bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prediagnostic lifestyle factors and survival after colon and rectal cancer diagnosis in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)‐AARP Diet and Health Study
Authors: Pelser Colleen , Arem Hannah , Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Elena Joanne W. , Alfano Catherine M. , Hollenbeck Albert R. , Park Yikyung 
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUNDFew studies have examined the relationship of lifestyle factors with mortality among patients with colorectal cancer.METHODSAmong NIH‐AARP Diet and Health study participants, 4213 colon and 1514 rectal cancer cases were identified through linkage to state cancer registries and determined date and cause of death using the National Death Index. Lifestyle factors were assessed at baseline and included: healthy diet (measured by Healthy Eating Index 2005 [HEI‐2005]), body mass index (BMI), physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking. The association of factors was examined individually and combined into a lifestyle score with 5‐year mortality from all‐causes, colorectal cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models.RESULTSAmong colon cancer survivors, smokers had increased risk of total mortality (RR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.45‐2.08) and colorectal cancer mortality (RR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.17‐1.82), compared to never smokers. Obese (BMI, ≥ 30) individuals had increased risk of all death (RR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.02‐1.39) and CVD death (RR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.05‐3.23), compared to normal weight (BMI, 18.5 to < 25) individuals. Compared to those with the lowest lifestyle score, those with the highest score had a 34% lower risk of all‐cause mortality (RR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.50‐0.87). Among rectal cancer survivors, individuals in the highest quintile of HEI‐2005 scores had reduced all‐cause mortality (RR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.42‐0.86) compared to those in the lowest. Higher combined lifestyle scores were associated with a 46% lower risk of total mortality (0.54; 0.32‐0.91).CONCLUSIONSHealthier lifestyle before cancer diagnosis was associated with improved overall survival after diagnosis with colorectal cancer. Cancer 2014;120:1540–1547 2014.
Approximately one‐half of patients with early‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma meeting Milan criteria did not receive local tumor destructive or curative surgery in the post‐MELD exception era
Authors: Devaki Pardha , Wong Robert J. , Marupakula Vidyasagargoud , Nangia Sharad , Nguyen Long , Ditah Ivo C. , Ehrinpreis Murray N. , Nguyen Mindie H. 
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUNDSince 2002, priority Model for End‐stage Liver Disease (MELD) exception status has been given to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who meet the Milan criteria. Since then, the number of liver transplantations performed in patients with HCC has increased, but to the authors' knowledge, few studies to date have examined the effect of MELD exception recommendations on therapy use and survival rates in a nationwide sample. The current study examines therapy use and long‐term survival rates among patients with HCC tumors meeting the Milan criteria in the post‐MELD exception era.METHODSThe current study is a retrospective cohort study of 2179 patients with localized HCC meeting the Milan criteria who were registered between 2004 and 2007 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.RESULTSA total of 43% of patients did not receive any specific therapy. Overall, the 5‐year relative survival rate for patients receiving only supportive care was dismal at 24% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 21%‐27%), whereas that for patients undergoing liver transplantation was 77% (95% CI, 71%‐82%). Long‐term survival was found to be dependent on age, race/ethnicity, and type of therapy received. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, and type of therapy received demonstrated that, compared with white patients, black patients had significantly poorer survival outcomes (hazards ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.03‐1.47 [P = .02]), whereas Asian/Pacific Islander patients had significantly better survival rates when compared with white patients (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57‐0.77 [P < .001]).CONCLUSIONSDespite having localized disease that met transplantation criteria, nearly 50% of the large nationwide cohort of patients with HCC in the current study received only supportive care and had dismal 5‐year relative survival rates, especially among black patients.Cancer2014;120:1725–1732. ©2014 American Cancer Society.
Measurement of fine‐needle aspiration thyroglobulin levels increases the detection of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma in cystic neck lesions
Authors: Holmes Brittany J. , Sokoll Lori J. , Li Qing Kay 
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUNDPatients with previously resected papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are monitored for disease recurrence/metastasis by ultrasound surveillance and fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. However, accurate diagnosis in lesions with cystic degeneration may be difficult due to scant cellularity. In the current study, the authors evaluated thyroglobulin in FNA (Tg‐FNA) for detecting metastatic and/or recurrent PTC in patients with cystic neck lesions after thyroidectomy.METHODSThe pathology records were retrospectively searched for patients with previously resected PTC and subsequent Tg‐FNA on a cystic neck mass. Tg‐FNA was measured in needle rinses using a Tg assay. The ultrasound findings, Tg‐FNA concentrations, and cytological and follow‐up histological diagnoses were correlated.RESULTSA total of 21 FNA specimens of cystic lesions from 19 patients were identified. Of 7 cases with cytologic and subsequent histologic diagnoses of metastatic PTC, the median Tg‐FNA level was 100,982 ng/mL. Of 8 cytologically benign cases, 7 cases had Tg‐FNA levels < 0.2 ng/mL, and 1 aberrant case demonstrated elevated Tg‐FNA of > 1000 ng/mL. For 6 cytologically equivocal cases, including 3 classified as atypical/suspicious for carcinoma, 2 classified as insufficient/acellular debris, and 1 classified as spindle cell neoplasm, 4 patients demonstrated markedly elevated Tg‐FNA levels (> 150 ng/mL) with subsequent surgical confirmation of metastatic PTC, whereas 2 patients had Tg‐FNA levels of < 0.2 ng/mL with negative follow‐up. Using a cutoff value of 0.2 ng/mL, Tg‐FNA demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 87.5%.CONCLUSIONSTg‐FNA is a useful ancillary test that improves the detection of cystic PTC metastases. Particularly in cytologically nondiagnostic cases, the measurement of Tg‐FNA helps to distinguish benign from malignant cystic lesions. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2014;122:521–526. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Feedforward and feedback connections and their relation to the cytox modules of V2 in Cebus monkeys
Authors: Nascimento‐Silva Sheila , Pinõn Carmen , Soares Juliana G.M. , Gattass Ricardo 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTTo study the circuitry related to the ventral stream of visual information processing and its relation to the cytochrome oxidase (CytOx) modules in visual area V2, we injected anterograde and retrograde cholera toxin subunit B (CTb) tracer into nine sites in area V4 in five Cebus apella monkeys. The injection site locations ranged from 2° to 10° eccentricity in the lower visual field representation of V4. Alternate cortical sections, cut tangentially to the pial surface or in the coronal plane, were stained for CTb immunocytochemistry or for CytOx histochemistry or for Nissl. Our results indicate that the V4‐projecting cells and terminal‐like labeling were located in interstripes and thin CytOx‐rich stripes and avoided the CytOx‐rich thick stripes in V2. The feedforward projecting cell bodies in V2 were primarily located in the supragranular layers and sparsely located in the infragranular layers, whereas the feedback projections (i.e., the terminal‐like labels) were located in the supra‐ and infragranular layers. V4 injections of CTb resulted in labeling of the thin stripes and interstripes of V2 and provided an efficient method of distinguishing the V2 modules that were related to the ventral stream from the CytOx‐rich thick stripes, related to the dorsal stream. In V2, there was a significant heterogeneity in the distribution of projections: feedforward projections were located in CytOx‐rich thin stripes and in the CytOx‐poor interstripes, whereas the feedback projections were more abundant in the thin stripes than in the interstripes. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:3091–3105, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inversion of layer‐specific cadherin expression profiles and maintenance of cytoarchitectonic areas in the allocortex of the reeler mutant mouse
Authors: Stoya Gudrun , Redies Christoph , Schmid‐Hertel Nicole 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTCadherins are calcium‐depending cell adhesion proteins that play critical roles in brain morphogenesis and wiring. They provide an adhesive code for the development of cortical layers, due to their homophilic interactions and their restricted spatiotemporal expression patterns. In the adult organism, cadherins are involved in the maintenance and plasticity of neuronal circuits that play a role in learning. A well‐known model for studying corticogenesis is the reeler mouse model. Numerous investigations of neocortical development suggest that, in the reeler mutant mouse, the lack of the protein Reelin results in cell‐type and region‐dependent changes of the neocortical layers. To investigate in detail how layer formation and regionalization is perturbed in the phylogenetically older archicortex of the adult reeler mutant mouse, we studied the expression of 11 different cadherins (Cdh4, Cdh7, Cdh8, Cdh11, Pcdh1, Pcdh7, Pcdh8, Pcdh9, Pcdh10, Pcdh17, and Pcdh19) and of the transcription factors ER81 and Cux2 by in situ hybridization in the (peri‐)archicortex. All cadherins studied show a layer‐specific expression in the (peri‐)archicortex of the wildtype brain. In the archicortex of the reeler mutant, the cadherin‐expressing cell layers are dispersed in the radial dimension, whereas in the periarchicortex the superficial and deep layers are inverted, both in the adult and during development. Possibly, this inversion relates to the histoarchitectural division of the reeler entorhinal cortex into an external and an internal zone. The regionalized, gradient‐like expression of the cadherins is preserved in the reeler mutant mouse. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:3106–3119, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Porosity‐Controlled Eggshell Membrane as 3D SERS‐Active Substrate
Authors: Lin Pei‐Ying , Hsieh Chiung‐Wen , Tsai Pei‐Chuan , Hsieh Shuchen 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe report on the fabrication of a surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform, comprised of a three‐dimensional (3D) porous eggshell membrane (ESM) scaffold decorated with Ag nanoparticles (NPs). Both native and treated ESM were used, where the treated ESM pore size and fiber crossing density was controlled by timed exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Ag NPs were synthesized in situ by reduction of silver nitrate with ascorbic acid. Our results demonstrate that H2O2‐treated Ag‐ESM provides a more densely packed 3D network of active material, which leads to consistently higher SERS enhancement than untreated Ag‐ESM substrates.
Composite Materials for Thermal Energy Storage: Enhancing Performance through Microstructures
Authors: Ge Zhiwei , Ye Feng , Ding Yulong 
Published: March 2014

AbstractChemical incompatibility and low thermal conductivity issues of molten‐salt‐based thermal energy storage materials can be addressed by using microstructured composites. Using a eutectic mixture of lithium and sodium carbonates as molten salt, magnesium oxide as supporting material, and graphite as thermal conductivity enhancer, the microstructural development, chemical compatibility, thermal stability, thermal conductivity, and thermal energy storage performance of composite materials are investigated. The ceramic supporting material is essential for preventing salt leakage and hence provides a solution to the chemical incompatibility issue. The use of graphite gives a significant enhancement on the thermal conductivity of the composite. Analyses suggest that the experimentally observed microstructural development of the composite is associated with the wettability of the salt on the ceramic substrate and that on the thermal conduction enhancer.
Ant‐based interactive workflow management: a case study on RMI
Authors: Sayar Ahmet 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThis paper proposes a web‐based interactive workflow definition and invocation system assisting users in orchestrating a set of distributed services‐activities and expressing complex dependencies between them in XML. We use Ant, which is a Java‐based and freely distributed commodity tool, for workflow definitions and workflow engine. Adopting Ant as a workflow engine provides platform independence and immediate integration into the Grid services framework. Sometimes, workflow scripts need to be used repeatedly with a little change; framework enables reusable scripts to be created, stored and edited for later use. This allows sharing and dynamic modifications of workflows between multiple participants. The practicality and usefulness of the system is demonstrated through a concrete case study on Remote Method Invocation (RMI) jobs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A burst loss probability model with impatient customer feature for optical burst switching networks
Authors: To Hoang‐Linh , Lee Suk‐Hwan , Hwang Won‐Joo 
Published: March 2014

SummaryWe consider optical delay line buffer as a solution to reduce the number of lost burst in optical burst switching, one of the promising candidates for future networks. Such network takes burst loss as an important performance criteria in the design step. Network performance, however, cannot be captured efficiently using traditional queueing models, because they often ignore the impatience of messages traveling through optical switches which is one of the popular issues in communication networks. In this paper, we develop an analytic model for this system using queueing theory and considering special impatience features. Simulation results show that (i) the developed model with impatience features can decrease burst loss probability ( ≃ 10%) compared with other approaches, and (ii) applying that model, we demonstrate that shared buffer architecture in optical burst switching network with optical buffer often achieves lower burst loss probability than dedicated buffer way in several different scenarios. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk‐sensitive reproductive allocation: fitness consequences of body mass losses in two contrasting environments
Authors: Bårdsen Bård‐Jørgen , Næss Marius Warg , Tveraa Torkild , Langeland Knut , Fauchald Per 
Published: March 2014

AbstractFor long‐lived organisms, the fitness value of survival is greater than that of current reproduction. Asymmetric fitness rewards suggest that organisms inhabiting unpredictable environments should adopt a risk‐sensitive life history, predicting that it is adaptive to allocate resources to increase their own body reserves at the expense of reproduction. We tested this using data from reindeer populations inhabiting contrasting environments and using winter body mass development as a proxy for the combined effect of winter severity and density dependence. Individuals in good and harsh environments responded similarly: Females who lost large amounts of winter body mass gained more body mass the coming summer compared with females losing less mass during winter. Additionally, females experienced a cost of reproduction: On average, barren females gained more body mass than lactating females. Winter body mass development positively affected both the females' reproductive success and offspring body mass. Finally, we discuss the relevance of our findings with respect to scenarios for future climate change.
The relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction and mortality in patients with acute heart failure: insights from the ASCEND‐HF Trial
Authors: Toma Mustafa , Ezekowitz Justin A. , Bakal Jeffrey A. , O'Connor Christopher M. , Hernandez Adrian F. , Sardar Muhammad Rizwan , Zolty Ronald , Massie Barry M. , Swedberg Karl , Armstrong Paul W. , Starling Randall C. 
Published: March 2014

AimAcute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality but the relationship between LVEF and outcomes is unclear. We explored the association between LVEF and 30 and 180 day mortality in 7007 ADHF patients enrolled in the Acute Studies of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure (ASCEND‐HF) trial.Methods and resultsWe explored the association between LVEF and 30 and 180 day mortality in 7007 ADHF patients enrolled in the Acute Studies of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure (ASCEND‐HF) trial. LVEF was analysed both as a continuous variable and according to three categories: < 40% (LowEF), 40–50% [intermediate EF (IntEF)], and > 50% [preserved ejection fraction (PresEF)]. Of the patients in the trial, 4474 (78.7%) had LowEF, 674 (11.9%) had IntEF, and 539 (9.5%) had PresEF. The unadjusted 30 and 180 day mortality was similar for LowEF (3.7%, 12.3%), IntEF (3.4%, 13.1%), and PresEF (4.3%, 14.1%), respectively (P > 0.05). After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratio (HR) for 180 day mortality remained similar for the LowEF [HR 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75–1.24; P = 0.77] and IntEF (0.91, 95% CI 0.66–1.3; P = 0.58) compared to PresEF patients. By contrast, when LVEF was evaluated as a continuous measure, it exhibited a U‐shaped pattern with mortality. After matching for age and sex, the mortality risk attributed to LVEF was attenuated, as the LVEF increased as a continuous variable over 35%. However, in patients with EF < 35%, the mortality risk continue to increase as the LVEF declined.ConclusionsAmong patients with ADHF, the unadjusted mortality rates are similar across LVEF strata. However, after accounting for key patient variables, the mortality risk increases as EF falls below 35%. These data will be useful in planning future studies of ADHF.Clinical Trial Registrationwww.clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00475852
Levosimendan improves renal function in acute decompensated heart failure: possible underlying mechanisms
Authors: Fedele Francesco , Bruno Noemi , Brasolin Bruno , Caira Carmen , D'Ambrosi Alessandra , Mancone Massimo 
Published: March 2014

AimsThe cardio‐renal syndrome plays a critical role in acute heart failure (HF). Levosimendan, an inodilator drug, has a positive but controversial effect on kidney. Our aim was to evaluate its effects on both renal and systemic haemodynamic parameters as well as on renal function, explaining the possible mechanisms involved.Methods and resultsPatients with acute decompensated HF, moderate renal impairment, wedge pressure >20 mmHg and EF <40% were eligible. Twenty‐one patients were randomized to infusion of levosimendan or placebo, on top of standard therapy. Systemic haemodynamic parameters (wedge and cardiac output) were evaluated at baseline and at 8, 16, 24, 48, and 72 h. An intravascular renal artery Doppler exam was performed at baseline, after levosimendan bolus, and 1 h thereafter. Renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), cystatin C, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urinary output, sodium excretion, and plasma sodium were measured. The effect of levosimendan was beneficial and significantly different from placebo on several renal and cardiac parameters. Specifically, the levosimendan and placebo group exhibited significantly different changes over time in GFR (P = 0.037), renal blood flow (P = 0.037), and renal artery diameter (P = 0.033), with ensuing improvements in serum levels of BUN (P = 0.014), creatinine (P = 0.042), and cystatin C (P = 0.05). Concomitantly, levosimendan provided a significant increase in urine output up to 72 h (P = 0.02). These beneficial results on renal parameters were accompanied by similarly significant and favourable changes in cardiac index (P = 0.029) and PCWP (P < 0.001).ConclusionLevosimendan, in acute decompensated HF, has an immediate renoprotective effect, mediated by an increase in renal blood flow, due to a selective renal arterial and venous vasodilating action.Trial registrationNCT00527059.
The Sensitized Solid‐Phase Electrochemiluminescence of Electrodeposited Poly‐Luminol/Aniline on AuAg/TiO2 Nanohybrid Functionalized Electrode for Flow Injection Analysis
Authors: Wei Xiuhua , Xiao Changbin , Liu Chao , Wang Ke , Tu Yifeng 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn this study, a copolymer of luminol with aniline is electrochemically deposited onto the AuAg/TiO2 nanohybrid functionalized indium tin oxide coated glass. It is used as a reagentless electrochemiluminescent (ECL) electrode for flow‐injection‐analysis (FIA). The properties of this solid phase ECL electrode are characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy etc. It has stronger ECL emission, sensitive response for target analytes and excellent stability. The so‐prepared ECL electrode shows sensitive response to reactive oxygen species thereafter to be applied for determination of hydrogen peroxide with FIA mode. Under optimized conditions, a mass detection limit of 0.822 pg of hydrogen peroxide was obtained. Thus the hydrogen peroxide residues in samples were detected with satisfactory result.
Temporal changes in the sensitivity of coastal Antarctic zooplankton communities to diesel fuel: A comparison between single- and multi-species toxicity tests
Authors: Payne Sarah J. , King Catherine K. , Zamora Lara Marcus , Virtue Patti 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Despite increasing human activity and risk of fuel spills in Antarctica, little is known about the impact of fuel on Antarctic marine fauna. The authors performed both single- and multi-species (whole community) acute toxicity tests to assess the sensitivity of an Antarctic coastal zooplankton community to the water-accommodated fraction of Special Antarctic Blend diesel. Single-species tests using abundant copepods Oncaea curvata, Oithona similis, and Stephos longipes allowed comparisons of sensitivity of key taxa and of sensitivity estimates obtained from traditional single-species and more novel multi-species tests. Special Antarctic Blend diesel caused significant mortality and species compositional change in the zooplankton community within 4 d to 7 d. The sensitivity of the community also increased across the summer sampling period, with decreasing 7-d median lethal concentration (LC50) values for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH): 1091 µg TPH/L in early January 2011, 353 µg TPH/L in mid January 2011, and 186 µg TPH/L in early February 2011. Copepods showed similar sensitivities to Special Antarctic Blend diesel in single-species tests (7-d LC50s: O. curvata, 158 µg TPH/L; O. similis, 176 µg TPH/L; S. longipes, 188 µg TPH/L). The combined use of single- and multi-species toxicity tests is a holistic approach to assessing the sensitivity of key species and the interactions and interdependence between species, enabling a broader understanding of the effects of fuel exposure on the whole zooplankton community. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:882–890. © 2014 SETAC