bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alpha‐Spending Function
Authors: DeMets David L. , Lan K. K. Gordon 
Published: January 2014

AbstractRandomized clinical trials are typically monitored periodically for early evidence of convincing benefit or of potential harm for both scientific and ethical reasons by a data monitoring committee. After increments in the number of patients randomized or in the number of observed events, interim statistical analyses may be conducted to evaluate emerging results. This process may be referred to as a group sequential design. However, repeated analysis of accumulating data with conventional statistical testing can lead to substantially increased Type I or false positive error rates. The alpha spending function provides a flexible approach to control the Type I error while allowing the data monitoring committee to review the data as needed without having to specifya prioriwhen and how many such interim analyses will be conducted. Other earlier group sequential methods had these somewhat restrictive requirements. This alpha spending function approach can be applied to several spending functions that approximate some of these earlier methods.
Concise Synthesis of 1‐Naphthols under Mild Conditions through a Copper‐Catalyzed Arylation of Methyl Ketones
Authors: Lou Zhenbang , Zhang Shu , Chen Chao , Pang Xinlong , Li Ming , Wen Lirong 
Published: January 2014

AbstractA concise synthesis of 1‐naphthols via cyclization of o‐iodoacetophenones and methyl ketones has been realized under very mild conditions. The cyclization process is initiated by a rare copper‐catalyzed arylation of simple methyl ketones with ortho‐iodoacetophenones.magnified image
Endoscopic resection of orbital hemangiomas
Authors: Chhabra Nipun , Wu Arthur W. , Fay Aaron , Metson Ralph 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundCavernous hemangiomas are the most common orbital tumors in adults. Traditional orbitotomy approaches to resect these intraconal lesions are associated with patient morbidity due to difficulties with visualization and access in the region of the orbital apex.MethodsIn this retrospective chart review and case series, the records of 5 patients who underwent endoscopic resection of orbital hemangiomas by the senior authors (A.F. and R.M.) between 2007 and 2011 were reviewed. Patient demographics, preoperative, and postoperative variables were assessed.ResultsAll tumors were located in the medial orbital apex. Mean tumor size was 1.7 cm in maximum dimension (range, 1.0–2.7 cm). Proptosis and/or optic neuropathy were present in all cases. Surgeries were performed through an entirely endoscopic transnasal approach. One patient underwent subtotal tumor resection. Proptosis improved by a mean ± standard deviation of 1.75 ± 0.87 mm. The average improvement in visual acuity was 1.8 lines on a Snellen chart (range, 1–4 lines). There were no long‐term adverse sequelae.ConclusionEndoscopic techniques for the treatment of patients with hemangiomas in the posterior medial orbit appear to offer the advantage of enhanced surgical access with reduced patient morbidity compared to conventional orbitotomy approaches.
Culture‐inappropriate antibiotic therapy decreases quality of life improvement after sinus surgery
Authors: Zhang Zi , Palmer James N. , Morales Knashawn H. , Howland Timothy J. , Doghramji Laurel J. , Adappa Nithin D. , Chiu Alexander G. , Cohen Noam A. , Lautenbach Ebbing 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundDespite their widespread use, antibiotics have not been shown to improve chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) outcomes. We aimed to determine whether culture‐inappropriate postoperative antibiotic therapy was associated with less quality‐of‐life (QOL) improvement following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).MethodsThis retrospective cohort study recruited 376 adult CRS patients undergoing FESS between October 1, 2007 to December 31, 2011. Patient demographics, comorbidities and medications were collected at baseline. Trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole and clindamycin were administered for 2 weeks postoperatively. The antibiotic appropriateness was determined based on bacterial resistance profile of organisms identified during intraoperative culture. The QOL outcome was defined as change of 22‐item Sinonasal Outcome Test scores from preoperative visit to 1‐month, 3‐month, and 6‐month post‐FESS. Clinically significant difference was defined as at least 0.5 standard deviations (SD) of baseline QOL score in the reference group. Mixed‐effects regression models were performed.ResultsSeven percent of patients (n = 27) had culture‐inappropriate antibiotic therapy, and additional 5% (n = 19) had culture‐specific antibiotic adjustment. Compared to patients with culture‐appropriate antibiotics, patients with culture‐inappropriate antibiotics had significantly less improvement of QOL from baseline to postoperative 1‐month and 3‐month follow‐up where the difference became clinically significant; patients with antibiotic adjustment had more QOL improvement from baseline to 1‐month follow‐up, but their QOL worsened at 3‐month follow‐up, and these changes were not clinically significant. However, all effects washed out at 6‐month follow‐up with no significant differences.ConclusionCulture‐inappropriate postoperative antibiotic therapy decreased short‐term QOL improvement to a clinically meaningful level after FESS. Culture guided selection of antibiotics may improve short‐term FESS outcome.
Combined radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction and lateral outfracture of hypertrophic inferior turbinate in the treatment of chronic rhinitis: short‐term and long‐term outcome
Authors: Assanasen Paraya , Banhiran Wish , Tantilipikorn Pongsakorn , Pinkaew Bangon 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundRadiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction (RFVTR) of hypertrophic inferior turbinate (IT) is an effective way to treat patients with intractable nasal mucosal obstruction. We evaluated the effectiveness of combined RFVTR and lateral outfracture (LO) of hypertrophic IT in chronic rhinitis (CR) patients on reduction of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and nasal pruritus both short and long term.MethodsSeventy‐three patients with CR who failed medical treatment were recruited to undergo combined RFVTR and LO of hypertrophic IT. Nasal congestion scores were recorded before the operation, and immediately, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after the operation. Rhinorrhea and pruritic score as well as total nasal airway resistance (TNAR) and total nasal airflow (TNAF) (measured by active anterior rhinomanometry) were recorded before the operation, and 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after the operation.ResultsForty‐five patients completed the follow‐up period of 3 years. Subjects consisted of 25 male and 20 female patients, with an average age of 31 years. Nasal congestion scores were significantly improved immediately after the operation. Nasal congestion scores and TNAR values were significantly decreased whereas TNAF values were significantly increased at every time point postoperatively. Rhinorrhea and pruritic scores were also significantly improved at every time point after 2 weeks postoperatively.ConclusionCombined RFVTR and LO of hypertrophic IT is an effective treatment for nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and nasal pruritus in CR and the result lasts up to 3 years postoperatively.
Molecular dynamics simulation of diffusion behavior of cyclohexane in natural rubber during reclamation
Authors: Li Yi , Wu Youping , Zhang Liqun , Wang Xiujuan , Ren Dongyun , Wu Sizhu 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTReclaiming oil is a common additive involved in many physical rubber reclamation processes. In this work, molecular dynamics simulation is used to investigate the diffusion of oil in natural rubber (NR) under different temperatures and pressures. The structures of polyisoprene and cyclohexane molecules are constructed. The diffusion coefficients (Ds) of cyclohexane molecules in polyisoprene under different temperatures and pressures are calculated. The free volumes are also obtained to better understand the change in microstructure. The diffusion experiments of oil in NR samples under different temperatures and pressures are also conducted. The simulation results show that D increases as the temperature rises, especially at temperatures above 400 K, while the pressure does not affect D significantly. The fractional free volume calculated from the free volume and occupied volume exhibits a similar trend to that of D. Furthermore, the calculated Ds agree well with the experimental results. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40347.
Synthesis of novel macrophotoinitiator for the photopolymerization of acrylate
Authors: Ma Zhengfeng , Niu Xiling , Xu Zhihua , Guo Jinshan 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTA new kind of macrophotoinitiator (MPI) was synthesized through the copolymerization of acrylic monomers and the polymerizable photoinitiator monomer 2959‐AA. Monomer 2959‐AA was obtained by an esterification reaction between acrylic acid (AA) and the water‐soluble photoinitiator Irgacure 2959 [2‐hydroxy‐4‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐2‐methylpropiophenone]. By adjusting the monomer proportions in the MPIs, two series of MPIs with different 2959‐AA contents and different glass transition temperatures were obtained. The molecular structure of 2959‐AA was characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic spectrometry, and mass spectrometry. Polymerization of 1, 6‐hexanediol diacrylate was initiated using Irgacure 2959 and 2959‐AA, and two series of MPIs to be polymerized were studied with a photo‐DSC test. Results showed that 2959‐AA had higher chemical reactivity than Irgacure 2959 because of the higher solubility of the former. It was evident from the experiments that 2959‐AA content in the MPI progressively increased the polymerization rate and monomer conversion when the glass transition temperatures of MPIs were similar. At the same 2959‐AA content, the polymerization rate slightly slowed down with increased glass transition temperature. However, the radical lifetime and polymerization time were prolonged. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40352.
Severe infections in children with acute leukemia undergoing intensive chemotherapy can successfully be prevented by ciprofloxacin, voriconazole, or micafungin prophylaxis
Authors: Yeh Ting‐Chi , Liu Hsi‐Che , Hou Jen‐Yin , Chen Kuan‐Hao , Huang Ting‐Huan , Chang Ching‐Yi , Liang Der‐Cherng 
Published: January 2014

BACKGROUNDThe purpose of the current study was to prevent bloodstream infection and invasive fungal infection (IFI) by administering prophylactic antibiotic and antifungal agents during intensive chemotherapy in patients being treated for acute leukemia.METHODSProphylaxis treatment was administered during intensive chemotherapy in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012. Oral ciprofloxacin (at a dose of 300 mg/m2/12 hours) was administered after chemotherapy when a patient with AML or ALL became neutropenic and > 7 days of neutropenia was expected. Voriconazole (at a dose of 4 mg/kg/12 hours) was initiated at the onset of neutropenia in patients with AML and after 7 days of neutropenia in patients with ALL. Micafungin (at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day) was substituted for voriconazole when patients with ALL received vincristine. Prophylaxis treatment was discontinued when the absolute neutrophil count recovered to > 100/μL. All episodes of bloodstream infection, IFI, febrile neutropenia, and intensive care unit stays related to severe infection occurring between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2012 were recorded.RESULTSDuring the preprophylaxis period, 62 children with ALL and 24 children with AML experienced a total of 44 episodes of bloodstream infection and 22 episodes of IFI. Seven patients died of severe infection. In contrast, in the prophylaxis period, 10 episodes of bloodstream infection occurred and no IFIs were reported to occur in 51 patients with ALL and 14 patients with AML. Moreover, no patient died of severe infection. Episodes of febrile neutropenia and intensive care unit stay were significantly reduced during the prophylaxis period.CONCLUSIONSProphylaxis with ciprofloxacin and voriconazole or micafungin was found to reduce the rates of bloodstream infection and IFI in children with acute leukemia undergoing intensive chemotherapy. Cancer 2014;120:1255–1262. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Own‐ and other‐race face scanning in infants: Implications for perceptual narrowing
Authors: Xiao Wen S. , Quinn Paul C. , Pascalis Olivier , Lee Kang 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTThe present study investigated how 6‐ and 9‐month‐old Caucasian infants scan Caucasian and Chinese dynamic faces using eye‐tracking methodology. Analyses of looking times revealed that with increased age, infants decreased their looking time to other‐race noses, while maintaining their looking time for own‐race noses. From 6 to 9 months, infants increased their looking time for the eyes of both races of faces. Analyses of scan paths showed that infants were no more likely to shift their fixation between the eyes of own‐race faces than other‐race faces. Similarity between participants' scan paths suggested that facial information was collected more efficiently for own‐ versus other‐race faces at 9 months of age. Combined with previous eye‐tracking studies of infants' face scanning (Liu et al. [2011] Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 108, 180–189; Wheeler et al. [2011] PLoS ONE, 6, e18621. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018621; Xiao et al. [2013] International Journal of Behavioral Development, 37, 100–105), the findings are interpreted in the context of perceptual narrowing and suggest differential contributions of visual experience, facial physiognomy, and culture in accounting for similarity and difference in infants scanning of own‐ and other‐race faces. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 262–273, 2014.
Dark rearing alters the normal development of spatiotemporal response properties but not of contrast detection threshold in mouse retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Akimov Nikolay P. , Rentería René C. 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTThe mouse visual system is immature when the eyes open two weeks after birth. As in other mammals, some of the maturation that occurs in the subsequent weeks is known to depend on visual experience. Development of the retina, which as the first stage of vision provides the visual information to the brain, also depends on light‐driven activity for proper development but has been less well studied than visual cortical development. The critical properties for retinal encoding of images include detection of contrast and responsiveness to the broad range of temporal stimulus frequencies present in natural stimuli. Here we show that contrast detection threshold and temporal frequency response characteristics of ON and OFF retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which are poor at eye opening, subsequently undergo maturation, improving RGC performance. Further, we find that depriving mice of visual experience from before birth by rearing them in the dark causes ON and OFF RGCs to have smaller receptive field centers but does not affect their contrast detection threshold development. The modest developmental increase in temporal frequency responsiveness of RGCs in mice reared on a normal light cycle was inhibited by dark rearing only in ON but not OFF RGCs. Thus, these RGC response characteristics are in many ways unaffected by the experience‐dependent changes to synaptic and spontaneous activity known to occur in the mouse retina in the two weeks after eye opening, but specific differences are apparent in the ON vs. OFF RGC populations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 74: 692–706, 2014
Modelling changes in grassland hydrological cycling along an elevational gradient in the Alps
Authors: Della Chiesa S. , Bertoldi G. , Niedrist G. , Obojes N. , Endrizzi S. , Albertson J. D. , Wohlfahrt G. , Hörtnagl L. , Tappeiner U. 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTThe effects of elevation on surface water fluxes in dry alpine grassland ecosystems were investigated along an elevational transect between 1000 and 2000 m above sea level established in the Vinschgau/Venosta valley, a relatively dry region in the Italian Alps. The GEOtop‐dv hydrological model was employed in point‐scale mode to model the effects of the elevation gradient on snow water equivalent (SWE), soil water content (θ), evapotranspiration (ET), aboveground biomass (Bag) and water use efficiency (WUE) in different climatic conditions. Results show that SWE decreased strongly with decreasing elevation but was also affected by the interannual variability of meteorological drivers. During warmer years, the magnitude of changes in SWE was mitigated at higher altitudes while exacerbated below 1500 m. θ dynamics indicated that water stress conditions for vegetation currently occur at 1000 m each year, while only a warmer and drier year caused drought at 1500 m, and no water stress was found at 2000 m.ET, Bag and WUE did not decrease with elevation but showed a maximum at an intermediate elevation around 1500 m because of the contrasting trends of a shorter vegetation season at higher elevations and water stress at lower elevations, where, in fact, irrigation is needed to maintain grassland productivity. A simulation based on long‐term climatic conditions in combination with a sensitivity analysis of precipitation change showed that this effect is more pronounced during drier years, while for the wettest years, ET tended to decrease with increasing elevation. Taking these findings together, this study suggests that in relatively dry climatic conditions, mountain areas generally act as ‘water towers’ above 1500 m. Quantifying this critical threshold and its likely future variation under climate change scenarios is a challenge for water resource research in the Alpine region and can help stakeholders in planning future mitigation strategies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tunable Epoxidation of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Isolated Methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane
Authors: Annese Cosimo , D'Accolti Lucia , Giambastiani Giuliano , Mangone Annarosa , Milella Antonella , Tuci Giulia , Fusco Caterina 
Published: January 2014

AbstractOrganic functionalization of carbon nanotube sidewalls is a tool of primary importance in material science and nanotechnology, equally from a fundamental and an applicative point of view. In this paper, a mild and easily tunable approach to the sidewall decoration of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with epoxides and their subsequent derivatization (ring opening) upon treatment with reactive nucleophiles is presented. The treatment of HiPco purified SWCNTs with dioxirane solutions results in highly oxidized CNTs, which are used as electrophilic platforms for their successive derivatization/functionalization. As a result of the choice of accessible, easy to handle and store dioxiranes, multiple oxidation cycles could be performed on the same sample, thus allowing for a final improvement in the extent of oxidation at the CNT sidewall.
A two‐level cooperative game‐based approach for joint relay selection and distributed resource allocation in MIMO‐OFDM‐based cooperative cognitive radio networks
Authors: Adian Mehdi Ghamari , Aghaeinia Hassan 
Published: January 2014

AbstractWe consider the downlink of a multi‐input multi‐output orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing‐based cooperative cognitive radio network in which the secondary users (SUs) with extra resources work as relay to help the SUs with less available resources to improve their utility in terms of the throughput and fairness by forming a coalition graph. We model the problem of joint relay selection and power allocation in multi‐input multi‐output orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing‐based cooperative cognitive radio network as a two‐level cooperative game problem, and the objectives of this work are twofold. Firstly, we assign each weak SU to one of the relays (rich SUs) through solving a problem achieved by a non‐transferable utility coalition graph game, and this comprises the first level of the game. Secondly, we jointly allocate available channels to the SUs such that no subchannel is allocated to more than one SU and simultaneously optimise the transmit covariance matrices of nodes based on the Nash bargaining solution, which is the second level of the game. We further model the network as a multi‐cell scenario with small serving areas. After relaxing the problem and convexifying the relaxed version, we develop an optimal distributed algorithm, using dual decomposition. Afterwards, we propose a dynamic distributed resource allocation algorithm for this purpose. Simulations confirm the convergence of our distributed algorithms to the globally optimal solution of the two‐level game. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PDLLA/PRGD/β‐TCP conduits build the neurotrophin‐rich microenvironment suppressing the oxidative stress and promoting the sciatic nerve regeneration
Authors: Qiu Tong , Yin Yixia , Li Binbin , Xie Lijuan , Yan Qiongjiao , Dai Honglian , Wang Xinyu , Li Shipu 
Published: January 2014

AbstractA novel nerve guidance conduit comprising poly{(lactic acid)‐co‐[(glycolic acid)‐alt‐(l‐lysine)]} (PRGD), poly (d,l‐lactic acid) (PDLLA) and β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) was constructed to facilitate the peripheral nerve regeneration. From the comparative study, PDLLA/PRGD/β‐TCP conduit achieved the best recovery in regard of the ultrastructure observation and the SFI evaluation. At the first stage of the injury (7 days), the maximum expression augments in ZnSOD (6.4 folds) and GPX4 (6.8 folds) were observed in PDLLA/PRGD/β‐TCP group; while striking rise in actin (6.8 folds), tubulin (5.6 folds), and ERM components expressions were observed later (35 days). Meanwhile, compared with PDLLA and PDLLA/PRGD conduits, PDLLA/PRGD/β‐TCP conduits achieved the highest local nerve growth factor (NGF) content and an accumulating BDNF content. We speculated that addition of RGD and β‐TCP in the composites were the main positive factors to build the microenvironment rich in NGF and BDNF, which help to counteract with the oxidative stress and to boost the cytoskeletal protein expressions. Therefore, PDLLA/PRGD/β‐TCP could be promising composites used in peripheral nerve regeneration. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 102A: 3734–3743, 2014.