pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Systemically alendronate was incorporated into dental tissues but did not cause morphological or mechanical changes in rats teeth

This study evaluated the effect of the systemic use of sodium alendronate in rats in vivo. Forty-five Wistar rats aged 36 to 42 days and weighing 200 to 230 g were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 20), which received distilled water, and an experimental group (n = 25), which received 2 weekly doses of 1 mg/kg of chemically pure sodium alendronate. The animals were killed after 60 days of treatment. The tibias were removed for analysis of bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Then, the maxillary incisors were extracted for analysis of the mineralized dental tissues using fluorescence spectroscopy (FS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), bright field microscopy (BFM), and cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH) testing. DXA and CSMH data were subjected to statistical analysis by Kruskal-Wallis test (5% significance level). The experimental group presented higher bone mineral density than the control group by DXA. FS analysis revealed presence of alendronate in the mineralized dental tissues of the specimens of the experimental group. Significant morphological differences were not found by SEM and BFM. Enamel and dentin (100 and 300 mu m from the dentinoenamel junction) CSMH data did not show significant difference between the control and experimental groups. Based on the obtained results, we conclude that while alendronate increased the bone mineral density and was incorporated into the mineralized dental tissues it did not cause significant alterations in the morphology and microhardness of rat incisor enamel and dentin. Microsc. Res. Tech. 75:12651271, 2012. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Brazilian Ministry of Healths Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES
Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the tongue of the common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)

We performed a macroscopic and microscopic study of the tongues of common opossums, Didelphis marsupialis, from South America. We studied two males and two females. We collected morphometric data on the tongue with precision calipers. For the light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses, we fixed tissue fragments in 10% formaldehyde and 2.5% glutaraldehyde, respectively. The opossum tongues averaged 5.87 +/- 0.20 cm in length, 3.27 +/- 0.15 cm in width at the lingual body, and 3.82 +/- 0.15 cm in width at the root. The mean thickness of the lingual body was 1.8 +/- 0.1 cm, and the thickness of the root was 3.82 +/- 0.15 cm. Sharp filiform papillae were scattered across the entire tongue; conical filiform papillae occurred on the lingual body and tongue tip; fungiform papillae were scattered among the filiform papillae on the lingual body and tongue tip; and there were three vallate papillae at the root of the tongue. We found two strands of papillary projections in the tongue root. Despite the low variability observed in the lingual papillae, the morphological data obtained in this study may be related to the opossum's diverse food habits and the extensive geographic distribution of the species throughout America. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Segmentation of scanning electron microscopy images from natural rubber
  samples with gold nanoparticles using starlet wavelets

Electronic microscopy has been used for morphology evaluation of different
materials structures. However, microscopy results may be affected by several
factors. Image processing methods can be used to correct and improve the
quality of these results. In this paper we propose an algorithm based on
starlets to perform the segmentation of scanning electron microscopy images. An
application is presented in order to locate gold nanoparticles in natural
rubber membranes. In this application, our method showed accuracy greater than
85% for all test images. Results given by this method will be used in future
studies, to computationally estimate the density distribution of gold
nanoparticles in natural rubber samples and to predict reduction kinetics of
gold nanoparticles at different time periods
17-beta-estradiol analog inhibits cell proliferation by induction of apoptosis in breast cell lines

Microtubules are important targets when studying potential anticancer agents since disturbance of these microtubule dynamics results in cell cycle arrest and cell death. 2-Methoxyestradiol is a naturally occurring metabolite that exerts antiproliferative activity and induces apoptosis. Due to limited biological accessibly and rapid metabolic degradation, several
analogs were synthesized. This study investigated the antiproliferative influence of an 2-methoxyestradiol analog, (8R, 13S, 14S, 17S)-2-Ethyl-13-methyl-7, 8, 9, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17-decahydro-6H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrane-3, 17-diyl bis(sulfamate) (EMBS) on cell proliferation,
morphology and apoptosis induction in a estrogen receptor-positive breast adenocarcinoma cells line (MCF-7), estrogen receptor-negative highly metastatic breast cell line (MDAMB- 231) and a non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cell line (MCF-12A). Spectrophotometry results indicated that EMBS exerted differential antiproliferative activity in the three cell
lines. Cell growth of the breast adenocarcinoma and highly metastatic breast cell line reached a plateau effect at 0.4 lM after 24 h of exposure. Light microscopy and polarization-optical transmitted light differential interference contrast demonstrated compromised cell density, cells
blocked in metaphase and the presence of apoptotic characteristics after EMBS exposure for 24 h in all three cell lines. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed hallmarks of apoptosis namely the presence of apoptotic bodies, shrunken cells and
cell debris in EMBS-exposed cells. This investigation demonstrated that EMBS does exert antimitotic activity and induces apoptosis contributing to elucidating the signal transduction of EMBS in tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic breast cell lines. Findings warrant in-depth analysis
of specific targets in vitro and subsequent in vivo investigation for anticancer therapy.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-0029hb2014ay201
Super-resolution imaging with stochastic single molecule localization: concepts, technical developments, and biological applications

Light microscopy has undergone a revolution with the advent of super-resolution microscopy methods that can surpass the diffraction limit. These methods have generated much enthusiasm, in particular with regards to the new possibilities they offer for biological imaging. The recent years have seen a great advancement both in terms of new technological developments and exciting biological applications. Here, we review some of the important milestones in the field and highlight some recent biological applications. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:502–509, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Enamel erosion and prevention efficacy characterized by confocal laser scanning microscope.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the erosion-inhibiting effect of two toothpastes on the development of erosion-like lesions, by a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Forty human enamel blocks were divided into five groups (n = 8), in accordance to evaluate the GC MI Paste Plus and Oral B with stannous fluoride, applied as slurries and associated with toothbrush. Specimens were submitted to an erosion challenge from citric acid (0.5%, pH = 2.8), for 5 min, six times a day, alternating in artificial saliva immersions. Reference group was not exposed to treatment. Part of specimens (Groups 02 and 03) was exposed twice daily just to slurries, for 2 min, therefore specimens from Groups 04 and 05 were also abraded, for 30 s. The enamel surfaces were morphological characterized using CLSM images, with mineral loss being measured using the resulting 3D images referenced to an un-challenged portion of the sample. Step values were compared using the one-way ANOVA test. CLSM was shown to be a viable, noncontact, and simple technique to characterize eroded surfaces. The statistical difference in the step size was significant between the groups (P = 0.001) and using multiple comparisons a statistically significant protective effect of toothpastes was shown when these were applied as slurries. Although groups submitted to tooth brush showed mineral loss similar to reference control group, due to the damages of abrasion associate
Estrogen causes ultrastructural changes of fibrin networks during the menstrual cycle : a qualitative investigation

INTRODUCTION : Hormonal fluctuations may influence fibrin structure. During the
menstrual cycle, plasma fibrinogen levels change, mainly due to the variations of estrogen.
Throughout the menstrual cycle estrogen levels peak twice, first during the mid-follicular phase
and then a lower second peak during the luteal phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS : In order to investigate
the possible changes in the fibrin network throughout the menstrual cycle, the fibrin network
ultrastructure of six healthy female participants were studied at different intervals in the
menstrual cycle where differences in estrogen levels are prevalent. Blood plasma smears were
prepared for scanning and transmission electron microscopy analysis. RESULTS : The external and
internal structure of the fibrin fibers showed different morphologies throughout the menstrual
cycle. The fibrin fibers were smooth during days 1–5. However, during days 12–14 of the menstrual
cycle the fibrin fiber morphology started to change, becoming less smooth. During the
luteal phase of the cycle (days 20–25), the network appears sticky, where the minor, thin fibers
are more prominent between the thick fibers when compared to the menstrual phase. CONCLUSION :
The two estrogen peaks of the menstrual cycle coincide with the changes seen in the current
qualitative research, where the fibrin morphology changes during the same time as the
estrogen peaks occur. Purified fibrinogen confirmed that it is indeed estrogen that causes the
altered fibrin network morphology. This research is the first to show ultrastructural changes in
fibrin fiber morphology resulting from estrogen changes during the menstrual cycle.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-00292015-08-31hb201
Part 2 : Ultrastructural changes of fibrin networks during three phases of pregnancy : a qualitative investigation

INTRODUCTION: Normal pregnancy is characterized by significant alterations in the
 haemostatic system accompanied by an augmented risk of thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The fibrin network ultrastructure of different phases of pregnancy,
 namely early pregnancy (week 8 – 14), late pregnancy (week 36 – 40) as well as
 post-partum (week 6 – 8 after birth) were compared to non-pregnant fibrin networks
 as well as each other to establish whether differences in fibrin network morphology
 exist during pregnancy. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to analyse
 fibrin network morphology. RESULTS: The fibrin networks from all phases of pregnancy appeared similar to each other, exhibiting prominent coagulant
 formation, an increase in the formation of minor, thin fibers, and the presence of
 granular globules. Al three phases however differ from the typical fibrin network
 ultrastructure exhibited by the fibrin networks from non-pregnant individuals. The
 increase in estrogen associated with pregnancy may cause the increase in
 coagulation factors and ultimately the pro-thrombotic state characteristic of
 pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Since no differences were apparent between the
 different phases of pregnancy it suggests that activation of the coagulation
 system commences with pregnancy and this pro-thrombotic state continues till at
 least 8 weeks after birth. These results may shed light on possible pathological
 mechanisms employed in the development of abnormal or ailing pregnancy.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-0029hb201
Direct observation of liquid crystals using cryo-TEM: Specimen preparation and low-dose imaging

Liquid crystals (LCs) represent a challenging group of materials for direct transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies due to the complications in specimen preparation and the severe radiation damage. In this paper, we summarize a series of specimen preparation methods, including thin film and cryo-sectioning approaches, as a comprehensive toolset enabling high-resolution direct cryo-TEM observation of a broad range of LCs. We also present comparative analysis using cryo-TEM and replica freeze-fracture TEM on both thermotropic and lyotropic LCs. In addition to the revisits of previous practices, some new concepts are introduced, e.g., suspended thermotropic LC thin films, combined high-pressure freezing and cryo-sectioning of lyotropic LCs, and the complementary applications of direct TEM and indirect replica TEM techniques. The significance of subnanometer resolution cryo-TEM observation is demonstrated in a few important issues in LC studies, including providing direct evidences for the existence of nanoscale smectic domains in nematic bent-core thermotropic LCs, comprehensive understanding of the twist-bend nematic phase, and probing the packing of columnar aggregates in lyotropic chromonic LCs. Direct TEM observation opens ways to a variety of TEM techniques, suggesting that TEM (replica, cryo, and in situ techniques), in general, may be a promising part of the solution to the lack of effective structural probe at the molecular scale in LC studies. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:754-772, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Looking at cell mechanics with atomic force microscopy: Experiment and theory

This review reports on the use of the atomic force microscopy in the investigation of the mechanical properties of cells. It is shown that the technique is able to deliver information about the cell surface properties (e.g., topography), the Young modulus, the viscosity, and the cell the relaxation times. Another aspect that this short review points out is the utilization of the atomic force microscope to investigate basic questions related to materials physics, biology, and medicine. The review is written in a chronological way to offer an overview of phenomenological facts and quantitative results to the reader. The final section discusses in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the Hertz and JKR models. A new implementation of the JKR model derived by Dufresne is presented
A descriptive study to provide evidence of the teratogenic and cellular effects of sibutramine and ephedrine on cardiac- and liver-tissue of chick embryos

Exposure to drugs during pregnancy is a major concern, as some teratogenic compounds
can influence normal foetal development. Although the use of drugs during pregnancy
should generally be avoided, exposure of the developing foetus to teratogens may occur
unknowingly since these compounds may be hidden in products that are being marketed as
“all natural”. The aim of the current study was to investigate the possible teratogenic and
cellular effects of sibutramine - a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor used in the
treatment of obesity - on the heart and liver tissue of chick embryos. Ephedrine was used as
a positive control. The chick embryo model was chosen because it has been used in
studying developmental and experimental biology and teratology with great success. The embryos were exposed to three different concentrations of sibutramine and ephedrine
respectively. The results obtained revealed that both compounds exhibited embryotoxicity
when compared to the control groups. Liver and heart tissue of the exposed embryos was
severely affected by these compounds in a dose-related manner. Morphology similar to that
of muscle dystrophy was observed in the heart, where the muscle tissue was infiltrated by
adipose and connective tissue. Severe liver steatosis was also noted. A more in-depth
investigation into the molecular pathways involved might provide more information on the
exact mechanism of toxicity of these products influencing embryonic development.National research foundation (NRF)http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-00292016-08-31hb201
Bioactive Sheath/Core nanofibers containing olive leaf extract

This study aimed at producing silk fibroin (SF)/hyaluronic acid (HA) and olive leaf extract (OLE) nanofibers with sheath/core morphology by coaxial electrospinning method, determining their antimicrobial properties, and examining release profiles of OLE from these coaxial nanofibers. Optimum electrospinning process and solution parameters were determined to obtain uniform and bead-free coaxial nanofibers. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the morphology of the nanofibers. The antimicrobial activities of nanofibers were tested according to AATCC test method 100. Total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity were tested using in vitro batch release system. The quality and quantity of released components of OLE were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The changes in nanofibers were examined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Uniform and bead-free nanofibers were produced successfully. TEM images confirmed the coaxial structure. OLE-loaded nanofibers demonstrated almost perfect antibacterial activities against both of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Antifungal activity against C. albicans was rather poor. After a release period of 1 month, it was observed that ∼70-95% of the OLE was released from nanofibers and it was still bioactive. Overall results indicate that the resultant shell/core nanofibers have a great potential to be used as biomaterials.DUAG Natural Product
Immunocompetence in Hydra. Epithelial cells recognize self-nonself and react against it

The evolution of effective immunologic defense mechanisms in multicellular organisms involves the ability of host cells to distinguish betweeen self and nonself and to react appropriately to eliminate foreign tissue. By producing interspecies grafts we have obtained evidence that immunorecognition followed by incompatibility reactions occur in Hydra. Our results demonstrate that epithelial cells of Hydra recognize and phagocytose foreign hydra cells, indicating that they are the effector cells in the incompatibility reactions. This observation is consistent with the idea that immunocompetence appeared early in the evolution of multicellular organisms.
Influence of Temperature, Hypercapnia, and Development on the Relative Expression of Different Hemocyanin Isoforms in the Common Cuttlefish Sepia officinalis

The cuttlefish Sepia officinalis expresses several hemocyanin isoforms with potentially different pH\ud
optima, indicating their reliance on efficient pH regulation in the blood. Ongoing ocean warming\ud
and acidification could influence the oxygen-binding properties of respiratory pigments in\ud
ectothermic marine invertebrates. This study examined whether S. officinalis differentially\ud
expresses individual hemocyanin isoforms to maintain optimal oxygen transport during\ud
development and acclimation to elevated seawater pCO2 and temperature. Using quantitative\ud
PCR, we measured relative mRNA expression levels of three different hemocyanin isoforms in\ud
several ontogenetic stages (embryos, hatchlings, juveniles, and adults), under different\ud
temperatures and elevated seawater pCO2. Our results indicate moderately altered hemocyanin\ud
expression in all embryonic stages acclimated to higher pCO2, while hemocyanin expression in\ud
hatchlings and juveniles remained unaffected. During the course of development, total hemocyanin\ud
expression increased independently of pCO2 or thermal acclimation status. Expression of isoform 3\ud
is reported for the first time in a cephalopod in this study and was found to be generally low but\ud
highest in the embryonic stages (0.2% of total expression). Despite variable hemocyanin expression,\ud
hemolymph total protein concentrations remained constant in the experimental groups. Our data\ud
provide first evidence that ontogeny has a stronger influence on hemocyanin isoform expression\ud
than the environmental conditions chosen, and they suggest that hemocyanin protein abundance\ud
in response to thermal acclimation is regulated by post-transcriptional/translational rather than by\ud
transcriptional modifications
Reproductive cycle and strategy of Anodonta anatina (L., 1758): Notes on hermaphroditism

Freshwater mussels have decreased dramatically in Iberia over the last decades. These animals are responsible for important ecosystem services such as recycling nutrients and improving water clarity. Under this view a better knowledge on the biological features of these animals is extremely important for future conservation and management actions. In this study the reproductive and gametogenic cycle of Anodonta anatina were studied during 2 years in one population as well as the sex ratio and hermaphroditism in six distinct populations, using standard histology. Gametogenesis was continuous in both sexes and germinal epithelium in early stages of development. Gametes were present throughout the reproductive cycle. Oogenesis and spermatogenesis occurred mainly between January and May. Larvae brooding occurred between September and March and main glochidia discharge occurred over a short period (2–3 weeks) in March. For the sex‐ratio and hermaphroditism assessments a variable number of individuals were collected from several populations from lakes and rivers. Previous studies described A. anatina as mainly dioecious with only a few populations presenting occasional hermaphroditism. However, the present study indicates that A. anatina sexual behavior is influenced by environmental conditions, being mainly dioecious in rivers with increased hermaphroditism in standing waters. Although selffertilization was not confirmed, additional studies with molecular characterization of larvae using fast evolving markers should be used in future studies to enlighten this process. Overall, this study indicates that for more efficient conservation actions and management plans, freshwater mussel reproductive biology should be studied at the population level mainly in the subfamily Anodontinae