bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automated highly multiplexed super-resolution imaging of protein nano-architecture in cells and tissues
Authors: Klevanski Maja , Herrmannsdoerfer Frank , Sass Steffen , Venkataramani Varun , Heilemann Mike , Kuner Thomas 
Published: March 2020

AbstractUnderstanding the nano-architecture of protein machines in diverse subcellular compartments remains a challenge despite rapid progress in super-resolution microscopy. While single-molecule localization microscopy techniques allow the visualization and identification of cellular structures with near-molecular resolution, multiplex-labeling of tens of target proteins within the same sample has not yet been achieved routinely. However, single sample multiplexing is essential to detect patterns that threaten to get lost in multi-sample averaging. Here, we report maS3TORM (multiplexed automated serial staining stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy), a microscopy approach capable of fully automated 3D direct STORM (dSTORM) imaging and solution exchange employing a re-staining protocol to achieve highly multiplexed protein localization within individual biological samples. We demonstrate 3D super-resolution images of 15 targets in single cultured cells and 16 targets in individual neuronal tissue samples with <10 nm localization precision, allowing us to define distinct nano-architectural features of protein distribution within the presynaptic nerve terminal.
Thermophysical properties of a Si50Ge50 melt measured on board the International Space Station
Authors: Luo Yuansu , Damaschke Bernd , Lohöfer Georg , Samwer Konrad 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThermophysical properties of highly doped Si50Ge50 melt were measured contactlessly in the electromagnetic levitation facility ISS-EML on board the International Space Station. The sample could be melted, overheated by about 375 K, and cooled down in 350 mbar Argon atmosphere. A large undercooling of about 240 K was observed and a quasi-homogeneous nucleation on the droplet surface occurred. During the cooling phase, high-resolution videos were taken from the side and the top. The density and thermal expansion were evaluated with digital image processing; the viscosity and the surface tension were measured by means of the oscillating drop technique. Inductive measurements of the electrical resistivity were conducted by a dedicated electronics. All data were taken as a function of temperature T from the overheated melt down to the undercooled range. We found a nonlinear thermal expansion, suggesting a many body effect in the liquid beyond the regular pair interaction, an enhanced damping of surface oscillations likely related to an internal turbulent flow, and an increment of the electrical resistivity with decreased T in the undercooled range regarding a demixing of the components.
Nasal vaccine delivery attenuates brain pathology and cognitive impairment in tauopathy model mice
Authors: Takeuchi Hiroki , Imamura Keiko , Ji Bin , Tsukita Kayoko , Enami Takako , Takao Keizo , Miyakawa Tsuyoshi , Hasegawa Masato , Sahara Naruhiko , Iwata Nobuhisa , Inoue Makoto , Hara Hideo , Tabira Takeshi , Ono Maiko , Trojanowski John Q. , Lee Virginia M.-Y. , Takahashi Ryosuke , Suhara Tetsuya , Higuchi Makoto , Inoue Haruhisa 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPathological aggregates of tau proteins accumulate in the brains of neurodegenerative tauopathies including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-tau). Although immunotherapies of these disorders against tau are emerging, it is unknown whether nasal delivery, which offers many benefits over traditional approaches to vaccine administration, is effective or not for tauopathy. Here, we developed vaccination against a secreted form of pathological tau linked to FTLD-tau using a Sendai virus (SeV) vector infectious to host nasal mucosa, a key part of the immune system. Tau vaccines given as nasal drops induced tissue tau-immunoreactive antibody production and ameliorated cognitive impairment in FTLD-tau model mice. In vivo imaging and postmortem neuropathological assays demonstrated the suppression of phosphorylated tau accumulation, neurotoxic gliosis, and neuronal loss in the hippocampus of immunized mice. These findings suggest that nasal vaccine delivery may provide a therapeutic opportunity for a broad range of populations with human tauopathy.
Rapid flood and damage mapping using synthetic aperture radar in response to Typhoon Hagibis, Japan
Authors: Tay Cheryl W. J. , Yun Sang-Ho , Chin Shi Tong , Bhardwaj Alok , Jung Jungkyo , Hill Emma M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDuring the aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis, we made flood and damage proxy maps, rapidly derived from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data using change detection approaches. The maps have large spatial coverage over the Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Iwate, and Nagano prefectures of Japan. The maps are also largely in agreement with various validation sources including aerial imagery, optical imagery and news sources. Apart from visual maps, we provide flood and damage extents in various formats compatible with geographic information system (GIS) applications. The data may potentially be used for applications such as typhoon risk modelling, investigating spatial correlations of typhoon impacts, and comparing alternative flood or damage mapping techniques.
Microbiota and metabolome responses in the cecum and serum of broiler chickens fed with plant essential oils or virginiamycin
Authors: Chen Yan , Wang Jun , Yu Longfei , Xu Tianyue , Zhu Nianhua 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis study investigated the cecal microbiota and serum metabolite profile of chickens fed with plant essential oils (PEO) or virginiamycin (VIRG) using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics approach. The main aim of this work was to explore the biochemical mechanisms involved in the improved growth performance of antibiotics and their alternatives in animal production. The results showed that both PEO and VIRG treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of phyla Bacteroidetes and decreased the abundance of phyla Firmicutes and genus of Lactobacillus in cecal microbiota of chickens. Compared to the control group (CT group), the relative abundance of genus of Alistipes, unclassified Rikenellaceae, Roseburia, and Anaeroplasma was enriched in the PEO group; that of genus Bacteroides, Lachnospiraceae, and unclassified Enterobacteriaceae was enriched in the cecal microbiota of the VIRG group. Untargeted metabolomics analyses revealed that the PEO treatment modified 102 metabolites and 3 KEGG pathways (primary bile acid biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism) in the cecal microbiota, and 81 metabolites and relevant KEGG pathways (fructose and mannose metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and linoleic acid.) in the serum of the chicken. Compared to the CT group, VIRG treatment group differed 217 metabolites and 10 KEGG pathways in cecal contents and 142 metabolites and 7 KEGG pathways in serum of chickens. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that phyla Bacteroidetes and genus of Bacteroides, Alistipes, and unclassified Rikenellaceae (in the VIRG and PE group) were positively correlated with many lipid metabolites. However, phyla Firmicutes and genera Lactobacillus (higher in the CT group) were negatively correlated with the lipid and thymine metabolism, and positively correlated with hydroxyisocaproic acid, cytosine, and taurine. This study shows that dietary supplementation with PEO and VIRG altered the composition and metabolism profile of the cecal microbiota, modified the serum metabolism profile.
Robot-Driven Locomotor Perturbations Reveal Synergy-Mediated, Context-Dependent Feedforward and Feedback Mechanisms of Adaptation
Authors: Severini Giacomo , Koenig Alexander , Adans-Dester Catherine , Cajigas Iahn , Cheung Vincent C. K. , Bonato Paolo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHumans respond to mechanical perturbations that affect their gait by changing their motor control strategy. Previous work indicates that adaptation during gait is context dependent, and perturbations altering long-term stability are compensated for even at the cost of higher energy expenditure. However, it is unclear if gait adaptation is driven by unilateral or bilateral mechanisms, and what the roles of feedback and feedforward control are in the generation of compensatory responses. Here, we used a robot-based adaptation paradigm to investigate if feedback/feedforward and unilateral/bilateral contributions to locomotor adaptation are also context dependent in healthy adults. A robot was used to induce two opposite unilateral mechanical perturbations affecting the step length over multiple gait cycles. Electromyographic signals were collected and analyzed to determine how muscle synergies change in response to perturbations. The results unraveled different unilateral modulation dynamics of the muscle-synergy activations during adaptation, characterized by the combination of a slow-progressive feedforward process and a fast-reactive feedback-driven process. The relative unilateral contributions of the two processes to motor-output adjustments, however, depended on which perturbation was delivered. Overall, these observations provide evidence that, in humans, both descending and afferent drives project onto the same spinal interneuronal networks that encode locomotor muscle synergies.
Preparation and antimicrobial activity of ZnO-NPs coated cotton/starch and their functionalized ZnO-Ag/cotton and Zn(II) curcumin/cotton materials
Authors: El-Nahhal Issa M. , Salem Jamil , Anbar Rawan , Kodeh Fawzi S. , Elmanama Abdelraouf 
Published: March 2020

AbstractZnO-NPs coated cotton or starched cotton fibers were successfully prepared via ultrasound irradiation. Different concentrations of soluble corn starch (1–3 starch wt.%) were used to stabilize ZnO-NPs onto the surface of cotton fabrics as entrapped species. The use of none-toxic biocompatible starch has improved the adhesion properties of the cotton fibers towards ZnO-NPs. This also enhanced the durability of ZnO-NPs onto the cotton fabrics and decreased their leaching from the surface of cotton fabrics. When 3 starch wt.% solution was used, deposition of ZnO-NP increased by 53% after 10 washing cycles. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli increased by 50 and 21.5%, respectively. Functionalization of ZnO coated cotton with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and curcumin results in formation of ZnO-Ag/cotton and Zn(II) curcumin/cotton composites. The functionalized nanocomposites ZnO-Ag coated cotton material showed a synergistic antimicrobial behavior than that of individual ZnO/cotton material. The Zn(II) curcumin complex coated cotton showed higher antibacterial activities against both Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) bacteria than that of the ZnO/cotton material.
The Role of the Subthalamic Nucleus in Inhibitory Control of Oculomotor Behavior in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Bakhtiari Shahab , Altinkaya Ayca , Pack Christopher C. , Sadikot Abbas F. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInhibiting inappropriate actions in a context is an important part of the human cognitive repertoire, and deficiencies in this ability are common in neurological and psychiatric disorders. An anti-saccade is a simple oculomotor task that tests this ability by requiring inhibition of saccades to peripheral targets (pro-saccade) and producing voluntary eye movements toward the mirror position (anti-saccades). Previous studies provide evidence for a possible contribution from the basal ganglia in anti-saccade behavior, but the precise role of different components is still unclear. Parkinson’s disease patients with implanted deep brain stimulators (DBS) in subthalamic nucleus (STN) provide a unique opportunity to investigate the role of the STN in anti-saccade behavior. Previous attempts to show the effect of STN DBS on anti-saccades have produced conflicting observations. For example, the effect of STN DBS on anti-saccade error rate is not yet clear. Part of this inconsistency may be related to differences in dopaminergic states in different studies. Here, we tested Parkinson’s disease patients on anti- and pro-saccade tasks ON and OFF STN DBS, in ON and OFF dopaminergic medication states. First, STN DBS increases anti-saccade error rate while patients are OFF dopamine replacement therapy. Second, dopamine replacement therapy and STN DBS interact: L-dopa reduces the effect of STN DBS on anti-saccade error rate. Third, STN DBS induces different effects on pro- and anti-saccades in different patients. These observations provide evidence for an important role for the STN in the circuitry underlying context-dependent modulation of visuomotor action selection.
Comparison of tuning properties of gamma and high-gamma power in local field potential (LFP) versus electrocorticogram (ECoG) in visual cortex
Authors: Dubey Agrita , Ray Supratim 
Published: March 2020

AbstractElectrocorticogram (ECoG), obtained from macroelectrodes placed on the cortex, is typically used in drug-resistant epilepsy patients, and is increasingly being used to study cognition in humans. These studies often use power in gamma (30–70 Hz) or high-gamma (>80 Hz) ranges to make inferences about neural processing. However, while the stimulus tuning properties of gamma/high-gamma power have been well characterized in local field potential (LFP; obtained from microelectrodes), analogous characterization has not been done for ECoG. Using a hybrid array containing both micro and ECoG electrodes implanted in the primary visual cortex of two female macaques (for some stimulus conditions, separate ECoG and microelectrode arrays in two additional male macaques were also used), we compared the stimulus tuning preferences of gamma/high-gamma power in LFP versus ECoG in up to four monkeys, and found them to be surprisingly similar. High-gamma power, thought to index the average firing rate around the electrode, was highest for the smallest stimulus (0.3° radius), and decreased with increasing size in both LFP and ECoG, suggesting local origins of both signals. Further, gamma oscillations were similarly tuned in LFP and ECoG to stimulus orientation, contrast and spatial frequency. This tuning was significantly weaker in electroencephalogram (EEG), suggesting that ECoG is more like LFP than EEG. Overall, our results validate the use of ECoG in clinical and basic cognitive research.
Variation in prostaglandin metabolism during growth of the diatom Thalassiosira rotula
Authors: Di Dato Valeria , Barbarinaldi Roberta , Amato Alberto , Di Costanzo Federica , Fontanarosa Carolina , Perna Anna , Amoresano Angela , Esposito Francesco , Cutignano Adele , Ianora Adrianna , Romano Giovanna 
Published: March 2020

AbstractProstaglandins (PGs) are hormone-like mediators in many physiological and pathological processes that are present in all vertebrates, in some terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, and have also been identified in some macroalgae. They have recently been reported also in marine microalgae but their role as chemical mediators is largely unknown. Here we studied the expression pattern of the PG biosynthetic pathway during different growth phases of the centric diatom Thalassiosira rotula and assessed the release of PGs in the surrounding environment for the first time. We show that enzymes responsible for PGs formation such as cyclooxygenase, prostaglandin E synthase 2-like and prostaglandin F synthase are mainly expressed at the end of the exponential phase and that PGs are released especially during the stationary and senescent phases, suggesting a possible signaling function for these compounds. Phylogenetic analysis of the limiting enzyme, COX, indicate the presence in diatoms of more than one enzyme related to the oxidative metabolism of fatty acids belonging to the peroxidase-cyclooxygenase superfamily. These findings suggest a more complex evolution and diversity of metabolic pathways leading to the synthesis of lipid mediators in diatoms.
Lymph node metastasis around the entrance point to recurrent laryngeal nerve in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Lv Tian , Liu Zhuoran , Yan Jiqi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThere are few reports on the lymph nodes of entrance point to recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-epRLN) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Thus, we investigated the clinical significance of LN-epRLN and implications it may have. An observational analysis of 878 consecutive patients with PTC who underwent thyroidectomy from April 2016 to March 2017 was conducted. We explored the surrounding tissue of laryngeal entry point, during routine central lymph node dissection (CLND). The lymph node specimens were sent separately for routine histopathological examination. Thereafter, complications and follow-ups were recorded. LN-epRLNs were found in 73 of the 878 patients, with the metastatic rate of 3.76%. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed central lymph node metastases can serve as independent predictors for LN-epRLN metastasis. In summary, we confirmed the significance of LN-epRLN in metastasis and recurrence, which required precise anatomy and thorough CLND. In PTC patients, especially in suspicious presence of central cervical lymph node metastasis, attention should be given to excising the nodal tissue at the laryngeal entry point.
Transcriptome analysis uncovers the gene expression profile of salt-stressed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Authors: Li Qing , Qin Yuzhi , Hu Xinxi , Li Guangcun , Ding Hongying , Xiong Xingyao , Wang Wanxing 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important staple food worldwide. However, its growth has been heavily suppressed by salt stress. The molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in potato remain unclear. It has been shown that the tetraploid potato Longshu No. 5 is a salt-tolerant genotype. Therefore, in this study we conducted research to identify salt stress response genes in Longshu No. 5 using a NaCl treatment and time-course RNA sequencing. The total number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to salt stress was 5508. Based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, it was found that DEGs were significantly enriched in the categories of nucleic acid binding, transporter activity, ion or molecule transport, ion binding, kinase activity and oxidative phosphorylation. Particularly, the significant differential expression of encoding ion transport signaling genes suggests that this signaling pathway plays a vital role in salt stress response in potato. Finally, the DEGs in the salt response pathway were verified by Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). These results provide valuable information on the salt tolerance of molecular mechanisms in potatoes, and establish a basis for breeding salt-tolerant cultivars.
Downregulation of HLA-ABC expression through promoter hypermethylation and downmodulation of MIC-A/B surface expression in LMP2A-positive epithelial carcinoma cell lines
Authors: Singh Shweta , Banerjee Subrata 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEpstein Barr Virus (EBV) is a human herpesvirus, and has been reported to be associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In most of the associated tumors, the virus remains in a latently infected state. During latency, EBV expresses Latent Membrane Protein 2A (LMP2A) along with few other genes. We previously showed that LMP2A causes downregulation of HLA-ABC surface expression in EBV associated gastric carcinomas. However, the mechanism that leads to this downregulation remain unclear. We therefore analyzed methylation-mediated regulation of HLA-ABC expression by LMP2A. Interestingly, according to the ‘missing self’ hypothesis, when there is a decrease in HLA-ABC surface expression, expression of NKG2D ligands’ must be upregulated to facilitate killing by Natural Killer (NK) cells. Analysis of NKG2D ligands’ expression, revealed downregulation of MIC-A/B surface expression in response to LMP2A. Furthermore, the role of Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) in the regulation of MIC-A/B surface expression in cells expressing LMP2A was also investigated. Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI) mediated inhibition of MIC-A/B surface expression was observed in LMP2A expressing cells. Our current findings provide new insights in LMP2A arbitrated dysregulation of host immune response in epithelial cell carcinomas.
Molecular origin of the Raman signal from Aspergillus nidulans conidia and observation of fluorescence vibrational structure at room temperature
Authors: Han Zehua , Strycker Benjamin D. , Commer Blake , Wang Kai , Shaw Brian D. , Scully Marlan O. , Sokolov Alexei V. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSuccessful approaches to identification and/or biological characterization of fungal specimens through Raman spectroscopy may require the determination of the molecular origin of the Raman response as well as its separation from the background fluorescence. The presence of fluorescence can interfere with Raman detection and is virtually impossible to avoid. Fluorescence leads to a multiplicity of problems: one is noise, while another is “fake” spectral structure that can easily be confused for spontaneous Raman peaks. One solution for these problems is Shifted Excitation Raman Difference Spectroscopy (SERDS), in which a tunable light source generates two spectra with different excitation frequencies in order to eliminate fluorescence from the measured signal. We combine a SERDS technique with genetic breeding of mutant populations and demonstrate that the Raman signal from Aspergillus nidulans conidia originates in pigment molecules within the cell wall. In addition, we observe unambiguous vibrational fine-structure in the fluorescence response at room temperature. We hypothesize that the vibrational fine-structure in the fluorescence results from the formation of flexible, long-lived molecular cages in the bio-polymer matrix of the cell wall that partially shield target molecules from the immediate environment and also constrain their degrees of freedom.
Linear systems analysis for laminar fMRI: Evaluating BOLD amplitude scaling for luminance contrast manipulations
Authors: van Dijk Jelle A. , Fracasso Alessio , Petridou Natalia , Dumoulin Serge O. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA fundamental assumption of nearly all functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analyses is that the relationship between local neuronal activity and the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal can be described as following linear systems theory. With the advent of ultra-high field (7T and higher) MRI scanners, it has become possible to perform sub-millimeter resolution fMRI in humans. A novel and promising application of sub-millimeter fMRI is measuring responses across cortical depth, i.e. laminar imaging. However, the cortical vasculature and associated directional blood pooling towards the pial surface strongly influence the cortical depth-dependent BOLD signal, particularly for gradient-echo BOLD. This directional pooling may potentially affect BOLD linearity across cortical depth. Here we assess whether the amplitude scaling assumption for linear systems theory holds across cortical depth. For this, we use stimuli with different luminance contrasts to elicit different BOLD response amplitudes. We find that BOLD amplitude across cortical depth scales with luminance contrast, and that this scaling is identical across cortical depth. Although nonlinearities may be present for different stimulus configurations and acquisition protocols, our results suggest that the amplitude scaling assumption for linear systems theory across cortical depth holds for luminance contrast manipulations in sub-millimeter laminar BOLD fMRI.