bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Organozinc Compounds as Effective Dielectric Modification Layers for Polymer Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Xu Xinjun , Liu Bo , Zou Yingping , Guo Yunlong , Li Lidong , Liu Yunqi 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe interface between the organic semiconductor and dielectric plays an important role in determining the device performance of organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). Although self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) made from organosilanes have been widely used for dielectric modification to improve the device performance of OFETs, they suffer from incontinuous and lack uniform coverage of the dielectric layer. Here, it is reported that by introduction of a solution‐processed organozinc compound as a dielectric modification layer between the dielectric and the silane SAM, improved surface morphology and reduced surface polarity can be achieved. The organozinc compound originates from the reaction between diethylzinc and the cyclohexanone solvent, which leads to formation of zinc carboxylates. Being annealed at different temperatures, organozinc compound exists in various forms in the solid films. With organozinc modification, p‐type polymer FETs show a high charge carrier mobility that is about two‐fold larger than a control device that does not contain the organozinc compound, both for devices with a positive threshold voltage and for those with a negative one. After organozinc compound modification, the threshold voltage of polymer FETs can either be altered to approach zero or remain unchanged depending on positive or negative threshold voltage they have.
A Fluorophore‐Doped Polymer Nanomaterial for Referenced Imaging of pH and Temperature with Sub‐Micrometer Resolution
Authors: Wang Xu‐dong , Meier Robert J. , Wolfbeis Otto S. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractA new kind of pH and temperature sensitive material is reported. It is composed of dye‐doped polymer nanoparticles incorporated into a thin film of a polyurethane hydrogel. The new pH/temperature‐sensitive nanoparticles are obtained by post‐staining oxygen‐impermeable amino‐functionalized polyacrylonitrile nanoparticles with a long‐lifetime reference dye. Staining is followed by covalently linking fluorescein isothiocyanate onto the surface of the nanoparticle. The new sensor material has several distinct features: a) it enables imaging of pH via time domain dual‐lifetime referencing; b) effects of temperature on pH sensing may be compensated for; and c) temperature can simultaneously be visualized via rapid lifetime imaging. The new material enables referenced and temperature‐compensated pH imaging with superior spatial resolution due to the use of nanosized sensor nanoparticles.
Advanced Materials for Co‐Delivery of Drugs and Genes in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Khan Majad , Ong Zhan Yuin , Wiradharma Nikken , Attia Amalina Bte Ebrahim , Yang Yi‐Yan 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWith cancer being the major cause of mortality worldwide, the continued development of safe and efficacious treatments is warranted. A better understanding of the molecular mechanism and genetic basis of tumor initiation and progression, coupled with advances in chemistry, molecular biology and engineering have led to discovery of a wide range of therapeutic agents for cancer therapy. However, multidrug‐resistance, which is mainly caused by malfunction of genes, has become a major problem in chemotherapy. To overcome this problem, the simultaneous delivery of genes to cancer cells has been proposed to correct the malfunctioned genes to sensitize the cells to chemotherapeutics. This progress report summarizes key advances in drug and gene delivery with focus on the development of polymers, peptides, liposomes and inorganic materials as nanocarriers for co‐delivery of small molecular drugs and macromolecular genes or proteins. In addition, challenges and future perspectives in the design of nanocarriers for the co‐delivery of therapeutic drugs and genes are discussed.
Thalidomide plus dexamethasone as a maintenance therapy after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation improves progression‐free survival in multiple myeloma
Authors: Maiolino Angelo , Hungria Vania T.M. , Garnica Marcia , Oliveira‐Duarte Gislaine , Oliveira Luciana C.O. , Mercante Daniel R. , Miranda Eliana C. , Quero Adriana A. , Peres Ana L.M. , Barros José C. , Tanaka Paola , Magalhães Roberto P. , Rego Eduardo M. , Lorand‐Metze Irene , Lima Carmen S.P. , Renault Ilana Z. , Braggio Esteban , Chiattone Carlos , Nucci Marcio , de Souza Carmino A. ,   for the Brazilian Multiple Myeloma Study Group (BMMSG/GEMOH)
Published: June 2012

AbstractDespite the good response of stem cell transplant (SCT) in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), most patients relapse or do not achieve complete remission, suggesting that additional treatment is needed. We assessed the impact of thalidomide in maintenance after SCT in untreated patients with MM. A hundred and eight patients (<70 years old) were randomized to receive maintenance with dexamethasone (arm A; n = 52) or dexamethasone with thalidomide (arm B; n = 56; 200 mg daily) for 12 months or until disease progression. After a median follow‐up of 27 months, an intention to treat analysis showed a 2‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) of 30% in arm A (95% CI 22–38) and 64% in arm B (95% CI 57–71; P = 0.002), with median PFS of 19 months and 36 months, respectively. In patients who did not achieve at least a very good partial response, the PFS at 2 years was significantly higher when in use of thalidomide (19 vs. 59%; P = 0.002). Overall survival at 2 years was not significantly improved (70 vs. 85% in arm A and arm B, respectively; P = 0.27). The addition of thalidomide to dexamethasone as maintenance improved the PFS mainly in patients who did not respond to treatment after SCT. Am. J. Hematol. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An objective and automated method for assessing surgical skill in endoscopic sinus surgery using eye‐tracking and tool‐motion data
Authors: Ahmidi Narges , Ishii Masaru , Fichtinger Gabor , Gallia Gary L. , Hager Gregory D. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackground:Assessment of surgical skill plays a crucial role in determining competency, monitoring educational programs, and providing trainee feedback. With the changing health care environment, it will likely play an important role in credentialing and maintenance of certification. The ideal skill assessment tool should be unbiased, objective, and accurate. We hypothesize that tool‐motion data—how a surgeon moves his/her instruments—and eye‐gaze data—what a surgeon looks at when he/she operates—contain sufficient information to quantitatively and objectively evaluate surgical skill. We investigate this hypothesis by developing a statistical model of surgery and testing the model experimentally in the context of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).Methods:A total of 378 trials were recorded from 7 expert and 13 novice surgeons while they were performing a series of 9 different ESS tasks. Data was collected using an electromagnetic tracker to record the surgeon's tool and endoscope motions. In addition, the location of surgeon's eye gaze was recorded using an infrared eye tracker camera. This data was fit to the statistical model and used to test the accuracy of skill assessment.Results:The skill of expert surgeons was identified correctly for 94.6% of tasks. For surgeries performed by novice surgeons the proposed model properly recognizes the skill level with 88.6% accuracy.Conclusion:We present an objective and unbiased method for assessing the skill of endoscopic sinus surgeons. Experimental results show that the proposed method successfully identifies the skill levels of both expert and novice surgeons.
Interrater agreement of nasal endoscopy in patients with a prior history of endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: McCoul Edward D. , Smith Timothy L. , Mace Jess C. , Anand Vijay K. , Senior Brent A. , Hwang Peter H. , Stankiewicz James A. , Tabaee Abtin 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackground:Nasal endoscopy is an important part of the clinical evaluation of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. However, the objectivity and interrater agreement of the procedure related findings have not been well studied, especially in patients who have previously had sinus surgery.Methods:Patients with a history of endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis were prospectively enrolled from a tertiary rhinology practice. Fourteen endoscopic nasal examinations were recorded using digital video capture software. Each patient also underwent computed tomography (CT) and completed the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22). Blinded review of inflammatory and anatomic findings for each video was independently performed by 5 academic rhinologists at separate institutions. Comparisons were performed using the unweighted Fleiss' kappa statistic (Kf) and the prevalence‐ and bias‐adjusted kappa (PABAK).Results:There were no significant correlations between age, Lund‐Mackay score, or SNOT‐22 score. Interrater agreement was variable across the characteristics studied. Mean PABAK was excellent for the assessment of polyps (Kf = 0.886); moderate for the assessments of middle turbinate (MT) integrity (Kf = 0.543), MT position (Kf = 0.443), maxillary sinus patency (Kf = 0.593), and ethmoid sinus patency (Kf = 0.429); fair for discharge (Kf = 0.314), synechiae (Kf = 0.257), and middle meatus patency (Kf = 0.229); and poor for MT mucosal changes (Kf = 0.148) and uncinate process (Kf = 0.126).Conclusion:This study was notable for variability in the interrater agreement among the inflammatory and anatomic attributes that were examined. Further standardization of nasal endoscopy with regard to interpretation may improve the reliability of this procedure in clinical practice. ©2012 ARSAAOA, LLC.
Isoflurane‐induced apoptosis of oligodendrocytes in the neonatal primate brain
Authors: Brambrink Ansgar M. , Back Stephen A. , Riddle Art , Gong Xi , Moravec Matthew D. , Dissen Gregory A. , Creeley Catherine E. , Dikranian Krikor T. , Olney John W. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractObjective:Previously we reported that exposure of 6‐day‐old (P6) rhesus macaques to isoflurane for 5 hours triggers a robust neuroapoptosis response in developing brain. We have also observed (unpublished data) that isoflurane causes apoptosis of cellular profiles in the white matter that resemble glia. We analyzed the cellular identity of the apoptotic white matter profiles and determined the magnitude of this cell death response to isoflurane.Methods:Neonatal (P6) rhesus macaques were exposed for 5 hours to isoflurane anesthesia according to current clinical standards in pediatric anesthesia. Brains were collected 3 hours later and examined immunohistochemically to analyze apoptotic neuronal and glial death.Results:Brains exposed to isoflurane displayed significant apoptosis in both the white and gray matter throughout the central nervous system. Approximately 52% of the dying cells were glia, and 48% were neurons. Oligodendrocytes (OLs) engaged in myelinogenesis were selectively vulnerable, in contrast to OL progenitors, astrocytes, microglia, and interstitial neurons. When adjusted for control rates of OL apoptosis, the percentage of OLs that degenerated in the forebrain white matter of the isoflurane‐treated group was 6.3% of the total population of myelinating OLs.Interpretation:Exposure of the infant rhesus macaque brain to isoflurane for 5 hours is sufficient to cause widespread apoptosis of neurons and OLs throughout the developing brain. Deletion of OLs at a stage when they are just beginning to myelinate axons could potentially have adverse long‐term neurobehavioral consequences that might be additive to the potential consequences of isoflurane‐induced neuroapoptosis. ANN NEUROL 2012;72:525–535
A Direct Hippocampo‐Cerebellar Projection in Chicken
Authors: Liu Weimin , Zhang Yanxiao , Yuan Wenju , Wang Juan , Li Shaohuan 
Published: June 2012

AbstractOur previous studies suggested that a direct hippocampo‐cerebellar projection might exist in the chicken. To confirm such a presumption of hippocampo‐cerebellar interactions, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used as a retrograde tracer to be injected into the white matter of the folia VI–VIII of the cerebellum in young and adult chickens. In another set of experiments, young chickens were subjected to electrolytic lesions of the hippocampal formation (HF), especially the ventromedial portion, and the cerebellum was observed with the electron microscope to find neuronal degeneration in the HF. Following injections of HRP into the cerebellum, a large number of labeled neurons were found in the area APHm‐APHim of the HF in the young and adult chickens. As a result of the electrolytic lesions of the APHm‐APHim in the HF, many large degenerated nerve fibers were found in the white matter in the vicinity of the lateral nucleus of the cerebellum, and some small degenerated fibers were found in the white matter of the folia VI–VIII. In the cerebellar cortex of folia VI–VIII, degenerated axonal terminals occurred in both the molecular and Purkinje layers, but not in the granular layer. In the lateral nucleus, some dark degenerating axonal terminals were recognized to connect with the perikarya of neurons of this nucleus. The present experiments demonstrate that the APHm‐APHim of the HF directly projected to the cortex of folia VI–VIII and the lateral nucleus of the cerebellum in young chickens. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effectiveness of en route traffic information in developing countries using conventional discrete choice and neural‐network models
Authors: Bagloee Saeed Asadi , Ceder Avi , Bozic Claire 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYProviding commuters with traffic information or advising them of alternative routes during traffic incidents can alleviate congestion. For decades, advanced traveler information services (ATIS) have been devised and dedicated to this role. ATIS comprises a wide variety of technologies across the world, including radio traffic information (RTI) advisory service. RTI is common in both developed and developing countries. Although extensive literature and evaluation results of ATISs and RTI are available in developed countries, little attention has been devoted to that in developing countries. This work provides a modeling platform to study drivers' response to en route traffic information provided by Radio‐Payam broadcasting service in Tehran, the capital city of the developing country of Iran. The results are compared with counterpart cases in developed countries. Past studies and this study have employed conventional discrete models for drivers' response, such as ordered logit and ordered probit. This work evaluates the accuracy level of these conventional models in comparison with a developed neural‐network (NN) model, because it has been widely proven that NN models are highly precise. It has also been found that, apart from reliability, the conventional models are within an acceptable level of prediction accuracy compared with the NN models. The results show a high degree of similarities between the case of Tehran and its counterparts in the developing countries. The results also deliver some insights on how to improve or better implement the ATIS technologies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A functional marked point process model for lupus data
Authors: Fok Carlotta Ching Ting , Ramsay James O. , Abrahamowicz Michal , Fortin Paul 
Published: June 2012

AbstractModelling for marked point processes is an important problem, but has received remarkably little attention in the statistical literature. The authors developed a marked point process model that incorporates the use of functional data analysis in a joint estimation of the frequency function of the point process and the intensity of the mark, with application to data from 22 lupus patients consisting of times of flares in symptom severity combined with a quantitative assessment of the severity. The data indicate that a rapid decrease in drug dose is significantly associated with a decrease in flare frequency. Experiments with simulated data designed to model the actual data further support this conclusion. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 40: 517–529; 2012 © 2012 Statistical Society of Canada
Intermolecular Interactions in Weak Donor–Acceptor Complexes from Symmetry‐Adapted Perturbation and Coupled‐Cluster Theory: Tetracyanoethylene–Benzene and Tetracyanoethylene–p‐Xylene
Authors: Kuchenbecker Dennis , Jansen Georg 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe interactions in the complexes of tetracyanothylene (TCNE) with benzene andp‐xylene, often classified as weak electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complexes, are investigated by a range of quantum chemical methods including intermolecular perturbation theory at the DFT‐SAPT (symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory combined with density functional theory) level and explicitly correlated coupled‐cluster theory at the CCSD(T)‐F12 level. The DFT‐SAPT interaction energies for TCNE–benzene and TCNE–p‐xylene are estimated to be −35.7 and −44.9 kJ mol−1, respectively, at the complete basis set limit. The best estimates for the CCSD(T) interaction energy are −37.5 and −46.0 kJ mol−1, respectively. It is shown that the second‐order dispersion term provides the most important attractive contribution to the interaction energy, followed by the first‐order electrostatic term. The sum of second‐ and higher‐order induction and exchange–induction energies is found to provide nearly 40 % of the total interaction energy. After addition of vibrational, rigid‐rotor, and translational contributions, the computed internal energy changes on complex formation approach results from gas‐phase spectrophotometry at elevated temperatures within experimental uncertainties, while the corresponding entropy changes differ substantially.
Electrochemical Single‐Molecule AFM of the Redox Metalloenzyme Copper Nitrite Reductase in Action
Authors: Hao Xian , Zhang Jingdong , Christensen Hans E. M. , Wang Hongda , Ulstrup Jens 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWe studied the electrochemical behavior of the redox metalloenzyme copper nitrite reductase (CNiR, Achromobacter xylosoxidans) immobilized on a Au(111)‐electrode surface modified by a self‐assembled cysteamine molecular monolayer (SAM) using a combination of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemically‐controlled atomic force microscopy (in situ AFM). The enzyme showed no voltammetric signals in the absence of nitrite substrate, whereas a strong reductive electrocatalytic signal appeared in the presence of nitrite. Such a pattern is common in protein film and monolayer voltammetry and points to conformational changes in the enzyme upon substrate binding. Binding thus either improves the enzyme/electrode contact, or opens intramolecular electron‐transfer channels between the redox center for electron inlet (a type I copper center) and the catalytic site for nitrite reduction (a type II copper center). The in situ AFM data are at the level of the single CuNiR enzyme molecule. The voltammetric patterns were paralleled by a clear increase (swelling) of the molecular height when the electrochemical potential traversed the region from resting to the electrocatalytically active redox enzyme function in the presence of nitrite. No change in size was observed in the absence of nitrite over the same potential range. The enzyme size variation is suggested to offer clues to the broadly observed substrate triggering in metalloenzyme monolayer voltammetry.
Microwave Decoration of Pt Nanoparticles on Entangled 3D Carbon Nanotube Architectures as PEM Fuel Cell Cathode
Authors: Sherrell Peter C. , Zhang Weimin , Zhao Jie , Wallace Gordon G. , Chen Jun , Minett Andrew I. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractProton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are expected to provide a complementary power supply to fossil fuels in the near future. The current reliance of fuel cells on platinum catalysts is undesirable. However, even the best‐performing non‐noble metal catalysts are not as efficient. To drive commercial viability of fuel cells forward in the short term, increased utilization of Pt catalysts is paramount. We have demonstrated improved power and energy densities in a single PEMFC using a designed cathode with a Pt loading of 0.1 mg cm−2 on a mesoporous conductive entangled carbon nanotube (CNT)‐based architecture. This electrode allows for rapid transfer of both fuel and waste to and from the electrode, respectively. Pt particles are bound tightly, directly to CNT sidewalls by a microwave‐reduction technique, which provided increased charge transport at this interface. The Pt entangled CNT cathode, in combination with an E‐TEK 0.2 mg cm−2 anode, has a maximum power and energy density of 940 mW cm−2 and 2700 mA cm−2, respectively, and a power and energy density of 4.01 W mgPt−1 and 6.35 A mgPt−1 at 0.65 V. These power densities correspond to a specific mass activity of 0.81 g Pt per kW for the combined mass of both anode and cathode electrodes, approaching the current US Department of Energy efficiency target.
Eurocode 6 Teil 3 – Grundlagen und Anwendungsbedingungen des vereinfachten Berechnungsverfahrens
Authors: Schlundt Andreas 
Published: June 2012

AbstractDas vereinfachte Berechnungsverfahren für Mauerwerk ist zukünftig im Eurocode 6 Teil 3 geregelt. Dieser setzt sich zusammen aus den Regelungen in DIN EN 1996‐3 und dem zugehörigen Nationalen Anhang. Nachfolgend werden die Grundlagen und Anwendungsbedingungen der für die Praxis in Deutschland so wichtigen vereinfachten Bemessung von Mauerwerksbauten vorgestellt und erläutert.Insbesondere durch die Formulierung des Nationalen Anhangs ist es gelungen, das aus DIN 1053‐1 und DIN 1053‐100 bekannte vereinfachte Berechnungsverfahren auch im Eurocode 6 in nahezu unveränderter Form für die Praxis zu erhalten. Mit den Nachweisen nach Eurocode 6 Teil 3 in Verbindung mit dem Nationalen Anhang ist damit auch zukünftig eine wirtschaftliche und wenig aufwändige Bemessung von Mauerwerk möglich. Es ist daher zu erwarten, dass Mauerwerk in Deutschland auch nach dem Eurocode wie bisher überwiegend vereinfacht bemessen wird.Eurocode 6 Part 3 – Principles and application requirements of the simplified calculation method. Simplified calculation methods for masonry structures are regulated in Eurocode 6 Part 3 in the future. This standard consists of the provisions given in DIN EN 1996‐3 and the corresponding National Annex. The background and the application requirements of the simplified design of masonry structures which has a great importance for the practice in Germany are presented and commented.Especially due to the rules of the National Annex it is succeded to obtain the familiar simplified calculation given in DIN 1053‐1 and DIN 1053‐100 in an almost unmodified form. So the verification given in Eurocode 6 Part 3 allows in combination with the National Annex an economical and easy to handle design of masonry structures even in the future. It is expected that in Germany the design of masonry structures in the future according to Eurocode 6 is based on simplified methods as before.