bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate social responsibility in Indian banking sector: A moderated‐mediation approach linking corporate social responsibility to purchase intention
Authors: Hurrah Shabir Ahmad , Dar Arsheed Ahmad , Gulzar Ishfaq
Published: November 2023

This paper aims to empirically examine the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices on the purchase intention of Indian banking customers. It also investigates the conditional indirect effect on purchase intention via customer trust. The data were collected using a questionnaire from 324 customers having bank accounts either in state bank of India or housing development finance corporation Bank. Conformity factor analysis was used to assure the reliability and validity of all constructs; structural equation modeling was used to testify the proposed hypotheses. This study reveals important findings first, CSR practices have a significant effect on purchase intention and customer trust; second, CSR awareness significantly moderates CSR and purchase intention relationship; and finally, the relationship between CSR and purchase intention (PI) via customer trust (CT) is significant using moderated mediation model. This study has been carried out using a sample of customers from the service industry, that is, state bank of India and housing development finance corporation banks. Similar analyses can also be conducted in other sectors of the economy. This study adds to the scarce literature on moderating role of corporate social responsibility awareness and the conditional indirect effect of CSR on purchase intention through customer trust.
Reasoning and causal inference regarding surgical options for patients with low‐grade gliomas using machine learning: A SEER‐based study
Authors: Zhu Enzhao , Shi Weizhong , Chen Zhihao , Wang Jiayi , Ai Pu , Wang Xiao , Zhu Min , Xu Ziqin , Xu Lingxiao , Sun Xueyi , Liu Jingyu , Xu Xuetong , Shan Dan
Published: November 2023

Background

Due to the heterogeneity of low‐grade gliomas (LGGs), the lack of randomized control trials, and strong clinical evidence, the effect of the extent of resection (EOR) is currently controversial.

Aim

To determine the best choice between subtotal resection (STR) and gross‐total resection (GTR) for individual patients and to identify features that are potentially relevant to treatment heterogeneity.

Methods

Patients were enrolled from the SEER database. We used a novel DL approach to make treatment recommendations for patients with LGG. We also made causal inference of the average treatment effect (ATE) of GTR compared with STR.

Results

The patients were divided into the Consis. and In‐consis. groups based on whether their actual treatment and model recommendations were consistent. Better brain cancer‐specific survival (BCSS) outcomes in the Consis. group was observed. Overall, we also identified two subgroups that showed strong heterogeneity in response to GTR. By interpreting the models, we identified numerous variables that may be related to treatment heterogeneity.

Conclusions

This is the first study to infer the individual treatment effect, make treatment recommendation, and guide surgical options through deep learning approach in LGG research. Through causal inference, we found that heterogeneous responses to STR and GTR exist in patients with LGG. Visualization of the model yielded several factors that contribute to treatment heterogeneity, which are worthy of further discussion.
Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Ganoderma Species and Their Activity against Multi Drug Resistant Pathogens
Authors: Ali Syed Iffraz , Alvi Iqbal Ahmad , Fiaz Muhammad , Ahmad Junaid , Butt Sadia , Ullah Amin , Ahmed Iftikhar , Niaz Zeeshan , Khan Sayab , Hayat Shubana , Ashique Sumel , Zengin Gokhan , Farid Arshad
Published: November 2023

The widespread and indiscriminate use of broad‐spectrum antibiotics leads to microbial resistance, which causes major problems in the treatment of infectious diseases. However, advances in nanotechnology using mushrooms have opened up new domains for the synthesis and use of nanoparticles against multidrug‐resistant pathogens. Mushooms have recently attracted attention and are exploited for food and medicinal purposes. The current study focuses on the molecular identification, characterization of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV‐Vis spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and antibacterial analysis of extract and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesis from Ganoderma resinaceum against multidrug resistant microbes. Accurate identification of mushrooms is key in utilizing them for the benefit of humans. However, morphological identification of mushrooms is time consuming, tedious and may be prone to error. Molecular techniques are quick and reliable tools that are useful in mushroom taxonomy. Blast results showed that G. resinaceum (GU451247) obtained from Pakistan was 97 % same to the recognized G. resinaceum (GU451247) obtained from China as well as G. resinaceum (GU451247) obtained from India. The antimicrobial potential of mushroom composite and AgNPs showed high efficacy against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus (ZOI 23 mm) K. pneumonia (ZOI 20 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ZOI 24 mm) and E. fecalis and A. baumannii (ZOI 10 mm), and multidrug resistant (MDR) A. baumannii (ZOI 24 mm). XRD evaluation revealed the crystalline composition of synthesized NPs with diameter of 45 nm. UV‐Vis spectroscopy obsorption peaked of 589 nm confirmed the presence of AgNPs. SEM results showed the cubic morphology of AgNPs. The FTIR analysis of NPs obtained from G. resinaceum containing C=O as well as (O=C−H) stretching revealed presence of hydrogen, carbonyl and amide groups. The synthesized extract and AgNPs showed promising minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 2 mg concentration against the MDR strains. AgNPs are observed to be efficient as they need less quantities to prevent bacterial growth. In the view of challenges for developing antimicrobial NPs of variable shape and size by various other methods, tuning nanoparticles synthesized via mushrooms can be a wonderful approach to resolve existing hurdles.
CoFeSe2@DMSA@FA Nanocatalyst for Amplification of Oxidative Stress to Achieve Multimodal Tumor Therapy**
Authors: Song Yingzi , Liu Lekang , Li Shulian , Jiang Xiaolei , Zheng Xiuwen
Published: November 2023

Nanomedicine has significantly advanced precise tumor therapy, providing essential technical blessing for active drug accumulation, targeted consignment, and mitigation of noxious side effects. To enhance anti‐tumor efficacy, the integration of multiple therapeutic modalities has garnered significant attention. Here, we designed an innovative CoFeSe2@DMSA@FA nanocatalyst with Se vacancies (abbreviated as CFSDF), which exhibits synergistic chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), leading to amplified tumor oxidative stress and enhanced photothermal effects. The multifunctional CFSDF nanocatalyst exhibits the remarkable ability to catalyze the Fenton reaction within the acidic tumor microenvironment, efficiently converting hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into highly harmful hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH). Moreover, the nanocatalyst effectively diminishes GSH levels and ameliorates intracellular oxidative stress. The incorporation of FA modification enables CFSDF to evade immune detection and selectively target tumor tissues. Numerous in vitro and in vivo investigations have consistently demonstrated that CFSDF optimizes its individual advantages and significantly enhances therapeutic efficiency through synergistic effects of multiple therapeutic modalities, offering a valuable and effective approach to cancer treatment.
Making EU refugee policy in 2001, applying it in 2022: Directive 2001/55/EC and its use in 2022
Authors: Fink Simon , Kader Md Abdul
Published: November 2023

The Ukraine crisis brings European Union (EU) refugee policy into the spotlight. Temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees was granted under Directive 2001/55/EC—a directive that had never been applied until 2022. This article seeks to explain why a directive that had not been used for 20 years was now applied. Our argument rests on liberal intergovernmentalism: Conflicts between countries with high and low migration pressure dominated negotiations in the Council of Ministers. These intergovernmental conflicts were not solved but built into the wording of the Directive. Each attempt to apply the Directive triggered a new round of intergovernmental conflict. However, in the Ukraine crisis, the cost–benefit calculation of the countries that had hitherto opposed application of the Directive changed, because they received most of the refugees. Hence, a policy window opened, and the Commission could use old ‘dormant’ legislation to further integration.
Norm collisions in European Union sectoral governance during the COVID‐19 pandemic: How the European Commission reconfigures norms in crises
Authors: Felder Alina , Stockmann Nils
Published: November 2023

This article argues that the COVID‐19 pandemic has incited the collision of norms in sectoral European Union (EU) governance and provided an open juncture for the European Commission to engage in norm reconfiguration. Herewith, the paper expands the conceptual scope of EU‐related norm research, which by focussing on the diffusion of norms within and beyond the EU has largely omitted dynamic perspectives on norms so far. We combine International Relations norm research with EU governance literature to scrutinise the normative underpinnings of the immediate crisis response within Commission sectoral strategies and working programs. Empirically, the paper focuses on the higher education and transport sectors, which have been particularly impacted by the COVID‐19 crisis and targeted by the EU crisis response. The interpretative‐qualitative analysis uncovers COVID‐19‐related collisions within the ideational constellation of EU governance and shows that the European Commission has engaged in different reconfiguration practices, potentially altering the norm constellation in the investigated sectoral governance areas.
Fabrication of High Surface Area Fe/Fe3O4 with Enhanced Performance for Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Wei Yuao , Yu Yingjie , Chen Jie , Wei Mo , Huang Yuting , Zhou Xinru , Liu Wenjing
Published: November 2023

The development of high‐efficient and large‐scale non‐precious electrocatalysts to improve sluggish reaction kinetics plays a key role in enhancing electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) for ammonia production under mild condition. Herein, Fe3O4 and Fe supported by porous carbon (denoted as Fe/Fe3O4/PC‐800) composite with a high specific surface area of 1004.1 m2 g−1 was prepared via a simple template method. On one hand, the high surface area of Fe/Fe3O4/PC‐800 provides a large area to enhance N2 adsorption and promote more protons and electrons to accelerate the reaction, thereby greatly improving the dynamics. On the other hand, mesoporous Fe/Fe3O4/PC‐800 provides high electrochemically active surface area for promoting the occurrence of catalytic kinetics. As a result, Fe/Fe3O4/PC‐800 exhibited significantly enhanced NRR performance with an ammonia yield of 31.15 μg h−1 mg−1cat. and faraday efficiency of 22.26 % at −0.1 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). This study is expected to provide a new strategy for the synthesis of catalysts with large specific area and pave the way for the foundational research in NRR.
Pd‐Catalyzed Vicinal Intermolecular Annulations of Iodoarenes, Indoles, and Carbazoles with Enynes
Authors: Babu Undamatla Suri , Kotipalli Ramesh , Nanubolu Jagadeesh Babu , Reddy Maddi Sridhar
Published: November 2023

Reaching the formidable C−H corners has been one of the top priorities of organic chemists in the recent past. This prompted us to disclose herein a vicinal annulation of 2‐iodo benzoates, indoles, and carbazoles with N‐embedded 1,6‐enynes through 7‐/8‐membered palladacycles. The relay does not require the assistance of any directing group, leading to multicyclic scaffolds, which are readily diversified to an array of adducts (with new functional tethers and/or three contiguous stereocenters), in which we showcase a rare benzylic mono‐oxygenation.
New Multifunctional Bipyrimidine‐Based Chromophores for NLO‐Active Thin‐Film Preparation**
Authors: Bora Umut , Abdallah Stephania , Mhanna Rana , Nicolas Prescillia , Dok Ahmet , de Coene Yovan , Van Cleuvenbergen Stijn , Jeannin Olivier , Malval Jean‐Pierre , Clays Koen , Bellec Nathalie , Ocak Hale , Bilgin‐Eran Belkis , Camerel Franck , Akdas‐Kiliç Huriye
Published: November 2023

New synthesized bipyrimidine‐based chromophores presenting alkoxystyryl donor groups carrying aliphatic achiral and chiral chains in the 4 position, connected to electron‐accepting 2,2‐bipyrimidine cores have been synthesized. Their linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were investigated as well as their mesomorphic properties by various techniques (light‐transmission measurements, polarized‐light optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry measurements and two‐photon excited fluorescence). The derivatives with achiral linear carbon chains were found to exhibit liquid‐crystal properties with the formation smectic phases over large temperature ranges, which were confirmed by small‐angle X‐ray scattering analysis via stacking models. The nonlinear optical properties in the solid state for derivatives with C14 and the citronellol chains have been studied by wide‐field second‐harmonic generation and multi‐photon fluorescence imaging, confirming centrosymmetry for these achiral mesogens and their excellent third‐order nonlinearity whereas the chiral compound exhibits non‐centrosymmetric organization resulting in a strong Second Harmonic Generation at the crystal state.
Total Synthesis of Cyanobactin Natural Product Balgacyclamide B
Authors: Torres‐Hernandez Arnaldo X. , Desman Prathibha , Nguyen Thi , Hoang Vinh , Zhang Yichao , Bartels Ashley , Rafferty Ryan J.
Published: November 2023

Balgacyclamide A−C are a family of cyanobactin natural products isolated from freshwater cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa. These macrocyclic peptides are characterized by their oxazoline‐thiazole core, their 7 or 8 stereocenters, and their antiparasitic activities. Balgacyclamide B is known for its activity towards Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine‐resistant strain K1, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, and Leishmania donovani. In this report, the first total synthesis of Balgacyclamide B is described in a 17‐steps pathway and a 2 % overall yield. The synthetic pathway toward balgacyclamide B can be adapted for the future syntheses of balgacyclamide A and C. In addition, a brief history background of oxazolines syntheses is shown to emphasize the importance of the cyclization conditions used to interconvert or retain configuration of β‐hydroxy amides via dehydrative cyclization.
Synthesis and Properties of Fluorenone‐Containing Cycloparaphenylenes and Their Late‐Stage Transformation
Authors: Bliksted Roug Pedersen Viktor , Price Tavis W. , Kofod Nicolaj , Zakharov Lev N. , Laursen Bo W. , Jasti Ramesh , Brøndsted Nielsen Mogens
Published: November 2023

Cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) are the smallest possible armchair carbon nanotubes, the properties of which strongly depend on their ring size. They can be further tuned by either peripheral functionalization or by replacing phenylene rings for other aromatic units. Here we show how four novel donor–acceptor chromophores were obtained by incorporating fluorenone or 2‐(9H‐fluoren‐9‐ylidene)malononitrile into the loops of two differently sized CPPs. Synthetically, we managed to perform late‐stage functionalization of the fluorenone‐based rings by high‐yielding Knoevenagel condensations. The structures were confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analyses, which revealed that replacing a phenylene for a fused‐ring‐system acceptor introduces additional strain. The donor–acceptor characters of the CPPs were supported by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies, electrochemical studies (displaying the CPPs as multi‐redox systems undergoing reversible or quasi‐reversible redox events), as well as by computations. The oligophenylene parts were found to comprise the electron donor units of the macrocycles and the fluorenone parts the acceptor units.
Brook Rearrangement as Trigger for Dearomatization Reaction: Synthesis of Non‐Aromatic N‐Heterocycles**
Authors: Mondal Rajarshi , Agbaria Mohamed , Cohen Orit , Nairoukh Zackaria
Published: November 2023

The [1,2]‐Brook rearrangement stands as a potent technique for constructing complex molecules. In this study, we showcase its power in the dearomatization of aromatic N‐heterocycles. Through a concise four‐step process that integrates lithiation, nucleophilic addition, Brook rearrangement and dearomatization reaction, we demonstrate a versatile strategy for generating diverse non‐aromatic N‐heterocycles which exhibit ambident reactivities. Various acyl silanes, halo‐pyridines, and quinolines have been explored within this context. The synthetic utility of this methodology is demonstrated through the construction of complex architectures.
Association between prediagnostic prostate‐specific antigen and prostate cancer probability in Black and non‐Hispanic White men
Authors: Lee Kyung Min , Bryant Alex K. , Lynch Julie A. , Robison Brian , Alba Patrick R. , Agiri Fatai Y. , Pridgen Kathryn M. , DuVall Scott L. , Yamoah Kosj , Garraway Isla P. , Rose Brent S.
Published: November 2023

Background

Although Black men are more likely than non‐Hispanic White men to develop and die from prostate cancer, limited data exist to guide prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) screening protocols in Black men. This study investigated whether the risk for prostate cancer was higher than expected among self‐identified Black than White veterans based on prebiopsy PSA level.

Methods

Multivariable logistic regression models were estimated to predict the likelihood of prostate cancer diagnosis on first biopsy for 75,295 Black and 207,658 White male veterans. Self‐identified race, age at first PSA test, prebiopsy PSA, age at first biopsy, smoking status, statin use, and socioeconomic factors were used as predictors. The adjusted predicted probabilities of cancer detection on first prostate biopsy from the logistic models at different PSA levels were calculated.

Results

After controlling for PSA and other covariates, Black veterans were 50% more likely to receive a prostate cancer diagnosis on their first prostate biopsy than White veterans (odds ratio [OR], 1.50; 95% CI, 1.47‐1.53; p < .001). At a PSA level of 4.0 ng/mL, the probability of prostate cancer for a Black man was 49% compared with 39% for a White man. This model indicated that Black veterans with a PSA of 4.0 ng/mL have an equivalent risk of prostate cancer as White veterans with a PSA of 13.4 ng/mL.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that, at any given PSA level, Black men are more likely to harbor prostate cancer than White men. Prospective studies are needed to better evaluate risks and benefits of PSA screening in Black men and other high‐risk populations.
The enigma of race and prostate cancer
Authors: Brawley Otis W. , Ramalingam Rohan
Published: November 2023

Population data support use of race (a sociopolitical demographic) in development of prostate cancer risk profiles and screening algorithms. This is "benevolent racial profiling." We should aspire to develop more scientific and objective precision medicine tools to assess risk of clinically significant prostate cancer, such as germline gene testing and assessment of environmental exposures.
Recent Advances in Acoustofluidics for Point‐of‐Care Testing
Authors: Chen Xian , Duan Xuexin , Gao Yunhua
Published: November 2023

Abstract: Point‐of‐care testing (POCT) has played important role in clinical diagnostics, environmental assessment, chemical and biological analyses, and food and chemical processing due to its faster turnaround compared to laboratory testing. Dedicated manipulations of solutions or particles are generally required to develop POCT technologies that achieve a “sample‐in‐answer‐out” operation. With the development of micro‐ and nanotechnology, many tools have been developed for sample preparation, on‐site analysis and solution manipulations (mixing, pumping, valving, etc.). Among these approaches, the use of acoustic waves to manipulate fluids and particles (named acoustofluidics) has been applied in many researches. This review focuses on the recent developments in acoustofluidics for POCT. It starts with the fundamentals of different acoustic manipulation techniques and then lists some of representative examples to highlight each method in practical POC applications. Looking toward the future, a compact, portable, highly integrated, low power, and biocompatible technique is anticipated to simultaneously achieve precise manipulation of small targets and multimodal manipulation in POC applications.
Phenanthroline‐Decorated Covalent Organic Framework for Catalytic Synthesis of 2‐Aminobenzothiazoles in Water
Authors: Wang Jian‐Cheng , Yu Zhi‐Gao , Yang Wen‐Ting , Du Jia‐Qi , Chen Zhi , Kan Jing‐Lan , Dong Ying , Dong Yu‐Bin
Published: November 2023

2‐Aminobenzothiazoles are widely used in the fields of pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Herein, we report a metal‐free protocol for the preparation of 2‐aminobenzothiazoles by a covalent organic framework (COF) catalyzed tandem reaction. In the presence of catalytic amount of phenanthroline‐decorated COF (Phen‐COF), a variety of 2‐aminobenzothiazoles are obtained in excellent yields by the cross‐coupling of 2‐iodoanilines with isothiocyanates at room temperature in water. In addition, the COF‐catalyst is very stable and can be reused at least seven times without loss of its catalytic activity.
Using ExpressAnalyst for Comprehensive Gene Expression Analysis in Model and Non‐Model Organisms
Authors: Ewald Jessica , Zhou Guangyan , Lu Yao , Xia Jianguo
Published: November 2023

ExpressAnalyst is a web‐based platform that enables intuitive, end‐to‐end transcriptomics and proteomics data analysis. Users can start from FASTQ files, gene/protein abundance tables, or gene/protein lists. ExpressAnalyst will perform read quantification, gene expression table processing and normalization, differential expression analysis, or meta‐analysis with complex study designs. The results are presented via various interactive visualizations such as volcano plots, heatmaps, networks, and ridgeline charts, with built‐in functional enrichment analysis to allow flexible data exploration and understanding. ExpressAnalyst currently contains built‐in support for 29 common organisms. For non‐model organisms without good reference genomes, it can perform comprehensive transcriptome profiling directly from RNA‐seq reads. These common tasks are covered in 11 Basic Protocols. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: RNA‐seq count table uploading, processing, and normalization

Basic Protocol 2: Differential expression analysis with linear models

Basic Protocol 3: Functional analysis with volcano plot, enrichment network, and ridgeline visualization

Basic Protocol 4: Hierarchical clustering analysis of transcriptomics data using interactive heatmaps

Basic Protocol 5: Cross‐species gene expression analysis based on ortholog mapping results

Basic Protocol 6: Proteomics and microarray data processing and normalization

Basic Protocol 7: Preparing multiple gene expression tables for meta‐analysis

Basic Protocol 8: Statistical and functional meta‐analysis of gene expression data

Basic Protocol 9: Functional analysis of transcriptomics signatures

Basic Protocol 10: Dose‐response and time‐series data analysis

Basic Protocol 11: RNA‐seq reads processing and quantification with and without reference transcriptomes
Differential effects of early life adversity on male and female rhesus macaque lifespan
Authors: Gonzalez Stephanie J. , Sherer Anthony J. , Hernández‐Pacheco Raisa
Published: November 2023

Early life adversity predicts shorter adult lifespan in several animal taxa. Yet, work on long‐lived primate populations suggests the evolution of mechanisms that contribute to resiliency and long lives despite early life insults. Here, we tested associations between individual and cumulative early life adversity and lifespan on rhesus macaques at the Cayo Santiago Biological Field Station using 50 years of demographic data. We performed sex‐specific survival analyses at different life stages to contrast short‐term effects of adversity (i.e., infant survival) with long‐term effects (i.e., adult survival). Female infants showed vulnerability to multiple adversities at birth, but affected females who survived to adulthood experienced a reduced risk later in life. In contrast, male infants showed vulnerability to a lower number of adversities at birth, but those who survived to adulthood were negatively affected by both early life individual and cumulative adversity. Our study shows profound immediate effects of insults  on female infant cohorts and suggests that affected female adults are more robust. In contrast, adult males who experienced harsh conditions early in life showed an increased mortality risk at older ages as expected from hypotheses within the life course perspective. Our analysis suggests sex‐specific selection pressures on life histories and highlights the need for studies addressing the effects of early life adversity across multiple life stages.
A fiddler crab reduces plant growth in its expanded range
Authors: Martínez‐Soto Kayla S. , Johnson David S.
Published: November 2023

Species across the planet are shifting or expanding their ranges because of climate change. These are climate migrants. Although climate migrants are well documented, their impacts on recipient ecosystems are not. Climate migrants that are also ecosystem engineers (species that modify or create habitats) will likely have profound effects on ecosystems. The Atlantic marsh fiddler crab, Minuca pugnax, is a burrowing crab that recently expanded its range into the northeastern United States. In its historical range, M. pugnax enhances the aboveground growth of the cordgrass Spartina alterniflora, a plant critical to marsh persistence. In a control‐impact study, however, we found that Spartina aboveground biomass was 40% lower when M. pugnax was present. Thus, the positive effect of M. pugnax on Spartina aboveground biomass flipped to a negative one in its expanded range. Spartina belowground biomass was also 30% lower on average when crabs were present, a finding consistent with what is seen in the historical range. These impacts on Spartina are likely due to burrowing by M. pugnax. Benthic microalgae was, on average, 45% lower when crabs were present. Fiddler crabs eat benthic microalgae, and these results suggest that fiddler crabs can control algal biomass via grazing. Because fiddler crabs reduced the biomass of foundational primary producers in its expanded range, our results imply that M. pugnax can influence other saltmarsh functions such as carbon storage and accretion as they expand north. Most strikingly, our results suggest that as species expand or shift their range with climate change, not only can they have profound impacts in their new ranges but those impacts can be the inverse of what is seen in their historical ranges.
Cobalt‐Catalyzed Annulation of o‐Phenylenediamines and Internal Alkynes: Efficient Synthesis of Quinoxaline Derivatives
Authors: Zhao Rui , Wu Ling , Chen Si‐Wei , Cui Zhen , Hu Xu‐Hua , Yang Hui‐Ru , Ye Hongfei , Miao Chun‐Bao , Guo Xun‐Xiang
Published: November 2023

A cobalt‐catalyzed annulation of o‐phenylenediamines and internal alkynes for the synthesis of quinoxalines is developed. This method provides a variety of quinoxalines in good to high yields under a simple and mild reaction conditions with molecular O2 as a terminal oxidant. Preliminary mechanistic studies show that a novel reaction mechanism is involved in the current reaction, which is different from the previous reported dicarbonyl compound mechanism via the oxidation of the alkyne.
The Total Synthesis of Aspidofractinine and Related Alkaloids
Authors: Parammal Athira , Kumar Manoj , Singh Shubham , Xavier Joe Sam , Subramanian Parthasarathi
Published: November 2023

The fascinating structural features and potential biological activities of aspidofractinine monoterpenoid indole alkaloids grasped the attention of synthetic community since 1964. Aspidofractinine also serves as the primary structural component to over 200 monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, in which most of these alkaloids’ total synthesis has been unexplored. In light of these facts, studies on synthetic strategies towards the complex, intriguing carbon skeleton of aspidofractinine have high implications. The intensive studies on the total synthesis of aspidofractinine alkaloids have resulted in numerous elegant strategies to construct the highly substituted hexacyclic core structure containing bicyclo[2.2.2]octane motif and three all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic centers. This review discusses all reported strategies for synthesizing aspidofractinine, and aspidofractinine‐like alkaloids.
A real‐time seismic damage prediction framework based on machine learning for earthquake early warning
Authors: Zhang Hui , Yu Dinghao , Li Gang , Dong Zhiqian
Published: November 2023

For implementing earthquake early warning (EEW), real‐time parameters of ground motion (GM) which can be obtained at the beginning of earthquake wave arrival (i.e., P‐wave arrival) are usually used to estimate the intensity measure (IM) of the following GM for supporting alarm decision. However, prior studies have proved that the estimated IM is hard to relate structural damage effectively, thus affecting the decision‐making behavior and resulting in more economic losses and casualties. Although the real‐time parameters may be adopted to directly predict structural damage, it is difficult to construct the accurate mathematical model between the parameters and structural damage index. To solve the above problems, a machine learning‐based real‐time damage prediction framework that can directly predict the structural maximum inter‐story drift ratio (MIDR) after P‐wave arrival is proposed for use in EEW. Within the framework of the proposed method, the database for training the prediction model come from the accurate nonlinear time‐history analyses of 32 typical building types under the real GM records, where the real‐time characteristic parameters of P‐wave of the records are taken as the inputs. To achieve accurate and efficient prediction, a total of 32 alternative characteristic parameters of P‐wave are selected and a parameter optimization approach is developed to remove the redundant and useless parameters for various type of building structure. Moreover, an interpretable approach is adopted to explain the effects of different input parameters on the prediction results and demonstrate the reliability of the proposed method. Finally, the framework is thoroughly assessed and investigated through two seismic damage cases and an occurred seismic event, which has an accuracy rate above 96.4% on average for risk‐consistent early‐warning trigger classification. These results show that the proposed method have the ability of continuously stable and excellent prediction power when using it for EEW.
Exhaust flow calibration for a large‐scale calorimetry system using tracer gas dilution
Authors: Bryant Rodney A.
Published: November 2023

Exhaust flow measurements are a significant source of uncertainty for measurements of heat release rate in large‐scale fire experiments. Irregular flow distributions are often present in the exhaust ducts making it difficult to measure flow accurately. Tracer gas dilution (TGD), a measurement method for volume flow, is not sensitive to flow distribution and has been applied to calibrate flow measurement devices at the exhaust ducts of a large‐scale open calorimetry system. The in‐line calibration reduced the bias in the exhaust flow measurement by as much as 6% improving the overall measurement accuracy of the heat release rate. Experimental results provide evidence that the flow calibration is an improvement over the accepted practice of developing a flow correction from the comparison of oxygen consumption calorimetry with the heat output from a gas burner. The flow calibration is valid for a wide range of flow conditions and decouples the oxygen consumption calorimetry measurement from any error in determining the heat release rate from the gas burner.
Host Genetic Impact on Infectious Diseases among Different Ethnic Groups
Authors: Naidoo Lisa , Arumugam Thilona , Ramsuran Veron
Published: November 2023

Infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19) are problematic globally, with high prevalence particularly in Africa, attributing to most of the death rates. There have been immense efforts toward developing effective preventative and therapeutic strategies for these pathogens globally, however, some remain uncured. Disease susceptibility and progression for malaria, TB, HIV, and COVID‐19 vary among individuals and are attributed to precautionary measures, environment, host, and pathogen genetics. While studying individuals with similar attributes, it is suggested that host genetics contributes to most of an individual's susceptibility to disease. Several host genes are identified to associate with these pathogens. Interestingly, many of these genes and polymorphisms are common across diseases. This paper analyzes genes and genetic variations within host genes associated with HIV, TB, malaria, and COVID‐19 among different ethnic groups. The differences in host–pathogen interaction among these groups, particularly of Caucasian and African descent, and which gene polymorphisms are prevalent in an African population that possesses protection or risk to disease are reviewed. The information in this review could potentially help develop personalized treatment that could effectively combat the high disease burden in Africa.
Elective management of the N0 neck in maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Patel Evan J. , Strohl Madeleine P. , Yom Sue S. , El‐Sayed Ivan
Published: November 2023

Objectives

To demonstrate adequacy of radiation therapy alone to the neck in patients with maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma (MS‐SCC) without clinical evidence of regional metastasis.

Methods

Retrospective review between 2000 and 2018 from a single high‐volume tertiary academic head and neck cancer center of all patients with MS‐SCC.

Results

A total of 55 patients were treated for MS‐SCC at our center. A clinically uninvolved neck on presentation was found in 46 patients (83.6%) in the initial dataset. Of the 39 patients with radiologic N0 disease who were treated with primary surgical resection, 15.4% (6 patients) did not undergo any treatment of the neck, 2.6% (1 patient) underwent a neck dissection only, 69.2% (27 patients) received RT only, and 12.8% (5 patients) were treated with both a neck dissection followed by RT. Median follow‐up was 26 months (mean 48 months, interquartile range 9–76 months). Five‐year overall survival of all patients with N0 necks treated with upfront surgical resection was 46.5% (95% CI, 32.3%–66.9%). No patients with N0 necks had isolated regional recurrence regardless of neck management.

Conclusions

Regional recurrence is rare for patients with radiologic N0 MS‐SCC. Single‐modality elective neck radiation provides excellent regional disease control in these patients.
Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram for patients with laryngeal cancer with synchronous or metachronous lung cancer
Authors: Su Hongyan , Li Hongwei , Hou Shuling , Song Xin , Zhang Xiaqin , Wang Weili , Li Zhengran
Published: November 2023

Background

The objective of this study was to examine the independent prognostic factors of laryngeal cancer with synchronous or metachronous lung cancer (LCSMLC), and to generate and verify a clinical prediction model.

Methods

In this study, laryngeal cancer alone and LCSMLC were defined using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Risk factors of patients with LCSMLC were analyzed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Independent prognostic factors were selected by Cox regression analyses, on the basis of which a nomogram was constructed using R code. Kaplan–Meier survival analyses were applied to test the application of a risk stratification system. Finally, we conducted a comparison of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system of laryngeal cancer with the new model of nomogram and risk stratification. For further validation of the nomogram, data from patients at two Chinese independent institutions were also analyzed.

Results

According to the eligibility criteria, 32 429 patients with laryngeal cancer alone and 641 patients with LCSMLC from the SEER database (the training cohort) and additional 61 patients from two Chinese independent institutions (the external validation cohort) were included for final analyses. Compared with patients with laryngeal cancer who did not have synchronous or metachronous lung cancer, age, sex, race, primary site of laryngeal cancer, grade, and stage were risk factors for LCSMLC, while marriage, surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are not their risk factors. Age, two cancers' interval, pathological type, stage, surgery, radiation, primary lung site, and primary throat site were independent prognostic predictors of LCSMLC. The risk stratification system of high‐, medium‐, and low‐risk groups significantly distinguished the prognosis in different patients with LCSMLC, regardless of the training cohort or the validation cohort. Compared with the 6th AJCC TNM stage of laryngeal cancer, the new model of nomogram and risk stratification showed an improved net benefit.

Conclusions

Age, sex, race, primary site of laryngeal cancer, grade, and stage were risk factors for LCSMLC. An individualized clinical prognostic predictive model by nomogram was generated and validated, which showed superior prediction ability for LCSMLC.
Contrasting socioeconomic inequality with noncommunicable diseases: Insights from a population‐based survey using the concentration index in Kong cohort study
Authors: Mouseli Ali , Sharafi Mehdi , Mastaneh Zahra , Shiri Maryam Shiravani
Published: November 2023

Background

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the major causes of mortality across the globe, which impose a substantial burden on health care systems, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries. The present study aimed to determine socioeconomic inequality in the prevalence of NCDs using the concentration index (CI).

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted on the baseline data of the Bandar Kong cohort. The principal component analysis was used to determine people's socioeconomic status (SES). The CI and Lorenz Curve were used for the assessment of socioeconomic inequality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between SES and the prevalence of NCDs. A p Value less than 0.05 is considered significant.

Results

Frequency and prevalence of diabetes was 653 (16.22%), hypertension 848 (21.06%), chronic lung diseases 161 (4%), epilepsy 70 (1.74%), mental disorders 191 (4.74%), stillbirth 299 (13.94%), thyroid disorders 391 (9.71%) and depression 146 (3.63%). CI for the prevalence of diabetes was [−0.107, %95 CI: −0.146 to −0.068], hypertension [−0.122, %95 CI: −0.155 to −0.088], chronic lung disease [−0.116, %95 CI: −0.202 to −0.03], psychiatric disorders [−0.230, %95 CI: −0.304 to −0.155], depression [−0.132, %95 CI: −0.220 to−0.043] and stillbirth [−0.162, %95 CI: −0.220 to −0.105]. The Gini index was negative for all these diseases, indicating that these are significantly concentrated in people of poor SES.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that selected NCDs were concentrated among the poor and the low‐income. Particular attention may be necessary to address the problem of NCDs among these groups.
Vaginal erbium laser treatment for stress urinary incontinence: A multicenter randomized sham‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: O'Reilly Barry A. , Viereck Volker , Phillips Christian , Toozs‐Hobson Philip , Kuhn Annette , Athanasiou Stavros , Lukanović Adolf , Palmer Brendan , Dahly Darren , Daykan Yair , Cardozo Linda
Published: November 2023

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of non‐ablative vaginal Er:YAG laser device in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treatment.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter blinded randomized sham‐controlled trial in which women with urodynamic SUI were randomization to active arm using Er:YAG laser therapy, and sham arm using sham handpiece. Patients received two treatments 1 month apart. The primary outcomes measure was 1 h pad weight test measured at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were durability of treatment success at 12 months, and questionnaires for assessment of SUI severity (ICIQ‐UI SF), sexual function (PISQ‐12) and HRQoL (KHQ), and incidence and severity of device related adverse events and pain (VAS).

Results

A total of 110 participants with SUI were recruited; 73 in the active arm and 37 in the sham arm. Two participants were excluded; one was assigned the wrong treatment and one withdrew their consent. Treatment success was observed in 36% of the sham arm and 59% of the active arm; in the latter, odds of achieving treatment success were more than three‐fold higher (OR 3.63, 95% CI: 1.3–11.2, P = 0.02). HRQoL by KHQ showed significant improvement in the active versus the sham arm (OR 0.36, 95% CI: 0.15–0.87, P = 0.003). Similarly, subjective patient assessment of general and sexual function improvement with PISQ‐12 and PGI‐I showed superior effect over sham (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.2–7.0, P = 0.02 and OR 0.13, 95% CI: 0.05–0.36, P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Non‐ablative vaginal Er:YAG laser therapy significantly improves SUI symptoms versus sham treatment. Er:YAG laser therapy should be considered as a non‐surgical treatment option for SUI patients.
Controlled release of therapeutic antibody using hydrolytically degradable microgels
Authors: Mora‐Boza Ana , Ahmedin Zakir , García Andrés J.
Published: November 2023

Monoclonal antibodies have gained significant interest as potential therapeutics for treating various diseases. However, these therapies are not always effective due to poor treatment compliance associated with multiple administrations and drug resistance. Thus, there is a growing interest in developing advanced monoclonal antibody delivery systems that can customize pharmacokinetics to enhance therapeutic outcomes. This work aimed to engineer hydrolytic 4‐arm PEG maleimide (PEG‐4MAL) microgels for the controlled delivery of therapeutic antibodies, specifically anti‐angiogenic bevacizumab, to overcome the limitations of current monoclonal antibody therapies. Through a PEGylation reaction with a thiol‐terminated PEG linker, the antibody was covalently conjugated to the macromer backbone before microgel synthesis. The PEGylation reaction was simple, effective, and did not affect antibody bioactivity. Antibody release kinetics was tuned by changing the concentration of the hydrolytic linker (0–2 mM) and/or PEG‐4MAL:protein molar ratio (1000:1, 2000:1, and 5000:1) in the macromer precursor solution during microgel fabrication. The bioactivity of the released antibody was assessed on human umbilical endothelial vascular cells (HUVEC), demonstrating that extracts from hydrolytic microgels reduced cell proliferation over time. Collectively, this study demonstrates the development of highly tunable delivery platform based on degradable PEG‐4MAL microgels that can be adapted for therapeutic antibody‐controlled release.
Effects of glass–ceramic produced by the sol–gel route in macrophages recruitment and polarization into bone tissue regeneration
Authors: da Silva Raquel Barroso Parra , Biguetti Claudia Cristina , Munerato Marcelo Salles , Siqueira Renato Luis , Zanotto Edgard Dutra , Kudo Guilherme Halawa Abu , Simionato Gustavo Baroni , Bacelar Ana Carolina Zucon , Ortiz Rafael Carneiro , Ferreira‐Junior Joel Santiago , Rangel‐Junior Idelmo Garcia , Matsumoto Mariza Akemi
Published: November 2023

Effective bone substitute biomaterials remain an important challenge in patients with large bone defects. Glass ceramics produced by different synthesis routes may result in changes in the material physicochemical properties and consequently affect the success or failure of the bone healing response. To investigate the differences in the orchestration of the inflammatory and healing process in bone grafting and repair using different glass–ceramic routes production. Thirty male Wistar rats underwent surgical unilateral parietal defects filled with silicate glass–ceramic produced by distinct routes: BS – particulate glass–ceramic produced via the fusion/solidification route, and BG – particulate glass–ceramic produced via the sol–gel route. After 7, 14, and 21 days from biomaterial grafting, parietal bones were removed to be analyzed under H&E and Massons' Trichome staining, and immunohistochemistry for CD206, iNOS, and TGF‐β. Our findings demonstrated that the density of lymphocytes and plasma cells was significantly higher in the BS group at 45, and 7 days compared to the BG group, respectively. Furthermore, a significant increase of foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) in the BG group at day 7, compared to BS was found, demonstrating early efficient recruitment of FBGCs against sol–gel‐derived glass–ceramic particulate (BS group). According to macrophage profiles, CD206+ macrophages enhanced at the final periods of both groups, being significantly higher at 45 days of BS compared to the BG group. On the other hand, the density of transformation growth factor beta (TGF‐β) positive cells on 21 days were the highest in BG, and the lowest in the BS group, demonstrating a differential synergy among groups. Noteworthy, TGF‐β+ cells were significantly higher at 21 days of BG compared to the BS group. Glass–ceramic biomaterials can act differently in the biological process of bone remodeling due to their route production, being the sol–gel route more efficient to activate M2 macrophages and specific FBGCs compared to the traditional route. Altogether, these features lead to a better understanding of the effectiveness of inflammatory response for biomaterial degradation and provide new insights for further preclinical and clinical studies involved in bone healing.
Evaluation of in vitro effects of ifosfamide drug on mitochondrial functions using isolated mitochondria obtained from vital organs
Authors: Salimi Ahmad , Khezri Saleh , Azizian Sepideh , Kamrani Vida , Amir Jahadi Nima , Shahedi Mehdi
Published: November 2023

Mitochondrial toxicity has been shown to contribute to a variety of organ toxicities such as, brain, heart, kidney, and liver. Ifosfamide (IFO) as an anticancer drug, is associated with increased risk of neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and hemorrhagic cystitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the direct effect of IFO on isolated mitochondria obtained from the rat brain, heart, kidney, and liver. Mitochondria were isolated with mechanical lysis and differential centrifugation from different organs and treated with various concentrations of IFO. Using biochemical and flowcytometry assays, we evaluated mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, mitochondrial swelling, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Our data showed that IFO did not cause deleterious alterations in mitochondrial functions, mitochondrial swelling, lipid peroxidation ROS formation, and MMP collapse in mitochondria isolated from brain, heart, kidney, and liver. Altogether, the data showed that IFO is not directly toxic in mitochondria isolated from brain, heart, kidney, and liver. This study proved that mitochondria alone does not play the main role in the toxicity of IFO, and suggests to reduce the toxicity of this drug, other pathways resulting in the production of toxic metabolites should be considered.