bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnetic Nanoparticles PCR Enzyme‐Linked Gene Assay for Quantitative Detection of BCR/ABL Fusion Gene in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Authors: Manthawornsiri Yanaphat , Polpanich Duangporn , Yamkamon Vichanan , Thiramanas Raweewan , Hongeng Suradej , Rerkamnuaychoke Budsaba , Jootar Saengsuree , Tangboriboonrat Pramuan , Jangpatarapongsa Kulachart 
Published: December 2015

BackgroundMagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used in medical diagnostic research. In this work, two technologies, MNPs and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were combined to increase detection sensitivity and specificity. A novel technique based on the MNPs‐PCR enzyme‐linked gene assay (MELGA) was developed for detection of the BCR/ABL abnormal gene in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients.MethodsAn MNPs‐labeled BCR forward primer and a biotin‐labeled ABL reverse primer were used to specifically amplify the target gene. After magnetic separation, the PCR product bound to MNPs labeled with streptavidin‐conjugated horseradish peroxidase was incubated with the peroxidase substrate and hydrogen peroxide to generate the colorimetric signal.ResultsWhen compared with real‐time quantitative‐PCR (RQ‐PCR), the MELGA technique exhibited an increased sensitivity of <1 fg with high specificity for the BCR/ABL fusion gene in CML patients. In addition, MELGA colorimetric results correlated well with the number of copies obtained from RQ‐PCR.ConclusionThis simple and cost‐effective technique is suitable for monitoring CML patients during targeted therapy (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) especially in rural hospitals.
Unusual prenatal sonographic findings without an elevated maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein level in a fetus with epidermolysis bullosa
Authors: Jeong Ba‐Da , Won Hye‐Sung , Lee Mi‐Young , Shim Jae‐Yoon , Lee Pil‐Ryang , Kim Ahm 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTA 31‐year‐old pregnant woman was referred to us at 34.6 weeks' menstrual age for sonographic evaluation of a fetal left lower limb abnormality. Sonographic findings revealed shortening of the left tibia and dorsal hyperflexion of the left foot. There was no family history of genetic disease, and the maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein concentration was normal. A male infant was born with extensive skin peeling, mainly on his left leg, associated with muscular dystrophy. Epidermolysis bullosa was confirmed on a skin biopsy; the neonate died 53 days after birth as a result of severe sepsis. Although cutaneous epidermolysis bullosa is difficult to diagnose prenatally, shortening and deformity of extremities may provide a clue to the diagnosis, even when the maternal alpha‐fetoprotein concentration is normal. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:319–321, 2016
Climate change and water resources in a tropical island system: propagation of uncertainty from statistically downscaled climate models to hydrologic models
Authors: Van Beusekom Ashley E. , Gould William A. , Terando Adam J. , Collazo Jaime A. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTMany tropical islands have limited water resources with historically increasing demand, all potentially affected by a changing climate. The effects of climate change on island hydrology are difficult to model due to steep local precipitation gradients and sparse data. This work uses 10 statistically downscaled general circulation models (GCMs) under two greenhouse gas emission scenarios to evaluate the uncertainty propagated from GCMs in projecting the effects of climate change on water resources in a tropical island system. The assessment is conducted using a previously configured hydrologic model, the Precipitation Runoff Modelling System (PRMS) for Puerto Rico. Projected climate data and their modelled hydrologic variables versus historical measurements and their modelled hydrologic variables are found to have empirical distribution functions that are statistically different with less than 1 year of daily data aggregation. Thus, only annual averages of the projected hydrologic variables are employed as completely bias‐corrected model outputs. The magnitude of the projected total flow decreases in the four regions covering Puerto Rico, but with a large range of uncertainty depending on the makeup of the GCM ensemble. The multi‐model mean projected total flow decreases by 49–88% of historical amounts from the 1960s to the 2090s for the high emissions scenarios and by 39–79% for the low emissions scenarios. Subsurface flow contributions decreased the least and groundwater flow contributions decreased the most across the island. At locations critical to water supply for human use, projected streamflow is shown to decrease substantially below projected withdrawals by 2099.
Blind use of reanalysis data: apparent trends in Madden–Julian Oscillation activity driven by observational changes
Authors: Oliver Eric C. J. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTAtmospheric and oceanic reanalyses are used widely by the climate science community. These products provide full three‐dimensional state fields and gapless time series, along with the confidence of being constrained by observational measurements, for atmospheric scientists and oceanographers to use in analyses of the climate system. However, as ubiquitous as reanalysis data are, it is not often considered how a scarcity of measurements in certain poorly observed regions, or over the course of a long period of time in which the observational system has changed significantly, impacts the realism of the data. This study explores this question using tropical surface pressures from the Twentieth Century Reanalysis to hindcast an index of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) over the 20th century. We show that by changing the choice of surface pressure predictor locations, and being aware of the observational measurements that have been assimilated by the reanalysis system, it is possible to control the estimated centennial‐scale trend in MJO activity from nearly zero to an increase of 30% over the 20th century. We emphasize that this is an apparent trend as it arises solely from the use of reanalyzed surface pressures from locations that have either been poorly observed or have experienced significant changes in the observing system over the 20th century. This highlights the need to be aware of the observational measurements (or lack of them), particularly their density in space and time, that have been assimilated by a reanalysis system.
An empirical‐analytical model of the vertical wind speed profile above and within an Amazon forest site
Authors: de Souza Cledenilson Mendonça , Dias‐Júnior Cléo Quaresma , Tóta Júlio , de Abreu Sá Leonardo Deane 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTThe present study considers the mean wind velocity profiles measured from a 60 m high tower in the Rebio‐Jarú forest (10 ° 04.7 ′ S, 61 ° 52.0 ′ W), located in the Brazilian northwestern state of Rondônia. The data were collected during the wet season as part of an intensive campaign of the large scale biosphere–atmosphere experiment in Amazonia. Nine cup anemometers were vertically placed to provide a good estimate of the inflection point height of the mean wind velocity profile. The resulting data were used to formulate a mean vertical wind speed profile, ū(z), based on key parameters such as the inflection point height and the leaf area index. The modified hyperbolic tangent function was used to provide a more flexible fit to the experimental data. An exponential term was also added to the ū(z) function, so that it can assume the appropriate ‘s’ shape near the ground. Thus, some parameters were incorporated into the analytical profile function to enable more flexibility. The presented results demonstrate that the profile is a good fit to the experimental data measured above and within the Amazon forest canopy.
A recurrent F8 mutation (c.6046C>T) causing hemophilia A in 8% of northern Italian patients: evidence for a founder effect
Authors: Garagiola Isabella , Seregni Sabrina , Mortarino Mimosa , Mancuso Maria Elisa , Fasulo Maria Rosaria , Notarangelo Lucia Dora , Peyvandi Flora 
Published: December 2015

AbstractHemophilia A is a heterogeneous hemorrhagic disorder caused by a large number of mutations. Recurrent mutations are rare, except intron 22 and intron 1 inversions. The substitution of a cytosine to a thymine at nucleotide 6046 in F8 gene was identified in a group of Italian patients affected by hemophilia A from a specific region of Northern Italy with a prevalence of 7.6%. This F8 variant was the second most frequent mutation in our cohort, after the intron 22 inversion. The identification of the same mutation in a restricted population gets to suppose the existence of a founder effect. Intragenic and extragenic polymorphic markers were tested to assess this assumption. A peculiar haplotype in linkage disequilibrium with this recurrent mutation (c.6046C>T) was identified in 71% of patients, supporting a founder effect. This distinctive haplotype was not identified in a control group (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.0001), coming from the same geographic region. These data strongly suggested the presence of a founder effect, supporting the existence of a single mutation event. Using DMLE+2.3 software and the mathematical approach described by Bengtsson and Thomson, the inferred age of this mutation is supposed to be about 2325 years (95% CI: 904–5081) ago.
Persistence with mirabegron therapy for overactive bladder: A real life experience
Authors: Pindoria Nisha , Malde Sachin , Nowers Jennifer , Taylor Claire , Kelleher Cornelius , Sahai Arun 
Published: December 2015

AimsTo evaluate persistence rates of patients receiving mirabegron therapy for overactive bladder (OAB) within our institution over a 6 month period, identify determinants of early discontinuation of therapy, and assess overall patient satisfaction with treatment.MethodsHospital prescription data were analyzed in order to identify all patients who had been prescribed mirabegron in our institution. Case notes were retrospectively reviewed to obtain demographic data, previous treatments for OAB, reasons for discontinuation of previous treatments, and duration of treatment with mirabegron. Overall satisfaction with treatment was assessed using the OAB Satisfaction with Treatment Questionnaire (OAB‐SAT‐q).ResultsOne hundred and ninety‐seven patients were prescribed mirabegron. Of these, 81% previously discontinued anticholinergic therapy, 14% had previously received intravesical botulinum toxin A therapy, and 19% were prescribed mirabegron first‐line. At 3 months 69% persisted with treatment which fell to 48% by 6 months. The commonest reason for discontinuation was lack of efficacy, followed by adverse effects. Overall 32% of patients preferred mirabegron over previous treatments and only 39% were satisfied with mirabegron therapy.ConclusionPersistence rates with mirabegron in this group of patients for OAB are satisfactory. The commonest reasons for discontinuation are unmet treatment expectations and adverse effects. We had very few treatment‐naïve patients and so further studies are required to assess mirabegron persistence rates with longer‐term follow up, as first‐line treatment and in different groups of OAB severity. Neurourol. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:404–408, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contributions to the generalization of advancing front particle packing algorithms
Authors: Morales Irvin Pérez , de Farias Márcio Muniz , Valera Roberto Roselló , Morfa Carlos Recarey , Martínez Carvajal Hernán Eduardo 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThe generation of a set of particles with high initial volume fraction is a major problem in the context of discrete element simulations. Advancing front algorithms provide an effective means to generate dense packings when spherical particles are assumed. The objective of this paper is to extend an advancing front algorithm to a wider class of particles with generic size and shape. In order to get a dense packing, each new particle is placed in contact with other two (or three in 3D) particles of the advancing front. The contact problem is solved analytically using wrapping intersection technique. The results presented herein will be useful in the application of these algorithms to a wide variety of practical problems. Examples of geometric models for applications to biomechanics and cutting tools are presented. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel hybrid linear–hyperbranched poly(butylene adipate) copolymer as an epoxy resin modifier with toughening effect
Authors: Shiravand Fatemeh , Ascione Laura , Persico Paola , Carfagna Cosimo , Brocks Thatiane , Cioffi Maria Odila Hilário , Puglisi Concetto , Samperi Filippo , Ambrogi Veronica 
Published: December 2015

AbstractA study was carried out on the effect of a hybrid linear–hyperbranched poly(butylene adipate) copolymer on the properties of a commercial epoxy resin. First, the synthesis of the hyperbranched systems was optimized. These systems were obtained by reacting linear oligomers with 1,1,1‐tris(hydroxymethyl)propane used as branching agent and varying the reaction times from 16 to 44 h. The synthesized samples were characterized through matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Results showed that for reaction times of 30 h a highly branched system, namely 5HB30, was obtained. This system was chosen as toughening agent for a commercial high‐performance epoxy resin. A kinetics analysis of epoxy/5HB30 blends indicated that the hyperbranched system had no accelerator or catalytic effect on the crosslinking reaction in the resin. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that 5HB30 acted as an excellent toughening agent, increasing significantly impact resistance up to 90% with respect to neat epoxy resin. The toughness behaviours of epoxy‐based blends were explained by investigating the fracture surface after impact tests through scanning electron microscopy before and after solvent etching. It was observed that the globular‐like hyperbranch‐rich domains, dispersed throughout the continuous epoxy resin, were able to absorb the impact energy without affecting thermal stability. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Catchment‐Scale Permafrost Mapping using Spring Water Characteristics
Authors: Carturan L. , Zuecco G. , Seppi R. , Zanoner T. , Borga M. , Carton A. , Dalla Fontana G. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis study presents a method for mapping the spatial distribution of mountain permafrost based on the chemical‐physical characterisation of spring water in a 36 km2 high‐elevation catchment in the Eastern Italian Alps. Water temperature, electrical conductivity and isotopic composition (δ2H and δ18O) were measured in 45 springs during summer 2007, 2010 and 2012. Existing evidence of permafrost enabled the areas upslope of springs to be classified into two categories of permafrost occurrence (probable permafrost and no permafrost) and used to determine the most suitable tracer for permafrost mapping. Springs from probable permafrost areas have a specific water temperature signature. Spring water temperature was therefore used as a response variable in multiple linear regression, and mean elevation and mean clear sky radiation of spring upslope areas were used as predictors. The multiple regression models were statistically significant and used to map the potential spatial distribution of spring water temperature, which was reclassified into three permafrost categories (probable, possible and improbable). Cross‐validation and independent validation by ground surface temperature data provided evidence that the spring water temperature can be used alone for easy and low‐cost assessment of the catchment‐scale permafrost distribution in similar alpine catchments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors associated with quality of life in children with asthma living in Scotland
Authors: Taminskiene Vaida , Mukhopadhyay Somnath , Palmer Colin , Mehta Anil , Ayres Jon , Valiulis Arunas , Turner Steve W. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryIntroductionAsthma affects children's quality of life (QoL) but factors associated with QoL are not well understood. Our hypothesis was that there are factors linked to QoL which are amenable to treatment or environmental modification.MethodsQoL was ascertained in a study designed to link environmental exposures to asthma outcomes. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine which factors are associated with QoL.ResultsThere were 553 children with asthma where QoL was determined, mean age 10.3 and 312 (58%) were boys. The median QoL score was 5.9 (interquartile range 4.6, 6.8). In the multivariate model, asthma severity (as evidenced by British Thoracic Society, BTS, treatment step), smoking exposure, socioeconomic status and rhinitis were associated with the QoL score. QoL score was reduced by (i) 30% [95% confidence interval 20, 39] for those on BTS step 4 compared to BTS step 1 treatment (ii) 11% [2, 19] for children with ≥ two resident smokers with reference to no resident smokers (iii) 3% [1, 5] for each quintile difference in deprivation compared to the most affluent and (iv) 9% [4, 14] for children with rhinitis compared to no rhinitis.ConclusionsThe QoL for children with asthma in the UK is generally good. Clinicians caring children with asthma should consider routinely asking about smoke exposure and hayfever symptoms in addition to assessing asthma control. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:484–490. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Research on Perfusion Explosives from SF‐3 Double‐Base Propellants Using Supercritical CO2
Authors: Wei Xiao'an , Zhang Di , Chen Feiyun , Wang Zeshan 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPerfusion explosives were prepared using porous SF‐3 propellants, which were synthesized by a supercritical fluid foaming process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the porous SF‐3 propellants. Massive holes were generated after the foaming process. The density of perfusion explosives using foamed SF‐3 propellants exceeds 1.3 g cm−3, and the detonation velocities exceed 6000 m s−1. Underwater energy tests and high‐speed photography were carried out to investigate the detonation performance of perfusion explosives. The results showed that perfusion explosives using unfoamed SF‐3 propellants could not be detonated. However, perfusion explosives using their foamed analogs could be detonated herein.
SafeType: detecting type violations for type‐basedalias analysis of C
Authors: Ireland Iain , Amaral José Nelson , Silvera Raúl , Cui Shimin 
Published: December 2015

SummaryTo improve the ability of compilers to determine alias relations in a program, the C standard restricts the types of expressions that may access objects in memory. In practice, however, many existing C programs do not conform to these restrictions, making type‐based alias analysis unsound for those programs. As a result, type‐based alias analysis is frequently disabled. Existing approaches for verifying type safety exist within larger frameworks designed to verify overall memory safety, requiring both static analysis and runtime checks. This paper describes the motivation for analyzing the safety of type‐based alias analysis independently; presents SafeType, a purely static approach to detection of violations of the C standard's restrictions on memory accesses; describes an implementation of SafeType in the IBM XL C compiler, with flow‐sensitive and context‐sensitive queries to handle variables with type void *; evaluates that implementation, showing that it scales to programs with hundreds of thousands of lines of code; and uses SafeType to identify a previously unreported violation in the 470.lbm benchmark in SPEC CPU2006. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unexpected Silaazetidine Formation in the Thermolysis of thf‐Supported Silanimine Et2Si=N–SitBu3·thf
Authors: Schödel Frauke , Sänger Inge , Bolte Michael , Lerner Hans‐Wolfram 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe silyl amide Et2SiCl‐NLi‐SitBu3 can be cleanly prepared from precursor silylamine Et2SiCl‐NH‐SitBu3 and Li[nBu]. The CF3SO3SiMe3 induced LiCl elimination of Et2SiCl‐NLi‐SitBu3 in thf afforded a 2‐silaazetidine derivative by [2+2] cycloaddition of Et2Si=N–SitBu3 with Et2Si(OCH=CH2)–NH–SitBu3. X‐ray quality crystals of this 2‐silaazetidine derivative (triclinic, space group P$\bar{1}$) were grown from benzene at room temperature. The starting material for this approach, Et2SiCl–NH–SitBu3, is water‐sensitive. Hydrolysis of Et2SiCl‐NH‐SitBu3 gave [tBu3SiNH3]Cl along with (Et2SiO)n oligomers. The hydro chloride [tBu3SiNH3]Cl could be isolated and was characterized by X‐ray crystallography (trigonal, space group P$\bar{3}$).
First Episode of Spontaneous Pneumothorax: CT‐based Scoring to Select Patients for Early Surgery
Authors: Primavesi Florian , Jäger Tarkan , Meissnitzer Thomas , Buchner Selina , Reich‐Weinberger Silvia , Öfner Dietmar , Hutter Jörg , Aspalter Manuela 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundAlthough recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is frequent, guidelines do not routinely recommend surgery after first presentation. A CT‐based lung dystrophy severity score (DSS) has recently been proposed to predict recurrence following conservative therapy. This study compares the DSS in surgically and conservatively treated patients.Methods
This is a retrospective analysis of first episode PSP patients, comparing video‐assisted thoracic surgery (VATS; group A) to conservative treatment with or without chest drainage (group B). CT scans were reviewed for blebs or bullae, and patients were assigned DSS values and stratified into risk groups (low and high‐grade). Primary end point was ipsilateral or contralateral recurrence.ResultsFifty‐six patients were included, 33 received VATS and 23 conservative treatment. In total, 37.5 % experienced recurrence, with a 5‐year estimated recurrence rate of 40.7 % (group A: 13.3 %; group B: 73.9 %; p < 0.001). In group B, detection of any dystrophic lesions resulted in significantly higher 5‐year recurrence rates (86.7 vs. 50.0 %; p = 0.03), there was no significant difference in group A (17.7 vs. 7.7 %; p = 0.50). Greater DSS values correlated with higher 5‐year recurrence rates in group B (p = 0.02), but not in group A (p = 0.90). Comparing low‐ and high‐grade patients in group B resulted in a significant 5‐year recurrence rate of 53.8 versus 100 % (p = 0.023).ConclusionsThe DSS is useful to indicate VATS after the first episode. For routine application, assigning patients to low‐ and high‐grade groups seems most practical. We recommend CT‐evaluation for every PSP patient and early surgery for those with lesions exceeding one bleb. After VATS, the preoperative DSS is not beneficial in predicting recurrence.
Test section streaks originating from imperfections in a zither located upstream of a contraction
Authors: Pook David A. , Watmuff Jonathan H. , Orifici Adrian C. 
Published: December 2015

Defining a link between wind-tunnel settling chamber screens, flow quality and test section boundary-layer spanwise variation is necessary for accurate transition prediction. The aim of this work is to begin establishing this link. The computed, steady, laminar wake of a zither (screen model) with imperfect wire spacing is tracked through a contraction and into a model test section. The contraction converts the zither wake into streamwise vorticity which then creates spanwise variation (streaks) in the test-section boundary layer. The magnitude of the spanwise variation is sensitive to the zither open-area ratio and imperfections, but the observed wavelength is relatively insensitive to the zither wire spacing. Increased spanwise variation is attributed to large wavelength variation of drag across the zither, and not the coalescence of jets phenomena. The linear stability of the streaks is predicted using the parabolized stability equations with the$\text{e}^{N}$method. A standard deviation of zither wire position error of 38.1 ${\rm\mu}$m (15 % of wire diameter) for a zither of 50 % open-area ratio is found to suppress Tollmien–Schlichting wave growth significantly.