bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance improvement of thin film nanocomposite membranes by covalently bonding with Janus porous hollow nanoparticles for nanofiltration applications
Authors: Zhao Hongyong , Li Xiaofeng , Ding Xiaoli , Zhang Liang , Zhang Yuzhong 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIncorporation of nanofillers into membranes is one of effective ways to improve the performance of membranes. Various nanofillers are induced into the polymeric matrices, including nonporous nanofillers, porous nanofillers, and hollow nanofillers. In this study, thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes covalently incorporated with Janus porous hollow nanoparticles with opposite surface charges are prepared by interfacial polymerization. The effects of the Janus porous hollow nanoparticles on performances of the composite membrane including surface hydrophilicity, surface charge, surface roughness, water permeability, salt rejection, and antifouling resistance are investigated. The incorporation of Janus porous hollow nanoparticles improves the overall performance of the membranes. The hydrophilicity and surface charge increase as the loading of nanoparticles increases, and the roughness increases firstly and then decreases. The flux of the TFN membranes (96.8 L·h−1·m−2at 0.5 MPa) has more than doubled compared with unmodified composite membranes, mainly due to the additional channel provided by hollow structure of nanoparticles with porous shells, accompanied with high level rejections (>97%) against Na2SO4and MgSO4. The NaCl rejection increases from 49.7% to 55.9% due to the synchronous rejection ability of cations and anions given by the dually charged composite nanoparticles. The chemically modified TFN membranes show improved stabilities in the pure water and the humic acid solution with decrements in flux about 2% and 6% respectively, due to the improved surface properties.
Preparation and properties of physically cross‐linked PVA/pectin hydrogels blended at different ratios for wound dressings
Authors: Oh Gun‐Woo , Choi Il‐Whan , Park Won Sun , Oh Chul Hong , Heo Soo‐Jin , Kang Do‐Hyung , Jung Won‐Kyo 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn the present study, we fabricated composite polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and pectin hydrogels with different blend ratios using a freeze–thaw method. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the PVA/pectin hydrogels had a porous structure, with the porosity increasing from 82.8% ± 0.5% to 93.2% ± 0.3% with an increase in the pectin content. In addition, with the addition of pectin, the gel fraction of the hydrogel decreased and the swelling ability increased compared with PVA. Of the fabricated hydrogels, the hydrogel with the 9:1 PVA/pectin ratio had the highest compressive strength (684 ± 62 kPa) and G′ value (~1014 kPa). Based on cytotoxicity studies, none of the fabricated hydrogels showed cytotoxicity against HDF or HaCaT cells. These results indicate that varying the pectin content can be used to control the mechanical characterization, porosity, and swelling ability of composite PVA/pectin hydrogels, which are thus promising candidates for use as wound dressings.
Manufacturing technology and dynamic mechanical investigation of moisture‐resistant Luffa cylindrica‐reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Papanicolaou George C. , Zaoutsos Stefanos P. , Anastasiou Dimitrios E. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractNatural fiber (NF)‐reinforced thermosetting composites exhibit excellent properties but, due to the usually hygroscopic nature of the fibers, these composites may suffer from the effects of moisture absorption. Luffa cylindrica is a NF, potentially useful in the manufacture of composite materials, but it is highly hygroscopic. A technology is developed for the fabrication of moisture‐resistant L. cylindrica‐reinforced epoxy composites and the various parameters that affect the process are investigated using long‐term moisture absorption experiments and dynamic mechanical analysis of dry and moist specimens. The technology concludes to a L. cylindrica‐reinforced bilayer matrix made of a first linseed oil‐modified precured epoxy and a final unmodified epoxy layer. This composite offers a reduced water absorbance by 33% and an almost identical Tg compared to the non‐modified epoxy reinforced with L. cylindrica. The same technology is used to manufacture water‐resistant L. cylindrica‐reinforced composites from both, environmentally friendly, matrix and reinforcement.
Synthesis, characterization, and enhanced aggregation‐induced emission of oligomer methylacryloyl tetraphenylethylene and volatile organic compounds detection
Authors: Zhang Hong , Niu Xiaoling , Zhu Shengbo , Tian Min , Liu Weiguo 
Published: September 2021

AbstractTetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivatives were studied intensively owing to their excellent aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) behavior, facile synthesis, easy functionalization, and thermal stability. Herein, oligomer methylacryloyl tetraphenylethylene (TPE‐MA) containing precise number of AIE luminogens was synthesized facilely by introducing methylacryloyl group onto the phenyl ring of TPE and polymerizing the monomer. The structures of TPE‐MA and its oligomer were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and gel permeation chromatograph. The relationship between chemical structures and the photophysical properties were investigated from the aspect of UV–vis absorption, fluorescent emission spectra, (AIE property, electrochemical properties, and density functional theory studies. The results showed that the emission intensity of the oligomer TPE‐MA was enhanced by twice bigger than that of its monomer, and the maximum emission wavelengths were observed red‐shifted, when TPE was converted to TPE‐MA monomer and its oligomer. The oligomer solution spots on the thin layer chromatography plates can be turned “off” and “on” continuously and reversibly by dichloromethane vapor, which endows the material with high sensitivity, capable of detecting volatile organic compounds.
Behavioral and anatomical evidence for electroreception in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Hüttner Tim , von Fersen Lorenzo , Miersch Lars , Czech Nicole U. , Dehnhardt Guido 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn the order of cetacean, the ability to detect bioelectric fields has, up to now, only been demonstrated in the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) and is suggested to facilitate benthic feeding. As this foraging strategy has also been reported for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), we studied electroreception in this species by combining an anatomical analysis of “vibrissal crypts” as potential electroreceptors from neonate and adult animals with a behavioral experiment. In the latter, four bottlenose dolphins were trained on a go/no‐go paradigm with acoustic stimuli and afterward tested for stimulus generalization within and across modalities using acoustic, optical, mechanical, and electric stimuli. While neonates still possess almost complete vibrissal follicles including a hair shaft, hair papilla, and cavernous sinus, adult bottlenose dolphins lack these features. Thus, their “vibrissal crypts” show a similar postnatal morphological transformation from a mechanoreceptor to an electroreceptor as in Sotalia. However, innervation density was high and almost equal in both, neonate as well as adult animals. In the stimulus generalization tests the dolphins transferred the go/no‐go response within and across modalities. Although all dolphins responded spontaneously to the first presentation of a weak electric field, only three of them showed perfect transfer in this modality by responding continuously to electric field amplitudes of 1.5 mV cm−1, successively reduced to 0.5 mV cm−1. Electroreception can explain short‐range prey detection in crater‐feeding bottlenose dolphins. The fact that this is the second odontocete species with experimental evidence for electroreception suggests that it might be widespread in this marine mammal group.
Cattle manure management using microbial fuel cells for green energy generation
Authors: Syed Zainab , Sonu Kumar , Sogani Monika 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe increased use of estrogens in modern livestock farming has caused them to enter the environment and they have become a serious human health concern. Studies have suggested that animal waste treatment using bio‐electrochemical systems may reduce their environmental impact. Bio‐electrochemical systems hold great potential as green bioenergy conversion systems utilizing different bio‐wastes as the feedstock. The present work involves the development of a laboratory‐scale microbial fuel cell (MFC) for energy generation from two different cattle manures (cow dung and buffalo dung) as bio‐waste after ultrasonication pretreatment for a period ranging from 4 to 8 min. The maximum power density in both the cattle manures is reported with 5.5 min of ultrasonication pretreatment at 40 kHz, 120 W, at 25 °C. Two similar setups of a single‐chambered membrane‐less MFC were fed with pretreated cow dung (PCD) and pretreated buffalo dung (PBD) as substrates in the anodic chamber, and the effects of various parameters such as temperature and time were investigated. The maximum chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand removal were 80% and 87% respectively, with PBD. The coulombic efficiency of PBD‐MFC was slightly higher (0.53%) than that of PCD‐MFC (0.48%). The maximum voltage (0.65 V) and power density (12.75 mW m−2) were also recorded with PBD‐MFC. Energy recovery was also studied by electrically stacking five individual units of these MFCs into series and parallel arrangements. The parallel and series PBD‐MFC stacks yielded 22 and 12 times higher power output respectively than the individual unit. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
The neuroprotective effect and RNA‐sequence analysis of postconditioning on the ischemic stroke with diabetes mellitus tree shrew model
Authors: Zhao Ling , Tan Shufen , Liao Qiwei , Li Xia , Ke Tingyu , Li Shuqing 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIntroductionPatients with comorbidity of ischemic stroke (IS) and diabetes mellitus (DM) show poor neurological functional recovery, and ischemic postconditioning (IPOC) should be considered a powerful neuroprotective method for IS. However, whether it should be introduced for patients with IS and DM remains controversial. This study established a DM with IS (DMIS) tree shrew model, which was intervened by IPOC to assess its neuroprotective effects and also to analyze the relevant mechanism by RNA‐sequence and bioinformatics analysis.MethodsFifty‐four tree shrews were randomly divided into a sham operation control group, a DMIS group, and an IPOC group (DMIS model), with 18 tree shrews per group. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), hematoxylin‐eosin (HE) staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and RNA‐sequence analysis were performed to assess the IPOC effect.ResultsIPOC reduced infarct size and reduced nerve cell injury in IS tree shrews with DM. RNA‐seq analysis showed that IPOC significantly increased the expression of the homeobox protein SIX3, while downregulating the expression of HLA class II histocompatibility antigens DQ beta 1 chain, CAS1 domain‐containing protein 1, and cytokine receptor‐like factor 2. The most downregulated signaling pathways include the NF‐κB signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and Fc gamma R‐mediated phagocytosis.ConclusionsIPOCs have a neuroprotective effect in a DMIS animal model that reduces infarct size and nerve cell injury. This mechanism might be related to reducing inflammation and stress responses that decreases the activity of TNF and NF‐κB signaling pathways.
A global assessment of recent trends in gastrointestinal cancer and lifestyle‐associated risk factors
Authors: Lu Lili , Mullins Christina S. , Schafmayer Clemens , Zeißig Sebastian , Linnebacher Michael 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundGastrointestinal (GI) cancers were responsible for 26.3% of cancer cases and 35.4% of deaths worldwide in 2018. This study aimed to analyze the global incidence, mortality, prevalence, and contributing risk factors of the 6 major GI cancer entities [esophageal cancer (EC), gastric cancer (GC), liver cancer (LC), pancreatic cancer (PC), colon cancer, and rectal cancer].MethodsUsing the Global Cancer Observatory and the Global Health Observatory databases, we reviewed the current GI cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality, analyzed the association of GI cancer prevalence with national human development indices (HDIs), identified the contributing risk factors, and estimated developing age‐ and sex‐specific trends in incidence and mortality.ResultsIn 2020, the trend in age‐standardized rate of incidence of GI cancers closely mirrored that of mortality, with the highest rates of LC, EC, and GC in Asia and of colorectal cancer (CRC) and PC mainly in Europe. Incidence and mortality were positively, but the mortality‐to‐incidence ratio (MIR) was inversely correlated with the national HDI levels. High MIRs in developing countries likely reflected the lack of preventive strategies and effective treatments. GI cancer prevalence was highest in Europe and was also positively correlated with HDIs and lifestyle‐associated risk factors, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, insufficient physical activity, and high blood cholesterol level, but negatively correlated with hypertension and diabetes. Incidences of EC were consistently and those of GC mostly decreasing, whereas incidences of CRC were increasing in most countries/regions, especially in the younger populations. Incidences of LC and PC were also increasing in all age‐gender populations except for younger males. Mortalities were decreasing for EC, GC, and CRC in most countries/regions, and age‐specific trends were observed in PC and LC with a decrease in the younger but an increase in the older population.ConclusionsOn the global scale, higher GI cancer burden was accompanied, for the most part, by factors associated with the so‐called Western lifestyle reflected by high and very high national HDI levels. In countries/regions with very high HDI levels, patients survived longer, and increasing GI cancer cases were observed with increasing national HDI levels. Optimizing GI cancer prevention and improving therapies, especially for patients with comorbid metabolic diseases, are thus urgently recommended.
Encouraging long‐term survival following autophagy inhibition using neoadjuvant hydroxychloroquine and gemcitabine for high‐risk patients with resectable pancreatic carcinoma
Authors: AlMasri Samer S. , Zenati Mazen S. , Desilva Annissa , Nassour Ibrahim , Boone Brian A. , Singhi Aatur D. , Bartlett David L. , Liotta Lance A. , Espina Virginia , Loughran Patricia , Lotze Michael T. , Paniccia Alessandro , Zeh Herbert J. , Zureikat Amer H. , Bahary Nathan 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIntroductionPreoperative autophagy inhibition with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in combination with gemcitabine in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been shown to be safe and effective in inducing a serum biomarker response and increase resection rates in a previous phase I/II clinical trial. We aimed to analyze the long‐term outcomes of preoperative HCQ with gemcitabine for this cohort.MethodsA review of patients enrolled between July 2010 and February 2013 in the completed phase I/II single arm (two doses of fixed‐dose gemcitabine (1500 mg/m2) in combination with oral hydroxychloroquine administered for 31 consecutive days until the day of surgery for high‐risk pancreatic cancer) was undertaken. Progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival analysis (OS) using Kaplan–Meier estimates were performed.ResultsOf 35 patients initially enrolled, 29 patients underwent surgical resection (median age at diagnosis: 62 years, 45% females). Median duration of follow‐up was 7.5 years. There was a median 15% decrease in the serum CA19‐9 levels following completion of neoadjuvant therapy and 83% of the cohort underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy, 7 (24%) patients had a concomitant venous resection. On histopathology, 14 (48%) patients had at least a partial treatment response. The median PFS and OS were 11 months (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 7–28) and 31 months (95% CI: 13–47), respectively, while 9 (31%) patients survived beyond 5 years from diagnosis; a rate that compares very favorably with contemporaneous series.ConclusionCompared to historical data, neoadjuvant autophagy inhibition with HCQ plus gemcitabine is associated with encouraging long‐term survival for patients with PDAC.
Integrated analysis reveals distinct molecular, clinical, and immunological features of B7‐H3 in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Zhang Ling‐yi , Jin Ye , Xia Pei‐hui , Lin Jiang , Ma Ji‐chun , Li Ting , Liu Zi‐qi , Xiang He‐lin , Cheng Chen , Xu Zi‐jun , Zhou Hong , Qian Jun 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe role of B7‐H3 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is not fully understood. Two previous studies investigating its expression and significances in AML are partially different. In this study, we aimed to systematically characterize the genomic and immune landscape in AML patients with altered B7‐H3 expression using multi‐omics data in the public domain. We found significantly increased B7‐H3 expression in AML compared to either other hematological malignancies or healthy controls. Clinically, high B7‐H3 expression was associated with old age, TP53 mutations, wild‐type WT1 and CEBPA, and the M3 and M5 FAB subtypes. Moreover, we observed that increased B7‐H3 expression correlated significantly with a poor outcome of AML patients in four independent datasets. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed the enrichment of the “EMT” oncogenic gene signatures in high B7‐H3 expressers. Further investigation suggested that B7‐H3 was more likely to be associated with immune‐suppressive cells (macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and Th17 cells). B7‐H3 was also positively associated with a number of checkpoint genes, such as VISTA (B7‐H5), CD80 (B7‐1), CD86 (B7‐2), and CD70. In summary, we uncovered distinct genomic and immunologic features associated with B7‐H3 expression in AML. This may lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying B7‐H3 dysregulation in AML and to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Extended robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection as a monotherapy in patients with very high‐risk prostate cancer Patients
Authors: Miura Noriyoshi , Sugihara Naoya , Funaki Keisuke , Kakuda Toshio , Koyama Kanae , Watanabe Ryuta , Sawada Yuichiro , Noda Terutaka , Nishimura Kenichi , Fukumoto Tetsuya , Miyauchi Yuki , Kikugawa Tadahiko , Saika Takashi 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundPatients with very‐high‐risk prostate cancer (VHRPCa) have earlier biochemical recurrences (BCRs) and higher mortality rates. It remains unknown whether extended robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (eRALP) without neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy can improve the outcomes of VHRPCa patients. We aimed to determine the feasibility and efficacy of eRALP as a form of monotherapy for VHRPCa.MethodsData from 76 men who were treated with eRALP without neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy were analyzed. eRALP was performed using an extrafascial approach. Extended pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection (ePLND) included nodes above the external iliac axis, in the obturator fossa, and around the internal iliac artery up to the ureter. The outcome measures were BCR, treatment failure (defined as when the prostate‐specific antigen level did not decrease to <0.1 ng/ml postoperatively), and urinary continence (UC). Kaplan–Meier, logistic regression, and Cox proportional‐hazards model were used to analyze the data.ResultsThe median operative time was 246 min, and median blood loss was 50 ml. Twenty‐one patients experienced postoperative complications. Median follow‐up was 25.2 months; 19.7% of patients had treatment failure. Three‐year, BCR‐free survival rate was 62.0%. Castration‐resistant prostate cancer‐free survival rate was 86.1%. Overall survival was 100%. In 55 patients who had complete postoperative UC data, 47 patients (85.5%) recovered from their UC within 12 months. Clinical stage cT3b was an independent preoperative treatment failure predictor (p = 0.035), and node positivity was an independent BCR predictor (p = 0.037). The small sample size and retrospective nature limited the study.ConclusionsThis approach was safe and produced acceptable UC‐recovery rates. Preoperative seminal vesicle invasion is associated with treatment failure, and pathological LN metastases are associated with BCR. Therefore, our results may help informed decisions about neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies in VHRPCa cases.PrecisExtended robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection without adjuvant therapy is safe and effective for some patients with very‐high‐risk prostate cancer. The clinical stage and node positivity status predicted monotherapy failure, which may indicate good adjuvant therapy candidate.
Missing Data, Complex Processes and Differing Contexts: A Case File Analysis of School Staff's Involvement in Child Protection Cases for Concerns of Neglect
Authors: Sharley Victoria 
Published: September 2021

This paper reports the findings from the analysis of 119 children's social work case files from three local authorities in Wales. The study offers new understanding about the extent of school staff's involvement in the provision of statutory support when there are concerns that a child is living with neglect. Findings demonstrate evidence of a broad range of early and preventative school‐based support provided in 42 per cent of the sample, some gaps in schools' contributions to statutory assessments and a decline in the level of involvement of members of school staff following the initial child protection conference. The discussion also acknowledges a number of challenges encountered during the study: the complexity of social work processes, the variance in understandings of neglect within differing regional contexts and large amounts of missing data on children's files and the restrictions this created for statistical measurement. Findings have important implications for interprofessional relationships between schools and social work teams, at individual and agency levels. The author makes a call for social workers to actively engage members of school staff in child protection processes with the purpose of increasing information sharing across agencies, while enhancing interprofessional safeguarding practice.‘Reports the findings from the analysis of 119 children's social work case files from three local authorities in Wales’Key Practitioner Messages

Schools are key safeguarding partners and provide an extensive range of support to children and their families, both prior to and during statutory intervention.
Members of school staff hold expert knowledge on children living with neglect which should be utilised more consistently within statutory assessments.
Social workers should ensure members of school staff are invited to attend child protection conferences and develop interprofessional relationships to improve information sharing across agencies.