bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Melatonin increases collagen content accumulation and Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 secretion in cultured human cardiac fibroblasts
Authors: Drobnik Marta , Tomaszewska Agnieszka , Ryżko Joanna , Kędzia Aleksandra , Gałdyszyńska Małgorzata , Piera Lucyna , Rydel Justyna , Szymański Jacek , Drobnik Jacek 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
The extracellular matrix serves as a scaffold for cardiomyocytes, allowing them to work in accord. In rats, collagen metabolism within a myocardial infarction scar is regulated by melatonin. The present study determines whether melatonin influences matrix metabolism within human cardiac fibroblast cultures and examines the underlying mechanism.

Methods
The experiments were performed on cultures of cardiac fibroblasts. The Woessner method, 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative PCR were used in the study.

Results
Melatonin treatment lowered the total cell count within the culture, elevated necrotic and apoptotic cell count as well as augmented cardiac fibroblast proliferation, and increased total, intracellular, and extracellular collagen within the fibroblast culture; it also elevated type III procollagen α1 chain expression, without increasing procollagen type I mRNA production. The pineal hormone did not influence matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) release or glycosaminoglycan accumulation by cardiac fibroblasts. Melatonin increased the release of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2) by human cardiac fibroblasts, but cardiotrophin release was not influenced.

Conclusion
Within human cardiac fibroblast culture, collagen metabolism is regulated by melatonin. The profibrotic effect of melatonin depends on the elevation of procollagen type III gene expression, and this could be modified by FGF-2. Two parallel processes, viz., cell elimination and proliferation, induced by melatonin, lead to excessive replacement of cardiac fibroblasts.
A study on the effect of repeated heating on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of cooking oils used by fried food vendors of Lucknow city
Authors: Mishra Sunita , Firdaus M. A. , Patel Monika , Pandey Gajanan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe degradation in the oil quality used by street food vendors during frying operations is an important health concern due to the toxic compounds produced in it. An effective strategy is to detect the oil quality by determining its physicochemical and antioxidant properties to prevent the use of potentially harmful oil. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of frying oils used by local fried food vendors of Lucknow city, India. Oil samples as fresh, after 5th batch and 10th batch of repeated frying (total 15 samples), were collected from five randomly selected street food vendors consumed regularly by the local people. All the samples were analyzed by evaluating physicochemical properties such as specific gravity (SG), viscosity, free fatty acid (FFA), iodine value (IV), peroxide value (PV) and saponification value (SV) using standard methods. The results revealed that almost all repeated frying oils collected were above the permissible limit for FFA, IV, and PV. It was noted that the highest values were obtained in 10th batch of repeated frying oils. On the other hand, slight variation was noted for the SG and SV in all oil samples. Increased usage of the repeated frying oils also resulted in a decrease in total phenolic content and total flavonoid content as compared to values obtained in fresh oil samples. In conclusion, the analysis shows that the repeated frying of vegetable cooking oil degrades its physicochemical and antioxidant qualities, thus should not be consumed.
Graphical Abstract
Blameworthiness, slips, and the obvious need to pay enough attention: an internalist response to capacitarians
Authors: Yates Thomas A. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractCapacitarianism says that an agent can be non-derivatively blameworthy for wrongdoing if at the time of their conduct the agent lacked awareness of the wrong-making features of their conduct but had the capacity to be aware of those features. In this paper, I raise three objections to capacitarianism in relation to its verdict of the culpability of so-called “slips” and use these objections to support a rival (“accessibility internalist”) view which requires awareness of wrong-making features for non-derivative blameworthiness. The objections are that (1) the rival internalist view is just as capable of explaining the culpability of paradigm cases of slips; (2) there are some cases of slips without dispositional awareness of wrong-making features that capacitarians wrongly deem culpable; and (3) capacitarianism cannot adequately ground the reasonable expectation to avoid slips (as Fernando Rudy-Hiller has argued). I then argue that an internalist can simultaneously ground a reasonable expectation to avoid slips and account for slips’ culpability by pointing to the satisfaction of a novel epistemic condition: it is (dispositionally) obvious to the slipping agent that they need to pay enough attention to what they are doing, and how to pay enough attention, to reliably achieve the goal that they have set out to achieve.
A review on bauxite residue usage in air pollution control
Authors: Dwivedi Samridhi , Zehra Farheen , Shukla Neha , Rajanikanth B. S. , Lawrence Alfred J. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractExhausts or emission from industries/automobiles/indoor appliances is one of the most prominent sources of air pollution. Innumerable noxious gases have been identified and been recurrently treated through various technologies from past many decades. Cumulative studies suggest that air pollutants affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems along with the central nervous system, may it be directly or indirectly. In particular, acquaintances to such air pollutants in early life can lead to developmental delays and may stunt neurological development. This review presents the recent technologies that have been tested at the laboratory level as well as in situ utilizing one of the abundantly available industrial wastes, i.e. red mud. Unlike the conventional expensive catalysts, red mud provides a cheaper alternative in the treatment of toxic exhaust gases from various sources. Furthermore, the review identifies the gap through which experts from other disciplines can explore the employment of red mud in the comprehensive spectrum of pollution control.
Completing the Picture of the Depression Housing Crisis
Authors: Harris Richard 
Published: May 2023

The Depression housing crisis caused enormous distress, with social, economic and political implications. The roles and experiences of some major players are well established. Tenants were evicted. National statistics on foreclosures show that many property owners lost their homes. Lending institutions went under. Municipalities struggled when property tax receipts fell. The federal government stepped in, establishing new programs and agencies, with long-term consequences.Other parts of the story have been neglected. Many borrowers surrendered their properties voluntarily, rather than await foreclosure. As vacancies rose and rents fell, landlords, many owning only one or two properties and/or renting part of their own homes, struggled. Neglected sources show they defaulted at a higher rate than homeowners. Among lenders, private individuals held more mortgages than any type of institution. Relying on investment income, many had a hard time. Both landlords and private lenders made concessions to avoid having to evict or foreclose, mitigating the effects of the Depression on tenants and borrowers. Sources exist to document local variations in the role of landlords and private lenders. These can give us a fuller picture of the Depression, one that still has relevance today.
Women in Legislative Studies: Improving Gender Equality
Authors: Powell Eleanor Neff , Schwindt-Bayer Leslie , Sin Gisela 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTRepresentation of women in the field of legislative politics is remarkably small and the absence of women has wide-ranging ramifications. In Fall 2019, we surveyed 361 women that we identified as studying legislative politics within political science to understand why women’s representation in legislative studies is so low and what we can do about it. We found that many women study legislatures, but they do not always identify as scholars of legislative studies, often do not join the Legislative Studies Section, and tend to prioritize other journals overLegislative Studies Quarterly, the official journal of the section. In this article, we discuss several solutions to the problem of women’s underrepresentation in legislative studies, including the new Women in Legislative Studies initiative.
Sulfur cycling connects microbiomes and biogeochemistry in deep-sea hydrothermal plumes
Authors: Zhou Zhichao , Tran Patricia Q , Adams Alyssa M , Kieft Kristopher , Breier John A , Fortunato Caroline S , Sheik Cody S , Huber Julie A , Li Meng , Dick Gregory J , Anantharaman Karthik 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
In globally distributed deep-sea hydrothermal vent plumes, microbiomes are shaped by the redox energy landscapes created by reduced hydrothermal vent fluids mixing with oxidized seawater. Plumes can disperse over thousands of kilometers and their characteristics are determined by geochemical sources from vents, e.g., hydrothermal inputs, nutrients, and trace metals. However, the impacts of plume biogeochemistry on the oceans are poorly constrained due to a lack of integrated understanding of microbiomes, population genetics, and geochemistry. Here, we use microbial genomes to understand links between biogeography, evolution, and metabolic connectivity, and elucidate their impacts on biogeochemical cycling in the deep sea. Using data from 36 diverse plume samples from seven ocean basins, we show that sulfur metabolism defines the core microbiome of plumes and drives metabolic connectivity in the microbial community. Sulfur-dominated geochemistry influences energy landscapes and promotes microbial growth, while other energy sources influence local energy landscapes. We further demonstrated the consistency of links among geochemistry, function, and taxonomy. Amongst all microbial metabolisms, sulfur transformations had the highest MW-score, a measure of metabolic connectivity in microbial communities. Additionally, plume microbial populations have low diversity, short migration history, and gene-specific sweep patterns after migrating from background seawater. Selected functions include nutrient uptake, aerobic oxidation, sulfur oxidation for higher energy yields, and stress responses for adaptation. Our findings provide the ecological and evolutionary bases of change in sulfur-driven microbial communities and their population genetics in adaptation to changing geochemical gradients in the oceans.
DNA methylation markers for kidney function and progression of diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Li Kelly Yichen , Tam Claudia Ha Ting , Liu Hongbo , Day Samantha , Lim Cadmon King Poo , So Wing Yee , Huang Chuiguo , Jiang Guozhi , Shi Mai , Lee Heung Man ,   TRANSCEND Consortium, Lan Hui-yao , Szeto Cheuk-Chun , Hanson Robert L. , Nelson Robert G. , Susztak Katalin , Chan Juliana C. N. , Yip Kevin Y. , Ma Ronald C. W. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractEpigenetic markers are potential biomarkers for diabetes and related complications. Using a prospective cohort from the Hong Kong Diabetes Register, we perform two independent epigenome-wide association studies to identify methylation markers associated with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and subsequent decline in kidney function (eGFR slope), respectively, in 1,271 type 2 diabetes subjects. Here we show 40 (30 previously unidentified) and eight (all previously unidentified) CpG sites individually reach epigenome-wide significance for baseline eGFR and eGFR slope, respectively. We also develop a multisite analysis method, which selects 64 and 37 CpG sites for baseline eGFR and eGFR slope, respectively. These models are validated in an independent cohort of Native Americans with type 2 diabetes. Our identified CpG sites are near genes enriched for functional roles in kidney diseases, and some show association with renal damage. This study highlights the potential of methylation markers in risk stratification of kidney disease among type 2 diabetes individuals.
Extracellular matrix educates an immunoregulatory tumor macrophage phenotype found in ovarian cancer metastasis
Authors: Puttock E. H. , Tyler E. J. , Manni M. , Maniati E. , Butterworth C. , Burger Ramos M. , Peerani E. , Hirani P. , Gauthier V. , Liu Y. , Maniscalco G. , Rajeeve V. , Cutillas P. , Trevisan C. , Pozzobon M. , Lockley M. , Rastrick J. , Läubli H. , White A. , Pearce O. M. T. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractRecent studies have shown that the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) associates with immunosuppression, and that targeting the ECM can improve immune infiltration and responsiveness to immunotherapy. A question that remains unresolved is whether the ECM directly educates the immune phenotypes seen in tumors. Here, we identify a tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) population associated with poor prognosis, interruption of the cancer immunity cycle, and tumor ECM composition. To investigate whether the ECM was capable of generating this TAM phenotype, we developed a decellularized tissue model that retains the native ECM architecture and composition. Macrophages cultured on decellularized ovarian metastasis shared transcriptional profiles with the TAMs found in human tissue. ECM-educated macrophages have a tissue-remodeling and immunoregulatory phenotype, inducing altered T cell marker expression and proliferation. We conclude that the tumor ECM directly educates this macrophage population found in cancer tissues. Therefore, current and emerging cancer therapies that target the tumor ECM may be tailored to improve macrophage phenotype and their downstream regulation of immunity.
Identification and improvement of isothiocyanate-based inhibitors on stomatal opening to act as drought tolerance-conferring agrochemicals
Authors: Aihara Yusuke , Maeda Bumpei , Goto Kanna , Takahashi Koji , Nomoto Mika , Toh Shigeo , Ye Wenxiu , Toda Yosuke , Uchida Mami , Asai Eri , Tada Yasuomi , Itami Kenichiro , Sato Ayato , Murakami Kei , Kinoshita Toshinori 
Published: May 2023

AbstractStomatal pores in the plant epidermis open and close to regulate gas exchange between leaves and the atmosphere. Upon light stimulation, the plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase is phosphorylated and activated via an intracellular signal transduction pathway in stomatal guard cells, providing a primary driving force for the opening movement. To uncover and manipulate this stomatal opening pathway, we screened a chemical library and identified benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), a Brassicales-specific metabolite, as a potent stomatal-opening inhibitor that suppresses PM H+-ATPase phosphorylation. We further developed BITC derivatives with multiple isothiocyanate groups (multi-ITCs), which demonstrate inhibitory activity on stomatal opening up to 66 times stronger, as well as a longer duration of the effect and negligible toxicity. The multi-ITC treatment inhibits plant leaf wilting in both short (1.5 h) and long-term (24 h) periods. Our research elucidates the biological function of BITC and its use as an agrochemical that confers drought tolerance on plants by suppressing stomatal opening.
Isotopic evidence for an intensified hydrological cycle in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean
Authors: Akhoudas Camille Hayatte , Sallée Jean-Baptiste , Reverdin Gilles , Haumann F. Alexander , Pauthenet Etienne , Chapman Christopher C. , Margirier Félix , Lo Monaco Claire , Metzl Nicolas , Meilland Julie , Stranne Christian 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe hydrological cycle is expected to intensify in a warming climate. However, observational evidence of such changes in the Southern Ocean is difficult to obtain due to sparse measurements and a complex superposition of changes in precipitation, sea ice, and glacial meltwater. Here we disentangle these signals using a dataset of salinity and seawater oxygen isotope observations collected in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. Our results show that the atmospheric water cycle has intensified in this region between 1993 and 2021, increasing the salinity in subtropical surface waters by 0.06 ± 0.07 g kg−1 per decade, and decreasing the salinity in subpolar surface waters by -0.02 ± 0.01 g kg−1 per decade. The oxygen isotope data allow to discriminate the different freshwater processes showing that in the subpolar region, the freshening is largely driven by the increase in net precipitation (by a factor two) while the decrease in sea ice melt is largely balanced by the contribution of glacial meltwater at these latitudes. These changes extend the growing evidence for an acceleration of the hydrological cycle and a melting cryosphere that can be expected from global warming.
Integrative genomic analyses in adipocytes implicate DNA methylation in human obesity and diabetes
Authors: McAllan Liam , Baranasic Damir , Villicaña Sergio , Brown Scarlett , Zhang Weihua , Lehne Benjamin , Adamo Marco , Jenkinson Andrew , Elkalaawy Mohamed , Mohammadi Borzoueh , Hashemi Majid , Fernandes Nadia , Lambie Nathalie , Williams Richard , Christiansen Colette , Yang Youwen , Zudina Liudmila , Lagou Vasiliki , Tan Sili , Castillo-Fernandez Juan , King James W. D. , Soong Richie , Elliott Paul , Scott James , Prokopenko Inga , Cebola Inês , Loh Marie , Lenhard Boris , Batterham Rachel L. , Bell Jordana T. , Chambers John C. , Kooner Jaspal S. , Scott William R. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractDNA methylation variations are prevalent in human obesity but evidence of a causative role in disease pathogenesis is limited. Here, we combine epigenome-wide association and integrative genomics to investigate the impact of adipocyte DNA methylation variations in human obesity. We discover extensive DNA methylation changes that are robustly associated with obesity (N = 190 samples, 691 loci in subcutaneous and 173 loci in visceral adipocytes, P < 1 × 10-7). We connect obesity-associated methylation variations to transcriptomic changes at >500 target genes, and identify putative methylation-transcription factor interactions. Through Mendelian Randomisation, we infer causal effects of methylation on obesity and obesity-induced metabolic disturbances at 59 independent loci. Targeted methylation sequencing, CRISPR-activation and gene silencing in adipocytes, further identifies regional methylation variations, underlying regulatory elements and novel cellular metabolic effects. Our results indicate DNA methylation is an important determinant of human obesity and its metabolic complications, and reveal mechanisms through which altered methylation may impact adipocyte functions.
Inelastic electron scattering induced quantum coherence in molecular dynamics
Authors: Kumar Akshay , Swain Suvasis , Prabhudesai Vaibhav S. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractQuantum coherence is pivotal in various applications ranging from chemical control to quantum computing. An example of its manifestation in molecular dynamics is inversion symmetry breaking in the photodissociation of homonuclear diatomic molecules. On the other hand, the dissociative attachment of an incoherent electron also induces such coherent dynamics. However, these processes are resonant and occur for projectiles with a specific energy. Here we present the most general scenario of non-resonant inelastic electron scattering inducing such a quantum coherence in molecular dynamics. The ion-pair formation (H+ + H─) that proceeds after the electron impact excitation of H2 shows a forward-backward asymmetry about the incoming electron beam. Simultaneous transfer of multiple angular momentum quanta during the electron collision induces the underlying coherence in the system. The non-resonant nature of this process makes this effect generic and points to its possible prevalent role in particle collision processes, including electron-induced chemistry.
Prenylcysteine oxidase 1 like protein is required for neutrophil bactericidal activities
Authors: Petenkova Anastasiia , Auger Shelby A. , Lamb Jeffrey , Quellier Daisy , Carter Cody , To On Tak , Milosevic Jelena , Barghout Rana , Kugadas Abirami , Lu Xiaoxiao , Geddes-McAlister Jennifer , Fichorova Raina , Sykes David B. , Distefano Mark D. , Gadjeva Mihaela 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe bactericidal function of neutrophils is dependent on a myriad of intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. Using systems immunology approaches we identify microbiome- and infection-induced changes in neutrophils. We focus on investigating the Prenylcysteine oxidase 1 like (Pcyox1l) protein function. Murine and human Pcyox1l proteins share ninety four percent aminoacid homology revealing significant evolutionary conservation and implicating Pcyox1l in mediating important biological functions. Here we show that the loss of Pcyox1l protein results in significant reductions in the mevalonate pathway impacting autophagy and cellular viability under homeostatic conditions. Concurrently,Pcyox1lCRISPRed-out neutrophils exhibit deficient bactericidal properties.Pcyox1lknock-out mice demonstrate significant susceptibility to infection with the gram-negative pathogenPsuedomonas aeruginosaexemplified through increased neutrophil infiltrates, hemorrhaging, and reduced bactericidal functionality. Cumulatively, we ascribe a function to Pcyox1l protein in modulation of the prenylation pathway and suggest connections beween metabolic responses and neutrophil functionality.
Colloidal gelation with non-sticky particles
Authors: Jiang Yujie , Seto Ryohei 
Published: May 2023

AbstractColloidal gels are widely applied in industry due to their rheological character—no flow takes place below the yield stress. Such property enables gels to maintain uniform distribution in practical formulations; otherwise, solid components may quickly sediment without the support of gel matrix. Compared with pure gels of sticky colloids, therefore, the composites of gel and non-sticky inclusions are more commonly encountered in reality. Through numerical simulations, we investigate the gelation process in such binary composites. We find that the non-sticky particles not only confine gelation in the form of an effective volume fraction, but also introduce another lengthscale that competes with the size of growing clusters in gel. The ratio of two key lengthscales in general controls the two effects. Using different gel models, we verify such a scenario within a wide range of parameter space, suggesting a potential universality in all classes of colloidal composites.
Transient photocurrents in a subthreshold evidence accumulator accelerate perceptual decisions
Authors: Wong Timothy L. H. , Talbot Clifford B. , Miesenböck Gero 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPerceptual decisions are complete when a continuously updated score of sensory evidence reaches a threshold. In Drosophila, αβ core Kenyon cells (αβc KCs) of the mushroom bodies integrate odor-evoked synaptic inputs to spike threshold at rates that parallel the speed of olfactory choices. Here we perform a causal test of the idea that the biophysical process of synaptic integration underlies the psychophysical process of bounded evidence accumulation in this system. Injections of single brief, EPSP-like depolarizations into the dendrites of αβc KCs during odor discrimination, using closed-loop control of a targeted opsin, accelerate decision times at a marginal cost of accuracy. Model comparisons favor a mechanism of temporal integration over extrema detection and suggest that the optogenetically evoked quanta are added to a growing total of sensory evidence, effectively lowering the decision bound. The subthreshold voltage dynamics of αβc KCs thus form an accumulator memory for sequential samples of information.