bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative effectiveness of gemcitabine plus cisplatin versus methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, plus cisplatin as neoadjuvant therapy for muscle‐invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Galsky Matthew D. , Pal Sumanta K. , Chowdhury Simon , Harshman Lauren C. , Crabb Simon J. , Wong Yu‐Ning , Yu Evan Y. , Powles Thomas , Moshier Erin L. , Ladoire Sylvain , Hussain Syed A. , Agarwal Neeraj , Vaishampayan Ulka N. , Recine Federica , Berthold Dominik , Necchi Andrea , Theodore Christine , Milowsky Matthew I. , Bellmunt Joaquim , Rosenberg Jonathan E. ,   for the Retrospective International Study of Cancers of the Urothelial Tract (RISC) Investigators
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND

Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) has been adopted as a neoadjuvant regimen for muscle‐invasive bladder cancer despite the lack of Level I evidence in this setting.

METHODS

Data were collected using an electronic data‐capture platform from 28 international centers. Eligible patients had clinical T‐classification 2 (cT2) through cT4aN0M0 urothelial cancer of the bladder and received neoadjuvant GC or methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, plus cisplatin (MVAC) before undergoing cystectomy. Logistic regression was used to compute propensity scores as the predicted probabilities of patients being assigned to MVAC versus GC given their baseline characteristics. These propensity scores were then included in a new logistic regression model to estimate an adjusted odds ratio comparing the odds of attaining a pathologic complete response (pCR) between patients who received MVAC and those who received GC.

RESULTS

In total, 212 patients (146 patients in the GC cohort and 66 patients in the MVAC cohort) met criteria for inclusion in the analysis. The majority of patients in the MVAC cohort (77%) received dose‐dense MVAC. The median age of patients was 63 years, they were predominantly men (74%), and they received a median of 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The pCR rate was 29% in the MVAC cohort and 31% in the GC cohort. There was no significant difference in the pCR rate when adjusted for propensity scores between the 2 regimens (odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.48‐1.72; P = .77). In an exploratory analysis evaluating survival, the hazard ratio comparing hazard rates for MVAC versus GC adjusted for propensity scores was not statistically significant (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.40‐1.54; P = .48).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who received neoadjuvant GC and MVAC achieved comparable pCR rates in the current analysis, providing evidence to support what has become routine practice. Cancer 2015;121:2586–2593. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Cerebellar premotor output neurons collateralize to innervate the cerebellar cortex
Authors: Houck Brenda D. , Person Abigail L.
Published: April 2015

Motor commands computed by the cerebellum are hypothesized to use corollary discharge, or copies of outgoing commands, to accelerate motor corrections. Identifying sources of corollary discharge, therefore, is critical for testing this hypothesis. Here we verified that the pathway from the cerebellar nuclei to the cerebellar cortex in mice includes collaterals of cerebellar premotor output neurons, mapped this collateral pathway, and identified its postsynaptic targets. Following bidirectional tracer injections into a distal target of the cerebellar nuclei, the ventrolateral thalamus, we observed retrogradely labeled somata in the cerebellar nuclei and mossy fiber terminals in the cerebellar granule layer, consistent with collateral branching. Corroborating these observations, bidirectional tracer injections into the cerebellar cortex retrogradely labeled somata in the cerebellar nuclei and boutons in the ventrolateral thalamus. To test whether nuclear output neurons projecting to the red nucleus also collateralize to the cerebellar cortex, we used a Cre‐dependent viral approach, avoiding potential confounds of direct red nucleus‐to‐cerebellum projections. Injections of a Cre‐dependent GFP‐expressing virus into Ntsr1‐Cre mice, which express Cre selectively in the cerebellar nuclei, retrogradely labeled somata in the interposed nucleus, and putative collateral branches terminating as mossy fibers in the cerebellar cortex. Postsynaptic targets of all labeled mossy fiber terminals were identified using immunohistochemical Golgi cell markers and electron microscopic profiles of granule cells, indicating that the collaterals of nuclear output neurons contact both Golgi and granule cells. These results clarify the organization of a subset of nucleocortical projections that constitute an experimentally accessible corollary discharge pathway within the cerebellum. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:2254–2271, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Theoretical Characterisation of Phosphinyl Radicals and Their Magnetic Properties: g Matrix
Authors: Witwicki Maciej
Published: April 2015

The g matrices (g tensors) of various phosphinyl radicals (R2P.) were calculated using the DFT and multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) methods. The g matrices were distinctly dependent on the molecular structure of the radical. To thoroughly examine this dependence, the contributions from individual atoms and excited states were calculated. The former revealed the gain from the phosphorus atom to be preeminent unless PO or PS bonds are present in the radical molecule. The contributions owing to excited states arising from electronic transitions between doubly occupied molecular orbitals and the SOMO were clearly positive, as in the case of semiquinone and niroxide radicals. The transitions from the phosphorus lone pair were of paramount importance. Surprisingly, unlike for semiquinones and nitroxides, a significant negative contribution was observed from excitations from the SOMO to unoccupied molecular orbitals. For radicals with PO bonds, this contribution to the g2 component was dominant.
Metabolomic Signatures for Drug Response Phenotypes: Pharmacometabolomics Enables Precision Medicine
Authors: Kaddurah‐Daouk R , Weinshilboum R ,   on behalf of the Pharmacometabolomics Research Network
Published: April 2015

The scaling up of data in clinical pharmacology and the merger of systems biology and pharmacology has led to the emergence of a new discipline of Quantitative and Systems Pharmacology (QSP). This new research direction might significantly advance the discovery, development, and clinical use of therapeutic drugs. Research communities from computational biology, systems biology, and biological engineering—working collaboratively with pharmacologists, geneticists, biochemists, and analytical chemists—are creating and modeling large data on drug effects that is transforming our understanding of how these drugs work at a network level. In this review, we highlight developments in a new and rapidly growing field—pharmacometabolomics—in which large biochemical data‐capturing effects of genome, gut microbiome, and environment exposures is revealing information about metabotypes and treatment outcomes, and creating metabolic signatures as new potential biomarkers. Pharmacometabolomics informs and complements pharmacogenomics and together they provide building blocks for QSP.
Comparison of urine analysis and dried blood spot analysis for the detection of ephedrine and methylephedrine in doping control
Authors: Kojima Asami , Nishitani Yasunori , Sato Mitsuhiko , Kageyama Shinji , Dohi Michiko , Okano Masato
Published: April 2015

When the misuse of stimulants is determined in doping control tests conducted during the in‐competition period, athletes are asked to account for the violation of the rules. This study was designed to evaluate whether the urinary threshold values (10 µg/mL) for ephedrine and methylephedrine set by the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) can be exceeded after the oral administration of each substance (25 mg). In addition, the study describes the validity of a liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometric method using dried blood spot testing to detect ephedrine and methylephedrine by comparing it to a quantitative laboratory urine assay. After administration of ephedrine, the urinary concentration of ephedrine did not exceed the threshold at 4–10 h in two subjects, whereas the threshold was exceeded in both the subjects at 12 h after administration. For methylephedrine, the urinary concentrations of all the subjects failed to reach the threshold for up to 10 h after administration. The concentrations reached the threshold at 12–24 h after administration in some volunteers. In contrast, the blood concentrations of ephedrine and methylephedrine reached their maximum levels at 2–8 h after administration. The blood concentrations showed a low inter‐individual variability, and the results suggested that the urinary excretion of ephedrine and methylephedrine can be strongly affected by urine pH and/or urine volume. These facts suggest that urinary concentrations cannot reflect the psychoactive level of ephedrines in circulation. Thus, dried blood analysis might be suitable for the adequate detection of stimulants during in‐competition testing. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
When is it worth being a self‐compatible hermaphrodite? Context‐dependent effects of self‐pollination on female advantage in gynodioeciousSilene nutans
Authors: Lahiani Emna , Touzet Pascal , Billard Emmanuelle , Dufay Mathilde
Published: April 2015

In gynodioecious plant species with nuclear‐cytoplasmic sex determination, females and hermaphrodites plants can coexist whenever female have higher seed fitness than hermaphrodites. Although the effect of self fertilization on seed fitness in hermaphrodites has been considered theoretically, this effect is far from intuitive, because it can either increase the relative seed fitness of the females (if it leads hermaphrodites to produce inbred, low quality offspring) or decrease it (if it provides reproductive assurance to hermaphrodites). Hence, empirical investigation is needed to document whether relative seed fitness varies with whether pollen is or is not limiting to seed production. In the current study, we measured fruit set and seed production in both females and hermaphrodites and the selfing rate in hermaphrodites in two experimental patches that differed in sex ratios in the gynodioecious plantSilene nutans. We found an impact of plant gender, patch, and their interaction, with females suffering from stronger pollen limitation when locally frequent. In the most pollen‐limited situation, the selfing rate of hermaphrodites increased and provided hermaphrodites with a type of reproductive assurance that is not available to females. By integrating both the beneficial (reproductive assurance) and costly effects (through inbreeding depression) of self‐pollination, we showed that whether females did or did not exhibit higher seed fitness depended on the degree of pollen limitation on seed production.
Concentration of C20‐22n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from Sardinella longiceps and fatty acid stabilization
Authors: Chakraborty Kajal , Joseph Deepu , Joseph Dexy
Published: April 2015

Long chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from the refined oil from Sardinella longiceps were concentrated by low‐temperature crystallization and urea complexation. Low‐temperature crystallization (4°C) using acetone:ethylacetate (7:3, v/v) and urea complexation with urea‐to‐fatty acid ratio of 4:1 (w/w) afforded fatty acid concentrate (FAC) with greater than 60% C20–22 n‐3 fatty acids, and significant increase in NMR olefinic proton integral (at δ 5.2–5.6). Ethylacetate fractions of seaweeds, Kappaphycus alvarezii, Hypnea musciformis, and Jania rubens, which possessed greater antioxidant activities, were added to FAC individually, and in nine factorial combinations (0.5%, w/w). The oxidative stabilities of these treatments were compared with FAC added with BHT and α‐tocopherol in an accelerated storage study. A synergistic effect of ethylacetate fractions from K. alvarezii, H. musciformis, and J. rubens used at 0.1:0.2:0.2 (%, w/w) in preventing the oxidative degradation of FAC was observed. No traces of aromatics (δ 6–7) and aldehydes (δ 9–10) were present in the 1H‐NMR spectra of FAC added with seaweed extracts after the accelerated storage study, demonstrating that the seaweed extracts were able to prevent the formation of low molecular weight secondary oxidation products in the unsaturated system during storage.

Practical applications: The present study demonstrated the process of concentrating the refined oil of S. longiceps using a step‐wise process of low‐temperature crystallization and urea complexation, which is significant to obtain greater than 60% C20–22 n‐3 fatty acids. The fatty acid concentrate has greater susceptibility towards oxidative rancidity resulting in the formation of toxic end products, and therefore, the prevention of oxidative deterioration of n‐3 fatty acid concentrates is a major challenge for the fish oil industry. Effectiveness of seaweed derived antioxidatives as natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants to prevent the formation of oxidation products in the concentrated fatty acids from fish oil has been established. The utility of nuclear magnetic resonance analyses as an effective tool for analyzing the chemistry and stability of concentrated n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been demonstrated. This study is significant to produce stabilized fatty acid concentrate from marine fish oil for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Refined oil from Sardinella longiceps was concentrated by urea complexation to yield fatty acid concentrate (FAC) with greater than 60% C20–22 n‐3 fatty acids, and a significant increase in 1H‐NMR olefinic proton integral (δ 5.2–5.6). No traces of aromatics (δ 6–7) and aldehydes (δ 9–10) were present in 1H‐NMR of FAC added with seaweed extracts after accelerated storage, demonstrating that seaweed extracts could prevent the formation of low molecular weight secondary oxidation products in the unsaturated system during storage.
Whey as a renewable source for lipid production by Rhodococcus strains: Physiology and genomics of lactose and galactose utilization
Authors: Herrero O. Marisa , Alvarez Héctor M.
Published: April 2015

We investigated biomass and lipid production from whey by different Rhodococcus strains. The studied microorganisms exhibited different capability for growing and producing lipids from whey permeate. Strains belonging to R. opacus exhibited high yields of biomass (6.1–6.3 g/L) and lipid content (45–48% of CDW), whereas R. jostii, R. erythropolis, R. fascians, and R. equi strains produced low biomass (1.8–2.9 g/L) and lipids (lesser than 5% of CDW) from whey. Lactose and galactose, which are main constituents of whey, supported growth of R. opacus strains, but not of the other investigated species. A genome‐wide bioinformatic analyses demonstrated that some genes coding for transport systems (LacEFGK) and the β‐galactosidase (LacB) enzyme for lactose cleavage are lacking in such species, which may explain their inability to utilize lactose, galactose, and whey for an efficient biomass and lipid production. R. opacus possesses a complete genetic endowment for degrading lactose, galactose, and whey as well as for lipid biosynthesis from such substrates. Thus, R. opacus is a robust candidate for single‐cell oil production from whey. The cultivation of R. opacus cells on crude whey resulted in an increase of lipid production from 3.0 to 6.4 g/L, in comparison to whey permeate.

Practical application: This study demonstrates that the bioconversion of whey to oils by Rhodococcus strains is feasible. However, we found some genetic and physiological differences for whey, lactose and galactose catabolism and assimilation among rhodococcal species. Our results demonstrate that among five different rhodococcal species, Rhodococcus opacus has the more robust genetic endowment for supporting high yields of biomass and lipid production from whey. The use of whey for single cell oil production by rhodococci may serve as platform for developing environmentally friendly biotechnological processes.

The use of whey for single cell oil production by rhodococci may serve as platform for developing environmentally friendly biotechnological processes.
A Genosensor for Point Mutation Detection of P53 Gene PCR Product Using Magnetic Particles
Authors: Hamidi‐Asl Ezat , Raoof Jahan Bakhsh , Hejazi Mohammad Saeid , Sharifi Simin , Golabi Seyed Mahdi , Palchetti Ilaria , Mascini Marco
Published: April 2015

The development of an electrochemical genosensor involving DNA biotinylated capture probe immobilized on streptavidin coated paramagnetic beads and microfluidic based platform for the detection of P53 gene PCR product is reported. The novelty of this work is the combination of a sensitive electrochemical platform and a proper microfluidic system with a simple and effective enzyme signal amplification technology, ELISA, for detection of target DNA sequence and single nucleotide mutation in p53 tumor suppressor gene sequence. The biosensor has been applied to detect the PCR amplified samples and the results shows that it can discriminate successfully perfect matched DNA from mutant form.
Bendable All‐Solid‐State Asymmetric Supercapacitors based on MnO2 and Fe2O3 Thin Films
Authors: Chodankar Nilesh R. , Dubal Deepak P. , Gund Girish S. , Lokhande Chandrakant D.
Published: April 2015

The growing interest in portable and consumable electronics demands efficient and low‐cost energy storage devices with excellent flexibility and of light weight. We demonstrate flexible high‐performance all‐solid‐state thin‐film asymmetric supercapacitors (ASSTF‐ASCs) using α‐MnO2 and α‐Fe2O3 thin films as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The as‐fabricated ASSTF‐ASC devices have excellent electrochemical performance with extended potential window of 2.0 V and excellent cycling stability for 2500 cycles. Impressively, an MnO2//Fe2O3 asymmetric cell demonstrates high specific capacitance of 145 F g−1 with a high energy density of 41 Wh kg−1 while maintaining a power density of 2.1 kW kg−1. A parallel combination of two MnO2//Fe2O3 asymmetric cells is able to illuminate a panel of 31 light emitting diodes (LEDs). These findings may offer new opportunities for the use of asymmetric configurations in energy storage devices for various portable electronic systems.
Highstands in the interior of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau since the last interglacial: evidence from grain‐size analysis of lacustrine core sediments in Zabuye Salt Lake
Authors: Wang Hailei , Mianping Zheng , Heran Yuan
Published: April 2015

Highstands in the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 based on 14C dating in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) are widely documented. Recent records from shoreline sediments dated using U‐series and/or optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), however, reveal that the highstands originally dated in MIS 3 should now be considered to fall in MIS 5. This paper provides new evidence from the interior of the QTP, based on the grain‐size from a continuous lake core in the Zabuye Salt Lake, to verify the MIS 5 highstand in the QTP. Grain‐size analysis of the core sediments also distinguishes two other highstands in MIS 3 and MIS 2, respectively. The MIS 5 highstand is considered as the maximum lake level since the Last Interglacial, as cored sediments contain very low values of Median Diameter (Md) during MIS 5. Compared with the discontinuous records from lake shorelines sediments, the grain‐size records from the continuous lake centre core sediments provide a more complete dataset to infer lake level variations, and make it possible to make wider palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental interpretation. In the interior of the QTP, highstands might have continued into cold climate periods due to the reduced evaporation rates in the latter. The influence of the moisture‐bearing southerly‐shifted Westerly wind pathway may also have contributed to the highstands in the glacial period. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expedient Route to Chalcogenophosphinates with Glucose Moieties via Todd–Atherton‐Like Coupling between Secondary Phosphine Chalcogenides and Diacetone‐d‐Glucose in the CCl4/Et3N System
Authors: Volkov Pavel А. , Ivanova Nina I. , Gusarova Nina K. , Sukhov Boris G. , Khrapova Kseniya O. , Zelenkov Lev E. , Smirnov Vladimir I. , Borodina Tatyana N. , Vakul'skaya Tamara I. , Khutsishvili Spartak S. , Trofimov Boris A.
Published: April 2015

Secondary phosphine chalcogenides react with diacetone‐d‐glucose (DAG) in the system CCl4/Et3N (70°C, 4–24 h) to afford DAG chalcogenophosphinates in up to 79% yield, thus paving a short way to optically active chalcogenophosphinates with glucose moieties. As an example, a mild regioselective hydrolysis (70°C, aqueous MeCOOH) of DAG bis(2‐phenylethyl)selenophosphinate) obtained leads to monoacetone‐d‐glucose bis(2‐phenylethyl)selenophosphinate.
Identification of Azole Resistance Markers in Clinical Isolates of Candida tropicalis Using cDNA‐AFLP Method
Authors: Kanani Ali , Zaini Farideh , Kordbacheh Parivash , Falahati Mehraban , Rezaie Sassan , Daie Roshanak , Farahyar Shirin , Safara Mahin , Fateh Roohollah , Faghihloo Ebrahim , Fattahi Azam , Heidari Mansour
Published: April 2015

Background

Global reports have highlighted the increasing prevalence of Candida tropicalis infections as well as organism’s drug resistance. This study aimed at identifying azole resistance markers in clinical isolates of C. tropicalis, which will be a great resource for developing new drugs.

Methods

Two susceptible and resistant isolates of C. tropicalis were recovered from an epidemiological investigation of candidiasis in immunocompromised patients. C. tropicalis ATCC 750 was used as reference strain. Antifungal susceptibility to fluconazole and itraconazole was determined using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) method. Complementary DNA‐amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA‐AFLP) technology and real‐time reverse‐transcriptase (RT) PCR were used for identification of potential genes involved in azole resistance of C. tropicalis clinical isolates.

Results

Five genes encoding the following enzymes were identified as superoxide dismutase (SOD) implicated in antioxidant defense, ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), acetyl ornithine aminotransferase (ACOAT), adenosylmethionine‐8‐amino‐7‐oxononanoate aminotransferase (DAPA AT), and 4‐aminobutyrate aminotransferase (ABAT)—belonging to pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes and acting in an important physiological role in many fungal‐cell cycles. Real‐time RT‐PCR confirmed mRNA level of the aforementioned genes.

Conclusion

Our findings showed that factors such as PLP‐dependent enzymes and SOD might be implicated in drug resistance in C. tropicalis clinical isolate. Therefore, further studies are required to explore the accurate biological functions of the mentioned genes that would be helpful for effective drug development.
Role of estrogen receptor‐α on food demand elasticity
Authors: Minervini Vanessa , Rowland Neil E. , Robertson Kimberly L. , Foster Thomas C.
Published: April 2015

Estrogens have been shown to have an inhibitory effect on food intake under free‐feeding conditions, yet the effects of estrogens on food‐maintained operant responding have been studied to a much lesser extent and, thus, are not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of the present experiment was to use a behavioral economics paradigm to assess differences in demand elasticity between mice with knockout of the estrogen receptor subtype α, knockout of subtype β, and their wild type controls. The mice responded in a closed economy, and the price of food was increased by increasing the fixed‐ratio response requirement every four sessions. Overall, we found that mice with the knockout of receptor subtype α had the most elastic demand functions. Therefore, under these conditions, estrogens increased food seeking via activation of the receptor subtype α. The results were inconsistent with those reported by previous studies that employed free‐feeding conditions.
High concentration of phosphorus is a distinctive feature of myelin. An X‐Ray elemental microanalysis study using freeze‐fracture scanning electron microscopy of rat sciatic nerve
Authors: Oliveira Maria João , Águas Artur P.
Published: April 2015

We have used rat sciatic nerves submitted to freezing and freeze‐fracture to determine the elemental composition of small domains of the peripheral nerve studied at high resolution by scanning electron microscopy. We found that myelin of Schwann cells is unique in its high content in phosphorus (P) that was more than 10 times higher than P measured in any other cells. This high concentration in P makes myelin chemistry suitable of monitoring at the subcellular level using the herein described methodology. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:537–539, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparing different methods to fix and to dehydrate cells on alginate hydrogel scaffolds using scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Santana Bianca Palma , Nedel Fernanda , Perelló Ferrúa Camila , e Silva Ricardo Marques , da Silva Adriana Fernandes , Demarco Flávio Fernando , Lenin Villarreal Carreño Neftali
Published: April 2015

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is commonly used in the analysis of scaffolds morphology, as well as cell attachment, morphology and spreading on to the scaffolds. However, so far a specific methodology to prepare the alginate hydrogel (AH) scaffolds for SEM analysis has not been evaluated. This study compared different methods to fix/dehydrate cells in AH scaffolds for SEM analysis. AH scaffolds were prepared and seeded with NIH/3T3 cell line; fixed with glutaraldehyde, osmium tetroxide, or the freeze drying method and analyzed by SEM. Results demonstrated that the freeze dried method interferes less with cell morphology and density, and preserves the scaffolds structure. The fixation with glutaraldehyde did not affect cells morphology and density; however, the scaffolds morphology was affected in some level. The fixation with osmium tetroxide interfered in the natural structure of cells and scaffold. In conclusion the freeze drying and glutaraldehyde are suitable methods for cell fixation in AH scaffold for SEM, although scaffolds structure seems to be affected by glutaraldehyde. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:553–561, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cycles Avoiding a Color in Colorful Graphs
Authors: Meierling Dirk , Müttel Janina , Rautenbach* Dieter
Published: April 2015

The Ramsey numbers of cycles imply that every 2‐edge‐colored complete graph on n vertices contains monochromatic cycles of all lengths between 4 and at least . We generalize this result to colors by showing that every k‐edge‐colored complete graph on vertices contains ‐edge‐colored cycles of all lengths between 3 and at least .
Chemistry of 2‐Aminoimidazoles
Authors: Žula Aleš , Kikelj Danijel , Ilaš Janez
Published: April 2015

The 2‐aminoimidazole (2‐AI) ring is used widely as a building block in the design of new biologically active compounds, because of its good physico‐chemical properties and potent activity in various test systems. Many marine alkaloids contain the 2‐AI moiety. As a consequence, many synthetic routes have been developed in the total synthesis of natural compounds. The review covers all synthetic procedures for construction of 2‐AI in particular and its analogs up to December 2014.
Phylogeny and evolutionary genetics ofFrankiastrains based on 16S rRNA andnifD–K gene sequences
Authors: Mishra Arun Kumar , Singh Pawan Kumar , Singh Prashant , Singh Anumeha , Singh Satya Shila , Srivastava Amrita , Srivastava Alok Kumar , Sarma Hridip Kumar
Published: April 2015

16S rRNA andnifD–nifK sequences were used to study the molecular phylogeny and evolutionary genetics ofFrankiastrains isolated fromHippöphae salicifoliaD. Don growing at different altitudes (ecologically classified as riverside and hillside isolates) of the Eastern Himalayan region of North Sikkim, India. Genetic information for the small subunit rRNA (16S rRNA) revealed that the riversideFrankiaisolates markedly differed from the hillside isolates suggesting that the riverside isolates are genetically compact. Further, for enhanced resolutions, the partial sequence ofnifD (3′ end),nifK (5′ end) andnifD–K IGS region have been investigated. The sequences obtained, failed to separate riverside isolates and hillside isolates, thus suggesting a possible role of genetic transfer events either from hillside to riverside or vice versa. The evolutionary genetic analyses using evogenomic extrapolations of gene sequence data obtained from 16S rRNA andnifD–K provided differing equations with the pace of evolution being more appropriately, intermediate. Values of recombination frequency (R), nucleotide diversity per site (Pi), and DNA divergence estimates supported the existence of an intermixed zone where spatial isolations occurred in sync with the temporal estimates. J. Basic Microbiol. 2015,54, 1–9
Seasonal prediction of regional surface air temperature and first‐flowering date over South Korea
Authors: Hur Jina , Ahn Joong‐Bae
Published: April 2015

The forecast capability of the first‐flowering date (FFD) over South Korea is evaluated using the seasonal (1‐ to 3‐month lead) prediction from the global [Pusan National University (PNU) coupled general circulation model (CGCM) v1.1] and regional [Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) v3.0] climate models. Gridded data with high spatial (3 km) and temporal (daily) resolution are produced using the physically based dynamical models. Dynamical downscaling is performed using WRF v3.0 with the lateral forcing from hourly outputs of PNU CGCM v1.1. Statistical correction is then used to eliminate systematic bias in the model output. The FFDs of cherry, peach and pear in South Korea are predicted for the decade of 1999–2008 by applying the corrected daily temperature predictions to the phenological thermal‐time model. The WRF v3.0 results reflect the detailed topographical effect, despite having cold and warm biases for warm and cold seasons, respectively. After applying the correction, the mean temperature for early spring (February to April) clearly represents the general pattern of observation, while preserving the advantages of dynamical downscaling. The FFD predictabilities for the three species of trees are evaluated in terms of qualitative, quantitative and categorical estimations. Although FFDs derived from the corrected WRF results well predicted the spatial distribution and the variation of observation, the prediction performance has no statistical significance or appropriate predictability. Even though the upcoming flowering phenology could not be accurately predicted, the present study approach may be helpful in obtaining detailed and useful information about FFD and regional temperature by accounting for physically based atmospheric dynamics.
Effect of sodium bicarbonate and varying concentrations of sodium chloride in brine on the liquid retention of fish (Pollachius virens L.) muscle
Authors: Åsli Magnus , Ofstad Ragni , Böcker Ulrike , Jessen Flemming , Einen Olai , Mørkøre Turid
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND

Negative health effects associated with excessive sodium (Na) intake have increased the demand for tasty low‐Na products (<2% NaCl) rather than traditional heavily salted fish products (∼20% NaCl). This study investigates the causes of improved yield and liquid retention of fish muscle brined with a combination of salt (NaCl) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3).

RESULTS

Water characteristics and microstructure of saithe (Pollachius virens L.) muscle brined in solutions of NaCl and NaHCO3 or NaCl alone were compared using low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) T2 relaxometry, microscopy, salt content, liquid retention and colorimetric measurements. Saithe muscle was brined for 92 h in 0, 30, 60, 120 or 240 g kg−1 NaCl or the respective solutions with added 7.5 g kg−1 NaHCO3. NaHCO3 inclusion improved the yield in solutions ranging from 0 to 120 g kg−1 NaCl, with the most pronounced effect being observed at 30 g kg−1 NaCl. The changes in yield were reflected in water mobility, with significantly shorter T2 relaxation times in all corresponding brine concentrations. Salt‐dependent microstructural changes were revealed by light microscopy, where NaHCO3 supplementation resulted in greater intracellular space at 30 and 60 g kg−1 NaCl.

CONCLUSION

Sodium bicarbonate addition to low‐salt solutions can improve yield and flesh quality of fish muscle owing to altered water mobility and wider space between the muscle cells. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
In colon cancer, normal colon tissue and blood cells have altered telomere lengths
Authors: Valls‐Bautista Cristina , Piñol‐Felis Carme , Reñé‐Espinet Josep M. , Buenestado‐García Juan , Viñas‐Salas Joan
Published: April 2015

Background

Telomere length (TL) shortened occurs in colorectal carcinogenetic process. Our objective is to determine if it is only a local fact or there are alterations in normal colon cells and in other body cells.

Methods

TL of tumoral and normal mucosa and leukocytes of 40 patients operated of colorectal cancer (CRC) and 40 control patients with normal colonoscopy were measured by Southern‐blot. Groups were matched by the same localization as tumors, sex, and age.

Results

In CRC patients, TRFL (Telomere Repeat Factor Length) leukocytes mean was 8.84 kpb, normal colonic mucosa 7.97 kpb, and tumoral mucosa 7.33 kpb (P < 0.001). In the 40 normal control patients, mean TRFL of colonic mucosa was 7.76 kpb, while in blood cells was 7.01 kpb (P < 0.001). We observed an inverse correlation between leukocytes TRFL and age (r2 = 0.17, P = 0.008). Mucosa TRFL correlates significantly with patient's age (r2 = 0.138, P = 0.018). TRFL of controls colonic mucosa correlates with TRFL of their blood cells (r2 = 0.354, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Normal colonic mucosa and leukocytes in CCR patients presents telomere altered in respect to normal patients. Telomere length in normal leukocytes could be an initial marker for colorectal cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:899–904. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Phase I trial of active specific immunotherapy with autologous dendritic cells pulsed with autologous irradiated tumor stem cells in hepatitis B‐positive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Xiaojin , Bayer Michael E. , Chen Xiaosong , Fredrickson Craig , Cornforth Andrew N. , Liang Greg , Cannon Jessica , He Jia , Fu Qingchun , Liu Jia , Nistor Gabriel I. , Cao Wei , Chen Chengwei , Dillman Robert O.
Published: April 2015

Background and Objectives

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often associated with chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis‐B or ‐C viruses. Active specific immunotherapy (ASI) with autologous dendritic cells (DC) presenting antigens from autologous tumor stem cell (TC) lines is associated with promising long‐term survival in metastatic cancer, but hepatitis patients were excluded. ASI might benefit high‐risk primary HCC patients following surgical resection, but first it is important to show that ASI does not exacerbate hepatitis.

Methods

Previously untreated HCC patients with a solitary lesion > 5 cm, or three lesions with at least one > 3 cm, or more than three lesions, underwent surgical resection from which autologous TC lines were established. Irradiated TC were incubated with autologous DC to create DC‐TC. After one course of trans‐arterial chemoembolization therapy (TACE), three weekly subcutaneous injections of DC‐TC suspended in granulocyte‐macrophage colony stimulating factor were administered. Patients were monitored for eight weeks.

Results

HCC cell lines were established within five weeks for 15/15 patients. Eight patients, all with chronic hepatitis B, were treated. There was no increase in hepatic transaminases, hepatitis B antigens, or viral DNA.

Conclusion

Autologous DC‐TC did not exacerbate HBV in these HCC patients. A phase II efficacy trial is being planned. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:862–867. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Variability in surgical quality in a phase III clinical trial of radical cystectomy in patients with organ‐confined, node‐negative urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
Authors: Mata Douglas A. , Groshen Susan , Von Rundstedt Friedrich‐Carl , Skinner Donald G. , Stadler Walter M. , Cote Richard J. , Stein John P. , Lerner Seth P.
Published: April 2015

Background and Objectives

Previous studies have shown that variability in surgical technique can affect the outcomes of cooperative group trials. We analyzed measures of surgical quality and clinical outcomes in patients enrolled in the p53‐MVAC trial.

Methods

We performed a post‐hoc analysis of patients with pT1‐T2N0M0 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder following radical cystectomy (RC) and bilateral pelvic and iliac lymphadenectomy (LND). Measures of surgical quality were examined for associations with time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS).

Results

We reviewed operative and/or pathology reports for 440 patients from 35 sites. We found that only 31% of patients met all suggested trial eligibility criteria of having ≥15 lymph nodes identified in the pathologic specimen (LN#) and having undergone both extended and presacral LND. There was no association between extent of LND, LN#, or presacral LND and TTR or OS after adjustment for confounders and multiple testing.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that there was substantial variability in surgical technique within a cooperative group trial. Despite explicit entry criteria, many patients did not undergo per‐protocol LNDs. While outcomes were not apparently affected, it is nonetheless evident that careful attention to study design and quality monitoring will be critical to successful future trials. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:923–928. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Accuracy of EUS and CT imaging in preoperative gastric cancer staging
Authors: Fairweather Mark , Jajoo Kunal , Sainani Nisha , Bertagnolli Monica M. , Wang Jiping
Published: April 2015

Background

Neoadjuvant therapy is recommended for locally advanced gastric cancer patients (stage IB–IIIC). The objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and computed tomography (CT) in identifying patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

Methods

Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent gastrectomy at our institution were reviewed. Preoperative EUS and CT staging were compared with pathologic staging to determine accuracy.

Results

Between 2001 and 2013, 280 patients were identified. Forty‐nine patients (18%) who underwent preoperative staging by EUS were analyzed. The accuracy of EUS in identifying individual T stage and N stage was 41.0% and 42.9%, respectively. EUS had moderate accuracy in differentiating locally advanced from early (stage 0–IA) disease (75.5%, area under curve (AUC) 0.772). For individual T stage and N stage, the accuracy of CT was 4.0% and 56%, respectively. CT had relatively poor accuracy in differentiating locally advanced from early disease (60.0%, AUC 0.649).

Conclusions

EUS and CT had poor performance in identifying individual T and N stage although EUS demonstrated moderate accuracy in identifying patients with locally advanced disease. A combined staging approach, in addition to further optimization of staging modalities, is required for accurate staging for patients with gastric cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:1016–1020. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
What has gone wrong with inclusive education in Thailand?
Authors: Bualar Theeraphong
Published: April 2015

This article critically reviews the inclusive education policy in Thailand. Since 1939, the Thai government has promoted the right of persons with disabilities to education. However, very little is known about the reasons why the inclusive education policy in Thailand has failed to motivate school‐aged children to participate in mainstream schools. This article argues that (i) the government has no coherent policy implementation; (ii) school teachers are not well trained to deal with students with disabilities; and (iii) universal design is not well placed. These three major factors have hindered the Thai government in its efforts to empower persons with disabilities through education. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Taiwanese Derriford Appearance Scale: The translation and validation of a scale to measure individual responses to living with problems of appearance
Authors: Moss Timothy Peter , Lawson Victoria , Liu Chiu Ying
Published: April 2015

The extent of concern about physical appearance is increasingly the subject of scientific study, interventions by health professionals, and media attention. To enable carefully evaluated studies exploring the psychosocial antecedents of appearance distress, and to determine the success of interventions, the Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS24) was developed. This psychometrically sound measure is well used and cited in the appearance psychology field. Outside of a Western context, the extent and impact of appearance distress is less well known. This paper describes the adaptation of the DAS24 for use in Taiwan. A formal translation protocol was followed to adapt the DAS24 into Taiwanese/Cantonese. Two hundred and eight participants from a general population and a visibly different population were recruited in Taipei, Taiwan. These participants completed a test pack administered comprising the translated DAS24, and established measures of anxiety and depression. The scale was analyzed on the basis of classical test theory. A translated DAS Scale comprising 19 items and including three clear factors was the best solution. The scale had good internal consistency, clear convergent validity, and good test‐retest reliability. The three factors that emerged were appearance‐related social avoidance, social distress, and negative affect. Consistent with expectations, (a) women scored higher than men (greater appearance distress), (b) the cause of appearance difference (burns, cleft lip/palate, etc.) was unrelated to appearance distress, and (c) those with visible differences were more concerned about their appearance than those without. The Taiwanese DAS19 is a user‐friendly and psychometrically sound scale that fulfils an important clinical and scientific need. The items that were omitted from the translated version were considered in relation to cultural differences in the experience and expression of shame between Western countries and Taiwan/China, which demands a careful future analysis.
Overview of the impact of noninvasive prenatal testing on diagnostic procedures
Authors: Warsof Steven L. , Larion Sebastian , Abuhamad Alfred Z.
Published: April 2015

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has had a profound influence in the field of prenatal diagnosis since the 1997 discovery of cell‐free fetal DNA in maternal blood. Research has progressed rapidly, with clinical data supporting laboratory studies showing that NIPT is highly sensitive and specific for fetal aneuploidy, resulting in marked uptake in the high‐risk patient population. The superior accuracy of NIPT compared with conventional screening methods has led to significant decreases in the number of invasive diagnostic procedures, in addition to a concomitant decrease in the number of procedure‐related fetal losses. Yet, NIPT has been described as a ‘disruptive innovation’ due to the considerable changes the technology has commanded on current prenatal screening and diagnostic practices. This review summarizes both institutional and global experience with NIPT uptake, its effect on reducing diagnostic invasive procedures, and the unique challenges that reduced procedural volume may have on physician and trainee proficiency, cytogenetic laboratories, and neonatal outcome. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of amphiphilic polymer networks with guest‐host properties
Authors: Hodge Mathis , Gyanwali Gaumani , Villines Cameron , White Jeffery L.
Published: April 2015

A modular assembly procedure for producing amphiphilic polymer networks containing specific linker lengths between cyclodextrin (CD) cross‐link sites is described. The linker type and length can be selected to tune the relative hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the network, and the size of the guest‐host binding site can be varied by using either α‐, β‐, or γ‐CD as the node. The two‐step, one‐pot reaction sequence produces well‐defined networks with stable ether linkages that can be purified by simple washing and filtration steps. Short ethylene glycol versus long polyethylene oxide linkers result in networks that are generally insoluble in common organic solvents, but which swell to varying degrees in polar protic, polar aprotic, and chlorinated solvents such as water, methanol, ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, methylene chloride, and chloroform. All networks swell in water and present a hydrophobic CD cavity that is available for binding nonpolar molecules. The networks should be applicable to the removal of hydrophobic contaminants, for example, pharmaceutical molecules, from water or wastewater streams. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1824–1831
Silylium dual catalysis in living polymerization of methacrylates via In situ hydrosilylation of monomer
Authors: Xu Tieqi , Chen Eugene Y.‐X.
Published: April 2015

Silylium ions (“R3Si+”) are found to catalyze both 1,4‐hydrosilylation of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with R3SiH to generate the silyl ketene acetal initiator in situ and subsequent living polymerization of MMA. The living characteristics of the MMA polymerization initiated by R3SiH (Et3SiH or Me2PhSiH) and catalyzed by [Et3Si(L)]+[B(C6F5)4]– (L = toluene), which have been revealed by four sets of experiments, enabled the synthesis of the polymers with well‐controlled Mn values (identical or nearly identical to the calculated ones), narrow molecular weight distributions (Đ = 1.05–1.09), and well defined chain structures {H[MMA]nH}. The polymerization is highly efficient too, with quantitative or near quantitative initiation efficiencies (I* = 96–100%). Monitoring of the reaction of MMA + Me2PhSiH + [Et3Si(L)]+[B(C6F5)4]– (0.5 mol%) by 1H NMR provided clear evidence for in situ generation of the corresponding SKA, Me2CC(OMe)OSiMe2Ph, via the proposed “Et3Si+”‐catalyzed 1,4‐hydrosilylation of monomer through “frustrated Lewis pair” type activation of the hydrosilane in the form of the isolable silylium‐silane complex, [Et3SiHSiR3]+[B(C6F5)4]–. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1895–1903