bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surface molecularly imprinted polymers based on yeast prepared by atom transfer radical emulsion polymerization for selective recognition of ciprofloxacin from aqueous medium
Authors: Wang Juan , Dai Jiangdong , Meng Minjia , Song Zhilong , Pan Jianming , Yan Yongsheng , Li Chunxiang 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTTo achieve selective recognition of water‐soluble ciprofloxacin (CIP), an effective method was developed for the preparation of surface molecularly imprinted polymers based on the yeast particles (yeast@MIPs) via atom transfer radical emulsion polymerization (ATREP). The reactions were carried out in the nontoxic and green emulsion system at room temperature, which was environment friendly with low energy consumption. In this study, the yeast, for the advantages of low cost, easily available source and abundant active groups on the cell wall, was selected as an ideal biological support substrate. The prepared yeast@MIPs was characterized by FT‐IR, SEM, TEM, EDS, and elemental analysis techniques. Batch mode adsorption studies were carried out to investigate the specific adsorption equilibrium, kinetics, selective recognition, and reuse ability of yeast@MIPs. The experimental static adsorption data of CIP on to yeast@MIPs were well‐described by Langmuir, Freundlich, and pseudo‐second‐order models. The maximum static adsorption capacity for CIP of yeast@MIPs was 18.48 mg g−1, and the adsorption equilibrium could be reached in 60 min. The selectivity coefficients for CIP relative to enrofloxacin, tetracycline, and sulfadiazine were 1.212, 2.002, and 10.65, which demonstrated CIP of high affinity and selectivity over three competitive antibiotics. In addition, the reusability of the material without obvious deterioration (8.52% loss) in performance was observed at least four repeated cycles. And the yeast@MIPs was used to determine CIP from spiked shrimp samples by HPLC analysis. These results showed that yeast was a well‐defined substrate and ATREP was a promising technique for the preparation of surface molecularly imprinted polymers targeting templates. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40310.
Compressive properties and creep resistance of a novel, porous, semidegradable poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) scaffold for articular cartilage repair
Authors: Cao Yi , Xiong Dangsheng , Niu Yuxiang , Mei Yi , Yin Zhaowei , Gui Jianchao 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTTissue engineering for articular cartilage repair has shown success in ensuring the integration of neocartilage with surrounding natural tissue, but the rapid restoration of biomechanical functions remains a significant challenge. The poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel is regarded as a potential articular cartilage replacement for its fair mechanical strength, whereas its lack of bioactivity limits its utility. To obtain a scaffold possessing expected bioactivity and initial mechanical properties, we herein report a novel salt‐leaching technique to fabricate a porous PVA hydrogel simultaneously embedded with poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres. Through the investigation of environmental scanning electron microscopy, we found that the porous PVA/PLGA scaffold was successfully manufactured. The compression and creep properties were also comprehensively studied before and after cell culturing. The relationship between the compressive modulus and strain ratio of the porous PVA/PLGA scaffold showed significant nonlinear behavior. The elastic compressive modulus was influenced a little by the porogen content, whereas it went higher with a higher PLGA microsphere content. The cell‐cultured scaffolds presented higher compressive moduli than the initial ones. The creep resistance of the cell‐cultured scaffolds was much better than that of the initial ones. In all, this new scaffold is a promising material for articular cartilage repair. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40311.
Compatibility study of chlorinated polyethylene/ethylene methacrylate copolymer blends using thermal, mechanical, and chemical analysis
Authors: Bhagabati Purabi , Chaki T. K. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTBlends of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) elastomer and ethylene methacrylate copolymer (EMA) in various compositions were studied for their compatibility using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques. Irrespective of measurement techniques used, all blends showed a single glass transition temperature (Tg) lying in between the Tg of control polymers in both DSC and DMA. Glass transition temperatures of blends obtained from DSC were in consistency with Couchman–Karasz equation. Also, the Tg obtained from both DSC and DMA are above the “rule of mixing” line of the two control polymers. These results from thermal analysis clearly indicate some compatibility between the two polymers. Furthermore, compatibility of CPE/EMA blends were also been investigated by FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopic analysis. A shifting of characteristic CCl stretching peak of CPE and CO stretching peak of EMA toward lower wave number indicate the presence of specific interaction between the two polymers. Mechanical properties like tensile strength, modulus at 100% elongation, elongation at break, and hardness were observed above the line of additivity drawn between the two control polymers, which corroborate compatibility between CPE and EMA. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40316.
Silicone resin synthesized by tetraethoxysilane and chlorotrimethylsilane through hydrolysis–condensation reaction
Authors: Kuo Chung‐Feng Jeffrey , Chen Jiong‐Bo , Shih Chung‐Yang , Huang Chao‐Yang 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTSilicone pressure‐sensitive adhesives compositions contain a polydimethylsiloxane and a silicone resin, which can enhance the instant bonding ability and bonding strength of the adhesive. In this study, silicone resin was designed to have a low molecular weight and a highly nonpolar chemical structure. The silicone resin was applied to silicone pressure‐sensitive adhesives. The molecular structure of silicone resin was characterized by FT‐IR, GPC, 1H‐NMR, and 29Si‐NMR spectroscopic techniques. Properties such as thermal stability, solubility, hydrophobic, and transparent properties were researched and compared. When the chlorotrimethylsilane increased, it appeared that the amount of silanol groups, molecular weight and thermal stability decreased, while the hydrophobic and transparent properties increased. The silicone resin was completely soluble in toluene and xylene. It was also applied to silicone pressure‐sensitive adhesives, resulting in good peel adhesion. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40317.
Oral cleft recurrence risk and subsequent maternal fertility preferences and behavior in Brazil
Authors: Wehby George L. , Nyarko Kwame A. , Murray Jeffrey C. 
Published: December 2013

BackgroundOral clefts are among the most common birth defects with numerous impacts on affected individuals and families. However, little is known about how being at a greater risk of having an affected child affects subsequent maternal fertility decisions. We investigated differences in fertility preferences and behavior between mothers who are themselves affected with cleft lip with/without cleft palate but have had no affected children and unaffected mothers of an affected child. We also compared these outcomes between unaffected mothers of a first versus another affected child.MethodsThe sample included 1475 Brazilian women interviewed between 2004 and 2009. The outcomes were wanting more children, contraceptive use and type, and maternal age at first child. Comparisons between the various maternal groups were performed using regression analysis adjusting for conceptually relevant demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic factors.ResultsAffected mothers of unaffected children were less likely to use contraceptives than unaffected mothers of affected children by 31% (95% confidence interval, 1–53%). Among unaffected mothers, those who had a first affected child were 67% (95% confidence interval, 15–144%) more likely to use contraceptives.ConclusionThe results suggest that having an affected child represents a stronger signal of recurrence risk to the mother than her own cleft status, and that cleft status of the first child is especially important in influencing subsequent maternal fertility decisions in affected families. These findings highlight the importance of adequate counseling of at‐risk women about recurrence risks and available care resources and policies that improve access to quality cleft care. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:48–56, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cerebellar stroke in a low cardiovascular risk patient associated with sorafenib treatment for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Vandewynckel Yves‐Paul , Geerts Anja , Verhelst Xavier , Van Vlierberghe Hans 
Published: December 2013

Key Clinical MessageSorafenib is the standard treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, fibrolamellar HCC was not included in sorafenib trials. The case is a 26‐year‐old man with fibrolamellar HCC, who had a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) while being treated with sorafenib. This illustrates a probable relationship between use of sorafenib and CVA in low cardiovascular risk patients.
A case of coffee‐ground emesis in an elderly patient
Authors: De Palma Giovanni D. , Persico Marcello , Forestieri Pietro 
Published: December 2013

Key Clinical MessageBlack esophagus is an exceeding rare disorder with a multifactorial etiology. Clinical presentation is generally related to upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnosis is based on endoscopic images. Overall mortality is largely related to the underlying medical condition.
Recombinant interleukin‐2 in patients aged younger than 60 years with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission: Results from Cancer and Leukemia Group B 19808
Authors: Kolitz Jonathan E. , George Stephen L. , Benson Don M. , Maharry Kati , Marcucci Guido , Vij Ravi , Powell Bayard L. , Allen Steven L. , DeAngelo Daniel J. , Shea Thomas C. , Stock Wendy , Bakan Courtney E. , Hars Vera , Hoke Eva , Bloomfield Clara D. , Caligiuri Michael A. , Larson Richard A. ,   For the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Published: December 2013

BACKGROUNDRecombinant interleukin‐2 (rIL‐2) induces cellular cytotoxicity against leukemia blasts. Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR) may harbor minimal residual disease that is susceptible to rIL‐2–activated effector cells.METHODSIn the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 19808 study, patients with AML in first CR were randomly assigned after all planned chemotherapy to receive a 90‐day course of subcutaneously administered rIL‐2 or no further therapy. The primary objective was to compare disease‐free survival (DFS) between the 2 treatment arms. A total of 534 patients achieved a CR, 214 of whom were randomized. Six courses of low‐dose daily rIL‐2 were given for the expansion of cytotoxic effector cells, each followed by 3‐day high‐dose boluses given to trigger cytotoxicity against minimal residual disease.RESULTSOn the protocol‐specified intention‐to‐treat analysis, the hazards ratio for DFS was 0.75 (95% confidence interval, 0.52‐1.09; P = .13); the 5‐year DFS rate was 42% in the observation arm and 53% in the rIL‐2 treatment arm. The hazards ratio for overall survival (OS) was 0.88 (95% confidence interval, 0.54‐1.23; P = .34); the 5‐year OS rate was 58% for the observation arm and 63% for the rIL‐2 treatment arm. Twenty‐five of the 107 patients randomized to treatment with rIL‐2 either refused or were unable to initiate therapy and 30 patients did not complete their assigned therapy. However, significant toxicities were not commonly observed. The trial design did not anticipate the difficulties patients would encounter with protocol compliance.CONCLUSIONSThe efficacy of immunotherapy with rIL‐2 administered after intensive postremission treatment was not assessed as planned because of unexpected refusals by patients and/or their physicians to comply with protocol‐directed therapy. Neither DFS nor OS was found to be significantly improved. Cancer 2014;120:1010–1017. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
High‐throughput flow cytometry data normalization for clinical trials
Authors: Finak Greg , Jiang Wenxin , Krouse Kevin , Wei Chungwen , Sanz Ignacio , Phippard Deborah , Asare Adam , De Rosa Stephen C. , Self Steve , Gottardo Raphael 
Published: December 2013

AbstractFlow cytometry datasets from clinical trials generate very large datasets and are usually highly standardized, focusing on endpoints that are well defined apriori. Staining variability of individual makers is not uncommon and complicates manual gating, requiring the analyst to adapt gates for each sample, which is unwieldy for large datasets. It can lead to unreliable measurements, especially if a template‐gating approach is used without further correction to the gates. In this article, a computational framework is presented for normalizing the fluorescence intensity of multiple markers in specific cell populations across samples that is suitable for high‐throughput processing of large clinical trial datasets. Previous approaches to normalization have been global and applied to all cells or data with debris removed. They provided no mechanism to handle specific cell subsets. This approach integrates tightly with the gating process so that normalization is performed during gating and is local to the specific cell subsets exhibiting variability. This improves peak alignment and the performance of the algorithm. The performance of this algorithm is demonstrated on two clinical trial datasets from the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN). In the ITN data set we show that local normalization combined with template gating can account for sample‐to‐sample variability as effectively as manual gating. In the HVTN dataset, it is shown that local normalization mitigates false‐positive vaccine response calls in an intracellular cytokine staining assay. In both datasets, local normalization performs better than global normalization. The normalization framework allows the use of template gates even in the presence of sample‐to‐sample staining variability, mitigates the subjectivity and bias of manual gating, and decreases the time necessary to analyze large datasets. © 2013 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Additional use of a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor in patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to chronic systolic heart failure: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Wu Xiaojing , Yang Te , Zhou Qi , Li Shuangfei , Huang Lan 
Published: December 2013

AimsIncreased indiscriminate use of pulmonary artery hypertension‐targeted drugs has been observed in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to heart failure. We performed a meta‐analysis to evaluate the chronic effects of using phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors to treat patients with PH secondary to chronic systolic heart failure.Methods and resultsPubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to October 2013 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing PDE5 inhibitor treatments in PH patients secondary to chronic heart failure. Six RCTs involving 206 chronic systolic heart failure patients with PH complications were included. Sildenafil was used in all trials. Sildenafil treatment resulted in fewer hospital admissions compared with the placebo treatment (3.15% vs. 12.20%; risk ratio 0.29; 95% confidence interval 0.11–0.77). Various haemodynamic parameters were improved with additional sildenafil treatment, including reduced mean pulmonary artery pressure [weighted mean difference (WMD) −5.71 mmHg, P < 0.05] and pulmonary vascular resistance (WMD −81.5 dynes/cm−5, P < 0.00001), increased LVEF (WMD 3.95%, P < 0.01), and unchanged heart rate and blood pressure. The exercise capacity improved (oxygen consumption at peak exercise, WMD 3.20 mL/min−1/kg−1, P < 0.00001; ventilation to CO2 production slope, WMD −5.89, P < 0.00001), and the clinical symptoms were relieved based on the breathlessness (WMD 7.72, P < 0.00001), fatigue (WMD 2.28, P < 0.05), and emotional functioning (WMD 5.92, P < 0.00001) scores.ConclusionsAdditional sildenafil treatment is a potential therapeutic method to improve pulmonary exercise capacity and quality of life by ameliorating PH in patients with chronic systolic heart failure.
Integrating transcriptomics into triad-based soil-quality assessment
Authors: Chen Guangquan , de Boer Tjalf E. , Wagelmans Marlea , van Gestel Cornelis A.M. , van Straalen Nico M. , Roelofs Dick 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

The present study examined how transcriptomics tools can be included in a triad-based soil-quality assessment to assess the toxicity of soils from riverbanks polluted by metals. To that end, the authors measured chemical soil properties and used the International Organization for Standardization guideline for ecotoxicological tests and a newly developed microarray for gene expression in the indicator soil arthropod Folsomia candida. Microarray analysis revealed that the oxidative stress response pathway was significantly affected in all soils except one. The data indicate that changes in cell redox homeostasis are a significant signature of metal stress. Finally, 32 genes showed significant dose-dependent expression with metal concentrations. They are promising genetic markers providing an early indication of the need for higher-tier testing of soil quality. During the bioassay, the toxicity of the least polluted soils could be removed by sterilization. The gene expression profile for this soil did not show a metal-related signature, confirming that a factor other than metals (most likely of biological origin) caused the toxicity. The present study demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of integrating transcriptomics into triad-based soil-quality assessment. Combining molecular and organismal life-history trait stress responses helps to identify causes of adverse effects in bioassays. Further validation is needed for verifying the set of genes with dose-dependent expression patterns linked with toxic stress. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:900–909. © 2013 SETAC
Cognitive strategies regulate fictive, but not reward prediction error signals in a sequential investment task
Authors: Gu Xiaosi , Kirk Ulrich , Lohrenz Terry M. , Montague P. Read 
Published: December 2013

AbstractComputational models of reward processing suggest that foregone or fictive outcomes serve as important information sources for learning and augment those generated by experienced rewards (e.g. reward prediction errors). An outstanding question is how these learning signals interact with top‐down cognitive influences, such as cognitive reappraisal strategies. Using a sequential investment task and functional magnetic resonance imaging, we show that the reappraisal strategy selectively attenuates the influence of fictive, but not reward prediction error signals on investment behavior; such behavioral effect is accompanied by changes in neural activity and connectivity in the anterior insular cortex, a brain region thought to integrate subjective feelings with high‐order cognition. Furthermore, individuals differ in the extent to which their behaviors are driven by fictive errors versus reward prediction errors, and the reappraisal strategy interacts with such individual differences; a finding also accompanied by distinct underlying neural mechanisms. These findings suggest that the variable interaction of cognitive strategies with two important classes of computational learning signals (fictive, reward prediction error) represent one contributing substrate for the variable capacity of individuals to control their behavior based on foregone rewards. These findings also expose important possibilities for understanding the lack of control in addiction based on possibly foregone rewarding outcomes. Hum Brain Mapp 35:3738–3749, 2014. © 2013 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Flexible connectivity in the aging brain revealed by task modulations
Authors: Geerligs Linda , Saliasi Emi , Renken Remco J. , Maurits Natasha M. , Lorist Monicque M. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractRecent studies have shown that aging has a large impact on connectivity within and between functional networks. An open question is whether elderly still have the flexibility to adapt functional network connectivity (FNC) to the demands of the task at hand. To study this, we collected fMRI data in younger and older participants during resting state, a selective attention (SA) task and an n‐back working memory task with varying levels of difficulty. Spatial independent component (IC) analysis was used to identify functional networks over all participants and all conditions. Dual regression was used to obtain participant and task specific time‐courses per IC. Subsequently, functional connectivity was computed between all ICs in each of the tasks. Based on these functional connectivity matrices, a scaled version of the eigenvector centrality (SEC) was used to measure the total influence of each IC in the complete graph of ICs. The results demonstrated that elderly remain able to adapt FNC to task demands. However, there was an age‐related shift in the impetus for FNC change. Older participants showed the maximal change in SEC patterns between resting state and the SA task. Young participants, showed the largest shift in SEC patterns between the less demanding SA task and the more demanding 2‐back task. Our results suggest that increased FNC changes from resting state to low demanding tasks in elderly reflect recruitment of additional resources, compared with young adults. The lack of change between the low and high demanding tasks suggests that elderly reach a resource ceiling.Hum Brain Mapp 35:3788–3804, 2014. ©2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In vivo MR imaging of the human skin at subnanoliter resolution using a superconducting surface coil at 1.5 tesla
Authors: Laistler Elmar , Poirier‐Quinot Marie , Lambert Simon A. , Dubuisson Rose‐Marie , Girard Olivier M. , Moser Ewald , Darrasse Luc , Ginefri Jean‐Christophe 
Published: December 2013

PurposeTo demonstrate the feasibility of a highly sensitive superconducting surface coil for microscopic MRI of the human skin in vivo in a clinical 1.5 Tesla (T) scanner.Materials and MethodsA 12.4‐mm high‐temperature superconducting coil was used at 1.5T for phantom and in vivo skin imaging. Images were inspected to identify fine anatomical skin structures. Signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) improvement by the high‐temperature superconducting (HTS) coil, as compared to a commercial MR microscopy coil was quantified from phantom imaging; the gain over a geometrically identical coil made from copper (cooled or not) was theoretically deduced. Noise sources were identified to evaluate the potential of HTS coils for future studies.ResultsIn vivo skin images with isotropic 80 μm resolution were demonstrated revealing fine anatomical structures. The HTS coil improved SNR by a factor 32 over the reference coil in a nonloading phantom. For calf imaging, SNR gains of 380% and 30% can be expected over an identical copper coil at room temperature and 77 K, respectively.ConclusionThe high sensitivity of HTS coils allows for microscopic imaging of the skin at 1.5T and could serve as a tool for dermatology in a clinical setting. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:496–504.© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.