bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phase 2 trial of palbociclib and ganitumab in patients with relapsed Ewing sarcoma
Authors: Shulman David S. , Merriam Priscilla , Choy Edwin , Guenther Lillian M. , Cavanaugh Kerri L. , Kao Pei‐Chi , Posner Andrew , Bhushan Ketki , Fairchild Grace , Barker Emma , Klega Kelly , Stegmaier Kimberly , Crompton Brian D. , London Wendy B. , DuBois Steven G. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundEwing sarcoma (EWS) is an aggressive sarcoma with few treatment options for patients with relapsed disease. Cyclin‐dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) is a genomic vulnerability in EWS that is synergistic with IGF‐1R inhibition in preclinical studies. We present the results of a phase 2 study combining palbociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) with ganitumab (IGF‐1R monoclonal antibody) for patients with relapsed EWS.Patients and MethodsThis open‐label, non‐randomized, phase 2 trial enrolled patients ≥12 years with relapsed EWS. All patients had molecular confirmation of EWS and RECIST measurable disease. Patients initially received palbociclib 125 mg orally on Days 1–21 and ganitumab 18 mg/kg intravenously on Days 1 and 15 of a 28‐day cycle. The primary endpoints were objective response (complete or partial) per RECIST and toxicity by CTCAE. An exact one‐stage design required ≥4 responders out of 15 to evaluate an alternative hypothesis of 40% response rate against a null of 10%. The study was closed following enrollment of the 10th patient due to discontinuation of ganitumab supply.ResultsTen evaluable patients enrolled [median age 25.7 years (range 12.3–40.1)]. The median duration of therapy was 2.5 months (range 0.9–10.8). There were no complete or partial responders. Three of 10 patients had stable disease for >4 cycles and 2 had stable disease at completion of planned therapy or study closure. Six‐month progression‐free survival was 30% (95% CI 1.6%–58.4%). Two patients had cycle 1 hematologic dose‐limiting toxicities (DLTs) triggering palbociclib dose reduction to 100 mg daily for 21 days. Two subsequent patients had cycle 1 hematologic DLTs at the reduced dose. Eighty percent of patients had grade 3/4 AEs, including neutropenia (n = 8), white blood cell decreased (n = 7), and thrombocytopenia (n = 5). Serum total IGF‐1 significantly increased (p = 0.013) and ctDNA decreased during the first cycle.ConclusionsThis combination lacks adequate therapeutic activity for further study, though a subset of patients had prolonged stable disease.
Targeting Colon Cancer Cells with Pyrazino‐Imidazolinone Derivatives: Synthesis, Molecular Docking, and in Vitro Evaluation of Anti‐Proliferative and Pro‐Apoptotic Activities
Authors: Tambat Nazia , Tambe Pranav , Shaikh Amin , Shiekh Kounsar N. , Köhler Leonhard H. F. , Schobert Rainer , Biersack Bernhard , Ahmed Khursheed 
Published: June 2023

AbstractWe report the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, molecular docking and biological evaluation of nine pyrazino‐imidazolinone derivatives. These derivatives were evaluated for their anticancer activity against three cancer cell lines: 518A2 melanoma, HCT‐116, and HCT‐116 p53 knockout mutant colon carcinoma. The MTT assay was employed to assess their effectiveness. Among the nine compounds tested, four compounds (5 a, 5 d, 5 g, and 5 h) exhibited promising antiproliferative activity specifically against HCT‐116 p53‐negative cells (IC50 0.23, 0.20, 2.07 and 58.75 μM, respectively). Interestingly, treatment with the 3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl derivative 5a resulted in a significant increase (199 %) in caspase activity in HCT‐116 p53‐negative cells compared to untreated cells while the bromo‐pyrazine derivative 5d demonstrated (190 %) increase. These findings suggest that compounds 5a and 5 d induce p53‐independent apoptotic cell death. Additionally, in silico molecular docking studies with EGFR and tyrosinase proteins indicated that compounds 5 d and 5 e have the potential to bind to important anticancer drug targets.
Genetic evidence of population subdivision among Masai giraffes separated by the Gregory Rift Valley in Tanzania
Authors: Lohay George G. , Lee Derek E. , Wu‐Cavener Lan , Pearce David L. , Hou Xiaoyi , Bond Monica L. , Cavener Douglas R. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe Masai giraffe has experienced a population decline from 70,000 to 35,000 in the past three decades and was declared an endangered subspecies by the IUCN in 2019. The remaining number of Masai giraffe are geographically separated by the steep cliffs of the Gregory Rift escarpments (GRE) in Tanzania and Kenya dividing them into two populations, one west and one east of the GRE. The cliffs of the GRE are formidable barriers to east–west dispersal and gene flow and the few remaining natural corridors through the GRE are occupied by human settlements. To assess the impact of the GRE on Masai giraffe gene flow, we examined whole genome sequences of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in populations located east (Tarangire ecosystem) and west (Serengeti ecosystem) of the GRE in northern Tanzania. Evidence from mtDNA variation, which measures female‐mediated gene flow, suggests that females have not migrated across the GRE between populations in the Serengeti and Tarangire ecosystems in the past ~289,000 years. The analysis of nuclear DNA variation compared to mtDNA DNA variation suggests that male‐mediated gene flow across the GRE has occurred more recently but stopped a few thousand years ago. Our findings show that Masai giraffes are split into two populations and fulfill the criteria for designation as distinct evolutionary significant units (ESUs), which we denote as western Masai giraffe and eastern Masai giraffe. While establishing giraffe dispersal corridors across the GRE is impractical, conservation efforts should be focused on maintaining connectivity among populations within each of these two populations. The importance of these efforts is heightened by our finding that the inbreeding coefficients are high in some of these Masai giraffe populations, which could result in inbreeding depression in the small and fragmented populations.
Drivers of contrasting boreal understory vegetation in coniferous and broadleaf deciduous alternative states
Authors: Rodríguez‐Rodríguez Juanita C. , Fenton Nicole J. , Kembel Steven W. , Mestre Evick , Jean Mélanie , Bergeron Yves 
Published: June 2023

AbstractAlternative states defined by tree‐canopy dominance result in different ecosystem functioning and shape habitat conditions for the understory vegetation. One example in the boreal forest is the alternation between broadleaf deciduous and coniferous forests. Disturbances related to natural fires and human land uses have produced changes in tree‐canopy dominance in the boreal region where coniferous forests change to broadleaved forests, affecting understory community dynamics and their related ecosystem processes and functions. To analyze the factors driving changes in understory vegetation and the resistance of its vegetation to shifts between alternative states, we compared the effects of changes in the system between two contrasting boreal forest types (black spruce vs. trembling aspen) in adjacent stands with similar topoedaphic conditions. We performed a 5‐year in situ experiment using alternative states as a theoretical framework including two approaches: (1) the ecosystem approach, manipulating environmental conditions of light, litter, and nutrients in each forest type to determine the main mechanisms associated with tree‐canopy dominance that affect the diversity and composition of understory communities; and (2) the community approach, physically exchanging understory communities between alternative states, to determine their resistance under a new tree‐canopy dominance through time, as well as the resilience of the forest understory after a small‐scale disturbance. Results indicate that the understory vegetation of trembling aspen forests were resistant through time both after changes in local conditions in the ecosystem approach and in the new black spruce‐dominated alternative state in the community approach. In contrast, mosses and ericaceous plants that typically dominate the forest floor of black spruce forests were negatively affected by the physical effect of broadleaf litter addition in our ecosystem approach and they were not resistant when transplanted to trembling aspen forests in the community approach, as they decreased in abundance and were invaded by aspen understory community species over time. The understory vegetation is a key forest ecosystem driver that can contribute to maintain the resilience of the boreal system and help to preserve their ecosystem services, which is a key aspect to consider in forest management faced with the effects of climate change.
Production and perspective approach of ellagic acid from mango pulp industrial waste by the Micrococcus luteus
Authors: Anandan Rubavathi , Kannan Visali , Sudalaimani Dinesh Kumar , Janani P.R. , Athiappan Murugan 
Published: June 2023

AbstractEllagic acid (EA) has gained momentum recently due to its various properties like anti‐mutagenic, anti‐carcinogenic, anti‐oxidant, anti‐viral and many other benefits to human health. The present study focused on the microbial production of EA from mango pulp processing industrial waste as an alternate method for conventional chemical extraction. Our experiments demonstrated that the 100 μg/mL of EA was produced by Micrococcus luteus from 9% of mango pulp waste and the effect of several fermentation parameters of EA production with Pontecorvo medium has yielded 496.75 mg/g at pH 6.0, temperature 35°C, ammonium nitrate (nitrogen source), sucrose (carbon source), potassium chloride (mineral source) with 0.5% of inoculum after 48 h of incubation. EA synthesized was further confirmed with the standard EA in high performance liquid chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Perspective approaches like drought resistant in plants, anti‐parasitic activity and anti‐cancer activities have been proven and they were docked against depression proteins (receptors), namely MAO‐A using Epic, LigPrep and Glide module of Schrödinger. EA was found to have an ability to bind with the candidate receptor proteins 2Z5X for depression. Microbial bioconversion of mango wastes from pulp processing industries which can reduce the environmental pollution and convert as value added product.
Microwave‐assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from Sarawak Liberica sp. coffee pulp: Statistical optimization and comparison with conventional methods
Authors: Wong Joel Ching Jue , Nillian Elexson 
Published: June 2023

AbstractCoffea liberica, commonly known as Liberica coffee, is a kind of coffee that originated in Liberia, a West African country. It is considered a less‐known coffee bean variety, which accounts for less than 2% of commercially produced coffee worldwide. In this study, the influences of optimization of microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) on the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total carbohydrate content (TCC) of bioactive compounds extracted from Sarawak Liberica sp. coffee pulp were studied. Response surface methodology was adopted with a face‐centered central composite design to generate 34 responses by taking three microwave parameters into consideration, microwave power (watt), time of irradiation (second), and solvent‐to‐feed ratio as independent variables. As a result, the findings revealed that optimum extraction conditions were conducted as follows: microwave power of 700 W, time of irradiation of 180 s, and solvent‐to‐feed ratio of 86.644:1. While under optimal extraction conditions, MAE outperformed conventional maceration extraction in terms of extraction efficiency and had no significant difference (p < .05) with Soxhlet extraction on the extraction of TPC (12.94 ± 2.25 mg GAE/g), TFC (9.84 ± 0.38 mg QE/g), and TCC (876.50 ± 64.15 mg GE/g). Present work advances the usage of Sarawak Liberica sp. coffee for the development of functional products and aids in reducing environmental pollution by utilization of coffee pulp waste.
Network anatomy in logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia
Authors: Mandelli Maria Luisa , Lorca‐Puls Diego L. , Lukic Sladjana , Montembeault Maxime , Gajardo‐Vidal Andrea , Licata Abigail , Scheffler Aaron , Battistella Giovanni , Grasso Stephanie M. , Bogley Rian , Ratnasiri Buddhika M. , La Joie Renaud , Mundada Nidhi S. , Europa Eduardo , Rabinovici Gil , Miller Bruce L. , De Leon Jessica , Henry Maya L. , Miller Zachary , Gorno‐Tempini Maria Luisa 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA) is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized linguistically by gradual loss of repetition and naming skills resulting from left posterior temporal and inferior parietal atrophy. Here, we sought to identify which specific cortical loci are initially targeted by the disease (epicenters) and investigate whether atrophy spreads through predetermined networks. First, we used cross‐sectional structural MRI data from individuals with lvPPA to define putative disease epicenters using a surface‐based approach paired with an anatomically fine‐grained parcellation of the cortical surface (i.e., HCP‐MMP1.0 atlas). Second, we combined cross‐sectional functional MRI data from healthy controls and longitudinal structural MRI data from individuals with lvPPA to derive the epicenter‐seeded resting‐state networks most relevant to lvPPA symptomatology and ascertain whether functional connectivity in these networks predicts longitudinal atrophy spread in lvPPA. Our results show that two partially distinct brain networks anchored to the left anterior angular and posterior superior temporal gyri epicenters were preferentially associated with sentence repetition and naming skills in lvPPA. Critically, the strength of connectivity within these two networks in the neurologically‐intact brain significantly predicted longitudinal atrophy progression in lvPPA. Taken together, our findings indicate that atrophy progression in lvPPA, starting from inferior parietal and temporoparietal junction regions, predominantly follows at least two partially nonoverlapping pathways, which may influence the heterogeneity in clinical presentation and prognosis.
Investigation of the Effect of Oral Selenium on the Reduction of Clinical Symptoms and Joint Pain in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Iranian Population
Authors: Mehrpooya Maryam , Majmasanaye Mahnam , Faramarzi Fatemeh , Eshraghi Azadeh , Faress Foroozan 
Published: June 2023

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory joint disease. Because inflammation and nitrosative stress play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA, drugs that have antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects can be effective as adjuvant treatment in these patients. Selenium is a compound that has been shown in recent studies to have anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral selenium on the reduction of clinical symptoms and joint pain in patients with RA. Fifty‐one patients with moderate and severe RA were randomly divided into selenium and placebo groups. The first group of patients received selenium at a dose of 200 μg twice a day for 12 weeks along with standard RA interventions and treatments, and the second group received standard treatments of RA along with a placebo. Clinical symptoms were evaluated with standard indicators to evaluate disease activity before and after the intervention in the 12th week. Examination of clinical symptoms at the end of the study showed that in the selenium group and after 12 weeks, a reduction in clinical symptoms and joint pain were observed, which was statistically significant compared with before the study began. Meanwhile, no significant changes were observed in the patients of the placebo group in terms of reducing symptoms and joint pains. A dose of 200 μg of oral selenium twice a day for 12 weeks can significantly reduce clinical symptoms and joint pain in patients with RA.
Through rose‐tinted glasses: How inducing and resolving curiosity makes consumers less skeptical and improves their product evaluations
Authors: Hüttl‐Maack Verena , Sedghi Tara M. , Daume Jana M. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractResearch indicates that in general, curiosity leads to more intense processing of an advertisement, which might result in a more skeptical response toward a persuasive message. However, we propose the opposite and argue that a process of evoking curiosity toward a stimulus in the first step (with the creation of an information gap) and resolving it in the second step creates a positive affective experience. Upon receiving curiosity‐resolving information after becoming curious, consumers are less skeptical toward the advertised product, which leads to a more favorable attitude and a higher purchase intention. Based on four studies, we demonstrate curiosity's skepticism‐reducing effect, its downstream consequences, and the underlying mechanism of positive affect. We show that this curiosity‐stimulating way of information disclosure caused the effect instead of the information itself, which remained constant. The effects occur for integral curiosity, directed at the focal product, and for incidental curiosity, elicited by an unrelated stimulus. These results contribute to understanding consumer responses to curiosity‐evoking advertisements, which are widespread, and provide implications for consumer psychologists, practitioners, and policy makers.
Predictors of PrEP awareness, PrEP discussion and interest in long‐acting injectable PrEP among Filipina transfeminine adults
Authors: Restar Arjee Javellana , Quilantang Ma Irene , Wickersham Jeffrey , Adia Alex , Guigayoma John , Bermudez Amiel Nazer , Galárraga Omar , Flores Dalmacio Dennis , Cu‐Uvin Susan , Nazareno Jennifer , Operario Don , Sison Olivia 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIntroductionTransfeminine adults are impacted by the HIV epidemic in the Philippines, and newly approved modalities of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), including long‐acting injectable (LAI‐PrEP), could be beneficial for this group. To inform implementation, we analysed PrEP awareness, discussion and interest in taking LAI‐PrEP among Filipina transfeminine adults.MethodsWe utilized secondary data from the #ParaSaAtin survey that sampled Filipina transfeminine adults (n= 139) and conducted a series of multivariable logistic regressions with lasso selection to explore factors independently associated with PrEP outcomes, including awareness, discussion with trans friends and interest in LAI‐PrEP.ResultsOverall, 53% of Filipina transfeminine respondents were aware of PrEP, 39% had discussed PrEP with their trans friends and 73% were interested in LAI‐PrEP. PrEP awareness was associated with being non‐Catholic (p= 0.017), having previously been HIV tested (p= 0.023), discussing HIV services with a provider (p<0.001) and having high HIV knowledge (p = 0.021). Discussing PrEP with friends was associated with older age (p= 0.040), having experienced healthcare discrimination due to transgender identity (p= 0.044), having HIV tested (p= 0.001) and having discussed HIV services with a provider (p< 0.001). Very interested in LAI‐PrEP was associated with living in Central Visayas (p= 0.045), having discussed HIV services with a provider (p= 0.001) and having discussed HIV services with a sexual partner (p= 0.008).ConclusionsImplementing LAI‐PrEP in the Philippines requires addressing systemic improvements across personal, interpersonal, social and structural levels in healthcare access, including efforts to create healthcare settings and environments with providers who are trained and competent in transgender health and can address the social and structural drivers of trans health inequities, including HIV and barriers to LAI‐PrEP.
Citronellol‐Based Long‐Lasting Antibacterial Cotton Fabrics without Bacterial Resistance
Authors: Lian Liqin , Pang Chuming , Wei Hongxin , Hong Liangzhi 
Published: June 2023

AbstractAntibacterial cotton helps prevent the growth and spread of harmful microorganisms, reduces the risk of infection, and has a prolonged service life by reducing bacterial degradation. However, most antibacterial agents used are toxic to humans and the environment. Citronellol‐poly(N,N‐dimethyl ethyl methacrylate) (CD), a highly effective antibacterial polymer, is synthesized from natural herbal essential oils (EOs). CD exhibited efficient, rapid bactericidal activity against Gram‐positive, Gram‐negative, and drug‐resistant bacteria. Citronellol's environmental benignity makes CDs less hemolytic. Notably, negligible drug resistance developed after 15 bacterial subcultures. The CD‐treated cotton fabric displayed better antibacterial performance than AAA‐grade antibacterial fabric, even after repeated washing. This study extends the practical application of EOs to antibacterial surfaces and fabrics, which is promising for use in personal care products and medical settings.
Spherulitic Characterization and Hierarchical Structural Evaluation of Azacalixarene‐Polyethylene Glycol Copolymers Containing s‐Triazine Rings
Authors: Otsuki Yuto , Terui Ryoma , Hoshino Yui , Suzuki Tomohiro , Shibasaki Yuji , Fujimori Atsuhiro 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis study investigates the solid‐state structure of a copolymer composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and azacalixarene, which has two s‐triazine rings and two phenyl rings alternately crosslinked by amino groups. Azacalixarene derivatives containing a low‐molecular‐weight linker moiety and exhibiting an amorphous structure have been synthesized in previous studies; however, in this study, they are crystallized by the substitution of the linker moiety with PEG. The spherulites formed by the corresponding copolymer possess the ability to form higher‐order structures, growing up to a diameter of 1.7 mm depending on the crystallization conditions. The azacalixarene‐PEG copolymer forms negative spherulites via homogeneous nucleation and exhibits a lamellar period at 13.8 nm. The lamellar crystalline part itself is 5.8 nm in thickness; bulky amorphous regions are also observed in the copolymer structure. Reciprocal lattice analysis results reveal that the crystal parts form a packing structure similar to the crystal lattice of PEG. The promotion of spherulite growth is predicted to reflect the characteristics of the corresponding copolymer, which crystallizes while universally containing many amorphous regions.
Silk Sericin Protein: Turning Discarded Biopolymer into Ecofriendly and Valuable Reducing, Capping, and Stabilizing Agent for Nanoparticles Synthesis Using Sonication
Authors: Summer Muhammad , Ali Shaukat , Tahir Hafiz Muhammad , Abaidullah Rimsha , Tahir Hunaiza , Mumtaz Shumaila , Mumtaz Samaira , Butt Samima Asad , Tariq Muniba 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis current study is designed to incorporate sericin protein as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent to synthesize sonication‐mediated silver nanoparticles. Fabrication of sericin‐reduced silver nanoparticles (Sr‐AgNPs) is confirmed using UV–visible spectrophotometry, zeta sizer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐Ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). UV–Vis spectral peak of Sr‐AgNPs is observed at 420–440nm while the average size is found between 3 to 30 nm. SEM also confirms the reduction of large‐sized (1–40 µm) sericin macromolecules into nanometric hexagonal and triangular silver nanoparticles with a normal distribution (polydispersity index > 0.5). FTIR peaks from 500 to 4000cm−1 are analyzed for sericin while Sr‐AgNPs peaks with minor shifts (700–1000 cm−1 (COOCO stretching) in Sr‐AgNPs) are also observed. XRD peaks of 2θ at 27° with multiple low peaks at 38.2°, 47°, 49°, and 63.8° authenticate the amorphous nature of sericin and sharp peaks at 36°, 48°, 54.3°, and 61.9° with miller indices (hkl) of 98, 111, 200, and 211, assess the crystalline structure of Sr‐AgNPs. TGA reveals that sericin enhances the stability of silver NPs at high temperature (200–600 °C) by lowering the percentage weight loss from 70–80% to 60–65%.