bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis-inducing activity of fungal taxol and its precursor baccatin III purified from endophytic Fusarium solani
Authors: Chakravarthi Balabhadrapatruni VSK , Sujay Ramanathan , Kuriakose Gini C , Karande Anjali A , Jayabaskaran Chelliah 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Background
Taxol (generic name paclitaxel), a plant-derived antineoplastic agent, used widely against breast, ovarian and lung cancer, was originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia. The limited supply of the drug has prompted efforts to find alternative sources, such as chemical synthesis, tissue and cell cultures of the Taxus species both of which are expensive and yield low levels. Fermentation processes with microorganisms would be the methods of choice to lower the costs and increase yields. Previously we have reported that F. solani isolated from T. celebica produced taxol and its precursor baccatin III in liquid grown cultures J Biosci 33:259-67, 2008. This study was performed to evaluate the inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis of cancer cell lines by the fungal taxol and fungal baccatin III of F. solani isolated from T. celebica.

Methods
Cell lines such as HeLa, HepG2, Jurkat, Ovcar3 and T47D were cultured individually and treated with fungal taxol, baccatin III with or without caspase inhibitors according to experimental requirements. Their efficacy on apoptotic induction was examined.

Results
Both fungal taxol and baccatin III inhibited cell proliferation of a number of cancer cell lines with IC50 ranging from 0.005 to 0.2 μM for fungal taxol and 2 to 5 μM for fungal baccatin III. They also induced apoptosis in JR4-Jurkat cells with a possible involvement of anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and loss in mitochondrial membrane potential, and was unaffected by inhibitors of caspase-9,-2 or -3 but was prevented in presence of caspase-10 inhibitor. DNA fragmentation was also observed in cells treated with fungal taxol and baccatin III.

Conclusions
The cytotoxic activity exhibited by fungal taxol and baccatin III involves the same mechanism, dependent on caspase-10 and membrane potential loss of mitochondria, with taxol having far greater cytotoxic potential.
Validation of an instrument to evaluate quality of life in the aging population: WHOQOL-AGE
Authors: Caballero Francisco Félix , Miret Marta , Power Mick , Chatterji Somnath , Tobiasz-Adamczyk Beata , Koskinen Seppo , Leonardi Matilde , Olaya Beatriz , Haro Josep Maria , Ayuso-Mateos José Luis 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Background
There is a need for short, specific instruments that assess quality of life (QOL) adequately in the older adult population. The aims of the present study were to obtain evidence on the validity of the inferences that could be drawn from an instrument to measure QOL in the aging population (people 50+ years old), and to test its psychometric properties.

Methods
The instrument, WHOQOL-AGE, comprised 13 positive items, assessed on a five-point rating scale, and was administered to nationally representative samples (n = 9987) from Finland, Poland, and Spain. Cronbach’s alpha was employed to assess internal consistency reliability, whereas the validity of the questionnaire was assessed by means of factor analysis, graded response model, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and unpaired t-test. Normative values were calculated across countries and for different age groups.

Results
The satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices confirmed that the factorial structure of WHOQOL-AGE comprises two first-order factors. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.88 for factor 1, and 0.84 for factor 2. Evidence supporting a global score was found with a second-order factor model, according to the goodness-of-fit indices: CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.073. Convergent validity was estimated at r = 0.75 and adequate discriminant validity was also found. Significant differences were found between healthy individuals (74.19 ± 13.21) and individuals with at least one chronic condition (64.29 ± 16.29), supporting adequate known-groups validity.

Conclusions
WHOQOL-AGE has shown good psychometric properties in Finland, Poland, and Spain. Therefore, considerable support is provided to using the WHOQOL-AGE to measure QOL in older adults in these countries, and to compare the QOL of older and younger adults.
The Antioxidant Effects of the Flavonoids Rutin and Quercetin Inhibit Oxaliplatin-Induced Chronic Painful Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Azevedo Maria Isabel , Pereira Anamaria Falcão , Nogueira Ricardo Braz , Rolim Flávio Esmeraldo , Brito Gerly AC , Wong Deysi Viviana T , Lima-Júnior Roberto CP , de Albuquerque Ribeiro Ronaldo , Vale Mariana Lima 
Published: October 2013

Background Oxaliplatin, the third-generation platinum compound, has evolved as one of the most important therapeutic agents in colorectal cancer chemotherapy. The main limiting factor in oxaliplatin treatment is painful neuropathy that is difficult to treat. This side effect has been studied for several years, but its full mechanism is still inconclusive, and effective treatment does not exist. Data suggest that oxaliplatin's initial neurotoxic effect is peripheral and oxidative stress-dependent. A spinal target is also suggested in its mechanism of action. The flavonoids rutin and quercetin have been described as cell-protecting agents because of their antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory actions. We proposed a preventive effect of these agents on oxaliplatin-induced painful peripheral neuropathy based on their antioxidant properties. Methods Oxaliplatin (1 mg/kg, i.v.) was injected in male Swiss mice, twice a week (total of nine injections). The development of sensory alterations, such as thermal and mechanical allodynia, was evaluated using the tail immersion test in cold water (10°C) and the von Frey test. Rutin and quercetin (25–100 mg/kg, i.p.) were injected 30 min before each oxaliplatin injection. The animals' spinal cords were removed for histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation and malondialdehyde assay. Results Oxaliplatin significantly increased thermal and mechanical nociceptive response, effects prevented by quercetin and rutin at all doses. Fos immunostaining in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord confirmed these results. The oxidative stress assays mainly showed that oxaliplatin induced peroxidation in the spinal cord and that rutin and quercetin decreased this effect. The flavonoids also decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitrotyrosine immunostaining in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. These results suggest that nitric oxide and peroxynitrite are also involved in the neurotoxic effect of oxaliplatin and that rutin and quercetin can inhibit their effect in the spinal cord. We also observed the preservation of dorsal horn structure using histopathological analyses. Conclusions Oxaliplatin induced painful peripheral neuropathy in mice, an effect that was prevented by rutin and quercetin. The mechanism of action of oxaliplatin appears to be, at least, partially oxidative stress-induced damage in dorsal horn neurons, with the involvement of lipid peroxidation and protein nitrosylation.
snOPY: a small nucleolar RNA orthological gene database
Authors: Yoshihama Maki , Nakao Akihiro , Kenmochi Naoya 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Background
Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that guide the modification of specific nucleotides in ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). Although most non-coding RNAs undergo post-transcriptional modifications prior to maturation, the functional significance of these modifications remains unknown. Here, we introduce the snoRNA orthological gene database (snOPY) as a tool for studying RNA modifications.

Findings
snOPY provides comprehensive information about snoRNAs, snoRNA gene loci, and target RNAs. It also contains data for orthologues from various species, which enables users to analyze the evolution of snoRNA genes. In total, 13,770 snoRNA genes, 10,345 snoRNA gene loci, and 133 target RNAs have been registered. Users can search and access the data efficiently using a simple web interface with a series of internal links. snOPY is freely available on the web at http://snoopy.med.miyazaki-u.ac.jp.

Conclusions
snOPY is the database that provides information about the small nucleolar RNAs and their orthologues. It will help users to study RNA modifications and snoRNA gene evolution.
Familial adenomatous polyposis of the colon
Authors: Plawski Andrzej , Banasiewicz Tomasz , Borun Pawel , Kubaszewski Lukasz , Krokowicz Piotr , Skrzypczak-Zielinska Marzena , Lubinski Jan 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a well-defined autosomal dominant predisposition to the development of polyposis in the colon and rectum at unusually early ages. The first symptoms of FAP are diarrhea and blood in the stool. Weight loss and weaknesses occur after the development of advanced tumour. The incidence of the FAP disorder is one per 10000 newborns. There are high levels of heterogeneity with regard to the number and timing of the occurrence of polyps. The classical form of FAP is characterized by the presence of more than 100 polyps, which appear in the second decade of life. The average time of occurrence of polyps is 15 years. The earliest symptoms of polyposis have been observed in a three-year-old child. The polyps are characterized by large potential for the development towards malignant tumour. Malignancy can occur from late childhood onwards. Attenuated adenomatous polyposis coli is characterized by a more benign course of disease in contrast to classical FAP. The occurrence of FAP is associated with mutations in the APC tumour suppressor gene, which was described in 1991. The APC gene is located on chromosome 5q21 and is involved in cell proliferation control. A recessive form of adenomatous polyposis is caused by mutations in the base excision repair gene - MUTYH gene. The MUTYH gene is involved in repairing DNA lesions as a result of oxidative DNA damage. MUTYH associated polyposis (MAP) is a predisposition to the development of polyps of the colon but the number of polyps is lower in comparison to classical FAP. The high risks of cancer observed in these two diseases make them important medical issues. Molecular studies of colonic polyposis have been performed in Poland for over fifteen years. A DNA Bank for Polish FAP patients was established at the Institute of Human Genetics in Poznan in which DNA samples from 600 FAP families have been collected.
Flexizymes-facilitated Genetic Code Reprogramming Leading to the Discovery of Drug-like Peptides
Authors: Terasaka Naohiro , Suga Hiroaki 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Flexizymes are a family of aminoacylation ribozymes devised by in vitro selection in our research group. They charge a wide variety of nonproteinogenic amino acids onto virtually any kind of tRNAs, enabling us to reprogram the genetic code in a custom-made cell-free translation system. This genetic code reprogramming method was integrated with a mRNA display method, which not only expresses nonstandard peptides such as macrocyclic peptides but also selects ligands specifically binding to target proteins. This system is referred to as random nonstandard peptide integrated discovery (RaPID) system, which has yielded inhibitors against disease-related target proteins. In this review, we summarize the evolutionary history and recent applications of the flexizymes and RaPID system.
Amplicon pyrosequencing of wild duck eubacterial microbiome from a fecal sample reveals numerous species linked to human and animal diseases
Authors: Strong Thomas , Dowd Scot , Gutierrez Alexander F. , Coffman Jonathan 
Published: October 2013

Our investigation into the composition of the wild duck,Aythya americana, eubacterial microbiome from a fecal sample using amplicon pyrosequencing revealed that the representative bacterial species were quite distinct from a pond water sample, and we were able to classify the major operational taxonomic units withFusobacterium mortiferum,Streptobacillus moniliformis,Lactobacillus intermedius,Actinomyces suimastitidis,Campylobacter Canadensis,Enterococcus cecorum,Lactobacillus aviarus,Actimomyces spp.,Pseudobutyrivibrio spp.and Helicobacter brantaerepresenting the majority of the eubacterial fecal microbiome. Bacterial species present in the analysis revealed numerous organisms linked to human and animal diseases including septicemia, rat bite fever, pig mastitis, endocarditis, malar masses, genital infections, skin lesions, peritonitis, wound infections, septic arthritis, urocystitis, gastroenteritis and drinking water diseases. In addition, to being known carriers of viral pathogens wild ducks should also be recognized as a potential source of a range of bacterial diseases.
Case Article—Assigning Regions to Sales Representatives at Pfizer Turkey
Authors: Köksalan Murat , Batun Sakine 
Published: October 2013

Many pharmaceutical products are marketed to medical doctors by sales representatives (SRs). Each SR has a working area (sales territory) covering all the doctors s/he needs to visit regularly. Designing the sales territories is an important problem in the pharmaceutical sector and it requires consideration of several conflicting criteria. This case study is based on a real-life sales territory construction problem of Pfizer Turkey, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Turkey. The case aims to improve the students' skills of formulating and solving integer programs, exploring the solution space and the tradeoffs between different criteria, and generating a set of promising solutions to be presented to the decision maker (DM) for final choice. Case Teaching Note: Interested Instructors please see the Instructor Materials page for access to the restricted materials. To maintain the integrity and usefulness of cases published in ITE, unapproved distribution of the case teaching notes and other restricted materials to any other party is prohibited.
Investor Flows and the 2008 Boom/Bust in Oil Prices
Authors: Singleton Kenneth J. 
Published: October 2013

This paper explores the impact of investor flows and financial market conditions on returns in crude oil futures markets. I argue that informational frictions and the associated speculative activity may induce prices to drift away from “fundamental” values, and may result in price booms and busts. Particular attention is given to the interplay between imperfect information about real economic activity, including supply, demand, and inventory accumulation, and speculative activity in oil markets. Furthermore, I present new evidence that there were economically and statistically significant effects of investor flows on futures prices, after controlling for returns in the United States and emerging-economy stock markets, a measure of the balance sheet flexibility of large financial institutions, open interest, the futures/spot basis, and lagged returns on oil futures. The largest impacts on futures prices were from intermediate-term growth rates of index positions and managed-money spread positions. Moreover, my findings suggest that these effects were through risk or informational channels distinct from changes in convenience yield. Finally, the evidence suggests that hedge fund trading in spread positions in futures impacted the shape of term structure of oil futures prices. This paper was accepted by Wei Xiong, finance.
Fast or Rational? A Response-Times Study of Bayesian Updating
Authors: Achtziger Anja , Alós-Ferrer Carlos 
Published: October 2013

We present a simple model for decision making under uncertainty building on dual-process theories from psychology, and use it to illustrate a possible component of intuitive decision making of particular relevance for managerial settings. Decisions are the result of the interaction between two decision processes. The first one captures optimization based on Bayesian updating of beliefs. The second corresponds to a form of reinforcement learning capturing the tendency to rely on past performance. The model predicts that (i) in the case of conflict between the two processes, correct responses are associated with longer response times, but (ii) if both processes are aligned, errors are slower. Furthermore, (iii) response times in the case of conflict are longer than in the case of alignment. We confirm the predictions of the model in an experiment using a paradigm where an associative win-stay, lose-shift process conflicted with rational belief updating. Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2013.1793 This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, judgment and decision making.
Futility Assessment of Recombinant Factor VII Activated for the Treatment of Hemorrhagic Shock Requiring Massive Transfusion
Authors: McMillen James C. , Lawson Christy M. , Shaun Rowe A. 
Published: October 2013

Objective Recombinant human factor VII activated (rFVIIa) is an adjuvant therapy in patients receiving massive transfusion for hemorrhagic shock. We compared patient characteristics and outcomes to determine futility criteria for the administration of rFVIIa in patients receiving massive transfusion for hemorrhagic shock. Methods This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients who received both massive transfusion and rFVIIa. Consecutive trauma patients were allocated to 1 of 2 cohorts: survivors and nonsurvivors. Results Seventy-two subjects comprised the study: 27 were survivors and 45 were nonsurvivors. A univariate analysis revealed that nonsurvivors were older and had a more profound coagulopathy as measured by prothrombin time. A stepwise logistic regression revealed an increased odds of death in those patients who were older (odds ratio [OR], 1.048; 95% CI, 1.008 −1.091), had a higher admission prothrombin time (OR, 1.561; 95% CI, 1.152-2.116), and received more fresh frozen plasma (OR, 1.098; 95% CI 1.023-1.179). In addition we saw a protective effect with increased platelet administration (OR, 0.645; 95% CI, 0.446-0.932). Conclusion The use of rFVIIa for massive transfusion in middle-aged patients with moderate coagulopathy experiencing hemorrhagic shock may be considered futile. However, if rFVIIa is to be used as part of a massive transfusion protocol, adequate administration of platelets should be ensured.
Authentic or Artificial Materials: The
Effects of Material-Types on L2 Motivation
Authors: Shirai Akira 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
This preliminary study sets out to examine the extent to which authentic materials affect
Japanese university students’ classroom motivation, seeking an effective way to teach mixedlevel
language classes at universities. The motivation questionnaires consisting of eight
motivation items as quantitative data and journal entries and learners’ comments in semistructured
interviews as qualitative data were collected and analyzed. The results of null
hypothesis tests on the questionnaires indicate that authentic materials had a significantly more
positive effect on freshmen’s self-reported motivation than artificial textbook materials, but
not on second-year and fourth-year students’. The study also explores the relationship between
enjoyableness and meaningfulness of teaching materials to seek the most effective way of using
authentic materials, and discusses the effects of other possible factors such as activities and
topics. The conclusion suggests that appropriate use of authentic materials, especially enjoyable
ones, can be helpful for university teachers of relatively larger classes of freshmen with mixed
proficiency levels to raise their L2 motivation. The challenges of conducting this research and
suggestions about future studies are also discussed.
Salivary Interleukin‐6 and ‐8 in Patients With Oral Cancer and Patients With Chronic Oral Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Lisa Cheng Yi‐Shing , Jordan Lee , Gorugantula Lakshmi Mitreyi , Schneiderman Emet , Chen Huey‐Shys , Rees Terry 
Published: October 2013

Background: Previous research has indicated that salivary interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8 are potential biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, their levels have been found to be significantly elevated in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) or oral lichen planus (OLP). The data also showed wide variations in levels among the different studies, and no standardization procedure was ever performed. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine whether CP or OLP confounds the use of IL‐6 or IL‐8 for OSCC detection.Methods: Saliva samples were collected from five groups: OSCC before treatment (n = 18); CP (n = 21); disease‐active OLP (n = 21); disease‐inactive OLP (n = 20); and healthy controls (n = 21). IL‐6 and IL‐8 concentrations (determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays) were compared, using total salivary protein–standardized levels to validate the data. The Kruskal–Wallis test (α = 0.05) followed by pairwise Mann–Whitney U (post hoc) tests with Bonferroni adjustments (α = 0.00625) were used for statistical analysis.Results: Salivary IL‐6 levels were significantly higher in patients with OSCC than in patients with CP (P <0.001), disease‐active OLP (P = 0.001), disease‐inactive OLP (P <0.001), and healthy controls (P <0.001). Salivary IL‐8 levels were significantly higher in patients with OSCC than in patients with CP (P <0.001), but only marginally significantly higher than in healthy controls (P = 0.014). Statistical results of standardized IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels were consistent with the non‐standardized levels in all pairs except one.Conclusion: Salivary IL‐6 may be a useful biomarker in the detection of OSCC, unconfounded by CP or OLP.
Co-evolution in context: The importance of studying gut microbiomes in wild animals
Authors: Amato Katherine R. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBecause the gut microbiota contributes to host nutrition, health and behavior, and gut microbial community composition differs according to host phylogeny, co-evolution is believed to have been an important mechanism in the formation of the host-gut microbe relationship. However, current research is not ideal for examining this theme. Most studies of the gut microbiota are performed in controlled settings, but gut microbial community composition is strongly influenced by environmental factors. To truly explore the co-evolution of host and microbe, it is necessary to have data describing host-microbe dynamics in natural environments with variation in factors such as climate, food availability, disease prevalence, and host behavior. In this review, I use current knowledge of host-gut microbe dynamics to explore the potential interactions between host and microbe in natural habitats. These interactions include the influence of host habitat on gut microbial community composition as well as the impacts of the gut microbiota on host fitness in a given habitat. Based on what we currently know, the potential connections between host habitat, the gut microbiota, and host fitness are great. Studies of wild animals will be an essential next step to test these connections and to advance our understanding of host-gut microbe co-evolution.
Numerical approximations for fractional diffusion equations via a Chebyshev spectral-tau method
Authors: Doha Eid , Bhrawy Ali , Ezz-Eldien Samer 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
In this paper, a class of fractional diffusion equations with variable coefficients is considered. An accurate and efficient spectral tau technique for solving the fractional diffusion equations numerically is proposed. This method is based upon Chebyshev tau approximation together with Chebyshev operational matrix of Caputo fractional differentiation. Such approach has the advantage of reducing the problem to the solution of a system of algebraic equations, which may then be solved by any standard numerical technique. We apply this general method to solve four specific examples. In each of the examples considered, the numerical results show that the proposed method is of high accuracy and is efficient for solving the time-dependent fractional diffusion equations.