bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Follow-up schedules after treatment for malignant melanoma
Authors: Francken A B , Accortt N A , Shaw H M , Colman M H , Wiener M , Soong S-J , Hoekstra H J , Thompson J F 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
Existing follow-up guidelines after treatment for melanoma are based largely on dated literature and historical precedent. This study aimed to calculate recurrence rates and establish prognostic factors for recurrence to help redesign a follow-up schedule.

Methods
Data were retrieved from the Sydney Melanoma Unit database for all patients with a single primary melanoma and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage I–II disease, who had received their first treatment between 1959 and 2002. Recurrence rates, timing and survival were recorded by substage, and predictive factors were analysed.

Results
Recurrence occurred in 18·9 per cent (895 of 4748) of patients overall, 5·2 per cent (95 of 1822) of those with stage IA disease, 18·4 per cent (264 of 1436) with IB, 28·7 per cent (215 of 750) with IIA, 40·6 per cent (213 of 524) with IIB and 44·3 per cent (86 of 194) with IIC disease. Overall, the median disease-free survival time was 2·6 years, but there were marked differences between AJCC subgroups. Primary tumour thickness, ulceration and tumour mitotic rate were important predictors of recurrence.

Conclusion
A new follow-up schedule was proposed: stage I annually, stage IIA 6-monthly for 2 years and then annually, stage IIB–IIC 4-monthly for 2 years, 6-monthly in the third year and annually thereafter.
Development and validation of a model predictive of occult nipple involvement in women undergoing mastectomy
Authors: Rusby J E , Brachtel E F , Othus M , Michaelson J S , Koerner F C , Smith B L 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
This prospective study aimed to build a predictive model using preoperative information to aid selection for nipple-sparing mastectomy.

Methods
Two hundred consecutive skin-sparing mastectomy specimens without overt nipple involvement were evaluated. Demographic, preoperative pathology and imaging information was collected. Nipple specimens (2 × 2 × 2 cm) were sectioned at 3-mm intervals. Haematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were examined by a breast pathologist for involvement by tumour. Logistic regression analyses of 65 therapeutic procedures identified factors associated with occult involvement and created a predictive model. This was tested on specimens from a further 65 therapeutic procedures.

Results
Occult nipple involvement was noted in 32 (24·6 per cent) of 130 mastectomy specimens. In the training set, imaging diameter of the lesion and its distance from the nipple predicted nipple involvement on univariable analysis (P = 0·011 and P = 0·014 respectively). The multivariable logistic regression model was validated in the test set. The areas under the receiver–operating characteristic curve were 0·824 and 0·709 for the training and test sets respectively.

Conclusion
Three-quarters of women undergoing mastectomy did not have occult nipple involvement. A clinical tool including tumour size and distance from the nipple has been developed to improve patient selection for nipple-sparing mastectomy.
Risk factors for malnutrition after oesophageal and cardia cancer surgery
Authors: Martin L , Jia C , Rouvelas I , Lagergren P 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
Oesophageal cancer surgery is often followed by malnutrition, but the factors causing weight loss are unknown. The aim of this population-based study was to identify such risk factors.

Methods
Data were collected from a nationwide Swedish organization for research on surgery for oesophageal cancer. A total of 340 patients (75·9 per cent of those eligible) responded to a study-specific questionnaire concerning height and weight, just before and 6 months after surgery. Factors influencing malnutrition, defined as loss of body mass index of at least 15 per cent 6 months after operation, were identified by logistic regression.

Results
Neoadjuvant therapy (received by 10·6 per cent of all patients) and female sex were associated with at least a twofold increased risk of weight loss (odds ratio (OR) 2·41 (95 per cent confidence interval 1·01 to 5·77) and 2·14 (1·07 to 4·28) respectively), whereas preoperative weight loss was associated with a decreased risk (OR 0·13 (0·03 to 0·65)). Age, tumour stage and location, type of oesophageal substitute, suture technique and postoperative complications did not influence the risk.

Conclusion
Neoadjuvant therapy and female sex appear to be associated with an increased risk of malnutrition after oesophageal cancer surgery.
Meta-analysis of intravenous lidocaine and postoperative recovery after abdominal surgery
Authors: Marret E , Rolin M , Beaussier M , Bonnet F 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBackgroundContinuous intravenous administration of lidocaine may decrease the duration of ileus and pain after abdominal surgery.MethodsThree databases (Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register) were searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials comparing continuous intravenous lidocaine infusion during and after abdominal surgery with placebo. Study design was scored using the Oxford Quality Score based on randomization, double-blinding and follow-up. Outcome measures were duration of ileus, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain, and incidence of nausea and vomiting.ResultsEight trials were selected. A total of 161 patients received intravenous lidocaine, with 159 controls. Intravenous lidocaine administration decreased the duration of ileus (weighted mean difference (WMD) − 8·36 h; P &lt; 0·001), length of hospital stay (WMD − 0·84 days; P = 0·002), postoperative pain intensity at 24 h after operation on a 0–100-mm visual analogue scale (WMD − 5·93 mm; P = 0·002), and the incidence of nausea and vomiting (odds ratio 0·39; P = 0·006).ConclusionContinuous intravenous administration of lidocaine during and after abdominal surgery improves patient rehabilitation and shortens hospital stay.
Clinical and non-clinical factors influencing postoperative health-related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Wilson T R , Alexander D J 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
The aim was prospectively to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after treatment of potentially curable colorectal cancer.

Methods
HRQoL measurements were acquired by postal questionnaire sent to 210 patients with colorectal cancer for whom there was at least of 1 year of follow-up. Data were collected at seven time points using two validated questionnaires, QLQ-C30/CR38 and Short Form 12. Scores from salient HRQoL domains were compared with population norms. The independent associations between HRQoL and 13 treatment and non-treatment variables were evaluated using linear regression. Recurrences were excluded.

Results
A total of 186 patients (88·6 per cent) were followed up for 1 year, with 136 (64·8 per cent) and 84 (40·0 per cent) reaching the 18-month and 2-year follow-up points respectively. HRQoL improved rapidly after surgery, with most scores equating to population norms by 3–6 months. In addition to baseline performance status, three factors were associated with significantly poorer HRQoL scores: age less than 65 years, low rectal anastomoses and presence of a stoma. The areas predominantly affected were normal daily routines, work and social activities.

Conclusion
HRQoL largely recovered by 6 months in disease-free patients, but some subgroups had poorer scores than others.
α,β‐Unsaturated and Saturated Derivatives of Be, Mg, and Ca: Are They Carbon or Metal Acids in the Gas Phase?
Authors: Eizaguirre Ane , Mó Otilia , Yáñez Manuel , Guillemin Jean‐Claude 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe gas‐phase acidity of RXH (R=H, CH3, CH2CH3, CHCH2, CCH; X=Be, Mg, Ca) alkaline‐earth‐metal derivatives has been investigated through the use of high‐level CCSD(T) calculations by using a 6‐311+G(3df,2p) basis set. BeH2is a stronger acid than BH3and CH4for two concomitant reasons: 1) the dissociation energy of the BeH bond is smaller than the dissociation energies of the BH and CH bonds, and 2) the electron affinity of BeH.is larger in absolute value than those of BH2.and CH3.. The acidity also increases on going from BeH2to MgH2due to these two same factors. Quite importantly, despite the fact that the XH bonds in the RXH (X=Mg, Ca) derivatives exhibit the expected Xδ+Hδ−polarity, they behave as metal acids in the gas phase and only Be derivatives behave as carbon acids in the gas phase. The ethylberyllium hydride exhibits an unexpected high acidity compared with the methyl derivative because deprotonation of the system is accompanied by a cyclization that stabilizes the anion. Similarly to that found for derivatives that contain heteroatoms from groups 14, 15, and 16, the unsaturated compounds are stronger acids than the saturated counterparts, with the only exception of the Ca–vinyl derivative. Most importantly, among ethyl, vinyl, and ethynyl derivatives containing a heteroatom of the main group of the Periodic Table, those containing Be, Mg, and Ca are among the strongest gas‐phase acids.
Zur Pyrolyse feuchter Ölpalmschalen im indirekt beheizten Drehrohrreaktor
Authors: Gómez A. , Klose W. , Wiest W. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractDie Palmölindustrie produziert zurzeit weltweit ca. 53 000 kt/a Restbiomasse, davon sind ca. 7500 kt/a Ölpalmschalen, das Endokarp der Ölpalmfrüchte. Hochkalorische feste, flüssige und gasförmige Brennstoffe sowie die Produktion von Adsorbentien können durch die thermochemische Umwandlung dieser Biomasse bereitgestellt werden. Die Pyrolyse feuchter Ölpalmschalen wird in einem indirekt beheizten Drehrohrreaktor unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Einflüsse der Aufheizgeschwindigkeit und der Verweilzeit der Schüttung im Reaktor auf die Produktverteilung des Prozesses untersucht.
Progress in Hyperpolarized Ultrafast 2D NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Mishkovsky Mor , Frydman Lucio 
Published: October 2008

AbstractAn important development in the field of NMR spectroscopy has been the advent of hyperpolarization approaches, capable of yielding nuclear spin states whose value exceeds by orders‐of‐magnitude what even the highest‐field spectrometers can afford under Boltzmann equilibrium. Included among these methods is an ex situ dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) approach, which yields liquid‐phase samples possessing spin polarizations of up to 50 %. Although capable of providing an NMR sensitivity equivalent to the averaging of about 1 000 000 scans, this methodology is constrained to extract its “superspectrum” within a single—or at most a few—transients. This makes it a poor starting point for conventional 2D NMR acquisition experiments, which require a large number of scans that are identical to one another except for the increment of a certain t1 delay. It has been recently suggested that by merging this ex situ DNP approach with spatially encoded “ultrafast” methods, a suitable starting point could arise for the acquisition of 2D spectra on hyperpolarized liquids. Herein, we describe the experimental principles, potential features, and current limitations of such integration between the two methodologies. For a variety of small molecules, these new hyperpolarized ultrafast experiments can, for equivalent overall durations, provide heteronuclear correlation spectra at significantly lower concentrations than those currently achievable by conventional 2D NMR acquisitions. A variety of challenges still remain to be solved before bringing the full potential of this new integrated 2D NMR approach to fruition; these outstanding issues are discussed.
Comparison of therapeutic action, style and content in cognitive–behavioural and psychodynamic group therapy under clinically representative conditions
Authors: Watzke Birgit , Rueddel Heinz , Koch Uwe , Rudolph Matthias , Schulz Holger 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIt is still an open question whether psychotherapists adhere to their therapeutic conceptions in routine practice (clinician's treatment adherence) and thus to what extent the two most common approaches, cognitive–behavioural (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy (PDT), differ from each other as theoretically expected (treatment differentiation). This holds true especially in case of group therapy.The study compares essential process components of CBT and PDT group treatments under clinically representative conditions using non‐participating observer ratings. Results demonstrate that CBT group therapists use more cognitive, behavioural and psychoeducational strategies, foster self‐efficacy to a larger extent and are more supporting and empathetic. PDT group therapists use more interpretative and confrontative interventions and focus on interactional and dynamic aspects. The results strongly support that not only in individual psychotherapy—as shown in prior research—but also in the group setting do CBT and PDT reveal very distinct profiles and that therapists primarily abide by their theoretical training also in clinical practice. They allow one to identify differential process components of the group setting and to trace back parameters of outcome to the process of CBT and PDT for clinical routines. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydraulic and geomorphic effects on mayfly drift in high‐gradient streams at moderate discharges
Authors: Wilcox Andrew C. , Peckarsky Barbara L. , Taylor Brad W. , Encalada Andrea C. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe investigated relationships between geomorphic and hydraulic factors and invertebrate drift in high‐gradient streams. We measured drift density of a highly mobile mayfly (Baetis bicaudatus) into and out of 12 stream reaches in western Colorado, as well as benthic density and abiotic variables within those reaches, during a time of moderate discharge. Multiple regression analysis indicated that drift propensity (drift density/benthic density), a measure of drift standardized by the benthic density of the source population, was significantly related to Reynolds number, a dimensionless ratio of fluid inertial forces to viscous forces, and Shields number, a dimensionless ratio of shear stress to submerged particle weight that quantifies flow competence. Drift propensity was positively correlated with Reynolds number, but counter to our hypothesis that stronger hydraulic forces would be associated with higher drift, mayflies in reaches with greater flow competence (Shields number) showed lower propensities to drift. Further, immigration ratio (drift in/drift out of each reach) increased significantly with Shields number, indicating that more individuals drifted into than out of reaches with higher flow competence. Although we hypothesized that more hydraulically rough stream reaches (i.e. those with greater flow resistance) would be more favourable to benthic invertebrates and would thus have lower drift, neither drift propensity nor immigration ratio were related to flow resistance. In high‐gradient streams at discharges below the range of incipient motion of bed particles, mayfly drift behaviour may be influenced by hydraulic forces, but the relationships we observed are not indicative of passive, abiotically driven drift. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ligation of Bipyridyl Ligands to Metal 8‐Hydroxyquinolinates – Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and TDDFT Study
Authors: Yue Fan , Zhu Ai‐Xin , Zheng Shao‐Liang , Chen Xiao‐Ming 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBinding of four bipyridyl ligands, 2,2′‐bipyridine (L1), 1,10‐phenanthroline (L2), 1,4,8,9‐tetraazatriphenylene (L3), and dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine (L4) with Cdq2/Znq2 complexes (q = 8‐hydroxyquinoline) gave four neutral, mononuclear CdII/ZnII complexes, namely [Cdq2L1]·H2O·CH3OH (1), [Cdq2L3]·3H2O (2), [Cdq2L4]·2H2O (3), and [Znq2L4]·2CH3OH (4). These mixed‐ligand compounds were taken as models for investigating the interfacial effect at the electron‐transfer layer/light‐emitting layer junction in OLEDs by combination of X‐ray diffraction, fluorophotometric titration, cyclic voltammetry, and time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. The results shows the formation of these compounds is favorable to energy transition on the contact surface. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Growth and Application of Paired Gold Electrode Junctions: Evidence for Nitrosonium Phosphate During Nitric Oxide Oxidation
Authors: French Robert W. , Collins Andrew M. , Marken Frank 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA bipotentiostatic gold electrodeposition process is developed to grow gold junctions between two adjacent 100 μm diameter platinum disc electrodes. Gold is electrodeposited simultaneously on both electrodes with an automated termination mechanism close to short‐circuit conditions. Gap junctions (average gap width ca. 4 μm) are obtained reproducibly and the behavior of the resulting generator–collector electrode system is investigated for two relevant redox systems. First, the chemically reversible oxidation of 1,1′‐ferrocenedimethanol in aqueous 0.1 M KCl is studied. Well‐defined feedback currents across the electrode junction in generator–collector mode are recorded down to sub‐micromolar analyte concentration. Electrochemically reversible voltammetric responses suggest fast heterogeneous electron transfer and this allows further gap geometry analysis. Second, the (apparently) chemically irreversible oxidation of nitric oxide in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7) at gold electrodes is re‐investigated and, perhaps surprisingly, generator–collector feedback currents are observed for a solution phase intermediate, here tentatively assigned to nitrosonium phosphate, NO+H2PO$\rm{ {_{4}^{-}}}$. The life time of this intermediate, ca. 10 ms, is surprisingly long, given a typical decay time for free NO+ in water of only nanoseconds. The results are consistent with an estimated nitrosonium phosphate association equilibrium constant, K≈107 mol−1 dm3. Without further optimization of the electrode junction gap geometry, the determination of nitric oxide down to ca. 10 μM concentration is achieved. The benefits of smaller junctions and potential analytical applications of paired nanojunction electrodes are discussed.
Separation of dansylated amino acid enantiomers by chiral ligand‐exchange CE with a zinc(II) L‐arginine complex as the selecting system
Authors: Qi Li , Chen Yi , Xie Mingyi , Guo Zhenpeng , Wang Xiaoyu 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA facile chiral ligand‐exchange capillary electrophoretic method has been explored for the enantioseparation and UV detection of dansyl‐amino acids with Zn(II) L‐arginine complex as a chiral selecting system. Successful enantioseparation of 17 pairs of amino acid enantiomers has been achieved with a buffer of 100 mM boric acid, 5 mM ammonium acetate, 3 mM ZnSO4 and 6 mM L‐Arg at pH 8.0, of which 10 pairs were fully resolved with resolution in between 1.59 and 4.21. This new method was shown to be applicable to the separation of some mixed pairs of amino acids and to the quantitative analysis of some real samples such as rice vinegars, with a linear range between 0.8 and 150 μg/mL, correlation coefficient above 0.99 and recovery in between 90.1 and 112.4%. It was found that amino acids with low resistance side chain(s), low tendency to form intramolecular hydrogen bond or high tendency to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds are more easily enantioseparated than those with extra carboxyl and/or phenyl groups. By the use of the suggested buffer, the running pH should be selected at 7.4–9.0 to compromise the resolution and elution speed.
Experimental investigation on thermo‐driving heat transfer in porous medium in a centrifugal force field
Authors: Xia Jie , Chang Hai‐Ping , Tang Hou‐Xiang 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBased on the research in turbine blade super cooling techniques, experiments were carried out to investigate the thermo‐driving heat transfer phenomenon in a new cooling configuration filled with porous medium in a centrifugal force field. Moreover, the heat transfer effectiveness of the configuration was compared to one with no porous medium. The results showed that the thermo‐driving heat transfer effectiveness of the configuration filled with porous medium could be enhanced by increasing the rotating speed, heat flux, and cooling air speed. Meanwhile, the heat transfer effectiveness of the configuration was strengthened with the installation of porous medium. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 37(6): 329– 338, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20219
Hedonic price models and indices based on boosting applied to the Dutch housing market
Authors: Kagie Martijn , Wezel Michiel Van 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe create a hedonic price model for house prices for six geographical submarkets in the Netherlands. Our model is based on a recent data‐mining technique called boosting. Boosting is an ensemble technique that combines multiple models, in our case decision trees, into a combined prediction. Boosting enables capturing of complex nonlinear relationships and interaction effects between input variables. We report mean relative errors and mean absolute error for all regions and compare our models with a standard linear regression approach. Our model improves prediction performance by up to 39% compared with linear regression and by up to 20% compared with a log‐linear regression model. Next, we interpret the boosted models: we determine the most influential characteristics and graphically depict the relationship between the most important input variables and the house price. We find the size of the house to be the most important input for all but one region, and find some interesting nonlinear relationships between inputs and price. Finally, we construct hedonic price indices and compare these with the mean and median index and find that these indices differ notably in the urban regions of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interpretable credit model development via artificial neural networks
Authors: Trinkle Brad S. , Baldwin Amelia A. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractPoor credit granting decisions are coming back to haunt providers of loan finance. Past poor credit granting decisions are in part due to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1975). This act requires lenders to explain the decision to grant or refuse credit. As a result, models such as artificial neural networks, which offer improved ability to identify poor credit risks but which do not offer easy explanations of why a loan applicant has scored badly, remain unused. This paper investigates whether these models can be interpreted so that explanations for credit application rejection can be provided. The results indicate that while the artificial neural networks can be used (with caution) to develop credit scoring models, the limitations imposed by the credit granting process make their use unlikely until interpretation techniques are developed that are more robust and that can interpret multiple hidden‐layer artificial neural networks. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self‐assembled monolayer for low density lipoprotein detection
Authors: Matharu Zimple , Arya Sunil K. , Sumana G. , Gupta Vinay , Malhotra B. D. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractHeparin (HEP) has been covalently immobilized onto 4‐aminothiophenol (ATP) self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) deposited onto gold (Au)‐coated glass plate for low density lipoprotein (LDL) detection. The HEP/ATP/Au and LDL/HEP/ATP/Au electrodes have been characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements reveal that HEP/ATP/Au electrode is sensitive to detection of the LDL in the range 0.03 µM (10 mg/dl)–0.39 µM (130 mg/dl). The values of association and dissociation rate constants in the association phase calculated by kinetic analysis have been found to be ka = 9.67 × 101 M−1 s−1 and kd = 2.64 × 10−4 s−1. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.