bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does vocal cord fixation preclude nonsurgical management of laryngeal cancer?
Authors: Solares C. Arturo , Wood Benjamin , Rodriguez Cristina P. , Lorenz Robert R. , Scharpf Joseph , Saxton Jerrold , Rybicki Lisa A. , Strome Marshall , Esclamado Ramon , Lavertu Pierre , Adelstein David J. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:To determine whether vocal cord fixation precludes nonsurgical management of T3/T4 laryngeal carcinoma.Study Design:A retrospective chart review.Methods:Between 1989 and 2005 patient records with T3/T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx with vocal cord fixation at presentation were reviewed. All were treated with a concomitant cisplatin‐based chemoradiotherapy protocol and were part of the institutional head and neck cancer chemoradiotherapy registry. Only patients with adequate pre‐ and post‐treatment fiberoptic evaluations were included. Charts were reviewed for demographics and tumor characteristics; return of vocal cord function; local, regional, or distant recurrence after treatment; and need for salvage surgery. The Kaplan‐Meier method was used to estimate outcomes, and the log‐rank test was used to compare those patients whose vocal cords remained fixed to those with recovery of function.Results:Twenty‐three patients met the inclusion criteria, 19 males and 4 females. The median age was 59 years (range, 39–73). Fourteen patients had T3 and nine had T4 tumors. Twelve patients recovered full range of mobility, three had partial recovery, and eight did not recover motion. The median follow‐up was 68 months (range, 34–191). Comparing patients with post‐treatment partial or fully mobile cords to those with persistent fixation revealed the following: A projected five‐year overall survival of 100% versus 25%, (P < .001), freedom from recurrence of 86.7 versus 25% (P < .001), local control without surgery of 86.7% versus 30% (P = .003), and survival with functional larynx of 86.7% versus 25% (P = .008), respectively.Conclusions:Nonsurgical therapy in patients with pretreatment vocal cord fixation is feasible. However, persistence of vocal cord fixation after definitive chemoradiotherapy is a poor prognostic sign and early surgical intervention should be considered. Laryngoscope, 2009
Systematic review and meta‐analysis of the adverse effects of thyroidectomy combined with central neck dissection as compared with thyroidectomy alone
Authors: Chisholm Edward J. , Kulinskaya Elena , Tolley Neil S. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:Meta‐analysis to assess the increased morbidity of performing a central neck dissection with thyroidectomy to thyroidectomy alone.Study Design:Systematic review and meta‐analysis.Methods:Published articles were searched for using PubMed. Suitability was assessed by using predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Meta‐analysis on the data was performed using the Mantel‐Haenszel method and a risk difference calculated.Results:Five studies with a total of 1,132 patients were included. For every 7.7 central neck dissections performed with thyroidectomy, there was one extra case of temporary hypocalcemia when compared to thyroidectomy alone. There was no significant increased risk of permanent hypocalcemia or temporary or permanent vocal cord palsy when a central neck dissection was performed in addition to a thyroidectomy.Conclusions:The benefits of prophylactic central neck dissection in differentiated thyroid carcinoma may be debated but there is no increased permanent morbidity by performing the procedure at the same time as thyroidectomy. Laryngoscope, 2009
Nanocomposites of Size‐Tunable ZnO‐Nanoparticles and Amphiphilic Hyperbranched Polymers
Authors: Richter Thomas V. , Schüler Fabian , Thomann Ralf , Mülhaupt Rolf , Ludwigs Sabine 
Published: April 2009

AbstractHighly dispersed ZnO nanoparticles with variable particle sizes were successfully prepared within an amphiphilic hyperbranched polyetherpolyol matrix via decomposition of an organometallic precursor in the presence of air leading to stable nanocomposites. The high degree of stabilization during and after the synthesis by the polymer permits control over the nanoparticle size and therefore, due to the quantum‐size‐effect, the particle properties. Furthermore, these polymer‐inorganic nanocomposites can easily be dispersed in apolar solvents to yield highly transparent, stable solutions.magnified image
Validation of cerebral blood perfusion imaging as a modality for quantitative pharmacological MRI in rats
Authors: Bruns Andreas , Künnecke Basil , Risterucci Céline , Moreau Jean‐Luc , von Kienlin Markus 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe aim of this study was to validate continuous arterial spin labeling (CASL) as a quantitative imaging modality for pharmacological MRI (phMRI) based on local cerebral blood perfusion. Specifically, the capability of CASL to assess brain‐activity signatures of pharmacological interventions in animal models was evaluated with respect to drug discovery in diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Perfusion as a surrogate for neuronal activity was measured in various brain areas of the rat. The validation approach was threefold. First, perfusion was shown to reliably reflect differential effects of anesthesia on striatal activation. Different baseline levels and different temporal response profiles after amphetamine challenges under isoflurane, propofol, ketamine, and α‐chloralose anesthesia were consistent with known properties of these anesthetics. Second, remarkable consistency of multi‐area baseline perfusion patterns between independent groups of animals confirmed the notion that CASL is highly reproducible and thus particularly suitable for long‐term longitudinal studies. Third, administration of the well‐characterized psychotomimetic compounds amphetamine and phencyclidine (PCP) elicited dose‐dependent activation patterns that were related to the drugs' particular interactions with the dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems, respectively. In conclusion, perfusion‐based phMRI is a robust, reliable and valid quantitative technique suitable for evaluating brain‐activation patterns in animal models of CNS diseases. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Water saturation shift referencing (WASSR) for chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) experiments
Authors: Kim Mina , Gillen Joseph , Landman Bennett A. , Zhou Jinyuan , van Zijl Peter C.M. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractChemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) is a contrast mechanism that exploits exchange‐based magnetization transfer (MT) between solute and water protons. CEST effects compete with direct water saturation and conventional MT processes, and generally can only be quantified through an asymmetry analysis of the water saturation spectrum (Z‐spectrum) with respect to the water frequency, a process that is exquisitely sensitive to magnetic field inhomogeneities. Here it is shown that direct water saturation imaging allows measurement of the absolute water frequency in each voxel, allowing proper centering of Z‐spectra on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis independently of spatial B0 field variations. Optimal acquisition parameters for this “water saturation shift referencing” (WASSR) approach were estimated using Monte Carlo simulations and later confirmed experimentally. The optimal ratio of the WASSR sweep width to the linewidth of the direct saturation curve was found to be 3.3–4.0, requiring a sampling of 16–32 points. The frequency error was smaller than 1 Hz at signal‐to‐noise ratios of 40 or higher. The WASSR method was applied to study glycogen, where the chemical shift difference between the hydroxyl (OH) protons and bulk water protons at 3T is so small (0.75–1.25 ppm) that the CEST spectrum is inconclusive without proper referencing. Magn Reson Med, 2008. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preparation and properties of PU/MCMMT nanocomposites
Authors: Qiao Min , Wu Shishan , Ran Qianping , Shen Jian 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a swelling agent to be intercalated into the galleries of the montmorillonite (MMT) platelets to get the organic MMT (CMMT). Then 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) were grafted on CMMT by the reaction between hydroxyls in organic MMT platelets and MDI to synthesize the MDI modified CMMT (MCMMT). Polyurethane (PU)/MCMMT composites were prepared by situ polymerization. The MCMMT platelets dispersed in a PU matrix in nanometer scale. The dispersion and intercalation degree of the MCMMT platelets decreased with increase in the content of MCMMT. Under the same content of fillers, the tensile strength and tear strength of PU/MCMMT nanocomposites were higher than those of PU/organic MMT nanocomposites. The reinforcing effect of the MCMMT platelets to the PU was better than that of the organic MMT platelets. With increase in the content of MCMMT, the tensile strength and tear strength of the PU/MCMMT nanocomposites were increased, while the extent of the increase slowed down. Compared with those of PU, the thermal stability of PU/MCMMT nanocomposites was increased. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dissatisfaction with hospital care for children with sickle cell disease not due only to race and chronic disease
Authors: Brousseau David C. , Mukonje Terence , Brandow Amanda M. , Nimmer Mark , Panepinto Julie A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackgroundA previous study reported increased dissatisfaction with hospital care for children with sickle cell disease (SCD); however, its small size excluded determining whether race and chronic disease explained the difference.ProcedureAt hospital discharge, parents of children with SCD completed a survey assessing satisfaction with their child's hospital care. Results were compared to three years of satisfaction surveys for children with asthma or admitted to a general pediatrician's service collected as quality improvement for the hospital. The primary outcome was parent reported dissatisfaction with care. A chi‐square was used to compare dissatisfaction between SCD and each comparison group.ResultsParents of 639 children were included, 34 children with SCD, 124 with asthma, and 481 general pediatric patients. Parents of children with SCD were more often dissatisfied with their child's care compared to children with asthma (32.4% vs. 16.9%, P < 0.05) and general pediatric patients (32.4% vs. 14.6%, P < 0.05). Among all children, dissatisfaction was higher in families with minority children (21.1% vs. 12.6%); this difference did not exist among children with asthma. Among African‐American children, a higher proportion of parents of children with SCD believed their child was treated differently because of race than children with asthma (45.5% vs. 2.8%, P < 0.01) or general pediatric patients (45.5% vs. 8.3%, P < 0.01).ConclusionParents of children with SCD report increased dissatisfaction with care. While dissatisfaction was higher in minority families, the high rate of parental concern about race as a reason for families of children with SCD is not seen in African‐American families of children with asthma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:174–178. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changes in breast cancer patients after psychosocial intervention as indicated in drawings
Authors: Ho R. T. H. , Potash J. S. , Fu Wai , Wong K. P. L. , Chan C. L. W. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractObjective: The present study attempts to understand the experience of breast cancer patients who had participated in an Eastern‐based body–mind–spirit (BMS) psychosocial intervention program by observing changes in the images made by the patients.Methods: Pre‐ and post‐intervention drawings on the theme of ‘my cancer’ were collected from 67 primary breast cancer patients. Two creative art therapists compared the drawings according to the structural and formal art elements (body), the symbols used (mind), and the emotions and feelings presented in the drawings (spirit). Numbers of pre‐ and post‐intervention drawings, showing the presence of each element in these three dimensions, were also counted and compared.Results: There were several changes noted between pre‐ and post‐intervention drawings. The use of color, space, and multiplicity increased from 12 to 17%. Images of breasts decreased from 13 to 0%. Representations of cancer decreased from 15 to 7%. There was a slight increase in symbolic representations of natural, landscapes, and social support in post‐drawings (3–6%). The portrayal of negative emotions was greatly reduced from 52 to 3%, while positive emotions increased from 28 to 93% in post‐drawings.Conclusions: The comparison of pre‐ and post‐intervention drawings revealed changes in subject matter and accompanying emotions. Overall, there was a trend in changes toward a more peaceful and hopeful attitude. Through the use of realistic and symbolic images, participants depicted a range of emotions. Limitations and recommendations for using art–making, as an assessment tool and intervention, are addressed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of melanoma‐specific serological markers using proteomic analyses
Authors: Takikawa Masako , Akiyama Yasuto , Ashizawa Tadashi , Yamamoto Akifumi , Yamazaki Naoya , Kiyohara Yoshio , Oku Naoto , Yamaguchi Ken 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe discovery of novel melanoma markers for not only early detection but also monitoring disease status is promising to improve the clinical outcome of patients. In the present study, we performed proteomic comparative analysis of plasma proteins between healthy volunteers and melanoma patients using NanoLC and MALDI‐TOF‐MS. As a result, we were successful in identifying nine proteins that were specifically expressed in melanoma plasma compared with healthy plasma, most of which had not previously been identified as plasma markers of melanoma. The mRNA expression levels of four proteins [pro‐platelet basic protein precursor (PPBP), serum amyloid A2 (SAA2), complement factor H‐related protein 1 precursor (FHR1), inter‐alpha‐trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 precursor (IAIH4)] were prominently up‐regulated in several melanoma cell lines compared with melanocytes. Moreover, two proteins (PPBP, SAA) were shown to be expressed in tumor specimens from melanoma patients. In the survival time analysis regarding melanoma patients, the semi‐quantified plasma PPBP levels were statistically negatively correlated with the survival time. Most interestingly, the significant survival benefit was seen in low PBPP level group (< index 20) versus high level (≥ index 20) group. The results suggest that PPBP might be a novel promising serological marker and a prognostic factor specific to melanomas.
Generalization of Schrödinger invariance. Applications to Bose‐Einstein condensation
Authors: Stoimenov S. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe symmetries of non‐linear Schrödinger equations with power‐law non‐linearities are investigated. It is shown that Galilei invariance can be extended to Schrödinger invariance if the coupling constant(s) in non‐linearity is treated as dimensionful quantity. This is used to find a new non‐stationary solutions from given stationary ones.
Supersymmetric gauge theories in three dimensions
Authors: Bergshoeff E. , Hohm O. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractWe show how superconformal gaugings in three dimensions can be systematically constructed using the embedding tensor technique. These gaugings have been argued to describe the worldvolume theory of multiple M2‐branes. Applying our technique we construct the most general superconformal gaugings with 𝒩 = 5, 6 and 8 supersymmetry. In the case of 𝒩 = 5 supersymmetry we find three exceptional gaugings. We briefly discuss new developments concerning the massive deformations of the superconformal gauge theories.
Formulation affecting alachlor efficacy and persistence in sandy soils
Authors: Sopeña Fátima , Maqueda Celia , Morillo Esmeralda 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: The development of controlled‐release formulations of alachlor to extend the period of weed control was studied. This extended duration reduces the need for high herbicide application rates that could lead to environmental contamination. For this purpose, the influence of formulation, as well as the influence of soil characteristics, on alachlor efficacy and persistence in soil of a commercial formulation (CF) and different ethylcellulose microencapsulated formulations (MEFs) was evaluated.RESULTS: Higher alachlor rates yielded an enhanced initial herbicidal activity. The prolonged release of alachlor provided by the MEFs resulted in a higher herbicidal efficacy and a longer period of weed control compared with the effects of CF in the two soils tested (at 40 days after treatment, oat growth inhibition for CF and MEFs was 1.96% and 93.5% respectively). Soil characteristics strongly influenced alachlor efficacy and weed control by MEFs. The highest alachlor efficacy and persistence were observed in the soil with lowest microbial activity and clay and organic matter content.CONCLUSIONS: The use of MEFs can be advantageous because they permit the maintenance of the desired concentration of the herbicide in the soil for longer periods of weed control. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Observation of non‐radiative de‐excitation processes in silicon nanocrystals
Authors: Knights A. P. , Milgram J. N. , Wojcik J. , Mascher P. , Crowe I. , Sherliker B. , Halsall M. P. , Gwilliam R. M. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractWe describe the impact of non‐radiative de‐excitation mechanisms on the optical emission from silicon nanocrystals formed in SiO2. Auger excitation via free carriers deliberately introduced through phosphorus ion implantation, shows a monotonic increase with increasing phosphorus concentration which can be modelled adequately using a simple statistical approach. We also report a reduction in nanocrystal luminescence intensity with increasing exposure to UV radiation and suggest this phenomenon results from the introduction of non‐radiative defects in the Si/SiO2 network. The effect of UV radiation varies significantly depending on the sample preparation. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Tuning block copolymer structural information by adjusting salt concentration in liquid chromatography at critical conditions coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Girod Marion , Phan Trang N. T. , Charles Laurence 
Published: April 2009

AbstractDifferent cationic adducts of poly(ethylene oxide)/polystyrene block co‐oligomers could be produced by adjusting the salt concentration in the mobile phase using a coupling between liquid chromatography at critical conditions and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Formation of doubly lithiated adducts was observed at high LiCl concentration (1 mM) while lowering the salt concentration down to 0.1 mM allowed co‐oligomers to be ionized with both a proton and a lithium. The fragmentation pathways observed to occur upon collision‐induced dissociation of ionized copolymers were shown to be highly dependent on the nature of the cationic adducts. As a result, complementary structural information could be reached by performing MS/MS experiments on different ionic forms of the same co‐oligomer molecule. On one hand, release of the nitroxide end‐group as a radical from [M+2Li]2+was followed by a complete depolymerization of the polystyrene block, allowing both this end‐group and the polystyrene segment size to be determined. On the other hand, [M+H+Li]2+precursor ions mainly dissociated via reactions involving bond cleavages within the nitroxide moiety, yielding useful structural information on this end‐group. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In situ detection of the intermediates in the biosynthesis of surfactin, a lipoheptapeptide from Bacillus subtilis OKB 105, by whole‐cell cell matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry in combination with mutant analysis
Authors: Vater Joachim , Wilde Christopher , Kell Henny 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAn innovative technique to investigate the intermediates involved in the biosynthesis of the lipoheptapeptide surfactin from Bacillus subtilis OKB105 combining whole‐cell matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOFMS) with targeted generation of knock‐out mutants was demonstrated. This method allows efficient, sensitive detection of biosynthetic intermediates in a minimum of time directly at the outer surface of microbial cells picked from agar plates or in surface extracts prepared thereof. Biosynthesis of surfactin is encoded by the srf‐operon which is organized into four open reading frames which have been attributed to three multifunctional NRPS enzymes (SrfA‐C) and a thioesterase/acyltransferase enzyme SrfD. For the wild‐type strain OKB 105 only the end product surfactin was found mass spectrometrically. For the detection of lipopeptide intermediates three plasmid‐ and transposon‐insertion mutants were generated interrupting the surfactin assembly line at defined positions. Strain LAB 327 was mutated in the spacer region between enzymes SrfA and B. Here only SrfA was active with the lipotripeptide β‐OH‐acyl‐L‐Glu‐L‐Leu‐D‐Leu as the end product. Mutant OKB 120 bears a transposon mutation in SrfB between the first and second amino acid activating modules SrfB1 and SrfB2. It showed all intermediates from the lipodi‐ until to the lipotetrapeptide β‐OH‐acyl‐L‐Glu‐L‐Leu‐D‐Leu‐L‐Val. In LAB 223 SrfC was knocked out by a transposon mutation. It produced the lipohexapeptide β‐OH‐acyl‐L‐Glu‐L‐Leu‐D‐Leu‐L‐Val‐L‐Asp‐D‐Leu. Our work highlights the applicability and the potential of whole‐cell MALDI‐TOFMS as an innovative efficient tool for the analysis of intermediate steps of biosynthetic pathways. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Erste Erfahrungen bei der Realisierung der Tragstrukturen von Offshore‐Windenergieanlagen in der deutschen ausschließlichen Wirtschaftszone
Authors: Baeßler Matthias , Dahlke Christian , Eißfeldt Fritz , Lüddecke Falk , Rücker Werner , Vierfuß Ulrich , Zeiler Manfred 
Published: April 2009

AbstractZukünftig soll durch die Installation von Windparks in der ausschließlichen Wirtschaftszone und deren Betrieb ein wesentlicher Anteil des Strombedarfs in Deutschland gedeckt werden. Für die zugehörige Realisierung der Windenergieanlagen hat die zuständige Behörde, das Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie, Standards veröffentlicht, über deren Inhalte im Hinblick auf die zu errichtenden Stahlkonstruktionen von Windenergieanlagen berichtet wird. Über die zu absolvierenden Freigabephasen und deren Bestandteile sowie über die Anforderungen, die die Genehmigungsbehörde an die Art und den Umfang der zu erbringenden Nachweise für die Tragstrukturen stellt, wird im Rahmen des Aufsatzes berichtet. Bei der zuständigen Genehmigungsbehörde durchlaufen derzeit die ersten Anträge das Genehmigungsverfahren. Über die hierbei gesammelten Erfahrungen wird aus Sicht der zuständigen Behörde und deren Fachgutachtern berichtet. Speziell hierbei auftretende Diskussionspunkte werden benannt und Hinweise gegeben.