bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Periodontal Disease and Breast Cancer: Prospective Cohort Study of Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Freudenheim Jo L. , Genco Robert J. , LaMonte Michael J. , Millen Amy E. , Hovey Kathleen M. , Mai Xiaodan , Nwizu Ngozi , Andrews Christopher A. , Wactawski-Wende Jean 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Background: Periodontal disease has been consistently associated with chronic disease; there are no large studies of breast cancer, although oral-associated microbes are present in breast tumors.
Methods: In the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, a prospective cohort of postmenopausal women, 73,737 women without previous breast cancer were followed. Incident, primary, invasive breast tumors were verified by physician adjudication. Periodontal disease was by self-report. HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards, adjusted for breast cancer risk factors. Because the oral microbiome of those with periodontal disease differs with smoking status, we examined associations stratified by smoking.
Results: 2,124 incident, invasive breast cancer cases were identified after mean follow-up of 6.7 years. Periodontal disease, reported by 26.1% of women, was associated with increased breast cancer risk (HR 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03–1.26), particularly among former smokers who quit within 20 years (HR 1.36; 95% CI, 1.05–1.77). Among current smokers, the trend was similar (HR 1.32; 95% CI, 0.83–2.11); there were few cases (n = 74) and the CI included the null. The population attributable fraction was 12.06% (95% CI, 1.12–21.79) and 10.90% (95% CI, 10.31–28.94) for periodontal disease among former smokers quitting within 20 years and current smokers, respectively.
Conclusion: Periodontal disease, a common chronic inflammatory disorder, was associated with increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, particularly among former smokers who quit in the past 20 years.
Impact: Understanding a possible role of the oral microbiome in breast carcinogenesis could impact prevention. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(1); 43–50. ©2015 AACR.
SMARCA4/BRG1 Is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker Predictive of Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy Outcomes in Resected Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Bell Erica Hlavin , Chakraborty Arup R. , Mo Xiaokui , Liu Ziyan , Shilo Konstantin , Kirste Simon , Stegmaier Petra , McNulty Maureen , Karachaliou Niki , Rosell Rafael , Bepler Gerold , Carbone David P. , Chakravarti Arnab 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Purpose: Identification of predictive biomarkers is critically needed to improve selection of patients who derive the most benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy. We hypothesized that decreased expression of SMARCA4/BRG1, a known regulator of transcription and DNA repair, is a novel predictive biomarker of increased sensitivity to adjuvant platinum-based therapies in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Experimental Design: The prognostic value was tested using a gene-expression microarray from the Director's Challenge Lung Study (n = 440). The predictive significance of SMARCA4 was determined using a gene-expression microarray (n = 133) from control and treatment arms of the JBR.10 trial of adjuvant cisplatin/vinorelbine. Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank tests were used to estimate and test the differences of probabilities in overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) between expression groups and treatment arms. Multivariate Cox regression models were used while adjusting for other clinical covariates.
Results: In the Director's Challenge Study, reduced expression of SMARCA4 was associated with poor OS compared with high and intermediate expression (P &lt; 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively). In multivariate analysis, compared with low, high SMARCA4 expression predicted a decrease in risk of death [HR, 0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.4–0.8; P = 0.002]. In the JBR.10 trial, improved 5-year DSS was noted only in patients with low SMARCA4 expression when treated with adjuvant cisplatin/vinorelbine [HR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.0–0.5, P = 0.002 (low); HR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.5–2.3, P = 0.92 (high)]. An interaction test was highly significant (P = 0.01).
Conclusions: Low expression of SMARCA4/BRG1 is significantly associated with worse prognosis; however, it is a novel significant predictive biomarker for increased sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC. Clin Cancer Res; 22(10); 2396–404. ©2015 AACR.
Influence of organo-modified montmorillonite nanolayers on static mechanical and dynamic mechanical behavior of carbon/epoxy composites
Authors: Suresha B , Saini Manpinder S 
Published: December 2015

The combination of carbon fiber and organo-modified montmorillonite nanolayers with epoxy matrix can produce a hybrid composite that is competitive to carbon/epoxy composites. In this work, carbon fabrics and organo-modified montmorillonite nanolayers (1.5, 3, and 5 wt%) were used to produce hybrid carbon/epoxy composites using hand lay-up technique followed by autoclave curing, aiming to evaluate their static mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. Higher organo-modified montmorillonite content in carbon/epoxy yielded slight decrease in the weight and lower voids in carbon/epoxy composite. Transmission electron micrographs showed that the organo-modification improved the dispersion and interfacial bonding of organo-modified montmorillonite with an epoxy at loadings of 1.5 and 5 wt%. The flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength, and impact strength and modulus of the composites were improved with increasing organo-modified montmorillonite content. Carbon/epoxy composite with 5 wt% organo-modified montmorillonite had the greatest increase in mechanical properties, with the flexural modulus and strength increasing by about 33% and 27%, respectively. Although the flexural properties were improved for hybrid composites, the glass transition temperature decreased for lower organo-modified montmorillonite content up to 3 wt% and increased for 5 wt%. Dynamic mechanical analysis results revealed that the storage modulus of carbon/epoxy composite was increased significantly for 5 wt% organo-modified montmorillonite loading. However, the loss modulus was decreased for 1.5 and 3 wt% organo-modified montmorillonite loading. Also, tan δ has increased for 1.5 wt% and later decreased for 3 and 5 wt% organo-modified montmorillonite loading in carbon/epoxy hybrid composite.
Socioeconomic Factors Affect Outcomes in Well‐Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Swegal Warren C. , Singer Michael , Peterson Edward , Feigelson Heather Spencer , Kono Scott A. , Snyder Susan , Melvin Thuy‐Anh N. , Calzada Gabriel , Ghai Nirupa R. , Saman Daniel M. , Chang Steven S. 
Published: December 2015

ObjectivesThe effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on the incidence of well‐differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) are well researched. However, the association between SES and outcomes is not delineated. Our objective was to determine if SES affected outcomes of WDTC.Study DesignsRetrospective database review.SettingTertiary care medical center.Subjects and MethodsThe Henry Ford Virtual Data Warehouse Tumor Registry was used to identify cases of WDTC. Socioeconomic data were obtained through the 2010 US Census: median household income, percentage below poverty line, median household size, percentage rent versus own property, and general demographics. Survival was the primary outcome. Disease‐specific survival was also calculated. Cox proportional hazards were calculated and a multivariate analysis performed.ResultsThere were 1317 patients with WDTC. In multivariable analysis, median household income (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.85, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.79‐0.91), household size (HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.09‐2.14), younger age (HR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.74‐2.23), and female sex (HR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.37‐0.69) were significantly associated with survival. Controlling for stage revealed percentage below poverty line (stage I, HR: 0.51, 95% CI: 1.34‐1.78; stage IV, HR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04‐1.57) and median household income (HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71‐0.99) to be significant factors in survival. Median household income was a statistically significant variable for disease‐related death (HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69‐0.96)ConclusionsAlong with effects on incidence, lower SES correlates with worse survival in WDTC. This suggests that a patient’s economic background, with younger age and female sex, influences one’s outcomes with regard to both overall and disease‐specific death.
Levetiracetam in the management of feline audiogenic reflex seizures: a randomised, controlled, open-label study
Authors: Lowrie Mark , Thomson Sarah , Bessant Claire , Sparkes Andrew , Harvey Robert J , Garosi Laurent 
Published: December 2015

Objectives Currently, there are no published randomised, controlled veterinary trials evaluating the efficacy of antiepileptic medication in the treatment of myoclonic seizures. Myoclonic seizures are a hallmark of feline audiogenic seizures (FARS). Methods This prospective, randomised, open-label trial compared the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (20–25 mg/kg q8h) with phenobarbital (3–5 mg/kg q12h) in cats with suspected FARS that experienced myoclonic seizures. Cats were included that had ⩾12 myoclonic seizure days during a prospective 12 week baseline period. This was followed by a 4 week titration phase (until a therapeutic serum concentration of phenobarbital was achieved) and a 12 week treatment phase. Results Fifty-seven cats completed the study: 28 in the levetiracetam group and 29 in the phenobarbital group. A reduction of ⩾50% in the number of myoclonic seizure days was seen in 100% of patients in the levetiracetam group and in 3% of patients in the phenobarbital group ( P <0.001) during the treatment period. Levetiracetam-treated cats had higher freedom from myoclonic seizures (50.0% vs 0%; P <0.001) during the treatment period. The most common adverse events were lethargy, inappetence and ataxia, with no difference in incidence between levetiracetam and phenobarbital. Adverse events were mild and transient with levetiracetam but persistent with phenobarbital. Conclusions and relevance These results suggest that levetiracetam is an effective and well tolerated treatment for cats with myoclonic seizures and is more effective than phenobarbital. Whether it will prevent the occurrence of generalised tonic–clonic seizures and other forebrain signs if used early in the course of FARS is not yet clear.
Comparison of intraspinal and intrathecal implantation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursors for the treatment of spinal cord injury in rats
Authors: Amemori Takashi , Ruzicka Jiri , Romanyuk Nataliya , Jhanwar-Uniyal Meena , Sykova Eva , Jendelova Pavla 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Background
Stem cell treatment provides a promising therapy for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the applied stem cells exert their effects in different manners that are dependent on the route used for administration.

Methods
In the present study, we administered neural precursors derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS-NPs) either intraspinally into the lesion center or intrathecally into the subarachnoid space of rats with a balloon-induced spinal cord compression lesion. Functional locomotor performance, cell survival, astrogliosis, axonal sprouting and the expression of endogenous neurotrophic growth factors were evaluated using behavioral tests (BBB, flat beam test, rotarod, plantar test), morphometric analysis, immunohistochemistry and qPCR.

Results
Both treatments facilitated the functional locomotor recovery of rats with SCI. iPS-NPs injected intraspinally survived well for 2 months and were positive for MAP2, while cells grafted intrathecally were undetectable at the site of administration or in the spinal cord tissue. Intraspinal implantation increased gray and white matter sparing and axonal sprouting and reduced astrogliosis, while intrathecal application resulted only in an improvement of white matter sparing and an increase in axonal sprouting, in parallel with no positive effect on the expression of endogenous neurotrophic growth factor genes or glial scar reduction.

Conclusions
Intrathecally grafted iPS-NPs had a moderate therapeutic benefit on SCI through a paracrine mechanism that does not require the cells to be present in the tissue; however, the extended survival of i.s. grafted cells in the spinal cord may promote long-term spinal cord tissue regeneration.
Fusing passive RFID and BIM for increased accuracy in indoor localization
Authors: Costin Aaron M. , Teizer Jochen 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Background
Finding the current location of a specific utility or oneself in an unfamiliar facility can be difficult and time consuming. The hypothesis tested in this paper is that using the information contained within Building Information Models (BIM) can increase the accuracy of indoor positioning algorithms using context-aware sensing technology. The presented work demonstrates how the integration of passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking technology and Building Information Modeling (BIM) can assist indoor localization for potential applications in facilities management for proactive preventative maintenance.

Methods
This paper includes (1) developing a framework that utilizes the integration of commercially-available RFID and a building information model; (2) evaluating the framework for real-time resource location tracking within an indoor environment; and (3) developing an algorithm for real-time localization and visualization in a BIM. A prototype application has been developed that simultaneously connects the RFID readers on a maintenance cart, an asset maintenance database and a BIM model. Three multilateralization approaches were compared in the system to use in the algorithm. Testing was conducted in a facility with a corridor that loops around in a rectangle.

Results
The goal is to have a system accuracy within 3 m. Results show that fusing BIM with multilateralization techniques for RFID technology can decrease the number of false reads by 64 % versus standalone multilateralization equations. The greatest system accuracy achieved was 1.66 m.

Conclusions
Significantly, the results validate the hypothesis that BIM can increase indoor localization accuracy, and show the usefulness of using BIM for indoor localization in addition to real-time visualization.
Prediction of occult lymph node metastasis using volume-based PET parameters in small-sized peripheral non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Park Seong Yong , Yoon Joon-Kee , Park Kwang Joo , Lee Su Jin 
Published: December 2015

Abstract

Background
Patients with small-sized peripheral non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but without lymph node metastasis, may be optimal candidates for sublobar resection. We aim to identify the predictors of occult lymph node metastasis (OLNM) using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in clinically node-negative, small-sized NSCLC.

Methods
One hundred thirty nine patients with small-sized NSCLC (of less than 3 cm in diameter) who underwent surgical resection with mediastinal lymph node dissection were evaluated. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic total volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of the primary tumor were measured on pretreatment PET/CT. These metabolic parameters and pathological variables were analyzed for OLNM.

Results
The mean tumor size was 2.11 ± 0.63 cm, and the mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 19.74 ± 12.86. Adenocarcinoma occurred in 106 patients (76.3 %). Twenty-four patients (17.2 %) had lymph node metastasis. The mean SUVmax, MTV and TLG were 4.61 ± 3.99 (0.5 ~ 17.8), 4.18 ± 6.39 (0 ~ 34.6) and 16.13 ± 28.86 (0 ~ 164.2), respectively. On receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the areas under the curve (AUC) for SUVmax, MTV and TLG for node metastasis were 0.753, 0.783 and 0.775, respectively. On multivariate analysis, SUVmax (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.120, p = 0.044) and MTV (OR = 1.117, p = 0.007) were found to be risk factors for OLNM. The concordance index of MTV was 0.763, which was slightly higher than that of SUVmax.

Conclusion
SUVmax and volume-based parameters are significant risk factors for OLNM in small peripheral NSCLC. MTV showed a better predictive performance than that of the other PET parameters; therefore, MTV may be a possible indicator for sublobar resection in clinically node-negative small-sized NSCLC.
COMPARABILITY, DECISION THEORY AND THE AHP
Authors: Von Solms Sibs 
Published: December 2015

<p>Saaty (2011) briefly discusses the three basic laws of Aristotelian logic and suggests a fourth, which he calls the Law of Comparisons. He argues that comparison is both relevant and essential<em> </em>to the other three laws and, in fact, precedes them. This view - comparativism - is however, not without criticism. Here we present a more comprehensive discussion of various problems regarding comparability, focusing on three aspects; (i) the problem of a proper scale; (ii) the problem of a proper aggregation of conflicting criteria and (iii) the debate whether values are subjective or objective. The debate regarding incomparability is varied and intense making a perfunctory or uncritical acceptance of comparativism wrong. However, Saatian Comparativism will be shown to be a solution to the major issues raised by incomparativists. Two conclusions are reached; (i) Saaty’s (2011) view is confirmed and (ii) the work of Saaty is not reflected in the incomparability or incommensurability literature and this debate stands to be enriched by seriously considering Saatian Comparativism.</p>
RANKING COUNTRIES MORE RELIABLY IN THE SUMMER OLYMPICS
Authors: Sagir Mujgan , Saaty Thomas L. 
Published: December 2015

<p>In this paper we consider the many intangible criteria that influence the outcome of the Summer Olympics by using the Analytic Network Process, and apply the ideas to evaluate the medals won and the country scores in the 2012 London Olympics. Both the categories of games and the events in each game are considered in this weighting process. Different events of the same category game could have different properties. This work shows that the current way of counting the total number of medals is not a bad way of ranking countries. With minor modifications, this systematic approach for ranking countries can be used for any Summer Olympics. </p>
Care for older people in multigenerational families: a life course analysis across four generations
Authors: Powell Catherine 
Published: December 2015

As the population ages, a key question is how to support older people who are in need of some form of care. This article highlights how older people may be embedded in multigenerational familial care networks. It explores the ways in which care and support for great-grandparents are worked out in multigenerational families, as well as between informal and formal sources of support. Methods involve qualitative life history interviews with five four-generation families.
Findings suggest that care is worked out through a balance of care, need and support across generations. Depending on available resources, this produces a variety of support outcomes, including: home-based family care with and without supplemented professional help, sheltered accommodation with family care, institutional care as well as fluctuations between different support patterns.
Supporting informal care networks through professional support can help multiple generations balance intergenerational relationships across the shifts between greater dependency and independence.
Causal Role of Motor Simulation in Turn-Taking Behavior
Authors: Hadley Lauren V. , Novembre Giacomo , Keller Peter E. , Pickering Martin J. 
Published: December 2015

Overlap between sensory and motor representations has been documented for a range of human actions, from grasping (Rizzolatti et al., 1996b) to playing a musical instrument (Novembre and Keller, 2014). Such overlap suggests that individuals use motor simulation to predict the outcome of observed actions (Wolpert, 1997). Here we investigate motor simulation as a basis of human communication. Using a musical turn-taking task, we show that pianists call on motor representations of their partner's part to predict when to come in for their own turn. Pianists played alternating solos with a videoed partner, and double-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied around the turn-switch to temporarily disrupt processing in two cortical regions implicated previously in different forms of motor simulation: (1) the dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC), associated with automatic motor resonance during passive observation of hand actions, especially when the actions are familiar (Lahav et al., 2007); and (2) the supplementary motor area (SMA), involved in active motor imagery, especially when the actions are familiar (Baumann et al., 2007). Stimulation of the right dPMC decreased the temporal accuracy of pianists' (right-hand) entries relative to sham when the partner's (left-hand) part had been rehearsed previously. This effect did not occur for dPMC stimulation without rehearsal or for SMA stimulation. These findings support the role of the dPMC in predicting the time course of observed actions via resonance-based motor simulation during turn-taking. Because turn-taking spans multiple modes of human interaction, we suggest that simulation is a foundational mechanism underlying the temporal dynamics of joint action.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTEven during passive observation, seeing or hearing somebody execute an action from within our repertoire activates motor cortices of our brain. But what is the functional relevance of such “motor simulation”? By combining a musical duet task with a real-time repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol, we provide evidence indicating that the dorsal premotor cortex plays a causal role in accurate turn-taking coordination between a pianist and their observed interaction partner. Given that turn-taking behavior is a fundamental feature of human communication, we suggest that simulation is a foundational mechanism underlying the temporal dynamics of communicative joint action.
A Novel Mechanism of pH Buffering inC. elegansGlia: Bicarbonate Transport via the Voltage-Gated ClC Cl−Channel CLH-1
Authors: Grant Jeff , Matthewman Cristina , Bianchi Laura 
Published: December 2015

An important function of glia is the maintenance of the ionic composition and pH of the synaptic microenvironment. In terms of pH regulation, HCO3−buffering has been shown to be important in both glia and neurons. Here, we usedin vivofluorescent pH imaging and RNA sequencing of the amphid sheath glia ofCaenorhabditis elegansto reveal a novel mechanism of cellular HCO3−uptake. While the classical mechanism of HCO3−uptake involves Na+/HCO3−cotransporters, here we demonstrate that theC. elegansClC Cl−channel CLH-1 is highly permeable to HCO3−and mediates HCO3−uptake into amphid sheath glia. CLH-1 has homology and electrophysiological properties similar to the mammalian ClC-2 Cl−channel. Our data suggest that, in addition to maintaining synaptic Cl−concentration, these channels may also be involved in maintenance of synaptic pH via HCO3−flux. These findings provide an exciting new facet of study regarding how pH is regulated in the brain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMaintenance of pH is essential for the physiological function of the nervous system. HCO3−is crucial for pH regulation and is transported into the cell via ion transporters, including ion channels, the molecular identity of which remains unclear. In this manuscript, we describe our discovery that theC. elegansamphid sheath glia regulate intracellular pH via HCO3−flux through the voltage-gated ClC channel CLH-1. This represents a novel function for ClC channels, which has implications for their possible role in mammalian glial pH regulation. This discovery may also provide a novel therapeutic target for pathologic conditions, such as ischemic stroke where acidosis leads to widespread death of glia and subsequently neurons.