bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of positive margins on outcomes of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma according to p16 status
Authors: Molony Peter , Kharytaniuk Natallia , Boyle Seamus , Woods Robbie S. R. , O'Leary Gerard , Werner Reiltin , Heffron Cynthia , Feeley Linda , Sheahan Patrick
Published: May 2017

Background

Currently, positive surgical margins in head and neck cancer are considered to be an indicator for postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) over radiotherapy (RT) alone. However, there are less data regarding the impact of margin status on human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of 55 patients with oropharyngeal SCC undergoing primary surgical treatment. The impact of margin status on disease‐specific survival (DSS) was studied according to p16 status.

Results

Twenty‐one patients had positive margins. Adjuvant treatment in these cases was CRT (n = 6), RT alone (n = 14), and none (n = 1). Among p16‐negative patients, positive margins and dysplasia at margins predicted significantly worse DSS. Among patients with p16‐positive disease, margin status had no impact on DSS.

Conclusion

Patients with p16‐positive oropharyngeal SCC and positive margins after excision maintain a low risk of recurrence despite most receiving RT alone as adjuvant treatment. These findings raise questions regarding the additional benefit of postoperative CRT in this group.
Complete remission with romidepsin in a patient with T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia refractory to induction hyper‐CVAD
Authors: Brunvand Mark W. , Carson John
Published: May 2017

T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) and T‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T‐LBL) are neoplasms that originate from T‐cell precursors. Outcomes in adult patients with T‐ALL/LBL remain unsatisfactory; early relapse following intensive induction chemotherapy is a concern, and patients with relapsed or refractory disease have a poor prognosis. Romidepsin is a potent, class 1 selective histone deacetylase inhibitor approved for the treatment of patients with peripheral T‐cell lymphoma who have had ≥1 prior therapy and patients with cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma who have had ≥1 prior systemic therapy. Here, we report the case of an adult patient with T‐ALL refractory to induction hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (hyper‐CVAD). Treatment with romidepsin was initiated, and romidepsin in combination with hyper‐CVAD resulted in complete remission, with mild tumor lysis syndrome as the only detectable additional toxicity. The patient eventually underwent allogeneic stem cell transplant while in first complete remission. Prior studies have shown that romidepsin is capable of inducing durable responses with manageable toxicities in patients with mature T‐cell lymphomas. This case study describes the successful use of romidepsin in combination with hyper‐CVAD in an adult patient with refractory T‐ALL and highlights the activity of romidepsin in the T‐cell lineage. The potential of romidepsin‐containing regimens in patients with T‐ALL/LBL deserves further study.
Assessment of serum β‐hCG and lipid profile in early second trimester as predictors of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Authors: Revankar Vijaya M. , Narmada Lavu
Published: May 2017

Objective

To assess and compare the ability of serum β‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) and serum lipid profile in early second trimester as predictors of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Methods

The present hospital‐based prospective study was conducted between November 24, 2012, and April 30, 2014, at a tertiary hospital in Mangalore, India. Women of any parity with a pregnancy of 14–20 weeks were included. Venous blood (3 mL) was collected, and serum β‐hCG and lipid profile were estimated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and an enzymatic colorimetric test with lipid clearing factor, respectively. A cutoff value of β‐hCG for predicting hypertensive disorders was obtained by receiver operating curve analysis.

Results

Serum β‐hCG was significantly higher among women who subsequently developed hypertension (71 142 IU/L [n=27]) than among those who did not (20 541 IU/L [n=137]; P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of serum β‐hCG to predict hypertension were 92.6% and 94.9% respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 78.1% and 98.5%, respectively.

Conclusion

Serum β‐hCG might be used as a predictor of hypertensive disorders that complicate pregnancy. Dyslipidemia was not found to be a useful marker.
Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Bendamustine Rapid‐Infusion Formulation
Authors: Cheung Eric M. , Edenfield William J. , Mattar Bassam , Anthony Stephen P. , Mutch Peter J. , Chanas Brian , Smith Mark , Hepner Adrian
Published: May 2017

Bendamustine hydrochloride (BDM) is approved in the United States to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and relapsed indolent B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. The first formulation marketed in the United States (original BDM) was a lyophilized product requiring reconstitution prior to dilution to the final admixture. A liquid formulation of BDM was subsequently introduced that did not require reconstitution before dilution. Both formulations are administered as a 500 mL admixture with a recommended infusion time of 30 or 60 minutes for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and indolent B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, respectively. A newer liquid BDM formulation (rapid BDM) is a ready‐to‐dilute solution not requiring reconstitution that dilutes into an admixture of only 50 mL and can be safely administered in a shorter infusion time (10 minutes). Rapid BDM admixture also has longer stability at room temperature than both lyophilized and liquid BDM formulations (6 vs 2 to 3 hours). This phase 1, open‐label, randomized, crossover (3‐period, partially replicated) study, conducted in “end‐of‐life” cancer patients at 10 oncology centers in the United States, demonstrates that rapid BDM is bioequivalent to original BDM as determined by area under the curve. Expected differences in maximum plasma concentration and time to maximum plasma concentration were observed between study treatments, given the substantially shorter infusion time of rapid BDM. No clinically relevant differences in other evaluated pharmacokinetic parameters were found. Rapid BDM infusions were safe and tolerable for cancer patients in this study. The overall safety profiles of the 2 BDM formulations were comparable, with no new safety signals identified and no differences in infusion‐related adverse events.
Synoptic classification of the summer season for the Levant using an ‘environment to climate’ approach
Authors: Saaroni Hadas , Savir Amit , Ziv Baruch
Published: May 2017

The Levant region is dominated in the summer by the persistent Persian Trough. Thus, the current synoptic classifications lack the ability to reflect inter‐diurnal variations in the local weather conditions. This study aims to overcome this weakness and has two objectives: to develop operative prediction equations for the local weather conditions based on synoptic‐scale data, and to propose a new synoptic classification, based on the environment to climate approach, to better reflect the local climatic stress. Prediction equations were derived for the national heat‐stress (NHS) and the height of the persistent marine inversion (inversion base, IB). The potential predictors are comprised of atmospheric variables found correlated with these weather attributes together with indices representing synoptic to large‐scale features. The indices were derived through a composite maps analysis of days with extreme values of these attributes. The Climatic Stress Index (CSI) developed is a combination of the heat‐stress and the inversion height, for which a separate prediction equation was derived. The spectrum of the calculated daily CSI values was divided into three parts of equal size, used as the basis of the new synoptic types, defined as: ‘comfort’, ‘medium’, and ‘discomfort’. The attribution of a certain day to one of these types is determined according to its calculated CSI. Our proposed classification was found to better delineate the NHS and the height of the IB in Israel. The downscaling schemes and the new synoptic classification are applicable for both operative weather prediction and climate prediction. The latter enables the assessment of future trends in the climatic stress, in general, and heat‐stress, in particular. This is due to being compatible with the output of operative weather prediction models as well as for the format of the disseminated output of climate models.
Quantification of regional variations in glenoid trabecular bone architecture and mineralization using clinical computed tomography images
Authors: Jun Bong‐Jae , Vasanji Amit , Ricchetti Eric T. , Rodriguez Eric , Subhas Naveen , Li Zong‐Ming , Iannotti Joseph P.
Published: May 2017

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate feasibility of a clinical CT imaging and analysis technique to quantify regional variations in trabecular bone architecture and mineralization of glenoid bones. Specifically, our objective was to determine to what extent clinical CT imaging of intact upper extremities can describe variations of trabecular bone architectures at anatomic and peri‐implant regions by comparing trabecular bone architectures as measured by high‐resolution, micro CT imaging of same excised glenoid bones. Bone volume fraction (BVF), trabecular bone thickness (TbTh), number of trabecular bone (TbN), spacing (TbS), pattern factor (TbPf), bone surface area (BSA), and skeletal connectivity (Conn.), in addition to bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD), were quantified from both clinical and micro CT images using whole bone, anatomic, and peri‐implant bone masks. Strong correlations of BVF, TbTh, TbSp, BMC, and BMD were found between clinical CT and micro CT imaging methods. The variations in BVF, TbTh, TbSp, TbN, BMC, and BMD at anatomical and peri‐implant regions were larger than those at whole bone regions. In this study, we have demonstrated that this clinical CT imaging methodology can be used to quantify variations of a patient's glenoid bone at anatomic and peri‐implant levels. Statement of Clinical Significance. An in vivo quantitative assessment of glenoid trabecular bone architecture in the anatomic and peri‐implant regions may improve our understanding on the role of bone quality on glenoid component loosening following total shoulder arthroplasty. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:85–96, 2018.
How did rivers in the wet tropics (NE Queensland, Australia) respond to climate changes over the past 30 000 years?
Authors: Hughes Kate , Croke Jacky
Published: May 2017

The nature and timing of fluvial response and coincident changes in climate as inferred from multiple, independent proxies are examined in the wet tropics of north‐eastern Australia. Chronostratigraphic data provide evidence for regionally synchronous fluvial aggradation at 30–13 ka, 8–5 ka and again from 1 ka. Terrace incision and removal occurred at 13–8 ka and 5–1 ka. A new synthesis of regional palaeoenvironmental proxy records spanning the last 30 ka highlights key periods of environmental change. Comparison of the records of fluvial and environmental change reveals the relationship is complex with no clear relationship between river aggradation/incision and wetter/drier conditions. The nature and timing of fluvial response in the wet tropics also shows broad similarities with coastal valleys in south‐eastern New South Wales, suggesting continental‐scale controls on fluvial response to changing climate during the Late Quaternary in Australia. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Barriers to generating PDX models of HPV‐related head and neck cancer
Authors: Facompre Nicole D. , Sahu Varun , Montone Kathleen T. , Harmeyer Kayla M. , Nakagawa Hiroshi , Rustgi Anil K. , Weinstein Gregory S. , Gimotty Phyllis A. , Basu Devraj
Published: May 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

Delineate factors impacting the creation and use of patient‐derived xenografts (PDXs) of human papilloma virus‐related (HPV+) head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs).

Study Design

Laboratory‐based translational study.

Methods

Fifty‐one surgically resected HNSCCs, including 31 HPV + cancers, were implanted into NOD/SCID/IL‐2Rγ‐/‐ (NSG) mice using standardized methodology. Clinical and pathologic factors were tested for association with engraftment. The gross, histologic, and molecular features of established HPV + PDXs were analyzed in comparison to their tumors of origin.

Results

Negative HPV status and perineural invasion (PNI) were independent, additive factors associated with increased PDX formation. Epstein‐Barr virus–positive (EBV+) human large B‐cell lymphomas grew from 32% of HPV + HNSCC cases that failed to engraft. Successfully established HPV + PDXs retained basaloid histology and often developed cystic growth patterns typical of HPV + nodal metastases. They also maintained elevated p16INK4A levels and expression of E6/E7 viral oncogene transcripts.

Conclusion

Reduced engraftment by HPV + tumors lacking PNI likely results in selection biases in HNSCC PDX models. Formation of EBV + lymphomas in NSG mice further reduces the generation of HPV + models and must be ruled out before long‐term use of PDXs. Nevertheless, the retention of distinctive pathologic traits and viral oncogene expression by HPV + PDXs provides a viable in vivo platform for basic and translational studies as well as a resource for generating advanced in vitro models.

Level of Evidence

NA. Laryngoscope, 127:2777–2783, 2017
Assessment and improvement of sound quality in cochlear implant users
Authors: Caldwell Meredith T. , Jiam Nicole T. , Limb Charles J.
Published: May 2017

Objectives

Cochlear implants (CIs) have successfully provided speech perception to individuals with sensorineural hearing loss. Recent research has focused on more challenging acoustic stimuli such as music and voice emotion. The purpose of this review is to evaluate and describe sound quality in CI users with the purposes of summarizing novel findings and crucial information about how CI users experience complex sounds.

Data Sources

Here we review the existing literature on PubMed and Scopus to present what is known about perceptual sound quality in CI users, discuss existing measures of sound quality, explore how sound quality may be effectively studied, and examine potential strategies of improving sound quality in the CI population.

Results

Sound quality, defined here as the perceived richness of an auditory stimulus, is an attribute of implant‐mediated listening that remains poorly studied. Sound quality is distinct from appraisal, which is generally defined as the subjective likability or pleasantness of a sound. Existing studies suggest that sound quality perception in the CI population is limited by a range of factors, most notably pitch distortion and dynamic range compression. Although there are currently very few objective measures of sound quality, the CI‐MUSHRA has been used as a means of evaluating sound quality. There exist a number of promising strategies to improve sound quality perception in the CI population including apical cochlear stimulation, pitch tuning, and noise reduction processing strategies.

Conclusions

In the published literature, sound quality perception is severely limited among CI users. Future research should focus on developing systematic, objective, and quantitative sound quality metrics and designing therapies to mitigate poor sound quality perception in CI users.

Level of Evidence

NA
The effect of tinnitus retraining therapy on chronic tinnitus: A controlled trial
Authors: Bauer Carol A. , Berry Jennifer L. , Brozoski Thomas J.
Published: May 2017

Objectives

The goal of this study was to compare treatment outcomes for chronic bothersome tinnitus after Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) versus standard of care treatment (SC) and to determine the longevity of the effect over an 18‐month period.

Study Design

A randomized controlled trial comparing TRT to SC for chronic tinnitus.

Methods

Adults with subjective, stable, bothersome chronic tinnitus associated with hearing loss amenable to aural rehabilitation with hearing aids were recruited. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) was the primary outcome measure and the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) the secondary outcome measure of tinnitus severity and impact. Data were collected at screening, entry (0 months), and 6, 12, and 18 months after the beginning of treatment, using an integrated digitized suite of evaluation modules. TRT consisted of directive counseling and acoustic enrichment using combination hearing aids and sound generators; SC consisted of general aural rehabilitation counseling and hearing aids.

Results

Significant improvement in tinnitus impact occurred after both TRT and SC therapy, with a larger treatment effect obtained in the TRT group. Lasting therapeutic benefit was evident at 18 months in both groups. THI initial scores were unstable in 10% of enrolled participants, showing moderate bidirectional fluctuation between screening and baseline (0 month) assessment.

Conclusion

Adults with moderate to severe tinnitus and hearing loss amenable to amplification, benefit from either TRT or SC treatment when combined with hearing aid use. TRT benefit may exceed that of SC. The global improvement in tinnitus severity that accrued over an 18‐month period appeared to be robust and clinically significant.

Level of Evidence

I
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP)–time for a reckoning?
Authors: Kin Cho Goon Peter , Scholtz Lars‐Uwe , Sudhoff Holger
Published: May 2017

Objectives

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare disease, but one with severe morbidity and occasional mortality. The aetiological agent is human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV types 6 and 11 account for over 90% of all cases. In the active phase of the disease, patients require multiple hospital admissions for surgical removal or ablation of these benign tumors, which are likely to obstruct the airways if left unchecked. Long‐term sequelae include scarring of the vocal cords, change in voice timbre, or even muteness if a tracheostomy is required. The aim of this study was to determine if adjuvant vaccination with the quadrivalent HPV L1 vaccine (Gardasil™) would decrease numbers of surgical treatments post‐vaccination.

Methods

A prospective pilot study following a cohort of 12 RRP patients, all of whom gave fully informed consent to participate. All patients had their papillomas typed and if they were found to have types 6 or 11, were vaccinated at the time of first surgical treatment in the hospital, according to the manufacturer's protocols. Patients were followed up closely with 3 or 6 month follow‐up visits. Standard surgical treatments were given and were not affected by whether they participated in the study.

Results

We found a >7‐fold decrease in the incidence rates of papillomatosis requiring surgical intervention from the pre‐vaccination period (47.44/1000 patient‐months) compared to the post‐vaccination period (6.71/1000 patient‐months).

Discussion

Surgical treatments for RRP are robust markers for papillomata which require treatment because of the dangers of obstruction of the airway. Despite the small size of this cohort (due to the rarity of this disease), the data suggests that adjuvant use of quadrivalent HPV L1 vaccine imparts significant benefit to this group of patients. A large multi‐center randomized placebo controlled trial is required to definitively establish whether this hypothesis is true and can become the new standard of therapy.

Level of Evidence

3b
Requirements and validation of a prototype learning health system for clinical diagnosis
Authors: Corrigan Derek , Munnelly Gary , Kazienko Przemysław , Kajdanowicz Tomasz , Soler Jean‐Karl , Mahmoud Samhar , Porat Talya , Kostopoulou Olga , Curcin Vasa , Delaney Brendan
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Diagnostic error is a major threat to patient safety in the context of family practice. The patient safety implications are severe for both patient and clinician. Traditional approaches to diagnostic decision support have lacked broad acceptance for a number of well‐documented reasons: poor integration with electronic health records and clinician workflow, static evidence that lacks transparency and trust, and use of proprietary technical standards hindering wider interoperability. The learning health system (LHS) provides a suitable infrastructure for development of a new breed of learning decision support tools. These tools exploit the potential for appropriate use of the growing volumes of aggregated sources of electronic health records.

Methods

We describe the experiences of the TRANSFoRm project developing a diagnostic decision support infrastructure consistent with the wider goals of the LHS. We describe an architecture that is model driven, service oriented, constructed using open standards, and supports evidence derived from electronic sources of patient data. We describe the architecture and implementation of 2 critical aspects for a successful LHS: the model representation and translation of clinical evidence into effective practice and the generation of curated clinical evidence that can be used to populate those models, thus closing the LHS loop.

Results/Conclusions

Six core design requirements for implementing a diagnostic LHS are identified and successfully implemented as part of this research work. A number of significant technical and policy challenges are identified for the LHS community to consider, and these are discussed in the context of evaluating this work: medico‐legal responsibility for generated diagnostic evidence, developing trust in the LHS (particularly important from the perspective of decision support), and constraints imposed by clinical terminologies on evidence generation.
Organometallic‐Mediated Alternating Radical Copolymerization of tert‐Butyl‐2‐Trifluoromethacrylate with Vinyl Acetate and Synthesis of Block Copolymers Thereof
Authors: Banerjee Sanjib , Ladmiral Vincent , Debuigne Antoine , Detrembleur Christophe , Rahaman S. M. Wahidur , Poli Rinaldo , Ameduri Bruno
Published: May 2017

Organometallic‐mediated radical polymerization (OMRP) has given access to well‐defined poly(vinyl acetate‐alt‐tert‐butyl‐2‐trifluoromethacrylate)‐b‐poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(VAc‐alt‐MAF‐TBE) copolymers composed of two electronically distinct monomers: vinyl acetate (VAc, donor, D) and tert‐butyl‐2‐trifluoromethacrylate (MAF‐TBE, acceptor, A), with low dispersity (≤1.24) and molar masses up to 57 000 g mol−1. These copolymers have a precise 1:1 alternating structure over a wide range of comonomer feed compositions. The reactivity ratios are determined as rVAc = 0.01 ± 0.01 and rMAF‐TBE = 0 at 40 °C. Remarkably, from a feed containing >50% molar VAc content, poly(VAc‐alt‐MAF‐TBE)‐b‐PVAc block copolymers are produced via a one‐pot synthesis. Such diblock copolymers exhibit two glass transition temperatures attributed to the alternating and homopolymer sequences. The OMRP of this fluorine‐containing alternating monomer system may provide access to a wide range of new polymer materials.

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Design of a Tri‐PET collimator for high‐resolution whole‐body mouse imaging
Authors: DiFilippo Frank P.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Tri‐PET refers to high‐resolution 511‐keV emission tomography using a multipinhole collimator in conjunction with lower resolution PET detectors operating in coincidence mode. Tri‐PET is unique in that three spatial locations are associated with each event (two detector coordinates and one pinhole location). Spatial resolution and sensitivity are similar to that of 511‐keV SPECT and are governed mainly by the collimator design. However because of a third spatial location in Tri‐PET, the line‐of‐response is overdetermined. This feature permits new opportunities in data processing which impact collimator design. In particular, multiplexing can be avoided since the coincidence data identify the pinhole through which the photon passed. In this paper, the principles of Tri‐PET collimator design are reviewed and then applied to the case of high‐resolution imaging of a small animal in a clinical PET scanner.

Methods

The design of a 148‐pinhole collimator for whole‐body imaging of a mouse is presented. Two pinhole designs were investigated: knife‐edge pinholes with 1.1 mm aperture and novel hyperboloidal pinholes with 1.2 mm aperture, both having 18° cone angle. The pinhole configuration is unfocused, covering a whole‐body mouse field of view with nearly uniform sensitivity. Computer simulations were performed of a micro hot rods phantom imaged with this collimator in a clinical PET scanner. Sensitivity was estimated by simulating a point source centered on‐axis at locations spanning a 70‐mm axial range, similar to the NEMA NU‐4 standard for whole‐body mouse imaging.

Results

Reconstructed images of the hot rods phantom demonstrated the ability to resolve 1.1 mm structures with the knife‐edge pinholes and 1.0 mm structures with the hyperboloidal pinholes. Sensitivity was found to be 0.093% and 0.054% for the knife‐edge and hyperboloidal pinholes, respectively.

Conclusions

With a properly designed multipinhole collimator, high‐resolution and acceptable sensitivity are achievable with Tri‐PET using ordinary clinical PET detectors.
Cross Linking Between the Baffling Effect and Phase Inversion During Liquid–Liquid Monomer Mixing
Authors: Cocke Jared , Maaß Sebastian
Published: May 2017

Recent studies have revealed unexpected developments in drop size by only small changes in the geometrical constraints of batch vessels used for suspension polymerization. The effect of the dispersed phase fraction, surfactant concentration, as well as baffle length on the evolving drop size distribution in different low viscous liquid–liquid systems is investigated. The analysis is focused on the drop‐dominated systems by hindering the coalescence by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) concentrations up to three times higher than the critical micelle concentration. The influence of PVA on drop size in breakage‐dominated systems is well reproduced with population balance equation simulations. The drops are measured using a photo‐optical system with automated image analysis. The measured drop sizes increase with increasing dispersed phase fraction. As coalescence is completely hindered, all observed coalescence effects are connected to phase inversion, a catastrophic phenomenon during suspension polymerization for industrial production processes. Phase inversion can be reproduced for all studied solvents with and without the use of surfactants. In particular, the influence of the baffles can be reproduced. The system is adapted and trained to detect phase inversion as a warning system to make the suspension polymerization process more stable and robust.

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Quantification and characterization of grouped type I myofibers in human aging
Authors: Kelly Neil A. , Hammond Kelley G. , Stec Michael J. , Bickel C. Scott , Windham Samuel T. , Tuggle S. Craig , Bamman Marcas M.
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Myofiber type grouping is a histological hallmark of age‐related motor unit remodeling. Despite the accepted concept that denervation–reinnervation events lead to myofiber type grouping, the completeness of those conversions remains unknown.

Methods

Type I myofiber grouping was assessed in vastus lateralis biopsies from Young (26 ± 4 years; n = 27) and Older (66 ± 4 years; n = 91) adults. Grouped and ungrouped type I myofibers were evaluated for phenotypic differences.

Results

Higher type I grouping in Older versus Young was driven by more myofibers per group (i.e., larger group size) (P < 0.05). In Older only, grouped type I myofibers displayed larger cross‐sectional area, more myonuclei, lower capillary supply, and more sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum calcium ATPase I (SERCA I) expression (P < 0.05) than ungrouped type I myofibers.

Discussion

Grouped type I myofibers retain type II characteristics suggesting that conversion during denervation–reinnervation events is either progressive or incomplete. Muscle Nerve 57: E52–E59, 2018
(BEDT‐TTF)2Cu2(HCOO)5: An Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Conducting Magnet
Authors: Zhang Bin , Zhang Yan , Wang Zheming , Gao Zengqiang , Yang Deliang , Wang Dongwei , Guo Yanjun , Zhu Daoben
Published: May 2017

This month's cover picture results from Professor Bin Zhang's collaborative work between Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peking University (China). Since the discovery of high‐temperature superconductors for hole doping on parent antiferromagnetic compound La2CuO4, the antiferromagnetic molecular crystal with a (4,4) grid copper‐formate framework Cu(HCOO)2(H2O)4 and its deuterated compound (Cu(DCOO)2(D2O)4) have been studied extensively for supposed dual‐functional molecular crystals. The cover picture shows the ideal situation by replacing intercalated H2O with an organic donor. The organic–inorganic hybrid (BEDT‐TTF)2Cu2(HCOO)5 is obtained through the electrochemical oxidation of neutral BEDT‐TTF in the presence of an ammonium salt of the 1D copper‐formate framework [(C2H5)3NH]2Cu2(HCOO)5 in a C6H5Cl‐C2H5OH solution. For more details, read the full text of the Communication at 10.1002/open.201700041.
Transient modeling of viscosity
Authors: Moshe Amir , Kazmer David O. , Sobkowicz‐Kline Margaret J , Johnston Stephen P. , Kenig Shmuel
Published: May 2017

Capillary and parallel plate rheological characterization was conducted for a low‐density polyethylene. In contrast with conventional rheological analysis, steady conditions were not assumed. Transient data, with time steps between 0.0001 and 0.2 s, were analyzed with a nonlinear, viscoelastic constitutive model in which the relaxation time was modeled as a function of the applied stress. The fit model explained more than 99% of the observed transient variation in the capillary and parallel plate rheometers. The model coefficients for the capillary and parallel plate were compared directly to conventional linear viscoelastic analysis of the same parallel plate data. The results indicate that the described constitutive model closely predicts the observed viscoelastic behavior of the polymer melt tested in the parallel plate rheometer. Furthermore, the results indicate that the relaxation spectrum modeled with the transient analysis of the capillary rheological data correlate closely to the results predicted by the same transient analysis of parallel plate rheological data. The conclusion is that described constitutive modeling describes the viscoelastic behavior in both capillary and parallel plate rheometers. Moreover, the analysis and results suggest that the viscoelastic behavior of the polymer melt is a significant factor during the rheological characterization and the modeling of the transient response should be taken into consideration during rheological analysis to provide high fidelity models. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:1110–1118, 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Self‐Assembly of Poly(vinylpyridine‐b‐oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) Diblock Copolymers
Authors: Stewart‐Sloan Charlotte R. , Wang Rui , Sing Michelle K. , Olsen Bradley D.
Published: May 2017

Poly(oligoethylene glycol)‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) is a model diblock for studying the effect of block‐localized charge on block copolymer self‐assembly because in the absence of charge the polymers are perfectly miscible, and upon protonation of the vinylpyridine block the polymer undergoes an order–disorder transition. Seven model block copolymers with molecular weights of approximately 60 kDa containing poly(2‐vinylpyridine) volume fractions spanning 0.069–0.700 were synthesized using reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization and then studied to understand the effect of protonation level, diblock composition, and temperature on the location of the ordering transition and the type of nanostructures formed in a charge asymmetric system. All of the polymers displayed lower critical solution‐type behavior, with the order–disorder transition temperature decreasing with increasing acid content. Polymers with symmetric compositions showed the highest degree of incompatibility for a given degree of protonation, and the observed morphologies for all polymers were consistent with those observed at similar compositions for classical hydrophobic block copolymers. The observed protonation‐induced phase transition can be explained by the shift of the Flory–Huggins parameter due to the alternation of the identity of monomers, consistent with the prediction of Nakamura and Wang's theory. The use of polyvalent ions promotes self‐assembly at lower concentrations, consistent with ionic crosslinking effects between polymer chains that are promoted at high concentration due to exchange entropy in crosslinked polymers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017, 55, 1181–1190
Acute chest pain in an adolescent with cystic fibrosis in September: Would you have thought about this?
Authors: Dowaikh Hiba , Morfin‐Sherpa Florence , Reix Philippe
Published: May 2017

Acute chest pain is common in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Here we report the case of an adolescent who suffered acute chest pain in September after an history of acute abdominal pain and fever. The reason for this clinical sceneriao was found to be Coxsackievirus B3, known to be responsible of Bornholm disease, a frequent but under recognized viral myositis. The diagnosis is mainly clinical, but evocating this diagnosis may avoid unnecessary exam.
Seeking more investment to create a world‐class NHS
Authors: Ogden Joy
Published: May 2017

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) held its annual conference in April to launch its own General Election manifesto and present a wide variety of speakers from the NHS, industry, patient groups, academia and UK political parties. Joy Ogden reports on the organisation's future industrial strategy.
Rising to the challenge of male hormonal contraception
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: May 2017

Despite decades of research, and surveys showing that the majority of men are willing to try it, a reversible male hormonal contraceptive (MHC) has not yet reached the market. There have been many scientific and regulatory barriers to development but recent advances indicate that MHC is at last a realistic prospect.
Implementing NICE guidance to maximise success
Authors: Ogden Joy
Published: May 2017

Implementing NICE guidelines can be very demanding, not least because of the sheer volume of guidance being published. This article provides an overview of the help prescribers can get with implementation, and considers the key elements needed for successful implementation as well as the potential barriers.
Brexit and the EMA: what's next for the UK?
Authors: Buckland Danny
Published: May 2017

When Theresa May triggered Article 50 on 29 March, the UK began a two‐year process of negotiations to exit the EU, which is likely to include a divorce from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). But what will fill the gap left by the EMA and what will be the impact on new drugs coming to the market?
Antimicrobial stewardship: changing the public's behaviour
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: May 2017

In January, NICE introduced its second guideline on antimicrobial stewardship (NG63), this time focusing on increasing awareness and changing behaviour in the general public. The new guideline covers the correct use of antimicrobial medicines and the dangers associated with their overuse, as well as providing guidance on preventing and controlling infection.
When patients try your patience
Authors: Delvin David
Published: May 2017

A full history is invaluable to the GP but, says Dr David Delvin, some patients simply take things too far.
Stakeholder Orientation and Acquisition Performance
Authors: Bettinazzi Emanuele L. M. , Zollo Maurizio
Published: May 2017

Research summary: In this article, we study how a firm's stakeholder orientation affects the performance of its corporate acquisitions. We depart from prior literature and suggest that orientations toward employees, customers, suppliers, and local communities will affect long‐term acquisition performance both directly and through its interactions with process characteristics, such as preacquisition relatedness and postacquisition integration. Analyses of data on a sample of 1884 acquisitions show overall a positive association between acquirers' stakeholder orientation and acquisition performance. In addition, we find support for a positive moderation of business relatedness on the performance impacts of stakeholder orientation. Structural integration has a similarly positive moderation effect only for some of the stakeholder categories.

Managerial summary: Does collaboration with stakeholders during an acquisition pay off in terms of performance? The results of this research show that it is worth engaging stakeholders during the M&A process, but that the efficacy of involvement practices may depend on the type of stakeholders and the characteristics of the acquisition. While acquiring firms that take account of suppliers and local communities consistently overperform in their acquisitions, the inclusion of employees might be not beneficial (and even harmful) when the target firm operates in a dissimilar business or when managers do not plan to maintain it as a separate entity. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Richard Turner‐Warwick: a father of reconstructive urology
Authors: Hodgson Dominic
Published: May 2017

Richard Turner‐Warwick, or RTW as he is known, has had a significant influence on the advancement of urethral stricture surgery and of functional reconstructive urological surgery in the UK and worldwide. In this article, Dominic Hodgson, having met with and interviewed Richard, outlines some of the achievements of his long and very distinguished career.
Rethinking the green state beyond the Global North: a South African climate change case study
Authors: Chandrashekeran Sangeetha , Morgan Bronwen , Coetzee Kim , Christoff Peter
Published: May 2017

This study focuses on the role of the South African state in environmental governance, with particular reference to transformations in political authority and processes of capital accumulation. Our approach underscores the importance of analyzing state environmental efforts both empirically and normatively, in order to understand the underlying drivers of state policies that perpetuate or ameliorate environmental degradation. The tension between economic and ecological values lies at the heart of South Africa's approach to mitigation. We evaluate South Africa's performance on climate change mitigation policies and programs and show that while, empirically, South Africa may appear to be a partial or emerging green state, its performance is weak when assessed against normative frameworks.WIREs Clim Change2017, 8:e473. doi: 10.1002/wcc.473

This article is categorized under:

Policy and Governance > National Climate Change Policy
Trajectories of exposure and vulnerability of small islands to climate change
Authors: Duvat Virginie K.E. , Magnan Alexandre K. , Wise Russell M. , Hay John E. , Fazey Ioan , Hinkel Jochen , Stojanovic Tim , Yamano Hiroya , Ballu Valérie
Published: May 2017

This article advocates for a dynamic and comprehensive understanding of vulnerability to climate‐related environmental changes in order to feed the design of adaptation future pathways. It uses the trajectory of exposure and vulnerability (TEV) approach that it defines as ‘storylines of driving factors and processes that have influenced past and present territorial system exposure and vulnerability to impacts associated with climate variability and change.’ The study is based on the analysis of six peer‐reviewed Pacific island case studies covering various geographical settings (high islands vs low‐lying reef islands, urban vs rural) and hazards associated with climate variability and change; that addressed the interactions between natural and anthropogenic driving factors; and adopted multidecadal past‐to‐present approaches. The findings emphasize that most urban and rural reef and high islands have undergone increasing exposure and vulnerability as a result of major changes in settlement and demographic patterns, lifestyles and economies, natural resources availability, and environmental conditions. The article highlights three generic and successive periods of change in the studied islands’ TEV: from geopolitical and political over the colonization‐to‐political independence period; to demographic, socio‐economic, and cultural from the 1960s to the 1980s; culminating in the dominance of demographic, socio‐economic, cultural, and environmental drivers since the 1980s. Based on these empirical insights, the article emphasizes the existence of anthropogenic‐driven path‐dependency effects in TEV, thus arguing for the analysis of the temporal dimensions of exposure and vulnerability to be a prerequisite for science to be able to inform policy‐ and decision‐making processes toward robust adaptation pathways. WIREs Clim Change 2017, 8:e478. doi: 10.1002/wcc.478

This article is categorized under:

Climate and Development > Social Justice and the Politics of Development
Assessing the seismic wavefield of a wind turbine using polarization analysis
Authors: Westwood Rachel F. , Styles Peter
Published: May 2017

Ambient seismic noise can often be seen as problematic but with the right analysis can act as a tool to image the Earth. Wind turbines are known to generate low frequency vibrations; however, the wave types that are generated are currently unknown. Characterizing these vibrations will allow wind turbines to be used as a seismic source and be of value to geotechnical applications and seismic interferometry. This paper uses polarization analysis of the seismic wavefield around a small wind turbine to identify the type of wave being generated by the turbine and to clarify the source. The seismic data recorded 190 m from the wind turbine are processed using a window length of 0.1 s and bandpass filtered on a selection of frequency ranges. Polarization analysis is performed for two different wind speed ranges, in order to show the variation of wave characteristics between operational and non‐operational modes of the wind turbine. Polarized surface waves are identified as the predominant wave type at blade rotation harmonics, making this work particularly relevant to multichannel analysis of surface waves and seismic interferometry. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Counterion‐Induced Cationic Flexible Nanoparticle Catalytic of Piperidinolysis of Phenyl Salicylate
Authors: Mohd Noh Muhammad Azri , Khalid Khalisanni , Ariffin Azhar , Khan M. Niyaz
Published: May 2017

The removal of PSa− from bulk aqueous phase to the pseudo‐micellar phase by halobenzoate counterion X is responsible for the monotonic increase in kobs (pseudo first‐order rate constants) with the increase in the values of [MX] where MX = sodium salts of 2‐, and 4‐halobenzoic acids. The values of ion exchange constants, or for X = 2‐ and 4‐halobenzoate ions in the presence of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTABr) were calculated from the apparent catalytic rate constants, Xkcat which represent the catalytic effect of CFN. Larger values of or were observed for X = 4‐halobenzoate ions than that for X = 2‐halobenzoate ions due to isomeric factors. The values of or determined in the presence of TTABr were compared with previously determined or values in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr). The values of or are nearly 8 ~ 9‐fold larger for 4‐IBz−, 4‐BrBz− and 4‐ClBz− compared to the respective values of X = 2‐IBz−, 2‐BrBz− and 2‐ClBz−. The values of or for X = 4‐FBz− is nearly 3‐fold larger than that for X = 2‐FBz−. The values of or for X = 2‐ and 4‐halobenzoates are significantly smaller in the presence of TTABr than these in the presence of CTABr nanoparticles.
Fungal pretreatment of sweet sorghum bagasse with supplements: improvement in lignin degradation, selectivity and enzymatic saccharification
Authors: Mishra Vartika , Jana Asim K. , Jana Mithu Maiti , Gupta Antriksh
Published: May 2017

Sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) from food processing and agricultural industry has attracted the attention for uses in production of biofuel, enzymes and other products. The alteration in lignocellulolytic enzymes by use of supplements in fungal pretreatment of SSB to achieve higher lignin degradation, selectivity value and enzymatic hydrolysis to fermentable sugar was studied. Fungal strain Coriolus versicolor was selected for pretreatment due to high ligninolytic and low cellulolytic enzyme production resulting in high lignin degradation and selectivity value. SSB was pretreated with supplements of veratryl alcohol, syringic acid, catechol, gallic acid, vanillin, guaiacol, CuSO4 and MnSO4. The best results were obtained with CuSO4, gallic acid and syringic acid supplements. CuSO4 increased the activities of laccase (4.9-fold) and polyphenol oxidase (1.9-fold); gallic acid increased laccase (3.5-fold) and manganese peroxidase (2.5-fold); and syringic acid increased laccase (5.6-fold), lignin peroxidase (13-fold) and arylalcohol oxidase (2.8-fold) resulting in enhanced lignin degradations and selectivity values than the control. Reduced cellulolytic enzyme activities resulted in high cellulose recovery. Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated SSB yielded higher sugar due to degradation of lignin and reduced the crystallinity of cellulose. The study showed that supplements could be used to improve the pretreatment process. The results were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric/differential thermogravimetric analysis of SSB.
Analysis of toxic, antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Bambusa balcooa Roxb. leaf extracts in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Goyal Arvind Kumar , Middha Sushil Kumar , Usha Talambedu , Sen Arnab
Published: May 2017

Bambusa balcooa (Poaceae) is native to India and has been used traditionally by the tribes of Northeast India to treat diabetes. The present investigation was aimed to evaluate the toxicity, anti-diabetic activity along with in vitro antioxidant activity of the leaf of B. balcooa in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and also identify active compounds by using HPLC. The acute toxicity test of aqueous extract of B. balcooa leaf revealed that the median lethal dose (LD50) of B. balcooa aqueous extract (BAQE) was 5.18 g/kg body weight in mice. Administration of BAQE at 100 and 200 mg/kg in alloxan-induced diabetic rats showed significant reduction in fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin while plasma insulin level was elevated compared to diabetic control. Both the doses were effective when compared to diabetic glibenclamide rats. The BAQE treated diabetic rats showed significant increase in the endogenous antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and decrease in malondialdehyde levels. HPLC analysis of BAQE showed the presence of rutin, gallic acid and β sitosterol. Thus, it can be inferred from this study that BAQE possess antidiabetic and in vivo antioxidant activity. The overall activity might be possibly due to the presence of potential antioxidants.