bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk of venous thromboembolic events associated with VEGFR‐TKIs: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Qi Wei‐Xiang , Min Da‐Liu , Shen Zan , Sun Yuan‐Jue , Lin Feng , Tang Li‐Na , He Ai‐Na , Yao Yang 
Published: December 2012

AbstractVascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been widely used in advanced cancers. Concerns have arisen regarding the risk of venous thromboembolism with the use of these drugs. Currently, the contribution of VEGFR‐TKIs to venous thromboembolism is still unknown. We performed a meta‐analysis to determine the incidence and relative risk (RR) of venous thromboembolism events (VTEs) associated with these agents. Eligible studies included phase II and III prospective trials evaluating US Food and Drug Administration approved VEGFR‐TKIs (pazopanib, sunitinib, sorafenib and vandetanib), and data on VTEs were available. Overall incidence rates, RR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated employing fixed‐ or random‐effects models depending on the heterogeneity of included trials. A total of 14 studies (4,430 patients) were selected for this meta‐analysis. The incidence of VTEs related to VEGFR‐TKIs was 3% (95%CI: 1.7–5.1%), and there was no statistically significant increase in the risk of VTEs for VEGFR‐TKIs versus controls in overall population (RR0.912, 95%CI: 0.617–1.348, p = 0.643). On subgroup analysis, no significant increase in the risk of VTEs was found among different VEGFR‐TKIs or tumor types. No evidence of publication bias was observed. The use of VEGFR‐TKIs does not significantly increase the risk of VTEs, the risk of VTEs in patients with cancer is driven predominantly by tumor types, host factors and concomitant usage of anticancer agents. These results would provide important information for clinicians who use VEGFR‐TKIs to treat patients with solid cancer.
In situ imaging of biopolymers and extracellular enzymes in activated sludge flocs of a municipal wastewater treatment plant
Authors: Szilveszter Szabolcs , Ráduly Botond , Ábrahám Beáta , Lányi Szabolcs 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to investigate biopolymers and extracellular enzymes in whole activated sludge flocs originating from a full‐scale wastewater treatment plant, by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) techniques. Both sectioned and whole activated sludge floc samples have been stained using specific fluorochromes and immunostains in order to visualize the structural and functional characteristics of these bioaggregates. Samples were stained for visualization of lipids, sugars, total cells, esterase enzyme producing bacteria, and for β‐glycosidase (EC3.2.1.21), alkaline phosphatase (EC3.1.3.1) and trypsin (EC3.4.21.4) enzymes. Simultaneous staining schemes were applied and immunostaining specificity tests were performed.RESULTSBy the CLSM imaging and the 3‐D reconstruction of the stained flocs the distributions of the targeted floc components were successfully assessed. The immunostain specificity controls gave satisfactory results in each case. The reflected total cells‐to‐enzymes ratio was repeatedly higher for the sectioned samples.CONCLUSIONSThe CLSM imaging of whole sludge flocs delivers valuable information on the spatial distribution of the floc build‐up materials, with a satisfactory visualization accuracy of the individual components. The images of whole and sectioned samples showed similar distributions of the floc components, but the consistent differences revealed in cells‐to‐enzymes ratios call for further research.© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Demineralization of sludge‐based adsorbent by post‐washing for development of porosity and removal of dyes
Authors: Kong Lingjun , Tian ShuangHong , Luo Rongshu , Liu Wei , Tu YuTing , Xiong Ya 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundThere is growing interest in employing sludge‐based carbons (SC) from waste treatment as adsorbents. However, the application of SC is limited by its poor porosity caused by large amounts of minerals blocking the pores. It is thus, highly desirable to develop a post‐washing process to remove the minerals in SC.ResultsIn this paper, SC was washed with deionized water (DW), hydrochloric acid (HCl), citric acid (CA) and a mixed solution of hydrochloric acid and citric acid (HCl‐CA), respectively. Results showed that HCl‐CA washing had the highest demineralization efficiency (63%), so that HCl‐CA washed SC had the lowest ash content (32%) and largest total pore volume (0.455 m3 g‐1), and presented the highest adsorption capacities of 319 mg g‐1 for acid orange II (AOII) and 250 mg g‐1 for methylene blue (MB).ConclusionHCl‐CA washing has the highest demineralization efficiency. The high efficiency is attributed to the synergetic effects of both protonation and chelation. Demineralization has a strong influence on the development of pore structures, which further influences adsorption capacity. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
The Wing‐Patterning Network in the Wingless Castes of Myrmicine and Formicine Ant Species Is a Mix of Evolutionarily Labile and Non‐Labile Genes
Authors: Shbailat Seba Jamal , Abouheif Ehab 
Published: December 2012

AbstractWing polyphenism in ants is the ability of a single genome to produce winged or wingless castes in a colony in response to environmental cues. Although wing polyphenism is a universal and homologous feature of ants, the gene network underlying wing polyphenism is conserved in the winged castes, but is labile in the wingless castes, that is, the network is interrupted at different points in the wingless castes of different ant species. Because the expression of all genes sampled so far in this network in the wingless castes is evolutionarily labile across species, an important question is whether all “interruption points” in the network are evolutionarily labile or are there interruption points that are evolutionarily non‐labile. Here we show that in the wingless castes, the expression of the gene brinker (brk), which mediates growth, patterning, and apoptosis in the Drosophila wing disc, is non‐labile; it is absent in vestigial wing discs of four ants species. In contrast, the expression of engrailed (en), a gene upstream of brk is labile; it is present in some species but absent in others. In the winged castes, both brk and en expression are conserved relative to their expression in Drosophila wing discs. The differential lability of genes in the network in wingless castes may be a general feature of networks underlying polyphenic traits. This raises the possibility that some genes, like brk, may be under stabilizing selection while most others, like en, may be evolving via directional selection or neutral drift. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 320B:74–83, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structural bases for central nervous system malfunction in the quaking mouse: Dysmyelination in a potential model of schizophrenia
Authors: Rosenbluth J. , Bobrowski‐Khoury N. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe dysmyelinating mouse mutant quaking (qk) is thought to be a model of schizophrenia based on diminution of CNS myelin (Andreone et al., 2007) and downregulation of the Qk gene (Haroutunian et al., 2006) in the brains of schizophrenic patients. The purpose of this study was to identify specific structural defects in the qk mouse CNS that could compromise physiologic function and that in humans might account for some of the cognitive defects characteristic of schizophrenia. Ultrastructural analysis of qk mouse CNS myelinated fibers shows abnormalities in nodal, internodal, and paranodal regions, including marked variation in myelin thickness among neighboring fibers, spotty disruption of paranodal junctions, abnormal distribution of nodal and paranodal ion channel complexes, generalized thinning and incompactness of myelin, and on many axonal profiles complete absence of myelin. These structural defects are likely to cause abnormalities in conduction velocity, synchrony of activation, temporal ordering of signals, and other physiological parameters. We conclude that the structural abnormalities described are likely to be responsible for significant functional impairment both in the qk mouse CNS and in the human CNS with comparable myelin pathology. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Activities of free and encapsulated Lactobacillus acidophilusLA5 or Lactobacillus casei 01 in processed longan juices on exposure to simulated gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Chaikham Pittaya , Apichartsrangkoon Arunee , Worametrachanon Srivilai , Supraditareporn Wissanee , Chokiatirote Ekachai , Van der Wiele Tom 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundFruit drinks containing probiotics are gaining interest in the global marketplace. For example, longan juice, containing carbohydrate and various bioactive components, is a potentially health‐promoting beverage as well as probiotic carrier for human consumption. In this study, high‐pressure and thermal processes were applied to eliminate competitive micro‐organisms in longan juice prior to the addition of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 or Lactobacillus casei 01. The activities of these probiotics in a simulated gastrointestinal tract were also investigated.ResultsEncapsulated probiotics could survive in the acidic environment of the stomach and small intestine, while the free cells were completely eliminated. In the colon experiment, the influence of encapsulated L. casei 01 on colon lactobacilli was significantly greater than that of encapsulated L. acidophilus LA5. Both encapsulated probiotics suspended in processed longan juices led to extensive increases in the formation of lactic acid and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA). Acetate was the major SCFA produced by colon bacteria, followed by propionate and butyrate. The discernible clear zone suggested that L. casei 01 provided greater antibacterial activity than L. acidophilus LA5.ConclusionBoth encapsulated probiotics along with processed longan juice led to significant increases in colon lactobacilli, lactic acid and SCFA formation. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Trauma Experience Among Homeless Female Veterans: Correlates and Impact on Housing, Clinical, and Psychosocial Outcomes
Authors: Tsai Jack , Rosenheck Robert A. , Decker Suzanne E. , Desai Rani A. , Harpaz‐Rotem Ilan 
Published: December 2012

This study examined lifetime exposure to traumatic events as reported by 581 homeless female veterans enrolled in a Homeless Women Veterans Program across 11 sites to characterize the types of trauma they experienced; their correlation with baseline characteristics; and their association with housing, clinical outcomes, and psychosocial functioning over a 1‐year treatment period. Almost all participants endorsed multiple types and episodes of traumatic events. Among the most common were having someone close experience a serious or life‐threatening illness (82%) and rape (67%). Exploratory factor analysis revealed 6 potential trauma categories: being robbed, experiencing accident or disasters, illness or death of others, combat, sexual assault, and physical assault. At baseline, trauma from sexual assault was associated with more days homeless (β = .18, p < .001), trauma from accidents or disasters was associated with poorer physical health (β = −.23, p < .001), and trauma from being robbed was related to greater use of drugs (β = .22, p < .001). Trauma reported at baseline, however, was not predictive of 1‐year outcomes, suggesting type and frequency of trauma does not negatively affect the housing gains homeless women veterans can achieve through homeless services.
Is hunting an effective tool to control overabundant deer? A test using an experimental approach
Authors: Simard M. Anouk , Dussault Christian , Huot Jean , Côté Steeve D. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractOverabundant populations of cervids have induced drastic negative effects on plant communities in several regions worldwide. Antlerless deer harvest by sport hunters has been proposed as a potential solution to overabundance because the philopatric behavior of female deer is expected to limit recolonization of hunted zones. The efficiency of this method, however, has rarely been tested in the wild. Using a large‐scale experimental design, we reduced white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) density within 5 20‐km2areas on Anticosti Island (Québec, Canada). Our objective was to harvest 50% of antlerless deer in each site during the first year of the study in 2002, and 30% from 2003 to 2006. We monitored deer density, vegetation abundance and growth as well as deer life‐history traits during 6 years in these experimental sites and in 5 control sites where harvest rate was 5–7%. Overall, we achieved 93% of harvest objectives. Contrary to our expectations, however, deer density, vegetation abundance and growth, and deer life‐history traits did not vary differently in experimental and control sites during the study period. They rather varied stochastically but synchronously. We discuss several alternative hypotheses that may explain these results, including 1) compensatory mechanisms, 2) biases in density estimates, 3) limited access to territory for hunters, 4) large target areas for localized management, 5) low hunter density, 6) recolonization by surrounding deer, 7) slow plant response under canopy cover, and 8) bottom‐up mechanisms. Given the large efforts invested in this study, we conclude that the local control of abundant cervid populations through sport hunting may be difficult to achieve in many natural environments. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Preparation of Functional Water‐Soluble Low‐Cytotoxic Poly(methacrylate)s With Pendant Cationic L‐Lysines for Efficient Gene Delivery
Authors: Sun Jingjing , Luo Ting , Sheng Ruilong , Li Hui , Chen Shengdian , Hu Fangzhen , Cao Amin 
Published: December 2012

AbstractIn this work, we present the preparation of water‐soluble poly(methacrylate)s with pendant cationic L‐lysines PHMLs(6–30 K). Plasmid DNA binding affinity as well as particle sizes and zeta potentials of the polyplexes were examined for these PHML vectors, and their cytotoxicities were assayed with HeLa cells by CCK‐8 and lactate dehydrogenase kits. Gene transfection efficacy and intracellular uptake of the polyplexes by the PHML vectors were also studied with HeLa cells. As a result, it was revealed that the low cytotoxic PHMLs tended to exhibit gene transfection efficiencies significantly higher than those of the linear structural PLL (15–30 K) control, in particular the molecular weight of a PHML vector remarkably influenced its pDNA binding affinity, transfection efficacy and intracellular uptake of the polyplexes. magnified image
Biocompatible Fibrous Networks of Cellulose Nanofibres and Collagen Crosslinked Using Genipin: Potential as Artificial Ligament/Tendons
Authors: Mathew Aji P. , Oksman Kristiina , Pierron Dorothée , Harmand Marie‐Françoise 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBio‐based fibrous nanocomposites of cellulose nanofibres and non‐crosslinked/crosslinked collagen were prepared by in situ pH‐induced fibrillation of collagen phase and sterilized using gamma rays at 25 KGy. Collagen phase is crosslinked using genipin, a bio‐based crosslinker that introduces flexible crosslinks. Microscopy studies of the prepared materials showed nanostructured fibrous collagen and cellulose dispersed in collagen matrix. Mechanical performance of the sterilized nanocomposites was close to that of natural ligament and tendon, in simulated body conditions. Cytocompatibility studies indicated that these nanocomposites allowed human ligament cell and human endothelial cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation; which is eminently favourable to ligament tissue engineering. magnified image
Crystallization of a Polyamide 6/Montmorillonite Nanocomposite at Rapid Cooling
Authors: Mileva Daniela , Monami Andrea , Cavallo Dario , Alfonso Giovanni C. , Portale Giuseppe , Androsch René 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe crystallization behavior of a polyamide 6/organo‐modified montmorillonite (PA 6/OMMT) nanocomposite has been investigated by scanning chip calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, with emphasis placed on the evaluation of the effect of supercooling/cooling rate on the crystal/mesophase polymorphism of the PA 6 matrix. Presence of OMMT has negligible effect on the kinetics of formation of α‐crystals of PA 6 at low cooling rate while there is observed enhanced nucleation of γ‐mesophase on fast cooling. Furthermore, addition of OMMT leads to a distinct increase of the cooling rate required to completely vitrify the amorphous state. The performed experiments demonstrate that the nucleating effect of OMMT in PA 6/OMMT nanocomposites is of particular importance at cooling conditions relevant in polymer processing. magnified image
Cognitive, Emotional, and Sociocultural Processes in Consumption
Authors: Xie Chunyan , Bagozzi Richard P. , Østli Jens 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACTThis article examines deliberative, emotional, and sociocultural processes in consumption. The authors draw upon basic processes from two leading theories in social psychology, the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the model of goal‐directed behavior (MGB), to develop a comprehensive approach to decision making more appropriate for many consumption decisions, and revise the representation and modeling of key variables to better reflect how social psychological processes relate to consumer behavior. A survey was conducted among real adult consumers of bacalhau in Portugal. Because it is most common for women to prepare bacalhau meals in Portugal, 153 female participants were recruited for this survey. The results show that the TPB, and especially the MGB, are found to explain food consumption decisions well but only after the approaches are modified in form and content to accommodate the complex emotional and social aspects of the consumption context. The results also show that the effects of key determinants of desire in the MGB are contingent on the traits of food involvement and cultural orientation (i.e., degree of vertical individualism). The approach taken herein overcomes limitations of existing theories by synthesizing relevant processes across two leading theories and by introducing new variables and processes, thereby showing that the organization of these processes and their contingency on cultural variables regulate consumption.
Efficient linear solvers for incompressible flow simulations using Scott‐Vogelius finite elements
Authors: Cousins Benjamin R. , Borne Sabine Le , Linke Alexander , Rebholz Leo G. , Wang Zhen 
Published: December 2012

AbstractRecent research has shown that in some practically relevant situations like multiphysics flows (Galvin et al., Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng, to appear) divergence‐free mixed finite elements may have a significantly smaller discretization error than standard nondivergence‐free mixed finite elements. To judge the overall performance of divergence‐free mixed finite elements, we investigate linear solvers for the saddle point linear systems arising in ((Pk)d,P
k‐1disc) Scott‐Vogelius finite element implementations of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. We investigate both direct and iterative solver methods. Due to discontinuous pressure elements in the case of Scott‐Vogelius (SV) elements, considerably more solver strategies seem to deliver promising results than in the case of standard mixed finite elements such as Taylor‐Hood elements. For direct methods, we extend recent preliminary work using sparse banded solvers on the penalty method formulation to finer meshes and discuss extensions. For iterative methods, we test augmented Lagrangian and
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‐LU preconditioners with GMRES, on both full and statically condensed systems. Several numerical experiments are provided that show these classes of solvers are well suited for use with SV elements and could deliver an interesting overall performance in several applications.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013
Convergence analysis of some high–order time accurate schemes for a finite volume method for second order hyperbolic equations on general nonconforming multidimensional spatial meshes
Authors: Bradji Abdallah 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe present work is an extension of our previous work (Bradji, Numer Methods Partial Differ Equations, to appear) which dealt with error analysis of a finite volume scheme of a first convergence order (both in time and space) for second‐order hyperbolic equations on general nonconforming multidimensional spatial meshes introduced recently in (Eymard et al. IMAJ Numer Anal 30(2010), 1009–1043). We aim in this article to get some higher‐order time accurate schemes for a finite volume method for second‐order hyperbolic equations using the same class of spatial generic meshes stated above.We derive a family of finite volume schemes approximating the wave equation, as a model for second‐order hyperbolic equations, in which the discretization in time is performed using a one‐parameter scheme of the Newmark's method. We prove that the error estimate of these finite volume schemes is of order two (or four) in time and it is of optimal order in space.These error estimates are analyzed in several norms which allow us to derive approximations for the exact solution and its first derivatives whose the convergence order is two (or four) in time and it is optimal in space.We prove in particular, when the discrete flux is calculated using a stabilized discrete gradient, that the convergence order is
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or
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(resp. k) is the mesh size of the spatial (resp. time) discretization. These estimates are valid under the regularity assumption
\documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}\begin{align*}u\in C^4(\lbrack 0,T\rbrack;C^2(\overline{\Omega}))\end{align*} \end{document}, when the schemes are second‐order accurate in time, and
\documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}\begin{align*}u\in C^6(\lbrack 0,T\rbrack;C^2(\overline{\Omega}))\end{align*} \end{document}, when the schemes are four‐order accurate in time for the exact solution u.The proof of these error estimates is based essentially on a comparison between the finite volume approximate solution and an auxiliary finite volume approximation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013