bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of a nanoparticle therapeutic vaccine in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Wei Lai , Zhao Tingting , Zhang Ji , Mao Qing , Gong Guozhong , Sun Yongtao , Chen Yongping , Wang Maorong , Tan Deming , Gong Zuojiong , Li Baosen , Niu Junqi , Li Shuchen , Gong Huanyu , Zou Liyun , Zhou Wei , Jia Zhengcai , Tang Yan , Fei Lei , Hu Yang , Shang Xiaoyun , Han Junfeng , Zhang Bei , Wu Yuzhang 
Published: August 2021

Abstract

Background and Aim
HBV DNA can be reduced using antiviral drugs in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB); however, the rate of HBeAg seroconversion remains low. A clinical trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of a de novo designed liposome‐based nanoparticle lipopeptide vaccine, εPA‐44, for CHB.

Approach and Results
A two‐stage phase 2 trial, which included a 76‐week, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial (stage 1) and a 68‐week open‐label extension (stage 2), was conducted in 15 centers across China (Clinicaltrials.gov No. NCT00869778). In stage 1, 360 human leukocyte antigen A2 (HLA‐A2)–positive and HBeAg‐positive patients were randomly and equally distributed to receive six subcutaneous injections of 600 µg or 900 µg εPA‐44 or placebo at week 0, 4, 8, 12, 20, and 28. In stage 2, 183 patients received extended 900 µg εPA‐44, and 26 patients were observed for relapse without further treatment. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with HBeAg seroconversion at week 76. At week 76, patients receiving 900 µg εPA‐44 achieved significantly higher HBeAg seroconversion rate (38.8%) versus placebo (20.2%) (95% CI, 6.9‐29.6%; p = 0.002). With a combined endpoint of HBeAg seroconversion, alanine aminotransferase normalization and HBV DNA < 2,000 IU/mL, both 900 µg (18.1%) and 600 µg (14.3%), resulted in significantly higher rate versus placebo (5.0%) (p = 0.002 and p = 0.02, respectively) at week 76. In stage 2, none (0 of 20) of 900 µg εPA‐44‐treated patients experienced serologic relapse. The safety profile of εPA‐44 was comparable to that of placebo.

Conclusions
Among HLA‐A2‐positive patients with progressive CHB, a finite duration of 900 µg εPA‐44 monotherapy resulted in significantly higher HBeAg seroconversion rate than placebo and sustained off‐treatment effect. A phase 3 trial is ongoing (ChiCTR2100043708).
Temporal variation of soil erosion resistance on sloping farmland during the growth stages of maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Ma Rui , Zheng Zicheng , Li Tingxuan , He Shuqin , Zhang Xizhou , Wang Yongdong , Huang Huagang , Ye Daihua 
Published: August 2021

AbstractMaize growth has great effects on soil properties and thus likely induces the changes in soil erosion resistance on sloping farmland. However, temporal variation of soil erosion resistance during the growth stages of maize is still unclear in the mountainous yellow soil area where maize is the dominant crop. In this study, four maize plots (MP) and four bare land plots (CK) were conducted to investigate soil erosion resistance, and multiple indicators of soil erosion resistance were measured including the total soil anti‐scourability (TAS), mean weight diameter (MWD), soil erodibility K factor and soil shear strength (SH). A comprehensive soil erosion resistance index (CSERI) was employed to quantify the temporal variation of soil erosion resistance during the growth stages of maize (seedling stage, SS; jointing stage, JS; tasselling stage, TS; maturing stage, MS). The results showed that TAS, MWD, SH increased significantly with maize growth and SH decreased when at MS. But K factor decreased significantly over time. CSERI increased significantly during the growth stages of maize and the CSERI of JS, TS, MS increased on average by 74.72, 180.68 and 234.57% than that of SS. Compared to CK, CSERI of MP increased by 49.90, 66.82, 55.60 and 38.61% during the growth stages of maize. The temporal variation of soil erosion resistance was closely related to the changes in maize cover, maize roots and soil organic carbon. The findings demonstrated that it is necessary to consider the temporal variation of soil erosion resistance in the mountainous yellow soil area.
Resource loss and mental health during COVID‐19: Psychosocial protective factors among U.S. older adults and those with chronic disease
Authors: McElroy‐Heltzel Stacey E. , Shannonhouse Laura R. , Davis Edward B. , Lemke Austin W. , Mize Mary Chase , Aten Jamie , Fullen Matthew C. , Hook Joshua N. , Van Tongeren Daryl R. , Davis Don E. , Miskis Constantinos 
Published: August 2021

Across the globe, COVID‐19 has disproportionately affected the physical and mental health of several vulnerable groups. In a series of two cross‐sectional studies conducted April to July 2020, we examined its acute mental health effects on two vulnerable U.S. community samples—home‐bound older adults who were at or below the poverty line (Study 1, N = 293, Mage = 76.94, SD = 8.64; 75.1% female, 67.9% Black) and adults with chronic disease (Study 2, N = 322, Mage = 62.20, SD = 12.22; 46.3% female, 28.3% racial/ethnic minorities). Based on the conservation of resources theory, we hypothesised that pandemic‐related resource loss would be associated with greater mental distress, but perceived social support and positive psychological characteristics (trait resilience and optimism) would buffer against this adverse effect. Across both samples of vulnerable adults, pandemic‐related resource loss was related to mental distress. Perceived social support was related to lower mental distress but did not consistently buffer the effect of resource loss on mental health. However, in Study 2, both trait resilience and optimism buffered this relationship. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the conservation of resources theory.
Construction of a novel methylation‐related prognostic model for colorectal cancer based on microsatellite status
Authors: Cao Lichao , Chen Erfei , Zhang Hezi , Ba Ying , Yan Bianbian , Li Tong , Yang Jin 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe present study aimed to construct a novel methylation‐related prognostic model based on microsatellite status that may enhance the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) from methylation and microsatellite status perspective. DNA methylation and mRNA expression data with clinical information were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set. The samples were divided into microsatellite stability and microsatellite instability group, and CIBERSORT was used to assess the immune cell infiltration characteristics. After identifying the differentially methylated genes and differentially expression genes using R packages, the methylation‐driven genes were further identified. Prognostic genes that were used to establish the methylation‐related risk score model were generated by the univariate and multivariate Cox regression model. Finally, we established and evaluated the methylation‐related prognostic model for CRC patients. A total of 69 MDGs were obtained and three of these genes (MIOX, TH, DKFZP434K028) were selected to construct the prognostic model. Patients in the low‐risk score group had a conspicuously better overall survival than those in the high‐risk score group (p < .0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for this model was 0.689 at 3 years, 0.674 at 4 years, and 0.658 at 5 years. The Wilcoxon test showed that higher risk score was associated with higher T stage (p = .01), N stages (p = .0028), metastasis (p = .013), and advanced pathological stage (p = .0013). However, the more instability of microsatellite status, the lower risk score of CRC patients (p = .0048). Our constructed methylation‐related prognostic model based on microsatellite status presents potential significance in assessing recurrence risk stratification, tumor staging, and immunotherapy for CRC patients.
Mesenchymal stem cell and endothelial progenitor cells coinjection improves LPS‐induced lung injury via Tie2 activation and downregulation of the TLR4/MyD88 pathway
Authors: Hoseinnia Sadaf , Ghane Maryam , Norouzi Jamile , Hosseini Farzaneh 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSepsis is one of the most important complications of infection with a high mortality rate. Recently, cell therapy has been widely used to reduce the symptoms of sepsis. It has been previously reported that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) therapy have beneficial effects in experimental models of sepsis. The effects of coculture of MSC and EPC have not yet been used to treat sepsis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of EPC + MSC coculture on the residual effects of sepsis in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced mice model. Coinjections of EPC + MSC significantly enhanced the survival rate of LPS‐induced mice, decreased concentrations of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and increased the level of anti‐inflammatory cytokine. The LPS‐induced mice that were treated with EPC + MSC showed a notable reduction in pulmonary edema, hepatic enzymes, and C‐reactive protein level compared with the control group. Our results showed that coinjection of EPC + MSC up and downregulates Tie2 and TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathways in LPS‐induced mice, respectively. Also, in vitro study showed that viability, adhesion, and migration in coculture cells is significantly decreased after being induced with 10 μg/ml LPS. Our results showed that LPS impaired the functional activity of the cocultured EPC + MSC via upregulation of the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway, which may be associated with decreased pTie2/Tie2 expression. In conclusion, coinjection of EPC and MSC modulated the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway that leads to reduce the inflammatory response. This study may provide promising results for the introduction of cocultured cells to manage infectious diseases and balance the immune response through immune regulatory function.
PHD finger protein 19 expression in multiple myeloma: Association with clinical features, induction therapy outcome, disease progression, and survival
Authors: Li Yaqiong , Gong Jichang , Zhang Lingli 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundPHD finger protein 19 (PHF19), also known as polycomb‐like protein 3 (PCL3), promotes the progression of multiple myeloma (MM) and drug resistance; however, its role in the management of MM remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the correlation between PHF19 expression and treatment response, disease progression, and survival of patients with MM.MethodsPlasma cells derived from the bone marrow of 101 patients with de novo MM were collected prior to induction therapy, as were plasma cells derived from the bone marrow of 30 healthy donors. PHF19 expression in plasma cells was analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the response to induction therapy, progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed.ResultsPHF19 expression tends to be upregulated more often in MM patients than in healthy donors (p < 0.001) and can accurately predict MM risk (area under curve [AUC], 0.916; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.869–0.962). Furthermore, elevated PHF19 expression was correlated with higher International Staging System (ISS) (p = 0.036) and revised ISS stages (p = 0.035). In addition, MM patients who achieved complete response (CR) exhibited reduced PHF19 compared to those who did not (p = 0.028). Moreover, increased PHF19 expression was correlated with unfavorable PFS (p = 0.006) and OS (p = 0.027) rates. Furthermore, the results of multivariate Cox analysis also revealed that PHF19 high expression was independently associated with a reduced PFS rate (hazard ratio: 2.025, p = 0.028).ConclusionIncreased PHF19 expression is correlated with poor induction therapy response and unfavorable long‐term prognosis of MM.
Analysis of COVID‐19 vaccines: Types, thoughts, and application
Authors: Han Xiucui , Xu Pengfei , Ye Qing 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo deal with COVID‐19, various countries have made many efforts, including the research and development of vaccines. The purpose of this manuscript was to summarize the development, application, and problems of COVID‐19 vaccines.MethodsThis article reviewed the existing literature to see the development of the COVID‐19 vaccine.ResultsWe found that different types of vaccines had their own advantages and disadvantages. At the same time, the side effects of the vaccine, the dose of vaccination, the evaluation of the efficacy, and the application of the vaccine were all things worth studying.ConclusionThe successful development of the COVID‐19 vaccine concerns almost all countries and people in the world. We must do an excellent job of researching the immunogenicity and immune reactivity of the vaccines. We hope this review can help colleagues at home and abroad.
Religious/spiritual struggles and psychological distress: A test of three models in a longitudinal study of adults with chronic health conditions
Authors: Cowden Richard G. , Pargament Kenneth I. , Chen Zhuo J. , Davis Edward B. , Lemke Austin W. , Glowiak Kevin J. , Rueger Sandra Y. , Worthington Everett L. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveThis study tested three conceptual explanatory models that have been theorized to account for the linkages between religious/spiritual (R/S) struggles and psychological distress: the primary model (i.e., R/S struggles lead to psychological distress), the secondary model (i.e., psychological distress leads to R/S struggles), and the complex model (i.e., R/S struggles and psychological distress reciprocally exacerbate each other).MethodsUsing prospective data from a sample of US adults living with chronic health conditions (n = 302), we performed a cross‐lagged panel analysis with three timepoints to test for evidence of potential causal relations between R/S struggles and psychological distress.ResultsConsistent with the complex conceptual model of R/S struggles, we found evidence of positive reciprocal associations between R/S struggles and psychological distress.ConclusionThe findings highlight the importance of attending to the dynamic interplay between R/S struggles and psychological distress when working with adults who have chronic health conditions.
Inherent Dangers of Using Non–US Food and Drug Administration–Approved Substances of Abuse
Authors: White C. Michael , Browne Thom , Nafziger Anne N. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractUse of US Food and Drug Administration–approved substances of abuse has innate risks due to pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic properties of the medications, but the risk when using nonapproved drug products is much greater. Unbeknownst to the user, the dose of active ingredients in substances of abuse can vary substantially between different products because of manufacturing practices or improper storage. Even naturally occurring substances of abuse can have extensive dosage variability because of effects of the growing season and conditions, or differences in harvesting, storage, or manufacture of the finished products. Many illicit substances are adulterated, to make up for intentional underdosing or to enhance the effect of the intended active ingredient. These adulterants can be dangerous and produce direct cardiovascular, neurologic, hematologic, or dermatologic reactions or obscure adverse effects. Finally, an illicit substance can be contaminated or substituted for another one during its manufacture, leading to differences in adverse events, adverse event severity, or the drug interaction profile. Substances can be contaminated with microbes that induce infections or heavy metals that can damage organs or cause cancer. This milieu of undisclosed substances can also induce drug interactions. For reasons that are discussed, individuals who use substances of abuse are at increased risk of morbidity or mortality if they develop coronavirus disease 2019. Health professionals who treat patients with acute, urgent events associated with substances of abuse, or those treating the chronic manifestations of addiction, need to appreciate the complex and variable composition of substances of abuse and their potential health effects.
Ecological restoration of fly‐ash disposal areas: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Yadav Swati , Pandey Vimal Chandra , Singh Lal 
Published: August 2021

AbstractFly‐ash (FA) is a by‐product or residue that is produced during the combustion of coal for energy production in thermal power plants. The huge amount of FA generation is a global problem; and coal power generators still can find no safe and sustainable approach to FA disposal. FA dumps not only create air, water, and soil pollution but also pose a noxious impact on human health by introducing toxins in the food chain through biomagnification. A non‐food vegetation cover can help to mitigate FA dump‐related environmental health issues. However, alkaline pH, toxic metals, lack of soil microbes, and pozzolanic properties of FA limit plant growth. In this regard, ecological restoration of FA dumps through phytoremediation should be a holistic approach. This review focuses on the role of naturally occurring plants, tree plantation, and microbial inoculation in the ecological restoration of FA dumps and their role in the physicochemical changes of FA substrate. Application of organic material has been proved to help establish vegetation cover on FA dumps as they provide essential nutrients for plant and microbial growth. Morphological, physiological, and antioxidant responses of plants grown on FA dumps are also discussed in this study in detail. Overall, this review summarises the different comprehensive approaches of FA dump restoration and compiles ways to convert barren FA dumps into useful sites for deriving bioeconomy with phytoproducts. The outcomes of this study should be beneficial helping identify site‐specific ecorestoration of FA dumps through an integrated approach.
Application of an improved vegetation index based on the visible spectrum in the diagnosis of degraded pastures: Implications for development
Authors: da Silva Quinaia Thiago Luiz , do Valle Junior Renato Farias , de Miranda Coelho Victor Peçanha , da Cunha Rafael Carvalho , Valera Carlos Alberto , Sanches Fernandes Luís Filipe , Pacheco Fernando António Leal 
Published: August 2021

AbstractInadequate pasture management causes land degradation through reduction of grass, increased presence of invasive plants or pests, compaction, erosion, and nutrient deficiency. The recognition of pasture degradation is therefore essential. Remote sensing satellite systems allow us to do so at regional‐to global scales. A struggle is in progress nowadays is to improve detection accuracy and implement high‐resolution surveys at farm scales using low‐cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The pasture imagery can be translated into maps of degraded pasture using the popular NDVI as diagnostic parameter, but their generation using a UAV requires a high‐cost NIR sensor, while the struggle is to use low‐cost UAVs equipped with RGB cameras. The first step to recognize degraded pastures using RGB cameras is to define a suitable vegetation index. Thus, the purpose of this study was to present the total brightness quotient of red (TBQR), green (TBQG), and blue (TBQB) bands. The test to the index resorted to LANDSAT‐8 satellite images captured over the environmental protection area of Uberaba River basin (Minas Gerais, Brazil) in the 2017–2019 period. The images were not captured by a UAV because the equipment was not then available. The results were promising given the large detection accuracy (88.63%) of the TBQG and the high (0.965) correlation between TBQG and NDVI. Besides, the TBQ‐based areas of degraded pasture (17,486.3–25,180.1 hectares) were larger than the NDVI counterparts (12,066.9 hectares). This is an additional reason to oversight degraded pastures based on the TBQs, as they seek for improved environmental compliance and economic development.
Distinct concentration‐discharge dynamics in temperate streams and rivers: CO2 exhibits chemostasis while CH4 exhibits source limitation due to temperature control
Authors: Aho Kelly S. , Fair Jennifer H. , Hosen Jacob D. , Kyzivat Ethan D. , Logozzo Laura A. , Rocher‐Ros Gerard , Weber Lisa C. , Yoon Byungman , Raymond Peter A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractStreams and rivers are significant sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) to the atmosphere. However, the magnitudes of these fluxes are uncertain, in part, because dissolved greenhouse gases (GHGs) can exhibit high spatiotemporal variability. Concentration‐discharge (C‐Q) relationships are commonly used to describe temporal variability stemming from hydrologic controls on solute production and transport. This study assesses how the partial pressures of two GHGs—pCO2 and pCH4—vary across hydrologic conditions over 4 yr in eight nested streams and rivers, at both annual and seasonal timescales. Overall, the range of pCO2 was constrained, ranging from undersaturated to nine times oversaturated, while pCH4 was highly variable, ranging from 3 to 500 times oversaturated. We show that pCO2 exhibited chemostatic behavior (i.e., no change with Q), in part, due to carbonate buffering and seasonally specific storm responses. In contrast, we show that pCH4 generally exhibited source limitation (i.e., a negative relationship with Q), which we attribute to temperature‐mediated production. However, pCH4 exhibited chemostasis in a wetland‐draining stream, likely due to hydrologic connection to the CH4‐rich wetland. These findings have implications for CO2 and CH4 fluxes, which are controlled by concentrations and gas transfer velocities. At high Q, enhanced gas transfer velocity acts on a relatively constant CO2 stock but on a diminishing CH4 stock. In other words, CO2 fluxes increase with Q, while CH4 fluxes are modulated by the divergent Q dynamics of gas transfer velocity and concentration.
Inorganic and organic carbon and nitrogen uptake strategies of picoplankton groups in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Berthelot Hugo , Duhamel Solange , L'Helguen Stéphane , Maguer Jean‐François , Cassar Nicolas 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPicoplankton populations dominate the planktonic community in the surface oligotrophic ocean. Yet, their strategies in the acquisition and the partitioning of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) are poorly described. Here, we measured at the single‐cell level the uptake of dissolved inorganic C (C‐fixation), C‐leucine, N‐leucine, nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and N‐urea in pigmented and nonpigmented picoplankton groups at six low‐N stations in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Our study highlights important differences in trophic strategies between Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, photosynthetic pico‐eukaryotes, and nonpigmented prokaryotes. Nonpigmented prokaryotes were characterized by high leucine uptake rates, nonsignificant C‐fixation and relatively low NH4+, N‐urea, and NO3− uptake rates. Nonpigmented prokaryotes contributed to 7% ± 3%, 2% ± 2%, and 9% ± 5% of the NH4+, NO3−, and N‐urea community uptake, respectively. In contrast, pigmented groups displayed relatively high C‐fixation rates, NH4+ and N‐urea uptake rates, but lower leucine uptake rates than nonpigmented prokaryotes. Synechococcus and photosynthetic pico‐eukaryotes NO3− uptake rates were higher than Prochlorococcus ones. Pico‐sized pigmented groups accounted for a significant fraction of the community C‐fixation (63% ± 27%), NH4+ uptake (47% ± 27%), NO3− uptake (62% ± 49%), and N‐urea uptake (81% ± 35%). Interestingly, Prochlorococcus and photosynthetic pico‐eukaryotes showed a greater reliance on C‐ and N‐leucine than Synechococcus on average, suggesting a greater reliance on organic C and N sources. Taken together, our single‐cell results decipher the wide diversity of C and N trophic strategies between and within marine picoplankton groups, but a clear partitioning between pigmented and nonpigmented groups still remains.