bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fertigation of humic substances improves yield and quality of broccoli and nutrient retention in a sandy soil
Authors: Selim El‐Metwally , Ali Mosa Ahmed 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThere is lack of information available concerning the effect of humic substances (HS) applied via fertigation on plant growth in sandy soils. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out at El‐Saff district (20 km southwest of Cairo), Egypt, to investigate the role of HS fertigation on water retention of a sandy soil, yield and quality of broccoli (Broccoli oleracea L.) as well as on soil nutrient concentration retained after harvest. The experiment consisted of six fertigation treatments (50%, 75%, and 100% of the recommended NPK‐fertilizer rate for broccoli combined with and without HS application at 120 L ha–1) in a complete randomized block design with three replicates. Humic substances affected spatial water distribution and improved water retention in the root zone. Furthermore, application of HS increased total marketable yield and head diameter of broccoli as well as quality parameters (i.e., total soluble solids, protein, and vitamin C). Higher nutrient concentrations were found in the broccoli heads and concentrations of plant‐available nutrients in soil after harvesting were also higher, indicating an improvement in soil fertility. In conclusion, HS fertigation can be judged as an interesting option to improve soil water and nutrient status leading to better plant growth.
Effects of biochar compared to organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil quality and plant growth in a greenhouse experiment
Authors: Schulz Hardy , Glaser Bruno 
Published: March 2012

AbstractOur contemporary society is struggling with soil degradation due to overuse and climate change. Pre‐Columbian people left behind sustainably fertile soils rich in organic matter and nutrients well known as terra preta (de Indio) by adding charred residues (biochar) together with organic and inorganic wastes such as excrements and household garbage being a model for sustainable agriculture today. This is the reason why new studies on biochar effects on ecosystem services rapidly emerge. Beneficial effects of biochar amendment on plant growth, soil nutrient content, and C storage were repeatedly observed although a number of negative effects were reported, too. In addition, there is no consensus on benefits of biochar when combined with fertilizers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to test whether biochar effects on soil quality and plant growth could be improved by addition of mineral and organic fertilizers. For this purpose, two growth periods of oat (Avena sativa L.) were studied under tropical conditions (26°C and 2600 mm annual rainfall) on an infertile sandy soil in the greenhouse in fivefold replication. Treatments comprised control (only water), mineral fertilizer (111.5 kg N ha–1, 111.5 kg P ha–1, and 82.9 kg K ha–1), compost (5% by weight), biochar (5% by weight), and combinations of biochar (5% by weight) plus mineral fertilizer (111.5 kg N ha–1, 111.5 kg P ha–1, and 82.9 kg K ha–1), and biochar (2.5% by weight) plus compost (2.5% by weight). Pure compost application showed highest yield during the two growth periods, followed by the biochar + compost mixture. biochar addition to mineral fertilizer significantly increased plant growth compared to mineral fertilizer alone. During the second growth period, plant yields were significantly smaller compared to the first growth period. biochar and compost additions significantly increased total organic C content during the two growth periods. Cation‐exchange capacity (CEC) could not be increased upon biochar addition while base saturation (BS) was significantly increased due to ash addition with biochar. On the other hand, compost addition significantly increased CEC. Biochar addition significantly increased soil pH but pH value was generally lower during the second growth period probably due to leaching of base cations. Biochar addition did not reduce ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate leaching during the experiment but it reduced nitrification. The overall plant growth and soil fertility decreased in the order compost > biochar + compost > mineral fertilizer + biochar > mineral fertilizer > control. Further experiments should optimize biochar–organic fertilizer systems.
Land‐use change in subalpine grassland soils: Effect on particulate organic carbon fractions and aggregation
Authors: Meyer Stefanie , Leifeld Jens , Bahn Michael , Fuhrer Jürg 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAbandonment of mountain grassland often changes vegetation composition and litter quantity and quality, but related effects on labile soil organic matter (SOM) are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of grassland management and abandonment on soil carbon distribution in light (< 1.6 g cm–3) particulate organic matter (POM) and aggregation along a gradient of management intensity including hay meadows, pastures, and abandoned grasslands. The reduction of management intensity is an interregional phenomenon throughout the European Alps. We therefore selected sites from two typical climate regions, namely at Stubai Valley, Austria (MAT: 3°C, MAP: 1097 mm) and Matsch Valley, Italy (MAT: 6.6°C, MAP: 527 mm), to evaluate effects of land‐use change in relation to climate. Free water‐floatable and free POM (wPOM, fPOM), and an occluded POM fraction (oPOM), were isolated from three water‐stable aggregate size classes (2–6.3 mm, 0.25–2 mm, < 0.25 mm) using density fractionation. Aggregate mean weight diameter slightly decreased with decreasing management intensity. In contrast to absolute POM‐C, fPOM‐C increased in aggregates at both sites with abandonment. Because the oPOM‐C was less affected by abandonment, the ratio of oPOM‐C : fPOM‐C shifted from > 1 to < 1 from meadow to abandoned grassland in aggregates at both sites and thus independent of climate. This suggests that in differently managed mountain grasslands free and occluded POM are functionally different SOM fractions. In bulk soil, the oPOM‐C : fPOM‐C ratio is better suited as an indicator for the response of SOM to management reduction in subalpine grasslands than the total soil C, absolute or relative POM‐C content.
Novel molecular screening approaches in colorectal cancer
Authors: Miller Seth , Steele Scott 
Published: March 2012

AbstractTraditional methods for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening have reduced rates of malignancy and death; however, low compliance and morbidities associated with invasive techniques have encouraged efforts for establishing equally effective, less invasive novel screening approaches. We review the current state of novel screening approaches in CRC to include CT colonography, fecal DNA, DNA methylation, micro‐RNA, and protein and molecular markers. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 105:459–467. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical decision support systems: Potential with pitfalls
Authors: Eberhardt John , Bilchik Anton , Stojadinovic Alexander 
Published: March 2012

AbstractClinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), an important part of clinical practice, are comprised of a: knowledge base; program for integrating patient‐specific information with the knowledge‐base; and, user‐interface to allow clinicians to interact with the system and get the right information needed to make the right decision for the right patient at the right time. We review the common approaches to CDSS, their strengths and weaknesses and how they are evaluated and developed for clinical use. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 105:502–510. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Irregular osteotomy in limb salvage for juxta‐articular osteosarcoma under computer‐assisted navigation
Authors: Li Jing , Wang Zhen , Guo Zheng , Chen Guo‐jing , Yang Ming , Pei Guo‐Xian 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackgroundJoint‐preserving limb salvage surgery has been expected to have good functional outcomes. However, it is still a unsolved problem to perform a joint preserving resection for patients with juxta‐articular osteosarcoma invading epiphyseal line. We determined whether irregular osteotomy under image‐guided navigation make joint‐saving resection possible for juxta‐articular osteosarcoma while adhering oncological principles.MethodsWe performed joint‐preserving limb salvage surgeries on six patients with juxta‐articular osteosarcoma of the long bone. Three lesions located in humerus, two in tibia and one in femur. Two tumors extend to and four beyond the epiphyseal line. CT and MRI data fusion images were applied for intraoperative navigation. Planned irregular osteotomy under image‐guided navigation was employed for obtaining clear surgical margin while maximizing host tissue preservation. All tumors were en bloc removed and intercalary defect were reconstructed by allograft in one and combination of allograft with vascularized fibula graft in five patients. All specimens were examined for resection margin. Patients were followed up for average of 17.5 months for evaluating of functional and oncology outcomes.ResultEntire joint were preserved in three patients and part of joint were saved in another three patients. Clear surgical margin was obtained in all specimens with a minimum of 6‐mm distance between tumor and osteotomy line. No patient experienced a local recurrence. One patient developed lung metastasis and had no evidence of disease at the most recent follow‐up. All allografts but one healed during the study period. The MSTS average score was 88.8% at final follow‐up.ConclusionsWith careful patient selection, the irregular osteotomy under navigation guidance was proved to be an effective and safe technique for precise tumor resection in joint preserving limb salvage procedures for treating patients with juxta‐articular osteosarcomas. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 106:411–416. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Solvolysis of 2‐chloro‐2(3,4‐disubstituted) phenylpropanes: Validity of Hammett–Brown σ+ constants in assessing additive effects of substituents
Authors: Taha Ahmed A. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe objective of this study is to test the suitability of the extended Hammett–Brown equation, log (kXX/kHH) = ρ+Σσ+, in depicting satisfactorily additive effects of electronegative atom‐bearing substituents, which are known to possess diverse and multicomponent influences on the side chain reactions of polysubstituted benzenes. The equation has been used to correlate, for the first time, the additive effect of substituents in the specific rates of solvolysis of 2‐chloro‐2‐phenylpropanes (3b–3f) having 3‐F,4‐Me, 3‐Br,4‐Me, 3‐I,4‐Me, 3‐Me,4‐Me, or 3‐MeO,4‐Me substituents. The rates were determined titrimetrically at 288, 298, and 308 K using 90% aqueous acetone as solvent. Measured additive effects of these substituents on the solvolysis rate and activation parameters of the parent cumyl chloride (2‐chloro‐2‐phenylpropane) are found to be well correlated using the equation given above. Plots of log (kXX/kHH) of 3b–3f together with mainly di‐, but also tri‐ and mono‐substituted cumyl chlorides from previous studies against Σσ+ give a linear correlation coefficient of 0.990 as a measure of the validity of the equation to depict such systems. The halogen substituents' extent of conformity with additivity reflected in their relative (kobsd/kcalcd) rate ratios is found to correlate with the steric size of substituents. Plots of rate ratios against Taft's steric factor of each halogen give a linear correlation coefficient of 0.994 for the 3‐halo substituents. The 3,4‐dimethyl substituents' relative rate ratio of 1.03 shows excellent additivity, whereas the 3‐methoxy‐4‐methyl ratio of 1.43 shows the methoxy group to be far less deactivating than predicted. Similar trends were found for the free energy of activation (ΔG‡ – ΔG0‡) differences, which correlated linearly with a coefficient of 0.983 with Taft's steric factor of halogen atoms. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 514–523, 2012
Bevacizumab in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia‐associated epistaxis: Effectiveness of an injection protocol based on the vascular anatomy of the nose
Authors: Dheyauldeen Sinan , Østertun Geirdal Amy , Osnes Terje , Vartdal Liv Sofie , Dollner Ralph 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjective/Hypothesis:To evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized intranasal bevacizumab injection in treating hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT)‐associated epistaxis.Study Design:Prospective pilot study.Methods:A total dose of 100 mg bevacizumab (25 mg/mL Avastin) was injected submucosally, 50 mg on each side. A total of 0.5 mL was injected in the sphenopalatine area, upper part of bony septum, upper part of the later nasal wall, and the anterior part of nasal floor. No cauterizations or laser therapy were done during or after the procedure. The hemoglobin level and grades of epistaxis were recorded before and monthly after the procedure. The IFT grading system (intensity [I], frequency [F] of epistaxis, and the amount of blood transfusion [T]) and epistaxis severity score (ESS) for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia system were used. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated before and 4 weeks after the procedure using the Short Form‐36 Health Survey questionnaire, Cantril's Self‐Anchoring Ladder questionnaire, and Slotosch disease‐specific QoL questionnaire.Results:A significant improvement was found in IFT grading (P = .007), ESS grading (P = .001), and hemoglobin level (P = .01). The QoL differences were statistically not significant.Conclusions:The four‐injection site technique of intranasal administration of bevacizumab is an effective treatment option in HHT‐associated epistaxis, at least on the short‐term effect. Long‐term and comparative studies are needed to further evaluate the significance of this treatment modality. Laryngoscope, 2012
Unsedated transnasal endoscopy with ultrathin endoscope as a screening tool for research studies
Authors: Siwiec Robert M. , Dua Kulwinder , Surapaneni Sri Naveen , Hafeezullah Mohammed , Massey Benson , Shaker Reza 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:Asymptomatic subjects volunteering for research studies are generally stratified as healthy based on a questionnaire, medical interviewing, and physical examination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities in healthy asymptomatic volunteers using unsedated transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy (T‐EGD) with an ultrathin endoscope as an additional screening tool.Study Design:A prospective study from one academic medical center with extensive experience in T‐EGD.Methods:Consecutive 150 subjects volunteering for research studies were initially screened by using a gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) questionnaire, interviewing, and examination. Based on these, they were stratified as healthy asymptomatic volunteers or with GERD. Unsedated T‐EGD was then performed by a faculty member who was blinded to the results of the initial assessment.Results:On initial assessment using GERD questionnaire, medical interviewing, and physical examination, of the total 150 consecutive research volunteers, 83 (average age 33 ± 16 years; 46 females, 37 males) subjects were healthy asymptomatic volunteers and 67 (average age 36 ± 15 years; 35 females, 32 males) had symptoms of GERD. On T‐EGD, GI pathology was found in 15 of 83 (18%) healthy asymptomatic volunteers as compared to 24 of 67 (36%) stratified as having GERD (P < .01). The esophageal abnormalities found in healthy asymptomatic volunteers were esophagitis (13.3%), Barrett's esophagus (2.4%), hiatus hernia (2.4%), and gastritis (2.4%).Conclusions:A small but significant number of asymptomatic subjects have abnormal upper GI findings. Hence, transnasal unsedated endoscopy can be considered as a screening tool to stratify subjects as healthy, especially when considering them for research studies. Laryngoscope, 2012
Pepsin promotes proliferation of laryngeal and pharyngeal epithelial cells
Authors: Johnston Nikki , Yan Justin C. , Hoekzema Craig R. , Samuels Tina L. , Stoner Gary D. , Blumin Joel H. , Bock Jonathan M. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjective/Hypothesis:Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is thought to be a significant risk factor for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but causality has never been proven. It is accepted that chronic reflux into the esophagus can induce metaplastic changes in esophageal mucosa with subsequent increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, but no similar associations have been established for LPR and laryngopharyngeal SCC. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that reflux of pepsin into the laryngopharynx can promote carcinogenesis.Study Design:Translational research study.Methods:Normal human laryngeal primary epithelial cell cultures and hypopharyngeal FaDu SCC cells were exposed to human pepsin and analyzed by Human Cancer PathwayFinder and miRNA Superarrays, flow cytometry, and Western blot to determine the effect of pepsin on carcinogenesis. Laryngeal biopsy specimens taken from cancer patients and normal control subjects were analyzed for the presence of pepsin by Western blot.Results:Microarray analysis demonstrated that pepsin significantly altered the expression of 27 genes implicated in carcinogenesis and also affected the expression of 22 microRNAs known to be altered in human head and neck cancers. Pepsin increased proliferation in both FaDu SCC cells and cultured normal laryngeal epithelial primary cells by increasing S phase distribution on flow cytometry analysis in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, pepsin was detected in 60% (3/5) human laryngeal cancer biopsies, absent in all (0/5) normal control specimens.Conclusions:These data support a role for refluxed pepsin in the promotion of epithelial proliferation and carcinogenesis of the larynx and pharynx. Laryngoscope, 2012
Readability assessment of internet‐based patient education materials related to endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: Cherla Deepa V. , Sanghvi Saurin , Choudhry Osamah J. , Liu James K. , Eloy Jean Anderson 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:Numerous professional societies, clinical practices, and hospitals provide Internet‐based patient education materials (PEMs) to the general public, but not all of this information is written at a reading level appropriate for the average patient. The National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Health and Human Services recommend that PEMs be written at or below the sixth‐grade level. Our purpose was to assess the readability of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS)‐related PEMs available on the Internet and compare readability levels of PEMs provided by three sources: professional societies, clinical practices, and hospitals.Study Design:A descriptive and correlational design was used for this study.Methods:The readability of 31 ESS‐related PEMs was assessed with four different readability indices: Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Gunning Frequency of Gobbledygook (Gunning FOG). Averages were evaluated against national recommendations and between each source using analysis of variance and t tests.Results:The majority of PEMs (96.8%) were written above the recommended sixth‐grade reading level, based on FKGL (P < .001). Only one article (3.2%) had an FKGL at or below the sixth‐grade level. The mean readability values were: FRES 47.1 ± 13.4, FKGL 10.7 ± 2.4, SMOG 13.7 ± 1.6, and Gunning FOG 12.4 ± 2.7.Conclusions:Current Internet‐based PEMs related to ESS, regardless of source type, were written well above the recommended sixth‐grade level. Materials from the hospitals/university‐affiliated websites had lower readability scores, but were still above recommended levels. Web‐based PEMs pertaining to ESS should be written with the average patient in mind. Laryngoscope, 2012
Immunohistochemical expression patterns of the HER4 receptors in normal mucosa and in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas: Antioncogenic significance of the HER4 protein in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Bussu Francesco , Ranelletti Franco O. , Gessi Marco , Graziani Cristina , Lanza Paola , Lauriola Libero , Paludetti Gaetano , Almadori Giovanni 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis.The prognosis for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) has not shown any improvement in the last 30 years because of inadequate prognostic stratification. Therefore, the detection of reliable molecular markers may have a significant impact on clinical practice. As promising data regarding HER1/EGFR have been published, the purpose of the present study was to elucidate the role of the other receptors of the HER family.Study Design:Retrospective.Methods.We used quantitative immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression pattern of the HER4 receptors cytokeratin (CK)‐14, CK‐17, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in 67 LSCCs and assessed correlations with various prognostic parameters.Results.HER1 levels inversely correlated with those of HER2–4. The negative prognostic value of HER1 was confirmed, and a protective role for HER2–4 was found. Specifically, the overexpression of HER4 and its nuclear localization are protective and are associated with a better prognosis.Conclusions.Semiquantitative evaluation of HER2–4 provides predictive information that can be combined with HER1 expression data for molecular characterization of LSCC. The pattern of localization of HER4 is an easily evaluable qualitative parameter with a clear correlation with prognosis. The immunohistochemical methods described in this article are reliable, reproducible, and potentially translatable to clinical practice. Laryngoscope, 2012
Effects of the electrode location on tonal discrimination and speech perception of mandarin‐speaking patients with a cochlear implant
Authors: Lee Fei‐Peng , Hsu Hsin‐Te , Lin Yung‐Song , Hung Su‐Chen 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:This study assessed the effects of varying the electrode location on tonal discrimination and speech perception in Mandarin Chinese‐speaking patients.Study Design:A controlled study with six experimental conditions.Methods:Seven Mandarin‐speaking listeners who received a MED‐EL cochlear implant (CI), ranging in age from 12.88 to 36.43 years (mean, 25.51 years), with an average of 5.28 years of device experience, participated this study. To evaluate the effects of electrode location, six experimental conditions each with the switch off at six different electrodes were designed. Identification tests of Mandarin lexical tones and words were performed.Results:Among experimental conditions with electrode lengths of 31, 23.8, and 16.6 mm, the CI subjects exhibited improved vowel and consonant identification in the condition of 31 mm, reflecting the apical location of electrodes. Specifically, the improvement was observed in the identification score for the vowel backness and height, as well as for the consonant place of articulation. Comparison among three settings with a same electrode length of 12.6 mm and the setting with stimulation to the midregion of the cochlea produces better words as well as the vowel and consonant identification compared with stimulation to basal and apical regions. However, no significant difference was observed for the lexical tone identification among conditions with different electrode location and stimulating region.Conclusions:Less mismatch of the frequency‐to‐place alignment may account for the improvement of word identification in conditions with electrodes coverage to more apical location; and in conditions where the mid‐region of the cochlea were stimulated. Laryngoscope, 2012