bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Midlife and late-life handgrip strength and risk of cause-specific death in a general Japanese population: the Hisayama Study
Authors: Kishimoto Hiro , Hata Jun , Ninomiya Toshiharu , Nemeth Hajnalka , Hirakawa Yoichiro , Yoshida Daigo , Kumagai Shuzo , Kitazono Takanari , Kiyohara Yutaka 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundDecreased handgrip strength has been reported to be a risk factor for all-cause death among the elderly. However, it is unclear whether handgrip strength measured in midlife is associated with risk of all-cause and cause-specific death in the general population.MethodsWe followed, prospectively, a total of 2527 community-dwelling Japanese (1064 men and 1463 women) aged ≥40 years for 19 years. Participants were divided into three groups according to the age-specific and sex-specific tertiles of handgrip strength (T1, lowest; T3, highest).ResultsDuring the follow-up period, 783 participants died, of whom 235 died of cardiovascular disease, 249 of cancer, 154 of respiratory disease and 145 of other causes. In the middle-aged group (40–64 years), multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for all-cause death were 0.75 (0.56 to 0.99) in T2 and 0.49 (0.35 to 0.68) in T3 compared with T1 as a reference. Corresponding HRs (95% CI) in the elderly group (≥65 years) were 0.50 (0.40 to 0.62) and 0.41 (0.32 to 0.51), respectively. As regards the cause of death, higher levels of handgrip strength were significantly associated with decreased risks of cardiovascular death, respiratory death and death from other causes, but not of cancer, in the middle-aged and the elderly.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that handgrip strength levels in midlife and late life are inversely associated with the risks of all-cause and non-cancer death in the general Japanese population.
Tumor Genetic Analyses of Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma and Extended Benefit from mTOR Inhibitor Therapy
Authors: Voss Martin H. , Hakimi A. Ari , Pham Can G. , Brannon A. Rose , Chen Ying-Bei , Cunha Luis F. , Akin Oguz , Liu Han , Takeda Shugaku , Scott Sasinya N. , Socci Nicholas D. , Viale Agnes , Schultz Nikolaus , Sander Chris , Reuter Victor E. , Russo Paul , Cheng Emily H. , Motzer Robert J. , Berger Michael F. , Hsieh James J. 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Purpose: Rapalogs are allosteric mTOR inhibitors and approved agents for advanced kidney cancer. Reports of clonal heterogeneity in this disease challenge the concept of targeted monotherapy, yet a small subset of patients derives extended benefit. Our aim was to analyze such outliers and explore the genomic background of extreme rapalog sensitivity in the context of intratumor heterogeneity.
Experimental Design: We analyzed archived tumor tissue of 5 patients with renal cell carcinoma, who previously achieved durable disease control with rapalogs (median duration, 28 months). DNA was extracted from spatially separate areas of primary tumors and metastases. Custom target capture and ultradeep sequencing was used to identify alterations across 230 target genes. Whole-exome sequence analysis was added to investigate genes beyond this original target list.
Results: Five long-term responders contributed 14 specimens to explore clonal heterogeneity. Genomic alterations with activating effect on mTOR signaling were detected in 11 of 14 specimens, offering plausible explanation for exceptional treatment response through alterations in two genes (TSC1 and MTOR). In two subjects, distinct yet functionally convergent alterations activated the mTOR pathway in spatially separate sites. In 1 patient, concurrent genomic events occurred in two separate pathway components across different tumor regions.
Conclusions: Analysis of outlier cases can facilitate identification of potential biomarkers for targeted agents, and we implicate two genes as candidates for further study in this class of drugs. The previously reported phenomenon of clonal convergence can occur within a targetable pathway which might have implications for biomarker development beyond this disease and this class of agents. Clin Cancer Res; 20(7); 1955–64. ©2014 AACR.
Prognostic Value of Soluble ST2 in the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial
Authors: Anand Inder S. , Rector Thomas S. , Kuskowski Michael , Snider James , Cohn Jay N. 
Published: March 2014

Background—
Soluble ST2 (sST2), a biomarker related to inflammation, is associated with outcomes of patients with heart failure. In-depth analyses of the relationship among sST2, changes in sST2, and patient outcomes are reported.

Methods and Results—

sST2 was measured at baseline (n=1650), 4 months (n=1345), and 12 months (n=1094) in Valsartan Heart Failure Trial. Baseline sST2 averaged 28.7±16.2 ng/mL, significantly (
P
<0.001) higher in men than women but supranormal in only 9% and 15%, respectively. A continuous relationship between sST2 and the log hazard ratio for outcomes was modeled as 2 linear segments with a significant decrease in the rate of increase in hazard ratios >33.2 ng/mL. Each segment of the sST2 distribution was significantly (
P
<0.0001) associated with the risks of morbid event, mortality, and hospitalization for heart failure. Only sST2 values <33.2 ng/mL were significantly related to the outcomes when 23 readily available clinical variables including N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide were included in the Cox regression model. sST2 did not improve discrimination of patient outcomes. Compared with placebo, valsartan significantly (
P
<0.001) reduced the rate of increase in sST2. Increases in sST2 for 12 months, but not decreases, were significantly associated with subsequent outcomes, independent of clinical variables, sST2, and valsartan treatment.

Conclusions—
In this study, baseline sST2 was nonlinearly associated with patient outcomes but did not provide substantial prognostic information when added to a clinical prediction model that included N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide. An increase but not decrease in sST2 was independently associated with outcomes. Additional research is needed to determine whether monitoring ST2 levels can improve patient outcomes.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for nontuberculous mycobacterial infection
Authors: Matsuoka Katsunari , Imanishi Naoko , Matsuoka Takahisa , Nagai Shinjiro , Ueda Mitsuhiro , Miyamoto Yoshihiro 
Published: March 2014

Background The number of patients with nontuberculous mycobacterium infection is increasing in Japan, and therefore surgical treatment is also being applied with increasing frequency. Although the effectiveness of surgery for nontuberculous mycobacterium disease has been established and reported by a number of authors, the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the surgical treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterium disease has not been sufficiently investigated. Patients and methods We retrospectively investigated 10 patients, comprising 5 males and 5 females, who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy for nontuberculous mycobacterium disease at our institution between February 2006 and November 2012. The average patient age was 59.5 years (range 53–65 years). We performed lobectomy in 6 cases and segmentectomy in 4. Results All surgical procedures were completed under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and none required conversion to thoracotomy. Postoperatively, air leakage continuing for 7 days occurred in 2 patients but there was no severe postoperative complication. The median periods of postoperative drainage and hospitalization were 4.0 and 5.5 days, respectively. Among 8 cases followed up at our institution, reactivation of nontuberculous mycobacterium disease occurred in one case 4 years after surgery. Conclusion Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a safe and useful procedure for lobectomy and segmentectomy in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterium disease.
Angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockade by telmisartan reduces impairment of spatial maze performance induced by both acute and chronic stress
Authors: Wincewicz Dominik , Braszko Jan J 
Published: March 2014

Introduction: Despite recognition of stress as a causation of severe neuropsychological dysfunctions, no casual and clinically effective anti-stress therapeutic strategy has yet been found. We have previously shown that blockade of initial stress response by angiotensin receptor blockers alleviates the negative effect of prolonged stress on cognitive non-spatial functions of rats. Here we aimed to find whether telmisartan reduces stress-related memory decline in spatial hippocampal-dependent learning tasks conditioned upon differences in level of stress induced by aversive nature of memory tests. Methods: Male Wistar rats were exposed to chronic restraint stress for three weeks and daily treated with either vehicle or telmisartan (1 mg/kg). Afterwards rats were tested in three spatial learning and memory paradigms: Morris water maze (MWM), radial arm maze (RAM), and Barnes maze (BM). Results: Stressed animals demonstrated significantly impaired performance in all the tests, which was normalized in the animals stressed and treated with telmisartan. Interestingly, despite the fact that MWM and RAM are more stressful, which affects animal behavior, therefore considered less sensitive than BM, more significant effect of telmisartan was found in MWM and RAM than BM. Conclusions: AT1 angiotensin receptor blockade attenuates negative effect of both acute and chronic stress on spatial memory.
Total body irradiation causes long-term mouse BM injury via induction of HSC premature senescence in an Ink4a- and Arf-independent manner
Authors: Shao Lijian , Feng Wei , Li Hongliang , Gardner David , Luo Yi , Wang Yong , Liu Lingbo , Meng Aimin , Sharpless Norman E. , Zhou Daohong 
Published: March 2014

Key Points
Total body irradiation causes long-term bone marrow suppression by selectively inducing HSC senescence. The induction of HSC senescence is independent of telomere shortening and p16Ink4a and Arf.
From the nucleation of wiggling Au nanostructures to the dome-shaped Au droplets on GaAs (111)A, (110), (100), and (111)B
Authors: Li Ming-Yu , Sui Mao , Kim Eun-Soo , Lee Jihoon 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
In this paper, the systematic evolution process of self-assembled Au droplets is successfully demonstrated on GaAs (111)A, (110), (100), and (111)B. On various GaAs substrates, self-assembled Au clusters begin to nucleate at around 300°C, and then, they develop into wiggly Au nanostructures at 350°C. Between 400°C and 550°C, the self-assembled dome-shaped Au droplets with fine uniformity are fabricated with various sizes and densities based on the Volmer-Weber growth mode. Depending on the annealing temperature, the size including the average height and lateral diameter and the density of Au droplets show the opposite trend of increased size with correspondingly decreased density as a function of the annealing temperature due to the difference in the diffusion length of adatoms at varied activation energy. Under an identical growth condition, depending on the surface index, the size and density of Au droplets show a clear distinction, observed throughout the temperature range. The results are systematically analyzed and discussed in terms of atomic force microscopy (AFM) images, cross-sectional line profiles, and Fourier filter transform (FFT) power spectra as well as the summary plots of the size and density.
Coupled coincidence point results for a generalized compatible pair with applications
Authors: Hussain Nawab , Abbas Mujahid , Azam Akbar , Ahmad Jamshaid 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
In this paper, employing a new concept of generalized compatibility of a pair of mappings defined on a product space, certain coupled coincidence point results of mappings involved herein are obtained. We also deduce certain coupled fixed point results without mixed monotone property of F. Our results generalize some recent comparable results in the literature. Moreover, some examples and an application to integral equations are given here to illustrate the usability of the obtained results.

MSC:46S40, 47H10, 54H25.
The Construction of the Coarse de Rham Complexes with Improved Approximation Properties
Authors: Lashuk Ilya V. , Vassilevski Panayot S. 
Published: March 2014

Abstract.

We present two novel coarse spaces (H1
- and

H
(
curl
)

$H(\operatorname{curl})$

-conforming) based on element agglomeration on unstructured tetrahedral meshes. Each H1
-conforming coarse basis function is
continuous and piecewise-linear with respect to an original tetrahedral mesh. The

H
(
curl
)

$H(\operatorname{curl})$

-conforming coarse space is a subspace of the lowest order Nédélec space of the first type. The H1
-conforming coarse space exactly interpolates affine functions on each agglomerate. The

H
(
curl
)

$H(\operatorname{curl})$

-conforming coarse space exactly interpolates vector constants on each agglomerate. Combined with the

H
(
div
)

$H(\operatorname{div})$

- and L2
-conforming spaces developed previously in
[Numer. Linear Algebra Appl. 19 (2012), 414–426], the newly
constructed coarse spaces form a sequence (with respect to exterior derivatives) which is exact
as long as the underlying sequence of fine-grid spaces is exact. The constructed coarse spaces inherit the approximation and stability properties of the underlying fine-grid spaces supported by our numerical experiments. The new coarse spaces, in addition to multigrid, can be used for upscaling of broad range of PDEs involving

curl

$\operatorname{curl}$

,

div

$\operatorname{div}$

and

grad

$\operatorname{grad}$

differential operators.
Machining Parameters Evaluation During a Wet, Lubricated, and Air-cooled Turning Process
Authors: Botsaris Pantelis N. , Ntantis Efstratios L. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn this paper, there is an attempt to derive an observation and study of specific machining parameters after turning process of a DIN 34CrNiMo6 nickel-chromium stainless steel in a conventional center (lathe). The machining parameters concerned are the temperatures developed on cutting tools and the workpiece, the surface roughness of the workpiece after process, the level of vibrations of cutting tool, the noise levels of the process, and the current of the lathe motor. Four different experimental scenarios completed namely wet, dry and air-cooled process. An optimally designed sensor network installed to monitor and record the measurements of the examined machining parameters. The experimental data considered for examination with statistical analysis of developed charts which presented interesting research findings. In dry cutting, the machining temperatures and the amount of removed material, observed with the highest values among other experimental scenarios. The surface roughness found its smallest value after the end of the lubricated cutting and the machining process with minimum vibrations observed during the operation of the Airgun. However, the study also brought out an interesting and useful observation for future consideration in the area of a Life Cycle Assessment. The chips taken at the end of experimental scenarios will be used for an LCA analysis in relation to the initial material and machining process. This will give an opportunity of an interesting approach that can be applied to assess the environmental impacts throughout a product's life cycle.
The Impact of Non-Electrolyte Impurities on the Nucleation Rate of Ice Ih
Authors: Türkmen I. R. , Baumgärtel H. 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
The nucleation rates of binary mixtures of water with dioxane,
glycole, ethanol, i-propanol and urea have been investigated. Already
at very low molar fraction (x = 0.002) of the additives a considerable
decrease of the nucleation rates has been observed.
With increasing concentration of dioxane (x = 0.04 − 0.477) a strong
decrease of the nucleation temperature related to the nucleation rate
J = E6 −− E7 cm
–3 s
–1 has been observed; the
maximum supercooling of 52.9 ℃ has been observed at
x
dioxane = 0.363.
The results of our experiments are in line with the correlated
percolation model and with the interstitial model of liquid water.
Novel and Unique Matrix Design for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering
Authors: Dorcemus Deborah L. , Nukavarapu Syam P. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTOsteochondral (OC) tissue is comprised of articular cartilage, the subchondral bone and the central cartilage-bone interface. To facilitate proper regeneration, an equally complex and multiphasic matrix must be used. Although mono-phasic and bi-phasic matrices were previously applied, they failed to establish the OC interface upon regeneration. In this study, we designed and developed a novel matrix with increasing pore volume from one end to other, along the matrix length. For this matrix polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) 85:15 microspheres were combined with a water-soluble porogen in a layer-by-layer fashion and thermally sintered. The resulting matrix was then porogen-leached to form a gradiently-porous structured matrix. The formation of this gradient pore structure was established using Micro-Computed Tomography (μCT) scanning. A biodegradable hydrogel was infiltrated into the structure to form a unique OC matrix where the microsphere and hydrogel phases co-exist with opposing gradients. When the individual phases are associated with osteogenic and chondrogenic growth factors, the structureinduced factor delivery might provide the spatially controlled factor delivery necessary to regenerate osteochondral tissue structure. Overall, we designed a gradient matrix system that is expected to support osteochondral tissue engineering while forming a seamless interface between the cartilage and the bone matrix.
Development of hydroxyapatite-mediated synthesis of collagen-based copolymers for application as bio scaffolds in bone regeneration
Authors: Bhuiyan Didarul , Middleton John , Tannenbaum Rina 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTHydroxyapatite (HAP) is a biocompatible bio-ceramic whose structure and composition is similar to bone. However, its lack of strength and toughness have seriously hampered its applications as a bone graft substitute material. Attempts have been made to overcome these mechanical properties deficiencies by combining HAP bioceramic material with absorbable polymers in order to improve its mechanical properties. However, poor interfacial bonding between the HAP and the polymers has limited the benefits of such biocomposite structures. At the other end of the biomaterials spectrum is collagen, which constitutes the most abundant proteins in the body and exhibits properties such as biodegradability, bioadsorbability with low antigenicity, high affinity to water, and the ability to interact with cells through integrin recognition. These favorable properties renders collagen as a natural candidate for the modification and compatibilization of the polymer-HAP biocomposite. In this study, we developed a novel approach to the synthesis of a potential bone graft material, where the HAP moiety acts not only as a bioceramic filler, but also constitutes the initiator surface that promotes the in-situ polymerization of the adsorbable polymer of choice. The synthesis of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer was catalyzed by nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) particles and upon reaction completion, the biocomposite material was tethered with collagen. The synthesis was monitored by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopies and the products after each step were characterized by thermal analysis to probe both thermal stability, morphological integrity and mechanical properties.
Piezoresistor Sensor Fabrication by Direct Laser Writing on Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon
Authors: Alpuim P. , Cerqueira M.F. , Junior G. , Gaspar J. , Borme J. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTIn this paper we report on the 532 nm Nd:YAG laser-induced crystallization of 10 nm thick boron-doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin films deposited on flexible polyimide and on rigid oxidized silicon wafers by hot-wire or by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The dark conductivity increased from ∼10-7 Ω-1cm-1, in the as-deposited films, to ∼10 and 50 Ω-1cm-1 after laser irradiation, on rigid and flexible substrates, respectively. Depending on type of substrate, laser power and fluence, a Raman crystalline fraction between 55 and 90 % was measured in HWCVD films, which was higher than observed in rf-PECVD films (35-55 %). Crystallite size remained small in all cases, in the range 6-8 nm. Due to a very high conductivity contrast (>7 orders of magnitude) between amorphous and crystallized regions, it was possible to define conductive paths in the a-Si:H matrix, by mounting the sample on a X-Y software-controlled movable stage under the laser beam, with no need for the usual lithography steps. The resistors scribed by direct laser writing had piezoresistive properties, with positive gauge factor ∼1. The details of the laser interaction process with the Si film were revealed by scanning electron microscopy imaging.
Optical Properties and van der Waals-London Dispersion Interactions in Inorganic and Biomolecular Assemblies
Authors: Dryden Daniel M. , Ma Yingfang , Schimelman Jacob , Acosta Diana , Liu Lijia , Akkus Ozan , Younesi Mousa , Anowarul Islam , Denoyer Linda K. , Ching Wai-Yim , Podgornik Rudolf , Parsegian V. Adrian , Steinmetz Nicole F. , French Roger H. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTThe optical properties and electronic structure of AlPO4, SiO2, Type I collagen, and DNA were examined to gain insight into the van der Waals-London dispersion behavior of these materials. Interband optical properties of AlPO4 and SiO2 were derived from vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry, and showed a strong dependence on the crystals’ constituent tetrahedral units, with strong implications for the role of phosphate groups in biological materials. The UV-Vis decadic molar absorption of four DNA oligonucleotides was measured, and showed a strong dependence on composition and stacking sequence. A film of Type I collagen was studied using spectroscopic ellipsometry, and showed a characteristic shoulder in the fundamental absorption edge at 6.05 eV. Ab initio calculations based on density functional theory corroborated the experimental results and provided further insights into the electronic structures, interband transitions and vdW-Ld interaction potentials for these materials.
Ethics and Obesity Prevention: Ethical Considerations in 3 Approaches to Reducing Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Authors: Kass Nancy , Hecht Kenneth , Paul Amy , Birnbach Kerry 
Published: March 2014

Obesity and overweight prevalence soared to unprecedented levels in the United States, with 1 in 3 adults and 1 in 6 children currently categorized as obese. Although many approaches have been taken to encourage individual behavior change, policies increasingly attempt to modify environments to have a more positive influence on individuals’ food and drink choices.Several policy proposals target sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), consumption of which has become the largest contributor to Americans' caloric intake. Yet proposals have been criticized for unduly inhibiting choice, being overly paternalistic, and stigmatizing low-income populations.We explored the ethical acceptability of 3 approaches to reduce SSB consumption: restricting sale of SSBs in public schools, levying significant taxes on SSBs, and prohibiting the use of Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (formerly food stamps) benefits for SSB purchases.