julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of MSCA-1 and CD146 Isolated Periosteal Cell Subpopulations
2018-01-01

Background/Aims: Periosteal tissue is a valuable source of multipotent stem cells for bone tissue engineering. To characterize these cells in detail, we generated an immortalized human cranial periosteal cell line and observed an increased MSCA-1 and CD146 expression, as well as an earlier and stronger mineralization compared to the parental cells. Further, we detected a higher osteogenic potential of MSCA-1high compared to MSCA-1low cranial periosteal cell (CPC) fractions. In the present study, a possible synergism of MSCA-1 and CD146 for periosteal cell mineralization was investigated. Methods: MSCA-1/CD146 positive and negative CPCs were magnetically isolated (MACS) or sorted by flow cytometry (FACS) and subjected to osteogenic differentiation. The expression of osteogenic marker genes in the four subpopulations was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Furthermore, the co-expression of osteogenic markers/antigens was analyzed by multispectral imaging flow cytometry (ImageStream, AMNIS). The mineralization potential was assessed by the quantification of alizarin stainings. Results: While the total cell yield after separation was higher using MACS compared to the FACS approach, the isolation of MSCA-1+/- and CD146+/- subpopulations was more efficient with the FACS separation. The accuracy of the FACS separation of the four distinguished cell subpopulations was confirmed by multispectral imaging flow cytometry. Further, we detected increasing levels of MSCA-1 and CD146 during in vitro differentiation in all subpopulations. However, MSCA-1 expression was significantly higher in the MSCA-1+/CD146+ and MSCA-1+/ CD146- subpopulations, while CD146 expression remained clearly lower in these fractions. Significantly higher gene expression levels of osteogenic markers, ALP and RUNX2, were detected in MSCA-1+ compared to MSCA-1- CPCs at different time points during in vitro differentiation. Staining and quantification of calcium phosphate precipitates revealed a significantly higher mineralization potential of MACS separated MSCA-1+ and CD146- CPCs, compared to their respective counterparts. FACS sorted CPCs displayed earlier mineralization in both MSCA-1+ fractions (d13), while later (d28) only the CD146+/MSCA-1- fraction had a significantly lower calcium phosphate concentration compared to all other fractions. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate, that MSCA-1+ cells isolated from CPCs represent a subpopulation with a higher osteogenic potential. In contrast, we found a lower osteogenic potential in CD146+ CPCs. In conclusion, only MSCA-1, but not CD146, is a suitable marker for the isolation of osteoprogenitors from CPCs.
Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease
2018-01-01

ABSTRACT Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is cushion of fat tissue surrounding blood vessels, which is phenotypically different from other adipose tissue depots. PVAT is composed of adipocytes and stromal vascular fraction, constituted by different populations of immune cells, endothelial cells, and adipose‐derived stromal cells. It expresses and releases an important number of vasoactive factors with paracrine effects on vascular structure and function. In healthy individuals, these factors elicit a net anticontractile and anti‐inflammatory paracrine effect aimed at meeting hemodynamic and metabolic demands of specific organs and regions of the body. Pathophysiological situations, such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension, induce changes in its amount and in the expression pattern of vasoactive factors leading to a PVAT dysfunction in which the beneficial paracrine influence of PVAT is shifted to a pro‐oxidant, proinflammatory, contractile, and trophic environment leading to functional and structural cardiovascular alterations and cardiovascular disease. Many different PVATs surrounding a variety of blood vessels have been described and exhibit regional differences. Both protective and deleterious influence of PVAT differs regionally depending on the specific vascular bed contributing to variations in the susceptibility of arteries and veins to vascular disease. PVAT therefore, might represent a novel target for pharmacological intervention in cardiovascular disease. © 2018 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 8:23‐59, 2018.
TGFβ Is Specifically Upregulated on Circulating CD14++ CD16+ and CD14+ CD16++ Monocytes in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Severe Atrial Fibrosis
2018-01-01

Background/Aims: Fibrotic remodeling of the atria plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). As little is known about the contribution of circulating monocytes in atrial remodeling and the pathophysiology of AF, we investigated profibrotic factors in different subsets of circulating monocytes obtained from patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation. Methods: A 3D high density voltage mapping was performed in sinus rhythm to evaluate the extent of low-voltage areas (LVAs) in the atria of 71 patients with persistent AF. Low-voltage was defined as signals of &lt; 0.5mV during sinus rhythm. Prior to ablation, blood was drawn and monocytes were analyzed by FACS. Based on the expression of CD14 and CD16, three subgroups including CD14++ CD16- (‘classical’), CD14++ CD16+ (‘intermediate’), and CD14+ CD16++ (‘non-classical’) were analyzed for the expression of TGFb, CD147, and MMP-9, representing pivotal profibrotic pathways in myocardial remodeling. Results: Expression of TGFb was increased in CD14+ monocytes of patients with extensive LVAs compared to patients with a low extend of LVAs. While CD14++ CD16- monocytes showed no difference, CD14++ CD16+ and CD14+ CD16++ monocytes showed a strong increase of TGFb abundance. Although CD147 and MMP-9 are strongly associated with myocardial fibrosis, we found no difference in expression between the two groups in any monocyte subsets. Conclusion: TGFb is specifically upregulated on CD14++ CD16+ and CD14+ CD16++ monocytes in patients with extensive LVAs undergoing catheter ablation.
Screening for Non-polyenic Antifungal Produced by Actinobacteria from Moroccan Habitats: Assessment of Antimycin A19 Production by Streptomyces albidoflavus AS25.
2018-01-01

Fungal diseases are currently a serious public health problem, due to the limited number of fact-based effective principles, and the emergence of resistant strains to the polyenic antifungals. The aim of this study was to screen, for non-polyenic antifungals production by Actinobacteria, and to validate the screening program by characterizingthe produced compounds.Actinobacteria isolates were tested against four clinic human-pathogenic fungi isolated from Hospital Mohammed V Rabat, Morocco. The production of non-polyenic antifungal metabolites by active isolates was investigated based on the yeast cell specificity as challenging targets, antibacterial activity, activity against resistant <i>Candida tropicalis</i> R2 and <i>Pythium irregular</i> (resistant to polyenes), inhibition of antifungal activity by the addition of exogenous ergosterol, and the UV-visible light spectrophotometric analysis of the active crude extracts.The antifungal compound produced was purified using various chromatographic techniques and the selected producing strain was identified using the polyphasic approach.Among 480 Actinobacteria isolates, 55 showed antifungal activity against all tested clinically derived fungi. After performing the screening program, 4 Actinobacteria that hadall the desired criteriawere selected. Using the polyphasic approach, the taxonomic position of the selected Streptomyces AS25, isolated from rhizospheric soil of <i>Alyssum spinosum</i>, showed that it belongs to Streptomyces genus with 100% partial 16S similarity with <i>Streptomyces albidoflavus</i> NBRC13010. On the basis of HPLC and mass spectrometry, the purified compound produced by Streptomyces AS25 was identified as a non-polyenic lactone, antimycin A19, which has been found for the first time to be produced by <i>Streptomyces albidoflavus</i> strain. Following the obtained results, it is important to note that our screening criteria for non-polyenic antifungals have been validated and the rhizospheric soil represents an interesting source to isolate Actinobacteria.
Inhibition of Lithium Sensitive Orai1/ STIM1 Expression and Store Operated Ca2+ Entry in Chorea-Acanthocytosis Neurons by NF-κB Inhibitor Wogonin
2018-01-01

Background/Aims: The neurodegenerative disease Chorea-Acanthocytosis (ChAc) is caused by loss-of-function-mutations of the chorein-encoding gene VPS13A. In ChAc neurons transcript levels and protein abundance of Ca2+ release activated channel moiety (CRAC) Orai1 as well as its regulator STIM1/2 are decreased, resulting in blunted store operated Ca2+-entry (SOCE) and enhanced suicidal cell death. SOCE is up-regulated and cell death decreased by lithium. The effects of lithium are paralleled by upregulation of serum &amp; glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1 and abrogated by pharmacological SGK1 inhibition. In other cell types SGK1 has been shown to be partially effective by upregulation of NFκB, a transcription factor stimulating the expression of Orai1 and STIM. The present study explored whether pharmacological inhibition of NFκB interferes with Orai1/STIM1/2 expression and SOCE and their upregulation by lithium in ChAc neurons. Methods: Cortical neurons were differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells generated from fibroblasts of ChAc patients and healthy volunteers. Orai1 and STIM1 transcript levels and protein abundance were estimated from qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively, cytosolic Ca2+-activity ([Ca2+]i) from Fura-2-fluorescence, SOCE from increase of [Ca2+]i following Ca2+ re-addition after Ca2+-store depletion with sarco-endoplasmatic Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (1μM), as well as CRAC current utilizing whole cell patch clamp recording. Results: Orai1 and STIM1 transcript levels and protein abundance as well as SOCE and CRAC current were significantly enhanced by lithium treatment (2 mM, 24 hours). These effects were reversed by NFκB inhibitor wogonin (50 μM). Conclusion: The stimulation of expression and function of Orai1/STIM1/2 by lithium in ChAc neurons are disrupted by pharmacological NFκB inhibition.
Assessment of Building Damage in Raqqa during the Syrian Civil War Using Time-Series of Radar Satellite Imagery
2018-01-01

Change detection is one of the key tasks of earth observation. In the humanitarian domain, information about the impacts of natural disasters or military conflicts are of particular interest. This study uses time-series of Sentinel-1 radar imagery to identify changes resulting from armed combats in the city of Raqqa, Syria. The concept of permanent scatterers (PS) was applied to the data for the identification of stable information, which is then used for temporal analysis of pixel amplitudes. In an urban context, this gives insights into both the locations of damage and the exact date of the destruction. Instances of damage manually identified by UNOSAT are used for validation. The study shows that Sentinel-1 data can be a suitable indicator for heavy damage, but limitations arise from the comparably low spatial resolution and in cases of moderate changes which do not affect the structure of buildings. The study demonstrates the potential of radar imagery regarding its spatial and temporal resolution and gives examples of detailed analyses at selected areas of special interest.
The Anthropocene Working Group and its (inter-)disciplinarity
2018-01-01

This article investigates the internal dynamics of the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG), an expert body tasked with evaluating the stratigraphic case of the Anthropocene. The investigation focuses on the role of interdisciplinarity and disciplinarity in the AWG. The article draws on surveys and interviews with AWG members to characterize interdisciplinary collaboration in the AWG and discusses the relationship of the AWG to the stratigraphic community. The results reveal that the exchanges between disciplines in the AWG are 'multidisciplinary' and of limited scope. While social scientists in the group take a non-scientific role, the involvement of natural scientists in research activities is guided by the objectives of stratigraphy. Moreover, a lack of communication and trust had shaped the relationship between the AWG and the stratigraphic community until they devised pragmatic working arrangements that led the AWG to adapt its research practice and rationale. Despite calls to reform stratigraphic practice, the disciplinarity of the AWG prevails over innovative research practices inspired by interdisciplinary exchanges. In terms of theory, the study confirms that disciplines continue to provide the context in which interdisciplinary endeavors need to position themselves. Notwithstanding the pull of interdisciplinarity, the AWG's main point of reference remains the stratigraphic community.
Effects of stimulus order on comparative judgments across stimulus attributes and sensory modalities.
2018-01-01

In psychophysical experiments, participants are often asked to compare the magnitude of a constant standard against the magnitude of a variable comparison. According to prominent models of stimulus discrimination, discrimination sensitivity should depend only on the physical magnitude difference between these two stimuli but not on the order of their presentation. However, previous experiments on auditory duration discrimination have shown that discrimination sensitivity is higher when the standard precedes rather than follows the comparison. It is presently unclear whether this Type B effect emerges only for duration discrimination or generalizes across modalities and stimulus attributes. Therefore, we conducted a study in which participants performed several discrimination tasks for various stimulus attributes (i.e., duration, frequency, intensity, and numerosity), each in the visual and in the auditory modality. In all cases, discrimination sensitivity was higher when the standard preceded rather than followed the comparison. This result indicates that the Type B effect is not restricted to the domain of temporal cognition but rather reflects a general phenomenon across a range of domains and modalities. The outcome of the present experiment is consistent with the internal reference model according to which the Type B effect is a consequence of a dynamically updated internal reference, which is used in the comparison process. Alternatively, a weighted difference model with a larger weight for the second stimulus position than for the first stimulus position can also account for this result. (PsycINFO Database Record
XplOit: An Ontology-Based Data Integration Platform Supporting the Development of Predictive Models for Personalized Medicine
2018-01-01

Predictive models can support physicians to tailor interventions and treatments to their individual patients based on their predicted response and risk of disease and help in this way to put personalized medicine into practice. In allogeneic stem cell transplantation risk assessment is to be enhanced in order to respond to emerging viral infections and transplantation reactions. However, to develop predictive models it is necessary to harmonize and integrate high amounts of heterogeneous medical data that is stored in different health information systems. Driven by the demand for predictive instruments in allogeneic stem cell transplantation we present in this paper an ontology-based platform that supports data owners and model developers to share and harmonize their data for model development respecting data privacy.
A Geometric Heuristic for Rectilinear Crossing Minimization
2018-01-01

In this paper we consider the rectilinear crossing minimization problem, i.e., we seek a straight-line drawing ? of a graph G = (V, E) with a small number of edge crossings. Crossing minimization is an active field of research [1,9]. While there is a lot of work on heuristics for topological drawings, these techniques are typically not transferable to the rectilinear (i.e., straight-line) setting. We introduce and evaluate three heuristics for rectilinear crossing minimization. The approaches are based on the primitive operation of moving a single vertex to its crossing-minimal position in the current drawing ?, for which we give an O (kn + m)2 log (kn + m)-time algorithm, where k is the degree of the vertex and n and m are the numbers of vertices and edges of the graph, respectively. In an experimental evaluation, we demonstrate that our algorithms compute straight-line drawings with fewer crossings than energy-based algorithms implemented in the Open Graph Drawing Framework [10] on a varied set of benchmark instances. All experiments are evaluated with a statistical significance level of ? = 0.05.
Biological foundations and beneficial effects of trance
2018-01-01

Abstract Singh proposes a cultural evolutionary theory of shamanic practices, including trance. We argue that cultural factors are deeply intertwined with biological aspects in shaping shamanic practices, and the underlying biology is critical. We discuss the neural underpinnings of rhythm-induced trance, how they can facilitate insight, and how altered states can promote healing.
Adjuvant Therapy Using Mistletoe Containing Drugs Boosts the T‐Cell‐Mediated Killing of Glioma Cells and Prolongs the Survival of Glioma Bearing Mice
2018-01-01

Viscum album L. extracts (VE) are applied as complementary cancer therapeutics for more than one century. Extracts contain several compounds like mistletoe lectins (ML) 1‐3 and viscotoxins, but also several minor ingredients. Since ML‐1 has been described as one of the main active components harboring antitumor activity, purified native or recombinant ML‐1 has been also used in clinical trials in the last years. The present study examined and compared the immunoboosting effects of three ML‐1 containing drugs (the extract ISCADOR Qu, the recombinant ML‐1 Aviscumine, and purified native ML‐1) in the context of the T‐cell mediated killing of glioma cells. Additionally we examined the possible underlying T‐cell stimulating mechanisms. Using cocultures of immune and glioma cells, a PCR‐based microarray, quantitative RT‐PCR, and an antibody‐based array to measure cytokines in blood serum, immunosupporting effects were determined. A highly aggressive, orthotopic, immunocompetent syngeneic mouse glioma model was used to determine the survival of mice treated with ISCADOR Qu alone or in combination with tumor irradiation and temozolomide (TMZ). Treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) cells with ISCADOR Qu that contains a high ML concentration, but also viscotoxins and other compounds, as well as with Aviscumine or native ML‐1, enhanced the expansion of cancer cell‐specific T‐cells as well as T‐cell‐mediated tumor cell lysis, but to a different degree. In GBM cells all three ML‐1‐containing preparations modulated the expression of immune response associated genes. In vivo, subcutaneous ISCADOR Qu injections at increasing concentration induced cytokine release in immunocompetent VM/Dk‐mice. Finally, ISCADOR Qu, if applied in combination with tumor irradiation and TMZ, further prolonged the survival of glioma mice. Our findings indicate that ML‐1 containing drugs enhance anti‐GBM immune responses and work in synergy with radiochemotherapy. Therefore, adjuvant mistletoe therapy should be considered as an auspicious treatment option for glioma patients.
Stimulating Weight Stigma in Future Experimental Designs on Physical Activity - Development and Pilot Validation of a Video Instrument
2018-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objective: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;There is a need for more experimental research on weight stigma and physical activity, specifically among men with obesity. Yet, validated procedures are required. The goal of this study was i) to develop a 10-min video instrument for the experimental induction of physical activity-related weight stigma (including a neutral control video), and ii) to collect information with regards to its content, face, construct, and criterion validity. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;To ensure content and face validity, two experts gave repeated feedback on the video development. In addition, two novices reviewed the video. Subsequently, we conducted a separate experiment: 60 adult men (18-52 years, 31 with overweight, 29 with normal weight) were randomly assigned to one of the two video conditions, stratified by BMI. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;After the treatment, the stigma group showed higher scores of negative affect and attitudes against obesity (convergent validity). As expected, there were no differences in measures of depression and general stress (discriminant validity). The BMI of the participants in the stigma group correlated positively with some indicators of negative affect (criterion validity). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Our study provides preliminary evidence for the validity of the video tool. Therefore, it can be used in future trials to investigate the effects of weight stigma on physical activity behavior.
Stimulation of Eryptosis, the Suicidal Erythrocyte Death, by Costunolide
2018-01-01

Background/Aims: The sesquiterpene lactone Costunolide is effective against various disorders including inflammation and malignancy. The substance is effective in part by triggering suicidal death or apoptosis of tumor cells. Mechanisms involved include altered function of transcription factors and mitochondria. Erythrocytes lack nuclei and mitochondria but are – in analogy to apoptosis of nucleated cells – able to enter suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis, characterized by cell shrinkage and cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine translocation to the erythrocyte surface. Triggers of eryptosis include increase of cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i), oxidative stress and ceramide. The present study explored, whether Costunolide induces eryptosis and, if so, to shed light on the mechanisms involved. Methods: Phosphatidylserine exposure at the cell surface was estimated from annexin-V-binding, cell volume from forward scatter, [Ca2+]i from Fluo3-fluorescence, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation from 2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF)-dependent fluorescence, and ceramide abundance utilizing specific antibodies. Results: A 48 hours exposure of human erythrocytes to Costunolide (15 μg/ml) significantly enhanced the percentage of annexin-V-binding cells, significantly decreased forward scatter and significantly increased Fluo3-fluorescence, DCF-fluorescence, and ceramide abundance. The effect of Costunolide on annexin-V-binding was significantly blunted by removal of extracellular Ca2+. Conclusion: Costunolide triggers cell shrinkage and phospholipid scrambling of the erythrocyte cell membrane, an effect at least in part due to Ca2+ entry and paralleled by oxidative stress and ceramide formation.
Registered Replication Report: Testing Disruptive Effects of Irrelevant Speech on Visual-Spatial Working Memory
2018-01-01

<p class="p1">A Partial Replication of “Functional Equivalence of Verbal and Spatial Information in Serial Short-Term Memory (Jones, Farrand, Stuart, &amp; Morris, 1995; Experiment 4)” <p class="p1"> <p class="p1">The irrelevant speech effect (ISE)—the phenomenon that background speech impairs serial recall of visually presented material—has been widely used for examining the structure of short-term memory. In Experiment 4, Jones, Farrand, Stuart, and Morris (1995) employed the ISE to demonstrate that impairment of performance is determined by the changing-state characteristics of the material, rather than its modality of origin. The present study directly replicated the spatial condition of Experiment 4 with <em>N</em> = 40 German participants. In contrast to the original findings, no main effect of sound type was observed, <em>F</em>(2, 78) = 0.81, <em>p</em> = .450, η<sup>2</sup><em><sub>p</sub></em> = .02. The absence of an ISE in the spatial domain does not support the changing state hypothesis.