bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Poor radiotherapy compliance predicts persistent regional disease in advanced head/neck cancer
Authors: Patel Urjeet A. , Patadia Monica O. , Holloway Nathaniel , Rosen Fred 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjective:To determine if poor compliance to chemoradiation results in an increased rate of persistent neck disease.Study Design:Retrospective, cohort study in an urban, tertiary‐care medical center.Methods:The study included patients with N+ stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract treated with curative‐intent chemoradiation, who underwent subsequent planned neck dissection. Main outcome measure was persistent regional disease evidenced by identifiable carcinoma in neck dissection specimens. Variables including age, gender, race, primary site, initial T, N staging, imaging results, and treatment compliance were assessed and correlated to positive neck dissection pathology.Results:Of 40 patients, 18 (45%) had persistent carcinoma in neck dissection specimens while 22 (55%) demonstrated complete response in the neck. There were 14 patients (35%) who were poorly compliant to radiotherapy (≥14 days treatment interruption) and the remaining 26 patients (65%) were considered compliant (<14 missed days). Only 23% of compliant patients had positive pathology while 79% of noncompliant patients had positive pathology (hazard ratio: 9.9). Noncompliance was the only variable that had a statistically significant correlation to positive pathology results (P = .002). Multivariate logistic regression showed all other variables to be insignificant in predicting pathology.Conclusions:This study found that poorly compliant patients are at significantly higher risk of persistent neck disease. Poor compliance may help identify patients who will most benefit from neck dissection after chemoradiation. This variable was more predictive than pretreatment variables and posttreatment CT scan. Further studies investigating patterns of failure after chemoradiotherapy in the poorly compliant patient population are warranted. Laryngoscope, 2009
Persistent allergic rhinitis has a moderate impact on the sense of smell, depending on both nasal congestion and inflammation
Authors: Guilemany José Maria , García‐Piñero Alfons , Alobid Isam , Cardelús Sara , Centellas Silvia , Bartra Joan , Valero Antonio , Picado César , Mullol Joaquim 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:A degree of smell disturbance has been found in seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, but alterations in olfaction in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) have not yet been evaluated. The aims of the study were to evaluate the impact of PER on the sense of smell, and to characterize this impact based on self‐reported hyposmia (SRH) and PER severity.Study Design/Methods:A prospective controlled study was performed on 49 consecutive patients with PER. PER patients were subclassified depending on severity and the presence of SRH. Olfactory function was evaluated by the Barcelona Smell Test‐24 (BAST‐24) olfactometry for smell detection, identification, and forced choice for first and fifth cranial nerve (CN) dependent odors in comparison to a group of 60 healthy volunteers. In patients with SRH, obstruction was evaluated by peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) and acoustic rhinometry; and nasal inflammation was evaluated by nasal nitric oxide (nNO).Results:Most patients with PER (67%) presented SRH. Moderate/severe PER (84.8%) predominated among patients with SRH, while mild PER (75%) predominated among patients without SRH. Smell detection, identification, and forced choice tests were significantly worse in PER patients (P < .05) than in healthy controls for the odors related to the first and fifth CN. Among subgroups, patients with moderate/severe PER and/or with SRH presented a significant reduction in smell detection (P < .05) compared to healthy controls. Nasal NO correlated (R: 0.4; P < .05) with loss of smell.Conclusions:Patients with PER have a moderate loss of smell (BAST‐24) with a higher impairment in those with self‐reported hyposmia and moderate‐to‐severe PER. These results suggest that the sense of smell should be further investigated in all patients with allergic rhinitis, both in a clinical setting and in clinical trials. Laryngoscope, 2009
Conchal cartilage butterfly graft in primary functional rhinoplasty
Authors: Friedman Oren , Cook Ted A. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjective:To validate the use of the conchal cartilage butterfly graft in primary functional rhinoplasty and to review our experience using this technique.Study Design:A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent conchal cartilage butterfly graft reconstruction of the nasal valve in primary rhinoplasty.Method:A retrospective analysis using patient questionnaires was performed. Data were collected to determine patient satisfaction about nasal breathing and cosmesis after the procedure.Results:Among the patients, 90% (n = 90) had improved breathing, 88% (n = 88) were satisfied with their postoperative cosmesis, and 89% said they would recommend the procedure to a friend who had similar preoperative symptoms.Conclusion:Conchal cartilage butterfly graft has now been shown to be successful in primary functional rhinoplasty, just as it has previously been proven effective in secondary rhinoplasty. Although we have had success with many techniques for the correction of internal nasal valve collapse, we have found the conchal cartilage butterfly graft to be another outstanding technique for the appropriately selected patient. Laryngoscope, 2009
Air quality influences the prevalence of hay fever and sinusitis
Authors: Bhattacharyya Neil 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjectives:Determine associations between air quality and the prevalence of hay fever and sinusitis.Study Design:Cross‐sectional study.Methods:The National Health Interview Survey for the calendar years 1997–2006 adult sample was analyzed to determine for each calendar year the one‐year period prevalence of the two respiratory conditions, hay fever and sinusitis and the nonrespiratory (control) condition, weak/failing kidneys. From the Environmental Protection Agency, yearly historical data for air quality criteria pollutants, carbon monoxide, nitrous dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter, were tabulated. Graphical and linear regression analyses were conducted for each disease condition against each of the air quality variables to determine if higher pollutant concentrations predicted a higher prevalence for the disease condition.Results:A total of 313,982 patients were studied over the 10 calendar years 1997–2006. Mean patient age increased very slightly from year to year (overall average, 45.2 years); the percentage of female patients remained the same. The air concentrations of each of the criteria pollutants decreased steadily over time with the exception of particular matter, which reached a plateau in the most recent 3 years. For each of the disease conditions a statistically significant relationship with air quality (all p < .001) was obtained. For the control condition of kidney failure/weakening, the standardized regression coefficient with air quality was very small (range: −0.001–0.004). For hay fever and sinusitis, substantially larger coefficients were obtained ranging from 0.0120–.016 and 0.013–0.027, respectively.Conclusions:Prevalence of hay fever and sinusitis are correlated with air quality. Improvements in air quality are associated with decreased prevalence of both hay fever and sinusitis. Laryngoscope, 2009
Iatrogenic tracheal rupture in children: A retrospective study
Authors: Schedlbauer Eva‐Maria , Todt Ingo , Ernst Arne , Seidl Rainer O. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjectives:Iatrogenic injuries to the trachea are rare, but life‐threatening complaints. Causes and treatment methods have been described for adults, but there is no literature on aetiology and treatment in children. We performed a retrospective study to examine the frequency, aetiology, and treatment of iatrogenic injuries to the trachea in children and to develop guidelines for their treatment and prevention.Methods:Retrospective study from 2000–2007 at a level I trauma centre. All iatrogenic injuries to the trachea between the cricoid cartilage and the level of the carina in children (ages 0–16) were included in the study.Results:Between 2000 and 2007, 18 tracheal injuries were treated, four of them in children (22%). The primary symptom in all cases was emphysema. Diagnosis was confirmed using flexible endoscopy. In all cases, the cause of the injury was intubation. Two cases of acute injury were treated conservatively by bridging the injury with a tube. Two cases were treated surgically by means of end‐to‐end anastomosis. In all cases, healing by first intention occurred. No stenoses were observed during follow‐up endoscopy.Conclusions:Acute tracheal ruptures in children can be treated conservatively by bridging the rupture with a tube. Injuries to the trachea in which the mucosa is damaged or in which other complications, such as fistulae, are present must be treated surgically. The prognosis for such injuries is good. Laryngoscope, 2009
Nanofibrilar Polyaniline: Direct Route to Carbon Nanotube Water Dispersions of High Concentration
Authors: Jiménez Pablo , Maser Wolfgang K. , Castell Pere , Martínez M. Teresa , Benito Ana M. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWater dispersible nanofibrilar polyaniline (NF‐PANI) provides a novel and direct route towards carbon nanotube water dispersions of high concentration. Carrying out the chemical synthesis of NF‐PANI in the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) results in an entirely nanostructured nanofibrilar polyaniline/carbon nanotube (NF‐PANI/CNT) composite material that contains well segregated CNTs partially coated by NF‐PANI. This new approach is simple, fast, and inexpensive, and enables the direct preparation of stable and homogeneous dispersions of the composites in water at concentrations up to 10 mg · mL−1, even for the highest CNT loadings of 50 wt.‐% without the participation of surfactants or stabilizers.magnified image
Understanding and enhancing the public's behavioural response to flood warning information
Authors: Parker D. J. , Priest S. J. , Tapsell S. M. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractDrawing on evidence from the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe, this paper explores how people have responded to flood warning information and how these responses impact upon the effectiveness of a flood warning through saving lives and injuries, and reducing economic damages. Methods of flood warning that the public rely upon are discussed alongside empirical evidence of how flood victims prepare for, and respond to, flood warnings in rapid to medium‐onset floods. The paper investigates why some members of the public fail to act appropriately, or most effectively, to flood warning information, touching on ideas of a lack of understanding, mistrust in authority and a lack of ownership of flood reducing actions. The paper examines the styles of public learning about flood warning response which might be most appropriate and effective, and how recent positive steps to increase the public's understanding of effective response might be further enhanced in the United Kingdom. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Images of poverty and attributions for poverty: does higher education moderate the linkage?
Authors: McWha Ishbel , Carr Stuart C. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract‘Development Education’ is a topical phrase describing campaigns to raise public awareness about global poverty, but how do such processes interact with more formal learning experiences, for example in Higher Education? One hundred and seventy‐one final‐semester BusinessversusSocial Science University students experienced a conventionally ‘cropped’ (child's face only) versus ‘full’ (face‐plus‐context) campaign‐like image of a child in poverty. They also completed the attribution‐focused ‘Causes of Third‐World Poverty Questionnaire’ (CTWPQ). Business students tended to disagree less than social science students with blaming‐the‐poor for poverty. More importantly, a cropped image condition resulted in significantly elevated blame‐the‐poor scores among business students, but not those in social science. Interactions like this suggest that campaign images can be psychologically tailored to differently educated market segments.Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and modification of silicon‐containing polymers using ultrasound
Authors: Price Gareth J 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe application of high‐intensity ultrasound to silicon backbone polymers, particularly polydimethylsiloxane and polyorganosilanes, is described. There are advantages in using ultrasound in both modifying the molecular weights or end‐group structures of preformed polymers and accelerating the course of polymerization reactions. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Filtering strategies for improving protein identification in high‐throughput MS/MS studies
Authors: Salmi Jussi , Nyman Tuula A. , Nevalainen Olli S. , Aittokallio Tero 
Published: January 2009

AbstractDespite the recent advances in streamlining high‐throughput proteomic pipelines using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), reliable identification of peptides and proteins on a larger scale has remained a challenging task, still involving a considerable degree of user interaction. Recently, a number of papers have proposed computational strategies both for distinguishing poor MS/MS spectra prior to database search (pre‐filtering) as well as for verifying the peptide identifications made by the search programs (post‐filtering). Both of these filtering approaches can be very beneficial to the overall protein identification pipeline, since they can remove a substantial part of the time consuming manual validation work and convert large sets of MS/MS spectra into more reliable and interpretable proteome information. The choice of the filtering method depends both on the properties of the data and on the goals of the experiment. This review discusses the different pre‐ and post‐filtering strategies available to the researchers, together with their relative merits and potential pitfalls. We also highlight some additional research topics, such as spectral denoising and statistical assessment of the identification results, which aim at further improving the coverage and accuracy of high‐throughput protein identification studies.
Phase behavior study of poly(N‐tertbutylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide) in the mixture of water–methanol: The role of polymer–nonsolvent second‐order interactions
Authors: Mahdavi Hossein , Mahdi Sadeghzadeh B. O. , Qazvini Nader Taheri 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe phase behavior of poly(N‐tertbutylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide) (PNTBAM) in pure water and mixture of water–methanol is studied at different temperatures. The different compositions of PNTBAM are prepared by free‐radical polymerization technique and their phase behavior is studied by turbidimetry. The effects of copolymer and solvent composition on the phase behavior of the copolymers are discussed. It has been suggested that the inhomogenities in polymer chains are responsible for lowering the rate of phase transition by increasing the N‐tertbutylacrylamide (NTBAM) and methanol contents in copolymer and mixture, respectively. For the first time we have revealed that there are second‐order binary interactions in the water–methanol which are dominant in the special range of copolymer composition. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 455–462, 2009
Atypical transition temperature dependence of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide) nanocomposites on the content of exfoliated montmorillonites
Authors: Yen Ming‐Huei , Lin King‐Fu 
Published: January 2009

AbstractExfoliated montmorillonite (MMT)/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and MMT/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide) [P(NIPAAm‐co‐AAm)] nanocomposites were fabricated by soap‐free emulsion polymerization. Interestingly, as the content of MMT was increased from 0 to 10 wt %, the glass transition temperature of MMT/PNIPAAm was decreased from 145 to 122 °C, whereas that of the MMT/P(NIPAAm‐co‐AAm) increased from 95 to 153 °C. Although the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 32 °C for the MMT/PNIPAAm nanocomposites in aqueous solutions was slightly increased with the content of MMT, that of the MMT/P(NIPAAm‐co‐AAm) was decreased from 70 to 65 °C. A mechanism that the hydrogen bonds between the amide groups of PNIPAAm were interfered by the exfoliated MMT nano‐platelets for the MMT/PNIPAAm nanocomposites and the preferred absorption of acrylamide units to the MMT nanoplatelets rather than N‐isopropylacrylamide in the MMT/P(NIPAAm‐co‐AAm) nanocomposites was suggested to interpret these unusual transition behavior. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 524–530, 2009
Prediction of the flow‐induced crystallization in high‐density polyethylene by a continuum model
Authors: Yu Fengyuan , Zhang Hongbin , Wang Zhigang , Yu Wei , Zhou Chixing 
Published: January 2009

AbstractIn this work, the isothermal flow‐induced crystallization (FIC) of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) under a simple shear flow was investigated. Two experimental modes, including steady shear and preshear treatment, were performed on the polymer melt. Based on the nonequilibrium thermodynamic theory, the FIC process of HDPE was predicted through the modification of a continuum FIC model. The theoretical predictions of the evolution of both the viscosity in steady shear flow and the complex modulus under preshear treatment were essentially related to the crystallinity of HDPE, in agreement with the experimental findings. Both experimental and predicted results showed that the applied flow field could accelerate the crystallization kinetics of HDPE significantly. However, the effect of the intensity of shear flow on the crystallization of HDPE was finite, showing a saturation phenomenon, namely, the accelerated degree of crystallization tending to level off when the shear rate was large enough. In additional, it was found that the predicted crystallinity of HDPE was very low in induction period either in steady shear flow or by preshear treatment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 531–538, 2009
Effect of poly(butylene succinate) crystals on spherulitic growth of poly(ethylene oxide) in binary blends of the two substances
Authors: Ikehara Takayuki , Kurihara Hideo , Kataoka Toshiyuki 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe effects of the lamellar growth direction, extinction rings, and spherulitic boundaries of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSU) on the spherulitic growth of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were investigated in miscible blends of the two crystalline polymers. In the crystallization process from a homogeneous melt, PBSU first developed volume‐filling spherulites, and then PEO spherulites nucleated and grew inside the PBSU spherulites. The lamellar growth direction of PEO was identical with that of PBSU even when the PBSU content was about 5 wt %. PEO, which intrinsically does not exhibit banded spherulites, showed apparent extinction rings inside the banded spherulites of PBSU. The growth rate of a PEO spherulite, GPEO, was influenced not only by the blend composition and the crystallization temperature of PEO, but also by the growth direction with respect to PBSU lamellae, the boundaries of PBSU spherulites, and the crystallization temperature of PBSU, TPBSU. The value of GPEO first increased with decreasing TPBSU when a PEO spherulite grew inside a single PBSU spherulite. Then, GPEO decreased when TPBSU was further decreased and a PEO spherulite grew through many tiny PBSU spherulites. This behavior was discussed based on the aforementioned factors affecting GPEO. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 539–547, 2009
Linear dielectric response and dielectric relaxation behavior of bismuth‐doped (Ba1–xCax /2Srx /2)TiO3 ceramics
Authors: Yun Sining , Wang Xiaoli , Li Juanfei , Xu Delong 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe structure and electrical properties of bismuth‐doped (Ba1–x Cax /2Srx /2)TiO3(BCST) (x ≤ 0.40) ceramics prepared using the solid‐state reaction were investigated. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that 5 at% of Bi doping can be fully incorporated into the perovskite lattice of BCST ceramics. BCST ceramic samples for x < 0.40 have almost the same Tm (Tm is designated as the temperature of the peak dielectric constant, at Tm where the dielectric peak occurs) for different frequencies, while an obvious dielectric relaxation behavior (DRB) is observed in Bi‐doped BCST. Bi doping causes Tm to shift to a lower temperature and results in an increase in the degree of diffusion and relaxation of the BCST ceramics. A random electric field is suggested to be responsible for the relaxor behavior observations. Double‐hysteresis loops are observed at lower temperatures in Bi‐doped BCST ceramics. The P–E relationship of Bi‐doped BCST ceramics shows the dielectric quasilinearity, which indicates that the random local field acts to strongly inhibit the nanodomains. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Growth of β‐Ga2O3 on Al2O3 and GaAs using metal‐organic vapor‐phase epitaxy
Authors: Gottschalch Volker , Mergenthaler Kilian , Wagner Gerald , Bauer Jens , Paetzelt Hendrik , Sturm Chris , Teschner Ulrike 
Published: January 2009

AbstractEpitaxial layers of monoclinic β‐Ga2O3 were successfully grown on (0001) sapphire and ($ \bar 1 $11)As GaAs substrates using metal‐organic vapor‐phase epitaxy (MOVPE). Triethylgallium (TEGa) and N2O were used as precursors for gallium and oxygen, respectively. Growth conditions could be determined, where β‐Ga2O3 grows epitaxially on c ‐plane sapphire and ($ \bar 1 $11)As GaAs substrates. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements identify a epitaxial relationship with ($ \bar 2 $01) β‐Ga2O3 || (0001) sapphire and ($ \bar 2 $01) β‐Ga2O3 || ($ \bar 1 $11)As GaAs. The observed sixfold rotational in‐plane symmetry results from differently oriented rotational domains of monoclinic β‐Ga2O3 with twofold symmetry. Thin films deposited on substrates of other orientation show the formation of the low‐temperature modification α‐Ga2O3. Optical transmission spectra measured in the spectral range from 200 nm to 2000 nm show a well‐distinct absorption edge at about 5 eV for layers grown on c ‐ and a ‐plane sapphire. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Top‐down processed silicon nanowire transistor arrays for biosensing
Authors: Vu Xuan Thang , Eschermann Jan Felix , Stockmann Regina , GhoshMoulick Ranjita , Offenhäusser Andreas , Ingebrandt Sven 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWe describe the fabrication, electrical and electrochemical characterization of silicon nanowire arrays, which were processed in a top‐down approach using combined nanoimprint lithography and wet chemical etching. We used the top silicon layer as contact line and observed an influence of implantation and subsequent annealing of these lines to the device performance. In addition we found a subthreshold slope dependence on wire size. When operated in a liquid environment, wires can be utilized as pH sensors. We characterized the pH sensitivity in the linear range and in the subthreshold operation regime. As a first proof‐of‐principle experiment for the later use of the sensors in bioassays, we monitored the buildup of polyelectrolyte multilayers on the wire surface. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)