bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitoxantrone as a substitute for daunorubicin during induction in newly diagnosed lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma
Authors: Nickel Robert S. , Keller Frank , Bergsagel John , Cooper Todd , Daves Marla , Sabnis Himalee , Lew Glen
Published: December 2013

Background

Daunorubicin, a component of the four‐drug induction chemotherapy regimen for de novo pediatric high‐risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LLy), was unavailable in 2011 due to a national drug shortage. During this time, our institution substituted mitoxantrone 6.25 mg/m2 for daunorubicin 25 mg/m2 on induction Days 1, 8, 15, and 22. While mitoxantrone has been shown to be effective for relapsed ALL, it has not been studied in de novo pediatric ALL/LLy.

Procedure

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of newly diagnosed patients with ALL or LLy at our institution 1/2009–4/2013 to compare induction toxicity and response of patients treated with mitoxantrone versus daunorubicin.

Results

Eleven patients received mitoxantrone, 121 patients received daunorubicin. Induction toxicities including deaths, intensive care unit admissions, fever, bacteremia, and invasive fungal disease were similar for the two groups. Mean number of days hospitalized during induction was also similar (mitoxantrone 9.7 days vs. daunorubicin 11.2 days, P = 0.60). Minimal residual disease prevalence at the end of induction was not significantly different (mitoxantrone 33.3% vs. daunorubicin 23.0%, P = 0.44). The only significant difference between the groups was that a higher proportion of patients who received mitoxantrone had consolidation delayed due to myelosuppression (mitoxantrone 30.0% vs. daunorubicin 6.0%, P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Induction toxicity and response for new ALL/LLy patients treated with mitoxantrone in place of daunorubicin were similar to the toxicity and response seen with conventional daunorubicin. Mitoxantrone is a reasonable replacement for daunorubicin in times of drug shortage. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:810–814. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of self‐reported physical activity in children and adolescents before and during cancer treatment
Authors: Götte Miriam , Kesting Sabine , Winter Corinna , Rosenbaum Dieter , Boos Joachim
Published: December 2013

Background

Physical activities are important for the development of children and increasing evidence suggests beneficial effects of physical activity promotion during cancer treatment as well. The present study aimed at evaluating the current need of exercise interventions in pediatric cancer patients undergoing acute treatment and identifying risk factors for inactivity.

Procedure

Data about self‐reported physical activity before and during treatment was collected in a cross‐sectional design with the physical activity questionnaire from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) in a modified cancer specific version.

Results

One hundred thirty pediatric cancer patients with various entities were questioned 3.0 ± 1.6 months since diagnosis. Patients' activity levels before diagnosis mainly matched reference values for healthy children in Germany. Reductions during treatment affected all dimensions of daily physical activities and minutes of exercise per week decreased significantly (P < 0.001). Largest reductions of physical activities during treatment were identified for bone tumor patients and in‐patient stays.

Conclusions

Due to the well known importance of physical activity during childhood and the identified risk of inactivity during cancer treatment, supervised exercise interventions should be implemented into acute treatment phase to enhance activity levels and ensure a continuously support by qualified exercise professionals. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:1023–1028. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Studies on electrical properties of nanoclay filled thermoplastic polyurethane/polypropylene blends
Authors: Kannan Murugasamy , Bhagawan S.S. , Thomas Sabu , Joseph Kuruvilla
Published: December 2013

The electrical properties of ester/ether‐based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polypropylene (PP) blends are presented in this article. Special attention has been paid to analyze the effect of blend ratio, compatibilization, and effect of nanoclay on the electrical properties of TPU/PP blends. The electrical properties measured were dielectric constant (ε′), volume resistivity (ρυ), loss factor (ε″), and dissipation factor (tan δ). Addition of PP into TPU increases the volume resistivity and reduces the dissipation and loss factor due to the decrease in the overall polarity of the system. Further addition of compatibilizer and nanoclay to this system reduced the dissipation factor and loss factor with increased volume resistivity. Compared with the ether‐TPU based blend nanocomposites, the ester‐TPU blends show better compatibility as confirmed by analysis. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1671–1682, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Facilitators and barriers to help‐seeking for breast and cervical cancer symptoms: a qualitative study with an ethnically diverse sample in London
Authors: Marlow Laura A. V. , McGregor Lesley M. , Nazroo James Y. , Wardle Jane
Published: December 2013

Objective

Earlier diagnosis of cancer has become a policy priority. There is evidence that minority ethnic groups are more likely to delay help‐seeking for cancer symptoms, but few studies have explored reasons for delay in these groups. The present study explored facilitators and barriers to help‐seeking for breast and cervical cancer in an ethnically diverse sample of women.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were carried out with 54 healthy women from a range of ethnic backgrounds; Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Caribbean, African, Black British, Black other, White British and White other. Framework analysis was used to identify themes.

Results

Appraising a symptom as possibly due to cancer was an important facilitator of help‐seeking, although for some the prospect of a cancer diagnosis was a deterrent. Women believed that earlier diagnosis improved the chance of survival, and this facilitated prompt help‐seeking. A sympathetic GP facilitated help‐seeking, and an unsympathetic GP was a deterrent. Some ethnic minority women described the use of alternative medicine and prayer as a first‐line strategy that might delay help‐seeking. Language barriers, racism and a tendency to ‘soldier on’ were also mentioned by these women.

Conclusions

Models of delay in presentation for early cancer symptoms are likely to transfer across different ethnic groups. Encouraging open discussion about cancer among minority communities could help raise awareness about the importance of early detection and promote help‐seeking as a priority response to a possible cancer symptom. © 2013 The Authors. Psycho‐Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accurate energy‐size dependence of excitonic transitions in semiconductor nanocrystals and nanoplatelets using a phase jump approach
Authors: Dijksman Arjen T. , Dubertret Benoit
Published: December 2013

Accurate energy‐size dependence of excitonic transitions in semiconductor nanocrystals in the strong confinement regime using classical theoretical approaches such as effective mass (EM) approximation, tight binding (TB), or empirical pseudo‐potential is difficult. We propose a simple empirical expression with three fitting parameters that accurately relates the size dependence of most known excitonic transitions in CdSe and in InAs nanocrystals. We show that this empirical expression can be deduced from a phase jump approach if the charge carriers are considered to travel on the atomic lattice of the nanocrystal and gain energy upon bouncing at the nanoparticle boundaries. This empirical expression is also tested on the atomically flat CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs) without any adjustment of the parameters obtained with the CdSe spherical nanocrystals, and provides an estimation of the CdSe NPLs thickness that matches exactly the experimental observations. These results suggest that a phase shift approach could be useful to describe the electronic transitions in semiconductor nanocrystals.
Pseudo‐value approach for comparing survival medians for dependent data
Authors: Ahn Kwang Woo , Mendolia Franco
Published: December 2013

Survival median is commonly used to compare treatment groups in cancer‐related research. The current literature focuses on developing tests for independent survival data. However, researchers often encounter dependent survival data such as matched pair data or clustered data. We propose a pseudo‐value approach to test the equality of survival medians for both independent and dependent survival data. We investigate the type I error and power of the proposed method by a simulation study, in which we examine independent and dependent data. The simulation study shows that the proposed method performs equivalently to the existing methods for independent survival data and performs better for dependent survival data. A study comparing survival median times for bone marrow transplants illustrates the proposed method. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Navigating the Minefields of Publishing
Authors: Christopher Andrew N.
Published: December 2013

From the perspective of a journal editor and experienced author, this chapter provides counsel on the “ins” and “outs” of publishing empirical research in peer‐reviewed journals.
Faculty Development Centers and the Role of SoTL
Authors: Schwartz Beth M. , Haynie Aeron
Published: December 2013

This chapter discusses ways that faculty development and teaching centers can foster the practice of SoTL and create a campus culture where SoTL is recognized as important scholarly work.
Cesarean scar pregnancy and early placenta accreta share common histology
Authors: Timor‐Tritsch I. E. , Monteagudo A. , Cali G. , Palacios‐Jaraquemada J. M. , Maymon R. , Arslan A. A. , Patil N. , Popiolek D. , Mittal K. R.
Published: December 2013

Objective

To determine, by evaluation of histological slides, images and descriptions of early (second‐trimester) placenta accreta (EPA) and placental implantation in cases of Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP), whether these are pathologically indistinguishable and whether they both represent different stages in the disease continuum leading to morbidly adherent placenta in the third trimester.

Methods

The database of a previously published review of CSP and EPA was used to identify articles with histopathological descriptions and electronic images for pathological review. When possible, microscopic slides and/or paraffin blocks were obtained from the original researchers. We also included from our own institutions cases of CSP and EPA for which pathology specimens were available. Two pathologists examined all the material independently and, blinded to each other's findings, provided a pathological diagnosis based on microscopic appearance. Interobserver agreement in diagnosis was determined.

Results

Forty articles were identified, which included 31 cases of CSP and 13 cases of EPA containing histopathological descriptions and/or images of the pathology. We additionally included six cases of CSP and eight cases of EPA from our own institutions, giving a total of 58 cases available for histological evaluation (37 CSP and 21 EPA) containing clear definitions of morbidly adherent placenta. In the 29 cases for which images/slides were available for histopathological evaluation, both pathologists attested to the various degrees of myometrial and/or scar tissue invasion by placental villi with scant or no intervening decidua, consistent with the classic definition of morbidly adherent placenta. Based on the reviewed material, cases with a diagnosis of EPA and those with a diagnosis of CSP showed identical histopathological features. Interobserver correlation was high (kappa = 0.93).

Conclusions

EPA and placental implantation in CSP are histopathologically indistinguishable and may represent different stages in the disease continuum leading to morbidly adherent placenta in the third trimester. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Genetic regulation of flowering time in annual and perennial plants
Authors: Khan Muhammad Rehman Gul , Ai Xiao‐Yan , Zhang Jin‐Zhi
Published: December 2013

Flowering time plays a significant role in the reproductive success of plants. So far, five major pathways to flowering have been characterized in Arabidopsis, including environmental induction through photoperiod, vernalization, and gibberellins and autonomous floral iation, and aging by sequentially operating miRNAs (typically miR156 and miR172) responding to endogenous cues. The balance of signals from these pathways is integrated by a common set of genes (FLOWERING LOCUS C, FLOWERING LOCUS T, LEAFY, and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1) that determine the flowering time. Recent studies have indicated that epigenetic modification, alternative splicing, antisense RNA and chromatin silencing regulatory mechanisms play an important role in this process by regulating related flowering gene expression. In this review, we discuss the current understanding in genetic regulation of the phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth by using Arabidopsis as a model. We also describe how this knowledge has been successfully applied for identifying homologous genes from perennial crops. Furthermore, detailed analysis of the similarities and differences between annual and perennial plants flowering will help elucidate the mechanisms of perennial plant maturation and regulation of floral initiation.

This article is categorized under:

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development
Neutral Pentacoordinate Silicon(IV) Complexes with a Tridentate Dianionic O,N,O or N,N,O Ligand, an Anionic PhX Ligand (X = O, S, Se), and a Phenyl Group: Synthesis and Structural Characterization in the Solid State and in Solution
Authors: Weiß Jörg , Theis Bastian , Baus Johannes A. , Burschka Christian , Bertermann Rüdiger , Tacke Reinhold
Published: December 2013

A series of neutral pentacoordinate silicon(IV) complexes with a SiO3NC, SiO2SNC, SiO2SeNC, SiO2N2C, SiOSN2C, or SiOSeN2C skeleton was synthesized and structurally characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in the solid state and in solution and by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compounds studied contain a tridentate dianionic O,N,O or N,N,O ligand, an anionic PhX ligand (X = O, S, Se), and a phenyl group. The structures, NMR spectroscopic parameters, and chemical properties of these silicon(IV) complexes were compared with those of related compounds that contain a tridentate dianionic S,N,O ligand instead of the O,N,O or N,N,O ligand.
Trends in Incidentally Identified Thyroid Cancers Over a Decade: A Retrospective Analysis of 2,090 Surgical Patients
Authors: Bahl Manisha , Sosa Julie A. , Nelson Rendon C. , Esclamado Ramon M. , Choudhury Kingshuk Roy , Hoang Jenny K.
Published: December 2013

Background

The aim of this study was to describe trends in the incidence of incidental thyroid cancers and compare their characteristics with clinically presenting cancers.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of patients with thyroid cancer who underwent thyroid surgery from 2003 to 2012. Patients’ initial presentation was categorized as incidental (on imaging or final surgical pathology) or clinical (palpable or symptomatic) cancer. Characteristics of incidental and clinical cancers were compared.

Results

Of the 2,090 patients who underwent thyroid surgery, 680 (33 %) were diagnosed with cancer. One hundred ninety (28 %) were incidental cancer, of which 101 were detected on imaging studies and 89 were detected on analysis of the surgical pathology specimens. The incidence of thyroid cancer increased by 7.6‐fold from 2003 to 2012. The proportion of incidental cancers on imaging did not increase, but incidental cancers found on pathology steadily increased from 6 % in 2003 to 20 % in 2012. 84 % of the cancers were papillary cancer, and the proportion of papillary cancer was similar for both clinical and incidental cancers. Clinical cancers were larger than incidental cancers on imaging (2.2 vs. 1.8 cm, p = 0.02). Incidental cancers on imaging were less likely to have lateral compartment nodal metastases (7 vs. 13 %, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Thyroid cancer diagnoses have increased at our institution, but the proportion of incidental cancers identified on imaging relative to clinical cancers has been stable over a decade and is not the sole explanation for the observed increase in thyroid cancer diagnoses. Incidental cancers on imaging are smaller in size and less likely to have lateral compartment nodal metastases than clinical cancers.
Reciprocal Associations Between Depressive Symptoms and Disordered Eating Among Adolescent Girls and Boys: A Multiwave, Prospective Study
Authors: Ferreiro Fátima , Wichstrøm Lars , Seoane Gloria , Senra Carmen
Published: December 2013

Symptoms of depression and eating disorders increase during adolescence, particularly among girls, and they tend to co-occur. Despite this evidence, there is meager research on whether depression increases the risk of future eating pathology, or vice versa, and we do not know whether these processes are different for adolescent girls and boys. Accordingly, this study explored the prospective reciprocal associations between depressive symptoms and disordered eating at different time points from preadolescence to mid-adolescence and tested the moderator effect of gender on these associations. A community-based sample of Spanish youth (N = 942, 49 % female) was assessed at ages of approximately 10-11 (T1), 12-13 (T2), 14-15 (T3), and 16-17 (T4) years. The bidirectional relationships between depressive symptoms and disordered eating were estimated in an autoregressive cross-lagged model with latent variables. A unidirectional, age-specific association between depressive symptoms at T1 and disordered eating at T2 was found. No other significant cross-lagged effect emerged, but the stability of the constructs was considerable. Gender did not moderate any of the links examined. Regardless of gender, the transition from childhood to adolescence appears to be a key period when depressive symptoms foster the development of disordered eating. These findings suggest that early prevention and treatment of depression targeting both girls and boys may result in lower levels of depressive symptoms and disordered eating in adolescence.
An ‘in‐cell trial’ to assess the efficacy of a monovalent anti‐MET antibody as monotherapy and in association with standard cytotoxics
Authors: Benvenuti Silvia , Gentile Alessandra , Lazzari Luca , Arnesano Addolorata , Trusolino Livio , Comoglio Paolo M.
Published: December 2013

In clinical practice, targeted therapies are usually administered together with chemotherapeutics. However, little is known whether conventional cytotoxic agents enhance the efficacy of targeted compounds, and whether a possible synergy would be dictated by drug‐sensitizing genetic alterations. To explore these issues, we leveraged the design of clinical studies in humans to conduct a multi‐arm trial in an ‘in‐cell’ format. Using the MET oncogene as a model target and a panel of genetically characterized cell lines as a reference population, we found that two different chemotherapeutic regimens – cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil – exerted widespread cytotoxic activity that was not further enhanced by MET inhibition with a monovalent anti‐MET antibody. From a complementary perspective, targeted MET inhibition was successful in a selected complement of cells harboring MET genomic lesions. In this latter setting, addition of chemotherapy did not provide a therapeutic advantage. Mechanistically, chemotherapeutics did not influence the basal activity of MET in cells with normal MET genomic status nor did they contribute to neutralize MET signals in cells with MET amplification. These data suggest that tumors displaying MET aberrations achieve plateau responses by MET monotherapy and do not receive further benefit by addition of cytotoxic treatments.
Do patients with functional chest pain have neuroplastic reorganization of the pain matrix? A diffusion tensor imaging study
Authors: Frøkjær Jens Brøndum , Boldea Andra Sorina , Hoff Dag Arne Lihaug , Krarup Anne Lund , Hatlebakk Jan Gunnar , Dimcevski Georg , Drewes Asbjørn Mohr
Published: December 2013

Background and aims

In functional chest pain (FCP) of presumed esophageal origin central nervous system hyperexcitability is generally believed to play an important role in pain pathogenesis. However, this theory has recently been challenged. Using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging, the aim was to characterize any microstructural reorganization of the pain neuromatrix in FCP patients.

Methods

13 FCP patients and 20 matched healthy controls were studied in a 3T MR scanner. Inclusion criteria were relevant chest pain, normal coronary angiogram and normal upper gastrointestinal evaluation. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) (i.e. mean diffusivity of water) and fractional anisotropy (FA) (i.e. directionality of water diffusion as a measure of fiber organization) values were assessed in the secondary sensory cortex, cingulate cortex, insula, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala.

Results

Overall, including all regions, no difference in ADC and FA values was found between the patients and controls (P = 0.79 and P = 0.23, respectively). Post-hoc tests revealed no difference in ADC and FA values of the individual regions. However, a trend of patients having increased ADC in the mid insula grey matter and increased FA in the mid insula white matter was observed (both P = 0.065).

Conclusions

This explorative study suggests that microstructural reorganization of the central pain neuromatrix may not be present in well-characterized FCP patients.

Implications

This finding, together with recent neurophysiologal evidence, challenges the theory of visceral hypersensitivity due to changes in the central nervous system in FCP patients.
The Augmented Base Locus in Positive Characteristic
Authors: Cascini Paolo , McKernan James , Mustaţǎ Mircea
Published: December 2013

Let L be a nef line bundle on a projective scheme X in positive characteristic. We prove that the augmented base locus of L is equal to the union of the irreducible closed subsets V of X such that L∣V is not big. For a smooth variety in characteristic 0, this was proved by Nakamaye using vanishing theorems.
Comparison of growth curves of two genotypes of dairy goats using nonlinear mixed models
Authors: REGADAS FILHO J. G. L. , TEDESCHI L. O. , RODRIGUES M. T. , BRITO L. F. , OLIVEIRA T. S.
Published: December 2013

The objective of the current study was to assess the use of nonlinear mixed model methodology to fit the growth curves (weightv.time) of two dairy goat genotypes (Alpine, +A and Saanen, +S). The nonlinear functions evaluated included Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Richards, Logistic and Gompertz. The growth curve adjustment was performed using two steps. First, random effectsu1,u2andu3were linked to the asymptotic body weight (β1), constant of integration (β2) and rate constant of growth (β3) parameters, respectively. In addition to a traditional fixed-effects model, four combinations of models were evaluated using random variables: all parameters associated with random effects (u1,u2andu3), onlyβ1andβ2(u1andu2), onlyβ1andβ3(u1andu3) and onlyβ1(u1). Second, the fit of the best adjusted model was refined by using the power variance and modelling the error structure. Residual variance ($\sigma _e^2 $) and the Akaike information criterion were used to evaluate the models. After the best fitting model was chosen, the genotype curve parameters were compared. The residual variance was reduced in all scenarios for which random effects were considered. The Richards (u1andu3) function had the best fit to the data. This model was reparameterized using two isotropic error structures for unequally spaced data, and the structure known in the literature as SP(MATERN) proved to be a better fit. The growth curve parameters differed between the two genotypes, with the exception of the constant that determines the proportion of the final size at which the inflection point occurs (β4). The nonlinear mixed model methodology is an efficient tool for evaluating growth curve features, and it is advisable to assign biologically significant parameters with random effects. Moreover, evaluating error structure modelling is recommended to account for possible correlated errors that may be present even when using random effects. Different Richard growth curve parameters should be used for the predominantly Alpine and Saanen genotypes because there are differences in their growth patterns.
Trophic niche differentiation and microhabitat utilization revealed by stable isotope analyses in a dry-forest bat assemblage at Ankarana, northern Madagascar
Authors: Dammhahn Melanie , Goodman Steven M.
Published: December 2013

Bats are important components in tropical mammal assemblages. Unravelling the mechanisms allowing multiple syntopic bat species to coexist can provide insights into community ecology. However, dietary information on component species of these assemblages is often difficult to obtain. Here we measured stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in hair samples clipped from the backs of 94 specimens to indirectly examine whether trophic niche differentiation and microhabitat segregation explain the coexistence of 16 bat species at Ankarana, northern Madagascar. The assemblage ranged over 4.4‰ in δ15N and was structured into two trophic levels with phytophagous Pteropodidae as primary consumers (c. 3‰ enriched over plants) and different insectivorous bats as secondary consumers (c. 4‰ enriched over primary consumers). Bat species utilizing different microhabitats formed distinct isotopic clusters (metric analyses of δ13C–δ15N bi-plots), but taxa foraging in the same microhabitat did not show more pronounced trophic differentiation than those occupying different microhabitats. As revealed by multivariate analyses, no discernible feeding competition was found in the local assemblage amongst congeneric species as compared with non-congeners. In contrast to ecological niche theory, but in accordance with studies on New and Old World bat assemblages, competitive interactions appear to be relaxed at Ankarana and not a prevailing structuring force.
A Qualitative Investigation of Therapists’ Attitudes towards Research: Horses for Courses?
Authors: Gyani Alex , Shafran Roz , Rose Suzanna , Lee Michelle J.
Published: December 2013

Background:A large body of research has identified that many therapists do not use research to inform their practice, but few studies investigate the reasons behind this.Aims:The current study seeks to understand what sources therapists use to inform their practice and why they are chosen.Method:Thirty-three interviews with psychological therapists in the UK were undertaken. These were transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.Results:Two superordinate themes emerged. The former focused on the nature of evidence and the latter described why certain sources were used to make clinical decisions. When discussing evidence, participants felt that research studies, specifically Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), used unrepresentative samples. Therapists felt that research other than RCTs, particularly qualitative research, was important. Therapist specific factors were felt to be as, or more, important than the technique used to treat patients. When discussing the sources they used, therapists preferred to use their clinical experience or their patients’ experience to make clinical decisions. Theoretical or practical information was preferred to empirical research. The presentation of information was felt to be important to encourage the implementation of research, and therapists also felt tools such as outcome measures and manuals were too rigid to be useful. Finally, patients’ choice of treatment was felt to be important in treatment decisions.Conclusions:The views of therapists were heterogeneous, but this study highlighted some of the barriers to closing the gap between science and practice. This knowledge can be used to increase the translation of science into practice.
‘If labels for GM food were present, would consumers trust them?’ Insights from a consumer survey in Uganda
Authors: Kikulwe Enoch Mutebi , Falck-Zepeda José , Wesseler Justus
Published: December 2013

Food labelling is costly. Food labelling is often demanded with the introduction of new food products such as genetically modified (GM) food. If consumers do not have trust in the label, scarce resources are wasted. This paper investigates factors affecting the trust in food labels among Ugandan consumers. The results suggest that older, less-educated individuals of smaller household sizes and with trust in government institutions have more trust in food labels. Other factors were also found to be important. The government has to consider those differences in consumer trust when designing a GM labelling policy.
Diversity and gaps in Pennisetum glaucum subsp. monodii (Maire) Br. germplasm conserved at the ICRISAT genebank
Authors: Upadhyaya H. D. , Reddy K. N. , Singh Sube , Gowda C. L. L. , Irshad Ahmed M. , Kumar Vinod
Published: December 2013

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics conserves 335 accessions of Pennisetum glaucum subsp. monodii originated in 13 countries. In the present study, the collection was evaluated and assessed for diversity and geographical gaps. A wide variation was observed in the collection for total tillers per plant (16 to 609), productive tillers per plant (12 to 368), leaf length (21.3 to 58.8 cm) and leaf width (8.1 to 33.1 mm), indicating high fodder yield potential of the collection. The accessions of cluster 3 flowered late, grew tall with thick stems and long and broad leaves, and differed significantly from those of cluster 1 and cluster 2. The accessions of cluster 2 were found to be promising for tillering. The highly significant positive correlation (r= 0.944) between total and productive tillers per plant suggests that the selection for total tillers will result in selection for productive tillers. A total of 354 districts located in 86 provinces of eight countries in the primary centre of origin for pearl millet were identified as geographical gaps. The probability map generated using FloraMap in the present study matched quite closely to the origin of pearl millet, supporting the prediction of P.glaucum subsp. monodii occurrence in the primary centre of diversity for pearl millet. The high fodder yield potential of P.glaucum subsp. monodii germplasm and low intensity of collection in countries under study suggest the need for launching germplasm collection missions, exclusively for pearl millet wild relatives to fill taxonomic and geographical gaps in the collection.
Modeling the Roles of Category and Feature Information in Inference
Authors: Zivot Matthew T. , Cohen Andrew L.
Published: December 2013

The goal of the current research is to use the experimental methods and mathematical models of the information integration framework to precisely determine how category and feature information are combined when making an inference. In three experiments, participants were trained on a probabilistic relationship between a category label and the presence of a property and, separately, the relationship between a visual feature and the presence of the property. Participants were then shown the category label alone, the feature alone, or both in combination, and asked to infer the presence or absence of the property. Two information integration models, the fuzzy logical model of perception and the linear integration model, were fit to the data. The modeling results show that participants were non-Bayesian in their combination of the two sources of information, showed diversity in the relative weight placed on category information, and consistently used each source of information to the extent to which it was known.
Multimodal Integration of Time
Authors: Bausenhart Karin M. , de la Rosa Maria Dolores , Ulrich Rolf
Published: December 2013

Recent studies suggest that the accuracy of duration discrimination for visually presented intervals is strongly impaired by concurrently presented auditory intervals of different duration, but not vice versa. Because these studies rely mostly on accuracy measures, it remains unclear whether this impairment results from changes in perceived duration or rather from a decrease in perceptual sensitivity. We therefore assessed complete psychometric functions in a duration discrimination task to disentangle effects on perceived duration and sensitivity. Specifically, participants compared two empty intervals marked by either visual or auditory pulses. These pulses were either presented unimodally, or accompanied by task-irrelevant pulses in the respective other modality, which defined conflicting intervals of identical, shorter, or longer duration. Participants were instructed to base their temporal judgments solely on the task-relevant modality. Despite this instruction, perceived duration was clearly biased toward the duration of the intervals marked in the task-irrelevant modality. This was not only found for the discrimination of visual intervals, but also, to a lesser extent, for the discrimination of auditory intervals. Discrimination sensitivity, however, was similar between all multimodal conditions, and only improved compared to the presentation of unimodal visual intervals. In a second experiment, evidence for multisensory integration was even found when the task-irrelevant modality did not contain any duration information, thus excluding noncompliant attention allocation as a basis of our results. Our results thus suggest that audiovisual integration of temporally discrepant signals does not impair discrimination sensitivity but rather alters perceived duration, presumably by means of a temporal ventriloquism effect.
Further Evidence for a Spatial-Numerical Association in Children Before Formal Schooling
Authors: Ebersbach Mirjam , Luwel Koen , Verschaffel Lieven
Published: December 2013

Given the robust finding that number and space are associated systematically at least in school children and adults, it has been concluded that this association might be based on the frequent practice of reading or writing skills, which are usually consolidated by formal schooling. However, first studies contradict this assumption demonstrating that associations of “small” magnitudes with left space and of “large” magnitudes with right space exist already in preschoolers. The present study used a non-symbolic magnitude comparison task to examine whether kindergartners who have not yet been formally instructed in reading and writing show a SNARC effect, that is, whether they would respond more rapidly with the right hand to larger numbers and with the left hand to smaller numbers. This assumption was confirmed by the data. In view of further evidence for an association between number and space that evolves before children are proficient in reading and writing, the role of potential alternative culture-specific, individual, and universal foundations of this association is emphasized and discussed.
Symbiotic relationships between soil fungi and plants reduce N2O emissions from soil
Authors: Bender S Franz , Plantenga Faline , Neftel Albrecht , Jocher Markus , Oberholzer Hans-Rudolf , Köhl Luise , Giles Madeline , Daniell Tim J , van der Heijden Marcel G A
Published: December 2013

N2O is a potent greenhouse gas involved in the destruction of the protective ozone layer in the stratosphere and contributing to global warming. The ecological processes regulating its emissions from soil are still poorly understood. Here, we show that the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a dominant group of soil fungi, which form symbiotic associations with the majority of land plants and which influence a range of important ecosystem functions, can induce a reduction in N2O emissions from soil. To test for a functional relationship between AMF and N2O emissions, we manipulated the abundance of AMF in two independent greenhouse experiments using two different approaches (sterilized and re-inoculated soil and non-mycorrhizal tomato mutants) and two different soils. N2O emissions were increased by 42 and 33% in microcosms with reduced AMF abundance compared to microcosms with a well-established AMF community, suggesting that AMF regulate N2O emissions. This could partly be explained by increased N immobilization into microbial or plant biomass, reduced concentrations of mineral soil N as a substrate for N2O emission and altered water relations. Moreover, the abundance of key genes responsible for N2O production (nirK) was negatively and for N2O consumption (nosZ) positively correlated to AMF abundance, indicating that the regulation of N2O emissions is transmitted by AMF-induced changes in the soil microbial community. Our results suggest that the disruption of the AMF symbiosis through intensification of agricultural practices may further contribute to increased N2O emissions.
Endospores of thermophilic bacteria as tracers of microbial dispersal by ocean currents
Authors: Müller Albert Leopold , de Rezende Júlia Rosa , Hubert Casey R J , Kjeldsen Kasper Urup , Lagkouvardos Ilias , Berry David , Jørgensen Bo Barker , Loy Alexander
Published: December 2013

Microbial biogeography is influenced by the combined effects of passive dispersal and environmental selection, but the contribution of either factor can be difficult to discern. As thermophilic bacteria cannot grow in the cold seabed, their inactive spores are not subject to environmental selection. We therefore conducted a global experimental survey using thermophilic endospores that are passively deposited by sedimentation to the cold seafloor as tracers to study the effect of dispersal by ocean currents on the biogeography of marine microorganisms. Our analysis of 81 different marine sediments from around the world identified 146 species-level 16S rRNA phylotypes of endospore-forming, thermophilic Firmicutes. Phylotypes showed various patterns of spatial distribution in the world oceans and were dispersal-limited to different degrees. Co-occurrence of several phylotypes in locations separated by great distances (west of Svalbard, the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of California) demonstrated a widespread but not ubiquitous distribution. In contrast, Arctic regions with water masses that are relatively isolated from global ocean circulation (Baffin Bay and east of Svalbard) were characterized by low phylotype richness and different compositions of phylotypes. The observed distribution pattern of thermophilic endospores in marine sediments suggests that the impact of passive dispersal on marine microbial biogeography is controlled by the connectivity of local water masses to ocean circulation.
Structural basis of AMPK regulation by small molecule activators
Authors: Xiao Bing , Sanders Matthew J. , Carmena David , Bright Nicola J. , Haire Lesley F. , Underwood Elizabeth , Patel Bhakti R. , Heath Richard B. , Walker Philip A. , Hallen Stefan , Giordanetto Fabrizio , Martin Stephen R. , Carling David , Gamblin Steven J.
Published: December 2013

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a major role in regulating cellular energy balance by sensing and responding to increases in AMP/ADP concentration relative to ATP. Binding of AMP causes allosteric activation of the enzyme and binding of either AMP or ADP promotes and maintains the phosphorylation of threonine 172 within the activation loop of the kinase. AMPK has attracted widespread interest as a potential therapeutic target for metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes and, more recently, cancer. A number of direct AMPK activators have been reported as having beneficial effects in treating metabolic diseases, but there has been no structural basis for activator binding to AMPK. Here we present the crystal structure of human AMPK in complex with a small molecule activator that binds at a site between the kinase domain and the carbohydrate-binding module, stabilising the interaction between these two components. The nature of the activator-binding pocket suggests the involvement of an additional, as yet unidentified, metabolite in the physiological regulation of AMPK. Importantly, the structure offers new opportunities for the design of small molecule activators of AMPK for treatment of metabolic disorders.
A dual amplification strategy for ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassay based on a Pt nanoparticles dotted graphene–carbon nanotubes composite and carbon dots functionalized mesoporous Pt/Fe
Authors: Deng Wenping , Liu Fang , Ge Shenguang , Yu Jinghua , Yan Mei , Song Xianrang
Published: December 2013

A facile and sensitive ECL immunosensor has been designed using Pt/Gr–CNTs as a platform and Pt/Fe@CDs as bionanolabels.
Identification of materials' binding peptide sequences guided by a MALDI-ToF MS depletion assay
Authors: Steckbeck Sascha , Schneider Julian , Wittig Linda , Rischka Klaus , Grunwald Ingo , Ciacchi Lucio Colombi
Published: December 2013

This work explores the feasibility of a new MALDI-ToF MS depletion assay for the monitoring of protein binding onto surfaces and the identification of material-binding peptide sequences. The results of MALDI-ToF MS measurements are validated by HPLC, AFM, QCM-D and MD simulations.
Chiral separation of perindopril erbumine enantiomers using high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis
Authors: El-Gizawy Samia M. , Abdelmageed Osama H. , Derayea Sayed M. , Omar Mahmoud A. , Abdel-Megied Ahmed M.
Published: December 2013

Two separation methods were developed for the determination of S- and R-perindopril tert-butylamine (erbumine salt) (PER): high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE).
Unprecedented redox-driven ligand ejection in nickel(ii)–diiminosemiquinonate radical complexes
Authors: Leconte N. , Ciccione J. , Gellon G. , Philouze C. , Thomas F.
Published: December 2013

One polydentate diiminosemiquinonate ligand is ejected upon electrochemical oxidation. The Ni(ii) ion remains square planar throughout the process, the ligand alone supporting all the redox events.
Amino acid-linked platinum(ii) analogues have altered specificity for RNA compared to cisplatin
Authors: Rijal Keshab , Bao Xun , Chow Christine S.
Published: December 2013

Cisplatin analogues containing ligands with altered sizes and charge distributions show different specificity for RNA compared to the parental compound.
A novel Cu–BSA nanocomposite based vapour generation approach for the rapid determination of mercury in aqueous media by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry and on-line flow injection inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Rastogi Lori , Krishna M. V. Balarama , Chandrasekaran K. , Karunasagar D.
Published: December 2013

Cu NPs in the form of Cu–BSA NCs are used as reductant to convert Hg2+to Hg0which is subsequently quantified by CVAAS and on-line FI-ICPMS.
Aggregation-induced emission of triphenylamine substituted cyanostyrene derivatives
Authors: Zhao Xin , Xue Pengchong , Wang Kai , Chen Peng , Zhang Peng , Lu Ran
Published: December 2013

New triphenylamine substituted cyanostyrene luminogens (G1, G1-N and G2) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) were synthesized.
MoS2/MX2 heterobilayers: bandgap engineering via tensile strain or external electrical field
Authors: Lu Ning , Guo Hongyan , Li Lei , Dai Jun , Wang Lu , Mei Wai-Ning , Wu Xiaojun , Zeng Xiao Cheng
Published: December 2013

We have performed a comprehensive first-principles study of the electronic and magnetic properties of two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) heterobilayers MX2/MoS2 (M = Mo, Cr, W, Fe, V; X = S, Se).
The Cdc48–Vms1 complex maintains 26S proteasome architecture
Authors: Tran Joseph R. , Brodsky Jeffrey L.
Published: December 2013

The 26S proteasome is responsible for most regulated protein turnover and for the degradation of aberrant proteins in eukaryotes. The assembly of this ~2.5 MDa multicatalytic protease requires several dedicated chaperones and, once assembled, substrate selectivity is mediated by ubiquitin conjugation. After modification with ubiquitin, substrates are escorted to the proteasome by myriad factors, including Cdc48 (cell-division cycle 48). Cdc48 also associates with numerous cofactors, but, to date, it is unclear whether each cofactor facilitates proteasome delivery. We discovered that yeast lacking a conserved Cdc48 cofactor, Vms1 [VCP (valosin-containing protein)/Cdc48-associated mitochondrial stress-responsive], accumulate proteasome-targeted ubiquitinated proteins. Vms1 mutant cells also contain elevated levels of unassembled 20S proteasome core particles and select 19S cap subunits. In addition, we found that the ability of Vms1 to support 26S proteasome assembly requires Cdc48 interaction, and that the loss of Vms1 reduced 26S proteasome levels and cell viability after prolonged culture in the stationary phase. The results of the present study highlight an unexpected link between the Cdc48–Vms1 complex and the preservation of proteasome architecture, and indicate how perturbed proteasome assembly affects the turnover of ubiquitinated proteins and maintains viability in aging cells.
Heparanase-mediated cleavage of macromolecular heparin accelerates release of granular components of mast cells from extracellular matrices
Authors: Higashi Nobuaki , Waki Michihiko , Sue Mayumi , Kogane Yusuke , Shida Hiroaki , Tsunekawa Naoki , Hasan Ahasanul , Sato Takeshi , Kitahara Ayumi , Kasaoka Tatsuhiko , Hayakawa Yoshihiro , Nakajima Motowo , Irimura Tatsuro
Published: December 2013

Heparanase cleaves macromolecular heparin in the secretory granules of connective tissue-type mast cells. We investigated roles of the cleavage under a microenvironment mimicking where the mast cells physiologically reside. A connective tissue-type mast cell line MST and mouse peritoneal cell-derived mast cells stored macromolecular heparin in the secretory granules. The cells expressing heparanase stored fragmented heparin (~10 kDa) due to heparanase-dependent cleavage of the heparin. We produced an artificial collagen-based extracellular matrix and placed the live cells or glycosaminoglycans purified from the cells in the matrix to measure the release of sulfated macromolecules into the medium. The sulfate-radiolabelled molecules from the degranulating heparanase-expressing cells and the purified glycosaminoglycans showed significantly greater release into the medium than those derived from mock cells, which was not the case in suspension culture. The mast cell granular enzyme chymase, but not β-hexosaminidase, showed significantly greater release from the degranulating heparanase-expressing cells than from mock cells. Purified chymase mixed with fragmented heparin derived from heparanase-expressing cells showed greater release from collagen gels than the enzyme alone or mixed with macromolecular heparin derived from mock cells. We propose that the cleavage of macromolecular heparin by heparanase accelerates the release of heparin and chymase from extracellular matrices.