On the paleogeographic distribution of the Late Maastrichtian planktonic foraminiferal genus Kassabiana SALAJ&SOLAKIUS, 1984

Representatives of the planktonic foraminiferal genus Kassabiana SALAJ & SOLAKIUS, 1984, are recorded in the uppermost Maastrichtian beds from the Parnassus-Ghiona and Pindus Zones, Greece. The new records have extended the known paleogeographic distribution of the species of Kassabiana in south Tethys northwards to the 30. N paleolatitude. The distribution was restricted to tropical waters since all the records of the species of Kassabiana are from areas which were situated at low latitudes during the Maastrichtian

On the paleogeographic distribution of the Late Maastrichtian planktonic foraminiferal genus Kassabiana SALAJSOLAKIUS, 1984

Representatives of the planktonic foraminiferal genus Kassabiana SALAJ & SOLAKIUS, 1984, are recorded in the uppermost Maastrichtian beds from the Parnassus-Ghiona and Pindus Zones, Greece. The new records have extended the known paleogeographic distribution of the species of Kassabiana in south Tethys northwards to the 30. N paleolatitude. The distribution was restricted to tropical waters since all the records of the species of Kassabiana are from areas which were situated at low latitudes during the Maastrichtian

Sulfated hydrogels as primary intervertebral disc cell culture systems

INTRODUCTION: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a key contributor for low back pain, a leading cause of disability worldwide1. During degeneration, IVD aging is accelerated, leading to progressive structural changes, including blood vessel and nerve ingrowth that promote discogenic pain2. In vitro studies require novel biomaterials that mimic the IVD extracellular matrix (ECM) to provide mechanical support and a reservoir of cytokines and growth factors. As proteoglycans with their attached sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are one of the major components of the ECM, the ECM’s sulfation state could be a key factor for IVD cell-fate3. Thus, we aim to explore human NP cell fate using a novel sulfated alginate model with varying degrees of sulfation (DS). METHODS: Primary human NP cells were expanded, mixed with solutions of i) 2.5% of standard alginate, ii) 0.1 DS, and iii) 0.2 DS alginate (4 x 106 cells/ml) and casted in 27 l cylindrical-shaped carriers (4 mm diameter, 2 mm height). Carriers were cultured for two weeks for phenotype recovery and were collected with the culture media on day 0, 7 and 14. RESULTS: A significant decrease of cell density (p<0.05) was observed in 0.2 DS alginate after 7 and 14 days of culture. Similarly, cell viability was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in 0.2 DS alginate after 7 days of culture (N=4). In addition, cell metabolic activity tended to be decreased in 0.2 DS alginate compared to standard alginate after 14 days of culture. Surprisingly, ECM remodeling factors such as MMP2 and TIMP1 were slightly upregulated in the 0.1 DS group (N=1), whereas catabolic cytokines were downregulated in the 0.1% DS group. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate significant cellular differences between 0.2 DS alginate vs standard alginate and 0.1 DS alginate. Particularly, a significant decrease in cell density, metabolic activity and viability were observed in the 0.2 DS alginate after 7 days of culture. According to the secretome, the sulfated alginate group seems to possess increased catabolic ECM remodeling with lower secretion of catabolic factors, suggesting less responsive NP cells to ECM structural changes. Overall, standard alginate seems to be the best option for NP cell 3D culture models. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This project was supported by the Marie Skłodowska Curie International Training Network “disc4all” under the grant agreement #955735. REFERENCES: 1FY. Wang et al (2020) JOR Spine 5:1186. 2P. Bermudez-Lekerika et al (2022) Front Cell Dev Biol 29(10):924692. 3E. Lazarus et al (2021) Cells 10(12):3568. Keywords: Hydrogels and injectable systems, In vitro microenvironment

Cross Section and Heavy Quark Composition of Photon+Muon Events Produced in ppbar Collisions

We present a measurement of the cross section and the first measurement of the heavy flavor content of associated direct photon + muon events produced in hadronic collisions. These measurements come from a sample of 1.8 TeV ppbar collisions recorded with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) predicts that these events are primarily due to Compton scattering process charm+gluon -> charm+photon, with the final state charm quark producing a muon. The cross section for events with a photon transverse momentum between 12 and 40 GeV/c is measured to be 46.8+-6.3+-7.5 pb, which is two standard deviations below the most recent theoretical prediction. A significant fraction of the events in the sample contain a final-state bottom quark. The ratio of charm to bottom production is measured to be 2.4+-1.2, in good agreement with QCD models.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Introductory Mycology

xviii,613 hal,;ill,;23 c

Introductory Mycology

xviii,632 hal,;ill,;23 c

Cue-Signal-Response Analysis in 3D Chondrocyte Scaffolds with Anabolic Stimuli

Articular cartilage is an avascular connectivetissue responsible for bearing loads. Cell signaling plays acentral role in cartilage homeostasis and tissue engineering bydirecting chondrocytes to synthesize/degrade the extracellularmatrix or promote inflammatory responses. The aim ofthis paper was to investigate anabolic, catabolic and inflammatorypathways of well-known and underreported anabolicstimuli in 3D chondrocyte cultures and connect them todiverse cartilage responses including matrix regeneration andcell communication. A cue-signal-response experiment wasperformed in chondrocytes embedded in alginate scaffoldssubjected to a 9-day treatment with 7 anabolic cues. At thesignaling level diverse pathways were measured whereas atthe response level glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis andcytokine releases were monitored. A significant increase ofGAG was observed for each stimulus and well knownanabolic phosphoproteins were activated. In addition,WNK1, an underreported protein of chondrocyte signaling,was uncovered. At the extracellular level, inflammatory andregulating cytokines were measured and DEFB1 andCXCL10 were identified as novel contributors to chondrocyteresponses, both closely linked to TLR signaling andinflammation. Finally, two new pro-growth factors with aninflammatory potential, Cadherin-11 and MGP wereobserved. Interestingly, well-known anabolic stimuli yieldedinflammatory responses which pinpoints to the pleiotropicroles of individual stimul