bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mode of progression after first line treatment correlates with outcome of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Authors: Al‐Sawaf Othman , Bazeos Alexandra , Robrecht Sandra , Bahlo Jasmin , Gower Craig , Fink Anna‐Maria , Tresckow Julia , Cramer Paula , Langerbeins Petra , Kutsch Nadine , Humphrey Kathryn , Fingerle‐Rowson Günter , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Wendtner Clemens‐Martin , Fischer Kirsten , Eichhorst Barbara , Hallek Michael , Goede Valentin 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn CLL, progressive disease (PD) following remission after first line treatment can present with varying phenotypes. We hypothesized that the mode of PD correlates with clinical outcomes. Data from three phase III trials of the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG) (CLL8, CLL10, CLL11) including a total of 2159 patients receiving first line (immuno)‐chemotherapy (FCR, FC, CLB, CLB‐R, CLB‐Ob) were analyzed. Patients were categorized as “ALC” if PD was due to increasing absolute lymphocyte count, or as “Ly” if due to lymphadenopathy. A group of 241 patients progressed with ALC, and 727 progressed with Ly, including 329 who progressed on both modalities. In fit patients, median TTNT after PD in the Ly group was 12.3 months vs 17.0 months in the ALC group (HR 1.299 [1.036‐1.628]; P = .024). Median OS after PD was 45.1 months in the Ly group and 42.4 months in the ALC group (HR=1.023 [0.753‐1.389]; P = .885). For unfit patients, median TTNT in the Ly group was 11.7 months vs 21.4 months in the ALC group (HR 1.357 [1.051‐1.753]; P = .019). Median OS was 42.8 months in the Ly group and not reached in the ALC group (HR 1.851 [1.280‐2.677]; P = .001). Patients in the Ly group more frequently showed impairment of quality of life (QoL). This analysis demonstrates that patients with progressive lymphadenopathy have a significantly shorter TTNT, OS and less favorable QoL. Our findings might help physicians to better estimate the clinical course of a progressing CLL patient.
Exploring biocultural models of chewing tobacco andpaanamong reproductive‐aged women: Self‐medication, protection, or gender inequality?
Authors: Placek Caitlyn , Roulette Casey , Hudanick Natalie , Khan Anisa , Ravi Kavitha , Jayakrishna Poornima , Srinivas Vijaya , Madhivanan Purnima 
Published: June 2019

AbstractObjectivesTobacco and areca nut are two of the most widely used psychoactive plant substances worldwide, yet the biocultural factors that account for variation in use patterns are not well understood. Here we attempt to understand the high prevalence of, and variation in, tobacco and areca nut use among reproductive‐aged women.MethodsResearch was carried out in Mysore, Karnataka, India. First, we conducted a qualitative investigation where participants engaged in semistructured interviews and focus group discussions to uncover cultural norms of women's tobacco use. Findings informed the second stage of research which quantitatively tested three models of tobacco and areca nut use (N = 74).ResultsThe qualitative study found that women were more likely to chew “natural” forms of tobacco and areca nut products (kaddipudiandpaan). Quantitative tests of our hypotheses revealed thatkaddipudiand combined tobacco use were best explained by the self‐medication model, with somatic and environmental stress as strong indicators of use. The presence of cotinine, our biological indicator of tobacco use, was best modeled by gender inequality. We also found that men and women reported approximately equal tobacco use, even though their preferred types of tobacco and areca nut products differed.ConclusionsFindings did not support the protection hypothesis as it relates to plant toxins. Instead, this study suggests that women might exploit neurotoxins such as nicotine and arecoline to offset the cognitive and energetic costs associated with iron deficiency in stressful environments.
Synthesis of Pyrimidines with Ammonium Acetate as Nitrogen Source Under Solvent‐Free Conditions
Authors: Wang Peigen , Zhang Xueguo , Liu Yafeng , Chen Baohua 
Published: June 2019

AbstractA three‐component tandem reaction for the synthesis of multisubstituted pyrimidines from chalcone, benzyl alcohol and NH4OAc have been developed. This transformation represents an example for the simultaneous formation of two new C(sp2)−N bonds and a six‐membered ring using NH4OAc as nitrogen source under solvent‐free conditions.
Implementation of Controlled‐NOT Gate by Lyapunov Control
Authors: Liu Shuai , Ran Du , Shi Zhi‐Cheng , Song Jie , Xia Yan 
Published: June 2019

AbstractA scheme to implement the controlled‐NOT (CNOT) gate for quantum systems is proposed, which is based on Lyapunov control. The scheme does not require precise control of the interaction time since the system is stable when the control fields vanish. In particular, the control fields can be easily obtained by most initial states. As an example, the CNOT gate is realized for two atoms trapped in an optical cavity by exploiting two disturbance cases. Compared to continuous disturbance, the fidelity of the CNOT gate is higher under impulsive disturbance, however, interaction times are much longer. Numerical simulations indicate that the scheme is robust against variations of control parameters and decoherence caused by atomic spontaneous emission and cavity decay. Therefore, the scheme may provide useful applications in quantum computation.
Copy number variations in individuals with conotruncal heart defects reveal some shared developmental pathways irrespective of 22q11.2 deletion status
Authors: Xie Hongbo M. , Taylor Deanne M. , Zhang Zhe , McDonald‐McGinn Donna M. , Zackai Elaine H. , Stambolian Dwight , Hakonarson Hakon , Morrow Bernice E. , Emanuel Beverly S. , Goldmuntz Elizabeth 
Published: June 2019

AbstractOver 50% of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) have a conotruncal or related cardiac defect (CTRD). We hypothesized that similar genetic variants, developmental pathways and biological functions, contribute to disease risk for CTRD in patients without a 22q11.2 deletion (ND‐CTRD) and with a 22q11.2 deletion (DS‐CTRD). To test this hypothesis, we performed rare CNV (rCNV)‐based analyses on 630 ND‐CTRD cases and 602 DS‐CTRD cases with comparable cardiac lesions separately and jointly. First, we detected a collection of heart development related pathways from Gene Ontology and Mammalian Phenotype Ontology analysis. We then constructed gene regulation networks using unique genes collected from the rCNVs found in the ND‐CTRD and DS‐CTRD cohorts. These gene networks were clustered and their predicted functions were examined. We further investigated expression patterns of those unique genes using publicly available mouse embryo microarray expression data from single‐cell embryos to fully developed hearts. By these bioinformatics approaches, we identified a commonly shared gene expression pattern in both the ND‐CTRD and DS‐CTRD cohorts. Computational analysis of gene functions characterized with this expression pattern revealed a collection of significantly enriched terms related to cardiovascular development. By our combined analysis of rCNVs in the ND‐CTRD and DS‐CTRD cohorts, a group of statistically significant shared pathways, biological functions, and gene expression patterns were identified that can be tested in future studies for their biological relevance.
A module integrating conventional teaching and student‐centered approach for critical reading of scientific literature
Authors: Kulkarni Anuttama , Vartak Rekha 
Published: June 2019

AbstractOne of the well‐accepted ways of introducing undergraduates to the method of scientific inquiry is to introduce them to primary literature. A matter of concern is that undergraduate students of Indian universities are generally not trained to read primary literature. We combined traditional teaching and student‐centered approach in a 3‐day module for introducing first‐year students to critical reading of primary literature. This article describes the design of the module, the method of assessment of student performance, the learning outcomes, and student feedback. We received positive feedback from students and observed significant improvement in their understanding of the rationale and results of the research paper under consideration. The module may be viewed as an example of a simple introductory activity to enthuse and initiate college students to scientific thinking and research paper reading. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(5):581–588, 2019.
Neuroprotective effect of omega‐3 fatty acids on spinal cord injury induced rats
Authors: Bi Jiaqi , Chen Chong , Sun Peiyu , Tan Haining , Feng Fan , Shen Jianxiong 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIntroductionIn this study, the effects of omega‐3 fatty acids were examined in a rat model of spinal cord injury.MethodsThe rats were classified into sham, control, spinal cord injury plus 50 mg/kg Omega‐3 fatty acids and spinal cord injury plus 100 mg/kg Omega‐3 fatty acids. The levels of oxidative, apoptotic, and inflammatory markers were examined in each of these groups.ResultsAltered lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), and catalase were normalized. Omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation decreased tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels by >50%. TNF‐α and IL‐6 mRNA expression were reduced. Caspase‐3, p53, bax, and pro‐NGF mRNA expression levels were increased by 1.3‐, 1.4‐, 1.2‐, and 0.9‐fold, respectively, whereas bcl‐2 mRNA expression was decreased by 0.77‐fold in control rats. Omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation decreased p53, caspase‐3, bax, and pro‐NGF mRNA expression by >40%, while the level of bcl‐2 mRNA expression was increased by 286.9%. Omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation decreased caspase‐3 and p53 protein expression by >30%.ConclusionTaken together, our results suggested that omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation reduced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and the levels of inflammatory markers in ischemia‐reperfusion‐induced rats.
Can board environmental orientation improve U.S. firms' carbon performance? The mediating role of carbon strategy
Authors: Moussa Tantawy , Allam Amir , Elbanna Said , Bani‐Mustafa Ahmed 
Published: June 2019

AbstractOverwhelming evidence from prior research suggests a positive association between corporate board characteristics and carbon performance; however, very little is known about the mechanisms linking the two variables. This study attempts to fill this gap by developing and empirically testing a conceptual model that highlights the role of carbon strategy in the relationship between board environmental orientation (BEO) and carbon performance. We argue that BEO can directly and indirectly influence carbon performance through carbon strategy. Using structural equation modelling to analyse data consisting of 2,301 U.S. firm‐year observations over the 2005–2015 period, we find that the greater the BEO is, the better its carbon performance (i.e., lower greenhouse gas emissions). The results also provide evidence of the mediating effect of carbon strategy on the relationship between BEO and carbon performance. Splitting the sample into high and low carbon‐intensive industries shows a partial mediation effect in high carbon‐intensive industries and a full mediation effect in low carbon‐intensive industries. The findings of the study and its implications for scholars, policymakers, managers, investors, and environmentalists are discussed.
Genomic analysis of pancreatic juice DNA assesses malignant risk of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of pancreas
Authors: Mateos Raúl N. , Nakagawa Hidewaki , Hirono Seiko , Takano Shinichi , Fukasawa Mitsuharu , Yanagisawa Akio , Yasukawa Satoru , Maejima Kazuhiro , Oku‐Sasaki Aya , Nakano Kaoru , Dutta Munmee , Tanaka Hiroko , Miyano Satoru , Enomoto Nobuyuki , Yamaue Hiroki , Nakai Kenta , Fujita Masashi 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of pancreas has a high risk to develop into invasive cancer or co‐occur with malignant lesion. Therefore, it is important to assess its malignant risk by less‐invasive approach. Pancreatic juice cell‐free DNA (PJD) would be an ideal material in this purpose, but genetic biomarkers for predicting malignant risk from PJD are not yet established. We here performed deep exome sequencing analysis of PJD from 39 IPMN patients with or without malignant lesion. Somatic alterations and copy number alterations (CNAs) detected in PJD were compared with the histologic grade of IPMN to evaluate their potential as a malignancy marker. Somatic mutations of KRAS, GNAS, TP53, and RNF43 were commonly detected in PJD of IPMNs, but no association with the histologic grades of IPMN was found. Instead, mutation burden was positively correlated with the histologic grade (r = 0.427, P = 0.015). We also observed frequent copy number deletions in 17p13 (TP53) and amplifications in 7q21 and 8q24 (MYC) in PJDs. The amplifications in 7q21 and 8q24 were positively correlated with the histologic grade and most prevalent in the cases of invasive carcinoma (P = 0.002 and 7/11; P = 0.011 and 6/11, respectively). We concluded that mutation burden and CNAs detected in PJD may have potential to assess the malignant progression risk of IPMNs.
Investigating the Structure and Dynamics of Apo‐Photosystem II
Authors: Han Ruocheng , Rempfer Katharina , Zhang Miao , Dobbek Holger , Zouni Athina , Dau Holger , Luber Sandra 
Published: June 2019

AbstractPhotosynthetic water oxidation is a model for future technologies employing solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Natural water oxidation is carried out by a special manganese catalyst, the water‐oxidizing complex (WOC), located in photosystem II (PSII) of cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. Hence, there is great interest in the molecular structure as well as structural changes during catalytic activity and assembly/disassembly of the WOC. In particular, the light‐driven assembly during photosystem II repair under physiological conditions is poorly understood, and structural information about manganese depleted PSII (apo‐PSII) is required as a starting point for improving this understanding. Recently Zhang et al. (eLife 2017;6:e26933) showed that the cavity harboring the WOC in PSII remains largely intact upon manganese‐depletion and suggested that deprotonation of hydrogen‐bonding pairs enables the charge‐compensated insertion of the manganese cations without any major change of the cavity structure. By computational methods we have further investigated the structure of apo‐PSII and show how it can be stabilized by protons localized at the terminal carboxylate groups inside the remaining cavity. Ab‐initio molecular dynamics simulations suggest that not more than two water molecules fill the void left by manganese depletion.
Electronic Communication in Confined Space Coronas of Shell‐by‐Shell Structured Al2O3 Nanoparticle Hybrids Containing Two Layers of Functional Organic Ligands
Authors: Stiegler Lisa M. S. , Hirsch Andreas 
Published: June 2019

AbstractA first series of examples for confined space interactions of electron‐rich and electron‐poor molecules organized in an internal corona of shell‐by‐shell (SbS)‐structured Al2O3 nanoparticle (NP) hybrids is reported. The assembly concept of the corresponding hierarchical architectures relies on both covalent grafting of phosphonic acids on the NPs surface (SAMs formation; SAM=self‐assembled monolayer) and exohedral interdigitation of orthogonal amphiphiles as the second ligand layer driven by solvophobic interactions. The electronic communication between the chromophores of different electron demand, such as pyrenes, perylenediimides (PDIs; with and without pyridinium bromide headgroups) and fullerenes was promoted at the layer interface. In this work, it is demonstrated that the efficient construction principle of the bilayer hybrids assembled around the electronically “innocent” Al2O3 core is robust enough to achieve control over electronic communication between electron‐donors and ‐acceptors in the interlayer region. The electronic interactions between the electron‐accepting and electron‐donating moieties approaching each other at the layer interface were monitored by fluorescence measurements.
Stability and Efficiency of Mixed Aryl Phosphonate Prodrugs
Authors: Foust Benjamin J. , Li Jin , Hsiao Chia‐Hung Christine , Wiemer David F. , Wiemer Andrew J. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractA set of phosphonate prodrugs of a butyrophilin ligand was synthesized and evaluated for plasma stability and cellular activity. The mixed aryl acyloxy esters were prepared either via a standard sequence through the phosphonic acid chloride, or through the more recently reported, and more facile, triflate activation. In the best of cases, this class of prodrugs shows cellular potency similar to that of bis‐acyloxyalkyl phosphonate prodrugs and plasma stability similar to that of aryl phosphonamidates. For example, {[((3E)‐5‐hydroxy‐4‐methylpent‐3‐en‐1‐yl) (naphthalen‐2‐yloxy)phosphoryl]oxy}methyl 2,2‐dimethylpropanoate can activate BTN3A1 in K562 cells after just 15 minutes of exposure (at an EC50 value of 31 nm) and is only partially metabolized (60 % remaining) after 20 hours in human plasma. Other related novel analogues showed similar potency/stability profiles. Therefore, mixed aryl acyloxyalkyl phosphonate prodrugs are an exciting new strategy for the delivery of phosphonate‐containing drugs.
Inhibition of the Photobleaching of Methylene Blue by Association with Urea
Authors: Nassar Sulafa Jamal M. , Wills Corinne , Harriman Anthony 
Published: June 2019

AbstractMethylene Blue has a long history as a photochemical reagent and is known to undergo photofading on exposure to visible light in aqueous solution. Under aerobic conditions, photobleaching occurs by way of a two‐step process involving intermediary formation of singlet oxygen. The first step is ascribed to regio‐selective addition of singlet oxygen within the precursor complex. This geminate reaction ultimately leads to formation of the leuco‐dye via a slower second step. Urea forms a weak ground‐state complex with Methylene Blue which affects the optical properties of the dye but is not evident by NMR spectroscopy. This complex is weakly fluorescent and undergoes intersystem crossing to the triplet manifold. The presence of urea decreases the rate of photobleaching of the dye and, at high concentrations of urea, the bleaching kinetics are consistent with an equilibrium mixture of complexed and free dye. The complexed dye does not bleach on the timescale of the experiment. Such protection might arise from urea blocking access to the site where geminate addition of O2 takes place.
Selective Cellulose Hydrogenolysis to Ethanol Using Ni@C Combined with Phosphoric Acid Catalysts
Authors: Liu Qiying , Wang Haiyong , Xin Haosheng , Wang Chenguang , Yan Long , Wang Yingxiong , Zhang Qi , Zhang Xinghua , Xu Ying , Huber George W. , Ma Longlong 
Published: June 2019

AbstractEthanol is an important bulk chemical with diverse applications. Biomass‐derived ethanol is traditionally produced by fermentation. Direct cellulose conversion to ethanol by chemocatalysis is particularly promising but remains a great challenge. Herein, a one‐pot hydrogenolysis of cellulose into ethanol was developed by using graphene‐layers‐encapsulated nickel (Ni@C) catalysts with the aid of H3PO4in water. The cellulose was hydrolyzed into glucose, which was activated by forming cyclic di‐ester bonds between the OH groups of H3PO4and glucose, promoting ethanol formation under the synergistic hydrogenation of Ni@C. A 69.1 % yield of ethanol (carbon mole basis) was obtained, which is comparable to the theoretical value achieved by glucose fermentation. An ethanol concentration of up to 8.9 wt % was obtained at an increased cellulose concentration. This work demonstrates a chemocatalytic approach for the high‐yield production of ethanol from renewable cellulosic biomass at high concentration.
Fluoridated Iron–Nickel Layered Double Hydroxide for Enhanced Performance in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Pei Chengang , Gu Ying , Liu Zong , Yu Xu , Feng Ligang 
Published: June 2019

AbstractLayered double hydroxides (LDHs) are very promising but still far from satisfactory for catalyzing the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water electrolysis. Herein, it was found that the catalytic performance of iron–nickel LDHs for OER can be largely boosted by a facile and controllable fluoridation approach at low temperatures. Temperature dependence of the crystal structure and surface chemical state was observed for the simple fluoridation of the iron–nickel LDH. However, no significant surface roughness and electrochemical active surface area increases were found, which was probably owing to the structure change from nanosheets to nanorods. Significant improvements in the performance, including the catalytic activity, stability, efficiency, and kinetics, were found compared with the pristine iron–nickel LDH. Specifically, iron–nickel fluoride obtained at 250 °C afforded the lowest overpotential of 225 mV (no iR correction) to drive 10 mA cm−2 loaded on an inert glassy carbon electrode with a small Tafel slope of 79 mV dec−1, outperforming the noble‐metal IrO2 catalyst and most of the similar Fe–Ni based catalysts. The performance improvement could be mainly attributed to the phase‐structure transfer from metal−O bonding in the FeNi‐LDHs to metal−F bonding after fluoridation, which means it is easier to form the real active sites of Fe‐doped high‐valence Ni‐(oxy)hydroxide over the iron–nickel fluoride surface.
Risk of end‐stage renal disease from chronic kidney disease defined by decreased glomerular filtration rate in type 1 diabetes: A comparison with type 2 diabetes and the effect of metabolic syndrome
Authors: Lee You‐Bin , Han Kyungdo , Kim Bongsung , Jun Ji Eun , Lee Seung‐Eun , Ahn Jiyeon , Kim Gyuri , Jin Sang‐Man , Kim Jae Hyeon 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBackgroundWe estimated the end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The ESRD risk of CKD in patients with T1D was compared with that of CKD in patients without diabetes and with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We also evaluated the predictive value of metabolic syndrome (MetS) for ESRD development in CKD patients with T1D.Materials and MethodsThe Korean National Health Insurance Service datasets of preventive health check‐ups from 2009 to 2016 were used. The risk of incident ESRD was analysed according to the presence and type of diabetes in CKD (defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) patients aged 20 years or older. Incident ESRD risk according to the presence of MetS was calculated among adult patients with CKD and T1D.ResultsDuring 10 701 375.84 person‐years of follow‐up, 43 693 cases of ESRD developed. Hazard ratios (HRs) for incident ESRD from CKD in the T1D group were 2.580 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.336‐2.849) and 9.267 (95% CI, 8.378‐10.251) compared with T2D and nondiabetes groups, respectively. In CKD patients with T1D, the presence of MetS increased incident ESRD risk by an HR of 2.023 (95% CI, 1.501‐2.727).ConclusionsThe presence of diabetes increases the risk for ESRD development from CKD. Furthermore, patients with T1D have a higher risk for ESRD incidence from CKD than do patients with T2D in a Korean population. MetS may be a useful predictor for ESRD in CKD patients with T1D.