bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of communal sink drain communities of a university campus
Authors: Withey Zoe , Goodall Tim , MacIntyre Sheila , Gweon Hyun S. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMicroorganisms are widely distributed throughout the built environment and even those found in concealed environments such as sink P‐traps can have an impact on our health. To date, most studies on sink bacterial communities focused on those present in hospitals with no to little information regarding sinks in residential or communal settings. Here, we conducted a characterization using 16S rRNA sequencing of the bacterial communities of communal restroom sinks located on a university campus to investigate the diversity, prevalence, and abundances of the bacteria that reside in this understudied environment. The study found that community composition and structure were highly variable across individual sinks, and there were marginal differences between buildings and the two different parts of sink examined. Proteobacteria were the most abundant phylum in the sink communities, and the families Burkholderiaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Sphingomonadaceae were found to be ubiquitous across all sinks. Notably, human skin was identified as a primary contributor to the below‐strainer sink bacterial community. These data provide novel insight into the sink bacterial communities' constituents and serve as the foundation for subsequent studies that might explore community stability and resilience of in situ sinks.
CEToolbox: Specialized calculator for capillary electrophoresis users as an android application
Authors: François Yannis Nicolas , Biacchi Michael , Gahoual Rabah , Vezin Aurélien , Pansanel Jérôme 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCE has been demonstrated to be a useful and powerful separation method for the characterization of charged and neutral molecules. Since the end of the 1980s and the development of the first commercialized CE device, the use of this separation method has continued to grow for academic and industrial research involving inexorably increasing of the number of CE users. Whatever the application domain, each CE user is daily confronted to the same problems often based on basic calculations of separation properties. In order to help the community of CE users to get quickly and easily a lot of information, and desiring to provide a tool running on mobile platforms, CEToolbox has been developed as a free Android application. Within few clicks, CEToolbox offers extensive injection information as injected volume, total capillary volume, proportion and amount of injected sample, rinsing time, and electrical field. Moreover, three additional tabs allow to obtain the calculation of the viscosity and the conductivity of BGE, and the separation flow rates. Finally, a last tab is dedicated to the calculation of electroosmotic mobility and effective mobilities for a maximum of 20 compounds. CEToolbox, which can be downloaded for free on Google and F‐Droid application stores, was developed to simplify the daily of CE users regardless of the CE devices.
The comparison of tidal power plants with solar and combined cycle power plants in the southern coast of Iran
Authors: Sadeghi Zeinolabedin , Ranjbar Maryam , Iranmanesh Masoud 
Published: April 2021

AbstractRenewable energy is a core issue when it comes to energy resources today. However, the use of tidal energy has received less attention compared to solar and wind energy. This study investigates the technical‐economic evaluation of tidal power plants in three areas of Bushehr, Pol, and Khowr‐e Musa, all located along the southern coast of Iran. Four economic indices including net present value (NPV), benefit–cost ratio, capital return time, and internal rate of return are used. The study compares a tidal power plant with a solar and a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power plant bearing a capacity of 10 MW. The results show that the total initial cost of a tidal power plant is 1.92 times higher compared to a PV and 7.16 times higher compared to a CCGT power plant. Due to the potential of solar and tidal energy, the three studied regions are economically different. The results show the NPV of a tidal power plant in Khowr‐e Mousa region is 4.90 times higher than a PV power plant and 9.93 times higher than a CCGT power plant. In addition, the cost of energy production per kilowatt depends on the region and the type of power plant technology. The lowest cost of energy production is related to tidal energy in Khowr‐e Musa region. The results of sensitivity analysis also show that the highest sensitivity is related to the initial cost and electricity sales rate.
The Limited Value of Dementia‐Specific Advance Directives
Authors: Dresser Rebecca 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMany people are worried about developing dementia, fearing the losses and burdens that accompany the condition. Dementia‐specific advance directives are intended to address dementia's progressive effects, allowing individuals to express their treatment preferences for different stages of the condition. But enthusiasm for dementia‐specific advance directives should be tempered by recognition of the legal, ethical, and practical issues they raise. Dementia‐specific advance directives are a simplistic response to a complicated situation. Although they enable people to register their future care preferences, in many cases, those preferences will not, and should not, determine their later care.
Immune‐related adverse events predict responses to PD‐1 blockade immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lu Lianghe , Xing Kaili , Wei Wei , Ling Yihong , Li Peng , Li Shaohua , Wang Yan , Xie Dan , Guo Rongping , Cai Muyan 
Published: April 2021

AbstractImmune checkpoint blockade has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but is also commonly accompanied by immune‐related adverse events (irAEs). However, the association between irAEs and antitumor efficacy in HCC patients remains unknown. All patients with HCC treated with anti‐PD‐1 antibodies from July 2018 to November 2019 were analyzed and divided into different groups according to their irAEs' status. In total, 101 HCC patients, including 21 (20.8%) patients who presented with irAEs (irAEs+), were enrolled. Among the adverse events, rash (n = 9, 8.9%) was the most frequent irAE, followed by mucositis (n = 3, 3.0%) and thyroiditis (n = 3, 3.0%). Patients in the irAEs+ group showed a higher tumor response rate than those in the irAEs− group (overall response rate: 28.6% vs 6.3%, P = .011; disease control rate: 85.7% vs 60.0%, P = .028). The median progression‐free survival (PFS) times were 14.8 months in the irAEs+ group and 4.1 months in the irAEs− group (P < .001). Further analysis based on the presence or absence of rash showed that the PFS of the patients in the irAEs+/rash+ group was better than that of those in the irAEs+/rash− or irAEs− group (all P < .05). Multivariate analysis showed that irAEs were an independent prognostic factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.22, P = .002). Thus, the occurrence of irAEs, especially rash, was associated with markedly improved PFS. Awareness of irAEs may help classify the subtype of HCC patients with an unprecedented survival benefit from anti‐PD‐1 antibodies.
Automated brain tumor detection and classification using weighted fuzzy clustering algorithm, deep auto encoder with barnacle mating algorithm and random forest classifier techniques
Authors: Anantharajan Shenbagarajan , Gunasekaran Shenbagalakshmi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan analysis is an effective tool that accurately detects abnormal brain tissue. This manuscript proposes the strategy of segmentation of brain tumors in MRI images and uses the technique of weighted fuzzy factor based on kernel metrics. Here, a deep auto encoder (DAE) with barnacle mating algorithm (BMOA) and random forest (RF) classifier are used to tumor stage classification to enhance the accuracy of prediction. This manuscript presents a deep‐neural network structure, integrating DAE and RF, with a classification unit, which is used for the classification of brain MRI. Finally, the segmented features are graded by the DAE with BMOA and RF. The proposed method is executed in MATLAB site and the performance is analyzed with existing methods. The experimental outcomes of the proposed method are assessed and validated in MR brain images depending on accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for performance with quality analysis.
Green synthesized AgNPs from Periploca hydaspidis Falc. and its biological activities
Authors: Ali Saima , Khan Muhammad Rashid , Khan Raees 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCharacterization of bio‐synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Periploca hydaspidis (PHAgNPs) whole plant extract for the first time via UV–Visible spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, DLS, and SEM analysis techniques was done. A rich variety of phytochemicals in P. hydaspidis aqueous extract (PHA) functioned as possible reducing and capping agents for AgNPs synthesis. In vitro antioxidant activities (DPPH, Iron chelating, Hydroxyl ion, Nitric oxide, and β‐carotene bleaching assays) of PHAgNPs revealed least IC50 values especially in hydroxyl ion (39.08 ± 0.88 μg/mL) and nitric oxide (37.53 ± 2.24 μg/mL) scavenging assays relative to standard controls (ascorbic acid, rutin, and gallic acid) and PHA. In addition, visible inhibition zone diameters were formed around discs against all pathogenic microbial strains including multi‐drug resistant strains (MDR's). MIC and MBC/MFC were depicted least in PHAgNPs with maximum bactericidal/fungicidal effects. MTT assay displayed a significant antiproliferative potential of PHAgNPs against HCCLM3, MCF‐7, MDA‐MB 231, and HEPG2 cancer cell lines, where least IC50 values were recorded against HEPG2 (12.97 ± 0.04 μg/mL) and MCF‐7 (5.73 ± 0.22 μg/mL). Furthermore, PHAgNPs considerably (p > 0.001) prevented the migration of MCF‐7 cancer cells in vitro whereas in in vivo wound healing assay, faster skin regeneration, and epithelization in wound biopsies was observed via histological analysis. PHAgNPs treated group rats significantly increased (p < 0.05) the wound contraction rate, hydroxyproline content and hemostatic potential compared to control and PHA‐treated groups.
Spatio‐temporal patterns of snow in the Catalan Pyrenees (NE Iberia)
Authors: Bonsoms Josep , Gonzalez Sergi , Prohom Marc , Esteban Pere , Salvador‐Franch Ferran , López‐Moreno Juan I. , Oliva Marc 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn a warmer climate, significant variations in the snow regime are expected. Thus, it is crucial to better understand present‐day snow cover regime, its duration and thickness, in order to anticipate future changes. This work presents the first characterization of snow patterns in the Catalan Pyrenees based on 11 snow stations located in high elevation areas (>2,000 m). Here, we examine spatio‐temporal evolution of the daily snow depth and new snow height (HN) since the earliest 2000s to 2020. In addition, we analyse the different synoptic patterns that cause HN events in the study area as well as the low frequency climate modes on the different stages of the snow season. Our results show evidence that the measured snow amount differs considerably between the western and the eastern Catalan Pyrenees independently of the considered elevation. While the eastern part has an average seasonal cumulative HN of 278 cm, the western sector gets almost twice (433 cm). Nonetheless, the onset of the snow melting does not show substantial differences, being primarily ruled by the elevation in both areas. The longest snow records (Núria, 1971 m) point to an increase of HN from 1985 to 2020, a trend which is also observed in most stations from 2000 to 2020. Nevertheless, some stations of the N western fringe record negative trends associated with the low frequency variability of the Western Mediterranean Oscillation (WeMO). Results also indicate that the NW Atlantic low‐pressure systems are the circulation weather types that provide more abundant HN in the majority of snow stations. The Atlantic advections are more frequent in autumn and winter, while the Mediterranean advections provide more intense and recurrent HN in spring. The atmospheric circulation is basically ruled by the East Atlantic/West Russia and the WeMO teleconnection patterns.
Diagnostic ion filtering targeted screening and isolation of anti‐inflammatory iridoid glycosides from Hedyotis diffusa
Authors: Shi Fangying , Tong Chaoying , He Chengxin , Shi Shuyun , Cao Yuanxin , Wei Qisheng 
Published: April 2021

AbstractEfficient and targeted screening and isolation of bioactive compounds from complex natural products is still a challenging work. Herein, diagnostic ion filtering based high‐performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight−tandem mass spectrometry was firstly developed to screen six main iridoid glycosides from Hedyotis diffusa. Then, online extraction‒high‐speed counter current chromatography was proposed for targeted enrichment and preparative isolation using ethyl acetate/n‐butanol/water (4.5:0.5:5, v/v/v) as solvent system. After that, Sephadex LH‐20 column chromatography using methanol as solvent system was selected for further purification of six iridoid glycosides with purities over 98%. They were finally identified as monotropein, desacetylasperuloside acid, asperuloside, 6‐O‐(Z)‐p‐coumaroyl scandoside methyl ester, 6‐O‐(Z)‐feruloyl scandoside methyl ester, and 6‐O‐(E)‐p‐coumaroyl scandoside methyl ester. And their anti‐inflammatory activities were evaluated and confirmed by lipopolysaccharide activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Obviously, the results provide a scientific basis for the potential applications of H. diffusa, and the developed methodology is efficient and reliable for targeted screening and isolation of bioactive compounds from natural products.
An efficient high‐speed countercurrent chromatography method for preparative isolation of highly potent anti‐cancer compound antroquinonol from Antrodia camphorata after experimental design optimized extraction
Authors: Tao Yi , Chen Lin , Pu Faxiang , Xie Zhangfu , Tong Shengqiang , Yan Jizhong 
Published: April 2021

AbstractTo avoid irreversible stationary phase adsorption and tedious and time‐consuming separation steps, high‐speed countercurrent chromatography was employed for the preparative separation of anti‐tumor compound antroquinonol from solid fermentation culture of Antrodia camphorata for the first time. A Box–Behnken experimental design, based on three parameters including liquid‐to‐solid ratio, extraction time, and extraction temperature, was applied to optimize the ultrasonic extraction procedure. The optimal extraction condition was set as follows: liquid‐to‐solid ratio: 49.57:1; extraction time: 55.76 min; extraction temperature was arranged as 44.21°C. Meanwhile, an optimized solvent system containing petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water (4:1:4:1, v/v/v/v) was selected for the preparative separation of antroquinonol at a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min. The yield of isolated antroquinonol was determined to be 6.0 mg from 0.67 g of ethyl acetate extracts. The isolated antroquinonol was elucidated by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy, and by comparison with literature data. The purity of isolated antroquinonol was determined to be 97.12%. This study confirmed that high‐speed countercurrent chromatography was powerful and cost‐effective for the preparative separation of the high‐potently anti‐tumor compound antroquinonol from solid fermentation culture of A. camphorata.
Polymeric Nanosystems for Immunogenic Cell Death‐Based Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Fu Liwen , Zhou Xiaojun , He Chuanglong 
Published: April 2021

AbstractImmunotherapy has pointed out a scientific and promising direction for cancer treatment through the rouse of immunosurveillance and the decrease of possible side effects in recent years. In immunotherapy, immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD) plays a critical role in regulating anti‐cancer immune system in vivo via the release of damage‐associated molecular patterns. ICD can not only induce in situ cancer cells apoptosis, but also arouse the immune response against metastatic tumors, which is of great clinical significance to eradicate tumors. In cancer immunotherapy, polymer nanoparticles have drawn increasing attention as an important component of ICD‐based immunotherapy attributing to their controllable size, excellent biocompatibility, promising ability of protecting cargo from surrounding environment, which delivers the antigens or immune inducers to antigen‐presenting cells, and further triggers sinnvoll T cell response. In this review, the recent advances in the development of polymeric material‐based nanosystems for ICD‐mediated cancer immunotherapy are summarized. The mechanism of ICD and some current restrictions inhibiting the efficiency of immunotherapy and future prospects are also discussed.
Comparing complications in irradiated and non‐irradiated free‐flaps in patients with bilateral immediate breast reconstruction and unilateral post‐mastectomy radiotherapy
Authors: Ly Catherine L. , Khetpal Sumun , Heller Danielle R. , Higgins Susan A. , Killelea Brigid , Alperovich Michael , Avraham Tomer 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundNumerous studies have evaluated the effect of post‐mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) on autologous breast reconstruction, but the variability of PMRT regimens and inadequate controls have made results difficult to interpret. Therefore, in this study, irradiated free‐flaps are compared to non‐irradiated internal controls in patients who underwent immediate bilateral reconstruction followed by unilateral PMRT to better delineate the effect of PMRT. The role of regional nodal irradiation (RNI) is also specifically assessed.MethodsAppropriate patients were identified through retrospective review. Complications such as fat necrosis, fibrosis, infection, delayed healing, and flap loss, as well as revision surgeries, among the irradiated free‐flaps were compared to those on the contralateral non‐irradiated side. Additional analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of patient demographics and treatment characteristics, such as RNI, on complications involving the irradiated free‐flaps.ResultsSeventy‐three women were included. There was no significant difference between complication rates for the irradiated and non‐irradiated free‐flaps (39.7% vs. 38.4%, p = .78), although irradiated free‐flaps were more likely to have fibrosis (17.0% vs. 0.0%; p < .0001) and multiple complications (9.6% vs. 0.0%; p = .02). Both groups underwent a similar number of revision surgeries (42.5% vs. 41.1%; p = .29). Looking at the irradiated free‐flaps, internal mammary node (IMN) irradiation was the only factor predictive of complications (IRR 3.80, CI 1.32–10.97; p = .01).ConclusionsPMRT may contribute to free‐flap fibrosis, but does not appear to affect the overall risk of complications or revision surgeries. However, additional counseling is warranted if IMN irradiation is likely, as it is potentially associated with increased complications.
Determination of density and compressive strength of lightweight foamed concrete using frequency domain approach
Authors: Lee Kim Yee , Phua Yeong‐Nan , Lim Siong‐Kang , You Kok Yeow , Cheng Ee Meng 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA fast and nondestructive method for predicting density and compressive strength of Lightweight Foamed Concrete (LFC) is proposed. The measurement is carried out using a frequency domain approach to determine the Lightweight Foamed Concrete dielectric constant from a frequency range of 150 kHz to 8 GHz. The relations of the dielectric, density, and compressive strength of lightweight foamed concrete has been investigated, and the correlation models have been formulated using Jonscher fitting model. The results show a close estimation with the relative error controlled within 2.6% and 6.0% for the density and the compression strength computation, respectively. The proposed frequency domain method is shown to be effective and can be applied to determine the mechanical attributes as well as the electrical properties of the LFC simultaneously.
Organic Based Additives Impact on Thermal Behavior of Ammonium Perchlorate: Superior 4, 4′‐Bipyridine Versus Inferior Biphenyl
Authors: Salehi Samie , Eslami Abbas 
Published: April 2021

AbstractFor the first time, the thermal decomposition behavior of heterogeneous mixtures of ammonium perchlorate (AP) with two organic additives – 4, 4’‐Bipyridine, and biphenyl – were investigated. The heterogeneous mixtures of the additives and ammonium perchlorate were prepared by dissolving 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg of the organic additives and 100 mg ammonium perchlorate in 2 ml of methanol as solvent. After that, the thermal decomposition behavior of prepared solid heterogeneous mixtures was monitored by thermogravimetry analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and mass spectrometry analysis. The effect of the 4, 4’‐Bipyridine on thermal decomposition of AP enhanced the released heat from 479 to 1842 J g−1 and produced a decrease of decomposition temperature from 433 °C to 308 °C while the thermal decomposition of AP in the presence of biphenyl did not change as dramatically as it did with 4, 4’‐Bipyridine. With biphenyl, the decomposition temperature was found to be similar to that of pure AP and the evolved heat was about 718 J g−1. The gaseous products of decomposition of 4, 4’‐Bipyridine /ammonium perchlorate were monitored by mass spectrometric analysis. The main evolved decomposition gases of pure AP are N2O, O2, Cl2, ClO, ClO2, ClO3, HClO4, and HCl, while the major gaseous products of the 5:100 (w/w) mixture of 4, 4’‐Bipyridine with AP were detected as N2, NO, N2O, O2, Cl2, ClO, ClO2, ClO3, HClO4, HCl and 4, 4’‐Bipyridine. The change in the composition of volatile products indicates a change in the mechanism of AP decomposition from proton transfer to electron transfer in the presence of 4, 4’‐Bipyridine.
Structural and mechanistic insight into stem‐loop RNA processing by yeast Pichia stipitis Dicer
Authors: Chan JingRu , Qinqin Fu , Jianwei Li , Ying Chen , Machida Satoru , Wei Chen , Yuan Yuren Adam , Jobichen Chacko 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDicer is a member of the ribonuclease III enzyme family and processes double‐stranded RNA into small functional RNAs. The variation in the domain architecture of Dicer among different species whilst preserving its biological dicing function is intriguing. Here, we describe the structure and function of a novel catalytically active RNase III protein, a non‐canonical Dicer (PsDCR1), found in budding yeast Pichia stipitis. The structure of the catalytically active region (the catalytic RNase III domain and double‐stranded RNA‐binding domain 1 [dsRBD1]) of DCR1 showed that RNaseIII domain is structurally similar to yeast RNase III (Rnt1p) but uniquely presents dsRBD1 in a diagonal orientation, forming a catalytic core made of homodimer and large RNA‐binding surface. The second dsRNA binding domain at C‐terminus, which is absent in Rnt1, enhances the RNA cleavage activity. Although the cleavage pattern of PsDCR1 anchors an apical loop similar to Rnt1, the cleavage activity depended on the sequence motif at the lower stem, not the apical loop, of hairpin RNA. Through RNA sequencing and RNA mutations, we showed that RNA cleavage by PsDCR1 is determined by the stem‐loop structure of the RNA substrate, suggesting the possibility that stem‐loop RNA‐guided gene silencing pathway exists in budding yeast.