bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protein Interactions with Nanoparticle Surfaces: Highlighting Solution NMR Techniques
Authors: Randika Perera Y. , Hill Rebecca A. , Fitzkee Nicholas C. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractIn the last decade, nanoparticles (NPs) have become a key tool in medicine and biotechnology as drug delivery systems, biosensors and diagnostic devices. The composition and surface chemistry of NPs vary based on the materials used: typically organic polymers, inorganic materials, or lipids. Nanoparticle classes can be further divided into sub‐categories depending on the surface modification and functionalization. These surface properties matter when NPs are introduced into a physiological environment, as they will influence how nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins will interact with the NP surface. While small‐molecule interactions are easily probed using NMR spectroscopy, studying protein‐NP interactions using NMR introduces several challenges. For example, globular proteins may have a perturbed conformation when attached to a foreign surface, and the size of NP‐protein conjugates can lead to excessive line broadening. Many of these challenges have been addressed, and NMR spectroscopy is becoming a mature technique for in situ analysis of NP binding behavior. It is therefore not surprising that NMR has been applied to NP systems and has been used to study biomolecules on NP surfaces. Important considerations include corona composition, protein behavior, and ligand architecture. These features are difficult to resolve using classical surface and material characterization strategies, and NMR provides a complementary avenue of characterization. In this review, we examine how solution NMR can be combined with other analytical techniques to investigate protein behavior on NP surfaces.
Treatment of type 1 diabetes by regulatory T‐cell infusion via regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines
Authors: Wang Guofeng , Yan Yongxin , Xu Ning , Yin Dong , Hui Yuan 
Published: September 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the role and molecular mechanism of regulatory T (Treg) cells in type 1 diabetes (T1D).MethodsPatients with T1D and the healthy volunteers were selected and a number of CD3+, CD4+, CD25+, and CD127− T cells were determined. The rats were divided into the control, T1D model, and Treg infusion (T1D rats were infused with Treg) group. The number of CD4+, CD8−, and CD25+ T cells in the three groups were determined by flow cytometry. Weight, blood glucose, serum insulin, peptide C, glucagon, and glucagon like peptide 1 in the three groups were also determined. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and contents of interleukin (IL)‐10, IL‐4, transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β, IL‐2, IL‐17, and IFN‐γ in patients with T1D, healthy volunteers, streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced T1D rat model, the control rat, and Treg infusion rats were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.ResultsTreg content in patients with T1D was significantly decreased compared with the control volunteers. Treg content in rats was markedly decreased after injection with STZ to induce T1D rat model, while Treg infusion weakened the decrease. The change scope of weight and blood glucose in the model and Treg group was bigger than the control group, and the change in the infusion group was lighter than the model group. T1D decreased the expressions of IL‐10, IL‐4, TGF‐β, and IL‐2, while Treg infusion weakened the decrease. The expressions of IL‐17 and IFN‐γ in the T1D group was increased, while Treg infusion weakened the increase.ConclusionAutologous Treg infusion can strengthen the immunologic and islet function to treat T1D which may be via regulating the expression of inflammatory factors.
The anticancer effect of the TLR4 inhibition using TAK‐242 (resatorvid) either as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy: A novel therapeutic potential for breast cancer
Authors: Zandi Zahra , Kashani Bahareh , Bashash Davood , Poursani Ensieh M. , Mousavi Seyed A. , Chahardoli Bahram , Ghaffari Seyed H. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractIncreasing pieces of evidence indicate that inflammatory processes facilitate tumorigenesis; tumor cells simulate the mechanisms by which innate immune cells produce pro‐inflammatory cytokines to exploit them for their own survival and proliferation. Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4), which serves as one of the most well‐known receptors on the surface of the immune cells, is often expressed ectopically in the tumor cells resulting in tumor progression, invasion, and chemoresistance. In this study, we examined the anticancer effects of TAK‐242, a small molecule inhibitor of TLR4, on different breast cancer cell lines: MCF7, SKBR3, MDA‐MB‐231, and BT‐474. Our results showed that the TLR4 inhibition, as revealed by the downregulation of TLR4 downstream genes, exerted desirable cytotoxicity on the TLR4‐expressing cells, at least partly, through the downregulation of EGFR and c‐Myc genes. TAK‐242 also inhibited the proliferation of anoikis‐resistant cells and suppressed the clonal growth of the indicated cells. The results of this study propose a mechanistic pathway by which the inhibition of TLR4 using TAK‐242 could augment apoptotic cell death through the alteration of both nuclear factor‐кB‐ and p53‐related apoptosis genes in breast cancer cells, especially cells with overexpression of TLR4. Taken together, this study supports the idea that the activation of inflammatory pathways may have a crucial role in breast cancer progression and the inhibition of TLR4 using TAK‐242, either as a single agent or in combination, seems to be a novel promising strategy that could be clinically available in foreseeable future.
Signaling pathways in cytoskeletal responses to plasma membrane depolarization in corneal endothelial cells
Authors: Evans Frances , Hernández Julio A. , Chifflet Silvia 
Published: September 2019

AbstractIn previous work, we reported that plasma membrane potential depolarization (PMPD) provokes cortical F‐actin remodeling in bovine corneal endothelial (BCE) cells in culture, which eventually leads to the appearance of intercellular gaps. In kidney epithelial cells it has been shown that PMPD determines an extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)/Rho‐dependent increase in diphosphorylated myosin light chain (ppMLC). The present study investigated the signaling pathways involved in the response of BCE cells to PMPD. Differently to renal epithelial cells, we observed that PMPD leads to a decrease in monophosphorylated MLC (pMLC) without affecting diphosphorylated MLC. Also, that the pMLC reduction is a consequence of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′‐monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) activation. In addition, we found evidence that the cAMP increase mostly depends on soluble adenylyl cyclase activity. Inhibition of this enzyme reduces the effect of PMPD on the cAMP rise, F‐actin remodeling, and pMLC decrease. No changes in phosho‐ERK were observed, although we could determine that RhoA undergoes activation. Our results suggested that active RhoA is not involved in the intercellular gap formation. Overall, the findings of this study support the view that, differently to renal epithelial cells, in BCE cells PMPD determines cytoskeletal reorganization via activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway.
Colony-stimulating factor-1- and interleukin-34-derived macrophages differ in their susceptibility to Mycobacterium marinum
Authors: Popovic Milan , Yaparla Amulya , Paquin-Proulx Dominic , Koubourli Daphne V , Webb Rose , Firmani Marcia , Grayfer Leon 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), remains the leading global cause of death from an infectious agent. Mycobacteria thrive within their host Mϕs and presently, there is no animal model that permits combined in vitro and in vivo study of mycobacteria-host Mϕ interactions. Mycobacterium marinum (Mm), which causes TB in aquatic vertebrates, has become a promising model for TB research, owing to its close genetic relatedness to Mtb and the availability of alternative, natural host aquatic animal models. Here, we adopted the Xenopus laevis frog-Mm surrogate infection model to study host Mϕ susceptibility and resistance to mycobacteria. Mϕ differentiation is regulated though the CSF-1 receptor (CSF-1R), which is activated by CSF-1 and the unrelated IL-34 cytokines. Using combined in vitro and in vivo approaches, we demonstrated that CSF-1-Mϕs exacerbate Mm infections, are more susceptible to mycobacterial entry and are less effective at killing this pathogen. By contrast, IL-34-Mϕs confer anti-Mm resistance in vivo, are less susceptible to Mm entry and more effectively eliminate internalized mycobacteria. Moreover, we showed that the human CSF-1- and IL-34-Mϕs are likewise, respectively, susceptible and resistant to mycobacteria, and that both frog and human CSF-1-Mϕs are more prone to the spread of mycobacteria and to being infected by Mm-laden Mϕs than the respective IL-34-Mϕ subsets. This work marks the first report describing the roles of these Mϕ subsets in mycobacterial disease and may well lead to the development of more targeted anti-Mtb approaches.
Comparison of the performance of paired urine and cervical samples for cervical cancer screening in screening population
Authors: Xu Huifang , Yu Yanqin , George Whitney , Smith Jennifer S. , Hu Shangying , Dang Le , Zhang Xun , Pan Qinjing , Qiao Youlin , Zhao Fanghui 
Published: September 2019

AbstractThe main objective of this work is to determine the performance of urine for human papillomavirus (HPV) detection in cervical cancer screening in screening population. Paired urine and cervical samples were collected from 2038 women (careHPV group: 1002, cobas4800 group: 1036) in 2015. Urine was tested by a new urine‐based HPV test and cervical samples by careHPV or cobas4800 HPV test. Women were triaged based on cervical results and then referred to colposcopy with biopsy as clinically indicated. In 2017, women were followed up and screened with cotesting strategy, women with any positive would be referred and biopsied if necessary. In careHPV group, the HPV prevalence of urine was 14.1%, and 16.4% for cervical samples. In cobas4800 group, it was 19.1% and 20.4%, correspondingly. The concordance of urine samples compared with cervical samples was moderate (careHPV group: 86.6%; κ = 0.48; cobas4800 group: 83%; κ = 0.46). The baseline sensitivity and specificity for urine against CIN2+  detection were 85.7%, 86.8% in careHPV group, and 69.2%, 82.3% in cobas4800 group, respectively. Cervical samples were 100% sensitive for both tests (careHPV and cobas4800) and 85.2% specific in careHPV group and 81.9% specific in cobas4800 group, respectively. The corresponding cumulative sensitivity and specificity were 68.8% and 87.1%, 58.8% and 81.9%, 87.5% and 85.5%, and 94.1% and 81.4%. Urine demonstrated certain potential in cervical cancer screening and could be an alternative if no better screening strategies available.
Development and testing of SPECT/CT lung phantoms made from expanding polyurethane foam
Authors: Lehnert Adrienne L. , Hunter William C. J. , McDougald Wendy A. , Harrison Robert L. , Lewellen Thomas K. , Vesselle Hubert J. , Miyaoka Robert S. 
Published: September 2019

PurposeCurrently, single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) lung phantoms are commonly constructed using polystyrene beads and interstitial radioactive water. However, this approach often results in a phantom with a density (typically −640 HU) that is considerably higher than that of healthy lung (−750 to −850 HU) or diseased lung (−900 to −950 HU). Furthermore, the polystyrene and water phantoms are often quite heterogeneous in both density and activity concentration, especially when reused. This work is devoted to examining methods for creating a more realistic lung phantom for quantitative SPECT/CT using 99mTc‐laced expanding polyurethane foam (EPF).MethodsNumerous aspects of EPF utilization were studied, including stoichiometric mixing to control final foam density and the effect of water during growth. We also tested several ways of molding the foam lung phantoms. The most successful method utilized a three‐part silicone mold that allowed for creation of a two‐lobe phantom, with a different density and activity concentration in each lobe.ResultsThe final phantom design allows for a more anatomically accurate geometry as well as customizable density and activity concentration in the different lobes of the lung. We demonstrated final lung phantom densities between −760 and −690 HU in the “healthy” phantom and −930 to −890 HU in the “unhealthy” phantom tissue. On average, we achieved 15% activity concentration nonuniformity and 12% density nonuniformity within a given lobe.ConclusionsFinal EPF lung phantoms closely matched the densities of both health and diseased lung tissue and had sufficient uniformities in both density and activity concentration for most nuclear medicine applications. Management of component moisture content is critical for phantom reproducibility.
‘Do you care about the river?' A critical discourse analysis and lessons for management of social conflict over Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) conservation in the case of voluntary stocking in Wales
Authors: Harrison Hannah L. , Kochalski Sophia , Arlinghaus Robert , Aas Øystein 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Stakeholders with shared interests in fish conservation often disagree about which specific conservation measures are appropriate, leading to conflicts with sometimes long‐lasting and disruptive social and political effects. Managers are challenged to balance opposing stakeholder preferences with their own mandates in a charged environment. Using the 2014 termination of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) stocking in Wales as a case, we conducted a critical discourse analysis of interview data, online print media, social media and policy documents to examine conflict and its mechanisms over time. The data sources represented four discourse planes: the social, media, social media and policy planes. We report five key findings:

The conflict around salmon stocking took place in three stages, beginning with a negotiated, manifest conflict that escalated during the 2014 policy process that terminated stocking, creating a persistent spin‐off conflict.

The stocking debate was shaped by two discourse coalitions promoting either pro‐ or anti‐hatchery arguments, and an emerging third coalition advocating for compromise. The coalitions disagreed on the effectiveness of stocking, the status of the salmon stock and had different management goals, revealing that the pro‐ or anti‐stocking debate was caused by complex, intertwined and partly opposing beliefs and values.

Different elements of the discourses emerged on different planes and arguments were mobile across the planes over time, explaining how selected key arguments were able to persist, gain dominance, re‐appear over time, thus dynamically fuelling and (re)shaping the conflict.

The policy change decision to terminate stocking in Wales institutionalized anti‐stocking discourses. It forced all stakeholder groups to acquiesce to one perspective of stocking, creating a win‐lose situation for some stakeholders.

The handling and result of the policy change led to the alienation of some stakeholder groups. Ecological management goals were achieved in the short term, but the acrimonious and yet‐unsettled social side effects affected the long‐term relationships and may negatively impact future conservation issues in the area.

We conclude that transdisciplinary active management designed for joint learning about stocking trade‐offs may be a suitable alternative to the ‘either‐or' outcomes observed in Wales that fostered sustained stakeholder conflicts instead of joint production of knowledge and understanding.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.An abridged and annotated audio version of this article can be found here.
Intrauterine growth restriction affects diaphragm function in adult female and male mice
Authors: Francis Maddison R. , Pinniger Gavin J. , Noble Peter B. , Wang Kimberley C. W. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractBackgroundIn utero diaphragm development is critically important for postnatal respiratory function and any disturbance to fetal development may lead to diaphragm dysfunction and respiratory complications in the postnatal period. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been shown to affect respiratory function in a sex‐dependent manner; however, the effect of IUGR on diaphragm function is unknown.AimThis study used a maternal hypoxia‐induced mouse model of IUGR to investigate the impact of IUGR on diaphragm function and structure in male and female adult offspring.Materials and MethodsPregnant BALB/c mice were housed under hypoxic conditions (10.5% O2) from gestational days 11 to 17.5 and then returned to normoxic conditions. Control mice were housed under normoxic conditions throughout pregnancy. At 8 weeks of age, offspring were euthanized and diaphragms isolated for functional assessment in organ bath experiments and for histological analysis.ResultsIUGR offspring were lighter at birth and remained lighter at 8 weeks of age compared to Controls. While diaphragm force (maximal or twitch) was not affected by treatment or sex, the IUGR group exhibited a longer half‐relaxation time after twitch contractions compared to Control. Female offspring had a lower maximum rate of force development and higher fatigue resistance compared to males, independent of IUGR. There was no difference in the diaphragm myofibre cross‐sectional area between groups or sexes.ConclusionSex and IUGR independently affect diaphragm contraction in adult mice without changes in structure. This study demonstrates that IUGR affects diaphragm contractile function in later life and could impair respiratory function if exacerbated under conditions of increased respiratory load.
Designing development processes related to system of systems using a modeling framework
Authors: Shaked Avi , Reich Yoram 
Published: September 2019

AbstractAs manmade systems become increasingly complex and evolve into Systems of Systems of various kinds, a multitude of tasks needs to be performed in coordination throughout their development. In this paper, we briefly introduce a new modeling framework that was designed following systems engineering principles and based on extensive research of development efforts characteristics. We focus on the framework's ability to support the design of development processes while addressing Systems of Systems‐related challenges. We then describe a case study of using this framework to introduce a new capability into a large enterprise, which specializes in systems and System of Systems development. The example demonstrates the utility of using this framework for planning complex development efforts as well as improving the coordination of multiple development efforts in System of Systems development scenarios.
Collaborative Curriculum Design in Teacher Teams: Foundations
Authors: Voogt Joke , Pieters Jules , Pareja Roblin Natalie 
Published: September 2019

AbstractThis chapter serves as an introduction to the book. History shows that the intentions and ambitions of many curriculum innovations failed because the complexity of the design and implementation processes was often overlooked. Lack of teacher involvement in curriculum design processes is seen as an important cause for these disappointing outcomes. Several scholars have therefore called for more active involvement of (teams of) teachers in curriculum design processes. The first part of this chapter discusses the role of teachers in curriculum design, and how views about their involvement have evolved over time from reactive to more proactive involvement. Next, we examine how the products of curriculum design, curriculum materials, may contribute to teacher learning and curriculum enactment. We bring these two perspectives together in the final section where we use insights from sociocultural theory to conceptualize the key principles underlying collaborative curriculum design in teacher teams.
Implementation Activities in Design Teams: Opportunities to Demonstrate and Acquire Design Expertise
Authors: Huizinga Tjark , Nieveen Nienke , Handelzalts Adam 
Published: September 2019

AbstractTeacher involvement in the design of curriculum materials is expected to facilitate the process of implementing an educational reform, especially when teams of teachers collaborate in Teacher Design Teams (TDTs). However, little is known about the implementation activities that provide opportunities to develop teachers’ curriculum design expertise. The implementation activities of three TDTs that renewed their foreign language curriculum were investigated using a case study approach. The results showed that although TDTs carried out a wide variety of activities to foster classroom implementation, classroom use of the new curriculum materials varied. The need for additional support for TDTs in the implementation process in order to successfully facilitate changes in teachers’ classroom practices is discussed.
Human and Blended Support to Assist Learning About ICT Integration in (Pre-service) Teacher Design Teams
Authors: Alayyar Ghaida , Fisser Petra 
Published: September 2019

AbstractThe context of this study is the pre-service science teacher education program at the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (PAAET) in Kuwait. A major problem in the pre-service teacher education curriculum at this institution was how pre-service science teachers were prepared to use ICT in their teaching. To tackle this problem, Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) was used as a conceptual framework for developing an intervention to prepare students in the science teacher program for using ICT in their teaching. In the first iteration of the intervention students worked in design teams (DTs) and were coached by technology, pedagogy, and content experts, to find a technological solution for a pedagogical problem that a teacher normally faces. In the second iteration, students were offered an electronic support environment in addition to the expert support. As a result of the intervention, students had a positive attitude towards ICT and towards working in DTs. By adding the electronic support environment, the increase in student teachers’ positive attitude towards the use of ICT was even larger, as well as the increase in their knowledge about the pedagogical use of ICT in teaching. Implications for preparing pre-service students in ICT integration as part of their curriculum are discussed as well.
Teacher Learning in Collaborative Professional Development: Changes in Teacher and Student Practices
Authors: Anto Arkato Gendole , Coenders Fer 
Published: September 2019

AbstractThis chapter documents teacher learning from a 12-week collaborative professional development program (CPDP) at an Ethiopian university. Four teachers, supported by two facilitators, learned about and implemented communicative language teaching (CLT) in their teaching of English. A case study using individual teachers as units of analysis and a cross-case design was applied. Both qualitative and quantitative research techniques were used. The study showed that a seminar where a CLT handout and a teachers’ guide were presented and explained, and micro-lessons were used to practice, resulted in increased CLT knowledge and positive changes in beliefs. Consequently, the teachers improved their CLT classroom practices. These practices also seemed to favorably influence student learning experiences. We recommend further investigating the potential of the CPDP to assist larger numbers of English language teachers to learn about CLT at their workplace and successfully implement it in their teaching practice.