bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The administration of anesthetic in the thyroid pericapsular region increases the possibility of side effects during percutaneous laser photocoagulation of thyroid nodules
Authors: Gambelunghe Giovanni , Bini Vittorio , Monacelli Massimo , Avenia Nicola , D'Ajello Michele , Colella Renato , De Feo Pierpaolo 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveNodular thyroid disease is very frequent in iodine‐deficient areas affecting at least 50% of the population. Percutaneous laser ablation (LA) represents an effective method and an alternative to conventional surgery. Since the first description of the LA methodology for thyroid nodules, various studies have suggested some modifications to increase the percentage of volume reduction of the nodules. One of these alternatives involves the injection of anesthetic in the pericapsular thyroid space with detachment of the capsule itself from the surrounding tissue. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate whether using local anesthetic during LA is more effective in reducing volume size of treated nodules, and whether it causes fewer side effects than using no local anesthesia.Study DesignA retrospective analysis was conducted on 100 LA procedures performed on 100 patients between January 2009 and December 2011. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 50) received Lidocaine around the capsule of the thyroid nodule and Group B (n = 50) did not receive any local anesthetic treatment. Before treatment, the median volume size of the nodules of the two groups was similar.Results and ConclusionsThe results of our study demonstrate that the injection of local anesthetic does not help reduce nodule volume and that side effects (fever and pain) increase about threefold in the early hours following LA treatment. Thus, we do not recommend local anesthesia before LA of thyroid nodules. Lasers Surg. Med. 45: 34–37, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A prospective study to assess in vivo optical coherence tomography imaging for early detection of chemotherapy‐induced oral mucositis
Authors: Calantog Alden , Hallajian Lucy , Nabelsi Tasneem , Mansour Stephanie , Le Anh , Epstein Joel , Wilder‐Smith Petra 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveOral mucositis (OM) is a common and severe complication of many cancer therapies. Currently, prediction and early detection are not possible and objective monitoring remains problematic. Goal of this prospective study is to assess non‐invasive imaging using optical coherence tomography (OCT) for early detection and evaluation of chemotherapy‐induced OM in 48 patients, 12 of whom developed clinical mucositis.Study Design/Materials and MethodsIn 48 patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer, oral mucosal health was assessed clinically, and imaged using non‐invasive OCT. Images were evaluated for mucositis using an imaging‐based scoring system ranging from 0 to 6. Conventional clinical assessment using the OM assessment scale (OMAS) was used as the gold standard. Patients were evaluated on Days 0–11 after commencement of chemotherapy. OCT images were visually scored by three blinded investigators.ResultsThe following events were identified from OCT images (1) change in epithelial thickness and subepithelial tissue integrity (beginning on Day 2), (2) loss of surface keratinized layer continuity (beginning on Day 4), (3) loss of epithelial integrity (beginning on Day 4). Imaging data gave higher scores compared to clinical scores early in treatment, suggesting that the imaging‐based diagnostic scoring was more sensitive to early mucositic change than the clinical scoring system. Once mucositis was established, imaging and clinical scores converged.ConclusionUsing OCT imaging and a novel scoring system, earlier, more sensitive detection of mucositis was possible than using OMAS. Specific imaging‐based changes were a consistent predictor of clinical mucositis. Lasers Surg. Med. 45: 22–27, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tunable Thermoresponsive Pyrrolidone‐Based Polymers from Pyroglutamic Acid, a Bio‐Derived Resource
Authors: Bhat Rajani , Pietrangelo Agostino 
Published: January 2013

AbstractA series of pyrrolidone‐based polymers is prepared from pyroglutamic acid, a bio‐derived resource. Polymers bearing simple alkoxy substituents (e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, and butoxy) are soluble in common organic solvents and possess glass transition temperatures that are dependent on the length of the alkoxy residue. Replacing these substituents with an ether moiety (CH3OCH2CH2O—) affords a highly sensitive and reversible thermoresponsive polymer with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 42 °C in water. Copolymers composed of repeat units bearing both the ether and simple alkoxy residues are found to exhibit LCSTs that are highly dependent on the nature of the hydrophobic alkoxy residue suggesting that the LCSTs of these polymers can be successfully tuned by simply tailoring the copolymer structure.
Conjugated Polymer Chains Confined in Vertical Nanocylinders of a Block‐Copolymer Film: Preparation, Characterization, and Optoelectronic Function
Authors: Dong Ban Xuan , Honmou Yoshihiro , Komiyama Hideaki , Furumaki Shu , Iyoda Tomokazu , Vacha Martin 
Published: January 2013

AbstractHybrid materials composed of phase‐separated block copolymer films and conjugated polymers of the phenylenevinylene family (PPV) are prepared. The PPV chains are embedded in vertical cylinders of nanometer diameter in the block‐copolymer films. The cylinders span continuously the whole film thickness of 70 nm. Incorporation of the PPV chains into the one‐dimensional cylinders leads to modified photoluminescence spectra and to large absorption anisotropy. The hybrid films show electroluminescence from the PPV chains in a simple light‐emitting device at minute doping concentrations, and also exhibit a factor of 19 increase in electron transport efficiency along the single PPV chains.
Modeling impure clusters in a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Brown Roger L. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractCluster randomized controlled trials (CRCT) can be susceptible to a wide range of methodological problems. Many of these problems are not commonly recognized by researchers. This article is focused on one potential problem, the issue of impure clustering (multiple patient membership) within the CRCT structures and how it can lead to possible misunderstanding and bias in the results of the trial. A solution to this problem is presented using a multiple membership random effects model (MMREM). A simulated example of a three‐level CRCT is presented and modeled with and without multiple patient membership data. Results indicate underestimation of higher level variances, and overestimation of lower‐level variances, while also indicating underestimation of level predictors where the multiple membership occurs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 36:216–223, 2013
Structural and dynamics characterization of norovirus protease
Authors: Takahashi Daisuke , Hiromasa Yasuaki , Kim Yunjeong , Anbanandam Asokan , Yao Xiaolan , Chang Kyeong‐Ok , Prakash Om 
Published: January 2013

AbstractNorovirus protease is an essential enzyme for proteolytic maturation of norovirus nonstructural proteins and has been implicated as a potential target for antiviral drug development. Although X‐ray structural studies of the protease give us wealth of structural information including interactions of the protease with its substrate and dimeric overall structure, the role of protein dynamics in the substrate recognition and the biological relevance of the protease dimer remain unclear. Here we determined the solution NMR structure of the 3C‐like protease from Norwalk virus (NV 3CLpro), a prototype strain of norovirus, and analyzed its backbone dynamics and hydrodynamic behavior in solution. 15N spin relaxation and analytical ultracentrifugation analyses demonstrate that NV 3CLpro is predominantly a monomer in solution. Solution structure of NV 3CLpro shows significant structural variation in C‐terminal domain compared with crystal structures and among lower energy structure ensembles. Also, 15N spin relaxation and Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG)‐based relaxation dispersion analyses reveal the dynamic properties of residues in the C‐terminal domain over a wide range of timescales. In particular, the long loop spanning residues T123–G133 show fast motion (ps‐ns), and the residues in the bII–cII region forming the large hydrophobic pocket (S2 site) undergo conformational exchanges on slower timescales (μs–ms), suggesting their important role in substrate recognition.
pH‐selective mutagenesis of protein–protein interfaces: In silico design of therapeutic antibodies with prolonged half‐life
Authors: Spassov Velin Z. , Yan Lisa 
Published: January 2013

AbstractUnderstanding the effects of mutation on pH‐dependent protein binding affinity is important in protein design, especially in the area of protein therapeutics. We propose a novel method for fast in silico mutagenesis of protein–protein complexes to calculate the effect of mutation as a function of pH. The free energy differences between the wild type and mutants are evaluated from a molecular mechanics model, combined with calculations of the equilibria of proton binding. The predicted pH‐dependent energy profiles demonstrate excellent agreement with experimentally measured pH‐dependency of the effect of mutations on the dissociation constants for the complex of turkey ovomucoid third domain (OMTKY3) and proteinase B. The virtual scanning mutagenesis identifies all hotspots responsible for pH‐dependent binding of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and the results support the current understanding of the salvage mechanism of the antibody by FcRn based on pH‐selective binding. The method can be used to select mutations that change the pH‐dependent binding profiles of proteins and guide the time consuming and expensive protein engineering experiments. As an application of this method, we propose a computational strategy to search for mutations that can alter the pH‐dependent binding behavior of IgG to FcRn with the aim of improving the half‐life of therapeutic antibodies in the target organism. © Proteins 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Crystal structure of the ω‐aminotransferase from Paracoccus denitrificans and its phylogenetic relationship with other class III amino‐ transferases that have biotechnological potential
Authors: Rausch Christian , Lerchner Alexandra , Schiefner André , Skerra Arne 
Published: January 2013

AbstractApart from their crucial role in metabolism, pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate (PLP)‐dependent aminotransferases (ATs) constitute a class of enzymes with increasing application in industrial biotechnology. To provide better insight into the structure‐function relationships of ATs with biotechnological potential we performed a fundamental bioinformatics analysis of 330 representative sequences of pro‐ and eukaryotic Class III ATs using a structure‐guided approach. The calculated phylogenetic maximum likelihood tree revealed six distinct clades of which the first segregates with a very high bootstrap value of 92%. Most enzymes in this first clade have been functionally well characterized, whereas knowledge about the natural functions and substrates of enzymes in the other branches is sparse. Notably, in those clades 2‐6 members of the peculiar class of ω‐ATs prevail, many of which have proven useful for the preparation of chiral amines or artificial amino acids. One representative is the ω‐AT from Paracoccus denitrificans (PD ω‐AT) which catalyzes, for example, the transamination in a novel biocatalytic process for the production of L‐homoalanine from L‐threonine. To gain structural insight into this important enzyme, its X‐ray analysis was carried out at a resolution of 2.6 Å, including the covalently bound PLP as well as 5‐aminopentanoate as a putative amino donor substrate. On the basis of this crystal structure in conjunction with our phylogenetic analysis, we have identified a generic set of active site residues of ω‐ATs that are associated with a strong preference for aromatic substrates, thus guiding the discovery of novel promising enzymes for the biotechnological production of corresponding chiral amines. © Proteins 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of protonation state of Asp181 and position of active site water molecules on the conformation of PTP1B
Authors: Özcan Ahmet , Olmez Elif Ozkirimli , Alakent Burak 
Published: January 2013

AbstractIn protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), the flexible WPD loop adopts a closed conformation (WPDclosed) in the active state of PTP1B, bringing the catalytic Asp181 close to the active site pocket, while WPD loop is in an open conformation (WPDopen) in the inactive state. Previous studies showed that Asp181 may be protonated at physiological pH, and ordered water molecules exist in the active site. In the current study, molecular dynamics simulations are employed at different Asp181 protonation states and initial positions of active site water molecules, and compared with the existing crystallographic data of PTP1B. In WPDclosed conformation, the active site is found to maintain its conformation only in the protonated state of Asp181 in both free and liganded states, while Asp181 is likely to be deprotonated in WPDopen conformation. When the active site water molecule network that is a part of the free WPDclosed crystal structure is disrupted, intermediate WPD loop conformations, similar to that in the PTPRR crystal structure, are sampled in the MD simulations. In liganded PTP1B, one active site water molecule is found to be important for facilitating the orientation of Cys215 and the phosphate ion, thus may play a role in the reaction. In conclusion, conformational stability of WPD loop, and possibly catalytic activity of PTP1B, is significantly affected by the protonation state of Asp181 and position of active site water molecules, showing that these aspects should be taken into consideration both in MD simulations and inhibitor design. © Proteins 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Proving or Improving Science Learning? Understanding High School Students’ Conceptions of Science Assessment in Taiwan
Authors: LEE MIN‐HSIEN , LIN TZUNG‐JIN , TSAI CHIN‐CHUNG 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTClassroom assessment is a critical aspect of teaching and learning. In this paper, Taiwanese high school students’ conceptions of science assessment and the relationship between their conceptions of science assessment and of science learning were investigated. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. First, 60 students were interviewed regarding their conceptions of science assessment. From these interviews, a survey was developed, validated, and used with 914 students to quantitatively examine the same question. Third, 224 students were surveyed to determine the relationship between their conceptions of both science assessment and science learning. Using the phenomenographic method, the first study revealed six categories of conceptions of science assessment: reproducing knowledge, rehearsing, accountability to learning, improving learning, problem solving, and critical judgment, which seem to reveal the surface, summative, and formative purposes of assessment, respectively. The second study, based on what the high school students reported about science assessment, resulted in the use of the Conceptions of Science Assessment questionnaire, which confirmed the second‐order analysis (surface, summative, and formative) of the purposes of science assessment. In the third study, the relationships between high school students’ conceptions of science assessment and of learning science were revealed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 97:244–270, 2013
Estimation of Causal Odds of Concordance using the Aalen Additive Model
Authors: Martinussen Torben , Pipper Christian Bressen 
Published: January 2013

AbstractA simple summary of a treatment effect is attractive, which is part of the explanation of the success of the Cox model when analysing time‐to‐event data since the relative risk measure is such a convenient summary measure. In practice, however, the Cox model may fail to give a reasonable fit, very often because of time‐changing treatment effect. The Aalen additive hazards model may be a good alternative as time‐changing effects are easily modelled within this model, but results are then evidently more complicated to communicate. In such situations, the odds of concordance measure (OC) is a convenient way of communicating results, and recently Martinussen & Pipper (2012) showed how a variant of the OC measure may be estimated based on the Aalen additive hazards model. In this study, we propose an estimator that should be preferred in observational studies as it always estimates the causal effect on the chosen scale, only assuming that there are no un‐measured confounders. The resulting estimator is shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal, and an estimator of its limiting variance is provided. Two real applications are provided.
The effect of white‐tailed deer browsing on wheat quality and yields in Delaware
Authors: Springer Matthew T. , Bowman Jacob L. , Vasilas Bruce L. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractLocally overabundant white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter, deer) have caused increased damage to agronomic crops across their range. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) is grown in >60% of the states in the United States where white‐tailed deer occur. Although the effect of deer browsing on corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) yields has been documented, research on the effect of deer browsing on winter wheat yields and quality is limited. In 2007–2009, we investigated the effect of deer browse timing and wheat type (bearded and unbearded) on yields and quality in Delaware, USA. We randomly stratified 3 treatments (i.e., no protection, protected at planting, or protected prior to heading) in 1,680 plots. After head emergence, we surveyed the plots weekly to estimate browse rates and biomass removed by deer. We harvested a 1‐m2 area in the middle of each plot to determine the deer impact on yield. Browsing increased in intensity as head development progressed and more browsing occurring on the unbearded wheat. Unprotected plots had 195 kg/ha greater wheat yield than did protected plots in 2007 (P = 0.08). We found no difference in wheat yield among treatments during 2008 and 2009 (P = 0.38). Bearded wheat fields had 379 kg/ha greater wheat yield during 2007 and 399 kg/ha greater yield during 2008 and 2009 than did unbearded wheat fields (P < 0.001). We also observed no difference in wheat quality among treatments or between types of wheat (P > 0.417). Our browse surveys suggested avoidance of bearded wheat but the overall browsing was not intense enough to affect yield. Our results demonstrated that white‐tailed deer had no impact on wheat yield at a deer density of 15 deer/km2. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.
Behavioral Analysis of Tiger Night Housing Practices
Authors: Miller Angela , Leighty Katherine A. , Bettinger Tamara L. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThe systematic evaluation of changes in animal management practices is critical to ensuring the best possible welfare. Here, we examined the behavioral impacts of intermittently housing our six adult female tigers, who have been housed socially for much of their lives, individually overnight to allow for specialized care required by their advancing age. We looked for behavioral changes indicative of both positive and negative changes in welfare by monitoring time spent asleep, sleeping position, body position while awake, as well as pacing, door pounding, self‐grooming, roaring, and chuffing while housed socially as compared to individually overnight. Housing condition did not affect time spent asleep, sleeping positions assumed or the more preferred body positions while awake. Further, pacing, door‐pounding, and roaring were infrequent and not altered by housing condition. Self‐grooming did increase when housed individually but no evidence of over‐grooming was present and chuffing, a close proximity social vocalization, was more likely to occur when socially housed. Taken together, these findings support the notion that transitioning to individual housing as needed is a viable option for managing cats accustomed to being maintained in a social group. Zoo Biol. 32:189–194, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Associations of a Sexually Transmitted Disease Diagnosis During a Relationship with Condom Use and Psychosocial Outcomes: (Short) Windows of Opportunity
Authors: Reid Allecia E. , Magriples Urania , Niccolai Linda M. , Gordon Derrick M. , Divney Anna A. , Kershaw Trace S. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractFew studies have examined whether and how receiving an sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnosis while in a romantic relationship relates to condom use and psychosocial sexual outcomes. Using dyadic data, we examined associations of a personal or a partner's STD diagnosis during a relationship with condom use, monogamy intentions, condom intentions and attitudes, and STD susceptibility and communication. Because beliefs about how the STD was acquired may shape associations with behavior and cognitions, gender and suspecting that one's partner had other sexual partners (i.e., partner concurrency) were examined as moderators. Participants were 592 individuals in 296 couples expecting a baby; 108 individuals had been diagnosed with an STD during the relationship. Personal STD diagnosis was unrelated to outcomes or was associated with increased risk. A partner's diagnosis related to more positive condom intentions and attitudes. Among men who suspected concurrency, both a personal and a partner's STD diagnosis were associated with less condom use. Receiving the STD diagnosis during pregnancy was associated with greater susceptibility and marginally greater condom use. Results suggest potential benefits of enhancing communication and encouraging joint risk reduction counseling among couples, engaging men more fully in preventive efforts, and capitalizing on the short window during which risk reduction occurs.
Modeling the distribution of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on a Mediterranean island
Authors: Kontsiotis V. J. , Bakaloudis D. E. , Xofis P. , Konstantaras N. , Petrakis N. , Tsiompanoudis A. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThe European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a widely distributed mammal with an often contradictory ecological role, imposing the need for population management. Sound management requires an in‐depth understanding of the complex species–habitat relationships. In this study, CART analysis was employed to identify the most important environmental and anthropogenic factors affecting the spatial distribution of wild rabbit on Lemnos Island, northeastern Aegean Sea in Greece. On Lemnos, this species is considered an agricultural pest due to its overabundance resulting from the long‐term absence of viral diseases, limited predation pressure, and lack of effective management. The study was carried out during the summer of 2008 by surveying rabbit densities in 181 2 × 2‐km squares. Seven environmental and 14 anthropogenic variables, measured at two spatial scales, were used as explanatory variables. Soil hardness was the most influential variable, dividing the island into two distinct areas, namely the rabbit‐poor areas with hard rocky soils and the rabbit‐rich areas where soft soils prevail. In the former, the presence of a sharp relief can lead to complete absence of the species, while a combination of gentle relief, low altitudes, and low presence of arable land can lead to moderate rabbit density. In the latter, human‐caused disturbance can reduce the number of rabbits, while a high density of ecotones and streams and a high presence of riparian vegetation can increase population densities to its highest levels observed. Our findings can formulate a scientific basis for the development of an effective management strategy for its population control.