bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gastric adenocarcinoma in children and adolescents
Authors: Subbiah Vivek , Varadhachary Gauri , Herzog Cynthia E. , Huh Winston W. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractGastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is an extremely rare cancer in children with very limited information on the clinical presentation and outcome. We report five pediatric patients with GAC‐treated between 1990 and 2008 at our institution. Median age at diagnosis was 17 years (range: 8–17). Our case series suggests that pediatric GAC patients present with diffuse metastatic disease (four patients) and with patterns of spread similar to adult GAC. Initial chemotherapy was mainly platinum‐based. Median time to progression was 4 months. The only long‐term survivor was a patient with localized disease who had complete surgical removal of primary tumor. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 524–527. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of antioxidant metabolites by solvent extraction from sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga)
Authors: Zheng Weifa , Zhang Meimei , Zhao Yanxia , Miao Kangjie , Pan Shenyuan , Cao Feng , Dai Yucheng 
Published: January 2011

AbstractIntroduction – The sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga) are effective therapeutic agents to treat several human malignant tumours and other diseases without unacceptable toxic side‐effects.Objective – To investigate solvent effects on metabolic profiles and antioxidant activities of extracts of Chaga.Methodology – Chaga was extracted by petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and water. Solvent effects on metabolites in the extracts were assayed by NMR‐based metabolomic analysis. Antioxidant activities were indicated as capacities for scavenging superoxide anion, DPPH and hydroxyl radicals.Results – Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts contained primarily lanostane‐type triterpenoids (LT), whereas the extracts of ethyl acetate, acetone and ethanol were characterised by the predominant presence of hispidin analogues and LT, and water extracts by polysaccharides and phenolic compounds. The ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and water extracts revealed remarkable potential for scavenging the tested radicals, while those of petroleum ether and chloroform did not. Polyphenols are the major contributors for quenching the tested free radicals, while in LT only compounds 16, 17 and 22 participated in scavenging hydroxyl radicals.Conclusion – Polyphenols in Chaga are the principles for quenching free radicals while polysaccharides and a few LT compounds contribute partially in scavenging DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, respectively. NMR‐based metabolomic analysis is a useful method by which to correlate 1H‐NMR spectra of Chaga extracts with their antioxidant activities, and this allows the prediction of potentials for scavenging free radicals by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A systematic study of the polyphenolic composition of aqueous extracts deriving from several Cistus genus species: evolutionary relationship
Authors: Barrajón‐Catalán Enrique , Fernández‐Arroyo Salvador , Roldán Cristina , Guillén Emilio , Saura Domingo , Segura‐Carretero Antonio , Micol Vicente 
Published: January 2011

AbstractIntroduction – Cistaceae is a large family of shrubs widely spread over the Mediterranean area. It includes Helianthemum, Halimium and Cistus genus. Cistus genus contains approximately 20 species distributed in three subgenus. The essential oil of Cistus species has been thoroughly studied, but the polyphenolic composition of the aerial parts of the different Cistus species needs further characterisation.Objective – To perform a comparative analysis of the qualitative and quantitative polyphenolic composition of the aerial parts of the most commonly distributed Spanish Cistus species in order to find a relationship between chemotype and subgenus.Methodology – Thirteen aqueous extracts derived from 10 different Cistus species were analysed by using HPLC with diode array‐detection coupled to electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry technique (HPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐MS/MS). Their major compounds were identified and ellagitannins were quantified. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the most relevant compounds to find out the statistical association between chemotype and variety.Results – Three main groups of compounds were found, i.e. ellagitannins, flavonoids and phenolic acids derivatives. The polyphenolic profile was specific for each species, although the abundance of some compounds also varied depending on the soil type. Whereas C. ladanifer, C. salviifolius, C. populifolius and C. libanotis were specially rich in ellagitannins, C. clusii, C. laurifolius and C. monspeliensis contained significant amounts of flavonoids and much less ellagitannins. In contrast, C. crispus, C. incanus and C. albidus showed a polyphenolic profile mostly based on flavonoids. PCA analysis showed a strong relationship between Cistus subgenus and its chemotype based on the most relevant water‐soluble polyphenolic compounds.Conclusions – Chemical composition of the leaves' aqueous extracts from plants belonging to the Cistus genus is strongly related to their subgenus, in agreement to previous taxonomical and phylogenetic divisions. In contrast, soil and climate are less influencing factors. Leucocistus and Halimioides subgenus showed a higher content in ellagitannins. However, Cistus subgenus had higher flavonoid content. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flow‐induced crystallization during isotactic polypropylene film casting
Authors: Lamberti Gaetano 
Published: January 2011

AbstractIn this work, a previously proposed model for flow‐induced crystallization of polymers was slightly modified and successfully applied in describing film casting experiments performed working with isotactic polypropylene. In this process, the melt experiences flowing conditions, during the cooling. The effect of flow on crystallization kinetics was accounted for by the entropic increase of melting point because of the orientation effect of the flow. The orientation of the macromolecules was described by means of a nonlinear dumbbell model, and the entropic shift was calculated on the basis of the rubber elasticity theory. The flow‐induced crystallization model, using reasonable values for relaxation time, was proved able to quantitatively predict the enhancement effect of the flow as an increase of spherulite nuclei density and growth rate, in presence of low‐level flows (Deborah number <1–10). The morphology changes due to higher level of flow (fine grained, fibrils, shish‐kebab) were not predicted by this approach. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Point‐bonded electrospun polystyrene fibrous mats fabricated via the addition of poly(butylacrylate) adhesive
Authors: Park Dae‐Kwang , Park Soo‐Jin , Baek Woo‐Il , Kanjwal Muzafar A. , Kim Hak‐Yong 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBecause of poor mechanical strength, applications of electrospun polystyrene (PS) fibrous mats are quite limited. The introduction of various concentrations of poly (butylacrylate) adhesives (PBAs) into PS solutions led to the fabrication of point‐bonded electrospun PS fibrous mats with good mechanical strength. The morphologies of PS/PBA fibers with varying PBA content (0−50 wt%) were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the results were compared with pure PS and PBA fibers fabricated with various solvents. SEM images indicated that point‐bonded PS/PBA fibers were uniformly distributed with an average diameter of 1–2 μm. On increasing concentration of PBA up to 20 wt%, porous PS/PBA fibrous mats were obtained. However, solid films were formed at very high concentrations of PBA. The Young's modulus and tensile strength of PS/PBA fibrous mats increased up to 52.4 and 2.7 MPa, respectively. The resultant enhancement of the mechanical properties of PS fibrous mats on addition of PBA increases the number of potential applications of these materials. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Preparation and characterization of polylactide‐block‐poly(butylene adipate) polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer
Authors: Zhong Qian , Ren Jie , Wang Qinfeng 
Published: January 2011

AbstractPolylactide‐block‐poly(butylene adipate) poly(ester‐urethane) (PLAEU) thermoplastic elastomer was obtained by melt chain extending reaction with polylactide‐block‐poly(butylene adipate)‐block‐polylactide (PBLA) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). PBLA was previously prepared with L‐lactide and poly(butylene adipate) diol (PBA diol). Experimental parameters including feed ratio, polymerization temperature, and time were optimized. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of PLAEU surpassed 105 g/mol. In contrast to corresponding PBLA, the crystallinity and melt temperature (Tm) of PLAEU decreased, whereas its glass transition (Tg) shifted to high temperature due to the “pseudoextension” structure of polylactide (PLA) block. Additionally, the crystallinity and Tm of PLAEU were subject to crystallization method and molecular weight. The tensile strength of PLAEU varied from 6.61 to 24.41 MPa and elongation from 190% to 780%. Therefore, the mechanical properties of PLAEU can be regulated by altering the length ratio of PLA to PBA block. The high elasticity of PLAEU can be explained with phase separation mechanism. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Poly[octanediol‐co‐(citric acid)‐co‐(sebacic acid)] elastomers: novel bio‐elastomers for tissue engineering
Authors: Djordjevic Ivan , Choudhury Namita Roy , Dutta Naba K , Kumar Sunil 
Published: January 2011

AbstractThis review focuses on a new class of elastomers, namely poly[octanediol‐co‐(citric acid)‐co‐(sebacic acid)] (p(OCS)), synthesised from 1,8‐octanediol, citric acid and sebacic acid in a catalyst‐free polyesterification reaction. The review begins with a detailed description of the synthesis, characterisation and structure–property–performance relationship of some reported elastomers suitable for tissue engineering. The control of the physicochemical properties of the new p(OCS) by simple variation of initial monomer concentrations in polyesterification forms the pivotal part of the synthesis. As tissue engineering requires complex designs, thin films and porous three‐dimensional structures of p(OCS) were fabricated to demonstrate their ease of processing. The fundamental material properties of p(OCS) are discussed for p(OCS) pre‐polymers and final polymers. The elastomers exhibit versatility in mechanical properties, hydration and hydrolytic degradation, as determined by their chemical structure. Surface analysis of spin‐coated p(OCS) suggests that the surface morphology, chemistry and concentration of the surface functional groups can be controlled simply by varying the initial citric acid/sebacic acid concentration in polyesterification. These tunable molecular architectures and material properties are crucial in biological interactions. Thein vitrobiocompatibility testing of p(OCS) with MG63 osteoblast‐like cells suggests that p(OCS) is an excellent candidate for potential elastic biomaterials for tissue engineering applications without the need for any post‐synthesis modification. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Copolymers of fluorene and thiophene with conjugated side chain for polymer solar cells: Effect of pendant acceptors
Authors: Fan Haijun , Zhang Zhiguo , Li Yongfang , Zhan Xiaowei 
Published: January 2011

AbstractTwo copolymers of fluorene and thiophene with conjugated side‐chain pending acceptor end group of cyanoacetate (P2) and malononitrile (P3) were synthesized. Both polymers exhibit good thermal stability and low highest occupied molecular orbital level (−5.5 eV). In comparison with P2, P3 exhibits stronger UV–vis absorption and higher hole mobility. Polymer solar cells based on P3:PC71BM exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 1.33% under AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm2, which is three times of that based on P2:PC71BM. The higher efficiency is attributed to better absorption, higher hole mobility, and the reduced phase separation scale in P3:PC71BM blend. The aggregate domain size in P3:PC71BM blend is 50 nm, much smaller than that in P2:PC71BM blend (200 nm). Tiny difference in the end groups on side chains of P2 and P3 leads to great difference in phase separation scale, charge transport, and efficiency of their photovoltaic devices. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Adapting an in‐person patient–caregiver communication intervention to a tailored web‐based format
Authors: Zulman Donna M. , Schafenacker Ann , Barr Kathryn L. C. , Moore Ian T. , Fisher Jake , McCurdy Kathryn , Derry Holly A. , Saunders Edward W. , An Lawrence C. , Northouse Laurel 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBackground: Interventions that target cancer patients and their caregivers have been shown to improve patient‐caregiver communication, support, and emotional well‐being.Objective: To adapt an in‐person communication intervention for cancer patients and caregivers to a web‐based format, and to examine the usability and acceptability of the web‐based program among representative users.Methods: A tailored, interactive web‐based communication program for cancer patients and their family caregivers was developed based on an existing in‐person, nurse‐delivered intervention. The development process involved: (1) building a multidisciplinary team of content and web design experts, (2) combining key components of the in‐person intervention with the unique tailoring and interactive features of a web‐based platform, and (3) conducting focus groups and usability testing to obtain feedback from representative program users at multiple time points.Results: Four focus groups with 2–3 patient–caregiver pairs per group (n = 22 total participants) and two iterations of usability testing with four patient–caregiver pairs per session (n = 16 total participants) were conducted. Response to the program's structure, design, and content was favorable, even among users who were older or had limited computer and Internet experience. The program received high ratings for ease of use and overall usability (mean System Usability Score of 89.5 out of 100).Conclusions: Many elements of a nurse‐delivered patient–caregiver intervention can be successfully adapted to a web‐based format. A multidisciplinary design team and an iterative evaluation process with representative users were instrumental in the development of a usable and well‐received web‐based program. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Screening for psychological and physical distress in a cancer inpatient treatment setting: a pilot study
Authors: Clark Paul G. , Rochon Edith , Brethwaite Drucilla , Edmiston Kirsten K. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractObjective: Although several large distress studies have been conducted in outpatient oncology treatment settings, there are few, if any, studies that describe the incidence of psychological and physical distress in the inpatient oncology treatment setting. This pilot study hypothesized that inpatients experience levels of psychological distress that are equivalent to or greater than those reported in large outpatient studies. The study also sought to contribute to physical and psychological symptom distress incidence data.Methods: Using two measures designed to screen for psychological and physical distress, the Brief Symptom Inventory—18 and the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, 52 oncology patients were screened within 24 h of admission to a hospital oncology unit.Results: Nearly two‐thirds of the inpatient respondents reported levels of psychological distress that were not only within the clinically significant range but also at a rate that was nearly double that found in the outpatient distress screening studies that have been conducted to date. The physical symptoms most often rated at the severe level included fatigue (34.6%), pain (27.4%), and dry mouth (25.5%).Conclusions: Failure to screen for psychological and physical symptom distress has lead to under recognition of a population that may have higher levels of distress than their outpatient counterparts and could potentially lead to uneven access to biopsychosocial support. Results support the notion that routinely screening for psychological and physical distress should become a first step in the assessment of the biopsychosocial needs of people receiving inpatient treatment for cancer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘The greatest thing in the world is the family’: the meaning of social support among Black Caribbean and White British patients living with advanced cancer
Authors: Koffman Jonathan , Morgan Myfanwy , Edmonds Polly , Speck Peter , Higginson Irene J. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractPurpose: Little is known about the perceptions and meanings of social support among black and minority ethnic groups living with advanced cancer in the UK. The aim of this study was to explore social support networks and their meaning among Black Caribbean and White British patients living with advanced cancer.Method: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 26 Black Caribbean and 19 White British cancer patients and analysed using the framework approach.Results: In all, 25 of 26 Black Caribbean and 18 of 19 White British participants volunteered views on the presence of social support in their lives. The presence of a spouse or partners was an indispensable feature within the social support networks in both ethnic groups. More Black Caribbean than White British participants referred to the presence of social networks made through their church communities as being a source of practical and emotional support.Conclusions: We recommend that when health and social‐care professionals perform an assessment interview with patients from cultural backgrounds different to their own, opportunities should be made for patients to express information about their social support networks. This will help them to better understand their place alongside statutory services. Spouses and partners should be given greater recognition of their contribution in order to continue with their important role. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlations of Uncertainties of Composite Propellant Strand Burner Burning Rate Measurement for Quality Control
Authors: Liu Tai‐Kang 
Published: January 2011

AbstractThis study acquired, classified, and analyzed more than 3500 repeated‐measured steady state strand burner burning rate data from our quality control data bank as well as from open literature. The large size of consistent data from our resource were employed for the construction of a model that correlates burning rate standard deviations with average burning rates for both within‐batch lots and among‐batch lots. An increase in standard deviations with burning rates was observed for both correlations. Both correlations exhibit an R2‐statistic larger than 0.82 within burning rate range of 3.4–38.6 mm s−1, and both correlations provide predictions in good agreements with some good quality published data. These two correlations may serve as feasible burning rate standard deviation tolerance reference when conducting composite propellants production quality control or burning rate data reproducibility checkup. Moreover, the confidence limits of parameters from the derived within‐batch correlation equation allow assessing the maximum pressure‐exponent uncertainties within selected burning rate range, thus provide insightful considerations to pressure‐exponent tolerance assignment for propellants under development or production.
Crystal structure of the sensory domain of Escherichia coli CadC, a member of the ToxR‐like protein family
Authors: Eichinger Andreas , Haneburger Ina , Koller Christiane , Jung Kirsten , Skerra Arne 
Published: January 2011

AbstractThe membrane‐integral transcriptional activator CadC comprises sensory and transcriptional regulatory functions within one polypeptide chain. Its C‐terminal periplasmic domain, CadCpd, is responsible for sensing of environmental pH as well as for binding of the feedback inhibitor cadaverine. Here we describe the crystal structure of CadCpd (residues 188–512) solved at a resolution of 1.8 Å via multiple wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) using a ReCl62− derivative. CadCpd reveals a novel fold comprising two subdomains: an N‐terminal subdomain dominated by a β‐sheet in contact with three α‐helices and a C‐terminal subdomain formed by an eleven‐membered α‐helical bundle, which is oriented almost perpendicular to the helices in the first subdomain. Further to the native protein, crystal structures were also solved for its variants D471N and D471E, which show functionally different behavior in pH sensing. Interestingly, in the heavy metal derivative of CadCpd used for MAD phasing a ReCl62− ion was found in a cavity located between the two subdomains. Amino acid side chains that coordinate this complex ion are conserved in CadC homologues from various bacterial species, suggesting a function of the cavity in the binding of cadaverine, which was supported by docking studies. Notably, CadCpd forms a homo‐dimer in solution, which can be explained by an extended, albeit rather polar interface between two symmetry‐related monomers in the crystal structure. The occurrence of several acidic residues in this region suggests protonation‐dependent changes in the mode of dimerization, which could eventually trigger transcriptional activation by CadC in the bacterial cytoplasm.
Electron transfer flavoprotein domain II orientation monitored using double electron‐electron resonance between an enzymatically reduced, native FAD cofactor, and spin labels
Authors: Swanson Michael A. , Kathirvelu Velavan , Majtan Tomas , Frerman Frank E. , Eaton Gareth R. , Eaton Sandra S. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractHuman electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) is a soluble mitochondrial heterodimeric flavoprotein that links fatty acid β‐oxidation to the main respiratory chain. The crystal structure of human ETF bound to medium chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase indicates that the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) domain (αII) is mobile, which permits more rapid electron transfer with donors and acceptors by providing closer access to the flavin and allows ETF to accept electrons from at least 10 different flavoprotein dehydrogenases. Sequence homology is high and low‐angle X‐ray scattering is identical for Paracoccus denitrificans (P. denitrificans) and human ETF. To characterize the orientations of the αII domain of P. denitrificans ETF, distances between enzymatically reduced FAD and spin labels in the three structural domains were measured by double electron‐electron resonance (DEER) at X‐ and Q‐bands. An FAD to spin label distance of 2.8 ± 0.15 nm for the label in the FAD‐containing αII domain (A210C) agreed with estimates from the crystal structure (3.0 nm), molecular dynamics simulations (2.7 nm), and rotamer library analysis (2.8 nm). Distances between the reduced FAD and labels in αI (A43C) were between 4.0 and 4.5 ± 0.35 nm and for βIII (A111C) the distance was 4.3 ± 0.15 nm. These values were intermediate between estimates from the crystal structure of P. denitrificans ETF and a homology model based on substrate‐bound human ETF. These distances suggest that the αII domain adopts orientations in solution that are intermediate between those which are observed in the crystal structures of free ETF (closed) and ETF bound to a dehydrogenase (open).