bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of an oxygen‐inducible nar promoter system in metabolic engineering for production of biochemicals in Escherichia coli
Authors: Hwang Hee J. , Kim Jin W. , Ju Si Y. , Park Jin H. , Lee Pyung C. 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTThe nar promoter, a dissolved oxygen (DO)‐dependent promoter in Escherichia coli, is simply induced and functional in any cell growth phase, which are advantageous for producing biochemicals/fuels on an industrial scale. To demonstrate the feasibility of using the nar promoter in the metabolic engineering of biochemicals/biofuels in E. coli, three target pathways were examined: the d‐lactate, 2,3‐butandiol (2,3‐BDO), and 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDO) pathways consisting of one, three, and six genes, respectively. Each pathway gene was expressed under the control of the nar promoter. When the ldhD gene was expressed in fed‐batch culture, the titer, yield, and productivity of d‐lactate were 113.12 ± 2.37 g/L, 0.91 ± 0.07 g/g‐glucose, and 4.19 ± 0.09 g/L/h, respectively. When three 2,3‐BDO pathway genes (ilvBN, aldB, bdh1) were expressed in fed‐batch culture, the titer, yield, and productivity of (R,R)‐2,3‐BDO were 48.0 ± 8.48 g/L, 0.43 ± 0.07 g/g glucose, and 0.76 ± 0.13 g/L/h, respectively. When six 1,3‐PDO pathway genes (dhaB1B2B3, yqhD, gdrA, and gdrB) were expressed in fed‐batch culture, the titer, yield, and productivity of 1,3‐PDO were 15.8 ± 0.62 g/L, 0.35 ± 0.01 g/g‐glycerol, and 0.25 ± 0.01 g/L/h, respectively. Based on the reasonable performance comparable to that observed in previous studies using different promoters in metabolic engineering, the nar promoter can serve as a controlled expression tool for developing a microbial system to efficiently produce biochemicals and biofuels. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 468–473. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Factors for tumor progression in patients with skull base chordoma
Authors: Wang Liang , Tian Kaibing , Wang Ke , Ma Junpeng , Ru Xiaojuan , Du Jiang , Jia Guijun , Zhang Liwei , Wu Zhen , Zhang Junting 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSkull base chordoma is a rare and fatal disease, recurrence of which is inevitable, albeit variable. We aimed to investigate the clinicopathologic features of disease progression, identify prognostic factors, and construct a nomogram for predicting progression in individual patients. Data of 229 patients with skull base chordoma treated by one institution between 2005 and 2014 were retrieved and grouped as primary and recurrent. Kaplan–Meier survival of progression was estimated, taking competing risks into account. Multivariable Cox regression was used to investigate survival predictors. The primary group consisted by 183 cases, gained more benefits on 5‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) (51%) and mean PFS time (66.9 months) than the recurrent group (46 cases), in which 5‐year postrecurrent PFS was 14%, and mean postrecurrent PFS time was 29.5 months. In the primary group, visual deficits, pathological subtypes, extent of bone invasion, preoperative Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) score, and variation in perioperative KPS were identified as independent predictors of PFS. A nomogram to predict 3‐year and 5‐year PFS consisted of these factors, was well calibrated and had good discriminative ability (adjusted Harrell C statistic, 0.68). In the recurrent group, marginal resection (P = 0.018) and adjuvant radiotherapy (P = 0.043) were verified as protective factors associated with postrecurrent PFS. Factors for tumor progression demonstrated some differences between primary and recurrent cases. The nomogram appears useful for risk stratification of tumor progression in primary cases. Further studies will be necessary to identify the rapid‐growth histopathological subtype as an independent predictor of rapid progression.
Ultrastructure of the ovary and oogenesis in the flatworm Prosthiostomum siphunculus (Polycladida, Cotylea)
Authors: Gammoudi Mehrez , Salvenmoser Willi , Tekaya Saïda , Egger Bernhard 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBased on light and electron microscopy observations, oogenesis in the cotylean polyclad Prosthiostomum siphunculus was investigated for the first time. The numerous ovarian follicles are dispersed essentially in the dorsal parenchyma. In the follicles, a ventral germinative zone with undifferentiated germs cells of different sizes and a dorsal growth zone with larger growing and abortive oocytes are present. The oogenesis could be subdivided into four stages: (1) Oogonia with a dark nucleus and a dark, ribosome‐rich cytoplasm. (2) Early oocyte stage, represented by relatively small cells (10 μm in diameter), a cytoplasm showing some mitochondria and some endoplasmic reticula. (3) Previtellogenic stage, with a decrease of the nucleo‐cytoplasmic ratio due to the remarkable increase in ooplasm volume. Immature eggshell globules are observed. (4) Vitellogenic stage, including early vitellogenic ovarian stage, in which a second type of globule (inclusion globule) is formed, and a late vitellogenic uterine stage, in which the inclusion globules are not present anymore. The mature eggshell globules form a peripheral layer under the cell membrane. Eggshell and inclusion globules were analyzed with electron energy loss spectroscopy, electron spectroscopic imaging, protease treatment, and with periodic acid thiocarbohydracide silver proteinate to detect polysaccharides. Chromatoid bodies are present in all four stages. For the first time in a flatworm, we provide evidence that accessory cells, forming a tunica around the ovarian follicles, are epithelial or epithelium‐like and likely contribute nutrients for the growth of the oocytes.
Three‐Phase Heterogeneously Catalyzed Oxidative Esterification – Relevance of Oxygen Mass Transport
Authors: Otterstätter Robin , Zanthoff Horst‐Werner , Klemm Elias 
Published: August 2016

AbstractOxidative esterification of an aldehyde and an alcohol on a heterogeneous catalyst is a green and mild alternative to classic routes to esters. The reaction of methacrolein with methanol and oxygen to methyl methacrylate is considered. A fixed‐bed catalyst which has a well‐defined core/shell structure and pore size distribution was applied instead of a typically used powder catalyst. It was charged in a fixed‐bed reactor with a recycle for liquids, while the oxygen‐containing gas was fed continuously. The mass transport of the multiphase reaction system is investigated and the results show the different influences like mass transfer through phase boundaries and diffusion limitations of the oxygen mass transport. Different ways are proposed to increase the oxygen mass transfer and decrease diffusion limitations.
Structural and Operational Optimality of Adsorptive Reactors
Authors: Hussainy Mamoon , Agar David W. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAdsorptive reactors represent a promising genre of multifunctional reactors combining the highly compatible adsorptive and reactive functionalities. Although they offer multiple benefits to the overall process flowsheet, overcoming the low space time yields, which are an inherent drawback of their cyclic operation, and unwanted functionality interference remain a challenge. The potential of temperature profiling to expedite the macrostructuring of adsorptive reactors for performance optimization is presented. Two industrially relevant reactions have been investigated as test cases: the Claus reaction for recovering sulfur from acid gas and the Deacon reaction for the plant‐internal recycling of chlorine via HCl oxidation.
Approaching over 10 000‐fold sensitivity increase in chiral capillary electrophoresis: Cation‐selective exhaustive injection and sweeping cyclodextrin‐modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography
Authors: Mikuma Toshiyasu , Iwata Yuko T. , Miyaguchi Hajime , Kuwayama Kenji , Tsujikawa Kenji , Kanamori Tatsuyuki , Kanazawa Hideko , Inoue Hiroyuki 
Published: August 2016

A novel and simple method that combines an online concentration technique with an enantioseparation technique for capillary electrophoresis—namely, cation‐selective exhaustive injection and sweeping cyclodextrin‐modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CSEI‐sweeping CD‐modified MEKC)—realizes the effective enantioseparation of cationic analytes while keeping a significant increase of detection sensitivity. This technique consists of a slight modification of the basic CSEI‐sweeping MEKC. The main idea is to simply add an anionic CD as a chiral selector into the micellar buffer including sodium dodecyl sulfate, but not to change any other buffers in order to preserve the online concentration mechanism. When applied to analysis of the street drug, methamphetamine, the method achieved not only a baseline enantioseparation but also limits of detection (LODs; S/N = 3) of 70–90 pg/mL (ppt) for each isomer. This translates to a more than 10 000‐fold improvement compared to the LODs by the usual injection method. The present technique, which was made from a slight modification of CSEI‐sweeping MEKC, would give an attractive approach that is applicable to almost any analytes for which CSEI‐sweeping MEKC is applicable; all that is required is the selection of an appropriate anionic CD to be added to the micellar buffer.
Perfluorinated alkyl acids in plasma of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from Florida and South Carolina
Authors: Bangma Jacqueline T. , Bowden John A. , Brunell Arnold M. , Christie Ian , Finnell Brendan , Guillette Matthew P. , Jones Martin , Lowers Russell H. , Rainwater Thomas R. , Reiner Jessica L. , Wilkinson Philip M. , Guillette Louis J. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract

The present study aimed to quantitate 15 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in 125 adult American alligators at 12 sites across the southeastern United States. Of those 15 PFAAs, 9 were detected in 65% to 100% of samples: perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), perfluorododecanoic acid, perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTriA), perfluorotetradecanoic acid, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Males (across all sites) showed significantly higher concentrations of 4 PFAAs: PFOS (p = 0.01), PFDA (p = 0.0003), PFUnA (p = 0.021), and PFTriA (p = 0.021). Concentrations of PFOS, PFHxS, and PFDA in plasma were significantly different among the sites in each sex. Alligators at both Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (FL, USA) and Kiawah Nature Conservancy (SC, USA) exhibited some of the highest PFOS concentrations (medians of 99.5 ng/g and 55.8 ng/g, respectively) in plasma measured to date in a crocodilian species. A number of positive correlations between PFAAs and snout–vent length were observed in both sexes, suggesting that PFAA body burdens increase with increasing size. In addition, several significant correlations among PFAAs in alligator plasma may suggest conserved sources of PFAAs at each site throughout the greater study area. The present study is the first to report PFAAs in American alligators, to reveal potential PFAA hot spots in Florida and South Carolina, and to provide a contaminant of concern when assessing anthropogenic impacts on ecosystem health. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:917–925. Published 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Training improves the interobserver agreement of the expert positron emission tomography review panel in primary mediastinal B‐cell lymphoma: interim analysis in the ongoing International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group‐37 study
Authors: Ceriani Luca , Barrington Sally , Biggi Alberto , Malkowski Bogdan , Metser Ur , Versari Annibale , Martelli Maurizio , Davies Andrew , Johnson Peter W. , Zucca Emanuele , Chauvie Stéphane 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG)‐37 is a prospective randomized trial assessing the role of consolidation mediastinal radiotherapy after immunochemotherapy to patients with newly diagnosed primary mediastinal large B‐cell lymphoma (PMBCL). It is a positron emission tomography (PET) response‐guided study where patients obtaining a complete metabolic response on an end‐of‐therapy PET‐computed tomography (CT) scan evaluated by a central review are randomized to receive radiotherapy or no further treatment.The aims of this study were to measure agreement between reviewers reporting PET‐CT scans for this trial and to determine the effect of training upon concordance rates. The review panel comprised 6 experienced nuclear physicians who read PET‐CT scans using the 5‐point Deauville scale. Interobserver agreement (IOA) was measured at 4 time points: after a blinded review of a “training set” of 20 patients with PMBCL from the previous IELSG‐26 study (phase 1); after the first 10 clinical cases enrolled in the IELSG‐37 (phase 2); and after 2 further groups of 50 (phase 3) and 40 clinical cases (phase 4). After feedback from the training set and the first 10 cases, a meeting was held to discuss interpretation, and a detailed set of instructions for the review procedure was agreed and acted upon. Between 2012 and 2014, the first 100 patients were reviewed. Using Deauville score 3 as the cutoff for a complete metabolic response, the overall IOA among the reviewers was good (Krippendorff α = 0.72.) The binary concordance between pairs of reviewers (Cohen κ) ranged from 0.60 to 0.78. The IOA, initially moderate, improved progressively from phase 1 to 4 (Krippendorff α from 0.53 to 0.81; Cohen κ from 0.35‐0.72 to 0.77‐0.87). Our experience indicates that the agreement among “expert” nuclear physicians reporting PMBCL, even using standardized criteria, was only moderate when the study began. However, agreement improved using a harmonization process, which included a training exercise with discussion of points leading to disagreement and compiling practical rules to sit alongside commonly adopted interpretation criteria.
Response of suspended sediment particle size distributions to changes in water chemistry at an Andean mountain stream confluence receiving arsenic rich acid drainage
Authors: Abarca Maria , Guerra Paula , Arce Guillermo , Montecinos Mauricio , Escauriaza Cristian , Coquery Marina , Pastén Pablo 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAcid drainage is an important water quality issue in Andean watersheds, affecting the sustainability of urban, agricultural, and industrial activities. Mixing zones receiving acid drainage are critical sites where changes in pH and chemical environment promote the formation and dissolution of iron and aluminum oxy/hydroxides. These particles can significantly change the speciation of toxic metals and metalloids throughout drainage networks via sorption, desorption, and settling processes. However, little is known about the behavior of particle size distributions (PSDs) in streams affected by acid drainage and their relationship to metal speciation. This work studied: (a) the PSDs for a wide range of mixing ratios found at a fluvial confluence affected by acid drainage, and (b) the response of PSDs and arsenic speciation to environmental changes found when the particles approach complete mixing conditions. The confluence between the Azufre River (pH ~ 2, high concentration of dissolved metals) and Caracarani River (pH = 8.6, low concentration of dissolved metals) was used as a representative model for study. Field measurements show a bimodal PSD with modal diameters of ~50 and 300 μm. At shorter distances from the junction, the smaller modes with smaller particle volumes were dominant across the stream cross‐sections. A systematic shift towards larger particle sizes and larger particle volumes occurred downstream. The analysis of laboratory PSDs for Azufre/Caracarani mixing ratios between 0.01 and 0.5 (pH from 6.2 to 2.3) showed a bimodal trend with ~15 and 50 μm characteristic diameters; larger particles formed at pH>4. When particle suspensions were transferred in laboratory experiments from very low pH to full mixing conditions (pH ~ 2.8 and mixing ratio ~ 0.25) particle sizes varied, and the dissolved arsenic concentration decreased. The observed reaction kinetics were slow compared to the time scale of advective transport, creating opportunities for engineered controls for arsenic. This work contributes to a better understanding of the chemical‐hydrodynamic interactions in watersheds affected by mining, and identifying opportunities to improve water quality at points of use.
Vaterite coatings on electrospun polymeric fibers for biomedical applications
Authors: Savelyeva Maria S. , Abalymov Anatoly A. , Lyubun German P. , Vidyasheva Irina V. , Yashchenok Alexey M. , Douglas Timothy E. L. , Gorin Dmitry A. , Parakhonskiy Bogdan V. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe process of porous calcium carbonate (CaCO3) covering on electrospun poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) fibers is described in this study. Uniform CaCO3 coatings, composed of vaterite microparticles and its aggregates, were formed on PCL fibers by mineral precipitation from solution under ultrasonic treatment. The porous structure of CaCO3 in vaterite polymorphic form is useful for loading of various substances (drugs and nanoparticles), and this property makes vaterite an appropriate material for design of drug delivery systems. Such mineralization was implemented to attain therapeutic and/or biological activity of tissue engineering scaffolds based on electrospun PCL, by means of CaCO3 coatings. Various structures and polymorphs of CaCO3 coatings were obtained by variation of growth conditions (time of fiber incubation in work solution, ultrasonic treatment of this system). Coating homogeneity, CaCO3 polymorphic form, morphology, and CaCO3 mass can be controlled by number of successive stages of fibrous material treatment. Cytotoxicity tests showed that PCL fibers mineralized with CaCO3 did not release substances toxic for cells. SEM images of PCL/CaCO3 scaffolds cultured with cells demonstrate that scaffolds supported cell adhesion and spreading. The presented results show the new technique of controlled PCL scaffold mineralization with vaterite, and an opportunity of using PCL/CaCO3 as scaffolds for tissue engineering. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 94–103, 2017.
3D printing of PLGA scaffolds for tissue engineering
Authors: Mironov Anton V. , Grigoryev Aleksey M. , Krotova Larisa I. , Skaletsky Nikolaj N. , Popov Vladimir K. , Sevastianov Viktor I. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe proposed a novel method of generation of bioresorbable polymeric scaffolds with specified architectonics for tissue engineering using extrusion three‐dimensional (3D) printing with solutions of polylactoglycolide in tetraglycol with their subsequent solidifying in aqueous medium. On the basis of 3D computer models, we obtained the matrix structures with interconnected system of pores ranging in size from 0.5 to 500 µm. The results of in vitro studies using cultures of line NIH 3Т3 mouse fibroblasts, floating islet cultures of newborn rabbit pancreas, and mesenchymal stem cells of human adipose tissue demonstrated the absence of cytotoxicity and good adhesive properties of scaffolds in regard to the cell cultures chosen. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 104–109, 2017.
Predictors of outcomes in large cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the major salivary glands
Authors: Schrank Travis P. , Zhan Kevin Y. , Lentsch Eric J. 
Published: August 2016

ObjectiveMajor salivary gland large‐cell undifferentiated carcinoma (LCUC) is rare and has a poor prognosis. Characterization of patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and predictors of outcome have been limited by low case numbers, as well as grouped analysis with other salivary malignancies. The objective of this study was to address these issues using large‐scale national data.Study DesignRetrospective case series.MethodsData from the National Cancer Database, including cases diagnosed from 1998 to 2012, was analyzed, identifying 247 records of LCUC. Tumor, demographic, and survival information was extracted and analyzed retrospectively.ResultsLarge‐cell undifferentiated carcinoma comprised < 1% of all major salivary gland cancers. Seventy percent of patients presented with advanced‐stage disease. The incidence of occult nodal disease was 39%. Surgery followed by radiation was the most common treatment. Five‐year overall survival was 36%. Comorbidity, distant metastasis, and positive surgical margins were found to be predictors of overall survival.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this represents the largest reported case series of LCUC. The survival analysis demonstrates poorer survival in patients with positive surgical margins; therefore, efforts to complete resection are reasonable. Reported high rates of occult nodal disease also strongly support elective treatment of the neck.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 2016 127:372–376, 2017
Outcomes of mechanical stapling for postlaryngectomy open pharyngotomy closure
Authors: Paddle Paul , Husain Inna , McHugh Lauren , Franco Ramon 
Published: August 2016

Objectives/HypothesisA total laryngectomy (TL) is performed as a primary or salvage therapy for laryngeal carcinoma. Pharyngotomy closure after TL is typically performed using manual sutures. Automatic stapling devices are routinely used in thoracoabdominal surgery, but have not been widely accepted for use in pharyngotomy closure. Previously described closed stapling techniques of pharyngeal closure do not allow direct evaluation of surgical margins and are limited to endolaryngeal disease. We describe an open technique for pharyngotomy closure using a mechanical stapling device.Study DesignRetrospective review.MethodsA review was conducted of 16 total laryngectomies performed from May 2008 to August 2015 utilizing an Ethicon Endopath ETS Compact‐Flex 45 stapler.ResultsSixteen patients (15 male, one female), mean age 69 years, received open TL (14 salvage, two primary) with endostapler pharyngeal closure and primary tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP). Surgical time averaged 218 minutes. Median time to swallowing was 4 days (range, 2–240 days) and mean hospital stay 6 days (range, 3–10 days). Fistula incidence was 31% (5/16) overall and 36% (5/14) in the postradiation patients.ConclusionsMechanical stapling is a simple method for postlaryngectomy open pharyngotomy closure. This technique allows evaluation of margins, easy primary TEP, and the opportunity for early swallowing and shorter hospital stays. In addition, it can be performed for closure of salvage laryngectomies with rates of fistula formation similar to that found in the literature using suture closure techniques. Future studies are necessary to compare oncological results and surgical complications between the open and closed stapling techniques and to traditional suture closure.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 127:605–610, 2017