bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulation of amyloid-β levels by matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP2/9) in the media of lung cancer cells
Authors: Dorandish Sadaf , Williams Asana , Atali Sarah , Sendo Sophia , Price Deanna , Thompson Colton , Guthrie Jeffrey , Heyl Deborah , Evans Hedeel Guy 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn this study, we set out to identify regulators of intact amyloid-β40/42 (Aβ) levels in A549 (p53 wild-type) and H1299 (p53-null) lung cancer cell media. Higher Aβ levels were detected in the media of A549 than H1299 cells without or with treatment with 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) and/or the anti-CD44 antibody (5F12). Using inhibitors, we found that PI3K, AKT, and NFκB are likely involved in regulating Aβ levels in the media. However, increased Aβ levels that more closely resembled those found upon 4-MU co-treatment resulted from MMP2/9 inhibition, suggesting that MMP2/9 maybe the main contributors to regulation of Aβ levels in the media. Differences in Aβ levels might be accounted for, in part, by p53 since blocking p53 function in A549 cells resulted in decreased Aβ levels, increased MMP2/9 levels, increased PI3K/AKT activities and the phospho/total NFκB ratio. Using siRNA targeted against MMP2 or MMP9, we found increased Aβ levels in the media, however, MMP2 knockdown led to Aβ levels closely mimicking those detected by co-treatment with 4-MU. Cell viability or apoptosis upon treatment with either MMP2 or MMP9 siRNA along with Aβ immunodepletion, showed that MMP2 is the predominant regulator of the cytotoxic effects induced by Aβ in lung cancer cells.
Promises and trust in human–robot interaction
Authors: Cominelli Lorenzo , Feri Francesco , Garofalo Roberto , Giannetti Caterina , Meléndez-Jiménez Miguel A. , Greco Alberto , Nardelli Mimma , Scilingo Enzo Pasquale , Kirchkamp Oliver 
Published: May 2021

AbstractUnderstanding human trust in machine partners has become imperative due to the widespread use of intelligent machines in a variety of applications and contexts. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether human-beings trust a social robot—i.e. a human-like robot that embodies emotional states, empathy, and non-verbal communication—differently than other types of agents. To do so, we adapt the well-known economic trust-game proposed by Charness and Dufwenberg (2006) to assess whether receiving a promise from a robot increases human-trust in it. We find that receiving a promise from the robot increases the trust of the human in it, but only for individuals who perceive the robot very similar to a human-being. Importantly, we observe a similar pattern in choices when we replace the humanoid counterpart with a real human but not when it is replaced by a computer-box. Additionally, we investigate participants’ psychophysiological reaction in terms of cardiovascular and electrodermal activity. Our results highlight an increased psychophysiological arousal when the game is played with the social robot compared to the computer-box. Taken all together, these results strongly support the development of technologies enhancing the humanity of robots.
Modeling of stringent-response reflects nutrient stress induced growth impairment and essential amino acids in different Staphylococcus aureus mutants
Authors: Audretsch Christof , Gratani Fabio , Wolz Christiane , Dandekar Thomas 
Published: May 2021

AbstractStapylococcus aureus colonises the nose of healthy individuals but can also cause a wide range of infections. Amino acid (AA) synthesis and their availability is crucial to adapt to conditions encountered in vivo. Most S. aureus genomes comprise all genes required for AA biosynthesis. Nevertheless, different strains require specific sets of AAs for growth. In this study we show that regulation inactivates pathways under certain conditions which result in these observed auxotrophies. We analyzed in vitro and modeled in silico in a Boolean semiquantitative model (195 nodes, 320 edges) the regulatory impact of stringent response (SR) on AA requirement in S. aureus HG001 (wild-type) and in mutant strains lacking the metabolic regulators RSH, CodY and CcpA, respectively. Growth in medium lacking single AAs was analyzed. Results correlated qualitatively to the in silico predictions of the final model in 92% and quantitatively in 81%. Remaining gaps in our knowledge are evaluated and discussed. This in silico model is made fully available and explains how integration of different inputs is achieved in SR and AA metabolism of S. aureus. The in vitro data and in silico modeling stress the role of SR and central regulators such as CodY for AA metabolisms in S. aureus.
Studies of the potential of a native natural biosorbent for the elimination of an anionic textile dye Cibacron Blue in aqueous solution
Authors: Grabi Hocine , Derridj Fazia , Lemlikchi Wahiba , Guénin Erwann 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis work is devoted to the adsorption of Cibacron Blue (CB) an anionic textile dye, on bean peel (BP) an agricultural waste with neither activation nor carbonization. The adsorption was realized in batch configuration at ambient temperature in acidic medium. The adsorbent was characterized by FTIR, SEM and BET analyses; the equilibrium isotherms and kinetics were also studied. It has been found that this waste could be used as a low-cost biosorbent for CB elimination under optimal working conditions. The rate of CB elimination reaches 95% on bean bark (3.6 g/L) at pH 2.2 and a reject concentration of 25 mg/L. The pseudo-second-order describes suitably the experimental data and the external diffusion is the rate-determining step. The Freundlich isotherm fits better the CB adsorption with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.94 and an RMSE = 1.5115. The negative enthalpy (ΔH) and free enthalpy (ΔG°) indicate a physical and spontaneous nature of the CB biosorption onto the biomaterial.
Rapid development of neutralizing and diagnostic SARS-COV-2 mouse monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Chapman Asheley P. , Tang Xiaoling , Lee Joo R. , Chida Asiya , Mercer Kristina , Wharton Rebekah E. , Kainulainen Markus , Harcourt Jennifer L. , Martines Roosecelis B. , Schroeder Michelle , Zhao Liangjun , Bryksin Anton , Zhou Bin , Bergeron Eric , Bollweg Brigid C. , Tamin Azaibi , Thornburg Natalie , Wentworth David E. , Petway David , Bagarozzi Dennis A. , Finn M. G. , Goldstein Jason M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe need for high-affinity, SARS-CoV-2-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is critical in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic, as such reagents can have important diagnostic, research, and therapeutic applications. Of greatest interest is the ~ 300 amino acid receptor binding domain (RBD) within the S1 subunit of the spike protein because of its key interaction with the human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor present on many cell types, especially lung epithelial cells. We report here the development and functional characterization of 29 nM-affinity mouse SARS-CoV-2 mAbs created by an accelerated immunization and hybridoma screening process. Differing functions, including binding of diverse protein epitopes, viral neutralization, impact on RBD-hACE2 binding, and immunohistochemical staining of infected lung tissue, were correlated with variable gene usage and sequence.
Osmotic stress-induced somatic embryo maturation of coffee Coffea arabica L., shoot and root apical meristems development and robustness
Authors: Valencia-Lozano Eliana , Ibarra Jorge E. , Herrera-Ubaldo Humberto , De Folter Stefan , Cabrera-Ponce José L. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSomatic embryogenesis (SE) is the most important plant biotechnology process for plant regeneration, propagation, genetic transformation and genome editing of coffee, Coffea arabica L. Somatic embryo (SEs) conversion to plantlets is the principal bottleneck for basic and applied use of this process. In this study we focus on the maturation of SEs of C. arabica var. Typica. SEs conversion to plantlet up to 95.9% was achieved under osmotic stress, using 9 g/L gelrite, as compared with only 39.34% in non-osmotic stress. Mature SEs induced in osmotic stress developed shoot and root apical meristems, while untreated SEs were unable to do it. C. arabica regenerated plants from osmotic stress were robust, with higher leaf and root area and internode length. To understand a possible regulatory mechanism, gene expression of key genes of C. arabica, homologous to sequences in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome, were analyzed. A set of two component system and cytokinin signaling-related coding genes (AHK1, AHK3, AHP4 and ARR1) which interact with WUSCHEL and WOX5 homedomains and morphogenic genes, BABY-BOOM, LEC1, FUS3 and AGL15, underwent significant changes during maturation of SEs of C. arabica var. Typica. This protocol is currently being applied in genetic transformation with high rate of success.
A biomimetic peptide has no effect on the isotopic fractionation during in vitro silica precipitation
Authors: Cassarino Lucie , Curnow Paul , Hendry Katharine R. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe stable isotopic composition of diatom silica is used as a proxy for nutrient utilisation in natural waters. This approach provides essential insight into the current and historic links between biological production, carbon cycling and climate. However, estimates of isotopic fractionation during diatom silica production from both laboratory and field studies are variable, and the biochemical pathways responsible remain unknown. Here, we investigate silicon isotopic fractionation through a series of chemical precipitation experiments that are analogous to the first stages of intracellular silica formation within the diatom silicon deposition vesicle. The novelty of our experiment is the inclusion of the R5 peptide, which is closely related to a natural biomolecule known to play a role in diatom silicification. Our results suggest that the presence of R5 induces a systematic but non-significant difference in fractionation behaviour. It thus appears that silicon isotopic fractionation in vitro is largely driven by an early kinetic fractionation during rapid precipitation that correlates with the initial amount of dissolved silica in the system. Our findings raise the question of how environmental changes might impact silicon isotopic fractionation in diatoms, and whether frustule archives record information in addition to silica consumption in surface water.
Clinical characteristics of tumor lysis syndrome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Xue Yao , Chen Jing , Gao Siyuan , Zhai Xiaowen , Wang Ningling , Gao Ju , Lv Yu , Yin Mengmeng , Zhuang Yong , Zhang Hui , Zhu Xiaofan , Wu Xuedong , Li Chi Kong , Hu Shaoyan , Liang Changda , Jin Runming , Jiang Hui , Yang Minghua , Sun Lirong , Pan Kaili , Cai Jiaoyang , Tang Jingyan , Guan Xianmin , Fang Yongjun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a common and fatal complication of childhood hematologic malignancies, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The clinical features, therapeutic regimens, and outcomes of TLS have not been comprehensively analyzed in Chinese children with ALL. A total of 5537 children with ALL were recruited from the Chinese Children’s Cancer Group, including 79 diagnosed with TLS. The clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, and survival of TLS patients were analyzed. Age distribution of children with TLS was remarkably different from those without TLS. White blood cells (WBC) count ≥ 50 × 109/L was associated with a higher risk of TLS [odds ratio (OR) = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.6–4.5]. The incidence of T-ALL in TLS children was significantly higher than that in non-TLS controls (OR = 4.7, 95% CI = 2.6–8.8). Hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia were more common in TLS children with hyperleukocytosis (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.0–6.9 and OR = 5.4, 95% CI = 2.0–14.2, respectively). Significant differences in levels of potassium (P = 0.004), calcium (P < 0.001), phosphorus (P < 0.001) and uric acid (P < 0.001) were observed between groups of TLS patients with and without increased creatinine. Laboratory analysis showed that older age was associated with a higher level of creatinine. Calcium level was notably lower in males. WBC count, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatinine levels were significantly higher in T-ALL subgroup, whereas procalcitonin level was higher in B-ALL children. Older age, infant, a higher level of WBC and T-ALL were risk factors TLS occurrence. Hyperleukocytosis has an impact on the severity of TLS, while renal injury may be an important feature in the process of TLS.
Macrophage potentiates the recovery of liver zonation and metabolic function after acute liver injury
Authors: Miura Atsushi , Hosono Takashi , Seki Taiichiro 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe liver is an exclusive organ with tremendous regenerative capacity. Liver metabolic functions exhibit spatial heterogeneity, reflecting liver zonation. The mechanisms controlling the proliferation of hepatocytes and the accompanying matrix reconstruction during regeneration have been well explored, but the recovery potential of differentiated metabolic functions and zonation after liver injury remains unclear. We employed a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced-acute liver injury with clodronate-induced macrophage depletion to clarify the impact of liver injury on liver metabolism and recovery dynamics of metabolic function and liver zonation during regeneration. Depleting macrophages suppressed tissue remodelling and partially delayed cell proliferation during regeneration after liver injury. In addition, recovery of metabolic functions was delayed by suppressing the tissue remodelling caused by the depleted macrophages. The model revealed that drug metabolic function was resilient against the dysfunction caused by liver injury, but glutamine synthesis was not. Metabolomic analysis revealed that liver branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) and carbohydrate metabolism were suppressed by injury. The plasma BCAA concentration reflected recovery of hepatic function during regeneration. Our study reveals one aspect of the regenerative machinery for hepatic metabolism following acute liver injury.
Clear phylogeographic pattern and genetic structure of wild boar Sus scrofa population in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Niedziałkowska Magdalena , Tarnowska Ewa , Ligmanowska Joanna , Jędrzejewska Bogumiła , Podgórski Tomasz , Radziszewska Anna , Ratajczyk Iwona , Kusza Szilvia , Bunevich Aleksei N. , Danila Gabriel , Shkvyria Maryna , Grzybowski Tomasz , Woźniak Marcin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe wild boar Sus scrofa is one of the widely spread ungulate species in Europe, yet the origin and genetic structure of the population inhabiting Central and Eastern Europe are not well recognized. We analysed 101 newly obtained sequences of complete mtDNA genomes and 548 D-loop sequences of the species and combined them with previously published data. We identified five phylogenetic clades in Europe with clear phylogeographic pattern. Two of them occurred mainly in western and central part of the continent, while the range of the third clade covered North-Eastern, Central and South-Eastern Europe. The two other clades had rather restricted distribution. In Central Europe, we identified a contact zone of three mtDNA clades. Population genetic structure reflected clear phylogeographic pattern of wild boar in this part of Europe. The contribution of lineages originating from the southern (Dinaric-Balkan) and eastern (northern cost of the Black Sea) areas to the observed phylogeographic pattern of the species in Central and Eastern Europe was larger than those from the regions located in southern France, Iberian, and Italian Peninsulas. The present work was the first mitogenomic analysis conducted in Central and Eastern Europe to study genetic diversity and structure of wild boar population.
Highly specific and ultrasensitive plasma test detects Abeta(1–42) and Abeta(1–40) in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Thijssen Elisabeth H. , Verberk Inge M. W. , Vanbrabant Jeroen , Koelewijn Anne , Heijst Hans , Scheltens Philip , van der Flier Wiesje , Vanderstichele Hugo , Stoops Erik , Teunissen Charlotte E. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPlasma biomarkers that reflect specific amyloid beta (Abeta) proteoforms provide an insight in the treatment effects of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapies. Our aim was to develop and validate ready-to-use Simoa ‘Amyblood’ assays that measure full length Abeta1-42 and Abeta1-40 and compare their performance with two commercial assays. Linearity, intra- and inter-assay %CV were compared between Amyblood, Quanterix Simoa triplex, and Euroimmun ELISA. Sensitivity and selectivity were assessed for Amyblood and the Quanterix triplex. Clinical performance was assessed in CSF biomarker confirmed AD (n = 43, 68 ± 6 years) and controls (n = 42, 62 ± 5 years). Prototype and Amyblood showed similar calibrator curves and differentiation (20 AD vs 20 controls, p < 0.001). Amyblood, Quanterix triplex, and ELISA showed similar linearity (96%-122%) and intra-assay %CVs (≤ 3.1%). A minor non-specific signal was measured with Amyblood of + 2.4 pg/mL Abeta1-42 when incubated with 60 pg/mL Abeta1-40. A substantial non-specific signal of + 24.7 pg/mL Abetax-42 was obtained when 40 pg/mL Abeta3-42 was measured with the Quanterix triplex. Selectivity for Abeta1-42 at physiological Abeta1-42 and Abeta1-40 concentrations was 125% for Amyblood and 163% for Quanterix. Amyblood and Quanterix ratios (p < 0.001) and ELISA Abeta1-42 concentration (p = 0.025) could differentiate AD from controls. We successfully developed and upscaled a prototype to the Amyblood assays with similar technical and clinical performance as the Quanterix triplex and ELISA, but better specificity and selectivity than the Quanterix triplex assay. These results suggest leverage of this specific assay for monitoring treatment response in trials.
Early detection of language categories in face perception
Authors: Baus Cristina , Ruiz-Tada Elisa , Escera Carles , Costa Albert 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDoes language categorization influence face identification? The present study addressed this question by means of two experiments. First, to establish language categorization of faces, the memory confusion paradigm was used to create two language categories of faces, Spanish and English. Subsequently, participants underwent an oddball paradigm, in which faces that had been previously paired with one of the two languages (Spanish or English), were presented. We measured EEG perceptual differences (vMMN) between standard and two types of deviant faces: within-language category (faces sharing language with standards) or between-language category (faces paired with the other language). Participants were more likely to confuse faces within the language category than between categories, an index that faces were categorized by language. At the neural level, early vMMN were obtained for between-language category faces, but not for within-language category faces. At a later stage, however, larger vMMNs were obtained for those faces from the same language category. Our results showed that language is a relevant social cue that individuals used to categorize others and this categorization subsequently affects face perception.
A new strategy to map landslides with a generalized convolutional neural network
Authors: Prakash Nikhil , Manconi Andrea , Loew Simon 
Published: May 2021

AbstractRapid mapping of event landslides is crucial to identify the areas affected by damages as well as for effective disaster response. Traditionally, such maps are generated with visual interpretation of remote sensing imagery (manned/unmanned airborne systems or spaceborne sensors) and/or using pixel-based and object-based methods exploiting data-intensive machine learning algorithms. Recent works have explored the use of convolutional neural networks (CNN), a deep learning algorithm, for mapping landslides from remote sensing data. These methods follow a standard supervised learning workflow that involves training a model using a landslide inventory covering a relatively small area. The trained model is then used to predict landslides in the surrounding regions. Here, we propose a new strategy, i.e., a progressive CNN training relying on combined inventories to build a generalized model that can be applied directly to a new, unexplored area. We first prove the effectiveness of CNNs by training and validating on event landslides inventories in four regions after earthquakes and/or extreme meteorological events. Next, we use the trained CNNs to map landslides triggered by new events spread across different geographic regions. We found that CNNs trained on a combination of inventories have a better generalization performance, with a bias towards high precision and low recall scores. In our tests, the combined training model achieved the highest (Matthews correlation coefficient) MCC score of 0.69 when mapping landslides in new unseen regions. The mapping was done on images from different optical sensors, resampled to a spatial resolution of 6 m, 10 m, and 30 m. Despite a slightly reduced performance, the main advantage of combined training is to overcome the requirement of a local inventory for training a new deep learning model. This implementation can facilitate automated pipelines providing fast response for the generation of landslide maps in the post-disaster phase. In this study, the study areas were selected from seismically active zones with a high hydrological hazard distribution and vegetation coverage. Hence, future works should also include regions from less vegetated geographic locations.
Fermi blockade of the strong electron–phonon interaction in modelled optimally doped high temperature superconductors
Authors: Mishchenko Andrey S. , Tupitsyn Igor S. , Nagaosa Naoto , Prokof’ev Nikolay 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe study how manifestations of strong electron–phonon interaction depend on the carrier concentration by solving the two-dimensional Holstein model for the spin-polarized fermions using an approximation free bold-line diagrammatic Monte Carlo method. We show that the strong electron–phonon interaction, obviously present at very small Fermion concentration, is masked by the Fermi blockade effects and Migdal’s theorem to the extent that it manifests itself as moderate one at large carriers densities. Suppression of strong electron–phonon interaction fingerprints is in agreement with experimental observations in doped high temperature superconductors.
Dynamic miRNA changes during the process of epileptogenesis in an infantile and adult-onset model
Authors: Bencurova Petra , Baloun Jiri , Hynst Jakub , Oppelt Jan , Kubova Hana , Pospisilova Sarka , Brazdil Milan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTemporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common epilepsy type. TLE onset in infancy aggravates features like severity, drug responsiveness, or development of comorbidities. These aggravations may arise from altered micro RNA (miRNA) expression specific to the early onset of the disease. Although the miRNA involvement in TLE is widely studied, the relationship between the onset-age and miRNA expression has not been addressed. Here, we investigated the miRNA profile of infantile and adult-onset TLE in rats combining sequencing and PCR. Since miRNA expression changes with the disease progression, we scrutinized miRNA dynamics across three stages: acute, latent, and chronic. We report that infantile-onset TLE leads to changes in the expression of fewer miRNAs across these stages. Interestingly, the miRNA profile in the acute stage of infantile-onset TLE overlaps in dysregulation of miR-132-5p, -205, and -211-3p with the chronic stage of the disease starting in adulthood. The analysis of putative targets linked the majority of dysregulated miRNAs with pathways involved in epilepsy. Our profiling uncovered miRNA expression characteristic for infantile and adulthood-onset epileptogenesis, suggesting the distinct biology underlying TLE in the onset age-dependent matter. Our results indicate the necessity of addressing the onset age as an important parameter in future epilepsy research.