bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Porous poly(lactic acid) and PLA‐nanocomposite structures
Authors: Liao Xia , Nawaby Arghavan V. , Naguib Hani E. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThis article presents foaming behaviors and cellular structures of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)‐clay nanocomposite and respective neat PLA foams using CO2 as a foaming agent. The effects of nanoclay and foaming conditions on the foam morphology and mechanical properties of neat (PLA) and PLA‐clay nanocomposites have been investigated by temperature modulated differential scanning calorimeter (TMDSC), X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and tensile properties. CO2‐induced crystallization in PLA and PLA‐clay nanocomposites and the crystallinity increased with an increase in saturation time. The present of clay acted as nucleation site to facilitate the crystallization process of PLA thus resulted in smaller crystallites and lower crystallinity. Unique skin‐core foam morphologies in PLA and PLA‐clay nanocomposites were obtained by controlling the crystallinity. Clay nanoparticles served as nucleation sites to generate foam morphology in PLA‐clay sample with high crystallinity. The introduction of the cellular structure improved the mechanical strength of the material and the specific strength of PLA foams were increased in the presence of a small amount of MMT. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
An Efficient Synthesis of Aripiprazole, Buspirone and NAN‐190 by the Reductive Alkylation of Amines Procedure
Authors: Kowalski Piotr , Jaśkowska Jolanta 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe reductive alkylation of amines procedure was applied for the synthesis of aripiprazole 1a, buspirone 1b, and NAN‐190 1c.
Bridging with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors for periprocedural management of antiplatelet therapy in patients with drug eluting stents
Authors: Morrison T. Ben , Horst Brian M. , Brown Michael J. , Bell Malcolm R. , Daniels Paul R. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractObjective: To describe outcomes when glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa) inhibitors are used as bridging antiplatelet therapy for surgical procedures in patients with drug eluting stents (DES). Background: The optimal management of patients with DES who require surgical procedures prior to completion of antiplatelet therapy is unclear. In high risk patients, the use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors as bridging therapy while antiplatelet therapy is held has been described, but safety and efficacy data remain sparse. Methods: A pharmacy database was used to identify GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor orders at our hospital between January 1, 2007 and July 31, 2009. Indication for GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor administration and other clinical data were gathered through retrospective review of medical records. End points assessed were stent thrombosis, major bleeding, minor bleeding, postoperative acute coronary syndrome, and death within 30 days. Results: Four thousand One hundred seventy‐six separate orders for GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors were identified (January 1, 2007 to July 31, 2009). Six patients underwent non‐cardiac and thirteen underwent cardiac surgery. Clopidogrel was discontinued a median of 6 days before surgery and 2 days prior to initiating GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor. All bridging patients were treated with eptifibatide infusion prior to procedure. There were no stent thromboses, deaths, or acute coronary syndrome events. Major bleeding occurred in 7 (53.9%) cardiac surgery patients and none of the non‐cardiac surgery patients, while minor bleeding occurred in 1 (7.7%) and 1 (16.6%) patients, respectively. Conclusions: In patients with DES, who require cessation of clopidogrel before surgery, bridging with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors appears effective in preventing adverse cardiac outcomes but may be associated with bleeding in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Plasma microRNA 210 levels correlate with sensitivity to trastuzumab and tumor presence in breast cancer patients
Authors: Jung Eun‐Jung , Santarpia Libero , Kim Juyeon , Esteva Francisco J. , Moretti Erica , Buzdar Aman U. , Di Leo Angelo , Le Xiao‐Feng , Bast Robert C. , Park Soon‐Tae , Pusztai Lajos , Calin George A. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND:Trastuzumab is part of the standard treatment for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER‐2)‐positive breast cancer, but not all patients respond to trastuzumab. Altered microRNA (miR) expression levels in cancer cells have been correlated with prognosis and response to chemotherapy. The authors of this report hypothesized that altered miR expression levels in plasma are associated with sensitivity to trastuzumab in patients with HER‐2 positive breast cancer.METHODS:Quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze plasma samples, including samples from patients with breast cancer who were enrolled in a clinical trial of neoadjuvant trastuzumab‐based chemotherapy. Expression levels of miR‐210, miR‐21, miR‐29a, and miR‐126 were analyzed according to the type of response (pathologic complete response [n = 18] vs residual disease [n = 11]). MicroRNA expression levels also were compared in trastuzumab‐sensitive and trastuzumab‐resistant breast cancer cells derived from BT474 cells and in an independent set of preoperative plasma samples (n = 39) and postoperative plasma samples (n = 30) from 43 breast cancer patients who did not receive any treatment.RESULTS:At baseline before patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with trastuzumab, circulating miR‐210 levels were significantly higher in those who had residual disease than in those who achieved a pathologic complete response (P = .0359). The mean expression ratio for miR‐210 was significantly higher in trastuzumab‐resistant BT474 cells, and miR‐210 expression was significantly higher before surgery than after surgery (P = .0297) and in patients whose cancer metastasized to the lymph nodes (P = .0030).CONCLUSIONS:Circulating miR‐210 levels were associated with trastuzumab sensitivity, tumor presence, and lymph node metastases. These results suggest that plasma miR‐210 may be used to predict and perhaps monitor response to therapies that contain trastuzumab. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Understanding fragmentation of prostate cancer survivorship care
Authors: Skolarus Ted A. , Zhang Yun , Hollenbeck Brent K. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND:Cancer survivors are particularly prone to the effects of a fragmented health care delivery system. The implications of fragmented cancer care across providers likely include greater spending and worse quality of care. For this reason, the authors measured relations between increasing fragmentation of cancer care, expenditures, and quality of care among prostate cancer survivors.METHODS:A total of 67,736 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1992 and 2005 were identified using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare data. Using the Herfindahl‐Hirschman Index and a measure of the average number of prostate cancer providers over time, patients were sorted into 3 fragmentation groups (low, intermediate, and high). The authors then examined annual per capita survivorship expenditures and a measure of quality (ie, repetitive prostate‐specific antigen [PSA] testing within 30 days) according to their fragmentation exposure using multinomial logistic regression.RESULTS:Patients with highly fragmented cancer care tended to be younger, white, and of higher socioeconomic status (all P < .001). Prostate cancer survivorship interventions were most common among patients with the highest fragmentation of care across providers (P < .001). After adjustment for clinical characteristics and prostate cancer survivorship interventions, higher degrees of fragmentation continued to be associated with repetitive PSA testing (13.6% for high vs 7.0% for low fragmentation; P < .001) and greater spending, particularly among patients not treated with androgen deprivation therapy.CONCLUSIONS:Fragmented prostate cancer survivorship care is expensive and associated with potentially unnecessary services. Efforts to improve care coordination via current policy initiatives, electronic medical records, and the implementation of cancer survivorship tools may help to decrease fragmentation of care and mitigate downstream consequences for prostate cancer survivors. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Auditory Hallucinations: A Comparison of Beliefs about Voices in Individuals with Schizophrenia and Borderline Personality Disorder
Authors: Hepworth Claire Rachel , Ashcroft Katie , Kingdon David 
Published: October 2011

ObjectiveIndividuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) may experience distressing auditory hallucinations, phenomenologically similar to those seen in psychosis. However, access to effective intervention is limited. The cognitive model of auditory hallucinations highlights the role of appraisals in maintaining distress. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that targets such beliefs has shown efficacy in psychosis. This study examined appraisals about voices in individuals with psychosis and those with BPD to establish whether CBT for voices might have clinical utility for those with BPD.MethodsParticipants included 45 patients with distressing auditory hallucinations, recruited from the National Health Service. All participants received a structured clinical diagnostic interview and the Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire. Ten participants met criteria for BPD (22%), 23 met criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia (51%) and 12 met criteria for both disorders (27%).ResultsMultivariate analyses confirmed that there were no group differences in beliefs about the malevolence or omnipotence of voices, or in behavioural resistance or engagement. Those with BPD and those with both diagnoses reported significantly greater emotional resistance than those with schizophrenia. Those with schizophrenia reported significantly greater emotional engagement with their voices.ConclusionAuditory hallucinations in psychosis and BPD do not differ in their phenomenology or cognitive responses (beliefs about the power and malevolence of their dominant voice). The main differential appears to be the affective response. CBT that focuses on appraisals and the relationship with voices may be helpful for distressing auditory hallucinations in individuals with BPD as well as psychosis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Key Practitioner MessageIt may be important to assess the presence of and experience of voices in those with a diagnosis of BPIt may be helpful to consider both beliefs about voices and the individual's affective responses to voices.CBT designed to target voices in psychosis (focusing on both the appraisal and the relationship with voices) may be helpful for those with BPD.
Flow cytometry counting of bronchoalveolar lavage leukocytes with a new profile of monoclonal antibodies combination
Authors: Tricas Lourdes , Echeverría Ainara , Blanco Miguel A. , Menéndez Manuel , Belda José 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackground:Differential cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has an important role in the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases. Optical microscopy method is usually chosen to identify BAL leukocyte populations despite its technical limitations. As there are no guidelines to make this analysis by flow cytometry (FCM), we propose a new monoclonal antibodies combination for this analysis.Methods:Thirty‐four BAL samples were stained with the monoclonal antibodies combination CD15/CD16/CD45/HLA‐DR and analyzed in a 2‐laser cytometer (FACSCalibur). The results were compared with those obtained by optical microscopy.Results:Both methods showed a good correlation, but FCM overestimates lymphocyte population and conversely underestimates alveolar macrophage population.Conclusions:The proposed monoclonal antibodies combination is effective and reliable to identify leukocyte populations in BAL. © 2011 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Re‐evaluation of the big blue® mouse assay of propiconazole suggests lack of mutagenicity
Authors: Shane Barbara S. , Zeiger Errol , Piegorsch Walter W. , Booth Ewan D. , Goodman Jay I. , Peffer Richard C. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractPropiconazole (PPZ) is a conazole fungicide that is not mutagenic, clastogenic, or DNA damaging in standard in vitro and in vivo genetic toxicity tests for gene mutations, chromosome aberrations, DNA damage, and cell transformation. However, it was demonstrated to be a male mouse liver carcinogen when administered in food for 24 months only at a concentration of 2,500 ppm that exceeded the maximum tolerated dose based on increased mortality, decreased body weight gain, and the presence of liver necrosis. PPZ was subsequently tested for mutagenicity in the Big Blue® transgenic mouse assay at the 2,500 ppm dose, and the result was reported as positive by Ross et al. ([2009]: Mutagenesis 24:149‐152). Subsets of the mutants from the control and PPZ‐exposed groups were sequenced to determine the mutation spectra and a multivariate clustering analysis method purportedly substantiated the increase in mutant frequency with PPZ (Ross and Leavitt. [2010]: Mutagenesis 25:231‐234). However, as reported here, the results of the analysis of the mutation spectra using a conventional method indicated no treatment‐related differences in the spectra. In this article, we re‐examine the Big Blue® mouse findings with PPZ and conclude that the compound does not act as a mutagen in vivo. © Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2012. Published 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Verification of land surface evapotranspiration estimation from remote sensing spatial contextual information
Authors: Tang Ronglin , Li Zhao‐Liang , Chen Kun‐Shan , Zhu Yuanjun , Liu Wenzhao 
Published: October 2011

AbstractEstimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is of great significance in modeling the water and energy interactions between land and atmosphere. Negative correlation of surface temperature (Ts) versus vegetation index (VI) from remote sensing data provides diagnosis on the spatial pattern of surface soil moisture and ET. This study further examined the applicability of Ts–VI triangle method with a newly developed edges determination technique in estimating regional evaporative fraction (EF) and ET at MODIS pixel scale through comparison with large aperture scintillometer (LAS) and high‐level eddy covariance measurements collected at Changwu agro‐ecological experiment station from late June to late October, 2009. An algorithm with merely land and atmosphere products from MODIS onboard Terra satellite was used to estimate the surface net radiation (Rn) and soil heat flux. In most cases, the estimated instantaneous Rn was in good agreement with surface measurement with slight overestimation by 12 W/m2. Validation results from LAS measurement showed that the root mean square error is 0.097 for instantaneous EF, 48 W/m2 for instantaneous sensible heat flux, and 30 W/m2 for daily latent heat flux. This paper successfully presents a miniature of the overall capability of Ts–VI triangle in estimating regional EF and ET from limited number of data. For a thorough interpretation, further comprehensive investigation needs to be done with more integration of remote sensing data and in‐situ surface measurements. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐Performance FETs Prepared From Electrospun Aligned P4TDPP Nanofibers
Authors: Lin Chih Jung , Hsu Jung Ching , Tsai Jung Hsun , Kuo Chi Ching , Lee Wen Ya , Chen Wen Chang 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe morphology and charge transport characteristics of electrospun aligned nanofibers based on the 2D conjugated polythiophene derivative P4TDPP are studied. The crystallinity, orientation, and molecular packing of P4TDPP nanofibers are significantly enhanced by a crystalline‐induced technique. P4TDPP nanofiber transistors exhibit a high hole mobility of 0.305 cm2 V−1 s−1 and on/off ratio of 1.30 × 105, which is significantly higher than that of the corresponding spin‐coated film (2.10 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1). The experimental results suggest that high‐performance FETs can be obtained from electrospun aligned nanofibers of crystalline conjugated polymers.
Subsystem Global Modal Parameterization for efficient simulation of flexible multibody systems
Authors: Naets F. , Heirman G.H.K. , Desmet W. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYThis paper presents a new model order reduction strategy for flexible multibody simulation, namely the Subsystem Global Modal Parameterization. The proposed method is based on a system‐level reduction technique, named Global Modal Parameterization, but offers significant improvements for systems with many independent DOFs. The approach splits up the motion of a mechanism or part of a mechanism into a relative motion, in which the members move relatively with respect to each other, and a global motion of the system, in which the relative position of the members does not change. The relative motion is described by a local Global Modal Parameterization model expressed in a mechanism‐attached frame, and the global motion is described by the motion of the mechanism‐attached frame. In order to improve simulation efficiency, mass invariants are used, which are also introduced in this paper. Two numerical examples are presented, which show the good accuracy and the major simulation efficiency improvements this new approach offers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photocatalytic measurements of TiO2/MWCNT catalysts having different surface coverage
Authors: Réti Balázs , Németh Krisztián , Németh Zoltán , Mogyorósi Károly , Markó Kata , Erdőhelyi András , Dombi András , Hernadi Klara 
Published: October 2011

AbstractPhotocatalytic oxidation using TiO2 is one way to deal with pollutant compounds. Due to literature data, further improvement can be achieved by using MWCNT‐based nanocomposites as photocatalysts. TiO2/multiwall carbon nanotube composite photocatalysts were synthetized by sol–gel method with different level coverages. As‐prepared catalysts were characterized with transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). These investigations revealed that we could fabricate MWCNT composite either homogenously, inhomogenously or barely coated with TiO2. XRD results showed that after annealing the amorphous titanium oxide–hydroxide formed anatase phase titanium dioxide which is photocatalytically more active than rutile phase TiO2. Catalysts were tested in both gas and liquid phase photocatalytic reactions using Aeroxide (Degussa) P25 as reference. The concentrations of model compounds were measured by GC and HPLC techniques. As a result of catalytic tests, we have found correlation between morphology and photocatalytic activity. Preferred adsorption of test molecules on MWCNT surface can be a key step of the reaction.
A piezoresistive tactile sensor for tissue characterization during catheter‐based cardiac surgery
Authors: Kalantari Masoud , Ramezanifard Mohammadreza , Ahmadi Roozbeh , Dargahi Javad , Kövecses József 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackgroundCurrently, most of mitral valve annuloplasty surgeries are performed by using open heart surgery. However, if such operation would be performed by using minimally invasive surgery via catheter‐based techniques (CBT), it offers various advantages for both surgeons and patients.MethodsTwo piezoresistive force sensors are used in the structure of the tactile sensor, which can easily be miniaturized and integrated into surgical catheters. The tactile sensor was fabricated and tested to characterize different elastomers, as the phantom of cardiac tissues. Based on a developed finite element analysis (FEA) of the elastomers, the interaction between the sensor and those materials were modelled to validate the output of the sensor.ResultsThe results of the mechanical and psychophysical tests confirm the capability of the proposed sensor to measure the relative hardness/softness of different soft tissues.ConclusionsThe proposed tactile sensor will help surgeons to characterize different types of cardiac tissues and would facilitate the use of CBT to perform mitral valve annuloplasty. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurements of critical point shrinkage of glutaraldehyde fixed mouse liver
Authors: Boyde A. , Franc F. , Maconnachie E. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe dimensional changes of small cubes of glutaraldehyde fixed mouse liver tissue were measured using a light microscope image projected into the Quantimet 720 Image Analysing computer system. The dimensional changes occurring in the critical drying bomb could be followed at all stages when violent turbulence was not occurring. The results show that liver tissue blocks shrink in four stages whilst in the critical point drying bomb: (1) during substitution of the intermediate solvent with the transitional fluid; (2) when the transitional fluid is warmed above the critical temperature; (3) when the transitional fluid, now a gas, is allowed to escape from the CPD bomb – the rate of shrinkage increasing as atmospheric pressure is approached; (4) at atmospheric pressure when all the gas has been allowed to escape from the bomb.Taken together with the authors' previous findings, it would seem that substantial shrinkage of animal soft tissue specimens must occur whilst they are undergoing “critical point drying”. This fact should be taken into account when interpreting SEM images of CPD tissues.
Specimen coating for high resolution scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Evans A. C. , Franks J. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThin conducting films, produced by evaporation or soft vacuum sputtering generally show cracks and grain formation, when examined under high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These artefacts can obscure surface features of coated specimens or cause confusion in the interpretation of micrographs. No such structures have been observed in films produced by ion beam deposition. Ion beam deposition equipment is described in which a cold cathode saddle field ion source, operating at low pressure (15mPa), produces a 2 mm diameter beam of energetic ions (5 keV) and neutrals. With the beam directed onto a target at 30° to glancing incidence, the sputtered material coats the specimens, which are held in a planetary system for good coverage.Conditions favouring fine grain growth are a high nucleation density and low energy transfer to the substrate by thermal conduction or radiation or by particle or photon radiation. These conditions are satisfied by ion beam deposition but evidently not by evaporation or soft vacuum sputtering.With the specimen stationary, sharp shadowing is obtained because the target acts almost as a point source, because of the small diameter of the beam and because there is little scatter at the operating pressure.
A method for measuring the dimensional changes of tissues prepared for scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Campbell G. J. , Roach M. R. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractA new method is presented for determining the dimensional changes which can occur during the fixation, dehydration and drying of tissue specimens prepared for examination by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Photomicrographs of a random array of markers (fluorescent microspheres 9–12 μm diameter, encapsulated in dabs of cyanoacrylate adhesive) on the surface of specimens are obtained with the aid of an optical microscope equipped for fluorescent microscopy. One marker, which is common to each pair of photomicrographs representing the wet and processed conditions of the specimen, is selected from the array of markers. The tracings which depict the outline of the dabs and the location of the microspheres, for the wet and processed specimens are combined into a single composite with the one superimposed marker representing the origin of a set of mutually‐perpendicular axes. A newly developed computer programme acquires the coordinates of the marker points, optimizes the alignment of the marker points and computes the proportional dimensional changes in two mutually‐perpendicular directions, as well as along the direct path between the common marker and the remaining markers.