bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide on the Loading and Release of Model Drugs from Polyurethane Films: Comparison with Solvent Casting
Authors: Zhang Jing , Martin Darren J. , Taran Elena , Thurecht Kristofer J. , Minchin Rodney F. 
Published: December 2013

Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are widely used in biomedical applications because of their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, their role as possible matrices for drug delivery has received little attention. In this study, the loading and release of model drugs from different TPUs using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) as an inert and convenient solvent are investigated. The effects of scCO2 treatment on the physical properties of ElastEon TPU films are assessed. The results indicate subtle effects on the microphase morphology of the TPU without significant changes in its mechanical properties. Model drugs (rhodamine B, fluorescein, and 7‐hydroxycoumain) are readily loaded into the films and show homogeneous impregnation across the thickness of the film. The loading capacity under the conditions used in the present study varies from less than 1% for rhodamine B to approximately 4% for 7‐hydroxycoumarin. The release kinetics not only vary between the different drugs, but are also altered by changes in the composition of the hard and soft segments of the TPUs. These results demonstrate the potential of scCO2 treatment in preparing drug‐loaded poly­urethanes used in medical devices. This information may be helpful in designing TPUs with different drug‐release profiles for a variety of disease treatments.
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Imaging amide proton transfer and nuclear overhauser enhancement using chemical exchange rotation transfer (CERT)
Authors: Zu Zhongliang , Xu Junzhong , Li Hua , Chekmenev Eduard Y. , Quarles C. Chad , Does Mark D. , Gore John C. , Gochberg Daniel F. 
Published: December 2013

PurposeThis study investigates amide proton transfer (APT) and nuclear overhauser enhancement (NOE) in phantoms and 9L tumors in rat brains at 9.4 Tesla, using a recently developed method that can isolate different contributions to exchange.MethodsChemical exchange rotation transfer (CERT) was used to quantify APT and NOEs through subtraction of signals acquired at two irradiation flip angles, but with the same average irradiation power.ResultsCERT separates and quantifies specific APT and NOE signals without contamination from other proton pools, and thus overcomes a key shortcoming of conventional CEST asymmetry approaches. CERT thus has increased specificity, though at the cost of decreased signal strength. In vivo experiments show that the APT effect acquired with CERT in 9L rat tumors (3.1%) is relatively greater than that in normal tissue (2.5%), which is consistent with previous CEST asymmetry analysis. The NOE effect centered at −1.6 ppm shows substantial image contrast within the tumor and between the tumor and the surrounding tissue, while the NOE effect centered at −3.5 ppm shows little contrast.ConclusionCERT provides an image contrast that is more specific to chemical exchange than conventional APT by means of asymmetric CEST Z‐spectra analysis. Magn Reson Med 72:471–476, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Information theoretic ranking of four models of diffusion attenuation in fresh and fixed prostate tissue ex vivo
Authors: Bourne Roger M. , Panagiotaki Eleftheria , Bongers Andre , Sved Paul , Watson Geoffrey , Alexander Daniel C. 
Published: December 2013

PurposeTo compare the theoretical information content of four popular models of diffusion‐weighted signal attenuation.MethodFour whole prostates were imaged fresh unfixed and fixed at 9.4T. Biexponential, kurtosis, stretched exponential, and monoexponential models were ranked using Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) with validation by a leave‐one‐out test of model prediction error.ResultsFor unfixed tissue measurements (b‐value range: 17–2104 s/mm2) the biexponential and kurtosis models had similar information content to each other and this was distinctly higher than for the stretched and monoexponential models. In fixed‐tissue measurements (b‐value range: 17–8252 s/mm2), the biexponential model had much higher information content than the three other models.ConclusionAIC‐based model ranking is consistent with an independent prediction accuracy test. Biexponential and kurtosis models consistently perform better than stretched and monoexponential models. The biexponential model has increasing superiority over all three other models as maximum b‐value increases above ∼2000 s/mm2. Magn Reson Med 72:1418–1426, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and childhood cancer: A concise review of case reports and future research considerations
Authors: Burd Larry , Peterson Leah , Kobrinsky Nathan 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe reviewed the published literature on the relationship between childhood cancer and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). A Pub Med search identified 12 subjects with the co‐occurrence of FASD and cancer. We included an additional case from the author's institution. Neuroblastomas comprised 6 of the 13 (46%) case reports, yet neuroblastomas comprise only about 10% of childhood cancers (z = 4.1; P < 0.001). Other than rhabdomyosarcoma, no other cancer was reported more than once. Few cases of childhood cancer associated with FASD were identified likely due to under ascertainment of FASD. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:768–770. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Treatment of two cases with refractory, metastatic intermediate‐risk neuroblastoma with isotretenoin alone or observation
Authors: Pinto Navin , Cipkala Douglas A. , Ladd Patricia E. , Pu Yonglin , Cohn Susan L. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractPatients <12 months with favorable biology, metastatic neuroblastoma have >90% overall survival following treatment with chemotherapy and surgery. We report two infants with favorable biology, stage 4 neuroblastoma with refractory disease after standard intermediate‐risk chemotherapy and additional retrieval chemotherapy. One patient was treated with six additional cycles of isotretinoin and the other observed. Both remain clinically well with persistent disease but no evidence of tumor progression for 28 and 13 months following completion of cytotoxic treatment. Similar to residual tumor in primary sites, refractory metastatic disease may not portend a poor outcome in patients with favorable biology, intermediate‐risk neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:1104–1106. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sample Preparation for Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Phytochemicals in Biological Fluids
Authors: Oh Ju‐Hee , Lee Young‐Joo 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTIntroductionNatural products have been used traditionally for the treatment and prevention of diseases for thousands of years and are nowadays consumed as dietary supplements and herbal medicine. To ensure the safe and effective use of these herbal products, information about bioavailability of active compounds in plasma or target tissues should be provided via validated analytical methods combined with appropriate sampling methods.ObjectiveTo provide comprehensive and abridged information about sample preparation methods for the quantification of phytochemicals in biological samples using liquid chromatography analysis.MethodsSample pre‐treatment procedures used in analytical methods for in vivo pharmacokinetic studies of natural compounds or herbal medicines were reviewed. These were categorised according to the biological matrices (plasma, bile, urine, faeces and tissues) and sample clean‐up processes (protein precipitation, liquid–liquid extraction and solid‐phase extraction).ResultsAlthough various kinds of sample pre‐treatment methods have been developed, liquid–liquid extraction is still widely used and solid‐phase extraction is becoming increasingly popular because of its efficiency for extensive clean up of complex matrix samples. However, protein precipitation is still favoured due to its simplicity.ConclusionSample treatment for phytochemical analysis in biological fluids is an indispensable and critical step to obtain high quality results. This step could dominate the overall analytical process because both the duration of the process as well as the reliability of the data depend in large part on its efficiency. Thus, special attention should be given to the choice of a proper sample treatment method that targets analytes and their biomatrix. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reducing insulin prescription errors in hospital: more stick than carrot?
Authors: Hamilton P , Nation M , Penfold S , Kerr D , Richardson T 
Published: December 2013

AbstractPeople with diabetes are more likely to be admitted to hospital and have longer stays in hospital than people without diabetes. Data from the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit suggest that people with diabetes experience avoidable prescription errors such as wrong insulin, incorrect doses and omitted doses. These errors result in increased length of stay and harm to the patient. Many of the errors occur due to deficiencies in knowledge.Our aim was to reduce prescription errors and improve health care professionals' knowledge by introducing the following initiatives: (1) redesign of the diabetes prescription chart; and (2) implementing a root cause analysis prescription error pathway which involves a targeted approach to education for the individual who made the error.Following introduction of the changes to the insulin prescription chart, data from our participation in the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit reported that prescription errors were reduced from 65% to 14% and management errors from 40% to 14% from 2009 to the beginning of 2012. The results of the internal audit during 2012–2013 demonstrated a further reduction in prescription/management errors to 2% following the introduction of the root cause analysis pathway.The changes have demonstrated a significant reduction in prescription errors and an increased awareness of diabetes following the targeted approach to education. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons.
Effect of Aluminum Fiber Content on the Underwater Explosion Performance of RDX‐based Explosives
Authors: Lin Mou‐Jin , Ma Hong‐Hao , Shen Zhao‐Wu , Wan Xiao‐Zhi 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn order to analyze the effect of aluminum fiber contents on the underwater explosion performance of RDX‐based explosives, the pressure‐time curves of composite explosives with different aluminum fiber contents are measured by underwater explosion experiments. Peak pressure, impulse, shock energy, and bubble energy were obtained by analyzing the curves. The results show that the peak pressures of composite explosives decrease with increasing aluminum fiber contents. The shock impulse of the 30 % aluminum fiber composite explosive is the highest in all composite explosives. The effects of the 20 % and 40 % composite explosives are nearly equal to that of the 30 % explosive, and the different values of shock impulse among them do not exceed 5 %. The specific shock energy of the 20 % aluminum fiber composite explosive is the highest in all composite explosives. The bubble energy and explosion energy of composite explosives increase with increasing aluminum fiber contents.
Global perspective of herbicide‐resistant weeds
Authors: Heap Ian 
Published: December 2013

AbstractTwo hundred and twenty weed species have evolved resistance to one or more herbicides, and there are now 404 unique cases (species × site of action) of herbicide‐resistant weeds globally. ALS inhibitor‐resistant weeds account for about a third of all cases (133/404) and are particularly troublesome in rice and cereals. Although 71 weed species have been identified with triazine resistance, their importance has dwindled with the shift towards Roundup Ready® crops in the USA and the reduction of triazine usage in Europe. Forty‐three grasses have evolved resistance to ACCase inhibitors, with the most serious cases being Avena spp., Lolium spp., Phalaris spp., Setaria spp. and Alopecurus myosuroides, infesting more than 25 million hectares of cereal production globally. Of the 24 weed species with glyphosate resistance, 16 have been found in Roundup Ready® cropping systems. Although Conyza canadensis is the most widespread glyphosate‐resistant weed, Amaranthus palmeri and Amaranthus tuberculartus are the two most economically important glyphosate‐resistant weeds because of the area they infest and the fact that these species have evolved resistance to numerous other herbicide sites of action, leaving growers with few herbicidal options for their control. The agricultural chemical industry has not brought any new herbicides with novel sites of action to market in over 30 years, making growers reliant on using existing herbicides in new ways. In addition, tougher registration and environmental regulations on herbicides have resulted in a loss of some herbicides, particularly in Europe. The lack of novel herbicide chemistries being brought to market combined with the rapid increase in multiple resistance in weeds threatens crop production worldwide. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Degradation of three benzonitrile herbicides by AminobacterMSH1 versus soil microbial communities: pathways and kinetics
Authors: Frková Zuzana , Badawi Nora , Johansen Anders , Schultz‐Jensen Nadja , Bester Kai , Sørensen Sebastian Reinhold , Karlson Ulrich Gosewinkel 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe herbicide dichlobenil was banned in the European Union after its metabolite 2,6‐dichlorobenzamide (BAM) was encountered in groundwater. Owing to structural similarities, bromoxynil and ioxynil might be converted to persistent metabolites in a similar manner. To examine this, we used an indigenous soil bacterium Aminobacter sp. MSH1 which is capable of mineralizing dichlobenil via BAM and 2,6‐dichlorobenzoic acid (2,6‐DCBA).RESULTSStrain MSH1 converted bromoxynil and ioxynil to the corresponding aromatic metabolites, 3,5‐dibromo‐4‐hydroxybenzoic acid (BrAC) and 3,5‐diiodo‐4‐hydroxybenzoic acid (IAC) following Michaelis–Menten kinetics (adjusted R2 between 0.907 and 0.999). However, in contrast to 2,6‐DCBA, degradation of these metabolites was not detected in the pure‐culture studies, suggesting that they might pose an environmental risk if similar partial degradation occurred in soil. By contrast, experiments with natural soils indicated 20–30% mineralization of ioxynil and bromoxynil within the first week.CONCLUSIONThe degradation pathway of the three benzonitriles is initially driven by similar enzymes, after which more specific enzymes are responsible for further degradation. Ioxynil and bromoxynil mineralization in soil is not dependent on previous benzonitrile exposure. The accumulation of dead‐end metabolites, as seen for dichlobenil, is not a major problem. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Surface passivation of crystalline silicon by sputter deposited hydrogenated amorphous silicon
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Hargreaves Stuart , Wan Yimao , Cuevas Andres 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis letter shows that intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering can provide outstanding passivation of crystalline silicon surfaces, similar to that achieved by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). By using a 2% hydrogen and 98% argon gas mixture as the plasma source, 1.5 Ω cm n‐type FZ silicon wafers coated with sputtered a‐Si:H films achieved an effective lifetime of 3.5 ms, comparable to the 3 ms achieved by PECVD (RF and microwave dual‐mode). This is despite the fact that Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements show that sputtering and PECVD deposited films have very different chemical bonding configurations. We have found that film thickness and deposition temperature have a significant impact on the passivation results. Self‐annealing and hydrogen plasma treatment during deposition are likely driving forces for the observed changes in surface passivation. These experimental results open the way for the application of sputtered a‐Si:H to silicon heterojunction solar cells. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Imager‐assisted cloud detection for assimilation of Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer radiances
Authors: Eresmaa Reima 
Published: November 2013

The operational assimilation of Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) radiances at the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) relies primarily on the use of clear data, either in completely cloud‐free locations or restricting the assimilation to channels that are insensitive to underlying cloud. Prior to the data assimilation, cloud‐contaminated channels are identified and rejected in cloud detection, i.e. in a screening process based on observation minus background departure data. Background errors have the potential to confuse the cloud detection. On the one hand, a false alarm occurs when a background error is incorrectly interpreted as a cloud. On the other hand, cloud is missed if the background error compensates for the cloud radiative effect.This article outlines a method to improve the cloud detection by making additional use of collocated imager data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). An independent cloud‐detection scheme, based only on the AVHRR data, is formulated and compared with the departure‐based scheme currently in operational use at ECMWF. The intercomparison reveals a considerable number of discrepancies, with only one of the two schemes suggesting the presence of cloud. Combining the two schemes results in an imager‐assisted scheme, where the AVHRR data are used to set an additional requirement before allowing an IASI field of view to be diagnosed completely clear of clouds. In data assimilation experiments, using the imager‐assisted scheme results in systematic lower tropospheric warming in the winter hemispheres, particularly over the Arctic sea ice. The modified cloud detection is shown to have a modestly positive impact on independent observation departure statistics and forecast scores.
‘In case of emergency press here’: framing geoengineering as a response to dangerous climate change
Authors: Markusson Nils , Ginn Franklin , Singh Ghaleigh Navraj , Scott Vivian 
Published: December 2013

Geoengineering, especially its potentially fast and high‐leverage versions, is often justified as a necessary response to possible future climate emergencies. In this article, we take the notion of ‘necessity’ in international law as a starting point in assessing how rapid, high‐leverage geoengineering might be justified legally. The need to specify reliably ‘grave and imminent peril’ makes such a justification difficult because our scientific ability to predict abrupt climate change, for example, as tipping elements, is limited. The time it takes to establish scientific consensus as well as policy acceptance restricts the scope for effective forewarning and so pre‐emptive justifications for geoengineering become more tempting. While recognizing that dangerous, large‐scale impacts of climate change is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid, the pre‐emptive, emergency frame is problematic. We suggest that arguments from emergency operate on a high level of uncertainty and tend toward hubristic attempts to shape the future, as well as tending to close down rather than open up space for deliberation. We conclude that the emergency frame is not likely to go away, that ignoring or repressing it is a dangerous response, and that more effort is required to defuse and disarm emergency rhetoric. WIREs Clim Change 2014, 5:281–290. doi: 10.1002/wcc.263This article is categorized under:

Policy and Governance > Multilevel and Transnational Climate Change Governance
Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Climate Science and Decision Making
Persistence and management of spatially distributed populations
Authors: Hastings Alan 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe management of populations that are distributed in space is an important problem, both for ensuring the persistence of threatened populations and for the eradication or prevention of spread of invasive species. I provide an overview of conditions for persistence which underlie management in both scenarios. The idea that persistence essentially depends on two aspects, local dynamics and connectivity, provides a way to organize management approaches and leads to rules of thumb for management. This can guide management or suggest what additional information would be needed. Examples from a variety of systems and taxa illustrate the results.
Bevacizumab and fotemustine for recurrent glioblastoma: a phase II study of AINO (Italian Association of Neuro-Oncology)
Authors: Soffietti Riccardo , Trevisan Elisa , Bertero Luca , Cassoni Paola , Morra Isabella , Fabrini Maria Grazia , Pasqualetti Francesco , Lolli Ivan , Castiglione Anna , Ciccone Giovannino , Rudà Roberta 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
The optimal combination of bevacizumab with cytotoxic or cytostatic drugs in recurrent glioblastoma is unknown. We performed a phase 2 trial of combined bevacizumab and fotemustine for patients with glioblastoma at first relapse after radiotherapy and temozolomide. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), response rate based on RANO criteria and toxicity. Fifty-four patients with recurrent GBM were enrolled. The authors observed a 6-month PFS rate of 42.6 % (95 % CI 29.3–55.2) and a median PFS of 5.2 months (95 % CI 3.8–6.6). The median OS was 9.1 months (95 % CI 7.3–10.3). Twenty-eight patients (52 %) had a radiographic response, and a significant neurological improvement with steroid reduction was observed in 25/42 symptomatic patients (60 %). MGMT promoter methylation was significantly associated with improved PFS in univariate analysis. Most unifocal tumors at baseline had a focal enhancing progression (76 %), while the diffuse non-enhancing progression accounted for 9.5 %. Response or survival were not associated with any pattern of progression. Survival after failure of treatment was short. Twelve out of 54 patients (22 %) discontinued fotemustine for grade 3/4 myelotoxicity, while 4/54 (7.4 %) discontinued bevacizumab. This study failed to demonstrate a superiority of the combination of bevacizumab and fotemustine over either bevacizumab or fotemustine alone as historical controls. Future studies should explore alternative regimens of combination of the two drugs.