bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainability assessment of Iranian petrochemical companies in stock exchange: A data envelopment analysis‐based approach
Authors: Fallah Mohammad , Hosseinzadeh Lotfi Farhad 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe assessment of efficiency is always of particular importance according to different indicators from different perspectives. There are various techniques for evaluating petrochemical companies, among which the data envelopment analysis technique is one of the best techniques that can be used to calculate the relative efficiency of a set of decision‐making units with network structures. In the present paper, seven petrochemical companies listed in the Iranian stock exchange were analysed. These companies were evaluated in terms of financial performance and sustainable development, and their relative efficiency was calculated during 2015–2016. According to the obtained results, only Marun Petrochemical Co. was found to be efficient in all areas and years. The results also showed that four companies were efficient in financial terms over the period under study. In the general conclusion regarding the companies' performance, Marun was ranked first, Jam was ranked second, and Zagros was ranked third.
Foliar pH, an emerging plant functional trait: Biogeography and variability across northern China
Authors: Liu Sining , Yan Zhengbing , Chen Yahan , Zhang Meixia , Chen Jiao , Han Wenxuan 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAimsPlant pH is a functional trait deserving more attention than the current few studies at local scales, given its roles in nutrient cycling and physiological processes. How plant pH varies and is regulated at large scales remain unclear. Here we explore the biogeography of foliar pH and the potential drivers.LocationEast–west transect of northern China with increasing aridity westward.Time period2016–2017.Major taxaSpermatophytes.MethodsWe analysed foliar pH of plants from 22 sites across northern China, and investigated its spatial pattern and relationships with climate, soil, and plant functional type (PFT).ResultsFoliar pH was generally acidic (5.33 ± .04) in northern China, showing distinct geographical variability: foliar pH decreased significantly westward at an average rate of 0.25 units per 10° longitude. Climate, soil and PFT explained 11, 17 and 59% of the variance in foliar pH, respectively. Foliar pH decreased (about 0.16) with mean annual precipitation (per 100 mm), soil stress coefficient (per 10%) and aridity index (per 0.14), but increased with mean annual temperature (per 2 °C). Across PFTs, herbs exhibited higher foliar pH than woody plants (6.0 vs. 4.9); gymnosperms relative to angiosperms had lower foliar pH (3.7 vs. 5.6); and monocotyledons showed higher foliar pH compared with dicotyledons (6.0 vs. 5.5).Main conclusionsThis study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the evident pattern of foliar pH over a large spatial scale. Foliar pH is higher in warm‐arid northwestern relative to cold‐humid northeastern China and in later‐ than earlier‐evolved plants. Similar to leaf mineral elements, foliar‐pH biogeography is shaped by the joint effects of climate, soil and PFT; PFT and moisture are the most influential factors. Our findings provide a new impetus for understanding functional biogeography, and lay the groundwork for research on the linkage of foliar pH to ecological functions and macroevolutionary implications.
Local structural changes due to the electric field‐induced migration of oxygen vacancies at Fe‐doped SrTiO3 interfaces
Authors: Ascienzo David , Kurt Onur , Greenbaum Steve , Bayer Thorsten J. M. , Russell Maier , Wang Jianjun , Randall Clive A. , Ren Yuhang 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWe report on our study of dc voltage‐induced structural changes at reduced and oxidized Fe‐doped SrTiO3 (Fe:STO) electrode interfaces using second harmonic generation (SHG) together with photoluminescence (PL) method. We show that oxygen vacancy defects play a critical role in determining the local electrical and structural properties of interfacial depletion regions at Schottky junctions. The SHG results show that the dc electric field causes oxygen ions and vacancies to displace toward the anode and cathode in the low field regime, respectively. This process forms electrostrictive distortions within local interfacial depletion regions which are described by Fe:Ti‐O bond stretching and bending. Differences in the EFISHG responses from the oxidized and reduced crystal interfaces are explained according to local oxygen vacancy concentrations and dynamics and their effects on the Schottky barrier heights and depletion region widths at each interface. These results are further supported by our PL measurements. Oxygen ion migration toward the Fe:STO surface leads to enhanced fluorescence intensities from in‐gap acceptor states. We demonstrate that SHG and PL measurements are well‐suited for understanding and resolving the underlying causes of dielectric breakdown processes and device failure brought on by dc electric field and ionic defect migrations in perovskite‐type electroceramics.
Computational modeling of grain boundary electrostatic effect in polycrystalline SrTiO3 thin film
Authors: Cao Ye , Wang Jianjun , Chen Long‐Qing 
Published: December 2018

AbstractUnderstanding the leakage current caused by charge transport and local accumulation in dielectric oxides is critical for predicting and extending the lifetime of dielectric‐based electronic devices. The internal interfaces such as grain boundaries (GBs) inside a dielectric induce local strain and charge segregation and thus further influence the charge transport behavior. In this work, we employ computational modeling based on the Schottky barrier model and nonlinear Nernst‐Planck transport equation is used to study the oxygen vacancy transport and leakage current evolution in a SrTiO3 thin film under a DC bias with planar electrodes. It is found that in polycrystalline SrTiO3, the GB‐bounded donors create an electric potential barrier and a local depletion region near the GBs, impeding the oxygen vacancy transport and suppressing the leakage current increase compared to a single crystal SrTiO3 thin film. The effects of temperature, the magnitude of an applied field, the number density of GBs, the GB‐bounded donor concentration, and the depletion layer width on the leakage current evolution are systematically investigated. The simulation results are compared with the analytical solutions, as well as with existing theoretical and experimental reports. This work thus helps shed light to the grain‐structure dependent electrostatic behaviors in dielectric thin films under different intrinsic and extrinsic conditions.
Low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound attenuates cardiac inflammation of CVB3‐induced viral myocarditis via regulation of caveolin‐1 and MAPK pathways
Authors: Zheng Cheng , Wu Sen‐Min , Lian Hao , Lin Yuan‐Zheng , Zhuang Rong , Thapa Saroj , Chen Quan‐Zhi , Chen Yi‐Fan , Lin Jia‐Feng 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe aggressive immunological activity elicited by acute viral myocarditis contributes to a large amount of cardiomyocytes loss and poor prognosis of patients in clinic. Low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), which is an effective treatment modality for osteoarthropathy, has been recently illustrated regulating the overactive inflammatory response in various diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate whether LIPUS could attenuate coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection‐induced injury by coordinating the inflammatory response. Male BALB/c mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with CVB3 to establish the model of acute viral myocarditis. LIPUS treatment was given on Day 1, Day 1, 3 and Day 1, 3, 5 post‐inoculation, respectively. All mice were followed up for 14 days. Day 1, 3, 5 LIPUS treatment significantly improved the survival rate, attenuated the ventricular dysfunction and ameliorated the cardiac histopathological injury of CVB3‐infected mice. Western blotting analysis showed Day 1, 3, 5 LIPUS treatment decreased pro‐inflammatory cytokines, increased the activation of caveolin‐1 and suppressed p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) signallings in heart tissue. RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to simulate the augmented inflammatory response in vivo. LIPUS treatment on RAW264.7 inhibited the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, activated caveolin‐1 and suppressed p38 MAPK and ERK signallings. Transfecting RAW264.7 with caveolin‐1 siRNA blunted the suppression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and MAPK signallings by LIPUS treatment. Taken together, we demonstrated for the first time that LIPUS treatment attenuated the aggressive inflammatory response during acute viral myocarditis. The underlying mechanism may be activating caveolin‐1 and suppressing MAPK signallings.
Transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed genes and pathways associated with mitoxantrone treatment prostate cancer
Authors: Li Sanqiang , Li Ruifang , Ma Yu , Zhang Cong , Huang Tao , Zhu Sha 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe global physiological function of specifically expressed genes of mitoxantrone (MTX)‐resistant prostate cancer (PCa) is unclear. In this study, gene expression pattern from microarray data was investigated for identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MTX‐resistant PCa xenografts. Human PCa cell lines DU145 and PC3 were cultured in vitro and xenografted into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, treated with MTX intragastrically, three times a week until all mice relapsed. Gene expression profiles of the xenografts from castrated mice were performed with Affymetrix human whole genomic oligonucleotide microarray. The Cytoscape software was used to investigate the relationship between proteins and the signalling transduction network. A total of 355 overlapping genes were differentially expressed in MTX‐resistant DU145R and PC3R xenografts. Of these, 16 genes were selected to be validated by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) in these xenografts, and further tested in a set of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded and optimal cutting temperature (OCT) clinical tumour samples. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses revealed that these DEGs were closely related to cellular activity, androgen synthesis, DNA damage and repair, also involved in the ERK/MAPK, PI3K/serine‐threonine protein kinase, also known as protein kinase B, PKB (AKT) and apoptosis signalling pathways. This exploratory analysis provides information about potential candidate genes and may bring new insights into the molecular cascade involvement in MTX‐resistant PCa.
LncRNA NR2F2‐AS1 promotes tumourigenesis through modulating BMI1 expression by targeting miR‐320b in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Shijie , Zhang Xiaoyun , Sun Qianqian , Zhuang Chunbo , Li Guanlin , Sun Li , Wang Huaqi 
Published: December 2018

AbstractRecently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are attracting wide attention in the field of cancer research because of its important role in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. But studies on the biological effects and relevant mechanisms of lncRNAs in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain few and need to be enriched. Our study discussed the expression and biological effects of LncRNA NR2F2‐AS1, and further explored its possible molecular mechanisms. As a result, elevated expression of NR2F2‐AS1 was detected in NSCLC tissues and cells and was remarkably associated with the tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage and the status of lymphatic metastasis of patients. Down‐regulated NR2F2‐AS1 contributed to the promotion of cell apoptosis and the inhibition of cell proliferation and invasion in A549 and SPC‐A‐1 cells in vivo and vitro. Through bioinformatics analysis, NR2F2‐AS1 functions as a ceRNA directly binding to miR‐320b, BMI1 was a direct target of miR‐320b. Combined with the following cellular experiments, the data showed that NR2F2‐AS1 may influence the NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis through regulating miR‐320b targeting BMI1.
Targeting nucleolin to obstruct vasculature feeding with an intelligent DNA nanorobot
Authors: Li Hua , Liu Jin , Gu Hongzhou 
Published: December 2018

AbstractA prototype of DNA nanorobot with the ability to transport molecular payloads was designed to target cancer cells in tissue culture. Moreover, a further step was taken to succeed in the first in vivo application of the DNA nanorobot for cancer therapy. The robot was constructed using aptamer and DNA origami to fold a 90‐nm tubular device to carry the blood coagulation protease thrombin inside, shielded from circulating platelets and plasma fibrinogen. The recognition and binding of the aptamer to its tumour‐specific target molecule triggered the robot unfolding to expose thrombin to the blood, which in turn activated coagulation at the local tumour site, resulting in tumour necrosis and inhibition of tumour growth. Since all solid‐tumour feeding vessels are virtually the same, this strategy could be effective against many types of malignant diseases.
Salivary S100 proteins screen periodontitis among Korean adults
Authors: Karna Sandeep , Shin Yoo Jin , Kim Sungtae , Kim Hyun‐Duck 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAimThis study aims to evaluate the association of salivary S100A8 and A9 proteins with periodontitis and its screening ability for periodontitis cross‐sectionally.Material and MethodsWe selected 326 participants from the Yangpyeong Cohort: 218 participants with periodontitis and 108 participants without periodontitis. Stage II‐IV periodontitis according to the modification of new international classification of periodontitis was considered as periodontitis. S100A8 and A9 were assayed using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit. Age, sex, education, smoking, drinking, exercise, and metabolic syndrome were factored as confounders. Analyses of covariance and logistic regression analysis were applied to evaluate the association of S100A8 and A9 with periodontitis. Receiver operating characteristic curve was applied for screening ability.ResultsThose with periodontitis compared to those without periodontitis showed higher adjusted amount of S100A8 (3694 versus 6757 ng/ml, p < 0.001), but less adjusted amount of S100A9 (1341 versus 1030 ng/ml, p = 0.015). The screening ability of S100A8 and A9 on periodontitis was c‐statistics of 0.69 (p < 0.001) for both S100A8 and A9, 0.67 for S100A8 and 0.63 (p < 0.001) for S100A9.ConclusionsOverall, salivary S100A8 and S100A9 could be practical markers for periodontitis. Its screening ability for periodontitis could be beneficial in clinics and at home.
Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 is inversely associated with liver fibrotic markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Miyauchi Shozo , Miyake Teruki , Miyazaki Masumi , Eguchi Toru , Niiya Tetsuji , Yamamoto Shin , Senba Hidenori , Furukawa Shinya , Matsuura Bunzo , Hiasa Yoichi 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAims/IntroductionInsulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) regulates mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, inflammation, stellate cells and insulin sensitivity in the liver, and it might be associated with liver fibrosis from non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis. In contrast, type 2 diabetes mellitus is closely associated with the progression from non‐alcoholic fatty liver to non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, so careful evaluation of liver fibrosis is required for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, we examined the relationship between IGF‐1 and liver fibrosis markers in type 2 diabetes patients without obvious alcoholic consumption and determined whether IGF‐1 is associated with fibrosis of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease.Materials and MethodsWe selected 415 patients with type 2 diabetes without obvious alcohol consumption, who were admitted to Uwajima City Hospital between May 2013 and December 2016. We collected and analyzed clinical data to determine correlations between IGF‐1 or IGF‐1 standard deviation score and fibrosis‐4 index or 7S domain of type IV collagen.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis showed that the fibrosis‐4 index was inversely correlated with IGF‐1 and IGF‐1 standard deviation score. Furthermore, the 7S domain of type IV collagen was also inversely correlated with IGF‐1 and IGF‐1 standard deviation score.ConclusionsIGF‐1 was inversely correlated with liver fibrosis markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients without obvious alcoholic consumption. Measuring serum IGF‐1 levels might help clinicians to identify type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with advanced non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Assent to Faith, Theology and Scientia in Aquinas
Authors: Van Nieuwenhove Rik 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThis paper revisits Aquinas's understanding of theology as a science based on a participation in the divine scientia. Our modern presuppositions (in terms of “autonomous” reason and philosophy as a discipline utterly separate from theology) often appear to render Aquinas's claims implausible. In this contribution it is argued that (a) all sciences are fiduciary in the broad sense (with the exception of those that rely on principles per se nota) and (b) that first principles can only be accepted or rejected, but not refuted or demonstrated within the relevant discipline. From this, two conclusions can be drawn: first, despite its reliance on revelation theology's case is, therefore, not as peculiar as modern readers might initially assume: every discipline operates with key assumptions it simply accepts. Secondly, given the role of first principles, to characterise Aquinas's account of the assent of faith as fideist or voluntarist is beside the point, for you can only accept or reject first principles. The contribution ends by suggesting that assent to the articles of faith is not an extraneous acquiescence in assertions of divine authority either, as a reading of the first question of the Secunda Secundae makes clear. Indeed, the paper hints that we should not read the first question of the Prima Pars without engaging with the first questions of the Secunda Secundae.
A case of neuralgic amyotrophy presented Vernet syndrome and suprascapular nerve palsy
Authors: Iino Akira , Sugeno Naoto , Namatame Chihiro , Nishiyama Ayumi , Kuroda Hiroshi , Misu Tatsuro , Aoki Masashi 
Published: December 2018

AbstractA 54 year‐old‐man had pain and stiffness at the left hind neck. One month later, dysphagia, hoarseness, atrophy, and weakness of left shoulder muscles appeared. Neurological and neurophysiological examination revealed left IX, X, XI cranial (Vernet syndrome) and ipsilateral suprascapular nerves were disabled. Major causes of Vernet syndrome, jugular foramen lesions, were not identified by comprehensive imaging studies. VZV and other infectious diseases were excluded by serological tests. Immunotherapy alleviated the large part of his symptoms including supra/infraspinatus muscle strength. Although brachial plexus involvement was minimal, this case was consistent with neuralgic amyotrophy. We would suggest examining the ipsilateral limb and girdle muscles of a patient in Vernet syndrome with the unknown cause.
Coordinating Transitional Justice
Authors: Seul Jeffrey R. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractConflict resolution professionals sometimes differ from human rights professionals about the best approaches to transitional justice, particularly with regard to the scope, conditions, and timing of possible amnesties from prosecution for perpetrators of war crimes and human rights abuses. When human rights and conflict resolution professionals work at cross‐purposes, they may work less effectively to end conflict, abuses, and crimes, and to implement peace accords. A consensus among conflict resolution and human rights scholars about which legal norms should govern post‐conflict amnesty programs appears to be developing. Against this emerging legal framework, human rights and conflict resolution professionals should, I argue, develop processes for working together more effectively in the design and implementation of context‐sensitive approaches to transitional justice. These process principles should address the entire conflict period, from escalation through resolution to post‐conflict reconstruction. In this article, I describe a tentative, general framework for coordinating the development of transitional justice programs. This proposed framework is intended to stimulate and guide discussion of these issues among conflict resolution and human rights professionals and scholars.
Patient involvement and institutional logics: A discussion paper
Authors: Beedholm Kirsten , Frederiksen Kirsten 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe research into patient involvement is seldom concerned with the significance of cultural and structural factors. In this discussion paper, we illustrate our considerations on some of the challenges in implementing the ideal of patient involvement by showing how such factors take part in shaping the ways in which the intentions to involve patients are converted to practical interventions. The aim was to contribute to the approach dealing with contextual and structural factors of significance for patient involvement. With the idea of “institutional logics,” borrowed from the Danish scholar, Erik Riiskjær, we first demonstrate, with examples from our own research, how patient involvement is interpreted differently within the different logics. Then, we show how the different interpretations of patient involvement meet and conflict in mutual competition as the ideals are sought to be converted to practical interventions. At last, we argue that an adequate theoretical model for the development in the future health care system should be expanded with a “patient logic.”
Impact of oral potentially malignant disorder subtypes on all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality in males
Authors: Yen Amy Ming‐Fang , Wang Sen‐Te , Peng Bou‐Yue , Cheng Ya‐Chung , Siewchaisakul Pallop , Hsu Chen‐Yang , Chen Sam Li‐Sheng 
Published: December 2018

AbstractObjectivesTo quantify the effect of oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) subtypes on mortality from oral cancer and type 2 diabetes among areca nut chewers and/or cigarette smokers.Materials and MethodsA retrospective cohort design was devised to follow 14,749 men attending community‐based screening program for oral cancer between 1998 and 2000 and followed until 2010. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to assess the effect of OPMD on death.ResultsA total of 1,291(8.75%) patients were detected as OPMD. Among those free of T2DM at baseline, the elevated risk for death from T2DM was noted for OSF (aHR = 3.62, 95% CI: 1.25–10.51) and erythroplakia (aHR = 5.01, 95% CI: 1.17–21.45). The elevated risk for all‐cause death for OPMD was mainly explained by deaths from oral cancer and T2DM but not other causes of death.ConclusionsOral potentially malignant disorder, particularly OSF and erythroplakia, in male cigarette smokers and/or areca nut chewers led to an incremental elevated risk of T2DM mortality in the way of being distal to the occurrence of T2DM, implying that early detection and prevention of OPMD may not only reduce oral cancer mortality but also result in the reduction of T2DM mortality.