julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Colon Carcinoma Cell Migration Following Treatment with Purified Venom from Lesser Weever Fish (Trachinus Vipera)
2017-01-01

Background: Injury by the sting of Lesser weever fish (Trachinus vipera) may lead to severe pain, edema or tissue necrosis. Cellular effects of the venom are still incompletely understood. Previous observations revealed that purified Lesser weever fish venom (LWFV) induces suicidal death of erythrocytes and HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells. The present study addressed the effect of the venom on colon carcinoma cell toxicity, shape and migration both in p53+/+ and/or p53-/- conditions. Methods: Cells were exposed to medium without or with 500 μg/ ml LWFV. Cell shape, cell area and circularity were visualized and quantified by fluorescence microscopy. Cell volume, granularity and cells toxicity were assessed via the apoptotic parameters dissipation of mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential, phosphatidylserine surface exposure and cell membrane permeabilization were measured utilizing flow cytometry. Cell migration was evaluated using wound healing assay and two-dimensional migration assay. Results: LWFV treatment was followed by a marked change of cell shape and size, significant decrease of cell area and circularity, significant impairment of cell migration, as well as induction of apoptosis after long exposition. Conclusions: LWFV exposure leads to cell shrinkage, increased granularity, apoptosis and impairment of cell migration, effects presumably contributing to LWFV-induced tissue injury.
P38 Kinase, SGK1 and NF-κB Dependent Up-Regulation of Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger Expression and Activity Following TGFß1 Treatment of Megakaryocytes
2017-01-01

Background: TGFβ1, a decisive regulator of megakaryocyte maturation and platelet formation, has previously been shown to up-regulate both, store operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and Ca2+ extrusion by Na+/Ca2+ exchange. The growth factor thus augments the increase of cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i) following release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and accelerates the subsequent decline of [Ca2+]i. The effect on SOCE is dependent on a signaling cascade including p38 kinase, serum &amp; glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1, and nuclear factor NFκB. The specific Na+/Ca2+ exchanger isoforms involved and the signalling regulating the Na+/Ca2+ exchangers remained, however elusive. The present study explored, whether TGFβ1 influences the expression and function of K+ insensitive (NCX) and K+ sensitive (NCKX) Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, and aimed to shed light on the signalling involved. Methods: In human megakaryocytic cells (MEG01) RT-PCR was performed to quantify NCX/NCKX isoform transcript levels, [Ca2+]i was determined by Fura-2 fluorescence, and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity was estimated from the increase of [Ca2+]i following switch from an extracellular solution with 130 or 90 mM Na+ and 0 mM Ca2+ to an extracellular solution with 0 Na+ and 2 mM Ca2+. K+ concentration was 0 mM for analysis of NCX and 40 mM for analysis of NCKX. Results: TGFβ1 (60 ng/ml, 24 h) significantly increased the transcript levels of NCX1, NCKX1, NCKX2 and NCKX5. Moreover, TGFβ1 (60 ng/ml, 24 h) significantly increased the activity of both, NCX and NCKX. The effect of TGFβ1 on NCX and NCKX transcript levels and activity was significantly blunted by p38 kinase inhibitor Skepinone-L (1 μM), the effect on NCX and NCKX activity further by SGK1 inhibitor GSK-650394 (10 μM) and NFκB inhibitor Wogonin (100 μM). Conclusions: TGFβ1 markedly up-regulates transcription of NCX1, NCKX1, NCKX2, and NCKX5 and thus Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity, an effect requiring p38 kinase, SGK1 and NFκB.
Dimerization of the BASIC PENTACYSTEINE Domain in Plant GAGA-Factors is Mediated by Disulfide Bonds and Required for DNA-Binding.
2017-01-01

GAGA-binding proteins in plants are encoded by the BARLEY B-RECOMBINANT / BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BBR/BPC) family, which can be spilt into several groups on the basis of sequence divergence. The proteins of the different groups share an evolutionary conserved BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BPC) domain at their very C-terminus that is important for DNA binding. Hallmark of this domain are five Cysteines at defined positions and spacing, which are considered to form a zinc-finger like structure that is involved in GAGA-motif recognition. Here, we report the formation of stabile homodimers between Arabidopsis thaliana group I member BPC1 or between group II member BPC6 in SDS-PAGE. Serial mutations of the highly conserved five Cysteines in the BPC domain of Arabidopsis thaliana BPC1 were tested for their capacity to bind to GAGA-motifs by DPI-ELISA. Our results do not support the idea of a direct involvement of these residues in making physical contact with the DNA, e.g. by formation of a zinc-finger structure. Instead, the data implies an indispensable function for the five Cysteines in homodimerization and stabilization of the protein structure by disulfide bonds. Accordingly, protein folding and structure prediction suggests the formation of a scaffold for dimerization that is supported by three intermolecular and one intramolecular S-S bond. The high degree of conservation between the BPC domains from the different groups and from different species denotes that this role for the five Cysteines might be evolutionary retained.
1α,25(OH) 2D3 Sensitive Cytosolic pH Regulation and Glycolytic Flux in Human Endometrial Ishikawa Cells
2017-01-01

Background/Aims: Tumor cell proliferation is modified by 1,25-Dihydroxy-Vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), a steroid hormone predominantly known for its role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Key properties of tumor cells include enhanced glycolytic flux with excessive consumption of glucose and formation of lactate. As glycolysis is highly sensitive to cytosolic pH, maintenance of glycolysis requires export of H+ ions and lactate, which is in part accomplished by Na+/H+ exchangers, such as NHE1 and monocarboxylate transporters, such as MCT4. An effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on those transport processes has, however, never been reported. As cytosolic pH impacts on apoptosis, the study further explored the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on apoptosis and on the apoptosis regulating kinase AKT, transcription factor Forkhead box O-3 (FOXO3A) and B-cell lymphoma protein BCL-2. Methods: In human endometrial adenocarcinoma (Ishikawa) cells, cytosolic pH (pHi) was determined utilizing (2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein [BCECF] fluorescence, Na+/H+ exchanger activity from Na+ dependent realkalinization after an ammonium pulse, NHE1 and MCT4 transcript levels using qRT-PCR, NHE1, MCT4, total &amp; phospho AKT, total &amp; phospho-FOXO3A and BCL-2 protein abundance by Western blotting, lactate concentration in the supernatant utilizing a colorimetric enzyme assay and cell death quantification using CytoTox 96®, Annexin V and Propidium Iodide staining. Results: A 24 hours treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 (100 nM) significantly increased cytosolic pH (pHi), significantly decreased Na+/H+ exchanger activity, NHE1 and MCT4 transcript levels as well as protein abundance and significantly increased lactate concentration in the supernatant. Treatment of Ishikawa cells with 1,25(OH)2D3 (100 nM) further triggered apoptosis, an effect paralleled by decreased phosphorylation of AKT and FOXO3A as well as decreased abundance of BCL-2. Conclusions: In Ishikawa cells 1,25(OH)2D3 is a powerful stimulator of glycolysis, an effect presumably due to cytosolic alkalinization. Despite stimulation of glycolysis, 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulates slightly but significantly suicidal cell death, an effect presumably in part due to decreased activation of AKT with decreased inhibition of pro-apoptotic transcription factor FOXO3A and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2.
Enhanced Reactive Oxygen Species Production, Acidic Cytosolic pH and Upregulated Na+/H+ Exchanger (NHE) in Dicer Deficient CD4+ T Cells
2017-01-01

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) negatively regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. Dicer, a cytoplasmic RNase III enzyme, is required for the maturation of miRNAs from precursor miRNAs. Dicer, therefore, is a critical enzyme involved in the biogenesis and processing of miRNAs. Several biological processes are controlled by miRNAs, including the regulation of T cell development and function. T cells generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) with parallel H+ extrusion accomplished by the Na+/H+-exchanger 1 (NHE1). The present study explored whether ROS production, as well as NHE1 expression and function are sensitive to the lack of Dicer (miRNAs deficient) and could be modified by individual miRNAs. Methods: CD4+ T cells were isolated from CD4 specific Dicer deficient (DicerΔ/Δ) mice and the respective control mice (Dicerfl/fl). Transcript and protein levels were quantified with RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. For determination of intracellular pH (pHi) cells were incubated with the pH sensitive dye bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) and Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity was calculated from re-alkalinization after an ammonium pulse. Changes in cell volume were measured using the forward scatter in flow cytometry, and ROS production utilizing 2',7' -dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFDA) fluorescence. Transfection of miRNA-control and mimics in T cells was performed using DharmaFECT3 reagent. Results: ROS production, cytosolic H+ concentration, NHE1 transcript and protein levels, NHE activity, and cell volume were all significantly higher in CD4+ T cells from DicerΔ/Δ mice than in CD4+ T cells from Dicerfl/fl mice. Furthermore, individual miR-200b and miR-15b modify pHi and NHE activity in Dicerfl/fl and DicerΔ/Δ CD4+ T cells, respectively. Conclusions: Lack of Dicer leads to oxidative stress, cytosolic acidification, upregulated NHE1 expression and activity as well as swelling of CD4+ T cells, functions all reversed by miR-15b or miR-200b.
Computational analysis of Gondi dialects
2017-01-01

This paper presents a computational analysis of Gondi dialects spoken in central India. We present a digitized data set of the dialect area, and analyze the data using different techniques from dialectometry, deep learning, and computational biology. We show that the methods largely agree with each other and with the earlier non-computational analyses of the language group.
Dual-Task Performance in GBA Parkinson’s Disease
2017-01-01

Introduction . Parkinson’s disease patients carrying a heterozygous mutation in the gene glucocerebrosidase (GBA-PD) show faster motor and cognitive decline than idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (iPD) patients, but the mechanisms behind this observation are not well understood. Successful dual tasking (DT) requires a smooth integration of motor and nonmotor operations. This study compared the DT performances between GBA-PD and iPD patients. Methods. Eleven GBA-PD patients (p.N370S, p.L444P) and eleven matched iPD patients were included. Clinical characterization included a motor score (Unified PD Rating Scale-III, UPDRS-III) and nonmotor scores (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA, and Beck’s Depression Inventory). Quantitative gait analysis during the single-task (ST) and DT assessments was performed using a wearable sensor unit. These parameters corrected for UPDRS and MoCA were then compared between the groups. Results. Under the DT condition “walking while checking boxes,” GBA-PD patients showed slower gait and box-checking speeds than iPD patients. GBA-PD and iPD patients did not show significant differences regarding dual-task costs. Conclusion . This pilot study suggests that DT performance with a secondary motor task is worse in GBA-PD than in iPD patients. This finding may be associated with the known enhanced motor and cognitive deficits in GBA-PD compared to iPD and should motivate further studies.
First Lithium Isotope Data from Rivers and Subsurface Water in the Pamirs
2017-01-01

Lithium and its isotopes has generally been used as a proxy for silicate weathering and only in a few case studies investigated the link between Lithium isotope systematics of surface and ground waters with respect to residence times in crustal reservoirs and aquifers. However, the processes controlling the Lithium isotope fractionation in such systems are not fully understood, yet. In order to gain a better understanding of how Lithium isotopes are fractionated in large catchments we analyzed Lithium concentrations and Lithium isotope compositions of different water reservoirs (rivers, groundwater, thermal water and lakes) of a high alpine granitic catchment in the Pamir Mountains. We also determined the Lithium concentration and Lithium isotope composition of the (granitic) basement as well as the suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the waters. We observe large isotopic variations in the water samples (from δ7Li = +3 to +36‰) and light isotopic compositions for the bedrock and SPM (δ7Li = -14 to +1.5‰). The wide span of Li isotope composition in the water samples reflects the weathering of silicate rock along the flow path of the (sub) surface water within the catchment.
Growth Assay for the Stem Parasitic Plants of the Genus Cuscuta
2017-01-01

<i>Cuscuta</i> spp. are widespread obligate holoparasitic plants with a broad host spectrum. Rootless <i>Cuscuta</i> penetrates host stems with so called haustoria to form a direct connection to the host vascular tissue ( Dawson <i>et al.</i>, 1994 ; Lanini and Kogan, 2005; Kaiser <i>et al.</i>, 2015 ). This connection allows a steady uptake of water, assimilates and essential nutrients from the host plant and therefore enables <i>Cuscuta</i> growth and proliferation. To quantify the parasites' ability to grow on potential host plants one can use the quantitative growth assay ( Hegenauer <i>et al.</i>, 2016 ) described herein, which exclusively utilizes fresh weight measurement as readout.
Prospective Processing: Behavioural and Neural Evidence
2017-01-01

Whether animals can engage in prospective processing, looking ahead to what needs to be done, is an area of current interest in comparative cognition. We review some of the early behavioural and more recent neural evidence for prospective processing. Three classic behavioural studies, each adopting a different technique (confusion matrix design, sample comparison mapping design, and modality-specific interference design), confirm that animals can engage in prospective processing. Mirroring these findings are more recent data that revealed neural evidence in favour of prospective processing. Overall, both behavioural and neural studies support the view that animals engage in prospective processing and plan for a future event.
Motor Intentions and Non-Observational Knowledge of Action
2017-01-01

According to the standard story given by reductive versions of the Causal Theory of Action, an action is an intrinsically mindless bodily movement that is appropriately caused by an intention. Those who embrace this story typically take this intention to have a coarse-grained content, specifying the action only down to the level of the agent’s habits and skills. Markos Valaris (2015) argues that, because of this, the standard story cannot make sense of the deep reach of our non-observational knowledge of action. He concludes that we therefore have to jettison its conception of actions as mindless bodily movements animated from the outside by intentions. Here we defend the standard story. We can make sense of the reach of non-observational knowledge of action once we reject the following two assumptions: (i) that an intended habitual or skilled action is a so-called basic action—that is, an action that doesn’t involve any finer-grained intentions—and (ii) that an agent, in acting, ismerely executing one intention rather than a whole hierarchy of more or less fine-grained intentions. We argue that (i) and (ii) are false.
Role of missing carotenoid in reducing the fluorescence of single monomeric photosystem II core complexes
2017-01-01

The fluorescence of monomeric photosystem II core complexes of the cyanobacterium <italic>T. elongatus</italic>, originating from redissolved crystals, is investigated by using single-molecule spectroscopy.
Multi-gram Preparation of 7-Nitroquinoxalin-2-amine
2017-01-01

Methodologies to obtain quinoxaline compounds regioselectively are rarely reported in literature, thus regioselective and multi-gram methodologies to obtain these derivatives are desirable to explore the entire potential of these scaffolds for academic and/or commercial application. A facile and multi-gram methodology is described to obtain compound 7-nitroquinoxalin-2-amine using o-phenylenediamine, a cheap and readily available reactant, as starting material in a five-step procedure in good yields and high purity without further purification such as crystallization or column chromatography.
Tuning the fields focused by a high NA lens using spirally polarized beams (Invited Paper)
2017-01-01

We show the power of spirally polarized doughnut beams as a tool for tuning the field distribution in the focus of a high numerical aperture (NA) lens. Different and relevant states of polarization as well as field distributions can be created by the simple turning of a λ/2 retardation wave plate placed in the excitation path of a microscope. The realization of such a versatile excitation source can provide an essential tool for nanotechnology investigations and biomedical experiments.
Organoindium-modified monodisperse ellipsoid-/platelet-like periodic mesoporous silicas
2017-01-01

Indium-modified mondisperse ellipsoid-/platelet-like large-pore periodic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MMSNs) SBA-15 have been prepared <italic>via</italic> molecular grafting of In[N(SiMe<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>]<sub>3</sub>. Surface ligand exchange led to the formation of heteroleptic In species, and the resulting surface In species were converted into crystalline In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles by calcination.
Sequential Venous Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty and Balloon Dilatation of the Interatrial Septum during Percutaneous Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair
2017-01-01

Percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (PMVR) is widely used for selected, high-risk patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR). This report describes a case of 81-year-old woman presenting with severe and highly symptomatic mitral valve regurgitation (MR) caused by a flail of the posterior mitral valve leaflet (PML). PMVR turned out to be challenging in this patient because of a stenosis and tortuosity of both iliac veins as well as sclerosis of the interatrial septum, precluding the vascular and left atrial access by standard methods, respectively. We managed to achieve atrial access by venous percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and balloon dilatation of the interatrial septum. Subsequently, we could advance the MitraClip® system to the left atrium, and deployment of the clip in the central segment of the mitral valve leaflets (A2/P2) resulted in a significant reduction of MR.
Effect of Bexarotene on Platelet Activation and Apoptosis
2017-01-01

Background/Aims: The retinoid X receptor (RXRs) stimulator Bexarotene ((4-[1-(3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl)ethynyl] benzoic acid) is used for the treatment of several malignancies. Bexarotene is at least in part effective by stimulation of apoptosis of tumor cells. Moreover, Bexarotene triggers eryptosis, the suicidal death of erythrocytes. Similar to erythrocytes, blood platelets lack nuclei but are nevertheless able to enter an apoptosis-like phenotype, characterized by caspase activation, cell shrinkage and cell membrane scrambling with phospha-tidylserine translocation to the cell surface. Platelet apoptosis is triggered by increase of cytosolic Ca2+-activity ([Ca2+]i), which further leads to degranulation and integrin activation. Platelet activation and apoptosis could be elicited by thrombin or collagen related peptide (CRP). The present study explored whether treatment of platelets with bexarotene modifies platelet activation and apoptosis following exposure to thrombin or CRP. Methods: Platelets isolated from wild-type mice were exposed for 30 minutes to bexarotene (6 μg/ml) without or with an additional treatment with thrombin (0.01 U/ml) or CRP (2 μg/ml or 5 μg/ml). Flow cytometry was employed to estimate cytosolic Ca2+-activity ([Ca2+]i) from Fluo-3 fluorescence, platelet degranulation from P-selectin abundance, integrin activation from αIIbβ3 integrin abundance, caspase activity utilizing an Active Caspase-3 Staining kit, phosphatidylserine abundance from annexin-V-binding, and relative platelet volume from forward scatter. Results: In the absence of thrombin or CRP, the administration of bexarotene slightly but significantly increased [Ca2+]i, but did not significantly modify P-selectin abundance, activated αIIbβ3 integrin, annexin-V-binding, cell volume, or caspase activity. Exposure of platelets to thrombin or CRP was followed by significant increase of [Ca2+]i, P-selectin abundance, active αIIbβ3 integrin, annexin-V-binding, and caspase activity. The effects of thrombin on [Ca2+]i, annexin-V-binding, cell volume, and caspase activity as well as the effects of CRP on [Ca2+]i, P-selectin abundance, activated αIIbβ3 integrin, annexin-V-binding, cell volume, and caspase activity were significantly augmented in the presence of bexarotene. Conclusions: Bexarotene sensitizes blood platelets for thrombin and/or CRP induced activation and apoptosis.
Anselm L. Strauss
2017-01-01

The chapter sheds light on the theoretical works of Anselm L. Strauss. This American sociologist (1916–1996), already well-known as one of the founding fathers of Grounded Theory, is revealed to at the same time has been the key figure in re-aligning interactionist theory with pragmatist philosophy. His late theoretical writings, thoroughly grounded in decades of empirical studies on illness and healthcare, are structured by two core categories: process and perspective. Both are approached through focusing on action and work. Strauss shifted the Blumerian emphasis on symbolic interaction toward a more material view of sociality as situated activity, thereby blurring what he viewed as the artificial separation of action from structure. Strauss both established a strictly anti-dualistic view of the social and demonstrated how the dynamic tension between doubt and belief is the prime moving force of human activity. The conceptual groundwork laid by Strauss allows pragmatist interactionism to adequately engage poststructural challenges such as the participation of nonhuman entities in social activity and the importance of discourse as shaping situated action while also being shaped in these situations. In concluding, the article points to traces of his empirical and theoretical work in areas such as science and technology studies, gender studies and the sociology of health and illness.
Number faculty is alive and kicking: On number discriminations and number neurons
2017-01-01

Abstract Leibovich et al. advocate for a single “sense of magnitude” to which a dedicated faculty for number could allegedly be reduced. This conclusion is unjustified as the authors adopt an unnecessarily narrow definition of “number sense,” neglect studies that demonstrate non-symbolic numerosity representation, and furthermore ignore abstract number representations in the brain.