bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective silica‐based sorbent materials synthesized by molecular imprinting for adsorption of pharmaceuticals in aqueous matrices
Authors: Morais Everton C. , Correa Gabriel G. , Brambilla Rodrigo , dos Santos João Henrique Z. , Fisch Adriano G.
Published: January 2013

The presence of pharmaceuticals in aqueous environmental matrices often requires efficient and selective preconcentration procedures. Thus, silicas (SILs) were synthesized by a molecular imprinting technique using an acid‐catalyzed sol‐gel process and the following drugs as templates: fluoxetine, gentamicin, lidocaine, morphine, nifedipine, paracetamol, and tetracycline. The materials were subjected to sorbent extraction assisted by ultrasonic treatment to remove the drugs and the consequent formation of molecular imprinted cavities. The surface area of the resulting materials ranged from 290 to 960 m2/g. Adsorption tests were performed with the molecular imprinting phases. In terms of the potential selectivity, the SILs were subjected to the adsorption of drugs from samples such as potable and surface water. The adsorption capacity remained in the range between 55 and 65% for both matrices, while for the nonimprinted SIL it remained between 15 and 20%.
Synthesis and Properties of a High‐Temperature Naphthyl‐Based Phthalonitrile Polymer
Authors: Yu Xiao‐Yan , Naito Kimiyoshi , Kang Chao , Qu Xiong‐Wei , Zhang Qing‐Xin
Published: January 2013

A novel, high‐temperature, naphthyl‐based phthalonitrile polymer is prepared. The phthalonitrile monomer, namely, 2,7‐bis(3,4‐dicyanophenoxy) naphthalene (BDCN), is synthesized from the reaction of 2,7‐dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) with 4‐nitrophthalonitrile (NPN), and its curing behavior with 1,3‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy) benzene (APB) is investigated by DSC. The high‐temperature BDCN polymer is prepared via a two‐step approach: the preparation of the BDCN prepolymer and the post‐cure of the BDCN prepolymer at elevated temperatures. The BDCN polymer might form a polypyrrole structure as revealed by FTIR spectroscopy, and exhibits a high storage modulus, high glass‐transition temperature, and outstanding thermal stability, along with long‐term oxidative resistance.
The Impact of the Interaction of Utilitarian and Informational Reinforcement and Behavior Setting Scope on Consumer Response
Authors: Yani‐de‐Soriano Mirella , Foxall Gordon R. , Newman Andrew J.
Published: January 2013

The influence of the environment on the emotional responses and behaviors of consumers has been well established in the consumer behavior literature. The Behavioral Perspective Model (BPM) assumes that utilitarian reinforcement, informational reinforcement, and consumer behavior setting scope are independent dimensions of environmental influence, which can combine in particular consumption situations to produce consumer behavior. This paper empirically examines the possibility of interactions among these dimensions by means of the pleasure, arousal, and dominance (PAD) emotional variables. The PAD variables have been shown to mediate consumer behaviors such as the desire to stay or escape from the setting, to affiliate with others, and the willingness to spend money and consume. The results, showing an interaction between pleasure and arousal in high‐pleasure environments, which then leads to increased approach behavior, seem to confirm the synergistic effects of utilitarian reinforcement and informational reinforcement on behavior. This study appears to be the first to find and investigate a three‐way interaction between pleasure, arousal, and dominance in the context of purchase and consumption. This interaction suggests that the three structural dimensions of the BPM combine to produce consumer behavior. It also highlights the important role of consumer behavior setting scope in consumer situations maintained by intermediate patterns of reinforcement. The implications of these findings for theory and marketing management are discussed.
Computer‐Aided Optimization of Conditions for Fast and Controlled ICAR ATRP of n‐Butyl Acrylate
Authors: Toloza Porras Carolina , D'hooge Dagmar R. , Reyniers Marie‐Françoise , Marin Guy B.
Published: January 2013

The potential of initiators for continuous activator regeneration atom transfer radical polymerization (ICAR ATRP) for the synthesis of well‐defined poly(n‐butyl acrylate) is analyzed by means of simulations. The kinetic model accounts for reactivity differences between secondary and tertiary macrospecies and considers the possible influence of diffusional limitations. CuBr2 is used as transition metal salt and the commercially available N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as ligand. For targeted chain lengths (TCLs) up to 1000, the ICAR ATRP can be performed relatively quickly, and with ppm levels of ATRP catalyst. For moderate TCLs, slightly higher ppm levels are required if excellent control over chain length is also desired. In all cases, limited loss of end‐group functionality (EGF) results.

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UPLC‐QTOF/MS metabolic profiling unveils urinary changes in humans after a whole grain rye versus refined wheat bread intervention
Authors: Bondia‐Pons Isabel , Barri Thaer , Hanhineva Kati , Juntunen Katri , Dragsted Lars O. , Mykkänen Hannu , Poutanen Kaisa
Published: January 2013

Scope

Non‐targeted urine metabolite profiling has not been previously exploited in the field of whole grain (WG) products. WG products, particularly rye, are important elements in a healthy Nordic diet. The aim of this study was to identify novel urinary biomarkers of WG rye bread (RB) intake in a randomised crossover study with RB versus refined wheat bread (WB).

Methods and results

UPLC‐QTOF/MS metabolite profiling was applied to urine from a 2 × 4 wk crossover intervention with RB versus WB in 20 subjects. Sixteen metabolites were revealed as major contributing biomarkers. The most discriminative metabolite after the cereal intervention was identified as 3‐(3,5‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐1‐propanoic acid sulphate, which was excreted to a higher extent after the RB versus WB intervention. Other alkylresorcinol metabolites were identified, as well as enterolactone glucuronide, azelaic acid, 2‐aminophenol sulphate and its benzoxazinoid precursor 2,4‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3‐one. Our study also suggests that nitrogen‐containing metabolites are other major markers. However, other methodologies will be needed to elucidate their final structure.

Conclusion

The present non‐targeted metabolite profiling proved to be a useful approach to identify major urine metabolites discriminating RB intake from that of white wheat bread. Once validated these markers could help evaluate compliance to healthy Nordic diets.
Inorganic nanocrystals as contrast agents in MRI: synthesis, coating and introduction of multifunctionality
Authors: Cormode David P. , Sanchez‐Gaytan Brenda L. , Mieszawska Aneta J. , Fayad Zahi A. , Mulder Willem J. M.
Published: January 2013

Inorganic nanocrystals have myriad applications in medicine, including their use as drug or gene delivery complexes, therapeutic hyperthermia agents, in diagnostic systems and as contrast agents in a wide range of medical imaging techniques. In MRI, nanocrystals can produce contrast themselves, with iron oxides having been the most extensively explored, or can be given a coating that generates MR contrast, for example gold nanoparticles coated with gadolinium chelates. These MR‐active nanocrystals can be used for imaging of the vasculature, liver and other organs, as well as molecular imaging, cell tracking and theranostics. As a result of these exciting applications, the synthesis and rendering of these nanocrystals as water soluble and biocompatible are therefore highly desirable. We discuss aqueous phase and organic phase methods for the synthesis of inorganic nanocrystals, such as gold, iron oxides and quantum dots. The pros and cons of the various methods are highlighted. We explore various methods for making nanocrystals biocompatible, i.e. direct synthesis of nanocrystals coated with biocompatible coatings, ligand substitution, amphiphile coating and embedding in carrier matrices that can be made biocompatible. Various examples are highlighted and their applications explained. These examples signify that the synthesis of biocompatible nanocrystals with controlled properties has been achieved by numerous research groups and can be applied to a wide range of applications. Therefore, we expect to see reports of preclinical applications of ever more complex MRI‐active nanoparticles and their wider exploitation, as well as in novel clinical settings. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synergistic effect of hindered amine light stabilizers/ultraviolet absorbers on the polyvinyl chloride/powder nitrile rubber blends during photodegradation
Authors: Chai R.D. , Zhang J.
Published: January 2013

The photostability of hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) and ultraviolet absorber (UVA) on the blends of plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) and powder nitrile rubber (NBR) has been studied with a Xenon Test Chamber. The digital photos, color differences, attenuated total refection‐Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectra and mechanical properties of the blends have been determined. HALS combined with UVA effectively protects PVC/NBR blends from yellowing and restrains the decrease of elongation at break of the blends. The synergistic phenomenon is ascribed to the different photostable mechanisms of HALS and UVA at different photo aging stages. The color of PVC/NBR control sample quickly changes into yellow at the first 400 h of irradiation, due to the polyenes structures that induced by the double bonds of butadiene in NBR. From 400 to 800 h, crosslinking dominates and the amount of polyenes decreases, resulting into the decrease of color change. At the early stage of irradiation, chain‐scission of polymer takes the predominant place, and the tensile strength decreases. But during the latter stage, crosslinking takes the predominant place and the tensile strength increases slightly. HALS and UVA have a little effect on the maintaining of elongation at break of PVC/NBR blends. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
On thermal conductivity of micro‐ and nanocellular polymer foams
Authors: Sundarram Sriharsha S. , Li Wei
Published: January 2013

Many theoretical and empirical models exist to predict the effective thermal conductivity of polymer foams. However, most of the models only consider the effect of porosity, while the pore size effect is ignored. The objective of this study is to understand the effect of pore size on the thermal conductivity of polymer foams, especially when it reduces to the micro and nanometer scales. A wide range of pore sizes from 1 nm to 1 mm were studied in conjunction with the porosity effect using finite element analysis and molecular dynamics simulation methods. Experimental data was used to validate the modeling result. It is shown that the pore size has significant effect on thermal conductivity, even for microcellular and conventional foams. The contribution of heat conduction through air is negligible when pore size is reduced to the micrometer scale. The extremely low thermal conductivity of nanofoams is attributed to extensive diffusive scattering of heat carriers in the solid phase of polymer matrix, instead of air. This study provides quantitative understanding of the pore size effect on thermal conductivity of polymer foams. It is also shown that polyetherimide (PEI) nanofoams could have a thermal conductivity as low as 0.015 W/m‐K. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Tigecycline‐Related Pancreatitis: A Review of Spontaneous Adverse Event Reports
Authors: Okon Emmanuel , Engell Christian , van Manen Robbert , Brown Jack
Published: January 2013

Study Objective

To provide clinicians with an understanding of the comparative occurrence of tigecycline and pancreatitis, and to provide any clinically relevant characteristics that may be useful in identifying the patients at risk.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Data Source

Spontaneous reports in the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) database generated between January 1997 and December 2010.

Patients

Sixty‐two patients who experienced pancreatitis while receiving tigecycline therapy.

Measurements and Main Results

Disproportionality analysis with Bayesian correction methodology was used to compare tigecycline with all other agents listed in the AERS. Disproportionality analysis uses an adverse event relative reporting ratio (RRR) to compare the occurrence of a specific adverse event with an index drug of interest to the occurrence of the same adverse event with similar agents or with all other FDA‐approved prescription drugs. The value was considered meaningful if the 5th percentile of the distribution of the RRR (RRR05) was 2 or greater. Our review identified 62 potential cases of tigecyline‐related pancreatitis. An RRR05 score of 10.4, 10.38, and 2.87 was determined for tigecycline‐related pancreatitis compared with all other agents, systemic antibiotics, and select tetracyclines listed in the AERS, respectively. In addition, a sex‐based RRR05 score was higher in women versus men (14.432 vs 3.125) when tigecycline was compared with all agents in the AERS.

Conclusion

Our analysis suggests a quantitative signal between tigecycline use and pancreatitis; however, given the limitations of our study, a cause‐and‐effect relationship cannot be inferred. Thus, additional rigorous scientific analyses are warranted to explore these findings.
Ruxolitinib: A New Treatment Option for Myelofibrosis
Authors: Ganetsky Alex
Published: January 2013

Myelofibrosis is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by bone marrow fibrosis and extramedullary hematopoiesis. Evolution of myelofibrosis can lead to life‐threatening complications, including transformation to leukemia, thrombotic events, and hemorrhagic episodes. The only curative therapy for myelofibrosis is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Because this disease manifests primarily in the older population, many patients diagnosed with myelofibrosis are not considered medically fit for such aggressive therapy. Other available medical therapies do not halt disease progression; instead, current treatment strategies have focused on targeting specific symptomology, although with limited efficacy. The lack of effective treatment options for patients with myelofibrosis has rendered this orphan disease state an unmet medical need, and novel approaches to improve outcomes are necessary. Emerging research has identified numerous molecular mutations in patients with myelofibrosis, making this disease a potential candidate for molecularly targeted therapy. The most prevalent mutation identified is a gain‐of‐function mutation in the Janus kinase (JAK) family, JAK2 V617F, which has been identified in more than half of patients with myelofibrosis. This mutation results in a constitutively active JAK‐signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway resulting in dysregulated cellular proliferation and hematopoiesis. Ruxolitinib is a small‐molecule inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2 and recently became the first drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of symptomatic intermediate‐ or high‐risk myelofibrosis. In clinical trials, ruxolitinib demonstrated promising efficacy in reducing splenomegaly and myelofibrosis‐related symptoms. However, ruxolitinib did not demonstrate disease‐modifying potential and is not considered a curative therapeutic option. Adverse events associated with ruxolitinib are primarily hematologic, with thrombocytopenia and anemia being the most common toxicologic events identified. Future research will shed light on whether ruxolitinib in combination with other treatments will further enhance outcomes in myelofibrosis.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring: Recent Evidence and Clinical Pharmacy Applications
Authors: Ernst Michael E.
Published: January 2013

Conventional office blood pressure readings are a well‐established surrogate for the prediction of cardiovascular risk. It is assumed that these readings reflect an underlying average level of blood pressure exposure occurring in an individual over a period of time. But because blood pressure is not static, important additional prognostic information about the diurnal blood pressure profile, including within‐day and between‐day variability, is not easily ascertained from conventional measurements. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring provides a more thorough depiction of the underlying blood pressure level and predicts cardiovascular risk more robustly than do conventional blood pressure measurements. Although the technology has been available for more than 30 years, there has been an expansion of the research base in the past decade supporting its role in the evaluation and management of patients with hypertension and as an important surrogate in research trials. This review summarizes recent evidence supporting the predictive ability of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and briefly highlights opportunities for clinical pharmacists to adopt this important clinical and research tool.
Implementation of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Pathway with Daptomycin for Optimal Treatment of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
Authors: Kullar Ravina , Davis Susan L. , Kaye Keith S. , Levine Donald P. , Pogue Jason M. , Rybak Michael J.
Published: January 2013

Study Objective

To evaluate a clinical pathway using daptomycin in patients with bacteremia caused by methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates exhibiting vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) greater than 1 mg/L.

Design

Two‐phase quasi‐experimental study.

Setting

Level I trauma center in Detroit, Michigan.

Patients

The study population consisted of a total of 170 patients with MRSA bacteremia susceptible to vancomycin: 70 patients who had initial blood MRSA isolates exhibiting a vancomycin MIC > 1 mg/L and were treated with vancomycin were included in phase I (retrospective baseline period [2005–2007]) and 100 patients who were switched to daptomycin after initial vancomycin therapy according to the institutional MRSA bacteremia treatment pathway were included in phase II (the period after implementation of the treatment pathway [2008–2010]).

Intervention

The MRSA bacteremia treatment pathway was as follows: vancomycin therapy was initiated, optimizing target trough concentrations to 15–20 mg/L; for isolates demonstrating vancomycin MICs greater than 1 mg/L, therapy was switched to daptomycin, initiated at dosages of 6 mg/kg/day or higher.

Measurements and Main Results

Infection characteristics, patient outcomes, and costs were evaluated. Patient characteristics were similar between the phase I and phase II groups. Phase II patients were more likely to achieve clinical success than were phase I patients (75.0% vs 41.4%, p<0.001). Phase II patients demonstrated a shorter total hospital length of stay and shorter durations of inpatient therapy, fever, and bacteremia. Treatment during phase I was independently associated with failure. Nine patients during phase I experienced nephrotoxicity, and two patients during phase II experienced increases in creatine kinase level. Costs were similar between phases I and II ($18,385 vs $19,755, p>0.05), although the hospital readmission rate was higher in phase I (33% vs 21%, p=0.08).

Conclusion

Among the patients with bacteremia who had MRSA isolates that exhibited elevated vancomycin MICs, the switch to daptomycin improved clinical success without increasing treatment cost.
Effect of a cocatalyst modifier in the synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having reduced number of entanglements
Authors: Romano Dario , Andablo‐Reyes Efren Alberto , Ronca Sara , Rastogi Sanjay
Published: January 2013

The use of a hindered phenol to trap free trimethylaluminum (TMA) in methylaluminoxane (MAO) solutions has been reported to improve the performance of single‐site, homogeneous catalysts for olefin polymerization. In the present study, with the help of rheological analyses, we have investigated and compared the molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and entanglement density of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene synthesized with a single‐site catalyst activated by MAO and phenol‐modified MAO. While the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the obtained polymers remains the same for both activations, a higher yield and a higher entanglement density are found in the initial stages of polymerization on using phenol‐modified MAO as the cocatalyst. These results suggest that on using the phenol‐modified MAO as activator, a higher number of active sites are obtained. Surprisingly in the presence of untreated MAO, a tail in the higher molecular mass region is produced. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013
Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of a five‐membered cyclic carbonate having a glucopyranoside structure
Authors: Azechi Motohisa , Matsumoto Kozo , Endo Takeshi
Published: January 2013

Anionic ring‐opening polymerizations of methyl 4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2,3‐O‐carbonyl‐α‐D‐glucopyranoside (MBCG) were investigated using various anionic polymerization initiators. Polymerizations of the cyclic carbonate readily proceeded by using highly active initiators such as n‐butyllithium, lithium tert‐butoxide, sodium tert‐butoxide, potassium tert‐butoxide, and 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene, whereas it did not proceed by using N,N‐dimethyl‐4‐aminopyridine and pyridine as initiators. In a polymerization of MBCG (1.0 M), 99% of MBCG was converted within 30 s to give the corresponding polymer with number‐averaged molecular weight (Mn) of 16,000. However, the Mn of the polymer decreased to 7500 when the polymerization time was prolonged to 24 h. It is because a backbiting reaction might occur under the polymerization conditions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
Chemiresistor Sensors Based on Conducting Polymers for Hypergolic Propellants and Acidic Vapors of Rocket Exhaust Plumes – A Review
Authors: Selvakumar Subramanian , Somanathan Narayanasastri , Reddy Kami Audisesha
Published: January 2013

This review covers the main applications of conducting polymers in chemiresistor sensors for sensing hazardous hypergolic liquid propellant vapors and toxic exhaust plume acidic vapors of solid rocket motors at explosive (percent), toxic and threshold limit value concentration levels. The First part is focused on vapors of NO2 and mixed oxides of nitrogen (MON‐3). The Second part is focused on vapors of hydrazines such as hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine (MMH) and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH). Chemiresistor sensors for toxic HCl vapors of exhaust plume of rockets and missiles are reviewed in the third part. Salient features of the sensors such as conducting mechanisms during sensing, thickness of sensing layer, factors that influence conductivity, response time, recovery time, detectable range, and minimum detectable limit are discussed in this review. Advantages and disadvantages of conducting polymer coated fabrics as novel chemiresistor sensors over inorganic substrates are also discussed.
Intact Dirac cone of Bi2Te3 covered with a monolayer Fe
Authors: Scholz M. R. , Sánchez‐Barriga J. , Marchenko D. , Varykhalov A. , Volykhov A. , Yashina L. V. , Rader O.
Published: January 2013

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The topological surface state of Bi2Te3 leads to high photoemisson intensity from its Dirac point. This allows us to investigate the effect of larger amounts of deposited Fe than previously achieved for Bi2Se3. The Dirac point is shown to stay intact up to at least a monolayer showing the robustness of the topological state towards disordered magnetic moments. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Extending the firm vs. industry debate: Does industry life cycle stage matter?
Authors: Karniouchina Ekaterina V. , Carson Stephen J. , Short Jeremy C. , Ketchen David J.
Published: January 2013

A series of Strategic Management Journal studies have debated the extent to which business‐unit, corporate parent, and industry effects explain variance in firm performance. Despite evidence that the industry life cycle impacts competition and performance, the life cycle concept has yet to be incorporated into the firm vs. industry debate. Building on ideas from systems theory, we use longitudinal data from 1,957 firms in 49 industries to examine the relative importance of business‐unit, corporate parent, and industry effects during the growth, maturity, and decline stages of the industry life cycle. We find that corporate parent and industry effects increase as industries move through the life cycle while business‐unit effects decrease between maturity and decline. Thus, the life cycle concept should be incorporated within the firm vs. industry debate. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Exploring young students' collaborative argumentation within a socioscientific issue
Authors: Evagorou Maria , Osborne Jonathan
Published: January 2013

Argumentation has been the emphasis of many studies during the last decade. However, previous studies have not identified why some students are more successful than others, and what are students' characteristics of argumentation, especially when working collaboratively. The purpose of this study was to identify how young students construct arguments when working in pairs, and hence identify those characteristics of their interactions that might lead students to provide better written arguments in the science classroom. More specifically this study follows a case study design, examining two different pairs from a class of 12‐ to 13‐year‐old students that participated in a specially designed instructional approach within a socioscientific issue. The two pairs were videotaped for a duration of four, 50‐minute lessons and the transcripts were analyzed in order to identify characteristics of students' interactions during argumentation. The results indicated that one of the pairs constructed high level written arguments by the end of the instruction, and that the two pairs engaged in different types of discussion. The findings suggest that one of the pairs engaged more with the topic, and that a socioscientific context does not afford on its own engagement with argumentation. On the contrary, there is a need of ownership, and engagement that is not automatic and was only evident in one of the pairs. Therefore, an implication arising from this issue for research is an exploration of how students from different backgrounds, either social or cultural, understand and identify with the main socioscientific issues that are used as part of teaching science, in order to understand how to better design curriculum that will support engagement of all students with the topic. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 50:209–237, 2013
Neurodevelopmental outcome of full‐term small‐for‐gestational‐age infants with normal placental function
Authors: Savchev S. , Sanz‐Cortes M. , Cruz‐Martinez R. , Arranz A. , Botet F. , Gratacos E. , Figueras F.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To evaluate the 2‐year neurodevelopmental outcome of full‐term, small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) newborns with normal placental function, according to current criteria based on umbilical artery Doppler findings.

Methods

A cohort of consecutive full‐term, SGA newborns with normal prenatal umbilical artery Doppler was compared with a group of full‐term, appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age (AGA) infants sampled from our general neonatal population. Neurodevelopmental outcome was evaluated at 24 months' corrected age using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition (Bayley‐III), which evaluates cognitive, language, motor, social‐emotional and adaptive competencies. The effect of the study group on each domain was adjusted with MANCOVA and logistic regression for gestational age at delivery, socioeconomic status, gender, tobacco smoking and breastfeeding.

Results

A total of 223 infants (112 SGA and 111 AGA) were included. The groups differed significantly with respect to socioeconomic status and gestational age at delivery. All studied neurodevelopmental domains were poorer in the SGA group, reaching significance for the cognitive (92.9 vs 100.2, adjusted P = 0.027), language (94.7 vs 101, adjusted P = 0.025), motor (94.2 vs 100, adjusted P = 0.027) and adaptive (89.2 vs 96.5, adjusted P = 0.012) scores. Likewise, the SGA group had a higher risk of low scores in language (odds ratio (OR) = 2.63; adjusted P = 0.045) and adaptive (OR = 2.72; adjusted P = 0.009) domains.

Conclusions

Compared with normal‐sized babies, full‐term SGA infants, without placental insufficiency defined according to currently used criteria, have lower 2‐year neurodevelopmental scores. These data challenge the concept that SGA fetuses with normal umbilical artery Doppler are ‘constitutionally small’ but otherwise completely normal. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
The cavum septi pellucidi in euploid and aneuploid fetuses
Authors: Abele H. , Babiy‐Pachomow O. , Sonek J. , Hoopmann M. , Schaelike M. , Kagan K. O.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To examine whether the cavum septi pellucidi (CSP) is larger in second‐ and third‐trimester fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities than in euploid fetuses.

Methods

This was a retrospective study utilizing stored two‐dimensional images of second‐ and third‐trimester fetuses between 18 and 40 weeks' gestation from three centers in Germany. The width of the CSP was measured by placing the calipers on the inner portion of its lateral borders. Two operators, both of whom were blinded to the fetal karyotype and to the measurements obtained by the other, measured the CSP width. The normal range in euploid fetuses was computed based on the biparietal diameter (BPD) by applying univariate regression analysis. The CSP width in euploid and aneuploid fetuses was transformed into Z‐scores and compared using Student's t‐test. Univariate regression analysis was used to determine the dependency of Z‐score on head biometry.

Results

The study population consisted of 406 singleton pregnancies, 267 with euploid fetuses, 81 with trisomy 21, 50 with trisomy 18 and eight with trisomy 13. In the euploid group, the mean CSP width was 4.5 (range, 1.8–7.4) mm. Regression analysis showed a significant dependency of CSP width on BPD (CSP width = 0.658 + (0.064 × BPD), r = 0.781, P < 0.0001; both parameters in mm). The mean CSP width increased from 3.2 to 7.1 mm for BPD values of 40 to 100 mm, respectively. In the groups of fetuses with trisomy 21, 18 and 13, mean CSP width was 5.7 (range, 2.8–10.5), 7.9 (range, 3.5–12.8) and 5.8 (range, 4.0–9.0) mm, respectively. In 42.0% of the fetuses with trisomy 21, CSP width was above the 95th centile. In trisomy 18 and 13, CSP width was above the 95th centile in 92.0% and 37.5% of cases, respectively.

Conclusion

A large CSP width should prompt a detailed ultrasound examination to further assess the risk for chromosomal abnormalities. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Natural SUSY predicts: Higgs couplings
Authors: Blum Kfir , D’Agnolo Raffaele Tito , Fan JiJi
Published: January 2013

Abstract

We study Higgs production and decays in the context of natural SUSY, allowing for an extended Higgs sector to account for a 125 GeV lightest Higgs boson. Under broad assumptions, Higgs observables at the LHC depend on at most four free parameters with restricted numerical ranges. Two parameters suffice to describe MSSM particle loops. The MSSM loop contribution to the diphoton rate is constrained from above by direct stop and chargino searches and by electroweak precision tests. Naturalness, in particular in demanding that rare B decays remain consistent with experiment without fine-tuned cancellations, provides a lower (upper) bound to the stop contribution to the Higgs-gluon coupling (Higgs mass). Two parameters suffice to describe Higgs mixing, even in the presence of loop induced non-holomorphic Yukawa couplings. Generic classes of MSSM extensions, that address the fine-tuning problem, predict sizable modifications to the effective bottom Yukawa y

b
. Non-decoupling gauge extensions enhance y

b
, while a heavy SM singlet reduces y

b
. A factor of 4–6 enhancement in the diphoton rate at the LHC, compared to the SM prediction, can be accommodated. The ratio of the enhancements in the diphoton vs. the WW and ZZ channels cannot exceed 1.4. The h →
$ b\overline{b} $
rate in associated production cannot exceed the SM rate by more than 50%.
TG13 guidelines for diagnosis and severity grading of acute cholangitis (with videos)
Authors: Kiriyama Seiki , Takada Tadahiro , Strasberg Steven M. , Solomkin Joseph S. , Mayumi Toshihiko , Pitt Henry A. , Gouma Dirk J. , Garden O. James , Büchler Markus W. , Yokoe Masamichi , Kimura Yasutoshi , Tsuyuguchi Toshio , Itoi Takao , Yoshida Masahiro , Miura Fumihiko , Yamashita Yuichi , Okamoto Kohji , Gabata Toshifumi , Hata Jiro , Higuchi Ryota , Windsor John A. , Bornman Philippus C. , Fan Sheung‐Tat , Singh Harijt , de Santibanes Eduardo , Gomi Harumi , Kusachi Shinya , Murata Atsuhiko , Chen Xiao‐Ping , Jagannath Palepu , Lee Sung Gyu , Padbury Robert , Chen Miin‐Fu , Dervenis Christos , Chan Angus C.W. , Supe Avinash N. , Liau Kui‐Hin , Kim Myung‐Hwan , Kim Sun‐Whe
Published: January 2013

Since the publication of the Tokyo Guidelines for the management of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis (TG07), diagnostic criteria and severity assessment criteria for acute cholangitis have been presented and extensively used as the primary standard all over the world. However, it has been found that there are crucial limitations in these criteria. The diagnostic criteria of TG07 do not have enough sensitivity and specificity, and its severity assessment criteria are unsuitable for clinical use. A working team for the revision of TG07 was organized in June, 2010, and these criteria have been updated through clinical implementation and its assessment by means of multi‐center analysis. The diagnostic criteria of acute cholangitis have been revised as criteria to establish the diagnosis where cholestasis and inflammation demonstrated by clinical signs or blood test in addition to biliary manifestations demonstrated by imaging are present. The diagnostic criteria of the updated Tokyo Guidelines (TG13) have high sensitivity (87.6 %) and high specificity (77.7 %). TG13 has better diagnostic capacity than TG07. Severity assessment is classified as follows: Grade III: associated with organ failure; Grade II: early biliary drainage should be conducted; Grade1: others. As for the severity assessment criteria of TG07, separating Grade II and Grade I at the time of diagnosis was impossible, so they were unsuitable for clinical practice. Therefore, the severity assessment criteria of TG13 have been revised so as not to lose the timing of biliary drainage or treatment for etiology. Based on evidence, five predictive factors for poor prognosis in acute cholangitis—hyperbilirubinemia, high fever, leukocytosis, elderly patient and hypoalbuminemia—have been extracted. Grade II can be diagnosed if two of these five factors are present.
TG13 current terminology, etiology, and epidemiology of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis
Authors: Kimura Yasutoshi , Takada Tadahiro , Strasberg Steven M. , Pitt Henry A. , Gouma Dirk J. , Garden O. James , Büchler Markus W. , Windsor John A. , Mayumi Toshihiko , Yoshida Masahiro , Miura Fumihiko , Higuchi Ryota , Gabata Toshifumi , Hata Jiro , Gomi Harumi , Dervenis Christos , Lau Wan‐Yee , Belli Giulio , Kim Myung‐Hwan , Hilvano Serafin C. , Yamashita Yuichi
Published: January 2013

While referring to the evidence adopted in the Tokyo Guidelines 2007 (TG07) as well as subsequently obtained evidence, further discussion took place on terminology, etiology, and epidemiological data. In particular, new findings have accumulated on the occurrence of symptoms in patients with gallstones, frequency of severe cholecystitis and cholangitis, onset of cholecystitis and cholangitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and medications, mortality rate, and recurrence rate. The primary etiology of acute cholangitis/cholecystitis is the presence of stones. Next to stones, the most significant etiology of acute cholangitis is benign/malignant stenosis of the biliary tract. On the other hand, there is another type of acute cholecystitis, acute acalculous cholecystitis, in which stones are not involved as causative factors. Risk factors for acute acalculous cholecystitis include surgery, trauma, burn, and parenteral nutrition. After 2000, the mortality rate of acute cholangitis has been about 10 %, while that of acute cholecystitis has generally been less than 1 %. After the publication of TG07, diagnostic criteria and severity assessment criteria were standardized, and the distribution of cases according to severity and comparison of clinical data among target populations have become more subjective. The concept of healthcare‐associated infections is important in the current treatment of infection. The treatment of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis substantially differs from that of community‐acquired infections. Cholangitis and cholecystitis as healthcare‐associated infections are clearly described in the updated Tokyo Guidelines (TG13).
TG13 surgical management of acute cholecystitis
Authors: Yamashita Yuichi , Takada Tadahiro , Strasberg Steven M. , Pitt Henry A. , Gouma Dirk J. , Garden O. James , Büchler Markus W. , Gomi Harumi , Dervenis Christos , Windsor John A. , Kim Sun‐Whe , de Santibanes Eduardo , Padbury Robert , Chen Xiao‐Ping , Chan Angus C.W. , Fan Sheung‐Tat , Jagannath Palepu , Mayumi Toshihiko , Yoshida Masahiro , Miura Fumihiko , Tsuyuguchi Toshio , Itoi Takao , Supe Avinash N.
Published: January 2013

Background

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now accepted as a surgical procedure for acute cholecystitis when it is performed by an expert surgeon. There are several lines of strong evidence, such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta‐analyses, supporting the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients with acute cholecystitis. The updated Tokyo Guidelines 2013 (TG13) describe the surgical treatment for acute cholecystitis according to the grade of severity, the timing, and the procedure used for cholecystitis in a question‐and‐answer format using the evidence concerning surgical management of acute cholecystitis.

Methods and materials

Forty‐eight publications were selected for a careful examination of their full texts, and the types of surgical management of acute cholecystitis were investigated using this evidence. The items concerning the surgical management of acute cholecystitis were the optimal surgical treatment for acute cholecystitis according to the grade of severity, optimal timing for the cholecystectomy, surgical procedure used for cholecystectomy, optimal timing of the conversion of cholecystectomy from laparoscopic to open surgery, and the complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Results

There were eight RCTs and four meta‐analyses concerning the optimal timing of the cholecystectomy. Consequently, it was found that cholecystectomy is preferable early after admission. There were three RCTs and two meta‐analyses concerning the surgical procedure, which concluded that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is preferable to open procedures. Literature concerning the surgical treatment according to the grade of severity could not be quoted, because there have been no publications on this topic. Therefore, the treatment was determined based on the general opinions of professionals.

Conclusion

Surgical management of acute cholecystitis in the updated TG13 is fundamentally the same as in the Tokyo Guidelines 2007 (TG07), and the concept of a critical view of safety and the existence of extreme vasculobiliary injury are added in the text to call the surgeon's attention to the need to reduce the incidence of bile duct injury.
TG13 indications and techniques for gallbladder drainage in acute cholecystitis (with videos)
Authors: Tsuyuguchi Toshio , Itoi Takao , Takada Tadahiro , Strasberg Steven M. , Pitt Henry A. , Kim Myung‐Hwan , Supe Avinash N. , Mayumi Toshihiko , Yoshida Masahiro , Miura Fumihiko , Gomi Harumi , Kimura Yasutoshi , Higuchi Ryota , Okamoto Kohji , Yamashita Yuichi , Gabata Toshifumi , Hata Jiro , Kusachi Shinya
Published: January 2013

Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) is considered a safe alternative to early cholecystectomy, especially in surgically high‐risk patients with acute cholecystitis. Although randomized prospective controlled trials are lacking, data from most retrospective studies demonstrate that PTGBD is the most common gallbladder drainage method. There are several alternatives to PTGBD. Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration is a simple alternative drainage method with fewer complications; however, its clinical usefulness has been shown only by case‐series studies. Endoscopic naso‐gallbladder drainage and gallbladder stenting via a transpapillary endoscopic approach are also alternative methods in acute cholecystitis, but both of them have technical difficulties resulting in lower success rates than that of PTGBD. Recently, endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided transmural gallbladder drainage has been reported as a special technique for gallbladder drainage. However, it is not yet an established technique. Therefore, it should be performed in high‐volume institutes by skilled endoscopists. Further prospective evaluations of the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of these various approaches are needed. This article describes indications and techniques of drainage for acute cholecystitis.
TG13 antimicrobial therapy for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis
Authors: Gomi Harumi , Solomkin Joseph S. , Takada Tadahiro , Strasberg Steven M. , Pitt Henry A. , Yoshida Masahiro , Kusachi Shinya , Mayumi Toshihiko , Miura Fumihiko , Kiriyama Seiki , Yokoe Masamichi , Kimura Yasutoshi , Higuchi Ryota , Windsor John A. , Dervenis Christos , Liau Kui‐Hin , Kim Myung‐Hwan
Published: January 2013

Therapy with appropriate antimicrobial agents is an important component in the management of patients with acute cholangitis and/or acute cholecystitis. In the updated Tokyo Guidelines (TG13), we recommend antimicrobial agents that are suitable from a global perspective for management of these infections. These recommendations focus primarily on empirical therapy (presumptive therapy), provided before the infecting isolates are identified. Such therapy depends upon knowledge of both local microbial epidemiology and patient‐specific factors that affect selection of appropriate agents. These patient‐specific factors include prior contact with the health care system, and we separate community‐acquired versus healthcare‐associated infections because of the higher risk of resistance in the latter. Selection of agents for community‐acquired infections is also recommended on the basis of severity (grades I‐III).
Exercise medicine for prostate cancer
Authors: Newton Robert U. , Galvão Daniel A.
Published: January 2013

Since initial reports in the mid-1980s, there has been increasing interest in the application of exercise as medicine for the prevention and management of cancer. A large number of high-quality, randomised, controlled trials with cancer survivors have confirmed both aerobic and resistance exercise to be highly beneficial for improving body composition, quality of life, mental health functional capacity and reducing risk of cancer recurrence and development of other chronic diseases. Such benefits have ultimately been realised in reduced cancer mortality between 30 and 60 % in large cohort retrospective studies. Treatments for prostate cancer are increasingly effective with quite high 5- and 10-year survival rates; however, side effects of endocrine treatments in particular impact on quality of life and increased co-morbidities for the survivor. Testosterone deprivation while highly effective for controlling prostate cancer growth results in loss of muscle and bone, increased fat mass, increased incidence of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and sudden death. Exercise has been demonstrated to be a very effective medicine for counteracting all of these treatment toxicities as well as improving mental health and quality of life. Exercise has been demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated by cancer patients. Current recommendation is to complete at least 150 min of aerobic exercise and two or more sessions of resistance training per week. More specific exercise prescription is required to address particular treatment toxicities such as bone loss or obesity. This paper is a review of key research from our group into exercise medicine for prostate cancer.
Synergistic Effect of Mixed Surfactant Systems on Foam Behavior and Surface Tension
Authors: Bera Achinta , Ojha Keka , Mandal Ajay
Published: January 2013

Foam and surface tension behaviors of different ionic/nonionic surfactant solutions along with their different combinations have been investigated. Among different surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate showed the highest foamability over other surfactants. Mixed surfactant systems were always found to have higher foamability than the individual surfactant. It was also noticeable that nonionic surfactants show good foamability when they combine with anionic and cationic surfactants. In the case of mixed surfactant systems, nonionic/cationic surfactant mixtures showed lower surface tension than nonionic/anionic surfactant mixture due to a synergistic effect.
Comparative Study of the Micellar and Antimicrobial Activity of Gemini‐Conventional Surfactants in Pure and Mixed Micelles
Authors: Sheikh Mohmad S. , Khanam Ahmad J. , Matto Rayees‐ul H. , Kabir‐ud‐Din
Published: January 2013

We have carried out mixed micellization of pentanediyl‐α,ω‐bis(dimethyl cetylammonium bromide) (G5) with conventional cationic cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and nonionic polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether (C16E20) in aqueous media and explored their antimicrobial activity in single and binary systems against Escherichia coli (E.coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The compounds tested showed excellent antibacterial activity: 0.76–3.38 g/l minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and were more active against gram +ve bacteria. For surfactant mixtures G5‐C16E20 > G5‐CPC, the ionic‐nonionic binary surfactant showed greater antibacterial activity. The experimental results of this study may be profitably used to understand and predict the antibacterial activity of gemini‐conventional surfactant systems and provide valuable information for selection of surfactant for microbiocidal action.
Party system determinants of electoral reform in post-communist states
Authors: Bielasiak Jack , Hulsey John W.
Published: January 2013

The article examines how the structure of party systems, that is, effective number of political actors, electoral volatility, and shares of dominant party votes and seats, affect the initiation and direction of electoral reform in post-communist democracies. Based on a dataset of electoral rule changes in post-communist democracies from 1992 to 2008, we analyze the frequency and direction of reforms over time. The findings reveal that the frequency of reforms declines with successive electoral cycles but not to the degree suggested by theories of institutional inertia. Countries with high levels of voter volatility are more likely to engage in reforms; however, the findings in this article demonstrate that politicians react to volatility by inconsistently choosing between permissive and restrictive responses.