bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Obesity is Associated with Worse Outcomes in COVID‐19: Analysis of Early Data from New York City
Authors: Hajifathalian Kaveh , Kumar Sonal , Newberry Carolyn , Shah Shawn , Fortune Brett , Krisko Tibor , Ortiz‐Pujols Shiara , Zhou Xi Kathy , Dannenberg Andrew J. , Kumar Rekha , Sharaiha Reem Z. 
Published: May 2020

ObjectiveThe 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) has triggered a rapidly expanding global pandemic in which patients exhibit a wide spectrum of disease severity. Given the high prevalence of obesity in the United States, we hypothesized that the presence of obesity may play a role in the clinical course of patients with COVID‐19.MethodsThis is a retrospective review of adult patients admitted with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and clinical outcomes were abstracted. BMI (kilograms per meter squared) was analyzed with regard to a composite outcome of intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death and intubation rate.ResultsAbout 770 patients were included (61% male, mean age 63.5 years). Patients with obesity were more likely to present with fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Obesity was also associated with a significantly higher rate of ICU admission or death (RR = 1.58, P = 0.002) even after adjusting for age, race, and troponin level.ConclusionsPatients with obesity had an increased risk for critical illness leading to ICU admission or death compared with normal weight individuals. This study confirms that obesity is a major risk factor for COVID‐19 disease severity, significantly impacting disease presentation and critical care requirements.
Condensation of chloromethanes and their binary systems with triphenylphosphine induced by low‐voltage discharges
Authors: Bodrikov Ivan V. , Titov Evgeniy Y. , Subbotin Andrey Y. , Grinvald Iosif I. , Titov Dmitry Y. , Razov Evgeny N. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractSolid structures of different shapes, hydrogen chloride, and a small number of liquid products are formed from chloromethanes (CH2Cl2 and CHCl3) and binary systems with triphenylphosphine (CH2Cl2 + PPh3, CHCl3 + PPh3, and CCl4 + PPh3) under the action of a liquid‐phase low‐voltage discharge (60‐V DC). It is observed that triphenylphosphine additives sharply increase the reactivity of CCl4. Besides, a quantum chemical simulation of chloromethane transformation mechanism in the binary systems with triphenylphosphine is conducted, together with the likely mechanism of chloromethane conversion into active particles under the action of a liquid‐phase low‐voltage pulsed discharge.
Development of a fast‐switching dual (ESI/APCI) ionization source for liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
Authors: Brecht Dominik , Uteschil Florian , Schmitz Oliver J. 
Published: May 2020

RationaleHigh‐throughput liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is an increasing topic in analytical chemistry. Especially the idle time of a mass spectrometer should be reduced for an efficient and cost‐saving use. Therefore, a fast‐switching dual ion source was developed, which uses the most important ionization techniques at atmospheric pressure, electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), with one or more LC systems.MethodsThe performance of the developed ion source is shown by infusion experiments and chromatographic analyses of different standard substances. A high‐throughput method is demonstrated by coupling two UHPLC systems to the dual ion source with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.ResultsNo decrease in the ion abundance and a stable performance of the mass spectrometer are presented while using the dual ion source. Instrumental limits of detection are 30 ng L−1 for testosterone using ESI and 1 μg L−1 for vitamin D3 using APCI. A fast switching between two UHPLC systems and the dual ion source leads to a high sample throughput of 50 samples in 75 min with relative standard deviations for testosterone and vitamin D3 of 1.5% and 3.8%, respectively.ConclusionsThis work presents the development of a dual ESI and APCI ion source operating simultaneously or in switched mode. The results show sensitive and reliable performance as well as the hyphenation to one or more HPLC systems.
Shadow of the great firewall: The impact of Google blockade on innovation in China
Authors: Zheng Yanfeng , Wang Qinyu (Ryan) 
Published: May 2020

AbstractResearch summaryBuilding on the search‐based view of innovation, we develop a framework regarding how Google guides innovative search behavior. We exploit an exogenous shock, China's unexpected blockade of Google in 2014, and adopt a difference‐in‐differences approach with a matched sample of patents from China and nearby regions to test our predictions. Our analyses show that the blockade negatively affected inventors in China to search distantly in technological and cognitive spaces compared to those in the control group who were presumably unaffected by the event. The impact was less severe for inventors with larger collaboration networks but became more pronounced in technological fields proximate to science. Our findings contribute to innovative search literature and highlight the theoretical and practical importance of Internet technologies in developing valuable inventions.Managerial summaryInventors nowadays depend heavily on Internet search to access information and knowledge. They therefore become vulnerable to barriers imposed on their online search. In this study, we find that China's unexpected blockade of Google and its affiliated services altered the searching behavior of inventors in China such that they became less able to seek distant knowledge. This impact was further contingent on the availability of offline knowledge channels and the reliance of each technological field on science. We also find that the economic value of their inventions decreased due to the blockade. Our findings reveal a neglected but consequential aspect of Internet censorship beyond the commonly found media effect and offer important implications to practitioners and policymakers.
Separate quantification of anastrozole and letrozole by a novel stability‐indicating ultra‐fast LC method
Authors: Galla Vamsi Krishna , Jinka Rajeswari , Sahu Prafulla Kumar 
Published: May 2020

AbstractA unified stability‐indicating method has been proposed using standardized ultra‐fast liquid chromatography conditions applicable to quantification of both anastrozole and letrozole in low dose pharmaceutical tablets. The drugs were subjected to chromatography one at a time following forced degradation at accelerated stress conditions. Separation of the main analyte from the possible degradation products was achieved on a Waters Aquity BEH C18 (50 × 2.1 mm; 1.7 µm) column maintained at 40°C with gradient elution of mobile phase comprising solvent A (0.1% orthophosphoric acid and acetonitrile [70:30 v/v]) and solvent‐B (0.1% orthophosphoric acid and acetonitrile [30:70 v/v]) at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Photo diode array detection of anastrozole and letrozole was made at 215 and 236 nm, respectively. The stress testing demonstrated that both the drugs are susceptible to degrade by base hydrolysis and oxidation. The method was also applied for cleaning validation (residue analysis) at 0.5 µg with a limit of quantification > 10 S/N for 0.1 µg of both drugs. The recovery assessed on two different surfaces of cGMP area (Stainless steel and Class‐A Glass) was satisfactory.
Development of a waste‐based eco‐friendly structural mortar without Portland cement and natural sand
Authors: Gholampour Aliakbar , Ozbakkaloglu Togay , Ngo Tuan D. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study is to develop a new eco‐friendly structural mortar for reducing the CO2 emissions inherent in the use of cement in concrete together with the extraction of the nonrenewable natural sand (NS). This clean production is achieved by fully replacing cement with glass powder (GP), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) as industrial by‐products, and NS with glass sand (GS) and foundry sand (FS) as waste‐based sands. To this end, 26 mortar batches were prepared, and their compressive and direct tensile strength and flowability were studied. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy were employed to link the microstructure of the mortars with the obtained properties. The results show that waste‐based mortars (WBMs) with NS have a higher flowability compared with those with GS (up to 44%) and FS (up to 47%). The results also reveal that the strengths of WBMs with GS are identical to those with NS, whereas these properties of mortars containing FS are slightly lower (up to 6%). In addition, the results show that when 80% of cement is replaced with GGBS and 100% of NS is replaced with GS or FS, the strength marginally reduces (up to 7%) compared with the conventional mortar, which is attributed to their similar hydration products amounts at the interfacial transition zones of binder‐sand. At cement replacement levels of 90–100%, the strength of the WBMs degrades; however, the loss in strength is limited to ~20–30%. These promising results indicate the possibility of developing new eco‐friendly mortars for structural applications by completely replacing cement and NS with waste materials.
miR‐146a promotes proliferation, invasion, and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition in oral squamous carcinoma cells
Authors: Wang Fan , Ye Li‐Jun , Wang Feng‐Juan , Liu Hong‐Fang , Wang Xiao‐Long 
Published: May 2020

AbstractEpithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is key to invasion and metastasis by oral squamous carcinoma (OSCC) cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) such as miRNA‐146a are known to be upregulated in OSCC. However, it is unclear whether they are involved in driving EMT. Here, we investigated the effect of miR‐146a overexpression on proliferation, migration, and EMT in OSCC cells. OSCC cells were transfected with a plasmid expressing miR‐146a precursor. Cell lines that stably overexpressed miRNA‐146a were assessed for proliferation, colony formation, and invasiveness in vitro. Expression of markers and regulators of EMT, cell motility, and invasion were measured by qRT‐PCR and western blot. Potential miRNA‐146a binding sites in the 3′UTR of ST8SIA4 were identified by bioinformatic analysis. To confirm that miRNA‐146a binds to and regulates ST8SIA4, we transfected OSCC cell lines with miRNA‐146a mimics and a luciferase reporter construct containing either the wild type or mutant 3′UTR of ST8SIA4. OSCC cell lines that overexpressed miR‐146a displayed higher proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and MMP‐2 activity than cells transfected with a control vector. Overexpression of miR‐146a also decreased expression of the epithelial cell marker E‐cadherin and increased expression of Twist1, a transcription factor that promotes EMT, as well as markers associated with mesenchymal cells (vimentin and N‐cadherin) and tumor invasion (p‐paxillin and p‐cortactin). Luciferase expression was lower in OSCC cells transfected with miRNA‐146a mimics or with luciferase constructs carrying the wild type, but not mutant, 3′UTR of ST8SIA4. Overexpression of miR‐146a promotes EMT phenotypes and may drive tumorigenesis and progression in OSCC, making it a useful target for future OSCC treatments.
Adipocyte Specific Signaling
Authors: Carrageta David F. , Oliveira Pedro F. , Monteiro Mariana P. , Alves Marco G. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAdipocytes are the most abundant cells within the adipose tissue and are the cell type responsible for the tissue dynamic metabolic and endocrine activity. Under energy surplus conditions, the adipocyte is able to suffer hypertrophy in order to accommodate energy in form of lipids. Simultaneously, new adipocytes are differentiated through a complex and specific process, known as adipogenesis. While this process seems clear for white adipocytes in white adipose tissue, brown adipocytes and brown adipose tissue have distinct characteristics and function. Brown adipocytes are not related with fat accumulation but rather with thermogenesis, a process defined by a rapidly oxidization of lipids in order to produce heat. Additionally, a class of beige adipocytes, which are inducible thermogenic adipocytes originating from white adipose tissue and phenotypically distinct from both, have been described though how these are originated and which are the main functions are still matters of discussion. Interestingly, the induction of thermogenesis seems to improve insulin resistance, adiposity and hyperlipidemia. Thus, inducing the browning of white adipocytes to beige adipocytes is thought to be promising to improve the common metabolic disorders, such as obesity or metabolic syndrome. This chapter focuses on the specific signaling and regulatory control of adipocyte functions, particularly adipogenesis and adipocyte browning. Emerging insights of these processes are herein discussed, as promising therapeutic targets for obesity and other common metabolic disorders.
Cell Signaling Within Endocrine Glands: Thyroid, Parathyroids and Adrenal Glands
Authors: Pereira Sofia S. , Lobato Carolina B. , Monteiro Mariana P. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractDespite the fact that there can be argued that no single cell in the human body can be devoid of molecular tools that fit into the broad definition of an endocrine function, some organs are primarily dedicated to hormone secretion and are therefore designated endocrine glands. Under regulation by pituitary gland (reviewed on the previous chapter), three peripheral organs are exclusively devoted to endocrine functions: the thyroid, the parathyroid and the adrenal glands. This Chapter on endocrine system will cover the signaling pathways implied in these three organs, with identification of their particular and shared features.
On plane-symmetric rigid-body motions
Authors: Bayril D. , Selig J. M. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis work studies the neglected subject of plane symmetric rigid-body motions. A plane symmetric motion is generated by reflecting a rigid body in successive planes of a one parameter family of planes. To make this a rigid-body motion we begin by reflecting the body in a fixed initial plane before reflecting in the next plane of the family. In particular the twist velocity and fixed axodes of these motion are investigated. Three families of planes can be associated to a space curve, the osculating, normal and rectifying planes. The plane symmetric motions generated by each of these families is investigated. The acceleration centre of the general plane symmetric motion is found together with some other properties of the acceleration of this motion. Special curves are known that have partner curves, the relationship between motions defined by some of these curves and their partners is studied. Finally, line symmetric motions generated by the normal and binormal lines to a curve are studied as combinations of pairs of plane symmetric motions.
Reagent-free total protein quantification of intact extracellular vesicles by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy
Authors: Szentirmai Veronika , Wacha András , Németh Csaba , Kitka Diána , Rácz Anita , Héberger Károly , Mihály Judith , Varga Zoltán 
Published: May 2020

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer–bounded particles that are actively synthesized and released by cells. The main components of EVs are lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and their composition is characteristic to their type and origin, and it reveals the physiological and pathological conditions of the parent cells. The concentration and protein composition of EVs closely relate to their functions; therefore, total protein determination can assist in EV-based diagnostics and disease prognosis. Here, we present a simple, reagent-free method based on attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to quantify the protein content of EV samples without any further sample preparation. After calibration with bovine serum albumin, the protein concentration of red blood cell–derived EVs (REVs) were investigated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The integrated area of the amide I band was calculated from the IR spectra of REVs, which was proportional to the protein quantity in the sample‚ regardless of its secondary structure. A spike test and a dilution test were performed to determine the ability to use ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for protein quantification in EV samples, which resulted in linearity with R2 values as high as 0.992 over the concentration range of 0.08 to 1 mg/mL. Additionally, multivariate calibration with the partial least squares (PLS) regression method was carried out on the bovine serum albumin and EV spectra. R2 values were 0.94 for the calibration and 0.91 for the validation set. The results indicate that ATR-FTIR measurements provide a reliable method for reagent-free protein quantification of EVs.
Differences in the sensitivity of classically and alternatively activated macrophages to TAK1 inhibitor-induced necroptosis
Authors: Varga Zsófia , Molnár Tamás , Mázló Anett , Kovács Ramóna , Jenei Viktória , Kerekes Krisztina , Bácsi Attila , Koncz Gábor 
Published: May 2020

AbstractControlling the balance of pro-inflammatory M1 versus anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages may have paramount therapeutic benefit in cardiovascular diseases, infections, cancer and chronic inflammation. The targeted depletion of different macrophage populations provides a therapeutic option to regulate macrophage-mediated functions. Macrophages are highly sensitive to necroptosis, a newly described regulated cell death mediated by receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3 and mixed lineage kinase domain like pseudokinase. Antagonists of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (SMAC mimetics) block RIPK1 ubiquitination, while TGF-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) inhibitors prevent the phosphorylation of RIPK1, resulting in increased necroptosis. We compared the sensitivity of monocyte-derived human M1 and M2 cells to various apoptotic and necroptotic signals. The two cell types were equally sensitive to all investigated stimuli, but TAK1 inhibitor induced more intense necroptosis in M2 cells. Consequently, the treatment of co-cultured M1 and M2 cells with TAK1 inhibitor shifted the balance of the two populations toward M1 dominance. Blockage of either Aurora Kinase A or glycogen synthase kinase 3β, two newly described necroptosis inhibitors, increased the sensitivity of M1 cells to TAK1-inhibitor-induced cell death. Finally, we demonstrated that in vitro differentiated tumor-associated macrophages (TAM-like cells) were as highly sensitive to TAK1 inhibitor-induced necroptosis as M2 cells. Our results indicate that at least two different necroptotic pathways operate in macrophages and the targeted elimination of different macrophage populations by TAK1 inhibitor or SMAC mimetic may provide a therapeutic option to regulate the balance of inflammatory/anti-inflammatory macrophage functions.
Functional outcome after corrective osteotomy for malunion of the distal radius: a randomised, controlled, double-blind trial
Authors: Andreasson Ingrid , Kjellby-Wendt Gunilla , Fagevik Olsén Monika , Aurell Ylva , Ullman Michael , Karlsson Jón 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this randomised, controlled, double-blind trial was to evaluate functional outcome during the first year after corrective osteotomy for malunited distal radius fractures, with or without filling the osteotomy void.

Method
Patients were randomised to receive a HydroSet bone substitute or no graft. Cortical contact was maintained and stabilisation of the osteotomy was carried out with a DiPhos R- or RM Plate. To evaluate subjective functional outcome, the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (Q-DASH), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the RAND-36 were used. Moreover, range of motion and grip strength were measured by blinded evaluators. Evaluations were made pre-operatively and three, six and 12 months post-operatively.

Results
There were no significant differences between the groups at any time point post-operatively with respect to any of the PROMs that were used or range of motion or grip strength (p > 0.05). In both groups, there was a significant improvement at the 12-month follow-up compared with pre-operatively for the PRWE, the Q-DASH and the COPM satisfaction scores. The RAND-36 revealed no significant differences except for two domains, in which there was an improvement in the treatment group (p < 0.05). For grip strength and for range of motion in all movement directions, except dorsal extension, there was a significant improvement in both groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
There is no significant difference in functional outcome during the first year after corrective open-wedge distal radius osteotomy, where cortical contact is maintained, regardless of whether or not bone substitute to fill the void is used.
Exposure–response analysis of endoxifen serum concentrations in early-breast cancer
Authors: Sanchez-Spitman Anabel Beatriz , Moes Dirk-Jan A. R. , Swen Jesse J. , Dezentjé Vincent O. , Lambrechts Diether , Neven Patrick , Gelderblom Hans , Guchelaar Henk-Jan 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Purpose

Tamoxifen is part of endocrine therapy in breast cancer treatment. Studies have indicated the use of endoxifen concentrations, tamoxifen active metabolite, to guide tamoxifen efficacy. Three endoxifen thresholds have been suggested (5.9 ng/ml, 5.2 ng/ml and 3.3 ng/ml) for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). Our aim was to validate these thresholds and to examine endoxifen exposure with clinical outcome in early-breast cancer patients using tamoxifen.

Methods
Data from 667 patients from the CYPTAM study (NTR1509) were available. Patients were stratified (above or below), according to the endoxifen threshold values for tamoxifen efficacy and tested by Cox regression. Logistic regressions to estimate the probability of relapse and tamoxifen discontinuation were performed.

Results
None of the thresholds showed a statistically significant difference in relapse-free survival: 5.2 ng/ml threshold: hazard ratio (HR): 2.545, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.912–7.096, p value: 0.074; 3.3 ng/ml threshold: HR: 0.728; 95% CI 0.421–1.258, p value: 0.255. Logistic regression did not show a statistically significant association between the risk of relapse (odds ratio (OR): 0.971 (95% CI 0.923–1.021, p value: 0.248) and the risk for tamoxifen discontinuation (OR: 1.006 95% CI 0.961–1.053, p value: 0.798) with endoxifen concentrations.

Conclusion
Our findings do not confirm the endoxifen threshold values for TDM nor does it allow definition of a novel threshold. These findings indicate a limited value of TDM to guide tamoxifen efficacy.