bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CircRNA CircCCT3 Acts as a Sponge of miR-613 to Promote Tumor Growth of Pancreatic Cancer Through Regulating VEGFA/VEGFR2 Signaling
Authors: Hou Ji-Ping , Men Xue-Bo , Yang Lian-Ying , Han En-Kun , Han Chun-Qi , Liu Li-Bin 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective This study was aimed at investigating the involvement of CircCCT3 in PC and study its interactions and functioning during the PC progression in vitro and in vivo by the use of molecular biology and bioinformatic methods.Methods The expressions of CircCCT3 and miR-613 in pancreatic carcinoma tissues and cell lines were evaluated by quantitative realtime PCR .The relationship between clinical pathologic features as well as survival rate and CircCCT3 expression was analyzed with Chi-square test and Kaplan–Meier method. CCK-8, wound healing , transwell assays and FITC-AnnexinV/PI assay were used to assess cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis after CircCCT3 overexpression or downregulation. Dual-Luciferase reporterassay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) ,RNA pull down and fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) assays were performed to validate the potential interaction of CircCCT3, miR-613 and VEGFA.Nude mouse xenograft tumor assay was used to detect CircCCT3 effects on pancreatic tumorigenesis in vivo.Western blotting analysis was performed to examine the VEGFA and VEGFR2 protein expressions following.Results CircCCT3 expression was significantly increased in PC tissues and cell lines. CircCCT3 expression was negatively correlated with miR-613 expression. Moreover, it was found that CircCCT3 promote cell proliferation, migration, invasion and inhibited cell apoptosis in PC cells. CircCCT3 acted as a sponge for miR-613 to facilitate VEGFA and VEGFR2 expression. si-CirCCT3also inhibited tumor growth of PC in nude mice.si-CircCCT3 reduced VEGFA and VEGFR2 expression, whereas overexpression of CircCCT3 increased VEGFA and VEGFR2 expression.Conclusions Increased CircCCT3 suggests a poor prognosis in PC patients and promotes the migration and invasion through targeting VEGFA/VEGFR2 signaling. CircCCT3 may serve as a potential and promising therapeutic target for PC treatment.
Ginsenoside Rb1 Induces a Pro-Neurogenic Microglial Phenotype via PPARγ Activation in Male Mice Exposed to Chronic Mild Stress
Authors: You Zili , Zhang Lijuan , Tang Minmin , Xie Xiaofang , Zhao Qiuying , Hu Nan , He Hui , Liu Gangcai , Huang Shiqi , Peng Cheng , Xiao Ying 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
BackgroundAnti-inflammatory approaches are emerging as a new strategy for treatment of depressive disorders. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1), a major component of Panax ginseng, can inhibit inflammatory cascade and alleviate depressive behaviors. Microglia can promote or inhibit adult hippocampal neurogenesis according to their functional phenotypes. Here, we examined whether GRb1 may exert antidepressant effects by promoting a pro-neurogenic phenotype of microglia and thereby increasing neurogenesis. MethodsThe antidepressant effects of GRb1 or the licensed antidepressant imipramine (IMI) were assessed in chronic mild stress (CMS)-exposed male mice. The depressive-like behaviors of mice were evaluated by sucrose preference test, forced swimming test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST). The microglial phenotypes were identified by molecular markers and morphological properties, analyzed by RT-qPCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Effect of GRb1-treated microglia on adult hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo and in vitro were detected using immunofluorescence staining. ResultsBehavioral assessment indicated that GRb1 or IMI treatment alleviated depressive-like behaviors in CMS-exposed mice. Immunofluorescence examinationdemonstrated that GRb1 induced a pro-neurogenic phenotype of microglia via activating PPARγ in vivo and in vitro, which were reversed by PPARγ inhibitor GW9662. In addition, GRb1-treated microglia increased the proliferation and differentiation of neural precursor cells.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrated that GRb1 alleviated depressive-like behaviors of CMS-exposed male mice mainly through PPARγ-mediated microglial activation and improvement of adult hippocampus neurogenesis.
Development of a Low-Frequency Vibration-Assisted Drilling Device for Difficult-to-Cut Materials
Authors: Jiao Feng , Li Yuanxiao , Wang Dong , Tong Jinglin , Niu Ying 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In the drilling process of difficult-to-cut materials, conventional drilling has resulted in various problems such as high drilling temperature and poor machining quality. Low-frequency vibration-assisted drilling has great potential in overcoming these problems since broken chips are generated. In order to promote the application of low-frequency vibration-assisted drilling device in machining difficult-to-cut materials. In this paper, a low-frequency vibration-assisted drilling device is developed by using a novel ring flexure hinge as the elastic recovery mechanism. First, based on the theory of elastic mechanics and mechanical vibration, the stiffness of the ring flexure hinge is designed theoretically, and the influence of its structural parameters on its deflection is analyzed. And then the correctness of the theoretical design is further verified by static and dynamic simulation and stiffness test. Finally, the vibration performance of the device is tested under no-load condition, and the actual drilling test is conducted to verify the drilling performance. The results show that the device could realize the axial low-frequency vibration with constant frequency-to-rotation ratio and amplitude stepless adjustment and present good working stability under no-load and load conditions. In the actual drilling test of titanium alloy and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)/ titanium alloy laminated structure, the device under appropriate processing parameters breaks the titanium alloy chip into small pieces and reduces the drilling temperature by 44% and inhibits the secondary damage of CFRP. It is demonstrated that the device could meet the actual processing requirements. And it also provides guidance for the design of low-frequency vibration-assisted drilling device.
Effectiveness and Preparedness of Institutions’ E-learning Method During COVID-19 Pandemic for residents’ medical training in Saudi Arabia: A pilot study
Authors: Alsaywid Basim , Lytras Miltiadis D. , Abuzenada Maha , Lytra Hara , Housawi Abdulrahman , Abuznadah Wesam , Alhaidar Sami A. , Apostolaki Areti , Sultan Lama , Badawoud Hala 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Under the urgent circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic, higher education institutions of an international scale have resorted to online education methods, exclusive or not. Among those, medical institutions are under double pressure, fighting the pandemic’s effects and, at the same time providing efficient clinical training to their residents.Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional study design. The survey’s sample included 300 medical students and residents of multiple training levels and specialties, coming from more than 15 different cities of Saudi Arabia. Filling the questionnaire required specific inclusion criteria and all obtained data were secured by Saudi Commission of Health specialty. Main objective was to evaluate the quality of e-learning methods, provided by medical universities.Results: The study found that the frequency of digital education use increased by approximately 61% during the coronavirus crisis, while almost 9 out of 10 residents have used some e-learning platform. It was reported that before the pandemic, participants’ online training was deemed to be rather ineffective, given the rate of 3.65 out of 10. However, despite the increase in e-learning use after COVID-19, many obstacles arose during adaptation process, according to our survey: lectures and training sessions were not conducted as per curriculum (56.33%); both students and instructors’ academic behavior and attitude changed (48.33%); engagement, satisfaction and motivation in class was rated low (5.93, 6.33 & 6.54 out of 10 accordingly), compared to the desired ones. Still, participants accredited e-learning as a potential mandatory tool (77.67%) and pinpointed the qualifications that in their opinion will maximize educational impact. Conclusions: The study concluded that innovative restructuring of online education should be based on defined critical success factors (technical support, content enhancement, pedagogy etc.) and if possible, set priority levels, so that a more permanent e-learning practice is achievable.
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanoparticles and Thin Films of PbS by a High-performance Procedure Using CBD
Authors: Zaragoza-Palacios Beatriz Guadalupe , Torres-Duarte Angel Roberto , Castillo Santos Jesús 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In this research, nanoparticles and nanostructured thin films of lead sulfide are synthesized by using physicochemical methods at room conditions or suchlike conditions, at short reaction times; furthermore, is used simple laboratory equipment and a simplified experimental configuration. Both syntheses do not employ, ammonium or ammonia to elaborate PbS. The main used precursors for both processes are lead acetate, as the lead source, polyethyleneimine as the complexing agent, and thioacetamide, as the sulfur source. Acetylacetone has been employed as a dispersant agent to elaborate PbS nanoparticles. While the sodium hydroxide maintains a high pH, to elaborate PbS thin films. The characterizations reveal the existence of PbS nanoparticles whose size is smaller than 10nm and with a band gap of 3.35 eV. On the other hand, the resulting thin film is made up of PbS little crystallites of 22 nm in a homogeneous way and its band gap is 1.85 eV.
Assessing local and spatial uncertainty with nonparametric geostatistics
Authors: Thiesen Stephanie , Ehret Uwe 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Uncertainty quantification is an important topic for many environmental studies, such as identifying zones where potentially toxic materials exist in the soil. In this work, the nonparametric geostatistical framework of histogram via entropy reduction (HER) is adapted to address local and spatial uncertainty in the context of risk of soil contamination. HER works with empirical probability distributions, coupling information theory and probability aggregation methods to estimate conditional distributions, which gives it the flexibility to be tailored for different data and application purposes. To explore the method adaptation for handling estimations of threshold-exceeding probabilities, it is used to map the risk of soil contamination by lead in the well-known dataset of the region of Swiss Jura. Its results are compared to indicator kriging (IK) and to an ordinary kriging (OK) model available in literature. For the analyzed dataset, IK and HER achieved the best performance and exhibited comparable accuracy and precision of their predictions. When compared to IK, HER has shown to be a unique approach for dealing with uncertainty estimation in a fine resolution, without the need of modeling multiple indicator variograms, correcting order-relation violations, or defining interpolation/extrapolation of distribution. Finally, to avoid the well-known smoothing effect when using point estimations (this is the case with kriging, but also with HER) and to provide maps that reflect the spatial fluctuation of the revealed reality, we demonstrate how HER can be used in combination with sequential simulation to assess spatial uncertainty (uncertainty jointly over several locations).
Status of metals in serum and urine samples of chronic kidney disease patients in a rural area of Bangladesh: an observational study
Authors: Choudhury Tasrina Rabia , Zaman Sk. Zubaer , Chowdhury Tanzina Iveen , Begum Bilkis Ara , Islam Md. Anwarul , Rahman Md. Mostafizur 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The traditional causes of Chronic Kidney Damage (CKD) are Diabetes and Hypertension. However, recent studies reported the possible relations between metal exposure and CKD. This study aims to explore the status of metals in CKD patients compared to their healthy counterparts at Narayanganj, Bangladesh, through a cross-sectional study. In this study, 50 volunteers have involved; 30 CKD patients and 20 healthy controls. Five metals were measured from serum (Cu and Zn) and urine (Pb, Cd, and Cr) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Varian AA240 FS). Compared to the controls and the CKD patients were exhibited a significantly higher level of Pb and Cr in their urine samples. As expected, it was observed that the cases had higher levels of Pb, Cd, and Cr in their urine. This signifies a potential association between heavy metal exposure and CKD. The serum levels of Cu were much higher than expected for CKD patients than controls, and the Zn values were in accordance with established literature. However, the level of Zn in blood was significantly lower in the CKD group compared to the control. This data suggests that the Cu imbalance in the serum of the CKD subjects might have been related to a myriad of reasons, one of which being exposed to large concentrations of the nephrotoxic metals such as Pb and Cr in this study. Large scale epidemiological study is warranted in Bangladesh to examine environmental health in relation to nephrology.
WITHDRAWN: Examining and Investigating the Impact of Demographic Characteristics and Chronic Disease with Mortality of COVID-19: Retrospective Study
Authors: Mutair Abbas Al , Mutairi Alya Al , Alhumaid Saad , Abdullah Syed Maaz , Zaidi Abdul Rehman Zia , Al-Omari Awad 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has burdened hospitals globally and there is currently no proven treatment available. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether demographic characteristics (age and gender) and non-communicable diseases (hypertension and diabetes mellitus) have a significant association with mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This is a retrospective design where we used descriptive and inferential analysis have been employed to analyze the data. Binary logistic regression was done to study the connection between comorbidities and mortality of COVID-19. Results: 43 (86%) of the male patients were non-survivors while 7 (14%) of the female patients were survivors. The odds of non-survivors among hypertensive patients are 3.56 times higher than those who are not having a history of hypertension (HTN). The odds of non-survivors among diabetic patients are 5.17 times higher than those who are not having a history of diabetes (DM). The odds of non-survivors are 2.77 times higher among those who have a history of HTN and DM as compared to those who did not have a history of HTN and DM.Conclusions: Those patients that had a history of hypertension and diabetes had a higher probability of non-survival in contrast to those who did not have a history of diabetes and hypertension. Further studies are required to study the association of comorbidities with COVID-19 and mortality.
Oxidative Torrefaction of Sunflower Husk Pellets&nbsp;in the Kaolin Layer
Authors: Islamova Svetlana , Ermolaev Denis , Bulygina Kseny 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In this paper oxidative torrefaction of sunflower husk pellets in the kaolin layer was firstly investigated. Besides, influence of kaolin without use of special additives on limitation of the oxygen flow from environment into the sunflower husk was analyzed. Torrefaction temperature, torrefaction time, and height of kaolin layer over the range of 240–280°C, 30–60 min, and 3–5 cm, respectively were varied. Analysis showed that increase of temperature led to more significant influence of layer height on mass yield. Energy yield gradually decreased with increasing torrefaction temperature and torrefaction time, and height of kaolin layer had the opposite effect on the energy yield. With the increase of torrefaction intensity, drier fuel with higher hydrophobicity was formed. Torrefaction resulted to biomass destruction, although the fiber structure was retained.
Cyclotron Production of 225Ac from an electroplated 226Ra Target
Authors: Nagatsu Kotaro , Suzuki Hisashi , Fukada Masami , Ito Taku , Ichinose Jun , Honda Yoshio , Minegishi Katsuyuki , Higashi Tatsuya , Zhang Ming-Rong 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose
We demonstrate a cyclotron production of high-quality 225Ac using an electroplated 226Ra target.
Methods
All 226Ra used in this work was extracted from legacy Ra sources using a chelating resin. The subsequent ion-exchange purification gave pure 226Ra with a certain amount of carrier Ba. The radium target was prepared by electroplating. We successfully deposited about 1 mg (mCi) of 226Ra on a target box. Activation was performed by 16.5 MeV protons (on the target) at 20 µA for 5 h as the maximum. Purification of 225Ac as well as 226Ra recovery was performed using two functional resins with various concentrations of nitric acid. Cooling of the intermediate 225Ac for 2–3 weeks decayed the major byproduct of 226Ac and increased the radionuclidic purity of 225Ac. Then the same separation protocol was repeated to provide high-quality 225Ac.
Results
We obtained 225Ac at a yield of about 2.4 MBq (65 µCi) at EOB, and the subsequent primal purification gave 1.7 MBq (48 µCi) of 225Ac with 226Ac/225Ac ratio of < 4% at 4 d from EOB. Additional cooling time coupled with the repeated separation procedure (secondary purification) effectively increased the 225Ac (4n + 1 series) radionuclidic purity up to 99+%, which showed a similar identification to a commercially available 225Ac originating from a 229Th/225Ac generator.
Conclusion
The 226Ra(p,2n)225Ac reaction and the appropriate purification procedure has the potential to be a major alternative pathway for 225Ac production and can be performed in any facility with a compact cyclotron to address the increasing demand for 225Ac.
Topological phases, topological phase transition, and bulk-edge correspondence of magnetized cold plasmas
Authors: Fu Yichen , Qin Hong 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Plasmas have been recently studied as topological materials. We attempt at a comprehensive picture of the topological phases and the bulk-edge correspondence of magnetized cold plasmas. We find that there are 10 topological phases in the parameter space of density n, magnetic field B, and parallel wavenumber k_z, separated by the surfaces of Langmuir wave-L wave resonance, Langmuir wave-cyclotron wave resonance, and zero magnetic field. For fixed B and k_z, only the phase transition at the Langmuir wave-cyclotron wave resonance corresponds to edge modes. A sufficient and necessary condition for the existence of this new type of edge modes is given and verified by numerical solutions. The edge modes fall into four categories characterized by different behaviors of the Fermi arcs. We demonstrate that edge modes exist not only on a plasma-vacuum interface but also on more general plasma-plasma interfaces. This finding broadens the possible applications of these exotic excitations in space and laboratory plasmas.
Improving Cyclability of Lithium Metal Anode via Constructing Atomic Interlamellar Ion Channel for Lithium Sulfur Battery
Authors: Yang Mao , Jue Nan , Chen Yuanfu , Wang Yong 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The lithium (Li) ions uniform through the region between separator and lithium anode deliver the critical feature for the achievement of even Li deposition, which is very important for the safe operation of lithium metal batteries, especially for the Li-sulfur (Li-S) battery. The commercial separators such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) prepared by a wet or dry processes, however, allow the generation of plentiful porosities, resulting in the uneven Li ion stripping/platting and finally the formation of Li dendrites. Thence, we construct an atomic interlamellar ion channel by introducing the layered montmorillonite (MMT) on the surface of separator to guide the Li ion flux and achieve the stable Li deposition. The atomic interlamellar ion channel with a spacing of 1.4 nm has strong absorption capacity to the electrolyte and reserve capacity for the Li ions, thus promoting rapidly transfer of Li ions and making an even deposition of Li ions at the anode. As a result, when assembled with the proposed separator, the Coulombic efficiency (CE) of Li||Cu batteries archives 98.2 % after 200 cycles and the Li||Li symmetric batteries actualize their stable platting/stripping even after 800 h. Importantly, the proposed separator allows 140 % specific capacity increase after 190 cycles as employing the Li-S batteries.
Mapping and genetic overlapping of QTLs related to drought and heat tolerances in spring wheat
Authors: Shi Lei , Bai Haibo , Zhu Yongxing , Lv Xuelian , Li Shuhua , Hui Jian , Ye Xingguo , Dong Jianli 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping associated with wheat drought and heat tolerances was characterized in this study. There were 25, 25, 23 and 17 QTLs controlling chlorophyll content, leaf water content, spike grain weight and thousand-kernel weight, respectively. The QTLs related to drought tolerance were located on 7 wheat chromosomes with a phenotypic contribution rate of 9.38–34.20%, related to heat tolerance on 9 wheat chromosomes with a phenotypic contribution rate of 9.03–35.55%, and related to combined drought and heat tolerances on 11 wheat chromosomes with a phenotypic contribution rate of 9.09–33.11%, respectively. Among them, 35 QTLs were newly located, in which 16 were associated with heat tolerance, and 19 associated with combined drought and heat tolerances. We found 2 overlapping sites related to drought tolerance on chromosomes 2A and 3B, 3 overlapping sites related to heat tolerance on chromosomes 2A, 7B and 6D, and 4 overlapping sites related to combined tolerances for drought and heat on chromosomes 2A, 2B and 4D. The overlapping QTLs with stable expression under different environmental stresses were located on chromosomes 2A (gwm294-wmc644), 3B (wmc808-wmc78) and 7B (wmc83-wmc276). The overlapping loci involving in pleiotropism or a close linkage have high phenotypic contribution rates and environmental stability.
Cardiovascular mortality risk among patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms：a registry-based analysis
Authors: Sun Shenghong , Wang Wei , He Chiyi 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
The research aimed to explore mortality patterns and quantitatively assess risks of cardiovascular mortality (CVM) in patients with primary gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs).
Methods
We extracted data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database for patients diagnosed with GEP-NENs between 2000 and 2015. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and the absolute excess risk were obtain based on the reference of general US population. The cumulative incidence function curves were constructed by all causes of death. Predictors for CVM were identified using multivariate competing risk model.
Results
Overall, 42027 patients were enrolled from the SEER database, of which 1598 (3.8%) died from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The SMR for CVM was 1.20 (95%CI: 1.14–1.26) among GEP-NENs patients. The cumulative mortality of CVD was the lowest in all causes of death, including primary cancer, other cancer, and other non-cancer disease. Furthermore, age of diagnosis, race, Hispanic origin, gender, marital status, year of diagnosis, grade, education level, region, SEER stage, primary site, surgery and chemotherapy were identified as independent predictors of CVM in GEP-NENs patients.
Conclusions
GEP-NENs patients have a significantly increased risk of CVM in contrast to the general population. Better cardioprotective interventions might be considered as a preferred method to protect heart for GEP-NENs patients.