bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Liver function tests in patients with acute heart failure and associated outcomes: insights from ASCEND‐HF
Authors: Samsky Marc D. , Dunning Allison , DeVore Adam D. , Schulte Phillip J. , Starling Randall C. , Wilson Tang W.H. , Armstrong Paul W. , Ezekowitz Justin A. , Butler Javed , McMurray John J. , Teerlink John R. , Voors Adrian A. , Metra Marco , Mentz Robert J. , O'Connor Christopher M. , Patel Chetan B. , Hernandez Adrian F.
Published: December 2015

Aims

We aimed to characterize abnormal liver function tests in patients with heart failure (HF), as they are commonly encountered yet poorly defined.

Methods and results

We used data from ASCEND‐HF (Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure) to characterize associations with baseline liver function tests (LFTs). Each LFT was analysed as both a continuous and dichotomous variable [normal vs. abnormal; bilirubin >1.0 mg/dL; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >35 mmol/L]. Logistic regression assessed the association of LFTs and 30‐day all‐cause mortality and HF rehospitalization, and Cox proportional hazards assessed the association with 180‐day all‐cause mortality among patients alive at a 30‐day landmark. In ASCEND‐HF, 4228 (59%) had complete admission LFT data. Of these, 42% had abnormal bilirubin, 22% had abnormal ALT, and 30% had abnormal AST. Patients with abnormal LFTs were younger, had lower body mass index, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction. In multivariable models, increased total bilirubin was associated with increased 30‐day mortality or HF rehospitalization [hazard ratio (HR) 1.17 per 1 mg/dL increase, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04, 1.32; P = 0.012], but not with an increase in 180‐day mortality (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.97, 1.25; P = 0.13) per 1 mg/dl increase. Compared with normal bilirubin levels, abnormal bilirubin was associated with increased 30‐day mortality or HF rehospitalization (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.00, 1.54; P = 0.048) and 180‐day mortality (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.08, 1.62; P = 0.007). We found no association with AST or ALT and outcomes.

Conclusion

Greater than 40% of patients hospitalized with acute HF had abnormal LFTs. After multivariable adjustment, only elevated bilirubin was independently associated with worse clinical outcomes and may represent an important prognostic variable.
Seismic fragility of traction elevators
Authors: Porter Keith
Published: December 2015

Second‐generation performance‐based earthquake engineering (PBEE‐2) requires a library of component fragility functions to estimate probabilistic damage to a wide variety of building components. The present work draws on a large body of (mostly) post‐earthquake reconnaissance and (some) post‐earthquake survey observations of traction elevators to create fragility functions useful in PBEE‐2. Two surveys provide detailed observations of 115 representative elevators at 12 hospitals shaken in the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes and selected without regard to or foreknowledge of damage. Of these, 55 failed and 60 did not. Approximately half were installed after an important code change of 1972, so one can distinguish the performance of pre‐1973 and post‐1973 elevator construction. They experienced a range of strong motion: 22 with peak ground acceleration (PGA) < 0.25 g, 93 with 0.25 g < PGA < 0.85 g. The hospitals had elevator failure rates as low as 0% and as high as 100%. A third survey describes damage qualitatively for six sites with PGA ≤ 0.25 and per‐site failure rates of 0% to perhaps 30%. Fragility functions are offered where the damage state is the loss of functionality of the elevator. The elevators in these surveys exhibit a median capacity of PGA ≈ 0.35 g with a logarithmic standard deviation of 0.40. Capacity is modestly sensitive to whether the elevator was installed before or after 1973. Using building‐specific intensity measures such as Sa(T1) does not improve the fragility functions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Executive Functioning and Visuospatial Abilities in Bulimia Nervosa with or without a Previous History of Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Degortes Daniela , Tenconi Elena , Santonastaso Paolo , Favaro Angela
Published: December 2015

Objective

The aim of the present study was to investigate executive functioning and visuospatial abilities in patients with bulimia nervosa (BN), with a particular interest in exploring the impact of a previous diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN).

Method

Several neuropsychological tasks were administered to 89 BN patients (52 with a previous history of AN and 37 without previous AN) and 160 healthy women.

Results

A poorer performance on set‐shifting measures (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) was found only in BN patients with a previous history of AN. Decision‐making abilities (Iowa Gambling Task) were significantly impaired in the whole sample of BN patients, but difficulties were more pronounced in the subgroup with previous AN. Finally, we did not find any differences in response inhibition and visuospatial abilities between the two samples of BN patients and healthy women.

Discussion

Our findings support the idea that cognitive abilities in patients with BN are more impaired in the presence of a prior history of AN. The clinical and treatment implications of our findings should be explored in future studies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Effect of temperature and cooling regime on mechanical properties of high‐strength low‐alloy steel
Authors: Aziz Esam M. , Kodur Venkatesh K.
Published: December 2015

This paper presents results from experimental studies on the effect of temperature on mechanical properties of high‐strength low‐alloy ASTM A572 steel commonly used in structural members in bridges. A set of high‐temperature tensile strength tests and post‐temperature exposed residual strength tests is carried out on ASTM A572 steel coupons in 20–1000 °C temperature range. The residual strength tests on high‐temperature exposed steel coupons are carried out after subjecting the coupons to two methods of cooling, namely, air cooling and water quenching. Results from these tests indicate that temperature‐dependent strength and stiffness degradation in A572 steel follow the same trend as that of carbon steel but with some variations. A572 steel recovers almost 100% of its room temperature yield strength when heated to temperature up to 600 °C, regardless of the method of cooling, while the extent of strength degradation in coupons subjected to heating beyond 600 °C is dependent on heated temperature and method of cooling. Data generated in these tests are utilized to generate high‐temperature stress–strain and residual stress–strain response of A572 steel. These results are also utilized to propose temperature‐dependent strength, elastic modules, and residual strength reduction factors of A572 steel, which can be used in evaluating residual response of fire‐exposed steel structures. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
pH dependent partitioning behaviour of food and beverage aroma compounds between air‐aqueous and organic‐aqueous matrices
Authors: Rayne Sierra , Forest Kaya
Published: December 2015

Aroma compounds in the Flavornet database were screened for ionizable functional groups such as carboxylic acids, aliphatic and aromatic amines, phenols, alcohols and thiols. Of the 738 aroma compounds listed in this database, 101 molecules have ionizable moieties with estimated monomeric aqueous pKa values ranging between 1.75 and 10.97. pH dependent effective air/water partitioning coefficients (Kaw,eff) and n‐octanol/water partitioning coefficients (Dow) were estimated for all ionizable aroma compounds over the pH range from 0 to 14. The ionizable aroma compounds display a broad range of Kaw,eff (1.8 × 10‐23 to 6.1 atm M‐1) and log Dow (‐6.2 to +7.2 units) values. For many aroma compounds, pH dependent ionization will have a significant effect on Kaw,eff and Dow, leading to variations in these physico‐chemical properties by up to 11 orders of magnitude over the composite pH range of common foods and beverages. Changes in food and beverage pH affect not only the relative contributions of neutral versus charged forms of ionizable aroma compounds (which directly affects analyte volatility and olfactory reception), but also partitioning between freely dissolved and sorbed forms of the analyte in solution (which indirectly affects analyte volatility). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of Community‐based Health Insurance on Access and Financial Protection: Evidence from Three Randomized Control Trials in Rural India
Authors: Raza Wameq A. , van de Poel Ellen , Bedi Arjun , Rutten Frans
Published: December 2015

Since the 1990s, community‐based health insurance (CBHI) schemes have been proposed to reduce the financial consequences of illness and enhance access to healthcare in developing countries. Convincing evidence on the ability of such schemes to meet their objectives is scarce. This paper uses randomized control trials conducted in rural Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (India) to evaluate the effects of three CBHI schemes on healthcare utilization and expenditure. We find that the schemes have no effect on these outcomes. The results suggest that CBHI schemes of the type examined in this paper are unlikely to have a substantial impact on access and financial protection in developing countries. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The burden of hepatitis C to the United States Medicare system in 2009: Descriptive and economic characteristics
Authors: Rein David B. , Borton Joshua , Liffmann Danielle K. , Wittenborn John S.
Published: December 2015

The aim of this work was to estimate and describe the Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 2009, incremental annual costs by disease stage, incremental total Medicare HCV payments in 2009 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare linked data covering the years 2002 to 2009. We weighted the 2009 SEER‐Medicare data to create estimates of the number of patients with an HCV diagnosis, used an inverse probability‐weighted two‐part, probit, and generalized linear model to estimate incremental per patient per month costs, and used simulation to estimate annual 2009 Medicare burden, presented in 2014 dollars. We summarized patient characteristics, diagnoses, and costs from SEER‐Medicare files into a person‐year panel data set. We estimated there were 407,786 patients with diagnosed HCV in 2009, of whom 61.4% had one or more comorbidities defined by the study. In 2009, 68% of patients were diagnosed with chronic HCV only, 9% with cirrhosis, 12% with decompensated cirrhosis (DCC), 2% with liver cancer, 2% with a history of transplant, and 8% who died. Annual costs for patients with chronic infection only and DCC were higher than the values used in many previous cost‐effectiveness studies, and treatment of DCC accounted for 63.9% of total Medicare's HCV expenditures. Medicare paid $2.7 billion (credible interval: $0.7‐$4.6 billion) in incremental costs for HCV in 2009. Conclusions: The costs of HCV to Medicare in 2009 were substantial and expected to increase over the next decade. Annual costs for patients with chronic infection only and DCC were higher than values used in many cost‐effectiveness analyses. (Hepatology 2016;63:1135–1144)
Global epidemiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease—Meta‐analytic assessment of prevalence, incidence, and outcomes
Authors: Younossi Zobair M. , Koenig Aaron B. , Abdelatif Dinan , Fazel Yousef , Henry Linda , Wymer Mark
Published: December 2015

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of liver disease worldwide. We estimated the global prevalence, incidence, progression, and outcomes of NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). PubMed/MEDLINE were searched from 1989 to 2015 for terms involving epidemiology and progression of NAFLD. Exclusions included selected groups (studies that exclusively enrolled morbidly obese or diabetics or pediatric) and no data on alcohol consumption or other liver diseases. Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhosis, overall mortality, and liver‐related mortality were determined. NASH required histological diagnosis. All studies were reviewed by three independent investigators. Analysis was stratified by region, diagnostic technique, biopsy indication, and study population. We used random‐effects models to provide point estimates (95% confidence interval [CI]) of prevalence, incidence, mortality and incidence rate ratios, and metaregression with subgroup analysis to account for heterogeneity. Of 729 studies, 86 were included with a sample size of 8,515,431 from 22 countries. Global prevalence of NAFLD is 25.24% (95% CI: 22.10‐28.65) with highest prevalence in the Middle East and South America and lowest in Africa. Metabolic comorbidities associated with NAFLD included obesity (51.34%; 95% CI: 41.38‐61.20), type 2 diabetes (22.51%; 95% CI: 17.92‐27.89), hyperlipidemia (69.16%; 95% CI: 49.91‐83.46%), hypertension (39.34%; 95% CI: 33.15‐45.88), and metabolic syndrome (42.54%; 95% CI: 30.06‐56.05). Fibrosis progression proportion, and mean annual rate of progression in NASH were 40.76% (95% CI: 34.69‐47.13) and 0.09 (95% CI: 0.06‐0.12). HCC incidence among NAFLD patients was 0.44 per 1,000 person‐years (range, 0.29‐0.66). Liver‐specific mortality and overall mortality among NAFLD and NASH were 0.77 per 1,000 (range, 0.33‐1.77) and 11.77 per 1,000 person‐years (range, 7.10‐19.53) and 15.44 per 1,000 (range, 11.72‐20.34) and 25.56 per 1,000 person‐years (range, 6.29‐103.80). Incidence risk ratios for liver‐specific and overall mortality for NAFLD were 1.94 (range, 1.28‐2.92) and 1.05 (range, 0.70‐1.56). Conclusions: As the global epidemic of obesity fuels metabolic conditions, the clinical and economic burden of NAFLD will become enormous. (Hepatology 2016;64:73–84)
Systemic PEGylated TRAIL treatment ameliorates liver cirrhosis in rats by eliminating activated hepatic stellate cells
Authors: Oh Yumin , Park Ogyi , Swierczewska Magdalena , Hamilton James P. , Park Jong‐Sung , Kim Tae Hyung , Lim Sung‐Mook , Eom Hana , Jo Dong Gyu , Lee Choong‐Eun , Kechrid Raouf , Mastorakos Panagiotis , Zhang Clark , Hahn Sei Kwang , Jeon Ok‐Cheol , Byun Youngro , Kim Kwangmeyung , Hanes Justin , Lee Kang Choon , Pomper Martin G. , Gao Bin , Lee Seulki
Published: December 2015

Liver fibrosis is a common outcome of chronic liver disease that leads to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. No US Food and Drug Administration–approved targeted antifibrotic therapy exists. Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) are the major cell types responsible for liver fibrosis; therefore, eradication of aHSCs, while preserving quiescent HSCs and other normal cells, is a logical strategy to stop and/or reverse liver fibrogenesis/fibrosis. However, there are no effective approaches to specifically deplete aHSCs during fibrosis without systemic toxicity. aHSCs are associated with elevated expression of death receptors and become sensitive to tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL)‐induced cell death. Treatment with recombinant TRAIL could be a potential strategy to ameliorate liver fibrosis; however, the therapeutic application of recombinant TRAIL is halted due to its very short half‐life. To overcome this problem, we previously generated PEGylated TRAIL (TRAILPEG) that has a much longer half‐life in rodents than native‐type TRAIL. In this study, we demonstrate that intravenous TRAILPEG has a markedly extended half‐life over native‐type TRAIL in nonhuman primates and has no toxicity in primary human hepatocytes. Intravenous injection of TRAILPEG directly induces apoptosis of aHSCs in vivo and ameliorates carbon tetrachloride‐induced fibrosis/cirrhosis in rats by simultaneously down‐regulating multiple key fibrotic markers that are associated with aHSCs. Conclusion: TRAIL‐based therapies could serve as new therapeutics for liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and possibly other fibrotic diseases. (Hepatology 2016;64:209–223)
Demographic factors, childhood maltreatment and psychological functioning among university students' in Ghana: A retrospective study
Authors: Adjorlolo Samuel , Adu‐Poku Sarah , Andoh‐Arthur Johnny , Botchway Irene , Mlyakado Budeba Petro
Published: December 2015

This study retrospectively investigates the influence of child (i.e., gender), care‐giver (e.g., who grew up with), household size (i.e., number of siblings grew up with) and community (i.e., rural versus urban) factors on childhood maltreatment, as well as the impacts of maltreatment on psychological functioning. A cross‐sectional survey and self‐report methodology is used to gather data from 300 students of the University of Ghana. The results show that being a male, growing up in rural areas, living with more than 3 siblings in the same household and being raised by both biological parents have significant main effects on childhood maltreatment. Analyses of the interaction effects show that living with more than 5 siblings in a rural household with “other” parents (i.e., non‐biological parents) has a significant effect on physical abuse. Furthermore, males from rural households consisting of more than 3 siblings and who did not grow up with both biological parents endorsed significantly more physical abuse and physical neglect, compared with the females. With respect to the psychological outcome, childhood maltreatment significantly predicts and account for significant variance in depression (34%), self‐efficacy (18%) and life satisfaction (22%). The findings and the implications of the study are briefly discussed.
Evidences on Donors Competition in Africa: Traditional Donors versus China
Authors: Kilama Eric Gabin
Published: December 2015

This paper describes the aid allocation behaviours of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) donors and their response to the emergence of China in the aid landscape. Our analysis presents evidences of donors' competition in Africa.

We investigate whether African countries with the Chinese influence expanding receive favourable aid modalities from G7 donors over the period 2000–2011. We find a robust positive relationship between the level of aid and the number of China projects a country receives and the level of bilateral aid from G7 donors, even after accounting for standard economic and political factors. Results indicate that DAC donors use bilateral aid to tackle the increasing influence of China in Africa, by delivering more aid to countries with natural resources or strategic political interest. The paper also assesses empirically whether strategic interests and economic competition between DAC donors and China have influenced the composition of aid flows received by African countries.

Our empirical strategy is sharpened by the use of a spatial‐X model and a difference‐in‐difference estimation that leverages a ‘natural’ experiment in DAC aid flows in the aftermath of the financial crisis, with China increasing his sphere of influence in Africa. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hybrid spatial‐spectral MoM analysis of microstrip structures
Authors: Essid Chaker , Ben Salah M. Bassem , Samet Abdelaziz
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a new hybrid method formulation to resolve the mixed potential integral equation in an efficient and a fast approach, which is based on a simultaneous formulation in both spatial and spectral domains, is proposed. The entries of the method of moments matrix are then given by the sum of two integrals. The first one is expressed in the spatial domain. This part is analytically evaluated after a development in Taylor series of the exponential terms in the function to integrate. The integrals expressed in the spectral domain have a finite range, and they are calculated using numerical integration. Then the convergence problem is avoided in this approach. A good agreement between the simulated and measured results has been achieved. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Raman microscopy of prehistoric paintings in French megalithic monuments
Authors: Hernanz Antonio , Iriarte Mercedes , Bueno‐Ramírez Primitiva , de Balbín‐Behrmann Rodrigo , Gavira‐Vallejo Jose M. , Calderón‐Saturio Delia , Laporte Luc , Barroso‐Bermejo Rosa , Gouezin Philippe , Maroto‐Valiente Angel , Salanova Laure , Benetau‐Douillard Gerard , Mens Emmanuel
Published: December 2015

Remains of pictorial decorations in a series of six representative megalithic monuments of Brittany (France) and two French stelae have been studied by micro‐Raman spectroscopy for the first time. Fungal colonies on the painted orthostats made it difficult to obtain in situ Raman spectra of the paint components. Nevertheless, paint micro‐specimens studied in the laboratory by micro‐Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscopy combined with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy have made possible to characterise the materials present. The minerals α‐quartz, albite, microcline, muscovite, phlogopite, celadonite, beryl and anatase have been identified in the granitic rocks supporting the paintings, while dolomite and calcite are dominant in the calcareous rocky substrata. Haematite is the main component of the red pictographs, whereas amorphous carbon and manganese oxides/oxihydroxides have been used in the black ones. Calcite, gypsum and amorphous carbon have been detected as additional components of the paint in some cases. Contamination with modern tracing materials (polystyrene and ε‐copper‐phthalocyanine blue) has been detected in several cases. The presence of pigments as decorative elements in megalithic monuments of Western France and its possible relation with those of the Iberian Peninsula create interesting expectations for the knowledge of the European megalithic culture. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevalence and risk factors of steatosis after liver transplantation and patient outcomes
Authors: Hejlova Irena , Honsova Eva , Sticova Eva , Lanska Vera , Hucl Tomas , Spicak Julius , Jirsa Milan , Trunecka Pavel
Published: December 2015

Steatosis occurs frequently after liver transplantation (LT). We aimed to determine the prevalence of steatosis in adult LT recipients, to determine the effects of significant (>33%; grades 2‐3) steatosis on patient survival, and to identify risk factors for the development of significant steatosis and its effect on fibrosis progression. We retrospectively examined 2360 posttransplant biopsies of 548 LT recipients. Survival was compared between patients with significant steatosis and those with grades 0‐1 steatosis. Patients with significant steatosis were compared to controls without steatosis (grade 0) for clinical and laboratory factors and fibrosis progression. Steatosis was found in 309 (56.4%) patients, including 93 (17.0%) patients with significant steatosis. Steatohepatitis (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score ≥ 5) was diagnosed in 57 (10.4%) patients. The prevalence of steatosis increased from 30.3% at 1 year to 47.6% at 10 years after LT (P < 0.001). Survival times did not differ between groups (P = 0.29). On multivariate analysis of pretransplant factors and initial immunosuppression (IS), alcohol‐induced cirrhosis (P < 0.001) and high body mass index (BMI; P = 0.002) were associated with the development of significant steatosis, whereas increased levels of alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.01) and mycophenolate mofetil given initially (P = 0.009) appeared to protect against significant steatosis. On multivariate analysis of posttransplant factors, high BMI (P < 0.001), serum triglycerides (P < 0.001), alcohol consumption (P = 0.005), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (P = 0.048) were associated with significant steatosis, whereas high creatinine (P = 0.02) appeared to protect against significant steatosis. Significant steatosis was not associated with a higher fibrosis stage (P = 0.62). Posttransplant steatosis affects 56.4% of LT recipients, and the prevalence increases with time after LT. Recipient factors and types of IS affect the risk for significant steatosis, which is not associated with a higher fibrosis stage or worse patient survival. Liver Transplantation 22 644‐655 2016 AASLD.
Liver transplantation in the mouse: Insights into liver immunobiology, tissue injury, and allograft tolerance
Authors: Yokota Shinichiro , Yoshida Osamu , Ono Yoshihiro , Geller David A. , Thomson Angus W.
Published: December 2015

The surgically demanding mouse orthotopic liver transplant model was first described in 1991. It has proved to be a powerful research tool for the investigation of liver biology, tissue injury, the regulation of alloimmunity and tolerance induction, and the pathogenesis of specific liver diseases. Liver transplantation in mice has unique advantages over transplantation of the liver in larger species, such as the rat or pig, because the mouse genome is well characterized and there is much greater availability of both genetically modified animals and research reagents. Liver transplant experiments using various transgenic or gene knockout mice have provided valuable mechanistic insights into the immunobiology and pathobiology of the liver and the regulation of graft rejection and tolerance over the past 25 years. The molecular pathways identified in the regulation of tissue injury and promotion of liver transplant tolerance provide new potential targets for therapeutic intervention to control adverse inflammatory responses/immune‐mediated events in the hepatic environment and systemically. In conclusion, orthotopic liver transplantation in the mouse is a valuable model for gaining improved insights into liver biology, immunopathology, and allograft tolerance that may result in therapeutic innovation in the liver and in the treatment of other diseases.
Protein complex analysis: From raw protein lists to protein interaction networks
Authors: Meysman Pieter , Titeca Kevin , Eyckerman Sven , Tavernier Jan , Goethals Bart , Martens Lennart , Valkenborg Dirk , Laukens Kris
Published: December 2015

The elucidation of molecular interaction networks is one of the pivotal challenges in the study of biology. Affinity purification—mass spectrometry and other co‐complex methods have become widely employed experimental techniques to identify protein complexes. These techniques typically suffer from a high number of false negatives and false positive contaminants due to technical shortcomings and purification biases. To support a diverse range of experimental designs and approaches, a large number of computational methods have been proposed to filter, infer and validate protein interaction networks from experimental pull‐down MS data. Nevertheless, this expansion of available methods complicates the selection of the most optimal ones to support systems biology‐driven knowledge extraction. In this review, we give an overview of the most commonly used computational methods to process and interpret co‐complex results, and we discuss the issues and unsolved problems that still exist within the field. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 36:600–614, 2017
Investigations of the flax fiber/thermoplastic polyurethane eco‐composites: Influence of isocyanate modification of flax fiber surface
Authors: Tayfun Umit , Dogan Mehmet , Bayramli Erdal
Published: December 2015

In this study, alkali and isocyanate surface modifications were applied to flax fiber (FF) to improve its adhesion to bio‐based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix. In addition to these treatments, isocyanate treated FF was subjected to curing process. TPU/FF composites were prepared at a constant 30 wt% loading of the total by using melt‐blending method. Their mechanical properties, modulus of elasticity, melt‐flow, water uptake and morphological properties were investigated. All of the surface modifications resulted in better mechanical properties with respect to untreated FF. Cured isocyanate treated FF loaded composite exhibited the best results in the case of tensile strength, Young's modulus and storage modulus. Isocyanate treatments caused reduction in melt flow rate due to enhancement in interfacial interactions between phases. It was observed from the SEM micrographs that surface treated fibers dispersed more homogeneously in the TPU matrix. Results confirmed that surface modifications improved the adhesion of FF to TPU matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2874–2880, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Damage characterization of three point bended honeycomb sandwich structures under different temperatures with cone beam computed tomography technique
Authors: Akatay Abdullah , Bora Mustafa Özgür , Fidan Sinan , Çoban Onur
Published: December 2015

This study investigates the effect of different temperatures on the flexural properties of honeycomb sandwich structures which have a commercial code as Gillfloor 5424. Flexural properties of honeycomb sandwich structures were determined under three different temperatures (−20°C, 20°C, and 40°C). The results obtained from honeycomb sandwich structures were correlated with a function of core shear ultimate stress, facing stress, flexural stiffness and bending modulus of the sandwich panel. Moreover, cone beam computed tomography technique was used to visualize the internal damage of honeycomb sandwich structures after three point bending tests. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:46–54, 2018. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Constitutive modeling of isotropic hyperelastic materials using proposed phenomenological models in terms of strain invariants
Authors: Bahreman Marzieh , Darijani Hossein , Fooladi Majid
Published: December 2015

Rubber‐like materials deform largely and nonlinearly under loading and preserve their initial configuration after removal of the load. These materials are usually modeled as being homogeneous, isotropic, and incompressible elastic solids that are supported by experimental data. In this article, a general form for the strain energy density of these materials is assumed as the sum of two independent functions of the first and second strain invariants. Applying the essential requirements on the form of the strain energy density, the mathematical form of these functions is obtained as polynomial, logarithmic, and exponential. Then a general form is derived for the strain energy density of compressible materials and its effectiveness is evaluated for hydrostatic compression and uniaxial tension tests. The determination of material parameters and the evaluation of effectiveness of models are done based on the correlation between the values of the strain energy density (rather than the stresses) cast from the theory and the test data. Comparison of the theoretical predictions with the experimental data indicates that the represented models can achieve a satisfactory agreement with the behavior of different materials. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:299–308, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
DETECTING PARENTAL DECEPTION USING A BEHAVIOR RATING SCALE DURING ASSESSMENT OF ATTENTION‐DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
Authors: Norfolk Philip A. , Floyd Randy G.
Published: December 2015

It is often assumed that parents completing behavior rating scales during the assessment of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can deliberately manipulate the outcomes of the assessment. To detect these actions, items designed to detect over‐reporting or under‐reporting of results are sometimes embedded in such rating scales. This study presents the results of an experimental study in which parents (a) read a scenario telling them that their hypothetical son's teacher has suggested their son may have ADHD and (b) considered assigned goals for the assessment. Parents then completed the accompanying Conners 3Parent Short form (Conners 3‐P[S]) in a manner that they believed would achieve their assigned goals. Findings showed that parents are able to engage in deception when completing behavior rating scales. The validity scales embedded in the Conners 3‐P(S), however, demonstrated mixed results for detecting parental deception with the Negative Impression validity scale, accurately detecting attempts to malinger in the majority of cases, whereas the Positive Impression validity scale appears to have little to no diagnostic utility for the detection of defensive responding. Clinicians utilizing behavior rating scales should carefully consider results, and nonresults, obtained from embedded validity scales when interpreting parent responses to behavior rating scales as part of an ADHD assessment.
The Political Economy of Poverty Eradication in Botswana
Authors: Botlhale Emmanuel
Published: December 2015

Some members of society, such as the destitute, suffer from diverse vulnerabilities. Poverty is the most profound form of vulnerability. Hence, the state must provide the vulnerable with social safety nets. Botswana, despite being a middle‐income economy, has its share of poverty. In response, it established anti‐poverty programs. Given the prominence of these programs, it is important to ask the following questions: (i) is the government sincerely committed to its own anti‐poverty policies, statements, and declarations? and (ii) has the government demonstrated by deed that it has the political will to implement anti‐poverty programs? The article used a political economy analysis tool to answer these questions. It concluded that there is an anti‐poverty regime with defined institutions, players/actors, and ideas, and the government is committed to anti‐poverty programs. Finally, there are general lessons from the case study. Key lessons are (i) committing to a cause and resourcing it, and (ii) using political party policy to guide the anti‐poverty policy.
Porous Silicon@Polythiophene Core–Shell Nanospheres for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zheng Hao , Fang Shan , Tong Zhenkun , Dou Hui , Zhang Xiaogang
Published: December 2015

Polythiophene‐coated porous silicon core–shell nanospheres (Si@PTh) composite are synthesized by a simple chemical oxidative polymerization approach. The polythiophene acts as a flexible layer to hold silicon grains when they are repeatedly alloying/dealloying with lithium during the discharge/charge process. The long lifespan and high‐current‐density rate ­capability (at a current of 8 A g−1) of the Si@PTh composite are vastly improved compared with as‐prepared Si spheres. Typically, these Si@PTh composite electrodes achieve a reversible capacity of 1130.5 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1 current density after 500 cycles, and can even possess a discharge capacity up to 451.8 mA h g−1 at 8 A g−1. The improved electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the synergy effects of the flexible PTh coating and the distinctive core–shell nanospheres with porous structure, which can largely alleviate the volume expansion of the Si during alloying with lithium.
Protein‐Affinitive Polydopamine Nanoparticles as an Efficient Surface Modification Strategy for Versatile Porous Scaffolds Enhancing Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Wang Zhenming , Wang Kefeng , Zhang Yanning , Jiang Yanan , Lu Xiong , Fang Liming , Gan Donglin , Lv Chen , Zhang Hongping , Qu Shuxin
Published: December 2015

Porous scaffolds for tissue regeneration are often functionalized with extracellular matrix proteins to enhance surface/cell interactions and tissue regeneration. However, continuous coatings produced by commonly used surface modification strategies may preclude cells from contacting and sensing the chemical and physical cues of the scaffold. Here, it is shown that polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA‐NPs) tightly adhere on various scaffolds to form nanostructures, and the coverage can be finely tuned. Furthermore, the PDA‐NPs have good affinity to a variety of proteins and peptides. Thus, the PDA‐NPs act as an anchor to immobilize signal biomolecules on scaffolds, and consequently promote cell activity and tissue regeneration. β‐Tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffolds decorated with PDA‐NPs demonstrate excellent osteoinductivity and bone‐regeneration performance due to the protein affinity of PDA‐NPs and the intrinsic bioactive characteristics of TCP scaffolds. In summary, PDA‐NPs with excellent affinity for protein adhesion represent a versatile platform to modify porous scaffolds while not compromising the biological functions of the scaffolds, and might have potential applications in tissue regeneration.
Changes in prostate cancer grading: Including a new patient‐centric grading system
Authors: Kryvenko Oleksandr N. , Epstein Jonathan I.
Published: December 2015

The first structured approach to grade prostate cancer based on the underlying histological architecture was developed by Donald Gleason who in 1966 proposed a morphologic classification of prostate cancer and in 1974 demonstrated its clinical significance based on prostate cancer‐specific death. Contemporarily referred to as the Gleason grading system, it has gained worldwide recognition allowing a more individualized approach to patients with prostate cancer. In 2005, the International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) made the first revisions to the grading system. Subsequently, based on the new discoveries in pathologic and clinical aspects of prostate cancer, as well as the changing nature of the prostate cancer in part due to a robust screening, there was a need for experts to re‐visit the approach to grade prostate cancer. In November 2014, the ISUP experts and clinical leaders in prostate cancer from 17 countries conducted a consensus conference in Chicago, IL, USA. The consensus conference defined various grade patterns and proposed the adoption of a new grading system of prostate cancer. Herein, we describe the background and rationale for the changes and provide guidelines to their clinical implementation. Prostate 76:427–433, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Testing Predictors of Instructional Practice in Elementary Science Education: The Significant Role of Accountability
Authors: HAYES KATHRYN N. , TREXLER CARY J.
Published: December 2015

Many resources have been committed to research on science teaching pedagogies, resulting in a robust understanding of best instructional practices. Yet, exposure to excellent science instruction in elementary school is haphazard at best and often inequitable. Although the research community has attended to the role of teacher traits, such as attitude and preparation, very little research examines the role of policy and context in constraining or supporting such best practices at the elementary level. This study attempts to fill this need through a multilevel model of how teacher traits, socioeconomic context (SE context), and accountability pressures predict students’ opportunity to engage in hands‐on and laboratory science education. Results indicate accountability pressure eclipsed all other predictors, including SE context, in accounting for variance in the model. Final analysis indicates that teachers at high accountability pressure schools spent about 60% less time using hands‐on and laboratory teaching methods than teachers at lower accountability pressure schools, an equity issue given the distribution of underrepresented students. Teacher traits including professional development, experience, attitude, and degree were insignificant in the model. This has implications for efforts to improve elementary science education in the United States, as research and national priorities have been focused primarily on teacher development.
Sample size calculations for micro‐randomized trials in mHealth
Authors: Liao Peng , Klasnja Predrag , Tewari Ambuj , Murphy Susan A.
Published: December 2015

The use and development of mobile interventions are experiencing rapid growth. In “just‐in‐time” mobile interventions, treatments are provided via a mobile device, and they are intended to help an individual make healthy decisions ‘in the moment,’ and thus have a proximal, near future impact. Currently, the development of mobile interventions is proceeding at a much faster pace than that of associated data science methods. A first step toward developing data‐based methods is to provide an experimental design for testing the proximal effects of these just‐in‐time treatments. In this paper, we propose a ‘micro‐randomized’ trial design for this purpose. In a micro‐randomized trial, treatments are sequentially randomized throughout the conduct of the study, with the result that each participant may be randomized at the 100s or 1000s of occasions at which a treatment might be provided. Further, we develop a test statistic for assessing the proximal effect of a treatment as well as an associated sample size calculator. We conduct simulation evaluations of the sample size calculator in various settings. Rules of thumb that might be used in designing a micro‐randomized trial are discussed. This work is motivated by our collaboration on the HeartSteps mobile application designed to increase physical activity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Programmed Nanococktail for Intracellular Cascade Reaction Regulating Self‐Synergistic Tumor Targeting Therapy
Authors: Chen Wei‐Hai , Luo Guo‐Feng , Qiu Wen‐Xiu , Lei Qi , Hong Sheng , Wang Shi‐Bo , Zheng Di‐Wei , Zhu Cheng‐Hui , Zeng Xuan , Feng Jun , Cheng Si‐Xue , Zhang Xian‐Zheng
Published: December 2015

In this work, a ZnO based nanococktail with programmed functions is designed and synthesized for self‐synergistic tumor targeting therapy. The nanococktail can actively target tumors via specific interaction of hyaluronic acid (HA) with CD44 receptors and respond to HAase‐rich tumor microenvironment to induce intracellular cascade reaction for controlled therapy. The exposed cell‐penetrating peptide (R8) potentiates the cellular uptake of therapeutic nanoparticles into targeted tumor cells. Then ZnO cocktail will readily degrade in acidic endo/lysosomes and induce the production of desired reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situ. The destructive ROS not only leads to serious cell damage but also triggers the on‐demand drug release for precise chemotherapy, thus achieving enhanced antitumor efficiency synergistically. After tail vein injection of ZnO cocktail, a favorable tumor apoptosis rate (71.2 ± 8.2%) is detected, which is significantly superior to that of free drug, doxorubicin (12.9 ± 5.2%). Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that the tailor‐made ZnO cocktail with favorable biocompatibility, promising tumor specificity, and self‐synergistically therapeutic capacity opens new avenues for cancer therapy.
Grounds, Roots and Abysses
Authors: Loss Roberto ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study is to address the “Grounding Grounding Problem,” that is, the question as to what, if anything, grounds facts about grounding. I aim to show that, if a seemingly plausible principle of modal recombination between fundamental facts and the principle customarily called “Entailment” are assumed, it is possible to prove not only that grounding facts featuring fundamental, contingent grounds are derivative but also that either they are (at least) partially grounded in the grounds they feature or they are “abysses” (i.e., derivative facts without fundamental grounds and lying at the top of an infinitely descending chain of ground).
Structure and water oxidation activity of 3d metal oxides
Authors: Li Ye‐Fei , Liu Zhi‐Pan
Published: December 2015

Water splitting driven by solar energy is regarded as the candidate for the next generation of power source. The reaction is however kinetically hindered by the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) involving four proton–electron transfer steps. The ideal OER catalyst should avoid using precious elements, such as Ir, Ru, and Pt, and have a long‐term stability under positive bias potential. Recent experiments have shown that most 3d oxides are OER active catalysts, while some can even achieve comparable activities to commercial Ir/Ru catalysts in lab condition. In this article, we review the recent theoretical progress for characterizing the structure of 3d oxides and understanding the photo‐electrocatalytic water splitting mechanism over these catalysts. The methodology for global structure exploration, including evolutionary algorithm and stochastic surface walking method, is first introduced together with their applications in exploring the potential energy surface of TiO2 and NiOx systems. The current theoretical approaches to investigate the thermodynamics and kinetics of photo‐/electrochemical reactions are discussed and the latest understanding for OER reactions are summarized. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2016, 6:47–64. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1236

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Materials Science

Computer and Information Science > Computer Algorithms and Programming

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Reaction Dynamics and Kinetics
France, 1934-1970
Authors: Vinen Richard
Published: December 2015

This book describes the history of France between the anti-parliamentary riots of 1934 and the death of de Gaulle in 1970. It is written as a series of interpretative essays rather than a straight chronological account. Special emphasis is laid on the broad social conflicts - between classes, sexes and generations - that underlay the complicated party politics of France. Attention is also given to the episodes - the rule of the Vichy government, the Algerian war, the ‘thirty glorious years of economic growth’, and the student riots of 1968 - that helped to transform the nation of Clochemerle into that of Concorde.
Secondary Cancers After Radiation Therapy for Primary Prostate or Rectal Cancer
Authors: Lee Yen‐Chien , Hsieh Chung‐Cheng , Li Chung‐Yi , Chuang Jen‐Pin , Lee Jenq‐Chang
Published: December 2015

Literature about the risk of secondary cancer after radiation therapy (RT) of prostate and rectal cancer reveals contradictory results. We conducted a meta‐analysis to examine whether the RT induces secondary rectal or prostate cancer in patients, respectively, with prostate or rectal cancer. All studies published in Medline or Pubmed up to March 3, 2015, containing RT of primary rectal or prostate cancer, and providing risk estimates of secondary prostate or rectal cancer were considered as eligible. Relative risk (RR) and standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated using the random‐effects model. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. 12 of them were from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. For prostate cancer patients, pooled adjusted RRs or SIRs did not show an effect on the risk of secondary rectal cancer. However, notwithstanding the limitations of SEER‐based studies, the subgroup of prostate cancer patients receiving external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) showed an increased risk of rectal cancer. For rectal cancer patients, pooled adjusted RR of prostate cancer was 1.12 (95 % CI, 0.44–2.8) and SIR was 0.40 (95 % CI, 0.29–0.55). All studies included in the SIR analysis of rectal cancer were derived from the SEER data source. Based on current evidence, RT for prostate cancer patients had no effect on rectal cancer incidence, except for patients who received EBRT therapy. However, compared with the general population, RT for rectal cancer is associated with a decreased prostate cancer risk as found in SEER‐based studies.