bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of ectoine containing nasal spray and eye drops on symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis
Authors: Salapatek Anne M. , Werkhäuser Nina , Ismail Basma , Mösges Ralph , Raskopf Esther , Bilstein Andreas 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundPatients are often dissatisfied with the symptom control obtained from available pharmacological treatments for seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). Therefore, patients seek for alternative, nonpharmacological options to treat their symptoms. Here, we assessed the efficacy of ectoine nasal spray and ectoine eye drops in comparison to placebo to prevent nasal and ocular symptoms following exposure to pollen in patients with ARC.MethodsIn this double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over study, 46 patients with ARC applied ectoine eye drops and nasal spray in immediate succession or placebo eye drops and nasal spray for 13 days before ARC symptoms were induced in an environmental exposure chamber. Primary endpoint was the baseline‐adjusted area under the curve (AUC) posttreatment total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and the total ocular symptom score (TOSS) using analysis of covariance. Secondary endpoints were, amongst others, total nonnasal symptoms score (TNNSS) and nasal patency (measured using acoustic rhinometry).ResultsTreatment with both ectoine and placebo reduced TNSS, TOSS, and TNNSS upon allergen exposure. The analysis of parameters at baseline and after allergen exposure demonstrated that ectoine induced a clinically relevant improvement in ARC symptoms compared to placebo: the least square mean difference for baseline‐adjusted AUC was ‒1.87 for TNSS, ‒1.45 for TOSS and ‒2.20 for TNNSS. The mean change from baseline AUC of TNNSS for ectoine was also significantly greater than for placebo (‒5.49 vs. ‒3.46; p = 0.011). Ectoine significantly improved the singular symptoms “sneezing,” “watery eyes” and “itchy eyes” (p ≤ 0.021) as well as “itchy ear/palate” (p = 0.036) in comparison to placebo. Mean cross sectional areas of the nasal cavity were reduced to a lesser extent after treatment with ectoine (‒0.020 ± 0.022) than with placebo (‒0.047 ± 0.029). The current study also demonstrated a very good safety profile of ectoine treatment. Few AEs with comparable numbers in both treatment groups were reported during the study, which were mild in severity and resolved without medical treatment.ConclusionThe study suggests that ectoine is effective in reducing nasal and ocular symptoms associated with ARC. Being a natural, bacteria derived stress protection molecule functioning by a physical mode of action, it therefore represents an alternative nonpharmacological treatment option.
Ion Conductive Phytic Acid‐G Quadruplex Hydrogel as Electrolyte for Flexible Electrochromic Device
Authors: Thakur Neha , Chaudhary Anjali , Chakraborty Amrita , Kumar Rajesh , Sarma Tridib K. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSelf‐healing and thermo‐reversible hydrogels derived from pristine biomolecules with potential ionic conductivity represent a promising class of functional and flexible materials for a range of applications such as bioelectronics, energy storage, and wearable and implantable devices. Herein, spontaneous formation of an ion conductive hydrogel through the reversible non‐covalent interaction of pristine biomolecules, phytic acid and guanosine‐5'‐monophosphate in aqueous medium is reported that shows excellent self‐healing and thermo‐reversible properties. The phytic acid biomolecule induces effective cross‐linking of the highly ordered G‐tetrad leading to gelation. The homogeneous and mechanically strong hydrogel is used as a gel electrolyte for flexible electrochromic devices taking advantage of the high ionic conductivity. The biocompatibility, robustness, good conductivity and multifunctional applicability of phytic acid induced G‐quadruplex hydrogel, makes it a prospective material for environmental and bioelectronics applications.
Supramolecular Control on the Optical Properties of a Dye‐Polyelectrolyte Assembly
Authors: Awasthi Ankur A. , Pandey Shrishti P. , Singh Prabhat K. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractControl of fluorescent molecular assemblies is an exciting area of research with large potential for various important applications, such as, fluorescence sensing/probing, cell imaging and monitoring drug‐delivery. In the present contribution, we have demonstrated control on the extent of aggregation of a dye‐polyelectrolyte assembly using a macrocyclic host molecule, sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrin (SBE‐β‐CD). Initially, a cationic molecular rotor based organic dye, Auramine‐O (AuO), undergoes aggregation in the presence of an anionic polyelectrolyte, polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), and displays a broad intense new emission band along with large variation in its absorption features and excited‐state lifetime. A manipulation of the monomer‐aggregate equilibrium of the dye‐polyelectrolyte assembly has been achieved by introducing a cyclodextrin based supramolecular host, SBE‐β‐CD, which leads to relocation of AuO molecules from polyelectrolyte (PSS) to supramolecular host cavity, owing to the formation of a host‐guest complex between AuO and SBE‐β‐CD. A reversible control on this manipulation of monomer‐aggregate equilibrium is further achieved by introducing a competitive guest for the host cavity i. e., 1‐Adamantanol. Thus, we have demonstrated an interesting control on the dye‐polyelectrolyte aggregate assembly using a supramolecular host molecule which open up exciting possibilities to construct responsive materials using a repertoire of various host‐specific guest molecules.
Platinum‐Based Electrocatalysts for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells: Enhanced Performances toward Alcohol Oxidation Reactions
Authors: Zhao Guili , Fang Caihong , Hu Jinwu , Zhang Deliang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn the past few decades, Pt‐based electrocatalysts have attracted great interests due to their high catalytic performances toward the direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC). However, the high cost, poor stability, and the scarcity of Pt have markedly hindered their large‐scale utilization in commerce. Therefore, enhancing the activity and durability of Pt‐based electrocatalysts, reducing the Pt amount and thus the cost of DAFC have become the keys for their practical applications. In this minireview, we summarized some basic concepts to evaluate the catalytic performances in electrocatalytic alcohol oxidation reaction (AOR) including electrochemical active surface area, activity and stability, the effective approaches for boosting the catalytic AOR performance involving size decrease, structure and morphology modulation, composition effect, catalyst supports, and assistance under other external energies. Furthermore, we also presented the remaining challenges of the Pt‐based electrocatalysts to achieve the fabrication of a real DAFC.
Influence of Positional Isomerism on the Chiroptical Properties of Functional Aromatic Oligoamide Foldamers
Authors: Moreno Kevin , Merlet Eric , McClenaghan Nathan , Buffeteau Thierry , Ferrand Yann , Olivier Céline 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA series of functionalized quinoline‐based aromatic oligoamide foldamers were prepared in their two enantiomeric forms, comprising an enantiopure terminal camphanyl chiral inducer, which governed the adjacent (P‐/M‐) helical‐handedness. Hierarchical chirality transfer was further investigated in chromophore‐appended variants via a range of electronic and vibrational spectroscopic techniques, including circularly polarized luminescence, vibrational circular dichroism and fluorescence. Intense total and polarized photoluminescence (up to Φlum=0.39, glum=1.5×10−3) was observed in the visible region from these modular multicomponent architectures and a significant influence of positional isomerism was evidenced. The optimal position of a fluorophore substituent on the quinoline hexamers was determined as being position 2 over position 6, as stronger chiroptical features were systematically observed with the 2‐positioned derivatives.
Synthesis, Single‐Crystal Structure, Dielectric Properties of a New Phosphate K3Bi6.5(PO4)7.5
Authors: Falah Chiraz , Ben Smida Youssef , Sdiri Nasr , Soltani Taoufik 
Published: March 2021

AbstractNew potassium bismuth phosphate K3Bi6.5(PO4)7.5 has been synthesized by solid‐state reaction and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2, with a = 17.637(8) Å, b = 6.9261(8) Å, c = 22.385(4)Å, β = 104.35(2)°, and Z = 4. The crystal structure model is supported by the two methods; the charge distribution (CHARDI) and bond valence sum (BVS). The crystal structure is made up of BiOn (n = 5, 6, 7, 8) polyhedra and PO4 tetrahedra sharing corners and edges to form a three‐dimensional anionic framework. The bond valence sum energy (BVSE) model of simulation shows that the potassium atoms move along [101] direction with a zigzag pathways form with an empirical activation energy of about 1.56 eV. The dielectric properties are carried out at room temperature and show high permittivity values with low dielectric loss.
Patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy: Their experiences after 6 months of prophylactic tooth extractions and temporary removable dentures
Authors: Brahm Carl‐Otto , Borg Carina , Malm Dan , Fridlund Bengt , Lewin Freddi , Zemar Ahmed , Nilsson Peter , Papias Apostolos , Henricson Maria 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivesThe impact of dental occlusion on the experiences of head and neck cancer patients and their oral, social and psychological functioning has been sparsely investigated. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the experience of tooth loss and dentures among patients treated for head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of head and neck cancer patients of prophylactic tooth extractions and temporary removable dentures, 6 months after radiotherapy treatment.Material and methodsAn individual interview with 25 patients 6 months after radiotherapy was subjected to a qualitative content analysis.ResultsTwo categories, Impaired oral function and Belief in the future, and seven subcategories described the patients' experiences of temporary removable dentures during the first 6 months after prophylactic tooth extractions. The temporary removable dentures affected the patients' ability to chew, swallow and speak, caused pain, and were experienced as an enemy. Despite that, the patients were hopeful and had a wish for recovery, which gave them the energy to live.ConclusionProphylactic tooth extractions and temporary removable dentures 6 months after radiotherapy treatment affect head and neck cancer patients' recovery and everyday life. However, they have the will to take on these challenges, pertaining not only to themselves, but also to relatives and health professionals. At the individual level, the patient needs individualized professional support to get through the arduous procedure, from the acute situation until the end of the rehabilitation phase.
Emerging roles of the solute carrier family in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Wu Zijian , Xu Jin , Liang Chen , Meng Qingcai , Hua Jie , Wang Wei , Zhang Bo , Liu Jiang , Yu Xianjun , Shi Si 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPancreatic cancer is a gastrointestinal tumor with a high mortality rate, and advances in surgical procedures have only resulted in limited improvements in the prognosis of patients. Solute carriers (SLCs), which rank second among membrane transport proteins in terms of abundance, regulate cellular functions, including tumor biology. An increasing number of studies focusing on the role of SLCs in tumor biology have indicated their relationship with pancreatic cancer. The mechanism of SLC transporters in tumorigenesis has been explored to identify more effective therapies and improve survival outcomes. These transporters are significant biomarkers for pancreatic cancer, the functions of which include mainly proliferative signaling, cell death, angiogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis, energy metabolism, chemotherapy sensitivity and other functions in tumor biology. In this review, we summarize the different roles of SLCs and explain their potential applications in pancreatic cancer treatment.
Activated factor X targeted stored in platelets as an effective gene therapy strategy for both hemophilia A and B
Authors: Wang Dawei , Shao Xiaohu , Wang Qiang , Pan Xiaohong , Dai Yujun , Yao Shuxian , Yin Tong , Wang Zhugang , Zhu Jiang , Xi Xiaodong , Chen Zhu , Chen Saijuan , Zhang Guowei 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundTreatment of hemophiliacs with inhibitors remains challenging, and new treatments are in urgent need. Coagulation factor X plays a critical role in the downstream of blood coagulation cascade, which could serve as a bypassing agent for hemophilia therapy. Base on platelet‐targeted gene therapy for hemophilia by our and other groups, we hypothesized that activated factor X (FXa) targeted stored in platelets might be effective in treating hemophilia A (HA) and B (HB) with or without inhibitors.MethodsTo achieve the storage of FXa in platelets, we constructed a FXa precursor and used the integrin αIIb promoter to control the targeted expression of FXa precursor in platelets. The expression cassette (2bFXa) was carried by lentivirus and introduced into mouse hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), which were then transplanted into HA and HB mice. FXa expression and storage in platelets was examined in vitro and in vivo. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of platelet‐stored FXa by tail bleeding assays and the thrombelastography. In addition, thrombotic risk was assessed in the recipient mice and the lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation mice.ResultsBy transplanting 2bFXa lentivirus‐transduced HSPCs into HA and HB mice, FXa was observed stably stored in platelet α‐granules, the stored FXa is releasable and functional upon platelet activation. The platelet‐stored FXa can significantly ameliorate bleeding phenotype in HA and HB mice as well as the mice with inhibitors. Meanwhile, no FXa leakage in plasma and no signs of increased risk of hypercoagulability were found in transplantation recipients and lipopolysaccharide induced septicemia recipients.ConclusionsOur proof‐of‐principle data indicated that target expression of the FXa precursor to platelets can generate a storage pool of FXa in platelet α‐granules, the platelet‐stored FXa is effective in treating HA and HB with inhibitors, suggesting that this could be a novel choice for hemophilia patients with inhibitors.
A multi‐scale approach to laminated microbial deposits in non‐marine carbonate environments through examples of the Cenozoic, north‐east Iberian Peninsula, Spain
Authors: Arenas‐Abad Concha 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis contribution focusses on stromatolites and oncolites as tools to seek diverse environmental and climate information at different temporal scales. The scales are: (a) Low frequency, dealing with macroscopic and megascopic scales, and (b) high frequency, involving calendar and solar frequency bands. Two depositional environments are used for this purpose: (a) Fluvial and fluvial–lacustrine, which can develop under high to moderate gradients, and in low‐gradient conditions, and (b) lacustrine, subject to low‐gradient, hydrologically closed lake conditions. Several current and ancient examples in the Iberian Peninsula allow high‐frequency and low‐frequency analyses. Within the wedge‐shaped depositional units that fill the high‐ to moderate‐gradient, stepped fluvial systems, stromatolites form half domes and lenticular bodies, commonly at the wedge front. Oncolites are uncommon. These stromatolites developed in moderate to fast‐flowing water in stepped cascades and rapids. Their geometry and extent reflect the topography of the bedrock and later ongoing growth. In low‐gradient fluvial and fluvial‐(open) lacustrine systems the depositional units are tabular, low‐angle wedge‐shaped and lenticular and have great spatial facies variability. The dominant oncoid and coated‐stem limestones form gently lenticular stacked bodies, developed in wide, low to high‐sinuosity channels within wide tufaceous palustrine areas and small lakes. In the Ebro Basin saline carbonate lacustrine systems, stromatolites form thin planar to domed and stratiform bodies and are associated with muddy‐grainy laminated carbonates and very rare oncolites, together forming ramp‐shaped units that represent the inner fringes of high lake‐level deposits. This geometry reflects low‐gradient lake surface and shallow water conditions. Textural and structural features allow different ranks of laminae and types of lamination to be distinguished. Texture, together with the δ13C and δ18O values of consecutive laminae, are useful in distinguishing environmental and climate changes operating over different time spans. Periodicity analysis of lamination can help to discern any temporal significance in the lamination.
High‐throughput sequencing on preservative ethanol is effective at jointly examining infraspecific and taxonomic diversity, although bioinformatics pipelines do not perform equally
Authors: Couton Marjorie , Baud Aurélien , Daguin‐Thiébaut Claire , Corre Erwan , Comtet Thierry , Viard Frédérique 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

High‐throughput sequencing of amplicons (HTSA) has been proposed as an effective approach to evaluate taxonomic and genetic diversity at the same time. However, there are still uncertainties as to how the results produced by different bioinformatics treatments impact the conclusions drawn on biodiversity and population genetics indices.

We evaluated the ability of six bioinformatics pipelines to recover taxonomic and genetic diversity from HTSA data obtained from controlled assemblages. To that end, 20 assemblages were produced using 354 colonies of Botrylloides spp., sampled in the wild in ten marinas around Brittany (France). We used DNA extracted from preservative ethanol (ebDNA) after various time of storage (3, 6, and 12 months), and from a bulk of preserved specimens (bulkDNA). DNA was amplified with primers designed for targeting this ascidian genus. Results obtained from HTSA data were compared with Sanger sequencing on individual zooids (i.e., individual barcoding).

Species identification and relative abundance determined with HTSA data from either ebDNA or bulkDNA were similar to those obtained with traditional individual barcoding. However, after 12 months of storage, the correlation between HTSA and individual‐based data was lower than after shorter durations. The six bioinformatics pipelines were able to depict accurately the genetic diversity using standard population genetics indices (HS and FST), despite producing false positives and missing rare haplotypes. However, they did not perform equally and dada2 was the only pipeline able to retrieve all expected haplotypes.

This study showed that ebDNA is a nondestructive alternative for both species identification and haplotype recovery, providing storage does not last more than 6 months before DNA extraction. Choosing the bioinformatics pipeline is a matter of compromise, aiming to retrieve all true haplotypes while avoiding false positives. We here recommend to process HTSA data using dada2, including a chimera‐removal step. Even if the possibility to use multiplexed primer sets deserves further investigation to expand the taxonomic coverage in future similar studies, we showed that primers targeting a particular genus allowed to reliably analyze this genus within a complex community.
Regional variability in pregnancy and survival rates of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
Authors: Proffitt Kelly M. , Courtemanch Alyson B. , Dewey Sarah R. , Lowrey Blake , McWhirter Douglas E. , Monteith Kevin.L. , Paterson J. Terrill , Rotella Jay , White Patrick J. , Garrott Robert A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn the Rocky Mountains, bighorn sheep restoration has been only marginally effective; this iconic wilderness species currently exists at a fraction of their historic abundance and often in fragmented and small populations. To inform bighorn sheep conservation and restoration efforts, it is critical to understand sources of variation in key vital rates. Our objectives were to characterize the spatiotemporal variations and factors affecting survival and pregnancy rates of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) using data from 19 bighorn sheep populations in Montana and Wyoming that occupied diverse landscapes ranging from the Northern Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. We used a hierarchical modeling approach to estimate survival and pregnancy rates of adult females and identify the important intrinsic and environmental factors affecting these vital rates. Survival of prime‐aged animals was relatively high and stable, and pregnancy rates for prime‐aged animals showed more overall variation in response to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Summer growing season, as indexed by integrated NDVI, positively influenced the probability of pregnancy and winter survival. This highlights the important relationship between summer growing season conditions and bighorn sheep physiological status. An index of mountain lion population abundance was related weakly to winter survival of bighorn sheep, with mountain lion abundance on winter ranges negatively affecting winter survival. Our results regarding the distribution of the estimated probabilities of pregnancy and survival, and the identification of factors associated with regional variability in these vital rates provide a foundation for understanding the dynamics of bighorn sheep populations in the Rocky Mountains. The importance of summer growing season conditions suggests management efforts should focus on maintaining and improving nutritional resources on bighorn sheep summer ranges, in efforts to enhance the condition of animals entering the breeding season and nutrient‐limited winter season. Although we document nontrivial changes in both pregnancy and winter survival rates associated with environmental variation, our results broadly support the dominant paradigm of ungulate demography insofar as survival rates of adult females were relatively higher and had less variation than pregnancy rates.