bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validating the Syndemic Threat Surrounding Sexual Minority Men's Health in a Population-Based Study With National Registry Linkage and a Heterosexual Comparison
Authors: Bränström Richard , Pachankis John E.
Published: April 2018

Background:

Research on the syndemic health threats facing sexual minority men suggests that the elevated risk of HIV among this population co-occurs with other psychosocial health disparities. This study aimed to conduct a population-based examination of clinically assessed syndemic predictors of HIV infection among gay and bisexual, compared with heterosexual, men.

Setting and Methods:

The sample comprised adult men in the Stockholm Public Health Cohort. A total of 29,328 (91.9%) self-identified as heterosexual, 535 (1.7%) as gay, and 396 (1.2%) as bisexual. We linked survey responses to national health registry data.

Results:

Gay men had vastly elevated risk of HIV infection (>150 times) compared with heterosexuals. Gay men also had an elevated risk of depression, suicidality, and violent assaults compared with heterosexuals. Bisexual men had 16 times higher risk of being HIV-positive than heterosexual men. The number of psychosocial syndemic conditions was significantly associated with HIV infection among gay men (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.67; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.18 to 2.36), but not among bisexual and heterosexual men (AOR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.07 to 3.59; AOR = 1.92; 95% CI: 0.96 to 3.84). Among gay men, the association between co-occurring syndemic conditions and odds of HIV infection was synergistic (ie, more than additive).

Conclusions:

This study confirms emerging evidence of the syndemic health threats affecting sexual minority men, finds stronger evidence for syndemics among gay compared with bisexual men, and suggests the need for HIV-prevention interventions that comprehensively address the co-occurring, and synergistically perpetuating, disparities affecting this population.
Short Implants: Analysis of 69 Implants Loaded in Mandible Compared With Longer Implants
Authors: Scarano Antonio , Mortellaro Carmen , Brucoli Matteo , Lucchina Alberta Greco , Assenza Bartolomeo , Lorusso Felice
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

In the last decade, several studies have reported that short implants achieve excellent results with a 2-stage technique. According to the literature, short dental implants have often been used for the replacement of teeth.

Methods and Materials:

A total of 69 short implants (Bone System) were inserted in the posterior mandibular area (41 in males, 28 in females, with a median age of 55 years and an age ranging from 41 to 70 years).

Results:

Mean loss of bone levels at 1 year was 0.20 ± 0.03 mm, mean changes in bone levels for periods longer than 1 year was 0.07 mm. Survival rate (SRR) of short implants was 98.5%.

Conclusion:

This study showed no complications in short implants and they could represent predictable solutions for the rehabilitation of atrophic posterior mandible to avoid complementary surgical procedures.
Positive biodiversity–productivity relationships in forests: climate matters
Authors: Jactel H. , Gritti E. S. , Drössler L. , Forrester D. I. , Mason W. L. , Morin X. , Pretzsch H. , Castagneyrol B.
Published: April 2018

While it is widely acknowledged that forest biodiversity contributes to climate change mitigation through improved carbon sequestration, conversely how climate affects tree species diversity–forest productivity relationships is still poorly understood. We combined the results of long-term experiments where forest mixtures and corresponding monocultures were compared on the same site to estimate the yield of mixed-species stands at a global scale, and its response to climatic factors. We found positive mixture effects on productivity using a meta-analysis of 126 case studies established at 60 sites spread across five continents. Overall, the productivity of mixed-species forests was 15% greater than the average of their component monocultures, and not statistically lower than the productivity of the best component monoculture. Productivity gains in mixed-species stands were not affected by tree age or stand species composition but significantly increased with local precipitation. The results should guide better use of tree species combinations in managed forests and suggest that increased drought severity under climate change might reduce the atmospheric carbon sequestration capacity of natural forests.
A focused library synthesis and cytotoxicity of quinones derived from the natural product bolinaquinone
Authors: Ghods Azadeh , Gilbert Jayne , Baker Jennifer R. , Russell Cecilia C. , Sakoff Jennette A. , McCluskey Adam
Published: April 2018

Bolinaquinone is a natural product that is a structurally complex, cytotoxic sesquiterpene quinone. A scaffold simplification and focused library approach using a microwave-assisted Suzuki coupling gave 32 bolinaquinone analogues with good-to-excellent cytotoxicity profiles. Mono-arylbenzoquinones, Library
A
, were preferentially toxic towards BE2-C (neuroblastoma) cells with growth inhibition (GI
50
) values of 4–12 µM; only the 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl
23
and 3-biphenyl
28
variants were broad-spectrum active—HT29 (colon carcinoma), U87 and SJ-G2 (glioblastoma), MCF-7 (breast carcinoma), A2780 (ovarian carcinoma), H460 (lung carcinoma), A431 (skin carcinoma), Du145 (prostate carcinoma), BE2-C (neuroblastoma), MIA (pancreatic carcinoma) and SMA (spontaneous murine astrocytoma). Library
B
with a second aryl moiety exhibited broad-spectrum cytotoxicity with MCF-7 cells’ GI
50
values of 5.6 ± 0.7 and 5.1 ± 0.5 µM for 2,5-dimethoxy-3-(naphthalene-1-yl)-6-(naphthalene-3-yl)
33
and 2,5-dimethoxy-3-(biaryl-2-yl)-6-(naphthalene-3-yl)
36,
respectively. Similar potencies were also noted with 2,5-dimethoxy-3,6-diphenyl
30
against A2780 (GI
50
 = 5.9 ± 0.0 µM) and with 2,5-dimethoxy-3-(biaryl-3-yl)-6-(naphthalene-3-yl)
37
against HT29 (GI
50
 = 5.4 ± 0.4 µM), while the 3,4-dimethoxy mono-aryl analogue
23
exhibited good levels of activity against A2780 (GI
50
 = 3.8 ± 0.75 µM), the neuroblastoma cell line BE2-C (GI
50
 = 3 ± 0.35 µM) and SMA (GI
50
 = 3.9 ± 0.54 µM). Introduction of the amino-substituted Library
C
gave 2-(naphthalen-1-yl)-5-(naphthalen-3-yl)-3,6-bis(propylamino)
43,
with excellent activity against HT29 (0.08 ± 0.0 µM), MCF-7 (0.17 ± 0.1 µM), A2780 (0.14 ± 0.1 µM), A431 (0.11 ± 0.0 µM), Du145 (0.16 ± 0.1 µM), BE2-C (0.08 ± 0.0 µM) and MIA (0.1 ± 0.0 µM).
Cell wall microstructure, pore size distribution and absolute density of hemp shiv
Authors: Jiang Y. , Lawrence M. , Ansell M. P. , Hussain A.
Published: April 2018

This paper, for the first time, fully characterizes the intrinsic physical parameters of hemp shiv including cell wall microstructure, pore size distribution and absolute density. Scanning electron microscopy revealed microstructural features similar to hardwoods. Confocal microscopy revealed three major layers in the cell wall: middle lamella, primary cell wall and secondary cell wall. Computed tomography improved the visualization of pore shape and pore connectivity in three dimensions. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) showed that the average accessible porosity was 76.67 ± 2.03% and pore size classes could be distinguished into micropores (3–10 nm) and macropores (0.1–1 µm and 20–80 µm). The absolute density was evaluated by helium pycnometry, MIP and Archimedes' methods. The results show that these methods can lead to misinterpretation of absolute density. The MIP method showed a realistic absolute density (1.45 g cm
−3
) consistent with the density of the known constituents, including lignin, cellulose and hemi-cellulose. However, helium pycnometry and Archimedes’ methods gave falsely low values owing to 10% of the volume being inaccessible pores, which require sample pretreatment in order to be filled by liquid or gas. This indicates that the determination of the cell wall density is strongly dependent on sample geometry and preparation.
Facile fabrication of microfluidic surface-enhanced Raman scattering devices via lift-up lithography
Authors: Wu Yuanzi , Jiang Ye , Zheng Xiaoshan , Jia Shasha , Zhu Zhi , Ren Bin , Ma Hongwei
Published: April 2018

We describe a facile and low-cost approach for a flexibly integrated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate in microfluidic chips. Briefly, a SERS substrate was fabricated by the electrostatic assembling of gold nanoparticles, and shaped into designed patterns by subsequent lift-up soft lithography. The SERS micro-pattern could be further integrated within microfluidic channels conveniently. The resulting microfluidic SERS chip allowed ultrasensitive
in situ
SERS monitoring from the transparent glass window. With its advantages in simplicity, functionality and cost-effectiveness, this method could be readily expanded into optical microfluidic fabrication for biochemical applications.
The bat–bird–bug battle: daily flight activity of insects and their predators over a rice field revealed by high-resolution Scheimpflug Lidar
Authors: Malmqvist Elin , Jansson Samuel , Zhu Shiming , Li Wansha , Svanberg Katarina , Svanberg Sune , Rydell Jens , Song Ziwei , Bood Joakim , Brydegaard Mikkel , Åkesson Susanne
Published: April 2018

We present the results of, to our knowledge, the first Lidar study applied to continuous and simultaneous monitoring of aerial insects, bats and birds. It illustrates how common patterns of flight activity, e.g. insect swarming around twilight, depend on predation risk and other constraints acting on the faunal components. Flight activity was monitored over a rice field in China during one week in July 2016, using a high-resolution Scheimpflug Lidar system. The monitored Lidar transect was about 520 m long and covered approximately 2.5 m
3
. The observed biomass spectrum was bimodal, and targets were separated into insects and vertebrates in a categorization supported by visual observations. Peak flight activity occurred at dusk and dawn, with a 37 min time difference between the bat and insect peaks. Hence, bats started to feed in declining insect activity after dusk and stopped before the rise in activity before dawn. A similar time difference between insects and birds may have occurred, but it was not obvious, perhaps because birds were relatively scarce. Our observations are consistent with the hypothesis that flight activity of bats is constrained by predation in bright light, and that crepuscular insects exploit this constraint by swarming near to sunset/sunrise to minimize predation from bats.
Revealing hidden insect–fungus interactions; moderately specialized, modular and anti-nested detritivore networks
Authors: Jacobsen Rannveig M. , Sverdrup-Thygeson Anne , Kauserud Håvard , Birkemoe Tone
Published: April 2018

Ecological networks are composed of interacting communities that influence ecosystem structure and function. Fungi are the driving force for ecosystem processes such as decomposition and carbon sequestration in terrestrial habitats, and are strongly influenced by interactions with invertebrates. Yet, interactions in detritivore communities have rarely been considered from a network perspective. In the present study, we analyse the interaction networks between three functional guilds of fungi and insects sampled from dead wood. Using DNA metabarcoding to identify fungi, we reveal a diversity of interactions differing in specificity in the detritivore networks, involving three guilds of fungi. Plant pathogenic fungi were relatively unspecialized in their interactions with insects inhabiting dead wood, while interactions between the insects and wood-decay fungi exhibited the highest degree of specialization, which was similar to estimates for animal-mediated seed dispersal networks in previous studies. The low degree of specialization for insect symbiont fungi was unexpected. In general, the pooled insect–fungus networks were significantly more specialized, more modular and less nested than randomized networks. Thus, the detritivore networks had an unusual anti-nested structure. Future studies might corroborate whether this is a common aspect of networks based on interactions with fungi, possibly owing to their often intense competition for substrate.
Recurrent cortical circuits implement concentration-invariant odor coding
Authors: Bolding Kevin A. , Franks Kevin M.
Published: April 2018

Animals rely on olfaction to find food, attract mates and avoid predators. To support these behaviors, animals must reliably identify odors across different odorant concentrations. The neural circuit operations that implement this concentration invariance remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that, despite concentration-dependence in olfactory bulb (OB), representations of odor identity are preserved downstream, in piriform cortex (PCx). The OB cells responding earliest after inhalation drive robust responses in a sparse subset of PCx neurons. Recurrent collateral connections broadcast their activation across PCx, recruiting strong, global feedback inhibition that rapidly suppresses cortical activity for the remainder of the sniff, thereby discounting the impact of slower, concentration-dependent OB inputs. Eliminating recurrent collateral output dramatically amplifies PCx odor responses, renders cortex steeply concentration-dependent, and abolishes concentration-invariant identity decoding.
UNC-6/Netrin and its Receptors UNC-5 and UNC-40/DCC Control Growth Cone Polarity, Microtubule Accumulation, and Protrusion
Authors: Gujar Mahekta R. , Sundararajan Lakshmi , Stricker Aubrie , Lundquist Erik A.
Published: April 2018

Many axon guidance ligands and their receptors have been identified, but it is still unclear how these ligand-receptor interactions regulate events in the growth cone, such as protrusion and cytoskeletal arrangement, during directed outgrowthin vivo. In this work, we dissect the multiple and complex effects of UNC-6/Netrin on the growth cone. Previous studies showed that inC. elegans, the UNC-6/Netrin receptor UNC-5 regulates growth cone polarity, as evidenced by loss of asymmetric dorsal F-actin localization and protrusion inunc-5mutants. UNC-5 and another UNC-6/Netrin receptor UNC-40/DCC also regulate the extent of protrusion, with UNC-40/DCC driving protrusion and UNC-5 inhibiting protrusion. In this work we analyze the roles of UNC-6/Netrin, UNC-40/DCC, and UNC-5 in coordinating growth cone F-actin localization, microtubule organization, and protrusion that results in directed outgrowth away from UNC-6/Netrin. We find that a previously-described pathway involving the UNC-73/Trio Rac GEF and UNC-33/CRMP that acts downstream of UNC-5, regulates growth cone dorsal asymmetric F-actin accumulation and protrusion.unc-5andunc-33mutants also display excess EBP-2::GFP puncta, suggesting that MT + end accumulation is important in growth cone polarity and/or protrusion.unc-73Rac GEF mutants did not display excess EBP-2::GFP puncta despite larger and more protrusive growth cones, indicating a MT-independent mechanism to polarize the growth cone and to inhibit protrusion, possibly via actin. Finally, we show that UNC-6/Netrin and UNC-40/DCC are required for excess protrusion inunc-5mutants, but not for loss of F-actin asymmetry or MT + end accumulation, indicating that UNC-6/Netrin and UNC-40/DCC are required for protrusion downstream of F-actin asymmetry and MT + end entry. Our data suggest a model in which UNC-6/Netrin polarizes the growth cone via UNC-5, and then regulates a balance of pro- and anti-protrusive forces driven by UNC-40 and UNC-5, respectively, that result in directed protrusion and outgrowth.
The AP-1 complex is essential for fungal growth via its role in secretory vesicle polar sorting, endosomal recycling and cytoskeleton organization
Authors: Martzoukou Olga , Diallinas George , Amillis Sotiris
Published: April 2018

The AP-1 complex is essential for membrane protein traffic via its role in the pinching-off and sorting of secretory vesicles from the trans-Golgi and/or endosomes. While its essentiality is undisputed in metazoa, its role in model simpler eukaryotes seems less clear. Here we dissect the role of AP-1 in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans and show that it is absolutely essential for growth due to its role in clathrin-dependent maintenance of polar traffic of specific membrane cargoes towards the apex of growing hyphae. We provide evidence that AP-1 is involved in both anterograde sorting of RabERab11-labeled secretory vesicles and RabA/BRab5- dependent endosome recycling. Additionally, AP-1 is shown to be critical for microtubule and septin organization, further rationalizing its essentiality in cells that face the challenge of cytoskeleton-dependent polarized cargo traffic. This work also opens a novel issue on how non-polar cargoes, such as transporters, are sorted to the eukaryotic plasma membrane.
Physics of Lumen growth
Authors: Dasgupta Sabyasachi , Gupta Kapish , Zhang Yue , Viasnoff Virgile , Prost Jacques
Published: April 2018

We model the dynamics of formation of intercellular secretory lumens. Using conservation laws, we quantitatively study the balance between paracellular leaks and the build-up of osmotic pressure in the lumen. Our model predicts a critical pumping threshold to expand stable lumens. Consistently with experimental observations in bile canaliculi, the model also describes a transition between a monotonous and oscillatory regime during luminogenesis as a function of ion and water transport parameters. We finally discuss the possible importance of regulation of paracellular leaks in intercellular tubulogenesis.
Fine-scale characterization of genomic structural variation in the human genome reveals adaptive and biomedically relevant hotspots
Authors: Lin Yen-Lung , Gokcumen Omer
Published: April 2018

Genomic structural variants (SVs) are distributed nonrandomly across the human genome. These “hotspots” have been implicated in critical evolutionary innovations, as well as serious medical conditions. However, the evolutionary and biomedical features of these hotspots remain incompletely understood. In this study, we analyzed data from 2,504 genomes from the 1000 Genomes Project Consortium and constructed a refined map of 1,148 SV hotspots in human genomes. By studying the genomic architecture of these hotspots, we found that both nonallelic homologous recombination and non-homologous mechanisms act as mechanistic drivers of SV formation. We found that the majority of SV hotspots are within gene-poor regions and evolve under relaxed negative selection or neutrality. However, we found that a small subset of SV hotspots harbor genes that are enriched for anthropologically crucial functions, including blood oxygen transport, olfaction, synapse assembly, and antigen binding. We provide evidence that balancing selection may have maintained these SV hotspots, which include two independent hotspots on different chromosomes affecting alpha and beta hemoglobin gene clusters. Biomedically, we found that the SV hotspots coincide with breakpoints of clinically relevant, largede novoSVs, significantly more often than genome-wide expectations. As an example, we showed that the breakpoints of multiple largede novoSVs, which lead to idiopathic short stature, coincide with SV hotspots. As such, the mutational instability in SV hotpots likely enables chromosomal breaks that lead to pathogenic structural variation formations. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the mutational landscape of the genome and implicates both mechanistic and adaptive forces in the formation and maintenance of SV hotspots.
RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) reveals extremely low levels of reticulocyte-derived globin gene transcripts in peripheral blood from horses (Equus caballus) and cattle (Bos taurus)
Authors: Correia Carolina N. , McLoughlin Kirsten E. , Nalpas Nicolas C. , Magee David A. , Browne John A. , Rue-Albrecht Kevin , Gordon Stephen V. , MacHugh David E.
Published: April 2018

RNA-seq has emerged as an important technology for measuring gene expression in peripheral blood samples collected from humans and other vertebrate species. In particular, transcriptomics analyses of whole blood can be used to study immunobiology and develop novel biomarkers of infectious disease. However, an obstacle to these methods in many mammalian species is the presence of reticulocyte-derived globin mRNAs in large quantities, which can complicate RNA-seq library sequencing and impede detection of other mRNA transcripts. A range of supplementary procedures for targeted depletion of globin transcripts have, therefore, been developed to alleviate this problem. Here, we use comparative analyses of RNA-seq data sets generated from human, porcine, equine and bovine peripheral blood to systematically assess the impact of globin mRNA on routine transcriptome profiling of whole blood in cattle and horses. The results of these analyses demonstrate that total RNA isolated from equine and bovine peripheral blood contains very low levels of globin mRNA transcripts, thereby negating the need for globin depletion and greatly simplifying blood-based transcriptomic studies in these two domestic species.
Electrophysiological evidence for cerebellar involvement in higher-order cognitive processing
Authors: Sendhilnathan Naveen , Semework Mulugeta , Goldberg Michael E. , Ipata Anna E.
Published: April 2018

Although the cerebellum has been traditionally considered to be exclusively involved in motor control and learning, recent anatomical and clinical studies suggest that it may also have a role in cognition. However, no electrophysiological evidence exists to support this claim. Here we studied the activity of simple spikes of hand-movement related Purkinje cells in the mid-lateral cerebellum when monkeys learned to associate a well-learned right or left-hand movement with one of two visual symbolic cues. The cells had distinctly different discharge patterns between an overtrained symbol-hand association and a novel symbol-hand association although the kinematics of the movement did not change between the two conditions. The activity change was not related to the pattern of the visual symbols, the hand making the movement, the monkeys’ reaction times or the novelty of the visual symbols. We suggest that mid-lateral cerebellum is involved in higher-order cognitive processing related to learning a new visuomotor association.

One Sentence Summary

Hand-movement related Purkinje neurons in midlateral cerebellum, which discharge during an overtrained visuomotor association task, change their activity when the monkey has to associate the same movements with new cues, even though the kinematics of the movements do not change.
Characterisation of subpopulations of chicken mononuclear phagocytes that express TIM4 and the macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (CSF1R)
Authors: Hu Tuanjun , wu Zhiguang , Bush Stephen J. , Freem Lucy , Vervelde Lonneke , Summers Kim M. , Balic Adam , Hume David A. , Kaiser Pete
Published: April 2018

The phosphatidylserine receptor, TIM4, encoded by TIMD4, mediates the phagocytic uptake of apoptotic cells. We applied anti-chicken TIM4 monoclonal antibodies, in combination with CSF1R reporter transgenes to dissect the function of TIM4 in chick (Gallus gallus). During development in ovo, TIM4 was present on the large majority of macrophages but expression became more heterogeneous post-hatch. Blood monocytes expressed KUL01, class II MHC and CSF1R-mApple uniformly. Around 50% of monocytes were positive for surface TIM4. They also expressed many other monocyte-specific transcripts at a higher level than TIM4− monocytes. In liver, highly-phagocytic TIM4hi cells shared many transcripts with mammalian Kupffer cells and were associated with uptake of apoptotic cells. Although they expressed CSF1R mRNA, Kupffer cells did not express the CSF1R-mApple transgene, suggesting that additional CSF1R transcriptional regulatory elements are required by these cells. By contrast, CSF1R-mApple was detected in liver TIM4lo and TIM4− cells which were not phagocytic and were more abundant than Kupffer cells. These cells expressed CSF1R, alongside high levels of FLT3, MHCII, XCR1 and other markers associated with conventional dendritic cells (cDC) in mice. In bursa, TIM4 was present on the cell surface of two populations. Like Kupffer cells, bursal TIM4hi phagocytes co-expressed many receptors involved in apoptotic cell recognition. TIM4lo cells appear to be a sub-population of bursal B cells. In overview, TIM4 is associated with phagocytes that eliminate apoptotic cells in the chick. In the liver, TIM4 and CSF1R reporters distinguished Kupffer cells from an abundant population of DC-like cells.
Robo1 and 2 repellent receptors cooperate to guide facial neuron cell migration and axon projections in the embryonic mouse hindbrain
Authors: Gruner Hannah N , Kim Minkyung , Mastick Grant S
Published: April 2018

Background: The facial nerve is necessary for our ability to eat, speak, and make facial expressions. Both the axons and cell bodies of the facial nerve undergo a complex embryonic migration pattern involving migration of the cell bodies caudally and tangentially through rhombomeres, and simultaneously the axons projecting to exit the hindbrain to form the facial nerve. Results: Our goal in this study was to test the functions of the chemorepulsive receptors Robo1 and Robo2 in facial neuron and axon migration by analyzing genetically marked motor neurons in double mutant mouse embryos through the migration time course, E10.0-E13.5. In Robo1/2 double mutants, axon and cell body migration errors were more severe than in single mutants. Most axons did not make it to their motor exit point, and instead projected into and longitudinally within the floor plate. Surprisingly, some facial neurons had bifurcated axons that either exited or projected into the floor plate. At the same time, a subset of mutant facial cell bodies failed to migrate caudally, and instead shifted into the floor plate. Conclusions: Robo1 and Robo2 have redundant functions to guide multiple aspects of the complex cell migration of the facial nucleus, as well as regulating axon trajectories and suppressing formation of ectopic axons.
Bacillus licheniformisglobal nitrogen homeostatic regulator TnrA is a direct repressor ofpgsBCAAtranscription in Poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis
Authors: Cai Dongbo , Chen Yaozhong , Wang Shiyi , Mo Fei , Ma Xin , Chen Shouwen
Published: April 2018

Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a multifunctional and naturally occurring biopolymer made from D- and L-glutamate as monomers, which is mainly produced byBacillus. Few reports have been focused on the regulation network of γ-PGA synthesis in recent years. In this study, we have demonstrated thatBacillus licheniformisglobal nitrogen homeostatic regulator TnrA is a direct repressor of γ-PGA synthase PgsBCAA in γ-PGA synthesis. First, our results confirmed that TnrA repressed γ-PGA synthesis, deficiency oftnrAled to a 22.03% increase of γ-PGA production, and the γ-PGA yield was decreased by 19.02% in the TnrA overexpression strain. Transcriptional level assay illustrated that the γ-PGA synthase gene clusterpgsBCAAtranscriptional level were increased in thetnrAdeficient strain WXΔtnrA, indicating that γ-PGA synthase PgsBCAA was negatively regulated by TnrA. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and enzyme expression assays confirmed that TnrA directly repressedpgsBCAAexpression by binding topgsBCAApromoter, and the TnrA-binding site “CGTCGTCTTCTGTTACA” in thepgsBCAApromoter was identified by sequence and software analysis. Finally, computer analysis confirmed that the transcription regulations of γ-PGA synthase PgsBCAA by TnrA were highly conserved in other well-studiedBacillusspecies (B.licheniformis,Bacillus subtilisandBacillus amyloliquefaciens). Collectively, our results implied that TnrA was a direct repressor forpgsBCAAexpression in γ-PGA synthesis, and this research provided a novel regulatory mechanism underlying γ-PGA synthesis, and a new approach that deficiency oftnrAincreases γ-PGA production.

Importance

γ-PGA is an important biopolymer with many applications, which is mainly produced byBacillusspecies. Glutamic acid is the precursor for γ-PGA synthesis, which is catalyzed by the γ-PGA synthase PgsBCAA. Previously, the expression of PgsBCAA was reported to be regulated by ComA-ComP and DegS-DegU, DegQ and SwrA systems, however, few researches were focused on the regulation network of γ-PGA synthesis in recent years. In our research, the γ-PGA synthase PgsBCAA was confirmed to be negatively regulated by the nitrogen metabolism regulator TnrA, and the TnrA binding site in thepgsBCAApromoter was identified inB. licheniformisWX-02. Furthermore, computer analysis implied that TnrA-mediated regulation effect onpgsBCAAexpression was highly conserved inBacillus. Collectively, our research provided a novel regulatory mechanism underlying γ-PGA synthesis, and a new approach that deficiency oftnrAincreases γ-PGA production.
foxr1is a novel maternal-effect gene in fish that regulates embryonic cell growth viap21andrictor
Authors: Cheung Caroline T. , Patinote Amélie , Guiguen Yann , Bobe Julien
Published: April 2018

The family of forkhead box (Fox) transcription factors regulate gonadogenesis and embryogenesis, but the role offoxr1/foxn5in reproduction is unknown. Evolution offoxr1in vertebrates was examined and the gene found to exist in most vertebrates, including mammals, ray-finned fish, amphibians, and sauropsids. By quantitative PCR and RNA-seq, we found thatfoxr1had an ovarian-specific expression in zebrafish, a common feature of maternal-effect genes. In addition, it was demonstrated usingin situhybridization thatfoxr1was a maternally-inherited transcript that was highly expressed even in early-stage oocytes and accumulated in the developing eggs during oogenesis. We also analyzed the function offoxr1in female reproduction using a zebrafish CRISPR/Cas9 knockout model. It was observed that embryos from thefoxr1-deficient females had a significantly lower survival rate whereby they either failed to undergo cell division or underwent abnormal division that culminated in growth arrest at around the mid-blastula transition and early death. These mutant-derived eggs contained a dramatically increased level ofp21, a cell cycle inhibitor, and reducedrictor, a component of mTOR and regulator of cell survival, which were in line with the observed growth arrest phenotype. Our study shows for the first time thatfoxr1is an essential maternal-effect gene and is required for proper cell division and survival via the p21 and mTOR pathways. These novel findings will broaden our knowledge on the functions of specific maternal factors stored in the developing egg and the underlying mechanisms that contribute to reproductive fitness.

Summary sentence

Thefoxr1gene in zebrafish is a novel maternal-effect gene that is required for proper cell division in the earliest stage of embryonic development possibly as a transcriptional factor for cell cycle progression regulators,p21andrictor.
High prevalence of S. pyogenes Cas9-specific T cell sensitization within the adult human population – A balanced effector/regulatory T cell response
Authors: Wagner Dimitrios L. , Amini Leila , Wendering Desiree J. , Reinke Petra , Volk Hans-Dieter , Schmueck-Henneresse Michael
Published: April 2018

Summary Paragraph

The field of gene therapy has been galvanized by the discovery of the highly efficient and adaptable site-specific nuclease system CRISPR/Cas9 from bacteria.1,2Immunity against therapeutic gene vectors or gene-modifying cargo nullifies the effect of a possible curative treatment and may pose significant safety issues.3-5Immunocompetent mice treated with CRISPR/Cas9-encoding vectors exhibit humoral and cellular immune responses against the Cas9 protein, that impact the efficacy of treatment and can cause tissue damage.5,6Most applications aim to temporarily express the Cas9 nuclease in or deliver the protein directly into the target cell. Thus, a putative humoral antibody response may be negligible.5However, intracellular protein degradation processes lead to peptide presentation of Cas9 fragments on the cellular surface of gene-edited cells that may be recognized by T cells. While a primary T cell response could be prevented or delayed, a pre-existing memory would have major impact. Here, we show the presence of a ubiquitous memory/effector T cell response directed towards the most popular Cas9 homolog fromStreptococcus pyogenes(SpCas9) within healthy human subjects. We have characterized SpCas9-reactive memory/effector T cells (TEFF) within the CD4/CD8 compartments for multi-effector potency and lineage determination. Intriguingly, SpCas9-specific regulatory T cells (TREG) profoundly contribute to the pre-existing SpCas9-directed T cell immunity. The frequency of SpCas9-reactive TREGcells inversely correlates with the magnitude of the respective TEFFresponse. SpCas9-specific TREGmay be harnessed to ensure the success of SpCas9-mediated gene therapy by combating undesired TEFFresponsein vivo. Furthermore, the equilibrium of Cas9-specific TEFFand TREGcells may have greater importance inStreptococcuspyogenes-associated diseases. Our results shed light on the T cell mediated immunity towards the much-praised gene scissor SpCas9 and offer a possible solution to overcome the problem of pre-existing immunity.
From head to tail: A neuromechanical model of forward locomotion in C. elegans
Authors: Izquierdo Eduardo J. , Beer Randall D.
Published: April 2018

With 302 neurons and a near complete reconstruction of the neural and muscle anatomy at the cellular level, C. elegans is an ideal candidate organism to study the neuromechanical basis of behavior. Yet, despite the breadth of knowledge about the neurobiology, anatomy and physics of C. elegans, there are still a number of unanswered questions about one of its most basic and fundamental behaviors: forward locomotion. How the rhythmic pattern is generated and propagated along the body is not yet well understood. We report on the development and analysis of a model of forward locomotion that integrates the neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and body mechanics of the worm. Our model is motivated by experimental analysis of the structure of the ventral cord circuitry and the effect of local body curvature on nearby motoneurons. We developed a neuroanatomically-grounded model of the head motoneuron circuit and the ventral nerve cord circuit. We integrated the neural model with an existing biomechanical model of the worm’ s body, with updated musculature and stretch receptors. Unknown parameters were evolved using an evolutionary algorithm to match the speed of the worm on agar. We performed 100 evolutionary runs and consistently found electrophysiological configurations that reproduced realistic control of forward movement. The ensemble of successful solutions reproduced key experimental observations that they were not designed to fit, including the wavelength and frequency of the propagating wave. Analysis of the ensemble revealed that head motoneurons SMD and RMD are sufficient to drive dorsoventral undulations in the head and neck and that short-range posteriorly-directed proprioceptive feedback is sufficient to propagate the wave along the rest of the body.
3,4-Dibromo-2,2,5,5-tetraphenyl-2,5-dihydrofuran
Authors: Seidel Nadine , Seichter Wilhelm , Weber Edwin
Published: April 2018

The crystal structure of the title compound, C28H20Br2O, was solved in the orthorhombic space groupP212121with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The phenyl rings are nearly planar and inclined at angles of 67.7 (1), 68.8 (1), 79.3 (1) and 62.3 (1)° to the plane of the 2,5-dihydrofuran ring. The crystal structure features C—H...π and Br...Br interactions, which connect the molecules to a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
Role of consumer traits and situational factors on impulse buying: does gender matter?
Authors: Atulkar Sunil , Kesari Bikrant
Published: April 2018

Purpose

With the growing acceptance of organised retail in Central India, it is important to understand the impulse buying phenomenon and how it is influenced by consumer traits and situational factors. The purpose of this paper is to examine the combined effect of three consumer traits and four situational factors on impulsive buying.

Design/methodology/approach

Using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SmartPLS 2.0 software), responses from 417 hypermarket and supermarket consumers of Central India in the proposed research framework were analysed and validated.

Findings

The resulted values for the construct impulse buying tendency, shopping enjoyment tendency, materialism, person’s situation, motivational activities by retailers and product attributes show positive significant influences, whereas the construct store environment having relationship with impulse buying shows negative influence. Importantly, the findings also demonstrate that the gender moderates the relationship between various factors of consumer traits and situational factors with impulse buying.

Research limitations/implications

The study develops a research framework with three specific variables of consumer traits and four variables of situational factors, triggers impulse buying. Therefore, there is a need to incorporate some other variables, such as interpersonal influence, consumer involvement and consumption patterns, so that more affluent insights can be obtained. The study presents useful insights to retailers, academicians and researchers, regarding impulse buying behaviour of Indian consumers in a still developing organised retail sector in Central India.

Originality/value

The study focussed on the combined effect of consumer traits and situational factors on impulse buying for the first time in Central India, as earlier studies focussed on impulse buying behaviour at the USA and metro cities of India.
Procedure‐related tumour seeding in lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion: Radiological features and outcomes
Authors: Cattapan Kamonwon , Tanomkiat Wiwatana , Geater Sarayut L , Kiranantawat Nantaka
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Pleural procedures are performed to prove the diagnosis of pleural effusion. This study was to assess the incidence and outcome of pleural procedure‐related tumour seeding in lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion, and to review the characteristics of the implanted tumours on computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods

From January 2008 to December 2010, 165 patients with the diagnosis of lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion, who underwent at least one pleural procedure and had follow‐up CT, were included. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed the presence of implanted tumours and their manifestations on CT images. The incidence of tumour seeding, the time to tumour seeding, and hazard ratios for death associated with the procedures and presence of tumour seeding were evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables that were independently associated with procedure‐related tumour seeding.

Results

The incidence of procedure‐related tumour seeding was 22.4%. Conventional intercostal drainage (ICD) was the independent predictor of tumour seeding. Patients with a history of ICD rapidly developed implanted tumours (P = 0.0319). The estimated mean time of tumour seeding was 2.9 months. There was an increased risk of death with the presence of tumour seeding (HR: 3.35, 95% CI: 1.87–6.01). The majority of CT features showed ill‐defined margins with heterogeneous enhancement.

Conclusion

Pleural procedure‐related tumour seeding in lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion is common. There was a significantly increased risk of death with the presence of tumour seeding. The majority of the CT features in implanted tumours were ill‐defined margins with heterogeneous enhancement.
Phylogenetic distribution of roseobacticides in the Roseobacter group and their effect on microalgae
Authors: Sonnenschein Eva C. , Phippen Christopher Broughton William , Bentzon‐Tilia Mikkel , Rasmussen Silas Anselm , Nielsen Kristian Fog , Gram Lone
Published: April 2018

The Roseobacter‐group species Phaeobacter inhibens produces the antibacterial tropodithietic acid (TDA) and the algaecidal roseobacticides with both compound classes sharing part of the same biosynthetic pathway. The purpose of this study was to investigate the production of roseobacticides more broadly in TDA‐producing roseobacters and to compare the effect of producers and non‐producers on microalgae. Of 33 roseobacters analyzed, roseobacticide production was a unique feature of TDA‐producing P. inhibens, P. gallaeciensis and P. piscinae strains. One TDA‐producing Phaeobacter, 27‐4, did not produce roseobacticides, possibly due to a transposable element. TDA‐producing Ruegeria and Pseudovibrio did not produce roseobacticides. Addition of roseobacticide‐containing bacterial extracts affected the growth of the microalgae Rhodomonas salina, Thalassiosira pseudonana and Emiliania huxleyi, while growth of Tetraselmis suecica was unaffected. During co‐cultivation, growth of E. huxleyi was initially stimulated by the roseobacticide producer DSM 17395, while the subsequent decline in algal cell numbers during senescence was enhanced. Strain 27‐4 that does not produce roseobacticides had no effect on algal growth. Both bacterial strains, DSM 17395 and 27‐4, grew during co‐cultivation presumably utilizing algal exudates. Furthermore, TDA‐producing roseobacters have potential as probiotics in marine larviculture and it is promising that the live feed Tetraselmis was unaffected by roseobacticides‐containing extracts.
Whither IPOs? Toward an Ecosystem Perspective on Corporate Financing: A Commentary
Authors: Campbell Bryan , Magnan Michel
Published: April 2018

This commentary reviews the Canadian initial public offering (IPO) market and positions it within global capital market trends. Our views and comments reflect discussions with several market participants whom we have met over the years. Essentially, the falling number of IPOs in Canada during the last decade mimics trends in other developed countries such as the United States. In our view, five underlying factors underlie that decline. The picture that emerges is that capital markets are now widely viewed as a global integrated ecosystem where all actors are interconnected and an IPO represents but one way to raise capital.
Financial constraints and investment thirst in Chinese reverse merger companies
Authors: Cheng Zijian , Fleming Grant , Liu Zhangxin (Frank)
Published: April 2018

Using a hand‐collected data set of Chinese reverse mergers (RM) between 2006 and 2015, we find that financial constraints are more serious and investment thirst higher for RM companies as compared with initial public offering (IPO) companies. For state‐owned enterprises (SOEs), listing via a RM or an IPO does not impact the level of financial constraints post‐listing, while SOE RMs have higher investment thirst than SOE IPOs. By contrast, non‐SOE RMs are under more financial constraints and have higher investment thirst than non‐SOE IPOs. These differences are not presented during the 4 Trillion Yuan stimulus period between 2008 and 2010.
Economic policy uncertainty in China and stock market expected returns
Authors: Chen Jian , Jiang Fuwei , Tong Guoshi
Published: April 2018

We investigate the impact of China's economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on the time series variation of Chinese stock market expected returns. Using the news‐based measure of EPU, we find that EPU predicts negatively future stock market return at various horizons. This negative relation between economic policy uncertainty and expected future return remains significant as we control for a number of economic and market uncertainty variables or conduct out‐of‐sample tests. Our findings are consistent with behavioural asset pricing models, in which high uncertainty amplifies behavioural biases and generates speculative mis‐pricing under short‐sales constraint.
Implantology in oral & maxillofacial surgery. The complexity of ‘simple’ cases
Authors: Ruljancich K
Published: April 2018

Dental implants have been a routine part of dental practice for many years and are performed by a variety of practitioners with different backgrounds and training. This paper will outline the principles and practical surgical aspects of ‘simple’ implant placement against a background of our current understanding of the literature that informs our surgical procedures. Implants need to be placed in a restoratively suitable position surrounded by sufficient bone, draped in adequate keratinised soft tissue and sufficiently separated from one another and the adjacent teeth. Practically, while the above principles apply, there are nuances based on the local situation, adjacent teeth and restorative needs which will be considered in this paper. Surgery for the placement of implants needs a practitioner with adequate surgical training and experience and who understands the biological aspects and restorative needs of each clinical situation.
Paediatric oral & maxillofacial surgery
Authors: Shand JM
Published: April 2018

Children have differences in their physiology, anatomy and they are continuing to grow and develop. The management of pathology, trauma, deformity and upper airway obstruction in the young growing patient has to take into account these factors in the treatment planning for these conditions. It is important for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons to understand the potential impact of disease or injury on the developing facial skeleton and dentition. This chapter will provide an overview of the some of the major components of paediatric maxillofacial surgery and their management.
Adult immunisation: A key element of public health programs
Authors: Rochman‐Fowler Jessica , Duarte Walsh Virginia , Barratt Jane
Published: April 2018

Objectives

To (i) improve scientific knowledge and understanding of the importance of adult vaccination within a public health framework; (ii) share an understanding of the principles of good practice that have improved adult vaccination uptake rates; (iii) appreciate the diverse nature of country‐specific barriers; and (iv) reach consensus on principles of a call to action to increase adult vaccination uptake rates.

Methods

Non‐governmental organisations, the International Federation on Ageing and Friends of International Federation on Ageing Japan, convened the Asia Pacific Adult Immunisation Meeting, herein referred to as the ‘Asia Pacific Meeting’.

Results

Delegates identified fundamental barriers to adult vaccination similar to those reported at previous meetings in Latin America and Europe and formed a road map to respond to key barriers in countries represented at the Asia Pacific Meeting.

Conclusion

Older people are uniquely vulnerable to vaccine‐preventable diseases and therefore need to be the target of a series of actions intended to improve uptake rates in this subpopulation.
The Theological Underpinnings of Australia's Constitutional Separation of Church and State Provision
Authors: Beck Luke
Published: April 2018

The Australian Constitution contains two provisions concerning religion: a reference to “Almighty God” in the preamble and a provision denying the Federal Parliament power to legislate in respect of religion. The inclusion of those two provisions by the National Australasian Convention, which met from 1897 to 1898 to draft the Australian Constitution, was in large measure a result of political campaigns undertaken by competing religious groups. The first group, the Councils of Churches in each colony representing the main Protestant denominations, agitated for a constitutional “recognition” of God. The second group, the Seventh Day Adventists, campaigned against any constitutional recognition of God and for the inclusion of a provision limiting the Federal Government's power in respect of religion. The Adventists held fears that constitutional “recognition” of God would empower the federal parliament to pass nation‐wide Sunday observance laws. This article explores the theological and legal thinking of the Seventh Day Adventists to explain how they came to believe what, on a strict legal analysis, was highly implausible.
The Enigmatic Mr Deakin
Authors: Walter James
Published: April 2018

The Enigmatic Mr Deakin. By Judith Brett (Melbourne: Text Publishing, 2017), pp.490. A$49.99 (hb).