bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hydralazine augmented ultrasound hyperthermia for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Karmacharya Mrigendra B. , Sultan Laith R. , Hunt Stephen J. , Sehgal Chandra M. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis study investigates the use of hydralazine to enhance ultrasound hyperthermia for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by minimizing flow-mediated heat loss from the tumor. Murine HCC tumors were treated with a continuous mode ultrasound with or without an intravenous administration of hydralazine (5 mg/kg). Tumor blood flow and blood vessels were evaluated by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging and histology, respectively. Hydralazine markedly enhanced ultrasound hyperthermia through the disruption of tumor blood flow in HCC. Ultrasound treatment with hydralazine significantly reduced peak enhancement (PE), perfusion index (PI), and area under the curve (AUC) of the CEUS time-intensity curves by 91.9 ± 0.9%, 95.7 ± 0.7%, and 96.6 ± 0.5%, compared to 71.4 ± 1.9%, 84.7 ± 1.1%, and 85.6 ± 0.7% respectively without hydralazine. Tumor temperature measurements showed that the cumulative thermal dose delivered by ultrasound treatment with hydralazine (170.8 ± 11.8 min) was significantly higher than that without hydralazine (137.7 ± 10.7 min). Histological assessment of the ultrasound-treated tumors showed that hydralazine injection formed larger hemorrhagic pools and increased tumor vessel dilation consistent with CEUS observations illustrating the augmentation of hyperthermic effects by hydralazine. In conclusion, we demonstrated that ultrasound hyperthermia can be enhanced significantly by hydralazine in murine HCC tumors by modulating tumor blood flow. Future studies demonstrating the safety of the combined use of ultrasound and hydralazine would enable the clinical translation of the proposed technique.
Male diet affects female fitness and sperm competition in human- and bat-associated lineages of the common bedbug, Cimex lectularius
Authors: Křemenová Jana , Bartonička Tomáš , Balvín Ondřej , Massino Christian , Reinhardt Klaus , Sasínková Markéta , Weig Alfons R. , Otti Oliver 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSperm performance can vary in ecologically divergent populations, but it is often not clear whether the environment per se or genomic differences arising from divergent selection cause the difference. One powerful and easily manipulated environmental effect is diet. Populations of bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) naturally feed either on bat or human blood. These are diverging genetically into a bat-associated and a human-associated lineage. To measure how male diet affects sperm performance, we kept males of two HL and BL populations each on either their own or the foreign diet. Then we investigated male reproductive success in a single mating and sperm competition context. We found that male diet affected female fecundity and changed the outcome of sperm competition, at least in the human lineage. However, this influence of diet on sperm performance was moulded by an interaction. Bat blood generally had a beneficial effect on sperm competitiveness and seemed to be a better food source in both lineages. Few studies have examined the effects of male diet on sperm performance generally, and sperm competition specifically. Our results reinforce the importance to consider the environment in which sperm are produced. In the absence of gene flow, such differences may increase reproductive isolation. In the presence of gene flow, however, the generally better sperm performance after consuming bat blood suggests that the diet is likely to homogenise rather than isolate populations.
Integrative analysis of the choroid by quantifying Haller vessel and choriocapillaris parameters in different drusen subtypes
Authors: Lee Hyungwoo , Kim Seungmin , Kim Myung Ae , Jo Young Joon , Lee Woo Hyuk , Kim Hyung Chan , Chung Hyewon 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to quantify the Haller vessel and choriocapillaris (CC) parameters in drusen subtypes in nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pachydrusen. Ninety-five eyes of 80 patients and 28 control eyes were categorized into soft drusen, subretinal drusenoid deposit (SDD), soft drusen plus SDD, pachydrusen, and control groups. The diameter, length and intersections of Haller vessels and the total area, size and number of CC flow voids were quantified using en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) or OCT angiography. The pachydrusen group showed the largest Haller vessel area and diameter and shortest total length but similar CC parameters to those in the control group. The soft drusen plus SDD group showed the largest CC flow void area and size, while the Haller parameters were similar to those in the control group. The area and size of the flow voids in the SDD group were smaller than those in the soft drusen plus SDD group. Based on unsupervised machine learning, the eyes were classified into 4 clusters—the control, pachydrusen, soft drusen plus SDD and soft drusen plus SDD groups. Cluster 3 showed a larger diameter and shorter total length of the Haller vessels than cluster 4.
Compromised dental cells viability following teeth-whitening exposure
Authors: Redha Ola , Mazinanian Morteza , Nguyen Sabrina , Son Dong Ok , Lodyga Monika , Hinz Boris , Odlyha Marianne , McDonald Ailbhe , Bozec Laurent 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the viability of dental cells following time-dependent carbamide peroxide teeth-whitening treatments using an in-vitro dentin perfusion assay model. 30 teeth were exposed to 5% or 16% CP gel (4 h daily) for 2-weeks. The enamel organic content was measured with thermogravimetry. The time-dependent viability of human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs) and gingival fibroblast cells (HGFCs) following either indirect exposure to 3 commercially available concentrations of CP gel using an in-vitro dentin perfusion assay or direct exposure to 5% H2O2 were investigated by evaluating change in cell morphology and by hemocytometry. The 5% and 16% CP produced a significantly lower (p < 0.001) enamel protein content (by weight) when compared to the control. The organic content in enamel varied accordingly to the CP treatment: for the 16% and 5% CP treatment groups, a variation of 4.0% and 5.4%, respectively, was observed with no significant difference. The cell viability of HDPSCs decreased exponentially over time for all groups. Within the limitation of this in-vitro study, we conclude that even low concentrations of H2O2 and CP result in a deleterious change in enamel protein content and compromise the viability of HGFCs and HDPSCs. These effects should be observed in-vivo.
Sauna dehydration as a new physiological challenge model for intestinal barrier function
Authors: Roca Rubio Maria Fernanda , Eriksson Ulrika , Brummer Robert J. , König Julia 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe intestinal barrier plays a crucial role in maintaining gut health, and an increased permeability has been linked to several intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders. There is an increasing demand for interventions aimed at strengthening this barrier and for in vivo challenge models to assess their efficiency. This study investigated the effect of sauna-induced dehydration on intestinal barrier function (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03620825). Twenty healthy subjects underwent three conditions in random order: (1) Sauna dehydration (loss of 3% body weight), (2) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intake, (3) negative control. Intestinal permeability was assessed by a multi-sugar urinary recovery test, while intestinal damage, bacterial translocation and cytokines were assessed by plasma markers. The sauna dehydration protocol resulted in an increase in gastroduodenal and small intestinal permeability. Presumably, this increase occurred without substantial damage to the enterocytes as plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) and liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) were not affected. In addition, we observed significant increases in levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), IL-6 and IL-8, while sCD14, IL-10, IFN-ɣ and TNF-α were not affected. These results suggest that sauna dehydration increased intestinal permeability and could be applied as a new physiological in vivo challenge model for intestinal barrier function.
Physiological and interactomic analysis reveals versatile functions of Arabidopsis 14-3-3 quadruple mutants in response to Fe deficiency
Authors: Gao Jing , van Kleeff Paula J. M. , Li Ka Wan , de Boer Albertus H. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTo date, few phenotypes have been described for Arabidopsis 14-3-3 mutants or the phenotypes showing the role of 14-3-3 in plant responding to abiotic stress. Although one member of the 14-3-3 protein family (14-3-3 omicron) was shown to be involved in the proper operation of Fe acquisition mechanisms at physiological and gene expression levels in Arabidopsis thaliana, it remains to be explored whether other members play a role in regulating iron acquisition. To more directly and effectively observe whether members of 14-3-3 non-epsilon group have a function in Fe-deficiency adaptation, three higher order quadruple KOs, kappa/lambda/phi/chi (klpc), kappa/lambda/upsilon/nu(klun), and upsilon/nu/phi/chi (unpc) were generated and studied for physiological analysis in this study. The analysis of iron-utilization efficiency, root phenotyping, and transcriptional level of Fe-responsive genes suggested that the mutant with kl background showed different phenotypes from Wt when plants suffered Fe starved, while these phenotypes were absent in the unpc mutant. Moreover, the absence of the four 14-3-3 isoforms in the klun mutant has a clear impact on the 14-3-3 interactome upon Fe deficiency. Dynamics of 14-3-3-client interactions analysis showed that 27 and 17 proteins differentially interacted with 14-3-3 in Wt and klun roots caused by Fe deficiency, respectively. Many of these Fe responsive proteins have a role in glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation and TCA cycle, the FoF1-synthase and in the cysteine/methionine synthesis. A clear explanation for the observed phenotypes awaits a more detailed analysis of the functional aspects of 14-3-3 binding to the target proteins identified in this study.
Impact of autocatalytic chemical reaction in an Ostwald-de-Waele nanofluid flow past a rotating disk with heterogeneous catalysis
Authors: Yu Bai , Ramzan Muhammad , Riasat Saima , Kadry Seifedine , Chu Yu-Ming , Malik M. Y. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe nanofluids owing to their alluring attributes like enhanced thermal conductivity and better heat transfer characteristics have a vast variety of applications ranging from space technology to nuclear reactors etc. The present study highlights the Ostwald-de-Waele nanofluid flow past a rotating disk of variable thickness in a porous medium with a melting heat transfer phenomenon. The surface catalyzed reaction is added to the homogeneous-heterogeneous reaction that triggers the rate of the chemical reaction. The added feature of the variable thermal conductivity and the viscosity instead of their constant values also boosts the novelty of the undertaken problem. The modeled problem is erected in the form of a system of partial differential equations. Engaging similarity transformation, the set of ordinary differential equations are obtained. The coupled equations are numerically solved by using the bvp4c built-in MATLAB function. The drag coefficient and Nusselt number are plotted for arising parameters. The results revealed that increasing surface catalyzed parameter causes a decline in thermal profile more efficiently. Further, the power-law index is more influential than the variable thickness disk index. The numerical results show that variations in dimensionless thickness coefficient do not make any effect. However, increasing power-law index causing an upsurge in radial, axial, tangential, velocities, and thermal profile.
Photocrosslinkable liver extracellular matrix hydrogels for the generation of 3D liver microenvironment models
Authors: Ravichandran Akhilandeshwari , Murekatete Berline , Moedder Denise , Meinert Christoph , Bray Laura J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractLiver extracellular matrix (ECM)-based hydrogels have gained considerable interest as biomimetic 3D cell culture environments to investigate the mechanisms of liver pathology, metabolism, and toxicity. The preparation of current liver ECM hydrogels, however, is based on time-consuming thermal gelation and limits the control of mechanical properties. In this study, we used detergent-based protocols to produce decellularized porcine liver ECM, which in turn were solubilized and functionalized with methacrylic anhydride to generate photocrosslinkable methacrylated liver ECM (LivMA) hydrogels. Firstly, we explored the efficacy of two protocols to decellularize porcine liver tissue using varying combinations of commonly used chemical agents such as Triton X-100, Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) and Ammonium hydroxide. Then, we demonstrated successful formation of stable, reproducible LivMA hydrogels from both the protocols by photocrosslinking. The LivMA hydrogels obtained from the two decellularization protocols showed distinct mechanical properties. The compressive modulus of the hydrogels was directly dependent on the hydrogel concentration, thereby demonstrating the tuneability of mechanical properties of these hydrogels. Immortalized Human Hepatocytes cells were encapsulated in the LivMA hydrogels and cytocompatibility of the hydrogels was demonstrated after one week of culture. In summary, the LivMA hydrogel system provides a simple, photocrosslinkable platform, which can potentially be used to simulate healthy versus damaged liver for liver disease research, drug studies and cancer metastasis modelling.
Faceting–roughening transition of a Cu grain boundary under electron-beam irradiation at 300 keV
Authors: Lee Sung Bo , Han Heung Nam 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn this study, we examined the beam-irradiation effect on the structural evolution of the grain boundary (GB) in a Cu bicrystal at room temperature using a Cs-corrected, monochromated transmission electron microscope at an acceleration voltage of 300 keV. Faceting of the GB was observed at a low current density of the electron beam. With increasing current density, the GB became defaceted. The faceting–roughening transition was shown to be reversible, as the process was reversed upon decreasing the current density. The structural transition is explained by inelastic scattering effects by electron-beam irradiation.
Factors influencing the injury severity score and the probability of survival in patients who fell from height
Authors: Fujii Masashi , Shirakawa Tsutomu , Nakamura Mami , Baba Mineko , Hitosugi Masahito 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn Japan, falls from height result in the second highest trauma mortality rate after traffic motor vehicle collisions and the highest trauma-related mortality rate amongst young people. We aimed to identify factors that worsen injury severity and lower survival probability of patients who fell from height and to contribute to the improvement of their prehospital and in-hospital care. This retrospective analysis retrieved hospital records of 179 patients aged ≥ 15 years who were transported to our hospital after a fall from height during April 2014–March 2020. On multiple regression analysis, fall height ≥ 5 m more significantly resulted in higher the injury severity score. Logistic regression analysis revealed that fall height ≥ 5 m with the reference of 2–3 m significantly resulted in lower the survival probability with odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.10 (0.02–0.55). Using ‘feet-first’ as the reference body position, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of survival for those who impacted the surface on the lateral or dorsal regions were 0.11 (0.02–0.64) and 0.17 (0.03–0.99), respectively. Collecting information on the abovementioned factors at pre-hospitalisation may facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment. These results may help improve prehospital and in-hospital care, avoiding preventable trauma deaths.
Preclinical validation of a live attenuated dermotropic Leishmania vaccine against vector transmitted fatal visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Karmakar Subir , Ismail Nevien , Oliveira Fabiano , Oristian James , Zhang Wen Wei , Kaviraj Swarnendu , Singh Kamaleshwar P. , Mondal Abhishek , Das Sushmita , Pandey Krishna , Bhattacharya Parna , Volpedo Greta , Gannavaram Sreenivas , Satoskar Monika , Satoskar Sanika , Sastry Rajiv M. , Oljuskin Timur , Sepahpour Telly , Meneses Claudio , Hamano Shinjiro , Das Pradeep , Matlashewski Greg , Singh Sanjay , Kamhawi Shaden , Dey Ranadhir , Valenzuela Jesus G. , Satoskar Abhay , Nakhasi Hira L. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractVisceral Leishmaniasis (VL), a potentially fatal disease is caused by Leishmania donovani parasites with no vaccine available. Here we produced a dermotropic live attenuated centrin gene deleted Leishmania major (LmCen−/−) vaccine under Good Laboratory Practices and demonstrated that a single intradermal injection confers robust and durable protection against lethal VL transmitted naturally via bites of L. donovani-infected sand flies and prevents mortality. Surprisingly, immunogenicity characteristics of LmCen−/− parasites revealed activation of common immune pathways like L. major wild type parasites. Spleen cells from LmCen−/− immunized and L. donovani challenged hamsters produced significantly higher Th1-associated cytokines including IFN-γ, TNF-α, and reduced expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10, IL-21, compared to non-immunized challenged animals. PBMCs, isolated from healthy people from non-endemic region, upon LmCen−/− infection also induced more IFN-γ compared to IL-10, consistent with our immunogenicity data in LmCen−/− immunized hamsters. This study demonstrates that the LmCen−/− parasites are safe and efficacious against VL and is a strong candidate vaccine to be tested in a human clinical trial.
Multi-material direct ink writing of photocurable elastomeric foams
Authors: Yirmibesoglu Osman Dogan , Simonsen Leif Erik , Manson Robert , Davidson Joseph , Healy Katherine , Menguc Yigit , Wallin Thomas 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDevelopments in additive manufacturing have enabled the fabrication of soft machines that can safely interface with humans, creating new applications in soft robotics, wearable technologies, and haptics. However, designing custom inks for the 3D printing of soft materials with Young’s modulus less than 100 kPa remains a challenge due to highly coupled structure-property-process relationship in polymers. Here, we show a three-stage material chemistry process based on interpenetrating silicone double networks and ammonium bicarbonate particles that decouples the transient behavior during processing from the final properties of the material. Evaporation of ammonium bicarbonate particles at the final stage creates gaseous voids to produce foams with a low effective Young’s modulus in the 25 kPa −90 kPa range. Our photoirradiation-assisted direct ink writing system demonstrates the ability to maintain high resolution while enabling controlled loading of ammonium bicarbonate particles. The resultant multi-material possesses programmed porosity and related properties such as density, stiffness, Shore hardness, and ultimate strength in a monolithic object. Our multi-hardness synthetic hand and self-righting buoyant structure highlight these capabilities.
Summer and winter precipitation in East Asia scale with global warming at different rates
Authors: Liang Wengui , Zhang Minghua 
Published: July 2021

AbstractFuture changes of regional precipitation are of great scientific and societal interests. Large uncertainties still exist in their projections by models. Mechanistic understanding is therefore necessary. Here we demonstrate robust features of the percentage change of precipitation normalized to surface temperature change (%/K) under global warming, referred to as scaling of precipitation with temperature in East Asia. We find that land precipitation in the summer scales at ~3%/K, well below the scaling rate of the Clausius-Clapeyron relationship for atmospheric water vapor content, but the scaling in winter is comparable to the Clausius-Clapeyron scaling at ~7%/K. By using moisture budget analysis of model simulations, we show that this scaling and the seasonal contrast can be clearly attributed to the robust climate changes of steeping moisture gradient, weakening westerly jets, and increasing hydrological amplitude of atmospheric eddies.
Facile fabrication of flexible concave microlens arrays with a well-controlled curvature
Authors: Lv Guowei , Tian Hongmiao , Shao Jinyou , Feng Xuehong , Meng Lingjie , Ren Zijun , Yu Demei 
Published: July 2021

Flexible concave microlens arrays with a well-controlled curvature can be fabricated straightforwardly using a leaky dielectric via the electrowetting-on-dielectrics phenomenon for potential miniaturized and high-performance flexible optical micro-devices.
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 induces fibrin(ogen) resistant to fibrinolysis: implications for microclot formation in COVID-19
Authors: Grobbelaar Lize M. , Venter Chantelle , Vlok Mare , Ngoepe Malebogo , Laubscher Gert Jacobus , Lourens Petrus Johannes , Steenkamp Janami , Kell Douglas B. , Pretorius Etheresia 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2)-induced infection, the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is characterized by unprecedented clinical pathologies. One of the most important pathologies, is hypercoagulation and microclots in the lungs of patients. Here we study the effect of isolated SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 subunit as potential inflammagen sui generis. Using scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy as well as mass spectrometry, we investigate the potential of this inflammagen to interact with platelets and fibrin(ogen) directly to cause blood hypercoagulation. Using platelet-poor plasma (PPP), we show that spike protein may interfere with blood flow. Mass spectrometry also showed that when spike protein S1 is added to healthy PPP, it results in structural changes to β and γ fibrin(ogen), complement 3, and prothrombin. These proteins were substantially resistant to trypsinization, in the presence of spike protein S1. Here we suggest that, in part, the presence of spike protein in circulation may contribute to the hypercoagulation in COVID-19 positive patients and may cause substantial impairment of fibrinolysis. Such lytic impairment may result in the persistent large microclots we have noted here and previously in plasma samples of COVID-19 patients. This observation may have important clinical relevance in the treatment of hypercoagulability in COVID-19 patients.