bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human mesenchymal stromal cells and derived extracellular vesicles: Translational strategies to increase their proangiogenic potential for the treatment of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Nazari-Shafti Timo Z. , Neuber Sebastian , Garcia Duran Ana , Xu Zhiyi , Beltsios Eleftherios , Seifert Martina , Falk Volkmar , Stamm Christof 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) offer great potential for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as myocardial infarction and heart failure. Studies have revealed that the efficacy of MSCs is mainly attributed to their capacity to secrete numerous trophic factors that promote angiogenesis, inhibit apoptosis, and modulate the immune response. There is growing evidence that MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing a cargo of lipids, proteins, metabolites, and RNAs play a key role in this paracrine mechanism. In particular, encapsulated microRNAs have been identified as important positive regulators of angiogenesis in pathological settings of insufficient blood supply to the heart, thus opening a new path for the treatment of CVD. In the present review, we discuss the current knowledge related to the proangiogenic potential of MSCs and MSC-derived EVs as well as methods to enhance their biological activities for improved cardiac tissue repair. Increasing our understanding of mechanisms supporting angiogenesis will help optimize future approaches to CVD intervention.Significance statement Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are currently being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of numerous diseases. Their therapeutic potential is mainly due to the factors they secrete. Studies have demonstrated that MSCs also produce extracellular vesicles that carry proteins, metabolites, lipids, and various RNAs. Based on their multifunctional properties, extracelullar vesicles are of great importance and interest in the development of future medicine. This study provides an overview of the current knowledge on the therapeutic potential of MSCs and MSC-derived extracelullar vesicles, as well as methods for improving their biological activities to promote angiogenesis and tissue repair.
Triple‐Mode Emissions with Invisible Near‐Infrared After‐Glow from Cr3+‐Doped Zinc Aluminum Germanium Nanoparticles for Advanced Anti‐Counterfeiting Applications
Authors: Zhang Yi , Huang Rui , Li Hongliang , Lin Zhenxu , Hou Dejian , Guo Yanqing , Song Jie , Song Chao , Lin Zewen , Zhang Wenxing , Wang Jing , Chu Paul K. , Zhu Chao 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMaterials exhibiting persistent luminescence (PersL) have great prospect in optoelectronic and biomedical applications such as optical information storage, bio‐imaging, and so on. Unfortunately, PersL materials with multimode emission properties have been rarely reported, although they are expected to be very desirable in multilevel anti‐counterfeiting and encryption applications. Herein, Cr3+‐doped zinc aluminum germanium (ZAG:Cr) nanoparticles exhibiting triple‐mode emissions are designed and demonstrated. Upon exposure to steady 254 nm UV light, the ZAG:Cr nanoparticles yield steady bluish‐white emission. After turning off the UV light, the emission disappears quickly and the mode switches to transient near‐infrared (NIR) PersL emission at predominantly 690 nm. The transient NIR PersL emission which arises from Cr3+ is induced by non‐equivalent substitution of Ge4+. After persisting for 50 min, it can be retriggered by 980 nm photons due to the continuous trap depth distribution of ZAG:Cr between 0.65 and 1.07 eV. Inspired by the triple‐mode emissions from ZAG:Cr, multifunctional luminescent inks composed of ZAG:Cr nanoparticles are prepared, and high‐security labeling and encoding encryption properties are demonstrated. The results indicate that ZAG:Cr nanoparticles have great potential in anti‐counterfeiting and encryption applications, and the strategy and concept described here provide insights into the design of advanced anti‐counterfeiting materials.
Inhibition of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase interferes with pathogenic B-cell development in inflammatory CNS demyelinating disease
Authors: Torke Sebastian , Pretzsch Roxanne , Häusler Darius , Haselmayer Philipp , Grenningloh Roland , Boschert Ursula , Brück Wolfgang , Weber Martin S. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAnti-CD20-mediated B-cell depletion effectively reduces acute multiple sclerosis (MS) flares. Recent data shows that antibody-mediated extinction of B cells as a lasting immune suppression, harbors the risk of developing humoral deficiencies over time. Accordingly, more selective, durable and reversible B-cell-directed MS therapies are needed. We here tested inhibition of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), an enzyme centrally involved in B-cell receptor signaling, as the most promising approach in this direction. Using mouse models of MS, we determined that evobrutinib, the first BTK inhibiting molecule being developed, dose-dependently inhibited antigen-triggered activation and maturation of B cells as well as their release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Most importantly, evobrutinib treatment functionally impaired the capacity of B cells to act as antigen-presenting cells for the development of encephalitogenic T cells, resulting in a significantly reduced disease severity in mice. In contrast to anti-CD20, BTK inhibition silenced this key property of B cells in MS without impairing their frequency or functional integrity. In conjunction with a recent phase II trial reporting that evobrutinib is safe and effective in MS, our mechanistic data highlight therapeutic BTK inhibition as a landmark towards selectively interfering with MS-driving B-cell properties.
The impact of tree crops and temperature on the timing of frugivorous bird migration
Authors: Kanerva Anna-Maria , Hokkanen Tatu , Lehikoinen Aleksi , Norrdahl Kai , Suhonen Jukka 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMigration has evolved to tackle temporal changes in availability of resources. Climate change has been shown to affect the migration dates of species, which raises the question of whether the variation in the timing of migration is climate or resource dependent? The relative importance of temperature and availability of food as drivers of migration behaviour during both spring and autumn seasons has been poorly studied. Here, we investigated these patterns in frugivorous and granivorous birds (hereafter frugivorous) that are assumed to postpone their autumn migration when there is plenty of food available, which may also advance upcoming spring migration. On the other hand, especially spring migration dates have been negatively connected with increasing temperatures. We tested whether the autumn and spring migration dates of eleven common frugivorous birds depended on the crop size of trees or ambient temperatures using 29 years of data in Finland. The increased crop sizes of trees delayed autumn migration dates; whereas, autumn temperature did not show a significant connection. We also observed a temporal trend towards later departure. Increasing temperature and crop sizes advanced spring arrival dates. Our results support the hypothesis that the timing of autumn migration in the frugivorous birds depends on the availability of food and is weakly connected with the variation in temperature. Importantly, crop size can have carry-over effects and affect the timing of spring arrival possibly because birds have overwintered closer to the breeding grounds after an abundant crop year.
Transfer effects of mathematical literacy: an integrative longitudinal study
Authors: Holenstein Mathias , Bruckmaier Georg , Grob Alexander 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMathematical literacy (ML) is considered central to the application of mathematical knowledge in everyday life and thus is found in many comparative international educational standards. However, there exists barely any evidence about predictors and outcomes of ML having a lasting effect on achievement in nonmathematical domains. We drew on a large longitudinal sample of N = 4001 secondary school students in Grades 5 to 9 and tested for effects of ML on later academic achievement. We took prior achievement in different domains (information and communication technology literacy, scientific literacy, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension), socioeconomic status, and gender into account and investigated predictive effects of math grade, mathematical self-concept, reasoning, and prior achievement on ML. Using structural equation models, we found support for the importance of integrating multiple predictors and revealed a transfer effect of ML on achievement in different school domains. The findings highlight the importance of ML for school curricula and lasting educational decisions.
Forming COVID-19 Policy Under Uncertainty
Authors: Manski Charles F. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis paper presents my thinking and concerns about formation of COVID-19 policy. Policy formation must cope with substantial uncertainties about the nature of the disease, the dynamics of transmission, and behavioral responses. Data uncertainties limit our knowledge of the past trajectory and current state of the pandemic. Data and modeling uncertainties limit our ability to predict the impacts of alternative policies. I explain why current epidemiological and macroeconomic modeling cannot deliver realistically optimal policy. I describe my recent work quantifying basic data uncertainties that make policy analysis difficult. I discuss approaches for policy choice under uncertainty and suggest adaptive policy diversification.
A Note on the Decomposition of Aerodynamic Forces Induced by A Wind Turbine Flaps
Authors: Niu Y. Y. , Shih P. J. , Kong S. C. 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTIn this study, the aerodynamic characteristics of a vertical-axis wind turbine blade coupled with a high-lift device, such as the Gurney flap at the trailing edge, are investigated. For numerical analysis, the force element theory is used to understand how the Gurney flap influences the force evolution of the lift-type vertical-axis wind turbine. This study shows that the lift and drag can be respectively approximated into four elements, which are induced by volume vorticity, rotational velocity, angular acceleration and surface friction of the flow around the blades. Based on the perspective of the force element theory, the present simulation provides a clear picture of how the Gurney flap influences the formation of the aerodynamic force elements during a rotational cycle for a vertical-axis wind turbine. Simulation results show that the contributions mainly result from the surface vorticities, the rotational acceleration of the airfoil, and the acceleration of the surface.
Global Leadership in Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Care: “Following the ‘Golden Rule’ in multicentre collaborations – an interview with Jane W. Newburger, MD”
Authors: Tretter Justin T. , Jacobs Jeffrey P. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDr. Jane Newburger is the focus of our first in a planned series of interviews inCardiology in the Youngentitled, “Global Leadership in Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Care”. Dr. Newburger was born in Manhattan, New York, United States of America. She was raised in the Bronx for her first six years of life, at which point her family moved to Yonkers, New York, where she spent the rest of her childhood. She then attended Bryn Mawr College where she majored in psychology. Dr. Newburger subsequently attended Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1974. She did her internship and residency in paediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital in 1974–1976, followed by her fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital in 1976–1979. She received her Masters in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health in 1980.Dr. Newburger has spent her entire career as a paediatric cardiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where she was appointed a Professor of Pediatrics in 1999 and has held the position as Commonwealth Professor of Pediatrics since 2008. She has established herself as a leading clinical scientist within the field of paediatric cardiology, with expertise in leadership of multicentre and multidisciplinary research, including the building of collaborative groups. She has been continuously funded by the National Institute of Health since 1982, and amongst other areas has led the field in the areas of neurodevelopmental outcomes in congenital heart disease, improved methods of vital organ support, and management of Kawasaki disease. This article presents our interview with Dr. Newburger, an interview that covers her path towards becoming a clinical scientist, her interests spanning four decades of hard work, and her strategies to design and lead successful multicentre studies.
Hidden welfare effects of tree plantations
Authors: Anríquez Nilson Gustavo , Toledo Roman Gabriela , Arriagada Cisternas Rodrigo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSubsidies to promote tree plantations have been questioned because of negative impacts of the forestry industry. Quantitative evidence on the socioeconomic impacts of afforestation subsidies or of tree plantations is elusive, mainly due to data scarcity. We assess the overall impact of a tree plantation subsidy in Chile, using our original 20-year panel dataset that includes small area estimates of poverty and the subsidy assignment at the census-district scale. We show that forestry subsidies – on average – in fact, do increase poverty. More specifically, using difference in difference with matching techniques, and instrumental variables approaches, we show that there is an increase of about 2 per cent in the poverty rate of treated localities. We identify employment as a causal mechanism explaining this finding, since we found a negative effect of tree plantations on employment, and therefore, on poverty. We suggest reassessment of the distributional effects of the forest subsidy and forestry industry.
Reduction of SCUBE3 by a new marine-derived asterosaponin leads to arrest of glioma cells in G1/S
Authors: Qiu Peng-Cheng , Lu Yun-Yang , Zhang Shan , Li Hua , Bao Han , Ji Yu-Qiang , Fang Fei , Tang Hai-Feng , Cheng Guang 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMany saponins are characterized as exhibiting a wide spectrum of antitumor activities at low concentrations. Most of the previous studies that aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying anticancer saponins have focused on numerous classical signaling pathways. However, at the oncogene level, little is known about the action of saponins, especially asterosaponin. In this study, CN-3, a new asterosaponin isolated from the starfish Culcita novaeguineae, decreased the proliferation of U87 and U251 cells at low doses in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Microarray analysis revealed CN-3 significantly induced the differential expression of 661 genes that are related to its antiglioma effect in U251. Nine downregulated genes (SCUBE3, PSD4, PGM2L1, ACSL3, PRICKLE1, ABI3BP, STON1, EDIL3, and KCTD12) were selected, for further verification of their low expression. Then, shRNA transfection and high-content screening were performed and significantly decreased U251 cell proliferation rate was only observed for the SCUBE3 knockdown. qPCR confirmed SCUBE3 was highly expressed in U251 and U87 cells, and had medium expression levels in U373 cells. Real-time cellular analysis using iCELLigence demonstrated that SCUBE3 is an oncogene in U251 and U87 cells, with knockdown of SCUBE3 inhibiting U251 and U87 cell proliferation while, conversely, SCUBE3 overexpression promoted their proliferation. Afterward, SCUBE3 protein was found to have high expression in primary glioma specimens from patients examined by immunohistochemistry but low expression in normal brain. PathScan ELISA analysis in conjunction with TEM observation demonstrated that the effect of SCUBE3 knockdown in U251 does not appear to be related to the induction of apoptosis. Employing CCK-8, iCELLigence, flow cytometry, western blotting, and shRNA transfection (knockdown and overexpression) experiments, we reveal that the reduction of SCUBE3 expression, induced by CN-3, mediated both inhibition and G1/S arrest of U251 via the Akt/p-Akt/p53/p21/p27/E2F1 pathway.
Expression of green fluorescent protein defines a specific population of lamina II excitatory interneurons in the GRP::eGFP mouse
Authors: Bell Andrew M. , Gutierrez-Mecinas Maria , Stevenson Anna , Casas-Benito Adrian , Wildner Hendrik , West Steven J. , Watanabe Masahiko , Todd Andrew J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDorsal horn excitatory interneurons that express gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) are part of the circuit for pruritogen-evoked itch. They have been extensively studied in a transgenic line in which enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) is expressed under control of the Grp gene. The GRP-eGFP cells are separate from several other neurochemically-defined excitatory interneuron populations, and correspond to a class previously defined as transient central cells. However, mRNA for GRP is widely distributed among excitatory interneurons in superficial dorsal horn. Here we show that although Grp mRNA is present in several transcriptomically-defined populations, eGFP is restricted to a discrete subset of cells in the GRP::eGFP mouse, some of which express the neuromedin receptor 2 and likely belong to a cluster defined as Glut8. We show that these cells receive much of their excitatory synaptic input from MrgA3/MrgD-expressing nociceptive/pruritoceptive afferents and C-low threshold mechanoreceptors. Although the cells were not innervated by pruritoceptors expressing brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) most of them contained mRNA for NPR1, the receptor for BNP. In contrast, these cells received only ~ 10% of their excitatory input from other interneurons. These findings demonstrate that the GRP-eGFP cells constitute a discrete population of excitatory interneurons with a characteristic pattern of synaptic input.
Human Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG1 for advanced universal and Trypanosoma cruzi Discrete Typing Units-specific serodiagnosis of Chagas disease
Authors: Alessio Glaucia Diniz , de Araújo Fernanda Fortes , Silva Jéssica Spínola , Júnior Policarpo Ademar Sales , de Souza Gomes Matheus , do Amaral Laurence Rodrigues , Ramírez Juan David , Flórez Carolina , Teixeira-Carvalho Andréa , de Barros Pinheiro Melina , de Lana Marta , Martins-Filho Olindo Assis 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe molecular and serological methods available for Discrete Typing Units (DTU)-specific diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi in chronic Chagas disease present limitations. The study evaluated the performance of Human Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG1 for universal and DTU-specific diagnosis of Chagas disease. A total of 102 sera from Chagas disease patients (CH) chronically infected with TcI, TcVI or TcII DTUs were tested for IgG1 reactivity to amastigote/(A), trypomastigote/(T) and epimastigote/(E) antigens along the titration curve (1:250–1:32,000). The results demonstrated that “AI 250/40%”, “EVI 250/30%”, “AII 250/40%”, “TII 250/40%” and “EII 250/30%” have outstanding accuracy (100%) to segregate CH from non-infected controls. The attributes “TI 4,000/50%”, “EI 2,000/50%”, “AVI 8,000/60%” and “TVI 4,000/50%” were selected for DTU-specific serotyping of Chagas disease. The isolated use of “EI 2,000/50%” provided the highest co-positivity for TcI patients (91%). The combined decision tree algorithms using the pre-defined sets of attributes showed outstanding full accuracy (92% and 97%) to discriminate “TcI vs TcVI vs TcII” and “TcI vs TcII” prototypes, respectively. The elevated performance of Human Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG1 qualifies its use for universal and TcI/TcVI/TcII-specific diagnosis of Chagas disease. These findings further support the application of this method in epidemiological surveys, post-therapeutic monitoring and clinical outcome follow-ups for Chagas disease.
Comparative assessment of genetic diversity matrices and clustering methods in white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata) based on morphological and molecular markers
Authors: Darkwa Kwabena , Agre Paterne , Olasanmi Bunmi , Iseki Kohtaro , Matsumoto Ryo , Powell Adrian , Bauchet Guillaume , De Koeyer David , Muranaka Satoru , Adebola Patrick , Asiedu Robert , Terauchi Ryohei , Asfaw Asrat 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUnderstanding the diversity and genetic relationships among and within crop germplasm is invaluable for genetic improvement. This study assessed genetic diversity in a panel of 173D. rotundataaccessions using joint analysis for 23 morphological traits and 136,429 SNP markers from the whole-genome resequencing platform. Various diversity matrices and clustering methods were evaluated for a comprehensive characterization of genetic diversity in white Guinea yam from West Africa at phenotypic and molecular levels. The translation of the different diversity matrices from the phenotypic and genomic information into distinct groups varied with the hierarchal clustering methods used. Gower distance matrix based on phenotypic data and identity by state (IBS) distance matrix based on SNP data with the UPGMA clustering method found the best fit to dissect the genetic relationship in current set materials. However, the grouping pattern was inconsistent (r = − 0.05) between the morphological and molecular distance matrices due to the non-overlapping information between the two data types. Joint analysis for the phenotypic and molecular information maximized a comprehensive estimate of the actual diversity in the evaluated materials. The results from our study provide valuable insights for measuring quantitative genetic variability for breeding and genetic studies in yam and other root and tuber crops.
Faster visual reaction times in elite athletes are not linked to better gaze stability
Authors: Barrett Brendan T. , Cruickshank Alice G. , Flavell Jonathan C. , Bennett Simon J. , Buckley John G. , Harris Julie M. , Scally Andrew J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe issue of whether visually-mediated, simple reaction time (VRT) is faster in elite athletes is contentious. Here, we examined if and how VRT is affected by gaze stability in groups of international cricketers (16 females, 28 males), professional rugby-league players (21 males), and non-sporting controls (20 females, 30 males). VRT was recorded via a button-press response to the sudden appearance of a stimulus (circular target—diameter 0.8°), that was presented centrally, or 7.5° to the left or right of fixation. The incidence and timing of saccades and blinks occurring from 450 ms before stimulus onset to 225 ms after onset were measured to quantify gaze stability. Our results show that (1) cricketers have faster VRT than controls; (2) blinks and, in particular, saccades are associated with slower VRT regardless of the level of sporting ability; (3) elite female cricketers had steadier gaze (fewer saccades and blinks) compared to female controls; (4) when we accounted for the presence of blinks and saccades, our group comparisons of VRT were virtually unchanged. The stability of gaze is not a factor that explains the difference between elite and control groups in VRT. Thus we conclude that better gaze stability cannot explain faster VRT in elite sports players.