bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FGF3/FGF4 amplification and multiple lung metastases in responders to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Arao Tokuzo , Ueshima Kazuomi , Matsumoto Kazuko , Nagai Tomoyuki , Kimura Hideharu , Hagiwara Satoru , Sakurai Toshiharu , Haji Seiji , Kanazawa Akishige , Hidaka Hisashi , Iso Yukihiro , Kubota Keiichi , Shimada Mitsuo , Utsunomiya Tohru , Hirooka Masashi , Hiasa Yoichi , Toyoki Yoshikazu , Hakamada Kenichi , Yasui Kohichiroh , Kumada Takashi , Toyoda Hidenori , Sato Shuichi , Hisai Hiroyuki , Kuzuya Teiji , Tsuchiya Kaoru , Izumi Namiki , Arii Shigeki , Nishio Kazuto , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: August 2012

The response rate to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is relatively low (0.7%-3%), however, rapid and drastic tumor regression is occasionally observed. The molecular backgrounds and clinico-pathological features of these responders remain largely unclear. We analyzed the clinical and molecular backgrounds of 13 responders to sorafenib with significant tumor shrinkage in a retrospective study. A comparative genomic hybridization analysis using one frozen HCC sample from a responder demonstrated that the 11q13 region, a rare amplicon in HCC including the loci for

FGF3

and

FGF4

, was highly amplified. A real-time polymerase chain reaction–based copy number assay revealed that

FGF3

/

FGF4

amplification was observed in three of the 10 HCC samples from responders in which DNA was evaluable, whereas amplification was not observed in 38 patients with stable or progressive disease (

P

= 0.006). Fluorescence

in situ

hybridization analysis confirmed

FGF3

amplification. In addition, the clinico-pathological features showed that multiple lung metastases (5/13,

P

= 0.006) and a poorly differentiated histological type (5/13,

P

= 0.13) were frequently observed in responders. A growth inhibitory assay showed that only one

FGF3

/

FGF4

-amplified and three

FGFR2

-amplified cancer cell lines exhibited hypersensitivity to sorafenib

in vitro

. Finally, an

in vivo

study revealed that treatment with a low dose of sorafenib was partially effective for stably and exogenously expressed

FGF4

tumors, while being less effective in tumors expressing

EGFP

or

FGF3

.

Conclusion: FGF3

/

FGF4

amplification was observed in around 2% of HCCs. Although the sample size was relatively small,

FGF3/FGF4

amplification, a poorly differentiated histological type, and multiple lung metastases were frequently observed in responders to sorafenib. Our findings may provide a novel insight into the molecular background of HCC and sorafenib responders, warranting further prospective biomarker studies.
High‐resolution genomic profiling reveals clonal evolution and competition in gastrointestinal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma and its large cell variant
Authors: Flossbach Lucia , Holzmann Karlheinz , Mattfeldt Torsten , Buck Michaela , Lanz Karin , Held Michael , Möller Peter , Barth Thomas F.E.
Published: August 2012

We studied marginal zone B‐cell lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract including seven small cell lymphomas, eight large cell areas of composite lymphomas and 13 large cell variants using SNP array profiling. We found an increase of genomic complexity with lymphoma progression from small to large cytology, and identified gains of prominent (proto) oncogenes such as REL, BCL11A, ETS1, PTPN1, PTEN and KRAS which were found exclusively in the large cell variants. Copy numbers of ADAM3A, SCAPER and SIRPB1 were varying between the three different modes of presentation, hence suggestive for aberrations associated with progression from small to large cell lymphoma. The number of aberrations was slightly higher in the large cell part of composite lymphomas than in large cell lymphomas, suggesting that clonal selection takes place and that composite lymphomas are in a transition state. To further investigate this, we comparatively analyzed samples of two morphologically different regions of the same small cell tumor with a BIRC3‐MALT1 translocation, as well as material acquired at two different time points from one composite lymphoma. We found genomic heterogeneity in both cases, supporting the theory of competing subclones in the evolution and progression of extranodal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma.
High frequency electrical stimulation concurrently induces central sensitization and ipsilateral inhibitory pain modulation
Authors: Vo L. , Drummond P.D.
Published: August 2012

Background

In healthy humans, analgesia to blunt pressure develops in the ipsilateral forehead during various forms of limb pain. The aim of the current study was to determine whether this analgesic response is induced by ultraviolet B radiation (UVB), which evokes signs of peripheral sensitization, or by high‐frequency electrical stimulation (HFS), which triggers signs of central sensitization.

Methods

Before and after HFS and UVB conditioning, sensitivity to heat and to blunt and sharp stimuli was assessed at and adjacent to the treated site in the forearm. In addition, sensitivity to blunt pressure was measured bilaterally in the forehead. The effect of ipsilateral versus contralateral temple cooling on electrically evoked pain in the forearm was then examined, to determine whether HFS or UVB conditioning altered inhibitory pain modulation.

Results

UVB conditioning triggered signs of peripheral sensitization, whereas HFS conditioning triggered signs of central sensitization. Importantly, ipsilateral forehead analgesia developed after HFS but not UVB conditioning. In addition, decreases in electrically evoked pain at the HFS‐treated site were greater during ipsilateral than contralateral temple cooling, whereas decreases at the UVB‐treated site were similar during both procedures.

Conclusions

HFS conditioning induced signs of central sensitization in the forearm and analgesia both in the ipsilateral forehead and the HFS‐treated site. This ipsilateral analgesia was not due to peripheral sensitization or other non‐specific effects, as it failed to develop after UVB conditioning. Thus, the supra‐spinal mechanisms that evoke central sensitization might also trigger a hemilateral inhibitory pain modulation process. This inhibitory process could sharpen the boundaries of central sensitization or limit its spread.
Population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models for duloxetine in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain
Authors: Yuen E. , Gueorguieva I. , Bueno‐Burgos L. , Iyengar S. , Aarons L.
Published: August 2012

Background

Duloxetine is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor approved for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). The current analyses aimed to identify and evaluate the effect of any significant covariates on DPNP treatment response, via the development of a continuous descriptive Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) model for pain score reduction and a proportional odds PK/PD model describing the proportion of patients achieving pain relief.

Methods

A total of 1139 patients received placebo, 20, 60 or 120 mg duloxetine daily for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy measure was 24‐h pain scores collected on the 11‐point categorical numerical rating scale averaged over a week. PK/PD models were fitted using non‐linear mixed‐effects models.

Results

Baseline pain severity was found to be an important factor in both PK/PD models. Larger drops in pain scores were observed for patients with more severe pain. The proportional odds PK/PD model used an a priori definition for adequate pain relief, which was a decrease in two points from baseline. Simulations showed that approximately 70% of patients in the highest dose groups would obtain pain relief at week 12, although placebo response was relatively high at 40%. The proportion of patients who obtained pain relief was slightly lower in those with mild pain compared to those with more severe pain.

Conclusions

Patients with more severe pain at study entry had larger treatment responses and were more likely to achieve clinically meaningful pain relief with similar amounts of drug, compared to patients with milder pain.
A standardized mean difference effect size for single case designs
Authors: Hedges Larry V. , Pustejovsky James E. , Shadish William R.
Published: August 2012

Single case designs are a set of research methods for evaluating treatment effects by assigning different treatments to the same individual and measuring outcomes over time and are used across fields such as behavior analysis, clinical psychology, special education, and medicine. Emerging standards for single case designs have focused attention on the need for effect sizes for summarizing and meta‐analyzing findings from the designs; although many effect size measures have been proposed, there is little consensus regarding their use. This article proposes a new effect size measure for single case research that is directly comparable with the standardized mean difference (Cohen's d) often used in between‐subjects designs. Techniques are provided for estimating the new effect size, as well as its variance, from balanced or unbalanced treatment reversal designs. The proposed estimation methods are further evaluated using a simulation study and then demonstrated in two applications. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parkinson's disease among American Indians and Alaska natives: A nationwide prevalence study
Authors: Gordon Paul H. , Mehal Jason M. , Holman Robert C. , Rowland Andrew S. , Cheek James E.
Published: August 2012

Background:

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people.

Methods:

We analyzed records for AI/AN people between 2002 and 2009 using inpatient and outpatient visit data from the Indian Health Service. Crude and age‐adjusted prevalence, using the 2000 projected US population as the standard, was determined overall and by age group, sex, period, and region.

Results:

An estimated 2613 AI/AN people carried the diagnosis of PD (crude prevalence, 143.8/100,000). Prevalence increased with age through 84 years. The age‐adjusted rate was 355.7 and was higher among men than women (P < .0001). Rates differed by region (P < .0001).

Conclusions:

Parkinson's disease is prevalent among AI/AN people. The prevalence increases with age, varies by geographic region, and is higher among men than women. Community‐based studies are needed to define incidence, examine risk factors, and determine reasons for sex and regional differences in PD among AI/AN people. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
Global attractors for the viscous hyperelastic‐rod wave equation
Authors: Yu Shengqi
Published: August 2012

We consider the viscous hyperelastic‐rod wave equation subject to an external force, where the viscous term is given by second order differential operator in divergence form. Under some mild assumptions on the viscous term, first, we establish the global well‐posedness in both the periodic case and the case of the whole line, afterwards, we show the existence of global attractors for the two cases, respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychometric properties of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire from five European countries
Authors: Essau Cecilia A. , Olaya Beatriz , Anastassiou‐Hadjicharalambous Xenia , Pauli Gina , Gilvarry Catherine , Bray Diane , O'callaghan Jean , Ollendick Thomas H.
Published: August 2012

The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief screening instrument for assessing emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents. This study examined the factor structure and validity of the self‐report original English version of the SDQ and four of its many translations (German, Cypriot Greek, Swedish, and Italian). A total of 2418 adolescents from five European countries (Germany, Cyprus, England, Sweden, Italy), ages 12 to 17 years, participated. The sample was drawn from general (school) populations. In addition to the SDQ, all participants completed the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS), a measure of anxiety symptoms. The internal consistency and validity of the SDQ total difficulties were good for most countries. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that both five‐ and three‐factor models provided good fit for the whole sample; however, the three‐factor model fit somewhat better than the five‐factor model. The factor structure differed across countries, with the three‐factor model showing better fit indices in Cyprus, whereas the five‐factor model fitted better in Germany. Fit indices for the UK, Sweden, and Italy were poor for both models. When the reversed items were removed, the goodness‐of‐fit improved significantly for the total sample and in each country. It is therefore recommended that the reversed items be removed or re‐worded in future studies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A survey of adult awareness and use of medicine containing acetaminophen
Authors: Boudreau Denise M. , Wirtz Heidi , Von Korff Michael , Catz Sheryl L. , St. John Jackie , Stang Paul E.
Published: August 2012

Purpose

To compare awareness, use of acetaminophen, and preferences for receiving information aimed at reducing acetaminophen overdose.

Methods

A survey of health plan enrollees identified from automated pharmacy data who were long‐term and acute users of opioids with acetaminophen (n = 720 each cohort), and a general population cohort (n = 360) during the 2010–2011 cold/flu season. A 74% response rate was achieved. Differences were tested across the three cohorts, and by level of education, using age‐adjusted regression models.

Results

Use of over‐the‐counter or prescription medicine containing acetaminophen in the prior 2 weeks was reported by 84% in the long‐term opioid cohort, 76% in the acute opioid cohort, and 36% in the general population, but use of over‐the‐counter medicine with acetaminophen did not differ across the cohorts (30–34%). All three cohorts were unlikely to correctly identify drugs containing acetaminophen, but the opioid cohorts performed slightly better than the general population. Those with higher education performed slightly better when asked to identify acetaminophen products than those with no college education. The average usual daily acetaminophen dose (mg/day) reported was highest in the long‐term opioid cohort (1185), followed by the acute opioid cohort (1010), and the general population (891)—p < 0.001. Estimated supratherapeutic exposure (>4000 mg/day) was rare but three to five times more common in the opioid cohorts than in the general population.

Conclusions

Acetaminophen use is common, and supratherapeutic exposure may be of concern in users of opioids. Knowledge of which drugs contain acetaminophen appears inadequate; better labeling and proactive education from professionals may be impactful. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient sequential recovery of nucleolar macromolecular components
Authors: Bai Baoyan , Laiho Marikki
Published: August 2012

Efficient extraction and accurate quantification of nucleolar macromolecules are critical for in vitro analysis, especially for studying RNA, DNA, and protein dynamics under identical conditions. There is presently no single method that efficiently and simultaneously isolates these three macromolecular constituents from purified nucleoli. We have developed an optimized method, which without evident loss, extracts, and solubilizes protein recovered from a single sample following TRIzol isolation of RNA and DNA. The solubilized protein can be accurately quantified by protein bicinchoninic acid assay and assessed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We have successfully applied this approach to extract and quantify all three nucleolar components, and to study nucleolar protein responses after actinomycin D treatment.
Improving dispersion and integration of single‐walled carbon nanotubes in epoxy composites by using a reactive noncovalent dispersant
Authors: Zhao Shuai , Song Zhongxin , Cui Jian , Li Chaoqin , Yan Yehai
Published: August 2012

Uniform dispersion and strong interfacial interaction are two critical prerequisites for application of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in polymer composites. To endow the composites with multifunctional feature, no damage on the chemical/electronic structure of SWNTs is also usually required. With these ends in view, two epoxide‐containing pyrene derivatives (EpPys) were designed, synthesized, and used as reactive noncovalent dispersants for developing multifunctional epoxy/SWNT composites. One having longer chain length between epoxide group and pyrene moiety, that is, EpPy‐16, shows higher dispersing efficiency and provides the nanotube dispersion with better stability, thus picking up for subsequent studies. Systematic characterization on SWNT/EpPy‐16 hybrid demonstrates that 13.2 wt % of EpPy‐16 is adsorbed on the SWNT surface through strong π‐stacking interaction, and intrinsic electronic structure of SWNTs is basically reserved. The solution‐based process adopted here preserves the good SWNT dispersing state in dispersion into the composites. Simultaneously, enhanced interfacial interaction is also realized by using EpPy‐16, which interacts noncovalently with SWNT but connects covalently to epoxy network. As a result, the composites acquire 37 and 22% increments in tensile strength and Young's modulus, respectively, relative to that of neat resin. A low‐electrical percolation threshold of 0.1 wt % SWNTs and improved thermal properties were also observed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Ethylene/hindered phenol substituted norbornene copolymers: Synthesis and NMR structural determination
Authors: Viglianisi Caterina , Menichetti Stefano , Assanelli Giulio , Sacchi Maria Carmela , Tritto Incoronata , Losio Simona
Published: August 2012

A new family of ethylene‐based copolymers with controlled amounts of a norbornene comonomer (NArOH) bearing a stabilizing antioxidant functionality (2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl phenol) was prepared. Due to unavoidable exo/endo equilibrium operative in NArOH comonomer, a complete and detailed NMR assignment of the structure of the prepared ethylene/NArOH copolymers was carried out for the determination of the exo/endo ratio inside the polymer. These novel functionalized comonomers can be considered suitable starting material for preparing ethylene‐based copolymers, with tunable comonomer content, as non‐releasing macromolecular antioxidant additives for specific application in safe food and/or drug packaging © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Cationic addition polymerization of 1,4‐dioxene using gacl3 as lewis acid catalyst: Long‐lived species‐mediated polymerization
Authors: Uchigami Kyohei , Kanazawa Arihiro , Kanaoka Shokyoku , Aoshima Sadahito
Published: August 2012

Effective cationic addition polymerization of 1,4‐dioxene, a six‐membered cyclic olefin with two oxygen atoms adjacent to the double bond, was performed using a simple metal halide catalyst system in dichloromethane. The polymerization was controlled when the reaction was conducted using GaCl3 in conjunction with an isobutyl vinyl ether–HCl adduct as a cationogen at –78°C to give polymers with predetermined molecular weights and relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. The long‐lived properties of the propagating species were further confirmed by a monomer addition experiment and the analyses of the product polymers by 1H NMR and MALDI–TOF–MS. Although highly clean propagation proceeded, the apparent rate constant changed during the controlled cationic polymerization of 1,4‐dioxene. The reason for the change was discussed based on polymerization results under various conditions. The obtained poly(1,4‐dioxene) exhibited a very high glass transition temperature (Tg) of 217°C and unique solubility. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
A low bandgap polymer based on isoindigo and bis(dialkylthienyl)benzodithiophene for organic photovoltaic applications
Authors: Cao Kangli , Wu Zhongwei , Li Shugang , Sun Baoquan , Zhang Guobing , Zhang Qing
Published: August 2012

A new conjugated polymer PBDTT‐ID based on N‐alkylated isoindigo (ID) and bis(2,3‐dialkylthienyl)‐substituted benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDTT) as repeating units was synthesized. It had an optical bandgap of 1.56 eV and a highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of −5.71 eV. The optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of new polymer were compared with previous reported polymer PBDT‐ID, which was based on bis(alkoxy)‐substituted benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene. The new polymer displayed lower HOMO energy level and better absorption properties than polymer PBDT‐ID. The solar cells fabricated with PBDTT‐ID/PC61BM (1:2, w/w) blends as active layers exhibited photoresponse in the range of 300–800 nm. A power conversion efficiency of 4.02% and an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.94 V were achieved in polymer solar cell device based on the new polymer. This was the highest Voc realized among the isoindigo‐based polymers. The relatively high performances of new polymer in solar cell devices were interpreted in terms of material properties and morphologies of polymer/PCBM blends. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
Synthesis and properties of water‐soluble azlactone copolymers
Authors: Gardner Casandra M. , Brown Carla E. , Stöver Harald D. H.
Published: August 2012

Preparation and study of a series of copolymers incorporating 2‐vinyl‐4,4‐dimethylazlactone (VDMA) is reported. The reactivity ratios for photo‐initiated free radical copolymerization of VDMA with methacrylic acid (MAA), acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AAm), dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (MPEG300MA), and 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), were determined by fitting comonomer conversion data obtained by in situ
1H NMR to a terminal copolymerization equation. Semi‐batch photo‐copolymerizations were then used to synthesize the corresponding VDMA copolymers with constant composition. Their solubility and dissolution behavior, as well as their hydrolysis half‐lives under physiological conditions, were determined. P(VDMA‐co‐MAA) copolymers with 52 to 93 mol % VDMA showed decreasing initial solubility and increasing hydrolysis half‐lives with increasing VDMA content. VDMA copolymers with nonionic monomers AAm and DMAA were water soluble only at VDMA contents of 41 and 22 mol % or less, respectively, and showed longer hydrolysis half‐lives than comparable MAA copolymers. VDMA copolymers with HEMA and MPEG300MA were found to crosslink during storage, so their hydrolysis half‐lives were not determined. VDMA copolymers with 18% zwitterionic MPC showed a much longer half‐life and superior initial solubility compared to analogous p(VDMA‐co‐MAA), identifying this copolymer as a promising candidate for macromolecular crosslinkers in, for example, aqueous layer‐by‐layer co‐depositions with polyamines. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
‘You're putting thoughts into my head’: a qualitative study of the readiness of patients with breast, lung or prostate cancer to address emotional needs through the first 18 months after diagnosis
Authors: Baker Paul , Beesley Helen , Dinwoodie Robert , Fletcher Ian , Ablett Jan , Holcombe Christopher , Salmon Peter
Published: August 2012

Objective

To investigate the readiness of patients to address emotional needs up to 18 months following a diagnosis of breast, lung or prostate cancer.

Method

Patients (N = 42) attending pre‐treatment, treatment and follow‐up clinics were provided with information designed to help them manage their emotional reactions to cancer. Patients were interviewed 3–4 weeks later about their emotional experience of cancer and their attitudes towards managing emotional problems. Qualitative data analysis followed a constant comparative approach.

Results

Patients early in the cancer trajectory, who had not yet been engaged in chemotherapy or radiotherapy, described emotional distress as a temporary and understandable reaction that did not warrant professional intervention. They valued knowing that support was available, but did not want to use it, and were reluctant to acknowledge or address emotional needs. Conversely, patients currently or recently engaged in treatment readily acknowledged their emotional needs and welcomed help to address these.

Conclusions

Drawing on social cognitive and other theories, we suggest that engagement in physical treatment and care allows patients to address emotional needs following a cancer diagnosis. Guidance that emotional needs should routinely be assessed and addressed at key points in the cancer trajectory should therefore be implemented cautiously when patients are only recently diagnosed; psychological intervention may be less appropriate at this time than later. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spin torque and spin current induced by the Rashba and Dresselhaus couplings inside the domain wall in non‐adiabatic transport regime
Authors: Ghamari F. , Phirouznia A.
Published: August 2012

Spin–orbit induced spin torque and spin current in a smooth domain wall (DW) are theoretically investigated. We have analyzed the effect of the Rashba and Dresselhaus interactions on DW spin torque and spin current in the presence of magnetic impurities within the Boltzmann semi‐classical model. It has been previously shown that in the non‐equilibrium regime, the Rashba and Dresselhaus couplings can not be responsible for spin‐current and both transverse and longitudinal spin‐currents identically vanish. In the present work it has been found out that in the case of non‐collinear magnetic structures such as DW, Rashba, and Dresselhaus couplings can generate and control both components of the spin current. Results of this investigation verify that the spin current of the DW strongly depends on density of impurities and non‐adiabaticity of transport process. In addition results of the current work reveals that manipulation of the DW displacement can be realized by the Rashba and Dresselhaus couplings.
Topological Defects: Origin of Nanopores and Enhanced Adsorption Performance in Nanoporous Carbon
Authors: Guo Junjie , Morris James R. , Ihm Yungok , Contescu Cristian I. , Gallego Nidia C. , Duscher Gerd , Pennycook Stephen J. , Chisholm Matthew F.
Published: August 2012

A scanning transmission electron microscopy investigation of two nanoporous carbon materials, wood‐based ultramicroporous carbon and poly(furfuryl alcohol)‐derived carbon, is reported. Atomic‐resolution images demonstrate they comprise isotropic, three‐dimensional networks of wrinkled one‐atom‐thick graphene sheets. In each graphene plane, nonhexagonal defects are frequently observed as connected five‐ and seven‐atom rings. Atomic‐level modeling shows that these topological defects induce localized rippling of graphene sheets, which interferes with their graphitic stacking and induces nanopores that lead to enhanced adsorption of H2 molecules. The poly(furfuryl alcohol)‐derived carbon contains larger regions of stacked layers, and shows significantly smaller surface area and pore volume than the ultramicroporous carbon.
Fatigue Behavior of Dual‐Phase and TWIP Steels for Lightweight Automotive Structures
Authors: Matteis Paolo , Scavino Giorgio , D'Aiuto Fabio , Firrao Donato
Published: August 2012

Car bodies are increasingly made with high‐strength steels, for both lightweighting and safety purposes. Steel sheets, made by continuous casting, hot rolling, cold rolling, and continuous heat treating, are used to deep draw the car body parts, which are then joined by resistance spot welding (RSW). Two high‐strength automotive steels, with similar tensile strength, are studied here. The low alloy, dual‐phase steel consist of ferrite and martensite, obtained by an intercritical heat treatment, followed by fast cooling. The innovative, high‐Mn TWIP steel exhibits a promising combination of strength and toughness, arising from the austenitic structure, strengthened by C, and from the twinning induced plasticity effect. Tensile specimens are fatigue tested at room temperature with zero load ratio, both in the as‐fabricated (unnotched) condition and after the RSW of an homologous sheet square. Moreover, pre‐cracked compact tension specimens are tested with load ratio 0.1 to determine the fatigue crack growth behavior. These results are completed with crystallographic, microstructural, tensile, and fractographic examinations, and the influence of the microstructure and of the welding process is discussed.
Oxygen Activity Calculations of Molten Steel: Comparison With Measured Results
Authors: Riyahimalayeri Kamrooz , Ölund Patrik , Selleby Malin
Published: August 2012

This study sets out to find some model/s that could calculate the closest oxygen activity of molten steel to the measured oxygen activity in an ASEA‐SKF ladle furnace. Ten steel heats grade SAE 52100 were chosen, the oxygen activities of the molten steel after vacuum degassing process were measured, then by means of two different equations and one computer programs the theoretical oxygen activities were calculated and compared to the measured results. In order to calculate the activities of Al2O3 in the top slag four different models and two different constants were applied. Both Wagner and Turkdogan's equations were found to be useful. It was seen that increasing the wt% Al from 0 up to 0.05 in molten steel, increasing CaO/Al2O3 ratio in top slag, and reducing equilibrium temperature of slag‐steel could contribute to reduction of oxygen activity of molten steel. The scanning electron microscope observations revealed that the main types of observed non‐metallic inclusions in these samples were spinels and calcium aluminates and by increasing the CaO content of the inclusions their equivalent circle diameters grew.
Study on the Possibility of Using ZnO to Increase the Desulfurization Potential of Blast Furnace Slag and Sulfide Capacities
Authors: Lindström David , Sichen Du
Published: August 2012

Zinc oxide has recently been suggested to be a potential material for hot metal desulfurization. The present work was carried out to examine whether ZnO could help the remaining blast furnace (BF) slag to capture sulfur. For this purpose, slags prepared with relatively high ZnO content was equilibrated with either liquid silver or liquid copper under controlled oxygen potential at 1773 K. It was found that most of the ZnO escaped during the experiment, indicating thereby that ZnO could not increase the desulfurization potential of the BF slag in the case of hot metal. The experimental data were used to evaluate the sulfide capacities of the studied slags. In some of the slags equilibrated with silver, the MgO activities were evaluated.
The Synthesis and Crystal Structure of NpSe3
Authors: Bellott Brian J. , Haire Richard G. , Ibers James A.
Published: August 2012

Neptunium triselenide, NpSe3, was synthesized in high yield by the reaction of the elements in a Sb2Se3 flux at 1223 K. Its structure has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction methods. Thecompound crystallizes with two formula units in space group C$\rm^{2}_{2h}$–P21/mof the monoclinic system in the TiS3 structure type with cell constants at 100 K of a = 5.592(3) Å, b = 4.002(2) Å, c = 9.422(5) Å,β = 97.40(1) °. The asymmetric unit comprises one neptunium and three selenium atoms, each with site symmetry m. Np–Se interatomic distances range from 2.859(2) to 2.927(3) Å; the Se–Se bond length of 2.340(3) Å is typical of a single bond. The compound may thus be charge‐balanced and formulated as Np4+Se2–Se22–.
Mixed Valence Tungsten (IV, V) Compounds with Layered Structures (Part IV): Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Conductivity of BiX2[W2O2X6] (X = Cl, Br)
Authors: Schieweling Marcel , Daniels Jörg , Beck Johannes
Published: August 2012

The reaction of metallic bismuth with either tungsten tetrachlorideoxide WOCl4 at 650 K or tungsten tetrabromideoxide WOBr4 at 670 K, respectively, leads to BiX2[W2O2X6] (X = Cl, Br) as black, lustrous crystal needles. The crystal structure determinations (triclinic, P$\bar{1}$) show the two isotypic structures to be closely related to Hg0.55[W2O2Cl6] with the presence of 1D‐polymeric W2O2X6 double strands. Dinuclear [Bi2X4]2+ cations are embedded in the host structure via secondary W–X···Bi bonds. Unlike the other members of theMy[W2O2X6] structure family, which crystallize monoclinic and show crystallographic equivalent tungsten atoms, BiX2[W2O2X6] has independent tungsten sites. Nevertheless, an assignment of an individual oxidation state to the tungsten atoms within the W2 group (W–W 2.8321(4) Å for X = Cl, 2.8985(4) Å for X = Br) is not possible and a dynamic intervalent state W(IV, V) is assumed. Electrical conductivity measurements for BiCl2[W2O2Cl6] show semi‐conductive behavior with a very small band gap of 70 meV and a high conductivity of around 0.5 Ω–1cm–1 at temperatures above 220 K. A temperature dependence of the activation energy of charge transport is present and interpreted by the Varshni model.
Mellin amplitudes for dual conformal integrals
Authors: Paulos Miguel F. , Spradlin Marcus , Volovich Anastasia
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Motivated by recent work on the utility of Mellin space for representing conformal correlators in AdS/CFT, we study its suitability for representing dual conformal integrals of the type which appear in perturbative scattering amplitudes in super-Yang-Mills theory. We discuss Feynman-like rules for writing Mellin amplitudes for a large class of integrals in any dimension, and find explicit representations for several familiar toy integrals. However we show that the power of Mellin space is that it provides simple representations even for fully massive integrals, which except for the single case of the 4-mass box have not yet been computed by any available technology. Mellin space is also useful for exhibiting differential relations between various multi-loop integrals, and we show that certain higher-loop integrals may be written as integral operators acting on the fully massive scalar n-gon in n dimensions, whose Mellin amplitude is exactly 1. Our chief example is a very simple formula expressing the 6-mass double box as a single integral of the 6-mass scalar hexagon in 6 dimensions.
Assessment of safety in hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma focusing on indirect hyperbilirubinemia
Authors: Masuda Toshiro , Beppu Toru , Nakagawa Shigeki , Okabe Hirohisa , Chikamoto Akira , Miyata Tatsunori , Mima Kosuke , Otao Ryu , Hayashi Hiromitsu , Doi Koichi , Ishiko Takatoshi , Takamori Hiroshi , Baba Hideo
Published: August 2012

Background/purpose

The indications for hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with total bilirubin (T‐Bil) equal to or higher than 1.2 mg/dl remain controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of hepatic resection for HCC patients who showed high T‐Bil (≥1.2 mg/dl) with low direct bilirubin (D‐Bil ≥ 0.5 mg/dl).

Methods

Thirty‐four HCC patients showing high T‐Bil with low D‐Bil were treated with mono‐ to tri‐segmentectomy between January 2000 and December 2010. The perioperative clinical parameters and prognosis of the high T‐Bil/low D‐Bil patients were compared with those of 253 HCC patients showing normal T‐Bil. In addition, complication rates of the patients with high T‐Bil/high D‐Bil (n = 4) were analyzed.

Results

The prothrombin time activity, indocyanine green clearance test, asialo‐scintigraphy, and platelet count were similar in the two groups. The mean serum albumin in high T‐Bil/low D‐Bil patients was significantly higher than that of normal T‐Bil patients (4.2 ± 0.5 vs. 4.0 ± 0.4 g/dl, P = 0.004). There were no significant differences in operation time, intraoperative bleeding, red cell concentrate transfusion rate, postoperative complication rate, and disease‐free and overall survivals between the two groups. Postoperative hyperbilirubinemia (T‐Bil >5 mg/dl) with ascites was observed in one of four high T‐Bil/high D‐Bil patients (25 %).

Conclusions

Mono‐ to tri‐segmentectomy can be performed in patients with low D‐Bil (≥0.5 mg/dl) similarly to patients with low T‐Bil (<1.2 mg/dl), even in HCC patients showing high T‐Bil (≥1.2 mg/dl).
Genetic characterization and construction of an auxotrophic strain ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeJP1, a Brazilian industrial yeast strain for bioethanol production
Authors: Reis Viviane Castelo Branco , Nicola André Moraes , de Souza Oliveira Neto Osmar , Batista Vinícius Daniel Ferreira , de Moraes Lidia Maria Pepe , Torres Fernando Araripe Gonçalves
Published: August 2012

Used for millennia to produce beverages and food, Saccharomyces cerevisiae also became a workhorse in the production of biofuels, most notably bioethanol. Yeast strains have acquired distinct characteristics that are the result of evolutionary adaptation to the stresses of industrial ethanol production. JP1 is a dominant industrial S. cerevisiae strain isolated from a sugarcane mill and is becoming increasingly popular for bioethanol production in Brazil. In this work, we carried out the genetic characterization of this strain and developed a set of tools to permit its genetic manipulation. Using flow cytometry, mating type, and sporulation analysis, we verified that JP1 is diploid and homothallic. Vectors with dominant selective markers for G418, hygromycin B, zeocin, and ρ-fluoro-dl-phenylalanine were used to successfully transform JP1 cells. Also, an auxotrophic ura3 mutant strain of JP1 was created by gene disruption using integration cassettes with dominant markers flanked by loxP sites. Marker excision was accomplished by the Cre/loxP system. The resulting auxotrophic strain was successfully transformed with an episomal vector that allowed green fluorescent protein expression.
Life Events may Contribute to Family Communication About Cancer Risk Following BRCA1/2 Testing
Authors: Lapointe Julie , Côté Claudia , Bouchard Karine , Godard Béatrice , Simard Jacques , Dorval Michel
Published: August 2012

We assessed whether certain life events contributed to the communication about cancer risk within families who have undergone BRCA1/2 testing. We also explored what type of resources participants would have valued to help in supporting family communication about genetic information. Two hundred and forty‐six individuals (218 women, 28 men) who received a BRCA1/2 genetic test result 3 to 10 years earlier (mean of 6.4 years) participated in a telephone interview. Participants were asked about the occurrence of a number of life events (cancer diagnosis, death, uptake of prophylactic surgery, and providing care to a family member with cancer) in their family since their BRCA1/2 test result disclosure and, for each occurrence, whether it fostered family communication about cancer risk. A total of 182 participants (74 %) reported that they or one of their relatives received a cancer diagnosis, 176 (72 %) reported that someone died in their family, and 73 (30 %) stated that they or one of their relatives undertook a prophylactic surgery. During this period, 109 participants (44 %) also provided care for a family member who had cancer. Among participants who reported these life events, family communication was fostered by these events in proportions varying from 50 % (death) to 69 % (cancer diagnosis). Our results indicate that life events may contribute to family communication about cancer risk. Further research is needed to determine whether these events provide a “window of opportunity” to reach family members, address their needs and concerns about cancer, update family cancer history, and introduce genetic counseling and risk assessment.
Multivariate Analysis of ToF-SIMS Data from Multicomponent Systems: The Why, When, and How
Authors: Graham Daniel J. , Castner David G.
Published: August 2012

The use of multivariate analysis (MVA) methods in the processing of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) data has become increasingly more common. MVA presents a powerful set of tools to aid the user in processing data from complex, multicomponent surfaces such as biological materials and biosensors. When properly used, MVA can help the user identify the major sources of differences within a sample or between samples, determine where certain compounds exist on a sample, or verify the presence of compounds that have been engineered into the surface. Of all the MVA methods, principal component analysis (PCA) is the most commonly used and forms an excellent starting point for the application of many of the other methods employed to process ToF-SIMS data. Herein we discuss the application of PCA and other MVA methods to multicomponent ToF-SIMS data and provide guidelines on their application and use.
Adipose tissue deletion of Gpr116 impairs insulin sensitivity through modulation of adipose function
Authors: Nie Tao , Hui Xiaoyan , Gao Xuefei , Li Kuai , Lin Wanhua , Xiang Xiaoliang , Ding Mengxiao , Kuang Ying , Xu Aimin , Fei Jian , Wang Zhugang , Wu Donghai
Published: August 2012

G protein‐coupled receptor 116 (GPR116) is a novel member of the G protein‐coupled receptors and its function is largely unknown. To investigate the physiological function of GPR116 in vivo, we generated adipose tissue specific conditional Gpr116 knockout mice (CKO) and fed them on standard chow or high fat diets. Selective deletion of Gpr116 in adipose tissue caused a pronounced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in mice, especially when challenged with a high fat diet. Biochemical analysis revealed a more severe hepatosteatosis in CKO mice. Additionally, we found that CKO mice showed a lowered concentration of circulating adiponectin and an increased level of serum resistin. Our study suggests that GPR116 may play a critical role in controlling adipocyte biology and systemic energy homeostasis.
Attitudes Toward Individuals With Disabilities: The Effects of Age, Gender, and Relationship
Authors: Barr Jason J. , Bracchitta Kristi
Published: August 2012

Attitudes toward individuals with disabilities are influenced by the amount of contact one has with such individuals. This research investigated if the relationship a person has with individuals with disabilities is associated with positive attitudes more so than mere contact with such individuals. Increased contact with friends with disabilities and activities with individuals with disabilities were associated with more positive altitudes. Contact with relatives and classmates with a disability was not associated with more positive attitudes. Age and gender were found to moderate these relationships. Contact with friends with disabilities increased positive attitudes for younger but not older participants. Contact with classmates with disabilities decreased positive attitudes for males but not females. This research can help us better understand disability-related bias.
ON A CERTAIN GENERALISATION OF THE ITERATED FUNCTION SYSTEM
Authors: STROBIN FILIP , SWACZYNA JAROSŁAW
Published: August 2012

We follow the idea of generalising the notion of classical iterated function systems, as presented by Mihail and Miculescu. We give their deliberations a more general setting and, using this general approach, study the generic aspect of the problem of existence of an attractor of a function system.
Estimation of recombination frequency in bi-parental genetic populations
Authors: SUN ZIQI , LI HUIHUI , ZHANG LUYAN , WANG JIANKANG
Published: August 2012

Linkage analysis plays an important role in genetic studies. In linkage analysis, accurate estimation of recombination frequency is essential. Many bi-parental populations have been used, and determining an appropriate population is of great importance in precise recombination frequency. In this study, we investigated the estimation efficiency of recombination frequency in 12 bi-parental populations. The criteria that we used for comparison were LOD score in testing linkage relationship, deviation between estimated and real recombination frequency, standard error (SE) of estimates and the least theoretical population size (PS) required to observe at least one recombinant and to declare the statistically significant linkage relationship. Theoretical and simulation results indicated that larger PS and smaller recombination frequency resulted in higher LOD score and smaller deviation. Lower LOD score, higher deviation and higher SE for estimating the recombination frequency in the advanced backcrossing and selfing populations are larger than those in backcross and F2populations, respectively. For advanced backcrossing and selfing populations, larger populations were needed in order to observe at least one recombinant and to declare significant linkage. In comparison, in F2and F3populations higher LOD score, lower deviation and SE were observed for co-dominant markers. A much larger population was needed to observe at least one recombinant and to detect loose linkage for dominant and recessive markers. Therefore, advanced backcrossing and selfing populations had lower precision in estimating the recombination frequency. F2and F3populations together with co-dominant markers represent the ideal situation for linkage analysis and linkage map construction.
Lorrie Moore Collection Lorrie Moore: Mo(o)re than an Interim Assessment
Authors: BRAUNER DAVID , MACPHERSON HEIDI SLETTEDAHL
Published: August 2012

Lorrie Moore has long shed the image of the precocious talent who won the Seventeen story prize with her first submission as a nineteen-year-old undergraduate, but there is still a sense that her best work may be yet to come. In that respect, this mini special issue represents by no means the final word on Moore, but rather an interim assessment of a career that is already substantial and that promises much more to come. Together these three essays (and introduction) offer a coherent and striking exploration of Moore's work that develops new directions for future criticism and will help cement her growing reputation as one of the most original and distinctive contemporary writers. They sometimes circle around the same stories, even the same quotations, reading them in a variety of frames and picking up (and at) the nuances of Moore's sustained wordplay and careful documenting of space, of identity, of gender. Thus these essays work together rather than separately, layering over multiple understandings of Moore's incisive American literature.
Lorrie Moore CollectionWords Are All You Need: Speech Acts in Lorrie Moore'sAnagrams
Authors: WEEKES KAREN
Published: August 2012

Indulgence in wordplay is a chief marker of Lorrie Moore's prose. No matter the voice or context, her protagonists find refuge in words' multiple meanings, as near-puns, near-anagrams, and other examples of wordplay are strewn throughout her tales. Her characters are often shaped by their language and their response to others' words more than by their responses to events, giving speech acts more import than actual actions. All storytelling can be viewed as a type of speech act between author and reader, but Moore's protagonists use speech acts as a respite from tension and interpersonal conflict, to the extent of using language to invent new characters, such as Georgianne and Eleanor inAnagrams. People in Moore's tales are rarely looking for the “right” – consoling, helpful – words; they instead use language as a bandage to cover the wounds of failing, or failed, relationships. Speech acts ultimately prove fruitless in holding off the inevitable, and her characters are almost always alone at the end of their stories, isolated by the repercussions of their own speech acts. Their facility with language is a consolation in, but often contributor to, their loneliness.