bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Malaria hotspots explained from the perspective of ecological theory underlying insect foraging
Authors: Debebe Yared , Hill Sharon Rose , Tekie Habte , Dugassa Sisay , Hopkins Richard J. , Ignell Rickard 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHotspots constitute the major reservoir for residual malaria transmission, with higher malaria incidence than neighbouring areas, and therefore, have the potential to form the cornerstone for successful intervention strategies. Detection of malaria hotspots is hampered by their heterogenous spatial distribution, and the laborious nature and low sensitivity of the current methods used to assess transmission intensity. We adopt ecological theory underlying foraging in herbivorous insects to vector mosquito host seeking and modelling of fine-scale landscape features at the village level. The overall effect of environmental variables on the density of indoor mosquitoes, sporozoite infected mosquitoes, and malaria incidence, was determined using generalized linear models. Spatial analyses were used to identify hotspots for malaria incidence, as well as malaria vector density and associated sporozoite prevalence. We identify household occupancy and location as the main predictors of vector density, entomological inoculation rate and malaria incidence. We propose that the use of conventional vector control and malaria interventions, integrated with their intensified application targeting predicted hotspots, can be used to reduce malaria incidence in endemic and residual malaria settings.
Lipodendriplexes mediated enhanced gene delivery: a cellular to pre-clinical investigation
Authors: Tariq Imran , Ali Muhammad Yasir , Sohail Muhammad Farhan , Amin Muhammad Umair , Ali Sajid , Bukhari Nadeem Irfan , Raza Abida , Pinnapireddy Shashank Reddy , Schäfer Jens , Bakowsky Udo 
Published: December 2020

AbstractClinical success of effective gene therapy is mainly hampered by the insufficiency of safe and efficient internalization of a transgene to the targeted cellular site. Therefore, the development of a safe and efficient nanocarrier system is one of the fundamental challenges to transfer the therapeutic genes to the diseased cells. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer has been used as an efficient non-viral gene vector (dendriplexes) but the toxicity and unusual biodistribution induced by the terminal amino groups (–NH2) limit its in vivo applications. Hence, a state of the art lipid modification with PAMAM based gene carrier (lipodendriplexes) was planned to investigate theirs in vitro (2D and 3D cell culture) and in vivo behaviour. In vitro pDNA transfection, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cellular protein contents, live/dead staining and apoptosis were studied in 2D cell culture of HEK-293 cells while GFP transfection, 3D cell viability and live/dead staining of spheroids were performed in its 3D cell culture. Acute toxicity studies including organ to body index ratio, hematological parameters, serum biochemistry, histopathological profiles and in vivo transgene expression were assessed in female BALB/c mice. The results suggested that, in comparison to dendriplexes the lipodendriplexes exhibited significant improvement of pDNA transfection (p < 0.001) with lower LDH release (p < 0.01) and ROS generation (p < 0.05). A substantially higher cellular protein content (p < 0.01) and cell viability were also observed in 2D culture. A strong GFP expression with an improved cell viability profile (p < 0.05) was indicated in lipodendriplexes treated 3D spheroids. In vivo archives showed the superiority of lipid-modified nanocarrier system, depicted a significant increase in green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in the lungs (p < 0.01), heart (p < 0.001), liver (p < 0.001) and kidneys (p < 0.001) with improved serum biochemistry and hematological profile as compared to unmodified dendriplexes. No tissue necrosis was evident in the animal groups treated with lipid-shielded molecules. Therefore, a non-covalent conjugation of lipids with PAMAM based carrier system could be considered as a promising approach for an efficient and biocompatible gene delivery system.
Removal of aqueous Cr(VI) by magnetic biochar derived from bagasse
Authors: Liang Meina , Ding Yanmei , Zhang Qing , Wang Dunqiu , Li Huanhuan , Lu Lin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe prepared a novel adsorbent functionalized by bagasse magnetic biochar (BMBC). To study the removal behaviors and mechanisms of Cr(VI) by BMBC, batch adsorption experiments were conducted by modifying variables, such as pH, adsorption time, BMBC dosages, initial Cr concentration, co-existing ions, and ionic strength, and characterizing BMBC before and after Cr(VI) adsorption. BMBC was primarily composed of Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 on bagasse boichar with an amorphous structure. The specific surface area of BMBC was 81.94 m2 g−1, and the pHpzc of BMBC was 6.2. The fabricated BMBC showed high adsorption performance of Cr(VI) in aqueous solution. The maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of BMBC was 29.08 mg g−1 at 25 ºC, which was much higher than that of conventional biochar sorbents. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and could be explained by the involvement of the Langmuir isotherm in monolayer adsorption. The crystalline structure of Fe3O4 in the BMBC changed slightly during the adsorption process; Fe3O4 improved the adsorption of Cr(VI) on BMB. The desorption capacity of Cr(VI) was 8.21 mg g−1 when 0.2 mol L−1 NaOH was used as the desorption solution. After being reused three times, the removal efficiency is still as high as 80.36%.
Combinatorial Atoh1 and Gfi1 induction enhances hair cell regeneration in the adult cochlea
Authors: Lee Sungsu , Song Jae-Jun , Beyer Lisa A. , Swiderski Donald L. , Prieskorn Diane M. , Acar Melih , Jen Hsin-I , Groves Andrew K. , Raphael Yehoash 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMature mammalian cochlear hair cells (HCs) do not spontaneously regenerate once lost, leading to life-long hearing deficits. Attempts to induce HC regeneration in adult mammals have used over-expression of the HC-specific transcription factor Atoh1, but to date this approach has yielded low and variable efficiency of HC production. Gfi1 is a transcription factor important for HC development and survival. We evaluated the combinatorial effects of Atoh1 and Gfi1 over-expression on HC regeneration using gene transfer methods in neonatal cochlear explants, and in vivo in adult mice. Adenoviral over-expression of Atoh1 and Gfi1 in cultured neonatal cochlear explants resulted in numerous ectopic HC-like cells (HCLCs), with significantly more cells in Atoh1 + Gfi1 cultures than Atoh1 alone. In vitro, ectopic HCLCs emerged in regions medial to inner HCs as well as in the stria vascularis. In vivo experiments were performed in mature Pou4f3DTR mice in which HCs were completely and specifically ablated by administration of diphtheria toxin. Adenoviral expression of Atoh1 or Atoh1 + Gfi1 in cochlear supporting cells induced appearance of HCLCs, with Atoh1 + Gfi1 expression leading to 6.2-fold increase of new HCLCs after 4 weeks compared to Atoh1 alone. New HCLCs were detected throughout the cochlea, exhibited immature stereocilia and survived for at least 8 weeks. Combinatorial Atoh1 and Gfi1 induction is thus a promising strategy to promote HC regeneration in the mature mammalian cochlea.
Robust and continuous oil/water separation with superhydrophobic glass microfiber membrane by vertical polymerization under harsh conditions
Authors: Woo Seeun , Park Hong Ryul , Park Jinyoung , Yi Johan , Hwang Woonbong 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe report a robust and continuous oil/water separation with nanostructured glass microfiber (GMF) membranes modified by oxygen plasma treatment and self-assembled monolayer coating with vertical polymerization. The modified GMF membrane had a nanostructured surface and showed excellent superhydrophobicity. With an appropriate membrane thickness, a high water intrusion pressure (< 62.7 kPa) was achieved for continuous pressure-driven separation of oil/water mixtures with high flux (< 4418 L h−1 m−2) and high oil purity (> 99%). Under simulated industrial conditions, the modified GMF membrane exhibited robust chemical stability against strong acidic/alkaline solutions and corrosive environments. The proposed superhydrophobic composite coating technique is simple, low cost, environmentally friendly, and suitable for the mass production of scalable three-dimensional surfaces. Moreover, its stability and customizable functionality offers considerable potential for a wide range of novel applications.
Spectral fingerprinting to evaluate effects of storage conditions on biomolecular structure of filter-dried saliva samples and recovered DNA
Authors: Brogna Raffaele , Oldenhof Harriëtte , Sieme Harald , Wolkers Willem F. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSaliva has been widely recognized as a non-invasive, painless and easy-to-collect bodily fluid, which contains biomarkers that can be used for diagnosis of both oral and systemic diseases. Under ambient conditions, salivary biomarkers are subject to degradation. Therefore, in order to minimize degradation during transport and storage, saliva specimens need to be stabilized. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of preserving saliva samples by drying to provide a shelf-stable source of DNA. Human saliva was dried on filters under ambient conditions using sucrose as lyoprotective agent. Samples were stored under different conditions, i.e. varying relative humidity (RH) and temperature. In addition to assessment of different cell types in saliva and their DNA contents, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the effects of storage on biomolecular structure characteristics of saliva. FTIR analysis showed that saliva dried without a lyoprotectant exhibits a higher content of extended β-sheet protein secondary structures compared to samples that were dried with sucrose. In order to evaluate differences in characteristic bands arising from the DNA backbone among differently stored samples, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed, allowing a clear discrimination between groups with/without sucrose as well as storage durations and conditions. Our results indicated that saliva dried on filters in the presence of sucrose exhibits higher biomolecular stability during storage.
Mechanism and antibacterial activity of vine tea extract and dihydromyricetin against Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Liang Haiyun , He Keke , Li Ting , Cui Shumei , Tang Meng , Kang Shaoyi , Ma Wei , Song Liya 
Published: December 2020

AbstractVine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) has been approved as a new food ingredient in 2013. Both vine tea extract (VTE) and its active ingredient, 2R, 3R-Dihydromyricetin (DMY), showed good antibacterial activity. The mechanism of VTE and DMY against Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated by morphology observation, cell membrane and wall assay, protein assay, and DNA assay in this study. The results of SEM and TEM revealed that the VTE and DMY changed the morphology of S. aureus. The leakage of AKPase and β-galactosidase in treated groups demonstrated that the membrane integrity of S. aureus was disrupted. Meanwhile, the results of protein assay showed that VTE and DMY inhibited the expression of total proteins, and decreased activities of a few energy metabolism enzymes, total ATPase. Moreover, spectral and competitive analysis revealed that VTE and DMY interacted with DNA by groove and intercalation binding. Finally, the suspension experiments of Chinese cabbage and barley showed that inhibitors had strong inhibitory effect on bacteria growth. Overall, the results suggested that VTE and DMY may be potential food preservatives for inhibiting pathogen.
Predicting porosity, permeability, and tortuosity of porous media from images by deep learning
Authors: Graczyk Krzysztof M. , Matyka Maciej 
Published: December 2020

AbstractConvolutional neural networks (CNN) are utilized to encode the relation between initial configurations of obstacles and three fundamental quantities in porous media: porosity ($$\varphi$$φ), permeability (k), and tortuosity (T). The two-dimensional systems with obstacles are considered. The fluid flow through a porous medium is simulated with the lattice Boltzmann method. The analysis has been performed for the systems with$$\varphi \in (0.37,0.99)$$φ∈(0.37,0.99)which covers five orders of magnitude a span for permeability$$k \in (0.78, 2.1\times 10^5)$$k∈(0.78,2.1×105)and tortuosity$$T \in (1.03,2.74)$$T∈(1.03,2.74). It is shown that the CNNs can be used to predict the porosity, permeability, and tortuosity with good accuracy. With the usage of the CNN models, the relation betweenTand$$\varphi$$φhas been obtained and compared with the empirical estimate.
Numerical techniques to find optimal input parameters for achieving mean particles’ temperature and axial velocity in atmospheric plasma spray process
Authors: Batra R. C. , Taetragool Unchalisa 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe numerically find values of four process input parameters, namely, the argon flow rate, the hydrogen flow rate, the powder feed rate, and the current, that yield the desired mean particles’ temperature and the mean particle velocity (collectively called mean particles’ characteristics, or MPCs) in an atmospheric plasma spray process just before the particles arrive at the substrate to be coated. Previous studies have shown that the coating quality depends upon the MPCs. The process is simulated by using the software, LAVA-P-3D, that provides MPCs close to their experimental values. Thus, numerical rather than physical experiments are conducted. We first use the design of experiments to characterize the sensitivity of the MPCs to process parameters. We then identify relationships between the significant input parameters and the MPCs by using two methods, namely, the least squares regression and the response surface methodology (RSM). Finally, we employ an optimization algorithm in conjunction with the weighted sum method to find optimum values of the process input variables to achieve desired values of the MPCs. The effects of weights assigned to the objective functions for the temperature and the velocity, and the difference in using the regression and the RSM model have been studied. It is found that these values of the process parameters provide MPCs within 5% of their desired values. This methodology is applicable to other coating processes and fabrication technologies such as hot forging, machining and casting.
The potential role of Arhgef33 RhoGEF in foveal development in the zebra finch retina
Authors: Sugiyama Takefumi , Yamamoto Haruka , Kon Tetsuo , Chaya Taro , Omori Yoshihiro , Suzuki Yutaka , Abe Kentaro , Watanabe Dai , Furukawa Takahisa 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe fovea is a pit formed in the center of the retina that enables high-acuity vision in certain vertebrate species. While formation of the fovea fascinates many researchers, the molecular mechanisms underlying foveal development are poorly understood. In the current study, we histologically investigated foveal development in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and found that foveal pit formation begins just before post-hatch day 14 (P14). We next performed RNA-seq analysis to compare gene expression profiles between the central (foveal and parafoveal) and peripheral retina in zebra finch at P14. We found that the Arhgef33 expression is enriched in the middle layer of the inner nuclear layer at the parafovea, suggesting that Arhgef33 is dominantly expressed in Müller glial cells in the developing parafovea. We then performed a pull-down assay using Rhotekin-RBD and observed GEF activity of Arhgef33 against RhoA. We found that overexpression of Arhgef33 in HEK293 cells induces cell contraction and that Arhgef33 expression inhibits neurite extension in Neuro 2A cells, which is partially recovered by a Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor. Taken together, we used zebra finch as a model animal to investigate foveal development and identified Arhgef33 as a candidate protein possibly involved in foveal development through modulating RhoA activity.
Diagenetic processes in Quaternary fossil bones from tropical limestone caves
Authors: de Sousa Daniel Vieira , Eltink Estevan , Oliveira Raquel Aline Pessoa , Félix Jorlandio Francisco , Guimarães Luciano de Moura 
Published: December 2020

AbstractQuaternary fossils from limestone caves bear various diagenetic features due to the complex nature of sedimentary processes. However, few studies have addressed the problem of diagenetic changes in fossils from tropical-wet environments. We study Quaternary fossil bones from different sites of a tropical limestone cave in northeastern Brazil. These fossils show diverse diagenetic features. The approach encompassed the use of scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction to understand the modification of the fossil bone structure, chemical composition, and mineral assemblage during the diagenesis processes. We describe a model for fossil diagenesis in tropical limestone caves that involves early and advanced diagenetic stages, which produce two routes with different endmembers. The diagenesis in the cave alters the crystallinity and ordering of hydroxyapatite. The recrystallization of hydroxyapatite appears to be strongly influenced by dripping water that is rich in calcium carbonate, which leads to crystal formation with higher crystallinity. In the absence of calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite diagenesis involves crystal growth but not necessarily dissolution of the original material, which enables remarkable preservation of the biological structure.
Older adults lack SARS CoV-2 cross-reactive T lymphocytes directed to human coronaviruses OC43 and NL63
Authors: Saletti Giulietta , Gerlach Thomas , Jansen Janina M. , Molle Antonia , Elbahesh Husni , Ludlow Martin , Li Wentao , Bosch Berend-Jan , Osterhaus Albert D. M. E. , Rimmelzwaan Guus F. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCurrently, infections with SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Older adults subjects > 60 years of age account for > 95% of the over one million fatal cases reported to date. It is unclear why in this age group SARS-CoV-2 infection causes more severe disease than in young adults. We hypothesized that differences in SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive cellular immunity induced after infection with human coronaviruses (HCoVs), like OC43 and NL63, were at the basis of the differential mortality (and morbidity) observed after SARS-CoV-2 infection, because a small proportion of HCoV-specific T cells cross-react with SARS-CoV-2. Our data demonstrate that pre-existing T cell immunity induced by circulating human alpha- and beta-HCoVs is present in young adult individuals, but virtually absent in older adult subjects. Consequently, the frequency of cross-reactive T cells directed to the novel pandemic SARS-CoV-2 was minimal in most older adults. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the presence of cross-reactive T cells to SARS-CoV-2 is compared in young and older adults. Our findings provide at least a partial explanation for the more severe clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection observed in the elderly. Moreover, this information could help to design efficacious vaccines for this age group, aiming at the induction of cell-mediated immunity.
Dermal fibroblast-like cells reprogrammed directly from adipocytes in mouse
Authors: Toyosaki Mitsunobu , Homma Koichiro , Suzuki Sayuri , Muraoka Naoto , Hashimoto Hisayuki , Goshima Naoki , Ieda Masaki , Sasaki Junichi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn deep burns, early wound closure is important for healing, and skin grafting is mainly used for wound closure. However, it is difficult to achieve early wound closure in extensive total body surface area deep burns due to the lack of donor sites. Dermal fibroblasts, responsible for dermis formation, may be lost in deep burns. However, fat layers composed of adipocytes, lying underneath the dermis, are retained even in such cases. Direct reprogramming is a novel method for directly reprograming some cells into other types by introducing specific master regulators; it has exhibited appreciable success in various fields. In this study, we aimed to assess whether the transfection of master regulators (ELF4, FOXC2, FOXO1, IRF1, PRRX1, and ZEB1) could reprogram mouse adipocytes into dermal fibroblast-like cells. Our results indicated the shrinkage of fat droplets in reprogrammed mouse adipocytes and their transformation into spindle-shaped dermal fibroblasts. Reduced expression of PPAR-2, c/EBP, aP2, and leptin, the known markers of adipocytes, in RT-PCR, and enhanced expression of anti-ER-TR7, the known anti-fibroblast marker, in immunocytochemistry, were confirmed in the reprogrammed mouse adipocytes. The dermal fibroblast-like cells, reported here, may open up a new treatment mode for enabling early closure of deep burn wounds.
Total synthesis of lindbladione, a Hes1 dimerization inhibitor and neural stem cell activator isolated from Lindbladia tubulina
Authors: Arai Midori A. , Makita Yuna , Yamaguchi Yumi , Kawano Haruka , Suganami Akiko , Tamura Yutaka , Ishibashi Masami 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLindbladione (1) is a neural stem cell differentiation activator isolated from Lindbladia tubulina by our group. Hes1 dimerization inhibitory activity of lindbladione (1) was discovered using our original fluorescent Hes1 dimer microplate assay. We also found that lindbladione (1) accelerates the differentiation of neural stem cells. We conducted the first total synthesis of lindbladione (1) via Heck reaction of 1-hexene-3-one 7 with iodinated naphthoquinone 12, which was provided by Friedel–Crafts acylation followed by Claisen condensation, in the presence of Pd (II) acetate. Careful deprotection of the benzyl groups of 13 successively provided lindbladione (1). Synthesized lindbladione (1) exhibited potent Hes1 dimer inhibition (IC50 of 2.7 μM) in our previously developed fluorescent Hes1 dimer microplate assay. Synthesized lindbladione (1) also accelerated the differentiation of C17.2 mouse neural stem cells into neurons dose dependently, increasing the number of neurons by 59% (2.5 μM) and 112% (10 μM) compared to the control. These activities are comparable to those of naturally occurring lindbladione (1) isolated from L. tublina.