bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Photo inactivation of virus particles in microfluidic capillary systems
Authors: Ren Yudan , Crump Colin M. , Mackley Malcolm M. , Li Puma Gianluca , Reis Nuno M. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTIt has long been established that UVC light is a very effective method for inactivating pathogens in a fluid, yet the application of UVC irradiation to modern biotechnological processes is limited by the intrinsic short penetration distance of UVC light in optically dense protein solutions. This experimental and numerical study establishes that irradiating a fluid flowing continuously in a microfluidic capillary system, in which the diameter of the capillary is tuned to the depth of penetration of UVC light, uniquely treats the whole volume of the fluid to UVC light, resulting in fast and effective inactivation of pathogens, with particular focus to virus particles. This was demonstrated by inactivating human herpes simplex virus type‐1 (HSV‐1, a large enveloped virus) on a dense 10% fetal calf serum solution in a range of fluoropolymer capillary systems, including a 0.75 mm and 1.50 mm internal diameter capillaries and a high‐throughput MicroCapillary Film with mean hydraulic diameter of 206 μm. Up to 99.96% of HSV‐1 virus particles were effectively inactivated with a mean exposure time of up to 10 s, with undetectable collateral damage to solution proteins. The kinetics of virus inactivation matched well the results from a new mathematical model that considers the parabolic flow profile in the capillaries, and showed the methodology is fully predictable and scalable and avoids both the side effect of UVC light to proteins and the dilution of the fluid in current tubular UVC inactivation systems. This is expected to speed up the industrial adoption of non‐invasive UVC virus inactivation in clinical biotechnology and biomanufacturing of therapeutic molecules. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 1481–1492. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intuitive decision making as a gradual process: investigating semantic intuition‐based and priming‐based decisions with fMRI
Authors: Zander Thea , Horr Ninja K. , Bolte Annette , Volz Kirsten G. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIntroductionIntuition has been defined as the instantaneous, experience‐based impression of coherence elicited by cues in the environment. In a context of discovery, intuitive decision‐making processes can be conceptualized as occurring within two stages, the first of which comprises an implicit perception of coherence that is not (yet) verbalizable. Through a process of spreading activation, this initially non‐conscious perception gradually crosses over a threshold of awareness and thereby becomes explicable. Because of its experiential basis, intuition shares conceptual similarities with implicit memory processes. Based on these, the study addresses two research questions: (1) Is the gradual nature of intuitive processes reflected on a neural level? (2) Do intuition‐based decisions differ neurally from priming‐based decisions?MethodsTo answer these questions, we conducted an fMRI study using the triads task and presented participants with coherent word triads that converge on a common fourth concept, and incoherent word triads that do not converge on a common fourth concept. Participants had to perform semantic coherence judgments as well as to indicate whether they immediately knew the fourth concept. To enable investigating intuition‐based and priming‐based decisions within the same task and with the same participants, we implemented a conceptual priming procedure into the coherence judgment task. We realized this by priming participants with concepts associated with incoherent triads in separate priming blocks prior to the coherence judgments.ResultsFor intuition‐based decisions, imaging results mainly revealed activity within the orbitofrontal cortex, within the inferior frontal gyrus and the middle temporal gyrus. Activity suppression in the right temporo‐occipital complex was observed for priming‐based decisions.ConclusionsWith respect to research question 1, our data support a continuity model of intuition because the two intuitive stages show quantitatively distinct brain activation patterns. Regarding research question 2, we can draw the preliminary conclusion of a qualitative difference between intuition‐based and priming‐based decisions.
Zero‐Background Helicase‐Dependent Amplification and Its Application to Reliable Assay of Telomerase Activity in Cancer Cell by Eliminating Primer–Dimer Artifacts
Authors: Chen Feng , Zhang Dexin , Zhang Qing , Zuo Xiaolei , Fan Chunhai , Zhao Yongxi 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPrimer–dimer artifacts resulting from unintended template‐independent primer–primer interactions often hinder the specific amplification of nucleic acids. We demonstrate, for the first time, zero‐background helicase‐dependent amplification (HDA), with low concentrations of both ATP and dNTPs. This strategy achieved the reliable evaluation of telomerase activity in cancer cells by eliminating primer–dimer artifacts, which have plagued many previous methods with reduced specificity. We found that the performance of the telomerase assay by zero‐background HDA was negatively affected by highly concentrated cellular proteins. This inhibitory effect is attributed to the binding of DNA templates to proteins, thus making them unavailable for polymerases. However, gold nanoparticles were demonstrated to highly attenuate such inhibition by abundant proteins, and to enhance the assay sensitivity and reliability when the reaction was performed with concentrated cell extracts.
Cyclic Peptides Made by Linking Synthetic and Genetically Encoded Fragments
Authors: Palei Shubhendu , Mootz Henning D. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractCyclic peptides can be highly valuable as bioactive molecules, both for biomedical applications and in basic research. We introduce a new fragment‐based approach to access cyclic peptide structures in which one fragment is of synthetic origin and the other is genetically encoded. The synthetic peptide, which can contain one or more non‐proteinogenic building blocks, is coupled to the recombinantly expressed peptide through two bonds, one formed by protein trans‐splicing with a split intein and the other by oxime ligation. Semisynthetic macrocycles were obtained with high efficiency for various sequences and ring sizes; they can be prepared in quantities sufficient for initial bioactivity tests. We also prepared lipidated and d‐amino‐acid‐containing peptides that were inspired by the peptide antibiotic daptomycin. Such structures are not accessible by other methods that harness the power of simple genetic diversification in the DNA‐encoded part of the peptide.
Symbiotic Transition‐Metal and Organocatalysis for Catalytic Ambient Amine Oxidation and Alkene Reduction Reactions
Authors: Murray Alexander T. , King Rose , Donnelly Joseph V. G. , Dowley Myles J. H. , Tuna Floriana , Sells Daniel , John Matthew P. , Carbery David R. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractA new oxidation reaction based on two simple catalysts, namely, alloxan and a CuI salt, is highly effective for the aerobic oxidation and oxidative cross‐coupling of amines. The reaction is operationally simple, reaction atmospheres enriched in dioxygen are obviated, and neither catalyst component requires prior synthesis. Mechanistic investigations have been performed and point towards a complex reaction manifold with evidence that supports a catalytic cycle that does not proceed through a quinone‐imine step. Additionally, this dual catalyst system is efficient to effect diimide‐mediated hydrogenation reactions of alkenes and alkynes, a transformation that has not been reported previously in the context of quinone catalyst systems.
Highly Efficient Ethanol Electrooxidation on a Synergistically Active Catalyst Based on a Pd‐Loaded Composite of Hydroxyapatite
Authors: Safavi Afsaneh , Abbaspour Abdolkarim , Sorouri Mohsen , Mohammadi Ali 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBy using a well‐structured composite of hydroxyapatite and carbon nanotubes and the immobilization of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs), a synergistically active catalyst toward the ethanol electrooxidation reaction (EOR) is proposed herein. The application of hydroxy‐rich substrates, such as hydroxyapatite, for the immobilization of Pd NPs could be promising to enhance electrocatalyst activity toward the ethanol oxidation reaction. The hydroxyapatite–carbon nanotubes composites were synthesized through two distinct precipitation approaches. The structural features of each composite were characterized by using X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. According to electrochemical tests, remarkable enhancements were achieved in the electrocatalytic activity, kinetic parameters, and catalyst durability. The proposed catalyst showed a mass‐independent current of 1874.6 mA mgPd−1 and an onset potential of −650 mV versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode toward EOR. The catalytic improvements can be attributed to synergetic effects between the immobilized Pd NPs and the functionalities on the carbon nanotube–hydroxyapatite substrate.
Associations among socioeconomic status, patterns of care, and outcomes in breast cancer patients in a universal health care system: Ontario's experience
Authors: Kumachev Alexander , Trudeau Maureen E. , Chan Kelvin K. W. 
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUNDThe Canadian health care system provides equitable access to equivalent standards of care. The authors investigated to determine whether patients with breast cancer who had different socioeconomic status (SES) received different care and had different overall survival (OS) in Ontario, Canada.METHODSWomen who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2004 and 2009 were identified from the Ontario Cancer Registry and linked to provincial databases to ascertain patient demographics, screening, diagnosis, treatment patterns, and survival. SES was defined as neighborhood income by postal code and was divided into income quintiles (Q1‐Q5; with Q5 the highest SES quintile). Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to examine the associations between: 1) SES and mammogram screening and breast cancer treatments, and 2) SES and OS.RESULTSIn total, 34,776 patients with breast cancer who had information on disease stage available at diagnosis were identified. Seventy‐six percent of women were aged >50 years. Patients with higher SES were more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage (Q5 [44.3%] vs Q1 [37.7%]; odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23‐1.41; P < .0001) and also were more likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy (Q5 vs Q1: OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.10‐1.26; P < .0001) and radiotherapy (Q5 vs Q1: OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.15‐1.33; P < .0001). The 5‐year OS rates for Q1 through Q5 were 80%, 81%, 82.2%, 83.9%, and 85.7%, respectively (P < .0001). After adjusting for patient demographics, cancer stage at diagnosis, adjuvant chemotherapy, trastuzumab, radiotherapy and surgery types, higher SES remained associated with better OS (P = .0017).CONCLUSIONSIn a universal health care system, higher SES is associated with greater screening and treatments and with better OS after adjusting for screening, cancer stage at diagnosis, and treatments. Cancer 2016;122:893–8. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Ashamed and Fused with Body Image and Eating: Binge Eating as an Avoidance Strategy
Authors: Duarte Cristiana , Pinto‐Gouveia José , Ferreira Cláudia 
Published: December 2015

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is currently recognized as a severe disorder associated with relevant psychiatric and physical comorbidity, and marked emotional distress. Shame is a specific negative emotion that has been highlighted as central in eating disorders. However, the effect of shame and underlying mechanisms on binge eating symptomatology severity remained unclear. This study examines the role of shame, depressive symptoms, weight and shape concerns and eating concerns, and body image‐related cognitive fusion, on binge eating symptomatology severity.Participated in this study 73 patients with the diagnosis of BED, established through a clinical interview—Eating Disorder Examination 17.0D—who completed measures of external shame, body‐image related cognitive fusion, depressive symptoms and binge eating symptomatology.Results revealed positive associations between binge eating severity and depressive symptoms, shame, weight and shape concerns, eating concerns and body image‐related cognitive fusion.A path analysis showed that, when controlling for the effect of depressive symptoms, external shame has a direct effect on binge eating severity, and an indirect effect mediated by increased eating concern and higher levels of body image‐related cognitive fusion. Results confirmed the plausibility of the model, which explained 43% of the severity of binge eating symptoms.The proposed model suggests that, in BED patients, perceiving that others see the self negatively may be associated with an entanglement with body image‐related thoughts and concerns about eating, which may, in turn, fuel binge eating symptoms. Findings have important clinical implications supporting the relevance of addressing shame and associated processes in binge eating. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Key Practitioner MessageShame is a significant predictor of symptomatology severity of BED patients.Shame significantly impacts binge eating, even controlling for depressive symptoms.Shame significantly predicts body image‐related cognitive fusion and eating concern.Body image‐fusion and eating concern mediate the link between shame and binge eating.Binge eating may be seen as an avoidance strategy from negative self‐evaluations.
Size and Shape Controlled Semiconductor Nanocrystals Synthesized by RF‐Sputtering Techniques for Electronic and Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Lehninger D. , Beyer J. , Schneider F. , Pawlik A.‐S. , Heitmann J. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractGroup IV (Ge and Si) nanocrystals embedded in a dielectric matrix were prepared via rf magnetron sputtering by the deposition of superlattices of stoichiometric and substoichiometric oxide layers and subsequent annealing. By this way Ge nanocrystals in a (Ta)ZrOx and Si nanocrystals in an SiO2 matrix were prepared in a size and shape controlled manner. In case of the Ge‐ZrO2 system, elongated Ge nanocrystals in a crystallized ZrO2 matrix were formed for annealing temperatures above 660 °C. Starting from a Si3N4 interface of the Si wafer, a preferential orientation between the Ge and ZrO2 lattice can be stated. Doping the ZrO2 matrix additionally with Ta increases the crystallization temperature of the ZrO2 matrix and leads to the formation of Ge nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous TaZrOx matrix. The Ge nanocrystals were investigated by photoluminescence measurements and implemented into metal‐insulator‐semiconductor capacitor to investigate their potential for charge trapping devices. The prepared nano floating gate devices show good charging characteristics with a maximum memory window of 5 V and a slope of the writing voltage vs. memory window characteristics of 0.8‐1. All luminescence centers seen in the Ge‐(Ta)ZrOx system can be attributed to defects either from the Ge nanocrystal surface, the (Ta)ZrOx matrix or the Si substrate itself. Si nanocrystals were fabricated in the same way in an amorphous SiO2 film after annealing above 900 °C. The formed Si nanocrystals act as superior sensitizer for Er3+ ions which were ion implanted into the films followed by an additional subsequent anneal, varied between 700 and 1000 °C. The Si nanocrystal ‐ Er3+ system was successfully implemented into a slot waveguide structure showing a strong polarization dependent field enhancement in both emission and excitation geometry. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
E‐H Transition in Argon/Oxygen Inductively Coupled RF Plasmas
Authors: Wegner Th. , Küllig C. , Meichsner J. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis contribution presents results of comprehensive investigation of the E‐H transition in an inductively coupled radio frequency argon/oxygen discharge at 13.56 MHz. For the characterization of the discharge arrangement, the spatial magnetic and electric field components of the planar coil in vacuum are calculated and provide information about the electron heating region. The used double coil leads to a radial symmetric field distribution. Further, voltage and current probe measurements reveal the inductivity of the coil and the phase shift between the coil voltage and the current. As a result, the coil current and the RF voltage are directly proportional. The phase shift is nearly constant in the E‐mode and decreases slightly in the H‐mode. The positive ion saturation current as well as the line integrated electron density are measured by means of Langmuir probe and 160 GHz microwave interferometer, respectively, to study the mode transition in argon with different oxygen contents. The positive ion saturation current and the electron density decrease with increasing oxygen admixture at fixed pressure and RF power. The onset and the way of the E‐H transition strongly depend on the oxygen content. The mode transition of a pure argon discharge is step like and changes to a continuous mode transition with the admixture of oxygen. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
ABCLOVE: Voice therapy outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer
Authors: Ouyoung Laishyang Melody , Swanson Mark S. , Villegas Brenda Capobres , Damodar Dhanur , Kokot Niels , Sinha Uttam K. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundDysphonia related to head and neck cancer is unique, and demands treatment tailored to its unique pathology. Activate exercises, breathing, counseling, laryngeal manipulation, oral resonance, vocal exercises, and elimination of habits (ABCLOVE) is an 8‐week multimodality voice therapy program addressing vocal rehabilitation specifically for patients with head and neck cancer.MethodsTwenty‐nine patients with a history of head and neck cancer were enrolled in the ABCLOVE program and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Relative average pertubation, maximum phonation time (MPT), pitch range, Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE‐V), and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) were assessed.ResultsThe pretreatment and posttreatment improvements in the relative average pertubation (1.86 vs 0.92), MPT (10.53 seconds vs 15.17 seconds), VHI (51.7 vs 29.9), and pitch range (168 Hz vs 244 Hz) were statistically significant (p < .0001). The subjective CAPE‐V ratings improved in all but 2 patients.ConclusionThe ABCLOVE voice program provides clinicians with an effective and reproducible method for voice rehabilitation in patients with head and neck cancer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1810–E1813, 2016
Metabolic activation and drug‐induced liver injury: in vitro approaches for the safety risk assessment of new drugs
Authors: Gómez‐Lechón M. José , Tolosa Laia , Donato M. Teresa 
Published: December 2015

AbstractDrug‐induced liver injury (DILI) is a significant leading cause of hepatic dysfunction, drug failure during clinical trials and post‐market withdrawal of approved drugs. Many cases of DILI are unexpected reactions of an idiosyncratic nature that occur in a small group of susceptible individuals. Intensive research efforts have been made to understand better the idiosyncratic DILI and to identify potential risk factors. Metabolic bioactivation of drugs to form reactive metabolites is considered an initiation mechanism for idiosyncratic DILI. Reactive species may interact irreversibly with cell macromolecules (covalent binding, oxidative damage), and alter their structure and activity. This review focuses on proposed in vitro screening strategies to predict and reduce idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity associated with drug bioactivation. Compound incubation with metabolically competent biological systems (liver‐derived cells, subcellular fractions), in combination with methods to reveal the formation of reactive intermediates (e.g., formation of adducts with liver proteins, metabolite trapping or enzyme inhibition assays), are approaches commonly used to screen the reactivity of new molecules in early drug development. Several cell‐based assays have also been proposed for the safety risk assessment of bioactivable compounds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pessimism and Homework in CBT for Depression
Authors: Sachsenweger Mieke A. , Fletcher Richard B. , Clarke Dave 
Published: December 2015

ObjectiveTo investigate the moderating effects of attributional style on the relationship between client‐rated benefits of homework completion and depression throughout a course of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).MethodA total of 28 clients, aged 20 to 65 years, experiencing their first major depressive episode completed up to 20 sessions of CBT plus a follow‐up session at 2 months. Clients, therapists, and independent observers completed the measures. Multilevel modeling was used for a within‐person longitudinal analysis of data.ResultsPessimism slightly moderated the relationship between quantity–quality of homework completion and depression severity over time. Decreases in depression severity were largely independent of level of homework completion.ConclusionWhile CBT is effective in reducing depression, pessimistic attributional style can affect the perception that clients bring to the quantity and quality of homework completion. Clinicians could thus focus on dealing with pessimistic style for treatment and homework to moderate the severity of depression.
Peak shear and peak flow mediated dilation: a time‐course relationship
Authors: Evanoff Nicholas G. , Kelly Aaron S. , Steinberger Julia , Dengel Donald R. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTPurposeTo explore the temporal relationship between brachial artery peak shear stress (Shear) and flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) in children and adults.MethodsShear and brachial artery diameter were tracked following reactive hyperemia in 122 children and 350 adults using sonographic imaging.ResultsPeak Shear, Shear area under the curve (ShearAUC), and Peak FMD were significantly larger in children than in adults. The time to peak Shear (ShearTTP) and time to peak FMD (FMDTTP) were significantly lower in children, while there was no significant difference in time from ShearTTP to FMDTTP between children and adults.ConclusionsChildren have a lower shear stimulus and FMD response than adults, but the time interval separating these events is similar. These differences could be due to changes in vascular dynamics with age, including reduced smooth muscle cell responsiveness and other factors. Despite differences in timing, the interval from peak Shear to peak FMD was similar in children and adults. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:182–187, 2016