bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An exploratory pilot study of mechanisms of action within normative feedback for adult drinkers
Authors: Kuerbis Alexis , Muench Frederick J. , Lee Rufina , Pena Juan , Hail Lisa
Published: January 2018

Background: Normative feedback (NF), or receiving information about one’s drinking compared to peer drinking norms, is one of the most widely used brief interventions for prevention and intervention for hazardous alcohol use. NF has demonstrated predominantly small but significant effect sizes for intention to change and other drinking related outcomes. Identifying mechanisms of action may improve the effectiveness of NF; however, few studies have examined NF’s mechanisms of action, particularly among adults. Objective: This study is an exploratory analysis of two theorized mechanisms of NF: discrepancy (specifically personal dissonance—the affective response to feedback) and belief in the accuracy of feedback. Method: Using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, 87 men (n=56) and women (n=31) completed an online survey during which they were asked about their perceptions about their drinking and actual drinking behaviors. Then participants were provided tailored NF and evaluated for their reactions. Severity of discrepancy was measured by the difference between one’s estimated percentile ranking of drinking compared to peers and actual percentile ranking. Surprise and worry reported due to the discrepancy were proxies for personal dissonance. Participants were also asked if they believed the feedback and if they had any plans to change their drinking. Mediation analyses were implemented, exploring whether surprise, worry, or belief in the accuracy of feedback mediated severity of discrepancy’s impact on plan for change. Results: Among this sample of adult drinkers, severity of discrepancy did not predict plan for change, and personal dissonance did not mediate severity of discrepancy. Severity of discrepancy was mediated by belief in the accuracy of feedback. In addition, viewing one’s drinking as a problem prior to feedback and post-NF worry both predicted plan for change independently. Conclusions: Results revealed that NF may not work to create personal dissonance through discrepancy, but belief in the accuracy of feedback may be important. It appears the more one believes the feedback, the more one makes a plan for change, suggesting practitioners should be mindful of how information within feedback is presented. Findings also indicate NF may work by validating a preexisting perception that drinking is a problem instead of creating concern related to discrepancy where none existed. Limitations regarding generalizability are discussed.
Combined proteome and transcriptome analyses reveal that Zika virus circulating in Brazil alters cell cycle and neurogenic programmes in human neurospheres
Authors: Garcez Patricia P , Minardi Nascimento Juliana , Mota de Vasconcelos Janaina , Madeiro da Costa Rodrigo , Delvecchio Rodrigo , Trindade Pablo , Correia Loiola Erick , M. Higa Luiza , Cassoli Juliana , Vitória Gabriela , Sequeira Patricia , Sochacki Jaroslaw , S. Aguiar Renato , Thais Fuzii Hellen , M. Bispo de Filippis Ana , Lídio da Silva Gonçalves Vianez Júnior João , Martins-de-Souza Daniel , Tanuri Amilcar , Rehen Stevens K
Published: January 2018

Zika virus (ZIKV) has been associated with microcephaly and other brain abnormalities; however, the molecular and cellular consequences of Zika virus circulating in Brazil to the human brain development have not been studied yet. Here we describe alterations in human neurospheres derived from neural stem cells infected with Brazilian ZIKV. Combined proteomics and mRNA transcriptional profile analyses showed that Brazilian ZIKV, prior to induce cell death, alters cell cycle and halts neurogenic programmes, in addition to regulate transcription and protein translation due to viral replication. These results point to biological mechanisms potentially implicated in brain malformations as a result of ZIKV congenital infection.
Regulation of antimycin biosynthesis by the orphan ECF RNA polymerase sigma factor σAntA
Authors: Seipke Ryan F , Patrick Elaine , Hutchings Matt I
Published: January 2018

Antimycins are an extended family of depsipeptides that are made by filamentous actinomycete bacteria and were first isolated more than 60 years ago. Recently, antimycins have attracted renewed interest because of their activities against the anti-apoptotic machineries inside human cells which could make them promising anti-cancer compounds. The biosynthetic pathway for antimycins was recently characterised but very little is known about the organisation and regulation of the antimycin (ant) gene cluster. Here we report that the ant gene cluster in Streptomyces albus is organized into four transcriptional units; the antBA, antCDE, antGF and antHIJKLMNO operons. Unusually for secondary metabolite clusters, the antG and antH promoters are regulated by an extracytoplasmic function (ECF) RNA polymerase sigma factor named σAntA which represents a new sub-family of ECF σ factors that is only found in antimycin producing strains. We show that σAntA controls production of the unusual precursor 3-aminosalicylate which is absolutely required for the production of antimycins. σAntA is highly conserved in antimycin producing strains and the -10 and -35 elements at the σAntA regulated antG and antH promoters are also highly conserved suggesting a common mechanism of regulation. We also demonstrate that altering the C-terminal Ala-Ala residues found in all σAntA proteins to Asp-Asp increases expression of the antFG and antGHIJKLMNO operons and we speculate that this Ala-Ala motif may be a signal for the protease ClpXP.
Intertwining phylogenetic trees and networks
Authors: Schliep Klaus , Potts Alastair Alastair , Morrison David A , Grimm Guido W
Published: January 2018

The fields of phylogenetic tree and network inference have dramatically advanced in the last decade, but independently with few attempts to bridge them. Here we provide a framework, implemented in the phangorn library in R, to transfer information between trees and networks. This includes: 1) identifying and labelling equivalent tree branches and network edges, 2) transferring branch support to network edges, and 3) mapping bipartition support from a sample of trees (e.g. from bootstrapping or Bayesian inference) onto network edges. The ability to readily combine tree and network information should lead to more comprehensive evolutionary comparisons and conclusions.
Joint estimation of crown of thorns (Acanthaster plancii) densities on the Great Barrier Reef
Authors: MacNeil M. Aaron , Mellin Camille , Pratchett Morgan S , Hoey Jessica , Anthony Kenneth RN , Cheal Alistair J , Miller Ian , Sweatman Hugh , Cowan Zara L , Taylor Sascha , Fonnesbeck Chris J
Published: January 2018

Crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS; Acanthaster spp.) are an outbreaking pest among many Indo-Pacific coral reefs that cause substantial ecological and economic damage. Despite ongoing CoTS research there remain critical gaps in observing CoTS populations and accurately estimating their numbers, greatly limiting understanding of the causes and sources of CoTS outbreaks. Here we address two of these gaps by (1) estimating the detectability of adult CoTS on typical underwater visual count (UVC) surveys using covariates and (2) inter-calibrating multiple data sources to estimate CoTS densities within the Cairns sector of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We find that, on average, CoTS detectability is high at 0.82 [0.77, 0.87] (median highest posterior density (HPD) and [95% uncertainty intervals]), with CoTS disc width having the greatest influence on detection. Integrating this information with coincident surveys from alternative sampling programs, we estimate CoTS densities in the Cairns sector of the GBR averaged 44 [41, 48] adults per hectare in 2014.
Liberating Our Beautiful Trees: A Call to Arms
Authors: Lapp Hilmar , Guralnick Robert , Westneat Mark W.
Published: January 2018

Visual media can captivate, fascinate, and inspire. Whether skillfully taken photographs or artfully crafted visual illustrations, visuals convey beauty in ways that words can’t, and can tell even complex stories to audiences that might otherwise not listen. The story of biological evolution is highly complex and the subject of an enduring quest for better understanding. Yet it is also one of remarkable beauty, as given testimony by the numerous phylogenetic illustrations in publications that show in fascinating detail how traits, function, or morphology may have evolved along a tree. Despite their unique ability to make stories of evolutionary history understandable at a glance, and despite the considerable amount of skill, time, and creativity authors spend on making them, almost all of them end up buried in articles, undiscoverable on their own, locked away behind paywalls, copyrighted by the publisher rather than the creator, and unavailable for repurposing. Published as static images on printed pages or in PDFs on journal websites, they are non-interactive, and cannot be extended or improved by others. While many of these constraints may have been brought about by the limitations of printed journal issues, modern internet-based technologies offer little justification for perpetuating them. We suggest that a grass-roots community initiative uniting people with shared enthusiasm can redefine how we create, distribute, share, repurpose, and interact with the visual depictions of our primary phylogenetic knowledge. Imagine a world in which beautiful trees are archived in open digital repositories, discoverable through metadata specific to the illustration, and assigned digital identifiers that allow tracking their impact and reuse. Imagine if the art of phylogenetic trees used media formats amenable to collaboratively maintaining, modifying, and sharing them through the powerful mechanisms familiar from source code version control. Beautiful trees could become living, collaborative and interactive works of visual art that change as our knowledge evolves, and that pique curiosity in millions of people worldwide. Technologies abound to realize this vision; the main hurdle is changing the culture in how we treat this part of the scientific knowledge production enterprise.
HBPF: a Home Blood Pressure Framework with SLA guarantees to follow up hypertensive patients
Authors: Cuadrado Josep , Vilaplana Jordi , Mateo Jordi , Solsona Francesc , Solsona Sara , Rius Josep , Alves Rui , Camafort Miguel
Published: January 2018

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition on the rise. Not only does it affect the elderly but is also increasingly spreading to younger sectors of the population. Treating it involves exhaustive monitoring of patients. A tool adapted to the particular requirements of hypertension can greatly facilitate monitoring and diagnosis. This paper presents HBPF, an efficient cloud-based Home Blood Pressure Framework. This allows hypertensive patients to communicate with their health-care centers, thus facilitating monitoring for both patients and clinicians. HBPF provides a complete, efficient, and cross-platform framework to follow up hypertensive patients with an SLA guarantee. Response time below one second for 80,000 requests and 28% increase in peak throughput going from one to 3 virtual machines were obtained. In addition, a mobile app (BP) for Android and iOS with a user-friendly interface is also provided to facilitate following up hypertensive patients. Among them, between 54% and 87% favorably evaluated the tool. BP can be downloaded for free from the website Hesoft Group repository (http://www.hesoftgroup.eu).
Prediction of pKa values using the PM6 semiempirical method
Authors: Kromann Jimmy C. , Larsen Frej , Moustafa Hadeel , Jensen Jan H.
Published: January 2018

The PM6 semiempirical method and the dispersion and hydrogen bond-corrected PM6-D3H+ method are used together with the SMD and COSMO continuum solvation models to predict pKa values of pyridines, alcohols, phenols, benzoic acids, carboxylic acids, and phenols using isodesmic reactions and compared to published ab initio results. The pKa values of pyridines, alcohols, phenols, and benzoic acids considered in this study can generally be predicted with PM6 and ab initio methods to within the same overall accuracy, with average mean absolute differences of 0.6 - 0.7 pH units. For carboxylic acids the accuracy (0.7 - 1.0 pH units) is also comparable to ab initio results if a single outlier is removed. For primary, secondary, and tertiary amines the accuracy is, respectively, similar (0.5 - 0.6), slightly worse (0.5 - 1.0), and worse (1.0 - 2.5), provided that di- and triethylamine are used as reference molecules for secondary and tertiary amines. When applied to a drug like molecule where an empirical pKa predictor exhibits a large (4.9 pH unit) error, we find that the errors for PM6-based predictions are roughly the same in magnitude but opposite in sign. As a result most of the PM6-based methods predict the correct protonation state at physiological pH, while the empirical predictor does not. The computational cost is around 2-5 minutes per conformer per core processor, making PM6-based pKa prediction computationally efficient enough to be used for high-throughput screening using on the order of 100 core processors.
Quantifying spatial patterns of grass response to nutrient additions using empirical and neutral semivariogram models
Authors: Smithwick Erica A.H. , Baldwin Douglas C. , Naithani Kusum J.
Published: January 2018

Disturbances influence vegetation patterns at multiple scales, but studies that isolate the effect of scale are rare, meaning that scale and process are often confounded. To explore this, we imposed a large (~3.75 ha) experiment in a South African coastal grassland ecosystem to determine the spatial scale of grass response to nutrient additions. In two of six 60 x 60 m grassland plots, we imposed nutrient additions using a scaled sampling design in which fertilizer was added in replicated sub-plots of varying sizes (1 x 1 m, 2 x 2 m, and 4 x 4 m). The remaining plots either received no additions, or were fertilized evenly across the entire plot area. We calculated empirical semi-variograms for all plots one year following nutrient additions to determine whether the scale of grass response (biomass and nutrient concentrations) corresponded to the scale of the sub-plot additions and compared these results to reference plots (unfertilized or unscaled). In addition, we calculated semi-variograms from a series of simulated landscapes generated using random or structured patterns (neutral models) and compared the semivariogram parameters between simulated and empirical landscapes. Results from the empirical semivariograms showed that there was greater spatial structure in plots that received additions at sub-plot scales, with range values that were closest to the 2 x 2 m grain. These results were in agreement with simulated semivariograms using neutral models, supporting the notion that our empirical results were not confounded by random effects. Overall, our results highlight that neutral models can be combined with empirical semivariograms to identify multi-scalar ecological patterns and this hybrid approach should be used more widely in ecological studies.
Gene expression studies in different genotypes of an ectomycorrhizal fungus require a high number of reliable reference genes
Authors: Ruytinx Joske , Remans Tony , Colpaert Jan V
Published: January 2018

Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) has become the standard technique for the expression analysis of a set of chosen genes of interest. The accuracy and reliability of qRT-PCR measurements strongly depends on the normalization with appropriate endogenous reference genes. In this study a set of candidate reference genes for the use in gene expression studies of a basidiomycete fungus, Suillus luteus, exposed to toxic concentrations of zinc or cadmium was identified, evaluated and validated. Seven candidate genes were selected from cDNA-AFLP as stably expressed and the algorithms geNorm and Normfinder were used to evaluate these genes alongside the traditionally used housekeeping genes (actin, tubulin) in different S. luteus isolates. The use of several S. luteus isolates revealed that each isolate has its own most stably expressed set of reference genes, regardless of the metal treatments, in casu metal exposures. Metal treatments had only a minor impact on the expression of the candidate reference genes. The validated reference genes outperform the in fungal research commonly used single, arbitrary chosen (“housekeeping”) genes in terms of reliability, and have the potential to be suitable reference genes when studying the effect of other environmental factors. A relatively high number of reference genes is required to correct for intraspecific variability when studying natural populations.
Potential range expansion of the invasive Red Shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), under future climatic change
Authors: Poulos Helen M , Chernoff Barry
Published: January 2018

We built climate envelope models under contemporary and future climates to explore potential range shifts of the invasive Red Shiner-Cyprinella lutrensis. Our objective was to estimate aquatic habitat vulnerability to Red Shiner invasion in North America under future climatic change. We used presence records from within the species’ native and invaded distributions, a suite of bioclimatic predictor variables from three climate models (CCCma, CSIRO, and HadCM3), and maximum entropy modeling to generate potential distribution maps for the year 2080. Our model predicted major range expansion by Red Shiner under both low and high carbon emissions scenarios. The models exceeded average area under the receiver operator characteristic curve values of 0.92, indicating good overall model performance. The model predictions fell largely outside of areas of climatic extrapolation (i.e. regions predicted into environments different from training region) indicating good model performance. The results from this study highlight the large potential range expansion across North America of Red Shiner under future warmer climates.
Making research data repositories visible: the re3data.org registry
Authors: Pampel Heinz , Vierkant Paul , Scholze Frank , Bertelmann Roland , Kindling Maxi , Klump Jens , Goebelbecker Hans-Jürgen , Gundlach Jens , Schirmbacher Peter , Dierolf Uwe
Published: January 2018

Researchers require infrastructures that ensure a maximum of accessibility, stability and reliability to facilitate working with and sharing of research data. Such infrastructures are being increasingly summarized under the term Research Data Repositories (RDR). The project re3data.org – Registry of Research Rata Repositories has begun to index research data repositories in 2012 and offers researchers, funding organizations, libraries and publishers an overview of the heterogeneous research data repository landscape. Information icons help researchers to easily identify an adequate repository for the storage and reuse of their data. This article describes the RDR landscape, outlines the practicality of re3data.org as a service, and shows how this service helps to find research data.
Local domestication of microbes via cassava beer fermentation
Authors: Colehour Alese , Meadow James F , Cepon-Robins Tara J , Gildner Theresa E , Liebert Melissa A , Urlacher Samuel S , Bohannan Brendan J M , Snodgrass J Josh , Sugiyama Lawrence S
Published: January 2018

Cassava beer, or chicha, is typically consumed daily by the indigenous Shuar people of the Ecuadorian Amazon. This traditional beverage made from cassava tuber (Manihot esculenta) improves nutritional quality and flavor while extending shelf life in a tropical climate. Bacteria responsible for chicha fermentation could be a source of microbes beneficial to human health, but little is known regarding the microbiology of chicha. We investigated bacterial community composition of chicha batches using Illumina high-throughput sequencing. Fermented chicha samples were collected from seven Shuar households in two neighboring villages in the Morona-Santiago region of Ecuador, and the composition of the bacterial communities within each chicha sample was determined by sequencing a region of the 16S ribosomal gene. Members of the genus Lactobacillus dominated all samples, demonstrating that chicha is a source of organisms related to known probiotics. Significantly greater taxonomic similarity was observed between communities in chicha samples taken within a village than those from different villages. Community composition varied among chicha samples, even those separated by short geographic distances, suggesting that ecological and/or evolutionary processes, including human preference, may be responsible for creating locally adapted and regionally resilient ferments. Our results suggest that traditional fermentation may be a form of domestication that provides endemic beneficial inocula for consumers.
Counterinsurgency Doctrine Applied to Infectious Disease
Authors: Kirkup Benjamin C
Published: January 2018

Recent scientific discoveries lead inexorably to the conclusion that the ‘total human’ incorporates a necessary body of numerous microbes, including bacteria. These bacteria play a very important role in immunity by actively resisting infections by outside bacteria; however, under certain conditions they can degrade their community. They can arrogate to themselves resources that normally flow through other metabolic pathways and form persistent biological structures. In this situation, these bacteria constitute an insurgency, with strategic ramifications.
Intuitive physics and intuitive psychology (“theory of mind”) in offspring of mothers with psychoses
Authors: Marothi Rebeka , Keri Szabolcs
Published: January 2018

Offspring of individuals with psychoses sometimes display an abnormal development of cognition, language, motor performance, social adaptation, and emotional functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of children of mothers with schizophrenia (n=28) and bipolar disorder (n=23) to understand mental states of others using the Eyes Test (folk psychology or “theory of mind”) and physical causal interactions of inanimate objects (folk psychics). Compared with healthy controls (n=29), the children of mothers with schizophrenia displayed significantly impaired performances on the Eyes Test but not on the folk physics test. The children of mothers with bipolar disorder did not differ from the controls and outperformed the children of mothers with schizophrenia on the folk physics test. These results suggest that the attribution of mental states, but not the interpretation of causal interaction of objects, is impaired in offspring of individuals with schizophrenia, which may contribute to social dysfunctions.
A cell culture model for alveolar epithelial transport
Authors: Ren Hui , Suresh Vinod
Published: January 2018

Background: The thickness and composition of the surface liquid lining the human lungs are maintained by a balance between epithelial secretion and absorption of ions and water. An understanding of epithelial transport pathways and the factors that regulate them will provide insight into the development of conditions such as lung edema and guide the development of treatment modalities. Here we report on the development and characterisation of a cell culture model of the alveolar epithelium that will be useful for investigating the components of epithelial transport pathways and interpreting molecular mechanisms involved in transport related diseases. Methods: An in vitro cell culture model was developed using human alveolar epithelial cell lines NCI-H441 and A549 cultured with the apical surface exposed to air (air-medium) or covered by nutrient medium (medium-medium). Cell monolayer was presented by visualizing cell morphology under microscope. Transepithelial electrical resistance, potential difference and fluorescence permeability measurements were used to assess the formation of a polarised epithelium with functional barrier properties. Expression of tight junction, adherens junction and ion/water transport proteins were examined by Western blot and RT-PCR. Results: NCI-H441 cells cultured under air-medium conditions exhibited electrical resistance (258 ± 28 Ω• cm2), potential difference (4.8± 0.1 mV) and strong expression of α1-Na+-K+-ATPase and tight junction protein ZO-1 consistent with the formation of a polarised epithelium. These cultures also expressed the chloride channel CFTR and all four subunits of the sodium channel ENaC. Cells cultured under medium-medium conditions had a 4-fold higher electrical resistance (1009 ± 15 Ω• cm2), but similar level of potential difference (4.9 ± 0.2 mV) and weaker expression of α1-Na+-K+-ATPase and ZO-1. The A549 cell line developed low levels of electrical resistance and potential difference and did not express ZO-1. No significant difference in CFTR and ENaC transport protein expression was observed between the cell lines or culture conditions. Conclusion: The NCI-H441 cell line cultured under air-medium conditions develops into a polarised epithelium with functional barrier properties and expresses transport proteins for sodium and chloride transport. Hence it can serve as a suitable model for investigating water and ion transport in the alveolar epithelium.
A cross-ocean comparison of responses to settlement cues in reef-building corals
Authors: Davies Sarah W , Meyer Eli , Guermond Sarah M , Matz Mikhail V
Published: January 2018

Caribbean coral reefs have deteriorated substantially over the past 30 years, which is broadly attributable to the effects of global climate change. In the same time, Indo-Pacific reefs maintain higher coral cover and typically recover rapidly after disturbances. This difference in reef resilience is largely due to much higher coral recruitment rates in the Pacific. We hypothesized that the lack of Caribbean coral recruitment might be explained by diminishing quality of settlement cues and/or impaired sensitivity of Caribbean coral larvae to those cues, relative to the Pacific. To evaluate this hypothesis, we assembled a collection of bulk samples of reef encrusting communities, mostly consisting of crustose coralline algae (CCA), from various reefs around the world and tested them as settlement cues for several coral species originating from different ocean provinces. Cue samples were meta-barcoded to evaluate their taxonomic diversity. We observed no systematic differences either in cue potency or in strength of larval responses depending on the ocean province, and no preference of coral larvae towards cues from the same ocean. Instead, we detected significant differences in cue preferences among coral species, even for corals originating from the same reef. We conclude that the region-wide disruption of the settlement process is unlikely to be the major cause of Caribbean reef loss. However, due to their high sensitivity to the effects of climate change, shifts in the composition of CCA-associated communities, combined with pronounced differences in cue preferences among coral species, could substantially influence future coral community structure.
Automated electronic medical record sepsis detection in the Emergency Department
Authors: Nguyen Su , Mwakalindile Edwin , Booth James S , Hogan Vicki , Morgan Jordan , Prickett Charles T , Donnelly John P , Wang Henry E
Published: January 2018

Background: While often first treated in the Emergency Department (ED), identification of sepsis is difficult. Electronic medical record (EMR) clinical decision tools offer a novel strategy for identifying patients with sepsis. The objective of this study was to test the accuracy of an EMR-based, automated sepsis identification system. Methods : We tested an EMR-based sepsis identification tool at a major academic, urban ED with 64,000 annual visits. The EMR system collected vital sign and laboratory test information on all ED patients, triggering a “sepsis alert” for those with ≥2 SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) criteria (fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, leukocytosis) plus ≥1 major organ dysfunction (SBP≤90 mm Hg, lactic acid ≥2.0 mg/dL). We confirmed the presence of sepsis through manual review of physician, nursing, and laboratory records. We also reviewed a random selection of non-sepsis alert records. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the sepsis identification tool. Results : From January 1 through March 31, 2012, we analyzed 795 automated sepsis alerts and 300 non-alerts. The true prevalence of sepsis was 293/795 (37%) among alerts and 0/300 (0%) among non-alerts. The positive predictive value was 36.9% (41.7-49.6). Respiratory infections (36.5%) and urinary tract infection (35.5%) were the most common infections among the 293 patients with true sepsis (true positives). Among false-positive sepsis alerts, the most common medical conditions were gastrointestinal (22.9%), traumatic (22.3%), and cardiovascular (17.5%). Conclusion : This ED EMR-based automated sepsis identification system was able to detect sepsis patients. Automated EMR-based detection may provide a viable strategy for identifying sepsis.
Do young domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) rely on object-specific cues in a simultaneous discrimination task?
Authors: Nawroth Christian , von Borell Eberhard
Published: January 2018

Finding and relocating food sources is not only crucial for individuals in changing natural environments - it is also of importance in domestic animals under husbandry conditions, for instance to reduce stress when transferring animals into new housing conditions. This study makes a first attempt by investigating young pigs´ use of conflicting spatial and feature cues in a simultaneous discrimination task. In a training phase, subjects (n = 9) first learned to approach a food container with distinct spatial and feature cues. In a subsequent test phase, spatial and feature cues were brought into conflict. Results show that young pigs significantly preferred to approach the spatial position rather than the feature cue of a food container – at least for the visual domain - while inter-individual differences in choice behaviour suggest that animals recognized the changed context. However, the actual test setup did not exclude alternatives to the use of spatial cues, e.g. instrumental learning. The results may contribute to a better understanding of learning mechanisms in domestic pigs and could be used to improve husbandry designs, reduce stress levels after transfer and may prove to be helpful in designing further test paradigms investigating discriminative learning abilities in the domestic pig.
Falls as outcome in clinical trials
Authors: Goldhahn Jörg , König Niklas
Published: January 2018

Falls have significant impact on affected individuals. They may lead to injuries including fractures, hospitalization, decrase in mobility, and loss of independence. Therefore, falls constitute a relevant outcome parameter in clinical trials. However, especially elderly and frail patients may forget to report or neglect falls. The use of fall-detection technology in clinical trials may overcome this challenges. However, commercially-available fall-detection technologies are designed as personal emergency response systems rather than as measurement tools to assess the effects of an intervention. Hence, before adopting a commercially-availablefall-detection technology in a clinical trial one has to assess its suitability for such application.
RICHE – Research Inventory, Indicators, Gaps and Roadmaps for Child Health in Europe - an EU FP7 project
Authors: Staines Anthony , Rigby Michael , Leonardi Matilde , Ravens-Sieberer Ulrike , Bourek Aleš , Blair Mitch E , Tamburlini Giorgio , Gaspar de Matos Margarida , McCarthy Anne , Ottová-Jordan Veronika , Alexander Denise , Kilroe Jean , McIntyre Mel , Alexander Sophie , Brand Angela , Colver Allan , Currie Candace , Díaz Huertas José A. , Gissler Mika , Grøholt Else-Karin , Gunnlaugsson Geir , Kaposvári Csilla , Mechtler Reli , Morgan Antony R , Polańska Kinga , Popescu Livia L , Raat Hein , Truden Polonca , Veidebaum Toomas , Hjern Anders , Cerniauskaite Milda , Brennan Lauren K , Cogoy Laura , Tomé Gina , Hennessy Con , Hanke Wojciech , Roth Maria , O'Sullivan Rachel , Meucci Paolo , Rasche Carsten , Santos Teresa , McVeigh Treasa , Gaspar Tania , Ramiro Lucia , Köhler Lennart
Published: January 2018

Background There is a substantial amount of research in child health published each year in the European Union. Much of this work is paid for from public funds, or from charitable donations. This work covers many areas, but it is fragmented, and a great deal of it, especially the material not published in the indexed scientific literature, is hard to find, and harder to access. Response The EU, as one of the major funders of child health research, has funded a project, the Research Inventory of Child Health in Europe (RICHE), to prepare a roadmap for the future of child health research in Europe. Using a life course perspective, the project sought to identify the research done, define the gaps in the research, and make recommendations for future research funding priorities. Content RICHE is an FP7 funded project (contract no. 242181) tasked with preparing roadmaps for the future of child health research across Europe. Using a life-course perspective, the project has designed, and carried out, an open, transparent, and justifiable process to make recommendations for future research funding. We acknowledge that such recommendations are value judgements, and our aim was to present carefully justified value judgements. The project, which had 25 partners, in 19 countries, was organised into six workpackages – WP1 an inventory of child health research, including funded projects, reports, funders, and people; WP2 on ways of measuring child health, and indicators for child health; WP3 on gaps in child health research; WP4 on the roadmaps for future research; WP5 maintains a platform at http://childhealthresearch.eu/ ; WP6 was responsible for project management. Results The project has finished, and launched a report on 'Roadmaps for the Future of Child Health Research in Europe'. A key recommendation is the establishment of a European Child Health Observatory, with a focus on participation by children and young people. The work of implementing these proposals to improve the health of European children can begin.
Dose dependent role of Emodin and BTB14431 in suspension colon cancer model in rats
Authors: Rogalla Stephan , Pohlenz Jana , Garcia Vanessa , Koplin Gerold , Fuehrer Kirsten , Lun Andreas , Dubiel Wolfgang , Geier Caroline F. , Braumann Chris
Published: January 2018

Background. An “In Silico 2D/3D Conformer Screening” for structural similar antitumor substances to Curcumin was carried out and the novel antrachinone BTB14431 was found. Emodin, contained in several Chinese medical plants and BTB14431 are known to be potential inhibitors of the COP9-signalosome - stabilizing the tumor suppressor protein p53. The aim of this study was to analyze the suppressing effects on colorectal cancer in a standardized rat model (WAG/Rij).

Methods. A suspension of CC531 colon cancer cells was applied to the cecum after laparotomy and, additionally, at the back of animals. Therapy was conducted twice daily for 7 days, with increasing doses of BTB14431, Emodin and with isotone sodium chloride solution (control) intravenously (iv) or intraperitoneally (ip). Therapy was initiated the day of tumor cell application. Peripheral blood samples were taken before surgery and on day 7. 21 days after the end of therapy, the animals were euthanized and tumor growth was evaluated.

Results. Data showed a downward trend of the total tumor growth after iv and ip treatment with low doses of BTB14431 and Emodin. Differential blood analysis showed apoptosis, but no major changes in hemogram. Increasing doses of Emodin elevated total mortality rate exponentially.

Conclusions.Although apoptosis was verified, no significant tumor suppressing effects could be observed for iv and ip treatment of both agents in our model. This stays in contrast to former in vitro studies. Agents remain viable novel substances. They will be the subject of upcoming studies. Additional data is needed to evaluate the significance of the “In Silico Screening” to identify potential in vivo anti-tumor drugs.
Prey aggregation is an effective olfactory predator avoidance strategy
Authors: Johannesen Asa , Dunn Alison M , Morrell Lesley J
Published: January 2018

Predator-prey interactions have a major effect on species abundance and diversity and aggregation is a well-known anti-predator behavior. For immobile prey, the effectiveness of aggregation depends on two conditions: (a) the inability of the predator to consume all prey in a group and (b) detection of a single large group not being proportionally easier than that of several small groups. While the benefits of grouping to avoid visually hunting predators are well understood, the potential costs and benefits of aggregation when visual cues are not available are not well understood. We carried out foraging (predation) experiments using a fish predator and (dead) chironomid larvae as prey in both laboratory and field settings. In the laboratory, a reduction in visual cue availability (in turbid water) led to a delay in the location of aggregated prey compared to when visual cues were available, but aggregated prey suffered high mortality once discovered, leading to better survival of dispersed prey in the longer term (this was likely due to their inability to take evasive action and due to prey groups being small). In the field (where prey were placed in feeding stations that allowed transmission of olfactory but not visual cues), aggregated (large groups) and semi-dispersed prey survived for longer than dispersed prey – including long term survival. Together, our results indicate that like in systems where predators hunt using vision, aggregation is an effective anti-predator behavior for prey avoiding olfactory predators.
Butyrate and other Short-Chain Fatty Acids Increase the Rate of Lipolysis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes
Authors: Rumberger John M. , Arch Jonathan R.S. , Green Allan
Published: January 2018

We determined the effect of butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) on rates of lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Prolonged treatment with butyrate (5 mM) increased the rate of lipolysis approximately 2-3-fold. Aminobutyric acid and acetate had little or no effect on lipolysis, however propionate stimulated lipolysis, suggesting that butyrate and propionate act through their shared activity as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Consistent with this, the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (1 μM) also stimulated lipolysis to a similar extent as did butyrate. Western blot data suggested that neither mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation nor perilipin down-regulation are necessary for SCFA-induced lipolysis. Stimulation of lipolysis with butyrate and trichostatin A was glucose-dependent. Changes in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation mediated by glucose were independent of changes in rates of lipolysis. The glycolytic inhibitor iodoacetate prevented both butyrate- and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-(TNF-α ) mediated increases in rates of lipolysis indicating glucose metabolism is required. However, unlike TNF-α - , butyrate-stimulated lipolysis was not associated with increased lactate release or inhibited by activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) with dichloroacetate. These data demonstrate an important relationship between lipolytic activity and reported HDAC inhibitory activity of butyrate, other short-chain fatty acids and trichostatin A. Given that HDAC inhibitors are presently being evaluated for the treatment of diabetes and other disorders, more work will be essential to determine if these effects on lipolysis are due to inhibition of HDAC.
In vitro transcription accurately predicts lac repressor phenotype in vivo in Escherichia coli
Authors: Sochor Matthew
Published: January 2018

A multitude of studies have looked at the in vivo and in vitro behavior of the lac repressor binding to DNA and effector molecules in order to study transcriptional repression, however these studies are not always reconcilable. Here we use in vitro transcription to directly mimic the in vivo system in order to build a self consistent set of experiments to directly compare in vivo and in vitro genetic repression. A thermodynamic model of the lac repressor binding to operator DNA and effector is used to link DNA occupancy to either normalized in vitro mRNA product or normalized in vivo fluorescence of a regulated gene, YFP. An accurate measurement of repressor, DNA and effector concentrations were made both in vivo and in vitro allowing for direct modeling of the entire thermodynamic equilibrium. In vivo repression profiles are accurately predicted from the given in vitro parameters when molecular crowding is considered. Interestingly, our measured repressor-operator DNA affinity differs significantly from previous in vitro measurements. The literature values are unable to replicate in vivo binding data. We therefore conclude that the repressor-DNA affinity is much weaker than previously thought. This finding would suggest that in vitro techniques that are specifically designed to mimic the in vivo process may be necessary to replicate the native system.
Out of control mortality matters: the effect of perceived uncontrollable mortality risk on a health-related decision
Authors: Pepper Gillian V , Nettle Daniel
Published: January 2018

Prior evidence from the public health literature suggests that both control beliefs and perceived threats to life are important for health behaviour. Our previously presented theoretical model generated the more specific hypothesis that uncontrollable, but not controllable, personal mortality risk should alter the payoff from investment in health protection behaviours. We carried out three experiments to test whether altering the perceived controllability of mortality risk would affect a health-related decision. Experiment 1 demonstrated that a mortality prime could be used to alter a health-related decision: the choice between a healthier food reward (fruit) and an unhealthy alternative (chocolate). Experiment 2 demonstrated that it is the controllability of the mortality risk being primed that generates the effect, rather than mortality risk per se. Experiment 3 showed that the effect could be seen in a surreptitious experiment that was not explicitly health related. Our results suggest that perceptions about the controllability of mortality risk may be an important factor in people’s health-related decisions. Thus, techniques for adjusting perceptions about mortality risk could be important tools for use in health interventions. More importantly, tackling those sources of mortality that people perceive to be uncontrollable could have a dual purpose: Making neighbourhoods and workplaces safer would have the primary benefit of reducing uncontrollable mortality risk, which could lead to a secondary benefit from improved health behaviours.
The first juvenile specimens of Plateosaurus engelhardti from Frick, Switzerland: Isolated neural arches and their implications for developmental plasticity in a basal sauropodomorph
Authors: Hofmann Rebecca , Sander P. Martin
Published: January 2018

The dinosaur Plateosaurus engelhardti is the most abundant dinosaur in the Late Triassic of Europe and the best known basal sauropodomorph. Plateosaurus engelhardti was one of the first sauropdomorph dinosaurs to display a large body size. Remains can be found in the Norian stage of the Late Triassic in over 40 localities in Central Europe (France, Germany, Greenland and Switzerland). Since the first discovery of P. engelhardti no juvenile specimens of this species had been found. Here we describe the first remains of juvenile individuals, isolated cervical and dorsal neural arches. These were separated postmortem from their respective centra because of unfused neurocentral sutures. However the specimens share the same neural arch morphology found in adults. Morphometric analysis suggests a body lengths of the juvenile indivduals that is greater than those of most adult specimens. This supports the hypothesis of developmental plasticity in Plateosaurus engelhardti that previously had been based on histological data only. Alternative hypotheses for explaining the poor correlation between ontogenetic stage and size in this taxon are multiple species or sexual morphs with little morphological variance or time-averaging of individuals from populations differing in body size.
The role of fragmentation and landscape changes in the ecological release of common nest predators in the Neotropics
Authors: Cove Michael V , Spinola Manuel , Jackson Victoria , Saenz Joel
Published: January 2018

Loss of large mammalian carnivores may allow smaller mesopredators to become abundant and threaten other community members. There is considerable debate about mesopredator release and the role that other potential factors such as landscape variables and human alterations to land cover lead to increased mesopredator abundance. We used camera traps to detect four mesopredators (tayra, Eira barbara; white-nosed coati, Nasua narica; northern raccoon, Procyon lotor; and common opossum, Didelphis opossum) in a biological corridor in Costa Rica to estimate habitat covariates that influenced the species’ detection and occurrence. We selected these mesopredators because as semi-arboreal species they might be common nest predators, posing a serious threat to resident and migratory songbirds. Pineapple production had a pronounced positive effect on the detectability of tayras, while forest cover had a negative effect on the detection of coatis. This suggests that abundance might be elevated due to the availability of agricultural food resources and foraging activities are concentrated in forest fragments and pineapple edge habitats. Raccoon and opossum models exhibited little influence on detection from habitat covariates. Occurrence models did not suggest any significant factors influencing site use by nest predators, revealing that all four species are habitat generalists adapted to co- existing in human altered landscapes. Furthermore, fragmentation and land cover changes may predispose nesting birds, herpetofauna, and small mammals to heightened predation risk by mesopredators in the Neotropics.
Laboratory generation of new Artemia parthenogenetic lineages through contagious parthenogenesis
Authors: Maccari Marta , Amat Francisco , Hontoria Francisco , Gómez Africa
Published: January 2018

Contagious parthenogenesis – a process involving rare functional males produced by a parthenogenetic lineage, which mate with coexisting sexual females resulting in fertile parthenogenetic offspring – is one of the most striking mechanisms responsible for the generation of new parthenogenetic lineages. Populations of the parthenogenetic diploid brine shrimp Artemia produce fully functional males in low proportions. The evolutionary role of these so-called Artemia rare males is, however, unknown. Here we investigate whether new parthenogenetic clones could be obtained in the laboratory through contagious origin. We assessed the survival and sex ratio of the hybrid ovoviviparous offspring from previous crosses between rare males and females from all Asiatic sexual species, carried out cross-mating experiments between F1 hybrid individuals to assess their fertility, and estimated the viability and the reproductive mode of the resulting F2 offspring. Molecular analysis confirmed the parentage of hybrid parthenogenetic F2. Our study documents the first synthesis of parthenogenetic lineages through contagious parthenogenesis in Artemia. We discuss the possible genetic mechanisms responsible for parthenogenesis and the likelihood of contagious parthenogenesis in natural environments.