bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoscopy versus imaging: Analysis of surveillance methods in sinonasal malignancy
Authors: Khalili Sammy , Worrall Douglas M. , Brooks Steve , Morris Shane M. , Farquhar Douglas , Newman Jason G. , Learned Kim O. , Ahn Peter H. , Craig John , Kennedy David W. , O'Malley Bert W. , Palmer James N. , Adappa Nithin D.
Published: May 2016

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of imaging and endoscopy in posttreatment surveillance of sinonasal malignancies.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of primary sinonasal malignancies diagnosed between 2000 and 2014. Posttreatment surveillance included nasal endoscopy and imaging (MRI, CT, and positron emission tomography [PET]/CT). Positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), specificity, and sensitivity were calculated for each modality and compared.

Results

One hundred nine sinonasal malignancies were identified with 30 recurrences. Endoscopy showed a sensitivity and specificity of 24% and 89%, respectively, whereas imaging was 76% and 90%, respectively. Identifying suspicious symptoms significantly improved the PPV of both endoscopy and imaging. MRI demonstrates the highest PPV when compared with other imaging modalities.

Conclusion

Both modalities are necessary in posttreatment surveillance. MRI shows the highest PPV, whereas endoscopy trends toward a higher specificity. PET/CT scans have a high false‐positive rate and should be reserved for tumors with a high propensity for distant metastases. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:1229–1233, 2016
Where there is no policy: governing the posting and transfer of primary health care workers in Nigeria
Authors: Abimbola Seye , Olanipekun Titilope , Schaaf Marta , Negin Joel , Jan Stephen , Martiniuk Alexandra L. C.
Published: May 2016

The posting and transfer of health workers and managers receives little policy and research attention in global health. In Nigeria, there is no national policy on posting and transfer in the health sector. We sought to examine how the posting and transfer of frontline primary health care (PHC) workers is conducted in four states (Lagos, Benue, Nasarawa and Kaduna) across Nigeria, where public sector PHC facilities are usually the only form of formal health care service providers available in many communities. We conducted in‐depth interviews with PHC workers and managers, and group discussions with community health committee members. The results revealed three mechanisms by which PHC managers conduct posting and transfer: (1) periodically moving PHC workers around as a routine exercise aimed at enhancing their professional experience and preventing them from being corrupted; (2) as a tool for improving health service delivery by assigning high‐performing PHC workers to PHC facilities perceived to be in need, or posting PHC workers nearer their place of residence; and (3) as a response to requests for punishment or favour from PHC workers, political office holders, global health agencies and community health committees. Given that posting and transfer is conducted by discretion, with multiple influences and sometimes competing interests, we identified practices that may lead to unfair treatment and inequities in the distribution of PHC workers. The posting and transfer of PHC workers therefore requires policy measures to codify what is right about existing informal practices and to avert their negative potential. © 2016 The Authors The International Journal of Health Planning and Management Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
How informative are stream level observations in different geographic regions?
Authors: Seibert Jan , Vis Marc J. P.
Published: May 2016

Simple runoff models with a low number of model parameters are generally able to simulate catchment runoff reasonably well, but they rely on model calibration, which makes their use in ungauged basins challenging. In a previous study it has been shown that a limited number of streamflow measurements can be quite informative for constraining runoff models. In practice, however, instead of performing such repeated flow measurements, it might be easier to install a stream level logger. Here, a dataset of 600+ gauged basins in the USA was used to study how well models perform when only stream level data, rather than streamflow data, are available. A runoff model (the HBV model) was calibrated assuming that only stream level observations were available, and the simulations were evaluated on the full observed streamflow record. The results indicate that stream level data alone can already provide surprisingly good model simulation results in humid catchments, whereas in arid catchments some form of quantitative information (e.g. a streamflow observation or a regional average value) is needed to obtain good results. These results are encouraging for hydrological observations in data scarce regions as level observations are much easier to obtain than streamflow measurements. Based on runoff modelling, it might even be possible to derive streamflow time series from the level data obtained from loggers, satellites or community‐based approaches. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using high resolution tracer data to constrain water storage, flux and age estimates in a spatially distributed rainfall‐runoff model
Authors: van Huijgevoort M. H. J. , Tetzlaff D. , Sutanudjaja E. H. , Soulsby C.
Published: May 2016

Models simulating stream flow and conservative tracers can provide a representation of flow paths, storage distributions and mixing processes that is advantageous for many predictive purposes. Compared with models that only simulate stream flow, tracer data can be used to investigate the internal consistency of model behaviour and to gain insight into model performance. Here, we examine the strengths and weaknesses of a data‐driven, spatially distributed tracer‐aided rainfall‐runoff model. The model structure allowed us to assess the influence of landscape characteristics on the routing and mixing of water and tracers. The model was applied to a site in the Scottish Highlands with a unique tracer data set; ~4 years of daily isotope ratios in stream water and precipitation were available, as well as 2 years of weekly soil and ground water isotopes. The model structure was based on an empirically based, lumped tracer‐aided model previously developed for the catchment. The best model runs were selected from Monte Carlo simulations based on dual calibration criteria using objective functions for both stream isotopes and discharge at the outlet. Model performance for these criteria was reasonable (Nash–Sutcliffe efficiencies for discharge and isotope ratios were ~0.4–0.6). The model could generally reproduce the variable isotope signals in the soils of the steeper hill slopes where storage was low, and damped isotope responses in valley bottom cells with high storage. The model also allowed us to estimate the age distributions of internal stores, water fluxes and stream flow. Average stream water age was ~1.6 years, integrating older groundwater in the valley bottom and dynamic younger soil waters. By tracking water ages and simulating isotopes, the model captured the changes in connectivity driven by distributed storage dynamics. This has substantially improved the representation of spatio‐temporal process dynamics and gives a more robust framework for projecting environmental change impacts. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Hydrological Processes Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Metalloproteinases ADAM12 and MMP‐14 are associated with cavernous sinus invasion in pituitary adenomas
Authors: Wang Junwen , Voellger Benjamin , Benzel Julia , Schlomann Uwe , Nimsky Christopher , Bartsch Jörg W. , Carl Barbara
Published: May 2016

Invasion of tumor cells critically depends on cell‐cell or cell‐extracellular matrix interactions. Enzymes capable of modulating these interactions belong to the proteinase families of ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) and MMP (matrix metalloprotease) proteins. Our objective is to examine their expression levels and evaluate the relationship between expression levels and cavernous sinus invasion in pituitary adenomas. Tissue samples from 35 patients with pituitary adenomas were analyzed. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was employed to assess mRNA expression levels for ADAM and MMP genes. Protein levels were examined using immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. Correlation analyses between expression levels and clinical parameters were performed. By silencing ADAM12 and MMP‐14 with siRNA in a mouse pituitary adenoma cell line (TtT/GF), their cellular effects were investigated. In our study, nine women and 26 men were included, with a mean age of 53.1 years (range 15–84 years) at the time of surgery. There were 19 cases with cavernous sinus invasion. The proteins ADAM12 and MMP‐14 were significantly up‐regulated in invasive adenomas compared to noninvasive adenomas. Both human isoforms of ADAM12 (ADAM12L and ADAM12s) were involved in tumor invasion; moreover, ADAM12L was found to correlate positively with Ki‐67 proliferation index in pituitary adenomas. In TtT/GF pituitary adenoma cells, silencing of ADAM12 and MMP‐14 significantly inhibited cell invasion and migration, respectively, whereas only silencing of ADAM12 suppressed cell proliferation. We conclude that ADAM12 and MMP‐14 are associated with cavernous sinus invasion in pituitary adenomas, which qualifies these proteins in diagnosis and therapy.
Visual Macroprudential Surveillance of Banks
Authors: Sarlin Peter
Published: May 2016

We create a tool for visual surveillance of the European banking system from a macroprudential perspective. The tool performs visual dynamic clustering with the self‐organizing time map (SOTM) to visualize evolving multivariate data from two viewpoints: (i) multivariate cluster structures, and (ii) univariate drivers of changes in structures. In assessing the European banking system, the main tasks the SOTM can be used for are (i) identifying structural changes and breaking points in a large number of risk indicators, and their specific location in the cross‐section, and (ii) identifying the build‐up of, or generally changes in, individual risk indicators in the banking system as a whole. While the former view provides indications of changes in the banking system, the latter describes the sources of these changes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of the Larval Amphibian Growth and Development Assay: effects of chronic 4‐tert‐octylphenol or 17β‐trenbolone exposure in Xenopus laevis from embryo to juvenile
Authors: Haselman Jonathan T. , Kosian Patricia A. , Korte Joseph J. , Olmstead Allen W. , Iguchi Taisen , Johnson Rodney D. , Degitz Sigmund J.
Published: May 2016

The Larval Amphibian Growth and Development Assay (LAGDA) is a globally harmonized test guideline developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with Japan's Ministry of the Environment. The LAGDA was designed to evaluate apical effects of chronic chemical exposure on growth, thyroid‐mediated amphibian metamorphosis and reproductive development. During the validation phase, two well‐characterized endocrine‐disrupting chemicals were tested to evaluate the performance of the initial assay design: xenoestrogen 4‐tert‐octylphenol (tOP) and xenoandrogen 17β‐trenbolone (TB). Xenopus laevis embryos were exposed, in flow‐through conditions, to tOP (nominal concentrations: 0.0, 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 µg l–1) or TB (nominal concentrations: 0.0, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 ng l–1) until 8 weeks post‐metamorphosis, at which time growth measurements were taken, and histopathology assessments were made of the gonads, reproductive ducts, liver and kidneys. There were no effects on growth in either study and no signs of overt toxicity, sex reversal or gonad dysgenesis. Exposure to tOP caused a treatment‐related decrease in circulating thyroxine and an increase in thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia (25 and 50 µg l–1) during metamorphosis. Müllerian duct development was affected after exposure to both chemicals; tOP exposure caused dose‐dependent maturation of oviducts in both male and female frogs, whereas TB exposure caused accelerated Müllerian duct regression in males and complete regression in >50% of the females in the 100 ng l–1 treatment. Based on these results, the LAGDA performed adequately to evaluate apical effects of chronic exposure to two endocrine‐active compounds and is the first standardized amphibian multiple life stage toxicity test to date. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Development of a nanofibrous wound dressing with an antifibrogenic properties in vitro and in vivo model
Authors: Poormasjedi‐Meibod Malihe‐Sadat , Pakyari Mohammadreza , Jackson John K. , Salimi Elizei Sanam , Ghahary Aziz
Published: May 2016

Dermal fibrosis, characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM), is a pathological condition with limited effective therapeutic modalities. Lack of an antiscarring dressing further impedes the preventive measures for this condition. Here, we develop a new antiscarring dressing and investigate its potential as a slow‐releasing vehicle for kynurenic acid (KynA), an antifibrotic agent. KynA was incorporated into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanofibers, containing increasing concentration of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Fibre morphology, water absorption capacity, surface hydrophilicity, in vitro drug release profile, and in vivo antifibrotic effects were investigated. Increasing concentrations of PEG (1–20%) significantly increased surface hydrophilicity, water absorption capacity, and drug release. Based on the obtained release profiles, PMMA + 10% PEG was the preferred formulation for sustained KynA release up to 120 hours. In vitro studies confirmed the preservation of KynA antifibrotic properties during electrospinning, indicated by fibroblasts proliferation suppression and ECM expression modulation. In vivo application of KynA‐incorporated films significantly inhibited collagen (23.89 ± 4.79 vs. 6.99 ± 0.41, collagen‐I/β‐actin mRNA expression, control vs. treated) and fibronectin expression (7.18 ± 1.09 vs. 2.31 ± 0.05, fibronectin/β‐actin mRNA expression, control vs. treated) and enhanced the production of an ECM‐degrading enzyme (2.03 ± 0.88 vs. 11.88 ± 1.16 MMP‐1/β‐actin mRNA expression, control vs. treated). The fabricated KynA‐incorporated films can be exploited as antifibrotic wound dressings. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2334–2344, 2016.
Hip Fracture in Patients With Non-Dialysis-Requiring Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Kim Sun Moon , Long Jin , Montez-Rath Maria , Leonard Mary , Chertow Glenn M
Published: May 2016

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at a high risk for hip fracture. Little is known about the risk for, and consequences of, hip fracture among patients with non-dialysis-requiring chronic kidney disease (CKD). We examined the incidence of hip fracture, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and costs among patients with ESRD, non-dialysis-requiring CKD, and normal or near normal kidney function. Using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a nationally representative database, we identified hospitalizations for hip fracture in 2010. We incorporated data from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) and the US census to calculate population-specific rates. Age-standardized incidence of hip fracture was highest among patients with ESRD (3.89/1000 person-years), followed by non-dialysis-requiring CKD (1.81/1000 persons) and patients with normal or near normal kidney function (1.18/1000 persons). In-hospital mo rtality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46 to 1.96), lengths of stay (median [10th, 90th percentiles] 5 [3 to 11] versus 5 [3 to 10] days) and costs (median $14,807 versus $13,314) were significantly higher in patients with non-dialysis-requiring CKD relative to patients with normal or near normal kidney function. In summary, non-dialysis-requiring CKD is associated with higher age-standardized rates of hip fracture and post-hip fracture mortality and higher resource utilization. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Structural changes in female‐to‐male sex‐reversing gonads of Rana RUGOSA
Authors: Sakamoto Daiki , Cho Ayumi , Abe Taishiro , Nakamura Yoriko , Oike Akira , Kodama Maho , Nakamura Masahisa
Published: May 2016

The phenotypic sex of many species of amphibians is subject to reversal by steroid hormones. The mechanism of this process, however, still remains largely unknown. As a step toward understanding the histological changes during sex reversal in amphibians, we analyzed two‐ and three‐dimensional (2D and 3D) structures of sex‐reversing gonads in Rana rugosa frogs. 2D views revealed that many oocytes in the wild‐type ovary disappeared during female‐to‐male sex‐reversal concomitant with the emergence of Vasa‐positive small germ cells. Some of the germ cells were labeled with BrdU. BrdU‐positive germ cells were few in the testosterone (T) treated ovaries at days 8 and 16, which resembled wild‐type ovaries. Basement membranes became disrupted by day 24 in T‐treated ovaries. However, the membranes were later reconfigured into testis‐like gonadal structures 40 days after T treatment. 3D imaging of the sex‐reversing gonad using serial immunostained sections showed that germ cells were organized in linear fashion extending out from where the sex‐reversing gonad attached to the mesorchium 24 days after T treatment. Germ cells were increased in number by 40 days and were localized to the cortex of the gonads. In a T‐untreated testis at day 24, many germ cells were distributed throughout the cortex except in the central space, while the efferent duct ran between two sheets of the mesorchium. These results, taken together, suggest that the mesorchium plays an important role in the organization of testicular structure. This is the first report showing germ cell ontogeny and organization in the female‐to‐male sex‐reversing gonad in a vertebrate species.
Hormonal Responses to Noncontact Aggression in Convict Cichlid Fish
Authors: Scarsella Grace E. , Duque Kevin S. , Wong Stephanie C. , Sivaraman Boopathy , Earley Ryan L.
Published: May 2016

This study explored whether convict cichlid fish mount a hormonal response to aggressive encounters where dominance status remains unresolved. Hormone samples were collected at two time points before an aggressive interaction to obtain confinement‐induced and baseline measures, and at one time point following a contest across a clear partition (experimental) or exposure to an opaque partition with an opponent on the opposite side (control). There was no overall significant effect of treatment (control vs. experimental) on hormone release rates but there were trends for cortisol and testosterone (T). A priori linear contrasts showed that individuals that engaged in aggressive interactions had lower postfight cortisol and T release rates than controls, suggesting that aggression, in this context, might attenuate the synthesis of both hormones. Cortisol decreased significantly between initial confinement and baseline, indicating that individuals habituate to the water‐borne hormone collection procedure. Contrary to expectation, individuals with higher baseline T and 11‐ketotestosterone (KT) release rates took longer to initiate conflict. None of the other measures of behavior were predicted by baseline hormone release rates, and contest behavior did not predict postfight hormone release rates. There was a significant positive relationship between KT and T at all time points. As with studies that employ mirror image stimulation, we found no hormonal response to unresolved contests despite high levels of aggressive behavior. Our study is unique because we demonstrate that animals engaged in conflict with live opponents also do not mount a significant hormonal response when clear dominance relationships are not established.
Synthesis and Antioxidant Properties of New Substituted 8‐Methyl‐6‐phenyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐1,3,2‐benzodioxaphosphocine‐2‐oxide Derivatives
Authors: Siva Prasad S. , Satheesh Krishna B. , Santhi Sudha S. , Sreelakshmi P. , Nayak S. K. , Suresh Reddy C.
Published: May 2016

A new route for the synthesis of substituted 8‐methyl‐6‐phenyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐1,3,2‐benzodioxaphosphocine‐2‐oxide derivatives has been developed by using cinnamic acid and p‐cresol via condensation, reduction, and followed by phosphorylation steps. The title compounds were characterized by IR, 1H, 13C, 31P, and mass spectral studies and elemental analysis. The title compounds have been investigated for their antioxidant activity with respect to their IC50 values using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl, NO radical scavenging activities, and reducing power assay. The results obtained from the aforementioned methods revealed that 2‐phenylamino derivatives have shown greater free radical scavenging activity when compared with those of the phenoxy derivatives and is attributed to the presence of secondary amino group, which is able to produce free radicals easily.
Facile Synthesis of N‐(Benzyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐Triazol‐5‐yl) Methyl)‐4‐(6‐Methoxybenzo [d] Thiazol‐2‐yl)‐2‐Nitrobenzamides via Click Chemistry
Authors: Yarlagadda Bharath , Devunuri Nagaraj , Mandava V. Basaveswara Rao
Published: May 2016

A series of novel N‐((l‐benzyl‐lH‐l,2,3‐triazol‐5‐yl) methyl)‐4‐(6‐methoxy benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐2‐nitrobenzamide derivatives were prepared from 4‐(6‐methoxybenzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐2‐nitro‐N‐(prop‐2‐ynyl) benzamide with benzyl azides by using click reaction (copper‐catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction) in the presence of CuSO4.5H2O and sodium ascaorbate. All the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated further in vitro antimicrobial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtillis), Gram‐negative bacteria (Echerichia coli and Pseudomonas aeuroginosa), and fungi (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillusfumigatus) strains. The new compounds were characterized based on spectroscopic evidence. Among them compounds 10a, 10h, and 10i were showed promising activity when compared with standard drugs Ciprofloxacin and Miconazole.
Selective and Efficient Formylation of Indoles (C3) and Pyrroles (C2) Using 2,4,6‐Trichloro‐1,3,5‐Triazine/Dimethylformamide (TCT/DMF) Mixed Reagent
Authors: Iranpoor Nasser , Panahi Farhad , Erfan Soodabeh , Roozbin Fatemeh
Published: May 2016

This study introduces an efficient method for the selective formylation of indoles and pyrroles at the positions of C(3) and C(2), respectively. The mixture of three equivalents of N,N‐dimethylformamide and one equivalent of 2,4,6‐trichloro‐1,3,5‐triazine (cyanuric chloride) generates an easy handling formylating agent for the efficient formylation of these classes of compounds to give the corresponding aldehydes under mild reaction conditions. This procedure was highly efficient, and a range of formylated indoles and pyrroles were obtained in good to excellent yields.
Synthesis of Lipophilic‐2‐Mercaptobenzoxazoles and 2‐Spirothiophene‐Phosphonate Derivatives as Potent Anticancer Agents
Authors: Abdou Wafaa M. , Barghash Reham F. , Bekheit Mohamed S.
Published: May 2016

As a part of our ongoing research program in developing new anticancer agents, herein, we report the synthesis of a series of 2‐mercapto‐2,3‐dihydrobenzoxazole‐2‐methyl‐, ‐2‐thioethyl‐, and/or 2‐spirothiophene‐phosphonates. Five of these new compounds that combine three bioactive moieties: oxazole, thiol, and phosphonate motifs, exhibited remarkable growth inhibition against 13 carcinoma cell lines. The results of the experimentally determined log K and clog P values are in agreement with Lipinski Rule >5 and showed a strong correlation with the pharmacological results; nevertheless, it is poorly consisted with calculated log P/Clog P and log P/ACD.
Dual secretion locations on type II cells in the avian lung suggest local as well as general roles of surfactant
Authors: Bódi Ildikó , Kocsis Katalin , Benyeda Zsófia , Fejszák Nóra , Molnár Dávid , Nagy Nándor , Oláh Imre
Published: May 2016

Transmission electron microscopy indicates that the avian lung surfactant may be secreted in two directions: a) into air passages of parabronchus, atrium and infundibulum where it forms a trilaminar substance serving the respiratory role and b) to the basolateral surface—intercellular space—of type II pneumocytes, contributing to the innate and adoptive immune responses of lung. Basolateral secretion may be confirmed by the presence of trilaminal substance in the intercellular space of type II pneumocytes. Fusion of surfactant containing vesicles with the lateral plasma membrane may result in membrane fusion of neighboring cells and subsequently formation of multinucleated giant cell. The indistinct and in some places discontinuous basal lamina in the parabronchial atrium and infundibulum permits the hydrophilic surfactant proteins to spread into the interstitium of air‐blood capillary region. The hydrophilic surfactant proteins may activate lung interstitial macrophages to migrate into the air passages where they appear as “free avian respiratory macrophages.” Therefore, in the interstitium the hydrophilic surfactant proteins are essential soluble components of innate immunity. J. Morphol. 277:1062–1071, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Early development and replacement of the stickleback dentition
Authors: Ellis Nicholas A. , Donde Nikunj N. , Miller Craig T.
Published: May 2016

Teeth have long served as a model system to study basic questions about vertebrate organogenesis, morphogenesis, and evolution. In nonmammalian vertebrates, teeth typically regenerate throughout adult life. Fish have evolved a tremendous diversity in dental patterning in both their oral and pharyngeal dentitions, offering numerous opportunities to study how morphology develops, regenerates, and evolves in different lineages. Threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) have emerged as a new system to study how morphology evolves, and provide a particularly powerful system to study the development and evolution of dental morphology. Here, we describe the oral and pharyngeal dentitions of stickleback fish, providing additional morphological, histological, and molecular evidence for homology of oral and pharyngeal teeth. Focusing on the ventral pharyngeal dentition in a dense developmental time course of lab‐reared fish, we describe the temporal and spatial consensus sequence of early tooth formation. Early in development, this sequence is highly stereotypical and consists of seventeen primary teeth forming the early tooth field, followed by the first tooth replacement event. Comparing this detailed morphological and ontogenetic sequence to that described in other fish reveals that major changes to how dental morphology arises and regenerates have evolved across different fish lineages. J. Morphol. 277:1072–1083, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mercury content in Atlantic sediments as a new indicator of the enlargement and reduction of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets
Authors: Kita I. , Yamashita T. , Chiyonobu S. , Hasegawa H. , Sato T. , Kuwahara Y.
Published: May 2016

The total mercury content of Quaternary sediments over the last 1.1 Ma from IODP Site U1308 drilled in the North Atlantic Ocean has changed, varying with periodicities of 100 000 and 41 000 years. The Hg content of the sediment increased during glacial periods, associated with increases in ice‐rafted debris (IRD), and correlates positively with the total organic carbon (TOC) content and inversely with the absolute abundance of surface‐dwelling nannoplankton species. TOC/total nitrogen ratios and δ13Corg values of TOC indicate that the TOC deposited during glacial periods was marine and associated with increased Hg deposition. These observations suggest that marine Hg is incorporated into the organic matter produced by deep‐dwelling phytoplankton in the lower photic zone. Mercury‐ and IRD‐bearing icebergs flowed out to this area during glacial periods melt, increasing the Hg content of photic water, and depositing IRD on the ocean floor, where increased marine Hg during glacial periods was consumed by deep‐dwelling phytoplankton. Therefore, the change in the sediment Hg content from the North Atlantic Ocean is controlled by climatic change and can be used as a chemical indicator of Northern Hemisphere ice sheet variability.
Comparison of observed to predicted outcomes using the ACS NSQIP risk calculator in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Mogal Harveshp D. , Fino Nora , Clark Clancy , Shen Perry
Published: May 2016

Background

Postoperative outcomes predicted by the ACS NSQIP universal risk calculator have not been validated for specific procedures like pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods

A random sample of 400 PD patients from the NSQIP database was analyzed. Patients were categorized into four groups of 100 each based on ICD‐9 diagnosis (211.6, 157.0, 156.2, and 577.1). Estimated risks of postoperative outcomes recorded by the calculator were compared to observed outcomes using the Brier Score (BS). The calculated BS was compared to a null model BS. A BS of zero indicated perfect prediction, while a BS of one indicated the poorest prediction.

Results

BS for all groupings was generally low, reflecting good prediction. BS for any and major complications was higher (0.23 and 0.22, respectively). This was also seen within ICD‐9 subgroups. For patients with ampullary cancer, BS for these outcomes was higher (0.27 and 0.26, respectively). Comparison to the null model BS (0.24 and 0.24, respectively) correlated lesser predictive accuracy of the calculator for this subgroup.

Conclusions

The ACS NSQIP risk calculator, although accurate in predicting outcomes in patients undergoing PD, shows variation when accounting for specific ICD‐9 diagnoses. Incorporating the diagnosis may better guide surgeons and patients preoperatively in making informed decisions. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:157–162. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Targeted analysis and determination of β‐agonists, hormones, glucocorticoid and psychiatric drugs in feed by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhu Yufei , Xie Shuyu , Chen Dongmei , Pan Yuanhu , Qu Wei , Wang Xu , Liu Zhenli , Peng Dapeng , Huang Lingli , Tao Yanfei , Yuan Zonghui
Published: May 2016

A comprehensive strategy combining a quantitative method was developed for 30 banned drugs including β‐agonists, hormones, glucocorticoid and psychiatric drugs in swine and chicken feeds. This rapid, simple and effective extraction method was based on matrix solid‐phase dispersion and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The quantitative method was validated after previous statistical optimization of the main parameters of matrix solid‐phase dispersion. The limit of quantification of dopamine hydrochloride, chlormadinone acetate, melengestrol acetate, testosterone propionate, nandrolone and midazolam was 2 μg/kg and that of the other 24 drugs was 1 μg/kg. The recoveries of β‐agonists, hormones, glucocorticoid and psychiatric drugs spiked in swine and chicken feeds at a concentration range of 1–8 μg/kg were above 70.1% with inter‐day relative standard deviations less than 15.8%. The analytical strategy was applied to 100 feed samples collected from a local market in Wuhan (China). Clenbuterol, ractopamine and melengestrol acetate were identified and quantified at the level 0.2∼3.5 μg/kg. The rapid and reliable method can be used to efficiently separate, characterize and quantify the residues of 30 banned drugs in swine and chicken feeds with advantages of simple pretreatment and environmental friendly nature.
Low‐temperature derivatization followed by vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction for the analysis of polyamines in Nicotiana Tabacum
Authors: Cai Kai , Cai Bin , Xiang Zhangmin , Zhao Huina , Rao Xingyi , Pan Wenjie , Lei Bo
Published: May 2016

Polyamines are ubiquitous polycationic molecules that play a key role in many biological processes such as nucleic acid metabolism, protein synthesis, cell growth, and nicotine synthesis precursors. This work describes a rapid, sensitive, convenient, green, and cost‐effective method for the determination of polyamines in Nicotiana tabacum by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The analytes were derivatized with 3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl chloride at low temperature (about 4°C) and then extracted with vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction. The experimental designs based on quarter‐fractional factorial design and Doehlert design were used to screen and optimize the important factors in microextraction process. Under the optimal conditions, the method was linear over 0.05–8.00 μg/mL with an r2 ≥ 0.992 and exhibited good repeatability and reproducibility less than 6.0 and 6.9%, respectively. The limit of detection ranged between 0.013 and 0.029 μg/g. The newly developed method was successfully employed to analyze different leaf samples of Nicotiana tabacum, among which the polyamines contents were found to be very different. Moreover, tyramine, 1,3‐diaminopropane, homospermidine, and canavalmine were tentatively identified with the electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. To our knowledge, this is the first report of identification of canavalmine in Nicotiana Tabacum.
Stable theories and representation over sets
Authors: Shelah Saharon , Cohen Moran
Published: May 2016

In this paper we give characterizations of the stable and ℵ0‐stable theories, in terms of an external property called representation. In the sense of the representation property, the mentioned classes of first‐order theories can be regarded as “not very complicated”.
The enumeration spectrum hierarchy of n‐families
Authors: Faizrahmanov Marat , Kalimullin Iskander
Published: May 2016

We introduce a hierarchy of sets which can be derived from the integers using countable collections. Such families can be coded into countable algebraic structures preserving their algorithmic properties. We prove that for different finite levels of the hierarchy the corresponding algebraic structures have different classes of possible degree spectra.
Impact Modification and Fracture Mechanisms of Core–Shell Particle Reinforced Thermoplastic Protein
Authors: Smith Matthew J. , Verbeek Casparus J. R.
Published: May 2016

Mechanical properties and fracture mechanisms of Novatein thermoplastic protein and blends with core–shell particles (CSPs) have been examined. Novatein is brittle with low impact strength and energy‐to‐break. Epoxy‐modified CSPs increase notched and unnotched impact strength, tensile strain‐at‐break, and energy‐to‐break, while tensile strength and modulus decrease as CSP content increases. Tg increases slightly with increasing CSP content attributed to physical crosslinking. Changes to mechanical properties are related to the critical matrix ligament thickness and rate of loading. Novatein control samples display brittle fracture characterized by large‐scale crazing. At high CSP content a large plastic zone and a slow crack propagation zone in unnotched and tensile samples are observed suggesting increased energy absorption. Notched impact samples reach critical craze stresses easily regardless of CSP content reducing impact strength. It is concluded that the impact strength of thermoplastic protein can be modified in a similar manner to traditional thermoplastics.

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Self‐Cleaning, Thermoresponsive P(NIPAAm‐co‐AMPS) Double Network Membranes for Implanted Glucose Biosensors
Authors: Fei Ruochong , Means A. Kristen , Abraham Alexander A. , Locke Andrea K. , Coté Gerard L. , Grunlan Melissa A.
Published: May 2016

A self‐cleaning membrane that periodically rids itself of attached cells to maintain glucose diffusion could extend the lifetime of implanted glucose biosensors. Herein, we evaluate the functionality of thermoresponsive double network (DN) hydrogel membranes based on poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and an electrostatic co‐monomer, 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS). DN hydrogels are comprised of a tightly crosslinked, ionized first network [P(NIPAAm‐co‐AMPS)] containing variable levels of AMPS (100:0–25:75 wt% ratio of NIPAAm:AMPS) and a loosely crosslinked, interpenetrating second network [PNIPAAm]. To meet the specific requirements of a subcutaneously implanted glucose biosensor, the volume phase transition temperature is tuned and essential properties, such as glucose diffusion kinetics, thermosensitivity, and cytocompatibility are evaluated. In addition, the self‐cleaning functionality is demonstrated through thermally driven cell detachment from the membranes in vitro.

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Electrically Triggered Actuation of Plasticized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Gels
Authors: Xia Hong , Hashimoto Yoshio , Ni Qing‐Qing
Published: May 2016

Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are copolymers with hard and soft segments. They have excellent physical properties and good biocompatibility. In particular, their shape memory properties and compatibility with plasticizers make TPU gels suitable for use as soft actuator materials. In this work, a plasticizer, dibutyl adipate (DBA), is added to four types of TPU to form gels. All the TPUs form transparent soft gels with different DBA contents. Their dielectric and mechanical properties are significantly improved by DBA addition, and the TPUs are changed from insulators to electrical actuation materials. Polyether TPU/DBA gels show the most significant changes. The bending distance of a TPU/6DBA gel tip (dimensions 20 × 5 × 0.3 mm3) is about 15 mm when the gel is sandwiched between soft electrodes and an electric field of less than 3 V μm–1 is applied. The developed materials show large deformations at low energies, and will make a significant contribution to the field of actuation materials. It is believed that TPU/DBA gels can be used as photovoltaic, dielectric, artificial muscle, robotic, and other smart materials.

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Gas‐Permeable Cellulose Template for Reduction of Template Damage and Gas Trapping in Microimprint Lithography of High Volume Manufacturing
Authors: Takei Satoshi , Nakajima Shinya , Sugahara Kigen , Hanabata Makoto , Matsumoto Yoko , Sekiguchi Atsushi
Published: May 2016

A gas‐permeable cellulose template for microimprint lithography has been synthesized and characterized for the reduction of template damage and gas trapping caused by solvents and oxygen generated from cross‐linked materials. The 5 μm line‐pattern failure of the microimprinted UV cross‐linked liquid materials with 4.7 wt% acetone as a volatile solvent is solved by using the gas‐permeable cellulose template because of its increased oxygen permeability. The gas‐permeable cellulose template also allows the use of volatile solvents with high coating property and solubility into the microimprinted materials instead of the compounds and plastic resins conventionally used in mold injection.

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Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases—From pathophysiology to clinical practice
Authors: Blennow Kaj , Biscetti Leonardo , Eusebi Paolo , Parnetti Lucilla
Published: May 2016

This review provides an update on the role, development, and validation of CSF biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease and PD. Some recent developments on novel biomarkers are also discussed. We also give an overview of methodological/technical factors still hampering the global validation and standardization of CSF Alzheimer's disease and PD biomarkers. CSF biomarkers have the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy at the early stages not only for Alzheimer's disease but also for PD. This step is essential in view of the availability of disease‐modifying treatments. Our vision for the future is that analyzing biomarker panels on a minute amount of CSF could provide important information on the whole spectrum of the molecular pathogenic events characterizing these neurodegenerative disorders. CSF core biomarkers have already been included in the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease, and they are also under consideration as tools to monitor the effects of disease‐modifying drugs. With respect to PD, their potential for improving diagnostic accuracy in early diagnosis is under intense research, resembling the same path followed for Alzheimer's disease. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Identification of gut‐derived metabolites of maslinic acid, a bioactive compound from Olea europaea L
Authors: Lozano‐Mena Glòria , Sánchez‐González Marta , Parra Andrés , Juan M. Emília , Planas Joana M.
Published: May 2016

Scope

Maslinic acid has been described to exert a chemopreventive activity in colon cancer. Hereby, we determined maslinic acid and its metabolites in the rat intestine previous oral administration as a first step in elucidating whether this triterpene might be used as a nutraceutical.

Methods and results

Maslinic acid was orally administered at 1, 2, and 5 mg/kg to male Sprague–Dawley for 2 days. At 24 h after the last administration, the content of the duodenum and jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon was collected and extracted with methanol 80% prior to LC‐APCI‐MS analysis. The developed method was validated providing suitable sensitivity (LOQ of 5 nM), good recovery (97.8 ± 3.6%), linear correlation, and appropriate precision (< 9%). Maslinic acid was detected in all the segments with higher concentrations in the distal part of the intestine. LC‐APCI‐LTQ‐ORBITRAP‐MS allowed the identification of 11 gut‐derived metabolites that were formed by mono‐, dihydroxylation, and dehydrogenation reactions.

Conclusion

Maslinic acid undergoes phase I reactions resulting in a majority of monohydroxylated metabolites without the presence of phase II derivatives. The high concentration of maslinic acid achieved in the intestine suggests that it could exert a beneficial effect in the prevention of colon cancer.
Single fiber EMG as a prognostic tool in myasthenia gravis
Authors: Baruca Mateja , Leonardis Lea , Podnar Simon , Hojs‐Fabjan Tanja , Grad Anton , Jerin Aleš , Blagus Rok , Šega‐Jazbec Saša
Published: May 2016

Introduction: Single fiber electromyography (SFEMG) is the most sensitive diagnostic tool for diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG). Its prognostic value is not known. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical course of 232 MG patients who presented with only mild symptoms and had SFEMG of the orbicularis oculi muscle. We correlated their SFEMG results with the severity of their later clinical course. Results: During the observation period 39 patients (17%) developed severe disease exacerbations, and 193 (83%) remained stable. Patients with severe disease exacerbation had a significantly higher mean jitter value (P < 0.0001), a greater percentage of fibers with increased jitter (P < 0.0001), and/or impulse blocking (P < 0.0001) on SFEMG. Conclusions: The extent of the SFEMG abnormalities in this study correlated with the later clinical course of MG. Muscle Nerve 54: 1034–1040, 2016
The Productivity of NHLBI‐Funded Obesity Research, 1983‐2013
Authors: Nicastro Holly L. , Belter Christopher W. , Lauer Michael S. , Coady Sean A. , Fine Lawrence J. , Loria Catherine M.
Published: May 2016

Objective

To describe and elucidate the time trends of the academic productivity of NHLBI's obesity‐related research funding via bibliometric analysis of 30 years of NHLBI‐supported obesity‐related publications.

Methods

In total, 3,545 NHLBI‐funded obesity‐related publications were identified in the Thomson Reuters InCites™ database. Shared references in a community detection algorithm were used to identify publication topics. Characteristics of publications and topical communities were analyzed based on citation count and percentile rank. A percentile rank >90 was considered “highly cited.”

Results

Obesity‐related publications increased more than 10‐fold over 30 years, whereas NHLBI‐funded publications only increased twofold NHLBI‐funded obesity publications were cited a median of 23 times (IQR 8‐55, range 0‐2,047, mean 52). Thirty percent of these publications were highly cited compared to the expected ten percent. Six topical communities were present in 1983 compared to 16 in 2013. The most highly cited topical areas were sleep (n = 199 publications, 38% highly cited), cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (n = 277, 36%), obesity correlates and consequences (n = 588, 35%), and asthma and inflammation (n = 283, 35%).

Conclusions

NHLBI‐funded obesity publications have contributed substantially to the obesity literature, with many highly cited. Publications grew in number and topical diversity over 30 years and grew at a faster rate than total NHLBI publications.
Robust reliability method and reliability‐based performance optimization for non‐fragile robust control design of dynamic system with bounded parametric uncertainties
Authors: Guo Shu‐Xiang , Li Ying
Published: May 2016

An efficient robust reliability method for non‐fragile robust control design of dynamic system with bounded parametric uncertainties is presented systematically, in which the uncertainties existing in the controlled plant and controller realization are taken into account simultaneously in an integrated framework. Reliability‐based design optimization of non‐fragile robust control for parametric uncertain systems is carried out by optimizing the H2 and H∞ performances of the closed‐loop system, with the constraints on robust reliabilities. The non‐fragile robust controller obtained by the presented method may possess a coordinated optimum performance satisfying the precondition that the system is robustly reliable with respect to the uncertainties existing in controlled plant and controller. Moreover, the robustness bounds of uncertain parameters can be provided. The presented formulations are within the framework of linear matrix inequality and thus can be carried out conveniently. It is demonstrated by a numerical example that the presented method is effective and feasible. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.