bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Supramolecular Hydrogel Inspired by Elastin
Authors: Ding Lei , Wang Shufang , Wu Wenjie , Hu Yuehan , Yang Cuihong , Tan Ming , Kong Deling , Yang Zhimou 
Published: October 2011

AbstractSelf‐assembly prevails in nature and learning from nature will lead to biofunctional materials. Inspired by the protein of elastin, we reported in this study on a supramolecular hydrogel bearing the elastin repeating peptide of VPGAG. The visco‐elasticity property, morphology of the nanostructures, and aromatic stacking in the self‐assembled nanostructure were characterized by a rheometry, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and fluorescence microscope, respectively. The biocompatibility of the gelator was also proved by an MTT assay. Though the supramolecular hydrogel failed to exhibit a high elasticity like elastin, the thixotropic hydrogel might have potentials for the applications in fields of cell culture, controlled‐drug release, etc.
A New Efficient Synthetic Method for 3‐Iodothyronamine and Its Potent Hypothermic Efficacy
Authors: Kim Joong‐Gon , Song Young‐Kyu , Jeon Su‐Yeon , Lim Ye‐Ji , Ju Hyunwoo , Choi Inho , Chung Chan‐Moon 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWe developed a new efficient synthetic method for a 3‐iodothyronamine (T1AM) that has advantages of less synthetic steps and much higher overall yield compared to those in the conventional method. Our animal study showed that T1AM synthesized by the method exerted a potent hypothermic effect in non‐hibernator mice.
Histologic grading of the extent of residual carcinoma following neoadjuvant chemoradiation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chatterjee Deyali , Katz Matthew H. , Rashid Asif , Varadhachary Gauri R. , Wolff Robert A. , Wang Hua , Lee Jeffrey E. , Pisters Peter W. T. , Vauthey Jean‐Nicolas , Crane Christopher , Gomez Henry F. , Abbruzzese James L. , Fleming Jason B. , Wang Huamin 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND:Several grading schemes for the extent of residual tumor in posttreatment pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) specimens have been proposed. However, the prognostic significance of these grading schemes is unknown.METHODS:Histopathologic slides of 223 cases who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation and PD were reviewed. The extent of residual tumor was graded using both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Evans grading systems. The grading results were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and survival.RESULTS:Among the 223 patients, 6 patients (2.7%) showed pathologic complete response (pCR; CAP grade 0 or Evans grade IV), 36 cases (16.1%) had minimal residual tumor (CAP grade 1 or Evans grade III), 124 cases (55.6%) had moderate response (CAP grade 2 or Evans grade IIb), and 57 cases (25.6%) had poor response (CAP grade 3, where 18 had Evans grade I and 39 had Evans grade IIa response). Patients with pCR or minimal residual tumor (response group 1) had better survival rates than those with moderate and poor response (response group 2). Response group 1 patients had lower posttherapy tumor and American Joint Committee on Cancer stages and lower rates of lymph node metastasis, positive resection margin, and recurrence and/or metastasis. Grading the extent of residual tumor is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in multivariate analysis.CONCLUSIONS:pCR or minimal residual tumor in posttreatment PD specimens correlate with better survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who received neoadjuvant therapy and PD. Histologic grading of the extent of residual tumor in PD specimen is an important prognostic factor in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who received neoadjuvant therapies. Cancer 2012;118: 3182–90. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
The molecular role of Fra‐1 and its prognostic significance in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Usui Akihiro , Hoshino Isamu , Akutsu Yasunori , Sakata Haruhito , Nishimori Takanori , Murakami Kentaro , Kano Masayuki , Shuto Kiyohiko , Matsubara Hisahiro 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND:The expression of Fra‐1 (Fos related antigen 1) involves tumor progression and invasion, and its gene ablation could suppress the invasive phenotypes of human tumor cells. The authors investigated the significance of Fra‐1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and studied the effect of its down‐regulation on cell proliferation, motility, and invasion.METHODS:Surgical specimens from 164 patients with ESCC were evaluated. Fra‐1 expression in the primary tumor along with metastatic lymph nodes was compared among various clinicopathological characteristics, and overall survival was analyzed. The rate and intensity of Fra‐1 immunoreactivity were also investigated. The molecular role of Fra‐1 was assessed by its down‐regulation in human ESCC cell lines.RESULTS:Fra‐1 expression was positive in 127 (77.4%) ESCC patients. Immunoreactivity was localized to the marginal areas of the ESCC tumors. Positive Fra‐1 expression correlated with depth of tumor, lymph node metastasis, stage, and infiltrative growth pattern. A significant difference was seen in the survival between tumors with and without Fra‐1, and positive Fra‐1 expression was revealed to be an independent factor related to poor prognosis. Patients with metastatic lymph nodes with positive Fra‐1 expression presented decreased survival compared with negative Fra‐1 expression. After the down‐regulation of Fra‐1 expression, a significant decrease in cell proliferation, motility, and invasion was observed.CONCLUSIONS:This study demonstrated ESCC patients positive for Fra‐1 to be associated with poor prognosis. The findings also suggest that Fra‐1 regulation may play an important role in the progression of ESCC. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Kazrin, and its binding partners ARVCF‐ and delta‐catenin, are required for Xenopus laevis craniofacial development
Authors: Cho Kyucheol , Lee Moonsup , Gu Dongmin , Munoz William A. , Ji Hong , Kloc Malgorzata , McCrea Pierre D. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe novel adaptor protein Kazrin associates with multifunctional entities including p120‐subfamily members (ARVCF‐, delta‐, and p0071‐catenin). Critical contributions of Kazrin to development or homeostasis are indicated with respect to ectoderm formation, integrity and keratinocyte differentiation, whereas its presence in varied tissues suggests broader roles. We find that Kazrin is maternally loaded, is expressed across development and becomes enriched in the forming head. Kazrin's potential contributions to craniofacial development were probed by means of knockdown in the prospective anterior neural region. Cartilaginous head structures as well as eyes on injected sides were reduced in size, with molecular markers suggesting an impact upon neural crest cell establishment and migration. Similar effects followed the depletion of ARVCF (or delta‐catenin), with Kazrin:ARVCF functional interplay supported upon ARVCF partial rescue of Kazrin knockdown phenotypes. Thus, Kazrin and its associating ARVCF‐ and delta‐catenins, are required to form craniofacial tissues originating from cranial neural crest and precordal plate. Developmental Dynamics 240:2601–2612, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Method to determine the effective ζ potential in a microchannel with an embedded gate electrode
Authors: Lenzi Alessio , Viola Francesco , Bonotto Francesco , Frey Jared , Napoli Maria , Pennathur Sumita 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWe present a theoretical model to determine the effective zeta potential ζeff in microfluidic channels where an embedded, insulated gate electrode allows for external tuning of a portion of the channel surface charge. In addition, we derive a method to determine ζeff in such channels, for any value of salt concentration, using the solution displacement technique. To do so, we simulate typical current‐monitoring measurements using our model, and highlight the experimental parameters that lead to inaccurate results using this procedure with an heterogenous channel. Our method corrects for such inaccuracies by using our model with experimental data to find the correct value of ζeff. Finally, we perform experiments to demonstrate our method and the use of our model with a silica‐PMDS microchannel system with an embedded Ti‐Au‐Ti gate electrode that covers 50% of the bottom surface of the channel. We show that our theory captures the salient features of our experiments, thereby offering a useful tool to predict effective zeta potential in channels with a nonuniform zeta potential.
Synthesis of sucrose acetate using a solvent‐stable serine protease from Serratia sp. SYBC H
Authors: Li Guiying , Cai Yujie , Hao Zhikui , Liao Xiangru 
Published: October 2011

AbstractSugar esters have several applications in a variety of industrial processes, including their use as biodegradable surfactants in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries and as antitumoral agents and plant growth inhibitors. Most of the sucrose monoesters described in the literature have been enzymatically synthesized from the primary hydroxyls (1′‐OH, 6‐OH, and 6′‐OH) of sucrose. In this study, we report a simple procedure for the regioselective acylation of a secondary hydroxyl (4′‐OH) of sucrose. Sucrose‐4′‐acetate was efficiently synthesized from sucrose and vinyl acetate in anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide using a solvent‐stable serine protease from Serratia sp. SYBC H. When the sucrose/vinyl acetate molar ratio, protease concentrations, and reaction times are equal to or above 1:8, 25 mg/mL, and 21 h at 30°C, respectively, the yield of sucrose‐4′‐acetate can exceed 90%. The described protocol of enzymatic synthesis of sucrose‐4′‐acetate can improve possible applications of sucrose esters in various fields.
Predicting oncologic outcomes by stratifying mesorectal extension in patients with pT3 rectal cancer: A Japanese multi‐institutional study
Authors: Akagi Yoshito , Shirouzu Kazuo , Fujita Shin , Ueno Hideki , Takii Yasumasa , Komori Koji , Ito Masaaki , Sugihara Kenichi ,   on behalf of the Study Group of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) on the Clinical Significance of the Mesorectal Extension of Rectal Cancer
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe goal of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of mesorectal extension in pT3 rectal cancer. This currently remains unclear. Data from 975 consecutive patients with pT3 rectal cancer that underwent curative surgery at 28 institutes were reviewed. The distance of the mesorectal extension (DME) was measured histologically. The optimal prognostic cut‐off point of the DME for oncologic outcomes was determined using the receiver operating characteristic curve and Cox regression analysis. When patients were subdivided into two groups according to the optimal cut‐off point, DME ≤ 4 mm and DME > 4 mm, DME was found to be a powerful independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence. A DME > 4 mm was significantly correlated with distant and local recurrences at Stage IIA and IIIB diseases. The recurrence‐free 5‐year‐survival rate was significantly higher in patients with a DME ≤ 4 mm [86.6% at Stage IIA (p = 0.00015), and 68.7% at Stage IIIB (p < 0.0001)] than in patients with a DME > 4 mm (71.3% at Stage IIA and 49.1% at Stage IIIB). No significant difference was noted in the oncologic outcomes between the two groups at Stage IIIC. A value of 4 mm provides the best prognostic cut‐off point for patient stratification and for the prediction of oncologic outcomes. A subclassification based on a 4‐mm cut‐off point may improve the utility of the TNM 7th staging system except for Stage IIIC. These findings warrant further prospective studies to determine the reliability and validity of this cut‐off point.
Photodynamic therapy as salvage treatment for local failure after chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A phase II study
Authors: Yano Tomonori , Muto Manabu , Minashi Keiko , Iwasaki Junko , Kojima Takashi , Fuse Nozomu , Doi Toshihiko , Kaneko Kazuhiro , Ohtsu Atsushi 
Published: October 2011

AbstractLocal failure at the primary site is a major problem after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Salvage surgery is the only treatment option with curative intent, but it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of salvage photodynamic therapy (PDT) after CRT. Patients with histologically proven local failure limited to the submucosal layer, and without any metastasis after definitive CRT (≥50 Gy) for ESCC were enrolled in the study. PDT began with intravenous administration of 2 mg/kg of porfimer sodium followed 48–72 hr later by excimer dye laser irradiation with a fluence of 75 J/cm2. The primary endpoint was a complete response (CR) to treatment with PDT, and the secondary endpoints were toxicity related to PDT, progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Twenty‐five patients were enrolled in the study. A CR was attained in 19 of 25 patients treated with PDT (CR rate, 76%; 95% CI, 55–91%). One treatment‐related death (4%) caused by gastrointestinal hemorrhage at the irradiated site occurred 33 days after PDT. No adverse events greater than grade 3 were related to PDT in the other patients. After a median follow‐up of 48 months after PDT, the PFS and OS at 3 years were 40% (95% CI, 21–59%) and 38% (95% CI, 17–60%), respectively. PDT is a potentially curative and tolerable salvage treatment after CRT for carefully selected patients with local failure without any metastasis.
Enhanced cardioprotective effects by coexpression of two isoforms of hepatocyte growth factor from naked plasmid DNA in a rat ischemic heart disease model
Authors: Hahn Woong , Pyun Wook‐Bum , Kim Dong‐Sik , Yoo Won‐Sun , Lee Sung‐Dong , Won Jung‐Hee , Shin Gil Ja , Kim Jong‐Mook , Kim Sunyoung 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe therapeutic potential of pCK‐HGF‐X7, a naked DNA designed to express two isoforms of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF723 and HGF728), was studied in the rat ischemic heart disease model.MethodsFirst, the kinetics of gene expression was examined by injecting pCK‐HGF‐X7 DNA into the rat heart. Second, the cardioprotective effects were compared between the two naked DNA constructs, expressing a single (HGF728) or both isoforms (HGF728 and HGF723) of HGF, in the rat ischemic heart disease model. The ischemic injury to the rat heart was created by ischemia–reperfusion in the anterior descending artery. The respective naked DNA constructs were injected into the anterior wall of the rat heart with the ischemia–reperfusion injury. Cardiac function, capillary density and anti‐fibrotic activity were compared between the two naked DNA constructs.ResultsThe intramyocardial administration of pCK‐HGF‐X7 resulted in transient and localized HGF expression for 3 weeks. At its peak, approximately 678 pg (per mg of tissue protein) of HGF was produced in the injected heart without an increase of HGF protein level in other tissues, and serum. pCK‐HGF‐X7 more efficiently improved the left ventricular ejection fraction and the systolic anterior wall thickness, increased the capillary density, and inhibited myocardial fibrosis, in a statistically significant manner, compared to the identical vector encoding HGF728 only.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that transfer of the genomic‐cDNA hybrid expressing both isoforms of the HGF gene might provide higher therapeutic effects than the cDNA sequence producing HGF728 alone in the treatment of ischemic heart disease. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical and molecular epidemiology of norovirus infection in childhood diarrhea in China
Authors: Zeng Mei , Xu Xiaohua , Zhu Chaomin , Chen Jie , Zhu Qirong , Lin Shuxiang , Jie Yuanyuan , Shu Xiaoli ,   Chinese Pediatric Study Group of Norovirus Diarrhea
Published: October 2011

AbstractA prospective investigation was carried out among pediatric outpatients and inpatients with acute non‐dysenteric diarrhea between August, 2008 and July, 2009 in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Tianjin, China. One step real‐time RT‐PCR was used for detection of norovirus (NoV) genogroups I and II (GI, GII). The NoV genotypes were classified based on partial capsid sequences. Rotavirus (RV) was detected in parallel. Among 4,123 fecal samples from outpatients, 1,067 (25.9%) were NoV‐positive, of which 1,051 (98.5%) belonged to GII and 1,309 (31.7%) were RV‐positive. In the inpatient group (n = 317), 25.6% were NoV‐positive and 41.6% were RV‐positive. Four hundred and fifty‐one out of 1,067 NoV‐positive strains were sequenced and genotyped and 6 typed strains were GI (3 GI.3, 2 GI.5, 1 GI.4) and 445 typed strains were GII. GII strains clustered into nine genotypes including GII.4 2006b (69.2%), the only GII.4 variant identified in this study, followed by GII.3 (23.8%), GII.6 (3.6%), GII.12 (1.3%), GII.2 (0.9%), GII.13 (0.4%), GII.14 (0.2%), GII.7 (0.2%), and GII.16 (0.2%). A peak of NoV infections was observed during the cold season in Tianjin, while NoV activity was higher between late summer and autumn and lower during winter in Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Chongqing. NoV is a common causative agent of childhood diarrhea in China and the seasons of NoV‐associated diarrhea varies between regions. The results show that NoV GII.4 2006b was the predominant strain circulating in China between 2008 and 2009. J. Med. Virol. 84:145–151, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of ultraviolet light and ultrasound on microbial quality and aroma‐active components of milk
Authors: Engin Burcu , Karagul Yuceer Yonca 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND: Heat treatment is the most common way to extend the shelf life of milk. However, alternative technologies such as ultraviolet (UV) light and ultrasound (US), which are non‐thermal methods for processing milk, have been developed to replace heat treatment. These technologies do not have any adverse effects on the quality of milk. The major purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of UV and US on different micro‐organism groups and aroma compounds in milk.RESULTS: Heat pasteurisation at 65 °C for 30 min was used as thermal control treatment. The growth of total coliform group bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. was completely reduced by UV treatment. Application of US was not sufficient to reduce the numbers of yeasts and moulds. In neutral/basic fractions, 3‐methylthiophene (plastic), hexanal (grass) and 1‐hexen‐3‐one (floral) were major volatiles in milk samples.CONCLUSION: UV had a major effect on total coliforms, E. coli and Staphylococcus spp., but US was not as effective as UV and heat treatment in reducing certain groups of micro‐organisms. No major differences were observed in terms of aroma‐active compounds and flavour of milk following the different treatments. However, some new volatiles and change in rheological properties were generated by UV and US treatments. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Evaporation‐Driven Self‐Assembly of Colloidal Silica Dispersion: New Insights on Janus Particles
Authors: Isenbügel Kathrin , Gehrke Yvonne , Ritter Helmut 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe evaporation driven self‐assembly of novel colloidal silica Janus particles was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy in comparison to unfunctionalized silica particles. The cyclodextrin‐ and azobenzene‐modified compound was obtained utilizing Pickering emulsion approach, in which the particles were immobilized on solidified wax droplets and subsequently functionalized. Silica particles were modified with 3‐aminopropyl trimethoxysilane and afterward reacted with tosyl‐β‐CD or phenylazo(benzoic acid), respectively. Mesoscopic structures of the colloidal dispersions, as dried films from aqueous solution, have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Interestingly, it has been observed that the Janus particles show a significantly different evaporation‐induced assembly than the unmodified particles.
Molecular Dynamics Investigation of the Thermo‐Responsive Polymer Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)
Authors: Alaghemandi Mohammad , Spohr Eckhard 
Published: October 2011

AbstractUsing molecular dynamics simulations with an OPLS force field, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of single‐ and multiple‐chain PNIPAM solutions in water is investigated. The sample containing ten polymer chains shows a sudden drop in size and volume at 305 K. Such an effect is absent in the single‐chain system. Large fluctuations of the physical properties of a short single‐chain prevent any clear detection of the LCST for the chosen model system, at least on the time scale of 200 ns. The results provide evidence that a critical number of PNIPAM monomer units must be present in the simulated system before MD simulations are capable to detect conformational changes unambiguously.magnified image
Thoracoacromial vessels as recipients for head and neck reconstruction and cause of vascular complications
Authors: Onoda Satoshi , Sakuraba Minoru , Asano Takayuki , Miyamoto Shimpei , Hayashi Ryuichi , Asai Masao , Kimata Yoshihiro 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackground: The choice of recipient vessels is an important factor for successful head and neck reconstruction. Finding good recipient vessels for neck microsurgery can be difficult after patients have undergone radiation therapy, previous neck dissection or developed neck infections due to pharyngocutaneous fistulae. Thoracoacromial arteries and veins can be good alternatives to common recipient vessels in such patients. We reviewed the complications, advantages and disadvantages associated with using thoracoacromial arteries and veins as recipient vessels. Methods: We reviewed eight patients whose thoracoacromial arteries and veins served as recipient vessels for head and neck reconstruction between 2002 and 2009. Preoperative status, reconstruction method and operative outcomes with complications were evaluated. Results: Postoperative complications related to microsurgical anastomosis developed in two of the eight patients. One arterial and venous thrombosis developed in each patient. We considered that the arterial thrombosis was derived from a technical problem with the operation and the venous thrombosis was derived from postoperative external pressure. Conclusions: Thoracoacromial arteries and veins are good recipient vessels for patients who have undergone ablative or reconstructive surgery, radiation therapy, or have a neck infection due to complications. However, we believe that using these vessels as recipients requires specific precautions that differ from those associated with general head and neck reconstruction. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2011
A column generation approach for the split delivery vehicle routing problem
Authors: Archetti C. , Bianchessi N. , Speranza M. G. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractIn this article we present a branch‐and‐price‐and‐cut method for the solution of the split delivery vehicle routing problem (SDVRP). The SDVRP is the problem to serve customers with a fleet of capacitated vehicles at minimum traveling cost. With respect to the classical vehicle routing problem, where each customer is visited exactly once, in the SDVRP a customer may be visited any number of times. The exact method we propose is based on a decomposition of the problem where the possible routes, with the delivery quantities, are generated in the subproblem. The generated routes are also used to find a heuristic solution to the problem. We consider both the case where the fleet of vehicles is unlimited and the case where the fleet is limited to the minimum possible number of vehicles. We solve to optimality instances with larger size with respect to previous approaches, find new best solutions to several benchmark instances and reduce the optimality gap on most of the benchmark instances. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 58(4), 241–254 2011