bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circ‐PRMT5 promotes breast cancer by the miR‐509‐3p/TCF7L2 axis activating the PI3K/AKT pathway
Authors: Wu Di , Jia Hongyao , Zhang Zhiru , Li Sijie 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundBreast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy occurring in females. In recent years, emerging evidence has suggested that circular RNAs are involved in the development of multiple cancers. Circ‐PRMT5 has recently attracted attention as a tumor‐promoting circular RNA. In the present study, we focused on exploring the biological effects of circ‐PRMT5 in breast cancer.MethodsA quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression of circ‐PRMT5 in breast cancer. In vitro experiments, including cell‐counting kit‐8, 5‐ethynyl‐2'‐deoxyuridine, flow cytometry and tube formation assays, were performed to test the effects of circ‐PRMT5 on the cellular progression of breast cancer. Bioinformatic analysis, luciferase reporter, radioimmunoprecipitation and RNA‐pull down assays were performed to predict the potential microRNAs interacting with circ‐PRMT5 and mRNAs that can be targeted by miR‐509‐3p.ResultsCirc‐PRMT5 is up‐regulated in breast cancer tissues and cells. Importantly, an elevation of circ‐PRMT5 indicates a poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. Functionally, knockdown of circ‐PRMT5 suppresses cell proliferation and angiogenesis and increases cell apoptosis in breast cancer. Mechanistically, we identified that circ‐PRMT5 up‐regulates TCF7L2 expression by acting as a miR‐509‐3p sponge. The negative expression correlation between miR‐509‐3p and circ‐PRMT5 or TCF7L2 in clinical tissues was further demonstrated. Rescue assays showed that TCF7L2 overexpression reverses the antitumoral effects of circ‐PRMT5 knockdown on breast cancer cell processes. Additionally, we demonstrated that circ‐PRMT5 activates the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway by up‐regulation of TCF7L2.ConclusionsOverall, our data indicate that the circ‐PRMT5/miR‐509‐3p/TCF7L2 axis can aggravate the malignant character of breast cancer cells by the regulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway.
Long‐term trends in snowfall characteristics and extremes in Japan from 1961 to 2012
Authors: Takahashi Hiroshi G. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe region of Japan along the Japan Sea is one of the heaviest snowfall regions in the world, and it appears to be increasingly vulnerable to climate variability and global warming. This study investigated the long‐term trends in snowfall characteristics and extremes (i.e., heavy snowfall) over Japan mainly using station observations over 51 years from the 1961/1962 to 2011/2012 winter seasons. Long‐term trends were examined in terms of total precipitation and the ratio of the numbers of snowfall days to precipitation days R(s/p). Our results show statistically significant decreasing trends in seasonally accumulated snowfall at most stations in Japan, except for those in northern Tohoku and Hokkaido Districts and the Pacific side of Japan. These significant decreasing snowfall trends were associated with the long‐term decrease in R(s/p). Although long‐term decreasing trends in R(s/p) were also observed over Tohoku District and Pacific side, increasing trends in precipitation cancelled the decreasing trends there, which indicates long‐term trends in precipitation likely complicated snowfall trends. Over Hokuriku District, a decrease in precipitation enhanced the decrease in snowfall. Moreover, major snowfall events occurred in the first half of the study period, whereas a recent increase in heavy snowfall was not yet evident.
Brain Microglial Activation Increased in Glucocerebrosidase (GBA) Mutation Carriers without Parkinson's disease
Authors: Mullin Stephen , Stokholm Morten Gersel , Hughes Derralyn , Mehta Atul , Parbo Peter , Hinz Rainer , Pavese Nicola , Brooks David J. , Schapira Anthony H.V. 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundGlucocerebrosidase gene mutations are a common genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease. They exhibit incomplete penetrance. The objective of the present study was to measure microglial activation and dopamine integrity in glucocerebrosidase gene mutation carriers without Parkinson's disease compared to controls.MethodsWe performed PET scans on 9 glucocerebrosidase gene mutation carriers without Parkinson's disease and 29 age‐matched controls. We measured microglial activation as 11C‐(R)‐PK11195 binding potentials, and dopamine terminal integrity with 18F‐dopa influx constants.ResultsThe 11C‐(R)‐PK11195 binding potential was increased in the substantia nigra of glucocerebrosidase gene carriers compared with controls (Student t test; right, t = −4.45, P = 0.0001). Statistical parametric mapping also localized significantly increased 11C‐(R)‐PK11195 binding potential in the occipital and temporal lobes, cerebellum, hippocampus, and mesencephalon. The degree of hyposmia correlated with nigral 11C‐(R)‐PK11195 regional binding potentials (Spearman's rank, P = 0.0066). Mean striatal 18F‐dopa uptake was similar to healthy controls.ConclusionsIn vivo 11C‐(R)‐PK11195 PET imaging detects neuroinflammation in brain regions susceptible to Lewy pathology in glucocerebrosidase gene mutation carriers without Parkinson's. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
3D failure envelope of a rigid pile embedded in a cohesive soil using finite element limit analysis
Authors: Graine Noussaiba , Hjiaj Mohammed , Krabbenhoft Kristian 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this paper, numerical limit analysis is applied to evaluate the bearing capacity of a single rigid pile embedded in a ponderable homogeneous cohesive‐frictionless soil subjected to vertical, horizontal, and moment (VHM) loading combinations. All loads act in the same plane. Accurate lower and upper bounds are calculated using finite element limit analysis code . As the gap between the bounds hardly exceeds , the average limit load provides a good estimate of the exact ultimate load and can be used with confidence for design purposes. By adopting typical values for the dimensionless pile length‐to‐diameter ratio, most cases of practical interest are treated. The numerical results are compared against failure surfaces predicted by theories from the literature. Comparison shows that previously developed methods can be conservative or slightly overestimates the limit loads. New design charts are provided. The safe loads domain is constructed in the VHM space using the average limit load. Closed‐form expressions are proposed to describe the native and the normalized VMH failure envelope as a function of the pile length‐to‐diameter ratio. In the VH plane, the failure surface is described by an eccentric superellipse, whereas in the MH plane, the limit curve is an inclined ellipse.
A three‐dimensional multiscale damage‐poroelasticity model for fractured porous media
Authors: Eghbalian Mahdad , Pouragha Mehdi , Wan Richard 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe paper investigates the failure of brittle rocks within a multiscale/multiphysics computational modeling framework so as to explicitly incorporate both microstructural and hydromechanical aspects in their overall (nonlinear) fracture behavior. Herein, the rock is idealized as a microfissured porous medium via a representative elementary volume (REV) containing distributed oblate spheroidal open microcracks and spheroidal nanopores at the lower scales. A two‐scale analytical homogenization procedure is then performed on the REV, assuming a saturated pore space across the scales. The end result is a microstructurally enriched continuum damage‐poroelasticity constitutive model within the generalized Biot's framework that inherits the underlying small‐scale characteristics. A set of damage tensors is derived based on the directional density distribution of microcracks that operate on both the poromechanical and hydraulic properties. Microstructural evolution is modeled following changes in microcrack length, aperture, and number density, including nanoporosity. To this end, a robust localization procedure is used that accurately captures the macroscopic softening due to microcracking events, leading to a nonlinear (but path‐independent) model. To investigate the baseline features of the model, including the salient effects of microcracking on induced anisotropy and deterioration of poroelastic properties, numerical results of material point‐based computations are discussed in detail. Finally, predictions of the current model are validated against experiments on Fontainebleau sandstone.
Frictional interactions for non‐localized beam‐to‐beam and beam‐inside‐beam contact
Authors: Magliulo Marco , Lengiewicz Jakub , Zilian Andreas , Beex Lars A. A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis contribution presents the extensions of beam‐to‐beam and beam‐inside‐beam contact schemes of the same authors towards frictional interactions. Since the schemes are based on the beams' true surfaces (instead of surfaces implicitly deduced from the beams' centroid lines), the presented enhancements are not only able to account for frictional sliding in the beams' axial directions, but also in the circumferential directions. Both the frictional beam‐to‐beam approach as well as the frictional beam‐inside‐beam approach are applicable to shear‐deformable and shear‐undeformable beams, as well as to beams with both circular and elliptical cross‐sections (although the cross‐sections must be rigid). A penalty formulation is used to treat unilateral and frictional contact constraints. FE implementation details are discussed, where automatic differentiation techniques are used to derive the implementations. Simulations involving large sliding displacements and large deformations are presented for both beam‐to‐beam and beam‐inside‐beam schemes. All simulation results are compared with those of the frictionless schemes.
A density‐based boundary evolving method for buckling‐induced design under large deformation
Authors: Deng Hao , To Albert C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis paper proposes a density‐based boundary evolving algorithm for continuum‐based topology optimization. The boundary of voids in the design domain is described by RBF (radial basis function) function controlled by RBF knots in polar coordinate, where the voids are projected onto a fixed grid using Heaviside function. For merging overlapped multiple voids, the p‐norm function is introduced to describe composite density field. The differentiability of the projection‐based boundary description algorithm allows for the sensitivity analysis via the chain rule, and therefore, it enables an efficient gradient‐based optimization method. The goal of this paper is to optimize the initial design to generate buckling‐induced mechanism under large deformation, and without loss of generality, the hyperelastic material model is chosen to describe the material behavior. Notably, this method possesses the merit of level set method, where the intermediate density only exists at the boundary of topology shape. At the same time, the proposed method is still in the density‐based optimization framework and standard sensitivity analysis of density‐based methods can be directly derived based on the chain rule. Several numerical examples are presented and discussed in detail to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed density‐based boundary evolving method.
Synthesis and thermodynamic characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate)/multiwall carbon nanotube nanocomposite
Authors: Cakar Fatih 
Published: December 2020

In the first part of this study, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposite was synthesized by adding carbon nanotube before polymerization with bulk polymerization. Surface morphology of the PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite and the PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite with Chromosorb W was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Surface and thermodynamic properties of the PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite were investigated by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). The surface acid base character and dispersed surface energy
of the PMMA/MWCNT were determined at infinite dilution. The entropy of adsorption, ∆SS, the specific free energy of adsorption, ∆GS, and the enthalpy of adsorption, ∆HS, of selected polar solvents were determined on the PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite. The values of ∆HS were correlated with both the acceptor and donor numbers of the solvents to determine the Lewis acidic constant KA and the Lewis basic constant KD of the PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite. The PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite selectivity was investigated using the acetate and alcohol isomers by IGC at temperatures between 393.2 and 403.2 K. Glass transition temperature (Tg) was determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and IGC method.The interactions between the PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite and 12 solvents were propped at a temperature range (423.2–448.2 K). The Flory–Huggins interaction parameter,
and the weight fraction activity coefficient,
of the PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite solvent system were estimated at temperatures between 423.2 and 448.2 K. The solubility parameter of the PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite, δ2, was calculated as 14.0 (cal/cm3)1/2.
Development and Performance Characterization of a Hybrid Dust Suppressant Based on Sodium Ligninsulfonate Modification
Authors: Bao Qiu , Liu Yanghao , Li Chongshan , Jia Lebin , Yan Jiayi , Yuan Mingyue , Zhou Weiwei 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA naturally occurring macromolecular material (sodium ligninsulfonate) is mixed with acrylic acid to perform grafting copolymerization and generate a sodium ligninsulfonate–acrylic acid graft copolymer. The chemical structure of the product is characterized based on infrared spectroscopy. Using viscosity and surface tension as indicators, the optimal ratio of wetting agents and coagulants is selected for auxiliary materials to prepare a novel hybrid dust suppressant customized for coal mines. The results indicate that, compared with spraying with water alone, this dust suppressant enhances the average anti‐weathering performance of coal samples by 28.34%, 30.13%, and 43.40% at wind speeds of 5–10, 11–15, and 16–20 m s−1, respectively. The hybrid dust suppressant can keep the weathering rate of dust to less than 40% at a wind speed of 19.3 m s−1(i.e., Beaufort scale 8). High‐resolution scanning electron microscopy shows the dust suppressant has a good curing effect. Finally, coal quality analysis experiments show the dust suppressant does not reduce coal quality.
Genetic characterization of a novel recombined porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 among Nadc30‐like, Jxa1‐like and TJ‐like strains
Authors: Zhao Jun , Zhu Ling , Huang Jianbo , Yang Zexiao , Xu Lei , Gu Sirui , Huang Yao , Zhang Rubo , Sun Xiangang , Zhou Yuancheng , Xu Zhiwen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPorcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically devastating viral diseases in the global pig industry, including China. Recently, we successfully isolated a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) from lung tissue and peripheral blood of piglets at a farm from Dujiangyan in Sichuan, China, and named it the DJY‐19 strain. The full‐length genome sequence of DJY‐19 shared 86.8%–94.1% nucleotide similarity with NADC30‐like and NADC30 PRRSV strains. We compared the open reading frame (ORF) 5 gene of DJY‐19 with 34 PRRSV strains from Genbank. Phylogenetic analysis showed that DJY‐19 clustered with NADC30 strains, characterized by a predicted 131‐amino‐acid deletion in the nonstructural protein (NSP) 2. The results of homology analysis showed that the homology between DJY‐19 and NADC30 (JN654459.1) strains was the highest (95.9%), whereas homology with other domestic strains was lower (80.9%–92.6%). Furthermore, we identified four recombination breakpoints in the DJY‐19 genome; they separated the DJY‐19 genome into four regions. The 8106–9128 nucleotide (nt) region of DIY‐19 was highly similar to the TJ strain, and the 12106–12580 nt region of DIY‐19 was highly similar to the JXA1‐R strain. Our findings demonstrate that DJY‐19 arose from the recombination of North America NADC30 strain and TJ strain and JXA1‐R in China. The application of multiple attenuated vaccine strains has led to complex recombination of PRRSV strains in China. This study provides a theoretical basis for making a more reasonable PRRS virus control and prevention strategy.
Onset of synchronous and asynchronous convection in modulated nanofluid filled porous media
Authors: Saravanan S. , Kousalya M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA theoretical study of the effect of gravity modulation on a nanofluid filled porous medium subjected to a constant temperature gradient across is made. In particular the onset of convection in water based nanofluids containing conventional metallic and metal oxide particles (‐water, ‐water, ‐water, and ‐water) is investigated. The nanofluid behaves more like a single‐phase fluid rather than a conventional solid–liquid mixture. Darcy's law of flow through porous media and Boussinesq approximation are employed. Stability analysis based on the method of small perturbations is performed using the normal mode assumption. The resulting synchronous and asynchronous, restricted to subharmonic, instability modes are predicted directly through the Mathieu functions for different nanoparticle concentrations. It is found that ‐water nanofluid can be effectively used in applications involving gravity modulation.
Benthic scavenger community composition and carrion removal in Arctic and Subarctic fjords
Authors: Dunlop K. , Renaud P. E. , Berge J. , Jones D. O. B. , Harbour R. P. , Tandberg A. H. S. , Sweetman A. K. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn high latitude coastal regions, benthic scavenger communities are largely composed of invertebrates that play a key role in the cycling of organic matter. Factors including temperature and depth can structure Arctic and Subarctic fjord benthic communities, but the response of scavenging communities to these factors is poorly known. To address this, we compared scavenging fauna in eight fjords with different physical characteristics in Svalbard and northern Norway using time-lapse imagery of scavengers consuming Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) bait. Fjords influenced by relatively warm Atlantic waters, both in Norway and Svalbard, had high scavenger richness. However, Svalbard fjords with negative bottom temperatures had the lowest species richness and were dominated by lysianassoid amphipods and ophiuroids. In these cold Svalbard fjords, the mean carrion removal rates were almost 20 times higher than mean values noted elsewhere, except in the warm Norwegian fjord Kaldfjorden. Amphipods and ophiuroids quickly reduced the bait to bones (207.6–304.7 g removed per hour (g h−1); mean 290.6 ± 7.3 g h−1,n = 4) in cold Svalbard fjords. In the warmer Svalbard fjords, carrion removal rates were low (0–51.5 g h−1; mean 14.6 ± 9.0 g h−1,n = 5). Carrion removal rates in Kaldfjorden were higher than other Atlantic Water influenced fjords (132.1 and 372.5 g h−1,n = 2) owing to the scavenging activity of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). The results demonstrate potential ecosystem responses to warming in Arctic and Subarctic fjords, particularly effects related to range expansion of boreal species.
Health-related quality of life in patients surgically treated for orbital blow-out fracture: a prospective study
Authors: Rajantie Hanna , Kaukola Leena , Snäll Johanna , Roine Risto , Sintonen Harri , Thorén Hanna 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) before and after surgical treatment of orbital blow-out fracture.

Methods
This prospective study comprises of all adult patients undergoing a surgical reconstruction of an orbital blow-out fracture in 2006–2010. Their HRQoL was evaluated for 6 months postoperatively with the aid of the standardized 15D instrument and was compared with that of an age- and gender-standardized sample of the general Finnish population. A complementary questionnaire for more detailed information was also administered.

Results
Twenty-six patients completed the study. Mean 15D score among the patients preoperatively (0.898) was statistically significantly and clinically importantly worse than the score of the control population (0.936). Six months postoperatively, the mean 15D score was 0.920, with no significant difference compared with the control population and the significant differences on the different dimensions had disappeared. The most common complaint at 6 months postoperatively was diplopia in daily life (19%). Disturbances in facial sensation (27%) and defects in facial appearance (15%) were the most unpleasant subjective outcomes.

Conclusion
The HRQoL is significantly decreased after orbital blow-out fracture compared with the general population but will recover completely in 6 months. Thus, the negative impact of orbital blow-out fracture on HRQoL is only transient. Disturbances in facial sensation, defects in facial appearance, and diplopia are the most common subjective complaints after the injury and its surgical treatment. However, these do not appear to affect the overall quality of life in the long term.
An overview on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cadmium
Authors: Oggiano Riccardo , Pisano Andrea , Sabalic Angela , Farace Cristiano , Fenu Grazia , Lintas Simone , Forte Giovanni , Bocca Beatrice , Madeddu Roberto 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe present review represents an update about the knowledge of the possible role of Cadmium (Cd) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) initiation and its progression. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs in adulthood; its etiology is unknown and leads to death within a few years from its appearance. Among the various possible causes that can favor the development of the disease, heavy metals cannot be excluded. Cadmium is a heavy metal that does not play a biological role, but its neurotoxicity is well known. Numerous in vitro studies on cell and animal models confirm the toxicity of the metal on the nervous system, but these data are not accompanied by an epidemiological evidence, and, thus, an unclear correlation between Cd and the onset of the disease can be pointed out. On the other hand, a possible multifactorial and synergic mechanism in which Cd may have a role can explain the ALS onset. More efforts in new clinical, biochemical, and epidemiological studies are necessary to better elucidate the involvement of Cd in this lethal disease.
Conservation of Mojave Desert springs and associated biota: status, threats, and policy opportunities
Authors: Parker Sophie S. , Zdon Andy , Christian William T. , Cohen Brian S. , Palacios Mejia Maura , Fraga Naomi S. , Curd Emily E. , Edalati Kiumars , Renshaw Mark A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn arid landscapes where fresh water is a limiting resource, the expression of groundwater in springs sustains important landscape functions, globally-recognized biodiversity hotspots, and both aquatic endemic and wide-ranging terrestrial species. Desert springs and associated groundwater dependent ecosystems are threatened by unsustainable groundwater pumping, and the Mojave Desert has seen extinctions of species due to the human use and modification of springs. To support changes in policy and management that would address the vulnerabilities of springs to unsustainable groundwater extraction and other threats, a better understanding of current spring condition is needed. Here we present the results of a comprehensive survey of Mojave Desert springs including hydrological and ecological observations, and an eDNA pilot study. Together, these investigations provide information about the present status of Mojave Desert springs, conservation challenges that they face, and needs that must be met to protect them. We also provide an overview of the current state of federal and state policy that could be used to better manage these critical freshwater resources.