bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nucleophilic Attack of α‐Aminoalkyl Radicals on CarbonNitrogen Triple Bonds to Construct α‐Amino Nitriles: An Experimental and Computational Study
Authors: Zhang Chao , Liu Chunmei , Shao Ying , Bao Xiaoguang , Wan Xiaobing
Published: November 2013

A new reactivity pattern of α‐aminoalkyl radicals, involving nucleophilic attack on CN triple bonds under thermal conditions, has been developed to construct α‐amino nitriles. In contrast to previous CH functionalization of tertiary amines involving α‐aminoalkyl radicals, this methodology does not require the use of photocatalytic conditions or a transition‐metal catalyst. Inexpensive and nontoxic phenylacetonitrile was chosen as cyano source for this α‐aminonitrile forming reaction. A plausible mechanism is proposed based upon experimental and computational results. An α‐aminoalkyl radical intermediate and benzoyl cyanide have been shown to be key intermediates in this green and mild radical process. Nucleophilic attack of the α‐aminoalkyl radical on the CN bond of PhCOCN followed by an elimination step forms the desired α‐aminonitrile and an acyl radical.
The Use of Phosphite‐Type Ligands in the Ir‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Heterocyclic Compounds
Authors: Lyubimov Sergey E. , Ozolin Dmitry V. , Ivanov Pavel Yu , Melman Artem , Velezheva Valeriya S. , Davankov Vadim A.
Published: November 2013

A series of chiral phosphite‐type ligands was tested in asymmetric Ir‐catalyzed hydrogenation of quinolines and 2,4,5,6‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrazino(3,2,1‐j,k)carbazole. Hydrogenation of quinaldine hydrochloride provided superior enantioselectivity up to 65% ee compared to quinaldine free base. The ligands were tested for the first time in the asymmetric Ir‐Ircatalyzed hydrogenation of 2,4,5,6‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrazino(3,2,1‐j,k)carbazole yielding the antidepressant drug, pirlindole. Chirality 26:56–60, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Retracted: Cloud point behaviour modelling of polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactants
Authors: Bendjaballah Malek , Saidi Hacina
Published: November 2013

The cloud point temperature, Tc, of commercial nonionic surfactants: poly(oxyethylene) alkyl ethers (case: dodecan‐1ol polyethoxylate, with the middle chemical structure n‐C12E6) was predicted by applying the Flory–Huggins theory for polymer solutions, adapted to alcohol ethoxylates aqueous solutions by Rupert and using the pseudo‐phase model original developed for micro‐emulsions diagrams composition. The variations of interaction enthalpy as a function of carbon chain length and number of ethylene oxide units are also modelled. The expression of Tc as the function of the composition was derived assuming the regular solution for mixed micelles. The experimental results of the cloud point obtained for mixtures of n‐C12E6 was better reproduced by the pseudo‐phase model, which requires more specific surfactant data (the critical micelles concentration, cmc; critical temperature TC), and a minimum of experimental data.
The Effects of Continuous Positive Airways Pressure Therapy on Cardiovascular End Points in Patients With Sleep‐Disordered Breathing and Heart Failure: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Aggarwal Saurabh , Nadeem Rashid , Loomba Rohit S. , Nida Mahwish , Vieira Dorice
Published: November 2013

In patients with sleep‐disordered breathing and heart failure, continuous positive airway pressure has been found to be associated with an improvement in cardiovascular end points. We conducted a systematic review of the current literature and a meta‐analysis to pool data from 15 published randomized controlled trials. End points analyzed were left ventricular ejection fraction, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and mortality. A fixed effects model was used for end points demonstrating homogeneity among included studies, whereas a random effects model was used for end points demonstrating heterogeneity among included studies. A significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction was noted with continuous positive airway pressure (mean difference, 5.05%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.72 to 6.38), diastolic blood pressure (mean difference, −1.67; 95% CI: −3.09 to −0.25), and heart rate (mean difference, −5.92; 95% CI: −10.12 to −1.72). No significant changes in mortality (odds ratio, 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40 to 1.00) and systolic blood pressure were noted (mean difference, −6.35; 95% CI: −16.11 to 2.41). The analysis also revealed the need for additional studies to clarify the associations noted and the presence of publication bias with small studies with a paucity of small studies with negative results. In this meta‐analysis, treatment with continuous positive airways pressure was associated with improvements in ejection fraction, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate in patients with sleep‐disordered breathing and congestive heart failure.
Evolving Antithrombotic Strategies in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Results From a Survey Among US Cardiologists
Authors: Vardi Moshe , Debidda Marcella , Bhatt Deepak L. , Mauri Laura , Cannon Christopher P.
Published: November 2013

Background

Many patients treated with oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation undergo percutaneous stent implantation, where dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is also recommended. The current evidence to support triple oral antithrombotic therapy (TOAT) in these patients is limited, and new strategies are being discussed to optimize outcomes.

Hypothesis

There will be variation in antithrombotic strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation needing stenting.

Methods

We surveyed US‐based cardiologists serving as clinical investigators in academic sites and posted an online “question of the month” on cardiosource.org.

Results

Seventy‐five (10.7%) responses were received to the email survey and 119 to the online question. Bare‐metal stenting (BMS) was a priori preferred over drug‐eluting stenting (DES) for 50.6% of patients. Only 8.8% of the responders chose newer anticoagulants in addition to DAPT as the preferred oral anticoagulant. For duration of TOAT, 79.4% of physicians recommended stopping DAPT at 1 month when BMS was used in patients presenting without acute coronary syndrome (ACS) vs 57.4% in patients with ACS. In patients implanted with a DES, 73.5% and 76.5% preferred stopping DAPT at 6 to 12 months (no ACS vs ACS, respectively). When asked which of the 2 antiplatelet agents they would recommend stopping after the above durations, 50% chose to quit aspirin.

Conclusions

The survey highlights an interest in the new strategy of dropping aspirin, but the lack of concrete evidence triggers undesired diversity in clinical approaches. High‐quality data on the efficacy and safety of such interventions are needed to further consolidate these approaches.
Aerosol‐Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition of a Copper Gallium Oxide Spinel
Authors: Knapp Caroline E. , Prassides Iasson D. , Sathasivam Sanjayan , Parkin Ivan P. , Carmalt Claire J.
Published: November 2013

Copper‐based spinel oxide CuGa2O4 films have been deposited by means of a simple one‐pot solution‐based chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method. Aerosol‐assisted (AA) CVD of copper(II) 2,2,6,6,‐tetramethylheptan‐3,5‐dionate (thd), Cu(thd)2 and gallium(III) acetylacetonate, Ga(acac)3, in toluene resulted in the formation of transparent films with a slight yellow tinge at 300–500 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the films had grown by means of an island growth mechanism. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that CuGa2O4 had formed along with copper(I) oxide and gallium(III) oxide was observed at the surface of the film. Annealing the films under a range of conditions (air, N2, vacuum) resulted in oxidation and the formation of CuGa2O4 and copper(II) oxide, as shown by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The films were further analysed by UV/Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Similar AACVD depositions using copper(II) acetylacetonate, Cu(acac)2, and Ga(acac)3 in a range of solvents only resulted in the formation of gallium oxide owing to the lower solubility of the copper precursor than the gallium complex. AACVD is dependent on the precursor solubility hence Cu(thd)2 is a superior precursor to Cu(acac)2 owing to its increased solubility.
Base‐Free Oxidation of Glycerol Using Titania‐Supported Trimetallic Au–Pd–Pt Nanoparticles
Authors: Kondrat Simon A. , Miedziak Peter J. , Douthwaite Mark , Brett Gemma L. , Davies Thomas E. , Morgan David J. , Edwards Jennifer K. , Knight David W. , Kiely Christopher J. , Taylor Stuart H. , Hutchings Graham J.
Published: November 2013

Base‐free selective oxidation of glycerol has been investigated using trimetallic Au–Pd–Pt nanoparticles supported on titania and their corresponding bimetallic catalysts. Catalysts were prepared by the sol‐immobilization method and characterized by means of TEM, UV/Vis spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and microwave plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy. It was found that of the bimetallic catalysts, Pd–Pt/TiO2 was the most active with high selectivity to C3 products. The addition of Au to this catalyst to form the trimetallic Au–Pd–Pt/TiO2, resulted in an increase in activity relative to Pd–Pt/TiO2. The turnover frequency increased from 210 h−1 with the Pd–Pt/TiO2 catalyst to378 h−1 for the trimetallic Au–Pd–Pt/TiO2 catalyst with retention of selectivity towards C3 products.
Long transient oscillations in a class of cooperative cellular neural networks
Authors: Forti Mauro , Garay Barnabás , Koller Miklós , Pancioni Luca
Published: November 2013

The real‐time processing capabilities of cellular neural networks (CNNs) are inherently related to the fast convergence time of the solutions toward the asymptotically stable equilibrium points. A typical requirement is that the settling time should not exceed a few (or at most 10) cell time constants. This paper introduces a class of completely stable nonsymmetric cooperative CNN rings whose solutions display unexpectedly long transient oscillations for a wide set of initial conditions and for a wide set of interconnection parameters. Numerical simulations show that the oscillations can easily last hundreds of cycles, and thousands of cell time constants, before settling to a steady state, thus possibly impairing their real‐time processing capabilities. Goal of the paper is also to show, by means of laboratory experiments on a discrete component prototype of the CNN ring, that the long oscillation phenomenon is physically robust with respect to the non‐idealities of the circuit implementation. The experiments show some other peculiar features of the long lasting oscillations as the metamorphosis between different periodic behaviors during the transient. Finally, analytic asymptotic estimates on the duration of the transient oscillations are provided. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human adult stem cells from diverse origins: An overview from multiparametric immunophenotyping to clinical applications
Authors: Sousa Bruna R. , Parreira Ricardo C. , Fonseca Emerson A , Amaya Maria J. , Tonelli Fernanda M. P. , Lacerda Samyra M. S. N. , Lalwani Pritesh , Santos Anderson K. , Gomes Katia N. , Ulrich Henning , Kihara Alexandre H. , Resende Rodrigo R.
Published: November 2013

Stem cells are known for their capacity to self‐renew and differentiate into at least one specialized cell type. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated initially from bone marrow but are now known to exist in all vascularized organ or tissue in adults. MSCs are particularly relevant for therapy due to their simplicity of isolation and cultivation. The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) has proposed a set of standards to define hMSCs for laboratory investigations and preclinical studies: adherence to plastic in standard culture conditions; in vitro differentiation into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondroblasts; specific surface antigen expression in which ≥95% of the cells express the antigens recognized by CD105, CD73, and CD90, with the same cells lacking (≤2% positive) the antigens CD45, CD34, CD14 or CD11b, CD79a or CD19, and HLA‐DR. In this review we will take an historical overview of how umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, adipose‐derived, placental and amniotic fluid, and menstrual blood stem cells, the major sources of human MSC, can be obtained, identified and how they are being used in clinical trials to cure and treat a very broad range of conditions, including heart, hepatic, and neurodegenerative diseases. An overview of protocols for differentiation into hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, neuronal, adipose, chondrocytes, and osteoblast cells are highlighted. We also discuss a new source of stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and some pathways, which are common to MSCs in maintaining their pluripotent state. © 2013 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Performance evaluation of the survivability schemes in WOBAN: a quality of recovery (QoR) method
Authors: Fu Minglei , He Maolin , Le Zichun , Wang Weiwen , Quan Bisheng
Published: November 2013

The hybrid wireless optical broadband access network (WOBAN) is a combination of an optical backhaul and a wireless front‐end, which combine the huge amount of available bandwidth of optical networks and the ubiquity and mobility of wireless access networks with the objective of reducing their cost and complexity. Survivability is one of the most important issues in WOBAN. In this paper, the survivability schemes in WOBAN are addressed from a particular point of view of the quality of recovery (QoR) method. The QoR is a comprehensive measure to evaluate the survivability schemes in terms of availability, recovery time, redundancy, and bandwidth of backup path. The specific procedures to set up the analytical models for the survivability schemes in WOBAN are given based on the QoR concept, including abstract, normalization, and application. Besides, the weights assignment is provided to calculate the QoR value for the operators, home users, or business users with different requirements, which in turn offers the user‐perceptive quality of service. To verify the performance of the survivability schemes by the QoR method, extensive simulations are made under different WOBAN configurations. Numerical results show that for the intra‐domain survivability schemes, the wireless and optical mixed protection scheme is the best choice for failure recovery in WOBAN. The wireless scheme is the second choice for the solution, which emphasizes cost control, while for the solution that emphasizes the network performance, the 1:1 scheme is the second choice. The 1:N scheme obtains the worst QoR value as the splitter ratios increase. For the inter‐domain survivability schemes, optimizing backup optical networking units selection and backup fibers deployment scheme outperforms maximum protection with minimum cost scheme from the point of view of QoR. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Perceptual attunement in vowels: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Tsuji Sho , Cristia Alejandrina
Published: November 2013

Although the majority of evidence on perceptual narrowing in speech sounds is based on consonants, most models of infant speech perception generalize these findings to vowels, assuming that vowel perception improves for vowel sounds that are present in the infant's native language within the first year of life, and deteriorates for non‐native vowel sounds over the same period of time. The present meta‐analysis contributes to assessing to what extent these descriptions are accurate in the first comprehensive quantitative meta‐analysis of perceptual narrowing in infant vowel discrimination, including results from behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging methods applied to infants 0–14 months of age. An analysis of effect sizes for native and non‐native vowel discrimination over the first year of life revealed that they changed with age in opposite directions, being significant by about 6 months of age. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 179–191, 2014.
Amygdala inactivation impairs eyeblink conditioning in developing rats
Authors: Ng Ka H. , Freeman John H.
Published: November 2013

The amygdala facilitates acquisition of eyeblink conditioning in adult animals by enhancing conditioned stimulus (CS) inputs to the cerebellum and the unconditioned response circuitry. Ontogenetic changes in amygdala modulation of eyeblink conditioning have not been investigated directly. We examined the effects of amygdala inactivation on the ontogeny of eyeblink conditioning and conditioned freezing in rat pups. Rat pups received bilateral infusions of saline or bupivacaine into the central nucleus of the amygdala before each of the first five training sessions, which consisted of paired CS–US trials on postnatal days (P) 17–19, P21–23, or P24–26. The final session consisted of CS‐alone test trials to assess the effect of amygdala inactivation during training on conditioned freezing. Amygdala inactivation impaired acquisition of eyeblink conditioning in all of the age groups and impaired freezing to the context during the extinction test. The results indicate that the amygdala modulates cerebellar learning as soon as it begins to emerge ontogenetically. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 999–1007, 2014.
Natural variation in maternal care shapes adult social behavior in rats
Authors: Starr‐Phillips Emily J. , Beery Annaliese K.
Published: November 2013

Features of the early postnatal environment profoundly shape later physical and behavioral phenotypes. The amount of licking/grooming that rat dams direct towards their offspring has durable consequences, including behavioral and physiological dimensions of stress reactivity, cognition, and reproductive behavior. We examined how natural variation in maternal care alters social behavior in adult offspring and how this relates to anxiety behavior and oxytocin receptor density. Male and female offspring of mothers who received high levels of licking spent significantly more time in social contact with unfamiliar individuals than did offspring whose dams provided less grooming. Reduced anxiety behavior was associated with greater social interaction. No differences in oxytocin receptor binding assessed by 125I‐OVTA autoradiography were detected between groups. The present investigation characterizes a novel impact of maternal care on adult social interaction behavior, replicates anxiety behavior differences, and illustrates connections between social behavior and anxiety in adulthood across maternal treatment groups. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 1017–1026, 2014.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency impairs NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) priming and defense against Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Schramm Michael , Wiegmann Katja , Schramm Sandra , Gluschko Alexander , Herb Marc , Utermöhlen Olaf , Krönke Martin
Published: November 2013

Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is converted by riboflavin kinase (RFK) into flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), which are essential cofactors of dehydrogenases, reductases, and oxidases including the phagocytic NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2). Riboflavin deficiency is common in young adults and elderly individuals, who are at the coincidental risk for listeriosis. To address the impact of acute riboflavin deficiency on host defense against Listeria monocytogenes (L.m.), we generated conditional RFK knockout (KO) strains of mice. Phagocyte‐specific RFK KO impaired the capability of phagocytes to control intracellular L.m., which corresponded to a greater susceptibility of mice to in vivo challenge with L.m. The oxidative burst of RFK‐deficient phagocytes in response to L.m. infection was significantly reduced. Mechanistically, TNF‐induced priming of Nox2, which is needed for oxidative burst, was defective in RFK‐deficient phagocytes. Lack of riboflavin in wild‐type macrophages for only 6 h shut down TNF‐induced, RFK‐mediated de novo FMN/FAD generation, which was accompanied by diminished ROS production and impaired anti‐listerial activity. Vice versa, ROS production by riboflavin‐deprived macrophages was rapidly restored by riboflavin supplementation. Our results suggest that acute riboflavin deficiency immediately impairs priming of Nox2, which is of crucial relevance for an effective phagocytic immune response in vivo.
Synthesis, Structure and Luminescence Properties of a Three‐Dimensional Heterobimetallic Chiral Metal–Organic Framework Based on Sodium(I), Lead(II) and (S)‐5,5′‐Bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphinoyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl as Linker
Authors: Lestari Witri Wahyu , Lönnecke Peter , Streit Huayna Cerqueira , Handke Marcel , Wickleder Claudia , Hey‐Hawkins Evamarie
Published: November 2013

The heterobimetallic three‐dimensional metal–organic framework {[Na2Pb2(L)3(H2O)(dmf)4]·9dmf}n (1), which contains {Pb2Na(η2‐O2CR)6} moieties as secondary building units, was obtained by solvothermal reaction of Pb(NO3)2 and (S)‐5,5′‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphinoyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (H2L) in the presence of NaOH in dimethylformamide (dmf). In the solid state, 1 forms a three‐dimensional network with bcu topology. Ligand‐based violet‐blue luminescence is observed for compound 1 and assigned to the S1→S0 transition of the aromatic units.
Altered methylation in tandem repeat element and elemental component levels in inhalable air particles
Authors: Hou Lifang , Zhang Xiao , Zheng Yinan , Wang Sheng , Dou Chang , Guo Liqiong , Byun Hyang‐Min , Motta Valeria , McCracken John , Díaz Anaité , Kang Choong‐Min , Koutrakis Petros , Bertazzi Pier Alberto , Li Jingyun , Schwartz Joel , Baccarelli Andrea A.
Published: November 2013

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been associated with lung cancer risk in epidemiology investigations. Elemental components of PM have been suggested to have critical roles in PM toxicity, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their association with cancer risks remain poorly understood. DNA methylation has emerged as a promising biomarker for environmental‐related diseases, including lung cancer. In this study, we evaluated the effects of PM elemental components on methylation of three tandem repeats in a highly exposed population in Beijing, China. The Beijing Truck Driver Air Pollution Study was conducted shortly before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (June 15‐July 27, 2008) and included 60 truck drivers and 60 office workers. On two days separated by 1–2 weeks, we measured blood DNA methylation of SATα, NBL2, D4Z4, and personal exposure to eight elemental components in PM2.5, including aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) titanium (Ti), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). We estimated the associations of individual elemental component with each tandem‐repeat methylation in generalized estimating equations (GEE) models adjusted for PM2.5 mass and other covariates. Out of the eight examined elements, NBL2 methylation was positively associated with concentrations of Si [0.121, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.030; 0.212, False Discovery Rate (FDR) = 0.047] and Ca (0.065, 95%CI: 0.014; 0.115, FDR = 0.047) in truck drivers. In office workers, SATα methylation was positively associated with concentrations of S (0.115, 95% CI: 0.034; 0.196, FDR = 0.042). PM‐associated differences in blood tandem‐repeat methylation may help detect biological effects of the exposure and identify individuals who may eventually experience higher lung cancer risk. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 55:256–265, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Use of an avian hepatocyte assay and the avian toxchip polymerse chain reaction array for testing prioritization of 16 organic flame retardants
Authors: Porter Emily , Crump Doug , Egloff Caroline , Chiu Suzanne , Kennedy Sean W.
Published: November 2013

Risk assessors are challenged with the task of providing data for an increasing number of priority chemicals. High-throughput toxicity screening methods—which permit rapid determination of toxic, molecular, and/or biochemical effects of a wide range of chemicals—are essential to help meet this demand. The avian embryonic hepatocyte in vitro screening method has been utilized in the authors' laboratory to assess the effects of a wide range of environmental contaminants on cytotoxicity and mRNA expression of genes associated with xenobiotic metabolism, the thyroid hormone pathway, lipid metabolism, and growth. Sixteen structurally variable organic flame retardants (OFRs)—including tetrabromoethylcyclohexane (TBECH), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP), tricresyl phosphate (TCP), and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP)—were screened using the in vitro method in the present study. Hepatocytes from 2 avian species, chicken and herring gull, were prepared, and species differences in hepatocyte viability were observed for several OFRs. For example, TCP was not cytotoxic in chicken hepatocytes up to the highest concentration tested (300 µM), whereas the median lethal concentration (LC50) was 31.2 µM in herring gull hepatocytes. Effects on mRNA expression in chicken embryonic hepatocytes were determined using a 3 × 32 custom-made Avian ToxChip polymerse chain reaction array and were variable among OFRs; TCP, TDCPP, and tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) isocyanurate showed the most significant alterations among the target genes assessed. Overall, this rapid screening method helped prioritize OFRs for further assessment. For example, OFRs that elicited significant effects on cytoxicity or mRNA expression represent prime candidates for egg injection studies that determine adverse effects on the whole animal but are more costly in terms of time, money, and embryo utilization. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:573–582. © 2013 SETAC
Catalytic Oxidation of Methanol by Aqueous POM on Al2O3 Supported Catalysts and Electrochemical Performance of POM
Authors: Li P. , Mi W. , Su Q. , Luo C.
Published: November 2013

Phosphomolybdic acid (H3PMo12O40, POM) was attempted to be used as the energy‐storage agent in this paper to avoid some problems of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), such as catalyst poisoning and methanol permeation. Catalytic oxidation of methanol by aqueous POM on Al2O3 supported catalysts with Pt and Ru active metal was evaluated in the presence of liquid water. The process takes advantage of the high catalytic activities of platinum for methanol oxidation. The effects of temperature, reaction time, and methanol concentration on activity were observed. The catalytic activity of Pt/Al2O3 is better than that of Ru/Al2O3 for the oxidation of methanol by POM. The methanol conversion rate reached 93.55% on the Pt/Al2O3 at 80 °C after reaction for 1 h. The electrochemical experiments indicate that POM shows a larger current density in redox processes on an Au electrode than methanol. The redox process of reduced POM is a reversible multi‐electron transfer process.
Targeted inhibition of ATR or CHEK1 reverses radioresistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells with distal chromosome arm 11q loss
Authors: Sankunny Madhav , Parikh Rahul A. , Lewis Dale W. , Gooding William E. , Saunders William S. , Gollin Susanne M.
Published: November 2013

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), is the eighth most common cancer in the U.S.. Amplification of chromosomal band 11q13 and its association with poor prognosis has been well established in OSCC. The first step in the breakage‐fusion‐bridge (BFB) cycle leading to 11q13 amplification involves breakage and loss of distal 11q. Distal 11q loss marked by copy number loss of the ATM gene is observed in 25% of all Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) tumors, including 48% of HNSCC. We showed previously that copy number loss of distal 11q is associated with decreased sensitivity (increased resistance) to ionizing radiation (IR) in OSCC cell lines. We hypothesized that this radioresistance phenotype associated with ATM copy number loss results from upregulation of the compensatory ATR‐CHEK1 pathway, and that knocking down the ATR‐CHEK1 pathway increases the sensitivity to IR of OSCC cells with distal 11q loss. Clonogenic survival assays confirmed the association between reduced sensitivity to IR in OSCC cell lines and distal 11q loss. Gene and protein expression studies revealed upregulation of the ATR‐CHEK1 pathway and flow cytometry showed G2M checkpoint arrest after IR treatment of cell lines with distal 11q loss. Targeted knockdown of the ATR‐CHEK1 pathway using CHEK1 or ATR siRNA or a CHEK1 small molecule inhibitor (SMI, PF‐00477736) resulted in increased sensitivity of the tumor cells to IR. Our results suggest that distal 11q loss is a useful biomarker in OSCC for radioresistance that can be reversed by ATR‐CHEK1 pathway inhibition. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Efficient Strategy for Detecting Gene × Gene Joint Action and Its Application in Schizophrenia
Authors: Won Sungho , Kwon Min‐Seok , Mattheisen Manuel , Park Suyeon , Park Changsoon , Kihara Daisuke , Cichon Sven , Ophoff Roel , Nöthen Markus M. , Rietschel Marcella , Baur Max , Uitterlinden Andre G. , Hofmann A. ,   GROUP Investigators, Lange Christoph
Published: November 2013

We propose a new approach to detect gene × gene joint action in genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) for case‐control designs. This approach offers an exhaustive search for all two‐way joint action (including, as a special case, single gene action) that is computationally feasible at the genome‐wide level and has reasonable statistical power under most genetic models. We found that the presence of any gene × gene joint action may imply differences in three types of genetic components: the minor allele frequencies and the amounts of Hardy‐Weinberg disequilibrium may differ between cases and controls, and between the two genetic loci the degree of linkage disequilibrium may differ between cases and controls. Using Fisher's method, it is possible to combine the different sources of genetic information in an overall test for detecting gene × gene joint action. The proposed statistical analysis is efficient and its simplicity makes it applicable to GWASs. In the current study, we applied the proposed approach to a GWAS on schizophrenia and found several potential gene × gene interactions. Our application illustrates the practical advantage of the proposed method.
The relationship between interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist and cognitive function in older adults with bipolar disorder
Authors: Lotrich Francis E. , Butters Meryl A. , Aizenstein Howard , Marron Megan M. , Reynolds Charles F. , Gildengers Ariel G.
Published: November 2013

Objective

Cognitive impairments are a feature of bipolar disorder (BD) and could be worsened by inflammatory cytokines. We determined whether (i) serum interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1RA) was increased in elderly BD subjects; (ii) whether IL‐1RA was associated with worse neurocognitive function; and (iii) whether IL‐1RA was associated with white matter integrity.

Methods

Twenty‐one euthymic BD patients (65 +/− 9 years) with serum available for IL‐1RA measures by enzyme‐linked immunoassays were compared with 26 similarly aged control participants. Four factor analysis‐derived z‐scores and a global z‐score were obtained from a battery of 21 neurocognitive tests. Diffusion tensor images were used to obtain fractional anisotropy (FA), and an automated labeling pathway algorithm was used to obtain white matter hyperintensity burden.

Results

Interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist was elevated in BD subjects compared with controls (439+/−326 pg/mL vs. 269+/−109 pg/mL; p = 0.004). Moreover, IL‐1RA was inversely correlated with three cognitive function factors and global cognition (r = −0.37; p = 0.01). IL‐1RA continued to correlate with global cognitive function even when covarying for either IL‐6 or brain‐derived neurotrophic factor. Although FA was lower in BD subjects (0.368 +/− 0.02 vs. 0.381 +/− 0.01; p = 0.02), IL‐1RA was not associated with FA or white matter hyperintensity burden.

Conclusion

Elevated serum levels of IL‐1RA in BD subjects, even during euthymic states, were associated with worse cognitive function. This association was not explained by co‐occurring increases in IL‐6, by decreased brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, nor by measures of white matter integrity. These cross‐sectional findings support the possibility that the IL‐1 family may contribute to cognitive impairments in BD. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epidemiology and survival outcomes of ocular and mucosal melanomas: A population‐based analysis
Authors: Bishop Kenneth D. , Olszewski Adam J.
Published: November 2013

Extracutaneous melanomas are poorly characterized tumors that include ocular (OM), mucosal (MM) and leptomeningeal melanomas, often lacking standardized staging and treatment guidelines. We analyzed cases of cutaneous melanoma (CM, N = 219,890), OM (N = 7,069) and MM (N = 2,755) of different anatomical origins, diagnosed between 1988 and 2010, recorded in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Relative survival was studied in patients grouped by summary stage classification (localized, regional or distant disease) and in multivariate models adjusting for varying distribution of baseline factors. Unlike in CM, the incidence rate in MM increased exponentially with age. Five‐year relative survival was significantly worse for OM (78%) and for most mucosal sites (aggregate 34%, range 3–69%) compared with CM (89%). The differences between primary sites were particularly pronounced in localized disease, with a hazard ratio of 5.7 for OM, 4.3–9.0 for external genital or oral cavity MM and 19.8–90.4 for other mucosal locations. Melanomas of the pharynx, gastrointestinal, urinary tract and vagina had poor outcomes regardless of clinical stage. In contrast to CM, there was no evidence of improved survival in OM and MM during the study period. A substantial proportion of patients with operable OM or MM underwent radical organ resections (13–88% depending on site and stage) or perioperative radiotherapy (0–66%). In conclusion, extracutaneous melanomas have a markedly worse survival than CM and aggressive locoregional management appears to be insufficient for their control. Because of poor outcomes in MM, studies of systemic therapy are warranted regardless of the extent of disease at presentation.
Circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and postmenopausal breast cancer survival: Influence of tumor characteristics and lifestyle factors?
Authors: Vrieling Alina , Seibold Petra , Johnson Theron S. , Heinz Judith , Obi Nadia , Kaaks Rudolf , Flesch‐Janys Dieter , Chang‐Claude Jenny
Published: November 2013

We previously reported that lower post‐diagnostic circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were associated with higher risk of overall mortality and distant disease in stage I–IV postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. This association was now re‐examined in an extended dataset to investigate potential effect modification by tumor characteristics and lifestyle factors. A prospective cohort study was conducted in Germany including 2,177 incident stage I–IV postmenopausal breast cancer patients aged 50–74 years. Patients were diagnosed between 2001 and 2005 and median follow‐up time was 5.3 years. Cox proportional hazards models were stratified by age at diagnosis, study center and season of blood collection and adjusted for other prognostic factors. A meta‐analysis of studies on circulating 25(OH)D and mortality in breast cancer patients was performed to summarize evidence. Lower concentrations of 25(OH)D were significantly associated with higher risk of overall mortality [hazard ratio (HR) lowest vs. highest tertile = 1.86; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22, 2.82; p‐trend = 0.002] and distant disease (HR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.49; p‐trend = 0.003) in stage I–IIIa but not in stage IIIb–IV breast cancer patients. No significant interaction by lifestyle factors was observed (all p‐interaction > 0.05). The meta‐analysis yielded significant associations with overall and breast cancer‐specific mortality (lowest vs. highest quantile: HR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.88 and HR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.40, respectively). In conclusion, post‐diagnostic circulating 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with overall mortality and distant disease in stage I–IIIa postmenopausal breast cancer patients. This association was not strongly modified by lifestyle factors.
Occupational exposure to crystalline silica and the risk of lung cancer in Canadian men
Authors: Kachuri Linda , Villeneuve Paul J. , Parent Marie‐Élise , Johnson Kenneth C. ,   the Canadian Cancer Registries Epidemiology Group, Harris Shelley A.
Published: November 2013

Crystalline silica is a recognized carcinogen, but the association with lung cancer at lower levels of exposure has not been well characterized. This study investigated the relationship between occupational silica exposure and lung cancer and the combined effects of cigarette smoking and silica exposure on lung cancer risk. A population‐based case‐control study was conducted in eight Canadian provinces between 1994 and 1997. Self‐reported questionnaires were used to obtain a lifetime occupational history and information on other risk factors. Occupational hygienists assigned silica exposures to each job based on concentration, frequency and reliability. Data from 1681 incident lung cancer cases and 2053 controls were analyzed using logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Models included adjustments for cigarette smoking, lifetime residential second‐hand smoke and occupational exposure to diesel and gasoline engine emissions. Relative to the unexposed, increasing duration of silica exposure at any concentration was associated with a significant trend in lung cancer risk (OR ≥ 30 years: 1.67, 1.21–2.24; ptrend = 0.002). The highest tertile of cumulative silica exposure was associated with lung cancer (OR = 1.81, 1.34–2.42; ptrend = 0.004) relative to the lowest. Men exposed to silica for ≥30 years with ≥40 cigarette pack‐years had the highest risk relative to those unexposed with <10 pack‐years (OR = 42.53, 23.54–76.83). The joint relationship with smoking was consistent with a multiplicative model. Our findings suggest that occupational exposure to silica is a risk factor for lung cancer, independently from active and passive smoking, as well as from exposure to other lung carcinogens.
Palmitic Acid and DGAT1 Deficiency Enhance Osteoclastogenesis, while Oleic Acid-Induced Triglyceride Formation Prevents It
Authors: Drosatos-Tampakaki Zoi , Drosatos Konstantinos , Siegelin Yasemin , Gong Shan , Khan Salmiyeh , Van Dyke Thomas , Goldberg Ira J , Schulze P Christian , Schulze-Späte Ulrike
Published: November 2013

Both obesity and diabetes mellitus are associated with alterations in lipid metabolism as well as a change in bone homeostasis and osteoclastogenesis. We hypothesized that increased fatty acid levels affect bone health by altering precursor cell differentiation and osteoclast activation. Here we show that palmitic acid (PA, 16:0) enhances receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-stimulated osteoclastogenesis and is sufficient to induce osteoclast differentiation even in the absence of RANKL. TNFα expression is crucial for PA-induced osteoclastogenesis, as shown by increased TNFα mRNA levels in PA-treated cells and abrogation of PA-stimulated osteoclastogenesis by TNFα neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, oleic acid (OA, 18:1) does not enhance osteoclast differentiation, leads to increased intracellular triglyceride accumulation, and inhibits PA-induced osteoclastogenesis. Adenovirus-mediated expression of diacylglycerol acyl transferase 1 (DGAT1), a gene involved in triglyceride synthesis, also inhibits PA-induced osteoclastogenesis, suggesting a protective role of DGAT1 for bone health. Accordingly, Dgat1 knockout mice have larger bone marrow-derived osteoclasts and decreased bone mass indices. In line with these findings, mice on a high-fat PA-enriched diet have a greater reduction in bone mass and structure than mice on a high-fat OA-enriched diet. Thus, we propose that TNFα mediates saturated fatty acid-induced osteoclastogenesis that can be prevented by DGAT activation or supplementation with OA. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Electrooxidation of Several Organic Compounds on Simply Prepared Metallic Nanoparticles: A Comparative Study
Authors: Etesami Mohammad , Mohamed Norita
Published: November 2013

The electrooxidation of several fuel compounds was studied using metallic nanoparticles of Au, Pd, Pt, AuPd and AuPt synthesized by direct electrodeposition by applying a constant potential of ‐200 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) to pencil graphite in an acidic medium. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) data show that monometallic (Au, Pd and Pt) and alloys of bimetallic nanoparticles of AuPd and AuPt have been formed. The catalytic performance of the prepared electrodes was investigated in a neutral medium (100 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7) by cyclic voltammetry. Amongst all fuels, the highest current densities were obtained by the electrooxidation of formic acid (ca. 9.8 mA cm−2) and formaldehyde (ca. 9.7 mA cm−2) on the AuPt catalyst.
Preparation of ZnO Nanowires and Study of Surface‐adsorbate Interaction by Fourier‐Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Satheeshkumar Elumalai , Yang Jyisy
Published: November 2013

To study the surface‐adsorbate properties of ZnO nanowires, a hydrothermal method was modified to grow ZnO nanowires directly on ZnSe, which were then characterized by attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopy. To prepare ZnO nanowires directly on ATR sensing element of ZnSe, ZnO seed layers were first formed by annealing of ZnO seeds on ZnSe surfaces. The ZnO seed layers then were exposed to growth solution, forming ZnO nanowires directly on the ATR crystals. The interaction properties of the resulting surfaces were studied by an ATR‐IR method. The diameter, length and distribution of the ZnO nanowires can be tuned by adjusting the growth conditions, particularly the growing time and the concentrations of reagents. Two surfaces, namely Zn‐rich and Zn‐O ion‐pair surfaces were studied in detail for their adsorption properties toward compounds bearing different functional groups. By examination of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), it was found that the Zn‐rich surface is less selective and interacts with compounds bearing the functional groups of amino and hydroxyl. The Zn‐O ion‐pair surface is more selective and a much stronger interaction was observed with non‐aromatic amino compounds. These results indicate that the improving of the selectivity of a ZnO‐based sensing device can be achieved by tuning the surface structure of the ZnO nanomaterials.
Phosphonate Congeners of Oseltamivir and Zanamivir as Effective Anti‐influenza Drugs: Design, Synthesis and Biological Activity
Authors: Shie Jiun‐Jie , Fang Jim‐Min
Published: November 2013

Influenza is a long‐standing health problem. We review here the recent development of neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza treatment. Tamiflu, the phosphate salt of oseltamivir, is an orally available neuraminidase inhibitor designed to have a cyclohexene scaffold to mimic the structure of the oxoniumlike intermediate in the enzymatic cleavage of the terminal sialoside from cell receptor. Many new synthetic procedures of oseltamivir without using shikimic acid have been explored because the current industrial manufacture of tamiflu may have problem in shortage of shikimic acid for global supply during influenza pandemics. In these shikimate‐independent syntheses, six different approaches have been utilized to construct the multiple substituted cyclohexene ring: (i) using existing six‐membered rings, (ii) construction by Diels—Alder reactions, (iii) construction by intramolecular aldol, Dieckmann and Wittig reactions, (iv) construction by tandem Michael—Wittig reactions, (v) construction by olefin metathesis, and (vi) construction by Claisen rearrangement. Phosphonate group is generally used as a bioisostere of carboxylate in drug design. The syntheses of tamiphosphor and zanaphosphor, which are the phosphonate congeners of oseltamivir and zanamivir, were recently accomplished and shown to possess potent inhibitory activities against avian and human influenza viruses, including the oseltamivir‐resistant strain, according to the neuraminidase inhibition, cell‐based assay and mice experiments. For the first time, phosphonate monoalkyl esters are proved to be real active drugs, but not prodrugs of the parental phosphonic acids. This review covers the design, synthesis and biological activity of phosphonate compounds as effective anti‐influenza agents.
1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction of Nitrile Oxides Revisited—Unusual Side Products Characterized by 2D NMR
Authors: Gucma M. , Gołębiewski W. M.
Published: November 2013

Cycloaddition of (4‐trifluoromethyl)phenylnitrile oxide to N‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)acrylamide afforded bicyclic tetrahydro‐oxazolo‐(3,2‐b)[1,3]oxazine‐2‐carboxamide derivative in result of N‐acylation of the initially formed cycloadduct by the dipolarophile. 2:1 Cycloaddition of the same dipole to N‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)crotonamide yielded dihydro[1,2]‐oxazolo[2,3‐d][1,2,4]oxadiazole‐7‐carboxamide because of the second addition of the dipole to the C═N bond of the first formed 2‐isoxazoline compound. Structures of the products have been elucidated by an extensive application of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.
Mn(III)‐catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of 3‐Alkyl‐4‐hydroxy‐1H‐pyrrol‐2(5H)‐ones in the Presence of 1,1‐Diarylethenes. Synthesis of Stable 8‐Aza‐1‐hydroxy‐2,3‐dioxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan‐7‐one Framework
Authors: Haque Aminul , Nishino Hiroshi
Published: November 2013

Twenty‐two 3‐alkyl‐4‐hydroxy‐1H‐pyrrol‐2(5H)‐ones were prepared and underwent Mn(III)‐catalyzed aerobic oxidation in the presence of 1,1‐diarylethenes to produce very stable crystalline 6‐alkyl‐8‐aza‐4,4‐diaryl‐1‐hydroxy‐2,3‐dioxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan‐7‐ones in high yields.
HEALTH EXPECTATIONS AND HEALTH ACHIEVEMENTS: RESPIRATORY TUBERCULOSIS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY BETWEEN 1950 AND 1980—A DEVELOPING ECONOMY PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Bowden Sue , Sadler Alex
Published: November 2013

In the early post‐war years, tuberculosis could be prevented, identified and cured. This paper is about why that promise was not realised. We have collated evidence on the morbidity and mortality problem over a wider range of countries than previously explored. This revealed a divided world in which some people were denied release from the disease. We consider the extent to which development itself creates the condition in which the disease spreads, by assessing how and why the emerging markets experienced and dealt with the disease. Finally, we consider why so many peoples in the developing world continued to contract the disease and die. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.