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Green wheat protein is rich in nutritional value and is a high-quality vegetable protein. In this paper, the composition, structure and functional properties of green wheat protein were investigated. Albumin (60.1%), globulin (3.7%), gliadin (2.9%) and glutenin (33.3%) were isolated from green wheat. The content of essential amino acids in all four proteins was hig her than the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recommended value for adults. The results of circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that β-sheet was the main ordered structure in green wheat protein isolates, gliadin had the highest content of ordered structure. In addition, albumin and gliadin had relatively compact structures and high thermal stability. The glutenin and globulin had poor thermal stability due to their loose and porous structure, but the cross-linking and aggregation between glutenins were beneficial to improve thermal stability. The rheological results showed that the four protein isolate solutions exhibited typical shear thinning behavior in the shear rate range, the apparent viscosity was lower at high shear rate and low temperature (< 40 °C), while shear rate and temperature had relatively weak effects on the fluidity of gliadin solution. This study provided a theoretical basis for the development of green wheat protein as a new type of plant-derived protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct evidence of intense chemical weathering induced by volcanism is rare in sedimentary successions. Here, we undertake a multiproxy analysis (including organic carbon isotopes, mercury (Hg) concentrations and isotopes, chemical index of alteration (CIA), and clay minerals) of two well-dated Triassic–Jurassic (T–J) boundary sections representing high- and low/middle-paleolatitude sites. Both sections show increasing CIA in association with Hg peaks near the T–J boundary. We interpret these results as reflecting volcanism-induced intensification of continental chemical weathering, which is also supported by negative mass-independent fractionation (MIF) of odd Hg isotopes. The interval of enhanced chemical weathering persisted for ~2 million years, which is consistent with carbon-cycle model results of the time needed to drawdown excess atmospheric CO2 following a carbon release event. Lastly, these data also demonstrate that high-latitude continental settings are more sensitive than low/middle-latitude sites to shifts in weathering intensity during climatic warming events. The work shows that volcanic-related elevated continental chemical weathering could have played a significant role in global environmental perturbations during the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is sparse research reporting effective interventions for preventing nausea and emesis caused by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Methods: Treatment-naïve LA-HNSCC patients received intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concomitant cisplatin 100 mg/m2 (33 mg/m2/days [d]1–3) every 3 weeks for two cycles. All patients were given oral aprepitant 125 mg once on d1, then 80 mg once on d2–5; ondansetron 8 mg once on d1; and dexamethasone 12 mg once on d1, then 8 mg on d2–5. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR). Pursuant to δ = 0.2 and α = 0.05, the expected CR rate was 80%. Results: A total of 43 patients with LA-HNSCC were enrolled. The median age was 53 years, and 86.0% were male. All patients received radiotherapy and 86.0% of patients completed both cycles as planned. The overall CR rate was 86.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 72.1–94.7). The CR rates for cycles 1 and 2 were 88.4% (95% CI: 74.9–96.1) and 89.2% (95% CI: 74.6–97.0). The complete protection rate in the overall phase was 72.1% (95% CI: 56.3–84.7). The emesis-free and nausea-free responses in the overall phase were 88.4% (95% CI: 74.9–96.1) and 60.5% (95% CI: 44.4–75.0), respectively. The adverse events related to antiemetics were constipation (65.1%) and hiccups (16.3%), but both were grade 1–2. There was no grade 4 or 5 treatment-related toxicity with antiemetic usage. Conclusion: The addition of aprepitant into ondansetron and dexamethasone provided effective protection from nausea and emesis in patients with LA-HNSCC receiving radiotherapy and concomitant high-dose cisplatin chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct evidence of intense chemical weathering induced by volcanism is rare in sedimentary successions. Here, we undertake a multiproxy analysis (including organic carbon isotopes, mercury (Hg) concentrations and isotopes, chemical index of alteration (CIA), and clay minerals) of two well-dated Triassic–Jurassic (T–J) boundary sections representing high- and low/middle-paleolatitude sites. Both sections show increasing CIA in association with Hg peaks near the T–J boundary. We interpret these results as reflecting volcanism-induced intensification of continental chemical weathering, which is also supported by negative mass-independent fractionation (MIF) of odd Hg isotopes. The interval of enhanced chemical weathering persisted for ~2 million years, which is consistent with carbon-cycle model results of the time needed to drawdown excess atmospheric CO2 following a carbon release event. Lastly, these data also demonstrate that high-latitude continental settings are more sensitive than low/middle-latitude sites to shifts in weathering intensity during climatic warming events. The work shows that volcanic-related elevated continental chemical weathering could have played a significant role in global environmental perturbations during the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of thermal pretreatment on the active sites and catalytic performances of PtSn/SiO catalyst in acetic acid (AcOH) hydrogenation was investigated in this article. The catalysts were characterized by N physical adsorption, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, pyridine Fourier-transform infrared spectra, and H-O titration on its physicochemical properties. The results showed that Pt species were formed primarily in crystalline structure and no PtSn alloy was observed. Meanwhile, with the increment of thermal pretreatment temperature, Pt dispersion showed a decreasing trend due to the aggregation of Pt particles. Simultaneously, the amount of Lewis acid sites was remarkably influenced by such thermal pretreatment owning to the consequent physicochemical property variation of Sn species. Interestingly, the catalytic activity showed the similar variation trend with that of Lewis acid sites, confirming the important roles of Lewis acid sites in AcOH hydrogenation. Moreover, a balancing effect between exposed Pt and Lewis acid sites was obtained, resulting in the superior catalytic performance in AcOH hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed associations of demographic, psychosocial, and substance use factors with seroadaptation strategies among 835 BMSM in four US cities. Seroadaptation strategies were practiced by 59.8 % of men, with 10.5 % practicing 100 % condom use, 26.5 % serosorting, 7.2 % condom serosorting, and 15.6 % seropositioning. In multivariable analyses, compared to men who used no seroadaptation strategies, serosorters were older, were less likely to be HIV infected, had fewer male sex partners, and had higher levels of social support and sexual self-efficacy. Condom serosorters had less psychological distress, were more likely to use methamphetamine, and had higher levels of sexual self-efficacy. Seropositioners were older, were less likely to be HIV infected, to have a main partner, and report alcohol/drug use with sex, while having higher levels of sexual self-efficacy. Seroadaptation practices among BMSM need to be considered to address perceived safer sex strategies and strengthen access to a broader reach of culturally-relevant prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The authors compared definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with definitive conventional radiotherapy (2D-RT) in cervical oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (CESCC). Materials and methods: A total of 101 patients with CESCC treated with definitive radiotherapy from January 2001 to April 2012 were analysed. 37 patients were irradiated using 2D-RT, whereas 64 cases were treated using IMRT. Results: The median follow-up time was 15.5 months for all the patients. For all patients, the overall 2-year local failure-free survival (LFFS), regional failure-free survival (RFFS), and overall survival (OS) rate was 67.4, 85.2 and 46.2 %, respectively. The 2-year LFFS rate and the 2-year RFFS rate in the IMRT group were higher than the 2D-RT group, although no statistically significant difference was observed in LFFS and RFFS. No statistically significant difference was observed in overall survival (OS) between the groups. Compared with 2D-RT, the rate of grade 3 dysphagia after radiotherapy was lower (6.3 vs. 8.1 %) and none had hypothyroidism requiring lifelong thyroxine replacement in the IMRT group. Matched-cases analysis did not show a statistical difference in terms of LFFS, RFFS and OS between the groups. Conclusions: Although no statistically significant difference was observed in OS, LFFS and RFFS between the IMRT group and the 2D-RT group, the incidence of late toxicity declined using IMRT, thereby resulting in an improved therapeutic ratio for patients with CESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]