bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coffee pulp accelerates early tropical forest succession on old fields
Authors: Cole Rebecca J. , Zahawi Rakan A. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Applying nutrient‐rich agricultural by‐products, such as fruit peels and pulp, to degraded land has been proposed as a strategy to overcome a number of barriers to tropical forest recovery. While such linkages between agroindustry and restoration represent win–win scenarios, practical applications remain largely unexplored. In this case study, we tested coffee pulp as an amendment to catalyze forest succession on post‐agricultural land in southern Costa Rica.

A 0.5‐m‐deep layer of coffee pulp was deposited across a 35 × 40‐m area and an adjacent similar‐sized control plot (no coffee pulp addition) was delineated. Over 2 years, we measured changes in soil nutrients, ground cover, understory vegetation, tree establishment and canopy cover across both coffee pulp and control treatments.

Our results show that soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous were substantially elevated in the coffee pulp compared to control treatment after 2 years. Coffee pulp addition significantly altered the ground cover characteristics, eliminating pasture grasses, facilitating establishment of herbaceous plants and increasing the percent area covered by leaf litter.

Early‐successional trees and shrubs established quickly in the coffee pulp treatment, reaching 30‐fold greater mean basal area and 20‐fold greater woody stem density (>1‐cm‐dbh) compared to the control treatment. Structural metrics showed fourfold greater mean canopy height in the coffee pulp compared to control treatment. Canopy height >5 m was ∼40% in the coffee pulp but was negligible (<3%) in the control treatment.

Our study highlights the significant potential for using agricultural waste, such as coffee pulp, to jump start forest succession on degraded tropical lands and encourages further research to optimize linkages between agroindustry and restoration.
Teratogenic and Neurotoxic Effects of n-Butanol on Zebrafish Development
Authors: Köktürk Mine , Çomaklı Selim , Özkaraca Mustafa , Alak Gonca , Atamanalp Muhammed 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In recent years, n-butanol, a type of alcohol, has been widely used from the chemical industry to the food industry. In this study, toxic effects of n-butanol's different concentrations (10, 50, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, and 1,250 mg/L) in Zebrafish Danio rerio embryos and larvae were investigated. For this purpose, Zebrafish embryos were exposed to n-butanol in acute semistatic applications. Teratogenic effects such as cardiac edema, scoliosis, lordosis, head development abnormality, yolk sac edema, and tail abnormality were determined at different time intervals (24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h). Additionally, histopathological abnormalities such as vacuole formation in brain tissue and necrosis in liver tissue were observed at high doses (500, 750, and 1,000 mg/L) in all treatment groups at 96 h. It was determined that heart rate decreased at 48, 72, and 96 h due to an increase in concentration. In addition, alcohol-induced eye size reduction (microphthalmia) and single eye formation (cyclopia) are also among the effects observed in our research findings. In conclusion, n-butanol has been observed to cause intense neurotoxic, teratogenic, and cardiotoxic effects in Zebrafish embryos and larvae.
Variation in thyroid volumes due to differences in the measured length or area of the cross‐sectional plane: A validation study of the ellipsoid approximation method using CT images
Authors: Fujita Naotoshi , Kato Katsuhiko , Abe Shinji , Naganawa Shinji 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurposeThis study examined the variation in the thyroid volume determined by the ellipsoid approximation method due to differences in the measured length or area of the cross‐sectional plane of CT images.MethodsForty‐five patients with Graves' disease were included in this retrospective study. We designated the three‐dimensional thyroid volumes extracted manually (VCT) as the reference data and calculated five approximate volumes for comparison: (a) the mean volume of 8100 different thyroid volumes depending on the diameter of the cross‐sectional plane at the midpoint of the major axis, (Vellipsoid,mean); (b) the volume using the maximum diameter and its orthogonal diameter, (Vellipsoid,maxlength); (c) the maximum (Vellipsoid,maxvolume); (d) minimum (Vellipsoid,minvolume) of the 8100 thyroid volumes; and (e) the volume determined with an equivalent circle diameter, (Vellipsoid,Heywood).ResultsThyroid volumes obtained via the ellipsoid approximation method varied depending on the diameter of the cross‐sectional plane and included a mean error of approximately 20%, while the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) differed for each approximate volume. Among these volumes, Vellipsoid,mean and Vellipsoid,Heywood were in good agreement with VCT, according to single regression analyses and the resultant CCC values, with mean errors of 0.1% and 10.4%, respectively.ConclusionWhile Vellipsoid,Heywood approximated thyroid volumes with vastly reduced errors, we recommend utilizing three‐dimensional thyroid volumetry if measurement accuracy is required.
A method for quantitative evaluations of scanning‐proton dose distributions
Authors: Allred Bryce C. , Shan Jie , Robertson Daniel G. , DeWees Todd A. , Shen Jiajian , Liu Wei , Stoker Joshua B. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurposePatient‐Specific Quality Assurance (PSQA) measurement analysis depends on generating metrics representative of calculation and measurement agreement. Considering the heightened capability of discrete spot scanning protons to modulate individual dose voxels, a dose plane comparison approach that maintained all of the capabilities of the well‐established γ test, but that also provided a more intuitive error parameterization, was desired.MethodsAnalysis was performed for 300 dose planes compared by searching all calculated points within a fixed radius around each measured pixel to determine the dose deviation. Dose plane agreement is reported as the dose difference minimum (DDM) within an empirically established search radius: ΔDmin(r). This per‐pixel metric is aggregated into a histogram binned by dose deviation. Search‐radius criteria were based on a weighted‐beamlet 3σ spatial deviation from imaging isocenter. Equipment setup error was mitigated during analysis using tracked image registration, ensuring beamlet deviations to be the dominant source of spatial error. The percentage of comparison points with <3% dose difference determined pass rate.ResultsThe mean beamlet radial deviation was 0.38mm from x‐ray isocenter, with a standard deviation of 0.19mm, such that 99.9% of relevant pencil beams were within 1 mm of nominal. The dose‐plane comparison data showed no change in passing rate between a 3%/1mm ΔDmin(r) analysis (97.6 +/‐ 3.6%) and a 3%/2mm γ test (97.7 +/‐ 3.2%).ConclusionsPSQA dose‐comparison agreements corresponding to a search radius outside of machine performance limits are likely false positives. However, the elliptical shape of the γ test is too dose‐restrictive with a spatial‐error threshold set at 1 mm. This work introduces a cylindrical search shape, proposed herein as more relevant to plan quality, as part of the new DDM planar‐dose comparison algorithm. DDM accepts all pixels within a given dose threshold inside the search radius, and carries forward plan‐quality metrics in a straightforward manner for evaluation.
Effects of variable‐width jaw motion on beam characteristics for Radixact Synchrony®
Authors: Ferris William S. , Culberson Wesley S. , Smilowitz Jennifer B. , Bayouth John E. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurposeRadixact Synchrony corrects for target motion during treatment by adjusting the jaw and MLC positions in real time. As the jaws move off axis, Synchrony attempts to adjust for a loss in output due to the un‐flattened 6 MV beam by increasing the jaw aperture width. The purpose of this work was to assess the impact of the variable‐width aperture on delivered dose using measurements and simulations.MethodsLongitudinal beam profile measurements were acquired using an Edge diode with static gantry. Jaw‐offset peak, width, and integral factors were calculated for profiles with the jaws in the extreme positions using both variable‐width (Synchrony) and fixed‐width apertures. Treatment plans with target motion and compensation were compared to planned doses to study the impact of the variable aperture on volumetric dose.ResultsThe jaw offset peak factor (JOPF) for the Synchrony jaw settings were 0.964 and 0.983 for the 1.0‐ and 2.5‐cm jaw settings, respectively. These values decreased to 0.925 and 0.982 for the fixed‐width settings, indicating that the peak value of the profile would decrease by 7.5% compared to centered if the aperture width was held constant. The IMRT dose distributions reveal similar results, where gamma pass rates are above tolerance for the Synchrony jaw settings but fall significantly for the fixed‐width 1‐cm jaws.ConclusionsThe variable‐width behavior of Synchrony jaws provides a larger output correction for the 1‐cm jaw setting. Without the variable‐aperture correction, plans with the 1‐cm jaw setting would underdose the target if the jaws spend a significant amount of time in the extreme positions. This work investigated the change in delivered dose with jaws in the extreme positions, therefore overall changes in dose due to offset jaws are expected to be less for composite treatment deliveries.
Decreased Levels of STAT1 and Interferon‐γ–Induced STAT1 Phosphorylation in Rheumatoid Arthritis CD4 and CD8 T Cells
Authors: Sharma Vishal , Pope Brandon J. , Santiago Nathan V. , Boland Molly T. , Sun Dongmei , Reynolds Richard J. , Szalai Alexander J. , Bridges S. Louis , Raman Chander 
Published: March 2021

ObjectiveWe investigated whether a previously reported association of IFNGR expression with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its radiographic severity reflects differences in proximal interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) signaling in T cells from patients with RA compared with healthy controls (HC).MethodsUsing phosphoflow cytometry, we compared IFN‐γ–stimulated signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) activation in CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell populations from patients with RA and HC.ResultsCompared with controls, patients with RA had a higher proportion of CD4+ T cells, associated with expansion of the CD4+ effector memory subset. Several CD4+ T‐cell types exhibited reduced IFN‐γ–induced phosphoSTAT1Y701 (pSTAT1Y701) in patients with RA compared with HC. Engaging the T‐cell receptor (TCR) complex on CD4+ T cells during IFN‐γ stimulation abrogated the reduction in STAT1 activation in patients with RA but had no effect in HC. The phosphorylation of STAT1S727 was similar in CD4+ T cells from patients with RA and HC. In contrast to CD4+ T cells, IFN‐γ–induced pSTAT1Y701 levels in CD8+ T cells were equivalent or higher in patients with RA compared with HC. Total STAT1 levels (phosphorylated + unphosphorylated) were lower in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from patients with RA compared with HC.ConclusionWe report diminished IFN‐γ–induced pSTAT1Y701 levels in CD4+ T cells in patients with RA, which were restored by TCR engagement. There were lower levels of total STAT1 in patients with RA compared with HC, but this likely does not explain diminished IFN‐γ–induced pSTAT1Y701 levels in CD4+ T cells because activation in CD8+ T cells was higher or equivalent to that seen in HC. The enhanced IFNGR expression in patients with RA reported previously may reflect a compensatory mechanism to overcome deficiency in IFN‐γ responsiveness.
Recurrent ganglioneuroma in PTPN11‐associated Noonan syndrome: A case report and literature review
Authors: Morales‐Rosado Joel A. , Singh Herchran , Olson Rory J. , Larsen Brandon T. , Hager Megan M. , Klee Eric W. , Dhamija Radhika 
Published: March 2021

AbstractNoonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant condition with variable expressivity most commonly due to a germline pathogenic variant in PTPN11, which encodes the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP‐2. Gain‐of‐function variants in PTPN11 are known to promote oncogenic behavior in affected tissues. We report the clinical description of a young adult male presenting with relapsing ganglioneuromas, dysmorphic features, cardiac abnormalities, and multiple lentigines, strongly suspicious for NS. Solid tumor testing identified the recurrent pathogenic c.922G>A (p.Asn308Asp) in PTPN11. Proband and parental blood sampling testing confirmed c.922G>A as a de novo germline alteration. Comprehensive literature review of solid tumors specifically associated to PTPN11, indicates that this is the first documentation of ganglioneuroma and its clinical recurrence after resection in conjunction with a genetically confirmed NS diagnosis. The findings in our patient further extend the list of neuroblastic and neural crest‐derived neoplasms associated with this condition.
Entdeckung und Biosynthese eines strukturdynamischen antibakteriellen Diterpenoids
Authors: Zhu Chenxi , Xu Baofu , Adpressa Donovon A. , Rudolf Jeffrey D. , Loesgen Sandra 
Published: March 2021

AbstractEin neues bicyclisches Diterpenoid, Benditerpensäure, wurde aus einem im Erdreich vorkommenden Streptomyceten‐Stamm (CL12‐4) isoliert. Wir sequenzierten das Bakteriengenom, identifizierten den verantwortlichen Biosynthesegencluster, verifizierten die Funktion der Terpensynthase und produzierten heterolog das Diterpenoid‐Grundgerüst. Vergleichende Bioinformatik zeigte, dass dieser Streptomyceten‐Stamm phylogenetisch einzigartig ist und neun Terpensynthasen besitzt. Die absoluten Konfigurationen der neuen trans‐fusionierten Bicyclo[8.4.0]tetradecane wurden durch umfangreiche spektroskopische Analysen erreicht, einschließlich Moshers Analyse, NMR‐basierter Kopplungsanalyse, sowie DFT Berechnungen auf Basis von experimentellen NMR Parametern. Interessanterweise liegt Benditerpensäure in Lösung in zwei Ringkonformationen vor. Die Rotationsbarriere beträgt ca. 16 kcal mol−1. Die Diterpenoide zeigen mäßige antibakterielle Aktivität gegen Gram‐positive Bakterien, einschließlich Methicillin‐resistenten und multiresistenten Staphylococcus aureus. Hier präsentieren wir die erste Isolierung eines bakteriellen Eunicellan‐Diterpenoids und die Identifizierung der Diterpensynthase und des Biosynthesegenclusters, der für den Aufbau des bakteriellen Eunicellan‐Gerüsts verantwortlich ist.
Stabilization of the Elusive 9‐Carbene‐9‐Borafluorene Monoanion
Authors: Wentz Kelsie E. , Molino Andrew , Weisflog Sarah L. , Kaur Aishvaryadeep , Dickie Diane A. , Wilson David J. D. , Gilliard Robert J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTwo‐electron reduction of carbene‐supported 9‐bromo‐9‐borafluorenes with excess KC8, Na, or Li‐naphthalenide affords six N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐ or cyclic(alkyl)(amino) carbene (CAAC)‐stabilized borafluorene anions (3–8)‐the first isolated and structurally authenticated examples of the elusive 9‐carbene‐9‐borafluorene monoanion. The electronic structure, bonding, and aromaticity of the boracyclic anions were comprehensively investigated via computational studies. Compounds 5 and 8 react with metal halides via salt elimination to give new B‐E (E=Au, Se, Ge)‐containing materials (9–12). Upon reaction with diketones, the carbene ligand cleanly dissociates from 5 or 8 to yield new B‐O containing spirocycles (13–14) that cannot be easily obtained using “normal” valent borafluorene compounds. Collectively, these results support the notion that carbene‐stabilized monoanionic borafluorenes may serve as a new platform for the one‐step construction of higher‐value boracyclic materials.
Explore the effects of Shidan granules on chronic atrophic gastritis using LC–MS based plasma metabolomics study
Authors: Xi Zhaohong , Wang Min , Xia Junquan , Li Hui , Hua Yongzhi , Xu Tingting , An Zhentao , Tian Yaozhou 
Published: March 2021

AbstractShidan granule (SDG), a traditional Chinese medicine in‐hospital preparation, has been demonstrated to exert good effects on chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in clinics. However, the underlying mechanism of SDG against CAG is still unclear. This study utilized an untargeted plasma metabolomics approach to explore the potential mechanism of SDG in CAG rats using LC–MS and pattern recognition analysis. The results indicated that SDG could effectively improve the biochemical indexes and pathology features of CAG rats. Nineteen potential biomarkers (variable importance in projection > 1 and P < 0.05) contributing to CAG progress were identified. After SDG intervention, 17 biomarkers were obviously restored to normal levels. Further metabolic pathway analysis showed that aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and TCA cycle were the most related pathways for SDG treatment. Based on these findings, the main mechanisms of SDG against CAG might be attributed to the regulatory effects of energy balance, inflammatory suppression, and improvement in disturbed amino acid and lipid metabolism. This study provided information for the mechanism research of SDG against CAG and would promote its clinical application.
Disparities in male versus female oncologic outcomes following bladder preservation: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Ballas Leslie K. , Navarro Stephanie , Luo Chunqiao , Fossum Croix C. , Farias Albert , Daneshmand Siamak , Groshen Susan 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTIntroductionIn surgical series of muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), women have higher recurrence rates, disease progression, and mortality following radical cystectomy than men. Similar reports of oncologic differences between men and women following trimodality therapy (TMT) are rare. Our hypothesis was that there would be no difference in overall survival (OS) between sexes receiving TMT.MethodsWe queried the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients diagnosed with clinical stage T2‐T4aN0 M0 MIBC between 2004–2016. We considered patients to have received TMT if they received 55 Gy in 20 fractions or 59.4–70.2 Gy of radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy following a transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to determine whether sex was associated with risk of mortality. In addition to OS, we calculated relative survival (RS) to adjust for the fact that females generally survive longer than males.ResultsOf the patients, 1960 underwent TMT and had survival data. Less than one quarter were female. In the first year following treatment, women had worse OS and RS than men (p = 0.093 and p = 0.030, respectively). However, overall and relative survival differences between sexes were not statistically significantly different in Years 2 and later. Unlike with OS, the RS between sexes remained significant at 9 years; in multivariable analysis based on RS, women were 43% more likely to die than men (p < 0.001).ConclusionsWomen had a higher initial risk of death than men in the first year following TMT. However, long‐term survival between sexes was similar. TMT is an important treatment option in both men and women seeking bladder preservation.
Lantana camara Essential Oils from Vietnam: Chemical Composition, Molluscicidal, and Mosquito Larvicidal Activity
Authors: Huy Hung Nguyen , Ngoc Dai Do , Satyal Prabodh , Thi Huong Le , Thi Chinh Bui , Quang Hung Dinh , Anh Tai Thieu , Setzer William N. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLantana camara is a troublesome invasive plant introduced to many tropical regions, including Southeast Asia. However, the plant does hold promise as a source of essential oils that may be explored for potential use. Fresh water snails such as Pomacea canaliculata, Gyraulus convexiusculus, and Tarebia granifera can be problematic agricultural pests as well as hosts for parasitic worms. Aedes and Culex mosquitoes are notorious vectors of numerous viral pathogens. Control of these vectors is of utmost importance. In this work, the essential oil compositions, molluscicidal, and mosquito larvicidal activities of four collections of L. camara from north‐central Vietnam have been investigated. The sesquiterpene‐rich L. camara essential oils showed wide variation in their compositions, not only compared to essential oils from other geographical locations (at least six possible chemotypes), but also between the four samples from Vietnam. L. camara essential oils showed molluscicidal activities comparable to the positive control, tea saponin, as well as other botanical agents. The median lethal concentrations (LC50) against the snails were 23.6–40.2 μg/mL (P. canaliculata), 7.9–29.6 μg/mL (G. convexiusculus), and 15.0–29.6 μg/mL (T. granifera). The essential oils showed good mosquito larvicidal activities with 24‐h LC50 values of 15.1–29.0 μg/mL, 26.4–53.8 μg/mL, and 20.8–59.3 μg/mL against Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively. The essential oils were more toxic to snails and mosquito larvae than they were to the non‐target water bug, Diplonychus rusticus (24‐h LC50=103.7–162.5 μg/mL). Sesquiterpene components of the essential oils may be acting as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. These results suggest that the invasive plant, L. camara, may be a renewable botanical pesticidal agent.
A case report of idiopathic Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an immunocompetent adult
Authors: Rabadão Tiago , Naia Leonor , Ferreira Filipa , Teixeira Mariana , Aveiro Marcelo , Eulálio Margarida , Silva Fernando 
Published: March 2021

AbstractHemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis poses a diagnostic dilemma due to the absence of specific clinical and laboratory findings, especially in adults. Despite greater recognition of the disease, secondary idiopathic forms are still reported.
Ileocecal and hepatic tuberculosis mimicking a metastatic cecal malignancy: Case report
Authors: Ben Ismail Imen , Rebii Saber , Ben Chaabane Hamadi , Hakim Zenaidi , Zoghlami Ayoub 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe wish to highlight that on encountering a suspicious hepatic and a colonic lesion, the possibility of TB should also be kept in mind apart from the obvious possibility of metastasis of a colonic cancer especially in an endemic country like Tunisia.
Porous FeO(OH) Dispersed on Mg‐Al Hydrotalcite Surface for One‐Pot Synthesis of Quinoline Derivatives
Authors: Motokura Ken , Ozawa Nao , Sato Risako , Manaka Yuichi , Chun Wang‐Jae 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe use of ubiquities elements such as iron instead of expensive precious metals as catalysts is one goal toward realizing environmentally benign synthetic chemistry. Here, we report that porous FeO(OH) dispersed on Mg−Al hydrotalcite acts as a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst in the one‐pot synthesis of 2‐substituted quinoline derivatives through dehydrogenative oxidation‐cyclization reactions. The catalyst was prepared by a simple grafting method using FeCl3 and Mg−Al hydrotalcite. The prepared porous FeO(OH) possesses a higher surface area than those previously reported for α‐FeO(OH) particles. The one‐pot quinoline synthesis proceeded effectively under non‐noble‐metal catalysis in air without requiring additional homogeneous bases or solvents.