bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Generalization and Extrapolation of Treatment Effects From Clinical Studies in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Nair Sandhya C. , Kievit Wietske , Janse Rosan W. , Bijlsma Johannes W. J. , Fransen Jaap , Lafeber Floris P. J. , Welsing Paco M. J. 
Published: December 2013

ObjectivePragmatic clinical trials have been proposed as a solution for nongeneralizability of randomized clinical trial (RCT) results. We investigated whether treatment effects of pragmatic clinical trials are indeed generalizable to clinical practice and how efficacy estimates from published RCTs can be translated to daily practice populations.MethodsData from pragmatic clinical trials of the Utrecht Rheumatoid Arthritis Cohort and the observational Nijmegen Early Rheumatoid Arthritis inception cohort were used. The treatment effects of methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine as opposed to the pyramid approach were compared between the trials and observational study using a modified comprehensive cohort design analysis. The changes from baseline in disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28]) and functional disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ]) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response at 6 months were studied. The influence of population and treatment characteristics on the American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement criteria response compared with control therapy also at 6 months from RCTs was assessed using the relative risk (RR) and risk difference (RD).ResultsThe DAS28 and HAQ generally improved more in patients in the pragmatic trials than in daily practice. However, using EULAR response as outcome, the treatment effect was not found to be different. In published RCT data, higher glucocorticoid use, disease duration, and cotreatment with disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs increased the RR. Use of glucocorticoids increased the RD, and higher values of baseline DAS28 and HAQ decreased the RR and RD.ConclusionPragmatic clinical trials might be directly generalizable only regarding relative treatment response. In extrapolating published RCT results to daily practice, population characteristics associated with disease severity, disease duration, and treatment history or cotreatment need to be taken into account.
Design, synthesis, and characterization of a potential flame retardant poly(lactic acid‐co‐pyrimidine‐2,4,5,6‐tetramine) via direct melt polycondensation
Authors: Xiong Jin‐Feng , Wang Qun‐Fang , Peng Pai , Shi Jie , Wang Zhao‐Yang , Yang Chong‐ling 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTDirectly starting from d,l‐lactic acid (LA) and pyrimidine‐2,4,5,6‐tetramine (PTA), the copolymer P(LA‐co‐PTA) as a novel potential solid compatible polymeric flame retardant is synthesized as designed via melt polycondensation. When the molar feed ratio LA/PTA is 60/1, the optimal synthetic conditions are discussed. After the prepolymerization at 140°C for 8 h, using 0.5 wt % stannous oxide as the catalyst, the melt copolymerization at 160°C for 4 h gives the copolymer with the biggest intrinsic viscosity 0.88 dL g−1. The structures and properties of P(LA‐co‐PTA)s at different molar feed ratios are characterized by FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, GPC, XRD, DSC, and TGA. The decomposition temperatures of P(LA‐co‐PTA)s are higher than these of homopolymer poly(d,l‐lactic acid) (PDLLA). All copolymers have higher char yield than PDLLA, and the more PTA in the feed content, the higher char yield. What's more, there are some residues at 700–800°C, indicating that P(LA‐co‐PTA)s have good charring ability. When the monomer PTA is introduced into polylactic acid by chemical bonding as purine (PU) unit formed during the condensation, both the PTA's relatively higher nitrogen content and the PU's similar structure with flame retardant benzimidazole are beneficial to improve the thermal stability and charring ability, especially the latter. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40275.
AT‐Rich–Interactive Domain–Containing Protein 5A Functions as a Negative Regulator of Retinoic Acid Receptor–Related Orphan Nuclear Receptor γt–Induced Th17 Cell Differentiation
Authors: Saito Yukari , Kagami Shin‐Ichiro , Sanayama Yoshie , Ikeda Kei , Suto Akira , Kashiwakuma Daisuke , Furuta Shunsuke , Iwamoto Itsuo , Nonaka Ken , Ohara Osamu , Nakajima Hiroshi 
Published: December 2013

ObjectiveThe proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and the Th17 cell cytokine IL‐17A are implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the blockade of these cytokines by biologic agents provides clinical benefits for RA patients. We undertook this study to clarify the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of IL‐6 blockade in RA and to find a novel target for treatment of RA.MethodsWe examined gene expression profiles of CD4+ T cells by DNA microarray analysis before and after treatment with an anti–IL‐6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab (TCZ), in RA patients who exhibited good clinical responses to the treatment. Using murine CD4+ T cells, we then examined the roles of a newly identified molecule whose expression was significantly reduced in CD4+ T cells by TCZ therapy. We also examined the effect of the forced expression of the molecule on retinoic acid receptor–related orphan nuclear receptor γt (RORγt)–induced IL‐17A production in CD4+ T cells and on RORγt‐induced IL‐17A promoter activation.ResultsWe identified AT‐rich–interactive domain– containing protein 5A (ARID‐5A) as a new molecule down‐regulated by IL‐6 blockade in the form of TCZ therapy. IL‐6 induced the expression of ARID‐5A in CD4+ T cells during Th17 cell differentiation by a STAT‐3–dependent mechanism, whereas IL‐6–induced ARID‐5A expression was not affected by the absence of RORγt, a lineage‐specifying transcription factor of Th17 cells. Furthermore, ARID‐5A physically associated with RORγt through its N‐terminal region and inhibited RORγt‐induced Th17 cell differentiation.ConclusionARID‐5A is a lineage‐specific attenuator of Th17 cell differentiation and may be involved in the pathogenesis of RA.
Inactivation of Patched1 in Murine Chondrocytes Causes Spinal Fusion Without Inflammation
Authors: Dittmann Kai , Wuelling Manuela , Uhmann Anja , Dullin Christian , Hahn Heidi , Schweyer Stefan , Vortkamp Andrea , Wienands Jürgen 
Published: December 2013

ObjectiveDuring development of the vertebrate skeleton, chondrocytes form a cartilage template that is gradually replaced by bone. Hormones of the Hedgehog (HH) family have been implicated in the ossification process, but their exact relationship to normal or pathogenic bone formation is unclear. This study was undertaken to establish a genetic tool that allows the discrete inactivation of genes in spinal chondrocytes, and to investigate in vivo how chondrocyte‐specific ablation of the inhibitory HH receptor Patched 1 (Ptch1) affects skeleton integrity.MethodsA Cre‐deleter mouse strain, mb1‐Cre, for selective gene recombination in spinal chondrocytes was identified by in situ hybridization and histologic analysis. The mb1‐Cre+/− animals were crossed with mice that harbor a loxP‐flanked Ptch1 gene (Ptch1flox/flox) to abrogate the inhibition of the HH signaling pathway in chondrocytes. The skeletal integrity of F1 mice was characterized by high‐resolution flat‐panel–based volume computed tomography and histologic staining procedures.ResultsDuring the first weeks after birth, all mb1‐Cre+/−/Ptch1flox/flox mice developed progressive spinal fusion with malformation of the vertebrae. This phenotype was caused by aberrant chondrocyte proliferation in the intervertebral discs that blocked endochondral ossification. Importantly, the disease pattern occurred in an inflammation‐independent manner.ConclusionOur findings indicate that chronic activation of the HH signal pathway in spinal chondrocytes can trigger an ankylosing spine morphology without immune cell contributions. Hence, the destruction of cartilage and loss of axial joint integrity can result from chondrocyte‐intrinsic defects of monogenic origin.
Proliferation rate of stem cells derived from human dental pulp and identification of differentially expressed genes
Authors: Abdullah Muhammad Fawwaz , Abdullah Siti Fadilah , Omar Nor Shamsuria , Mahmood Zuliani , Fazliah Mohd Noor Siti Noor , Kannan Thirumulu Ponnuraj , Mokhtar Khairani Idah 
Published: December 2013

AbstractStem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) obtained from the dental pulp of human extracted tooth were cultured and characterized to confirm that these were mesenchymal stem cells. The proliferation rate was assessed using AlamarBlue® cell assay. The differentially expressed genes in SHED and DPSCs were identified using the GeneFishing™ technique. The proliferation rate of SHED (P < 0.05) was significantly higher than DPSCs while SHED had a lower multiplication rate and shorter population doubling time (0.01429, 60.57 h) than DPSCs (0.00286, 472.43 h). Two bands were highly expressed in SHED and three bands in DPSCs. Sequencing analysis showed these to be TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP1), and ribosomal protein s8, (RPS8) in SHED and collagen, type I, alpha 1, (COL1A1), follistatin‐like 1 (FSTL1), lectin, galactoside‐binding, soluble, 1, (LGALS1) in DPSCs. TIMP1 is involved in degradation of the extracellular matrix, cell proliferation and anti‐apoptotic function and RPS8 is involved as a rate‐limiting factor in translational regulation; COL1A1 is involved in the resistance and elasticity of the tissues; FSTL1 is an autoantigen associated with rheumatoid arthritis; LGALS1 is involved in cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, RNA processing, apoptosis and malignant transformation. This, along with further protein expression analysis, holds promise in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Pattern and process during sea urchin gut morphogenesis: The regulatory landscape
Authors: Annunziata Rossella , Perillo Margherita , Andrikou Carmen , Cole Alison G. , Martinez Pedro , Arnone Maria I. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThe development of the endoderm is a multistage process. From the initial specification of the endodermal domain in the embryo to the final regionalization of the gut, there are multiple stages that require the involvement of complex gene regulatory networks. In one concrete case, the sea urchin embryo, some of these stages and their genetic control are (relatively) well understood. Several studies have underscored the relevance of individual transcription factor activities in the process, but very few have focused the attention on gene interactions within specific gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Sea urchins offer an ideal system to study the different factors involved in the morphogenesis of the gut. Here we review the knowledge gained over the last 10 years on the process and its regulation, from the early specification of endodermal lineages to the late events linked to the patterning of functional domains in the gut. A lesson of remarkable importance has been learnt from comparison of the mechanisms involved in gut formation in different bilaterian animals; some of these genetic mechanisms are particularly well conserved. Patterning the gut seems to involve common molecular players and shared interactions, whether we look at mammals or echinoderms. This astounding degree of conservation reveals some key aspects of deep homology that are most probably shared by all bilaterian guts. genesis 52:251–268. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Occurrence and dissipation of benzotriazoles and benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers in biosolid-amended soils
Authors: Lai Hua-Jie , Ying Guang-Guo , Ma Yi-Bing , Chen Zhi-Feng , Chen Feng , Liu You-Sheng 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

Benzotriazoles (BTs) and benzotriazole ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers (BUVSs) are commonly used industrial and household chemicals, but little is known about their dissipation behavior in the soil environment associated with biosolid application. The authors investigated the occurrence and dissipation of 4 BTs (BT, 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole [5-TT], 5-chloro-1H-benzotriazole [CBT], and 5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzotriazole [XT]) and 5 BUVSs (UV-326, UV-327, UV-328, UV-329, and UV-P) in biosolid-amended soil of 3 trial sites (Zhejiang, Hunan, and Shandong) in China following 2 treatments (treatment 1: a single application of biosolid; treatment 2: repeated application of biosolid). The results showed that except for CBT and XT, the other 7 compounds could be detected in most of the biosolid and biosolid-amended soils at levels of a few to tens of nanograms per gram and that the concentrations of the 7 compounds for treatment 2 were obviously higher than those for treatment 1. In the 1-yr monitoring of the Shandong site, 2 BTs (BT and 5-TT) and 5 BUVSs (UV-326, UV-327, UV-328, UV-329, and UV-P) were significantly dissipated in the biosolid-amended soils. The field half-lives of BT and 5-TT ranged from 217 d to 345 d, while those for the BUVSs ranged between 75 d and 218 d. The field half-lives of target compounds in soil were found to be comparable to the modeling results. The results suggest the persistence of BTs and BUVSs in soil environments with quite slow dissipation rates. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:761–767. © 2013 SETAC
Solitary dural metastasis at presentation in a patient with untreated human papillomavirus–associated squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx
Authors: Al‐Khudari Samer , Guo Susan , Chen Yunwei , Nwizu Tobenna , Greskovich John F. , Lorenz Robert , Burkey Brian B. , Adelstein David J. , Koyfman Shlomo A. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is associated with high cure rates and distant metastases are rare.Methods and ResultsWe report a case of a 61‐year‐old man presenting with acute left‐sided weakness. An enhancing dural mass was noted and resected. Histology revealed p16‐positive SCC. Further workup revealed a p16‐positive right tonsillar primary with ipsilateral nodal disease and was classified as T2N2bM1. The patient underwent whole brain irradiation and definitive chemoradiation with curative intent. Complete clinical response was achieved and the patient continues to be disease‐free 6 months posttreatment.ConclusionHPV‐associated oligometastatic oropharyngeal SCC is a rare entity that may have a unique natural history and behavior. Given the excellent treatment response and prognosis of HPV‐positive disease in general, these patients may be appropriate for definitive treatment approaches. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 36: E103–E105, 2014
Low‐pass filter of suspended stripline design with finite transmission zeros for stop‐band rejection improvement
Authors: Ho Min‐Hua , Hong Wanchu , Lin Li‐Jing 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTIn this article, we present the design of the suspended stripline low‐pass filter (LPF) with finite frequency transmission zeros for enhancing band‐edge roll‐off and increasing stop‐band signal rejection levels. The proposed LPF is a seventh‐order circuit which exhibits two transmission zeros in the stop‐band region. The LPF has achieved the benefits of size compactness, low dispersion, high immunity to the noise inference, and low insertion losses. An equivalent circuit model composed of lumped elements is developed to predict filter's characteristics, and ultimately it is used to calculate the LPF's frequency responses during the design. The equivalent circuit model is used to accelerate the proposed LPF design in the early stage with its calculated data validated by a commercial electromagnetic software simulation. Experiment is conducted to verify the LPF's design and its performance. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:297–301, 2014
A bidirectional waveguide antenna with polarization reconfigurable capability
Authors: Zhao Yang , Wei Kunpeng , Zhang Zhijun , Feng Zhenghe 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTA bidirectional metallic waveguide antenna with polarization reconfigurable capability is presented in this study. The polarization states of the proposed design can be flexibly reconfigured among two orthogonal circular polarizations (CP) and linear polarization (LP) simply by selecting four different combinations of microstrip feeding branches with switches. Two identical rectangular metal sheets perpendicular to each other were inserted into the diagonal directions of a waveguide aperture. They were excited with the same amplitude, but with 0°, 180°, 90°, or 270° phase difference by choosing two of four microstrip feeding segments each time, and left‐band CP, right‐hand CP, and LP could be generated, respectively. Meanwhile, the sense of CP in two opposite radiating directions was also the same for either sense of CP. The proposed reconfigurable antenna can provide link reliability and polarization diversity for mobile wireless communications in a multipath propagation environment. In addition, it alone can realize multifunctional operations and thus reduce system complexity and cost. Details of antenna design are shown, and measured results for the constructed prototype are exhibited and discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:422–427, 2014
Broadband CPW‐FED square slot antenna loaded with parasitic element for WLAN/WiMAX applications
Authors: Pouyanfar Negin 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTA novel broadband coplanar waveguide‐fed slot antenna with a parasitic element for WLAN and WiMax applications is proposed. The proposed antenna is composed of a crooked F‐shaped feed line and an inverted‐L strip in the right bottom corner of the square slot ground to achieve broadband characteristic. By using the inverted L‐shaped strip, antenna can achieve wide impedance bandwidth to cover desired frequency bands while maintaining compact size and simple configuration. The proposed antenna is fabricated and tested. The simulated and measured results show that the antenna has the fractional impedance bandwidth of more than 44% (2.4–6 GHz), which can cover both WLAN and WiMax bands. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:338–340, 2014
Design of a dielectric waveguide filter with embedded metamaterial using mode matching technique
Authors: Murphy Luke , Mautz J. , Yazdani M. , Arvas E. , Tozin S. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTUsing derived dispersion relations, dielectric filters with embedded metamaterials are analyzed with the mode matching technique, and the results are applied to a Ka band SIW filter. This same filter is then compared to an identical filter in the absence of metamaterials to illustrate the effect on performance. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:443–446, 2014
Analysis on spectral regrowth of chirp bandwidth expansion technique in high‐resolution SAR system
Authors: Kim Se Young , Sung Jin Bong 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis article presents an analysis of the root causes of the spectral regrowth due to the higher‐order intermodulation in a chirp bandwidth expansion scheme using a single‐sideband modulator and frequency multipliers. The spectral regrowth of synthetic aperture radar waveform was reduced by minimizing the gain and phase imbalances between the I and the Q channels. Further, the gain and phase imbalance requirements were defined on the basis of the evaluation of the impulse response function. The 150‐MHz bandwidth of a chirp signal at 2.4 GHz was expanded to 600 MHz at 9.6 GHz. By adjusting the dc offset and the gain imbalance between the I and the Q channels, the carrier level was reduced from −28.7 to −53.4 dBm and the sidelobe levels caused by the spectral regrowth were reduced by approximately 8–9 dB. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:400–404, 2014
A compact monopole antenna for WLAN applications
Authors: Sun X. L. , Cheung S. W. , Yuk T. I. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTThe design of a compact antenna for use in wireless devices of the 2.4/5.2/5.8‐GHz wireless‐local‐area network (WLAN) is presented. The antenna consists of an L‐shaped monopole radiator (L‐element) with microstrip‐fed on one side of the substrate and a protruding meander‐microstrip ground stub (M‐stub) on the other side. The L‐element and the M‐stub generate a high‐frequency band at around 5.4 GHz for the high WLAN bands and a low‐frequency band at around 2.44 GHz for the low WLAN band, respectively. The antenna has a very compact size of only 25 × 25mm2, including the ground plane. Computer simulation is used to study, design, and optimize the antenna. For verification of the simulated performance, the antenna is fabricated and measured using the antenna measurement system, Satimo Stargate. The effects of the feeding cable used in measurement cause discrepancies between the simulated and measured performances. To verify the cable effects, the feeding cable is modeled in simulation. With the use of the cable model, the simulated and measured performances show very good agreements. A practical application of the proposed antenna is also studied by installing it on a printed‐circuit board having the similar size of a smartphone. The impedance bandwidth, radiation pattern, peak gain, and efficiency of the antenna are studied and presented. Results show that the antenna is a potential candidate for small WLAN wireless devices. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:469–475, 2014
Simulation technique for ACLR of a class‐S power amplifier with a delta‐sigma modulator
Authors: Lee Sung Jun , Jung Jae Ho , Lee Kwang Chun 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTA simulation technique for an adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) of a class‐S power amplifier (PA) with a delta‐sigma modulator is proposed. This technique is based on three basic points. The first is a proper baseband signal, which must provide a fairly better ACLR than the target value of a PA as well as a tolerable total amount of time that can be handled by a transient circuit simulation. The second point is a carrier frequency adjustment for the observations free from spectrum leakage distortion due to a limited total amount of simulated time. The last is an ACLR calculation using only a steady‐state output. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:462–465, 2014
A contactless power transmission system using a capacity resonator and a stripline structure
Authors: Chang Tae‐Soon 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis study introduces a contactless power transmission system that is implemented to transfer power using a cavity resonator and a stripline structure. In a cavity resonator equipped with input and output ports with a stripline structure, a receiver was made to be detachable by removing part of the output port, with all other parts included in a transmitter, thus creating a transceiver. By combining the receiver and the transmitter, power is transferred from an input port to an output port within a single resonator. The center frequency of the contactless power transmission system created in this study was 5.76 GHz, and the S21 value measured at this time was −1.26 dB, confirming that the proposed system offers a power transmission rate of approximately 75%. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:388–391, 2014