bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
HPMA‐PEG Surfmers and Their Use in Stabilizing Fully Biodegradable Polymer Nanoparticles
Authors: Sponchioni Mattia , Palmiero Umberto Capasso , Moscatelli Davide 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe most adopted methods to produce polymer nanoparticles (NPs) for medical and pharmaceutical applications use surfactants that are toxic and physically adsorbed to the NPs, with the risk of desorption and insurgence of side effects. A valid alternative is represented by the use of surfmers, reactive surfactants that are chemically linked to the polymer chains, thus avoiding the release of toxic species. In this case, the lack of biodegradable surfmers introduces the concern of polymer accumulation into the body. In this work, biodegradable, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)ylated N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) based surfmers are synthesized and used to stabilize lipophilic NPs. In particular, the NP core is made from a macromonomer comprising a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) chain functionalized with HPMA double bond. The NP forming polymer chains are then constituted by a uniform poly(HPMA) backbone that is biocompatible and water soluble and hydrolysable PEG and PLA pendants assuring the complete degradability of the polymer. The stability provided to these NPs by the synthesized surfmers is studied in the cases of both emulsion free radical polymerization and solution free radical polymerization followed by the flash nanoprecipitation of the obtained amphiphilic copolymers.
Pedestrian safety in patients with Parkinson's disease: A case‐control study
Authors: Ford Kristin J. , Joop Allen , Memon Raima A. , Wood Kimberly H. , Ball Karlene , Cutter Gary R. , Schwebel David C. , Amara Amy W. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTBackgroundPatients with Parkinson's disease experience debilitating motor symptoms as well as nonmotor symptoms, such as cognitive dysfunction and sleep disorders. This constellation of symptoms has the potential to negatively influence pedestrian safety. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of motor symptoms, daytime sleepiness, impaired vigilance, and cognitive dysfunction with pedestrian behavior in patients with Parkinson's disease and healthy older adults.MethodsFifty Parkinson's disease and 25 control participants were evaluated within a virtual reality pedestrian environment and completed assessments of motor performance, daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), vigilance (psychomotor vigilance task), and visual processing speed (Useful Field of View) outside the virtual reality environment. The primary outcome measure was time to contact, defined as the time remaining until a participant would have been hit by an approaching vehicle while crossing the virtual street.ResultsThe virtual reality pedestrian environment was feasible in all participants. Patients with Parkinson's disease demonstrated riskier pedestrian behavior compared with controls. Among Parkinson's disease participants, walking speed, objective measures of vigilance, and visual processing speed were correlated with pedestrian behavior, with walking speed the strongest predictor of time to contact, explaining 48% of the variance. Vigilance explained an additional 8% of the variance. In controls, vigilance was also important for street‐crossing safety, but older age was the most robust predictor of pedestrian safety.ConclusionsWalking speed is associated with unsafe pedestrian behavior in patients with Parkinson's disease. In contrast, age was the strongest predictor of pedestrian safety in healthy older adults. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Technical Note: Dosimetric characteristics of the ocular beam line and commissioning data for an ocular proton therapy planning system at the Proton Therapy Center Houston
Authors: Titt Uwe , Suzuki Kazumichi , Li Yupeng , Sahoo Narayan , Gillin Michael T. , Zhu Xiaorong R. 
Published: October 2017

PurposeTo systematically analyze and present the properties of a small‐field, double‐scattering proton beam line intended to be used for the treatment of ocular cancer, and to provide configuration data for commission of the Eclipse Ocular Proton Planning System.MethodsMeasurements were made using ionization chambers, diodes, and films to determine dose profiles and output factors of the proton beams of the beam line at the Proton Therapy Center Houston. In parallel, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to validate the measured data and to provide additional insight into detailed beam parameters that are hard to measure, such as field size factors and a comparison of output factors as a function of circular and rectangular fields.ResultsThe presented data comprise depth dose profiles, including distal and proximal profiles used to configure the Eclipse Ocular Proton Planning system, distal fall‐off widths, lateral profiles and penumbrae sizes, as well as output factors as a function of field size, SOBP width, range shifter thickness, snout position, and source‐to‐surface distance.ConclusionsWe have completed a comprehensive characterization of the beam line. The data will be useful to characterize proton beams in clinical and experimental small‐field applications.
Variation in the prevalence of deciduous caries in early modern human skeletons from Japan
Authors: Nagaoka Tomohito , Abe Mikiko 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe early modern Edo period in Japan denotes a chronological division between the AD 17th and 19th centuries when social structure was stratified. This study aimed to examine the occurrence of dental caries in the deciduous teeth of commoner children in Sakai City (Osaka, Japan), comparing them with those excavated in other regions, eventually clarifying variations in prevalence of deciduous caries and the causative factors contributing to such variations. Results indicated a biased distribution pattern in caries prevalence. Caries were frequently present in maxillary incisors whereas few occurrences in the mandibular counterparts were observed. Another important finding was the population‐level differences in caries prevalence—the Sakai sample displayed systematically lower frequencies of caries than warriors and commoners from Kyushu in western Japan; thus, causative factors can be hypothesized to be not only social classes but also regional differences in living conditions. These findings proved the presence of intrapopulation and interpopulation variation in deciduous caries based on children's skeletons from socially stratified societies in different geographical regions and demonstrated that deciduous caries provide bioarchaeologists with information on population diversity apparent in caries prevalence and cariogenic diets.
Anxiety during cancer diagnosis: Examining the influence of monitoring coping style and treatment plan
Authors: Bronner Madelon B. , Nguyen Minh Hao , Smets Ellen M.A. , van de Ven Anthony W.H. , van Weert Julia C.M. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractObjectiveStudies on anxiety within oncology show a high prevalence of anxiety both during and after the course of the disease. However, little is known about factors that influence the level of anxiety in the diagnostic phase. This study examines the presence of anxiety during diagnosis and treatment planning and explores how a monitoring (ie, information seeking) coping style and the suggested treatment plan (ie, with or without chemotherapy) interact with anxiety.MethodsAnxiety scores (6‐item State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory) were collected from 81 colorectal cancer patients before and after their visit to the outpatient Gastrointestinal Oncological Center Amsterdam. A cut‐off score (>44) was used to indicate highly anxious patients.ResultsMore than half (59%) of the patients were classified as highly anxious before consultation. Although anxiety scores significantly decreased after consultation (t = 3.149, P = .002), 37% of the patients remained highly anxious. Reductions in anxiety were specifically observed for patients with a higher monitoring coping style and patients for whom a treatment plan without chemotherapy was proposed. Interestingly, high monitors for whom treatment without chemotherapy was proposed showed a major decrease in anxiety, whereas low monitors for whom treatment starting with chemotherapy was proposed showed a great increase in anxiety.ConclusionsThe diagnostic phase is associated with high levels of anxiety. Distinct patterns of anxiety were identified, depending on patients' coping style and the suggested treatment plan. Remarkably, patients with a lower monitoring coping style became particularly anxious when they were advised to start treatment with chemotherapy.
Gamma‐aminobutyric acidA receptor agonist, muscimol, increases KiSS‐1 gene expression in hypothalamic cell models
Authors: Kanasaki Haruhiko , Tumurbaatar Tuvshintugs , Oride Aki , Hara Tomomi , Okada Hiroe , Kyo Satoru 
Published: October 2017

AbstractPurposeAccumulating evidence indicates that hypothalamic kisspeptin plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. In this study, the direct action of the gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor agonist on kisspeptin‐expressing neuronal cells was examined.MethodsA hypothalamic cell model of rat hypothalamic cell line R8 (rHypoE8) cells and primary cultures of neuronal cells from fetal rat brains were stimulated with a potent and selective GABAA receptor agonist, muscimol, to determine the expression of the KiSS‐1 gene.ResultsStimulation of the rHypoE8 cells with muscimol significantly increased the level of KiSS‐1 messenger (m)RNA expression. The ability of muscimol to increase the level of KiSS‐1 mRNA also was observed in the primary cultures of the neuronal cells from the fetal rat brains. The muscimol‐induced increase in KiSS‐1 mRNA expression was completely inhibited in the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonist. Although muscimol increased the expression of KiSS‐1, the natural compound, GABA, failed to induce the expression of KiSS‐1 in the rHypoE8 cells. Muscimol did not modulate gonadotropin‐releasing hormone expression in either the rHypoE8 cells or the primary cultures of the fetal rat brains.ConclusionsThis study's observations suggest that the activation of the GABAA receptor modulates the HPG axis by increasing kisspeptin expression in the hypothalamic neurons.
Nationwide survey of urological specialists regarding male infertility: results from a 2015 questionnaire in Japan
Authors: Yumura Yasushi , Tsujimura Akira , Imamoto Takashi , Umemoto Yukihiro , Kobayashi Hideyuki , Shiraishi Koji , Shin Takeshi , Taniguchi Hisanori , Chiba Koji , Miyagawa Yasushi , Iwamoto Teruaki 
Published: October 2017

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the incidence, etiology, treatment indications, and outcomes regarding infertile male patients in Japan.MethodsBetween April, 2014 and March, 2015, the authors contacted 47 clinical specialists in male infertility who had been certified by the Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine. The participating clinicians were sent a questionnaire regarding information on their infertile patients, according to etiology and the number and success rates of male infertility operations that had been performed in their practice.ResultsThirty‐nine specialists returned the questionnaire and provided information regarding 7268 patients. The etiology of infertility included testicular factors, sexual disorders, and seminal tract obstruction. During the study year, the clinicians performed varicocelectomies, testicular sperm extractions (TESEs), and re‐anastomoses of the seminal tract. The rate of successful varicocelectomies was >70%. The sperm retrieval rates with conventional TESE and microdissection TESE were 98.3% and 34.0%, respectively, while the patency rates with vasovasostomy and epididymovasostomy were 81.8% and 61.0%, respectively.ConclusionSurgical outcomes for infertile male patients are favorable and can be of great clinical benefit for infertile couples. To achieve this, urologists should work in collaboration with gynecological specialists in order to optimize the treatment of both partners.
Decentralized filtered feedback linearization for uncertain nonlinear systems
Authors: Ghasemi Amir H. , Hoagg Jesse B. , Seigler T.M. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryThis paper presents decentralized filtered feedback linearization (D‐FFL), which is a decentralized controller for uncertain nonlinear systems with potentially unknown disturbance. Moreover, D‐FFL uses only local‐state feedback (or, in certain cases, local‐output feedback) and local reference‐model‐input feedforward and requires limited model information. For sufficiently small initial conditions and sufficiently large choice of a scalar control parameter, D‐FFL makes the
norm of the command‐following error arbitrarily small.
Temporal variability of streamflow and plant species abundance on islets as they relate to ENSO events downstream from an inversion‐type reservoir
Authors: Dubeau S. , Assani A. A. , Ibrahim G. , Rodríguez M. A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe goal of this study was to analyse the impacts of the sequence of 1 El Niño (2009–2010) and 2 La Niña (2007–2008 and 2010–2011) events on the interannual variability of daily streamflow during the growing season (April to September) and grass species abundance downstream from the Taureau reservoir (4,070 km2) on the Matawin River (Quebec, Canada). This reservoir has inverted the natural annual cycle of streamflow: Maximum flows occur in winter and minimum flows in springtime during snowmelt. Comparison of daily flows over the period from 2006 to 2011 using various statistical tests revealed a significant increase in flows released downstream from the reservoir during the 2 La Niña events, with a particularly large increase in the growing season (April to May) during the 1st La Niña event (2007–2008). In contrast, during the El Niño event (2009–2010), streamflow decreased significantly. As far as the abundance of plant species is concerned, the total number of obligate wetland species increased significantly after the 1st La Niña event and then decreased after the El Niño event, along with the total number of terrestrial species. The study shows that relatively intense El Niño Southern Oscillation events can have significant implications for the management of flows released downstream from reservoirs in Quebec and hence affect plant species abundance on islets.
Surface/Interfacial Structure and Chemistry of High‐Energy Nickel‐Rich Layered Oxide Cathodes: Advances and Perspectives
Authors: Hou Peiyu , Yin Jiangmei , Ding Meng , Huang Jinzhao , Xu Xijin 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe urgent prerequisites of high energy‐density and superior electrochemical properties have been the main inspiration for the advancement of cathode materials in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) in the last two decades. Nickel‐rich layered transition‐metal oxides with large reversible capacity as well as high operating voltage are considered as the most promising candidate for next‐generation LIBs. Nonetheless, the poor long‐term cycle‐life and inferior thermal stability have limited their broadly practical applications. In the research of LIBs, it is observed that surface/interfacial structure and chemistry play significant roles in the performance of cathode cycling. This is due to the fact that they are basically responsible for the reversibility of Li+ intercalation/deintercalation chemistries while dictating the kinetics of the general cell reactions. In this Review, the surface/interfacial structure and chemistry of nickel‐rich layered cathodes involving structural defects, redox mechanisms, structural evolutions, side‐reactions among others are initially demonstrated. Recent advancements in stabilizing the surface/interfacial structure and chemistry of nickel‐rich cathodes by surface modification, core–shell/concentration‐gradient structure, foreign‐ion substitution, hybrid surface, and electrolyte additive are presented. Then lastly, the remaining challenges such as the fundamental studies and commercialized applications, as well as the future research directions are discussed.
Trace Water as Prominent Factor to Induce Peptide Self‐Assembly: Dynamic Evolution and Governing Interactions in Ionic Liquids
Authors: Wang Juan , Yuan Chengqian , Han Yuchun , Wang Yilin , Liu Xiaomin , Zhang Suojiang , Yan Xuehai 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe interaction between water and biomolecules including peptides is of critical importance for forming high‐level architectures and triggering life's functions. However, the bulk aqueous environment has limitations in detecting the kinetics and mechanisms of peptide self‐assembly, especially relating to interactions of trace water. With ionic liquids (ILs) as a nonconventional medium, herein, it is discovered that trace amounts of water play a decisive role in triggering self‐assembly of a biologically derived dipeptide. ILs provide a suitable nonaqueous environment, enabling us to mediate water content and follow the dynamic evolution of peptide self‐assembly. The trace water is found to be involved in the assembly process of dipeptide, especially leading to the formation of stable noncovalent dipeptide oligomers in the early stage of nucleation, as evident by both experimental studies and theoretical simulations. The thermodynamics of the growth process is mainly governed by a synergistic effect of hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonds. Each step of assembly presents a different trend in thermodynamic energy. The dynamic evolution of assembly process can be efficiently mediated by changing trace water content. The decisive role of trace water in triggering and mediating self‐assembly of biomolecules provides a new perspective in understanding supramolecular chemistry and molecular self‐organization in biology.
Prospective evaluation of IOTA logistic regression models LR1 and LR2 in comparison with subjective pattern recognition for diagnosis of ovarian cancer in an outpatient setting
Authors: Nunes N. , Ambler G. , Foo X. , Widschwendter M. , Jurkovic D. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo determine whether International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) logistic regression models LR1 and LR2 developed for the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian cancer could also be used to differentiate between benign and malignant adnexal tumors in the population of women attending gynecology outpatient clinics.MethodsThis was a single‐center prospective observational study of consecutive women attending our gynecological diagnostic outpatient unit, recruited between May 2009 and January 2012. All the women were first examined by a Level‐II ultrasound operator. In those diagnosed with adnexal tumors, the IOTA‐LR1/2 protocol was used to evaluate the masses. The LR1 and LR2 models were then used to assess the risk of malignancy. Subsequently, the women were also examined by a Level‐III examiner, who used pattern recognition to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors. Women with an ultrasound diagnosis of malignancy were offered surgery, while asymptomatic women with presumed benign lesions were offered conservative management with a minimum follow‐up of 12 months. The initial diagnosis was compared with two reference standards: histological findings and/or a comparative assessment of tumor morphology on follow‐up ultrasound scans. All women for whom the tumor classification on follow‐up changed from benign to malignant were offered surgery.ResultsIn the final analysis, 489 women who had either or both of the reference standards were included. Their mean age was 50 years (range, 16–91 years) and 45% were postmenopausal. Of the included women, 342/489 (69.9%) had surgery and 147/489 (30.1%) were managed conservatively. The malignancy rate was 137/489 (28.0%). Overall, sensitivities of LR1 and LR2 for the diagnosis of malignancy were 97.1% (95% CI, 92.7–99.2%) and 94.9% (95% CI, 89.8–97.9%) and specificities were 77.3% (95% CI, 72.5–81.5%) and 76.7% (95% CI, 71.9–81.0%), respectively (P > 0.05). In comparison with pattern recognition (sensitivity 94.2% (95% CI, 88.8–97.4%), specificity 96.3% (95% CI, 93.8–98.0%)), the specificities of the IOTA models were significantly lower (P < 0.0001). A significantly higher number of women would have been offered surgery for suspected cancer if the women had been assessed using the IOTA models instead of pattern recognition (213/489 (43.6%) vs 142/489 (29.0%); P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe IOTA models maintained their high sensitivity when used in an outpatient setting. Specificity was relatively low, which indicates that a significant proportion of the women would have been offered unnecessary surgery for suspected ovarian cancer. These findings show that the IOTA models could be used as a first‐stage test to diagnose ovarian cancer in an outpatient setting, but a different second‐stage test is required to minimize the number of false‐positive findings. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
A jack of all trades: the RNA‐binding protein vigilin
Authors: Cheng Matthew HK , Jansen Ralf‐Peter 
Published: October 2017

The vigilin family of proteins is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to humans and characterized by the proteins’ 14 or 15 hnRNP K homology (KH) domains, typically associated with RNA‐binding. Vigilin is the largest RNA‐binding protein (RBP) in the KH domain‐containing family and one of the largest RBP known to date. Since its identification 30 years ago, vigilin has been shown to bind over 700 mRNAs and has been associated with cancer progression and cardiovascular disease. We provide a brief historic overview of vigilin research and outline the proteins’ different functions, focusing on maintenance of genome ploidy, heterochromatin formation, RNA export, as well as regulation of translation, mRNA transport, and mRNA stability. The multitude of associated functions is reflected by the large number of identified interaction partners, ranging from tRNAs, mRNAs, ribosomes and ribosome‐associated proteins, to histone methyltransferases and DNA‐dependent protein kinases. Most of these partners bind to vigilin's carboxyterminus, and the two most C‐terminal KH domains of the protein, KH13 and KH14, represent the main mRNA‐binding interface. Since the nuclear functions of vigilins in particular are not conserved, we outline a model for the basal functions of vigilins, as well as those which were acquired during the transition from unicellular organisms to metazoa. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1448. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1448This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition
RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications
Translation > Translation Regulation