bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A network analysis of crab metamorphosis and the hypothesis of development as a process of unfolding of an intensive complexity
Authors: Ostachuk Agustín 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDevelopment has intrigued humanity since ancient times. Today, the main paradigm in developmental biology and evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) is the genetic program, in which development is explained by the interplay and interaction of genes, that is, by the action of gene regulatory networks (GRNs). However, it is not even clear that a GRN, no matter how complex, can be translated into a form. Therefore, the fundamental enigma of development still remains: how is a complex organism formed from a single cell? This question unfolded the historical drama and the dialectical tension between preformation and epigenesis. In order to shed light on these issues, I studied the development of crabs (infraorder Brachyura), as representative of the subphylum Crustacea, using network theory. The external morphology of the different phases of brachyuran metamorphosis were modeled as networks and their main characteristics analyzed. As one could expect, the parameters usually regarded as indicative of network complexity, such as modularity and hierarchy, increased during development. However, when more sophisticated complexity measures were tested, it was evidenced that whereas a group of complexity measures increased during development, another group decreased. This led to consider that two kinds of complexities were being measured. I called them intensive and extensive complexity. In view of these results, I propose that crab development involves a passage from an intensive to an extensive complexity. In other words, crab development can be interpreted as a process of unfolding of an intensive, preexistent complexity.
Improvement of low temperature carbon combustion catalyst characteristic caused by mixing Bi2O3 with Tl2O3
Authors: Nakayama Susumu 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis study investigated the addition of various oxides to further improve the catalytic characteristics of Tl2O3, which offers a high carbon combustion catalytic capacity to lower the carbon combustion temperature of 660 °C by ~ 300 °C. Mixtures of carbon (2 wt%) with composite catalysts comprising 20 wt% Tl2O3–80wt% added oxide were analyzed using DSC. Bi2O3 offered the best improvement, where the exothermic peak temperatures for carbon combustion of carbon with various Tl2O3–x wt% Bi2O3 composites were lower than that of carbon with pure Tl2O3. Isothermal TG measurements were performed using a mixture of carbon and the Tl2O3‒95 wt% Bi2O3 composite catalyst, where a 2 wt% weight loss (i.e. removal of all carbon) was achieved above 230 °C. A porous alumina filter was coated with the composite catalyst and carbon was deposited on the filter surface. The filter was held at constant temperatures under air flow, which confirmed that carbon was completely removed at 230 °C. This study demonstrated the potential for using these composite catalysts in self-cleaning particulate filters to decompose and eliminate fine particulate matter and diesel particulate matter generated from steelworks, thermal power plants, and diesel vehicles simply using the heat of the exhaust gas in a factory flue-gas stack or vehicle muffler.
The epidemiology of cruciate ligament rupture in an insured Swedish dog population
Authors: Engdahl Karolina , Emanuelson Ulf , Höglund Odd , Bergström Annika , Hanson Jeanette 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCruciate ligament rupture (CLR) is a common orthopedic disorder in dogs. The study objectives were to evaluate incidence rate (IR), cause-specific mortality rate (CSMR) and risk factors for CLR in insured dogs. A single cohort study of dogs insured in Agria Pet Insurance in Sweden (2011–2016) was performed. Age at diagnosis, IR, CSMR and relative risk (RR) for CLR was calculated overall and per breed. The cohort included just over 600,000 dogs. The IR of CLR was 23.8 (95% confidence interval, 23.1–24.6) cases per 10,000 DYAR. The breeds with highest RR of CLR were Boerboel and Dogo Canario, while the breeds with lowest RR were Standard Dachshund and Miniature Pinscher. Dogue de Bordeaux had highest RR of euthanasia due to CLR. The median age at veterinary care claim for CLR was 7.1 (range 0.3–16.0) years and 6.6 (0.3–12) years at life insurance settlement. Large and giant breeds were generally diagnosed and euthanized due to CLR at a younger age compared to smaller breeds. The majority of the breeds with increased RR of CLR diagnosis and CLR-related euthanasia were large or giant. A pattern of increasing size and decreasing age at diagnosis/CLR-related euthanasia was observed.
Sheath properties in active magnetized multi-component plasmas
Authors: Hatami M. M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMulti-component active plasmas are modeled in the presence of a constant oblique magnetic field by using the hydrodynamics equations. Assuming the electrons and negative ions have Boltzmann distribution and the positive ions have finite temperature, the sheath formation criterion is derived by analyzing the Sagdeev potential. It is found that the Bohm velocity of positive ions depends sensitively on the plasma parameters such as ion-neutral collision frequency, electron impact ionization frequency, positive and negative ion temperatures, initial densities of the charged particles and direction of the applied magnetic field. Also, using our obtained Bohm criterion, the sheath properties of an active magnetized plasma consisting of electrons and positive and negative ion species are investigated numerically and the results are compared with the results of a similar quiescent plasma.
Microvesicles released from pneumolysin-stimulated lung epithelial cells carry mitochondrial cargo and suppress neutrophil oxidative burst
Authors: Letsiou E. , Teixeira Alves L. G. , Fatykhova D. , Felten M. , Mitchell T. J. , Müller-Redetzky H.C. , Hocke A. C. , Witzenrath M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMicrovesicles (MVs) are cell-derived extracellular vesicles that have emerged as markers and mediators of acute lung injury (ALI). One of the most common pathogens in pneumonia-induced ALI is Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), but the role of MVs during Spn lung infection is largely unknown. In the first line of defense against Spn and its major virulence factor, pneumolysin (PLY), are the alveolar epithelial cells (AEC). In this study, we aim to characterize MVs shed from PLY-stimulated AEC and explore their contribution in mediating crosstalk with neutrophils. Using in vitro cell and ex vivo (human lung tissue) models, we demonstrated that Spn in a PLY-dependent manner stimulates AEC to release increased numbers of MVs. Spn infected mice also had higher levels of epithelial-derived MVs in their alveolar compartment compared to control. Furthermore, MVs released from PLY-stimulated AEC contain mitochondrial content and can be taken up by neutrophils. These MVs then suppress the ability of neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species, a critical host-defense mechanism. Taken together, our results demonstrate that AEC in response to pneumococcal PLY release MVs that carry mitochondrial cargo and suggest that these MVs regulate innate immune responses during lung injury.
Mexiletine-like cellular electrophysiological effects of GS967 in canine ventricular myocardium
Authors: Hézső Tamás , Naveed Muhammad , Dienes Csaba , Kiss Dénes , Prorok János , Árpádffy-Lovas Tamás , Varga Richárd , Fujii Erika , Mercan Tanju , Topal Leila , Kistamás Kornél , Szentandrássy Norbert , Almássy János , Jost Norbert , Magyar János , Bányász Tamás , Baczkó István , Varró András , Nánási Péter P. , Virág László , Horváth Balázs 
Published: May 2021

AbstractEnhancement of the late Na+ current (INaL) increases arrhythmia propensity in the heart, while suppression of the current is antiarrhythmic. GS967 is an agent considered as a selective blocker of INaL. In the present study, effects of GS967 on INaL and action potential (AP) morphology were studied in canine ventricular myocytes by using conventional voltage clamp, action potential voltage clamp and sharp microelectrode techniques. The effects of GS967 (1 µM) were compared to those of the class I/B antiarrhythmic compound mexiletine (40 µM). Under conventional voltage clamp conditions, INaL was significantly suppressed by GS967 and mexiletine, causing 80.4 ± 2.2% and 59.1 ± 1.8% reduction of the densities of INaL measured at 50 ms of depolarization, and 79.0 ± 3.1% and 63.3 ± 2.7% reduction of the corresponding current integrals, respectively. Both drugs shifted the voltage dependence of the steady-state inactivation curve of INaL towards negative potentials. GS967 and mexiletine dissected inward INaL profiles under AP voltage clamp conditions having densities, measured at 50% of AP duration (APD), of −0.37 ± 0.07 and −0.28 ± 0.03 A/F, and current integrals of −56.7 ± 9.1 and −46.6 ± 5.5 mC/F, respectively. Drug effects on peak Na+ current (INaP) were assessed by recording the maximum velocity of AP upstroke (V+max) in multicellular preparations. The offset time constant was threefold faster for GS967 than mexiletine (110 ms versus 289 ms), while the onset of the rate-dependent block was slower in the case of GS967. Effects on beat-to-beat variability of APD was studied in isolated myocytes. Beat-to-beat variability was significantly decreased by both GS967 and mexiletine (reduction of 42.1 ± 6.5% and 24.6 ± 12.8%, respectively) while their shortening effect on APD was comparable. It is concluded that the electrophysiological effects of GS967 are similar to those of mexiletine, but with somewhat faster offset kinetics of V+max block. However, since GS967 depressed V+max and INaL at the same concentration, the current view that GS967 represents a new class of drugs that selectively block INaL has to be questioned and it is suggested that GS967 should be classified as a class I/B antiarrhythmic agent.
Quantification of the early pupillary dilation kinetic to assess rod and cone activity
Authors: Kostic Corinne , Crippa Sylvain V. , Leon Lorette , Hamel Christian , Meunier Isabelle , Kawasaki Aki 
Published: May 2021

AbstractRods, cones and melanopsin contribute in various proportions, depending on the stimulus light, to the pupil light response. This study used a first derivative analysis to focus on the quantification of the dynamics of pupillary dilation that immediately follows light-induced pupilloconstriction in order to identify novel parameters that reflect rod and cone activity. In 18 healthy adults, the pupil response to a 1 s blue light stimulus ranging from − 6.0 to 2.65 log cd/m2 in dark-adapted conditions and to a 1 s blue light stimulus (2.65 log cd/m2) in light-adapted conditions was recorded on a customized pupillometer. Three derivative parameters which describe the 2.75 s following the light onset were quantified: dAMP (maximal amplitude of the positive peak), dLAT (latency of the positive peak), dAUC (area under the curve of the positive peak). We found that dAMP and dAUC but not dLAT have graded responses over a range of light intensities. The maximal positive value of dAMP, representing maximal rate of change of early pupillary dilation phase, occurs at − 1.0 log cd/m2 and this stimulus intensity appears useful for activating rods and cones. From − 0.5 log cd/m2 to brighter intensities dAMP and dAUC progressively decrease, reaching negligible values at 2.65 log cd/m2 indicative of a melanopsin-driven pupil response that masks the contribution from rods and cones to the early phase of pupillary dilation.
A deep explainable artificial intelligent framework for neurological disorders discrimination
Authors: Shahtalebi Soroosh , Atashzar S. Farokh , Patel Rajni V. , Jog Mandar S. , Mohammadi Arash 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPathological hand tremor (PHT) is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET), which affects manual targeting, motor coordination, and movement kinetics. Effective treatment and management of the symptoms relies on the correct and in-time diagnosis of the affected individuals, where the characteristics of PHT serve as an imperative metric for this purpose. Due to the overlapping features of the corresponding symptoms, however, a high level of expertise and specialized diagnostic methodologies are required to correctly distinguish PD from ET. In this work, we propose the data-driven $$\text {NeurDNet}$$
NeurDNet
model, which processes the kinematics of the hand in the affected individuals and classifies the patients into PD or ET. $$\text {NeurDNet}$$
NeurDNet
is trained over 90 hours of hand motion signals consisting of 250 tremor assessments from 81 patients, recorded at the London Movement Disorders Centre, ON, Canada. The $$\text {NeurDNet}$$
NeurDNet
outperforms its state-of-the-art counterparts achieving exceptional differential diagnosis accuracy of $$95.55\%$$

95.55
%

. In addition, using the explainability and interpretability measures for machine learning models, clinically viable and statistically significant insights on how the data-driven model discriminates between the two groups of patients are achieved.
Feeding experiments on Vittina turrita (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neritidae) reveal tooth contact areas and bent radular shape during foraging
Authors: Krings Wencke , Hempel Christine , Siemers Lisa , Neiber Marco T. , Gorb Stanislav N. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe radula is the food gathering and processing structure and one important autapomorphy of the Mollusca. It is composed of a chitinous membrane with small, embedded teeth representing the interface between the organism and its ingesta. In the past, various approaches aimed at connecting the tooth morphologies, which can be highly distinct even within single radulae, to their functionality. However, conclusions from the literature were mainly drawn from analyzing mounted radulae, even though the configuration of the radula during foraging is not necessarily the same as in mounted specimens. Thus, the truly interacting radular parts and teeth, including 3D architecture of this complex structure during foraging were not previously determined. Here we present an experimental approach on individuals of Vittina turrita (Neritidae, Gastropoda), which were fed with algae paste attached to different sandpaper types. By comparing these radulae to radulae from control group, sandpaper-induced tooth wear patterns were identified and both area and volume loss could be quantified. In addition to the exact contact area of each tooth, conclusions about the 3D position of teeth and radular bending during feeding motion could be drawn. Furthermore, hypotheses about specific tooth functions could be put forward. These feeding experiments under controlled conditions were introduced for stylommatophoran gastropods with isodont radulae and are now applied to heterodont and complex radulae, which may provide a good basis for future studies on radula functional morphology.
Histone deacetylase inhibitor resminostat in combination with sorafenib counteracts platelet-mediated pro-tumoral effects in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Streubel Gundula , Schrepfer Sabine , Kallus Hannah , Parnitzke Ulrike , Wulff Tanja , Hermann Frank , Borgmann Matthias , Hamm Svetlana 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), blood platelets have been linked to tumor growth, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), extrahepatic metastasis and a limited therapeutic response to the multikinase inhibitor (MKi) sorafenib, the standard of care in advanced HCC for the last decade. Recent clinical data indicated an improved overall survival for sorafenib in combination with the HDAC inhibitor resminostat in a platelet count dependent manner. Here, the impact of platelets on the sorafenib and resminostat drug effects in HCC cells was explored. In contrast to sorafenib, resminostat triggered an anti-proliferative response in HCC cell lines independent of platelets. As previously described, platelets induced invasive capabilities of HCC cells, a prerequisite for extravasation and metastasis. Importantly, the resminostat/sorafenib drug combination, but not the individual drugs, effectively blocked platelet-induced HCC cell invasion. Exploration of the molecular mechanism revealed that the combined drug action led to a reduction of platelet-inducedCD44expression and to the deregulation of several other epithelial and mesenchymal genes, suggesting interference with cell invasion via EMT. In addition, the drug combination decreased phosphorylated ERK level, indicating inhibition of the mitogenic signaling pathway MEK/ERK. Taken together, the resminostat plus sorafenib combination counteracts platelet-mediated cancer promoting effects in HCC cells.
Efficient genome editing of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus, using a thermostable Cas9 variant
Authors: Adalsteinsson Bjorn Thor , Kristjansdottir Thordis , Merre William , Helleux Alexandra , Dusaucy Julia , Tourigny Mathilde , Fridjonsson Olafur , Hreggvidsson Gudmundur Oli 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThermophilic organisms are extensively studied in industrial biotechnology, for exploration of the limits of life, and in other contexts. Their optimal growth at high temperatures presents a challenge for the development of genetic tools for their genome editing, since genetic markers and selection substrates are often thermolabile. We sought to develop a thermostable CRISPR-Cas9 based system for genome editing of thermophiles. We identified CaldoCas9 and designed an associated guide RNA and showed that the pair have targetable nuclease activity in vitro at temperatures up to 65 °C. We performed a detailed characterization of the protospacer adjacent motif specificity of CaldoCas9, which revealed a preference for 5′-NNNNGNMA. We constructed a plasmid vector for the delivery and use of the CaldoCas9 based genome editing system in the extreme thermophile Thermus thermophilus at 65 °C. Using the vector, we generated gene knock-out mutants of T. thermophilus, targeting genes on the bacterial chromosome and megaplasmid. Mutants were obtained at a frequency of about 90%. We demonstrated that the vector can be cured from mutants for a subsequent round of genome editing. CRISPR-Cas9 based genome editing has not been reported previously in the extreme thermophile T. thermophilus. These results may facilitate development of genome editing tools for other extreme thermophiles and to that end, the vector has been made available via the plasmid repository Addgene.
Effect of Nb addition on the size and morphology of the β-Fe precipitates in recycled Al-Si alloys
Authors: Narducci Carlos , Brollo Gabriela Lujan , de Siqueira Rafael Humberto Mota , Antunes André Silva , Abdalla Antonio Jorge 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe recycled Al alloys have a Fe level above the recommended limits, leading to the precipitation of β-Fe intermetallic particles in their microstructure. The brittle β-Fe particles show a rough morphology in the form of highly-faceted platelets, which is detrimental to the alloy's mechanical performance containing these precipitates. This work analyses the possible interactions of the addition of 0–1 wt% of the grain refiner Nb + B to the morphology and size of β-Fe precipitates in alloys melted with Al-(7, 9, 12) wt% Si and 1 wt% Fe. The results indicate that the addition of the Nb + B inoculant revealed a significant change in the precipitates' size and morphology, which have become remarkably refined and spheroidized. Moreover, deepening the study through qualitative and quantitative analyses, it was found that the behaviour of the β-Fe precipitates follows an exponential decay with the increasing addition of Nb + B, a curve analogous to the primary α-Al grain refinement one, revealing a direct correlation between the events. Finally, it was possible to suggest a mechanism that shows how the phenomenon of morphological transformation of the β-Fe precipitates occurs in the material with the addition of the Nb + B inoculant.
Acute cigarette smoke or extract exposure rapidly activates TRPA1-mediated calcium influx in primary human airway smooth muscle cells
Authors: Lin JinHeng , Taggart Michael , Borthwick Lee , Fisher Andrew , Brodlie Malcolm , Sassano M. Flori , Tarran Robert , Gray Michael A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTobacco smoking is the largest risk factor for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is associated with hyperresponsiveness of airway smooth muscle (ASM). Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) leads to airway inflammation and remodelling. However, the direct effect of gaseous CS or CS extract (CSE) on human airway smooth muscle cell (hASMC) function remains poorly understood. This study investigated the acute effect of CS/CSE on calcium homeostasis, a key regulator of ASM physiology and pathophysiology. Primary hASMC were isolated from non-smoking donor lungs, and subjected to Ca2+ imaging studies. We found that both CS, and CSE, rapidly elevated cytosolic Ca2+ in hASMC through stimulation of plasmalemmal Ca2+ influx, but excluded store-operated and L-type Ca2+ channels as mediators of this effect. Using a specific pharmacological inhibitor, or shRNA-driven knockdown, we established that both CS and CSE stimulated Ca2+ influx in hASMC through the neurogenic pain receptor channel, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). CS/CSE-dependent, TRPA1-mediated Ca2+ influx led to myosin light-chain phosphorylation, a key process regulating ASM contractility. We conclude that TRPA1 is likely an important link between CS/CSE exposure and airway hyperresponsiveness, and speculate that acute CS/CSE-induced Ca2+ influx could lead to exacerbated ASM contraction and potentially initiate further chronic pathological effects of tobacco smoke.
Multipartite entanglement criterion via generalized local uncertainty relations
Authors: Zhang Jia-Bin , Li Tao , Zhang Qing-Hua , Fei Shao-Ming , Wang Zhi-Xi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe study the detection of multipartite entanglement based on the generalized local uncertainty relations. A sufficient criterion for the entanglement of four-partite quantum systems is presented in terms of the local uncertainty relations. Detailed examples are given to illustrate the advantages of our criterion. The approach is generalized to general multipartite entanglement cases.
Development of plasma functionalized polypropylene wound dressing for betaine hydrochloride controlled drug delivery on diabetic wounds
Authors: Zahedi Leila , Ghourchi Beigi Pedram , Shafiee Mojtaba , Zare Fatemeh , Mahdikia Hamed , Abdouss Majid , Abdollahifar Mohammad-Amin , Shokri Babak 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDiabetes Mellitus is one of the most worrying issues among illnesses, and its chronic subsequences almost refer to inflammations and infections. The loading and local release of antioxidants to wounds may decrease inflammations. However, the low wettability of PolyPropylene (PP) restricts the drug from loading. So, to increase the adhesion of PP for loading an optimum amount of Betaine Hydrochloride (BET), plasma has been applied in two steps of functionalization and polymerization, which has been confirmed with FE-SEM, ATR-FTIR, and EDX. The new chemistry of the surface led to almost 80% of BET loaded. The drug-releasing ratio studied by HPLC approved the presence of a PEG-like layer, which was coated by polymerization of tetraglyme. To evaluate the wound healing potential of the application of PP meshes treated by plasma, 72 Wistar rats were subdivided into four groups. The skin injury site was removed and underwent biomechanical tests, stereological analysis, and RNA extraction. The results showed a significant improvement in the polymerized scaffold containing BET for skin injury. The present study suggests that the use of a modified PP mesh can induce tissue regeneration and accelerate wound healing at the skin injury site.