bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of unrecognized heart failure in older persons with shortness of breath on exertion
Authors: van Riet Evelien E.S. , Hoes Arno W. , Limburg Alexander , Landman Marcel A.J. , van der Hoeven Henk , Rutten Frans H.
Published: May 2014

Aims

The majority of patients with heart failure are diagnosed in primary care, but underdiagnosis is common. Shortness of breath is a prevalent complaint of older persons and one of the key symptoms of heart failure. We assessed the prevalence of unrecognized heart failure in elderly patients presenting to primary care with shortness of breath on exertion.

Methods and results

This was a cross‐sectional selective screening study. Patients aged 65 years or over presenting to primary care with shortness of breath on exertion in the previous 12 months were eligible when not known to have an established, echocardiographic confirmed diagnosis of heart failure. All participants underwent history taking, physical examination, electrocardiography, and a blood test ofN‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP). Only those with an abnormal electrocardiogram orNTproBNPlevel exceeding the exclusionary cut‐point for non‐acute onset heart failure (>15 pmol/L (≈125 pg/mL) underwent open‐access echocardiography. An expert panel established presence or absence of heart failure according to the criteria of the European Society of Cardiology heart failure guidelines. The mean age of the 585 participants was 74.1 (SD6.3) years, and 54.5% were female. In total, 92 (15.7%, 95%CI12.9–19.0) participants had heart failure: 17 (2.9%, 95%CI1.8–4.7) had heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (≤45%), 70 (12.0%, 95%CI9.5–14.9) had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and five (0.9%, 95%CI0.3–2.1) had isolated right‐sided heart failure.

Conclusion

Elderly primary care patients with shortness of breath on exertion often have unrecognized heart failure, mainly with preserved ejection fraction.
Aminoferrocene and Ferrocene Amino Acid as Electron Donors in Modular Porphyrin–Ferrocene and Porphyrin–Ferrocene–Porphyrin Conjugates
Authors: Melomedov Jascha , Ochsmann Julian Robert , Meister Michael , Laquai Frédéric , Heinze Katja
Published: May 2014

New amide‐linked porphyrin–ferrocene conjugates [M(PAr)–Fc] were prepared from aminoferrocene and a carboxy‐substituted meso‐tetraaryl‐porphyrin [M = 2H, Zn; Ar = mesityl (Mes), C6F5: 3a, 3e, Zn‐3a, Zn‐3e]. A further porphyrin building block was attached to the second cyclopentadienyl ring of the ferrocene moiety to give the metallopeptides M(PMes)–Fc–M(PAr) (M = 2H, Zn; Ar = C6H5, 4‐C6H4F: 6b, 6c, Zn‐6b, Zn‐6c). The effects of the Ar substituents, the porphyrin central atom M and the presence of the second porphyrin at the ferrocene hinge on the excited‐state dynamics was studied by optical absorption spectroscopy, electrochemistry, steady‐state emission, time‐resolved fluorescence measurements and transient absorption pump–probe spectroscopy in addition to density functional theory calculations. In the ground state, only weak interactions were revealed between the ferrocene and porphyrin units by optical absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements. However, the porphyrin emission is strongly quenched with respect to that of the reference porphyrins without the ferrocene moieties. Fluorescence is partially recovered at lower temperatures, which suggests an activated excited‐state decay process. All excited‐state lifetimes are reduced with respect to those of the reference porphyrins. The quantum yields and lifetimes correlate with the porphyrin and ferrocene redox potentials. All observations point to photoinduced electron transfer from ferrocene to the porphyrin in the normal Marcus region as the dominant excited‐state reactivity. The resulting charge‐separated states of selected conjugates were studied by ns–μs transient absorption pump–probe spectroscopy. Hints for the feasibility of singlet–singlet energy transfer between cofacial porphyrins were found in tweezers 6 and Zn‐6.
Advances towards Aromatic Oligoamide Foldamers: Synthesis and X‐ray Structures of Dimeric Arylopeptoids with Conformation‐Directing Side Chains
Authors: Hjelmgaard Thomas , Plesner Malene , Dissing Mette Marie , Andersen Jeanette Marker , Frydenvang Karla , Nielsen John
Published: May 2014

We have efficiently synthesized 36 arylopeptoid dimers with ortho‐, meta‐, and para‐substituted aromatic backbones and tert‐butyl or phenyl side chains. The dimers were synthesized by using a “submonomer method” on solid phase, by applying a simplified common set of reaction conditions. X‐ray crystallographic analysis of two of these dimers disclosed that the tert‐butyl side chain invokes a cis amide conformation with a comparatively more closely packed structure of the surrounding aromatic backbone while the phenyl side chain results in a trans amide conformation with a more open, extended structure of the surrounding aromatic backbone.
Truly isotropic biaxial hysteresis with arbitrary knee sharpness
Authors: Harvey P. Scott , Gavin Henri P.
Published: May 2014

The inelastic responses of framed structures and seismic isolation systems undergoing biaxial (horizontal) shaking are coupled. In existing models for biaxial coupling of hysteretic behavior, the smoothness (or ‘knee') of the transition from elastic to yielding behavior cannot be modified without affecting the shape of the yield surface. This paper presents a model for coupled biaxial hysteretic behavior in which the knee from pre‐yield to post‐yield can be adjusted while maintaining an isotropic yield surface. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic sensitivity of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to cadmium, copper, lead, or zinc in laboratory water-only exposures
Authors: Wang Ning , Ingersoll Christopher G. , Dorman Rebecca A. , Brumbaugh William G. , Mebane Christopher A. , Kunz James L. , Hardesty Doug K.
Published: May 2014

Chronic toxicity of cadmium, copper, lead, or zinc to white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was evaluated in water-only exposures started with newly hatched larvae or approximately 1-mo-old juveniles. The 20% effect concentration (EC20) for cadmium from the sturgeon tests was higher than the EC20 from the trout tests, whereas the EC20 for copper, lead, or zinc for the sturgeon were lower than those EC20s for the trout. When the EC20s from the present study were included in compiled toxicity databases for all freshwater species, species mean chronic value for white sturgeon was in a relatively low percentile of the species sensitivity distribution for copper (9th percentile) and in the middle percentile for cadmium (55th percentile), zinc (40th percentile), or lead (50th percentile). However, the species mean chronic value for rainbow trout was in a high percentile for copper, lead, and zinc (∼68th–82nd percentile), but in a low percentile for cadmium (23rd percentile). The trout EC20s for each of the 4 metals and the sturgeon EC20s for cadmium or lead were above US Environmental Protection Agency chronic ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) or Washington State chronic water quality standards (WQS), whereas the sturgeon EC20s for copper or zinc were approximately equal to or below the chronic AWQC and WQS. In addition, acute 50% effect concentrations (EC50s) for copper obtained in the first 4 d of the chronic sturgeon test were below the final acute value used to derive acute AWQC and below acute WQS for copper. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2246–2258. Published 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Antimicrobial‐resistant genes associated with Salmonella spp. isolated from human, poultry, and seafood sources
Authors: Adesiji Yemisi O. , Deekshit Vijaya Kumar , Karunasagar Indrani
Published: May 2014

Antimicrobial‐resistant salmonellosis is a significant public health concern globally. A study was conducted to screen for Salmonella species from a total of 120 samples, of which 50 were retail meat samples purchased from five randomly selected sales outlets in the city of Mangalore, India. Twenty poultry fecal materials freshly voided before slaughter were obtained with sterile spatula and placed in sterile sealable polythene envelopes, and 20 clams were purchased from the estuaries of Nethravathi and Kankarnady market. In addition, 30 clinical isolates from Nigeria suspected to be Salmonella by only cultural characterization were also included in the study. In all, 30 samples—6 poultry, 8 seafood, and 16 Salmonella isolates from clinical samples—were confirmed positive by PCR and used in this study. The disk‐diffusion test was performed to determine the zone of inhibition, and detection of resistance genes was tested by PCR targeting various antimicrobial genes. Resistance to tetracycline (TET), cotrimoxazole, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantion, and piperacillin/tazobactin was found in 66.7%, 60%, 53.3%, 50% and 50% of the isolates, respectively. About 60–100% of MDR isolates possessed antibiotic‐resistant genes, of the tetracyclines resistant isolates, 20 (100%) 6 (30%), 7 (35%), and 10 (50%) carried tetA, tetB, tetC, and tetG genes, respectively. Of 18 cotrimoxazole‐resistant strains, 18 (100%), 14 (77.7%), and 4 (22.2%) had sul1, sul2, and sul3 genes, respectively. Of the 14 multidrug‐resistant isolates tested, 8 (61%) and 9 (69%) were positive for cmlA and cmlB genes, respectively, 10 (1.4%) tested positive for aph(3)11a genes, 8 (57%) tested positive for aac(3)lla, while none was positive for the aac6 gene. The results show the presence of antibiotic‐resistant Salmonella spp. in food samples from India and in human samples from Nigeria.
Chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and mineral extractability of Sudanese date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits
Authors: Mohamed Rania M. A. , Fageer Aisha S. M. , Eltayeb Mohamed M. , Mohamed Ahmed Isam A.
Published: May 2014

The aim of the present work was to investigate the chemical composition, mineral extractability, and antioxidant capacity of six date palm varieties grown in Sudan. The results showed that Sudanese date varieties contained significantly different (P < 0.05) amounts of moisture, ash, fiber, oil, and carbohydrates, but have almost similar amounts of protein. Moreover, results revealed that date varieties contained significantly varied (P < 0.05) amounts of total polyphenols and total flavonoids, which ranged between 35.82 and 99.34 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g and 1.74–3.39 mg catechin equivalent/100 g, respectively. The antioxidant activities of the studied date varieties were as follows: ferric‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was within the range of 2.82–27.5 mmol/100 g, chelation of Fe2+ ion ranged from 54.31% to 94.98%, and scavenging of H2O2 ranged from 38.48% to 49.13%. There were many correlations (positive, negative, and weak) between antioxidant and mineral extractability of Sudanese date fruits.
Oscillations, networks, and their development: MEG connectivity changes with age
Authors: Schäfer Carmen B. , Morgan Benjamin R. , Ye Annette X. , Taylor Margot J. , Doesburg Sam M.
Published: May 2014

Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) investigations of inter‐regional amplitude correlations have yielded new insights into the organization and neurophysiology of resting‐state networks (RSNs) first identified using fMRI. Inter‐regional MEG amplitude correlations in adult RSNs have been shown to be most prominent in alpha and beta frequency ranges and to express strong congruence with RSN topologies found using fMRI. Despite such advances, little is known about how oscillatory connectivity in RSNs develops throughout childhood and adolescence. This study used a novel fMRI‐guided MEG approach to investigate the maturation of resting‐state amplitude correlations in physiologically relevant frequency ranges within and among six RSNs in 59 participants, aged 6–34 years. We report age‐related increases in inter‐regional amplitude correlations that were largest in alpha and beta frequency bands. In contrast to fMRI reports, these changes were observed both within and between the various RSNs analyzed. Our results provide the first evidence of developmental changes in spontaneous neurophysiological connectivity in source‐resolved RSNs, which indicate increasing integration within and among intrinsic functional brain networks throughout childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Hum Brain Mapp 35:5249–5261, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Early life stress modulates amygdala‐prefrontal functional connectivity: Implications for oxytocin effects
Authors: Fan Yan , Herrera‐Melendez Ana Lucia , Pestke Karin , Feeser Melanie , Aust Sabine , Otte Christian , Pruessner Jens C. , Böker Heinz , Bajbouj Malek , Grimm Simone
Published: May 2014

Recent evidence suggests that early life stress (ELS) changes stress reactivity via reduced resting state functional connectivity (rs‐FC) between amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. Oxytocin (OXT) modulates amygdala connectivity and attenuates responses to psychosocial stress, but its effect appears to be moderated by ELS. Here we first investigate the effect of ELS on amygdala‐prefrontal rs‐FC, and examine whether ELS‐associated changes of rs‐FC in this neural circuit predict its response to psychosocial stress. Secondly, we explore the joint effect of OXT and ELS on the amygdala‐prefrontal circuit. Eighteen healthy young males participated in a resting‐state fMRI study of OXT effects using a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, within‐subject crossover design. We measured the rs‐FC to bilateral amygdalae and subsequently assessed changes of state anxiety and prefrontal responses to psychosocial stress. Multiple linear regressions showed that ELS, specifically emotional abuse, predicted reduced rs‐FC between the right amygdala and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), which in turn predicted elevated state anxiety after psychosocial stress. In subjects with lower ELS scores, stronger pgACC‐amygdala rs‐FC predicted stronger pgACC deactivation during the psychosocial stress task, and this rest‐task interaction was attenuated by OXT. In subjects with higher ELS scores however, the rest‐task interaction was altered and OXT showed no significant effect. These findings highlight that ELS reduces pgACC‐amygdala rs‐FC and alters how rs‐FC of this circuit predicts its stress responsiveness. Such changes in pgACC‐amygdala functional dynamics may underlie the altered sensitivity to the effects of OXT after ELS. Hum Brain Mapp 35:5328–5339, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Midazolam and atropine alter theta oscillations in the hippocampal CA1 region by modulating both the somatic and distal dendritic dipoles
Authors: Balakrishnan Shilpashree , Pearce Robert A.
Published: May 2014

Theta (4–12 Hz) oscillations in the hippocampus play an important role in learning and memory. They are altered by a wide variety of drugs that impair memory, and these effects may underlie or contribute to drug‐induced amnesia. However, the network mechanisms linking drug actions with changes in memory formation remain poorly defined. Here, we used a multisite linear electrode array to measure local field potentials simultaneously across the CA1 layers of the hippocampus during active exploration, and employed current source density analysis and computational modeling to investigate how midazolam and atropine—two amnestic drugs that are used clinically and experimentally—change the relative timing and strength of the drivers of θ‐oscillations. We found that two dipoles are present, with active inputs that are centered at the soma and the distal apical dendrite and passive return pathways that overlap in the mid‐apical dendrite. Both drugs shifted the position of the phase reversal in the local field potential that occurred in the mid‐apical dendritic region, but in opposite directions, by changing the strength of the dendritic pole, without altering the somatic pole or relative timing. Computational modeling showed that this constellation of changes, as well as an additional effect on a variably present mid‐apical pole, could be produced by simultaneous changes in the active somatic and distal dendritic inputs. These network‐level changes, produced by two amnestic drugs that target different types of receptors, may thus serve as a common basis for impaired memory encoding. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Anterior thalamic lesions reduce spine density in both hippocampal CA1 and retrosplenial cortex, but enrichment rescues CA1 spines only
Authors: Harland Bruce C. , Collings David A. , McNaughton Neil , Abraham Wickliffe C. , Dalrymple‐Alford John C.
Published: May 2014

Injury to the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) may affect both hippocampus and retrosplenial cortex thus explaining some parallels between diencephalic and medial temporal lobe amnesias. We found that standard‐housed rats with ATN lesions, compared with standard‐housed controls, showed reduced spine density in hippocampal CA1 neurons (basal dendrites, −11.2%; apical dendrites, −9.6%) and in retrospenial granular b cortex (Rgb) neurons (apical dendrites, −20.1%) together with spatial memory deficits on cross maze and radial‐arm maze tasks. Additional rats with ATN lesions were also shown to display a severe deficit on spatial working memory in the cross‐maze, but subsequent enriched housing ameliorated their performance on both this task and the radial‐arm maze. These enriched rats with ATN lesions also showed recovery of both basal and apical CA1 spine density to levels comparable to that of the standard‐housed controls, but no recovery of Rgb spine density. Inspection of spine types in the CA1 neurons showed that ATN lesions reduced the density of thin spines and mushroom spines, but not stubby spines; while enrichment promoted recovery of thin spines. Comparison with enriched rats that received pseudo‐training, which provided comparable task‐related experience, but no explicit spatial memory training, suggested that basal CA1 spine density in particular was associated with spatial learning and memory performance. Distal pathology in terms of reduced integrity of hippocampal and retrosplenial microstructure provides clear support for the influence of the ATN lesions on the extended hippocampal system. The reversal by postoperative enrichment of this deficit in the hippocampus but not the retrosplenial cortex may indicate region‐specific mechanisms of recovery after ATN injury. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Chaperone‐like Activity and Structure of Mutant H119G of Rat Lens αB‐crystallin: A Study of Divalent Metal Ion Binding Site
Authors: Lu Shou‐Yun , Kumar Reddy Desu Naveen , Huang Fu‐Yung
Published: May 2014

The molecular chaperone αB‐crystallin, the major player in maintaining the transparency of the eye lens, preventing the aggregation of stress‐damaged and aging lens proteins from aggregation. In nonlenticular cells, it is involved in various neurological diseases, diabetes, and cancer. The role of some metal ions in the αB‐crystallin biology has been reported. Theoretical calculations have proposed that the coordination sites involving His101, His119, Lys121, His18 and Glu99 of human αB‐crystallin were the binding sites for divalent metal ions. Our previous mutagenesis study suggested that His18 rat lens αB‐crystallin is a crucial binding site for Cu(II) and Zn(II) in terms of chaperone‐like activity and structure. In this study mutant H119G of rat lens αB‐crystalin was cloned and expressed to investigate whether His119 is the coordination binding site. Copper and zinc at 1 mM concentration significantly increase the chaperone‐like activity in wild type αB‐crystalin, whereas zinc, copper and magnesium at 1 mM reduced the activity of H119G significantly. The results from chaperone‐like activity, ANS fluorescence measurement and Far‐and Near‐UV CD studies suggest that the replacement of His119 with Glycine resulted in a conformational and minor environmental changes that decrease chaperone‐like activity in the presence of divalent ions suggested that His119 was a crucial binding site for Cu(II) and Zn(II), which was similar to our previous study results of His18. Both results together suggest that His18 and His119 coordinates each other for the binding site of Cu(II) and Zn(II) in terms of improving the chaperone‐like activity and stability of crystallin/metal ion complex.
Titanium Tetrabutoxide (TTBO) as Efficient Catalyst for Rapid One Pot Synthesis of 2‐Arylbenzothiazoles under Mild Conditions
Authors: Naeimi Hossein , Heidarnezhad Arash
Published: May 2014

An effective strategy has been developed for rapid and efficient one pot synthesis of 2‐arylbenzothiazoles from readily available 2‐aminothiophenol and aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by TTBO in high yields and short reaction times. This strategy allows access to a structurally diverse array of products for further manipulation. The reactions were preceded under mild conditions to afford 2‐arylbenzothiazole derivatives. The pure products were identified and characterized by physical and spectroscopic data such as; IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR.
Involvement of Trichoderma asperellum strain T6 in regulating iron acquisition in plants
Authors: Zhao Lei , Wang Fei , Zhang Yaqing , Zhang Jiaojiao
Published: May 2014

Iron (Fe) deficiency is a major plant nutritional disorder in many parts of the world, particularly in areas with saline soils. Among the numerous root‐associated microbes that are beneficial for plant nutrient uptake, Trichoderma spp. are the most effective rhizosphere fungi for enhancing plant growth and plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. To investigate the potential mechanisms of action of Trichoderma on insoluble Fe in the soil, which is difficult for plants to absorb and utilize, a high siderophore‐producing strain of Trichoderma T6, was isolated from the rhizosphere of cucumber plants. The strain was identified as T. asperellum based on the morphological features and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Applying strain T6 to sterile soil could increase soil levels of Fe2+ and siderophores, as well as increase Fe2+ and Fe3+‐chelate reductase (FCR) activity in cucumber tissues. Purified siderophore eluent (PSE) increased plant growth, thus confirming its role in plant growth promotion. Moreover, extracellular Fe3+ reducing activity and three kinds of organic acids were detected in the culture filtrate of strain T6. These results indicate that strain T6 influences plant Fe absorption in several ways. Siderophore‐based Fe chelation is effective in providing Fe to plants, organic acids, and Fe3+ reducing enzymes may participate in the solubilization and reduction of insoluble Fe3+ to Fe2+.
Interdecadal variability of winter precipitation in Northwest China and its association with the North Atlantic SST change
Authors: Zhou Lian‐Tong , Wu Renguang
Published: May 2014

Winter precipitation in Northwest China experienced an obvious interdecadal increase around 1987. Consistent increase in winter precipitation occurred in Middle Asia. This study investigates associated changes in atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperature (SST). Analyses show that winter water vapour flux and atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic Ocean and Eurasia and SST in the North Atlantic Ocean were very different before and after 1987. During 1987–2008, a significant enhancement of tropospheric moisture convergence and ascending motion was observed over Northwest China and Middle Asia. This contributed to the increase of winter precipitation in Northwest China and Middle Asia. The wind difference field before and after 1987 features cyclones over Middle Asia and North Atlantic Ocean and anticyclones over East Asia and southern Europe‐northern Africa, signifying an obvious change in the Eurasian (EU) teleconnection pattern over middle latitudes of Eurasia. The results indicate that the Middle Asia and Northwest China were under the influence of enhanced westerlies from the North Atlantic Ocean that strengthened the water vapour transport to Middle Asia and Northwest China after 1987. Moreover, the interdecadal variability in the EU pattern is associated with the SST increase in the North Atlantic Ocean. Thus, the North Atlantic SST change is likely an important reason for the winter precipitation increase in Middle Asia and Northwest China.
Scientific Productivity and Idea Acceptance in Nobel Laureates
Authors: Charyton Christine , DeDios Samantha Lynn , Nygren Thomas Eugene
Published: May 2014

We investigated how new ideas become accepted for Nobel laureates in science. Archival data were collected for 204 Nobel laureates from 1980 to 2009 in physics, chemistry, and medicine or physiology. Acceptance was evaluated for Nobel laureates by Prize area and three key publications in the Nobel laureates' publishing careers: (a) first publication concerning their Nobel idea (FN), (b) highest cited publication concerning their Nobel idea (HN), and (c) last publication concerning their Nobel idea (LN). Acceptance was defined primarily in terms of academic prestige for the journal articles (journal impact factors, article citation counts, Eigenfactor scores [journal impact and journal citations] and journal‐cited half‐life ratings). We found that acceptance for these publications mostly followed LN < FN < HN for all measures and Prize areas—except for physics on impact factor only, which followed FN < LN < HN, as hypothesized. In sum, recent ideas are least accepted rather than original ideas even for established and eminent Nobel laureates.
Long‐term outcomes after fertility‐sparing laparoscopic radical trachelectomy in young women with early‐stage cervical cancer: An Asan Gynecologic Cancer Group (AGCG) study
Authors: Park Jeong‐Yeol , Joo Won Deok , Chang Suk‐Joon , Kim Dae‐Yeon , Kim Jong‐Hyeok , Kim Yong‐Man , Kim Young‐Tak , Nam Joo‐Hyun
Published: May 2014

Objectives

To evaluate the long‐term outcomes and risk factors for recurrence after fertility‐sparing laparoscopic radical trachelectomy (LRT) in young women with early‐stage cervical cancer.

Methods

Eighty‐eight consecutive patients from four tertiary cancer centers in Korea who had attempted fertility‐sparing LRT for early‐stage cervical cancer were included in this study.

Results

Seventy‐nine patients completed LRT. The mean age and tumor size were 31 years (range, 20–40 years) and 1.8 cm (range, 0.4–7 cm), respectively. Twenty‐nine patients had a tumor size greater than 2 cm, 22 had deep stromal invasion greater than 50%, and twelve had lymphovascular space invasion. After a median follow‐up time of 44 months (range, 3–105 months), nine patients had recurrence and one had died of disease. A tumor size greater than 2 cm (P = 0.039) and a depth of stromal invasion greater than 50% (P = 0.016) were significant risk factors for recurrence.

Conclusions

This is the largest series on fertility‐sparing LRT in young women with early cervical cancer. LRT is a feasible and safe fertility‐sparing alternative to radical hysterectomy in these women. A tumor size greater than 2 cm and a depth of stromal invasion greater than 50% were risk factors for recurrence. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:252–257. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Treatment and survival of patients with occult breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastasis: A nationwide retrospective study
Authors: Sohn Guiyun , Son Byung Ho , Lee Soo Jung , Kang Eun Young , Jung Sung Hoo , Cho Se‐Heon , Baek Seunghee , Lee Yu Ra , Kim Hee Jung , Ko Beom Suk , Yu  , Lee Jong Won , Ahn Sei‐Hyun
Published: May 2014

Background and Objectives

Occult breast cancer (OBC) accounts for 0.3–1.0% of all breast cancers and is a rare presentation of the disease. The present retrospective study examined the overall survival and prognostic factors associated with OBC in Korea.

Method

The study included 142 OBC patients identified from the Korean Breast Cancer Society cancer registry from January 1990 to December2009. All patients had pathologically positive axillary lymph nodes (N1–N3) and pathologically and radiologically negative in‐breast lesions (T0/Tx) based on a retrospective review of the database.

Results

No statistically significant differences in overall survival were observed between patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) only (80.8%), breast conserving surgery (BCS) with ALND (98.0%), and mastectomy with ALND (92.5%) with P‐value of 0.061. Nodal status was a significant prognostic factor (P = 0.004) on univariate analysis. When compared with T1 patients group, T0/TxN1 patients showed better survival than T1N1 patients (hazard ratio [HR] 0.253; 95% confidence interval, 0.104–0.618; P = 0.003), but T0/TxN2, T0/TxN3 patients showed similar survival to T1N2, T1N3 patients.

Conclusions

OBC patients treated with ALND only showed comparable outcomes to those undergoing ALND combined with BCS or mastectomy. Nodal status may be an independent predictor of poor outcome in OBC patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:270–274. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Current clinical indications for magnetic resonance imaging of the breast
Authors: Knuttel Floor M. , Menezes Gisela L.G. , van den Bosch Maurice A.A.J. , Gilhuijs Kenneth G.A. , Peters Nicky H.G.M.
Published: May 2014

MRI is increasingly used in breast cancer patients. MRI has a high sensitivity compared to mammography and ultrasound. The specificity is moderate leading to an increased risk of false positive findings. Currently, a beneficial effect of breast MRI has been established in some patient groups and is debated in the general breast cancer population. The diagnostic ability of MRI and its role in various groups of breast cancer patients are discussed in this review. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:26–31. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy in the Hotel Industry: Evidence from the Balearic Islands
Authors: Calveras Aleix
Published: May 2014

This paper attempts to identify some of the main factors affecting a hotel establishment's decision to adopt (or not), and to what extent, socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Salient among the results obtained is the fact that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is likely to be part of a hotel's product differentiation strategy; additionally, it is shown that productivity aspects such as scale economies, as well as the hotel's internal organization, also impact a hotel's CSR strategy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Networks Conjugated with Gly–Gly–His via a Merrifield Solid‐Phase Peptide Synthesis Technique for Metal‐Ion Recognition
Authors: Efe‐Sanden Gulnur , Toomey Ryan
Published: May 2014

The temperature‐dependent swelling behavior of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and tripeptide Gly–Gly–His (GGH)/poly(NIPAAm) conjugate hydrogel coatings are investigated using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM‐D) while in contact with NaCl, ZnCl2, NiCl2, and CuCl2 solutions. To fabricate the tripeptide conjugated gels, precursor gels of poly(NIPAAm‐co‐3‐aminopropylmethacrylamide[3.5 mol%]) are synthesized via free‐radical polymerization. The metal‐binding tripeptide, GGH, is subsequently synthesized in the gel via a Merrifield solid‐phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) technique, in which the amino group of the copolymer gel provides a functional site to support peptide synthesis. It is found that the logarithm of the transition temperature of the tripeptide GGH/poly(NIPAAm) conjugate hydrogel is proportional to the ionic strength, showing two distinct regions at low and high ionic strengths for the divalent ions. In the low‐ionic‐strength regime, the salting out constants are 0.08, 0.07, and 0.06 M−1 for Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, respectively, which follows the known trend for binding of ions to GGH. In the high‐ionic‐strength region, when the metal‐ion binding sites in the tripeptide conjugate hydrogel are saturated, the salting out constants are similar to the salting out constants associated with pure poly(NIPAAm).

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Synthesis of Thermoresponsive Glycopolymers Combining RAFT Polymerization, Thiol‐Ene Reaction, and Subsequent Immobilization onto Solid Supports
Authors: von der Ehe Christian , Weber Christine , Wagner Michael , Czaplewska Justyna A. , Gottschaldt Michael , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: May 2014

A new monomer, N‐hexenylacrylamide, is copolymerized with N‐isopropylacrylamide by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using a carboxylic‐acid‐functionalized RAFT agent. Subsequently, the resulting functional copolymers are reacted with acetylated thiogalactose via a thiol‐ene reaction. After deprotection of the sugar acetyl groups, the glycopolymers show a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior, as confirmed by turbidity measurements. One of these glycopolymers is subsequently immobilized onto solid supports. The obtained products are characterized by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform IR (ATR FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimmetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis, confirming the immobilization of the glycopolymer. Additionally, the glycopolymer‐functionalized support shows interaction with the lectin RCA120.

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Polymers for Luminescent Sensing Applications
Authors: Kim Hyungwoo , Kim Youngdo , Chang Ji Young
Published: May 2014

Polymers are widely used for chemical sensing applications, as a receptor or as a signal transducer. Fluorescent conjugated polymers (CPs) are extensively studied for signaling. Water‐soluble CPs are particularly attractive due to their potential sensing applications in environmental and biorelated fields. The CPs by themselves do not provide specific binding sites by folding into secondary or tertiary structures. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are artificial receptors fabricated using the molecular‐imprinting technique. They contain in‐built information about the shape and functionality of specific potential analytes. However, most MIPs do not have optical‐signaling properties. In this article, the recent developments regarding luminescent polymeric sensors are briefly summarized. It will be of great interest if the optical‐signal properties of CPs and the selectivity of MIPs are integrated in an advanced polymeric sensor.

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Formation of gas‐phase peptide ions and their dissociation in MALDI: Insights from kinetic and ion yield studies
Authors: Moon Jeong Hee , Yoon Sohee , Bae Yong Jin , Kim Myung Soo
Published: May 2014

Insights on mechanisms for the generation of gas‐phase peptide ions and their dissociation in matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) gained from the kinetic and ion yield studies are presented. Even though the time‐resolved photodissociation technique was initially used to determine the dissociation kinetics of peptide ions and their effective temperature, it was replaced by a simpler method utilizing dissociation yields from in‐source decay (ISD) and post‐source decay (PSD). The ion yields for a matrix and a peptide were measured by repeatedly irradiating a region on a sample and collecting ion signals until the sample in the region was completely depleted. Matrix‐ and peptide‐derived gas‐phase cations were found to be generated by pre‐formed ion emission or by ion‐pair emission followed by anion loss, but not by laser‐induced ionization. The total number of ions, that is, matrix plus peptide, was found to be equal to the number of ions emitted from a pure matrix. A matrix plume was found to cool as it expanded, from around 800−1,000 K to 400−500 K. Dissociation of peptide ions along b/y channels was found to occur statistically, that is, following RRKM behavior. Small critical energy (E0 = 0.6–0.7 eV) and highly negative critical entropy (ΔS‡ = −30 to −25 eu) suggested that the transition structure was stabilized by multiple intramolecular interactions. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 34: 94–115, 2015.
Prominent Lower‐Limb Involvement in a Family with Myoclonus‐Dystonia
Authors: Kobylecki Christopher , Damodaran Dinesh , Kerr Bronwyn , Newton Richard W. , Silverdale Monty A.
Published: May 2014

We report on a large family with myoclonus‐dystonia resulting from an epsilon‐sarcoglycan mutation, with prominent early and late lower‐limb involvement. The proband's condition has evolved to include marked lower‐limb dystonia and dystonic gait impairment in the fourth decade. Other family members had evidence of prominent lower‐limb involvement at presentation or a more typical phenotype of axial and upper‐limb myoclonus and dystonia. Prominent lower‐limb involvement developing late in the disease course is an atypical feature and exemplifies the wide phenotypic heterogeneity observed in people with myoclonus‐dystonia.
Is Physiotherapy Self‐Referral with Telephone Triage Viable, Cost‐effective and Beneficial to Musculoskeletal Outpatients in a Primary Care Setting?
Authors: Mallett Ross , Bakker Edward , Burton Maria
Published: May 2014

Objective

The aim of the present study was to establish if physiotherapy self‐referral (SR) is viable, cost effective and beneficial to musculoskeletal outpatients in a primary care setting.

Setting

In an urban National Health Service (NHS) primary care physiotherapy service, waiting times, attendance rates and treatment ratios (thus, episode‐of‐care costs) were deemed unsustainable. The introduction of ‘Any Qualified Provider’ is imminent and will drive NHS physiotherapy services to compete directly with private counterparts. Current literature, healthcare policy and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy strongly advocate SR to promote value for money and improve the patient experience.

Design

A repeated measure prospective cohort study introduced an SR pathway parallel to existing general practice (GP) referrals and compared costs, attendance and data relating to the patient experience across groups.

Results

SR referral groups were found to have a higher proportion of female patients presenting with acute conditions. Cost minimization analysis indicated an average 32.3% reduction in episode‐of‐care cost with an SR‐initiated intervention. An estimated cost minimization of between £84,387.80 and £124,472.06 was calculated if SR were to be expanded service‐wide. SR referral reduced waiting times and improved patient satisfaction relating to waiting times and communication compared with traditional pathways.

Conclusions

The results of the present study showed that the introduction of the described SR pathway was feasible, cost‐effective and offered comparable care. Certain aspects of the SR patient experience compared more favourably than those studied in traditional GP referral routes. They also added to an existing body of evidence supporting SR with a variety of administrative processes in various socioeconomic settings. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Independent, additive effects of five dietary variables on Ad Libitum energy intake in a residential study
Authors: Urban Lorien E. , McCrory Megan A. , Rasmussen Helen , Greenberg Andrew S. , Fuss Paul J. , Saltzman Edward , Roberts Susan B.
Published: May 2014

Objective

To examine the relationship between dietary characteristics of self‐selected foods and energy balance in a cafeteria‐style dining hall.

Methods

Ad libitum dietary intake from a self‐selection menu was measured over two days in 151 adults (70% female, mean age 41 years, mean BMI 24.9 kg/m2). The associations of dietary variables with energy balance (calculated as measured energy intake/predicted energy requirements, pER) were assessed.

Results

Measured energy intake was significantly correlated with pER (R2=0.83, P < 0.001). In mixed multiple regression models, percent energy from protein was negatively associated with energy balance (R2=0.04, P = 0.02), and percent energy from liquid sources (R2 = 0.02, P = 0.05), total dietary variety in females (R2 = 0.39, P < 0.001), and energy density (R2 = 0.57, P < 0.001) were positively associated with energy balance. In addition, glycemic index was inversely associated with energy balance in normal‐weight individuals (R2 = 0.14, P < 0.001) but not in overweight or obese individuals.

Conclusions

There are independent associations of dietary protein, liquid calories, energy density, dietary variety, and glycemic index with energy balance, indicating additive effects of these dietary factors on energy intake and energy balance. Intervention studies are needed to determine whether dietary prescriptions combining these dietary factors facilitate long‐term prevention of weight gain.
The mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotube‐grafted polyimide nanocomposites
Authors: Lim Jun , Shin Dong Geun , Yeo Hyeonuk , Goh Munju , Ku Bon‐Cheol , Yang Cheol‐Min , Lee Dong Su , Hwang Jun‐Yeon , Park Byoungnam , You Nam‐Ho
Published: May 2014

Polyimide (PI)‐based nanocomposites containing aminophenyl functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (AP‐MWCNTs) obtained through a diazonium salt reaction was successfully prepared by in situ polymerization. PI composites with different loadings of AP‐MWCNTs were fabricated by the thermal conversion of poly(amic acid) (PAA)/AP‐MWCNTs. The mechanical and electrical properties of the AP‐MWCNTs/PI composites were improved compared with those of pure PI due to the homogeneous dispersion of AP‐MWCNTs and the strong interfacial covalent bonds between AP‐MWNTs and the PI matrix. The conductivity of AP‐MWNTs/PI composites (5:95 w/w) was 9.32 × 10−1 S/cm which was about 1015 times higher than that of Pure PI. The tensile strength and tensile modules of the AP‐MWCNTs/PI composites with 0.5 wt % of AP‐MWCNTs were increased by about 77% (316.9 ± 10.5 MPa) and 25% (8.30 ± 1.10 GPa) compared to those of pure PI, respectively. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 960–966
Determination of Primary Amine Content in Bonding Agent Used in Composite Solid Propellants
Authors: Oliveira José I. S. , Pires Darci C. , Diniz Milton F. , Siqueira Jorge L. , Mattos Elizabeth C. , Rezende Luis C. , Iha Koshun , Dutra Rita C. L.
Published: May 2014

The primary amine content in tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) and TEPAN, a bonding agent used in composite solid propellants, was determined by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and the results were compared to those obtained by potentiometry. The band at 4930 cm−1, which showed to be influenced only by primary amine groups, was chosen as the analytical band. The calibration curves based on isopropylamine (IPA) and isopropylamine/dibutylamine (IPA/DBA) mixtures proved to be suitable for determining the NH2 content of TEPA or of samples containing mixtures of NH and NH2 groups. It was found that TEPA contains 26.4 % of NH2 and 25.7 % of NH, and that TEPAN contains 0.5 % of NH2, confirming the low content of primary amine of this bonding agent. The lowest amine equivalent of TEPA is 31.1±0.3 g/eq, as determined by potentiometry, was found because this technique measures the total hydrogen content, including primary and secondary amines. The literature value of 62.6 g/eq for TEPA ACROS obtained by potentiometry in a non aqueous medium and related to the first inflection of the primary amine, validates the value obtained by NIR in this work for a similar type of amine. The equivalent weight obtained by NIR spectroscopy (62.7 g/eq) allowed to calculate the molar mass of TEPA of 195.6 g mol−1, which is close to the typical value of 200 g mol−1.
The Effects of Porous Structure on the Burning Characteristics of Foamed NC‐Based Gun Propellants
Authors: Li Yuxiang , Yang Weitao , Ying Sanjiu
Published: May 2014

The effects of porous structure on the burning characteristics of foamed NC‐based (nitrocellulose‐based) gun propellants were investigated by closed vessel and quenched combustion experiments. The foamed NC‐based TEGDN (triethylene glycol dinitrate) gun propellants with different porous structures were prepared by adjusting the process parameters in the foaming process. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) was used to observe the morphologies of foamed TEGDN propellants, and the densities of the foamed propellants were also measured to evaluate the porosities of foamed propellants. The experimental results showed that the burning characteristics of the novel foamed propellants are totally different from combustion characteristics of parallel‐layer. Further investigations revealed that the burning characteristics of the foamed NC‐based propellants largely depend on the porous structure, larger pores and higher porosity would lead to higher burning rate of the foamed TEGDN propellants.
Sampling reliability, spatial resolution, spatial precision, and extraction efficiency in droplet‐based liquid microjunction surface sampling
Authors: Kertesz Vilmos , Van Berkel Gary J.
Published: May 2014

RATIONALE

Droplet‐based liquid extraction approaches for spatially resolved surface sampling coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) provide the ability to deal with complex sample matrices and to identify isomeric compounds not distinguishable by MS methods alone. Improvements in sampling reliability, spatial resolution, spatial precision and extraction efficiency are required to further the analytical utility of such sampling systems.

METHODS

An autosampler capable of droplet‐based liquid extraction was coupled with an HPLC/MS system. Visual inspection of the junction formation between the probe and a glass surface allowed evaluation of the liquid junction formation reliability, spatial location and size as a function of variable parameters such as solvent composition, probe‐to‐surface distance and droplet volume during solvent dispense and aspiration. Quantitative analysis of a component from a model surface using a weak extraction solvent was used to evaluate the effect of extraction time and number of extraction cycles on analyte extraction efficiency.

RESULTS

Reliable junction formation, independent of other variable parameters, was realized simply by maintaining a maximum distance of 0.4 mm between the probe and the sample surface. The smallest liquid junction diameter (1.6 mm) was observed when using a 1 μL dispensed volume and 90% aqueous extraction solvent with either methanol or acetonitrile. Good sampling precision was always achieved using an extraction solvent with at least 50% methanol or acetonitrile by volume. Quantitative sampling of rhodamine B from a magenta Sharpie ink surface using a weak extraction solvent showed that extraction efficiency could be improved by increasing the extraction time or the number of extraction cycles.

CONCLUSIONS

A platform employing a commercially available autosampler coupled to HPLC/MS was developed and successfully applied to investigate the effect of different sampling parameters on the reliability, spatial resolution, spatial precision and extraction efficiency of the liquid junction surface sampling process. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.