bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bloodstream infections in febrile neutropenic patients at a tertiary cancer institute in South India: A timeline of clinical and microbial trends through the years
Authors: Babu K Govind , Lokanatha D , Lakshmaiah K C , Suresh Babu M C , Jacob Linu A , Bhat Gita R , Vardhana Harsha , Sinha Mahua , Vijaykumar B R , Sumati B G , Jayshree R S 
Published: September 2016

Abstract
Introduction: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is an oncological emergency. The choice of empiric therapy depends on the locally prevalent pathogens and their sensitivities, the sites of infection, and cost. The Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines are being followed for the management of FN in India. Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care cancer centre from September 2012 to September 2014. Objectives: The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) To review the pattern of microbial flora, susceptibility pattern, and important clinical variables among bloodstream infections in febrile neutropenic patients with solid tumors and hematological malignancies. (2) As per the institutional protocol to periodically review the antibiotic policy and susceptibility pattern, and compare the findings with an earlier study done in our institute in 2010. This was a prospective study conducted from September 2012 to September 2014. Results: About 379 episodes of FN were documented among 300 patients. About 887 blood cultures were drawn. Of these, 137 (15%) isolates were cultured. Isolates having identical antibiograms obtained from a single patient during the same hospitalization were considered as one. Hence, 128 isolates were analyzed. About 74 (58%) cultures yielded Gram-negative bacilli, 51 (40%) were positive for Gram-positive cocci, and 3 (2%) grew fungi. Among Gram-negative organisms, Escherichia coli followed by Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 78% of the isolates. Among Gram-positive cocci, Staphylococcus species accounted for 84% of the isolates. We have noted a changing trend in the antibiotic sensitivity pattern over the years. Following the switch in empirical antibiotics, based on the results of the study done in 2010 (when the empirical antibiotics were ceftazidime + amikacin), the sensitivity to cefoperazone-sulbactam has plunged from about 80% to 60%%. Similar reduction in susceptibility was noted for piperacillin-tazobactam, imipenem, and meropenem. On the contrary, there was a marked increase in sensitivity to ceftazidime (50–76%). Based on these results, we have reverted to ceftazidime + amikacin as the empirical antibiotics. Conclusion: Every institute must have a regular revision of antibiotic policy based on periodic assessment of the clinical and microbiological profile in FN. This will combat antibiotic resistance.
PET/CT in paediatric malignancies - An update
Authors: Padma Subramanyam , Sundaram Palaniswamy Shanmuga , Tewari Anshu 
Published: September 2016

Abstract18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is a well-established imaging modality in adult oncological practice. Its role in childhood malignancies needs to be discussed as paediatric malignancies differ from adults in tumor subtypes and they have different tumor biology and FDG uptake patterns. This is also compounded by smaller body mass, dosimetric restrictions, and physiological factors that can affect the FDG uptake. It calls for careful planning of the PET study, preparing the child, the parents, and expertise of nuclear physicians in reporting pediatric positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) studies. In a broad perspective, FDG-PET/CT has been used in staging, assessment of therapy response, identifying metastases and as a follow-up tool in a wide variety of pediatric malignancies. This review outlines the role of PET/CT in childhood malignancies other than hematological malignancies such as lymphoma and leukemia.
Surface–atmosphere exchange of ammonia over peatland using QCL-based eddy-covariance measurements and inferential modeling
Authors: Zöll Undine , Brümmer Christian , Schrader Frederik , Ammann Christof , Ibrom Andreas , Flechard Christophe R. , Nelson David D. , Zahniser Mark , Kutsch Werner L. 
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Recent advances in laser spectrometry offer new opportunities to investigate ecosystem–atmosphere exchange of environmentally relevant trace gases. In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of a quantum cascade laser (QCL) absorption spectrometer to continuously measure ammonia concentrations at high time resolution and thus to quantify the net exchange between a seminatural peatland ecosystem and the atmosphere based on the eddy-covariance approach. Changing diurnal patterns of both ammonia concentration and fluxes were found during different periods of the campaign. We observed a clear tipping point in early spring with decreasing ammonia deposition velocities and increasingly bidirectional fluxes that occurred after the switch from dormant vegetation to CO2 uptake but was triggered by a significant weather change. While several biophysical parameters such as temperature, radiation, and surface wetness were identified to partially regulate ammonia exchange at the site, the seasonal concentration pattern was clearly dominated by agricultural practices in the surrounding area. Comparing the results of a compensation point model with our measurement-based flux estimates showed considerable differences in some periods of the campaign due to overestimation of non-stomatal resistances caused by low acid ratios. The total cumulative campaign exchange of ammonia after 9 weeks, however, differed only in a 6 % deviation with 911 and 857 g NH3-N ha−1 deposition being found by measurements and modeling, respectively. Extrapolating our findings to an entire year, ammonia deposition was lower than reported by Hurkuck et al. (2014) for the same site in previous years using denuder systems. This was likely due to a better representation of the emission component in the net signal of eddy-covariance fluxes as well as better adapted site-specific parameters in the model. Our study not only stresses the importance of high-quality measurements for studying and assessing land surface–atmosphere interactions but also demonstrates the potential of QCL spectrometers for continuous observation of reactive nitrogen species as important additional instruments within long-term monitoring research infrastructures such as ICOS or NEON at sites with strong nearby ammonia sources leading to relatively high mean background concentrations and fluxes.
Reconstructing the Meaning Effect - The Capacity to Self-Heal Emerges From the Placebo Concept
Authors: Walach Harald 
Published: September 2016

Arguably the most important conceptual development in the area of placebo research in recent times was the redefinition of the placebo effect as an “effect due to the meaning of an intervention” (Moerman & Jonas, 2002). The placebo effect was reframed from a nuisance to a potential resource. When Martini in Germany (Martini, 1932) and Beecher in the US (Beecher, 1955; Lasagna, Mosteller, von Felsinger, & Beecher, 1954) started discussing the placebo-effect in the 30ies and 50ies it was a conundrum. Clinical pharmacology set out with the promise to find ever more specific treatments for diseases. This project assumes that through scientific knowledge we will unravel the causal network of diseases that can then be specifically targeted through clearly designed drugs with specific, known and targeted causal pathways of efficacy. This is theory. Or shall we say poetry and fantasy? Following this theory, everything that is not causal can only be background noise and a nuisance (Grünbaum, 1989). And hence the placebo-effect, as it showed in clinical trials that were necessary to prove the specific efficacy of these interventions, was considered a nuisance and, technically speaking, error variance to be minimised. Research and clinical experience showed how powerful such effects can be in practice. The redefinition by Moerman and Jonas captured this cultural move: the placebo-effect grew from a nuisance to be avoided to a resource that can be very helpful (Walach & Jonas, 2004). In this contribution I would like to take this development one step further and argue that this effect is actually the most important therapeutic effect of all. All so called specific effects, causal interventions etc. are only maneouvres that help marshal this most powerful therapeutic ally: the self-healing response. And so my thesis is that behind the placebo-effect we see self-healing at work. I am advocating a kind of figure-ground perceptual change: What has been considered the background, even background noise, namely the placebo-effect, I would hold to be the most important element. It should move to the foreground and become what it actually is: the most important component of every therapeutic system (Wampold, Minami, Tierney, Baskin, & Bhati, 2005). That does not negate that there are specific effects, like in life-saving surgeries in cases of emergencies or when resecting tumours. But they are the background that only allow the figure to emerge: the individual self-healing trajectory.
Development of a 0.5° global monthly raining day product from 1901 to 2010
Authors: Stillman S. , Zeng X. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWhile several long‐term global data sets of monthly precipitation amount (P) are widely available, only the Climate Research Unit (CRU) provides long‐term global monthly raining day number (N) data (i.e., daily precipitation frequency in a month), with P/N representing the daily precipitation intensity. However, because CRU N is based on a limited number of gauges, it is found to perform poorly over data sparse regions. By combining the CRU method with a short‐term gauge‐satellite merged global daily precipitation data set (Climate Prediction Center morphing technique) and a global long‐term monthly precipitation data set (Global Precipitation Climatology Centre) with far more gauges than used in CRU, a new 0.5° global N data set from 1901 to 2010 is developed, which differs significantly from CRU N. Compared with three independent regional daily precipitation products over the U.S., China, and South America based on much denser gauge networks than used in CRU, the new product shows significant improvement over CRU N.
Direct measurement of evapotranspiration from a forest using a superconducting gravimeter
Authors: Van Camp Michel , de Viron Olivier , Pajot‐Métivier Gwendoline , Casenave Fabien , Watlet Arnaud , Dassargues Alain , Vanclooster Marnik 
Published: September 2016

AbstractEvapotranspiration (ET) controls the flux between the land surface and the atmosphere. Assessing the ET ecosystems remains a key challenge in hydrology. We have found that the ET water mass loss can be directly inferred from continuous gravity measurements: as water evaporates and transpires from terrestrial ecosystems, the mass distribution of water decreases, changing the gravity field. Using continuous superconducting gravity measurements, we were able to identify daily gravity changes at the level of, or smaller than, 10−9 nm s−2 (or 10−10 g) per day. This corresponds to 1.7 mm of water over an area of 50 ha. The strength of this method is its ability to enable a direct, traceable and continuous monitoring of actual ET for years at the mesoscale with a high accuracy.
Characteristics of mesospheric gravity waves over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau region
Authors: Li Qinzeng , Xu Jiyao , Liu Xiao , Yuan Wei , Chen Jinsong 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe Tibetan Plateau (TP), known as “Third Pole” of the Earth, has important influences on global climates and local weather. An important objective in present study is to investigate how orographic features of the TP affect the geographical distributions of gravity wave (GW) sources. Three‐year OH airglow images (November 2011 to October 2014) from Qujing (25.6°N, 103.7°E) were used to study the characteristics of GWs over the southeastern TP region. Along with the almost concurrent and collocated meteor radar wind measurements and temperature data from SABER/TIMED satellite, the propagation conditions of three types of GWs (freely propagating, ducted, or evanescent) were estimated. Most of GWs exhibited ducted or evanescent characteristics. Almost all GWs propagate southeastward in winter. The GW propagation directions in winter are significantly different from other airglow imager observations at northern middle latitudes. Wind data and convective precipitation fields from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis data are used to study the sources of GWs on the edge of the TP. Using backward ray‐tracing analysis, we find that most of the mesospheric freely propagating GWs are located in or near the large wind shear intensity region (~10 km–~17 km) on the southeastern edge of the TP in spring and winter. The averaged value of momentum flux is 11.6 ± 5.2 m2/s2 in winter and 7.5 ± 3.1 m2/s2 in summer. This work will provide valuable information for the GW parameterization schemes in general circulation models in TP region.
Direct observational evidence for disturbance dynamo on the daytime low‐latitude ionosphere: A case study based on the 28 June 2013 space weather event
Authors: Thampi Smitha V. , Shreedevi P. R. , Choudhary R. K. , Pant Tarun Kumar , Chakrabarty D. , Sunda S. , Mukherjee S. , Bhardwaj Anil 
Published: September 2016

AbstractA case of the westward disturbance dynamo (DD) electric field, influencing the daytime equatorial and low‐latitude ionosphere, during a geomagnetic storm that occurred on 28–29 June 2013 is presented. The GPS total electron content (TEC) observations from a network of stations in the Indian equatorial, low and middle latitude regions along with the radio beacon TEC, ionosonde, and magnetic field observations are used to study the storm time behavior of the ionosphere. Negative ionospheric storm effects were seen over the low and middle latitudes during the storm time due to the presence of a westward DD electric field. Observations show that the suppression of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) from the morning hours itself on 29 June 2013 took place due to the prevailing westward DD electric field, providing evidence for the model calculations by Balan et al. (2013). Simulations using the GITM model also agree well with our results. The present study gains importance as the direct observational evidences for disturbance dynamo effects on the daytime low‐latitude ionosphere and the EIA are sparse, as it has been difficult to delineate it from the compositional disturbances.
Green synthesis of supported palladium nanoparticles employing pine needles as reducing agent and carrier: New reusable heterogeneous catalyst in the Suzuki coupling reaction
Authors: Liu Guanghui , Bai Xuefeng , Lv Hongfei 
Published: September 2016

A green method for the synthesis of supported Pd nanoparticles (NPs) using pine needle extract as the reducing agent and the extracted residue of pine needle (RPN) as the carrier is described. The Pd/RPN nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, UV–visible, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopies, transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The spherical Pd NPs had a mean particle size of 3.25 nm and were evenly distributed on the RPN surface. More importantly, the Pd/RPN nanocomposite, as a heterogeneous catalyst, presented superior catalytic activity for the Suzuki coupling reaction. The yield of the reaction of 4‐bromotoluene with phenylboronic acid catalyzed by Pd0.03/RPN reached 98% with low Pd loading (0.1 mmol%) at room temperature for 30 min. In addition, the catalyst could be easily separated by centrifugation and reused at least six times without significant loss of activity.
Non‐Zero Sum Differential Games of Backward Stochastic Differential Delay Equations Under Partial Information
Authors: Wu Shuang , Shu Lan 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIn this paper, we study a new type of differential game problems of backward stochastic differential delay equations under partial information. A class of time‐advanced stochastic differential equations (ASDEs) is introduced as the adjoint process via duality relation. By means of ASDEs, we suggest the necessary and sufficient conditions called maximum principle for an equilibrium point of non‐zero sum games. As an application, an economic problem is putted into our framework to illustrate the theoretical results. In terms of the maximum principle and some auxiliary filtering results, an equilibrium point is obtained.
Apron capacity at hub airports—the impact of wave‐system structure
Authors: Mirković Bojana , Tošić Vojin 
Published: September 2016

SummaryAt hub airports, dominant airlines/alliance coordinate their flights in time with the aim of increasing the number (and quality) of connections, thus producing a wave‐system in traffic schedules. This paper addresses the impact of concentrating aircraft into waves on airport apron capacity.Existing models for apron capacity estimation are based on the number of stands, stand occupancy time, and demand structure, differing between representative groups of aircraft served at an airport. Criteria for aircraft grouping are aircraft type and/or airline and/or type of service (domestic, international, etc.). Modified deterministic analytical models proposed in this paper also take into account the wave‐system parameters, as well as runway capacity. They include the impact of these parameters on the number of flights in wave, stand occupancy time, and consequently apron capacity.Numerical examples illustrate the difference between apron capacity for an origin–destination airport and a hub airport, under the same conditions; utilization of the theoretical apron capacity at a hub airport, given the wave‐system structure; and utilization of the apron capacity at a hub airport when point‐to‐point traffic is allowed to use idle stands. Furthermore, the influence of different assignment strategies for aircraft stands in the case of hub airports is also discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of a driving cycle for Colombo, Sri Lanka: an economical approach for developing countries
Authors: Galgamuwa Uditha , Perera Loshaka , Bandara Saman 
Published: September 2016

SummaryFinancial constraints and lack of availability of traffic‐related information significantly hinder the development of driving cycles in developing countries. This paper proposes an economical, practical, accurate methodology for the development of driving cycles, including the development of a driving cycle for Colombo, Sri Lanka. The proposed methodology captures regional traffic and road conditions and selects a model that represents the collected data sample with minimum available traffic‐related information. Existing methods were modified for route selection by dividing routes into links using nodes or physical junctions to minimize the number of trips required for data collection. Speed–time data for respective links were used to reconstruct speed–time profiles of identified origin–destination pairs. The on‐board method was used for data collection, and the Markov chain theory was used to develop a transition probability matrix of state changes. An additional matrix was introduced to the existing method to improve model representativeness to the collected data sample. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Insights into peptide‐membrane interactions of newly synthesized, nitroxide‐containing analogs of the peptaibiotic trichogin GAIV using EPR
Authors: Bortolus Marco , Dalzini Annalisa , Maniero Anna Lisa , Panighel Giacomo , Siano Alvaro , Toniolo Claudio , De Zotti Marta , Formaggio Fernando 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTrichogin GA IV is a short‐length (10‐amino acid long), mostly hydrophobic, peptaibiotic with an N‐terminal fatty acyl chain and a C‐terminal 1,2‐amino alcohol. A cardinal role of the terminal moieties in the cytotoxic activity of trichogin has been recently found. Previously, peptide orientation and dynamics of trichogin analogs in the membrane were studied using methyl ester derivatives. Therefore, in the present work we synthesized several trichogin analogs with naturally occurring terminal groups to verify whether these moieties have any effect on peptide‐membrane interaction. These trichogin analogs, both neutral and carrying a positively charged Lys residue, bear the nitroxide‐containing α‐amino acid TOAC to study them using EPR spectroscopy. Vesicles were used to investigate orientation and penetration depth of the peptide at room temperature. Bicelles were employed to evaluate the order, dynamics, and orientation of the peptide at a near physiological temperature. In addition, the position of the N‐terminal 1‐octanoyl chain in the membrane was studied by labeling it with a nitroxide. The secondary structure of the peptides in vesicles was studied by CD spectroscopy showing that they adopt a mostly α‐helical structure. In vesicles, the analogs insert below the lipid headgroups with the helix axis oriented parallel to the membrane surface at a peptide‐to‐lipid (P:L) ratio of 1:100. The presence of the single, positively charged Lys residue does not alter the orientation adopted by the peptides. In bicelles at P:L ratios 1:100 and 1:60, the peptide adopts a transmembrane orientation characterized by a very low orientational order, whereas at a 1:15 P:L ratio it severely disrupts the membrane. Our data shows that overall orientation and insertion in model membranes of the native trichogin GA IV are strictly comparable to those of its methyl ester analogs previously examined.
Characterization of residual tumours at the primary site in patients with a near pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer
Authors: Chao Y-K , Chang Y , Yeh C-J , Chang H-K , Tseng C-K , Chuang W-Y 
Published: September 2016

Abstract

Background
A ‘surgery as needed’ strategy has been proposed for patients with oesophageal cancer who truly achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). However, the ability to detect residual disease remains problematic. This study investigated the anatomical locations and pathological characteristics of residual cancer in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who achieved a near pCR following nCRT.

Methods
Patients with oesophageal SCC who achieved a near pCR after nCRT were eligible. Near pCR was defined as residual cancer in the resection specimen representing less than 10 per cent of the apparent original tumour area.

Results
Detailed histopathological reassessment of 76 consecutive patients (mean age 54·4 years) with a near pCR was undertaken. Some 32 patients (42 per cent) with a near pCR had no detectable mucosal lesions. Residual tumour was identified most frequently in the submucosal layer (54, 71 per cent), followed by the mucosa (44, 58 per cent), muscle layer (36, 47 per cent) and adventitia (22, 29 per cent) (P &lt; 0·001). Among patients without ypT1a disease, increasing depth of tumour invasion correlated negatively with the likelihood of mucosal involvement. Of patients with ypT3 disease, 16 of 22 had no detectable cancer located in the mucosa, compared with six of 29 with ypT1b disease (P &lt; 0·001).

Conclusion
Better tools for predicting pCR are required before considering a ‘surgery as needed’ approach in the management of oesophageal cancer.