bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relapsed/Refractory International Prognostic Index (R/R‐IPI): An international prognostic calculator for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Maurer Matthew J. , Jakobsen Lasse H. , Mwangi Raphael , Schmitz Norbert , Farooq Umar , Flowers Cristopher R. , de Nully Brown Peter , Thompson Carrie A. , Frederiksen Henrik , Cunningham David , Jørgensen Judit , Poeschel Viola , Nowakowski Grzegorz , Seymour John F. , Merli Francesco , Haioun Corinne , Ghesquieres Hervé , Ziepert Marita , Tilly Hervé , Salles Gilles , Shi Qian , El‐Galaly Tarec C. , Habermann Thomas M.
Published: March 2021

Disease progression after frontline therapy for Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a clinically significant event. Patients who experience early progression or have refractory disease have especially poor outcomes. Simple, clinically applicable prognostic tools are needed for selecting patients for consideration for novel therapies and prognostication in the relapsed/refractory (R/R) setting. Model building was performed in patients from the Surrogate endpoints in aggressive lymphoma (SEAL) consortium with disease progression after frontline immunochemotherapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) measured from date of progression. Validation was performed in the University of Iowa/Mayo Clinic SPORE Molecular Epidemiology Resource (MER) and Danish National Lymphoma Register (LYFO) cohorts. Model performance was assessed using time‐dependent concordance indices (c‐statistic) and calibration with metrics evaluated at 2 years from progression. Note, 1234 of 5112 patients treated with frontline immunochemotherapy in the SEAL consortium developed progressive disease. Time to progression on immunochemotherapy and age at progression were strongly associated with post‐progression OS (both p < 0.001). A prognostic model was developed incorporating spline fit for both variables. The model had good concordance in the discovery (0.67) and validation sets (LYFO c = 0.64, MER c = 0.68) with generally good calibration. Time to progression on frontline therapy is strongly associated with post‐progression OS in DLBCL. We developed and validated a simple to apply clinical prognostic tool in the R/R setting. The useful prediction of expected outcomes in R/R DLBCL and can inform treatment decisions such as considerations for CAR‐T therapy as well as trial designs. The model is available in smartphone‐based point of care applications.
Effects of scent enrichment on behavioral and physiological indicators of stress in zoo primates
Authors: Vaglio Stefano , Kaburu Stefano S. K. , Pearce Richard , Bryant Luke , McAuley Ailie , Lott Alexandria , Sheppard Demi J. , Smith Sarah , E. Tompkins Beth , J. Elwell Emily , Fontani Sara , H. Young Christopher , Marliani Giovanna , Accorsi Pier Attilio
Published: March 2021

Captive breeding is vital for primate conservation, with modern zoos serving a crucial role in breeding populations of threatened species and educating the general public. However, captive populations can experience welfare issues that may also undermine their reproductive success. To enhance the wellbeing of endangered zoo primates, we conducted a study to assess the effects of a new scent enrichment program on captive red‐ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra), black howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya), siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus), lar gibbons (Hylobates lar) and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus). We combined behavioral observations and fecal endocrinology analyses to evaluate the effects of a series of essential oils (benzoin, lavender, lemongrass) on five captive troops (N = 19) housed at Dudley Zoo & Castle and Twycross Zoo (UK). We recorded observations of natural species‐specific and abnormal stress‐related behaviors for 480 h using instantaneous scan sampling. We collected 189 fecal samples and measured the fecal cortisol concentrations using radioimmunoassay. We found a significant effect of the scent enrichment on behaviors, with red‐ruffed lemurs and black howler monkeys reducing their social interactions, as well as red‐ruffed lemurs and lar gibbons decreasing their stress‐related behaviors after they were exposed to the series of essential oils. We also found that red‐ruffed lemurs displayed a significant increase in fecal glucocorticoids following exposure to essential oils. Our contradictory findings suggest that the effects of this series of essential oils may change depending on the species‐specific social lives and olfactory repertoires of primates. In conclusion, we cannot recommend using these essential oils widely with zoo primates without additional evaluation.
Concomitant neurodegenerative pathologies contribute to the transition from mild cognitive impairment to dementia
Authors: McAleese Kirsty E. , Colloby Sean J. , Thomas Alan J. , Al‐Sarraj Safa , Ansorge Olaf , Neal James , Roncaroli Federico , Love Seth , Francis Paul T. , Attems Johannes
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The aged brain frequently exhibits multiple pathologies, rather than a single hallmark pathology (pure pathology [PurP]), ranging from low/intermediate levels of additional pathology (LowP) to mixed severe pathology (mixed SevP). We investigated the frequency of PurP, LowP, and mixed SevP, and the impact of additional LowP on cognition.

Methods

Data came from 670 cases from the Brains for Dementia research program. Cases were categorized into PurP, mixed SevP, or a main disease with additional LowP; 508 cases had a clinical dementia rating.

Results

69.9% of cases had LowP, 22.7% had PurP, and 7.5% had mixed SevP. Additional LowP increased the likelihood of having mild dementia versus mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by almost 20‐fold (odds ratio = 19.5).

Discussion

Most aged individuals have multiple brain pathologies. The presence of one additional LowP can significantly worsen cognitive decline, increasing the risk of transitioning from MCI to dementia 20‐fold. Multimorbidity should be considered in dementia research and clinical studies.
Total Synthesis of (+)‐Alsmaphorazine C and Formal Synthesis of (+)‐Strictamine: A Photo‐Fries Approach
Authors: Gao Beiling , Yao Fengjie , Zhang Zhaodong , Ding Hanfeng
Published: March 2021

A bioinspired photo‐Fries/imine capture cascade reaction was developed in continuous‐flow mode, which facilitated the rapid construction of a series of diversely functionalized 2,7‐heterocycle‐fused tetrahydrocarbazoles, the ubiquitous core structures embedded in strychnos and akuammiline‐type monoterpene indole alkaloids. The synthetic utility of this novel method has been preliminarily explored by the first total synthesis of (+)‐alsmaphorazine C and formal synthesis of (+)‐strictamine in a concise and efficient manner.
Catalytic Asymmetric Disulfuration by a Chiral Bulky Three‐Component Lewis Acid‐Base
Authors: Zhang Qi , Li Yao , Zhang Long , Luo Sanzhong
Published: March 2021

A three‐component Lewis acid–base (Lewis trio) involving a bulky chiral primary amine, B(C6F5)3 and a bulky tertiary amine has been developed as an effective enamine catalyst for enantioselective disulfuration reactions. The bulky tertiary amine was found to activate a bulky primary–tertiary diamine–borane Lewis pair for enamine catalysis via frustrated interaction. The resulted chiral bulky Lewis trio (BLT) allows for the construction of chiral disulfides via direct disulfuration with β‐ketocarbonyls or α‐branched aldehydes in a practical and highly stereocontrolled manner.
Green synthesis of biodegradable terpolymer modified starch nanocomposite with carbon nanoparticles for food packaging application
Authors: Iqbal Shahid , Nadeem Sohail , Bano Razia , Bahadur Ali , Ahmad Zahoor , Javed Mohsin , AL‐Anazy Murefah Mana , Qasier Asif Ali , Laref Amel , Shoaib Muhammad , Liu Guocong , Qayyum Muhammad Abdul
Published: March 2021

As to control the increased rate of environmental pollution there is an urgent need to develop improved biodegradable materials regarding the old polymeric packaging materials. It has been done by the incorporation of carbon nanomaterials to the biodegradable starch terpolymers of acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate (MMA), acrylonitrile (AN), 2‐Ethylhexyl acrylate (2‐EHA), and Ethyl acrylate (EA). The starch‐terpolymers were prepared through the free radical polymerization technique using AA, MMA, AN, 2‐EHA, EA as monomers. Two different starch‐terpolymers were further mixed with carbon nanoparticles (NPs) to form a biodegradable nanocomposite. The biodegradable starch‐grafted terpolymers‐carbon nanocomposites (STPC NCs) were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter, and UV–Visible spectrophotometry. Further, resistivity, electrical conductivity, and biodegradability tests were performed to check its properties for packing materials. The biodegradation of SGCP‐composites recorded using the soil burial method was up to 78%. Starch‐terpolymers were prepared via free‐radical polymerization The biodegradation capability of starch‐grafted terpolymers was found to be 78% The decrease in water vapor permeability and solubility proves their utilization as food packaging material
Effect of the spin‐line temperature profile on the mechanical properties of melt electrospun polyethylene fibers
Authors: Shabani Elnaz , Gorga Russell E.
Published: March 2021

The covid‐19 pandemic has revealed the need for alternative production approaches with low startup costs like electrospinning for filter needs, the most imperative element of the personal protective equipment (PPE). Current attempts in advancing melt electrospinning deal with developing strategies for fiber diameter attenuation toward sub‐micron scale. Here, the attunement in the spinning‐zone temperature known as ''spin‐line temperature profile'' was utilized as a baseline for fiber diameter reduction. The mechanical performance of the melt‐electrospun linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) fibers is reported to characterize their structural transformation with respect to various spin‐line temperature profiles. With an increase in the spin‐line temperature to above 100°C in the area of cone formation, an increased tensile and yield strength along with fiber diameter reduction by four‐folds was demonstrated. A significant increase in toughness, by almost three times, without compromising the stiffness and Young's modulus was observed. The dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that spinning in high temperatures produces changes in the alpha (α) relaxation, contributing to the significant increase in strain at break. These results are significant because polyolefin fibers are an imperative element of medical textiles and PPE. Therefore, developing a correlation for process‐structure‐properties for emerging production techniques like melt electrospinning becomes critical.
A stable biosensor for organophosphorus pesticide detection based on chitosan modified graphene
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Hu Huaying , Wang Pengchang , Zhang Chi , Wu Majiaqi , Yang Lianqiao
Published: March 2021

An acetylcholinesterase (AChE) biosensor was successfully fabricated with a stable structure and high detection accuracy. Graphene (Gra) nanofragments modified with chitosan (CS) and AChE were successively drip coated on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode via a layer‐by‐layer assembly method. The concentration range of the sensor to detect dichlorvos was 0.1–100,000 nM, and the limit of detection was 54 pM. CS was used to modify Gra for the first time, which enhanced the mechanical flexibility of these Gra nanostructures, significantly improving the stability and detection accuracy of this sensor.
Analytical determinations of luteolin
Authors: Tesio Alvaro Y. , Robledo Sebastian N.
Published: March 2021

Plants, through the photosynthesis process, produce the substances necessary for all the life cycles of nature, which are called "primary metabolites." Moreover, there are some plants that synthesize, in addition to these, other substances with more specific functions, which are known as "secondary metabolites." It is inside this group that flavonoids are located, whose main function is to protect organisms from damage caused by different oxidizing agents. Luteolin (3,4,5,7‐tetrahydroxy‐flavone) belongs to the sub‐class of flavonoids known as flavones and is one of 10,000 flavonoids currently known, being one of the most bio‐active flavonoids. Its various beneficial properties for health, together with the increasing reduction in the use of synthetic antioxidants, make the study of luteolin a very active field. Within this, the quantification of this molecule has become a subject of very special interest given that it is transversal to all fields. In this review article, we aim to give the reader a broad and deep vision of this topic, focusing on the events reported in the last 5 years and covering all possible techniques related to analytical determinations. We will discuss in terms of advantages and disadvantages between techniques, selectivity, sensitivity, costs, time consumption, and reagents as well as in the complexity of operations.
The association between environmental sustainable development and internalization of a quality standard
Authors: Tarí Juan José , Molina‐Azorín José F. , López‐Gamero María D. , Pereira‐Moliner Jorge
Published: March 2021

This work empirically examines the importance of the internalization of a quality standard for environmental sustainable development in Spanish hotels. It aims to examine the direct relationships between the internalization of a quality standard and environmental practices and performance and the mediating role of environmental practices on the relationship between the internalization of a quality standard and environmental performance. The work uses a sample of 176 hotels and applies the partial least squares (PLS) approach to test these relationships. The results show that (a) the internalization of a quality standard (through daily practices and continuous improvement) is positively related to environmental practices and performance and (b) environmental practices partially mediate the relationship between the internalization of a quality standard and environmental performance. The study extends the literature by explaining that the internalization of a quality standard strengthens environmental sustainable development.
An immune‐related seven‐lncRNA signature for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chen Yue , Luo Tian‐Qi , Xu Si‐Si , Chen Chun‐Yan , Sun Ying , Lin Li , Mao Yan‐Ping
Published: March 2021

In this study, we developed a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)‐based prognostic signature for stratification of patients with head a nd neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In total, 493 HNSCC samples obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database were divided into training and testing cohorts (3:2 ratio). We identified 3913 immune‐related lncRNAs in the HNSCC training cohort by Pearson correlation analysis; only seven were independently associated with overall survival and were used to develop an immune‐related lncRNA prognostic signature (IRLPS) grouping of HNSCC patients into high‐ and low‐IRLPS subgroups. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses revealed that low‐IRLPS patients had a better prognosis in all the cohorts, which was retained after stratification by sex, grade, and HPV status. Although the TNM stage was also an independent prognostic factor, the IRLPS had a better discriminability with higher AUC at the 3‐ and 5‐year follow‐ups in all cohorts. Low‐IRLPS samples had more immune cell infiltration and were enriched in immune‐related pathways, while high‐ IRLPS samples were enriched in metabolic pathways. A nomogram constructed including age, TNM stage, and IRLPS showed good calibration. Thus, IRLPS improves the prognostic prediction and also distinguishes different tumor microenvironment (TME) in HNSCC patients.
Recognizing encephalopathy in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single‐center experience
Authors: Wei Danmeng , Zhou Daniel J. , Datta Proleta , Taraschenko Olga
Published: March 2021

Background

In this pilot study, we examined the characteristics of patients with and without central nervous system (CNS) malignancies who developed immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)‐induced encephalopathy.

Methods

We identified adult patients treated with ICIs between 1 January 2013 and 9 May 2018 at our tertiary care center who developed encephalopathy within 30 days of the last dose of ICI without other explained causes. Demographic and clinical features were compared between patients with primary and metastatic malignant CNS tumors and those without.

Results

Of the 480 patients treated with ICIs, 14 (2.9%) developed encephalopathy induced by nivolumab (8), pembrolizumab (4), and combined ipilimumab‐nivolumab (2). Median age was 64.5 years. Patients with CNS malignancies tolerated more treatment cycles and developed encephalopathy later than patients without CNS lesions (20 and 32 days, respectively, p = 0.04) following ICI initiation. Four of seven patients with CNS tumors developed new contrast‐enhancing lesions on brain imaging despite having no changes on imaging for a median of 61 (30–545) days. Electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed features of generalized dysfunction in patients in both cohorts. Two patients without and three with CNS malignancies were treated with steroids. Two thirds of patients without and 29% of those with CNS malignancies expired during ICI therapy or shortly thereafter.

Conclusions

Lack of the uniform evaluation limits the definitive conclusion of the cause of encephalopathy in some patients but reflects the standard of care at the time of their assessment. ICI‐associated neurotoxicity presenting with encephalopathy is an ominous complication of ICI therapy, especially if left untreated. Prompt recognition and involvement of multidisciplinary care, including neurologists, would facilitate timely administration of recommended therapies.
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Allium ursinum: Impact of Temperature and Pressure on the Extracts Chemical Profile
Authors: Vidović Senka , Tomšik Alena , Vladić Jelena , Jokić Stela , Aladić Krunoslav , Pastor Kristian , Jerković Igor
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to extract Allium ursinum L. for the first time by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC−CO2) as green sustainable method. The impact of temperature in the range from 40 to 60 °C and pressure between 150 and 400 bar on the quality of the obtained extracts and efficiency of the extraction was investigated. The highest extraction yield (3.43 %) was achieved by applying the extraction conditions of 400 bar and 60 °C. The analysis of the extracts was performed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The most dominant sulfur‐containing constituent of the extracts was allyl methyl trisulfide with the highest abundance at 350 bar and 50 °C. In addition, the presence of other pharmacologically potent sulfur compounds was recorded including S‐methyl methanethiosulfinate, diallyl trisulfide, S‐methyl methylthiosulfonate, and dimethyl trisulfide. Multivariate data analysis tool was utilized to investigate distributions of the identified compounds among the extracts obtained under various extraction conditions and yields. It was determined that the SC−CO2 extraction can by efficiently used for A. ursinum.
Vibrio metschnikovii: Current state of knowledge and discussion of recently identified clinical case
Authors: Konechnyi Yulian , Khorkavyi Yurii , Ivanchuk Kateryna , Kobza Ihor , Sękowska Alicja , Korniychuk Olena
Published: March 2021

Vibrio metschnikovii is a widespread opportunistic pathogen that rarely causes disease in human. It caused graft infection in our case. It is important to differentiate it from another water‐transmitted pathogens.
3‐D X‐ray Nanotomography Reveals Different Carbon Deposition Mechanisms in a Single Catalyst Particle
Authors: Veselý Martin , Valadian Roozbeh , Lohse Leon Merten , Toepperwien Mareike , Spiers Kathryn , Garrevoet Jan , Vogt Eelco T. C. , Salditt Tim , Weckhuysen Bert M. , Meirer Florian
Published: March 2021

Catalyst deactivation involves a complex interplay of processes taking place at different length and time scales. Understanding this phenomenon is one of the grand challenges in solid catalyst characterization. A process contributing to deactivation is carbon deposition (i. e., coking), which reduces catalyst activity by limiting diffusion and blocking active sites. However, characterizing coke formation and its effects remains challenging as it involves both the organic and inorganic phase of the catalytic process and length scales from the atomic scale to the scale of the catalyst body. Here we present a combination of hard X‐ray imaging techniques able to visualize in 3‐D the distribution, effect and nature of carbon deposits in the macro‐pore space of an entire industrially used catalyst particle. Our findings provide direct evidence for coke promoting effects of metal poisons, pore clogging by coke, and a correlation between carbon nature and its location. These results provide a better understanding of the coking process, its relation to catalyst deactivation and new insights into the efficiency of the industrial scale process of fluid catalytic cracking.
Palliative care education and research at US cancer centers: A national survey
Authors: Hui David , De La Rosa Allison , Chen Joseph , Delgado Guay Marvin , Heung Yvonne , Dibaj Seyedeh , Liu Diane , Bruera Eduardo
Published: March 2021

Background

Palliative care (PC) education and research are essential to developing a skilled workforce and evidence base to support the delivery of quality cancer care. The current state of PC education and research at US cancer centers is unclear. In this national survey, the education and research programs of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)–designated and nondesignated cancer centers and the changes between 2009 and 2018 are compared.

Methods

Between April and August 2018, PC program leaders at all NCI‐designated cancer centers and a random sample of nondesignated centers were sent a survey to examine the structure, processes, and outcomes of their programs on the basis of questions from a 2009 national survey. This preplanned analysis focused on education and research.

Results

There were 52 of 61 (85%) NCI‐designated and 27 of 38 (71%) nondesignated cancer centers that responded. NCI‐designated centers were more likely than nondesignated centers to have a PC fellowship program (87% vs 30%; P < .001), training for advanced practice providers (71% vs 44%; P = .03), PC research program (58% vs 15%; P < .001), peer‐reviewed funding (43% vs 11%; P = .005), and philanthropic grants (41% vs 7%; P = .002). There were few significant improvements in PC education or research between 2009 and 2018 for both groups, notable exceptions include an increase in PC fellowships (38% vs 87%; P < .001) and mandatory PC rotations for medical oncology fellows (29% vs 55%; P = .02) at NCI‐designated cancer centers.

Conclusions

PC education and research are more developed at NCI‐designated cancer centers. Despite some progress over the past decade, it is relatively slow and suboptimal.
Cardio Phenotypic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Peterson Karen M. , Franchi Federico , Olthoff M. , Paulmurugan Ramasamy , Rodriguez‐Porcel Martin
Published: March 2021

Cell therapy is being investigated as a powerful intervention to ameliorate the consequences of coronary artery disease. Among the different stem cell options, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are particularly attractive due to their high availability, as well as immune‐privileged status. However, it is still unclear whether mesenchymal stem cells can acquire cardiomyogenic characteristics after they are transplanted to the myocardium. In this article, we outline protocols that illustrate the plasticity of MSCs and their ability to acquire cardiogenic characteristics when they are in an ischemic‐like environment, as typically encountered after transplantation into the ischemic heart. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

This article was corrected on 26 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol 1: Isolation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)

Support Protocol 1: Characterization of MSCs by flow cytometry

Basic Protocol 2: Isolation of neonatal cardiomyoctes (NCMs)

Support Protocol 2: Characterization of NCMs

Basic Protocol 3: Cardiogenic plasticity of MSCs under ischemic‐like conditions

Support Protocol 3: Characterization of the cardiomyogenic potential of MSCs
The 17‐year outcome of 62 adult patients with longstanding eating disorders—A prospective study
Authors: Eielsen Hanna Punsvik , Vrabel KariAnne , Hoffart Asle , Rø Øyvind , Rosenvinge Jan H.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Although studies with short and intermediate observation time suggest favorable outcomes in regard to eating disorders (ED), there is limited knowledge on long‐term outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the 5‐ and 17‐year outcome of adult patients with longstanding ED who were previously admitted to an inpatient ED unit. ED diagnoses and recovery, comorbid and general psychopathology, along with psychosocial functioning and quality of life were evaluated.

Method

Sixty‐two of the 80 living patients (78% response rate) with anorexia nervosa (n = 23), bulimia nervosa (n = 25), or other specified feeding or eating disorders (n = 14) at admission were evaluated. The mean age at the 17‐year follow‐up point was 46.2 (SD 7.5). The Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) was used to assess recovery. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) and self‐report instruments provided additional information.

Results

There was a significant reduction in patients fulfilling criteria for an ED from the 5‐year to the 17‐year follow‐up, meanwhile recovery rates were stable. A total of 29% of the patients were fully recovered and 21% were partially recovered while the remaining 50% had not recovered. No significant changes were found in any self‐report measures and more than 70% had a comorbid disorder at both assessments.

Discussion

The findings illustrate the protracted nature of ED for adults with longstanding ED. A long illness duration prior to treatment is unfortunate and early detection and treatment is advisable.
Structural, Magnetic, and Electrochemical Characterization of Iron(III) and Cobalt Complexes with Penta‐N3O2‐dentate Ligands
Authors: Natke Dominik , Preiss Annika , Klimke Stephen , Shiga Takuya , Boca Roman , Ohba Masaaki , Oshio Hiroki , Renz Franz
Published: March 2021

Six new mononuclear [FeIII(LBr,Cl)X]‐complexes (LBr,Cl is the dianionic penta‐N3O2‐dentate Schiff base ligand N,N′‐bis(2’‐hydroxy‐3‐bromo‐5‐chlorobenzylidene)‐1,6‐diamino‐3‐azahexane; X: Cl−, N3−, NCO−, NCS−, NCSe−, CN−) were synthesized and their structures, magnetic and electrochemical properties studied. Structure analysis and magnetic measurements showed that [FeIII(LBr,Cl)CN] is in the low spin state and the other five complexes are in high spin states. Furthermore, the trinuclear mixed valent cobalt complex {[CoIII(LH,H)CN]2[CoII(1‐methylimidazole)3(H2O)]} was prepared and its magnetic behavior studied.
DMAP Mediated Efficient Construction of Functionalized Chromenes through One‐Pot Reaction of para‐Quinone Methides with Allenoates
Authors: Song Zefeng , Jia Yuping , Zhang Daizhou , Wang De
Published: March 2021

A novel DMAP‐mediated Rauhut‐Currier/oxa‐Michael addition cascade reaction of hydroxylphenyl‐substituted para‐quinone methide with allenoate was reported for the first time. A series of functionalized chromenes were successfully obtained with moderate to good yields under this one‐pot cascade reaction. The chromene products could be easily transformed into different derivatives and a plausible mechanism was proposed to elucidate this novel reaction.
Estimation of the effective water diffusion coefficient in Nafion® membrane by water balance measurements
Authors: Chadha K. , Martemianov S. , Thomas A.
Published: March 2021

Parameters estimation is important in fuel cell modelling and it remains a challenging task to predict. One of the most discussed parameters is the water diffusion coefficient in Nafion® membrane, which has a huge variation (10−9 and 10−5 cm2 s−1), based upon the viewpoints of different authors. In this article, the estimation of the effective water diffusion coefficient through water balance method is presented and the effects of relative humidity gradient and cell temperature are explained. The membrane used in this work is Nafion® NRE 211 tested at a temperature of 60°C and 70°C with air flows. The value of water flux passing through the membrane is used to calculate the effective diffusion coefficient. A value in the range of 1 × 10−7 to 4 × 10−7 cm2 s−1 is reported and it shows that the water balance method can be applied easily to measure an effective membrane water diffusion coefficient.
Nanog is a promising chemoresistant stemness marker and therapeutic target by iron chelators for esophageal cancer
Authors: Narusaka Toru , Ohara Toshiaki , Noma Kazuhiro , Nishiwaki Noriyuki , Katsura Yuki , Kato Takuya , Sato Hiroaki , Tomono Yasuko , Kikuchi Satoru , Tazawa Hiroshi , Shirakawa Yasuhiro , Matsukawa Akihiro , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi
Published: March 2021

Esophageal cancer is a disease showing poor prognosis. Although combination chemotherapy using cisplatin (CDDP) and 5‐fluorouracil is standard for unresectable esophageal cancer, the response rate is 35%. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) and inflammation are reportedly responsible for the poor prognosis of esophageal cancer. However, comprehensive analyses have not been conducted and proposals for progress remain lacking. Iron is known to be a key factor in the stemness of CSCs. Our study focused on the therapeutic potential of iron control using iron chelators for CSCs in esophageal cancer. Among 134 immunohistochemically analyzed cases, Nanog expression was high in 98 cases and low in 36 cases. High Nanog expression correlated with low overall and disease‐free survivals. The iron chelators deferasirox (DFX) and SP10 suppressed the proliferation and expression of stemness markers in TE8 and OE33 cells. DFX and SP10 did not induce compensatory interleukin (IL)‐6 secretion, although CDDP did result in high induction. Moreover, BBI608 and SSZ, as other CSC‐targeting drugs, could not suppress the expression of stemness markers. Overall, Nanog expression appears related to poor prognosis in esophageal cancer patients, and inhibition of stemness and compensatory IL‐6 secretion by iron chelators may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for esophageal cancer.
Comparison of preoperative serum neopterin, periostin, indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase, YKL‐40, and tenascin‐C levels with current tumor markers for early‐stage endometrial cancer
Authors: Unuvar Songul , Melekoglu Rauf , Turkmen Nese B. , Yilmaz Ercan , Yasar Seyma , Yuce Hande
Published: March 2021

Objective

To compare the predictive value of serum levels of neopterin, periostin, YKL‐40, tenascin‐C (TNC), and indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) with current tumor markers for the primary diagnosis of early‐stage endometrial cancer.

Methods

A prospective cross‐sectional study was conducted between January 2020 and November 2020. A total of 59 patients (38 women newly diagnosed with early‐stage endometrial cancer [study group] and 21 women with benign endometrial pathologies [control group]) were enrolled. Blood samples were collected prior to surgery and underwent immunoassay analysis.

Results

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), periostin, and IDO levels were significantly higher in the study group than the control group (P = 0.008, P = 0.034, and P = 0.003, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that IDO, periostin, and CEA were good predictors of early‐stage endometrial cancer (AUC = 0.733, 95% CI, 0.602–0.840, P < 0.002; AUC = 0.668, 95% CI, 0.533–0.785, P = 0.018; and AUC = 0.709, 95% CI, 0.576–0.820, P = 0.002, respectively). Correlation analysis revealed no significant correlation of any biomarker with age or body mass index in either the control or study group.

Conclusion

Serum CEA, periostin, and IDO levels were significantly higher in women with endometrial cancer than in those without cancer. These results may help identify new markers for diagnosing endometrial cancer.
Skin lesion segmentation based on mask RCNN, Multi Atrous Full‐CNN, and a geodesic method
Authors: Bagheri Fatemeh , Tarokh Mohammad Jafar , Ziaratban Majid
Published: March 2021

Automatic accurate skin lesion segmentation systems are very helpful for timely diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers. Recently, methods based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) have presented powerful performances and good results in biomedical applications. In the proposed method, a novel structure based on Mask RCNN, a proposed CNN, and a geodesic segmentation method is presented to improve the performance of the skin lesion segmentation. Lesions are detected and segmented by the Mask R‐CNN in the first stage. A multi‐atrous full convolutional neural network (MAFCNN) is proposed to combine outputs of the Mask RCNN and the input image to present more accurate segmentation results. To modify boundary of the lesion segmented by the MAFCNN, a geodesic segmentation method is used. Some parts of the segmentation result of the proposed CNN are utilized as labeled pixels for the geodesic method. Results demonstrate that using the proposed MAFCNN in a novel structure followed by the geodesic method significantly improves the mean Jaccard value. Experiments on five well‐known skin image datasets show that the proposed method outperforms other state‐of‐the‐art methods.
New insights in chemical reactivity from quantum chemical topology
Authors: Klein Johanna , Fleurat‐Lessard Paul , Pilmé Julien
Published: March 2021

Based on the quantum chemical topology of the modified electron localization function ELFx, an efficient and robust mechanistic methodology designed to identify the favorable reaction pathway between two reactants is proposed. We first recall and reshape how the supermolecular interaction energy can be evaluated from only three distinct terms, namely the intermolecular coulomb energy, the intermolecular exchange‐correlation energy and the intramolecular energies of reactants. Thereafter, we show that the reactivity between the reactants is driven by the first‐order variation in the coulomb intermolecular energy defined in terms of the response to changes in the number of electrons. Illustrative examples with the formation of the dative bond B‐N involved in the BH3NH3 molecule and the typical formation of the hydrogen bond in the canonical water dimer are presented. For these selected systems, our approach unveils a noticeable mimicking of Edual onto the DFT intermolecular interaction energy surface calculated between the both reactants. An automated reaction‐path algorithm aimed to determine the most favorable relative orientations when the two molecules approach each other is also outlined.
Small extracellular vesicles ameliorate peripheral neuropathy and enhance chemotherapy of oxaliplatin on ovarian cancer
Authors: Zhang Yi , Li Chao , Qin Yi , Cepparulo Pasquale , Millman Michael , Chopp Michael , Kemper Amy , Szalad Alexandra , Lu Xuerong , Wang Lei , Zhang Zheng Gang
Published: March 2021

There are no effective treatments for chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) facilitate intercellular communication and mediate nerve function and tumour progression. We found that the treatment of mice bearing ovarian tumour with sEVs derived from cerebral endothelial cells (CEC‐sEVs) in combination with a chemo‐drug, oxaliplatin, robustly reduced oxaliplatin‐induced CIPN by decreasing oxaliplatin‐damaged myelination and nerve fibres of the sciatic nerve and significantly amplified chemotherapy of oxaliplatin by reducing tumour size. The combination therapy substantially increased a set of sEV cargo‐enriched miRNAs, but significantly reduced oxaliplatin‐increased proteins in the sciatic nerve and tumour tissues. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the altered miRNAs and proteins formed two distinct networks that regulate neuropathy and tumour growth, respectively. Intravenously administered CEC‐sEVs were internalized by axons of the sciatic nerve and cancer cells. Reduction of CEC‐sEV cargo miRNAs abolished the effects of CEC‐sEVs on oxaliplatin‐inhibited axonal growth and on amplification of the anti‐cancer effect in ovarian cancer cells, suggesting that alterations in the networks of miRNAs and proteins in recipient cells contribute to the therapeutic effect of CEC‐sEVs on CIPN. Together, the present study demonstrates that CEC‐sEVs suppressed CIPN and enhanced chemotherapy of oxaliplatin in the mouse bearing ovarian tumour.
The novel interaction mode among centromere sub‐complex CENP‐O/P/U/Q/R
Authors: Cao Beibei , Zhao Congcong , Zhang Yu , Wang Xiaoyu , Ye Jingjing , Hu Liqiao , He Xiaojing
Published: March 2021

The kinetochore is essential for the accurate segregation of sister chromosome in the eukaryote cell. Among the kinetochore subunits, five proteins CENP‐O/P/U/Q/R form a stable complex, referred to as CENP‐O class, and are required for proper kinetochore function. Although the function and structure of yeast COMA complex (CENP‐O/P/U/Q homologs) have been revealed extensively, the assembly mechanism and detail interactions among human CENP‐O class are significantly different and remain largely unclear. Here, we identified the fragment (residues 241‐360) of CENP‐U and the C‐terminal half of CENP‐Q are essential to form a hetero‐complex and interact with CENP‐O/P sub‐complex in vitro. We for the first time showed that CENP‐R does not directly interact with CENP‐O/P in vitro, but indeed interact with CENP‐U and CENP‐Q. Furthermore, both the N‐ and C‐terminus of CENP‐R are required for the interaction with CENP‐U and CENP‐Q. Our research pinpointed a novel interaction pattern that might shed light on the assembly mechanism of vertebrate CENP‐O class.
Extreme freezing in the Sonoran Desert, Mexico: Intense and short‐duration events
Authors: Cortés‐Ramos Jorge , Farfán Luis M. , Brito‐Castillo Luis
Published: March 2021

Freezing temperatures are responsible for population and ecosystem damage, and their spatial extent, frequency, and duration may change in a warming world. Few studies are available concerning the analysis of extreme freezing in Mexico, and none have evaluated the probability of occurrence. This study identified the characteristics of past and recent events by applying the statistical crossing theory method to calculate the cumulative density function (CDF) of the minimum temperature (Tmin) values throughout the Sonoran Desert, including the Baja California Peninsula. Based on observations, spatial and temporal freezing evolution has been described during the period from 1970 to 2010, for which Tmin is less than 0°C and less than the fifth percentile of the monthly Tmin. Since 1970, a quasi‐homogeneous decrease has been observed in the number of freezing days. Extreme freezing was less frequent and severe during the early 1990s, which continued during the early 21st century when intense and persistent short events exhibited return periods above 20 years. After the 1990s, longer recurrence intervals for extreme Tmin, which overlapped with the increase in Tmin, implied a change in stationarity. This study found that cold‐season warming lead to less‐frequent severe freezing and a probability of change. These results represent a quantitative benchmark for current and upcoming validations of climate change scenarios.
Enhancing Oil Recovery by Low Concentration of Alkylaryl Sulfonate Surfactant without Ultralow Interfacial Tension
Authors: Zhan Fuxing , Gong Lingyan , Luan Huoxin , Chen Quansheng , Liao Guangzhi , Feng Yujun
Published: March 2021

Surfactant flooding plays a critical role in chemically enhanced oil recovery over the last half century, with the widely accepted mechanism of ultralow interfacial tension (IFT) by forming middle‐phase microemulsions with high concentration of a lead surfactant and a cosurfactant. However, it is found practically from field trials that high oil recovery efficiency can be obtained from low concentration surfactant flooding without forming microemulsions, and the principle behind has not been clearly unraveled yet. Here the solubilization of paraffin oil by the micelles formed with a commercial enhanced oil recovery surfactant, raw naphthenic arylsulfonates (NAS), was investigated using ultraviolet‐visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is found that paraffin oil can be well solubilized inside the NAS micelles, and mainly localized in the hydrophobic core of the micelles. The solubilization capacity of NAS micelles increases with increasing its concentration, and the size of micelles increases, but morphology of the micelles remains spherical with increasing the amount of paraffin oil, along with an appearance transition from transparent to opaque until the maximum solubilization capacity is reached. Core flooding results with crude oil indicate that in the presence of 0.24 wt.% polymer, addition of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 wt.% NAS can get oil recovery factor of 24.1%, 27.0%, 30.5%, and 38.3%, which increases linearly with increasing NAS concentration though with the interfacial tension values only in the magnitude of 10−2 mN m−1 level. These findings prove preliminarily micellar solubilization can help increasing oil recovery efficiency even without ultralow IFT.
A new method of extracting polyphenols from honey using a biosorbent compared to the commercial resin amberlite XAD2
Authors: Neggad Abdelhamid , Benkaci‐Ali Farid , Laurent Sophie , Ayata Gamze
Published: March 2021

A new extraction method of polyphenols from honey using a biodegradable resin was developed and compared with the common commercial resin amberlite XAD2. For this purpose, three honey samples of Algerian origin were selected for the different physicochemical and biochemical parameters study. After extraction of the target compounds by both resins, the polyphenol content was determined, the antioxidant activity was tested, and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses were performed for identification and quantification. The results showed that physicochemical and biochemical parameters meet the norms of the International Honey Commission, and the H1 sample seemed to be of high quality. The optimal conditions of extraction by biodegradable resin were a pH of 3, an adsorption dose of 40 g/L, a contact time of 50 min, an extraction temperature of 60°C, and no stirring. The regeneration and reuse number of both resins was three cycles. The polyphenol contents demonstrated a higher extraction efficiency of biosorbent than of XAD2, especially in H1. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses allowed for the identification and quantification of 15 compounds in the different honey samples extracted using both resins and the most abundant compound was 3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzoic acid. In addition, the biosorbent extracts showed stronger antioxidant activities than the XAD2 extracts.
Application of rice straw and horse manure coameliorated soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community: Impacts on structure and diversity in a degraded field in Eastern China
Authors: Liu Zihao , Bai Jianfeng , Qin Hua , Sun Dongnian , Li Minghui , Hu Junli , Lin Xiangui
Published: March 2021

Organic amendments are powerful tools for mitigating land degradation, improving soil fertility and biodiversity. Nevertheless, changes in the diversity and activity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi during the initial period of soil restoration under different organic amendments (e.g., crop residues and livestock manure) remains poorly understood despite their growing roles in improving soil sustainability. We conducted a six‐month experiment with the application of rice straw (RS), horse manure (HM), and both amendments (RH) to an artificially degraded field in Eastern China, and the AM fungal community structure was assessed through Illumina sequencing. The dominance (35.2%) of the identified operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonged toGlomus, whereas the majority (66.0%) of the recovered sequence reads belonged toParaglomus. Although no notable changes in AM fungal abundance were observed, the relative abundance ofClaroideoglomussignificantly increased (p < .05) to 4.3% in the HM‐treated soil compared with that in the control (0.1%), andAcaulosporawas only detected in the three treated soils. In addition to shaping AM fungal communities, the RH appeared to be the strongest treatment for increasing AM fungal diversity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and glomalin‐related soil protein (GRSP) concentrations, and these parameters were positively correlated (p < .05) with edaphic factors, notably the organic carbon concentration. Furthermore, GRSP could be used as an ecological indicator of AM fungal functioning. This study highlights that the combined application of crop residues and livestock manure could have synergistic effects that help to ameliorate the community structure and diversity of AM fungi in degraded fields.
A potent neutralizing nanobody against SARS‐CoV‐2 with inhaled delivery potential
Authors: Gai Junwei , Ma Linlin , Li Guanghui , Zhu Min , Qiao Peng , Li Xiaofei , Zhang Haiwei , Zhang Yanmin , Chen Yadong , Ji Weiwei , Zhang Hao , Cao Huanhuan , Li Xionghui , Gong Rui , Wan Yakun
Published: March 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has become a serious burden on global public health. Although therapeutic drugs against COVID‐19 have been used in many countries, their efficacy is still limited. We here reported nanobody (Nb) phage display libraries derived from four camels immunized with the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike receptor‐binding domain (RBD), from which 381 Nbs were identified to recognize SARS‐CoV‐2‐RBD. Furthermore, seven Nbs were shown to block interaction of human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) with SARS‐CoV‐2‐RBD variants and two Nbs blocked the interaction of human ACE2 with bat‐SL‐CoV‐WIV1‐RBD and SARS‐CoV‐1‐RBD. Among these candidates, Nb11‐59 exhibited the highest activity against authentic SARS‐CoV‐2 with 50% neutralizing dose (ND50) of 0.55 μg/ml. Nb11‐59 can be produced on large scale in Pichia pastoris, with 20 g/L titer and 99.36% purity. It also showed good stability profile, and nebulization did not impact its stability. Overall, Nb11‐59 might be a promising prophylactic and therapeutic molecule against COVID‐19, especially through inhalation delivery.
Photonic crystal bandpass filter exploiting the degenerate modes tunable with MEMS actuator for terahertz application
Authors: Karakilinc Ozgur Onder , Tez Serdar , Kaya Mehmet
Published: March 2021

In this study, the bandpass filter characteristics in standing wave resonator formed in a two‐dimensional (2D) photonic crystal (PC) is integrated with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator to tune degenerate mode split. A single and sequentially connected indirect coupling structure consisting of waveguide as well as cavity is placed to the 2D PC. It has been shown that the modes of the bands can be split by structural deformation of the PC via MEMS actuator. The modes frequencies can be changed with the bias voltage applied to MEMS structure, which allows to tune about 1 THz (λ = 35 nm). The designed PC and MEMS structures are analyzed with simulation programs using finite difference time domain method and finite element method, respectively. The proposed PC structures can be effectively used in new generation all optical THz communication applications.