bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Time Trends of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Framingham Risk Score Between Patients With and Without Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Intervention Over the Last 17 Years: From the Mayo Clinic Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Registry
Authors: Lee Moo‐Sik , Flammer Andreas J. , Li Jing , Lennon Ryan J. , Delacroix Sinny , Kim Hyunsoo , Lerman Amir
Published: December 2015

Background

The objective of this study was to investigate cardiovascular disease risk factor (cvRF) profiles and compare their trends over 17 years in patients with and without acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Hypothesis

Time trends of cvRF are different between ACS and non‐ACS patients.

Methods

This study was a time‐trend analysis from 1994 to 2010 within the Mayo Clinic PCI registry. Outcome measures were incidence and prevalence of cvRF, including the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), at the time of admission for PCI.

Results

Age of non‐ACS patients was higher than that of ACS patients, and age distribution slightly shifted toward older age in both groups (P for trend <0.001). There was no difference in FRS between the 2 groups; however, 10‐year cardiovascular disease risk (%) remained higher in non‐ACS than in ACS patients, decreasing over time. Diastolic blood pressure and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher in non‐ACS patients, but total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher in ACS patients, with an improving trend over time. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and history of hypercholesterolemia were higher in non‐ACS patients, increasing over time. Smoking did not change over time. Use of most medications increased over time in both groups.

Conclusions

Most cvRFs and their time trends exhibited statistically significant differences between ACS and non‐ACS patients, except systolic blood pressure, body mass index, and history of myocardial infarction. A new risk‐factor profile assessment may be needed for stratification of PCI patients according to ACS and non‐ACS status. Clinical and public‐health interventions should consider different approaches to ACS and non‐ACS patients.
Aerobic Granular Sludge for Dye Biodegradation in a Sequencing Batch Reactor With Anaerobic/Aerobic Cycles
Authors: Sadri Moghaddam Shabnam , Alavi Moghaddam Mohammad Reza
Published: December 2015

This study investigated the formation of aerobic granular sludge with the main objective of Acid Red 18 (AR18) biodegradation in an altering anaerobic–aerobic sequencing batch reactor. According to the obtained results, the cultivated granules showed a stable structure in the treatment of synthetic wastewater containing 50 mg/L AR18, while no considerable variety in their characteristics and no granule break up were observed. As reported by many researchers, decolourization of AR18 is due to the anaerobic biodegradation of the azo bond; however, monitoring of the dye biodegradation through UV‐Vis spectroscopy showed that the contribution of the aerobic phase in dye removal was significant. This indicates the penetration of AR18 into the inner layers of granules and the ability of anaerobic microorganisms within the granules to degrade the dye through the consumption of tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) as a carbon and energy source. The aerobic granules were not able to decompose anaerobically formed AR18 intermediates under aerobic conditions. The increase of the initial dye concentration from 50 to 100 mg/L caused the production of excess loosely bound EPS, which led to instability of the granules and hampered the dye removal efficiency.
Epigenetics/Programming in theHPAAxis
Authors: Buschdorf Jan P. , Meaney Michael J.
Published: December 2015

The hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis provides physiological adaptations to various environmental stimuli in mammals. These stimuli including maternal care, diet, immune challenge, stress, and others have the potential to stably modify or program the functioning of the HPA axis when experienced early in life or at later critical stages of development. Epigenetic mechanisms mediate the biological embedding of environmental stimuli or conditions. These changes are influenced by the genotype and both, environment and genotype contribute to the development of a specific phenotype with regard to the stress response that might be more susceptible or resilient to the development of mental conditions. The effects of stress might be a result of cumulative stress or a mismatch between the environments experienced early in life versus the conditions much later. These effects including the associated epigenetic modifications are potentially reversible. © 2016 American Physiological Society.Compr Physiol6:87‐110, 2016.
Neural Control of Vascular Function in Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Shoemaker J. K. , Badrov M. B. , Al‐Khazraji B. K. , Jackson D. N.
Published: December 2015

The sympathetic nervous system represents a fundamental homeostatic system that exerts considerable control over blood pressure and the distribution of blood flow. This process has been referred to as neurovascular control. Overall, the concept of neurovascular control includes the following elements: efferent postganglionic sympathetic nerve activity, neurotransmitter release, and the end organ response. Each of these elements reflects multiple levels of control that, in turn, affect complex patterns of change in vascular contractile state. Primarily, this review discusses several of these control layers that combine to produce the integrative physiology of reflex vascular control observed in skeletal muscle. Beginning with three reflexes that provide somewhat dissimilar vascular patterns of response despite similar changes in efferent sympathetic nerve activity, namely, the baroreflex, chemoreflex, and muscle metaboreflex, the article discusses the anatomical and physiological bases of postganglionic sympathetic discharge patterns and recruitment, neurotransmitter release and management, and details of regional variations of receptor density and responses within the microvascular bed. Challenges are addressed regarding the fundamentals of measurement and how conclusions from one response or vascular segment should not be used as an indication of neurovascular control as a generalized physiological dogma. Whereas the bulk of the article focuses on the vasoconstrictor function of sympathetic neurovascular integration, attention is also given to the issues of sympathetic vasodilation as well as the impact of chronic changes in sympathetic activation and innervation on vascular health. © 2016 American Physiological Society.Compr Physiol6:303‐329, 2016.
Extracellular Ubiquitin: Role in Myocyte Apoptosis and Myocardial Remodeling
Authors: Scofield Stephanie L.C. , Amin Parthiv , Singh Mahipal , Singh Krishna
Published: December 2015

Ubiquitin (UB) is a highly conserved low molecular weight (8.5 kDa) protein. It consists of 76 amino acid residues and is found in all eukaryotic cells. The covalent linkage of UB to a variety of cellular proteins (ubiquitination) is one of the most common posttranslational modifications in eukaryotic cells. This modification generally regulates protein turnover and protects the cells from damaged or misfolded proteins. The polyubiquitination of proteins serves as a signal for degradation via the 26S proteasome pathway. UB is present in trace amounts in body fluids. Elevated levels of UB are described in the serum or plasma of patients under a variety of conditions. Extracellular UB is proposed to have pleiotropic roles including regulation of immune response, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. CXCR4 is identified as receptor for extracellular UB in hematopoietic cells. Heart failure represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in western society. Cardiac remodeling is a determinant of the clinical course of heart failure. The components involved in myocardial remodeling include—myocytes, fibroblasts, interstitium, and coronary vasculature. Increased sympathetic nerve activity in the form of norepinephrine is a common feature during heart failure. Acting via β‐adrenergic receptor (β‐AR), norepinephrine is shown to induce myocyte apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis. β‐AR stimulation increases extracellular levels of UB in myocytes, and UB inhibits β‐AR‐stimulated increases in myocyte apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis. This review summarizes intracellular and extracellular functions of UB with particular emphasis on the role of extracellular UB in cardiac myocyte apoptosis and myocardial remodeling. © 2016 American Physiological Society.Compr Physiol6:527‐560, 2016.
Glioblastoma‐mesenchymal stem cell communication modulates expression patterns of kinin receptors: Possible involvement of bradykinin in information flow
Authors: Pillat Micheli M. , Oliveira Mona N. , Motaln Helena , Breznik Barbara , Glaser Talita , Lah Tamara T. , Ulrich Henning
Published: December 2015

The most aggressive subtype of brain tumors is glioma WHO grade IV, the glioblastoma (GBM). The present work aims to elucidate the role of kinin receptors in interactions between GBM cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). The GBM cell line U87‐MG was stably transfected to express dsRed protein, single cell cloned, expanded, and cultured with MSC, both in the direct co‐cultures (DC) and indirect co‐cultures (IC) at equal cell number ratio for 72 h. Up‐ and down‐regulation of matrix metalloproteases (MMP)−9 expression in U87‐MG and MSC cells, respectively, in direct co‐culture points to possible MSC participation in tumor invasion. MMP9 expression is in line with significantly increased expression of kinin B1 (B1R) and B2 receptor (B2R) in U87‐MG cells and their decreased levels in MSC, as confirmed by quantitative assessment using flow cytometric analysis. Similarly, in indirect cultures (IC), lacking the contact between GBM and MSC cells, an increase of B1 and B2 receptor expression was again noted in U87‐MG cells, and no significant changes in kinin receptors in MSC was observed. Functionality of kinin‐B1 and B2 receptors was evidenced by stimulation of intracellular calcium fluxes by their respective agonists, des‐Arg9‐bradykinin (DBK) and bradykinin (BK). Moreover, BK showed a feedback control on kinin receptor expression in mono‐cultures, direct and indirect co‐cultures. The treatment with BK resulted in down‐regulation of B1 and B2 receptors in MSC, with simultaneous up‐regulation of these receptors in U87‐MG cells, suggesting that functions of BK in information flow between these cells is important for tumor progression and invasion. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
A novel and easy FxCycle™ violet based flow cytometric method for simultaneous assessment of DNA ploidy and six‐color immunophenotyping
Authors: Tembhare Prashant , Badrinath Yajamanam , Ghogale Sitaram , Patkar Nikhil , Dhole Nilesh , Dalavi Pooja , Kunder Nikesh , Kumar Ashok , Gujral Sumeet , Subramanian P.G.
Published: December 2015

Abnormal DNA ploidy is a valuable prognostic factor in many neoplasms, especially in hematological neoplasms like B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL) and multiple myeloma (MM). Current methods of flow‐cytometric (FC) DNA‐ploidy evaluation are either technically difficult or limited to three‐ to four‐color immunophenotyping and hence, challenging to evaluate DNA‐ploidy in minute tumor population with background rich of its normal counterpart cells and other hematopoietic cells. We standardized a novel sensitive and easy method of simultaneous evaluation of six‐ to seven‐color immunophenotyping and DNA‐ploidy using a dye–FxCycle Violet (FCV). Linearity, resolution, and coefficient of variation (CV) for FCV were studied using chicken erythrocyte nuclei. Ploidy results of FCV were compared with Propidium iodide (PI) in 20 samples and intra‐assay variation for FCV was studied. Using this six‐color immunophenotyping & FCV‐protocol DNA‐ploidy was determined in bone‐marrow samples from 124 B‐ALL & 50 MM patients. Dilution experiment was also conducted to determine the sensitivity in detection of aneuploidy in minute tumor population. FCV revealed high linearity and resolution in 450/50 channel. On comparison with PI, CV of Go/G1‐peak with FCV (mean‐CV 4.1%) was slightly higher than PI (mean‐CV 2.9%) but had complete agreement in ploidy results. Dilution experiment showed that aneuploidy could be accurately detected up to the limit of 0.01% tumor cells. Intra‐assay variation was very low with CV of 0.005%. In B‐ALL, hypodiploidy was noted in 4%, hyperdiploidy in 24%, near‐hyperdiploidy in 13% and remaining 59% were diploid. In MM, hypodiploidy was in 2%, hyperdiploidy in 58%, near‐hyperdiploidy in 8% and remaining 30% were diploid. FCV‐based DNA‐ploidy method is a sensitive and easy method for simultaneous evaluation of six‐color immunophenotyping and DNA analysis. It is useful in DNA‐ploidy evaluation of minute tumor population in cases like minimal residual disease and MM precursor conditions. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Iron deficiency (ID) at both birth and 9 months predicts right frontal EEG asymmetry in infancy
Authors: Armony‐Sivan Rinat , Zhu Bingquan , Clark Katy M. , Richards Blair , Ji Chai , Kaciroti Niko , Shao Jie , Lozoff Betsy
Published: December 2015

This study considered effects of timing and duration of iron deficiency (ID) on frontal EEG asymmetry in infancy. In healthy term Chinese infants, EEG was recorded at 9 months in three experimental conditions: baseline, peek‐a‐boo, and stranger approach. Eighty infants provided data for all conditions. Prenatal ID was defined as low cord ferritin or high ZPP/H. Postnatal ID was defined as ≥ two abnormal iron measures at 9 months. Study groups were pre‐ and postnatal ID, prenatal ID only, postnatal ID only, and not ID. GLM repeated measure analysis showed a main effect for iron group. The pre‐ and postnatal ID group had negative asymmetry scores, reflecting right frontal EEG asymmetry (mean ± SE: −.18 ± .07) versus prenatal ID only (.00 ± .04), postnatal ID only (.03 ± .04), and not ID (.02 ± .04). Thus, ID at both birth and 9 months was associated with right frontal EEG asymmetry, a neural correlate of behavioral withdrawal and negative emotions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 58: 462–470, 2016.
Enlist others to persuade students to register with DS
Authors: Hamblet Elizabeth C.
Published: December 2015

My previous article offered suggestions to help you encourage students to register with your office as soon as they enroll (see October 2015 issue). Think about who might help you in such an effort, and get creative.
Create a student advisory board
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: December 2015

Teresa L. Spoulos, Ed.D., advisor for TRiO Student Support Services in Student Disability Services at San Diego State University, created a student advisory board for her office in 2003. She explained how the board helps the office and the institution.
Disentangling the influences of mean body size and size structure on ecosystem functioning: an example of nutrient recycling by a non‐native crayfish
Authors: Fritschie Keith J. , Olden Julian D.
Published: December 2015

Body size is a fundamental functional trait that can be used to forecast individuals' responses to environmental change and their contribution to ecosystem functioning. However, information on the mean and variation of size distributions often confound one another when relating body size to aggregate functioning. Given that size‐based metrics are used as indicators of ecosystem status, it is important to identify the specific aspects of size distributions that mediate ecosystem functioning. Our goal was to simultaneously account for the mean, variance, and shape of size distributions when relating body size to aggregate ecosystem functioning. We take advantage of habitat‐specific differences in size distributions to estimate nutrient recycling by a non‐native crayfish using mean‐field and variance‐incorporating approaches. Crayfishes often substantially influence ecosystem functioning through their omnivorous role in aquatic food webs. As predicted from Jensen's inequality, considering only the mean body size of crayfish overestimated aggregate effects on ecosystem functioning. This bias declined with mean body size such that mean‐field and variance‐incorporating estimates of ecosystem functioning were similar for samples at mean body sizes >7.5 g. At low mean body size, mean‐field bias in ecosystem functioning mismatch predictions from Jensen's inequality, likely because of the increasing skewness of the size distribution. Our findings support the prediction that variance around the mean can alter the relationship between body size and ecosystem functioning, especially at low mean body size. However, methods to account for mean‐field bias performed poorly in samples with highly skewed distributions, indicating that changes in the shape of the distribution, in addition to the variance, may confound mean‐based estimates of ecosystem functioning. Given that many biological functions scale allometrically, explicitly defining and experimentally or statistically isolating the effects of the mean, variance, and shape of size distributions is necessary to begin generalizing relationships between animal body size and ecosystem functioning.
Exploiting Acid Phosphatases in the Synthesis of Phosphorylated Monoalcohols and Diols
Authors: Tasnádi Gábor , Lukesch Michael , Zechner Michaela , Jud Wolfgang , Hall Mélanie , Ditrich Klaus , Baldenius Kai , Hartog Aloysius F. , Wever Ron , Faber Kurt
Published: December 2015

A set of phosphatases was evaluated for their potential to catalyze the regio‐ and stereoselective phosphorylation of alcohols using a high‐energy inorganic phosphate donor, such as di‐, tri‐ and polyphosphate. Parameters such as type and amount of phosphate donor and pH of the reaction were investigated in order to minimize the thermodynamically favored hydrolysis of the phosphate donor and the formed phosphate ester. Diols were monophosphorylated with high selectivities. This biocatalytic phosphorylation method provides selectively activated and/or protected synthetic intermediates for further chemical and/or enzymatic transformations and is applicable to a large scale (6.86 g) in a flow setup with immobilized phosphatase.
Non‐Classically Controlled Signs in a Circularly Polarised Luminescent Molecular Puppet: The Importance of the Wire Structure Connecting Binaphthyl and Two Pyrenes
Authors: Nakabayashi Kazuki , Kitamura Sayaka , Suzuki Nozomu , Guo Sibo , Fujiki Michiya , Imai Yoshitane
Published: December 2015

The circularly polarised luminescence and circular dichroism signs of the blue circularly polarised luminescence generated by two photoexcited pyrenes as puppets are controlled by the wire structure of the C2‐symmetric binaphthyl as puppeteer. The experimental results, though at variance with theoretical simulation, offer a rational design in the photoexcited and ground state chiralities of luminophores.
General anesthetics have differential inhibitory effects on gap junction channels and hemichannels in astrocytes and neurons
Authors: Liu Xinhe , Gangoso Ester , Yi Chenju , Jeanson Tiffany , Kandelman Stanislas , Mantz Jean , Giaume Christian
Published: December 2015

Astrocytes represent a major non‐neuronal cell population actively involved in brain functions and pathologies. They express a large amount of gap junction proteins that allow communication between adjacent glial cells and the formation of glial networks. In addition, these membrane proteins can also operate as hemichannels, through which “gliotransmitters” are released, and thus contribute to neuroglial interaction. There are now reports demonstrating that alterations of astroglial gap junction communication and/or hemichannel activity impact neuronal and synaptic activity. Two decades ago we reported that several general anesthetics inhibited gap junctions in primary cultures of astrocytes (Mantz et al., (1993) Anesthesiology 78(5):892‐901). As there are increasing studies investigating neuroglial interactions in anesthetized mice, we here updated this previous study by employing acute cortical slices and by characterizing the effects of general anesthetics on both astroglial gap junctions and hemichannels. As hemichannel activity is not detected in cortical astrocytes under basal conditions, we treated acute slices with the endotoxin LPS or proinflammatory cytokines to induce hemichannel activity in astrocytes, which in turn activated neuronal hemichannels. We studied two extensively used anesthetics, propofol and ketamine, and the more recently developed dexmedetomidine. We report that these drugs have differential inhibitory effects on gap junctional communication and hemichannel activity in astrocytes when used in their respective, clinically relevant concentrations, and that dexmedetomidine appears to be the least effective on both channel functions. In addition, the three anesthetics have similar effects on neuronal hemichannels. Altogether, our observations may contribute to optimizing the selection of anesthetics for in vivo animal studies. GLIA 2016;64:524–536
Effect of postoperative use of diclofenac on pharyngocutaneous fistula development after primary total laryngopharyngectomy: Results of a single‐center retrospective study
Authors: Parzefall Thomas , Wolf Axel , Czeiger Shelly , Frei Klemens , Formanek Michael , Erovic Boban M.
Published: December 2015

Background

Primary total laryngopharyngectomy is the treatment of choice in many cases of locally advanced hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. Development of pharyngocutaneous fistulae is the most common postoperative complication. A recent Danish study showed significantly increased rates of anastomosal leakage after colorectal resection in patients receiving diclofenac treatment.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 67 patients after primary total laryngopharyngectomy to determine whether diclofenac increases the risk for development of pharyngocutaneous fistula analogously to leakage in the colorectal area.

Results

The fistula rate in the total study population (n = 67) was 19.4%. In the group receiving diclofenac postoperatively (n = 31), the fistula rate was 25.8%. In the patient group not receiving diclofenac (n = 36), the fistula rate was 13.9% (p = .219).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) selective nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be administered with caution after laryngopharyngectomy. Additional studies on larger cohorts are required to further evaluate our findings. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1515–E1520, 2016
Risk factors for locoregional relapse after transoral robotic surgery for human papillomavirus–related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Funk Ryan K. , Moore Eric J. , García Joaquín J. , Harmsen W. Scott , Stoddard David G. , Vencio Eneida F. , Foote Robert L. , Price Katharine A. , Ma Daniel J.
Published: December 2015

Background

Factors predicting locoregional relapse after surgery for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were identified in the pre‐human papillomavirus (HPV) era. We examined whether traditional indications for adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) still correlate with locoregional relapse in HPV‐positive patients after transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

Methods

Retrospective review of oropharyngeal SCC cases identified patients with HPV‐positive tumors who did not receive adjuvant therapy after TORS despite intermediate or high‐risk features.

Results

Median follow‐up was 26.7 months (range, 4.9–73.1 months). Five of 25 eligible patients (20%) relapsed at a median 4.8 months (range, 3.2–7.8 months). Two of 18 (11%) intermediate and 3 of 7 (43%) high‐risk patients relapsed. Kaplan–Meier 2‐year locoregional relapse‐free survival estimates for intermediate and high‐risk patients were 88% and 57% (p = .078), respectively.

Conclusion

Traditional indications for adjuvant RT or CRT were associated with high risk of locoregional relapse in HPV‐positive patients treated with TORS alone. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1674–E1679, 2016
Hyaluronic Acid Assays: Turbidimetric or Enzyme‐Based Immune Assay? A Method Comparison Study
Authors: Itenov Theis S. , Kirkby Nikolai S. , Bestle Morten H. , Nilsson Anna C. , Erlandsen Erland J. , Peters Lars , Jensen Jens‐Ulrik
Published: December 2015

Backgroud

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is proposed as a marker of functional liver capacity. The aim of the present study was to compare a new turbidimetric assay for measuring HA with the current standard method.

Methods

HA was measured by a particle‐enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a 40‐sample dilution series and 39 intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Agreement was assessed with Bland–Altman's method.

Results

In the ICU patients, the median HA concentration was 159.0 ng/ml (interquartile range (IQR) 117.5–362.5 ng/ml) with ELISA and 157.5 ng/ml (IQR 92.5–359.6 ng/ml) with PETIA. The mean difference was 12.88 ng/ml (95% CI, −4.3 to 30.1 ng/ml, P = 0.14) and the 95% limits of agreement were −91.17 to 116.9 ng/ml. In the dilution series, the mean difference was −59.26 ng/ml (95% CI, −74.68 to 43.84 ng/ml, P < 0.0001) and the 95% limits of agreement were 35.23 to −153.8 ng/ml.

Conclusion

We found random variation between the PETIA and ELISA test that could affect performance in a clinical context, but only to a lesser extent in a research context. The new clinical biochemistry assay for HA determination will allow for large studies of the clinical utility of HA.
Magnetic Nanoparticles PCR Enzyme‐Linked Gene Assay for Quantitative Detection of BCR/ABL Fusion Gene in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Authors: Manthawornsiri Yanaphat , Polpanich Duangporn , Yamkamon Vichanan , Thiramanas Raweewan , Hongeng Suradej , Rerkamnuaychoke Budsaba , Jootar Saengsuree , Tangboriboonrat Pramuan , Jangpatarapongsa Kulachart
Published: December 2015

Background

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used in medical diagnostic research. In this work, two technologies, MNPs and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were combined to increase detection sensitivity and specificity. A novel technique based on the MNPs‐PCR enzyme‐linked gene assay (MELGA) was developed for detection of the BCR/ABL abnormal gene in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients.

Methods

An MNPs‐labeled BCR forward primer and a biotin‐labeled ABL reverse primer were used to specifically amplify the target gene. After magnetic separation, the PCR product bound to MNPs labeled with streptavidin‐conjugated horseradish peroxidase was incubated with the peroxidase substrate and hydrogen peroxide to generate the colorimetric signal.

Results

When compared with real‐time quantitative‐PCR (RQ‐PCR), the MELGA technique exhibited an increased sensitivity of <1 fg with high specificity for the BCR/ABL fusion gene in CML patients. In addition, MELGA colorimetric results correlated well with the number of copies obtained from RQ‐PCR.

Conclusion

This simple and cost‐effective technique is suitable for monitoring CML patients during targeted therapy (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) especially in rural hospitals.
Unusual prenatal sonographic findings without an elevated maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein level in a fetus with epidermolysis bullosa
Authors: Jeong Ba‐Da , Won Hye‐Sung , Lee Mi‐Young , Shim Jae‐Yoon , Lee Pil‐Ryang , Kim Ahm
Published: December 2015

A 31‐year‐old pregnant woman was referred to us at 34.6 weeks' menstrual age for sonographic evaluation of a fetal left lower limb abnormality. Sonographic findings revealed shortening of the left tibia and dorsal hyperflexion of the left foot. There was no family history of genetic disease, and the maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein concentration was normal. A male infant was born with extensive skin peeling, mainly on his left leg, associated with muscular dystrophy. Epidermolysis bullosa was confirmed on a skin biopsy; the neonate died 53 days after birth as a result of severe sepsis. Although cutaneous epidermolysis bullosa is difficult to diagnose prenatally, shortening and deformity of extremities may provide a clue to the diagnosis, even when the maternal alpha‐fetoprotein concentration is normal. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:319–321, 2016
Leading Change and Innovation Through “Organizational Laundering”
Authors: Hughes Patrick J. , Harris Matthew D.
Published: December 2015

Change in organizations can be frequent, but change is not always necessary. In pursuit of innovation, and at times their own agenda, leaders who exhibit a pseudotransformational leadership style can have a catastrophic effect on the workplace. Promoting change under the guise of innovation benefits self and not the organization and sponsors a workplace in turmoil. These leaders practice organizational laundering, which is proposed as an introductory term resulting from employing a combination of destructive and pseudotransformational leadership styles in an attempt to be innovative and make organizational change.
Climate change and water resources in a tropical island system: propagation of uncertainty from statistically downscaled climate models to hydrologic models
Authors: Van Beusekom Ashley E. , Gould William A. , Terando Adam J. , Collazo Jaime A.
Published: December 2015

Many tropical islands have limited water resources with historically increasing demand, all potentially affected by a changing climate. The effects of climate change on island hydrology are difficult to model due to steep local precipitation gradients and sparse data. This work uses 10 statistically downscaled general circulation models (GCMs) under two greenhouse gas emission scenarios to evaluate the uncertainty propagated from GCMs in projecting the effects of climate change on water resources in a tropical island system. The assessment is conducted using a previously configured hydrologic model, the Precipitation Runoff Modelling System (PRMS) for Puerto Rico. Projected climate data and their modelled hydrologic variables versus historical measurements and their modelled hydrologic variables are found to have empirical distribution functions that are statistically different with less than 1 year of daily data aggregation. Thus, only annual averages of the projected hydrologic variables are employed as completely bias‐corrected model outputs. The magnitude of the projected total flow decreases in the four regions covering Puerto Rico, but with a large range of uncertainty depending on the makeup of the GCM ensemble. The multi‐model mean projected total flow decreases by 49–88% of historical amounts from the 1960s to the 2090s for the high emissions scenarios and by 39–79% for the low emissions scenarios. Subsurface flow contributions decreased the least and groundwater flow contributions decreased the most across the island. At locations critical to water supply for human use, projected streamflow is shown to decrease substantially below projected withdrawals by 2099.
Blind use of reanalysis data: apparent trends in Madden–Julian Oscillation activity driven by observational changes
Authors: Oliver Eric C. J.
Published: December 2015

Atmospheric and oceanic reanalyses are used widely by the climate science community. These products provide full three‐dimensional state fields and gapless time series, along with the confidence of being constrained by observational measurements, for atmospheric scientists and oceanographers to use in analyses of the climate system. However, as ubiquitous as reanalysis data are, it is not often considered how a scarcity of measurements in certain poorly observed regions, or over the course of a long period of time in which the observational system has changed significantly, impacts the realism of the data. This study explores this question using tropical surface pressures from the Twentieth Century Reanalysis to hindcast an index of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) over the 20th century. We show that by changing the choice of surface pressure predictor locations, and being aware of the observational measurements that have been assimilated by the reanalysis system, it is possible to control the estimated centennial‐scale trend in MJO activity from nearly zero to an increase of 30% over the 20th century. We emphasize that this is an apparent trend as it arises solely from the use of reanalyzed surface pressures from locations that have either been poorly observed or have experienced significant changes in the observing system over the 20th century. This highlights the need to be aware of the observational measurements (or lack of them), particularly their density in space and time, that have been assimilated by a reanalysis system.
An empirical‐analytical model of the vertical wind speed profile above and within an Amazon forest site
Authors: de Souza Cledenilson Mendonça , Dias‐Júnior Cléo Quaresma , Tóta Júlio , de Abreu Sá Leonardo Deane
Published: December 2015

The present study considers the mean wind velocity profiles measured from a 60 m high tower in the Rebio‐Jarú forest (10 ° 04.7 ′ S, 61 ° 52.0 ′ W), located in the Brazilian northwestern state of Rondônia. The data were collected during the wet season as part of an intensive campaign of the large scale biosphere–atmosphere experiment in Amazonia. Nine cup anemometers were vertically placed to provide a good estimate of the inflection point height of the mean wind velocity profile. The resulting data were used to formulate a mean vertical wind speed profile, ū(z), based on key parameters such as the inflection point height and the leaf area index. The modified hyperbolic tangent function was used to provide a more flexible fit to the experimental data. An exponential term was also added to the ū(z) function, so that it can assume the appropriate ‘s’ shape near the ground. Thus, some parameters were incorporated into the analytical profile function to enable more flexibility. The presented results demonstrate that the profile is a good fit to the experimental data measured above and within the Amazon forest canopy.
A recurrent F8 mutation (c.6046C>T) causing hemophilia A in 8% of northern Italian patients: evidence for a founder effect
Authors: Garagiola Isabella , Seregni Sabrina , Mortarino Mimosa , Mancuso Maria Elisa , Fasulo Maria Rosaria , Notarangelo Lucia Dora , Peyvandi Flora
Published: December 2015

Hemophilia A is a heterogeneous hemorrhagic disorder caused by a large number of mutations. Recurrent mutations are rare, except intron 22 and intron 1 inversions. The substitution of a cytosine to a thymine at nucleotide 6046 in F8 gene was identified in a group of Italian patients affected by hemophilia A from a specific region of Northern Italy with a prevalence of 7.6%. This F8 variant was the second most frequent mutation in our cohort, after the intron 22 inversion. The identification of the same mutation in a restricted population gets to suppose the existence of a founder effect. Intragenic and extragenic polymorphic markers were tested to assess this assumption. A peculiar haplotype in linkage disequilibrium with this recurrent mutation (c.6046C>T) was identified in 71% of patients, supporting a founder effect. This distinctive haplotype was not identified in a control group (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.0001), coming from the same geographic region. These data strongly suggested the presence of a founder effect, supporting the existence of a single mutation event. Using DMLE+2.3 software and the mathematical approach described by Bengtsson and Thomson, the inferred age of this mutation is supposed to be about 2325 years (95% CI: 904–5081) ago.
Persistence with mirabegron therapy for overactive bladder: A real life experience
Authors: Pindoria Nisha , Malde Sachin , Nowers Jennifer , Taylor Claire , Kelleher Cornelius , Sahai Arun
Published: December 2015

Aims

To evaluate persistence rates of patients receiving mirabegron therapy for overactive bladder (OAB) within our institution over a 6 month period, identify determinants of early discontinuation of therapy, and assess overall patient satisfaction with treatment.

Methods

Hospital prescription data were analyzed in order to identify all patients who had been prescribed mirabegron in our institution. Case notes were retrospectively reviewed to obtain demographic data, previous treatments for OAB, reasons for discontinuation of previous treatments, and duration of treatment with mirabegron. Overall satisfaction with treatment was assessed using the OAB Satisfaction with Treatment Questionnaire (OAB‐SAT‐q).

Results

One hundred and ninety‐seven patients were prescribed mirabegron. Of these, 81% previously discontinued anticholinergic therapy, 14% had previously received intravesical botulinum toxin A therapy, and 19% were prescribed mirabegron first‐line. At 3 months 69% persisted with treatment which fell to 48% by 6 months. The commonest reason for discontinuation was lack of efficacy, followed by adverse effects. Overall 32% of patients preferred mirabegron over previous treatments and only 39% were satisfied with mirabegron therapy.

Conclusion

Persistence rates with mirabegron in this group of patients for OAB are satisfactory. The commonest reasons for discontinuation are unmet treatment expectations and adverse effects. We had very few treatment‐naïve patients and so further studies are required to assess mirabegron persistence rates with longer‐term follow up, as first‐line treatment and in different groups of OAB severity. Neurourol. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:404–408, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contributions to the generalization of advancing front particle packing algorithms
Authors: Morales Irvin Pérez , de Farias Márcio Muniz , Valera Roberto Roselló , Morfa Carlos Recarey , Martínez Carvajal Hernán Eduardo
Published: December 2015

The generation of a set of particles with high initial volume fraction is a major problem in the context of discrete element simulations. Advancing front algorithms provide an effective means to generate dense packings when spherical particles are assumed. The objective of this paper is to extend an advancing front algorithm to a wider class of particles with generic size and shape. In order to get a dense packing, each new particle is placed in contact with other two (or three in 3D) particles of the advancing front. The contact problem is solved analytically using wrapping intersection technique. The results presented herein will be useful in the application of these algorithms to a wide variety of practical problems. Examples of geometric models for applications to biomechanics and cutting tools are presented. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Students Speak/Resources
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: December 2015

Students Speak

Undergrad study abroad leads to international graduate education

Resources

Updated federal tool provides new student loan data

Offer best practices for adult students juggling homework and kids
A novel hybrid linear–hyperbranched poly(butylene adipate) copolymer as an epoxy resin modifier with toughening effect
Authors: Shiravand Fatemeh , Ascione Laura , Persico Paola , Carfagna Cosimo , Brocks Thatiane , Cioffi Maria Odila Hilário , Puglisi Concetto , Samperi Filippo , Ambrogi Veronica
Published: December 2015

A study was carried out on the effect of a hybrid linear–hyperbranched poly(butylene adipate) copolymer on the properties of a commercial epoxy resin. First, the synthesis of the hyperbranched systems was optimized. These systems were obtained by reacting linear oligomers with 1,1,1‐tris(hydroxymethyl)propane used as branching agent and varying the reaction times from 16 to 44 h. The synthesized samples were characterized through matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Results showed that for reaction times of 30 h a highly branched system, namely 5HB30, was obtained. This system was chosen as toughening agent for a commercial high‐performance epoxy resin. A kinetics analysis of epoxy/5HB30 blends indicated that the hyperbranched system had no accelerator or catalytic effect on the crosslinking reaction in the resin. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that 5HB30 acted as an excellent toughening agent, increasing significantly impact resistance up to 90% with respect to neat epoxy resin. The toughness behaviours of epoxy‐based blends were explained by investigating the fracture surface after impact tests through scanning electron microscopy before and after solvent etching. It was observed that the globular‐like hyperbranch‐rich domains, dispersed throughout the continuous epoxy resin, were able to absorb the impact energy without affecting thermal stability. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Catchment‐Scale Permafrost Mapping using Spring Water Characteristics
Authors: Carturan L. , Zuecco G. , Seppi R. , Zanoner T. , Borga M. , Carton A. , Dalla Fontana G.
Published: December 2015

This study presents a method for mapping the spatial distribution of mountain permafrost based on the chemical‐physical characterisation of spring water in a 36 km2 high‐elevation catchment in the Eastern Italian Alps. Water temperature, electrical conductivity and isotopic composition (δ2H and δ18O) were measured in 45 springs during summer 2007, 2010 and 2012. Existing evidence of permafrost enabled the areas upslope of springs to be classified into two categories of permafrost occurrence (probable permafrost and no permafrost) and used to determine the most suitable tracer for permafrost mapping. Springs from probable permafrost areas have a specific water temperature signature. Spring water temperature was therefore used as a response variable in multiple linear regression, and mean elevation and mean clear sky radiation of spring upslope areas were used as predictors. The multiple regression models were statistically significant and used to map the potential spatial distribution of spring water temperature, which was reclassified into three permafrost categories (probable, possible and improbable). Cross‐validation and independent validation by ground surface temperature data provided evidence that the spring water temperature can be used alone for easy and low‐cost assessment of the catchment‐scale permafrost distribution in similar alpine catchments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors associated with quality of life in children with asthma living in Scotland
Authors: Taminskiene Vaida , Mukhopadhyay Somnath , Palmer Colin , Mehta Anil , Ayres Jon , Valiulis Arunas , Turner Steve W.
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Asthma affects children's quality of life (QoL) but factors associated with QoL are not well understood. Our hypothesis was that there are factors linked to QoL which are amenable to treatment or environmental modification.

Methods

QoL was ascertained in a study designed to link environmental exposures to asthma outcomes. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine which factors are associated with QoL.

Results

There were 553 children with asthma where QoL was determined, mean age 10.3 and 312 (58%) were boys. The median QoL score was 5.9 (interquartile range 4.6, 6.8). In the multivariate model, asthma severity (as evidenced by British Thoracic Society, BTS, treatment step), smoking exposure, socioeconomic status and rhinitis were associated with the QoL score. QoL score was reduced by (i) 30% [95% confidence interval 20, 39] for those on BTS step 4 compared to BTS step 1 treatment (ii) 11% [2, 19] for children with ≥ two resident smokers with reference to no resident smokers (iii) 3% [1, 5] for each quintile difference in deprivation compared to the most affluent and (iv) 9% [4, 14] for children with rhinitis compared to no rhinitis.

Conclusions

The QoL for children with asthma in the UK is generally good. Clinicians caring children with asthma should consider routinely asking about smoke exposure and hayfever symptoms in addition to assessing asthma control. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:484–490. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Research on Perfusion Explosives from SF‐3 Double‐Base Propellants Using Supercritical CO2
Authors: Wei Xiao'an , Zhang Di , Chen Feiyun , Wang Zeshan
Published: December 2015

Perfusion explosives were prepared using porous SF‐3 propellants, which were synthesized by a supercritical fluid foaming process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the porous SF‐3 propellants. Massive holes were generated after the foaming process. The density of perfusion explosives using foamed SF‐3 propellants exceeds 1.3 g cm−3, and the detonation velocities exceed 6000 m s−1. Underwater energy tests and high‐speed photography were carried out to investigate the detonation performance of perfusion explosives. The results showed that perfusion explosives using unfoamed SF‐3 propellants could not be detonated. However, perfusion explosives using their foamed analogs could be detonated herein.
SafeType: detecting type violations for type‐basedalias analysis of C
Authors: Ireland Iain , Amaral José Nelson , Silvera Raúl , Cui Shimin
Published: December 2015

To improve the ability of compilers to determine alias relations in a program, the C standard restricts the types of expressions that may access objects in memory. In practice, however, many existing C programs do not conform to these restrictions, making type‐based alias analysis unsound for those programs. As a result, type‐based alias analysis is frequently disabled. Existing approaches for verifying type safety exist within larger frameworks designed to verify overall memory safety, requiring both static analysis and runtime checks. This paper describes the motivation for analyzing the safety of type‐based alias analysis independently; presents SafeType, a purely static approach to detection of violations of the C standard's restrictions on memory accesses; describes an implementation of SafeType in the IBM XL C compiler, with flow‐sensitive and context‐sensitive queries to handle variables with type void *; evaluates that implementation, showing that it scales to programs with hundreds of thousands of lines of code; and uses SafeType to identify a previously unreported violation in the 470.lbm benchmark in SPEC CPU2006. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unexpected Silaazetidine Formation in the Thermolysis of thf‐Supported Silanimine Et2Si=N–SitBu3·thf
Authors: Schödel Frauke , Sänger Inge , Bolte Michael , Lerner Hans‐Wolfram
Published: December 2015

The silyl amide Et2SiCl‐NLi‐SitBu3 can be cleanly prepared from precursor silylamine Et2SiCl‐NH‐SitBu3 and Li[nBu]. The CF3SO3SiMe3 induced LiCl elimination of Et2SiCl‐NLi‐SitBu3 in thf afforded a 2‐silaazetidine derivative by [2+2] cycloaddition of Et2Si=N–SitBu3 with Et2Si(OCH=CH2)–NH–SitBu3. X‐ray quality crystals of this 2‐silaazetidine derivative (triclinic, space group P$\bar{1}$) were grown from benzene at room temperature. The starting material for this approach, Et2SiCl–NH–SitBu3, is water‐sensitive. Hydrolysis of Et2SiCl‐NH‐SitBu3 gave [tBu3SiNH3]Cl along with (Et2SiO)n oligomers. The hydro chloride [tBu3SiNH3]Cl could be isolated and was characterized by X‐ray crystallography (trigonal, space group P$\bar{3}$).