bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ex vivo sentinel lymph node mapping in colorectal cancer using a magnetic nanoparticle tracer to improve staging accuracy: a pilot study
Authors: Pouw J. J. , Grootendorst M. R. , Klaase J. M. , van Baarlen J. , ten Haken B. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAimNodal status is the most important prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC). Small occult metastases may remain undetected on conventional histopathological examination, potentially resulting in undertreatment. Ex vivo sentinel lymph node mapping (SLNM) can be used to improve the accuracy of nodal staging, but the currently used tracers suffer from drawbacks, which hamper implementation of the technique in routine clinical practice. Magnetic tracers are the optimal size for sentinel lymph node (SLN) retention and allow objective quantitative selection of SLNs; they therefore have great potential for SLNM in CRC. The study evaluates the feasibility of ex vivo magnetic SLNM and compares the performance of this technique with blue dye SLNM.MethodTwenty‐eight ex vivo SLNM procedures were performed in 27 histological node‐negative patients with CRC using a magnetic tracer and blue dye. A magnetometer was used to select magnetic SLNs after formalin fixation of the CRC specimen. Both magnetic and blue SLNs were subjected to serial sectioning and immunohistochemical staining to reveal occult metastases.ResultsAt least one SLN was successfully identified in 27/28 (96%) and 25/28 (89%) of the cases with the magnetic technique and blue dye. Isolated tumour cells were detected in 10 patients. This was predicted with 100% sensitivity and accuracy using the magnetic technique, and with 91% sensitivity and 96% accuracy using the blue dye technique.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that ex vivo magnetic SLNM is a feasible technique for use in routine clinical practice, improving nodal staging accuracy of CRC patients.
Why Are Verbs So Hard to Remember? Effects of Semantic Context on Memory for Verbs and Nouns
Authors: Earles Julie L. , Kersten Alan W. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThree experiments test the theory that verb meanings are more malleable than noun meanings in different semantic contexts, making a previously seen verb difficult to remember when it appears in a new semantic context. Experiment 1 revealed that changing the direct object noun in a transitive sentence reduced recognition of a previously seen verb, whereas changing the verb had little impact on noun recognition. Experiment 2 revealed that verbs exhibited context effects more similar to those shown by superordinate nouns rather than basic‐level nouns. Experiment 3 demonstrated that the degree of meaning change in a target word resulting from changes in semantic context influenced the magnitude of context effects, but context effects remained larger for verbs than for nouns even when the degree of meaning change was similar for nouns and verbs. These results are discussed with respect to the imageability and grammatical roles played by nouns and verbs in a sentence.
Prevalence and risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in a Hlai community in Hainan Island of China
Authors: Ding Yipeng , Yang Danlei , He Ping , Yao Jinjian , Sun Pei , Li Quanni , Xie Pingdong , Lin Daobo , Sun Dingwei , Niu Huan , Tian Zhongjie 
Published: May 2016

AbstractObjectivesWe investigated prevalence and risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a population of Hlai (the Li) ethnicity, a major minority, in Qicha Town, Changjiang County, Hainan Province, PRC, during 2014.MethodsAll residents at the age of 40 years or older were interviewed with standardized questionnaires. Spirometry was performed to measure the possible airflow limitation. According to the GOLD criteria, post bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 70% was defined as COPD. Case‐control study was used to screen the risk factors by analyzing COPD group (212 cases) and non‐COPD control group (236 cases). Single factor analysis and multiple factor logistic regression analysis were used as statistical methods.ResultsThe prevalence of COPD in the residents at the age of 40 years or older of Hlai community was 5.07% (286/5637) (95% CI = 0.045–0.057). In the logistic regression analysis, the COPD prevalence was 5.07% (147/2901) in men and 5.08% (139/2736) in women, respectively, with odds ratio (OR) 1.003, 95% CI 0.790–1.272 and P > 0.05, suggesting that the sex did not affect the COPD prevalence in the investigated samples, but age (OR = 1.096), expectoration (OR = 87.917), locomotor activity limitation (OR = 3.908) and frequency of respiration (OR = 2.512) were risk factors and associated with the development of COPD. Notably, although the tobacco smoker in male and female COPD patients were 48.6% (54/111) and 4.0% (4/101), respectively, passive smokers in female with COPD were 45.6% (46/101).ConclusionIn the Hlai population aged ≥40 years, the COPD prevalence was 5.07%. Smoking, age, expectoration, locomotor activity limitation and frequency of respiration were risk factors of COPD in Hlai ethnicity.
Diagnosis value of serum soluble B7‐H4 expression in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Xu Chun Hua , Wang Wei , Wang Yu Chao , Lin Yong , Zhang Xiu Wei 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIntroductionB7‐H4, a member of the inhibitory B7 family, can restrain T cell proliferation, activation, cytokine secretion, and may be involved in immune evasion in cancer patients.ObjectivesThis aim of the study was to determine the expression level of soluble B7‐H4 (sB7‐H4) in circulation and to subsequently evaluate the clinical significance of circulating sB7‐H4 in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsSerum specimens from 128 patients with NSCLC, 100 healthy volunteers (HV), and 80 patients with benign lung diseases (BLD) were collected. The concentrations of sB7‐H4 were measured by sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsSerum sB7‐H4 levels in patients with NSCLC were significantly higher than those in patients with BLD (P < 0.05), or those in HV (P < 0.05). Using a cutoff of 27.8 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of sB7‐H4 in differentiating between patients with NSCLC and patients with BLD, and between patients with NSCLC and HV was, 46.9% and 92.5%, and 54.7% and 95.0%, respectively. An area under the curve (AUC) for NSCLC resulting from sB7‐H4 (0.863), which was significantly better than any other tumour markers tested including CA125 (0.763), and CEA (0.775).ConclusionIn conclusion, assessment of serum sB7‐H4 levels could be considered as a diagnostic biomarker for NSCLC.
Assessment of impaired coordination between respiration and deglutition in children and young adults with ataxia telangiectasia
Authors: Lefton‐Greif Maureen A , Perlman Adrienne L , He Xuming , Lederman Howard M , Crawford Thomas O 
Published: May 2016

AimThis cross‐sectional investigation aimed to assess the value of non‐invasive measures of temporal respiratory–swallow coupling in individuals with ataxic swallowing.MethodTwenty participants (11 males, 9 females; range 9‐21y) with ataxia telangiectasia were presented with water and pudding boluses. Their 193 swallows were compared with 2200 swallows from 82 age‐matched healthy controls. The two components of airway protection during swallowing that were analyzed were: direction of peri‐deglutitive airflow and duration of deglutitive inhibition of respiratory airflow (DIORA).ResultsSafe expiratory patterns of peri‐deglutitive airflow occurred significantly less often in participants with ataxia telangiectasia than in age‐matched control participants (younger p<0.015 and older p<0.001). The frequency of an expiratory pattern of peri‐deglutitive airflow increased with age in participants in the comparison group (p=0.006), but not in those with ataxia telangiectasia (p=0.234). With age, mean duration of DIORA decreased in controls (p<0.001) but was unchanged in participants with ataxia telangiectasia (p=0.164).InterpretationNon‐invasive quantitative measures of respiratory–swallow coupling capture temporal relationships that plausibly contribute to airway compromise from dysphagia. Changes in respiratory–swallow coupling observed with advancing age in control participants were not seen in participants with ataxia telangiectasia. Measures of perturbations may herald swallowing problems prior to development of pulmonary and nutritional sequelae.
Peripheral cytokines, C‐X‐C motif ligand10 and interleukin‐13, are associated with Malaysian Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Mohd Hasni Dayana Sazereen , Lim Siong Meng , Chin Ai Vyrn , Tan Maw Pin , Poi Philip Jun Hua , Kamaruzzaman Shahrul Bahyah , Majeed Abu Bakar Abdul , Ramasamy Kalavathy 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAimCytokines released from chronically‐activated microglia could result in neuroinflammation. An accurate profile of the relationship between cytokines and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, as well as the patterns of these inflammatory mediators in AD patients could lead to the identification of peripheral markers for the disease. The present study was undertaken to identify pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines associated with AD in the Malaysian population.MethodsFurther to informed consent from 39 healthy subjects and 39 probable AD patients, 8.5 mL of peripheral blood was collected and serum was extracted. The differential levels of 12 serum cytokines extracted from peripheral blood samples were measured using Procarta Multiplex Cytokine and enzyme‐linked immunoassay kits. Concentrations of cytokines were measured at 615 nm using a fluorometer.ResultsExcept for tumor necrosis factor‐α, all classical pro‐inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐12 and interferon‐γ) were found to be significantly upregulated (P < 0.001) in AD patients. Three of the five non‐classical pro‐inflammatory cytokines (C‐X‐C motif ligand 10 [CXCL‐10], monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α) showed similar patterns. Both classical IL‐10 and non‐classical IL‐13 anti‐inflammatory cytokines were significantly downregulated (P < 0.001) in AD patients when compared with non‐AD controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses for both CXCL‐10 (IP‐10) and IL‐13 showed a high level of diagnostic accuracy (area under curve = 1 [95% confidence interval]). Both CXCL‐10 and IL‐13 also showed sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100% for diagnosis of AD (cut‐off values >53.65 ρg/mL and <9.315 ρg/mL, respectively).ConclusionsBoth the non‐classical pro‐inflammatory CXCL‐10 and anti‐inflammatory IL‐13 cytokines showed promising potential as blood‐based cytokine biomarkers for AD. This is the first study of non‐classical cytokine profiles of Malaysian AD patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 839–846.
Strategies for designing synthetic immune agonists
Authors: Wu Tom Y.‐H. 
Published: May 2016

SummaryEnhancing the immune system is a validated strategy to combat infectious disease, cancer and allergy. Nevertheless, the development of immune adjuvants has been hampered by safety concerns. Agents that can stimulate the immune system often bear structural similarities with pathogen‐associated molecular patterns found in bacteria or viruses and are recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Activation of these PRRs results in the immediate release of inflammatory cytokines, up‐regulation of co‐stimulatory molecules, and recruitment of innate immune cells. The distribution and duration of these early inflammatory events are crucial in the development of antigen‐specific adaptive immunity in the forms of antibody and/or T cells capable of searching for and destroying the infectious pathogens or cancer cells. However, systemic activation of these PRRs is often poorly tolerated. Hence, different strategies have been employed to modify or deliver immune agonists in an attempt to control the early innate receptor activation through temporal or spatial restriction. These approaches include physicochemical manipulation, covalent conjugation, formulation and conditional activation/deactivation. This review will describe recent examples of discovery and optimization of synthetic immune agonists towards clinical application.
Concept analysis and the building blocks of theory: misconceptions regarding theory development
Authors: Bergdahl Elisabeth , Berterö Carina M. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAimThe purpose of this article is to discuss the attempts to justify concepts analysis as a way to construct theory – a notion often advocated in nursing.BackgroundThe notion that concepts are the building blocks or threads from which theory is constructed is often repeated. It can be found in many articles and well‐known textbooks. However, this notion is seldom explained or defended. The notion of concepts as building blocks has also been questioned by several authors. However, most of these authors seem to agree to some degree that concepts are essential components from which theory is built.DesignDiscussion paper.Data sourcesLiterature was reviewed to synthesize and debate current knowledge.Implications for nursingOur point is that theory is not built by concepts analysis or clarification and we will show that this notion has its basis in some serious misunderstandings. We argue that concept analysis is not a part of sound scientific method and should be abandoned.ConclusionThe current methods of concept analysis in nursing have no foundation in philosophy of science or in language philosophy. The type of concept analysis performed in nursing is not a way to ‘construct’ theory. Rather, theories are formed by creative endeavour to propose a solution to a scientific and/or practical problem. The bottom line is that the current style and form of concept analysis in nursing should be abandoned in favour of methods in line with modern theory of science.
MARIS plays important roles in Arabidopsis pollen tube and root hair growth
Authors: Liao Hong‐Ze , Zhu Meng‐Meng , Cui Hong‐Hui , Du Xin‐Yu , Tang Yu , Chen Li‐Qun , Ye De , Zhang Xue‐Qin 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn flowering plants, male gametes are delivered to female gametes for double fertilization through pollen tubes. Therefore, pollen tube growth is crucial for double fertilization. Despite its importance to sexual reproduction, genetic mechanisms of pollen tube growth remain poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the receptor‐like cytoplasmic protein kinase (RLCK) gene, MARIS (MRI) that plays critical roles in pollen tube growth. MRI is preferentially expressed in pollen grains, pollen tubes and roots. Mutation in MRI by a Ds insertion led to a burst of pollen tubes after pollen germination. Pollen‐rescue assay by pollen and pollen tube‐specific expression of MRI in the mri‐4 mutant showed that loss of MRI function also severely affected root hair elongation. MRI protein interacted with the protein kinase OXIDATIVE SIGNAL INDUCIBLE1 (OXI1) in the in vitro and in vivo assays, which functions in plant defence and root hair development, and was phosphorylated by OXI1 in vitro. Our results suggest that MRI plays important roles in pollen tube growth and may function in root hair elongation through interaction with OXI1.
Reconstitution of synaptic Ion channels from rodent and human brain in Xenopus oocytes: a biochemical and electrophysiological characterization
Authors: Mazzo Francesca , Zwart Ruud , Serratto Giulia Maia , Gardinier Kevin M. , Porter Warren , Reel Jon , Maraula Giovanna , Sher Emanuele 
Published: May 2016

AbstractDisruption in the expression and function of synaptic proteins, and ion channels in particular, is critical in the pathophysiology of human neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. However, very little is known regarding the functional and pharmacological properties of native synaptic human ion channels, and their potential changes in pathological conditions. Recently, an electrophysiological technique has been enabled for studying the functional and pharmacological properties of ion channels present in crude membrane preparation obtained from post‐mortem frozen brains. We here extend these studies by showing that human synaptic ion channels also can be studied in this way. Synaptosomes purified from different regions of rodent and human brain (control and Alzheimer's) were characterized biochemically for enrichment of synaptic proteins, and expression of ion channel subunits. The same synaptosomes were also reconstituted in Xenopus oocytes, in which the functional and pharmacological properties of the native synaptic ion channels were characterized using the voltage clamp technique. We show that we can detect GABA, (RS)‐α‐Amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid, and NMDA receptors, and modulate them pharmacologically with selective agonists, antagonists, and allosteric modulators. Furthermore, changes in ion channel expression and function were detected in synaptic membranes from Alzheimer's brains. Our present results demonstrate the possibility to investigate synaptic ion channels from healthy and pathological brains. This method of synaptosomes preparation and injection into oocytes is a significant improvement over the earlier method. It opens the way to directly testing, on native ion channels, the effects of novel drugs aimed at modulating important classes of synaptic targets.
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Disruption in the expression and function of synaptic ion channels is critical in the pathophysiology of human neurodegenerative diseases. We here show that synaptosomes purified from rodent and human frozen brain (control and Alzheimer disease) can be studied both biochemically and functionally. This method opens the way to directly testing the effects of novel drugs on native ion channels.
Can Brokers Have It All? On the Relation between Make‐Take Fees and Limit Order Execution Quality
Authors: BATTALIO ROBERT , CORWIN SHANE A. , JENNINGS ROBERT 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTWe identify retail brokers that seemingly route orders to maximize order flow payments, by selling market orders and sending limit orders to venues paying large liquidity rebates. Angel, Harris, and Spatt argue that such routing may not always be in customers’ best interests. For both proprietary limit order data and a broad sample of trades from TAQ, we document a negative relation between several measures of limit order execution quality and rebate/fee level. This finding suggests that order routing designed to maximize liquidity rebates does not maximize limit order execution quality and thus brokers cannot have it all.
Reduction of Winter Wheat Yield Losses Caused by Stripe Rust through Fungicide Management
Authors: Sharma Ram C. , Nazari Kumarse , Amanov Amir , Ziyaev Zafar , Jalilov Anwar U. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractStripe rust of winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) causes substantial grain yield loss in Central Asia. This study involved two replicated field experiments undertaken in 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 winter wheat crop seasons. The first experiment was conducted to determine grain yield reductions on susceptible winter wheat cultivars using single and two sprays of fungicide at Zadoks growth stages Z61–Z69 in two farmers’ fields in Tajikistan and one farmer's field in Uzbekistan. In the second experiment, four different fungicides at two concentrations were evaluated at Zadoks growth stage Z69. These included three products from BASF – Opus (0.5 l/ha and 1.0 l/ha), Platoon (0.5 l/ha and 1.0 l/ha) and Opera (0.75 l/ha and 1.5 l/ha) – and locally used fungicide Titul 390 (0.5 l/ha and 1.0 l/ha). One and two sprays of fungicides did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in increasing grain yield. Stripe rust reduced grain yield and 1000‐kernel weight (TKW) from 24 to 39% and from 16 to 24%, respectively. The benefits from the two concentrations of the same fungicide did not consistently resulted in significantly higher grain yield, suggesting that the lower concentrations could be more cost effective. Our study provides important information about the selection of fungicides, spray concentrations and number of spray to control stripe rust and increase grain yield. The findings could play an important role in developing stripe rust management approaches such as fungicide rotation and strategic fungicide applications in Central Asian countries.
CONVERGENCE OF A LEAST‐SQUARES MONTE CARLO ALGORITHM FOR AMERICAN OPTION PRICING WITH DEPENDENT SAMPLE DATA
Authors: Zanger Daniel Z. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe analyze the convergence of the Longstaff–Schwartz algorithm relying on only a single set of independent Monte Carlo sample paths that is repeatedly reused for all exercise time‐steps. We prove new estimates on the stochastic component of the error of this algorithm whenever the approximation architecture is any uniformly bounded set of L2 functions of finite Vapnik–Chervonenkis dimension (VC‐dimension), but in particular need not necessarily be either convex or closed. We also establish new overall error estimates, incorporating bounds on the approximation error as well, for certain nonlinear, nonconvex sets of neural networks.
Glucose induces delocalization of a flagellar biosynthesis protein from the flagellated pole
Authors: Park Soyoung , Park Young‐Ha , Lee Chang‐Ro , Kim Yeon‐Ran , Seok Yeong‐Jae 
Published: May 2016

SummaryTo survive in a continuously changing environment, bacteria sense concentration gradients of attractants or repellents, and purposefully migrate until a more favourable habitat is encountered. While glucose is known as the most effective attractant, the flagellar biosynthesis and hence chemotactic motility has been known to be repressed by glucose in some bacteria. To date, the only known regulatory mechanism of the repression of flagellar synthesis by glucose is via downregulation of the cAMP level, as shown in a few members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Here we show that, in Vibrio vulnificus, the glucose‐mediated inhibition of flagellar motility operates by a completely different mechanism. In the presence of glucose, EIIAGlc is dephosphorylated and inhibits the polar localization of FapA (flagellar assembly protein A) by sequestering it from the flagellated pole. A loss or delocalization of FapA results in a complete failure of the flagellar biosynthesis and motility. However, when glucose is depleted, EIIAGlc is phosphorylated and releases FapA such that free FapA can be localized back to the pole and trigger flagellation. Together, these data provide new insight into a bacterial strategy to reach and stay in the glucose‐rich area.
Evolution of tonoplast P‐ATPase transporters involved in vacuolar acidification
Authors: Li Yanbang , Provenzano Sofia , Bliek Mattijs , Spelt Cornelis , Appelhagen Ingo , Machado de Faria Laura , Verweij Walter , Schubert Andrea , Sagasser Martin , Seidel Thorsten , Weisshaar Bernd , Koes Ronald , Quattrocchio Francesca 
Published: May 2016

Summary

Petunia mutants (Petunia hybrida) with blue flowers defined a novel vacuolar proton pump consisting of two interacting P‐ATPases, PH1 and PH5, that hyper‐acidify the vacuoles of petal cells. PH5 is similar to plasma membrane H+P3A‐ATPase, whereas PH1 is the only known eukaryoticP3B‐ATPase. As there were no indications that this tonoplast pump is widespread in plants, we investigated the distribution and evolution of PH1 and PH5.

We combined database mining and phylogenetic and synteny analyses of PH1‐ and PH5‐like proteins from all kingdoms with functional analyses (mutant complementation and intracellular localization) of homologs from diverse angiosperms.

We identified functional PH1 and PH5 homologs in divergent angiosperms. PH5 homologs evolved from plasma membrane P3A‐ATPases, acquiring an N‐terminal tonoplast‐sorting sequence and new cellular function before angiosperms appeared. PH1 is widespread among seed plants and related proteins are found in some groups of bacteria and fungi and in one moss, but is absent in most algae, suggesting that its evolution involved several cases of gene loss and possibly horizontal transfer events.

The distribution of PH1 and PH5 in the plant kingdom suggests that vacuolar acidification by P‐ATPases appeared in gymnosperms before flowers. This implies that, next to flower color determination, vacuolar hyper‐acidification is required for yet unknown processes.