bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biochar-embedding iron-alginate microspheres derived from bagasse by one-step microwave pyrolysis/activation for enhanced Cr(VI) removal
Authors: Wang Hongfei , Zhao Xiqiang , Yang Xinfei , Sun Shuang , Wang Wenlong , Mao Yanpeng , Song Zhanlong 
Published: August 2022

In this paper, two types of adsorption materials SA-C-Fe and SA-C-Fe(C) were prepared using bagasse biochar produced by one-step microwave pyrolysis and activation for Cr(VI) removal of wastewater. The adsorption materials were characterized, and Cr(VI) adsorption performance, kinetics and thermodynamics on adsorption materials were studied. Results show that microwave pyrolysis/activation contributes to developed pore structure and abundant active functional groups, resulting in high Cr(VI) adsorption capacities. The optimal preparation conditions for biochar is: microwave power 500 W, ZnCl2/bagasse ratio 2.5:1 and pyrolysis/activation time 15 min, and the specific surface area of biochar is 1,787.64 m2/g. The Cr(VI) adsorption of the two materials is more in line with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption process is dominated by chemical adsorption. The static removal experiment of Cr(VI) using SA-C-Fe and SA-C-Fe(C) has the best removal effect at pH = 2, and the whole adsorption process is more in line with the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm model. Calculated by the pseudo-two-order kinetic model and the Langmuir-Freundlich isothermal model, the maximum adsorption rate for Cr(VI) of SA-C-Fe and SA-C-Fe(C) are 211.87 mg/g and 388.92 mg/g, respectively. The removal process is mainly dominated by three mechanisms: electrostatic adsorption, ion exchange and redox reactions. The improvement of Cr(VI) adsorption capacity is attributed to more developed pore structure. The results offer beneficial reference for the application of low-cost carbon-based adsorption materials for pollutants separation, and effectively realize the utilization of bagasse pyrolysis by-products.
Comparative investigation on the value-added products obtained from continuous and batch hydrothermal liquefaction of sewage sludge
Authors: Fan Yujie , Prestigiacomo Claudia , Gong Miao , Tietz Thomas , Hornung Ursel , Dahmen Nicolaus 
Published: August 2022

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) can be considered a promising route for the energy valorisation of waste sewage sludge (SS). However, not much information is available on continuous flow processing. In this study, the mixed SS was subjected to HTL at 350°C for 8 min in a continuous reactor with loadings of 10 wt% in the feed flow. The results show that the mass recovery reached 88%, with a biocrude yield of 30.8 wt% (3.9 wt% N content). The recovered biocrude yields are highly dependent on the selection of the recovery solvent for extraction, and dichloromethane can contribute an additional 3.1 wt% biocrude from aqueous phase, acetone can extract some pyrrole derivatives into the trapped phases. Comparable results were also achieved by performing batch reactions under the same conditions: a slightly higher biocrude yield (33.1 wt%) with an N content of 4.3 wt%. The higher N content observed in the biocrude from the batch process indicates that interactions and chelation between intermediates are enhanced during heating up and cooling period, which lead to more N-containing compounds.
The prognostic value of MicroRNAs associated with fatty acid metabolism in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Xiaojing , Zhao Yue , Strohmer Dorothee Franziska , Yang Wenjin , Xia Zhijia , Yu Cong 
Published: August 2022

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most frequent cancer in humans globally. In addition to smoking and drinking, genetic and epigenetic changes also play a big role in how HNSCC starts and grows. MicroRNAs are short, non-coding RNAs that control cell differentiation and apoptosis by interfering with gene expression. In addition, microRNAs in HNSCC have been shown to affect the clinical behaviors of HNSCC in amazing ways. Moreover, metabolic reprogramming is a key part of cancer and is needed for cancer to turn into a tumor and grow. But it is still not clear what effect microRNAs related to fatty acid metabolism have on the prognosis of HNSCC patients. We downloaded the data of HNSCC patients from the TCGA database and obtained the genes associated with fatty acid metabolism according to the GSEA database. Then, the microRNAs associated with fatty acid metabolism genes were matched. Finally, fatty acid metabolism gene-associated microRNAs for calculating risk scores and then building multifactorial Cox regression models in patients with HNSCC. Heatmap analysis showed that microRNAs involved in fatty acid metabolism were significantly different in HNSCC patients than in healthy controls. A total of 27 microRNAs associated with fatty acid metabolism were screened by univariate Cox analysis (p &lt; 0.05). Using lasso regression, 18 microRNAs substantially linked with the prognosis of HNSCC patients were identified and included in risk scores. The ROC curves demonstrate that risk scores derived from microRNAs involved in fatty acid metabolism can accurately predict the prognosis of HNSCC patients at 1, 3, and 5 years. Moreover, we discovered that 11 microRNAs included in the risk score properly distinguished the prognosis of HNSCC patients. This paper indicated that microRNAs involved with fatty acid metabolism are strongly linked to the prognosis of HNSCC patients. It also indicated that reprogramming of fatty acid metabolism in tumor tissues may play an important role in HNSCC cancer.
Case report: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus characterized by active tumor immune microenvironment achieving a complete response following treatment of combined immunotherapy
Authors: Zhong Kaihang , Xu Yuyan , Cheng Yuan , Wen Yaohong , Cai Lei , He Guolin , Huang Huakun , Fu Shunjun , Zhong Xuefeng , Zheng Yating , Chen Tingting , Huang Mengli , Pan Mingxin 
Published: August 2022

Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is a frequent complication in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC patients with PVTT have the characteristics of less treatment tolerance and poor prognosis. Immunotherapy, especially combined immunotherapy, has been successfully used in advanced HCC. However, there are no recognized universally indicators that can predict response or resistance to immunotherapy for HCC. Herein, we reported a 58-year-old HCC patient with PVTT, cirrhosis and chronic viral hepatitis, who achieved complete response (CR) after combined immunotherapy (camrelizumab combined with sorafenib or regorafenib), according to his high enrichment of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS). In this case, we revealed the characteristics of the baseline tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in a HCC patient who responded well to combined immunotherapy, suggesting that TIME can be used to assist in clinical decision making of immunotherapy for HCC.
A review of non-destructive methods for the detection tiny defects within organic insulating materials
Authors: Zhang Xinlong , Cheng Li , Liu Yunfan , Tao Bo , Wang Jiuyi , Liao Ruijin 
Published: August 2022

In recent years, solid organic materials such as silicone rubber and epoxy resin have been widely used in electrical equipment due to their excellent insulation properties. However, as a result of manufacturing and design flaws as well as aging issues during operation, the insulating materials in the linked state no longer fit tightly and tiny structural defects (defect size less than 10 mm) develop, such as debonding at the composite interface, pores or cracks within the insulating material, etc. Tiny defects are prone to partial discharges and breakdowns, compromising the safety of high-voltage power equipment, particularly when subjected to strong electric fields. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out non-destructive testing (NDT) for such tiny defects. Such defects are small in size, easily buried in the material, and even some are wrapped in metal, which in turn requires very high detection accuracy, but traditional methods are difficult to achieve, so NDT technologies for tiny defects within insulating materials have become a research hotspot in the field of electric power in recent years. This paper firstly introduces the sources of tiny defects in solid organic insulating materials for electrical equipment. Secondly, the harm caused by structural defects is elaborated. Finally, emerging NDT methods and their advantages and limitations in defect detection are described in detail. The review aims to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of most of the NDT techniques used in the detection of tiny defects within solid organic insulating materials for electrical equipment and their most salient features.
A Case Report of Two Kala-azar Cases in China Diagnosed by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Gao Hongguang , Wang Jing , Zhang Shu , Li Tian 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundLeishmaniasis being a local disease, as kala-azar this particular form is a visceral form. It is transmitted by sandflies, and is a parasitic disease involving the reticuloendothelial system of mononuclear macrophages. Due to its poor prognosis and high fatality rate, the fatality rate of patients without effective treatment can exceed 95%. Thereby, early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve its prognosis. The metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has the advantage of being able to find pathogens that cannot be detected by traditional methods. More importantly, it can conduct nucleic acid detection of pathogens covering a wide range in a short time. For infectious diseases like kala-azar, which is clinically complicated and difficult, mNGS detection provides a basis for accurate etiological diagnosis.Case ReportWe report 2 cases of kala-azar in West China Hospital, Chengdu, China. The first case is a 47-year-old male patient who had recurrent fever for 4 months, accompanied by reduction of red blood cell, white blood cell, and blood platelet. He was detected by mNGS and clinically diagnosed as kala-azar (Leishmania detection), finally died of multiple organ failure. The second patient was a 15-year-old male who had fever for more than 10 days. He was detected by mNGS and clinically diagnosed as kala-azar (Leishmania detection). He recovered and discharged quickly after treatment with sodium stibogluconate.ConclusionEfforts should be made to improve early etiological diagnosis in order to improve patient prognosis. mNGS detection is beneficial to the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases with unknown causes in the early stage of emergency treatment.
Lymph node metastases outside tumor-bearing lobes and/or segments in non–small cell lung cancer
Authors: Han Lu , Jia Hui , Song Pingping , Liu Xibin , Wang Zhendan , Zhang Dujian 
Published: August 2022

ObjectiveHilar and lung lymph node metastases (N1) are defined as ipsilateral bronchial and intrapulmonary lymph nodes. However, the cleaning standards for ipsilateral bronchial lymph nodes in different lobes and segments within the same lobe in segmentectomy are not clearly defined.Materials and methodsSixty-six patients undergoing pulmonary resection for the treatment of lung cancer were evaluated. Intraoperatively visible non-tumor-bearing lobe (NTBL) and post-operatively non-tumor-bearing segment (NTBS) lymph nodes were removed and analyzed. The associations between the NTBL LNs and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed.ResultsNon-tumor-bearing lobe LNs metastases were found in 8 (12.1%) of the 66 patients, NTBS LNs metastasis were not found (0/13). The presence of NTBL metastases was significantly associated with age (&lt;60 years vs. ≥60 years, P = 0.037), differentiation (Grade 1 well differentiated vs. Grade 2 moderately differentiated vs. Grade 3 poorly differentiated, P = 0.012), CAT-scan-findings of Mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes metastasis (node-positive vs. node-negative, P = 0.022), pN stage (N0 vs. N1 vs. N2, P = 0.003) and p stage (I vs. II vs. III, P = 0.009). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that tumor differentiation (P = 0.048, HR 6.229; 95% CI 1.016–38.181) and pN (P = 0.024, HR 5.099; 95% CI 1.245–20.878) were statistically significant predictors.ConclusionsLobar lymph node metastasis of NTBL occurs frequently in patients with NSCLC, but lymph node metastases in NTBS LNs are rare. Advanced age, poorly differentiated and N1 and N2 status of CAT-scan-findings were independent risk factors for the involvement of the NTBL lobar lymph nodes. Although lymph node metastases in NTBS are rare, further investigation of the need to dissect is required.
Abnormal cortical atrophy and functional connectivity are associated with depression in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Yin Weifang , Li Anming , Yang Baiyuan , Gao Chao , Hu Yanfei , Luo Zhenglong , Li Yuxia , Zhu Yongyun , Zhou Chuanbin , Ren Hui , Li Shimei , Yang Xinglong 
Published: August 2022

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association of altered cortical thickness and functional connectivity (FC) with depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD).Materials and methodsA total of 26 non-depressed PD patients (PD-ND), 30 PD patients with minor depression (PD-MnD), 32 PD patients with major depression (PD-MDD), and 30 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Differences in cortical thickness among the four groups were assessed, and the results were used to analyze FC differences in regions of cortical atrophy. Binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were also performed to identify clinical features and neuroimaging biomarkers that might help in the prediction of PD-MDD.ResultsPatients with PD-MDD showed decreased cortical thickness compared to patients with PD-ND in the left superior temporal and right rostral middle frontal gyri (RMFG), as well as weak FC between the left superior temporal gyrus and right cerebellum posterior lobe and between right RMFG and right inferior frontal gyrus and insula. The combination of cortical thickness, FC, and basic clinical features showed strong potential for predicting PD-MDD based on the area under the ROC curve (0.927, 95% CI 0.854–0.999, p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionPatients with PD-MDD show extensive cortical atrophy and FC alterations, suggesting that cortical thickness and FC may be neuroimaging-based diagnostic biomarkers for PD-MDD.
Moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study exploring the alteration of functional connectivity strength and functional connectivity
Authors: Yang Han , Li Xiang , Guo Xiao-li , Zhou Jun , Shen Zhi-fu , Liu Li-ying , Wei Wei , Yang Lu , Yu Zheng , Chen Jiao , Liang Fan-rong , Yu Si-yi , Yang Jie 
Published: August 2022

IntroductionPrimary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is a common gynecological disease and chronic pain disorder. Moxibustion, a form of traditional Chinese medicine therapy, has proven to be effective for PDM. However, the central mechanisms of PDM and moxibustion for PDM are still unclear. This study aims to explore the potential central mechanism of PDM and clarify the possible mechanism of moxibustion for relieving pain.Materials and methodsA total of 23 PDM patients and 23 matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. For PDM patients, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were collected pre- and post-moxibustion treatment of 3 consecutive menstrual cycles, respectively. For HCs, rs-fMRI data were collected in the baseline. The resting-state functional connectivity strength (rs-FCS) analysis and the resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) analysis based on the region of interest (ROI) were combined to be conducted.ResultsCompared to HCs, PDM patients showed weaker rs-FCS in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). After the moxibustion treatment, rs-FCS in the left IFG was increased with clinical improvement. Then, the left IFG was chosen as ROI, and the rs-FC analysis was conducted. It showed that the left IFG rs-FC in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)/middle cingulate cortex (MCC), the left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus (PCU), and the left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) decreased after moxibustion treatment, most of which belong to the default mode network (DMN).ConclusionOur results highlight the role of the left IFG and the DMN in PDM. Specifically, the central mechanism of moxibustion for analgesia may be related to modulating the disorders of the reappraisal and processing of pain stimuli through influencing the cognition of pain.
DNA damage response and repair genes in advanced bone and soft tissue sarcomas: An 8-gene signature as a candidate predictive biomarker of response to trabectedin and olaparib combination
Authors: Merlini Alessandra , Centomo Maria Laura , Ferrero Giulio , Chiabotto Giulia , Miglio Umberto , Berrino Enrico , Giordano Giorgia , Brusco Silvia , Pisacane Alberto , Maldi Elena , Sarotto Ivana , Capozzi Federica , Lano Cristina , Isella Claudio , Crisafulli Giovanni , Aglietta Massimo , Dei Tos Angelo Paolo , Sbaraglia Marta , Sangiolo Dario , D’Ambrosio Lorenzo , Bardelli Alberto , Pignochino Ymera , Grignani Giovanni 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundAdvanced and unresectable bone and soft tissue sarcomas (BSTS) still represent an unmet medical need. We demonstrated that the alkylating agent trabectedin and the PARP1-inhibitor olaparib display antitumor activity in BSTS preclinical models. Moreover, in a phase Ib clinical trial (NCT02398058), feasibility, tolerability and encouraging results have been observed and the treatment combination is currently under study in a phase II trial (NCT03838744).MethodsDifferential expression of genes involved in DNA Damage Response and Repair was evaluated by Nanostring® technology, extracting RNA from pre-treatment tumor samples of 16 responder (≥6-month progression free survival) and 16 non-responder patients. Data validation was performed by quantitative real-time PCR, RNA in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. The correlation between the identified candidate genes and both progression-free survival and overall survival was investigated in the publicly available dataset “Sarcoma (TCGA, The Cancer Genome Atlas)”.ResultsDifferential RNA expression analysis revealed an 8-gene signature (CDKN2A, PIK3R1, SLFN11, ATM, APEX2, BLM, XRCC2, MAD2L2) defining patients with better outcome upon trabectedin+olaparib treatment. In responder vs. non-responder patients, a significant differential expression of these genes was further confirmed by RNA in situ hybridization and by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in selected experiments. Correlation between survival outcomes and genetic alterations in the identified genes was shown in the TCGA sarcoma dataset.ConclusionsThis work identified an 8-gene expression signature to improve prediction of response to trabectedin+olaparib combination in BSTS. The predictive role of these potential biomarkers warrants further investigation.
The safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with non-tube nofasting fast-track surgery for esophageal carcinoma
Authors: Zheng Yan , Hao Wentao , Li Yin , Liu Xianben , Wang Zongfei , Sun Haibo , Liu Shilei , Xing Wenqun 
Published: August 2022

Our non-tube no fasting (early oral feeding and no nasogastric tube) fast-track surgery (FTS) was safe and effective to combine with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy. In addition, the two groups were similar in terms of the recovery time, hospital discharge day, and early resumption of oral feeding.ObjectivesTo evaluate the safety of early oral feeding (EOF) combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) of esophagectomy.Summary Background DataOur non-tube no fasting (early oral feeding and no nasogastric tube) fast-track surgery (FTS) was safe and effective for primary surgery esophageal cancer patients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients who underwent non-tube no fasting and McKeown minimally invasive (MIE). They were divided into two groups: one received NAC, and the other received primary surgery. Complications after the operation, postoperative CRG complications, operative time, operative bleeding, and length of stay were evaluated.ResultsBetween 01/2014 and 12/2017, there hundred and eighty two consecutive patients underwent MIE with total two-field lymphadenectomy under the non-tube no fasting fast-track surgery program. A total of 137 patients received NAC, and 245 accepted primary surgery. Propensity score matching was used to compare NAC patients with 62 matched patients from each group. The NAC group had a similar number of total complications as the primary surgery group (32.26% in the primary surgery group vs. 25.81% in the NAC group; p=0.429) and had the same median postoperative hospitalization duration (8 days, p=0.723).ConclusionsAfter McKeown MIE, the patients receiving NAC combined with “non-tube no fasting” FTS had a similar incidence of postoperative complications outcomes as those without NAC. In addition, the two groups were similar in terms of the recovery time, hospital discharge day, and early resumption of oral feeding.
Adjuvant chemotherapy may improve long-term outcomes in stage IB non-small cell lung cancer patients with previous malignancies: A propensity score-matched analysis
Authors: Zhou Ke , Zhao Yaqin , Liang Linchuan , Cao Jie , Lin Huahang , Peng Zhiyu , Mei Jiandong 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundRoutine administration of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage IB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. To our knowledge, no available studies have assessed the outcomes of chemotherapy in patients with stage IB NSCLC who had prior malignancies.MethodsPatients with pathological stage IB NSCLC with previous malignancies who underwent surgery between 2004 and 2015 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The patients were categorized into chemotherapy and observation group based on whether they received adjuvant chemotherapy. Propensity score matching was performed to reduce confounding bias, and Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to compare overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) between the two groups. Subgroup analyses of the matched cohorts were then conducted to evaluate the relationship between clinical features and chemotherapy.ResultsA total of 894 eligible patients were identified; 90 (10.1%) patients received postoperative chemotherapy. Patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy obtained obvious OS benefits compared with those who received observation alone (HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48–0.97, P = 0.031). In addition, the 5-year OS rate and median OS time in the chemotherapy group were higher and longer, respectively. Although chemotherapy offered no obvious benefits for CSS (HR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.57–1.14, P = 0.35), patients who received chemotherapy showed a better 5-year CSS rate. On subgroup analyses, a chemotherapy advantage was observed in advanced age (≥65 years, HR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.38–0.99, P = 0.045). The same chemotherapy advantages were observed in patients diagnosed with higher histological grades (poorly differentiated to undifferentiated) (HR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.33–0.96, P = 0.033) and tumor sizes &gt;3.1–4 cm (HR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37–0.87, P = 0.010). Interestingly, NSCLC patients with previous malignancies originating from the kidney and bladder (HR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12–0.99, P = 0.049) showed a chemotherapy advantage. The same chemotherapy advantages were observed in patients diagnosed with NSCLC within 3 to 5 years after prior cancers (HR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.16–0.98, P = 0.044) and with localized SEER stage of prior cancers (HR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29–0.86, P = 0.012).ConclusionThese findings indicate that adjuvant chemotherapy may improve long-term outcomes for stage IB NSCLC patients with previous malignancies. It is recommended that physicians consider the clinical features of previous cancers when making adjuvant chemotherapy decisions for these patients.