bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation could improve survival of cytogenetically normal adult acute myeloid leukemia patients with DNMT3A mutations
Authors: Xu Yang , Sun Yanjun , Shen Hongjie , Ding Lin , Yang Zhen , Qiu Huiying , Sun Aining , Chen Suning , Wu Depei
Published: July 2015

DNMT3A mutations are frequent in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (cn‐AML) patients and associated with poor survival. The role of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) in DNMT3Amut cn‐AML patients remains unclear. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the prognostic impact of DNMT3A mutations and explored the role of allo‐HSCT in 308 cn‐AML patients who received consolidation of intensive chemotherapy or allo‐HSCT in our center from March 2005 to May 2014. In the whole cohort, 63 patients (20.5%) were identified with DNMT3A exon 23 mutations and R882H was the most frequent variant. DNMT3Amut patients had shorter overall survival (3‐year OS: 31.9% vs. 52.0%, P = 0.009) and disease‐free survival (3‐year DFS: 21.8% vs. 40.1%, P = 0.004) compared with DNMT3Awt patients. Based on FLT3/NPM1/CEBPA mutations, 308 cn‐AML patients were divided into favorable/intermediate group (n = 262) and unfavorable group (n = 46). There were no significant differences in 3‐year OS and 3‐year DFS between DNMT3Amut and DNMT3Awt patients in both favorable/intermediate and unfavorable groups. Additionally, in multivariate analysis, DNMT3A mutation remained an independent adverse prognostic factor for the survival. In the DNMT3Amut cohort, 23 complete remission (CR) patients received allo‐HSCT consolidation and 32 CR patients received chemotherapy consolidation, dramatic differences were observed in 3‐year OS (51.7% vs. 28.9%, P = 0.048) and 3‐year DFS (41.6% vs. 14.9%, P = 0.024) between allo‐HSCT group and chemotherapy group. Collectively, DNMT3A mutation is a poor prognostic factor for cn‐AML patients and allo‐HSCT could improve survival of cn‐AML patients with DNMT3A mutations. Am. J. Hematol. 90:992–997, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of antibiotics on the microbiome in acute exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Merkley Mark A. , Bice Tristan C. , Grier Alex , Strohl Alexis M. , Man Li‐Xing , Gill Steven R.
Published: July 2015

Background

Current treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is driven by identification of predominant bacteria using culture‐based methods and determination of antibiotic sensitivities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of the sinonasal microbiome to antibiotic therapy in the setting of an acute exacerbation of CRS.

Methods

Aspirate and swab samples for culture and DNA analysis were collected bilaterally from 8 CRS patients presenting with acute exacerbations. Patients were started on a 2‐week course of a culture‐directed antibiotic after sensitivities were determined. Repeat samples were taken immediately on the completion of treatment. DNA was extracted from each sample, amplified using bacterial 16S primers and sequenced. Bacterial abundance was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Diversity metrics of the microbiota between pretreatment and posttreatment samples were calculated.

Results

There was significantly more bacterial DNA present in the pretreatment group than in the posttreatment group. An increase in α‐diversity was found in the posttreatment group relative to the pretreatment group (p < 0.05 in each comparison) with swab sampling, but not by aspirate sampling. The predominant organism identified by 16S sequencing correlated with the culture‐identified bacteria genus in each patient.

Conclusion

Significant differences exist in the diversity of bacteria populations during acute exacerbations of CRS and after antimicrobial treatment. After therapy, the increase in diversity is accompanied by a decrease in the total of abundance of the bacterial population.
Recessive ITPA mutations cause an early infantile encephalopathy
Authors: Kevelam Sietske H. , Bierau Jörgen , Salvarinova Ramona , Agrawal Shakti , Honzik Tomas , Visser Dennis , Weiss Marjan M. , Salomons Gajja S. , Abbink Truus E. M. , Waisfisz Quinten , van der Knaap Marjo S.
Published: July 2015

Objective

To identify the etiology of a novel, heritable encephalopathy in a small group of patients.

Methods

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern analysis was used to select patients with the same pattern. Homozygosity mapping and whole exome sequencing (WES) were performed to find the causal gene mutations.

Results

Seven patients from 4 families (2 consanguineous) were identified with a similar MRI pattern characterized by T2 signal abnormalities and diffusion restriction in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, often also optic radiation, brainstem tracts, and cerebellar white matter, in combination with delayed myelination and progressive brain atrophy. Patients presented with early infantile onset encephalopathy characterized by progressive microcephaly, seizures, variable cardiac defects, and early death. Metabolic testing was unrevealing. Single nucleotide polymorphism array revealed 1 overlapping homozygous region on chromosome 20 in the consanguineous families. In all patients, WES subsequently revealed recessive predicted loss of function mutations in ITPA, encoding inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPase). ITPase activity in patients' erythrocytes and fibroblasts was severely reduced.

Interpretation

Until now ITPA variants have only been associated with adverse reactions to specific drugs. This is the first report associating ITPA mutations with a human disorder. ITPase is important in purine metabolism because it removes noncanonical nucleotides from the cellular nucleotide pool. Toxicity of accumulated noncanonical nucleotides, leading to neuronal apoptosis and interference with proteins normally using adenosine triphosphate/guanosine triphosphate, probably explains the disease. This study confirms that combining MRI pattern recognition to define small, homogeneous patient groups with WES is a powerful approach for providing a fast diagnosis in patients with an unclassified genetic encephalopathy. Ann Neurol 2015;78:649–658
An Inexpensive and Recyclable Silver‐Foil Catalyst for the Cyclopropanation of Alkenes with Diazoacetates under Mechanochemical Conditions
Authors: Chen Longrui , Bovee Mark O. , Lemma Betsegaw E. , Keithley Kimberlee S. M. , Pilson Sara L. , Coleman Michael G. , Mack James
Published: July 2015

The diastereoselective cyclopropanation of various alkenes with diazoacetate derivatives can be achieved under mechanochemical conditions using metallic silver foil and a stainless‐steel vial and ball system. This solvent‐free method displays analogous reactivity and selectivity to solution‐phase reactions without the need for slow diazoacetate addition or an inert atmosphere. The heterogeneous silver‐foil catalyst system is easily recyclable without any appreciable loss of activity or selectivity being observed. The cyclopropanation products were obtained with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 98:2 d.r.) and in high yields (up to 96 %).
Using software‐modified smartphones to validate self‐reported mobile phone use in young people: A pilot study
Authors: Goedhart Geertje , Vrijheid Martine , Wiart Joe , Hours Martine , Kromhout Hans , Cardis Elisabeth , Eastman Langer Chelsea , de Llobet Viladoms Patricia , Massardier‐Pilonchery Amelie , Vermeulen Roel
Published: July 2015

A newly developed smartphone application was piloted to characterize and validate mobile phone use in young people. Twenty‐six volunteers (mean age 17.3 years) from France, Spain, and the Netherlands used a software‐modified smartphone for 4 weeks; the application installed on the phone recorded number and duration of calls, data use, laterality, hands‐free device usage, and communication system used for both voice calls and data transfer. Upon returning the phone, participants estimated their mobile phone use during those 4 weeks via an interviewer‐administered questionnaire. Results indicated that participants on average underestimated the number of calls they made, while they overestimated total call duration. Participants held the phone for about 90% of total call time near the head, mainly on the side of the head they reported as dominant. Some limitations were encountered when comparing reported and recorded data use and speaker use. When applied in a larger sample, information recorded by the smartphone application will be very useful to improve radiofrequency (RF) exposure modeling from mobile phones to be used in epidemiological research. Bioelectromagnetics. 36:538–543, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Highly Selective Hydrodecarbonylation of Oleic Acid into n‐Heptadecane over a Supported Nickel/Zinc Oxide–Alumina Catalyst
Authors: Li Guangci , Zhang Feng , Chen Lei , Zhang Chuanhui , Huang He , Li Xuebing
Published: July 2015

The production of second‐generation biodiesel with triglycerides or their derivatives through hydroprocessing is considered as a promising approach to make transportation fuels. In this study, a series of Ni‐based catalysts supported on basic composite oxides (MO‐Al2O3, M=Mg, Ca, Ni, Cu, Zn) were prepared for the catalytic deoxygenation of oleic acid in the presence of H2. Ni/ZnO‐Al2O3 exhibited the highest deoxygenation activity and alkane selectivity, which depended on its moderate basicity. Investigations of the reaction conditions, which include reaction time, reaction temperature, H2 pressure, and Ni loading, suggested that n‐heptadecane was the predominant product and its content increased with reaction temperature. The reaction temperature was more important than H2 pressure in the catalytic deoxygenation of oleic acid. Additionally, the overall reaction pathways for the conversion of oleic acid were proposed based on the product distribution for different durations and reaction rates of stearic acid, 1‐octadecanol, and stearyl stearate, in which the oxygen atoms in the oleic acid were mainly removed in the form of CO through a hydrogenation–dehydrogenation–decarbonylation reaction route. If glycerol trioleate was used instead of oleic acid, Ni/ZnO‐Al2O3 exhibited a high hydrodecarbonylation activity and selectivity to n‐heptadecane.
Effect of the Peptidic Scaffold in Copper(II) Coordination and the Redox Properties of Short Histidine‐Containing Peptides
Authors: Fragoso Ana , Carvalho Tiago , Rousselot‐Pailley Pierre , Correia dos Santos Margarida M. , Delgado Rita , Iranzo Olga
Published: July 2015

A linear decapeptide containing three His and one Asp residues and a β‐turn‐inducing dProPro unit was synthesised. A detailed potentiometric, mass spectrometric and spectroscopic study showed that at a 1:1 ratio of CCu/Cpeptide this peptide formed a major [CuH(OdProAsp)]2+ species (pH range 5.5–7.0), in which the Cu2+ ion was bound to the His and Asp residues in square‐planar or square‐pyramidal geometries. The stability constant corrected for protonated species (log K*=9.33) is almost equal to the value obtained for the parent [CuH(OAsp)]2+ species (log K*CuH(O‐Asp)=9.28), but lower than that obtained for the cyclic [CuH(CAsp)]2+ complex (log K*CuH(C‐Asp)=10.79) previously published. Thus, the replacement of the ProGly unit by the stronger β‐turn‐inducing dProPro unit did not generate a more stable copper(II) species, although the OdProAsp peptide was structured in solution, as shown by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Interestingly, the calculated value of Keff showed that this peptide behaved similarly to the OAsp or CAsp counterparts, depending on the pH value. The cyclic voltammetry data indicated that the most easily reducible species were [CuH(OAsp)]2+ (E′0=262 mV versus a normal hydrogen electrode (NHE)) and [CuH(OdProAsp)]2+ (E′0=294 mV versus NHE) complexes, the peptidic scaffolds of which are open. A lower value was obtained for [CuH(CAsp)]2+ (E′0=24 mV versus NHE). A different degree of non‐reversibility was observed for the three copper(II) complexes; this could reflect a different degree of flexibility in their respective peptidic scaffolds.
Effect of the Ancillary Ligands on the Spectral Properties and G‐Quadruplexes DNA Binding Behavior: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Shi Shuo , Gao Xing , Huang Hailiang , Zhao Juan , Yao Tianming
Published: July 2015

In an effort to explore the effect of ancillary ligands on the spectral properties and overall G‐quadruplex DNA binding behavior, two new ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(phen)2(dppzi)]2+ (1) and [Ru(dmp)2(dppzi)]2+ (2) (phen=1,10‐phenanthroline, dmp=2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, dppzi=dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine‐10,11‐imidazole) were prepared. Complex 1 can emit luminescence in the absence and presence of G‐quadruplexes DNA. However, with CH3 substituent on the 2‐ and 9‐positions of the phen ancillary ligand, no detectable luminescence is observed for complex 2 in any organic solvent or in the absence and/or presence of G‐quadruplex DNA. Experimental and molecular docking studies indicated that both complexes interacted with the human telomeric repeat AG3(T2AG3)3 (22AG) G‐quadruplex with the stoichiometric ratio of 1:1, but the two complexes showed different G‐quadruplex DNA binding affinity. Complex 1 binds to the G‐quadruplexes DNA more tightly than complex 2 does. Our results demonstrate that methyl groups on the phen ancillary ligand significantly affect the spectral properties and the overall DNA binding behavior of the complexes. Such difference in spectral properties and DNA binding affinities of these two complexes can be reasonably explained by DFT/TD‐DFT calculations. This work provides guidance not only on exploring the G‐quadruplexes DNA binding behavior of complexes, but also understanding the unique luminescence mechanism.
Borohydride Ionic Liquids as Hypergolic Fuels: A Quest for Improved Stability
Authors: Chand Deepak , Zhang Jiaheng , Shreeve Jean'ne M
Published: July 2015

Hydrazine and its derivatives are used as fuels in rocket propellant systems; however, due to high vapor pressure, toxicity, and carcinogenicity, handling of such compounds is extremely hazardous. Hypergolic ionic liquids have shown great promise to become viable replacements for hydrazines as fuels. Borohydride‐containing ionic liquids have now been synthesized using a more efficient synthetic pathway that does not require liquid ammonia and halide precursors. Among the eight new compounds, 1‐allyl‐3‐n‐butyl‐imidazolium borohydride (1) and 1, 3‐diallylimidazolium borohydride (5) exhibit very short ignition‐delay times (ID) of 8 and 3 ms, respectively. The hydrolytic stability of borohydride compounds has been greatly improved by attaching long‐chain alkyl substituents to the imidazole ring. 1,3‐Di‐(n‐octyl)‐imidazolium borohydride (3) is a water stable borohydride‐containing ionic liquid. 1,3‐Di‐(n‐butyl)‐imidazolium borohydride (2) is a unique example of a borohydride liquid crystal. These ionic liquids have some unusual advantages, including negligible vapor pressures, good ignition delay (ID) times, and reduced synthetic and storage costs, thereby showing good application potential as environmentally friendly fuels in bipropellant formulations. In addition, they also have potential applications in the form of reducing agents and hydrogen storage materials.
Kinetics study on the capture of elemental mercury in flue gas by KI‐impregnated clays
Authors: Shen Boxiong , Li Zhuo , Chen Jianhong , Singh Surjit , He Chuan
Published: July 2015

To understand the capture of elemental mercury (Hg0) on potassium iodide‐impregnated clays, a variety of kinetic models including pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models were used to analyze the experimental data and discuss the mechanism. A strong correlation was observed between the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model and the experimental data for a range of parameters (KI loading, adsorption temperatures, and O2 concentrations). This suggests that chemisorption may be a rate‐limiting mechanism during the adsorption process on KI clays. Further, the results of the pseudo‐first‐order model and the intraparticle diffusion model both indicate that mass transfer limitations should not be ignored during the initial stage of adsorption. Thermodynamic investigation shows that the adsorption reaction of Hg0 on the KI clays is inherently spontaneous and endothermic, corresponding to a process involving both physisorption and chemisorption, and the chemisorption is the dominant adsorption.
Flexible risk‐adjusted surveillance procedures for autocorrelated binary series
Authors: Gombay Edit , Hussein Abdulkadir A. , Steiner Stefan H.
Published: July 2015

Risk‐adjusted cumulative sum (RACUSUM) charts are popular for the surveillance of binary health care outcomes such as 30‐day mortality rates following cardiac surgery. RACUSUM charts are built on the assumptions that the binary outcomes are independent and the baseline rates are known constants. However, these two assumptions are often violated, thus undermining the validity of the surveillance procedure. In this paper, the authors propose risk‐adjusted surveillance procedures using a binary logistic regression model which allows ‐type autocorrelations among the binary outcomes. Two versions are presented: one with known, the other with estimated baseline parameters. The authors use Monte Carlo experiments to evaluate the power and the probability of false alarm (Type I error) of the surveillance procedures. Data on 30‐day mortality rates following cardiac surgery are used for illustration. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 43: 403–419; 2015 © 2015 Statistical Society of Canada
Axon terminals from the nucleus isthmi pars parvocellularis control the ascending retinotectofugal output through direct synaptic contact with tectal ganglion cell dendrites
Authors: González‐Cabrera Cristian , Garrido‐Charad Florencia , Mpodozis Jorge , Bolam J. Paul , Marín Gonzalo J.
Published: July 2015

The optic tectum in birds and its homologue the superior colliculus in mammals both send major bilateral, nontopographic projections to the nucleus rotundus and caudal pulvinar, respectively. These projections originate from widefield tectal ganglion cells (TGCs) located in layer 13 in the avian tectum and in the lower superficial layers in the mammalian colliculus. The TGCs characteristically have monostratified arrays of brush‐like dendritic terminations and respond mostly to bidimensional motion or looming features. In birds, this TGC‐mediated tectofugal output is controlled by feedback signals from the nucleus isthmi pars parvocellularis (Ipc). The Ipc neurons display topographically organized axons that densely ramify in restricted columnar terminal fields overlapping various neural elements that could mediate this tectofugal control, including the retinal terminals and the TGC dendrites themselves. Whether the Ipc axons make synaptic contact with these or other tectal neural elements remains undetermined. We double labeled Ipc axons and their presumptive postsynaptic targets in the tectum of chickens (Gallus gallus) with neural tracers and performed an ultrastructural analysis. We found that the Ipc terminal boutons form glomerulus‐like structures in the superficial and intermediate tectal layers, establishing asymmetric synapses with several dendritic profiles. In these glomeruli, at least two of the postsynaptic dendrites originated from TGCs. We also found synaptic contacts between retinal terminals and TGC dendrites. These findings suggest that, in birds, Ipc axons control the ascending tectal outflow of retinal signals through direct synaptic contacts with the TGCs. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:362–379, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evolution of cytoarchitectural landscapes in the mammalian isocortex: Sirenians (Trichechus manatus) in comparison with other mammals
Authors: Charvet Christine J. , Reep Roger L. , Finlay Barbara L.
Published: July 2015

The isocortex of several primates and rodents shows a systematic increase in the number of neurons per unit of cortical surface area from its rostrolateral to caudomedial border. The steepness of the gradient in neuronal number and density is positively correlated with cortical volume. The relative duration of neurogenesis along the same rostrocaudal gradient predicts a substantial fraction of this variation in neuron number and laminar position, which is produced principally from layers II–IV neurons. However, virtually all of our quantitative knowledge about total and laminar variation in cortical neuron numbers and neurogenesis comes from rodents and primates, leaving whole taxonomic groups and many intermediate‐sized brains unexplored. Thus, the ubiquity in mammals of the covariation of longer cortical neurogenesis and increased cortical neuron number deriving from cortical layers II–IV is undetermined. To begin to address this gap, we examined the isocortex of the manatee using the optical disector method in sectioned tissue, and also assembled partial data from published reports of the domestic cat brain. The manatee isocortex has relatively fewer neurons per total volume, and fewer II–IV neurons than primates with equivalently sized brains. The gradient in number of neurons from the rostral to the caudal pole is intermediate between primates and rodents, and, like those species, is observed only in the upper cortical layers. The cat isocortex (Felis domesticus) shows a similar structure. Key species for further tests of the origin, ubiquity, and significance of this organizational feature are discussed. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:772–782, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Experimental validation of a nonlinear μFE model based on cohesive‐frictional plasticity for trabecular bone
Authors: Schwiedrzik J. , Gross T. , Bina M. , Pretterklieber M. , Zysset P. , Pahr D.
Published: July 2015

Trabecular bone is a porous mineralized tissue playing a major load bearing role in the human body. Prediction of age‐related and disease‐related fractures and the behavior of bone implant systems needs a thorough understanding of its structure–mechanical property relationships, which can be obtained using microcomputed tomography‐based finite element modeling. In this study, a nonlinear model for trabecular bone as a cohesive‐frictional material was implemented in a large‐scale computational framework and validated by comparison of μFE simulations with experimental tests in uniaxial tension and compression. A good correspondence of stiffness and yield points between simulations and experiments was found for a wide range of bone volume fraction and degree of anisotropy in both tension and compression using a non‐calibrated, average set of material parameters. These results demonstrate the ability of the model to capture the effects leading to failure of bone for three anatomical sites and several donors, which may be used to determine the apparent behavior of trabecular bone and its evolution with age, disease, and treatment in the future. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Partial fingerprint indexing: a combination of local and reconstructed global features
Authors: Zhou Wei , Hu Jiankun , Wang Song , Petersen Ian , Bennamoun Mohammed
Published: July 2015

Existing work on partial fingerprint indexing attempts to make full use of the extracted features from the partial segments, such as singular points, minutiae, orientation field, and ridge count. However, singular points may not exist in partial fingerprints, and none of these features can form a complete set of feature vectors that can be used for matching with those derived from the corresponding full fingerprints for indexing. Our former work on fingerprint orientation model based on two‐dimensional Fourier expansion (FOMFE) coefficients‐based fingerprint indexing and global orientation field reconstruction has demonstrated the possibility of reconstructing a global feature vector for partial fingerprint indexing. In this paper, we design some novel features of minutiae triplets in addition to some commonly used features to constitute the local minutiae triplet features. Experiments carried out on fingerprint verification competition (FVC) 2000 DB2a, FVC 2002 DB1a, and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SD 14 demonstrate the performance improvement after adding the new features to minutiae triplet feature set. We then propose to combine the reconstructed global feature and local minutiae triplet features to improve the performance of partial fingerprint indexing. Specifically, the minutiae triplet‐based indexing scheme and the FOMFE coefficients‐based indexing scheme are applied separately to generate two candidate lists; then, a fuzzy‐based fusion scheme is designed to generate the final candidate list for matching. Experiments carried out on the public database NIST SD 14 show that the proposed approach can improve the performance that has been achieved by individual partial fingerprint indexing algorithms before fusion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activation Effect of Fullerene C60 on the Carbon Dioxide Absorption Performance of Amine‐Rich Polypropylenimine Dendrimers
Authors: Andreoli Enrico , Barron Andrew R.
Published: July 2015

Converting amine‐rich compounds into highly effective carbon dioxide (CO2) sorbents requires a better understanding and control of their properties. The reaction of fullerene C60 with polyethyleneimine converts the polymer into a high‐performance CO2 sorbent. In this study, experimental evidence is reported for the activation effect of C60 on the amine moieties of the polymer. To do so, polypropylenimine (PPI) dendrimers that allowed for a systematic comparison of molecular composition and CO2 absorption were used. The addition of C60 to PPI to form PPI–C60 results in a reduction of the energy barrier of CO2 absorption, but also in a parallel decrease in the frequency of successful collisions between CO2 and PPI–C60 due to a possible disruption of the hydrogen‐bonding network of amino groups and bound water in PPI. This finding supports the existence of a non‐affinity “repulsive” effect between hydrophobic C60 and hydrophilic amines that forces them to be actively exposed to CO2.
Gold‐Catalyzed Reductive Transformation of Nitro Compounds Using Formic Acid: Mild, Efficient, and Versatile
Authors: Yu Lei , Zhang Qi , Li Shu‐Shuang , Huang Jun , Liu Yong‐Mei , He He‐Yong , Cao Yong
Published: July 2015

Developing new efficient catalytic systems to convert abundant and renewable feedstocks into valuable products in a compact, flexible, and target‐specific manner is of high importance in modern synthetic chemistry. Here, we describe a versatile set of mild catalytic conditions utilizing a single gold‐based solid catalyst that enables the direct and additive‐free preparation of four distinct and important amine derivatives (amines, formamides, benzimidazoles, and dimethlyated amines) from readily available formic acid (FA) and nitro starting materials with high level of chemoselectivity. By controlling the stoichiometry of the employed FA, which has attracted considerable interest in the area of sustainable chemistry because of its potential as an entirely renewable hydrogen carrier and as a versatile C1 source, a facile atom‐ and step‐efficient transformation of nitro compounds can be realized in a modular fashion.
BER‐modified regenerative protocols for OFDM‐based two‐way wireless relay channel
Authors: Wang Ning , Miao Tingting , Yang Hongwen
Published: July 2015

It is well known that symbol‐level regenerative relay protocols suffer the error propagation problem because receiver decodes blindly and overlooks the probability of relay forwarding wrong bits. In a two‐way relay networks, the problem still exists in both network coding (decode‐and‐forward) and physical network coding (denoise‐and‐forward) protocols. For today's widely adopted wide band Orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, error propagation will dramatically restrict the system's end‐to‐end performance especially when frequency selective fading exists. In this paper, we propose a bit error rate (BER) modified decoding algorithm for these OFDM‐based two‐way symbol‐level regenerative relay strategies. By confining the confidence level of demodulated soft information according to the likelihood of relay having made an error on each bit, this proposed algorithm significantly boosts the end‐to‐end BER performance of the system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Novel Strategy for Determination of Paracetamol in the Presence of Morphine Using a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with CdO Nanoparticles and Ionic Liquids
Authors: Cheraghi Somaye , Taher Mohammad Ali , Karimi‐Maleh Hassan
Published: July 2015

A voltammetric sensor for determination of paracetamol in the presence of morphine is described for the first time. The synthesized CdO nanoparticles were characterized with different methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The paracetamol and morphine peaks are separated ca. 0.37 and 0.65 V, respectively; hence paracetamol can be analysed in the presence of morphine and more than 21 times of the current excess of paracetamol. The detection limits for paracetamol and morphine were 0.07 and 0.1 μM, respectively. The sensor has been successfully applied for the assay of the above compounds in real samples.
Determination of the Anticancer Drug Sorafenib in Serum by Adsorptive Stripping Differential Pulse Voltammetry Using a Chitosan/Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Karadas‐Bakirhan Nurgul , Patris Stéphanie , Ozkan Sibel A. , Can Alp , Kauffmann Jean‐Michel
Published: July 2015

Adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry (AdSDPV) was applied to the assay of sorafenib in human serum sample. Cyclic voltammetry at a carbon based screen printed electrode (SPE) permitted to detect the irreversible oxidation of SOR with formation of a new compound reversibly oxidized at a lower potential. Quantitative assays were realized using a chitosan/carboxylic acid functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode in 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7.0 in the presence of 50 % methanol. The AdSDPV method provided two linear responses within the concentration ranges 1×10−8–8×10−8 M and 1×10−7–8×10−7 M in serum with LOQ and LOD of 3.2×10−9 and 9.6×10−10 of lower linear range, respectively. The recovery of sorafenib in spiked serum was 97.5 %.
Asymmetric Anion‐selective Membrane Electrode for Determining Nitric Oxide Release Rates from Ppolymeric Films/Electrochemical Devices
Authors: Zajda Joanna , Crist Natalie R. , Malinowska Elżbieta , Meyerhoff Mark E.
Published: July 2015

A novel potentiometric method for the determination of nitric oxide (NO) is presented. The assessment of NO levels is based on the rapid reaction of NO with oxyhemoglobin, during which nitrate is formed and then detected potentiometrically using a polymeric membrane anion‐selective electrode. The composition of the anion‐selective membrane is optimized to eliminate the response to high levels of oxyhemoglobin reagent used to react with NO to form NO3−. The practical utility of the method is demonstrated by determining the NO release rates from NO donor‐doped polymeric films, as well as from a new electrochemical NO generation system within the range of 10 to 55×10−10 mol ⋅ min−1. The values measured with the new assay system are shown to correlate well with a chemiluminescence reference method after accounting for the trapping efficiency of NO by the oxyhemoglobin solution.
Maternally transferred dioxin-like compounds can affect the reproductive success of European eel
Authors: Foekema Edwin M. , Kotterman Michiel , de Vries Pepijn , Murk Albertinka J.
Published: July 2015

Reported concentrations of dioxin-like compounds accumulated in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) were used to perform a risk assessment for eel larval survival, taking into account a modeled amplification of tissue concentrations with a factor of 1.33 during spawning migration. The calculated concentrations of dioxin-like compounds finally deposited in the eggs were compared with the internal effect concentrations for survival of early life stages of the European eel; these concentrations, by lack of experimental data, were estimated from a sensitivity distribution based on literature data by assuming that eel larvae are among the 10% most sensitive teleost fish species. Given concentrations of dioxin-like contaminants and assuming a relatively high sensitivity, it can be expected that larvae from eggs produced by eel from highly contaminated locations in Europe will experience increased mortality as a result of maternally transferred dioxin-like contaminants. As historical persistent organic pollutant concentrations in eel tissue were higher, this impact must have been stronger in the past. Potential effects of other compounds or effects on the migration, condition, and fertility of the parental animals were not taken into account. It is important to further study the overall impact of contaminants on the reproductive success of the European eel as this may have been underestimated until now. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:241–246. © 2015 SETAC
Accelerated Nursing Degree Programs: Insights Into Teaching and Learning Experiences
Authors: Millett Catherine M. , Stickler Leslie M. , Wang Haijiang
Published: July 2015

The Study of Teaching and Learning in Accelerated Nursing Degree Programs explores how nurse educators are adapting their teaching practices for accelerated, second‐degree nursing program students. To provide findings on topics including instructional practices and the roles and attitudes of faculty, a web survey was administered to almost 100 staff members from schools of nursing that received grant and scholarship funds through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's New Careers in Nursing program for accelerated nursing students. The study revealed that nursing school faculty have positive perceptions of working with accelerated nursing students and that instructional approaches do not differ much between traditional and nursing students. At the same time, the factors described as most predictive of accelerated nursing student success were noncognitive attributes such as motivation and commitment to the nursing profession; prior degrees in the science or health fields were not necessarily seen as predictive of the success of second‐degree students working toward an accelerated bachelor's or master's degree in nursing.
Assessment of self‐restraint using a functional analysis of self‐injury
Authors: Scheithauer Mindy , O'Connor Julia , Toby Lauryn M.
Published: July 2015

When self‐restraint and self‐injurious behavior (SIB) co‐occur, self‐restraint might be maintained by negative reinforcement through the removal of SIB. The current study evaluated this possibility with an individual who exhibited hand‐to‐head SIB. Three functional analyses of SIB were conducted: (a) no consequences for self‐restraint, (b) self‐restraint blocked, and (c) hypothesized aversive effects of SIB blocked. The outcomes of the 3 analyses suggested that self‐restraint was maintained by negative reinforcement.
Conditions for obtaining polyvinyl alcohol/trisodium trimetaphosphate hydrogels as vitreous humor substitute
Authors: Morandim‐Giannetti Andreia de Araujo , Silva Rosianne Cristina , Magalhães Octaviano , Schor Paulo , Bersanetti Patrícia Alessandra
Published: July 2015

Hydrogels are polymeric materials with numerous medical and biological applications because of their physicochemical properties. In this context, the conditions were defined for obtaining a hydrogel with characteristics similar to the vitreous humor using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP). The concentration of PVA (X1), PVA/STMP ratio (X2), and initial pH (X3) were modified, and their effect was analyzed in terms of the refractive index (Y1), density (Y2), dynamic viscosity (Y3), and final pH (Y4). The results demonstrated that X1 interferes with Y1, Y2, and Y3, and X2 interferes with Y2 and Y3. The best condition for obtaining a hydrogel with characteristics similar to the vitreous humor was 4.2586% PVA (wt/wt), STMP/PVA ratio of 1:6.8213 (wt/wt), and initial pH of 9.424. DSC, ATR‐FTIR, swelling degree, and AFM analysis confirmed the PVA reticulation with STMP. Furthermore, STMP increased the glass transition temperature and decreased the water uptake of ∼50% of the hydrogels, which can be explained by the crosslinking of PVA chains. Infrared spectroscopy revealed a decrease of hydroxyl bonds and confirmed the reticulation between PVA and STMP. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 1386–1395, 2016.
Semimechanistic model describing gastric emptying and glucose absorption in healthy subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Alskär Oskar , Bagger Jonatan I. , Røge Rikke M. , Knop Filip K. , Karlsson Mats O. , Vilsbøll Tina , Kjellsson Maria C.
Published: July 2015

The integrated glucose‐insulin (IGI) model is a previously published semimechanistic model that describes plasma glucose and insulin concentrations after glucose challenges. The aim of this work was to use knowledge of physiology to improve the IGI model's description of glucose absorption and gastric emptying after tests with varying glucose doses. The developed model's performance was compared to empirical models. To develop our model, data from oral and intravenous glucose challenges in patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy control subjects were used together with present knowledge of small intestinal transit time, glucose inhibition of gastric emptying, and saturable absorption of glucose over the epithelium to improve the description of gastric emptying and glucose absorption in the IGI model. Duodenal glucose was found to inhibit gastric emptying. The performance of the saturable glucose absorption was superior to linear absorption regardless of the gastric emptying model applied. The semiphysiological model developed performed better than previously published empirical models and allows better understanding of the mechanisms underlying glucose absorption. In conclusion, our new model provides a better description and improves the understanding of dynamic glucose tests involving oral glucose.
Regulated expression of murine CD40L by a lentiviral vector transcriptionally targeted through its endogenous promoter
Authors: Fernández‐Rubio Pablo , Torres‐Rusillo Sara , Molina Ignacio J.
Published: July 2015

Background

Targeted lentiviral vectors may contribute to circumventing genotoxicity associated with uncontrolled transcription of therapeutic genes. Some vectors replacing strong viral sequences for gene promoters such as β‐globin, CD4, CD19 or Igκ were able to drive tissue‐specific expression of the transgene. Gene therapy, however, faces even greater hurdles when the therapeutic transgene is subject to strict regulatory mechanisms. This is the case of the CD40LG gene, which encodes for the CD154 (also known as CD40L) molecule, transiently expressed upon activation on CD4+ T cells. Mutations in this gene cause the X‐linked hyper IgM syndrome (HIGM1) in humans because the interaction of CD40L with its ligand CD40 triggers signals that are critical for the immunobiology of B lymphocytes.

Methods

We developed a lentiviral vector containing the murine Cd40lg cDNA under the control of its endogenous promoter.

Results

The CD4+ BW5147 T cells transduced with the pCd40lg‐Cd40lg lentiviral vector express CD40L only upon stimulation. The intensity of the expression correlates with the number of vector integrations per cell and detected molecules rapidly decay after removing the stimulating agent. The tissue‐specific, activation‐dependent and reversible expression of CD40L fully mimics the physiological induction and disappearance of the molecule from the surface of murine T lymphocytes. The functional activity of the regulated lentiviral vector is demonstrated by the ability of transduced BW5147 cells to promote the proliferation of purified B cell splenocytes.

Conclusions

We have developed a fine‐regulated lentiviral vector that can be a model for expressing molecules subject to stringent regulatory mechanisms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Note on Perfect Forests
Authors: Gutin* Gregory
Published: July 2015

A spanning subgraph F of a graph G is called perfect if F is a forest, the degree of each vertex x in F is odd, and each tree of F is an induced subgraph of G. We provide a short linear‐algebraic proof of the following theorem of A. D. Scott (Graphs Combin 17 (2001), 539–553): A connected graph G contains a perfect forest if and only if G has an even number of vertices.
The Effect of Oxidizing Agents in the Preparation of 2,3,5‐triaryl‐2H‐tetrazolium Salts from 1,3,5‐triarylformazans
Authors: Penev Kalin I. , Mequanint Kibret
Published: July 2015

Tetrazolium salts are a group of versatile molecules with a relatively limited application due to synthesis difficulty and high cost of production. Here, we have comparatively examined several approaches for the preparation of 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐3,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium chloride (NTC), as a model tetrazolium salt, through the oxidation of 1‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐3,5‐diphenylformazan (NF), by means of interphase oxidation, dehydrogenation, and direct chlorination. Our findings indicate that chlorination of NF with 1‐chlorobenztriazole to be the best choice to prepare NTC from small‐scale and scaled‐up considerations.
Short‐term white matter alterations in Alzheimer's disease characterized by diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Genc Sila , Steward Christopher E , Malpas Charles B , Velakoulis Dennis , O'Brien Terence J , Desmond Patricia M
Published: July 2015

Purpose

To investigate whether there are any white matter changes in a 6‐month follow‐up of mild‐moderate Alzheimer's patients using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Materials and Methods

We recruited 18 mild‐moderate Alzheimer's disease patients and they underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at recruitment and at 6‐month follow‐up. Diffusion MRI images were processed using DTI‐ToolKit to create a population‐based tensor template. This template was integrated with a voxel‐wise and atlas‐based analysis in FSL to determine the magnitude and location of change in diffusion metrics over the 6‐month follow‐up period.

Results

There were significant widespread changes in diffusion metrics across the entire white matter skeleton (P < 0.001), 95% confidence interval (CI) difference in fractional anisotropy: −0.007 (−0.011, −0.002), mean diffusivity: 0.040 (0.023, 0.058), axial diffusivity: 0.015 (0.008, 0.022), radial diffusivity: 0.012 (0.006, 0.019), as well as regions of interest in the splenium and superior longitudinal fasciculus.

Conclusion

Our findings show that diffusion metrics are altered in a 6‐month follow‐up period of mild‐moderate Alzheimer's patients, supporting the potential of DTI metrics to act as sensitive biomarkers for disease progression even over a relatively short time interval, and the potential utility to be applied to clinical trials of putative disease‐modifying therapies. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2016;43:627–634.
De novo hepatic steatosis drives atherogenic risk in liver transplantation recipients
Authors: Idowu Michael O. , Chhatrala Ravi , Siddiqui M. Bilal , Driscoll Carolyn , Stravitz R. Todd , Sanyal Arun J. , Bhati Chandra , Sargeant Carol , Luketic Velimir A. , Sterling Richard K. , Contos Melissa , Matherly Scott , Puri Puneet , Siddiqui M. Shadab
Published: July 2015

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. Despite a high prevalence of de novo hepatic steatosis after liver transplantation (LT), there are no data exploring the association between hepatic steatosis after LT and atherogenic risk. The aim of the study was to explore the impact of hepatic steatosis on serum atherogenic markers in liver transplantation recipients (LTRs). Biomarkers of CVD risk were compared in 89 LTRs with no known history of dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, or graft cirrhosis. To avoid potential confounders, LTRs on oral hypoglycemic agents, exogenous insulin, corticosteroids, or lipid‐lowering therapy were excluded. Only patients for whom histological assessment was available after LT were included in the study. Thirty‐five LTRs had de novo hepatic steatosis after LT, whereas 54 did not. Both cohorts were similar with regards to age, sex, ethnicity, and follow‐up from LT. Additionally, the traditional lipid profile was similar between the 2 cohorts. LTRs with hepatic steatosis had higher serum concentrations of small‐dense low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL‐C; 34.8 ± 16.9 versus 22.7 ± 11.2 mg/dL; P < 0.001), sdLDL‐C to low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (32.6 ± 11.6 versus 24.6 ± 10.2; P < 0.01), small‐dense low‐density lipoprotein particle concentration (sdLDL‐P; 770 ± 440 versus 486 ± 402 nmol/L; P < 0.01), very low density lipoprotein particle concentration (VLDL‐P; 7.90 ± 7.91 versus 3.86 ± 3.18 nmol/L; P < 0.01), and very low density lipoprotein size (VLDL‐size; 51.9 ± 6.4 versus 48.7 ± 6.3 nm; P = 0.06). LTRs with hepatic steatosis had higher serum insulin concentrations (27.8 ± 41.8 versus 11.7 ± 7.8 uU/mL; P < 0.01) but similar fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c. Steatosis grade was directly related to sdLDL‐C, sdLDL‐P, insulin, VLDL‐P, and VLDL‐size. In multivariate analysis, the association between steatosis grade and sdLDL‐C (β = 0.03; P = 0.029), VLDL‐size (β = 0.316; P = 0.04), and low‐density lipoprotein particle size (β = –0.27; P = 0.05) was independent of sex, body mass index, age, diabetes mellitus, time from transplant, and indication for LT. In conclusion, de novo hepatic steatosis after LT is associated with atherogenic lipoproteins and independent of traditional CVD risk factors. Liver Transpl 21:1395‐1402, 2015. © 2015 AASLD.
Ultrasonography detects early laryngeal muscle atrophy in an equine neurectomy model
Authors: Chalmers Heather J. , Caswell Jeff , Perkins Justin , Goodwin David , Viel Laurent , Ducharme Norm G. , Piercy Richard J.
Published: July 2015

Introduction: A unilateral neurectomy model was used to study the relationship between histologic and ultrasonographic tissue characteristics during muscle atrophy over time. Methods: This investigation was an in vivo experimental study in an equine model (n = 28). Mean pixel intensity of ultrasonographic images was measured, a muscle appearance grade was assigned weekly, and muscles were harvested from 4 to 32 weeks. Minimum fiber diameter, fiber density per unit area, percent collagen, percent fat, and fiber type profile were measured from muscle cryosections and correlated with the ultrasonographic parameters. Results: A significant relationship was identified between collagen content, minimum fiber diameter, and ultrasonographic muscle appearance by as early as 8 weeks. There was no apparent association between fat content of muscle and the ultrasonographic appearance of atrophy before 28 weeks. Conclusions: Early muscle atrophy before fatty infiltration is detectable with ultrasound. The effect of muscle collagen content on echointensity may be mediated by reduced fiber diameter. Muscle Nerve 53: 583–592, 2016