bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Improved Model of the Heat Pipe Based on the Network Method Applied on a Heat Pipe Cooled Reactor
Authors: Guo Yuchuan , Su Zilin , Li Zeguang , Wang Kan , Liu Xuanyi 
Published: May 2022

As the unique piece of heat transport equipment in a heat pipe cooled reactor, an accurate simulation of the heat pipe is helpful for understanding the real behavior of the reactor core and the reactor system. Based on the network method, an improved model for the heat pipe which considers the heat conductance in the wall, the vapor flow in the vapor space, and the liquid flow in the wick is proposed. Meanwhile, the gravity term is also added to the flow equation. Compared with the experimental results of a copper-water heat pipe, the validity of this model is verified. Then, a high-temperature sodium heat pipe of 1.0 m length is selected as the study object. Based on the analysis, it can be found that the total temperature difference of the heat pipe is 31.7 K, and the temperature drop caused by the vapor flow is only 2.6 K. As for the flow pressure drop in the heat pipe, the pressure drop is mainly concentrated in the wick region, which is 8,422.47 Pa, and the pressure drop in the vapor space is only 896.68 Pa. In cases of non-uniform heating and cooling, high heat leakage, and inclined operation, results indicate that the greater the non-uniformity of heating or cooling, the greater will be the temperature drop of the heat pipe. With the increase of heat leakage, the operating temperature of the heat pipe decreases significantly, and the total temperature drop increases. The heat pipe can operate at all positive inclination angles, but when the inclination angle exceeds−30°, the heat pipe will reach the capillary limit, and it may be damaged. All of these results can provide support for the design and simulation of a heat pipe cooled reactor.
Uncommon Electromagnetic Radiations Related to Extra-High Voltage/Ultra-High Voltage Power Projects in China
Authors: Wu Jing , Zhang Jingwen , Xie Li 
Published: May 2022

Based on the high-resolution electromagnetic field intensity observed by the DEMETER satellite, the harmonic electromagnetic radiations in the ionosphere closely above the extra-high voltage and ultra-high voltage power projects in the Chinese power grid have been detected. In the time-frequency spectrograms, these radiations are characterized by parallel spectral lines with spacings of 50, 100, 150, or 600 Hz. The highest frequency can reach approximately 8,850 Hz. The radiations are probably attributed to the nonlinear devices such as converters or geomagnetic disturbance. The harmonic radiations over alternating current-to-direct current (AC-to-DC) substations of power system are generally more diverse and stronger than those over AC-to-AC substations. The measurements on the ground demonstrate that the weak magnetic radiations at several kilohertz with an intensity in the order of nT do exist around substations. A simple physical model is established to understand the characteristics of harmonic radiations propagating from the Earth’s surface to the ionosphere.
Profiling the Genome-Wide Landscape of Short Tandem Repeats by Long-Read Sequencing
Authors: Liu Zhenhua , Zhao Guihu , Xiao Yuhui , Zeng Sheng , Yuan Yanchun , Zhou Xun , Fang Zhenghuan , He Runcheng , Li Bin , Zhao Yuwen , Pan Hongxu , Wang Yige , Yu Guoliang , Peng I-Feng , Wang Depeng , Meng Qingtuan , Xu Qian , Sun Qiying , Yan Xinxiang , Shen Lu , Jiang Hong , Xia Kun , Wang Junling , Guo Jifeng , Liang Fan , Li Jinchen , Tang Beisha 
Published: May 2022

Background: Short tandem repeats (STRs) are highly variable elements that play a pivotal role in multiple genetic diseases and the regulation of gene expression. Long-read sequencing (LRS) offers a potential solution to genome-wide STR analysis. However, characterizing STRs in human genomes using LRS on a large population scale has not been reported.Methods: We conducted the large LRS-based STR analysis in 193 unrelated samples of the Chinese population and performed genome-wide profiling of STR variation in the human genome. The repeat dynamic index (RDI) was introduced to evaluate the variability of STR. We sourced the expression data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression to explore the tissue specificity of highly variable STRs related genes across tissues. Enrichment analyses were also conducted to identify potential functional roles of the high variable STRs.Results: This study reports the large-scale analysis of human STR variation by LRS and offers a reference STR database based on the LRS dataset. We found that the disease-associated STRs (dSTRs) and STRs associated with the expression of nearby genes (eSTRs) were highly variable in the general population. Moreover, tissue-specific expression analysis showed that those highly variable STRs related genes presented the highest expression level in brain tissues, and enrichment pathways analysis found those STRs are involved in synaptic function-related pathways.Conclusion: Our study profiled the genome-wide landscape of STR using LRS and highlighted the highly variable STRs in the human genome, which provide a valuable resource for studying the role of STRs in human disease and complex traits.
Carbon Aerogels From Softwood Kraft Lignin for High Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes
Authors: Karaaslan Muzaffer A. , Lin Li-Ting , Ko Frank , Renneckar Scott 
Published: May 2022

Porous carbon materials derived from plant biomass offer great promise towards developing sustainable and advanced renewable materials for energy applications. Lignin is as an abundant and renewable aromatic biopolymer with high carbon content and chemical functionality for crosslinking, which make lignin a promising alternative for environmentally-friendly carbon aerogel production. In this study, carbon aerogels were produced using an industrial softwood kraft lignin isolated from renewable forest resources. Crosslinked lignin gels were synthesized using an epoxy compound and converted into carbon aerogels with subsequent sol-gel processing, supercritical drying and pyrolysis steps. The effect of lignin-to-crosslinker ratio on the chemical, physical and structural properties of resulting carbon aerogels were investigated. The bulk density of carbon aerogels increased as the lignin content increased from 56 wt% to 87 wt% and ranged from 0.45 to 0.83 g/cm3, respectively. FTIR results showed that crosslinked network structure was promoted when the lignin-to-crosslinker ratio was higher, which impacted the porous texture of resulting carbon aerogels as evidenced by SEM analysis. XRD analysis was used to correlate degree of graphitization and lignin content, which impacted the electrical conductivity and ion-charge transfer in carbon electrodes. To evaluate the hierarchical porous structure and determine the BET surface area and pore volume, N2 and CO2 gas adsorption experiments were conducted. Carbon aerogels with 81 wt% and 87 wt% lignin had superior structural characteristics, which further improved with surface activation with KOH resulting in 1,609 m2/g for BET surface area, 0.98 cm3/g for total pore volume and 0.68 cm3/g for micropore volume. The electrochemical tests of electrodes assembled from 87 wt% lignin carbonized sample with a specific capacitance of 122 F/g at 1A/g had better performance compared to a commercial activated carbon (74 F/g with 845 m2/g BET) and resorcinol-formaldehyde based carbon aerogel (61 F/g with 1,071 m2/g BET area), while maintaining ∼90% of its capacitance after 5,000 charge-discharge cycles. Surface activation of lignin carbon aerogels further boosted the capacitance properties, an outstanding energy density of 3.2 Wh/kg at 209.1 W/kg power density were obtained for the supercapacitor electrodes built from the A-CA-L87 activated carbon aerogel.
Establishment of a Cell Necroptosis Index to Predict Prognosis and Drug Sensitivity for Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Xie Jindong , Tian Wenwen , Tang Yuhui , Zou Yutian , Zheng Shaoquan , Wu Linyu , Zeng Yan , Wu Song , Xie Xinhua , Xie Xiaoming 
Published: May 2022

Background: Necroptosis has been an alternatively identified mechanism of programmed cancer cell death, which plays a significant role in cancer. However, research about necroptosis-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer are still few. Moreover, the potentially prognostic value of necroptosis-related lncRNAs and their correlation with the immune microenvironment remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the potential prognostic value of necroptosis-related lncRNAs and their relationship to immune microenvironment in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).Methods: The RNA expression matrix of patients with TNBC was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Finally, 107 patients of GSE58812, 159 patients of TCGA, and 143 patients of GSE96058 were included. Necroptosis-related lncRNAs were screened by Cox regression and Pearson correlation analysis with necroptosis-related genes. By LASSO regression analysis, nine necroptosis-related lncRNAs were employed, and a cell necroptosis index (CNI) was established; then, we evaluated its prognostic value, clinical significance, pathways, immune infiltration, and chemotherapeutics efficacy.Results: Based on the CNI value, the TNBC patients were divided into high- and low-CNI groups, and the patients with high CNI had worse prognosis, more lymph node metastasis, and larger tumor (p &lt; 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the signature performed well. The result of the infiltration proportion of different immune cell infiltration further explained that TNBC patients with high CNI had low immunogenicity, leading to poor therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, we found significant differences of the IC50 values of various chemotherapeutic drugs in the two CNI groups, which might provide a reference to make a personalized chemotherapy for them.Conclusion: The novel prognostic marker CNI could not only precisely predict the survival probability of patients with TNBC but also demonstrate a potential role in antitumor immunity and drug sensitivity.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Gay and Bisexual Prostate Cancer Survivors: Results From the Restore-2 Study
Authors: Wheldon Christopher W. , Polter Elizabeth , Rosser B. R. Simon , Bates Alex J. , Haggart Ryan , Wright Morgan , Mitteldorf Darryl , Ross Michael W. , Konety Badrinath R. , Kohli Nidhi , Talley Kristine M. C. , West William , Tatum Alexander K. 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundEquitable cancer survivorship care for gay and bisexual male (GBM) prostate cancer survivors should be responsive to their sexual health needs. Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are higher among GBM compared to heterosexual men across the lifespan. In addition, evidence suggests that GBM will use a variety of strategies to cope with sexual dysfunction that may increase risk for STIs. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of STIs following prostate cancer treatment among GBM and identify risk factors.MethodsIn 2019, 401 GBM previously treated for prostate cancer were recruited into the Restore-2 Study. They completed a baseline online questionnaire with items assessing STIs diagnosed since being treated for prostate cancer. Any STI diagnoses was regressed on demographic, clinical, and relationship related variables using binary logistic regression.ResultsForty-five participants (11.4%) were diagnosed with an STI during or following their prostate cancer treatment. The mostly commonly diagnosed STI was syphilis (4.3%), followed by gonorrhoea (2.8%), and chlamydia (2.5%). Four participants were infected with HIV following their prostate cancer treatment. Independent risk factors for STI diagnosis included time since prostate cancer diagnosis (aOR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.10-1.26), nonmonogamous sexual relationship (aOR = 11.23; 95% CI: 2.11-59.73), better sexual function (aOR = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04), penile injection treatment (aOR = 3.28; 95% CI: 1.48-7.29), and multiple sex partners (aOR = 5.57; 95% CI: 1.64-18.96).ConclusionsGBM prostate cancer survivors are at risk for STIs. Culturally responsive STI prevention should be incorporated into cancer survivorship plans, particularly as men are treated for and regain sexual function over time.
The Novel lncRNA RP9P Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression by Modulating miR-133a-3p/FOXQ1 Axis
Authors: Jin Zhichao , Liu Baoxinzi , Lin Bofan , Yang Ran , Wu Cunen , Xue Weiwei , Zou Xi , Qian Jun 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundThe long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) RP9 pseudogene (RP9P) is a pseudogene-derived lncRNA that has never been reported in cancer, and its function underlying tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown.MethodsRP9P and miR-133a-3p were filtered through bioinformatics analysis. The level of RP9P, miR-133a-3p, and FOXQ1 in CRC cell lines was detected by real-time PCR. Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometric analyses were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Interactions between RP9P, miR-133a-3p, and FOXQ1 were confirmed by a dual-luciferase reporter assay.ResultsRP9P was overexpressed in CRC compared to normal control tissues and cells. Knockdown of RP9P inhibited CRC cell viability. RP9P directly interacted with miR-133a-3p, and miR-133a-3p downregulation abrogated the tumor-suppressing effect of RP9P knockdown. miR-133a-3p directly targeted FOXQ, which was positively regulated by RP9P. RP9P knockdown decreased FOXQ1 expression levels in CRC cells by directly targeting miR-133a-3p via a sponge mechanism. In addition, in vivo experiments in a xenograft model revealed that downregulated RP9P expression inhibited CRC cell tumorigenesis.ConclusionRP9P promotes colorectal cancer progression by regulating the miR-133a-3p/FOXQ1 axis.
Sprouting Angiogenesis in Human Pituitary Adenomas
Authors: Zhou Jie , Hu Yaomin , Zhu Wende , Nie Chuansheng , Zhao Wenxiu , Faje Alexander T. , Labelle Kay E. , Swearingen Brooke , Lee Hang , Hedley-Whyte E. Tessa , Zhang Xun , Jones Pamela S. , Miller Karen K. , Klibanski Anne , Zhou Yunli , Soberman Roy J. 
Published: May 2022

IntroductionAngiogenesis in pituitary tumors is not fully understood, and a better understanding could help inform new pharmacologic therapies, particularly for aggressive pituitary tumors.Materials and Methods219 human pituitary tumors and 12 normal pituitary glands were studied. Angiogenic genes were quantified by an angiogenesis qPCR array and a TaqMan probe-based absolute qPCR. Angiogenesis inhibition in pituitary tumors was evaluated in vitro with the endothelial tube formation assay and in vivo in RbΔ19 mice.Results71 angiogenic genes, 40 of which are known to be involved in sprouting angiogenesis, were differentially expressed in pituitary tumors. Expression of endothelial markers CD31, CD34, and ENG was significantly higher in pituitary tumors, by 5.6, 22.3, and 8.2-fold, respectively, compared to in normal pituitary tissue. There was no significant difference in levels of the lymphatic endothelial marker LYVE1 in pituitary tumors compared with normal pituitary gland tissue. Pituitary tumors also expressed significantly higher levels of angiogenesis growth factors, including VEGFA (4.2-fold), VEGFB (2.2), VEGFC (19.3), PGF (13.4), ANGPT2 (9.2), PDGFA (2.7), PDGFB (10.5) and TGFB1 (3.8) compared to normal pituitary tissue. Expression of VEGFC and PGF was highly correlated with the expression of endothelial markers in tumor samples, including CD31, CD34, and ENG (endoglin, a co-receptor for TGFβ). Furthermore, VEGFR inhibitors inhibited angiogenesis induced by human pituitary tumors and prolonged survival of RbΔ19 mice.ConclusionHuman pituitary tumors are characterized by more active angiogenesis than normal pituitary gland tissue in a manner consistent with sprouting angiogenesis. Angiogenesis in pituitary tumors is regulated mainly by PGF and VEGFC, not VEGFA and VEGFB. Angiogenesis inhibitors, such as the VEGFR2 inhibitor cabozantinib, may merit further investigation as therapies for aggressive human pituitary tumors.
Robot-Assisted, Laparoscopic, and Open Radical Cystectomy: Pre-Operative Data of 1400 Patients From The Italian Radical Cystectomy Registry
Authors: Busetto Gian Maria , D’Agostino Daniele , Colicchia Michele , Palmer Katie , Artibani Walter , Antonelli Alessandro , Bianchi Lorenzo , Bocciardi Aldo , Brunocilla Eugenio , Carini Marco , Carrieri Giuseppe , Cormio Luigi , Falagario Ugo Giovanni , De Berardinis Ettore , Sciarra Alessandro , Leonardo Costantino , Del Giudice Francesco , Maggi Martina , de Cobelli Ottavio , Ferro Matteo , Musi Gennaro , Ercolino Amelio , Di Maida Fabrizio , Gallina Andrea , Introini Carlo , Mearini Ettore , Cochetti Giovanni , Minervini Andrea , Montorsi Francesco , Schiavina Riccardo , Serni Sergio , Simeone Claudio , Parma Paolo , Serao Armando , Mangano Mario Salvatore , Pomara Giorgio , Ditonno Pasquale , Simonato Alchiede , Romagnoli Daniele , Crestani Alessandro , Porreca Angelo 
Published: May 2022

IntroductionThe Italian Radical Cystectomy Registry (RIC) is an observational prospective study aiming to understand clinical variables and patient characteristics associated with short- and long-term outcomes among bladder cancer (BC) patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC). Moreover, it compares the effectiveness of three RC techniques - open, robotic, and laparoscopic.MethodsFrom 2017 to 2020, 1400 patients were enrolled at one of the 28 centers across Italy. Patient characteristics, as well as preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up (3, 6, 12, and 24 months) clinical variables and outcomes were collected.ResultsPreoperatively, it was found that patients undergoing robotic procedures were younger (p&lt;.001) and more likely to have undergone preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p&lt;.001) and BCG instillation (p&lt;.001). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity among all patients (55%), and overall, patients undergoing open and laparoscopic RC had a higher Charlson Comorbidities Index (CCI) compared to robotic RC (p&lt;.001). Finally, laparoscopic patients had a lower G-stage classification (p=.003) and open patients had a higher ASA score (p&lt;.001).ConclusionThe present study summarizes the characteristic of patients included in the RIC. Future results will provide invaluable information about outcomes among BC patients undergoing RC. This will inform physicians about the best techniques and course of care based on patient clinical factors and characteristics.
Evidence and Potential Mechanism of Action of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Its Active Components for Psoriasis
Authors: Wang Jiao , Liu Liu , Sun Xiao-Ying , Zhang Shuo , Zhou Ya-Qiong , Ze Kan , Chen Si-Ting , Lu Yi , Cai Xiao-Ce , Chen Jia-Le , Luo Ying , Ru Yi , Li Bin , Li Xin 
Published: May 2022

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine is effective in the treatment of psoriasis and can significantly reduce skin inflammation and psoriatic lesions with minimal side effects. Shikonin (SHI) and β,β-dimethylacryloyl alkannin (DMA), the main active components of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, have strong anti-inflammatory effects. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and its main active components and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of their action in psoriasis treatment.Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals, Wan Fang, and Chinese Biomedicine databases were systematically searched for articles published between 1 January 1970, and 31 February 2021. We included clinical and preclinical studies that examined the effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and its active components on psoriasis. All data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software. The Cochrane and SYRCLE’s risk-of-bias tools were used to assess the quality of all studies.Results: Eleven clinical trials including 1024 participants and 23 preclinical studies were assessed. Meta-analysis showed that when treating patients with psoriasis, the Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) formulas with Lithospermum erythrorhizon as the sovereign herb can significantly improve psoriatic dermatitis, which can significantly reduce the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score (mean difference [MD] = -2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-3.19, -0.80], p = 0.001; I2 = 85%). The incidence rates of diarrhea (risk ratio = 0.21, 95% CI [0.06, 0.81], p = 0.02) were higher in the CHM formulas group than in the control group, whereas other adverse events were not significantly different between the two groups (p &gt; 0.05). We evaluated the PASI score of mice on day 7 and found that SHI and DMA also alleviated psoriatic lesions (MD = -3.36, 95% CI [-4.67, -2.05], p &lt; 0.00001, I2 = 94%). Furthermore, the epidermal thickness decreased more after SHI or DMA treatment than in the control group (MD = -34.42, 95%CI [-41.25, -27.59], p &lt; 0.00001, I2 = 93%). Based on preclinical studies, we also summarized and mapped the mechanisms of SHI and DMA in the treatment of psoriasis.Conclusion: Available findings demonstrated that Lithospermum erythrorhizon combined with other conventional treatments is useful in treating psoriasis. Preclinical evidence has shown that the active components of Lithospermum erythrorhizon exhibit a potential anti-inflammatory effect, promote keratinocyte apoptosis, inhibit keratinocyte proliferation and angiogenesis, and block the cell cycle. In summary, our findings suggest that Lithospermum erythrorhizon and its active components can be used to treat psoriasis.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Primary Liver Cancer Therapy: Perspectives and Challenges
Authors: Li Kexin , Xiao Kunmin , Zhu Shijie , Wang Yong , Wang Wei 
Published: May 2022

Primary liver cancer (PLC) is one of the most common solid malignancies. However, PLC drug development has been slow, and first-line treatments are still needed; thus, studies exploring and developing alternative strategies for effective PLC treatment are urgently needed. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has long been applied in the clinic due to its advantages of low toxicity and targeting of multiple factors and pathways, and it has great potential for the development of novel natural drugs against PLC.Purpose: This review aims to provide an update on the pharmacological mechanisms of Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) and the latest CHM-derived compounds for the treatment of PLC and relevant clinical evaluations.Materials and Methods: A systematic search of English literature databases, Chinese literature, the Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry for studies of CHMs for PLC treatment was performed.Results: In this review, we summarize the clinical trials and mechanisms of CPMs for PLC treatment that have entered the clinic with the approval of the Chinese medicine regulatory authority. These CPMs included Huaier granules, Ganfule granules, Fufang Banmao capsules, Jinlong capsules, Brucea javanica oil emulsions, and compound kushen injections. We also summarize the latest in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies of CHM-derived compounds against PLC: icaritin and ginsenoside Rg3. Dilemmas facing the development of CHMs, such as drug toxicity and low oral availability, and future developments are also discussed.Conclusion: This review provides a deeper the understanding of CHMs as PLC treatments and provides ideas for the development of new natural drugs against PLC.