bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Twenty years post‐NIH Revitalization Act: Enhancing minority participation in clinical trials (EMPaCT): Laying the groundwork for improving minority clinical trial accrual
Authors: Chen Moon S. , Lara Primo N. , Dang Julie H. T. , Paterniti Debora A. , Kelly Karen
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act of 1993 mandated the appropriate inclusion of minorities in all NIH‐funded research. Twenty years after this act, the proportion of minority patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials remains persistently low. Clinical trials are vehicles for the development and evaluation of therapeutic and preventive agents under scientifically rigorous conditions. Without representation in trials, it is projected that disparities in the cancer burden for minorities will increase.

METHODS

For this review article, the authors counted the frequency with which minorities were the primary focus of National Cancer Institute‐sponsored clinical trials, examined citations from the PubMed database focusing on the search terms “NIH Revitalization Act of 1993” and “enhancing minority accrual to cancer clinical trials,” and supplemented the review with their expertise in NIH‐funded research related to minority accrual in cancer clinical trials.

RESULTS

The reporting and analyses of data based on minorities in clinical trials remain inadequate. Less than 2% of the National Cancer Institute's clinical trials focus on any racial/minority population as their primary emphasis. The current review of the literature indicated that the percentage of authors who reported their study sample by race/ethnicity ranged from 1.5% to 58%, and only 20% of the randomized controlled studies published in a high‐impact oncology journal reported analyzing results by race/ethnicity. Proportionately greater population increases in minorities, accompanied by their persistent and disproportionate cancer burden, reinforce the need for their greater representation in clinical trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Renewing the emphasis for minority participation in clinical trials is warranted. Policy changes are recommended. Cancer 2014;120(7 suppl):1091–6. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Underestimation of myelodysplastic syndrome incidence by cancer registries: Results from a population‐based data linkage study
Authors: McQuilten Zoe K. , Wood Erica M. , Polizzotto Mark N. , Campbell Lynda J. , Wall Meaghan , Curtis David J. , Farrugia Helen , McNeil John J. , Sundararajan Vijaya
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) appear to be underreported to cancer registries, with important implications for cancer and transfusion support service planning and delivery. Two population‐based databases were linked to estimate MDS incidence more accurately.

METHODS

Data from the statewide Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) and Victorian Admitted Episode Dataset (VAED, capturing all inpatient admissions), in Australia, were linked. Incidence rates were calculated based on VCR reported cases and using additional MDS cases identified in VAED. Differences between reported and nonreported cases were assessed. A multivariate capture‐recapture method was used to estimate missed cases.

RESULTS

Between 2003 and 2010, 2692 cases were reported to VCR and an additional 1562 cases were identified in VAED. Annual incidence rate for those aged 65 years and older based on VCR was 44 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 43‐45 per 100,000) and 68 per 100,000 (95% CI = 67‐70 per 100,000) using both data sets. Cases not reported to VCR were more likely to have had previous malignancies recorded in VAED (23% versus 19%, P = .003) and to require red cell transfusion (59% versus 54%, P = .003). Using the multivariate model, an estimated 1292 cases were missed by both data sources: the re‐estimate was 5546 (95% CI = 5438‐5655) MDS cases, with an annual incidence in those aged 65 or older of 103 per 100,000 (95% CI = 100‐106).

CONCLUSIONS

This study reports a higher incidence of MDS using 2 data sources from a large and well‐defined population than reported using cancer registry notifications alone. Cancer 2014;120:1686–1694. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Experiences of the Brazilian national high‐performance computing network on the rapid prototyping of science gateways
Authors: Gomes Antonio Tadeu A. , Bastos Bruno F. , Medeiros Vivian , Moreira Vinicius M.
Published: March 2014

Arguably, an important amount of scientific software development time is likely to be employed on user interfaces. In particular, science gateways have gained increasing interest from the e‐Science community. These gateways allow hiding the complexity of the underlying resources that give support to the management of scientific data and to the execution of scientific applications. Based on our previous experience with the development of science gateways for diverse application domains in the Brazilian national high‐performance computing network (SINAPAD), we have devised a rapid prototyping strategy to lower the barrier for scientific application developers to launch new science gateways. This strategy is based on two main tools. The first tool implements a gateway engine that can be configured by a small set of XML files. Such files completely define the desired functionality of a specific science gateway in the gateway engine. The gateway engine also offers other features not commonly found in related technologies, such as file sharing, data provenance tracking, and restricted anonymous access to underlying computational resources. The second tool implements both an editor and a packager for the aforementioned engine. This tool allows the developer to rapidly deploy and launch a new science gateway in ordinary Web application containers. In this paper, we present our results with the use of both tools in the SINAPAD network. We also discuss about the current limitations of both tools, as well as how we have been dealing with such limitations to provide a more comprehensive toolset to developers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CdSe–Graphene Oxide Light‐Harvesting Assembly: Size‐Dependent Electron Transfer and Light Energy Conversion Aspects
Authors: Krishnamurthy Sachidananda , Kamat Prashant V.
Published: March 2014

Excited‐state interaction between CdSe quantum dots (QDs) of different sizes (2.3, 3.2, and 4.2 nm diameter) and graphene oxide (GO) was probed by depositing them as films on conducting glass electrodes. The emission of smaller CdSe QDs (2.3 nm) was quenched by GO three times faster than that of larger QDs (4.2 nm). Electrophoretic deposition allowed us to sequentially deposit single or multiple layers of different sized QDs and GO assemblies on conducting glass electrodes and to modulate the photoresponse in photoelectrochemical solar cells. Superior photoconversion efficiency through the incorporation of GO was attributed to improved charge separation in the composite assembly.
Designing Fractal Nanostructured Biointerfaces for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Zhang Pengchao , Wang Shutao
Published: March 2014

Fractal structures in nature offer a unique “fractal contact mode” that guarantees the efficient working of an organism with an optimized style. Fractal nanostructured biointerfaces have shown great potential for the ultrasensitive detection of disease‐relevant biomarkers from small biomolecules on the nanoscale to cancer cells on the microscale. This review will present the advantages of fractal nanostructures, the basic concept of designing fractal nanostructured biointerfaces, and their biomedical applications for the ultrasensitive detection of various disease‐relevant biomarkers, such microRNA, cancer antigen 125, and breast cancer cells, from unpurified cell lysates and the blood of patients.
Flexible Janus Nanofibers: Facile Electrospinning Construction and Enhanced Luminescent–Electrical–Magnetic Trifunctionality
Authors: Lv Nan , Ma Qianli , Dong Xiangting , Wang Jinxian , Yu Wensheng , Liu Guixia
Published: March 2014

Flexible luminescent–electrical–magnetic trifunctional Janus nanofibers have been successfully fabricated through electrospinning technology by using specially designed parallel spinnerets. The terbium complex [Tb(ba)3(phen)] (BA=benzoic acid, phen=1,10‐phenanthroline), polyaniline (PANI), and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were incorporated into polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and electrospun into Janus nanofibers with [Tb(ba)3(phen)]/PVP as one strand of the nanofiber and PANI/Fe3O4/PVP as another. The morphologies and properties of the final products were investigated in detail by XRD, SEM, TEM, fluorescence spectroscopy, Hall effect measurement system, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The [[Tb(ba)3(phen)]/PVP]//[PANI/Fe3O4/PVP] Janus nanofibers, with an average diameter of 180 nm, simultaneously possess enhanced luminescent performance, electrical conduction, and magnetism. Fluorescence emission peaks of Tb3+ are observed in the [[Tb(ba)3(phen)]/PVP]//[PANI/Fe3O4/PVP] Janus nanofibers and assigned to the 5D4→5F6 (λ=491 nm), 5D4→5F5 (λ=544 nm), 7D4→5F4 (λ=585 nm), and 5D4→7F3 (λ=620 nm) energy‐level transitions of Tb3+ ions; the 5D4→5F5 hypersensitive transition at λ=544 nm is the predominant emission peak. The electrical conductivity of Janus nanofibers reaches up to the order of 10−3 S cm−1. The luminescent intensity, electrical conductivity, and magnetic properties of Janus nanofibers can be tunable by adjusting the amounts of rare‐earth complex, PANI, and Fe3O4 NPs present. This new type of luminescent–electrical–magnetic trifunctional Janus nanofiber holds potential for a variety of applications, including molecular electronics, microwave absorption, and future nanodevices, owing to their excellent fluorescence, electrical conduction, and magnetism.
Enhanced Aerobic Epoxidation of Styrene with Copper(II), Cobalt(II), Iron(III), or Oxovanadium(IV) Salen Complexes Immobilized onto Carbon‐Coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Hybridized with Graphene Sheets
Authors: Li Zhifang , Wu Shujie , Zheng Dafang , Ding Hong , Wang Xiufang , Yang Xiaoyuan , Huo Qisheng , Guan Jingqi , Kan Qiubin
Published: March 2014

Core–shell structural magnetic nanocatalysts, involving carbon‐coated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles supported on graphene oxide sheets (mildly reduced graphene oxide (MRGO)/Fe3O4@C) and carbonaceous coatings on magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@C), for immobilizing metal (CuII, CoII, FeIII or VOIV)–salen complexes were prepared by a facile, green, and efficient chemical approach and first applied in the aerobic epoxidation of styrene with air as the oxidizing agent. The prepared catalysts were characterized by different techniques, such as XRD, TEM, FTIR spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, TEM, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The magnetic nanocatalysts MRGO/Fe3O4@C–salen–M (M=Cu, Co, Fe, or V) exhibited higher catalytic reactivity than that of the corresponding Fe3O4@C–salen–M (M=Cu, Co, Fe, or V) species possibly owing to site isolation, good dispersion of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and an efficiently synergistic effect between the metal complexes and the supports. Furthermore, MRGO/Fe3O4@C–salen–Co exhibited up to 92.3 % conversion of styrene and 59.2 % selectivity to the styrene oxide upon using air as the oxidizing agent and showed good recoverability with negligible loss in activity and selectivity within successive runs owing to superparamagnetism. Most importantly, these materials can be easily recovered by simple magnetic separation.
Sketching a network portrait of the humber region
Authors: Penn Alexandra S. , Jensen Paul D. , Woodward Amy , Basson Lauren , Schiller Frank , Druckman Angela
Published: March 2014

Industrial systems can be represented as networks of organizations connected by flows of materials, energy, and money. This network context may produce unexpected consequences in response to policy intervention, so improved understanding is vital; however, industrial network data are commonly unavailable publically. Using a case study in the Humber region, UK, we present a novel methodology of “network coding” of semistructured interviews with key industrial and political stakeholders, in combination with an “industrial taxonomy” of network archetypes developed to construct an approximation of the region's networks when data are incomplete. This article describes our methodology and presents the resulting network. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 19: 54–72, 2014
Easily Regenerable Solid Adsorbents Based on Polyamines for Carbon Dioxide Capture from the Air
Authors: Goeppert Alain , Zhang Hang , Czaun Miklos , May Robert B. , Prakash G. K. Surya , Olah George A. , Narayanan S. R.
Published: March 2014

Adsorbents prepared easily by impregnation of fumed silica with polyethylenimine (PEI) are promising candidates for the capture of CO2 directly from the air. These inexpensive adsorbents have high CO2 adsorption capacity at ambient temperature and can be regenerated in repeated cycles under mild conditions. Despite the very low CO2 concentration, they are able to scrub efficiently all CO2 out of the air in the initial hours of the experiments. The influence of parameters such as PEI loading, adsorption and desorption temperature, particle size, and PEI molecular weight on the adsorption behavior were investigated. The mild regeneration temperatures required could allow the use of waste heat available in many industrial processes as well as solar heat. CO2 adsorption from the air has a number of applications. Removal of CO2 from a closed environment, such as a submarine or space vehicles, is essential for life support. The supply of CO2‐free air is also critical for alkaline fuel cells and batteries. Direct air capture of CO2 could also help mitigate the rising concerns about atmospheric CO2 concentration and associated climatic changes, while, at the same time, provide the first step for an anthropogenic carbon cycle.
Controlling the Size and Composition of Nanosized Pt–Ni Octahedra to Optimize Their Catalytic Activities toward the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Choi Sang‐Il , Xie Shuifen , Shao Minhua , Lu Ning , Guerrero Sandra , Odell Jonathan H. , Park Jinho , Wang Jinguo , Kim Moon J. , Xia Younan
Published: March 2014

Electrocatalysts based on Pt–Ni alloys have received considerable interest in recent years owing to their remarkable activities toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we report the synthesis of nanosized Pt–Ni octahedra with a range of controlled sizes and compositions in an effort to optimize their ORR activities. If we employed benzyl ether as a solvent for the synthesis, we could readily control the edge lengths of the Pt–Ni octahedra in the range of 6–12 nm and keep the Pt/Ni atomic ratio at around 2.4 by varying the amount of oleylamine added into the reaction system. If we adjusted the amount of Ni precursor, the atomic ratio of Pt to Ni in the Pt–Ni octahedra could be controlled in the range of 1.4–3.7 and their edge lengths were kept at 9 nm. For the catalysts with a Pt/Ni atomic ratio around 2.4, their specific ORR activities (per unit surface area) increased monotonically as the edge length increased from 6 to 12 nm. However, the mass activities (per unit mass of Pt) of these Pt–Ni octahedra showed a maximum value at an edge length of 9 nm. The specific and mass activities for the Pt–Ni octahedra with an edge length of 9 nm but different compositions both showed peak values at a Pt/Ni atomic ratio of 2.4.
Metabolic, hormonal characteristics and genetic variants of TCF7L2 associated with development of gestational diabetes mellitus in Mexican women
Authors: Reyes‐López Ruth , Pérez‐Luque Elva , Malacara Juan Manuel
Published: March 2014

Background

Variation in TCF7L2 gene is associated with type 2 diabetes and with gestational diabetes mellitus in several populations, but there are no data in Mexican women with gestational diabetes mellitus. In this study, we examined metabolic and hormonal measurements as well as TCF7L2 genetic variants.

Methods

We selected 108 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance and 90 with gestational diabetes mellitus according to 2010 American Diabetes Association criteria matched for gestational week. We collected data on blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and concentrations of blood glucose, HbA1c, lipids profile, insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1). The genotyping of rs7903146 and rs12255372 polymorphisms were made with polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results

Actual and pre‐gestational BMI, fasting glucose and HbA1c were higher (p < 0.001), and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower (p < 0.02) in gestational diabetes mellitus women than euglycemic women. No significant differences were found for lipids, insulin and homeostasis model assessment—insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes mellitus women had high GLP‐1 levels (32 vs 24, p < 0.004) and decreased β‐cell function (266 vs 438, p < 0.001). The frequency of rs12255372 risk allele in gestational diabetes women was significantly higher than that in euglycemic women (χ2 = 8.96; p < 0.003) and confers a risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 9.1, 95% CI 2.8–29, p < 0.0002; and OR = 4.3, 95% CI 1.6–11.4, p < 0.003 based on dominant and co‐dominant model, respectively). The generalized linear model showed that low beta function, high pre‐gestational BMI and rs12255372 risk allele are independently associated with gestational diabetes.

Conclusions

The elevated GLP‐1 levels in gestational diabetes women suggested some abnormality in insulin secretion. The low β‐cell function, high pre‐gestational BMI and rs12255372 risk allele are risk factors independently associated with the development of gestational diabetes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel potential therapy for vascular diseases: blood‐derived stem/progenitor cells specifically activated by dendritic cells
Authors: Porat Yael , Assa‐Kunik Efrat , Belkin Michael , Krakovsky Michael , Lamensdorf Itschak , Duvdevani Revital , Sivak Galit , Niven Mark J. , Bulvik Shlomo
Published: March 2014

Background

Vascular diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in diabetic patients. Stem/progenitor cell treatments with bone marrow‐derived cells show safety and promising outcomes, albeit not without some preprocedural adverse events related to cell collection and mobilization. We describe a novel technology for generating a therapeutic population (BGC101) of enriched endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from non‐mobilized blood, using dendritic cells to specifically direct stem/progenitor cell activity in vitro.

Methods and results

Selected immature plasmacytoid and myeloid dendritic cells from 24 healthy and two diabetic donors were activated with anti‐inflammatory and pro‐angiogenic molecules to induce specific activation signals. Co‐culturing of activated dendritic cells with stem/progenitor cells for 12–66 h generated 83.7 ± 7.4 × 106 BGC101 cells with 97% viability from 250 mL of blood. BGC101, comprising 52.4 ± 2.5% EPCs (expressing Ulex‐lectin, AcLDL uptake, Tie2, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and 2, and CD31), 16.1 ± 1.9% stem/progenitor cells (expressing CD34 and CD184) and residual B and T helper cells, demonstrated angiogenic and stemness potential and secretion of interleukin‐8, interleukin‐10, vascular endothelial growth factor and osteopontin. When administered to immunodeficient mice with limb ischemia (n = 40), BGC101 yielded a high safety profile and significantly increased blood perfusion, capillary density and leg function after 21 days. Cell tracking and biodistribution showed that engraftment was restricted to the ischemic leg.

Conclusions

These observations provide preliminary evidence that alternatively activated dendritic cells can promote the generation of EPC‐enriched stem/progenitor cells within a 1‐day culture. The resulting product BGC101 has the potential for treatment of various vascular conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral ischemia. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bismuth Film Electrodes for Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Sunset Yellow FCF in Soft Drinks
Authors: Królicka Agnieszka , Bobrowski Andrzej , Zarębski Jerzy , Tesarowicz Iwona
Published: March 2014

The bismuth film electrode was used to record well‐developed voltammograms of azo food coloring Sunset Yellow FCF (SY). The employed Bi(III)/HClO4 plating solutions produced very adhesive and mechanically stable films that were applied in both stationary and flow conditions. The influence of the dimensions of the glassy carbon support, plating solution concentration and potential was discussed. The sensitivity of SWV was sufficient to obtain a linear calibration curve for low concentration levels of SY (below 0.1 mg/L; LOD=1 µg/L, linear range 4.4–87 µg/L). The measurements in a flow system were considered as a tool for the determination of relatively high concentrations (>1 mg/L; LOD=300 µg/L, linear range 300–8800 µg/L) of SY.
Solid Contact Nitrate Ion‐Selective Electrode Based on Ionic Liquid with Stable and Reproducible Potential
Authors: Wardak Cecylia
Published: March 2014

A simple, fast and cheap method of preparation of solid contact nitrate ion‐selective electrode is proposed. The electrode membrane phase consist of only three components: PVC, plasticizer and ionic liquid (IL).The ionic liquid trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride is used in triple function as ionophore, as lipophilic ionic component in order to reduce membrane resistance, and as transducer media in order to stabilize the potential of internal Ag/AgCl electrode. The electrical properties of the membrane were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the influence of the interfacial water film was evaluated by potentiometric water layer test.
Synthesis of Ultrathin GeO2–Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) Sheets for a High‐Capacity Lithium‐Ion Battery Anode
Authors: Ma De‐Long , Yuan Shuang , Huang Xiao‐Lei , Cao Zhan‐Yi
Published: March 2014

GeO2 is a promising high‐performance anode material for Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high theoretical reversible capacity, low operation voltage, and high thermal stability. Herein, a simple, cheap, and easily scaled‐up synthetic procedure for preparing ultrathin GeO2–reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets is proposed and realized through a freeze‐drying method. The as‐prepared GeO2–RGO show non‐aggregated graphene sheets and homogeneously dispersed GeO2 nanoparticles. As a high‐performance anode material for LIBs, the composite shows a high specific capacity (1200 mAh g−1 at current density of 100 mA g−1), good cycling performance, and rate capability.
State Legislation: Will State Authority or Local Preference Regulate Colorado's Fracking?
Authors: Enockson Paul S.
Published: March 2014

Colorado is ground zero for the debate over hydraulic fracturing.
The relationships between stressful life events during childhood and differentiation of self and intergenerational triangulation in adulthood
Authors: Peleg Ora
Published: March 2014

This study examined the relationships between stressful life events in childhood and differentiation of self and intergenerational triangulation in adulthood. The sample included 217 students (173 females and 44 males) from a college in northern Israel. Participants completed the Hebrew versions of Life Events Checklist (LEC), Differentiation of Self Inventory‐Revised (DSI‐R) and intergenerational triangulation (INTRI). The main findings were that levels of stressful life events during childhood and adolescence among both genders were positively correlated with the levels of fusion with others and intergenerational triangulation. The levels of positive life events were negatively related to levels of emotional reactivity, emotional cut‐off and intergenerational triangulation. Levels of stressful life events in females were positively correlated with emotional reactivity. Intergenerational triangulation was correlated with emotional reactivity, emotional cut‐off, fusion with others and I‐position. Findings suggest that families that experience higher levels of stressful life events may be at risk for higher levels of intergenerational triangulation and lower levels of differentiation of self.
LESSONS FROM THE PROGRESS OF KOREA'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SYSTEM IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
Authors: Heo Namjoo
Published: March 2014

Korea's massive agricultural projects have frequently exceeded the ecosystem's resilience, resulting in many environmental problems. Korea sought to remedy this situation via policy and adopted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) system. However, the EIA system needed to be modified for the agricultural sector. This is because agricultural development plans are somewhat different from urban or industrial development plans in terms of impact intensity and their multifunctional traits. Since adopting the system in 1977, Korea has gradually improved its EIA system in favour of wise use and strong implementation in the agricultural sector. Even though there is much that can still be improved upon in terms of compromise by stakeholders (including farmers), Korea has recently achieved some success by providing a unified channel for EIA work, an interactive platform for stakeholders, a specific EIA guideline suitable for the agricultural sector, and strong enforcement of EIA implementation. Korea's EIA development with respect to the agricultural sector can be a useful reference for all developing countries that are eager to realize systematic sustainable agricultural development. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Early Changes in Bone Density, Microarchitecture, Bone Resorption, and Inflammation Predict the Clinical Outcome 12 Weeks After Conservatively Treated Distal Radius Fractures: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Meyer Ursina , de Jong Joost J , Bours Sandrine GP , Keszei András P , Arts Jacobus J , Brink Peter RG , Menheere Paul , van Geel Tineke ACM , van Rietbergen Bert , van den Bergh Joop PW , Geusens Piet P , Willems Paul C
Published: March 2014

Fracture healing is an active process with early changes in bone and inflammation. We performed an exploratory study evaluating the association between early changes in densitometric, structural, biomechanical, and biochemical bone parameters during the first weeks of fracture healing and wrist-specific pain and disability at 12 weeks in postmenopausal women with a conservatively treated distal radius fracture. Eighteen patients (aged 64 ± 8 years) were evaluated at 1 to 2 and 3 to 4 weeks postfracture, using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), micro-finite element analysis, serum procollagen type-I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). After 12 weeks, patients rated their pain and disability using Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) questionnaire. Additionally, Quick Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire and active wrist range of motion was evaluated. Linear regression models were used to study the relationship between changes in bone parameters and in hsCRP from visit 1 to 2 and PRWE score after 12 weeks. A lower PRWE outcome, indicating better outcome, was significantly related to an early increase in trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) (β −0.96 [95% CI −1.75 to −0.16], R2 = 0.37), in torsional stiffness (−0.14 [−0.28 to −0.004], R2 = 0.31), and to an early decrease in trabecular separation (209 [15 to 402], R2 = 0.33) and in ICTP (12.1 [0.0 to 24.1], R2 = 0.34). Similar results were found for QuickDASH. Higher total dorsal and palmar flexion range of motion was significantly related to early increase in hsCRP (9.62 [3.90 to 15.34], R2 = 0.52). This exploratory study indicates that the assessment of early changes in trabecular BMD, trabecular separation, calculated torsional stiffness, bone resorption marker ICTP, and hsCRP after a distal radius fracture provides valuable information regarding the 12-week clinical outcome in terms of pain, disability, and range of motion and validates its use in studies on the process of early fracture healing. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Most domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) prefer food to petting: population, context, and schedule effects in concurrent choice
Authors: Feuerbacher Erica N. , Wynne Clive D. L.
Published: March 2014

Previous research has indicated both petting (McIntire & Colley, 1967) and food (Feuerbacher & Wynne, 2012) have reinforcing effects on dog behavior and support social behavior towards humans (food: Elliot & King, 1960; social interaction: Brodbeck, 1954). Which type of interaction dogs prefer and which might produce the most social behavior from a dog has not been investigated. In the current study, we assessed how dogs allocated their responding in a concurrent choice between food and petting. Dogs received five 5‐min sessions each. In Session 1, both food and petting were continuously delivered contingent on the dog being near the person providing the respective consequence. Across the next three sessions, we thinned the food schedule to a Fixed Interval (FI) 15‐s, FI 1‐min, and finally extinction. The fifth session reversed back to the original food contingency. We tested owned dogs in familiar (daycare) and unfamiliar (laboratory room) environments, and with their owner or a stranger as the person providing petting. In general, dogs preferred food to petting when food was readily available and all groups showed sensitivity to the thinning food schedule by decreasing their time allocation to food, although there were group and individual differences in the level of sensitivity. How dogs allocated their time with the petting alternative also varied. We found effects of context, familiarity of the person providing petting, and relative deprivation from social interaction on the amount of time dogs allocated to the petting alternative.
Do antioxidants inhibit oxidative‐stress‐induced autophagy of tenofibroblasts?
Authors: Kim Ra‐Jeong , Hah Young‐Sool , Sung Chang‐Meen , Kang Jae‐Ran , Park Hyung Bin
Published: March 2014

Recent research on tendinopathy has focused on its relationship to programmed cell death. Increased autophagy has been observed in ruptured rotator cuff tendon tissues, suggesting a causal relationship. We investigated whether autophagy occurs in human rotator cuff tenofibroblast death induced by oxidative stress and whether antioxidants protect against autophagic cell death. We used H2O2 (0.75 mM) as oxidative stressor, cyanidin (100 µg/ml) as antioxidant, zVAD (20 µM) as apoptosis inhibitor, and 3‐MA (10 mM) as autophagy inhibitor. We evaluated cell viability and known autophagic markers: LC3‐II expression, GFP‐LC3 puncta formation, autolysosomes, and Atg5‐12 and Beclin 1 expression. H2O2 exposure increased the rates of cell death, LC3‐II expression, GFP‐LC3 puncta formation, and autolysosomes. After we induced apoptosis arrest using zVAD, H2O2 exposure still induced cell death, LC3‐II expression, and GFP‐LC3 puncta formation. H2O2 exposure also increased Atg5‐12 and Beclin 1 expressions, indicating autophagic cell death. However, cyanidin treatment reduced H2O2‐induced cell death, LC3‐II expression, GFP‐LC3 puncta formation, and autolysosomes. Cyanidin and 3‐MA similarly reduced the cell‐death rate, and Atg5‐12 and Beclin 1 expression. This study demonstrated that H2O2, an oxidative stressor, induces autophagic cell death in rotator cuff tenofibroblasts, and that cyanidin, a natural antioxidant, inhibits autophagic cell death. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:937–943, 2014.
Meniscus regeneration by syngeneic, minor mismatched, and major mismatched transplantation of synovial mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model
Authors: Okuno Makiko , Muneta Takeshi , Koga Hideyuki , Ozeki Nobutake , Nakagawa Yusuke , Tsuji Kunikazu , Yoshiya Shinichi , Sekiya Ichiro
Published: March 2014

We compared the effect of syngeneic and allogeneic transplantation of synovial mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for meniscus regeneration in a rat model. Synovium was harvested from the knee joints of three strains of rats. The anterior half of the medial meniscus in both knees of F344 rats was removed and 5 million synovial MSCs derived from F344 (syngeneic transplantation), Lewis (minor mismatched transplantation), and ACI (major mismatched transplantation) were injected into the knee of the F344 rats. At 4 weeks, the area of the regenerated meniscus in the F344 group was significantly larger than that in the ACI group. Histological score was significantly better in the F344 and Lewis groups than in the ACI group at 8 weeks. DiI labeled cells could be observed in the knee joint in the F344 group, but were hardly detected in the ACI group at 1 week. The number of macrophages and CD8 T cells at synovium around the meniscus defect was significantly lower in the F344 group than in the ACI group at 1 week. Syngeneic and minor mismatched transplantation of synovial MSCs promoted meniscus regeneration better than major mismatched transplantation in a rat meniscectmized model. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:928–936, 2014.
Determining breast cancer axillary surgery within the surveillance epidemiology and end results‐Medicare database
Authors: Schmocker Ryan K. , Caretta‐Weyer Holly , Weiss Jennifer M. , Ronk Katie , Havlena Jeffrey , LoConte Noelle K. , Decker Marquita , Smith Maureen A. , Greenberg Caprice C. , Neuman Heather B.
Published: March 2014

Background

Use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is under‐reported by cancer registries' “Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery” variable. In 2011, the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program recommended against its use to determine extent of axillary surgery, leaving a gap in the utilization of claims data for breast cancer research. The objective was to develop an algorithm using SEER registry and claims data to classify extent of axillary surgery for breast cancer.

Methods

We analyzed data for 24,534 breast cancer patients. CPT codes and number of examined lymph nodes classified the extent of axillary surgery. The final algorithm was validated by comparing the algorithm derived extent of axillary surgery to direct chart review for 100 breast cancer patients treated at our breast center.

Results

Using the algorithm, 13% had no axillary surgery, 56% SLNB and 31% axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). SLNB was performed in 77% of node negative patients and ALND in 72% of node positive. In our validation study, concordance between algorithm and direct chart review was 97%.

Conclusions

Given recognized inaccuracies in cancer registries' “Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery” variable, these findings have high utility for health services researchers studying breast cancer treatment. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:756–759. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Passive pin reflection frequency selective surface for interference reduction in the built environment
Authors: Davenport Christopher J. , Rigelsford Jonathan M.
Published: March 2014

Proposed is a passive periodic pin reflection frequency selective surface (PR‐FSS) suitable for installation in indoor environments to reduce interference caused by multiple cochannel wireless transmitters. The PR‐FSS is developed from a comb reflection FSS and provides comparable performance with the use of less material. © 2014 The Authors. Microwave and Optical Technology Letters Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1424–1427, 2014
Compact wideband printed flower slot antenna
Authors: Tang Ming‐Chun , Ziolkowski Richard W. , Xiao Shaoqiu
Published: March 2014

The design and testing of a compact flower slot antenna suitable for WLAN and WiMAX operations is reported in this article. The antenna consists of a flower shaped slot which is fed with a 50‐Ω microstrip line terminated with a circular patch stub. The measured results show that it offers a wide, 115.2% fractional bandwidth (from 2.11 to 7.84 GHz). Moreover, desirable radiation performance characteristics, including relatively stable and omnidirectional radiation patterns, are obtained over this range. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1465–1468, 2014
Design of low voltage RF MEMS switch at 35 GHz
Authors: Kommuri Usha Kiran
Published: March 2014

The micromachining technique offers potential for bulk fabrication of miniature components at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies. Critical components of integrated RF front ends are RF switches. High isolation, voltage, and low stress are important characteristics depended by these applications. At higher frequency end, that is, at 35 GHz, achieving a low pull‐in voltage is difficult as the overlapping area between the tx‐line and beam (shunt). In this article, we present a low voltage, low stress, and high isolation shunt design at 35 GHz. Here, to achieve low voltage and low stress, the hinges that are attached to the beam are slight off‐set toward inside than at ends. The proposed switches have good isolation, low insertion loss, and a low pull‐in voltage at 35 GHz. Both electromagnetic and electromechanical modeling of the proposed switch designs is studied. The electromagnetic modeling is done using electromagnetic solver CST, whereas the electromechanical modeling is carried out using CoventerWare. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1483–1486, 2014
Oxytocin regulates the expression of aquaporin 5 in the late‐pregnant rat uterus
Authors: Ducza Eszter , Seres Adrienn B. , Hajagos‐Tóth Judit , Falkay George , Gáspár Róbert
Published: March 2014

Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane channels responsible for the transport of water across a cell membrane. Based on reports that AQPs are present and accumulate in the female reproductive tract late in pregnancy, our aim was to study the expression of AQP isoforms (AQP1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9) at the end of pregnancy in rat in order to determine if they play a role in parturition. Reverse‐transcriptase PCR revealed that specific Aqp mRNAs were detectable in the myometrium of non‐pregnant and late‐pregnancy (Days 18, 20, 21, and 22 of pregnancy) rat uteri. The expression of Aqp5 mRNA and protein were most pronounced on Days 18–21, and were dramatically decreased on Day 22 of pregnancy. In contrast, a significant increase was found in the level of Aqp5 transcript in whole‐blood samples on the last day of pregnancy. The effect of oxytocin on myometrial Aqp5 expression in an organ bath was also investigated. The level of Aqp5 mRNA significantly decreased 5 min after oxytocin (10−8 M) administration, similarly to its profile on the day of delivery; this effect was sensitive to the oxytocin antagonist atosiban. The vasopressin analog desmopressin (3.7 × 10−8 M), on the other hand, did not alter the expression of Aqp5, but did increased the amount of Aqp2 mRNA, an effect that was atosiban‐resistant. These results lead us to propose that oxytocin selectively influences the expression of Aqp5 at the end of pregnancy, and may participate in events that lead to parturition in the rat. The sudden increase of AQP5 in the blood on the last day of pregnancy may serve as a marker that indicates the initiation of delivery. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 524–530, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microplane damage model for jointed rock masses
Authors: Chen Xin , Bažant Zdeněk P.
Published: March 2014

The paper presents a new microplane constitutive model for the inelastic behavior of jointed rock masses that takes into account the mechanical behavior and geometric characteristics of cracks and joints. The basic idea is that the microplane modeling of rock masses under general triaxial loading, including compression, requires the isotropic rock matrix and the joints to be considered as two distinct phases coupled in parallel. A joint continuity factor is defined as a microplane damage variable to represent the stress‐carrying area fraction of the joint phase. Based on the assumption of parallel coupling between the rock joint and the rock matrix, the overall mechanical behavior of the rock is characterized by microplane constitutive laws for the rock matrix and for the rock joints, along with an evolution law for the microplane joint continuity factor. The inelastic response of the rock matrix and the rock joints is controlled on the microplane level by the stress–strain boundaries. Based on the arguments enunciated in developing the new microplane model M7 for concrete, the previously used volumetric–deviatoric splits of the elastic strains and of the tensile boundary are avoided. The boundaries are tensile normal, compressive normal, and shear. The numerical simulations demonstrate satisfactory fits of published triaxial test data on sandstone and on jointed plaster mortar, including quintessential features such as the strain softening and dilatancy under low confining pressure, as well as the brittle–ductile transition under higher confining pressure, and the decrease of jointed rock strength and Young's modulus with an increasing dip angle of the joint. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new contact algorithm in the material point method for geotechnical simulations
Authors: Ma J. , Wang D. , Randolph M.F.
Published: March 2014

Contact between stiff structural elements and soil is encountered in many applications in geotechnical engineering. Modelling of such contact is challenging as it often involves impact that would lead to large deformation and failure of the soil. The Material Point Method (MPM) is a mesh‐free method that has been applied to simulate such phenomena. However, the frictional contact algorithm commonly used in MPM only supports Coulomb friction and cannot model fully or partially rough contact conditions in terms of geotechnical engineering. Moreover, because of very different stiffness of contacting materials, the contact force predicted by the previous frictional contact algorithms usually suffers from severe oscillation when applied in structure–soil interaction.

This paper presents a new contact algorithm, termed Geo‐contact, designed for geotechnical engineering. In Geo‐contact, a penalty function is incorporated to reduce the oscillation in contact computation, and a limited shear stress is specified along the contact interface. The proposed Geo‐contact algorithm has been implemented to simulate smooth, partially rough and rough contact in typical large deformation penetration problems. The resistance–displacement curves obtained using the Geo‐contact are compared with analytical solutions of limit analysis and large deformation finite element results to verify the accuracy and robustness of the proposed contact algorithm. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Economic evaluation of “healthy beginnings” an early childhood intervention to prevent obesity
Authors: Hayes Alison , Lung Tom , Wen Li Ming , Baur Louise , Rissel Chris , Howard Kirsten
Published: March 2014

Objective

To determine the costs and cost‐effectiveness of an early childhood home visiting program delivered to families in socio‐economically disadvantaged areas of Sydney, Australia during 2007‐2010.

Methods

Economic evaluation of a randomized controlled trial, the healthy beginnings (HB) trial, from the perspective of the health funder. Intervention resources were determined from local health district records in 2012 $AUD. Health‐care resource utilization was determined through patient‐level data linkage.

Results

The cost of HB intervention in the clinical trial over 2 years was $1309 per child (2012 $AUD). The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was $4230 per unit BMI avoided and $631 per 0.1 reduction in BMI z‐score. It was estimated that the program could be delivered in practice for $709 per child; with incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios of $2697 per unit BMI avoided and $376 per 0.1 reduction in BMI z‐score.

Conclusions

We present the first economic evaluation of an effective obesity prevention initiative in early childhood. HB is a moderately priced intervention with demonstrated effectiveness that offers similar or better value for money than existing obesity prevention or treatment interventions targeted at older children.
Preparation and characterization of polyethersulfone/silver nanocomposite ultrafiltration membrane for antibacterial applications
Authors: Toroghi Mohaddeseh , Raisi Ahmadreza , Aroujalian Abdolreza
Published: March 2014

Antimicrobial ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by coating silver nanoparticles on the surface of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes which were fabricated via phase inversion induced by the immersion precipitation technique, and their morphology and performance were compared with the antimicrobial PES membranes synthesized by adding the silver nanoparticles into the casting solution during the phase inversion process. For this purpose, stable and uniform colloidal solutions of the silver nanoparticles were prepared by chemical reduction of silver salt using fructose and dimethylformamide as a reducing agent. The silver nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction and dynamic light scattering analysis. The morphology and surface properties of the prepared membranes were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analysis. Moreover, the separation properties, antimicrobial efficiency and amount of silver release from the PES nanocomposite membranes during the cross flow ultrafiltration were determined. The results indicated that the silver content of the coated PES membranes was greater than the membranes fabricated by the solution blending method. Also, the permeation flux of the silver‐coated membranes was similar to the neat PES membranes, while the membranes prepared by the second approach had less flux. The membranes synthesized by both coating and blending methods showed high antimicrobial and bactericidal activity against gram‐negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and gram‐positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, the prepared antimicrobial membranes were successfully used for the ultrafiltration of raw milk to reduce the microbial load during the concentration process. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Orthogonal multifunctionalization of aliphatic polycarbonate via sequential Michael addition and radical‐thiol‐ene click reactions
Authors: Uysal Bilal Bugra , Gunay Ufuk Saim , Hizal Gurkan , Tunca Umit
Published: March 2014

Aliphatic polycarbonate (PC) copolymer is synthesized by ring opening copolymerization of acrylate‐ and allyl‐functional cyclic carbonate monomers. The post‐polymerization functionalization of the resulting copolymer is performed quantitatively using a variety of thiol compounds via sequential Michael addition and photo‐induced radical thiol‐ene click reactions within relatively short reaction time at ambient temperature. This metal‐free click chemistry methodology affords the synthesis of biocompatible PC copolymer with multifunctional groups. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 1581–1587