bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accuracy validation of adjuvant! online in Taiwanese breast cancer patients - a 10-year analysis
Authors: Yao-Lung Kuo , Dar-Ren Chen , Tsai-Wang Chang 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
Adjuvant! Online (http://www.adjuvantonline.com) is an Internet-based software program that allows clinicians to make predictions about the benefits of adjuvant therapy and 10-year survival probability for early-stage breast cancer patients. This model has been validated in Western countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Holland. The aim of our study was to investigate the performance and accuracy of Adjuvant! Online in a cohort of Taiwanese breast cancer patients.

Methods
Data on the prognostic factors and clinical outcomes of 559 breast cancer patients diagnosed at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Tainan between 1992 and 2001 were enrolled in the study. Comprehensive demographic, clinical outcome data, and adjuvant treatment data were entered into the Adjuvant! Online program. The outcome prediction at 10 years was compared with the observed and predicted outcomes using Adjuvant! Online.

Results
Comparison between low- and high-risk breast cancer patient subgroups showed significant differences in tumor grading, tumor size, and lymph node status (p < 0.0001). The mean 10-year predicted death probability in 559 patients was 19.44%, and the observed death probability was 15.56%. Comparison with the Adjuvant! Online-predicted breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) showed significant differences in the whole cohort (p < 0.001). In the low-risk subgroup, the predicted and observed outcomes did not differ significantly (3.69% and 3.85%, respectively). In high-risk patients, Adjuvant! Online overestimated breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.016); the predicted and observed outcomes were 21.99% and 17.46%, respectively.

Conclusions
Adjuvant! Online accurately predicted 10-year outcomes and assisted in decision making about adjuvant treatment in low-risk breast cancer patients in our study, although the results were less accurate in the high-risk subgroup. Development of a prognostic program based on a national database should be considered, especially for high-risk breast cancer patients in Taiwan.
Endemic bacteriophages: a cautionary tale for evaluation of bacteriophage therapy and other interventions for infection control in animals
Authors: Kropinski Andrew M , Lingohr Erika J , Moyles Dianne M , Ojha Shivani , Mazzocco Amanda , She Yi-Min , Bach Susan J , Rozema Erica A , Stanford Kim , McAllister Tim A , Johnson Roger P 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
One of the most effective targets for control of zoonotic foodborne pathogens in the farm to fork continuum is their elimination in food animals destined for market. Phage therapy for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ruminants, the main animal reservoir of this pathogen, is a popular research topic. Since phages active against this pathogen may be endemic in host animals and their environment, they may emerge during trials of phage therapy or other interventions, rendering interpretation of trials problematic.

Methods
During separate phage therapy trials, sheep and cattle inoculated with 109 to 1010 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 soon began shedding phages dissimilar in plaque morphology to the administered therapeutic phages. None of the former was previously identified in the animals or in their environment. The dissimilar “rogue” phage was isolated and characterized by host range, ultrastructure, and genomic and proteomic analyses.

Results
The “rogue” phage (Phage vB_EcoS_Rogue1) is distinctly different from the administered therapeutic Myoviridae phages, being a member of the Siphoviridae (head: 53 nm; striated tail: 152 x 8 nm). It has a 45.8 kb genome which is most closely related to coliphage JK06, a member of the “T1-like viruses” isolated in Israel. Detailed bioinformatic analysis reveals that the tail of these phages is related to the tail genes of coliphage lambda. The presence of “rogue” phages resulting from natural enrichments can pose problems in the interpretation of phage therapeutic studies. Similarly, evaluation of any interventions for foodborne or other bacterial pathogens in animals may be compromised unless tests for such phages are included to identify their presence and potential impact.
Exclusive image guided IMRT vs. radical prostatectomy followed by postoperative IMRT for localized prostate cancer: a matched-pair analysis based on risk-groups
Authors: Azelie Caroline , Gauthier Mélanie , Mirjolet Céline , Cormier Luc , Martin Etienne , Peignaux-Casasnovas Karine , Truc Gilles , Chamois Jérôme , Maingon Philippe , Créhange Gilles 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
To investigate whether patients treated for a localized prostate cancer (PCa) require a radical prostatectomy followed by postoperative radiotherapy or exclusive radiotherapy, in the modern era of image guided IMRT.

Methods
178 patients with PCa were referred for daily exclusive image guided IMRT (IG-IMRT) using an on-line 3D ultra-sound based system and 69 patients were referred for postoperative IMRT without image guidance after radical prostatectomy (RP + IMRT). Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio according to their baseline risk group before any treatment. Late toxicity was scored using the CTV v3.0 scale. Biochemical failure was defined as a postoperative PSA ≤ 0.1 ng/mL followed by 1 consecutive rising PSA for the postoperative group of patients and by the Phoenix definition (nadir + 2 ng/mL) for the group of patients treated with exclusive radiotherapy.

Results
A total of 98 patients were matched (49:49). From the start of any treatment, the median follow-up was 56.6 months (CI 95% = [49.6-61.2], range [18.2-115.1]). No patient had late gastrointestinal grade ≥ 2 toxicity in the IG-IMRT group vs. 4% in the RP + IMRT group. Forty two percent of the patients in both groups had late grade ≥ 2 genitourinary toxicity. The 5-year FFF rates in the IG-IMRT group and in the RP + IMRT groups were 93.1% [80.0-97.8] and 76.5% [58.3-87.5], respectively (p = 0.031).

Conclusions
Patients with a localized PCa treated with IG-IMRT had better oncological outcome than patients treated with RP + IMRT. Further improvements in postoperative IMRT using image guidance and dose escalation are urgently needed.
Whole blood transcriptome correlates with treatment response in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Zaatar Adel M , Lim Chun Ren , Bong Chin Wei , Lee Michelle Mei Lin , Ooi Jian Jiek , Suria David , Raman Rakesh , Chao Samuel , Yang Hengxuan , Neoh Soon Bin , Liew Choong-Chin 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundTreatment protocols for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) developed in the past decade have significantly improved patient survival. In most NPC patients, however, the disease is diagnosed at late stages, and for some patients treatment response is less than optimal. This investigation has two aims: to identify a blood-based gene-expression signature that differentiates NPC from other medical conditions and from controls and to identify a biomarker signature that correlates with NPC treatment response.MethodsRNA was isolated from peripheral whole blood samples (2 x 10 ml) collected from NPC patients/controls (EDTA vacutainer). Gene expression patterns from 99 samples (66 NPC; 33 controls) were assessed using the Affymetrix array. We also collected expression data from 447 patients with other cancers (201 patients) and non-cancer conditions (246 patients). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to obtain biomarker signatures differentiating NPC samples from controls and other diseases. Differences were also analysed within a subset (n = 28) of a pre-intervention case cohort of patients whom we followed post-treatment.ResultsA blood-based gene expression signature composed of three genes — LDLRAP1, PHF20, and LUC7L3 — is able to differentiate NPC from various other diseases and from unaffected controls with significant accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of over 0·90). By subdividing our NPC cohort according to the degree of patient response to treatment we have been able to identify a blood gene signature that may be able to guide the selection of treatment.ConclusionWe have identified a blood-based gene signature that accurately distinguished NPC patients from controls and from patients with other diseases. The genes in the signature, LDLRAP1, PHF20, and LUC7L3, are known to be involved in carcinoma of the head and neck, tumour-associated antigens, and/or cellular signalling. We have also identified blood-based biomarkers that are (potentially) able to predict those patients who are more likely to respond to treatment for NPC. These findings have significant clinical implications for optimizing NPC therapy.
Correlations between psychological tests and physiological responses during fear conditioning and renewal
Authors: Martínez Karen G , Castro-Couch Melissa , Franco-Chaves José A , Ojeda-Arce Brenda , Segura Gustavo , Milad Mohammed R , Quirk Gregory J 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
Anxiety disorders are characterized by specific emotions, thoughts and physiological responses. Little is known, however, about the relationship between psychological/personality indices of anxiety responses to fear stimuli.

Methods
We studied this relationship in healthy subjects by comparing scores on psychological and personality questionnaires with results of an experimental fear conditioning paradigm using a visual conditioned stimulus (CS). We measured skin conductance response (SCR) during habituation, conditioning, and extinction; subsequently testing for recall and renewal of fear 24 hours later.

Results
We found that multiple regression models explained 45% of the variance during conditioning to the CS+, and 24% of the variance during renewal of fear to the CS+. Factors that explained conditioning included lower levels of conscientiousness, increased baseline reactivity (SCL), and response to the shock (UCR). Low levels of extraversion correlated with greater renewal. No model could be found to explain extinction learning or extinction recall to the CS+.

Conclusions
The lack of correlation of fear extinction with personality and neuropsychological indices suggests that extinction may be less determined by trait variables and cognitive state, and may depend more on the subject’s current emotional state. The negative correlation between fear renewal and extraversion suggests that this personality characteristic may protect against post-treatment relapse of symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Multiplicative properties of Quinn spectra
Authors: Laures Gerd , McClure James E. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract.
We give a simple sufficient condition for Quinn's “bordism-type spectra” to
be weakly equivalent to strictly associative ring spectra. We also show that
Poincaré bordism and symmetric L-theory are naturally weakly equivalent to
monoidal functors. Part of the proof of these statements involves showing
that Quinn's functor from bordism-type theories to spectra lifts to the
category of symmetric spectra. We also give a new account of the foundations.
Weyl groups for non-classical restricted Lie algebras and the Chevalley Restriction Theorem
Authors: Bois Jean-Marie , Farnsteiner Rolf , Shu Bin 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Let

(
𝔤
,
[
p
]
)

$(\mathfrak {g},[p])$

be a finite-dimensional restricted Lie algebra, defined over an algebraically closed field k of characteristic p > 0. The scheme of tori of maximal dimension of 𝔤 gives rise to a finite group S(𝔤) that coincides with the Weyl group of 𝔤 in case 𝔤 is a Lie algebra of classical type. In this paper, we compute the group S(𝔤) for Lie algebras of Cartan type and provide applications concerning weight space decompositions, the existence of generic tori and polynomial invariants.
Probing the chemical and surface chemical modification of vessel cell walls during bleaching of eucalyptus pulp
Authors: Orblin Elina , Lindström Nina , Fardim Pedro 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Eucalyptus pulp is increasingly used for the manufacture of printing papers. However, its major drawback, the vessel picking, is still waiting for a solution. The detailed features and the characteristic behaviour of vessel elements (VEs) in pulp and paper processes are poorly understood. This study focusses on the chemistry, surface chemistry and morphology of eucalyptus VEs. These properties were followed through the changes introduced by different stages of elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching, by studying separated VEs. Microprobe X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (μ-XPS) and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were applied to elucidate the surface chemical composition and morphological ultrastructure, respectively. The bulk chemical composition was investigated among others by Py-GC/MS. Lignin was detected in vessels still after completed bleaching sequence, whereas the fibres were lignin-free. The vessel lignin was mainly composed by syringyl-type units. Surface coverage by lignin and amount of surface anionic groups were practically unaffected by bleaching. The vessel cell wall structure was observed to be layered in a complex way with no particular orientation of cellulose fibrils, and the different layers seemed to be exfoliated during different bleaching stages.
Diversity, abundance, and sex-specific expression of chemosensory proteins in the reproductive organs of the locust Locusta migratoria manilensis
Authors: Zhou Xian-Hong , Ban Li-Ping , Iovinella Immacolata , Zhao Li-Jing , Gao Qian , Felicioli Antonio , Sagona Simona , Pieraccini Giuseppe , Pelosi Paolo , Zhang Long , Dani Francesca Romana 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are small soluble proteins often associated with chemosensory organs in insects but include members involved in other functions, such as pheromone delivery and development. Although the CSPs of the sensory organs have been extensively studied, little is known on their functions in other parts of the body. A first screening of the available databases has identified 70 sequences encoding CSPs in the oriental locust Locusta migratoria manilensis. Applying proteomic analysis, we have identified 17 of them abundantly expressed in the female reproductive organs, but only one (CSP91) in male organs. Bacterially expressed CSP91 binds fatty acids with a specificity for oleic and linoleic acid, as well as medium-length alcohols and esters. The same acids have been detected as the main gas chromatographic peaks in the dichloromethane extracts of reproductive organs of both sexes. The abundance and the number of CSPs in female reproductive organs indicates important roles for these proteins. We cannot exclude that different functions can be associated with each of the 17 CSPs, including delivery of semiochemicals, solubilization of hormones, direct control of development, or other unknown tasks.
The YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 protein family: common principles and distinct features
Authors: Saller Manfred J. , Wu Zht Cheng , de Keyzer Jeanine , Driessen Arnold J.M. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
The members of the YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 protein family are evolutionary conserved in all three domains of life. They facilitate the insertion of membrane proteins into bacterial, mitochondrial, and thylakoid membranes and have been implicated in membrane protein folding and complex formation. The major classes of substrates are small hydrophobic subunits of large energy-transducing complexes involved in respiration and light capturing. All YidC-like proteins share a conserved membrane region, whereas the N- and C-terminal regions are diverse and fulfill accessory functions in protein targeting.
Intronic hammerhead ribozymes in mRNA biogenesis
Authors: García-Robles Inmaculada , Sánchez-Navarro Jesús , de la Peña Marcos 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Small self-cleaving ribozymes are a group of natural RNAs that are capable of catalyzing their own and sequence-specific endonucleolytic cleavage. One of the most studied members is the hammerhead ribozyme (HHR), a catalytic RNA originally discovered in subviral plant pathogens but recently shown to reside in a myriad of genomes along the tree of life. In eukaryotes, most of the genomic HHRs seem to be related to short interspersed retroelements, with the main exception of a group of strikingly conserved ribozymes found in the genomes of all amniotes (reptiles, birds and mammals). These amniota HHRs occur in the introns of a few specific genes, and clearly point to a preserved biological role during pre-mRNA biosynthesis. More specifically, bioinformatic analysis suggests that these intronic ribozymes could offer a new form of splicing regulation of the mRNA of higher vertebrates. We review here the latest advances in the discovery and biological characterization of intronic HHRs of vertebrates, including new conserved examples in the genomes of the primitive turtle and coelacanth fish.
The gateway to chloroplast: re-defining the function of chloroplast receptor proteins
Authors: Chang Wai-Ling , Soll Jürgen , Bölter Bettina 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Chloroplast biogenesis often requires a tight orchestration between gene expression (both plastidial and nuclear) and translocation of ∼3000 nuclear-encoded proteins into the organelle. Protein translocation is achieved via two multimeric import machineries at the outer (TOC) and inner (TIC) envelope of chloroplast, respectively. Three components constitute the core element of the TOC complex: a β-barrel protein translocation channel Toc75 and two receptor constituents, Toc159 and Toc34. A diverse set of distinct TOC complexes have recently been characterized and these diversified TOC complexes have evolved to coordinate the translocation of differentially expressed proteins. This review aims to describe the recent discoveries relating to the typical characteristics of these distinct TOC complexes, particularly the receptor constituents, which are the main contributors for TOC complex diversification.
Interaction between natural compounds and human topoisomerase I
Authors: Castelli Silvia , Coletta Andrea , D’Annessa Ilda , Fiorani Paola , Tesauro Cinzia , Desideri Alessandro 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Eukaryotic topoisomerase I (Top1) is a monomeric enzyme that catalyzes the relaxation of supercoiled DNA during important processes including DNA replication, transcription, recombination and chromosome condensation. Human Top1 I is of significant medical interest since it is the unique cellular target of camptothecin (CPT), a plant alkaloid that rapidly blocks both DNA and RNA synthesis. In this review, together with CPT, we point out the interaction between human Top1 and some natural compounds, such us terpenoids, flavonoids, stilbenes and fatty acids. The drugs can interact with the enzyme at different levels perturbing the binding, cleavage, rotation or religation processes. Here we focus on different assays that can be used to identify the catalytic step of the enzyme inhibited by different natural compounds.
Multifunctional silica nanoparticles for optical and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Joshi Rajendra , Feldmann Verena , Koestner Wolfgang , Detje Claudia , Gottschalk Sven , Mayer Hermann A. , Sauer Martin G. , Engelmann Jörn 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
The surface of spherical, nonporous silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) was modified with gadolinium (Gd) complexes, fluorophores, and cell-penetrating peptides to achieve multifunctionality on a single particle. The Gd surface concentrations were 9–16 μmol/g resulting in nanomaterials with high local longitudinal and transversal relaxivities (~1×105 and ~5×105 /mm/s/NP, respectively). Rapid cellular uptake was observed in vitro; however, larger extracellular agglomerates were also formed. In vivo administration revealed a fast distribution throughout the body followed by a nearly complete disappearance of fluorescence in all organs except the lungs, liver, and spleen after 24 h. Such NPs have the potential to serve as efficient multimodal probes in molecular imaging.
Milling-induced polymorphic transformation in MoSi2
Authors: Ishihara Keiichi N. , Yamasue Eiji , Okumura Hideyuki , Hara Kosuke O. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
The mechanism of phase selection during mechanical milling has been investigated first with a large perspective using an exhaustive number of transformations reported in the literature and next with focusing on the specific system of MoSi2. The former shows that the phases exhibiting smaller values of the volume per one mole of atoms and the number of atoms in a reduced unit cell are preferred during mechanical milling. The latter involves both experimental and theoretical investigations. The dynamic equilibrium between the stable α and metastable β phases is reached with negligible Fe contamination, which is explained by a transformation mechanism based on synchroshear. The β phase formation is promoted in the presence of Fe, which is attributed to the formation of Fe-substituted MoSi2 with Si vacancies according to first-principles calculation results.
Effect of Fe and V additions on amorphous structure formation in melt spun AlNiZr alloys
Authors: Dutkiewicz Jan , Kukuła Agata , Lityńska-Dobrzyńska Lidia , Góral Anna , Czeppe Tomasz 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
An aluminum-based AlNiZr ternary alloy containing 11 at.% Ni and 5 at.% Zr was modified by substitution of 5% of nickel by either iron or vanadium. Melt spun ribbons were cast under a protective helium atmosphere from 99.9% pure elements at 35 m s−1 linear rate of the copper wheel of the melt spinner. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed that most of the volume of all cast ribbons is amorphous showing a broad amorphous halo, however all alloys have shown a small amount of crystalline α(Al) solid solution. The same phase was identified in quaternary alloys. The ribbons showed high microhardness near 500 HV. Transmission electron microscopy studies enabled identification of a large number of spherical crystals of α(Al) solid solution of size near 200 nm in AlNiZr ribbons, containing less solute elements than the amorphous phase. In alloys with iron and vanadium additions crystallites were larger in the form of discontinuous lamellar precipitates. Differential scanning calorimetric studies enabled identification of a multistage crystallization mechanism and the additions of iron and vanadium caused an increase in crystallization temperatures as compared to ternary AlNiZr alloy
Mechanical behavior of the cold-rolled Zr57Ti8Nb2.5Cu13.9Ni11.1Al7.5 metallic glass–quasicrystalline composite
Authors: Beitelschmidt Denise , Scudino Sergio , Prashanth Konda Gokuldoss , Kühn Uta , Eckert Jürgen 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
The as-cast Zr57Ti8Nb2.5Cu13.9Ni11.1Al7.5 glass–quasicrystalline composite exhibits high strength, good elasticity but no macroscopic room temperature plastic deformability. Significant improvement in plastic deformability to a strain of about 5% can be achieved after cold-rolling of the as-cast material. This behavior can be ascribed the anisotropic and inhomogeneous stress distribution developing during the mechanical test along with the creation of an extensive system of shear bands.