bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A simple, rapid method for detecting seven common invasive fish species in Europe from environmental DNA
Authors: Clusa Laura , García‐Vázquez E. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Biological invasions are a global threat to biodiversity, and many arise from deliberate introductions.
The American freshwater fish Micropterus salmoides and Ameiurus spp. (Ameiurus melas and Ameiurus nebulosus) were introduced to Europe for recreational fishing, Gambusia holbrooki and Gambusia affinis were introduced for mosquito population control, and Lepomis gibbosus was introduced as an ornamental species. The Asiatic Pseudorasbora parva was acquired inadvertently as an accompanying species in fish consignments.
This article presents a novel approach for detecting these species directly from water samples based on a panel of five taxon‐specific primers within 16S rDNA.
The primers were validated from tissue, in aquarium experiments, and from Ebro River water samples (Spain). With a simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol, followed by visualization in agarose gel or capillary electrophoresis, it was possible to detect these species from environmental DNA concentrations as low as 0.89–100 pg mL–1.
This sensitive and economical tool can be used to control European invasions of these species and to preserve native biodiversity.
First characterization of fucosidases in spiders
Authors: Perrella Natalia N. , Fuzita Felipe J. , Moreti Rodrigo , Verhaert Peter D. E. M. , Lopes Adriana R. 
Published: March 2018

Abstractl‐fucose is a constituent of glycoconjugates in different organisms. Fucosidases catalyze the removal of fucose residues, and have been correlated to different physiological and pathological processes, such as fertilization, cancer, fucosidosis, and digestion in molluscs and ticks. An α‐l‐fucosidase sequence was identified from the transcriptome and proteome from the midgut diverticula of the synanthropic spider Nephilingis cruentata. In this article, we describe the isolation of this α‐l‐fucosidase and the characterization of its activity using substrates and inhibitors demonstrating different specificities among fucosidases. The enzyme had a Km of 32 and 400 μM for 4‐methylumbelliferyl α‐l‐fucopyranoside and 4‐nitrophenyl α‐l‐fucopyranoside, respectively; and was unable to hydrolyze fucoidan. Nephilingis cruentata α‐l‐fucosidase was inhibited competitively by fucose and fuconojyrimycin. The fucosidase had two distinct pH optima even in the isolated form, due to oligomerization dependent on pH, as previously described to other fucosidases. Alignment and molecular homology modeling of the protein sequence with other fucosidases indicated that the active sites and catalytic residues were different, including residues involved in acid/base catalysis. Phylogenetic analysis showed, for the first time, gene‐duplication events for fucosidases in Arachnida species. All these data reveal that studies on fucosidases in organisms distinct from bacteria, fungi, and humans are important.
Risk, Timing, and Predictors of Disease Flare After Discontinuation of Anti–Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy in Children With Polyarticular Forms of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis With Clinically Inactive Disease
Authors: Lovell Daniel J. , Johnson Anne L. , Huang Bin , Gottlieb Beth S. , Morris Paula W. , Kimura Yukiko , Onel Karen , Li Suzanne C. , Grom Alexei A. , Taylor Janalee , Brunner Hermine I. , Huggins Jennifer L. , Nocton James J. , Haines Kathleen A. , Edelheit Barbara S. , Shishov Michael , Jung Lawrence K. , Williams Calvin B. , Tesher Melissa S. , Costanzo Denise M. , Zemel Lawrence S. , Dare Jason A. , Passo Murray H. , Ede Kaleo C. , Olson Judyann C. , Cassidy Elaine A. , Griffin Thomas A. , Wagner‐Weiner Linda , Weiss Jennifer E. , Vogler Larry B. , Rouster‐Stevens Kelly A. , Beukelman Timothy , Cron Randy Q. , Kietz Daniel , Schikler Kenneth , Schmidt Kara M. , Mehta Jay , Wahezi Dawn M. , Ting Tracy V. , Verbsky James W. , Eberhard B. Anne , Spalding Steven , Chen Chen , Giannini Edward H. 
Published: March 2018

ObjectiveTo determine the frequency, time to flare, and predictors of disease flare upon withdrawal of anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti‐TNF) therapy in children with polyarticular forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who demonstrated ≥6 months of continuous clinically inactive disease.MethodsIn 16 centers 137 patients with clinically inactive JIA who were receiving anti‐TNF therapy (42% of whom were also receiving methotrexate [MTX]) were prospectively followed up. If the disease remained clinically inactive for the initial 6 months of the study, anti‐TNF was stopped and patients were assessed for flare at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 months. Life‐table analysis, t‐tests, chi‐square test, and Cox regression analysis were used to identify independent variables that could significantly predict flare by 8 months or time to flare.ResultsOf 137 patients, 106 (77%) maintained clinically inactive disease while receiving anti‐TNF therapy for the initial 6 months and were included in the phase of the study in which anti‐TNF therapy was stopped. Stopping anti‐TNF resulted in disease flare in 39 (37%) of 106 patients by 8 months. The mean/median ± SEM time to flare was 212/250 ± 9.77 days. Patients with shorter disease duration at enrollment, older age at onset and diagnosis, shorter disease duration prior to experiencing clinically inactive disease, and shorter time from onset of clinically inactive disease to enrollment were found to have significantly lower hazard ratios for likelihood of flare by 8 months (P < 0.05).ConclusionOver one‐third of patients with polyarticular JIA with sustained clinically inactive disease will experience a flare by 8 months after discontinuation of anti‐TNF therapy. Several predictors of lower likelihood of flare were identified.
Alleviation of Murine Osteoarthritis by Cartilage‐Specific Deletion of IκBζ
Authors: Choi Moon‐Chang , MaruYama Takashi , Chun Churl‐Hong , Park Yoonkyung 
Published: March 2018

ObjectiveIκBζ, an atypical IκB family member, regulates gene expression in the nucleus as a transcriptional cofactor. Although IκBζ has been extensively studied in the immune system, its specific roles in osteoarthritis (OA) are currently unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of IκBζ in chondrocyte catabolism and OA pathogenesis. We also determined the molecular mechanism underlying its relationship to the transcription factor NF‐κB.MethodsWe determined expression levels of IκBζ in mouse chondrocytes treated with interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), in human OA cartilage, and in mouse experimental OA cartilage. Adenovirus‐mediated overexpression and small interfering RNA knockdown of IκBζ were performed to determine the impact of IκBζ on catabolic gene expression in vitro. Cartilage‐specific IκBζ‐transgenic and ‐knockout mice were generated and used for in vivo studies. Experimental and spontaneous OA were induced by surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus and by aging, respectively. Coimmunoprecipitation assay was used to examine the association between IκBζ and NF‐κB subunits.ResultsIκBζ was highly up‐regulated in chondrocytes in response to IL‐1β and in OA cartilage of human and mouse knee joints. Overexpression of IκBζ in chondrocytes promoted spontaneous OA development by activating chondrocyte catabolism. Genetic ablation of IκBζ in chondrocytes abolished catabolic gene induction by IL‐1β and protected against the development of experimental OA. IκBζ formed complexes with NF‐κB members to regulate catabolic factor expression.ConclusionThese findings demonstrate a critical role for IκBζ in OA pathogenesis. Inhibition of IκBζ function might be an effective therapeutic approach for OA treatment.
Mechanism of Evolution of Koneramine Complexes from One‐Pot Reactions: Snapshots of Intermediates Offer Facile Routes to New Dipicolylamines
Authors: Raje Sakthi , Mondivagu Nandakishor , Chahal Manoj , Butcher Ray J. , Angamuthu Raja 
Published: March 2018

AbstractKoneramines (LROR′, R=Ph or Ts; R′=Me, iPr) and their complexes were found to emerge from the system of pyridine‐2‐carboxaldehyde and N‐phenyl/tosylethylenediamine when a primary or secondary alcohol was used as solvent. Imidazolidinylpyridines (LR, R=Ph or Ts) became major emergents whereas hemi‐aminals (LROH, R=Ph or Ts) are minor emergents of the system when tertiary butanol was used as the solvent; the bulky tertiary butyl group prevented the addition of alcohol to the iminium ion that diverted the equilibrium towards imidazolidinylpyridines. By playing with the components of the reaction mixture, crystals of the metastable intermediates bound to copper(II) and/or zinc(II) were obtained and the structures were determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The reported results shed light on how to control the emergents of the multicomponent reaction mixture that forms koneramines. Reactivity studies of the intermediates pave the way for a new type of koneramine complexes that are new dipicolylamines where the two pyridine moieties of the resulting koneramine are not the same.
Synthetic Applications of Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed C−P Bond Cleavage
Authors: Wang Lili , Chen Hui , Duan Zheng 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe wide occurrence of carbon–phosphorus bond activation in modern organic synthesis, catalyst deactivation, and biological process has attracted interest for synthetic applications. Over the past few decades, transition‐metal‐mediated transformations have become extremely powerful tools in organic synthesis. In this review, considerable progress that has been made in catalytic activations and transformations of carbon–phosphorus bonds within the coordination sphere of transition metals is described. Mechanistic information is also presented, and it is hoped that this review not only provides an account of the state of the art in the field, but also highlights the future potential of these reactions in organic synthesis.
Further Results on Quasi‐Synchronization of Delayed Chaotic Systems with Parameter Mismatches Via Intermittent Control
Authors: Jiang Yan , Zhai Junyong 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis paper focuses on the problem of quasi‐synchronization of delayed chaotic systems with parameter mismatches via aperiodically intermittent control. First, the intermittently controlled systems are modeled as switched systems with two modes. Then, piecewise switching‐time‐dependent Lyapunov functional/function are introduced for stability analysis of the switched systems. As a result, two novel sufficient conditions for quasi‐synchronization are established under a small error bound. Based on the obtained quasi‐synchronization criteria, the existence of the aperiodically intermittent controllers is presented in the form of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). Finally, chaotic neural networks and Chua's circuit are provided to verify the validity of the proposed method.
Forty years of solar radio observations at Metsähovi Radio Observatory
Authors: Kallunki J. , Tornikoski M. , Tammi J. , Kinnunen E. , Korhonen K. , Kesäläinen S. , Arkko O. 
Published: March 2018

The Aalto University Metsähovi Radio Observatory in Finland began regular solar radio observations over 40 years ago, in 1978. It is one of the longest solar radio data collections at millimeter wavelengths, and the data have been widely used in the field of solar radio physics over the years. The main research topics have been microwave solar radio bursts, oscillations, and pulsations in various solar features, for example, radio brightenings and the overall long‐term solar radio variability. Currently, Metsähovi has three different solar radio instruments, operating at wavelengths from 8 mm to 6 m. Most of the observations have been made with the 13.7‐m antenna at 8 mm, but data have also been collected at 3 mm and 1.3 cm. Radio brightenings at 8 mm are a good indicator of the general solar activity level. They show the phase of the solar cycle equally accurately as the traditional solar sunspot number. In this paper, we compare the daily value of the maximum radio brightness temperature and the daily sunspot number in 1989–2017, Solar Cycles 21–24. A more detailed analysis and comparison is performed for Solar Cycle 24 from 2008 onward. We also compare our radio observations to the daily 10.7 cm total radio flux values in Solar Cycle 24.
Structural determinants of ligand binding in truncated hemoglobins: Resonance Raman spectroscopy of the native states and their carbon monoxide and hydroxide complexes
Authors: Feis Alessandro , Howes Barry D. , Milazzo Lisa , Coppola Daniela , Smulevich Giulietta 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe ligand binding characteristics of heme‐containing proteins are determined by a number of factors, including the nature and conformation of the distal residues and their capability to stabilize the heme‐bound ligand via hydrogen‐bonding and electrostatic interactions. In this regard, the heme pockets of truncated hemoglobins (TrHbs) constitute an interesting case study as they share many common features, including a number of polar cavity residues. In this review, we will focus on three proteins of group II TrHbs, from Thermobifida fusca (Tf‐HbO) and Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 (Ph‐HbO). Although the residues in positions G8 (Trp) and B10 (Tyr) are conserved in all three proteins, the CD1 residue is a Tyr in T. fusca and a His in P. haloplanktis. Comparison of the ligand binding characteristics of these proteins, in particular the hydroxo and CO ligands by means of resonance Raman spectroscopy, reveals that this single difference in the key heme cavity residues markedly affects their ligand binding capability and conformation. Furthermore, although the two Ph‐HbOs (Ph‐HbO‐2217 and Ph‐HbO‐0030) have identical key cavity residues, they display distinct ligand binding properties.
Cardiopulmonary fitness before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with oesophagogastric cancer
Authors: Navidi M , Phillips A W , Griffin S M , Duffield K E , Greystoke A , Sumpter K , Sinclair R C F 
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Background
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may have a detrimental impact on cardiorespiratory reserve. Determination of oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provides an objective measure of cardiorespiratory reserve. Anaerobic threshold can be used to predict perioperative risk. A low anaerobic threshold is associated with increased morbidity after oesophagogastrectomy. The aim of this study was to establish whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy has an adverse effect on fitness, and whether there is recovery of fitness before surgery for oesophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma.

Methods
CPET was completed before, immediately after (week 0), and at 2 and 4 weeks after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The ventilatory anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen uptake (Vo2 peak) were used as objective, reproducible measures of cardiorespiratory reserve. Anaerobic threshold and Vo2 peak were compared before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and at the three time intervals.

Results
Some 31 patients were recruited. The mean anaerobic threshold was lower following neoadjuvant treatment: 15·3 ml per kg per min before chemotherapy versus 11·8, 12·1 and 12·6 ml per kg per min at week 0, 2 and 4 respectively (P &lt; 0·010). Measurements were also significantly different at each time point (P &lt; 0·010). The same pattern was noted for Vo2 peak between values before chemotherapy (21·7 ml per kg per min) and at weeks 0, 2 and 4 (17·5, 18·6 and 19·3 ml per kg per min respectively) (P &lt; 0·010). The reduction in anaerobic threshold and Vo2 peak did not improve during the time between completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery.

Conclusion
There was a decrease in cardiorespiratory reserve immediately after neoadjuvant chemotherapy that was sustained up to the point of surgery at 4 weeks after chemotherapy.
Practice patterns and outcomes of chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone for older patients with nasopharyngeal cancer
Authors: Verma Vivek , Surkar Swati M. , Moreno Amy C. , Lin Chi , Simone Charles B. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractOlder patients are at increased risk of toxicities from aggressive oncologic therapy and of nononcologic death. A meta‐analysis of non‐nasopharyngeal head and neck cancers showed no statistical benefit in adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy (RT) in older patients; another meta‐analysis of RT versus chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in NPC found advantages to CRT, but vastly under‐represented patients ≥70 years old. This is the largest study to date evaluating outcomes of CRT versus RT alone in this population. The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was queried for primary nasopharyngeal cancer cases (2004–2013) in patients ≥70 years old receiving RT alone or CRT. Patients with unknown RT/chemotherapy and T1N0 or M1 disease were excluded. Logistic regression analysis ascertained factors associated with CRT delivery. Kaplan–Meier analysis evaluated overall survival (OS) between both cohorts. Cox proportional hazards modeling determined variables associated with OS. In total, 930 patients were analyzed (n = 713 (77%) CRT, n = 217 (23%) RT). Groups were relatively balanced; CRT was less frequently delivered in patients with advancing age, lower nodal burden, and females (P < 0.05 for all). Median OS in the CRT and RT groups were 35.3 versus 20.0 months, respectively (P = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of OS included age, comorbidities, income and insurance status, tumor grade, and stage (P < 0.05 for all). Notably, receipt of chemotherapy independently predicted for improved OS (P = 0.036). CRT, compared to RT alone, was independently associated with improved survival in NPC patients ≥70 years old. CRT appears to be a promising approach in this population, but treatment‐related toxicity risks should continue to be weighed against potential oncologic benefits.
Are U.S. consumers using MyPlate and restaurant menu labels and does their use equate with dietary and exercise behavior?
Authors: Vaccaro Joan A. , Huffman Fatma G. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe U.S. government provided a website, entitled MyPlate, and required menu labels to state calories to help the population make healthy dietary and exercise choices. The purpose of this study is to assess the awareness and use of nutrition information provided by MyPlate and by restaurant menu labels with dietary and exercise behavior for U.S. adults considering race/ethnicity and gender. This study uses data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014 for adults, aged 20 years and older, from 3 racial/ethnic groups N = 4924: 1,275 Hispanics, 1,177 non‐Hispanic Blacks (NHB); 2,472 non‐Hispanic Whites to assess awareness and who reported seeing nutrition information at fast‐food/pizza places and waitstaff restaurants and answered affirmatively to hearing about MyPlate (N = 749). Dietary behaviors for controlling or losing weight, reducing fat, and increasing exercise was significantly higher for those who tried MyPlate as compared with those who stated they did not try MyPlate. Over half the individuals who reported that they tried MyPlate stated that they would often use nutrition information for fast‐food/pizza places and waitstaff restaurants as compared with less than one‐third of individuals who declared that they have not tried MyPlate. Males, Hispanics, NHB, individuals with a lower education level, current smokers, and older adults had higher percent of not hearing about MyPlate. NHB, males, and older adults had a lower percent of using menu nutrition information. Increasing use of MyPlate and menu calorie labeling may serve to encourage vulnerable groups to make healthy dietary and exercise choices.
Peptide‐Based Scaffold for Nitric Oxide Induced Differentiation of Neuroblastoma Cells
Authors: Pal Hilal Ahmad , Singh Anamika , Sheikh Parvaiz A. , Panjla Apurva , Kumar Ashok , Verma Sandeep 
Published: March 2018

AbstractNitric oxide is a gaseous messenger involved in neuronal differentiation, development and synaptogenesis, in addition to many other physiological functions. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain an optimal nitric oxide concentration to ensure its biochemical function. A sustained nitric oxide releasing scaffold, which supports neuronal cell differentiation, as determined by morphometric analysis of neurite outgrowth, is described. Moreover, the effect of nitric oxide on the neuroblastoma cell line was also confirmed by immunofluorescent analysis of neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN), specific neuronal marker and neurofilament (NF) protein, which revealed a significant increase in their expression levels, in comparison with undifferentiated cells.
Comparison of two different culture conditions for derivation of early hiPSC
Authors: Hey Caroline A. B. , Saltõkova Katarina B. , Bisgaard Hanne C. , Møller Lisbeth B. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDifferent culture‐systems for derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) in vitro from human fibroblasts have been established. Here, we compared the efficacy of two different feeder‐free culture‐systems; Matrigel‐coated surfaces in combination with mTeSR1 medium versus Vitronectin‐coated surfaces in combination with Essential 8 (E8) medium. The comparison was performed by counting the number of emerging iPSC‐looking colonies of re‐programmed fibroblasts. The fibroblasts were re‐programmed using episomal plasmids expressing OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4, L‐MYC, LIN28, and a p53 knock down shP53. Three different fibroblast lines, K40 and K48 from healthy controls and BBS1 from a patient with Bardet–Biedl syndrome, were used in two independent setups. The BBS1 line was used in both setups in combination with K40 and K48 respectively. In all four re‐programming experiments, we observed a significantly higher number of emerging colonies with the combination Matrigel/mTeSR1 as compared to the combination Vitronectin/E8. The presence of iPSC was verified by alkaline phosphatase and Tra‐1‐60 staining. Furthermore, a higher expression of the pluripotency‐associated markers NANOG and SOX2 in cells under Matrigel/mTeSR1 conditions compared with Vitronectin/E8 supported the higher proportion of iPSC on Matrigel/mTeSR1 plates. In conclusion, the combination Matrigel/mTeSR1 is more efficient for derivation of iPSC compared to the Vitronectin/E8 combination.