bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systemic redox imbalance in severe COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Postiga Isabelle A. L. , Teixeira Paula C. , Neves Carla Andretta Moreira , Santana Filho Paulo , Marmett Bruna , Carvalho Roseana , Peres Alessandra , Rotta Liane , Thompson Claudia Elizabeth , Dorneles Gilson P. , Romão Pedro R. T. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the systemic redox state and inflammatory markers in intensive care unit (ICU) or non‐ICU severe COVID‐19 patients during the hospitalization period. Blood samples were collected at hospital admission (T1) (Controls and COVID‐19 patients), 5–7 days after admission (T2: 5–7 days after hospital admission), and at the discharge time from the hospital (T3: 0–72 h before leaving hospital or death) to analyze systemic oxidative stress markers and inflammatory variables. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were analyzed in peripheral granulocytes and monocytes. THP‐1 human monocytic cell line was incubated with plasma from non‐ICU and ICU COVID‐19 patients and cell viability and apoptosis rate were analyzed. Higher total antioxidant capacity, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and IL‐6 at hospital admission were identified in both non‐ICU and ICU COVID‐19 patients. ICU COVID‐19 patients presented increased C‐reactive protein, ROS levels, and protein oxidation over hospitalization period compared to non‐ICU patients, despite increased antioxidant status. Granulocytes and monocytes of non‐ICU and ICU COVID‐19 patients presented lower MMP and higher ROS production compared to the healthy controls, with the highest values found in ICU COVID‐19 group. Finally, the incubation of THP‐1 cells with plasma acquired from ICU COVID‐19 patients at T3 hospitalization period decreased cell viability and apoptosis rate. In conclusion, disturbance in redox state is a hallmark of severe COVID‐19 and is associated with cell damage and death.
MiR‐27a downregulates 14‐3‐3θ, RUNX1, AF4, and MLL‐AF4, crucial drivers of blast transformation in t(4;11) leukemia cells
Authors: Fioretti Tiziana , Zanobio Mariateresa , Raia Maddalena , Errichiello Santa , Izzo Barbara , Cattaneo Fabio , Ammendola Rosario , Cevenini Armando , Esposito Gabriella 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe chromosomal translocation t(4;11)(q21;q23), a hallmark of an aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), encodes mixed‐lineage leukemia (MLL)‐AF4 oncogenic chimera that triggers aberrant transcription of genes involved in lymphocyte differentiation, including HOXA9 and MEIS1. The scaffold protein 14‐3‐3θ, which promotes the binding of MLL‐AF4 to the HOXA9 promoter, is a target of MiR‐27a, a tumor suppressor in different human leukemia cell types. We herein study the role of MiR‐27a in the pathogenesis of t(4;11) ALL. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (qPCR) reveals that MiR‐27a and 14‐3‐3θ expression is inversely correlated in t(4;11) ALL cell lines; interestingly, MiR‐27a relative expression is significantly lower in patients affected by t(4;11) ALL than in patients affected by the less severe t(12;21) leukemia. In t(4;11) leukemia cells, ectopic expression of MiR‐27a decreases protein level of 14‐3‐3θ and of the key transcription factor RUNX1. We show for the first time that MiR‐27a also targets AF4 and MLL‐AF4; in agreement, MiR‐27a overexpression strongly reduces AF4 and MLL‐AF4 protein levels in RS4;11 cells. Consequent to AF4 and MLL‐AF4 downregulation, MiR‐27a overexpression negatively affects transcription of HOXA9 and MEIS1 in different t(4;11) leukemia cell lines. In agreement, we show through chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments that MiR‐27a overexpression impairs the binding of MLL‐AF4 to the HOXA9 promoter. Lastly, we found that MiR‐27a overexpression decreases viability, proliferation, and clonogenicity of t(4;11) cells, whereas it enhances their apoptotic rate. Overall, our study identifies the first microRNAthat strikes in one hit four crucial drivers of blast transformation in t(4;11) leukemia. Therefore, MiR‐27a emerges as a new promising therapeutic target for this aggressive and poorly curable form of leukemia.
GPRC6A is a key mediator of palmitic acid regulation of lipid synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Jin Xin , Zhen Zhen , Wang Zhaoxiong , Gao Xuejun , Li Meng 
Published: August 2022

AbstractFatty acids (FAs) can promote lipid synthesis in the mammary gland via stimulating lipogenic gene expression, but the underlying molecular mechanism is still not fully understood. Here, we showed the dose‐dependent effects of palmitic acid (PA) on lipid synthesis in primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) and explored the corresponding molecular mechanism. BMECs were treated with PA (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 μM), and the 100 μM treatment had the best stimulatory effect on lipid synthesis and expression and maturation of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1c (SREBP‐1c) in cells. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) almost totally blocked the stimulation of PA on SREBP‐1c expression, whereas protein kinase Cα (PKCα) knockdown only partially decreased the stimulation of PA on SREBP‐1c expression but abolished the stimulation of PA on its maturation. Knockdown of GPR120 did not change the stimulation of PA on the SREBP‐1c signaling. G protein‐coupled receptor family C group 6 member A (GPRC6A) knockdown almost totally blocked the stimulation of FA on PI3K and PKCα phosphorylation as well as SREBP‐1c expression and maturation. Furthermore, PA dose‐dependently promoted GPRC6A expression and plasma membrane localization. Together, these above results reveal that GPRC6A is a key mediator of PA signaling to lipid synthesis in BMECs via the PI3K/PKCα–SREBP‐1c pathways.
DMAP: A decentralized matching game theory based optimized Internet of Things application placement in fog computing environment
Authors: Sharma Ankur , Thangaraj Veni 
Published: August 2022

SummaryInternet of Things (IoT) devices have become part of our daily life. IoT applications are used in vast domains such as smart healthcare, smart cities, smart transportation, Industry 4.0, and so forth. However, many IoT applications come under the ultra‐reliable and low‐latency communications category; minimal execution time is crucial for such applications. Limitations such as network reliability and the cloud's multi‐hop distance to the IoT devices can affect providing efficient solutions for IoT applications. Fog computing has emerged as an important paradigm that extends cloud computing by delivering cloud‐like services nearer to the end‐users. Placement of IoT applications onto the appropriate fog nodes has an important influence on the overall execution time of applications and energy consumption of fog nodes. Efficiently deploying IoT applications to fog nodes is difficult due to two factors: fog nodes have varying processing capacity and are geographically located in different places from IoT devices. Hence, this article proposes a decentralized bi‐objective optimization application placement policy, that is, DMAP, to minimize IoT applications' overall execution time and energy consumption of fog nodes. The matching game methodology is used for mapping applications to fog nodes. The performance of DMAP is verified using large‐scale simulation experiments. Experimental results show significant improvement in overall execution time, energy consumption, and scalability compared to the existing solutions.
Modularized hypergraph clustering scheme model for stableVANET
Authors: Kumar Parveen , Dahiya Pawan Kumar , Singh Bijay Kumar 
Published: August 2022

SummaryVANET transforms vehicles into a social environment, allowing for maximum security and cooperative data transmission. Each vehicle is assigned a cluster, which transfers data to the cluster head (CH). The efficiency of a VANET network is determined by two factors: efficient vehicle groupings and optimal CH selection. This article proposes a novel modularized hypergraph clustering scheme in which the VANET is represented as a hypergraph network clustered using tensor trace maximization with the modularity matrix as the feed. CH is chosen from each cluster based on four vehicle parameters: vehicle speed about neighbors, consensus trust score, link lifetime, and connectivity level. For the final CH selection, all parameters are converted to eigenvalues. The fuzzy decision‐making scheme selects the best CH for all vehicles in that cluster based on a set of four parameters. The proposed algorithm for selecting the stable CH for improved network performance has also been validated and significantly improved using state‐of‐the‐art schemes.
Battery energy management proposition for energy storage using active dc–dc converter
Authors: Alexandre Carvalho Maia Thales , Berrehil El Kattel Menaouar , Perpetuo Corrêa Tomás , Rocha Anderson Vagner , Filho Braz J. Cardoso 
Published: August 2022

SummaryBattery energy storage systems (BESS) are storage facilities used for ancillary services, mainly to support renewable sources operation that can reach megawatts of power. As a consequence, battery packs must be associated, and power electronics are necessary to control power flow. As a consequence, battery packs must be associated, and power electronics are necessary to control power flow, among the different design alternatives for building a BESS. This paper offers an alternative for a BESS based on a new control strategy applied to a two‐stage bidirectional dc–dc converter. The proposed strategy is capable of setting the power flow through voltage/current control during operation based on real‐time battery conditions, extending system life (using optimum dispatchable energy) and increasing reliability and profitability. In addition, State‐of‐Charge and State‐of‐Health are monitored, in order to keep track of aging effects. Moreover, the strategy enables mixing different battery technologies with a wide range of degradation, which can be used to retrofit operational plants or even build new systems focused on second life batteries. Simulation studies are performed using Typhoon HIL604, and a prototype is presented to validate the effectiveness of the methodology of the proposed control strategy.
SARS‐CoV‐2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate
Authors: Lo Martin W , Amarilla Alberto A , Lee John D , Albornoz Eduardo A , Modhiran Naphak , Clark Richard J , Ferro Vito , Chhabra Mohit , Khromykh Alexander A , Watterson Daniel , Woodruff Trent M 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjectivesTo determine whether SARS‐CoV‐2 can trigger complement activation, the pathways that are involved and the functional significance of the resultant effect.MethodsSARS‐CoV‐2 was inoculated into a human lepirudin‐anticoagulated whole blood model, which contains a full repertoire of complement factors and leukocytes that express complement receptors. Complement activation was determined by measuring C5a production with an ELISA, and pretreatment with specific inhibitors was used to identify the pathways involved. The functional significance of this was then assessed by measuring markers of C5a signalling including leukocyte C5aR1 internalisation and CD11b upregulation with flow cytometry.ResultsSARS‐CoV‐2 inoculation in this whole blood model caused progressive C5a production over 24 h, which was significantly reduced by inhibitors for factor B, C3, C5 and heparan sulfate. However, this phenomenon could not be replicated in cell‐free plasma, highlighting the requirement for cell surface interactions with heparan sulfate. Functional analysis of this phenomenon revealed that C5aR1 signalling and CD11b upregulation in granulocytes and monocytes was delayed and only occurred after 24 h.ConclusionSARS‐CoV‐2 is a noncanonical alternative pathway activator that progressively triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate.
Advances and challenges in intravital imaging of craniofacial and dental progenitor cells
Authors: Yang Dongwook , Ortinau Laura , Jeong Youngjae , Park Dongsu 
Published: August 2022

SummaryCraniofacial and appendicular bone homeostasis is dynamically regulated by a balance between bone formation and resorption by osteoblasts and osteoclasts, respectively. Despite the developments in multiple imaging techniques in bone biology, there are still technical challenges and limitations in the investigation of spatial/anatomical location of rare stem/progenitor cells and their molecular regulation in tooth and craniofacial bones of living animals. Recent advances in live animal imaging techniques for the craniofacial and dental apparatus can provide new insights in real time into bone stem/progenitor cell dynamics and function in vivo. Here, we review the current inventions and applications of the noninvasive intravital imaging technique and its practical uses and limitations in the analysis of stem/progenitor cells in craniofacial and dental apparatus in vivo. Furthermore, we also explore the potential applications of intravital microscopy in the dental field.
A Practical Approach for the Detection of Protein Tau with a Portable Potentiostat
Authors: Nur Sonuç Karaboğa Münteha , Kemal Sezgintürk Mustafa 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAlong with many factors, the change in protein tau isoforms, which has an obvious role in the function of microtubules, is an important biomarker of Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study is to determine the protein Tau‐441 with a portable potentiostat using a practical approach. For this purpose, screen printed electrodes (SPCEs) were first hydroxylated and then functional self‐assembled monolayers were formed on the surface with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Evidence of anti‐Tau being immobilized on to the surface was followed by techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The constructed immunosensor showed a linear response within the concentration range of 0.0064–0.8 ng/mL for the target analyte Tau‐441 and the limit of detection was found to be 0.0053 ng/mL. In addition, analytical behaviors such as reproducible measurements and storage life of the developed immunosensor with a portable potentiostat were also investigated. It has been demonstrated that Tau‐441 can be captured with the help of portable device with sensitivity in CSF environment.
Design and Fabrication of PEO‐HPMC@Ht Composite Solid‐state Electrolytes in All‐solid‐state Lithium Battery
Authors: Zhang Tao , Pei Xin , Zhou Zheng , Wang Li‐ting , Lu Yu , He Gang 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAll‐solid electrolyte instead of frequently‐used inflammable electrolyte can enhance the security and energy density of batteries effectively. However, the low ionic conductivity lead to increased lithium dendrites and increased resistance of the cell at 30 °C. In this work, non‐toxic and low‐cost hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was introduced simultaneously with non‐polluting hectorite (Ht) into polyoxyethylene (PEO) to obtain novel composite solid‐state electrolytes (CSEs). The optimized CSEs has a high ionic conductivity (1.1×10−3 S/cm) at 30 °C. This work demonstrates that the novel PEO‐HPMC@Ht CSEs are extremely promising.
Anti‐seizure efficacy and retention rate of carbamazepine is highly variable in randomized controlled trials: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Olaciregui‐Dague Karmele , Weinhold Leonie , Hoppe Christian , Schmid Matthias , Surges Rainer 
Published: August 2022

AbstractWe sought to assess the anti‐seizure efficacy of carbamazepine (CBZ) and retention rate (RR) in randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) in epilepsy. Our analysis was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Inclusion criteria were monotherapy of CBZ in adequate dosage for epilepsy treatment and RCT duration of ≥3 months. Outcome measures were seizure freedom rate (SFR) and RR. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were performed to allow for comparison with other anti‐seizure medications (ASMs). Thirty RCTs of 734 were included. SFR at last follow‐up ranged from 11% at 36 months to 85% at 3 months. The aggregated SFR at 6 months was 58% (CI 49–66%) and 48% (CI 40–57%) at 12 months. The 6‐month SFR among blinded studies was 55% (CI 43–66%), compared with 61% (CI 50–71%) in unblinded studies. The 12‐month SFR was not significantly linked to the age of study participants. RR varied from 36% at 24 months to 81% at 6 months. When adjusting for blinding, the aggregated 6‐month RR in blinded studies was 59% (CI 52–66%) vs 76% (CI 71–81%) in unblinded studies. The point estimates of SFR of all RCTs showed an upward time trend, with an increase of approximately 15% between the years 1981 and 2018. In conclusion, the SFR and RR of CBZ were highly variable in RCTs and especially affected by study duration and blinding. These results underscore the impact of the design of RCTs investigating ASM and may challenge the wide use of CBZ as a comparator.
GABAB receptor agonist baclofen promotes central nervous system remyelination
Authors: Serrano‐Regal Mari Paz , Bayón‐Cordero Laura , Chara Ventura Juan Carlos , Ochoa‐Bueno Blanca I. , Tepavcevic Vanja , Matute Carlos , Sánchez‐Gómez María Victoria 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPromoting remyelination is considered as a potential neurorepair strategy to prevent/limit the development of permanent neurological disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). To this end, a number of clinical trials are investigating the potential of existing drugs to enhance oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) differentiation, a process that fails in chronic MS lesions. We previously reported that oligodendroglia express GABAB receptors (GABABRs) both in vitro and in vivo, and that GABABR‐mediated signaling enhances OPC differentiation and myelin protein expression in vitro. Our goal here was to evaluate the pro‐remyelinating potential of GABABR agonist baclofen (Bac), a clinically approved drug to treat spasticity in patients with MS. We first demonstrated that Bac increases myelin protein production in lysolecithin (LPC)‐treated cerebellar slices. Importantly, Bac administration to adult mice following induction of demyelination by LPC injection in the spinal cord resulted in enhanced OPC differentiation and remyelination. Thus, our results suggest that Bac repurposing should be considered as a potential therapeutic strategy to stimulate remyelination in patients with MS.
Risk‐taking in the human brain: An activation likelihood estimation meta‐analysis of the balloon analog risk task (BART)
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Zhang Shunmin , Suo Tao , Mao Tianxin , Wang Fenghua , Deng Yao , Eickhoff Simon , Pan Yu , Jiang Caihong , Rao Hengyi 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART) is increasingly used to assess risk‐taking behavior and brain function. However, the brain networks underlying risk‐taking during the BART and its reliability remain controversial. Here, we combined the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta‐analysis with both task‐based and task‐free functional connectivity (FC) analysis to quantitatively synthesize brain networks involved in risk‐taking during the BART, and compared the differences between adults and adolescents studies. Based on 22 pooled publications, the ALE meta‐analysis revealed multiple brain regions in the reward network, salience network, and executive control network underlying risk‐taking during the BART. Compared with adult risk‐taking, adolescent risk‐taking showed greater activation in the insula, putamen, and prefrontal regions. The combination of meta‐analytic connectivity modeling with task‐free FC analysis further confirmed the involvement of the reward, salience, and cognitive control networks in the BART. These findings demonstrate the core brain networks for risk‐taking during the BART and support the utility of the BART for future neuroimaging and developmental research.
Impacts of rising, peak and receding phases of discharge events on erosion potential of a boreal meandering river
Authors: Kärkkäinen Marko , Lotsari Eliisa 
Published: August 2022

AbstractFlow features of a meandering river can vary seasonally and widely in the boreal zone, as seasonal variation in discharges affect the properties of meander bends and the spatial location of flow magnitudes. However, a better understanding of the impacts of consecutive high‐discharge events in the boreal zone requires further analyses. Thus, the impacts of the fluvial processes and their magnitudes on different types of meander bends (e.g., sinuosity, symmetricity) were analysed throughout an open‐channel flow period, using accurate flow measurements and hydrodynamic (two‐dimensional) modelling. In particular, the research compared the impacts of different discharge events in magnitude and length of river evolution, and whether there is a difference in the erosion forces of the rising and falling phases of discharge hydrographs, and which of the phases has the greatest relevance to erosion forces. A case study was carried out in a middle boreal zone meandering river (Koitajoki in eastern Finland) during the 2020 open water season from May to October. Five different types of meander bends were considered in the study area. Flow magnitudes and shear forces were at their strongest during the spring flood peak, which is normally considered as the highest flow event during the hydrological year. Exceptionally, the largest summer discharge event reached a level that was close to the spring floods' maximum erosional capabilities. Bed shear stress values indicated the falling phases of the flood hydrographs are more important to river evolution than during the ascent stage, as the long duration of the flood downstage contributes more strongly to meander bend erosion and development. The smaller the curvature and larger the sinuosity of the bends, the more variation in erosional forces occurs between discharge stages. The study provides new insights into seasonal fluvial processes in boreal river meander bends as well as reinforces results from earlier river studies.
Internalization and cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics in human umbilical vein endothelial cells
Authors: Lu Yan‐yang , Cao Meiyi , Tian Meiping , Huang Qingyu 
Published: August 2022

AbstractUbiquitous micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are emerging environmental pollutants, which pose a potential threat to human health. When MNPs enter the blood circulatory system, vascular endothelium is one of the most important target organs that directly interact with the MNPs. However, little is known about the cytotoxicity of MNPs to vascular endothelial cells. In this study, we investigated the uptake and cytotoxic effects of polystyrene MNPs with a particle size of 1 μm (1‐μm PS‐MNPs) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Our study found that interaction between HUVECs and 1‐μm PS‐MNPs was at a very low level. Even at the high exposure concentration of 25 μg/mL, the percentage of HUVECs combined with fluorescent 1‐μm PS‐MNPs was only 3.80% using flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, there were no significant differences in inflammation, autophagy, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and adhesion molecule expression following exposure to 1‐μm PS‐MNPs (5, 10, and 25 μg/mL) for 48 h, except for a remarkable decrease in cell viability at the extremely high concentration of 100 μg/mL. Herein, 1‐μm PS‐MNPs showed a low level of acute toxicity to HUVECs in vitro, and we expect these results contribute to the further risk assessment of MNPs on human health.