bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of the hospital registry in achieving outcome benchmarks in cancer care
Authors: Greene Frederick L. , Gilkerson Sharon , Tedder Paige , Smith Kathy 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe hospital registry is a valuable tool for evaluating quality benchmarks in cancer care. As payment for performance standards are adopted, the registry will assume a more dynamic and economically important role in the hospital setting. At Carolinas Medical Center, the registry has been a key instrument in the comparison of state and national benchmarks and for program improvement in meeting standards in the care of breast and colon cancer. One of the significant successes of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) Hospital Approvals Program is the support of hospital registries, especially in small and midsized community hospitals throughout the United States. To become a member of the Hospital Approvals Program, a registry must be staffed appropriately and include analytic data for patients who have their primary diagnosis or treatment at the facility 1. The current challenge for most hospitals is to prove that the registry has specific worth when many facets of care are not compensated. Unfortunately a small number of hospitals have disbanded their registries because of the short‐sighted decision that the registry and its personnel are a drain on the hospital system and do not generate revenue. In the present era of meeting benchmarks for care as a prelude to being paid by third party and governmental agencies 2,3, a primary argument is that the registry can be revenue‐enhancing by quantifying specific outcomes in cancer care. Without having appropriate registry and abstract capability, the hospital leadership cannot measure the specific outcome benchmarks required in the era of “pay for performance” or “pay for participation”. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;99:497–499. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Volume‐ or outcome‐based referral to improve quality of care for esophageal cancer surgery in The Netherlands
Authors: Wouters M.W.J.M. , Krijnen P. , Le Cessie S. , Gooiker G.A. , Guicherit O.R. , Marinelli A.W.K.S. , Kievit J. , Tollenaar R.A.E.M. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractRecently, in The Netherlands esophageal resections for cancer are banned from hospitals with an annual volume less than 10. In this study we evaluate the validity of this specific volume cut‐off, based on a review of the literature and an analysis of the available data on esophagectomies in our country. In addition, we compare the expected benefits of volume‐based referral to the results of a regional centralization process based on differences in outcome (outcome‐based referral). J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;99:481–487. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
National quality measurement using clinical indicators: The danish national indicator project
Authors: Mainz Jan , Hansen Anne‐Marie , Palshof Torben , Bartels Paul D. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThis article describes the Danish National Indicator Project that aims to document and improve the quality of care at national level. Specific clinical indicators, standards, and prognostic factors have been developed for eight diseases (e.g. lung cancer). It has been implemented in all clinical departments in Denmark. Participation is mandatory. Results related to lung cancer are presented and discussed. The experiences from 2000 to 2008 indicate that the quality of care related to the eight diseases improve over time and that that performance and outcome measurement will get paid in terms of quality improvement. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;99:500–504. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recognition of biomarkers and cell‐specific molecular signatures: Aptamers as capture agents
Authors: Nery Arthur A. , Wrenger Carsten , Ulrich Henning 
Published: May 2009

AbstractRNA and DNA aptamers developed by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) have turned into important tools in diagnostics, research, and therapeutics. Unlike antibodies, high‐affinity and specific aptamers identified through an in vitro selection process can be chemically modified to gain nuclease resistances in biological fluids and to extend their bioavailability in animals. Aptamers can be raised against virtually any target including those which are toxic or do not elicit any immune response in animals. They can be developed in automated processes against various protein targets and then easily modified by attaching fluorescence reporters, nanoparticles or biotin moieties, rival antibodies in high‐throughput proteomics and cell separations. In this review, we will discuss the high competence of aptamers in recognizing biomarkers and molecular signatures of cell surfaces, and how these unique features can be exploited for the identification and isolation of cancer, stem cells and even detection of parasite‐infected cells.
Optimization of antibody immobilization for on‐line or off‐line immunoaffinity chromatography
Authors: Beyer Natascha Helena , Hansen Morten Zoega , Schou Christian , Højrup Peter , Heegaard Niels H. H. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe covalent immobilization of antibodies to solid supports for immunoaffinity (IA) purification is widely used in the biological sciences. However, relative immobilization yields, immobilization stability, and antigen‐binding capacity vary significantly with the antibody and protocol used. A systematic study was conducted to determine the most versatile antibody immobilization method for use in on‐line and off‐line IA chromatography applications using commonly accessible immobilization methods. Four chemistries were examined using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments. We evaluated a method to survey optimal elution conditions and estimated immobilization yields, matrix stability, antigen binding capacities, and antigen recovery of different IA matrices. Some mAbs were sensitive to aminogroup‐based immobilization, i.e., losing antigen binding capabilities after immobilization especially using epoxy chemistry. In general, the most optimal covalent antibody immobilization for on‐line IA‐LC‐MS was achieved using aminogroup immobilization of intact antibodies by epoxy‐ or aldehyde‐activated POROS R20‐matrices and in some cases by chemical crosslinking to Protein G‐POROS. Protein G‐based matrices are very stable showing essentially no decline in performance after 50 application–wash–elution–reequilibration cycles and being easily prepared within 2–3 h of working time with a typical antibody coupling yield of above 80%. In off‐line applications where constant flow conditions are not used, covalent crosslinking onto Protein G‐POROS or Protein G‐agarose is to be recommended.
Application of dummy molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction in the analysis of cyproheptadine in bovine urine
Authors: Feás Xesús , Ye Lei , Regal Patricia , Fente Cristina A. , Hosseini Seyed V. , Cepeda Alberto 
Published: May 2009

AbstractDue to the difficulty of monitoring trace levels of cyproheptadine (CYP) residues in complicated biological matrices, specific adsorption materials for the preconcentration and clean‐up of CYP are indispensable. In this work, CYP was extracted from urine using dummy molecularly imprinted SPE (DMISPE) to avoid leakage of the imprinting molecules during the desorption phase. For synthesis of DMISPE, azatadine (AZA) was employed as the dummy template, methacrylic acid (MAA) as the monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross‐linker, 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionitrile) (AIBN) as the initiator, and dichloromethane as the porogen solvent. An LC‐MS/MS method was used to analyze CYP. Two MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) transitions for each analyte were monitored using diphenylpyraline hydrochloride (DPP·HCl), which was used as an internal standard. The advantages of DMISPE include obtaining less complex chromatograms and reducing ion suppression in ESI. The process efficiencies for DMISPE and SPE were 80% and 12%, respectively. In addition, the demonstrated reusability of the DMISPE cartridges is an advantage compared with single‐use SPE cartridges or immunoaffinity materials.
Use of correction factors in mobility shift affinity capillary electrophoresis for weak analyte – ligand interactions
Authors: Østergaard Jesper , Jensen Henrik , Holm René 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe practical and theoretical problems associated with interpretation of binding isotherms obtained by the investigation of weak analyte – ligand interactions using mobility shift affinity CE were investigated with special emphasis on various correction methods to compensate for media effects due to high additive concentrations. The interaction between 2‐hydroxypropyl‐α‐CD and two bile salts (glycocholate and glycodeoxycholate) was studied applying correction factors based on viscosity, CE based conductance and separately measured conductivities. Accurate measurement of the stability constants proved to be difficult; several points of general nature relating to the investigation of the weak analyte – ligand interactions were identified. These included undesired dilution of the BGE due to the high amounts of additive, avoidance of temperature effects by maintaining a constant power during the separations and limited validity of Walden's rule. The relative sizes of the buffer constituents, the nonelectrolyte ligand additive, and the analytes as well as noninteracting marker substances should be considered in order to minimize errors in the correction factors when significant deviation from Walden's rule is observed. Under such conditions, the mobilities should preferably be corrected by the use of a noninteracting marker; and the most generally applicable corrections may be based on conductance measurements.
Immuno‐ultrafiltration as a new strategy in sample clean‐up of aflatoxins
Authors: Reiter Elisabeth Viktoria , Cichna‐Markl Margit , Chung Duck‐Hwa , Zentek Jürgen , Razzazi‐Fazeli Ebrahim 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe present paper describes the development of a new clean‐up strategy for the analysis of aflatoxins (AFs) in food. The sample preparation method is based on immuno‐ultrafiltration (IUF) which, in contrast to immunoaffinity chromatography, makes use of antibodies in free form. After selecting an appropriate ultrafiltration (UF) device and optimizing different operation conditions the IUF method was applied to the clean‐up of maize and rice. Quantification of AFs was carried out by HPLC and fluorescence detection, after postcolumn derivatization in a Kobracell. The IUF method was shown to be as selective as sample clean‐up using commercial immunoaffinity columns. Recovery rates and RSD for the AFs G2, G1, B2 and B1 in spiked rice were found to be 76 ± 3, 76 ± 2, 83 ± 5 and 99 ± 14%, respectively. The analysis of a FAPAS (food analysis performance assessment scheme) maize material resulted in AFs concentrations which were in the range assigned by the producer of the reference material.
Biotechnological valorization of biodiesel derived glycerol waste through production of single cell oil and citric acid by Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Papanikolaou Seraphim , Aggelis George 
Published: May 2009

AbstractContinuous energy crises and increasing demand for conventional fuels has resulted in the need for biofuels on a commercial scale. Transesterification of oils to yield biodiesel – one of the principal biofuels currently produced in large‐scale operations – is coupled with significant production of a glycerol‐rich water (so‐called “crude” or “raw” glycerol), as an important side‐product of the process. The increasing demand for biodiesel leads to abundant quantities of this glycerol‐rich material on the market. Therefore, glycerol valorization has much to offer in the cost reduction of biodiesel production. To this end, various chemical or biotechnological strategies have been developed to obtain added‐value products using crude glycerol as substrate. This review combines an account of our attempts to achieve a biotechnological valorization of raw glycerol with a review of appropriate literature.
Directing the Self‐Assembly of Mesostructured Hybrid Materials: Effect of Polymer Concentration and Solvent Type
Authors: Pietsch Torsten , Metwalli Ezzeldin , Roth Stephan Volker , Gebhardt Ronald , Gindy Nabil , Müller‐Buschbaum Peter , Fahmi Amir 
Published: May 2009

AbstractHerein we explore the possibility to control the fabrication of non‐equilibrium nano‐patterns of spin‐coated organic‐inorganic hybrid materials based on diblock copolymers and metal nanoparticles in thin films. It is demonstrated that the type of solvent and the initial solution concentration, among other factors, can serve as tools to direct the morphology of spin‐coated thin films. The driving forces leading to the pattern formation are reviewed with respect to these parameters—type of solvents and polymer concentration. As a result well‐defined surface patterns of functional hybrid materials are obtained. Moreover, the same tools used to direct the pattern formation can be applied to gain control over the particle size and size distribution.magnified image
Decorating Polypyrrole Nanotubes with Au Nanoparticles by an In Situ Reduction Process
Authors: Xu Jingjing , Hu Jianchen , Quan Baogang , Wei Zhixiang 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAu nanoparticle‐decorated polypyrrole nanotubes (defined as PPy/Au nanocomposites) are prepared by an in situ reduction process. Polypyrrole (PPy) nanotubes are prepared by a self‐degraded template method, and Au nanoparticles are deposited in situ by the reduction of HAuCl4. The size and uniformity of the Au nanoparticles that decorate the PPy nanotubes can be controlled by adjusting the experimental conditions, such as the stabilizers used and the reaction temperature. The morphologies and optical properties of the nanocomposites have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV‐vis, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. Conductivity measurements show that the conductivities of the nanocomposites decrease with a decrease of temperature, and the conductivity–temperature relationship obeys the quasi‐one dimensional variable range hopping model.magnified image
Synthesis of a Fluorescent Polymer Bearing Covalently Linked Thienylene Moieties and Rhodamine for Efficient Sensing
Authors: Zhu Mei , Zhou Chunjie , Zhao Yingjie , Li Yongjun , Liu Huibiao , Li Yuliang 
Published: May 2009

AbstractA novel conjugated polymer (RB‐PPETE) of poly[p‐(phenylene ethynylene)‐alt‐(thienylene ethynylene)] (PPETE) bearing covalently linked thienylene rings and Rhodamine B units has been synthesized and successfully used to detect metal ions. The Rhodamine B exists as a lactone, which is colorless and non‐fluorescent. Hg2+ ions can induce the Rhodamine group to form a ring‐opened state. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was demonstrated in the polymer, and in the presence of Hg2+ ions the excitation energy along the backbone of the conjugated polymer is transferred to the energy acceptor (Rhodamine B), which leads to a visual color change of the solution from slight yellow to orange. Meanwhile, this new system shows outstanding Hg2+‐selective FRET off–on type fluoroionophoric properties among the representative metal ions in tetrahydrofuran.magnified image
First Preparations and Characterization of Conductive Polymer Crystalline Nanoneedles
Authors: Su Kai , Nuraje Nurxat , Zhang Lingzhi , Chu I‐Wei , Matsui Hiroshi , Yang Nan‐Loh 
Published: May 2009

AbstractSingle crystalline nanoneedles of three families of the most studied conductive organic polymers ‐ polythiophene, polyaniline and polypyrrole ‐ were synthesized for the first time using an interfacial polymerization process that takes place with simultaneous crystallization. As the crystal growth is concurrent with polymerization, more ordered crystal packing can be expected. Most of the bulk conducting‐polymer systems studied contains regions that are inhomogeneous. Single nanocrystals of conducting polymers have not been reported, although needle‐shaped bulk crystals of the quarterphenyl cation radical salt have previously been studied. The investigation of processes in a nanodomain of a single crystal is critical in ascertaining the inherent electronic properties of polymer nanoelements. The organic conductive nanoneedles were characterized using TEM, HRTEM, electron diffraction, EDS, and EPR to establish their crystal structure and composition. Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) investigation were conducted to examine their electronic behaviors, leading to the discovery of a field‐induced conductance switching with response times on the millisecond level. The switch voltages are in the range of 3 to 4 volts in STM experiments, consistent with the trend of the band gap of the three polymers. The organic conductive nanoneedles with nano‐tip having high density of mobile electron may serve as interesting elements for nanoscale electronics.
Living Anionic Polymerization of N‐Methacryloyl‐2‐methylaziridine
Authors: Ishizone Takashi , Kusakabe Jun‐ichi , Suzuki Takashi 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAnionic polymerization of N‐methacryloyl‐2‐methylaziridine (1) proceeded with 1,1‐diphenyl‐3‐methylpentyllithium (DMPLi) in the presence of LiCl or Et2Zn to give the polymers possessing predicted molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn < 1.1) at −78 ∼ −40 °C in THF. In each polymerization initiated with DMPLi/LiCl at the various temperatures ranging from −40 to −60 °C, the linear relationship between polymerization time and conversion of monomer was obtained from the GLC analysis. The rate constant and the activation energy of the anionic polymerization for 1 were determined as follows: ln k = −5.85 × 103/T + 23.3 L mol−1 s−1 and 49 ± 4 kJ mol−1, respectively. Poly(1) showed the glass transition temperature at 98 °C, and gave the insoluble product at higher temperature around 150 °C through the thermal cross‐linking of highly strained N‐acyl‐aziridine moiety.
Counterion Association and Structural Conformation Change of Charged PAMAM Dendrimer in Aqueous Solutions Revealed by Small Angle Neutron Scattering
Authors: Porcar Lionel , Liu Yun , Hong Kunlun , Butler Paul D. , Huang E‐Wen , Chen Wei‐Ren 
Published: May 2009

AbstractOur previous study of the structure change of poly(amidoamine) starburst dendrimers (PAMAM) dendrimer of generation 5 (G5) have demonstrated that although the overall molecular size is practically unaffected by increasing DCl concentration, a configurational transformation, from a diffusive density profile to a more uniform density distribution, is clearly observed. In the current paper, the focus is placed on understanding the effect of counterion identity on the inter‐molecular structure and the conformational properties by studying the effect due to DBr using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and integral equation theory. While the overall molecular size is found to be essentially unaffected by the change in the pD of solutions, it is surprising that the intra‐molecular configurational transformation is not observed when DBr is used. The overall effective charge of a dendrimer is nearly the same for α < 1, independent of the type of acids. However, when α > 1, the effect of counterion identity becomes significant, the effective charge carried by a charged G5 PAPAM protonated by DBr becomes smaller than that of solutions with DCl. As a consequence, a counterion identity dependence of counterion association is revealed: Under the same level of molecular protonation, the specific counterion association, which is defined as the ratio of bound chloride anions to positively charged amines per molecule, is larger for the G5 PAMAM dendrimer charged by DBr than the one by DCl.
Structure and Surface Properties of High‐density Polyelectrolyte Brushes at the Interface of Aqueous Solution
Authors: Kobayashi Motoyasu , Yamaguchi Hiroki , Terayama Yuki , Wang Zhe , Ishihara Kazuhiko , Hino Masahiro , Takahara Atsushi 
Published: May 2009

AbstractZwitterionic and cationic polyelectrolyte brushes were prepared by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of 2‐methacryloyloxy‐ ethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and 2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), respectively. The poly(DMAEMA) brush was treated with methyl iodide to form poly[2‐(methacryloyloxy) ethyltrimethylammonium iodide] [poly(METAI)]. The effects of ionic strength on brush structure and surface properties of densely grafted polyelectrolyte brushes were analyzed by contact angle measurements, neutron reflectivity (NR) and macroscopic friction tests. Both polyelectrolyte brushes exhibited hydrophilic properties. The contact angle of the poly(MPC) brush surface against water was ca. 0° in air and the contact angle of the air bubble in water was ca. 170°. The air bubble in water hardly attached to the poly(MPC) brush surface, indicating super hydrophilic characteristics. NR measurements of poly(MPC) and poly(METAI) brushes showed that the grafted polymer chains were extended from the substrate surface in a good solvent such as water. Interestingly, NR study did not reveal the shrinkage of the brush chain in salt solution. The polyelectrolyte brushes immersed in both water and NaCl solution at various concentrations showed a low friction coefficient and low adhesion force.
Fascinating Morphological Behavior of A2‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) Molecules in the Melts and Solutions
Authors: Huang Ching‐I , Chang Yu‐Lung , Chen Chih‐Ming 
Published: May 2009

AbstractWe employ dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to examine the self‐assembling behavior of A2‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) molecules in the melt and solution states. When these molecules are in the melts, we successfully observe various types of hierarchical structure‐within‐structures, such as A‐formed spheres in the matrix formed by B and C alternating layers, hexagonally packed A‐formed cylinders in the matrix with B and C segregated layers, B and C alternating layers‐within‐lamellae, coaxial B and C alternating domains within hexagonally packed BC‐formed cylinders, and concentric BC‐alternating domains within BC‐formed spheres, by increasing the A composition. These hierarchical structures by varying the composition are reported theoretically for the first time in the copolymer systems consisting of the alternating blocks, and in good agreement with the most recent experimental work by Matsushita and co‐workers (Macromolecules 2007, 40, 4023). Generally speaking, the small‐length‐scale B and C segregated domains are in parallel to the large‐length‐scale structures for the melt case. While when a selective solvent is added, we find that varying the solvent selectivity and the amount of solvent can induce the molecules to form quite different morphological patterns, such as the so‐called segmented worm like micelles.
Hydrophobic Intercalation of Layered Silicate Clays and Hierarchical Self‐Assemblies via Platelet‐Shape Directing
Authors: Lin Jiang‐Jen , Chen Yu‐Min , Tsai Wei‐Cheng 
Published: May 2009

AbstractMost clay research in recent years has centered on the development of polymer/layered‐silicate nanocomposites besides the conventional applications such as catalyst and adsorbents for organics. Recently, we have reported the hydrophobic modification of the naturally‐occurring sodium montmorillonite clay (d spacing = 12 Å) by exchanging with hydrophobic poly(oxypropylene)‐diamine salts (POP‐salt) to afford the space‐enlarged silicates (d spacing up to 50–60 Å). Owing to the geometrically plate‐like shape and surface ionic charges, the organoclays enabled to self‐assemble into rod‐shape morphologies. For example, unique formation of lengthy rod (ca. 0.3 µm in diameter and up to 40 µm in length) was observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The self‐assembling mechanism may involve the piling of the primary stack units by face‐to‐face and edge‐to‐edge alignments. The clay primary stacks intercalated by POP‐salt and the hydrophilic analog of poly(oxyethylene)‐diamine salts were observed by AFM.