bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cryotherapy Reduces Inflammatory Response Without Altering Muscle Regeneration Process and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling of Rat Muscle
Authors: Vieira Ramos Gracielle , Pinheiro Clara Maria , Messa Sabrina Peviani , Delfino Gabriel Borges , Marqueti Rita de Cássia , Salvini Tania de Fátima , Durigan Joao Luiz Quagliotti 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe application of cryotherapy is widely used in sports medicine today. Cooling could minimize secondary hypoxic injury through the reduction of cellular metabolism and injury area. Conflicting results have also suggested cryotherapy could delay and impair the regeneration process. There are no definitive findings about the effects of cryotherapy on the process of muscle regeneration. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a clinical-like cryotherapy on inflammation, regeneration and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling on the Tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of rats 3, 7 and 14 days post-injury. It was observed that the intermittent application of cryotherapy (three 30-minute sessions, every 2 h) in the first 48 h post-injury decreased inflammatory processes (mRNA levels of TNF-α, NF-κB, TGF-β and MMP-9 and macrophage percentage). Cryotherapy did not alter regeneration markers such as injury area, desmin and Myod expression. Despite regulating Collagen I and III and their growth factors, cryotherapy did not alter collagen deposition. In summary, clinical-like cryotherapy reduces the inflammatory process through the decrease of macrophage infiltration and the accumulation of the inflammatory key markers without influencing muscle injury area and ECM remodeling.
Detachment of surface membrane invagination systems by cationic amphiphilic drugs
Authors: Osman Sangar , Taylor Kirk A. , Allcock Natalie , Rainbow Richard D. , Mahaut-Smith Martyn P. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractSeveral cell types develop extensive plasma membrane invaginations to serve a specific physiological function. For example, the megakaryocyte demarcation membrane system (DMS) provides a membrane reserve for platelet production and muscle transverse (T) tubules facilitate excitation:contraction coupling. Using impermeant fluorescent indicators, capacitance measurements and electron microscopy, we show that multiple cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) cause complete separation of the DMS from the surface membrane in rat megakaryocytes. This includes the calmodulin inhibitor W-7, the phospholipase-C inhibitor U73122 and anti-psychotic phenothiazines. CADs also caused loss of T tubules in rat cardiac ventricular myocytes and the open canalicular system of human platelets. Anionic amphiphiles, U73343 (a less electrophilic U73122 analogue) and a range of kinase inhibitors were without effect on the DMS. CADs are known to accumulate in the inner leaflet of the cell membrane where they bind to anionic lipids, especially PI(4,5)P2. We therefore propose that surface detachment of membrane invaginations results from an ability of CADs to interfere with PI(4,5)P2 interactions with cytoskeletal or BAR domain proteins. This establishes a detubulating action of a large class of pharmaceutical compounds.
Multi-scale Characterisation of the 3D Microstructure of a Thermally-Shocked Bulk Metallic Glass Matrix Composite
Authors: Zhang Wei , Bodey Andrew J. , Sui Tan , Kockelmann Winfried , Rau Christoph , Korsunsky Alexander M. , Mi Jiawei 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBulk metallic glass matrix composites (BMGMCs) are a new class of metal alloys which have significantly increased ductility and impact toughness, resulting from the ductile crystalline phases distributed uniformly within the amorphous matrix. However, the 3D structures and their morphologies of such composite at nano and micrometre scale have never been reported before. We have used high density electric currents to thermally shock a Zr-Ti based BMGMC to different temperatures and used X-ray microtomography, FIB-SEM nanotomography and neutron diffraction to reveal the morphologies, compositions, volume fractions and thermal stabilities of the nano and microstructures. Understanding of these is essential for optimizing the design of BMGMCs and developing viable manufacturing methods.
MicroRNA-induced negative regulation of TLR-5 in grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella
Authors: Xu Xiao-Yan , Shen Yu-Bang , Fu Jian-Jun , Yu Hong-Yan , Huang Wen-Ji , Lu Li-Qun , Li Jia-Le 
Published: January 2016

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that play crucial roles in numerous biological processes. However, the role of miRNAs in antibacterial defence in fish has not been fully determined. Here, we identified that nine miRNAs are differentially expressed in kidney between susceptible and resistant grass carp strains. Analysis of spatial and temporal miRNA expression patterns suggests that cid-miRn-115 and miR-142a-3p are potential regulators of anti-bacterial activity. Overexpressing of cid-miRn-115 and miR-142a-3p results in a visible change in Ctenopharyngodon idella kidney (CIK) cells immune effector activity. Bioinformatics analysis and overexpressing assay shows that cid-miRn-115 and miR-142a-3p directly regulate tlr5 expression. cid-miRn-115 and miR-142a-3p overexpressing leads to a significant decrease in tlr5 expression in CIK, thereby repressing its downstream genes, such as il-1β, il-8 and tnf-α. These findings provide a novel insight into the determination of anti-bacterial compounds in grass carp.
Emulating short-term synaptic dynamics with memristive devices
Authors: Berdan Radu , Vasilaki Eleni , Khiat Ali , Indiveri Giacomo , Serb Alexandru , Prodromakis Themistoklis 
Published: January 2016

AbstractNeuromorphic architectures offer great promise for achieving computation capacities beyond conventional Von Neumann machines. The essential elements for achieving this vision are highly scalable synaptic mimics that do not undermine biological fidelity. Here we demonstrate that single solid-state TiO2 memristors can exhibit non-associative plasticity phenomena observed in biological synapses, supported by their metastable memory state transition properties. We show that, contrary to conventional uses of solid-state memory, the existence of rate-limiting volatility is a key feature for capturing short-term synaptic dynamics. We also show how the temporal dynamics of our prototypes can be exploited to implement spatio-temporal computation, demonstrating the memristors full potential for building biophysically realistic neural processing systems.
Focal Lesions in Fatty Liver: If Quantitative Analysis Facilitates the Differentiation of Atypical Benign from Malignant Lesions
Authors: Shan Quan-Yuan , Chen Li-Da , Zhou Lu-Yao , Wang Zhu , Liu Guang-Jian , Huang Yang , Li Wei , Liu Jin-ya , Xie Xiao-yan , Lu Ming-de , Liu Jie , Wang Wei 
Published: January 2016

AbstractTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of quantitative analysis as an adjunctive diagnostic tool to contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) for the differentiation of atypical benign focal liver lesions (FLLs) from malignancies in fatty liver. Twenty-seven benign FLLs and fifty-six malignant FLLs that appeared hyper-enhanced during the arterial phase with washout in the portal or late phase in fatty liver were analyzed. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were applied to identify the specific features. Three sets of criteria were assigned: 1) all FLLs subjected to routine contrast-enhanced US; 2) all FLLs subjected to quantification analysis and contrast-enhanced US; and 3) parts of FLLs that could not be diagnosed using contrast-enhanced US (n = 66, 75.9%) but instead were diagnosed using parametric features. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the three sets of criteria were analyzed. The AUCs of the criterion set 2 were significantly higher than those of criterion set 1 (0.904 versus 0.792, P = 0.008). Criterion set 3 showed a relatively high sensitivity (90.2%) with a relatively high AUC (0.845). The quantification analysis offers improved diagnostic performance for the differential identification of atypical benign FLLs from malignancies in fatty liver.
Galangin sensitizes TRAIL-induced apoptosis through down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins in renal carcinoma Caki cells
Authors: Han Min Ae , Lee Dong Hee , Woo Seon Min , Seo Bo Ram , Min Kyoung-jin , Kim Shin , Park Jong-Wook , Kim Sang Hyun , Choi Yung Hyun , Kwon Taeg Kyu 
Published: January 2016

AbstractGalangin, bioflavonoids, has been shown anti-cancer properties in various cancer cells. In this study, we investigated whether galangin could enhance TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in TRAIL resistant renal carcinoma Caki cells. Galangin alone and TRAIL alone had no effect on apoptosis, while combined treatment with galangin and TRAIL significantly induced apoptosis in renal carcinoma (Caki, ACHN and A498) but not normal cells (normal mouse kidney cells and human normal mesangial cells). Galangin induced down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein at the transcriptional level via inhibition of NF-κB activation but not p53 pathway. Furthermore, galangin induced down-regulation of cFLIP, Mcl-1 and survivin expression at the post-translational levels and the over-expression of Bcl-2, cFLIP, Mcl-1 and survivin markedly reduced galangin-induced TRAIL sensitization. In addition, galangin increased proteasome activity, but galangin had no effect on expression of proteasome subunits (PSMA5 and PSMD4). In conclusion, our investigation suggests that galangin is a potent candidate for sensitizer of TRAIL resistant cancer cell therapy.
Functional Analysis of Esterase TCE2 Gene from Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) involved in Acaricide Resistance
Authors: Shi Li , Wei Peng , Wang Xiangzun , Shen Guangmao , Zhang Jiao , Xiao Wei , Xu Zhifeng , Xu Qiang , He Lin 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus is an important pest of crops and vegetables worldwide and it has the ability to develop resistance against acaricides rapidly. Our previous study identified an esterase gene (designated TCE2) over-expressed in resistant mites. To investigate this gene’s function in resistance, the expression levels of TCE2 in susceptible, abamectin-, fenpropathrin- and cyflumetofen-resistant strains were knocked down (65.02%, 63.14%, 57.82% and 63.99%, respectively) via RNA interference. The bioassay data showed that the resistant levels to three acaricides were significantly decreased after the down-regulation of TCE2, indicating a correlation between the expression of TCE2 and the acaricide-resistance in T. cinnabarinus. TCE2 gene was then re-engineered for heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The recombinant TCE2 exhibited α-naphthyl acetate activity (483.3 ± 71.8 nmol/mg pro. min−1) and the activity of this enzyme could be inhibited by abamectin, fenpropathrin and cyflumetofen, respectively. HPLC and GC results showed that 10 μg of the recombinant TCE2 could effectively decompose 21.23% fenpropathrin and 49.70% cyflumetofen within 2 hours. This is the first report of a successful heterologous expression of an esterase gene from mites. This study provides direct evidence that TCE2 is a functional gene involved in acaricide resistance in T. cinnabarinus.
Coalescence-Induced Jumping of Multiple Condensate Droplets on Hierarchical Superhydrophobic Surfaces
Authors: Chen Xuemei , Patel Ravi S. , Weibel Justin A. , Garimella Suresh V. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractCoalescence-induced jumping of condensate droplets from a superhydrophobic surface with hierarchical micro/nanoscale roughness is quantitatively characterized. Experimental observations show that the condensate droplet jumping is induced by coalescence of multiple droplets of different sizes and that the coalesced droplet trajectories typically deviate from the surface normal. A depth-from-defocus image processing technique is developed to track the out-of-plane displacement of the jumping droplets, so as to accurately measure the droplet size and velocity. The results demonstrate that the highest jumping velocity is achieved when two droplets coalesce. The jumping velocity decreases gradually with an increase in the number of coalescing droplets, despite the greater potential surface energy released upon coalescence. A general theoretical model that accounts for viscous dissipation, surface adhesion, line tension, the initial droplet wetting states and the number and sizes of the coalescing droplets is developed to explain the trends of droplet jumping velocity observed in the experiments.
Genetic alterations in fatty acid transport and metabolism genes are associated with metastatic progression and poor prognosis of human cancers
Authors: Nath Aritro , Chan Christina 
Published: January 2016

AbstractReprogramming of cellular metabolism is a hallmark feature of cancer cells. While a distinct set of processes drive metastasis when compared to tumorigenesis, it is yet unclear if genetic alterations in metabolic pathways are associated with metastatic progression of human cancers. Here, we analyzed the mutation, copy number variation and gene expression patterns of a literature-derived model of metabolic genes associated with glycolysis (Warburg effect), fatty acid metabolism (lipogenesis, oxidation, lipolysis, esterification) and fatty acid uptake in >9000 primary or metastatic tumor samples from the multi-cancer TCGA datasets. Our association analysis revealed a uniform pattern of Warburg effect mutations influencing prognosis across all tumor types, while copy number alterations in the electron transport chain gene SCO2, fatty acid uptake (CAV1, CD36) and lipogenesis (PPARA, PPARD, MLXIPL) genes were enriched in metastatic tumors. Using gene expression profiles, we established a gene-signature (CAV1, CD36, MLXIPL, CPT1C, CYP2E1) that strongly associated with epithelial-mesenchymal program across multiple cancers. Moreover, stratification of samples based on the copy number or expression profiles of the genes identified in our analysis revealed a significant effect on patient survival rates, thus confirming prominent roles of fatty acid uptake and metabolism in metastatic progression and poor prognosis of human cancers.
Effects of sediment influx on the settlement and survival of canopy-forming macrophytes
Authors: Watanabe Hayato , Ito Miku , Matsumoto Akira , Arakawa Hisayuki 
Published: January 2016

AbstractKelp forests on coastal rocky shores are negatively impacted by sudden sediment loads that can occur with storms and floods. Using laboratory experiments, we studied the effects of sediment deposition on the survival of the large brown algaEisenia bicyclisjuveniles (zoospores and gametophytes) to quantify the potential impacts of particulate matter on kelp forests. The zoospore adhesion rate and the gametophyte survival and growth rates all declined markedly with increasing sediment load, particularly with smaller particle diameter. Using experimental results, we derived an equation to calculate the rate of initial kelp depletion with sediment load based on the quantity and size distribution of sediment particles. The equation enabled the estimation ofE. bicyclisdepletion rates in the field by measurement of particle quantity and diameter distribution of sediments on the reef substrate.
Telomerase reverse transcriptase acts in a feedback loop with NF-κB pathway to regulate macrophage polarization in alcoholic liver disease
Authors: Wu Xiao-qin , Yang Yang , Li Wan-xia , Cheng Ya-hui , Li Xiao-feng , Huang Cheng , Meng Xiao-ming , Wu Bao-ming , Liu Xin-hua , Zhang Lei , Lv Xiong-wen , Li Jun 
Published: January 2016

AbstractActivation of Kupffer cells (KCs) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). C57BL/6 mice fed EtOH-containing diet showed a mixed induction of hepatic classical (M1) and alternative (M2) macrophage markers. Since telomerase activation occurs at critical stages of myeloid and lymphoid cell activation, we herein investigated the role of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), the determining factor of telomerase, in macrophage activation during ALD. In our study, TERT expression and telomerase activity (TA) were remarkably increased in liver tissue of EtOH-fed mice. Moreover, EtOH significantly up-regulated TERT in isolated KCs and RAW 264.7 cells and LPS induced TERT production in vitro. These data indicate that up-regulation of TERT may play a critical role in macrophages during ALD. Furthermore, loss- and gain-of-function studies suggested that TERT switched macrophages towards M1 phenotype by regulating NF-κB signaling, but had limited effect on M2 macrophages polarization in vitro. Additionally, PDTC, a chemical inhibitor of NF-κB, could dramatically down-regulate TERT expression and the hallmarks of M1 macrophages. Therefore, our study unveils the role of TERT in macrophage polarization and the cross-talk between TERT and p65, which may provide a possible explanation for the ethanol-mediated hepatic proinflammatory response and M1 macrophage polarization.
Noisy decision thresholds can account for suboptimal detection of low coherence motion
Authors: Price Nicholas S. C. , VanCuylenberg John B. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractNoise in sensory signals can vary over both space and time. Moving random dot stimuli are commonly used to quantify how the visual system accounts for spatial noise. In these stimuli, a fixed proportion of “signal” dots move in the same direction and the remaining “noise” dots are randomly replotted. The spatial coherence, or proportion of signal versus noise dots, is fixed across time; however, this means that little is known about how temporally-noisy signals are integrated. Here we use a stimulus with low temporal coherence; the signal direction is only presented on a fraction of frames. Human observers are able to reliably detect and discriminate the direction of a 200 ms motion pulse, even when just 25% of frames within the pulse move in the signal direction. Using psychophysical reverse-correlation analyses, we show that observers are strongly influenced by the number of near-target directions spread throughout the pulse and that consecutive signal frames have only a small additional influence on perception. Finally, we develop a model inspired by the leaky integration of the responses of direction-selective neurons, which reliably represents motion direction and which can account for observers’ sub-optimal detection of motion pulses by incorporating a noisy decision threshold.
Self-Limiting Layer Synthesis of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides
Authors: Kim Youngjun , Song Jeong-Gyu , Park Yong Ju , Ryu Gyeong Hee , Lee Su Jeong , Kim Jin Sung , Jeon Pyo Jin , Lee Chang Wan , Woo Whang Je , Choi Taejin , Jung Hanearl , Lee Han-Bo-Ram , Myoung Jae-Min , Im Seongil , Lee Zonghoon , Ahn Jong-Hyun , Park Jusang , Kim Hyungjun 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis work reports the self-limiting synthesis of an atomically thin, two dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) in the form of MoS2. The layer controllability and large area uniformity essential for electronic and optical device applications is achieved through atomic layer deposition in what is named self-limiting layer synthesis (SLS); a process in which the number of layers is determined by temperature rather than process cycles due to the chemically inactive nature of 2D MoS2. Through spectroscopic and microscopic investigation it is demonstrated that SLS is capable of producing MoS2 with a wafer-scale (~10 cm) layer-number uniformity of more than 90%, which when used as the active layer in a top-gated field-effect transistor, produces an on/off ratio as high as 108. This process is also shown to be applicable to WSe2, with a PN diode fabricated from a MoS2/WSe2 heterostructure exhibiting gate-tunable rectifying characteristics.
Biological behaviour of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cell grown on nickel-free and nickel-containing stainless steel for stent implantation
Authors: Li Liming , An Liwen , Zhou Xiaohang , Pan Shuang , Meng Xin , Ren Yibin , Yang Ke , Guan Yifu 
Published: January 2016

AbstractTo evaluate the clinical potential of high nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steel (HNNF SS), we have compared the cellular and molecular responses of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs) to HNNF SS and 316L SS (nickel-containing austenitic 316L stainless steel). CCK-8 analysis and flow cytometric analysis were used to assess the cellular responses (proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the gene expression profiles of HUASMCs exposed to HNNF SS and 316L SS, respectively. CCK-8 analysis demonstrated that HUASMCs cultured on HNNF SS proliferated more slowly than those on 316L SS. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that HNNF SS could activate more cellular apoptosis. The qRT-PCR results showed that the genes regulating cell apoptosis and autophagy were up-regulated on HNNF SS. Thus, HNNF SS could reduce the HUASMC proliferation in comparison to 316L SS. The findings furnish valuable information for developing new biomedical materials for stent implantation.
Utilization of native oxygen in Eu(RE)-doped GaN for enabling device compatibility in optoelectronic applications
Authors: Mitchell B. , Timmerman D. , Poplawsky J. , Zhu W. , Lee D. , Wakamatsu R. , Takatsu J. , Matsuda M. , Guo W. , Lorenz K. , Alves E. , Koizumi A. , Dierolf V. , Fujiwara Y. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe detrimental influence of oxygen on the performance and reliability of V/III nitride based devices is well known. However, the influence of oxygen on the nature of the incorporation of other co-dopants, such as rare earth ions, has been largely overlooked in GaN. Here, we report the first comprehensive study of the critical role that oxygen has on Eu in GaN, as well as atomic scale observation of diffusion and local concentration of both atoms in the crystal lattice. We find that oxygen plays an integral role in the location, stability and local defect structure around the Eu ions that were doped into the GaN host. Although the availability of oxygen is essential for these properties, it renders the material incompatible with GaN-based devices. However, the utilization of the normally occurring oxygen in GaN is promoted through structural manipulation, reducing its concentration by 2 orders of magnitude, while maintaining both the material quality and the favorable optical properties of the Eu ions. These findings open the way for full integration of RE dopants for optoelectronic functionalities in the existing GaN platform.
FTO modulates fibrogenic responses in obstructive nephropathy
Authors: Wang Chao-Yung , Shie Shian-Sen , Tsai Ming-Lung , Yang Chia-Hung , Hung Kuo-Chun , Wang Chun-Chieh , Hsieh I-Chang , Wen Ming-Shien 
Published: January 2016

AbstractGenome-wide association studies have shown that variants in fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene are robustly associated with body mass index and obesity. These FTO variants are also associated with end stage renal disease and all-cause mortality in chronic kidney diseases. However, the exact role of FTO in kidneys is currently unknown. Here we show that FTO expression is increased after ureteral obstruction and renal fibrosis. Deficiency of the FTO gene attenuates the fibrogenic responses induced by ureteral obstruction in the kidney. Renal tubular cells deficient of FTO produce less α-SMA after TGF-β stimulation. FTO is indispensable for the extracellular matrix synthesis after ureteral obstruction in kidneys. Indeed, global gene transcriptions amplitude is reduced in FTO deficient kidneys after ureteral obstruction. These data establish the importance of FTO in renal fibrosis, which may have potential therapeutic implications.