bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systemic levels of neuropeptide Y and dipeptidyl peptidase activity in patients with Ewing sarcoma—Associations with tumor phenotype and survival
Authors: Tilan Jason U. , Krailo Mark , Barkauskas Donald A. , Galli Susana , Mtaweh Haifa , Long Jessica , Wang Hongkun , Hawkins Kirsten , Lu Congyi , Jeha Dima , Izycka‐Swieszewska Ewa , Lawlor Elizabeth R. , Toretsky Jeffrey A. , Kitlinska Joanna B. 
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUNDEwing sarcoma (ES) is driven by fusion of the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 gene (EWSR1) with an E26 transformation‐specific (ETS) transcription factor (EWS‐ETS), most often the Friend leukemia integration 1 transcription factor (FLI1). Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an EWS‐FLI1 transcriptional target; it is highly expressed in ES and exerts opposing effects, ranging from ES cell death to angiogenesis and cancer stem cell propagation. The functions of NPY are regulated by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), a hypoxia‐inducible enzyme that cleaves the peptide and activates its growth‐promoting actions. The objective of this study was to determine the clinically relevant functions of NPY by identifying the associations between patients' ES phenotype and their NPY concentrations and DPP activity.METHODSNPY concentrations and DPP activity were measured in serum samples from 223 patients with localized ES and 9 patients with metastatic ES provided by the Children's Oncology Group.RESULTSSerum NPY levels were elevated in ES patients compared with the levels in a healthy control group and an osteosarcoma patient population, and the elevated levels were independent of EWS‐ETS translocation type. Significantly higher NPY concentrations were detected in patients with ES who had tumors of pelvic and bone origin. A similar trend was observed in patients with metastatic ES. There was no effect of NPY on survival in patients with localized ES. DPP activity in sera from patients with ES did not differ significantly from that in healthy controls and patients with osteosarcoma. However, high DPP levels were associated with improved survival.CONCLUSIONSSystemic NPY levels are elevated in patients with ES, and these high levels are associated with unfavorable disease features. DPPIV in serum samples from patients with ES is derived from nontumor sources, and its high activity is correlated with improved survival. Cancer 2015;121:697–707. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Cancer survivors' disclosure of complementary health approaches to physicians: The role of patient‐centered communication
Authors: Sohl Stephanie J. , Borowski Laurel A. , Kent Erin E. , Smith Ashley Wilder , Oakley‐Girvan Ingrid , Rothman Russell L. , Arora Neeraj K. 
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUNDCancer survivors' disclosure of complementary health approaches (CHAs) to their follow‐up care physicians is necessary to ensure the safe and optimal use of such approaches. Rates of disclosure of CHAs are variable and may be facilitated by patient‐centered communication.METHODSThis cross‐sectional study conducted in 2003‐2004 examined a population‐based sample of leukemia, colorectal, and bladder cancer survivors (n=623) who were 2 to 5 years after their diagnosis. A subset of participants who reported using CHAs (n=196) was analyzed with multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between patients' perceptions of their physician's patient‐centered communication (ie, information exchange, affective behavior, knowledge of patients as persons) and patients' disclosure of CHA use to their physician with adjustments for physician, patient, and patient‐physician relationship factors.RESULTSThirty‐one percent of the full sample used CHAs, and 47.6% of CHA users disclosed their use to their physicians. Disclosure was significantly associated with patient‐centered communication even with adjustments for hypothesized covariates (odds ratio [OR], 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09‐1.71). Perceived physician knowledge of the patient as a person (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10‐1.48) and information exchange (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02‐1.60) were the aspects of patient‐centered communication that contributed to this association. The main reason for nondisclosure assessed in the survey was that survivors did not think that it was important to discuss CHAs (67.0%). A majority of physicians encouraged continued use of CHAs when they were disclosed (64.8%).CONCLUSIONSResults support the idea that improving the overall patient centeredness of cancer follow‐up care and improving the disclosure of CHA use are potentially synergistic clinical goals. Cancer 2015;121:900–907. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Hybrid Polymer Electrolytes Based on a Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Poly(acrylic acid) Blend and a Pyrrolidinium‐Based Ionic Liquid for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Thayumanasundaram Savitha , Rangasamy Vijay Shankar , De Greef Niels , Seo Jin Won , Locquet Jean‐Pierre 
Published: November 2014

AbstractPolymer blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were prepared with different molar ratios by a solvent‐casting technique. The XRD patterns of the blends show that the degree of crystallinity of the PVA membranes decreases with the addition of PAA owing to the formation of interpenetrating polymer chains. The vibrational spectra of the blend membranes reveal the formation of strong hydrogen bonding between PVA and PAA. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) reveals that the storage modulus of a 25 mol‐% PAA sample is comparable to that of pure PVA and, therefore, confirms the mechanical stability of the blend membranes. Significant changes in the peak areas and chemical shifts of the PVA hydroxyl signal (δ = 4–5 ppm) in the 1H NMR spectra of the blend membranes confirm the strong hydrogen bonding between the OH groups of PVA and PAA. The ionic liquid (IL) 1‐butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR14TFSI) with 0.2 M lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) was added to the polymer blend to prepare flexible, nonvolatile hybrid polymer electrolytes for lithium‐ion batteries. A maximum ionic conductivity of 1 mS cm–1 is observed at 90 °C for the membrane with 70 mol‐% IL.
Multi‐temporal UAV data for automatic measurement of rill and interrill erosion on loess soil
Authors: Eltner Anette , Baumgart Philipp , Maas Hans‐Gerd , Faust Dominik 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe fragile landscape of the north European loess belt is prone to soil erosion due to soil properties and intense land use of the fertile region. Exact measurement of surface changes with high temporal and spatial resolution over large areas is necessary to quantify and understand rill and interrill erosion processes. High resolution aerial imagery, acquired by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is used to automatically generate precise digital surface models (DSMs) of high spatial resolution by applying structure‐from‐motion image processing tools. During an investigation period of ten months, a 600 m2 field plot is observed during four field campaigns. A stable reference system is established for multi‐temporal comparison. The overall accuracy of the DSMs generated from UAV images is less than 1 cm, verified by comparison with terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) data. Furthermore, a method for automatic rill extraction and rill parameter calculation is developed, which enables objective rill description with cm‐accuracy and ‐resolution. Soil surface roughness and rill development as well as volumetric quantifications are analysed for multi‐temporal change detection. Surface changes during winter season are controlled by soil consolidation, crusting and sheet erosion. During rainy spring season sheet erosion and rill incision occur. Two thunderstorms in summer season cause dominant rill erosion. Erosion rills are more dominantly deepening than widening (from to 2 to 4 cm depth and from 17 to 23 cm width), resulting in average per rill erosion values of 0.03 and 0.07 m3 respectively. An orientation dependent lateral rill shift is revealed, implying rill widening in eastern direction due to dominant winds from the West. Volumetric quantifications indicate high erosion volumes, reaching up to 121 tha‐1 during the summer events. Highest erosion volumes are due to rill erosion rather than interrill erosion. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Can Payers Use Prices to Improve Quality? Evidence from English Hospitals
Authors: Allen Thomas , Fichera Eleonora , Sutton Matt 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIn most activity‐based financing systems, payers set prices reactively based on historical averages of hospital reported costs. If hospitals respond to prices, payers might set prices proactively to affect the volume of particular treatments or clinical practice. We evaluate the effects of a unique initiative in England in which the price offered to hospitals for discharging patients on the same day as a particular procedure was increased by 24%, while the price for inpatient treatment remained unchanged. Using national hospital records for 205 784 patients admitted for the incentivised procedure and 838 369 patients admitted for a range of non‐incentivised procedures between 1 December 2007 and 31 March 2011, we consider whether this price change had the intended effect and/or produced unintended effects. We find that the price change led to an almost six percentage point increase in the daycase rate and an 11 percentage point increase in the planned daycase rate. Patients benefited from a lower proportion of procedures reverted to open surgery during a planned laparoscopic procedure and from a reduction in long stays. There was no evidence that readmission and death rates were affected. The results suggest that payers can set prices proactively to incentivise hospitals to improve quality. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In Vitro Effects of Some Flavones on Human Pyruvate Kinase Isoenzyme M2
Authors: Aslan Erdem , Adem Sevki 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTPKM2 is an important target for designing anticancer drug. Inhibitors and activators of this enzyme are suitable molecules for use in treating cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of certain flavones on PKM2. Apigenin, wogonin, flavone, 3‐hydroxyflavone, 5‐hydroxyflavone, 6‐hydroxyflavone, and 7‐hydroxyflavone effectively inhibited PKM2, with IC50 in the range of 0.99–2.120 μM. The kinetic study indicated that these compounds acted as noncompetitive with Ki values of 3.53–5.67 μM toward phosphoenolpyruvate. Scutellarin and tangeritin demonstrated strong activation effect with AC50 values < 2 μM. Diosmetin, baicalin, baicalein, and luteolin showed an intermediate‐level activator effect. These results demonstrate that flavone and their analogs could serve as leading compounds to develop new potent and selective inhibitor and activator for PKM2.
Superoxide Anion Production and Expression of gp91phoxand p47phoxAre Increased in Glomeruli and Proximal Tubules of Cisplatin‐Treated Rats
Authors: Trujillo Joyce , Molina‐Jijón Eduardo , Medina‐Campos Omar Noel , Rodríguez‐Muñoz Rafael , Reyes José Luis , Barrera Diana , Pedraza‐Chaverri José 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTThe chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin has some side effects including nephrotoxicity that has been associated with reactive oxygen species production, particularly superoxide anion. The major source of superoxide anion is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) oxidase. However, the specific segment of the nephron in which superoxide anion is produced has not been identified. Rats were sacrificed 72 h after cisplatin injection (7.5 mg/kg), and kidneys were obtained to isolate glomeruli and proximal and distal tubules. Cisplatin induced superoxide anion production in glomeruli and proximal tubules but not in distal tubules. This enhanced superoxide anion production was prevented by diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. Consistently, this effect was associated with the increased expression of gp91phoxand p47phox, subunits of NADPH oxidase. The enhanced superoxide anion production in glomeruli and proximal tubules, associated with the increased expression of gp91phoxand p47phox, is involved in the oxidative stress in cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity.
Icariin Inhibits Foam Cell Formation by Down‐Regulating the Expression of CD36 and Up‐Regulating the Expression of SR‐BI
Authors: Yang Haitao , Yan Lijie , Qian Peng , Duan Hongyan , Wu Jintao , Li Bing , Wang Shanling 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTIcariin is an important pharmacologically active flavonol diglycoside that can inhibit inflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated macrophages. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effect of Icariin in the formation of foam cells. In this study, macrophages were cultured with LPS and oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in the presence or absence of Icariin. RT‐PCR and western blot were used to detect the levels of mRNA and protein expression of CD36, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR‐BI) and the phosphorylation of p38MAPK. It was demonstrated that 4 µM or 20 µM Icariin treatment significantly inhibited the cholesterol ester (CE)/total cholesterol (TC) and oxLDL‐mediated foam cell formation (P < 0.05). The binding of oxLDL to LPS‐activated macrophages was also significantly hindered by Icariin (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Icariin down‐regulated the expression of CD36 in LPS‐activated macrophages in a dose‐dependent manner and CD36 over‐expression restored the inhibitory effect of Icariin on foam cell formation. The phosphorylation of p38MAPK was reduced by Icariin, indicating that Icariin reduced the expression of CD36 through the p38MAPK pathway. In addition, Icariin up‐regulated SR‐BI protein expression in a dose‐dependent manner, and SR‐BI gene silencing restored the inhibitory effect of Icariin on foam cell formation. These data demonstrate that Icariin inhibited foam cell formation by down‐regulating the expression of CD36 and up‐regulating the expression of SR‐BI. Therefore, our findings provide a new explanation as to why Icariin could inhibit atherosclerosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 9999:1–9, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 580–588, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Extreme tolerance and developmental buffering of UV‐C induced DNA damage in embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus
Authors: Wagner Josiah T. , Podrabsky Jason E. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTFree‐living aquatic embryos are often at risk of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV‐R). Successful completion of embryonic development depends on efficient removal of DNA lesions, and thus many aquatic embryos have mechanisms to reverse DNA lesions induced by UV‐R. However, little is known of how embryos that are able to enter embryonic dormancy may respond to UV‐R exposure and subsequent DNA damage. Embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus are unique among vertebrates because their normal embryonic development includes (1) a complete dispersion of embryonic blastomeres prior to formation of the definitive embryonic axis, and (2) entry into a state of metabolic depression and developmental arrest termed diapause. Here, we show that developing and diapausing embryos of A. limnaeus have exceptional tolerance of UV‐C radiation and can successfully complete embryonic development after receiving substantial doses of UV‐C, especially if allowed to recover in full‐spectrum light. Recovery in full‐spectrum light permits efficient removal of the most common type of DNA lesion induced by UV‐R: cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Interestingly, whole‐mount embryo TUNEL assays suggest that apoptosis may not be a major contributor to cell death in embryos UV‐C irradiated during dispersion/reaggregation or diapause. We also observed embryo mortality to be significantly delayed by several weeks in diapausing embryos irradiated and allowed to recover in the dark. These atypical responses to UV‐R induced DNA damage may be due to the unique annual killifish life history and provide insight into DNA damage repair and recognition mechanisms during embryonic dormancy. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 10–30, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The regional features of temperature variation trends over Xinjiang in China by the ensemble empirical mode decomposition method
Authors: Bai Ling , Xu Jianhua , Chen Zhongsheng , Li Weihong , Liu Zuhan , Zhao Benfu , Wang Zujing 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTBased on a temperature anomaly time series from 16 international exchange stations in Xinjiang from 1957 to 2012, the multi‐scale characteristics of temperature variability were analysed using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method. Regional differences in variation trends and change‐points were also preliminarily discussed. The results indicated that in the past 50+ years, the overall temperature in Xinjiang has exhibited a significant nonlinear upward trend, and its changes have clearly exhibited an inter‐annual scale (quasi‐3 and quasi‐6‐year) and inter‐decadal scale (quasi‐10 and quasi‐30‐year). The variance contribution rates of each component demonstrated that the inter‐annual change had a strong influence on the overall temperature change in Xinjiang, and the reconstructed inter‐annual variation trend could describe the fluctuation state of the original temperature anomaly during the study period. The reconstructed inter‐decadal variability revealed that the climate mode in Xinjiang had a significant transformation before and after 1995, namely the temperature anomaly shift from a negative phase to a positive one. Furthermore, there were regional differences in the nonlinear changes and change‐points of temperature. At the same time, the results also suggested that the EEMD method can effectively reveal variations in long‐term temperature sequences at different time scales and can be used for the complex diagnosis of nonlinear and non‐stationary signal changes.
Development and validation of a liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry method to determine resveratrol and piceid isomers in beeswax
Authors: Ares Ana M. , González Yolanda , Nozal María J. , Bernal José L. , Higes Mariano , Bernal José 
Published: November 2014

This paper represents the first report of a liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method for simultaneously analyzing resveratrol and piceid isomers (cis and trans) in beeswax. An efficient extraction procedure has been proposed (average analyte recoveries were between 89 and 95%); this involved a solid–liquid extraction using a mixture of ethanol and water (80:20, v/v) and a concentration step in a rotary evaporator. The separation of all the compounds was achieved using a C18 column and a mobile phase composed of ammonium formate 0.03 M in water and acetonitrile in gradient elution mode at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The method was fully validated in terms of selectivity, limits of detection and quantification, linearity, precision, and accuracy. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 1.0 to 1.7 and 3.5 to 5.5 μg/kg, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was applied to analyze beeswax samples collected from experimental and organic apiaries.
Dietary squalene supplementation improves DSS‐induced acute colitis by downregulating p38 MAPK and NFkB signaling pathways
Authors: Sánchez‐Fidalgo Susana , Villegas Isabel , Rosillo Maria Ángeles , Aparicio‐Soto Marina , de la Lastra Catalina Alarcón 
Published: November 2014

ScopeSqualene is a polyunsaturated triterpene, which has exhibited anticancer and antioxidant activities among others. We investigated dietary squalene supplementation effect on an acute colitis model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in C57BL/6 mice.Methods and resultsMice were fed from weaning with squalene at 0.02% and 0.1%. After 4 weeks, mice were exposed to 3% DSS for 5 days developing acute colitis. After DSS removal (5 days), colons were histological and biochemically processed. Our results showed that dietary squalene treatment exerts anti‐inflammatory action in DSS‐induced acute colitis. Western blot revealed that squalene downregulated COX‐2 (where COX is cyclooxygenase) and inducible nitric oxide synthase system by inhibition of mitogen‐activated protein kinase p38 and the nuclear factor‐kappa B signaling pathways, preventing an increase in the cytokines levels. Under our experimental conditions, STAT3 and FOXP3 (where FOXP3 is forkhead box P3) were not modified and the transcriptional regulation of antioxidant and/or detoxifying enzymes, Nrf2 (where Nrf2 is nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2), was reduced in DSS‐induced colitis. However, any change could be observed after squalene supplementation.ConclusionSqualene was able to improve the oxidative events and returned proinflammatory proteins expression to basal levels probably through p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase and nuclear factor‐kappa B signaling pathways. However, supplementary studies are needed in order to provide a basis for developing a new dietary supplementation strategy.
A stable X‐FEM in cohesive transition from closed to open crack
Authors: Sadaba Sergio , Romero Ignacio , Gonzalez Carlos , Llorca Javier 
Published: November 2014

SummaryIgnoring crack tip effects, the stability of the X‐FEM discretizations is trivial for open cracks but remains a challenge if we constrain the crack to be closed (i.e., the bi‐material problem). Here, we develop a formulation for general cohesive interactions between crack faces within the X‐FEM framework. The stability of the new formulation is demonstrated for any cohesive crack stiffness (including the closed crack) and illustrated for a nonlinear cohesive softening law. A benchmark of the new model is carried out with simpler approaches for a closed crack (i.e., Lagrange multipliers) and for a cohesive crack (i.e., penalty approach). Due to the analogies between stable cohesive X‐FEM and Nitsche's methods, the new method simplifies the implementation and is attractive in dynamic explicit codes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.