bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fortifying of probiotic yogurt with free and microencapsulated extract of Tragopogon Collinus and its effect on the viability of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum
Authors: Maleki Mohammad , Ariaii Peiman , Sharifi Soltani Mahdi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn this study, the effect of free and microencapsulation of Tragopogon Collins extract (TPE) on the properties of probiotic yogurt was investigated. For this purpose, first, TPE was extracted by ultrasound method. The amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in TPE were 890.04 mg/g gallic acid and 512.76 mg/g extract (respectively), and it had high antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Then, the extract was encapsulated by maltodextrin–whey protein concentrate. The results related to the particle size, zeta‐potential, and microencapsulation efficiency of the TPE microencapsulation were 93.87 nm, 18.99 MV, and 64.35% respectively. In order to investigate the effect of nano‐ and free TPE on the properties of yogurt during a 15‐day storage period of 5 treatments including control, nano‐ and free TPE at 750 and 1,000 ppm were provided and the physicochemical properties, probiotic bacteria viability, and sensory properties were investigated. The results showed that adding TPE to yogurt affects the physicochemical properties, probiotic bacterial viability, and sensory properties were investigated. The results showed that adding TPE to yogurt affects the physicochemical properties. TPE samples had lower pH, less syneresis, and more acidity, viscosity, and antioxidant properties compared to the control sample (p < .05). Furthermore, in these samples, the viability of probiotic bacteria during storage was higher than the control treatment and the sensory properties were acceptable. In most cases, better results were observed in nano‐TPE treatment. Therefore, by industrial production of probiotic yogurt containing nano‐TPE as a functional food, a new choice will be provided for consumers of dairy products that would have more desirable nutritional value and sensory properties.
Impact of Obeticholic acid Exposure on Decompensation and Mortality in Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Cirrhosis
Authors: John Binu V. , Schwartz Kaley , Levy Cynthia , Dahman Bassam , Deng Yangyang , Martin Paul , Taddei Tamar H. , Kaplan David E. 
Published: May 2021

Obeticholic acid (OCA) is approved for the treatment of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) who are partial responders or intolerant to ursodeoxycholic acid. Reports of serious liver injury have raised concerns about its safety in cirrhosis. We investigated the effects of treatment with OCA on hepatic decompensation and liver‐related mortality or transplantation in a cohort with compensated PBC cirrhosis. This was a retrospective cohort study using national data of US veterans with PBC and cirrhosis. We performed a propensity score model using variables associated with OCA prescription to control for baseline risk of decompensation. New OCA users were matched to nonusers. We identified 509 subjects with compensated PBC cirrhosis. We developed a propensity score model using variables associated with OCA prescription; 21 OCA users were matched with 84 nonusers. Over 569 and 3,847 person‐months, respectively, of follow‐up, 5 (23.8%) OCA users and 22 (26.2%) OCA nonusers decompensated. The C‐statistic of the propensity score model was 0.87. On multivariable analysis, after adjusting for potential confounders, OCA use was associated with an increased risk of hepatic decompensation (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.33‐11.57; P = 0.01). There was no association between OCA use and liver‐related mortality or transplantation (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.35‐5.21; P = 0.66). Conclusion: OCA use was associated with an increase in hepatic decompensation but not liver‐related mortality or transplantation in patients with compensated PBC cirrhosis. Additional studies are recommended to prospectively investigate these findings.
Expression of OPN3 in acral lentiginous melanoma and its associated with clinicohistopathologic features and prognosis
Authors: Zeng Wen , Zhang Wei , Feng Jianglong , He Xiaoyan , Lu Hongguang 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundOPN3 upregulation associated with metastasis was recently described in two subtypes of lung cancers. And OPN3 identified in light‐independent functions in epidermal melanocytes has already shown promise. However, in malignant melanocytic tissues, the expression and characterization of OPN3 remain uncharacterized.ObjectivesWe investigated the clinico‐histopathologic features in relation to OPN3 expression of acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), which is a rare cutaneous melanoma subtype and not associated with prior sunlight exposure.MethodsIn all, 84 samples of junctional melanocytic nevi (JMN, n = 12), primary ALMs (n = 39) and inguinal lymph node metastasis (ILNM, n = 23) from ALMs were evaluated for the immunohistochemical expression of OPN3. OPN3 messenger RNA and protein level were further determined in melanocytic tumors using quantitative real‐time PCR, multiimmunofluorescence and Western blot assays. We also estimated the associations OPN3 expression between clinicopathological features and prognosis.ResultsILNMs, in contrast to JMN and ALMs, had higher OPN3 expression scores (p < .001) by immunohistochemistry analysis. High OPN3 score was associated with presence of ulceration, increased Breslow depth and Clark level (p = .025, p = .042, and p = .012, respectively). Furthermore, a remarkable difference (p = .037) of patient overall survival was found when comparing the OPN3 expression of immunohistochemical score between equal to or larger than 100 and below 100 groups. Also, Cox regression models showed that high OPN3 scores were associated with worse melanoma survival.ConclusionHigh OPN3 expression is significantly associated with ALMs and metastatic phenotype as well as a poor prognosis.
An Antioxidant Sesquiterpene Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis Via Blocking IPMK/TRAF6 and Counteracts OVX-Induced Osteoporosis in Mice
Authors: Wang Shiyu , Ma Qingliang , Xie Ziang , Shen Yang , Zheng Bingjie , Jiang Chao , Yuan Putao , An Qin , Fan Shunwu , Jie Zhiwei 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACT
Excessive bone resorption induced by increased osteoclast activity in postmenopausal women often causes osteoporosis. Although the pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis has been extensively developed, a safer and more effective treatment is still needed. Here, we found that curcumenol (CUL), an antioxidant sesquiterpene isolated from Curcuma zedoaria, impaired receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro, whereas the osteoblastogenesis of MC3T3-E1 cells was not affected. We further demonstrated that CUL treatment during RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis promotes proteasomal degradation of TRAF6 by increasing its K48-linked polyubiquitination, leading to suppression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB pathways and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also showed that inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPMK) binds with TRAF6 to reduce its K48-linked polyubiquitination under RANKL stimulation. Concurrently, IPMK deficiency inhibits osteoclast differentiation. The binding between IPMK and TRAF6 blocked by CUL treatment was found in our study. Finally, we confirmed that CUL treatment prevented ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in mice. In summary, our study demonstrates that CUL could impair the stability of TRAF6 enhanced by IPMK and suppress excessive osteoclast activity in estrogen-deficient mice to treat osteoporosis. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Compound heterozygous p. Arg949Trp and p. Gly970Ala mutations deteriorated the function of PEX1p: A study on PEX1 in a patient with Zellweger syndrome
Authors: Alamatsaz Marzieh , Jalalypour Farzaneh , Hashemi Motahare‐Sadat , Shafeghati Yousef , Nasr‐Esfahani Mohammad Hossein , Ghaedi Kamran 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe peroxisome is responsible for a variety of vital pathways in primary metabolism, including the very long‐chain fatty‐acid oxidation and plasmalogen lipid biosynthesis. Autosomal recessive disorder of the Zellweger spectrum (ZSD) is a major subset of peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBDs) that can be caused by mutations in any of the 14 PEX genes. Zellweger syndrome (ZS) is the foremost common and severe phenotype within the heterogeneous ZSD. However, missense mutations encode proteins with residual functions, which are associated with phenotypes that are milder than ZS. Mutations in the PEX1 gene are among the most prevalent. PEX1 and PEX6 proteins, belonging to the AAA family of ATPases, form a hexameric complex, which is associated with peroxisome membranes and essential for peroxisome biology. In this study, a two‐month‐old Iranian boy with hypotonia, poor feeding, and difficulty in breathing was diagnosed with Zellweger syndrome. The parents of the patient were second cousins and healthy and no similar cases were observed in the parents' family. The PEX1 gene was sequenced in the patient and his parents. The compound heterozygous mutations, p. Arg949Trp and p. Gly970Ala, were identified in the patient, while the parents were heterozygous for these alleles. Sequence analysis of the mutant PEX1 D2 domain revealed that mutation p. Arg949Trp precisely occurred in a conserved arginine residue (P4 Arg), which hinders the substrate processing of the complex. Several database records have reported mutation p. Arg949Trp(R949W) but its clinical significance is given as uncertain. We report here a novel mutation, p. Gly970Ala, which is not recorded before and may prevent proper interaction of PEX1 and PEX6 proteins. In summary, the clinical findings and peroxisome profile of the patient suggested that compound heterozygosity for these two missense mutations resulted in a nonfunctional PEX1/PEX6 complex causing the severe ZS phenotype.
Identification of seven tumor‐educated platelets RNAs for cancer diagnosis
Authors: Ge Xinxin , Yuan Liuxia , Cheng Bin , Dai Kesheng 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundTumor‐educated platelets (TEPs) may enable blood‐based cancer diagnosis. This study aimed to identify diagnostic TEPs genes involved in carcinogenesis.Materials and MethodsThe TEPs differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between healthy samples and early/advanced cancer samples were obtained using bioinformatics. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were used to identify the pathways and functional annotation of TEPs DEGs. Protein‐protein interaction of these TEPs DEGs was analyzed based on the STRING database and visualized by Cytoscape software. The correlation analysis and diagnostic analysis were performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of TEPs mRNAs expression for early/advanced cancers. Quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) was applied to validate the role of DEGs in cancers.ResultsTEPs mRNAs were mostly involved in protein binding, extracellular matrix, and cellular protein metabolic process. RSL24D1 was negatively correlated to early‐stage cancers compared to healthy controls and may be potentially used for early cancer diagnosis. In addition, HPSE, IFI27, LGALS3BP, CRYM, HBD, COL6A3, LAMB2, and IFITM3 showed an upward trend in the expression from early to advanced cancer stages. Moreover, ARL2, FCGR2A, and KLHDC8B were positively associated with advanced, metastatic cancers compared to healthy controls. Among the 12 selected DEGs, the expression of 7 DEGs, including RSL24D1, IFI27, CRYM, HBD, IFITM3, FCGR2A, and KLHDC8B, were verified by the qRT‐PCR method.ConclusionThis study suggests that the 7‐gene TEPs liquid‐biopsy biomarkers may be used for cancer diagnosis and monitoring.
Automation and miniaturization: enabling tools for fast, high‐throughput process development in integrated continuous biomanufacturing
Authors: Silva Tiago Castanheira , Eppink Michel , Ottens Marcel 
Published: May 2021

AbstractProcess development in the biotech industry leads to investments around hundred of millions of dollars. It is important to mitigate costs without neglecting the quality of process development. Biopharmaceutical process development is important for companies to develop new processes and be first to market, improve a pre‐established process, or start manufacturing a product available by patent expiry (biosimilars). Laboratory automation enables methodical and standardized process development. Miniaturization and parallelization empower laboratories to screen several experimental conditions and define operating windows for purification processes, improving process robustness. Together, they allow for fast and accurate process development in a fraction of the time and cost of nonminiaturized/nonparallel process development approaches. The most widely used High‐Throughput Screening technique is a liquid‐handling station and microfluidics is taking its first steps in process development. Both are attractive scale‐down tools for the characterization of bioprocesses and allow thousands of experiments to be performed per day. High‐Throughput Process Development (HTPD) has helped to achieve major breakthroughs in process optimization, both for upstream and downstream processing. Continuous processing is the next step in process development which leads to cost reduction, higher productivity and better quality control; the integration of upstream and downstream processes is seen as a major challenge. In this review, we will focus on the state‐of‐the‐art of miniaturized techniques for process development in the biotechnology industry, and how automation and miniaturization drive process development. A comparison between liquid‐handling stations and microfluidics is made and an indication is given of which tools are still lacking for HTPD in the context of Integrated Continuous Biomanufacturing. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Correlative nanoscopy: A multimodal approach to molecular resolution
Authors: Jadavi Samira , Bianchini Paolo , Cavalleri Ornella , Dante Silvia , Canale Claudio , Diaspro Alberto 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAtomic force microscopy (AFM) is a nano‐mechanical tool uniquely suited for biological studies at the molecular scale. AFM operation is based on mechanical interaction between the tip and the sample, a mechanism of contrast capable of measuring different information, including surface topography, mechanical, and electrical properties. However, the lack of specificity highlights the need to integrate AFM data with other techniques providing compositional hints. In particular, optical microscopes based on fluorescence as a mechanism of contrast can access the local distribution of specific molecular species. The coupling between AFM and super‐resolved fluorescence microscopy solves the resolution mismatch between AFM and conventional fluorescence optical microscopy. Recent advances showed that also the inherently label‐free imaging capabilities of the AFM are fundamental to complement the fluorescence images. In this review, we have presented a brief historical view on correlative microscopy, and, finally, we have summarized the progress of correlative AFM‐super‐resolution microscopy in biological research.
Non‐negative assisted principal component analysis: A novel method of data analysis for raman spectroscopy
Authors: Blee Astrid L. , Day John C. C. , Flewitt Peter E. J. , Jeketo Alejandro , Megson‐Smith David 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA novel method for the analysis of multivariate Raman spectroscopy data is presented. The method combines non‐negative matrix factorisation and principal component analysis, integrating the advantages and combating the disadvantages of both techniques. It involves the derivation of physically realistic spectra and the analysis of chemical and spatial trends across a sample surface. Proof of concept is demonstrated through two investigations. The first is a set of Raman spectra taken from a powder sample containing potassium sulphate, calcium carbonate and sodium sulphate. A second uses Raman data taken from an artificially corroded sample of superalloy material commonly used in gas turbine engines. This successful proof of concept for samples with unknown surface content sets the way for future development of the technique.
TRPV4 mediates cell damage induced by hyperphysiological compression and regulates COX2/PGE2 in intervertebral discs
Authors: Cambria Elena , Heusser Sally , Scheuren Ariane C. , Tam Wai Kit , Karol Agnieszka A. , Hitzl Wolfgang , Leung Victor Y. , Müller Ralph , Ferguson Stephen J. , Wuertz‐Kozak Karin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundAberrant mechanical loading of the spine causes intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and low back pain. Current therapies do not target the mediators of the underlying mechanosensing and mechanotransduction pathways, as these are poorly understood. This study investigated the role of the mechanosensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) ion channel in dynamic compression of bovine nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in vitro and mouse IVDs in vivo.MethodsDegenerative changes and the expression of the inflammatory mediator cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) were examined histologically in the IVDs of mouse tails that were dynamically compressed at a short repetitive hyperphysiological regime (vs sham). Bovine NP cells embedded in an agarose‐collagen hydrogel were dynamically compressed at a hyperphysiological regime in the presence or absence of the selective TRPV4 antagonist GSK2193874. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release, as well as phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), were analyzed. Degenerative changes and COX2 expression were further evaluated in the IVDs of trpv4‐deficient mice (vs wild‐type; WT).ResultsDynamic compression caused IVD degeneration in vivo as previously shown but did not affect COX2 expression. Dynamic compression significantly augmented LDH and PGE2 releases in vitro, which were significantly reduced by TRPV4 inhibition. Moreover, TRPV4 inhibition during dynamic compression increased the activation of the extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK) MAPK pathway by 3.13‐fold compared to non‐compressed samples. Trpv4‐deficient mice displayed mild IVD degeneration and decreased COX2 expression compared to WT mice.ConclusionsTRPV4 therefore regulates COX2/PGE2 and mediates cell damage induced by hyperphysiological dynamic compression, possibly via ERK. Targeted TRPV4 inhibition or knockdown might thus constitute promising therapeutic approaches to treat patients suffering from IVD pathologies caused by aberrant mechanical stress.
Stopover Ecology of Red Knots in Southwestern James Bay During Southbound Migration
Authors: Macdonald Amelia J. , Smith Paul A. , Friis Christian A. , Lyons James E. , Aubry Yves , Nol Erica 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTMany shorebirds rely on small numbers of staging sites during long annual migrations. Numerous shorebird species are declining and understanding the importance of these staging sites is important for successful conservation. We surveyed endangered rufa red knots (Calidris canutus rufa) staging in James Bay, Ontario, Canada, during southbound migration in 2017 and 2018. We used mark‐resight data and count data in an integrated Bayesian analysis to quantify migration phenology, estimate passage population size, and model the age structure of the stopover population. Many adult red knots arrived in James Bay in a single wave in early August in 2017, whereas adult red knots arrived in multiple smaller waves in July and mid‐August in 2018. These waves may correspond with breeding phenology where more red knots bred successfully and arrived in one large event in 2017 and the higher number of earlier arrivals in July 2018 may have been failed breeders. We included a binomial generalized linear model in the integrated analysis to estimate that 20% and 10% of staging red knots were juveniles in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In future applications, this method could provide a metric to assess breeding performance and develop our understanding of its role in population declines. Overall, we estimated that up to 23% of the estimated rufa red knot population staged in southwestern James Bay for an average of 10–12 days. The region is a key staging site for endangered red knots and could be included in conservation planning. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.
Food web structure in relation to environmental drivers across a continental shelf ecosystem
Authors: Walters Andrea , Robert Marianne , Cresson Pierre , Le Bris Hervé , Kopp Dorothée 
Published: May 2021

AbstractQuantification of the physical and biological factors that influence the spatial structuring of food webs is central to inform effective resource management. We used baseline‐corrected stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) of 63 invertebrate and fish to investigate food web structure across a continental shelf gradient—the Celtic Sea Shelf in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Hierarchical clustering on δ13C and δ15N showed that the shelf food web is characterized by four trophic levels with trophic groups spread across pelagic and benthic trophic pathways. Four biomass‐weighted isotopic diversity metrics provided indicators on the status of the system, showing a relatively complex food web with high trophic redundancy at intermediate trophic levels suggesting resilience to disturbances. Two sets of statistical models, at the community scale and for each trophic group, identified five distinct trophic assemblages associated with different chlorophyll a concentrations, water depth, and bottom temperature. A cold, vertically mixed‐water assemblage over the outer shelf comprised the largest habitat and most diverse assemblage, highlighting the importance of cold productive conditions in the Celtic Sea. Trophic group model results were used to generate spatial area predictions to compare functioning of groups using isotopic overlap (similarity and nestedness) metrics. Isotopic niche area was larger (spanning two trophic levels) in shallow habitats, but not in habitats underlying high primary production or nutrient‐rich water masses, suggesting stronger benthic‐pelagic trophic coupling in inner shelf habitats. Results suggest that depth and intensity of pelagic production are major drivers of trophic structure and functioning of Celtic Sea communities.
Influence of nitrogen uptake and heat treatment on the microstructural characteristics and corrosion performance of X190CrVMo20‐4‐1 steel produced by supersolidus liquid‐phase sintering
Authors: Farayibi Peter K. , van gen Hassend Frederic , Blüm Michael , Weber Sebastian 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMartensitic stainless steel powder exhibits a high nitrogen uptake when densified by supersolidus liquid‐phase sintering in a nitrogen atmosphere, but the optimum uptake, which is beneficial to its resistance to corrosion, is unknown. In this study, the resistance of high‐carbon martensitic stainless steel X190CrVMo20‐4‐1 densified in a nitrogen atmosphere against pitting corrosion was explored. This was to clarify the impact of nitrogen uptake in the steel matrix in the quenched and tempered condition on its corrosion resistance in an aqueous solution. Samples were subjected to potentiodynamic polarisation tests in a de‐aerated, 1 wt% NaCl solution. Results revealed that the X190 steel densified in a nitrogen atmosphere at 40‐kPa pressure, subjected to deep cryogenic treatment in liquid nitrogen at an austenitising temperature of 1150°C and tempered at 200°C, had the best pitting corrosion resistance with a breakdown potential of 142 ± 11 mV/SCE and a hardness of 738 ± 4 HV10. The matrix around the M7C3 carbides and MX carbonitrides suffered high pitting susceptibility. The implications of this study serve as a basis for the improvement of the functional properties of steels.