bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Randomized Phase II Trial of Lyophilized Strawberries in Patients with Dysplastic Precancerous Lesions of the Esophagus
Authors: Chen Tong , Yan Fei , Qian Jiaming , Guo Mingzhou , Zhang Hongbing , Tang Xiaofei , Chen Fang , Stoner Gary D. , Wang Xiaomin 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Dysplasia is a histologic precursor of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We previously showed that dietary freeze-dried, or lyophilized, strawberry powder inhibits N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced SCC in the rat esophagus. On the basis of this observation, we conducted a randomized (noncomparative) phase II trial in China to investigate the effects of two doses of freeze-dried strawberries in patients with esophageal dysplastic lesions in a high-risk area for esophageal cancer. We randomly assigned 75 patients identified by endoscopy to have dysplastic esophageal premalignant lesions to receive freeze-dried strawberry powder at either 30 g/d (37 patients) or 60 g/d (38 patients) for six months; the powder was mixed with water and drunk. After six months, we assessed the changes in histologic grade of these lesions (primary endpoint) in a blinded fashion. The dose of 30 g/d, did not significantly affect histology or any other measured parameter. The dose of 60 g/d, however, reduced the histologic grade of dysplastic premalignant lesions in 29 (80.6%) of the 36 patients at this dose who were evaluated for histology (P &lt; 0.0001). The strawberry powder was well tolerated, with no toxic effects or serious adverse events. Strawberries (60 g/d) also reduced protein expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by 79.5% (P &lt; 0.001), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by 62.9% (P &lt; 0.001), phospho-nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)-p65 (pNFκB-p65) by 62.6% (P &lt; 0.001), and phospho-S6 (pS6) by 73.2% (P &lt; 0.001). Freeze-dried strawberries (60 g/d) also significantly inhibited the Ki-67 labeling index by 37.9% (P = 0.023). Our present results indicate the potential of freeze-dried strawberry powder for preventing human esophageal cancer, supporting further clinical testing of this natural agent in this setting. Cancer Prev Res; 5(1); 41–50. ©2011 AACR.
The Effect of HIV and HPV Coinfection on Cervical COX-2 Expression and Systemic Prostaglandin E2 Levels
Authors: Fitzgerald Daniel W. , Bezak Karl , Ocheretina Oksana , Riviere Cynthia , Wright Thomas C. , Milne Ginger L. , Zhou Xi Kathy , Du Baoheng , Subbaramaiah Kotha , Byrt Erin , Goodwin Matthew L. , Rafii Arash , Dannenberg Andrew J. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection causes chronic inflammation. COX-2–derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been linked to both inflammation and carcinogenesis. We hypothesized that HIV-1 could induce COX-2 in cervical tissue and increase systemic PGE2 levels and that these alterations could play a role in AIDS-related cervical cancer. Levels of cervical COX-2 mRNA and urinary PGE-M, a biomarker of systemic PGE2 levels, were determined in 17 HIV-negative women with a negative cervical human papilloma virus (HPV) test, 18 HIV-infected women with a negative HPV test, and 13 HIV-infected women with cervical HPV and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions on cytology. Cervical COX-2 levels were significantly associated with HIV and HPV status (P = 0.006 and 0.002, respectively). Median levels of urinary PGE-M were increased in HIV-infected compared with uninfected women (11.2 vs. 6.8 ng/mg creatinine, P = 0.02). Among HIV-infected women, urinary PGE-M levels were positively correlated with plasma HIV-1 RNA levels (P = 0.003). Finally, levels of cervical COX-2 correlated with urinary PGE-M levels (P = 0.005). This study shows that HIV-1 infection is associated with increased cervical COX-2 and elevated systemic PGE2 levels. Drugs that inhibit the synthesis of PGE2 may prove useful in reducing the risk of cervical cancer or systemic inflammation in HIV-infected women. Cancer Prev Res; 5(1); 34–40. ©2011 AACR.
Intermediate-Signal-Intensity Late Gadolinium Enhancement Predicts Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Appelbaum Evan , Maron Barry J. , Adabag Selcuk , Hauser Thomas H. , Lesser John R. , Haas Tammy S. , Riley Anne B. , Harrigan Caitlin J. , Delling Francesca N. , Udelson James E. , Gibson C. Michael , Manning Warren J. , Maron Martin S. 
Published: December 2011

Background—
In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the arrhythmic potential associated with a variety of left ventricular myocardial signal intensities evident on contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is unresolved.

Methods and Results—

In 145 HCM patients (43±15 years old), visually identified areas of LGE in left ventricle were analyzed quantitatively for intermediate (≥4 but <6 SD) and high (≥6 SD above the mean signal intensity of normal myocardium) LGE signal intensity (LGE-SI). Ambulatory Holter ECGs were obtained within 7.8±8.3 weeks of cardiovascular magnetic resonance. HCM patients with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular couplets, and premature ventricular contractions showed greater amounts of intermediate LGE-SI (17±7 versus 10±10 g, 16±10 versus 10±11 g, and 13±8 versus 10±13 g, respectively;
P
=0.003 to <0.001) and greater amounts of high LGE-SI (15±6 versus 10±8 g, 14±9 versus 10±12 g, and 12±7 versus 10±8 g, respectively;
P
=0.02–0.003) than patients without these arrhythmias. In HCM patients with either nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, couplets, or premature ventricular contractions, the extent of intermediate LGE-SI exceeded that of high LGE-SI (17±7 versus 15±6 g, 16±10 versus 14±9 g, and 13±8 versus 12±7 g, respectively;
P
=0.01–0.04). In addition, the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve established intermediate LGE-SI as a better discriminator of patients with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia than was high LGE-SI, with 7 additional patients with this arrhythmia identified.

Conclusions—
In patients with HCM, intermediate LGE-SI is a better predictor of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (including nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, a risk factor for sudden death) than is high LGE-SI. Longitudinal studies in larger HCM cohorts are justified to define the independent prognostic impact of intermediate LGE-SI.
Influence of the Arterial Input Function on Absolute and Relative Perfusion-Weighted Imaging Penumbral Flow Detection
Authors: Zaro-Weber Olivier , Moeller-Hartmann Walter , Heiss Wolf-Dieter , Sobesky Jan 
Published: December 2011

Background and Purpose—

Perfusion-weighted imaging maps are used to identify critical hypoperfusion in acute stroke. However, quantification of perfusion may depend on the choice of the arterial input function (AIF). Using quantitative positron emission tomography we evaluated the influence of the AIF location on maps of absolute and relative perfusion-weighted imaging to detect penumbral flow (PF; <20 mL/100 g/min on positron emission tomography
CBF
) in acute stroke.

Methods—

In 22 patients with acute stroke the AIF was placed at 7 sites (M1, M2, M3 ipsi- and contralateral and internal carotid artery–M1 contralateral to the infarct). Comparative
15
O-water positron emission tomography and AIF-dependent perfusion-weighted imaging (cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, mean transit time, and time to maximum) were performed. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis described the threshold independent performance (area under the curve) of the perfusion-weighted maps for all 7 AIF locations and identified the best AIF-dependent absolute and relative thresholds to identify PF. These results were compared with AIF-independent time-to-peak maps.

Results—
Quantitative perfusion-weighted imaging maps of cerebral blood flow and time to maximum performed best. For PF detection, AIF placement did significantly influence absolute PF thresholds. However, AIF placement did not influence (1) the threshold independent performance; and (2) the relative PF thresholds. AIF placement in the proximal segment of the contralateral middle cerebral artery (cM1) was preferable for quantification.

Conclusions—
AIF-based maps of cerebral blood flow and time to maximum were most accurate to detect the PF threshold. The AIF placement significantly altered absolute PF thresholds and showed best agreement with positron emission tomography for the cM1 segment. The performance of relative PF thresholds, however, was not AIF location-dependent and might be along with AIF-independent time-to-peak maps, more suitable than absolute PF thresholds in acute stroke if detailed postprocessing is not feasible.
Total Antioxidant Capacity of Diet and Risk of Stroke
Authors: Rautiainen Susanne , Larsson Susanna , Virtamo Jarmo , Wolk Alicja 
Published: December 2011

Background and Purpose—
Consumption of antioxidant-rich foods may reduce the risk of stroke by inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) takes into account all antioxidants and the synergistic effects between them. We examined the association between dietary TAC and stroke incidence in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-free women and in women with CVD history at baseline.

Methods—
The study included women (31 035 CVD-free and 5680 with CVD history at baseline), aged 49 to 83 years, from the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Diet was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary TAC was calculated using oxygen radical absorbance capacity values. Stroke cases were ascertained by linkage with the Swedish Hospital Discharge Registry.

Results—

During follow-up (September 1997 to December 2009), we identified 1322 stroke cases (988 cerebral infarctions, 226 hemorrhagic strokes, and 108 unspecified strokes) among CVD-free women and 1007 stroke cases (796 cerebral infarctions, 100 hemorrhagic strokes, and 111 unspecified strokes) among women with a CVD history. The multivariable hazard ratio of total stroke comparing the highest with the lowest quintile of dietary TAC was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.70–0.99;
P
for trend=0.04) in CVD-free women. Among women with a CVD history, the hazard ratios for the highest versus lowest quartile of TAC were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.75–1.07;
P
for trend=0.30) for total stroke and 0.55 (95% CI, 0.32–0.95;
P
for trend=0.03) for hemorrhagic stroke.

Conclusions—
These findings suggest that dietary TAC is inversely associated with total stroke among CVD-free women and hemorrhagic stroke among women with CVD history.
Determining the Modified Rankin Score After Stroke by Postal and Telephone Questionnaires
Authors: Dennis Martin , Mead Gillian , Doubal Fergus , Graham Catriona 
Published: December 2011

Background and Purpose—
The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is the most common outcome measure in large randomized controlled trials in stroke. We tested 2 postal mRS questionnaires and a telephone questionnaire to determine completion rates and intermodality agreement.

Methods—
We sent postal questionnaires containing 2 versions of the mRS to surviving stroke patients. One version, tick box, involved the patient/proxy ticking 1 of the 5 descriptions equating to mRS scores; the other, the simplified modified Rankin questionnaire (smRSq), included 5 questions with yes/no responses from which the mRS is derived. We performed a semistructured telephone interview to consenting respondents, blinded to postal responses, to assign an mRS. We compared the mRS obtained by these different methods.

Results—
We sent questionnaires to 343 of 356 surviving patients (96%) and received 225 responses (66%). The mRS could not be derived in 27 respondents (12%) and 10 respondents (4%) on the tick box and smRSq, respectively (difference in proportion, 8% [95% CI, 3–13]. One hundred three of 190 respondents (54%) to the postal questionnaire agreed on the tick box versus smRSq version (κ=0.44 [0.38, 0.50]). Agreements between the tick box versus telephone and smRSq versus telephone were 57% (ie, 87/152, κ=0.47 [0.40, 0.55], and 64% (ie, 104/161, κ=0.55 [0.47, 0.62], respectively.

Conclusions—
In large studies where face-to-face assessment of mRS is impractical, a postal smRSq with telephone follow-up to nonresponders will achieve higher levels of follow-up than will the tick box version and also good levels of intermodality agreement with least risk of bias.
The Climate Response to Stratospheric Sulfate Injections and Implications for Addressing Climate Emergencies
Authors: McCusker Kelly E. , Battisti David S. , Bitz Cecilia M. 
Published: December 2011

Stratospheric sulfate aerosol injection has been proposed to counteract anthropogenic greenhouse gas warming and prevent regional climate emergencies. Global warming is projected to be largest in the polar regions, where consequences to climate change could be emergent, but where the climate response to global warming is also most uncertain. The Community Climate System Model, version 3, is used to evaluate simulations with enhanced CO2 and prescribed stratospheric sulfate to investigate the effects on regional climate. To further explore the sensitivity of these regions to ocean dynamics, a suite of simulations with and without ocean dynamics is run. The authors find that, when global average warming is roughly canceled by aerosols, temperature changes in the polar regions are still 20%–50% of the changes in a warmed world. Atmospheric circulation anomalies are also not canceled, which affects the regional climate response. It is also found that agreement between simulations with and without ocean dynamics is poorest in the high latitudes. The polar climate is determined by processes that are highly parameterized in climate models. Thus, one should expect that the projected climate response to geoengineering will be at least as uncertain in these regions as it is to increasing greenhouse gases. In the context of climate emergencies, such as melting arctic sea ice and polar ice sheets and a food crisis due to a heated tropics, the authors find that, while it may be possible to avoid tropical climate crises, preventing polar climate emergencies is not certain. A coordinated effort across modeling centers is required to generate a more robust depiction of a geoengineered climate.
Determining Size Distributions and Composition of Particles Suspended in Water: A New SEM–EDS Protocol with Validation and Comparison to Other Methods
Authors: Groundwater Heather , Twardowski Michael S. , Dierssen Heidi M. , Sciandra Antoine , Freeman Scott A. 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Knowledge of particle size distributions (PSDs) in seawater is important for understanding several facets of marine science, such as the behavior of light scattering in seawater, phytoplankton dynamics, and biogeochemical cycling. Here, a method has been developed to quantify the size distribution of particle suspensions and characterize their chemical composition utilizing a scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and applying image analysis techniques, including automatic thresholding. The method was validated by verifying the PSD and chemical composition of the Arizona Test Dust (ATD), which has a well-documented size distribution and chemical composition. Size distributions of ATD particles containing specific elements important in the marine environment, such as silicon, iron, calcium, aluminum, and potassium, were quantified. PSDs determined with the technique in field samples from coastal Long Island Sound and the remote South Pacific were compared with other sizing methods, including electroresistivity and laser diffractometry. Most accurate results for PSD determinations occurred when the particle mass loading on the filter was between 0.04 and 0.1 mg cm−2. With this in mind, immediate feedback in the field can be provided to prepare appropriate filtration sample volumes due to a linear relationship between the beam attenuation coefficient at 650 nm (c650) and the total suspended matter (TSM). Overall, the method presents two defining advantages in 1) minimizing user bias, because the majority of the analysis is automated, and 2) providing an elemental distribution in the context of a particle size distribution.
Thumb Motor Performance Varies by Movement Orientation, Direction, and Device Size During Single-Handed Mobile Phone Use
Authors: Trudeau Matthieu B. , Udtamadilok Tawan , Karlson Amy K. , Dennerlein Jack T. 
Published: December 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if thumb motor performance metrics varied by movement orientation, direction, and device size during single-handed use of a mobile phone device. Background: With the increased use of mobile phones, understanding how design factors affect and improve performance can provide better design guidelines. Method: A repeated measures laboratory experiment of 20 right-handed participants measured the thumb tip’s 3-D position relative to a phone during reciprocal tapping tasks across four phone designs and four thumb tip movement orientations. Each movement orientation included two movement directions: an “outward” direction consisting in CMC (carpometacarpal) joint flexion or abduction movements and an “inward” direction consisting in CMC joint extension or adduction movements. Calculated metrics of the thumb’s motor performance were Fitts’ effective width and index of performance. Results: Index of performance varied significantly across phones, with performance being generally better for the smaller devices. Performance was also significantly higher for adduction–abduction movement orientations compared to flexion–extension, and for “outward” compared to “inward” movement directions. Conclusion: For single-handed device use, adduction–abduction-type movements on smaller phones lead to better thumb performance. Application: The results from this study can be used to design new mobile phone devices and keypad interfaces that optimize specific thumb motions to improve the user-interface experience during single-handed use.
Team Knowledge Research
Authors: Wildman Jessica L. , Thayer Amanda L. , Pavlas Davin , Salas Eduardo , Stewart John E. , Howse William R. 
Published: December 2011

Objective: This article provides a systematic review of the team knowledge literature and guidance for further research. Background: Recent research has called attention to the need for the improved study and understanding of team knowledge. Team knowledge refers to the higher level knowledge structures that emerge from the interactions of individual team members. Method: We conducted a systematic review of the team knowledge literature, focusing on empirical work that involves the measurement of team knowledge constructs. For each study, we extracted author degree area, study design type, study setting, participant type, task type, construct type, elicitation method, aggregation method, measurement timeline, and criterion domain. Results: Our analyses demonstrate that many of the methodological characteristics of team knowledge research can be linked back to the academic training of the primary author and that there are considerable gaps in our knowledge with regard to the relationships between team knowledge constructs, the mediating mechanisms between team knowledge and performance, and relationships with criteria outside of team performance, among others. We also identify categories of team knowledge not yet examined based on an organizing framework derived from a synthesis of the literature. Conclusion: There are clear opportunities for expansion in the study of team knowledge; the science of team knowledge would benefit from a more holistic theoretical approach. Application: Human factors researchers are increasingly involved in the study of teams. This review and the resulting organizing framework provide researchers with a summary of team knowledge research over the past 10 years and directions for improving further research.
Early Heelstrike Kinetics Are Indicative of Slip Potential During Walking Over a Contaminated Surface
Authors: Osis Sean T. , Worobets Jay T. , Stefanyshyn Darren J. 
Published: December 2011

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine ground kinetics early in stance while walking on a contaminated surface and assess the potential of kinetics to quantify risk of slipping. Background: Prior studies of slipping have dismissed early ground kinetic data, and therefore no prior literature has been able to assess the viability of using these data to quantify slip potential. Method: A total of 11 healthy male participants volunteered to walk over a force plate that was at random times contaminated with soap. Ground kinetics were measured by the force plate (2400 Hz), and heel displacement was quantified using high-speed video cameras (240 Hz) and retro-reflective markers. Results: The results indicated a significant reduction in shear force as early as 0.42 ms after heelstrike for contaminated trials, whereas for utilized coefficient of friction, a significant reduction was not seen until 11.34 ms. Heel displacements considered “safe” in the literature (< 30 mm) demonstrated proportionally different thresholds for shear force and utilized coefficient of friction. Conclusion: The authors suggest that shear force in early stance shows more promise in quantifying slip potential as compared to utilized coefficient of friction given that (a) significant differences are seen earlier in shear than utilized coefficient of friction and (b) the threshold for utilized coefficient of friction, over which heel displacement stabilized to a “safe” value, exceeded values for utilized coefficient of friction that have been recommended as “safe.” Application: These results have wide implications for standards related to the design and testing of interventions to prevent injuries because of slipping.
Electrocochleography in Round Window Vibrant Soundbridge Implantation
Authors: Colletti Vittorio , Mandalà Marco , Colletti Liliana 
Published: December 2011

ObjectiveTo determine the role of intraoperative electrocochleography to optimize the fitting of the floating mass transducer of the Vibrant Soundbridge on the round window membrane in patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss.Study DesignProspective cohort study.SettingTertiary referral center, Otolaryngology Department, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.Subjects and MethodsTwenty‐six adult patients suffering from chronic otitis media with moderate to severe conductive and mixed hearing loss, all with previous unsuccessful functional surgery, underwent round window vibroplasty. Thirteen subjects had intraoperative compound cochlear action potentials measured to assess vibroplasty coupling during and after surgery. In these patients, surgery was modified according to electrocochleographic feedback. The other 13 had vibroplasty without electrocochleography monitoring.ResultsThe average preoperative air conduction and bone conduction thresholds (0.5‐4 kHz) were not statistically significantly different between the 2 cohorts (P >. 05). Compound action potential recordings indicated specific surgical modalities to optimize coupling of the floating mass transducer with the round window membrane. The average postoperative Vibrant Soundbridge–aided air conduction threshold improvements (0.5‐4 kHz) were 54.6 ± 8.9 and 41.7 ± 11.1 dB HL, respectively, in the monitored and unmonitored cohorts (P =. 0032).ConclusionImproved round window vibroplasty outcomes are observed when the surgeon is promptly informed of the compound action potential changes induced by the floating mass transducer round window membrane vibroplasty and alters surgery accordingly. The key point for optimal coupling is a floating mass transducer in full contact with the round window membrane, free to vibrate without any contact with the surrounding bony structures and mobile footplate.