bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Boron Micro-alloying on the Surface Tension of Liquid Iron and Steel Alloys
Authors: Korobeinikov Iurii , Chebykin Dmitry , Seetharaman Seshadri , Volkova Olena 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThermo-physical properties of the liquid metals and alloys play an essential role in modeling and controlling metallurgical processes. In particular, surface tension of metals has a strong impact on wetting various surfaces. Boron is added in numerous iron-based alloys as micro-alloying component. In existing literature, there is no general agreement with the effect of boron on the surface tension. The present study focuses on investigations of boron micro-alloying on the surface tension of iron and CrMnNi alloys by the maximum bubble pressure method (MBP). In contrast to other techniques, maximum bubble pressure technique is less affected by the evaporation of surface-active elements and the purity of the atmosphere around the sample. Measurement of the surface tension was accomplished before and after in situ addition of boron to the molten metal phase. Samples were molten in ZrO2 and Al2O3 crucibles and yttria-PSZ capillaries were used for the experiments. Measurements were carried out at 1550 °C in argon atmosphere and argon as bubbles formation media. Results of the experiments indicate a minor effect of boron on the surface tension of liquid iron. Effect of boron on the surface tension of steels is discussed in the context of other surface-active elements present.
Interaction between piperine and genes associated with sciatica and its mechanism based on molecular docking technology and network pharmacology
Authors: Yu Jiu-wang , Yuan Hong-wei , Bao Li-dao , Si Leng-ge 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Piperine is the main active component of Piper longum L., which is also the main component of anti-sciatica Mongolian medicine Naru Sanwei pill. It has many pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and immune regulation.
This paper aims to preliminarily explore the potential mechanism of piperine in the treatment of sciatica through network pharmacology and molecular docking. TCMSP, ETCM database and literature mining were used to collect the active compounds of Piper longum L. Swiss TargetPrediction and SuperPred server were used to find the targets of compounds. At the same time, CTD database was used to collect the targets of sciatica. Then the above targets were compared and analyzed to select the targets of anti-sciatica in Piper longum L. The Go (gene ontology) annotation and KEGG pathway of the targets were enriched and analyzed by Metascape database platform. The molecular docking between the effective components and the targets was verified by Autodock. After that, the sciatica model of rats was established and treated with piperine. The expression level of inflammatory factors and proteins in the serum and tissues of rat sciatic nerve were detected by ELISA and Western blot. HE staining and immunohistochemistry were carried out on the sciatica tissues of rats. The results showed that Piper longum L. can regulate the development of sciatica and affect the expressions of PPARG and NF-kB1 through its active ingredient piperine, and there is endogenous interaction between PPARG and NF-kB1.

Graphic abstract
Self-esteem in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Opheim Randi , Moum Bjørn , Grimstad Bjørn Tore , Jahnsen Jørgen , Prytz Berset Ingrid , Hovde Øistein , Huppertz-Hauss Gert , Bernklev Tomm , Jelsness-Jørgensen Lars-Petter 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore self-esteem and associations between self-esteem and sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a disease of chronic relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. IBD symptoms, including pain, fatigue, and diarrhea, as well as potential life-long medical treatment and surgery, may be demanding, cause significant challenges, and influence self-esteem.

Methods
In this cross-sectional multicenter study, participants were recruited from nine hospitals in the southeastern and western regions of Norway from March 2013 to April 2014. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. Self-esteem was assessed by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, fatigue was assessed by the Fatigue Questionnaire, self-efficacy was assessed by the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and disease activity was assessed by the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Harvey Bradshaw Index for Crohn’s disease (CD). Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to examine associations between self-esteem and sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors.

Results
In total, 411 of 452 (91%) patients had evaluable data and were included in this study. The mean scores on self-esteem, self-efficacy, total fatigue, anxiety, and depression were similar between UC patients and CD patients. Male gender, being employed, and higher self-efficacy were independently associated with higher self-esteem, whereas anxiety and depression were independently associated with lower self-esteem. Neither disease activity nor fatigue were associated with self-esteem in the final multiple regression analyses.

Conclusion
Patient-centered interventions that improve self-esteem and reduce anxiety and depression seem to be important to optimize IBD management.
Genetic polymorphism association analysis of SNPs on the species conservation genes of Tan sheep and Hu sheep
Authors: EEr Hehua , Ma Lina , Xie Xiulan , Ma Jifeng , Ma Xiaoming , Yue Caijuan , Ma Qing , Liang Xiaojun , Ding Wei , Li Yingkang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFor further understanding the genetic control mechanisms of growth and development in Tan sheep, and culturing good traits on meat performance, which is very important to both in developing local species and improving economic efficaciously. In our study, we recruited a total of 250 Tan sheep and 174 healthy Hu sheep to detect 32 SNPs in GH, GHR, NPY, Leptin, H-FABP, MSTN, and CAST by using direct sequencing techniques, in order to explore genetic marking loci which were an association with growth characters. From the results, we found different SNPs with an obvious difference for the growth traits. In the different genetic model analysis, we found SNP12, SNP29, SNP41, SNP8, SNP34, SNP35, SNP9, SNP10, SNP36, SNP45, and SNP39 were a significantly negative association with the two kinds of sheep. And SNP46, SNP42, and SNP69 with the positive association between the different trait in sheep were analyzed. From the LD and haplotype analysis, we found three blocks with the positive association in growth traits between Tan sheep and Hu sheep. The block of SNP29, SNP32, SNP34, SNP35, SNP36, SNP39, SNP41, SNP42, SNP45, and SNP46 with the genotype “AATCTACTTA” is the most significantly association with the traits. In summary, the study initially explored the genes for growth and reproduction between Tan sheep and Hu sheep and found some statistically significant results which demonstrate that there are genetic differences. These differential molecular markers may provide a scientific theoretical basis for the preferred species of Tan sheep which with good meat performance and better utilization of species resources.
An Asymptotic Analysis of the Malonyl-CoA Route to 3-Hydroxypropionic Acid in Genetically Engineered Microbes
Authors: Dalwadi Mohit P. , King John R. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThere has been recent interest in creating an efficient microbial production route for 3-hydroxypropionic acid, an important platform chemical. We develop and solve a mathematical model for the time-dependent metabolite concentrations in the malonyl-CoA pathway for 3-hydroxypropionic acid production in microbes, using a combination of numerical and asymptotic methods. This allows us to identify the most important targets for enzyme regulation therein under conditions of plentiful and sparse pyruvate, and to quantify their relative importance. In our model, we account for sinks of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to, for example, the citric acid cycle and fatty acid biosynthesis, respectively. Notably, in the plentiful pyruvate case we determine that there is a bifurcation in the asymptotic structure of the system, the crossing of which corresponds to a significant increase in 3-hydroxypropionic acid production. Moreover, we deduce that the most significant increases to 3-hydroxypropionic acid production can be obtained by up-regulating two specific enzymes in tandem, as the inherent nonlinearity of the system means that a solo up-regulation of either does not result in large increases in production. The types of issue arising here are prevalent in synthetic biology applications, and it is hoped that the system considered provides an instructive exemplar for broader applications.
Coxeter Triangulations Have Good Quality
Authors: Choudhary Aruni , Kachanovich Siargey , Wintraecken Mathijs 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCoxeter triangulations are triangulations of Euclidean space based on a single simplex. By this we mean that given an individual simplex we can recover the entire triangulation of Euclidean space by inductively reflecting in the faces of the simplex. In this paper we establish that the quality of the simplices in all Coxeter triangulations is $$O(1/\sqrt{d})$$O(1/d) of the quality of regular simplex. We further investigate the Delaunay property for these triangulations. Moreover, we consider an extension of the Delaunay property, namely protection, which is a measure of non-degeneracy of a Delaunay triangulation. In particular, one family of Coxeter triangulations achieves the protection $$O(1/d^2)$$O(1/d2). We conjecture that both bounds are optimal for triangulations in Euclidean space.
Advances and Perspectives in the Treatment of T-PLL
Authors: Braun Till , von Jan Jana , Wahnschaffe Linus , Herling Marco 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Purpose of Review
T cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare mature T cell tumor. Available treatment options in this aggressive disease are largely inefficient and patient outcomes are highly dissatisfactory. Current therapeutic strategies mainly employ the CD52-antibody alemtuzumab as the most active single agent. However, sustained remissions after sole alemtuzumab-based induction are exceptions. Responses after available second-line strategies are even less durable. More profound disease control or rare curative outcomes can currently only be expected after a consolidating allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in best first response. However, only 30–50% of patients are eligible for this procedure. Major advances in the molecular characterization of T-PLL during recent years have stimulated translational studies on potential vulnerabilities of the T-PLL cell. We summarize here the current state of “classical” treatments and critically appraise novel (pre)clinical strategies.

Recent Findings
Alemtuzumab-induced first remissions, accomplished in ≈ 90% of patients, last at median ≈ 12 months. Series on allo-HSCT in T-PLL, although of very heterogeneous character, suggest a slight improvement in outcomes among transplanted patients within the past decade. Dual-action nucleosides such as bendamustine or cladribine show moderate clinical activity as single agents in the setting of relapsed or refractory disease. Induction of apoptosis via reactivation of p53 (e.g., by inhibitors of HDAC or MDM2) and targeting of its downstream pathways (i.e., BCL2 family antagonists, CDK inhibitors) are promising new approaches. Novel strategies also focus on inhibition of the JAK/STAT pathway with the first clinical data. Implementations of immune-checkpoint blockades or CAR-T cell therapy are at the stage of pre-clinical assessments of activity and feasibility.

Summary
The recommended treatment strategy in T-PLL remains a successful induction by infusional alemtuzumab followed by a consolidating allo-HSCT in eligible patients. Nevertheless, long-term survivors after this “standard” comprise only 10–20%. The increasingly revealed molecular make-up of T-PLL and the tremendous expansion of approved targeted compounds in oncology represent a “never-before” opportunity to successfully tackle the voids in T-PLL. Approaches, e.g., those reinstating deficient cell death execution, show encouraging pre-clinical and first-in-human results in T-PLL, and urgently have to be transferred to systematic clinical testing.
Integrin-Linked Kinase Activation Prevents Ventricular Arrhythmias Induced by Ischemia/Reperfusion Via Inhibition of Connexin 43 Remodeling
Authors: Zhou Ping , Yang Xiaoli , Yang Dezhong , Jiang Xin , Wang Wei Eric , Yue Rongchuan , Fang Yuqiang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIschemia reperfusion (I/R)-induced arrhythmia is a serious complication in patients with cardiac infarction. Remodeling of connexin (Cx) 43, manifested as phosphorylation, contributes significantly to arrhythmogenesis. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) attenuated ventricular remodeling and improved cardiac function in rats after myocardial infarction. We hypothesized that ILK, through Cx43 phosphorylation, would be protective against I/R-induced ventricular arrhythmias. Our study showed that I/R-induced ventricular arrhythmias were attenuated by an ILK agonist LPTP and worsened by the ILK inhibitor Cpd22. I/R disrupted Cx43 distribution, but it was partially normalized in the presence of LPTP. Compared with I/R, the phosphorylation of Akt was increased significantly after pretreatment with LPTP. The increase in phosphorylated Akt was physiologically significant because, in the presence of the Akt inhibitor MK2206, the protective effects of LPTP were blocked. This indicated that ILK activation prevented I/R-induced-ventricular arrhythmia, an effect potentially related to inhibition of Cx43 remodeling via Akt activation.
Tailoring molecular island shapes: influence of microscopic interaction on mesostructure
Authors: Aeschlimann Simon , Lyu Lu , Stadtmüller Benjamin , Aeschlimann Martin , Kühnle Angelika 
Published: March 2020

AbstractControlling the structure formation of molecules on surfaces is fundamental for creating molecular nanostructures with tailored properties and functionalities and relies on tuning the subtle balance between intermolecular and molecule-surface interactions. So far, however, reliable rules of design are largely lacking, preventing the controlled fabrication of self-assembled functional structures on surfaces. In addition, while so far many studies focused on varying the molecular building blocks, the impact of systematically adjusting the underlying substrate has been less frequently addressed. Here, we elucidate the potential of tailoring the mesoscopic island shape by tuning the interactions at the molecular level. As a model system, we have selected the molecule dimolybdenum tetraacetate on three prototypical surfaces, Cu(111), Au(111) and CaF2(111). While providing the same hexagonal geometry, compared to Cu(111), the lattice constants of Au(111) and CaF2(111) differ by a factor of 1.1 and 1.5, respectively. Our high-resolution scanning probe microscopy images reveal molecular-level information on the resulting islands and elucidate the molecular-level design principles for the observed mesoscopic island shapes. Our study demonstrates the capability to tailor the mesoscopic island shape by exclusively tuning the substrate lattice constant, in spite of the very different electronic structure of the substrates involved. This work provides insights for developing general design strategies for controlling molecular mesostructures on surfaces.
Informiertheit und Datenschutz beim Smart Metering
Authors: Hellmuth Nils , Jakobs Eva-Maria 
Published: March 2020

ZusammenfassungSmart Meter (moderne Messeinrichtungen, intelligente Messsysteme) sollen in naher Zukunft deutschlandweit implementiert werden (Smart-Meter-Rollout). Ein erfolgreicher Rollout bedingt hohe Akzeptanz der Letztverbraucher – vor allem in Bezug auf Datenschutz- und Datensicherheitsaspekte der Technologie. Die interviewbasierte Studie untersucht Einstellungen von Bürgern zu Smart Metering mit den Foki Informiertheit, Kommunikations- bzw. Informationsbedarfe sowie Datenschutz und Datensicherheit. Befragt wurden Mieter zwischen 24 und 40 Jahren mit einem mittleren Einkommen und akademischen Hintergrund. Die Studie deutet auf starke Informationsdefizite und -bedarfe zu Messsystemen und Rollout. Datenschutz und Datensicherheit haben hohe Relevanz und werden kritisch gesehen. Unsicherheit und wahrgenommene Risiken betreffen insbesondere den Umgang mit Daten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der beabsichtigte Rollout einer sorgfältigen kommunikativen Einführung und Begleitung bedarf, die die Erwartungen und die Lebenswelt der beteiligten Akteure berücksichtigen.
2D and 3D Shape Sensing Based on 7-Core Fiber Bragg Gratings
Authors: Lai Tianting , Cheng Pu , Yan Congliao , Li Chi , Hu Wenbin , Yang Minghong 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA fiber-optic shape sensing based on 7-core fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The investigations are presented for two-dimensional and three-dimensional shape reconstruction by distinguishing bending and twisting of 7-core optical fiber with FBGs. The curvature and bending orientation can be calculated by acquiring FBG wavelengths from any two side cores among the six outer cores. And the shape sensing in three-dimensional (3D) space is computed by analytic geometry theory. The experiments corresponding of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D shape sensing are demonstrated and conducted to verify the theoretical principles. The resolution of curvature is about 0.1m−1 for 2D measuring. The error of angle in shape reconstruction is about 1.89° for 3D measuring. The proposed sensing technique based on 7-core FBGs is promising of high feasibility, stability, and repeatability, especially for the distinguishing ability on the bending orientation due to the six symmetrical cores on the cross-section.
A simulated annealing approach for resolution guided homogeneous cryo‐electron microscopy image selection
Authors: Shi Jie , Zeng Xiangrui , Jiang Rui , Jiang Tao , Xu Min 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundCryo‐electron microscopy (Cryo‐EM) and tomography (Cryo‐ET) have emerged as important imaging techniques for studying structures of macromolecular complexes. In 3D reconstruction of large macromolecular complexes, many 2D projection images of macromolecular complex particles are usually acquired with low signal‐to‐noise ratio. Therefore, it is meaningful to select multiple images containing the same structure with identical orientation. The selected images are averaged to produce a higher‐quality representation of the underlying structure with improved resolution. Existing approaches of selecting such images have limited accuracy and speed.MethodsWe propose a simulated annealing‐based algorithm (SA) to pick the homogeneous image set with best average. Its performance is compared with two baseline methods based on both 2D and 3D datasets. When tested on simulated and experimental 3D Cryo‐ET images of Ribosome complex, SA sometimes stopped at a local optimal solution. Restarting is applied to settle this difficulty and significantly improved the performance of SA on 3D datasets.ResultsExperimented on simulated and experimental 2D Cryo‐EM images of Ribosome complex datasets respectively with SNR=10 and SNR=0.5, our method achieved better accuracy in terms of F‐measure, resolution score, and time cost than two baseline methods. Additionally, SA shows its superiority when the proportion of homogeneous images decreases.ConclusionsSA is introduced for homogeneous image selection to realize higher accuracy with faster processing speed. Experiments on both simulated and real 2D Cryo‐EM and 3D Cryo‐ET images demonstrated that SA achieved expressively better performance. This approach serves as an important step for improving the resolution of structural recovery of macromolecular complexes captured by Cryo‐EM and Cryo‐ET.
Quantifying E2F1 protein dynamics in single cells
Authors: Mathey‐Prevot Bernard , Parker Bao‐Tran , Im Carolyn , Hong Cierra , Dong Peng , Yao Guang , You Lingchong 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundE2F1 protein, a major effector of the Rb/E2F pathway plays a central role in regulating cell‐fate decisions involved in proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Its expression is highly dynamic and tightly modulated through a combination of transcriptional, translational and posttranslational controls. However, the mechanisms by which its expression and activity can promote different cellular outcomes remain to be fully elucidated. To better document E2F1 expression in live cells, we have engineered a series of fluorescent E2F1 protein reporters that quantitatively capture E2F1 protein dynamics.MethodsReporter constructs, under the control of the mouse or human E2F1 proximal promoter, were designed to express an E2F1‐Venus fusion protein incapable of binding DNA. In addition, constructs either included or excluded the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of the E2F1 gene. These constructs were introduced into fibroblasts and epithelial cells, and expression of the fusion reporter protein was validated and quantified in single cells using live imaging.ResultsIn all cases, expression of the reporter protein effectively recapitulated the behavior of E2F1 under various conditions, including cell cycle progression and genotoxic stress. No or little fluorescent signal of the reporter was detected in G0, but as the cycle progressed, expression of the reporter protein steadily increased in the nucleus, peaking a few hours before cell division, but declining to baseline 2–3 h prior to the onset of mitosis. The absence of the E2F1 3′UTR in the constructs led to considerably higher steady‐state levels of the fusion protein, which although normally regulated, exhibited a slightly less complex dynamic profile during the cell cycle or genotoxic stress. Lastly, the presence or absence of Rb failed to impact the overall detection and levels of the reporter proteins.ConclusionsOur validated E2F1 protein reporters complement nicely other reporters of the Rb/E2F pathway and provide a unique tool to follow the complex dynamics of E2F1 expression in real time in single cells.