bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sterilization Method for Medical Container Using Microwave‐Excited Volume‐Wave Plasma
Authors: Nagatsu Masaaki , Zhao Ying , Motrescu Iuliana , Mizutani Ryota , Fujioka Yuya , Ogino Akihisa 
Published: January 2012

AbstractWe demonstrate a novel sterilization technique that sterilizes medical instruments stored in medical containers by generating a microwave‐excited volume‐wave plasma inside medical containers using a planar microwave launcher. We confirmed that a plasma was generated inside the medical container by the microwaves transmitted through the heat‐resistant plastic lid of the container. A Langmuir probe was used to study the characteristics of the microwave‐excited volume‐wave plasma generated inside the container. The inactivation characteristics of Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores set inside the medical container were also investigated. 2.3 × 106 spores were inactivated after irradiation for 40 min or longer by a plasma generated in a simulated air mixture. This inactivation time could be reduced to 30 min by adding water vapor to the air‐simulated plasma.magnified image
Frequency and determinants of disagreement and error in gleason scores: A population‐based study of prostate cancer
Authors: Goodman Michael , Ward Kevin C. , Osunkoya Adeboye O. , Datta Milton W. , Luthringer Daniel , Young Andrew N. , Marks Katerina , Cohen Vaunita , Kennedy Jan C. , Haber Michael J. , Amin Mahul B. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBACKGROUNDTo examine factors that affect accuracy and reliability of prostate cancer grade we compared Gleason scores documented in pathology reports and those assigned by urologic pathologists in a population‐based study.METHODSA stratified random sample of 318 prostate cancer cases was selected to ensure representation of whites and African‐Americans and to include facilities of various types. The slides borrowed from reporting facilities were scanned and the resulting digital images were re‐reviewed by two urologic pathologists. If the two urologic pathologists disagreed, a third urologic pathologist was asked to help arrive at a final “gold standard” result. The agreements between reviewers and between the pathology reports and the “gold standard” were examined by calculating kappa statistics. The determinants of discordance in Gleason scores were evaluated using multivariate models with results expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).RESULTSThe kappa values (95% CI) reflecting agreement between the pathology reports and the “gold standard,” were 0.61 (95% CI: 0.54, 0.68) for biopsies, and 0.37 (0.23, 0.51) for prostatectomies. Sixty three percent of discordant biopsies and 72% of discordant prostatectomies showed only minimal differences. Using freestanding laboratories as reference, the likelihood of discordance between pathology reports and expert‐assigned biopsy Gleason scores was particularly elevated for small community hospitals (OR = 2.98; 95% CI: 1.73, 5.14).CONCLUSIONSThe level of agreement between pathology reports and expert review depends on the type of diagnosing facility, but may also depend on the level of expertise and specialization of individual pathologists. Prostate 72:1389–1398, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of the combination of 1,3‐dichloropropene and dazomet as an efficient alternative to methyl bromide for cucumber production in China
Authors: Mao Lian‐Gang , Wang Qiu‐Xia , Yan Dong‐Dong , Xie Hong‐Wei , Li Yuan , Guo Mei‐Xia , Cao Ao‐Cheng 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: The combination of 1,3‐dichloropropene (1,3‐D) and dazomet (DZ) offers a potential alternative to methyl bromide (MB) for soil disinfection. MB is scheduled to be withdrawn from routine use by 2015 in developing countries. Combination treatments of 1,3‐D + DZ were evaluated in a laboratory study and in two commercial cucumber fields.RESULTS: Laboratory studies found that nearly all of the tested combinations of 1,3‐D and DZ displayed positive synergistic activity on root‐knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), two major soilborne fungi (Fusarium spp. and Phytophthora spp.) and the seeds of two major weed species (Digitaria sanguinalis and Abutilon theophrasti). Field trials revealed that the combination of 1,3‐D and DZ (at 10 + 25 g m−2) successfully suppressed Meloidogyne spp. root galling, sharply reduced Fusarium spp. and Phytophthora spp. and maintained high cucumber yields. The combination treatment of 1,3‐D + DZ was more effective than 1,3‐D or DZ alone and provided results similar to methyl bromide with respect to pest control, plant mortality, plant height, yield and income. All of the treatments were significantly better than the non‐treated control.CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the tested combination of 1,3‐D and DZ offers an efficient alternative to methyl bromide for cucumber production. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Mutations in the sodium channel associated with pyrethroid resistance in the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum
Authors: Karatolos Nikos , Gorman Kevin , Williamson Martin S , Denholm Ian 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood is an important pest of protected crops in temperate regions of the world. Resistance to pyrethroid insecticides is long established in this species, but the molecular basis of the mechanism(s) responsible has not previously been disclosed.RESULTS: Mortality rates of three European strains of T. vaporariorum to the pyrethroid bifenthrin were calculated, and each possessed significant resistance (up to 662‐fold) when compared with a susceptible reference strain. Direct sequencing revealed three amino acid substitutions in the para‐type voltage‐gated sodium channel (the pyrethroid and DDT target site) of bifenthrin‐resistant T. vaporariorum at positions previously implicated with pyrethroid or DDT resistance (M918L, L925I and T929I) in other related species.CONCLUSION: This study indicates that resistance to bifenthrin in T. vaporariorum is associated with target‐site insensitivity, and that the specific mutations in the sodium channel causing resistance may differ between localities. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
CO adsorption on metal‐oxide surfaces doped with transition‐metal adatoms
Authors: Blomqvist Janne , Lehman Lauri , Salo Petri 
Published: January 2012

AbstractUsing first principles density functional theory calculations, we have studied the adsorption of carbon monoxide (CO) on clean, Ag and Pd doped MgO(001), TiO2(110), and α‐Al2O3(0001) surfaces. Our results show that adsorption of CO on the clean surfaces is generally weak. Ag doping improves the adsorption only weakly, except on the TiO2 surface. The presence of Pd, however, significantly improves adsorption on all the surfaces studied. On the doped surfaces, the best adsorption sites are always the sites on top of the transition metal adatom, and the interaction range is 3–4 Å around an isolated adatom.
Origin of Bi3+‐related luminescence centres in Lu3Al5O12:Bi and Y3Al5O12:Bi single crystalline films and the structure of their relaxed excited states
Authors: Babin V. , Gorbenko V. , Krasnikov A. , Makhov A. , Mihokova E. , Nikl M. , Zazubovich S. , Zorenko Yu. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractSingle crystalline films (SCFs) of Y3Al5O12:Bi and Lu3Al5O12:Bi with different Bi3+ contents are studied at 1.7–300 K by the time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy methods under excitation in the 2.4–20 eV energy range. The ultraviolet (UV) emission of these SCFs is shown to arise from the radiative decay of the metastable and radiative minima of the triplet relaxed excited state (RES) of a single Bi3+ centre, which are related to the 3P0 and 3P1 levels of a free Bi3+ ion, respectively. At T < 80 K, the radiative decay of the metastable minima is only observed resulting in the appearance of the low‐energy component of the triplet emission. At T > 100 K, both the high‐energy shift of the maximum and the shortening of the decay time of the UV emission with increasing temperature are caused by thermally stimulated non‐radiative transitions between the metastable and radiative minima of the triplet RES. Their excitation bands located around 4.6, 5.2 and 5.95 eV are assigned to the 1S0 → 3P1, 1S0 → 3P2 and 1S0 → 1P1 transitions, respectively, in free Bi3+ ions. The luminescence of dimer Bi3+–Bi3+ centres is not detected in the SCFs studied. The lower‐energy (≈2.6 eV) visible (VIS) emission of these SCFs is due to an exciton, localized near a single Bi3+ ion, while the higher‐energy (2.75 eV) VIS emission, an exciton, localized near a dimer Bi3+–Bi3+ centre. The phenomenological models are proposed to describe the excited‐state dynamics of all the luminescence centres studied. Application of the two‐ or three‐excited‐level models on the temperature evolution of the luminescence decay times has allowed determination of characteristic parameters of the corresponding RES: the energy separations between the excited states and the rates of the radiative and non‐radiative transitions from these states.
Auger Recombination Suppression in Nanocrystals with Asymmetric Electron–Hole Confinement
Authors: Climente Juan I. , Movilla Jose L. , Planelles Josep 
Published: January 2012

AbstractType II and quasi‐type II nanocrystals with thick shells exhibit reduced blinking. However, after a number of monolayers, the influence of the shell thickness is found to vanish. Using a two‐band Kane Hamiltonian, it is shown that this behavior is a consequence of interband coupling and asymmetric confinement of electrons and holes. Interface alloying provides an additional, order‐of‐magnitude contribution to the Auger suppression, in agreement with recent experiments. The existence is predicted of critical shell thicknesses that strongly quench Auger processes for any core size.
Fetal thoracoamniotic shunting for large macrocystic congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations of the lung
Authors: Schrey S. , Kelly E. N. , Langer J. C. , Davies G. A. , Windrim R. , Seaward P. G. R. , Ryan G. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate fetal thoracoamniotic shunting for isolated large macrocystic congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAM) of the lung.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of 11 fetuses with macrocystic CCAM who underwent thoracoamniotic shunting. This procedure was offered if fetal hydrops or signs of evolving hydrops (such as ascites or polyhydramnios) were present, or when there were very large lesions or lesions rapidly increasing in size. If there were multiple large cysts within the lesion, a single shunt was used, aiming to traverse several cysts.ResultsShunts were inserted at a mean gestational age of 24.6 (range, 17–32) weeks. Marked mediastinal shift was present in all cases. Six fetuses were hydropic and, of the remaining five, one had severe polyhydramnios, three had lesions that were rapidly increasing in size and one had a very large lesion at initial presentation. In total, four cases had polyhydramnios. Shunting one cyst always decompressed the entire lesion and hydrops and/or polyhydramnios resolved in all surviving fetuses. One hydropic fetus that underwent the procedure at 17 weeks died 1 day later. The shunt dislodged in one case and the lesion did not re‐expand. No mother went into labor or had ruptured membranes before 35.6 weeks. Mean gestational age at delivery was 38.2 weeks (n = 10). All pregnancies were delivered vaginally, with no maternal complications. All newborns had uneventful lobectomies, and pathology confirmed CCAM in all cases.ConclusionFetal thoracoamniotic shunting for large macrocystic CCAM is associated with favorable outcome in most cases, and should be considered in severe cases even before hydrops develops. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How to Manage Thyroid Nodules With Two Consecutive Non‐Diagnostic Results on Ultrasonography‐Guided Fine‐Needle Aspiration
Authors: Moon Hee Jung , Kwak Jin Young , Choi Yoon Seong , Kim Eun‐Kyung 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the factors for considering surgery on thyroid nodules that had non‐diagnostic results on two consecutive cytology examinations.MethodsA total of 104 thyroid nodules with two consecutive non‐diagnostic cytology examinations in 104 patients were investigated. Nodules with one or more suspicious ultrasonography (US) features of marked hypoechogenicity, a not well defined margin, microcalcifications, or a taller‐than‐wide shape were assessed as sonographically suspicious. Those without any suspicious features were assessed as sonographically benign. The clinicopathologic characteristics of patients and US features of the nodules were compared according to malignancy and benignity. The odds ratio for predicting malignancy was calculated.ResultsAltogether, 12 nodules were malignant, and 92 were benign. Age, sex, nodule size, and solidness were not associated with malignancy (P = 0.73, 0.92, 0.48, and 0.73, respectively). The malignancy rate of sonographically suspicious nodules was 25.7%, higher than the 4.3% of sonographically benign nodules (P = 0.002). The odds ratio of sonographically suspicious nodules for predicting malignancy was 16.01 (95% confidence interval 2.36–108.54, P = 0.005).ConclusionsBased on sonographic features, surgery can be performed selectively on nodules with two consecutive non‐diagnostic cytology results.
Correlation Between the Pretherapeutic Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and the Pathologic Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Advanced Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Sato Hiroshi , Tsubosa Yasuhiro , Kawano Tatsuyuki 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackgroundAn elevation in the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to be associated with a poorer prognosis in patients with various tumors. The aim of this retrospective study was to clarify the correlation of the pretherapeutic NLR with the prognostic value of the pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with advanced esophageal cancer.MethodsThis study was a retrospective review of 83 patients undergoing NAC for advanced esophageal cancer following esophagectomy. The NLR was measured before NAC, and the pathologic responses to NAC were evaluated.ResultsA comparison was performed for those whose pathology responded (responders) (G3/G2/G1b) and nonresponders (G1a/G0). In a univariate analysis, the cStage (P = 0.005), cN (P = 0.0001), and NLR (P = 0.005) were statistically significant parameters. A multivariate analysis revealed that the factors independently associated with pathologic responses were the pretreatment NLR (<2.2/≥2.2) (P = 0.043) and lymph nodes metastasis (P = 0.002). The pretreatment NLR (<2.2/≥2.2) was found to be a statistically significant useful predictive marker for a pathologic response (P = 0.001). The pathologic response rates were 56% in the patients with an NLR <2.2 and 21% in patients with an NLR of ≥2.2.ConclusionsOur study is the first to demonstrate that the pretherapeutic NLR can be used as a predictor for chemosensitivity of thoracic esophageal cancer. Preoperative evaluation based on the clinical N stage and NLR may be easily used in routine clinical practice.
Trapped modes and Fano resonances in two-dimensional acoustical duct–cavity systems
Authors: Hein Stefan , Koch Werner , Nannen Lothar 
Published: January 2012

AbstractRevisiting the classical acoustics problem of rectangular side-branch cavities in a two-dimensional duct of infinite length, we use the finite-element method to numerically compute the acoustic resonances as well as the sound transmission and reflection for an incoming fundamental duct mode. To satisfy the requirement of outgoing waves in the far field, we use two different forms of absorbing boundary conditions, namely the complex scaling method and the Hardy space method. In general, the resonances are damped due to radiation losses, but there also exist various types of localized trapped modes with nominally zero radiation loss. The most common type of trapped mode is antisymmetric about the duct axis and becomes quasi-trapped with very low damping if the symmetry about the duct axis is broken. In this case a Fano resonance results, with resonance and antiresonance features and drastic changes in the sound transmission and reflection coefficients. Two other types of trapped modes, termed embedded trapped modes, result from the interaction of neighbouring modes or Fabry–Pérot interference in multi-cavity systems. These embedded trapped modes occur only for very particular geometry parameters and frequencies and become highly localized quasi-trapped modes as soon as the geometry is perturbed. We show that all three types of trapped modes are possible in duct–cavity systems and that embedded trapped modes continue to exist when a cavity is moved off centre. If several cavities interact, the single-cavity trapped mode splits into several trapped supermodes, which might be useful for the design of low-frequency acoustic filters.
Experiments on the periodic oscillation of free containers driven by liquid sloshing
Authors: Herczyński Andrzej , Weidman Patrick D. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractExperiments on the time-periodic liquid sloshing-induced sideways motion of containers are presented. The measurements are compared with finite-depth potential theory developed from standard normal mode representations for rectangular boxes, upright cylinders, wedges and cones of$9{0}^{\ensuremath{\circ} } $apex angles, and cylindrical annuli. It is assumed that the rectilinear horizontal motion of the containers is frictionless. The study focuses on measurements of the horizontal oscillations of these containers arising solely from the liquid waves excited within. While the wedge and cone exhibit only one mode of oscillation, the boxes, cylinders and annuli have an infinite number of modes. For the boxes, cylinders and one of the annuli, we have been able to excite motion and record data for both the first and second modes of oscillation. Frequencies$\omega $were acquired as the average of three experimental determinations for every filling of mass$m$in the dry containers of mass${m}_{0} $. Measurements of the dimensionless frequencies$\omega / {\omega }_{R} $over a range of dimensionless liquid masses$M= m/ {m}_{0} $are found to be in essential agreement with theoretical predictions. The frequencies${\omega }_{R} $used for normalization arise naturally in the mathematical analysis, different for each geometry considered. Free surface waveforms for a box, a cylinder, the wedge and the cone are compared at a fixed value of$M$.
Numerical simulation of flow past a heated/cooled sphere
Authors: Kurose Ryoichi , Anami Mamiko , Fujita Akitoshi , Komori Satoru 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe characteristics of flow past a heated/cooled sphere are investigated for particle Reynolds numbers $50\leq {\mathit{Re}}_{p} \leq 500$ in conditions with and without buoyancy by means of three-dimensional numerical simulation in which temperature dependence of fluid properties such as density and viscosity is exactly taken into account. The results show that in the absence of buoyancy, drag coefficients of the heated and cooled spheres are larger and smaller than those of the adiabatic case, respectively, and their Nusselt numbers are smaller and larger than the values estimated by a widely used empirical expression for predicting Nusselt numbers, respectively. In addition, the temperature difference between the sphere and ambient fluid strongly affects the flow separation points, size of vortex ring behind the sphere and Strouhal number for vortex shedding. These changes are attributed to the temperature dependence of fluid properties in the vicinity of the sphere. Even in the presence of buoyancy, the temperature dependence of fluid properties strongly affects the drag coefficient and Nusselt number and therefore the Boussinesq approximation becomes inapplicable as the temperature difference increases, regardless of the magnitude of the Richardson number.
Dietary inclusion of salmon, herring and pompano as oily fish reduces CVD risk markers in dyslipidaemic middle-aged and elderly Chinese women
Authors: Zhang Jian , Wang Chunrong , Li Lixiang , Man Qingqing , Meng Liping , Song Pengkun , Frøyland Livar , Du Zhen-Yu 
Published: January 2012

Dietary intervention studies to assess the cardioprotective effects of oily fish are scarce in China. The present study aimed to examine the effects of the oily fish, Norwegian salmon, herring and local farmed pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) on CVD risk markers when included in the Chinese diet. In this 8-week, parallel-arm, randomised intervention study, 126 Chinese women with hypertriacylglycerolaemia, aged 35–70 years, were assigned to four groups to consume an experimental lunch containing 80 g fillets of either one of three oily fish or a mix of commonly eaten meats (pork/chicken/beef/lean fish) for 5 d/week. The results showed that inclusion of the three oily fish significantly increased the intake ofn-3 long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) while decreasing the dietaryn-6:n-3 PUFA ratio. Compared to the control group, significant increases of DHA, EPA+DHA and totaln-3 PUFA in plasma choline phosphoglyceride were observed in the three oily fish groups. Plasma TAG levels were significantly reduced only in the salmon and herring groups. When compared to the baseline level, the three oily fish diets significantly decreased serum concentrations of TAG, apoB, apoCII and apoCIII, but only the salmon and herring diets significantly lowered TNF-α and raised adiponectin levels in serum. The salmon diet additionally decreased the serum concentration of IL-6. To conclude, dietary inclusion of salmon, herring and pompano as oily fish can effectively increase serumn-3 LC-PUFA content and are associated with favourable biochemical changes in dyslipidaemic middle-aged and elderly Chinese women, and these beneficial effects are mainly associated withn-3 LC-PUFA contents.
Asparagus officinalis extract controls blood glucose by improving insulin secretion and β-cell function in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats
Authors: Hafizur Rahman Md. , Kabir Nurul , Chishti Sidra 
Published: January 2012

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic mechanism of Asparagus officinalis, a dietary agent used for the management of diabetes. Streptozotocin (90 mg/kg) was injected in 2-d-old Wistar rat pups to induce non-obese type 2 diabetes. After confirmation of diabetes on the 13th week, diabetic rats were treated with a methanolic extract of A. officinalis seeds (250 and 500 mg/kg per d) or glibenclamide for 28 d. After the treatment, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin and total antioxidant status were measured. The pancreas was examined by haematoxylin–eosin staining and immunostained β- and α-cells were observed using a fluorescence microscope. Treatment of the diabetic rats with the A. officinalis extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg suppressed the elevated blood glucose in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The 500 mg/kg, but not 250 mg/kg, dose significantly improved serum insulin levels in the diabetic rats. The insulin:glucose ratio was significantly increased at both doses in the A. officinalis-treated rats. Both qualitative and quantitative improvements in β-cell function were found in the islets of the A. officinalis-treated rats. The extract showed potent antioxidant activity in an in vitro assay and also improved the total antioxidant status in vivo. In most cases, the efficacy of A. officinalis (500 mg/kg) was very similar to a standard anti-diabetic drug, glibenclamide. Thus, the present study suggests that A. officinalis extract exerts anti-diabetic effects by improving insulin secretion and β-cell function, as well as the antioxidant status.