bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Formaldehyde exposure induces regulatory T cell-mediated immunosuppression via calcineurin-NFAT signalling pathway
Authors: Park Jeongsik , Yang Hyo-Seon , Song Mi-Kyung , Kim Dong Im , Lee Kyuhong 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the effects of Formaldehyde (FA) exposure on splenic immune responses wherein helper T cells become activated and differentiate into effector T and regulatory T cells. BALB/c mice were exposed to two FA concentrations (1.38 mg/m3 and 5.36 mg/m3) for 4 h/day and 5 days/week for 2 weeks. FA-induced immune responses were examined by the production of cytokines, expression of mRNAs, and distributions of helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Moreover, expression of calcineurin and NFATs, regulatory T cell-related signalling proteins, were evaluated. FA exposure suppressed Th2-, Th1-, and Th17-related splenic cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. mRNA expression of splenic cytokines was also decreased by FA exposure, which correlated with decreased cytokine expression. In parallel, FA exposure promoted T cell differentiation into regulatory T cells in a dose-dependent manner supported by the expression of calcineurin and NFAT1. Taken together, our results indicated that FA exposure increases the number of regulatory T cells via calcineurin-NFAT signalling, thereby leading to effector T cell activity suppression with decreased T cell-related cytokine secretion and mRNA expression. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of FA and accordingly have general implications for human health, particularly in occupational settings.
Cep215 is essential for morphological differentiation of astrocytes
Authors: Kang Donghee , Shin Wonjung , Yoo Hyunjeong , Kim Seongjae , Lee Seongju , Rhee Kunsoo 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCep215 (also known as Cdk5rap2) is a centrosome protein which is involved in microtubule organization. Cep215 is also placed at specific subcellular locations and organizes microtubules outside the centrosome. Here, we report that Cep215 is involved in morphological differentiation of astrocytes. Cep215 was specifically localized at the glial processes as well as centrosomes in developing astrocytes. Morphological differentiation of astrocytes was suppressed in the Cep215-deleted P19 cells and in the Cep215-depleted embryonic hippocampal culture. We confirm that the microtubule organizing function of Cep215 is critical for the glial process formation. However, Cep215 is not involved in the regulation of cell proliferation nor cell specification. Based on the results, we propose that Cep215 organizes microtubules for glial process formation during astrocyte differentiation.
An optimized desuccinylase activity assay reveals a difference in desuccinylation activity between proliferative and differentiated cells
Authors: Yuan Taolin , Keijer Jaap , Guo Angela H. , Lombard David B. , de Boer Vincent C. J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSuccinylation is a novel post-translational modification identified on many proteins and is involved in multiple biological processes. Succinylation levels are dynamically regulated, balanced by succinylation and desuccinylation processes, and are closely connected to metabolic state in vivo. Sirtuins have been shown to possess NAD+-dependent desuccinylation activity in vitro and in vivo, among which the desuccinylation activity of SIRT5 is most extensively studied. Our understanding of the response of succinylation levels to different metabolic conditions, is hampered by the lack of a fast NAD+-dependent desuccinylation assay in a physiological context. In the present study, we therefore optimized and validated a fluorescence-based assay for measuring NAD+-dependent desuccinylation activity in cell lysates. Our results demonstrated that shorter and stricter reaction time was critical to approach the initial rate of NAD+-dependent desuccinylation activity in crude cell lysate systems, as compared to the desuccinylation reaction of purified His-SIRT5. Analysis of desuccinylation activity in SIRT5 knockout HEK293T cells confirmed the relevance of SIRT5 in cellular desuccinylation activity, as well as the presence of other NAD+-dependent desuccinylase activities. In addition, we were able to analyse desuccinylation and deacetylation activity in multiple cell lines using this assay. We showed a remarkably higher desuccinylase activity, but not deacetylase activity, in proliferative cultured muscle and adipose cells in comparison with their differentiated counterparts. Our results reveal an alteration in NAD+-dependent desuccinylation activity under different metabolic states.
Coordinated self-interference of wave packets: a new route towards classicality for structurally stable systems
Authors: Ćosić M. , Petrović S. , Bellucci S. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis is a study of proton transmission through planar channels of tungsten, where a proton beam is treated as an ensemble of noninteracting wave packets. For this system, the structural stability manifests in an appearance of caustic lines, and as an equivalence of self-interference produced waveforms with canonical diffraction patterns. We will show that coordination between particle self-interference is an additional manifestation of the structural stability existing only in ensembles. The main focus of the analysis was on the ability of the coordination to produce classical structures. We have found that the structures produced by the self-interference are organized in a very different manner. The coordination can enhance or suppress the quantum aspects of the dynamics. This behavior is explained by distributions of inflection, undulation, and singular points of the ensemble phase function, and their bifurcations. We have shown that the coordination has a topological origin which allows classical and quantum levels of reality to exist simultaneously. The classical behavior of the ensemble emerges out of the quantum dynamics without a need for reduction of the quantum to the classical laws of motion.
Application of smart solid lipid nanoparticles to enhance the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of colorectal cancer
Authors: Smith Taylor , Affram Kevin , Nottingham Ebony L. , Han Bo , Amissah Felix , Krishnan Sunil , Trevino Jose , Agyare Edward 
Published: October 2020

Abstract5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a standard treatment option for colorectal cancer (CRC) but its rapid metabolism and systemic instability (short half-life) has hindered its therapeutic efficacy. The objective of this study was to develop a novel drug delivery system, solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN), capable of delivering high payload of 5-FU to treat CRC. The rational was to improve 5FU-nanocarrier compatibility and therapeutic efficacy. The SLN-loaded 5-FU was developed by utilizing a Strategic and unique Method to Advance and Refine the Treatment (SMART) of CRC through hot and cold homogenization approach. The SLN was made of unique PEGylated lipids and combination of the surfactants. Cytotoxicity studies, clonogenic assay, flow cytometry and confocal imaging were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and cellular uptake of 5FU-SLN4 in HCT-116 cancer cells. Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and receptor expressions were determined while tumor efficacy studies were conducted on mouse bearing subcutaneous HCT-116 cancer. Among the all the formulations, 5FU-SLN4 was the most effective with particle size of was 263 ± 3 nm, zeta potential was 0.1 ± 0.02 and entrapment efficiency of 81 ± 10%. The IC50 value of 5FU-SLN4 (7.4 ± 0.02 µM) was 2.3 fold low compared with 5-FU (17.7 ± 0.03 µM). For tumor efficacy studies, 5FU-SLN4 significantly inhibited tumor growth in comparison to 5-FU while area-under plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of 5FU-SLN4 was 3.6 fold high compared with 5-FU. HER2 receptors expression were markedly reduced in 5-FU-SLN4 treated mice compared with 5FU and liver and kidney tissues showed no toxicity at dose of 20 mg/kg. 5FU-SLN4 was highly cytotoxic against HCT-116 cells and significantly inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth in mice compared with 5-FU. This emphasizes the significance of developing a smart nano-delivery system to optimize the delivery efficiency of anticancer drugs to tumors.
Cellular senescence-mediated exacerbation of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Sugihara Hidetoshi , Teramoto Naomi , Nakamura Katsuyuki , Shiga Takanori , Shirakawa Taku , Matsuo Masafumi , Ogasawara Masashi , Nishino Ichizo , Matsuwaki Takashi , Nishihara Masugi , Yamanouchi Keitaro 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive disease characterised by chronic muscle degeneration and inflammation. Our previously established DMD model rats (DMD rats) have a more severe disease phenotype than the broadly used mouse model. We aimed to investigate the role of senescence in DMD using DMD rats and patients. Senescence was induced in satellite cells and mesenchymal progenitor cells, owing to the increased expression of CDKN2A, p16- and p19-encoding gene. Genetic ablation of p16 in DMD rats dramatically restored body weight and muscle strength. Histological analysis showed a reduction of fibrotic and adipose tissues invading skeletal muscle, with increased muscle regeneration. Senolytic drug ABT263 prevented loss of body weight and muscle strength, and increased muscle regeneration in rats even at 8 months—the late stage of DMD. Moreover, senescence markers were highly expressed in the skeletal muscle of DMD patients. In situ hybridization of CDKN2A confirmed the expression of it in satellite cells and mesenchymal progenitor cells in patients with DMD. Collectively, these data provide new insights into the integral role of senescence in DMD progression.
Host-symbiont coevolution, cryptic structure, and bleaching susceptibility, in a coral species complex (Scleractinia; Poritidae)
Authors: Forsman Z. H. , Ritson-Williams R. , Tisthammer K.H. , Knapp I. S. S. , Toonen R. J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe ‘species’ is a key concept for conservation and evolutionary biology, yet the lines between population and species-level variation are often blurred, especially for corals. The ‘Porites lobata species complex’ consists of branching and mounding corals that form reefs across the Pacific. We used reduced representation meta-genomic sequencing to examine genetic relationships within this species complex and to identify candidate loci associated with colony morphology, cryptic genetic structure, and apparent bleaching susceptibility. We compared existing Porites data with bleached and unbleached colonies of the branching coral P. compressa collected in Kāneʻohe Bay Hawaiʻi during the 2015 coral bleaching event. Loci that mapped to coral, symbiont, and microbial references revealed genetic structure consistent with recent host-symbiont co-evolution. Cryptic genetic clades were resolved that previous work has associated with distance from shore, but no genetic structure was associated with bleaching. We identified many candidate loci associated with morphospecies, including candidate host and symbiont loci with fixed differences between branching and mounding corals. We also found many loci associated with cryptic genetic structure, yet relatively few loci associated with bleaching. Recent host-symbiont co-evolution and rapid diversification suggests that variation and therefore the capacity of these corals to adapt may be underappreciated.
Pollen tube growth from multiple pollinator visits more accurately quantifies pollinator performance and plant reproduction
Authors: Stavert Jamie R. , Bailey Charlie , Kirkland Lindsey , Rader Romina 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPollination services from animals are critical for both crop production and reproduction in wild plant species. Accurately measuring the relative contributions of different animal taxa to pollination service delivery is essential for identifying key pollinators. However, widely used measures of pollinator effectiveness (e.g., single visit pollen deposition) may be inaccurate where plant reproduction is strongly constrained by pollen quality. Here, we test the efficacy of single and multiple pollinator visits for measuring pollinator performance in a model plant species (apple,Malus domesticaBorkh) that is strongly limited by pollen quality. We determined pollination success using a suite of measures (pollen deposition, pollen tube growth, fruit and seed set) from single and multiple pollinator visits. We found that pollen deposition from a single pollinator visit seldom resulted in the growth of pollen tubes capable of eliciting ovule fertilisation and never resulted in fruit or seed production. In contrast, multiple pollinator visits frequently initiated the growth of pollen tubes capable of ovule fertilisation and often led to fruit and seed production. Our findings suggest that single visit pollen deposition may provide a poor measure of pollinator performance when linked to reproductive success of plant species that are constrain by pollen quality. Alternatively, pollen tube growth from single and multiple pollinator visits can provide a measure of pollinator performance that is more closely linked to plant reproduction.
Valley-selective energy transfer between quantum dots in atomically thin semiconductors
Authors: Baimuratov Anvar S. , Högele Alexander 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides the nonlocal nature of the effective dielectric screening leads to large binding energies of excitons. Additional lateral confinement gives rise to exciton localization in quantum dots. By assuming parabolic confinement for both the electron and the hole, we derive model wave functions for the relative and the center-of-mass motions of electron–hole pairs, and investigate theoretically resonant energy transfer among excitons localized in two neighboring quantum dots. We quantify the probability of energy transfer for a direct-gap transition by assuming that the interaction between two quantum dots is described by a Coulomb potential, which allows us to include all relevant multipole terms of the interaction. We demonstrate the structural control of the valley-selective energy transfer between quantum dots.
Selective effects of protein 4.1N deficiency on neuroendocrine and reproductive systems
Authors: Wang Hua , Parra Marilyn , Conboy John G. , Hillyer Christopher D. , Mohandas Narla , An Xiuli 
Published: October 2020

AbstractProtein 4.1N, a member of the protein 4.1 family, is highly expressed in the brain. But its function remains to be fully defined. Using 4.1N−/− mice, we explored the function of 4.1N in vivo. We show that 4.1N−/− mice were born at a significantly reduced Mendelian ratio and exhibited high mortality between 3 to 5 weeks of age. Live 4.1N−/− mice were smaller than 4.1N+/+ mice. Notably, while there were no significant differences in organ/body weight ratio for most of the organs, the testis/body and ovary/body ratio were dramatically decreased in 4.1N−/− mice, demonstrating selective effects of 4.1N deficiency on the development of the reproductive systems. Histopathology of the reproductive organs showed atrophy of both testis and ovary. Specifically, in the testis there is a lack of spermatogenesis, lack of leydig cells and lack of mature sperm. Similarly, in the ovary there is a lack of follicular development and lack of corpora lutea formation, as well as lack of secretory changes in the endometrium. Examination of pituitary glands revealed that the secretory granules were significantly decreased in pituitary glands of 4.1N−/− compared to 4.1N+/+. Moreover, while GnRH was expressed in both neuronal cell body and axons in the hypothalamus of 4.1N+/+ mice, it was only expressed in the cell body but not the axons of 4.1N-/- mice. Our findings uncover a novel role for 4.1N in the axis of hypothalamus-pituitary gland-reproductive system.
Synbiotic feed supplementation significantly improves lipid utilization and shows discrete effects on disease resistance in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Villumsen Kasper Rømer , Ohtani Maki , Forberg Torunn , Aasum Elisabeth , Tinsley John , Bojesen Anders Miki 
Published: October 2020

AbstractEnteric redmouth disease caused by the bacterial pathogen Yersinia ruckeri is the main reason for antimicrobial prescription, and a cause of substantial economic losses and decreased animal welfare in aquaculture. Given the importance of the intestinal microbiota in digestion and disease, our aim was to investigate whether synbiotic feed supplementation strategies could improve feed performance and disease resistance. Four experimental synbiotic feeds formulated with pre- and probiotics were tested against a commercially available probiotic control feed. Each experimental feed was evaluated for feed performance, effects on gross as well as intestinal morphometrics, and finally their effect on resistance against a waterborne experimental infection with Yersinia ruckeri serotype O1, biotype 2. While co-supplementing Pediococcus acidilactici with citrus flavonoids or bacterial paraprobiotics significantly improved utilization of feed lipid content relative to the control group, a decrease in lipid utilization was observed for feeds that combined P. acidilactici with yeast paraprobiotics. No significant improvements on disease resistance were observed. Still, synbiotic formulations including P. acidilactici led to reduced risks relative to that of the control group, while an increased relative risk was observed for a Bacillus-based formulation. In conclusion, two of the synbiotic supplements significantly improved lipid utilization and contributed to minor increases in disease resistance.
Optimal collective decision making: consensus, accuracy and the effects of limited access to information
Authors: Berekméri Evelin , Zafeiris Anna 
Published: October 2020

Abstract“Knowledge is power”—holds the popular proverb, because knowledge and information is indeed one of the cornerstones of effective decision making, a requisite all living beings face continually. In fact, effective decision making is a matter of life and death, for individuals and groups alike. Furthermore, in case of group decisions, consensus is also often desirable. This latter one has been studied extensively by means of formal (mathematical) tools (in the field of opinion dynamics), while the first requirement, the process of yielding accurate information has been largely neglected, at least so far. In the present paper we study the optimal structure of groups which are embedded into an external, observable environment for (i) reaching consensus (ii) having well-informed members, and (iii) for those cases when both aspects are equally important. The groups are characterised by their communication networks and individual properties. We find that the group structures fundamentally differ from each other since having well-informed members requires highly specialised individuals embedded into a structured communication network, while consensus is promoted by non-hierarchical networks in which individuals participate equally. We also find that—contrary to intuition—high access to information calls forth hierarchy, and that suggestibility promotes accuracy, not consensus.
A tri-component knee plug for the 3rd generation of autologous chondrocyte implantation
Authors: Tayebi Lobat , Cui Zhanfeng , Ye Hua 
Published: October 2020

AbstractHere, we report a newly designed knee plug to be used in the 3rd generation of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) in order to heal the damaged knee cartilage. It is composed of three components: The first component (Bone Portion) is a 3D printed hard scaffold with large pores (~ 850 µm), made by hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate to accommodate the bony parts underneath the knee cartilage. It is a cylinder with a diameter of 20 mm and height of 7.5 mm, with a slight dome shape on top. The plug also comprises a Cartilage Portion (component 2) which is a 3D printed gelatin/elastin/sodium-hyaluronate soft thick porous membrane with large pores to accommodate chondrocytes. Cartilage Portion is secured on top of the Bone Portion using mechanical interlocking by designing specific knobs in the 3D printed construct of the Cartilage Portion. The third component of the plug (Film) is a stitchable permeable membrane consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL) on top of the Cartilage Portion to facilitate sliding of the knee joint and to hold the entire plug in place while allowing nutrients delivery to the Cartilage Portion. The PCL Film is prepared using a combination of film casting and sacrificial material leaching with a pore size of 10 µm. It is surface modified to have specific affinity with the Cartilage Portion. The detailed design criteria and production process of this plug is presented in this report. Full in vitro analyses have been performed, which indicate the compatibility of the different components of the plug relative to their expected functions.
Unsupervised learning for large-scale corneal topography clustering
Authors: Zéboulon Pierre , Debellemanière Guillaume , Gatinel Damien 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMachine learning algorithms have recently shown their precision and potential in many different use cases and fields of medicine. Most of the algorithms used are supervised and need a large quantity of labeled data to achieve high accuracy. Also, most applications of machine learning in medicine are attempts to mimic or exceed human diagnostic capabilities but little work has been done to show the power of these algorithms to help collect and pre-process a large amount of data. In this study we show how unsupervised learning can extract and sort usable data from large unlabeled datasets with minimal human intervention. Our digital examination tools used in clinical practice store such databases and are largely under-exploited. We applied unsupervised algorithms to corneal topography examinations which remains the gold standard test for diagnosis and follow-up of many corneal diseases and refractive surgery screening. We could extract 7019 usable examinations which were automatically sorted in 3 common diagnoses (Normal, Keratoconus and History of Refractive Surgery) from an unlabeled database with an overall accuracy of 96.5%. Similar methods could be used on any form of digital examination database and greatly speed up the data collection process and yield to the elaboration of stronger supervised models.