bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the correction of spectra by a displacement reduction factor in direct displacement‐based seismic design and assessment
Authors: Calvi Gian Michele 
Published: February 2019

SummaryThe application of some design and assessment approaches, such as the direct displacement‐based design (DDBD) and the capacity spectrum methods, requires the modification of elastic design spectra by some displacement reduction factor, to account for the appropriate energy dissipation capacity of different structures.While several equations to correlate dissipation and hysteresis cycles are available, once the displacement reduction factor has been obtained, the correction of the spectra is operated reducing the displacement demand accordingly and conserving the period of vibration at each point.This procedure is here discussed and proved to be conceptually inappropriate, because the spectral acceleration rather than the period should be kept at each point. The application of this alternative procedure may result in increased shear strength demand in design and in larger required displacement capacity for the same level of strength in assessment, if all other factors are not modified.However, the calibration of the reduction factors applied in DDBD has been extensive, and the method has proved to be effective in predicting displacement demands consistent with those resulting from refined nonlinear time history analysis; therefore, a possible introduction of the proposed correction will require equally extensive studies and possibly compensating corrections in the calculation of the equivalent damping.On the contrary, an appropriate calibration of the factors to be used in the application of the “capacity spectrum” method is still being developed, and the consideration of a constant acceleration may facilitate the derivation of effective equations.
Supercritical CO2 adsorption in a simulated deep coal reservoir environment, implications for geological storage of CO2 in deep coals in the southern Qinshui Basin, China
Authors: Han Sijie , Sang Shuxun , Liang Jingjing , Zhang Jinchao 
Published: February 2019

AbstractCO2 sequestration in deep, unmineable coal seams has been proposed as a method for offsetting increasing anthropogenic CO2 emissions, while increasing natural gas production. Through laboratory experiments on gaseous/supercritical CO2 adsorption using a manometric procedure, we investigated anomalies in supercritical CO2 adsorption and determined CO2 density‐temperature effects on adsorption capacity, which are closely related to the CO2 storage potential in deep coal reservoirs. Results indicate that the revised Dubinin‐Radushkevich (D‐R) model can fit supercritical CO2 adsorption data well, and there is a significant difference between excess and absolute adsorption capacity as CO2 density increases. In the supercritical isochore, a rapid change in CO2 density results in a transition from Langmuir‐like monolayer adsorption to multilayer adsorption, and there is an unsaturated multilayer system during this transition. Above the temperature at the cross point, the increasing of density decreases, and a negative dependence on temperature causes a gradual decrease in adsorption capacity. Coal reservoirs near the boundary between the supercritical isochore stage and fully supercritical CO2 stage should be the prime target for geological storage of CO2. In order to better understand supercritical CO2 adsorption behavior and identify target coal seams, further supercritical CO2 adsorption experiments are needed in the southern Qinshui Basin.
Robust meta‐analysis of biobank‐based genome‐wide association studies with unbalanced binary phenotypes
Authors: Dey Rounak , Nielsen Jonas B. , Fritsche Lars G. , Zhou Wei , Zhu Huanhuan , Willer Cristen J. , Lee Seunggeun 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWith the availability of large‐scale biobanks, genome‐wide scale phenome‐wide association studies are being instrumental in discovering novel genetic variants associated with clinical phenotypes. As increasing number of such association results from different biobanks become available, methods to meta‐analyse those association results is of great interest. Because the binary phenotypes in biobank‐based studies are mostly unbalanced in their case–control ratios, very few methods can provide well‐calibrated tests for associations. For example, traditional Z‐score‐based meta‐analysis often results in conservative or anticonservative Type I error rates in such unbalanced scenarios. We propose two meta‐analysis strategies that can efficiently combine association results from biobank‐based studies with such unbalanced phenotypes, using the saddlepoint approximation‐based score test method. Our first method involves sharing the overall genotype counts from each study, and the second method involves sharing an approximation of the distribution of the score test statistic from each study using cubic Hermite splines. We compare our proposed methods with a traditional Z‐score‐based meta‐analysis strategy using numerical simulations and real data applications, and demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed methods in terms of Type I error control.
Southward subduction of the Mongolia–Okhostk Ocean: Insights from Early–Middle Triassic intrusive rocks from the Jiawula–Tsagenbulagen area in NE China
Authors: Dai Meng , Yan Guangsheng , Liu Cui , Deng Jinfu , Li Yongsheng , Jia Wenbin , Lai Chun‐Kit 
Published: February 2019

New zircon U–Pb age data, Hf isotopes, whole‐rock major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotopic data for Early–Middle Triassic intrusive rocks from the Jiawula and Tsagenbulagen area in the southern part of the Erguna Massif provide valuable constraints on the southward subduction of the Mongolia–Okhostk Ocean lithosphere. The Jiawula–Tsagenbulagen granitoids mainly consist of granodiorite, quartz monzonite, and biotite granite. These granitoids, long believed to be mainly Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (ca. 150–139 Ma) and minor Permian (ca. 278 Ma and 254–253 Ma), are newly found to contain a latest Early Triassic to Middle Triassic generation (zircon U–Pb age: ca. 248–244 Ma). Geochemically, the Early to Middle Triassic granitoids are characterized by high SiO2 (74–77 wt.%) and Al2O3 (12.2–15.95 wt.%), low Mg# values (12.98–37.32), and variable Na2O/K2O ratios (0.62–1.75). They are metaluminous to peraluminous and belong to the high‐K calc‐alkaline series. Moreover, they show enrichment in light rare earth elements and large‐ion lithophile elements and depletion in heavy rare earth elements and high‐field‐strength elements (e.g., Nb, Ta, and Ti). They have an increased amount of SiO2/Al2O3 but lower V/Th ratios and negative correlations between V/Th and SiO2/Al2O3 ratios, indicating that the magmas experienced various degrees of biotite and/or plagioclase fractional crystallization. Their whole‐rock εNd(t) and zircon εHf(t) values ranged from +1.07 to +4.15 and from +0.5 to +2.9, respectively, indicating that the primary magmas were probably generated by partial melting of juvenile crustal material with the help of mantle‐derived mafic magmas. These magmas subsequently underwent fractional crystallization, magma mixing, and a small amount of crustal contamination during their emplacement. The geochemical characteristics of these Early–Middle Triassic intrusive rocks have affinities with intrusive rocks from active continental margin settings. Therefore, we conclude that the Early–Middle Triassic magmatism in the Erguna Massif was generated within an Andean‐type arc setting related to the southwards subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate beneath the Erguna Massif. We summarized previous age data of the Early to Late Triassic magmatic rocks from Erguna and Central Mongolia and identified arc setting granites and post‐orogenic granites. Thus, a tectonic evolutionary model was proposed for the geological observations in the Erguna and Central Mongolia massifs, involving the Triassic continuous southward subduction in the Erguna Massif and the Late Triassic slab‐rollback and back‐arc basin extension in the south‐eastern Central Mongolia Massif.
Comparison of Bethesda cytopathology classification to surgical pathology across racial‐ethnic groups
Authors: Bresler Amishav , Mehta Vikas , Schiff Bradley A. , Smith Richard V. , Khader Samer , Ramos‐Rivera Gloria , Lin Juan , Libutti Steven K. , Laird Amanda M. , Ow Thomas J. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe Bethesda System standardized the reporting of thyroid cytopathology and created categories to provide an estimation of a nodule's risk of malignancy. There are limited data describing their utility in different racial‐ethnic groups.MethodsA retrospective chart review of thyroid fine‐needle aspirations (FNA) was performed within our health‐care systems. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPVs) were calculated for the total cohort, and racial‐ethnic groups.ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the entire cohort was 93%, 77%, 57%, and 97%. Among patients who underwent surgery, African Americans contained a high number of Bethesda II FNAs (63%) compared to Hispanics (48%) and whites (45%). The sensitivity, specificity, and NPV were comparable among groups, the PPV was lowest for African Americans (43%), followed by Hispanics (60%) and whites (69%).ConclusionsThe Bethesda system's predictive value may differ among racial‐ethnic groups.
Switching between persistent firing and depolarization block in individual rat CA1 pyramidal neurons
Authors: Knauer Beate , Yoshida Motoharu 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe hippocampal formation plays a role in mnemonic tasks and epileptic discharges in vivo. In vitro, these functions and malfunctions may relate to persistent firing (PF) and depolarization block (DB), respectively. Pyramidal neurons of the CA1 field have previously been reported to engage in either PF or DB during cholinergic stimulation. However, it is unknown whether these cells constitute disparate populations of neurons. Furthermore, it is unclear which cell‐specific peculiarities may mediate their diverse response properties. However, it has not been shown whether individual CA1 pyramidal neurons can switch between PF and DB states. Here, we used whole cell patch clamp in the current clamp mode on in vitro CA1 pyramidal neurons from acutely sliced rat tissue to test various intrinsic properties which may provoke individual cells to switch between PF and DB. We found that individual cells could switch from PF to DB, in a cholinergic agonist concentration dependent manner and depending on the parameters of stimulation. We also demonstrate involvement of TRPC and potassium channels in this switching. Finally, we report that the probability for DB was more pronounced in the proximal than in the distal half of CA1. These findings offer a potential mechanism for the stronger spatial modulation in proximal, compared to distal CA1, as place field formation was shown to be affected by DB. Taken together, our results suggest that PF and DB are not mutually exclusive response properties of individual neurons. Rather, a cell's response mode depends on a variety of intrinsic properties, and modulation of these properties enables switching between PF and DB.
Perspectives of beneficiaries, health service providers, and community members on a maternal and child health conditional cash transfer pilot programme in Nigeria
Authors: Oduenyi Chioma , Ordu Victor , Okoli Ugo 
Published: February 2019

SummaryBackgroundOur paper presents experiences and perceptions of beneficiaries, health service providers, and community members about a conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme piloted in Nigeria from April 2013 to May 2015 to boost demand for maternal, newborn, and child health services.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive cross‐sectional retrospective study using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Personal interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted between June and July 2015 for 314 CCT beneficiaries, 72 ward development committee (WDC) members, and 60 service providers (midwives, community health extension workers [CHEWs], and village health workers [VHWs]) including 29 officers‐in‐charge as key informants. Content analysis was applied to qualitative findings and grouped into themes of attitude, practices, CCT operations, payout, and perceived impact.ResultsOver 97% of beneficiaries affirmed that the cash incentive was very helpful and almost 70% opined that the free supply‐side services were the real benefit. Majority of service providers applauded the programme though, with complaints about the increased workload. Community members applauded the scheme, with mixed feelings over some operational processes.ConclusionBeneficiaries, service providers, and community members expressed deep satisfaction with the CCT programme and opined that antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth delivery service utilization increased. Insights into some programmatic challenges are provided to enrich future CCT design and implementation.
Modelling PTSD diagnosis using sleep, memory, and adrenergic metabolites: An exploratory machine‐learning study
Authors: Breen Michael S. , Thomas Kevin G.F. , Baldwin David S. , Lipinska Gosia 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectiveFeatures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) typically include sleep disturbances, impaired declarative memory, and hyperarousal. This study evaluated whether these combined features may accurately delineate pathophysiological changes associated with PTSD.MethodWe recruited a cohort of PTSD‐diagnosed individuals (N = 20), trauma survivors without PTSD (TE; N = 20), and healthy controls (HC; N = 20). Analyses of between‐group differences and support vector machine (SVM)‐learning were applied to participant features.ResultsAnalyses of between‐group differences replicated previous findings, indicating that PTSD‐diagnosed individuals self‐reported poorer sleep quality, objectively demonstrated less sleep depth, and evidenced declarative memory deficits in comparison to HC. Integrative SVM‐learning distinguished HC from trauma participants with 80% accuracy using a combination of five features, including subjective and objective sleep, neutral declarative memory, and metabolite variables. PTSD and TE participants could be distinguished with 70% accuracy using a combination of subjective and objective sleep variables but not by metabolite or declarative memory variables.ConclusionFrom among a broad range of sleep, cognitive, and biochemical variables, sleep characteristics were the primary features that could differentiate those with PTSD from those without. Our exploratory SVM‐learning analysis establishes a framework for future sleep‐ and memory‐based PTSD investigations that could drive improvements in diagnostic accuracy and treatment.
A Comprehensive Review on Pronephrium penangianum
Authors: Zhou Qi , Jian Yuqing , Yi Pan , Sun Jing , Zhou Xiaoling , Chen Shenghuang , Wang Wei 
Published: February 2019

AbstractA fern, Pronephrium penangianum (Hook.) Holtt., is a highly reputable medicinal plant in tujia ethenomedicine. It has good effect on relaxing muscles and tendons to promoting blood circulation, stanching bleeding and relieving pain in tujia system of medicine. In order to evaluate this traditional plant in a modern perspective, the current review presents essential aspects of Pronephrium penangianum including traditional uses, geographical distribution, chemical constituents, pharmacological studies and standardization. The chemical composition of the herb comprised of flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, etc. However, so far there has been few concrete published papers that explicate its chemical therapeutic basis according to Sci‐Finder database and its identification and standardization still remains unknown. This review is intended to summarize the published information of this fern and discuss the current problems for the further studies.
The size premium and macrovolatility risks: Evidence from U.S. and U.K. equity markets
Authors: Cho Sungjun 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe size effect is alive well but visible only when the economy is in high volatility regimes. This paper develops variant conditional asset pricing tests for the size effect with independent business cycle and volatility regimes and shows that the size effect is present conditionally during the high‐volatility regimes. This result is robust across two countries (United States and United Kingdom) with various specifications and the January effect. An economic rationale for the relation between the size premium and macrovolatility risk is provided through the capital‐market‐imperfection hypothesis.
Living‐donor kidney transplantation in an end‐stage renal disease patient with situs inversus totalis: Three case reports
Authors: Ochi Atsuhiko , Unagami Kohei , Akanuma Takafumi , Inoue Takahiro , Okada Daigo , Fan Bo , Suzuki Tomo , Abe Hirokazu , Okumi Masayoshi , Ishida Hideki , Tanabe Kazunari 
Published: February 2019

IntroductionOnly few cases of renal dysfunction in patients with situs inversus totalis have been reported. Thus, studies on kidney transplantation in patients with this condition are still limited.Case presentationWe present three cases of end‐stage renal disease patients with situs inversus totalis: a 30‐year‐old man, 21‐year‐old woman, and 31‐year‐old man. Each left living‐donor kidney was transplanted in the right iliac fossa in the usual way. Because of the anatomical reversal and right external iliac vein being deep, the internal iliac vein was cut for venous anastomosis in one patient. Another one patient developed temporary congestive kidney, which was speculated to be due to poor blood flow in the renal vein. All recipients could be weaned off dialysis, with stable allograft function.ConclusionKidney transplantation in patients with situs inversus totalis is the same as anatomical normal cases, except that attention is paid to venous anastomosis.
CERNA2: A predictor for clinical progression and poor prognosis in cervical carcinoma
Authors: Wang Min , Ouyang Jianghua , Li Huali 
Published: February 2019

AbstractCompeting long noncoding RNA 2 (lncRNA 2) for microRNA let‐7b (CERNA2) has emerged as an important regulator of tumorigenesis and cancer progression but the clinical value and regulatory function of CERNA2 is yet to be investigated in cervical carcinoma. In our study, we found the CERNA2 expression was obviously increased in cervical carcinoma tissues compared with adjacent normal cervical tissues. In addition, we observed that metastatic lymph nodes exhibited high levels of CERNA2 expression in contrast to primary cervical carcinoma tissues. Furthermore, high CERNA2 expression was associated with advanced clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis poor histological grade, and short overall survival in cervical carcinoma patients. Moreover, high CERNA2 expression acted as an independent unfavorable predictor for overall survival in cervical carcinoma patients. The cell migration and invasion assays in vitro suggested that knockdown of CERNA2 remarkably inhibited cell migration and invasion in cervical carcinoma. In conclusion, CERNA2 functions as an oncogenic lncRNA and may be as a potential therapeutic target in cervical carcinoma.
Methyl B12 protects PC12 cells against cytotoxicity induced by Aβ25−35
Authors: Wang Mingkai , Xu Tingting 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common aging‐associated dementia. The population of AD patients is increasing as the world age grows. Currently, there is no cure for AD. Given that methyl vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) deficiency is related to AD and Aβ‐induced oxidative damage and that methylcobalamin can scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) by direct or indirect ways, we studied the effect of methylcobalamin on the cytotoxicity of Aβ. PC12 cells were chronically exposed (24 hours) to Aβ25‐35 (25 μM) to establish an AD cell model. The cells were pretreated with or without methylcobalamin (1‐100 μM) to investigate the role of methylcobalamin. Cell viability and apoptosis were tested, followed by testing of mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial calcium concentration. We observed that methylcobalamin improved the cell viability by decreasing the ratio of apoptosis cells in this AD cell model. Further experiments suggested that methylcobalamin functioned as an antioxidant to scavenge ROS, reducing the endoplasmic reticulum‐mitochondria calcium flux through IP3R, preventing mitochondria dysfunction, ultimately protecting cells against apoptosis and cell death. Taken together, our results presented, for the first time, that methyl vitamin B12 can protect cells from Aβ‐induced cytotoxicity and the mechanism was mainly relevant to the antioxidative function of methyl B12.
Differential roles of VEGF: Relevance to tissue fibrosis
Authors: Zhang Juan , Chu Maolin 
Published: February 2019

AbstractExcessive extracellular matrix deposition and pathological vascularization are characteristics of fibrosis, which compromises the normal functioning of organs. Although whether angiogenesis can be induced and can occur in parallel with the progression of fibrosis has not been definitely determined, angiogenesis undoubtedly plays a vital role in fibrosis. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most effective proangiogenic factors, VEGF‐targeting interventions have been a focus for the development of therapeutic strategies against fibrosis. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge of the role of VEGF and its relevant mechanisms in fibrotic biology. We especially expect to provide a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic potential of VEGF‐targeted therapy strategies to restore vascular function in the organs affected by fibrosis.
A novel copper (II) complex activated both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in liver cancerous cells
Authors: Rezaei Azadeh , Mahmoodi Mehdi , Mohammadizadeh Fatemeh , Mohamadi Maryam , Hajizadeh Mohammad Reza , Mirzaei Mohammad Reza , Khanamani Falahati‐pour Soudeh 
Published: February 2019

AbstractRecent advances have put fundamental focus on the application of copper (II) (Cu [II]) complexes as agents for fighting against cancer. To determine whether [Cu(L)(2imi)] complex as a novel Cu complex can induce apoptosis in HepG2 as cancerous cells and L929 as normal cells via extrinsic or intrinsic apoptotic pathways, both cell lines were treated for 24 and 48 hours at IC50 concentrations of [Cu(L)(2imi)] complex. Then, the expression of some apoptosis‐related genes including p53, caspase‐8, bcl‐2, and bax were assayed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The [Cu(L)(2imi)] complex seems to inhibit the expression of bcl‐2 in complex‐treated HepG2 cancerous cells following the 24‐ and 48‐hour treatment. The complex upregulated the p53, bax, and caspase‐8 genes, therefore treatment of HepG2 cancerous cells with [Cu(L)(2imi)] complex induces programmed cell death via the upregulation of relative bax/bcl‐2 ratio. Finally, this copper complex triggered apoptosis in HepG2 cells via both intrinsic and extrinsic pathway, whereas treatment of normal L929 cells with this complex induce apoptosis only via intrinsic pathway with the upregulation of relative bax/bcl‐2 ratio and does not affect the expression level of caspase‐8 gene and does not trigger the extrinsic pathway. Finally, these results obtained from present study confirm the role of a novel Cu complex on the induction of apoptosis process in HepG2 and L929 cells by overexpression of bax, inhibition of bcl‐2 and increase of the relative bax/bcl‐2 ratio. These results support that the [Cu(L)(2imi)] complex is able to induce apoptosis in cancerous cells, therefore, it has a potential for development as a novel anticancer drug.