bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mini‐scale cultivation method enables expeditious plasmid production in Escherichia coli
Authors: Grunzel Petra , Pilarek Maciej , Steinbrück Dörte , Neubauer Antje , Brand Eva , Kumke Michael U. , Neubauer Peter , Krause Mirja 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe standard procedure in the lab for plasmid isolation usually involves a 2‐mL, 16 h over‐night cultivation in 15‐mL bioreaction tubes in LB medium. This is time consuming, and not suitable for high‐throughput applications. This study shows that it is possible to produce plasmid DNA (pDNA) in a 1.5‐mL microcentrifuge tube with only 100 μL cultivation volume in less than 7 h with a simple protocol. Compared with the standard LB cultivation for pDNA production reaching a final pDNA concentration range of 1.5–4 μg mL–1, a 6‐ to 10‐fold increase in plasmid concentration (from 10 up to 25 μg mL–1 cultivation volume) is achieved using an optimized medium with an internal substrate delivery system (EnBase®). Different strains, plasmids, and the applicability of different inoculation tools (i.e. different starting ODs) were compared, demonstrating the robustness of the system. Additionally, dissolved oxygen was monitored in real time online, indicating that under optimized conditions oxygen limitation can be avoided. We developed a simple protocol with a significantly decreased procedure time, enabling simultaneous handling of more samples, while a consistent quality and a higher final pDNA concentration are ensured.
ADAM17‐mediated CD44 cleavage promotes orasphere formation or stemness and tumorigenesis in HNSCC
Authors: Kamarajan Pachiyappan , Shin Jae M , Qian Xu , Matte Bibiana , Zhu Joey Yizhou , Kapila Yvonne L. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractCD44, an extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor, has been described as a cancer stem cell marker in multiple cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). HNSCC orasphere formation or stemness was characterized by cleavage of CD44, and thus we hypothesized that this proteolytic processing may be critical to stemness and tumorigenesis. We tested this hypothesis by examining the mechanisms that regulate this process in vitro and in vivo, and by exploring its clinical relevance in human specimens. Sphere assays have been used to evaluate stemness in vitro. Spheres comprised of HNSCC cells or oraspheres and an oral cancer mouse model were used to examine the significance of CD44 cleavage using stable suppression and inhibition approaches. These mechanisms were also examined in HNSCC specimens. Oraspheres exhibited increased levels of CD44 cleavage compared to their adherent counterparts. Given that disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain‐containing protein 17 (ADAM17) is a major matrix metalloproteinase known to cleave CD44, we chemically inhibited and stably suppressed ADAM17 expression in HNSCC cells and found that these treatments blocked CD44 cleavage and abrogated orasphere formation. Furthermore, stable suppression of ADAM17 in HNSCC cells also diminished tumorigenesis in an oral cancer mouse model. Consistently, stable suppression of CD44 in HNSCC cells abrogated orasphere formation and inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo. The clinical relevance of these findings was confirmed in matched primary and metastatic human HNSCC specimens, which exhibited increased levels of ADAM17 expression and concomitant CD44 cleavage compared to controls. CD44 cleavage by ADAM17 is critical to orasphere formation or stemness and HNSCC tumorigenesis.
Phytochemical and Biological Studies of Chloranthus Medicinal Plants
Authors: Xu Yong‐Jiang 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe plants of genus Chloranthus have been investigated in many chemical and pharmacological laboratories due to their complex secondary metabolites and diverse bioactivities. The aim of this review is to provide an up‐to‐date overview on the chemistry and bioactivity of the compounds isolated, mainly sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids, from the genus Chloranthus over the past few decades.
Synthesis and Biological Assays of 9‐(Acylamino)homocamptothecins as DNA Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
Authors: Guo Wei , Dong Guoqiang , Zhu Lingjian , Liu Wenfeng , Zhuang Chunlin , Guo Zizhao , Yao Jianzhong , Sheng Chunquan , Zhang Huojun , Miao Zhenyuan , Zhang Wannian 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIn an effort to improve the stability of homocamptothecin and reduce the toxicity, novel homocamptothecin analogs with acylamino groups at C(9) were designed and synthesized. The cytotoxic activities of all the synthetic compounds against three cancer cell lines were evaluated by the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and irinotecan was used as reference compound. Compound 7c with a piperidinylacetamido group and 10a with phenylacetamido group at C(9) showed potent activities both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, they also revealed remarkable topoisomerase I inhibitions which were exhibited with well‐established bonds with amino acid residues Arg364 and Asp533 in the active pocket. On the basis of the biological activities, 7c and 10a would be potential candidates for further studies.
Application of Two‐Dimensional NMR Spectroscopy to Metabotyping Laboratory Escherichia coli Strains
Authors: Chae Young Kee , Kim Seol Hyun , Nam Youn‐Ki 
Published: October 2013

AbstractNMR Spectroscopy has been established as a major tool for identification and quantification of metabolites in a living system. Since the metabolomics era began, one‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy has been intensively employed due to its simplicity and quickness. However, it has suffered from an inevitable overlap of signals, thus leading to inaccuracy in identification and quantification of metabolites. Two‐dimensional (2D) NMR has emerged as a viable alternative because it can offer higher accuracy in a reasonable amount of time. We employed 1H,13C‐HSQC to profile metabolites of six different laboratory E. coli strains. We identified 18 metabolites and observed clustering of six strains according to their metabolites. We compared the metabolites among the strains, and found that a) the strains specialized for protein production were segregated; b) XL1‐Blue separated itself from others by accumulating amino acids such as alanine, aspartate, glutamate, methionine, proline, and lysine; c) the strains specialized for cloning purpose were spread out from one another; and d) the strains originating from B strain were characterized by succinate accumulation. This work shows that 2D‐NMR can be applied to identify a strain from metabolite analysis, offering a possible alternative to genetic analysis to identify E. coli strains.
Immobilization of 5‐Fluorouridine on Chitosan
Authors: Malecki Edith , Viere Rebecca , Rosemeyer Helmut 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe 2′,3′‐O‐levulinic acid derivative 2b of the cancerostatic 5‐fluorouridine as well as its N(3)‐farnesylated nucleolipid 2d were synthesized and coupled to H2O‐soluble chitosanes of different molecular weight and at various pH values (3.5–5.5) leading to 6 and 7. In addition, the coumarine fluorophore ATTO‐488 N(9)‐butanoate was bound to the biopolymer by a sequential‐coupling technique to afford 9 and 10. Moreover, chitosan foils were prepared, to which 2b was coupled. Their degradation by chitosanase (from Streptomyces sp. N174) was studied UV‐spectrophotometrically in a Franz diffusion cell.
Composition and Antiviral Activity of the Essential Oils of Eryngium alpinum and E. amethystinum
Authors: Dunkić Valerija , Vuko Elma , Bezić Nada , Kremer Dario , Ruščić Mirko 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Croatian Eryngium alpinum L. and E. amethystinum L. were characterized by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. The main components identified were the sesquiterpene β‐caryophyllene (19.7%) in the oil of E. amethystinum and the oxygenated sesquiterpene caryophyllene oxide (21.6%) in the oil of E. alpinum. Overall, 32 and 35 constituents were detected in the essential oils of the aerial parts of E. alpinum and E. amethystinum, respectively, representing 92.4 and 93.1% of the total oil compositions. The essential oils of both Eryngium species were proved to reduce the number of lesions in the local host Chenopodium quinoa infected with cucumber mosaic virus and an associated satellite. This is the first investigation of antiphytoviral activity of essential oils of Eryngium species.
Charge‐Assisted Halogen Bonding: Donor–Acceptor Complexes with Variable Ionicity
Authors: Lieffrig Julien , Jeannin Olivier , Frąckowiak Arkadiusz , Olejniczak Iwona , Świetlik Roman , Dahaoui Slimane , Aubert Emmanuel , Espinosa Enrique , Auban‐Senzier Pascale , Fourmigué Marc 
Published: October 2013

AbstractCharge‐assisted halogen bonding is unambiguously revealed from structural and electronic investigations of a series of isostructural charge‐transfer complexes derived from iodinated tetrathiafulvalene and tetracyanoquinodimethane derivatives, (EDT‐TTFI2)2(TCNQFn), n=0–2, which exhibit variable degrees of ionicity. The iodinated tetrathiafulvalene derivative, EDT‐TTFI2, associates with tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and its derivatives of increasing reduction potential (TCNQF, TCNQF2) through highly directional CI⋅⋅⋅N≡C halogen‐bond interactions. With the less oxidizing TCNQ acceptor, a neutral and insulating charge‐transfer complex is isolated whereas with the more oxidizing TCNQF2 acceptor, an ionic, highly conducting charge‐transfer salt is found, both of 2:1 stoichiometry and isostructural with the intermediate TCNQF complex, in which a neutral–ionic conversion takes place upon cooling. A correlation between the degree of charge transfer and the CI⋅⋅⋅N≡C halogen‐bond strength is established from the comparison of the structures of the three isostructural complexes at temperatures from 300 to 20 K, thus demonstrating the importance of electrostatics in the halogen‐bonding interaction. The neutral–ionic conversion in (EDT‐TTFI2)2(TCNQF) is further investigated through the temperature dependence of its magnetic susceptibility and the stretching modes of the C≡N groups.
Barriers to effective treatment of pediatric solid tumors in middle‐income countries: Can we make sense of the spectrum of nonbiologic factors that influence outcomes?
Authors: Friedrich Paola , Ortiz Roberta , Fuentes Soad , Gamboa Yéssica , Ah Chu‐Sanchez María Sabina , Arambú Ingrid Carolina , Montero Margarita , Báez Fulgencio , Rodríguez‐Galindo Carlos , Antillón‐Klussmann Federico ,   for the Central American Association of Pediatric Hematologists and Oncologists (AHOPCA)
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUNDThe delivery of effective treatment for pediatric solid tumors poses a particular challenge to centers in middle‐income countries (MICs) that already are vigorously addressing pediatric cancer. The objective of this study was to improve the current understanding of barriers to effective treatment of pediatric solid tumors in MICs.METHODSAn ecologic model centered on pediatric sarcoma and expanded to country as the environment was used as a benchmark for studying the delivery of solid tumor care in MICs. Data on resources were gathered from 7 centers that were members of the Central American Association of Pediatric Hematologists and Oncologists (AHOPCA) using an infrastructure assessment tool. Pediatric sarcoma outcomes data were available, were retrieved from hospital‐based cancer registries for 6 of the 7 centers, and were analyzed by country. Patients who were diagnosed from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2009 with osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and other soft tissue sarcomas were included in the analysis. To explore correlations between resources and outcomes, a pilot performance index was created.RESULTSThe analyses identified specific deficits in human resources, communication, quality, and infrastructure. The treatment abandonment rate, the proportion of metastatic disease at diagnosis, the relapse rate, and the 4‐year abandonment‐sensitive overall survival (AOS) rate varied considerably by country, ranging from 1% to 38%, from 15% to 54%, from 24% to 52%, and from 21% to 51%, respectively. The treatment abandonment rate correlated inversely with health economic expenditure per capita (r = −0.86; P = .03) and life expectancy at birth (r = −0.93; P = .007). The 4‐year AOS rate correlated inversely with the mortality rate among children aged <5 years (r = −0.80; P = 0.05) and correlated directly with the pilot performance index (r = 0.98; P = 0.005).CONCLUSIONSInitiatives to improve the effectiveness of treatment for pediatric solid tumors in MICs are warranted, particularly for pediatric sarcomas. Building capacity and infrastructure, improving supportive care and communication, and fostering comprehensive, multidisciplinary teams are identified as keystones in Central America. A measure that meaningfully describes performance in delivering pediatric cancer care is feasible and needed to advance comparative, prospective analysis of pediatric cancer care and to define resource clusters internationally. Cancer 2014;120:112–125. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Colonization of islands in the Mona Passage by endemic dwarf geckoes (genus Sphaerodactylus) reconstructed with mitochondrial phylogeny
Authors: Díaz‐Lameiro Alondra M. , Oleksyk Taras K. , Bird‐Picó Fernando J. , Martínez‐Cruzado Juan Carlos 
Published: October 2013

AbstractLittle is known about the natural history of the Sphaerodactylus species endemic to the three islands located in the Mona Passage separating the Greater Antillean islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. In this study, parts of two mitochondrial genes, 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA, were sequenced to determine the relationships between the sphaerodactylids that live in the Mona Passage and other Caribbean species from the same genus. While the main goal was to identify the biogeographical origin of these species, we also identified a genetically distinct type of dwarf gecko that warrants future evaluation as a possible new species. According to the reconstructed phylogenies, we propose a stepwise model of colonization wherein S. nicholsi from southwestern Puerto Rico or a very close ancestor gave rise through a founder event to Sphaerodactylus monensis on Mona Island. In a similar fashion, S. monensis or a very close ancestor on Mona Island gave rise to S. levinsi on Desecheo Island. This study also suggests that the most recent common ancestor between the species from the islands in the Mona Passage and Puerto Rico existed approximately 3 MYA.
Template Matching by the Statistical Reach Feature Method
Authors: Ozaki Ryushi , Satoh Yutaka , Iwata Kenji , Sakaue Katsuhiko 
Published: October 2013

SUMMARYA novel method for image template matching with robustness to various real‐world disturbances is proposed. The method is based on the statistical reach feature method. The method utilizes the set of signs of differences for selected pairs of points from the template image. The selection is performed from the statistical viewpoint. The concrete description of the method is presented plainly. The selection of thresholds in the method is argued. Experiments with various disturbances including illumination change, occlusion, and JPEG noise are described. Analyses based on the noise models are performed to show the theoretical background of the robustness of the method. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 96(11): 54–69, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.11478
Patient and Parental Self‐reports of Executive Functioning in a Sample of Young Female Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa Before and After Cognitive Remediation Therapy
Authors: Dahlgren Camilla Lindvall , Lask Bryan , Landrø Nils Inge , Rø Øyvind 
Published: October 2013

AbstractObjectivePrevious studies assessing the potency of cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) have largely focused on performance‐based assessments and how these change during the course of the intervention. Little is known of behavioural manifestations of such changes, and no previous studies have studied parental reports before and after CRT.MethodPatient and parental self‐reports of executive function using the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) were obtained for 17 adolescent patients in treatment for anorexia nervosa before and after CRT.ResultsResults indicated that patients scored significantly lower on the BRIEF shift subscale after CRT, whereas parental reports revealed significantly lower scores on the shift and emotional control subscales, and on the two composite indices Behavioural Regulation Index and Global Executive Composite. Case‐wise comparisons support variations in executive functions in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.DiscussionChanges are evaluated in light of the relationship between patients and parents and with regard to the limitations of the study design. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Temperature Effects on the Molecular Dynamics of Modified Nafion® Membranes Incorporating Ionic Liquids' Cations: A 1H NMRD Study
Authors: Martins C. F. , Neves L. , Coelhoso I. M. , Vaca Chávez F. , Crespo J. G. , Sebastião P. J. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractNafion® is the polymer electrolyte membrane most used in fuel cells (PEMFC), however Nafion® presents some limitations due to the water loss with increasing temperature. In this work is presented the study of the molecular dynamics in modified Nafion®/ionic liquids (IL) cations membranes with increasing temperature, by proton NMR relaxometry (1H NMRD). Three Nafion® membranes modified with Phenyltrimethylammonium (TMPA+), 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium (BMIM+) and n‐dodecyltrimethylammonium (DTA+) IL cations were considered. This study allowed the evaluation of the effect of the IL cations incorporation in Nafion® membranes and to assess the degree of confinement of the IL cations in the membranes matrix in relation with the water content. Thermogravimetry analysis was also performed to study the water loss with increasing temperature of the Nafion®/IL cations membranes. It was possible to establish a correlation between the water content and the IL cations self‐diffusion coefficients. The sequential order of the hydration level obtained for the studied systems was Nafion®/DTA+>Nafion®/BMIM+ ≳ Nafion®/H+>Nafion®/TMPA+, while the water loss follows the sequence Nafion®/H+>Nafion®/BMIM+∼Nafion®/DTA+>Nafion®/TMPA+. The Nafion®/BMIM+ presented the largest temperature variation of both the self‐diffusion coefficient and the hydration conditions. In terms of PEMFCs efficiency, the Nafion®/DTA+ modified membrane seems to offer the largest and stable hydration conditions with temperature.
Smokers' Strategic Responses to Sin Taxes: Evidence from Panel Data in Thailand
Authors: White Justin S. , Ross Hana 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIn addition to quitting and cutting consumption, smokers faced with higher cigarette prices may compensate in several ways that mute the health impact of cigarette taxes. This study examines three price avoidance strategies among adult male smokers in Thailand: trading down to a lower‐priced brand, buying individual sticks of cigarettes instead of packs, and substituting roll‐your‐own tobacco for factory‐manufactured cigarettes. Using two panels of microlevel data from the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia Study, collected in 2005 and 2006, we estimate the effects of a substantial excise tax increase implemented throughout Thailand in December 2005. We present estimates of the marginal effects and price elasticities for each of five consumer behaviors. We find that, controlling for baseline smoking characteristics, sociodemographics, and policy variables, quitting is highly sensitive to changes in cigarette prices, but so are brand choice, stick‐buying, and use of roll‐your‐own tobacco. Neglecting such strategic responses leads to overestimates of a sin tax's health impact, and neglecting product substitution distorts estimates of the price elasticity of cigarette demand. We discuss the implications for consumer welfare and several policies that mitigate the adverse impact of consumer responses. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Efficient Isocyanide‐Based Three‐Component Diastereoselective Synthesis of Chromane‐3,4‐dicarboxamides
Authors: Imanieh Hossein , Sarlak Mansooreh , Amanpour Tayebeh , Bazgir Ayoob 
Published: October 2013

AbstractAn efficient method for the diastereoselective synthesis of chromane‐3,4‐dicarboxamides via the three‐component reaction of 2‐oxo‐2H‐chromene‐3‐carboxylic acids, amines, and isocyanides in MeCN is reported.
Effectiveness of written hospitalist sign‐outs in answering overnight inquiries
Authors: Fogerty Robert L. , Schoenfeld Amy , Salim Al‐Damluji Mohammed , Horwitz Leora I. 
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUNDHospitalists are key providers of care to medical inpatients, and sign‐out is an integral part of providing safe, high‐quality inpatient care. There is little known about hospitalist‐to‐hospitalist sign‐out.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the quality of hospitalist/physician‐extender sign‐outs by assessing how well the sign‐out prepares the night team for overnight events and to determine attributes of effective sign‐out.DESIGNAnalysis of a written‐only sign‐out protocol on a nonteaching hospitalist service using prospective data collected by an attending physician survey during overnight shifts.SETTINGYale–New Haven Hospital, a 966‐bed, urban, academic medical center in New Haven, Connecticut with approximately 13,700 hospitalist discharges annually.RESULTSWe recorded 124 inquiries about 96 patients during 6 days of data collection in 2012. Hospitalists referenced the sign‐out for 89 (74%) inquiries, and the sign‐out was considered sufficient in isolation to respond to 27 (30%) of these inquiries. Hospitalists physically saw the patient for 14 (12%) of inquiries. Nurses were the originator for most inquiries (102 [82%]). The most common inquiry topics were medications (55 [45%]), plan of care (26 [21%]), and clinical changes (26 [21%]). Ninety‐five (77%) inquiries were considered to be “somewhat” or “very” clinically important by the hospitalist.CONCLUSIONSOverall, we found that attending hospitalists rely heavily on written sign‐out to address overnight inquiries, but that those sign‐outs are not reliably effective. Future work to better understand the roles of written and verbal components in sign‐out is needed to help improve the safety of overnight care. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;8:609–614. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine