bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transoral laser microsurgery for the unknown primary: Role for lingual tonsillectomy
Authors: Nagel Thomas H. , Hinni Michael L. , Hayden Richard E. , Lott David G.
Published: April 2013

Background

We conducted a retrospective review of patients with unknown primary head and neck cancer who underwent a transoral laser microsurgery (TLM)‐assisted search for an occult tumor.

Methods

Fifty‐two patients at a single center with unknown primaries of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were treated with a surgical algorithm.

Results

The overall rate of primary tumor identification was 75% (39 of 52 patients). When selecting those cases in which a TLM algorithm with lingual tonsillectomy was utilized, the detection rate was 86% (31 of 36). Tumors were most commonly found in the lingual (65.0%) and palatine tonsils (27.5%). When directed biopsies did not locate a tumor, a higher yield was obtained with the addition of a lingual tonsillectomy in 8 patients.

Conclusion

A surgical algorithm for the unknown primary that includes TLM‐assisted techniques, including a lingual tonsillectomy, offers the greatest likelihood of successfully detecting the location of occult primary tumors. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 942–946, 2014
Low‐dose cytarabine and aclarubicin combined with granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor for the treatment of relapsed or primary refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia: a retrospective study of 25 Chinese patients
Authors: Xue Sheng‐Li , Cui Hong‐Xia , Zou Jing‐Ying , Xue Meng‐Xing , Tang Xiao‐Wen , Zhang Yan‐Ming , Wu De‐Pei
Published: April 2013

Despite improvements in treatment, the prognosis of relapsed or primary refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) remains poor, and outcomes are worse in older adults with the short first complete remission (CR). Attainment of the second CR by salvage therapy would improve the survival of these patients and may enable them to undergo curative treatment with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The fact that there are diverse salvage protocols for these adult patients but without a striking CR‐induction efficacy indicates that efforts are still needed to indentify new effective reinduction regimens. In this study, the CAG regimen (cytarabine, 10 mg/m2 subcutaneously every 12 h on days 1–14; aclarubicin, 5–7 mg/m2 intravenously daily on days 1–8; and concurrent granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor, 200 µg/m2/day subcutaneously) was administered to 25 patients with relapsed or refractory ALL, including 11 T‐cell ALL (T‐ALL) and 14 B‐cell (B‐ALL) patients (age range, 11–61 years; median age, 26 years), to assess its efficacy as a salvage therapy. One course of the CAG regimen resulted in an overall response [CR or partial remission (PR)] rate of 64%, a CR rate of 56% and generally mild adverse effects. An overall response was observed in all 11 T‐ALL patients (10 CR and 1 PR) and 35.7% of B‐ALL patients (p = 0.0009). The significant treatment potential of CAG regimen for relapsed or primary refractory ALL, especially for T‐ALL patients, described in this report would prepare them for a second CR to pursue longer survival. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy reveals unique phenotypes for human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell lines and their progeny
Authors: Cao Julie , Ng Elizabeth S. , McNaughton Don , Stanley Edouard G. , Elefanty Andrew G. , Tobin Mark J. , Heraud Philip
Published: April 2013

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy was employed to elucidate the macromolecular phenotype of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and their differentiated progeny. Undifferentiated hESCs and hiPSC lines were found to be not clearly distinguishable from each other. However, although both hESC and hiPSC variants appeared to undergo similar changes during differentiation in terms of cell surface antigens, the derived cell types from all cell lines could be discriminated using FTIR spectroscopy. We foresee a possible future role for FTIR microspectroscopy as a powerful and objective investigative and quality control tool in regenerative medicine. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Bilirubin: an autofluorescence bile biomarker for liver functionality monitoring
Authors: Croce Anna C. , Ferrigno Andrea , Santin Giada , Vairetti Mariapia , Bottiroli Giovanni
Published: April 2013

Excitation at 366–465 nm of bilirubin in aqueous solution with solubilizing agents results in emission spectra composed by two main bands. The variation of their relative contributions as shown by changes in the spectral shape are consistent with the bilirubin bichromophore nature. This latter accounts for an exciton‐coupling phenomenon, intramolecular interchromophore energy transfer efficiency being affected by microenvironment. Excitation at 366 nm, despite the poor absorption of bilirubin, gives rise to appreciable emission signals from both pure compounds and bile – collected from functionally altered rat livers – favouring the spectral shape response to environment and molecular conformation changes. As compared to the merely bile flow estimation, real‐time detection of fluorescence, revealing composition variations, improves near‐UV optical‐biopsy diagnostic potential in hepatology. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Development of a new laboratory technique for high‐temperature thermal emission spectroscopy of silicate melts
Authors: Lee Rachel J. , Ramsey Michael S. , King Penelope L.
Published: April 2013

With the prevalence of glass and molten silicates in volcanic environments, and the important role of surface emissivity in thermal infrared (TIR) measurements, it is imperative to characterize accurately the spectral features associated with silicate glasses and melts. A microfurnace has been developed specifically for use with a laboratory Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer to collect the first in situ TIR emission spectra of actively melting and cooling silicate glasses. The construction, implementation, and calibration of the microfurnace spectrometer system are presented here. Initial testing of the microfurnace is also discussed, which includes acquisition of thermal emission spectra of a quartz powder (unmelted), a melted and cooled oligoclase feldspar, and glassy melt of rhyolitic composition. Unlike a solid material, which may only have bending and stretching vibrations within its molecular structure, a fully molten material will exhibit several more degrees of freedom in structural movement, thus changing its spectral character. Differences in spectral behavior and morphology are observed between a glass in a solid state and its molten counterpart, confirming previous field measurements of lower emissivity upon melting. This laboratory microfurnace system has been designed to quantify the TIR emission spectral behavior of glassy materials in various physical states. Ultimately, it is hoped that the microfurnace data will help improve the ability of field‐based, airborne, and spaceborne TIR data to characterize glassy volcanic terranes.
The 3‐D distribution of random velocity inhomogeneities in southwestern Japan and the western part of the Nankai subduction zone
Authors: Takahashi Tsutomu , Obana Koichiro , Yamamoto Yojiro , Nakanishi Ayako , Kodaira Shuichi , Kaneda Yoshiyuki
Published: April 2013

Seismic waves at high frequencies (>1 Hz) show collapsed and broadened wave trains caused by multiple scattering in the lithosphere. This study analyzed the envelopes of direct S waves in southwestern Japan and on the western side of the Nankai trough and estimated the spatial distribution of random inhomogeneities by assuming a von Kármán type power spectral density function (PSDF). Strongly inhomogeneous media have been mostly imaged at shallow depth (0–20 km depth) in the onshore area of southwestern Japan, and their PSDF is represented as P(m) ≈ 0.05m−3.7 km3, with m being the spatial wave number, whereas most of the other area shows weak inhomogeneities of which PSDF is P(m) ≈ 0.005m−4.5 km3. At Hyuga‐nada in Nankai trough, there is an anomaly of inhomogeneity of which PSDF is estimated as P(m) ≈ 0.01m−4.5 km3. This PSDF has the similar spectral gradient with the weakly inhomogeneous media, but has larger power spectral density than other offshore areas. This anomalous region is broadly located in the subducted Kyushu Palau ridge, which was identified by using velocity structures and bathymetry, and it shows no clear correlation with the fault zones of large earthquakes in past decades. These spatial correlations suggest that possible origins of inhomogeneities at Hyuga‐nada are ancient volcanic activity in the oceanic plate or deformed structures due to the subduction of the Kyushu Palau ridge.
Comparison of precipitation isotope variability across the tropical Pacific in observations and SWING2 model simulations
Authors: Conroy Jessica L. , Cobb Kim M. , Noone David
Published: April 2013

Probing the dynamics of the Earth's hydrologic cycle benefits from the use of isotope‐equipped global climate models. However, isotope model simulations are not often compared together, along with existing observations, to assess the distribution of simulated stable isotope variability. Here we evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of tropical Pacific precipitation isotope variability in global climate models from the second Stable Water Isotope Intercomparison Group experiment and in observations. The tropical Pacific is home to many isotope‐based proxies of paleoclimatic change, and as such is an important target for such model‐data comparisons. We find spatial and temporal examples of precipitation‐isotope mismatches, highlighting that factors beyond the amount effect influence precipitation isotope variability across the tropical Pacific. The models that best capture mean annual precipitation in the tropical Pacific are not necessarily the models that best simulate the mean annual stable isotopic composition of precipitation. Nudging with reanalysis winds has a small effect on precipitation δ18O values. Model performance and the strength of the relationship between precipitation and precipitation δ18O values varies between the western, central, and eastern equatorial Pacific. In the majority of the simulations, western equatorial Pacific δ18O values are correlated with large‐scale, but not local precipitation, whereas in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, δ18O values are correlated most strongly with regional precipitation. This comparison provides a cautionary note on using results from a single model to assist in interpretation of paleoclimate proxy records.
Roughness and near‐surface density of Mars from SHARAD radar echoes
Authors: Campbell Bruce A. , Putzig Nathaniel E. , Carter Lynn M. , Morgan Gareth A. , Phillips Roger. J. , Plaut Jeffrey J.
Published: April 2013

We present a technique for estimating Mars topographic roughness on horizontal scales from about 10 m to 100 m using Shallow Radar (SHARAD) sounding data. Our results offer a view of surface properties complementary to Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) pulse‐width or baseline roughness maps and can be compared to SHARAD peak‐echo properties to infer deviations from the average near‐surface density. Latitudinal averaging of SHARAD‐derived roughness over Arabia and Noachis Terrae shows good agreement with MOLA‐derived roughness and provides clear evidence for latitude‐dependent mantling deposits previously inferred from image data. In northwestern Gordii Dorsum, we find that bulk density in at least the upper few meters is significantly lower than in other units of the Medusae Fossae Formation. We observe the same behavior indicative of low near‐surface density in wind‐eroded crater fill in the southern highlands. Combining surface‐properties analysis, subsurface sounding, and high‐resolution optical images, we show that the Pavonis Mons fan‐shaped deposit differs significantly from lobate debris aprons which SHARAD has shown to be ice‐cored. There are no internal radar reflections from the smooth‐facies portion of the Pavonis Mons fan‐shaped deposit, and we suggest that these deposits are either quite thin or have little dielectric (i.e., density) contrast with the underlying terrain. Future application of these techniques can identify other low‐density units across Mars, assist in the mapping of regional volatile‐rich mantling units, and provide new constraints on the physical properties of the polar layered terrain.
Cryovolcanism on Titan: New results from Cassini RADAR and VIMS
Authors: Lopes R. M. C. , Kirk R. L. , Mitchell K. L. , LeGall A. , Barnes J. W. , Hayes A. , Kargel J. , Wye L. , Radebaugh J. , Stofan E. R. , Janssen M. A. , Neish C. D. , Wall S. D. , Wood C. A. , Lunine J. I. , Malaska M. J.
Published: April 2013

The existence of cryovolcanic features on Titan has been the subject of some controversy. Here we use observations from the Cassini RADAR, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging, radiometry, and topographic data as well as compositional data from the Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) to reexamine several putative cryovolcanic features on Titan in terms of likely processes of origin (fluvial, cryovolcanic, or other). We present evidence to support the cryovolcanic origin of features in the region formerly known as Sotra Facula, which includes the deepest pit so far found on Titan (now known as Sotra Patera), flow‐like features (Mohini Fluctus), and some of the highest mountains on Titan (Doom and Erebor Montes). We interpret this region to be a cryovolcanic complex of multiple cones, craters, and flows. However, we find that some other previously supposed cryovolcanic features were likely formed by other processes. Cryovolcanism is still a possible formation mechanism for several features, including the flow‐like units in Hotei Regio. We discuss implications for eruption style and composition of cryovolcanism on Titan. Our analysis shows the great value of combining data sets when interpreting Titan's geology and in particular stresses the value of RADAR stereogrammetry when combined with SAR imaging and VIMS.
Effect of continued nitrogen enrichment on greenhouse gas emissions from a wetland ecosystem in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China: A 5 year nitrogen addition experiment
Authors: Song Changchun , Wang Lili , Tian Hanqin , Liu Deyan , Lu Chaoqun , Xiaofeng Xu  , Zhang Lihua , Yang Guisheng , Wan Zhongmei
Published: April 2013

Mounting evidence supports that wetland ecosystems, one of the largest carbon pools on the earth, are exposed to ample nitrogen (N) additions due to atmospheric deposition or N loading from upstream agricultural fertilizer application. However, our understanding of how N enrichment affects the fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in wetlands is weak. A 5 year N addition experiment was conducted to examine the responses of CH4 and N2O fluxes as well as ecosystem respiration from wetlands in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China, through 2005 to 2009. Four levels of N addition (control, 0 kg N ha−1 yr−1; low‐level, 60 kg N ha−1 yr−1; medium‐level, 120 kg N ha−1 yr−1; high‐level, 240 kg N ha−1 yr−1) were designed in this study. Overall, our results show that medium and high levels of N addition increased ecosystem respiration by 28% and 69% (P < 0.05), respectively, while low‐level N addition has no effect on ecosystem respiration (P > 0.05). High‐level N fertilization exerted stronger effects on ecosystem respiration in the initial year than the following years. It indicated that the effects of high‐level N fertilization on CO2 might be overestimated by short‐term observations. High‐level N fertilization increased N2O emissions by 396% over the 5 years (P < 0.05), but the low‐ and medium‐level‐N addition did not exert any apparent effect on N2O emissions (P > 0.05). N2O emission under high‐level N addition in the first and fifth years showed stronger pronounced responses to N addition compared with that from the third and fourth years, indicating the importance of long‐term field observation. Over the 5 years, however, the low and medium‐level N addition showed no effect on N2O emissions. The four levels of N addition exerted no effect on CH4 emissions (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the relationship between GHGs and soil temperature or water table depth varied among different plots and experimental time. Our findings highlighted the importance of gas species, experimental time, and the amount of fertilizer N with regard to the responses of GHG emissions to N fertilization.
The role of supervisor political skill in mentoring: Dual motivational perspectives
Authors: Sun Li‐Yun , Pan Wen , Chow Irene Hau Siu
Published: April 2013

Drawing on self‐determination and self‐concept‐based theories, this study investigated the mediating effects of psychological empowerment and organization‐based self‐esteem on the relationship between supervisory mentoring and employee performance and the moderating effect of supervisor political skill on the direct and first stage of the indirect effects. Data were obtained from a sample of 330 subordinate–supervisor dyads from the People's Republic of China. Using PROCESS of conditional indirect effect, we found support for the moderated direct and indirect effects of supervisory mentoring. First, supervisor political skill moderates the direct effect of supervisory mentoring on employee promotability. Second, supervisor political skill moderates the indirect effect of supervisory mentoring on the following: (i) employee promotability via both psychological empowerment and organization‐based self‐esteem and (ii) contextual performance only via psychological empowerment. These direct and indirect effects of supervisory mentoring are stronger when supervisors demonstrate a higher level of political skill. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface exposure dating (36Cl and 10Be) of post‐Last Glacial Maximum valley moraines, Lake District, northwest England: some issues and implications
Authors: WILSON PETER , SCHNABEL CHRISTOPH , WILCKEN KLAUS M. , VINCENT PETER J.
Published: April 2013

Surface exposure ages (36Cl and 10Be) have been obtained from 16 boulders at the margins of and within the limits of former valley glaciers at four sites in the Lake District, northwest England. The established view is that the Lake District functioned as an independent centre of ice dispersal during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 26–21 ka) of the Dimlington Stade (≈Greenland Stades 2–3) and that the glacial‐depositional landforms at the sampled sites are products of stillstands or readvances of the ice margins following the LGM. However, several of the apparent 36Cl surface exposure ages pre‐date rather than post‐date the LGM. It is inferred that these boulders retain levels of 36Cl inherited from a previous period of exposure rather than indicating moraine formation prior to the LGM and their subsequent survival beneath LGM ice. An implication is that Lake District glaciers achieved limited erosion of bedrock during the build‐up to and at the maximum of the LGM, and that glacial erosion rates increased at a late stage in that period. Single 36Cl and 10Be exposure ages from two sites suggest a stillstand or readvance of valley glaciers prior to the Loch Lomond (Younger Dryas) Stade (LLS; Greenland Stade 1) and Windermere (Lateglacial) Interstade (Greenland Interstade 1), but additional ages are required in order to confirm or refute these individual ages. An LLS age for glacial‐depositional landforms at both these sites had previously been proposed. 36Cl surface exposure ages for boulders on moraines within the LLS limit do not fully support emplacement at that time; there is a possibility that these moraines are associated with a pre‐LLS stillstand or readvance of the valley glacier. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New analytical method for the determination of musks in personal care products by Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe extraction followed by GC–MS
Authors: Homem Vera , Avelino Silva José , Cunha Carina , Alves Arminda , Santos Lúcia
Published: April 2013

Synthetic musks are organic compounds used as fragrance additives and fixative compounds in a diversity of personal care products. A new method based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction followed by GC–MS for the analysis of 12 musks in personal care products was developed and validated. Some experimental parameters, such as total QuEChERS mass, sample mass/solvent volume ratio, type of extraction solvent, as well as salts and sorbents amount were investigated and optimized. The final method involves the musks extraction using acetonitrile, followed by the addition of anhydrous magnesium sulphate and sodium acetate. The clean‐up step was performed using dispersive SPE with primary and secondary amine and octadecyl–silica sorbents. This extraction procedure is fast (about 10 min) when compared to other traditional approaches. The method was robust for the matrices studied and shows a high precision (%RSD < 15%) and accuracy (average recovery of 85%), allowing the detection of musks in minimum concentrations between 0.01 ng/g (galaxolide) and 15.80 ng/g (musk xylene). The developed method was applied to the analysis of 12 samples, which revealed musks concentrations ranging from 2 ng/g (toothpaste) to 882 340 ng/g (perfumed body lotion).
Determination of Rate Constants for Aqueous Reactions of HCFC‐123 and HCFC‐225ca with OH− Along with Henry's Law Constants of Several HCFCs
Authors: Kutsuna Shuzo
Published: April 2013

Henry's law constants of six kinds of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) were determined at 313–353 K by means of a phase‐ratio variation headspace method: and (KH353 in M atm−1, ΔHsol in kJ mol−1) = (0.0070 ± 0.0006, –23 ± 2), (0.0038 ± 0.0011, –22 ± 10), (0.0065 ± 0.0007, –21 ± 3), (0.0026 ± 0.0007, –23 ± 8), (0.0016 ± 0.0003, –30 ± 4), and (0.0022 ± 0.0003, –25 ± 4), respectively, for HCFC‐141b (CH3CCl2F), HCFC‐142b (CH3CClF2), HCFC‐123 (CF3CHCl2), HCFC‐124 (CF3CHClF), HCFC‐225ca (CF3CF2CHCl2), and HCFC‐225cb (CClF2CF2CHClF). Errors represent two standard deviations only for the fitting. The decay of headspace partial pressures of these HCFCs via hydrolysis was discerned only for CF3CHCl2 and CF3CF2CHCl2 under the experimental conditions examined. Rate constants (kOH– in M−1 s−1) for aqueous reactions of CF3CF2CHCl2 and CF3CHCl2 with OH− at 313–353 K were determined to be and , respectively, from monitoring changes in headspace partial pressure over prescribed concentrations of aqueous NaOH as a function of the headspace time duration and concentration of aqueous NaOH. The calculations performed included consideration of gas–water equilibrium and hydrolysis at both headspace and room temperatures. The calculation for CF3CHCl2 also included consideration of salting‐out effects: The salting coefficient of NaCl on a natural log basis was determined to be 0.36 ± 0.06 M−1, and this value was used for consideration of the salting‐out effect of NaOH. Whereas the activation energy for CF3CF2CHCl2 was greater than that for CF3CHCl2, the kOH– value at 353 K of CF3CF2CHCl2 was 103 times larger than that of CF3CHCl2, indicating that reaction mechanisms for these two HCFCs differed from each other. The aqueous reaction of CF3CF2CHCl2 with OH− was found to proceed through dehydrofluorination on the basis of detection of CF3CFCCl2 as a primary degradation product of the reaction and proportionality of the rate constants to both concentrations of CF3CF2CHCl2 and OH−.
Some General Features in the Autocatalytic Reaction between Sulfite Ion and Different Oxidants
Authors: Molnár István , Takács Nándor , Kurin‐Csörgei Krisztina , Orbán Miklós , Szalai István
Published: April 2013

The autocatalytic oxidation of a weak acid is a common building block of the pH oscillators. These reactions can be described by a simple general scheme that includes a protonation equilibrium and the oxidation of the protonated form of the weak acid. Here we show that independently from the chemical nature of the oxidizing agent, these reactions bear some general features, namely (1) the change in pH (ΔpH) observed during the reaction is determined by the acidity constant (KHA) and by the initial concentration of the unprotonated form of the weak acid (A−): , (2) the inflection time of the autocatalytic reaction (ti) depends reciprocally on KHA and on the initial hydrogen ion concentration, and (3) in the presence of a competitive reversible proton‐binding component (D−), that is not involved in the oxidation process, ΔpH follows a titration‐like curve as the concentration of D− is increased, ti is only slightly affected but the maximum rate of the autocatalytic process is significantly reduced. The slowing of the overall reaction is proportional to the acidity constant of the proton‐binding component.
Snoring intensity after a first session of soft palate radiofrequency
Authors: Blumen Marc Bernard , Vezina Jean Philippe , Bequignon Emilie , Chabolle Frederic
Published: April 2013

Objectives/Hypothesis

To determine whether snoring sound intensity measured after a first soft palate radiofrequency (RF) session for simple snoring helps predict the final result of the treatment.

Study Design

Observational retrospective study.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of 105 subjects presenting with simple snoring or mild sleep apnea. All patients underwent two to three sessions of RF‐assisted stiffening of the soft palate. In addition, uvulectomy was performed in case of a long uvula, and two paramedian trenches were created in the presence of palatal webbing. Snoring sound intensity was evaluated by the bed partner after each session.

Results

Eighty‐six men and 19 women were included in the study. Mean age was 51.7 ± 9.8 years, and mean body mass index was 24.7 ± 4.4 kg/m2. The mean apnea/hypopnea index was 6.6 ± 4.2/h. The mean snoring sound intensity, as evaluated on a 10‐cm visual analog scale (VAS), decreased from 8.2 ± 1.5 to 3.5 ± 2.2 after all sessions (P < .0001). A score of 3 was determined as being a score that satisfied the bed partner. Two groups were formed according to the final snoring sound intensity, using 3 as a threshold. Both groups had similar preoperative characteristics, but the snoring sound intensity was significantly lower after the first session in the group with final score <3 (P = .01). Similarly, a VAS score >7 after the first session was associated with a final score <3 in 30% of the cases.

Conclusions

Snoring sound intensity after the first RF session helps predict the final outcome of RF‐assisted stiffening of the soft palate for simple snoring.

Level of Evidence

4.
Gentamicin‐induced bilateral vestibulopathy in rabbits
Authors: Kim Hyo Jung , Lee Jin Ok , Koo Ja Won , Kim Ji‐Soo , Ban Jaejun
Published: April 2013

Objectives/Hypothesis

Bilateral vestibulopathy (BV) is a mostly persistent and disabling disorder causing dizziness, oscillopsia, and imbalance during locomotion. The animal model is a prerequisite for experimental investigation on prevention and treatment of this disorder. The aim of this study was to determine the vestibular dysfunction and histopathology in rabbits with gentamicin‐induced BV.

Study Design

Prospective animal study in rabbits.

Methods

We performed intratympanic gentamicin (ITGM) injections in 12 Lionhead rabbits. The injection was applied to each ear with a 3‐day interval. The control group received injections of 0.9% normal saline. The animals were subjected to sinusoidal harmonic accelerations and open field tests for evaluation of the vestibular function before and after the procedures. We also determined histologic changes in the vestibular labyrinth 30 days after the first injection.

Results

One day after unilateral ITGM injection, the rabbits mostly showed ipsiversive head tilt, contralesional spontaneous nystagmus, ipsiversive circling behavior, and decreased gain of the vestibulo‐ocular reflex (VOR) during ipsiversive rotation. The second injection to the contralateral ear improved the head tilt but induced marked reduction in the activities and the VOR gains in both directions. These changes persisted until the histologic study confirmed the loss of the hair and supporting cells, diminished nerve fibers, and thinning of the sensory epithelium of the cristae ampullaris and otolith organs in the ITGM group 1 month later.

Conclusions

ITGM injection securely induced BV in rabbits without side effects such as nephrotoxicity. This rabbit model may be utilized for experiments on the prevention and treatment of BV. Laryngoscope, 123:E51–E58, 2013
Up‐regulated cten by FGF2 contributes to FGF2‐mediated cell migration
Authors: Hung Shih‐Ya , Shih Yi‐Ping , Chen Michelle , Lo Su Hao
Published: April 2013

Cten is a focal adhesion molecule that is expressed at very low levels in most normal tissues. Nonetheless, its expression has been found to increase dramatically in many types of cancer including colorectal, breast, gastric, and pancreatic cancer, suggesting that cten may play a critical role during tumorigenesis. To study the mechanisms that induce cten expression and the function of up‐regulated cten, we examined the effects of several cancer‐associated growth factors and cytokines on cten expression. We found that EGF, FGF2, NGF, PDGF, TGF‐β, IGF‐1, IL‐6, and IL‐13 were able to induce cten expression in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. The Mek‐Erk and PI3K‐Akt pathways were two main signaling cascades responsible for cten up‐regulation, whereas the Jak‐Stat pathway could contribute to the increase in some conditions. Since many of these factors are known to promote cell migration, we hypothesized that up‐regulated cten might contribute to this process. This hypothesis was investigated in FGF2‐mediated cell migration. Silencing of cten not only reduced regular cell motility but also FGF2‐mediated cell migration. Overexpression of cten promoted cell migration and FGF2 treatment failed to further enhance cell migration. Our findings that (1) cten is a common downstream molecule of these cancer‐associated growth factors and cytokines; and that (2) up‐regulated cten modulates cell migration induced by FGF2 and likely other growth factors as well, strongly suggest that cten could be a potential downstream therapeutic target for treating cancers associated with aberrant signaling of these growth factors and cytokines. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A fully integrated 5.6 GHz low‐phase noise colpitts VCO/QVCO using programmable switched codes
Authors: Huang Jhin‐Fang , Chen Kuo‐Lung , Lai Wen‐Cheng , Lin Wei‐Jian
Published: April 2013

A fully integrated, 5.6 GHz low‐phase noise Colpitts quadrature voltage‐controlled oscillator (VCO/QVCO) is presented. This QVCO is a complementary cross‐coupled voltage‐controlled Colpitts oscillator with a three‐bit switched capacitor array parallel to the inductor to form LC‐resonant tank and was implemented in TSMC 0.18 μm CMOS technology with 1.8 V supply voltage. Without buffer circuits, measured results achieve a tunable frequency range from 4.81 to 5.75 GHz, corresponding to 17.8%, a phase noise of −121 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency from 5.64 GHz, while the QVCO draws 3.8 mA current and 6.84 mW consumption, respectively. Including pads, the chip area is 1.046 mm2 (1.35 × 0.775 mm2). The output power is −10.04 dBm with 50‐Ω termination at the frequency of 5.64 GHz, and the calculated figure of merit is −187.7 dBc/Hz. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1490–1493, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.27629
Magnetic resonance imaging in duchenne muscular dystrophy: Longitudinal assessment of natural history over 18 months
Authors: Hollingsworth Kieren G. , Garrood Penny , Eagle Michelle , Bushby Kate , Straub Volker
Published: April 2013

Introduction: In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), fat replacement of muscle may be a useful endpoint in trials of therapy, although progression in different muscle groups is uneven. In this study we assessed the progression of fat replacement with T1‐weighted imaging over 2 9‐month periods. Methods: Eight ambulant, corticosteroid‐treated boys with DMD were imaged at 3 Tesla at 3 time‐points (baseline and 9 and 18 months) with T1‐weighted imaging to measure fat replacement. Results: The greatest increase in fat content was measured in the biceps femoris long head, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris, whereas the biceps femoris short head and gluteus maximus progressed more slowly. None of the lower leg muscles studied changed significantly. Conclusions: MRI can measure specific changes in fat replacement of muscle over time, demonstrating the variability in rates of natural progression between muscle groups and identifying those muscles suitable for use as biomarkers in clinical trials. Muscle Nerve 48: 586–588, 2013
Nongenomic actions of progesterone and 17β‐estradiol on the chloride conductance of skeletal muscle
Authors: Burge James a. , Hanna Michael G. , Schorge Stephanie
Published: April 2013

Introduction: Myotonia congenita, caused by mutations in ClC‐1, tends to be more severe in men and is often exacerbated by pregnancy. Methods: We performed whole‐cell patch clamp of mouse muscle chloride currents in the absence/presence of 100 μM progesterone or 17β‐estradiol. Results: 100 μM progesterone rapidly and reversibly shifted the ClC‐1 activation curve of mouse skeletal muscle (V50 changed from −52.6 ± 9.3 to +35.5 ± 6.7; P < 0.01) and markedly reduced chloride currents at depolarized potentials. 17β‐estradiol at the same concentration had a similar but smaller effect (V50 change from −57.2 ± 7.6 to −40.5 ± 9.8; P < 0.05). 1 μM progesterone produced no significant effect. Conclusions: Although the data support the existence of a nongenomic mechanism in mammalian skeletal muscle through which sex hormones at high concentration can rapidly modulate ClC‐1, the influence of hormones on muscle excitability in vivo remains an open question. Muscle Nerve 48: 589–591, 2013
Automatic solver for non‐linear partial differential equations with implicit local laws: Application to unilateral contact
Authors: Lejeune Arnaud , Boudaoud Hakim , Potier‐Ferry Michel , Charpentier Isabelle , Zahrouni Hamid
Published: April 2013

In general, non‐linear continuum mechanics combine global balance equations and local constitutive laws. In this work, frictionless contact between a rigid tool and a thin elastic shell is considered. This class of boundary value problems involves two non‐linear algebraic laws: the first one gives explicitly the stress field as a function of the strain throughout the continuum part, whereas the second one is a non‐linear equation relating the contact forces and the displacement at the boundary.Given the fact that classical computational approaches sometimes require significant effort in implementation of complex non‐linear problems, a computation technique based on automatic differentiation of constitutive laws is presented in this paper. The procedure enables to compute automatically the higher‐order derivatives of these constitutive laws and thereafter to define the Taylor series that are the basis of the continuation technique called asymptotic numerical method. The algorithm is about the same with an explicit or implicit constitutive relation. In the modelling of forming processes, many tool shapes can be encountered. The presented computational technique permits an easy implementation of these complex surfaces, for instance in a finite element code: the user is only required to define the tool geometry and the computer is able to obtain the higher‐order derivatives. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Karhunen–Loève decomposition of random fields based on a hierarchical matrix approach
Authors: Allaix Diego Lorenzo , Carbone Vincenzo Ilario
Published: April 2013

The simulation of the behavior of structures with uncertain properties is a challenging issue, because it requires suitable probabilistic models and adequate numerical tools. Nowadays, it is possible to perform probabilistic investigations of the structural performance, which take into account a space‐variant uncertainty characterization of the structures. Given a structural solver and the probabilistic models, the reliability analysis of the structural response depends on the continuous random fields approximation, which is carried out by means of a finite set of random variables. The paper analyzes the main aspects of discretization in the case of 2D problems. The combination of the well‐known Karhunen–Loève series expansion, the finite element method and the hierarchical matrices approach is proposed in the paper. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genome sequencing of mucosal melanomas reveals that they are driven by distinct mechanisms from cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Furney Simon J , Turajlic Samra , Stamp Gordon , Nohadani Mahrokh , Carlisle Anna , Thomas J Meirion , Hayes Andrew , Strauss Dirk , Gore Martin , van den Oord Joost , Larkin James , Marais Richard
Published: April 2013

Mucosal melanoma displays distinct clinical and epidemiological features compared to cutaneous melanoma. Here we used whole genome and whole exome sequencing to characterize the somatic alterations and mutation spectra in the genomes of ten mucosal melanomas. We observed somatic mutation rates that are considerably lower than occur in sun‐exposed cutaneous melanoma, but comparable to the rates seen in cancers not associated with exposure to known mutagens. In particular, the mutation signatures are not indicative of ultraviolet light‐ or tobacco smoke‐induced DNA damage. Genes previously reported as mutated in other cancers were also mutated in mucosal melanoma. Notably, there were substantially more copy number and structural variations in mucosal melanoma than have been reported in cutaneous melanoma. Thus, mucosal and cutaneous melanomas are distinct diseases with discrete genetic features. Our data suggest that different mechanisms underlie the genesis of these diseases and that structural variations play a more important role in mucosal than in cutaneous melanomagenesis. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of poly (imide–benzimidazole) hybrid nanocomposites using nano‐cluster of octa‐amino functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane
Authors: Govindaraj B. , Sarojadevi M.
Published: April 2013

Poly (imide–benzimidazole)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), nanocomposites were prepared by the reaction of the heterocyclic diamine monomer 2,2‐(1,2‐phenylene)‐bis(5‐aminobenzimidazole), octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane(OAPS), and benzophenonetetra carboxylic dianhydride (BTDA). The structure of the prepared monomers was confirmed by FTIR and NMR (29Si, 1H, and 13C) spectral studies. The thermal stability behavior of the poly (imide–benzimidazole) and poly (imide–benzimidazole)–POSS nanocomposite films were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). Dynamic mechanical analysis shows that the glass transition temperatures of the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) containing poly (imide–benzimidazole) nanocomposites are higher than that of the corresponding neat poly (imide–benzimidazole) systems. Decrease in the dielectric constant was observed with an increase in the determined amount of amino‐functionalized POSS in the poly (imide–benzimidazole) matrix. Further, the morphological studies were carried out by X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:825–833, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Nanocomposite of polyaniline and a layered niobate acid host: Synthesis, electrochemical studies, and photocatalytic properties
Authors: Zhu Huajun , Yao Xiao , Hua Sudong
Published: April 2013

The synthesis of polyaniline (PANI) with H4Nb6O17 (HNbO) to form PANI/HNbO lamellar nanocomposite by in situ polymerization using aniline (ANI) intercalation compound ANI/HNbO as the intermediate has been investigated. The properties of the samples were characterized by means of XRD, SEM, TEM, FT‐IR, UV–vis spectroscopy, and TG‐DTA. The in situ polymerization of ANI packed in a regular orientation in a mono‐ and bilayers (i.e., pseudo‐bilayers) structure within the HNbO interlayers led to PANI/HNbO nanocomposite powder using (NH4)2S2O8 as the catalyst with PANI monolayer packing orientation within the HNbO interlayers. PANI/HNbO nanocomposite showed improved thermal stability compared with original PANI by TG analysis. The PANI/HNbO nanocomposite was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), which indicated the good redox activity and electrochemical‐cycling stability in acidic solution. The interaction between PANI and nanosheets greatly affected the electrochemical behavior of PANI/HNbO nanocomposite. Two couples of redox peaks corresponded to two oxidation process of PANI in acid conditions. The PANI/HNbO nanocomposite exhibited much higher photocatalytic activities for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation than HNbO itself. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:834–841, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Impact and flexural properties of stone‐ground wood pulp‐reinforced polypropylene composites
Authors: López J.P. , Gironès J. , Mendez J.A. , Pèlach M.A. , Vilaseca F. , Mutjé P.
Published: April 2013

This study analyses the flexural and impact strength of polypropylene reinforced with stone ground wood pulp (SGWP) and the effect of a maleated‐polypropylene (MAPP) coupling agent on the mechanical properties of these composites. Composites prepared in the absence of the coupling agent showed a very light positive linear evolution of the flexural strength with the percentage of reinforcing fiber. In contrast, composites that included MAPP in their formulation presented highly noticeable improvements with fiber content. By applying mathematical modeling strategies, the flexural modulus has been analyzed using the Cox–Krenchel model. Similarly, the flexural and tensile strength factors for the reinforcing fiber have been defined and utterly allowed for the determination of intrinsic fiber flexural strength. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:842–848, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effect of precured degrees on morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties of BR/SBR/NR foams
Authors: Wang Xu , Feng Na , Chang Suqin
Published: April 2013

The ternary composites of 1,4‐cis polybutadiene rubbers (BR), styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), and natural rubber (NR) foams containing chemical blowing agents Oxybis (benzene sulfonyl) hydrazide (OBSH) were prepared by two‐stage compression molding technique with various precured degrees. Foam force rheometer indicated that the cure rate was match with foaming rate at precured degree of 30%, which the time of the maximum foaming rate was earlier only 14 s than that of the maximum cure rate. SEM presented that the number of cell was denser at precured degree of 30% than those with other precured degrees. The average cell size declined, cell wall thickness became thicker, and cell distribution became narrower just as precured degree was increasing. The results of crosslinking density was measured by equilibrium swelling technique in good agreement with that of magnetism resonance crosslinking density spectrometer measurement, which crosslinking density was increased as precured degrees increased. Differential scanning calorimeter showed that each curve exhibits two steps in heat capacity for BR/SBR/NR foams. With further increase of precured degrees, the two groups of Tgs were all shift to the higher temperature, and the area of the melting peak decreased gradually between −20°C and −40°C. TGA results demonstrated that BR/SBR/NR foams with various precured degrees obtained better thermal stability than those of non‐precured foams. The high density of polymeric foams exhibits the high mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear strength, and elongation at break. The inflection points of density, cell density, and hardness were all appeared at precured degree of 30%. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:849–859, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Modeling tensile response of fiber‐reinforced polymer composites using discrete element method
Authors: Khattak Mohammad J. , Khattab Ahmed
Published: April 2013

An advanced discrete element method (DEM), coupled with imaging techniques, of the tensile response of carbon fiber‐reinforced composite materials is presented in this article. DEM was developed using the image‐based shape structural model to determine the composites' elastic modulus, stress–strain response, and tensile strength. The developed model utilizes the microfabric micromechanical discrete element modeling technique. Clusters of very small bonded discrete elements were used to model the two composite constituents (matrix and reinforcement). The microparameters of each discrete element were determined from the macrocharacteristics of each constituent. The results from the developed model were compared with the results from an experimental case study. The results obtained from DEM simulations are within the coefficient of variation of the experimental values. The comparison indicates that the image‐based DEM micromechanical model accurately determines the elastic modulus and tensile strength of the molded carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer composite. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:877–886, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Risk Factors for Excessive Anticoagulation Among Hospitalized Adults Receiving Warfarin Therapy Using a Pharmacist‐Managed Dosing Protocol
Authors: Berg Tamara M. , O'Meara John G. , Ou Narith N. , Daniels Paul R. , Moriarty James P. , Bergstrahl Eric J. , Dierkhising Ross A. , Manning Dennis M.
Published: April 2013

Study Objective

To identify specific risk factors for excessive anticoagulation, defined as an international normalized ratio (INR) higher than 5, in hospitalized adults receiving warfarin therapy using a pharmacist‐managed dosing protocol.

Design

Retrospective nested case‐control study.

Setting

Large academic tertiary care medical center.

Patients

Hospitalized nonsurgical patients 18 years or older who received at least one dose of warfarin according to the pharmacist‐managed protocol from January 1, 2009, to January 31, 2012, were included. Patients who experienced an INR higher than 5 were designated as case patients; those who received warfarin for at least as many days as the case patients but who did not experience an INR more than 5 were deemed control patients. Controls were matched to cases in a 2:1 ratio by age, sex, INR goal, and type of warfarin therapy (new start or continuation).

Measurements and Main Results

A total of 87 case patients were matched to 174 controls. Ten different hypothesized risk factors were examined. Two variables, severity of illness score (odds ratio [OR] 4.89, p<0.001) and poor nutritional status (OR 4.27, p<0.001), demonstrated strong independent associations with risk of excessive anticoagulation. Administration of interacting drugs that highly potentiate warfarin's effect (OR 2.26, p=0.011) and concurrent diarrheal illness (OR 4.75, p<0.001) also displayed a statistically significant risk for excessive anticoagulation.

Conclusion

Even in a highly standardized system for warfarin dosing by a pharmacist‐managed protocol, higher disease severity and poor nutritional status placed hospitalized patients at greater risk of experiencing excessive anticoagulation. In addition, administration of interacting drugs that highly potentiate warfarin's effect or the occurrence of diarrheal illness may predict increased risk.