bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bcl-xL acts as an inhibitor of IP3R channels, thereby antagonizing Ca2+-driven apoptosis
Authors: Rosa Nicolas , Ivanova Hristina , Wagner Larry E. , Kale Justin , La Rovere Rita , Welkenhuyzen Kirsten , Louros Nikolaos , Karamanou Spyridoula , Shabardina Victoria , Lemmens Irma , Vandermarliere Elien , Hamada Kozo , Ando Hideaki , Rousseau Frederic , Schymkowitz Joost , Tavernier Jan , Mikoshiba Katsuhiko , Economou Anastassios , Andrews David W. , Parys Jan B. , Yule David I. , Bultynck Geert 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAnti-apoptotic Bcl-2-family members not only act at mitochondria but also at the endoplasmic reticulum, where they impact Ca2+ dynamics by controlling IP3 receptor (IP3R) function. Current models propose distinct roles for Bcl-2 vs. Bcl-xL, with Bcl-2 inhibiting IP3Rs and preventing pro-apoptotic Ca2+ release and Bcl-xL sensitizing IP3Rs to low [IP3] and promoting pro-survival Ca2+ oscillations. We here demonstrate that Bcl-xL too inhibits IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release by interacting with the same IP3R regions as Bcl-2. Via in silico superposition, we previously found that the residue K87 of Bcl-xL spatially resembled K17 of Bcl-2, a residue critical for Bcl-2’s IP3R-inhibitory properties. Mutagenesis of K87 in Bcl-xL impaired its binding to IP3R and abrogated Bcl-xL’s inhibitory effect on IP3Rs. Single-channel recordings demonstrate that purified Bcl-xL, but not Bcl-xLK87D, suppressed IP3R single-channel openings stimulated by sub-maximal and threshold [IP3]. Moreover, we demonstrate that Bcl-xL-mediated inhibition of IP3Rs contributes to its anti-apoptotic properties against Ca2+-driven apoptosis. Staurosporine (STS) elicits long-lasting Ca2+ elevations in wild-type but not in IP3R-knockout HeLa cells, sensitizing the former to STS treatment. Overexpression of Bcl-xL in wild-type HeLa cells suppressed STS-induced Ca2+ signals and cell death, while Bcl-xLK87D was much less effective in doing so. In the absence of IP3Rs, Bcl-xL and Bcl-xLK87D were equally effective in suppressing STS-induced cell death. Finally, we demonstrate that endogenous Bcl-xL also suppress IP3R activity in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, whereby Bcl-xL knockdown augmented IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release and increased the sensitivity towards STS, without altering the ER Ca2+ content. Hence, this study challenges the current paradigm of divergent functions for Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in Ca2+-signaling modulation and reveals that, similarly to Bcl-2, Bcl-xL inhibits IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release and IP3R-driven cell death. Our work further underpins that IP3R inhibition is an integral part of Bcl-xL’s anti-apoptotic function.
CD5L deficiency attenuate acetaminophen-induced liver damage in mice via regulation of JNK and ERK signaling pathway
Authors: Li Mengjing , Ling Tao , Teng Fengmeng , Hu Chao , Su Zhongping , Zhang Chen , Li Xiang , Zhao Ting , Mu Xianmin , Li Yingchang , Pan Jinshun , You Qiang 
Published: November 2021

AbstractCD5 molecule like (CD5L), a member of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain superfamily, plays a critical role in immune homeostasis and inflammatory disease. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a safe and effective antipyretic analgesic. However, overdose may cause liver damage or even liver failure. APAP hepatotoxicity is characterized by extensive necrotic cell death and a sterile inflammatory response, in which the role of CD5L remains to be investigated. In this study, we found that the expression of CD5L was increased in the livers of mice after APAP overdose. Furthermore, CD5L deficiency reduced the increase of alanine transaminase (ALT) level, histopathologic lesion area, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation level, Transferase-Mediated dUTP Nick End-Labeling positive (TUNEL+) cells proportion, vascular endothelial cell permeability and release of inflammatory cytokines induced by excess APAP. Therefore, our findings reveal that CD5L may be a potential therapeutic target for prevention and treatment of APAP-induced liver injury.
Glass transition temperature prediction of disordered molecular solids
Authors: Lin Kun-Han , Paterson Leanne , May Falk , Andrienko Denis 
Published: November 2021

AbstractGlass transition temperature, Tg, is the key quantity for assessing morphological stability and molecular ordering of films of organic semiconductors. A reliable prediction of Tg from the chemical structure is, however, challenging, as it is sensitive to both molecular interactions and analysis of the heating or cooling process. By combining a fitting protocol with an automated workflow for forcefield parameterization, we predict Tg with a mean absolute error of ~20 °C for a set of organic compounds with Tg in the 50–230 °C range. Our study establishes a reliable and automated prescreening procedure for the design of amorphous organic semiconductors, essential for the optimization and development of organic light-emitting diodes.
Electron–plasmon and electron–magnon scattering in ferromagnets from first principles by combining GW and GT self-energies
Authors: Nabok Dmitrii , Blügel Stefan , Friedrich Christoph 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis work combines two powerful self-energy techniques: the well-known GW method and a self-energy recently developed by us that describes renormalization effects caused by the scattering of electrons with magnons and Stoner excitations. This GT self-energy, which is fully k-dependent and contains infinitely many spin-flip ladder diagrams, was shown to have a profound impact on the electronic band structure of Fe, Co, and Ni. In the present work, we refine the method by combining GT with the GW self-energy. The resulting GWT spectral functions exhibit strong lifetime effects and emergent dispersion anomalies. They are in an overall better agreement with experimental spectra than those obtained with GW or GT alone, even showing partial improvements over local-spin-density approximation dynamical mean-field theory. The performed analysis provides a basis for applying the GWT technique to a wider class of magnetic materials.
Development of molecular clamp stabilized hemagglutinin vaccines for Influenza A viruses
Authors: McMillan Christopher L. D. , Cheung Stacey T. M. , Modhiran Naphak , Barnes James , Amarilla Alberto A. , Bielefeldt-Ohmann Helle , Lee Leo Yi Yang , Guilfoyle Kate , van Amerongen Geert , Stittelaar Koert , Jakob Virginie , Lebas Celia , Reading Patrick , Short Kirsty R. , Young Paul R. , Watterson Daniel , Chappell Keith J. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractInfluenza viruses cause a significant number of infections and deaths annually. In addition to seasonal infections, the risk of an influenza virus pandemic emerging is extremely high owing to the large reservoir of diverse influenza viruses found in animals and the co-circulation of many influenza subtypes which can reassort into novel strains. Development of a universal influenza vaccine has proven extremely challenging. In the absence of such a vaccine, rapid response technologies provide the best potential to counter a novel influenza outbreak. Here, we demonstrate that a modular trimerization domain known as the molecular clamp allows the efficient production and purification of conformationally stabilised prefusion hemagglutinin (HA) from a diverse range of influenza A subtypes. These clamp-stabilised HA proteins provided robust protection from homologous virus challenge in mouse and ferret models and some cross protection against heterologous virus challenge. This work provides a proof-of-concept for clamp-stabilised HA vaccines as a tool for rapid response vaccine development against future influenza A virus pandemics.
Pd immobilization biguanidine modified Zr-UiO-66 MOF as a reusable heterogeneous catalyst in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling
Authors: Veisi Hojat , Abrifam Mozhdeh , Kamangar Sheida Ahany , Pirhayati Mozhgan , Saremi Shokoufeh Ghahri , Noroozi Mohammad , Tamoradi Taiebeh , Karmakar Bikash 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn recent days, nanohybrid metal organic frameworks (MOF) have been considered as next generation catalysts due to their unique features like large surface to volume ratio, tailorable geometry, uniform pore sizes and homogeneous distribution of active sites. In this report, we address the biguanidine modified 3D Zr-centred MOF UiO-66-NH2 following a post synthetic modification approach. Utilizing the excellent chelating ability of biguanidine, Pd ions are immobilized over the host matrix MOF. The as-synthesized material was physicochemically characterized using a broad range of analytical techniques like FT-IR, electron microscopy, EDS, elemental mapping, XRD and ICP-OES. Subsequently the material has been catalytically employed in the classical Suzuki–Miyaura coupling towards the synthesis of diverse biphenyl derivatives at sustainable conditions. There are very few reports on the covalently modified MOFs towards the organic coupling reactions. The catalyst has been isolated by centrifugation and recycled in 9 consecutive runs with almost insignificant leaching and minute decrease in reactivity.
Effects of mobility restrictions during COVID19 in Italy
Authors: Smolyak Alex , Bonaccorsi Giovanni , Flori Andrea , Pammolli Fabio , Havlin Shlomo 
Published: November 2021

AbstractTo reduce the spread and the effect of the COVID-19 global pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions have been adopted on multiple occasions by governments. In particular lockdown policies, i.e., generalized mobility restrictions, have been employed to fight the first wave of the pandemic. We analyze data reflecting mobility levels over time in Italy before, during and after the national lockdown, in order to assess some direct and indirect effects. By applying methodologies based on percolation and network science approaches, we find that the typical network characteristics, while very revealing, do not tell the whole story. In particular, the Italian mobility network during lockdown has been damaged much more than node- and edge-level metrics indicate. Additionally, many of the main Provinces of Italy are affected by the lockdown in a surprisingly similar fashion, despite their geographical and economic dissimilarity. Based on our findings we offer an approach to estimate unavailable high-resolution economic dimensions, such as real time Province-level GDP, based on easily measurable mobility information.
Brescia-COVID Respiratory Severity Scale (BRCSS) and Quick SOFA (qSOFA) score are most useful in showing severity in COVID-19 patients
Authors: San Ishak , Gemcioglu Emin , Baser Salih , Yilmaz Cakmak Nuray , Erden Abdulsamet , Izdes Seval , Catalbas Ramis , Davutoglu Mehmet , Karabuga Berkan , Ates Ihsan 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this study, we compare the predictive value of clinical scoring systems that are already in use in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including the Brescia-COVID Respiratory Severity Scale (BCRSS), Quick SOFA (qSOFA), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), Multilobular infiltration, hypo-Lymphocytosis, Bacterial coinfection, Smoking history, hyper-Tension, and Age (MuLBSTA) and scoring system for reactive hemophagocytic syndrome (HScore), for determining the severity of the disease. Our aim in this study is to determine which scoring system is most useful in determining disease severity and to guide clinicians. We classified the patients into two groups according to the stage of the disease (severe and non-severe) and adopted interim guidance of the World Health Organization. Severe cases were divided into a group of surviving patients and a deceased group according to the prognosis. According to admission values, the BCRSS, qSOFA, SOFA, MuLBSTA, and HScore were evaluated at admission using the worst parameters available in the first 24 h. Of the 417 patients included in our study, 46 (11%) were in the severe group, while 371 (89%) were in the non-severe group. Of these 417 patients, 230 (55.2%) were men. The median (IQR) age of all patients was 44 (25) years. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, BRCSS in the highest tertile (HR 6.1, 95% CI 2.105–17.674, p = 0.001) was determined as an independent predictor of severe disease in cases of COVID-19. In multivariate analyses, qSOFA was also found to be an independent predictor of severe COVID-19 (HR 4.757, 95% CI 1.438–15.730, p = 0.011). The area under the curve (AUC) of the BRCSS, qSOFA, SOFA, MuLBSTA, and HScore was 0.977, 0.961, 0.958, 0.860, and 0.698, respectively. Calculation of the BRCSS and qSOFA at the time of hospital admission can predict critical clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19, and their predictive value is superior to that of HScore, MuLBSTA, and SOFA. Our prediction is that early interventions for high-risk patients, with early identification of high-risk group using BRCSS and qSOFA, may improve clinical outcomes in COVID-19.
Fully-automated atrophy segmentation in dry age-related macular degeneration in optical coherence tomography
Authors: Derradji Yasmine , Mosinska Agata , Apostolopoulos Stefanos , Ciller Carlos , De Zanet Sandro , Mantel Irmela 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive retinal disease, causing vision loss. A more detailed characterization of its atrophic form became possible thanks to the introduction of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). However, manual atrophy quantification in 3D retinal scans is a tedious task and prevents taking full advantage of the accurate retina depiction. In this study we developed a fully automated algorithm segmenting Retinal Pigment Epithelial and Outer Retinal Atrophy (RORA) in dry AMD on macular OCT. 62 SD-OCT scans from eyes with atrophic AMD (57 patients) were collected and split into train and test sets. The training set was used to develop a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The performance of the algorithm was established by cross validation and comparison to the test set with ground-truth annotated by two graders. Additionally, the effect of using retinal layer segmentation during training was investigated. The algorithm achieved mean Dice scores of 0.881 and 0.844, sensitivity of 0.850 and 0.915 and precision of 0.928 and 0.799 in comparison with Expert 1 and Expert 2, respectively. Using retinal layer segmentation improved the model performance. The proposed model identified RORA with performance matching human experts. It has a potential to rapidly identify atrophy with high consistency.
The influence of IONPs core size on their biocompatibility and activity in in vitro cellular models
Authors: Janik-Olchawa Natalia , Drozdz Agnieszka , Ryszawy Damian , Pudelek Maciej , Planeta Karolina , Setkowicz Zuzanna , Sniegocki Maciej , Wytrwal-Sarna Magdalena , Gajewska Marta , Chwiej Joanna 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAlthough the key factor affecting the biocompatibility of IONPs is the core size, there is a lack of regular investigation concerning the impact of the parameter on the toxicity of these nanomaterials. Therefore, such studies were carried out in this paper. Their purpose was to compare the influence of PEG-coated-magnetite NPs with the core of 5, 10 and 30 nm on six carefully selected cell lines. The proliferation rate, viability, metabolic activity, migration activity, ROS levels and cytoskeleton architecture of cells have been evaluated for specified incubation periods. These were 24 and 72-h long incubations with IONPs administered in two doses: 5 and 25 µg Fe/ml. A decrease in viability was observed after exposure to the tested NPs for all the analyzed cell lines. This effect was not connected with core diameter but depended on the exposure time to the nanomaterials. IONPs increased not only the proliferation rate of macrophages—being phagocytic cells—but also, under certain conditions stimulated tumor cell divisions. Most likely, the increase in proliferation rate of macrophages contributed to the changes in the architecture of their cytoskeleton. The growth in the level of ROS in cells had been induced mainly by the smallest NPs. This effect was observed for HEK293T cells and two cancerous lines: U87MG (at both doses tested) and T98G (only for the higher dose). This requires further study concerning both potential toxicity of such IONPs to the kidneys and assessing their therapeutic potential in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.
Faecal microbiota transplantation from patients with depression or healthy individuals into rats modulates mood-related behaviour
Authors: Knudsen Julie Kristine , Michaelsen Thomas Yssing , Bundgaard-Nielsen Caspar , Nielsen René Ernst , Hjerrild Simon , Leutscher Peter , Wegener Gregers , Sørensen Suzette 
Published: November 2021

AbstractDifferences in gut microbiota composition have been observed in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to healthy individuals. Here, we investigated if faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from patients with MDD into rats could induce a depressive-like phenotype. We performed FMT from patients with MDD (FMT-MDD) and healthy individuals (FMT-Healthy) into male Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) and Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats and assessed depressive-like behaviour. No behavioural differences were observed in the FSL rats. In FRL rats, the FMT-Healthy group displayed significantly less depressive-like behaviour than the FMT-MDD group. However, there was no difference in behaviour between FMT-MDD FRL rats and negative controls, indicating that FMT-Healthy FRL rats received beneficial bacteria. We additionally found different taxa between the FMT-MDD and the FMT-Healthy FRL rats, which could be traced to the donors. Four taxa, three belonging to the family Ruminococcaceaeand the genus Lachnospira, were significantly elevated in relative abundance in FMT-MDD rats, while the genus Coprococcuswas depleted. In this study, the FMT-MDD group was different from the FMT-Healthy group based on behaviour and intestinal taxa.
Superfluid density, Josephson relation and pairing fluctuations in a multi-component fermion superfluid
Authors: Zhang Yi-Cai 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this work, a Josephson relation is generalized to a multi-component fermion superfluid. Superfluid density is expressed through a two-particle Green function for pairing states. When the system has only one gapless collective excitation mode, the Josephson relation is simplified, which is given in terms of the superfluid order parameters and the trace of two-particle normal Green function. In addition, it is found that the matrix elements of two-particle Green function is directly related to the matrix elements of the pairing fluctuations of superfluid order parameters. Furthermore, in the presence of inversion symmetry, the superfluid density is given in terms of the pairing fluctuation matrix. The results of the superfluid density in Haldane model show that the generalized Josephson relation can be also applied to a multi-band fermion superfluid in lattice.
The effects of bathing in neutral bicarbonate ion water
Authors: Yamazaki Tomoe , Ushikoshi-Nakayama Ryoko , Shakya Supriya , Omagari Daisuke , Matsumoto Naoyuki , Nukuzuma Chiyoko , Komatsu Tomoko , Lee Masaichi Chang-il , Inoue Hiroko , Saito Ichiro 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPercutaneously absorbed carbon dioxide enhances blood flow. The mechanism by which it does so is unclear, but we hypothesized that it involves bicarbonate ions. BALB/c mice were bathed in neutral bicarbonate ionized water (NBIW) and showed increased blood bicarbonate levels and blood flow via phosphorylation of peripheral vascular endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and production of nitric oxide (NO). Phosphorylation of eNOS and NO production were also increased in human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured in medium containing NBIW, and NBIW showed reactive oxygen species scavenging activity. In a double-blind, randomized study in men and women aged 30 to 59 years with subjective cold intolerance, bathing in NBIW elevated body temperature faster than bathing in a control solution and improved chills and sleep quality. Taken together, our results show that percutaneously absorbed carbon dioxide changes to bicarbonate ions, which act directly on endothelial cells to increase NO production by phosphorylation of eNOS and thus improve blood flow.
Microwave power penetration enhancement inside an inhomogeneous human head
Authors: Rokunuzzaman Md. , Ahmed Asif , Baum Thomas , Rowe Wayne S. T. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe penetration of microwave power inside a human head model is improved by employing a dielectric loaded rectangular waveguide as the transmission source. A multi-layer reflection model is investigated to evaluate the combined material characteristics of different lossy human head tissues at 2.45 GHz. A waveguide loaded with a calculated permittivity of 3.62 is shown to maximise the microwave power penetration at the desired frequency. A Quartz (SiO2) loaded rectangular waveguide fed by a microstrip antenna is designed to validate the power penetration improvement inside an inhomogeneous human head phantom. A measured 1.33 dB power penetration increment is observed for the dielectric loaded waveguide over a standard rectangular waveguide at 50 mm inside the head, with an 81.9% reduction in the size of the transmission source.
Frequency and patterns of exposure to live poultry and the potential risk of avian influenza transmission to humans in urban Bangladesh
Authors: Berry Isha , Rahman Mahbubur , Flora Meerjady Sabrina , Greer Amy L. , Morris Shaun K. , Khan Iqbal Ansary , Sarkar Sudipta , Naureen Tanzila , Fisman David N. , Mangtani Punam 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAvian influenza is endemic in Bangladesh, where greater than 90% of poultry are marketed through live poultry markets (LPMs). We conducted a population-based cross-sectional mobile telephone survey in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh to investigate the frequency and patterns of human exposure to live poultry in LPMs and at home. Among 1047 urban residents surveyed, 74.2% (95% CI 70.9–77.2) reported exposure to live poultry in the past year, with the majority of exposure occurring on a weekly basis. While visiting LPMs was less common amongst females (40.3%, 95% CI 35.0–45.8) than males (58.9%, 95% CI 54.0–63.5), females reported greater poultry exposure through food preparation, including defeathering (13.2%, 95% CI 9.5–17.9) and eviscerating (14.8%, 95% CI 11.2–19.4) (p < 0.001). A large proportion of the urban population is frequently exposed to live poultry in a setting where avian influenza viruses are endemic in LPMs. There is thus not only ample opportunity for spillover of avian influenza infections into humans in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but also greater potential for viral reassortment which could generate novel strains with pandemic potential.