bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variable Polymer Properties Driven by Substituent Groups: Investigation on a Trifluorovinylether‐Functionalized Polyfluorene at the C‐9 Position
Authors: Wang Jiajia , Li Kai , Yuan Chao , Jin Kaikai , Tian Song , Sun Jing , Fang Qiang
Published: February 2015

A new polyfluorene PF‐TFVE with functional trifluorovinylether (–OCF=CF2) groups at the C‐9 position is reported. When heated to high temperatures, the polymer converts to a cross‐linked network (PF‐PFCB), which exhibits much lower dielectric constant and dissipation factor at high frequency than a traditional octyl substituted polyfluorene (PFO) (cf., PF‐PFCB: 2.42 and 0.048; PFO: 3.80 and 0.22 @ 30 MHz). The electronic spectra of PF‐PFCB indicate that it exhibits weaker UV–vis absorption and photoluminescent emission than PFO in the solid state, suggesting that the big substituent groups and the cross‐linked networks in PF‐PFCB hinder the conjugation between two fluorene units. This is the first example revealing that dielectric properties of polyfluorenes can be varied by different substituent groups at the C‐9 position. These results indicate that polyfluorenes can not only be considered as semiconductors, but also as insulators.

image
Formula‐derived advanced glycation end products are involved in the development of long‐term inflammation and oxidative stress in kidney of IUGR piglets
Authors: Elmhiri Ghada , Mahmood Dler F. D. , Niquet‐Leridon Celine , Jacolot Philippe , Firmin Stephane , Guigand Lydie , Tessier Frederic J. , Larcher Thibaut , Abdennebi‐Najar Latifa
Published: January 2015

Scope

Formula‐derived dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may promote programming of inflammation and oxidative stress in the kidney of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) piglets.

Methods and results

IUGR piglets received either a low temperature heated formula (n = 8) or a high temperature heated formula (HHF: n = 8) or suckled naturally for 3 wk postnatally. Then they were fed with normal ad libitum regular diet. N(ε)‐carboxymethyllysine (CML) was measured in plasma, feces, and formula by HPLC/MS‐MS. CML was detected by immunofluorescence in kidney cells. Target renin–angiotensin—apoptotic, pro‐inflammatory genes—p62 NF‐κB, and soluble receptor of AGE (sRAGE) levels were quantified. Compared with that in controls, free CML and plasma urea increased significantly in the HHF‐fed group at PND36 (p < 0.05). CML was detected in the nuclei of renal tubular cells of formula‐fed piglets but not in suckled ones. This presence of CML was associated with the activation of the soluble receptor of AGE. AT1, AT2, caspase 3, caspase 8, NF‐κB, p62 NF‐κB, and total protein oxidation in kidney were higher in HHF‐fed group as compared to LHF‐fed group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Food processes aimed at reducing the concentration of AGEs in infant formula are urgently needed and may be therapeutically relevant for premature and/or IUGR babies.
Suppression of 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene‐induced mammary tumorigenesis by glyceollins
Authors: Kim Bo Ram , Seo Ji‐Yeon , Sung Mi‐Kyung , Park Jung Han Yoon , Suh Hwa‐Jin , Liu Kwang Hyeon , Kim Jong‐Sang
Published: January 2015

Scope

Our previous study showed that glyceollins induced phase 2 detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes. As chemical carcinogens can be detoxified by metabolic activity of phase 2 enzymes, subsequently decreasing their tumorigenic potential, we investigated whether 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)‐induced mammary tumorigenesis could be attenuated by treatment with glyceollins in a mouse model.

Methods and results

Pretreatment with glyceollins (5 mg/kg body weight) caused a significant reduction in tumor formation and an increase in survival rate. The protective effect of glyceollins against DMBA‐induced tumorigenesis was found to be mainly associated with their potential to induce phase 2/antioxidant enzymes that are, in turn, regulated by the nuclear factor E2‐related factor 2 signaling pathway, and to a less extent to suppress phase 1 enzymes. As glyceollins increased the number of terminal end buds, a tumor‐prone mammary tissue type in mice, it is unlikely that they exert their antitumorigenic action through their estrogenic activity.

Conclusion

Glyceollins were found to have a protective effect in a chemically induced mammary tumor model.
3D‐printed shepp‐logan phantom as a real‐world benchmark for MRI
Authors: Kasten Jeffrey A. , Vetterli Thomas , Lazeyras François , Van De Ville Dimitri
Published: January 2015

Purpose

As prescribed and reliable geometrical entities, phantoms have served as indispensable validation tools in a variety of MR‐related topics. Though a number of phantoms have been conceived, certain applications may warrant highly customized geometries. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the expediency of rapid prototyping for generating a flexible class of MR‐compatible phantom designs.

Methods

An incarnation of the three‐dimensional Shepp‐Logan numerical phantom, amended for use in magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging, was actualized using rapid prototyping. Each of the comprising compartments was filled with a solution containing prepared concentrations of common 1H brain metabolites. Analytical Fourier expressions for the phantom class were established in order to generate a set of simulated measurements, which were then contrasted with acquired data.

Results

Experimental results for both structural and spectroscopic imaging substantiate the suitability of rapid prototyping for MR phantom applications. The analytically simulated measurements show excellent agreement with the measured data, but also highlight the various consequences effectuated when certain aspects of the acquisition model are disregarded or misrepresented.

Conclusion

Rapid prototyping offers a novel and versatile framework for MR phantom‐based validation studies. Furthermore, the growing accessibility and open‐source compatibility may provide an important link between the often disparate numerical and haptic testing. Magn Reson Med 75:287–294, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Activity attenuates skeletal muscle fiber damage after ischemia and reperfusion
Authors: Walters Thomas J. , Garg Koyal , Corona Benjamin T.
Published: January 2015

Introduction: In this investigation we aimed to determine whether: (1) physical activity protects rat skeletal muscle from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury; and (2) continued activity after I/R improves the rate of healing. Methods: Rats were divided into sedentary or active (voluntary wheel running) groups. Active rats ran for 4 weeks before I/R or 4 weeks before plus 4 weeks after I/R. Results: Activity before I/R resulted in 73.2% less muscle damage (Evans blue dye inclusion). Sedentary and active rats had a similar decline in neural‐evoked (∼99%) and directly stimulated (∼70%) in vivo muscle torque, and a similar reduction in junctophilin 1. Active rats produced 19% and 15% greater neural‐evoked torque compared with sedentary rats at 14 and 28 days postinjury, respectively, although the rate of recovery appeared similar. Conclusions: Activity protects against long‐term muscle damage, but not short‐term neural injury or excitation‐contraction uncoupling. Continued activity neither accelerates nor hinders the rate of functional recovery. Muscle Nerve 52: 640–648, 2015
Ethnic differences in associations between fat deposition and incident diabetes and underlying mechanisms: The SABRE study
Authors: Eastwood Sophie V. , Tillin Therese , Dehbi Hakim‐Moulay , Wright Andrew , Forouhi Nita G , Godsland Ian , Whincup Peter , Sattar Naveed , Hughes Alun D , Chaturvedi Nishi
Published: February 2015

Objective

To examine ethnic differences in ectopic fat and associations with incident diabetes.

Methods

In a UK cohort study, 1338 Europeans, 838 South Asians, and 330 African Caribbeans living in London were aged 40‐69 years at baseline. Baseline assessment included blood tests, anthropometry, and questionnaires. Anthropometry‐based prediction equations estimated baseline visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Incident diabetes was ascertained from record review, self‐report, or oral glucose tolerance testing.

Results

South Asians had more and African Caribbeans less estimated VAT than Europeans. Both ethnic minorities had larger truncal skinfolds than Europeans. In men, adjustment for risk factors (BMI, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and HDL‐cholesterol) markedly attenuated the association between estimated VAT and diabetes in Europeans (standardized subhazard ratios [95% CI]: from 1.74 [1.49, 2.03] to 1.16 [0.77, 1.76]) and African Caribbeans (1.72 [1.26, 2.35] to 1.44 [0.69, 3.02]) but not South Asians (1.60 [1.38, 1.86] to 1.90 [1.37, 2.64]). In women, attenuation was observed only for South Asians (1.80 [1.01, 3.23] to 1.07 [0.49, 2.31]). Associations between truncal skinfolds and diabetes appeared less affected by multivariable adjustment in South Asians and African Caribbeans than Europeans (1.24 [0.97, 1.57] and 1.28 [0.89, 1.82] versus 1.02 [0.77, 1.36] in men; 1.91 [1.03, 3.56] and 1.42 [0.86, 2.34] versus 1.23 [0.74, 2.05] in women).

Conclusions

Differences in overall truncal fat, as well as VAT, may contribute to the excess of diabetes in South Asian and African Caribbean groups, particularly for women.
Application of multiplexed cysteine‐labeled complex protein sample for 2D electrophoretic gel alignment
Authors: Haimi Perttu , Sikorskaite‐Gudziuniene Sidona , Baniulis Danas
Published: February 2015

The analysis of cellular subproteomes by 2DE is hampered by the difficulty of aligning gel images from samples that have very different protein composition. Here, we present a sensitive and cost‐effective fluorescent labeling method for analyzing protein samples that is not dependent on their composition. The alignment is guided by inclusion of a complex mixture of proteins that is co‐run with the sample. Maleimide‐conjugated fluorescent dyes Dy‐560 and Dy‐635 are used to label the cysteine residues of the sample of interest and the alignment standard, respectively. The two differently labeled mixtures are then combined and separated on a 2D gel and, after selective fluorescence detection, an unsupervised image registration process is used to align the protein patters. In a pilot study, this protocol significantly improved the accuracy of alignment of nuclear proteins with total cellular proteins.
Shifting gear in antimicrobial and anticancer peptides biophysical studies: from vesicles to cells
Authors: Freire João M. , Gaspar Diana , Veiga Ana Salomé , Castanho Miguel A. R. B.
Published: February 2015

Despite the intensive study on the mechanism of action of membrane‐active molecules such as antimicrobial and anticancer peptides, most of the biophysical work has been performed using artificial model systems, mainly lipid vesicles. The use of these systems allows full control of the experimental parameters, and to obtain molecular‐level detail on the action of peptides, the correlation with biological action is intangible. Recently, several biophysical methodologies have been translated to studies using bacterial and cancer cells. Here, we review biophysical studies on the mechanism of action of antimicrobial and anticancer peptides performed directly on cells. The data in these studies allow to correlate vesicle‐based and cell‐based studies and fill the vesicle‐cell interdisciplinary gap. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient generation of peptide hydrazides via direct hydrazinolysis of Peptidyl‐Wang‐TentaGel resins
Authors: Bello Claudia , Kikul Frauke , Becker Christian F.W.
Published: February 2015

Peptide hydrazides are valuable building blocks in peptide and protein chemistry, e.g. as precursors of peptide thioesters that allow the preparation of these important intermediates under mild conditions. Additional robust and versatile methods for the generation of peptide hydrazides from standard solid supports are therefore highly desired in order to facilitate access to peptide thioester via Fmoc‐based SPPS.

Here, the efficient generation of peptide hydrazides from conventional 4‐hydroxymethyl phenol Wang‐TentalGel peptidyl resins is described. Direct hydrazinolysis of a 19mer mucin1 peptide gives the protected peptide hydrazide in excellent yields. Testing a series of octapeptides carrying the 20 common proteinogenic amino acids at their C‐terminus led to preparation of all corresponding peptide hydrazides in very good to excellent yields and purities. The available set of octapeptides allowed analyzing the influence of the nature of the C‐terminal amino acid and of the solvent on the hydrazinolysis reaction. Furthermore, the compatibility of the method with posttranslational modifications (here glycosylation) and with potentially sensitive functional groups in amino acid side chains makes this approach a viable alternative for obtaining peptide hydrazides. It combines the advantages of a straightforward synthesis with stereochemical stability and flexibility, as it provides easy access to the peptide acid and the peptide thioester (via the hydrazide) from the same solid support. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The critical role of peptide chemistry in the life sciences
Authors: Kent Stephen B.H.
Published: February 2015

Peptide chemistry plays a key role in the synthesis and study of protein molecules and their functions. Modern ligation methods enable the total synthesis of enzymes and the systematic dissection of the chemical basis of enzyme catalysis. Predicted developments in peptide science are described. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Non‐fragile robust control for networked control systems with long time‐varying delay, randomly occurring nonlinearity, and randomly occurring controller gain fluctuation
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Zhang Huaguang , Wang Zhiliang
Published: February 2015

This paper investigates the non‐fragile robust control problem for a class of nonlinear networked control systems (NCSs) with long time‐varying delay. Both the uncertain nonlinearity and the controller gain fluctuation enter into the system in random ways, and such randomly occurring nonlinearity and randomly occurring controller gain fluctuation obey certain mutually uncorrelated Bernoulli distributed white noise sequences. A new time‐varying discrete time system model is proposed to describe the NCS. To reduce conservatism arising from modeling time‐varying parts, the time‐varying parts due to the time‐varying delay are treated as a norm‐bounded uncertainty with one nominal point using robust control techniques. Based on the obtained uncertain system model, a regular and an optimal sufficient non‐fragile controllers are derived by applying the Lyapunov stability theory and the linear matrix inequality technique, which render the closed‐loop NCS to be asymptotically stable and guarantee an upper bound of the given performance cost for all admissible uncertainties. Moreover, the existence condition and design method for the non‐fragile stabilizing controllers are also presented. Two numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bayesian calibration for forensic age estimation
Authors: Ferrante Luigi , Skrami Edlira , Gesuita Rosaria , Cameriere Roberto
Published: February 2015

Forensic medicine is increasingly called upon to assess the age of individuals. Forensic age estimation is mostly required in relation to illegal immigration and identification of bodies or skeletal remains. A variety of age estimation methods are based on dental samples and use of regression models, where the age of an individual is predicted by morphological tooth changes that take place over time. From the medico‐legal point of view, regression models, with age as the dependent random variable entail that age tends to be overestimated in the young and underestimated in the old. To overcome this bias, we describe a new full Bayesian calibration method (asymmetric Laplace Bayesian calibration) for forensic age estimation that uses asymmetric Laplace distribution as the probability model. The method was compared with three existing approaches (two Bayesian and a classical method) using simulated data. Although its accuracy was comparable with that of the other methods, the asymmetric Laplace Bayesian calibration appears to be significantly more reliable and robust in case of misspecification of the probability model. The proposed method was also applied to a real dataset of values of the pulp chamber of the right lower premolar measured on x‐ray scans of individuals of known age. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
microRNA-103/107 Family Regulates Multiple Epithelial Stem Cell Characteristics
Authors: Peng Han , Park Jong Kook , Katsnelson Julia , Kaplan Nihal , Yang Wending , Getsios Spiro , Lavker Robert M.
Published: January 2015

The stem cell niche is thought to affect cell cycle quiescence, proliferative capacity, and communication between stem cells and their neighbors. How these activities are controlled is not completely understood. Here we define a microRNA family (miRs-103/107) preferentially expressed in the stem cell-enriched limbal epithelium that regulates and integrates these stem cell characteristics. miRs-103/107 target the ribosomal kinase p90RSK2, thereby arresting cells in G0/G1 and contributing to a slow-cycling phenotype. Furthermore, miRs-103/107 increase the proliferative capacity of keratinocytes by targeting Wnt3a, which enhances Sox9 and YAP1 levels and thus promotes a stem cell phenotype. This miRNA family also regulates keratinocyte cell-cell communication by targeting: (a) the scaffolding protein NEDD9, preserving E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion; and (b) the tyrosine phosphatase PTPRM, which negatively regulates connexin 43-based gap junctions. We propose that such regulation of cell communication and adhesion molecules maintains the integrity of the stem cell niche ultimately preserving self-renewal, a hallmark of epithelial stem cells. Stem Cells  2015;33:1642–1656
Pulsed Focused Ultrasound Pretreatment Improves Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Efficacy in Preventing and Rescuing Established Acute Kidney Injury in Mice
Authors: Burks Scott R. , Nguyen Ben A. , Tebebi Pamela A. , Kim Saejeong J. , Bresler Michele N. , Ziadloo Ali , Street Jonathan M. , Yuen Peter S. T. , Star Robert A. , Frank Joseph A.
Published: January 2015

Animal studies have shown that mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) infusions improve acute kidney injury (AKI) outcomes when administered early after ischemic/reperfusion injury or within 24 hours after cisplatin administration. These findings have spurred several human clinical trials to prevent AKI. However, no specific therapy effectively treats clinically obvious AKI or rescues renal function once advanced injury is established. We investigated if noninvasive image-guided pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) could alter the kidney microenvironment to enhance homing of subsequently infused MSC. To examine the efficacy of pFUS-enhanced cell homing in disease, we targeted pFUS to kidneys to enhance MSC homing after cisplatin-induced AKI. We found that pFUS enhanced MSC homing at 1 day post-cisplatin, prior to renal functional deficits, and that enhanced homing improved outcomes of renal function, tubular cell death, and regeneration at 5 days post-cisplatin compared to MSC alone. We then investigated whether pFUS+MSC therapy could rescue established AKI. MSC alone at 3 days post-cisplatin, after renal functional deficits were obvious, significantly improved 7-day survival of animals. Survival was further improved by pFUS and MSC. pFUS prior to MSC injections increased IL-10 production by MSC that homed to kidneys and generated an anti-inflammatory immune cell profile in treated kidneys. This study shows pFUS is a neoadjuvant approach to improve MSC homing to diseased organs. pFUS with MSC better prevents AKI than MSC alone and allows rescue therapy in established AKI, which currently has no meaningful therapeutic options. Stem Cells  2015;33:1241–1253
Rescue of the Mucocutaneous Manifestations by Human Cord Blood Derived Nonhematopoietic Stem Cells in a Mouse Model of Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa
Authors: Liao Yanling , Ivanova Larisa , Zhu Hongwen , Yahr Ashlin , Ayello Janet , van de Ven Carmella , Rashad Ahmed , Uitto Jouni , Christiano Angela M. , Cairo Mitchell S.
Published: January 2015

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a severe skin blistering disease caused by mutations in COL7A1-encoding type VII collagen (C7). Currently, there is no curative therapy for patients with RDEB. Our previous studies demonstrated that human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) derived unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs) express C7 and facilitate wound healing in a murine wounding model. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the therapeutic functions of USSCs in the C7 null (Col7a1−/−) C57BL6/J mice, a murine model of RDEB. We demonstrated that intrahepatic administration of USSCs significantly improved the blistering phenotype and enhanced the life span in the recipients. The injected USSCs trafficked to the sites of blistering and were incorporated in short-term in the recipients' skin and gastrointestinal tract. Consistent with an overall histological improvement in the epidermal-dermal adherence following USSC treatment, the expression of C7 at the basement membrane zone was detected and the previously disorganized integrin α6 distribution was normalized. We also demonstrated that USSCs treatment induced an infiltration of macrophages with a regenerative “M2” phenotype. Our data suggest that HUCB-derived USSCs improved the RDEB phenotype through multiple mechanisms. This study has warranted future clinical investigation of USSCs as a novel and universal allogeneic stem cell donor source in selected patients with RDEB. Stem Cells  2015;33:1807–1817
Family Literacy and Global Literature
Authors: Truesdell Kim S. , del Prado Hill Pixita
Published: February 2015

This Teaching Tip will explain an initiative, Global Book Hour, that engages families in a global literature read aloud. GBH integrates social studies, the visual and performing arts, healthy eating, and vocabulary development as children travel the world through high quality global children's literature. The program is a non‐traditional, rich literacy experience, and has multiple, strong community partners that include a grocery store and a laundromat. Because many of the children who attend GBH are immigrants and refugees, an added benefit of the read aloud and discussions is helping the children identify with characters in the story. Though this program is located in the community, it can be easily replicated in a school setting. In this article, the program is described, connections to the Common Core State Standards are identified, and suggestions for starting a GBH are included.
Satellite remote sensing of large lakes and reservoirs: from elevation and area to storage
Authors: Gao Huilin
Published: February 2015

The majority of liquid surface freshwater globally is stored in large lakes and reservoirs. However, consistent observations of lakes and reservoirs are very limited, which makes it challenging to assess the surface water effect on global weather forecasting, earth system modeling, water management planning, and ecosystem sustainability. The advance of satellite remote sensing has offered a unique opportunity for monitoring large lakes and reservoirs from space. This article provides a comprehensive review of the satellite remote sensing approaches for estimating lake/reservoir elevations, areas, and storage variations. These include: (1) measuring surface water elevations using radar and laser altimeters; (2) estimating lake/reservoir areas using threshold‐based and image classification‐based approaches at visible and/or near infrared frequencies; and (3) combining elevation and area information to infer storage and storage variations. Different algorithms (as well as satellite sensors) applicable for these purposes are compared in terms of their advantages and limitations. Future direction and opportunities for more comprehensive data products with improved spatial and temporal resolutions are discussed. WIREs Water 2015, 2:147–157. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1065

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Hydrological Processes
Magnetically Frustrated Double Perovskites: Synthesis, Structural Properties, and Magnetic Order of Sr2BOsO6 (B = Y, In, Sc)
Authors: Paul Avijit Kumar , Sarapulova Angelina , Adler Peter , Reehuis Manfred , Kanungo Sudipta , Mikhailova Daria , Schnelle Walter , Hu Zhiwei , Kuo Changyang , Siruguri Vasudeva , Rayaprol Sudhindra , Soo Yunlian , Yan Binghai , Felser Claudia , Hao Tjeng Liu , Jansen Martin
Published: February 2015

Double perovskites Sr2BOsO6 (B = Y, In, and Sc) were prepared from the respective binary metal oxides, and their structural, magnetic, and electronic properties were investigated. At room temperature all these compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21/n. They contain magnetic osmium (Os5+, t2g3) ions and are antiferromagnetic insulators with Néel temperatures TN = 53 K, 26 K, and 92 K for B = Y, In, and Sc, respectively. Powder neutron diffraction studies on Sr2YOsO6 and Sr2InOsO6 showed that the crystal structures remain unchanged down to 3 K. The Y and In compounds feature a type I antiferromagnetic spin structure with ordered Os moments of 1.91 μB and 1.77 μB, respectively. The trend in TN does not simply follow the development of the lattice parameters, which suggests that d0 compared to d10 ions on the B site favor a somewhat different balance of exchange interactions in the frustrated Os5+ fcc‐like lattice.
Cholangiocarcinoma Risk as Long‐term Outcome After Hepatic Resection in the Hepatolithiasis Patients
Authors: Kim Hyo Jung , Kim Jae Seon , Suh Sang Jun , Lee Beom Jae , Park Jong‐Jae , Lee Hong Sik , Kim Chang Duck , Bak Young‐Tae
Published: February 2015

Background

Hepatolithiasis is a well‐known risk factor of cholangiocarcinoma. Despite advances in diagnostic modalities, diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma in patients with hepatolithiasis still challenging and there are not enough reports on the incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in patient with hepatolithiasis after treatment. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and clinical characteristics of cholangiocarcinoma in patients with hepatolithiasis who underwent liver resection or non‐resection.

Methods

Among a total of 257 patients who received treatment for hepatolithiasis, 236 patients were eligible for analysis. Exclusion criteria were follow‐up period less than 9 months, preoperative diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, occurrence of cholangiocarcinoma within 1 year after treatment. Completeness of stone clearance was defined when there was no intrahepatic duct stone during whole follow‐up period. A retrospective study was done to analyze the patients’ characteristics, the results and complications of the procedure, and the long‐term outcomes for these patients. Kaplan–Meier method and cox proportional regression were used for statistical analysis.

Results

95 patients underwent hepatic resection (resection group) and 144 patients did not (non‐resection group). Complete stone clearance was 71 % (67/95) in resection group and 41 % (58/141) in non‐resection group (p < 0.001). The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma was 6.8 % (16/236) during follow‐up period (mean 41 ± 41 months). Cholangiocarcinoma occurred 6.3 % (6/95) and 7.1 % (10/141) in resection and non‐resection group, respectively. There was no significant difference in survival between two groups (p = 0.254). In analysis of according to completeness of stone clearance regardless of treatment modality, cholangiocarcinoma incidence was higher in patients with residual stone (10.4 %) than complete stone removal (3.3 %) (p = 0.263). On multivariate analysis, none of the factors (age, gender, CA19‐9, stone location, bile duct stenosis, liver atrophy, stone recurrence, residual stone, and hepatic resection) showed relationship with the incidence of cholangiocarcinoma.

Conclusion

Hepatic resection for hepatolithiasis is considered to have a limited value in preventing cholangiocarcinoma and the patients should be carefully followed even after hepatic resection. A combination of different treatment modalities is necessary to decrease the residual stone and improve the outcome of the patients with hepatolithiasis.
Octacosanol Enhances the Proliferation and Migration of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells via Activation of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk Pathways
Authors: Liu Yu‐Wei , Zuo Pei‐Yuan , Zha Xiang‐Nan , Chen Xing‐Lin , Zhang Rong , He Xiao‐Xiao , Liu Cheng‐Yun
Published: January 2015

Atherosclerosis is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, lipid deposition, fibro‐proliferative reactions and inflammation. Octacosanol is a high‐molecular‐weight primary aliphatic alcohol. As the main component of a cholesterol‐lowering drug, octacosanol could inhibit lipids accumulation and cholesterol metabolism. To explore the indication of octacosanol on endothelial protection, we evaluated its effects on the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Cell viability assay using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine revealed that 3.125 μg/ml octacosanol promoted the proliferation of HUVEC. A cell migration assay indicated that 0.781 and 3.125 μg/ml octacosanol increased the migration of HUVEC. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of Akt and Erk1/2 were significantly elevated under exposure to octacosanol. Blocking the activation of Akt and Erk with their potent inhibitors LY294002 and PD98059, respectively, markedly attenuated the octacosanol‐induced proliferation and migration of HUVEC. These findings demonstrated for the first time that octacosanol enhanced the proliferation and migration of HUVEC and mediated these effects through activation of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk1/2 signaling pathways.
Race/Ethnicity, Religion and Partisan Leanings
Authors: Brown R. Khari , Brown Ronald E.
Published: January 2015

Using the 2004–2008 national politics studies, our work suggests that race/ethnicity matters to our understanding of religion and partisan leanings. Among Whites, the association between religious faith and partisan leanings are, in part, explained by contrasting social–political attitudes held by Evangelical and Non-Evangelical Protestants. Similarly, the degree to which White attendees of congregations that encourage political discourse maintain more liberal partisan leanings than other Whites is partly explained by their lower scores on our measures of state power, patriotic symbols, and structural understanding of racial inequality. Even when these views are accounted for, attending worship services, on average, is associated with conservative partisan leanings among Whites. In contrast, worship attendance maintains a fairly negligible relationship with the partisan leanings of Hispanic and African Americans. Similarly, religious faith and attending political congregations maintains a relatively inconsistent relationship with the partisan leanings of racial/ethnic minorities. And, the extent to which these forms of religion are associated with their partisan leanings, their views on state power, patriotism, and race and opportunities play a fairly marginal and inconsistent role in explaining these relationships.
Musculoskeletal Sarcoma: Update on Imaging of the Post-treatment Patient
Authors: Garner Hillary W. , Kransdorf Mark J.
Published: February 2015

Post-treatment imaging of musculoskeletal sarcoma remains challenging, but newer imaging techniques are improving our ability to recognize both local and distant recurrence and accurately distinguish local recurrence from post-treatment change. We review recent advances in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with apparent diffusion coefficient mapping and positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the post-treatment follow-up of musculoskeletal sarcoma. We also describe our multidisciplinary sarcoma team approach to patient care and the essential role of the radiologist in the clinical follow-up scheme.
A multi‐pathway perspective on protein aggregation: Implications for control of the rate and extent of amyloid formation
Authors: Hall Damien , Kardos József , Edskes Herman , Carver John A. , Goto Yuji
Published: January 2015

The nucleation‐growth model has been used extensively for characterizing in vitro amyloid fibril formation kinetics and for simulating the relationship between amyloid and disease. In the majority of studies amyloid has been considered as the dominant, or sole, aggregation end product, with the presence of other competing non‐amyloid aggregation processes, for example amorphous aggregate formation, being largely ignored. Here, we examine possible regulatory effects that off‐pathway processes might exert on the rate and extent of amyloid formation – in particular their potential for providing false positives and negatives in the evaluation of anti‐amyloidogenic agents. Furthermore, we investigate how such competing reactions might influence the standard interpretation of amyloid aggregation as a two‐state system. We conclude by discussing our findings in terms of the general concepts of supersaturation and system metastability – providing some mechanistic insight as to how these empirical phenomena may manifest themselves in the amyloid arena.
MutT from the fish pathogenAliivibrio salmonicida is a cold‐active nucleotide‐pool sanitization enzyme with unexpectedly high thermostability
Authors: Lian Kjersti , Leiros Hanna-Kirsti S. , Moe Elin
Published: February 2015

Upon infection by pathogenic bacteria, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is part of the host organism's first line of defence. ROS damage a number of macromolecules, and in order to withstand such a harsh environment, the bacteria need to have well‐functioning ROS scavenging and repair systems. Herein, MutT is an important nucleotide‐pool sanitization enzyme, which degrades 8‐oxo‐dGTP and thus prevents it from being incorporated into DNA. In this context, we have performed a comparative biochemical and structural analysis of MutT from the fish pathogenAliivibrio salmonicida (AsMutT) and the human pathogenVibrio cholerae (VcMutT), in order to analyse their function as nucleotide sanitization enzymes and also determine possible cold‐adapted properties ofAsMutT. The biochemical characterisation revealed that both enzymes possess activity towards the 8‐oxo‐dGTP substrate, and thatAsMutT has a higher catalytic efficiency thanVcMutT at all temperatures studied. Calculations based on the biochemical data also revealed a lower activation energy (Ea) forAsMutT compared toVcMutT, and differential scanning calorimetry experiments showed thatAsMutT displayed an unexpected higher melting temperature (Tm) value thanVcMutT. A comparative analysis of the crystal structure ofVcMutT, determined to 2.42 Å resolution, and homology models ofAsMutT indicate that three unique Gly residues in loops ofVcMutT, and additional long range ion‐pairs inAsMutT could explain the difference in temperature stability of the two enzymes. We conclude thatAsMutT is a stable, cold‐active enzyme with high catalytic efficiency and reducedEa, compared to the mesophilicVcMutT.
Increased defibrillator therapies during influenza season in patients without influenza vaccines
Authors: Singh Sheldon M. , de Souza Russell J. , Kumareswaran Ramanan
Published: February 2015

Background

The association between influenza vaccination and implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) therapies during influenza season is not known and is described in this study. Understanding this association is important since reduction in ICD therapies during influenza season via use of influenza vaccination would benefit patients physically and psychologically.

Methods

Patients presenting to the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center ICD clinic between September 1st, 2011 and November 31st, 2011 were asked to complete a survey evaluating their use of the influenza vaccine. The number of patients with any ICD therapy and the total number of ICD therapies in the six months before and the three months during the 2010–2011 influenza season were determined. Poisson regression analysis was employed to assess differences in the average number of ICD therapies received during the influenza season based on vaccine status (vaccinated vs. unvaccinated). The analysis was repeated after limiting the cohort to patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%.

Results

A total of 229 patients completed the survey, 78% of whom received the influenza vaccine. Four patients had more than one ICD shock during the study period. Electrical storm was rare (n=2). A trend toward more ICD therapies (unadjusted incident rate ratio (IRR)=3.2; P=0.07) and appropriate ICD shocks (unadjusted IRR=9.0; P=0.17) was noted for unvaccinated compared to vaccinated patients. This association persisted when analysis was limited to patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% (all ICD therapies: unadjusted IRR=5.8; P=0.045; adjusted IRR=2.6; P=0.33). No patient who received the influenza vaccine, and had a reduced ejection fraction, received an approprite ICD shock during influenza season (unadjusted P<0.002).

Conclusion

A trend toward more ICD therapies during influenza season was observed in patients who did not receive the influenza vaccine compared to those who did. The association was stronger in patients who received appropriate ICD shocks and in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Further work to confirm these findings is recommended.
Gene expression‐based classifications of fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumours of the breast
Authors: Vidal Maria , Peg Vicente , Galván Patricia , Tres Alejandro , Cortés Javier , Ramón y Cajal Santiago , Rubio Isabel T. , Prat Aleix
Published: January 2015

Fibroepithelial tumors (FTs) of the breast are a heterogeneous group of lesions ranging from fibroadenomas (FAD) to phyllodes tumors (PT) (benign, borderline, malignant). Further understanding of their molecular features and classification might be of clinical value. In this study, we analysed the expression of 105 breast cancer‐related genes, including the 50 genes of the PAM50 intrinsic subtype predictor and 12 genes of the Claudin‐low subtype predictor, in a panel of 75 FTs (34 FADs, 5 juvenile FADs, 20 benign PTs, 5 borderline PTs and 11 malignant PTs) with clinical follow‐up. In addition, we compared the expression profiles of FTs with those of 14 normal breast tissues and 49 primary invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs). Our results revealed that the levels of expression of all breast cancer‐related genes can discriminate the various groups of FTs, together with normal breast tissues and IDCs (False Discovery Rate < 5%). Among FTs, the levels expression of proliferation‐related genes (e.g. CCNB1 and MKI67) and mesenchymal/epithelial‐related (e.g. CLDN3 and EPCAM) genes were found to be most discriminative. As expected, FADs showed the highest and lowest expression of epithelial‐ and proliferation‐related genes, respectively, whereas malignant PTs showed the opposite expression pattern. Interestingly, the overall profile of benign PTs was found more similar to FADs and normal breast tissues than the rest of tumours, including juvenile FADs. Within the dataset of IDCs and normal breast tissues, the vast majority of FADs, juvenile FADs, benign PTs and borderline PTs were identified as Normal‐like by intrinsic breast cancer subtyping, whereas 7 (63.6%) and 3 (27.3%) malignant PTs were identified as Claudin‐low and Basal‐like, respectively. Finally, we observed that the previously described PAM50 risk of relapse prognostic score better predicted outcome in FTs than the morphological classification, even within PTs‐only. Our results suggest that classification of FTs using gene expression‐based data is feasible and might provide clinically useful biological and prognostic information.
A comparison of buy‐side and sell‐side analysts
Authors: Hobbs Jeffrey , Singh Vivek
Published: January 2015

There is very little research on the topic of buy‐side analyst performance, and that which does exist yields mixed results. We use a large sample from both the buy‐side and the sell‐side and report several new results. First, while the contemporaneous returns to portfolios based on sell‐side recommendations are positive, the returns for buy‐side analysts, proxied by changes in institutional holdings, are negative. Second, the buy‐side analysts' underperformance is accentuated when they trade against sell‐side analysts' recommendations. Third, abnormal returns positively relate to both the portfolio size and the portfolio turnover of buy‐side analysts' institutions, suggesting that large institutions employ superior analysts and that superior analysts frequently change their recommendations. Abnormal returns are also positively related to buy‐side portfolios with stocks that have higher analyst coverage, greater institutional holding, and lower earnings forecast dispersion. Fourth, there is substantial persistence in buy‐side performance, but even the top decile performs poorly. These findings suggest that sell‐side analysts still outperform buy‐side analysts despite the severe conflicts of interest documented in the literature.
Response to Challenge Dose Among Young Adults Vaccinated for Hepatitis B as Infants: Importance of Detectable Residual Antibody to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Authors: Spradling Philip R. , Kamili Saleem , Xing Jian , Drobeniuc Jan , Hu Dale J. , Middleman Amy B.
Published: February 2015

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a difference in antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) response to a hepatitis B vaccine challenge dose existed among persons with a baseline anti-HBs level of 0 mIU/mL (group 1) and those with “non-zero” levels of 0.1–4.9 (group 2) and 5.0–9.9 (group 3) mIU/mL, according to the VITROS ECi anti-HBs assay.

DESIGN

Subanalysis of randomized clinical trial. Response was defined as a postchallenge anti-HBs level of at least 10 mIU/mL and 4-fold rise in anti-HBs level 2 weeks after a single challenge dose of 10 vs 20 µg Engerix-B. Baseline was defined as the anti-HBs level immediately before administration of the challenge dose.

SETTING

Pediatric integrated healthcare system near Houston, Texas.

PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred nineteen US-born 16–19-year-olds who completed the hepatitis B vaccine series during the first year of life.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-eight persons had zero (group 1) and 141 (114 group 2 and 27 group 3) had non-zero anti-HBs levels at baseline. Response to the challenge dose was significantly higher among those with non-zero vs zero anti-HBs levels, irrespective of challenge dosage; only 1 person with a non-zero anti-HBs level failed to respond to the challenge dose (group 3, 27/27 [100%] vs group 2, 113/114 [99%] vs group 1, 145/178 [82%]; P<.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among participants with residual anti-HBs levels less than 10 mIU/mL 16–19 years after primary hepatitis B vaccination during infancy, non-zero anti-HBs levels, with rare exception, indicated persistence of immune memory to HBsAg.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01341275

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;00(0):1–5
Fourier–Hermite spectral representation for the Vlasov–Poisson system in the weakly collisional limit
Authors: Parker Joseph T. , Dellar Paul J.
Published: February 2015

We study Landau damping in the 1+1D Vlasov–Poisson system using a Fourier–Hermite spectral representation. We describe the propagation of free energy in Fourier–Hermite phase space using forwards and backwards propagating Hermite modes recently developed for gyrokinetic theory. We derive a free energy equation that relates the change in the electric field to the net Hermite flux out of the zeroth Hermite mode. In linear Landau damping, decay in the electric field corresponds to forward propagating Hermite modes; in nonlinear damping, the initial decay is followed by a growth phase characterized by the generation of backwards propagating Hermite modes by the nonlinear term. The free energy content of the backwards propagating modes increases exponentially until balancing that of the forward propagating modes. Thereafter there is no systematic net Hermite flux, so the electric field cannot decay and the nonlinearity effectively suppresses Landau damping. These simulations are performed using the fully-spectral 5D gyrokinetics code SpectroGK, modified to solve the 1+1D Vlasov–Poisson system. This captures Landau damping via Hou–Li filtering in velocity space. Therefore the code is applicable even in regimes where phase mixing and filamentation are dominant.
The ubiquity of frequency effects in first language acquisition
Authors: AMBRIDGE BEN , KIDD EVAN , ROWLAND CAROLINE F. , THEAKSTON ANNA L.
Published: February 2015

This review article presents evidence for the claim that frequency effects are pervasive in children's first language acquisition, and hence constitute a phenomenon that any successful account must explain. The article is organized around four key domains of research: children's acquisition of single words, inflectional morphology, simple syntactic constructions, and more advanced constructions. In presenting this evidence, we develop five theses. (i) There exist different types of frequency effect, from effects at the level of concrete lexical strings to effects at the level of abstract cues to thematic-role assignment, as well as effects of both token and type, and absolute and relative, frequency. High-frequency forms are (ii) early acquired and (iii) prevent errors in contexts where they are the target, but also (iv) cause errors in contexts in which a competing lower-frequency form is the target. (v) Frequency effects interact with other factors (e.g. serial position, utterance length), and the patterning of these interactions is generally informative with regard to the nature of the learning mechanism. We conclude by arguing that any successful account of language acquisition, from whatever theoretical standpoint, must be frequency sensitive to the extent that it can explain the effects documented in this review, and outline some types of account that do and do not meet this criterion.
Automorphisms of the 3-sphere that preserve spatial graphs and handlebody-knots
Authors: KODA YUYA
Published: February 2015

We consider the group of isotopy classes of automorphisms of the 3-sphere that preserve a spatial graph or a handlebody-knot embedded in it. We prove that the group is finitely presented for an arbitrary spatial graph or a reducible handlebody-knot of genus two. We also prove that the groups for “most” irreducible genus two handlebody-knots are finite.
Cystatin C is a disease‐associated protein subject to multiple regulation
Authors: Xu Yuekang , Ding Ying , Li Xinchen , Wu Xiaobing
Published: February 2015

A protease inhibitor, cystatin C (Cst C), is a secreted cysteine protease inhibitor abundantly expressed in body fluids. Clinically, it is mostly used to measure glomerular filtration rate as a marker for kidney function due to its relatively small molecular weight and easy detection. However, recent findings suggest that Cst C is regulated at both transcriptional and post‐translational levels, and Cst C production from haematopoietic cell lineages contributes significantly to the systematic pools of Cst C. Furthermore, Cst C is directly linked to many pathologic processes through various mechanisms. Thus fluctuation of Cst C levels might have serious clinical implications rather than a mere reflection of kidney functions. Here, we summarize the pathophysiological roles of Cst C dependent and independent on its inhibition of proteases, outline its change of expression by various stimuli, and elucidate the regulatory mechanisms to control this disease‐related protease inhibitor. Finally, we discuss the clinical implications of these findings for translational gains.