bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel small‐molecule activator of procaspase‐3 induces apoptosis in cancer cells and reduces tumor growth in human breast, liver and gallbladder cancer xenografts
Authors: Wang Fangyang , Wang Lihui , Zhao Yanfang , Li Yi , Ping Guanfang , Xiao Shu , Chen Kang , Zhu Wufu , Gong Ping , Yang Jingyu , Wu Chunfu
Published: July 2014

Purpose

Procaspase‐3, a proenzyme of apoptotic executioner caspase‐3, is overexpressed in numerous tumors. We aimed to characterize a novel procaspase‐3 activator, WF‐210, which may have potential as an anticancer drug.

Experimental design

The procaspase‐3 activating ability, antitumor efficacy, mechanisms of action, and toxicity profiles of WF‐210 were investigated in vitro and in vivo, using normal cells, cancer cells, and mouse xenograft models. The role of procaspase‐3 in WF‐210‐induced apoptosis was explored by manipulating procaspase‐3 expression in cultured cells.

Results

WF‐210 activated procaspase‐3 with an EC50 of 0.95 μM, less than half that of its mother compound PAC‐1 (2.08 μM). The mechanism involved the chelation of inhibitory zinc ions, subsequently resulting in an auto‐activation of procaspase‐3. WF‐210 was more cytotoxic than PAC‐1 to human cancer cells, but less cytotoxic to normal cells. Cancer cells with high procaspase‐3 expression, like HL‐60 and U‐937, were particularly sensitive. WF‐210‐induced the apoptosis of HL‐60 and U‐937 cells by activating procaspases and promoting proteasome‐dependent degradation of XIAP and Survivin. The level of WF‐210‐induced apoptosis in cultured cells was related to the level of procaspase‐3 expression. Finally, WF‐210 was superior to PAC‐1 in retarding the in vivo growth of breast, liver and gallbladder xenograft tumors which overexpress procaspase‐3, and induced no substantial weight loss or neurotoxicity. WF‐210 and PAC‐1 had no effect on the growth of MCF‐7 xenograft tumors, which do not express procaspase‐3.

Conclusion

We identified WF‐210 as a potent small‐molecule activator of procaspase‐3. The favorable antitumor activity and acceptable toxicity profile of WF‐210 provide a strong rationale for its clinical evaluation in the treatment of tumors with high procaspase‐3 expression.
One-dimensional projective subdynamics of uniformly mixing shifts of finite type
Authors: SCHRAUDNER MICHAEL H.
Published: July 2014

We investigate under which circumstances the projective subdynamics of multidimensional shifts of finite type can be non-sofic. In particular, we give a sufficient condition ensuring the one-dimensional projective subdynamics of such $\mathbb{Z}^{d}$ systems to be sofic and we show that this condition is already met (along certain, respectively all, sublattices) by most of the commonly used uniform mixing conditions. (Examples of the different situations are given.) Complementary to this we are able to prove a characterization of one-dimensional projective subdynamics for strongly irreducible $\mathbb{Z}^{d}$ shifts of finite type for every $d\geq 2$: in this setting the class of possible subdynamics coincides exactly with the class of mixing $\mathbb{Z}$ sofics. This stands in stark contrast to the much more diverse situation in merely topologically mixing multidimensional shifts of finite type.
The effectiveness of a brief intervention to reduce alcohol consumption in pregnancy: a controlled trial
Authors: Sheehan J. , Gill A. , Kelly B. D.
Published: July 2014

Objectives

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy potentially has significant effects on both mother and baby. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a brief intervention to reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Methods

This study was performed at the outpatient antenatal clinics of a large academic maternity teaching hospital in Dublin city centre. Six hundred and fifty-six women who drank alcohol before pregnancy were recruited at their first antenatal clinic visit. Drinking patterns before pregnancy, since becoming pregnant, and in later pregnancy (at ~32 weeks of gestation) were assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). A controlled study was conducted – participants were allocated to either the brief intervention group (screening and 5 minutes of non-directive discussion of their drinking pattern) or a control group (screening and treatment as usual).

Results

Before pregnancy, 57% of women consumed five or more units of alcohol per drinking occasion (i.e. binge drinking); during pregnancy, the rate of binge drinking fell to 4.8%. Sixty per cent of women who drank before pregnancy ceased drinking when pregnant, and a further 9% reduced their intake substantially. Four hundred and ninety-nine women were followed up in later pregnancy. The brief intervention did not produce any significant reduction in alcohol consumption above that attributable to pregnancy and comprehensive screening in antenatal care. Larger reductions in alcohol intake during pregnancy were associated with younger age, non-Irish nationality and greater intake of alcohol before first antenatal clinic visit.

Conclusion

Pregnancy itself produces abstinence and large reductions in alcohol consumption, even among women who drink relatively heavily. Consequently, a universal screening and brief intervention programme is not warranted but screening and targeted interventions could be appropriate such as repeated interventions for those who continue to binge drink. Future research could include evaluating interventions for those women who continue to binge drink during pregnancy and exploring ways of maintaining reductions in alcohol consumption among women who decreased consumption during pregnancy.
The Noncommutative Infinitesimal Equivariant Index Formula
Authors: Wang Yong
Published: July 2014

In this paper, we establish an infinitesimal equivariant index formula in the noncommutative geometry framework using Greiner's approach to heat kernel asymptotics. An infinitesimal equivariant index formula for odd dimensional manifolds is also given. We define infinitesimal equivariant eta cochains, prove their regularity and give an explicit formula for them. We also establish an infinitesimal equivariant family index formula and introduce the infinitesimal equivariant eta forms as well as compare them with the equivariant eta forms.
Linguistic Distances in Dialectometric Intensity Estimation
Authors: Pickl Simon , Spettl Aaron , Pröll Simon , Elspaß Stephan , König Werner , Schmidt Volker
Published: July 2014

Dialectometric intensity estimation as introduced in Rumpf etal. (2009) and Pickl and Rumpf (2011, 2012) is a method for the unsupervised generation of maps visualizing geolinguistic data on the level of linguistic variables. It also extracts spatial information for subsequent statistical analysis. However, as intensity estimation involves geographically conditioned smoothing, this method can lead to undesirable results. Geolinguistically relevant structures such as rivers, political borders or enclaves, for instance, are not taken into account and thus their manifestations in the distributions of linguistic variants are blurred. A possible solution to this problem, as suggested and put to the test in this paper, is to use linguistic distances rather than geographical (Euclidean) distances in the estimation. This methodological adjustment leads to maps which render geolinguistic distributions more faithfully, especially in areas that are deemed critical for the interpretation of the resulting maps and for subsequent statistical analyses of the results.
Price as a Signal of Product Quality: Some Experimental Evidence
Authors: Mastrobuoni Giovanni , Peracchi Franco , Tetenov Aleksey
Published: July 2014

We use experimental data to disentangle the signaling and budgetary effects of price on wine demand. The experimental design allows us to isolate the two effects in a simple and intuitive way. The signaling effect is present and nonlinear: it is strongly positive between 3 euros and 5 euros and undetectable between 5 euros and 8 euros. We find a similar nonlinear price–quality relationship in a large sample of wine ratings from the same price segment, supporting the hypothesis that taster behavior in the experiment is consistent with rationally using prices as signals of quality. Price signals also have greater importance for inexperienced (young) consumers. (JEL Classification: D11, D12, D82)
The influence of nutritional history on the functional response of Geocoris pallidipennis to its prey, Myzus persicae
Authors: Liu F. , Zeng F.
Published: July 2014

Insect artificial diets are the foundation for mass production of insect predators. Whether there is an influence of long-term rearing with artificial diet on the control ability of predators should be considered. Here, we focused on the effect of nutritional history on the functional response of Geocoris pallidipennis to Myzus persicae. The influence of nutritional history (artificial diet versus natural prey, M. persicae) on the functional response of third to fifth instar nymphs and female G. pallidipennis was examined in the laboratory. The results showed that the functional response curve of both the nymphs and the adult female of G. pallidipennis to M. persicae reflected similar trends on both nutritional histories and confirmed the type II response. Adult female G. pallidipennis reared on either M. persicae or artificial diet produced a significantly better performance than the juvenile stages tested. We estimated that adult female G. pallidipennis can consume 141.6 (artificial diet) or 131.6 (M. persicae) aphids per day, respectively. This indicated that G. pallidipennis reared on both artificial diet and M. persicae displayed high rates of predation.
Empire on their Backs: Coolies in the Eastern Borderlands of the British Raj
Authors: Dzüvichü Lipokmar
Published: July 2014

In the nineteenth century, colonial officials relied heavily on coercion to recruit “coolie” labour for “public works” and to provide various support services in the North-East Frontier of British India. “Treaties” with defeated chiefs and the subsequent population enumeration and taxation were strongly oriented to the mobilization of labour for road building and porterage. Forced labour provided the colonial officials with a steady supply of coolies to work on the roads as well as carriers for military expeditions. In mobilizing labour resources, however, colonial officials had to create and draw upon native agents such as the headmen and interpreters who came to play a crucial role in the colonial order of things. Focusing on the Naga Hills, this article will examine the efforts of the colonial state to secure a large circulating labour force, the forms of labour relations that emerged from the need to build colonial infrastructure and the demand for coolies in military expeditions, the response of the hill people to labour conscription and its impact on the hill “tribes”.
The role of the immunological background of mice in the genetic variability of Schistosoma mansoni as detected by random amplification of polymorphic DNA
Authors: Cossa-Moiane I.L. , Mendes T. , Ferreira T.M. , Mauricio I. , Calado M. , Afonso A. , Belo S.
Published: July 2014

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. Among the Schistosoma species known to infect humans, S. mansoni is the most frequent cause of intestinal schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa and South America: the World Health Organization estimates that about 200,000 deaths per year result from schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa alone. The Schistosoma life cycle requires two different hosts: a snail as intermediate host and a mammal as definitive host. People become infected when they come into contact with water contaminated with free-living larvae (e.g. when swimming, fishing, washing). Although S. mansoni has mechanisms for escaping the host immune system, only a minority of infecting larvae develop into adults, suggesting that strain selection occurs at the host level. To test this hypothesis, we compared the Belo Horizonte (BH) strain of S. mansoni recovered from definitive hosts with different immunological backgrounds using random amplification of polymorphic DNA–polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Schistosoma mansoni DNA profiles of worms obtained from wild-type (CD1 and C57BL/6J) and mutant (Jα18− / − and TGFβRIIdn) mice were analysed. Four primers produced polymorphic profiles, which can therefore potentially be used as reference biomarkers. All male worms were genetically distinct from females isolated from the same host, with female worms showing more specific fragments than males. Of the four host-derived schistosome populations, female and male adults recovered from TGFβRIIdn mice showed RAPD-PCR profiles that were most similar to each other. Altogether, these data indicate that host immunological backgrounds can influence the genetic diversity of parasite populations.
Polyphony of Urdu in Post-colonial North India
Authors: AHMAD RIZWAN
Published: July 2014

Many scholars, politicians, and the lay people alike believe that Urdu in North India symbolizes a Muslim identity and culture. Based on an eight-month long ethnographic study and quantitative language data collected in Old Delhi, this article challenges this notion and shows that the symbolic meanings of Urdu have been mutating in post-colonial India. A cross-generational study involving both Muslims and Hindus shows that different generations assign different meanings to Urdu. Unlike the older generation, Muslim youth do not identify themselves with Urdu. A study of the Urdu sounds /f/, /z/, /kh/, /gh/, and /q/ in the speech of Muslim youth further demonstrates that they are losing three of these sounds. Another transformation involves the adoption of the Devanagari script to write Urdu by many Muslims. This change in the literacy practices of Muslims reinforces the shift in the symbolic meanings of Urdu. I argue that the transformation in the symbolic meanings of Urdu is reflective and constitutive of the sociopolitical changes that Muslims have undergone in the twentieth century.
Ross Island recreational walking tracks: relationships between soil physiochemical properties and track usage
Authors: O'Neill Tanya A. , Balks Megan R. , López-Martínez Jerónimo
Published: July 2014

The objective of this research was to determine the number of people using the Ross Island recreational walking tracks, and to examine the relationships between the number of users, track morphological characteristics, and soil physiochemical properties. Infrared track counters provided 2-years of data on five walking tracks on the island. Track width and track incision were measured and soil sampling in the vicinity of the track counter and an adjacent control site was undertaken. Between January 2009 and January 2011 5084 passes were recorded on the Scott Base to McMurdo Station walking track, 2842 on the Wind Vane Hill walking track, 3561 on the Round Observation Hill walking track, 10936 on the Up Observation Hill track, and 693 on the Crater Hill summit walking track. There were more users on all tracks in the 2010–2011 summer season than the 2009–2010 summer season. The highest frequency of visitors occurred on Sundays during the summer (November to January). There was no relationship between the number of passes on the track and the measured impact indicators. This indicates that higher usage of a formed track had little cumulative impact. Track width and incision were related to the slope of the terrain, with tracks traversing flatter areas generally wider (R2 = 0.85) and less incised (R2 = 0.96), than those traversing steeper hillsides. There were no significant differences between tracks and control samples in soil pH, soil EC, organic C, total N, and total P. However, soil bulk density was higher in the walking tracks than adjacent control areas (p < 0.05).
Changes in regional settlement patterns in Cappadocia (central Turkey) since the Neolithic: a combined site survey perspective
Authors: Allcock Samantha Lee , Roberts Neil
Published: July 2014

More than 50 years of archaeological survey work carried out in Cappadocia in central Turkey has produced a number of important contributions to the understanding of long-term settlement histories. This article synthesises and critically evaluates the results of three field surveys conducted in Cappadocia which recorded material remains dating from the Early Holocene through to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. Results from the combined Cappadocia surveys reveal temporal patterns over the longue durée that include a lack of detectable pre-Neolithic occupation and important exploitation of obsidian as a raw material during the Neolithic. There was growth and expansion of settlement during the later Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age, a steady continuation of settlement during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, followed by rupture in settlement at the end of the Bronze Age. A new phase of settlement expansion began during the Iron Age and continued through Hellenistic and Roman times. This in turn was disrupted during the Byzantine period, which is associated with increased numbers of fortified sites. The succeeding long cycle of settlement began in Seljuk times and continued through to the end of the Ottoman period. Comparison with systematic archaeological site surveys in the adjacent regions of Paphlagonia and Konya shows some differences in settlement patterns, but overall broad sim¬ilarities indicate a coherent trajectory of settlement across central Anatolia over the last ten millennia.
The ideal neighbourhood for ageing in place as perceived by frail and non-frail community-dwelling older people
Authors: VAN DIJK HANNA M. , CRAMM JANE M. , VAN EXEL JOB , NIEBOER ANNA P.
Published: July 2014

Due to demographic changes and a widely supported policy of ageing in place, the number of community-dwelling older people will increase immensely. Thus, supportive neighbourhoods enabling older people to age in place successfully are required. Using Q-methodology, we examined older people's perceptions of the comparative importance of neighbourhood characteristics for ageing in place. Based on the World Health Organization's Global Age-friendly Cities guide, we developed 26 statements about physical and social neighbourhood characteristics. Thirty-two older people in Rotterdam, half of whom were frail, rank-ordered these statements. Q-factor analysis revealed three distinct viewpoints each among frail and non-frail older people. Comparisons within and between groups are discussed. Although both frail and non-frail older people strongly desired a neighbourhood enabling them to age in place, they have divergent views on such a neighbourhood. Older people's dependence on the neighbourhood seems to be dynamic, affected by changing social and physical conditions and levels of frailty.
Tether monitoring for entanglement detection, disentanglement and localisation of autonomous robots
Authors: Rajan Vishnu Arun Kumar Thumatty , Nagendran Arjun , Dehghani-Sanij Abbas , Richardson Robert C.
Published: July 2014

Tethered mobile robots are ideal for electrically noisy environments and for time-consuming tasks that require robust data communication and uninterrupted power delivery. However, tethers may become entangled in cluttered environments, leading to immobilisation and consequent mission failure. This work addresses real-time monitoring of tethers to detect tether entanglement, perform disentanglement through tether following and localise within line of sight. Experimental hardware is proposed to implement the tether monitoring techniques. Experiments are performed for single and dual mobile robots to search a target environment and entanglement detection is shown to be successful using quantitative metrics such as mean localization error.
Multi-Robot nonlinear model predictive formation control: the obstacle avoidance problem
Authors: Nascimento Tiago P. , Conceição André G. S. , Moreira António Paulo
Published: July 2014

This paper discusses about a proposed solution to the obstacle avoidance problem in multi-robot systems when applied to active target tracking. It is explained how a nonlinear model predictive formation control (NMPFC) previously proposed solves this problem of fixed and moving obstacle avoidance. First, an approach is presented which uses potential functions as terms of the NMPFC. These terms penalize the proximity with mates and obstacles. A strategy to avoid singularity problems with the potential functions using a modified A* path planning algorithm was then introduced. Results with simulations and experiments with real robots are presented and discussed demonstrating the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Suicide in psychiatric inpatients in Ireland
Authors: Corcoran Eleanor , Walsh Dermot
Published: July 2014

Objectives:To establish suicide rates of psychiatric inpatients in Ireland and the characteristics, demographic, social and medical, of the patients involved.

Method:Clinical, post mortem and inquest data on all such deaths from 1983-1992 were examined. Suicide rates were calculated using ‘person year method’.

Results:The suicide rate for short stay inpatients (stay less than one year) was 319/100,000, and 118/100,000 for long stay patients. The average duration of illness at time of suicide was 10 years. A fourfold increase in suicide rate of inpatients over the century was associated with a similar increase in the suicide rate in the general population. Thirty five per cent of suicides were aged 25-34 years. The risk of suicide was higher the shorter the time interval after admission. Three quarters of suicide deaths in registered inpatients occurred away from hospital grounds.

Conclusions:Social factors which contribute to an increase in the suicide rate in the general population are relevant to the increase in hospital inpatient suicides. More effective and comprehensive services to meet the needs of those with severe mental illness, particularly young adults, are essential. The results emphasise the importance of managing inpatients in a safe, secure environment. The person year method is appropriate for monitoring changes in suicide rates.
The Kansas University rewrite engine
Authors: SCULTHORPE NEIL , FRISBY NICOLAS , GILL ANDY
Published: July 2014

When writing transformation systems, a significant amount of engineering effort goes into setting up the infrastructure needed to direct individual transformations to specific targets in the data being transformed.Strategic programming languagesprovide general-purpose infrastructure for this task, which the author of a transformation system can use for any algebraic data structure. The Kansas University Rewrite Engine (KURE) is a typed strategic programming language, implemented as a Haskell-embedded domain-specific language. KURE is designed to supporttypedtransformations overtypeddata, and the main challenge is how to make such transformations compatible with generic traversal strategies that should operate overanytype. Strategic programming in a typed setting has much in common withdatatype-generic programming. Compared to other approaches to datatype-generic programming, the distinguishing feature of KURE's solution is that the user can configure the behaviour of traversals based on thelocationof each datum in the tree, beyond their behaviour being determined by thetypeof each datum. This article describes KURE's approach to assigning types to generic traversals, and the implementation of that approach. We also compare KURE, its design choices, and their consequences, with other approaches to strategic and datatype-generic programming.
Seventeen years of progress for supportive care services: A resurvey of National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer centers
Authors: Hammer Sheila L. , Clark Karen , Grant Marcia , Loscalzo Matthew J.
Published: July 2014

Objective:

We replicated a 1994 study that surveyed the state of supportive care services due to changes in the field and the increased need for such services. We provide an updated assessment, comparing the changes that have occurred and describing the current status of supportive care services in comprehensive cancer settings.

Method:

We used Coluzzi and colleague's 60-question survey from their 1995 Journal of Clinical Oncology article to frame the 98-question survey employed in the current study. Medical and palliative care directors for the 2011 National Cancer Institute (NCI) comprehensive cancer centers were surveyed regarding their supportive care services and their subjective review of the overall effectiveness of the services provided.

Results:

We achieved a 76% response rate (n = 31). The data revealed increases in the number of cancer beds in the hospitals, the degree of integration of supportive care services, the availability of complementary services, and the number of pain and palliative care services offered. There was also an overall shift toward centers becoming more patient centered, as 65% reported now having a patient and family advisory council. Our findings revealed a growing trend to offer distress screening for both outpatients and inpatients. Medical and palliative care directors' evaluations of the supportive care services they offered also significantly improved. However, the results revealed an ongoing gap in services for end-of-life care and timely referrals for hospice services.

Significance of results:

Overall, both the quantity and quality of supportive care services in the surveyed NCI-designated cancer centers has improved.
A comparison of the revised Delirium Rating Scale (DRS–R98) and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) in a palliative care cohort with DSM–IV delirium
Authors: O'Sullivan Roisin , Meagher David , Leonard Maeve , Watne Leiv Otto , Hall Roanna J , Maclullich Alasdair M.J. , Trzepacz Paula , Adamis Dimitrios
Published: July 2014

Objective:

Assessment of delirium is performed with a variety of instruments, making comparisons between studies difficult. A conversion rule between commonly used instruments would aid such comparisons. The present study aimed to compare the revised Delirium Rating Scale (DRS–R98) and Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) in a palliative care population and derive conversion rules between the two scales.

Method:

Both instruments were employed to assess 77 consecutive patients with DSM–IV delirium, and the measures were repeated at three-day intervals. Conversion rules were derived from the data at initial assessment and tested on subsequent data.

Results:

There was substantial overall agreement between the two scales [concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) = 0.70 (CI95 = 0.60–0.78)] and between most common items (weighted κ ranging from 0.63 to 0.86). Although the two scales overlap considerably, there were some subtle differences with only modest agreement between the attention (weighted κ = 0.42) and thought process (weighted κ = 0.61) items. The conversion rule from total MDAS score to DRS–R98 severity scores demonstrated an almost perfect level of agreement (r = 0.86, CCC = 0.86; CI95 = 0.79–0.91), similar to the conversion rule from DRS–R98 to MDAS.

Significance of results:

Overall, the derived conversion rules demonstrated promising accuracy in this palliative care population, but further testing in other populations is certainly needed.
The changing face of personhood at the end of life: The ring theory of personhood
Authors: Krishna Lalit Kumar Radha , Kwek Suat Yee
Published: July 2014

Objective:

The manner in which personhood or “what makes you who you are” is conceived is key to the provision of patient-centered care and maintenance of the dignity and quality of life of terminally ill patients. However, there is little agreement on how this pivotal concept ought to be defined. Some have argued in favor of an innate concept of personhood, while others see an individual as a reflection of their familial identity or their conscious function, and all share a common position that personhood is unchanging, and hinges upon the central theme of their respective concepts. The present paper aims to explore a more clinically influenced perspective of personhood.

Method:

We report the case of a 42-year-old Malay Singaporean who had been a caregiver for her husband throughout his cancer and then became a cancer patient herself after his passing. This case explores her changing and multifaceted conceptions of personhood throughout her life and illness, and discussions about end-of-life care.

Results:

The patient reports a concept of personhood that encompasses the innate, individual, relational, and societal aspects, which are interlinked and vary in terms of depth and conviction according to the various times in her life and illness.

Significance of results:

Our findings support the ring theory of personhood, which provides a clinically supported model of the conception of personhood that is context dependent and encompasses the four abovementioned aspects.
Exploring the relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life among patients newly diagnosed with advanced cancer
Authors: Bai Mei , Lazenby Mark , Jeon Sangchoon , Dixon Jane , McCorkle Ruth
Published: July 2014

Objective:

In our context, existential plight refers to heightened concerns about life and death when people are diagnosed with cancer. Although the duration of existential plight has been proposed to be approximately 100 days, evidence from longitudinal studies raises questions about whether the impact of a diagnosis of advanced cancer may require a longer period of adjustment. The purpose of our study was to examine spiritual well-being (SpWB) and quality of life (QoL) as well as their interrelationship in 52 patients with advanced cancer after 100 days since the diagnosis at one and three months post-baseline.

Method:

The study was designed as a secondary data analysis of a cluster randomized clinical trial involving patients with stage 3 or 4 cancer undergoing treatment. SpWB was measured using the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT–Sp–12); common factor analyses revealed a three-factor pattern on the FACIT–Sp–12. Quality of life was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General (FACT–G). We limited our sample to participants assigned to the control condition (n = 52).

Results:

SpWB and QoL remained stable between one and three months post-baseline, which were a median of 112 and 183 days after diagnosis, respectively. SpWB was found to be associated with QoL more strongly than physical and emotional well-being. Peace and Meaning each contributed unique variance to QoL, and their relative importance shifted over time. Faith was positively related to QoL initially. This association became insignificant at three months post-baseline.

Significance of results:

This study underscores the significance of SpWB for people newly diagnosed with advanced cancer, and it highlights the dynamic pattern of Peace, Meaning, and Faith in association with QoL. Our results confirm that patients newly diagnosed with advanced cancer experience an existential crisis, improve and stabilize over time. Future studies with larger samples over a longer period of time are needed to verify these results.
EXOSC8 mutations alter mRNA metabolism and cause hypomyelination with spinal muscular atrophy and cerebellar hypoplasia
Authors: Boczonadi Veronika , Müller Juliane S. , Pyle Angela , Munkley Jennifer , Dor Talya , Quartararo Jade , Ferrero Ileana , Karcagi Veronika , Giunta Michele , Polvikoski Tuomo , Birchall Daniel , Princzinger Agota , Cinnamon Yuval , Lützkendorf Susanne , Piko Henriett , Reza Mojgan , Florez Laura , Santibanez-Koref Mauro , Griffin Helen , Schuelke Markus , Elpeleg Orly , Kalaydjieva Luba , Lochmüller Hanns , Elliott David J. , Chinnery Patrick F. , Edvardson Shimon , Horvath Rita
Published: July 2014

The exosome is a multi-protein complex, required for the degradation of AU-rich element (ARE) containing messenger RNAs (mRNAs). EXOSC8 is an essential protein of the exosome core, as its depletion causes a severe growth defect in yeast. Here we show that homozygous missense mutations in EXOSC8 cause progressive and lethal neurological disease in 22 infants from three independent pedigrees. Affected individuals have cerebellar and corpus callosum hypoplasia, abnormal myelination of the central nervous system or spinal motor neuron disease. Experimental downregulation of EXOSC8 in human oligodendroglia cells and in zebrafish induce a specific increase in ARE mRNAs encoding myelin proteins, showing that the imbalanced supply of myelin proteins causes the disruption of myelin, and explaining the clinical presentation. These findings show the central role of the exosomal pathway in neurodegenerative disease.
Trends in management and outcomes of COPD patients in primary care, 2000–2009: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: James Gareth D , Donaldson Gavin C , Wedzicha Jadwiga A , Nazareth Irwin
Published: July 2014

Background:

Since the introduction of the Quality and Outcomes framework, there has been some evidence of improvement in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in the United Kingdom through increasing rates of smoking cessation advice and immunisations against influenza. However, it is unknown whether disease-specific management criteria, disease outcomes and diagnosis have improved.

Aims:

To describe changes in the management and outcomes of patients with COPD in UK general practice between 2000 and 2009.

Methods:

The study was done on a retrospective cohort using data from The Health Improvement Network UK primary care database. We calculated age at diagnosis of COPD and death, total number of short-term oral corticosteroid courses and consultations, and proportion of patients with very severe COPD and on triple inhaled therapy for each year between 2000 and 2009.

Results:

We identified 92,576 patients with COPD. The mean age at COPD diagnosis decreased from 68.1 years in 2000 to 66.7 years in 2009. The mean age at death increased from 78.2 years in 2000 to 78.8 years in 2009. The number of prescribed courses of oral corticosteroids increased from 0.6 in 2000 to 0.8 in 2009. The number of consultations increased from 9.4 in 2004 to 11.3 in 2009. The risk of having very severe COPD decreased from 9.4% in 2004 to 6.8% in 2009. The likelihood of patients with very severe COPD receiving triple therapy increased from 25% in 2004 to 59% in 2009.

Conclusions:

The trends suggest that management and outcomes observed in patients with COPD may have improved since the year 2000.
Isothermal Onsager matrices and acceptor size effect on mass/charge transport properties of La1.9A0.1NiO3.95+δ (A = Ca, Sr)
Authors: Kim Hong-Seok , Yoo Han-Ill
Published: July 2014

Dopant(A) size affects the mobilities of oxide ions (∂DO/∂Δ) and holes(∂Lee/∂Δ) in La1.9A0.1O4+Δ.
An Ru(ii)–Fe(iii) bimetallic complex as a multifunctional device for detecting, signal amplifying, and degrading oxalate
Authors: Chow Cheuk-Fai , Ho Pui-Yu , Gong Cheng-Bin
Published: July 2014

A multifunctional device that can monitor the level of pollutants, magnify weak signals, and subsequently degrade pollutants is highly desirable. A new Ru(ii)–Fe(iii) complex—[RuII(tBubpy)(CN)4]2–[FeIII(H2O)3Cl]2·8H2O (1,tBubpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine)—was synthesized and characterized.
Cell electrospinning cardiac patches for tissue engineering the heart
Authors: Ehler Elisabeth , Jayasinghe Suwan N.
Published: July 2014

The investigative studies performed and presented in this communication demonstrate the ability for cell electrospinning to directly handle living primary cardiac myocytes from which living cardiac fibers and scaffolds are generated. This platform technology investigated in these studies holds great promise for cardiac medicine and surgery to diagnostics and bio-analysis of cardiac tissues at all states.
Low cost referenced luminescent imaging of oxygen and pH with a 2-CCD colour near infrared camera
Authors: Ehgartner Josef , Wiltsche Helmar , Borisov Sergey M. , Mayr Torsten
Published: July 2014

A low cost imaging set-up for NIR-emitting optical chemical sensors for pH and oxygen based on a 2-CCD camera is presented.
A spatiotemporally defined in vitro microenvironment for controllable signal delivery and drug screening
Authors: Kuo Ching-Te , Liu Hao-Kai , Huang Guan-Syuan , Chang Chi-Hao , Chen Chen-Lin , Chen Ken-Chao , Yun-Ju Huang Ruby , Lin Ching-Hung , Lee Hsinyu , Huang Chiun-Sheng , Wo Andrew M.
Published: July 2014

An in vitro model of mimicking tumor microenvironments to study in vivo-like cancer migration and screening of inhibitors is demonstrated.
Single point calibration for semi-quantitative screening based on an internal reference in thin layer chromatography-SERS: the case of Rhodamine B in chili oil
Authors: Wang Cong , Cheng Fansheng , Wang Yonghong , Gong Zhengjun , Fan Meikun , Hu Jianming
Published: July 2014

Rhodamine B, an illegal additive in chili oil, could be screened and semi-quantified by using a newly proposed single point calibrated TLC-SERS method.
A nanocellulose–dye conjugate for multi-format optical pH-sensing
Authors: Chauhan Prashant , Hadad Caroline , López Ana Herreros , Silvestrini Simone , La Parola Valeria , Frison Enrico , Maggini Michele , Prato Maurizio , Carofiglio Tommaso
Published: July 2014

A pH-sensitive azo-dye covalently grafted onto cellulose nanocrystals yields nanostructured optodes in the form of membranes, sticks, and water-based inks for optical pH detection.
Mechanosynthesis of imine, β-ketoenamine, and hydrogen-bonded imine-linked covalent organic frameworks using liquid-assisted grinding
Authors: Das Gobinda , Balaji Shinde Digambar , Kandambeth Sharath , Biswal Bishnu P. , Banerjee Rahul
Published: July 2014

Dynamic covalent bond formation is dramatically accelerated under Liquid-Assisted Grinding (LAG) conditions leading to improved crystalline COFs efficiently at a faster rate and in high yield.
Copper-mediated aromatic amination reaction and its application to the total synthesis of natural products
Authors: Okano Kentaro , Tokuyama Hidetoshi , Fukuyama Tohru
Published: July 2014

The historical background and recent update on copper-mediated aryl amination reactions including the recent C–H aryl amination and its application to the total syntheses of natural products are described.
Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed olefinic C–H alkynylation of enamides at room temperature
Authors: Feng Chao , Feng Daming , Loh Teck-Peng
Published: July 2014

Rh(iii)-catalyzed C–H olefinic alkynylation of enamides for the stereospecific construction of synthetically useful Z-type enynamides is reported. This protocol displays good functionality tolerance and operational simplicity thus providing an alternative synthetic opportunity for the ease of access to specific 1,3-enyne derivatives.
NanoKeepers: stimuli responsive nanocapsules for programmed specific targeting and drug delivery
Authors: Hernandez Frank J. , Hernandez Luiza I. , Kavruk Murat , Arıca Yakup M. , Bayramoğlu Gülay , Borsa Baris A. , Öktem Hüseyin A. , Schäfer Thomas , Özalp Veli C.
Published: July 2014

NanoKeepers are a novel therapeutic strategy for specific targeting of S. aureus, with controlled release of antibiotics based on nuclease activity.
Ultrafast relaxation dynamics of phosphine-protected, rod-shaped Au20 clusters: interplay between solvation and surface trapping
Authors: Zhou Meng , Long Saran , Wan Xiankai , Li Yang , Niu Yingli , Guo Qianjin , Wang Quan-Ming , Xia Andong
Published: July 2014

Excited-state intramolecular charge transfer dynanmics and coherent oscillation of ligand-protected rod shaped Au20 clusters were modulated through the competition between solvation and surface trapping.
Fully printable transparent monolithic solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell with mesoscopic indium tin oxide counter electrode
Authors: Yang Ying , Ri Kwangho , Rong Yaoguang , Liu Linfeng , Liu Tongfa , Hu Min , Li Xiong , Han Hongwei
Published: July 2014

We present a new transparent monolithic mesoscopic solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell based on trilamellar films of mesoscopic TiO2 nanocrystalline photoanode, a ZrO2 insulating layer and an indium tin oxide counter electrode, which were screen-printed layer by layer on a single substrate.
High voltage hybrid organic photovoltaics using a zinc oxide acceptor and a subphthalocyanine donor
Authors: Dearden Chloe Argent , Walker Marc , Beaumont Nicola , Hancox Ian , Unsworth Natalie K. , Sullivan Paul , McConville Chris F. , Jones Tim S.
Published: July 2014

The voltage of ZnO/SubPc hybrid devices was enhanced to 1.18 eV by optimising the ZnO thin film processing conditions
Ordered mesoporous carbons obtained by a simple soft template method as sulfur immobilizers for lithium–sulfur cells
Authors: Moreno Noelia , Caballero Alvaro , Hernán Lourdes , Morales Julián , Canales-Vázquez Jesús
Published: July 2014

Carbon materials with ordered mesoporous structures were synthesized using soft template methods and then activated by CO2 treatment.
Sunlight absorption in water – efficiency and design implications for photoelectrochemical devices
Authors: Döscher H. , Geisz J. F. , Deutsch T. G. , Turner J. A.
Published: July 2014

Sunlight absorption within the electrolyte impacts the performance and design of high-efficiency tandem PEC devices as evidenced by detailed balance calculations.
PDMS nanocomposites for heat transfer enhancement in microfluidic platforms
Authors: Yi Pyshar , Awang Robiatun A. , Rowe Wayne S. T. , Kalantar-zadeh Kourosh , Khoshmanesh Khashayar
Published: July 2014

This work introduces a method to enhance the thermal conductivity of PDMS microfluidic platforms through the use of PDMS/Al2O3 nanocomposites.
Effect of velocity on microdroplet fluorescence quantified by laser-induced fluorescence
Authors: Vazquez Benjamín , Qureshi Naser , Oropeza-Ramos Laura , Olguin Luis F.
Published: July 2014

Using a split laser, we analysed how the velocity of in-flow microdroplets modifies the droplet fluorescence signal when interrogated by LIF.
Synthesis and optical properties of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped graphene quantum dots
Authors: Zhang Ben-Xing , Gao Hui , Li Xiao-Long
Published: July 2014

Schematic and digital photos of the preparation for water-soluble nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) co-doped graphene quantum dots (NS-GQDs). Sulfur enhances the photoluminescence of NS-GQDs.
Single cytidine units-templated syntheses of multi-colored water-soluble Au nanoclusters
Authors: Jiang Hui , Zhang Yuanyuan , Wang Xuemei
Published: July 2014

Cytidine and cytidine nucleotides can act as efficient stabilizers for the synthesis of multi-colored Au NCs.
“Red-to-blue” colorimetric detection of cysteine via anti-etching of silver nanoprisms
Authors: Li Yonglong , Li Zihou , Gao Yuexia , Gong An , Zhang Yujie , Hosmane Narayan S. , Shen Zheyu , Wu Aiguo
Published: July 2014

A mechanistic scheme of the AgNPR system for Cys detection is presented. In the absence of Cys, I−could attach to the corners and edges of AgNPRsviathe Ag–I bond resulting in the morphology transition from nanoprism to nanodisk. Cys can prevent I−from attaching to the AgNPRs' surface and keep the shape frozen.
Combined phase behavior, dynamic light scattering, viscosity and spectroscopic investigations of a pyridinium-based ionic liquid-in-oil microemulsion
Authors: Paul Sujoy , Panda Amiya Kumar
Published: July 2014

Proposed model, phase diagram and variation in size (d), viscosity (η) and fluorescence intensity (FI) for 1-butyl-4-methyl pyridinium tetrafluoroborate ([b4mpy][BF4])–(Tween 20 +n-pentanol)–n-heptane ionic liquid-in-oil-microemulsion system.
Design and synthesis of non-crystallizable, low-Tg polysiloxane elastomers with functional epoxy groups through anionic copolymerization and subsequent epoxidation
Authors: Meng Yang , Chu Junfeng , Xue Jiajia , Liu Chaohao , Wang Zhen , Zhang Liqun
Published: July 2014

A series of novel non-crystallizable, low-Tg epoxidized polysiloxane elastomers with excellent low-temperature performance and high degradation temperature were synthesized.
Affinity-recognition-based polymeric cryogels for protein depletion studies
Authors: Andaç Müge , Denizli Adil
Published: July 2014

Supermacroporous cryogels can be used for the depletion of highly abundant proteins prior to proteome investigations.
Synthesis of lignin-based epoxy resins: optimization of reaction parameters using response surface methodology
Authors: Ferdosian Fatemeh , Yuan Zhongshun , Anderson Mark , Xu Chunbao (Charles)
Published: July 2014

Synthesis of lignin-based epoxy resin of a high yield and epoxy content was realized and the synthesis conditions were optimized using Central Composite Design (CCD).
Indium(iii) catalysed regio- and stereoselective hydrothiolation of bromoalkynes
Authors: Rajesh Nimmakuri , Prajapati Dipak
Published: July 2014

Hydrothiolation of bromoalkynes has been reported for the first time under metal catalysed conditions. Indium(iii) trifluoromethanesulfonate was demonstrated as the first catalyst which can catalyse the hydrothiolation of bromoalkynes with absolute regio- and stereoselectivity to generate synthetically valuable (Z)-β-bromo vinyl sulfides in good yields.
Aqueous extract of Balanites roxburghii fruit: a green dispersant for C–C bond formation
Authors: Barge Madhuri , Salunkhe Rajashri
Published: July 2014

A natural dispersant exhibiting recyclable buffer property is obtained from aqueous extract ofBalanites roxburghiifruit and used as a highly efficient catalytic medium for C–C bond constructionviaKnoevenagel condensation and tandem Knoevenagel–Michael reaction.
Synthesis and thermomechanical property study of Novolac phenol-hydroxymethyl furfural (PHMF) resin
Authors: Yuan Zhongshun , Zhang Yongsheng , Xu Chunbao (Charles)
Published: July 2014

A formaldehyde-free phenolic resin – phenol-hydroxymethylfurfural (PHMF) resin was synthesized for the first time using HMF in situ derived from glucose.
DNA aptamer-based surface plasmon resonance sensing of human C-reactive protein
Authors: Yang Xiaohai , Wang Yaning , Wang Kemin , Wang Qing , Wang Pei , Lin Min , Chen Nandi , Tan Yuyu
Published: July 2014

DNA aptamers for CRP were selected and investigated using SPR technology, which will be of benefit for constructing CRP sensors.
Elucidation of complexation multi-equilibrium with MgII and a multisite ligand. A combined electronic spectroscopies and DFT investigation
Authors: Moncomble Aurélien , Cornard Jean-Paul
Published: July 2014

The study of the formation of complexes between quercetin, a multisite ligand, and MgII in solution shows the coexistence of two complexed species.
Amplification of fluorescent DNA through enzymatic incorporation of a highly emissive deoxyguanosine analogue
Authors: Otomo Haruka , Park Soyoung , Yamamoto Seigi , Sugiyama Hiroshi
Published: July 2014

A highly emissive thio-analogue of deoxyguanosine triphosphate was synthesized and enzymatically incorporated into DNA. The straightforward amplification of fluorescent DNA by natural polymerases was demonstrated.
4,4′-Biphenyldicarboxylate sodium coordination compounds as anodes for Na-ion batteries
Authors: Choi Aram , Kim Yun Kyeong , Kim Tae Kyung , Kwon Mi-Sook , Lee Kyu Tae , Moon Hoi Ri
Published: July 2014

4,4′-Biphenyldicarboxylate sodium coordination compounds with different crystal structures are evaluated as anode materials for Na-ion batteries.
Preparation of nascent molecular electronic devices from gold nanoparticles and terminal alkyne functionalised monolayer films
Authors: Osorio Henrry M. , Cea Pilar , Ballesteros Luz M. , Gascón Ignacio , Marqués-González Santiago , Nichols Richard J. , Pérez-Murano Francesc , Low Paul J. , Martín Santiago
Published: July 2014

A nascent metal–molecule–GNP assembly has been fabricated by immersion of a gold-substrate supported monolayer in a solution of gold nanoparticles (GNPs).