bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A 3D FIB‐SEM technique for quantitative characterization of oil shale's microstructure: A case study from the Shahejie Formation in Dongying Depression, China
Authors: Zhao Jianpeng , Dong Xu , Zhang Jinyan , Chen Hui , Zhang Wenjiao 
Published: September 2020

AbstractInvestigating the pore structure of shale rocks plays an important role in understanding the mechanism of shale oil accumulation and migration; thus, it has a notable influence on the exploration and development of shale oil resources. In the present study, the microstructure of oil shale samples extracted from the Shahejie Formation in the Dongying Depression was investigated through the joint usage of focused ion beam (FIB) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Herein, we selected four representative samples. The SEM images of the sample surfaces milled by FIB indicated that pores were found in both the organic and inorganic matter. Organic pores were less developed in the samples because of the low thermal maturity of the organic matter. Continuous 3D digital rock images of shale samples were generated by FIB grinding and SEM in situ imaging. Based on multithreshold segmentation, the shale rocks were separated into different parts including kerogen, inorganic matter, and pores. The pore connectivity and pore size distributions were analyzed via Avizo software and in‐house developed MATLAB scripts. The pore size and corresponding volume distributions suggested that mesoscale pores (2‐50 nm) were abundant in the samples but they contributed limitedly to the total pore volume. Macropores (>50 nm) accounted for a small proportion but they had a greater contribution to the overall pore space volume. The coordination numbers of the subject four samples were mainly 0 and 1, which means that isolated pores accounted for the vast majority of the pores. These observations are critical to conduct reliable petrophysical simulations in the oil shales and understand their intrinsic properties accurately.
Diagnosis of Chronic Hepatitis B Pericomplication: Risk factors and Trends Over Time
Authors: Lapointe‐Shaw Lauren , Chung Hannah , Holder Laura , Kwong Jeffrey C. , Sander Beate , Austin Peter C. , Janssen Harry L.A. , Feld Jordan J. 
Published: September 2020

Background and Aims
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease, which can progress to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death. A timely diagnosis allows for antiviral treatment, which can prevent liver‐related complications. Conversely, a late diagnosis signals a missed opportunity for earlier care and treatment. Our objective was to measure the proportion of chronic HBV diagnoses that are made within 6 months of presentation with a liver disease–related complication and examine associated factors and trends over time.

Approach and Results
We used provincial laboratory data to identify patients with chronic HBV diagnosed from 2003 to 2014. We measured the proportion who experienced a liver disease complication (decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver transplant) within ±6 months of their HBV diagnosis date. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with HBV diagnosis pericomplication. Of 18,434 patients with chronic HBV, 1,279 (6.9%) developed an HBV‐related complication during the follow‐up period. Among these, 570 (44.6%) had a first diagnosis pericomplication. HBV diagnosis pericomplication did not decrease over time and was independently associated with older age at HBV diagnosis, rural residence, alcohol use, and moderate to high levels of comorbidity. Female patients, immigrants, and those with more outpatient physician visits were less likely to have an HBV diagnosis pericomplication.

Conclusions
A high proportion of patients with HBV‐related complications are first diagnosed with HBV pericomplication. These signal missed opportunities for earlier detection and treatment. Our findings support expansion of HBV screening.
Age‐related alterations in functional connectivity along the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus and its subfields
Authors: Stark Shauna M. , Frithsen Amy , Stark Craig E.L. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractHippocampal circuit alterations that differentially affect hippocampal subfields are associated with age‐related memory decline. Additionally, functional organization along the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus has revealed distinctions between anterior and posterior (A‐P) connectivity. Here, we examined the functional connectivity (FC) differences between young and older adults at high‐resolution within the medial temporal lobe network (entorhinal, perirhinal, and parahippocampal cortices), allowing us to explore how hippocampal subfield connectivity across the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus changes with age. Overall, we found reliably greater connectivity for younger adults than older adults between the hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex (PHC) and perirhinal cortex (PRC). This drop in functional connectivity was more pronounced in the anterior regions of the hippocampus than the posterior ones, consistent for each of the hippocampal subfields. Further, intra‐hippocampal connectivity also reflected an age‐related decrease in functional connectivity within the anterior hippocampus in older adults that was offset by an increase in posterior hippocampal functional connectivity. Interestingly, the anterior–posterior dysfunction in older adults between hippocampus and PHC was predictive of lure discrimination performance on the Mnemonic similarity task (MST), suggesting a role in memory performance. While age‐related dysfunction within the hippocampal subfields has been well‐documented, these results suggest that the age‐related dysfunction in hippocampal connectivity across the longitudinal axis may also contribute significantly to memory decline in older adults.
Drivers of diversity on boards: The impact of the Sarbanes‐Oxley act
Authors: Upadhyay Arun , Triana María del Carmen 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis study investigates how firm structure, chief executive officer (CEO) power, and federal legislation influence hiring of corporate directors from a diverse background. Combining the value‐in‐diversity hypothesis and the similarity‐attraction paradigm, we examine the impact of economically rational (i.e., business need) and social preference (i.e., similar‐to‐me bias) drivers of board diversity post‐the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). Using a sample of S&P 1500 firms from an eight‐year period spanning SOX, we find that SOX is positively correlated with board diversity. Although SOX was not intended to increase board diversity, the changes it put in place have subsequently facilitated more board diversity. Results show that the economically rational predictor (firm operational complexity) had a positive and statistically significant effect on board diversity pre‐SOX but that effect disappeared post‐SOX. Meanwhile, CEO power, a social preference inhibitor of board diversity, had a negative and statistically significant relationship with board diversity pre‐SOX which also disappeared post‐SOX. It appears that SOX has mitigated both economically rational drivers to want more diversity as well as social preference drivers to want less diversity. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
Analysis of the impact of physical parameters on a water‐based Al2O3 nanofluid using the KKL model
Authors: Nayak B. , Mishra S. R. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractA nanofluid is treated as a smart fluid that is useful for heat transfer enhancement, which is paramount in several industrial applications, transportation, biomedical as well as electronics. This is due to the enhanced thermophysical properties, such as Brownian motion and thermal conductivity of the suspended nanoparticles in the base fluid. The present investigation explores an electrically conducting flow of a water‐based nanofluid past a thin film placed horizontally. In particular, the Al2O3 nanoparticle is merged into the water for the preparation of the nanofluid. For the enhancement in heat transfer properties, the Brownian thermal conductivity based on the Koo‐Kleinstreuer‐Li model is introduced. The Adomian decomposition method, a semi‐analytical technique, is employed to handle the system of ordinary differential equations. The originality of the current investigation is the statistical analysis of the various characterizing parameters governing the flow phenomena. The influences of these physical parameters on the flow phenomena are displayed in graphs and tables. The major findings of the outcomes are listed as follows: an increase in particle diameter decreases the Brownian conductivity, whereas fluid temperature enhances it significantly. Also, the increase in volume concentration leads to a decrease in the fluid temperature, resulting in faster cooling processes for the production of materials in industries.
Spectral local linearisation method for MHD Casson fluid on stratified bioconvective porous medium flow due to gyrotactic microorganisms
Authors: Ayano Mekonnen S. , Magagula Vusi M. , Mathunjwa Jochonia S. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this paper, the effect of hall parameter on the flow of Casson nanofluid containing gyrotactic microorganisms over a stretching boundary in a porous medium is studied. The stratification, porosity, and Casson fluid parameters are also examined. Using suitable similarity transformations, the basic equations describing the flow are converted to nonlinear differential equations, which are then solved computationally using the spectral local linearisation method. The effects of key parameters such as the Hall parameter, the thermophoresis parameter, the porosity parameter, and Casson fluid parameters are analyzed. The results obtained suggest that the Hall parameter has the effect of decreasing the secondary flow, the heat and mass transfer rate, and density of the motile microorganisms. A decrease in the the Hall parameter is found to cause an increase in the transfer rate, the mass transfer rate, and the density of the motile microorganisms. An increase in the porosity parameter leads to a decline in the skin friction, heat transfer rate, mass transfer rate, and density of the motile microorganisms. The applications of this study arise in industrial areas, including Hall current accelerators, planetary dynamics, Hall current sensors, and magnetohydrodynamic power generators.
Entropy and radiation on a pipe MHD flow with variable viscosity
Authors: Abdel‐Rahman Rashed Gamal M. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe present work, the entropy generation due to radiation and variable viscosity magnetohydrodynamic effects with a porous medium in a circular pipe, has been obtained and studied numerically. The governing continuity, momentum, and energy equations in cylindrical coordination are converted into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations by means of similarity transformation. The resulting system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations is solved numerically by a Runge‐Kutta method and shooting technique. Numerical results are presented for velocity, temperature profiles, pressure profile, entropy generation rates, and Bejan number for different physical parameters of the problem. Also, the effects of the pertinent parameters on the skin friction and the rate of heat transfer are obtained and discussed numerically and illustrated graphically.
Aspirin and the risk of nondigestive tract cancers: An updated meta‐analysis to 2019
Authors: Santucci Claudia , Gallus Silvano , Martinetti Marco , La Vecchia Carlo , Bosetti Cristina 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAspirin has been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal and other selected digestive tract cancers, but the evidence for other neoplasms is still controversial. To provide an up‐to‐date quantification of the role of aspirin on lung, breast, endometrium, ovary, prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of all observational studies published up to March 2019. We estimated pooled relative risk (RR) of cancer or cancer death for regular aspirin use vs non‐use by using random‐effects models, and, whenever possible, we investigated dose‐ and duration‐risk relations. A total of 148 studies were considered. Regular aspirin use was associated to a reduced risk of lung (RR = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.79‐0.98), breast (RR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.85‐0.95), endometrial (RR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.84‐0.98), ovarian (RR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.85‐0.97) and prostate (RR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.89‐0.96) cancer. However, for most neoplasms, nonsignificant risk reductions were reported in cohort and nested case‐control studies and there was between‐study heterogeneity. No association was reported for bladder and kidney cancer. No duration‐risk relations were observed for most neoplasms, except for an inverse duration‐risk relation for prostate cancer. The present meta‐analysis confirms the absence of appreciable effect of regular aspirin use on cancers of the bladder and kidney and quantifies small and heterogeneous inverse associations for other cancers considered.
Evaluation of a novel biodegradable ureteral stent produced from polyurethane and magnesium alloys
Authors: Jin Lu , Yao Lei , Yuan Feng , Dai Guangcheng , Xue Boxin 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIndwelling ureteral stents represent a very frequently used procedure in urological clinical practice that ensures the drainage of urine from the upper urinary tract. However, the stents could result in many stent‐associated complications, such as encrustation and patient discomfort. We developed a new type of biodegradable ureteral stents produced from degradable polyurethane and magnesium alloys. In the present study, we investigated the biocompatibility and the property of degradation of the biodegradable ureteral stents. We evaluated the cytotoxicity of biodegradable ureteral stent by the MTT assay in vitro. The rabbit dorsal muscle embedding test was used to assess the biocompatibility of the degradable stents. Inflammation and fibrosis of muscle tissue were noted to evaluate compatibility at 1, 2, 4, 6 weeks after stents implanted in muscle. The degradation of the biodegradable ureteral stents was assessed by measuring the weight loss of the samples in AUS (artificial urine solution). For validating the degradation property of degradable stents in vivo, we inserted a degradable stent or a conventional biostable stent into Bama pigs. Furthermore, blood studies, liver function tests, renal function tests, urine studies, and computerized tomography (CT) were performed postoperatively. Our study confirms that the degradable polyurethane‐based biodegradable ureteral stent has good biocompatibility. Our biodegradable ureteral stents were completely degraded within 4 weeks and provided a better ability of drainage than conventional stents. They hold promise for decreasing the need for a secondary procedure and stent related morbidity, such as infections.
Vitexin prevents Aβ proteotoxicity in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer's disease by modulating unfolded protein response
Authors: Malar Dicson Sheeja , Prasanth Mani Iyer , Jeyakumar Mahalingam , Balamurugan Krishnaswamy , Devi Kasi Pandima 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for an estimated 60% to 80% of all dementia cases. The present study is aimed at evaluating the neuroprotective efficacy of vitexin, an apigenin flavone glycoside using transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans strain (CL2006) of AD. The neuroprotective effect of vitexin was determined using physiological assays, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting. The results of survival and paralysis assay indicate that vitexin (200 μM) significantly extended the lifespan of the nematodes. Vitexin‐treated nematodes showed a significant reduction in the expression of Aβ, ace‐1, and ace‐2 genes when compared to control. Further, vitexin significantly upregulated the expression of acr‐8 and dnj‐14, and increased the lifespan of the nematodes. Vitexin was also found to modulate the unfolded protein response genes (hsp‐4, pek‐1, ire‐1, and xbp‐1) and suppress the expression of Aβ. Overall, the results show that vitexin acts as a neuroprotective agent and protects transgenic C. elegans strains from Aβ proteotoxicity.
Attenuation effect of polydeoxyribonucleotide on inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic factors induced by particulate matter (PM10) damage in human bronchial cells
Authors: Hwang Lakkyong , Ko Il‐Gyu , Jin Jun‐Jang , Kim Sang‐Hoon , Kim Chang‐Ju , Hwang Jae‐Joon , Choi Cheon Woong , Chang Bok Soon 
Published: September 2020

AbstractParticulate matter (PM) of 10‐μm‐sized fine dust in the air penetrates the respiratory tract and contributes to the increasing incidence of various lung diseases, but its definite mechanism is not known. Recently, polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) has been shown to have anti‐inflammatory and regenerative effects in various tissues. However, the bronchial‐related mechanism is not well‐understood. Hence, this experiment is intended to demonstrate the beneficial effect of PDRN administration on PM10‐induced injury in human bronchial‐derived NCI‐H358 cells. To confirm the protective effect of PDRN, PM10 was applied after PDRN pretreatment to confirm changes in NCI‐H358 cells. Experiments were conducted to measure cell survival, cytotoxicity, inflammation, and apoptotic factor changes. WST‐8 assay was used to confirm cell viability, and lactate dehydrogenase assay was used to obtain cytotoxicity. In addition, changes in inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic factors were confirmed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. Decreased cell viability and increased cytotoxicity, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic factors were observed after exposure to PM10. However, pretreatment with PDRN enhanced cell viability and reduced cytotoxicity. In addition, the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and IL‐1β, and cell death factors such as Apaf‐1, cyt c, caspase‐3, caspase‐9, Bid, and Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio were decreased by PDRN administration in PM10‐exposed NCI‐H358 cells. PDRN, an A2AR agonist, affects cAMP activation and regulation of phosphorylation of PKA and CREB. In addition, treatment with A2AR antagonist 3,7‐dimethyl‐1‐propargylxanthine significantly blocked PDRN's effect. These anti‐cytotoxicity, anti‐inflammation, and anti‐apoptosis effects of PDRN can be attributed to the adenosine A2AR enhancing effect on PM10‐exposed bronchial cells.
NDV‐D90 inhibits 17β‐estradiol‐mediated resistance to apoptosis by differentially modulating classic and nonclassic estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells
Authors: Shan Peng , Tang Bo , Xie Shanshan , Zhang Zengling , Fan Jiehou , Wei Zheng , Song Chun 
Published: September 2020

AbstractNewcastle disease virus (NDV) is endowed with the oncolytic ability to kill tumor cells, while rarely causing side effects in normal cells. Both estrogen receptor α (ERα) and the G protein estrogen receptor (GPER) modulate multiple biological activities in response to estrogen, including apoptosis in breast cancer (BC) cells. Here, we investigated whether NDV‐D90, a novel strain isolated from natural sources in China, promoted apoptosis by modulating the expression of ERα or the GPER in BC cells exposed to 17β‐estradiol (E2). We found that NDV‐D90 significantly killed the tumor cell lines MCF‐7 and BT549 in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. We also found that NDV‐D90 exerted its effects on the two cell lines mainly by inducing apoptosis but not necrosis. NDV‐D90 induced apoptosis via the intrinsic and extrinsic signaling pathways in MCF‐7 cells (ER‐positive cells) during E2 exposure not only by disrupting the E2/ERα axis and enhancing GPER expression but also by modulating the expression of several apoptosis‐related proteins through ERα‐and GPER‐independent processes. NDV‐D90 promoted apoptosis via the intrinsic signaling pathway in BT549 cells (ER‐negative cells), possibly by impairing E2‐mediated GPER expression. Furthermore, NDV‐D90 exerted its antitumor effects in vivo by inducing apoptosis. Overall, these results demonstrated that NDV‐D90 promotes apoptosis by differentially modulating the expression of ERα and the GPER in ER‐positive and negative BC cells exposed to estrogen, respectively, and can be utilized as an effective approach to treating BC.
Theoretical study of Aun clusters (n = 1–5) deposited on a rutile TiO2 (110) slab, concerning structure and stability
Authors: Agacino Valdés Esther , Tavizón Gustavo , de la Mora Pablo 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe initial nucleation of gold clusters Aun (n = 1–5) on TiO2 rutile (110) reduced surface is studied using density functional theory and a full‐potential augmented‐plane‐wave method implemented in the WIEN2k code. The first two gold atoms remained tied to the surface with a bond length similar to those belonging to other well‐known related materials, while the other gold atoms do not spread over the surface; they preferred to form a new layer. The occurrence of relativistic effects produced a preferential triangle geometry for Au3 and a combination of triangular units for Au4 and Au5. The Au–Au average distance increased from n = 2 to n = 5, indicating an expansion with a tendency to the bond distance found in the bulk. We are reporting an early 2D→3D transition of small folding, from Au3→Au4, followed by an Au4→Au5 transition of evident 3D character.
Biembeddings of cycle systems using integer Heffter arrays
Authors: Cavenagh Nicholas J. , Donovan Diane M. , Yazıcı Emine Ş. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we use constructions of Heffter arrays to verify the existence of face 2‐colorable embeddings of cycle decompositions of the complete graph. Specifically, for and and when then , there exist face 2‐colorable embeddings of the complete graph onto an orientable surface where each face is a cycle of a fixed length . In these embeddings the vertices of will be labeled with the elements of in such a way that the group, acts sharply transitively on the vertices of the embedding. This result is achieved by verifying the existence of nonequivalent Heffter arrays, , which satisfy the conditions: (1) for each row and each column the sequential partial sums determined by the natural ordering must be distinct modulo ; (2) the composition of the natural orderings of the rows and columns is equivalent to a single cycle permutation on the entries in the array. The existence of Heffter arrays that satisfy condition (1) was established earlier in Burrage et al. and in this current paper, we vary this construction and show, for , that there are at least such nonequivalent that satisfy both conditions (1) and (2).