bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MAPK Kinase 3 Potentiates Chlamydia HSP60-Induced Inflammatory Response through Distinct Activation of NF-κB
Authors: Kang Yanhua , Wang Fang , Lu Zhe , Ying Hangjie , Zhang Hang , Ding Wen , Wang Cuili , Shi Liyun
Published: June 2013

Chlamydia pneumonia (C. pneumonia) remains one of the leading causes of bacterial pneumonia and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of some inflammation-related diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and vascular diseases. Heat shock protein 60 is one of the pathogenic components of C. pneumonia that is closely associated with the inflammatory disorders. However, the molecular basis for the immunopathologic property of chlamydial heat shock protein (cHSP60) has not been elucidated. In this article, we report that MAPK kinase 3 (MKK3) is essential for cHSP60-induced lung inflammation, because MKK3-knockout mice displayed significantly reduced lung neutrophil accumulation and decreased production of proinflammatory mediators, correlating with the alleviated inflammatory response in lung tissues. Mechanistically, p38 kinase was selectively activated by MKK3 in response to cHSP60 and activated NF-κB by stimulating the nuclear kinase, mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1. The specific knockdown of mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 in macrophages resulted in a defective phosphorylation of NF-κB/RelA at Ser276 but had no apparent effect on RelA translocation. Furthermore, TGF-β–activated kinase 1 was found to relay the signal to MKK3 from TLR4, the major receptor that sensed cHSP60 in the initiation of the inflammatory response. Thus, we establish a critical role for MKK3 signaling in cHSP60 pathology and suggest a novel mechanism underlying C. pneumonia–associated inflammatory disorders.
Influence of Sigma Phase Formation on Pitting Corrosion of an Aged UNS S31803 Duplex Stainless Steel
Authors: Santos Daniella Caluscio dos , Magnabosco Rodrigo , de Moura-Neto Carlos
Published: June 2013

The main purpose of this contribution was the study of the relation between sigma formation and pitting corrosion resistance of a UNS S31803 duplex stainless steel aged at 850°C. Solution-treated samples were isothermally aged at 850°C for up to 360 h. The corrosion resistance of aged UNS S31803 steel was analyzed through cyclic potentiodynamic polarization tests in 0.6 M sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. The main mechanism of sigma phase formation was nucleation and growth from ferrite, in agreement to the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov kinetics model. This model suggests a change on the mechanisms of sigma phase formation from nucleation and growth from ferrite to the growth from austenite. Pitting morphology was related to the material microstructure. The pitting growth mechanism occurred by selective corrosion of the chromium-depleted areas of the specimens. Both pitting and repassivation potentials decreased with an increase of sigma volume fraction. Recovery of the corrosion resistance was observed in the early stages of sigma formation, probably related to chromium redistribution to depleted areas.
Corrosion-Induced Cracking of Concrete Elements Exposed to a Natural Marine Environment for Five Years
Authors: Torres-Acosta A.A. , Castro-Borges P.
Published: June 2013

The mechanism of corrosion-induced concrete cover cracking has received greater attention in recent years. Most studies involve accelerated electrochemical techniques to measure the corrosion required to induce concrete cracking. Concrete cylinders with different water/cement ratios exposed to a natural tropical marine environment were used to measure corrosion parameters such as time-to-corrosion initiation, apparent corrosion rate, cracking initiation, rebar radius loss to begin concrete cover cracking, and rebar pitting corrosion depth. Experimental results indicated a correlation between apparent corrosion rate values vs. rebar radius loss to begin concrete cover cracking, and average radius loss due to corrosion vs. maximum pit depth, during the remaining life period. The water/cement ratio is the most important parameter affecting crack generation and propagation, and apparent corrosion rate estimates.
Effects of Si Additions on the Glass-Forming Ability and Corrosion Resistance of Cu49Zr45Al6 Bulk Metallic Glass
Authors: Su E.L. , Wu X.Q. , Zhang D.C. , Li Y. , Lin J.G.
Published: June 2013

Alloys with the compositions of Cu49-xZr45Al6Six (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3, in atom percent) were prepared by sucking the melt into a water-cooled copper. The effects of Si additions on the glass-forming ability (GFA) and corrosion behaviors in 1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl), 3.5 mass% sodium chloride (NaCl), and 0.5 N sulfuric acid (H2SO4) solutions were studied. It was found that, by adding 0.5% to 1% Si to substitute Cu in the Cu49Zr45Al6 alloy, the GFA was promoted, but extensive Si addition (>1%) decreased the GFA of the Cu49Zr45Al6 alloy. The results of weight-loss measurements, electrochemical polarization tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests on the Cu-based bulk metallic glasses (BMG) with different Si additions revealed that the Si addition improves the corrosion resistance in 1 N HCl, 3.5 mass% NaCl, and 0.5 N H2SO4 solutions, especially in 1 N HCl. The improvement of the corrosion resistance may be attributed to the formation of a silica-containing inner layer.
Chloride Resistance of 9% Cr Steel in a Simulated Pore Solution
Authors: Scott A.N. , Thomas M.D.A.
Published: June 2013

The resistance to chloride-induced corrosion of a 9% chromium-ribbed reinforcing steel is compared to plain carbon steel-ribbed and round bar. The results from this investigation show the considerable variability in chloride threshold concentration and corrosion rate of the three steel types exposed to simulated pore solution. Incremental chloride additions were made over a period of 46 weeks after allowing 24 weeks for passivation of the exposed steel.
Effect of Calcium on the Formation and Protectiveness of Iron Carbonate Layer in CO2 Corrosion
Authors: Navabzadeh Esmaeely Saba , Choi Yoon-Seok , Young David , Nešić Srdjan
Published: June 2013

The effect of calcium (Ca2+) on the carbon dioxide (CO2) corrosion of mild steel was investigated in simulated saline aquifer environments (1 wt% sodium chloride [NaCl], 80°C, pH 6.6) with different concentrations of Ca2+ (10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 ppm). Electrochemical methods (open-circuit potential [OCP]) and linear polarization resistance [LPR] measurements) were used to evaluate the corrosion behavior. Surface analysis techniques (scanning electron microscopy [SEM], energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy [EDS], and x-ray diffraction [XRD]) were used to characterize the morphology and identity the corrosion products. The results showed that with low concentrations of Ca2+ (10 ppm and 100 ppm), the corrosion rate decreased with time as a result of the formation of protective iron carbonate (FeCO3) and/or mixed carbonate (FexCayCO3) (x + y = 1). However, the presence of high concentrations of Ca2+ (1,000 ppm and 10,000 ppm) resulted in the change of corrosion product from protective FeCO3 to non-protective calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and an increasing corrosion rate with time. Results of surface analysis revealed a different steel surface morphology with pitting observed in the presence of 10,000 ppm Ca2+.
Influence of Mg Content on the Sensitization and Corrosion of Al-xMg(-Mn) Alloys
Authors: Gupta R.K. , Zhang R. , Davies C.H.J. , Birbilis N.
Published: June 2013

The influence of Mg content on the degree of sensitization (DoS) of Al-xMg-0.5Mn (wt%) alloys (where x varies from 3.36 wt% to 8.85 wt%) was investigated via the nitric acid mass loss test (NAMLT). NAMLT upon sensitized specimens revealed that mass loss was negligible below ~4.01 wt% Mg, while for Mg content ≥4.01 wt%, mass loss increased monotonically. The calculated equilibrium β-phase fractions were contrast with the DoS values. Additionally, the influence of the Mg content on corrosion was investigated via potentiodynamic polarization testing, in conjunction with microhardness measurements. We found that Mg additions lead to an increase in hardness without causing any significant impact on electrochemically determined corrosion current density; however, Mg content has a major impact on intergranular corrosion as determined from NAMLT.
Low vertical transfer rates of carbon inferred from radiocarbon analysis in an Amazon Podzol
Authors: Sierra C. A. , Jiménez E. M. , Reu B. , Peñuela M. C. , Thuille A. , Quesada C. A.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. Hydromorphic Podzol soils in the Amazon Basin generally support low-stature forests with some of the lowest amounts of aboveground net primary production (NPP) in the region. However, they can also exhibit large values of belowground NPP that can contribute significantly to the total annual inputs of organic matter into the soil. These hydromorphic Podzol soils also exhibit a horizon rich in organic matter at around 1–2 m depth, presumably as a result of eluviation of dissolved organic matter and sesquioxides of Fe and Al. Therefore, it is likely that these ecosystems store large quantities of carbon by (1) large amounts of C inputs to soils dominated by their high levels of fine-root production, (2) stabilization of organic matter in an illuviation horizon due to significant vertical transfers of C. To assess these ideas we studied soil carbon dynamics using radiocarbon in two adjacent Amazon forests growing on contrasting soils: a hydromorphic Podzol and a well-drained Alisol supporting a high-stature terra firme forest. Our measurements showed similar concentrations of C and radiocarbon in the litter layer and the first 5 cm of the mineral soil for both sites. This result is consistent with the idea that the hydromorphic Podzol soil has similar soil C storage and cycling rates compared to the well-drained Alisol that supports a more opulent vegetation. However, we found important differences in carbon dynamics and transfers along the vertical profile. At both soils, we found similar radiocarbon concentrations in the subsoil, but the carbon released after incubating soil samples presented radiocarbon concentrations of recent origin in the Alisol, but not in the Podzol. There were no indications of incorporation of C fixed after 1950 in the illuvial horizon of the Podzol. With the aid of a simulation model, we predicted that only a minor fraction (1.7%) of the labile carbon decomposed in the topsoil is transferred to the subsoil of the Podzol, while this proportional transfer is about 30% in the Alisol. Furthermore, our estimates were 8 times lower than previous estimations of vertical C transfers in Amazon Podzols, and question the validity of these previous estimations for all Podzols within the Amazon Basin. Our results also challenge our previous ideas about the genesis of these particular soils and suggest that either they are not true Podzols or the podzolization processes had already stopped.
Ethyl‐4‐(Dimethylamino) benzoate initiation of the spontaneous polymerization of aqueous acidic adhesive formulations in the presence of a base
Authors: Bai Xinyan , Wu Ningjing , Liu Yi , Zhang Ying , Wang Yong
Published: June 2013

This study indicated that the spontaneous polymerization of an aqueous acidic dental adhesive system containing ethyl‐4‐(dimethylamino) benzoate (4E) could be activated by various bases. The adhesive was prepared with a monomer mixture of bis[2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate (2MP) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Various amounts of base [hydroxyapatite (HAP) and its analogues, e.g., Ca(OH)2, NaOH, and calcium carbonate] were added. Real‐time Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy was used to monitor the polymerization process. The pH and buffer capacity affected the degree of conversion, and the polymerization rate and induction period were evaluated. The optimal conditions for the pH of this system was between 1.0 and 1.8, and HAP had the best performance on polymerization because of its excellent buffer capacity. The mechanism for the spontaneous polymerization of the 2MP/HEMA adhesive system was proposed with 4E as an initiator. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2698–2706, 2013
Learning curve for intracranial angioplasty and stenting in single center
Authors: Cai Qiankun , Li Yongkun , Xu Gelin , Sun Wen , Xiong Yunyun , Sun Wenshan , Bao Yuanfei , Huang Xianjun , Zhang Yao , Zhou Lulu , Zhu Wusheng , Liu Xinfeng
Published: June 2013

Objective

To identify the specific caseload to overcome learning curve effect based on data from consecutive patients treated with Intracranial Angioplasty and Stenting (IAS) in our center.

Background

The Stenting and Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke and Intracranial Stenosis trial was prematurely terminated owing to the high rate of periprocedural complications in the endovascular arm. To date, there are no data available for determining the essential caseload sufficient to overcome the learning effect and perform IAS with an acceptable level of complications.

Methods

Between March 2004 and May 2012, 188 consecutive patients with 194 lesions who underwent IAS were analyzed retrospectively. The outcome variables used to assess the learning curve were periprocedural complications (included transient ischemic attack, ischemic stroke, vessel rupture, cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome, and vessel perforation). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to illustrate the existence of learning curve effect on IAS. A risk‐adjusted cumulative sum chart was performed to identify the specific caseload to overcome learning curve effect.

Results

The overall rate of 30‐days periprocedural complications was 12.4% (24/194). After adjusting for case‐mix, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that operator experience was an independent predictor for periprocedural complications. The learning curve of IAS to overcome complications in a risk‐adjusted manner was 21 cases.

Conclusions

Operator's level of experience significantly affected the outcome of IAS. Moreover, we observed that the amount of experience sufficient for performing IAS in our center was 21 cases. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Soil Washing for Reduction of Aromatic and Aliphatic Contaminants in Soil
Authors: Gitipour Saeid , Hedayati Mahsa , Madadian Edris
Published: June 2013

The extraction of crude oil worldwide is estimated to be about 4 billion tons annually, 10% of which leaks into the environment. Iran is in great risk of pollution because of the extensive natural oil reservoirs and the spread of the oil industry. During the past 10–15 years soil washing methods have gathered much attention due to their rapid and easy implementation and high clean up efficiencies in removing organic contaminants from polluted soils. This paper investigates the effects of soil washing at various temperatures and pH levels of the washing solutions on the removal of gasoline constituents from contaminated soils. Aliphatic and aromatic fractions of gasoline were studied for this purpose. Raw soil samples were spiked with gasoline for soil washing tests. Sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant (with concentration of 1 g/L) was used as the washing solution for the samples. The results of this study indicate that an increase in both pH and temperature of the solution enhances the removal efficiencies of aliphatic and aromatic contaminants from soil samples. The removal efficiencies of aliphatic contaminants from coarse and fine fractions of the samples increased from 81.12 to 92.34% and 62.41 to 76.47%, as the temperature rose from 20 to 40°C, respectively. A nearly similar trend of increase was noted for the aromatic compounds. With regard to pH of the washing solutions, the removal efficiencies of the contaminants increased as the pH changed from 5.76 to 8.14. Thus, concluding that the implementation of soil washing is more efficient when the soil has naturally high pH values.
Utility of Ki‐67, p53, Bcl‐2, and Cox‐2 biomarkers for low‐grade endometrial cancer and disordered proliferative/benign hyperplastic endometrium by imprint cytology
Authors: Apostolou George , Apostolou Nicolaos , Biteli Maria , Kavantzas Nikolaos , Patsouris Efstratios , Athanassiadou Paulina
Published: June 2013

In this report, the authors examined the characteristic features of morphology and molecular biology of Ki‐67, p53, Bcl‐2, and cyclooxygenase‐2 (Cox‐2) immunocytochemistry in low‐grade endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (LG‐ENEC) and disordered proliferative (DP)/benign hyperplastic (BH) endometrium. We carried out a prospective study by collecting endometrial imprints from freshly resected uteri over a 20‐month period and finally 104 patients were evaluated with endometrial cytology. We focused on LG‐ENECs, as well as on BH endometrium and its precursor lesion, DP endometrium, firstly because of the overlapping cytomorphology of these pathologic entities and secondly because of the lack of agreement in the differential diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia from complex hyperplasia and well‐differentiated endometrial carcinoma, even in curettage specimens. Ki‐67 expression of LG‐ENEC showed predominance in comparison with DP/BH endometrium. Furthermore, high levels of Bcl‐2 (>50%) were expressed only in DP/BH endometrium. DP/BH endometrium was negative for p53 marker, except from two cases of BH endometrium. Cox‐2 expression ≥50% was found only in LG‐ENECs. Using Ki‐67, Bcl‐2, p53, and Cox‐2 markers, we managed to distinguish fully DP/BH endometrium from LG‐ENEC. Higher Ki‐67%/Bcl‐2% rate and also higher Cox‐2 expression were found in LG‐ENEC cases with FIGO stage ≥ IC, than in cases with FIGO stage < IC. The immunocytochemical findings from a combination of Ki‐67, p53, Bcl‐2, and Cox‐2, may differentiate LG‐ENEC from DP/BH endometrium with overlapping cytomorphology. Immunocytochemistry appeared to be useful also for the correlation between LG‐ENEC and FIGO stage. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42: 134–142. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of olive oil on the bioavailability of carotenoids
Authors: Lakshminarayana Rangaswamy , Baskaran Vallikannan
Published: June 2013

Bioavailability is defined as “the fraction of an ingested nutrient that is available for utilization in normal physiological functions or for storage”. Available studies on carotenoids bioavailability are based on the measurement of their levels in serum or plasma. Dietary components were reported to affect the rate of carotenoids absorption. On digestion, carotenoids are incorporated into the lipid phase and then are emulsified into small lipid droplets. The nature and amount of lipids in the diet greatly affect the emulsification, secretion of bile salts, and formation of mixed micelles all of which are currently important subjects to understand the carotenoids bioavailability. Specific lipids, vegetable oils and their fatty acid moiety have been shown to affect the mixed micelles formation that positively influences the absorption of carotenoids. Gavages and dietary studies revealed that oleic acid micelles and olive oil (oleic acid, C18:1) enhance the intestinal accessibility of carotenoids more than linoleic acid micelles or vegetables oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The chemistry of fats or oils which may act differently at various stages of absorption and metabolism of carotenoids is discussed. This review shows that dietary unsaturated fat appears to be a suitable carrier for carotenoids when oxidative stress is a critical issue in nutrition‐related degenerative disorders.
Evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content in different types of olive and olive pomace oils produced in Turkey and Spain
Authors: Ergönül Pelin Günç , Sánchez Sebastián
Published: June 2013

Characterization of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in extra virgin, virgin, second centrifugation, lampante, refined, crude olive pomace, and refined olive pomace oils was carried out in 24 different types of olive oils and seven different types of pomace oils produced in Turkey and Spain. The extraction method was followed by liquid–liquid extraction, a solid phase clean up using C18 and Florisil cartridges, and evaporation. Then the evaporated residue dissolved in tetrahydrofuran/methanol 50:50 v/v, was analyzed by reversed phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector using two excitations (280, 256 nm) and emission (410, 446 nm) wavelenghts channels. PAHs content of crude and refined olive pomace oils were found higher than in the other oils. In the samples analyzed, the highest concentrations of PAHs corresponded to benzo[ghi]perylene, naphthalene, pyrene, acenaphthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and phenanthrene.
Prognostic value of the pretreatment serum level of cytokeratin fraction 21‐1 in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A study of 332 cases
Authors: Wei Zhengbo , Zeng Xianjie , Xu Jian , Duan Xuwei , Yang Jianbo , Xie Ying
Published: June 2013

Background

Prognostic value of serum cytokeratin fraction 21‐1 (CYFRA 21‐1) has not been fully validated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

Serum CYFRA 21‐1 levels of 332 patients with NPC were measured before treatment, and their association with overall survival (OS), tumor‐free survival (TFS), time to local recurrence (TLR), and time to distant recurrence (TDR) was studied.

Results

Pretreatment serum CYFRA 21‐1 level of patients with classification of T1+2, N0, stage I+II was significantly lower than that of those with T3+4, N1+2+3 and III+IV, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that a high pretreatment serum level of CYFRA 21‐1 and T classification were independent predictors of poor OS and TDR. A high pretreatment level of CYFRA 21‐1 was an independent predictor of shorter TFS and TLR.

Conclusion

The pretreatment serum level of CYFRA 21‐1 would be a reliable biomarker to evaluate the long‐term prognosis of patients with undifferentiated NPC. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 71–76, 2014
Conservative management of thyroglobulin‐positive, nonlocalizable thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Frank Robert W. , Middleton Laura , Stack Brendan C. , Spencer Horace J. , Riggs Ann T. , Bodenner Donald L.
Published: June 2013

Background

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a role for observation of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) with persistent, nonlocalizable disease.

Methods

Our study was conducted on outpatients seen at our institution from 1999 to 2009 having total thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation, measurable serum thyroglobulin (Tg), and no evidence of disease on whole body or positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Results

Nineteen patients in our study group aged 20 to 73 with an average follow‐up of 5.5 years (range, 2–12 years); all were treated with postoperative RAI (99–210 mCi, average 119). Mean Tg ranged from 0.41 to 4.34. Tg levels remained stable or gradually decreased in all patients.

Conclusion

After total thyroidectomy and RAI therapy, patients may present with mildly elevated Tg values without localizable disease. These patients may have additional RAI treatments based on the Tg elevation. However, our clinical experience has shown that many of these patients will have Tg levels that either achieve stability or decrease over time without further treatment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 155–157, 2014
Outcomes of incidentally discovered thyroid nodules referred to a high‐volume head and neck surgeon
Authors: Kroeker Teresa R. , le Nobel Gavin , Merdad Mazin , Freeman Jeremy L.
Published: June 2013

Background

Incidental thyroid nodules are commonly found by radiological studies done for other indications. The yearly incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing, in part because of detection of nonpalpable nodules on imaging performed for unrelated issues.

Methods

All new patients referred to a high‐volume thyroid surgeon for thyroid nodules were reviewed between February 2009 and January 2011. Data regarding patient demographics, risk factors, referring physician, radiologic findings, fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) results, and management were reviewed.

Results

One hundred thirty‐three of 729 patients (18.2%) had a thyroid nodule or nodules incidentally found on ultrasound, MRI, CT, nuclear imaging, or chest x‐ray. Fifty‐five patients (41.4%) were managed surgically, with 35 (63.6%) of those having thyroid cancer on final surgical pathology.

Conclusion

Based on radiologic findings, risk factors, and FNA results, many incidental thyroid nodules can be observed. Incidental thyroid nodules should be evaluated in the same fashion as a palpable thyroid nodule. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 126–129, 2014
Human papillomavirus prevalence and prognostic implication in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Melkane Antoine E. , Auperin Anne , Saulnier Patrick , Lacroix Ludovic , Vielh Philippe , Casiraghi Odile , Msakni Issam , Drusch Françoise , Temam Stéphane
Published: June 2013

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is associated with favorable survival. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic significance of the HPV infection through both the p16 expression status and the oncogenic HPV DNA viral load.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients treated for oropharyngeal SCC between January 2007 and June 2009. P16 expression status by immunohistochemistry and HPV DNA viral load by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were evaluated on routine pretreatment tumor samples.

Results

One hundred thirty‐three patients (94 men and 39 women) were included in the study. Mean age was 59 years. One hundred twenty‐two lesions (92%) were localized to lymphoid areas. Sixty‐seven patients (50%) were p16+, and 87 patients (65%) harbored HPV DNA. The p16+/HPV DNA+ profile (48%) was associated with the most favorable prognosis. HPV16 was responsible for the majority of the infections (89%).

Conclusion

HPV is common among oropharyngeal SCC in France, and acts as an independent prognostic factor. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 257–265, 2014
Quality of life before and after total laryngectomy: Results of a multicenter prospective cohort study
Authors: Singer Susanne , Danker Helge , Guntinas–Lichius Orlando , Oeken Jens , Pabst Friedemann , Schock Juliane , Vogel Hans‐Joachim , Meister Eberhard F. , Wulke Cornelia , Dietz Andreas
Published: June 2013

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine what quality of life (QOL) areas improve and deteriorate during the first year after total laryngectomy and to identify predictors of these changes.

Methods

One hundred seventy‐four patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL questionnaires before laryngectomy, n = 133 before discharge from hospital, n = 110 at the end of rehabilitation, and n = 86 1 year after laryngectomy. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of potential predictors on QOL.

Results

Areas that did not recover to baseline level were physical functioning, role functioning, social functioning, fatigue, dyspnea, appetite loss, financial difficulties, senses, speech, and social contact, whereas global health status, coughing, and weight improved. There was no evidence for predicting effects of age, sex, education, and tumor site. Tumor stage, recurrent disease, radiotherapy, and mental health did display predicting effects. Smoking status before the treatment had marginally significant effects.

Conclusion

QOL decreases initially after laryngectomy; some QOL areas recover slowly over the course of the year after surgery, and some remain significantly worse than at baseline. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 359–368, 2014
Primary intraocular ancient schwannoma: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Mortuza Shaikh , Esmaeli Bita , Bell Diana
Published: June 2013

Background

Schwannomas comprise 8% to 10% of all primary intracranial tumors. Primary intraorbital schwannomas are rare, accounting for 1% to 2% of all intracranial tumors. Schwannomas arise from Schwann cells in the myelin sheaths of sensory and cranial nerves.

Methods

We present the case of a 56‐year‐old white man blind since 1970 who presented to an outside hospital for a painful right eye. Physicians identified no clinical or radiologic features of neurofibromatosis.

Results

The patient underwent enucleation; the final pathologic diagnosis was ancient schwannoma.

Conclusion

We describe herein a case of intrascleral schwannoma with ancient changes arising within the globe of the right eye occupying the subretinal space and completely replacing the vitreous body. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: E36–E38, 2014
The main types of electron energy distribution determined by model fitting to optical emissions during HF wave ionospheric modification experiments
Authors: Vlasov M. N. , Kelley M. C. , Hysell D. L.
Published: June 2013

Enhanced optical emissions observed during HF pumping are induced by electrons accelerated by high‐power electromagnetic waves. Using measured emission intensities, the energy distribution of accelerated electrons can be inferred. Energy loss from the excitation of molecular nitrogen vibrational levels (the vibrational barrier) strongly influences the electron energy distribution (EED). In airglow calculations, compensation for electron depletion within the 2–3 eV energy range, induced by the vibrational barrier, can be achieved via electrons with an EED similar to a Gaussian distribution and energies higher than 3 eV. This EED has a peak within the 5–10 eV energy range. We show that the main EED features depend strongly on altitude and solar activity. An EED similar to a power law distribution can occur above 270–300 km altitude. Below 270 km altitude, a Gaussian distribution for energies between 3 eV and 10 eV, together with a power law distribution for energies higher than 10 eV, is indicated. A Gaussian distribution combined with an exponential function is needed below 230 km altitude. The transition altitude from Gaussian to power law distribution depends strongly on solar activity, increasing for high solar activity. Electrons accelerated during the initial collisionless stage can inhibit the depletion of fast electrons within the vibrational barrier range, an effect that strongly depends on altitude and solar activity. The approach, based on the effective root square electric field, enables EED calculation, providing the observed red‐line intensities for low and high solar activities.
Whistler turbulence at variable electron beta: Three‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell simulations
Authors: Chang Ouliang , Gary S. Peter , Wang Joseph
Published: June 2013

Three‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell (PIC) simulations of whistler turbulence at three different initial values of βe are carried out on a collisionless, homogeneous, magnetized plasma model. The simulations begin with an initial ensemble of relatively long‐wavelength whistler modes and follow the temporal evolution of the fluctuations as wave‐wave interactions lead to a forward cascade into a broadband, turbulent spectrum at shorter wavelengths with a wave vector anisotropy in the sense of k⟂>k∥. Here ⟂ and ∥ denote directions perpendicular and parallel to the background magnetic field, respectively. In addition, wave‐particle interactions lead to fluctuating field dissipation and electron heating with a temperature anisotropy in the sense of T∥>T⟂. At early times, the wave‐wave cascade dominates energy transport, whereas wave‐particle Landau damping dominates at late simulation times. Larger values of βe correspond to a faster forward cascade in wave number and to a faster rate of electron heating, as well as to a less anisotropic wave vector distribution and to a less anisotropic electron velocity distribution.
Seismic evidence for a slab tear at the Puerto Rico Trench
Authors: Meighan Hallie E. , Pulliam Jay , ten Brink Uri , López‐Venegas Alberto M.
Published: June 2013

The fore‐arc region of the northeast Caribbean plate north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands has been the site of numerous seismic swarms since at least 1976. A 6 month deployment of five ocean bottom seismographs recorded two such tightly clustered swarms, along with additional events. Joint analyses of the ocean bottom seismographs and land‐based seismic data reveal that the swarms are located at depths of 50–150 km. Focal mechanism solutions, found by jointly fitting P wave first‐motion polarities and S/P amplitude ratios, indicate that the broadly distributed events outside the swarm generally have strike‐ and dip‐slip mechanisms at depths of 50–100 km, while events at depths of 100–150 km have oblique mechanisms. A stress inversion reveals two distinct stress regimes: The slab segment east of 65°W longitude is dominated by trench‐normal tensile stresses at shallower depths (50–100 km) and by trench‐parallel tensile stresses at deeper depths (100–150 km), whereas the slab segment west of 65°W longitude has tensile stresses that are consistently trench normal throughout the depth range at which events were observed (50–100 km). The simple stress pattern in the western segment implies relatively straightforward subduction of an unimpeded slab, while the stress pattern observed in the eastern segment, shallow trench‐normal tension and deeper trench‐normal compression, is consistent with flexure of the slab due to rollback. These results support the hypothesis that the subducting North American plate is tearing at or near these swarms. The 35 year record of seismic swarms at this location and the recent increase in seismicity suggest that the tear is still propagating.
Regional simulation of aerosol impacts on precipitation during the East Asian summer monsoon
Authors: Wu Longtao , Su Hui , Jiang Jonathan H.
Published: June 2013

The Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry is used to examine aerosol impacts on precipitation over China during the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). In the first EASM phase (6 May to 13 June), monsoonal rainband is located to the south of high aerosol areas. The surface cooling by the aerosol radiative effect induces an anticyclonic circulation in northern China, causing a precipitation decrease over southern China. The aerosol microphysical effect tends to broaden the precipitation region. In the second EASM phase (14 June to 5 August), the precipitation band jumps to northern China, where heavy pollution locates. By serving as cloud condensation nuclei, the aerosol microphysical effect causes a reduction of local cloudiness and induces ascent to the north and descent to the south, leading to a precipitation shift from south to north. The aerosol radiative effect strengthens such a meridional asymmetry. Moisture budget analysis shows that the aerosol‐induced anomalies of precipitation in both phases are mainly contributed by the changes in vertical velocity associated with convection, while the horizontal advection of moisture plays a nonnegligible role. Our study highlights that aerosol effects on EASM precipitation depend on the location of monsoon precipitation band and its relative location to aerosols, which may be the main factor that contributed to the discrepancy in literature regarding the aerosol impacts on the so‐called “southern flood and northern flood” over China.
Organic aerosol composition and sources in Pasadena, California, during the 2010 CalNex campaign
Authors: Hayes P. L. , Ortega A. M. , Cubison M. J. , Froyd K. D. , Zhao Y. , Cliff S. S. , Hu W. W. , Toohey D. W. , Flynn J. H. , Lefer B. L. , Grossberg N. , Alvarez S. , Rappenglück B. , Taylor J. W. , Allan J. D. , Holloway J. S. , Gilman J. B. , Kuster W. C. , de Gouw J. A. , Massoli P. , Zhang X. , Liu J. , Weber R. J. , Corrigan A. L. , Russell L. M. , Isaacman G. , Worton D. R. , Kreisberg N. M. , Goldstein A. H. , Thalman R. , Waxman E. M. , Volkamer R. , Lin Y. H. , Surratt J. D. , Kleindienst T. E. , Offenberg J. H. , Dusanter S. , Griffith S. , Stevens P. S. , Brioude J. , Angevine W. M. , Jimenez J. L.
Published: June 2013

Organic aerosols (OA) in Pasadena are characterized using multiple measurements from the California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change (CalNex) campaign. Five OA components are identified using positive matrix factorization including hydrocarbon‐like OA (HOA) and two types of oxygenated OA (OOA). The Pasadena OA elemental composition when plotted as H : C versus O : C follows a line less steep than that observed for Riverside, CA. The OOA components from both locations follow a common line, however, indicating similar secondary organic aerosol (SOA) oxidation chemistry at the two sites such as fragmentation reactions leading to acid formation. In addition to the similar evolution of elemental composition, the dependence of SOA concentration on photochemical age displays quantitatively the same trends across several North American urban sites. First, the OA/ΔCO values for Pasadena increase with photochemical age exhibiting a slope identical to or slightly higher than those for Mexico City and the northeastern United States. Second, the ratios of OOA to odd‐oxygen (a photochemical oxidation marker) for Pasadena, Mexico City, and Riverside are similar, suggesting a proportional relationship between SOA and odd‐oxygen formation rates. Weekly cycles of the OA components are examined as well. HOA exhibits lower concentrations on Sundays versus weekdays, and the decrease in HOA matches that predicted for primary vehicle emissions using fuel sales data, traffic counts, and vehicle emission ratios. OOA does not display a weekly cycle—after accounting for differences in photochemical aging —which suggests the dominance of gasoline emissions in SOA formation under the assumption that most urban SOA precursors are from motor vehicles.
Ag–Ge–Se glasses: a vibrational spectroscopy study
Authors: Le Parc R. , Piarristeguy A. , Frolet N. , Ribes M. , Pradel A.
Published: June 2013

Agx(Ge0.25Se0.75)100−x glasses with x varying from 0 to 25 have been shown to exhibit a conductivity threshold around x ~8–10. In this work, the structural changes induced by introduction of Ag in Ge25Se75 glass have been investigated using Raman and infra‐red spectroscopies. In ambient conditions, changes are observed in position, width and intensity for vibrations assigned to Ge–Se bonds, showing that the tetrahedral network is relaxed and gains flexibility as Ag is introduced. High pressure experiments on two glasses containing 5 and 25 at.% Ag confirm that Ag‐rich (25%) glasses clearly exhibit higher compressibility than Ag‐poor (5%) glasses. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the largest eigenvalue of a symmetric nonnegative tensor
Authors: Zhou Guanglu , Qi Liqun , Wu Soon‐Yi
Published: June 2013

In this paper, some important spectral characterizations of symmetric nonnegative tensors are analyzed. In particular, it is shown that a symmetric nonnegative tensor has the following properties: (i) its spectral radius is zero if and only if it is a zero tensor; (ii) it is weakly irreducible (respectively, irreducible) if and only if it has a unique positive (respectively, nonnegative) eigenvalue–eigenvector; (iii) the minimax theorem is satisfied without requiring the weak irreducibility condition; and (iv) if it is weakly reducible, then it can be decomposed into some weakly irreducible tensors. In addition, the problem of finding the largest eigenvalue of a symmetric nonnegative tensor is shown to be equivalent to finding the global solution of a convex optimization problem. Subsequently, algorithmic aspects for computing the largest eigenvalue of symmetric nonnegative tensors are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient gamma-aminobutyric acid bioconversion by employing synthetic complex between glutamate decarboxylase and glutamate/GABA antiporter in engineered Escherichia coli
Authors: Le Vo Tam Dinh , Ko Ji-seun , Park Si Jae , Lee Seung Hwan , Hong Soon Ho
Published: June 2013

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a precursor of one of the most promising heat-resistant biopolymers, Nylon-4, and can be produced by the decarboxylation of monosodium glutamate (MSG). In this study, a synthetic protein complex was applied to improve the GABA conversion in engineered Escherichia coli. Complexes were constructed by assembling a single protein–protein interaction domain SH3 to the glutamate decarboxylase (GadA and GadB) and attaching a cognate peptide ligand to the glutamate/GABA antiporter (GadC) at the N-terminus, C-terminus, and the 233rd amino acid residue. When GadA and GadC were co-overexpressed via the C-terminus complex, a GABA concentration of 5.65 g/l was obtained from 10 g/l MSG, which corresponds to a GABA yield of 93 %. A significant increase of the GABA productivity was also observed where the GABA productivity increased 2.5-fold in the early culture period due to the introduction of the synthetic protein complex. The GABA pathway efficiency and GABA productivity were enhanced by the introduction of the complex between Gad and glutamate/GABA antiporter.
Biomarker Profiling for Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Li Yajuan , Fang Xiangdong , Li Quan-Zhen
Published: June 2013

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality of SLE patients. The pathogenesis of LN involves multiple factors, including genetic predisposition, epigenetic regulation and environmental interaction. Over the last decade, omics-based techniques have been extensively utilized for biomarker screening and a wide variety of variations which are associated with SLE and LN have been identified at the levels of genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. These studies and discoveries have expanded our understanding of the molecular basis of the disease and are important for identification of potential therapeutic targets for disease prediction and early treatment. In this review, we summarize some of the recent studies targeted at the identification of LN-associated biomarkers using genomics and proteomic approaches.
Magnetoelectric coupling in 4,4′-stilbenedinitrene
Authors: Günaydın-Şen Ö. , Chen P. , Fosso-Tande J. , Allen T. L. , Cherian J. , Tokumoto T. , Lahti P. M. , McGill S. , Harrison R. J. , Musfeldt J. L.
Published: June 2013

We investigated the optical properties of 4,4′-stilbenedinitrene at low temperature and in high magnetic fields and compared the results with complementary first principles calculations. Both physical tuning parameters allow us to manipulate the singlet-triplet equilibrium, and by doing so, control the optical contrast (which is on the order of −2.5 × 102 cm−1 at 555 nm and 35 T). Moreover, analysis of the magneto-optical response using a combined population and Beer's law framework reveals the singlet-triplet spin gap and identifies particular features in the absorption difference spectrum as deriving from singlet or triplet state excitations. These findings deepen our understanding of coupling in open shell molecules and show how chemical structure modification can modulate charge-spin interactions in organic biradicals.
The effect of Thole functions on the simulation of ionic liquids with point induced dipoles at various densities
Authors: Taylor Thomas , Schmollngruber Michael , Schröder Christian , Steinhauser Othmar
Published: June 2013

Point-induced dipoles are used to mimic electronic degrees of freedom in molecular dynamics simulations. Ultrashort distance interactions of these induced dipoles are damped by the so-called Thole functions to avoid the “polarization catastrophe.” This study aims at the overall impact of Thole functions on structure as well as single-particle and collective dynamics of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate and thereby extends common studies of the effect of Thole functions on energy minimized geometries.
Spatially encoded multiple-quantum excitation
Authors: Ridge Clark D. , Borvayeh Leila , Walls Jamie D.
Published: June 2013

In this work, we present a simple method to spatially encode the transition frequencies of nuclear spin transitions and to read out these frequencies within a single scan. The experiment works by combining pulsed field gradients with an excitation sequence that selectively excites spin transitions within certain sample regions. After the initial excitation, imaging the resulting \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\widehat{z}$\end{document}ẑ-magnetization is used to determine the locations where the excitations occurred, from which the corresponding transition frequencies are determined. Simple experimental demonstrations of this technique on one- and two-spin systems are presented.
Suppression and enhancement of coexisting super-fluorescence and multi-wave mixing processes in sodium vapor
Authors: Zheng Huaibin , Zhang Xun , Li Changbiao , Lan Huayan , Che Junling , Zhang Ying , Zhang Yanpeng
Published: June 2013

Different aspects of the properties of the coexisting super-fluorescence (SFL), multi-wave mixing with the fluorescence signal in the sodium vapor are studied both theoretically and experimentally. First, by scanning the dressed-state, the properties of these coexisting processes, such as the SFL signal modulated by using the dark and bright states, the interplay between dressed-states, are observed for the first time. Then, by scanning the probe field, the interplay between the one-photon and two-photon processes of the coexisting signals is obtained with or without the external dressing fields. Such control on each process in such coexisting system has an important potential application in quantum communication.
Structural transformation and enhancement in magnetic properties of single-phase Bi1−xPrxFeO3 nanoparticles
Authors: Kumar Srivastav Simant , Gajbhiye N. S. , Banerjee A.
Published: June 2013

Single-phase Bi1−xPrxFeO3 (x = 0.0, 0.05, and 0.10) nanoparticles have been synthesized by propylene glycol-gel route at a temperature of 400 °C. Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data and Raman spectra reflect a structural phase transition from rhombohedral for x = 0 to triclinic for x = 0.10. Magnetic measurements reveal that Pr-doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles for x = 0.10 have enhanced remnant magnetization about 10 times as compared to pure BiFeO3 nanoparticles. It has been shown by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy that the observed enhancement in magnetic properties of BiFeO3 with Pr doping is mainly due to suppression of modulated spiral spin structure near x = 0.10 and not due to Fe multiple valence, i.e., oxygen deficiency.
Capillary origami and superhydrophobic membrane surfaces
Authors: Geraldi N. R. , Ouali F. F. , Morris R. H. , McHale G. , Newton M. I.
Published: June 2013

Capillary origami uses surface tension to fold and shape solid films and membranes into three-dimensional structures. It uses the fact that solid surfaces, no matter how hydrophobic, will tend to adhere to and wrap around the surface of a liquid. In this work, we report that a superhydrophobic coating can be created, which can completely suppress wrapping as a contacting water droplet evaporates. We also show that using a wetting azeotropic solution of allyl alcohol, which penetrates the surface features, can enhance liquid adhesion and create more powerful Capillary Origami. These findings create the possibility of selectively shaping membrane substrates.