bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deletion of concurrent chemotherapy on the basis of sequential chemoradiotherapy for non‐metastatic stage T4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma in IMRT era
Authors: Zheng Yuming , Xue Fen , Ou Dan , Niu Xiaoshuang , Hu Chaosu , He Xiayun 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPurposeIntensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) combined with concurrent chemotherapy is deemed as the mainstay treatment in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Nevertheless, the tolerance of severe acute toxicity of concurrent chemotherapy was unsatisfied. In addition, T4 is the predicting factor of poor prognosis for NPC patients. In this retrospective analysis, the long‐term outcomes IMRT combined by induction chemotherapy deleting concurrent chemotherapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy for T4 non‐metastatic NPC were analyzed.Materials and MethodsFrom January 2005 to November 2016, a total of 145 biopsy‐proven non‐metastatic T4 NPC was treated with IMRT combined by induction chemotherapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. The survival and side effects of the patients were analyzed.ResultsMedian follow‐up time was 74 months (ranges, 8–186 months). 10.0%, 61.3%, 27.3%, and 1.3% developed grade 1, 2, 3, and 4 mucositis during IMRT, respectively. 5.5% and 2.0% patients experienced grade 1 and 2 nausea and vomiting; no patients developed grade 3 or 4 nausea and vomiting. Of 145 patients enrolled, 5‐year and 10‐year overall survival(OS) rates were 73.7% and 53.9%, local progression‐free survival(LPFS) rates were 86.1% and 71.6%, regional progression‐free survival(RPFS) rates were 96.7% and 92.8%, distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS) rates were 86.7%, 78.2%, respectively. At the last follow‐up, five patients developed cranial nerve injury, one patient developed mandibular bone necrosis, four patients developed temporal lobe injury, four patients developed nasopharyngeal massive hemorrhage (three cases after recurrence and one case without recurrence), and five patients developed second primary tumor.ConclusionThe survival outcomes of treating T4 NPC IMRT combined by induction chemotherapy deleting concurrent chemotherapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy are encouraging. Moreover, mucosal reaction, nausea, and vomiting reaction were reduced during IMRT.
Relationship between fear of progression and symptom burden, disease factors and social/family factors in patients with stage‐IV breast cancer in Shandong, China
Authors: Lu Qianrun , Liu Qiuyue , Fang Shu , Ma Yujin , Zhang Baoxuan , Li Huihui , Song Lihua 
Published: March 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo assess fear of progression (FoP)'s relationship with symptom burden and disease and social/family factors, as well as, determine the status of FoP in women with stage‐IV breast cancer in Shandong, China.MethodsTwo hundred and sixteen women were recruited from the department of breast cancer internal medicine, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute. Data for this observational study were collected between October 2020 and January 2021 using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Fear of Progression Questionnaire‐Short Form (FoP‐Q‐SF) and a participant information scale. SPSS 23.0 was used for statistical analysis.ResultsAfter excluding invalid responses, the data of 200 participants were analysed. The average total FoP‐Q‐SF score was 29.39 ± 9.39 (95% confidence interval, 21.81–27.64). The FoP level among the participants was relatively low. For disease and social/family factors, FoP statistically significantly differed by satisfaction with family emotional support and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score. The ECOG score was positively correlated with FoP. Furthermore, symptom burden was positively correlated with FoP.ConclusionsAmong patients with stage‐IV breast cancer, satisfaction with family emotional support, ECOG score and symptom burden play key roles in FoP. Interventions, including providing appropriate emotional support from family, improving physical fitness and relieving symptom burden, must be considered in future studies, which may improve patients' overall physical and mental status and provide a supportive therapeutic environment.
Chemical Constituents from the Heartwood of Solanum Verbascifolium L. And Their Anti‐Inflammatory Activities Combined Network Pharmacology
Authors: Zhao Jin‐Na , Yu Shu‐Fei , Wu Zhi‐Hang , Chen Lu , Fu Rong , Li Ze , Qu Yan‐Liang , Huang Jian , Wang Li‐Bo , Piao Xian‐Mei , Wang Jin‐Hui 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPhytochemical studies on 95 % ethanol extract of the heartwood of Solanum verbascifolium L. resulted in the isolation of one new amide derivative (1), and 21 known phenylpropanoids compounds. The structures were characterized by spectral analysis and high‐resolution mass spectrometric analysis. The anti‐inflammatory activity of amide compounds 1–4 and 6–9 by investigating their impact on the release of nitric oxide (NO) in MH−S cells. Our findings unveiled significant inhibitory effects on NO secretion. Compound 1 exhibited robust dose‐dependent suppression, with pronounced inhibition observed at both 20 μM (P<0.01) and 40 μM (P<0.01). Furthermore, compound 9 demonstrated noteworthy inhibitory effects at 40 μM (P<0.01). Similarly, compounds 3 and 4 displayed substantial inhibition of NO secretion at the same concentration, although the significance level was slightly lower (P<0.05). It is expected that there is a substantial association between the anti‐inflammatory activities of amides and their targets, specifically PTGS2, by combining network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. This discovery emphasizes amides′ potential as an interesting subject for additional study in the realm of anti‐inflammatory medications.
Triterpene Glycosides from the Viscera of Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus with Embryotoxicity
Authors: Liu Yanfang , Lu Zhen , Yan Zhi , Li Xiaodong , Yin Xiuli , Zhang Ranran , Li Yaxi , Wang Song , Xie Ruliang , Li Ke 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSea cucumbers release chemical repellents from their guts when they are in danger from predators or a hostile environment. To investigate the chemical structure of the repellent, we collected and chemically analyzed the viscera of stressed sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus) in the Yellow Sea of China. Two undescribed triterpene glycosides (1 and 2), together with a known cladoloside A (3), were identified and elucidated as 3β‐O‐{2‐O‐[β‐d‐quinovopyranosyl]‐4‐O‐[3‐O‐methyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl]‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl}‐holosta‐9(11),25(26)‐dien‐16‐one (1), 3β‐O‐{2‐O‐[β‐d‐glucopyranosyl]‐4‐O‐[3‐O‐methyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl]‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl}‐holosta‐9(11),25(26)‐dien‐16‐one (2), 3β‐O‐{2‐O‐[3‐O‐methyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d‐quinovopyranosyl]‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl}‐holosta‐9(11),25(26)‐dien‐16‐one (3) by spectroscopic analysis, including HR‐ESI‐MS and NMR spectra. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 display embryonic toxicity, as indicated by their 96‐hour post‐fertilization lethal concentration (96 hpf‐LC50) values of 0.289, 0.536, and 0.091 μM, respectively. Our study discovered a class of triterpene glycoside compounds consisting of an oligosaccharide with four sugar units and a holostane aglycone. These compounds possess embryotoxicity and may serve as chemical defense molecules in marine benthic ecosystems.
Design, Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Nootkatone Derivatives Containing Acylhydrazone and Oxime Ester
Authors: Liang Qilong , Gao Futian , Jian Junyou , Yang Jue , Hao Xiaojiang , Huang Liejun 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn an attempt to search for new natural products‐based antifungal agents, fifty‐three nootkatone derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their antifungal activity against Phytophthora parasitica var nicotianae, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium graminearum and Phomopsis sp. by the mycelium growth rate method. Nootkatone derivatives N17 exhibited good inhibitory activity against Phomopsis. sp. with EC50 values of 2.02 μM. The control effect of N17 against Phomopsis. sp. on kiwifruit showed that N17 exhibited a good curative effect in reducing kiwifruit rot at the concentration of 202 μM(100×EC50 ), with the curative effect of 41.11 %, which was better than commercial control of pyrimethanil at the concentration of 13437 μM(100×EC50 ) with the curative effect of 38.65 %. Phomopsis. sp. mycelium treated with N17 showed irregular surface collapse and shrinkage, and the cell membrane crinkled irregularly, vacuoles expanded significantly, mitochondria contracted, and organelles partially swollen by the SEM and TEM detected. Preliminary pharmacological experiments show that N17 exerted antifungal effects by altering release of cellular contents, and altering cell membrane permeability and integrity. The cytotoxicity test demonstrated that N17 showed almost no toxicity to K562 cells. The presented results implied that N17 may be as a potential antifungal agents for developing more efficient fungicides to control Phomopsis sp.
Reduction characteristic of chlorobenzene by a newly isolated Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens LY from a pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plant
Authors: Liu Nan , Yao Yan‐yan , Zhang Jin , Zhang Ji‐guo , Wu Chao , Ouyang Du‐juan , Zou Chang‐yong , Yang Zhen‐qiang , Li Ji‐xiang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractA highly efficient chlorobenzene‐degrading strain was isolated from the sludge of a sewage treatment plant associated with a pharmaceutical company. The strain exhibited a similarity of over 99.9% with multiple strains of Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens. Therefore, the strain was suggested to be P. ureafaciens LY. This novel strain exhibited a broad spectrum of pollutant degradation capabilities, effectively degrading chlorobenzene and other organic pollutants, such as 1, 2, 4‐trichlorobenzene, phenol, and xylene. Moreover, P. ureafaciens LY co‐metabolized mixtures of chlorobenzene with 1, 2, 4‐trichlorobenzene or phenol. Evaluation of its degradation efficiency showed that it achieved an impressive degradation rate of 94.78% for chlorobenzene within 8 h. The Haldane–Andrews model was used to describe the growth of P. ureafaciens LY under specific pollutants and its concentrations, revealing a maximum specific growth rate (μmax) of 0.33 h−1. The isolation and characterization of P. ureafaciens LY, along with its ability to degrade chlorobenzene, provides valuable insights for the development of efficient and eco‐friendly approaches to mitigate chlorobenzene contamination. Additionally, investigation of the degradation performance of the strain in the presence of other pollutants offers important information for understanding the complexities of co‐metabolism in mixed‐pollutant environments.
Efficient CO2 Electroreduction to CO Facilitated by Porous Ag(111)‐dominant Ag Nanofoams and Cooperative Ionic Liquid Electrolytes
Authors: Zhang Hongyu , Zeng Shaojuan , Jiang Chongyang , Peng Kuilin , Feng Jiaqi , Yuan Lei , Li Xin , Xu Fei , Zhang Xiangping 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe application of electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to generate value‐added products, including carbon monoxide (CO), represents a sustainable strategy for addressing the global carbon balance. Silver (Ag) has gained significant attention as an attractive and cost‐effective electrocatalyst for CO2RR‐to‐CO due to high activity. Here, the porous Ag nanofoam catalysts with Ag(111)‐dominant were prepared by in‐situ electrolysis‐deposition method in the ionic liquid (IL) electrolyte. The Ag nanofoam catalysts exhibited exceptional activity in converting CO2 to CO, with a high Faradaic efficiency (>95 %) in a wide range of −1.9 ~ −2.4 V vs. Ag/Ag+ in the 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF4]) electrolyte. The maximum CO partial current density of −125.40 mA cm−2 was obtained on this Ag nanofoam catalyst, representing 62 % improvement over Ag(110)‐dominant Ag electrode (−77.35 mA cm−2) at −2.4 V vs. Ag/Ag+ in the [Bmim][BF4] electrolyte. Density functional theory calculations demonstrated that the Ag(111) crystal facet formed by in‐situ electrolysis‐deposition method prefers to adsorb [Bmim][BF4] which can stabilize the reaction intermediate, thereby weakening the reaction free energy and promoting CO2 electroreduction.
Murine Models of Cryptococcus Infection
Authors: Hansakon Adithap , Angkasekwinai Pornpimon 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCryptococcus is recognized as one of the emerging fungal pathogens that have major impact on diverse populations worldwide. Because of the high mortality rate and limited antifungal therapy options, there is an urgent need to understand the impact of dynamic processes between fungal pathogens and hosts that influence cryptococcal pathogenesis and disease outcomes. With known common limitations in human studies, experimental murine cryptococcosis models that can recapitulate human disease provide a valuable tool for studying fungal virulence and the host interaction, leading to development of better treatment strategies. Infection with Cryptococcus in mice via intranasal inhalation is mostly used because it is noninvasive and considered to be the most common mode of infection, strongly correlating with cryptococcal disease in humans. The protocols described in this article provide the procedures of establishing a murine model of Cryptococcus infection by intranasal inhalation and assessing the host immune response and disease progression during Cryptococcus infection. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol 1: Murine model of pulmonary cryptococcal infection via intranasal inhalationBasic Protocol 2: Assessment of the pulmonary immune response during Cryptococcus infectionSupport Protocol: Evaluation of pulmonary gene expression by real‐time PCRBasic Protocol 3: Enumeration of survival rate and organ fungal burden
Toward plasma drifts in EMC3: Implementation of gradient, divergence, and particle tracing schemes
Authors: De Wolf Ruben , Reimold Felix , Feng Yuhe , Jacobs Matthieu , Dekeyser Wouter , Samaey Giovanni , Baelmans Martine 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis paper presents a first implementation of gradient, divergence, and particle tracing schemes for the EMC3 code, a stochastic 3D plasma fluid code widely employed for edge plasma and impurity transport modeling in tokamaks and stellarators. These schemes are essential to accommodate plasma drift computations, which are currently absent in the code. Plasma drifts have been recognized to significantly influence transport of particles and energy, and their inclusion in future code upgrades will substantially enhance the code's predictive capabilities. For gradient and divergence calculations, we introduce a second‐order least‐squares gradient scheme. We confirm the second‐order convergence properties and assess the accuracy of several analytical test cases in the presence of synthetic noise. In the second part of this paper, we employ the validated gradient scheme in a fourth‐order Runge–Kutta particle tracing scheme to trace a particle through a generic drift velocity field. The impact of synthetic noise on the scheme's performance is investigated by evaluating various error metrics. We find that the implemented schemes function as intended and exhibit sufficient accuracy to enable drift computations.
The anticancer activity of bovine lactoferrin is reduced by deglycosylation and it follows a different pathway in cervix and colon cancer cells
Authors: Ramírez‐Sánchez Diana A. , Canizalez‐Román Adrián , León‐Sicairos Nidia , Pérez Martínez Gaspar 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBovine lactoferrin (bLF) is a glycosylated protein with purported beneficial properties. The aim of this work was to determine the role of bLF glycosylation in the adhesion, internalization, and growth inhibition of cancer cells. The viability of cervix (HeLa) and colon (Caco‐2) cancer cells (MTT assay and epifluorescence microscopy) was inhibited by bLF, while deglycosylated bLF (bLFdeg) had no effect. Adhesion to cell surfaces was quantified by immunofluorescence assay and showed that bLF was able to bind more efficiently to both cell lines than bLFdeg. Microscopic observations indicated that bLF glycosylation favored bLF binding to epithelial cells and that it was endocytosed through caveolin‐1‐mediated internalization. In addition, the mechanism of action of bLF on cancer cell proliferation was investigated by determining the amount of phosphorylated intermediates of signaling pathways such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (known as Akt). Chemoluminescence immunoassay of phosphorylated intermediates showed that bLF inhibited Akt phosphorylation, consistent with its growth inhibiting activity. This assay also indicated that the bLF receptor/signaling pathways may be different in the two cell lines, Caco‐2 and HeLa. This work confirmed the effect of glycosylated bLF in inhibiting cancer cell growth and that glycosylation is required for optimal surface adhesion, internalization, and inhibition of the ERK/Akt pathway of cell proliferation through glycosylated cell surface receptors.
Retrofitting a poorly designed system into a full performing nitrogen‐removal activated sludge process—a scientific challenge
Authors: Orhon Derin , Özkaya Zübeyde , Solmaz Bülent , Sözen Seval 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis study intended to detect the inherent deficiencies of prescription‐type empirical design procedures often adopted for nitrogen ‐removal activated sludge systems. Principles of process stoichiometry and kinetics were used to identify a series of hotspots that were likely to impair and disrupt system performance and efficiency. Available data, derived from an existing plant subject to a similar design approach, were utilized to numerically assess significant hotspots and to define a sustainable remedial action in compliance with applicable scientific principles.RESULTSCritical appraisal of the implemented design exposed a large spectrum of deficiencies affecting system efficiency and performance, including nitrification efficiency, denitrification potential, anoxic volume and sludge age, internal recycling and nitrate removal. The major role of the inorganic suspended solids as a design parameter was also ignored. The remedial strategy adopted for retrofitting corrected all the observed discrepancies and it devised a sustainable approach of flipping around the existing reactors so that they could be operated as a series of carousel/fast recycle reactors, each including anoxic and aerobic volume fractions to provide full nitrification.CONCLUSIONThe merit of the proposed remedial strategy was justified by offering two additional options of equally effective system operation with either reduced reactor volume or increased sewage flow. The study presented conclusive evidence to show why prescription‐type design should be avoided, providing numerical proof that this methodology is incompatible with stoichiometric and kinetic characteristics of sewage under local conditions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Impact of semolina‐barley mixture on the volatolomic profile of dough and pasta: characterization by a multivariate chemometric approach
Authors: Palombi Lorenzo , Pati Sandra , Lamacchia Carmela , Montebello Roberta , Savastano Maria Luisa , Tufariello Maria 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDBarley flour, known to be rich in various phytochemicals, has been demonstrated to improve the technological and nutritional properties of pasta; however, its volatile profile, on which its aromatic properties depend, also plays an important role in the acceptance of barley‐enriched pasta. In the present work, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of semolina doughs enriched with different percentages of barley and of the related pasta were characterized by solid phase micro‐extraction (HS‐SPME) coupled to gas‐chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and evaluated using a multivariate statistical approach, including principal component analysis (PCA), cluster heatmaps, Pearson's and Spearman's correlations, and partial least squares correlation (PLSC).RESULTSThe effects of single raw materials, and their interactions, were studied to establish their importance in the volatile profile of the samples, and the correlation between the dough VOCs and the processed product VOCs was assessed. The presence of barley flour markedly affected the volatile profile in comparison with the dough obtained with only durum wheat. For alcohols, esters, terpenes, and some aldehydes there was a clear correlation with the percentage of barley. For some of the VOCs, on the other hand, a strong dependence on the ingredients interaction effect due to the mixing stage has been demonstrated.CONCLUSIONThe heatmaps allowed a good graphical visualization of the relationship between molecules and barley percentage, offering the possibility to select the best one according to the desired volatolomic footprint. Pasta with 40% of barley was demonstrated to give pasta with the most complex volatile profile. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Impact of binary mixtures of natural waxes in mechanical properties and microstructure of oleogels
Authors: Pino Neuvis Alejandro , Marchetti Lucas , Lorenzo Gabriel 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDSolid fats are critical to obtaining a wide range of food texture and quality characteristics, but their consumption is strongly associated with higher cardiovascular disease risks. Structuring unsaturated oils with natural waxes into oleogels (OG) is an innovative solution to develop fat mimics with a healthier profile.RESULTSSoy wax (SW), beeswax (BW) and carnauba wax (CW), have been used in binary mixtures of waxes, aiming to understand their interactions and influence on OG quality properties and microstructural characteristics. In the present study, OGs were produced using binary wax mixtures and analyzed for texture, color, smoke point, microstructure, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Wax combinations led to antagonistic (mixtures with SW) and synergistic interactions (BW/CW) based on their mechanical properties. At the microstructural level BW/CW blends showed a reduction in crystal size and with a more compact structure. XRD and FTIR spectra revealed a packing of orthorhombic perpendicular subcell for most OGs, whereas SW produced samples with an arrangement with β' crystals, characteristic of edible solid fats. Additionally, when compared to commercial beef fat, BW/CW mixtures showed similar quality attributes indicating that they could act as fat mimic.CONCLUSIONThe combined analysis of microstructure, spectroscopic and mechanical properties enhanced the understanding of how the nature of the interactions between waxes and lipid phases impact in the final quality of the structured oils. The study's insights indicate that binary wax combinations can efficiently replace solid fats, offering healthier alternatives at the same time as preserving desired sensory characteristics. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.