyl chloride and Na(NHSO2CF3) was improved. The salts Li21, [Et3NH]21, [nOct3NH]21, and [HMIM]21 were characterized by multinuclear NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and thermal and elemental analysis. The electrochemical stability of dianion 12– was studied by cyclic voltammetry on solutions of its lithium salt. The electrochemical properties are compared to those of H21. The conductivity of Li21 in DME was found to be lower than those of Li[BF4] and LiCF3SO3. The structures of 1∞[Li21·2THF], [Et3NH]21, [nOct3NH]21, and [HMIM]21 were studied by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In the solid state, dianion 12– acts as a chelating ligand toward Li+ and forms bifurcated hydrogen bonds with the N–H moieties of the organic cations. The discussion of selected spectroscopic and structural properties is aided by DFT calculations.
Facile Synthesis of Galactosamine‐Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles with Sensitive Cd2+ Sensing
Authors: Fu Shanshan , Zhang Xiuli , Ren Guojuan , Chai Fang , Wang Chungang
Published: November 2015

Cadmium is one of the most toxic and dangerous heavy‐metal elements to human health and environmental safety. Therefore, it is very useful to develop simple, rapid, and sensitive methods for the detection of Cd2+ ions in real samples. Here, we report the simple synthesis of galactosamine‐functionalized gold nanoparticles (Galn‐GNPs) at room temperature. The Galn‐GNPs can be used as a colorimetric probe for the detection of Cd2+ ions through localized surface plasmon resonance. A linear response to the concentration of Cd2+ ions was observed in the range 1 to 100 nM. The detection limit is as low as 3 nM, which is below the maximum recommended contamination level of the World Health Organization for cadmium in drinking water of 3 ppb (15 nM). The specific interactions of Cd2+ ions with Galn‐GNPs provided excellent selectivity for the detection of Cd2+ ions over 15 other metal ions (Pb2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Co2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Cr3+, Ba2+, Cr6+, Ag+, Fe3+, Al3+, and Hg2+). The selectivity of this system toward Cd2+ ions was remarkably fivefold higher than that for other metal ions. The aggregation‐based change in color from red to purple occurred in less than 20 s. This method is simple and fast and has also been successfully applied to the detection of Cd2+ ions in lake‐water samples.
A Simple Synthetic Approach to Al2O3–TiO2 and ZnO–TiO2 Mesoporous Hollow Composite Assemblies Consisting of Homogeneously Mixed Primary Particles at the Nano Level
Authors: Pradeep Ellawala K. C. , Ohtani Masataka , Kobiro Kazuya
Published: November 2015

A simple synthetic approach to Al2O3–TiO2 and ZnO–TiO2 mesoporous hollow composite assemblies consisting of homogeneously mixed primary particles at the nano scale was demonstrated. The composites, Al2O3–TiO2 and ZnO–TiO2, have a large specific surface area (250–600 m2 g–1) and were synthesized by high‐temperature and high‐pressure treatment of precursor solutions containing Al(OiPr)3 or Zn(OAc)2, Ti(OiPr)4, and phthalic acid in methanol. Aggregated, fused spherical, and individual spherical morphologies of the hollow assemblies with amorphous Al2O3 and anatase TiO2 were obtained, depending on the Al/Ti ratio of the precursor solutions. Hollow spherical composite assemblies with amorphous ZnO and anatase TiO2 phases were obtained by treating precursor solutions with lower Zn contents (5–25 %). A phase transition from anatase to rutile was not observed for the Al2O3–TiO2 composite assemblies (50 % Al) even at 1000 °C. The band gap energies of the ZnO–TiO2 hollow assemblies were tuned (3.12–3.21 eV) by changing their Zn content.
Fast‐Responsive Nitroso‐Based Turn‐On Probe for Hydrogen Sulfide
Authors: Renault Kévin , Sabot Cyrille , Renard Pierre‐Yves
Published: November 2015

Since the recent discovery that hydrogen sulfide plays a key role in many biological and physiological processes, the development of novel methods to efficiently detect this molecule has become an intensive field of research. In this context, fluorimetric strategies have become one of the methods of choice. However, very few different reducible chemical functionalities have been successfully used in the design of reduction‐based probes for the fluorescence detection of hydrogen sulfide. Reported herein is the first nitroso‐based fluorescence turn‐on probe that displays an almost instantaneous and strong fluorescence response towards hydrogen sulfide. A comparative study carried out with the hydroxylamino‐based probe analogue showed a significant difference in fluorescence response.
Highly Emissive Optically Active Conjugated Dimers Consisting of a Planar Chiral [2.2]Paracyclophane Showing Circularly Polarized Luminescence
Authors: Gon Masayuki , Morisaki Yasuhiro , Chujo Yoshiki
Published: November 2015

Optically active X‐shaped dimers based on the planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane have been synthesized. The dimers consist of stacked p‐arylene‐ethynylenes with phenyl, naphthyl, and anthryl groups as terminal units. The optical and chiroptical properties of the dimers and the corresponding model compounds were investigated. The naphthalene‐containing dimer exhibits an intense circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) signal with a high dissymmetry factor (glum) in the order of 10–3 in addition to a high ϵ and good photoluminescence quantum efficiency, which indicates that this compound is a highly emissive CPL material.
Comparative Study of Carbon Paste, Screen Printed, and PVC Potentiometric Sensors Based on Copper‐sulphamethazine Schiff Base Complex for Determination of Iodide – Experimental and Theoretical Approaches
Authors: Abdel‐Haleem F. M. , Shehab Ola R.
Published: November 2015

New poly vinyl chloride (PVC) membrane, carbon paste (CP), and screen printed (SP) electrodes are constructed for iodide sensing. They are based on copper (II)‐sulphamethazine Schiff base complex as suitable carrier. Mechanism was proved by FT‐IR and UV‐Vis spectroscopy. Computational study involving binding energies calculations at DFT/B3LYP level of theory confirmed the proposed mechanism and agreed the observed selectivity pattern. Responses are near‐Nernstian (−55.0, −51.0 mV/concentration decade) for PVC, and SP electrodes, and super‐Nernstian (−61.2 mV/concentration decade) for the CP electrode. Lower limit of detection (3.2×10−6 mol L−1) and improved selectivity over the highly interfering thiocyanate were obtained in comparison with the previously reported Schiff base complexes‐based iodide sensors.
Foodomics: A new tool to differentiate between organic and conventional foods
Authors: Vallverdú‐Queralt Anna , Lamuela‐Raventós Rosa Maria
Published: November 2015

The demand for organic food is increasing annually due to the growing consumer trend for more natural products that have simpler ingredient lists, involve less processing and are grown free of pesticides. However, there is still not enough nutritional evidence in favor of organic food consumption. Classical chemical analysis of macro‐ and micronutrients has demonstrated that organic crops are poorer in nitrogen, but clear evidence for other nutrients is lacking. Omics technologies forming part of the new discipline of foodomics have allowed the detection of possible nutritional differences between organic and conventional production, although many results remain controversial and contradictory. The main focus of this review is to provide an overview of the studies that use foodomics techniques as a tool to differentiate between organic and conventional production.
Optimization of Medium‐Deep Borehole Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Schulte Daniel Otto , Rühaak Wolfram , Oladyshkin Sergey , Welsch Bastian , Sass Ingo
Published: November 2015

Arrays of medium‐deep borehole heat exchangers are characterized by their slow thermal response and large storage capacity. They represent suitable thermal energy storage systems for seasonally fluctuating heat sources such as solar energy or district heating grids. However, the economic feasibility of these systems is compromised by high investment costs, especially by the expensive drilling of the boreholes. This study presents an approach for the simulation and optimization of borehole thermal energy storage systems. To exemplify the concept, a software tool is used to optimize the number and length of borehole heat exchangers with regard to a specific annual heat demand. The tool successfully determines the ideal size of the thermal energy storage. Furthermore, the prediction of the system’s performance also indicates that borehole thermal energy storage systems only operate efficiently in large‐scale applications. With the presented tool, many aspects of borehole thermal energy storage systems can be simulated and optimized.
Persistent organic pollutant levels and the importance of source proximity in Baltic and Svalbard breeding common eiders
Authors: Fenstad Anette A. , Jenssen Bjørn M. , Gabrielsen Kristin M. , Öst Markus , Jaatinen Kim , Bustnes Jan O. , Hanssen Sveinn A. , Moe Børge , Herzke Dorte , Krøkje Åse
Published: November 2015

The distance to sources and the long-range transport potential of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are important in understanding the impact of anthropogenic pollution on natural seabird populations. The present study documented blood concentrations of POPs in the Baltic Sea (Tvärminne, Finland) population of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in 2009 and in 2011 and compared the concentrations with the presumably less exposed Arctic population in Svalbard (Kongsfjorden, Norway). The Baltic population had 26, 10, and 5 times greater concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexane, polychlorinated biphenyls, and p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene than the Svalbard population. Unexpectedly, concentrations of chlordanes were higher in Svalbard eiders, whereas concentrations of hexachlorobenzenes (HCBs) did not differ between the 2 populations. Although the similar HCB levels may partly be explained by the high transport potential of HCBs, unknown factors may have been more important than distance to sources and long-range transport potential for the chlordanes. One plausible explanation may be that the fasting-related redistribution of POPs from fat to blood was greater throughout the incubation in Arctic eiders, causing them to have higher blood levels of these POPs at the end of incubation. The blood concentrations of POPs in Baltic eiders were higher than documented in any other eider population and were comparable to levels in seabirds feeding at higher trophic positions in the food chain. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1526–1533. © 2015 SETAC
Systematic and differential myelination of axon collaterals in the mammalian auditory brainstem
Authors: Seidl Armin H. , Rubel Edwin W
Published: November 2015

A brainstem circuit for encoding the spatial location of sounds involves neurons in the cochlear nucleus that project to medial superior olivary (MSO) neurons on both sides of the brain via a single bifurcating axon. Neurons in MSO act as coincidence detectors, responding optimally when signals from the two ears arrive within a few microseconds. To achieve this, transmission of signals along the contralateral collateral must be faster than transmission of the same signals along the ipsilateral collateral. We demonstrate that this is achieved by differential regulation of myelination and axon caliber along the ipsilateral and contralateral branches of single axons; ipsilateral axon branches have shorter internode lengths and smaller caliber than contralateral branches. The myelination difference is established prior to the onset of hearing. We conclude that this differential myelination and axon caliber requires local interactions between axon collaterals and surrounding oligodendrocytes on the two sides of the brainstem. GLIA 2016;64:487–494
Müller glia as an important source of cytokines and inflammatory factors present in the gliotic retina during proliferative vitreoretinopathy
Authors: Eastlake K. , Banerjee P. J. , Angbohang A. , Charteris D. G. , Khaw P. T. , Limb G. A.
Published: November 2015

Retinal gliosis is characterized by biochemical and physiological changes that often lead to Müller glia proliferation and hypertrophy and is a feature of many neuro‐degenerative and inflammatory diseases such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Although Müller glia are known to release inflammatory factors and cytokines, it is not clear whether cytokine production by these cells mirrors the pattern of factors present in the gliotic retina. Lysates from normal cadaveric retina and gliotic retinal specimens from patients undergoing retinectomy for treatment of PVR, the Müller cell line MIO‐M1 and four human Müller glial cell preparations isolated from normal retina were examined for their expression of cytokines and inflammatory factors using semi‐quantitative dot blot antibody arrays and quantitative arrays. Comparative analysis of the expression of inflammatory factors showed that in comparison with normal retina, gliotic retina exhibited greater than twofold increase in 24/102 factors examined by semiquantitative arrays, and a significant increase in 19 out of 27 factors assessed by quantitative methods (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). It was observed that with the exception of some chemotactic factors, the majority of cytokines and inflammatory factors were produced by Müller glia in vitro and included G‐CSF, MCP‐1, PDGF‐bb, RANTES, VEGF, and TGFβ2. These results showed that a large number of inflammatory factors expressed by Müller glia in vitro are upregulated in the gliotic retina, suggesting that targeting the production of inflammatory factors by Müller glia may constitute a valid approach to prevent neural damage during retinal gliosis and this merits further investigations. GLIA 2016;64:495–506
The prevalence of anxiety among older adults in nursing homes and other residential aged care facilities: a systematic review
Authors: Creighton Alexandra S. , Davison Tanya E. , Kissane David W.
Published: November 2015

Objectives

To synthesize and summarize the studies examining the prevalence rate of anxiety disorders and symptoms in older adults living in residential aged care.

Methods

Using the PRISMA guidelines, five electronic databases were searched using key terms and subject headings, as well as reference lists of relevant papers. The search was limited to literature published in English. Eligible studies examined the prevalence of anxiety disorders or symptoms in aged care residents aged 50+ years.

Results

A total of 2249 articles were identified, of which 18 studies (with a total of 5927 participants) were included in this review. The rate of overall anxiety disorders ranged from 3.2% to 20%, with the highest quality studies estimating a prevalence rate of 5% to 5.7%. Generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobias were found to be the most common anxiety disorders among aged care residents, while clinically significant anxiety symptoms were found to be more frequent (6.5% to 58.4%) than threshold disorders.

Conclusions

Anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms are common in older aged care residents. Given the paucity and overall quality of research examining anxiety within this population and the heterogeneity found in studies, further research is needed to help clarify this issue. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevalence and predictors of tobacco use in the elderly
Authors: Pang Shirlene , Subramaniam Mythily , Abdin Edimansyah , Lee Siau Pheng , Chua Boon Yiang , Shafie Saleha Binte , Vaingankar Janhavi , Picco Louisa , Zhang Yun‐Jue , Chong Siow Ann
Published: November 2015

Objective

Smoking is a well‐established public health issue, which has not been examined previously among the elderly in Singapore. This paper describes and identifies the current prevalence and predictors of tobacco use among the older resident population.

Methods

Data were derived from the Well‐being of the Singapore Elderly study, a cross‐sectional epidemiological study of the elderly in Singapore. Sociodemographic data from 2565 Singapore residents aged 60 years and above were collected through face‐to‐face interviews. Multinomial logistic regression analyses identified predictors of tobacco use.

Results

A total of 236 respondents were current tobacco users (9.5%). The majority of older tobacco users were men (88.1%). Significant predictors of tobacco use were gender, marital status, and education level. Younger age (60–74 years old) was associated with more tobacco use, and the completion of tertiary education with lower rates of use.

Conclusions

Smoking prevalence among the elderly was lower than that of the Singapore general adult population (16%). However, the rate is still high and is of concern given the likelihood of a higher rate of physical disorders, which could be worsened with tobacco use. The identification of those at risk enables them to be targeted for smoking cessation programs and other interventions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Looking up: Views from our fellows’ retreat
Authors: Solomon Mildred Z.
Published: November 2015

Together this August, Hastings Center fellows and staff scholars left their respective studies to look up. Over a three‐day period, we engaged with one another, renewing ties with beloved old friends and welcoming new ones. We asked what each other was passionate about. We asked how our field could be better. We shared works‐in‐progress and imagined how we might work together across institutions, across miles to accomplish things we couldn't do alone.
Neural Devices: New Ethics?
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E.
Published: November 2015

Good ethics start with good facts, as Tom Murray, past president of Hastings, often said when he was here, and that alone might be enough to declare that fields like genetic science and synthetic biology warrant their own subfields of ethics—“genethics” and “synthethics.” Perhaps getting clear on how genetic science might be used to improve human health requires such deep immersion in the genetic science that those studying the science's ethical implications are in effect in a subfield of ethics. A further issue is whether the ethical questions about the scientific facts in a nascent field are new.
CAHPS Surveys: Valid and Valuable Measures of Patient Experience
Authors: Lehrman William G. , Friedberg Mark W.
Published: November 2015

A commentary on “Patient‐Satisfaction Surveys on a Scale of 0 to 10: Improving Health Care, or Leading It Astray?,” byAlexandra Junewicz and Stuart J. Youngner in the May‐June 2015 issue..
Bioethics Casebook 2.0: Using Web‐Based Design and Tools to Promote Ethical Reflection and Practice in Health Care
Authors: Moses Jacob , Berlinger Nancy , Dunn Michael C. , Gusmano Michael K. , Chin Jacqueline J.
Published: November 2015

The idea of the Internet as Gutenberg 2.0—a true revolution in disseminating information—is now a routine part of how bioethics education works. The Internet has become indispensable as a channel for sharing teaching materials and connecting learners with a central platform (such as a professional society's website or a course page on a university's web portal) that houses materials to support an online or hybrid curriculum or a traditional course. A newer idea in bioethics education reflects developments in web‐based medical education more broadly and draws on design principles developed for the Internet. This approach to online bioethics education requires thinking about web‐based learning as an engaging, potentially immersive experience, about learners' expectations concerning web‐based learning, and about differences between self‐directed learning and teaching to support group learning.

In clinician education in bioethics, the interrelated goals of ethical reflection and practice for professionals and of continuous quality improvement in health care are supported by a focus on real‐world challenges and by encouraging the habits of self‐directed learning. In this paper, we describe how an international, interdisciplinary team used a web‐based framework to develop a health care ethics casebook whose content, design, and pedagogy were tailored to the needs and expectations of health care professionals and other audiences in Singapore; we also explain how they used this framework to make the casebook accessible nationwide and to support cross‐cultural learning.
Effect of Serpentine Grooves on Heat Transfer Characteristics of Microchannel Heat Sink with Different Nanofluids
Authors: Sivakumar A. , Alagumurthi N. , Senthilvelan T.
Published: November 2015

An experimental and numerical investigation of the thermal performance of three different nanofluids ethylene glycol‐based CuO, water‐based CuO, and Al2O3 is done in a serpentine‐shaped micorchannel heat sink. The microchannels considered ranged from 810 μm to 890 μm in hydraulic diameter and were made of copper material. The experiments were conducted with the Reynolds number ranging from approximately 100 to 1300. The forced convective heat transfer coefficient of nanofluids shows that there is an improved heat transfer rate compared to base fluids water and ethylene glycol. The experimental results also confirm that there is an earlier transition from laminar to turbulent flow in microchannels. The results prove that as the hydraulic diameter decreases there is increased pressure drop and the heat transfer coefficient increases for both the base fluids and nanofluids. The flow characteristics are discussed based on the pressure drop. While investigating the heat transfer coefficient of the three different nanofluids the nanofluid CuO/EG has the highest heat transfer coefficient as a result of the material's property. This research also will encourage young researchers to work on nanofluids of varying nanoparticle size and concentration to discover new results.
Pyk2 and Megakaryocytes Regulate Osteoblast Differentiation and Migration Via Distinct and Overlapping Mechanisms
Authors: Eleniste Pierre P. , Patel Vruti , Posritong Sumana , Zero Odette , Largura Heather , Cheng Ying‐Hua , Himes Evan R. , Hamilton Matthew , Ekwealor Jenna T. B. , Kacena Melissa A. , Bruzzaniti Angela
Published: November 2015

Osteoblast differentiation and migration are necessary for bone formation during bone remodeling. Mice lacking the proline‐rich tyrosine kinase Pyk2 (Pyk2‐KO) have increased bone mass, in part due to increased osteoblast proliferation. Megakaryocytes (MKs), the platelet‐producing cells, also promote osteoblast proliferation in vitro and bone‐formation in vivo via a pathway that involves Pyk2. In the current study, we examined the mechanism of action of Pyk2, and the role of MKs, on osteoblast differentiation and migration. We found that Pyk2‐KO osteoblasts express elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), type I collagen and osteocalcin mRNA levels as well as increased ALP activity, and mineralization, confirming that Pyk2 negatively regulates osteoblast function. Since Pyk2 Y402 phosphorylation is important for its catalytic activity and for its protein‐scaffolding functions, we expressed the phosphorylation‐mutant (Pyk2Y402F) and kinase‐mutant (Pyk2K457A) in Pyk2‐KO osteoblasts. Both Pyk2Y402F and Pyk2K457A reduced ALP activity, whereas only kinase‐inactive Pyk2K457A inhibited Pyk2‐KO osteoblast migration. Consistent with a role for Pyk2 on ALP activity, co‐culture of MKs with osteoblasts led to a decrease in the level of phosphorylated Pyk2 (pY402) as well as a decrease in ALP activity. Although, Pyk2‐KO osteoblasts exhibited increased migration compared to wild‐type osteoblasts, Pyk2 expression was not required necessary for the ability of MKs to stimulate osteoblast migration. Together, these data suggest that osteoblast differentiation and migration are inversely regulated by MKs via distinct Pyk2‐dependent and independent signaling pathways. Novel drugs that distinguish between the kinase‐dependent or protein‐scaffolding functions of Pyk2 may provide therapeutic specificity for the control of bone‐related diseases. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1396–1406, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Physiological Expression and Accumulation of the Products of Two Upstream Open Reading Frames mrtl and MycHex1 Along With p64 and p67 Myc From the Human c‐myc Locus
Authors: Ji Mi Hong , Kim Seung‐Ki , Kim Chae‐Yong , Phi Ji Hoon , Jun Hyun Jin , Blume Scott W. , Choi Hyoung Soo
Published: November 2015

In addition to the canonical c‐Myc p64 and p67 proteins, the human c‐myc locus encodes two distinct proteins, mrtl (myc‐related translation/localization regulatory factor) and MycHex1 (Myc Human Exon 1), from the upstream open reading frames within the 5′‐untranslated region of the c‐myc P0 mRNA. The aim of this study is to examine simultaneously, for the first time, mrtl, MycHex1, c‐Myc p64, and p67 in human tumor cell lines and pediatric brain tumor tissues. Western blot analysis demonstrated endogenous mrtl, MycHex1, c‐Myc p64, and p67 simultaneously. The relative abundance of mrtl and MycHex1 were consistent among a variety of human tumor cell lines, and the relative intensities of mrtl and MycHex1 correlated positively. Confocal imaging revealed mrtl predominantly localized to the nuclear envelope, along with prominent reticular pattern in the cytoplasm. MycHex1 was observed as a series of bright foci located within the nucleus, a subset of which colocalized with fibrillarin. mrtl and MycHex1 co‐immunoprecipitated with RACK1, c‐Myc, fibrillarin, coilin, and with each other. These findings suggest that mrtl and MycHex1 have multiple interaction partners in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Sequence analyses confirmed a known polymorphism of mrtl at base 1965 (G>T) and new mutations at bases 1900 (C>G) and 1798 (C>G). Evidence is presented for expression and stable accumulation of all four proteins encoded by three distinct non‐overlapping open reading frames within the human c‐myc locus. Additional work is warranted to further elucidate the functional or regulatory roles of these molecules in regulation of c‐Myc and in oncogenesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1407–1418, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Innovative Delivery Mechanisms: Australian Aid Partnership with Churches in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Clarke Matthew
Published: November 2015

The Australian Aid programme is currently valued at AUD5 billion. The majority of this aid flows to the Asia Pacific region with Papua New Guinea and Indonesia being the largest recipients. In addition to traditional delivery mechanisms—bilateral and multilateral—the Australian Government has piloted a small partnership activity with Churches in Papua New Guinea. This paper will consider this model and the benefit it brings. Possible extension of this partnership model to non‐Christian religious faiths in other countries, such as Islamic nationwide organisations in Indonesia, is also discussed. © 2015 UNU‐WIDER. Journal of International Development published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aid, Social Policy and Development
Authors: Addison Tony , Niño‐Zarazúa Miguel , Tarp Finn
Published: November 2015

This paper discusses past and current social policy strategies in the international aid architecture as an introduction to the UNU‐WIDER Special Issue. Beginning in the 1990s, aid strategy and policy shifted to put a stronger emphasis on human development. This accelerated with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and will continue under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have even more ambitious targets. The paper also assesses some of the concerns associated with the ‘Paris‐style’ aid modalities, and discusses major challenges for the future global development agenda. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2015 UNU‐WIDER. Journal of International Development published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Progressivity and Regressivity of aid to the Social Sectors
Authors: Baulch Bob , Le Tam Vi An
Published: November 2015

This paper analyses the distribution of aid to the social sectors between 2009 and 2011 using aid concentration curves. Its key findings are four‐fold. First, despite the stated objectives of donors, total aid disbursements are broadly neutral, favouring neither the most deprived nor relatively well‐off countries. Second, the pattern of social sector aid disbursements follows total aid. Third, the aid allocation patterns of bilateral and multilateral donors differ, with multilaterals donors generally being more focused on the poorest countries. Finally, the distribution of aid for health and population is more progressive than that for education or other social sectors. © 2015 UNU‐WIDER. Journal of International Development published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Symmetry analysis of the charged squashed Kaluza–Klein black hole metric
Authors: Bakhshandeh‐Chamazkoti Rohollah
Published: November 2015

In this research article, a complete analysis of symmetries and conservation laws for the charged squashed Kaluza–Klein black hole space‐time in a Riemannian space is discussed. First, a comprehensive group analysis of the underlying space‐time metric using Lie point symmetries is presented, and then the n‐dimensional optimal system of this space‐time metric, for n = 1,…,4, are computed. It is shown that there is no any n‐dimensional optimal system of Lie symmetry subalgebra associated to the system of geodesic for n≥5. Then the point symmetries of the one‐parameter Lie groups of transformations that leave invariant the action integral corresponding to the Lagrangian that means Noether symmetries are found, and then the conservation laws associated to the system of geodesic equations are calculated via Noether's theorem. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plane anisotropic rari‐constant materials
Authors: Vannucci Paolo , Desmorat Boris
Published: November 2015

We consider here the existence of rari‐constant anisotropic layers and show that actually there are two distinct classes of such materials, mutually exclusive. Also, we show that the correct condition for establishing that a material is of the rari‐constant type is that the number of independent linear tensor invariants of the elastic tensors must reduce to one. We characterize these materials and show that they can be designed by using some basic rules of homogenization. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boundary stabilization of a Bresse‐type system
Authors: Khemmoudj Ammar , Hamadouche Taklit
Published: November 2015

In this paper, we are concerned with asymptotic stability of a class of Bresse‐type system with three boundary dissipations. The beam has a rigid body attached to its free end. We show that exponential stabilization can be achieved by applying force and moment feedback boundary controls on the shear, longitudinal, and transverse displacement velocities at the point of contact between the mass and the beam. Our method is based on the operator semigroup technique, the multiplier technique, and the contradiction argument of the frequency domain method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Junction problem for elastic and rigid inclusions in elastic bodies
Authors: Faella Luisa , Khludnev Alexander
Published: November 2015

An equilibrium problem for an elastic body is considered. It is assumed that the body has a thin elastic inclusion and a thin rigid inclusion. We analyze a junction problem assuming that the inclusions have a joint point. Different equivalent problem formulations are discussed, and existence of solutions is proved. A set of junction conditions is found. We investigate a convergence to infinity and to zero of a rigidity parameter of the elastic inclusion. A delamination of the elastic inclusion is also investigated. In this case, inequality‐type boundary conditions are imposed at the crack faces to prevent a mutual penetration between crack faces. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An effective asymptotic method in the axisymmetric frictionless contact problem for an elastic layer of finite thickness
Authors: Argatov I. I.
Published: November 2015

A brief review of asymptotic methods to deal with frictionless unilateral contact problems for an elastic layer of finite thickness is presented. Under the assumption that the contact radius is small with respect to the layer thickness, an effective asymptotic method is suggested for solving the unilateral contact problem with a priori unknown contact radius. A specific feature of the method is that the construction of an asymptotic approximation is reduced to a linear algebraic system with respect to integral characteristics (polymoments) of the contact pressure. As an example, the sixth‐order asymptotic model has been written out. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dietary licorice root supplementation reduces diet‐induced weight gain, lipid deposition, and hepatic steatosis in ovariectomized mice without stimulating reproductive tissues and mammary gland
Authors: Madak‐Erdogan Zeynep , Gong Ping , Zhao Yiru Chen , Xu Liwen , Wrobel Kinga U. , Hartman James A. , Wang Michelle , Cam Anthony , Iwaniec Urszula T. , Turner Russell T. , Twaddle Nathan C. , Doerge Daniel R. , Khan Ikhlas A. , Katzenellenbogen John A. , Katzenellenbogen Benita S. , Helferich William G.
Published: November 2015

Scope

We studied the impact of dietary supplementation with licorice root components on diet‐induced obesity, fat accumulation, and hepatic steatosis in ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice as a menopause model.

Materials and methods

We evaluated the molecular and physiological effects of dietary licorice root administered to ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice as root powder (LRP), extracts (LRE), or isolated isoliquiritigenin (ILQ) on reproductive (uterus and mammary gland) and nonreproductive tissues important in regulating metabolism (liver, perigonadal, perirenal, mesenteric, and subcutaneous fat). Quantitative outcome measures including body weight, fat distribution (magnetic resonance imaging), food consumption, bone density and weight (Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry), and gene expression were assessed by the degree of restoration to the preovariectomized health state. We characterized histological (H&E and oil red O staining) and molecular properties (expression of certain disease markers) of these tissues, and correlated these with metabolic phenotype as well as blood levels of bioactives.

Conclusion

Although LRE and ILQ provided some benefit, LRP was the most effective in reducing body weight gain, overall fat deposition, liver steatosis, and expression of hepatic lipid synthesis genes following ovariectomy. Our data demonstrate that licorice root provided improvement of multiple metabolic parameters under conditions of low estrogen and high‐fat diets without stimulating reproductive tissues.
Discontinuous finite volume methods for the stationary Stokes–Darcy problem
Authors: Wang Gang , He Yinnian , Li Rui
Published: November 2015

In this paper, we analyze discontinuous finite volume methods for the stationary Stokes–Darcy problem that models coupled fluid flow and porous media flow. The discontinuous finite volume methods are combinations of finite volume method and discontinuous Galerkin method with three interior penalty types (incomplete symmetric, nonsymmetric, and symmetric), briefly, using discontinuous functions as trial functions in the finite volume method. Optimal error estimates in brokenH1norm are obtained for the three discontinuous finite volume methods. Optimal error estimates in the standardL2norm are derived for the symmetric interior penalty discontinuous finite volume method. Numerical experiments are presented to confirm the theoretical results with non‐matching meshes across the common interface of Stokes region and Darcy region. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient implementation of high‐order finite elements for Helmholtz problems
Authors: Bériot Hadrien , Prinn Albert , Gabard Gwénaël
Published: November 2015

Computational modeling remains key to the acoustic design of various applications, but it is constrained by the cost of solving large Helmholtz problems at high frequencies. This paper presents an efficient implementation of the high‐order finite element method (FEM) for tackling large‐scale engineering problems arising in acoustics. A key feature of the proposed method is the ability to select automatically the order of interpolation in each element so as to obtain a target accuracy while minimizing the cost. This is achieved using a simple local a priori error indicator. For simulations involving several frequencies, the use of hierarchical shape functions leads to an efficient strategy to accelerate the assembly of the finite element model. The intrinsic performance of the high‐order FEM for 3D Helmholtz problem is assessed, and an error indicator is devised to select the polynomial order in each element. A realistic 3D application is presented in detail to demonstrate the reduction in computational costs and the robustness of the a priori error indicator. For this test case, the proposed method accelerates the simulation by an order of magnitude and requires less than a quarter of the memory needed by the standard FEM. © 2016 The Authors. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Impact of coated calcium carbonate nanofillers and annealing treatments on the microstructure and gas barrier properties of poly(lactide) based nanocomposite films
Authors: Morel Floriane , Espuche Eliane , Bounor‐Legaré Véronique , Persynn Olivia , Lacroix Marc
Published: November 2015

Amorphous poly(lactide) (PLA) and nanocomposite films were prepared from melt‐blending with precipitated calcium carbonate nanofillers (PCC). Nanocomposites based on uncoated PCC (PCC‐UT), stearic acid coated PCC (PCC‐S), and poly(ε‐caprolactone) coated PCC (PCC‐P) were investigated for an inorganic content fixed to 8 wt %. Using coated nanofillers allowed preserving both PLA average molar mass and thermal stability while enhancing the nanofiller dispersion state. Poly(ε‐caprolactone) was identified as the best coating for optimized morphology and thermal properties. Maxwell law accurately described the increase in oxygen barrier properties observed for the nanocomposites based on PCC‐S. A modified Maxwell law was proposed to take account of the additional increase in barrier properties evidenced for the PLA/PCC‐P nanocomposites and assigned to the particularly strong compatibility between PCL and PLA. Different annealing conditions were investigated to respectively study the impact of physical ageing and PLA crystallization on gas permeability. Different extents of physical ageing did not significantly modify the oxygen transport properties. However, a high permeability decrease was observed for the semicrystalline nanocomposites with respect to the amorphous reference PLA film. Finally, the gain in barrier properties was shown to result from both contribution of the nanofillers and the crystalline phase. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 649–658
Cold Plasma Accelerates the Uptake of Gold Nanoparticles Into Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Cheng Xiaoqian , Rajjoub Kenan , Sherman Jonathan , Canady Jerome , Recek Nina , Yan Dayun , Bian Ka , Murad Ferid , Keidar Michael
Published: November 2015

The gold nanoparticles and cold plasma have been widely investigated separately in cancer therapy. In this paper, the two agents were combined in order to achieve a more profound understanding of their interactions in glioblastoma (U87) and normal human astrocytes (E6/E7). Gold nanoparticles were endocytosed at an accelerated rate in the U87 cell membrane due to the plasma treatment. This caused many divots across the cell membrane which made it more porous. On the contrary, in E6/E7 cells, there was no significant difference for penetration of gold nanoparticles or the cell membrane morphology. As proven in previous experiments the addition of the nanoparticles decrease cell viability, allowing the cold plasma to be more efficient. Present work demonstrated the synergistic effect of the two agents, which can be correlated in order to maximize the efficiency.
Evaluation of the bond strength of different adhesive agents to a resin‐modified calcium silicate material (TheraCal LC)
Authors: Karadas Muhammed , Cantekin Kenan , Gumus Husniye , Ateş Sabit Melih , Duymuş Zeynep Yesil
Published: November 2015

This study evaluated the bond strength of different adhesive agents to TheraCal LC and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and examined the morphologic changes of these materials with different surface treatments. A total of 120 specimens, 60 of MTA Angelus (AMTA), and 60 of TheraCal LC, were prepared and divided into six subgroups according to the adhesive agent used; these agents included Scotchbond Multipurpose, Clearfil SE Bond, Clearfil Protect Bond, Clearfil S3 Bond, OptiBond All‐in‐One, and G‐aenial Bond. After application of adhesive agents, Filtek Z250 composite resin was placed onto the specimens. Shear bond strengths were measured using a universal testing machine, followed by examination of the fractured surfaces. The surface changes of the specimens were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Data were compared by two‐way analysis of variance. Although no significant differences were found among the bond strengths of different adhesives to AMTA (p = 0.69), a significant difference was found in terms of bond strengths of different adhesives to the TheraCal LC surface (p < 0.001). The total‐etch adhesive system more strongly bonded to TheraCal LC compared to the bond with other adhesives. TheraCal LC bonded significantly more strongly than AMTA regardless of the adhesive agents tested. Resin‐modified calcium silicate showed higher bond strength than AMTA in terms of the composite bond to these materials with different bonding systems. On the other hand, the highest shear bond‐strength values were found for composite bonds with the combination of TheraCal LC and the total‐etch adhesive system. SCANNING 38:403–411, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparing estimation approaches for the illness–death model under left truncation and right censoring
Authors: Vakulenko‐Lagun Bella , Mandel Micha
Published: November 2015

Left‐truncated data arise when lifetimes are observed only if they are larger than independent truncation times. For example, in a cross‐sectional sampling, only individuals who live long enough to be present on the sampling day are observed. There are several ways to perform statistical inference under this setting. One can do the following: (i) use an unconditional approach, (ii) condition on the value of the truncation variable, or (iii) condition on all the history up to the time of truncation. The latter two approaches are equivalent when analyzing univariate survival outcomes but differ under the multi‐state framework. In this paper, we consider the illness–death model and compare between the three estimation approaches in a parametric regression framework. We show that approach (ii) is more efficient than the standard approach (iii), although it requires more computational effort. Approach (i) is the most efficient approach, but it requires knowledge on the distribution of the truncation variable and hence is less robust. The methods are compared using a theoretical example and simulations and are applied to intensive care units data collected in a cross‐sectional design, where the illness state corresponds to a bloodstream infection. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.