bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sulfonium Salts Enable the Direct Sulfenylation of Activated C(sp3)−H Bonds
Authors: Zhang Liang , Nagaraju Sakkani , Paplal Banoth , Lin Yunliang , Liu Shuhua 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHerein, the direct α‐sulfenylation of a series of β‐dicarbonyl, β‐ketophosphonate, and β‐ketonitrile compounds, mediated by sulfonium salts has been described. Traditionally, sulfonium salts which are synthesized by activation of dialkylsulfoxides serve as oxidizing agents or precursors of sulfur ylide. In this transformation, sulfonium salts as readily prepared and operationally simple sulfenylation reagents firstly achieved alkylsulfenylation of various activated C(sp3)−H bonds with the formation of tetra‐substituted carbon center.
Synthesis of γ‐Spirolactams by Birch Reduction of Arenes
Authors: Krüger Tobias , Linker Torsten 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA convenient method for the synthesis of γ‐spirolactams in only three steps is described. Birch reduction of inexpensive and commercially available aromatic carboxylic acids in the presence of chloroacetonitrile affords nitriles in moderate to good yields. Suitable precursors are methyl‐substituted benzoic acids, naphthoic, and anthroic acid. Subsequent catalytic hydrogenation proceeds smoothly with PtO2 or Raney Ni as catalysts and lactams are isolated in excellent yields and stereoselectivities. Thus, up to 3 new stereogenic centers can be constructed as sole diastereomers from achiral benzoic acids. Furthermore, it is possible to control the degree of saturation at different pressures, affording products with 0, 1, or 2 double bonds. Overall, more than 15 new γ‐spirolactams have been synthesized in analytically pure form.
Testing the viability of measuring intraocular pressure using soundwaves from a smartphone
Authors: Soanes Matthew , Essa Khamis , Butt Haider 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEarly detection of increasing values of intraocular pressure (IOP) due to glaucoma can prevent severe ocular diseases and ultimately, prevent loss of vision. Currently, the need for an accurate, mobile measurement of IOP that shows no correlation to central corneal thickness is unmet within the modern healthcare practices. There is a potential to utilize soundwaves as a mobile measurement method and therefore, the relationship between IOP and the reflection coefficient of sound waves is investigated. Simulations are conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics to provide theoretical confirmation of the worthiness of the experiment. An experiment is conducted to further investigate the relationship between the internal pressure of an object and its acoustic reflection coefficient. The experiment exploits the use of hydrostatic pressure to determine internal pressure, and the reflection coefficient is measured and analyzed. An initial experiment is conducted to identify the resonant frequency of the object and the optimal frequency for maximizing reflection. The experiment shows comprehensively that there is a relationship between the internal pressure of an object and its acoustic reflection coefficient, providing a confirmation of the theory that would allow mobile measurements of IOP to be conducted with the use of a smart phone.
Brucea Javanica: A novel nonedible feedstock for bio‐based lubricant application with the effect of ZrO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Singh Yashvir , Singh Nishant Kumar , Sharma Abhishek , Lila Manish Kumar , Singla Amneesh , Chinnasamy Vivekanandhan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe rise in demand for energy and pollution of the environment from the usage of petroleum products promote research to explore environmentally friendly substitutes. Brucea Javanica oil has the potential to be a mineral oil and is plentiful and cheap in India. In this research work, the oil was epoxidized to focus on improving the oxidation stability of the Brucea Javanica oil. In addition, ZrO2 nanoparticles are introduced to the chemically modified Brucea Javanica oil in a particular proportion and tested for tribological behavior. The epoxidation process provided better lubricating properties due to an increase in viscosity, flash point, and pour point. During the assessment, 0.5% consisting of ZrO2 nanoparticles resulted in significant reductions in coefficient of friction and rate of wear. Worn surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscope and they exhibit excellent surfaces when nanoparticles were introduced up to 0.5% concentration due to improved lubricant film formation on metal surfaces. The optimal level of inclusion to the epoxidized Brucea Javanica oil was discovered at a concentration of 0.5%, and an increase after this limit results in maximum wear of the surfaces due to their agglomeration on the surface. So, nanoparticles up to a certain limit are useful for reducing the friction and wear of the surfaces.
Effect of superstructure modeling assumptions on the seismic performance of seismically isolated buildings
Authors: Kitayama Shoma , Constantinou Michael C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRecent studies on the seismic performance of seismically isolated buildings with braced frames designed using the minimum criteria of the ASCE 7‐16 standard resulted in observations that seismically isolated buildings have unacceptable collapse performance due to either insufficient isolator displacement capacity or excessive inelastic structural deformations. The collapse performance and the overall performance could be improved by increasing the displacement capacity of the isolators and by limiting inelastic action in the superstructure while still providing ductile detailing. These observations may have been dependent on the modeling assumptions for the superstructure. This article investigates the effect of various modeling methods that are commonly used in research and design practice on the seismic performance of a six‐story braced seismically isolated building with two different isolation systems, and a comparable nonisolated six‐story building, all designed to meet the minimum criteria of ASCE 7‐16. Performance measures considered in this study include story drift ratios, residual story drift ratios, floor accelerations, isolator horizontal displacement, and collapse. The study found that for seismically isolated buildings and for the modeling assumptions considered, only the inclusion of the effect of gravity frames has a beneficial effect of reducing the occurrence of small to moderate peak floor accelerations while there is insignificant effect on the other performance measures and particularly the computed probabilities of collapse in the MCER. Also, the different modeling assumptions were found to have a more important effect on the seismic performance of nonisolated buildings than that of comparable seismically isolated buildings.
Detecting multi‐scale riverine topographic variability and its influence on Chinook salmon habitat selection
Authors: Duffin Jenna , Carmichael Richard A. , Yager Elowyn M. , Benjankar Rohan , Tonina Daniele 
Published: January 2021

AbstractQuantifying geomorphic conditions that impact riverine ecosystems is critical in river management due to degraded riverine habitat, changing flow and thermal conditions, and increasing anthropogenic pressure. Geomorphic complexity at different scales directly impacts habitat heterogeneity and affects aquatic biodiversity resilience. Here we showed that the combination of continuous spatial survey at high resolution, topobathymetric light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and continuous wavelet analysis can help identify and characterize that complexity. We used a continuous wavelet analysis on 1‐m resolution topobathymetry in three rivers in the Salmon River Basin, Idaho (USA), to identify different scales of topographic variability and the potential effects of this variability on salmonid redd site selection. On each river, wavelet scales characterized the topographic variability by portraying repeating patterns in the longitudinal profile. We found three major representative spatial wavelet scales of topographic variability in each river: a small wavelet scale associated with local morphology such as pools and riffles, a mid‐wavelet scale that identified larger channel unit features, and a large wavelet scale related to valley‐scale controls. The small wavelet scale was used to identify pools and riffles along the entire lengths of each river as well as areas with differing riffle‐pool development. Areas along the rivers with high local topographic variability (high wavelet power) at all wavelet scales contained the largest features (i.e., deepest or longest pools) in the systems. By comparing the wavelet power for each wavelet scale to Chinook salmon redd locations, we found that higher small‐scale wavelet power, which is related to pool‐riffle topography, is important for redd site selection. The continuous wavelet methodology objectively identified scales of topographic variability present in these rivers, performed efficient channel‐unit identification, and provided geomorphic assessment without laborious field surveys.
Deciphering urban consumer requirements for rice quality gives insights for driving the future acceptability of local rice in Africa: Case study in the city of Saint‐Louis in senegal
Authors: Mané Ibrahima , Bassama Joseph , Ndong Moussa , Mestres Christian , Diedhiou Papa Madiallacké , Fliedel Geneviève 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRice is the staple cereal in Senegal. Despite the many policies implemented over the last decade, Senegalese consumers still prefer imported over local rice. To understand this preference, this study compares consumer acceptability of three local rice samples versus two imported rice samples. Two focus groups and a consumer test with 120 women were carried out in the city of Saint‐Louis in Senegal. The results concerning consumption habits showed that about 85% of the surveyed women consume rice at least once a day (at lunch). The hedonic test showed that consumers appreciated all five rice samples, but the most liked samples were obtained from industrial processing of either local or imported whole and fragrant rice. The least liked sample was a local semi‐industrial rice, including 50% broken grains. The results of the just‐about‐right (JAR) test and check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA) test showed that the sensory descriptors such as white color, well‐cooked, and homogeneous grain size had an influence on the consumers’ choice of rice samples. However, the most important selection criteria were the homogeneous size of the rice grains, the absence of impurities, both of which are directly linked to the milling conditions, and fragrance, which is related to the variety. The origin of the rice samples did not influence the consumers’ choice. This study showed that local rice can compete with imported rice if processing is improved in some small‐scale rice mills.
Probing the impact of conventional oil frying on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rabbit meat
Authors: Siddique Rabia , Fawad Zahoor Ameer , Ahmad Hamad , Maqbool Zahid Faisal , Abid Muhammad , Siddeeg Azhari 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe study estimates, for the first time, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentration (pyrene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluorene, and naphthalene) in rabbit meat samples. The study explores the effect of frying and the influence of cooking recipe (with or without condiments/additives) on different parts (hind legs, forelegs, and back), on PAH generation. A total of 36 meat samples on different parts from uncooked, cooked, chapli, and seekh kebabs were prepared and characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). PAHs data in all the samples indicate that cooking recipes (with and without additives/condiments) greatly affected the PAHs concentration. Significant concentrations of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and naphthalene were formed in all the samples after cooking (frying) but naphthalene was dominant in terms of its concentration formed. A higher concentration of naphthalene was detected in the foreleg (4.56 µg/g) as well as in the hind leg (4.08 µg/g) seekh kebab (with additives), while foreleg chapli kebab (with additives) contained 1.44 µg/g PAH concentration. Frying is the processing methodology that causes the highest impact on PAHs. Contents of anthracene were detected only in the back (raw sample and chapli kebab), foreleg (without additives and seekh kebab), and hind leg (seekh kebab). In all rabbit meat samples, fluorene and pyrene were not identified.
Next Generation Therapeutic Strateg‐Es: Evolving cancer immunotherapy through agents that Engage, Expand and Enable the anti‐tumor immune response
Authors: Wolfson Benjamin , Hodge James W. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe development and FDA approval of immune checkpoint blocking antibodies have brought new light to cancer immunotherapy. While immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has demonstrated clinical benefit in certain tumors as monotherapy, effective therapy of established tumors necessitates a combination of multiple immuno‐oncology agents targeting diverse functions of the immune system. These combination strategies should be tactically designed to Engage the immune system by inducing a tumor‐antigen specific T‐cell population, Expand the number of antigen‐specific cytotoxic T cells and increase their migration to the tumor microenvironment, and once there, Enable prolonged and persistent effector function. Although viral therapeutic cancer vaccines have demonstrated little efficacy as monotherapies, they have substantial potential to Engage the immune system as one branch of a multipronged treatment strategy. This review will summarize prior and ongoing Phase II and III clinical trials built upon the foundation of viral therapeutic cancer vaccines. We examine their efficacy as a monotherapy, and more importantly, when combined with additional agents that Expand and Enable the immune system. It is clear that the future of cancer immunotherapy will include evolving treatment strategies made up of multiple agents, and we are optimistic that in this context viral therapeutic cancer vaccines will emerge as an important part of next generation effective therapeutic strategies.
The PI3K/Akt/mTORC signaling axis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Possibilities for therapeutic interventions either as single agents or in combination with conventional therapies
Authors: Akbari Dilmaghani Nader , Safaroghli‐Azar Ava , Pourbagheri‐Sigaroodi Atieh , Bashash Davood 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe latest advances in the sequencing methods in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues have revolutionized our understanding of the disease by taking off the veil from the most frequent genetic alterations in the components of the oncogenic pathways. Among all the identified alterations, aberrancies in the genes attributed to the phosphoinositide 3‐kinases (PI3K) axis have attracted special attention as they were altered in more than 90% of the tissues isolated from HNSCC patients. In fact, the association between these aberrancies and the increased risk of cancer metastasis suggested this axis as an “Achilles Heel” of HNSCC, which may be therapeutically targeted. The results of the clinical trials investigating the therapeutic potential of the inhibitors targeting the components of the PI3K axis in the treatment of HNSCC patients, either alone or in a combined‐modal strategy, opened a new chapter in the treatment strategy of this malignancy. The present study aimed to review the importance of the PI3K axis in the pathogenesis of HNSCC and also provide a piece of information about the breakthroughs and challenges of PI3K inhibitors in the therapeutic strategies of the disease.
Cardiac involvement in consecutive elite athletes recovered from Covid‐19: A magnetic resonance study
Authors: Małek Łukasz A. , Marczak Magdalena , Miłosz‐Wieczorek Barbara , Konopka Marcin , Braksator Wojciech , Drygas Wojciech , Krzywański Jarosław 
Published: January 2021

Magnetic resonance (MR) studies suggested cardiac involvement post‐Covid‐19 in a significant subset of affected individuals, including athletes. This brings serious clinical concerns regarding the potential need for in‐depth cardiac screening in athletes after Covid‐19 before return to play. The aim of this study was to gain further insight into the relation between Covid‐19 and cardiac involvement in professional athletes. This was a retrospective cohort study, in which 26 consecutive elite athletes (national team, Olympians, top national league players; median age 24 years, interquartile range [IQR] 21–27, 81% female) were included. At 1.5 T including balanced steady‐state free precession cine imaging, T1 and T2‐mapping using Myomaps software (Siemens), dark‐blood T2‐weighted images with fat suppression, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with phase‐sensitive inversion recovery sequence were used. The athletes had mainly asymptomatic or mild course of the disease (77%). They were scanned after a median of 32 days (IQR 22–62 days) from the diagnosis. MR data were reviewed by three independent observers, each with >10 years cardiac MR experience. Native T1, T2, extracellular volume, and T2 signal intensity ratio were calculated. Diagnosis of acute myocarditis was based on modified Lake Louise criteria. Statistical analyses used were Pearson correlation and Bland–Altman repeatability analysis. At the time of MR the athletes had no pathologic electrocardiogram abnormalities or elevated troponin levels. MR did not reveal any case of acute myocarditis. Cardiac abnormalities were found in five (19%) athletes, including four athletes presenting borderline signs of isolated myocardial edema and one athlete showing nonischemic LGE with pleural and pericardial effusion. Another athlete had signs of persistent lung congestion without cardiac involvement. We have shown that in a small group of elite athletes with mainly asymptomatic to mild Covid‐19, lack of electrocardiographic changes, and normal troponin concentration 1–2 months after the diagnosis, there were no signs of acute myocarditis, but 19% of athletes had some abnormalities as assessed by cardiac MR.Level of Evidence4Technical Efficacy Stage3
Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 in Ireland among blood donors, men who have sex with men, and heterosexual genitourinary medicine and infectious diseases clinic attendees
Authors: O'Rourke Sadhbh , O'Flaherty Niamh , Coyne Dermot , Lynam Almida , Clarke Susan , O'Dea Siobhán , Fitzpatrick Sarah , Connell Jeff , Crowley Brendan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHuman herpesvirus 8 (HHV‐8) seroprevalence varies geographically and between subpopulations. High seroprevalence rates have been ascribed to men who have sex with men (MSM), African migrants, and HIV‐infected individuals. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HHV‐8 in an Irish population, including specific risk groups. A cross‐sectional study of 200 blood donors and 200 genitourinary medicine (GUM) and infectious diseases (ID) clinic patients was performed, with testing for Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to HHV‐8 lytic antigens using a commercial indirect fluorescence assay (Scimedx Corp.). Verification was performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All 200 blood donor samples were negative for HHV‐8 IgG antibodies. 21% of GUM and ID patients were positive for HHV‐8 IgG antibodies. One hundred of these patients were MSM, 35% of whom were HHV‐8 seropositive (46% of HIV‐positive MSM and 24% of HIV‐negative MSM). Of 100 heterosexual patients, only 7% were HHV‐8 seropositive. The absence of seropositivity in 200 Irish blood donors may suggest that Ireland has a low overall population HHV‐8 seroprevalence. The proportion of HHV‐8 seropositivity in the MSM population was significantly higher than in the heterosexual population and most marked in HIV‐positive MSM.
Targeting SARS‐CoV‐2 viral proteases as a therapeutic strategy to treat COVID‐19
Authors: Anirudhan Varada , Lee Hyun , Cheng Han , Cooper Laura , Rong Lijun 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe 21st century has witnessed three outbreaks of coronavirus (CoVs) infections caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)‐CoV, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)‐CoV, and SARS‐CoV‐2. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by SARS‐CoV‐2, spreads rapidly and since the discovery of the first COVID‐19 infection in December 2019, has caused 1.2 million deaths worldwide and 226,777 deaths in the United States alone. The high amino acid similarity between SARS‐CoV and SARS‐CoV‐2 viral proteins supports testing therapeutic molecules that were designed to treat SARS infections during the 2003 epidemic. In this review, we provide information on possible COVID‐19 treatment strategies that act via inhibition of the two essential proteins of the virus, 3C‐like protease (3CLpro) or papain‐like protease (PLpro).
Epidemiology of cytomegalovirus Infection among mothers and infants in Colombia
Authors: Rico Angelica , Dollard Sheila C. , Valencia Diana , Corchuelo Sheryll , Tong Van T. , Laiton‐Donato Katherine , Amin Minal M. , Benavides Monica , Wong Phili , Newton Suzanne , Daza Marcela , Cates Jordan , Gonzalez Maritza , Zambrano Laura D. , Mercado Marcela M. , Ailes Elizabeth C. , Rodriguez Helena M. , Gilboa Suzanne M. , Acosta Jacqueline , Ricaldi Jessica , Pelaez Dioselina , Honein Margaret A. , Ospina Martha L. , Lanzieri Tatiana M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe assessed maternal and infant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in Colombia. Maternal serum was tested for CMV immunoglobulin G antibodies at a median of 10 (interquartile range: 8–12) weeks gestation (n = 1501). CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction was performed on infant urine to diagnose congenital (≤21 days of life) and postnatal (>21 days) infection. Maternal CMV seroprevalence was 98.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 97.5%–98.8%). Congenital CMV prevalence was 8.4 (95% CI: 3.9%–18.3%; 6/711) per 1000 live births. Among 472 infants without confirmed congenital CMV infection subsequently tested at age 6 months, 258 (54.7%, 95% CI: 50.2%–59.1%) had postnatal infection.