bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relative effect of solder flux chemistry on the humidity related failures in electronics
Authors: Verdingovas Vadimas , Jellesen Morten Stendahl , Ambat Rajan
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the effect of no-clean flux chemistry with various weak organic acids (WOAs) as activators on the corrosion reliability of electronics with emphasis on the hygroscopic nature of the residue.

Design/methodology/approach

– The hygroscopicity of flux residue was studied by quartz crystal microbalance, while corrosive effects were studied by leakage current and impedance measurements on standard test boards. The measurements were performed as a function of relative humidity (RH) in the range from 60 to ∼99 per cent at 25°C. The corrosiveness of solder flux systems was visualized by the ex situ analysis using a gel with tin ion indicator.

Findings

– The results showed that the solder flux residues are characterized by different threshold RH, above which a sudden increase in direct current leakage by 2–4 orders of magnitude and a significant reduction in surface resistance in the impedance measurements were observed.

Practical implications

– The findings are attributed to the deliquescence RH of the WOA(s) in the flux and chemistry of water-layer formation. The results show the importance of WOA type in relation to its solubility and deliquescence RH on the corrosion reliability of printed circuit boards under humid conditions.

Originality/value

– The classification of solder flux systems according to IPC J-STD-004 standard does not specify the WOAs in the flux; however, ranking of the flux systems based on the hygroscopic property of activators would be useful information when selecting no-clean flux systems for electronics with applications in humid conditions.
Realistic warpage evaluation of printed board assembly during reflow process
Authors: Chung Soonwan , Kwak Jae B.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to develop an estimation tool for warpage behavior of slim printed circuit board (PCB) array while soldering with electronic components by using finite element method. One of the essential requirements for handheld devices, such as smart phone, digital camera, and Note-PC, is the slim design to satisfy the customers’ desires. Accordingly, the printed circuit board (PCB) should be also thinner for a slim appearance, which would result in decreasing the PCB’s bending stiffness. This means that PCB deforms severely during the reflow (soldering) process where the peak temperature goes up to 250°C. Therefore, it is important to estimate PCB deformation at a high temperature for thermo-mechanical quality/reliability after reflow process.

Design/methodology/approach

– A numerical simulation technique was devised and customized to accurately estimate the behavior of a thin printed board assembly (PBA) during reflow by considering all components, including PCB, microelectronic packages and solder interconnects.

Findings

– By applying appropriate constraints and boundary conditions, it was found that PBA’s warpage can be accurately predicted during the reflow process. The results were also validated by warpage measurement, which showed a fairly good agreement with one and another.

Research limitations/implications

– For research limitations, there are many assumptions regarding numerical modeling. That is, the viscoplastic material property of solder ball is ignored, the reflow profile is simplified and the accurate heat capacity is not considered. Furthermore, the residual stress within the PCB, generated at PCB manufacturing process, is not included in this paper.

Practical implications

– This paper shows how to calculate PBA warpage during the reflow process as accurately as possible. This methodology helps a PCB designer and surface-mount technology (SMT) process manager to predict a PBA warpage issue and modify PCB design before PCB real fabrication. Practically, this modeling and simulation process can be easily performed by using a graphical user interface (GUI) module, so that the engineer can handle an issue by inputting some numbers and clicking some buttons.

Social implications

– In a common sense manner, a numerical simulation method can decrease time and cost in manufacturing real samples. This PCB warpage method can also decrease product development duration and produce a new product earlier. Furthermore, PCB is a common component in all the electronic devices. So, this PCB warpage method can have various applications.

Originality/value

– Because of an economic advantage, the development of a numerical simulation tool for estimating the thin PBA warpage behaviour during reflow process was attempted. The developed tool contains the features of detailed modeling for electronic components and contact boundary conditions of the supporting rails in the reflow oven.
Age‐related decrease in CD271+ cells in human skin
Authors: Akamatsu Hirohiko , Hasegawa Seiji , Yamada Takaaki , Mizutani Hiroshi , Nakata Satoru , Yagami Akiko , Matsunaga Kayoko
Published: August 2015

According to recent studies, stem cells are found in various tissues in our bodies. It has been reported that stem cells can reside in the skin tissues, including the epidermis, dermis, hair follicles and subcutaneous tissues. Homeostasis of the skin is maintained because these stem cells collaborate with each other to form new cells. We previously identified the CD271(p75NTR)+ cell as a stem cell that was present in the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue, and further investigated the role of stem cells in wound healing and their association with skin disease. In this study, we investigated the localization of CD271+ cells in human skin (epidermis and dermis) and its age‐related changes in stem cells using CD271+ cells. The study revealed that the number of CD271+ cells in the epidermis and dermis decreased with aging. It is possible that such an age‐related decrease in stem cells causes impaired regenerative ability and is associated with various skin diseases. If the relationship between stem cells and skin aging and diseases can be elucidated by investigations such as this study, it may lead to the development of novel anti‐aging technologies and medical treatments for skin diseases in the future.
Serum levels of immunoglobulins G1 and G4 targeting the non‐collagenous 16A domain of BP180 reflect bullous pemphigoid activity and predict bad prognosis
Authors: Zhou Xi‐Ping , Liu Bing , Xu Qun , Yang Yang , He Chun‐Xia , Zuo Ya‐Gang , Liu Yue‐Hua
Published: August 2015

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal bullous disease, and different immunoglobulin (Ig)G autoantibody subclasses may play different roles in the pathogenesis of BP. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between specific IgG subclasses and BP. Enzyme‐linked immunoassays (ELISA) were developed to test the IgG subclasses targeting the non‐collagenous 16A (NC16A) domain of BP180. A statistical analysis was carried out to assess the relationship of BP and IgG subclasses as well as other factors. The correlation coefficients between the ELISA scores for four IgG subclasses and disease severity scores were 0.586 for IgG, 0.441 for IgG1, 0.594 for IgG2, 0.345 for IgG3, and 0.448 for IgG4 before treatment. After treatment, the correlation coefficient was 0.376 for IgG, 0.522 for IgG1, 0.314 for IgG2, 0.582 for IgG3 and 0.503 for IgG4. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was 0.801 for IgG1, 0.66 for IgG2, 0.575 for IgG3 and 0.463 for IgG4 between the ELISA scores of IgG subclasses and the disease severity score variation. The ELISA scores of IgG subclasses in patients with mucosal involvement were higher than those without. Survival analysis showed that sex, IgG1 and IgG4 were the independent predictors for BP. In conclusion, the serum levels of IgG1 and IgG4 targeting BP180NC16A were paralleled with disease severity in BP patients. IgG1 and IgG4 and sex were the independent prognostic factors for an early prognosis of BP.
Measurement and validation of frailty as a predictor of outcomes in women undergoing major gynaecological surgery
Authors: George EM , Burke WM , Hou JY , Tergas AI , Chen L , Neugut AI , Ananth CV , Hershman DL , Wright JD
Published: August 2015

Objective

Frailty is the loss of physical or mental reserve that impairs function, often in the absence of a defined comorbidity. Our aim was to determine whether a modified frailty index (mFI) correlates with morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hysterectomy.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Hospitals across the USA participating in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP).

Sample

Patients who underwent hysterectomy from 2008 to 2012.

Methods

An mFI was calculated using 11 variables in NSQIP. The associations between mFI and morbidity and mortality were assessed. Model fit statistics (c‐statistics) were utilised to evaluate the ability of mFI to distinguish outcomes.

Main outcome measure

Wound infection, severe complications and mortality.

Results

A total of 66 105 patients were identified. Wound complications increased from 2.4% in patients with an mFI of zero to 4.8% in those with mFI ≥ 0.5 (P < 0.0001). Similarly, severe complications increased from 0.98% to 7.3% (P < 0.0001), overall complications rose from 3.7% to 14.5% (P < 0.0001) and mortality increased from 0.06% to 3.2% (P < 0.0001) for patients with a frailty index of zero compared with those with an index of ≥0.5. Versus chance, the goodness‐of‐fit c‐statistics suggested that mFI increases the ability to detect wound complications by 11.4%, severe complications by 22.0% and overall complications by 11.0%.

Conclusions

The mFI is easily reproducible from routinely collected clinical data and predictive of outcomes in patients undergoing hysterectomy. Frailty may be useful in the preoperative risk assessment of women undergoing gynaecological surgery.

Tweetable abstract

Frailty may be useful in the preoperative risk assessment of women undergoing gynaecological surgery.
Midgut bacterial communities in the giant Asian honeybee (Apis dorsata) across 4 developmental stages: A comparative study
Authors: Saraithong Prakaimuk , Li Yihong , Saenphet Kanokporn , Chen Zhou , Chantawannakul Panuwan
Published: August 2015

Bacterial communities are known to play important roles during the developmental stages of insects, but current knowledge of bacteria associated with the midgut of Apis dorsata, the giant Asian honeybee, is limited. Using polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis (PCR‐DGGE) and 16S rRNA sequencing, the aim of this study was to determine the dynamics of bacterial community structure across four A. dorsata life stages in different geographical locations. The results reveal that bacterial diversity increased as the bee progressed through larval stage to newly emerged worker and old worker. However, in the pupal stage, no bands identified as bacteria could be observed. Overall, 2 bacterial phyla (Proteobacteria and Firmicutes) and 4 classes (Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Bacilli) were identified, but the frequency varied among the different stages and locations. The classes of Gammaproteobacteria and Bacilli dominated among larval, newly emerged worker and old worker developmental stages.
Temporal variation of diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia in adults with type 1 diabetes: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Butalia Sonia , Johnson Jeffrey A. , Ghali William A. , Southern Danielle A. , Rabi Doreen M.
Published: August 2015

Background

Seasonality in health outcomes has long been recognized for conditions such as colds and flus. The aim of the present study was to determine whether hospitalizations for acute complications of type 1 diabetes (T1D) vary by month and season.

Methods

An observational study was performed of national administrative health data. Hospitalizations for acute complications in adults (aged ≥18 years) with T1D were identified using ICD‐10 (Canadian revision) codes between 2004 and 2010. Monthly and seasonal counts per year were determined for the study period. For each acute complication, the ratio of the number of observed hospitalizations/expected number of hospitalizations was calculated for each month and season per year, adjusting for varied lengths of month, season, and year.

Results

In all, there were 21 568 hospitalizations for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and 5349 hospitalizations for hypoglycemia during the study period. December had higher than expected hospitalizations for DKA and March had higher than expected hospitalizations for hypoglycemia. There did not appear to be variation for either DKA or hypoglycemia hospitalizations by season.

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest temporal variation in hospitalizations for DKA and hypoglycemia, and therefore signal important times of patient vulnerability. Potential mechanisms underlying this pattern warrant further examination. Prevention strategies and resources for patients with T1D may need to be increased at specific times during the year.
Spatial autocorrelation in fitness affects the estimation of natural selection in the wild
Authors: Marrot Pascal , Garant Dany , Charmantier Anne
Published: August 2015

Natural selection is typically estimated in the wild using Lande and Arnold's multiple regression approach. Despite its utility for evolutionary ecologists, this method is subject to the classical assumptions of multiple regressions, which could result in potential analytical problems. In particular, spatial autocorrelation in fitness violates the assumption of residuals independence. Although widespread in the wild, the consequences of this effect have yet to be investigated in the context of Lande and Arnold's regression and resulting selection estimation.

Here we first described four spatially explicit models that allow to control for spatial autocorrelation in residuals of the Lande and Arnold's regression: a generalized least square (GLS) model with a distance‐based exponential covariance function, two simultaneous autoregressive models (SAR, the lagged‐response model (SAR‐lag) and the spatial error model (SAR‐err)) and a 5‐step procedure using the principal coordinates of neighbour matrices (PCNM) method based on the extraction of spatial descriptors. We then compared the four spatially explicit models of selection to non‐spatial models for three life‐history traits recorded over 6 years in a wild blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) population. We also compared the performance of the four spatially explicit models of selection using a simulation approach.

Our analyses revealed strong spatial autocorrelation in residuals of selection models, which was completely described by the two SAR and the PCNM models, while only partially described by the GLS model. The magnitude of selection gradients and differentials decreased systematically in the 4 spatially explicit models while the degree of fit of these models increased (except for the GLS model). Moreover, we showed using simulations that the selection coefficients extracted from the SAR‐lag model were systematically biased compared to those extracted from the GLS, SAR‐err and PCNM models.

We hereby showed that spatial autocorrelation in fitness can severely affect selection differentials and gradients, even at a relatively small spatial scale. By using geostatistical models such as PCNM or SAR‐err models, it is possible to control for this spatial autocorrelation. Finally, since spatial autocorrelation is closely linked to spatial environmental variation, this approach can also be used to explore environmental components of covariance between fitness and traits.
Predictors of binge drinking in elderly Americans
Authors: Parikh Roopali B. , Junquera Patricia , Canaan Yusef , Oms Juan D.
Published: August 2015

Background

The increasing trend in elderly binge drinking in the U.S. is cause for alarm. We sought to describe the predictors of binge drinking in elderly men and women and evaluate the relationship between binge drinking and mental health disorders in this population.

Methods

The 2008 Centers for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey was utilized to identify a cohort of 4,815 individuals in the U.S. of age 65 or older. The primary outcome of interest was self‐reported binge drinking, defined as an affirmative response to the question: “How many times in the past 30 days have you had more than five drinks (in men) or more than four drinks (in women) on an occasion?”

Results

Among 4,815 elderly participants studied, a total of 466 (9.7%) participants reported binge drinking over the past 30 days while 4,349 (90.3%) participants reported no binge drinking. Binge drinking was not associated with anxiety or depressive disorders in the overall population, however, elderly women reporting binge drinking had higher rates of depressive disorders. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of binge drinking in elderly participants included younger age, male gender, smoking, absence of college education, lower annual income, and absence of coronary artery disease. Predictors of binge drinking differed in elderly men and women.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

Younger age, male gender, smoking, lack of college education, lower annual income, and absence of coronary artery disease are independently associated with higher rates of binge drinking among elderly Americans. Elderly men and women had disparate predictors of binge drinking. This study provides valuable information to be applied to the substance abuse screening process in elderly men and women. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:1–7)
Social factors and readmission after inpatient detoxification in older alcohol‐dependent patients
Authors: Van den Berg Julia F. , Van den Brink Wim , Kist Nicolien , Hermes Jolanda S. J. , Kok Rob M.
Published: August 2015

Background and Objectives

Alcohol dependence is often a chronic relapsing disorder with frequent admissions to inpatient facilities. This study in older alcohol‐dependent inpatients investigates the role of social factors in readmissions after inpatient detoxification.

Methods

In a prospective study, 132 older alcohol‐dependent patients admitted to inpatient detoxification (mean age 63.4, SD = 6.6, 39.4% women) were interviewed with the European version of the Addiction Severity Index (Europ‐ASI). Readmission to inpatient treatment was monitored up to 1 year after discharge. The effect of social factors on readmission, the number of readmissions and the time to first readmission was established using group comparisons, Poisson regression analysis, and Cox' proportional hazards regression analysis, respectively.

Results

Sixty‐seven (50.8%) of the 132 patients were readmitted within 1 year. In this group, the median number of readmissions was 2 (IQR = 2, range 1–6) and the median time to first readmission was 88 days (IQR = 116, range 3–356). In a multivariate analysis, spending most leisure time alone predicted fewer readmissions. None of the other social factors predicted readmission, number of readmissions or time to first readmission.

Discussion and Conclusions

Rehospitalization of older alcohol‐dependent patients after detoxification is very common, and generally not predicted by social factors. Only spending most leisure time alone may play a role.

Scientific Significance

This study shows that most social factors are—unexpectedly—not associated with rehospitalization of older alcohol‐dependent patients after detoxification. “Spending leisure time alone” warrants further study as a potentially modifiable predictor. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:1–6)
Clinicopathological analysis of mechanic's hand associated with dermatomyositis
Authors: Mori Tatsuhiko , Ohashi Takenobu , Kato Yasunobu , Ohtsuka Mikio , Yamamoto Toshiyuki
Published: August 2015

Mechanic's hand is often seen in the fingers of patients with dermatomyositis and is frequently associated with anti‐aminoacyl‐transfer RNA synthetase autoantibodies and interstitial lung disease. We analysed the clinical symptoms of 50 patients with dermatomyositis who had visited our department, 26 of whom also had mechanic's hand. A histological examination was carried out in 16 of the 26 cases, which revealed hyperkeratosis in all cases and colloid bodies in the epidermis in 15 cases. The number of cases of interstitial lung disease in patients with mechanic's hand (22/26, 85%) was significantly higher than that in those without mechanic's hand (12/24, 50%) (P < 0.05). Mechanic's hand is an important skin lesion of dermatomyositis, and increases the likelihood of interstitial lung disease
Ultrasound cavitation versus cryolipolysis for non‐invasive body contouring
Authors: Mahmoud ELdesoky Mohamed Taher , Mohamed Abutaleb Enas ELsayed , Mohamed Mousa Gihan Samir
Published: August 2015

Background/Objectives

The demand for non‐surgical and non‐invasive devices is continuous and increasing. Such devices have gradually gained ground in the reduction of localised fat and the improvement of body contouring. The study aimed to compare the effects of ultrasound cavitation and cryolipolysis on localised abdominal fat.

Methods

In total, 60 participants with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 kg/m2, whose age ranged between 25 and 45 years, were included. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups of 20 each, using ultrasound cavitation and diet, cryolipolysis and diet, and diet only (the control group), respectively. Measures were bodyweight, BMI, waist circumference and suprailiac skinfold were measured at the beginning of the study and 2 months later.

Results

The three groups showed significant improvements in all measured variables after 2 months. There was no statistically significant difference in bodyweight or in BMI among the groups after treatment. However, the groups using ultrasound cavitation and cryolipolysis showed better post‐treatment improvement than the diet‐only group in waist circumference and suprailiac skinfold. There was no statistically significant difference post‐treatment between the cavitation and cryolipolysis groups in waist circumference or suprailiac skinfold.

Conclusion

Both ultrasound cavitation and cryolipolysis are safe and effective for the reduction of abdominal fat thickness and for abdominal contouring.
A systematic review and meta‐regression analysis of prophylactic gabapentin for postoperative pain
Authors: Doleman B. , Heinink T. P. , Read D. J. , Faleiro R. J. , Lund J. N. , Williams J. P.
Published: August 2015

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED and CENTRAL databases until December 2014 and included 133 randomised controlled trials of peri‐operative gabapentin vs placebo. Gabapentin reduced mean (95% CI) 24‐h morphine‐equivalent consumption by 8.44 (7.26–9.62) mg, p < 0.001, whereas more specific reductions in morphine equivalents were predicted (R2 = 90%, p < 0.001) by the meta‐regression equation: 3.73 + (−0.378 × control morphine consumption (mg)) + (−0.0023 × gabapentin dose (mg)) + (−1.917 × anaesthetic type), where ‘anaesthetic type’ is ‘1’ for general anaesthesia and ‘0’ for spinal anaesthesia. The type of surgery was not independently associated with gabapentin effect. Gabapentin reduced postoperative pain scores on a 10‐point scale at 1 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h by a mean (95% CI) of: 1.68 (1.35–2.01); 1.21 (0.88–1.55); 1.28 (0.98–1.57); 1.12 (0.91–1.33); and 0.71 (0.56–0.87), respectively, p < 0.001 for all. The risk ratios (95% CI) for postoperative nausea, vomiting, pruritus and sedation with gabapentin were: 0.78 (0.69–0.87), 0.67 (0.59–0.76), 0.64 (0.51–0.80) and 1.18 (1.09–1.28), respectively, p < 0.001 for all. Gabapentin reduced pre‐operative anxiety and increased patient satisfaction on a 10‐point scale by a mean (95% CI) of 1.52 (0.78–2.26) points and 0.89 (0.22–1.57) points, p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively. All the effects of gabapentin may have been overestimated by statistically significant small study effects.
HPV genotype distribution in older Danish women undergoing surgery due to cervical cancer
Authors: Hammer Anne , Mejlgaard Else , Gravitt Patti , Høgdall Estrid , Christiansen Pernille , Steiniche Torben , Blaakær Jan
Published: August 2015

Introduction

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV)16/18 in cervical cancer may decrease with age. This study aimed to describe the HPV genotype distribution in Danish women aged 55 years or older with cervical cancer.

Material and methods

In this cross‐sectional study we identified 153 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (1990–2012) and Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Denmark (2007–2012). All women had surgery to treat the disease. HPV genotyping was performed on cervical cancer tissue using the INNO LiPA HPV genotyping extra (Fujirebio, Belgium) at the Department of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. The main outcome was to estimate the age‐specific prevalence of high‐risk HPV genotypes included in the bivalent, the quadrivalent, and the nonavalent vaccine.

Results

Of 121 cases of cervical cancer included in this study, 113 were HPV‐positive (93.4%). Although HPV16 and 18 were the most common genotypes overall, the prevalence of HPV16/18 decreased significantly from 78.1% in women aged 55–59 years to 45.5% in women aged 75 or older (p < 0.001), whereas the prevalence of other HPV types and HPV‐negative cases tended to increase with age (p = 0.1). The prevalence of HPV types included in the nonavalent vaccine was stable around 90% until the age of 75 years and then dropped to 63%.

Conclusion

In the absence of waning immunity, the nonavalent HPV vaccine would be predicted to reduce cervical cancer burden in Denmark across a broader age‐range compared with the reduced type‐spectrum vaccines.
Risk Factors for Mortality and Endotracheal Intubation after Methadone Intoxication
Authors: Hassanian‐Moghaddam Hossein , Soltaninejad Kambiz , Shadnia Shahin , Kabir Ali , Movahedi Mitra , Mirafzal Amirhossein
Published: August 2015

This was a retrospective chart review to evaluate various risk factors associated with in‐hospital mortality and intubation risk in acute methadone overdose. All patients admitted to an academic hospital in Tehran, Iran, during a 10‐year period (2000–2009) constituted the study sample. Exclusion criteria were significant comorbidities and age under 18 years. Outcome variables were in‐hospital mortality and being intubated during admission. A total of 802 patients were enrolled in the study. There were 15 (1.8%) deaths due to methadone overdose or its complications. The number of yearly admissions was 15 patients in 2000, 16 in 2001, 16 in 2002, 18 in 2003, 23 in 2004, 38 in 2005, 59 in 2006, 110 in 2007, 206 in 2008 and 301 in 2009. Based on logistic regression analysis, the most important independent variable predicting mortality was length of admission in toxicology ward [OR (95% CI): 1.6 (1.1–2.3)]. For the prediction of intubation, independent variables were Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 5–9 [OR (95% CI): 356.5 (9.8–12907.4)] in the emergency department (ED), miosis in the ED [356.9 (1.4–87872.5)] and respiratory rate in the ED [1.5 (1.1–2.1)]. Linear regression model for length of hospitalization showed patient age as the most important variable for prediction of this outcome. Despite a relatively low mortality rate, the increasing number of methadone‐poisoned patients requires special attention to this common intoxication. Careful disposition of patients from ED to ordinary wards or intensive care units and also from higher to lower levels of care should be considered in methadone overdose.
On the Restricted Mean Survival Time Curve in Survival Analysis
Authors: Zhao Lihui , Claggett Brian , Tian Lu , Uno Hajime , Pfeffer Marc A. , Solomon Scott D. , Trippa Lorenzo , Wei L. J.
Published: August 2015

For a study with an event time as the endpoint, its survival function contains all the information regarding the temporal, stochastic profile of this outcome variable. The survival probability at a specific time point, say t, however, does not transparently capture the temporal profile of this endpoint up to t. An alternative is to use the restricted mean survival time (RMST) at time t to summarize the profile. The RMST is the mean survival time of all subjects in the study population followed up to t, and is simply the area under the survival curve up to t. The advantages of using such a quantification over the survival rate have been discussed in the setting of a fixed-time analysis. In this article, we generalize this approach by considering a curve based on the RMST over time as an alternative summary to the survival function. Inference, for instance, based on simultaneous confidence bands for a single RMST curve and also the difference between two RMST curves are proposed. The latter is informative for evaluating two groups under an equivalence or noninferiority setting, and quantifies the difference of two groups in a time scale. The proposal is illustrated with the data from two clinical trials, one from oncology and the other from cardiology.
Fibrinogen‐derived fibrinostatin inhibits tumor growth through anti‐angiogenesis
Authors: Zhao Chuanke , Su Yahui , Zhang Jianzhi , Feng Qin , Qu Like , Wang Lixin , Liu Caiyun , Jiang Beihai , Meng Lin , Shou Chengchao
Published: August 2015

Angiogenesis is a prerequisite of tumor growth and metastasis and, thus, anti‐angiogenesis treatment has become an important part of cancer therapy. A 15‐amino acid peptide of the fibrinogen α chain, fibrinostatin, was previously found in serum samples of gastric cancer patients. Herein we demonstrated that fibrinostatin has anti‐angiogenesis activity in several angiogenesis models and it reduces tumor growth in mouse xenografts and allografts. Increased tumor necrosis and reduced microvessel density in tumors were observed in mouse xenograft models. Fibrinostatin inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HUVEC, but not in cancer cells. In addition, fibrinostatin specifically entered HUVEC. Fibrinostatin also prevented migration, adhesion and tubule formation of HUVEC in vitro. A single‐dose acute toxicity testing and a repeated‐dose chronic toxicity study in the mouse, rat and monkey indicated that fibrinostatin had a wide margin of safety. Taken together, fibrinostatin shows promise as a potential anti‐angiogenesis therapeutic agent.
Fast ANN for High‐Quality Collaborative Filtering
Authors: Tsai Yun‐Ta , Steinberger Markus , Pająk Dawid , Pulli Kari
Published: August 2015

Collaborative filtering collects similar patches, jointly filters them and scatters the output back to input patches; each pixel gets a contribution from each patch that overlaps with it, allowing signal reconstruction from highly corrupted data. Exploiting self‐similarity, however, requires finding matching image patches, which is an expensive operation. We propose a GPU‐friendly approximated‐nearest‐neighbour(ANN) algorithm that produces high‐quality results for any type of collaborative filter. We evaluate our ANN search against state‐of‐the‐art ANN algorithms in several application domains. Our method is orders of magnitudes faster, yet provides similar or higher quality results than the previous work.
Practical Low‐Cost Recovery of Spectral Power Distributions
Authors: Alvarez‐Cortes Sara , Kunkel Timo , Masia Belen
Published: August 2015

Measuring the spectral power distribution of a light source, that is, the emission as a function of wavelength, typically requires the use of spectrophotometers or multi‐spectral cameras. Here, we propose a low‐cost system that enables the recovery of the visible light spectral signature of different types of light sources without requiring highly complex or specialized equipment and using just off‐the‐shelf, widely available components. To do this, a standard Digital Single‐Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera and a diffraction filter are used, sacrificing the spatial dimension for spectral resolution. We present here the image formation model and the calibration process necessary to recover the spectrum, including spectral calibration and amplitude recovery. We also assess the robustness of our method and perform a detailed analysis exploring the parameters influencing its accuracy. Further, we show applications of the system in image processing and rendering.
Analysis of proliferation and apoptotic induction by 20 steroid glycosides in 143B osteosarcoma cells in vitro
Authors: Delebinski C. I. , Georgi S. , Kleinsimon S. , Twardziok M. , Kopp B. , Melzig M. F. , Seifert G.
Published: August 2015

Objectives

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of malignant bone tumour in children and adolescents; it has poor prognosis, is highly metastatic and is resistant to current therapeutic approaches. In this study, different herbal extracts used in phytotherapy have been screened after searching innovative natural anti‐cancer components.

Materials and methods

Twenty steroid glycosides were examined for accordance to their potential of inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in the osteosarcoma cell line 143B. Cell proliferation was examined using a CASY counter. Effects of cardiac glycosides on induction of apoptosis were evaluated by Annexin V‐APC and flow cytometry, caspase activity assay and measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential.

Results

The study revealed that various steroid glycosides suppress cell proliferation in a concentration‐dependent manner. Further investigations indicated apoptotic induction by 17 of the 20 tested cardenolides and bufadienolides. Bufadienolide proscillaridin A, arenobufagin, and cardenolides evomonoside, convallatoxol and ouabain waged strongest apoptotic induction, associated with breakdown of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspases ‐8 and ‐9. In contrast, the bufadienolide resibufogenin and cardenolide uzarin had no effect on proliferation inhibition, apoptotic induction or change in mitochondrial membrane potential.

Conclusion

These results indicate that bufadienolides proscillaridin A and arenobufagin and cardenolide evomonoside, or related natural compounds might be promising new starting points for development of novel anti‐cancer agents for treatment of osteosarcoma.
Assessment of Left Atrial Mechanics in Patients with Preexcitation Syndrome Scheduled for Catheter Ablation
Authors: Karakoyun Süleyman , Tanboğa Ibrahim Halil , Gökdeniz Tayyar , Lazoğlu Zakir , Topçu Selim , Karal Hüseyin , Aksakal Enbiya , Sevimli Serdar
Published: August 2015

Objectives

We aimed to test the left atrial (LA) mechanics and contraction synchrony by 2D strain imaging, in patients with Wolff–Parkinson–White (WPW) syndrome, before and after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Methods

Study population consisted of 25 patients with WPW scheduled for RFCA and 30 healthy controls. The peak LA strain at the end of the ventricular systole (LAs strain) and the LA strain with LA contraction (LAa Strain) were obtained. To assess LA dyssynchrony, septal versus lateral wall time‐to‐peak strain measurements were measured.

Results

There was no difference between the patients with WPW and control subjects with regard to peak LAs and LAa strain. Patients with WPW demonstrated higher global time‐to‐peak LAs and LAa strain values compared with the control group. Peak LAs strain and LAa strain values, measured before and after the RF ablation of the accessory pathway, were comparable (34.3 ± 3.92 vs. 34.6 ± 3.2, P = 0.816, 14.7 ± 2.8 vs. 15.3 ± 2.3, P = 0.052, respectively). Global time‐to‐peak LAs and LAa strain measurements were significantly shorter after the RFCA compared with the values obtained before the RFCA. However, septo‐lateral times to peak LA strain differences were found to be comparable in both WPW versus control and pre‐ versus postablation groups.

Conclusion

LA mechanical function assessed by 2D strain imaging was comparable between patients with WPW and control subjects. Patients with WPW had more prominent LA dyssynchrony during atrial pump phase as compared with the controls, a condition which could not improve after successful elimination of the accessory pathway by RFCA.
Multidimensional environmental influences on timing of breeding in a tree swallow population facing climate change
Authors: Bourret Audrey , Bélisle Marc , Pelletier Fanie , Garant Dany
Published: August 2015

Most phenological traits are extremely sensitive to current climate change, and advances in the timing of important life‐history events have been observed in many species. In birds, phenotypic plasticity in response to temperature is thought to be the main mechanism underlying yearly adjustment in the timing of breeding. However, other factors could be important and interact to affect the levels of plastic responses between and/or within‐individuals. Here, we use long‐term individual‐based data on tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) to identify the spatial and environmental drivers affecting plasticity in laying date and to assess their importance at both population and individual levels. We found that laying date has advanced by 4.2 days over 10 years, and that it was mainly influenced by latitude and an interaction between spring temperature and breeder density. Analyses of individual plasticity showed that increases in temperature, but not in breeder density, resulted in within‐individual advances in laying date. Our results suggest that females can adjust their laying date as a function of temperature, but that this adjustment will be partly constrained in habitats with lower breeder densities. Such potential constraint is especially worrying for the broad array of species already declining as a result of climate change.
Congenital hypoplasia of the dorsal colon in aQuarterHorse filly with chronic, intermittent colic
Authors: Robinson K. A. , Manning S. T. , Barber S. M. , Wobeser B. K. , Lohmann K. L.
Published: August 2015

Congenital colonic anomalies are rare in the horse and, to the authors' knowledge, no cases have been reported that include measurements of each segment of the large colon to confirm which section is abnormal. This case report describes chronic, intermittent colic in a Quarter Horse filly that had been attributed to chronic idiopathic hepatitis prior to an exploratory laparotomy. A colonic anomaly discovered at surgery became the primary differential for aetiology of the intermittent colic. Euthanasia of the filly and necropsy allowed further examination of the anomaly, where it was determined that the dorsal colon was short compared to the ventral large colon. In addition, the diagnosis of chronic idiopathic hepatitis was confirmed.
Choice of ICD‐10 codes for the identification of acute coronary syndrome in the French hospitalization database
Authors: Bezin Julien , Girodet Pierre‐Olivier , Rambelomanana Sahondra , Touya Maëlys , Ferreira Paul , Gilleron Véronique , Robinson Philip , Moore Nicholas , Pariente Antoine
Published: August 2015

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the ICD‐10 (International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Edition) coding in the French hospitalization database (PMSI) to identify acute coronary syndrome (ACS) occurrence. Eligible hospitalizations were those that occurred at the Bordeaux teaching hospitals between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011 and had one of the ICD‐10 codes related to ischaemic heart diseases (I20 to I25, excluding I23 and I25.2). Among these, 100 hospitalizations were randomly selected; for each case, the ACS diagnosis was confirmed/excluded after medical file examination by an independent events validation committee and the performance of codes, and combinations of codes, to identify ACS was evaluated by calculating the positive predictive value (PPV). Of the individual codes, I20.0, I21 and I24 had the highest PPV; 100.0% for I24 (95%CI [15.8–100.0]); 90.0% for I21 (95%CI [76.3–97.2]); and 66.7% for I20.0 (95%CI [38.4–88.2]). The combination of I20.0 or I24 codes was able to identify 12 of the 56 validated ACS cases with a PPV of 70.6% (95%CI [44.0–89.7]), the combination of I21 or I24 identified 38 cases with a PPV of 90.5% (95%CI [77.4–97.3]), the combination of I20.0 or I21 identified 46 cases with a PPV of 83.6% (95%CI [71.2–92.2]), and the combination of I20.0, I21 or I24 identified 48 cases with a PPV of 84.2% (95%CI [72.1–92.5]). The combination of I20.0, I21 or I24 codes had the best performance to identify occurrence of ACS in the French hospitalization database.
New concepts in basement membrane biology
Authors: Halfter Willi , Oertle Philipp , Monnier Christophe A. , Camenzind Leon , Reyes‐Lua Magaly , Hu Huaiyu , Candiello Joseph , Labilloy Anatalia , Balasubramani Manimalha , Henrich Paul Bernhard , Plodinec Marija
Published: August 2015

Basement membranes (BMs) are thin sheets of extracellular matrix that outline epithelia, muscle fibers, blood vessels and peripheral nerves. The current view of BM structure and functions is based mainly on transmission electron microscopy imaging, in vitro protein binding assays, and phenotype analysis of human patients, mutant mice and invertebrata. Recently, MS‐based protein analysis, biomechanical testing and cell adhesion assays with in vivo derived BMs have led to new and unexpected insights. Proteomic analysis combined with ultrastructural studies showed that many BMs undergo compositional and structural changes with advancing age. Atomic force microscopy measurements in combination with phenotype analysis have revealed an altered mechanical stiffness that correlates with specific BM pathologies in mutant mice and human patients. Atomic force microscopy‐based height measurements strongly suggest that BMs are more than two‐fold thicker than previously estimated, providing greater freedom for modelling the large protein polymers within BMs. In addition, data gathered using BMs extracted from mutant mice showed that laminin has a crucial role in BM stability. Finally, recent evidence demonstrate that BMs are bi‐functionally organized, leading to the proposition that BM‐sidedness contributes to the alternating epithelial and stromal tissue arrangements that are found in all metazoan species. We propose that BMs are ancient structures with tissue‐organizing functions and were essential in the evolution of metazoan species.
Climate‐induced warming imposes a threat to north European spring ecosystems
Authors: Jyväsjärvi Jussi , Marttila Hannu , Rossi Pekka M. , Ala‐Aho Pertti , Olofsson Bo , Nisell Jakob , Backman Birgitta , Ilmonen Jari , Virtanen Risto , Paasivirta Lauri , Britschgi Ritva , Kløve Bjørn , Muotka Timo
Published: August 2015

Interest in climate change effects on groundwater has increased dramatically during the last decade. The mechanisms of climate‐related groundwater depletion have been thoroughly reviewed, but the influence of global warming on groundwater‐dependent ecosystems (GDEs) remains poorly known. Here we report long‐term water temperature trends in 66 northern European cold‐water springs. A vast majority of the springs (82%) exhibited a significant increase in water temperature during 1968–2012. Mean spring water temperatures were closely related to regional air temperature and global radiative forcing of the corresponding year. Based on three alternative climate scenarios representing low (RCP2.6), intermediate (RCP6) and high‐emission scenarios (RCP8.5), we estimate that increase in mean spring water temperature in the region is likely to range from 0.67 °C (RCP2.6) to 5.94 °C (RCP8.5) by 2086. According to the worst‐case scenario, water temperature of these originally cold‐water ecosystems (regional mean in the late 1970s: 4.7 °C) may exceed 12 °C by the end of this century. We used bryophyte and macroinvertebrate species data from Finnish springs and spring‐fed streams to assess ecological impacts of the predicted warming. An increase in spring water temperature by several degrees will likely have substantial biodiversity impacts, causing regional extinction of native, cold‐stenothermal spring specialists, whereas species diversity of headwater generalists is likely to increase. Even a slight (by 1 °C) increase in water temperature may eliminate endemic spring species, thus altering bryophyte and macroinvertebrate assemblages of spring‐fed streams. Climate change‐induced warming of northern regions may thus alter species composition of the spring biota and cause regional homogenization of biodiversity in headwater ecosystems.
Environmental and resource burdens associated with world biofuel production out to 2050: footprint components from carbon emissions and land use to waste arisings and water consumption
Authors: Hammond Geoffrey P. , Li Bo
Published: August 2015

Environmental or ‘ecological’ footprints have been widely used in recent years as indicators of resource consumption and waste absorption presented in terms of biologically productive land area [in global hectares (gha)] required per capita with prevailing technology. In contrast, ‘carbon footprints’ are the amount of carbon (or carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions for such activities in units of mass or weight (like kilograms per functional unit), but can be translated into a component of the environmental footprint (on a gha basis). The carbon and environmental footprints associated with the world production of liquid biofuels have been computed for the period 2010–2050. Estimates of future global biofuel production were adopted from the 2011 International Energy Agency (IEA) ‘technology roadmap’ for transport biofuels. This suggests that, although first generation biofuels will dominate the market up to 2020, advanced or second generation biofuels might constitute some 75% of biofuel production by 2050. The overall environmental footprint was estimated to be 0.29 billion (bn) gha in 2010 and is likely to grow to around 2.57 bn gha by 2050. It was then disaggregated into various components: bioproductive land, built land, carbon emissions, embodied energy, materials and waste, transport, and water consumption. This component‐based approach has enabled the examination of the Manufactured and Natural Capital elements of the ‘four capitals’ model of sustainability quite broadly, along with specific issues (such as the linkages associated with the so‐called energy–land–water nexus). Bioproductive land use was found to exhibit the largest footprint component (a 48% share in 2050), followed by the carbon footprint (23%), embodied energy (16%), and then the water footprint (9%). Footprint components related to built land, transport and waste arisings were all found to account for an insignificant proportion to the overall environmental footprint, together amounting to only about 2%