bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Columnar Liquid Crystalline Corannulenes: Synthesis, Assembly and Charge‐Carrier Transport Properties
Authors: Li Yang , Wang Zunzhi , Li Mengwei , Chen Feiyi , Zhao Yang , Wang Qi , Lu Fanli , Liu Yi , Ren Xiang‐Kui , Chen Long 
Published: May 2021

Main observation and conclusionTwo discotic liquid crystalline (LC) molecules consisting of a bowl‐shaped corannulene core and five‐fold photoactive azobenzene branches with different paraffinic side chains were developed. Their self‐assembly, photo‐responsive behavior and charge‐carrier transport properties were investigated in detail. A wider mesophase temperature range was achieved when utilizing longer and furcal flexible side chain substitution. 2D XRD measurements revealed the π‐packed corannulene‐centered 1b (i.e., with furcal side alkoxyl chains) exhibited helical columnar LC phase. This packing structure also led to a higher hole charge carrier mobility of 7.07 x 10–2 cm2·V–1·s–1 compared to that of the counterpart 1a with linear side chain substitutions.
A prospective trial of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in Black and White men with metastatic castrate‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: George Daniel J. , Halabi Susan , Heath Elisabeth I. , Sartor A. Oliver , Sonpavde Guru P. , Das Devika , Bitting Rhonda L. , Berry William , Healy Patrick , Anand Monika , Winters Carol , Riggan Colleen , Kephart Julie , Wilder Rhonda , Shobe Kellie , Rasmussen Julia , Milowsky Matthew I. , Fleming Mark T. , Bearden James , Goodman Michael , Zhang Tian , Harrison Michael R. , McNamara Megan , Zhang Dadong , LaCroix Bonnie L. , Kittles Rick A. , Patierno Brendon M. , Sibley Alexander B. , Patierno Steven R. , Owzar Kouros , Hyslop Terry , Freedman Jennifer A. , Armstrong Andrew J. 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundRetrospective analyses of randomized trials suggest that Black men with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) have longer survival than White men. The authors conducted a prospective study of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone to explore outcomes by race.MethodsThis race‐stratified, multicenter study estimated radiographic progression‐free survival (rPFS) in Black and White men with mCRPC. Secondary end points included prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) kinetics, overall survival (OS), and safety. Exploratory analysis included genome‐wide genotyping to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with progression in a model incorporating genetic ancestry. One hundred patients self‐identified as White (n = 50) or Black (n = 50) were enrolled. Eligibility criteria were modified to facilitate the enrollment of individual Black patients.ResultsThe median rPFS for Black and White patients was 16.6 and 16.8 months, respectively; their times to PSA progression (TTP) were 16.6 and 11.5 months, respectively; and their OS was 35.9 and 35.7 months, respectively. Estimated rates of PSA decline by ≥50% in Black and White patients were 74% and 66%, respectively; and PSA declines to <0.2 ng/mL were 26% and 10%, respectively. Rates of grade 3 and 4 hypertension, hypokalemia, and hyperglycemia were higher in Black men.ConclusionsMulticenter prospective studies by race are feasible in men with mCRPC but require less restrictive eligibility. Despite higher comorbidity rates, Black patients demonstrated rPFS and OS similar to those of White patients and trended toward greater TTP and PSA declines, consistent with retrospective reports. Importantly, Black men may have higher side‐effect rates than White men. This exploratory genome‐wide analysis of TTP identified a possible candidate marker of ancestry‐dependent treatment outcomes.
Sexually dimorphic perineuronal nets in the rodent and primate reproductive circuit
Authors: Ciccarelli Alessandro , Weijers Dilys , Kwan William , Warner Claire , Bourne James , Gross Cornelius T. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPerineuronal nets are extracellular glycoprotein structures that have been found on some neurons in the central nervous system and that have been shown to regulate their structural plasticity. Until now work on perineuronal nets has been focused on their role in cortical structures where they are selectively expressed on parvalbumin‐positive neurons and are reported to restrict the experience‐dependent plasticity of inhibitory afferents. Here, we examined the expression of perineuronal nets subcortically, showing that they are expressed in several discrete structures, including nuclei that comprise the brain network controlling reproductive behaviors (e.g., mounting, lordosis, aggression, and social defense). In particular, perineuronal nets were found in the posterior dorsal division of the medial amygdala, the medial preoptic nucleus, the posterior medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the ventrolateral ventromedial hypothalamus and adjacent tuberal nucleus, and the ventral premammillary nucleus in both the mouse and primate brain. Comparison of perineuronal nets in male and female mice revealed a significant sexually dimorphic expression, with expression found prominently on estrogen receptor expressing neurons in the medial amygdala. These findings suggest that perineuronal nets may be involved in regulating neural plasticity in the mammalian reproductive system.
Primary squamous cell carcinoma, breast: A challenging diagnosis
Authors: Goel Divya , Rana Chanchal , Babu Suresh , Ramakant Pooja 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundPrimary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is an extremely rare malignancy constituting less than 0.1% of all breast cancers with very few cases reported in literature. It is an aggressive, triple‐hormone negative tumor, and its appropriate management is still debated. It is diagnostically challenging on both histopathology as well as radiology. Different diagnostic criteria are established for its definite diagnosis. As squamous cells are not found normally in the breast, various theories have been proposed regarding its origin. But the exact pathogenesis is still unclear. We report one such case encountered.CaseA 54‐year‐old female presented with gradually progressive painless lump in the right breast for 3 months with no other clinical features. There was neither any history of chronic or malignant disease in the patient nor in her family. On clinical examination, there was well‐defined, firm and nontender swelling in upper inner quadrant measuring 3 × 2 cm with overlying skin being normal. There was no swelling in the contralateral breast as well as in the bilateral axillary region. A suspicion of malignancy was raised on initial core needle biopsy and, on repeat biopsy, was diagnosed as metaplastic carcinoma with squamous differentiation. Later, on final resection, specimen was reported as primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast without any nodal metastasis. All the metastatic causes were ruled out through proper clinical, radiological, and histopathological correlation.ConclusionPrimary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is an aggressive tumor with its treatment protocol being still unclear, owing to its rarity. It is important to rule out the metastatic causes. It is relatively resistant to conventional chemotherapy, and its prognosis is also unpredictable. Hence, this requires further studies in terms of management and prognosis.
Learners’ views of literature in EFL education from curricular and assessment perspectives
Authors: Tsang Art , Paran Amos 
Published: May 2021

AbstractLiterature has been gaining growing attention in second language (L2)/foreign language (FL) education globally. In a number of places such as Hong Kong, literature has recently been given greater emphasis in the L2/FL curricula. This article reports part of a large‐scale study examining learners’ views of two English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) modules on literary genres recently incorporated in the EFL curriculum, namely short stories (ShS) and poems and songs (P&S), from curricular and assessment perspectives. A total of 1190 secondary school students in Hong Kong completed a questionnaire, yielding quantitative and qualitative data; the 2347 comments collected explained their perceptions from multiple angles. Overall, the participants held positive views of the ShS module being incorporated into the curriculum, but only neutral views of the P&S module. When considering assessment, the respondents demonstrated ambivalence towards the modules; they were mostly against these genres being examined and if unexamined, they were generally not interested in studying them.
A lightweight authentication protocol for IoT‐based cloud environment
Authors: Zargar Sadra , Shahidinejad Ali , Ghobaei‐Arani Mostafa 
Published: May 2021

SummaryWith the ever‐growing use of active internet devices, the Internet of Things (IoT) has achieved vast popularity at present. Authentication technology is essential for the success of integrating IoT and cloud computing. Recently, the adversary capabilities are enhanced, and the current authentication techniques are vulnerable in plenty of possible network attacks. This paper presents a secure and lightweight authentication protocol for IoT‐based cloud environment. The proposed scheme can withstand various attacks and provide secure mutual authentication and anonymity by utilizing secret parameters and biometric. Lightweight crypto modules are adopted to pursue the best energy efficiency. The AVISPA tool is used to evaluate the protocol's performance. The obtained results indicate that the proposed protocol can effectively resist all kinds of known vulnerabilities.
eDNA metabarcoding outperforms traditional fisheries sampling and reveals fine‐scale heterogeneity in a temperate freshwater lake
Authors: Gehri Rebecca R. , Larson Wesley A. , Gruenthal Kristen , Sard Nicholas M. , Shi Yue 
Published: May 2021

AbstractUnderstanding biodiversity in aquatic systems is critical to ecological research and conservation efforts, but accurately measuring species richness using traditional methods can be challenging. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, which uses high‐throughput sequencing and universal primers to amplify DNA from multiple species present in an environmental sample, has shown great promise for augmenting results from traditional sampling to characterize fish communities in aquatic systems. Few studies, however, have compared exhaustive traditional sampling with eDNA metabarcoding of corresponding water samples at a small spatial scale. We intensively sampled Boardman Lake (1.4 km2) in Michigan, USA, from May to June in 2019 using gill and fyke nets and paired each net set with lake water samples collected in triplicate. We analyzed water samples using eDNA metabarcoding with 12S and 16S fish‐specific primers and compared estimates of fish diversity among methods. In total, we set 60 nets and analyzed 180 1 L lake water samples. We captured a total of 12 fish species in our traditional gear and detected 40 taxa in the eDNA water samples, which included all the species observed in nets. The 12S and 16S assays detected a comparable number of taxa, but taxonomic resolution varied between the two genes. In our traditional gear, there was a clear difference in the species selectivity between the two net types, and there were several species commonly detected in the eDNA samples that were not captured in nets. Finally, we detected spatial heterogeneity in fish community composition across relatively small scales in Boardman Lake with eDNA metabarcoding, but not with traditional sampling. Our results demonstrated that eDNA metabarcoding was substantially more efficient than traditional gear for estimating community composition, highlighting the utility of eDNA metabarcoding for assessing species diversity and informing management and conservation.
Ubiquitin‐proteasome‐system and enzymes of energy metabolism in skeletal muscle of patients with HFpEF and HFrEF
Authors: Adams Volker , Wunderlich Sebastian , Mangner Norman , Hommel Jennifer , Esefeld Katrin , Gielen Stephan , Halle Martin , Ellingsen Øyvind , Van Craenenbroeck Emeline M. , Wisløff Ulrik , Pieske Burkert , Linke Axel , Winzer Ephraim B. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundSkeletal muscle (SM) alterations contribute to exercise intolerance in heart failure patients with preserved (HFpEF) or reduced (HFrEF) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Protein degradation via the ubiquitin‐proteasome‐system (UPS), nuclear apoptosis, and reduced mitochondrial energy supply is associated with SM weakness in HFrEF. These mechanisms are incompletely studied in HFpEF, and a direct comparison between these groups is missing.Methods and resultsPatients with HFpEF (LVEF ≥ 50%, septal E/e′ > 15 or >8 and NT‐proBNP > 220 pg/mL, n = 20), HFrEF (LVEF ≤ 35%, n = 20) and sedentary control subjects (Con, n = 12) were studied. Inflammatory markers were measured in serum, and markers of the UPS, nuclear apoptosis, and energy metabolism were determined in percutaneous SM biopsies. Both HFpEF and HFrEF showed increased proteolysis (MuRF‐1 protein expression, ubiquitination, and proteasome activity) with proteasome activity significantly related to interleukin‐6. Proteolysis was more pronounced in patients with lower exercise capacity as indicated by peak oxygen uptake in per cent predicted below the median. Markers of apoptosis did not differ between groups. Mitochondrial energy supply was reduced in HFpEF and HFrEF (complex‐I activity: −31% and −53%; malate dehydrogenase activity: −20% and −29%; both P < 0.05 vs. Con). In contrast, short‐term energy supply via creatine kinase was increased in HFpEF but decreased in HFrEF (47% and −45%; P < 0.05 vs. Con).ConclusionsSimilarly to HFrEF, skeletal muscle in HFpEF is characterized by increased proteolysis linked to systemic inflammation and reduced exercise capacity. Energy metabolism is disturbed in both groups; however, its regulation seems to be severity‐dependent.
Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Annulation of 2‐Arylindazoles with Cyclic Enones
Authors: Chary Devulapally Yogananda , Ittamalla Chaitanya , Balasubramanian S. , Venkata Subba Reddy Basireddy 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAn oxidative annulation of 2‐arylindazoles with cyclic enoneshas was developed using Rh(III)/Cu(OAc)2 catalytic system for the first time to produce 3,4‐dihydroindazolo[2,3‐f]phenanthridin‐1(2H)‐one derivatives in good yields with high selectivity. When AgSbF6 was used instead of Cu(OAc)2, the corresponding uncyclized products, 3‐(2‐(2H‐indazol‐2‐yl)phenyl)cyclohexan‐1‐one scaffolds were formed exclusively. The reaction proceeds through a sequential conjugate addition of ortho‐C–H bond of aryl group followed by an oxidative annulation of indazole ring to generate fused polycyclic scaffolds.
Interpretable machine learning methods for in vitro pharmaceutical formulation development
Authors: Ye Zhuyifan , Yang Wenmian , Yang Yilong , Ouyang Defang 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundMachine learning has become an alternative approach for pharmaceutical formulation development. However, many machine learning applications in pharmaceutics only focus on model performance rather than model interpretability.AimThis study aims to propose an attention‐based deep neural network (DNN) for pharmaceutical formulation development.MethodsAn attention‐based DNN, AttPharm, was proposed. AttPharm separately handled feature values and feature physical meaning by representation learning to successfully apply the attention mechanism to the pharmaceutical tabular data. Furthermore, the distributions of the attention weights were computed using AttPharm. Two post hoc methods, local interpretable model‐agnostic explanation (LIME) and TreeSHAP, were utilized to obtain the post hoc model interpretability for lightGBM.ResultsThe results demonstrated that AttPharm significantly improved the model performance of plain neural networks on a pharmaceutical cyclodextrin dataset because the attention mechanism could extract related features and find minute variation. Notably, the attention weights were analyzed, which illustrated global and local feature‐level and sample‐level model interpretability, thus providing insights for formulation design. Comparing with post hoc methods, AttPharm can be used without the concern of the faithfulness of interpretability.ConclusionThis is the first step in applying the attention‐based DNN to pharmaceutical formulation development. Considering the importance of model interpretability, the proposed approach may have a wide range of applications in pharmaceutics.
Mediterranean diet adherence and dietary calcium intake in a group of pregnant women: Results of an Italian survey
Authors: Quattrini Sara , Pampaloni Barbara , Cianferotti Luisella , Fossi Caterina , Ottanelli Silva , Gronchi Giorgio , Duradoni Mirko , Di Tommaso Mariarosaria , Dubini Valeria , Brandi Maria Luisa 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPregnancy is a delicate phase in woman's life that could become a risk factor for osteoporosis in pregnant women who do not meet recommended nutrient standards, especially for calcium and vitamin D. Mediterranean diet (MD) has been demonstrated to be beneficial for adequate nutrient intake. This article aims to evaluate the MD adherence and dietary calcium intake in a group of pregnant Italian women and to investigate how these are linked to each other and to fast glycemia at first trimester of pregnancy. Two hundred and seventy‐nine pregnant women were recruited at the gynecology units of two hospitals in Florence. Socio‐demographic, clinical information, and results of the first trimester blood sample analysis were collected. Two questionnaires, validated for evaluation of MD adherence and calcium intake, were administered to the pregnant women. Approximately 60% of the women had a high level of MD adherence, with a mean dietary calcium intake of 870.3 ± 335.3. In women with higher MD adherence level, fast glycemia resulted lower. Calcium intake was lower than Population Rate Intake for the Italian population (1,200 mg/daily) and was positively correlated to MD adherence score. The MD proved to be nutritious, as it was related to a higher calcium intake in this group of Italian women.
Statistical evaluation of main extraction parameters in twenty plant extracts for obtaining their optimum total phenolic content and its relation to antioxidant and antibacterial activities
Authors: Kadir Dler H. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe main extraction parameters were statistically evaluated for 20 medicinal plants to obtain the optimum conditions for maximum extraction of total phenolic content (TPC) in each plant. Among various extraction parameters, pH, temperature, and concentration at different levels were studied. The results were analyzed using the analysis of variance to achieve the optimum conditions of phenolic extraction for all plants. Also, investigation of the optimum antioxidant (AnOX) activities using DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) method and antibacterial potential against common pathogenic bacteria of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., and Candida spp. through disk diffusion method for the extract of all plants under the optimum total phenolic concentration of each plant extract confirmed a direct relation among bioactivity and TPC.
Increased segregation of structural brain networks underpins enhanced broad cognitive abilities of cognitive training
Authors: Chen Quanjing , Baran Timothy M. , Turnbull Adam , Zhang Zhengwu , Rebok George W. , Lin Feng Vankee 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA major challenge in the cognitive training field is inducing broad, far‐transfer training effects. Thus far, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying broad training effects. Here, we tested a set of competitive hypotheses regarding the role of brain integration versus segregation underlying the broad training effect. We retrospectively analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial comparing neurocognitive effects of vision‐based speed of processing training (VSOP) and an active control consisting of mental leisure activities (MLA) in older adults with MCI. We classified a subset of participants in the VSOP as learners, who showed improvement in executive function and episodic memory. The other participants in the VSOP (i.e., VSOP non‐learners) and a subset of participants in the MLA (i.e., MLA non‐learners) served as controls. Structural brain networks were constructed from diffusion tensor imaging. Clustering coefficients (CCs) and characteristic path lengths were computed as measures of segregation and integration, respectively. Learners showed significantly greater global CCs after intervention than controls. Nodal CCs were selectively enhanced in cingulate cortex, parietal regions, striatum, and thalamus. Among VSOP learners, those with more severe baseline neurodegeneration had greater improvement in segregation after training. Our findings suggest broad training effects are related to enhanced segregation in selective brain networks, providing insight into cognitive training related neuroplasticity.
Bile Salt and FGF19 Signaling in the Early Phase of Human Liver Regeneration
Authors: Koelfat Kiran V.K. , van Mierlo Kim M.C. , Lodewick Toine M. , Bloemen Johanne G. , van der Kroft Gregory , Amygdalos Iakovos , Neumann Ulf P. , Dejong Cornelis H.C. , Jansen Peter L.M. , Olde Damink Steven W.M. , Schaap Frank G. 
Published: May 2021

The involvement of bile salt–fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) signaling in human liver regeneration (LR) is not well studied. Therefore, we studied aspects of bile salt–FGF19 signaling shortly after liver resection in patients. We compared plasma bile salt and FGF19 levels in arterial, portal and hepatic venous blood, calculated venous‐arterial differences (ΔVA), and determined hepatic transcript levels on two intra‐operative time points: before (< 1 hour) and immediately after (> 2‐3 hours) liver resection (i.e., following surgery). Postoperative bile salt and FGF19 levels were assessed on days 1, 2, and 3. LR was studied by computed tomography (CT)–liver volumetry. Following surgery, the liver, arterial, and portal bile salt levels were elevated (P < 0.05). Furthermore, an increased amount of bile salts was released in portal blood and extracted by the remnant liver (P < 0.05). Postoperatively, bile salt levels were elevated from day 1 onward (P < 0.001). For FGF19, intra‐operative or postoperative changes of ΔVA or plasma levels were not observed. The bile salt–homeostatic regulator farnesoid X receptor (FXR) was markedly up‐regulated following surgery (P < 0.001). Cell‐cycle re‐entry priming factors (interleukin 6 [IL‐6], signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 [STAT3], and cJUN) were up‐regulated following surgery and were positively correlated with FXR expression (P < 0.05). Postoperative hyperbilirubinemia was preceded by postsurgery low FXR and high Na+/Taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) expression in the remnant liver coupled with higher liver bile salt content (P < 0.05). Finally, bile salt levels on postoperative day 1 were an independent predictor of LR (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Systemic, portal, and liver bile salt levels are rapidly elevated after liver resection. Postoperative bile salts were positively associated with liver volume gain. In the studied time frame, FGF19 levels remained unaltered, suggesting that FGF19 plays a minor role in human LR. These findings indicate a more relevant role of bile salts in human LR.