bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decrease in fMRI brain activation during working memory performed after sleeping under 10 lux light
Authors: Kang Seung-Gul , Yoon Ho-Kyoung , Cho Chul-Hyun , Kwon Soonwook , Kang June , Park Young-Min , Lee Eunil , Kim Leen , Lee Heon-Jeong
Published: November 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exposure to dim light at night (dLAN) when sleeping on functional brain activation during a working-memory tasks. We conducted the brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis on 20 healthy male subjects. All participants slept in a polysomnography laboratory without light exposure on the first and second nights and under a dim-light condition of either 5 or 10 lux on the third night. The fMRI scanning was conducted during n-back tasks after second and third nights. Statistical parametric maps revealed less activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) after exposure to 10-lux light. The brain activity in the right and left IFG areas decreased more during the 2-back task than during the 1- or 0-back task in the 10-lux group. The exposure to 5-lux light had no significant effect on brain activities. The exposure to dLAN might influence the brain function which is related to the cognition.
Osmotic Properties of Cartilage
Authors: Horkay Ferenc , Basser Peter J.
Published: November 2016

Understanding the interactions and organization of various molecular constituents of cartilage is an essential prerequisite to designing and developing effective nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) strategies to characterize the state of this tissue in normal and abnormal development, aging, health and disease, and trauma. In this chapter the osmotic properties of cartilage are discussed. An attempt is made to relate the tissue’s macroscopic behavior to its hierarchical organization and the physical–chemical interactions among its main macromolecular constituents. It is shown how to separate the osmotic contribution of the proteoglycan assemblies from that of the collagen network. The interactions between the main macromolecular components of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) are determined using an array of complementary experimental techniques (osmotic pressure measurements, small-angle X-ray scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy) probing the ECM structure and dynamics over a broad range of length and timescales. This knowledge is also important to construct magnetic resonance phantoms for quantitative MRI that exhibit osmotic, mechanical, and relaxation properties similar to that of cartilage. Such biomimetic phantoms with well-characterized physical and imaging properties are critically important to validate MRI characteristics.
Physical Properties of Cartilage by Relaxation Anisotropy
Authors: Nieminen Miika T. , Nissi Mikko J. , Hanni Matti , Xia Yang
Published: November 2016

Articular cartilage exhibits complex structural and compositional anisotropy. The anisotropy and arrangement of the collagen network, concentration of proteoglycan aggregates and water content vary as functions of cartilage depth in healthy, adult cartilage. Furthermore, these tissue properties are altered in cartilage maturation and degeneration alike. Relaxation anisotropy occurs widely in cartilage tissue and manifests itself directly in different relaxation parameters. This chapter summarizes the association between anisotropic physical properties of cartilage and the most important relaxation parameters.
Ultrashort Echo Time Imaging of Articular Cartilage
Authors: Zanganeh Soorena Azam , Shao Hongda , Bydder Graeme M. , Du Jiang
Published: November 2016

Most of the currently available clinical and research magnetic resonance imaging techniques have focused on the more superficial layers of articular cartilage. This has mainly been because the study of early and late alterations to the deeper layers of cartilage, including the deep radial zone and calcified cartilage, has not been possible due to the technical limitations of clinical scanners. In recent years, several types of two- and three-dimensional ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequences have been developed for high-resolution morphological imaging of articular cartilage. Various contrast mechanisms have been used to image the different layers of articular cartilage, especially calcified cartilage. Quantitative UTE imaging sequences have also been developed to measure T1, T1ρ and T2* in the different layers of articular cartilage. Both bound and bulk water components, including their T2*s and relative fractions, can also be assessed using UTE sequences based on multi-component analysis of UTE signal decay.
Diffusion MRI and Poroelastic Biomechanics of Articular Cartilage
Authors: Topgaard Daniel
Published: November 2016

Cartilage is a poroelastic material for which application of load leads to fluid flow within and out from the porous solid matrix. The redistribution of fluids is a major factor in determining the mechanical properties and friction coefficients, which consequently depend in a complex way on the details of the load history and geometry. Although current poroelastic models for cartilage generally agree with the observed macroscopic behavior, critical tests of the underlying assumptions require direct measurements of the translational motion of the pore fluids. This chapter reviews magnetic resonance imaging investigations of water diffusion and flow in cartilage, with special emphasis on time-resolved measurements during dynamic loading.
Magnetic Resonance in the Assessment of Tissue Engineered Cartilage
Authors: Kotecha Mrignayani , Yin Ziying , Magin Richard L.
Published: November 2016

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and imaging (MRI) are routinely used for non-invasive monitoring and assessment of cartilage regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Cartilage tissue engineering utilizes a combination of three-dimensional porous scaffold, chondrocytes or stem cells, growth factors such as transforming growth factor-β, and growth stimulating conditions to obtain a neocartilage tissue that contains a high level of chondrogenic extracellular matrix proteins, proteoglycans and collagen, type II. Water proton (1H) parametric MRI is commonly applied for monitoring and assessing tissue-engineered cartilage growth at the bench and for in vivo settings. The change in relaxation times (T1, T2 and T1ρ) and apparent diffusion coefficient are correlated with the change in the amount of proteoglycan and collagen in tissueengineered cartilage. In stem cells and scaffold-based engineered cartilage, it has been shown that once the scaffold’s contribution is removed, both T1 and T2 correlate with the amount of matrix regeneration. The cartilage tissue’s functional properties depend on its special composition of extracellular matrix proteins. This arrangement of extracellular matrix is highly anisotropic and one that is the source of cartilage health. In engineered cartilage, tissue anisotropy can be measured using the sodium triple quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance-based average quadrupolar coupling (ωQ) or the diffusion tensor imaging based fractional anisotropy parameters. Using these techniques, it has been shown that the engineered cartilage tissues are less anisotropic than the natural cartilage. Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) of proteoglycan is negatively charged and sodium MRI can be used for assessing the GAG amount. The sodium MRI-based fixed charge density (FCD) is found to strongly correlate with the FCD derived from the GAG assay in a tissue-engineered matrix created from stem cell chondrogenesis in polymer–hydrogel hybrid scaffolds. In summary, magnetic resonance technologies offer tools to non-invasively assess the engineered cartilage tissue growth at all stages, in vitro and in vivo, from cell seeding to post-implantation.
Comparison of ion mobility-mass spectrometry and pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the differentiation of chondroitin sulfate isomers
Authors: Lemmnitzer Katharina , Riemer Thomas , Groessl Michael , Süβ Rosmarie , Knochenmuss Richard , Schiller Jürgen
Published: November 2016

The unsaturated disaccharide isomers of chondroitin sulfate (CS) obtained by enzymatic digestion of the polysaccharide can be differentiated in mixtures by ion mobility MS (A) as well as pulsed-field gradient NMR (B).
Global profiling of cellular targets of gambogic acid by quantitative chemical proteomics
Authors: Zhou Yiqing , Li Weichao , Zhang Xixi , Zhang Haibing , Xiao Youli
Published: November 2016

Gambogic acid has shown significant potential as an anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory compound, here we report that the target profiling of gambogic acid in human cancer cells via quantitative chemical proteomics.
The role of stoichiometry in superconducting Nb1−βSnβ: electronic and vibrational properties from ab initio calculations
Authors: Gala F. , De Marzi G. , Muzzi L. , Zollo G.
Published: November 2016

Using first principles calculations the electronic, vibrational and superconducting properties of Nb3Sn compounds with different stoichiometry ratios in the A15 phase have been studied.
Reduced voltage losses yield 10% efficient fullerene free organic solar cells with >1 V open circuit voltages
Authors: Baran D. , Kirchartz T. , Wheeler S. , Dimitrov S. , Abdelsamie M. , Gorman J. , Ashraf R. S. , Holliday S. , Wadsworth A. , Gasparini N. , Kaienburg P. , Yan H. , Amassian A. , Brabec C. J. , Durrant J. R. , McCulloch I.
Published: November 2016

Non-fullerene acceptors with optimized energy levels enable 10% efficient solar cells with reduced voltage losses <0.6 V.
Fluorometabolite biosynthesis: isotopically labelled glycerol incorporations into the antibiotic nucleocidin in Streptomyces calvus
Authors: Bartholomé Axel , Janso Jeffrey E. , Reilly Usa , O'Hagan David
Published: November 2016

The pattern of isotope incorporations into the fluorometabolite nucleocidin is explored inStreptomyces calvusfrom selectively labelled glycerols.
Stable, efficient p-type doping of graphene by nitric acid
Authors: D'Arsié Lorenzo , Esconjauregui Santiago , Weatherup Robert S. , Wu Xingyi , Arter William E. , Sugime Hisashi , Cepek Cinzia , Robertson John
Published: November 2016

We systematically dope monolayer graphene with different concentrations of nitric acid over a range of temperatures, and analyze the variation of sheet resistance under vacuum annealing up to 300 °C.
Iron-catalyzed unprecedented formation of benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles under solvent-free conditions
Authors: Balwe Sandip Gangadhar , Jeong Yeon Tae
Published: November 2016

The unprecedented formation of benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole during iron-catalyzed coupling of 2-aminobenzothiazole, aldehydes with nitroalkane in air has been observed.
Study of phase inversion parameters for EB-cured polysulfone-based membranes
Authors: Altun Veysi , Bielmann Michael , Vankelecom Ivo F. J.
Published: November 2016

Asymmetric EB-crosslinked polysulfone (PSU) membranes suitable for solvent resistant nanofiltration (SRNF) were preparedviathe phase inversion method.
Sciatic nerve regeneration induced by glycosaminoglycan and laminin mimetic peptide nanofiber gels
Authors: Mammadov Busra , Sever Melike , Gecer Mevhibe , Zor Fatih , Ozturk Sinan , Akgun Hakan , Ulas Umit H. , Orhan Zeynep , Guler Mustafa O. , Tekinay Ayse B.
Published: November 2016

Bioactive peptide gels enhance the regeneration of peripheral nerve injuries, which affect 20 million patients in the USA.
N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed oxidative [3 + 2] annulation of dioxindoles and enals: cross coupling of homoenolate and enolate
Authors: Chen Xiang-Yu , Chen Kun-Quan , Sun De-Qun , Ye Song
Published: November 2016

The N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed oxidative [3 + 2] annulation of dioxindole and enals was developed, giving the corresponding spirocyclic oxindole-γ-lactones in good yields with high to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.
In situ growth of metal nanoparticles on boron nitride nanosheets as highly efficient catalysts
Authors: Fu Li , Chen Guoxin , Jiang Nan , Yu Jinhong , Lin Cheng-Te , Yu Aimin
Published: November 2016

We report a facile and general approach for the synthesis of boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS)–metal nanoparticle (NP) composites at room temperature without adding any reducing agent.
Click-based porous cationic polymers for enhanced carbon dioxide capture
Authors: Dani Alessandro , Crocellà Valentina , Magistris Claudio , Santoro Valentina , Yuan Jiayin , Bordiga Silvia
Published: November 2016

Imidazolium-based porous cationic polymers were synthesized using an innovative and facile approach, which takes advantage of the Debus–Radziszewski reaction to obtain meso-/microporous polymers following click-chemistry principles.
A new leptin-mediated mechanism for stimulating fatty acid oxidation: a pivotal role for sarcolemmal FAT/CD36
Authors: Momken Iman , Chabowski Adrian , Dirkx Ellen , Nabben Miranda , Jain Swati S. , McFarlan Jay T. , Glatz Jan F.C. , Luiken Joost J.F.P. , Bonen Arend
Published: November 2016

Leptin stimulates fatty acid oxidation in muscle and heart; but, the mechanism by which these tissues provide additional intracellular fatty acids for their oxidation remains unknown. We examined, in isolated muscle and cardiac myocytes, whether leptin, via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, stimulated fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36)-mediated fatty acid uptake to enhance fatty acid oxidation. In both mouse skeletal muscle and rat cardiomyocytes, leptin increased fatty acid oxidation, an effect that was blocked when AMPK phosphorylation was inhibited by adenine 9-β-d-arabinofuranoside or Compound C. In wild-type mice, leptin induced the translocation of FAT/CD36 to the plasma membrane and increased fatty acid uptake into giant sarcolemmal vesicles and into cardiomyocytes. In muscles of FAT/CD36-KO mice, and in cardiomyocytes in which cell surface FAT/CD36 action was blocked by sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate, the leptin-stimulated influx of fatty acids was inhibited; concomitantly, the normal leptin-stimulated increase in fatty acid oxidation was also prevented, despite the normal leptin-induced increase in AMPK phosphorylation. Conversely, in muscle of AMPK kinase-dead mice, leptin failed to induce the translocation of FAT/CD36, along with a failure to stimulate fatty acid uptake and oxidation. Similarly, when siRNA was used to reduce AMPK in HL-1 cardiomyocytes, leptin failed to induce the translocation of FAT/CD36. Our studies have revealed a novel mechanism of leptin-induced fatty acid oxidation in muscle tissue; namely, this process is dependent on the activation of AMPK to induce the translocation of FAT/CD36 to the plasma membrane, thereby stimulating fatty acid uptake. Without increasing this leptin-stimulated, FAT/CD36-dependent fatty acid uptake process, leptin-stimulated AMPK phosphorylation does not enhance fatty acid oxidation.
Particle sedimentation monitoring in high-concentration slurries
Authors: Nagasawa Yoshihiro , Kato Zenji , Tanaka Satoshi
Published: November 2016

In this study, the sedimentation states of particles in high-concentration slurries were elucidated by monitoring their internal states. We prepared transparent high-concentration silica slurries by adjusting the refractive index of the aqueous glycerol liquid in which the particles were dispersed to match that of the silica particles. In addition, a fluorescent dye was dissolved in the liquid. Then, we directly observed the individual and flocculated particles in the slurries during sedimentation by confocal laser scanning fluorescent microscopy. The particles were found to sediment very slowly while exhibiting fluctuating motion. The particle sedimentation rate in the high-concentration slurry with the aqueous glycerol solution (η=0.068Pa·s) and a particle volume fraction on the order of 0.3 was determined to be 1.58 ± 0.66 μm·min−1 on the basis of the obtained image sequences for 24.9 h. In-situ observation provides a large amount of information about the sedimentation behavior of particles in condensed matter.
Wafer-level MOCVD growth of AlGaN/GaN-on-Si HEMT structures with ultra-high room temperature 2DEG mobility
Authors: Xu Xiaoqing , Zhong Jiebin , So Hongyun , Norvilas Aras , Sommerhalter Christof , Senesky Debbie G. , Tang Mary
Published: November 2016

In this work, we investigate the influence of growth temperature, impurity concentration, and metal contact structure on the uniformity and two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) properties of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structure grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on 4-inch Si substrate. High uniformity of 2DEG mobility (standard deviation down to 0.72%) across the radius of the 4-inch wafer has been achieved, and 2DEG mobility up to 1740.3 cm2/V⋅s at room temperature has been realized at low C and O impurity concentrations due to reduced ionized impurity scattering. The 2DEG mobility is further enhanced to 2161.4 cm2/V⋅s which is comparable to the highest value reported to date when the contact structure is switched from a square to a cross pattern due to reduced piezoelectric scattering at lower residual strain. This work provides constructive insights and promising results to the field of wafer-scale fabrication of AlGaN/GaN HEMT on Si.
Detection of candidate genes for growth and carcass traits using genome-wide association strategy in Chinese Simmental beef cattle
Authors: Zhang Wengang , Xu Lingyang , Gao Huijiang , Wu Yang , Gao Xue , Zhang Lupei , Zhu Bo , Song Yuxin , Bao Jinshan , Li Junya , Chen Yan
Published: November 2016

In Chinese beef cattle industry, there are more than 60 million livestock, nearly half of which are Chinese Simmental beef cattle or Simmental crossbreds. Over the past decades, numerous quantitative trait loci for economic traits in cattle have been identified, while few studies for growth and carcass traits have been reported in Simmental beef cattle. In the present study, we conducted genome-wide association study based on BovineHD BeadChip and identified 41, 15, 3, 22 and 16 single-nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated with average daily gain, liveweight before slaughter, carcass weight, dressing percentage and pure meat percentage respectively. In total, 18 candidate genes were found for growth and carcass traits, and four haplotype blocks for growth and carcass traits were discovered. These findings will facilitate detection of major genes and genetic variants involved in growth and carcass traits of beef cattle in further studies.
Macrocyclic Peptidomimetics Prepared by Ring-Closing Metathesis and Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition
Authors: Pehere Ashok D. , Zhang Xiaozhou , Abell Andrew D.
Published: November 2016

Macrocycles are finding increasing use as a means to define the backbone geometries of peptides and peptidomimetics. Ring-closing metathesis and CuI-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition are particularly useful for introducing such rings and they do so in high yield and with a good functional group tolerance and compatibility. Here, we present an overview of the use of these two methods, with reference to selected examples and particular reference to β-strand peptidomimetics for use as protease inhibitors.
Thoughts about
Dying in America
: Enhancing the impact of one’s life journey and legacy by also planning for the end of life
Authors: Pizzo Philip A.
Published: November 2016

This Perspective offers a summary of the recommendations in the Institute of Medicine report
Dying in America
. How we die is a deeply personal issue that each of us will face. However, the approach to end-of-life (EOL) care in the United States needs improvement. Too frequently, healthcare delivery is uncoordinated and has many providers who are not adequately prepared to have meaningful conversations about EOL planning. This is amplified by payment systems and policies that create impediments, misunderstanding, and sometimes misinformation.
Dying in America
made five recommendations to improve quality and honor individual preferences near the EOL beginning with making conversations with providers and families something that occurs during various phases of the life cycle and not just when one is facing serious illness or possible EOL. It was recommended (
i
) that public and private payers and care delivery organizations cover the provision of comprehensive care that is accessible and available to individuals on a 24/7 schedule; (
ii
) that professional societies and other entities establish standards for clinician patient communication and advance care planning and that payers and care delivery organizations adopt them; (
iii
) that educational institutions, credentialing bodies, accrediting boards, state regulatory agencies, and care delivery organizations establish palliative care training, certification, and/or licensure requirements; (
iv
) that public and private payers and care delivery organizations integrate the financing of health and social services; and (
v
) that public and private organizations should engage their constituents and provide fact-based information to encourage advance care planning and informed choice.
Modeling synovial sarcoma metastasis in the mouse: PI3′-lipid signaling and inflammation
Authors: Barrott Jared J. , Kafchinski Lisa A. , Jin Huifeng , Potter Jared W. , Kannan Sarmishta D. , Kennedy Robert , Mosbruger Tim , Wang Wei-Lien , Tsai Jen-Wei , Araujo Dejka M. , Liu Ting , Capecchi Mario R. , Lazar Alexander J. , Jones Kevin B.
Published: November 2016

Solid tumor metastasis is a complex biology, impinged upon by a variety of dysregulated signaling pathways. PI3′-lipid signaling has been associated with metastasis and inflammation in many cancers, but the relationship between tumor cell–intrinsic PI3′-lipid signaling and inflammatory cell recruitment has remained enigmatic. Elevated PI3′-lipid signaling associates with progression of synovial sarcoma, a deadly soft tissue malignancy initiated by a t(X;18) chromosomal translocation that generates an SS18-SSX fusion oncoprotein. Here, we show in genetically engineered mouse models of locally induced expression of SS18-SSX1 or SS18-SSX2 that Pten silencing dramatically accelerated and enhanced sarcomagenesis without compromising synovial sarcoma characteristics. PTEN deficiency increased tumor angiogenesis, promoted inflammatory gene expression, and enabled highly penetrant spontaneous pulmonary metastasis. PTEN-deficient sarcomas revealed infiltrating myeloid-derived hematopoietic cells, particularly macrophages and neutrophils, recruited via PI3′-lipid–induced CSF1 expression in tumor cells. Moreover, in a large panel of human synovial sarcomas, enhanced PI3′-lipid signaling also correlated with increased inflammatory cell recruitment and CSF1R signal transduction in both macrophages and endothelial cells. Thus, both in the mouse model and in human synovial sarcomas, PI3′-lipid signaling drives CSF1 expression and associates with increased infiltration of the monocyte/macrophage lineage as well as neutrophils.
Non-density of small points on divisors on Abelian varieties and the Bogomolov conjecture
Authors: Yamaki Kazuhiko
Published: November 2016

The Bogomolov conjecture for a curve claims finiteness of algebraic points on the curve which are small with respect to the canonical height. Ullmo has proved that this conjecture holds over number fields, and Moriwaki generalized it to the assertion over finitely generated fields over

Q

\mathbb {Q}

with respect to arithmetic heights. As for the case of function fields with respect to the geometric heights, Cinkir has proved the conjecture over function fields of characteristic

0
0

and of transcendence degree

1
1

. However, the conjecture has been open over other function fields.

In this paper, we prove that the Bogomolov conjecture for curves holds over any function field. In fact, we show that any non-special closed subvariety of dimension

1
1

in an abelian variety over function fields has only a finite number of small points. This result is a consequence of the investigation of non-density of small points of closed subvarieties of abelian varieties of codimension

1
1

. As a by-product, we show that the geometric Bogomolov conjecture, which is a generalization of the Bogomolov conjecture for curves over function fields, holds for any abelian variety of dimension at most

3
3

. Combining this result with our previous works, we see that the geometric Bogomolov conjecture holds for all abelian varieties for which the difference between its nowhere degeneracy rank and the dimension of its trace is not greater than

3
3

.
FUEL-mLoc: feature-unified prediction and explanation of multi-localization of cellular proteins in multiple organisms
Authors: Wan Shibiao , Mak Man-Wai , Kung Sun-Yuan
Published: November 2016

Although many web-servers for predicting protein subcellular localization have been developed, they often have the following drawbacks: (i) lack of interpretability or interpreting results with heterogenous information which may confuse users; (ii) ignoring multi-location proteins and (iii) only focusing on specific organism. To tackle these problems, we present an interpretable and efficient web-server, namely FUEL-mLoc, using Feature-Unified prediction and Explanation of multi-Localization of cellular proteins in multiple organisms. Compared to conventional localization predictors, FUEL-mLoc has the following advantages: (i) using unified features (i.e. essential GO terms) to interpret why a prediction is made; (ii) being capable of predicting both single- and multi-location proteins and (iii) being able to handle proteins of multiple organisms, including Eukaryota, Homo sapiens, Viridiplantae, Gram-positive Bacteria, Gram-negative Bacteria and Virus. Experimental results demonstrate that FUEL-mLoc outperforms state-of-the-art subcellular-localization predictors.

Availability and Implementation

http://bioinfo.eie.polyu.edu.hk/FUEL-mLoc/

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
SINE_scan: an efficient tool to discover short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) in large-scale genomic datasets
Authors: Mao Hongliang , Wang Hao
Published: November 2016

Motivation

Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements (SINEs) are transposable elements (TEs) that amplify through a copy-and-paste mode via RNA intermediates. The computational identification of new SINEs are challenging because of their weak structural signals and rapid diversification in sequences.

Results

Here we report SINE_Scan, a highly efficient program to predict SINE elements in genomic DNA sequences. SINE_Scan integrates hallmark of SINE transposition, copy number and structural signals to identify a SINE element. SINE_Scan outperforms the previously published de novo SINE discovery program. It shows high sensitivity and specificity in 19 plant and animal genome assemblies, of which sizes vary from 120 Mb to 3.5 Gb. It identifies numerous new families and substantially increases the estimation of the abundance of SINEs in these genomes.

Availability and Implementation

The code of SINE_Scan is freely available at http://github.com/maohlzj/SINE_Scan, implemented in PERL and supported on Linux.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Radiotherapy for localized gastric mucosa–associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: long-term outcomes over 10 years
Authors: Ohkubo Yu , Saito Yoshihiro , Ushijima Hiroki , Onishi Masahiro , Kazumoto Tomoko , Saitoh Jun-ichi , Kubota Nobuko , Kobayashi Hirofumi , Maseki Nobuo , Nishimura Yu , Kurosumi Masafumi
Published: November 2016

This study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes of radiotherapy in patients with localized gastric mucosa–associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Twenty-seven patients with Stage I gastric MALT lymphoma were treated with radiotherapy from 1999 to 2010. The median age was 65 years (range: 31–84). Fifteen patients were Helicobacter pylori–negative. Thirteen patients were treated with definitive radiotherapy alone. The other 14 patients who had refractory or residual disease following a prior treatment received salvage radiotherapy. The median dose of the radiotherapy was 30 Gy in 20 fractions (range: 30–39.5 Gy). The median follow-up period was 121 months (range: 8–176 months). The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates for all patients were 92% and 87%, respectively. No patients died from MALT lymphoma. Three patients died of other diseases at 8, 33 and 74 months after radiotherapy (myocardial infarction, pneumonia and hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively). No cases of local recurrence were observed during the follow-up period. There were no serious late gastric, liver or kidney complications during a median follow-up period of over 10 years. Two patients remain alive with distant metastases: a lung metastasis and an abdominal lymph node metastasis at 104 months and 21 months after radiotherapy, respectively. Excellent long-term local control was observed in patients with localized gastric MALT lymphoma after radiotherapy. However, lifelong follow-up should be conducted to detect cases of late recurrence, especially distant metastases.
Mitigation of whole-body gamma radiation–induced damages by Clerodendron infortunatum in mammalian organisms
Authors: Chacko Tiju , Menon Aditya , Majeed Teeju , Nair Sivaprabha V. , John Nithu Sara , Nair Cherupally Krishnan Krishnan
Published: November 2016

Several phytoceuticals and extracts of medicinal plants are reported to mitigate deleterious effects of ionizing radiation. The potential of hydro-alcoholic extract of Clerodendron infortunatum (CIE) for providing protection to mice exposed to gamma radiation was investigated. Oral administration of CIE bestowed a survival advantage to mice exposed to lethal doses of gamma radiation. Radiation-induced depletion of the total blood count and bone marrow cellularity were prevented by treatment with CIE. Damage to the cellular DNA (as was evident from the comet assay and the micronucleus index) was also found to be decreased upon CIE administration. Radiation-induced damages to intestinal crypt cells was also reduced by CIE. Studies on gene expression in intestinal cells revealed that there was a marked increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in mice exposed to whole-body 4 Gy gamma radiation, and that administration of CIE resulted in significant lowering of this ratio, suggestive of reduction of radiation-induced apoptosis. Also, in the intestinal tissue of irradiated animals, following CIE treatment, levels of expression of the DNA repair gene Atm were found to be elevated, and there was reduction in the expression of the inflammatory Cox-2 gene. Thus, our results suggest a beneficial use of Clerodendron infortunatum for mitigating radiation toxicity.
Propidium Monoazide Improves Quantification of Resting Spores of Plasmodiophora brassicae with qPCR
Authors: Al-Daoud Fadi , Gossen Bruce D. , Robson Justin , McDonald Mary Ruth
Published: November 2016

Plasmodiophora brassicae, which causes clubroot of Brassica crops, persists in soil as long-lived resting spores. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis is often used to quantify resting spores but does not distinguish between DNA of viable and nonviable spores. The impact of pretreating spores with propidium monoazide (PMA), which inhibits amplification of DNA from nonviable microorganisms, was assessed in several experiments. Spore suspensions from immature and mature clubs were heat treated; then, PMA-PCR analyses and bioassays were performed to assess spore viability. Prior to heat treatment, assessments comparing PMA-PCR to qPCR for mature spores were similar, indicating that most of these spores were viable. However, only a small proportion (<26%) of immature spores were amplified in PMA-PCR. Bioassays demonstrated that clubroot severity was much higher in plants inoculated with mature spores than with immature spores. Heat treatment produced little or no change in estimates of mature spores from qPCR but spore estimates from PMA-PCR and clubroot severity in bioassays were both substantially reduced. Estimates of spore concentration with PMA-PCR were less consistent for immature spores. To facilitate use of PMA-PCR on infested soil, a protocol for extracting spores from soil was developed that provided higher extraction efficiency than the standard methods.
Temporal Dynamics and Spatial Variation of Azoxystrobin and Propiconazole Resistance in Zymoseptoria tritici: A Hierarchical Survey of Commercial Winter Wheat Fields in the Willamette Valley, Oregon
Authors: Hagerty Christina H. , Anderson Nicole P. , Mundt Christopher C.
Published: November 2016

Fungicide resistance can cause disease control failure in agricultural systems, and is particularly concerning with Zymoseptoria tritici, the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch of wheat. In North America, the first quinone outside inhibitor resistance in Z. tritici was discovered in the Willamette Valley of Oregon in 2012, which prompted this hierarchical survey of commercial winter wheat fields to monitor azoxystrobin- and propiconazole-resistant Z. tritici. Surveys were conducted in June 2014, January 2015, May 2015, and January 2016. The survey was organized in a hierarchical scheme: regions within the Willamette Valley, fields within the region, transects within the field, and samples within the transect. Overall, frequency of azoxystrobin-resistant isolates increased from 63 to 93% from June 2014 to January 2016. Resistance to azoxystrobin increased over time even within fields receiving no strobilurin applications. Propiconazole sensitivity varied over the course of the study but, overall, did not significantly change. Sensitivity to both fungicides showed no regional aggregation within the Willamette Valley. Greater than 80% of spatial variation in fungicide sensitivity was at the smallest hierarchical scale (within the transect) of the survey for both fungicides, and the resistance phenotypes were randomly distributed within sampled fields. Results suggest a need for a better understanding of the dynamics of fungicide resistance at the landscape level.
Homologous Recombination and Xylella fastidiosa Host–Pathogen Associations in South America
Authors: Coletta-Filho Helvécio D. , Francisco Carolina S. , Lopes João R. S. , Muller Christiane , Almeida Rodrigo P. P.
Published: November 2016

Homologous recombination affects the evolution of bacteria such as Xylella fastidiosa, a naturally competent plant pathogen that requires insect vectors for dispersal. This bacterial species is taxonomically divided into subspecies, with phylogenetic clusters within subspecies that are host specific. One subspecies, pauca, is primarily limited to South America, with the exception of recently reported strains in Europe and Costa Rica. Despite the economic importance of X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca in South America, little is known about its genetic diversity. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has previously identified six sequence types (ST) among plant samples collected in Brazil (both subsp. pauca and multiplex). Here, we report on a survey of X. fastidiosa genetic diversity (MLST based) performed in six regions in Brazil and two in Argentina, by sampling five different plant species. In addition to the six previously reported ST, seven new subsp. pauca and two new subsp. multiplex ST were identified. The presence of subsp. multiplex in South America is considered to be the consequence of a single introduction from its native range in North America more than 80 years ago. Different phylogenetic approaches clustered the South American ST into four groups, with strains infecting citrus (subsp. pauca); coffee and olive (subsp. pauca); coffee, hibiscus, and plum (subsp. pauca); and plum (subsp. multiplex). In areas where these different genetic clusters occurred sympatrically, we found evidence of homologous recombination in the form of bidirectional allelic exchange between subspp. pauca and multiplex. In fact, the only strain of subsp. pauca isolated from a plum host had an allele that originated from subsp. multiplex. These signatures of bidirectional homologous recombination between endemic and introduced ST indicate that gene flow occurs in short evolutionary time frames in X. fastidiosa, despite the ecological isolation (i.e., host plant species) of genotypes.
Using National Health Care Databases and Problem-Based Practice Analysis to Inform Integrated Curriculum Development
Authors: Baker Amy J. , Raymond Mark R. , Haist Steven A. , Boulet John R.
Published: November 2016

One challenge when implementing case-based learning, and other approaches to contextualized learning, is determining which clinical problems to include. This article illustrates how health care utilization data, readily available from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), can be incorporated into an educational needs assessment to identify medical problems physicians are likely to encounter in clinical practice. The NCHS survey data summarize patient demographics, diagnoses, and interventions for tens of thousands of patients seen in various settings, including emergency departments (EDs), clinics, and hospitals.

Selected data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: Emergency Department illustrate how instructional materials can be derived from the results of such public-use health care data. Using fever as the reason for visit to the ED, the patient management path is depicted in the form of a case drill-down by exploring the most common diagnoses, blood tests, diagnostic studies, procedures, and medications associated with fever.

Although these types of data are quite useful, they should not serve as the sole basis for determining which instructional cases to include. Additional sources of information should be considered to ensure the inclusion of cases that represent infrequent but high-impact problems and those that illustrate fundamental principles that generalize to other cases.
Meeting ACGME Standards Under a Unified Accreditation System: Challenges for Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education Programs
Authors: Cummings Mark
Published: November 2016

In 2014, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to create a unified accreditation system for graduate medical education (GME) under the ACGME. The AOA will cease to accredit GME programs on June 30, 2020. By then, AOA-accredited programs need to apply for and achieve ACGME initial accreditation. The terms of the MOU also made it advantageous for some formerly nonteaching hospitals to establish AOA programs, chiefly in primary care, as a step toward future ACGME accreditation.

In transitioning AOA programs to the ACGME system, hospitals with osteopathic GME can expect to encounter challenges related to major differences between AOA and ACGME standards. The minimum numbers of residents for ACGME programs in most specialties are greater than those for AOA programs, which will require hospitals that may already be at their federal caps to add additional residency positions. ACGME standards are also more faculty- and staff-intensive and require additional infrastructure, necessitating additional financial investments. In addition, greater curricular specificity in ACGME standards will generate new educational and financial challenges.

To address these challenges, hospitals may need to reallocate resources and positions among their current AOA programs, reducing the number of programs (and specialties) they sponsor. It is expected that a number of established and new AOA programs will choose not to pursue ACGME accreditation or will fail to qualify for ACGME initial accreditation.
Unique Educational Opportunities for PCPs and Specialists Arising From Electronic Consultation Services
Authors: Keely Erin J. , Archibald Douglas , Tuot Delphine S. , Lochnan Heather , Liddy Clare
Published: November 2016

Health care reform should be driven by the goals of better patient experience, improved population health, lower per capita costs, and improved provider satisfaction. Electronic consultation (eConsult) services have been adopted by several jurisdictions in the United States, Canada, and Europe to improve access to specialists by primary care providers (PCPs) and are being heralded as a key component for delivery of coordinated care. The primary intent of an eConsult service is to provide PCPs with efficient, timely, direct access to specialist expertise to help guide the management of their patients, reduce the need for unnecessary face-to-face specialty consultations, and improve the quality of the initial face-to-face consultation when needed, through the preconsultative communication.

In addition to improving access to care, eConsult services have been praised by PCPs and specialists for their educational value, in particular their ability to enrich practice-based learning. Less recognized, but equally important from the educational perspective, include the abilities of eConsult programs to promote reflection by PCPs and specialists, improve collegiality and professionalism between primary and specialist care, inform continuing professional development activities and maintenance of certification, and enhance training programs’ teaching of effective communication and care coordination.

As eConsult services become increasingly available, the medical community must leverage the educational opportunities inherent in eConsult programs to further improve the delivery of coordinated specialty care. The educational role of eConsults should be considered as a priority outcome in their evaluation and must be highlighted and optimized in next iterations of eConsult systems design.
Transition to Independence: Characteristics and Outcomes of Mentored Career Development (KL2) Scholars at Clinical and Translational Science Award Institutions
Authors: Sweeney Carol , Schwartz Lisa S. , Toto Robert , Merchant Carol , Fair Alecia S. , Gabrilove Janice L.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

To describe the transition from mentored to independent research funding for clinical and translational scholars supported by institutional KL2 Mentored Career Development programs.

Method

In 2013, faculty leaders at Clinical and Translational Science Award institutions completed an online survey, reporting characteristics of scholars in their KL2 programs from 2006 to 2013. The primary outcome variable was a report that the scholar had received independent funding as a principal investigator. Data analysis included descriptive summaries and mixed-effects regression models.

Results

Respondents from 48 institutions (of 62 eligible; 77%) provided information about 914 KL2 scholars. Of those, 620 (68%) were medical doctors, 114 (12%) had other clinical training, and 177 (19%) were nonclinician PhDs. Fifty-three percent (487) were female; 12% (108/865) were members of racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine (URM). After completing KL2 training, 96% (558/582) remained engaged in research. Among scholars who completed KL2 training two or more years earlier, 39% (149/374) received independent funding. Independent funding was from non-National Institutes of Health (NIH) sources (120 scholars) more often than from NIH (101 scholars). The odds of a nonclinician attaining independent funding were twice those of a clinician (odds ratio 2.05; 95% confidence interval 1.11–3.78). Female and URM scholars were as likely as male and non-URM scholars to attain independent funding.

Conclusions

KL2 programs supported the transition to independent funding for clinical and translational scientists. Female and URM scholars were well represented. Future studies should consider non-NIH funding sources when assessing the transition to research independence.
“It Feels Like a Lot of Extra Work”: Resident Attitudes About Quality Improvement and Implications for an Effective Learning Health Care System
Authors: Butler Jorie M. , Anderson Katherine A. , Supiano Mark A. , Weir Charlene R.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The learning health care system promotes development and application of evidence generated within the health care system to enhance the quality of patient care. The purpose of this study was to understand resident attitudes about quality improvement (QI) in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–approved programs.

Method

Four focus groups were conducted with 45 residents at the University of Utah School of Medicine during September and October 2014. Residents discussed the perceived value of QI and their experiences with QI. Qualitative analysis was conducted iteratively, resulting in a set of constructs that were then consolidated into overarching themes.

Results

Five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis. Four of these represented QI participation barriers: challenges with understanding the vision of QI, confusion about basic aspects of QI, a sense that resident contributions to QI are not valued/valuable to the QI process, and challenges with prioritizing responsibilities relating to QI compared with other responsibilities. One theme represented a facilitator of successful QI: factors that make QI work successfully (e.g., clear goals and a sense of being on the “same page”).

Conclusions

If resident attitudes about QI do not improve, the culture of the learning health care system is threatened. An important step in enhancing the perceived value of QI is resolving the perceived tension between providing excellent patient care and satisfying other goals. Involving residents more effectively in QI may result in improved attitudes and promote development of a better-functioning learning health care system.
The Impact of a Scholarly Concentration Program on Student Interest in Career-Long Research: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Wolfson Rachel K. , Alberson Kurt , McGinty Michael , Schwanz Korry , Dickins Kirsten , Arora Vineet M.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Concerns remain regarding the future of the physician-scientist workforce. One goal of scholarly concentration (SC) programs is to give students skills and motivation to pursue research careers. The authors describe SC and student variables that affect students’ career plans.

Method

Medical students graduating from the University of Chicago SC program in 2014 and 2015 were studied. The authors measured change in interest in career-long research from matriculation to graduation, and used ordinal logistic regression to determine whether program satisfaction, dissemination of scholarship, publication, and gender were associated with increased interest in a research career.

Results

Among students with low baseline interest in career-long research, a one-point-higher program satisfaction was associated with 2.49 (95% CI 1.36–4.57, P = .003) odds of a one-point-increased interest in a research career from matriculation to graduation. Among students with high baseline interest in career-long research, both publication (OR 5.46, 95% CI 1.40–21.32, P = .02) and female gender (OR 4.83, 95% CI 1.11–21.04, P = .04) were associated with increased odds of a one-point-increased interest in career-long research.

Conclusions

The impact of an SC program on change in career plans during medical school was analyzed. Program satisfaction, publication, and female gender were associated with increased intent to participate in career-long research depending on baseline interest in career-long research. Two ways to bolster the physician-scientist workforce are to improve satisfaction with existing SC programs and to formally support student publication. Future work to track outcomes of SC program graduates is warranted.