bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measurement of distress and its alteration during treatment in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Deng Yao‐Tiao , Zhong Wu‐Ning , Jiang Yu 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundWe examined the criterion‐related validity of the Distress Thermometer (DT) for screening distress in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and investigated prospectively how distress changes.MethodsIn the cross‐sectional study, the DT was tested against the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in 295 patients with NPC. In the prospective study, 61 newly diagnosed patients with NPC completed the DT and HADS 6 times.ResultsAdopting HADS as the standard tool for screening distress, 31.5% of the patients with NPC had distress. A DT cutoff score ≥4 had best sensitivity (0.73) and specificity (0.85). In the prospective study, the proportion of patients with distress rose significantly during treatment.ConclusionReceiver operating characteristic (ROC) findings provide initial support for the validity of the DT among patients with NPC. Nearly one third of patients with NPC exceeded cutoff values for distress in the cross‐sectional study. In the prospective study, the level of distress increased significantly during concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with NPC. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1077–1086, 2014
Heightened risk of second primary carcinoma of the head and neck following cervical neoplasia
Authors: Dost Fatima , Ford Pauline J. , Farah Camile S. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundCervical cancers have been shown to increase the risk of cancers at distant sites, including the head and neck region. This study investigated the relative risk of developing head and neck cancer subsequent to cervical cancer in an Australian population.MethodsCervical cancers, head and neck cancers, and cervical dysplasias among women registered with the Queensland Oncology Repository were identified for the period 1982 to 2008.ResultsOver the 26‐year period, 3328 women were diagnosed with a cervical cancer and followed up for 30,375 person‐years at risk. Eighteen women (0.5%) developed head and neck cancer within a mean time of 8.1 years (SD = 5.56). The relative risk of head and neck cancer development subsequent to cervical cancer was 6.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.06–10.91).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that women with cervical cancer were almost 7 times more likely to develop head and neck cancer compared to the general female population. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1132–1137, 2014
Reforms and emerging noncommunicable disease: some challenges facing a conflict‐ridden country—the case of the Syrian Arab Republic
Authors: Sen Kasturi , Al‐Faisal Waleed 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTThe past year witnessed considerable turbulence in the Arab world—in this case, Syria, a lower middle‐income country with a record of a strong public health infrastructure. This paper explores the current challenges facing its health system from reforms, civil strife and international sanctions all of which we argue have serious implications for population health. The health sector in Syria was little known, and until recently, it was well integrated to provide preventive and specialized care when needed. Regionally, it was one of the few countries ready and capable of addressing the challenges of demographic and epidemiologic transition with a long‐standing emphasis on primary care and prevention, unlike most countries of the region. This context has changed dramatically through the recent implementation of reforms and the current civil war.Changes to financing, management and the delivery of health service placed access to services in jeopardy, but now, these are compounded by the destruction from an intractable and violent conflict and international sanctions. This paper explores some of the combined effects of reforms, conflict and sanctions on population health.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment of riverine load of contaminants to european seas under policy implementation scenarios: An example with 3 pilot substances
Authors: Marinov Dimitar , Pistocchi Alberto , Trombetti Marco , Bidoglio Giovanni 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
An evaluation of conventional emission scenarios is carried out targeting a possible impact of European Union (EU) policies on riverine loads to the European seas for 3 pilot pollutants: lindane, trifluralin, and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The policy scenarios are investigated to the time horizon of year 2020 starting from chemical-specific reference conditions and considering different types of regulatory measures including business as usual (BAU), current trend (CT), partial implementation (PI), or complete ban (PI ban) of emissions. The scenario analyses show that the model-estimated lindane load of 745 t to European seas in 1995, based on the official emission data, would be reduced by 98.3% to approximately 12.5 t in 2005 (BAU scenario), 10 years after the start of the EU regulation of this chemical. The CT and PI ban scenarios indicate a reduction of sea loads of lindane in 2020 by 74% and 95%, respectively, when compared to the BAU estimate. For trifluralin, an annual load of approximately 61.7 t is estimated for the baseline year 2003 (BAU scenario), although the applied conservative assumptions related to pesticide use data availability in Europe. Under the PI (ban) scenario, assuming only small residual emissions of trifluralin, we estimate a sea loading of approximately 0.07 t/y. For PFOS, the total sea load from all European countries is estimated at approximately 5.8 t/y referred to 2007 (BAU scenario). Reducing the total load of PFOS below 1 t/y requires emissions to be reduced by 84%. The analysis of conventional scenarios or scenario typologies for emissions of contaminants using simple spatially explicit GIS-based models is suggested as a viable, affordable exercise that may support the assessment of implementation of policies and the identification or negotiation of emission reduction targets. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2013;X:000–000. © 2013 SETAC Integr Environ Assess Manag 2014;10:48–59. © 2013 SETAC
Evaluation and Measurement of Asymmetric Factor of a Basic Compound on C18 Bonded Silica in Supercritical Fluid Chromatography with Orthogonal Array Design
Authors: Chou Fum‐Min , Chen Po‐Hsueh , Wei Guor‐Tzo 
Published: June 2013

AbstractA L18 (21 × 37) OAD was employed to investigate the effects of SFC parameters on the asymmetric factor of a basic compound on C18 columns. The effect of active sites of silanol group on SFC could be much more significant than that of HPLC due to the low viscosity and high diffusivity of the supercritical fluid. Three Waters C18 columns with different silanol activities were employed to examine the effect of the SFC parameters on the asymmetric factor of 5‐(α‐phenylethyl)‐semioxamazide. The OAD data were evaluated by ANOVA to determine significant parameters of SFC on the asymmetric factor. The results of ANOVA indicate that the silanol activity is the most dominant factor affecting the asymmetric factor. The influence of other parameters on the asymmetric factor follows the order of: modifier type > modifier concentration > additive type > pressure > temperature ∼ additive concentration > injected sample concentration.
An atomic force microscopy statistical analysis of laser‐induced azo‐polyimide periodic tridimensional nanogrooves
Authors: Stoica Iuliana , Epure Luiza , Sava Ion , Damian Victor , Hurduc Nicolae 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTThe surface morphology of azo‐polyimide films was investigated after 355nm Nd: YAG laser irradiation with two different incident fluencies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to correlate the laser‐induced tridimensional nanogrooved surface relief with the incident fluence and the number of irradiation pulses. The height images revealed that the grooves depth increased even tens of times by increasing the incident fluence, using the same numbers of irradiation pulses. For low incident fluence, the films were uniformly patterned till 100 pulses of irradiation. Instead, when using higher fluence, after 15 pulses of irradiation the accuracy of the surface relief definition was reduced. This behavior could be explained by means of two different mechanisms, one that suppose the film photo‐fluidization due to the cis‐trans isomerization processes of the azo‐groups and the second one responsible for the directional mass displacement. The dominant surface direction and parameters like isotropy, periodicity, and period were evaluated from the polar representation for texture analysis, revealing the appearance of ordered and directionated nanostructures for most of the experimental conditions. Also, the graphical studies of the functional volume parameters have evidenced the improvement of the relief structuration during surface nanostructuration. The correlation of these statistical texture parameters with the irradiation characteristics is important in controlling the alignment of either the liquid crystals or the cells/tissues on patterned azo‐polyimide surfaces for optoelectronic devices and implantable biomaterials, respectively. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:914–923, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Convergence depths of tectonic regions from an ensemble of global tomographic models
Authors: Jordan Thomas H. , Paulson Elizabeth M. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractWe project 3‐D variations in shear wave (vS) velocity from 21 whole‐mantle tomographic models onto global tectonic regionalizations. The vS profiles of oceanic and continental regions show strong upper mantle variations, as expected from plate tectonics, and most are consistent with lower mantle heterogeneity uncorrelated with surface tectonics. We construct probabilistic lower bounds for a set of convergence depths , where the vS profiles for regions X and Y become statistically indistinguishable. The lower bounds account for intraregional variances and are corrected for vertical‐smearing bias. Ensemble probability curves yield > 146 km and > 178 km at 90% confidence, where A, B, and C comprise oceanic crust of ages < 25 Ma, 25–100 Ma, and >100 Ma. These intra‐oceanic convergence depths are consistent with half‐space cooling models, showing that the mantle more than 100 km below the G discontinuity participates in conductive cooling, and they imply that the upper part of the oceanic asthenosphere is advected by the plate flow. At 95% confidence, > 350 km, where region PS comprises stable continents (platforms P and shields S) and BC comprises mature ocean basins (>25 Ma). Stable‐continent heterogeneities show high radial correlation, indicating that marks the base of a coherent tectosphere. Our results call into question the interpretation of the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary as the kinematic base of the tectonic plates. They are more consistent with a thicker tectosphere decoupled from mantle flow by a low‐viscosity layer immediately above the 410 km discontinuity.
Urban planning indicators: useful tools to measure the effect of urbanization and vegetation on summer air temperatures
Authors: Petralli Martina , Massetti Luciano , Brandani Giada , Orlandini Simone 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTIn this article, the relationships between some urban planning indicators (GCR, green cover ratio; LCR, Lawn cover ratio; TCR, Tree cover ratio; SCR, street cover ratio; BCR, building cover ratio; BVD, Building volume density) and intra‐urban minimum and maximum average summer temperatures of Florence (Italy) were investigated. These indicators were calculated at different scales (areas of 10 m to 500 m radius) within the urban environment. Results showed that all the indicators can be used to assess the intra‐urban distribution of minimum air temperature values at all scales. Maximum air temperature was affected by GCR and TCR especially near the stations (radius up to 50 m), and by SCR at all scales, and the significance increased with radius. A 10% increase in LCR determined a reduction in minimum summer temperature from 0.14 °C (radius = 10 m; p < 0.05) to 0.53 °C (radius = 500 m; p < 0.01). A 10% increase in SCR determined an increase in minimum summer temperature from 0.22 °C (radius = 10 m; p < 0.01) to 0.66 °C (radius = 400 m; p < 0.01). The analysis of the type of green showed the significant role of forested areas on decreasing maximum temperatures and of grass areas on decreasing minimum temperatures. This research expands our scientific understanding of the effects of urban planning indicators on the intra‐urban thermal regime and can provide useful tools to urban planners and policymakers for the evaluation of the impact of an urban transformation on the thermal regime of the city at different scales.
Changes in temperature and precipitation extremes over the Greater Horn of Africa region from 1961 to 2010
Authors: Omondi Philip Aming'o , Awange Joseph L. , Forootan Ehsan , Ogallo Laban Ayieko , Barakiza Ruben , Girmaw Gezahegn Bogale , Fesseha Isaac , Kululetera Venerabilis , Kilembe Caroline , Mbati Mathieu Mugunga , Kilavi Mary , King'uyu Stephen Mutua , Omeny Peter Adek , Njogu Andrew , Badr Eldin Mamoun , Musa Tibin Adam , Muchiri Peris , Bamanya Deus , Komutunga Everline 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTRecent special reports on climate extremes have shown evidences of changes in the patterns of climate extremes at global, regional and local scales. Understanding the characteristics of climate extremes at regional and local levels is critical not only for the development of preparedness and early warning systems, but is also fundamental in the development of any adaptation strategies. There is still very limited knowledge regarding the past, present and future patterns of climate extremes in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA). This study, which was supported by the World Bank Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (WB‐GFDRR) and implemented by the World Meteorological Organization, was organized in terms of three workshops with three main objectives; (1) analysis of daily rainfall and temperature extremes for ten countries in the GHA region using observed in situ data running from 1971 to 2006, (2) assessing whether the United Kingdom Met‐office and Hadley centre Providing REgional Climates for Impact Studies (UK‐PRECIS) modelling system can provide realistic representation of the past and present climate extremes as observed by available in situ data, and (3) studying the future regional climate extremes under different scenarios to further assess the expected changes in climate extremes. This paper, therefore, uses the outputs of these workshops and also includes post‐workshop analyses to assess the changes of climate extremes within the GHA. The results showed a significant decrease in total precipitation in wet days greater than 1 mm and increasing warm extremes, particularly at night, while cold extremes are decreasing. Considering a combination of geophysical models and satellite gravimetry observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission in the frame of GRACE daily Kalman‐smoothing models, for the years 2002 to 2010, we explored a decline in total water storage variations over the GHA.
Use of selenium fertilizers for production of Se‐enriched Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus): Effect on Se concentration and plant productivity
Authors: Lavu Rama V. Srikanth , De Schepper Veerle , Steppe Kathy , Majeti Prasad N. V. , Tack Filip , Du Laing Gijs 
Published: June 2013

AbstractDue to selenium (Se) deficiency, Se fortification of food and feed is applied in many countries. Therefore, potential use of Se‐enriched kenaf was investigated based on its Se accumulation, its potential to transform accumulated Se to other Se species, and effect of Se accumulation on its growth. Kenaf was grown with different levels of two Se fertilizers (selenite and selenate) at concentrations ranging from 0 to 4 mg Se (kg soil)–1. Total Se concentrations in the plants grown on selenate‐treated soil amounted to (1019 ± 136) mg Se (kg dry weight)–1 and were much higher compared to plants grown on selenite‐treated soil. Identified Se species were selenite, selenate, Se‐methionine, and Se‐cystine. Biomass yield, net photosynthesis, and chlorophyll index of the plants decreased when plants were grown on soils treated with high doses of selenate.
Concurrent increase in 15N and radiocarbon age in soil density fractions
Authors: Meyer Stefanie , Leifeld Jens 
Published: June 2013

AbstractDifferences in the isotopic signature of organic matter between soil fractions are indicative of transformation and ageing processes. Here we show that with increasing microbial transformation measured by δ15N, there is a concomitant increase in carbon age as measured by 14C. The age of the soil's heavy fraction further increases with microbial utilization, indicating that stabilized OM ages yet continues to be reused.
Role of the mannose receptor in phagocytosis of Enterococcus faecalis strain EC‐12 by antigen‐presenting cells
Authors: Tsuruta Takeshi , Inoue Ryo , Nagino Takayuki , Nishibayashi Ryoichiro , Makioka Yuko , Ushida Kazunari 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe aim of this study was to clarify the phagocytic mechanisms of a heat‐killed cell preparation of Enterococcus faecalis strain EC‐12 (EC‐12) by antigen‐presenting cells (APCs). Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labeled EC‐12 was cocultured with peritoneal macrophage and the amount of EC‐12 phagocytosed by peritoneal macrophages was measured using a microplate fluorometer. Peritoneal macrophages from toll‐like receptor (TLR)2‐, TLR7‐, and MyD88‐deficient knockout (KO) mice exhibited similar levels of EC‐12 phagocytosis to those from wild‐type mice. Similarly, dectin‐1 neutralization of peritoneal macrophages had no effect on EC‐12 phagocytosis. However, blockade of the mannose receptor (MR) significantly decreased the amount of EC‐12 phagocytosed by peritoneal macrophages; the same effect was observed in bone marrow‐derived macrophages and dendritic cells. Our findings suggest that MR plays a major role in EC‐12 phagocytosis by the APCs.
Pudendal nerve stimulation: A potential tool for neurogenic bowel dysfunction!
Authors: Calabrò Rocco Salvatore , Leo Antonino , Bramanti Placido 
Published: June 2013

AbstractNeurogenic bowel disease occurs after damage to the spinal cord, which affects the bowel's extrinsic innervation resulting in a lack of control of the colon with incontinence or constipation. To avoid more invasive procedures, sacral and pudendal nerve stimulation (PNS) have been recently considered as emerging treatment for patients with intractable constipation. In particular, PNS effects are thought to be secondary to interactions between the somatic and autonomic pathways within both the spinal cord and higher centers. Thus, PNS may be considered a potential tool in the treatment of neurogenic bowel dysfunction, even after a complete spinal cord damage. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:358–359, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Virtual stewardship in the age of new media: have nonprofit organizations' moved beyond Web 1.0 strategies?
Authors: Waters Richard D. , Feneley Kristen LeBlanc 
Published: June 2013

Stewardship has been identified as an important relationship cultivation strategy. The four dimensions of stewardship—reciprocity, responsibility, reporting, and relationship nurturing—consist of one‐way and two‐way messaging strategies that can be carried out in a variety of manners on the Internet using both Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 technologies. Through a content analysis of the Nonprofit Times 100 organizations, this study found that nonprofit organizations overwhelmingly prefer to use their website to cultivate relationships with their stakeholders with stewardship strategies. Despite the hype of social media technologies, including Facebook, there remain many significant questions and obstacles to seeing nonprofits truly embrace social media communication.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ethnic differences in the effects of hepatic fat deposition on insulin resistance in nonobese middle school girls
Authors: Wolfgram Peter M. , Connor Ellen L. , Rehm Jennifer L. , Eickhoff Jens C. , Reeder Scott B. , Allen David B. 
Published: June 2013

ObjectiveIn nonobese youth, to investigate whether hepatic fat deposition and its metabolic consequences vary between ethnic groups.Design and MethodsThirty‐two nonobese girls (12 Hispanic White [H] and 20 non‐Hispanic White [NHW] girls), aged 11‐14 years old were recruited. Outcome measures were MRI measured hepatic proton density fat fraction (hepatic PDFF), BMI Z‐score, waist circumference, fasting insulin, glucose, adiponectin, sex hormone‐binding globulin [SHBG], ALT, AST, triglycerides, and HOMA‐IR.ResultsThere were no significant differences in mean BMI Z‐scores (P = 0.546) or hepatic PDFF (P = 0.275) between H and NHW girls; however, H girls showed significant correlations between hepatic PDFF and markers of IR (fasting insulin, HOMA‐IR, adiponectin, SHBG, triglycerides; all P < 0.05), while NHW girls showed no significant correlations. Matched by hepatic PDFF or BMI Z‐score, H girls had more evidence of IR for a given hepatic PDFF (mean insulin, HOMA‐IR, and SHBG; all P < 0.05) or BMI Z‐score (mean insulin and HOMA‐IR; all P < 0.01) than NHW girls.ConclusionsIn nonobese female youth, ethnicity‐related differences in effects of hepatic fat on IR are evident, so that in H girls, a given amount of hepatic fat appears to result in a more predictable and greater degree of IR than in NHW girls.
Genetic and clinical markers of elevated liver fat content in overweight and obese hispanic children
Authors: Walker Ryan W. , Sinatra Frank , Hartiala Jaana , Weigensberg Marc , Spruijt‐Metz Donna , Alderete Tanya L. , Goran Michael I. , Allayee Hooman 
Published: June 2013

ObjectiveGenetic variation in six genes has been associated with elevated liver fat and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adults. The influence of these genes on liver fat and whether a genetic risk score (GRS) would improve upon the ability of common clinical risk factors to predict elevated liver fat content (ELF) in Hispanic children was determined.Design and Methods223 obese Hispanic children were genotyped for six SNPs. MRI was used to measure liver fat. A GRS was tested for association with ELF using multivariate linear regression. Predictors were assessed via ROC curves and pair‐wise analysis was used to determine significance alone and combined with clinical markers.ResultsOnly variants in PNPLA3 and APOC3 genes were associated with liver fat (P < 0.001, P = 0.01, respectively). Subjects with a GRS = 4 had ∼3‐fold higher liver fat content than subjects with GRS of 0 (15.1 ± 12.7 vs. 5.1 ± 3.7%, P = 0.03). While the addition of the GRS to a model containing BMI and liver enzymes increased ROC AUC from 0.83 to 0.85 [95% CI, 0.79‐0.89], (P = 0.01), it does not improve detection of ELF from a clinical perspective.ConclusionsOnly PNPLA3 and APOC3 were related to ELF and a GRS comprised of these susceptibility alleles did not add to the discriminatory power of traditional biomarkers for clinical assessment of liver fat.