bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency, determinants, and prognostic effects of acute kidney injury and red blood cell transfusion in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Nuis Rutger‐Jan M. , Van Mieghem Nicolas M. , Tzikas Apostolos , Piazza Nicolo , Otten Amber M. , Cheng Jin , van Domburg Ron T. , Betjes Michiel , Serruys Patrick W. , de Jaegere Peter P.T.
Published: November 2010

Objectives: To determine the frequency and independent predictors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in addition to the prognostic implications of both AKI and periprocedural red blood cell (RBC) transfusions on 30 day and cumulative late mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Background: RBC transfusions have been reported to predict AKI following TAVI. Data on the prognostic implications of both factors, however, are lacking. Methods: 126 consecutive patients underwent TAVI with the Medtronic CoreValve Revalving System. AKI was defined according to the valve academic research consortium definitions as an absolute increase in serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg dL−1 (≥26.4 μmol L−1) or a percentage increase ≥50% within 72 hr following TAVI. Results: Five patients on chronic haemodialysis and three intraprocedural deaths were excluded, leading to a final study population of 118 patients. AKI occurred in 19% of the patients necessitating temporary haemodialysis in 2%. Independent predictors of AKI included: previous myocardial infarction (OR: 5.72; 95% CI: 1.64–19.94), periprocedural (<24 hr) RBC transfusions (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.01–1.70), postprocedural (<72 hr) leucocyte count (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02–1.37), and logistic EuroSCORE (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01–1.14). In patients with AKI, 30‐day mortality was 23% and cumulative late mortality (median: 13 months) was 55%. AKI (OR: 5.47; 95% CI: 1.23–24.21) and postprocedural leucocyte count (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.03–1.38) were independent predictors of 30‐day mortality while AKI (HR: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.36–5.71) was the only independent predictor of late mortality. Conclusions: AKI following TAVI occurred in 19% of the patients. RBC transfusion was found to be an independent predictor of AKI, which in turn predicted both 30‐day and cumulative late mortality. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection and clinical outcome of urinary bladder cancer with 5‐aminolevulinic acid‐induced fluorescence cystoscopy
Authors: Stenzl Arnulf , Penkoff Hannes , Dajc‐Sommerer Elfriede , Zumbraegel Andreas , Hoeltl Lorenz , Scholz Michael , Riedl Claus , Bugelnig Josef , Hobisch Alfred , Burger Maximilian , Mikuz Gregor , Pichlmeier Uwe
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND:

The medical community lacks results from prospective controlled multicenter studies of the diagnostic efficacy of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (5‐ALA) cystoscopy on tumor recurrence in patients with superficial bladder tumors.

METHODS:

A prospective randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was conducted in 370 patients with nonmuscle‐invasive urinary bladder carcinoma who received either 5‐ALA (n = 187) or a placebo (n = 183) intravesically before cystoscopy. Each group underwent cystoscopy under visible white light and under fluorescent light followed by transurethral tumor resection. The primary study objective was to evaluate the 12‐month recurrence‐free survival.

RESULTS:

Slightly more patients with tumors were detected by using 5‐ALA than by using the placebo (88.5% vs 84.7%). The mean numbers of tumor specimens per patient were 1.8 (5‐ALA) and 1.6 (placebo). Intrapatient comparison of fluorescent light versus white light cystoscopy in patients randomized to receive 5‐ALA showed a higher tumor detection rate with fluorescent light than with white light cystoscopy. In patients receiving 5‐ALA cystoscopy, the percentage of lesions that would not have been detected in these patients by white light cystoscopy ranged between 10.9% (pT1) and 55.9% (atypia). Progression‐free survival was 89.4% (5‐ALA) and 89.0% (placebo) (P = .9101), and recurrence‐free survival 12 months after tumor resection was 64.0% (5‐ALA) and 72.8% (placebo) (P = .2216).

CONCLUSIONS:

In comparison to the placebo, 5‐ALA cystoscopy did not increase the rates of recurrence‐free or progression‐free survival 12 months after tumor resection. Although more tumors per patient were detected in the 5‐ALA group, the higher detection rate did not translate into differences in long‐term outcome. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
The use of recombinant erythropoietin for the treatment of chemotherapy‐induced anemia in patients with ovarian cancer does not affect progression‐free or overall survival
Authors: Cantrell Leigh A. , Westin Shannon N. , Van Le Linda
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND.

Studies have suggested that erythropoietin‐stimulating agents (ESAs) may affect progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in a variety of cancer types. Because this finding had not been explored previously in ovarian or primary peritoneal carcinoma, the authors of this report analyzed their ovarian cancer population to determine whether ESA treatment for chemotherapy‐induced anemia affected PFS or OS.

METHODS.

A retrospective review was conducted of women who were treated for ovarian cancer at the corresponding author's institution over a 10‐year period (from January 1994 to May 2004). Treatment groups were formed based on the use of an ESA. Two analyses of survival were conducted to determine the effect of ESA therapy on PFS and OS. Disease status was modeled as a function of treatment group using a logistic regression model. Kaplan‐Meier curves were generated to compare the groups, and a Cox proportional hazards model was fit to the data.

RESULTS.

In total, 343 women were identified. The median age was 57 (interquartile range, 48‐68 years). The majority of women were Caucasian (n = 255; 74%) and were diagnosed with stage III (n = 210; 61%), epithelial (n = 268; 78%) ovarian cancer. Although the disease stage at diagnosis and surgical staging significantly affected the rates of disease recurrence and OS, the receipt of an ESA had no effect on PFS (P = .9) or OS (P = .25).

CONCLUSIONS.

The current results indicated that there was no difference in cancer‐related PFS or OS with use of ESA in this cohort of women treated for ovarian cancer. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Efficacy and safety of clofarabine in relapsed and/or refractory non‐hodgkin lymphoma, including rituximab‐refractory patients
Authors: Nabhan Chadi , Davis Nancy , Bitran Jacob D. , Galvez Angel , Fried Walter , Tolzien Kathy , Foss Susan , Dewey Wendy M. , Venugopal Parameswaran
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND:

Currently, no standard therapy exists for patients with relapsed and/or refractory non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who are ineligible for transplantation or who have failed after bone marrow transplantation. The authors of this report investigated the safety and efficacy of clofarabine (CLO) in these patients.

METHODS:

In a 2‐step, open‐label study, CLO (as a 1‐hour intravenous infusion given daily for 5 days) was given every 28 days (maximum, 6 cycles). In the phase 1 portion (n = 7; standard 3 + 3 study design), the dose was escalated by 2 mg/m2 to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The phase 2 study (n = 26) was initiated at the MTD, and patients were followed until disease progression.

RESULTS:

Of 33 patients who were enrolled, 31 patients (median age, 69 years) were evaluable; 24% failed after previous stem cell transplantation, and 72% were rituximab‐refractory. The MTD for CLO was 4 mg/m2. The overall response rate was 42%. Seven patients (23%) achieved a complete response, and 6 patients (19%) achieved a partial response. The median response duration was 5 months. Among the rituximab‐refractory patients, the overall response rate was 47% (complete response rate, 28%), and the median response duration was 7 months. At a median follow‐up of 14 months, 45% of patients remained alive (median overall survival, 10 months). Toxicity was mainly hematologic (≥60% of patients had neutropenia or thrombocytopenia). Nonhematologic toxicity included tumor lysis syndrome, infection, and renal insufficiency (in 6% of patients each). No treatment‐related mortality was observed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Single‐agent CLO was active and was tolerated well in patients with refractory NHL, including patients in a rituximab‐refractory subset. Reversible myelosuppression was the major toxicity. Study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00156013). Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Phosphorylated AKT expression is associated with PIK3CA mutation, low stage, and favorable outcome in 717 colorectal cancers
Authors: Baba Yoshifumi , Nosho Katsuhiko , Shima Kaori , Hayashi Marika , Meyerhardt Jeffrey A. , Chan Andrew T. , Giovannucci Edward , Fuchs Charles S. , Ogino Shuji
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND:

AKT (AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3) was a downstream effector of phosphatidylinositide‐3‐kinase (PI3K) and played crucial roles in protein synthesis, cellular metabolism, survival, and proliferation. The PI3K/AKT pathway was commonly activated in human cancers and was recognized as a potential target for anticancer therapy. Nonetheless, clinical, molecular, or prognostic features of AKT‐activated colon cancer remained uncertain.

METHODS:

Using a database of 717 colon and rectal cancers in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow‐up Study, Ser473 phosphorylated AKT (p‐AKT) expression was detected in 448 (62%) tumors by immunohistochemistry. Cox proportional hazards model was used to compute mortality hazards ratio (HR), adjusting for clinical and tumoral features, including PIK3CA, KRAS, BRAF, microsatellite instability (MSI), CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), LINE‐1 methylation, TP53 (p53), and FASN (fatty acid synthase).

RESULTS:

Tumor p‐AKT expression was associated with PIK3CA mutation (odds ratio [OR], 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12‐2.80; P = .015). p‐AKT expression was significantly associated with longer colorectal cancer‐specific survival in Kaplan‐Meier analysis (log‐rank P = .0005), univariate Cox regression (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.47‐0.82; P = .0006) and multivariate analysis (adjusted HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.56‐0.99; P = .048) adjusting for clinical and molecular variables including PIK3CA, MSI, CIMP and LINE‐1 hypomethylation. p‐AKT expression was inversely associated with high stage (III‐IV) (adjusted OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.45‐0.88, P = .0071).

CONCLUSIONS:

p‐AKT expression in colorectal cancer is associated with low stage and good prognosis. p‐AKT may serve as a tissue biomarker to identify patients with superior prognosis and a possible therapeutic target (analogous to estrogen receptor ESR1 in breast cancer). Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Catechol‐O‐methyltransferase genotype modulates cancer treatment‐related cognitive deficits in breast cancer survivors
Authors: Small Brent J. , Rawson Kerri Sharp , Walsh Erin , Jim Heather S. L. , Hughes Tiffany F. , Iser Lindsay , Andrykowski Michael A. , Jacobsen Paul B.
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND:

Recent attention has focused on the negative effects of chemotherapy on the cognitive performance of cancer survivors. The current study examined modification of this risk by catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) genotype based on evidence in adult populations that the presence of a Val allele is associated with poorer cognitive performance.

METHODS:

Breast cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy (n = 58), and/or chemotherapy (n = 72), and 204 healthy controls (HCs) completed tests of cognitive performance and provided saliva for COMT genotyping. COMT genotype was divided into Val carriers (Val+; Val/Val, Val/Met) or COMT‐Met homozygote carriers (Met; Met/Met).

RESULTS:

COMT‐Val+ carriers performed more poorly on tests of attention, verbal fluency, and motor speed relative to COMT‐Met homozygotes. Moreover, COMT‐Val+ carriers treated with chemotherapy performed more poorly on tests of attention relative to HC group members who were also Val+ carriers.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results suggest that persons treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer who also possess the COMT‐Val gene are susceptible to negative effects on their cognitive health. This research is important because it strives to understand the factors that predispose some cancer survivors to more negative quality‐of‐life outcomes. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Periosteal osteosarcoma
Authors: Cesari Marilena , Alberghini Marco , Vanel Daniel , Palmerini Emanuela , Staals Eric L. , Longhi Alessandra , Abate Massimo , Ferrari Cristina , Balladelli Alba , Ferrari Stefano
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND:

Periosteal osteosarcoma is a rare variant of osteosarcoma. Wide surgical removal is the mainstay of treatment, but controversy remains about the role of chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to review and analyze the clinical and treatment‐related factors that influence the survival of patients with periosteal osteosarcoma who received treatment in a single institution.

METHODS:

Thirty‐three patients with periosteal osteosarcoma (19 males and 14 females) with a median age of 16 years (range, ages 6‐32 years) underwent surgery (32 patients) and received radiotherapy (1 patient). Chemotherapy was received according to different regimens for high‐grade osteosarcoma by 14 patients who had grade 3 tumors.

RESULTS:

The 10‐year overall survival rate was 84%. The only patient who did not undergo surgery died of disease after 9 months; for the remaining 32 patients the 10‐year disease‐free survival rate was 65%. Survival was not influenced by the receipt of chemotherapy. The patients who received chemotherapy had a 10‐year overall survival rate of 86%, and those who received only local treatment had an overall survival rate of 83% (P = .73).

CONCLUSIONS:

The authors' experience indicated that the treatment of periosteal osteosarcoma requires only wide surgical removal of the tumor and that adjuvant chemotherapy does not improve survival. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
The implications of the 2010 patient protection and affordable care act and the health care and education reconciliation act on cancer care delivery
Authors: Albright Heidi W. , Moreno Mark , Feeley Thomas W. , Walters Ronald , Samuels Marc , Pereira Alissa , Burke Thomas W.
Published: November 2010

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. This legislation attempts to address cost control and improve the quality of healthcare in the United States. Cancer is a major health problem in the United States and the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 80. Therefore, cancer care providers need to be fully engaged in ongoing discussions regarding quality measurement and care delivery. With the optimum level of collaboration and support, the proposals in the legislation can be properly structured to deliver improved access to care via better delivery systems, as well as more appropriate reimbursement to advance the prevention and treatment of cancer. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Addition of pamidronate to chemotherapy for the treatment of osteosarcoma
Authors: Meyers Paul A. , Healey John H. , Chou Alexander J. , Wexler Leonard H. , Merola Pamela R. , Morris Carol D. , Laquaglia Michael P. , Kellick Michael G. , Abramson Sara J. , Gorlick Richard
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND:

This study evaluated the safety and feasibility of the addition of pamidronate to chemotherapy for treatment of osteosarcoma.

METHODS:

The authors treated 40 patients with osteosarcoma with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and methotrexate with the addition of pamidronate 2 mg/kg/dose (max dose 90 mg) monthly for 12 doses. Survival, event‐free survival (EFS), and durability of orthopedic reconstruction were evaluated.

RESULTS:

For patients with localized disease, event‐free survival (EFS) at 5 years was 72% and overall survival 93%. For patients with metastatic disease, EFS at 5 years was 45% and overall survival 64%. Toxicity was similar to patients treated with chemotherapy alone. Thirteen of 14 uncemented implants demonstrated successful osteointegration. Among allograft reconstructions, there were 2 graft failures, 4 delayed unions, and 6 successful grafts. Overall, 5 of 33 reconstructions failed. There were no stress fractures or growth disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pamidronate can be safely incorporated with chemotherapy for the treatment of osteosarcoma. It does not impair the efficacy of chemotherapy. Pamidronate may improve the durability of limb reconstruction. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
The influence of high body mass index on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after surgery as primary therapy
Authors: Hayashi Yuki , Correa Arlene M. , Hofstetter Wayne L. , Vaporciyan Ara A. , Rice David C. , Walsh Garrett L. , Mehran Reza J. , Lee Jeffrey H. , Bhutani Manoop S. , Dekovich Alexander , Swisher Stephen G. , Ajani Jaffer A.
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND:

High body mass index (BMI), a prevalent condition in the United States, is associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Its influence on a patient's outcome remains unclear. In the current study, the authors examined the impact of BMI on survival and complications in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) who underwent surgery as their primary therapy.

METHODS:

The authors retrospectively reviewed 301 consecutive EC patients who underwent surgery but received no adjunctive therapy. Patients were segregated into 2 subgroups based on their baseline BMI: normal/low (<25 kg/m2) and high (≥25 kg/m2).

RESULTS:

Seventy‐six (25%) patients had a BMI <25 kg/m2 and 225 (75%) patients had a BMI ≥25 kg/m2. In the high BMI group, there were more men (P < .001), fewer upper ECs (P = .021), a lower baseline clinical stage (P = .006), and frequent EAC (P < .001). Postoperative morbidity was similar in both groups, with the exception of gastrointestinal complications (P = .016). The 5‐year overall survival (OS) rates were 44% in the normal/low BMI group and 60% in the high BMI group (P = .017). The 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) rates were 41% in the normal/low BMI group and 60% in the high BMI group (P = .005). On multivariable analysis, age, weight loss, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and both clinical and pathological stage of disease were found to be independent prognosticators for OS. Older age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.029; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.009‐1.049 [P = .004]), weight loss (HR, 1.525; 95% CI, 1.034‐2.248 [P = .033]), and PVD (HR, 2.325; 95% CI, 1.039‐5.204 [P = .040]) were found to be associated with poor OS.

CONCLUSIONS:

High BMI is common in EC patients and the better OS/DFS noted in patients with a high BMI is because of the diagnosis of a low baseline clinical stage. Confirmation of these findings is warranted. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training of family members before hospital discharge using video self‐instruction: A feasibility trial
Authors: Blewer Audrey L. , Leary Marion , Decker Christopher S. , Andersen James C. , Fredericks Amanda C. , Bobrow Bentley J. , Abella Benjamin S.
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND:

Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a crucial therapy for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), yet rates of bystander CPR are low. This is especially the case for SCA occurring in the home setting, as family members of at‐risk patients are often not CPR trained.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the feasibility of a novel hospital‐based CPR education program targeted to family members of patients at increased risk for SCA.

DESIGN:

Prospective, multicenter, cohort study.

SETTING:

Inpatient wards at 3 hospitals.

SUBJECTS:

Family members of inpatients admitted with cardiac‐related diagnoses.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS:

Family members were offered CPR training via a proctored video‐self instruction (VSI) program. After training, CPR skills and participant perspectives regarding their training experience were assessed. Surveys were conducted one month postdischarge to measure the rate of “secondary training” of other individuals by enrolled family members. At the 3 study sites, 756 subjects were offered CPR instruction; 280 agreed to training and 136 underwent instruction using the VSI program. Of these, 78 of 136 (57%) had no previous CPR training. After training, chest compression performance was generally adequate (mean compression rate 90 ± 26/minute, mean depth 37 ± 12 mm). At 1 month, 57 of 122 (47%) of subjects performed secondary training for friends or family members, with a calculated mean of 2.1 persons trained per kit distributed.

CONCLUSIONS:

The hospital setting offers a unique “point of capture” to provide CPR instruction to an important, undertrained population in contact with at‐risk individuals. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Iron in sickle‐cell disease: What have we learned over the years?
Authors: Inati Adlette , Khoriaty Evelyne , Musallam Khaled M.
Published: November 2010

Over the last four decades, monumental advances have been made in the understanding, assessment, and management of transfusion‐dependent patients, which have translated into significant improvements in patient morbidity and mortality. Important lessons have been learned from extensive clinical experience of iron management in the thalassemias, but greater knowledge of key differences in the sickle‐cell disease (SCD) population may impact on our approach to patient assessment and management. The unique pathophysiology of SCD is reflected in a distinct pattern of iron loading with minimal organ‐specific injury. An appreciation and understanding of these differences should allow us to develop tailored management approaches that optimize patient outcomes. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011;56:182–190. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Water‐soluble fluorescent nanoparticles without distinct aggregation of conjugated polymer chains
Authors: Zhang Guangwei , Lu Xiaomei , Wang Yunyun , Huang Yanqin , Fan Quli , Huang Wei
Published: November 2010

In a previous study, we reported water‐soluble light‐emitting nanoparticles with distinct interchain aggregation states of the constituent conjugated polymers. These interchain states usually result in strong self‐quenching, dramatically reducing the quantum efficiency of fluorescence. In the work reported in the present study, we developed new water‐soluble fluorescent nanoparticles without distinct aggregation of the conjugated polymer chains, which demonstrated distinctive morphologies and optical properties. ‘Strawberry’ morphologies of the nanoparticles were directly observed using transmission electron microscopy. The conjugated polymers were dispersed in the individual cores of the nanoparticles and the majority of the core diameters were in the range 8–12 nm. The primary optical properties of the conjugated polymers in tetrahydrofuran still remained in the nanoparticles. The results suggest that the conjugated polymer chains formed a possible unimolecular structure without distinct aggregation in the nanoparticles. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Graft copolymers via ROMP and Diels–Alder click reaction strategy
Authors: Durmaz Hakan , Dag Aydan , Cerit Nese , Sirkecioglu Okan , Hizal Gurkan , Tunca Umit
Published: November 2010

Anthracene‐functionalized oxanorbornene monomer and oxanorbornenyl polystyrene (PS) with ω‐anthracene end‐functionalized macromonomer were first polymerized via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization using the first‐generation Grubbs' catalyst in dichloromethane at room temperature and then clicked with maleimide end‐functionalized polymers, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐MI, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)‐MI, and poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA)‐MI in a Diels–Alder reaction in toluene at 120 °C to create corresponding graft copolymers, poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐PEG, poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐PMMA, and graft block copolymers, poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐(PS‐b‐PEG), poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐(PS‐b‐PMMA), and poly(oxanorbornene)‐g‐(PS‐b‐PtBA), respectively. Diels–Alder click reaction efficiency for graft copolymerization was monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy. The dn/dc values of graft copolymers and graft block copolymers were experimentally obtained using a triple detection gel permeation chromatography and subsequently introduced to the software so as to give molecular weights, intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and hydrodynamic radius (Rh) values. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Religious exclusivism unlimited
Authors: DE RIDDER JEROEN
Published: November 2010

Like David Silver before them, Erik Baldwin and Michael Thune argue that the facts of religious pluralism present an insurmountable challenge to the rationality of basic exclusive religious belief as construed by Reformed Epistemology. I will show that their argument is unsuccessful. First, their claim that the facts of religious pluralism make it necessary for the religious exclusivist to support her exclusive beliefs with significant reasons is one that the reformed epistemologist has the resources to reject. Secondly, they fail to demonstrate that it is impossible for basic religious beliefs to return to their properly basic state after defeaters against them have been defeated. Finally, I consider whether there is perhaps a similar but better argument in the neighbourhood and conclude in the negative. Reformed Epistemology's defence of exclusivism thus remains undefeated.
Competition between word order and case-marking in interpreting grammatical relations: a case study in multilingual acquisition
Authors: O'SHANNESSY CARMEL
Published: November 2010

The study examines strategies multilingual children use to interpret grammatical relations, focusing on their two primary languages, Lajamanu Warlpiri and Light Warlpiri. Both languages use mixed systems for indicating grammatical relations. In both languages ergative–absolutive case-marking indicates core arguments, but to different extents in each language. In Lajamanu Warlpiri, pronominal clitics in a nominative–accusative pattern also indicate core arguments, and in Light Warlpiri word order in a nominative–accusative pattern partially does so. The study asks which sentence interpretation strategies children rely on most, when they learn to rely on them and whether cross-linguistic influences are seen. Children aged 5 ; 0, 7 ; 0 and 9 ; 0 and adults saw paired, animated events simultaneously on video and heard a transitive sentence spoken. The participants pointed to the event depicted by the sentence heard. Adults used a case-marking strategy consistently in both languages. Children initially used both case-marking and word order strategies, but used case-marking more often as age increased.
Bringing the City Back In: Space and Place in the Urban History of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era
Authors: Connolly James
Published: November 2010

Edward Bellamy'sLooking Backwardsought to understand the social consequences of industrialization by looking at a city. One of the Gilded Age's best-selling books, the Utopian novel magically transported lead character Julian West to a futuristic Boston set in the year 2000 and contrasted that ideal, cooperative world with the harsh reality of individualism-drenched, industrial Boston in 1887. Bellamy's vision of a twenty-first-century city was prescient about technology: it included automation, mass communication, and swift transportation. His social predictions proved less successful. Boston in the year 2000 was populated by Victorian ladies and gentlemen and lacked the cultural variety we associate with contemporary city life.
Rethinking Sexuality in the Progressive Era
Authors: Cocks Catherine
Published: November 2010

The contemporary politicization of sexualities has deep roots in the previousfin de siècle. Then as now, conflicts over sex acts and sexual identities were central points of articulation in a wide-ranging struggle over just how to produce, reproduce, and embody a moral and humane society. Like scholars of other western, industrialized nations, historians of the United States have identified the turn of the twentieth century as an important period of change in sexual ideology and practice. For decades, the chief framework for understanding this watershed has been a transition from “Victorian” to “modern” mores. One of the most sophisticated renderings of this transition appears in John D'Emilio and Estelle Freedman'sIntimate Matters, a comprehensive survey of U.S. sexual history. The authors identify a shift from family- and reproduction-oriented sexual practices to “sexual liberalism,” the idea that sexual preferences and pleasures stand at the center of individual selfhood.
The Elimination of the Unworthy: Credit Men and Small Retailers in Progressive Era Capitalism
Authors: Smith David Sellers
Published: November 2010

The largest organization of capitalists during the Progressive Era was one that most American historians have never heard of. Motivated primarily by overproduction and ruthless competition, many of the nation's largest manufacturers, distributors, and commercial banks formed the National Association of Credit Men (NACM) in 1896 to reduce the supply of credit available to retailers and consumers. The story of the Credit Men confirms many standard assumptions regarding the rise of corporate America to economic power and cultural legitimacy while challenging others. Advances in technology and salaried organization made possible their mobilization, yet more important was the significant lag in the development of mass retail institutions and consequently mass consumerism behind mass production and distribution. The NACM deployed standardized methods and hungered for administrative efficiency but used these modern tools to instill order and ethical discipline in the nation's business, not to secularize the economy and culture of the new century. America's corporate capitalists seized power by promising moral regulation for unbridled individualism.
COSMIC/FORMOSAT‐3 observations of equatorial F region irregularities in the SAA longitude sector
Authors: Ko C. P. , Yeh H. C.
Published: November 2010

The data of ionospheric electron density and S4 scintillation index from COSMIC/FORMOSAT‐3 GPS occultation soundings are used to study the morphology of the equatorial F region irregularity (EFI) in the longitude sector (0°∼75°W) where the South Atlantic magnetic anomaly (SAA) is located. Launched into low Earth orbits on 14 April 2006, the six‐satellite constellation COSMIC provides daily global measurements of the ionosphere at altitudes below ∼800 km. The large data set enables us a statistically correlative study of electron density depletion and GPS L1 scintillation, which allows the global and altitudinal distributions of irregularity to be examined. Under solar minimum and geomagnetic quiet conditions, postsunset EFI/scintillation events are found to concentrate in the SAA longitude sector during northern winter months (D months), but nearly disappeared in the same longitude sector during the opposite season (J months). The D months’ average pattern of EFI reveals that most of irregularities occurred in the bottom side F region (200–350 km altitude) and at low magnetic latitudes adjacent to the locations of the maximum postsunset Nmax and Hmax. This is consistent with the early postsunset irregularities that are generated in the region where plasma upward drifts have been greatly enhanced. By examining the UT snapshots of the global distributions of electron density and scintillation events, strong spatial correlations are found to exist among the sunset terminator, the westward declined geo‐magnetic field, strong scintillation event, and density depletion in the SAA longitude sector only during D months, where the E region sunset terminator is most possibly parallel to the magnetic field direction at equatorial latitudes. Density depletion structures within this longitude sector were bounded by two postsunset ionization enhancement bands (EIA) that extended over central SAA and its conjugated region, respectively. Such features provide further evidence that the enhanced conductivity gradients due to particle induced ionization in the vicinity of SAA contribute additional electric field enhancements in the equatorial F region. At the walls of the depletion region near the sunset lines, prominent horizontal density gradients exist in both westward and southward directions due to sun setting and SAA ionization enhancement, respectively. The combination of horizontal density gradients with antiparallel (north‐eastward) neutral winds during D months can contribute additional growth rate to the EFI generation. These COSMIC observations not only confirm that the sunset equatorial electrodynamics plays a key role in controlling the seasonal and longitudinal occurrences of the quiet time EFI, but also reveal that seasonally dependent ionospheric responses to the energetic particle precipitation in SAA can affect considerably the morphology of EFI in the SAA longitude sector.
Airborne stratospheric ITCIMS measurements of SO2, HCl, and HNO3 in the aged plume of volcano Kasatochi
Authors: Jurkat T. , Voigt C. , Arnold F. , Schlager H. , Aufmhoff H. , Schmale J. , Schneider J. , Lichtenstern M. , Dörnbrack A.
Published: November 2010

Major explosive volcanic eruptions inject gases and ash particles into the stratosphere, resulting in significant impacts on ozone and climate. Here we report on fast and sensitive in situ measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO2), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and nitric acid (HNO3) in an aged stratospheric plume of volcanic origin made by an ion trap chemical ionization mass spectrometer (ITCIMS) aboard the research aircraft Falcon. Other instruments on the Falcon measured reactive nitrogen (NOy), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) as well as the aerosol composition. The plume most likely originated from the 7–8 August 2008 eruption of the Aleutian volcano Kasatochi and almost 3 months later, on 31 October 2008, was encountered by the aircraft during two missions over Europe at altitudes between 7000 and 11,600 m. Within the plume, SO2 mixing ratios of up to 0.51 ppbv were about a factor of 10 higher than in the background stratosphere (0.02–0.055 ppbv). The molar ratios HCl/O3 and HNO3/NOy tended to be elevated by up to 19%, and HNO3/O3 also showed a substantial enhancement inside the plume. From our measurements we infer an upper limit of the e‐folding lifetime of 62 days for SO2 conversion in the stratosphere, indicating that approximately 25% of the volcanic SO2 had not yet experienced OH‐induced conversion to sulfuric acid. Our measurements contribute to a better understanding of the formation of volcanic aerosol and of heterogeneous reactions taking place on these particles in the lower stratosphere.
Performance of the M062X density functional against the ISOL set of benchmark isomerization energies for large organic molecules
Authors: Rayne Sierra , Forest Kaya
Published: November 2010

Gas phase standard state (298.15 K, 1 atm) isomerization energies were calculated using the M062X functional with the QZVP, 6-311++G(d,p), 6-311++G(2d,2p), and cc-pVTZ basis sets against the 24 reactions in the ISOL set of benchmark isomerization energies for large organic molecules. The M062X functional appears to offer comparable isomerization energy prediction performance to the best performing currently available dispersion corrected functionals against this benchmark dataset.
AtomSim: web-deployed atomistic dynamics simulator
Authors: Keith J. Brandon , Fennick Jacob R. , Nelson Daniel R. , Junkermeier Chad E. , Lin Jiao Y. Y. , Li Chen W. , McKerns Michael M. , Lewis James P. , Fultz Brent
Published: November 2010

AtomSim, a collection of interfaces for computational crystallography simulations, has been developed. It uses forcefield-based dynamics through physics engines such as the General Utility Lattice Program, and can be integrated into larger computational frameworks such as the Virtual Neutron Facility for processing its dynamics into scattering functions, dynamical functionsetc. It is also available as a Google App Engine-hosted web-deployed interface. Examples of a quartz molecular dynamics run and a hafnium dioxide phonon calculation are presented.
Potential use of ultrasound to promote protein crystallization
Authors: Crespo Rosa , Martins Pedro M. , Gales Luís , Rocha Fernando , Damas Ana M.
Published: November 2010

This work shows promising applications of ultrasound in promoting protein crystallization, which is important for structure determination by X-ray crystallography. It was observed that ultrasound can be used as a nucleation promoter as it decreases the energy barrier for crystal formation. Crystallization experiments on egg-white lysozyme were carried out with and without ultrasonic irradiation using commercial crystallization plates placed in temperature-controlled water baths. The nucleation-promoting effect introduced by ultrasound is illustrated by the reduction of the metastable zone width, as measured by the isothermal microbatch technique. The same effect was confirmed by the increased number of conditions leading to the formation of crystals when vapour diffusion techniques were carried out in the presence of ultrasound. By inducing faster nucleation, ultrasound leads to protein crystals grown at low supersaturation levels, which are known to have better diffraction properties. In fact, X-ray diffraction data sets collected using 13 lysozyme crystals (seven grown with ultrasound and six without) show an average 0.1 Å improvement in the resolution limit when ultrasound was used (p< 0.10). Besides the immediate application of ultrasound in nucleation promotion, the preliminary diffraction results also suggest a promising application in crystal quality enhancement.
Substrate-controlled allotropic phases and growth orientation of TiO2epitaxial thin films
Authors: Silva V. F. , Bouquet V. , Députier S. , Boursicot S. , Ollivier S. , Weber I. T. , Silva V. L. , Santos I. M. G. , Guilloux-Viry M. , Perrin A.
Published: November 2010

TiO2thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition on a wide variety of oxide single-crystal substrates and characterized in detail by four-circle X-ray diffraction. Films grown at 873 K on (100)-oriented SrTiO3and LaAlO3were (001)-oriented anatase, while on (100) MgO they were (100)-oriented. On (110) SrTiO3and MgO, (102) anatase was observed. OnM-plane andR-plane sapphire, (001)- and (101)-oriented rutile films were obtained, respectively. OnC-plane sapphire, the coexistence of (001) anatase, (112) anatase and (100) rutile was found; increasing the deposition temperature tended to increase the rutile proportion. Similarly, films grown at 973 K on (100) and (110) MgO showed the emergence, besides anatase, of (110) rutile. All these films were epitaxically grown, as shown by φ scans and/or pole figures, and the various observed orientations were explained on the basis of misfit considerations and interface arrangement.
DEBUSSY: a Debye user system for nanocrystalline materials
Authors: Cervellino Antonio , Giannini Cinzia , Guagliardi Antonietta
Published: November 2010

DEBUSSYis a new free open-source package, written in Fortran95 and devoted to the application of the Debye function analysis (DFA) of powder diffraction data from nanocrystalline, defective and/or non-periodic materials through the use of sampled interatomic distance databases. The suite includes a main program, taking the name of the package,DEBUSSY, and dealing with the DFA of X-ray, neutron and electron experimental data, and a suite of 11 programs, namedCLAUDE, enabling users to create their own databases for nanosized crystalline materials, starting from the list of space-group generators and the asymmetric unit content. A new implementation of the Debye formula is adopted inDEBUSSY, which makes the approach fast enough to deal with the pattern calculation of hundreds of nanocrystals, to sum up their contributions to the total pattern and to perform iterative algorithms for optimizing the parameters of the pattern model. The package strategy uses the sampled-distance database(s) created previously byCLAUDEand combines, for any phase, a log-normal or a bivariate log-normal function to deal with the sample-size distribution; four different functions are implemented to manage possible lattice expansions/contractions as a function of crystal size. A number of output ASCII files are produced to supply some statistics and data suitable for graphical use. The databases of sampled interatomic non-dimensional distances for cuboctahedral, decahedral and icosahedral structure types, suitable for dealing with noble metal nanoparticles, are also available.
Identification of low allergenic apple cultivars using skin prick tests and oral food challenges
Authors: Vlieg‐Boerstra B. J. , van de Weg W. E. , van der Heide S. , Kerkhof M. , Arens P. , Heijerman‐Peppelman G. , Dubois A. E. J.
Published: November 2010

To cite this article: Vlieg‐Boerstra BJ, van de Weg WE, van der Heide S, Kerkhof M, Arens P, Heijerman‐Peppelman G, Dubois AEJ. Identification of low allergenic apple cultivars using skin prick tests and oral food challenges. Allergy 2011; 66: 491–498.

Background:  As oral allergy syndrome (OAS) symptoms to apple are frequent, we aimed to identify low allergenic apple cultivars and to validate the prick‐to‐prick skin prick test (SPT) as a suitable screening method.

Methods:  Sixty‐eight apple cultivars were tested by SPTs in 33 Dutch adults with OAS, before and during the birch pollen season in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Three cultivars yielding the largest number of negative SPTs (Elise, Santana and Pink Lady®) and one reference cultivar (Golden Delicious) were subsequently tested by single‐blind oral food challenges (SBFC) just after picking in fall 2007 (fresh) and in spring 2008 (stored), outside the birch pollen season and preceded by SPTs. In spring, Santana was replaced by Modi®.

Results:  In fresh apples, OAS symptoms of Elise, as measured by cumulative scores on a Visual Analogue Scale VASt, were significantly lower than those of Santana, Pink Lady and Golden Delicious (P = 0.021; 0.040 and 0.005, respectively). VASt scores of Santana were significantly lower than those of Golden Delicious (P = 0.049). In stored apples, VASt scores of Elise were significantly lower than that of Golden Delicious (P = 0.038). VASt scores of fresh apples did not differ significantly from stored apples, except in Golden Delicious (spring < fall: P = 0.021). The SPTs did not predict the severity of OAS.

Conclusion:  SPTs are not useful to assess the allergenicity of apple cultivars. By using SBFC, Elise and Santana were identified as low allergenic apple cultivars in patient with OAS. Our data on the effect of storage are inconclusive.
Studies of the species barrier between Drosophila subobscura and D. madeirensis IV. A genetic dissection of the X chromosome for speciation genes
Authors: Khadem M. , Krimbas C. B.
Published: November 2010

The genetics of four traits contributing to the isolation mechanism between the two closely related species of Drosophila belonging to the obscura group, D. subobscura and D. madeirensis, have been investigated, especially regarding the influence exerted by the X chromosome. This chromosome has been roughly dissected genetically by the use of four markers. It was found that factors affecting viability of backcross males are spread from the centromeric end of the chromosome up the region marked by Bx. Three sections were responsible for male sterility/fertility. The abnormal head shape of the backcross males was affected by factor(s) on the madeirensis and the subobscura sex chromosome located at the region of MAD1 inversion. Finally, an abnormal trait in these males (presence of extra sex combs) was found to be controlled by four sections, two on the madeirensis X chromosome and two on the subobscura one.
Removal of Tannins from Some Bark Species by Different Groups of wood and bark decaying bacteria
Authors: Deschamps A. M. , Leulliette L.
Published: November 2010

Several collections of bacteria isolated from decaying wood and bark samples were cultivated in a mineral medium composed of chips of bark species as the sole carbon source. The tannins extracted when autoclaving the medium were partially or completely degraded by most of the isolates. Oak and gaboon wood tannins were more easily degraded than pine tannins. According to the origins of these isolates the occurrence of bark‐tannins degradation by bacteria in nature is discussed.

Plusieurs séries de bactéries isolées de bois et d'écorces en décomposition ont été cultivées en milieu minéral complété par des morceaux de divers types d'écorce comme seule source de carbone. Les tanins extraits lors de l'autoclavage de ce milieu sont partiellement ou complètement dégradés par la plupart des souches.

Les tanins de chêne et d'okoumé sont plus facilement dégradés que ceux du pin. Compte‐tenu de l' origine des souches bactériennes utilisées, l'importance et le rôle des bactéries dans la dégradation des tanins et des écorces est discutée.

Verschiedene Kollektionen von Bakterien, die aus zersetzten Holz‐ und Rindenproben isoliert worden waren, wurden in einem Mineralmedium, welches aus Rindenstückchen als einziger Kohlenstoffquelle bestand, kultiviert. Die Tannine, die beim Autoklavieren des Mediums extrahiert wurden, waren von den meisten Isolaten teilweise oder völlig abgebaut. Eichen‐ und Gabunholz‐Tannine wurden leichter abgebaut als Tannine von Kiefern. Entsprechend der Herkünfte dieser Isolate wurde das Vorkommen des Abbaus von Rinden‐Tanninen durch Bakterien in der Natur diskutiert.
Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in intensely exercising horses administered nutraceutical extracts
Authors: SMARSH D. N. , LIBURT N. , STRELTSOVA J. , McKEEVER K. , WILLIAMS C. A.
Published: November 2010

Reasons for performing study: Many nutraceuticals are used as equine supplements without their efficacy having been scientifically tested. Black tea, cranberries, orange peel and ginger are a few of those nutraceuticals that warrant further study.

Objective: To test the effects of single doses of black tea, cranberry, orange peel and ginger extract on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status following exercise in horses.

Methods: In Study 1, 9 mature, healthy but unfit Standardbred mares were administered 2 l of a control (water), orange peel extract (30 g extract) or decaffeinated black tea extract (28 g extract). In Study 2 the same mares were administered 2 l of a control (water), cranberry extract (30 g extract) or ginger extract (30 g extract). In each study, mares were given the extracts via nasogastric tube 1 h before performing a graded exercise test (GXT), in a randomised crossover design with at least 7 days between GXTs. Blood samples were collected at rest, at fatigue, and 1 and 24 h post exercise and analysed for lipid hydroperoxides (LPO), total glutathione (GSH‐T), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), α‐tocopherol (TOC), β‐carotene (BC) and retinol. Data were statistically analysed using a repeated measures ANOVA.

Results: In Study 1 there was no effect of treatment for LPO, GSH‐T, GPx, TOC or BC. Retinol was higher for both tea (P = 0.0006) and water (P = 0.004) than for orange peel. In Study 2 there was no treatment effect for LPO, GPx, GSH‐T, RET, BC or TOC.

Conclusions: The results show that a single dose of various nutraceuticals in exercising horses do not produce an effect on either oxidative stress or antioxidant status and further investigation is needed as to whether long‐term supplementation would enhance these effects.