bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Presynaptic development is controlled by the core active zone proteins CAST/ELKS
Authors: Radulovic Tamara , Dong Wei , Goral R. Oliver , Thomas Connon I. , Veeraraghavan Priyadharishini , Montesinos Monica Suarez , Guerrero-Given Debbie , Goff Kevin , Lübbert Matthias , Kamasawa Naomi , Ohtsuka Toshihisa , Young Samuel M.
Published: October 2019

Many presynaptic active zone proteins have multiple regulatory roles that vary during distinct stages of neuronal circuit development. However, our understanding how presynaptic active zone proteins regulate synapse development during neuronal circuit maturation is in its early stages. Although CAST/ELKS are presynaptic active zone core proteins, their roles in synapse development in the mammalian central nervous system remain enigmatic. To unravel CAST/ELKS roles in glutamatergic synapse development, we analyzed how their loss during the early stages of circuit maturation impacted the calyx of Held presynaptic terminal development and function. We found a reduction in presynaptic surface area and volume, but an increase in active zone size. Additionally, we found a reduction in all presynaptic Cav2 channel subtype currents. Surprisingly, these changes did not impair synaptic transmission. We propose that CAST/ELKS are involved in pathways regulating presynaptic morphological properties and Cav2 channel subtype levels during early stages of neuronal circuit maturation.
A snapshot of progenitor-derivative speciation in action inIberodes(Boraginaceae)
Authors: Otero Ana , Vargas Pablo , Valcárcel Virginia , Fernández-Mazuecos Mario , Jiménez-Mejías Pedro , Hipp Andrew L.
Published: October 2019

Traditional classification of speciation modes has focused on physical barriers to gene flow. While allopatry has been viewed as the most common mechanism of speciation, parapatry and sympatry, both entail speciation in the face of ongoing gene flow and thus both are far more difficult to detect and demonstrate.Iberodes(Boraginaceae, NW Europe) with a small number of recently derived species (five) and contrasting morphological traits, habitats and distribution patterns constitutes an ideal system in which to study drivers of lineage divergence and differentiation.

To reconstruct the evolutionary history of the genus, we undertook an integrative study entailing: (i) phylogenomics based on restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq), (ii) morphometrics, and (iii) climatic niche modelling.

Key results revealed a history of repeated progenitor-derivative speciation, manifesting in paraphyletic pattern withinIberodes. Climatic niche analyses, together with the morphometric data and species distributions, suggest that ecological and geographical differentiation have interacted to shape the diversity of allopatric and parapatric distributions observed inIberodes.

Our integrative study has enabled to overcome previous barriers to understanding parapatric speciation by demonstrating the recurrence of progenitor-derivative speciation in plants with gene flow and ecological differentiation, explaining observed parapatry and paraphyly.
Oxidized phosphatidylcholines induce multiple functional defects in airway epithelial cells
Authors: Pascoe Christopher D , Roy Neilloy , Turner-Brannen Emily , Schultz Alexander , Vaghasiya Jignesh , Ravandi Amir , Halayko Andrew J , West Adrian R
Published: October 2019

Oxidative stress is a hallmark of numerous airway diseases, contributing to extensive cell and tissue damage. Cell membranes and the airway mucosal lining are rich in phospholipids that are particularly susceptible to oxidative attack, producing bioactive molecules including oxidized phosphatidylcholines (OxPC). With the recent discovery of elevated OxPC in asthmatic patients after allergen challenge, we hypothesized that OxPC directly contribute to disease by inducing airway epithelial cell dysfunction.

We found that OxPC induced dose-dependent cell stress and loss of viability in BEAS-2B and Calu-3 cell lines and primary human epithelial cells. These responses corresponded with significant epithelial barrier dysfunction, which was further compounded when combining OxPC with an epithelial wound. OxPC inhibited DNA synthesis and migration required to re-establish barrier function, but cells recovered if OxPC were washed off soon after treatment. OxPC induced generation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction, raising the possibility that OxPC cause pathological lipid metabolism in a self-propagating cycle. The oxidative stress induced by OxPC could not be abrogated by putative OxPC receptor blockers, but partial recovery of barrier function, proliferation and lipid peroxidation could be achieved with the antioxidant n-acetyl cysteine.

In summary, we have identified OxPC as a group of bioactive molecules that significantly impair multiple facets of epithelial cell function, consistent with pathological features of asthma. Further characterisation of the mechanisms by which OxPC affect epithelial cells could yield new insights into how oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of airway disease.
Deficits in monitoring self-produced speech in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Railo Henry , Nokelainen Niklas , Savolainen Saara , Kaasinen Valtteri
Published: October 2019

Objective

Speech deficits are common in Parkinson’s disease, and behavioural findings suggest that the deficits may be due to impaired monitoring of self-produced speech. The neural mechanisms of speech deficits are not well understood. We examined a well-documented electrophysiological correlate of speech self-monitoring in patients with Parkinson’s disease and control participants.

Methods

We measured evoked electroencephalographic responses to self-produced and passively heard sounds (/a/ phonemes) in age-matched controls (N=18), and Parkinson’s disease patients who had minor speech impairment, but reported subjectively experiencing no speech deficits (N=17).

Results

During speaking, auditory evoked activity 100 ms after phonation (N1 wave) was less suppressed in Parkinson’s disease than controls when compared to the activity evoked by passively heard phonemes. This difference between the groups was driven by increased amplitudes to self-produced phonemes, and reduced amplitudes passively heard phonemes in Parkinson’s disease.

Conclusions

The finding indicates that auditory evoked activity is abnormally modulated during speech in Parkinson’s patients who do not subjectively notice speech impairment. This mechanism could play a role in producing speech deficits in as the disease progresses.
Transcription-driven cohesin repositioning rewires chromatin loops in cellular senescence
Authors: Olan Ioana , Parry Aled J. , Schoenfelder Stefan , Narita Masako , Ito Yoko , Chan Adelyne S.L. , Slater Guy St.C. , Bihary Dóra , Bando Masashige , Shirahige Katsuhiko , Kimura Hiroshi , Samarajiwa Shamith A. , Fraser Peter , Narita Masashi
Published: October 2019

Senescence is a phenotypic state of stable proliferative arrest, typically occurring in lineage-committed cells and triggered by various stimuli. It is generally accompanied by activation of a secretory program (senescence-associated secretory phenotype, SASP), which modulates both local (tissue microenvironment) and systemic (ageing) homeostasis1,2. Enhancer-promoter interactions play a key role in gene regulation3–5, facilitated by chromatin loops, mostly formed via CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) and cohesin tethering6–8. The three-dimensional chromatin structure of senescent cells has been characterised9–11 mostly in terms of macro-domain structures, but its relevance in gene expression remains elusive. Here, we use Hi-C and capture Hi-C12,13 to show that oncogenic HRAS-induced senescence (RIS) in human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) is accompanied by extensive enhancer-promoter rewiring, which is closely connected with dynamic cohesin binding to the genome. We find de novo cohesin peaks at the 3’ end of a subset of active genes, reminiscent of the transcription-driven ‘cohesin islands’ recently discovered in mouse embryonic fibroblasts deficient in both CTCF and the cohesin release factor Wings apart-like (Wapl)14. RIS de novo cohesin peaks are also transcription-dependent and enriched for SASP genes, as exemplified by IL1B, where de novo cohesin binding is involved in new loop formation. Cytokine induction is associated with similar cohesin islands appearance and enhancer-promoter rewiring during the terminal differentiation of monocytes to macrophages15, but not upon acute TNFα treatment of HDFs16. These results suggest that RIS represents a fate-determined process in which gene expression is regulated beyond the cell type specific 3D chromatin framework, in part through cohesin redistribution.
Characterizing chromatin folding coordinate and landscape with deep learning
Authors: Xie Wen Jun , Qi Yifeng , Zhang Bin
Published: October 2019

Genome organization is critical for setting up the spatial environment of gene transcription, and substantial progress has been made towards its high-resolution characterization. The underlying molecular mechanism for its establishment is much less understood. We applied a deep-learning approach, variational autoencoder (VAE), to analyze the fluctuation and heterogeneity of chromatin structures revealed by single-cell super-resolution imaging and to identify a reaction coordinate for chromatin folding. This coordinate monitors the progression of topologically associating domain (TAD) formation and connects the seemingly random structures observed in individual cohesin-depleted cells as intermediate states along the folding pathway. Analysis of the folding landscape derived from VAE suggests that well-folded structures similar to those found in wild-type cells remain energetically favorable in cohesin-depleted cells. The interaction energies, however, are not strong enough to overcome the entropic penalty, leading to the formation of only partially folded structures and the disappearance of TADs from contact maps upon averaging. Implications of these results for the molecular driving forces of chromatin folding are discussed.
Honey bee pollen foraging ecology across an urbanization gradient
Authors: Richardson Rodney T. , Eaton Tyler D. , Lin Chia-Hua , Cherry Garrett , Johnson Reed M. , Sponsler Douglas B.
Published: October 2019

Understanding animal foraging ecology requires large samples sizes spanning broad environmental and temporal gradients. For pollinators, this has been hampered by the laborious nature of morphologically identifying pollen. Metagenetic pollen analysis is a solution to this issue, but the field has struggled with poor quantitative performance. Building upon prior laboratory and bioinformatic methods, we applied quantitative multi-locus metabarcoding to characterize the foraging ecology of honey bee colonies situated along an urban-agricultural gradient in central Ohio, USA. In cross-validating a subset of our metabarcoding results using microscopic palynology, we find strong concordance between the molecular and microscopic methods. Our results show that, relative to the agricultural environment, urban and suburban environments were associated with higher taxonomic diversity and temporal turnover of honey bee pollen forage. This is likely reflective of the fine-grain heterogeneity and high beta diversity of urban floral landscapes at the scale of honey bee foraging. Our work also demonstrates the power of honey bees as environmental samplers of floral community composition at large spatial scales, aiding in the distinction of taxa characteristically associated with urban or agricultural land use from those distributed ubiquitously across our landscape gradient.
Synergism of gut microbiota to double-stranded RNAs in RNA interference of a leaf beetle
Authors: Xu Letian , Xu Shijing , Sun Liuwei , Zhang Yiqiu , Luo Jing , Bock Ralph , Zhang Jiang
Published: October 2019

RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as an efficient tool to control insect pests. When lethal double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) were ingested by the insects, strong gene silencing and mortality can be induced. To exert their function, dsRNA molecules must pass through insect’s gut and enter epithelial cells and/or the hemolymph. Gut bacteria are known to inhabit on the epithelial surface to confer host new capabilities to counter both biotic and abiotic stress. Whether there is a crosstalk between gut bacteria and dsRNAs and the effects of the microbiome on RNAi efficiency remains unknown. Here, using a leaf beetle-gut microbiota system, we investigated whether and how gut bacteria interact with dsRNA molecules and its effects on host insects. We firstly showed that the leaf beetlePlagiodera versicolora(Coleoptera) is highly susceptible to RNAi. Then, we found that ingestion of dsRNAs by non-axenicP. versicoloralarvae results in (i) significantly accelerated mortality compared to axenic larvae, and (ii) over-growth and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. The latter is mainly caused by the bacterial utilization of the dsRNA degraded products initiated by the host insect. Furthermore, we found thatPseudomonas putida, a gut bacterium ofP. versicolora, was a main commensal-to-pathogen strain that accelerated the death ofP. versicoloralarvae. Taken together, our findings reveal a synergistic role of gut microbiota to dsRNA-induced mortality of pest insects, which provides new insights in the ecological functions of insect gut bacteria, and also contributes to a better understanding of the RNAi mechanisms in insects.
Evaluation of sequencing strategies for whole-genome imputation with hybrid peeling
Authors: Ros-Freixedes Roger , Whalen Andrew , Gorjanc Gregor , Mileham Alan J , Hickey John M
Published: October 2019

Background

For assembling large whole-genome sequence datasets to be used routinely in research and breeding, the sequencing strategy should be adapted to the methods that will later be used for variant discovery and imputation. In this study we used simulation to explore the impact that the sequencing strategy and level of sequencing investment have on the overall accuracy of imputation using hybrid peeling, a pedigree-based imputation method well-suited for large livestock populations.

Methods

We simulated marker array and whole-genome sequence data for fifteen populations with simulated or real pedigrees that had different structures. In these populations we evaluated the effect on imputation accuracy of seven methods for selecting which individuals to sequence, the generation of the pedigree to which the sequenced individuals belonged, the use of variable or uniform coverage, and the trade-off between the number of sequenced individuals and their sequencing coverage. For each population we considered four levels of investment in sequencing that were proportional to the size of the population.

Results

Imputation accuracy largely depended on pedigree depth. The distribution of the sequenced individuals across the generations of the pedigree underlay the performance of the different methods used to select individuals to sequence. Additionally, it was critical to balance high imputation accuracy in early generations as well as in late generations. Imputation accuracy was highest with a uniform coverage across the sequenced individuals of around 2x rather than variable coverage. An investment equivalent to the cost of sequencing 2% of the population at 2x provided high imputation accuracy. The gain in imputation accuracy from additional investment diminished with larger populations and larger levels of investment. However, to achieve the same imputation accuracy, a proportionally greater investment must be used in the smaller populations compared to the larger ones.

Conclusions

Suitable sequencing strategies for subsequent imputation with hybrid peeling involve sequencing around 2% of the population at a uniform coverage around 2x, distributed preferably from the third generation of the pedigree onwards. Such sequencing strategies are beneficial for generating whole-genome sequence data in populations with deep pedigrees of closely related individuals.
Co-inhibition of BCL-XL and MCL-1 with BCL-2 selective inhibitors A1331852 and S63845 enhances cytotoxicity of cervical cancer cell lines
Authors: Rahman Siti Fairus Abdul , Muniandy Kalaivani , Soo Yong Kit , Tiew Elvin Yu Huai , Tan Ke Xin , Bates Timothy E. , Mohana-Kumaran Nethia
Published: October 2019

A combination of the BCL-2 inhibitors ABT-263 and A-1210477 inhibited cell proliferation in the HeLa, C33A, SiHa and CaSki human cervical cancer cell lines. Drug sensitivity was initially tested using 2-dimensional (2D) cell culture models. As ABT-263 binds to both BCL-2 and BCL-XL at high affinity, it was unclear whether the synergism of the drug combination was driven either by singly inhibiting BCL-2 or BCL-XL, or inhibition of both. Therefore, we used the BCL-2 selective inhibitor ABT-199 and the BCL-XL selective inhibitor A1331852 to resolved the individual antitumor activities of ABT-263 into BCL-2 and BCL-XL dependent mechanisms. A-1210477 was substituted with the orally bioavailable S63845. The SiHa, C33A and CaSki cell lines were resistant to single agent treatment of all three drugs, suggesting that none of these anti-apoptotic proteins singly mediate survival of the cells. HeLa cells were resistant to single agent treatment of ABT-199 and A1331852 but were sensitive to S63845 indicating that they depend on MCL-1 for survival. Co-inhibition of BCL-XL and MCL-1 with A1331852 and S63845 significantly inhibited cell proliferation of all four cell lines. Similar data were obtained with 3-dimensional spheroid cell culture models generated from two cervical cancer cell linesin vitro. Treatment with a combination of A1331852 and S63845 resulted in inhibition of growth and invasion of the 3D spheroids. Co-inhibition of BCL-2 and MCL-1 with ABT-199 and S63845, also inhibited cell proliferation of all cancer cell lines, except SiHa. However, the effect of the combination was not as pronounced as combination of A1331852 and S63845. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the combination of MCL-1-selective inhibitors with either selective inhibitors of either BCL-XL or BCL-2 may be potentially useful as treatment strategies for the management of cervical cancer.
Shaping accountability at an NGO: a Bourdieusian perspective
Authors: Kuruppu Sanjaya Chinthana , Lodhia Sumit
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of accountability as it relates to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) evolving through a period of considerable change in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

An in-depth single case study of a large NGO working in Sri Lanka is presented. Data collection involved conducting semi-structured interviews with a range of NGO employees and stakeholders, undertaking participant and non-participant observation and document analysis.

Findings

This paper shows how accountability is a contested notion that is shaped by struggles among stakeholders within a field. The authors explore how the “widespread field” consisting of the aid context in Sri Lanka and internationally is rapidly shifting. This creates unique pressures within the “restricted field” of the case NGO and its constituents. These pressures are manifested in the contest between the different capitals held by various stakeholders to shape the NGO. The nature of access to these capitals is important in the way that the NGO is shaped by external forces, and also by the individuals within it.

Research limitations/implications

This study adds fresh perspective to the growing body of work in NGO accountability. The paper highlights the tensions NGOs face through a holistic application of a Bourdieusian conceptual framework. The authors show how the habitus of the organisation is shaped in such a way that conceptions of accountability were captured by powerful external and internal constituencies. Ultimately, the nature of an organisation’s agency is questioned.

Practical implications

The authors present a more nuanced understanding of forces which shape accountability in an NGO setting which is of practical relevance to NGOs and their stakeholders. The authors highlight the struggle for an NGO to maintain its agency through resisting external forces that impact on its operations.

Originality/value

This study presents a comprehensive and holistic application of Bourdieu’s concepts and their interactions in an organisational setting. The struggle to harness various forms of capital in the field, shapes doxa and the habitus of NGO actors, illuminating the role of symbolic violence in the creation of an organisational identity.
Sensitivity model based PID controller for various high-order processes
Authors: Ghosh Sreya , Pan Somnath
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a reference model based simple strategy for the design of proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller using frequency response matching for high-order stable, integrating and unstable processes that may have time-delay and non-minimum phase zero.

Design/methodology/approach

The reference sensitivity model is designed fulfilling stability conditions of the control system responses such as set-point response, load-disturbance response and noise response along with transient response criteria. The analytical controller thus designed is approximated to a PID controller using a simple formula based on a model-matching technique at low frequency.

Findings

PID controllers are designed for examples with varied dynamics taken from the literature, and the performances of the designed control systems are compared with some methods prevalent in the literature to show the efficacy of the proposed work. Overall, the method gives satisfactory set-point, as well as load-disturbance responses and controller-outputs in all the cases considered.

Originality/value

The method is applicable to high-order processes of various monotonic or oscillating dynamics without requiring process reduction. The PID controller designed considering a reference model with suitable criteria ensuring stability and a modified model matching technique, which provides a stable control system for all these high-order processes.
Diffusion of management accounting innovations: a virus perspective
Authors: Johanson Daniel , Madsen Dag Øivind
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The diffusion of management accounting innovations (MAIs) is the focus of much debate in the management accounting research community. Extant contributions have drawn on a large of number of theories, including innovation diffusion theory and various sociologically inspired theories such as management fashion. The purpose of this paper is to examine and develop Røvik’s virus theory in the context of how MAIs diffuse. The paper further evaluates and elaborates on the potential usefulness of the virus perspective to empirical research on MAIs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a conceptual and explorative research approach. The paper introduces the virus perspective and compares this perspective with several other theoretical perspectives often used in studies of the diffusion of MAIs. This enables the identification of characteristics specific to the virus perspective. The paper also re-examines a number of prior studies of MAIs and identifies different virus characteristics implicit in these studies.

Findings

The findings of the paper imply that the virus perspective is a useful basis for empirical research on MAIs. The virus perspective differs from other theoretical perspectives in several respects and is particularly suited for longitudinal studies of both MAIs and organizational change. However, the perspective could be used at other levels of analysis as well. The extant studies reviewed in this paper provide support for the viral characteristics of MAIs. The paper also identifies and discusses avenues for future research using the virus perspective as a theoretical lens.

Originality/value

The virus perspective has been given little attention in research on MAIs, as well as more generally within accounting research. This research paper demonstrates that the virus perspective offers a rich and valuable conceptual framework for studying how demand-side organizations are affected by MAIs over extensive periods of time. The paper also discusses the implications of the virus perspective with respect to the research method.
Bridging the data divide between practitioners and academics
Authors: Benoit Sabine , Klose Sonja , Wirtz Jochen , Andreassen Tor Wallin , Keiningham Timothy L.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Organizations (data gatherers in the context) drown in data while at the same time seeking managerially relevant insights. Academics (data hunters) have to deal with decreasing respondent participation and escalating costs of data collection while at the same time seeking to increase the managerial relevance of their research. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework on how, managers and academics can collaborate better to leverage each other’s resources.

Design/methodology/approach

This research synthesizes the academic and the managerial literature on the realities and priorities of practitioners and academics with regard to data. Based on the literature, reflections from the world’s leading service research centers, and the authors’ own experiences, the authors develop recommendations on how to collaborate in research.

Findings

Four dimensions of different data realities and priorities were identified: research problem, research resources, research process and research outcome. In total, 26 recommendations are presented that aim to equip academics to leverage the potential of corporate data for research purposes and to help managers to leverage research results for their business.

Research limitations/implications

This paper argues that both practitioners and academics have a lot to gain from collaborating by exchanging corporate data for scientific approaches and insights. However, the gap between different realities and priorities needs to be bridged when doing so. The paper first identifies data realities and priorities and then develops recommendations on how to best collaborate given these differences.

Practical implications

This research has the potential to contribute to managerial practice by informing academics on how to better collaborate with the managerial world and thereby facilitate collaboration and the dissemination of academic research for the benefit of both parties.

Originality/value

Whereas the previous literature has primarily examined practitioner–academic collaboration in general, this study is the first to focus specifically on the aspects related to sharing corporate data and to elaborate on academic and corporate objectives with regard to data and insights.
Exploring patient empowerment
Authors: Ippolito Adelaide , Smaldone Francesco , Ruberto Margherita
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a research framework for exploring and improving patient empowerment through the analysis of the effects produced by a satisfying physician relationship on patient involvement in the healthcare process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors begin with a literature review of patient empowerment in healthcare, useful to highlight the importance of relational aspects. Then, the authors tested the hypotheses of the research through the analysis of 450 questionnaires. The results are analyzed through covariance-based structural equation modeling.

Findings

This paper highlights how empowerment is a more complex phenomenon, needing many dimensions to be investigated. The hypotheses were tested, and correlations computed, highlighting a medium-strong positive correlation between physician relationship and patient involvement determining satisfying patient empowerment.

Research limitations/implications

The considerations conducted in the paper are restricted to physician relationship and needs further research aimed to analyze and evaluate the changes in the patient behaviors influenced by empowerment.

Practical implications

The research points offer new insight into patient empowerment and allow the healthcare provider to create new opportunities for promoting patient empowerment through the development of quality relationship for effective patient involvement.

Originality/value

The study developed contributes new insight about patient empowerment in the healthcare management literature, proving the key role of satisfying physician relationship useful for future researches.
Improved structural interpretation of legacy 3D seismic data from Karee platinum mine (South Africa) through the application of novel seismic attributes
Authors: Manzi Musa S.D. , Cooper Gordon R.J. , Malehmir Alireza , Durrheim Raymond J.
Published: October 2019

Seismic detection of faults, dykes, potholes and iron‐rich ultramafic pegmatitic bodies is of great importance to the platinum mining industry, as these structures affect safety and efficiency. The application of conventional seismic attributes (such as instantaneous amplitude, phase and frequency) in the hard‐rock environment is more challenging than in soft‐rock settings because the geology is often complex, reflections disrupted and the seismic energy strongly scattered. We have developed new seismic attributes that sharpen seismic reflections, enabling additional structural information to be extracted from hard‐rock seismic data. The symmetry attribute is based on the invariance of an object with respect to transformations such as rotation and reflection; it is independent of the trace reflection amplitude, and hence a better indicator of the lateral continuity of thin and weak reflections. The reflection‐continuity detector attribute is based on the Hilbert transform; it enhances the visibility of the peaks and troughs of the seismic traces, and hence the continuity of weak reflections. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these new seismic attributes by applying them to a legacy 3D seismic data set from the Bushveld Complex in South Africa. These seismic attributes show good detection of deep‐seated thin (∼1.5 m thick) platinum ore bodies and their associated complex geological structures (faults, dykes, potholes and iron‐rich ultramafic pegmatites). They provide a fast, cost‐effective and efficient interpretation tool that, when coupled with horizon‐based seismic attributes, can reveal structures not seen in conventional interpretations.
Brexit, Fisheries and Scottish Devolution: An Intergovernmental Disruption
Authors: McAngus Craig , Huggins Christopher , Connolly John , van der Zwet Arno
Published: October 2019

With the UK set to leave the EU, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) will no longer apply and an alternative legislative framework will need to be put in place, simultaneously navigating the devolved settlement. However, aspects of fisheries management fall under the area of international negotiation which is reserved to the UK government. Disagreements between the UK and Scottish governments over where the line between devolved and reserved lies in this matter has led to difficulties in formulating a post‐Brexit fisheries framework. This dispute has exposed weaknesses in relations between the two governments.
Capturing spatial patterns of rural landscapes with point cloud
Authors: Yang Chen , Han Feng , Shutter Leigh , Wu Hangbin
Published: October 2019

Over the past few decades, rural landscapes have been the subject of increasing international cultural heritage research, and one of the most important issues under investigation at both theoretical and pragmatic levels concerns how to identify the spatial character of rural landscapes for conservation purposes. This article establishes an innovative approach adopting a cultural landscape perspective with the support of point cloud technologies to capture spatial patterns of rural landscapes. This approach was explored by reference to Tunpu villages in Guizhou, China—these being a specific kind of military fortress settlement. Cultural landscape values and landscape characters of Tunpu villages were identified using historical research and document analysis. Aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry and laser scanning systems were combined to collect and process spatial information at environmental, village, and architectural scales. Point cloud models can quantitatively represent villages' spatial patterns and inform the interpretation of their heritage significance. We conclude that the strengths of point cloud technologies could meet the requirements of rural landscape heritage documentation from a cultural landscape perspective. This mixed‐technology approach could also greatly improve the efficiency and precision of traditional rural landscape documentation, which has the potential to change methodologies applied to rural landscape research and management.
Activation of PKA/SIRT1 signaling pathway by photobiomodulation therapy reduces Aβ levels in Alzheimer's disease models
Authors: Zhang Zhan , Shen Qi , Wu Xiaolei , Zhang Di , Xing Da
Published: October 2019

A hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the accumulation of amyloid‐β (Aβ), which correlates significantly with progressive cognitive deficits. Although photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), as a novel noninvasive physiotherapy strategy, has been proposed to improve neuronal survival, decrease neuron loss, ameliorate dendritic atrophy, and provide overall AD improvement, it remains unknown whether and how this neuroprotective process affects Aβ levels. Here, we report that PBMT reduced Aβ production and plaque formation by shifting amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing toward the nonamyloidogenic pathway, thereby improving memory and cognitive ability in a mouse model of AD. More importantly, a pivotal protein, SIRT1, was involved in this process by specifically up‐regulating ADAM10 and down‐regulating BACE1, which is dependent on the cAMP/PKA pathway in APP/PS1 primary neurons and SH‐SY5Y cells stably expressing human APP Swedish mutation (APPswe). We further found that the activity of the mitochondrial photoacceptor cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) was responsible for PBMT‐induced activation of PKA and SIRT1. Together, our research suggests that PBMT as a viable therapeutic strategy has great potential value in improving cognitive ability and combatting AD.
Cosmopolitan Patriotism as a Civic Ideal
Authors: Erez Lior , Laborde Cécile
Published: October 2019

Recent theoretical debates have questioned the compatibility of patriotism with global political responsibilities, as identified by cosmopolitan theory. In response, several authors claim that a cosmopolitan patriotism is both possible and desirable. In this article, we propose two desiderata for cosmopolitan patriotism as a civic ideal, which existing accounts fail to meet. First, arguments for cosmopolitan patriotism should provide an account of collective identification, supporting the relation between the actions of one's country and one's appropriate reactive attitudes. Second, such a theory should be able to explain the patriot's commitment to critical engagement with her country's actions. We then offer a critical appraisal of two accounts linking patriotism with global responsibility—Permissible Partialism and Globally Responsible Nationalism—‐and demonstrate how they fall short. Finally, we propose an account of civic republican patriotism, which better explains how cosmopolitanism and patriotism can be brought together.
Non‐native species threaten the biotic integrity of the largest remnant Pacific Northwest Bunchgrass prairie in the United States
Authors: Endress Bryan A. , Averett Joshua P. , Naylor Bridgett J. , Morris Lesley R. , Taylor Robert V.
Published: October 2019

Questions

The Pacific Northwest Bunchgrass ecosystem is one of the most endangered in the United States, yet community‐level patterns of non‐native plant distribution and abundance remain largely unexplored. To address this information gap, we asked the following questions: What are the distinct plant communities within Zumwalt Prairie Preserve? What are the most widespread and abundant non‐native species and how does non‐native species composition and dominance vary across plant communities? How do historic land use, biotic and environmental factors influence plant community composition, particularly in terms of non‐native species abundance and dominance?

Location

Zumwalt Prairie Preserve, Wallowa County, Oregon, USA.

Methods

We sampled 123 plots using point‐intercept methods within a stratified random sampling approach. We analyzed community variation using cluster analysis, indicator species analysis, and non‐metric multidimensional scaling, and related composition and non‐native plant abundance to historical land use, biotic and environmental variables using joint plots, linear regression, and non‐parametric multiplicative regression.

Results

While native perennial grasses were the most abundant species, non‐native species accounted for 27% of species encountered and four of the ten most abundant species were non‐native annual grasses (e.g., Ventenata dubia) or non‐native perennial grasses (e.g., Poa pratensis). Abundance patterns of non‐native perennial grasses differed markedly from those of non‐native annual grasses; non‐native perennial grasses were concentrated in old fields, while non‐native annual grasses were abundant in moisture‐limited uncultivated sites.

Conclusions

Despite its protected status, non‐native plant species pose a serious threat to the biotic integrity of the Preserve, with unknown consequences to ecosystem dynamics and function. Moreover, patterns of non‐native abundance vary considerably, with different species responding individually to land‐use, environmental, and biotic gradients. An improved understanding of the relationship between non‐native species distributions and historical, environmental, and biotic factors can help in the development of ecologically appropriate, cost‐effective strategies for the conservation and restoration of this unique landscape.
Semi‐automated bathymetric spectral decomposition delineates the impact of mass wasting on the morphological evolution of the continental slope, offshore Israel
Authors: Gadol Omri , Tibor Gideon , ten Brink Uri , Hall John K. , Groves‐Gidney Gavrielle , Bar‐Am Gideon , Hübscher Christian , Makovsky Yizhaq
Published: October 2019

Understanding continental‐slope morphological evolution is essential for predicting basin deposition. However, separating the imprints and chronology of different seafloor shaping processes is difficult. This study explores the utility of bathymetric spectral decomposition for separating and characterizing the variety of interleaved seafloor imprints of mass wasting, and clarifying their role in the morphological evolution of the southeastern Mediterranean Sea passive‐margin slope. Bathymetric spectral decomposition, integrated with interpretation of seismic profiles, highlights the long‐term shape of the slope and separates the observed mass transport elements into several genetic groups: (1) a series of ~25 km wide, now‐buried slide scars and lobes; (2) slope‐parallel bathymetric scarps representing shallow faults; (3) slope‐perpendicular, open slope slide scars; (4) bathymetric roughness representing debris lobes; (5) slope‐confined gullies. Our results provide a multi‐scale view of the interplay between sediment transport, mass transport and shallow faulting in the evolution of the slope morphology. The base of the slope and focused disturbances are controlled by ~1 km deep salt retreat, and mimic the Messinian base of slope. The top of the open‐slope is delimited by faults, accommodating internal collapse of the margin. The now‐buried slides were slope‐confined and presumably cohesive, and mostly nucleated along the upper‐slope faults. Sediment accumulations, infilling the now‐buried scars, generated more recent open‐slope slides. These latter slides transported ~10 km3 of sediments, depositing a significant fraction (~3 m in average) of the sediments along the base of the studied slope during the past < 50 ka. South to north decrease in the volume of the open‐slope slides highlight their role in counterbalancing the northwards diminishing sediment supply and helping to maintain a long‐term steady‐state bathymetric profile. The latest phase slope‐confined gullies were presumably created by channelling of bottom currents into slide‐scar depressions, possibly establishing incipient canyon headword erosion.
Prospective comparison of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assays for the diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis
Authors: van Gorkom T , Voet W , Sankatsing S U C , Nijhuis C D M , ter Haak E , Kremer K , Thijsen S F T
Published: October 2019

Commercial cellular tests are used to diagnose Lyme borreliosis (LB), but studies on their clinical validation are lacking. This study evaluated the utility of an in-house and a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assay for the diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). Prospectively, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from patients and controls and analysed using an in-house Borrelia ELISpot assay and the commercial LymeSpot assay. B. burgdorferi B31 whole cell lysate and a mixture of outer surface proteins were used to stimulate the PBMCs and the numbers of interferon-gamma-secreting T cells were measured. Results were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Eighteen active and 12 treated LNB patients, 10 healthy individuals treated for an early (mostly cutaneous) manifestation of LB in the past and 47 untreated healthy individuals were included. Both assays showed a poor diagnostic performance with sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values ranging from 44.4–66.7%, 42.0–72.5%, 21.8–33.3% and 80.5–87.0%, respectively. The LymeSpot assay performed equally poorly when the calculation method of the manufacturer was used. Both the in-house and the LymeSpot assay are unable to diagnose active LNB or to monitor antibiotic treatment success.
Fruit‐ and seed‐feeding habit of the crane fly Libnotes puella (Diptera: Limoniidae) in Ryukyu Islands, Japan
Authors: Suetsugu Kenji , Tetsu Shintaro , Sueyoshi Masahiro
Published: October 2019

Although most crane fly larvae consume decaying plant materials and their associated microorganisms, all Libnotes species investigated so far are known to be xylophilous insects. Here we report the novel herbivorous feeding ecology of Libnotes puella. We found that L. puella larvae consumed the fruits or seeds of three unrelated plants, Mitrastemon yamamotoi (Mitrastemonaceae), Balanophora tobiracola (Balanophoraceae) and Barringtonia racemosa (Lecythidaceae). The larvae live within dense tubes formed by their feces fastened by their mucous excretions at the final stage, and they pupate within such tubes. This is the first detailed documentation of the fruit‐ and seed‐feeding habit of crane flies.
Tau deposition in young adults with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Authors: Smith Kelsey M. , Blessing Melissa M. , Parisi Joseph E. , Britton Jeffrey W. , Mandrekar Jay , Cascino Gregory D.
Published: October 2019

Objective

To evaluate the presence of tau deposition and pathologic features of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in young adult patients treated with focal cortical resections for drug‐resistant epilepsy.

Methods

Sixty consecutive patients who had undergone surgical treatment for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy between 18 and 45 years of age were identified (2010‐2017). Medical records were reviewed to determine clinical factors, including history of head trauma, age at seizure onset, age at surgical resection, seizure type(s) and frequency, imaging findings, and surgical outcome. All formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded blocks from the surgical specimens from each subject were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and antibodies to tau (Thermo Fisher Scientific Clone AT8), and examined blindly for tau pathology, including lesions characteristic of CTE.

Results

The median age at resection was 29.5 years (range = 19‐45). A history of head trauma was reported in 19 patients. Although none of the patients had pathological findings characteristic of CTE, 23 patients (38%) demonstrated tau‐immunoreactive lesions, including neurites, neurofibrillary pretangles, neurofibrillary tangles, subpial tau, and/or glial tau. In 4 of the 23 patients (7% of the cohort; 17% of those with tau pathology), substantial tau burden was identified. Three of these 4 patients had no significant history of head trauma; 1 patient had multiple sports‐related concussions. No specific clinical factors correlated with the presence of tau pathology.

Significance

Tau‐immunoreactive lesions were found in 38% of 60 patients who underwent a focal cortical resection for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy. Diagnostic features of CTE were not detected in any patient; however, the pathological evaluation for CTE was limited to a surgical specimen. The prominent and excessive tau deposition in 23 patients (38%) is abnormal in this age group and warrants further investigation.
Composition of the microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract of perch (Perca fluviatilis L. 1758) and cestodes parasitizing the perch digestive tract
Authors: Kashinskaya Elena N. , Simonov Evgeniy P. , Izvekova Galina I. , Parshukov Aleksey N. , Andree Karl B. , Solovyev Mikhail M.
Published: October 2019

Using the approach of sequencing the V3‐V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, we have analysed the bacterial diversity associated with the distinct compartments of the gastrointestinal tract of perch (Perca fluviatilis) and cestodes (Proteocephalus sp.) parasitizing their digestive tract. The dominant microbiota associated with cestodes (Proteocephalus sp.) was represented by bacteria from the genera Serratia, Pseudomonas and Mycoplasma. By comparing the associated microbiota of perch and cestodes, a clear difference in bacterial composition and diversity was revealed between the community from the stomach content and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract of fish. Microbiota associated with cestodes was not significantly different in comparison with microbiota of different subcompartments of perch (mucosa and content of intestine and pyloric caeca) (ADONIS, p > .05) excluding microbiota of stomach content (ADONIS, p ≤ .05). PICRUSt‐based functional assessments of the microbial communities of perch and cestodes indicated that they mainly linked in terms of metabolism and environmental information processing and could play an important role in the nutrition and health of host.