bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
GC–MS Analysis and Antimalarial Activity of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Carica papaya against Plasmodium berghei NK65 Infection in Swiss Mice
Authors: Momoh Johnson Oshiobugie , Damazio Olanrewaju Anthony , Oyegbami Omolayo Monsurat 
Published: February 2021

Aim: The study determines the GC-MS and the anti-malarial activity of methanolic leaf extract of Carica papaya in Swiss mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65.
Study Design: The experimental study lasted for five weeks.
Place of Study: Department of Chemical Sciences (Biochemistry Unit) and animal House unit in Department of Biological Sciences (Environmental Biology Unit), School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria.
Study Design and Methodology: AAS, GC-MS and phytochemical analyses were determined in the plant extract using standard procedures. Thirty-six Swiss mice of both sexes (26–32g) were divided into six groups of six mice each. Group A (normal control) was untreated and uninfected. Groups B–F were intraperitoneally inoculated with P. berghei NK65, while group B (disease control) was untreated-infected group, group C and D (standard drugs) received standard drugs, chloroquine (10 mg/kg B.WT) and artesunate (10 mg/kg B.WT); groups E and F received methanolic leaf extract of C. papaya at 400 and 600 mg/kg B.WT respectively. WBC, HCT and HGB were determined in the whole blood using BC-3200 Auto Hematology Analyzer. MDA, TP, SOD % inhibition, SOD unit, CAT and GSH were all determined in the liver homogenate using standard procedures.
Results: The AAS analysis shows that the extract contains minerals like: potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and sodium. Twenty-six compounds were identified to be present in the extract using GC-MS analysis. The active compounds with their retention time, molecular weight, molecular formula, peak area and activities were predicted. The three major prevailing compounds and their percentage abundance are: squalene (27.28%), neophytadiene (12.71%) and phytol (10.16%) respectively. The phytochemical analysis indicates the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds etc. The C. papaya extract caused 56.76% and 75.53% significant (P<0.05) reduction in parasitemia at 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight respectively while chloroquine exerted 92.86% and artesunate exerted 90.67% reduction at 10 mg/kg body weight respectively carried out during curative test. The extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced WBC count and increase HGB and HCT concentration in the treated mice compared to the infected untreated mice. There were significant (p<0.05) increase in the TP, SOD % inhibition, SOD unit, GSH and CAT levels in the liver homogenate of animals treated with chloroquine, artesunate and extract of C. papaya compared to the untreated mice. MDA level was significantly decreased in the malaria treated mice compared to the untreated mice.
Conclusions: The study shows that methanolic leaf extract of Carica papaya possess antimalarial activity in Swiss mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK 65.
A combination of extracellular matrix‐ and interferon‐associated signatures identifies high‐grade breast cancers with poor prognosis
Authors: Lecchi Mara , Verderio Paolo , Cappelletti Vera , De Santis Francesca , Paolini Biagio , Monica Melissa , Sangaletti Sabina , Pupa Serenella Maria , Iorio Marilena Valeria , Bianchi Giulia , Gennaro Massimiliano , Fucà Giovanni , De Braud Filippo , Tagliabue Elda , Di Nicola Massimo 
Published: February 2021

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease in which the tumor microenvironment (TME) seems to impact the clinical outcome. Here, we investigated whether a combination of gene expression signatures relating to both the structural and immune TME aspects can help predict prognosis in women with high‐grade BC (HGBC). Thus, we focused on a combined molecular biomarker variable that involved extracellular matrix (ECM)‐associated gene expression (ECM3 signature) and interferon (IFN)‐associated metagene (IFN metagene) expression. In 97 chemo‐naive HGBCs from the METABRIC dataset, the dichotomous ECM3/IFN (dECIF) variable identified a group of high‐risk patients (ECM3+/IFN− vs other; hazard ratio = 3.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.5–6.7). Notably, ECM3+/IFN− tumors showed low tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes, high levels of CD33‐positive cells, absence of PD‐1 expression, or low expression of PD‐L1, as suggested by immune profiles and immune‐histochemical analysis on an independent cohort of 131 HGBCs. To make our results transferable to clinical use, we refined the dECIF biomarker using reduced ECM3 and IFN signatures; notably, the prognostic value of this reduced dECIF was comparable to that of the original dECIF. After validation in a new BC cohort, reduced dECIF was translated into a robust qPCR classifier for real‐world clinical use.
Supply analysis of preferential market incentive for energy crops
Authors: Oyedeji Oluwafemi , Langholtz Matthew , Hellwinckel Chad , Webb Erin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis analysis explores the valuation of feedstock quality attributes of switchgrass and miscanthus – two energy crops poised for future expansion – and compares the relative economic availability of these two crops under two scenarios: (i) uniform price assumptions (i.e., no incentive for quality), and (ii) a scenario of a price premium based on convertibility (i.e., an incentive for quality). Given data on cellulose content, hemicellulose content, and their relative convertibility, miscanthus is expected to be 11% more efficient at conversion to biofuels than switchgrass under the biochemical conversion route. Based on this scenario of improved conversion efficiency and associated profit, we simulate an 11% price premium for miscanthus over other feedstocks in a base‐case scenario. By adding this price premium, supplies of miscanthus increase over the base case by about 4 million (44%), 94 million (64%), and 166 million (94%) tons in year 0, 10, and 20 after simulated contracts for production are initiated respectively. These results emphasize that custom simulations are needed to quantify feedstock availability if supplies are intended to reflect grower response to industry demands for feedstock quality specifications. Farmers can grow ‘peas or carrots’, and price signals from biorefineries will influence what energy crops they produce. Recognizing that the energy crop mix is tractable according to quality characteristics is relevant both for near‐term and long‐term biofuels research and development. We recommend accounting for market preferences for quality attributes when estimating potential future supplies of energy crops. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Selection and identification of an ssDNA aptamer to NB4 cell
Authors: Zhang Xian‐hui , Wang Wei , Chen Xin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis study was to find the aptamers with high affinity and specificity binding to acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) NB4 cell line.These aptamers targeted NB4 cells were selected from a random single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) library of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (CELL‐SELEX). The binding rate of FITC‐ssDNA library and NB4 cells was monitored using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscope. After cloned and sequenced, the structure, specificity, and affinity of these candidate aptamers were further analyzed.After a total of 19 rounds of selection, the ssDNA library was enriched and the BR (19.9%) of the 16th round was 12 times of the first round (1.6%). Three enriched aptamers were obtained from 21 positive clones of the 16th round, and the predicted secondary structures of these aptamers were mainly stem‐loop. The aptamer CX9 had the highest affinity, and the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) was 16.2 nM. The fluorescence intensity of CX9 binding to NB4 cells was stronger than HL60 and K562 cells under fluorescence microscopy.The study indicates that aptamer CX9 exhibits high affinity and specificity with NB4 cells and lay a foundation for the rapid diagnostic method to detect APL with fluorescence‐labeled aptamer.
PUM1 and RNase P genes as potential cell‐free DNA markers in breast cancer
Authors: Murillo Carrasco Alexis , Acosta Oscar , Ponce Jaime , Cotrina José , Aguilar Alfredo , Araujo Jhajaira , Rebaza Pamela , Pinto Joseph A. , Fujita Ricardo , Buleje José 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundCell‐free DNA (cfDNA) is used in clinical research to identify biomarkers for diagnosis of and follow‐up on cancer. Here, we propose a fast and innovative approach using traditional housekeeping genes as cfDNA targets in a copy number analysis. We focus on the application of highly sensitive technology such as digital PCR (dPCR) to differentiate breast cancer (BC) patients and controls by quantifying regions of PUM1 and RPPH1 (RNase P) in plasma samples.MethodsWe conducted a case‐control study with 82 BC patients and 82 healthy women. cfDNA was isolated from plasma using magnetic beads and quantified by spectrophotometry to estimate total cfDNA. Then, both PUM1 and RPPH1 genes were specifically quantified by dPCR. Data analysis was calibrated using a reference genomic DNA in different concentrations.ResultsWe found RNase P and PUM1 values were correlated in the patient group (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.842), but they did not have any correlation in healthy women (ICC = 0.519). In dPCR quantification, PUM1 showed the capacity to distinguish early‐stage patients and controls with good specificity (98.67%) and sensitivity (100%). Conversely, RNase P had lower cfDNA levels in triple‐negative BC patients than luminal subtypes (p < 0.025 for both), confirming their utility for patient classification.ConclusionWe propose the PUM1 gene as a cfDNA marker for early diagnosis of BC and RNase P as a cfDNA marker related to hormonal status and subtype classification in BC. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.
Facile Fabrication of Amphiphilic and Asymmetric Films with Excellent Deformability for Efficient and Stable Adsorption Applications
Authors: Ge Chengbiao , Wang Guilong , Zhao Guoqun 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this study, a facile way to prepare amphiphilic and asymmetric films with excellent mechanical properties for efficient and stable adsorption applications is reported. Non‐solvent induced phase separation technology is developed to fabricate porous asymmetric poly(ether‐block‐amide) composite films. These films have a unique structure composed of a solid surface, a microporous surface, and hierarchical porous core, hence exhibiting prominent mechanical properties with an elongation at break up to 317% and mechanical resilience. Before and after 50‐times cyclic stretching deformations, they still maintain intact porous structure, and their wetting angles of upper and lower surfaces to both water and cyclohexane are almost constant. Moreover, these films show excellent uptake for cyclohexane and water, and cyclic large deformations have little influence on the performance. It only takes 3 s to absorb 4 times of the weight of cyclohexane, while 1.8 times of water can be loaded within 134 s.
A dual‐frequency continuous wave doppler lidar for velocity measurement at far distance
Authors: Li Yabi , Xing Yuxiao , Gao Yuan , Zhang Haiyang , Zhang Zilong , Zhao Changming 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA dual‐frequency continuous wave Doppler lidar for long‐distance and high‐precision velocity measurement is experimentally demonstrated in this article. The lidar system uses the optical heterodyne detection method to avoid complicated optical coherent configuration. All Phase Fast Fourier Transform and Chirp‐Z Transform are used to obtain the Doppler frequency shift. The maximum of the calculated Doppler shift was 999.83 Hz with the frequency resolution of 0.54 Hz, and the corresponding theoretical velocity was determined to be 749.87 m/s. During the experiment, the speed of the car was successfully measured in the outdoor environment, the frequency and velocity resolutions were less than 0.5 Hz and ± 0.2 m/s, respectively, and the detection distance of moving and stationary targets reached 1100 m and 2300 m. The capability of the dual‐frequency Doppler lidar system has been verified.
Homestead together: Pediatric palliative care telehealth support for rural children with cancer during home‐based end‐of‐life care
Authors: Weaver Meaghann S. , Shostrom Valerie K. , Neumann Marie L. , Robinson Jacob E. , Hinds Pamela S. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundChildren with terminal cancer and their families describe a preference for home‐based end‐of‐life care. Inadequate support outside of the hospital is a limiting factor in home location feasibility, particularly in rural regions lacking pediatric‐trained hospice providers.MethodsThe purpose of this longitudinal palliative telehealth support pilot study was to explore physical and emotional symptom burden and family impact assessments for children with terminal cancer receiving home based‐hospice care. Each child received standard of care home‐based hospice care from an adult‐trained rural hospice team with the inclusion of telehealth pediatric palliative care visits at a scheduled minimum of every 14 days.ResultsEleven children (mean age 11.9 years) received pediatric palliative telehealth visits a minimum of every 14 days, with an average of 4.8 additional telehealth visits initiated by the family. Average time from enrollment to death was 21.6 days (range 4‐95). Children self‐reported higher physical symptom prevalence than parents or hospice nurses perceived the child was experiencing at time of hospice enrollment with underrecognition of the child's emotional burden. At the time of hospice enrollment, family impact was reported by family caregivers as 46.4/100 (SD 18.7), with noted trend of improved family function while receiving home hospice care with telehealth support. All children remained at home for end‐of‐life care.ConclusionPediatric palliative care telehealth combined with adult‐trained rural hospice providers may be utilized to support pediatric oncology patients and their family caregivers as part of longitudinal home‐based hospice care.
Elimination of macrophages reduces glutaraldehyde‐fixed porcine heart valve degeneration in mice subdermal model
Authors: Liu Zongtao , Wang Yixuan , Xie Fei , Liu Xing , Li Fei , Dong Nianguo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractGlutaraldehyde‐fixed porcine heart valve (GPHV) calcify and deteriorate over time. The aim of this study was to explore the roles macrophages play in mediating calcification and degeneration of the valve's connective tissue matrix. GPHV were implanted subcutaneously in the abdomens of C57BL/6 mice. The mice were equally divided into two study groups: (a) GPHV +phosphate buffered saline (PBS) liposomes, and (b) GPHV +clodronate liposomes. GPHV were collected for further analyses at 4 weeks post implant. Macrophages were almost depleted from the spleens of mice injected with clodronate liposomes as indicated by immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2), MMP‐9, and proinflammatory cytokines like IL‐1β, IL‐6, MCP‐1, MIP‐1a, MIP‐1b, were downregulated in the GPHV +Clodronate liposomal group compared with the GPHV+PBS liposomal group. Clodronate liposomal treatment led to significant decreases in the expression of RUNX2, ALP and OPN as well as less calcium deposits in GPHVs compared with PBS liposomal treatment. This finding indicated that infiltrating macrophages are critically involved in the development of calcification and deterioration in GPHVs. Macrophage depletion by clodronate liposomes decreased the extent of GPHV’s calcification and deterioration.
Organocatalyzed Asymmetric Mannich Reaction: An Update
Authors: Bagheri Ilnaz , Mohammadi Leila , Zadsirjan Vahideh , Heravi Majid M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe Mannich reaction is a multicomponent reaction resulting in aminoalkylation of an acidic proton placed next to a carbonyl functional group. It involves an appropriate carbonyl compound, such as formaldehyde and a primary or secondary amine or ammonia. The final product is a β‐amino‐carbonyl compound known as a Mannich base. Reactions between aldimines and α‐methylene carbonyls are also considered as Mannich reaction since these imines are generated from the reaction of amines and aldehydes. It comprises the reaction of primary or secondary amines or ammonia, formaldehyde and appropriate α‐CH‐acidic compounds (nucleophiles) such as carbonyl compounds having α‐CH‐acidic, nitriles, acetylenes, aliphatic nitro compounds, α‐alkyl‐pyridines or imines. Owing to the development of asymmetric organocatalysis, reports on asymmetric Mannich reaction have been drastically increased. The asymmetric Mannich reaction offers access to enantioenriched β‐amino ketones or β‐amino aldehydes, which are present as a scaffold in several natural products. Organocatalysts have been developed not only as a supplement to metal‐catalyzed reactions or to biocatalysis, but nowadays, they are extensively used for the synthesis of various optically pure compounds that could not be achieved via metal‐ or biocatalyzed reactions. In this review, we try to update the advances in organocatalyzed asymmetric Mannich reactions, covering the recent advances of the subject from 2008 to date.
N,N‐ and N,O‐6‐membered Ring peri‐Annelation in Naphthalene. Is it a Heteroring or merely a peri‐ Heterobridge?
Authors: Tzeli Demeter , Tsoungas Petros G. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe effect of peri‐fusion on the aromaticity of 6‐membered N−, O−, N,N−, N,N,N− and N,O‐doped naphthalene derivatives has been studied via NICS‐z, ‐xz, ‐xy, and ‐xyz scans employing DFT and MP2 calculations. The relative aromaticity of these structures was found to vary with the type of heteroring and the distance from the plane. Their corresponding ordering depends on the scan approaches. Accordingly, i) along the z axis at the center of the naphthalene B and C constituent rings, it is 1,8>2>7,9≫4>6, 5>3 (the most aromatic members are naphthalene and the N,O‐derivative 8), ii) along the x symmetry axis of naphthalene, it is 3>8,7>5>4>9>6>2>1 (the most aromatic one is a N‐derivative 3) and iii) along the z axis, on the xy plane, it is 6>1>8>9>2>5>7>3>4 at z=0.8 Å and 1>2>8>9>6>7>5>3>4 at 2.4 Å (the most aromatic ones are the N,N,N‐derivative 6 at 0.8 Å and naphthalene at 2.4 Å). Their relative magnetic anisotropy ordering remains virtually unaltered in all different approaches (z‐, xz‐, xy‐, and xyz‐scans), as does their aromaticity at z=2.4 Å. The σ component of the total density is dominant close to the plane while the π component picks up in significance with increasing distance from the plane. The peri‐fused ring appears to be a heteroring not just a heterobridge.
A New Fluorescence MOF for Highly Sensitive Detection of Acetylacetone
Authors: Wang Y. N. , Wang S. D. , Chang X. P. , Li H. F. , Zhang J. M. , Xu L. , Wang S. Y. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA novel metal‐organic framework (MOF) assembled by a semi‐rigid tricarboxylate, namely, 5‐(3,4‐dicarboxylphenoxy) nicotic acid (H3L) has been solvothermally synthesized: [Zn3(L)2(H2O)2] ⋅ 3H2O 1. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis indicates that MOF 1 shows 2‐D layer with quadrangle channels along the a axis (ca. 7.0×8.3 Å2). The 2‐D layer self‐assembles into a final 3‐D supramolecular network via the interlayer π⋯π interactions. The photoluminescence investigations indicate that 1 can selectively and sensitively detect acetylacetone (acac) with high KSV value of 3.597×104 M−1 and low limit of detection (LOD) of 50.77 ppb. Further mechanism studies have shown that static photo‐competitive absorption, photoinduced electron transfer and H‐bonding interaction between chemosensor and the analyte may be the primary causes of the fluorescence quenching effect for acac.
Synthesis of NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr) for Enhancement of the Photocatalytic Performance of Alizarin Yellow R Under Visible‐light
Authors: Elshamy Omnia A. , El‐Fawal Esraa M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this study, NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr) composites were successfully prepared with different ratios of UiO‐66(Zr) as support for NiFe2O4@AC, (1 : 1), (2 : 1) and (3 : 1) named NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐1, NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐2 and NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐3, respectively. The prepared composites were characterized by X‐Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), ultraviolet‐visible diffuse reflectance (UV‐Vis/DRS) spectroscopy, PL (Photoluminescence) study. The synthesized composites′ efficiencies to enhance the photodegradation of alizarin yellow R (AYR) under visible‐light were evaluated. The results identified that NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐2 is the most photoreactive photocatalyst with the lowest bandgap ∼1.7 eV. NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐2 shows higher photodegradation efficiency (97.9 %) compared to NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐1 and NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐3 with photodegradation efficiency of 75.1 % and 89.9 %, respectively after 180 min under visible‐light. The photodegradation reaction of AYR was found to be pseudo first‐order reaction, and the rate constant (Ka) for NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐1, NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐2, and NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐3 are 0.0072 min−1, 0.0204 min−1, and 0.0122 min−1, consecutively. The effects of various conditions such as initial concentration and photocatalyst dose on the photodegradation of AYR were determined. The high photodegradation efficiency of NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐2 composite is because of the heterojunction and effective charge transfer between NiFe2O4@AC and UiO‐66(Zr). NiFe2O4@AC/UiO‐66(Zr)‐2 photocatalyst exhibits photocatalytic stability and reusability up to five cycles.
Regioselective Synthesis of Novel [1,2,4]Triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridine Derivatives
Authors: Hassen Manel Ben , Masmoudi Fatma , Zribi Lazhar , Trigui Mohamed , Ismaili Lhassane , Marco‐Contelles José , Chabchoub Fakher 
Published: February 2021

AbstractHerein we report the reaction of 2‐(5‐aryl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)acetonitriles 1 a,b with appropriate Michael acceptors 2–4 to give novel [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines 5–8, whose antioxidant properties have been investigated. A plausible reaction mechanism, supported by DFT calculations, has been proposed to explain the total observed regioselective formation of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridine derivatives depending on the type of substituents on the Michael acceptor.Triazoles are well‐known agents exhibiting antimicrobial,[1] antitumor,[2] anti‐inflammatory,[3] antihypertensive,[4] anticonvulsant,[5] antiviral[6] and analgesic[7] biological activities. On the other hand, pyridine is the key core of heterocyclic derivatives showing a variety of pharmacological properties.[8–12] Several studies have revealed that a combination of different bioactive molecules, having different mechanisms of action, is a current strategy affording useful therapeutic agents.[13] This is the case of the [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a] pyridine heterocyclic motif,[14] present in a number of bioactive compounds,[15] and largely used in materials chemistry.[16] Accordingly, diverse synthetic methods have been described for the synthesis of differently substituted [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines.[17–24] Our group has recently reported the ultrasound‐promoted facile and convenient “one‐pot” procedure for the synthesis of novel [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines in short reaction times and high yields, based on the reaction of 2‐(5‐aryl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)acetonitriles, malononitrile (or ethyl cyanoacetate) and aromatic aldehydes, in absolute ethanol, in the presence of IRA‐400.[25]