bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biodiesel Production From Oleic Acid Using Biomass-Derived Sulfonated Orange Peel Catalyst
Authors: Kumawat Manoj Kumar , Rokhum Samuel Lalthazuala 
Published: June 2022

Biodiesel, as an alternative fuel for petroleum-based fuel, has recently acquired significant attention. The current study focused on using biowaste to produce catalysts for low-cost biodiesel manufacturing. Orange peels (OP) were used to make carbon-based solid acid catalysts with sulfonic acid group (–SO3H) density of 1.96 mmol g−1via a “one-pot” carbonization-sulfonation treatment. Under the optimized reaction conditions (15:1 MeOH to oleic acid molar ratio, 7 wt.% catalyst loading w.r.t oleic acid, 80°C reaction temperature, 60 min reaction time), 96.51 ± 0.4% conversion of oleic acid to methyl oleate (a biodiesel component) was obtained. The catalyst displayed high recyclability and stability on repeated reuse, with a negligible decrease in biodiesel conversion up to 5 catalytic cycles.
Distributive Features of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Aquatic Systems in the Source Area of the Yellow River on the Northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Ma Qiang , Jin Huijun , Wu Qingbai , Yang Yuzhong , Wang Qingfeng , Luo Dongliang , Huang Yadong , Li Yan , Li Xiaoying , Serban Raul D. , Liang Sihai , Gao Shuhui , Marchenko Sergey S. 
Published: June 2022

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the main participant in carbon cycles through water pathways. Recent studies have highlighted the roles of aquatic systems in landscape and watershed carbon budgets. This study is based on 261 samples collected between 2016 and 2017, from individual water types (e.g., river/stream, lake/pond, icing/spring, snow/rain, groundwater/ice, and others) in the source area of the Yellow River (SAYR). These samples were analyzed for examining the distributive features of DOC in aquatic systems, especially in relation to environmental factors. It shows that: 1) DOC concentrations in permafrost-related waters (7.2–234.4 mg C·L−1) were often the highest among all aquatic DOC sources (lakes/ponds: 21.3 ± 34.1 mg C·L−1, rivers/streams: 4.3 ± 3.7 mg C·L−1, and groundwater: 1.8 ± 1.4 mg C·L−1); 2) the seasonality of riverine DOC showed declining features in 2016 and high in summer/autumn, followed by a spring freshet in 2017, and a close association with intra-annual precipitation modes; 3) the main controls of aquatic DOC are permafrost presence, precipitation, and NDVI, and they contribute to 38% of variances of environmental variables in affecting variations in aquatic DOC in the SAYR; and 4) a literature review on biodegradable DOC (BDOC) of varied aquatic DOC pools indicates the highest DOC concentrations (48–1,548 mg C·L−1) and BDOC (23–71%) of ground-ice meltwater. Thus, we suggest that in the SAYR, permafrost dynamics dominate aquatic DOC distribution, and permafrost thaw may alter aquatic DOC budgets, eventually becoming an additional source for atmospheric carbon emissions.
Coevolution of Superconductivity With Structure and Hall Coefficient in Pressurized NaSn2As2
Authors: Guo Jing , Huang Cheng , Long Sijin , Zhou Yazhou , Cai Shu , Li Xiaodong , Li Yanchun , Yang Ke , Li Aiguo , Guo Jiangang , Wu Qi , Sun Liling 
Published: June 2022

A new class of van der Waals-type layered materials, ASn2Pn2 (A= Li, Na, Sr, Eu; Pn= As, P, Sb), has attracted much attention in the field of condensed matter physics because they have interesting physical properties and various ground states, as well as potential applications. Here, we are the first to report the close connection among the superconducting transition temperature Tc, crystal structure and Hall coefficient in pressurized NaSn2As2 single crystal. We found that the superconducting NaSn2As2 displays two pressure-induced crystal structure phase transitions, first from an ambient-pressure rhombohedral (R) phase to a monoclinic (M) phase starting at ∼ 12 GPa (PC1), and then to a simple cubic (C) phase starting at ∼ 33 GPa (PC2). In these phases, the Tc value and carrier concentration change correspondingly. Our results suggest that the observed three superconducting states are related to the change of structural phase and the variation of carrier concentrations.
Differential Comprehensive Effects of Food Quality and ZnO Nanoparticles on the Key Traits of Early Life History of Daphnia magna
Authors: Sun Yunfei , Yu Bo , Lei Yulu , Qin Shanshan , Lyu Kai , Yang Zhou 
Published: June 2022

In aquatic ecosystems, cladocerans, an important part of zooplankton, are often exposed to new pollutant nanoparticles and poor quality food simultaneously. To evaluate the combined effects of poor quality food and nanoparticles on the development and early reproductive performance of cladocerans, we exposed Daphnia magna, a representative cladoceran, to different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles under the food conditions containing different proportions of non-toxic Microcystis, recorded some key indicators of the early life history, and analyzed the possible differential dose effects. The results showed that non-toxic Microcystis and ZnO nanoparticles significantly delayed the times to maturation and reproduction and also significantly reduced the survival time, the body length at maturation, the number of offspring in the first brood, and the total offspring per female of D. magna. When the food contained non-toxic Microcystis, D. magna did not reach sexual maturity at 0.25 mg L−1 ZnO nanoparticles and did not develop eggs and reproduce offspring at 0.20 mg L−1 ZnO nanoparticles, especially non-toxic Microcystis and ZnO nanoparticles had a significant or nearly significant synergistic effect on the time to maturation, time to first brood, and the total offspring per female of D. magna, whereas for other life history indicators, non-toxic Microcystis and ZnO nanoparticles showed an additive effect, based on comparing the slopes of linear fitting of the relevant indicators with nanoparticle concentration under different food quality conditions. Such findings are helpful to realistically evaluate the comprehensive stress effect on zooplankton under the complex conditions of poor food quality and coexistence of pollutants.
Response to Different Oxygen Partial Pressures and Evolution Analysis of Apoptosis-Related Genes in Plateau Zokor (Myospalax baileyi)
Authors: An Zhifang , Chen Xiaoqi , Li Jimei 
Published: June 2022

The plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) is a native species of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau that spends its entire life underground in sealed burrows with hypoxic conditions. The present study aimed to assess the sequence characteristics of apoptosis-related genes and the response to different oxygen partial pressures (pO2) in plateau zokor and Sprague-Dawley rats. The sequences of the p53-induced protein with a death domain (Pidd), p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (Puma), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (Igfbp3), and apoptosis protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf1) were evaluated concerning homology and convergent evolution sites, and their mRNA levels were evaluated in different tissues under 14.13 (3,300 m) and 16.12 kPa (2,260 m) pO2conditions. Our results showed that, (1) the sequences of the apoptosis-related genes in plateau zokor were highly similar to those ofNannospalax galili, followed byRattus norvegicus; (2). Pidd, Puma, Igfbp3, and Apaf1 of plateau zokor were found to have five, one, two, and five convergent sites in functional domains withN. galili, respectively. Lastly (3), under low pO2, the expression ofPiddandPumawas downregulated in the lung of plateau zokors. In turn,Igfbp3andApaf1were upregulated in the liver and lung, andPumawas upregulated in the skeletal muscle of plateau zokor under low pO2. In Sprague-Dawley rats, low pO2downregulatedPumaandApaf1expression in the liver and downregulatedIgfbp3andPumain the lung and skeletal muscle separately. In contrast, low pO2upregulatedPiddexpression in the liver and skeletal muscle of Sprague-Dawley rats. Overall, the expression patterns ofApaf1,Igfbp3, andPumashowed the opposite pattern in the liver, lung, and skeletal muscle, respectively, of plateau zokor as compared with Sprague-Dawley rats. In conclusion, for the long-time adaptation to hypoxic environments,Pidd,Puma,Igfbp3, andApaf1of plateau zokor underwent convergent evolution, which we believe may have led to upregulation of their levels under low oxygen partial pressures to induce apoptosis, so as to suppress tumorigenesis under hypoxic environments in plateau zokor.
A Novel Necroptosis-Associated IncRNAs Signature for Prognosis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Huang Jing , Lu Rong , Zhong Dongta , Weng Youliang , Liao Lianming 
Published: June 2022

Purpose: The prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is poor. Necroptosis is a novel programmed form of necrotic cell death. The prognostic value of necroptosis-associated lncRNAs expression in HNSCC has not been explored.Methods: We downloaded mRNA expression data of HNSCC patients from TCGA databases. Prognostic lncRNAs were identified by univariate Cox regression. LASSO was used to establish a model with necroptosis-related lncRNAs. Kaplan-Meier analysis and ROC were applied to verify the model. Finally, functional studies including gene set enrichment analyses, immune microenvironment analysis, and anti-tumor compound IC50 prediction were performed.Results: We identified 1,117 necroptosis-related lncRNAs. The Cox regression showed 55 lncRNAs were associated with patient survival (p &lt; 0.05). The risk model of 24- lncRNAs signature categorized patients into high and low risk groups. The patients in the low-risk group survived longer than the high-risk group (p &lt; 0.001). Validation assays including ROC curve, nomogram and correction curves confirmed the prediction capability of the 24-lncRNA risk mode. Functional studies showed the two patient groups had distinct immunity conditions and IC50.Conclusion: The 24-lncRNA model has potential to guide treatment of HNSCC. Future clinical studies are needed to verify the model.
An Inflammatory Response-Related Gene Signature Reveals Distinct Survival Outcome and Tumor Microenvironment Characterization in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Xie Fengxiao , Huang Xin , He Chaobin , Wang Ruiqi , Li Shengping 
Published: June 2022

Background: Desmoplasia or rich fibrotic stroma is a typical property of pancreatic cancer (PC), with a significant impact on tumor progression, metastasis, and chemotherapy response. Unusual inflammatory responses are considered to induce fibrosis of tissue, but the expression and clinical significance of inflammatory response-related genes in PC have not been clearly elucidated.Methods: Prognosis-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tumor and normal tissues were identified by comparing the transcriptome data of PC samples based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) portal and the Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. Samples from the ArrayExpress database were used as an external validation cohort.Results: A total of 27 inflammatory response-related DEGs in PC were identified. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis revealed three core genes that served as an inflammatory response gene signature (IRGS), and a risk score was calculated. The diagnostic accuracy of the IRGS was validated in the training (n = 176) and validation (n = 288) cohorts, which reliably predicted the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with PC. Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified the risk score as an independent risk factor for OS and DFS. The comprehensive results suggested that a high IRGS score was correlated with decreased CD8+ T-cell infiltration, increased M2 macrophage infiltration, increased occurrence of stroma-activated molecular subtype and hypoxia, enriched myofibroblast-related signaling pathways, and greater benefit from gemcitabine.Conclusion: The IRGS was able to promisingly distinguish the prognosis, the tumor microenvironment characteristics, and the benefit from chemotherapy for PC.
Ethanol Exposure Up-Regulates PD-L1/PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Pathway and Promotes Mammary Tumor Development
Authors: Xu Wenhua , Wu Linqing , Xu Mei , Luo Jia , Chen Gang 
Published: June 2022

Alcohol consumption in women enhances breast cancer incidence and ethanol is the main causal factor. Compromised host immunity through immunosuppression facilitates the development of many types of cancer, including breast cancer. Immune cells in breast tissues, particularly tumor-infiltrating CD8 cytotoxic T cells, play a critical role in the host anti-tumor immunity against breast tumorigenesis. These cytotoxic T cells are the major immune cells to carry out anti-tumor immunity through their cytotoxic effector function, which can be regulated by immune checkpoint pathways. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway (the interaction between programmed death-1, PD-1, and its ligand, programmed death-ligand 1, PD-L1) is the best characterized one. However, the effects of ethanol exposure on T cell anti-tumor immunity and how that may contribute to ethanol-enhanced mammary tumorigenicity remain unknown. FVB.Cg-Tg(Wnt1)1Hev/J transgenic mice develop spontaneous mammary tumors starting around the age of 2-3 months and have been a widely-used mouse model for breast cancer research. Using this mouse model, the current study determined the effects of ethanol on the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway and how that may contribute to mammary tumorigenesis. The results indicated that ethanol exposure enhanced mammary tumor formation accompanied with an up-regulation of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway (increased PD-L1 levels in tumor tissue cells and the amount of PD-1-expressing tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells) and inhibited T cell anti-tumor function, while inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 restored T cell anti-tumor effector function and mitigated ethanol-enhanced tumorigenesis.
A New Methodology to Estimate Drug Cost Avoidance in Clinical Trials: Development and Application
Authors: García-Sánchez Sebastián , Collado-Borrell Roberto , González-Haba Eva , Revuelta-Herrero José Luis , Escudero-Vilaplana Vicente , Marzal-Alfaro María Belén , Sánchez-Fresneda María Norberta , Mur-Mur Ana , Herranz Ana , Martín Miguel , Sanjurjo María 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundOncology clinical trials can lead to relevant financial savings in drug acquisition for healthcare providers. Considerable methodological heterogeneity is observed among previous studies estimating these savings.MethodsWe developed a methodology to estimate the economic benefit obtained from the enrollment of patients into clinical trials through the analysis of drug cost avoidance. We designed a decision algorithm to determine if a clinical trial is associated with drug cost avoidance. This algorithm is based on five scenarios according to the availability or not of standard treatment, the presence or absence of a control arm (placebo or active treatment), and the provider of the medication. We considered as reference the cost of the standard treatment that the patient would have received in routine clinical practice. We standardized drug doses and treatment durations according to the literature. Costs were considered from a National Health System perspective. We applied this methodology at a single, research-active University Hospital in 2019. A cost avoidance analysis per trial and patient was carried out on cancer patients.ResultsWe analyzed 140 trials in which 198 patients were recruited. Drug cost avoidance was found in 120 trials (85.7%). The estimated total drug cost avoidance amounted to over €3,200,000. Melanoma and genitourinary tumors were the tumor types associated with the highest cost avoidance. The average drug cost avoidance per patient was €16,245.ConclusionWe describe a standardized method to estimate drug cost avoidance in clinical trials. We have applied it to all ongoing oncology clinical trials in our center. This methodology could be valuable for other centers to analyze the potential saving of clinical trials.
Integration of Inflammation-Immune Factors to Build Prognostic Model Predictive of Prognosis and Minimal Residual Disease for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Xu Xin , Huang Ao , Guo De-Zhen , Wang Yu-Peng , Zhang Shi-Yu , Yan Jia-Yan , Wang Xin-Yu , Cao Ya , Fan Jia , Zhou Jian , Fu Xiu-Tao , Shi Ying-Hong 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundTumor recurrence after hepatectomy is high for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and minimal residual disease (MRD) could be the underlying mechanism. A predictive model for recurrence and presence of MRD is needed.MethodsCommon inflammation-immune factors were reviewed and selected to construct novel models. The model consisting of preoperative aspartate aminotransferase, C-reactive protein, and lymphocyte count, named ACLR, was selected and evaluated for clinical significance.ResultsAmong the nine novel inflammation-immune models, ACLR showed the highest accuracy for overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR). At the optimal cutoff value of 80, patients with high ACLR (&gt; 80) had larger tumor size, higher Edmondson’s grade, more vascular invasion, advanced tumor stage, and poorer survival than those with low ACLR (≤ 80) in the training cohort (5-year OS: 43.3% vs. 80.1%, P &lt; 0.0001; 5-year TTR: 74.9% vs. 45.3%, P &lt; 0.0001). Multivariate Cox analysis identified ACLR as an independent risk factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.22, P &lt; 0.001] and TTR (HR = 2.36, P &lt; 0.001). Such clinical significance and prognostic value were verified in validation cohort. ACLR outperformed extant models, showing the highest area under receiver operating characteristics curve for 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS (0.737, 0.719, and 0.708) and 1-, 3-, and 5-year TTR (0.696, 0.650, and 0.629). High ACLR correlated with early recurrence (P &lt; 0.001) and extremely early recurrence (P &lt; 0.001). In patients with high ACLR, wide resection margin might confer survival benefit by decreasing recurrence (median TTR, 25.5 vs. 11.4 months; P = 0.037).ConclusionsThe novel inflammation-immune model, ACLR, could effectively predict prognosis, and the presence of MRD before hepatectomy and might guide the decision on resection margin for patients with HCC.
Increased Circulating Levels of CRP and IL-6 and Decreased Frequencies of T and B Lymphocyte Subsets Are Associated With Immune-Related Adverse Events During Combination Therapy With PD-1 Inhibitors for Liver Cancer
Authors: Yu Yingying , Wang Siyu , Su Nan , Pan Shida , Tu Bo , Zhao Jinfang , Shen Yingjuan , Qiu Qin , Liu Xiaomeng , Luan Junqing , Wang Fu-Sheng , Meng Fanping , Shi Ming 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundProgrammed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are inevitable in patients with liver cancer. Although the incidence of severe irAEs is low, but can result in fatal consequences. To date, only a few commonly used clinical biomarkers have been reported.AimTo assess commonly used clinical biomarkers associated with the occurrence of irAEs to enable better management of irAEs by clinicians.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients with liver cancer treated with at least one cycle of PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). IrAEs were documented according to the common terminology criteria for adverse events version 5. Clinical and laboratory parameters were also evaluated.ResultsA total of 67 patients were included, 36 with irAEs and 31 without irAEs. A total of 104 adverse events occurred; 83 of these events were grade 1/2 (G1/G2), 21 were grade 3/4 (G3/G4), and one died of G4 hepatitis. Patients with irAEs had higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and lower levels of lymphocyte subsets, except natural killer (NK) cell counts, than those without irAEs (P &lt;0.05). Patients who experienced G3/G4 irAEs had higher levels of CRP and IL-6 and lower levels of CD4+ T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes than those who experienced G1/G2 irAEs (P &lt;0.05). Of note, impairments in liver function and routine blood tests were also observed (P &lt;0.05). The results of univariate and multivariate analyses for any grade of irAEs revealed that the combination of sintilimab and lenvatinib (P= 0.004, odds ratio [OR]: 7.414, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.925–28.560) and CRP ≥8.2 mg/L (P= 0.024, OR: 3.727, CI: 1.185–11.726) were independent risk factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the risk factors of G3/G4 irAEs suggested that the combination of sintilimab and lenvatinib was a potential risk factor (P = 0.049, OR: 8.242, CI: 1.006–67.532).ConclusionChanges in patient CRP, IL-6, and lymphocyte subsets were associated with irAE onset and may act as potential biomarkers of irAEs. Impairments in liver function and routine blood tests owing to the occurrence of irAEs may become new concerns for clinicians.
Spine Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy to Three or More Contiguous Vertebral Levels
Authors: Dibs Khaled , Blakaj Dukagjin M. , Prasad Rahul N. , Olausson Alexander , Bourekas Eric C. , Boulter Daniel , Ayan Ahmet S. , Cochran Eric , Marras William S. , Mageswaran Prasath , Thomas Evan , Lee Hyeri , Grecula John , Raval Raju R. , Mendel Ehud , Scharschmidt Thomas , Lonser Russell , Chakravarti Arnab , Elder James B. , Palmer Joshua D. 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundWith survival improving in many metastatic malignancies, spine metastases have increasingly become a source of significant morbidity; achieving durable local control (LC) is critical. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may offer improved LC and/or symptom palliation. However, due to setup concerns, SBRT is infrequently offered to patients with ≥3 contiguous involved levels. Because data are limited, we sought to evaluate the feasibility, toxicity, and cancer control outcomes of spine SBRT delivered to ≥3 contiguous levels.MethodsWe retrospectively identified all SBRT courses delivered between 2013 and 2019 at a tertiary care institution for postoperative or intact spine metastases. Radiotherapy was delivered to 14–35 Gy in 1–5 fractions. Patients were stratified by whether they received SBRT to 1–2 or ≥3 contiguous levels. The primary endpoint was 1-year LC and was compared between groups. Factors associated with increased likelihood of local failure (LF) were explored. Acute and chronic toxicity was assessed. In-depth dosimetric data were collected.ResultsOverall, 165 patients with 194 SBRT courses were identified [54% were men, median age was 61 years, 93% had Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥70, and median follow-up was 15 months]. One hundred thirteen patients (68%) received treatment to 1–2 and 52 to 3–7 (32%) levels. The 1-year LC was 88% (89% for 1–2 levels vs. 84% for ≥3 levels, p = 0.747). On multivariate analysis, uncontrolled systemic disease was associated with inferior LC for patients with ≥3 treated levels. No other demographic, disease, treatment, or dosimetric variables achieved significance. Rates of new/progressive fracture were equivalent (8% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.839). There were no radiation-induced myelopathy or grade 3+ acute or late toxicities in either group. Coverage of ≥95% of the planning target volume with ≥95% prescription dose was similar between groups (96% 1–2 levels vs. 89% ≥3 levels, p = 0.078).ConclusionsFor patients with ≥3 contiguous involved levels, spine SBRT is feasible and may offer excellent LC without significant toxicity. Prospective evaluation is warranted.