bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigating the role of Bacillus subtilis type II toxin–antitoxin system in drought stress survival
Authors: Nasehi Rozhin , Masjedian Jazi Faramarz , Pakzad Parviz 
Published: May 2023

AbstractToxin–antitoxin (TA) systems, present in plasmids and bacterial chromosomes, are widespread in bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and are known to be involved in growth regulation, bacterial tolerance to environmental stress conditions as well as biofilm formation. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of TA systems in drought condition stress in B. subtilis isolates. The presence of TA systems including mazF/mazE and yobQ/yobR in B. subtilis (strain 168) was investigated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. TA system expression at 438 and 548 g/L of ethylene glycol concentrations was evaluated using real‐time PCR method and sigB gene was used as internal control. The expression rate (fold change) of mazF toxin gene treated with 438 and 548 g/L of ethylene glycol was 6 and 8.4, respectively. This indicates an increase in the expression of this toxin in drought stress condition. Also, the fold change of mazE antitoxin in the treatment with 438 and 548 g/L of ethylene glycol was 8.6 and 5, respectively. While yobQ/yobR showed a decrease in expression in 438 and 548 g/L of ethylene glycol concentrations. So that the highest expression reduction (8.3) was observed for yobQ gene at the concentration of 548 g/L of ethylene glycol. Results of this study revealed the significant role of B. subtilis TA systems in drought stress which can be considered as the resistance mechanism of this bacterium under stress conditions.
Factors associated with failure to operate and its impact on survival in early‐stage pancreatic cancer
Authors: Murimwa Gilbert Z. , Karalis John D. , Meier Jennie , Nehrubabu Mithin , Thornton Micah , Porembka Matthew , Wang Sam , Zeh Herbert J. , Yopp Adam C. , Polanco Patricio M. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIntroductionCurative intent for localized pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [PDAC]) requires surgery, but despite improved perioperative outcomes, surgery remains underutilized. This study analyzed the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) to identify resectable PDAC patients who underwent curative‐intent surgery in Texas between 2004 and 2018. We then evaluated demographic and clinical factors associated with failure to operate and survival (OS).MethodsWe identified patients with localized PDAC or regional lymph node spread between 2004 and 2018 in the TCR. Resection rates were determined and multivariable regression and cox proportional hazards were used to identify factors associated with failure to OS.ResultsOf 4274 patients, 22% underwent resection, 57% were not offered surgery, 6% had comorbidities precluding surgery, and 3% refused. Resection rates decreased from 31% in 2004 to 22% in 2018. Increasing age was associated with failure to operate (odds ratio [OR] 2.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.80–3.61; p < 0.0001) while treatment at a Commission on Cancer (CoC) center correlated with reduced failure to operate (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.50–0.78; p < 0.0001). Resection correlated with survival (HR 0.34; 95% CI 0.31‐0.38; p < 0.0001) as did treatment at a National Cancer Institute (NCI)‐designated center (hazard ratio 0.79; 95% CI 0.70–0.89; p < 0.0001).ConclusionsSurgery is underutilized for the treatment of resectable PDAC in Texas with decreasing utilization, annually. Evaluation at CoC was associated with improved resection rates and NCI was associated with increased survival. Expanding access to multidisciplinary care including trained hepato‐pancreatico‐biliary surgeons may improve outcomes for PDAC patients.
Response of soil N dynamics to land‐use change and topographic position in a semiarid hilly grassland
Authors: Liu Jian , Qiu Liping , Chen Chunliang , Wang Mengying , Wei Xiaorong , Kong Weibo , Cheng Jimin 
Published: May 2023

AbstractLand‐use changes through grazing exclusion (GE) or grassland afforestation (GA) are common restoring practices in semiarid ecosystems, but whether GE and GA exert similar or distinct effect on soil nitrogen (N) dynamics in certain ecosystem is still unclear, particularly in areas with complex terrain. Here, seasonal patterns of soil net N mineralization rates and mineral N contents were characterized in a hilly grassland on the Loess Plateau, China. A fenced grassland, an afforested shrubland and a grazing grassland (reference) with three topographic positions (the top, the north slope, and the south slope) were selected. Results showed that GE decreased soil net N mineralization rates but increased mineral N contents, while GA did not affect these metrics. Furthermore, topographic positions changed the effects of GE, with greater increase of soil total mineral N and nitrate N on the north slope than those on the top and the south slop. Soil layers also changed the effects of GE, with greater decrease in soil net N mineralization rates and greater increase in total mineral N and nitrate N contents at 0–10 cm than those at 10–20 cm. However, there was no difference among three topographic positions or between two soil layers under GA. These results demonstrated that GE was a better restoration practice than GA in respective of soil N dynamics.
Treatment outcomes of mucosal melanoma of the head and neck: Analysis of 190 cases from a single institution
Authors: Chen Shu‐Wei , Li Meng‐Hua , Liu Jian‐Liang , Chen Jing‐Tao , Wang Jia , Li Hui , Li Xi‐Yuan , Zhang Ying , Song Ming , Lu Jia‐Xuan , Chen Wen‐Kuan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractObjectivesTo analyze the treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of mucosal melanoma of the head and neck (MMHN) from a single institution.MethodsFrom December 1989 to November 2018, 190 patients diagnosed with MMHN were included. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method for univariate analysis with a log‐rank test for significance and Cox regression for multivariate analysis.ResultsWith a median follow‐up time of 43.5 months, 126 (68.5%) patients died. The median DSS was 35 months. The 3‐ and 5‐year disease‐specific survival (DSS) rates were 48.1% and 33.7%, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 34 months. The 3‐ and 5‐year OS rates were 47.0% and 32.9%, respectively. In univariate analysis, the T3 stage, received surgery, R0 resection, and combined therapy (surgery+biotherapy/biochemotherapy) were significantly associated with better survival. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that the T4 stage (HR = 1.692; 95% CI, 1.175–2.438; p = .005) and the N1 stage (HR = 1.600; 95% CI, 1.023–2.504; p = .039) were strong prognostic factors for poor survival, and that combined therapy (surgery+biotherapy/biochemotherapy) was a strong prognostic factor for better survival outcome (HR = 0.563; 95% CI, 0.354–0.896; p = .015).ConclusionThe prognosis of MMHN remains poor. Systemic treatment is warranted to reduce MMHN progression. Surgery combined with biotherapy may improve survival.
On splitting trees
Authors: Laguzzi Giorgio , Mildenberger Heike , Stuber‐Rousselle Brendan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWe investigate two variants of splitting tree forcing, their ideals and regularity properties. We prove connections with other well‐known notions, such as Lebesgue measurablility, Baire‐ and Doughnut‐property and the Marczewski field. Moreover, we prove that any absolute amoeba forcing for splitting trees necessarily adds a dominating real, providing more support to Hein's and Spinas' conjecture that .
A Review of Sustainable Bio‐Based Insulation Materials for Energy‐Efficient Buildings
Authors: Raja Pradeep , Murugan Vignesh , Ravichandran Sindhu , Behera Laxmidhar , Mensah Rhoda Afriyie , Mani Satthiyaraju , Kasi AnanthaKumar , Balasubramanian Karthik Babu Nilagiri , Sas Gabriel , Vahabi Henri , Das Oisik 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe surge towards a sustainable future in the construction industry requires the use of bio‐based insulation materials as an alternative to conventional ones for improving energy efficiency in structures. In this article, the features of bio‐based insulation materials, including their thermal conductivities, moisture buffering value, fire performance, and life cycle evaluations are examined. It is clear from the review that pre‐ and post‐treatment of the bio‐based materials used for insulation materials optimize their properties. The life cycle analysis reveals a significant reduction in global warming potential (GWP) compared to conventional foams. In addition, it is envisaged that producing bio‐based insulation materials on a larger scale will further decrease the net GWP. The article, therefore, proposes the implementation of policies that will promote the commercialization of bio‐based insulation materials.
On a generalization of the extended best polynomial approximation operator in Orlicz–Lorentz spaces
Authors: Gareis María Inés , Kovac Federico Dario , Levis Fabián Eduardo 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn this paper, we consider the best polynomial approximation operator defined on an Orlicz–Lorentz space , and its extension to , where w is a non‐negative continuous weight function and is the derivative of ϕ, which is not required to be an Orlicz function. Our work generalizes a recent result in this field on an Orlicz–Lorentz space generated by an Orlicz function. In addition, we establish some properties and estimates for any extended best polynomial approximation.
Research status, hotspots and trends on oral care research in the elderly published from 2002 to 2022: A bibliometric analysis – A review article
Authors: Zhang Jingwen , Weng Yanqiu , Qiao Mengting , Chen Wenyao , Zhang Lingjuan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to analyse the status, hotspots and trends of research on oral care for the elderly in mainland China in the past 20 years through bibliometrics, which aims to provide new ideas and targets for future clinical work and research.DesignBibliometric analysis.MethodsRelevant literature was retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Web of Science and PubMed. NoteExpress, Co‐Occurrence and CiteSpace were used to analyse bibliometric features in terms of year of publication, journal of publication, authors, institution and keywords.ResultsA total of 716 related articles were obtained. The number of publications shows an increasing trend over time, only 2017–2021; 309 papers were published, accounting for 43.2% of the total number of publications. A total of 238 articles were published in Science Citation Index journals or Chinese core journals, accounting for 33.2% of the total number of articles. The study of oral health‐related quality of life in the elderly is a hot research topic. There is a lack of research on the elderly living in elderly care facilities.
Transient and fully reversible changes in laboratory parameters and modifications of the cytokine profile during blinatumomab treatment in children with relapsed or refractory B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Locatelli Franco , Markovic Ana , Klinger Matthias , Zeng Ting , Zugmaier Gerhard 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWe analyzed changes in laboratory parameters, including blood counts, liver enzymes, inflammation and coagulation markers, and cytokines, from 70 blinatumomab‐treated pediatric patients (NCT01471782). Overall, trends were consistent in responders and nonresponders. Platelets and lymphocytes peaked on day (D) 10 in cycle 1 and returned to baseline on D42 and D29, respectively. Neutrophils peaked on D2 and returned to baseline on D42. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin peaked on D17, reversing to baseline on D29; total protein levels were constant. These findings indicate that blinatumomab‐induced changes in laboratory parameters were transient, reversible, and not requiring treatment interruptions in responders and nonresponders.
Registration of 252 sequenced sorghum mutants as a community reverse genetic resource
Authors: Xin Zhanguo , Jiao Yinping , Burow Gloria , Hayes Chad , Chen Junping , Burke John , Pugh N. Ace , Ware Doreen 
Published: May 2023

AbstractInduced mutagenesis is a powerful approach to generate variations that can be used toward the elucidation of gene function and create new traits for crop improvement. We have developed a pedigreed mutant library through chemical mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)‐treated seed from the sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) inbred line BTx623. The mutant library displayed a wide diversity of phenotypes, including potential traits of significant agronomic value. A selection of 252 lines (Reg. no. GS‐794–Reg no. GS‐1045, PI 701562–PI 701813) were sequenced to an average depth of 16x with paired‐end sequencing using Illumina Highseq. This endeavor resulted in the detection and cataloguing of more than 1.8 million canonical EMS‐induced mutations (variants). The variants were distributed across the sorghum genome uniformly, with 24,757 genes affected by impactful mutations that may alter the gene function. Mutations in genes of interest can be searched online through SorghumBase (https://www.sorghumbase.org). These sequenced mutants can be ordered through GRIN (https://www.ars-grin.gov/) with no associated fee.
Improving the quality of co‐evolution intermolecular contact prediction with DisVis
Authors: van Keulen Siri C. , Bonvin Alexandre M. J. J. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe steep rise in protein sequences and structures has paved the way for bioinformatics approaches to predict residue–residue interactions in protein complexes. Multiple sequence alignments are commonly used in contact predictions to identify co‐evolving residues. These contacts, however, often include false positives (FPs), which may impair their use to predict three dimensional structures of biomolecular complexes and affect the accuracy of the generated models. Previously, we have developed DisVis to identify FP in mass spectrometry cross‐linking data. DisVis allows to assess the accessible interaction space between two proteins consistent with a set of distance restraints. Here, we investigate if a similar approach could be applied to co‐evolution predicted contacts in order to improve their precision prior to using them for modeling. We analyze co‐evolution contact predictions with DisVis for a set of 26 protein–protein complexes. The DisVis‐reranked and the original co‐evolution contacts are then used to model the complexes with our integrative docking software HADDOCK using different filtering scenarios. Our results show that HADDOCK is robust with respect to the precision of the predicted contacts due to the 50% random contact removal during docking and can enhance the quality of docking predictions when combined with DisVis filtering for low precision contact data. DisVis can thus have a beneficial effect on low quality data, but overall HADDOCK can accommodate FP restraints without negatively impacting the quality of the resulting models. Other more precision‐sensitive docking protocols might, however, benefit from the increased precision of the predicted contacts after DisVis filtering.
Insights from 665 tank farm fires—The second database update
Authors: Paula Henrique Martini 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis article updates earlier publications of an ongoing research project on worldwide fire incidents that occurred in tank farms, which store products ranging from low flashpoint materials to crude and heavier hydrocarbons. The incidents and information in the database came from almost 300 sources, including technical reports and news releases. This research supports tank farm hazard identification/risk assessment and the reliability analysis of fire water protection systems (FWS). The research provides valuable insights such as the frequency of tank farm fires, the frequency of boilovers, the frequency of injuries/fatalities, the probability of failure of the FWSs, and the time to extinguish (TtEx) the fires. When the database provides sufficient information, these numbers appear as a function of the stored product. The data also allows plotting TtEx as a function of time for over a century. Additionally, this article illustrates the results of a confidence level analysis of the risk assessment of a distribution terminal that handles low and high‐flashpoint products.
The molecular mechanisms underlying anti‐inflammatory effects of galangin in different diseases
Authors: Hassanein Emad H. M. , Abd El‐Maksoud Mostafa S. , Ibrahim Islam M. , Abd‐alhameed Esraa K. , Althagafy Hanan S. , Mohamed Nesma M. , Ross Samir A. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWhen used as an alternative source of drugs to treat inflammation‐associated diseases, phytochemicals with anti‐inflammatory properties provide beneficial impacts. Galangin is one of the most naturally occurring flavonoids. Galangin has many biological activities, such as anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, anti‐obesity, antidiabetic, and anti‐genotoxic activities. We observed that galangin was well tolerated and positively impacted disease underlying inflammation for the renal, hepatic, central nervous system, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal system, skin, and respiratory disorders, as well as ulcerative colitis, acute pancreatitis, retinopathy, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Galangin anti‐inflammatory effects are mediated mainly by suppressing p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinases, nuclear factor‐kappa B, and nod‐like receptor protein 3 signals. These effects are confirmed and supported by molecular docking. Clinical translational research is required to accelerate the bench‐to‐bedside transfer and determine whether galangin can be utilised as a safe, natural source of pharmaceutical anti‐inflammatory medication for humans.
Preparation of water‐based flexography printing ink by KMnO4 modified activated carbon for fruit ripening control application
Authors: Nasomboon Pachanat , Somsesta Noppon , Hongrattanavichit Intatch 
Published: May 2023

AbstractEthylene is a type of gas that fruits and vegetables can produce naturally. The release of ethylene gas from fruits and vegetables causes them to ripen and undergo physical, chemical and biological changes, such as changes in the appearance in terms of shape and colour, changes in firmness and texture, changes in taste and changes in nutritional value. Furthermore, it also facilitates the growth of microorganisms. These changes lead to spoilage if the fruit or vegetables are left to over ripen. Therefore, the prevention and reduction of damage caused by the ripening of fruits and vegetables entail reducing or slowing down the release of ethylene gas produced by them. This research project aimed to study the properties of activated carbon and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) modified activated carbon, applied as a printing layer on plastic materials for bananas, in terms of their adsorption and decomposition of ethylene. Active and water‐based flexography printing inks were prepared from water‐based binder and ethylene adsorbing and scavenging agents (activated carbon and KMnO4 modified activated carbon) at various concentrations of active agents, that is, 0.0, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0%w/v. Then, those inks were printed on polypropylene plastic substrate. The delayed ripening of fruits results showed that the plastic materials coated with modified activated carbon inks delayed the physiology disorder (colour and firmness changing about 250% and 226%) and prolonged the storage time up to 14 days when compared with control. In addition, the functional ink layer also presented a high efficiency of abrasion resistance of about 75 cycles of rubbing at 1.8 kg. The products that stem from this research can be applied as packaging for fruits and vegetables in the form of bags, stickers and product pads that can help extend the life and slow the ripening of fruits and vegetables.
Evaluating the impact of land surface on medium‐range weather forecasts using screen‐level analyses
Authors: Bélair Stéphane , Alavi Nasim , Carrera Marco L. , Abrahamowicz Maria , Bilodeau Bernard , Simjanovski Dragan , Charpentier Dorothée , Badawy Bakr , Leroyer Sylvie 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn this study screen‐level analyses of air temperature and humidity are used to objectively evaluate the impact of a new land‐surface package being considered for implementation in Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)'s medium‐range global deterministic numerical weather prediction (NWP) system. Through its control of heat, moisture, and momentum fluxes to the atmosphere, the land surface has a substantial impact on near‐surface meteorology and on the atmospheric boundary layer. The approach examined in this study is based on the comparison between model forecasts and screen‐level analyses. It demonstrates the impact on medium‐range NWP of a new land‐surface package that includes (i) a new set of databases to specify soils and land‐cover characteristics, (ii) improved land‐surface initial conditions obtained by the assimilation of space‐based remote‐sensing observations, and (iii) a more sophisticated scheme for land‐surface modelling. The evaluation method is shown to provide useful information on the impact of the new land‐surface package, including lead‐time‐averaged difference maps as well as plots showing the evolution with lead time of the standard deviation of errors (STDE) and of the temporal correlation between forecasts and analyses. The new land‐surface package has a positive impact on near‐surface forecasts of air temperature and humidity for a summertime period, with smaller STDE and larger temporal correlation for both variables. The improvement is greater for humidity than for air temperature. The maximum impact is found around seven‐day lead time, with substantial gains in absolute and relative values for STDE and temporal correlation. The positive impact is also quantified in terms of prediction hours, with gains of about one day at the medium range. Details of the pros and cons for this objective evaluation approach are discussed.
Inference for block progressive censored competing risks data from an inverted exponentiated exponential model
Authors: Wang Liang , Wu Shuo‐Jye , Lin Huizhong , Tripathi Yogesh Mani 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn this paper, reliability estimation for a competing risks model is discussed under a block progressive censoring scheme, which improves experimental efficiency through testing items under different testing facilities. When the lifetime of units follows an inverted exponentiated exponential distribution (IEED) and taking difference in testing facilities into account, various approaches are established for estimating unknown parameters, reliability performances and the differences in different testing facilities. Maximum likelihood estimators of IEED competing risks parameters together with existence and uniqueness are established, and the reliability performances and the difference in different testing facilities are also obtained in consequence. In addition, a hierarchical Bayes approach is proposed and the Metropolis‐Hastings sampling algorithm is constructed for complex posterior computation. Finally, extensive simulation studies and a real data analysis are carried out to elaborate the performance of the methods, and the numerical results show that the proposed hierarchical Bayes model outperforms than classical likelihood method under block progressive censoring.