bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognosis for patients with metastatic breast cancer who achieve a no‐evidence‐of‐disease status after systemic or local therapy
Authors: Bishop Andrew J. , Ensor Joe , Moulder Stacy L. , Shaitelman Simona F. , Edson Mark A. , Whitman Gary J. , Bishnoi Sandra , Hoffman Karen E. , Stauder Michael C. , Valero Vicente , Buchholz Thomas A. , Ueno Naoto T. , Babiera Gildy , Woodward Wendy A.
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND

This study sought to determine outcomes for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with no evidence of disease (NED) after treatment and to identify factors predictive of outcomes once the status of NED was attained.

METHODS

This study reviewed 570 patients with MBC who were consecutively treated between January 2003 and December 2005. Ninety patients (16%) attained NED, which was defined as a complete metabolic response on positron emission tomography or sclerotic healing of bone metastases on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The median follow‐up for patients attaining NED was 100 months (range, 14‐134 months).

RESULTS

The 3‐ and 5‐year overall survival (OS) rates were 44% and 24%, respectively, for the entire group and 96% and 78%, respectively, for those attaining NED. According to a landmark analysis, NED status was significantly associated with survival at 2 (P < .001; hazard ratio [HR], 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16‐0.34) and 3 years (P < .001; HR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.14‐0.30). From the time of NED, the median survival was 102 months (range, 14‐134 months) with 5‐year OS and progression‐free survival (PFS) rates of 77% and 40%, respectively. According to a multivariate analysis, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positivity was significantly associated with OS in comparison with estrogen receptor positivity (P = .02; HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.21‐0.90), and trastuzumab use was significantly associated with PFS (P = .007; HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28‐0.82). Thirty‐one patients (34%) with NED remained in remission at the last follow‐up.

CONCLUSIONS

MBC patients who attain the status of NED have significantly prolonged survival with a durable response to therapy. Ultimately, this study provides essential outcome data for clinicians and patients living with MBC. Cancer 2015;121:4324–32. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Brush cytology for the detection of high‐risk HPV infection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Broglie Martina A. , Jochum Wolfram , Förbs Diana , Schönegg René , Stoeckli Sandro J.
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND

High‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) infection is associated with improved prognosis and a better response to treatment in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Brush cytology is a noninvasive method with which to collect cells from the surface of mucosal lesions. The objective of the current study was to assess the performance of OPSCC brush cytology for the detection of HR‐HPV.

METHODS

Liquid‐based brush cytology specimens were prospectively collected during panendoscopy from 51 patients with OPSCC. Cell suspensions were analyzed with Papanicolaou staining, polymerase chain reaction‐based HPV DNA testing, and p16 immunostaining. HPV testing and p16 staining were also performed on paired OPSCC biopsy or surgical resection specimens. The detection of HR‐HPV DNA alone and the combined positivity for HR‐HPV DNA and p16 protein in dysplastic squamous cells were used to calculate accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for HR‐HPV detection using brush cytology samples.

RESULTS

Approximately 96% of OPSCC brush cytology samples (49 of 51 samples) were classified as satisfactory for evaluation. Dysplastic squamous cells were found in 88% of samples (43 of 49 samples). HPV DNA testing was conclusive in 95% of samples (41 of 43 samples) and revealed HR‐HPV DNA in approximately 54% of patients (22 of 41 patients) (HPV type 16 in 19 patients and HPV type 33 in 3 patients). Approximately 49% of brush cytology samples (20 of 41 samples) were positive for HR‐HPV DNA and p16 expression. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of brush cytology to identify HR‐HPV DNA‐positive and p16‐positive OPSCC samples were 88%, 83%, 94%, 95%, and 81%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Brush cytology appears to be a valid approach with which to determine the HR‐HPV status of patients with OPSCC. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2015;123:732–738. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Sensing Characteristics of a Graphene‐like Boron Carbide Monolayer towards Selected Toxic Gases
Authors: Mahabal Manasi S. , Deshpande Mrinalini D. , Hussain Tanveer , Ahuja Rajeev
Published: September 2015

By using first‐principles calculations based on density functional theory, we study the adsorption efficiency of a BC3 sheet for various gases, such as CO, CO2, NO, NO2, and NH3. The optimal adsorption position and orientation of these gas molecules on the BC3 surface is determined and the adsorption energies are calculated. Among the gas molecules, CO2 is predicted to be weakly adsorbed on the graphene‐like BC3 sheet, whereas the NH3 gas molecule shows a strong interaction with the BC3 sheet. The charge transfer between the molecules and the sheet is discussed in terms of Bader charge analysis and density of states. The calculated work function of BC3 in the presence of CO, CO2, and NO is greater than that of a bare BC3 sheet. The decrease in the work function of BC3 sheets in the presence of NO2 and NH3 further explains the affinity of the sheet towards the gas molecules. The energy gap of the BC3 sheets is sensitive to the adsorption of the gas molecules, which implies possible future applications in gas sensors.
Reducible Amino Acid Based Cationic Lipids as Highly Efficient and Serum‐Tolerant Gene Vectors
Authors: Zheng Li‐Ting , Yi Wen‐Jing , Su Rong‐Chuan , Liu Qiang , Zhao Zhi‐Gang
Published: September 2015

In this study, two cationic lipids, each containing an α‐tocopherol moiety and a biocompatible amino acid headgroup (histidine or lysine) linked through a biodegradable disulfide and carbamate bond, were prepared and evaluated in cell culture as nonviral gene delivery vectors. The physicochemical properties of these lipids, including size, zeta potential and cellular uptake of the lipoplexes formed with DNA, as well as the transfection efficacy (TE), were investigated. The results show that the chemical structure of the cationic headgroup affects the physicochemical parameters of these amino acid based lipids and especially the TE. In addition to their low cytotoxicity, these lipoplexes also showed comparable TE with the commercially available Lipofectamine 2000. The TE of the cationic lipid based on histidine was especially high, and was 4.3 times higher than that of a branched polyethylenimine in the presence of 10 % serum. These results demonstrate the promise of amino acid based lipids for safe and efficient gene delivery.
Acid‐Assisted Ball Milling of Cellulose as an Efficient Pretreatment Process for the Production of Butyl Glycosides
Authors: Boissou Florent , Sayoud Nassim , De Oliveira Vigier Karine , Barakat Abdellatif , Marinkovic Sinisa , Estrine Boris , Jérôme François
Published: September 2015

Ball milling of cellulose in the presence of a catalytic amount of H2SO4 was found to be a promising pre‐treatment process to produce butyl glycosides in high yields. Conversely to the case of water, n‐butanol has only a slight effect on the recrystallization of ball‐milled cellulose. As a result, thorough depolymerization of cellulose prior the glycosylation step is no longer required, which is a pivotal aspect with respect to energy consumption. This process was successfully transposed to wheat straw from which butyl glycosides and xylosides were produced in good yields. Butyl glycosides and xylosides are important chemicals as they can be used as hydrotropes but also as intermediates in the production of valuable amphiphilic alkyl glycosides.
Connecting Direct C−H Arylation Reactions with Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: A Shortcut to D–A–π–A Organic Dyes
Authors: Lin Po‐Han , Lu Te‐Jui , Cai Deng‐Jhou , Lee Kun‐Mu , Liu Ching‐Yuan
Published: September 2015

A step‐economical synthetic strategy is developed to target thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD)‐based D–A–π–A organic dyes for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Through sequential Pd‐catalyzed direct C−H (hetero)arylation reaction, synthesis of the push–pull‐type small molecules is reduced from the traditional six steps to two steps. In this report, we focus on the optimization of the key C−H monoarylation of TPD by screening ligands, acid additives, bases, and solvents. The reaction proves versatile toward new D–A–π–A organic dyes with a variety of different donor groups, and several derivatives are efficiently prepared under optimum reaction conditions. The sensitive aldehyde functionality that is a required intermediate for conversion into anchoring groups for TiO2 is well tolerated. Based on our synthetic study, DSSCs are fabricated and characterized using two designed sensitizers. The photovoltaic characterization of the devices affords an open‐circuit voltage of 0.60–0.69 V, a short‐circuit current density of 10.85–11.07 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 69.9–70.8 %, which corresponds to an overall power conversion efficiency of 4.61–5.33 %.
Liver dysfunction in patients with severe anorexia nervosa
Authors: Rosen Elissa , Sabel Allison L. , Brinton John T. , Catanach Brittany , Gaudiani Jennifer L. , Mehler Philip S.
Published: September 2015

Objective

Evaluation of liver dysfunction in patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) has typically been limited to small case series. We report an investigation into the admission characteristics and clinical outcomes associated with liver dysfunction in a large cohort of adults hospitalized for medical stabilization of severe AN.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated electronic medical records to quantify the cumulative incidence of elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). We compared mean (±SD), frequencies (%), and median (IQR) values of clinical covariates of interest by incidence of liver enzyme elevation. The study included 181 adults, admitted for medical stabilization of AN, from October 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013.

Results

AST and ALT were mildly elevated in 27.6% of patients and severely elevated (more than three times the upper limit of normal) in 35.4% of patients. On admission, patients with severely elevated liver enzymes had a lower body mass index (BMI) (11.9 ± 1.8 kg/m2 vs.13.3 ± 1.7 kg/m2), lower percentage ideal body weight (56.5% ± 7.7% vs. 63.5% ± 8.3%), and lower prealbumin (64% vs. 37%) compared with the rest of the cohort (p < 0.001). While hospitalized, patients with severely elevated liver enzymes more often developed hypoglycemia, hypophosphatemia, and experienced longer lengths of stay (p < 0.001).

Discussion

Elevated liver enzymes are common in our patient population with severe AN. Liver enzymes reached near normal values by the time of discharge. Severely elevated liver enzymes were associated with a lower BMI and the development of hypoglycemia. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:151–158).
Evacuation Guidance and Agent Behavior in Evacuation Simulations
Authors: OKAYA MASARU , TAKAHASHI TOMOICHI
Published: September 2015

Evacuation guidance and announcements are important for occupants to exit buildings during an emergency. However, it has been reported that such guidance and announcements have not been used effectively in real cases. The National Institute of Standards and Technology published reports on the World Trade Center collapse on September 11, 2001. The reports include data on evacuation behaviors of occupants and how they obtained information during their egress. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Japanese government conducted an investigation into how people behaved during that disaster. The evacuation behaviors of people are similar in both cases. The behaviors are categorized into three groups: instant evacuation, evacuation after tasks are completed, and emergent evacuation. We present a system in which evacuation guidance is implemented as a form of agent communication and show how the content of guidance alters the escape time.
Gut commensal microbes do not represent a dominant antigenic source for continuous CD4+ T‐cell activation during HIV‐1 infection
Authors: Zimmermann Kathrin , Bastidas Sonia , Knecht Leandra , Kuster Herbert , Vavricka Stephan R. , Günthard Huldrych F. , Oxenius Annette
Published: September 2015

Chronic immune activation is a hallmark of HIV‐1 infection; specifically, the activation of T cells has predictive value for progression to AIDS. The majority of hyperactivated T cells are not HIV‐specific and their antigenic specificities remain poorly understood. Translocation of gut luminal microbial products to systemic sites contributes to chronic immune activation during HIV‐1 infection, but how it affects (TCR‐dependent) immune activation remains elusive. We hypothesized that gut luminal antigens foster activation of CD4+ T cells with specificities for commensal bacterial antigens, thereby contributing to the pool of activated CD4+ T cells in the circulation of HIV‐1 infected individuals. To test this hypothesis, we quantified the frequencies of gut microbe‐specific CD4+ T cells by cytokine production upon restimulation with selected gut commensal microbial antigens. Contrary to our hypothesis, we did not observe increased but rather decreased frequencies of gut microbe‐specific CD4+ T cells in HIV‐1 infected individuals compared to healthy controls. We conclude that the increased activation status of circulating CD4+ T cells in HIV‐1 infected individuals is not driven by CD4+ T cells with specificities for commensal bacterial antigens.
Solvent‐modified MEKC for the enantioseparation of palonosetron hydrochloride and related enantiomeric impurities
Authors: Hu Shao‐Qiang , Shi Hai‐Jun , Yu Hui , Dong Jie , Guo Xu‐Ming
Published: September 2015

The effect of ten water‐soluble organic solvents on MEKC separation of palonosetron hydrochloride (PALO) stereoisomers using sodium cholate (SC) as chiral selector has been studied. The first chiral CE method fit for the analysis of unwanted PALO distomers (enantiomeric impurities) of low concentrations in the presence of high concentration of the main eutomer has been developed, based on solvent‐modified MEKC mode. It was found that methanol provides the best separation among the solvents tested. And an SC concentration of 30 mM is proper to provide good resolutions in shorter time and adequate sample capacity, instead of 70 mM as previously reported. The developed method can be used to analyze unwanted PALO distomers of a few micrograms per milliliter in the presence of the main eutomer with a concentration as high as 1.0 mg/mL.
Prioritizing human pharmaceuticals for ecological risks in the freshwater environment of Korea
Authors: Ji Kyunghee , Han Eun Jeong , Back Sunhyoung , Park Jeongim , Ryu Jisung , Choi Kyungho
Published: September 2015

Pharmaceutical residues are potential threats to aquatic ecosystems. Because more than 3000 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are in use, identifying high-priority pharmaceuticals is important for developing appropriate management options. Priority pharmaceuticals may vary by geographical region, because their occurrence levels can be influenced by demographic, societal, and regional characteristics. In the present study, the authors prioritized human pharmaceuticals of potential ecological risk in the Korean water environment, based on amount of use, biological activity, and regional hydrologic characteristics. For this purpose, the authors estimated the amounts of annual production of 695 human APIs in Korea. Then derived predicted environmental concentrations, using 2 approaches, to develop an initial candidate list of target pharmaceuticals. Major antineoplastic drugs and hormones were added in the initial candidate list regardless of their production amount because of their high biological activity potential. The predicted no effect concentrations were derived for those pharmaceuticals based on ecotoxicity information available in the literature or by model prediction. Priority lists of human pharmaceuticals were developed based on ecological risks and availability of relevant information. Those priority APIs identified include acetaminophen, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, metformin, and norethisterone. Many of these pharmaceuticals have been neither adequately monitored nor assessed for risks in Korea. Further efforts are needed to improve these lists and to develop management decisions for these compounds in Korean water. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1028–1036. © 2015 SETAC
Statistical performance of CO2 leakage detection using seismic travel time measurements
Authors: Wang Zan , Small Mitchell J.
Published: September 2015

Monitoring for possible CO2 leakage is an important part of a safe and effective geological sequestration program. Seismic monitoring has been implemented in several pilot sequestration sites for site characterization and CO2 leakage detection. This study evaluates the detection power of seismic wave travel time measurements and statistical tests at different CO2 leakage rate levels. A simplified rock physics model is assumed for monitoring zones at sequestration sites and the effects of leakage‐induced changes in pressure and CO2 saturation on P‐wave travel times are modeled. The empirical distributions of detection power using the P‐wave travel time for four regions in the permeability‐porosity input space at four leakage levels are obtained from the Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis with a stochastic response surface method. The detection power using the P‐wave travel time measurements and test alone is generally not high enough, unless the porosity and the permeability of the monitoring zone are high, and/or a long period of time has elapsed since the leakage occurred. For monitoring layers with lower permeability and porosity, measurements from other monitoring techniques will likely be needed to increase the probability that leakage events are detected and addressed in a timely manner. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Transcription factors Sox5 and Sox6 exert direct and indirect influences on oligodendroglial migration in spinal cord and forebrain
Authors: Baroti Tina , Zimmermann Yvonne , Schillinger Anja , Liu Lina , Lommes Petra , Wegner Michael , Stolt C. Claus
Published: September 2015

Transcription factors of the SoxD protein family have previously been shown to prevent precocious specification and terminal differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the developing spinal cord. Using mice with specific deletion of the SoxD proteins Sox5 and Sox6 in the central nervous system, we now show that SoxD proteins additionally influence migration of oligodendrocyte progenitors in the spinal cord as well as in the forebrain. In mutant mice, emigration of oligodendrocyte progenitors from the ventricular zone and colonization of the mantle zone are significantly delayed probably because of reduced expression of Pdgf receptor alpha and decreased responsiveness toward Pdgf‐A as a main migratory cue. In addition to this direct cell‐autonomous effect on Pdgf receptor alpha expression, SoxD proteins furthermore promote oligodendroglial migration by keeping the cells in an undifferentiated state and preventing a premature loss of their migratory capacity. This indirect effect becomes particularly important during late embryonic and early postnatal phases of oligodendroglial development. Finally, we show that Sox5 and Sox6 cooperate with Sox9 and Sox10 to activate Pdgf receptor alpha expression and thereby maintain oligodendrocyte progenitors in the immature state. This contrasts with their behavior on myelin genes where they antagonize the function of SoxE proteins. It argues that SoxD proteins can function either as repressors or as co‐activators of SoxE proteins thereby modulating their function in a stage‐specific manner. GLIA 2016;64:122–138
Application of infrared‐based molecular imaging to a mouse model with head and neck cancer
Authors: Tanaka Nobuaki , Lajud Shayanne A. , Ramsey Andrew , Szymanowski Adam R. , Ruffner Randall , O'Malley Bert W. , Li Daqing
Published: September 2015

Abstact

Background

This study investigated whether near infrared (NIR) or visible fluorescent molecular imaging produced a better representation of a mouse model with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Additionally, the study explored whether epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐targeted probes could play an important role in the diagnosis of HNSCC.

Methods

An orthotopic mouse model of HNSCC labeled with the NIR fluorophore, infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP), was developed and monitored noninvasively in real time. The tumors were further evaluated using tumor‐specific EGFR‐targeted probes conjugated with an NIR dye (IRDye800), or a visible fluorescent protein.

Results

The iRFP cell line produced better results than cells emitting visible light when studying local, distant, and deep tumors in the mouse model. The EGFR‐targeted probe conjugated with IRDye800 accurately detected tumor perimeters.

Conclusion

This model has great potential as a unique tool in the study of HNSCC tumor development. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1351–E1357, 2016
Response of Maize Growth and Yield to Different Water and Nitrogen Schemes on Very Coarse Sandy Loam Soil Under Sprinkler Irrigation in the Semi‐Arid Region of China
Authors: Wen Jiangli , Li Jiusheng , Li Yanfeng
Published: September 2015

Farmers are being encouraged to shift from conventional surface irrigation to sprinkler irrigation in the semi‐arid region where coarse‐textured soil is predominant in order to improve irrigation efficiency, but their irrigation and fertilization are currently scheduled by the traditional methods obtained from surface irrigation due to insufficient knowledge of the relatively new technology of sprinkler irrigation. This often results in an inefficient use of water and nutrients and a decreased crop yield. The objective of this paper was to quantify the response of maize growth, nitrogen uptake, yield, yield components, water productivity and nitrogen agronomic efficiency to different irrigation and nitrogen application rates under semi‐arid conditions and to determine an optimal irrigation and nitrogen regime for sprinkler irrigation. Field experiments were conducted on a very coarse sandy soil irrigated by a lateral move sprinkler system in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2012 and 2013. Three irrigation levels of 40, 70 and 100% of evapotranspiration (ETc) and four nitrogen application rates of 80, 160, 240 and 320 kg ha‐1 were tested in 2012. Whereas in 2013, four irrigation levels of 40, 70, 100 and 130% of ETc and four nitrogen application rates similar to the 2012 experiments were used. For the very coarse soil tested, the irrigation level demonstrated a substantially more important influence on plant growth than nitrogen application rate. A higher irrigation level produced a significantly greater plant height, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter above ground, plant nitrogen uptake, yield and nitrogen agronomic efficiencies (NAE) when irrigation level was between 40 and 100% ETc. However, when the irrigation level exceeded 100% ETc, a reduced yield and NAE was observed. In 2012, the nitrogen application rate of 160 kg ha‐1 usually gave a slightly higher yield and irrigation water productivity (IWP). Whereas in 2013, the nitrogen application rate of 240 kg ha‐1 resulted in the greatest yield and IWP. No significant difference in yield, IWP and NAE was observed between the treatments with nitrogen application rates of 160 and 240 kg ha‐1 for both 2012 and 2013 experiments. A management practice of irrigation at 100% ETc, along with nitrogen application rate of 160 kg ha‐1, was therefore recommended. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Palliative electro‐chemotherapy in elderly patients with vulvar cancer: A phase II trial
Authors: Perrone Anna M. , Cima Simona , Pozzati Federica , Frakulli Rezarta , Cammelli Silvia , Tesei Marco , Gasparre Giuseppe , Galuppi Andrea , Morganti Alessio G. , De Iaco Pierandrea
Published: September 2015

Objective

The primary endpoint of this trial was to assess clinical response (cCR) of squamocellular vulvar cancer (V‐SCC) in elderly patients treated with electro‐chemotherapy (ECT). Secondary endpoints were symptoms relief and local tumor control.

Methods

A phase II study was designed and elderly patients with V‐SCC unfit for other treatments were treated. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST criteria) were applied to evaluate tumor response. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated by visual analogue score (VAS) for pain and four items of vulvar cancer subscale (VCS), of functional assessment of vulvar cancer therapy (FACT‐V) [16], before, one month after the procedure and during follow‐up.

Results

Median age was 85 years (range 66–96 years). One month after treatment complete response was observed in 13 patients (52%), partial response in 7 (28%), stable disease in 3 (12%), and progressive disease in 2 (8%). Local tumor control at 1 and 6 months was 91% and 53%, respectively. Symptom free survival at 1 and 6 months was 78% and 40%, respectively, with significant reduction of pain (P < 0.01). One‐year overall survival was 34%.

Conclusions

Our study showed that ECT produces high response rate with significant reduction of pain and improvement of local symptoms. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015; 112:529–532. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A model to predict upstaging to invasive carcinoma in patients preoperatively diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast
Authors: Kondo Takafumi , Hayashi Naoki , Ohde Sachiko , Suzuki Koyu , Yoshida Atsushi , Yagata Hiroshi , Niikura Naoki , Iwamoto Takayuki , Kida Kumiko , Murai Michiko , Takahashi Yuko , Tsunoda Hiroko , Nakamura Seigo , Yamauchi Hideko
Published: September 2015

Background

The aims of this study were to determine clinicopathological factors associated with postoperative upstaging to invasive carcinoma in patients preoperatively diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and to develop a model to predict the risk of upstaging.

Methods

Pre‐ and post‐operative pathological diagnoses and radiological findings were assessed for 1,187 consecutive patients.

Results

Of the patients, 306 (25.8%) were upstaged on the surgical specimen. In multivariate analysis, the following four factors were significantly associated with upstaging: 1) the presence of sclerosing adenosis on the preoperative biopsy specimen (odds ratio [OR] 0.46, P = 0.013); 2) pleomorphic calcifications on the mammogram (OR 1.68, P = 0.009); 3) a mass suspicious for invasive carcinoma on ultrasonography and/or MRI (OR 2.13, P < 0.001); 4) tumor size ≥2 cm on ultrasonography (OR 1.80, P = 0.032). HER2‐positive (OR 1.54, P = 0.062) and comedo necrosis (OR 1.42, P = 0.056) demonstrated a trend towards significance. A prediction model incorporating these variables demonstrated that the risk of upstaging was 5.1% with score 0–2 and was 58.1% with score 10.

Conclusions

The prediction model incorporating clinicopathological features may be used to guide the selection of patients with DCIS for sentinel lymph node biopsy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015; 112:476–480. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Treatment strategies for primary early‐stage sinonasal adenocarcinoma: A retrospective bi‐institutional case‐control study
Authors: Turri‐Zanoni Mario , Battaglia Paolo , Lambertoni Alessia , Giovannardi Marta , Schreiber Alberto , Volpi Luca , Bolzoni‐Villaret Andrea , Lombardi Davide , Bignami Maurizio , Magnoli Francesca , Facco Carla , Antognoni Paolo , Nicolai Piero , Castelnuovo Paolo
Published: September 2015

Objective

To investigate different treatment strategies for primary early‐stage (pT1‐T2) sinonasal adenocarcinomas.

Methods

Retrospective case‐control study. From 2000 to 2011, 61 cases were radically resected using an endoscopic endonasal approach. Surgery as a single treatment modality was adopted for 33 patients (study group) while it was followed by postoperative radiotherapy (poRT) in 28 patients (control group).

Results

Median follow‐up was 61 and 67 months for the study and control group respectively. Patients were stratified according to the pT classification and no statistically significant differences were found in terms of Overall (OS) and Recurrence‐free (RFS) survival. When analyzing the high‐grade tumors (47 cases), statistically significant differences were observed between the control and study groups both in terms of OS (90.5% ± 6.5% versus 57.6% ± 15.4%, P = 0.03) and RFS (92.3% ± 7.39% versus 80.2% ± 8.88%, P = 0.05). Using multivariate analysis, OS was independently determined by poRT (Hazard Ratio = 0.16; P = 0.03) thus confirming its protective role for high‐grade adenocarcinomas.

Conclusion

Our preliminary results suggest that endoscopic endonasal surgery could be used as a single treatment modality for primary early‐stage low‐grade sinonasal adenocarcinoma, resected with negative margins. Surgery followed by poRT offers the best treatment strategy not only for advanced‐stage lesions but also for high‐grade adenocarcinomas, regardless of the stage of disease at presentation. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015; 112:561–567. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Weather affects diet composition of rusty blackbirds wintering in suburban landscapes
Authors: Newell Wohner Patti J. , Cooper Robert J. , Greenberg Russell S. , Schweitzer Sara H.
Published: September 2015

The rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) is a species of conservation concern throughout its range and the cause of the species' population decline is unknown. We studied diet composition of rusty blackbirds with stable isotope mixing models in suburban landscapes in the southeastern United States. We captured blackbirds in Georgia and South Carolina from 2009 to 2012, and estimated proportions of earthworm, other animals, pecan, and acorn incorporated into individual diets. On the Piedmont Plateau, terrestrial and aquatic earthworms constituted the largest proportion incorporated into the diet (39% ± 2.9; mean ± SD by site and year) and animals other than earthworms (mostly larval invertebrates Odonata and Diptera) constituted 27% ± 12.9. In contrast, on the Coastal Plain, which featured milder winters than the Piedmont, earthworms constituted a lower proportion (19% ± 1.2) of incorporated food items and animals other than earthworms comprised 62% ± 3.3% of the diet. Increased incorporation of earthworms in the diet was related to increased upcoming precipitation and daily maximum temperature. Rusty blackbirds incorporated more tree mast into their diet on the Piedmont Plateau than the Coastal Plain. Increased incorporation of tree mast was related to advancing cold temperature. Mast, including crushed pecans (Carya illinoenensis) and pre‐opened small‐seeded red oak (Quercus spp.) acorns, is a high‐lipid dietary component of blackbirds wintering in colder climates, and is incorporated prior to extreme cold weather. Therefore, planting mast trees, especially lipid‐rich pecan, could be used to augment resources in known rusty blackbird wintering hotspots. Maintaining shallowly flooded wetlands with a fluctuating water regime and residential lawns with abundant red oak (Quercus spp.) leaf litter would promote acorn and invertebrate resources including earthworms. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Evaluation of harvest indices for monitoring cougar survival and abundance
Authors: Wolfe Michael L. , Gese Eric M. , Terletzky Pat , Stoner David C. , Aubry Lise M.
Published: September 2015

Harvest indices are used by state wildlife management agencies to monitor population trends and set harvest quotas for furbearer species. Although harvest indices may be readily collected from hunters, the reliability of harvest indices for monitoring demography and abundance of the harvested species is rarely examined, particularly amongst large carnivores. The overall objective of this study was to assess whether cougar (Puma concolor) harvest statistics collected by wildlife managers were correlated with changes in cougar demography, mainly survival rates and abundance. We estimated key demographic parameters for 2 cougar populations in Utah over 17 years during which we monitored 235 radio‐collared cougars. We then compared these demographic parameters to harvest statistics provided by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources over the same time period for the Oquirrh‐Stansbury (lightly harvested population) and Monroe (heavily harvested population) harvest management units. In the Oquirrh‐Stansbury unit, the percent of harvested cougars >6 years old was positively correlated with annual survival, indicative of a population experiencing several years of high survival resulting in an older age structure. Percent of permits filled and cougar abundance were also significantly correlated, suggesting higher hunting success with increased density. In the Monroe management unit, the annual percent of permits filled was correlated with changes in overall annual survival and male and female annual survival. Of utmost importance, pursuit success (cougars treed/day) increased with the number of cougars on the unit suggesting that pursuit indices may be an informative metric for wildlife managers to determine cougar population trends. Because both management units were subjected to contrasting mortality regimes, results provided by this assessment could potentially be applied to additional management areas sharing similar ecological characteristics and harvest metrics. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Unusual percolation threshold of electromagnetic waves in double‐zero medium embedded with random inclusions
Authors: Luo Jie , Hang Zhi Hong , Chan C. T. , Lai Yun
Published: September 2015

By investigating the transmission of electromagnetic waves through random media composed of a random cluster of inclusions embedded in a “double‐zero” medium with simultaneously near‐zero permittivity and permeability, a percolation behavior of photons squeezing through the gaps between random inclusions with unity transmittance is observed. Interestingly, such a percolation exhibits a threshold induced by the long‐range connectivity of the “nonconducting” component in the transverse direction instead of the “conducting” component in the propagation direction, which is distinctly different from those in normal percolations. This unusual phenomenon, obtained by full wave simulations, is explained analytically through the introduction of a geometric concept hereby denoted as “free surfaces”. This work reveals a unique type of percolation threshold for electromagnetic waves with potential applications in energy harvesting, sensors and switches.

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Finely Formed, Kinetically Modulated Wrinkle Structures in UV‐Crosslinkable Liquid Prepolymers
Authors: Park Seung Koo , Kwark Young‐Je , Moon Jaehyun , Joo Chul Woong , Yu Byounggon , Lee Jeong‐Ik
Published: September 2015

Special characteristics of wrinkles such as a scattering source and a high surface area are finding use in high‐tech applications. UV‐crosslinkable prepolymers are occasionally used for fabricating wrinkled films. Wavelength of the wrinkles formed from the prepolymers is several tens and hundreds of micrometers. Here, a UV‐crosslinkable liquid prepolymer is synthesized to spontaneously form wrinkle structures in the order of several micrometers. Double layers with a very thin hard skin and a soft and contractible foundation are formed at the same time, by ensuring that all the absorbance wavelengths of the photoinitiator are shorter than the minimum wavelength at which the prepolymer is transparent. The rate of photo‐crosslinking reaction, Rp, is also found to affect the thickness of the skin and foundation layers at the early UV‐curing stage. The first‐order apparent rate constant, kapp, is between ≈0.20 and ≈0.69 s−1 for the wrinkle formation. This wrinkle structures can be simply modulated by changing Rp.

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Precision Polyolefin Nanoalloy Polypropylene/Poly(ε‐caprolactone)
Authors: Liu Yuan , Wang Ning , Dong Jin‐Yong
Published: September 2015

This communication reports the first example of precision polyolefin nanoalloys where an exotic immiscible polymer is nanometrically dispersed with stability in a polyolefin matrix in a highly controlled mode. Following the preparation of polypropylene/multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites (PP/MWCNTs) by in situ Ziegler‐Natta polymerization, the hydroxyl groups on the surfaces of individual MWCNTs are used to initiate ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone, resulting in PP/poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) alloy with PCL grafted on MWCNTs. Upon phase formation, the PP/MWCNTs‐g‐PCL alloys exhibit a unique PCL dispersion morphology, which is stable and solely governed by PCL molecular weight.

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Epidermal growth factor receptor derived peptide vaccination to prevent lung adenocarcinoma formation: An in vivo study in a murine model of EGFR mutant lung cancer
Authors: Ebben Johnathan D. , Lubet Ronald A. , Gad Ekram , Disis Mary L. , You Ming
Published: September 2015

The ability to prevent disease is the holy grail of medicine. For decades, efforts have been made to extend the successes seen with vaccination against infectious diseases to cancer. In some instances, preventive vaccination against viruses (prototypically HPV) has successfully prevented tumorigenesis and will make a major impact on public health in the decades to come. However, the majority of cancers that arise are a result of genetic mutation within the host, or non‐viral environmental exposures. We present compelling evidence that vaccination against an overexpressed self‐tumor oncoprotein has the potential to prevent tumor development. Vaccination against the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) using a multipeptide vaccine in a preventive setting decreased EGFR‐driven lung carcinogenesis by 76.4% in a mouse model of EGFR‐driven lung cancer. We also demonstrate that anti‐EGFR vaccination primes the development of a robust immune response in vivo. This study provides proof of concept for the first time that targeting tumor drivers in a preventive setting in lung cancer using peptide vaccination can inhibit tumorigenesis and may provide useful clinical insights into the development of strategies to vaccinate against EGFR in populations where EGFR‐mutant disease is highly prevalent. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alpha‐synuclein propagation: New insights from animal models
Authors: Dehay Benjamin , Vila Miquel , Bezard Erwan , Brundin Patrik , Kordower Jeffrey H.
Published: September 2015

Aggregation of alpha‐synuclein is implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases collectively termed synucleinopathies. Emerging evidence strongly implicates cell‐to‐cell transmission of misfolded alpha‐synuclein as a common pathogenetic mechanism in synucleinopathies. The impact of alpha‐synuclein pathology on neuronal dysfunction and behavioral impairments is being explored in animal models. This review provides an update on how research in animal models supports the concept that misfolded alpha‐synuclein spreads from cell to cell and describes how findings in animal models might relate to the disease process in humans. Finally, we discuss the current underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms and future therapeutic strategies targeting alpha‐synuclein propagation. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
The dentin phosphoprotein repeat region and inherited defects of dentin
Authors: Yang Jie , Kawasaki Kazuhiko , Lee Moses , Reid Bryan M. , Nunez Stephanie M. , Choi Murim , Seymen Figen , Koruyucu Mine , Kasimoglu Yelda , Estrella‐Yuson Ninna , Lin Brent P. J. , Simmer James P. , Hu Jan C.‐C.
Published: September 2015

Nonsyndromic dentin defects classified as type II dentin dysplasia and types II and III dentinogenesis imperfecta are caused by mutations in DSPP (dentin sialophosphoprotein). Most reported disease‐causing DSPP mutations occur within the repetitive DPP (dentin phosphoprotein) coding sequence. We characterized the DPP sequences of five probands with inherited dentin defects using single molecule real‐time (SMRT) DNA sequencing. Eight of the 10 sequences matched previously reported DPP length haplotypes and two were novel. Alignment with known DPP sequences showed 32 indels arranged in 36 different patterns. Sixteen of the 32 indels were not represented in more than one haplotype. The 25 haplotypes with confirmed indels were aligned to generate a tree that describes how the length variations might have evolved. Some indels were independently generated in multiple lines. A previously reported disease‐causing DSPP mutation in Family 1 was confirmed and its position clarified (c.3135delC; p.Ser1045Argfs*269). A novel frameshift mutation (c.3504_3508dup; p.Asp1170Alafs*146) caused the dentin defects in Family 2. A COL1A2 (c.2027G>A or p.Gly676Asp) missense mutation, discovered by whole‐exome sequencing, caused the dentin defects in Family 3. We conclude that SMRT sequencing characterizes the DPP repeat region without cloning and can improve our understanding of normal and pathological length variations in DSPP alleles.
Selling to strategic and loss‐averse consumers: Stocking, procurement, and product design policies
Authors: Lee Chang Hwan , Choi Tsan‐Ming , Cheng T.C.E.
Published: September 2015

Motivated by the presence of loss‐averse decision making behavior in practice, this article considers a supply chain consisting of a firm and strategic consumers who possess an S‐shaped loss‐averse utility function. In the model, consumers decide the purchase timing and the firm chooses the inventory level. We find that the loss‐averse consumers' strategic purchasing behavior is determined by their perceived gain and loss from strategic purchase delay, and the given rationing risk. Thus, the firm that is cognizant of this property tailors its inventory stocking policy based on the consumers' loss‐averse behavior such as their perceived values of gain and loss, and their sensitivity to them. We also demonstrate that the firm's equilibrium inventory stocking policy reflects both the economic logic of the traditional newsvendor inventory model, and the loss‐averse behavior of consumers. The equilibrium order quantity is significantly different from those derived from models that assume that the consumers are risk neutral and homogeneous in their valuations. We show that the firm that ignores strategic consumer's loss‐aversion behavior tends to keep an unnecessarily high inventory level that leads to excessive leftovers. Our numerical experiments further reveal that in some extreme cases the firm that ignores strategic consumer's loss‐aversion behavior generates almost 92% more leftovers than the firm that possesses consumers’ loss‐aversion information and takes it into account when making managerial decisions. To mitigate the consumer's forward‐looking behavior, we propose the adoption of the practice of agile supply chain management, which possesses the following attributes: (i) procuring inventory after observing real‐time demand information, (ii) enhanced design (which maintains the current production mix but improves the product performance to a higher level), and (iii) customized design (which maintains the current performance level but increases the variety of the current production line to meet consumers’ specific demands). We show that such a practice can induce the consumer to make early purchases by increasing their rationing risk, increasing the product value, or diversifying the product line. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 62: 435–453, 2015
Dynamic flow‐based particle splitting in smoothed particle hydrodynamics
Authors: Khorasanizade Sh. , Sousa J. M. M.
Published: September 2015

In this work, a dynamic procedure for local particle refinement to be used in smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is presented. The algorithm is able to consistently produce successive levels of particle splitting in accordance to a flow‐based criterion. It has been applied together with accurate and robust formulations for variable spatial resolution in the framework of a semi‐implicit, truly incompressible scheme for SPH. Different test cases have been considered to assess the capabilities and advantages of the proposed procedure, namely, the laminar flow around circular and square obstacles in a plane channel for various regimes. Such flow cases entail the simulation of attached and separated shear layers, recirculating flow, vortex shedding and surface discontinuities. The results obtained for two levels of particle splitting have demonstrated that significant improvements may be obtained with respect to uniform particle spacing solutions in a variety of situations, thus presenting an excellent trade‐off between accuracy and computational cost. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PPIA is a novel adipogenic factor implicated in obesity
Authors: Zhang Lihong , Li Zhen , Zhang Bo , He Haiyang , Bai Yun
Published: September 2015

Objective

To assess the role of peptidyl‐prolyl cis/trans isomerase a (PPIA) in adipogenesis and obesity.

Methods

Fat mass and adipocyte sizes of PPIA−/− and wild‐type mice were compared. The role of PPIA in adipocyte differentiation of 3T3L1 and MEFs cells was analyzed by gene silencing and overexpression. The roles of PPIA in obesity were observed on a high‐fat diet obesity model and a gestational diabetes obesity model.

Results

PPIA−/− mice had significantly less fat than PPIA+/+ mice. The adipocyte size of PPIA−/− mice was significantly smaller than wild type. Silencing PPIA in 3T3L1 cells significantly impaired its adipocyte differentiation ability. Similarly, MEFs from PPIA−/− mice differentiated less than wild type, while their differentiation ability was restored by PPIA overexpression. PPIA‐silenced 3T3L1 cells had significantly lower expression of PPARG, C/EBPA, and C/EBPB at late stage of adipocyte differentiation, which was the same in PPIA−/− MEFs. When fed a high‐fat diet, PPIA−/− mice gained significantly less weight than wild type, accompanied by reduced PPARG, C/EBPA, and C/EBPB expression. PPIA expression was significantly higher in adipose tissue of gestational diabetes rat offspring, which had higher inguinal fat/body weight ratios than normal rat offspring.

Conclusions

PPIA was a novel adipogenic factor important in obesity.
Fetal phenotype of 17q12 microdeletion syndrome: renal echogenicity and congenital diaphragmatic hernia in 2 cases
Authors: Yap Patrick , McGillivray George , Norris Fiona , Said Joanne M. , Kornman Louise , Stark Zornitza
Published: September 2015

What's already known about this topic?

17q12 microdeletion causes a variable phenotype including renal malformations, a predisposition to maturity onset diabetes of the young and neurobehavioural issues.

17q12 microdeletion has been associated with renal echogenicity in prenatal setting.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a rare association of 17q12 microdeletion.

What does this study adds?

Further evidence that congenital diaphragmatic hernia is part of the 17q12 microdeletion spectrum.

First case report with 17q12 microdeletion phenotype discordance in monozygotic twins, highlighting variable expressivity.
2014 year in review: Cystic fibrosis
Authors: Savant Adrienne P. , McColley Susanna A.
Published: September 2015

In this article, we highlight cystic fibrosis (CF) research published in Pediatric Pulmonology during 2014, as well as related articles published in other journals. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015; 50:1147–1156. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.