bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ishihara's Tests for Color Blindness: A useful Indicator of Visual Involvement in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Kaufman MD , Lutz DM , Norton J 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Because vision commonly is affected in persons with multiple sclerosis, it would be helpful to have a bedside test capable of identifying abnormalities that are not readily apparent. This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the first 11 plates of Ishihara's Tests for color blindness (1995 concise edition) as compared to visual evoked potentials in patients with multiple sclerosis reporting normal vision. Forty-five multiple sclerosis patients and 42 controls, aged 25 to 44 years, were assessed. After examination of vision by a neurologist, Ishihara's Tests for color blindness and visual evoked potential tests were administered under conditions similar to those encountered in a neurologic practice. The specificity for each test was defined by the responses of the control population. In differentiating individuals with multiple sclerosis from controls, Ishihara's Tests for color blindness was as sensitive (62%; 28/45) and specific (100%; 42/42) as visual evoked potentials (sensitivity = 58%, 26/45; specificity = 98%, 41/42). Ishihara's Tests for color blindness identified a different population of patients and probably measured a different aspect of visual function than did visual evoked potentials. Ishihara's Tests for color blindness appeared more likely to identify patients with a long disease duration, while visual evoked potentials better identified patients with a history of optic neuritis. Ishihara's Tests for color blindness may be a simple and cost-effective adjunct for detecting and following the visual abnormalities of patients with multiple sclerosis.
What People with Newly Diagnosed MS (and their Families and Friends) Need to Know
Authors: Wollin Judy , Dale Helen , Spenser Nancy , Walsh Anne 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
The aim of this retrospective study was to determine from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families what information would assist a person with newly diagnosed MS — in which format, when, and from whom it should be delivered. Thirty-four Queensland, Australia, residents with MS and 18 family members and friends participated in the main study. Participants were self-selected for this purposive, statewide, cross-sectional study. Nine of the respondents answered open-ended questions in addition to the standard questionnaires, and seven respondents gave in-depth interviews.
The respondents recommended that people with a recent MS diagnosis and their families be given a wide range of information reflective of their personal needs. The information should be provided in person (in both group and individual sessions). They preferred to receive the information from their physicians and the staff of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Research aimed at cures and therapies, as well as counseling and support services, should be discussed early in the course of the disease. Because of the small sample size and retrospective design, additional studies with larger populations are suggested to confirm these results and their cross-cultural applicability.
Multiple Sclerosis and Pain: A Medical Focus
Authors: Kassirer Marilyn 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
About 65% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients experience a broad range of both acute and subacute painful syndromes. Acute conditions (eg, trigeminal neuralgia and Lhermitte's syndrome) cause intense, unrelenting pain that may worsen with age and disease progression. Chronic pain (eg, joint pain) is also a component of MS. Pain syndromes, including optic neuritis, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and other less well-known syndromes, may respond to a variety of pharmacologic, surgical, or alternative interventions. MS patients may also experience iatrogenic pain. Some successful drug treatments for pain that are used in combination or alone include anticonvulsants, tricyclics, methylprednisolone, and narcotics. Surgical interventions, percutaneous compression-balloons, and radiofrequency ablation are other viable options for some pain syndromes.
Effect of Exchange Interactions on the Coercivity of SmCo5 Nanoparticles Made by Cluster Beam Deposition
Authors: Akdogan O. , Li W. , Balasubramanian B. , Sellmyer D. J. , Hadjipanayis G. C. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractSingle crystal SmCo5 nanoparticles with an average size of 3.5 nm are produced by cluster‐beam deposition. When deposited without matrix, the nanoparticles showed a super‐paramagnetic behavior with a blocking temperature of 145 K. Dispersion of the SmCo5 nanoparticles in a carbon matrix results in an increase in both the coercivity and the blocking temperature. Room temperature coercivities as high as 12 kOe are obtained for the first time in mono‐layers of SmCo5 nanoparticles dispersed in C matrix. δM plots show that the interactions in the samples are of exchange type, which can decrease the overall effective anisotropy and coercivity according to the random‐anisotropy model. Coercivity is found to be inversely proportional to the packing density of the particles. SmCo5 nanoparticles with high coercivity are potential candidates for the next generation ultra high‐density magnetic recording media.
Matrix Metalloproteinase Responsive, Proximity‐Activated Polymeric Nanoparticles for siRNA Delivery
Authors: Li Hongmei , Yu Shann S. , Miteva Martina , Nelson Christopher E. , Werfel Thomas , Giorgio Todd D. , Duvall Craig L. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractSmall interfering RNA (siRNA) has significant potential to evolve into a new class of pharmaceutical inhibitors, but technologies that enable robust, tissue‐specific intracellular delivery must be developed before effective clinical translation can be achieved. A pH‐responsive, smart polymeric nanoparticle (SPN) with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐7‐dependent proximity‐activated targeting (PAT) is described here. The PAT‐SPN is designed to trigger cellular uptake and cytosolic delivery of siRNA once activated by MMP‐7, an enzyme whose overexpression is a hallmark of cancer initiation and progression. The PAT‐SPN is composed of a corona‐forming polyethylene glycol (PEG) block, an MMP‐7‐cleavable peptide, a cationic siRNA‐condensing block, and a pH‐responsive, endosomolytic terpolymer block that drives self‐assembly and forms the PAT‐SPN core. With this novel design, the PEG corona shields cellular interactions until it is cleaved in MMP‐7‐rich environments, shifting the SPN ζ‐potential from +5.8 to +14.4 mV and triggering a 2.5 fold increase in carrier internalization. The PAT‐SPN exhibits pH‐dependent membrane disruptive behavior that enables siRNA escape from endo‐lysosomal pathways. Intracellular siRNA delivery and knockdown of the model enzyme luciferase in R221A‐Luc mammary tumor cells is significantly increased by MMP‐7 pre‐activation (p < 0.05). These combined data indicate that the PAT‐SPN provides a promising new platform for tissue‐specific, proximity‐activated siRNA delivery to MMP‐rich pathological environments.
Charge Photogeneration for a Series of Thiazolo‐Thiazole Donor Polymers Blended with the Fullerene Electron Acceptors PCBM and ICBA
Authors: Shoaee Safa , Subramaniyan Selvam , Xin Hao , Keiderling Chaz , Tuladhar Pabitra Shakya , Jamieson Fiona , Jenekhe Samson A. , Durrant James R. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractPhotoinduced charge separation in bulk heterojunction solar cells is studied using a series of thiazolo‐thiazole donor polymers that differ in their side groups (and bridging atoms) blended with two acceptor fullerenes, phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) and a fullerene indene‐C60 bisadduct (ICBA). Transient absorption spectroscopy is used to determine the yields and lifetimes of photogenerated charge carriers, complimented by cyclic voltammetry studies of materials energetics, wide angle X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies of neat and blend film crystallinity and photoluminescence quenching studies of polymer/fullerene phase segregation, and the correlation of these measurements with device photocurrents. Good correlation between the initial polaron yield and the energetic driving force driving charge separation, ΔECS is observed. All blend films exhibit a power law transient absorption decay phase assigned to non‐geminate recombination of dissociated charges; the amplitude of this power law decay phase shows excellent correlation with photocurrent density in the devices. Furthermore, for films of one (relatively amorphous) donor polymer blended with ICBA, we observe an additional 100 ns geminate recombination phase. The implications of the observations reported are discussed in terms of the role of materials' crystallinity in influencing charge dissociation in such devices, and thus materials design requirements for efficient solar cell function.
Efficient Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with Potential‐Tunable Organic Sulfide Mediators and Graphene‐Modified Carbon Counter Electrodes
Authors: Li Xiong , Liu Linfeng , Liu Guanghui , Rong Yaoguang , Yang Ying , Wang Heng , Ku Zhiliang , Xu Mi , Zhong Cheng , Han Hongwei 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA new class of organic sulfide mediators with programmable redox properties is designed via density functional theory calculations and synthesized for efficient dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Photophysical and electrochemical properties of these mediators derived from systematical functionalization of the framework with electron donating and withdrawing groups (MeO, Me, H, Cl, CF3, and NO2) are investigated. With this new class of organic mediators, the redox potential can be fine‐tuned over a 170 mV range, overlapping the conventional I−/I3−couple. Due to the suitable interplay of physical properties and electrochemical characteristics of the mediator involving electron‐donating MeO group, the DSCs based on this mediator behave excellently in various kinetic processes such as dye regeneration, electron recombination, and mass transport. Thus, the MeO derivative of the mediator is identified as having the best performance of this series of redox shuttles. As inferred from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements, the addition of graphene into the normal carbon counter electrode material dramatically improves the apparent catalytic activity of the counter electrode towards the MeO derivative of mediator, resulting in N719 based DSCs showing a promising conversion efficiency of 6.53% under 100 mW·cm−2 simulated sunlight illumination.
Chimeric P450 enzymes: Activity of artificial redox fusions driven by different reductases for biotechnological applications
Authors: Sadeghi Sheila J. , Gilardi Gianfranco 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThis review covers the current state of knowledge regarding artificial fusion constructs of cytochrome P450 enzymes in which the activity of the catalytic heme is driven by reductases of different origins. Cytochromes P450 form a vast family of heme–thiolate proteins, which act as monooxygenases by activating molecular oxygen, resulting in the insertion of one atom into an organic substrate with the concomitant reduction of the other to water. The reducing equivalents are usually supplied by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and are transferred in two consecutive steps via the redox partner(s). These include reductases containing flavin mononucleotide and/or flavin adenine dinucleotide and/or Fe–S clusters in different combinations depending on the P450 system. These enzymes catalyze extremely diverse reactions, including regio‐ and stereospecific oxidations of a large range of substrates in addition to many drugs and xenobiotics, as well as biosynthesis of physiologically important compounds such as various steroids, vitamins, and lipids. Because of their ability to catalyze such a vast range of reactions, they have become the focus of biotechnological interest, but their dependence on the reductase partner has remained one of the challenging limitations for full exploration of their synthetic potential. To address the latter limitation, many researchers have reconstituted functional P450 enzymes by fusion with different reductase proteins; this review will cover their findings.
Results of a national training programme in sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer
Authors:   the senior Guildford breast surgeons, Mansel R E , MacNeill F , Horgan K , Goyal A , Britten A , Townson J , Clarke D , Newcombe R G , Keshtgar M 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundNew Start, a structured, validated, multidisciplinary training programme in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), was established to allow the introduction and rapid transfer of appropriate knowledge and technical skills to ensure safe and competent practice across the UK.MethodsMultidisciplinary teams attended a theory/skills laboratory course, following which they performed 30 consecutive SLNBs, either concurrently with their standard axillary staging procedure (training model A) or as stand-alone SLNB (training model B). SLNB was performed according to a standard protocol using the combined technique of isotope (99mTc-labelled albumin colloid) and blue dye. An accredited New Start trainer mentored the first five procedures in the participant's hospital, or all 30 if stand-alone. Validation standards for model A and B were a localization rate of at least 90 per cent. In addition, for model A only, in which a minimum of ten patients were required to be node-positive, a false-negative rate (FNR) of 10 per cent or less was required.ResultsFrom October 2004 to December 2008, 210 SLNB-naive surgeons, in 103 centres, performed 6685 SLNB procedures. The overall sentinel lymph node (SLN) localization rate was 98·9 (95 per cent confidence interval 98·6 to 99·1) per cent (6610 of 6685) and the FNR 9·1 (7·9 to 10·5) per cent (160 of 1757). The FNR was related to nodal yield, ranging from 14·8 per cent for one node and declining to 9·7, 6·6, 4·7 and 4·1 per cent for two, three, four and more than four SLNs respectively. No learning curve was identified for localization or FNR.ConclusionThe programme successfully trained a wide range of UK breast teams to perform safe SLNB and suggested that a standard injection protocol and structured multidisciplinary training can abolish learning curves.
Brief alcohol exposure alters transcription in astrocytes via the heat shock pathway
Authors: Pignataro Leonardo , Varodayan Florence P. , Tannenholz Lindsay E. , Protiva Petr , Harrison Neil L. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractAstrocytes are critical for maintaining homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS), and also participate in the genomic response of the brain to drugs of abuse, including alcohol. In this study, we investigated ethanol regulation of gene expression in astrocytes. A microarray screen revealed that a brief exposure of cortical astrocytes to ethanol increased the expression of a large number of genes. Among the alcohol‐responsive genes (ARGs) are glial‐specific immune response genes, as well as genes involved in the regulation of transcription, cell proliferation, and differentiation, and genes of the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix. Genes involved in metabolism were also upregulated by alcohol exposure, including genes associated with oxidoreductase activity, insulin‐like growth factor signaling, acetyl‐CoA, and lipid metabolism. Previous microarray studies performed on ethanol‐treated hepatocyte cultures and mouse liver tissue revealed the induction of almost identical classes of genes to those identified in our microarray experiments, suggesting that alcohol induces similar signaling mechanisms in the brain and liver. We found that acute ethanol exposure activated heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in astrocytes, as demonstrated by the translocation of this transcription factor to the nucleus and the induction of a family of known HSF1‐dependent genes, the heat shock proteins (Hsps). Transfection of a constitutively transcriptionally active Hsf1 construct into astrocytes induced many of the ARGs identified in our microarray study supporting the hypothesis that HSF1 transcriptional activity, as part of the heat shock cascade, may mediate the ethanol induction of these genes. These data indicate that acute ethanol exposure alters gene expression in astrocytes, in part via the activation of HSF1 and the heat shock cascade.
Micromixing of Solid‐liquid Systems in a Stirred Tank with Double Impellers
Authors: Yang L. , Cheng J. , Fan P. , Yang C. , Mao Z. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe effect of solid particles on micromixing has been studied using the competitive iodide/iodate reaction system in stirred, multi‐impeller, solid‐liquid systems. The influences of particle size, impeller speed, solid holdup, feed position, and energy input have been investigated. The change of the segregation index with the power input was more distinguishable only for the 450–600 μm particles as compared with the large ones, at the same solid holdups. Also, for the small ones, cloud formation was observed at a particle concentration of 12.1 wt %. However, the influence of larger particles of 1–1.25 mm on micromixing was negligible, though both energy input and solid loading were increased. Besides, the optimal feed position was identified, and multiple feeds were also explored.
One‐Dimensional Pseudo‐Homo‐geneous Packed‐Bed Reactor Modeling: II. Energy Equation and Effective Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Srinivasan A. , Depcik C. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA corresponding paper by the authors explored the chemical species equation and effective diffusivity correlations for a one‐dimensional pseudo‐homogeneous packed‐bed reactor model useful for calibration of chemical kinetics. This paper expands on the formulation of this model by describing the energy equation and its applicability depending on reactor conditions. Included is a review and parametric study involving effective thermal conductivity correlations that analyzes the different choices available. The combined result of these review efforts is the description of a model that should be used prior to experimentation. In particular, exploration of the model along with calculation of the associated nondimensional parameters using literature‐derived kinetics before beginning laboratory efforts will help ensure the correct space velocities and bed lengths that generate chemical kinetics only as a function of chemical constituents and not reactor design.
Antileishmanial Activity of Natural Product‐Like Naphthoquinones
Authors: Malerich Jeremiah P. , Li Jinfang , Joder Dallas , Vieria Érica L. M. , Keesen Tatjana S. L. , Vaidyanathan Rajeev , Gollob Kenneth J. , Tanga Mary J. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Preclinical Research

The antileishmanial activity of compounds inspired by naphthoquinone secondary metabolites from Bignoniaceae is presented. Three structural series of compounds from a common biosynthetic pathway were evaluated against Leishmania major. Compound (15), an analog of the natural product pinnatal, was more active than amphotericin B against L. major. When tested against L. (Viannia) braziliensis and L. infantum, compound 15 showed similar activity to amphotericin B.
Advancing Renewable Normal Human Cell Assays for Drug Discovery
Authors: Sherley James L. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Preclinical Research

A major shortcoming in current drug development evaluation assays is the routine absence of renewable normal human tissue cells. Renewable tumor‐derived and transformed cell lines are pervasive in human cell culture panels used in drug screens and for drug evaluations. Although there are examples of inclusion of preparations of primary human tissue cells (e.g., human hepatocytes), the quality of these materials is variable and their availability is unreliable. The absence of renewable normal tissue cells in drug assays reflects a normal characteristic of most mature cells in human tissues. With few exceptions, they are terminally differentiated and do not divide, in vivo or in vitro, and those which do divide are developmentally programmed to undergo a permanent cell cycle arrest after a limited number of divisions. Because of these intrinsic tissue cell properties, producing normal human tissue cells in sufficient quantity for routine use in drug evaluation studies has proven essentially impossible. Tissue‐specific distributed stem cells (DSCs), which divide by asymmetric self‐renewal to continuously renew mature differentiated tissue cells, may be the key to addressing this unmet need for more effective drug discovery. However, DSCs, which are exceedingly scarce in tissues, are notoriously difficult to identify and, previously, inexplicably refractory to expansion in culture. Here, recent advances in the discovery of DSC‐specific biomarkers and methods for ex vivo expansion of human DSC strains are discussed in terms of their potential to enable a new era of drug discovery and development by advancing renewable normal human cell assays into routine practice.
Synthesis of Electron‐Rich Sterically Hindered P1 Phosphazene Bases by the Staudinger Reaction
Authors: Alexandrova Anastasia V. , Mašek Tomáš , Polyakova Svetlana M. , Císařová Ivana , Saame Jaan , Leito Ivo , Lyapkalo Ilya M. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe synthesis of electron‐rich P1 phosphazene bases with a sterically protected basic center by a Staudinger reaction is reported. The initial products of the reaction between peralkylated triaminophosphanes and bulky alkyl azides, phosphazides 1a–f, were isolated in all cases in good to quantitative yield. The structures of 1d and 1e were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Acidic hydrolysis of pyrrolidino‐substituted phosphazide (pyrr)3PN3tBu 1d led to the quantitative formation of aminophosphonium salt (pyrr)3PNH2+·BF4– 8, a direct precursor to a Schwesinger's “building block” synthetic unit. Thermally induced denitrogenation of the phosphazides, which is the second step performed in most cases under solvent‐free conditions gave P1 phosphazene bases 2a–f in moderate to excellent yields. A “one‐pot” two‐step synthesis of phosphazene bases from commercially available triaminophosphanes was discovered. Most of the syntheses were performed on a large laboratory scale. The basicities of the newly synthesized bases 2e and 2f were determined. X‐ray crystal structures were obtained for base 2e and for protonated species 2d·HBF4, 2e·HBF4, and 2f·HOTs, which provided the crucial geometrical parameters around the basic center. A rationale for the higher basicity of the pyrrolidino‐ (pyrr)3P=NR than the piperidino‐ (pip)3P=NR phosphazenes is presented.
Enantioselective LaIII‐pyBOX‐Catalyzed Nitro‐Michael Addition to (E)‐2‐Azachalcones
Authors: Blay Gonzalo , Incerti Celia , Muñoz M. Carmen , Pedro José R. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA [La(OTf)3] complex with a new pyBOX ligand bearing a bulky 1‐naphthylmethyl substituent at the 4′‐position of the oxazoline ring catalyzes the conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to a broad range of (E)‐2‐azachalcones, providing the expected nitro‐Michael products with good yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 87 %. The optical purity of the products can be increased by a single crystallization. A plausible stereochemical model to account for the observed stereochemistry has been proposed.
Synthesis of Internal Alkynes through the Pd‐Catalyzed Coupling of Heteroaryl Halides with Terminal Alkynes
Authors: Lu Linhua , Yan Hong , Sun Peng , Zhu Yan , Yang Hailong , Liu Defu , Rong Guangwei , Mao Jincheng 
Published: February 2013

AbstractSonogashira‐type cross‐couplings of functionalized heterocyclic halides with terminal alkynes were performed efficiently at room temperature. The heteroaryl halides were easily prepared from the corresponding heterocyclic compounds. The catalytic system tolerated a very broad scope of substrates; oxazoles, thiazoles, and furans participate in this type of reaction for the first time. This reaction provides an efficient method for the direct functionalization of heterocycles.