bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Representation of Sexual and Gender Minority People in Patient Nondiscrimination Policies of Cancer Centers in the United States
Authors: Berrahou Iman K. , Snow Ava , Swanson Megan , Obedin-Maliver Juno
Published: February 2022

Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people are an underserved population who face high rates of discrimination in healthcare, including receipt of cancer treatment. Several national organizations have identified the importance of patient nondiscrimination policies that explicitly recognize SGM people in creating safe healthcare environments. Methods: We performed a web-based analysis of NCI-designated Cancer Centers to evaluate the landscape of patient nondiscrimination policies in major cancer centers with regard to representation of SGM people. Results: We found that 82% of cancer centers had a patient nondiscrimination policy on their website. The most commonly mentioned SGM-related term was “sex” (n=48; 89%), followed by “sexual orientation” (n=37; 69%) and “gender identity” (n=36; 67%). None of the policies included “sex assigned at birth” or “LGBTQ/SGM identity.” Of the policies reviewed, 65% included protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. Cancer centers with academic affiliations were significantly more likely to have policies that included both of these protections compared with nonacademic institutions (100% vs 79%; P=.005). Conclusions: Our study shows that patient nondiscrimination policies across NCI-designated Cancer Centers are not always accessible to patients and their families online and do not consistently represent SGM people in their content. Because the SGM population is both at higher risk for cancer and for discrimination in the healthcare setting, it is crucial to create inclusive, safe, and equitable cancer care environments for this group. Administrators and clinicians should view the patient nondiscrimination policy as an opportunity to offer expansive protections to SGM people that extend beyond those offered in federal and state laws. Additionally, the patient nondiscrimination policy should be visible and accessible to patients seeking cancer care as a signal of safety and inclusion.
Cervikalna endometrioza – prikaz primera in pregled literature
Authors: Pečovnik Aleksandra , Šramek Zatler Prim. asist. Simona , Salobir Gajšek Prim. Uršula , Repše Fokter Prim. izr. prof. dr. Alenka
Published: February 2022

Endometrioza je bolezen, pri kateri so endometrijske žlezne celice in stroma prisotni zunaj maternične votline. Kadar se endometrijske žleze in stroma nahajajo v materničnem vratu, govorimo o cervikalni endometriozi. Klinično se cervikalna endometrioza najpogosteje kaže kot krvav vaginalni izcedek ali izvenciklična krvavitev. Na brisih materničnega vratu (BMV) lahko endometrioza izgleda, kot da bi šlo za normalne endometrijske žlezne celice ali kot atipične neopredeljene žlezne celice (AŽC-N), vključno z adenokarcinomom in situ (AIS). Članek predstavi primer 32-letne ženske, ki je bila sprejeta na oddelek za ginekologijo zaradi kontaktnih krvavitev in patološkega izvida kolposkopije.
Molecular docking analysis of selected pyrimidine derivatives with human cyclin-dependent kinase 2
Authors:   Research and development centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641046, India, Bharathi R
Published: February 2022

A series of pyrimidine were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their antioxidant properties using the human cyclindependent kinase-2 protein model. Data shows that the pyrimidine derivatives (compound ID 4G) with para fluoro groups substitution at phenyl ring attached to the 4th position (IC50: 98.5μg/ml), compound 4B bearing hydroxy group at para position of phenyl ring (IC50: 117.8 μg/ml) have significant antioxidant activity. Docking data infer that compounds 4c, 4a, 4h and 4b possess binding energy (-7.9, -7.7, -7.5 and -7.4 kcal.mol-1) with 1HCK (PDB ID) receptor.
MTT assay based inhibition analysis of A2780 cells proliferation using Mollugo nudicaulis Lam. extract with CXCR4 and HER2 expression
Authors:   Saveetha Dental College and Hospital Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai-600077, Tamil Nadu, India, Palanisamy Chella Perumal
Published: February 2022

It is of interest to document the inhibition of A2780 cell proliferation using Mollugo nudicaulis Lam. (M. nudicaulis) extract by MTT assay and by monitoring the CXCR4 and HER2 expression through RT-PCR analysis. Results shown that the n-hexane extract of M. nudicaulis have anticancer activity IC50 values of 32.46ą0.92 Ĵg/mL on A2780 cell lines. It is further found that the CXCR4 and HER2 mRNA and protein expression were significantly reduced in M. nudicaulis treated A2780 cell lines. Thus, the n-hexane extract of M. nudicaulis is a natural source of bioactive compounds as potential anticancer agents.
Codon usage bias analysis of genes linked with esophagus cancer
Authors:   Deptartment of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Gauhati University, Assam, India, Bordoloi Hemashree
Published: February 2022

Esophageal cancer involves multiple genetic alternations. A systematic codon usage bias analysis was completed to investigate the bias among the esophageal cancer responsive genes. GC-rich genes were low (average effective number of codon value was 49.28). CAG and GTA are over-represented and under-represented codons, respectively. Correspondence analysis, neutrality plot, and parity rule 2 plot analysis confirmed the dominance over mutation pressure in modulating the codon usage pattern of genes linked with esophageal cancer.
Molecular docking analysis of p53 with Toll-like receptors
Authors:   Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jahoor Alam Mohammad
Published: February 2022

P53 is one of the most important proteins for its role in cellular signal transduction pathways. It regulates a wide variety of cellular processes, which includes apoptosis, senescence, cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and DNA repair and replication and cancer dynamics. It is a transcription factor for various cellular proteins. Recent report suggests that P53 is linked with transduction proteins involved in cellular immunity. Toll like receptors are needed for communication in cellular immunity. The interaction between p53 and toll like receptors is reported in various studies. Therefore, it is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis of p53 with Tolllike receptors for further consideration in therapeutic development. In the present paper we studied molecular interaction between p53 and toll like receptors using molecular docking approach. We used open-source tools for molecular docking and analyzing the data. Our molecular docking results suggest there is a promising interaction between p53 and toll like receptors. Our study will be a very useful for molecular therapeutics and drug design strategies. Further, molecular dynamics studies can be useful to determine of the stability of complex form by p53 and toll like receptors.
Molecular docking analysis of hyperphosphorylated tau protein with compounds derived from Bacopa monnieri and Withania somnifera
Authors:   School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y.Patil Deemed to be University, CBD Belpaur, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Dixit Hrushikesh
Published: February 2022

Tau protein, the major player in Alzheimer痴 disease forms neurofibrillary tangles in elderly people. Bramhi (Baccopa Monniera) is often used as an ayurvedic treatment for Alzheimer痴 disease. Therefore it is of interest to study the interaction of compounds derived from Baccopa with the Tau protein involved in tangle formation. We show that compounds such as bacopaside II, bacopaside XII, and nicotine showed optimal binding features with the R2 repeat domain of hyperphosphorylated tau protein for further consideration in the context of Alzheimer痴 disease (AD).
Resistin levels in the gingival crevicular fluid among diabetic and non-diabetic chronic periodontitis patients
Authors:   MGM Health care, Nelson Manickam Road, Chennai, India, Govindaraj Jayamathi
Published: February 2022

It is of interest to document theresistin levels in chronic periodontitis patients (CP) with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF).The expression of resistin was significantly higher in chronic periodontitis when compared to the periodontally healthy groups. Resistin levels were high in CP and T2DM. Therefore, GCF resistin levels is of interest as a potential incendiary marker for periodontitis with T2DM.
Molecular docking analysis of penta-galloyl-glucose with VEGF signaling molecules
Authors:   Saveetha Dental College and Hospital Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai-600077, Tamil Nadu, India, Dharmalingam Karthick
Published: February 2022

It is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis data of penta-galloyl-glucose with VEGF signaling molecules in the context of cancer. Data shows that penta-galloyl-glucose have optimal binding affinities with VEGF-A,VEGFR-2, PKC, RAF, MEK, ERK and AKT with binding affinity of -7.9,-8.3,-8.6, -3.7,10.1,-9 and -10.8 kcal/mol respectively for further consideration in this context.
Advances in detection and regulation of surface-supported molecular quantum states
Authors: Yao Jie , Zhao Ai-Di ,   Department of Chemical Physics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Heifei 230026, China,   School of Physical Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China
Published: February 2022

Single molecular systems are typical quantum confinement systems, which have rich electronic states, photon states and spin states due to their discrete energy levels, localized orbitals and diverse chemical structures. The states determined by quantum mechanics in these molecular systems make it possible to serve as great physical entities for future quantum information technology. The detection and manipulation of quantum states on a single molecule scale are beneficial to the bottom-up construction of quantum devices. Owing to the highly limited spatial localization of single molecular systems, it is difficult to accurately address and manipulate them with conventional macroscopic characterization methods. Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is such a powerful tool that it can achieve high-resolution real-space imaging as well as spectroscopic investigation, with the ability to in-situ manipulating the individual atoms or molecules. It can also work jointly with various near-field or external field characterization techniques, making it a most important technique for precisely detecting and manipulating quantum properties at a single molecule level. In this paper, we review recent research progress of quantum states of surface-supported single molecules and relevant structures based on scanning tunneling microscopy. We start from the methods for the synthesis of molecular structures with desired quantum states, and then we review the recent advances in the local spin states for single molecular systems and the optical properties of single molecules serving as a single-photon source. An emerging family of molecular nanographene systems showing intriguing topological properties and magnetic properties is also reviewed. In the last part, we summarize the research progress made recently and prospect the future development of the quantum states at a single molecular level.
Regulation of canonical Wnt signalling by the ciliopathy protein MKS1 and the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2E1
Authors: Szymanska Katarzyna , Boldt Karsten , Logan Clare V , Adams Matthew , Robinson Philip A , Ueffing Marius , Zeqiraj Elton , Wheway Gabrielle , Johnson Colin A
Published: February 2022

Primary ciliary defects cause a group of developmental conditions known as ciliopathies. Here, we provide mechanistic insight into ciliary ubiquitin processing in cells and for mouse model lacking the ciliary protein Mks1. In vivo loss of Mks1 sensitises cells to proteasomal disruption, leading to abnormal accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. We identified UBE2E1, an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that polyubiquitinates β-catenin, and RNF34, an E3 ligase, as novel interactants of MKS1. UBE2E1 and MKS1 colocalised, and loss of UBE2E1 recapitulates the ciliary and Wnt signalling phenotypes observed during loss of MKS1. Levels of UBE2E1 and MKS1 are co-dependent and UBE2E1 mediates both regulatory and degradative ubiquitination of MKS1. We demonstrate that processing of phosphorylated β-catenin occurs at the ciliary base through the functional interaction between UBE2E1 and MKS1. These observations suggest that correct β-catenin levels are tightly regulated at the primary cilium by a ciliary-specific E2 (UBE2E1) and a regulatory substrate-adaptor (MKS1).
Erythropoietin directly remodels the clonal composition of murine hematopoietic multipotent progenitor cells
Authors: Eisele Almut S , Cosgrove Jason , Magniez Aurelie , Tubeuf Emilie , Tenreira Bento Sabrina , Conrad Cecile , Cayrac Fanny , Tak Tamar , Lyne Anne-Marie , Urbanus Jos , Perié Leïla
Published: February 2022

The cytokine erythropoietin (EPO) is a potent inducer of erythrocyte development and one of the most prescribed biopharmaceuticals. The action of EPO on erythroid progenitor cells is well established, but its direct action on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) is still debated. Here, using cellular barcoding, we traced the differentiation of hundreds of single murine HSPCs, after ex vivo EPO exposure and transplantation, in five different hematopoietic cell lineages, and observed the transient occurrence of high-output myeloid-erythroid-megakaryocyte-biased and myeloid-B-cell-dendritic cell-biased clones. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of ex vivo EPO-exposed HSPCs revealed that EPO induced the upregulation of erythroid associated genes in a subset of HSPCs, overlapping with multipotent progenitor (MPP) 1 and MPP2. Transplantation of barcoded EPO-exposed MPP2 confirmed their enrichment in myeloid-erythroid-biased clones. Collectively, our data show that EPO does act directly on MPP independent of the niche and modulates fate by remodeling the clonal composition of the MPP pool.
PBN-PVT projections modulate negative affective states in mice
Authors: Zhu Ya-Bing , Wang Yan , Hua Xiao-Xiao , Xu Ling , Liu Ming-Zhe , Zhang Rui , Liu Peng-Fei , Li Jin-Bao , Zhang Ling , Mu Di
Published: February 2022

Long-lasting negative affections dampen enthusiasm for life, and dealing with negative affective states is essential for individual survival. The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and thalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVT) are critical for modulating affective states in mice. However, the functional roles of PBN-PVT projections in modulating affective states remain elusive. Here, we show that PBN neurons send dense projection fibers to the PVT and form direct excitatory synapses with PVT neurons. Activation of the PBN-PVT pathway induces robust behaviors associated with negative affective states without affecting nociceptive behaviors. Inhibition of the PBN-PVT pathway reduces aversion-like and fear-like behaviors. Furthermore, the PVT neurons innervated by the PBN are activated by aversive stimulation, and activation of PBN-PVT projections enhances the neuronal activity of PVT neurons in response to the aversive stimulus. Consistently, activation of PVT neurons that received PBN-PVT projections induces anxiety-like behaviors. Thus, our study indicates that PBN-PVT projections modulate negative affective states in mice.
Assessing the effects of stress on feeding behaviors in laboratory mice
Authors: Francois Marie , Canal Delgado Isabella , Shargorodsky Nikolay , Leu Cheng-Shiun , Zeltser Lori
Published: February 2022

Stress often affects eating behaviors, increasing caloric intake in some individuals and decreasing it in others. The determinants of feeding responses to stress are unknown, in part because this issue is rarely studied in rodents. We focused our efforts on the novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) assay, which uses latency to eat as readout of anxiety-like behavior, but rarely assesses feeding per se. We explored how key variables in experimental paradigms – estrous and diurnal cyclicity, age and duration of social isolation, prandial state, diet palatability, and elevated body weight – influence stress-induced anxiety-like behavior and food intake in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Latency to eat in the novel environment is increased in both sexes across most of the conditions tested, while effects on caloric intake are variable. In the common NSF assay (i.e., lean mice in the light cycle), sex-specific effects of the length of social isolation, and not estrous cyclicity, are the main source of variability. Under conditions that are more physiologically relevant for humans (i.e., overweight mice in the active phase), the novel stress now elicits robust hyperphagia in both sexes . This novel model of stress eating can be used to identify underlying neuroendocrine and neuronal substrates. Moreover, these studies can serve as a framework to integrate cross-disciplinary studies of anxiety and feeding related behaviors in rodents.
Patient-specific Boolean models of signalling networks guide personalised treatments
Authors: Montagud Arnau , Béal Jonas , Tobalina Luis , Traynard Pauline , Subramanian Vigneshwari , Szalai Bence , Alföldi Róbert , Puskás László , Valencia Alfonso , Barillot Emmanuel , Saez-Rodriguez Julio , Calzone Laurence
Published: February 2022

Prostate cancer is the second most occurring cancer in men worldwide. To better understand the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and possible treatment responses, we developed a mathematical model of prostate cancer which considers the major signalling pathways known to be deregulated. We personalised this Boolean model to molecular data to reflect the heterogeneity and specific response to perturbations of cancer patients. A total of 488 prostate samples were used to build patient-specific models and compared to available clinical data. Additionally, eight prostate cell line-specific models were built to validate our approach with dose-response data of several drugs. The effects of single and combined drugs were tested in these models under different growth conditions. We identified 15 actionable points of interventions in one cell line-specific model whose inactivation hinders tumorigenesis. To validate these results, we tested nine small molecule inhibitors of five of those putative targets and found a dose-dependent effect on four of them, notably those targeting HSP90 and PI3K. These results highlight the predictive power of our personalised Boolean models and illustrate how they can be used for precision oncology.
Alternate patterns of temperature variation bring about very different disease outcomes at different mean temperatures
Authors: Kunze Charlotte , Luijckx Pepijn , Jackson Andrew L , Donohue Ian
Published: February 2022

The dynamics of host-parasite interactions are highly temperature-dependent and may be modified by increasing frequency and intensity of climate-driven heat events. Here, we show that altered patterns of temperature variance lead to an almost order-of-magnitude shift in thermal performance of host and pathogen life-history traits over and above the effects of mean temperature and, moreover, that different temperature regimes affect these traits differently. We found that diurnal fluctuations of ±3°C lowered infection rates and reduced spore burden compared to constant temperatures in our focal host Daphnia magna exposed to the microsporidium parasite Ordospora colligata. In contrast, a 3-day heatwave (+6°C) did not affect infection rates, but increased spore burden (relative to constant temperatures with the same mean) at 16°C, while reducing burden at higher temperatures. We conclude that changing patterns of climate variation, superimposed on shifts in mean temperatures due to global warming, may have profound and unanticipated effects on disease dynamics.
Comprehensive and unbiased multiparameter high-throughput screening by compaRe finds effective and subtle drug responses in AML models
Authors: Chalabi Hajkarim Morteza , Karjalainen Ella , Osipovitch Mikhail , Dimopoulos Konstantinos , Gordon Sandra L , Ambri Francesca , Rasmussen Kasper Dindler , Grønbæk Kirsten , Helin Kristian , Wennerberg Krister , Won Kyoung-Jae
Published: February 2022

Large-scale multiparameter screening has become increasingly feasible and straightforward to perform thanks to developments in technologies such as high-content microscopy and high-throughput flow cytometry. The automated toolkits for analyzing similarities and differences between large numbers of tested conditions have not kept pace with these technological developments. Thus, effective analysis of multiparameter screening datasets becomes a bottleneck and a limiting factor in unbiased interpretation of results. Here we introduce compaRe, a toolkit for large-scale multiparameter data analysis, which integrates quality control, data bias correction, and data visualization methods with a mass-aware gridding algorithm-based similarity analysis providing a much faster and more robust analyses than existing methods. Using mass and flow cytometry data from acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome patients, we show that compaRe can reveal interpatient heterogeneity and recognizable phenotypic profiles. By applying compaRe to high-throughput flow cytometry drug response data in AML models, we robustly identified multiple types of both deep and subtle phenotypic response patterns, highlighting how this analysis could be used for therapeutic discoveries. In conclusion, compaRe is a toolkit that uniquely allows for automated, rapid, and precise comparisons of large-scale multiparameter datasets, including high-throughput screens.
Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells improve survival from sepsis by boosting immunomodulatory cells
Authors: Morales-Mantilla Daniel E , Kain Bailee , Le Duy , Flores Anthony R , Paust Silke , King Katherine Y
Published: February 2022

New therapeutic strategies to reduce sepsis-related mortality are urgently needed, as sepsis accounts for one in five deaths worldwide. Since hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are responsible for producing blood and immune cells, including in response to immunological stress, we explored their potential for treating sepsis. In a mouse model of Group A Streptococcus (GAS)-induced sepsis, severe immunological stress was associated with significant depletion of bone marrow HSPCs and mortality within approximately 5–7 days. We hypothesized that the inflammatory environment of GAS infection drives rapid HSPC differentiation and depletion that can be rescued by infusion of donor HSPCs. Indeed, infusion of 10,000 naïve HSPCs into GAS-infected mice resulted in rapid myelopoiesis and a 50–60% increase in overall survival. Surprisingly, mice receiving donor HSPCs displayed a similar pathogen load compared to untreated mice. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a significantly increased number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in HSPC-infused mice, which correlated with reduced inflammatory cytokine levels and restored HSPC levels. These findings suggest that HSPCs play an essential immunomodulatory role that may translate into new therapeutic strategies for sepsis.
Creation of photocyclic vertebrate rhodopsin by single amino acid substitution
Authors: Sakai Kazumi , Shichida Yoshinori , Imamoto Yasushi , Yamashita Takahiro
Published: February 2022

Opsins are universal photoreceptive proteins in animals and can be classified into three types based on their photoreaction properties. Upon light irradiation, vertebrate rhodopsin forms a metastable active state, which cannot revert back to the original dark state via either photoreaction or thermal reaction. By contrast, after photoreception, most opsins form a stable active state which can photoconvert back to the dark state. Moreover, we recently found a novel type of opsins whose activity is regulated by photocycling. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this diversification of opsins remains unknown. In this study, we showed that vertebrate rhodopsin acquired the photocyclic and photoreversible properties upon introduction of a single mutation at position 188. This revealed that the residue at position 188 contributes to the diversification of photoreaction properties of opsins by its regulation of the recovery from the active state to the original dark state.
Using Augmented Reality in Language Classrooms: The Case of EFL Elementary Students
Authors: Aldossari Sarah , Alsuhaibani Zainab
Published: February 2022

This study sought to measure the effectof using augmented reality (AR) on developing language learning. It also explored teachers’ perceptions about the use of augmented reality in general, and its effecton students’ autonomy. A quasi-experimental research design using a pre-test and a post-test with control and experimental groups was followed to measure the effectof using augmented reality on elementary students’ language learning. Further, two questionnaires were designed to explore EFL teachers’ perceptions about AR, and its effecton students’ autonomy. The sample consisted of 72 Saudi EFL elementary students and 80 EFL teachers. The results revealed that the use of augmented reality enhanced EFL students’ language learning significantl. The results also showed that teachers perceived AR technology as valuable and effective.They acknowledged its multiple benefitsfor EFL elementary students. It enabled better learning of essential skills, increased students’ motivation and positive attitudes, and fostered students’ autonomy. It is expected that these findingswill help learners, teachers, curriculum developers, and administrators.
Integer particle swarm optimization based task scheduling for device-edge-cloud cooperative computing to improve SLA satisfaction
Authors: Wang Bo , Cheng Junqiang , Cao Jie , Wang Changhai , Huang Wanwei
Published: February 2022

Task scheduling helps to improve the resource efficiency and the user satisfaction for Device-Edge-Cloud Cooperative Computing (DE3C), by properly mapping requested tasks to hybrid device-edge-cloud resources. In this paper, we focused on the task scheduling problem for optimizing the Service-Level Agreement (SLA) satisfaction and the resource efficiency in DE3C environments. Existing works only focused on one or two of three sub-problems (offloading decision, task assignment and task ordering), leading to a sub-optimal solution. To address this issue, we first formulated the problem as a binary nonlinear programming, and proposed an integer particle swarm optimization method (IPSO) to solve the problem in a reasonable time. With integer coding of task assignment to computing cores, our proposed method exploited IPSO to jointly solve the problems of offloading decision and task assignment, and integrated earliest deadline first scheme into the IPSO to solve the task ordering problem for each core. Extensive experimental results showed that our method achieved upto 953% and 964% better performance than that of several classical and state-of-the-art task scheduling methods in SLA satisfaction and resource efficiency, respectively.
New observations on test architecture and construction of Jullienella foetida Schlumberger, 1890, the largest shallow-water agglutinated foraminifer in modern oceans
Authors: Langer Martin R. , Weinmann Anna E. , Makled Walid A. , Könen Janine , Gooday Andrew J.
Published: February 2022

We present new observations on Jullienella foetida Schlumberger, 1890, a giant agglutinated foraminifer with a leaf- or fan-like test reaching a maximum dimension of 14 cm, that is common on some parts of the west African continental shelf. The test wall comprises a smooth, outer veneer of small (<10 µm) mineral grains that overlies the much thicker inner layer, which has a porous structure and is composed of grains measuring several hundreds of microns in size. Micro-CT scans suggest that much of the test interior is filled with cytoplasm, while X-ray micrographs reveal an elaborate system of radiating internal partitions that probably serve to channel cytoplasmic flow and strengthen the test. Jullienella foetida resembles some xenophyophores (giant deep-sea foraminifera) in terms of test size and morphology, but lacks their distinctive internal organization; the similarities are therefore likely to be convergent. Based on micro-CT scan data, we calculated an individual cytoplasmic biomass of 3.65 mg wet weight for one specimen. When combined with literature records of seafloor coverage, this yielded an estimate of >7.0 g wet weight m−2 for the seafloor biomass of J. foetida in areas where it is particularly abundant. The relatively restricted distribution of this species off the north-west African coast at depths above 100 m is probably related to the elevated, upwelling-related surface productivity along this margin, which provides enough food to sustain this high biomass. This remarkable species appears to play an important, perhaps keystone, role in benthic ecosystems where it is abundant, providing the only common hard substrate on which sessile organisms can settle.
Exploring the mechanism of cordycepin combined with doxorubicin in treating glioblastoma based on network pharmacology and biological verification
Authors: Chen Jing , Zhuang Yuan-Dong , Zhang Qiang , Liu Shuang , Zhuang Bing-Bo , Wang Chun-Hua , Liang Ri-Sheng
Published: February 2022

Background

Glioblastoma is the most common and fatal primary malignant tumor in the central nervous system, and the prognosis is poor. Currently, there are no effective treatments for glioblastoma. Cordycepin is a natural active substance with significant anticancer activity and doxorubicin is a broad-spectrum anticancer drug. Cordycepin administered with doxorubicin is a potential drug combination for the treatment of glioblastoma. However, the mechanism of action for this drug combination has not yet been elucidated.

Aim of the study

To explore the complex mechanism of cordycepin combined with doxorubicin against glioblastoma using network pharmacology and biological verification.

Materials and methods

We used an MTT assay, colony formation assay, and scratch healing to detect the growth, proliferation, and migration of LN-229, U251 and T98G cells. Putative targets and the potential mechanism of action for the drug combination in glioblastoma were obtained through online databases, network construction, and enrichment analyses. We verified the expression of EMT-related genes and identified important therapeutic targets by western blot.

Results

In this study, the combination of doxorubicin and cordycepin was found to significantly inhibit cell proliferation and migration and can induce apoptosis. These effects are better together than with either drug alone. The drug combination inhibited EMT by upregulating the expression of E-cadherin protein and downregulating the expression of N-cadherin, ZEB1, and Twist1 proteins. There were 71 potential targets for the drug combination in glioblastoma, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome analysis suggested that the anticancer process may be mediated by proteoglycans in cancer, the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, microRNA in cancer, pathways in cancer, and other pathways. To study the molecular mechanism of anticancer activity, we detected the expression of target proteins with downregulated expression of NFKB1, MAPK8, MYC, and MMP-9 proteins and upregulated expression of cleaved caspase 3 that promoted the apoptosis of LN-229 cells.

Conclusions

This study shows that the drug combination of doxorubicin and cordycepin effectively inhibits the growth and proliferation of LN-229 cells through multiple targets and multiple pathways, and the combination inhibits cell invasion and migration by regulating the EMT switch of tumor cells. Our findings provide new ideas about, and a theoretical basis for, the treatment of glioblastoma.
Factors of balance determining the risk of falls in physically active women aged over 50 years
Authors: Bednarczuk Grzegorz , Rutkowska Izabela
Published: February 2022

Background

Balance disorders are believed to be one of the main reasons for falls in older adults. They are related to natural processes of ageing, resulting in deterioration of information integration and processing from the vestibular, somatosensory and visual systems. The consequence is an increased number of postural sways, which are some of balance factors. Balance control in static and dynamic activities is an essential element of daily functioning of older citizens. It seems that balance assessment is essential to determine the risk of falls, as well as to determine which factors of balance have greatest impact on the risk of falls.

Methods

The study involved physically active female students (n = 36, mean age 67,11 ± 5,35) of a University of the Third Age. We used the Balance System SD platform to assess their balance in four tests with eyes open and with eyes closed and to determine the risk of falls. We assessed the relationships between individual balance indices (overall stability index, anterior/posterior stability index, medial/lateral stability index) and the falls risk index. We also determined those factors which predicted the risk of falls the most.

Results

The studied subjects had low risk of falls for their age category. In most measurements there were relationships between the risk of falls and the size of sways in the coronal plane and the overall stability index. We also found that the overall stability index calculated in measurements with eyes closed predicted the risk of falls of the studied physically active females most accurately (R2 0.391 F(1.34)=23.475; <0.000). The subjects were physically active and their falls risk index was low - this allowed us to presume that there was a relationship between these two factors. Preventive programmes should include exercise performed with eyes closed, and tests conducted with eyes closed seem to be most sensitive in determining balance disorders in physically active women.
Identification of novel prophage regions in Xenorhabdus nematophila genome and gene expression analysis during phage-like particle induction
Authors: Lefoulon Emilie , Campbell Natalie , Stock S. Patricia
Published: February 2022

Background

Entomopathogenic Xenorhabdus bacteria are endosymbionts of Steinernema nematodes and together they form an insecticidal mutualistic association that infects a wide range of insect species. Xenorhabdus produce an arsenal of toxins and secondary metabolites that kill the insect host. In addition, they can induce the production of diverse phage particles. A few studies have focused on one integrated phage responsible for producing a phage tail-like bacteriocin, associated with an antimicrobial activity against other Xenorhabdus species. However, very little is known about the diversity of prophage regions in Xenorhabdus species.

Methods

In the present study, we identified several prophage regions in the genome of Xenorhabdus nematophila AN6/1. We performed a preliminary study on the relative expression of genes in these prophage regions. We also investigated some genes (not contained in prophage region) known to be involved in SOS bacterial response (recA and lexA) associated with mitomycin C and UV exposure.

Results

We described two integrated prophage regions (designated Xnp3 and Xnp4) not previously described in the genome of Xenorhabdus nematophila AN6/1. The Xnp3 prophage region appears very similar to complete Mu-like bacteriophage. These prophages regions are not unique to X. nematophila species, although they appear less conserved among Xenorhabdus species when compared to the previously described p1 prophage region. Our results showed that mitomycin C exposure induced an up-regulation of recA and lexA suggesting activation of SOS response. In addition, mitomycin C and UV exposure seems to lead to up-regulation of genes in three of the four integrated prophages regions.
Sonographic Evaluation of Site Specific Nerve Dimensions in Young Asymptomatic Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Singh Sanjula , Rani Archana , Sehgal Garima , Chopra Jyoti , Rani Anita , Singh Manjula , Pooja Kumari
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Tibial Nerve (TN) and Common Peroneal Nerve (CPN) supply the muscles and skin of lower extremity via their major branches and also send articular branches to the joints of lower extremity. Knowledge of nerve dimensions is useful for diagnosis of pathologies, planning nerve blocks, biopsies or other therapeutic procedures. Aim: To assess bilateral TN and Deep Peroneal Nerve (DPN) morphology and morphometry at ankle through a sonographic evaluation. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from September 2018 to August 2019. Morphology and morphometry of TN and DPN was observed by High Resolution Ultrasonography (HRUS) at specific anatomical site in 100 first year Bachelor in Medicine and Bachelor in Surgery (MBBS) students. (50 males and 50 females). The nerve parameters like, Cross-sectional Area (CSA), nerve perimeter and depth from skin were measured and the data was analysed statistically. Among asymptomatic subjects, various nerve parameters and subcutaneous depth were observed in both genders to establish normal reference values for the purpose of creating database. The association of nerve parameter to BMI was also studied. To compare the change in a parameter at two different time intervals, paired t-test was used. To test the significance of two means, the student t-test was used. Results: Amongst the total 100 subjects(50 males and 50 females, age range: 17-25 years) included in the study, Mean CSA, perimeter and subcutaneous depth of right TN were 9.70±1.73 mm2, 9.91±1.57 mm and 9.62±0.94 mm; whereas mean CSA, perimeter and subcutaneous depth of left TN were 9.30±1.40 mm2, 9.36±1.46 mm and 9.33±0.95 mm. Mean CSA, perimeter and subcutaneous depth of right DPN were 7.00±1.60 mm2, 8.41±1.27 mm and 8.46± 0.93 mm whereas those on left side were 6.70±1.40 mm2, 6.81±1.39 mm and 8.50±0.68 mm.The CSA and perimeter of right TN was significantly (p 0.004) greater than left. DPN mean CSA (p-value 0.008) and perimeter (p<0.001) were significantly greater on the right side in comparison to left the TN was significantly deeper in location in females (p<0.004). DPN was significantly deeper in females than males (p<0.001). Differences in nerve parameters among subjects in relation to Body Mass Index (BMI) were insignificant. Conclusion: Nerve parameters were conveniently measured by ultrasound. Knowledge of site-specific normal size of nerves is of great importance in diagnosing various neuropathies, compression syndromes and traumatic nerve lesions. In current study, we have attempted to create a reference database that may be valuable for neurologists as well as radiologists. Knowledge of nerve depth & location may help in guiding ankle blocks in various surgeries and for other diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Evolution of Polygalacturonases and Polygalacturonase‐Inhibiting Proteins: A View Beyond the Classical Perspective
Authors: Haeger Wiebke , Pauchet Yannick , Kirsch Roy
Published: February 2022

As the first line of defence, the plant cell wall represents a battleground for both attackers' arsenals of harmful compounds and defensive actions of plants. Plants counteract tissue maceration caused by their enemies' plant cell wall degrading enzymes. Among those, pectin‐degrading polygalacturonases (PGs) of the glycoside hydrolase family 28 (GH28) are impaired by PG‐inhibiting proteins (PGIPs), extracellular members of the leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) family. PG‐PGIP interaction is well studied in the context of microbial phytopathogens. However, hypothetically, every organism that benefits from PG activity could be affected by PGIPs. Herein, we develop this view from the plant, the insect and the evolutionary perspective: (i) Plants produce their own PGs, which are involved in different developmental processes. We revisit plant PG–PGIP interaction and discuss foundational studies in light of up‐to‐date plant PG amino acid sequence data. (ii) We summarise recent advances in the field of PGs produced by insects and insect‐associated microbial symbionts and review how PGIPs influence insect PGs. (iii) As the functions of PGIPs and closely related LRR proteins are not limited to the inhibition of PGs, we combine information on functionally characterised LRR proteins with a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis and discuss the roles of plant‐specific extracellular LRR proteins in plant resistance and beyond.
Oxygen‐Carrying and Antibacterial Fluorinated Nano‐Hydroxyapatite Incorporated Hydrogels for Enhanced Bone Regeneration
Authors: Huang Baoxuan , Chen Mingjiao , Tian Jia , Zhang Yuanhao , Dai Zhaobo , Li Jin , Zhang Weian
Published: February 2022

Insufficient oxygen availability in tissue engineering is one of the major factors for the failure of clinical transplantation. One potential strategy to conquer this limitation is the fabrication of spontaneous and continuous oxygen supplying scaffolds for in situ tissue regeneration. In this work, a versatile fluorine‐incorporating hydrogel is designed which can not only timely and continuously supply oxygen for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to overcome deficient oxygen before vascularization in scaffolds, but can present a higher antibacterial capability to avoid bacterial infections. The HAp@PDA‐F nanoparticles are first prepared and then incorporated with the quaternized and methacrylated chitosan forming CS/HAp@PDA‐F by photo‐crosslinking. In vitro results indicate that CS/HAp@PDA‐F hydrogel has outstanding mechanical performance, moreover, it also has the oxygen‐carrying ability to prolong survival ability, enhance proliferation activity, and preserve osteogenic differentiation potency and promote osteogenic‐related genes expression of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) under hypoxic environment. Furthermore, the CS/HAp@PDA‐F hydrogel can inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, providing a good antibacterial activity. Additionally, in vivo experiments demonstrate higher bone volume and bone mineral density, and more new bone tissue generation in CS/HAp@PDA‐F group than in CS/HAp@PDA group. These results indicate that the rational design of fluorinated hydrogel possesses a good clinical application prospect for bone regeneration.
A Low‐Temperature Annealing Method for Alloy Nanostructures and Metasurfaces: Unlocking a Novel Degree of Freedom
Authors: Ray Debdatta , Wang Hsiang‐Chu , Kim Jeonghyeon , Santschi Christian , Martin Olivier J. F.
Published: February 2022

The material and exact shape of a nanostructure determine its optical response, which is especially strong for plasmonic metals. Unfortunately, only a few plasmonic metals are available, which limits the spectral range where these strong optical effects can be utilized. Alloying different plasmonic metals can overcome this limitation, at the expense of using a high‐temperature alloying process, which adversely destroys the nanostructure shape. Here, a low‐temperature alloying process is developed where the sample is heated at only 300 °C for 8 h followed by 30 min at 450 °C and Au–Ag nanostructures with a broad diversity of shapes, aspect ratios, and stoichiometries are fabricated. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses confirm the homogeneous alloying through the entire sample. Varying the alloy stoichiometry tunes the optical response and controls spectral features, such as Fano resonances. Binary metasurfaces that combine nanostructures with different stoichiometries are fabricated using multiple‐step electron‐beam lithography, and their optical function as a hologram or a Fresnel zone plate is demonstrated at the visible wavelength of λ = 532 nm. This low‐temperature annealing technique provides a versatile and cost‐effective way of fabricating complex Au–Ag nanostructures with arbitrary stoichiometry.
Thermalization of Fluorescent Protein Exciton–Polaritons at Room Temperature
Authors: Satapathy Sitakanta , Liu Bin , Deshmukh Prathmesh , Molinaro Paul M. , Dirnberger Florian , Khatoniar Mandeep , Koder Ronald L. , Menon Vinod M.
Published: February 2022

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) have recently emerged as a serious contender for realizing ultralow threshold room temperature exciton–polariton condensation and lasing. This contribution investigates the thermalization of FP microcavity exciton–polaritons upon optical pumping under ambient conditions. Polariton cooling is realized using a new FP molecule, called mScarlet, coupled strongly to the optical modes in a Fabry–Pérot cavity. Interestingly, at the threshold excitation energy (fluence) of ≈9 nJ per pulse (15.6 mJ cm−2), an effective temperature is observed, Teff ≈ 350 ± 35 K close to the lattice temperature indicative of strongly thermalized exciton–polaritons at equilibrium. This efficient thermalization results from the interplay of radiative pumping facilitated by the energetics of the lower polariton branch and the cavity Q‐factor. Direct evidence for dramatic switching from an equilibrium state into a metastable state is observed for the organic cavity polariton device at room temperature via deviation from the Maxwell–Boltzmann statistics at k‖ = 0 above the threshold. Thermalized polariton gases in organic systems at equilibrium hold substantial promise for designing room temperature polaritonic circuits, switches, and lattices for analog simulation.
All‐van‐der‐Waals Barrier‐Free Contacts for High‐Mobility Transistors
Authors: Zhang Xiankun , Yu Huihui , Tang Wenhui , Wei Xiaofu , Gao Li , Hong Mengyu , Liao Qingliang , Kang Zhuo , Zhang Zheng , Zhang Yue
Published: February 2022

Ultrathin 2D semiconductor devices are considered to have beyond‐silicon potential but are severely troubled by the high Schottky barriers of the metal–semiconductor contacts, especially for p‐type semiconductors. Due to the severe Fermi‐level pinning effect and the lack of conventional semimetals with high work functions, their Schottky hole barriers are hardly removed. Here, an all‐van‐der‐Waals barrier‐free hole contact between p‐type tellurene semiconductor and layered 1T′‐WS2 semimetal is reported, which achieves a zero Schottky barrier height of 3 ± 9 meV and a high field‐effect mobility of ≈1304 cm2 V–1 s–1. The formation of such contacts can be attributed to the higher work function of ≈4.95 eV of the 1T′‐WS2 semimetal, which is in sharp contrast with low work function (4.1–4.7 eV) of conventional semimetals. The study defines an available strategy for eliminating the Schottky barrier of metal–semiconductor contacts, facilitating 2D‐semiconductor‐based electronics and optoelectronics to extend Moore's law.