bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Argon‐Plasma‐Induced Ultrathin Thermal Grafting of Thermoresponsive pNIPAm Coating for Contractile Patterned Human SMC Sheet Engineering
Authors: Rayatpisheh Shahrzad , Li Peng , Chan‐Park Mary B. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA new method for ultrathin grafting of pNIPAm on PDMS surfaces is introduced that employs plasma activation of the surface followed by thermal polymerization. This method is optimized for human primary SMC attachment and subsequent intact cell sheet detachment by lowering the temperature. The contractile gene expression of the cells showed that the contractile phenotype of the SMCs which is induced by aligning the cells through micropatterning is more preserved after thermoresponsive cell sheet detachment in contrast with enzymatic detachment. Given its simplicity and low cost, this thermoresponsive grafting method can be utilized for engineering patterned cell sheets for future bottom‐up tissue engineering techniques. magnified image
International children's continence society's recommendations for initial diagnostic evaluation and follow‐up in congenital neuropathic bladder and bowel dysfunction in children
Authors: Bauer Stuart B. , Austin Paul F. , Rawashdeh Yazan F. , de Jong Tom P. , Franco Israel , Siggard Charlotte , Jorgensen Troels Munch 
Published: April 2012

AbstractPurposeThe objective of this ICCS standardization document is to report the initial diagnostic evaluation and subsequent work‐up of children with neuropathic bladder dysfunction.Materials and MethodsDue to a paucity of level I or level II, “levels of evidence” publications, these recommendations are actually a compilation of best practices because they seem to be effective and reliable, although not with any control.ResultsThroughout the document, the emphasis is on promoting early, comprehensive evaluation of lower urinary tract function that is thorough but with a minimum of unnecessary testing. This includes what tests to order, when to order them and what to do with the results. Some of the recommendations may not be practical in various worldwide locations but the suggested testing should be considered the ideal approach to completely diagnosing and then promulgating treatments based on the full knowledge of the condition and its effect on urinary tract function. Once the findings are delineated, those lower urinary tract patterns of dysfunction that put the kidneys at risk for deterioration, that are barriers to attaining eventual continence, and that have long‐term consequence to the lower urinary track can be obviated by specific management recommendations. The indications and timing of investigations to achieve these objectives are clearly defined in each diagnostic category and during follow‐up.RecommendationsThis document should be used as a basis for appropriate evaluation and timely surveillance of the various neuro‐urologic conditions that affect children. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:610–614, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Double incontinence in a cohort of nulliparous pregnant women
Authors: Espuña‐Pons Montserrat , Solans‐Domènech Maite , Sánchez Emília ,   On Behalf of the Pelvic Floor Research Group (Grup de Recerca del Sòl Pelvià, GRESP)
Published: April 2012

AbstractAimsTo estimate the frequency of double incontinence, and to identify associated risk factors during pregnancy and postpartum in previously continent nulliparous women.MethodsA cohort study in healthy, nulliparous, continent pregnant women, attending the public healthcare system of Catalonia (Spain) was designed. The field work was conducted during the control visits of pregnancy, at the time of delivery, and in the postpartum. Double incontinence was defined as a situation in which participants reported simultaneously urinary incontinence (UI) and anal incontinence with the help of a self‐administered questionnaire. Prevalence rates, and their corresponding confidence intervals (95% CI), were calculated, as well as the impact on daily life. Multivariable logistic regressions in pregnancy and postpartum were estimated to assess the association of potential risk factors.ResultsThe prevalence rate of double incontinence during pregnancy was 8.6% (95% CI: 7.0–10.3). Age over 35 years, and family history of UI were associated to a higher risk of double incontinence. After delivery, the prevalence rate decreased to 3.5% (95% CI: 2.4–4.6); only 6.7% of women with double incontinence in pregnancy had a persistency of their symptoms in early postpartum. Instrumental vaginal deliveries carried 2.2 times more risk of double incontinence than spontaneous ones. Episiotomy implied a higher risk for double incontinence.ConclusionsSymptoms of double incontinence are prevalent during first pregnancy; age and other intrinsic factors may favor the occurrence of double incontinence throughout gestation, while instrumental delivery and episiotomy increase the risk of double incontinence in the postpartum period. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:1236–1241, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detection of fluoroquinolone‐induced tendon disorders using a hospital database in Japan
Authors: Hori Katsuhito , Yamakawa Kasumi , Yoshida Naoko , Ohnishi Kazunori , Kawakami Junichi 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTPurposeTendinitis and tendon rupture are well‐known side effects of fluoroquinolones (FQs) in Western countries. In Japan, some case reports have been reported; however, the incidence of FQ‐induced tendon disorders has not been investigated. The aims of this study were to measure the occurrence of tendon disorders associated with FQs in Japanese patients and to compare the observed risk with that of previous reports. Moreover, the observed risk in FQ‐prescribed patients was compared with that in cephalosporin‐prescribed patients.MethodsThe Hamamatsu University Hospital database was examined to determine the risk of tendon disorders that occurred in all inpatients and outpatients between the first day of prescription of an oral FQ or cephalosporins to the calculated end date plus 30 days. The risk of tendon disorders, the risk ratio, and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were evaluated.ResultsFrom April 1996 to December 2009, FQs were prescribed to 17 147 patients, 14 of whom had tendon disorders (risk: 0.082%, 95%CI: 0.049–0.137). The risk of a tendon disorder in FQ‐prescribed patients was significantly higher than that in cephalosporin‐prescribed patients (five tendon disorders in 38 517 patients, risk: 0.013%, 95%CI: 0.006–0.030, and p < 0.001). The risk ratio of a tendon disorder in FQ‐prescribed patients in relation to cephalosporin‐prescribed patients was 6.29 (95%CI: 2.27–17.46). A large discrepancy in the risk of tendon disorders was not observed between our findings and previous reports.ConclusionA hospital database search revealed that the risk of tendon disorders in Japanese patients administered with FQs was higher than in those administered with cephalosporins. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulation of spin‐transport and spin‐minibands in a magnetic superlattice
Authors: Kim Jinwoo , Kim Heesang , Kim Nammee 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe study the spin miniband structure and the ballistic spin‐polarized transport of a magnetic superlattice (MSL), formed by inhomogeneous magnetic field in a semiconductor nanowire. Based on the transfer matrix theory and Bloch's theorem, we calculate the energy dispersion having spin‐minibands and spin‐minigaps due to Bloch periodicity and spin‐dependent ballistic conductance for various geometrical and physical parameters. Results show that full spin‐polarization in the ballistic conductance of the system occurs clearly for each spin, and that the fully spin‐polarized range for each spin can be enhanced by modulation of geometrical and physical parameters.magnified imageSchematic diagram of a MSL constructed by superconducting gridded mask on the top of a quantum wire formed by the split gate technique in two‐dimensional electron gas system. Transverse modes in Q1DEG serve as transmission channels.
A new partition testing strategy for multiple endpoints
Authors: Wang Bushi , Cui Xinping 
Published: April 2012

To evaluate efficacy in multiple endpoints in confirmatory clinical trials is a challenging problem in multiple hypotheses testing. The difficulty comes from the different importance of each endpoint and their underlying correlation. Current approaches to this problem, which test the efficacy in certain dose–endpoint combinations and collate the results, are based on closed testing or partition testing. Despite their different formulations, all current approaches test their dose–endpoint combinations as intersection hypotheses and apply various union‐intersection tests. Likelihood ratio test is seldom used owing to the extensive computation and lack of consistent inferences.In this article, we first generalize the formulation of multiple endpoints problem to include the cases of alternative primary endpoints and co‐primary endpoints. Then we propose a new partition testing approach that is based on consonance‐adjusted likelihood ratio test. The new procedure provides consistent inferences, and yet, it is still conservative and does not rely on the estimation of endpoint correlation or independence assumptions that might be challenged by regulatory agencies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A survey of dynamic software updating
Authors: Seifzadeh Habib , Abolhassani Hassan , Moshkenani Mohsen Sadighi 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTApplication update at run‐time remains a challenging issue in software engineering. There are many techniques with different evaluation metrics, resulting in different behaviours in the application being updated. In this paper, we provide an extensive review of research work on dynamic software updating. A framework for the evaluation of dynamic updating features is developed, and the articles are categorized and discussed based on the provided framework. Areas of online software maintenance requiring further research are also identified and highlighted. This information is deemed to not only assist practitioners in selecting appropriate dynamic updating techniques for their systems, but also to facilitate the ongoing and continuous research in the field of dynamic software updating. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is there a genetic cause of appetite loss?—an explorative study in 1,853 cancer patients
Authors: Solheim Tora S. , Fayers Peter M. , Fladvad Torill , Tan Ben , Skorpen Frank , Fearon Kenneth , Baracos Vickie E. , Klepstad Pål , Strasser Florian , Kaasa Stein 
Published: April 2012

BackgroundAppetite loss has a major impact on cancer patients. It is exceedingly prevalent, is a prognostic indicator and is associated with inferior quality of life. Cachexia is a multi‐factorial syndrome defined by a negative protein and energy balance, driven by a variable combination of reduced food intake and abnormal metabolism. Not all cancer patients that experience weight loss have appetite loss, and the pathophysiology between cachexia and appetite loss may thus be different. Knowledge of pathophysiology of appetite loss in cancer patients is still limited. The primary object of this study was to explore the association with 93 predefined candidate single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and appetite loss in cancer patients to possibly generate new theories of the pathophysiology of the condition.MethodsA total of 1,853 cancer patients were phenotyped according to appetite loss and then genotyped.ResultsAfter allowing for multiple testing, there was no statistically significant association between any of the SNPs analysed and appetite loss. The ten most significant SNPs in the co‐dominant model had observed odds ratios varying from 0.72 to 1.28.ConclusionsThis large exploratory study could not find any associations with loss of appetite and 93 SNPs with a potential to be involved in appetite loss in cancer patients. This does not however rule out genes putative role in the development of the symptom, but the observed odds ratios are close to one which makes it unlikely that any of the individual SNPs explored in the present study have great importance.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13539‐012‐0064‐8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Predictors of Clinical Outcome in Fibromyalgia After a Brief Interdisciplinary Fibromyalgia Treatment Program: Single Center Experience
Authors: Oh Terry H. , Hoskin Tanya L. , Luedtke Connie A. , Weingarten Toby N. , Vincent Ann , Kim Chul H. , Thompson Jeffrey M. 
Published: April 2012

ObjectiveTo determine which patient characteristics are closely associated with a positive response to a brief interdisciplinary fibromyalgia treatment program (FTP).DesignA prospective cohort study.SettingFTP at a tertiary medical center.ParticipantsA total of 536 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of fibromyalgia who underwent the FTP and completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) at baseline and 6‐12 months after treatment.InterventionsA brief 1.5‐day interdisciplinary FTP, which included evaluation with a registered nurse and a physician for a diagnosis or confirmation of fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia education, interactive self management session, and physical and occupational therapy.Main Outcome MeasurementsThe responder definition was an improvement of 14% or more in the FIQ total score from their baseline to 6‐12 months after treatment.ResultsMean (standard deviation) age of our patients was 50.3 ± 13.0 years; 515 women (96%) and 23 men (4%). Two hundred forty‐eight patients (46%) met the responder definition at 6‐12 months follow‐up. In an univariate analysis, younger age (P = .008), college or higher education (P = .02), fewer tender points (P = .048), and higher FIQ depression subscore (P = .02) significantly predicted positive response. In a multivariate analysis, these factors all remained statistically significant. In addition, a positive abuse history became significant (P = .03). There was no significant association for gender, duration of symptoms, marital status, employment, smoking status, or 3 numeric rating scale pain scores.ConclusionsPatients with younger age, more years of education (with college or graduate degree), higher baseline FIQ depression score, lower tender point count, and absent abuse history experience greater benefit from a brief FTP.
Changes in turbulent dissipation in a channel flow with oscillating walls
Authors: Ricco Pierre , Ottonelli Claudio , Hasegawa Yosuke , Quadrio Maurizio 
Published: April 2012

AbstractHarmonic oscillations of the walls of a turbulent plane channel flow are studied by direct numerical simulations to improve our understanding of the physical mechanism for skin-friction drag reduction. The simulations are carried out at constant pressure gradient in order to define an unambiguous inner scaling: in this case, drag reduction manifests itself as an increase of mass flow rate. Energy and enstrophy balances, carried out to emphasize the role of the oscillating spanwise shear layer, show that the viscous dissipation of the mean flow and of the turbulent fluctuations increase with the mass flow rate, and the relative importance of the latter decreases. We then focus on the turbulent enstrophy: through an analysis of the temporal evolution from the beginning of the wall motion, the dominant, oscillation-related term in the turbulent enstrophy is shown to cause the turbulent dissipation to be enhanced in absolute terms, before the slow drift towards the new quasi-equilibrium condition. This mechanism is found to be responsible for the increase in mass flow rate. We finally show that the time-average volume integral of the dominant term is linearly related to the drag reduction.
Conservation needs of the coconut crab Birgus latro on the Nicobar Islands, India
Authors: Patankar Vardhan , D'souza Elrika 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe describe the distribution of the coconut crab Birgus latro, categorized as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List, local perspectives towards the species, and its conservation needs on the Nicobar Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean. The species is threatened with extinction across most of its range and in India it is found only on a few islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelagoes. We carried out informal discussions with Nicobari communities to examine issues regarding conservation of the species and conducted timed searches in areas where coconut crabs were likely to be found. The discussions revealed that there are social taboos against hunting the coconut crab on most of the Nicobar Islands. However, on some islands these taboos are not being followed and community members may hunt the crab for consumption. Athough the coconut crab is legally protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act none of the villagers were aware of this. Of the six islands surveyed we recorded the presence of 17 and 14 crabs on two islands, respectively. On four islands villagers reported the presence of the crab prior to the tsunami of 2004, and on two of these islands the species may now be locally extinct. A small population size and a fragmented distribution in areas of coconut plantations suggest that the species is threatened. We recommend monitoring and detailed research on the ecology and genetics of the coconut crab, along with community-based conservation initiatives to conserve the species and its habitat.
Short-term SSRI treatment normalises amygdala hyperactivity in depressed patients
Authors: Godlewska B. R. , Norbury R. , Selvaraj S. , Cowen P. J. , Harmer C. J. 
Published: April 2012

BackgroundAntidepressant drugs such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) remediate negative biases in emotional processing in depressed patients in both behavioural and neural outcome measures. However, it is not clear if these effects occur before, or as a consequence of, changes in clinical state.MethodIn the present study, we investigated the effects of short-term SSRI treatment in depressed patients on the neural response to fearful faces prior to clinical improvement in mood. Altogether, 42 unmedicated depressed patients received SSRI treatment (10 mg escitalopram daily) or placebo in a randomised, parallel-group design. The neural response to fearful and happy faces was measured on day 7 of treatment using functional magnetic resonance imaging. A group of healthy controls was imaged in the same way.ResultsAmygdala responses to fearful facial expressions were significantly greater in depressed patients compared to healthy controls. However, this response was normalised in patients receiving 7 days treatment with escitalopram. There was no significant difference in clinical depression ratings at 7 days between the escitalopram and placebo-treated patients.ConclusionsOur results suggest that short-term SSRI treatment in depressed patients remediates amygdala hyperactivity in response to negative emotional stimuli prior to clinical improvement in depressed mood. This supports the hypothesis that the clinical effects of antidepressant treatment may be mediated in part through early changes in emotional processing. Further studies will be needed to show if these early effects of antidepressant medication predict eventual clinical outcome.
DelPhi web server v2: incorporating atomic-style geometrical figures into the computational protocol
Authors: Smith Nicholas , Witham Shawn , Sarkar Subhra , Zhang Jie , Li Lin , Li Chuan , Alexov Emil 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Summary: A new edition of the DelPhi web server, DelPhi web server v2, is released to include atomic presentation of geometrical figures. These geometrical objects can be used to model nano-size objects together with real biological macromolecules. The position and size of the object can be manipulated by the user in real time until desired results are achieved. The server fixes structural defects, adds hydrogen atoms and calculates electrostatic energies and the corresponding electrostatic potential and ionic distributions.
Availability and implementation: The web server follows a client–server architecture built on PHP and HTML and utilizes DelPhi software. The computation is carried out on supercomputer cluster and results are given back to the user via http protocol, including the ability to visualize the structure and corresponding electrostatic potential via Jmol implementation. The DelPhi web server is available from http://compbio.clemson.edu/delphi_webserver.
Contact: nsmith@clemson.edu, ealexov@clemson.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Variability in the ICES/NAFO region between 1950 and 2009: observations from the ICES Report on Ocean Climate
Authors: Hughes Sarah L. , Holliday N. Penny , Gaillard Fabienne ,   the ICES Working Group on Oceanic Hydrography
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Hughes, S. L., Holliday, N. P., Gaillard, F., and the ICES Working Group on Oceanic Hydrography, 2012. Variability in the ICES/NAFO region between 1950 and 2009: observations from the ICES Report on Ocean Climate. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 706–719. The ICES Report on Ocean Climate presents the latest information on the status and trends of sea temperature and salinity in the North Atlantic and Nordic Seas. It is the main product of the ICES Working Group on Oceanic Hydrography, published annually. Bringing together multiple time-series from across the ICES and NAFO regions offers insight into the concurrent spatial and temporal trends in ocean temperature and salinity. This paper presents an overview of the physical variability in the North Atlantic Ocean at decadal and longer time-scales and reviews the current state of understanding of the causes and mechanisms of this variability. Between the 1960s and the 1990s, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index increased from a persistent negative phase in the 1960s to a strong positive phase during the 1980s and early 1990s. However, during the decade 2000–2009, because of shifts in atmospheric pressure patterns, the NAO was weak and the NAO index was not a good indicator of atmospheric forcing. Marked changes were also observed in oceanographic indices such as the Subpolar Gyre index during the mid-1990s and, as a consequence, conditions in the decade 2000–2009 have been very different from those of the previous four decades.