bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FRET‐Based Direct and Continuous Monitoring of Human Fucosyltransferases Activity: An Efficient synthesis of Versatile GDP‐L‐Fucose Derivatives from Abundant d‐Galactose
Authors: Maeda Takahiro , Nishimura Shin‐Ichiro 
Published: October 2007

AbstractWe have developed a facile and versatile protocol for the continuous monitoring of human fucosyltransferases activity by using fluorescence energy resonance transfer (FRET), and have explored the feasibility of its use in an inhibitor screening assay. A convenient sugar nucleotide with a fluorogenic probe, 6‐deoxy‐6‐N‐(2‐naphalene‐2‐yl‐acetamide)‐β‐L‐galactopyranos‐1‐yl‐guanosine 5′‐diphosphate disodium salt (1), was efficiently synthesized from naturally abundant D‐galactopyranose via a key intermediate, 6‐azide‐1,2,3,4‐tetra‐O‐benzoyl‐6‐deoxy‐β‐L‐galactopyranose (10). It was demonstrated that the combined use of the glycosyl donor 1 and a dansylated acceptor substrate, sialyl‐α2,3‐LacNAc derivative (2) allowed us to carry out highly sensitive, direct, and continuous in vitro monitoring of the generation of sialyl Lewis X (SLex), which is catalyzed by human α‐1,3‐fucosyltransferase VI (FUT‐VI). A kinetic analysis revealed that compound 1 was an excellent donor substrate (KM=0.94 μM and Vmax=0.14 μM min−1) for detecting human FUT‐VI activity. To the best of our knowledge, this synthetic fluorogenic probe is the most sensitive and selective donor substrate for FUT‐VI among all of the known GDP‐Fuc analogues, including the parent GDP‐Fuc. When a dansylated asparagine‐linked glycopeptide 20, which is derived from egg yolk was employed as an alternate acceptor substrate, a FRET‐based assay with compound 1 could be used to directly monitor the α1,6‐fucosylation at the reducing terminal GlcNAc residue by human FUT‐VIII (KM=175 μM and Vmax=0.06 μM/ min); this indicates that the present method might become a general protocol for the characterization of various mammalian fucosyltransferases in the presence of designated fluorogenic acceptor substrates. The present protocol revealed that compound 23, which was obtained by a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition between the disodium salt 16 and 1‐ethynyl‐naphthalene exhibits highly potent inhibitory effects against the FUT‐VI‐mediated sialyl Lewis X synthesis (IC50=5.4 μM).
Evaluation of interferon alpha‐2B and thalidomide in patients with disseminated malignant melanoma, phase 2, SWOG 0026
Authors: Hutchins Laura F. , Moon James , Clark Joseph I. , Thompson John A. , Lange Marianne K. , Flaherty Lawrence E. , Sondak Vernon K. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND.Southwest Oncology Group protocol 0026 evaluated interferon alpha‐2b plus thalidomide in patients with disseminated melanoma. Endpoints were 6‐month progression‐free survival rate, response rate, and toxicity.METHODS.Twenty‐six patients with Stage IV melanoma, measurable or nonmeasurable disease, performance status of 0–2, and adequate renal and hepatic functions were registered. One prior systemic therapy for Stage IV disease was required. Interferon was administered subcutaneously (1 million U) twice daily; thalidomide was orally administered (200–400 mg) each evening in a dose‐escalating manner. Response evaluations using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors were performed every 8 weeks.RESULTS.After 2 sudden deaths and 1 grade 4 treatment‐related pulmonary embolism, this study was temporarily closed. One patient with deep‐vein thrombosis and 2 with grade 3 cardiac arrhythmias were reported. The relationship of these events to the treatment was worrisome but not definitive. Grade 3 treatment‐related adverse events occurred in 14 of 26 patients. Because of concern for patient safety the study was permanently closed. No treatment responses were seen in the 22 evaluable patients. Estimated 6‐month progression‐free survival rate was 15% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2%–29%), estimated 6‐month overall survival was 58% (95% CI, 39%–77%), and estimated response probability was 0 of 22 (95% CI, 0%–15%).CONCLUSIONS.This regimen demonstrated a lack of response and was associated with multiple severe toxicities. Further investigation of interferon alpha‐2b and thalidomide in this dose and schedule is not warranted. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
A highly sensitive particle agglutination assay for the detection of P53 autoantibodies in patients with lung cancer
Authors: Agaylan Ashraf , Binder Daniel , Sauer Markus , Neuweiler Hannes , Meyer Oliver , Kiesewetter Holger , Salama Abdulgabar 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND.Numerous assays have been described for the detection of p53 autoantibodies. These assays are highly specific with low sensitivity. In this report, the authors describe a highly sensitive and simple particle agglutination immunoassay using superparamagnetic particles for capturing p5 autoantibodies, p53 protein, and p53 protein‐antibody complexes from large volumes of serum samples (2 mL).METHODS.Superparamagnetic particles were coated with different peptides spanning the entire p53 protein. These particles were incubated with serum samples from healthy blood donors (n = 180), from patients without malignancies (n = 27), and from patients with various forms of lung cancer (n = 166). The particles were washed and placed into the reaction chamber of a gel card. After centrifugation, agglutination results were read visually. Positive reactions were defined by a layer of particles on top of the gel or agglutinated particles dispersed through the gel matrix.RESULTS.Depending on the peptide used, p53 autoantibodies were detected in from 17.5% to 35% of the investigated patients with lung cancer. By using a commercially available enzyme‐linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) kit, p53 autoantibodies were detected in only 3% of those patients. P53 protein and p53 protein‐antibody complexes were not detected in patients with lung cancer (n = 20).CONCLUSIONS.The newly developed assay was easy to perform and had sensitivity superior to that of the currently available p53 ELISAs. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Emerging issues in smoking among adolescent and adult cancer survivors
Authors: Klosky James L. , Tyc Vida L. , Garces‐Webb Danette M. , Buscemi Joanna , Klesges Robert C. , Hudson Melissa M. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe number of cancer survivors is significantly increasing, thereby prioritizing the importance of identifying and preventing adverse health outcomes within this high‐risk population. Cigarette smoking is of particular salience as it places both adolescents and adults with a cancer history at risk for various health problems, including second malignancies. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the smoking literature as it relates to adolescents and adults on‐treatment and surviving cancer. In particular, the article reviews the prevalence, risk factors, and health outcomes associated with smoking, in addition to the prevention and smoking cessation interventions available to adolescent and adult oncology patients. Furthermore, efficacious cessation strategies have recently emerged from the smoking literature in healthy populations, and their application to oncology populations is discussed. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Predictors of survival from urachal cancer
Authors: Molina Julian R. , Quevedo J. Fernando , Furth Alfred F. , Richardson Ronald L. , Zincke Horst , Burch Patrick A. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND.Outcome results of a long‐term analysis of urachal cancer using a new staging system are presented.METHODS.The authors analyzed clinical outcomes from 49 patients with the diagnosis of urachal cancer who were seen at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota from 1950 to 2003. The TNM staging system was used to predict outcome after surgical resection.RESULTS.Among 49 study patients, 33 were men, 16 were women, and their median age at presentation was 57.5 years. The vast majority of tumors were adenocarcinomas (89%), 4% were sarcomas and transitional cell carcinomas, and the rest were high‐grade mixed neoplasms. Among the adenocarcinomas, 63.6% were mucin‐producing tumors. Partial cystectomy with or without pelvic lymph node dissection and removal of the urachus was performed in 41 (83%) cases. Overall survival for all stages was 62 months with 17 (34%) patients still alive more than 5 years after treatment. Applying the TNM staging system, the authors demonstrated a median survival time for stage I/II patients of 10.8 years (95% CI, 6.9 years to 12.0 years) compared with a median survival of 1.3 years (95% CI, 1.1 years to 1.9 years; log‐rank P<.0001) for patients with advanced disease (stages III and IV).CONCLUSIONS.Stage at presentation by the TNM staging system proved to be the main predictor of outcome after surgery for urachal cancer. Better systemic modality treatments are needed for advanced stages of this disease. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Quantitative assessment of the impact of chemotherapy on ovarian follicle reserve and stromal function
Authors: Oktem Ozgur , Oktay Kutluk 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND.Various chemotherapy agents, especially of the alkylating category, have been associated with premature ovarian failure but there is no quantitative evidence of chemotherapy‐induced ovarian damage in humans. The aim was to quantify the impact of chemotherapy on primordial follicle reserve and stromal function in human ovary with a prospective controlled quantitative histologic and in vitro study.METHODS.Samples from 26 patients who were undergoing ovarian tissue cryopreservation for fertility preservation were assessed histologically and for in vitro estradiol production. Of the 26 patients, 10 had previously received chemotherapy whereas 16 had not (control). There were 17 age‐matched patients. Primordial follicle counts and in vitro estrogen production were compared between age‐matched control and chemotherapy patients as well as between those who did and did not receive alkylating agents.RESULTS.Patients who received chemotherapy had significantly lower primordial follicle counts than control patients (5.4 ± 1.32 vs 9.6 ± 2.2, P = .05). Furthermore patients treated with alkylating regimens had significantly lower primordial follicle counts compared with those who received nonalkylating agents (2.9 ± 1.1 vs 7.9 ± 1.6, P < .05) and with those who did not receive any chemotherapy (2.9 ± 1.1 vs 9.6 ± 2.2, P < .05). In vitro, ovarian cortical pieces from individuals who were previously exposed to chemotherapy (chemotherapy group) produced significantly less estradiol compared with those who were not (control group). In the chemotherapy group, there was no difference in in vitro estradiol production between those who received alkylating agents and those who did not.CONCLUSIONS.This is the first quantitative evidence of the impact of chemotherapy on ovarian infrastructure, and shows that, whereas alkylating agents can significantly reduce ovarian reserve, both alkylating and nonalkylating regimens may affect ovarian stromal function. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
A phase II study of the farnesyl transferase inhibitor, tipifarnib, in children with recurrent or progressive high‐grade glioma, medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor, or brainstem glioma: A children's oncology group study
Authors: Fouladi Maryam , Nicholson H. Stacy , Zhou Tianni , Laningham Fred , Helton Kathleen J. , Holmes Emi , Cohen Kenneth , Speights Rose Anne , Wright John , Pollack Ian F. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND.An open‐label Phase II study of tipifarnib was conducted to evaluate its safety and efficacy in children with recurrent or refractory medulloblastoma (MB)/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), high‐grade glioma (HGG), and diffuse intrinsic brainstem glioma (BSG).METHODS.Between January 2004 and July 2005, patients were enrolled and stratified as follows: Stratum 1, recurrent or refractory MB/PNET; Stratum 2, recurrent or refractory HGG; and Stratum 3, recurrent or refractory BSG. Patients received tipifarnib 200 mg/m2 per dose twice daily for 21 days repeated every 28 days. Patients who received enzyme‐inducing anticonvulsants and other CYP3A4/5 inducers or inhibitors were excluded. The primary objective was to estimate the sustained response rate in all strata.RESULTS.Ninety‐seven patients with a median age of 11.2 years (range, 3.2–21.9 years) were enrolled on the study, and 81 patients were evaluable for response. One of 35 patients with BSG and 1 of 31 patients with HGG had a sustained partial response. No responses were observed in 15 patients with MB/PNET. Eight patients (3 HGG, 1 MB, and 4 BSG) remained stable for ≥4 courses (range, 4–25 courses). The median number of courses received was 2 (range, 1–25 courses). The most frequent grade 3 and 4 toxicities included neutropenia (18.7%), thrombocytopenia (14.3%), and leukopenia (14.3%). The 6‐month progression‐free survival rate (±standard deviation) was 14% ± 6% for HGG, 6% ± 6% for MB/PNET and 3% ± 3% for BSG.CONCLUSIONS.Tipifarnib tolerated well but had little activity as a single agent in children with recurrent central nervous system malignancies. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
A phase 1 study of fixed dose rate gemcitabine and irinotecan in patients with advanced pancreatic and biliary cancer
Authors: Sun Weijing , Hewitt Maureen R. , Theobald Marry R. , Hershock Diane , Haller Daniel G. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND.The combination of a fixed dose rate (FDR) infusion of gemcitabine and irinotecan may have a synergistic effect in the treatment of patients with advanced and metastatic pancreatic and biliary cancer. The current study was conducted to determine the dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT) and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the combination.METHODS.There were 32 patients with metastatic pancreatic and advanced unresectable/metastatic biliary adenocarcinoma who were entered into this open‐label, phase 1 dose escalation trial. Gemcitabine was administered at an FDR of 10 mg/m2/minute intravenously (iv). Irinotecan was administered iv over 60 minutes after gemcitabine. Both gemcitabine and irinotecan were given on Days 1 and 8 of a 21‐day cycle.RESULTS.The MTD of the combination was gemcitabine at an FDR of 1200 mg/m2 and irinotecan at a dose of 100 mg/m2. The DLTs were neutropenia and neutropenic fever. Other DLTs included diarrhea, dehydration, and fatigue. Two patients developed deep venous thrombosis during the treatment. The efficacy of the combination was encouraging, even at the lower dose levels. Of 30 assessable patients, there was 1 complete response, 6 partial responses, and 16 patients with stable disease, with a response rate of 23%, a disease control rate of 76%, a median progression‐free survival of 4.7 months, and a median overall survival of 7.0 months. The average number of treatment cycles received was 11.CONCLUSIONS.The recommended doses of the combination for future study are gemcitabine at an FDR of 1200mg/m2 and irinotecan at a dose of 100 mg/m2. The efficacy of the combination is encouraging. Further assessment of the combination with or without biologic agents is suggested. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Efficient global checkpointing algorithms for mobile agents
Authors: Yang Jin , Cao Jiannong , Wu Weigang 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAs a widely used fault‐tolerance technique, checkpointing can be divided into three categories: independent checkpointing, coordinated checkpointing, and communication‐induced checkpointing (CIC). Independent checkpointing and coordinated checkpointing have been widely used in the design of fault‐tolerant mobile agent systems, but CIC has not attracted much attention. CIC is flexible, efficient, and scalable, which is desirable for mobile agent (MA) systems. Furthermore, CIC can be well integrated with independent checkpointing for reliable MA migrations. In this paper, we propose two CIC‐based checkpointing algorithms for MA systems. The Basic‐CIC algorithm is developed by applying the classic CIC technique to MA systems, while the deferred message processing‐based CIC (DM‐CIC) improves the time efficiency by deciding when to make the forced checkpointing. Simulation results show that DM‐CIC is stable and can help the system recover fast from failures. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Banana‐Shaped Molecules Peculiarly Oriented in a Magnetic Field:2H NMR Spectroscopy and Quantum Mechanical Calculations
Authors: Domenici Valentina , Veracini Carlo Alberto , Fodor‐Csorba Katalin , Prampolini Giacomo , Cacelli Ivo , Lebar Andrjia , Zalar Boštjan 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe orientational properties of the banana‐shaped liquid crystal 4‐chloro‐1,3‐phenylenebis{4‐[4′‐(10‐undecenyloxy)]benzoyloxy} benzoate (ClPbis11BB) are reported in the nematic phase under the effect of an external magnetic field. A new hypothesis, which states that the central ring of the aromatic core is oriented perpendicularly to the external magnetic field, is proposed. In support of this hypothesis, a series of studies based on2H NMR spectroscopy, both in the bulk and in solution, are discussed.2H NMR measurements on three selectively deuterium‐labelled isotopomers are presented, together with DFT results from B3LYP/cc‐pvDz calculations performed on the aromatic core. The rather flat shape of the investigated intramolecular energy surface allows for several different conformations to be populated, the computed magnetic susceptibilities of which are consistent with the proposed hypothesis of peculiar orientation of banana‐shaped molecules. Moreover, the orientation of the magnetic susceptibility tensor is shown to be strongly dependent on the internal conformation of the banana‐shaped molecules.
Analysis, modeling, emergence & integration in complex systems: A modeling and integration framework & system biology
Authors: Wheeler Thomas J. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAnalysis and Modeling is the first “phase” of understanding or developing a system. It is also, maybe more importantly, the foundation of understanding a natural science or system. It's abstract and conceptually difficult but, being foundational, contributes the most to the quality of understanding of (designed or natural) systems. Complex Systems have a natural hierarchy of levels and multiple subsystems. The character and functionality of each level or subsystem “emerges” across its boundaries. Both sides of these boundaries must be understood within that side's natural thought patterns. Integrated interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for making sense of complex systems; but collaboration among disciplines is difficult, because of their different ways of thinking. This creates a dilemma, “understanding complex systems” is one horn; “integrated interdisciplinary collaboration” is the other. This dilemma in complex system analysis/modeling and interdiscipline collaboration, is currently addressed by “grabbing the bull by the horns.” This takes on this doubly complex problem, by painstakingly building up abstract “bull wrestling” skills in and across domains and disciplines. There's another wrinkle; complexity requires interdisciplinary collaboration at deeper, more dissimilar, levels. The usual approach, finding a way to “pass between the horns of the dilemma” will not work here, due to this cross coupling. Rather than trying to pass between the horns, by abstracting away the coupling, we overtly organizing this coupling. We weave a semantic unification space of conceptual connections linking each side of a boundary to its appropriate way of thinking. This allows us to abstracting away the dilemma and iron out the wrinkle. The threads of common image schemas, cognitive metaphors and conceptual interfaces, weave a bridge between the semantics foundations and organizations of each problem. These allow addressing the problems synergistically. This paper presents and explores a naturally valid way for discipline specific and discipline integrating addressing complex systems. We start with the methodological insights from analysis and modeling from the perspective of object orientation, with its ontologies, organizing lexical semantics. We advance from there by integrating in imagistic, imaginative semantics and affordance based interaction methodology, as the keys to addressing complex systems analysis, modeling and integration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2007
Effects of the input filter on the stability of a voltage‐mode controlled buck converter
Authors: Li Ming , Dai Dong , Ma Xikui 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis letter presents a favorable effect of the input filter on the stability of a filter‐converter system, which employs a cascade configuration of a voltage‐mode controlled buck converter and a third‐order input filter. Such an effect can enlarge the stable region of the stand‐alone buck converter when appropriately selecting the damping resistor of the input filter. Effectively, the frequency‐domain model based on the extra element theory is used to analyze and illustrate the input filter interaction regarding this favorable effect. Our work provides a supplementary view for engineers to deal with input filter interaction. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transient analysis of multi‐state dc–dc converters using system energy characteristics
Authors: Zhu Miao , Luo Fang Lin 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe study of multi‐state dc–dc power conversion techniques is restricted by the complicated inner switching behaviors. This paper presents a general and unified transient analysis for various sorts of multi‐state dc–dc converters from a viewpoint of their system energy characteristics. With the applications to the boost converters, the proposed analytical method has indicated its advantages of high convenience and practicability to the multi‐state converters. The generalized concepts of system energy parameters of dc–dc converters are introduced and applied to the transient analysis. Consequently, the expressions of system model parameters of multi‐state dc–dc converters are deduced. The new 2nd order transfer functions are obtained to describe the large‐ and small‐signal mathematical models accurately. The model simulation and experimental results are provided to support the theoretical analysis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bidirectional power flow control of a power converter using passive Hamiltonian techniques
Authors: Batlle Carles , Dòria‐Cerezo Arnau , Fossas Enric 
Published: October 2007

AbstractA controller able to achieve bidirectional power flow for a boost‐like full‐bridge rectifier is presented. It is shown that no single output yields a stable zero dynamics for power flowing both ways. The controller is computed using port Hamiltonian passivity techniques for a suitable generalized state space averaging truncation of the system, which transforms the control objectives, namely specified output mean value of the voltage dc‐bus and unity input power factor in the ac side, into a regulation problem. Simulation and experimental results for the full system confirm the correctness of the simplifications introduced to obtain the controller. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.