bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Strength and Quality of Cemented Mine Backfill Made up of Lead-Zinc Processing Tailings
Authors: Akkaya Ufuk Gokhan , Cinku Kenan , Yilmaz Erol 
Published: September 2021

Predicting the reactions of the backfill materials exposed to the effects of air and groundwater will eventually ensure an efficient and accurate mine fill system for sustainable mining operations. This paper reveals the effect of the mobility of sulfur ions within lead-zinc processing tailings on strength and quality of cemented mine backfills. Some laboratory tests such as X-ray diffraction, ion chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, combustion tests, chemical analysis, pH and zeta potential measurements were performed to better characterize the backfill’s mechanical and microstructural properties. Moreover, CEM II/A-P Portland pozzolan and CEM IV/A pozzolanic cements as ready-to-use cement products were used for cemented mine backfill preparation. To ensure the carrier of the lead-zinc tailings and to prevent the mobility of the sulfurous components, a binder content ranging from 3 to 7 wt% were employed in mine backfills. The experimental findings demonstrate that the used cement type and proportions were insufficient and some fractures are occurred in the samples due to the sulfur ion mobility. Accordingly, one can state clearly that the elemental analysis through the combustion test method can provide fast and reliable results in the determination of sulfur within lead-zinc processing tailings.
Case Report: Malacoplakia Due to E. coli With Cryptococcus albidus Infection of a Transplanted Kidney in a Patient With Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Yan Ziyan , Deng Wenfeng , Wang Yuchen , Liu Yanna , Sun Hengbiao , Xia Renfei , Zeng Wenli , Geng Jian , Chen Gui , He Xiaolong , Xu Jian , Wu Chin-Lee , Miao Yun 
Published: September 2021

Background: Colonization of Cryptococcus rarely occurs in a graft. This study reports a case of malacoplakia and cryptococcoma caused by E. coli and Cryptococcus albidus in a transplanted kidney, with detailed pathology and metagenome sequencing analysis.Case Presentation: We presented a case of cryptococcoma and malacoplakia in the genitourinary system including the transplant kidney, bladder, prostate, and seminal vesicles caused by Cryptococcus albidus and Escherichia coli in a renal-transplant recipient. Metagenome sequencing was conducted on a series of samples obtained from the patient at three different time points, which we termed Phase I (at the diagnosis of cryptococcoma), Phase II (during perioperative period of graftectomy, 3 months after the diagnosis), and Phase III (2 months after graftectomy). Sequencing study in the Phase I detected two and four sequences of C. albidus respectively in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and feces, with resistant Escherichia coli 09-02E presented in urine and renal mass. A 3-month antibiotic treatment yielded a smaller bladder lesion but an enlarged allograft lesion, leading to a nephrectomy. In the Phase II, two sequences of C. albidus were detected in CSF, while the E. coli 09-02E continued as before. In the Phase III, the lesions were generally reduced, with one C. albidus sequence in feces only.Conclusions: The existence and clearance of Cryptococcus sequences in CSF without central nervous system symptoms may be related to the distribution of infection foci in vivo, the microbial load, and the body's immunity. Overall, this study highlights the need for enhanced vigilance against uncommon types of Cryptococcus infections in immunocompromised populations and increased concern about the potential correlation between E. coli and Cryptococcus infections.
Pipeline Embolization Device for the Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Dissecting Aneurysms
Authors: Chen Jigang , Tao Mushun , Han Jiangli , Feng Xin , Peng Fei , Tong Xin , Niu Hao , Ma Ning , Liu Aihua 
Published: September 2021

Background: Intracranial dissecting aneurysms (IDAs) are rare but pose significant challenges to treatment. The pipeline embolization device (PED) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment option with excellent outcomes. Herein, we report our experience with patients treated with the PED for unruptured IDAs.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our hospital database and identified patients who were treated with PEDs for unruptured IDAs between March 2016 and September 2020. Data including demographics, clinical presentation, aneurysm characteristics, procedural details, intra- or peri-procedural complications, and follow-up details were collected.Results: Eighty patients (61 men, 76.25%) were treated with PED for unruptured IDAs. The most common symptoms were headache (34, 42.5%), dizziness (29, 36.25%), and nausea or vomiting (15, 18.75%). Of these patients, 73 had one aneurysm, and seven harbored two aneurysms. All of them achieved successful PED deployment. Six patients experienced intra- or peri-procedural complications including perforator artery occlusion, thromboembolic, hemorrhagic events, and falling of the stent into the aneurysm sac. Follow-up with digital subtractive angiography was available for 29 patients with a median of 6 months, and 28 (96.56%) patients had aneurysm occlusion. Late thrombosis occurred in four patients, and two of them had unfavorable outcomes. Clinical follow-up showed that a favorable clinical outcome was achieved in 76 (95%) patients, and the mortality rate was 3.75%.Conclusion: Treating unruptured IDAs is safe and effective with long-term favorable clinical and angiographic outcomes. However, the complications of this treatment should be noted. Careful selection of appropriate patients and individualized antiplatelet therapy might be needed.
Transcriptome Analyses Identify a Metabolic Gene Signature Indicative of Antitumor Immunosuppression of EGFR Wild Type Lung Cancers With Low PD-L1 Expression
Authors: Wang Min , Zhu Jie , Zhao Fang , Xiao Jiani 
Published: September 2021

PurposeWith the development and application of targeted therapies like tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have achieved remarkable survival benefits in recent years. However, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type and low expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) NSCLCs remain unmanageable. Few treatments for these patients exist, and more side effects with combination therapies have been observed. We intended to generate a metabolic gene signature that could successfully identify high-risk patients and reveal its underlying molecular immunology characteristics.MethodsBy identifying the bottom 50% PD-L1 expression level as PD-L1 low expression and removing EGFR mutant samples, a total of 640 lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC) tumor samples and 93 adjacent non-tumor samples were finally extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We identified differentially expressed metabolic genes (DEMGs) by R package limma and the prognostic genes by Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. The intersect genes between DEMGs and prognostic genes were put into the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalty Cox regression analysis. The metabolic gene signature contained 18 metabolic genes generated and successfully stratified LUAD and LUSC patients into the high-risk and low-risk groups, which was also validated by the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Its accuracy was proved by the time-dependent Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, Principal Components Analysis (PCA), and nomogram. Furthermore, the Single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) and diverse acknowledged methods include XCELL, TIMER, QUANTISEQ, MCPcounter, EPIC, CIBERSORT-ABS, and CIBERSORT revealed its underlying antitumor immunosuppressive status. Besides, its relationship with somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) was also discussed.ResultsIt is noteworthy that metabolism reprogramming is associated with the survival of the double-negative LUAD and LUSC patients. The SCNAs and TMB of critical metabolic genes can inhibit the antitumor immune process, which might be a promising therapeutic target.
Developing Strategy to Predict the Results of Prostate Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Reduce Unnecessary Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan
Authors: Liu Junxiao , Yu Shuanbao , Dong Biao , Hong Guodong , Tao Jin , Fan Yafeng , Zhu Zhaowei , Wang Zhiyu , Zhang Xuepei 
Published: September 2021

PurposeThe clinical utility of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for the detection and localization of prostate cancer (PCa) has been evaluated and validated. However, the implementation of mpMRI into the clinical practice remains some burden of cost and availability for patients and society. We aimed to predict the results of prostate mpMRI using the clinical parameters and multivariable model to reduce unnecessary mpMRI scans.MethodsWe retrospectively identified 784 men who underwent mpMRI scans and subsequent prostate biopsy between 2016 and 2020 according to the inclusion criterion. The cohort was split into a training cohort of 548 (70%) patients and a validation cohort of 236 (30%) patients. Clinical parameters including age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) derivates, and prostate volume (PV) were assessed as the predictors of mpMRI results. The mpMRI results were divided into groups according to the reports: “negative”, “equivocal”, and “suspicious” for the presence of PCa.ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that the total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA), PV, and PSA density (PSAD) were significant predictors for suspicious mpMRI (P &lt; 0.05). The PSAD (AUC = 0.77) and tPSA (AUC = 0.74) outperformed fPSA (AUC = 0.68) and PV (AUC = 0.62) in the prediction of the mpMRI results. The multivariate model (AUC = 0.80) had a similar diagnostic accuracy with PSAD (P = 0.108), while higher than tPSA (P = 0.024) in predicting the mpMRI results. The multivariate model illustrated a better calibration and substantial improvement in the decision curve analysis (DCA) at a threshold above 20%. Using the PSAD with a 0.13 ng/ml2 cut-off could spare the number of mpMRI scans by 20%, keeping a 90% sensitivity in the prediction of suspicious MRI-PCa and missing three (3/73, 4%) clinically significant PCa cases. At the same sensitivity level, the multivariate model with a 32% cut-off could spare the number of mpMRI scans by 27%, missing only one (1/73, 1%) clinically significant PCa case.ConclusionOur multivariate model could reduce the number of unnecessary mpMRI scans without comprising the diagnostic ability of clinically significant PCa. Further prospective validation is required.
An Integrated Analysis of C5AR2 Related to Malignant Properties and Immune Infiltration of Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhu Yumeng , Wang Xiaochao , Xu Yanqing , Chen Lu , Ding Peipei , Chen Jianfeng , Hu Weiguo 
Published: September 2021

BackgroundC5AR2 (GPR77, C5L2) is the second receptor for C5a that is a potent protein generated by complement activation. C5AR2 can mediate its own signaling events and exert significant immunomodulatory effects through those events. However, research of C5AR2 in cancer is limited, and its function remains unclear in breast cancer.MethodsThe expression of C5AR2 and its correlations with prognosis, immune infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI) in more than thirty types of cancers were described through GTEx, TCGA, PrognoScan, TIMER2.0, CCLE, HPA, and TISIDB database. C5AR2 showed strong relationships to those immune marker sets in breast cancer. Otherwise, CCK8 assay and Transwell assay were conducted to illustrate the role of C5AR2 in migration, invasion, and proliferation of breast cancer cells.ResultsGenerally, C5AR2 expression differed across most cancerous and noncancerous tissues, and high C5AR2 expression significantly related to poor prognosis in BRCA, GBM, KICH, LAML, LGG, LIHC, PAAD, and STAD. Moreover, C5AR2 expression levels were dramatically correlated with recognized immune infiltration, especially the polarization of macrophages in breast cancer. Gene set enrichment analysis confirmed that C5AR2 participates in regulating multiple signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis as well as tumor immunity. C5AR2 overexpression facilitated the functions such as migration, invasion, and proliferation in breast cancer cells, which is consistent with bioinformatics analysis.ConclusionsC5AR2 is involved in immune infiltration and malignant characteristics of breast cancer, which may be a prospective biomarker for breast cancer.
Comparison of Penile Appearance and Outcomes Between Prefabricated Urethra and Pre-implanted Urethral Plate for Treatment of Children With Severe Hypospadias: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Ding Yuan , Gu Shengli , Xia Xingrong , Yu Zhengbo 
Published: September 2021

Objective: To compare the effect of prefabricated urethra and pre-implanted urethral plate in the treatment of severe hypospadias in children.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 53 patients who diagnosed as severe hypospadias underwent staging urethroplasty from January 2015 to January 2018 in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, First People's Hospital, Zunyi City. The patients were divided into two groups: group A (n = 25) were treated with prefabricated urethra and group B (n = 28) were treated with pre-implanted urethral plate. After the second stage surgery, the ratios of complications such as urethral fistula, urethral stenosis, urethrocele, and recurrence chordee were compared. The penis was scored from meatus, glans, shaft skin, general appearance by the parents, blinded urologists according to The Pediatric Penile Perception Score, and the scores were compared too.Results: All patients were followed up after two stage operations for an average of 28 months. Glans dehiscence occurred in two patients (8%), urethral orifice stenosis occurred in one (4%) and urethral fistula occurred in three (12%) in group A. No urethral stenosis, urethrocele and recurrence chordee was observed. One patient presented urethral plate inactivation (3.6%), two patients presented urethral fistula (7.1%) and one patient presented urethral stenosis (3.6%) in group B. No urethrocele, glans dehiscence and recurrence chordee was observed. The total complication rate in group A was 24 and 14.3% in group B, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.582). The differences between two groups scored by parents in glans (P = 0.030) was statistically significant. The differences between two groups scored by operators in meatus (P = 0.041), shaft skin (P = 0.000), glans (P = 0.001), and general appearance (P = 0.007) were statistically significant. The differences between two groups scored by counterparts in meatus (P = 0.006), shaft skin (P = 0.003), glans (P = 0.010), and general appearance (P = 0.014) were statistically significant.Conclusion: Both prefabricated urethra and pre-implanted urethral plate methods are suitable for correction of severe hypospadias as staging surgery in children. In general, pre-implanted urethral plate is more worthy of spread because it is much more applied in patients with small glans and achieve good appearance of penis.
Significant Regional Differences in Lung Cancer Incidence in Hungary: Epidemiological Study Between 2011 and 2016
Authors: Gálffy Gabriella , Vastag Aladár , Bogos Krisztina , Kiss Zoltán , Ostoros Gyula , Müller Veronika , Urbán László , Bittner Nóra , Sárosi Veronika , Polányi Zoltán , Nagy-Erdei Zsófia , Daniel Andrea , Knollmajer Kata , Várnai Máté , Szegner Péter , Vokó Zoltán , Nagy Balázs , Horváth Krisztián , Rokszin György , Abonyi-Tóth Zsolt , Pozsgai Éva , Barcza Zsófia , Moldvay Judit , Tamási Lilla 
Published: September 2021

Objective:Hungary has one of the highest incidences and mortality rates of lung cancer (LC), therefore the objective of this study was to analyse and compare LC incidence and mortality rates between the main Hungarian regions.Methods:This nationwide, retrospective study used data from the National Health Insurance Fund and included patients aged ≥20 years who were diagnosed with lung cancer (ICD-10 C34) between Jan 1, 2011 and Dec 31, 2016. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated and compared for the main regions.Results:The highest incidence rate in males was recorded in Northern Hungary (146.8/100,000 person-years [PY]), while the lowest rate was found in Western Transdanubia (94.7/100,000 PY in 2011). All rates showed a declining trend between 2011 and 2016, with the largest decrease in the Northern Great Plain (−20.0%;p= 0.008). LC incidence and mortality rates in women both showed a rising tendency in all regions of Hungary, reaching the highest in Central Hungary (59.86/100,000 PY in 2016). Lung cancer incidence and mortality rates in males correlated with the level of education and smoking prevalence (p= 0.006 andp= 0.01, respectively) in the regions. A correlation with GDP per capita and Health Development Index (HDI) index could also be observed in the Hungarian regions, although these associations were not statistically significant. No correlations could be detected between these parameters among females.Conclusion:This analysis revealed considerable differences in the epidemiology of LC between the 7 main Hungarian regions. LC incidence and mortality rates significantly correlated with smoking and certain socioeconomic factors in men, but not in women. Further research is needed to explain the regional differences.
Effect of a Wood-Based Carrier of Trichoderma atroviride SC1 on the Microorganisms of the Soil
Authors: Chammem Hamza , Antonielli Livio , Nesler Andrea , Pindo Massimo , Pertot Ilaria 
Published: September 2021

Wood pellets can sustain the growth of Trichoderma spp. in soil; however, little is known about their side effects on the microbiota. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of wood pellets on the growth of Trichoderma spp. in bulk soil and on the soil microbial population’s composition and diversity. Trichoderma atroviride SC1 coated wood pellets and non-coated pellets were applied at the level of 10 g∙kg−1 of soil and at the final concentration of 5 × 103 conidia∙g−1 of soil and compared to a conidial suspension applied at the same concentration without the wood carrier. Untreated bulk soil served as a control. The non-coated wood pellets increased the total Trichoderma spp. population throughout the experiment (estimated as colony-forming unit g−1 of soil), while wood pellets coated with T. atroviride SC1 did not. The wood carrier increased the richness, and temporarily decreased the diversity, of the bacterial population, with Massilia being the most abundant bacterial genus, while it decreased both the richness and diversity of the fungal community. Wood pellets selectively increased fungal species having biocontrol potential, such as Mortierella, Cladorrhinum, and Stachybotrys, which confirms the suitability of such carriers of Trichoderma spp. for soil application.
Rotating-Frame Overhauser Transfer via Long-Lived Coherences
Authors: Teleanu Florin , Topor Alexandru , Serafin Diana , Sadet Aude , Vasos Paul R. 
Published: September 2021

Solution-state distance restraints for protein structure determination with Ångström-level resolution rely on through-space transfer of magnetization between nuclear spins. Such magnetization transfers, named Overhauser effects, occur via dipolar magnetic couplings. We demonstrate improvements in magnetization transfer using long-lived coherences (LLCs)—singlet-triplet superpositions that are antisymmetric with respect to spin-permutation within pairs of coupled magnetic nuclei—as the magnetization source. Magnetization transfers in the presence of radio-frequency irradiation, known as ‘rotating-frame’ Overhauser effects (ROEs), are predicted by theory to improve by the use of LLCs; calculations are matched by preliminary experiments herein. The LLC-ROE transfers were compared to the transmission of magnetization via classical transverse routes. Long-lived coherences accumulate magnetization on an external third proton, K, with transfer rates that depended on the tumbling regime. I,S →K transfers in the LLC configuration for (I,S) are anticipated to match, and then overcome, the same transfer rates in the classical configuration as the molecular rotational correlation times increase. Experimentally, we measured the LLC-ROE transfer in dipeptide AlaGly between aliphatic protons in different residues K = Ala − Hα and (I,S) = Gly − Hα1,2 over a distance dK,I,S = 2.3 Å. Based on spin dynamics calculations, we anticipate that, for such distances, a superior transfer of magnetization occurs using LLC-ROE compared to classical ROE at correlation times above τC=10 ns. The LLC-ROE effect shows potential for improving structural studies of large proteins and offering constraints of increased precision for high-affinity protein-ligand complexes in slow tumbling in the liquid state.
Biodegradability Study of Footwear Soling Materials in Simulated Compost Environment
Authors: Mukherjee Moumita , Loganathan T. , Mandal Sujata , Saraswathy G. 
Published: September 2021

Aim of the present study is to investigate the biodegradability and decomposing properties of footwear soling materials by standard biodegradability test method. Biodegradability tests were performed by aerobic exposure of the selected six soling materials to the soil matrix and measuring the degradation and decomposition occurred with time. All soling materials were characterized for physical and physicochemical properties such as weight loss, hardness, density, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, thermal and morphological properties before and after exposing to the simulated compost environment. In the present study, the end-of-life nature of footwear soling materials currently used by the footwear industries are explored, which will further emphasize the importance of development and use of biodegradable materials in the footwear manufacturing.
Development of a Headspace-Solid Phase Micro Extraction Method for the Analysis of Volatile and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds from Polyurethane Resins for Leather Finishing
Authors: Flores Antonia , Sorolla Silvia , Casas Concepció , Cuadros Rosa , Bacardit Anna 
Published: September 2021

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) arise from the chemicals used in the various stages of the leather manufacturing process. An important aim of the tanning industry is to minimize or eliminate VOCs and SVOCs, without lowering the quality of leather.
This paper shows the development of a new headspace-solid phase micro extraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) method for the identification of VOCs and SVOCs emitted by newly designed polymers for the leather finishing operation. These new polymers are polyurethane resins designed to reduce the VOC and SVOC concentration. This method enables a simple and fast determination of the qualitative and semi-quantitative content of VOCs and SVOCs in polyurethane-type finishing resins. The chemicals that are of concern in this paper are the following: Dipropylene glycol Monomethyl Ether (DPGME), DBE-3 (a mixture of dibasic esters) and Triethylamine (TEA). The test conditions that have been determined to carry out the HS-SPME assay are the following: incubation time (2 hours), extraction temperature and time (40°C; 5 minutes) and the desorption conditions (280°C, 50 seconds).
Ten samples of laboratory scale resins were tested by HS-SPME followed by gas chromatography (GC-MS). DPGME and DBE-3 (a mixture of dimethyl adipate, dimethyl glutarate and dimethyl succinate) have been identified effectively. The compounds are identified by a quantitative method using external calibration curves for the target compounds. The technique is not effective to determine the TEA compound, since the chromatograms shown poor resolution peaks for the standard.