bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of decoy oligodeoxynucleotides strategy for inhibition of cell growth and reduction of metastatic properties in nonresistant and erlotinib‐resistant SW480 cell line
Authors: Asadi Zoleykha , Fathi Mojtaba , Rismani Elham , Bigdelou Zahra , Johari Behrooz 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSignal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a critical regulator for angiogenesis, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and drug resistance. Resistance toward EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibitors is a significant clinical concern for metastatic colon cancer patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the blocking influences of STAT3 decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on the STAT3 survival signaling pathway in nonresistant and erlotinib‐resistant SW480 colon cancer cells. First, STAT3 decoy and scramble ODNs were designed according to STAT3 elements in the promoter region of MYCT1 gene and tested for the interaction of STAT3 protein with designed ODNs via in silico molecular docking study. Then, the efficiency of transfection and subcellular localization of ODNs were assessed using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis tests, scratch and colony formation assays, and real‐time PCR were also used to study the cancerous properties of cells. A considerable decrease in proliferation of colon cancer cells was observed with blockade of STAT3 signaling due to cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis via downregulation of cyclin D1 and Bcl‐XL, respectively. Furthermore, upon transfecting STAT3 decoy ODNs, colony formation potential and migration activity in both SW480 colon cancer cell lines were decreased compared to the control groups. From this study, it could be concluded that STAT3 is critical for cell growth inhibition and metastatic properties reduction of resistant SW480 colon cancer cells; therefore, STAT3 decoy ODNs could be considered as potential therapeutics along with current remedies for treating drug‐resistant colon cancer.
Optimization and Preparation of a Gel Polymer Electrolyte Membrane for Supercapacitors
Authors: Yang Wei , Li Linlin , Zhang Biao , Yang Qianyun , Zou Hanbo , Zheng Wenzhi , Chen Shengzhou 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSupercapacitors have great potential in the hybrid fuel automobile market because of their high power density and fast charge and discharge, in which the working electrolyte of supercapacitors is the key to determine their performance. Optimization and preparations of poly(vinylidene difluoride)‐hexafluoropropylene/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PVDF‐HFP/PMMA) gel polymer electrolyte membranes for supercapacitors based on Design Expert 8.0 software are described. The range of conditions is determined by monofactor analysis. The optimal preparation conditions are obtained by response surface simulation optimization.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Non‐invasive Study of Hydrodynamics Inside Gas‐Liquid Taylor Flows
Authors: Kemper Philip , Küstermann Ekkehard , Dreher Wolfgang , Helmers Thorben , Mießner Ulrich , Besser Benjamin , Thöming Jorg 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMultiphase flows are of major importance in today's industrial processes as many products originate from gas‐liquid reactions. The hydrodynamics within the wake behind the bubbles is essential as product selectivity is determined by the residence times in these mixing zones. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a wide range of options for the investigation of multiphase flows. Here, non‐invasive MRI flow measurements of buoyancy‐driven N2 Taylor bubbles, spatially fixed inside a countercurrent flow of water, are performed. An experimental setup is presented, enabling the generation of Taylor bubbles inside a horizontal bore MRI scanner. Furthermore, a suitable MRI sequence allowing a time‐dependent analysis of the present flow field is described. The obtained MRI results are qualitatively compared to PIV images acquired in the same setup.
Regioselective B—H/C—H Bond Activation at Azo‐Substituted Carboranes Induced by Half‐Sandwich Iridium(III) Complex
Authors: Cui Peng‐Fei , Gao Yang , Guo Shu‐Ting , Jin Guo‐Xin 
Published: December 2020

Main observation and conclusionWe report herein a practical approach for regio‐selective B—H/C—H bond activation at azo‐substituted carboranes. The reaction proceeded through Iridium(III)‐induced selective B—H/C—H bond activations based on an azo directing group. Through this strategy, a series of mononuclear, trinuclear and tetranuclear cyclometalated iridium complexes containing Cp*Ir—B or Cp*Ir—C bonds were successfully isolated in a high yield. In this work, efficient routes are developed through one‐pot reactions to prepare polynuclear organometallic complexes.
A comparative analysis of cone photoreceptor morphology in bowhead and beluga whales
Authors: Smith Matthew A. , Waugh David A. , McBurney Denise L. , George John C. , Suydam Robert S. , Thewissen Johannes G. M. , Crish Samuel D. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe cetacean visual system is a product of selection pressures favoring underwater vision, yet relatively little is known about it across taxa. Previous studies report several mutations in the opsin genetic sequence in cetaceans, suggesting the evolutionary complete or partial loss of retinal cone photoreceptor function in mysticete and odontocete lineages, respectively. Despite this, limited anatomical evidence suggests cone structures are partially maintained but with absent outer and inner segments in the bowhead retina. The functional consequence and anatomical distributions associated with these unique cone morphologies remain unclear. The current study further investigates the morphology and distribution of cone photoreceptors in the bowhead whale and beluga retina and evaluates the potential functional capacity of these cells' alternative to photoreception. Refined histological and advanced microscopic techniques revealed two additional cone morphologies in the bowhead and beluga retina that have not been previously described. Two proteins involved in magnetosensation were present in these cone structures suggesting the possibility for an alternative functional role in responding to changes in geomagnetic fields. These findings highlight a revised understanding of the unique evolution of cone and gross retinal anatomy in cetaceans, and provide prefatory evidence of potential functional reassignment of these cells.
Unmanned surface vessel obstacle avoidance with prior knowledge‐based reward shaping
Authors: Wang Wei , Luo Xiangfeng , Li Yang , Xie Shaorong 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAutonomous obstacle avoidance control of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in complex marine environments is always fundamental for its scientific search and detection. Traditional methods usually model USV motion and environments in a mathematical way that needs perceptual information. Unfortunately, it is difficult to provide sufficient perceptual information due to complex marine environments, resulting in inaccurate modeling. Reinforcement learning has recently enjoyed increasing popularity in the problem of obstacle avoidance since it can settle problems by partially observable environment information. However, the autonomous USV obstacle avoidance using reinforcement learning is still facing the challenge of designing appropriate reward functions under complex marine environments. To address these issues, we propose a prior knowledge‐based USV reinforcement learning obstacle avoidance algorithm. In this algorithm, an actor‐critic network is used as the main architecture of the algorithm, and prior knowledge‐based reward shaping used to design relevant reward function for USV obstacle avoidance. A standard USV based on a visual sensor is designed, and the state input of the algorithm is through USV's front vision sensor. We conducted simulation experiments and results prove that our algorithm can effectively converge, and USV achieves high velocity and low collision rate in the complex marine environment.
Excited‐State Evolution of Keto‐Carotenoids after Excess Energy Excitation in the UV Region
Authors: Khan Tuhin , Litvín Radek , Šebelík Václav , Polívka Tomáš 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCarotenoids are molecules with rich photophysics that are in many biological systems involved in photoprotection. Yet, their response to excess energy excitation is only scarcely studied. Here we have explored excited state properties of three keto‐carotenoids, echinenone, canthaxanthin and rhodoxanthin after excess energy excitation to a singlet state absorbing in UV. Though the basic spectral features and kinetics of S2, hot S1, relaxed S1 states remain unchanged upon UV excitation, the clear increase of the S* signal is observed after excess energy excitation, associated with increased S* lifetime. A multiple origin of the S* signal, originating either from specific conformations in the S1 state or from a non‐equilibrated ground state, is confirmed in this work. We propose that the increased amount of energy stored in molecular vibrations, induced by the UV excitation, is the reason for the enhanced S* signal observed after UV excitation. Our data also suggest that a fraction of the UV excited state population may proceed through a non‐sequential pathway, bypassing the S2 state.
Hepatic angiomyolipoma with predominant epithelioid component: Diagnostic clues on aspiration and core needle biopsies
Authors: De la Sancha Carlo , Khan Shahbaz , Alruwaii Fatimah , Cramer Harvey , Saxena Romil 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that belongs to the perivascular epithelioid tumor family. Though it is characteristically, a triphasic tumor composed of smooth muscle, blood vessels, and adipocytes, the smooth muscle cells are often epithelioid and can represent the near‐entirety of the tumor. A HAML composed predominantly of epithelioid smooth muscle cells occurring in the liver presents significant diagnostic challenges as many liver tumors are composed of large epithelioid cells. Furthermore, even if the tumor is not composed predominantly of epithelioid smooth muscle cells, this may be the only component present in a fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy. A 38‐year‐old female with a 3 month history of abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea was found to have a 12 cm right hepatic lobe mass. FNA biopsy revealed a moderately cellular specimen composed of plump epithelioid cells with indistinct cell borders, low N:C ratio, round to oval nuclei, fine chromatin, occasional nucleoli, and abundant vacuolated to fibrillary cytoplasm. Rare intranuclear inclusions and occasional foamy macrophages were noted. Concurrent core biopsy revealed large polygonal cells with eccentric nuclei and clear, vacuolated to granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm that stained strongly for HMB45, confirming the diagnosis of HAML. Because HAML is a rare tumor, this diagnosis can be easily overlooked; cognizance of the typical cytologic, histologic, and immunophenotypic findings is crucial to establishing a diagnosis.
Loss of Grhl3 is correlated with altered cellular protrusions in the non‐neural ectoderm during neural tube closure
Authors: Jaffe Eric , Niswander Lee 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe transcription factor Grainyhead‐like 3 (GRHL3) has multiple roles in a variety of tissues during development including epithelial patterning and actin cytoskeletal regulation. During neural tube closure (NTC) in the mouse embryo, GRHL3 is expressed and functions in the non‐neural ectoderm (NNE). Two important functions of GRHL3 are regulating the actin cytoskeleton during NTC and regulating the boundary between the NNE and neural ectoderm. However, an open question that remains is whether these functions explain the caudally restricted neural tube defect (NTD) of spina bifida observed in Grhl3 mutants.ResultsUsing scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence based imaging on Grhl3 mutants and wildtype controls, we show that GRHL3 is dispensable for NNE identity or epithelial maintenance in the caudal NNE but is needed for regulation of cellular protrusions during NTC. Grhl3 mutants have decreased lamellipodia relative to wildtype embryos during caudal NTC, first observed at the onset of delays when lamellipodia become prominent in wildtype embryos. At the axial level of NTD, half of the mutants show increased and disorganized filopodia and half lack cellular protrusions.ConclusionThese data suggest that altered cellular protrusions during NTC contribute to the etiology of NTD in Grhl3 mutants.
Environmental stress gradients regulate the relative importance of predator density‐ and trait‐mediated indirect effects in oyster reef communities
Authors: Pruett Jessica L. , Weissburg Marc J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPredators affect community structure by influencing prey density and traits, but the importance of these effects often is difficult to predict. We measured the strength of blue crab predator effects on mud crab prey consumption of juvenile oysters across a flow gradient that inflicts both physical and sensory stress to determine how the relative importance of top predator density‐mediated indirect effects (DMIEs) and trait‐mediated indirect effects (TMIEs) change within systems. Overall, TMIEs dominated in relatively benign flow conditions where blue crab predator cues increased oyster survivorship by reducing mud crab–oyster consumption. Blue crab DMIEs became more important in high sensory stress conditions, which impaired mud crab perception of blue crab chemical cues. At high physical stress, the environment benefitted oyster survival by physically constraining mud crabs. Thus, factors that structure communities may be predicted based on an understanding of how physical and sensory performances change across environmental stress gradients.
Abundance of montane salamanders over an elevational gradient
Authors: Hocking Daniel J. , Crawford John A. , Peterman William E. , Milanovich Joseph R. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractClimate change is expected to systematically alter the distribution and population dynamics of species around the world. The effects are expected to be particularly strong at high latitudes and elevations, and for ectothermic species with small ranges and limited movement potential, such as salamanders in the southern Appalachian Mountains. In this study, we sought to establish baseline abundance estimates for plethodontid salamanders (family: Plethodontidae) over an elevational gradient in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In addition to generating these baseline data for multiple species, we describe methods for surveying salamanders that allow for meaningful comparisons over time by separating observation and ecological processes generating the data. We found that Plethodon jordani had a mid‐elevation peak (1,500 m) in abundance and Desmognathus wrighti increased in abundance with elevation up to the highest areas of the park (2025 m), whereas Eurycea wilderae increased in abundance up to 1,600 m and then plateaued with increasing uncertainty. Litter depth, herbaceous ground cover, and proximity to stream were also important predictors of abundance (dependent upon species), whereas daily temperature, precipitation, ground cover, and humidity influenced detection rates. Our data provide some of the first minimally biased information for future studies to assess changes in the abundance and distribution of salamanders in this region. Understanding abundance patterns along with detailed baseline distributions will be critical for comparisons with future surveys to understand the population and community‐level effects of climate change on montane salamanders.
Simulative investigation of hybrid force and position control for electromechanical feed axes in production machines
Authors: Sewohl André , Norberger Manuel , Schlegel Holger , Putz Matthias 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn the area of production engineering, there are several ongoing efforts to improve manufacturing strategies and processes in terms of stability, quality, and efficiency. Control of process forces is one such appropriate measure for ensuring stable process conditions. This can also ensure in reducing the number of parts rejected due to bad quality and thus aiding as a significant economic benefit. However, control of process forces in production machines with electromechanical feed axes is still a developing field and offers space for potential improvement. Control concepts at the process level, which enable a combination of force control and position control still need to be developed. The concept of hybrid force and position control is presented in this article as a possible approach. Different methods of implementation along with the effects are examined in the simulation. A reduced‐order model of an electromechanical feed axis is used for this purpose. The potential of the hybrid force and position control as well as the limits and possible applications are explained based on the simulation results.
A novel model for calculating critical droplet entrainment rate of gas well considering droplet deformation and multiple parameters
Authors: Xiao Heng , Li Xiao‐Ping , Tan Xiao‐Hua , Li Jinhan , Han Chong , Xiao Hang , Han Zongzhi , Cao Lina 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWhen a spherical droplet moves parallel to the direction of motion of its surrounding gas medium, it will deform into an ellipsoidal droplet. In this paper, an exposition of a novel model for predicting the minimum flow rate for the continuous removal of liquids from gas wells based on two theories is presented. First, droplet breakup principle is utilized to microscopically obtain the maximum size parameters of ellipsoidal droplets, and second, droplet force equilibrium is adopted to macroscopically calculate the critical droplet entrainment rate. Moreover, effect of variations in the windward area (attributed to droplet deformation) on the drag coefficient is determined. Impacts of variations in pressure, temperature, and pipe diameter on the gas‐liquid two‐phase friction resistance and gas‐liquid surface tension are also considered. For model verification and comparison with other droplet entrainment models, field data from 3436 gas wells are utilized. The field data well validates the results with a 92% accuracy, indicating that the new model has a better comprehensive performance in determining whether or not a gas well is loaded. Besides, parameter sensitivity analyses including the effects of drag coefficient, surface tension, and friction coefficient on the minimum flow rate of gas are performed. Finally, the relationship curve of critical droplet entrainment rates corresponding to different pressures and pipe diameters is established.
Analysis of rill step–pool morphology and its comparison with stream case
Authors: Pampalone V. , Di Stefano C. , Nicosia A. , Palmeri V. , Ferro V. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this paper, the morphology of step–pool features is analysed using rill measurements and literature data for streams. Close‐range photogrammetry was used to carry out ground measurements on rills with step–pool units, shaped on a plot having slope equal to 14, 15, 22, 24 and 26%. Data were used to compare the relationships between H/L, in which H is the step height and L is the step length, and the mean gradient of the step–pool sequence, Sm, for streams or the slope of the step–pool unit, S, for rills. The relationship of H/L against Sm is widely used to test the occurrence of the maximum flow resistance condition in streams, which is associated with the range 1 ≤ (H/L)/Sm ≤ 2. Further analyses were carried out to compare both the formation process and the profile of the pool in rills with those related to streams. Moreover, for a single rill channel, an analysis of flow characteristics expressed in terms of Darcy–Weisbach friction factor and Froude number was developed. The results allowed us to state: (i) the relationships of H/L versus Sm and S are quite similar and the steepness ratio for streams, (H/L)/Sm, and for rills, (H/L)/S, generally ranges from 1 to 2; (ii) the formation process and the profile of the pool in rills are not consistent with those occurring in streams; (iii) in the rills, the longitudinal size of the pool is dominant with respect to the maximum scour depth; (iv) the presence of a sequence of step–pool units within a rill segment noticeably increases flow resistance compared to segments with a flat bed; (v) the Froude number of the flow over the sequence of step–pool units in rills is slightly below the range of 0.8–1 corresponding to the maximum flow resistance in step–pool units.
Single nucleotide polymorphism array and cytogenetic analyses of ovarian teratomas in children
Authors: Shao Lina , Heider Amer , Rabah Raja 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTeratomas are the most common tumors in the ovary during childhood. Previous studies suggested that they may be derived from germ cells at any developmental stage from premeiotic oogonia through meiotic oocytes to post‐meiotic ova. The majority of mature teratomas reveal normal karyotypes and immature teratomas show higher frequency of chromosomal abnormalities. We analyzed fresh tissue samples from 25 primary ovarian teratomas and three extraovarian deposits using whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and karyotype. SNP array detected five patterns of copy neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN‐LOH): failure of meiosis I (type I) in 12 tumors, failure of meiosis II (type II) in six tumors, endoreduplication of a haploid ovum (type III) in two tumors, premeiotic error (type IV) in four tumors, and both meiotic I and meiotic II errors in one tumor (type V). Three tumors with type I error had a single chromosome showing meiotic II error, and two tumors with type II error had a single chromosome showing premature sister‐chromatid separation in meiosis I. Lack of recombination in multiple chromosomes in meiosis I were common, chromosomes 17, 7, 8, 21, and 22 were most commonly involved. Abnormal karyotypes were observed in four teratomas including +3, del(3q), +7, +8, +12, and i(18q). The extraovarian deposits revealed the same CN‐LOH pattern as the primary teratoma. In summary, SNP array reveals the origin of ovarian teratoma and we propose a new mechanism that consecutive meiotic I and II errors occur frequently in ovarian teratomas.