bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RANKL expression is related to treatment outcome of patients with localized, high‐grade osteosarcoma
Authors: Lee Jun Ah , Jung Jun Soo , Kim Dong Ho , Lim Jung Sub , Kim Min Suk , Kong Chang‐Bae , Song Won Seok , Cho Wan Hyeong , Jeon Dae‐Geun , Lee Soo‐Yong , Koh Jae‐Soo 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackgroundThe receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL/TNFSF11) is expressed in metastatic bone cancer cells and has been suggested to play a key role in cell migration and metastatic behavior. We determined whether RANKL expression is correlated to clinical behavior of localized, high‐grade osteosarcoma.Patients and methodsThis retrospective, immunohistochemical study was performed using materials obtained from 40 patients treated at Korea Cancer Center Hospital between 1995 and 2007. Prechemotherapy biopsy samples were stained for RANKL and correlations between RANKL expression and clinical characteristics and outcomes were evaluated. Staining was interpreted in a semiquantitative manner using an intensity based scoring system.ResultsThirty cases (75.0%) stained positively for RANKL; 15 (50.0%) had a high RANKL score (≥ 4) and the other 15 a low RANKL score (≤3). RANKL expression and RANKL scores were not related to age, sex, tumor location, tumor volume, or pathologic subtype. However, RANKL expression was related to a poor response to preoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.03) and a high RANKL score was associated with inferior survival. The 5‐year event‐free survival of patients with RANKL score ≥4 was 17.8 ± 10.5%, which was far worse than those with RANKL scores 1–3 or 0 (50.0 ± 15.8%, 56.0 ± 13.7%, respectively, P = 0.02).ConclusionsThe RANKL–RANK–OPG axis might be a promising target for the treatment of osteosarcoma, but further studies are needed to verify our data in a larger cohort. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011;56:738–743. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A photo‐degradable helix: Synthesis, structure, and photolysis of optically active poly[2,7‐bis(4‐t‐butylphenyl)‐9‐methylfluoren‐9‐yl acrylate]
Authors: Sakamoto Takeshi , Watanabe Kento , Shichibu Yukatsu , Konishi Katsuaki , Sato Shin‐Ichiro , Nakano Tamaki 
Published: December 2010

Abstract2,7‐Bis(4‐t‐butylphenyl)‐9‐methylfluoren‐9‐yl acrylate (BBPMFA) was synthesized and polymerized using α,α′‐azobisisobutyronitrile or n‐Bu3B‐air as a radical initiator and using the complex of 9‐fluorenyllithium with (S)‐(+)‐1‐(2‐pyrrolidinylmethyl)pyrrolidine as an optically active anionic initiator. Although the radical polymerization led to rather low‐molecular‐weight products at low yields, the anionic polymerization afforded polymers with higher molecular weights in higher yields. The poly(BBPMFA) obtained by the anionic polymerization was slightly rich in isotacticity (meso diad 57%) and showed an intense circular dichroism (CD) spectrum and large dextrorotation. The intensity of the CD spectrum and magnitude of optical activity increased with an increase in Mn, suggesting that the polymer possesses a preferred‐handed helical conformation. The CD spectrum disappeared within 1 s on irradiation to the polymer in a CHCl3 solution using a 500‐W Hg‐Xe lamp. This was ascribed to fast photolysis of the ester linkage leading to a loss of helical conformation of the entire chain. Photolysis products of poly(BBPMFA) were poly(acrylic acid) and 2,7‐bis(4‐t‐butylphenyl)‐9‐methylenefluorene (2,7‐bis(4‐t‐butylphenyl)dibenzofulvene). The photolysis reaction seemed to proceed through the “unzipping” mechanism. The rate constant of photolysis of poly(BBPMFA) under irradiation at monochromated 325 nm was around 0.01 s−1 independent of molecular weight. Photolysis at 325 nm was approximately 2400 times faster than that for chemical ester solvolysis under a neutral condition in the dark. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Exploring sparsely populated states of macromolecules by diamagnetic and paramagnetic NMR relaxation
Authors: Clore G. Marius 
Published: December 2010

AbstractSparsely populated states of macromolecules, characterized by short lifetimes and high free‐energies relative to the predominant ground state, often play a key role in many biological, chemical, and biophysical processes. In this review, we briefly summarize various new developments in NMR spectroscopy that permit these heretofore invisible, sparsely populated states to be detected, characterized, and in some instances visualized. Relaxation dispersion spectroscopy yields detailed kinetic information on processes involving species characterized by distinct chemical shifts with lifetimes in the ∼50 μs−10 ms range and populations as low as 0.5%. In the fast exchange regime (time scale less than ∼250−500 μs), the footprint of sparsely populated states can be observed on paramagnetic relaxation enhancement profiles measured on the resonances of the major species, thereby yielding structural information that is directly related to paramagnetic center‐nuclei distances from which it is possible, under suitable circumstances, to compute a structure or ensemble of structures for the minor species. Finally, differential transverse relaxation measurements can be used to detect lifetime broadening effects that directly reflect the unidirectional rates for the conversion of NMR‐visible into high‐molecular weight NMR‐invisible species. Examples of these various approaches are presented.
Strain mapping in layers and devices by electron holography
Authors: Hytch Martin , Cherkashin Nikolay , Reboh Shay , Houdellier Florent , Claverie Alain 
Published: December 2010

AbstractStrain can be measured at the micron scale by Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction, but at the nanoscale, the only viable tool is transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM techniques can be divided into two categories: diffraction based techniques such as convergent‐beam‐electron‐diffraction or nanobeam electron diffraction, and imaged based techniques such as high‐resolution electron microscopy or the new technique of dark‐field electron holography (HoloDark). The latter has recently been invented to measure strain to high precision (2 × 10−4), nanometer spatial resolution, and for micron fields of view. In this article, we present two latest and typical results from the HoloDark technique (which is applicable to all standard focused‐ion beam prepared crystalline samples): mapping of strain in contact etch stop layers induced strain structures, and in implanted layers, In such materials and structures, the Holodark technique, although still perfectible, has no competitor.
An exact method for analysis following a two‐stage phase II cancer clinical trial
Authors: Jovic Gordana , Whitehead John 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThis paper presents an exact method for the analysis of a phase II cancer clinical trial conducted using a two‐stage design in which early stopping may be allowed for either futility or efficacy. The method provides a point and interval estimate of the response probability associated with the treatment under investigation and a p‐value for testing whether this exceeds some standard null value. Two‐stage designs are often used in phase II trials in oncology for reasons of ethics and efficiency, but this design feature is seldom taken into account when the results are analyzed. After any two‐stage design or multi‐stage design, the method for analysis should take into account the previous interim analyses performed, otherwise the results will be biased. In this paper, an approximate approach based on a log‐odds ratio parameterisation will be compared with an exact method through the calculation of the precise coverage probabilities of each approach. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Confounder‐adjusted estimates of the risk difference using propensity score‐based weighting
Authors: Ukoumunne Obioha C. , Williamson Elizabeth , Forbes Andrew B. , Gulliford Martin C. , Carlin John B. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractConfounder‐adjusted estimates of the risk difference are often difficult to obtain by direct regression adjustment. Estimates can be obtained from a propensity score‐based method using inverse probability‐of‐exposure weights to balance groups defined by exposure status with respect to confounders. Simulation was used to evaluate the performance of this method. The simulation model incorporated a binary confounder and a normally distributed confounder into logistic models of exposure status, and disease status conditional on exposure status. Data were generated for combinations of values of several design parameters, including the odds ratio relating each of the confounders to exposure status, the odds ratio relating each of the confounders to disease status and the total sample size. For most design parameter combinations (474 of 486), the absolute bias in the estimated risk difference was less than 1 percentage point, and it was never greater than 3 percentage points. The confidence interval generally had close to nominal 95 per cent coverage, but was prone to poor coverage levels (as low as 78.5 per cent) when both the confounder‐to‐exposure and confounder‐to‐outcome odds ratios were 5, consistent with strong confounding. The simulation results showed that the conditions that are favourable for good performance of the weighting method are: reasonable overlap in the propensity score distributions of the exposed and non‐exposed groups and a large sample size. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inference on the rate ratio of recurrent events for the matched pairs design
Authors: Sumi Mariko , Tango Toshiro 
Published: December 2010

AbstractAs statistical methods for testing the null hypothesis of no difference between two groups for the matched pairs design, the paired‐ttest, Wilcoxon signed rank sum test and McNemar test are well known. However, there is no simple test for the comparison of incidence rate of recurrent events. This paper proposes a simple statistical method and a sample size formula for the comparison of counts of recurrent events over a specified period of observation under the matched pairs design, where the subject‐specific incidence of recurrent events is assumed to follow a time‐homogeneous Poisson process. As a special case, the proposed method is found to be virtually equivalent in form to Mantel–Haenszel method for a common rate ratio among the set of stratified tables based on person‐time data. The proposed methods are illustrated with the within‐arm comparison of data from a clinical trial of 59 epileptics with baseline count data. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Planning and analysis of cross‐over trials in infertility
Authors: Makubate Boikanyo , Senn Stephen 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe use of cross‐over trials in investigating treatments for infertility is discussed. A simple possible approach to analyzing such trials using the Mantel–Haenszel procedure is explained. A more flexible approach based on the normal–binomial mixture model of Ezzet and Whitehead is examined. It is shown how this may be implemented in various statistical packages by applying it to two real examples of trials in infertility. An approach that may be used to compare designs via simulation is explained briefly. It is concluded that provided that cross‐over trials in infertility are regarded as parallel group trials with extra information rather than as cross‐over trials with missing information, their use may be more promising than that has previously been concluded. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An application of Harrell's C‐index to PH frailty models
Authors: Van Oirbeek R. , Lesaffre E. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractFrailty models are encountered in many medical applications, yet little research has been devoted to develop measures that quantify the predictive ability of these models. In this paper, we elaborate on the concept of the concordance probability to clustered data, resulting in an ‘Overall Conditional C‐index’ or bfCO, C and an ‘Overall Marginal C‐index’ or CO, M. Both Overall C‐indices can be split up into a ‘Between Conditional’ or CB, C and a ‘Between Marginal C‐index’ or CB, M and into a ‘Within Conditional’ or CW, C and a ‘Within Marginal C‐index’ or CW, M. For PH frailty models of the power variance family, CW, C and CW, M are equivalent resulting in one ‘Within C‐index’ CW. We propose an application of Harrell's C‐index to estimate the proposed indices within a likelihood and a Bayesian context and the performances of their point estimates and confidence/credible intervals are compared in an extensive simulation study. This simulation study shows that the point estimates of CW and CB, M perform good within both a likelihood and Bayesian context but that the point estimates of CB, C show less bias for the Bayesian approach than for the likelihood approach. The 95 per cent confidence/credible intervals also possess good coverage properties, given that the point estimates perform good. The performance of the C‐indices is evaluated on a real data set. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Arrays of Silicon Micro/Nanostructures Formed in Suspended Configurations for Deterministic Assembly Using Flat and Roller‐Type Stamps
Authors: Yang Yumi , Hwang Youngkyu , Cho Hyun A , Song Jung‐Hoon , Park Seong‐Ju , Rogers John A. , Ko Heung Cho 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe ability to create and manipulate large arrays of inorganic semiconductor micro/nanostructures for integration on unconventional substrates provides new possibilities in device engineering. Here, simple methods are described for the preparation of structures of single crystalline silicon in suspended and tethered configurations that facilitate their deterministic assembly using transfer‐printing techniques. Diverse shapes (e.g., straight or curved edges), thicknesses (between 55 nm and 3 μm), and sizes (areas of 4000 μm2 to 117 mm2) of structures in varied layouts (regular or irregular arrays, with dense or sparse coverages) can be achieved, using either flat or cylindrical roller‐type stamps. To demonstrate the technique, printing with 100% yield onto curved, rigid supports of glass and ceramics and onto thin sheets of plastic is shown. The fabrication of a printed array of silicon p+–i–n+ junction photodiodes on plastic is representative of device‐printing capabilities.
Isolation and partial characterization of Mexican taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) starch
Authors: Agama‐Acevedo Edith , Garcia‐Suarez Francisco J. , Gutierrez‐Meraz Felipe , Sanchez‐Rivera Mirna M. , San Martin Eduardo , Bello‐Pérez Luis A. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractTaro starch was isolated from Mexican variety and its morphological, physicochemical, and molecular characteristics were evaluated. Yield starch (in dry basis) was 81%, and this starch had low AM content (2.5%). Taro starch granules showed a mixture of shapes with sizes between 1 and 5 µm. Taro starch presented an A‐type XRD pattern with a crystallinity level of 38.26%. Solubility and water retention capacity did not change in the temperature range of 50–70°C and thereafter they increased as temperature increased too. Taro starch showed high peak viscosity due to its high AP content. The peak temperature of gelatinization of taro starch was 80.6°C with an enthalpy value of 10.6 J/g, with low retrogradation rate due to its low AM content. Weight‐average molar mass (Mw) and gyration radius (Rz) of taro starch were 1.21 ± 0.8 × 109 g/mol and 424 ± 70 nm, respectively. Taro tuber could be an alternative for starch isolation with functional and physicochemical characteristics for food and non‐food applications.
Systematic analysis of the effect of temperature profiles on reactions in tubular reactors
Authors: Wu J. , Platzer B. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractA more or less pronounced temperature distribution existing in reactors has a strong influence on the conversion at the reactor outlet. Generally, isothermal or other strongly simplified models seem to fail. However, with their low expense of calculation they are good approaches for a rough reactor design and play an important role in books of chemical reaction engineering. Ideal isothermal models dominate the chapters of reactor design in these books. Thus, a systematic study of the influence of the temperature profile is done here. The influence of plug and laminar flow, heat transfer, reaction heat, operation states, and the temperature dependence of physical parameters is discussed. Some non‐isothermal tubular reactor models are developed for irreversible, homogeneous reactions. The models have an increasing complexity. This article focuses at first on the study of some special cases having analytical solutions. Here some new solutions are presented. Half‐analytical and numerical methods are used for the analysis, too. Beside the Arrhenius' law, a linear temperature profile is also used to calculate the reaction rate constant for small temperature differences. The analytical solutions of the concentration profiles in the reactor and the mean concentration at the outlet position are obtained for zeroth, first, and second order reactions by solving the species conservation equation. For non‐analytical integration terms (e.g. for variable viscosity problems) the relations between the mean concentration of the reactant bar cA/ cAoand the dimensionless parameter z/(LDaw) are obtained with a numerical method. In order to find a connection between these models, an effective reaction coefficient is introduced. The results are discussed in detail.
Heparin cofactor II‐thrombin complex and dermatan sulphate:chondroitin sulphate ratio are biomarkers of short‐ and long‐term treatment effects in mucopolysaccharide diseases
Authors: Langford‐Smith Kia Jane , Mercer Jean , Petty June , Tylee Karen , Church Heather , Roberts Jane , Moss Gill , Jones Simon , Wynn Rob , Wraith J. Ed , Bigger Brian W. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractEarly detection of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) is an important factor in treatment success; therefore, good disease biomarkers are vital. We evaluate heparin cofactor II‐thrombin complex (HCII‐T) as a biomarker in serum and dried blood spots (DBS) of MPS patients. Serum HCII‐T and urine dermatan sulphate:chondroitin sulphate (DS:CS) ratio are also compared longitudinally against clinical outcomes in MPSI, II and VI patients following treatment. Samples were collected from MPS patients at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. DS:CS ratio was obtained by measuring the area density of spots from 2D electrophoresis of urinary glycosaminoglycans. Serum and DBS HCII‐T was measured by sandwich ELISA. Serum HCII‐T is elevated approximately 25‐fold in MPS diseases that store DS, clearly distinguishing untreated MPSI, II and VI patients from unaffected age‐matched controls. Serum HCII‐T is also elevated in MPSIII, which leads to storage of heparan sulphate, with an increase of approximately 4‐fold over unaffected age‐matched controls. Urine DS:CS ratio and serum HCII‐T decrease in response to treatment of MPSI, II and VI patients. HCII‐T appears to respond rapidly to perturbations in treatment, whilst DS:CS ratio responds more slowly. HCII‐T is a suitable biomarker for MPSI, II and VI, and it may also be informative for MPS diseases storing HS alone, such as MPSIII, although the elevation observed is smaller. In treated MPS patients, HCII‐T and DS:CS ratio appear to measure short‐term and long‐term treatment outcomes, respectively. The potential value of HCII‐T measurement in DBS for newborn screening of MPS diseases warrants further investigation.
After the fall: The global financial crisis as a test of corporate social responsibility theories
Authors: Kemper Alison , Martin Roger L. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractIn this paper, we look at the development of the set of core corporate social responsibility (CSR) theories in response to Friedman's ascendancy. We assess the impact of the current economic collapse on theories built on this dialectical framework. Finally, we suggest where we might find new theoretical underpinnings for the next generation of CSR that can meet the challenges not only of the current financial crisis, but the looming ecological and geopolitical crises.
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NEW SELF
Authors: Elchardus Mark , De Keere Kobe 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT
This paper maps the unequal development of detraditionalization in rich societies. It views detraditionalization as a shift in the mode of social control from reliance on scarcity, belief and ideology, self evident tradition and obedience, to self-control. Self-control is based upon belief in an autonomously choosing subject (individualism) and a set of institutional conditions able to guide the choices of the individuals (such as education, mass media, the world of goods, and therapy). This paper investigates the relationship between detraditionalization and the rise of such an individualist conception of the self. It shows that such a development cannot be understood in terms of individual detraditionalization, i.e., as a shift in personal attitudes, but is related to specific institutional developments, in casu the development of the psi-disciplines and the therapeutization of society. The persistent influence of Protestant tradition on the individualist conception of the self in strongly secularized societies is explained by the same institutional development.
Measured density of copper atoms in the ground and metastable states in argon magnetron discharge correlated with the deposition rate
Authors: Naghshara H , Sobhanian S , Khorram S , Sadeghi N 
Published: December 2010

In a dc-magnetron discharge with argon feed gas, densities of copper atoms in the ground state Cu(2S1/2) and metastable state Cu*(2D5/2) were measured by the resonance absorption technique, using a commercial hollow cathode lamp as light source. The operating conditions were 0.3–14 µbar argon pressure and 10–200 W magnetron discharge power. The deposition rate of copper in a substrate positioned at 18 cm from the target was also measured with a quartz microbalance. The gas temperature, in the range 300–380 K, was deduced from the emission spectral profile of N2(C
3Πu − B
3Πg) 0–0 band at 337 nm when trace of nitrogen was added to the argon feed gas. The isotope-shifts and hyperfine structures of electronic states of Cu have been taken into account to deduce the emission and absorption line profiles, and hence for the determination of atoms' densities from the measured absorption rates. To prevent error in the evaluation of Cu density, attributed to the line profile distortion by auto-absorption inside the lamp, the lamp current was limited to 5 mA. Density of Cu(2S1/2) atoms and deposition rate both increased with the enhanced magnetron discharge power. But at fixed power, the copper density augmented with argon pressure whereas the deposition rate followed the opposite trend. Whatever the gas pressure, the density of Cu*(2D5/2) metastable atoms remained below the detection limit of 1 × 1010 cm−3 for magnetron discharge powers below 50 W and hence increased much more rapidly than the density of Cu(2S1/2) atoms, over passing this later at some discharge power, whose value decreases with increasing argon pressure. This behaviour is believed to result from the enhancement of plasma density with increasing discharge power and argon pressure, which would increase the excitation rate of copper into metastable states. At fixed pressure, the deposition rate followed the same trend as the total density of copper atoms in the ground and metastable states. Two important conclusions of this work are (i) copper atoms sputtered from the target under ion bombardment are almost all in the ground state Cu(2S1/2) and hence in the plasma volume they can be excited into the metastable states; (ii) all atoms in the long-lived ground and metastable states contribute to the deposition of copper layer on the substrate.