bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A model‐order reduction framework for hybrid simulation based on component‐mode synthesis
Authors: Miraglia Gaetano , Petrovic Milos , Abbiati Giuseppe , Mojsilovic Nebojsa , Stojadinovic Bozidar 
Published: February 2020

SummaryTesting of stiff physical substructures (PSs) still poses major technical issues that prevent from adopting hybrid simulation (HS) as a standard structural testing method. Firstly, elastic deformation of reaction frames, as well as the limited resolution of displacement transducers, deteriorate displacement control accuracy. Secondly, as a consequence of control errors, small perturbations of actuator displacements entail large restoring force oscillations that spuriously excite the higher eigenmodes of the hybrid model. For this reason, in the current practice, force‐controlled hydraulic jacks handle vertical degrees of freedom, which are typically associated with stiff axially loaded members and excluded from the time integration loop. Vertical forces are either kept constant or adjusted during the experiment based on simplified redistribution rules. Besides deterioration of displacement control accuracy, stiff PSs naturally increase the frequency bandwidth of the hybrid model, whose higher eigenfrequencies (divided by the testing time scale) may fall outside the frequency bandwidth of the actuation system, thus destabilizing the HS. This is a collateral issue to which, in the authors' knowledge, no sufficient attention as been dedicated yet, and this paper tries to address it. From this standpoint, we propose component‐mode synthesis as a rigorous approach for deriving reduced‐order physical and numerical substructure mass and stiffness matrices that minimize the frequency bandwidth of the hybrid model. The proposed methodology allowed for performing HSs of a load‐bearing unreinforced masonry structure including both horizontal and vertical degrees of freedom with a standard three‐actuator setup used for cyclic testing.
Genome‐wide interaction study of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms and alcohol consumption on blood pressure: The Ansan and Ansung study of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES)
Authors: Kim Youngjun , Kim Jihye , Lim Ji Eun , Oh Bermseok , Won Sungho , Kim Mi Kyung 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHypertension is a common disease worldwide. Alcohol consumption is one of the risk factors for hypertension, however, it is unclear how alcohol consumption elevates blood pressure. Blood pressure could be affected by interactions between genetic variations and alcohol consumption. Thus, we performed a genome‐wide interaction study (GWIS) to assess the effect of gene‐alcohol consumption interaction on blood pressure among adults aged ≥40 years from the Ansan and Ansung cohort study (n = 6,176), a part of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES). As a result, rs1297184, single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in locus LGR5 was significant (PGWIS = 8.78 × 10−9) in GWIS analysis on diastolic blood pressure, but not on systolic blood pressure. However, there was a heteroscedasticity of alcohol consumption. In the GWIS analysis, applying the inverse‐variance weighting to correct the systematic inflation slightly attenuated the strength of interaction (PGWIS_IVW = 7.14 × 10−8). This interaction was replicated in the Health Examinees cohort (p = .026), a large‐scale community‐based cohort (n = 18,708). In conclusion, we identified a possible novel interaction between an SNP (rs1297184) and alcohol consumption on blood pressure.
Effect of brine salinity on the geological sequestration of CO2 in a deep saline carbonate formation
Authors: Kumar Ram , Campbell Scott , Sonnenthal Eric , Cunningham Jeffrey 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWhen supercritical CO2 is injected into a deep saline aquifer, the salinity of the brine can influence both the solubility of the injected CO2 in the brine and the subsequent aqueous geochemical reactions that occur. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of brine salinity on CO2 storage in deep saline carbonate formations. Specifically, the study aims to quantitatively assess the effect of brine salinity on (a) the amount of CO2 that can be sequestered in the aqueous phase, (b) the storage efficiency of the repository, (c) the change in pH of the residual brine after dissolution of CO2, and (d) changes in the mineralogy and porosity of the rock matrix that result from mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions induced by CO2 injection. Injection of CO2 into a model layered carbonate formation was simulated using the reactive‐transport code TOUGHREACT 3.3. The simulations consisted of 50 years of injection into a partially completed injection well, followed by 50 years of equilibration (no injection). Salinity of the brine was varied between 1% and 15% to determine the effects of salinity. Because the solubility of CO2 decreases as the salinity of the brine increases, an increase in brine salinity from 1% to 15% resulted in a 19% decrease in storage efficiency and a 25% decrease in the mass of CO2 dissolved in the aqueous phase. However, despite the strong effect of brine salinity on CO2 dissolution, there was almost no effect of salinity on the pH change in the residual brine: the chemical activity coefficient of the dissolved CO2 increases with brine salinity, counteracting the effects of decreased solubility. Consequently, brine salinity had little effect on mineral dissolution or precipitation, or on changes in formation porosity. The study therefore helps to choose sequestration sites depending upon the salinity of the brine: lower salinity results in more solubility trapping and better storage efficiency without noticeable differences in pH drop or mineral dissolution. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low‐income, low‐asset debtors in the U.S. bankruptcy system
Authors: Littwin Angela 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe United States' bankruptcy system faces a major problem: many consumers are too poor to file for bankruptcy, usually because they cannot afford the necessary attorney fees. Some consumers appear to spend months trying to save the funds to pay their attorneys, thus either delaying their bankruptcies or foregoing bankruptcy altogether when they fail to save enough money. Others file for repayment bankruptcy in order to pay attorney fees during the case, when liquidation bankruptcy is usually a better fit for consumers with low incomes and low asset levels. The most recent comprehensive bankruptcy reform, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), exacerbated these problems by implementing additional procedural requirements that resulted in attorneys raising their fees. These problems have led to calls for administrative bankruptcy, especially for low‐income, low‐asset (LILA)/no‐income, no‐asset (NINA) debtors. Administrative bankruptcy would make bankruptcy more accessible by lowering access costs, for example, by eliminating the need for consumers to hire attorneys. Administrative programs in the United States, however, have a history of long‐term decline, especially when these programs serve low‐income people. It has become a cliché that poor people's programs become poor programs. A better solution would be to eliminate the procedural requirements imposed by BAPCPA and simplify the decision consumers must make about which type of bankruptcy to use.
Point‐of‐care detection of neutrophils in live skin microsamples using chemiluminescence
Authors: Ibarra‐Silva Esmeralda , Raff Adam B. , Cardenas Antonio , Franco Walfre 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMany skin diseases are defined by the presence of neutrophils, which are among the first cells to respond to infection and inflammation. Currently, neutrophil identification in the skin is costly and slow. The objectives of the present work are to investigate the feasibility of detecting the presence of neutrophils in live skin microsamples using chemiluminescence and develop a device and procedures that will enable preclinical and clinical investigations. Our approach consists of collecting skin microsamples and exposing them to reagents that activate neutrophils and amplify the light emission produced by chemiluminescence. Experiments using live pig skin with and without inflammation show that it is feasible to detect the presence of neutrophils in the skin. The proposed method is minimally invasive, simple, fast, and does not require user specialization. The developed system is compact in size with a small footprint, which makes it portable and suitable for point‐of‐care diagnostics.
Facile preparation of tissue engineering scaffolds with pore size gradients using the muesli effect and their application to cell spheroid encapsulation
Authors: Forget Aurelien , Rojas Darling , Waibel Michaela , Pencko Daniella , Gunenthiran Satyathiran , Ninan Neethu , Loudovaris Thomas , Drogemuller Chris , Coates Patrick T. , Voelcker Nicolas H. , Blencowe Anton 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPorous biodegradable scaffolds have many applications in bioengineering, ranging from cell culture and transplantation, to support structures, to induce blood vessel and tissue formation in vivo. While numerous strategies have been developed for the manufacture of porous scaffolds, it remains challenging to control the spatial organization of the pores. In this study, we introduce the use of the granular convection effect, also known as the muesli or brazil nut effect, to rapidly engineer particulate templates with a vertical size gradient. These templates can then be used to prepare scaffolds with pore size gradients. To demonstrate this approach, we prepared templates with particle size gradients, which were then infused with a prepolymer solution consisting of the pentaerythritol ethoxylate (polyol), sebacoyl chloride (acid chloride), and poly(caprolactone). Following curing, the template was dissolved to yield biodegradable polyester‐ether scaffolds with pore size gradients that could be tuned depending on the size range of the particulates used. The application of these scaffolds was demonstrated using pancreatic islets, which were loaded via centrifugation and retained within the scaffold's pores without a decrease in viability. The proposed strategy provides a facile approach to prepare templates with spatially organized pores that could potentially be used for cell transplantation, or guided tissue formation.
Increased Osteoclast and Decreased Osteoblast Activity Causes Reduced Bone Mineral Density and Quality in Genetic Hypercalciuric Stone‐Forming Rats
Authors: Krieger Nancy S , Chen Luojing , Becker Jennifer , DeBoyace Sean , Wang Hongwei , Favus Murray J , Bushinsky David A 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACTTo study human idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH), we developed an animal model, genetic hypercalciuric stone‐forming (GHS) rats, whose pathophysiology parallels that in IH. All GHS rats form kidney stones and have decreased BMD and bone quality compared with the founder Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. To understand the bone defect, we characterized osteoclast and osteoblast activity in the GHS compared with SD rats. Bone marrow cells were isolated from femurs of GHS and SD rats and cultured to optimize differentiation into osteoclasts or osteoblasts. Osteoclasts were stained for TRAcP (tartrate resistant acid phosphatase), cultured to assess resorptive activity, and analyzed for specific gene expression. Marrow stromal cells or primary neonatal calvarial cells were differentiated to osteoblasts, and osteoblastic gene expression as well as mineralization was analyzed. There was increased osteoclastogenesis and increased resorption pit formation in GHS compared with SD cultures. Osteoclasts had increased expression of cathepsin K, Tracp, and MMP9 in cells from GHS compared with SD rats. Osteoblastic gene expression and mineralization was significantly decreased. Thus, alterations in baseline activity of both osteoclasts and osteoblasts in GHS rats, led to decreased BMD and bone quality, perhaps because of their known increase in vitamin D receptors. Better understanding of the role of GHS bone cells in decreased BMD and quality may provide new strategies to mitigate the low BMD and increased fracture risk found in patients with IH. © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Long noncoding RNA HOXA‐AS2 mediates microRNA‐106b‐5p to repress sepsis‐engendered acute kidney injury
Authors: Wu Huifeng , Wang Jing , Ma Zhen 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHOXA cluster antisense RNA 2 (HOXA‐AS2) is a long noncoding RNA associated with the development of numerous cancers. But, whether HOXA‐AS2 exhibits a certain function in sepsis‐engendered acute kidney injury (AKI) remains uninvestigated. We strived to unveil the role of HOXA‐AS2 in sepsis‐engendered AKI. The expression of HOXA‐AS2 in sepsis patients, animal models and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐impaired HK‐2 cells was primarily assessed via a real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The effects of HOXA‐AS2 on cell survival of HK‐2 cells under LPS irritation were evaluated after overexpression of HOXA‐AS2. The correlation between HOXA‐AS2 and microRNA (miR)‐106b‐5p was forecasted via bioinformatics software and verified by using a luciferase report system. Subsequently, the functions of miR‐106b‐5p in LPS‐damaged HK‐2 cells were reassessed. Western blot was used for the determination of Wnt/β‐catenin and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) pathways. HOXA‐AS2 expression was decreased in sepsis patients, animal operation group and LPS‐irritated HK‐2 cells. Overexpressed HOXA‐AS2 mollified LPS‐triggered impairment in HK‐2 cells. In addition, a negative mediatory relation between HOXA‐AS2 and miR‐106b‐5p was predicated. Synchronously, overexpressed miR‐106b‐5p counteracted the protection of HOXA‐AS2 in LPS‐damaged HK‐2 cells. Ultimately, Wnt/β‐catenin and NF‐κB pathways were hindered by HOXA‐AS2 via targeting miR‐106b‐5p. HOXA‐AS2 exhibited protection in sepsis‐engendered AKI via targeting miR‐106b‐5p and hindering the Wnt/β‐catenin and NF‐κB pathways.
High‐fat diet induced alteration in lipid enzymes and inflammation in cardiac and brain tissues: Assessment of the effects of Atorvastatin‐loaded nanoparticles
Authors: Abd‐Rabo Marwa M. , Wahman Lobna F. , El Hosary Rania , Ahmed Iman S. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractTreatment with Lipitor is associated with several adverse impacts. Here we investigated the effects of low Lipitor nanoparticles (atorvastatin calcium nanopartilcle [AC‐NP]), with size less than 100 , on enzymes of lipid metabolism and inflammation in cardiac, hepatic, and brain tissues of hypercholestremic adult male rats. Adult male rats were divided into five experimental groups. In group 1, the intact control (normal pellet diet), animals were fed a normal control diet; the other four groups were fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, groups from 2 to 5 were assigned as a positive control (HFD), HFD + Lipitor, HFD + AC‐NP‐R1, or HFD + AC‐NP‐R2. Different treatments were administrated orally for two regimen periods (R1 daily and R2 once every 3 days). The treatment was conducted for two consecutive weeks. The HFD group faced a significant elevation in 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA), associated with a significant reduction in low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDL‐R) along with cholesterol 7 α‐hydroxylase enzyme in hepatic tissues, compared with the control group. Also, the HFD group induced hepatic, cardiac, and brain inflammation, evidenced by increased hepatic oxidative stress markers and cardiac homocysteine, together with elevated proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and IL‐6 levels in brain tissue, compared with the control group. Different AC‐NP treatments significantly augmented both mRNA LDL‐R and mRNA 7α‐hydroxylase expression in hepatic tissues, associated with significant depletion in mRNA HMG‐CoA expression, compared with HFD + Lipitor. The inflammation symptoms were ameliorated by the AC‐NP treatments, compared to HFD + Lipitor. Lipitor encapsulation in NP formulation results in increased efficiency and reduced dose‐related adverse effects known to be associated with the Lipitor chronic administration.
GABA consumption during early pregnancy impairs endometrial receptivity and embryo development in mice
Authors: Tian Na , Liang Hao , Luo Wenping , Wang Xiaojie , Cao Ke , Zhang Qian , Tan Yi , Tan Dongmei 
Published: February 2020

Abstractγ‐Aminobutyrate (GABA) is commonly used as a food supplement and a health care product by young females, due to its positive roles in relieving stress, alleviating anxiety, and improving sleep. However, its recommended daily dose in different products varies widely. Besides, it is unknown whether, and how, GABA consumption during early pregnancy influences pregnancy establishment. In this study, we found that when pregnant mice were treated with a high (12.5 mg/g) dose of GABA (orally) during preimplantation, there was a reduction in the number of implantation sites on day 5 of pregnancy. Also, among these unimplanted embryos, most exhibited morphological degeneration and developmental retardation, and only a few of them developed into blastocysts but could not implant into the uterus. Moreover, the expression of uterine receptivity–related factors—LIF, E‐cadherin, and HOXA10—were all downregulated, while the number of uterine glands was reduced in the high GABA dose group. Finally, in vitro results demonstrated that GABA (ranging from 10 to 50 μg/μL) markedly inhibited preimplantation embryo development in a dose‐response manner. However, this inhibitory effect was not observed when the embryos were pretreated with 40 μΜ 2‐hydroxysaclofen, a GABAB antagonist, indicating that GABA exerts its inhibitory effects via its B‐type receptor. Our results suggest that exposure to certain GABA concentrations, during early pregnancy, can impair preimplantation embryo development via its B‐type receptor, and endometrial receptivity, which greatly disturbs early embryo implantation in mice. These findings could raise concerns about GABA consumption during the early stages of pregnancy.
Potentiation of cancerous progression by LISCH7 via direct stimulation of TGFB1 transcription in triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Tang Xiaojiang , Zhou Yuhui , Liu Yang , Zhang Wei , Liu Chao , Yan Changyou 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAs an aggressive breast cancer (BCa) subtype, triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) responses poorly to chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, and usually has a worse prognosis. This is largely due to the lack of specific therapeutic targets, laying claim to an imperious demand to clarify the key signaling pathways potentiating TNBC progression. Herein, we report that expression levels of the liver‐specific bHLH‐Zip transcription factor (LISCH7), a recently identified key player in cancerous progression, preferentially enriched in TNBC in comparison with other BCa subtypes, and this upregulation was observed to be correlated to a poor survival outcome in patients with TNBC. Ablation of LISCH7 in TNBC cells impaired cell proliferation, reduced cell invasiveness, and enhanced sensitivity to the first‐line chemotherapeutic drug docetaxel at both in vitro and in vivo levels. Importantly, concurrent induction of TGFB1, the gene encoding transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), an essential multipluripotent regulator of TNBC, was accompanied with these alterations in cancerous properties. We further showed that LISCH7 could directly bind to the TGFB1 promoter and stimulate TGFB1 transcription in TNBC cells. The recruitment of LISCH7 onto the TGFB1 chromatin and transactivation of TGFB1 were substantially augmented by treatment with the exogenous TGF‐β1 in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Collectively, these findings suggest that LISCH7 and TGF‐β1 form a reciprocal positive regulatory loop and cooperatively regulate cancerous progression in TNBC cells. Thus, simultaneous inhibition of both LISCH7 and TGF‐β1 signaling may represent a more effective approach to counteract advanced TNBC.
Why mentor? A validation study of the volunteer functions inventory for use in youth mentoring
Authors: Teye Amanda C. , Peaslee Liliokanaio 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis study explores the functional motivations of volunteers in youth mentoring programs and tests the validity of the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) for this population. Participants included 473 volunteer mentors matched within a one‐to‐one mentoring program. The study utilizes a mixed‐methods approach to validate the VFI, which was administered before the match. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to test for content validity and determine fit. These were complemented by an emergent theme analysis from a semi‐structured interview, which included questions assessing mentor motivations. Findings suggest a five‐factor structure model best captures functional motivations. In addition, results from the qualitative analysis suggest there may be previously unexplored domains to consider for contemporary volunteer populations. These include community/civic responsibility, organizational structure and reputation, and self‐concept. Future research should seek to refine scales that are uniquely predictive of mentor motivations to expand practical applications for use.
Multithreshold graphs
Authors: Jamison Robert E. , Sprague Alan P. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMultithreshold graphs are defined in terms of a finite sequence of real thresholds that break the real line into a set of regions, alternating between NO and YES. If real ranks can be assigned to the vertices of a graph in such a way that two vertices are adjacent iff the sum of their ranks lies in a YES region, then that graph is a multithreshold graph with respect to the given set of thresholds. If a graph can be represented with k or fewer thresholds, then it is k‐threshold. The case of one threshold is the classical case introduced by Chvátal and Hammer. In this paper, we show for every graph G, there is a k such that G is k‐threshold, and we exhibit graphs for which the required number of thresholds is linear in the order of the graph.
Precise anatomical resection based on structures of nerve and fibrous tissue around the superior mesenteric artery for mesopancreas dissection in pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer
Authors: Nagakawa Yuichi , Yi Shuang‐Qin , Takishita Chie , Sahara Yatsuka , Osakabe Hiroaki , Kiya Yoshitaka , Yamaguchi Hiroshi , Miwa Yoko , Sato Iwao , Tsuchida Akihiko 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of resection based on the nerve and fibrous tissue (NFT) structures around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (R‐PDAC) patients.MethodsNFTs around the SMA were classified into four “intensive NTFs area” with spreading the NFTs around the SMA and three SMA nerve plexus regions without branching nerves according to autopsy findings. Complete dissection of four “intensive NTFs areas” was performed by pre‐exposing three SMA nerve plexus regions without branching nerves as “dissection‐guiding points” with SMA nerve plexus preservation (NFT‐based resection). Among 157 R‐PDAC patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, surgical outcomes of 78 patients with NFT‐based resection were compared with 59 patients with half‐SMA nerve plexus dissection and 20 patients without NFTs dissection.ResultsIn the NFT‐based resection group, 76.5% had tumor involvement and metastasis in each intensive NTFs area. Operative time, blood loss, and postoperative diarrhea rate were significantly lower in NFT‐based resection than in half‐SMA nerve plexus group (321 vs 390 min; P < .01, 228 vs 550 mL; P < .01, 5.1% vs 15.3%; P = .04, respectively). R0 rate and median overall survival significantly improved in NFT‐based resection than in non‐NFT dissection group (93.6% vs 65.0%; P < .01, 49.6 vs 23.6 months, P = .01).ConclusionNFT‐based resection may become a novel method for R‐PDAC patients.