bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of WU and KI polyomaviruses in plasma, urine, and respiratory samples from renal transplant patients
Authors: Csoma Eszter , Mészáros Beáta , Asztalos László , Kónya József , Gergely Lajos
Published: May 2011

WU and KI polyomaviruses (WUPyV, KIPyV) have been detected in respiratory, blood, stool, and lymphoid tissue, but not in urine samples. PCR based detection revealed higher frequency in immunocompromised individuals. In this study the prevalence of WUPyV and KIPyV was analyzed in respiratory, urine, and blood samples from renal transplant patients compared with healthy individuals. WUPyV and KIPyV were detected by nested PCR. The PCR products were sequenced and viral DNA loads were determined by quantitative real‐time PCR. WUPyV and KIPyV were found in plasma (3.6%; 7/195), urine (14%; 7/50), and respiratory samples (10%; 9/90) of renal transplant patients, but not in plasma (0/200) and urine (0/36) specimens from healthy blood donors. WUPyV and KIPyV were detected mainly early after renal transplantation and the viral loads were low. A higher prevalence of WUPyV was found in plasma and urine samples, KIPyV was found more frequently in respiratory samples from renal transplant patients. It is hypothesized that immunosuppression due to the transplantation may result in reactivation of these viruses or may establish greater susceptibility to infection with KIPyV and WUPyV. J. Med. Virol. 83:1275–1278, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Update on molecular characterization of coxsackievirus B5 strains
Authors: Rezig Dorra , Fares Wasfi , Seghier Mohamed , Yahia Ahlem Ben , Touzi Henda , Triki Hinda
Published: May 2011

Among Coxsackie B viruses, Coxsckievirus B5 is one of the most predominant serotypes in human, it is frequently associated with cases of neurological diseases, epidemics of meningitis and is a common cause of cardiomyopathy and diabetes. In the present study 27 isolates of Coxsackievirus B5 from North Africa, obtained from cerebrospinal fluid and stool samples of healthy individuals, patients with acute flaccid paralysis or aseptic meningitis were investigated by partial sequencing in the 5' half of the VP1 region and compared to the up‐to‐date published Coxsackievirus B5 sequences in the same genomic region. Four distinct genomic groups and ten different clusters were individualized. Most of the isolates from Algeria and Tunisia belonged to two clusters. For both, the sequences from North Africa clustered mainly with sequences from European countries, the majority isolated recently during the 2000s. The analysis of the alignment of amino‐acids sequences in the VP1 gene revealed four major substitutions in strains from different clusters, we also noticed changes in the BC‐loop region; this region is associated with viral antigenicity. This study permit to better identify circulating Coxsackievirus B5 strains throughout the world and their genetic relationship. The protein analysis showed changes that could imply some antigenic significance. J. Med. Virol. 83:1247–1254, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional impairment of dendritic cells in patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 who failed peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy
Authors: Liang Cheng‐Chao , Liu Chen‐Hua , Lin Yu‐Li , Liu Chun‐Jen , Chiang Bor‐Luen , Kao Jia‐Horng
Published: May 2011

Although chronic hepatitis C patients have a lower frequency and functions of dendritic cells (DCs) than healthy subjects, little is known about the serial changes in frequency and functions of DCs following anti‐viral treatment and the relationship with treatment outcomes. Twenty patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 receiving peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) and ribavirin for 24 weeks were enrolled. The frequency and functions of DCs were assayed at baseline and 24 weeks post‐treatment. Ten sex and age‐matched healthy adults served as controls. Nineteen of the 20 chronic hepatitis C patients completed 24 weeks of combination therapy. Fifteen patients achieved rapid virologic response and 12 achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). The baseline frequency of peripheral blood myeloid DCs and plasmacytoid DCs was significantly lower in chronic hepatitis C patients than in healthy controls. In patients who achieved SVR, the frequency of DCs subsets at the end of follow‐up increased to a level comparable to healthy controls. Although no functional defects of DCs was found in chronic hepatitis C patients in comparison with healthy controls, in patients without SVR had a lower CD83 expression and higher interleukin‐10 production of DCs than SVR patients. The results suggest that low CD83 expression and high IL‐10 production of DCs at the baseline may predict a poor virologic response to 24‐week PEG‐IFN plus ribavirin therapy in HCV genotype 1 patients. J. Med. Virol. 83:1212–1220, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interference of replication between hepatitis B and C viruses in patients infected with HIV
Authors: Yang Rong‐Rong , Gui Xien , Chen Xue‐yuan , Zhu Ying
Published: May 2011

The clinical and cellular interactions between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were investigated in patients co‐infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). One hundred ninety‐nine patients followed for 6 years were evaluated to compare the level of HBV DNA and HCV RNA in patients co‐infected with HIV and HBV, and patients co‐infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV. A full‐length HBV genome and HCV JFH1 RNA were co‐transfected into HuH‐7.5.1 cells in vitro to examine the impact of co‐infection and dependence on the HBV PreC mutant for replication interference. Before 2′,3′‐dideoxy‐3′‐thiacytidine (3TC)‐based antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated, HBV DNA was found in 56/123 (45.4%) patients co‐infected with HIV and HBV, and in 19/76 (25.0%) patients co‐infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV. After 3TC‐based ART was initiated, detectable HBV DNA decreased to 7/76 (9.2%) in patients co‐infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV, but HCV RNA increased from 43/76 (56.6%) to 60/76 (78.9%) (P = 0.003). In vitro HBV and HCV co‐infection led to decreased replication of both viruses. The primary factors that influenced the decreased replication were the order of the HBV and HCV infection and the HBV PreC mutation. J. Med. Virol. 83:1159–1164, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Why are Some Engaged and Not Others? Explaining Environmental Engagement among Small Firms in Tourism
Authors: Sampaio Ana Rita , Thomas Rhodri , Font Xavier
Published: May 2011

This paper examines the reasons for different levels of environmental engagement among small firms in tourism. Drawing on theories of motivation, notably Social Cognitive Theory, Motivation Systems Theory and Goal Orientation Theory, as well as the literature on environmental sensitivity, it proposes a novel conceptual framework that is subsequently used to inform an empirical study. The findings of the research suggest that varying levels of environmental engagement may be explained by differences in worldviews, self‐efficacy beliefs, context beliefs and goal orientation. The paper concludes by considering the policy implications of the results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Validation of the child posttraumatic symptom scale in a sample of treatment‐seeking Israeli youth
Authors: Rachamim Lilach , Helpman Liat , Foa Edna B. , Aderka Idan M. , Gilboa‐Schechtman Eva
Published: May 2011

We evaluated the psychometric properties of the Hebrew version of the Child Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (CPSS), a self‐report measure assessing the severity of posttraumatic distress in youth. Participants (N= 156, ages 8–18) were treatment‐seeking victims of diverse traumas. Internal consistency of the Hebrew version in these data was .91 for the total score, .77 for intrusion, .67 for avoidance, and .72 for arousal, similar to the original version. Test‐retest reliability over 1 week in a subsample of 45 was r = .81. The point biserial correlation with a clinician‐based diagnosis of PTSD was .54. Other convergent and divergent relationships expand the existing literature on the measure and support it as a valuable assessment tool for children exposed to traumatic events.
Deployment stressors and outcomes among Air Force chaplains
Authors: Levy Hannah C. , Conoscenti Lauren M. , Tillery John F. , Dickstein Benjamin D. , Litz Brett T.
Published: May 2011

Military chaplains are invaluable caregiver resources for service members. Little is known about how chaplains respond to the challenge of providing spiritual counsel in a warzone. In this exploratory study, 183 previously deployed Air Force chaplains completed an online survey assessing operational and counseling stress exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, compassion fatigue, and posttraumatic growth. Despite reporting exposure to stressful counseling experiences, Air Force chaplains did not endorse high compassion fatigue. Rather, chaplains experienced positive psychological growth following exposure to stressful counseling experiences. However, 7.7% of Air Force chaplains reported clinically significant PTSD symptoms, suggesting that they are not immune to deployment‐related mental health problems. Simultaneous regression analyses revealed that counseling stress exposure predicted compassion fatigue (β = .20) and posttraumatic growth (β = .24), suggesting that caretaking in theatre is stressful enough to spur positive psychological growth in chaplains. Consistent with findings from previous studies, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that operational stress exposure predicted PTSD symptom severity (β = .33) while controlling for demographic variables.
ASSESSING LAND DEGRADATION RISK THROUGH THE LONG‐TERM ANALYSIS OF EROSIVITY: A CASE STUDY IN SOUTHERN SPAIN
Authors: Taguas E. V. , Carpintero E. , Ayuso J. L.
Published: May 2011

Despite the high variability of the precipitation regime characterizing the Mediterranean area, the records of rainfall depth are usually not appropriate for long‐term calculations of erosivity and soil losses, because they do not reveal details of short lengths or long durations (daily, monthly). In this work, we present a simple approach to calculate annual erosivity through monthly precipitation records. The study area (olive groves on steep slopes) has a high erosion risk associated to the main soil land use, combined with an irregular and erosive rainfall regime. The relationships between rainfall data at intervals of 10 min for a period of 3 years, daily rainfall records over 10 years and a long‐term monthly dataset of 60 years were checked to calculate the annual erosivity values through daily data, Fourier's index and modified Fourier's index values. A good, adjusted linear relationship between modified Fourier's index and the erosivity was found, which allowed us to optimize the use of the 60‐year monthly data series and to carry out a long‐term analysis of the erosivity quantiles in the study area. The estimated mean erosivity showed a return period of between 2 and 5 years and a variation coefficient of over 50 per cent, which illustrate its high variability and frequency. This approach to calculate erosivity and the use of quantiles could be applied in other areas with month‐long data series in order to study and model the erosion risk using suitable temporal periods. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toll-like receptor 2 polymorphism and gram-positive bacterial infections after liver transplantation
Authors: Lee Sang-Oh , Brown Robert A. , Kang Seung H. , Abdel-Massih Rima C. , Razonable Raymund R.
Published: May 2011

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is an immune sensor for gram-positive bacterial cell wall components. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TLR2 gene that impair its function may, therefore, influence the risk and outcomes of gram-positive bacterial infections. In a cohort of 694 liver transplant recipients, we assessed the TLR2 SNP that is translated into an amino acid substitution of arginine for glutamine at position 753 (R753Q), and we found that its presence was associated with the clinical characteristics and outcomes of gram-positive bacterial infections. The proportions of patients with the TLR2 R753Q SNP did not significantly differ between those with gram-positive bacterial infections and those without gram-positive bacterial infections (9.6% versus 9.6%, P = 0.999). However, in patients with the TLR2 R753Q SNP, higher rates of infection recurrence (27.8% versus 11.8%, P = 0.07) and initial septic shock (11.1% versus 1.2%, P = 0.047) were observed. Chronic hepatitis C [relative risk (RR) = 3.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.24-9.13, P = 0.02], initial septic shock (RR = 15.13, 95% CI = 2.84-80.54, P = 0.001), and central venous catheter–related bacteremia (RR = 7.22, 95% CI = 2.54-20.51, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with 90-day all-cause mortality after gram-positive bacterial infections. In contrast, the presence of the TLR2 R753Q SNP was not significantly associated with mortality. Liver Transpl 17:1081–1088, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
Liver transplantation in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients
Authors: Joshi Deepak , O'Grady John , Taylor Chris , Heaton Nigel , Agarwal Kosh
Published: May 2011

With the successful introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is now regarded as a chronic illness with excellent long-term outcomes. However, chronic exposure to viral etiologies (ie, chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C) and drug-induced toxicity secondary to cART have resulted in increasing rates of mortality and morbidity due to end-stage liver disease. HIV disease is no longer considered an absolute contraindication to liver transplantation (LT) by most transplant centers worldwide. Because the burden of liver disease in this cohort is likely to increase, this review addresses the key etiologies and the management strategies available for HIV-positive patients undergoing LT. Liver Transpl 17:881–890, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
Liver Transplantation in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Disease
Authors: Lucey Michael R.
Published: May 2011

Although alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation (LT), there are still unresolved controversies about the goals of treatment, the referral, evaluation, and selection of patients with ALD for LT, and their care after LT. It is uncertain whether there is a large unmet need for LT among patients with ALD because of the unmeasured effects of recent drinking, relapse, and recovery with abstinence in this population. A careful assessment of the extrahepatic effects of alcohol-related end-organ damage is needed for ALD patients who are referred for an LT evaluation. Although there clearly is a relationship between the length of sobriety and future abstinence, the present methods for predicting future drinking are inexact. The survival of ALD patients after LT is as good as the survival of non-ALD patients, although patients with coincident ALD and hepatitis C virus have higher mortality and morbidity rates. After LT, ALD patients have an increased risk of developing malignancies and cardiovascular disease. These risks appear to be linked to cigarette smoking. Covert drinking occurs both before and after transplantation, and approximately 20% of patients return to harmful drinking after LT. Harmful drinking after LT (instead of slips) causes liver damage and reduces survival. Better therapies for controlling addictions to alcohol and nicotine are needed for ALD patients both before and after LT. Liver Transpl 17:751-759, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
Overdose with suicidal intent: Ethical considerations for liver transplant programs
Authors: Rhodes Rosamond , Aggarwal Sourabh , Schiano Thomas D.
Published: May 2011

Liver transplantation (LT) programs encounter patients with fulminant hepatic failure resulting from suicide attempts involving acetaminophen or multidrug ingestion. Members of transplant teams often have different opinions about whether these patients should be offered transplantation. Disagreements can delay the transfer of these patients to a transplant facility and negatively affect their management. Currently, transplant programs have no guidelines to help them with their decisions about the appropriateness of LT for these patients. Here we present a clinical case encountered at our facility, and we discuss ethical principles that should help programs to make informed decisions about transplantation for these patients. Liver Transpl 17:1111–1116, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
Toll-like receptor 4 knockout mice are protected from endothelial overactivation in the absence of Kupffer cells after total hepatic ischemia/reperfusion
Authors: Ellett Justin D. , Atkinson Carl , Evans Zachary P. , Amani Zainab , Balish Edward , Schmidt Michael G. , Schnellmann Rick G. , Chavin Kenneth D.
Published: May 2011

Kupffer cells (KCs) have been shown to be critical mediators of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the murine liver. Using liposomal clodronate (LC), we found that KCs were protective in models of total hepatic ischemia with bowel congestion. We investigated the role of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the damage that occurs after I/R in KC-depleted livers. We injected 8-week-old C57BL/10J mice and C57BL/10ScN [toll-like receptor 4 knockout (TLR4KO)] mice with LC 48 hours before 35 minutes of warm hepatic ischemia with bowel congestion, which was followed by either 6 or 24 hours of reperfusion. The KC-depleted animals had increased mortality as well as a 10-fold increase in their aminotransferase levels that correlated with increases in centrilobular necrosis. These changes were absent in the TLR4KO animals. Lipopolysaccharide was bound extensively to endothelial cells after I/R, and this binding was diminished in the TLR4KO animals. In conjunction with this, there was an up-regulation of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in the LC-treated animals that was absent in the TLR4KO animals. Finally, there was a dramatic increase in the proinflammatory cytokine levels of the LC-treated animals, and the TLR4KO animals were protected against this increase. In conclusion, TLR4 promotes endothelial overactivation after I/R in the absence of KCs. Liver Transpl 17:1089–1098, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
A Dithienyl Benzotriazole‐based Polyfluorene: Synthesis and Applications in Polymer Solar Cells and Red Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Liu Bo , Ye Shanghui , Zou Yingping , Peng Bo , He Yuehui , Zhou Kechao
Published: May 2011

A new donor–acceptor type polyfluorene derivative, poly[9,9‐dioctyl‐2,7‐fluorene‐alt‐(4,7‐bis(2′‐thienyl)‐2‐octyl‐2,1,3‐benzotriazole)] (PFDTBTz), is synthesized by a Suzuki cross‐coupling polymerization reaction. The optical, electrochemical, photovoltaic, and electroluminescence properties of PFDTBTz are investigated in detail. The maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSCs based on PFDTBTz/PC71BM (1:2 w/w) reaches 2.1% with a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 5.73 mA · cm−2, an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.84 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.44 under AM 1.5G, 100 mW · cm−2 illumination. Polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) are fabricated in an ITO/PEDOT:PSS (30 nm)/PFDTBTz (60 nm)/BAlq (40 nm)/Cs2CO3:Ag configuration and light emission is observed at a voltage greater than 8.0 V. The EL device shows almost pure red and the efficiency is very stable when the current density is increased, making it useful for commercial applications.

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Intertemporal choice in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Milenkova Maria , Mohammadi Bahram , Kollewe Katja , Schrader Christoph , Fellbrich Anja , Wittfoth Matthias , Dengler Reinhard , Münte Thomas F.
Published: May 2011

The administration of dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease has been associated with impulse control disorders, in particular, pathological gambling. In the present investigation, 17 patients with Parkinson's disease without impulse control disorders and 17 matched control participants were offered choices between monetary rewards (ranging between 11 and 80 euros) available immediately and larger rewards (between 25 and 85 euros) available after delays ranging from 7 to 186 days. Participants had a 1‐in‐6 chance of winning a reward that they chose on 1 randomly selected trial. Assuming a hyperbolic discounting model, k values were estimated from the pattern of participants' choices. Patients were tested twice, once on dopamine agonist medication and once after 12 hours without medication. Patients showed a considerably steeper discounting function than healthy controls independent of medication status, with k values more than 3 times larger than those of controls. This study shows that patients with Parkinson's disease without clinically apparent impulse control disorders nevertheless tend to make impulsive decisions in intertemporal monetary choice. The lack of difference between sessions could be a result either of the persistent effects of dopaminergic therapy or hint at a genuine medication‐independent change in intertemporal choice behavior in Parkinson's disease. This needs to be addressed in further studies. The paradigm used is easy to apply and should be used more extensively to describe decision behavior in Parkinson's disease. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Minimum important difference for validated instruments in women with urge incontinence
Authors: Dyer Keisha Y. , Xu Yan , Brubaker Linda , Nygaard Ingrid , Markland Alayne , Rahn David , Chai Toby C. , Stoddard Ann , Lukacz Emily ,   for the Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network (UITN)
Published: May 2011

Aims

Minimum important difference (MID) estimates the minimum degree of change in an instrument's score that correlates with subjective sense of improvement. The aim of this study was to estimate the MID for the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ) and Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB‐q) using anchor and distribution‐based approaches in patients with urge‐predominant incontinence and whether MID changes over time.

Methods

This was a sub‐analysis of a multi‐center trial of 307 women with pure urge (11) or urge‐predominant (296) incontinence who completed condition‐specific instruments 10 weeks and 8 months after randomization to anticholinergic medication with or without behavioral therapy. We applied anchor‐based methods only when the Kendall's rank correlations between the anchors (Global Perception of Improvement (GPI), Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ), and incontinence episodes) and the incontinence instruments (UDI, UDI irritative subscale, IIQ, and OAB‐q subscales) were ≥0.3. We applied three distribution‐based methods to all instruments: effect sizes of ±0.2 SD (small) and ±0.5 SD (medium), and standard error of measurement of ±1. Analyses were performed at both time points.

Results

Anchor‐based MIDs for the UDI ranged from −35 to −45 and −15 to −25 for the irritative subscale distribution‐based methods MIDs for UDI and IIQ ranged between −10 to −25 and −19 to −49, respectively, reflective of a reduction in bother and symptom severity (SS). OAB‐q subscale MIDs ranged from +5 to +12, denoting improved quality of life (HRQL) and −13 to −25, consistent with a reduction in SS.

Conclusions

The MID in women with urge‐predominant UI for the UDI and UDI irritative are −35 and −15. Our findings are consistent with previously reported MIDs for the OAB‐q subscales. Distribution‐based method MIDs are lower values than anchor‐based values. The MID did not typically change over the time. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:1319–1324, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A brain MRI study of chronic fatigue syndrome: evidence of brainstem dysfunction and altered homeostasis
Authors: Barnden Leighton R. , Crouch Benjamin , Kwiatek Richard , Burnet Richard , Mernone Anacleto , Chryssidis Steve , Scroop Garry , Del Fante Peter
Published: May 2011

To explore brain involvement in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), the statistical parametric mapping of brain MR images has been extended to voxel‐based regressions against clinical scores. Using SPM5 we performed voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) and analysed T1‐ and T2‐weighted spin‐echo MR signal levels in 25 CFS subjects and 25 normal controls (NC). Clinical scores included CFS fatigue duration, a score based on the 10 most common CFS symptoms, the Bell score, the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) anxiety and depression, and hemodynamic parameters from 24‐h blood pressure monitoring. We also performed group × hemodynamic score interaction regressions to detect locations where MR regressions were opposite for CFS and NC, thereby indicating abnormality in the CFS group. In the midbrain, white matter volume was observed to decrease with increasing fatigue duration. For T1‐weighted MR and white matter volume, group × hemodynamic score interactions were detected in the brainstem [strongest in midbrain grey matter (GM)], deep prefrontal white matter (WM), the caudal basal pons and hypothalamus. A strong correlation in CFS between brainstem GM volume and pulse pressure suggested impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation. It can be argued that at least some of these changes could arise from astrocyte dysfunction. These results are consistent with an insult to the midbrain at fatigue onset that affects multiple feedback control loops to suppress cerebral motor and cognitive activity and disrupt local CNS homeostasis, including resetting of some elements of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). © 2011 The Authors. NMR in Biomedicine published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coronary heart disease outcomes among chronic opioid and cyclooxygenase‐2 users compared with a general population cohort
Authors: Carman Wendy J. , Su Shuhua , Cook Suzanne F. , Wurzelmann John I. , McAfee Andrew
Published: May 2011

Background

We estimated the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary revascularization (CR) among users of chronic opioid therapy (COT) and compared risks across categories of morphine‐equivalent doses of COT and comparator cohorts.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective claims‐based study using de‐identified data from a commercially insured population. A cohort of 148 657 adult users of COT, a matched cohort of the general population, and three cohorts of users of chronic cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitor therapy totaling 122 810 were identified. Incidence rates and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of MI and MI/CR were estimated.

Results

Adjusted IRRs for MI ranged from 1.21 (95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.02–1.45) among those receiving low COT doses to 1.89 (95%CI, 1.54–2.33) among those receiving high doses compared with those receiving very low doses, averaging <15 mg/day. Similar patterns were shown for MI/CR. IRRs standardized to the age–sex distribution of the general cohort and adjusted for coronary heart disease risk factors showed 2.7 times the rate of MI and 2.4 times the rate of MI/CR in the COT cohort compared with the general population. Using the same analysis, COX‐2 users had 1.7–1.9 times the rate of MI and MI/CR compared with the general cohort.

Conclusions

Chronic analgesic use with either COT or COX‐2 was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes. These findings suggest either a selection of high‐risk patients to chronic analgesic treatment, coupled with unmeasured or residual confounding, or a potential cardiovascular effect of these medications. Further research is warranted to evaluate causes for this association. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accuracy of identifying neutropenia diagnoses in outpatient claims data
Authors: Kim Seo Young , Solomon Daniel H. , Liu Jun , Chang Chun‐Lan , Daniel Gregory W. , Schneeweiss Sebastian
Published: May 2011

Purpose

Diagnosis codes have been valid tools to identify severe neutropenia leading to hospitalization in claims data, but no data exist on the accuracy of outpatient diagnosis of neutropenia. We examined the validity and accuracy of claims‐based algorithms to identify neutropenia from outpatient visits.

Methods

Adults with outpatient diagnosis of neutropenia in the HealthCore Integrated Research Database TM were identified by several algorithms using a combination of International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD‐9) codes and drug use data. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value of these algorithms using outpatient laboratory data within 3 months of the diagnosis as the gold standard to ascertain cases of mild (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <1,500/μL) and severe (ANC <500/μL) neutropenia.

Results

Among 95,742 eligible subjects, 867 patients were identified with any ICD‐9 codes for neutropenia. This algorithm had high specificity (99%), but low sensitivity (9%) and PPV (18%) for mild neutropenia. Among the subjects identified with the ICD‐9 288.0 (N = 203), sensitivity was 4% and PPV was 33%. Specificity and PPV of the algorithm that combined any ICD‐9 codes for neutropenia with dispensing of pegfilgrastim or filgrastim were 100 and 56% for mild neutropenia, respectively. Sensitivity was 1%. All algorithms had slightly higher sensitivity, but lower PPV for severe neutropenia.

Conclusions

Use of ICD‐9 codes for neutropenia in combination with drug use data did not appear to accurately identify outpatient diagnosis of neutropenia without using laboratory results, but it may be useful in determining the absence of neutropenia in claims data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental and theoretical study of the reaction locus during the dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in a nonpolar hydrocarbon solvent at low temperature
Authors: Emdadi Laleh , Luciani Carla Vanesa , Lee Sang Yool , Baick In Hak , Choi Kyu Yong
Published: May 2011

The dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been studied in a nonpolar hydrocarbon solvent at low temperature using N,N‐dimethylaniline (DMA) and lauroyl peroxide (LPO) as redox initiation system. To explain the heterogeneous kinetic characteristics of the polymerization process, the reaction locus has been experimentally and theoretically investigated. The evolutions of monomer conversion, polymer molecular weight distribution (MWD), and particle morphology were measured throughout the polymerization. It was found that the significant preferences of LPO and DMA to accumulate in the polymer‐rich phase after the system phase separation are mainly responsible for both the uniformity of particle sizes and the broad polymer MWDs. It was observed that particle agglomeration and breakup mechanisms were enhanced under agitation, thus promoting the formation of broader particle size distributions. The observed kinetics and thermodynamics of the low‐temperature polymerization were also examined through a mathematical model where the distributions of initiators, solvent, and monomer between phases were considered. A good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results was observed and the model was used to estimate the conditions that promote bimodal MWDs. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Rheological and thermal behaviour of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)/alginate smart polymeric networks
Authors: Dumitriu Raluca P , Mitchell Geoffrey R , Vasile Cornelia
Published: May 2011

Interpenetrating polymeric networks based on sodium alginate and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) covalently crosslinked with N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide have been investigated using rheology, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An improved elastic response of the samples with a higher PNIPAAm content and increased amount of crosslinking agent was found. The temperature‐responsive behaviour of the hydrogel samples was evidenced by viscoelastic measurements performed at various temperatures. It is shown that the properties of these gels can be tuned according to composition, amount of crosslinking agent and temperature changes. X‐ray scattering analysis revealed that the hydrophobic groups are locally segregated even in the swollen state whilst cryo‐SEM showed the highly heterogeneous nature of the gels. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Ab initio RAFT emulsion polymerization of butadiene using the amphiphilic poly(acrylic acid‐b‐styrene) trithiocarbonate as both surfactant and mediator
Authors: Wei Renzhong , Luo Yingwu , Xu Pinghong
Published: May 2011

Ab initio reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization of butadiene was investigated by using the amphiphilic poly(acrylic acidn‐b‐styrene5) trithiocarbonate as both surfactant and mediator. The neutralization on acrylic acid (AA) units played significant influence on the gelation. When half of the AA units were neutralized, the gelation occurred in the early stage of the polymerization so that the highest accessible molecular weight of polybutadiene was as low as 5 kg mol−1. In the non‐neutralized conditions, the gelation was much retarded so that the highest accessible molecular weight was increased up to 23 kg mol−1. In the non‐neutralized conditions, potassium persulfate could not initiate the polymerization. When azobisisobutyronitrile was used as initiator, the polymerization mediated by poly(acrylic acid27‐b‐styrene5) trithiocarbonate could proceed much faster than the solution polymerization did. The latex was stable. Before the gel point, molecular weight agreed well with the theoretical prediction while PDI was relatively high due to the branching reaction. The poly(butadiene‐b‐styrene) core/shell particles could obtained by extending polybutadiene. When the n value in poly (acrylic acidn‐b‐styrene5) trithiocarbonate was lower than 20, the coalescence would occur, leading to the formation of some coagulum. On the other hand, when n value was as high as 60, the molecular weight was out of control. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Benchmark study on glyphosate‐resistant cropping systems in the United States. Part 3: Grower awareness, information sources, experiences and management practices regarding glyphosate‐resistant weeds
Authors: Givens Wade A , Shaw David R , Newman Michael E , Weller Stephen C , Young Bryan G , Wilson Robert G , Owen Micheal DK , Jordan David L
Published: May 2011

BACKGROUND: A survey was conducted with nearly 1200 growers in US states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska and North Carolina) in 2005 with the objective in part of determining the awareness of the potential for development of glyphosate resistance, the experience with glyphosate‐resistant (GR) weeds and the sources of information that growers had utilized for information on glyphosate resistance. Growers were asked a series of questions to determine the level of glyphosate resistance awareness and to list the sources of information used to learn about glyphosate resistance issues.

RESULTS: The majority of the growers (88%) were aware of a weed's potential to evolve resistance to herbicide, while 44% were aware of state‐specific documented cases of GR weeds, and 15% reported having had personal experience with GR weeds. Among sources of information concerning glyphosate resistance issues, farm publications, dealers/retailers and university/extension were the most frequent responses (41, 17 and 14% respectively). Based on a 1‐10 effectiveness scale, growers ranked tillage the least effective practice (5.5) and using the correct label rates of herbicides at the proper timing for the size and type of weeds present the most effective practice (8.6) with respect to how effectively the practices mitigated the evolution of GR weeds.

CONCLUSION: Results from this survey can be used by researchers, extension specialists and crop advisors further to bridge the information gap between growers and themselves and better to disseminate information concerning glyphosate resistance and glyphosate resistance management practices through more targeted information and information delivery methods. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Foliar residue dynamics of azadirachtins following direct stem injection into white and green ash trees for control of emerald ash borer
Authors: Grimalt Susana , Thompson Dean , Chartrand Derek , McFarlane John , Helson Blair , Lyons Barry , Meating Joe , Scarr Taylor
Published: May 2011

BACKGROUND: Azadirachtins are natural insecticides derived from the neem tree. The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an exotic invasive insect pest that infests various ash tree species and has the potential for significant economic, aesthetic and ecological impacts throughout North America. The initial translocation and foliar residue dynamics of azadirachtins were examined following direct injection into white and green ash trees growing in urban scenarios as a potential control for EAB.

RESULTS: Substantial concentrations of azadirachtins A and B [mean maxima > 0.98 mg kg−1 fresh weight (f.w.)] were observed within 2 days of injecting a specifically designed formulation of azadirachtins. Foliar residues declined exponentially through time, with half‐life estimates ranging from 5.1 to 12.3 days. At the time of leaf senescence, foliar residue levels approximated 0.01 mg kg−1 f.w., strongly mitigating the potential effects of non‐target biota in soil or aquatic compartments.

CONCLUSION: The magnitude and duration of exposures observed in this field study were considered to be above the thresholds required for biological effectiveness against both larval and adult life stages of EAB. Results support the use of azadirachtins as an environmentally acceptable systemic insecticide for control of EAB and protection of high‐value ash trees in urban environments. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Higher‐tier assessment of the potential for groundwater issues due to the use of 1,3‐D soil fumigant; evaluation of the active ingredient, metabolites and potentially related chlorinated compounds
Authors: Lamastra Lucrezia , Ferrari Federico , Fait Gabriella , Greco Luna , Kennedy Steve H. , Capri Ettore , Trevisan Marco
Published: May 2011

BACKGROUND: 1,3‐Dichloropropene (1,3‐D, CAS No. 542‐75‐6) is a broad‐spectrum soil fumigant used to control numerous species of soilborne plant‐parasitic nematodes. 1,3‐D consists of two isomers, (Z)‐ and (E)‐1,3‐D. There are a number of low‐level chlorinated compounds that could potentially be produced as a part of the 1,3‐D manufacturing process. 1,3‐D and its metabolites, as well as potentially related chlorinated compounds, represent potential groundwater contaminants.

RESULTS: This study has investigated the hydrolytic stability, under biotic and abiotic conditions in the laboratory, of an extensive representative list of 1,3‐D and potentially related chlorinated compounds in order to predict their environmental fate. All of these compounds showed intrinsic hydrolytic instability under both abiotic and biotic test conditions. Furthermore, a monitoring programme was carried out. Twenty‐five wells were monitored in five Italian regions characterised by historical and existing use of 1,3‐D. The parent compound, its two major metabolites and potentially related chlorinated compounds were not detected in the well water at > 0.1 µg L−1 at any sampling location.

CONCLUSION: The soil fumigant (E,Z)‐1,3‐D, its metabolites and potentially related chlorinated compounds constitute a low risk to groundwater. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Natural‐product‐based chromenes as a novel class of potential termiticides
Authors: Meepagala Kumudini M , Osbrink Weste , Burandt Charles , Lax Alan , Duke Stephen O
Published: May 2011

BACKGROUND: Among the termite infestations in the United States, the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), is considered to be the most devastating termite pest. This pest most likely invaded North America as a result of the disembarkation of wooden military cargo at the port of New Orleans that arrived from Asia during and after World War II. It has now spread over other states, including Texas, Florida, South Carolina and California. Devastation caused by C. formosanus in North America has been estimated to cost $ US 1 billion a year. Over the past decades, organochlorines and organophosphates, the two prominent classes of termite control agents, have been banned owing to environmental and human health concerns. At the present time, phenylpyrazoles, pyrethroids, chloronicotinyls and pyrroles are being used as termite control agents. Mammalian toxicity and seeping of these compounds into groundwater are some of the drawbacks associated with these treatments. The instruction for the application of these termiticides indicate ground water advisory. Hence, with the increasing spread of termite infestation there is an increased need to discover effective, environmentally friendly and safe termite control agents with minimal mammalian toxicity.

RESULTS: Chromene analogs derived from a natural‐product‐based chromene amide isolated from Amyris texana were tested in a collaborative discovery program for effective, environmentally friendly termite control agents. Several chromene derivatives were synthesized and characterized as a novel class of potential termiticides, followed by bioassays. These compounds exhibited significantly higher mortalities compared with untreated controls in laboratory bioassays.

CONCLUSION: Chromene derivatives have been shown to be a potential novel class of termiticides against Formosan subterranean termites. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Acute toxicity and bioconcentration of pyrimorph in zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio
Authors: Zhao Chunqing , Liu Boqian , Wang Jing , Li Nan , Qin Zhaohai , Qiu Lihong
Published: May 2011

BACKGROUND: Pyrimorph is a novel fungicide being developed in China that shows high antifungal activity against diseases caused by Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora capsici, Rhizoctonia solani, Peronophythora litchi and Pseudoperonospora cubensis. Until now, no information on the toxicity of pyrimorph to untargeted organisms has been reported. To assess the potential environmental impacts of pyrimorph in fish, the acute toxicity and bioconcentration of pyrimorph in zebrafish were studied in this paper.

RESULTS: When tested by the semi‐static method, the 48, 72 and 96 h median lethal concentration (LC50) values of pyrimorph to zebrafish were 24.33, 22.61 and 19.79 mg L−1 respectively. To study the bioconcentration of pyrimorph in zebrafish, the fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations of pyrimorph (2.00 and 0.25 mg L−1) for 192 h, a modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method was applied to extract pyrimorph from samples and the residues of pyrimorph in the water and fish were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The highest bioconcentration factor (BCF) of pyrimorph in the fish was 1.07 × 102 (144 h) and 23.1 (96 h) after exposure to 2.00 and 0.25 mg L−1 of pyrimorph respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The novel fungicide pyrimorph has low toxicity to zebrafish; however, it showed medium BCF to zebrafish. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the residue of pyrimorph in fish, as well as to its long‐term ecological effects. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Toward attack‐resistant localization under infrastructure attacks
Authors: Yang Jie , Chen Yingying
Published: May 2011

Trustworthy location information is important because it is a critical input to a wide variety of location‐based applications. However, the localization infrastructure is vulnerable to physical attacks, and consequently, the localization results are affected. In this paper, we aim to achieve robust localization under infrastructure attacks. We first investigated the impact of infrastructure attacks on localization and showed that the performance of location estimations degraded significantly under the attack. We then derived an attack‐resistant scheme that is not algorithm specific and can be integrated with existing localization algorithms. Our attack‐resistant scheme exploited the characteristics of the geometric patterns returned by location estimates under the attack; that is, the localization results of a wireless device under the normal situation were clearly clustered together, whereas the localization results were scattered when an attack was present. Thus, our attack‐resistant scheme is grounded on K‐means clustering analysis of intra‐distance of localization results from all possible combinations of any three access points. To evaluate the effectiveness and scalability of our proposed scheme, we used received signal strength for validation and applied our approach to three broad classes of localization algorithms: lateration based, fingerprint matching, and Bayesian networks. We validated our scheme in the ORBIT test bed (North Brunswick, NJ, USA) using an 802.11 (Wi‐Fi) network and in a real office building environment using an 802.15.4 (ZigBee) network. The extensive experimental results demonstrated that the application of our scheme could help the broad range of localization algorithms to achieve comparable or even better localization performance when under infrastructure attacks as compared with normal situations without attack, thus, effectively eliminating the effects of infrastructure attacks. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive‐capacity and robust natural language watermarking for agglutinative languages
Authors: Kim Mi‐Young , Goebel Randy
Published: May 2011

We present a robust and adaptive‐capacity watermarking algorithm for agglutinative languages. All processes, including the selection of sentences to be watermarked, watermark embedding, and watermark extraction, are based on syntactic dependency trees. We show that it is more robust to use syntactic dependency trees than the surface forms of sentences in text watermarking. For the agglutinative languages, we embed watermark using the two main characteristics of the languages. First, because a word consists of several morphemes, we can watermark sentences using morphological division/combination without deep linguistic analysis. Second, they permit relatively free word order, so we can move a syntactic constituent within its clause. Finally, to increase the information‐hiding capacity, we adaptively compute the number of watermark bits to be embedded for each sentence.

We perform three kinds of evaluation: perceptibility, robustness, and capacity of our method. High capacity is achieved by dynamically determining possibly embedded watermark bits for each sentence. The secret rank based on a syntactic dependency tree strengthens robustness of our method. Finally, we show that the displacement of syntactic constituents and morphological division/combination does not affect the style and naturalness of the text. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.