bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lamellae orientation and structure evolution of reinforced poly(lactic acid) via equal channel angular extrusion
Authors: Luo Xiehuai , Lan Bin , Wu Pingping , Yang Qi 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe aim of this study was to improve the mechanical performance of biodegradable poly(L‐lactic acid) through equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE). Changes in morphology induced by the ECAE shear deformation in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were investigated. Differential scanning calorimeter results suggested a significant improvement in crystallinity of ECAE‐deformed PLA depending on its thermal condition and deformation force. Two‐dimensional wide angle X‐ray diffraction measurement and polarized FTIR spectroscopies of ECAE‐deformed PLA revealed a structural network in the crystalline region, and the taut tie molecules (TTMs) connecting lamellae also stretched. Scanning electron microscope results showed that the macro‐fibrils were generated, and the oriented structures were arranged along the nominal shear direction at a certain angle. Both the inclined macro‐fibrils structure and the oriented TTMs within fibrils were beneficial in improving mechanical performance. Finally, the mechanical property tests showed that the mechanical properties of PLA were improved overall. The tensile strength, elongation, impact strength, and bending strength increased by 28%, 123.8%, 224.3%, and 47.6%, respectively. Meantime, a transition from brittle fracture to ductile fracture was observed from the original PLA billet to ECAE‐deformed one. Therefore, the ECAE process represents a promising approach for comprehensively reinforced PLA.
Adrenal sympathetic nerve mediated the anti‐inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture at ST25 acupoint in a rat model of sepsis
Authors: Zhang Ziyi , Cui Xiang , Liu Kun , Gao Xinyan , Zhou Qingchen , Xi Hanqing , Zhao Yingkun , Zhang Dingdan , Zhu Bing 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAcupuncture plays a vital anti‐inflammatory action in sepsis by activating autonomic nerve anti‐inflammatory pathways, such as sympathoadrenal medullary pathway, but the mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to explore the optimum parameter of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation in regulating the sympathoadrenal medullary pathway and evaluate EA's anti‐inflammatory effect on sepsis. To determine the optimum parameter of EA at homotopic acupoint on adrenal sympathetic activity, the left adrenal sympathetic nerve firing rate evoked by different intensities of single shock electrical stimulation (ES) at ST25 in healthy male Sprague–Dawley rats were evaluated by in vivo electrophysiological recording, and the levels of norepinephrine (NE) and its metabolites normetanephrine (NMN) were also examined using mass spectrometry. To verify the role of EA at ST25 in sepsis, the rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce sepsis model, and survival rate, clinical score, and the level of interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐1β, and IL‐10 were evaluated after EA application. We observed that 3 mA is the optimal intensity for activating adrenal sympathetic nerve, which significantly elevated the level of NE in the peripheral blood. For LPS‐treated rats, EA at the ST25 apparently increased the survival rate and improved the clinical score compared to the control group. Furthermore, 3 mA EA at ST25 significantly decreased pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐6 and IL‐1β and upregulated anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 compared to the LPS‐treated group. Overall, our data suggested that 3 mA is the optimal EA intensity at ST25 to activate the sympathoadrenal medullary pathway and exert an anti‐inflammatory effect in sepsis.
The combination of resveratrol and Bletilla striata polysaccharide decreases inflammatory markers of early osteoarthritis knee and the preliminary results on LPS‐induced OA rats
Authors: Lin Tzu‐Chieh , Lin Jhih‐Ni , Yang I‐Hsuan , Soong Christina , Liang Ya‐Jyun , Jakfar Subhaini , Yen Chun‐Che , Liu Hwa‐Chang , Chen Hsuan‐Yu , Lin Feng‐Huei 
Published: October 2022

AbstractOsteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is characterized by progressive deterioration and loss of articular cartilage with associatedstructural and performance changes in the entire joint, and current treatments for OA only aim to relieve symptoms, rather than to prevent or reverse disease progression. Recently, treatments targeting “early osteoarthritis” (EOA) have attracted attention. However, during EOA stage, chondrocytes may change behaviors to express pro‐inflammatory cytokines and free radicals, which would cause detrimental effects to the synovial cavity and further cartilage wear. In this study, we combined resveratrol (Res) and Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) as anti‐inflammatories and antioxidants to diffuse free radicals and to alleviate inflammation from the synovial cavity both short term and long term. The current study introduced a new method for harvesting BSP from as‐received Bletilla striata to achieve high yields, shortened extraction times, and maintained structure/functions. In addition, it combined Res and home‐extracted BSP (Res‐BSP) to alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in a Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced OA model. The gene expressions of inflammatory genes iNOs, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and MMP‐13 were upregulated 5.7‐fold, 6.5‐fold, 8.6‐fold, and 4.5‐fold, respectively on OA‐like chondrocytes and the gene expressions were significantly downregulated to 3.3‐fold, 2.1‐fold, 4.9‐fold, and 0.1‐fold, respectively, once OA‐like chondrocytes were treated with Res‐BSP (p < 0.05, compared with OA‐like chondrocytes). The gene expressions of chondrogenic genes TGFβ1, SOX9, and type II collagen were downregulated by 0.8‐fold, 2.2‐fold, and 0.8‐fold, respectively, based on the control group as a baseline. While it was significantly upregulated by 3.4‐fold, 0.32‐fold, and 0.4‐fold, respectively, once OA‐like chondrocytes were treated with Res‐BSP. (p < 0.05, compared with OA‐like chondrocytes). Finally, we elucidated the role of Res‐BSP in EOA in suppressing COX‐2 and activating p‐Smad 2/3 and p‐Erk1/2. We believe that the combination of Res and BSP has great potential as an alternative therapeutic strategy for EOA treatment in future.
Prognostic models for early and late tumor progression prediction in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: An analysis of 8292 endemic cases
Authors: Zhang Lu‐Lu , Zheng Wei‐hong , Zhu Wei‐jie , Deng Qi‐Ling , Peng Jun‐Ling , Li Yi‐Yang , Sun Ying , Lin Li 
Published: October 2022

AbstractObjectivesThe time for posttreatment tumor progression differs between nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Herein, we established effective nomograms for predicting early tumor progression (ETP) and late tumor progression (LTP) in NPC patients.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 8292 NPC patients (training cohort: n = 6219; validation cohort: n = 2073). The ELP and LTP were defined as the time to tumor progression ≤24 and >24 months after treatment, respectively.ResultsThe ETP and LTP accounted for 52.6 and 47.4% of the total patient cohort, respectively. Patients who developed ETP had markedly worse overall survival (OS) versus patients who suffered from LTP (5‐year OS: 26.2% vs. 59.7%, p < 0.001). Further, we identified 10/6 predictive factors significantly associated with ETP/LTP via logistic regression analyses. These indicators were used separately to construct two predictive nomograms for ETP and LTP. In the training group, the ETP nomogram [Harrell Concordance Index (C‐index) value: 0.711 vs. 0.618; p < 0.001] and LTP nomogram (C‐index value: 0.701 vs. 0.612; p < 0.001) were significantly superior for risk stratification than the TNM staging. These results were supported in the validation group with a C‐index value of 0.753 and 0.738 for the ETP and LTP nomograms, respectively. High‐risk patients defined by ETP/LTP nomograms had shorter progression‐free survival than low‐risk patients (all p < 0.001).ConclusionThe established nomograms can help in ELP or LTP risk stratification for NPC patients. Our current results might also provide insights into individualized treatment decisions and designing surveillance strategies for NPC patients.
Promotional Role of Oxygen Vacancy Defects and Cu−Ce Interfacial Sites on the Activity of Cu/CeO2 Catalyst for CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol
Authors: Singh Rajan , Pandey Vaibhav , Pant Kamal Kishore 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDevelopment of novel catalyst for CO2 conversion to methanol is still a challenge. A series of Cu/CeO2 catalyst were prepared by changing the synthesis procedure. The Cu/CeO2 catalyst were prepared by co‐precipitation, surfactant‐assisted co‐precipitation, and sol‐gel methods for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol are documented. The performance of these catalysts was evaluated to elucidate the role of catalytic properties. The Cu/CeO2 catalyst synthesized by the sol‐gel (Cu/CeO2−SG) method exhibited superior strong basic site density, Cu dispersion, and oxygen vacancy defects than co‐precipitation method. A correlation between strong basic site density, oxygen vacancies, and methanol space time yield was established. Moreover, the promotional role of Cu−Ce interfacial sites on the reduced Cu4t/CeO2(111) cluster in CO2 adsorption and activation has been reported by the DFT calculation. These experimental and theoretical results provide insights into Cu‐CeO2 interaction and role of metal‐support interactions in the CO2 hydrogenation reaction.
The Role of Dual Vacancies in TiO2 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation and Pollutants Removal
Authors: Liu Shasha , Lu Lun , Zhu Chao , Fang Qile , Song Shuang , Zheng Yong , Shen. Yi 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe mechanism of TiO2 with Ti vacancy and O vacancy in photocatalytic hydrogen production is unknown. Herein, TiO2 with three types of vacancies was constructed. It was found that DV‐Ti‐3O containing both O vacancies and Ti vacancies had the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production of 12.42 mmol ⋅ g−1 ⋅ h−1 twice that of SV‐Ti, where the O vacancy acted as an emitter providing a directional path for the migration of photogenerated electrons and provided the adsorption sites for water molecules, while the introduction of Ti vacancies took the role as electron traps to collect more electrons for hydrogen proton reduction. DV‐Ti‐3O achieved ultra‐fast migration of electronics from O vacancies to Ti vacancies and created ideas for defective engineering of non‐precious metal catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production and organic pollutants removal.
Studies towards the Synthesis of (+)‐Dictyoxetane
Authors: Benford‐Ward Joseph , Ahmadipour Sanaz , Sembayeva Aliya , Male Louise , Grainger Richard S. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe dolabellane‐type diterpene dictyoxetane represents a significant challenge to synthetic organic chemistry. Methodology directed towards the total synthesis of naturally occurring (+)‐dictyoxetane is reported. Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the trans‐hydrindane ring system is achieved through chemoselective deoxygenation of the Hajos‐Parrish ketone. An alternative to the Garst‐Spencer furan annulation is developed for the synthesis of a 2,5‐dimethyl, tetrasubstituted furan, employing a tandem 5‐exo‐dig alcohol to alkyne cyclisation/aromatisation reaction as a key step. The (4+3) cycloaddition reaction of an oxyallyl cation with a tetrasubstituted furan is established on a cyclohexanone‐derived model system, and a range of related (4+3) cycloadditions investigated on a homochiral, trans‐hydrindane‐fused furan, where regio‐ and diastereoselectivity is required for the natural product synthesis. In an alternative (4+2) Diels‐Alder approach, a C2‐symmetric vinyl sulfoxide‐based chiral ketene equivalent is used to prepare oxanorbornenes with the same oxygen bridge stereochemistry found in the 2,7‐dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.03,8]nonane ring system of the natural product.
Hydrothermal synthesis of chiral carbon dots
Authors: Visheratina Anastasia , Hesami Leila , Wilson Ashleigh K. , Baalbaki Nicole , Noginova Natalia , Noginov Mikhail A. , Kotov Nicholas A. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractNanocolloids that are cumulatively referred to as nanocarbons, attracted significant attention during the last decade because of facile synthesis methods, water solubility, tunable photoluminescence, easy surface modification, and high biocompatibility. Among the latest development in this reserach area are chiral nanocarbons exemplified by chiral carbon dots (CDots). They are expected to have applications in sensing, catalysis, imaging, and nanomedicine. However, the current methods of CDots synthesis show often contradictory chemical/optical properties and structural information that required a systematic study with careful structural evaluation. Here, we investigate and optimize chiroptical activity and photoluminescence of L‐ and D‐CDots obtained by hydrothermal carbonization of L‐ and D‐cysteine, respectively. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrates that they are formed via gradual dehydrogenation and condensation reactions of the starting amino acid leading to particles with a wide spectrum of functional groups including aromatic cycles. We found that the chiroptical activity of CDots has an inverse correlation with the synthesis duration and temperature, whereas the photoluminescence intensity has a direct one, which is associated with degree of carbonization. Also, our studies show that the hydrothermal synthesis of cysteine in the presence of boric acid leads to the formation of CDots rather than boron nitride nanoparticles as was previously proposed in several reports. These results can be used to design chiral carbon‐based nanoparticles with optimal chemical, chiroptical, and photoluminescent properties.
Chiroptical spectroscopic studies for the absolute configuration determination of hexahydrocurcumin and octahydrocurcumin
Authors: Puente Andrew R. , Nagabhushanam Kalyanam , Ganjihal Savita , Majeed Muhammed , Polavarapu Prasad L. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractHexahydrocurcumin (HHC) and octahydrocurcumin (OHC) were synthesized, and their enantiomers were separated using supercritical fluid chromatography. The absolute configurations (ACs) of HHC and OHC were independently determined using experimental measurements and quantum theoretical predictions of vibrational circular dichroism, electronic circular dichroism, and optical rotatory dispersion. These studies lead to AC assignments of (−)‐(R)‐HHC and (+)‐(R,R)‐OHC. The AC of OHC is further confirmed by its structure determined from single crystal x‐ray diffraction.
Efficient mineralization of sugar industry wastewater by catalytic wet air oxidation as an eco‐friendly method and its kinetic modelling
Authors: Tekin Gülen , Ersöz Gülin , Atalay Süheyda 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIn this study, catalytic wet air oxidation using lanthanum cobalt oxide (LaCoO3) as catalyst was employed for the efficient treatment of synthetic sugar industry wastewater in a single process. A parametric study was performed to determine the optimum conditions. The results showed that reaction temperature and theoretical air percentage were the most effective parameters. Sugar derivatives were almost completely destroyed at the optimum conditions and total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals were determined as 91% and 87%, respectively, indicating a high mineralization degree, which was the main goal of advanced oxidation. The reaction kinetics were investigated by pseudo‐homogeneous and heterogeneous models based on two different parameters: sucrose and TOC concentration. The degree of fit showed that the reaction order was determined as two for the pseudo‐homogeneous approach. According to the surface concentration calculations for heterogeneous models, the presence of mass transfer limitations was only observed for oxygen as gas reactant. All heterogeneous models also fitted the reaction rate data accurately, but the Mars–van Krevelen was the selected model for sucrose and TOC oxidation with the best fit.
Hybrid Androgen Receptor Inhibitors Outperform Enzalutamide and EPI‐001 in in vitro Models of Prostate Cancer Drug Resistance
Authors: Nicolescu Radu Costin Bizga , Maylin Zoe R. , Pérez‐Areales Francisco Javier , Iegre Jessica , Pandha Hardev S. , Asim Mohammad , Spring David R. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAndrogen receptor targeted therapies for prostate cancer have serious limitations in advanced stages of the disease. While resistance to the FDA‐approved enzalutamide is extensively documented, novel therapies based on epichlorohydrin scaffolds (EPI) are currently in clinical trials, but display suboptimal pharmacokinetics. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological characterisation of a novel class of compounds designed through covalently linking enzalutamide and EPI‐001 through various triazole based linkers. The compounds display an 18 to 53 fold improvement in the cell killing potency towards C4‐2b prostate cancer (PCa) cells compared to the gold standards of therapy, enzalutamide and EPI‐001. The most promising compounds were proven to exhibit their toxicity exclusively through androgen receptor (AR) mediated pathways. This work sets the basis for the first class of hybrid AR inhibitors which successfully combine two drug moieties – EPI‐001 and enzalutamide – into the same molecule.
A review of judicial enforcement of arbitral awards in South Africa
Authors: Baboolal‐Frank Rashri 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThis article postulates the constitutional ethos of upholding contracts entered between parties on the principle of good faith in practice. This is aligned to the international principle of respecting party autonomy between parties in court. A party cannot easily negate upon a contract that stipulates that a dispute must be referred to arbitration and furthermore that the arbitration award is binding upon the parties and not subject to appeal. This article aims to discuss that there is judicial enforcement of arbitral awards in South African courts. There is no distinction between national and international enforcement of arbitral awards. The principle of party autonomy is the cornerstone of the enforcement of arbitral awards. From a South Africa perspective, both national and international legislation supports the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards. This article elucidates the intricacies of the enforcement of arbitral awards and the protection of party's interests to the proceedings. This article explores the consequences of the antithetical approach to arbitration agreements and proceedings. The judiciary's practice is to uphold the contractual principle of consensus between the parties, as opposed to allowing parties to walk away from awards on frivolous reasons and renegading upon contractual terms.
Presence of β2‐agonist growth promoters in human urine samples: GC‐MS/MS evaluation of the excretion profiles of ractopamine administered in microdoses
Authors: Ayotte Christiane , Couture Maxime , Lalonde Karine , Charlebois Alain 
Published: October 2022

Abstractβ2‐adrenergic agonists having the potential to be misused to enhance performance for their thermogenic and anabolic properties are prohibited in sports. Clenbuterol, ractopamine and zilpaterol are utilised legally or illegally as growth promoters of animals raised for their meat. No withdrawal times are imposed for ractopamine prior to slaughter; residues are detected in meat of treated animals, which constitutes a risk of inadvertent consumption. Insufficient information is available on the fate of ractopamine in humans to implement efficient detection in athletes' urine samples. We have developed a confirmation procedure for total ractopamine in urine following the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucuronides and sulphates and the conversion to tri‐TMS derivative (limit of identification at 0.15 ng/ml). The sulphates were found to form between 85% to 97% of ractopamine excreted in athletes' urine samples analysed routinely or in volunteers following the administration of a micro‐dose of 2.5 μg. Peak levels were reached at 2 to 6 h and decreased rapidly below 1 ng/ml 10 h after dosing. With one exception, the highest level estimated in athletes' samples was 1.2 ng/ml. Zilpaterol was confirmed in a few urine samples collected in the USA and Mexico (highest level 2 ng/ml), while hundreds of athletes' samples were reported to contain clenbuterol by our laboratory over the past 7 years. Most of these cases originated from Mexico (n = 102) and Guatemala (n = 119), often clustered in events during which multiple samples were collected, and for the vast majority, in levels lower than 0.2 ng/ml.
The lunar nodal phase cycle and winter atmospheric pressure as possible determinants of moth abundance: Analyses of a 30‐year time series from South Norway
Authors: Selås Vidar , Kobro Sverre 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAccording to the plant stress hypothesis, population peaks of herbivores such as moths are caused by plant stress factors that force plants to reallocate stored defensive proteins to transportable and easily digestive N‐compounds. A suggested plant stress factor is ionization caused by cosmic ray muons, which are modulated by the 9.3‐year lunar nodal phase cycle, solar activity, and atmospheric pressure. Vascular plants are more sensitive to ionization than are bryophytes, and woody plants are more sensitive than are herbaceous plants, but the difference may be less during dormancy in winter. We selected the 14 most common moth species from a 30‐year light‐trapping study in southern Norway to test whether the fluctuation patterns of species from three different feeding guilds were correlated with lunar/solar cycles, or with atmospheric pressure in winter, when muon fluxes are higher than in other seasons. The population indices of three species feeding on deciduous woody plants were positively correlated with the lunar nodal phase index, and there was a similar tendency for the remaining three species. No positive correlations with the lunar index were found for species feeding on herbs or mosses. For nine species, that is, from all three guilds, there was a significant negative correlation between the population index and winter atmospheric pressure in the previous year. The results are in accordance with predictions deduced from the cosmic ray hypothesis, but thorough investigations of the proposed physiological mechanisms are needed for the hypothesis to be widely accepted.
Reuse of nests in the Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus: A behavior to save time and energy and to deter nest parasites?
Authors: Mérő Thomas Oliver , Žuljević Antun , Kolykhanova Olga , Lengyel Szabolcs 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe reproductive period in animals is a demanding part in their life history. In birds, environmental factors, such as adverse weather, predation, or brood parasitism; and/or anthropogenic disturbance, can limit breeding success, resulting in failure of clutches. The nest loss in open‐cup nesting passerines is usually replaced with a new nest with a new clutch, however, in some cases the clutch replacement may occur in unusual forms. In this study, we report on three cases of within‐season nest reuse in the Great Reed Warbler. In the first case, a nest was reused for two times in the same season after unsuccessful nesting attempts (two‐time nest reuse). After the nest was depredated the first time, the female laid new eggs that were depredated again, then again the female laid new eggs that produced four fledglings. In the second case, the first clutch was depredated, after which the female laid a new clutch in the same nest that was again depredated. In the third case, the female laid new eggs among the eggs that failed to hatch previously. Our observations tend not to be consistent with the predator avoidance hypothesis because the depredated nests were reused by the parents. The time/energy saving hypothesis or possible deterrence of nest parasitism could explain nest reuse in this study, but because of low number of nests reused compared to the total number of nests found, this phenomenon needs further clarification.