bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamic analysis of the interactions between Si/SiO2 quantum dots and biomolecules for improving applications based on nano-bio interfaces
Authors: Stan Miruna Silvia , Cinteza Ludmila Otilia , Petrescu Livia , Mernea Maria Alexandra , Calborean Octavian , Mihailescu Dan Florin , Sima Cornelia , Dinischiotu Anca 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDue to their outstanding properties, quantum dots (QDs) received a growing interest in the biomedical field, but it is of major importance to investigate and to understand their interaction with the biomolecules. We examined the stability of silicon QDs and the time evolution of QDs – protein corona formation in various biological media (bovine serum albumin, cell culture medium without or supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum-FBS). Changes in the secondary structure of BSA were also investigated over time. Hydrodynamic size and zeta potential measurements showed an evolution in time indicating the nanoparticle-protein interaction. The protein corona formation was also dependent on time, albumin adsorption reaching the peak level after 1 hour. The silicon QDs adsorbed an important amount of FBS proteins from the first 5 minutes of incubation that was maintained for the next 8 hours, and diminished afterwards. Under protein-free conditions the QDs induced cell membrane damage in a time-dependent manner, however the presence of serum proteins attenuated their hemolytic activity and maintained the integrity of phosphatidylcholine layer. This study provides useful insights regarding the dynamics of BSA adsorption and interaction of silicon QDs with proteins and lipids, in order to understand the role of QDs biocorona.
Morphology of Immunomodulation in Breast Cancer Tumor Draining Lymph Nodes Depends on Stage and Intrinsic Subtype
Authors: Seidl Maximilian , Bader Moritz , Vaihinger Astrid , Wellner Ulrich F. , Todorova Rumyana , Herde Bettina , Schrenk Klaudia , Maurer Jochen , Schilling Oliver , Erbes Thalia , Fisch Paul , Pfeiffer Jens , Hoffmann Linda , Franke Kai , Werner Martin , Bronsert Peter 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCancer research of immune-modulating mechanisms mainly addresses the role of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Mechanisms modulating the adaptive immune system at the primary activation site – the draining lymph node (LN) – are less investigated. Here we present tumor-caused histomorphological changes in tumor draining LNs of breast cancer patients, dependent on the localization (sentinel LN vs. non-sentinel LN), the tumor size, the intrinsic subtype and nodal metastatic status. The quantitative morphological study was conducted in breast cancer patients with at least one sentinel LN and no neoadjuvant therapy. All LNs were annotated considering to their topographical location, stained for IgD/H&E, digitized and quantitatively analyzed. In 206 patients, 394 sentinels and 940 non-sentinel LNs were categorized, comprising 40758 follicles and 7074 germinal centers. Subtype specific immunomorphological patterns were detectable: Follicular density was higher in LNs of Her2 enriched hormone receptor positive and triple-negative breast cancers whereas hormone receptor positive breast cancers showed more macrophage infiltrations in the LN cortex. Follicles are rounder in metastatic LNs and non-sentinel LNs. The identified immunomorphological changes reflect different underlying immunomodulations taking place in the tumor-draining LNs and should therefore be considered as possible prognostic and predictive markers for LN metastasis and therapy associated immunomodulation.
The sudden death and sudden birth of quantum discord
Authors: Xia Wei , Hou Jin-Xing , Wang Xiao-Hui , Liu Si-Yuan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe interaction of quantum system and its environment brings out abundant quantum phenomenons. The sudden death of quantum resources, including entanglement, quantum discord and coherence, have been studied from the perspective of quantum breaking channels (QBC). QBC of quantum resources reveal the common features of quantum resources. The definition of QBC implies the relationship between quantum resources. However, sudden death of quantum resources can also appear under some other quantum channels. We consider the dynamics of Bell-diagonal states under a stochastic dephasing noise along the z-direction, and the sudden death and sudden birth of quantum discord are investigated. Next we explain this phenomenon from the geometric structure of quantum discord. According to the above results, the states with sudden death and sudden birth can be filtered in three-parameter space. Then we provide two necessary conditions to judge which kind of noise channels can make Bell-diagonal states sudden death and sudden birth. Moreover, the relation between quantum discord and coherence indicates that the sudden death and sudden birth of quantum discord implies the sudden death and sudden birth of coherence in an optimal basis.
Altered DNA repair; an early pathogenic pathway in Alzheimer’s disease and obesity
Authors: Yu Hao , Harrison Fiona Edith , Xia Fen 
Published: March 2018

AbstractUnrepaired DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are lethal. The present study compared the extent of DSBs, neuronal apoptosis, and status of two major DSB repair pathways - homologous combinational repair (HR) and nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) - in hippocampus of 5–6 month and 16–18 month-old wild-type and APP/PSEN1 mice fed control diet or high fat diet (60% fat from lard). We performed immunohistochemical staining and quantification for nuclear foci formation of γ-H2AX for DSBs, RAD51, and 53BP1, which represent the functional status of HR and NHEJ, respectively. Increased γ-H2AX and caspase-3 staining indicated greater DSBs and associated neuronal apoptosis in APP/PSEN1 mice at both ages studied. RAD51-positive foci were fewer in APP/PSEN1 indicating that HR processes may be diminished in these mice, although NHEJ (53BP1 staining) appeared unchanged. High fat diet in young wild-type mice led to similar changes to those observed in APP/PSEN1 mice (γ-H2AX and caspase-3 staining, and fewer RAD51-positive foci). Overall, these data suggest that APP/PSEN1- and high fat diet-associated early accumulation of DSBs and neuronal cell death, resulted at least in part, from inhibition of HR, one of the major DSB repair pathways.
Dynamic interaction of local and transhemispheric networks is necessary for progressive intensification of hippocampal seizures
Authors: Berglind Fredrik , Andersson My , Kokaia Merab 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe detailed mechanisms of progressive intensification of seizures often occurring in epilepsy are not well understood. Animal models of kindling, with progressive intensification of stimulation-induced seizures, have been previously used to investigate alterations in neuronal networks, but has been obscured by limited recording capabilities during electrical stimulations. Remote networks in kindling have been studied by physical deletions of the connected structures or pathways, inevitably leading to structural reorganisations and related adverse effects. We used optogenetics to circumvent the above-mentioned problems inherent to electrical kindling, and chemogenetics to temporarily inhibit rather than ablate the remote interconnected networks. Progressively intensifying afterdischarges (ADs) were induced by repetitive photoactivation of principal neurons in the hippocampus of anaesthetized transgenic mice expressing ChR2. This allowed, during the stimulation, to reveal dynamic increases in local field potentials (LFPs), which coincided with the start of AD intensification. Furthermore, chemogenetic functional inhibition of contralateral hippocampal neurons via hM4D(Gi) receptors abrogated AD progression. These findings demonstrate that, during repeated activation, local circuits undergo acute plastic changes with appearance of additional network discharges (LFPs), leading to transhemispheric recruitment of contralateral dentate gyrus, which seems to be necessary for progressive intensification of ADs.
Bilateral geochemical asymmetry in the Karoo large igneous province
Authors: Luttinen Arto V. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn the Karoo large igneous province, the geochemical assessment of mantle source variability and structure is hampered by probable crustal contamination overprinting of compositionally diverse flood basalts. Mantle source characteristics have been defined only for exceptional, primitive rock types. Here I use a compiled dataset for over 800 samples to demonstrate that the abundance of Nb relative to Zr, Ti, and Y provides a useful geochemical tracer of mantle sources for variably contaminated rock types of the Karoo province. Variations in the relative abundance of Nb reveal emplacement of distinctive, Nb-undepleted and Nb-depleted magmas in the North Karoo and South Karoo sub-provinces, respectively, and clarify correlation between flood basalts and previously proposed mantle source components. Judging from plate tectonic reconstructions and the compositions of plausible mantle source components, the geochemical bilateral asymmetry in Karoo may reflect tapping of contrasting plume and upper mantle reservoirs in the two sub-provinces.
Cementoin–SLPI fusion protein binds to human monocytes and epithelial cells and shows higher biological activity than SLPI
Authors: Maffía Paulo C. , Guerrieri Diego , Villalonga Ximena , Caro Fiorella , Gómez Sonia , Tateosian Nancy , Bogado Betiana P. , Sánchez Mercedes L. , Ambrosi Nella , Chuluyan Eduardo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSecretory Leukocyte Proteinase Inhibitor (SLPI) is an antiinflammatory peptide that blocks the activity of serine proteases, primarily the neutrophil elastase. In an attempt to direct the activity of SLPI on inflamed sites, a chimera consisting of the transglutaminase II substrate domain of trappin 2 (cementoin), and the mature SLPI protein was constructed. Cell attachment and biological activity were compared between SLPI and this chimera. By using whole cell ELISA, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry assays we observed that the cementoin-SLPI fusion protein (FP) but not SLPI attached to a human lung epithelial cell line and monocytes. A maximum attachment was achieved 15 min after FP was added to the cell cultures. In an elastase activity assay, we observed that FP retained its antiprotease activity and that at equimolar amount of proteins, FP was more efficient than SLPI in the inhibition. Both, FP and SLPI inhibits IL-2-induced lymphocyte proliferation, however, lower amounts of FP were required to achieve this inhibition. Furthermore, FP binds to mycobacteria and maintained the bactericidal activity observed for SLPI. Overall, these results show that this new chimera is able to attach to the cell surfaces retaining and improving some biological activities described for SLPI.
Morphometric analysis of spread platelets identifies integrin αIIbβ3-specific contractile phenotype
Authors: Lickert Sebastian , Sorrentino Simona , Studt Jan-Dirk , Medalia Ohad , Vogel Viola , Schoen Ingmar 
Published: March 2018

AbstractHaemostatic platelet function is intimately linked to cellular mechanics and cytoskeletal morphology. How cytoskeletal reorganizations give rise to a highly contractile phenotype that is necessary for clot contraction remains poorly understood. To elucidate this process in vitro, we developed a morphometric screen to quantify the spatial organization of actin fibres and vinculin adhesion sites in single spread platelets. Platelets from healthy donors predominantly adopted a bipolar morphology on fibrinogen and fibronectin, whereas distinguishable, more isotropic phenotypes on collagen type I or laminin. Specific integrin αIIbβ3 inhibitors induced an isotropic cytoskeletal organization in a dose-dependent manner. The same trend was observed with decreasing matrix stiffness. Circular F-actin arrangements in platelets from a patient with type II Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) were consistent with the residual activity of a small number of αIIbβ3 integrins. Cytoskeletal morphologies in vitro thus inform about platelet adhesion receptor identity and functionality, and integrin αIIbβ3 mechanotransduction fundamentally determines the adoption of a bipolar phenotype associated with contraction. Super-resolution microscopy and electron microscopies further confirmed the stress fibre-like contractile actin architecture. For the first time, our assay allows the unbiased and quantitative assessment of platelet morphologies and could help to identify defective platelet behaviour contributing to elusive bleeding phenotypes.
Neurons in the Pigeon Nidopallium Caudolaterale Display Value-Related Activity
Authors: Dykes Madeline , Klarer Aylin , Porter Blake , Rose Jonas , Colombo Michael 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe recorded from neurons in the nidopallium caudolaterale, the avian equivalent of the mammalian prefrontal cortex, in four birds. The birds were required to peck a stimulus that indicated the amount of reward they would receive (small or large) after a certain delay (short or long). We found that the activity of neurons in the nidopallium caudolaterale was modulated by the value of the reward that would be received based on the reward amount and the delay to reward. We found that value coding was most prominent during the presentation of the sample period, and less so during the delay period and during the presentation of the reward itself. Our findings support the view that activity in nidopallium caudolaterale reflects the encoding of the value of reward based on a combination of reward amount and delay to a reward.
Evaluation and optimization of differentiation conditions for human primary brown adipocytes
Authors: Wang XingYun , You LiangHui , Cui XianWei , Li Yun , Wang Xing , Xu PengFei , Zhu LiJun , Wen Juan , Pang LingXia , Guo XiRong , Ji ChenBo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAs an effective way to improve energy expenditure, increasing the mass and activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) has become a promising treatment for obesity and its associated disorders. Many efforts have been made to promote brown adipogenesis and increase the thermogenic capacity of brown adipose cells (BACs). The present culture schemes for human BAC differentiation are mostly derived from white adipocyte differentiation schemes. To solve this issue, we compared the adipogenic and thermogenic effects of various components on human BAC differentiation and optimized their concentrations as well as the culture time for BAC differentiation. In this study, we found that the induction factors did not show a dose-dependent promotion of brown adipogenesis or thermogenic capacity. The higher differentiation levels did not inevitably result in higher BAT-specific gene expression levels or increased β3-receptor agonist sensitivity. As an important element of culture medium, triiodothyronine was found to be essential for differentiation and metabolic property maintenance. Furthermore, compared with other reported methods, this protocol induced a specific intrinsic differentiation program. Our study provides not only an optimized method for human BAC differentiation but also a cell model with good differentiation and thermogenic capacity for brown adipose research.
The impact of circulating preeclampsia-associated extracellular vesicles on the migratory activity and phenotype of THP-1 monocytic cells
Authors: Kovács Árpád Ferenc , Láng Orsolya , Turiák Lilla , Ács András , Kőhidai László , Fekete Nóra , Alasztics Bálint , Mészáros Tamás , Buzás Edit Irén , Rigó János , Pállinger Éva 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIntercellular communication via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their target cells, especially immune cells, results in functional and phenotype changes that consequently may play a significant role in various physiological states and the pathogenesis of immune-mediated disorders. Monocytes are the most prominent environment-sensing immune cells in circulation, skilled to shape their microenvironments via cytokine secretion and further differentiation. Both the circulating monocyte subset distribution and the blood plasma EV pattern are characteristic for preeclampsia, a pregnancy induced immune-mediated hypertensive disorder. We hypothesized that preeclampsia-associated EVs (PE-EVs) induced functional and phenotypic alterations of monocytes. First, we proved EV binding and uptake by THP-1 cells. Cellular origin and protein cargo of circulating PE-EVs were characterized by flow cytometry and mass spectrometry. An altered phagocytosis-associated molecular pattern was found on 12.5 K fraction of PE-EVs: an elevated CD47 “don’t eat me” signal (p < 0.01) and decreased exofacial phosphatidylserine “eat-me” signal (p < 0.001) were found along with decreased uptake of these PE-EVs (p < 0.05). The 12.5 K fraction of PE-EVs induced significantly lower chemotaxis (p < 0.01) and cell motility but accelerated cell adhesion of THP-1 cells (p < 0.05). The 12.5 K fraction of PE-EVs induced altered monocyte functions suggest that circulating EVs may have a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Long-range dependence in earthquake-moment release and implications for earthquake occurrence probability
Authors: Barani Simone , Mascandola Claudia , Riccomagno Eva , Spallarossa Daniele , Albarello Dario , Ferretti Gabriele , Scafidi Davide , Augliera Paolo , Massa Marco 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSince the beginning of the 1980s, when Mandelbrot observed that earthquakes occur on ‘fractal’ self-similar sets, many studies have investigated the dynamical mechanisms that lead to self-similarities in the earthquake process. Interpreting seismicity as a self-similar process is undoubtedly convenient to bypass the physical complexities related to the actual process. Self-similar processes are indeed invariant under suitable scaling of space and time. In this study, we show that long-range dependence is an inherent feature of the seismic process, and is universal. Examination of series of cumulative seismic moment both in Italy and worldwide through Hurst’s rescaled range analysis shows that seismicity is a memory process with a Hurst exponentH≈ 0.87. We observe thatHis substantially space- and time-invariant, except in cases of catalog incompleteness. This has implications for earthquake forecasting. Hence, we have developed a probability model for earthquake occurrence that allows for long-range dependence in the seismic process. Unlike the Poisson model, dependent events are allowed. This model can be easily transferred to other disciplines that deal with self-similar processes.
On the spot: utilization of directional cues in vibrational communication of a stink bug
Authors: Prešern Janez , Polajnar Jernej , de Groot Maarten , Zorović Maja , Virant-Doberlet Meta 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAlthough vibrational signalling is among the most ancient and common forms of communication, many fundamental aspects of this communication channel are still poorly understood. Here, we studied mechanisms underlying orientation towards the source of vibrational signals in the stink bug Nezara viridula (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae), where female vibrational song enables male to locate her on the bean plant. At the junction between the main stem and the leaf stalks, male placed his legs on different sides of the branching and orientation at the branching point was not random. Analyses of signal transmission revealed that only a time delay between the arrival of vibrational wave to receptors located in the legs stretched across the branching was a reliable directional cue underlying orientation, since, unexpectedly, the signal amplitude at the branching point was often higher on the stalk away from the female. The plant and the position of the vibrational source on the plant were the most important factors influencing the unpredictability of the amplitude cue. Determined time delays as short as 0.5 ms resulted in marked changes in interneuron activity and the decision model suggests that the behavioural threshold is in the range between 0.3 and 0.5 ms.
Renormalized vibrations and normal energy transport in 1d FPU-like discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equations
Authors: Li Simeng , Li Nianbei 
Published: March 2018

AbstractFor one-dimensional (1d) nonlinear atomic lattices, the models with on-site nonlinearities such as the Frenkel-Kontorova (FK) andϕ4lattices have normal energy transport while the models with inter-site nonlinearities such as the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-β(FPU-β) lattice exhibit anomalous energy transport. The 1d Discrete Nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) equations with on-site nonlinearities has been previously studied and normal energy transport has also been found. Here, we investigate the energy transport of 1d FPU-like DNLS equations with inter-site nonlinearities. Extended from the FPU-βlattice, the renormalized vibration theory is developed for the FPU-like DNLS models and the predicted renormalized vibrations are verified by direct numerical simulations same as the FPU-βlattice. However, the energy diffusion processes are explored and normal energy transport is observed for the 1d FPU-like DNLS models, which is different from their atomic lattice counterpart of FPU-βlattice. The reason might be that, unlike nonlinear atomic lattices where models with on-site nonlinearities have one less conserved quantities than the models with inter-site nonlinearities, the DNLS models with on-site or inter-site nonlinearities have the same number of conserved quantities as the result of gauge transformation.
Silent infection of human dendritic cells by African and Asian strains of Zika virus
Authors: Vielle Nathalie J. , Zumkehr Beatrice , García-Nicolás Obdulio , Blank Fabian , Stojanov Miloš , Musso Didier , Baud David , Summerfield Artur , Alves Marco P. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWhile Zika virus (ZIKV) circulated for decades (African lineage strains) without report of outbreaks and severe complications, its emergence in French Polynesia and subsequently in the Americas (Asian lineage strains) was associated with description of severe neurological defects in newborns/neonates and adults. With the aim to identify virus lineage-dependent factors, we compared cell susceptibility, virus replication, cell death and innate immune responses following infection with two African and three contemporary Asian lineage strains of ZIKV. To this end, we used green monkey Vero and Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells and human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). The latter are involved in the pathogenesis of several mosquito-borne Flavivirus infections. In Vero and C6/36 cells, we observed strain- but not lineage-dependent differences in infection profiles. Nevertheless, in human DCs, no significant differences in susceptibility and virus replication were found between lineages and strains. ZIKV induced antiviral interferon type I/III in a limited fashion, with the exception of one African strain. None of the strains induced cell death or DC maturation in terms of MHC II, CD40, CD80/86 or CCR7 expression. Taken together, our data suggest that a large collection of virus isolates needs to be investigated before conclusions on lineage differences can be made.