bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trends in active surveillance for very low‐risk prostate cancer: do guidelines influence modern practice?
Authors: Parikh Rahul R. , Kim Sinae , Stein Mark N. , Haffty Bruce G. , Kim Isaac Y. , Goyal Sharad 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAs recommended by current NCCN guidelines, patients with very low‐risk prostate cancer may be treated with active surveillance (AS), but this may be underutilized. Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we identified men (2010–2013) with biopsy‐proven, very low‐risk prostate cancer that met AS criteria as suggested by Epstein (stage ≤ T1c; Gleason score (GS) ≤ 6; PSA < 10; and ≤2 [or <33%] positive biopsy cores) and aged ≤76, and low comorbidity index (Charlson‐Deyo score = 0). For those patients meeting this criteria, we performed generalized estimation equation (GEE) method with incorporation of correlation in patients clustered within facility to determine the likelihood of undergoing AS. Among the 448 773 patients in the NCDB with low‐risk prostate cancer, 40 839 patients met the inclusion criteria. AS was utilized in 5798 patients (14.2%), while within the very low‐risk patients receiving treatment, up to 52.2% received radical prostatectomy. In univariate analyses, AS utilization was associated with older age, uninsured status (compared to private insurance), farther distance from facility, academic/research institutions and particularly in the New England region (all P < 0.01). After adjustments of other predictors in multivariate analysis, patients preferentially received AS if they were older (all OR's > 1 compared to younger groups), uninsured (vs. any insurance type, OR's > 1); or treated at academic/research center (OR > 1). The overall use of AS increased from 11.6% (2010) to 27.3% (2013). We found a low, but rising rate of AS in a nationally representative group of very low‐risk prostate cancer patients. Disparities in the use of AS may be targeted to improve adherence to national guidelines.
Personal use of hair dyes and risk of leukemia: a systematic literature review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Towle Kevin M. , Grespin Matthew E. , Monnot Andrew D. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe objective of this study was to examine the association between personal use of hair dyes and the risk of leukemia. We conducted a systematic literature review of epidemiology studies reporting leukemia‐specific cancer risks among hair dye users, and estimated the meta‐relative risk (meta‐RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of leukemia, comparing hair dye users to nonusers. When data from all 20 studies that met the inclusion criteria were combined, ever use of hair dye was associated with a nonstatistically significant increased risk of leukemia, meta‐RR = 1.09 (95% CI: 0.97–1.22). When restricted to studies that adjusted for smoking, ever use of hair dye was not associated with leukemia, meta‐RR = 0.99 (95% CI: 0.76–1.29). A statistically significant increased risk of leukemia was associated with permanent hair dye use (meta‐RR = 1.19 [95% CI: 1.07–1.33]), dark hair dye use (meta‐RR = 1.29 [95% CI: 1.11–1.50]), hair dye use among males (meta‐RR = 1.42 [95% CI: 1.01–2.00]), hair dye use pre‐1980 (meta‐RR = 1.49 [95% CI: 1.21–1.83]), and hair dye use for ≥15 years (meta‐RR = 1.35 [95% CI: 1.13–1.62]). Overall, findings suggest that ever use of hair dye is not a significant risk factor for leukemia. Certain hair dye use characteristics were associated with a statistically significant increased risk, but further research is required to determine whether these associations truly reflect a risk of leukemia due to methodological limitations in the underlying studies.
Relationship of tumor PD‐L1 (CD274) expression with lower mortality in lung high‐grade neuroendocrine tumor
Authors: Inamura Kentaro , Yokouchi Yusuke , Kobayashi Maki , Ninomiya Hironori , Sakakibara Rie , Nishio Makoto , Okumura Sakae , Ishikawa Yuichi 
Published: September 2017

AbstractProgrammed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) promotes immunosuppression by binding to PD‐1 on T lymphocytes. Although tumor PD‐L1 expression is a potential predictive marker of clinical response to anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 therapy, little is known about its association with clinicopathological features, including prognosis, in high‐grade neuroendocrine tumors (HGNETs), including small‐cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and large‐cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), of the lung. We immunohistochemically examined the membranous of expression of PD‐L1 in 115 consecutive surgical cases of lung HGNET (74 SCLC cases and 41 LCNEC cases). We examined the prognostic association of tumor PD‐L1 positivity using the log‐rank test as well as Cox proportional hazards regression models to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) for mortality. Programmed death‐ligand 1 immunostaining (at least 5% tumor cells) was observed in 25 (21%) of the 115 HGNET cases. In a univariable analysis, PD‐L1 positivity was associated with lower lung cancer‐specific (univariable HR = 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.056–0.64; P = 0.0028) and overall (univariable HR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.11–0.60; P = 0.0005) mortality. Additionally, in a multivariable analysis, PD‐L1 positivity was independently associated with lower lung cancer‐specific (multivariable HR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.058–0.67; P = 0.0039) and overall (multivariable HR = 0.29; 95% CI = 0.11–0.61; P = 0.0006) mortality. Our study demonstrated the prevalence of PD‐L1 positivity in lung HGNET cases, and the independent association of tumor PD‐L1 positivity with lower mortality in lung HGNET cases. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Continuous Production of Ursodeoxycholic Acid by Using Two Cascade Reactors with Co‐immobilized Enzymes
Authors: Zheng Ming‐Min , Chen Fei‐Fei , Li Hao , Li Chun‐Xiu , Xu Jian‐He 
Published: September 2017

AbstractUrsodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is an effective drug for the treatment of hepatitis. In this study, 7α‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7α‐HSDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as 7β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7β‐HSDH) and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), were co‐immobilized onto an epoxy‐functionalized resin (ES‐103) to catalyze the synthesis of UDCA from chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). Through optimizing the immobilization pH, time, and loading ratio of enzymes to resin, the specific activities of immobilized LDH‐7αHSDH@ES‐103 and 7βHSDH‐GDH@ES‐103 were 43.2 and 25.8 U g−1, respectively, which were 12‐ and 516‐fold higher than that under the initial immobilization conditions. Continuous production of UDCA from CDCA was subsequently achieved by using immobilized LDH‐7αHSDH@ES‐103 and 7βHSDH‐GDH@ES‐103 in two serial packed‐bed reactors. The yield of UDCA reached nearly 100 % and lasted for at least 12 h in the packed‐bed reactors, which was superior to that of the batchwise reaction. This efficient continuous approach developed herein might provide a feasible route for large‐scale biotransformation of CDCA into UDCA.
Pollination by the locally endangered island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) enhances fruit production of the economically important durian (Durio zibethinus)
Authors: Aziz Sheema A. , Clements Gopalasamy R. , McConkey Kim R. , Sritongchuay Tuanjit , Pathil Saifful , Abu Yazid Muhammad Nur Hafizi , Campos‐Arceiz Ahimsa , Forget Pierre‐Michel , Bumrungsri Sara 
Published: September 2017

AbstractFruit bats provide valuable pollination services to humans through a unique coevolutionary relationship with chiropterophilous plants. However, chiropterophily in the Old World and the pollination roles of large bats, such as flying foxes (Pteropus spp., Acerodon spp., Desmalopex spp.), are still poorly understood and require further elucidation. Efforts to protect these bats have been hampered by a lack of basic quantitative information on their role as ecosystem service providers. Here, we investigate the role of the locally endangered island flying fox Pteropus hypomelanus in the pollination ecology of durian (Durio zibethinus), an economically important crop in Southeast Asia. On Tioman Island, Peninsular Malaysia, we deployed 19 stations of paired infrared camera and video traps across varying heights at four individual flowering trees in a durian orchard. We detected at least nine species of animal visitors, but only bats had mutualistic interactions with durian flowers. There was a clear vertical stratification in the feeding niches of flying foxes and nectar bats, with flying foxes feeding at greater heights in the trees. Flying foxes had a positive effect on mature fruit set and therefore serve as important pollinators for durian trees. As such, semi‐wild durian trees—particularly tall ones—may be dependent on flying foxes for enhancing reproductive success. Our study is the first to quantify the role of flying foxes in durian pollination, demonstrating that these giant fruit bats may have far more important ecological, evolutionary, and economic roles than previously thought. This has important implications and can aid efforts to promote flying fox conservation, especially in Southeast Asian countries.
Plant‐facilitated effects of exotic earthwormPontoscolex corethruruson the soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics and soil microbial community in a subtropical field ecosystem
Authors: Wu Jianping , Zhang Weixin , Shao Yuanhu , Fu Shenglei 
Published: September 2017

AbstractEarthworms and plants greatly affect belowground properties; however, their combined effects are more attractive based on the ecosystem scale in the field condition. To address this point, we manipulated earthworms (exotic endogeic speciesPontoscolex corethrurus) and plants (living plants [native tree speciesEvodia lepta] and artificial plants) to investigate their combined effects on soil microorganisms, soil nutrients, and soil respiration in a subtropical forest. The manipulation of artificial plants aimed to simulate the physical effects of plants (e.g., shading and interception of water) such that the biological effects of plants could be evaluated separately. We found that relative to the controls, living plants but not artificial plants significantly increased the ratio of fungal to bacterial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and fungalPLFAs. Furthermore, earthworms plus living plants significantly increased the soil respiration and decreased the soilNH4+‐N, which indicates that the earthworm effects on the associated carbon, and nitrogen processes were greatly affected by living plants. The permutational multivariate analysis of variance results also indicated that living plants but not earthworms or artificial plants significantly changed the soil microbial community. Our results suggest that the effects of plants on soil microbes and associated soil properties in this study were largely explained by their biological rather than their physical effects.
Thermal Autoignition of Aqueous Urea Ammonium Nitrate as a Function of Equivalence Ratio, Water Content, and Nitrogen Pressure
Authors: Mosevitzky Bar , Calo Idan , Keren Shachar , Shter Gennady E. , Grader Gideon S. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAqueous urea ammonium nitrate has been previously suggested as a hydrogen‐carrying monofuel. The addition of helium and water to the fuel is known to increase its autoignition temperature. Nevertheless, both the reason for this behavior and the reaction pathways that lead to the ignition of the fuel are not completely clear. In this work, the effect of fuel‐rich conditions (1.1≤φ≤2.5) on the thermal autoignition of this fuel was investigated. The pre‐ignition reaction network was explored using a kinetic gas‐phase model. Furthermore, the effects of helium, water, and fuel‐rich conditions on these reactions were studied using simulations. The results indicated the autoignition temperature rises with the increase of the urea content of the fuel mixture. Moreover, this behavior was suggested to stem partially from the inhibiting effect of low nitric acid levels on amidogen generation. Additionally, helium and water were identified to act as diluents that increase the pressure and the flux through three‐body reactions. This work provides a valuable in‐depth look into the reactions that lead to the ignition of aqueous urea ammonium nitrate and their dependence on the process parameters.
Enhancing the Energy‐Conversion Efficiency of Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with a Charge‐Transfer Complex based on 2,3‐Dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone
Authors: Wang Weihan , Yang Xichuan , Li Jiajia , Wang Haoxin , An Jincheng , Zhang Li , Jiang Xiao , Yu Ze , Sun Licheng 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAs a champion hole‐transporting material (HTM), 2,2′7,7′‐tetrakis‐(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD) has been widely used in solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells (ssDSCs). Owing to the low conductivity of Spiro‐OMeTAD, a chemical doping strategy is commonly used to enhance its hole‐transporting properties. In this study, we report a strong electron acceptor, 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) as an additive for Spiro‐OMeTAD along with its application in ssDSCs. We show that the conductivity of Spiro‐OMeTAD increases from 5.31×10−5 to 2.22×10−4 S cm upon the addition of 0.04 % DDQ, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the ssDSCs also increases. By utilizing a donor–π–acceptor sensitizer with a high coefficient and an HTM with an optimized doping ratio, we were able to achieve a high PCE of 6.37 % for the ssDSCs under 100 mW cm−2 AM1.5G simulated illumination, in comparison to the PCE of the pristine device, which was only 3.50 %. An increase in the application of benzoquinone‐based materials for organic electronics is expected, especially for solar‐cell applications.
The Global Impact of Freire's Pedagogy
Authors: Gadotti Moacir 
Published: September 2017

AbstractFreirean pedagogy continues to be an essential component in the construction of a fair, democratic global society. This chapter introduces Paulo Freire to those new to his thinking as well as update those who have long known of his work, about the global extent of its influence and impact, making clear that Freire's legacy goes well beyond his literacy method. Freire's theory is expressed in concepts and categories that reach a wider scope of education, including an anthropology‐based theory of knowledge, which has direct implications for evaluation, especially evaluation's role in generating and disseminating knowledge.
Transformative Pedagogical Evaluation: Freirean Principles Practiced in Brazilian Public Schools
Authors: Guimarães Vilma 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIn Brazil, the evaluation that is currently practiced in schools has been promoting the failure of the poorest, who eventually interrupt their studies, convinced of their incompetence. This article shows that, in contrast, hundreds of schools across the country adopt a cooperative dialogical pedagogy of evaluation. As part of an approach based on Freirean principles, the Telessala Methodology teaches students who are discriminated against by the traditional school, that they are smart and creative, with power to change their lives and the world. This chapter describes the Telessala Methodology and how it manifests the principles of Freirean pedagogy with implications for evaluation.
Pedagogy in Process Applied to Evaluation: Learning from Paulo Freire's Work in Guinea‐Bissau
Authors: Chianca Thomaz K. , Ceccon Claudius 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThis chapter presents and discusses a practical case where Paulo Freire and a group of his close Brazilian colleagues applied, created, adapted or re‐created some of his main philosophical ideas on pedagogy to educational reform in Guinea‐Bissau, West Africa, shortly after that country's independence from Portugal. Their challenge was to help the country face a huge level of illiteracy among the Guineans. After describing what was developed, the authors assess the extent to which the 10 principles introduced in Chapter 3 of this volume are manifest in the Guinea‐Bissau experience. They find that 8 of the 10 principles were clearly operational and add two additional Freirean principles that characterized the work in Guinea‐Bissau. The implications for evaluation pedagogy are discussed and illustrated.
Nestin‐expressing cell types in the temporal lobe and hippocampus: Morphology, differentiation, and proliferative capacity
Authors: Liu Joan , Reeves Cheryl , Jacques Thomas , McEvoy Andrew , Miserocchi Anna , Thompson Pamela , Sisodiya Sanjay , Thom Maria 
Published: September 2017

AbstractNestin is expressed in immature neuroepithelial and progenitor cell types and transiently upregulated in proliferative neuroglial cells responding to acute brain injury, including following seizures. In 36 temporal lobe (TLobe) specimens from patients with TLobe epilepsy (age range 8–60 years) we studied the number, distribution and morphology of nestin‐expressing cells (NEC) in the pes, hippocampus body, parahippocampal gyrus, amygdala, temporal cortex and pole compared with post mortem control tissues from 26 cases (age range 12 gestational weeks to 76 years). The proliferative fraction of NEC was evaluated in selected regions, including recognized niches, using MCM2. Their differentiation was explored with neuronal (DCX, mushashi, βIII tubulin, NeuN) and glial (GFAP, GFAPdelta, glutamine synthetase, aquaporin4, EAAT1) markers, both in sections or following culture. Findings were correlated with clinical parameters. A stereotypical pattern in the distribution and morphologies of NEC was observed, reminiscent of patterns in the developing brain, with increased densities in epilepsy than adult controls (p < .001). Findings included MCM2‐positive radial glial‐like cells in the periventricular white matter and rows of NEC in the hippocampal fimbria and sulcus. Nestin cells represented 29% of the hippocampal proliferative fraction in epilepsy cases; 20% co‐expressed βIII tubulin in culture compared with 28% with GFAP. Significant correlations were noted between age at surgery, memory deficits and nestin populations. TLobe NEC with ongoing proliferative capacity likely represent vestiges of developmental migratory streams and resident reactive cell populations of potential relevance to hippocampal epileptogenesis, TLobe pathology, and co‐morbidities, including memory decline.
Combined fetal inflammation and postnatal hypoxia causes myelin deficits and autism‐like behavior in a rat model of diffuse white matter injury
Authors: van Tilborg Erik , Achterberg E. J. Marijke , van Kammen Caren M. , van der Toorn Annette , Groenendaal Floris , Dijkhuizen Rick M. , Heijnen Cobi J. , Vanderschuren Louk J. M. J. , Benders Manon N. J. L. , Nijboer Cora H. A. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDiffuse white matter injury (WMI) is a serious problem in extremely preterm infants, and is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, including cognitive impairments and an increased risk of autism‐spectrum disorders. Important risk factors include fetal or perinatal inflammatory insults and fluctuating cerebral oxygenation. However, the exact mechanisms underlying diffuse WMI are not fully understood and no treatment options are currently available. The use of clinically relevant animal models is crucial to advance knowledge on the pathophysiology of diffuse WMI, allowing the definition of novel therapeutic targets. In the present study, we developed a multiple‐hit animal model of diffuse WMI by combining fetal inflammation and postnatal hypoxia in rats. We characterized the effects on white matter development and functional outcome by immunohistochemistry, MRI and behavioral paradigms. Combined fetal inflammation and postnatal hypoxia resulted in delayed cortical myelination, microglia activation and astrogliosis at P18, together with long‐term changes in oligodendrocyte maturation as observed in 10 week old animals. Furthermore, rats with WMI showed impaired motor performance, increased anxiety and signs of autism‐like behavior, i.e. reduced social play behavior and increased repetitive grooming. In conclusion, the combination of fetal inflammation and postnatal hypoxia in rats induces a pattern of brain injury and functional impairments that closely resembles the clinical situation of diffuse WMI. This animal model provides the opportunity to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying WMI, and can be used to develop novel treatment options for diffuse WMI in preterm infants.
Selective knockout of astrocytic Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 reduces astrogliosis, BBB damage, infarction, and improves neurological function after ischemic stroke
Authors: Begum Gulnaz , Song Shanshan , Wang Shaoxia , Zhao Hanshu , Bhuiyan Mohammad Iqbal H. , Li Eric , Nepomuceno Rachel , Ye Qing , Sun Ming , Calderon Michael Joseph , Stolz Donna B. , St. Croix Claudette , Watkins Simon C. , Chen Yinhuai , He Pingnian , Shull Gary E. , Sun Dandan 
Published: September 2017

AbstractStimulation of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) in astrocytes causes ionic dysregulation under ischemic conditions. In this study, we created a Nhe1flox/flox (Nhe1f/f) mouse line with exon 5 of Nhe1 flanked with two loxP sites and selective ablation of Nhe1 in astrocytes was achieved by crossing Nhe1f/f mice with Gfap‐CreERT2 Cre‐recombinase mice. Gfap‐CreERT2+/−;Nhe1f/f mice at postnatal day 60–90 were treated with either corn oil or tamoxifen (Tam, 75 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 5 days. After 30 days post‐injection, mice underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) to induce ischemic stroke. Compared with the oil‐vehicle group (control), Tam‐treated Gfap‐CreERT2+/−;Nhe1f/f (Nhe1 KO) mice developed significantly smaller ischemic infarction, less edema, and less neurological function deficits at 1–5 days after tMCAO. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed less astrocytic proliferation, less cellular hypertrophy, and less peri‐lesion gliosis in Nhe1 KO mouse brains. Selective deletion of Nhe1 in astrocytes also reduced cerebral microvessel damage and blood–brain barrier (BBB) injury in ischemic brains. The BBB microvessels of the control brains show swollen endothelial cells, opened tight junctions, increased expression of proinflammatory protease MMP‐9, and significant loss of tight junction protein occludin. In contrast, the Nhe1 KO mice exhibited reduced BBB breakdown and normal tight junction structure, with increased expression of occludin and reduced MMP‐9. Most importantly, deletion of astrocytic Nhe1 gene significantly increased regional cerebral blood flow in the ischemic hemisphere at 24 hr post‐MCAO. Taken together, our study provides the first line of evidence for a causative role of astrocytic NHE1 protein in reactive astrogliosis and ischemic neurovascular damage.