bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of metformin on clinical outcomes in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Kang Sandra , Khalil Lana , McCook‐Veal Ashley , Liu Yuan , Galvin John , Draper Amber , Kokabi Nima , Diab Maria , Shaib Walid , Alese Olatunji , Gbolahan Olumide , El‐Rayes Bassel , Akce Mehmet 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsNon‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Emerging data suggests NASH‐induced HCC could be associated with less response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)‐based therapy. Metformin has been associated with improved outcomes in cancers like melanoma treated with ICIs, but its impact on HCC is not well defined. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of metformin on clinical outcomes in patients with advanced HCC treated with ICIs.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed patients with advanced HCC treated with ICIs in first and later‐line settings between 2015 and 2021. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR) as assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) version 1.1. Patients were stratified based on their usage of metformin.ResultsOur study included 18 patients in the metformin group and 93 patients in the non‐metformin group. The most common causes of HCC were viral hepatitis (52%), NASH (29%), and alcohol (8%). ORR was 5.6% in the metformin group vs 22.6% in the non‐metformin group (P = .0987). Median OS was 10.8 months versus 45.9 months (HR = 1.99, 95% CI = 0.95–4.21, P = .065) and median PFS was 2.5 months versus 6.6 months (P = .077) in the metformin and non‐metformin groups, respectively. Regardless of metformin usage, OS was significantly worse in patients with poor ECOG performance status, HCC aetiology of NASH, MELD score 10–23, AFP >= 400, and use of ICIs in later lines of therapy.ConclusionsMetformin use was associated with a trend, although not statistically significant, toward a worse ORR, OS and PFS in advanced HCC patients treated with ICIs.
Substantial uncertainties in global soil organic carbon simulated by multiple terrestrial carbon cycle models
Authors: Wang Zhaoqi , Lin Yuanhao , Cai Lang , Wu Guiling , Zheng Kai , Liu Xiang , Huang Xiaotao 
Published: March 2023

AbstractSoil organic carbon (SOC) is critical to the terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle and global climate change. The carbon cycle model coupled with microbial processes can improve the projection of SOC. However, it remains unclear whether microbial models are superior to multiple terrestrial carbon cycle models and how large the simulation uncertainties of SOC are. Therefore, we simulate the spatial patterns of global SOC by the MIMICS (explicit nonlinear microbial carbon cycle model) and the DCC (implicit linear carbon cycle model), compare the SOC with that of the CMIP6 MME (multi‐model ensemble) and the observation to obtain the uncertainties of SOC, and analyze the sensitivity of the parameters in the two models. The results show that the SOC simulated by the MIMICS is 1615.4 ± 54.3 PgC, which is higher than that of the DCC (668.5 ± 102.1 PgC), the CMIP6 MME (1443.7 ± 795.8 PgC), and the observation (1519.1 PgC). The SOC of the DCC and MIMICS are regulated by NPP, and that of DCC is more sensitive to climate, while that of MIMICS is mainly influenced by the Michaelis–Menten equation and microbial carbon use efficiency. We reveal the spatial patterns of uncertainty in global SOC simulated by the explicit and implicit microbial processes of multiple terrestrial carbon cycle models. Unfortunately, neither the DCC, the MIMICS nor the CMIP6 MME simulate SOC satisfactorily, especially in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and the simulation of SOC in this region needs to be improved.
Planting Suaeda salsa improved the soil properties and bacterial community diversity in a coastal mudflat
Authors: Feng Yuanyuan , Xu Xiaopeng , Liu Jia , Han Jiangang , Lu Haiying 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPlanting halophytes is an effective strategy to improve saline soils and prevent soil degradation. However, the effects of planting halophytes on saline soil biochemical properties and bacterial communities remain largely unexplored. In this study, soils were sampled from a field where Suaeda salsa was planted over a three‐year (TY) and one‐year (OY) period on a coastal saline mudflat to investigate the effects of S. salsa growth on soil chemical and biological properties. The results showed that OY and TY significantly reduced soil EC by 76.59% to 79.45% (0–10 cm soil layer) and 31.85% to 43.40% (10–20 cm soil layer) in comparison with the control without S. salsa planting (control). For the characteristics of soil enzyme activity, the alkaline phosphatase activity of TY was significantly reduced in the 0–10 cm soil layer (39.76%) and increased in the 10–20 cm layer (13.37%) relative to control. Alkaline phosphatase activity was the predominant factor affecting soil bacterial community composition. Moreover, the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi were increased in both the OY and TY treatments compared to control, and were positively correlated with soil organic matter and available nitrogen. The complexity of the soil microbial network and the bacterial community diversity and richness were higher in OY and TY than in control. Our findings suggested that planting S. salsa benefited saline soil in coastal land by reducing soil salt stress, preventing salt soil degradation, and increasing soil bacterial community diversity.
Strong conciseness of Engel words in profinite groups
Authors: Khukhro E. I. , Shumyatsky P. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractA group wordwis said to be strongly concise in a class of profinite groups if, for any groupGin , eitherwtakes at least continuum many values inGor the verbal subgroup is finite. It is conjectured that all words are strongly concise in the class of all profinite groups. Earlier Detomi, Klopsch, and Shumyatsky proved this conjecture for multilinear commutator words, as well as for some other particular words. They also proved that every group word is strongly concise in the class of nilpotent profinite groups, as well as that 2‐Engel words are strongly concise (but their approach does not seem to generalize ton‐Engel words for ). In this paper, we prove that for anyn, then‐Engel word (whereyis repeatedntimes) is strongly concise in the class of finitely generated profinite groups.
End of life care during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study on the perspectives of nurses and nurse assistants
Authors: Podgorica Nertila , Rungg Christine , Bertini Beatrice , Perkhofer Susanne , Zenzmaier Christoph 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAimTo explore nurses’ and nurse assistants’ experiences of providing end‐of‐life care during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Austria, Germany and Northern Italy.DesignA qualitative explorative interview study.MethodData were collected between August and December 2020 and analysed using content analysis. Healthcare professionals (nurses (n = 30), nurse coordinators (n = 6) and nurse assistants (n = 5)) from hospitals (n = 32) and long‐term care facilities (n = 9) in Austria, Germany and Northern Italy were interviewed for this study.ResultsFive main categories were identified as follows: (i) end‐of‐life care involves love and duty, (ii) last wishes and dignity of the patient, (iii) communication with the family, (iv) organizational and religious aspects and (v) personal emotions. Results indicate that more training and guidelines are needed to prepare nurses and nurse assistants for end‐of‐life care during pandemics.Public contributionThis research can help prepare nurses and nurse assistants for end‐of‐life care in pandemics and will be of value for improving the institutional and government health policies. Furthermore, it can be of value in preparing training for healthcare professionals patient–relatives.
Semiconductor/Carbon Quantum Dot‐based Hue Recognition Strategy for Point of Need Testing: A Review
Authors: Li Daquan , Wang Jing 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe requirement to establish novel methods for visual detection is attracting attention in many application fields of analytical chemistry, such as, healthcare, environment, agriculture, and food. The research around subjects like “point‐of‐need”, “hue recognition”, “paper‐based sensor”, “fluorescent sensor”, etc. has been always aimed at the opportunity to manufacture convenient and fast‐response devices to be used by non‐specialists. It is possible to achieve economic rationality and technical simplicity for optical sensing toward target analytes through introduction of fluorescent semiconductor/carbon quantum dot (QD) and paper‐based substrates. In this Review, the mechanisms of anthropic visual recognition and fluorescent visual assays, characteristics of semiconductor/carbon QDs and ratiometric fluorescence test paper, and strategies of semiconductor/carbon QD‐based hue recognition are described. We cover latest progress in the development and application of point‐of‐need sensors for visual detection, which is based on a semiconductor/carbon quantum dot‐based hue recognition strategy generated by ratiometric fluorescence technology.
Response to magnesium sulfate and adrenocorticotropic hormone combination therapy for infantile spasms with failed first‐line treatments
Authors: Wang Qiuhong , He Wen , Wang Yangyang , Liu Liying , Zhang Mengna , Yang Xiaoyan , Zou Liping 
Published: March 2023

ABSTRACTImportanceInfantile spasm (IS) is a kind of refractory epilepsy. The first‐line treatments for IS are adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), oral corticosteroids, and vigabatrin.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of magnesium sulfate and ACTH (MgSO4+ACTH) combination therapy in patients with IS who failed first‐line treatments.MethodsIn this retrospective study, the clinical data of patients with IS who failed first‐line treatments were collected in the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Patients received MgSO4+ACTH combination therapy after first‐line treatments failed. The course of treatments was 2 weeks. The therapeutic dose of ACTH and MgSO4 was 2.5 U·kg−1·d−1 and 0.25 g·kg−1·d−1, respectively.ResultsA total of 229 patients with IS who failed the first‐line treatments were collected. At the end of the MgSO4+ACTH combination treatment, the seizure‐free rate was 48.5% (111/229), and the resolution of hypsarrhythmia on electroencephalogram (EEG) was 72.1% (165/229). About 21.4% (49/229) of patients showed side effects, including infectious diseases, hypokalemia, and diarrhea.InterpretationFor patients with IS who failed first‐line treatments, in terms of the seizure‐free rate and resolution of hypsarrhythmia on EEG, MgSO4+ACTH combination therapy can be considered.
Guidelines for designing peptoid structures: Insights from the Peptoid Data Bank
Authors: Eastwood James R. B. , Weisberg Ethan I. , Katz Dana , Zuckermann Ronald N. , Kirshenbaum Kent 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe number of structural studies of peptoids has grown dramatically over the past 20 years. To date, over 100 high‐resolution structures have been reported for peptoids, which are typically defined as N‐substituted glycine oligomers. We have collected these structures and standardized their sequence representations to facilitate structural analysis as the dataset continues to grow. These structures are presented online as The Peptoid Data Bank (databank.peptoids.org), which also provides persistent links to the published structural data. This review analyzes the present collection of structures and finds extensive support for grouping side chains by their chemistry at the position adjacent to the backbone nitrogen. Groups of side chains with similar chemistry at this position show similar influences on the conformational preferences of the backbone. We also observe a relationship between the side chain and backbone conformations for many monomers that has not previously attracted significant discussion: the values of the χ1 and ϕ dihedrals are correlated. We outline a general design strategy for attaining a specific backbone conformation based on the patterns seen in the collected structures.
AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 transporters function in tandem to modulate sugar flux in plants
Authors: Fatima Urooj , Balasubramaniam D. , Khan Wajahat Ali , Kandpal Manu , Vadassery Jyothilakshmi , Arockiasamy Arulandu , Senthil‐Kumar Muthappa 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe sugar will eventually be exported transporter (SWEET) members in Arabidopsis, AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 are the important sucrose efflux transporters that act synergistically to perform distinct physiological roles. These two transporters are involved in apoplasmic phloem loading, seed filling, and sugar level alteration at the site of pathogen infection. Here, we performed the structural analysis of the sucrose binding pocket of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 using molecular docking followed by rigorous molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We observed that the sucrose molecule binds inside the central cavity and in the middle of the transmembrane (TM) region of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12, that allows the alternate access to the sucrose molecule from either side of the membrane during transport. Both AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12, shares the similar amino acid residues that interact with sucrose molecule. Further, to achieve more insights on the role of these two transporters in other plant species, we did the phylogenetic and the in‐silico analyses of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 orthologs from 39 economically important plants. We reported the extensive information on the gene structure, protein domain and cis‐acting regulatory elements of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 orthologs from different plants. The cis‐elements analysis indicates the involvement of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 orthologs in plant development and also during abiotic and biotic stresses. Both in silico and in planta expression analysis indicated AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 are well‐expressed in the Arabidopsis leaf tissues. However, the orthologs of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 showed the differential expression pattern with high or no transcript expression in the leaf tissues of different plants. Overall, these results offer the new insights into the functions and regulation of AtSWEET11 and AtSWEET12 orthologs from different plant species. This might be helpful in conducting the future studies to understand the role of these two crucial transporters in Arabidopsis and other crop plants.
The relationship between patient‐family caregiver congruence/incongruence in acceptance of illness and family caregivers' anticipatory grief
Authors: Wang Hui , Yue Haorun , Wang Zenghui , Lu Mengxin , Feng Danjun 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectiveCancer is a family affair that negatively impacts the lives of patients and their family caregivers. This study takes a dyadic perspective to investigate the effect of patient‐family caregiver illness acceptance congruence/incongruence on family caregivers' anticipatory grief (AG) and examine whether caregivers' resilience moderates the abovementioned relationship.MethodsFor the study, 304 dyads of advanced lung cancer patients and their family caregivers from three tertiary hospitals in Jinan, Shandong Province, China were recruited. The data were analyzed using polynomial regressions and response surface analyses.ResultsFamily caregivers' AG was lower when patient‐family caregiver illness acceptance was congruent rather than incongruent. Lower patient‐caregiver illness acceptance congruence was associated with higher AG in family caregivers compared with higher illness acceptance congruence. Family caregivers reported significantly higher AG only if their illness acceptance was lower than that of their patients. In addition, caregivers' resilience moderated the effects of patient‐caregiver illness acceptance congruence/incongruence on family caregivers' AG.ConclusionsPatient‐family caregiver illness acceptance congruence was beneficial to family caregivers' AG; resilience can be a protective factor for buffering the impact of illness acceptance incongruence on family caregivers' AG.
Misclassification of Gleason grade and tumor stage in Asian‐American patients with low‐risk prostate cancer
Authors: Li Lu , Xu Yihang , Xu Zicheng , Qi Feng , Li Xiao 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTo investigate the misclassification rates of Asian‐American patients with low‐risk prostate cancer (PCa). Patients diagnosed with low‐risk PCa treated with radical prostatectomy between 2010 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were included in this study. Then, basic characteristics and pathological outcomes of the enrolled patients were retrospectively extracted. We compared the rates of upgrading and/or upstaging between Asian‐American patients and White/Black patients. Moreover, temporal trend analyses were performed to explore the changes in upgrading and upstaging rates in each race over time. Finally, logistic regression models were constructed to explore the role of Asian race in upgrading and upstaging and to screen out potential risk factors for predicting upgrading and upstaging in Asian‐American patients. Asian‐Americans had a significantly higher rate of upgrading than Whites (P < .001), while no statistical difference was found in the comparison of upstaging rate (P = .536). Moreover, Asian‐Americans were more likely to upgrade to diseases with higher ISUP grade than Whites (P = .010). The rate of upgrading increased significantly over time in White and Black patients, but not in Asian‐American patients. Finally, race seemed to be an independent risk factor for predicting upgrading, while the racial differences seemed to be more pronounced between White and Black patients. Asian‐American patients had a significantly higher rate of upgrading than White patients. Moreover, Asian‐American patients were more likely to upgrade to diseases with higher ISUP grade. Further risk assessment before clinical decision for low‐risk PCa patients with the help of significant clinical variables is required.
Characteristics of recurrent acute urinary retention in BPH patients in the United States: Retrospective analysis of US‐based insurance claims database
Authors: Lee Sinyeong , Yoo Koo Han , Kim Taek Sang , Cho Hyuk Jin , Kim Wansuk , Oh Jin Kyu , Li Shufeng , Kim Sang Youn , Wei Wuran , Huang Jianlin , van Uem Stefanie , Del Giudice Francesco , Lindars David P. , Sathe Abha R. , Chung Benjamin I. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPurposeThe objective of this study is to analyze characteristics of recurrent acute urinary retention (AUR) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), utilizing a population based data set. Also, we sought to report on how AUR was treated, specifically regarding the need and length of catheterization and types of procedures utilized for mitigation.Materials & MethodsA retrospective observational cohort study was performed using Optum's deidentified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database. We compared two groups, BPH patients with AUR (n = 180,737) and BPH patients without AUR (n = 1,139,760) from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2017. Also, we analyzed the factors affecting the development of multiple episodes of AUR through age‐adjusted multivariate analysis.ResultsIn contrast to the 47.7% of patients who had a single AUR episode, 33.5% of AUR patients developed 3 or more subsequent episodes of retention. For age matched patients, the risks of additional episodes of retention increase significantly with older age, Caucasian race, diabetes, neurologic conditions, or low income. Overall, the rate of BPH surgery in AUR patients over the study period decreased and the most common procedure was transurethral resection of the prostate.ConclusionsRisk factors for multiple episodes of AUR included age (60 and older), Caucasian race, lower income socioeconomic status, diabetes, and neurological disorders. Patients with a high probability of developing recurrent episodes of AUR are recommended to receive preemptive BPH medication before such AUR occurrences. Also, more expeditious surgical treatment should be considered rather than temporary catheterization when AUR occurs.
Economic model predictive control with terminal set dynamic programming for tracking control
Authors: Li Qing , Dai Li , Yang Hongjiu , Sun Zhongqi , Xia Yuanqing 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis paper focuses on vehicle tracking control issues with consideration of energy efficiency, ride comfort and tracking performance. To address this issue, an economic model predictive control (EMPC) framework is proposed by taking average performance into account and introducing a time‐varying terminal set. We integrate an economic model predictive controller and a terminal controller with a feedback gain related to the time‐varying terminal set into the proposed EMPC framework. An acceleration‐dependent average constraint is designed and incorporated into the MPC optimization problem to facilitate the convergence of the actual acceleration to the desired one, which enables the vehicle to implement a smooth driving style that boosts energy economy. A tuning factor in the average constraint has the capacity to balance energy consumption and control performance. Under the premise of invariance constraints, a dynamic terminal set is constructed by solving a dynamic programming problem online, which enables an arbitrary location and scale of the terminal set at each iteration by taking the current and predicted tracking errors into account. This allows a reduction in the conservativeness of an economic model predictive controller in the sense of both the region of attraction and the cost bound. Recursive feasibility of the MPC optimization problem and the terminal set dynamic programming is ensured, and average performance is not worse than the performance with an optimal steady‐state operation. Moreover, the convergence of the closed‐loop tracking error to the optimal steady‐state is guaranteed by using the dissipativity theory. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by numerical comparisons with different controller parameters and standard EMPC.
A coordinated drainage and regulation model of urban water systems in China: A case study in Fuzhou city
Authors: Wang Hao , Lei Xiaohui , Wang Chao , Liao Weihong , Kang Aiqing , Huang Haocheng , Ding Xingchen , Chen Yang , Zhang Xuelian 
Published: March 2023

AbstractExtreme climate and urbanization lead to frequent urban floods, and urban water system dispatching is an important means of urban flood control. A coupled model is proposed to simulate urban floods in real‐time and achieve comprehensive water system control for urban floods. First, the systematical description of coordinated drainage and regulation model of urban water systems in China is introduced, then the practice of Fuzhou city was taken as an example to introduce the prediction and forecast systems, as well as water system regulation for urban flood and waterlogging disaster in detail. Results show that the root‐mean‐square error of river flood prediction is less than 0.3 and that the calculation time of waterlogging simulation is less than 10 min; the optimization regulation reduces the peak river water level by 31 cm. This study will establish a novel urban water system management model to help urban managers better reduce the loss caused by urban floods.