bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular targeting in combination with platinum‐based chemoradiotherapy in head and neck cancer treatment
Authors: Möckelmann Nikolaus , Kriegs Malte , Lörincz Balazs B. , Busch Chia‐Jung , Knecht Rainald
Published: March 2015

Background

Significant evidence exists supporting the use of platinum‐based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) as a primary curative approach in locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer (HNSCC). Despite these aggressive protocols, 70% of patients die within 5 years because of locoregional recurrence or distant metastasis. To increase the response and survival of patients with HNSCC, CRT has been combined with molecular agents targeting distinct kinases.

Methods

This study was performed using a systematic literature review.

Results

The effect of targeted therapy on patient survival in the context of CRT remains controversial, with toxicities tending to be more severe but still acceptable.

Conclusion

Supplementing CRT with target therapeutics might only improve survival in some patients with locally advanced HNSCC. Therefore, future studies must address the underlying biological mechanisms that can have an impact on treatment response. Such knowledge is essential in order to facilitate the effective and personalized treatment of patients with locally advanced HNSCC by combining CRT and targeted therapy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2173–E2181, 2016
Maxillary carcinosarcoma: Identification of a novel MET mutation in both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components through next generation sequencing
Authors: Ando Mizuo , Saito Yuki , Morikawa Teppei , Omura Go , Kobayashi Kenya , Akashi Ken , Yoshida Masafumi , Ebihara Yasuhiro , Fujimoto Chisato , Fukayama Masashi , Yamasoba Tatsuya , Asakage Takahiro
Published: March 2015

Background

Carcinosarcoma is a rare tumor with biphasic growth of the carcinomatous and sarcomatous components. Prognosis is generally poor and characterization of the molecular mechanisms may provide information for the development of novel antitumor agents and biomarkers.

Methods and Results

We present the case of 66‐year‐old man with a complaint of nasal obstruction. He was diagnosed with maxillary carcinosarcoma and coexisting papilloma. He underwent multimodal treatment but died of uncontrolled local disease 10 months after the initial presentation. Genetic testing using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) revealed that both the carcinomatous and sarcomatous components carried a somatic mutation in the conserved domain of the mesenchymal‐epithelial transition factor (MET) proto‐oncogene.

Conclusion

Our observation highlighted the importance of the MET gene in the oncogenesis of maxillary carcinosarcoma and is indicative of the common clonal origin of both malignant components. This suggested a possibility of treating MET mutation‐positive carcinosarcomas with c‐MET inhibitors. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: E179–E185, 2015
Necessity for lifelong follow‐up of patients with familial paraganglioma syndrome: A case report
Authors: Persky Michael J. , Adelman Mark , Zias Elias , Myssiorek David
Published: March 2015

Background

Patients with established familial paraganglioma (PGL) syndrome may have multiple metachronous lesions. This article illustrates, via imaging and findings, the need for lifetime follow‐up of patients with familial PGL syndromes.

Methods

Patients’ medical charts and radiological images were reviewed in a retrospective analysis.

Results

Over the course of 18 years, this patient developed 2 simultaneous carotid PGLs, a cardiac PGL, and a biochemically active interaortocaval PGL.

Conclusion

PGLs do not necessarily occur simultaneously in patients with familial PGL syndrome. Lifelong observation is needed to detect these lesions before they become large and symptomatic. Lack of biochemical activity is not a predictor of future lesions being inactive. Cardiac PGLs are rare and require resection. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: E174–E178, 2015
Perspectives on 2014 Nobel Prize
Authors: Eichenbaum Howard
Published: March 2015

In celebration of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, this issue of Hippocampus includes a collection of commentaries from a broad range of perspectives on the significance of position coding neurons in the hippocampal region. From the perspective of this student of hippocampal physiology, it is argued that place cells and grid cells reflect the outcome of experiments that strongly select the information available and correspondingly observe singular “trigger features” of these neurons. Notably, however, in more naturalistic situations where multiple dimensions of information are available, hippocampal neurons have mixed selectivity wherein population‐firing patterns reflect the organization of many features of experience. Thus, while discoveries on position coding were major breakthroughs in penetrating the hippocampal code, future studies exploring more complex behaviors hold the promise of revealing the full contribution of the hippocampal region to cognition and memory. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Past, present, and future in hippocampal formation and memory research
Authors: Muñoz‐López Mónica
Published: March 2015

Over 100 years of research on the hippocampal formation has led us understand the consequences of lesions in humans, the functional networks, anatomical pathways, neuronal types and their local circuitry, receptors, molecules, intracellular cascades, and some of the physiological mechanisms underlying long‐term spatial and episodic memory. In addition, complex computational models allow us to formulate sophisticated hypotheses; many of them testable with techniques recently developed unthinkable in the past. Although the neurobiology of the cognitive map is starting to be revealed today, we still face a future with many unresolved questions. The aim of this commentary is twofold. First is to point out some of the critical findings in hippocampal formation research and new challenges. Second, to briefly summarize what the anatomy of memory can tell us about how highly processed sensory information from distant cortical areas communicate with different subareas of the entorhinal cortex, dentate gyrus, and hippocampal subfields to integrate and consolidate unique episodic memory traces. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Effects of Leader Succession and Prior Leader Experience on Postsuccession Organizational Performance
Authors: Desai Malay N. , Lockett Andy , Paton David
Published: March 2015

In this article we strive to reconcile equivocal findings about the effects of top leader succession and prior leadership experience on postsuccession organizational performance. In doing so, we draw on insights from theories of human capital, learning, and asymmetric information to better understand the conditions under which leaders increase or decrease postsuccession performance. Employing a sample of 119 newly appointed leaders in the English Premier League (1996–2010), we find the following results. First, relating to the succession event, outside leaders that directly move between leadership positions are associated with higher postsuccession performance while the departure of a prior leader to a leadership position in another organization has a negative effect on postsuccession performance. Second, relating to prior leadership experience, leaders with domestic top leader experience are associated with lower postsuccession performance, while leaders with foreign top leader experience are associated with higher postsuccession performance. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Relation of Baseline Skills to Psychotherapy Outcome Across Diverse Psychotherapies
Authors: Gibbons Mary Beth Connolly , Thompson Sarah M. , Mack Rachel A. , Lee Jacqueline K. , Crits‐Christoph Paul
Published: March 2015

Objective

We explored whether patients with varied levels of baseline deficits in compensatory skills and self‐understanding had different outcomes across cognitive and dynamic therapies.

Method

The assessment battery was administered at intake and termination (N = 97; 66% female, 81% Caucasian). We conducted regression analyses predicting symptom change from baseline levels of self‐understanding and compensatory skills. We also evaluated the interaction between baseline skill levels and treatment condition in the prediction of psychotherapy outcome.

Results

There was a significant interaction between treatment group and baseline compensatory skills in the prediction of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) symptom change, F(1,76) = 4.59, p = .035. Baseline deficits in compensatory skills were significantly related to symptom change for patients who received cognitive treatment, ηρ = .40, p = .037, while baseline levels of self‐understanding were not significantly predictive of treatment outcome in either condition. Baseline skill variables did not predict symptom change as measured by the HAMA.

Conclusions

The findings support a capitalization model of cognitive therapy, whereby patients with relative strengths in compensatory skills at baseline have better treatment outcomes.
Pediatric drug development programs for type 2 diabetes: A review
Authors: Christensen Michael L. , Franklin Brandi E. , Momper Jeremiah D. , Reed Michael D.
Published: March 2015

Considerable progress has been made in pediatric drug development. Despite these gains there remain certain therapeutic areas where a high percentage of drugs approved for use in adults do not gain approval for use in children. Lack of sufficient US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved labeling correlates with diminished therapeutic efficacy and increased risk for adverse drug reactions. Despite the increasing prevalence and important clinical challenge with pediatric type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), only 1 drug (metformin) of the first 4 T2DM drugs to complete testing in children gained FDA approval. This analysis reviews 4 pediatric drug development programs for orally administered antidiabetic agents that have undergone FDA review and discusses factors influencing failure to meet specified end points for approval. Recommendations to guide future study are also provided.
Behavioral momentum and accumulation of mass in multiple schedules
Authors: Craig Andrew R. , Cunningham Paul J. , Shahan Timothy A.
Published: March 2015

Behavioral momentum theory suggests that the relation between a discriminative‐stimulus situation and reinforcers obtained in that context (i.e., the Pavlovian stimulus–reinforcer relation) governs persistence of operant behavior. Within the theory, a mass‐like aspect of behavior has been shown to be a power function of predisruption reinforcement rates. Previous investigations of resistance to change in multiple schedules, however, have been restricted to examining response persistence following protracted periods of stability in reinforcer rates within a discriminative situation. Thus, it is unclear how long a stimulus–reinforcer relation must be in effect prior to disruption in order to affect resistance to change. The present experiment examined resistance to change of pigeon's key pecking following baseline conditions where reinforcer rates that were correlated with discriminative‐stimulus situations changed. Across conditions, one multiple‐schedule component arranged either relatively higher rates or lower rates of variable‐interval food delivery, while the other component arranged the opposite rate. These schedules alternated between multiple‐schedule components across blocks of sessions such that reinforcer rates in the components were held constant for 20, 5, 3, 2, or 1 session(s) between alternations. Resistance to extinction was higher in the component that most recently was associated with higher rates of food delivery in all conditions except when schedules alternated daily or every other day. These data suggest that resistance to change in multiple schedules is related to recently experienced reinforcer rates but only when multiple‐schedule components are associated with specific reinforcer rates for several sessions.
Incidence of respiratory viruses in peruvian children with acute respiratory infections
Authors: del Valle Mendoza Juana , Cornejo‐Tapia Angela , Weilg Pablo , Verne Eduardo , Nazario‐Fuertes Ronald , Ugarte Claudia , del Valle Luis J. , Pumarola Tomás
Published: March 2015

Acute respiratory infections are responsible for high morbi–mortality in Peruvian children. However, the etiological agents are poorly identified. This study, conducted during the pandemic outbreak of H1N1 influenza in 2009, aims to determine the main etiological agents responsible for acute respiratory infections in children from Lima, Peru. Nasopharyngeal swabs collected from 717 children with acute respiratory infections between January 2009 and December 2010 were analyzed by multiplex RT‐PCR for 13 respiratory viruses: influenza A, B, and C virus; parainfluenza virus (PIV) 1, 2, 3, and 4; and human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A and B, among others. Samples were also tested with direct fluorescent‐antibodies (DFA) for six respiratory viruses. RT‐PCR and DFA detected respiratory viruses in 240 (33.5%) and 85 (11.9%) cases, respectively. The most common etiological agents were RSV‐A (15.3%), followed by influenza A (4.6%), PIV‐1 (3.6%), and PIV‐2 (1.8%). The viruses identified by DFA corresponded to RSV (5.9%) and influenza A (1.8%). Therefore, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) were found to be the most common etiology of acute respiratory infections. The authors suggest that active surveillance be conducted to identify the causative agents and improve clinical management, especially in the context of possible circulation of pandemic viruses. J. Med. Virol. 87:917–924, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Value of a risk scoring tool to predict respiratory syncytial virus disease severity and need for hospitalization in term infants
Authors: Mosalli Rafat , Abdul Moez Asmaa Mostafa , Janish Mohammed , Paes Bosco
Published: March 2015

Several environmental and demographic risk factors have been validated and are used to determine the risk of acquiring severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and subsequent hospitalization in late preterm infants born at 33–35 weeks gestational age. The applicability of the same composite model of risk factors in the term population has not been fully explored. The primary objective of this pilot study was to establish whether a risk scoring tool (RST), could predict the severity of RSV infection in term, RSV‐positive infants who were hospitalized. A retrospective observational study was conducted in a pediatric unit, over 2 RSV seasons (2011–2013). A convenient sample of 72 children was selected out of a total of 111 RSV‐positive cases after exclusions. The RST was applied and a score of respiratory disease severity was determined for each patient. Demographic characteristics were analyzed by standard descriptive methods, χ2 analysis was utilized for categorical data and ANOVA for comparison between the clinical severity groups and the RST score. A P‐value <0.05 was considered significant. Sixty per cent (n = 43) of all infants scored in the low‐risk category compared to 26% (n = 19) in the moderate and 14% (n = 10) in the high‐risk groups. RST scores were also inconsistent with disease severity. Mean (SD) RST scores for those with mild, moderate, and severe illness were 47.8 [16.4], 41.1 [20.39] and, 41.7 [19.8], respectively (P = 0.17). In conclusion, the RST did not predict accurately the clinical severity of RSV bronchiolitis in term infants nor did it correlate with risk for RSV‐related hospitalization. J. Med. Virol. 87:1285–1291, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Genetic and structural analysis of polyomavirus BK T‐antigens reveal a higher density of mutations at inter‐domain and hexamerization regions, regardless the status of infection
Authors: Cardoso Kethellin M. , Diaz Nuria C. , Guimarães Maria Angelica A.M. , Zalis Mariano G. , Delbue Serena , Ferrante Pasquale , Varella Rafael B.
Published: March 2015

Polyomavirus BK (BKPyV) T‐antigens (large and small tumor antigens, or Lt‐ag and st‐ag, respectively), control key aspects of viral replication and are able to regulate cell cycle, promoting cell proliferation. However, the structural effects of genetic mutations on T‐antigens are poorly investigated. In this study, 214 sequences of T‐antigens from individuals with different BKPyV infections (16 renal transplant with nephropathy; 78 asymptomatic renal transplant; 24 hematopoietic stem cell transplant with hemorrhagic cystitis; 96 healthy non‐transplant), were analyzed from the genetic and structural standpoints. We found a high concentration of non‐synonymous mutations at inter‐domains and hexamerization regions of both proteins, being five of them under positive selection in the Lt‐ag but none in the st‐ag. The in silico analysis indicated that two mutations, located at positions 164 in the st‐ag and 592 in the Lt‐ag, would significantly affect the interaction with PP2A and p53 cell targets, respectively, although they were not associated to a specific clinical status. No mutations were detected on the J‐domains or at the ATPase motif. In sum, the profile of the mutations found seem not to be associated to increased morbidity. This is the first work to analyze structural modifications on T‐antigens in different BKPyV infections, and managed to map conserved and variable regions of the T‐antigens, which will be helpful for the study of new antiviral drugs. J. Med. Virol. 87:1418–1426, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of a sensitive, stable and EGFR‐specific molecular imaging agent for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Lucas Leanne J. , Tellez Claudio , Castilho Maiara L. , Lee Christopher L. D. , Hupman Michael A. , Vieira Lais S. , Ferreira Isabelle , Raniero Leandro , Hewitt Kevin C.
Published: March 2015

We created and studied a novel nanoprobe for spectroscopic molecular imaging of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, whose over‐expression is a hallmark of a wide range of cancers. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of 45 nm diameter were synthesized and coupled to EGF by α‐lipoic acid, a short ligand that exhibits excellent silver binding affinity. Time‐of‐flight mass spectroscopy demonstrates formation of the protein complex. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay verifies the protein complex is 100% active for the EGF receptor, alone and, following conjugation to silver nanoparticles. Compared with its monosulfide analog, 6‐mercaptohexanoic acid, α‐lipoic acid is stabilized by binding to silver with a total energy that is lower by 1.38 eV, as found from Density Functional Theory (DFT)/natural bond analysis calculations. A Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO)‐Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) gap energy of 5.25 (spin‐up electrons) and 5.74 eV (spin‐down electrons) was obtained for the silver‐α‐lipoic acid complex. This is the first report of silver nanoparticles being attached to EGF, and the first theoretical and experimental report on the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy spectral interpretation of α‐lipoic acid bound to silver. These nanoprobes exhibit surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, when aggregated in solution, at picomolar concentrations and have the necessary properties – specificity, sensitivity and stability – to serve as molecular imaging agents. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enzymatic hydrolysis of anchovy fine powder at high and ambient pressure, and characterization of the hydrolyzates
Authors: Kim Namsoo , Son So‐Hee , Maeng Jin‐Soo , Cho Yong‐Jin , Kim Chong‐Tai
Published: March 2015

BACKGROUND

At specific conditions of high pressure, the stability and activity of some enzymes are reportedly known to increase. The aim of this study was to apply pressure‐tolerant proteases to hydrolyzing anchovy fine powder (AFP) and to determine product characteristics of the resultant hydrolyzates.

RESULTS

Anchovy fine powder enzyme hydrolyzates (AFPEHs) were produced at 300 MPa and ambient pressure using combinations of Flavourzyme 500MG, Alcalase 2.4L, Marugoto E and Protamex. When the same protease combination was used for hydrolysis, the contents of total soluble solids, total water‐soluble nitrogen and trichloroacetic acid‐soluble nitrogen in the AFPEHs produced at 300 MPa were conspicuously higher than those in the AFPEHs produced at ambient pressure. This result and electrophoretic characteristics indicated that the high‐pressure process of this study accelerates protein hydrolysis compared with the ambient‐pressure counterpart. Most peptides in the hydrolyzates obtained at 300 MPa had molecular masses less than 5 kDa. Functionality, sensory characteristics and the content of total free amino acids of selected hydrolyzates were also determined.

CONCLUSION

The high‐pressure hydrolytic process utilizing pressure‐tolerant proteases was found to be an efficient method for producing protein hydrolyzates with good product characteristics. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of irrigation regime on anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Syrah grapes under semiarid conditions
Authors: Kyraleou Maria , Koundouras Stefanos , Kallithraka Stamatina , Theodorou Nikolaos , Proxenia Niki , Kotseridis Yorgos
Published: March 2015

BACKGROUND

Irrigation management is a powerful technique to control grape and wine colour. However, water deficit effects on anthocyanins are often contrasting, depending on the severity of water restriction. In addition, the effect of irrigation on the antiradical capacity of grapes has not been extensively studied. In this work the effect of water availability on anthocyanin profile and content as well as the antioxidant activity of Syrah grapes was investigated in an irrigation trial under semiarid climate conditions.

RESULTS

Three irrigation treatments were applied in a 15‐year‐old Vitis vinifera cv. Syrah vineyard, starting at berry set through harvest of 2011 and 2012: full irrigation (FI) at 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), deficit irrigation (DI) at 50% of ETc and non‐irrigated (NI). NI grapes were characterized by increased individual anthocyanin content. However, differences among irrigation treatments were significant only around 18–24 days after veraison, when anthocyanin accumulation was maximum. The antioxidant activity of the skin extracts was not affected by irrigation.

CONCLUSION

Irrigation proved to be an effective technique to control anthocyanin content in Syrah grapes under semiarid conditions. However, anthocyanin accumulation pattern should be considered by winemakers to appropriately select harvest time for improved wine colour. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Simultaneous determination of antiviral drugs in chicken tissues by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Liu ZhengCai , Yang Fang , Yao Minna , Lin YongHui , Su ZhiJiao
Published: March 2015

An ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was established for the rapid and simultaneous analysis of seven antiviral drugs, amantadine, rimantadine, memantine, moroxydine, imiquimod, oseltamivir, and acyclovir, in chicken liver, muscle, and egg. Homogenized samples were extracted with trichloroacetic acid and acetonitrile solutions and then purified by cation‐exchange solid‐phase extraction. The target drugs were analyzed by liquid chromatography with a UPLC BEH Amide column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer operating in the positive multiple‐reaction mode. A perfectly linear relationship was obtained within the concentration ranges of 0.5–20 μg/L for acyclovir and 0.1–10 μg/L for the other six antiviral drugs. The average recoveries of the seven antiviral drugs using four addition levels in chicken liver, muscle, and eggs were 82.67–90.10, 82.30–92.27, and 81.98–93.77%, respectively, and the acceptable coefficients of variation were 5.18–9.88, 4.84–11.2, and 42.8–9.95%, respectively. The detection limits and detection capabilities of the analysis method for the seven antiviral drugs were in the ranges of 0.04–0.64 and 0.11–0.78 μg/kg, respectively. Additionally, an inter‐laboratory study among five laboratories further validated the method.
Equine‐Assisted Therapy for Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms
Authors: Earles Julie L. , Vernon Laura L. , Yetz Jeanne P.
Published: March 2015

We tested the efficacy of the Equine Partnering Naturally© approach to equine‐assisted therapy for treating anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Participants were 16 volunteers who had experienced a Criterion A traumatic event, such as a rape or serious accident, and had current PTSD symptoms above 31 on the PTSD Checklist (PCL‐S; Weathers, Litz, Herman, Huska, & Keane, 1993). Participants engaged in tasks with horses for 6 weekly 2‐hour sessions. Immediately following the final session, participants reported significantly reduced posttraumatic stress symptoms, d = 1.21, less severe emotional responses to trauma, d = 0.60, less generalized anxiety, d = 1.01, and fewer symptoms of depression, d = 0.54. As well, participants significantly increased mindfulness strategies, d = 1.28, and decreased alcohol use, d = 0.58. There was no significant effect of the treatment on physical health, proactive coping, self‐efficacy, social support, or life satisfaction. Thus, we found evidence that the Equine Partnering Naturally© approach to equine‐assisted therapy may be an effective treatment for anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Future research should include larger groups, random assignment, and longer term follow‐up.
Nebulized isotonic saline improves voice production in Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Tanner Kristine , Nissen Shawn L. , Merrill Ray M. , Miner Alison , Channell Ron W. , Miller Karla L. , Elstad Mark , Kendall Katherine A. , Roy Nelson
Published: March 2015

Objective

This study examined the effects of a topical vocal fold hydration treatment on voice production over time.

Study Design

Prospective, longitudinal, within‐subjects A (baseline), B (treatment), A (withdrawal/reversal), B (treatment) experimental design.

Methods

Eight individuals with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disease causing laryngeal dryness, completed an 8‐week A‐B‐A‐B experiment. Participants performed twice‐daily audio recordings of connected speech and sustained vowels and then rated vocal effort, mouth dryness, and throat dryness. Two‐week treatment phases introduced twice‐daily 9‐mL doses of nebulized isotonic saline (0.9% Na+Cl−). Voice handicap and patient‐based measures of SS disease severity were collected before and after each 2‐week phase. Connected speech and sustained vowels were analyzed using the Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia (CSID). Acoustic and patient‐based ratings during each baseline and treatment phase were analyzed and compared.

Results

Baseline CSID and patient‐based ratings were in the mild‐to‐moderate range. CSID measures of voice severity improved by approximately 20% with nebulized saline treatment and worsened during treatment withdrawal. Posttreatment CSID values fell within the normal‐to‐mild range. Similar patterns were observed in patient‐based ratings of vocal effort and dryness. CSID values and patient‐based ratings correlated significantly (P < .05).

Conclusion

Nebulized isotonic saline improves voice production based on acoustic and patient‐based ratings of voice severity. Future work should optimize topical vocal fold hydration treatment formulations, dose, and delivery methodologies for various patient populations. This study lays the groundwork for future topical vocal fold hydration treatment development to manage and possibly prevent dehydration‐related voice disorders.

Level of Evidence

2b. Laryngoscope, 125:2333–2340, 2015
MAKING THE MATCH: SENIOR EXECUTIVES AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
Authors: Schaffer Robert H. , Stearn Jonathan M.
Published: March 2015

When leaders hire consultants, they often go about it ineffectively, according to Schaffer and Stearn. As specialized consultants, they have written a concise “buyer's guide” to choosing and hiring consultants. The stakes are high for getting it right, and as they note, “the right fit between management consultant and client can drive tremendous mutual benefits.” This means considerable due diligence, asking penetrating questions, and determining whether or not a consultant is the best for your situation, not someone else's. Find out what consultants consider to be “special” and “unique” about their process, and compare that to your values and requirements.
ROOKIE SMARTS: WHY LEARNING BEATS KNOWING IN THE NEW GAME OF WORK
Authors: Wiseman Liz
Published: March 2015

Veteran, seasoned leaders are not automatically the best for any given project, Wiseman says. She explains “rookie smarts,” in which a less experienced person outperforms a veteran, getting around the “experience trap.” Wiseman and her research team “studied more than 400 workplace scenarios, comparing how inexperienced versus experienced professionals approach a particular type of work.” The article describes four distinct modes of rookie smarts that her analysis revealed: Backpacker, Hunter‐Gatherer, Firewalker, and Pioneer. “If you are stuck climbing your way up a corporation,” she writes, “it might be time to get off the career ladder and get onto a learning curve.”
Orientin improves depression‐like behavior and BDNF in chronic stressed mice
Authors: Liu Yi , Lan Nuo , Ren Jing , Wu Yizhen , Wang Shu‐ting , Huang Xu‐Feng , Yu Yinghua
Published: March 2015

Scope

Oxidative stress is involved in chronic stress‐induced depression and the disruption of neurotransmission and neuroplasticity. Recently, orientin, a phenolic compound abundant in some fruits, millet, and herbs, has been shown to have antioxidant properties. This study investigated the potential antidepressant effects of orientin against chronic stress and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods and results

The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model was used to investigate the effects of orientin on behavior and biochemical alterations in mice. After 2 weeks of the CUMS protocol, the mice were treated with orientin (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg, oral gavage) for 3 weeks. Administration of orientin significantly alleviated the CUMS‐induced depression‐like behavior, including sucrose preference reduction, locomotor activity decline, and hypomotility. Orientin treatment attenuated the oxidative stress markers and increased the concentrations of serotonin and norepinephrine in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of CUMS mice. Orientin treatment also increased the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and synapse‐associated proteins (synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95) of CUMS mice.

Conclusion

Orientin exerts antidepressant‐like effects on CUMS mice, specifically by improving central oxidative stress, neurotransmission, and neuroplasticity. Therefore, supplementation with orientin‐enriched food or fruit could be beneficial as a preventive strategy for chronic stress‐induced depression.
Constraint reduction procedures for reduced‐order subsurface flow models based on POD–TPWL
Authors: He J. , Durlofsky L. J.
Published: March 2015

The properties and numerical performance of reduced‐order models based on trajectory piecewise linearization (TPWL) and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) are assessed. The target application is subsurface flow modeling, although our findings should be applicable to a range of problems. The errors arising at each step in the POD–TPWL procedure are described. The impact of constraint reduction on accuracy and stability is considered in detail. Constraint reduction entails projection of the overdetermined system into a low‐dimensional subspace, in which the system is solvable. Optimality conditions for constraint reduction, in terms of error minimization, are derived. Galerkin and Petrov–Galerkin projections are shown to correspond to optimality in norms that involve weighting with the Jacobian matrix. Two new treatments, inverse projection and weighted inverse projection, are suggested. These methods minimize error in appropriate norms, although they require substantial preprocessing computations. Numerical results are presented for oil reservoir simulation problems. Galerkin projection provides reasonable accuracy for simpler oil–water systems, although it becomes unstable in more challenging cases. Petrov–Galerkin projection is observed to behave stably in all cases considered. Weighted inverse projection also behaves stably, and it provides the highest accuracy. Runtime speedups of 150–400 are achieved using these POD–TPWL models. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hepatitis B virus pre‐S2 mutant large surface protein inhibits DNA double‐strand break repair and leads to genome instability in hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Hsieh Yi‐Hsuan , Chang Yu‐Ying , Su Ih‐Jen , Yen Chia‐Jui , Liu Yi‐Ru , Liu Ren‐Jei , Hsieh Wen‐Chuan , Tsai Hung‐Wen , Wang Lily Hui‐Ching , Huang Wenya
Published: March 2015

Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been established to cause hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the exact mechanism remains to be clarified. Type II ground glass hepatocytes (GGHs) harbouring the HBV pre‐S2 mutant large surface protein (LHBS) have been recognized as a morphologically distinct hallmark of HCC in the advanced stages of chronic HBV infection. Considering its preneoplastic nature, we hypothesized that type II GGH may exhibit high genomic instability, which is important for the carcinogenic process in chronic HBV carriers. In this study we found that pre‐S2 mutant LHBS directly interacted with importin α1, the key factor that recognizes cargos undergoing nuclear transportation mediated by the importin α/β‐associated nuclear pore complex (NPC). By interacting with importin α1, which inhibits its function as an NPC factor, pre‐S2 mutant LHBS blocked nuclear transport of an essential DNA repair and recombination factor, Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1 (NBS1), upon DNA damage, thereby delaying the formation of nuclear foci at the sites of DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs). Pre‐S2 mutant LHBS was also found to block NBS1‐mediated homologous recombination repair and induce multi‐nucleation of cells. In addition, pre‐S2 mutant LHBS transgenic mice showed genomic instability, indicated by increased global gene copy number variations (CNVs), which were significantly higher than those in hepatitis B virus X mice, indicating that pre‐S2 mutant LHBS is the major viral oncoprotein inducing genomic instability in HBV‐infected hepatocytes. Consistently, the human type II GGHs in HCC patients exhibited increased DNA DSBs representing significant genomic instability. In conclusion, type II GGHs harbouring HBV pre‐S2 mutant oncoprotein represent a high‐risk marker for the loss of genome integrity in chronic HBV carriers and explain the complex chromosome changes in HCCs. Mouse array CGH raw data: GEO Accession No. GSE61378 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE61378) Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Compatibilization of polyethylene/polyamide 6 blend nanocomposite films
Authors: Mistretta M.C. , Ceraulo M. , La Mantia F.P. , Morreale M.
Published: March 2015

Polymer blends of incompatible components need to undergo compatibilization, in order to give rise to a blend with good physical properties. At the same way, polymer/clay nanocomposites show this problem because of different chemical nature of the polymer matrix and of the clay. Compatibilization is therefore more necessary if an incompatible polymer blend is filled with an organomodified clay in order to give a final material with good properties. In this work, a polyethylene/polyamide 6 blend filled with an organomodified clay has been compatibilized with a maleic anhydride grafted SEBS (styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene) copolymer and a glicidylmethacrylate‐ethylene copolymer. The results show that compatibilization improves the mechanical properties in terms of elongation at break, as well as the rheological properties under nonisothermal elongational flow; furthermore, an unexpected effect has been found, since going from the isotropic to the anisotropic material, a fragile‐ductile transition occurs, with a significant increase of the elongation values, while a small reduction of the elastic modulus was found, because of the lower crystallinity in comparison to isotropic samples. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:992–998, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Potato leafroll virus structural proteins manipulate overlapping, yet distinct protein interaction networks during infection
Authors: DeBlasio Stacy L. , Johnson Richard , Sweeney Michelle M. , Karasev Alexander , Gray Stewart M. , MacCoss Michael J. , Cilia Michelle
Published: March 2015

Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) produces a readthrough protein (RTP) via translational readthrough of the coat protein amber stop codon. The RTP functions as a structural component of the virion and as a nonincorporated protein in concert with numerous insect and plant proteins to regulate virus movement/transmission and tissue tropism. Affinity purification coupled to quantitative MS was used to generate protein interaction networks for a PLRV mutant that is unable to produce the read through domain (RTD) and compared to the known wild‐type PLRV protein interaction network. By quantifying differences in the protein interaction networks, we identified four distinct classes of PLRV‐plant interactions: those plant and nonstructural viral proteins interacting with assembled coat protein (category I); plant proteins in complex with both coat protein and RTD (category II); plant proteins in complex with the RTD (category III); and plant proteins that had higher affinity for virions lacking the RTD (category IV). Proteins identified as interacting with the RTD are potential candidates for regulating viral processes that are mediated by the RTP such as phloem retention and systemic movement and can potentially be useful targets for the development of strategies to prevent infection and/or viral transmission of Luteoviridae species that infect important crop species.
The Thermal Regime, including a Reversed Thermal Offset, of Arid Permafrost Sites with Variations in Vegetation Cover Density, Wudaoliang Basin, Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau
Authors: Lin Z. , Burn C. R. , Niu F. , Luo J. , Liu M. , Yin G.
Published: March 2015

Commonly, permafrost conditions are characterised by one or two temperature profiles within each unit of a study area. Intra‐unit variation is therefore unknown, and the extent to which the data represent unit conditions cannot be estimated. We have collected ground temperatures from 55 boreholes to 5 m depth drilled in four 200 m2 plots next to the Qinghai‐Tibet Railway near the town of Wudaoliang. The sites are in a dry area of active aeolian erosion and straddle an alpine meadow ecotone between well‐ and sparsely vegetated ground cover. The annual mean air temperature at Wudaoliang is currently about ‐4°C. There is pronounced asymmetry in the seasonal distribution of precipitation, with very little falling between October and April, so that there is almost no snow cover in winter. At every site, air and ground surface temperatures were similar in winter, but the ground surface was considerably warmer than the air in summer in the radiation‐rich environment of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. Thawing season n‐factors were between 2 and 3 as a result. Ground conditions in the well‐vegetated meadows were in thermal equilibrium with surface conditions, with the annual mean temperature near the permafrost table (Tps) between ‐1.2 and ‐1.9°C. Within plot spatial variability for Tps, estimated from the standard error of the replicate measurements, was ∼ 0.05°C at each site. Thermal conditions in the eroded, sparsely vegetated area appeared to be transient and warming, with current Tps of ‐0.5°C. The driest site showed a reversed thermal offset in the uppermost active layer. We hypothesise that the reversed offset may occur due to extremely dry conditions in winter, so that at the ground surface, the thermal conductivity is lower in winter than under the moist conditions of summer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Urinary proteomic biomarkers to predict cardiovascular events
Authors: Brown Catriona E. , McCarthy Nina S. , Hughes Alun D. , Sever Peter , Stalmach Angelique , Mullen William , Dominiczak Anna F. , Sattar Naveed , Mischak Harald , Thom Simon , Mayet Jamil , Stanton Alice V. , Delles Christian
Published: March 2015

Purpose

We have previously demonstrated associations between the urinary proteome profile and coronary artery disease (CAD) in cross‐sectional studies. Here, we evaluate the potential of a urinary proteomic panel as a predictor of CAD in the hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (HACVD) substudy population of the Anglo‐Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial study.

Experimental design

Thirty‐seven cases with primary CAD endpoint were matched for sex and age to controls who had not reached a CAD endpoint during the study. Spot urine samples were analyzed using CE coupled to Micro‐TOF MS. A previously developed 238‐marker CE‐MS model for diagnosis of CAD (CAD238) was assessed for its predictive potential.

Results

Sixty urine samples (32 cases; 28 controls; 88% male, mean age 64 ± 5 years) were analyzed. There was a trend toward healthier values in controls for the CAD model classifier (–0.432 ± 0.326 versus –0.587 ± 0.297, p = 0.170), and the CAD model showed statistical significance on Kaplan–Meier survival analysis p = 0.021. We found 190 individual markers out of 1501 urinary peptides that separated cases and controls (AUC >0.6). Of these, 25 peptides were also components of CAD238.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

A urinary proteome panel originally developed in a cross‐sectional study predicts CAD endpoints independent of age and sex in a well‐controlled prospective study.
Malignant cell‐derived extracellular vesicles express different chromogranin epitopes compared to prostasomes
Authors: Dubois Louise , Stridsberg Mats , Kharaziha Pedram , Chioureas Dimitris , Meersman Niels , Panaretakis Theocharis , Ronquist K. Göran
Published: March 2015

BACKGROUND

Prostasomes are nanosized extracellular vesicles exocytosed by prostate epithelial cells. They have been assigned many roles propitious to sperm in favor of fertilization. Prostatic cancer cells can also produce and secrete extracellular vesicles.

METHODS

We assessed using ELISA, the surface expression of chromogranin proproteins on prostasomes and malignant extracellular vesicles of four different prostate cancer cell‐lines, two hormone sensitive and two hormone refractory. We used a panel of chromogranin A and chromogranin B antibodies against peptides in‐between hypothetical cleavage sites along the proproteins.

RESULTS

A diverging pattern of chromogranin peptides was apparent when comparing prostasomes and malignant extracellular vesicles indicating a phenotypical change. We also compared western blot patterns (prostasomes and malignant extracellular vesicles) for selected antibodies that displayed high absorbances in the ELISA. Western blot analyses revealed various cleavage patterns of those proproteins that were analyzed in prostasomes and extracellular vesicles.

CONCLUSION

Chromogranins are constituents of not only prostasomes but also of malignant prostate cell‐derived extracellular vesicles with different amino acid sequences exposed at the membrane surface giving rise to a mosaic pattern. These findings may be of relevance for designing new assays for detection or even possible treatment of prostate cancers. Prostate 75:1063–1073, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Al(Ga)N/GaN high electron mobility transistors on silicon
Authors: Cordier Yvon
Published: March 2015

In this paper, a review of the different buffer layers and heterostructures developed for Al(Ga)N/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) on silicon substrate is presented. The difficulties associated with the barrier thinning and the rise of the Al content are discussed. Finally, we compare the DC output characteristics and the small and large signal RF performances of thin barrier AlGaN/GaN HEMTs, thick barrier gate recessed ones, and ultra‐thin AlN barrier devices.
System Travel Time Reliability: A Measure of the Quality of Service of Networks
Authors: Jane Chin‐Chia , Laih Yih‐Wenn
Published: March 2015

In this study, the travel time reliability of network systems is measured by travel time limitation as well as two‐terminal reliability. In the network, each arc is a binary random variable weighted by travel time as well as by operational probability. The performance index or QoS of a network system indicates the probability that the source node can successfully travel to the destination node, while satisfying the travel time limitation. Unlike existing literature that evaluated travel time reliability via a single optimization path, the proposed index focuses on the performance of the entire network system. This study presents an efficient decomposition method in computing QoS based on the Dijkstra shortest path method. We employ a small network to demonstrate the algorithm step by step. In addition, computational experiments conducted on a prototype network show that the proposed algorithm is superior to existing methods. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implement retention strategies for students on autism spectrum
Authors: Gomez Cynthia
Published: March 2015

Do you know the retention rate among students with autism‐spectrum disorder at your institution, or how their retention rate compares with that of other students served by your disability services unit? That's valuable information that could help you determine whether your institution is providing students with ASD adequate support.
Comparing telemetry and fecal dna sampling methods to quantify survival and dispersal of juvenile pygmy rabbits
Authors: Demay Stephanie M. , Rachlow Janet L. , Waits Lisette P. , Becker Penny A.
Published: March 2015

Age‐specific life‐history data are needed to understand animal ecology and inform conservation strategies. We compared telemetry and noninvasive genetic sampling (NGS) as methods for monitoring survival and dispersal of juvenile pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) reintroduced to central Washington, USA. During summer 2012, we released 104 juvenile rabbits, 85 of which were fitted with glue‐on radiotransmitters and located 2–4 times/week while transmitters were retained ( = 15 days). We tracked and recovered 63 transmitters, while signals were lost from 22. Most rabbits remained near the release site, with 9 dispersing > 1 km, and only 2 moving >3 km. During winter, we surveyed nearly 9 km2 around the release site and collected 117 fecal samples for genetic analysis. Forty‐two individuals were identified, 38 from the summer releases (37% survival) and 4 born in the wild from parents released in 2011. Using NGS, we identified rabbits 1) released without transmitters, 2) with undetected transmitter signals, 3) presumed dead, and 4) produced in the wild. Short‐term dispersal behavior was best gathered with telemetry, but information was limited, and we were unable to estimate survival probabilities because of the short duration of transmitter retention. The information on dispersal, survival, and reproduction provided by NGS allowed us to evaluate longer term reintroduction success, but was limited by the area we were able to search. We compare the results, costs, benefits, and limitations of each method for addressing specific monitoring objectives. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.