bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hemin and bile pigments are the secondary structure regulators of intrinsically disordered antimicrobial peptides
Authors: Zsila Ferenc , Juhász Tünde , Bősze Szilvia , Horváti Kata , Beke‐Somfai Tamás 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe interaction of protoporphyrin compounds of human origin with the major bee venom component melittin (26 a.a., Z +6) and its hybrid derivative (CM15, 15 a.a., Z +6) were studied by a combination of various spectroscopic methods. Throughout a two‐state, concentration‐dependent process, hemin and its metabolites (biliverdin, bilirubin, bilirubin ditaurate) increase the parallel β‐sheet content of the natively unfolded melittin, suggesting the oligomerization of the peptide chains. In contrast, α‐helix promoting effect was observed with the also disordered but more cationic CM15. According to fluorescence quenching experiments, the sole Trp residue of melittin is the key player during the binding, in the vicinity of which the first pigment molecule is accommodated presumably making indole‐porphyrin π‐π stacking interaction. As circular dichroism titration data suggest, cooperative association of additional ligands subsequently occurs, resulting in multimeric complexes with an apparent dissociation constant ranged from 20 to 65 μM. Spectroscopic measurements conducted with the bilirubin catabolite urobilin and stercobilin refer to the requirement of intact dipyrrinone moieties for inducing secondary structure transformations. The binding topography of porphyrin rings on a model parallel β‐sheet motif was evaluated by absorption spectroscopy and computational modeling showing a slipped‐cofacial binding mode responsible for the red shift and hypochromism of the Soret band. Our results may aid to recognize porphyrin‐responsive binding motifs of biologically relevant, intrinsically disordered peptides and proteins, where transient conformations play a vital role in their functions.
The impacts of independent director and CEO duality on performance in the Chinese post‐institutional‐transition era
Authors: Lew Yong Kyu , Yu Jing , Park Jeong‐Yang 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis paper investigates the influence of corporate governance on the performance of modern Chinese firms. Prior studies were inconclusive about the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance. Little research investigates the performance implications of board structure in the post‐institutional‐transition era in China. Based on agency and resource dependence theories, this paper examines the impacts of board composition and leadership structure on the performance of Chinese manufacturing firms that went public on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges in 2010. The findings show that separating the posts of CEO and chair promotes better performance. However, appointing a larger proportion of outside independent directors to the board insignificantly affects performance. This research provides partial support for agency theory and extended insights into corporate governance in emerging economy firms. Copyright © 2017 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Molecular Hybrid for Mitochondria‐Targeted NO Photodelivery
Authors: Sodano Federica , Gazzano Elena , Fraix Aurore , Rolando Barbara , Lazzarato Loretta , Russo Marina , Blangetti Marco , Riganti Chiara , Fruttero Roberta , Gasco Alberto , Sortino Salvatore 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe design, synthesis, spectroscopic and photochemical properties, and biological evaluation of a novel molecular hybrid that is able to deliver nitric oxide (NO) into mitochondria are reported. This molecular conjugate unites a tailored o‐CF3‐p‐nitroaniline chromophore, for photo‐regulated NO release, and a rhodamine moiety, for mitochondria targeting, in the same molecular skeleton via an alkyl spacer. A combination of steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopic and photochemical experiments demonstrate that the two chromogenic units preserve their individual photophysical and photochemical properties in the conjugate quite well. Irradiation with violet light triggers NO release from the nitroaniline moiety and photoionization in the rhodamine center, which also retains considerable fluorescence efficiency. The molecular hybrid preferentially accumulates in the mitochondria of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells where it induces toxicity at a concentration of 1 μm, exclusively upon irradiation. Comparative experiments, carried out with ad‐hoc‐synthesized model compounds, suggest that the phototoxicity observed at such a low concentration is probably not due to NO itself, but rather to the formation of the highly reactive peroxynitrite that is generated from the reaction of NO with the superoxide anion.
Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and X‐ray Studies of HIV‐1 Protease Inhibitors with Modified P2′ Ligands of Darunavir
Authors: Ghosh Arun K. , Fyvie W. Sean , Brindisi Margherita , Steffey Melinda , Agniswamy Johnson , Wang Yuan‐Fang , Aoki Manabu , Amano Masayuki , Weber Irene T. , Mitsuya Hiroaki 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe structure‐based design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of nonpeptidic HIV‐1 protease inhibitors with rationally designed P2′ ligands are described. The inhibitors are designed to enhance backbone binding interactions, particularly at the S2′ subsite. Synthesis of inhibitors was carried out efficiently. The stereochemistry of alcohol functionalities of the P2′ ligands was set by asymmetric reduction of the corresponding ketone using (R,R)‐ or (S,S)‐Noyori catalysts. A number of inhibitors displayed very potent enzyme inhibitory and antiviral activity. Inhibitors 3g and 3h showed enzyme Ki values of 27.9 and 49.7 pm and antiviral activity of 6.2 and 3.9 nm, respectively. These inhibitors also remained quite potent against darunavir‐resistant HIV‐1 variants. An X‐ray structure of inhibitor 3g in complex with HIV‐1 protease revealed key interactions in the S2′ subsite.
Biobehavioral modulation of the exosome transcriptome in ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Lutgendorf Susan K. , Thaker Premal H. , Arevalo Jesusa M. , Goodheart Michael J. , Slavich George M. , Sood Anil K. , Cole Steve W. 
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUNDSocial factors in the patient macroenvironment have been shown to influence molecular events in the tumor microenvironment and thereby influence cancer progression. However, biomarkers providing a window into the longitudinal effects of biobehavioral factors on tumor biology over time are lacking. Exosome analysis is a novel strategy for in vivo monitoring of dynamic changes in tumor cells. This study examined exosomal profiles from patients with low or high levels of social support for epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) polarization and gene expression related to inflammation and β‐adrenergic signaling.METHODSExosomes were isolated from plasma sampled from a series of 40 women before primary surgical resection of advanced‐stage, high‐grade ovarian carcinoma. Samples were selected for analysis on the basis of extremes of low and high levels of social support. After exosomal isolation and RNA extraction, a microarray analysis of the transcriptome was performed.RESULTSPrimary analyses identified significant upregulation of 67 mesenchymal‐characteristic gene transcripts and downregulation of 63 epithelial‐characteristic transcripts in patients with low social support; this demonstrated increased EMT polarization (P = .0002). Secondary analyses using promoter sequence bioinformatics supported a priori hypotheses linking low social support to 1) increased activity of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB)/activating transcription factor (ATF) family transcription factors that mediate the β‐adrenergic response to catecholamines via the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A signaling pathway (mean fold change for CREB: 2.24 ± 0.65; P = .0019; mean fold change for ATF: 2.00 ± 0.55; P = .0049) and 2) increased activity of the proinflammatory nuclear factor κB/Rel family of transcription factors (mean fold change: 2.10 ± 0.70; P = .0109).CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest the possibility of leveraging exosomes as a noninvasive assessment of biobehavioral factors to help to direct personalized treatment approaches. Cancer 2018;124:580‐6. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Impact of the insurance type of head and neck cancer patients on their hospitalization utilization patterns
Authors: Gupta Avni , Sonis Stephen T. , Schneider Eric B. , Villa Alessandro 
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUNDHead and neck cancer (HNC) patients with Medicaid, Medicare, or no insurance show poor outcomes in comparison with privately insured patients. It was hypothesized that nonprivate insurance coverage biases the selection of the treatment site to favor hospitals that are not associated with optimum treatment outcomes. This study assessed the relation between the insurance type of HNC patients and the hospital type for inpatient care.METHODSAdult HNC patients were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2012 and 2013). The primary exposure was the insurance provider type. The outcome was the hospital type, which was classified by the hospital's ownership and its location and teaching status. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models were constructed to control for the patient's age, sex, race, income, mortality risk, and geographic location. The analysis was weighted and was adjusted for multiple comparisons.RESULTSIn all, 37,466 HNC patients representing 187,330 patients nationally were identified. After adjustments for age, sex, race, income, and mortality risk, in comparison with privately insured patients, Medicaid, Medicare, and uninsured patients demonstrated 1.14 to 2.29 increased odds of undergoing treatment at rural, urban nonteaching, private investor–owned, or government (nonfederal) hospitals (P < .05). This trend remained apparent even after adjustments for the geographic location.CONCLUSIONSUninsured patients or patients insured by government programs predominantly underwent care for HNC at hospital types most often associated with inferior survival outcomes. This finding could explain some proportion of insurance‐related disparities in HNC outcomes. Further studies are warranted to determine whether interventions to promote equitable access to optimal hospital settings for patients, regardless of their insurance type, might improve outcomes among nonprivate insurance holders. Cancer 2018;124:760‐8. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Estimating global treatment toxicity burden from adverse‐event data
Authors: Lee Shing M. , Hershman Dawn L. , Miao Jieling , Zhong Xiaobo , Unger Joseph M. , Cheung Ying Kuen Ken 
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUNDA summary measure that reflects the global toxicity burden of a treatment is essential for comparing therapies. Current toxicity summaries are ad hoc and do not distinguish among the severities and types of toxicities. Here a clinically feasible method for estimating the toxicity burden, based on a prospective evaluation of the toxicity profile of a randomized clinical trial of 746 prostate cancer patients conducted by SWOG, is proposed.METHODSFor 308 patients who experienced severe toxicities, 2 physicians randomly selected from 14 physicians evaluated each toxicity profile and assigned a visual analogue scale score (0‐10) based on their impression of the global burden of toxicities. With mixed‐effects models, severity scores and a 10‐point toxicity burden score (TBS) were derived from 27 predictors accounting for severe (grade 3) and life‐threatening (grade 4) toxicities for each organ class of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.RESULTSFor most organ classes, grade 3 toxicities had a TBS of 4.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.65‐4.63), but infections, cardiovascular events, and pulmonary events had a higher TBS with differences of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.53‐1.21), 0.88 (95% CI, 0.51‐1.25), and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.22‐1.24), respectively. Moreover, most grade 4 events had a higher TBS than grade 3 events, except for hemorrhaging, pain, metabolic events, and musculoskeletal events. The intrarater and interrater correlations were 0.91 and 0.59, respectively.CONCLUSIONSThe burden of toxicity grades differs with toxicity types. A TBS provides a toxicity burden summary that incorporates physicians' perspectives and differentiates between severe and life‐threatening toxicities and organ classes. Cancer 2018;124:858‐64. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
The Advantages of Using Fluorescent Proteins for In Vivo Imaging
Authors: Hoffman Robert M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFluorescent proteins have revolutionized biology by enabling what was formerly invisible to be seen clearly, and potentially enable imaging of all cells in living animals. There are numerous applications for in vivo imaging with fluorescent proteins, including use in cancer, immunology, infection, and neurobiology studies. This unit describes how introducing the GFP and RFP gene into malignant tissue has enabled imaging of primary cancer and the metastatic process with subcellular resolution in vivo. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Risk Assessment in the Research Laboratory
Authors: Burnett LouAnn C. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractRisk assessment is a term that is applied to a process that we all use every day to make decisions. Conducting risk assessments while working in the laboratory should be integrated into the research culture. Reagents and equipment used in research laboratories can be hazardous if used improperly or without appropriate precautions. The first step in limiting risk is identifying the materials that can be hazardous. The second step is to assess the risk that they present during the experiments that will take place—a process called risk assessment. Once the hazards are identified and the risks assessed, a risk management strategy can be put in place to reduce the risks to an acceptable level. This process (hazard identification, risk assessment, risk management) must be repeated as often as new materials, new procedures, and new people are introduced into the laboratory. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Elucidating the Distribution and Speciation of Boron and Cesium in BCsX Zeolite Catalysts for Styrene Production
Authors: Martín Antonio J. , Mitchell Sharon , Scholder Olivier , Verel René , Hauert Roland , Bernard Laetitia , Jensen Christopher , Schwefer Meinhard , Pérez‐Ramírez Javier 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAn improved understanding of the nature and distribution of boron and cesium species in BCsX zeolites is a prerequisite to guide future developments in the environmentally attractive, yet challenging, production of styrene through the side‐chain alkylation of toluene with methanol. Herein, standard characterization and catalytic tests are complemented by integrated visualization through time‐of‐flight secondary‐ion mass spectrometry and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and detailed assessment by 133Cs and 11B NMR spectroscopy, to correlate the properties and performance during successive ion‐exchange and impregnation steps in the preparation of both powders and millimeter‐sized granules. The results highlight a significant impact of catalyst scaleup on the effective introduction of boron species, which originates chemical heterogeneity that is linked to selectivity losses. They also illustrate the complexity of elucidating the role of this promotor, which interacts with cesium cations and exhibits different coordination states and chemical environments, depending on the pretreatment.
A preliminary study of momentary, naturalistic indicators of binge‐eating episodes in adults with obesity
Authors: Goldschmidt Andrea B. , Crosby Ross D. , Cao Li , Wonderlich Stephen A. , Mitchell James E. , Engel Scott G. , Peterson Carol B. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectivesBinge eating is common in adults with obesity. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Disorders describes five indicators of binge eating (eating more rapidly than usual; eating until uncomfortably full; eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry; eating alone because of embarrassment over how much one is eating; and feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating), but their validity is unclear.MethodWe examined preliminary associations between the five indicators and binge versus nonbinge episodes among 50 adults with obesity via ecological momentary assessment.ResultsGeneralized linear models revealed that, relative to nonbinge episodes, self‐reported binge episodes were associated with lower pre‐episode hunger (p = .004), higher postepisode fullness (p < .001), a greater likelihood of reporting moderate to extreme shame prior to eating in conjunction with eating alone (p < .001), and a greater likelihood of reporting moderate to extreme disgust, depression, and/or guilt after eating (p < .001), but not with eating more rapidly than usual (p = .85).DiscussionResults support the validity of most binge‐eating indicators, although the utility of the rapid eating criterion is questionable. Future research should examine whether modifying these indicators in binge‐eating interventions would reduce the occurrence of loss of control and/or overeating.
Characterization and correlates of exercise among adolescents with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
Authors: Nagata Jason M. , Carlson Jennifer L. , Kao Jessica M. , Golden Neville H. , Murray Stuart B. , Peebles Rebecka 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo characterize exercise behaviors among adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN), atypical AN, or bulimia nervosa (BN), and determine associations between exercise and medical risk.Study designCross‐sectional electronic medical records of all patients evaluated by the Eating Disorder Program at Stanford between January 1997 and February 2011 were retrospectively reviewed.Results1,083 subjects (961 females, 122 males; mean age 15.6) met eligibility criteria. Most patients (89.7%) reported exercise (mean 7.0 h per week over mean 5.4 days per week) prior to presentation. Running (49.9%), calisthenics (40.7%), walking (23.4%), soccer (20.9%), and swimming (18.2%) were the most common exercises; a majority (60.6%) reported team sport participation. Males were less likely to report team exercise (p = .005). Bradycardia (heart rate <50) at presentation was associated with team sport participation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–2.72) and hours of exercise per week (AOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.09), controlling for diagnosis, sex, age, duration of illness, rate of weight loss, and percent median body mass index (%mBMI).DiscussionAdolescents with AN, atypical AN, and BN reported high levels of exercise. Females reported more team sport participation. Greater exercise frequency and team sport participation were associated with bradycardia. Further studies assessing the relationship between exercise and bradycardia may help inform the medical management of adolescents with these eating disorders who are more physically active.
A Learning Method for Block‐Based Neural Networks with Structure Search Based on the Least Number of Routes
Authors: NORIMATSU NAOTO , KOAKUTSU SEIICHI , OKAMOTO TAKASHI 
Published: November 2017

SUMMARYIn recent years, a study of evolvable hardware (EHW) which can adapt to new an unknown environment attracts much attention among hardware designers. EHW is reconfigurable hardware and can be implemented combining reconfigurable devices such as FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and evolutionary computation such as Genetic Algorithms (GAs). As such research of EHW, Block‐Based Neural Networks (BBNNs) have been proposed. BBNNs have simplified network structures and their weights and network structure can be optimized at the same time using GAs. The learning of BBNNs without constraint of network structure is, however, not efficient because the degree of difficulty of learning depends on network structures. In this paper, we proposed a new evaluation index of network structures for BBNNs based on the least number of routes which are from inputs to outputs, and apply it to the structure search. The learning of BBNNs is efficiently executed with structure constraint condition based on the proposed index because the network structures which are difficult to learn are excluded. In order to evaluate the proposed method, we apply it to XOR, 3 bit‐parity, square function approximation, contact lenses fitting, Fisher's iris classification, and Wine classification. Results of computational experiments indicate the validity of the proposed method.
Is it time to eliminate field surveys from hydromorphological assessments of rivers?—Comparison between a field survey and a remote sensing approach
Authors: Knehtl Miha , Petkovska Vesna , Urbanič Gorazd 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWith growing accessibility to remote sensing (RS) data, field surveys (FS) are no longer the only tool for obtaining information on river hydromorphology. The current study addresses the question of comparability between RS‐ and FS‐based assessments of large river hydromorphological (HM) characteristics, using the Slovenian hydromorphological assessment method as a comparison tool. The applied RS approach was based on manual digitalization and free‐available RS imagery, while FS were conducted using the River habitat survey. FS and RS data were obtained for 73 sites, covering a broad gradient of large river conditions, from nearly natural to severely modified. To account for natural diversity, sites were grouped into simple and complex channel sites. Furthermore, the RS approach was tested for its ability to trace changes in HM conditions along the river continuum (1,144 sites) and to detect factors of major HM change. Our research showed that FS‐ and RS‐based approaches can give very similar outcomes in large river HM assessment, especially when assessing general HM conditions, as the high correlations of the final indices of the Slovenian hydromorphological assessment method illustrate. Stronger relationships were recognized for simple compared to complex channel sites. The applied RS approach proved its viability in tracing habitat conditions along the river continuum, exposing hydro‐dams and urbanization as the main drivers of habitat change. Overall, our findings support a stronger integration of RS into HM assessments, although caution is recommended when applied on complex systems. In order to capture the whole HM diversity of large rivers, FS are still needed.