bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of high glucose in the expression of miRNAs and IGF1R signaling pathway in human myometrial explants
Authors: Favaro Rodolfo R. , Morales-Prieto Diana M. , Herrmann Jörg , Sonnemann Jürgen , Schleussner Ekkehard , Markert Udo R. , Zorn Telma M. T. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Several roles are attributed to the myometrium including sperm and embryo transport, menstrual discharge, control of uterine blood flow, and labor. Although being a target of diabetes complications, the influence of high glucose on this compartment has been poorly investigated. Both miRNAs and IGF1R are associated with diabetic complications in different tissues. Herein, we examined the effects of high glucose on the expression of miRNAs and IGF1R signaling pathway in the human myometrium.

Methods
Human myometrial explants were cultivated for 48 h under either high or low glucose conditions. Thereafter, the conditioned medium was collected for biochemical analyses and the myometrial samples were processed for histological examination as well as miRNA and mRNA expression profiling by qPCR.

Results
Myometrial structure and morphology were well preserved after 48 h of cultivation in both high and low glucose conditions. Levels of lactate, creatinine, LDH and estrogen in the supernatant were similar between groups. An explorative screening by qPCR arrays revealed that 6 out of 754 investigated miRNAs were differentially expressed in the high glucose group. Data validation by single qPCR assays confirmed diminished expression of miR-215-5p and miR-296-5p, and also revealed reduced miR-497-3p levels. Accordingly, mRNA levels of IGF1R and its downstream mediators FOXO3 and PDCD4, which are potentially targeted by miR-497-3p, were elevated under high glucose conditions. In contrast, mRNA expression of IGF1, PTEN, and GLUT1 was unchanged.

Conclusions
The human myometrium responds to short-term exposure (48 h) to high glucose concentrations by regulating the expression of miRNAs, IGF1R and its downstream targets.
Nets of Lines with the Combinatorics of the Square Grid and with Touching Inscribed Conics
Authors: Bobenko Alexander I. , Fairley Alexander Y. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn the projective plane, we consider congruences of straight lines with the combinatorics of the square grid and with all elementary quadrilaterals possessing touching inscribed conics. The inscribed conics of two combinatorially neighbouring quadrilaterals have the same touching point on their common edge-line. We suggest that these nets are a natural projective generalisation of incircular nets. It is shown that these nets are planar Koenigs nets. Moreover, we show that general Koenigs nets are characterised by the existence of a 1-parameter family of touching inscribed conics. It is shown that the lines of any grid of quadrilaterals with touching inscribed conics are tangent to a common conic. These grids can be constructed via polygonal chains that are inscribed in conics. The special case of billiards in conics corresponds to incircular nets.
Impact of local atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperature of the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on heat waves over the Korean Peninsula
Authors: Wie Jieun , Moon Byung-Kwon , Hyun Yu-Kyung , Lee Johan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSouth Korea has frequently suffered from heat waves, which are mainly attributable to anomalously prolonged high-pressure systems. There have been many studies regarding the role of large-scale circulation in the Korean Peninsula heatwaves, but the contribution of local-scale circulation and sea surface temperature has not been analyzed. This study investigates the impact of local circulation and sea surface temperature (SST) of the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on the surface temperature variations of the Korean Peninsula. Based on empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the detrended daily surface temperature anomalies from July to August, 1991–2020, high-temperature days were classified into three categories: high pressure (HP), easterly wind (EW), and both high pressure and easterly wind (HPEW). On EW days, the mean surface temperatures in the western part of the peninsula are 1.75 °C higher than those on the eastern part of the windward side, indicating foehn wind warming on the leeward side. Under the synergistic effects of foehn wind warming and high-pressure anomalies, the surface temperature is the highest on HPEW days. Regression analysis also shows that, when the SST of the East Sea increased by 1 °C, the surface temperatures in the western region on HPEW and EW days increased by 0.36 °C and 0.22 °C, respectively. In contrast, the SST effect in the western region is negligible on HP days owing to the lack of foehn wind warming. Sensitivity experiments using the high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model also showed that foehn wind warming becomes stronger on EW and HPEW days with warmer East Sea SST. Our results suggest that local circulation and SST are important factors in high-temperature events in the Korean Peninsula.
Group bargaining in supply chains
Authors: Clark Derek J. , Pereau Jean-Christophe 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe consider a vertical supply chain in which a monopoly retailer produces a good by assembling a number of essential components each of which is owned by a monopoly. Rather than making the common assumption that the component price is set in the same way for each owner, we investigate the possibility that the retailer may profit by bargaining with some owners in a group, whilst others set their component price to maximize own profit. Furthermore, component owners can self-select into one of these groups, and the retailer can affect group formation by adjusting the order of negotiations. We present conditions under which the retailer can encourage the formation of a bargaining group, and thereby improve its own and industry profit.
The Roles of Epinephelus coioides miR-122 in SGIV Infection and Replication
Authors: Sun Hong-Yan , Su Yu-Ling , Li Pin-Hong , He Jia-Yang , Chen He-Jia , Wang Gang , Wang Shao-Wen , Huang Xiao-Hong , Huang You-Hua , Qin Qi-Wei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn mammals, mature miR-122 is 22 nucleotides long and can be involved in regulating a variety of physiological and biological pathways. In this study, the expression profile and effects of grouper Epinephelus coioides miR-122 response to Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) infection were investigated. The sequences of mature microRNAs (miRNAs) from different organisms are highly conserved, and miR-122 from E. coioides exhibits high similarity to that from mammals and other fish. The expression of miR-122 was up-regulated during SGIV infection. Up-regulation of miR-122 could significantly enhance the cytopathic effects (CPE) induced by SGIV, the transcription levels of viral genes (MCP, VP19, LITAF and ICP18), and viral replication; reduce the expression of inflammatory factors (TNF-a, IL-6, and IL-8), and the activity of AP-1 and NF-κB, and miR-122 can bind the target gene p38α MAPK to regulate the SGIV-induced cell apoptosis and the protease activity of caspase-3. The results indicated that SGIV infection can up-regulate the expression of E. coioides miR-122, and up-regulation of miR-122 can affect the activation of inflammatory factors, the activity of AP-1 and NF-κB, and cell apoptosis to regulate viral replication and proliferation.
Safety and effectiveness of everolimus in maintenance kidney transplant patients in the real-world setting: results from a 2-year post-marketing surveillance study in Japan
Authors: Hayase Naomi , Yamada Mariko , Kaneko Shuhei , Watanabe Yoko 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Data on real-world use of everolimus (EVR) in Japanese maintenance kidney transplant (KTx) patients are limited. This post-marketing surveillance study was conducted to assess the safety and effectiveness of EVR, and identify factors affecting renal impairment.

Methods
Adult maintenance KTx patients were enrolled within 14 days of initiating EVR. Patient medical data were collected using electronic data capture case report forms at 6 months, 1, and 2 years after initiating EVR, or at discontinuation.

Results
All patients receiving EVR in Japan during the surveillance period were enrolled (N = 263). Mean time from transplantation to EVR initiation was 75.7 months. Decreased renal function (31.56%) was the primary reason for initiating EVR. In combination with EVR, the mean daily dose of tacrolimus and cyclosporine could be reduced to ~ 79 and ~ 64%, by 2 years, respectively. Incidences of serious adverse events and adverse drug reactions were 15.97 and 49.43%, respectively. Two-year graft survival rate was 95.82% and low in patients with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; modification of diet in renal disease) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (69.57%; P < 0.0001) and urinary protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) ≥ 0.55 g/gCr (84.21%; P = 0.0206). Throughout the survey, mean eGFR values were stable (> 55 mL/min/1.73 m2). Renal impairment was influenced by patient and donor age, eGFR, and UPCR at baseline.

Conclusions
No new safety concerns for the use of EVR in adult maintenance KTx patients were identified. Early EVR initiation may be considered in these patients before renal function deterioration occurs.
The impact of digital pedagogy training on in-service teachers’ attitudes towards digital technologies
Authors: Pongsakdi Nonmanut , Kortelainen Arto , Veermans Marjaana 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTo prepare schools for the demands of the twenty-first century, teachers have been challenged to expand their use of digital technologies in their teaching. This study is a part of OpenDigi, which aimed to create teachers’ communities for enhancing digital pedagogy skills and the use of digital assessment tools. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of digital pedagogy training on in-service teachers’ attitudes towards digital technologies. Self-report questionnaires were collected from 98 elementary and lower secondary school in-service teachers in southern Finland. A total of 22 in-service teachers completed both pre- and post-test. The results showed that the impact of the digital pedagogy training depended on teachers’ ICT confidence level. Teachers who had low confidence in ICT use showed an increased ICT confidence level after the programme, while teachers who already had high confidence in ICT use showed no significant changes in their confidence level. Moreover, the results indicated that the need for ICT support was lower after the training for the teachers in high confidence group, while there were no significant changes in the need for ICT support for the teachers in the low confidence group. These results suggested that the training could fulfil teachers’ needs for ICT support, particularly for the teachers in the high confidence group. The challenges teachers face in expanding the use of digital technologies in practice and their commitment to the digital culture are discussed.
2D:4D Ratio and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Brunei Darussalam
Authors: Lee Shirley H. F. , Aziz Syahiirah Abd , Hamid Mawarni , Lim Ya Chee , Koh David , Chaw Li Ling 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Despite the global increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), relevant research studies are lacking in Brunei Darussalam. Various studies have shown a significant association between a lowered 2D:4D ratio (ratio of second digit/index finger to the fourth digit/ring finger) and ASD, making it one of the potential phenotypic biomarkers for early detection of autism, which is important for early intervention and management.

Objective
The objective of this study is to explore the association between 2D:4D ratio and ASD in Brunei Darussalam, as a potential tool to complement early ASD diagnosis.

Methods
We conducted a case–control study comprising 28 ASD and 62 typically developing (TD) children in the case and control group, respectively (age range: 3–11 years old; median age: 6 years old). Median 2D:4D ratios were measured, compared and analysed between the two groups. Logistic regression models were used to explore potential associations between the median 2D:4D ratio and ASD in respective gender, for both left and right hands, independently.

Results
Our study shows that the median 2D:4D ratio of left hand in ASD males is significantly lower than those in TD males, after adjusting for ethnicity and age [Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.57 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.31–0.96); p = 0.044]. For females, there is no association of ASD with the median left hand 2D:4D ratio [OR = 3.09 (95% CI: 0.98–19.86); p = 0.144] or the median right hand 2D:4D ratio [OR = 1.23 (95% CI: 0.42–3.88); p = 0.702]. Our study also shows a significant positive correlation and/or a reduced asymmetry between the average 2D:4D ratio of left hands and right hands in ASD males (Pearson’s correlation (r) = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.076–0.75, p = 0.023).

Conclusions
There is significant association between a lowered median 2D:4D ratio of the left hand (in males only) and ASD diagnosis. Once validated in a larger sample size, a lowered median 2D:4D ratio on the left hand may be a potential tool to complement ASD diagnosis for males in our study population. There is no association between the median 2D:4D ratio (left or right hands) and ASD in females, which could be due to the small female sample size and/or the possibility of different aetiology for ASD in females. Reduced asymmetry between the average 2D:4D ratio of left and right hands observed in ASD males only (not in ASD females) also suggests the importance of considering gender-specific biomarkers for ASD diagnosis.
The implementation of the unified transform to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with periodic initial conditions
Authors: Deconinck B. , Fokas A. S. , Lenells J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe unified transform method (UTM) provides a novel approach to the analysis of initial boundary value problems for linear as well as for a particular class of nonlinear partial differential equations called integrable. If the latter equations are formulated in two dimensions (either one space and one time, or two space dimensions), the UTM expresses the solution in terms of a matrix Riemann–Hilbert (RH) problem with explicit dependence on the independent variables. For nonlinear integrable evolution equations, such as the celebrated nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation, the associated jump matrices are computed in terms of the initial conditions and all boundary values. The unknown boundary values are characterized in terms of the initial datum and the given boundary conditions via the analysis of the so-called global relation. In general, this analysis involves the solution of certain nonlinear equations. In certain cases, called linearizable, it is possible to bypass this nonlinear step. In these cases, the UTM solves the given initial boundary value problem with the same level of efficiency as the well-known inverse scattering transform solves the initial value problem on the infinite line. We show here that the initial boundary value problem on a finite interval with x-periodic boundary conditions (which can alternatively be viewed as the initial value problem on a circle) belongs to the linearizable class. Indeed, by employing certain transformations of the associated RH problem and by using the global relation, the relevant jump matrices can be expressed explicitly in terms of the so-called scattering data, which are computed in terms of the initial datum. Details are given for NLS, but similar considerations are valid for other well-known integrable evolution equations, including the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) and modified KdV equations.
Predicting blood-to-plasma concentration ratios of drugs from chemical structures and volumes of distribution in humans
Authors: Mamada Hideaki , Iwamoto Kazuhiko , Nomura Yukihiro , Uesawa Yoshihiro 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Despite their importance in determining the dosing regimen of drugs in the clinic, only a few studies have investigated methods for predicting blood-to-plasma concentration ratios (Rb). This study established an Rb prediction model incorporating typical human pharmacokinetics (PK) parameters. Experimental Rb values were compiled for 289 compounds, offering reliable predictions by expanding the applicability domain. Notably, it is the largest list of Rb values reported so far. Subsequently, human PK parameters calculated from plasma drug concentrations, including the volume of distribution (Vd), clearance, mean residence time, and plasma protein binding rate, as well as 2702 kinds of molecular descriptors, were used to construct quantitative structure–PK relationship models for Rb. Among the evaluated PK parameters, logVd correlated best with Rb (correlation coefficient of 0.47). Thus, in addition to molecular descriptors selected by XGBoost, logVd was employed to construct the prediction models. Among the analyzed algorithms, artificial neural networks gave the best results. Following optimization using six molecular descriptors and logVd, the model exhibited a correlation coefficient of 0.64 and a root-mean-square error of 0.205, which were superior to those previously reported for other Rb prediction methods. Since Vd values and chemical structures are known for most medications, the Rb prediction model described herein is expected to be valuable in clinical settings.

Graphical abstract
Effort investment in uncontrollable situations: The moderating role of motivation toward closure
Authors: Szwed Paulina , Kossowska Małgorzata , Bukowski Marcin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAccording to the principle of energy-conservation principle, effort investment is usually reduced in situations that are perceived as uncontrollable. This is because when success is recognized as impossible, any effortful actions are no longer justified. However, we predicted that individual differences in uncertainty tolerance, i.e., the need for closure (NFC), may moderate effort investment in uncontrollable situations. We tested this prediction in two experimental studies in which we exposed participants with differing levels of NFC to uncontrollable events, and indexed effort through the assessment of systolic blood pressure (SBP) responses. As predicted, in the uncontrollability (vs. controllability) condition, effort investment decreased significantly among low- but not high-NFC participants. Since gaining certainty and achieving closure is not a critical epistemic goal for low-NFC individuals, exerting extra effort to gain certainty is therefore no longer justified. On the other hand, high-NFC participants do not withhold their efforts, as they are highly motivated to obtain certainty. These results may help to account for contradictory findings in effort-investment behaviour and add substantively to the literature concerning motivation toward closure.
Serial verb constructions and the syntax-prosody interface
Authors: Tyler Matthew , Kastner Itamar 
Published: February 2021

AbstractRolle (2020) identifies an apparent morphophonological conspiracy in serial verb constructions (SVCs) in Degema. He argues that it constitutes evidence for a partly-unified postsyntactic module, in which morphology and prosody are built in parallel (by ‘Optimality-Theoretic Distributed Morphology’). We argue that the pattern Rolle identifies in Degema SVCs instead results from the simultaneous interaction of two independently-attested syntax-prosody phenomena: (1) the pressure for adjacent verbs in an SVC to form a single prosodic unit, and (2) the suppression of redundant agreement within a single prosodic word (a.k.a. ‘Kinyalolo’s Generalization’). Thus the Degema SVC conspiracy can be localized to the syntax-prosody interface, and there is no need to adopt a unified postsyntactic morphology-prosody module like Rolle’s. We offer some further conceptual critiques of his model.
KTBoost: Combined Kernel and Tree Boosting
Authors: Sigrist Fabio 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe introduce a novel boosting algorithm called ‘KTBoost’ which combineskernel boosting andtree boosting. In each boosting iteration, the algorithm adds either a regression tree or reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) regression function to the ensemble of base learners. Intuitively, the idea is that discontinuous trees and continuous RKHS regression functions complement each other, and that this combination allows for better learning of functions that have parts with varying degrees of regularity such as discontinuities and smooth parts. We empirically show that KTBoost significantly outperforms both tree and kernel boosting in terms of predictive accuracy in a comparison on a wide array of data sets.
Formalisation of Bayesian concealment
Authors: Takeuti Izumi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn order to assure the concealment by cryptographic protocols, it is an effective measure to prove the concealment in a formal logical system. In the contemporary context of cryptographic protocol, the concealment has to be proved by using probability theory. There are several concepts of concealment in probability theory. One of them is Bayesian concealment. This study proposes a formal logical system to prove the Bayesian concealment of a secret sharing scheme.
Synthesis of gold, platinum, and gold-platinum alloy nanoparticle colloids with high-power megahertz-repetition-rate lasers: the importance of the beam guidance method
Authors: Waag Friedrich , Streubel René , Gökce Bilal , Barcikowski Stephan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractNanoparticles of noble metals and their alloys are of particular interest for biomedicine and catalysis applications. The method of laser ablation of bulk metals in liquids gives facile access to such particles as high-purity colloids and is already used in industrial research. However, the method still lacks sufficient productivity for industrial implementation into series production. The use of innovative laser technology may help to further disseminate this colloid synthesis method in the near future. Ultrashort-pulsed lasers with high powers and megahertz-repetition-rates became available recently, but place high demands on the accurate optical laser pulse delivery on the target. Full lateral pulse separation is necessary to avoid a reduction of nanoparticle productivity due to pulse shielding. In this study, we compare flexible but rather slow galvanometer scanning with much faster but more expensive polygon-wheel scanning in their performance in the production of colloidal nanoparticles by laser ablation in liquid. Both beam guidance technologies are applied in the laser ablation of gold, platinum, and a gold-rich platinum alloy in micromolar saline water. We found that the dimensions of the scan pattern are crucial. A threshold pattern length exists, at which one scan technology becomes more productive than the other one. In addition, a much lower productivity was found for the ablation of gold compared to that of platinum. Alloying gold with only 10 at.% of platinum improved the productivity nearly to the level of platinum, reaching 8.3 g/h.