bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the expression stability of reference genes in Apis mellifera under pyrethroid treatment
Authors: Wieczorek Przemysław , Frąckowiak Patryk , Obrępalska-Stęplowska Aleksandra 
Published: September 2020

AbstractHoneybees (Apis mellifera L.), which unquestionably play an economically important role in pollination and agricultural production, are at risk of decline. To study changes in gene expression in insects upon exposure to pesticides or other external stimuli, appropriate reference genes are required for data normalization. Since there is no such gene that is absolutely invariable under all experimental conditions, the aim of this study was to identify the most stable targets suitable for subsequent normalization in quantitative experiments based on real-time polymerase chain reaction in honeybee research. Here, we evaluated the expression of fifteen candidate housekeeping genes from three breeding lines of honeybees treated with pyrethroids to identify the most stable genes. The tested insects were exposed to deltamethrin or lambda-cyhalothrin, and then, changes in the accumulation of selected transcripts were assessed, followed by statistical analyses. We concluded that AmRPL32, AmACT and AmRPL13a were the commonly recorded most stable genes in honeybees treated with the selected pyrethroids.
Improvement of glymphatic–lymphatic drainage of beta-amyloid by focused ultrasound in Alzheimer’s disease model
Authors: Lee Youngsun , Choi Yoori , Park Eun-Joo , Kwon Seokjun , Kim Hyun , Lee Jae Young , Lee Dong Soo 
Published: September 2020

AbstractDrainage of parenchymal waste through the lymphatic system maintains brain homeostasis. Age-related changes of glymphatic–lymphatic clearance lead to the accumulation beta-amyloid (Aβ) in dementia models. In this study, focused ultrasound treatment in combination with microbubbles (FUS-MB) improved Aβ drainage in early dementia model mice, 5XFAD. FUS-MB enhanced solute Aβ clearance from brain, but not plaques, to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space and then deep cervical lymph node (dCLN). dCLN ligation exaggerated memory impairment and progress of plaque formation and also the beneficial effects of FUS-MB upon Aβ removal through CSF-lymphatic routes. In this ligation model, FUS-MB improved memory despite accumulation of Aβ in CSF. In conclusion, FUS-MB enhances glymphatic–lymphatic clearance of Aβ mainly by increasing brain-to-CSF Aβ drainage. We suggest that FUS-MB can delay dementia progress in early period and benefits of FUS-MB depend on the effect of Aβ disposal through CSF-lymphatics.
Ultrastructural analysis of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with the host cell via high resolution scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Caldas Lucio Ayres , Carneiro Fabiana Avila , Higa Luiza Mendonça , Monteiro Fábio Luiz , da Silva Gustavo Peixoto , da Costa Luciana Jesus , Durigon Edison Luiz , Tanuri Amilcar , de Souza Wanderley 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 is the cause of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we investigated the interaction of this new coronavirus with Vero cells using high resolution scanning electron microscopy. Surface morphology, the interior of infected cells and the distribution of viral particles in both environments were observed 2 and 48 h after infection. We showed areas of viral processing, details of vacuole contents, and viral interactions with the cell surface. Intercellular connections were also approached, and viral particles were adhered to these extensions suggesting direct cell-to-cell transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
The electrophysiological effect of cannabidiol on hERG current and in guinea-pig and rabbit cardiac preparations
Authors: Orvos Péter , Pászti Bence , Topal Leila , Gazdag Péter , Prorok János , Polyák Alexandra , Kiss Tivadar , Tóth-Molnár Edit , Csupor-Löffler Boglárka , Bajtel Ákos , Varró András , Hohmann Judit , Virág László , Csupor Dezső 
Published: September 2020

AbstractCannabis use is associated with cardiovascular adverse effects ranging from arrhythmias to sudden cardiac death. The exact mechanism of action behind these activities is unknown. The aim of our work was to study the effect of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol on cellular cardiac electrophysiological properties including ECG parameters, action potentials, hERG and IKr ion channels in HEK cell line and in rabbit and guinea pig cardiac preparations. CBD increased action potential duration in rabbit and guinea pig right ventricular papillary muscle at lower concentrations (1 µM, 2.5 µM and 5 µM) but did not significantly change it at 10 µM. CBD at high concentration (10 µM) decreased inward late sodium and L-type calcium currents as well. CBD inhibited hERG potassium channels with an IC50 value of 2.07 µM at room temperature and delayed rectifier potassium current with 6.5 µM at 37 °C, respectively. The frequency corrected QT interval (QTc) was significantly lengthened in anaesthetized guinea pig without significantly changing other ECG parameters. Although the IC50 value of CBD was higher than literary Cmax values after CBD smoking and oral intake, our results raise the possibility that hERG and potassium channel inhibition might have a role in the possible proarrhythmic adverse effects of cannabinoids in situations where metabolism of CBD impaired and/or the repolarization reserve is weakened.
Influence of number of membership functions on prediction of membrane systems using adaptive network based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS)
Authors: Babanezhad Meisam , Masoumian Armin , Nakhjiri Ali Taghvaie , Marjani Azam , Shirazian Saeed 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn membrane separation technologies, membrane modules are used to separate chemical components. In membrane technology, understanding the behavior of fluids inside membrane module is challenging, and numerical methods are possible by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). On the other hand, the optimization of membrane technology via CFD needs time and computational costs. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and CFD together can model a chemical process, including membrane technology and phase separation. This process can learn the process by learning the neural networks, and point by point learning of CFD mesh elements (computing nodes), and the fuzzy logic system can predict this process. In the current study, the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) model and different parameters of ANFIS for learning a process based on membrane technology was used. The purpose behind using this model is to see how different tuning parameters of the ANFIS model can be used for increasing the exactness of the AI model and prediction of the membrane technology. These parameters were changed in this study, and the accuracy of the prediction was investigated. The results indicated that with low number of inputs, poor regression was obtained, less than 0.32 (R-value), but by increasing the number of inputs, the AI algorithm led to an increase in the prediction capability of the model. When the number of inputs increased to 4, the R-value was increased to 0.99, showing the high accuracy of model as well as its high capability in prediction of membrane process. The AI results were in good agreement with the CFD results. AI results were achieved in a limited time and with low computational costs. In terms of the categorization of CFD data-set, the AI framework plays a critical role in storing data in short memory, and the recovery mechanism can be very easy for users. Furthermore, the results were compared with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSOFIS), and Genetic Algorithm (GAFIS). The time for prediction and learning were compared to study the capability of the methods in prediction and their accuracy.
Association between serum irisin concentrations and sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhao Mingyuan , Zhou Xiaoshuang , Yuan Chengying , Li Rongshan , Ma Yuehong , Tang Xiaoxian 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSarcopenia is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, evidence has emerged that skeletal muscles mediate their protective effect against sarcopenia by secreting myokines. Therefore, we investigated whether irisin was associated with sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis. This was an observational cross-sectional study of data collected from 187 cirrhotic patients. Sarcopenia was defined by computed tomography (CT) scans using specific cutoffs of the 3rd lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle index (L3 SMI). Morning irisin levels were obtained in all patients. Of the 187 patients, sarcopenia was noted in 73 (39%). Irisin concentrations were lower in sarcopenic patients (32.40 pg/ml [interquartile range (IQR): 18.70, 121.26], p < 0.001) than in nonsarcopenic patients. There was a weak correlation between L3 SMI and irisin levels (r = 0.516, p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis including L3 SMI, body mass index (BMI), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), adiponectin, and irisin levels showed that L3 SMI (odds ratio [OR] = 0.915, p = 0.023), adiponectin levels (OR = 1.074, p = 0.014), irisin levels (OR = 0.993, p < 0.001) and BMI (OR = 0.456, p = 0.004) were independently associated with sarcopenia. Irisin levels are associated with sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis. This paper addresses a gap in the literature and facilitates the future transition into clinical treatment.
Efficacy and safety of a single switch from etanercept originator to etanercept biosimilar in a cohort of inflammatory arthritis
Authors: Ditto Maria Chiara , Parisi Simone , Priora Marta , Sanna Silvia , Peroni Clara Lisa , Laganà Angela , D’Avolio Antonio , Fusaro Enrico 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAntiTNF-α biosimilars are broadly available for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis. There are a lot of data concerning the maintenance of clinical efficacy after switching from originators to biosimilars; therefore, such a transition is increasingly encouraged both in the US and Europe. However, there are reports about flares and adverse events (AE) as a non-medical switch remains controversial due to ethical and clinical implications (efficacy, safety, tolerability). The aim of our work was to evaluate the disease activity trend after switching from etanercept originator (oETA-Enbrel) to its biosimilar (bETA-SP4/Benepali) in a cohort of patients in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. In this area, the switch to biosimilars is stalwartly encouraged. We switched 87 patients who were in a clinical state of stability from oETA to bETA: 48 patients were affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA),26 by Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) and 13 by Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).We evaluated VAS-pain, Global-Health, CRP, number of swollen and tender joints, Disease Activity Score on 28 joints (DAS28) for RA, Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) for PsA, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Health Assessment Questionnaire for the spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-S),Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) for AS patients. 11/85 patients (12.6%) stopped treatment after switching to biosimilar etanercept. No difference was found between oETA and bETA in terms of efficacy. However, some arthritis flare and AE were reported. Our data regarding maintenance of efficacy and percentage of discontinuation were in line with the existing literature.
A multilevel analysis identifies the different relationships between amino acids and the competence of oocytes matured individually or in groups
Authors: Kowsar Rasoul , Mansouri Alireza , Sadeghi Nima , Abadi Mohammad Heidaran Ali , Ghoreishi Seyed Mehdi , Sadeghi Khaled , Miyamoto Akio 
Published: September 2020

AbstractHigh-protein diets contribute to an increase in urea follicular concentrations associated with decreased fertility. Urea has been shown to interfere with the epidermal growth factor (EGF)/EGFR system, which has been shown to have a beneficial effect during in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes. Of note, the number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) in the maturation medium can change the maturation and the developmental competence of COCs. Therefore, it was hypothesized that, the presence of urea and EGF may have a differential effect on the depletion/appearance of AAs and competence of COCs matured individually (I-IVM system) or in groups (G-IVM system). In the G-IVM system, COCs increased consumption (depletion) of AAs compared with other groups in the presence of high-level urea (40 mg/dl) + EGF (10 ng/ml). In the I-IVM system, the non-cleaved COCs depleted more AAs than the cleaved COCs, in particular in the presence of urea. The combination of urea and EGF increased the depletion of AAs in the G-IVM system. However, the EGF abrogated the urea-induced depletion of AAs by the I-IVM COCs. The use of N-acetyl-l-cysteine as an EGFR inhibitor canceled urea-induced depletion of AAs. This shows the inhibiting effect of urea over the EGF/EGFR system. In the presence of urea + EGF, COCs had a lower degree of developmental competence than control in both I- and G-IVM systems. Arginine had the best predictive power to identify highly competent COCs in the G-IVM system, while glutamine was the best predictor of the cleavage in the I-IVM system. In conclusion, this multi-level study shows that COCs matured individually or in groups may have different association with AAs metabolism. These findings provide new insights into the relationships between AA metabolism and the subsequent developmental competence of COCs.
Single molecule studies reveal that p53 tetramers dynamically bind response elements containing one or two half sites
Authors: Ly Elina , Kugel Jennifer F. , Goodrich James A. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe tumor suppressor protein p53 is critical for cell fate decisions, including apoptosis, senescence, and cell cycle arrest. p53 is a tetrameric transcription factor that binds DNA response elements to regulate transcription of target genes. p53 response elements consist of two decameric half-sites, and data suggest one p53 dimer in the tetramer binds to each half-site. Despite a broad literature describing p53 binding DNA, unanswered questions remain, due partly to the need for more quantitative and structural studies with full length protein. Here we describe a single molecule fluorescence system to visualize full length p53 tetramers binding DNA in real time. The data revealed a dynamic interaction in which tetrameric p53/DNA complexes assembled and disassembled without a dimer/DNA intermediate. On a wild type DNA containing two half sites, p53/DNA complexes existed in two kinetically distinct populations. p53 tetramers bound response elements containing only one half site to form a single population of complexes with reduced kinetic stability. Altering the spacing and helical phasing between two half sites affected both the population distribution of p53/DNA complexes and their kinetic stability. Our real time single molecule measurements of full length p53 tetramers binding DNA reveal the parameters that define the stability of p53/DNA complexes, and provide insight into the pathways by which those complexes assemble.
Study of the hydrogen physisorption on adsorbents based on activated carbon by means of statistical physics formalism: modeling analysis and thermodynamics investigation
Authors: Yahia Manel Ben , Wjihi Sarra 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAn advanced statistical physics model has been applied to study the hydrogen adsorption isotherm on two modified types of activated carbon, namely granular coal activated carbon (AC (GC)) and coconut shell activated carbon (AC (CS)). This model is established with the statistical physics approach. It is a more general model including various parameters having a defined physico-chemical sense which were discussed at different temperatures. Hence new physic-chemical interpretations of the adsorption process of hydrogen are provided. The analysis of the hydrogen uptake capacities at saturation showed that the AC (GC) adsorbent displayed a high adsorption capacity (3.21 mg/g). This due to the contribution of the number of hydrogen molecules per site (1.27) associated with the receptor sites density (0.74 mg/g) and the number of formed layers (3.42). The modeling results suggested that the hydrogen adsorption occurred by non-parallel positions on the two tested adsorbents thus evincing that the adsorption cannot be other than a multi-molecular process. The calculated adsorption energies globally varied from 7.01 to 12.92 kJ/mol, confirming the physical nature of the adsorption process for both studied systems. The thermodynamic functions, namely internal energy, enthalpy and entropy were estimated to better analyze the hydrogen sorption process. In summary, the statistical physics analysis provided reliable concrete physico-chemical interpretations of hydrogen adsorption process on carbon-based adsorbents with various microstructures to develop a storage compounds with a suitable framework for a hydrogen storage structure.
Breakdown of chiral recognition of amino acids in reduced dimensions
Authors: Jeong Yongchan , Kim Hyo Won , Ku JiYeon , Seo Jungpil 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe homochirality of amino acids in living organisms is one of the great mysteries in the phenomena of life. To understand the chiral recognition of amino acids, we have used scanning tunnelling microscopy to investigate the self-assembly of molecules of the amino acid tryptophan (Trp) on Au(111). Earlier experiments showed only homochiral configurations in the self-assembly of amino acids, despite using a mixture of the two opposite enantiomers. In our study, we demonstrate that heterochiral configurations can be favored energetically when l- and d-Trp molecules are mixed to form self-assembly on the Au surface. Using density functional theory calculations, we show that the indole side chain strongly interacts with the Au surface, which reduces the system effectively to two-dimension, with chiral recognition disabled. Our study provides important insight into the recognition of the chirality of amino acid molecules in life.
Cell-free biogenesis of bacterial division proto-rings that can constrict liposomes
Authors: Godino Elisa , López Jonás Noguera , Zarguit Ilias , Doerr Anne , Jimenez Mercedes , Rivas Germán , Danelon Christophe 
Published: September 2020

AbstractA major challenge towards the realization of an autonomous synthetic cell resides in the encoding of a division machinery in a genetic programme. In the bacterial cell cycle, the assembly of cytoskeletal proteins into a ring defines the division site. At the onset of the formation of the Escherichia coli divisome, a proto-ring consisting of FtsZ and its membrane-recruiting proteins takes place. Here, we show that FtsA-FtsZ ring-like structures driven by cell-free gene expression can be reconstituted on planar membranes and inside liposome compartments. Such cytoskeletal structures are found to constrict the liposome, generating elongated membrane necks and budding vesicles. Additional expression of the FtsZ cross-linker protein ZapA yields more rigid FtsZ bundles that attach to the membrane but fail to produce budding spots or necks in liposomes. These results demonstrate that gene-directed protein synthesis and assembly of membrane-constricting FtsZ-rings can be combined in a liposome-based artificial cell.
The Relationship Between Speech Characteristics and Motor Subtypes of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Brown Katherine A. , Spencer Kristie A. 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
The aim of this study was to examine whether acoustic dysarthria characteristics align with overall motor profile in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Potential speech differences between tremor-dominant and non–tremor-dominant subtypes are theoretically motivated but empirically inconclusive.

Method

Twenty-seven individuals with dysarthria from PD provided a contextual speech sample. Participants were grouped into non–tremor-dominant (
n
= 12) and tremor-dominant (
n
= 15) motor subtypes according to the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. Dependent speech variables included fundamental frequency range, average pause duration, cepstral peak prominence, stuttering dysfluencies, and maze dysfluencies.

Results
There were no significant differences between the speech of the tremor-dominant and non–tremor-dominant groups. High within-group variability existed across parameters and motor subtypes.

Conclusion
Speech characteristics across the areas of phonation, prosody, and fluency did not differ appreciably between PD motor subtypes.
VIBES: Visual Binary Exoplanet survey with SPHERE
Authors: Hagelberg J. , Engler N. , Fontanive C. , Daemgen S. , Quanz S. P. , Kühn J. , Reggiani M. , Meyer M. , Jayawardhana R. , Kostov V. 
Published: September 2020

Context. Recent surveys indicate that planets in binary systems are more abundant than previously thought, which is in agreement with theoretical work on disc dynamics and planet formation in binaries. So far, most observational surveys, however, have focused on short-period planets in binaries, thus little is known about the occurrence rates of planets on longer periods (≥10 au).
Aims. In order to measure the abundance and physical characteristics of wide-orbit giant exoplanets in binary systems, we have designed the “VIsual Binary Exoplanet survey with Sphere” (VIBES) to search for planets in visual binaries. It uses the SPHERE instrument at VLT to search for planets in 23 visual binary and four visual triple systems with ages of <145 Myr and distances of <150 pc.
Methods. We used the IRDIS dual-band imager on SPHERE to acquire high-contrast images of the sample targets. For each binary, the two components were observed at the same time with a coronagraph masking only the primary star. For the triple star, the tight components were treated as a single star for data reduction. This enabled us to effectively search for companions around 50 individual stars in binaries and four binaries in triples.
Results. We derived upper limits of <13.7% for the frequency of sub-stellar companions around primaries in visual binaries, <26.5% for the fraction of sub-stellar companions around secondaries in visual binaries, and an occurrence rate of <9.0% for giant planets and brown dwarfs around either component of visual binaries. We have combined our observations with literature measurements to astrometrically confirm, for the first time, that 20 binaries and two triple systems, which were previously known, are indeed physically bound. Finally, we discovered a third component of the binary HD 121336.
Conclusions. The upper limits we derived are compatible with planet formation through the core accretion and the gravitational instability processes in binaries. These limits are also in line with limits found for single star and circumbinary planet search surveys.