bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Functional Evaluation of Soy Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Ketals as Bioplasticizers
Authors: Kandula Subbarao , Stolp Lucas , Grass Michael , Woldt Benjamin , Kodali Dharma 
Published: September 2014

AbstractA facile synthesis of the soy fatty acid methyl ester ketal has been accomplished using acetone in the presence of catalytic anhydrous ferric chloride starting from commercially available soy biodiesel (soy fatty acid methyl ester) after evaluating various synthetic procedures. The soy ketal product was fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, infra‐red and chromatography. The physical and analytical properties of soy ketal as determined by thermogravimetric analysis, viscosity acid and saponification values are acceptable for plasticizer applications. Soy ketal was compounded with polyvinyl chloride for evaluation of plasticizer properties such as efficiency, gelation, viscosity, volatility, thickening/aging behavior and stability. The thickening and aging behaviors of the soy ketal bioplasticizer are better than those of petroleum‐based plasticizers such as diisononyl phthalate and diisononyl‐cyclohexane dicarboxylate, but they need improvement in the areas of thermal stability and water extractability.
Surgical removal of intra‐abdominal intrauterine devices at one center in a 20‐year period
Authors: Ertopcu Kenan , Nayki Cenk , Ulug Pasa , Nayki Umit , Gultekin Emre , Donmez Aysegul , Yildirim Yusuf 
Published: September 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo review 20 years of experience of the removal of intra‐abdominal intrauterine devices (IUDs) and to compare the surgical methods used.MethodsIn a retrospective study, charts dating from between September 1, 1992, and August 31, 2012, were reviewed. Patients were eligible for inclusion when they had an IUD surgically removed by minilaparotomy or laparoscopy at a tertiary referral center in Izmir, Turkey.ResultsAmong the 36 eligible women, 18 (50%) had undergone laparoscopy and 18 (50%) had undergone minilaparotomy. Mean operation length was 55.3 ± 6.3 minutes in the laparoscopy group and 29.1 ± 4.2 minutes in the minilaparotomy group (P = 0.008). Conversion to full laparotomy was necessary in 4 (22%) women in the laparoscopy group and 1 (6%) in the minilaparotomy group (P = 0.02). Perioperative complications were observed in 5 (14%) women, with no difference in frequency between groups (P = 0.09). Total cost of medical/surgical procedures was US$436.4 ± 35.4 for the laparoscopy group and $323.4 ± 21.3 for the minilaparotomy group (P = 0.04).ConclusionMinilaparotomy seems to be an important alternative to laparoscopy for the removal of intra‐abdominal IUDs. This procedure should be an integral part of gynecologic surgical training.
Novel Friction Law for the Static Friction Force based on Local Precursor Slipping
Authors: Katano Yu , Nakano Ken , Otsuki Michio , Matsukawa Hiroshi 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe sliding of a solid object on a solid substrate requires a shear force that is larger than the maximum static friction force. It is commonly believed that the maximum static friction force is proportional to the loading force and does not depend on the apparent contact area. The ratio of the maximum static friction force to the loading force is called the static friction coefficient µM, which is considered to be a constant. Here, we conduct experiments demonstrating that the static friction force of a slider on a substrate follows a novel friction law under certain conditions. The magnitude of µM decreases as the loading force increases or as the apparent contact area decreases. This behavior is caused by the slip of local precursors before the onset of bulk sliding and is consistent with recent theory. The results of this study will develop novel methods for static friction control.
Plasmid-based human norovirus reverse genetics system produces reporter-tagged progeny virus containing infectious genomic RNA
Authors: Katayama Kazuhiko , Murakami Kosuke , Sharp Tyler M. , Guix Susana , Oka Tomoichiro , Takai-Todaka Reiko , Nakanishi Akira , Crawford Sue E. , Atmar Robert L. , Estes Mary K. 
Published: September 2014

Significance
Human noroviruses are the predominant cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, but they remain noncultivatable. A tractable system is needed to understand the host restriction to cultivation. We established a reverse genetics system driven by a mammalian elongation factor-1α promoter without helper virus. This system supports genome replication, particle formation, and particles containing a GFP-marked genomic RNA. RNA from these particles is infectious. The system also produces infectious murine norovirus, confirming its broad applicability to other noroviruses.
Snowball: resampling combined with distance-based regression to discover transcriptional consequences of a driver mutation
Authors: Xu Yaomin , Guo Xingyi , Sun Jiayang , Zhao Zhongming 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Motivation: Large-scale cancer genomic studies, such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), have profiled multidimensional genomic data, including mutation and expression profiles on a variety of cancer cell types, to uncover the molecular mechanism of cancerogenesis. More than a hundred driver mutations have been characterized that confer the advantage of cell growth. However, how driver mutations regulate the transcriptome to affect cellular functions remains largely unexplored. Differential analysis of gene expression relative to a driver mutation on patient samples could provide us with new insights in understanding driver mutation dysregulation in tumor genome and developing personalized treatment strategies.
Results: Here, we introduce the Snowball approach as a highly sensitive statistical analysis method to identify transcriptional signatures that are affected by a recurrent driver mutation. Snowball utilizes a resampling-based approach and combines a distance-based regression framework to assign a robust ranking index of genes based on their aggregated association with the presence of the mutation, and further selects the top significant genes for downstream data analyses or experiments. In our application of the Snowball approach to both synthesized and TCGA data, we demonstrated that it outperforms the standard methods and provides more accurate inferences to the functional effects and transcriptional dysregulation of driver mutations.
Availability and implementation: R package and source code are available from CRAN at http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/DESnowball , and also available at http://bioinfo.mc.vanderbilt.edu/DESnowball/ .
Contact: zhongming.zhao@vanderbilt.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Serum microRNAs in patients with genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and pre-manifest mutation carriers
Authors: Freischmidt Axel , Müller Kathrin , Zondler Lisa , Weydt Patrick , Volk Alexander E. , Božič Anže Lošdorfer , Walter Michael , Bonin Michael , Mayer Benjamin , von Arnim Christine A. F. , Otto Markus , Dieterich Christoph , Holzmann Karlheinz , Andersen Peter M. , Ludolph Albert C. , Danzer Karin M. , Weishaupt Jochen H. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractKnowledge about the nature of pathomolecular alterations preceding onset of symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is largely lacking. It could not only pave the way for the discovery of valuable therapeutic targets but might also govern future concepts of pre-manifest disease modifying treatments. MicroRNAs are central regulators of transcriptome plasticity and participate in pathogenic cascades and/or mirror cellular adaptation to insults. We obtained comprehensive expression profiles of microRNAs in the serum of patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, asymptomatic mutation carriers and healthy control subjects. We observed a strikingly homogenous microRNA profile in patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that was largely independent from the underlying disease gene. Moreover, we identified 24 significantly downregulated microRNAs in pre-manifest amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutation carriers up to two decades or more before the estimated time window of disease onset; 91.7% of the downregulated microRNAs in mutation carriers overlapped with the patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a consensus sequence motif present in the vast majority of downregulated microRNAs identified in this study. Our data thus suggest specific common denominators regarding molecular pathogenesis of different amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genes. We describe the earliest pathomolecular alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutation carriers known to date, which provide a basis for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and strongly argue for studies evaluating presymptomatic disease-modifying treatment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Vasoconstrictor Responses to Vasopressor Agents in Human Pulmonary and Radial Arteries
Authors: Currigan Dale A. , Hughes Richard J. A. , Wright Christine E. , Angus James A. , Soeding Paul F. 
Published: September 2014

Abstract

Background:
Vasopressor drugs, commonly used to treat systemic hypotension and maintain organ perfusion, may also induce regional vasoconstriction in specialized vascular beds such as the lung. An increase in pulmonary vascular tone may adversely affect patients with pulmonary hypertension or right heart failure. While sympathomimetics constrict pulmonary vessels, and vasopressin does not, a direct comparison between these drugs has not been made. This study investigated the effects of clinically used vasopressor agents on human isolated pulmonary and radial arteries.

Methods:
Isolated pulmonary and radial artery ring segments, mounted in organ baths, were used to study the contractile responses of each vasopressor agent. Concentration–response curves to norepinephrine, phenylephrine, metaraminol, and vasopressin were constructed.

Results:
The sympathomimetics norepinephrine, phenylephrine, and metaraminol caused concentration-dependent vasoconstriction in the radial (pEC50: 6.99 ± 0.06, 6.14 ± 0.09, and 5.56 ± 0.07, respectively, n = 4 to 5) and pulmonary arteries (pEC50: 6.86 ± 0.11, 5.94 ± 0.05 and 5.56 ± 0.09, respectively, n = 3 to 4). Vasopressin was a potent vasoconstrictor of the radial artery (pEC50 9.13 ± 0.20, n = 3), whereas in the pulmonary artery, it had no significant effect.

Conclusions:
Sympathomimetic-based vasopressor agents constrict both human radial and pulmonary arteries with similar potency in each. In contrast, vasopressin, although a potent vasoconstrictor of radial vessels, had no effect on pulmonary vascular tone. These findings provide some support for the use of vasopressin in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
Cancer Rates in Adults After Cardiac Interventions
Authors: Alameddine Abdallah K. , Visintainer Paul , Normand Sharon-Lise T. , Wolf Robert E. , Alameddine Yvonne A. 
Published: September 2014

Background:
The postprocedural state after cardiac revascularization interventions is characterized by intense inflammation and activation of inflammatory cytokines due to myonecrosis and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Involvement of similar processes also participates in cellular malignant transformation. In this study, the association between cardiac interventions and subsequent cancer risk development was therefore evaluated.

Methods:
The 5-year cumulative incidence of cancer was examined in 2 cardiac care cohorts: all patients undergoing either open heart surgery or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) at hospitals in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. The observed cases of cancer were compared with the number of expected cases based on the state cancer rates, adjusting for sex and 5-year age groups. The standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) was used for this comparison.

Results:
Of 10,301 patients in the surgical cohort, 804 (7.8%) incident cancers developed over 5 years of follow-up, whereas 245.7 incident cancers were expected. This yielded an SMR of 3.27 (95% CI, 3.05-3.51; P<0.0001). In the PCI cohort comprising 13,001 patients, 1029 (7.9%) incident cancers developed over 5 years, resulting in an SMR of 3.53 (95% CI, 3.32-3.75; P<0.0001). Excluding respiratory cancers from the analysis (to limit smoking-related cancers) reduced risk estimates only slightly. For the surgical cohort: SMR=2.80; 95% CI, 2.59-3.01; P<0.0001. For the PCI cohort: SMR=2.97; 95% CI, 2.78-3.18; P<0.0001.

Conclusions:
Undergoing heart revascularization procedures was associated with increased rate of cancer development as compared with the state general population. This cohort may warrant increased monitoring.
MYB118 Represses Endosperm Maturation in Seeds of Arabidopsis
Authors: Barthole Guillaume , To Alexandra , Marchive Chloé , Brunaud Véronique , Soubigou-Taconnat Ludivine , Berger Nathalie , Dubreucq Bertrand , Lepiniec Loïc , Baud Sébastien 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
In the exalbuminous species Arabidopsis thaliana, seed maturation is accompanied by the deposition of oil and storage proteins and the reduction of the endosperm to one cell layer. Here, we consider reserve partitioning between embryo and endosperm compartments. The pattern of deposition, final amount, and composition of these reserves differ between the two compartments, with the embryo representing the principal storage tissue in mature seeds. Complex regulatory mechanisms are known to prevent activation of maturation-related programs during embryo morphogenesis and, later, during vegetative growth. Here, we describe a regulator that represses the expression of maturation-related genes during maturation within the endosperm. MYB118 is transcriptionally induced in the maturing endosperm, and seeds of myb118 mutants exhibit an endosperm-specific derepression of maturation-related genes associated with a partial relocation of storage compounds from the embryo to the endosperm. Moreover, MYB118 activates endosperm-induced genes through the recognition of TAACGG elements. These results demonstrate that the differential partitioning of reserves between the embryo and endosperm in exalbuminous Arabidopsis seeds does not only result from developmental programs that establish the embryo as the preponderant tissue within seeds. This differential partitioning is also regulated by MYB118, which regulates the biosynthesis of reserves at the spatial level during maturation.
Mucosal barrier injury, fever and infection in neutropenic patients with cancer: introducing the paradigm febrile mucositis
Authors: van der Velden Walter J. F. M. , Herbers Alexandra H. E. , Netea Mihai G. , Blijlevens Nicole M. A. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryInfection remains one of the most prominent complications after cytotoxic treatment for cancer. The connection between neutropenia and both infections and fever has long been designated as ‘febrile neutropenia’, but treatment with antimicrobial agents and haematopoietic growth factors has failed to significantly reduce its incidence. Moreover, emerging antimicrobial resistance is becoming a concern that necessitates the judicious use of available antimicrobial agents. In addition to neutropenia, patients who receive cytotoxic therapy experience mucosal barrier injury (MBI) or ‘mucositis’. MBI creates a port‐de‐entrée for resident micro‐organisms to cause blood stream infections and contributes directly to the occurrence of fever by disrupting the highly regulated host‐microbe interactions, which, even in the absence of an infection, can result in strong inflammatory reactions. Indeed, MBI has been shown to be a pivotal factor in the occurrence of inflammatory complications after cytotoxic therapy. Hence, the concept ‘febrile neutropenia’ alone may no longer suffice and a new concept ‘febrile mucositis’ should be recognized as the two are at least complementary. This review we summarizes the existing evidence for both paradigms and proposes new therapeutic approaches to tackle the perturbed host‐microbe interactions arising from cytotoxic therapy‐induced tissue damage in order to reduce fever in neutropenic patients with cancer.
Reference values for serum dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulphate in healthy children and adolescents with emphasis on the age of adrenarche and pubarche
Authors: Guran Tulay , Firat Irfan , Yildiz Feyza , Kaplan Bulut Ipek , Dogru Mahmut , Bereket Abdullah 
Published: September 2014

SummaryObjectiveAdrenarche is a component of normal pubertal development. Recent decades have witnessed changes in the timing and tempo of puberty in different populations. We aimed to obtain normative data on dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulphate (DHEA‐S) secretion in healthy children and to evaluate the age of adrenarche, pubarche and the DHEA‐S levels at which pubarche starts in both sexes.MethodsSerum DHEA‐S concentrations were measured in 531 healthy (291 female) Turkish children aged 1 month–18 years by an automated chemiluminescence method. Pubic hair development was evaluated. DHEA‐S concentrations >108·4 nmol/l (40 μg/dl) were regarded as adrenarche. Age‐related normative data were constructed. Age at adrenarche and pubarche and the DHEA‐S levels at pubarche were estimated using ROC analyses.ResultsSerum DHEA‐S levels were high in the first 6 months of life then declined below 108·4 nmol/l (40 μg/dl) with a cut‐off age of 0·46 years for girls and 0·61 years for boys with 98% and 96% statistical sensitivity. Stable minimum levels were observed for the following 5 years. The cut‐off age for DHEA‐S levels rising above 108·4 nmol/l (40 μg/dl) was 8·0 and 7·0 years for girls for boys, respectively. DHEA‐S levels at transition from Tanner stage P1 to P2 was 90·5 nmol/l (33·4 μg/dl) in girls and 118 nmol/l (43·6 μg/dl) in boys. Median (CI) DHEA‐S levels were 170·7(94·8–336) and 244(119·2–357·7) nmo/l [63(35–124) and 90(44–132) μg/dl] in girls and boys, respectively, with Tanner stage P2 pubic hair.ConclusionsWe established reference data of serum DHEA‐S levels in a large group of children. Currently, adrenarche (DHEA‐S>108·4 nmol/l) starts 1 year earlier in boys but higher DHEA‐S levels are needed for transition from P1 to P2 in boys.
Inhibin B plus LH vs GnRH agonist test for distinguishing constitutional delay of growth and puberty from isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in boys
Authors: Binder Gerhard , Schweizer Roland , Blumenstock Gunnar , Braun Regina 
Published: September 2014

SummaryObjectiveThe distinction between constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) and isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) in males with delayed puberty is difficult but important for timely treatment. We assessed the accuracy of the GnRH agonist test (triptorelin 0·1 mg) in comparison with inhibin B alone or in combination with basal LH for the diagnosis of IHH.Patients and measurementsNinety‐seven prepubertal males aged 13·7–17·5 year, with testicular volumes ≤4 ml, were examined every 6 months. CDGP was defined by a testicular volume ≥8 ml after 18 months, and IHH was defined by a testicular volume <5 ml after 24 months follow‐up. Inhibin B concentrations were measured by ELISA, and LH concentrations were measured by CLIA.ResultsAt follow‐up, the cohort comprised 52 boys with CDGP and nine with IHH. The other patients were lost for follow‐up (n = 10), had not reached follow‐up yet (n = 20) or did not reach a definite testicular volume (n = 6). Basal LH <0·3 IU/l, stimulated LH (4 h) <5·3 IU/l or inhibin B <111 pg/ml had 100% sensitivity for IHH. Only LH (4 h) <5·3 IU/l had a specificity of 100%, and the specificities of basal LH <0·3 IU/l (88%) or inhibin B <110 pg/ml (92%) were lower. The combination of LH <0·3 IU/l with inhibin B <111 pg/ml increased the specificity to 98·1%.ConclusionsThe LH response 4 h after GnRH agonist stimulation has an excellent accuracy for the diagnosis of IHH in prepubertal boys with delayed puberty. However, the measurement of inhibin B and basal LH in combination is a valid, reliable and less‐invasive alternative test.
Using Web searches to track interest in synthetic cannabinoids (aka ‘herbal incense’)
Authors: Curtis Brenda , Alanis‐Hirsch Kelly , Kaynak Övgü , Cacciola John , Meyers Kathy , McLellan Anthony Thomas 
Published: September 2014

AbstractIntroduction and AimsThis article reports a content analysis of Internet websites related to an emerging designer drug, synthetic cannabinoids. The number of synthetic cannabinoids searchers in the USA has steadily increased from November 2008 to November 2011.Design and MethodsTo determine the information available on the Internet in relation to synthetic cannabinoids, sites were identified using the Google search engine and the search term ‘herbal incense’. The first 100 consecutive sites were visited and classified by two coders. The websites were evaluated for type of content (retail, information, news, other). US unique monthly visitor data were examined for the top 10 retail sites, and these sites were coded for the quality of information available regarding the legality of synthetic cannabinoids sale and use.ResultsThe Google search yielded 2 730 000 sites for ‘herbal incense’ (for comparison of search terms: ‘synthetic marijuana’, 1 170 000; ‘K2 Spice’, 247 000; and ‘synthetic weed’, 122 000). Moreover, in the Google search, 87% of the sites were retail sites, 5% news, 4% informational and 4% non‐synthetic cannabinoid sites.Discussion and ConclusionsMany tools found within Google free services hold promise in providing a technique to identify emerging drug markets. We recommend continued surveillance of the Internet using the online tools presented in this brief report by both drug researchers and policy‐makers to identify the emerging trends in synthetic drugs' availability and interest.[Curtis C, Alanis‐Hirsch K, Kaynak Ö, Cacciola J, Meyers K, McLellan AT. Using Web searches to track interest in synthetic cannabinoids (aka ‘herbal incense’) Drug Alcohol Rev 2015;34:108–108]
A typology of prescription drug misuse: A latent class approach to differences and harms
Authors: Kelly Brian C. , Rendina H. Jonathon , Vuolo Mike , Wells Brooke E. , Parsons Jeffrey T. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractIntroduction and AimsPrescription drug misuse is a considerable problem among young adults, and the identification of types of misuse among this population remains important for prevention and intervention efforts. We use latent class analysis to identify possible distinct latent groups of prescription drug misusers across multiple prescription drug types (pain killers, sedatives and stimulants).Design and MethodsOur data are comprised of a sample of 404 young adults recruited from nightlife scenes via time–space sampling. Through the specification of a zero‐inflated Poisson latent class analysis, we evaluate differences in class membership by various demographic factors as well as assess the relationship between class membership and health outcomes, including indications of dependence, problems associated with substance use and mental health.ResultsOur assessment of fit indices led to a four‐class solution (dabblers, primary stimulant users, primary downers users and extensive regulars). No demographic differences existed between latent classes. The extensive regular class report the greatest number of symptoms related to dependence, greatest number of problems related to misuse and the greatest mental health problems. The dabblers report the fewest problems and symptoms, while the other two classes experiences problems and symptoms in between the classes on the extremes.Discussion and ConclusionsPrevention efforts should take into account that young adults who misuse prescription drug have different profiles of misuse, and there may be a need for varied interventions to target these different types of misuse. [Kelly BC, Rendina HJ, Vuolo M, Wells BE, Parsons JT. A typology of prescription drug misuse: A latent class approach to differences and harms. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015;34:211–20]