bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does comorbid obesity impact quality of life outcomes in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery?
Authors: Steele Toby O. , Mace Jess C. , DeConde Adam S. , Xiao Christopher C. , Storck Kristina A. , Gudis David A. , Schlosser Rodney J. , Soler Zachary M. , Smith Timothy L. 
Published: July 2015

BackgroundBoth obesity and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are characterized by inflammation. Furthermore, both disease processes are independently associated with decreases in quality‐of‐life (QOL). We sought to investigate the role of comorbid obesity in QOL outcomes in CRS patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).MethodsAdult patients with medically refractory CRS (n = 241) were prospectively enrolled into a multi‐institutional treatment outcomes investigation. Body mass index (BMI) calculations were used to differentiate patient weight groups (normal weight: 18.5 to 24.9, overweight: 25.0 to 29.9; and obese: ≥30.0). Preoperative and postoperative QOL (Rhinosinusitis Disability Index [RSDI] and the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test [SNOT‐22]) were evaluated compared across BMI groups and obesity subclasses.ResultsThe prevalence of comorbid obesity was 41% (n = 99). Higher prevalence of comorbid disease was found across increasing BMI groups including diabetes mellitus, asthma, and depression. No significant differences were found in mean preoperative QOL measures between any BMI groups. Significant improvement between preoperative and postoperative QOL mean scores (p ≤ 0.050) was found for all BMI groups. Despite no significant difference in mean QOL improvement between BMI groups (p ≥ 0.142), overweight and obese patients reported reduced relative mean percentage (%) improvement compared to normal weight participants on the RSDI total score (33% and 37% vs 55%, respectively) and SNOT‐22 total score (29% and 40% vs 48%, respectively).ConclusionPatients with comorbid obesity experience significant improvement in average QOL gains following ESS though the percentage of relative improvement in QOL may be decreased in patients with comorbid obesity and CRS as compared to those without.
When are we operating for chronic rhinosinusitis? A systematic review of maximal medical therapy protocols prior to endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: Dautremont Jon F. , Rudmik Luke 
Published: July 2015

BackgroundEndoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is considered a therapeutic option after failure of maximal medical therapy (MMT) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). There is currently no consensus on the definition of MMT. The objective of this systematic review is to describe the various MMT criteria employed prior to considering ESS.MethodsA systematic review was performed using the 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Inclusion criteria were adults with CRS based on guideline diagnostic criteria, enrolled to undergo ESS, and study publication within the last 5 years (January 1, 2009, to December 30, 2014). Studies were excluded if the study population included non‐CRS indications for ESS. Primary outcome was the MMT criteria employed prior to considering a patient a candidate for ESS. A subgroup analysis was performed based on polyp status.ResultsOf 387 reviewed studies, 21% reported MMT criteria. When reported, criteria included topical nasal corticosteroids (91% of studies) for a mean of 8 ± 8 weeks, oral antibiotics (89%) for 23 ± 8 days, systemic corticosteroids (61%) for 18 ± 12 days, saline irrigations (39%), oral antihistamines (11%), oral mucolytics (10%), and topical/oral decongestants (10%).ConclusionA minority of studies report MMT criteria used as the indication for ESS. When reported, the majority included an 8‐week course of topical intranasal corticosteroids and 3‐week course of oral antibiotics. Use of systemic corticosteroids did not differ based on polyp status. Because of variation in current MMT criteria, there is a need to develop standardized indications for ESS that will work to improve the appropriateness of care for patients with
Intranasal cross‐sectional area and quality of life changes following endoscopic transsphenoidal skull base surgery
Authors: McCoul Edward D. , Patel Amit S. , Bedrosian Jeffrey C. , Anand Vijay K. , Schwartz Theodore H. 
Published: July 2015

BackgroundEndoscopic transsphenoidal surgical approaches to the skull base may produce alteration of intranasal architecture. Acoustic rhinometry (AR) can provide quantitative data on the nasal airway, which has not been previously applied to skull base surgery. We sought to employ AR to quantify the changes in nasal patency following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery and identify the relationship between these changes and septal deviation, nasoseptal flap harvest, and sinonasal quality of life (QOL).MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of a sellar or suprasellar tumor were prospectively enrolled. All subjects were adults who completed AR and the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) preoperatively and postoperatively. Cross‐sectional area (CSA) was recorded at the internal nasal valve (CSA1), middle turbinate head (CSA2), and middle turbinate body (CSA3). Normative data were also collected from a larger cohort.ResultsForty patients met study criteria. Significant increases occurred postoperatively in mean CSA2 (1.08 cm2) and CSA3 (2.47 cm2) (p < 0.001), whereas CSA1 remained unchanged. Nasoseptal flap harvest and correction of septal deviation did not significantly alter mean postoperative AR values. Mean SNOT‐22 scores were comparable despite septal pathology, whereas strong correlation was not found with change in AR values. Preoperative and postoperative QOL scores were not significantly affected by the presence of nasal septal deviation.ConclusionThe endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to the skull base can result in increased intranasal area without a detrimental effect on sinonasal QOL. These effects are independent of nasoseptal flap harvest and correction of nasal septal deviation.
Hereditary spastic paraplegia‐linked REEP1 modulates endoplasmic reticulum/mitochondria contacts
Authors: Lim Youngshin , Cho Il‐Taeg , Schoel Leah J. , Cho Ginam , Golden Jeffrey A. 
Published: July 2015

ObjectiveMutations in receptor expression enhancing protein 1 (REEP1) are associated with hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs). Although axonal degeneration is thought to be a predominant feature in HSP, the role of REEP1 mutations in degeneration is largely unknown. Previous studies have implicated a role for REEP1 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), whereas others localized REEP1 with mitochondria. We sought to resolve the cellular localization of REEP1 and further elucidate the pathobiology underlying REEP1 mutations in patients.MethodsA combination of cellular imaging and biochemical approaches was used to refine the cellular localization of REEP1. Next, Reep1 mutations associated with HSP were functionally tested in neuritic growth and degeneration assays using mouse cortical culture. Finally, a novel assay was developed and used with wild‐type and mutant Reep1s to measure the interactions between the ER and mitochondria.ResultsWe found that REEP1 is present at the ER‐mitochondria interface, and it contains subdomains for mitochondrial as well as ER localization. Knockdown of Reep1 and expression of pathological Reep1 mutations resulted in neuritic growth defects and degeneration. Finally, using our novel split‐RLuc8 assay, we show that REEP1 facilitates ER‐mitochondria interactions, a function diminished by disease‐associated mutations.InterpretationOur data potentially reconcile the current conflicting reports regarding REEP1 being either an ER or a mitochondrial protein. Furthermore, our results connect, for the first time, the disrupted ER‐mitochondria interactions to a failure in maintaining health of long axons in HSPs. Finally, the split‐RLuc8 assay offers a new tool to identify potential drugs for multiple neurodegenerative diseases with ER‐mitochondria interaction defects. Ann Neurol 2015;78:Ann Neurol 2015;78:679–696
Stabilisierung von heterodiatomarem SiC durch Donorliganden – theoretische Untersuchung von SiC(L)2 (L=NHCMe, CAACMe, PMe3)
Authors: Andrada Diego M. , Frenking Gernot 
Published: July 2015

AbstractQuantenchemische Rechnungen von SiC(L)2 mit L=NHCMe, CAACMe, PMe3 wurden auf dem Niveau BP86/TZ2P+ durchgeführt. Die optimierten Strukturen zeigen eine trans‐Anordnung der Liganden an SiC mit einer planaren Koordination für L=NHCMe und PMe3, während für L=CAACMe eine verdrehte Konformation berechnet wurde. Der L‐Si‐C‐Winkel ist signifikant kleiner als der L‐C‐Si‐Winkel. Beide Winkel werden größer in der Reihenfolge PMe3<NHCMe<CAACMe. Dieser Trend wird auch für die Bindungsdissoziationsenergie der Reaktion SiC(L)2→SiC+2 L gefunden. Die Bindungsdissoziationsenergien liegen zwischen De=98 und 163 kcal mol−1. Die Rechnungen zeigen an, dass die Verbindungen SiC(L)2 eine sehr hohe erste und zweite Protonenaffinität aufweisen. Die Protonierung findet am zentralen Kohlenstoff‐ bzw. Siliciumatom statt. Energiedekompositionsanalysen zeigen, dass die Bindungssituation in SiC(L)2 am besten als cumulenartige Kohlenstoff‐Kohlenstoff‐Bindung mit einer dativen Kohlenstoff‐Silicium‐Bindung LCSi←L beschrieben wird.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Dearomative Cyclocarbonylation by CN Bond Activation
Authors: Yu Hui , Zhang Guoying , Huang Hanmin 
Published: July 2015

AbstractA fundamentally novel approach to bioactive quinolizinones is based on the palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclocarbonylation of allylamines. [Pd(Xantphos)I2], which features a very large bite angle, has been found to facilitate the rapid carbonylation of azaarene‐substituted allylamines into bioactive quinolizinones in good to excellent yields. This transformation represents the first dearomative carbonylation and is proposed to proceed by palladium‐catalyzed CN bond activation, dearomatization, CO insertion, and a Heck reaction.
Luminescence and advanced mass spectroscopic characterization of sodium zinc orthophosphate phosphor for low‐cost light‐emitting diodes
Authors: Mishra Savvi , Swati G. , Rajesh B. , Tyagi Kriti , Gahtori Bhasker , Sivaiah B. , Vijayan N. , Dalai M. K. , Dhar A. , Auluck S. , Jayasimhadri M. , Haranath D. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractA new rare‐earth‐free NaZnPO4:Mn2+ (NZP:Mn) phosphor powder has been developed by our group and investigated meticulously for the first time using secondary ion mass spectroscopy and chemical imaging techniques. The studies confirmed the effective incorporation of Mn2+ into the host lattice, resulting in an enhancement of photoluminescence intensity. Phase purity has been verified and structure parameters have been determined successfully by Rietveld refinement studies. The NZP:Mn phosphor powder exhibits strong absorption bands in the ultraviolet and visible (300–470 nm) regions with a significant broad yellow‐green (~543 nm) emission due to the characteristic spin forbidden d–d transition (4T1→6A1) of Mn2+ ions, indicating weak crystal field strength at the zinc‐replaced manganese site. The decay constants are a few milliseconds, which is a pre‐requisite for applications in many display devices. The results obtained suggest that this new phosphor powder will find many interesting applications in semiconductor physics, as cost‐effective light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), as solar cells and in photo‐physics. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assembly of light‐emitting diode based on hydrophilic CdTe quantum dots incorporating dehydrated silica gel
Authors: Du Jinhua , Wang Chunlei , Xu Xiaojing , Wang Zhuyuan , Xu Shuhong , Cui Yiping 
Published: July 2015

AbstractStable photoluminescence QD light‐emitting diodes (QD‐LEDs) were made based on hydrophilic CdTe quantum dots (QDs). A quantum dot‐inorganic nanocomposite (hydrophilic CdTe QDs incorporating dehydrated silica gel) was prepared by two methods (rotary evaporation and freeze drying). Taking advantage of its viscosity, plasticity and transparency, dehydrated silica gel could be coated on the surface of ultraviolet (UV) light LEDs to make photoluminescence QD‐LEDs. This new photoluminescence QD‐LED, which is stable, environmentally non‐toxic, easy to operate and low cost, could expand the applications of hydrophilic CdTe QDs in photoluminescence. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computation of pH‐dependent binding free energies
Authors: Kim M. Olivia , McCammon J. Andrew 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTProtein–ligand binding accompanies changes in the surrounding electrostatic environments of the two binding partners and may lead to changes in protonation upon binding. In cases where the complex formation results in a net transfer of protons, the binding process is pH‐dependent. However, conventional free energy computations or molecular docking protocols typically employ fixed protonation states for the titratable groups in both binding partners set a priori, which are identical for the free and bound states. In this review, we draw attention to these important yet largely ignored binding‐induced protonation changes in protein–ligand association by outlining physical origins and prevalence of the protonation changes upon binding. Following a summary of various theoretical methods for pKa prediction, we discuss the theoretical framework to examine the pH dependence of protein–ligand binding processes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 43–49, 2016.
Prospective multicentre cohort study of patient-reported outcomes after cholecystectomy for uncomplicated symptomatic cholecystolithiasis
Authors: Lamberts M P , Den Oudsten B L , Gerritsen J J G M , Roukema J A , Westert G P , Drenth J P H , van Laarhoven C J H M 
Published: July 2015

Abstract

Background
Up to 33 per cent of patients with uncomplicated symptomatic cholecystolithiasis report persistent pain after cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to determine characteristics associated with patient-reported absence of abdominal pain after cholecystectomy, improved abdominal symptoms, and patient-reported positive cholecystectomy results in a prospective cohort multicentre study.

Methods
Patients aged 18 years or more with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis who had a cholecystectomy between June 2012 and June 2014 in one of three hospitals were included. Before surgery all patients were sent the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) questionnaire and the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). At 12 weeks after surgery, patients were invited to complete the GIQLI and Patients' Experience of Surgery Questionnaire (PESQ). Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine associations.

Results
Questionnaires were sent to 552 patients and returned by 342 before and after surgery. Postoperative absence of abdominal pain was reported by 60·5 per cent of patients. A high preoperative GIQLI score, episodic pain, and duration of pain of 1 year or less were associated with postoperative absence of pain. These factors showed no association with improved abdominal symptoms (reported by 91·5 per cent of patients) or a positive surgery result (reported by 92·4 per cent).

Conclusion
Preoperative characteristics determine the odds for relief of abdominal pain after cholecystectomy. However, these factors were not associated with patient-reported improvement of abdominal symptoms or patient-reported positive cholecystectomy results, highlighting the variation of internal standards and expectations of patients before cholecystectomy.
Clinical course of poststroke epilepsy: a retrospective nested case–control study
Authors: Zelano Johan , Lundberg Rebecca Gertz , Baars Leopold , Hedegärd Emelie , Kumlien Eva 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIntroductionRecently, several epidemiological studies have demonstrated that epilepsy develops after approximately 10% of all cerebrovascular lesions. With an aging population, poststroke epilepsy is likely to be of increasing relevance to neurologists and more knowledge on the condition is needed. Patients with poststroke epilepsy are likely to differ from other epilepsy patient populations regarding age, side‐effect tolerability, comorbidities, and life expectancy, all of which are important aspects when counselling newly diagnosed patients to make informed treatment decisions.MethodWe have here performed a nested case–control study on 36 patients with poststroke epilepsy and 55 controls that suffered stroke but did not develop epilepsy. The average follow‐up time was between 3 and 4 years.ResultsIn our material, two‐thirds of patients achieved seizure freedom and 25% experienced a prolonged seizure (status epilepticus) during the follow‐up period. Cases consumed more health care following their stroke, but did not suffer more traumatic injuries. Interestingly, the mortality among cases and controls did not differ significantly. This observation needs to be confirmed in larger prospective studies, but indicate that poststroke epilepsy might not infer additional mortality in this patient group with considerable comorbidities.ConclusionsThe observations presented can be of value in the counselling of patients, reducing the psychosocial impact of the diagnosis, and planning of future research on poststroke epilepsy.
Reduced Graphene Oxide/Marcasite‐Type Cobalt Selenide Nanocrystals as an Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries with Excellent Cyclic Performance
Authors: Li Zhangpeng , Xue Hongtao , Wang Jinqing , Tang Yongbing , Lee Chun‐Sing , Yang Shengrong 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe report a graphene/cobalt selenide (rGO/CoSe2) composite as an anode material for lithium‐ion batteries. The prepared composite shows a wrinkled morphology with the CoSe2 nanoparticles tightly anchored/wrapped on/in the rGO sheets. The rGO/CoSe2 composite exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance with higher capacity, better rate capability, and cycling performance compared to pure CoSe2. The rGO/CoSe2 composite delivers a high initial reversible capacity of 726 mAh g−1 and a very high capacity of 1577 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at a current density of 200 mA g−1 (0.38 C). The rGO sheets in the composite play important roles for the improvement in electrochemical properties, for example, the rGO sheet not only enhances the electrical conductivity of the whole electrode, but also alleviates the structure degradation caused by volume expansion of CoSe2 during discharge/charge processes, resulting in improved lithium‐storage performances.
Aluminum Deposition from Lewis Acidic 1‐Butyl‐3‐Methylimidazolium Chloroaluminate Ionic Liquid ([Bmim]Cl/AlCl3) Modified with Methyl Nicotinate
Authors: Wang Qian , Chen Bin , Zhang Qinqin , Lu Xingmei , Zhang Suojiang 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe potentiostatic electrodeposition of aluminum (Al) on copper (Cu) substrates from [Bmim]Cl/AlCl3(33.3/66.7 mol %) ionic liquid (IL) containing different concentrations of methyl nicotinate (MN) was studied at 303 K. It was found that the grain size of the deposits decreased from micron‐sized to nanoscale and the preferred Al(200) crystallographic orientation became stronger when increasing the concentration of MN from 2 to 8 mmol L−1. At a modest potential, a mirror‐bright Al coating could be obtained when the concentration of MN was no less than 4 mmol L−1. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used to investigate the effect of MN on the electrodeposition of Al, which demonstrated that MN acted simultaneously as a brightener and a leveling agent by adsorbing on the electrode surface, producing Al coatings with a highly uniform and smooth surface.
Unprecedentedly High Formic Acid Dehydrogenation Activity on an Iridium Complex with an N,N′‐Diimine Ligand in Water
Authors: Wang Zhijun , Lu Sheng‐Mei , Li Jun , Wang Jijie , Li Can 
Published: July 2015

AbstractHydrogen production from the dehydrogenation of formic acid (FA) is promising. Most of the current catalysts for FA dehydrogenation are effective only in the presence of bases or additives. We report here newly developed iridium complexes containing conjugated N,N′‐diimine ligands for FA dehydrogenation in water without the addition of bases or additives. A turnover frequency (TOF) of 487 500 h−1 with [Cp*Ir(L1)Cl]Cl (L1=2,2′‐bi‐2‐imidazoline) at 90 °C and a turnover number (TON) of 2 400 000 with in situ prepared catalyst from [IrCp*Cl2]2 and 2,2′‐bi‐1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrimidine (L2) at 80 °C were obtained, the highest values reported for FA dehydrogenation to date. A mechanistic study reveals that the formation of [Ir‐H] intermediate species is the rate‐determining step in the catalytic cycle.
Efficient semiparametric mixture inferences on cure rate models for competing risks
Authors: Choi Sangbum , Huang Xuelin , Cormier Janice N. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractCancer patients may die from causes other than the diagnosed cancer. In a study of patients treated for soft tissue sarcoma, the patients may die from the disease or die without experiencing disease recurrence. In addition, a substantial proportion of the patients will remain cancer‐free after surgical resection of the tumour, and therefore will not be at increased risk of any type of failure. Our goal is to describe the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy simultaneously on the probabilities of long‐term survival, death from cancer, or death from other causes. To this end, we propose a semiparametric mixture model to determine the effects of factors on the probability of occurrence, allowing the surviving fraction, and the hazard rate conditional on each of the failure types. These quantities are combined in the mixture approach using a multinomial logistic model and a class of semiparametric transformation models. Estimation of the regression and nonparametric parameters is achieved with a novel nonparametric maximum likelihood approach. Statistical inferences can be conveniently made from the inverse of the observed information matrix. Simulation studies show that the procedures work well in practical settings. The methodology is illustrated with data from the soft tissue sarcoma study. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 43: 420–435; 2015 © 2015 Statistical Society of Canada
Synthesis, Structure, and Photoluminescence Properties of Novel KBaSc2(PO4)3:Ce3+/Eu2+/Tb3+ Phosphors for White‐Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Jiao Mengmeng , Lü Wei , Shao Baiqi , Zhao Lingfei , You Hongpeng 
Published: July 2015

AbstractA series of novel KBaSc2(PO4)3:Ce3+/Eu2+/Tb3+phosphors are prepared using a solid‐state reaction. X‐ray diffraction analysis and Rietveld structure refinement are used to check the phase purity and crystal structure of the prepared samples. Ce3+‐ and Eu2+‐doped phosphors both have broad excitation and emission bands, owing to the spin‐ and orbital‐allowed electron transition between the 4f and 5d energy levels. By co‐doping the KBaSc2(PO4)3:Eu2+ and KBaSc2(PO4)3:Ce3+ phosphors with Tb3+ ions, tunable colors from blue to green can be obtained. The critical distance between the Eu2+ and Tb3+ ions is calculated by a concentration quenching method and the energy‐transfer mechanism for Eu2+→Tb3+ is studied by utilizing the Inokuti–Hirayama model. In addition, the quantum efficiencies of the prepared samples are measured. The results indicate that KBaSc2(PO4)3:Eu2+,Tb3+ and KBaSc2(PO4)3:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors might have potential applications in UV‐excited white‐light‐emitting diodes.