bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The landscape of immune checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy versus immunotherapy for advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Chengdi , Qiao Wenliang , Jiang Yuting , Zhu Min , Shao Jun , Wang Tao , Liu Dan , Li Weimin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide and the prognosis remains poor. The recent introduction of the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), or plus chemotherapy, both resulted in the survival benefit for patients with advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but it remains unanswered which is superior. The current study aimed to estimate the comparative efficacy and safety of ICI‐chemotherapy versus ICI‐monotherapy in advanced NSCLC.MethodsStudies were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that ICI monotherapy or ICI plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy in NSCLC were included with available primary endpoints of progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate, or treatment‐related adverse events. A fixed‐effect or random‐effects model was adopted depending on between‐study heterogeneity.ResultsA total of 20 RCTs involving 12,025 patients with NSCLC were included. Both ICI‐monotherapy and ICI‐chemotherapy resulted in significantly prolonged survival compared to chemotherapy and the former led to significantly longer PFS. The magnitude of survival benefits appeared to be greatest among those treated with pembrolizumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy (OS, 0.56; PFS, 0.54). Additionally, OS and PFS advantages of ICI therapies were observed in patients with NSCLC with low or high programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression level, but not in intermediate PD‐L1 TPS.ConclusionsPembrolizumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy was recommended as the optimal first‐line therapy for advanced patients with NSCLC. Additionally, PD‐L1 alone is not recommended as an adequate molecular biomarker to identify eligible patients for routine clinical practice in immunotherapy.
Signatures of altered DNA methylation gene expression after central and peripheral nerve injury
Authors: Shi Guidong , Zhou Xianhu , Wang Xu , Zhang Xiaolei , Zhang Ping , Feng Shiqing 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNerve damage can lead to movement and sensory dysfunction, with high morbidity and disability rates causing severe burdens on patients, families, and society. DNA methylation is a kind of epigenetics, and a great number of previous studies have demonstrated that DNA methylation plays an important role in the process of nerve regeneration and remodeling. However, compared with the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system shows stronger recovery after injury, which is related to the complex microenvironment and epigenetic changes occurring at the site of injury. Therefore, what common epigenetic changes between the central and peripheral nervous systems remain to be elucidated. We first screened differential methylation genes after spinal cord injury and sciatic nerve injury using whole‐genome bisulfite sequencing and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, respectively. Subsequently, a total of 16 genes had the same epigenetic changes after spinal cord injury and sciatic nerve injury. The Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis were performed to identify the critical biological processes and pathways. Furthermore, a protein−protein interaction network analysis indicated that Dnm3, Ntrk3, Smurf1, Dpysl2, Kalrn, Shank1, Dlg2, Arsb, Reln, Bmp5, Numbl, Prickle2, Map6, and Htr7 were the core genes. These outcomes may provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of the subacute phase of nerve injury. These verified genes can offer potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for nerve injury.
Biohydrogen production from winery effluents: control of the homoacetogenesis through the headspace gas recirculation
Authors: Buitrón Germán , Muñoz‐Páez Karla M , Quijano Guillermo , Carrillo‐Reyes Julián , Albarrán‐Contreras Blanca A 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDFermentative hydrogen production has an inherent limitation caused by hydrogen‐consuming metabolic pathways such as homoacetogenesis related to high hydrogen partial pressures. In this study, a strategy based on recirculating the headspace gas was applied to increase the hydrogen release from the liquid to the gas phase in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket(UASB) reactor fed with winery effluents. The influence of the gas upflow recirculation velocity on hydrogen production, hydrogen consumption by homoacetogenesis, and microbial community structure was evaluated.RESULTSUnder the control condition (only liquid recirculation), the hydrogen productivity was as much as 22 mL H2 L−1 h−1. Conversely, the hydrogen productivity increased up to 62 mL H2 L−1 h−1 when the reactor was operated with an upflow gas recirculation velocity of 28.6 m d−1. The increase in mass transfer, due to the gas recirculation, produces a decrease (up to 70%) in the hydrogen consumption rate associated with homoacetogenesis. High‐throughput 16s rDNA sequencing characterization showed that the gas recirculation strategy promoted the development of hydrogen‐producing microorganisms related to Megasphaera elsdenii and decreased the abundance of hydrogen‐consuming bacteria related to Clostridium carboxidivorans and C. ljungdahlii.CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that headspace recirculation at gas upflow velocities higher than 17.8 m d−1 increased the hydrogen production rate concomitantly with the reduction of both the homoacetogenic activity and the abundance of H2‐consuming bacteria. The study demonstrated that headspace recirculation could be a promising way to control homoacetogenesis, and therefore, to increase the biohydrogen productivity from complex substrates such as winery effluents. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Review of pervaporation and vapor permeation process factors affecting the removal of water from industrial solvents
Authors: Vane Leland M 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA recent review article (Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 94: 343–365 (2019)) identified several commercially‐available permselective materials for drying organic solvents with pervaporation (PV) and vapor permeation (V·P) separation processes. The membrane materials included polymeric and inorganic substances exhibiting a range in the performance characteristics: water permeance, water/solvent selectivity, and maximum use temperature. This article provides an overview of the factors affecting the design of PV/V·P processes utilizing these membranes to remove water from common organic solvents. Properties of the specific membrane and of the solvent substantially affect the PV/V·P separation. Equally important is the impact of operating parameters on the overall separation. To study these impacts, simplified process performance equations and detailed spreadsheet calculations were developed for single‐pass and recirculating batch PV systems and for single‐pass V·P systems. Estimates of membrane area, permeate concentration, solvent recovery, permeate condenser temperatures, and heating requirements were calculated. Process variables included: solvent type, water permeance, water/solvent selectivity, initial and final water concentrations, operating temperature (PV) or feed pressure (V·P), temperature drop due to evaporation (PV) or feed‐side pressure drop (V·P), and permeate pressure. The target solvents considered were: acetonitrile, 1‐butanol, N,N‐dimethyl formamide, ethanol, methanol, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl tert‐butyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, and 2‐propanol. Published 2019. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Malic acid production from renewables: a review
Authors: Kövilein Aline , Kubisch Christin , Cai Liyin , Ochsenreither Katrin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMalic acid derived from fossil resources is currently applied in the food and beverage industries with a medium global production capacity. However, in the transition from a fossil‐based to a bio‐based economy, biotechnologically produced l‐malic acid may become an important platform chemical with many new applications, especially in the field of biopolymers. In this review, currently used petrochemical production routes to dl‐malic acid are outlined and insights into possible bio‐based alternatives for microbial l‐malic acid production are provided. Besides ecological reasons, the possibility to produce enantiopure l‐malic acid by microbial fermentation is the biggest advantage over chemical synthesis. State‐of‐the‐art and open challenges concerning production host engineering, substrate choice and downstream processing are addressed. With regard to production hosts, a literature overview is given covering the leading natural production strains of Aspergillus, Ustilago and Aureobasidium, as well as Escherichia coli as the most important engineered recombinant host. The utilization of renewable substrates as an alternative to glucose is emphasized in particular as a key aspect for a competitive bio‐based production. Out of the alternative substrates discussed in this review, the industrial side‐streams crude glycerol and molasses seem to be most promising for large‐scale l‐malic acid production. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Dual anti‐inflammatory and antiglycation propensities of a potentially novel class of functionalized fluoroquinolones
Authors: Hamdan Alaa , Kasabri Violet , Al‐Hiari Yusuf , Arabiyat Shereen , AlAlawi Sundus , Bustanji Yasser 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPromoted by elevated blood glucose concentrations in diabetes, glycation involves the nonenzymatic addition of reducing sugars and/or their reactive degradation products to amine groups on proteins. New synthetic approaches to 18 fluoroquinolones (FQs) have been developed on the basis of a promising antiglycation activity using 400μM methylglyoxal as the choice glucocytotoxicity concentration. Their anti‐inflammatory and radical scavenging properties were elucidated in vitro. Intriguingly, FQs could exhibit an exceedingly more superior than or substantially comparable cytoprotection against methylglyoxal‐induced carbonyl toxicity in RAW264.7 macrophages and antiglycation activity to aminoguanidine, as the reference compound. This kind of activity can suggestively be associated with the chelating properties possessed by the synthesized FQs as their DPPH radical scavenging activities proved to be significantly inferior to those of the reference compound, the ascorbic acid. The inhibitory bioactivities using the Griess assay were examined of the compounds against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Selectively, compounds R‐2TCBA, R‐4FACBA, R‐3TCBA, and R‐4CLACBA exerted an exceedingly remarkable and superior anti‐inflammatory effects (P < .001 vs indomethacin IC50 value of 101.07 ± 2.2 μM) while R‐4TCBA and T‐4BrACBA were moderately more efficacious than indomethacin. Compounds T‐4CLACBA and R‐4BrACBA displayed comparable activity with indomethacin. None of the tested compounds and indomethacin exerted any cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. FQs possess potent duality of antiglycation–anti‐inflammatory capacities and are devoid of undesirable side effects. FQs can, therefore, serve as scaffolds for the development and designing of new clinical deglycation and antiglycation therapeutic agents.
The impact of hepatitis B virus infection status on the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A population‐based study
Authors: Huang Jiaofeng , Jing Mengli , Wang Ciyang , Wang Mingfang , You Shunjie , Lin Su , Zhu Yueyong 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to explore the impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on clinical big data.MethodsData were collected from the health examination center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Univariate and multivariate analysis were applied to investigate the relationship between HBV and NAFLD.ResultsA total of 14 452 patients were included, with an average age of 43.84 ± 13.03 years. Cases of HBV current infection, past infection, and noninfection were 21 102 110 (14.6%), 90 039 003 (62.3%), and 33 393 339 (23.1%), respectively. The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly lower in the current infection group (29.9%) than in the past infection group (35.8%) and noninfection group (31.9%) (P < .001). After adjusting for age, the prevalence of NAFLD in the current infection group remained the lowest across all of the age groups. Multivariate analysis showed that current infection was at a lower risk of NAFLD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.717, 95% CI: 0.608‐0.846), whereas past infection had no effect on NAFLD.ConclusionsCurrent HBV infection may lower the risk of NAFLD. This effect becomes insignificant when the patient is no longer infected.
A Unified Analytical Transregional MOSFET Model for Nanoscale CMOS Digital Technologies
Authors: Kalra Shruti , Bhattacharyya Amalendu Bhushan 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFor IC designers, power has always been the main design constraint. Near threshold (moderate inversion) computing is a promising technique to manage power and energy requirements. A modeling framework specific to moderate inversion is developed in literature known as Transregional Mosfet Model (TRM). This paper presents an extension of TRM model by considering the lateral and vertical field dependent mobility of carriers that make it suitable for circuit design at supply voltages not restricted to near threshold voltage. The model proposed is the unified model applicable in all operating regions (weak, moderate, and strong) and all saturation levels from a long channel with negligible effect of velocity saturation to a short channel having extreme velocity saturation. Further, it has been shown that the proposed drain current model can be reduced to unified interpolated expression of EKV model for long channel MOSFET.
Atrial fibrillation risk factor management with a plant‐based diet: A review
Authors: Storz Maximilian Andreas , Helle Paul 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAtrial fibrillation is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia in the clinical setting affecting approximately 34 million individuals worldwide. The disease is associated with a significant burden of morbidity and mortality resulting from stroke, heart failure, and acute coronary syndrome. Atrial fibrillation is now a major public health problem with tremendous implications on the economy and the world's healthcare systems. Numerous risk factors and clinical conditions that are associated with the development and progression of atrial fibrillation have been identified in the past. Within the last decades, a shift in awareness toward modifiable conditions has been observed and risk factor management has gained significant momentum. In light of this, dietary approaches are of paramount importance. Whole‐food plant‐based diets emphasizing grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits and nuts and excluding most (or all) animal products have recently experienced a significantly increased interest. The purpose of this review is to present evidence suggestive of a plant‐based diet being a valuable tool in atrial fibrillation risk factor management. The effects of a plant‐based diet on both established and emerging risk factors, such as inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis, are reviewed in this article. A special focus is put on cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors including hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and obesity.
The Apoptosis Pathway and CASP8 Variants Conferring Risk for Acute and Overuse Musculoskeletal Injuries
Authors: Seale Kirsten , Burger Marilize , Posthumus Michael , Häger Charlotte K. , Stattin Evalena , Nilsson Kjell G. , Collins Malcolm , September Alison V. 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTRotator cuff tendinopathy (RCT), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures, and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), are examples of chronic (RCT and CTS) and acute (ACL ruptures) musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries. These injuries are multifactorial in nature, with several identified intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. Previous studies have implicated specific sequence variants within genes encoding structural and regulatory components of the extracellular matrix of tendons and/ligaments to predispose individuals to these injuries. An example, includes the association of sequence variants within the apoptotic regulatory gene, caspase‐8 (CASP8) with other musculoskeletal injury phenotypes, such as Achilles tendinopathy. The primary aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate previously implicated DNA sequence variants within CASP8: rs3834129 (ins/del) and rs1045485 (G/C), and the rs13113 (T/A) identified using a whole exome sequencing approach, with risk of musculoskeletal injury phenotypes (RCT, ACL ruptures, and CTS) in three independent studies. In addition, the aim was to implicate a CASP8 genomic interval in the modulation of risk of RCT, ACL ruptures, or CTS. It was found that the AA genotype of CASP8 rs13113 (T/A) was independently associated with increased risk for CTS. In addition, it was found that the del‐C haplotype (rs3834129–rs1045485) was significantly associated with non‐contact ACL ruptures, which is in alignment with previous research findings. Collectively, the results of this study implicate the apoptosis pathway as biologically significant in the underlying pathogenesis of musculoskeletal injury phenotypes. These findings should be repeated in larger sample cohorts and across different populations. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:680–688, 2020
Enhanced Subchondroplasty Treatment for Post‐Traumatic Cartilage and Subchondral Bone Marrow Lesions in a Canine Model
Authors: Oliver Harvey A. , Bozynski Chantelle C. , Cook Cristi R. , Kuroki Keiichi , Sherman Seth L. , Stoker Aaron M. , Cook James L. 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTThis study characterizes outcomes associated with subchondroplasty (SCP) versus SCP enhanced with platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) or bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMC) treatment of impact‐induced subchondral bone marrow lesions (BML) using a validated preclinical canine model. With IACUC approval, purpose‐bred research hounds (n = 24) underwent arthroscopic impact injury (40 N) to both medial femoral condyles. At 3 months, functional assessments, arthroscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. One knee in each dog (n = 24; n = 12 per endpoint) was randomly assigned to SCP with the other knee randomly assigned to SCP + PRP, SCP + BMC or sham injection (control) (n = 8 per group; n = 4 per endpoint). Dogs were evaluated at 6 and 12 months after treatment using functional assessments, radiography, arthroscopy, and MRI and humanely euthanatized at 6 or 12 months after treatment for histologic assessments. At 6 months post‐treatment, comfortable range‐of‐motion (CROM) was higher (p < 0.04) in SCP + PRP and SCP + BMC knees compared with controls. At 1 year post‐treatment, %Total Pressure Index was higher (p = 0.036) in SCP + BMC compared with controls, pain was lower (p < 0.05) in SCP + BMC and SCP + PRP compared with SCP and controls, and CROM was higher (p < 0.05) in SCP + BMC and SCP + PRP compared with SCP and controls. Knees treated with SCP + PRP and SCP + BMC had better (p < 0.05) MRI grades than SCP and controls. No statistically significant differences in arthroscopic or histologic pathology were noted. Clinical significance: Biologics added to SCP treatment may further enhance its beneficial effects by improving range‐of‐motion, pain severity, and limb loading through 1 year after treatment. However, these benefits must be considered alongside cost, logistics, and treatment availability. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:740‐746, 2020
Morphostratigraphy and provenance of Plio‐Pleistocene terraces in the south‐eastern Alpine foreland: the Mislinja and Upper Savinja valleys, northern Slovenia
Authors: Mencin Gale Eva , Jamšek Rupnik Petra , Trajanova Mirka , Bavec Miloš , Anselmetti Flavio S. , Šmuc Andrej 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTThis study focuses on the Plio‐Pleistocene fluvial deposits preserved in the terrace staircases in the south‐eastern Alpine foreland of the Mislinja (MV) and Upper Savinja valleys (USV) in northern Slovenia. The area is located at the north‐eastern margin of the Adria microplate, where neotectonic activity is the prevailing driving force for the terrace formation. The aim of this study is to determine the morphostratigraphy and provenance of the Pliocene to Early Pleistocene gravels using geomorphic and clast lithological analysis. The established morphostratigraphic framework encompasses three terraces in the MV and five terraces in the USV. Due to the lack of age‐relevant data, the morphostratigraphy of the MV and USV is based on the results of geomorphic analysis, clast petrography and data from the literature. Low‐level, middle‐level and high‐level terrace groups were tentatively attributed to the Late and Middle Pleistocene, Early Pleistocene–Pliocene and Pliocene, and compared with the traditional Quaternary stratigraphy of the Alpine foreland. The results of the clast lithological analysis revealed major provenance areas. Moreover, the evolution of long‐term drainage from the Miocene onward was inferred, which suggests that the system reached conformity with the present‐day drainage pattern at the Miocene to Plio‐Pleistocene transition. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laparoscopic resection for Bismuth type III and IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma: How to improve the radicality without direct palpation
Authors: Feng Feng , Cao Xuehui , Liu Xueqing , Qin Jianzhang , Zhang Shubin , Li Qiusheng , Liu Jianhua 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundOpen surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) has already been widely reported and analyzed. However, the laparoscopic technique for treating HCCA remains controversial because of the lack of radicality and poor assessment of the resectability of hilar structures without direct palpation. The aim of this study was to provide detailed surgical procedures and photographs of this technically demanding operation, describe our experience in assessing resectability before and during surgery, and confirm the radicality of laparoscopic resection of Bismuth type III and IV HCCA.MethodsFrom November 2016 to November 2018, nine patients received laparoscopic resection of Bismuth type III or IV HCCA in our department.ResultsLaparoscopic right hepatectomy was performed in four patients, and laparoscopic left hepatectomy was performed in five patients. Negative margins were achieved in all patients. Complications were found in two (22.22%) patients, with bile leakage and hepatic insufficiency each in one patient. The patient developing hepatic insufficiency had persistent and ongoing liver failure and finally expired.ConclusionThe radicality of laparoscopic resection for Bismuth type III and IV HCCA can be technically improved through extended lymphadenectomy, visual assessment of hilar structures, and frozen section techniques.