bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Substantiating the Influence of Pore Surface Functionalities on the Stability of Grubbs Catalyst in Mesoporous SBA‐15 Silica
Authors: Staub Hélène , Guillet‐Nicolas Rémy , Even Nicolas , Kayser Laure , Kleitz Freddy , Fontaine Frédéric‐Georges
Published: March 2011

The influence of pore surface functionalities in mesoporous SBA‐15 silica on the stability of a model olefin metathesis catalyst, namely Grubbs I, is substantiated. In particular, it is demonstrated that the nature of the interaction between the ruthenium complex and the surface is strongly depending on the presence of surface silanols. For this study, differently functionalized mesoporous SBA‐15 silica materials were synthesized according to standard procedures and, subsequently, the Grubbs I catalyst was incorporated into these different host materials. All of the materials were thoroughly characterized by elemental analyses, nitrogen physisorption at −196 °C, thermogravimetric analyses, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐IR). By such in‐depth characterization of the materials, it became possible to achieve models for the surface/catalyst interactions as a function of surface functionalities in SBA‐15; for example, in the case of purely siliceous silanol‐rich SBA‐15, octenyl‐silane modified SBA‐15, and silylated equivalents. It was evidenced that large portions of the chemisorbed species that are detected spectroscopically arise from interactions between the tricyclohexylphosphine and the surface silanols. A catalytic study using diethyldiallylmalonate in presence of the various functionalized silicas shows that the presence of surface silanols significantly decreases the longevity of the ring‐closing metathesis catalyst, whereas the passivation of the surface by trimethylsilyl groups slows down the catalysis rate, but does not affect significantly the lifetime of the catalyst. This contribution thus provides new insights into the functionalization of SBA‐15 materials and the role of surface interactions for the grafting of organometallic complexes.
A phase 1 study of everolimus and sorafenib for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Harzstark Andrea L. , Small Eric J. , Weinberg Vivian K. , Sun Janine , Ryan Charles J. , Lin Amy M. , Fong Lawrence , Brocks Dion R. , Rosenberg Jonathan E.
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND:

The current study was conducted to assess the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor effect of everolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, in combination with sorafenib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

METHODS:

Sequential cohorts of patients received escalating doses of everolimus and sorafenib in 28‐day cycles in the absence of a dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT) or disease progression were examined.

RESULTS:

Twenty patients with a median age of 65 years received therapy in 3 cohorts. Dose level 1 was comprised of everolimus at a dose of 2.5 mg daily and sorafenib at a dose of 400 mg twice daily (6 patients), dose level 2 was comprised of everolimus at a dose of 5 mg daily and sorafenib at a dose of 400 mg twice daily (8 patients), and dose level 3 was comprised of everolimus at a dose of 10 mg daily and sorafenib at a dose of 200 mg twice daily (6 patients). DLTs included grade 4 (according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 3.0]) hyperuricemia with grade 2 gout and grade 3 lipase associated with grade 2 pancreatitis at dose level 2, and grade 3 rash in 2 patients at dose level 3. Dose level 2 (everolimus at a dose of 5 mg daily and sorafenib at a dose of 400 mg twice daily) was established as the maximum tolerated dose. Treatment‐related adverse events occurring in >20% of patients included diarrhea, hand‐foot syndrome, hypertension, hypophosphatemia, hypothyroidism, and rash. Five of 20 patients achieved Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST)‐defined partial responses, all of which occurred in patients without a history of prior systemic therapy. Seven of 8 patients treated at dose level 2 experienced a partial response or stable disease. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed no interaction between everolimus and sorafenib.

CONCLUSIONS:

The combination of everolimus and sorafenib was associated with acceptable toxicity and evidence of antitumor activity in previously untreated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Impact of body mass index on clinical outcomes in triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Ademuyiwa Foluso O. , Groman Adrienne , O'Connor Tracey , Ambrosone Christine , Watroba Nancy , Edge Stephen B.
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND:

Obesity is associated with poorer outcomes in patients with hormone receptor‐positive breast cancers. This association is not well established for women with triple‐negative breast cancers (TNBC). In this study, the prognostic effects of body mass index on clinical outcome were evaluated in patients with TNBC.

METHODS:

A retrospective study was conducted on 418 patients who were treated between July 1996 and July 2010 for TNBC. Recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in relation to body mass index (BMI) after controlling for clinically significant variables.

RESULTS:

One hundred twenty‐four patients (29.7%) were normal/underweight (BMI ≤24.9 kg/m2), 130 patients (31.1%) were overweight (BMI from 25 to 29.9 kg/m2), and 164 patients (39.2%) were obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). At a median follow‐up of 37.2 months, there were 105 recurrences (25.1%) and 87 deaths (20.8%). Compared with normal/underweight patients, the multivariate hazard ratio (HR) for RFS was 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49‐1.34) for obese patients. Similarly, OS was not associated with BMI category; obese patients had an HR of death of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.54‐1.64) compared with normal/underweight patients. A Cox regression analysis identified the receipt of chemotherapy (HR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12‐0.52), ductal histology (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25‐0.97), stage III disease (HR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.35‐9.06), and increasing tumor size (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.09‐1.3) as independent prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSIONS:

No significant relation between obesity and RFS or OS emerged in patients with TNBC after controlling for clinically significant factors. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Are we scanning testis cancer patients too often?
Authors: Gilligan Timothy
Published: March 2011

It has become clear that, as the number of testis cancer survivors has increased, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have increased the risk of developing second nongerm cell tumor malignancies. There is growing concern and some evidence that radiation from computed tomography scans also may increase that risk and that, currently, an unnecessarily high number of scans are being performed.
Deciphering surveillance, epidemiology, and end results data analysis
Authors: Oliver Kate E. , Farley John H.
Published: March 2011

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program is not without inherent biases, which necessarily limit interpretation of the data. The evaluation of any revised surgical staging system using the SEER database has all the intrinsic drawbacks to conclusions drawn from population‐based studies and should be interpreted with caution.
Does the revised International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system for endometrial cancer lead to increased discrimination in patient outcomes?
Authors: Cooke Ellen W. , Pappas Lisa , Gaffney David K.
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND:

Recent changes were made to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system for endometrial cancer. The objective of this study was to compare survival outcomes for patients who were staged according to the 1988 FIGO staging system versus the 2009 FIGO staging system.

METHODS:

Data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program for the years 1998 to 2006. Patients who had a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the uterus with complete staging information were included. Patients were staged according to the 1988 and 2009 FIGO staging systems, and Kaplan‐Meier estimates were derived for cause‐specific survival (CSS). Univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify the factors associated with survival.

RESULTS:

In total, 47,284 patients were included. The median follow‐up was 37 months. The 5‐year CSS rates for patients who had 2009 FIGO stage IA and IB disease were 96.6% and 89.9%, respectively (P < .0001). After accounting for age, grade, and race, this survival difference remained significant (hazard ratio [HR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.74‐2.24; P < .0001). Patients who had 1988 FIGO stage IIA disease had a 5‐year CSS rate similar to that of patients who had 1988 FIGO stage IC disease (88.6% vs 89.9%, respectively; P = .09). Patients who had positive pelvic washings had a 5‐year CSS rate similar to that of patients who had stage IIIA disease according to the 2009 FIGO system (74.2% vs 72.1%, respectively; P = .37). The 5‐year CSS rate for patients who had stage IIIC1 disease was significantly improved compared with that for patients who had stage IIIC2 disease (68.2% vs 57.3%, respectively; P < .0001). In the multivariate model, the survival difference remained (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.26‐1.76; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

The 2009 staging system for endometrial cancer produced better discrimination in CSS outcomes compared with the 1988 system. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Print quality evaluation and applied colour management in coldset offset newspaper print
Authors: Nussbaum Peter , Hardeberg Jon Y.
Published: March 2011

This article aims to investigate print quality in newspaper print, by considering the appropriate calibration standard and applying colour management. In particular, this article examines the colorimetric properties of eight Norwegian newspaper printing presses, to evaluate the relevant colour separation approach, either by applying custom separation profiles or by using an industry standard profile. The key method underlying the work described here relies on obtaining colour measurements to determine the repeatability of each participant in terms of colour differences. Furthermore, the variation between the eight newspaper printing presses and the variation according to the colorimetric values of the ISO 12647‐3 standard are important parts of the quantitative evaluation. Based on the colour measurements two custom ICC profiles were generated and an industry standard profile “ISOnewspaper26v4.icc” was also used. The first custom profile was generated using averaged colour measurement data set from a test print run, and the second using a data set averaged between measured data and the characterization data set “IFRA26.txt” provided by IFRA. These three profiles were applied to four test images, which were then printed by the eight newspaper printing presses. A psychophysical experiment was carried out to determine the “pleasantness” of the reproductions, which were produced using the three profiles. The results of the study show the performance of the appropriate profile, which is applied to the eight newspaper printing presses to obtain significant best print quality. Eventually the results demonstrate the fact that the print variations in colours between the eight printing presses are larger thanthe difference between the custom and the standard profiles. Hence, the print variations and not the profile selection may have determined the visual print quality. Therefore the study reveals the importance of adopting international standards and methods instead of using insufficiently defined house standards to preserve equal results among different newspaper printing presses. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2011
Dual‐reader wireless protocols for dense active RFID identification
Authors: Sun Qunying , Zhang Hongjian , Mo Lingfei
Published: March 2011

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) becomes increasingly widespread in various applications. However, data collision is one of the most concerns in dense active RFID systems. Data collision will cause serious data loss, slow identification speed and high energy consumption. In this paper, data collision problem is addressed and two communication protocols are presented based on the dual‐reader structure. One is the master–slave dual‐reader (MSDR) protocol, and the other is called the dual‐reader DCMA (DRDCMA) protocol. Both protocols are implemented in the hardware platform and their performances are compared with other conventional anti‐collision protocols. Experimental results show that our proposed protocols outperform the conventional ones in terms of identification rate, identification speed and energy consumption. Compared to the Single‐reader (SR) protocol, the proposed MSDR protocol can improve the identification rate by 82.9%, reduce the access latency and energy consumption by 47.0%. Besides, the proposed DRDCMA protocol can reduce the access latency and energy consumption by 69.1 and 78.3%, respectively, in comparison with DCMA. Moreover, MSDR has the fastest identification speed and it can improve nearly 100% over SR when the communication load is large enough. DRDCMA presents the highest identification rate with nearly no data loss, while the identification rate in MSDR is 40.6% and decreases dramatically with the increment in communication load. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new allele of Lyl1 confirms its important role in hematopoietic stem cell function
Authors: Souroullas George P. , Goodell Margaret A.
Published: March 2011

Lyl1 codes for a bHLH protein that is an important regulator of hematopoietic stem cell function. An existing mutant allele of Lyl1 features a lacZ gene inserted in‐frame into the fourth exon, leaving behind the N‐terminus and the DNA‐binding basic region, resulting in a translated chimeric protein. Here, we have generated a null allele, which allowed us to examine residual function of the N‐terminus in the absence of a bHLH region. The new Lyl1‐/‐ mouse model exhibited a reduced ability to generate lymphoid lineages and a somewhat more severe hematopoietic repopulation defect when transplanting purified hematopoietic stem cells. Our data show that in the absence of the HLH but presence of the N‐terminus, residual function of the Lyl1 is detectable but relatively minor. The new model may be of use for studies of Lyl1 in which a null allele is required, or for which presence of the LacZ may complicate the combined use of additional mouse models bearing the lacZ marker. genesis 49:441–448, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Commentary on ‘Interventions for bone disease in children with chronic kidney disease’
Authors: Shroff Rukshana , Rees Lesley
Published: March 2011

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Geary DF, Hodson EM, Craig JC. Interventions for bone disease in children with chronic kidney disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD008327. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008327.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying Summary article. Copyright © 2011 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Commentary on “Vaccines for preventing rotavirus diarrhoea: vaccines in use”
Authors: Sahni Leila C. , Boom Julie A.
Published: March 2011

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Soares‐Weiser K, MacLehose H, Ben‐Aharon I, Goldberg E, Pitan F, Cunliffe N. Vaccines for preventing rotavirus diarrhoea: vaccines in use. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD008521. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008521.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying Summary article. Copyright © 2011 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Commentary on ‘Short versus standard duration antibiotic therapy for acute streptococcal pharyngitis in children’
Authors: Lennon Diana , Al Tamimi Saleh A.
Published: March 2011

These are commentaries on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Altamimi S, Khalil A, Khalaiwi KA, Milner RA, Pusic MV, Al Othman MA. Short versus standard duration antibiotic therapy for acute streptococcal pharyngitis in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD004872. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004872.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying Summary article. Copyright © 2011 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
The Coughing Baby
Authors: Thomas Mike
Published: March 2011

This Dr Cochrane clinical vignette is based upon an overview of Cochrane Reviews that was published in the previous issue of Evidence‐Based Child Health: Bialy L, Foisy M, Smith M and Fernandes RM: The Cochrane Library and the Treatment of Bronchiolitis in Children: An Overview of Reviews. Evid‐Based Child Health 2011, 6: 258–275.

Dr Cochrane is a unique self‐learning experience—the integration of Cochrane evidence with a quirky fictional story and multiple‐choice questions provides readers with the opportunity to explore and understand the applicability of a Cochrane Review or Overview in a new way.

In this series of fictional clinical vignettes, Dr Cochrane travels across time from the past century to the present day, to solve clinical problems using evidence from Cochrane Reviews. Read the associated article and then test your knowledge with five multiple choice questions. You can find the answers to the questions on page 806. Copyright © 2011 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Aroma perception in dairy products: the roles of texture, aroma release and consumer physiology. A review.
Authors: Gierczynski Isabelle , Guichard Elisabeth , Laboure Helene
Published: March 2011

Aroma perception is a determinant factor in food choices and acceptability by consumers. To be perceived, aroma compounds must be released in the mouth during food breakdown, transferred into the nasal cavity to reach the olfactory receptor and then be perceived. So, in order to control aroma perception, knowledge of the main factors that can influence in‐mouth aroma release is of major importance. Focusing on dairy products, this review article investigates the factors due to: (i) food products, and mainly the influence of food composition and structure on aroma retention and release; (ii) the inter‐individual variability of subjects, mainly chewing behaviour, saliva rate and composition and their influence on aroma release; and (iii) the interactions between food products and subjects and their impact on aroma release and perception. We also discuss the various instrumental and sensory methodologies that are often used to study aroma–texture interactions in dairy products, with particular focus on articles that compare in vivo aroma release and perception in dairy products. This review emphasizes that the relationship existing between in vivo aroma release and perception in dairy products is strongly dependent on the type of texture relative to two mechanisms; physicochemical mechanisms based on the modification of aroma release and a cognitive mechanism based on aroma–taste–texture interactions. These two mechanisms exist simultaneously but have more or less impact on aroma perception, depending on the type of texture. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A method for estimating soil moisture storage in regions under water stress and storage depletion: a case study of Hai River Basin, North China
Authors: Moiwo Juana Paul , Yang Yonghui , Han Shumin , Lu Wenxi , Yan Nana , Wu Bingfang
Published: March 2011

Soil moisture is a consideration for soil conservation, agricultural production and climate modelling. This article presents a simple method for estimating soil moisture storage under water stress and storage depletion conditions. The method is driven by the common agro‐hydrologic variables of precipitation (PPT), irrigation (IRR) and evapotranspiration (ET). The proposed method is successfully tested for the 152 000 km2 floodplain region of Hai River Basin using 48 consecutive months (2003–2006) of data. Soil moisture data from global land data assimilation system/Noah land surface model are validated with ground‐truth data from 102 soil moisture monitoring sites. The validated soil moisture is used in combination with in situ groundwater data to quantify total water storage change (TWSC) in the region. The estimated storage change is in turn compared with gravity recovery and climate experiment‐derived TWSC for the study area. The soil moisture and TWSC terms show favourable agreements, with discrepancies of < 10% on the average. While there is no consistent seasonal trend in soil moisture, TWSC shows a strong seasonality. It is low in spring and high in summer. This trend corresponds with the IRR–PPT season in the study area. Change in groundwater and total water storage indicates storage depletion in the basin. Storage depletion in the region is driven mainly by groundwater IRR and ET loss. Despite the low PPT and high ET, there is narrowing seasonal trend in soil moisture. This is achieved at the expense of groundwater storage. IRR pumping has induced extensive groundwater depletion in the basin. It is therefore vital to develop cultivation strategies that aim at limiting IRR pumping and ET loss. Water management practices that not only reduce waste but also ensure high productivity and ecological sustainability could also mitigate storage depletion in the region. These measures could reduce further not only the seasonal trend in soil moisture but also that in groundwater storage. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A coupled model for simulating surface water and groundwater interactions in coastal wetlands
Authors: Yuan Li‐Rong , Xin Pei , Kong Jun , Li Ling , Lockington David
Published: March 2011

Coastal wetlands are characterized by strong, dynamic interactions between surface water and groundwater. This paper presents a coupled model that simulates interacting surface water and groundwater flow and solute transport processes in these wetlands. The coupled model is based on two existing (sub) models for surface water and groundwater, respectively: ELCIRC (a three‐dimensional (3‐D) finite‐volume/finite‐difference model for simulating shallow water flow and solute transport in rivers, estuaries and coastal seas) and SUTRA (a 3‐D finite‐element/finite‐difference model for simulating variably saturated, variable‐density fluid flow and solute transport in porous media). Both submodels, using compatible unstructured meshes, are coupled spatially at the common interface between the surface water and groundwater bodies. The surface water level and solute concentrations computed by the ELCIRC model are used to determine the boundary conditions of the SUTRA‐based groundwater model at the interface. In turn, the groundwater model provides water and solute fluxes as inputs for the continuity equations of surface water flow and solute transport to account for the mass exchange across the interface. Additionally, flux from the seepage face was routed instantaneously to the nearest surface water cell according to the local sediment surface slope. With an external coupling approach, these two submodels run in parallel using time steps of different sizes. The time step (Δtg) for the groundwater model is set to be larger than that (Δts) used by the surface water model for computational efficiency: Δtg = M × Δts where M is an integer greater than 1. Data exchange takes place between the two submodels through a common database at synchronized times (e.g. end of each Δtg). The coupled model was validated against two previously reported experiments on surface water and groundwater interactions in coastal lagoons. The results suggest that the model represents well the interacting surface water and groundwater flow and solute transport processes in the lagoons. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of cervical cone biopsies for coexpression of p16INK4a and Ki‐67 in epithelial cells
Authors: Reuschenbach Miriam , Seiz Mirjam , Doeberitz Christina von Knebel , Vinokurova Svetlana , Duwe Alexander , Ridder Ruediger , Sartor Heike , Kommoss Friedrich , Schmidt Dietmar , Doeberitz Magnus von Knebel
Published: March 2011

Diffuse overexpression of p16INK4a in basal and parabasal cells of cervical epithelium is a hallmark of human papillomavirus‐mediated transformation. Focal p16INK4a expression is occasionally observed in nondysplastic epithelium. In normal cells, expression of p16INK4a triggers cell cycle arrest. However, cells undergoing transformation in intraepithelial lesions actively proliferate. To prove that the different expression patterns of p16INK4a, i.e., focal versus diffuse, reflect biologically different entities, we hypothesized that p16INK4a‐positive cells in epithelia displaying focal p16INK4a expression pattern do not coexpress proliferation‐associated Ki‐67 protein, while p16INK4a‐positive cells in lesions with diffuse p16INK4a expression may do. A total of 138 cervical cone biopsies were stained for the expression of p16INK4a and Ki‐67 using a primary antibody cocktail. All metaplastic lesions (n = 21) displayed focal staining for p16INK4a, and in all of these lesions p16INK4a‐positive cells were found to be negative for Ki‐67 expression. Diffuse expression of p16INK4a was observed in 12/21 (57.1%) cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1 lesions, all of them simultaneously showed Ki‐67 immunoreactivity in a large proportion of p16INK4a‐positive cells. Seventeen of 23 (73.9%) CIN2 lesions and all 27 (100%) CIN3/carcinoma in situ (CIS) as well as all 46 (100%) carcinoma cases displayed diffuse and combined expression of p16INK4a and Ki‐67. Coexpression of Ki‐67 and p16INK4a in the same cell is entirely restricted to cervical lesions displaying diffuse p16INK4a expression, whereas in lesions with focal p16INK4a expression, p16INK4a‐expressing cells are negative for Ki‐67. Thus, diffuse expression of p16INK4a reflects lesions with proliferation‐competent cells, while p16INK4a‐expressing cells associated with focal expression patterns are cell cycle arrested.
Pregnancy after adolescent and adult cancer: A population‐based matched cohort study
Authors: Stensheim Hanne , Cvancarova Milada , Møller Bjørn , Fosså Sophie D.
Published: March 2011

Despite fertility‐preserving initiatives, postcancer reproduction is expected to be lower than that of the general population. Using data from the Cancer Registry and the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, postcancer pregnancy rates were analyzed in 27,556 survivors and compared to those from a matched comparison group (“controls”) from the general population. All were born after 1950, diagnosed from 1967 to 2004 at age of 16–45, and had an observation time from the date of diagnosis (assigned date for controls), until pregnancy, death, age 46, or December 31, 2006. Cox regression was used to estimate pregnancy rates, after adjusting for educational level, parity and diagnostic period. Overall, cancer survivors had a lower pregnancy rate than the controls, but the rate for survivors was higher in males than in females [hazard rate (HR) = 0.74 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71–0.78) and HR = 0.61 (95% CI 0.58–0.64), respectively]. However, the rates did not differ between controls and survivors of malignant melanoma or thyroid cancer. By contrast, the lowest HRs for pregnancy occurred in survivors of leukemia, cervical or breast cancer. Increased pregnancy rates during the study period were detected for ovarian cancer [HR = 0.2 (95% CI 0.1–0.3) to HR = 0.7 (95% CI 0.5–0.9)], testicular cancer [HR = 0.6 (95% CI 0.4–0.9) to HR = 0.8 (95% CI 0.7–0.8)], and Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed in men [HR = 0.7 (95% CI 0.5–0.9) to HR = 0.9 (95% CI 0.7–1.0)]. In summary, fertility‐preserving attempts have succeeded in patients with ovarian or testicular cancer and in males with Hodgkin lymphoma. Male survivors initiated pregnancies in a higher degree than female survivors.
Maternal anxiety symptoms and mother–infant self‐ and interactive contingency
Authors: Beebe Beatrice , Steele Miriam , Jaffe Joseph , Buck Karen A. , Chen Henian , Cohen Patricia , Kaitz Marsha , Markese Sara , Andrews Howard , Margolis Amy , Feldstein Stanley
Published: March 2011

Associations of maternal self‐report anxiety‐related symptoms with mother–infant 4‐month face‐to‐face play were investigated in 119 pairs. Attention, affect, spatial orientation, and touch were coded from split‐screen videotape on a 1‐s time base. Self‐ and interactive contingency were assessed by time‐series methods. Because anxiety symptoms signal emotional dysregulation, we expected to find atypical patterns of mother–infant interactive contingencies, and of degree of stability/lability within an individual's own rhythms of behavior (self‐contingencies). Consistent with our optimum midrange model, maternal anxiety‐related symptoms biased the interaction toward interactive contingencies that were both heightened (vigilant) in some modalities and lowered (withdrawn) in others; both may be efforts to adapt to stress. Infant self‐contingency was lowered (“destabilized”) with maternal anxiety symptoms; however, maternal self‐contingency was both lowered in some modalities and heightened (overly stable) in others. Interactive contingency patterns were characterized by intermodal discrepancies, confusing forms of communication. For example, mothers vigilantly monitored infants visually, but withdrew from contingently coordinating with infants emotionally, as if mothers were “looking through” them. This picture fits descriptions of mothers with anxiety symptoms as overaroused/fearful, leading to vigilance, but dealing with their fear through emotional distancing. Infants heightened facial affect coordination (vigilance), but dampened vocal affect coordination (withdrawal), with mother's face—a pattern of conflict. The maternal and infant patterns together generated a mutual ambivalence.
Polyelectrolyte microcapsules with entrapped multicellular tumor spheroids as a novel tool to study the effects of photodynamic therapy
Authors: Zaytseva‐Zotova Daria S. , Udartseva Olga O. , Andreeva Elena R. , Bartkowiak Artur , Bezdetnaya Lina N. , Guillemin François , Goergen Jean‐Louis , Markvicheva Elena A.
Published: March 2011

In the current study, semi‐permeable alginate‐oligochitosan microcapsules for multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) generation were elaborated and tested, to estimate a response of the microencapsulated MTS (MMTS) to photodynamic therapy (PDT). The microcapsules (mean diameter 600 μm) with entrapped human breast adenocarcinoma MCF‐7 cells were obtained using an electrostatic bead generator, and MMTS were generated by in vitro long‐term cell cultivation. The formed MMTS were incubated in Chlorin e6 photosensitizer solution and then irradiated using 650‐nm laser light. The cell viability was measured by MTT‐assay in 24 h after irradiation, and histological analysis was performed. The proposed MTS‐based model was found to be more resistant to the PDT than the two‐dimensional monolayer cell culture model. Thus, MMTS could be considered as a promising three‐dimesional in vitro model to estimate the doses of drugs or parameters for PDT in vitro before carrying out preclinical tests. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
The use of sodium polystyrene sulfonate in the inpatient management of hyperkalemia
Authors: Kessler Chad , Ng Jaclyn , Valdez Kathya , Xie Hui , Geiger Brett
Published: March 2011

Background:

Limited data exist on the precise dose of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) needed for specific potassium concentrations in the management of mild to moderate hyperkalemia in an inpatient hospital setting.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study involving a review of electronic medical records of inpatients receiving SPS for the treatment of hyperkalemia was conducted at the Jesse Brown Veteran Affairs Medical Center, between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006. Hyperkalemia was defined as a serum potassium concentration >5.1 mmol/L. The primary endpoint was the mean change in potassium concentration associated with specific SPS dosage administration.

Results:

A total of 122 patients were selected for inclusion in the analysis. The mean potassium concentrations before SPS administration were 5.40 ± 0.18 mmol/L, 5.51 ± 0.30, 5.83 ± 0.46, and 5.92 ± 0.30 in the 15, 30, 45, and 60 gm groups, respectively. The mean potassium concentration decreased by 0.82 ± 0.48 mmol/L in the 15 gm group, 0.95 ± 0.47 in the 30 gm group, 1.11 ± 0.58 in the 45 gm group, and 1.40 ± 0.42 in the 60 gm group. After a single dose of SPS, the mean potassium concentration was within normal range in 115 patients (94%).

Conclusions:

A possible direct dose response relationship between SPS and the reduction in serum potassium concentration was found and should be evaluated prospectively. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011. © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Preparative isolation of alkaloids from Corydalis bungeana Turcz. by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography using stepwise elution
Authors: Niu Lili , Xie Zhensheng , Cai Tanxi , Wu Peng , Xue Peng , Chen Xiulan , Wu Zhiyong , Ito Yoichiro , Li Famei , Yang Fuquan
Published: March 2011

High‐speed counter‐current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully applied for the preparative separation and purification of alkaloids from Corydalis bungeana Turcz. (Kudiding in Chinese) for the first time. After the measurement of partition coefficient of seven target alkaloids in the nine two‐phase solvent systems composed of CHCl3–MeOH–(0.1 M; 0.2 M; 0.3 M) HCl (4:1.5:2; 4:2:2; 4:3:2, v/v), CHCl3–MeOH–0.2 M HCl (4:2:2, v/v) and CHCl3–MeOH–0.3 M HCl (4:3:2, v/v) were finally selected for the HSCCC separation using the first upper phase as the stationary phase and the stepwise elution of the two lower mobile phases. Consequently, sanguinarine (10 mg), corynoline (25 mg), protopine (20 mg), corynoloxine (18 mg), and 12‐hydroxycorynoline (8 mg) were obtained from 200 mg of crude alkaloid extracts with purities of 94–99% as determined by HPLC. Their chemical structures were characterized on the basis of 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and LC‐ESI‐Q‐TOF‐MS/MS analyses.
Evaluation of a fractional laser with optical compression pins
Authors: Zelickson Brian , Walgrave Susan , Al‐Arashi Munir , Yaroslavsky Ilya , Altshuler Gregory , Childs James , Smirnov Mikhail , Tabatadze David
Published: March 2011

Background and Objective

Non‐ablative fractional lasers have been used in skin rejuvenation procedures with some success. In general, the optimum area coverage and depths of the fractional thermal injury zones depend on the specific indications of interest. For all fractional devices, depth is adjusted with energy that also determines the coagulation area at the dermal/epidermal junction. Micro‐beams (µB) of a 1,540 nm laser are co‐aligned with optical pins in a device designed to provide skin compression during treatment to remodel the deeper reticular dermis and hypodermis while minimizing epidermal damage. The device is characterized in ex vivo and clinical studies.

Materials and Methods

Ex vivo porcine skin was treated with a compression‐pins optic connected to an Er:Glass laser hand piece. Nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBTC) cell viability staining of horizontal radial and vertical sections of post‐treatment skin was used to assess coagulation profiles. A pilot clinical study was also performed to evaluate the effects of compression on epidermal injury.

Results

The compression‐pins optic provided deeper coagulation to 1.5 mm depths and less epidermal injury than without compression. Coagulation depth was increased further with stacked pulses.

Conclusion

The ability to de‐couple depth of treatment from area coverage provides greater flexibility of treatments. The results promise greater possibilities to vary dermal injury patters which may offer increased benefit in treating a variety of cutaneous conditions. Lasers Surg. Med. 42:137–142, 2011 © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Numerical optimization of sequential cryogen spray cooling and laser irradiation for improved therapy of port wine stain
Authors: Milanič Matija , Jia Wangcun , Nelson J Stuart , Majaron Boris
Published: March 2011

Background and Objective

Despite application of cryogen spray (CS) precooling, customary treatment of port wine stain (PWS) birthmarks with a single laser pulse does not result in complete lesion blanching for a majority of patients. One obvious reason is nonselective absorption by epidermal melanin, which limits the maximal safe radiant exposure. Another possible reason for treatment failure is screening of laser light within large PWS vessels, which prevents uniform heating of the entire vessel lumen. Our aim is to identify the parameters of sequential CS cooling and laser irradiation that will allow optimal photocoagulation of various PWS blood vessels with minimal risk of epidermal thermal damage.

Study Design and Methods

Light and heat transport in laser treatment of PWS are simulated using a custom 3D Monte Carlo model and 2D finite element method, respectively. Protein denaturation in blood and skin are calculated using the Arrhenius kinetic model with tissue‐specific coefficients. Simulated PWS vessels with diameters of 30–150 µm are located at depths of 200–600 µm, and shading by nearby vessels is accounted for according to PWS histology data from the literature. For moderately pigmented and dark skin phototypes, PWS blood vessel coagulation and epidermal thermal damage are assessed for various parameters of sequential CS cooling and 532‐nm laser irradiation, i.e. the number of pulses in a sequence (1–5), repetition rate (7–30 Hz), and radiant exposure.

Results

Simulations of PWS treatment in darker skin phototypes indicate specific cooling/irradiation sequences that provide significantly higher efficacy and safety as compared to the customary single‐pulse approach across a wide range of PWS blood vessel diameters and depths. The optimal sequences involve three to five laser pulses at repetition rates of 10–15 Hz.

Conclusions

Application of the identified cooling/irradiation sequences may offer improved therapeutic outcome for patients with resistant PWS, especially in darker skin phototypes. Lasers Surg. Med. 42:164–175, 2011 © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
“Total” analysis of the growing species in living cationic polymerizations by in‐situ multinucleate NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Sawamoto Mitsuo
Published: March 2011

The nature of the growing species in living cationic polymerizations of vinyl ethers was discussed on the basis of in‐situ direct analysis of model growing ends [CH3Cδ+H(OiBu)… Bδ…MXn] by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The model reactions were to mimic the polymerizations initiated with protonic acid/metal halide systems [HB/MXn; HB = HCl, CF3CO2H, (C6H5O)2PO2 H; MXn = ZnCl2, SnCl4], where all of the three components of the growing end [carbocation (∼∼C+), counter‐anion (B−), and activator (MXn)] were analyzed by monitoring such nuclei as 1H, 13C, 19F, 31P, and 119Sn incorporated therein. The results demonstrated: (i) the MXn‐assisted formation of sp2‐type carbocations from the precursor CH3CH(OiBu)‐B; (ii) the interaction of MXn with the counteranion B−; and (iii) the suppression of dissociated carbocationic intermediates under the living polymerization conditions.
NMR techniques in emulsion polymer investigation
Authors: Llauro M. F. , Pétiaud R. , Hidalgo M. , Guillot J. , Pichot C.
Published: March 2011

This paper is a brief survey showing the versatility and unicity of NMR spectroscopy for characterizing the macromolecular architecture in copolymers originated from an emulsion process. Three cases are more particularly described using various NMR techniques i) to carry out high resolution 13 C NMR in order to investigate the microstructure (mainly the monomer sequence distribution as a function of process variables, ii) to perform direct analysis of latex particles by 13 C NMR so as to get insight on the surface morphology of functional particles, iii) to deal with solid‐state NMR on as‐dried particles (or films) in order to obtain quantitative information on the internal morphology of composite latexes.
The effect of composition drift and copolymer microstructure on mechanical bulk properties of styrene‐methyl acrylate emulsion copolymers
Authors: Schoonbrood Harold A. S. , Brouns Harry M. G. , Thijssen Henk A. , van Herk Alex M. , German Anton L.
Published: March 2011

In order to determine the influence of composition drift and copolymer microstructure on the mechanical bulk properties of styrene ‐methyl acrylate copolymers, several copolymers were produced by emulsion copolymerization. Three different average compositions were used. By performing the copolymerizations under batch and semicontinuous conditions with two different monomer addition strategies (starved conditions and optimal addition) it was possible to control composition drift and to produce copolymers with different microstructures (chemical composition distributions). All these copolymers were processed in a way that ensured that the original particle structure was lost before the polymers were tested. It was found that composition drift had an influence on the mechanical properties (Young's modulus, maximum stress, elongation at break). This influence could be understood very well on the basis of present knowledge about structure‐mechanical properties relationships. In the case of homogeneous copolymers maximum stress and elongation at break are dependent on the molecular weight, and only weakly dependent on the chemical composition, and Young's modulus is independent of chemical composition and molecular weight in the range of compositions investigated, as expected. In the case of heterogeneous copolymers, the influence of copolymer microstructure on Young's modulus, maximum stress and elongation at break is very large. Depending on the extent of control of composition drift during the polymerizations, phase separation was observed in the processed polymers, and the presence of a rubber phase affected the properties profoundly.
Piero Pino
Authors: Ciardelli F.
Published: March 2011

Piero Pino was at the same time an inspired teacher, a creative scientist and an endless organizer. His culture was also very broad allowing him to donate the scientific community valuable contributions in organic and organometallic chemistry, in catalysis and polymer science. In this last field Pino was really a pioneer in combining the molecular approach to the complex supramolecular structure of polymeric materials, and indicated the routes to tailor‐made polymers on the basis of the molecular control of the structure during the polymerization process.

Many examples of this approach can be found looking at his impressive and outstanding scientific production where the fundamental aspects were constantly preeminent without disregarding possibilities of technological developments.

Thus his name is significantly related to isotactic poly(propylene) where he acted as the real “right hand” of Professor Giulio Natta at the Politecnico (Milano) during the early 50s and gave a remarkable support to make the discovery a still unique scientific event and successively a very important industrial reality. The relevant structural and catalytic questions connected to the stereospecific polymerization where thoroughly investigated by Pino in Pisa, where during 12 years (1956‐1967) he used chiral reagents and monomers to disclose the enantiomorphic sites character and clarify the relations between stereoregularity and optical activity in macromolecules.

Successively at the Polytechnic (ETH) in Zürich, Pino approached with renewed enthusiasm the study of homogeneous catalysis for the synthesis of macromolecules, and his very strong chemical culture allowed once again important contributions to the stereochemical features of 1‐olefins polymerization by metallocene catalysts and to the synthesis of CO/1‐olefin alternating copolymers.

This is only the mainline of Professor Pino's scientific contribution to macromolecular science; many others aspects were indeed developed thanks to his skilled scientific capacity.

Piero Pino died untimely in 1989 and his death was a big lost for the world polymer community, but his memory will certainly survive for many future generations of polymer scientists.
From controlled 3‐dimensional architectures to smart materials
Authors: Put Jos A.
Published: March 2011

Under the pressure of bad economic conditions, Chemical Industry and the Polymer Producing Industry in particular, have been focusing on core businesses and several developments in advanced materials have been slowed down. Increased competition from low cost countries imposes rigorous restructuring of the traditional industry. Environmental considerations enhance the pressure even more.

While the Polymer Industry is struggling with major restructuring operations, the scientific activities in the field of macromolecules show a tremendous innovative power. Ever increasing molecular control by the use of new catalysts, cooperative supramolecular interactions and controlled building up of 3‐dimensional structures, new architectures leading to enhanced performance and completely new properties, development of functional materials and smart materials are hot items at every meeting.

The outcome of this situation could be that the world of materials and materials producers will look quite different in the first decade of the next century.
Sequence of polymers by mass spectrometry
Authors: Montaudo Giorgio
Published: March 2011

Mass Spectrometry, being able to look at the mass of individual molecules in a mixture of homologues, is particularly suitable for the detection of a series of oligomers. However, mass spectra had not been exploited to estimate oligomers distributions, due to the diffuse notion that a lack of correlation existed between peak intensities and concentration of the oligomers in the mixture. The introduction of soft‐ionization techniques has largely eliminated this problem. A novel method for the determination of the microstructure of copolymers is presented here. We have recently found that opportune decoding of the information contained in the mass spectral intensities leads to the determination of composition and microstructure in copolymers, and this represents a significant progress. Statistical modeling of the mass spectral intensities of copolymers has been used to derive information on the distribution of monomers along the copolymer chain, and an automated procedure to find the composition and the sequence of the copolymers analyzed has been developed. The statistical analysis of copolymers makes use of Bernoullian and Markovian models in order to characterize the microstructure of copolymer samples, and assuming a theoretical distribution and then fitting the calculated oligomer abundances with the experimental MS peak intensities, the copolymer composition can be determined. A method is also reported to obtain the copolymer conposition by direct analysis of the mass spectra. These theories have been applied to determine the composition and the microstructure of several copolymers whose mass spectra have been reported in the most recent literature.