bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Xenopus
as an Experimental Organism
Authors: Tadjuidje Emmanuel 
Published: November 2022

Abstract

The South African clawed frog,
Xenopus laevis
, is a popular model system to study development. It is easy to maintain a breeding frog colony, females can be spawned all year round and hundreds of synchronously growing embryos can be generated from a single fertilisation. Embryos are easily amenable to microsurgery at any stage of development and adults survive surgeries performed under limited aseptic conditions. The ease of injecting oligonucleotides or messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) into
Xenopus leavis
embryos has contributed to the discovery of genes with key functions in development. Another singularity of
Xenopus leavis
is the ease to manipulate its oocytes before fertilisation; this has been a powerful tool to identify the function of maternally deposited mRNAs in development. Over the past two decades, transgenic strategies have been developed using the related species
Xenopus tropicalis
and this is broadening the contribution of
Xenopus
to the understanding of early development.

Key Concepts

Xenopus laevis
is easy to raise and feed in large colonies in the lab, and commercial vendors can now supply frogs and embryos at all developmental stages for research.

The female
Xenopus
can be induced to spawn repeatedly at any season, making it possible to obtain embryos all year round.

Xenopus leavis'
eggs are large, they measure around 1.3 mm in diameter and are usually laid in large numbers that are fertilised
in vitro
.

The
Xenopus
embryos develop outside the female, its early development is very fast, making it possible to study a full developmental program in about 3 days, with the possibility to manipulate the embryos at any stage of development.

Xenopus leavis
oocytes can easily be obtained and manipulated before fertilisation, making it possible to study the function of maternally deposited mRNAs.

The mechanisms of tissue and body axis formation have been elucidated from research carried out in
Xenopus leavis
embryos, and a
Xenopus
toxicological test called FETAX has been recommended by scientists from the American Food and Drug Administration, for the teratogenic screening of new drugs candidates.

Gene editing techniques have been developed for
Xenopus,
making it an excellent model to mimic human mutations and study human diseases like cancers and congenital diseases.

The sequencing of the diploid genome, ease of obtaining and injecting large numbers of eggs and the relatively short lifespan makes
Xenopus
tropicalis a very powerful model for gene editing and transgenic studies of organogenesis.

Eggs of
Xenopus leavis
provide a model of choice for studying the regulation of the cell cycle.

A database called Xenbase is now available to the
Xenopus
research community; it contains usefully and regularly updated information on
Xenopus
research and resources.
Treat the “Untreatable” by a Photothermal Agent: Triggering Heat and Immunological Responses for Rabies Virus Inactivation
Authors: Bai Yujie , Huang Pei , Feng Na , Li Yuanyuan , Huang Jingbo , Jin Hongli , Zhang Mengyao , Sun Jingxuan , Li Nan , Zhang Haili , Xia Xianzhu , Tang Ben Zhong , Wang Hualei 
Published: November 2022

AbstractRabies is a fatal neurological zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus (RABV), and the approved post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) procedure remains unavailable in areas with inadequate medical systems. Although strategies have been proposed for PEP and postinfection treatment (PIT), because of the complexity of the treatment procedures and the limited curative outcome, developing an effective treatment strategy remains a holy grail in rabies research. Herein, a facile approach is proposed involving photothermal therapy (PTT) and photothermally triggered immunological effects to realize effective PEP and PIT simultaneously. The designed photothermal agent (N+TT‐mCB nanoparticles) featured positively charged functional groups and high photo‐to‐heat efficiency, which are favorable for virus targeting and inactivation. The level of the virus at the site of infection in mice is significantly decreased upon treatment with orthotopic PTT, and the transfer of the virus to the brain is significantly inhibited. Furthermore, the survival ratio of the mice three days postinfection is increased by intracranial injection of N+TT‐mCB and laser irradiation. Overall, this work provides a platform for the effective treatment of RABV and opens a new avenue for future antiviral studies.
Neighborhood obesogenic environment and cardiometabolic risk in Brazilian children: The mediation role of the mother's body mass index
Authors: de Albuquerque Fernanda Martins , Pessoa Milene Cristine , Filgueiras Mariana De Santis , do Carmo Ariene Silva , Vegi Aline Siqueira Fogal , Ribeiro Andréia Queiroz , de Novaes Juliana Farias 
Published: November 2022

AbstractObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the association of neighborhood obesogenic and leptogenic environments with cardiometabolic risk clustering among Brazilian schoolchildren, mediated by child's ultra‐processed food consumption and the mother's body mass index (BMI).MethodsA total of 367 children aged 8–9 years, enrolled in urban schools of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were evaluated. Waist circumference, insulin resistance, blood pressure, high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, and triglycerides concentrations were measured. The child's ultra‐processed food consumption assessment was performed by applying three 24‐hour dietary recall. The mother's weight and height values were used to calculate the BMI. The neighborhood income, walkability index, predominantly ultra‐processed food stores, public spaces for leisure, and/or physical activities, traffic accidents, crime, and green spaces densities were assessed in four hundred road network buffers around households. From neighborhood and cardiometabolic risk variables, four latent variables were obtained from confirmatory factor analysis: neighborhood “obesogenic”, and “leptogenic” environments; “high cardiometabolic risk,” and “low atherogenic risk”. A structural equation model was used to test the direct and indirect associations between neighborhood environment and cardiometabolic risk clusters.ResultsThe neighborhood obesogenic environment had a significant total association (Standardized Coefficient = 0.172, p = .011) and was indirectly associated with the child's “high cardiometabolic risk” cluster, mediated by the mother's body mass index (Standardized Coefficient = 0.066, p = .049).ConclusionsOur results reinforce the role of the urban environment on maternal obesity and child's cardiometabolic risk and provide evidence for public health policies aimed to prevent such conditions.
Energy Transport in Dichroic Metallo‐organic Crystals: Selective Inclusion of Spatially Resolved Arrays of Donor and Acceptor Dyes in Different Nanochannels**
Authors: Wen Qiang , Malik Naveen , Addadi Yoseph , Weißenfels Maren , Singh Vivek , Shimon Linda J. W. , Lahav Michal , van der Boom Milko E. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractIn this study, the precise positioning and alignment of arrays of two different guest molecules in a crystalline host matrix has been engineered and resulted in new optically active materials. Sub‐nm differences in the diameters of two types of 1D channels are sufficient for size‐selective inclusion of dyes. Energy transport occurs between the arrays of different dyes that are included in parallel‐positioned nanochannels by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). The color of individual micro‐sized crystals are dependent on their relative position under polarized light. This angular‐dependent behavior is a result of the geometrically constrained orientation of the dyes by the crystallographic packing of the host matrix and is concentration dependent.
C‐H‐Fluormethoxylierung von Aromaten durch Photoredox‐Katalyse
Authors: Bertoli Giulia , Martínez Ángel Manu , Goebel Jonas F. , Belmonte Debora , Sivendran Nardana , Gooßen Lukas J. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractRedoxaktive N‐(Fluormethoxy)benzotriazole wurden aus Fluoressigsäure und Hydroxybenzotriazolen durch elektrocarboxylative Kopplung zugänglich gemacht. Nach Alkylierung werden diese zu wirksamen Monofluormethoxylierungsreagenzien, welche die photokatalytische C‐H‐Funktionalisierung von Aromaten ermöglichen. Dadurch kann durch Bestrahlung von 1‐(OCH2F)‐3‐Me‐6‐(CF3)benzotriazoliumtriflat mit blauem LED‐Licht in Gegenwart von [Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2] die Synthese von vielfältig funktionalisierten Arylmonofluormethylethern begünstigt werden. Diese Methode ermöglicht die späte Funktionalisierung biologisch relevanter Strukturen, ohne auf ökologisch problematische Halofluorkohlenwasserstoffe angewiesen zu sein.
Study of the microstructure formation mechanisms of poly(ether‐ether‐ketone) monofilaments via melt spinning
Authors: Zhang Jiacheng , Li Yonggang , Ma Gang , Ren Jiannan , Wang Guibin , Zhang Shuling , Zhang Mei , Luan Jiashuang 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThe microstructure formation mechanism of melt‐spun Poly(ether‐ether‐ketone) monofilaments during poststretching was investigated using in‐situ wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction in combination with polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and universal testing machine. As PEEK monofilaments were stretched at 210°C, the crystallinity and microcrystal size first increased during the insulation state (Is‐S), then decreased during the poststretching state (Ps‐S), and further increased during the postcooling state (Pc‐S), at last were observed to selective orientation. At 210°C, the anisotropically aligned molecular chains reach a meritocratic orientation in the stress direction under 4.0 times drawing conditions, resulting in the highest tensile strength and modulus. As the stretching ratio increases, the crystallinity and microcrystal size first increase during Pc‐S and then decrease due to the effect of the stretched molecular chains on crystal growth and the degree of tearing in the crystalline region. The molecular chains of PEEK monofilaments stretched by uniaxial stress are aligned more flatly and uniformly along the fiber axis. We hope that this work will provide advice and guidance for the industrial production of high‐performance fibers.
Robust control of water quality in intensive aquaculture using multi‐variable quantitative feedback theory: From an Indian context
Authors: Chakravarty Sandipan Prasad , Sinha Aritra , Baishya Sangipran , Roy Prasanta 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThis paper addresses the problem of controlling turbidity, dissolved oxygen, ammonium‐ion concentration, and water‐temperature to maintain the desired water quality in an intensive aquaculture plant. The research is carried out to fit into the present scenario of intensive aquaculture in India. The plant model along with uncertain parameters are derived using physical laws and the data acquired from an aquaculture pond in Assam, India. A pre‐compensated multi‐variable quantitative feedback theory (QFT)‐based fully populated robust matrix controller is proposed to mitigate the control challenge. A novel method is used to design the pre‐compensator to enhance the diagonal dominance of plant transfer function matrix. The desired robust stability, reference tracking, and sensitivity specifications are fulfilled by the proposed QFT‐based robust controller despite the parametric uncertainty. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through numerical simulation. A comparative study against a
controller shows that the proposed controller strategy gives a satisfactory performance compared to it.
Sliding‐mode boundary control for perturbed time fractional parabolic systems with spatially varying coefficients using backstepping
Authors: Chen Juan , Zhuang Bo 
Published: November 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we consider the boundary stabilization of an uncertain time fractional parabolic systems governed by time fractional parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) with a boundary input disturbance and spatially varying coefficients (nonconstant coefficients) using a fractional‐order sliding‐mode controller. For this, the backstepping approach is used to transform an original system into a target system with a new manipulable input and perturbation. Then, the fractional‐order sliding‐mode algorithm is employed to design this new discontinuous boundary input to achieve the asymptotical stabilization of the target system (and, therefore, of the original system as well) by the fractional Lyapunov method. Apart from this, the well‐posedness of the fractional parabolic system is analyzed theoretically. Fractional‐order numerical simulations are provided to validate the developed technique.
Green sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of pemetrexed as antineoplastic drug: Application in pharmaceutical dosage forms and spiked human plasma
Authors: Salem Hesham , Samir Ebtihal , Galal Mariam , Hussien Maha , Abdelaziz Amany 
Published: November 2022

AbstractA recent antineoplastic medication is pemetrexed, this medicine is now being developed and produced on a large scale, thus approaches for quality control are urgently needed. Spectrofluorimetric guidelines for the simple estimation of pemetrexed were validated. Pemetrexed's assay depends on observations of its native fluorescence at wavelengths 275/450 nm and pH 4. The proposed approach was also used to identify the examined drug in both its formulation and in human plasma that had been spiked.
Validated LC–MS/MS method for the determination of copanlisib in mouse dried blood spots
Authors: Tripathy Harsha K. , Kiran Vinay , Zakkula Ashok , A. B. Vinod , Bestha Rama Murthy , Dittakavi Sreekanth , Mullangi Ramesh 
Published: November 2022

AbstractCopanlisib is a dual PI3K‐δ inhibitor, used in follicular lymphoma treatment. In this research, we report a validated LC–MS/MS method for quantifying copanlisib from a mouse dried blood spot (DBS). We validated the method in line with the guidelines of the US Food and Drug Administration. The liquid–liquid extraction technique was used to extract copanlisib from the DBS discs. We used an Atlantis dC18 column and isocratic mobile phase for the chromatographic separation of copanlisib and the internal standard (idelalisib). The flow was 0.90 ml/min. Under the optimized chromatographic conditions, the retentions of copanlisib and the internal standard were 0.98 and 0.93 min, respectively. Each injection total run time was 2.50 min. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were m/z 481.31 → 128.00 and 416.10 → 176.10 for copanlisib and the internal standard (IS) idelalisib, respectively. We have used a broad calibration range (1.01–4,797 ng/ml) with a determination coefficient (r2) of 0.997. All of the evaluated parameters met the acceptance criteria. Hematocrit did not influence the DBS copanlisib concentrations. We have used the validated method to derive the intravenous pharmacokinetic parameters by quantifying copanlisib in mouse plasma.
Efficacy and safety of anamorelin in patients with cancer cachexia: Post‐hoc subgroup analyses of a placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Takayama Koichi , Takiguchi Toru , Komura Naoyuki , Naito Tateaki 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundCachexia, a disorder associated with anorexia, inflammation, and muscle wasting, is frequent in cancer patients. We performed post‐hoc analyses of the ONO‐7643‐04 study to investigate the efficacy and safety of anamorelin in subgroups of Japanese patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThe patients were divided into subgroups by baseline characteristics, including sex, age, body mass index, prior weight loss, performance status (PS), concomitant anticancer therapy, and number of previous chemotherapy regimens. The changes from baseline through to 12 weeks for lean body mass (LBM), body weight, and appetite were calculated. Appetite was evaluated using the quality of life questionnaire for cancer patients treated with anticancer drugs (QOL‐ACD) item 8 score. Responder rates were defined as the maintenance/improvement of LBM (≥0 kg), body weight (≥0 kg), or QOL‐ACD item 8 score (≥0) from baseline to all evaluation time points. Safety was evaluated in patients subgrouped by age and PS.ResultsAnamorelin resulted in greater improvements versus placebo in LBM, body weight, and appetite in most subgroups. Anamorelin was also associated with greater LBM, body weight, and appetite responder rates than placebo in nearly all subgroups. Among anamorelin‐treated patients, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) tended to be more frequent with increasing age (<65 years, 19.2%; ≥65 to <75 years, 45.9%; ≥75 years, 60.0%) and PS score (PS 0–1, 38.4%; PS 2, 60.0%). The frequency of serious ADRs was 2.7% and 0% in the PS 0–1 and PS 2 subgroups, respectively.ConclusionThis study of NSCLC patients with cancer cachexia revealed consistent improvements in LBM, body weight, and appetite across most subgroups of anamorelin‐treated patients. This study also demonstrated the tolerability of anamorelin regardless of age and PS, with a low incidence of serious ADRs in each subgroup.
Patient‐reported symptom burden and impact on daily activities in chronic graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Yu Jingbo , Hamilton Betty K. , Turnbull James , Stewart Susan K. , Vernaya Alla , Bhatt Valkal , Meyers Oren , Galvin John 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundChronic graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) is a potentially life‐threatening complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) treatment for hematologic malignancies. There are limited patient‐reported data concerning symptom burden and effects on activities of daily living (ADL).MethodsThe cross‐sectional Living With Chronic GVHD Patient Survey was administered online in the United States (May–August 2020) to participants aged ≥18 years who underwent allogeneic HSCT, were diagnosed with chronic GVHD by a healthcare provider, and self‐reported active chronic GVHD (within past 5 years). Information on patient demographics, disease characteristics, symptom burden, and ability to perform ADL was collected. Symptom burden was assessed using the validated Lee Symptom Scale (range from 0–100 with higher scores indicating greater burden). All data were summarized using descriptive statistics; no formal statistical comparisons were conducted.ResultsOut of 580 participants who entered the survey screener, 165 participants (28.4%) across 33 states fulfilled all study eligibility criteria, completed the entire survey, and were included (age: mean [SD], 53.7 (13.8) years; median [range], 57.0 [18–78] years; female, n = 105 [63.6%]; White, n = 137 [83.0%]). Respondents described their chronic GVHD severity primarily as moderate (n = 54 [32.7%]) or severe (n = 102 [61.8%]) at the time when symptoms were at their worst. One‐third of respondents (33.9%) indicated that their chronic GVHD symptoms were at their worst for ≥1 year in duration. Mean (SD; range) Lee Symptom Scale score was 44.8 (19.4; 2–100); 44% of respondents considered “dry eye” the most burdensome symptom. Almost half of respondents (n = 73 [44.2%]) rated their overall quality of life (QoL) as poor. Participants reported a detrimental impact of symptoms on ADL, including basic activities (eg, eating, personal hygiene, dressing).ConclusionsSurvey respondents self‐reported high chronic GVHD symptom burden and felt that their symptoms severely interfered with physical function and ADL. Effective strategies to mitigate chronic GVHD symptoms are needed to improve QoL among HSCT survivors.
Evaluating the impact of COVID‐19 on cancer declarations in Quebec, Canada
Authors: Ramanakumar Agnihotram V. , Annie Bourassa , Frederic Lamonde , Christine Bertrand , Cathy Rouleau , Jean Latreille 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundCOVID‐19 affected healthcare worldwide, limited access to healthcare, and delayed cancer screening and diagnosis. In this study, the effect of the first year of COVID‐19 was determined on cancer diagnoses in the province of Quebec, Canada.MethodsData were collected from the 13 Quebec Cancer Registry health institutions. Newly diagnosed cancer declarations in the first year of the COVID‐19 (April 2020–March 2021) were compared with the reference periods (averages of 3 previous years). The main focus was on four leading cancers: lung, prostate, colorectal, and breast cancers. Generalized regression models with a poisson approximation and interrupted time series (ITS) analysis were used. Underestimated cases were presented in terms of relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The changes in the stage‐specific counts were also assessed in each of the four cancers. Results were illustrated separately for the first 4 months of the pandemic (first wave).FindingsThis study estimated an overall under‐reporting of 15.3% (29,019 vs. 24,584) of declarations. This under‐reporting was evident across all age groups above 35 years (p < 0.0001), four primary cancers (p < 0.0001), all stages of cancers (p < 0.0001), and both sexes (p < 0.0001). Based on the relative risks, stage‐specific lung cancer counts were underestimated by 5%–34% in the first wave (0%–11% in the first year), prostate cancer by 16%–46% in the first wave (0%–25% in the first year), colorectal cancer 15%–45% in the first wave (0%–24% in the first year), and breast cancer 3%–45% in the first wave and (0%–28% in the first year). However, no stage‐IV cancers were statically under‐reported compared to the pre‐pandemic era and not even in the first wave.InterpretationCancer diagnosis was underestimated due to the COVID‐19 pandemic in the first year; this effect was more evident in the first phase of the pandemic in Quebec. Further research is required to determine the accurate burden of the disease in the long term.
Immune checkpoint gene VSIR predicts patient prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Yao Kevin , Zhou Emily , Schaafsma Evelien , Zhang Baoyi , Cheng Chao 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundImmune checkpoint proteins play critical functions during the immune response to cancer and have been targeted by immune checkpoint blockade therapy. V‐domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VSIR) is one of these immune checkpoint genes and has been investigated extensively in recent years due to its conflicting roles in cancer immunity. Specifically, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the prognostic value of VSIR is debated.ResultsIn both patient tumor samples and cancer cell lines we find that VSIR has the highest expression in AML out of all cancer types and, in AML, has the highest expression out of all other immune checkpoint genes. Survival analysis indicated that AML patients with higher VSIR expression have significantly shorter survival than those patients with lower expression, even within established AML subgroups (e.g., FAB subtypes). Importantly, VSIR expression is predictive of progression from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients into AML, suggesting its potential role during the very early stage of AML development and progression. In addition to AML, VSIR also demonstrates prognostic values in other cancer types, including multiple myeloma and mesothelioma.ConclusionIn summary, our analyses revealed the prognostic value of VSIR and its potential as a target for immunotherapy, especially in AML.