Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Homeostatic scaling is driven by a translation-dependent degradation axis that recruits miRISC remodelling

Homeostatic scaling in neurons has been majorly attributed to the individual contribution of either translation or degradation; however there remains limited insight towards understanding how the interplay between the two processes effectuates synaptic homeostasis. Here, we report that a co-dependence between the translation and degradation mechanisms drives synaptic homeostasis whereas abrogation of either prevents it. Coordination between the two processes is achieved through the formation of a tripartite complex between translation regulators, the 26S proteasome and the miRNA-induced-silencing-complex (miRISC) components such as MOV10 and Trim32 on actively translating transcripts or polysomes. Disruption of polysomes abolishes this ternary interaction, suggesting that translating RNAs facilitate the combinatorial action of the proteasome and the translational apparatus. We identify that synaptic downscaling involves miRISC remodelling which entails the mTOR-dependent translation of Trim32, an E3 ligase and the subsequent degradation of its target, MOV10. MOV10 degradation is sufficient to invoke downscaling by enhancing Arc expression and causing the subsequent removal of post-synaptic AMPA receptors. We propose a mechanism that exploits a translation-driven degradation paradigm to invoke miRISC remodelling and induce homeostatic scaling during chronic network activity.
Hepatic γ-Amino Butyric Acid Release Drives Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance

The degree of hepatic lipid accumulation in obesity directly correlates with the severity of hyperinsulinemia and systemic insulin resistance. Here, we propose a mechanism that explains this associative link, whereby, hepatic steatosis dysregulates glucose and insulin homeostasis. Obesity-induced lipid accumulation results in hepatocyte depolarization. We have established that hepatocyte depolarization depresses hepatic afferent vagal nerve firing and diet induced obesity increases hepatic GABA release in mice. Hepatic GABA release decreases hepatic afferent vagal nerve activity to stimulate pancreatic insulin release and decreases insulin sensitivity. Surgically eliminating the hepatic vagal nerve signaling, preventing hepatic GABA synthesis, or limiting hepatic GABA export ameliorates hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice. This work establishes that limiting hepatocyte GABA production or release may mute the glucoregulatory dysfunction common to obesity. Competing Interests The results presented in this paper have resulted in patent cooperation treaty Application No. 62/511,753 and 62/647,468: METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR REGULATING GLUCOSE HOMEOSTASIS.
Linkage mapping and whole-genome predictions in canola (Brassica napus) subjected to differing temperature treatments

Abstract. Canola (Brassica napus L.) is grown on >8 Mha in Canada and is sensitive to high temperatures; therefore, research on breeding methodologies to improve heat-stress tolerance is warranted. This study utilised a doubled-haploid population created from two parents (PB36 and PB56) that differed in their ability to set seed following growth at high temperatures. The experiment was designed to identify potential quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for conferring tolerance to increased temperatures, and to utilise this population as a test case for evaluating the prospects of whole-genome prediction. The population was phenotyped in a split-plot, randomised complete block experimental design at three locations with two planting-date treatments. The first planting date was during the normal planting period (control), and the second planting was timed to experience increased average temperatures (1.7°C, 2.0°C and 1.2°C) and increased number of days with maximum temperatures above the critical temperature of 29.5°C (4, 12 and 3 days). The stress treatment reduced yield on average by 16.7%. There were 66 QTLs discovered across the nine traits collected. Given the quantitative nature of the traits collected, the ability to use whole-genome prediction was investigated. The prediction accuracies ranged from 0.14 (yield) to 0.66 (1000-seed weight). Prediction had higher accuracy within the stress treatment than within the control treatment for seven of the nine traits, demonstrating that phenotyping within a stress environment can provide valuable data for whole-genome predictions.
Influence of protodioscin content on digestibility and in vitro degradation kinetics in Urochloa brizantha cultivars

Abstract. Five cultivars of Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) R.D. Webster (syn. of Brachiaria brizantha) were evaluated for nutritional value and an anti-nutritional factor (protodioscin), in order to determine whether protodioscin content was correlated with reduced feed quality. We evaluated cvv. Arapoty, Paiaguas, Xaraes, Marandu and Piata and grouped the results into summer, autumn, winter and spring seasons. Protodioscin content and chemical composition of leaves, in vitro digestibility and cumulative gas production were analysed. Data were evaluated by analysis of variance as a completely randomised experimental design in a factorial arrangement (five cultivars × four seasons). There was no significant interaction between cultivar and season. All grasses showed highest protodioscin contents during autumn. Protodioscin contents ranged from 5.6 g kg–1 (spring) to 19.2 g kg–1 (autumn). Crude protein content varied significantly across seasons. No significant effect was detected for neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content among seasons. Cultivar Arapoty showed the highest NDF content in summer (669.3 g kg–1) and the lowest in spring (601.9 g kg–1). The best in vitro digestibility coefficients were observed in spring. The protodioscin content of U. brizantha cultivars can negatively affect their digestibility and some parameters of cumulative in vitro gas production.
The effect of acute hypoxia on local muscle oxygenation during and following submaximal lower and upper body exercise

Background: The effect of hypoxia on VO2max and peak power is attenuated when less muscle mass is involved. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been extensively used to investigate local differences in muscle oxygenation during exercise. Muscle oxygenation is reduced in the lower body during exercise in hypoxia, but the effect of hypoxia on muscle oxygenation during upper body exercise is not well known. Aim: To investigate the effects of acute hypoxia on local muscle oxygenation during and after submaximal upper and lower body exercise. Methods: Nine actively competing male rowers and one cross-country skier (n=10) completed a total of four submaximal exercise protocols at 70% of MAP using a legcycle ergometer and an arm-crank ergometer during normoxia and hypoxia: normoxic legcycling, hypoxic leg-cycling, normoxic arm-cranking and hypoxic arm-cranking. Local muscle SmO2 and mVO2-recovery in the vastus lateralis and biceps brachii were measured, as well as whole body cardiopulmonary variables, lactate, and RPE. Results: Hypoxia does not affect SmO2, tHb, VO2 or heart rate differently during upper and lower body exercise, but the lactate and ventilation response was more pronounced during leg-cycling than arm-cranking. The post-exercise mVO2 recovery time constant increased in hypoxia during arm-cranking, but not leg-cycling. Conclusion: Exercise intensity was in the anaerobic domain, and too high for significant differences in aerobic metabolism to occur. The effect of hypoxia and exercise mode on the recovery time constant is uncertain due to issues using standardized data analysis. Further research is needed to investigate the effect of hypoxia on local muscle oxygenation during and after aerobic submaximal upper and lower body exercise.
Natural Enemies of the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ghana

Abstract The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an invasive insect pest attacking maize in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa countries. Biological control will need to be an important management strategy, and a first step was to identify potential natural enemies. Sampling was conducted in different localities of the 10 regions of Ghana from May to Nov 2017. A total of 1,062 larvae were collected from 106 maize farms, and the presence of natural enemies was recorded in 18 (17.0%) farms. Among natural enemies recorded, 7 species were parasitoids: Chelonus bifoveolatus Szpligeti, Coccygidium luteum (Brull), Cotesia icipe Fernandez, Meteoridea testacea (Granger), and Bracon sp. (all Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Anatrichus erinaceus Loew (Diptera: Chloropidae), and an undetermined tachinid fly (Diptera: Tachinidae). The parasitism rate was 3.58%. Three predator species were collected: Pheidole megacephala (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Haematochares obscuripennis Stål, and Peprius nodulipes (Signoret) (both Heteroptera: Reduviidae). The 2 most abundant parasitoids were C. bifoveolatus and C. luteum with a relative abundance of 29.0% and 23.7%, respectively, and a parasitism rate of 1.04% and 0.85%, respectively. However, C. bifoveolatus was the most dispersed parasitoid, found in 6.6% of the inspected sites within all the agroecological zones of Ghana. This species is a good candidate as a biological control agent for fall armyworm in Africa. The predator that was most abundant (46.0%) and dispersed (3.8% of the farms) was P. megacephala.
A Multilevel Person-Centered Examination of Teachers’ Workplace Demands and Resources: Links With Work-Related Well-Being

Teachers’ healthy and effective functioning at work is impacted by the demands they face and the resources they can access. In this study, person-centered analysis was adopted to identify distinct teacher profiles of demands and resources. We investigated teachers’ experiences of two job demands (barriers to professional development and disruptive student behavior), two job resources (teacher collaboration and input in decision-making), and one personal resource (self-efficacy for teaching). Using data from the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2013, the study involved 6,411 teachers from 369 schools in Australia and 2,400 teachers from 154 schools in England. In phase one, latent profile analysis revealed five teacher profiles that were similar across the two countries: the Low-Demand-Flourisher (12%), Mixed-Demand-Flourisher (17%), Job-Resourced-Average (34%), Balanced-Average (15%), and Struggler (21%). The profiles were differently associated with two background characteristics (teacher gender and teaching experience) and two work-related well-being outcomes (job satisfaction and occupational commitment). In phase two, we extended our analysis to the school-level to identify school profiles based on the relative prevalence of the five teacher profiles within a school. Indeed, a yield of large scale datasets such as TALIS is that there are sufficient units at the school-level to enable institutional insights, beyond insights garnered at the individual teacher-level. Two school profiles that were similar in both countries were revealed: the Unsupportive school profile (58%) and the Supportive school profile (42%). The Supportive school profile was associated with higher school-average teacher job satisfaction and occupational commitment than the Unsupportive school profile. Taken together, the findings yield knowledge about salient teacher and school profiles, and provide guidance for possible interventions at the teacher- and school level.
Altered Spontaneous Neural Activity in Peripartum Depression: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Abnormalities related to peripartum depression (PPD) have been detected in several brain regions through tasking-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this study, we used the two markers of resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) to investigate changes in spontaneous neural activity of PPD and their correlation with depression severity. A total of 16 individuals with PPD were compared with 16 age- and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) by using rs-fMRI. Two-sample t-test was used to compare the fractional amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) values between groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between the fALFF and ReHo of the abnormal brain region and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores. The spontaneous neural activity of the PPD group significantly increased mainly in the left middle frontal gyrus, left precuneus, left inferior parietal lobule, and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and decreased mainly in the bilateral precentral gyrus and right inferior occipital gyrus compared with those of the HCs. The fALFF value of the left DLPFC was negatively correlated with the HAMD score in PPD. This rs-fMRI study suggests that changes in the spontaneous neural activity of these regions are related to emotional responses. PPD cases with low fALFF values in the left DLPFC have severe depression.
The “Managed” or Damaged Heart? Emotional Labor, Gender, and Posttraumatic Stressors Predict Workplace Event-Related Acute Changes in Cortisol, Oxytocin, and Heart Rate Variability

Vital to the everyday operation of police services, police communicators (911 call-takers and dispatchers) are persistently subject to imminent challenges in the workplace; they must always be prepared to engage and deal with a wide variety of circumstances that provoke various intense emotions and physiological stress responses. Acute changes in cortisol, oxytocin, and heart rate variability are central to adaptive responses in stressful complex social interactions, but they might also be indicative of physiological dysregulation due to long-term psychosocial stress exposures. Thus, we examine acute stress-induced release of peripheral oxytocin and cortisol along with changes in heart rate variability, and how each relates to persistent workplace stressors and symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Findings indicate chronic forms of gendered workplace stress such as emotional labor, gender role stress and, posttraumatic stress each have differential associations with, and predict physiological responses to, acutely stressful events in the workplace. These associations suggest potential mechanisms through which communicators become more vulnerable to developing stress-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress injuries, especially after cumulative traumatic exposures in this context. The results also suggest potential pathways for the biological embedding of stressful gendered workplace experiences.
In-Depth Characterization of Layer 5 Output Neurons of the Primary Somatosensory Cortex Innervating the Mouse Dorsal Spinal Cord

Neuronal circuits of the spinal dorsal horn integrate sensory information from the periphery with inhibitory and facilitating input from higher CNS areas. Most previous work focused on projections descending from the hindbrain. Less is known about inputs descending from the cerebral cortex. Here, we identified cholecystokinin (CCK) positive layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the primary somatosensory cortex (CCK+ S1-CST neurons) as a major source of input to the spinal dorsal horn. We combined intersectional genetics and virus-mediated gene transfer to characterize CCK+ S1-CST neurons and to define their presynaptic input and postsynaptic target neurons. We found that S1-CST neurons constitute a heterogeneous population that can be subdivided into distinct molecular subgroups. Rabies-based retrograde tracing revealed monosynaptic input from layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons, from parvalbumin (PV) positive cortical interneurons, and from thalamic relay neurons in the ventral posterolateral nucleus. WGA-based anterograde tracing identified postsynaptic target neurons in dorsal horn laminae III and IV. About 60% of these neurons were inhibitory and about 60% of all spinal target neurons expressed the transcription factor c-Maf. The heterogeneous nature of both S1-CST neurons and their spinal targets suggest complex roles in the fine-tuning of sensory processing.
Deregulated mito-nuclear communication alters chromatin plasticity and differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells upon ageing

Ageing is accompanied by a general decline in the function of many cellular pathways, with metabolic alterations, epigenetic modifications, and stem cell exhaustion representing three important hallmarks of the ageing process. However, whether these pathways are causally or functionally related at a molecular level remains poorly understood. Here, we use bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from young and old mice to address how age-dependent changes in metabolism and epigenetics are linked and how they impact on the ageing transcriptome and differentiation potential. Given that MSCs maintain specific age-associated properties even under prolonged culture conditions, such as the age-dependent decrease in osteogenic differentiation, they are an excellent model to investigate in vitro the connection of ageing hallmarks on a mechanistic level. In this study, we demonstrate that upon ageing, osteogenic potential of MSCs declines as a consequence of deregulated mito-nuclear communication, mediated by decreased levels of the citrate carrier (CiC). Age-dependent down-regulation of CiC results in acetyl-CoA trapping within mitochondria, hypo-acetylation of histones and chromatin compaction. Together, these changes lead to an altered transcriptional output and are responsible for the reduced differentiation capacity into osteoblasts. Strikingly, short-term supplementation of aged cells with acetate, an exogenous source for cytosolic acetyl-CoA production, rescues not only the age-associated reduction of histone acetylation, but also the osteogenesis defect, representing a potential target for in vitro MSC rejuvenation.
ISOLATION AND C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N OF M U R I N E CELL

The Thy-1 differentiation alloantigen is expressed as one of two allelic forms, Thy-l.1 (formerly theta-AKR) or Thy-l.2 (formerly theta-C3H) encoded for by Thy-1 a or Thy-1 b, respectively, in the various strains of mice (1-5). Only the analogue of the Thy-1 a allele has been found in rats (6-9). Thy-1 is expressed in large quantities by cells in the brain and thymus of both species (1-3, 6-9). Smaller amounts are found on peripheral thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes and epidermal cells from the mouse (1, 10-12). Although most rat peripheral T lymphocytes do not express Thy-1, approximately 30-40% of bone marrow cells express the molecule (8, 9, 13). Thy-1 has also been found on fibroblast-derived cell lines from mice and rats (14). The rat analogue of Thy-1.1 has been purified and shown to be a glycoprotein with a mol wt of 24,000 daltons for brain Thy-1 (15) and two forms of 25,000 and 27,000 daltons for thymocyte Thy-1 (16). The molecular nature of the murine Thy-1 molecule is still a matter of controversy. Murine Thy-1 has been reported by various investigators as glycolipid (17), ganglioside (18), protein (19-21), or a glycoprotein (22, 23). Our approach to resolving this matter was to isolate sufficient quantities of Thy-1.1 and Thy-l.2 for a detailed structural and functional analysis. Mouse and rat thymocytes bind more than 500,000 molecules of Thy-1 antibody per cell in direct-binding assays (8, 24). We have taken advantage of the fact that many murine lymphocytic leukemic cell lines express Thy-1 in amounts equal to or greater than that found on normal thymocytes (25-27). In addition these cells can be adapted to grow in suspension culture (28). By using large-scale mammalian cell culture we can now produce a kilogram or more of cells per week. Procedures have been effected for isolating large quantities of membrane from these cells for study (29, 30). In this report the isolation and preliminary
Soft shadow computation using precomputed line space visibility information

Shadows are one of the most important effects to create realism in rendering. Most real-time applications use some sort of image based technique like shadow mapping. While these techniques are quite fast, they often struggle at rendering realistic and accurate shadows of area lights. To produce correct shadows it is therefore often necessary to use ray tracing with some sort of acceleration method, nowadays mostly GPU based BVH which have their downsides in real-time rendering. We present a novel approach in calculating approximated but fast shadows using the line space as precomputed data structure for visibility information. With that it is possible to skip intersection tests with scene geometry and completely rely on the line space data structure for the shadow computations of area lights. Our approach is therefore almost scene-independent and is able to produce accurate shadows with better performance in comparison to typical ray tracing data structures.
Demonstration of resistance to satyrization behavior in Aedes aegypti from La Réunion island

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are competent vectors of arboviruses such as dengue and chikungunya viruses which co-exist in some areas, including La Réunion island, Indian Ocean. A type of reproductive interference called satyrization has been described in sympatric species where dominant species mating fails to produce hybrids and thus reduces the fitness and tends to control the spread of the other species. Here, we investigated satyrization in laboratory experiments to provide insights on the potential impact on Ae. aegypti of a control campaign including a sterile insect technique component against Ae. albopictus. Different mating crosses were used to test sympatric, conspecific-interspecific and allopatric effects of irradiated and non-irradiated male Ae. albopictus on female Ae. aegypti, including in a situation of skewed male ratio. Our results suggest that there was only a low level of satyrization between sympatric populations of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus colonized from La Réunion island. A male Ae. albopictus to female Ae. aegypti ratio of 3:1 did not increase the level of satyrization. Female Ae. aegypti previously mated to male Ae. albopictus were not prevented from being inseminated by conspecific males. A satyrization effect was not seen between allopatric Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti strains from La Réunion Island either. The tested Ae. aegypti strain from La Réunion island has therefore developed full resistance to satyrization and so releasing sterile male Ae. albopictus may not suppress Ae. aegypti populations if an overflooding of irradiated male Ae. albopictus leads to similar results. The management strategy of two competent species in a sympatric area is discussed.
Cation–π Interactions in Graphene‐Containing Systems for Water Treatment and Beyond

Cation–π interactions are common in nature, especially in organisms. Their profound influences in chemistry, physics, and biology have been continuously investigated since they were discovered in 1981. However, the importance of cation–π interactions in materials science, regarding carbonaceous nanomaterials, has just been realized. The interplay between cations and delocalized polarizable π electrons of graphene would bring about significant changes to the intrinsic characteristics of graphene and greatly affect the device performance based on graphene and its derivatives. Here, the cation–π interactions in graphene containing systems for water treatment applications (e.g., separation membranes, adsorbents) are highlighted. The cross‐linking effects caused by cation–π interactions contribute to membrane stability and selectivity and enhanced adsorption. Their roles in dominating the performance of graphene‐based structures for other specific applications are also discussed. Relevant theoretical modeling and calculations are summarized to offer an in‐depth understanding of the underlying mechanisms which can help in designing more functional materials and structures. Perspectives on the potential directions that deserve effort are also presented.