bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual slow wave morphology is a marker of ageing
Authors: Ujma Péter P , Simor Péter , Steiger Axel , Dresler Martin , Bódizs Róbert
Published: August 2018

Slow wave activity is a hallmark of deep NREM sleep. Scalp slow wave morphology is stereotypical, it is highly correlated with the synchronized onset and cessation of cortical neuronal firing measured from the surface or depth of the cortex, strongly affected by ageing, and these changes are causally associated with age-related cognitive decline. We investigated how normal ageing affects the individual morphology of the slow wave, and whether these changes are captured by the summary slow wave parameters generally used in the literature. We recorded full-night polysomnography in 159 subjects (age 17-69 years) and automatically detected slow waves using six different detection methods to ensure methodological robustness. We established individual slow morphologies at 501 data points for each subject and also calculated the individual average slow wave amplitude, average ascending and descending slope steepness and the total number of slow waves (gross parameters). Using LASSO penalized regression we found that fine-grained slow wave morphology is associated with age beyond gross parameters, with young subjects having faster slow wave polarity reversals, suggesting a more efficient initiation and termination of slow wave down- and upstates. Our results demonstrate the superiority of the high-resolution slow wave morphology as a biomarker of ageing, and highlights state transitions as promising targets of restorative stimulation-based interventions.
Epigenetic findings in periodontitis in UK twins: a cross sectional study
Authors: Kurushima Yuko , Tsai Pei-Chien , Fernandez Juan Castillo , Alves Alexessander Couto , El-Sayed Moustafa Julia Sarah , Roy Caroline Le , Ide Mark , Hughes Francis J , Small Kerrin , Steves Claire J , Bell Jordana T
Published: August 2018

Background

Genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to periodontal disease, but the underlying susceptibility pathways are not fully understood. Epigenetic mechanisms are malleable regulators of gene function that can change in response to genetic and environmental stimuli, thereby providing a potential mechanism for mediating risk effects in periodontitis. The aim of this study is to identify epigenetic changes across tissues that are associated with periodontal disease.

Methods

Self-reported gingival bleeding and history of gum disease, or tooth mobility, were used as indicators of periodontal disease. DNA methylation profiles were generated using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip in whole blood, buccal, and adipose tissue samples from predominantly older female twins (mean age 58) from the TwinsUK cohort. Epigenome-wide association scans (EWAS) of gingival bleeding and tooth mobility were conducted in whole blood in 528 and 492 twins, respectively. Subsequently, targeted candidate gene analysis at 28 genomic regions was carried out testing for phenotype-methylation associations in 41 (tooth mobility) and 43 (gingival bleeding) buccal, and 501 (tooth mobility) and 556 (gingival bleeding) adipose DNA samples.

Results

Epigenome-wide analyses in blood identified one CpG-site (cg21245277 inZNF804A) associated with gingival bleeding (FDR=0.03, nominal p-value=7.17e-8), and 58 sites associated with tooth mobility (FDR<0.05) with the top signals inIQCEandXKR6. Epigenetic variation at 28 candidate regions (256 CpG-sites) for chronic periodontitis showed a strong enrichment for association with periodontal traits, and signals in eight genes (VDR, IL6ST, TMCO6, IL1RN, CD44, IL1B, WHAMM, andCXCL1) were significant in both traits. The methylation-phenotype association signals validated in buccal samples, and a subset (25%) also validated in adipose tissue.

Conclusions

Epigenome-wide analyses in adult female twins identified specific DNA methylation changes linked to self-reported periodontal disease. Future work will explore the environmental basis and functional impact of these results to infer potential for strategic personalized treatments and prevention of chronic periodontitis.
Magnitude of road traffic accident related injuries and fatalities in Ethiopia
Authors: Abagaz Teferi , Gebremedhin Samson
Published: August 2018

Background

In many developing countries there is paucity of evidence regarding the epidemiology of road traffic accidents (RTAs). The study determines the rates of injuries and fatalities associated with RTAs in Ethiopia based on the data of a recent national survey.

Methods

The study is based on the secondary data of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2016. The survey collected information about occurrence injuries and accidents including RTAs in the past 12 months among 75,271 members of 16,650 households. Households were selected from nine regions and two city administrations of Ethiopia using stratified cluster sampling procedure.

Results

Of the 75,271 household members enumerated, 123 encountered RTAs in the reference period and rate of RTA-related injury was 163 (95% confidence interval (CI): 136-195) per 100,000 population. Of the 123 causalities, 28 were fatal, making the fatality rate 37 (95% CI: 25-54) per 100,000 population. The RTA-related injuries and fatalities per 100,000 motor vehicles were estimated as 21,681 (95% CI: 18,090-25,938) and 4,922 (95% CI: 3325-7183), respectively. Next to accidental falls, RTAs were the second most common form of accidents and injuries accounting for 22.8% of all such incidents. RTAs contributed to 43.8% of all fatalities secondary to accidents and injuries. Among RTA causalities, 21.9% were drivers, 35.0% were passenger vehicle occupants and 36.0% were vulnerable road users including: motorcyclists (21.0%), pedestrians (12.1%) and cyclists (2.9%). Approximately half (47.1%) of the causalities were between 15-29 years of age and 15.3% were either minors younger than 15 years or seniors older than 64 years of age. Nearly two-thirds (65.0%) of the victims were males.

Conclusion

RTA-related causalities are extremely high in Ethiopia. Male young adults and vulnerable road users are at increased risk of RTAs. There is a urgent need for bringing road safety to the country’s public health agenda.
Delivery of GalNAc-conjugated splice-switching ASOs to non-hepatic cells through ectopic expression of asialoglycoprotein receptor
Authors: Scharner Juergen , Qi Sabrina , Rigo Frank , Bennett C. Frank , Krainer Adrian R.
Published: August 2018

Splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are promising therapeutic tools to target various genetic diseases, including cancer. However,in vivodelivery of ASOs to orthotopic tumors in cancer mouse models or to certain target tissues remains challenging. A viable solution already in use is receptor-mediated uptake of ASOs via tissue-specific receptors. For example, the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) is exclusively expressed in hepatocytes. Triantennary GalNAc (GN3)-conjugated ASOs bind to the receptor and are efficiently internalized by endocytosis, enhancing ASO potency in the liver. Here we explore the use of GalNAc-mediated targeting to deliver therapeutic splice-switching ASOs to cancer cells that ectopically express ASGP-R, bothin vitroand in tumor mouse models. We found that ectopic expression of the major isoform ASGP-R1 H1a is sufficient to promote uptake and increase GN3-ASO potency to various degrees in all tested cancer cells. We show that cell-type specific glycosylation of the receptor does not affect its activity.In vivo, GN3-conjugated ASOs specifically target subcutaneous xenograft tumors that ectopically express ASGP-R1, and modulate splicing significantly more strongly than unconjugated ASOs. Our work shows that GN3-targeting is a useful tool for proof-of-principle studies in orthotopic cancer models, until endogenous receptors are identified and exploited for efficiently targeting cancer cells.
Diverse endogenous retroviruses generate structural variation between human genomes via LTR recombination
Authors: Thomas Jainy , Perron Hervé , Feschotte Cédric
Published: August 2018

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) occupy a substantial fraction of the genome and impact cellular function with both beneficial and deleterious consequences. The vast majority of HERV sequences descend from ancient retroviral families no longer capable of infection or genomic propagation. In fact, most are no longer represented by full-length proviruses but by solitary long terminal repeats (solo LTRs) that arose via non-allelic recombination events between the two LTRs of a proviral insertion. Because LTR-LTR recombination events may occur long after proviral insertion but are challenging to detect in resequencing data, we hypothesize that this mechanism produces an underappreciated amount of genomic variation in the human population. To test this idea, we develop a computational pipeline specifically designed to capture such dimorphic HERV alleles from short-read genome sequencing data. When applied to 279 individuals sequenced as part of the Simons Genome Diversity Project, the pipeline retrieves most of the dimorphic variants previously reported for the HERV-K(HML2) subfamily as well as dozens of additional candidates, including members of the HERV-H and HERV-W families. We experimentally validate several of these candidates, including the first reported instance of an unfixed HERV-W provirus. These data indicate that human proviral content exhibit more extensive interindividual variation than previously recognized. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the contribution of HERVs to human physiology and disease.
Interaction information along lifespan of the resting brain dynamics reveals a major redundant role of the default mode network
Authors: Camino-Pontes Borja , Diez Ibai , Jimenez-Marin Antonio , Rasero Javier , Xu Paolo , Bonifazi Charles C.Y. , Stramaglia Sebastiano , Swinnen Stephan , Cortes Jesus M
Published: August 2018

Interaction Information generalizes the univariate Shannon Entropy to triplets of variables, allowing the detection of redundant or synergetic interactions in dynamical networks. Here, we calculated interaction information from functional magnetic resonance imaging and asked whether redundancy or synergy vary across brain regions and along lifespan. We found high overlapping between the pattern of high redundancy and the default mode network, and this occurred along lifespan. The pattern of high values of synergy, more heterogeneous and variable along lifespan, was overlapping with different cognitive domains, such as spatial and temporal memory, emotion processing and motor skills. Moreover, the amount of redundancy and synergy seem to be balanced along lifespan, suggesting informational compensatory mechanisms in brain networks.
Dopamine Depletion Alters Macroscopic Network Dynamics in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Shine James M. , Bell Peter T. , Matar Elie , Poldrack Russell A. , Lewis Simon J.G. , Halliday Glenda M. , O’Callaghan Claire
Published: August 2018

Parkinson’s disease is primarily characterised by diminished dopaminergic function, however the impact of these impairments on large-scale brain dynamics remains unclear. It has been difficult to disentangle the direct effects of Parkinson’s disease from compensatory changes that reconfigure the functional signature of the whole brain network. To examine the causal role of dopamine depletion in network-level topology, we investigated time-varying network structure in 37 individuals with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, both ‘On’ and ‘Off’ dopamine replacement therapy, along with 50 age-matched, healthy control subjects using resting-state functional MRI. By tracking dynamic network-level topology, we found that the Parkinson’s disease ‘Off’ state was associated with greater network-level integration than in the ‘On’ state. The extent of integration in the ‘Off’ state inversely correlated with motor symptom severity, suggesting that a shift toward a more integrated network topology may be a compensatory mechanism associated with preserved motor function in the dopamine depleted ‘Off’ state. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that measures of both cognitive and brain reserve (i.e., premorbid intelligence and whole brain grey matter volume) had a positive relationship with the relative increase in network integration observed in the dopaminergic ‘Off’ state. This suggests that each of these factors plays an important role in promoting network integration in the dopaminergic ‘Off’ state. Our findings provide a mechanistic basis for understanding the PD ‘Off’ state and provide a further conceptual link with network-level reconfiguration. Together, our results highlight the mechanisms responsible for pathological and compensatory change in Parkinson’s disease.
The potential aroma and flavor compounds inVitissp. cv. Koshu andV. viniferaL. cv. Chardonnay under different environmental conditions
Authors: Bahena-Garrido Sharon Marie , Ohama Tomoko , Suehiro Yuka , Hata Yuko , Isogai Atsuko , Iwashita Kazuhiro , Goto-Yamamoto Nami , Koyama Kazuya
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND

Koshu, a hybrid ofVitis viniferaL. andV. davidiiFoex, is the most popular indigenous cultivar for wine production in Japan. However, little is known about the potential aroma compounds it contains and how environmental factors affect these. In this study, we obtained comprehensive profiles of the volatile (both glycosidically bound and free) and phenolic compounds that occur in Koshu berries, and compared these with similar profiles forV. viniferacv. Chardonnay. We then compared the response of these two cultivars to bunch shading and the ripening-related phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA).

RESULTS

Koshu berries contained significantly higher concentrations of phenolic compounds, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, and some volatile phenols, such as 4-vinyl guaiacol and eugenol, than Chardonnay berries, which are thought to contribute to the characteristics of Koshu wine. In addition, Koshu berries had a distinctly different terpenoid composition from Chardonnay berries. Shading reduced the concentrations of norisoprenoid in both cultivars, as well as several phenolic compounds particularly their volatile derivatives in Koshu. The exogenous application of ABA induced ripening and increased the concentrations of lipid derivatives, such ashexanol, octanol, nonanol, and 1-octen-3-ol. Linear discriminant analysis showed that the aromatic potential could be discriminated clearly based on cultivar, bunch shading, and ABA application.

CONCLUSION

The unique secondary metabolite profiles of Koshu and their different responses to environmental factors could be valuable for developing various styles of Koshu wines and new cultivars with improved quality and cultural characteristics.
HIV-1 evasion of restriction factors: cyclophilin A and cell fusion provide a helping hand
Authors: Owen Henry , Vaughan-Jackson Alun , Nussbaum Lea , Vowles Jane , James William , Moore M.D.
Published: August 2018

Retroviral restriction factors are important regulators of viral infection, targeting vulnerable steps of the virus lifecycle; steps that are also targeted by antiviral drugs. It has become clear that the route of cellular infection can alter the sensitivity of HIV-1 to these agents. Using CRISPR-Cas9 edited pluripotent stem cell-derived macrophages, we have explored the potential of a modified restriction factor (human TRIMCyp) to inhibit HIV-1 replication in both cell free and cell-cell infection models. We show that the expression of TRIMCyp from the endogenous TRIM5α locus potently restricts infection by cell-free HIV-1. Our results also show the importance of the human cyclophilin A-HIV-1 capsid interaction for viral escape from restriction by native human TRIM5α, highlighting the evolutionary interplay between virus and this host restriction factor. However, when co-cultured with infected T cells, stem cell-derived macrophages are primarily infected by fusion between the cells. We have termed infected cells that result from these fusions heterocytia, and show that their formation overcomes multiple restriction factors and the reverse transcriptase inhibitor AZT.

Importance

As sentinels of the immune system, macrophages are relatively resistant to infection by pathogens such as HIV-1. However, infected macrophages are found in infected patients and they play key roles in the pathogenesis of the disease as well as being a component of the viral reservoir that must be targeted before treatment can become cure. In this article, we show that some of the mechanisms by which macrophages restrict HIV-1 can be overcome through a recently described cell-cell interaction leading to cell-cell fusion. We also highlight an evolutionary battle between virus and host and show how the virus has co-opted a host protein to protect it from destruction by an antiviral mechanism. These two key findings suggest potential novel treatment strategies that may reduce the viral reservoir and help our natural defences take back control from the virus.
Deficiency of the Endocytic ProteinHip1Leads to DecreasedGdpd3expression, Low Phosphocholine, and Kypholordosis
Authors: Wijayatunge Ranjula , Holmstrom Sam R. , Foley Samantha B. , Mgbemena Victoria E. , Bhargava Varsha , Perez Gerardo Lopez , McCrum Kelly , Ross Theodora S.
Published: August 2018

Deficiency of huntingtin interacting protein 1 (Hip1) results in degenerative phenotypes. Here we generated aHip1deficiency allele where a floxed transcriptional stop-cassette and a humanHIP1cDNA were knocked-in to intron 1 of mouseHip1locus.CMV-Cre-mediated germline excision of the stop-cassette resulted in expression of HIP1 and rescue of theHip1knockout phenotype.Mxl-Cre--mediated excision led to HIP1 expression in spleen, kidney and liver, and also rescued the phenotype. In contrast,GFAP-Cre-mediatedHIP1expression in brain did not rescue the phenotype. Metabolomics and microarrays of severalHip1knockout tissues identified low phosphocholine (PC) levels and lowGlycerophosphodiester Phosphodiesterase Domain Containing 3 (Gdpd3) expression. Since Gdpd3 has lysophospholipase D activity that results in the formation of choline, a precursor of PC,Gdpd3downregulation could lead to the low PC levels. To test ifGdpd3contributes to the Hip1 deficiency phenotype, we generatedGdpd3knockout mice. Double knockout ofGdpd3andHip1worsened the Hip1 phenotype. This suggests that Gdpd3 compensates for Hip1 loss. More detailed knowledge of how Hip1 deficiency leads to low PC will improve our understanding of HIP1 in choline metabolism in normal and disease states.
Computational model for human 3D shape perception from a single specular image
Authors: Shimokawa Takeaki , Nishio Akiko , Sato Masa-aki , Kawato Mitsuo , Komatsu Hidehiko
Published: August 2018

In natural conditions the human visual system can estimate the 3D shape of specular objects even from a single image. Although previous studies suggested that the orientation field plays a key role for 3D shape perception from specular reflections, its computational plausibility and possible mechanisms have not been investigated. In this study, to complement the orientation field information, we first add prior knowledge that objects are illuminated from above and utilize the vertical polarity of the intensity gradient. Then we construct an algorithm that incorporates these two image cues to estimate 3D shapes from a single specular image. We evaluated the algorithm with glossy and mirrored surfaces and found that 3D shapes can be recovered with a high correlation coefficient of around 0.8 with true surface shapes. Moreover, under a specific condition, the algorithm’s errors resembled those made by human observers. These findings show that the combination of the orientation field and the vertical polarity of the intensity gradient is computationally sufficient and probably reproduces essential representations used in human shape perception from specular reflections.
The borders ofcis-regulatory DNA sequences harbor the divergent transcription factor binding motifs in the human genome
Authors: Huang Jia-Hsin , Kwan Ryan Shun-Yuen , Tsai Zing Tsung-Yeh , Tsai Huai-Kuang
Published: August 2018

Changes in thecis-regulatory DNA sequences and transcription factor (TF) repertoires provide major sources that shape the gene regulatory evolution in eukaryotes. However, it is currently unclear how dynamic change of DNA sequences introduce various divergence level of TF binding motifs in the genome over evolutionary time. Here, we estimated the evolutionary divergence level of the TF binding motifs, and quantified their occurrences in the DNase I hypersensitive sites. Results from ourin silicomotif scan and empirical TF-ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation) demonstrate that the divergent motifs tend to be introduced at the borders of thecis-regulatory regions, that are likely accompanied with the expansion through evolutionary time. Accordingly, we propose that an expansion by incorporating divergent motifs within thecis-regulatory regions provides a rationale for the evolutionary divergence of regulatory circuits.
Using an Optimal Set of Features with a Machine Learning-Based Approach to Predict Effector Proteins forLegionella pneumophila
Authors: Ashari Zhila Esna , Brayton Kelly A. , Broschat Shira L.
Published: August 2018

Type IV secretion systems exist in a number of bacterial pathogens and are used to secrete effector proteins directly into host cells in order to change their environment making the environment hospitable for the bacteria. In recent years, several machine learning algorithms have been developed to predict effector proteins, potentially facilitating experimental verification. However, inconsistencies exist between their results. Previously we analysed the disparate sets of predictive features used in these algorithms to determine an optimal set of 370 features for effector prediction. This work focuses on the best way to use these optimal features by designing three machine learning classifiers, comparing our results with those of others, and obtaining de novo results. We chose the pathogenLegionella pneumophilastrain Philadelphia-1, a cause of Legionnaires’ disease, because it has many validated effector proteins and others have developed machine learning prediction tools for it. While all of our models give good results indicating that our optimal features are quite robust, Model 1, which uses all 370 features with a support vector machine, has slightly better accuracy. Moreover, Model 1 predicted 760 effector proteins, more than any other study, 315 of which have been validated. Although the results of our three models agree well with those of other researchers, their models only predicted 126 and 311 candidate effectors.
Distinguishing between parallel and serial processing in visual attention from neurobiological data
Authors: Li Kang , Kadohisa Mikiko , Kusunoki Makoto , Duncan John , Bundesen Claus , Ditlevsen Susanne
Published: August 2018

Serial and parallel processing in visual search have been long debated in psychology but the processing mechanism remains an open issue. Serial processing allows only one object at a time to be processed, whereas parallel processing assumes that various objects are processed simultaneously. Here we present novel neural models for the two types of processing mechanisms based on analysis of simultaneously recorded spike trains using electrophysiological data from prefrontal cortex of rhesus monkeys while processing task-relevant visual displays. We combine mathematical models describing neuronal attention and point process models for spike trains. The same model can explain both serial and parallel processing by adopting different parameter regimes. We present statistical methods to distinguish between serial and parallel processing based on both maximum likelihood estimates and decoding the momentary focus of attention when two stimuli are presented simultaneously. Results show that both processing mechanisms are in play for the simultaneously recorded neurons, but neurons tend to follow parallel processing in the beginning after the onset of the stimulus pair, whereas they tend to serial processing later on. This could be explained by parallel processing being related to sensory bottom-up signals or feedforward processing, which typically occur in the beginning after stimulus onset, whereas top-down signals related to cognitive modulatory influences guiding attentional effects in recurrent feedback connections occur after a small delay, and is related to serial processing, where all processing capacities are being directed towards the attended object.

Author summary

A fundamental question concerning processing of visual objects in our brain is how a population of cortical cells respond when presented with more than a single object in their receptive fields. Is one object processed at a time (serial processing), or are all objects processed simultaneously (parallel processing)? Inferring the dynamics of attentional states in simultaneously recorded spike trains from sensory neurons while being exposed to a pair of visual stimuli is key to advance our understanding of visual cognition. We propose novel statistical models and measures to quantify and follow the time evolution of the visual cognition processes right after stimulus onset. We find that in the beginning processing appears to be predominantly parallel, which develops into serial processing 150 – 200 ms after stimulus onset in prefrontal cortex of rhesus monkeys.
Toxoplasma gondiiROP18 Inhibits Human Glioblastoma Cell Apoptosis through Mitochondrial Pathway by Targeting Host Cell P2X1
Authors: Zhou Li-Juan , Chen Min , He Cheng , Xia Jing , He Cynthia Y. , Deng Sheng-Qun , Peng Hong-Juan
Published: August 2018

It is known thatToxoplasma gondiiinfection both initiates and inhibits host cell apoptosis through different proapoptotic signaling cascades, but the parasitic factors involved in these processes remain unclear.T. gondiivirulence factor ROP18 has been reported to regulate host cell apoptosis, but the results of this regulation are few reported and contradictory. In this study, we found that immune or neuro cells infected by any one of theT. gondiistrains (RH-type I, ME49-type II, and VEG-type III) showed a significantly lower apoptosis index than their uninfected controls when apoptosis was induced by staurosporine (STS). We further found that ROP18 of RH strain inhibited ATP induced apoptosis in human glioblastoma cells (SF268) with endogenous expression of human proapoptotic protein purinergic receptor 1 (P2X1), but had no effects on the immune cells of RAW264.7 and THP-1 without detectable P2X1 expression, which may indicate that ROP18’s inhibition of host cell apoptosis is related to P2X1. Interestingly, we further identified that ROP18 (RH strain) interacted with P2X1, and over-expression of ROP18 in COS-7 cells inhibited the cell apoptosis mediated by P2X1. We also found that ROP18 of RH strain inhibited P2X1-mediated Ca2+influx, translocation of cytochrome C from mitochondria to cytoplasm, and 1 ATP-triggered caspases activation. Collectively, these findings supported that ROP18 inhibited the host cell apoptosis through the intrinsic mitochondria pathway by targeting host cell P2X1, thereby suggesting a sensor role of the host proapoptotic protein P2X1 in this process

Author summary

The obligate intracellular protozoanToxoplasma gondiihas been shown to modulate cell apoptosis through different apoptotic pathways. However, the consequences are various and even contradictory, and the parasite effectors and the precise biological mechanisms remain unclear. Herein we showed thatT. gondiiof type I, II, and III strains could inhibit the apoptosis of neuro cells and immune cells.Toxoplasma gondiiROP18 (RH strain) inhibited apoptosis of human glioblastoma cell SF268 by targeting C terminal of host cell P2X1 protein, but not through proteasome-dependent degradation of P2X1.
Did a novel virus contribute to late blight epidemics?
Authors: Cai Guohong , Myers Kevin , Fry William E. , Hillman Bradley I.
Published: August 2018

Phytophthora infestansis the causal agent of potato and tomato late blight. In this study, we characterized a novel RNA virus, Phytophthora infestans RNA virus 2 (PiRV-2). The PiRV-2 genome is 11,170 nt and lacks a polyA tail. It contains a single large open reading frame (ORF) with short 5’- and 3’-untranslated regions. The ORF is predicted to encode a polyprotein of 3710 aa (calculated molecular weight 410.94 kDa). This virus lacks significant similarity to any other known viruses, even in the conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region. Comparing isogenic strains with or without the virus demonstrated that the virus stimulated sporangia production inP. infestansand appeared to enhance its virulence. Transcriptome analysis revealed that it achieved sporulation stimulation likely through down-regulation of ammonium and amino acid intake inP. infestans. This virus was faithfully transmitted through asexual reproduction. Survey of PiRV-2 presence in aP. infestanscollection found it in most strains in the US-8 lineage, a very successful clonal lineage ofP. infestansin North America. We suggest that PiRV-2 may have contributed to its success, raising the intriguing possibility that a potentially hypervirulent virus may contribute to late blight epidemics.

Author Summary

Potato late blight, the notorious plant disease behind the Irish Potato Famine, continues to pose a serious threat to potato and tomato production worldwide. While most studies on late blight epidemics focuses on pathogen virulence, host resistance, environmental factors and fungicide resistance, we present evidence in this study that a virus infecting the causal agent,Phytophthora infestans, may have played a role. We characterized a novel RNA virus, Phytophthora infestans RNA virus 2 (PiRV-2) and examined its effects on its host. By comparing identicalP. infestansstrains except with or without the virus, we found that PiRV-2 stimulated sporulation ofP. infestans(a critical factor in late blight epidemics) and increased its virulence. We also profiled gene expression in these strains and identified potential molecular mechanisms through which PiRV-2 asserted its sporulation stimulation effect. In a survey of PiRV-2 presence in aP. infestanscollection, we found PiRV-2 in most isolates of the US-8 clonal lineage, a very successfull ineage that dominated potato fields in North America for several decades. We suggest that PiRV-2 may have contributed to its success. Our findings raise the intriguing possibility that a potentially hypervirulent virus may contribute to late blight epidemics.
Mouse parabrachial neurons signal a relationship between bitter taste and nociceptive stimuli
Authors: Li Jinrong , Lemon Christian H.
Published: August 2018

Taste and somatosensation both partly mediate protective behaviors. Bitter taste guides avoidance of ingestion of toxins while pain sensations, such as noxious heat, signal adverse conditions to ward off harm. Although brain pathways for taste and somatosensation are typically studied independently, prior data suggest they intersect, potentially reflecting their common protective role. To investigate this, we applied electrophysiologic and optogenetic techniques in anesthetized mice of both sexes to evaluate relationships between oral somatosensory and taste activity in the parabrachial nucleus (PbN), implicated for roles in gustation and pain. Spikes were recorded from taste-active PbN neurons tested with oral delivery of thermal and chemesthetic stimuli, including agonists of nocisensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels on somatosensory fibers. Gustatory neurons were also tested to follow electrical pulse stimulation of an oral somatosensory region of the spinal trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc), which projects to the PbN. Neurons composed classic taste groups, including sodium, electrolyte, appetitive, or bitter oriented cells. Across groups, most neurons spiked to Vc pulse stimulation, implying trigeminal projections reach PbN gustatory neurons. Among such cells, agonists of nocisensitive TRP channels, including mustard oil, capsaicin, and noxious heat, were discovered to predominantly activate PbN bitter taste neurons tuned to the bitters quinine and cycloheximide. Such neurons populated the lateral PbN. Further, PbN bitter taste neurons showed suppressed oral nociceptive activity during optogenetic-assisted inhibition of the Vc, implying convergent trigeminal input contributed to such activity. Our results imply a novel role for PbN gustatory cells in crossmodal signaling related to protection.
Necessity and contingency in developmental genetic screens: LIN-3, Wnt and semaphorin pathways in vulval induction of the nematodeOscheius tipulae
Authors: Vargas-Velazquez Amhed M. , Besnard Fabrice , Félix Marie-Anne
Published: August 2018

Genetic screens in the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansidentified the EGF/Ras and Notch pathways as central for vulval precursor cell fate patterning. Schematically, the anchor cell secretes EGF, inducing the P6.p cell to a 1° vulval fate; P6.p in turn induces its neighbors to a 2° fate through Delta-Notch signaling and represses Ras signaling. In the nematodeOscheius tipulae, the anchor cell successively induces 2° then 1° vulval fates. Here we report on the molecular identification of mutations affecting vulval induction inO. tipulae. A single Induction Vulvaless mutation was found, which we identify as a cis-regulatory deletion in a tissue-specific enhancer of theO. tipulae lin-3homolog, confirmed by CRISPR/Cas9 mutation. In contrast to this predictable Vulvaless mutation, mutations resulting in an excess of 2° fates unexpectedly correspond to the plexin/semaphorin pathway, which was not implicated in vulval fate induction inC. elegans. Hyperinduction of P4.p and P8.p in these mutants likely results from mispositioning of these cells due to a lack of contact inhibition. The third signaling pathway found by forward genetics inO. tipulaeis the Wnt pathway: decrease in Wnt pathway activity results in loss of vulval precursor competence and induction, and 1° fate miscentering on P5.p. Our results suggest that the EGF and Wnt pathways have qualitatively similar activities in vulval induction inC. elegansandO. tipulae, albeit with quantitative differences in the effects of mutation. This study highlights both necessity and contingency in forward genetic screens.

100-word summary

Genetic screens in the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansidentified EGF and Notch pathways as key for vulval precursor cell fate patterning. Here we report on the molecular identification of mutations affecting vulval induction in another nematode,Oscheius tipulae. The single mutation with reduced induction is identified as acis-regulatory deletion in theO. tipulae lin-3homolog, confirmed by CRISPR/Cas9 mutation. In contrast to this predictable Vulvaless mutation, mutations resulting in an excess of 2° vulval fates unexpectedly correspond to the plexin/semaphorin pathway, not implicated in vulval induction inC. elegans. This study highlights both necessity and contingency in forward genetic screens.
In praise of hospitality: the role extended by religious hosts as drivers of satisfaction and loyalty
Authors: Milman Ady , Oren Gila
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This study aims to explore the hospitality and religious experience of Israeli travelers visiting the globally prevalent Jewish Orthodox Chabad Houses that provide religious, spiritual, educational and hospitality havens in their locales, regardless of the degree of observance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Schmitt’s (1999b) experiential consumption dimensions of Sense, Feel, Think, Relate and Act, this study measured the various visitors’ experiences, satisfaction and loyalty using a sample of 488 Israeli travelers obtained from online social media sites, popular with Israeli travelers.

Findings

The findings reveal that Israeli visits to Chabad Houses were primarily characterized by Act, Feel and Relate experiences like meeting fellow Israeli travelers, a sense of togetherness and a feeling of belonging. In predicting satisfaction and loyalty, the visitors’ religious experience did not play a major role, but rather the actual hospitality extended by their religious hosts, like a home-like feeling, comfort, tasty food and a sense of togetherness did.

Research limitations/implications

Collecting data from an online sample might yield results that would not be applicable to the typical Chabad House visitor. Due to the Chabad Houses’ global presence, their visitors’ experiences may vary from one house to another and the findings may not represent an accurate picture of the typical Chabad House visit.

Practical implications

To continue its hospitality brand, the Chabad movement’s decision-makers should continue focusing on innovative visitor experiences and balance the religious and secular components of their hospitality, as well as consider carefully how to direct their marketing and operational budgets.

Originality/value

Adding to the body of literature on travelers’ experience at religious sites, this research is a pioneering attempt to study and explore visitors’ religious and hospitality experiences while visiting small non-conspicuous religious centers that extend their global hospitality brand to travelers.
Remittances, poverty and human capital: evidence from developing countries
Authors: Huay Chong Siew , Bani Yasmin
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between remittances and poverty through the human capital channel in developing countries, which has received less attention in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applied the system GMM developed by Arellano and Bond (1991) and Arellano and Bover (1995) containing 54 developing countries. This estimator is appropriate compared to a cross-section technique because it controls for the endogeneity of all explanatory variables, includes unobserved country-specific effects and allows for the inclusion of lagged dependent variables.

Findings

The results suggest that, while remittances reduced poverty, the effect is moderated via education. A 1 percent increase in remittances reduces the poverty headcount by 0.47 percent, while the reduction is 0.33 percent via education. The marginal effect of remittances is negatively related to the level of education, indicating that education mitigates the effect of remittances on poverty.

Practical implications

This paper includes the implications for the policymakers to justify the need for more effective approaches. It is useful to identify whether and how remittances and human capital interact in their effect on poverty when deciding the most desirable allocation of available resources between these two priorities.

Originality/value

This paper takes a step forward filling the limited evidence on the role of human capital in remittances–poverty relationship in developing countries. Different from the existing studies which have used the traditional panel estimators, this study utilizes the dynamic panel estimators such as system GMM to tackle the specification issues of endogeneity, measurement errors and heterogeneity.
Experimental investigations of force transmission characteristics in granular flow lubrication
Authors: Meng Fanjing , Liu Kun , Qin Tao
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Granular lubrication is a new lubrication method and can be used in extreme working conditions; however, the obstacle of force transmission characteristics needs to be urgently solved to fully understand the mechanical and bearing mechanisms of granular lubrication.

Design/methodology/approach

A flat sliding friction cell is developed to study the force transmission behaviors of granules under shearing. Granular material, sliding velocity, granule size and granule humidity are considered in these experiments. The measured normal and shear force, which is transmitted from the bottom friction pair to the top friction pair via the granular lubrication medium, reveals the influence of these controlling parameters on the force transmission characteristics of granules.

Findings

Experimental results show that a low sliding velocity, a large granule size and a low granular humidity increase the measured normal force and shear force. Besides, a comparison experiment with other typical lubrication styles is also carried out. The force transmission under granular lubrication is mainly dependent on the force transmission path, which is closely related to the deconstruction and reconstruction of the force chains in the granule assembly.

Originality/value

These findings reveal the force transmission mechanism of granular lubrication and can also offer the helpful reference for the design of the new granular lubrication bearing.
Cleanliness unravelled: a review and integration of literature
Authors: Vos Martijn C. , Galetzka Mirjam , Mobach Mark P. , van Hagen Mark , Pruyn Ad T.H.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic literature review on stimulus, organism and response variables related to actual and perceived cleanliness and develop a conceptual framework to encourage future research on cleanliness.

Design/methodology/approach

The PRISMA statement methodology for systematic literature review was applied. After analysing 926 articles, 46 articles were included and reviewed.

Findings

Stimulus, organism and response variables related to cleanliness were identified and integrated in a conceptual framework. A distinction was made between articles evaluating the relationship between stimulus and organism variables; stimulus and response variables; and organism and response variables. First, actual cleanliness, staff behaviour, condition of the environment, scent and the appearance of the physical environment were identified as stimuli variables influencing perceived cleanliness and service quality. Second, the presence of litter, behaviour and presence of others, scent, disorder, availability of trash cans and informational strategies were identified as stimuli affecting littering and other kinds of unethical behaviour. Third, the effect of perceived cleanliness (and other organism variables) on satisfaction, approach behaviours, physical activity and pro-social behaviour was registered.

Practical implications

The findings of this review allow in-house and corporate facility managers to better understand and identify most effective interventions positively influencing actual and perceived cleanliness.

Originality/value

No systematic literature review on antecedents and consequences of a clean environment has previously been conducted.
Impact of supply chain collaboration and knowledge sharing on organizational outcomes in pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh
Authors: Haque Mahbubul , Islam Rafikul
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the proposed relationships concerning the supply chain collaboration (SCC) practices and knowledge sharing with organizational performance in the pharmaceutical industry of a developing country.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 203 executives working in various pharmaceutical companies of Bangladesh participated in the study. Factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to test the proposed research hypotheses.

Findings

This study reveals that both knowledge sharing and collaboration practices in the supply chain significantly influence customer satisfaction leading to business competitiveness as evidenced in the superior product quality and new product innovation in this knowledge-intensive industry. It further reveals a statistically significant correlation between SCC and knowledge sharing practices.

Research limitations/implications

This study is performed only on the manufacturers in the pharmaceutical industry from the perspective of a developing country. Future studies could cover other entities operating in a pharmaceutical supply chain.

Practical implications

The findings of the study have significant practical implications due to the fact that the aspect of knowledge sharing exerts influence on customer satisfaction that holds the key to competitive priorities. The managers need to address this issue seriously.

Originality/value

Few studies have been performedvis-a-visthe impact of both SCC and knowledge sharing on the organizational outcomes in the pharmaceutical industry from the perspective of a developing country.
North Korea now
Authors: Kwon Heonik
Published: August 2018

What are the possibilities for rapprochement between North Korea and the US? In this guest editorial the author considers some of the issues at play.
The Windrush generation
Authors: Wardle Huon , Obermuller Laura
Published: August 2018

The Windrush generation have contributed in many ways to the British economy and to British culture. What is the background to the scandalous abandonment of these migrants in recent times?
Diel periodicity of a terrestrial arthropod community: diversity, composition, and body size
Authors: McMunn Marshall S. , Hernandez Joel D.
Published: August 2018

1. Activity patterns of arthropods lead to consistent changes in community composition in many ecosystems, but this daily turnover in community membership is poorly characterised. This study used passive collection methods of ground and air active arthropods, feeding guild assignment, and body size measurements to characterise changes in a terrestrial arthropod community between consecutive 4‐h time intervals.

2. We found that arthropod communities are highly structured in time, with the time of sample collection significantly affecting family richness, relative abundance, abundance of feeding guilds, community dissimilarity, community turnover rates, and average body sizes within taxonomic orders.

3. Community dissimilarity is periodic on two timescales, 12 and 24 h. Morning and evening communities were similar to each other and supported a unique assemblage that occurred during the transition from highly dissimilar night and day arthropod communities.

4. The results offered support for previous findings that night‐active arthropods are generally larger than day‐active ones, with the pattern holding for some but not all orders.

5. These findings demonstrate that species‐specific daily activity patterns influence community composition in a predictable manner, with characteristic repeating time communities within a single habitat.