bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Equilibrium and kinetic studies of copper biosorption by dead Ceriporia lacerata biomass isolated from the litter of an invasive plant in China
Authors: Li Xiaona , Li Airong , Long Mingzhong , Tian Xingjun 
Published: April 2015

Abstract

Background

Ceriporia lacerata, a strain of white-rot fungus isolated from the litter of an invasive plant (Solidago canadensis) in China, was little known about its properties and utilization. In this work, the copper(II) biosorption characteristics of formaldehyde inactivated C. lacerata biomass were examined as a function of initial pH, initial copper(II) concentration and contact time, and the adsorptive equilibrium and kinetics were simulated, too.

Results
The optimum pH was found to be 6.0 at experimental conditions of initial copper(II) concentration 100 mg/L, biomass dose 2 g/L, contact time 12 h, shaking rate 150 r/min and temperature 25°C. Biosorption equilibrium cost about 1 hour at experimental conditions of pH 6.0, initial copper(II) concentration 100 mg/L, C. lacerata dose 2 g/L, shaking rate 150 r/min and temperature 25°C. At optimum pH 6.0, highest copper(II) biosorption amounts were 6.79 and 7.76 mg/g for initial copper(II) concentration of 100 and 200 mg/L, respectively (with other experimental parameters of C. lacerata dose 2 g/L, shaking rate 150 r/min and temperature 25°C). The pseudo second-order adsorptive model gave the best adjustment for copper(II) biosorption kinetics. The equilibrium data fitted very well to both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorptive isotherm models.

Conclusions
Without further acid or alkali treatment for improving adsorption properties, formaldehyde inactivated C. lacerata biomass possesses good biosorption characteristics on copper(II) removal from aqueous solutions.
Enhanced mobility of polydisperse granular flows in a small flume
Authors: Yang Qingqing , Su Zhiman , Cai Fei , Ugai Keizo 
Published: April 2015

Abstract

Background
A series of laboratory tests was conducted to investigate the influence of the interaction between coarse and fine particles on the mobility of granular flows in a small flume.

Methods
The angle of the upper slope was fixed at 45°, and the lower slope was inclined at angles of 0°, 5°, 10°, and 15° in different cases. Three monodisperse materials (gravel, coarse sand, and fine sand) were mixed, and the proportion of each material in each test was varied but maintained the same total mass of 3.0 kg.

Results
Test results show that the proportion of fine sand strongly influenced the run-out of polydisperse materials. With increasing proportion of fine sand, the run-outs of granular flows increased until its peak. However, the run-outs decreased with further more fine sand.

Discussion
The reason might be that a thin layer of fine sand acted as rollers for the rolling of the gravel, leading to the reduction of effective friction resistance during the movement; when excessive amount of fine sand was involved, these rollers were thrown into disarray so that the particles were either blocked or forced into sliding.

Conclusion
This implies that an appropriate proportion of fine particles were partly responsible for the long run-out of rock avalanches.
Emerging single-cell technologies in immunology
Authors: Herderschee Jacobus , Fenwick Craig , Pantaleo Giuseppe , Roger Thierry , Calandra Thierry 
Published: April 2015

AbstractDuring evolution, the immune system has diversified to protect the host from the extremely wide array of possible pathogens. Until recently, immune responses were dissected by use of global approaches and bulk tools, averaging responses across samples and potentially missing particular contributions of individual cells. This is a strongly limiting factor, considering that initial immune responses are likely to be triggered by a restricted number of cells at the vanguard of host defenses. The development of novel, single-cell technologies is a major innovation offering great promise for basic and translational immunology with the potential to overcome some of the limitations of traditional research tools, such as polychromatic flow cytometry or microscopy-based methods. At the transcriptional level, much progress has been made in the fields of microfluidics and single-cell RNA sequencing. At the protein level, mass cytometry already allows the analysis of twice as many parameters as flow cytometry. In this review, we explore the basis and outcome of immune-cell diversity, how genetically identical cells become functionally different, and the consequences for the exploration of host-immune defense responses. We will highlight the advantages, trade-offs, and potential pitfalls of emerging, single-cell-based technologies and how they provide unprecedented detail of immune responses.
Determining the effects of films with suicidal content: A laboratory experiment
Authors: Till Benedikt , Strauss Markus , Sonneck Gernot , Niederkrotenthaler Thomas 
Published: April 2015

BackgroundMedia stories on suicide can increase suicidal ideation, but little is known about variations in media effects with regard to audience vulnerability and story contents.AimsWe investigated the impact of three drama films with suicidal content that varied with regard to the final outcome (suicide completion, mastery of crisis and death by natural causes) and tested the moderating effect of baseline suicidality of the participants on the effects.MethodWithin a laboratory setting, we randomly assigned 95 adults to three film groups. We used questionnaires to analyse the effects of the films on mood, depression, life satisfaction, self-worth, assumed benevolence of the world and suicidality, as well as identification with the protagonist. We stratified the sample into participants with suicidal tendencies above and below the sample median.ResultsThe film that ended with the protagonist's suicide led to a deterioration of mood particularly in individuals with baseline suicidality below the median, who also experienced an increase in self-worth. Participants with stronger suicidal tendencies experienced a rise in suicidality that depended on their level of identification with the protagonist. The film featuring the main character positively coping with his crisis increased life satisfaction particularly among participants with higher suicidal tendencies.ConclusionsThe effects of suicide-related media material seem to vary with individual vulnerability and with type of media portrayal. Individuals with lower vulnerability experience more emotional reactions when exposed to a film culminating in suicide, but individuals with higher vulnerability experience a rise in suicidal tendencies particularly if they identify with the protagonist who died by suicide. In contrast, portrayals of individual mastery of crisis may have beneficial effects in more vulnerable individuals.
FilGAP, a Rho–ROCK-regulated GAP for Rac, controls adherens junctions in MDCK cells
Authors: Nakahara Shinichiro , Tsutsumi Koji , Zuinen Takuya , Ohta Yasutaka 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
Rho family small GTPases are essential for the formation of adherens junctions in epithelial cells. Here, we found that FilGAP (also known as ARHGAP24), a Rac-specific Rho GTPase-activating protein, promoted the formation of adherens junctions in Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Knockdown of FilGAP by siRNA stimulated the disassembly and migration of MDCK cells induced by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). By contrast, forced expression of FilGAP induced accumulation of E-cadherin at adherens junctions. Endogenous FilGAP colocalized with E-cadherin at adherens junctions, and depletion of FilGAP reduced the amount of E-cadherin expressed at the surface. The Rac GAP domain of FilGAP was necessary for the suppression of cell scattering induced by HGF. In agreement with this, siRNA-mediated knockdown of both Rac1 and FilGAP suppressed cell scattering induced by HGF. Forced expression of Rho kinase (ROCK, of which there are two isoforms ROCK1 and ROCK2) induced the accumulation of E-cadherin at the adherens junction, and depletion of FilGAP prevented the accumulation of E-cadherin. Moreover, wild-type FilGAP but not a non-phosphorylatable FilGAP mutant rescued the accumulation of E-cadherin at adherens junctions. These results suggest that FilGAP might regulate cell–cell adhesion through inactivation of Rac downstream of Rho–ROCK-signaling in MDCK cells.
The nucleus is an intracellular propagator of tensile forces in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts
Authors: Alam Samer G. , Lovett David , Kim Dae In , Roux Kyle J. , Dickinson Richard B. , Lele Tanmay P. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
Nuclear positioning is a crucial cell function, but how a migrating cell positions its nucleus is not understood. Using traction-force microscopy, we found that the position of the nucleus in migrating fibroblasts closely coincided with the center point of the traction-force balance, called the point of maximum tension (PMT). Positioning of the nucleus close to the PMT required nucleus–cytoskeleton connections through linker of nucleoskeleton-to-cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes. Although the nucleus briefly lagged behind the PMT following spontaneous detachment of the uropod during migration, the nucleus quickly repositioned to the PMT within a few minutes. Moreover, traction-generating spontaneous protrusions deformed the nearby nucleus surface to pull the nuclear centroid toward the new PMT, and subsequent retraction of these protrusions relaxed the nuclear deformation and restored the nucleus to its original position. We propose that the protruding or retracting cell boundary transmits a force to the surface of the nucleus through the intervening cytoskeletal network connected by the LINC complexes, and that these forces help to position the nucleus centrally and allow the nucleus to efficiently propagate traction forces across the length of the cell during migration.
The transcriptional activator Gli2 modulates T-cell receptor signalling through attenuation of AP-1 and NFκB activity
Authors: Furmanski Anna L. , Barbarulo Alessandro , Solanki Anisha , Lau Ching-In , Sahni Hemant , Saldana Jose Ignacio , D'Acquisto Fulvio , Crompton Tessa 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
Different tissues contain diverse and dynamic cellular niches, providing distinct signals to tissue-resident or migratory infiltrating immune cells. Hedgehog (Hh) proteins are secreted inter-cellular signalling molecules, which are essential during development and are important in cancer, post-natal tissue homeostasis and repair. Hh signalling mediated by the Hh-responsive transcription factor Gli2 also has multiple roles in T-lymphocyte development and differentiation. Here, we investigate the function of Gli2 in T-cell signalling and activation. Gene transcription driven by the Gli2 transcriptional activator isoform (Gli2A) attenuated T-cell activation and proliferation following T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. Expression of Gli2A in T-cells altered gene expression profiles, impaired the TCR-induced Ca2+ flux and nuclear expression of NFAT2, suppressed upregulation of molecules essential for activation, and attenuated signalling pathways upstream of the AP-1 and NFκB complexes, leading to reduced activation of these important transcription factors. Inhibition of physiological Hh-dependent transcription increased NFκB activity upon TCR ligation. These data are important for understanding the molecular mechanisms of immunomodulation, particularly in tissues where Hh proteins or other Gli-activating ligands such as TGFβ are upregulated, including during inflammation, tissue damage and repair, and in tumour microenvironments.
Traction forces mediated by integrin signaling are necessary for definitive endoderm specification
Authors: Taylor-Weiner Hermes , Ravi Neeraja , Engler Adam J. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exert low-traction forces on their niche in vitro whereas specification to definitive endoderm in vivo coincides with force-mediated motility, suggesting a differentiation-mediated switch. However, the onset of contractility and extent to which force-mediated integrin signaling regulates fate choices is not understood. To address the requirement of tractions forces for differentiation, we examined mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) specification towards definitive endoderm on fibrillar fibronectin containing a deformation-sensitive FRET probe. Inhibiting contractility resulted in an increase in the observed fibronectin FRET intensity ratio but also decreased the amount of phosphorylated nuclear SMAD2, leading to reduced expression of the definitive endoderm marker SOX17. By contrast ESCs maintained in pluripotency medium did not exert significant tractions against the fibronectin matrix. When laminin-111 was added to fibrillar matrices to improve the efficiency of definitive endoderm induction, ESCs decreased their fibronectin traction forces in a laminin-dependent manner; blocking the laminin-binding α3-integrin restored fibronectin matrix deformation and reduced SOX17 expression and SMAD2 phosphorylation, probably because of compensation of inhibitory signaling from SMAD7 after 5 days in culture. These data imply that traction forces and integrin signaling are important regulators of early fate decisions in ESCs.
Non-coding stem-bulge RNAs are required for cell proliferation and embryonic development in C. elegans
Authors: Kowalski Madzia P. , Baylis Howard A. , Krude Torsten 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
Stem bulge RNAs (sbRNAs) are a family of small non-coding stem-loop RNAs present in Caenorhabditis elegans and other nematodes, the function of which is unknown. Here, we report the first functional characterisation of nematode sbRNAs. We demonstrate that sbRNAs from a range of nematode species are able to reconstitute the initiation of chromosomal DNA replication in the presence of replication proteins in vitro, and that conserved nucleotide sequence motifs are essential for this function. By functionally inactivating sbRNAs with antisense morpholino oligonucleotides, we show that sbRNAs are required for S phase progression, early embryonic development and the viability of C. elegans in vivo. Thus, we demonstrate a new and essential role for sbRNAs during the early development of C. elegans. sbRNAs show limited nucleotide sequence similarity to vertebrate Y RNAs, which are also essential for the initiation of DNA replication. Our results therefore establish that the essential function of small non-coding stem-loop RNAs during DNA replication extends beyond vertebrates.
Dendrite arborization requires the dynein cofactor NudE
Authors: Arthur Ashley L. , Yang Sihui Z. , Abellaneda Allison M. , Wildonger Jill 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
The microtubule-based molecular motor dynein is essential for proper neuronal morphogenesis. Dynein activity is regulated by cofactors, and the role(s) of these cofactors in shaping neuronal structure are still being elucidated. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we reveal that the loss of the dynein cofactor NudE results in abnormal dendrite arborization. Our data show that NudE associates with Golgi outposts, which mediate dendrite branching, suggesting that NudE normally influences dendrite patterning by regulating Golgi outpost transport. Neurons lacking NudE also have increased microtubule dynamics, reflecting a change in microtubule stability that is likely to also contribute to abnormal dendrite growth and branching. These defects in dendritogenesis are rescued by elevating levels of Lis1, another dynein cofactor that interacts with NudE as part of a tripartite complex. Our data further show that the NudE C-terminus is dispensable for dendrite morphogenesis and is likely to modulate NudE activity. We propose that a key function of NudE is to enhance an interaction between Lis1 and dynein that is crucial for motor activity and dendrite architecture.
Bias Blind Spot: Structure, Measurement, and Consequences
Authors: Scopelliti Irene , Morewedge Carey K. , McCormick Erin , Min H. Lauren , Lebrecht Sophie , Kassam Karim S. 
Published: April 2015

People exhibit a bias blind spot: they are less likely to detect bias in themselves than in others. We report the development and validation of an instrument to measure individual differences in the propensity to exhibit the bias blind spot that is unidimensional, internally consistent, has high test-retest reliability, and is discriminated from measures of intelligence, decision-making ability, and personality traits related to self-esteem, self-enhancement, and self-presentation. The scale is predictive of the extent to which people judge their abilities to be better than average for easy tasks and worse than average for difficult tasks, ignore the advice of others, and are responsive to an intervention designed to mitigate a different judgmental bias. These results suggest that the bias blind spot is a distinct metabias resulting from naïve realism rather than other forms of egocentric cognition, and has unique effects on judgment and behavior. This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, judgment and decision making.
Inbreeding depression for seed germination and seedling vigor in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)
Authors: Kaczmarska Elżbieta , Gawroński Jacek , Dyduch-Siemińska Magdalena , Szypiło Piotr , Szafrańska Bożena 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
Experiments leading to the procurement of subsequent inbred generations were conducted in the years 2006- 2013. Seeds obtained from open pollination and after self-pollination of four strawberry cultivars (Teresa, Senga Sengana, Kent and Chandler) and clone 1387 were used. These genotypes were evaluated for their tolerance to strong inbreeding under in vitro culture conditions. The aims of this study were to estimate the inbreeding depression of each of the progenies. During the investigation, the germination percentage as well as seedling viability were evaluated. The highest seed germination was shown for populations derived from ‘Teresa’ × open pollination (82%) and ‘Kent’ (7) S4 (78%). Seeds derived from self-pollination resulted in the lowest germination - an average of 16.8%. Generally, seed germination was significantly lower for the five S1 offspring, whose depression was 0.62, in comparison with the S4 seedlings, whose depression was 0.31. Inbred offspring showed a depression in relation to the average weight of a single seedling of 0.08 in the case of S1 progeny, whereas in the case of S4 progeny it was 0.23. The highest germination energy was shown by ‘Kent’ (7) S4 seeds (74%) and hybrids of ‘Teresa’ derived from open pollination (75%); whereas seeds obtained at the same time from self-pollination germinated 10.8% on average.
Changes in quality of selected red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars during the growing season
Authors: Nizioł-Łukaszewska Zofia , Gawęda Maria 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
Red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) may be consumed at all stages of growth, both in the form of small early vegetable during spring and later, during winter, when stored. Therefore, knowledge of the dynamics of changes in the content of individual components in subsequent stages of growth is very important.
The experiment was conducted for two consecutive growing seasons. The study included four cultivars of red beet ‘Boro’ F1, ‘Czerwona Kula’, ‘Nochowski’ and ‘Regulski Cylinder’. The aim of this study was to assess the dynamics of changes of selected components during the growing season. Particular attention was paid to the content of components having a positive impact on the quality of red beet, such as: antioxidant activity, the content of betalain pigments, soluble sugars and dry matter.
On the basis of the survey it was demonstrated that the optimal harvest date of red beet roots, with respect to the favorable nutrient and health-related content, falls in the 8th and 11th week of the growing season depending on the weather conditions in a given year. A significant increase in the anti-radical activity, soluble sugars as well as betanin and vulgaxanthin (2009) was observed between the 6th and the 8th and also in the 11th week of the cultivation. A gradual drop in betanin to vulgaxanthin ratio was observed within the following weeks of the vegetation. On the basis of the research conducted we can conclude that the cultivar recommended for consumption is ‘Nochowski’.
The role of temperament in traumatic hearing loss: a single case study of a cochlear-implanted patient
Authors: Mento Carmela , Galletti Francesco , Freni Francesco , Longo Patrizia , Testini Giovanna , Rizzo Amelia , Settineri Salvatore 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Introduction: The majority of existing research regarding cochlear-implanted patients focuses on acoustic perception and language skills in children and adolescents, or on the postoperative quality of life in adults.
Purpose: We hypothesized that a patient’s psychological reaction to a cochlear implant (CI) may be influenced by the temperament of the implanted subject. This case study aims to assess whether temperament plays a role in the adaptation to CIs and if certain temperamental and character traits may be risk or protective factors for surgery and rehabilitation outcomes.
Method: We evaluated a 21-year-old male patient presenting a history of traumatic hearing loss. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was employed to obtain a psychological evaluation.
Results: The findings suggest a connection between the scores obtained on the TCI questionnaire and the patient’s behavior toward the CI. The effects of the operation may be mediated by some temperamental and character traits.
Conclusion: In the field of clinical psychology and hearing rehabilitation, psychological evaluation may contribute a more profound understanding of the personality dynamics that influence the patient’s reaction toward traumatic hearing loss, compliance, and CI surgery outcomes.
Spectral analysis of heart rate variability
Authors: Estévez Mario , Machado Calixto , Leisman Gerry , Estévez-Hernández Talía , Arias-Morales Asdrúbal , Machado Andrés , Montes-Brown Julio 
Published: April 2015

AbstractSpectral analysis (SA) has been extensively applied to the assessment of heart rate variability. Traditional methods require the transformation of the original non-uniformly spaced electrocardiogram RR interval series into regularly spaced ones using interpolation or other approaches. The Lomb-Scargle (L-S) method uses the raw original RR series, avoiding different artifacts introduced by traditional SA methods, but it has been scarcely used in clinical settings. An RR series was recorded from 120 healthy participants (17–25 years) of both genders during a resting condition using four SA methods, including the Classic modified periodogram, the Welch procedure, the autoregressive Burg method and the L-S method. The efficient implementation of the L-S algorithm with the added possibility of the application of a set of options for the RR series pre-processing developed by Eleuteri et al., and also the results obtained in this study, show that the L-S method can be a good choice for future clinical studies. The L-S method seems particularly useful when the heart rates of studied participants will be below 60 or over 120 beats per minute. Nevertheless, it is important to the development of a smoothing procedure for the L-S spectra to avoid the picky behavior of the L-S power spectrum. The implementation of the L-S algorithm used in this study has been recently published by other authors included in our references, and brings some particular filtering features. The results obtained, comparing the four spectral methods, show that this implementation seems particularly useful when the heart rates of studied participants will be below 60 or over 120 beats per minute. Nevertheless, it is important to recommend for all existing L-S software implementations, the development of a smoothing procedure to avoid the picky behavior of the L-S power spectrum.