bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Caspase‐6‐mediated tau cleavage and pathology in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies
Authors: Piergies Antonia MH , Theofilas Panos , Petersen Cathrine , Ehrenberg Alexander J , Li Song , Morales Dulce Ovando , Eser Rana A , Yang Teddy , Khan Shireen , Chin Brian , Ng Raymond , Arkin Michelle , Grinberg Lea Tenenholz 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundCaspases are being explored as targets for pharmacological treatment of tauopathies due to their role in tau cleavage, which leads to tau aggregation and neuronal loss. Tau truncated at Asp421, a residue cleaved by effector caspases, is found in four common tauopathies: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), Pick’s disease (PiD), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) (Newman et al., 2005). We previously demonstrated that active caspase‐6 colocalizes with neurons containing phosphorylated tau during early AD stages and that the number of neurons positive for both active caspase‐6 and p‐tau increases throughout AD's progression. However, how caspase‐6 activity differs between tauopathies involving different tau isoforms is unknown. This study compares caspase‐6 activation and caspase‐6 cleavage of tau between AD, argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), CBD, PiD, and PSP using novel neoepitope antibodies against caspase‐6‐cleaved tau.MethodUsing multiplex immunofluorescence on tissue microarrays, we measured levels of neuronal active caspase‐6, tau cleaved at C‐terminal residue D402 (D402), tau cleaved at N‐terminal residue D13 (D13), and tau phosphorylated at Ser202 (p‐tau; CP13) in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) of well‐characterized AD, AGD, CBD, PiD, and PSP cases and controls. We used semi‐automated methods to calculate the percentage of neurons positive for each marker.ResultWe found similar percentages of neuronal p‐tau in every tauopathy except AGD, as expected. Only AD and PiD showed substantial percentages of neuronal caspase‐6‐cleaved tau (Figure 1, Table 1). The mean percentages of neuronal D402 and D13 were up to 121.88‐fold higher in AD and up to 16.75‐fold higher in PiD compared to the other tauopathies (Figure 1, Table 1). In PiD, on average, 79.82‐87.61% of neurons positive for D402 or D13 were also positive for p‐tau. Interestingly, in AD, only an average of 50.70‐58.98% of neurons positive for D402 or D13 showed p‐tau positivity (Figure 2).Conclusion1) Caspase‐6‐cleavage of tau appears to be a more defining feature of tauopathies involving 3‐repeat isoforms of tau than 4‐repeat tauopathies. 2) Caspase‐6‐cleaved tau inclusions do not necessarily colocalize with p‐tau inclusions. 3) Future research on the therapeutic potential of caspase modulators should focus on AD and PiD.
The presence of moderate extrapyramidal signs predicts poorer outcomes in a community‐based cohort of multi‐ethnic demented elders
Authors: Kociolek Anton J. , Fernandez Kayri K. , Gu Yian , Cosentino Stephanie , Zhu Carolyn W. , Stern Yaakov 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundExtrapyramidal signs (EPS) are a common feature of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) associated with worse outcomes in observational studies of dementia. Prior studies have been primarily conducted in predominately white, clinic‐based samples. Less is known regarding the role of EPS in the disease course of dementia in ethnic minority and non‐clinic‐based populations.MethodPredictors 3 (P3) is a multi‐ethnic community‐based cohort study of dementia. Recruitment began in 2011 and is ongoing. Participants are evaluated annually by trained investigators. 142 P3 participants with a baseline diagnosis of probable dementia were selected for this study. Moderate EPS was defined as a score of 2 or more on selected items from the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. The cognitive endpoint was defined as a score of <= 10 on the Folstein MMSE, the functional endpoint as a score of >= 10 on the 17‐point Blessed Dementia Rating Scale, and the institutional equivalent endpoint as need for equivalent to nursing home care. Adjusted Cox models were fitted for time to death and cognitive, functional, and institutional equivalent endpoints with baseline moderate EPS as predictor. Effect modification was assessed by fitting cross‐product terms for moderate EPS by ethnicity, sex, age, education, and APOE polymorphism.ResultMean follow‐up time was 3.61 years (range: 0.29 ‐ 7.50, SD = 1.95). 33 participants (23.2%) had moderate EPS at baseline. 53 died (37.3%), 23 (17.2%) reached the cognitive endpoint, 45 (36.3%) the functional endpoint, and 44 (37.9%) the institutional equivalent endpoint post‐baseline. Moderate EPS at baseline was significantly associated with an increased hazard of death (HR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.30, 5.10) and of reaching the functional endpoint (5.59, 95% CI = 2.36, 13.27). Associations between moderate EPS and the cognitive and institutional equivalent endpoints were not statistically significant. No evidence was found for effect modification of associations on either additive or multiplicative scales.ConclusionIn a multi‐ethnic community‐dwelling cohort of demented elders, we found that baseline moderate EPS significantly predicted time to death and time to functional endpoint, but not time to cognitive and institutional equivalent care endpoints. These findings confirm those of previous studies conducted on predominately white, clinic‐based samples.
Effects of thickness and hydrophobicity of double microporous layer on the performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Lin Guangyi , Liu Shouyi , Qu Siyuan , Qu Guangkai , Li Tianya , Liang Zhenning , Hu Yafei , Liu Fumin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this paper, a multi‐layer gas diffusion layer (GDL) is designed. The GDL consists of a single carbon paper backing layer and dual microporous layers (MPLs). Moreover, the effects of thickness and hydrophobicity of double MPL on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells are investigated. From the test results of the water contact angle, conductivity, pore size distribution, and the polarization curve, it is found that the thickness adjustment increases the number of 0.5 to 7 μm and 20 to 100 μm pores in GDL, which is more conducive to water discharge. Therefore, the thickness adjustment is more favorable to the cell performance under high humidity. While the gradient hydrophobic design makes the MPL of the modified intermediate layer have a certain water‐retaining capacity to humidify the reaction gas, which has better effect under low humidity. At last, the results show that the optimized GDL meets a limit power density of 1.772 W/cm2 under 60% humidification and 1.600 W/cm2 under 100% humidification.
Can some microbes promote host stress and benefit evolutionarily from this strategy?
Authors: Aktipis Athena , Guevara Beltran Diego 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMicrobes can influence host physiology and behavior in many ways. Here we review evidence suggesting that some microbes can contribute to host stress (and other microbes can contribute to increased resilience to stress). We explain how certain microbes, which we call “stress microbes,” can potentially benefit evolutionarily from inducing stress in a host, gaining access to host resources that can help fuel rapid microbial replication by increasing glucose levels in the blood, increasing intestinal permeability, and suppressing the immune system. Other microbes, which we term “resilience microbes,” can potentially benefit from making hosts more resilient to stress. We hypothesize that “stress microbes” use a fast life history strategy involving greater host exploitation while “resilience microbes” use a slow life history strategy characterized by more aligned evolutionary interests with the host. In this paper, we review the evidence that microbes affect host stress and explain the evolutionary pressures that could lead microbes to manipulate host stress, discuss the physiological mechanisms that are known to be involved in both stress and microbial activity, and provide some testable predictions that follow from this hypothesis.
Faszination Malakologie
Authors: Sturm Robert 
Published: December 2020

ZusammenfassungDer vorliegende Beitrag widmet sich der malakologischen Kartierung des Stadtgebietes von Salzburg, wobei zur Erhebung der im urbanen Raum auftretenden aquatischen Weichtierarten eine Vielzahl an Probenorten herangezogen und eine Standardsammelprozedur verwendet wurde. Insgesamt wird die Stadt Salzburg gegenwärtig von 24 Wasserschnecken‐ und 14 Muschelspezies besiedelt, was etwa 55 Prozent aller in Österreich dokumentierten Arten entspricht. In naturnahen Biotopen, welche sich vor allem im Norden und Süden der Stadt befinden, sind Biozönosen mit bis zu 20 Molluskenarten vertreten, während durch starke anthropogene Einwirkung gekennzeichnete Gewässer eine deutliche Verarmung an Spezies zeigen. Insgesamt steht die malakologische Forschung im urbanen Raum noch am Beginn ihrer Entwicklung.
Nachrichten des Verbandes Biologie, Biowissenschaften & Biomedizin in Deutschland
Authors: Dietz Karl‐Josef 
Published: December 2020

Wissenschaft & GesellschaftVBIO zum Konzeptentwurf für das Monitoringzentrum BiodiversitätEntwurf des Insektenschutzgesetzes liegt vor – VBIO nimmt StellungAusbildung & KarriereOnline Berufsfelder‐InfoabendAusschreibung: Gute Lehre in PandemiezeitenAK SchulbiologieLandesverbändeLandesverbände im VBIO in Corona‐ZeitenVerbandBundesdelegiertenversammlung 2020
Novel Core‐Dual Shell Si@MoO2@C Nanoparticles as Improved Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Huang Shengyang , Qin Xue , Miao Xinyu , Xu Xiaorui , Lei Chanrong , Wei Tianyu 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSilicon anode is one of the most potential large capacity anodes for the refreshing new generation of lithium‐ion batteries. However, the volume changes greatly and the conductivity of Si anode is poor during the lithiation/delithiation process, resulting in inferior discharge/charge performance. To overcome these challenges, we design a core‐dual shell Si@MoO2@C composite by solvent evaporation method and sol‐gel method. The dual shell can surmount the considerable volume expansion as well as further the Li+/e− transport under the synergistic actions of the inner MoO2 and the outer carbon. The MoO2 shell can release the expansion pressure of Si as well as involve the storage of lithium effectively. The Si@MoO2@C anode shows a high ICE (about 80.3 %), a good specific capacity after 100 cycles (1171.7 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1), and a capacity retention of about 90.1 % (vs 2nd cycle). The excellent electrochemical performances are ascribed to the delicate design of the core‐dual shell structure apparently, which make the Si@MoO2@C to be considered as an extremely promising anode material for LIBs.
Determining the Electrochemical Oxygen Evolution Reaction Kinetics of Fe3S4@Ni3S2 Using Distribution Function of Relaxation Times
Authors: Malik Bibhudatta , Vijaya Sankar Kalimuthu , Konar Rajashree , Tsur Yoed , Nessim Gilbert Daniel 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe designed a heterostructure of Fe3S4@Ni3S2, as a potent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst in an alkaline medium. Intriguingly, Fe3S4@Ni3S2 exhibits low onset potential of 290 mV and overpotential of 360 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. We examined the OER kinetics of Fe3S4@Ni3S2 using distribution function of relaxation times (DFRT), which are attained with the help of impedance spectroscopy genetic programming (ISGP). ISGP reveals the occurrences of three events of OER, manifested as peaks in the DFRT, such as active material or pores (P2), charge transfer (P1’), and production rate of intermediates (P1) in case of Fe3S4@Ni3S2 at different faradic overpotentials. The effective resistance of each phenomenon can be easily calculated. It decreases with an increase in conductivity at high overpotentials for all the three, which suggests the high performance of the as‐synthesized composite due to faster kinetics. Further, structural investigation of the catalyst employing x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy is elaborated and it is suggested that the catalyst activation takes place by the constant exchange of anions between electrode and electrolyte during electrochemical oxidation.
Decorating a Loose Defect‐free Hybrid Selective Layer on a Smooth Intermediary: An Effective Way for Unexpected Performances of Nanofiber‐based Forward Osmosis Membranes
Authors: Li Nan , Han Yu , Yu Feiyue , Wang Wei , Liu Qin , Qian Xiaoming , Xu Zhiwei , Deng Hui , Shan Mingjing 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA novel composite forward osmosis (FO) membrane was fabricated by introducing a chitosan (CS) sublayer between nanofibers and polyamide (PA) layer, which was beneficial to forming thin and defect‐free PA layer and improved binding strength between substrate and the selective layer. Results exhibited low reverse salt flux (0.73 gMH) while maintained high water flux (85.4 LMH), which were better than that in other reports. In order to further improve permeability of membranes, oxidized multiwall carbon nanotubes (OMWNTs) were added into PA layer based on the optimized sublayer. The crosslinking degree of PA layer was reduced, leading to loose PA layers, which promoted the increase of water flux. After modifying, water flux reached 96.9 LMH without sacrificing salt rejection. It was worth mentioning that PAN/CS composite FO membrane, which could adjust microstructure of support layer and selective layer respectively, may provide a promising way for preparing membranes with anticipated separation performance.
Simultaneous Ca2+ Imaging and Optogenetic Stimulation of Cortical Astrocytes in Adult Murine Brain Slices
Authors: Balachandar Lakshmini , Montejo Karla A. , Castano Eleane , Perez Melissa , Moncion Carolina , Chambers Jeremy W. , Lujan J. Luis , Diaz Jorge Riera 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAstrocytes are actively involved in a neuroprotective role in the brain, which includes scavenging reactive oxygen species to minimize tissue damage. They also modulate neuroinflammation and reactive gliosis prevalent in several brain disorders like epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. In animal models, targeted manipulation of astrocytic function via modulation of their calcium (Ca2+) oscillations by incorporating light‐sensitive cation channels like Channelrhodopsin‐2 (ChR2) offers a promising avenue in influencing the long‐term progression of these disorders. However, using adult animals for Ca2+ imaging poses major challenges, including accelerated deterioration of in situ slice health and age‐ related changes. Additionally, optogenetic preparations necessitate usage of a red‐shifted Ca2+ indicator like Rhod‐2 AM to avoid overlapping light issues between ChR2 and the Ca2+ indicator during simultaneous optogenetic stimulation and imaging. In this article, we provide an experimental setting that uses live adult murine brain slices (2‐5 months) from a knock‐in model expressing Channelrhodopsin‐2 (ChR2(C128S)) in cortical astrocytes, loaded with Rhod‐2 AM to elicit robust Ca2+ response to light stimulation. We have developed and standardized a protocol for brain extraction, sectioning, Rhod‐2 AM loading, maintenance of slice health, and Ca2+ imaging during light stimulation. This has been successfully applied to optogenetically control adult cortical astrocytes, which exhibit synchronous patterns of Ca2+ activity upon light stimulation, drastically different from resting spontaneous activity. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol 1: Experimental preparation, setup, slice preparation and Rhod‐2 AM stainingBasic Protocol 2: Image acquisition and analysis
Green Preparation of Thin Films of Polybenzimidazole on Flat and Hollow Fiber Supports: Application to Hydrogen Separation
Authors: Sánchez‐Laínez Javier , Etxeberria‐Benavides Miren , David Oana , Téllez Carlos , Coronas Joaquín 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis work shows the preparation of thin films, with thickness from 70 nm to 1 μm, of meta‐polybenzimidazole (m‐PBI) on polyimide P84 supports. Ethanolic solutions of m‐PBI were used to coat flat and hollow fiber supports of asymmetric P84 with m‐PBI in a process where the coating and drying was performed at room temperature. A solution of NaOH in EtOH allowed the dissolution of the m‐PBI powder, providing the perfect coating solution to build thin films of m‐PBI without damaging the polymeric support. It also meant a green alternative, avoiding the use of toxic solvents, such as dimethylacetamide. The resulting membranes have been tested for the separation of H2 mixtures at high temperature at different setups to allow checking their reproducibility. With 100 nm thickness the membranes showed their best gas separation performance. For flat membranes at 180 °C and 3 bar feed pressure a H2 permeance of 48.5 GPU was obtained, with respective H2/CO2 and H2/N2 selectivities of 33.3 and 55.8. Besides, the hollow fibers under a feed pressure of 6 bar and tested at the same temperature showed near 90 GPU of H2 with a H2/CO2 selectivity of 13.5 in the one‐fiber module and over 39 GPU of H2 with a H2/CO2 selectivity of 20.2 in the five‐fiber module. Finally, the stability of the membranes was proved for 22 days at 180 °C.
Rapid detection of SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific memory T‐cell immunity in recovered COVID‐19 cases
Authors: Lineburg Katie E , Srihari Sriganesh , Altaf Mohammed , Swaminathan Srividhya , Panikkar Archana , Raju Jyothy , Crooks Pauline , Ambalathingal George R , Martins Jose Paulo , Matthews Katherine K , Neller Michelle A , Khanna Rajiv , Smith Corey 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectivesThere is emerging evidence that SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific memory T‐cell responses are likely to provide critical long‐term protection against COVID‐19. Strategies to rapidly assess T‐cell responses are therefore likely to be important for assessing immunity in the global population.MethodsHere, we have developed a rapid immune‐monitoring strategy to assess virus‐specific memory T‐cell responses in the peripheral blood of COVID‐19 convalescent individuals. We validated SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific memory T‐cell responses detected in whole blood using in vitro expansion with SARS‐CoV‐2 proteins.ResultsT‐cell immunity characterised by the production of IFN‐γ and IL‐2 could be consistently detected in the whole blood of recovered participants. T cells predominantly recognised structural SARS‐CoV‐2 proteins. In vitro expansion demonstrated that while CD8+ T cells recognised nucleocapsid protein, spike protein and ORF3a, CD4+ T cells more broadly targeted multiple SARS‐CoV‐2 proteins.ConclusionThese observations provide a timely monitoring approach for identifying SARS‐CoV‐2 cellular immunity and may serve as a diagnostic for the stratification of risk in immunocompromised and other at‐risk individuals.
Determination of antiretroviral drugs for buyers’ club in Switzerland using capillary electrophoresis methods
Authors: Guichard Nicolas , Tobolkina Elena , El Morabit Lamyae , Bonnabry Pascal , Vernaz Nathalie , Rudaz Serge 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHuman immunodeficiency virus‐acquired immunodeficiency syndrome continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed almost 33 million lives to date. Due to the high cost of antiretroviral treatment, access to these drugs remains difficult for vulnerable populations, such as migrants and people living in prisons, who often do not have health insurance. These factors lead to poorer health outcomes and higher transmission rates. The personal importation scheme for unapproved generics from foreign countries is one option to access affordable human immunodeficiency virus treatment. However, the risk of importing falsified medicine remains high, and the quality control of unapproved drugs is lacking. In this context, three CE methods for the analysis of nine antiviral drugs found in commercial pharmaceutical formulations were evaluated. The selected compounds were emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil, tenofovir alafenamide, rilpivirine, efavirenz, raltegravir, dolutegravir, abacavir, and lamivudine. The developed methods were successfully applied to determine the active pharmaceutical ingredients of commercial formulations and unapproved generics. The quality control of unapproved generics by CE is an attractive approach due to its good standard of quality, low cost, ecofriendliness, and ease of implementation.
New approach to an overlooked flap: Technique to augment venous drainage of the infrahyoid myocutaneous flap
Authors: Lyu Xiaoming , Liu Shuming , Zheng Lei , Huang Mingwei , Zhang Jianguo , Zhang Jie 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundTo describe a technique in which the anterior jugular vein is preserved in the infrahyoid myocutaneous flap (IHMCF) to augment skin paddle venous drainage.MethodsFrom April 2018 to December 2019, 14 patients with primary oral cancer underwent radical resection and IHMCF reconstruction. Three‐dimensional reconstruction of the anterior jugular vein was used to assess the venous drainage of the skin paddle preoperatively. The anterior jugular vein was preserved during dissection of the flap. Healing of the recipient and donor sites was observed.ResultsTotal flap necrosis occurred in one patient and marginal skin paddle necrosis occurred in one patient. No flap complications occurred in the other 12 patients.ConclusionThis new approach to augment venous drainage of the IHMCF appears to be effective for decreasing risk of flap necrosis.
Dysbiosis of the endometrial microbiota and its association with inflammatory cytokines in endometrial cancer
Authors: Lu Wanting , He Fei , Lin Zheng , Liu Shuang , Tang Li , Huang Yuxiu , Hu Zhijian 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer (EC) are still not well understood. Our goal was to investigate the composition of the endometrial microbiota and the association with inflammatory cytokines in EC. Endometrial microbiota profiles of women with EC (n = 25) and benign uterine lesions (BUL, n = 25) were assessed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. The expression levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), and interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) mRNA and protein in the endometrial tissues of the two groups were determined by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. There were significant differences in alpha diversity based on the observed operational taxonomic units (P = .002), Pielou evenness (P = .001), and Shannon index (P < .001) between EC and BUL groups. Significant differences were also found in Bray‐Curtis (P = .001) and unweighted UniFrac (P = .001) beta diversity measures between the two groups. At the genus level, Micrococcus was more abundant in the EC group. Pseudoramibacter_Eubacterium, Rhodobacter, Vogesella, Bilophila, Rheinheimera, and Megamonas were enriched in the BUL group. There were no differences in IL‐8 and IL‐17 protein levels between the two groups, except IL‐6 protein levels. However, the mRNA expression levels of IL‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐17 were significantly different. Moreover, the relative abundances of Micrococcus was positively correlated with IL‐6, and IL‐17 mRNA levels. In conclusion, our results suggested that dysbiosis of endometrial microbiota and the inflammatory cytokines were associated with Micrococcus in EC patients, which might be useful for exploration of the mechanism between the endometrial microbiota and inflammatory responses in future studies.