bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are Women Discriminated Against in Countries with Extensive Family Policies? A Piece of the “Welfare State Paradox” Puzzle from Sweden
Authors: Bygren Magnus , Gähler Michael
Published: March 2021

A common assumption in comparative family policy studies is that employers statistically discriminate against women in countries with dual-earner family policy models. The empirical evidence cited in support of this assumption has exclusively been observational data, which should not be relied on to identify employer discrimination. In contrast, we investigate whether employers discriminate against women in Sweden—frequently viewed as epitomizing the dual-earner family policy model—using field experiment data. We find no evidence supporting the notion that Swedish employers statistically discriminate against women.
Insights into Detoxification of Tolaasins, the Toxins Behind Mushroom Bacterial Blotch, by Microbacterium foliorum NBRC 103072T
Authors: Tomita Shun , Kajikawa Akinobu , Igimi Shizunobu , Shinohara Hirosuke , Yokota Kenji
Published: March 2021

Tolaasins are lipodepsipeptides secreted by Pseudomonas tolaasii, the causal agent of brown blotch disease of mushroom, and are the toxins that cause the brown spots. We previously reported that Microbacterium foliorum NBRC 103072T is an effective tolaasin-detoxifying bacterium. In this study, we aimed to characterize the tolaasin-detoxification process of M. foliorum NBRC 103072T. The tolaasin detoxification by M. foliorum NBRC 103072T was carried out by hydrolyzation of tolaasins at two specific sites in the peptide moiety of tolaasins by its cells, and the resulting fragments were released from bacterial cells. The tolaasin-hydrolyzing activity can be extracted by a neutral detergent solution from M. foliorum NBRC 103072T cells. Moreover, tolaasin adsorption to the bacterial cells occurred prior to hydrolyzation of tolaasins, which might contribute to the effective tolaasin detoxification by M. foliorum NBRC 103072T. It is notable that the tolaasin-degradation process by M. foliorum NBRC 103072T is carried out by hydrolyzation at specific sites in the peptide moiety of lipopeptide by bacterial cells as a novel biological degradation process of cyclic lipopeptides.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Nutrition Science Communication
Authors: Rowe Sylvia , Alexander Nick
Published: March 2021

With the evolving complexities of nutrition and health science communication posing challenges to those tasked with translating and delivering information to the public, there are increasing calls for openness—both at the research and research-communication levels. It has been widely accepted that openness is a pathway to increasing public trust in emerging nutrition and other health science. Yet, about one of the key components of openness, transparency, there has been relatively little detailed discussion in the literature; the concept of transparency in the communication of science has been especially opaque. In the present article, the authors explore what transparency might mean in the context of communication and what pitfalls or positive outcomes it may offer to public understanding of nutrition and other health science. They propose strategies for managing and enhancing the delivery of transparent information in a modern communication landscape full of landmines, with its foreshortened news cycles, multiplicity of sources, and social media outlets of varying reliability.
Self-Reported Risk Factors for Financial Distress and Attitudes Regarding Cost Discussions in Cancer Care: A Single-Institution Cross-Sectional Pilot Study of Breast Reconstruction Recipients
Authors: Asaad Malke , Bailey Chad , Boukovalas Stefanos , Liu Jun , Clemens Mark W. , Selber Jesse , Butler Charles E. , Offodile Anaeze C.
Published: March 2021

Background:

High treatment costs associated with breast cancer are a substantial burden to patients and society. Despite mounting awareness, patient perspectives about the value of cost discussions in breast reconstruction and risk factors for financial distress are unknown.

Methods:

The authors performed a single-institution, cross-sectional survey of all women who underwent breast reconstruction following mastectomy or lumpectomy for breast cancer or risk reduction. Questions were derived from previously published survey items, and the authors leveraged regression analysis to identify patient-level risk factors for major financial distress.

Results:

A total of 647 of 2293 patients returned the survey questionnaires (28.2 percent response rate). From the 647 respondents, 399 (62 percent) underwent breast reconstruction, and of these, 140 (35 percent) reported that total treatment expenses were higher than expected. One hundred twenty-nine breast reconstruction patients (32 percent) paid over $5000 in out-of-pocket costs. Two hundred eighty-four (71 percent) felt that surgeons should explain the estimated out-of-pocket costs when choosing a type of breast reconstruction and 205 (51 percent) believed that a financial consultation should be scheduled with every new cancer diagnosis. However, only 52 patients (13 percent) reported having had cost discussions with the treatment team. The incidence of major financial distress was n = 70 (18 percent), and following regression analysis, higher credit score and annual income were associated with a 66 percent and 69 percent risk reduction, respectively.

Conclusions:

Recipients of breast reconstruction demonstrate unanticipated and unplanned financial strain related to out-of-pocket expenses and believe that cost-consciousness should impact treatment decisions. Lower income and credit score are associated with financial distress. Cost discussions may optimize decision-making in preference sensitive conditions.
The new SARS-CoV-2 variant and reinfection in the resurgence of COVID-19 outbreaks in Manaus, Brazil
Authors: He Daihai , Fan Guihong , Wang Xueying , Li Yingke , Peng Zhihang
Published: March 2021

Manaus, a city of 2.2 million population, the capital of Amazonas state of Brazil was hit badly by two waves of COVID-19 with more than 10,000 severe acute respiratory syndrome deaths by the end of February 2021. It was estimated that the first wave infected over three quarters of the population in Manaus based on routine blood donor data, and the second wave was largely due to reinfection with a new variant named P1 strain. In this work, we revisit these claims, and discuss biological constraints. In particular, we model the two waves with a two-strain model without a significant proportion of reinfections.
On the association between SARS-COV-2 variants and COVID-19 mortality during the second wave of the pandemic in Europe
Authors: Jabłońska Katarzyna , Aballéa Samuel , Auquier Pascal , Toumi Mondher
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Preliminary clinical evidence suggests an increased COVID-19 mortality associated with the variant of concern 20I/501Y.V1. The evidence outside the UK and a real-world comparison of variants spread and mortality is sparse. This study aims at investigating the association between COVID-19 mortality and SARS-COV-2 variants spread during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

METHODS

For 38 European countries, publicly available data were collected on numbers of COVID-19 deaths, SARS-COV-2 variants spread through time using Nextstrain classification and countries’ demographic and health characteristics. The cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths and the height of COVID-19 daily deaths peak during the second wave of the pandemic were considered as outcomes. Pearson correlations and multivariate generalized linear models with selection algorithms were used.

FINDINGS

The average proportion of 20I/501Y.V1 variant (B.1.1.7) was found to be a significant predictor of cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths within two months before the deaths peak and between 1 January – 25 February 2021, as well as of the deaths’ peak height when calculating the proportion during the second wave and the pre-peak period. The average proportion of 20A.EU2 variant (S:477N) was a significant predictor of cumulative COVID-19 deaths in the pre-peak period.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings suggest that the spread of a new variant of concern 20I/501Y.V1 had a significant impact on the mortality during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and that proportions of 20A.EU2 and 20I/501Y.V1 variants were associated with increased mortality in the initial phase of that wave.

Research in context

Evidence before this study

Emerging evidence suggests that the new variant of concern 20I/501Y.V1 (B.1.1.7) may be associated with an increased risk of death. The 20A.EU2 variant (S:447N), observed firstly in July 2020 in western Europe, was found to be capable of increasing SARS-COV-2 infectivity. The evidence outside the UK is still sparse, same as a real-world comparison of distinct variants spread and mortality through time.

Added value of this study

In this study we investigated whether the change of the proportion of any SARS-COV-2 variant, including 20I/501Y.V1 and 11 other variants identified by Nextstrain up to 25 February 2021, has an association with COVID-19 cumulative mortality or with the height of the second wave COVID-19 mortality peak.

Implications of all the available evidence

Our findings shed light on the causes of the increased COVID-19 mortality during the second wave of the pandemic in Europe. It shows the need for early containment strategies when the variant 20I/501Y.V1 emerges. These findings also support the need for systematic SARS-CoV-2 regular genome sequencing to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Genetic analysis of blood molecular phenotypes reveals regulatory networks affecting complex traits: a DIRECT study
Authors: Viñuela Ana , Brown Andrew A. , Fernandez Juan , Hong Mun-Gwan , Brorsson Caroline A. , Koivula Robert W. , Davtian David , Dupuis Théo , Forgie Ian M. , Adam Jonathan , Allin Kristine H. , Caiazzo Robert , Cederberg Henna , De Masi Federico , Elders Petra J.M. , Giordano Giuseppe N. , Haid Mark , Hansen Torben , Hansen Tue , Hattersley Andrew T. , Heggie Alison J. , Howald Cédric , Jones Angus G. , Kokkola Tarja , Laakso Markku , Mahajan Anubha , Mari Andrea , McDonald Timothy J. , McEvoy Donna , Mourby Miranda , Musholt Petra , Nilsson Birgitte , Pattou François , Penet Deborah , Raverdy Violeta , Ridderstrale Martin , Romano Luciana , Rutters Femke , Sharma Sapna , Teare Harriet , T’Hart Leen M , Tsirigos Kostas , Vangipurapu Jagadish , Vestergaard Henrik , Brunak Søren , Franks Paul W. , Frost Gary , Grallert Harald , Jablonka Bernd , McCarthy Mark I. , Pavo Imre , Pedersen Oluf , Ruetten Hartmut , Walker Mark ,   the DIRECT consortium, Adamski Jerzy , Schwenk Jochen M. , Pearson Ewan R. , Dermitzakis Emmanouil T.
Published: March 2021

Genetic variants identified by genome-wide association studies can contribute to disease risk by altering the production and abundance of mRNA, proteins and other molecules. However, the interplay between molecular intermediaries that define the pathway from genetic variation to disease is not well understood. Here, we evaluated the shared genetic regulation of mRNA molecules, proteins and metabolites derived from whole blood from 3,029 human donors. We find abundant allelic heterogeneity, where multiple variants regulate a particular molecular phenotype, and pleiotropy, where a single variant was associated with multiple molecular phenotypes over multiple genomic regions. We find varying proportions of shared genetic regulation across phenotypes, highest between expression and proteins (66.6%). We were able to recapitulate a substantial proportion of gene expression genetic regulation in a diverse set of 44 tissues, with a median of 88% shared associations for blood expression and 22.3% for plasma proteins. Finally, the genetic and molecular associations were represented in networks including 2,828 known GWAS variants. One sub-network shows the trans relationship between rs149007767 and RTEN, and identifies GRB10 and IKZF1 as candidates mediating genes. Our work provides a roadmap to understanding molecular networks and deriving the underlying mechanism of action of GWAS variants across different molecular phenotypes.
In Vivo Cortical Microstructure: A Proxy for Tauopathy and Cognitive impairment in the Elderly with and without MCI/Dementia
Authors: Anderson John A. E. , Schifani Christin , Nazeri Arash , Voineskos Aristotle N. ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: March 2021

Aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein is currently one of the most reliable indicators of Alzheimer’s pathology and cognitive impairment in older adults. However, it would be useful to have a non-invasive, accessible proxy measure that does not rely on Positron Emission Tomography (PET). We used data from multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to assess indices from the Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) model to determine possible proxies for tau and relationship with cognitive impairment. After controlling for age, sex, and the time difference between the scan acquisitions (DWI vs. PET), we used multiple factor analysis (MFA) to assess the fit between NODDI indices (orientation dispersion [ODI], neurite density [NDI], and free-water [fISO]), cortical thickness, and tau binding (via PET). We used data from 80 participants from the ADNI-3 sample who had a multi-shell DWI and an [18F]AV-1451 (tau) PET scan. Of these 80, 49 individuals were considered cognitively normal older adults (age ~74 years), 26 individuals had a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (age ~75 years), and five individuals had Alzheimer’s dementia (age ~78 years). fISO and tau shared a large amount of spatial overlap, and both strongly correlated with the first MFA dimension. Macrostructural features (such as cortical thickness and subcortical volume) introduced in a follow-up analysis were less related to this first MFA dimension than fISO and eight percent less than tau. Subsequent mediation analyses demonstrated that fISO mediated the relationship between cortical thickness and tau, explaining all of the variance. Microstructural features derived from advanced DWI acquisitions such as fISO may be useful proxies for tau. Cortical fISO, rather than cortical thickness, may represent the impact of tau on the brain (and, by extension, cognition).
Plateaus, Rebounds and the Effects of Individual Behaviours in Epidemics
Authors: Berestycki Henri , Desjardins Benoît , Heintz Bruno , Oury Jean-Marc
Published: March 2021

Plateaus and rebounds of various epidemiological indicators are widely reported in Covid-19 pandemics studies but have not been explained so far. Here, we address this problem and explain the appearance of these patterns. We start with an empirical study of an original dataset obtained from highly precise measurements of SARS-Cov-2 concentration in wastewater over nine months in several treatment plants around the Thau lagoon in France. Among various features, we observe that the concentration displays plateaus at different dates in various locations but at the same level. In order to understand these facts, we introduce a new mathematical model that takes into account the heterogeneity and the natural variability of individual behaviours. Our model shows that the distribution of risky behaviours appears as the key ingredient for understanding the observed temporal patterns of epidemics.
Comparativein vitroantioxidant and antibacterial activities of leaf extract fractions of Crimson bottlebrush,Callistemon citrinus(Curtis.) Skeels
Authors: Ghosh Poulomi , Goswami Souren , Roy Sujit , Das Ria , Chakraborty Tista , Ray Sanjib
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The present study aimed to analyze a comparativein vitrofree radical scavenging and antibacterial potentials of leaf aqueous and the successive extract fractions ofCallistemon citrinus.

Methods

Forin vitroantioxidant activity assessments, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, Fe3+ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and total antioxidant capacity of the extracts were tested. Antibacterial potentials were tested through Agar well diffusion method using both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains.

Results

Data indicate the polar successive aqueous fraction (AQF) possesses the highest free radicals scavenging capacity, with lowest EC50(the required extract concentration to scavenge half of the free radicals) for DPPH and FRAP assays, and contains the highest total phenolics (308.2±5.9 µg tannic acid equivalent/mg dry extract, DE), flavonoids (516.7±3.5 µg quercetin equivalent/mg DE), total antioxidant capacity (441.48±12.8 µg ascorbic acid equivalent/mg DE). Phenolics and flavonoids contents were positively correlated with thein vitroantioxidant activities. The antibacterial study indicates the petroleum ether and chloroform are suitable solvents for extracting antibacterial phytochemicals fromC. citrinusleaves that are effective against both gram-positive and negative bacterial strains.

Conclusion

The most polar fractioni.e. the successive aqueous extract fraction ofC. citrinusleaves exhibited the highest antioxidant activities while the most non-polar petroleum ether extract fraction showed the highest antibacterial potentials thus these extract fractions might have therapeutic importance.
A spatial and cellular distribution of neurotropic virus infection in the mouse brain revealed by fMOST and single cell RNA-seq
Authors: Zhang Yachun , Xing Xudong , Long Ben , Cao Yandi , Hu Simeng , Li Xiangning , Yu Yalan , Tian Dayong , Sui Baokun , Luo Zhaochen , Liu Wei , Lv Lei , Wu Qiong , Dai Jinxia , Zhou Ming , Han Heyou , Fu Zhen F. , Gong Hui , Bai Fan , Zhao Ling
Published: March 2021

Neurotropic virus infection can cause serious damage to the central nervous system (CNS) in both human and animals. The complexity of the CNS poses unique challenges to investigate the infection of these viruses in the brain using traditional techniques. In this study, we explore the use of fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography (fMOST) and single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to map the spatial and cellular distribution of a representative neurotropic virus, rabies virus (RABV), in the whole brain. Mice were inoculated with a lethal dose of recombinant RABV expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under different infection routes, and a three-dimensional view of the distribution of RABV in the whole mouse brain was obtained using fMOST. Meanwhile, we pinpointed the cellular distribution of RABV by utilizing scRNA-seq. Our fMOST data provide the first evidence that RABV can infect multiple nuclei related to fear independent of different infection routes. More surprisingly, scRNA-seq data indicate that besides neurons RABV can infect macrophages and NK cellsin vivo. Collectively, this study draws a comprehensively spatial and cellular map of RABV infection in the mouse brain, providing a novel and insightful strategy to investigate the pathogenesis of neurotropic viruses.
Histologic and Proteomic Remodeling of the Pulmonary Veins and Arteries in a Porcine Model of Chronic Pulmonary Venous Hypertension
Authors: Fayyaz Ahmed U. , Sabbah Michael S. , Dasari Surendra , Griffiths Leigh G. , DuBrock Hilary M. , Charlesworth M. Cristine , Borlaug Barry A. , Jenkins Sarah M. , Edwards William D. , Redfield Margaret M.
Published: March 2021

AIM

In heart failure (HF), pulmonary venous hypertension (PVH) produces pulmonary hypertension (PH) with remodeling of pulmonary veins (PV) and arteries (PA). In a porcine PVH model, we performed proteomic-based bioinformatics to investigate unique pathophysiologic mechanisms mediating PA and PV remodeling.

METHODS

Large PV were banded (PVH, n= 10) or not (Sham, n=9) in piglets. At sacrifice, PV and PA were perfusion labeled for vessel specific histology and proteomics. The PA and PV were separately sampled with laser-capture micro-dissection for mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Pulmonary vascular resistance (Wood Units; 8.6 versus 2.0) and PA (19.9 versus 10.3) and PV (14.2 versus 7.6) wall thickness/external diameter (%) were increased in PVH (p<0.01 for all). Similar numbers of proteins were identified in PA (2093) and PV (2085) with 94% overlap, but biological processes differed. There were more differentially expressed proteins (287 versus 161), altered canonical pathways (17 versus 3) and predicted up-stream regulators (PUSR; 22 versus 6) in PV than PA. In PA and PV, bioinformatics indicated activation of the integrated stress response and mTOR signaling with dysregulated growth. In PV, there was also activation of Rho/Rho kinase signaling with decreased actin cytoskeletal signaling and altered tight and adherens junctions, ephrin B, and caveolar mediated endocytosis signaling; all indicating disrupted endothelial barrier function. Indeed, protein biomarkers and the top PUSR in PV (TGF-β) indicated endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) in PV. Findings were confirmed in human autopsy specimens.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide new therapeutic targets to oppose pulmonary vascular remodeling in HF-related PH.

TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

In heart failure (HF) related (Group 2) PH, despite remodeling of pulmonary veins (PV) and arteries (PA), therapies targeting PA biology altered in Group 1 PH have not shown consistent benefit. In a porcine Group 2 PH model, microdissection allowed vessel specific (PV and PA) proteomics/bioinformatics. In PA and PV, the integrated stress response and mTOR signaling were activated with evidence of dysregulated growth. In PV, many more pathways were altered with broad evidence of disrupted endothelial barrier function and endothelial mesenchymal transition. Findings were confirmed in human specimens and provide new therapeutic targets in Group 2 PH.
Lumican regulates cervical corticospinal axon collateralization via non-autonomous crosstalk between distinct corticospinal neuron subpopulations
Authors: Itoh Yasuhiro , Sahni Vibhu , Shnider Sara J. , Macklis Jeffrey D.
Published: March 2021

Corticospinal neurons (CSN) are the cortical projection neurons that innervate the spinal cord and some brainstem targets with segmental precision to control voluntary movement of specific functional motor groups, limb sections, or individual digits. CSN subpopulations exhibit striking axon targeting specificity from development into maturity: Evolutionarily newer rostrolateral CSN exclusively innervatebulbar-cervical targets (CSNBC-lat), while evolutionarily older caudomedial CSN (CSNmedial) are more heterogeneous, with distinct subpopulations extending axons to either bulbar-cervical or thoraco-lumbar segments. However, molecular regulation over specificity of CSN segmental target innervation is essentially unknown. The cervical cord, with its evolutionarily enhanced precision of forelimb movement, is innervated by multiple CSN subpopulations, suggesting inter-neuronal interactions in establishing cervical corticospinal circuitry. Here, we identify that Lumican, previously unrecognized in axon development, controls the balance of innervation between CSNBC-latand CSNmedialwithin the cervical spinal cord. Remarkably, Lumican, an extracellular matrix protein expressed by CSNBC-lat, non-cell-autonomously suppresses axon collateralization in the cervical cord by CSNmedial. Intersectional viral labeling and mouse genetics further identify that Lumican controls axon collateralization by multiple CSN subpopulations in caudomedial sensorimotor cortex. These results identify inter-axonal molecular crosstalk between CSN subpopulations as a novel mechanism controlling corticospinal circuitry, target density, and competitive specificity. Further, this mechanism has potential implications for evolutionary diversification of corticospinal circuitry with finer scale precision.
Occurrence of COVID-19 symptoms during SARS-CoV-2 infection defines waning of humoral immunity
Authors: Wu Jun , Liang Bo-Yun , Fang Yao-Hui , Wang Hua , Yang Xiao-Li , Shen Shu , Chen Liang-Kai , Li Su-Meng , Lu Si-Hong , Xiang Tian-Dan , Liu Jia , Le-Trilling Vu Thuy Khanh , Lu Meng-Ji , Yang Dong-Liang , Deng Fei , Dittmer Ulf , Trilling Mirko , Zheng Xin
Published: March 2021

Approximately half of the SARS-CoV-2 infections occur without apparent symptoms, raising questions regarding long-term humoral immunity in asymptomatic individuals. Plasma levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) against the viral spike or nucleoprotein were determined for 25,091 individuals enrolled in a surveillance program in Wuhan, China. We compared 405 asymptomatic individuals with 459 symptomatic COVID-19 patients. The well-defined duration of the SARS-CoV-2 endemic in Wuhan allowed a side-by-side comparison of antibody responses following symptomatic and asymptomatic infections without subsequent antigen re-exposure. IgM responses rapidly declined in both groups. However, both the prevalence and durability of IgG responses and neutralizing capacities correlated positively with symptoms. Regardless of sex, age, and body weight, asymptomatic individuals lost their SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies more often and rapidly than symptomatic patients. These findings have important implications for immunity and favour immunization programs including individuals after asymptomatic infections.

One-Sentence Summary

Prevalence and durability of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG responses and neutralizing capacities correlate with COVID-19 symptoms.
A projectome of the bumblebee central complex
Authors: Sayre Marcel E. , Templin Rachel , Chavez Johanna , Kempenaers Julian , Heinze Stanley
Published: March 2021

Insects have evolved diverse and remarkable strategies for navigating in various ecologies all over the world. Regardless of species, insects share the presence of a group of morphologically conserved neuropils known collectively as the central complex (CX). The CX is a navigational hub, involved in sensory integration and coordinated motor activity. Despite the fact that our understanding of navigational behavior comes predominantly from ants and bees, most of what we know about the underlying neural circuitry of such behavior comes from work in fruit flies. Here we aim to close this gap, by providing the first comprehensive map of all major columnar neurons and their projection patterns in the CX of a bee. We find numerous components of the circuit that appear to be highly conserved between the fly and the bee, but also highlight several key differences which are likely to have important functional ramifications.
Comparative multi-tissue profiling reveals extensive tissue-specificity in transcriptome reprogramming upon cold exposure
Authors: Hadadi Noushin , Spiljar Martina , Steinbach Karin , Salinas Gabriela , Merkler Doron , Trajkovski Mirko
Published: March 2021

Cold exposure is an extensively used intervention for enhancing thermogenic and mitochondrial activity in adipose tissues. As such, it has been suggested as a potential lifestyle intervention for body weight maintenance. The metabolic consequences of cold acclimation are not limited to the adipose tissues, however the impact on rest of the tissues in context of their gene expression profile remains unclear. Here we provide a systematic characterization of cold exposure-mediated effects in a comparative multi-tissue RNA sequencing approach using wide range of organs including spleen, bone marrow, spinal cord, brain, hypothalamus, ileum, liver, subcutaneous-, visceral- and brown adipose tissues. Our findings highlight that transcriptional responses to cold exposure exhibit high degree of tissue-specificity both at the gene level and at GO enrichment gene sets, which is not directed by the basal gene expression pattern exhibited by the various organs. Our study places the cold adaptation of individual tissues in a whole-organism framework and provides an integrative transcriptional analysis necessary for understanding the cold exposure-mediated biological reprograming.
The temperature-regulated DEAD-box RNA helicase CrhR interactome: Autoregulation and photosynthesis-related transcripts
Authors: Migur Anzhela , Heyl Florian , Fuss Janina , Srikumar Afshan , Huettel Bruno , Steglich Claudia , Prakash Jogadhenu S. S. , Reinhardt Richard , Backofen Rolf , Owttrim George W. , Hess Wolfgang R.
Published: March 2021

RNA helicases play crucial functions in RNA biology. In plants, RNA helicases are encoded by large gene families, performing roles in abiotic stress responses, development, the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression as well as house-keeping functions. Several of these RNA helicases are targeted to the organelles, mitochondria and chloroplasts. Cyanobacteria are the direct evolutionary ancestors of plant chloroplasts. The cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 encodes a single DEAD-box RNA helicase, CrhR, that is induced by a range of abiotic stresses, including low temperature. Though the ΔcrhR mutant exhibits a severe cold-sensitive phenotype, the physiological function(s) performed by CrhR have not been described. To identify transcripts interacting with CrhR, we performed RNA co-immunoprecipitation with extracts from a Synechocystis crhR deletion mutant expressing the FLAG-tagged native CrhR or a K57A mutated version with an anticipated enhanced RNA binding. The composition of the interactome was strikingly biased towards photosynthesis-associated and redox-controlled transcripts. A transcript highly enriched in all experiments was the crhR mRNA, suggesting an auto-regulatory molecular mechanism. The identified interactome explains the described physiological role of CrhR in response to the redox poise of the photosynthetic electron transport chain and characterizes CrhR as an enzyme with a diverse range of transcripts as molecular targets.

Highlight

The cyanobacterial DEAD-box RNA helicase CrhR binds mainly photosynthesis-associated and redox-controlled transcripts connecting its regulation, localization and phenotypes of mutants for the first time with a set of potential RNA targets.
Uvariopsis ebo(Annonaceae) a new, Critically Endangered tree species from the Ebo Forest, Cameroon and a key to the Cameroonian species ofUvariopsis
Authors: Gosline George , Cheek Martin , Onana Jean Michel , Ngansop Eric , van der Burgt Xander , Dagallier Leo-Paul
Published: March 2021

A new species to science of evergreen forest tree,Uvariopsis ebo(Annonaceae) is described, illustrated, mapped, and compared morphologically with the other cauliflorous species of the genus. Restricted so far to a single site in evergreen lowland forest in the Ebo Forest, Yabassi, Littoral Region, Cameroon, this species is Critically Endangered using the IUCN 2012 standard, because the forest habitat of this species remains unprotected, and there exists threats of logging and conversion to plantations. This species adds to the growing list of threatened species resulting from anthropogenic pressure on Cameroon forests. Observations on the unusual corolla structure of the new species are made. A revised key to the 14 Cameroonian species ofUvariopsisis presented. Notes are given on other narrowly endemic and threatened species in the Ebo forest area, a highly threatened centre of diversity in Littoral Region, globally important for conservation.
A distinct brain expression profile for genes within large introgression deserts and under positive selection inHomo sapiens
Authors: Buisan Raül , Moriano Juan , Andirkó Alejandro , Boeckx Cedric
Published: March 2021

Analyses of ancient DNA from extinct hominins have provided unique insights into the complex evolutionary history ofHomo sapiens, intricately related to that of the Neanderthals and the Denisovans as revealed by several instances of admixture events. These analyses have also allowed the identification of introgression deserts: genomic regions in our species that are depleted of ‘archaic’ haplotypes. The presence of genes likeFOXP2in these deserts has been taken to be suggestive of brain-related functional differences betweenHomospecies. Here, we seek a deeper characterization of these regions, taking into account signals of positive selection in our lineage. Analyzing publicly available transcriptomic data from the human brain at different developmental stages, we found that structures outside the cerebral neocortex, in particular the cerebellum, the striatum and the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus show the most divergent transcriptomic profiles when considering genes within large introgression deserts and under positive selection.
Continuity within somatosensory cortical map shapes the integration of optogenetic input
Authors: Lassagne H. , Goueytes D. , Shulz D.E , Estebanez L. , Ego-Stengel V.
Published: March 2021

The topographic organization of sensory cortices is a prominent feature, but its functional role remains unclear. Particularly, how activity is integrated within a cortical area depending on its topography is unknown. Here, we trained mice expressing channelrhodopsin in cortical excitatory neurons to track a bar photostimulation that rotated smoothly over the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). When photostimulation was aimed at vS1, the area which contains a contiguous representation of the whisker array at the periphery, mice could learn to discriminate angular positions of the bar to obtain a reward. In contrast, they could not learn the task when the photostimulation was aimed at the representation of the trunk and legs in S1, where neighboring zones represent distant peripheral body parts, introducing discontinuities. Mice demonstrated anticipation of reward availability, specifically when cortical topography enabled to predict future sensory activation. These results are particularly helpful for designing efficient cortical sensory neuroprostheses.

Teaser

Optogenetic stimulation sweeping the cortical surface: A way to provide precise sensory information and guide behaviour.
Revisiting Decompression Sickness Risk and Mobility in the Context of the SmartSuit, a Hybrid Planetary Spacesuit
Authors: Kluis Logan , Diaz-Artiles Ana
Published: March 2021

Gas pressurized spacesuits are cumbersome, cause injuries, and make completing tasks efficiently difficult. Decreasing the gas pressure of the spacesuit is an effective method of improving mobility, but reduction in the total spacesuit pressure also results in a higher risk for decompression sickness (DCS). The risk of DCS is currently mitigated by breathing pure oxygen before the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) for up to 4 hours to remove inert gases from body tissues, but this has a negative operational impact due to the time needed to perform the prebreathe. In this paper, we review and quantify these important trade-offs between spacesuit pressure, mobility, and prebreathe time (or risk of DCS) in the context of future planetary EVAs. These trade-offs are highly dependent on the atmospheric conditions used in the space habitat or space station, and therefore, these conditions are also important considerations for future planetary exploration activities. In our analysis, we include three habitat scenarios (International Space Station: 14.7 psia, 21% O2, Adjusted Space Shuttle: 10.2 psia, 26.5% O2, and Exploration: 8.2 psia, 34% O2) to further quantify these differences. In addition, we explore these trade-offs in the context of the SmartSuit spacesuit architecture, a hybrid spacesuit with a soft robotic layer that, not only increases mobility with assistive actuators in the lower body, but it also applies 1 psia of mechanical counterpressure (MCP). The additional MCP in hybrid spacesuits can be used to supplement the gas pressure (i.e., increasing the total spacesuit pressure), therefore reducing the risk of DCS (or reduce prebreathe time). Alternatively, the MCP can be used to reduce the gas pressure (i.e., maintaining the same total spacesuit pressure), therefore increasing mobility. Finally, we propose a variable pressure concept of operations for the SmartSuit spacesuit architecture, where these two MCP applications are effectively combined during the same EVA to maximize the benefits of both configurations. Our framework quantifies critical spacesuit and habitat trade-offs for future planetary exploration, and contributes to the assessment of human health and performance during future planetary EVAs.
Dynamic functional brain networks underlying the temporal inertia of negative emotions
Authors: Gaviria Julian , Rey Gwladys , Bolton Thomas , Van De Ville Dimitri , Vuilleumier Patrik
Published: March 2021

Affective inertia represents the lasting impact of transient emotions at one time point on affective state at a subsequent time point. Here we describe the neural underpinnings of inertia following negative emotions elicited by sad events in movies. Using a co-activation pattern analysis of dynamic functional connectivity, we examined the temporal expression and reciprocal interactions among brain-wide networks during movies and subsequent resting periods. Our findings revealed distinctive spatiotemporal expression of visual (VIS), default mode (DMN), central executive (CEN), and frontoparietal control (FPCN) networks both in negative movies and in rest periods following these movies. We also identified different reciprocal relationships among these networks, in transitions from movie to rest. While FPCN and DMN expression increased during and after negative movies, respectively, FPCN occurrences during the movie predicted lower DMN and higher CEN expression during subsequent rest after neutral movies, but this relationship was reversed after the elicitation of negative emotions. Changes in FPCN and DMN activity correlated with more negative subjective affect. These findings provide new insights into the transient interactions of intrinsic brain networks underpinning the inertia of negative emotions. More specifically, they describe a major role of FPCN in emotion elicitation processes, with prolonged impact on DMN activity in subsequent rest, presumably involved in emotion regulation and restoration of homeostatic balance after negative events.

Highlights

Modulations of dynamic functional brain connectivity are associated to the temporal inertia of negative emotions.

Functional co-activations patterns (CAPs) during emotional episodes predict changes in spontaneous brain dynamics during subsequent resting state.

Classical “task-rest” anticorrelations in network activity are reversed by negative emotions.
Time-course RNASeq ofCamponotus floridanusforager and nurse ant brains indicate links between plasticity in the biological clock and behavioral division of labor
Authors: Das Biplabendu , de Bekker Charissa
Published: March 2021

Background

Circadian clocks allow organisms to anticipate daily fluctuations in their environment by driving rhythms in physiology and behavior. Inter-organismal differences in daily rhythms, called chronotypes, exist and can shift with age. In ants, age, caste-related behavior and chronotype appear to be linked. “Around-the-clock” active nurse ants are usually younger and, with age, transition into rhythmically active foragers. Moreover, ants can shift between these behavioral castes depending on social context. We investigated how changes in daily gene expression could be contributing to such behavioral plasticity inCamponotus floridanuscarpenter ants by combining time-course behavioral assays and RNA-Sequencing of forager and nurse brains.

Results

We found that nurse brains have three times fewer 24h oscillating genes than foragers. However, several hundred genes that oscillated every 24h in forager brains showed robust 8h oscillations in nurses, including the core clock genesPeriodandShaggy. These differentially rhythmic genes consisted of several components of the circadian entrainment pathway, and showed enrichments for functions related to metabolism, cellular communication and protein modification. We additionally found thatVitellogenin, known to regulate division of labor in social insects, showed robust 24h oscillations in nurse brains but not in foragers. Furthermore, the protein products of several genes that were differentially expressed between the two ant castes were previously found in the trophallactic fluid ofC. floridanus. This suggests a putative role for trophallaxis in regulating behavioral division of labor through caste-specific gene expression.

Conclusion

We provide a first look at the chronobiological differences in gene expression between forager and nurse ant brains. This endeavor allowed us to identify putative molecular mechanisms underlying plastic timekeeping. Several components of the ant circadian clock and its output can seemingly oscillate at different harmonics of the circadian rhythm. We propose that such chronobiological plasticity has evolved to allow for distinct regulatory networks that underlie behavioral castes, while supporting swift caste transitions in response to colony demands. Behavioral division of labor is common among social insects. The links between chronobiological and behavioral plasticity that we found inC. floridanus, thus, likely represent a more general phenomenon that warrants further investigation.
Paternal obesity results in placental hypoxia and sex-specific impairments in placental vascularization and offspring metabolic function
Authors: Jazwiec Patrycja A. , Patterson Violet S. , Ribeiro Tatiane A. , Yeo Erica , Kennedy Katherine M. , Mathias Paulo C.F. , Petrik Jim J. , Sloboda Deborah M.
Published: March 2021

Paternal obesity predisposes offspring to metabolic dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated whether paternal obesity-induced offspring metabolic dysfunction is associated with placental endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and impaired vascular development. We determined whether offspring glucose intolerance is fueled by ER stress-mediated changes in fetal hepatic development. Furthermore, we also determined whether paternal obesity may indirectly affectin uterodevelopment by disrupting maternal metabolic adaptations to pregnancy. Male mice fed a standard chow diet (CON; 17% kcal fat) or high fat diet (PHF; 60% kcal fat) for 8-10 weeks were time-mated with control female mice to generate pregnancies and offspring. Glucose tolerance in pregnant females was evaluated at mid-gestation (embryonic day (E) 14.5) and term gestation (E18.5). At E14.5 and E18.5, fetal liver and placentae were collected, and markers of hypoxia, angiogenesis, endocrine function, and macronutrient transport, and unfolded protein response (UPR) regulators were evaluated to assess ER stress. Young adult offspring glucose tolerance and metabolic parameters were assessed at ∼60 days of age. Paternal obesity did not alter maternal glucose tolerance or placental lactogen in pregnancy but did induce placental hypoxia, ER stress, and altered placental angiogenesis. This effect was most pronounced in placentae associated with female fetuses. Consistent with this, paternal obesity also activated the ATF6 and PERK branches of the UPR in fetal liver and altered hepatic expression of gluconeogenic factors at E18.5. Adult offspring of obese fathers showed glucose intolerance and impaired whole-body energy metabolism, particularly in female offspring. Thus, paternal obesity programs sex-specific adverse placental structural and functional adaptations and alters fetal hepatic development via ER stress-induced pathways. These changes likely underpin metabolic deficits in adult offspring.

Summary Sentence

Paternal obesity alters placental vascular structures and is associated with sex-specific compromises in glucose tolerance and metabolism in young offspring
Data-driven speciation tree prior for better species divergence times in calibration-poor molecular phylogenies
Authors: Tao Qiqing , Barba-Montoya Jose , Kumar Sudhir
Published: March 2021

Motivation

Precise time calibrations needed to estimate ages of species divergence are not always available due to fossil records’ incompleteness. Consequently, clock calibrations available for Bayesian dating analyses can be few and diffused, i.e., phylogenies are calibration-poor, impeding reliable inference of the timetree of life. We examined the role of speciation birth-death tree prior on Bayesian node age estimates in calibration-poor phylogenies and tested the usefulness of an informative, data-driven tree prior to enhancing the accuracy and precision of estimated times.

Results

We present a simple method to estimate parameters of the birth-death tree prior from the molecular phylogeny for use in Bayesian dating analyses. The use of a data-driven birth-death (ddBD) tree prior leads to improvement in Bayesian node age estimates for calibration-poor phylogenies. We show that the ddBD tree prior, along with only a few well-constrained calibrations, can produce excellent node ages and credibility intervals, whereas the use of an uninformative, uniform (flat) tree prior may require more calibrations. Relaxed clock dating with ddBD tree prior also produced better results than a flat tree prior when using diffused node calibrations. We also suggest using ddBD tree priors to improve the detection of outliers and influential calibrations in cross-validation analyses.

Conclusion

Empirical Bayesian dating analyses with ddBD tree priors enable more accurate and precise node age estimates for calibration-poor phylogenies. Our results have practical applications because the ddBD tree prior reduces the number of well-constrained calibrations necessary to obtain reliable node age estimates. This would help address key impediments in building the grand timetree of life, revealing the process of speciation, and elucidating the dynamics of biological diversification.

Availability

An R module for computing the ddBD tree prior, simulated datasets, and empirical datasets are available athttps://github.com/cathyqqtao/ddBD-tree-prior.
Tissue-specific mRNA profiling of theBrassica napus-Sclerotinia sclerotioruminteraction uncovers novel regulators of plant immunity
Authors: Walker Philip L. , Girard Ian J. , Giesbrecht Shayna , Whyard Steve , Fernando W.G. Dilantha , de Kievit Teresa R. , Belmonte Mark F.
Published: March 2021

White mold inBrassica napus(canola) is caused by the fungal pathogenSclerotinia sclerotiorumand is responsible for significant losses in crop yield across the globe. With advances in high-throughput transcriptomics, our understanding of theB. napusdefense response toS. sclerotiorumis becoming clearer; however, the response of individual tissue layers directly at the site of infection has yet to be explored. Using laser microdissection coupled with RNA sequencing, we profiled the epidermis, mesophyll and vascular leaf tissue layers in response toS. sclerotiorum. This strategy increases the number of genes detected compared to whole-leaf assessments and provides unprecedented information on tissue-specific gene expression networks in response to pathogen attack. Our findings provide novel insight into the conserved and specific roles of ontogenetically distinct leaf tissue layers in response to infection. Using bioinformatics tools, we identified several defense genes that might coordinate plant immunity responses shared across different tissue layers within the leaf. These genes were functionally characterized by challenging T-DNA insertion lines of Arabidopsis with necrotrophic, hemi-biotrophic, and biotrophic pathogens, ultimately converging on the PR5-like RECEPTOR KINASE (PRK5). Together, these data provide insight on the complexity of theB. napusdefense response directly at the site of infection.

Highlight

Laser microdissection coupled RNA sequencing of theB. napus–S. sclerotioruminteraction identifies candidate genes predicted to guide plant immunity against pathogen attack.