bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Access to clinical trials for adolescents with soft tissue sarcomas: Enrollment in European pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG) protocols
Authors: Ferrari Andrea , Trama Annalisa , De Paoli Angela , Bergeron Christophe , Merks Johannes H. M. , Jenney Meriel , Orbach Daniel , Chisholm Julia C. , Gallego Soledad , Glosli Heidi , De Salvo Gian Luca , Botta Laura , Gatta Gemma , Bisogno Gianni ,   RARECAREnet Working Group
Published: November 2016

AbstractBackgroundAdolescents with cancer are enrolled in clinical trials at far lower rates than children. This report compares the number of adolescents (15–19‐year‐olds) and children (0–14‐year‐olds) enrolled in the protocols of the European pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG) with the number of cases expected to occur.MethodsThe observed‐to‐expected (O/E) ratio was detected in the EpSSG countries contributing most of the cases, that is, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Ireland. The observed cases included patients enrolled in any of the EpSSG protocols from October 2008 to October 2015, when all EpSSG protocols were open in these countries. The number of expected cases was calculated from the incidence rates estimated throughout the RARECAREnet database in the countries’ population‐based cancer registries.ResultsIn the countries considered, 2,118 cases aged 0–19 years were enrolled in the EpSSG trials from 2008 to 2015: 82.8% were children and 17.2% were adolescents. The O/E ratio was 0.30 among patients 15–19 years old, as opposed to 0.64 for those 0–14 years old. The O/E ratio differed for the different subtypes: in adolescents, it was 0.64 and 0.18 for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and non‐rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS), respectively; in children, it was 0.77 and 0.50, respectively. The O/E ratios differed across the countries considered.ConclusionsAdolescents were less well represented than children on the EpSSG protocols, with better enrolment for RMS than for NRSTS for all age groups.
Eutectic mixtures as a green alternative for efficient catalyst recycling in atom transfer radical polymerizations
Authors: Maximiano Pedro , Mendonça Patrícia V. , Santos Madson R. E. , Costa João R. C. , Guliashvili Tamaz , Serra Arménio C. , Coelho Jorge F. J. 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTA new solvent mixture, based on ethanol/reline (EM: eutectic mixture), was investigated for the supplemental activator and reducing agent atom transfer radical polymerization (SARA ATRP) of methyl acrylate (MA) near room temperature, for the first time, affording complete catalyst recovery and reuse. The kinetic results revealed that the polymerizations were controlled, with polymers having narrow molecular weight distributions (Đ < 1.2). The “living” character of the resultant PMA was confirmed by the synthesis of a well‐defined PMA‐b‐PBA block copolymer. Remarkably, it was demonstrated that the Cu(0)/CuBr2/Me6TREN (Me6TREN: tris[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine) could be recovered from the final reaction mixture and reused for new successful SARA ATRP of MA, suggesting that the reported system could be very attractive from both the economic and environmental perspectives. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 371–381
Block copolymer templated carbonization of nitrogen containing polymer to create fine and mesoporous carbon for oxygen reduction catalyst
Authors: Nabae Yuta , Nagata Shinsuke , Ohnishi Koshi , Liu Yuanyuan , Sheng Li , Wang Xiaolin , Hayakawa Teruaki 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTThis study demonstrates the synthesis of mesoporous carbon materials utilizing the self‐assembly of a block copolymer and its electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction. Fine and mesoporous carbon containing ferrum (Fe) and nitrogen (N) species has been successfully synthesized by multi‐step pyrolysis of a self‐assembled imide film fabricated via a soft template approach. The obtained sample has well‐ordered mesostructure accompanied by uniform pores with diameter of 4.8 nm and BET surface area of 1660 m2 g−1. This material is tough enough to retain its mesostructured even after mechanical ball milling, which will be essential in the application as a fuel cell catalyst. Promising catalytic activity for electrochemical oxygen reduction owing to enhanced mass transport has been demonstrated. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 464–470
Kinetics and mechanism of metallocene‐catalyzed olefin polymerization: Comparison of ethylene, propylene homopolymerizations, and their copolymerization
Authors: Guo Yintian , Zhang Zhen , Guo Wenqi , Khan Akbar , Fu Zhisheng , Xu Junting , Fan Zhiqiang 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTA series of ethylene, propylene homopolymerizations, and ethylene/propylene copolymerization catalyzed withrac‐Et(Ind)2ZrCl2/modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) were conducted under the same conditions for different duration ranging from 2.5 to 30 min, and quenched with 2‐thiophenecarbonyl chloride to label a 2‐thiophenecarbonyl on each propagation chain end. The change of active center ratio ([C*]/[Zr]) with polymerization time in each polymerization system was determined. Changes of polymerization rate, molecular weight, isotacticity (for propylene homopolymerization) and copolymer composition with time were also studied. [C*]/[Zr] strongly depended on type of monomer, with the propylene homopolymerization system presented much lower [C*]/[Zr] (ca. 25%) than the ethylene homopolymerization and ethylene–propylene copolymerization systems. In the copolymerization system, [C*]/[Zr] increased continuously in the reaction process until a maximum value of 98.7% was reached, which was much higher than the maximum [C*]/[Zr] of ethylene homopolymerization (ca. 70%). The chain propagation rate constant (kp) of propylene polymerization is very close to that of ethylene polymerization, but the propylene insertion rate constant is much smaller than the ethylene insertion rate constant in the copolymerization system, meaning that the active centers in the homopolymerization system are different from those in the copolymerization system. Ethylene insertion rate constant in the copolymerization system was much higher than that in the ethylene homopolymerization in the first 10 min of reaction. A mechanistic model was proposed to explain the observed activation of ethylene polymerization by propylene addition. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem.2017,55, 867–875
Tunable phase‐separation behavior of thermoresponsive polyampholytes through molecular design
Authors: Das Esha , Matsumura Kazuaki 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTHere, we report that carboxylated poly‐l‐lysine, a polyampholyte, shows lower critical solution temperature (LCST)‐type temperature‐responsive liquid–liquid phase separation and coacervate formation in aqueous solutions. The phase‐separation temperature of polyampholytes is strongly affected by the polymer concentration, balance between the carboxyl and amino groups, hydrophobicity of the side chain, and NaCl concentration in the solution. We concluded that the phase separation was caused by both electrostatic interactions between the carboxyl and amino groups and intermolecular hydrophobic interactions. The addition of NaCl weakened the electrostatic interactions, causing the two phases to remix. The introduction of the hydrophobic moiety decreased the phase‐separation temperature by making the molecular interactions stronger. Finally, temperature‐responsive hydrogels were prepared from the polyampholytes to explore their applicability as biomaterials and in drug delivery systems. The fine‐tuning of the phase‐separation temperature of poly‐l‐lysine‐based polyampholytes through molecular design should open new avenues for their use in precisely controlled biomedical applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 876–884
Formation and carbon monoxide‐dependent dissociation of Allochromatium vinosum cytochrome c′ oligomers using domain‐swapped dimers
Authors: Yamanaka Masaru , Hoshizumi Makoto , Nagao Satoshi , Nakayama Ryoko , Shibata Naoki , Higuchi Yoshiki , Hirota Shun 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe number of artificial protein supramolecules has been increasing; however, control of protein oligomer formation remains challenging. Cytochrome c′ from Allochromatium vinosum (AVCP) is a homodimeric protein in its native form, where its protomer exhibits a four‐helix bundle structure containing a covalently bound five‐coordinate heme as a gas binding site. AVCP exhibits a unique reversible dimer–monomer transition according to the absence and presence of CO. Herein, domain‐swapped dimeric AVCP was constructed and utilized to form a tetramer and high‐order oligomers. The X‐ray crystal structure of oxidized tetrameric AVCP consisted of two monomer subunits and one domain‐swapped dimer subunit, which exchanged the region containing helices αA and αB between protomers. The active site structures of the domain‐swapped dimer subunit and monomer subunits in the tetramer were similar to those of the monomer subunits in the native dimer. The subunit–subunit interactions at the interfaces of the domain‐swapped dimer and monomer subunits in the tetramer were also similar to the subunit–subunit interaction in the native dimer. Reduced tetrameric AVCP dissociated to a domain‐swapped dimer and two monomers upon CO binding. Without monomers, the domain‐swapped dimers formed tetramers, hexamers, and higher‐order oligomers in the absence of CO, whereas the oligomers dissociated to domain‐swapped dimers in the presence of CO, demonstrating that the domain‐swapped dimer maintains the CO‐induced subunit dissociation behavior of native ACVP. These results suggest that protein oligomer formation may be controlled by utilizing domain swapping for a dimer–monomer transition protein.
Autoantibodies Directed Against the Endothelin A Receptor in Patients With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Wallukat Gerd , Jandrig Burkhard , Kunze Rudolf , Wendler Johann J. , Müller Johannes , Schostak Martin , Schimke Ingolf 
Published: November 2016

BACKGROUNDOver‐stimulation of G‐protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) such as α1‐adrenergic, muscarinic, endothelin, and AT1 receptors is considered to drive benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) which is often associated with lower urinary tract syndrome (LUTS). However, in addition to physiologic GPCR ligands, there is a new class of autoantibodies called functional autoantibodies that target the same GPCRs (GPCR‐AABs) for over‐stimulation, thus, presenting pathogenic potency. We hypothesize that patients with BPH/LUTS could carry GPCR‐AABs representing potential targets for treatment.METHODSGPCR‐AABs were identified, quantified, and characterized in the serum from 20 patients (aged 55–82 years, median 71 years) with BPH using the bioassay of spontaneously beating cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.RESULTSA sum of 60% of the patients were positive for agonistic autoantibodies directed against the endothelin A receptor (ETA‐AABs). ETA‐AABs were associated with the IgG 1 subclass, targeted an epitope located on the second extracellular receptor loop and their agonistic activity could be neutralized by the aptamer BC007.CONCLUSIONSAgonistic ETA‐AABs could—via uncontrolled over‐boarding endothelin A receptor stimulation—contribute to the pathogenesis of BPH/LUTS. The in vitro demonstrated ETA‐AAB neutralization by the aptamer BC007 could open the door for a new treatment strategy in patients with BPH/LUTS. Prostate 77:458–465, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protein‐protein and peptide‐protein docking and refinement using ATTRACT in CAPRI
Authors: Schindler Christina E. M. , Chauvot de Beauchêne Isaure , de Vries Sjoerd J. , Zacharias Martin 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTThe ATTRACT coarse‐grained docking approach in combination with various types of atomistic, flexible refinement methods has been applied to predict protein‐protein and peptide‐protein complexes in CAPRI rounds 28–36. For a large fraction of CAPRI targets (12 out of 18), at least one model of acceptable or better quality was generated, corresponding to a success rate of 67%. In particular, for several peptide‐protein complexes excellent predictions were achieved. In several cases, a combination of template‐based modeling and extensive molecular dynamics‐based refinement yielded medium and even high quality solutions. In one particularly challenging case, the structure of an ubiquitylation enzyme bound to the nucleosome was correctly predicted as a set of acceptable quality solutions. Based on the experience with the CAPRI targets, new interface refinement approaches and methods for ab‐initio peptide‐protein docking have been developed. Failures and possible improvements of the docking method with respect to scoring and protein flexibility will also be discussed. Proteins 2017; 85:391–398. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sense and simplicity in HADDOCK scoring: Lessons from CASP‐CAPRI round 1
Authors: Vangone A. , Rodrigues J. P. G. L. M. , Xue L. C. , van Zundert G. C. P. , Geng C. , Kurkcuoglu Z. , Nellen M. , Narasimhan S. , Karaca E. , van Dijk M. , Melquiond A. S. J. , Visscher K. M. , Trellet M. , Kastritis P. L. , Bonvin A. M. J. J. 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTOur information‐driven docking approach HADDOCK is a consistent top predictor and scorer since the start of its participation in the CAPRI community‐wide experiment. This sustained performance is due, in part, to its ability to integrate experimental data and/or bioinformatics information into the modelling process, and also to the overall robustness of the scoring function used to assess and rank the predictions. In the CASP‐CAPRI Round 1 scoring experiment we successfully selected acceptable/medium quality models for 18/14 of the 25 targets – a top‐ranking performance among all scorers. Considering that for only 20 targets acceptable models were generated by the community, our effective success rate reaches as high as 90% (18/20). This was achieved using the standard HADDOCK scoring function, which, thirteen years after its original publication, still consists of a simple linear combination of intermolecular van der Waals and Coulomb electrostatics energies and an empirically derived desolvation energy term. Despite its simplicity, this scoring function makes sense from a physico‐chemical perspective, encoding key aspects of biomolecular recognition. In addition to its success in the scoring experiment, the HADDOCK server takes the first place in the server prediction category, with 16 successful predictions. Much like our scoring protocol, because of the limited time per target, the predictions relied mainly on either an ab initio center‐of‐mass and symmetry restrained protocol, or on a template‐based approach whenever applicable. These results underline the success of our simple but sensible prediction and scoring scheme. Proteins 2017; 85:417–423. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coordinate frame free Dubins vehicle circumnavigation using only range‐based measurements
Authors: Milutinović Dejan , Casbeer David , Cao Yongcan , Kingston Derek 
Published: November 2016

SummaryThe paper presents a feedback control design that allows a Dubins vehicle to enter a circular trajectory using only range‐based measurements from the vehicle to the center of the trajectory. The controller is derived and analyzed based on a novel state space kinematic model, with the state that is composed of two continuous and one discrete state variables.The evolution of the discrete state variable is not completely defined by the model and the control design has to deal with the ambiguity of this value. Based on the conditions that need to be satisfied for the controller to work, the closed loop dynamics analysis can be performed based on 2D phase portraits, and it can be shown that the controller can work in the case of the bounded turning rate of the vehicle. The conditions define only bounds for the controller parameters and not their specific values. Therefore, the parameters can be selected based on the maximal working range of the controller and linear quadratic regulator design. The proposed control design is illustrated by 2D phase portraits and simulations describing the control implementation, which is based only on range measurements. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the spectral coexistence of GSO and NGSO FSS systems: power control mechanisms and a methodology for inter‐site distance determination
Authors: Pourmoghadas A. , Sharma S. K. , Chatzinotas S. , Ottersten B. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryThe coexistence of geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) and non‐GSO (NGSO) fixed satellite service systems within the same spectrum to enhance the spectrum efficiency in Ka band has attracted many interests lately. However, the coexistence of GSO‐NGSO satellite systems with limited shared spectrum can cause in‐line interference from a satellite to other satellite's earth terminals. In this context, this contribution investigates three possible power control approaches to mitigate the in‐line interference caused by an NGSO satellite to the GSO earth terminal, while the NGSO satellite is crossing the GSO satellite's illumination zone. Moreover, three types of interference mitigation techniques, namely, range‐based, traffic‐aware, and cognitive power control techniques are investigated. Furthermore, to increase the spectrum efficiency of the GSO‐NGSO fixed satellite service terrestrial network, we formulate and solve an optimization problem with the objective of minimizing the inter‐site distance between earth user‐terminals. More specifically, we find the minimum distance from a GSO earth terminal, where an NGSO earth terminal can be implemented subject to minimizing received interference level at the victim system. Finally, our comparative results show that the cognitive power control technique performs the best in protecting the victim receiver from the in‐line interference. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
sFlt‐1/PlGF for prediction of early‐onset pre‐eclampsia: STEPS (Study of Early Pre‐eclampsia in Spain)
Authors: Perales A. , Delgado J. L. , de la Calle M. , García‐Hernández J. A. , Escudero A. I. , Campillos J. M. , Sarabia M. D. , Laíz B. , Duque M. , Navarro M. , Calmarza P. , Hund M. , Álvarez F. V. ,   STEPS investigators
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTObjectiveA high ratio of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) has been linked to pre‐eclampsia (PE). We evaluated the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio as a predictive marker for early‐onset PE in women at risk of PE.MethodsThis prospective, Spanish, multicenter study included pregnant women with a risk factor for PE, including intrauterine growth restriction, PE, eclampsia or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count syndrome in previous pregnancy, pregestational diabetes or abnormal uterine artery Doppler. The primary objective was to show that the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio at 20, 24 and 28 weeks' gestation was predictive of early‐onset PE (< 34 + 0 weeks). Serum sFlt‐1 and PlGF were measured at 20, 24 and 28 weeks. Multivariate logistic regression was used to develop a predictive model.ResultsA total of 819 women were enrolled, of which 729 were suitable for analysis. Of these, 78 (10.7%) women developed PE (24 early onset and 54 late onset). Median sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio at 20, 24 and 28 weeks was 6.3 (interquartile range (IQR), 4.1–9.3), 4.0 (IQR, 2.6–6.3) and 3.3 (IQR, 2.0–5.9), respectively, for women who did not develop PE (controls); 14.5 (IQR, 5.5–43.7), 18.4 (IQR, 8.2–57.9) and 51.9 (IQR, 11.5–145.6) for women with early‐onset PE; and 6.7 (IQR, 4.6–9.9), 4.7 (IQR, 2.8–7.2) and 6.0 (IQR, 3.8–10.5) for women with late‐onset PE. Compared with early‐onset PE, the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio was significantly lower in controls (P < 0.001 at each timepoint) and in women with chronic hypertension (P < 0.001 at each timepoint), gestational hypertension (P < 0.001 at each timepoint) and late‐onset PE (P < 0.001 at each timepoint). A prediction model for early‐onset PE was developed, which included the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio plus mean arterial pressure, being parous and previous PE, with areas under the receiver–operating characteristics curves of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.77–0.95), 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85–0.97) and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.86–0.99) at 20, 24 and 28 weeks, respectively, and was superior to models using the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio alone or uterine artery mean pulsatility index.ConclusionsThe sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio can improve prediction of early‐onset PE for women at risk of this condition. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Effects of temperature acclimation on the critical thermal limits and swimming performance of Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis: a threatened fish in Qinling Mountain region of China
Authors: Xia Jigang , Ma Yijie , Fu Cheng , Fu Shijian , Cooke Steven J. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBrachymystax lenok tsinlingensis is an endangered teleost fish species that occurs in the Qinling Mountain region of China. It also happens to represent the southernmost distribution of an endemic Salmonid fish worldwide. Recently, the habitat of this species shifted towards a higher altitude presumably because of climate change, indicating that this species might be suffering from thermal stress. However, information on the thermal physiology of this species is extremely limited. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of acclimation temperature (6, 12, and 18 °C) on ecologically relevant end points such as critical thermal limits, swimming performance and metabolic rate. Our results showed that elevated acclimation temperatures resulted in increased thermal tolerance and decreased swimming efficiency. High temperature (i.e., 18 °C) did not have a marked effect on the critical swimming speed and the maximum metabolic rate but caused an increase in the energetic cost of transport compared with the results at 12 °C. Interestingly, we found that both the acclimation response ratio and the critical thermal maxima of B. lenok tsinlingensis were higher than that of many other Salmonidae fishes, suggesting that this species responds plastically to temperature changes and has a high thermal tolerance. These characteristics are hypothesized to be related to the southernmost distribution of this species.
Antioxidant (Tocopherol and Canolol) Content in Rapeseed Oil Obtained from Roasted Yellow‐Seeded Brassica napus
Authors: Siger Aleksander , Gawrysiak‐Witulska Marzena , Bartkowiak‐Broda Iwona 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn this study, the effect of temperature (140, 160, 180 °C) and roasting time (5, 10, 15 min) on the bioactive compound content (canolol, tocopherol and plastochromanol‐8) of cold‐pressed oil from yellow‐seeded rapeseed lines of different colors was investigated. Roasting increased the peroxide value in the seed oils compared to the oils from the control samples. However, roasting did not affect the acid values of the oils, which were 1.15–1.47 and 1.30–1.40 mg KOH/g, for line PN1 03/1i/14 (yellow seeds) and line PN1 563/1i/14 (brown seeds), respectively. In this study, the seeds of line PN1 03/1i/14 were characterized by different changes in canolol content during roasting than the seeds of PN1 563/1i/14. There was a 90‐fold increase in canolol for the line PN1 03/1i/14 (768.26 µg/g) and a 46‐fold increase for the line PN1 563/1i/14 (576.43 µg/g). Changes in tocopherol and PC‐8 contents were also observed. There was an increase in the contents of γ‐T and PC‐8 in the oils obtained from the seeds roasted at 180 °C for 10 and 15 min. γ‐T content increased by 17–18% after 15 min of roasting, whereas the PC‐8 content increased twofold.