bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant transcription factors from the homeodomain‐leucine zipper family I. Role in development and stress responses
Authors: Perotti María Florencia , Ribone Pamela Anahí , Chan Raquel Lía
Published: March 2017

In front of stressful conditions plants display adaptation mechanisms leading to changes in their morphology, physiology, development and molecular composition. Transcription factors (TFs) play crucial roles in these complex adaptation processes. This work is focused in the homeodomain‐leucine zipper I (HD‐Zip I) family of TFs, unique to plants. First discovered in 1991, they were identified and isolated from monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants showing high structural similarity and diversified functions. These TFs have, besides the homeodomain and leucine zipper, conserved motifs in their carboxy‐termini allowing the interaction with the basal machinery and with other regulatory proteins. The model dicotyledonous plant Arabidopsis thaliana has 17 HD‐Zip I members; most of them regulated by external stimuli and hormones. These TFs are involved in key developmental processes like root and stem elongation, rosette leaves morphology determination, inflorescence stem branching, flowering and pollen hydration. Moreover, they are key players in responses to environmental stresses and illumination conditions. Several HD‐Zip I encoding genes from different species were protected in patents because their overexpression or mutation generates improved agronomical phenotypes. Here we discuss many aspects about these TFs including structural features, biological functions and their utilization as biotechnological tools to improve crops. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(5):280–289, 2017
Molecular Dynamics Validation of Crizotinib Resistance to ALK Mutations (L1196M and G1269A) and Identification of Specific Inhibitors
Authors: Nagasundaram Nagarajan , Wilson Alphonse Carlton Ranjith , Samuel Gnana Prakash Vincent , Rajaretinam Rajesh Kannan
Published: March 2017

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are mostly treated with ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Crizotinib is the first generation ALK inhibitor practiced as a primary chemo to combat cancer cells followed by second generation inhibitor ceritinib which are effective against crizotinib resistant ALK mutations. However, patients treated with these drugs invariably relapsed because of the development of new drug resistance mutations. In this study we explored the crizotinib resistance in the presence of ALK mutations L1196M and G1269A through molecular dynamics simulation studies. Further mutation specific inhibitors CID 71748211 and CID 71728095 were identified to potentially inhibit ALK with mutations L1196M and G1269A, respectively. This computational investigation in‐sighted the molecular factors involved in crizotinib resistance which enhanced in the identification of new ALK drugs that brings individualized medicine to treat ALK positive NSCLC patients with specific mutations. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3462–3471, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Targeting Immunotherapy to the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Dougan Michael , Dougan Stephanie K.
Published: March 2017

Targeting drugs to the tumor microenvironment has long been appreciated as a means of increasing local concentrations and decreasing systemic toxicities. How drug targeting might apply to immune‐based therapies is less clear. In this review, we explain the immunology of cancer, with a focus on the principles of in situ vaccination. Certain types of therapies are more amenable to local versus systemic delivery; these include cytokines, adjuvants, radiation, and agents targeting tumor‐resident cell populations. Several approaches for targeting the tumor microenvironment are under development. Nanoparticles, peptide or antibody‐based delivery, and exploitation of cellular influx are all promising ways to delivery immune modulating compounds to tumors. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3049–3054, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
hsa‐mir‐3199‐2 and hsa‐mir‐1293 as Novel Prognostic Biomarkers of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma by COX Ratio Risk Regression Model Screening
Authors: Luo Wen , Wang Lei , Luo Mao‐Hua , Huang Yu‐Zhu , Yang Hua , Zhou Yu , Jia Hong‐Tao , Wang Xiu‐Xin
Published: March 2017

Papillary renal cell carcinoma(PRCC) is the second most common and aggressive renal cell carcinoma. Identification of novel microRNA biomarkers could be beneficial for the diagnosis and prognosis of PRCC patients. We aimed to screen differentially expressed miRNAs that can act as prognostic factors and to predict the survival of PRCC patients. High‐throughput data of miRNAs of 274 PRCC samples were downloaded from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) dataset and interested miRNAs were identified. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed on these miRNAs. Critical genes that can act as prognostic factors were screened by LASSO. What's more, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) growth curve were used to testify the accuracy of the model. Biological processes of putative targets of miRNAs were analyzed by bioinformatics methods such as GO (Go Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis. A total of 105 differentially expressed miRNAs were screened out in PRCC samples compared with healthy controls. Two critical miRNAs, hsa‐mir‐3199‐2, and hsa‐mir‐1293, were screened out by LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator), including 197 and 189 target genes, respectively. Furthermore, its’ accuracy was testified by ROC analysis with the AUC (Area under the curve) value of 0.7774968 and 0.6743466. These miRNAs were significantly enriched in pathways as platelet activating factor biosynthetic process, epithelial cell maturation, and IkappaB kinase complex. In conclusion, hsa‐mir‐3199‐2 and hsa‐mir‐1293 that can act as prognostic biomarkers of PRCC were screened out, which can provide new insights for the clinical treatment of the disease. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3488–3494, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Overexpression of Hsa‐miR‐320 Is Associated With Invasion and Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Wang Wei , Yang Juan , Xiang Yuan‐Yuan , Pi Jie , Bian Jiang
Published: March 2017

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignant tumor of female genital organs which ranks the third morbidity. We aimed to provide a better understanding of the mechanism of invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer. The ovarian cancer samples were downloaded from GEO. Then clustering was performed to classify the stage of miRNAs based on the difference of prognosis and metastasis. Furthermore, the miRNAs model was build and the survival analysis processes was performed to observe the influence on prognosis, invasion and metastasis. At last, miRNAs co‐expression network was built to explore the core miRNAs and the risk classification model was built to perform the risk assessment based on these core miRNAs. A total of 17 significantly differential expressed miRNAs were obtained. Functional enrichment of 1,488 target genes, pathways like cell cycle, focal adhesion, and pathways in cancer, which are closely related to the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells were highly enriched, this indicate that these miRNAs are related to the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. The co‐expressed network shows that the high expression of hsa‐miR‐320 indicated negative prognosis and high risk of metastasis. In conclusion, the expression level of hsa‐miR‐320 is highly related to the migration and invasion of cancer. The high expression of hsa‐miR‐320 directly indicated negative prognosis and high risk of metastasis. These findings reveal that hsa‐miR‐320 may serve as an important therapeutic target in ovarian cancer therapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3654–3661, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neuroprotective Effects of Loganin on MPTP‐Induced Parkinson's Disease Mice: Neurochemistry, Glial Reaction and Autophagy Studies
Authors: Xu Yi‐Da , Cui Chun , Sun Meng‐Fei , Zhu Ying‐Li , Chu Min , Shi Yun‐Wei , Lin Stanley Li , Yang Xu‐Sheng , Shen Yan‐Qin
Published: March 2017

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, involving resting tremor and bradykinesia, for which no recognized therapies or drugs are available to halt or slow progression. In recent years, natural botanic products have been considered relatively safe, with limited side effects, and are expected to become an important source for clinical mediation of PD in the future. Our study focuses on the ability of loganin, a compound derived from fruits of cornus, to mediate neuroprotection in a mouse model of PD. Mice were administered 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) with a dosage of 30 mg/kg daily for 5 days to establish a subacute PD model and treated with loganin. Locomotor activity was assessed by a pole test, then mice were euthanized at 1 and 3 days after the last treatment, and brain tissue was prepared for subsequent assays. Loganin rescued decrease of dopamine levels and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the striatum, and shortened total locomotor activity (TLA) time of mice. Furthermore, loganin alleviated microglia and astrocyte activation, and suppressed TNF‐α and caspase‐3 expression through a c‐Abl‐p38‐NFκB pathway. Loganin also downregulated LC3‐II and Drp1 expression, and decreased the level of acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs). Loganin exerts neuroprotective effects on MPTP‐induced PD mice by decreasing inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis, suggesting that loganin could serve as a therapeutic drug to ameliorate PD. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3495–3510, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dual‐specificity tyrosine phosphorylation‐regulated kinase 2 regulates osteoclast fusion in a cell heterotypic manner
Authors: Guterman‐Ram Gali , Pesic Milena , Orenbuch Ayelet , Czeiger Tal , Aflalo Anastasia , Levaot Noam
Published: March 2017

Monocyte fusion into osteoclasts, bone resorbing cells, plays a key role in bone remodeling and homeostasis; therefore, aberrant cell fusion may be involved in a variety of debilitating bone diseases. Research in the last decade has led to the discovery of genes that regulate osteoclast fusion, but the basic molecular and cellular regulatory mechanisms underlying the fusion process are not completely understood. Here, we reveal a role for Dyrk2 in osteoclast fusion. We demonstrate that Dyrk2 down regulation promotes osteoclast fusion, whereas its overexpression inhibits fusion. Moreover, Dyrk2 also promotes the fusion of foreign‐body giant cells, indicating that Dyrk2 plays a more general role in cell fusion. In an earlier study, we showed that fusion is a cell heterotypic process initiated by fusion‐founder cells that fuse to fusion‐follower cells, the latter of which are unable to initiate fusion. Here, we show that Dyrk2 limits the expansion of multinucleated founder cells through the suppression of the fusion competency of follower cells.
Primary cilium alterations and expression changes of Patched1 proteins in niemann‐pick type C disease
Authors: Formichi Patrizia , Battisti Carla , De Santi Maria M. , Guazzo Raffaella , Tripodi Sergio A. , Radi Elena , Rossi Benedetta , Tarquini Ermelinda , Federico Antonio
Published: March 2017

Niemann‐Pick type C disease (NPC) is a disorder characterized by abnormal intracellular accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and glycolipids. Two distinct disease‐causing genes have been isolated, NPC1 and NPC2. The NPC1 protein is involved in the sorting and recycling of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids in the late endosomal/lysosomal system. It has extensive homology with the Patched1 (Ptc1) receptor, a transmembrane protein localized in the primary cilium, and involved in the Hedgehog signaling (Shh) pathway. We assessed the presence of NPC1 and Ptc1 proteins and evaluated the relative distribution and morphology of primary cilia in fibroblasts from five NPC1 patients and controls, and in normal fibroblasts treated with 3‐ß‐[2‐(diethylamino)ethoxy]androst‐5‐en‐17‐one (U18666A), a cholesterol transport‐inhibiting drug that is widely used to mimic NPC. Immunofluorescence and western blot analyses showed a significant decrease in expression of NPC1 and Ptc1 in NPC1 fibroblasts, while they were normally expressed in U18666A‐treated fibroblasts. Moreover, fibroblasts from NPC1 patients and U18666A‐treated cells showed a lower percentage distribution of primary cilia and a significant reduction in median cilia length with respect to controls. These are the first results demonstrating altered cytoplasmic expression of Ptc1 and reduced number and length of primary cilia, where Ptc1 is located, in fibroblasts from NPC1 patients. We suggest that the alterations in Ptc1 expression in cells from NPC1 patients are closely related to NPC1 expression deficit, while the primary cilia alterations observed in NPC1 and U18666A‐treated fibroblasts may represent a secondary event derived from a defective metabolic pathway.
Chemoenzymatic synthesis of poly(phenylene disulfides) with insulating properties and resistant to high temperatures
Authors: Sierra Estefanía , Miranda‐Molina Alfonso , Castillo Edmundo , Hu Hailin , Ayala Marcela
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

Cyclic aromatic disulfides (CAD) can be used as cross‐linking agents or precursors for the synthesis of high temperature resistant polymers such as poly(phenylene disulfides) (PPD). Chemical synthesis of CAD relies on the use of corrosive agents, detrimental for the environment. This paper reports an environment friendly chemoenzymatic procedure to obtain PPD starting from simple aromatic dithiols.

RESULTS

The enzymatic reaction was carried out in an aqueous mixture with acetonitrile as co‐solvent, using 1,4‐ and 1,3‐benzenedithiol as monomers and a fungal laccase (EC 1.10.3.2) as catalyst. The products obtained were identified as mainly cyclic aromatic disulfides. Thermal analysis suggested that the enzymatically‐synthesized CAD display thermal stability and are amenable precursors of high molecular weight sulfur‐containing polymers through solvent‐free, melt ring opening polymerization (mROP). After mROP, polymeric molecules around 12.8 kDa were obtained and identified as PPD. The resultant PPD shows uniform size, resistance to temperatures up to 400 °C and electrical insulating properties.

CONCLUSION

Laccase‐catalyzed synthesis of CAD represents a novel reaction, not previously described elsewhere for oxidoreductases. A 100% substrate conversion was achieved under mild reaction conditions and no over‐oxidation of CAD was observed, representing an advantage over chemical synthesis. The CAD products precipitated completely from the reaction medium, thus simplifying the purification process. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Proteome comparison for discrimination between honeydew and floral honeys from botanical species Mimosa scabrella Bentham by principal component analysis
Authors: Azevedo Mônia Stremel , Valentim‐Neto Pedro Alexandre , Seraglio Siluana Katia Tischer , da Luz Cynthia Fernandes Pinto , Arisi Ana Carolina Maisonnave , Costa Ana Carolina Oliveira
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

Due to the increasing valuation and appreciation of honeydew honey in many European countries and also to existing contamination among different types of honeys, authentication is an important aspect of quality control with regard to guaranteeing the origin in terms of source (honeydew or floral) and needs to be determined. Furthermore, proteins are minor components of the honey, despite the importance of their physiological effects, and can differ according to the source of the honey. In this context, the aims of this study were to carry out protein extraction from honeydew and floral honeys and to discriminate these honeys from the same botanical species, Mimosa scabrella Bentham, through proteome comparison using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and principal component analysis.

RESULTS

The results showed that the proteome profile and principal component analysis can be a useful tool for discrimination between these types of honey using matched proteins (45 matched spots). Also, the proteome profile showed 160 protein spots in honeydew honey and 84 spots in the floral honey.

CONCLUSION

The protein profile can be a differential characteristic of this type of honey, in view of the importance of proteins as bioactive compounds in honey. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Impact of drying and micronization on the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of celery stalk
Authors: Ramachandraiah Karna , Chin Koo Bok
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

The influence of convective drying and ball‐mill treatment of celery stalk on particle size distribution, physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities were analyzed in this study.

RESULTS

Ball‐milling of celery stalk dried at temperatures of 50, 75 and 100 °C resulted in decreased average particle sizes of 48.8, 10.5 and 7.2 µm, respectively. Bulk density was increased with reduced particle size. Darker (L*) and reddish (a*) powders were formed at higher temperatures, while ball‐milling increased greenness (−a*) of powders dried at 50 and 75 °C. Total content of phenol compounds increased with increasing temperature. 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and reducing power were affected by ball‐milling for 24 h and drying at elevated temperatures. Iron chelating ability was unaffected by increasing temperature or reduced particle size.

CONCLUSION

Increasing drying temperatures not only decreased the average particle size of powders, but also increasingly reduced particle size after ball‐milling. Micronization of celery stalk dried at the highest temperature had the best antioxidant activities. Drying and ball‐milling were not highly deleterious to the major phenolic structures. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Reporting of mitotic rate in cutaneous melanoma: A study using the national cancer data base
Authors: Lorimer Patrick D. , Benham Emily C. , Walsh Kendall , Han Yimei , Forster Meghan R. , Sarantou Terry , White Richard L. , Hill Joshua S.
Published: March 2017

Background

The seventh edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer staging manual (AJCC7, published 2009), updated thin cutaneous melanoma staging protocols with the incorporation of mitotic rate (MR). In these patients, higher MR is associated with decreased survival. This study utilizes the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to evaluate MR reporting since AJCC7.

Methods

The NCDB was queried for patients with primary cutaneous melanoma from 1998 to 2013. Because MR reporting was infrequent prior to implementing AJCC7, records from 2010 to 2013 were analyzed. Categorical variables were compared with chi‐square tests; univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to determine the effects of covariates on MR reporting.

Results

A total of 107,134 patients met inclusion criteria. From 2010 to 2013, MR reporting increased dramatically (64.3–80.9%). On multivariate analysis, factors significantly related to increased MR reporting include later diagnosis year, T‐classification (T1a and b vs. T1), facility type (academic vs. other specified types of cancer programs), facility volume, patient income, level of education, and county population (metropolitan vs. urban and rural).

Conclusions

MR reporting increased dramatically after the introduction of AJCC7; however, disparities in reporting remain across facility types. Further investigation of procedures performed in academic settings that may influence reporting of MR is warranted. J. Surg. Oncol. 2017;115:281–286. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
RBC transfusion is associated with increased risk of respiratory failure after pneumonectomy
Authors: Kidane Biniam , Plourde Madelaine , Leydier Larissa , Chadi Sami A. , Eckert Kathleen , Srinathan Sadeesh , Fortin Dalilah , Frechette Eric , Inculet Richard I. , Malthaner Richard A.
Published: March 2017

Background and Objectives

Pneumonectomy is associated with high risk of respiratory complications. Our objective was to determine if transfusions are associated with increased rate of ARDS and respiratory failure in adults undergoing elective pneumonectomy.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of consecutive pneumonectomies undertaken at a tertiary hospital (2003‐2013). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to adjust for confounding factors.

Results

ARDS and respiratory failure occurred in 12.4% (n = 20) and 19.2% (n = 31) of 161 pneumonectomy patients, respectively, and were more likely to occur in transfused patients (P = 0.03, P < 0.001). pRBCs, FFP and platelets were transfused in 27% (n = 43), 6% (n = 9), and 2% (n = 3), respectively. On multivariable analyses utilizing blood products as continuous and binary variables, pRBC use was the only independent predictor of ARDS with odds ratio (OR) = 1.23 (95%CI:1.08‐1.39, P = 0.002) and OR = 2.45 (95%CI:1.10‐5.49, P = 0.03), respectively. On multivariable analyses utilizing blood products as continuous and binary variables, pRBCs were the only independent predictor of respiratory failure with OR = 1.37 (95%CI:1.16‐1.60, P < 0.001) and OR = 3.17 (95%CI:1.25‐8.02, P = 0.02), respectively.

Conclusions

Peri‐operative pRBC use appears to be an independent risk factor for ARDS and respiratory failure after pneumonectomy. There is a significant dose‐response relationship. Platelets and FFP did not appear to increase ARDS risk but this may be due to low utilization.
Liver parenchyma transection‐first approach in hemihepatectomy with en bloc caudate lobectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: A safe technique to secure favorable surgical outcomes
Authors: Kawabata Yasunari , Hayashi Hikota , Yano Seiji , Tajima Yoshitsugu
Published: March 2017

Background

Although hemihepatectomy with total caudate lobectomy (hemiHx‐tc) is essential for the surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, the advantage of an anterior approach for hemiHx‐tc has not been fully discussed technically; the significance of an anterior approach without liver mobilization for preventing infectious complications also remains unknown.

Methods

The liver parenchyma transection‐first approach (Hp‐first) technique is an early transection of the hepatic parenchyma without mobilization of the liver that utilizes a modified liver‐hanging maneuver to avoid damaging the future remnant liver.

Results

Between May 2010 and August 2016, a total of 40 consecutive patients underwent surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Of these, 19 patients underwent a conventional hemihepatectomy with total caudate lobectomy (cHx), while 21 patients received a Hp‐first. The patients in the Hp‐first group had significantly less intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.001) and blood transfusion (P < 0.001), a lower incidence of postoperative hyperbilirubinemia (p = 0.023), a lower incidence of liver failure (p = 0.038), a lower hospital death rate (p = 0.042), and a better 2‐year disease‐free survival rate (p = 0.010) than those in the cHx group.

Conclusions

The liver parenchyma transection‐first approach is the preferred technique for hemiHx‐tc in hilar cholangiocarcinoma because it resulted in improved surgical outcomes as compared with the conventional approach.
Impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation on perioperative outcomes in patients with rectal cancer
Authors: Chapman Brandon C. , Hosokawa Patrick , Henderson William , Paniccia Alessandro , Overbey Douglas M. , Messersmith Wells , Lieu Christopher , Stiegmann Greg V. , Schulick Richard D. , Gajdos Csaba
Published: March 2017

Background and Objectives

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer is associated with lower local recurrence rates. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of neoadjuvant therapy on perioperative complications in patients with rectal cancer.

Methods

Using the ACS‐NSQIP database (2005‐2012), a propensity score was used to match 3592 patients with rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant therapy to 3592 patients undergoing surgery alone. The association between neoadjuvant chemoradiation and perioperative outcomes was evaluated.

Results

Among all patients, overall morbidity was significantly higher in the neoadjuvant therapy group (n = 1170, 29.9%) compared to the surgery alone (n = 2350, 26.4%; P < 0.0001), but 30‐day mortality was lower in the neoadjuvant group (n = 27, 0.7%) compared to the surgery alone group (n = 112, 1.3%; P = 0.0043). However, in propensity‐matched patients, there was no difference in overall morbidity (OR 0.912, 95% CI 0.825‐1.008) or 30‐day mortality (OR 0.639, 95% CI 0.38‐1.05). Overall morbidity and 30‐day mortality were 29.3% (n = 1054) and 0.7% (n = 25) in the neoadjuvant group, respectively, compared to 31.3% (n = 1124) and 1.1% (n = 39) in the surgery alone group, respectively.

Conclusion

Patients with newly diagnosed rectal cancer could be evaluated for neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgical resection without the fear of upfront therapy causing a significant increase in perioperative complications.
Characterization of blue light irradiation effects on pathogenic and nonpathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Abana Courtney M. , Brannon John R. , Ebbott Rebecca A. , Dunigan Taryn L. , Guckes Kirsten R. , Fuseini Hubaida , Powers Jennifer , Rogers Bridget R. , Hadjifrangiskou Maria
Published: March 2017

Blue light irradiation (BLI) is an FDA‐approved method for treating certain types of infections, like acne, and is becoming increasingly attractive as an antimicrobial strategy as the prevalence of antibiotic‐resistant “superbugs” rises. However, no study has delineated the effectiveness of BLI throughout different bacterial growth phases, especially in more BLI‐tolerant organisms such as Escherichia coli. While the vast majority of E. coli strains are nonpathogenic, several E. coli pathotypes exist that cause infection within and outside the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we compared the response of E. coli strains from five phylogenetic groups to BLI with a 455 nm wavelength (BLI455), using colony‐forming unit and ATP measurement assays. Our results revealed that BLI455 is not bactericidal, but can retard E. coli growth in a manner that is dependent on culture age and strain background. This observation is critical, given that bacteria on and within mammalian hosts are found in different phases of growth.
R&D investment under spatial price discrimination
Authors: Heywood John S. , Wang Zheng
Published: March 2017

This paper uniquely examines an R&D rivalry under spatial price discrimination and compares two alternative timings. When firms invest first, they locate efficiently but overinvest in cost‐reducing R&D if spillover is modest. When firms locate first, they locate inefficiently and always underinvest in cost‐reducing R&D. Although the R&D investment improves social welfare under either timing, profit always declines and so it would never be undertaken if firms cooperate. Both timings are relevant as we identify circumstances under which each will endogenously be chosen in a premarket stage. Critically, the equilibrium timing is often not the socially beneficial timing.
Error analysis of discontinuous Galerkin finite element method for optimal control problem governed by the transport equation
Authors: Liu Huipo , Wang Shuanghu , Han Hongbin , Yuan Lan
Published: March 2017

This article discusses a priori and a posteriori error estimates of discontinuous Galerkin finite element method for optimal control problem governed by the transport equation. We use variational discretization concept to discretize the control variable and discontinuous piecewise linear finite elements to approximate the state and costate variable. Based on the error estimates of discontinuous Galerkin finite element method for the transport equation, we get a priori and a posteriori error estimates for the transport equation optimal control problem. Finally, two numerical experiments are carried out to confirm the theoretical analysis.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 1493–1512, 2017
Impact of maternal obesity on very preterm infants
Authors: Khalak Rubia , Rijhsinghani Asha , McCallum Sarah E.
Published: March 2017

Objective

Infants born at less than  34 weeks' gestational age are at higher risk for morbidity and mortality. Data are limited on the impact of maternal obesity on the very preterm infant. This study reviewed whether maternal obesity further increases the intensive care needs of very preterm infants of less than 34 weeks' gestation.

Methods

Maternal and neonatal data for live‐born singleton births of 23 0/7 to 33 6/7 weeks' gestation delivering in upstate New York were reviewed. BMI categorization followed the National Institutes of Health BMI classification that subdivides obesity into three ascending BMI groups.

Results

Records were obtained on 1,224 women, of whom 31.6% were classified with obesity. Despite similar mean gestational age (31 to 31.6 weeks, P = 0.57) and birth weight (1,488 to 1,569 g, P = 0.51) of the infants in the BMI categories, delivery room (DR) resuscitation was more common for infants of women with level III obesity (63.2%, P = 0.04) with a trend toward the continued need for assisted ventilation (54.7%, P = 0.06).

Conclusions

Preterm infants of women with level III obesity were more likely to require DR resuscitation with a trend to continued need for ventilatory support beyond 6 hours of age. This could impact utilization of DR resources at delivering hospitals.
Thymidylate synthase is functionally associated with ZEB1 and contributes to the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition of cancer cells
Authors: Siddiqui Aarif , Vazakidou Maria Eleni , Schwab Annemarie , Napoli Francesca , Fernandez‐Molina Cristina , Rapa Ida , Stemmler Marc P , Volante Marco , Brabletz Thomas , Ceppi Paolo
Published: March 2017

Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a fundamental enzyme of nucleotide metabolism and one of the oldest anti‐cancer targets. Beginning from the analysis of gene array data from the NCI‐60 panel of cancer cell lines, we identified a significant correlation at both gene and protein level between TS and the markers of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), a developmental process that allows cancer cells to acquire features of aggressiveness, like motility and chemoresistance. TS levels were found to be significantly augmented in mesenchymal‐like compared to epithelial‐like cancer cells, to be regulated by EMT induction, and to negatively correlate with micro‐RNAs (miRNAs) usually expressed in epithelial‐like cells and known to actively suppress EMT. Transfection of EMT‐suppressing miRNAs reduced TS levels, and a specific role for miR‐375 in targeting the TS 3'‐untranslated region was identified. A particularly relevant association was found between TS and the powerful EMT driver ZEB1, the shRNA‐mediated knockdown of which up‐regulated miR‐375 and reduced TS cellular levels. The TS–ZEB1 association was confirmed in clinical specimens from lung tumours and in a genetic mouse model of pancreatic cancer with ZEB1 deletion. Interestingly, TS itself appeared to have a regulatory role in EMT in cancer cells, as TS knockdown could directly reduce the EMT phenotype, the migratory ability of cells, the expression of stem‐like markers, and chemoresistance. Taken together, these data indicate that the TS enzyme is functionally linked with EMT and cancer differentiation, with several potential translational implications. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extramedullary leukemia in children with acute myeloid leukemia: A population‐based cohort study from the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (NOPHO)
Authors: Støve Heidi Kristine , Sandahl Julie Damgaard , Abrahamsson Jonas , Asdahl Peter H. , Forestier Erik , Ha Shau‐Yin , Jahnukainen Kirsi , Jónsson Ólafur G. , Lausen Birgitte , Palle Josefine , Zeller Bernward , Hasle Henrik
Published: March 2017

Background

The prognostic significance of extramedullary leukemia (EML) in childhood acute myeloid leukemia is not clarified.

Procedure

This population‐based study included 315 children from the NOPHO‐AML 2004 trial.

Results

At diagnosis, 73 (23%) patients had EML: 39 (12%) had myeloid sarcoma, 22 (7%) had central nervous system disease, and 12 (4%) had both. EML was associated with young age (median age: 2.6 years), a high white blood cell count (median: 40 × 109/l), M5 morphology (40%), and 11q23/MLL (KMT2A) rearrangements (34%). No patient received involved field radiotherapy. Five‐year event‐free survival did not differ significantly between the EML and the non‐EML patients (54% vs. 45%, P = 0.57), whereas 5‐year overall survival (OS) was significantly lower in the EML group (64% vs. 73%, P = 0.04). The risk of induction death was significantly higher for EML patients (8% vs. 1%, P = 0.002). There was a trend toward a lower risk of relapse for EML patients (5‐year cumulative incidence of relapse 33% vs. 49%, P = 0.16). Traumatic lumbar puncture did not adversely affect survival in this cohort.

Conclusions

EML was associated with increased risk of induction death impacting the OS. No patients relapsed at the primary site of the myeloid sarcoma despite management without radiotherapy.
Reaction kinetics of polyfurfuryl alcohol bioresin and nanoparticles by 1H‐NMR transverse relaxation measurements
Authors: Vargas Maria A. , Scheubner Mirjam , Guthausen Gisela
Published: March 2017

The polymerization of Furfuryl Alcohol (FA) was studied systematically by NMR transverse relaxation. A special focus is on the impact of nanoparticles (BTN, TMOA, and APTES) on the reaction kinetic of the resin's polycondensation. The NMR spin‐spin relaxation rate (R2) was measured by the Carr–Purcell–Meiboom‐Gill (CPMG) multiecho sequence. The molecular mobility of the resin's molecules during reaction could be followed by R2 as a function of curing time. R2 for the chain protons increased with reaction time. R2 increased faster in the presence of nanoclay, thus, nanoclay acts as a sort of catalyst in FA polymerization. The results strongly suggest that entanglements and filler‐induced packing disruption play a major role in polymer dynamics. Based on the experimental data, the curing kinetics was modeled by considering both chemical and diffusion‐controlled autocatalytic kinetic models. The order of the overall reaction was found to be approximately 2. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:3280–3288, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Dynamic load on composite laminates in the presence of water
Authors: Lopresto V. , Langella A. , Papa I.
Published: March 2017

An experimental activity, in order to assess the impact behavior at room and low temperature, of carbon fiber in vinylester resin laminates used in the shipbuilding industry, was conducted. The conditions, which simulate the impact of a tool that drop on the panel mounted on a boat hull in contact with water, were reproduced. This is a condition named water backing, in the middle between the pure impact (air backing) and the hull slamming, and not already tested before. An innovative equipment was designed and realized at University of Naples “Federico II,” to reproduce the real dynamic material behavior in the presence of water, at the aim to investigate the influence of the water backed on the response of laminates under impact conditions. The results were obtained impacting the laminates placed between the cylindrical steel impactor and a bag containing water. A falling weight machine, equipped with a thermal chamber, was adopted for the experimental tests. The simulated test condition is completely new since no similar research is possible to find in literature. The impact behavior in hostile environments was compared to the room conditions, and the data obtained by the water backed loading tests were compared with the results by the pure impact tests. In the latter case, a completely different behavior was observed between the two different loading conditions, in terms of both load–displacement curve and the internal damage. The effect of the impact load on the laminates has been analyzed through the delamination and the indentation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:613–620, 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Dual‐responsive crosslinked micelles of a multifunctional graft copolymer for drug delivery applications
Authors: Lin Shudong , Feng Shiting , Mo Yangmiao , Tu Yuanyuan , Guo Yu , Hu Jiwen , Liu Guojun , Zhong Zhiwei , Miao Lei , Zou Hailiang , Liu Feng
Published: March 2017

A novel multifunctional amphiphilic graft copolymer has been synthesized consisting of a biodegradable poly(l‐aspartic acid) backbone that was decorated by water‐soluble poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and pH‐responsive poly(N,N‐diethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) side‐chains as well as thiol pendant groups. This graft copolymer together with doxorubicin (DOX) formed micelles in water at pH = 10.0 with PDEAEMA and DOX acting as the core and PEG serving as the micellar corona. Upon oxidation, the thiol groups dimerized to form disulfide bonds, thus “locking in” the micellar structure. These crosslinked micelles expanded as the pH was decreased from 7.4 to 5.0 or upon the addition, at pH = 7.4, of glutathione (GSH), a thiol‐containing oligopeptide that is present in cancerous cells and cleaves disulfide bonds. At pH = 5.0, GSH addition triggered the disassembly of the micelles. The expansion and disassembly of the micelles have been determined via in vitro experiments to evaluate their DOX release behavior. More importantly, the graft copolymer micelles could enter cells by means of endocytosis and deliver DOX to the nuclei of ovarian cancer BEL‐7402 cells. Thus, this polymer and its micelles are promising candidates for drug delivery applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 1536–1546
Mindfulness‐based stress reduction added to care as usual for lung cancer patients and/or their partners: A multicentre randomized controlled trial
Authors: Schellekens M.P.J. , van den Hurk D.G.M. , Prins J.B. , Donders A.R.T. , Molema J. , Dekhuijzen R. , van der Drift M.A. , Speckens A.E.M.
Published: March 2017

Objective

Lung cancer patients report among the highest distress rates of all cancer patients. Partners report similar distress rates. The present study examined the effectiveness of additional mindfulness‐based stress reduction (care as usual [CAU] + MBSR) versus solely CAU to reduce psychological distress in lung cancer patients and/or their partners.

Methods

We performed a multicentre, parallel‐group, randomized controlled trial. Mindfulness‐based stress reduction is an 8‐week group‐based intervention, including mindfulness practice and teachings on stress. Care as usual included anticancer treatment, medical consultations, and supportive care. The primary outcome was psychological distress. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, caregiver burden, relationship satisfaction, mindfulness skills, self‐compassion, rumination, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post‐intervention, and 3‐month follow‐up. Linear mixed modeling was conducted on an intention‐to‐treat sample. Moderation (gender, disease stage, baseline distress, participation with/without partner) and mediation analyses were performed.

Results

A total of 31 patients and 21 partners were randomized to CAU + MBSR and 32 patients and 23 partners to CAU. After CAU + MBSR patients reported significantly less psychological distress (p = .008, d = .69) than after CAU. Baseline distress moderated outcome: those with more distress benefitted most from MBSR. Additionally, after CAU + MBSR patients showed more improvements in quality of life, mindfulness skills, self‐compassion, and rumination than after CAU. In partners, no differences were found between groups.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that psychological distress in lung cancer patients can be effectively treated with MBSR. No effect was found in partners, possibly because they were more focused on patients' well‐being rather than their own.
Metal–metal bonding in biscycloheptatrienyl dimetal compounds of the second‐row transition metals
Authors: Zhang Zhihui , Feng Xuejun , Chen Qun , He Mingyang , Xie Yaoming , Bruce King R. , Schaefer Henry F.
Published: March 2017

Density functional theory has been used to examine the dimetallocene‐like dicycloheptatrienyl dimetal compounds of the second‐row transition metals (C7H7)2M2 (M = Ru, Tc, Mo, Nb, Zr). The lowest energy (C7H7)2Mo2 structure is a coaxial structure with terminal η7C7H7 rings, whereas the lowest energy (C7H7)2M2 structures (M = Ru, Tc, Nb, Zr) are perpendicular structures with bridging η4,η4C7H7 rings except for the perpendicular (η4,η3C7H7)2Ru2 structure. The metal–metal bond orders in the (C7H7)2M2 structures (M = Ru, Tc, Mo, Nb), as determined by analysis of their frontier molecular orbitals, suggest preferred 16‐ rather than 18‐electron configurations for the central metal atoms. Thus, in the coaxial (η7C7H7)2M2 structures the formal bond orders are two for M = Tc and three for M = Mo. For the perpendicular structures both (η4,η3C7H7)2Ru2 and (η4,η4C7H7)2Tc2 have 16‐electron configurations with metal–metal single bonds owing to the different modes of bonding of the bridging C7H7 rings in the two structures. For the (C7H7)2Zr2 system the perpendicular structure has a formal ZrZr double bond and the coaxial structure has a very long (∼3.5 Å) ZrZr bond indicating only 12‐ to 14‐electron configurations for the zirconium atoms.
Rainwater, soil water, and soil nitrate effects on oxygen isotope ratios of nitrous oxide produced in a green tea (Camellia sinensis) field in Japan
Authors: Zou Yun , Hirono Yuhei , Yanai Yosuke , Hattori Shohei , Toyoda Sakae , Yoshida Naohiro
Published: March 2017

Rationale

The oxygen exchange fraction between soil H2O and N2O precursors differs in soils depending on the responsible N2O‐producing process: nitrification or denitrification. This study investigated the O‐exchange between soil H2O and N2O precursors in a green tea field with high N2O emissions.

Methods

The rainwater δ18O value was measured using cavity ring‐down spectrometry (CRDS) and compared with that of soil water collected under the tea plant canopy and between tea plant rows. The intramolecular 15N site preference in βNαNO (SP = δ15Nα – δ15Nβ) was determined after measuring the δ15Nα and δ15Nbulk values using gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS), and the δ18O values of N2O and NO3– were also measured using GC/IRMS.

Results

The range of δ18O values of rainwater (–11.15‰ to –4.91‰) was wider than that of soil water (–7.94‰ to –5.64‰). The δ18O value of soil water at 50 cm depth was not immediately affected by rainwater. At 10 cm and 20 cm depths of soil between tea plant rows, linear regression analyses of δ18O‐N2O (relative to δ18O‐NO3–) versus δ18O‐H2O (relative to δ18O‐NO3–) yielded slopes of 0.76–0.80 and intercepts of 31–35‰.

Conclusions

In soil between tea plant rows, the fraction of O‐exchange between H2O and N2O precursors was approximately 80%. Assuming that denitrification dominated N2O production, the net 18O‐isotope effect for denitrification (NO3– reduction to N2O) was approximately 31–35‰, reflecting the upland condition of the tea field. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fragmentation patterns of boron‐dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes by electrospray ionization high‐resolution tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Qi Yulin , Geib Timon , Huynh Anh‐Minh , Jung Gregor , Volmer Dietrich A.
Published: March 2017

Rationale

4,4‐Difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene derivatives (BODIPYs) are fluorescent organic dyes that are widely used as non‐radioactive labels in biological analyses. The fragmentation behaviour of ten structurally related BODIPYs was studied using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), to support the structural elucidation process during synthesis.

Methods

The BODIPYs were investigated by electrospray ionization (ESI)‐MS/MS, utilizing collision‐induced dissociation (CID) data from triple quadrupole MS and high‐resolution, accurate mass CID data from Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) experiments.

Results

Unusual radical molecular cations ([M]+•) were formed directly during the ESI process. These radical species dissociated into a large range of product ions during the subsequent CID experiments. Superimposed dissociations originating from parallel [M]+• and [M+H]+ decompositions significantly complicated the interpretation of the MS/MS spectra.

Conclusions

Detailed dissociation mechanisms were proposed in this study for BODIPY dyes. The elemental formulae of CID product ions were unambiguously assigned using FTICR‐MS and unique fragment ions were discovered for the rapid identification of methyl, ethyl, butyl, tert‐butyl, and phenyl substituents of individual dyes in BODIPY synthesis mixtures by low‐resolution MS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The cut‐tree of large trees with small heights
Authors: Berzunza Gabriel
Published: March 2017

We destroy a finite tree of size n by cutting its edges one after the other and in uniform random order. Informally, the associated cut‐tree describes the genealogy of the connected components created by this destruction process. We provide a general criterion for the convergence of the rescaled cut‐tree in the Gromov‐Prohorov topology to an interval endowed with the Euclidean distance and a certain probability measure, when the underlying tree has branching points close to the root and height of order . In particular, we consider uniform random recursive trees, binary search trees, scale‐free random trees and a mixture of regular trees. This yields extensions of a result in Bertoin (Probab Stat 5 (2015), 478–488) for the cut‐tree of uniform random recursive trees and also allows us to generalize some results of Kuba and Panholzer (Online J Anal Combin (2014), 26) on the multiple isolation of vertices. The approach relies in the close relationship between the destruction process and Bernoulli bond percolation, which may be useful for studying the cut‐tree of other classes of trees. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 51, 404–427, 2017
Encourage reporting of sexual assaults by tackling barriers and myths
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: March 2017

ORLANDO, Fla. — You've probably heard the statistics: About one in five women experienced a sexual assault during their time in college, and many sexual assaults go unreported.
Turning Potential Into Action: Using Pluripotent Stem Cells to Understand Heart Development and Function in Health and Disease
Authors: Fonoudi Hananeh , Bosman Alexis
Published: March 2017

Pluripotent stem cells hold enormous potential for regenerative therapies, however their ability to provide insight into early human development and the origins of disease could arguably provide an even greater outcome. This is primarily due to their contribution to the establishment of a powerful knowledge base of human development, something which all researchers and clinicians can potentially benefit from. Modeling human heart development and disease using pluripotent stem cells has already provided many important insights into cardiogenesis and cardiovascular disease mechanisms however, it is important to be aware of the complexities of this model system. Thorough contemplation of experimental models and specialized techniques is required to provide high-quality evidence of the intricacies of both normal early development, and when this process goes awry in disease states.
One‐Step Synthesis of Fused Chromeno[4,3‐b]pyrrolo[3,2‐h]quinolin‐7(1H)‐One Compounds and their Anticancer Activity Evaluation
Authors: Thigulla Yadagiri , Kumar T. Uday , Trivedi Prakruti , Ghosh Balaram , Bhattacharya Anupam
Published: March 2017

FeCl3 catalyzed synthesis of chromeno[4,3‐b]pyrrolo[3,2‐h]quinolin‐7(1H)‐one compounds is reported in this paper. The target molecules were synthesized by combining 4‐hydroxy coumarin, 7‐ amino indole and diverse aromatic aldehydes in 1,4‐dioxane as a solvent, at 90 °C. The final compounds obtained were subjected to anticancer activity evaluation using murine melanoma cell lines (B16F10). Best result was obtained for compound bearing 2‐chloro‐3‐pyridyl substituent, which showed IC50 value of 70.74 μM.