bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Near IR responsive targeted integrated lipid polymer nanoconstruct for enhanced magnolol cytotoxicity in breast cancer
Authors: Elhabak Mona , Osman Rihab , Mohamed Mona , El-Borady Ola M. , Awad Gehanne A. S. , Mortada Nahed 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAdvances in cancer nanotechnology aim at improving specificity and effectiveness for tumor treatment. Amalgamation of different treatment modalities is expected to provide better cancer combating. Herein, We developed a long circulating nanocarrier comprising trastuzumab (TZB) surface modified polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) co-encapsulating magnolol (Mag) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). A modified single step nanoprecipitation method was adopted ensuring particle coating with D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) while co-encapsulating GNPs. TZB was then anchored on NPs surface using a carbodiimide chemistry. The cytotoxicity of the developed system was evaluated with and without photothermal irradiation. NPs cellular uptake was then followed using confocal microscopical imaging. A hybrid matrix composed of PLGA/TPGS and surface decorated with TZB with a conjugation efficiency of ˃65%, was confirmed via FTIR, 1HNMR. GNPs could only be included in the NPs, when placed in the organic phase as evidenced by the shifted GNPs surface plasmonic resonance and confirmed via imaging coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Optimized NPs (136.1 ± 1.3 nm, −8.2 ± 1 mV and Mag encapsulation efficiency of 81.4 ± 1.8%) were able to boost Mag cytotoxicity on breast cancer cells while providing a selective multifunctional therapy with an added photothermal effect.
Beneficial effects of benzodiazepine on masticatory muscle dysfunction induced by chronic stress and occlusal instability in an experimental animal study
Authors: Nascimento Glauce C. , Malzone Bruno L. , Iyomasa Daniela M. , Pereira Yamba C. L. , Issa João Paulo M. , Leite-Panissi Christie R. A. , Watanabe Ii-Sei , Iyomasa Mamie M. , Fuentes Ramon , Del Bel Elaine , Dias Fernando J. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPsychological stress and occlusal alteration are important etiologic factors for temporomandibular/masticatory muscular disorders. In particular, the exact physiologic mechanism underlying the relation by occlusal alteration and temporomandibular disorders remains unclear. Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that benzodiazepine therapy is able to prevent metabolic and vascular changes in the medial pterygoid muscle of rats under chronic stress after 14 days of unilateral exodontia. Adult Wistar rats were submitted to unpredictable chronic mild stress (10 days) and/or unilateral exodontia and their plasma and medial pterygoid muscles were removed for analysis. A pre-treatment with diazepam was used to verify its effect on stress. The parameters evaluated included anxiety behavior, plasma levels of corticosterone, metabolic activity by succinate dehydrogenase, capillary density by laminin staining and ultrastructural findings by transmission electron microscopy. Occlusal instability induced anxiety-like behavior on elevated plus-maze test and diazepam administration blocked the appearance of this behavior. Unilateral exodontia promoted in the contralateral muscle an increase of oxidative fibers and capillaries and modification of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Chronic stress caused increased glycolytic metabolism, reduced capillary density and morphological changes in mitochondria on both sides. Association of both factors induced a glycolytic pattern in muscle and hemodynamic changes. Pharmacological manipulation with diazepam inhibited the changes in the medial pterygoid muscle after stress. Our results reveal a preventive benzodiazepine treatment for stress and occlusal instability conditions affecting masticatory muscle disorders. In addition, provide insights into the mechanisms by which chronic stress and exodontia might be involved in the pathophysiology of masticatory muscular dysfunctions.
Inbred varieties outperformed hybrid rice varieties under dense planting with reducing nitrogen
Authors: Lu Jian , Wang Danying , Liu Ke , Chu Guang , Huang Liying , Tian Xiaohai , Zhang Yunbo 
Published: May 2020

AbstractField experiments were conducted over two years to evaluate the effects of planting density and nitrogen input rate on grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of inbred and hybrid rice varieties. A significant interaction effect was observed between nitrogen input and planting density on grain yield. Higher number of panicles per square meter and spikelets per panicle largely accounted for the observed advantage in performance of inbred, relative to hybrid varieties. Compared with high nitrogen input rate, nitrogen absorption efficiency, nitrogen recovery efficiency, and partial factor productivity increased by 24.6%, 28.0%, and 33.3% in inbred varieties, and by 32.2%, 29.3%, and 35.0% in hybrids under low nitrogen input, respectively. Inbred varieties showed higher nitrogen absorption efficiency, nitrogen recovery efficiency, and partial factor productivity than hybrids, regardless of nitrogen input level. Nitrogen correlated positively with panicle number, spikelets per panicle, biomass production at flowering, and after flowering in inbred varieties but only with panicle number and biomass production at flowering in hybrids. Inbred varieties are more suitable for high planting density at reduced nitrogen input regarding higher grain yield and NUE. These findings bear important implications for achieving high yield and high efficiency in nutrient uptake and utilization in modern rice-production systems.
Dynamic Effects of Aortic Arch Stiffening on Pulsatile Energy Transmission to Cerebral Vasculature as A Determinant of Brain-Heart Coupling
Authors: Aghilinejad Arian , Amlani Faisal , King Kevin S. , Pahlevan Niema M. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAortic stiffness increases with age and is a robust predictor of brain pathology including Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Aging causes disproportionate stiffening of the aorta compared with the carotid arteries, reducing protective impedance mismatches at their interface and affecting transmission of destructive pulsatile energy to the cerebral circulation. Recent clinical studies have measured regional stiffness within the aortic arch using pulse wave velocity (PWV) and have found a stronger association with cerebrovascular events than global stiffness measures. However, effects of aortic arch PWV on the transmission of harmful excessive pulsatile energy to the brain is not well-understood. In this study, we use an energy-based analysis of hemodynamic waves to quantify the effect of aortic arch stiffening on transmitted pulsatility to cerebral vasculature, employing a computational approach using a one-dimensional model of the human vascular network. Results show there exists an optimum wave condition—occurring near normal human heart rates—that minimizes pulsatile energy transmission to the brain. This indicates the important role of aortic arch biomechanics on heart-brain coupling. Our results also suggest that energy-based indices of pulsatility combining pressure and flow data are more sensitive to increased stiffness than using flow or pressure pulsatility indices in isolation.
TRPV1 is crucial for thermal homeostasis in the mouse by heat loss behaviors under warm ambient temperature
Authors: Yonghak Park , Miyata Seiji , Kurganov Erkin 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThermal homeostasis in mammalians is a self-regulating process by which biological systems maintain an internal thermal stability, even under different temperature conditions; however, the molecular mechanisms involved under warm ambient temperature remain unclear. Here, we aimed to clarify functional significance of transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) under warm ambient temperature. TRPV1 KO mice exhibited transient hyperthermia when exposed to 30.0 and 32.5 °C, whereas wild-type (WT) mice did not. TRPV1 KO mice exhibited prolonged and prominent hyperthermia upon exposure to 35.0 °C, whereas WT mice showed transient hyperthermia. Hyperthermia also occurs in WT mice that received intracerebroventricular injection of TRPV1 antagonist AMG9810 upon exposure to 35.0 °C. Heat loss behaviors, sleeping and body licking, were deficient in TRPV1 KO mice exposed to warm temperatures. Therefore, the present results indicate that central TRPV1 is crucial for maintaining a constant body temperature via the initiation of heat loss behaviors under warm ambient temperature.
Morphological changes in the subthalamic nucleus of people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease: a 7T MRI study
Authors: Patriat Rémi , Niederer Jacob , Kaplan Jordan , Amundsen Huffmaster Sommer , Petrucci Matthew , Eberly Lynn , Harel Noam , MacKinnon Colum 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis project investigated whether structural changes are present in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of people with mild-to-moderate severity of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Within-subject measures of STN volume and fractional anisotropy (FA) were derived from high-resolution 7Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for 29 subjects with mild-to-moderate PD (median disease duration = 2.3±1.9 years) and 18 healthy matched controls. Manual segmentation of the STN was performed on 0.4 mm in-plane resolution images. FA maps were generated and FA values were averaged over the left and right STN separately for each subject. Motor sign severity was assessed using the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). Linear effects models showed that STN volume was significantly smaller in the PD subjects compared to controls (p = 0.01). Further, after controlling for differences in STN volumes within or between groups, the PD group had lower FA values in the STN compared to controls (corrected p ≤ 0.008). These findings demonstrate that morphological changes occur in the STN, which likely impact the function of the hyperdirect and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia and movement control.
Spatio-temporal patterning of different connexins in developing and postnatal human kidneys and in nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF)
Authors: Kosovic Ivona , Filipovic Natalija , Benzon Benjamin , Vukojevic Katarina , Saraga Marijan , Glavina Durdov Merica , Bocina Ivana , Saraga-Babic Mirna 
Published: May 2020

AbstractConnexins (Cxs) are membrane-spanning proteins which enable flow of information important for kidney homeostasis. Changes in their spatiotemporal patterning characterize blood vessel abnormalities and chronic kidney diseases (CKD). We analysed spatiotemporal expression of Cx37, Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45 in nephron and glomerular cells of developing, postnatal kidneys, and nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF) by using immunohistochemistry, statistical methods and electron microscopy. During kidney development, strong Cx45 expression in proximal tubules and decreasing expression in glomeruli was observed. In developing distal nephron, Cx37 and Cx40 showed moderate-to-strong expression, while weak Cx43 expression gradually increased. Cx45/Cx40 co-localized in mesangial and granular cells. Cx43 /Cx45 co-localized in podocytes, mesangial and parietal epithelial cells, and with podocyte markers (synaptopodin, nephrin). Different Cxs co-expressed with endothelial (CD31) and VSMC (α –SMA) markers in vascular walls. Peak signalling of Cx37, Cx43 and Cx40 accompanied kidney nephrogenesis, while strongest Cx45 signalling paralleled nephron maturation. Spatiotemporal Cxs patterning indicate participation of Cx45 in differentiation of proximal tubules, and Cx43, Cx37 and Cx40 in distal tubules differentiation. CNF characterized disorganized Cx45 expression in proximal tubules, increased Cx43 expression in distal tubules and overall elevation of Cx40 and Cx37, while Cx40 co-localized with increased number of interstitial myofibroblasts.
Efficacy of conbercept combined with panretinal photocoagulation in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Authors: He Feng , Yang Jingyun , Zhang Xiao , Yu Weihong 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis prospective clinical study was to compare the effect of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) associated with intravitreal conbercept injections versus PRP alone in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). For each of 15 patients included, one eye was randomly assigned to receive treatment with PRP, and the other eye received conbercept combined PRP. Ophthalmic examinations, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were performed at baseline and at each monthly visit until 6 months. Fluorescein angiography (FA) was acquired at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Between group and within group analysis was done by using generalized estimating equations (GEE). The combination group had a significant decrease of neovascularization (NV) leakage area than the PRP group at month 3 and month 6 after treatment, and a better best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) during the first three months. Within-group analysis indicated a significant decrease in NV leakage at month 3 and month 6 in both groups, and a significant increase in BCVA at 1 month in the combination group. In summary, the combination of intravitreal injection of conbercept and PRP can significantly reduce the NV of PDR patients and achieve better BCVA during the drug’s lifespan compared with PRP alone.
Anguillid eels as a surrogate species for conservation of freshwater biodiversity in Japan
Authors: Itakura Hikaru , Wakiya Ryoshiro , Gollock Matthew , Kaifu Kenzo 
Published: May 2020

AbstractTo monitor and manage biodiversity, surrogate species (i.e., indicator, umbrella and flagship species) have been proposed where conservation resources are focused on a limited number of focal organisms. Using data obtained from 78 sites across six rivers in the mainland Japan and the Amami-Oshima Island, we demonstrate that two anguillids – the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) and the giant mottled eel (A. marmorata) – can act as surrogate species for conservation of freshwater biodiversity. Anguillid eels were the widest topographically-distributed species ranging from near the mouth to the upper reaches of rivers. Moreover, stable isotopic analyses indicated that eels are likely one of the highest-order predators in freshwater ecosystems. A significant positive relationship was found between the density of eels and the number of other diadromous species collected. However, the optimal models revealed that both the density of eels and the number of other diadromous species were significantly negatively correlated with distance from the river mouth and cumulative height of trans-river structures from the river mouth to each site. This suggests the positive relationship between eel density and number of other diadromous species was indirect and related to river-ocean connectivity. Given their catadromous life-cycle, and global commercial and cultural importance, as a taxa, anguillid eels can act as indicator, umbrella and flagship species, and a comprehensive surrogate for conservation of freshwater biodiversity.
Root growth in light of changing magnesium distribution and transport between source and sink tissues in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Authors: Koch Mirjam , Winkelmann Merle Katharina , Hasler Mario , Pawelzik Elke , Naumann Marcel 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis study depicts relations between magnesium (Mg) transport and re-translocation, photoassimilate partitioning, cation and ion concentrations, and finally root growth of potato under different Mg supplies. Potato plants were grown in a hydroponic culture system under different Mg regimes while investigating Mg concentrations, the expression of various Mg transporters, soluble sugars, and cations and anions in source and sink organs at different growth stages. Reports from literature about the impact of Mg deficiency on root growth are inconsistent. As Mg is known to be a phloem mobile nutrient, it is expected to be re-translocated under restricted availability of Mg from source to sink organs. Thus, we assume that plants can tolerate a slight Mg restriction without severe root growth reduction. However, under severe Mg deficiency, the process of Mg re-translocation is hampered, resulting in an impaired photoassimilate partitioning, and finally root growth. This might also explain the findings of studies claiming that Mg deficiency does not impair root growth as plants of these studies likely only suffered a slight Mg restriction. Finally, this study gives indications that an interruption of the process of Mg-re-translocation in early plant growth could be an indicator for growth reductions of the plant at a later growth stage.
N-Terminal selective modification of peptides and proteins using 2-ethynylbenzaldehydes
Authors: Deng Jie-Ren , Lai Nathanael Chun-Him , Kung Karen Ka-Yan , Yang Bin , Chung Sai-Fung , Leung Alan Siu-Lun , Choi Man-Chung , Leung Yun-Chung , Wong Man-Kin 
Published: May 2020

AbstractSelective modification of the N-terminus of peptides and proteins is a promising strategy for single site modification methods. Here we report N-terminal selective modification of peptides and proteins by using 2-ethynylbenzaldehydes (2-EBA) for the production of well-defined bioconjugates. After reaction screening with a series of 2-EBA, excellent N-terminal selectivity is achieved by the reaction in slightly acidic phosphate-buffered saline using 2-EBA with electron-donating substituents. Selective modification of a library of peptides XSKFR (X = either one of 20 natural amino acids) by 2-ethynyl-4-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde (2d) results in good-to-excellent N-terminal selectivity in peptides (up to >99:1). Lysozyme, ribonuclease A and a therapeutic recombinant Bacillus caldovelox arginase mutant (BCArg mutant) are N-terminally modified using alkyne- and fluorescein-linked 2-EBA. Alkyne-linked BCArg mutant is further modified by rhodamine azide via copper(I)-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition indicating that the reaction has high functional group compatibility. Moreover, the BCArg mutant modified by 2-ethynyl-5-methoxybenzaldehyde (2b) exhibits comparable activity in enzymatic and cytotoxic assays with the unmodified one.
Non‐destructive detection of coconut quality using RF sensor
Authors: Kumar Varshney A. , Pathak N.P. , Sircar D. 
Published: May 2020

This Letter proposes the application of RF technology for the non‐destructive detection of spoiled coconut at the pre‐processing stage. Since the dielectric property of coconut water changes at different stages of coconut, the sensor measures the content of water inside a coconut sample non‐destructively at 2.45 GHz. The sensor has been trained to determine the threshold water level between healthy and spoiled coconut which in turn can be used to sort the coconuts. The measurement results have been presented for different processing stages of coconut for different samples. Detecting coconut quality through dielectric sensing reveals some very impressive results and opens the doors for better consumption.
Light‐weight wideband spiral antenna with a two‐layer circular HIS reflector: TL‐CirHISR spiral antenna
Authors: Tanabe Masahiro , Nakano Hisamatsu 
Published: May 2020

This study describes a light‐weight wideband spiral antenna that radiates a unidirectional beam. To realise a light‐weight antenna, a one‐layer thick high‐impedance surface reflector (HISR) for a reference spiral antenna is replaced by a two‐layer circular HISR (TL‐CirHISR). The TL‐CirHISR is made of fan‐shaped patches printed on a dielectric substrate. It is revealed that a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of <2 and an axial ratio of <3 dB are obtained across a design frequency range of 3.2–10 GHz (a fractional bandwidth of ∼103%). A weight reduction of 50%, compared to the weight of the reference spiral antenna, is achieved. A prototype spiral antenna with the TL‐CirHISR is fabricated and measured to confirm the analysed antenna characteristics, with good agreement between analysed and measured results obtained.
Wideband bandstop filters based on wideband 180° phase shifters
Authors: Qiu Lei‐Lei , Zhu Lei 
Published: May 2020

In this study, a class of wideband bandstop filters is proposed based on wideband 180° phase shifters. Different from traditional signal–interference‐based bandstop filters, they make use of a 180° phase shifting in a wide operating band in principle. After numerical analysis of the phase responses of the two coupling‐line paths, the optimal solutions for the largest 180° phase‐shifting bandwidth or minimum impedance ratio can be obtained. Then, the wideband bandstop filter based on these two unique coupling lines is intensively analysed to reveal that three transmission zeros are generated in the stopband as the two paths have a 180° phase difference, thus exhibiting its wideband property. Moreover, by enlarging the impedance of the two paths, good out‐of‐band characteristics of the bandstop filter can be attained, while in‐band performances are almost unchanged. Next, two types of bandstop filters with extended bandwidth are proposed by cascading an extra delay line for both paths, and they hold similar filtering characteristics as the aforementioned one. Finally, the design process and demonstration are provided. The measured results of the three fabricated filters show that Type‐I, Type‐II, and Type‐III filters can satisfactorily obtain a 3 dB bandwidth of 108, 122, and 130% with 25, 14.7, and 11.6 dB rejection level, respectively.
Gap, shadows, spirals, and streamers: SPHERE observations of binary-disk interactions in GG Tauri A
Authors: Keppler M. , Penzlin A. , Benisty M. , van Boekel R. , Henning T. , van Holstein R. G. , Kley W. , Garufi A. , Ginski C. , Brandner W. , Bertrang G. H.-M. , Boccaletti A. , de Boer J. , Bonavita M. , Brown Sevilla S. , Chauvin G. , Dominik C. , Janson M. , Langlois M. , Lodato G. , Maire A.-L. , Ménard F. , Pantin E. , Pinte C. , Stolker T. , Szulágyi J. , Thebault P. , Villenave M. , Zurlo A. , Rabou P. , Feautrier P. , Feldt M. , Madec F. , Wildi F. 
Published: May 2020

Context.A large portion of stars is found to be part of binary or higher-order multiple systems. The ubiquity of planets found around single stars raises the question of whether and how planets in binary systems form. Protoplanetary disks are the birthplaces of planets, and characterizing them is crucial in order to understand the planet formation process.Aims.Our goal is to characterize the morphology of the GG Tau A disk, one of the largest and most massive circumbinary disks. We also aim to trace evidence for binary-disk interactions.Methods.We obtained observations in polarized scattered light of GG Tau A using the SPHERE/IRDIS instrument in theH-band filter. We analyzed the observed disk morphology and substructures. We ran 2D hydrodynamical models to simulate the evolution of the circumbinary ring over the lifetime of the disk.Results.The disk and also the cavity and the inner region are highly structured, with several shadowed regions, spiral structures, and streamer-like filaments. Some of these are detected here for the first time. The streamer-like filaments appear to connect the outer ring with the northern arc. Their azimuthal spacing suggests that they may be generated through periodic perturbations by the binary, which tear off material from the inner edge of the outer disk once during each orbit. By comparing observations to hydrodynamical simulations, we find that the main features, in particular, the gap size, but also the spiral and streamer filaments, can be qualitatively explained by the gravitational interactions of a binary with a semimajor axis of ~35 au on an orbit coplanar with the circumbinary ring.