bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Boscalid Insensitivity Documented in Didymella bryoniae Isolated from Watermelon in Florida and North Carolina
Authors: Stevenson Katherine L. , Keinath Anthony P. , Thomas Anna , Langston David B. , Roberts Pamela D. , Hochmuth Robert C. , Thornton Allan C.
Published: July 2018

The fungicide Pristine, a commercial mixture of pyraclostrobin and boscalid, has been used widely on watermelon and other cucurbits to control gummy stem blight, caused by the fungus Didymella bryoniae. Since 2007, isolates of D. bryoniae insensitive to boscalid have been found in Georgia, Indiana, and South Carolina. Most isolates of D. bryoniae obtained in 2009 and 2010 from diseased watermelon leaves collected in several counties in Florida and North Carolina were found to be insensitive to boscalid using in vitro assays. Gummy stem blight would not be effectively managed with Pristine in any of the counties where samples were collected due to the high frequency of insensitivity to boscalid. Fortunately growers can instead use several triazole fungicides registered for use on cucurbits since 2009.

Accepted for publication 30 March 2012. Published 18 May 2012.
Resistance to Frogeye Leaf Spot in Selected Soybean Accessions in MG I through MG VI
Authors: Mengistu Alemu , Bond Jason , Mian Rouf , Nelson Randall , Shannon Grover , Wrather Allen
Published: July 2018

Frogeye leaf spot (FLS) caused by Cercospora sojina Hara is a disease of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] that causes significant seed yield loss in warm, humid environments worldwide. The Rcs3 gene in soybean has been reported to condition resistance to all known races of C. sojina. The objectives of this study were to: (i) identify maturity group (MG) I to VI accessions resistant to C. sojina race 11 by field screening at two locations; and (ii) determine if the FLS resistance of the symptomless soybean accessions is likely to be conditioned by the Rcs3 allele. A total of 260 accessions including 12 differentials were evaluated for reaction to race 11 in field trials in Missouri and Illinois during 2009, and 20 accessions that did not develop symptoms were retested in 2010 to validate their resistance. The 20 accessions remained resistant and were tested for the potential presence of Rcs3 allele using molecular markers; and none was predicted to carry the Rcs3 allele. These accessions may contain novel loci for FLS resistance and may be used to broaden the base for developing soybean cultivars with frogeye leaf spot resistance.

Accepted for publication 16 April 2012. Published 21 May 2012.
Effect of Geosmithia morbida Isolate and Temperature on Canker Development in Black Walnut
Authors: Freeland Emily , Cranshaw Whitney , Tisserat Ned
Published: July 2018

Thousand cankers disease of black walnut (Juglans nigra) is the result of aggressive feeding by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis) and extensive cankering around beetle galleries caused by the fungus Geosmithia morbida. We developed a consistent, reproducible inoculation technique to screen black walnut trees for their reaction to canker development following inoculation with G. morbida. Canker areas in one-year-old trees were not affected by the location on the stem that inoculations were made. Differences in aggressiveness of G. morbida isolates, representing different rDNA ITS haplotype groups, to black walnut were observed in some experiments. However, these differences were small and evidence indicates that a single, highly aggressive haplotype is not responsible for the current TCD epidemic. Cankers formed in black walnut at all temperatures tested, but they were consistently smaller at 32/20°C day/night temperatures compared to 25/20°C. Although G. morbida is thermotolerant, higher temperatures may not enhance canker development.

Accepted for publication 1 May 2012. Published 18 June 2012.
First Report of Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybean Caused by Fusarium virguliforme in Louisiana
Authors: Singh Raghuwinder , Price Trey , Padgett Boyd , Burks Tim
Published: July 2018

To our knowledge, this is the first report of sudden death syndrome of soybean occurring in Louisiana. Although the initial yield losses in 2014 were minimal, this soil-borne pathogen has the potential to spread, and establishment may lead to negative impacts on soybean production in the state.

Accepted for publication 21 October 2015. Published 13 November 2015.
Distribution of Phytophthora spp. in Southern Texas Citrus Grove Soils
Authors: RoyChowdhury M. , Saini M. , Driver T. , Minton B.
Published: July 2018

A soil survey was conducted in 61 citrus groves in South Texas to determine the Phytophthora spp. present and their population levels. The survey revealed the presence of Phytophthora in 59 locations, with P. citrophthora in 13 locations, P. nicotianae in 46, and P. palmivora not found. Soil plating assay and PCR was conducted to verify the different Phytophthora spp. We analyzed our data to find sites which showed counts of over 10 to 20 propagules/cm3, a value that is of concern.

Accepted for publication 19 July 2016. Published 18 August 2016.
Effect of Host Resistance to Fusarium virguliforme and Heterodera glycines on Sudden Death Syndrome Disease Severity and Soybean Yield
Authors: Brzostowski L. F. , Schapaugh W. T. , Rzodkiewicz P. A. , Todd T. C. , Little C. R.
Published: July 2018

Fusarium virguliforme, the soilborne fungus that causes sudden death syndrome (SDS), and Heterodera glycines, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), are economically important pathogens that often occur concomitantly in Kansas soybean fields. To examine F. virguliforme and H. glycines interactions across multiple environments, four soybean genotypes with different levels of resistance to SDS and SCN were planted at three to four locations in northeastern Kansas in 2008 and 2009. Pathogen population densities were quantified at planting (Pi), midseason (Pm), and harvest (Pf). At harvest, SDS AUDPC, F. virguliforme root population densities, H. glycines reproductive factors (RF), and yield were determined. The performance of resistant (R) genotypes varied with environment and disease pressure, but SDS-R genotypes were associated with 36% greater yields than SDS-susceptible (S) genotypes in high SDS environments. Even moderate levels of SCN resistance reduced SDS disease severity in SDS-S genotypes. Negative correlations (P ≤ 0.05) were observed between yield and AUDPC, and yield and F. virguliforme root population densities. A regression model that combined both of these covariates explained 57% of the yield variation. Disease severity was positively correlated with H. glycines Pi, but negatively correlated with RF. The data emphasize the importance of combining SDS and SCN host resistance in fields with a history of both diseases.

Accepted for publication 6 November 2013. Published 27 January 2014.
Phytophthora nicotianae Can Cause Both Crown Rot and Foliage Blight on Phlox paniculata in South Carolina
Authors: Drechsler Daniel T. , Jeffers Steven N. , Bridges William C.
Published: July 2018

Phytophthora nicotianae is a common pathogen of many herbaceous perennial plants, and this pathogen has been found causing disease on garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) in wholesale nurseries in South Carolina for a number of years. However, the relationship between P. nicotianae and garden phlox has not been studied or reported previously. Using Koch's postulates and standard inoculation methods for Phytophthora spp., P. nicotianae was found to cause crown rot on P. paniculata when potting medium was infested with colonized vermiculite and to cause foliage blight when aerial parts of the plant were inoculated with an aqueous suspension of zoospores. Foliage blight was more similar to symptoms we observed on garden phlox plants in wholesale nurseries, but crown rot also has been observed previously on plants in these nurseries. The cause of these two diseases was confirmed, but reproduction of Phytophthora foliage blight under experimental conditions was inconsistent. Thus, other factors not yet identified may play a role in the development of Phytophthora foliage blight on garden phlox in nurseries in South Carolina.

Accepted for publication 1 September 2014. Published 1 November 2014.
Reaction of Sorghum Lines to Zonate Leaf Spot and Rough Leaf Spot
Authors: Prom Louis K. , Isakeit Thomas , Cuevas Hugo , Rooney William L. , Perumal Ramasamy , Magill Clint
Published: July 2018

Abundant, frequent rains along with humid and cloudy conditions during the early part of the 2015 growing season provided conducive conditions for an unusually severe outbreak of zonate leaf spot and rough leaf spot in a block of sorghum lines at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Farm, Burleson County, near College Station, Texas. This afforded the opportunity to evaluate these lines for reaction to these diseases, which normally occur at trace levels in this area. Out of 181 sorghum lines, including a subset of the sorghum association panel, a total of 13 lines, including Dorado, Sureno, PI576434, PI656005, PI656034, PI656075, PI656024, and PI598070, were resistant to both diseases. These lines could be used in breeding programs to introgress the genes for resistance to both diseases into other adapted lines.

Accepted for publication 8 December 2015. Published 14 December 2015.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria infection risk in medical tourism
Authors: Avanzi Antonina , Bierbauer Kristin , Vales-Kennedy Guillermo , Covino Jean
Published: July 2018

The increasing popularity of medical tourism among US citizens has led to the rising incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections from cosmetic surgery performed in other countries. Clinicians must be aware of these infections and the potential difficulties in treating them. The most common NTM species isolated from cutaneous infections in medical tourists is Mycobacterium abscessus. Because many NTM species are antibiotic resistant, combination therapy is needed to combat skin and soft-tissue NTM infections in patients who had cosmetic procedures performed in foreign countries.
Additional Screening Tool May Improve Dementia Screening
Authors: Rosenberg Karen , Mechatie Elizabeth
Published: July 2018

According to this study:

The Visual Association Test could improve the predictive value of the Mini–Mental State Examination in screening older patients for dementia.
Pregnancy-Related ICU Admissions From 2008 to 2016 in China: A First Multicenter Report
Authors: Zhao Zhiling , Han Songyun , Yao Gaiqi , Li Shuangling , Li Wenxiong , Zhao Yangyu , Qiao Jie , Zhang Jianxin , Lu Junli , Tao Liyuan , Han Yue
Published: July 2018

Objectives:

To identify the key points for improving severe maternal morbidity by analyzing pregnancy-related ICU admissions in Beijing.

Design:

This was a retrospective, multicenter cohort study.

Setting:

Three ICUs in tertiary hospitals in Beijing.

Patients:

A total of 491 severe maternal cases in any trimester of pregnancy or within 42 days of delivery were reviewed between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2016.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Among 491 obstetric ICU admissions (median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, 2) out of 87,850 hospital deliveries (a frequency of 5.6 admissions per 1,000 deliveries), the leading diagnoses were postpartum hemorrhage (170; 34.62%), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (156; 31.77%), and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (78; 15.9%). Comparing 2008–2011 to 2012–2016, the rates of maternal mortality (2.5% vs 1.9%;p= 0.991) and fetal loss (8.5% vs 8.6%;p= 0.977) did not decrease significantly, whereas the rates of ICU admission (3.05% vs 7.85%;ptrends < 0.001) and postpartum hemorrhage (23% vs 38.5%;p= 0.002) increased. Hypertensive disorder (150/156; 96.2% transferred to the ICU postpartum, 24/28 women with fetal loss transferred from lower-level hospitals) was an independent maternal factor associated with fetal loss, and infections were the leading cause of maternal death (6/10) in the ICU.

Conclusions:

Our study highlights the increasing rate of intensive care admissions for postpartum hemorrhage. Improving prenatal care quality for pregnancy-induced hypertension and sepsis at lower-level hospitals may improve maternal and fetal outcomes. Specifically, providing more effective regional cooperation before transfer and shifting patients who require continuous surveillance but not necessarily intensive care to a transitional ward in a tertiary hospital would provide more ICU beds for more prenatal intensive care for the most complex medical conditions.
Traumatic Instability: Treatment Options and Considerations for Recurrent Posttraumatic Instability
Authors: Cain Edward Lyle , Ryan Michael K.
Published: July 2018

Recurrent traumatic glenohumeral instability is a complex problem with multiple variables to consider, but patient demographics, activities, as well as clinical and radiographic findings provide significant information to help choose the best treatment option. Although nonoperative treatment is a viable option for primary glenohumeral instability and in-season instability, recurrent instability exhibits anatomic factors which render nonsurgical treatment limited in scope. A proper patient history, clinical examination, and standard and advanced imaging are necessary in the assessment of patients with recurrent traumatic instability. Age, activity, hypermobility, tissue quality, glenoid and humeral head bone stock, and any prior surgical treatment are factors that must be considered for surgical planning. Open and arthroscopic Bankart repairs are good surgical options when bone loss is not an issue but increasing glenoid or humeral osseous deficiency in this setting frequently warrants additional procedures which address bony insufficiency. Controversy remains concerning the threshold value for glenoid bony deficiency and combined, bipolar defects, but this critical number may be less than previously suspected. Despite this controversy, successful surgical treatment of recurrent glenohumeral instability is possible when properly assessed and the correct surgery applied.
Long Head of Biceps Injury: Treatment Options and Decision Making
Authors: Chen Raymond E. , Voloshin Ilya
Published: July 2018

The long head of the biceps brachii is a well-known “pain generator” in the shoulder. Biceps tendinitis, instability, and rupture encompass the majority of symptomatic lesions. Clinical diagnosis, particularly of biceps tendinitis, can be difficult, given the nonspecific physical examination findings. Treatment options are initially nonoperative, with surgical management reserved for specific presentations or refractory cases. In recent years, biceps tenodesis and tenotomy have become the mainstays of operative treatment. Management of biceps lesions must also involve consideration of other shoulder pathology, as they are often not an isolated finding. Although there remains debate on the best treatment options for long head of the biceps injuries, a review of current literature provides important principles that can help guide clinical decision making.
Allograft Use in Shoulder Surgery: Instability and Rotator Cuff
Authors: Kenney Raymond J. , Mannava Sandeep , Maloney Michael D.
Published: July 2018

Shoulder instability and rotator cuff pathology can provide a challenging problem, especially in the revision setting. Allograft use in primary or revision surgical intervention for shoulder instability and rotator cuff tear may be a valuable resource. This paper reviews allograft tissue use in shoulder surgery for instability and rotator cuff tear.
Novel molecules mediate specialized functions of human regulatory macrophages
Authors: Riquelme Paloma , Hutchinson James A.
Published: July 2018

Purpose of review

Now that adoptive transfer of regulatory macrophages (Mregs) is clinically practicable, we ask whether this approach could be used to achieve self-sustaining peripheral regulation and what mechanisms may be involved.

Recent findings

Dehydrogenase/reductase 9 (DHRS9)-expressing Mregs are a specialized subset of monocyte-derived macrophages that are currently being investigated as a tolerogenic cell-based therapy. Human Mregs are defined by their capacity to convert naïve CD4+ T cells to IL-10-secreting FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) through an activation-dependent process involving signals mediated by TGF-β, retinoic acid, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity, notch and progestagen associated endometrial protein (PAEP). Mreg-induced iTregs (miTregs) are a phenotypically distinct type of in-vitro-derived human iTreg that expresses butyrophilin-like protein 8 (BTNL8) and T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT). miTregs are nonspecifically suppressive of mitogen-stimulated bystander T cell proliferation and inhibit TNFα-induced maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Preclinical and clinical studies find that intravenous infusion of allogeneic Mregs leads to enrichment of circulating TIGIT+ Tregs.

These results suggest a feed-forward mechanism by which Mreg treatment could promote solid organ transplant acceptance through rapid induction of direct pathway Tregs.
Case Managers on the Front Lines of Opioid Epidemic Response
Authors: Sortedahl Charlotte , Krsnak Jean , Crook Michelle M. , Scotton Lisa
Published: July 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of this article is to examine how case managers, taking a holistic, patient-centered approach that is grounded in advocacy, have a crucial role to play in the opioid crisis response. This includes providing education, support, and resources to prevent misuse of and addiction to opioids prescribed for pain management and intervening with more resources to help combat the nonmedical use of prescription opioids and heroin.

Primary Practice Settings:

In addition to case managers in acute care, workers' compensation, and palliative care, who have frequent contact with patients who are prescribed opioid medications for pain management, all case managers may interact with patients and support systems/families who are directly or indirectly impacted by opioid use, misuse, and addiction.

Implementations for Case Management Practice:

The broad scope of the opioid epidemic necessitates individualized interventions to address the multiple needs of individuals. The case manager, particularly one who is board-certified, has the expertise and knowledge to assess individual needs, identify treatment and other resources, and provide education and support to the patient and family/support system. In addition, given the complexity and life-or-death consequences associated with the opioid crisis, a timely and comprehensive approach is essential, bringing together multiple disciplines in health care, public health, addiction, pain management, social work, mental health counseling, pharmacology, and case management.
Condyle Fractures: Impact of Surgical and Conservative Approaches on Oral Health
Authors: Magalhães Tibério Gomes , Andrade Gabriel Silva , Mello Manoel de Jesus Rodrigues , Carvalho Abrahão Cavalcante Gomes de Souza
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of oral health on the quality of life of patients who underwent conservative or surgical treatment for mandibular condylar fracture. A retrospective study was conducted, and 24 patients with condylar fracture were selected and underwent surgical or conservative treatment. Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was utilized to evaluate the patients. The angles of condylar fracture were measured in panoramic and Towne radiographs using the ImageJ software, and the results were compared to the results of the OHIP-14 questionnaire. Condylar fractures had a negative impact on the patients’ quality of life in pretreatment assessment. After conservative and surgical treatments, the condylar fracture had a low impact on the patients’ quality of life. Greater fracture alignment was obtained in patients treated by open reduction. A low level of correlation was observed between fracture alignment and changes in OHIP-14 of the patients studied. In conclusion, the study showed a significant improvement in the quality of life in the post-treatment period of the sample assessed. However, in patients selected for this study, no difference was found in the quality of life between the surgically and conservatively treated groups.
Stevens–Johnson Syndrome
Authors: Davis Wesley D. , Schafer Phillip A.
Published: July 2018

Stevens–Johnson syndrome is a rare, yet life-threatening, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction characterized by mucocutaneous epidermal necrolysis. Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a severe manifestation of Stevens–Johnson syndrome, defined as greater than 30% skin detachment. Stevens–Johnson syndrome with toxic epidermal necrolysis is characterized as an adverse cutaneous drug reaction and is associated with the use of sulfonamides, antiepileptics, and some classes of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The case presented in this report is that of a 17-year-old female who presented to her primary care provider with a chief complaint of headache; she was initially diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and prescribed nitrofurantoin (Macrobid). Over the next 2 days, her symptoms worsened, she presented to the emergency department twice, and was transferred to a burn unit for definitive care. This case highlights the importance of prompt identification and diagnosis of Stevens–Johnson syndrome and underscores the need for emergency providers to have a comprehensive knowledge of adverse cutaneous drug reactions.
Educational Innovations for Continuing Education
Authors: Wilbeck Jennifer , Kennedy Margaret (Betsy) Babb
Published: July 2018

There is increasing interest and evidence for the “flipped classroom” as a learner-centered approach to promote active engagement and enhance translation of knowledge into practice. However, there is little published work regarding application of the pedagogical approach to continuing education (CE) for advanced practice providers. The goal of CE is for providers to stay up-to-date with current best practices and skills, yet most CE activities employ teacher-centered, lecture-based methods focused on transmission of knowledge rather than application of knowledge. The purpose of this article is to describe successful use of the flipped classroom in a recent CE offering for emergency nurse practitioners, and to support further exploration of interactive approaches in CE.
Exploring the Sexual Assault Response Team Perception of Interprofessional Collaboration
Authors: Adams Phyllis , Hulton Linda
Published: July 2018

There is little research on the dynamics of the sexual assault response team (SART) members' interprofessional collaboration (IPC) practice. The study purposes were to (1) explore the perceptions of IPC among SART members; (2) evaluate the use of Perception of Interprofessional Collaboration Model Questionnaire with the SART; and (3) discuss the implications of the Interprofessional Core Competencies for emergency department nurses and sexual assault nurse examiners. This cross-sectional mixed-methods study (n = 49) was implemented using 4 SART teams in a mid-Atlantic state. There were no statistically significant differences in the subscales within the group level using analysis of variance but offered some valuable insight and content analysis. Emergency department nurses collaborate with different agencies and discipline within their working environment. Understanding the basics of IPC and the perception of IPC within the SART may open doors to further appreciate the dynamics of this team.
Emergency Department Use of Intravenous Prochlorperazine for Acute Migraine
Authors: Cook Calli , Newberry Brittany
Published: July 2018

The Research to Practice Column is designed to improve translational research critique skills of nurse practitioners (NPs). In this issue, the article “Randomized study of IV prochlorperazine plus diphenhydramine vs IV hydromorphone for migraine” is discussed in the context of a patient with an acute headache presenting to the emergency department (ED). The study was designed to assess the efficacy of intravenous prochlorperazine and diphenhydramine as compared with intravenous hydromorphone for patients with acute migraine in the ED. With the growing trend to avoid the use of opiates to curb potential addiction and increased ED length of stay, NPs need to be aware of efficacious, evidence-based treatments for acute migraines, a common ED presentation.
Maximizing Success With Rapid Sequence Intubations
Authors: Smith Tony L. , Van Meter Jessica
Published: July 2018

Within emergency care settings, rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is frequently used to secure a definitive airway (i.e., endotracheal tube) to provide optimal oxygenation and ventilation in critically ill patients of all ages. For providers in these settings, a deeper understanding of the indications, associated medications, and adjunctive techniques may maximize success with this common procedure. Identification of difficult airways, using mnemonics and standardized criteria prior to the procedure allows, the clinician additional time for assimilation of additional resources and tools to increase the likelihood of first-pass success with intubation. This article describes tools for the procedure of RSI, including the “7 Ps” checklist of intubation.
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Due to Intraorbital Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm
Authors: Carey Andrew R.
Published: July 2018

A 60-year-old woman experienced sudden onset of vision loss in her right eye. Neuroimaging studies initially were interpreted as tumorous compression of the right optic nerve. On referral to our institution, examination findings were that of a right central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Review of the previous imaging studies was consistent with an aneurysm of the intraorbital ophthalmic artery at the origin of the central retinal artery, which was believed to be the cause of the CRAO.
Ehrlichiosis presenting as severe sepsis and meningoencephalitis in an immunocompetent adult
Authors: Buzzard Stephanie L. , Bissell Brittany D. , Thompson Bastin Melissa L.
Published: July 2018

Introduction.
Ehrlichia are obligate intracellular pathogens transmitted to vertebrates by ticks.

Case presentation. We report the case of a 59-year-old man who presented to the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Medical Center (Lexington, KY, USA) after being found fallen down in the woods. A lumbar puncture revealed what appeared to be bacterial meningitis, yet cerebrospinal fluid cultures, Gram stains and a meningitis/encephalitis panel were inconclusive. However, an Ehrlichia DNA PCR of the blood resulted as being positive for Ehrlichia chaffeensis antibodies. The patient received a 14 day course of doxycycline, and recovered from his multiple organ failure. The aetiology of the ehrlichial meningoencephalitis was likely transmission through a tick-bite, due to the patient’s outdoor exposure.

Conclusion. While it is rare to see Ehrlichia as a cause of meningitis, this illness can progress to severe multisystem disease with septic shock, meningoencephalitis or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Those with compromised immunity are at a higher risk of developing the more severe form of the disease and have higher case fatality rates.
Bio-optical properties and radiative energy budgets in fed and starved scleractinian corals (Pocillopora damicornis) during thermal bleaching
Authors: Lyndby Niclas Heidelberg , Holm Jacob Boiesen , Wangpraseurt Daniel , Ferrier-Pagès Christine , Kühl Michael
Published: July 2018

Corals achieve outstanding photosynthetic quantum efficiencies approaching theoretical limits (i.e. 0.125 O2 photon-1) and it is unknown how such photosynthetic efficiency varies with environmental stress. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of thermal stress and active feeding on the radiative energy budget and photosynthetic efficiency of the symbiont-bearing coral Pocillopora damicornis by using fiber-optic and electrochemical microsensors in combination with variable chlorophyll fluorescence imaging. At normal temperature (25°C), the percentage of absorbed light energy used for photosynthesis was higher for fed (~5-6% under low light exposure) compared to unfed corals (4%). Corals from both feeding treatments responded equally to stress from high light exposure (2400 μmol photons m-2 s-1), exhibiting a decrease in photosynthetic energy efficiency down to 0.5-0.6%. Fed corals showed increased resilience against thermal bleaching compared to unfed corals, as fed corals were able to uphold their high photosynthetic energy efficiency for 5 days longer during thermal stress, as compared to unfed corals, which decreased their photosynthetic energy efficiency almost immediately when exposed to thermal stress. We conclude that active feeding is beneficial to corals by prolonging coral health and resilience during thermal stress as a result of an overall healthier symbiont population.
Monarch butterfly and milkweed declines substantially predate the use of genetically modified crops
Authors: Boyle JH , Dalgleish HJ , Puzey JR
Published: July 2018

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) decline over the past 25 years has received considerable public and scientific attention, in large part because its decline, and that of its milkweed (Asclepias spp.) host plant, have been linked to genetically modified (GM) crops and the associated herbicide use. Therefore, the monarch has emerged as a poster child for the anti-GM movement. Here we use museum and herbaria specimens to extend our knowledge of the dynamics of both monarchs and milkweeds in the United States to more than a century, from 1900-2016. We show that monarch population trends closely follow those of their milkweed hosts; that both monarchs and milkweeds increased during the early 20th century, and that recent declines are actually part of a much longer term decline in both monarchs and milkweed beginning around 1950. Herbicide resistant crops, therefore, are clearly not the only culprit, and likely not even the primary culprit, as these declines began decades before GM crops were introduced.
Active intermixing of indirect and direct neurons builds the striatal mosaic
Authors: Tinterri Andrea , Menardy Fabien , Diana Marco A. , Lokmane Ludmilla , Keita Maryama , Coulpier Fanny , Lemoine Sophie , Mailhes Caroline , Mathieu Benjamin , Merchan-Sala Paloma , Campbell Kenneth , Gyory Ildiko , Grosschedl Rudolf , Popa Daniela , Garel Sonia
Published: July 2018

The striatum controls behaviors via the activity of direct and indirect pathway projection neurons (dSPN and iSPN) that are intermingled in all compartments. While such mosaic ensures the balanced activity of the two pathways, how it emerges remains largely unknown. Here, we show that both SPN populations are specified embryonically and progressively intermix through multidirectional iSPN migration. Using conditional mutants of the dSPN-specific transcription factor Ebf1, we found that inactivating this gene impaired selective dSPN properties, including axon pathfinding, whereas molecular and functional features of iSPN were preserved. Remarkably,Ebf1mutation disrupted iSPN/dSPN intermixing, resulting in an uneven distribution. Such architectural defect was selective of the matrix compartment, revealing that intermixing is a parallel process to compartment formation. Our study reveals that, while iSPN/dSPN specification is largely independent, their intermingling emerges from an active migration of iSPN, thereby providing a novel framework for the building of striatal architecture.
Uninterpretable interactions: epistasis as uncertainty
Authors: Sailer Zachary R. , Harms Michael J.
Published: July 2018

Epistasis is a common feature of genotype-phenotype maps. Understanding the patterns of epistasis is critical for predicting unmeasured phenotypes, explaining evolutionary trajectories, and for inferring the biological mechanisms that determine a map. One common approach is to use a linear model to decompose epistasis into specific pairwise and high-order interactions between mutations. Such interactions are then used to identify important biology or to explain how the genotype-phenotype map shapes evolution. Here we show that the coefficients extracted from such analyses are likely uninterpretable. They cannot be extracted reliably from experimental genotype-phenotype maps due to regression bias. Further, we can generate epistatic “interactions” indistinguishable from those in experimental maps using a completely random process. From this, we conclude that epistasis should be treated as a random, but quantifiable, variation in these maps. This perspective allows us to build predictive models with known error from a small number of measured phenotypes. It also suggests that we need mechanistic, nonlinear models to account for epistasis and decompose genotype-phenotype maps.
Molecular dissection of early defense signaling underlying volatile-mediated defense priming and herbivore resistance in rice
Authors: Ye Meng , Glauser Gaétan , Lou Yonggen , Erb Matthias , Hu Lingfei
Published: July 2018

Herbivore-induced plant volatiles prime plant defenses and resistance. How volatiles are integrated into early defense signaling is not well understood. Furthermore, whether there is a causal relationship between volatile defense priming and herbivore resistance is unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of indole, a common herbivore-induced plant volatile and known defense priming cue, on early defense signaling and herbivore resistance in rice. We show that rice plants infested bySpodoptera frugiperdacaterpillars release up to 25 ng*h−1. Exposure to equal doses of synthetic indole enhances rice resistance toS. frugiperda. Screening of early signaling components reveals that indole directly enhances the expression of the receptor like kinaseOsLRR-RLK1. Furthermore, indole specifically primes the transcription, accumulation and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinaseOsMPK3as well as the expression of the downstream WRKY transcription factorOsWRKY70and several jasmonate biosynthesis genes, resulting in a higher accumulation of jasmonic acid (JA). Using transgenic plants defective in early signaling, we show thatOsMPK3is required, and thatOsMPK6andOsWRKY70contribute to indole-mediated defense priming of JA-dependent herbivore resistance. We conclude that volatiles can increase herbivore resistance of plants by priming early defense signaling components.
Using multiple measurements of tissue to estimate subject- and cell-type-specific gene expression
Authors: Wang Jiebiao , Devlin Bernie , Roeder Kathryn
Published: July 2018

Motivation

Patterns of gene expression, quantified at the level of tissue or cells, can inform on etiology of disease. There are now rich resources for tissue-level (bulk) gene expression data, which have been collected from thousands of subjects, and resources involving single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data are expanding rapidly. The latter yields cell type information, although the data can be noisy and typically are derived from a small number of subjects.

Results

Complementing these approaches, we develop a method to estimate subject- and cell-type-specific (CTS) gene expression from tissue using an empirical Bayes method that borrows information across multiple measurements of the same tissue per subject (e.g., multiple regions of the brain). Analyzing expression data from multiple brain regions from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project (GTEx) reveals CTS expression, which then permits downstream analyses, such as identification of CTS expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL).

Availability and implementation

We implement this method as an R package MIND, hosted on https://github.com/randel/MIND.
Memory deficits in males and females long after subchronic immune challenge
Authors: Tchessalova Daria , Tronson Natalie C.
Published: July 2018

Memory impairments and cognitive decline persist long after recovery from major illness or injury, and correlate with increased risk of later dementia. Here we developed a subchronic peripheral immune challenge model to examine delayed and persistent memory impairments in females and in males. We show that intermittent injections of either lipopolysaccharide or Poly I:C cause memory decline in both sexes that are evident eight weeks after the immune challenge. Importantly, we observed sex-specific patterns of deficits. Females showed impairments in object recognition one week after challenge that persisted for at least eight weeks. In contrast, males had intact memory one week after the immune challenge but exhibited broad impairments in memory tasks including object recognition, and both context and tone fear conditioning several months later. The differential patterns of memory deficits in males and in females were observed without sustained microglial activation or changes in blood-brain barrier permeability. Together, these data suggest that transient neuroimmune activity results in differential vulnerabilities of females and males to memory decline after immune challenge. This model will be an important tool for determining the mechanisms in both sexes that contribute to memory impairments that develop over the weeks and months after recovery from illness. Future studies using this model will provide new insights into the role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of long-lasting memory decline and dementias.
Chronic inflammatory pain drives alcohol drinking in a sex-dependent manner
Authors: Yu Waylin , Hwa Lara S. , Makhijani Viren H. , Besheer Joyce , Kash Thomas L.
Published: July 2018

Sex differences in chronic pain and alcohol abuse are not well understood. The development of rodent models is imperative for investigating the underlying changes behind these pathological states. However, past attempts have failed to produce drinking outcomes similar to those reported in humans. In the present study, we investigated whether hind paw treatment with the inflammatory agent Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) could generate hyperalgesia and alter alcohol consumption in male and female C57BL/6J mice. CFA treatment led to greater nociceptive sensitivity for both sexes in the Hargreaves test, and increased alcohol drinking for males in a continuous access two-bottle choice (CA2BC) paradigm. Regardless of treatment, female mice exhibited greater alcohol drinking than males. Following a 2-hour terminal drinking session, CFA treatment failed to produce changes in alcohol drinking, blood ethanol concentration (BEC), and plasma corticosterone (CORT) for both sexes. 2-hr alcohol consumption and CORT was higher in females than males, irrespective of CFA treatment. Taken together, these findings have established that male mice are more susceptible to escalations in alcohol drinking when undergoing pain, despite higher levels of total alcohol drinking and CORT in females. Furthermore, the exposure of CFA-treated C57BL/6J mice to the CA2BC drinking paradigm has proven to be a useful model for studying the relationship between chronic pain and alcohol abuse. Future applications of the CFA/CA2BC model should incorporate manipulations of stress signaling and other related biological systems to improve our mechanistic understanding of pain and alcohol interactions.
Weak electric fields promote resonance in neuronal spiking activity: analytical results from two-compartment cell and network models
Authors: Ladenbauer Josef , Obermayer Klaus
Published: July 2018

Transcranial brain stimulation and evidence of ephaptic coupling have sparked strong interests in understanding the effects of weak electric fields on the dynamics of neuronal populations. While their influence on the subthreshold membrane voltage can be biophysically well explained using spatially extended neuron models, mechanistic analyses of neuronal spiking and network activity have remained a methodological challenge. More generally, this challenge applies to phenomena for which single-compartment (point) neuron models are oversimplified. Here we employ a pyramidal neuron model that comprises two compartments, allowing to distinguish basal-somatic from apical dendritic inputs and accounting for an extracellular field in a biophysically minimalistic way. Using an analytical approach we fit its parameters to reproduce the response properties of a canonical, spatial model neuron and dissect the stochastic spiking dynamics of single cells and large networks. We show that oscillatory weak fields effectively mimic anti-correlated inputs at the soma and dendrite and strongly modulate neuronal spiking activity in a rather narrow frequency band. This effect carries over to coupled populations of pyramidal cells and inhibitory interneurons, boosting network-induced resonance in the beta and gamma frequency bands. Our work contributes a useful theoretical framework for mechanistic analyses of population dynamics going beyond point neuron models, and provides insights on modulation effects of extracellular fields due to the morphology of pyramidal cells.

Author Summary

The elongated spatial structure of pyramidal neurons, which possess large apical dendrites, plays an important role for the integration of synaptic inputs and mediates sensitivity to weak extracellular electric fields. Modeling studies at the population level greatly contribute to our mechanistic understanding but face a methodological challenge because morphologically detailed neuron models are too complex for use in noisy, in-vivo like conditions and large networks in particular. Here we present an analytical approach based on a two-compartment spiking neuron model that can distinguish synaptic inputs at the apical dendrite from those at the somatic region and accounts for an extracellular field in a biophysically minimalistic way. We devised efficient methods to approximate the responses of a spatially more detailed pyramidal neuron model, and to study the spiking dynamics of single neurons and sparsely coupled large networks in the presence of fluctuating inputs. Using these methods we focused on how responses are affected by oscillatory weak fields. Our results suggest that ephaptic coupling may play a mechanistic role for oscillations of population activity and indicate the potential to entrain networks by weak electric stimulation.
Replicability of introgression under linked, polygenic selection
Authors: Sachdeva Himani , Barton Nicholas H.
Published: July 2018

We study how a block of genome with a large number of weakly selected loci introgresses under directional selection into a genetically homogeneous population. We derive exact expressions for the expected rate of growth of any fragment of the introduced block during the initial phase of introgression, and show that the growth rate of a single-locus variant is largely insensitive to its own additive effect, but depends instead on the combined effect of all loci within a characteristic linkage scale. The expected growth rate of a fragment is highly correlated with its long-term introgression probability in populations of moderate size, and can hence identify variants that are likely to introgress across replicate populations. We clarify how the introgression probability of an individual variant is determined by the interplay between hitchhiking with relatively large fragments during the early phase of introgression, and selection on fine scale variation within these, which at longer times results in differential introgression probabilities for beneficial and deleterious loci within successful fragments. By simulating individuals, we also investigate how introgression probabilities at individual loci depend on the variance of fitness effects, the net fitness of the introduced block, and the size of the recipient population, and how this shapes the net advance under selection. Our work suggests that even highly replicable substitutions may be associated with a range of selective effects, which makes it challenging to fine map the causal loci that underlie polygenic adaptation.
Maintaining Gene Expression Levels by Positive Feedback in Burst Size in the Presence of Infinitesimal Delay
Authors: Bokes Pavol
Published: July 2018

Synthesis of individual molecules in the expression of genes often occurs in bursts of multiple copies. Gene regulatory feedback can affect the frequency with which these bursts occur or their size. Whereas frequency regulation has traditionally received more attention, we focus specifically on the regulation of burst size. It turns out that there are (at least) two alternative formulations of feedback in burst size. In the first, newly produced molecules immediately partake in feedback, even within the same burst. In the second, there is no within-burst regulation due to what we call infinitesimal delay. We describe both alternatives using a minimalistic Markovian drift-jump framework combining discrete and continuous dynamics. We derive detailed analytic results and efficient simulation algorithms for positive noncooperative autoregulation (whether infinitesimally delayed or not). We show that at steady state both alternatives lead to a gamma distribution of protein level. The steady-state distribution becomes available only after a transcritical bifurcation point is passed. Interestingly, the onset of the bifurcation is postponed by the inclusion of infinitesimal delay.
Need for high-resolution Genetic Analysis in iPSC: Results and Lessons from the ForIPS Consortium Authors
Authors: Popp Bernt , Krumbiegel Mandy , Grosch Janina , Sommer Annika , Uebe Steffen , Kohl Zacharias , Plötz Sonja , Farrell Michaela , Trautmann Udo , Kraus Cornelia , Ekici Arif B. , Asadollahi Reza , Regensburger Martin , Günther Katharina , Rauch Anita , Edenhofer Frank , Winkler Jürgen , Winner Beate , Reis André
Published: July 2018

Genetic integrity of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is essential for their validity as disease models and for potential therapeutic use. We describe the comprehensive analysis in the ForIPS consortium: an iPSC collection from donors with neurological diseases and healthy controls. Characterization included pluripotency confirmation, fingerprinting, conventional and molecular karyotyping in all lines. In the majority, somatic copy number variants (CNVs) were identified. A subset with available matched donor DNA was selected for comparative exome sequencing. We identified single nucleotide variants (SNVs) at different allelic frequencies in each clone with high variability in mutational load. Low frequencies of variants in parental fibroblasts highlight the importance of germline samples. Somatic variant number was independent from reprogramming, cell type and passage. Comparison with disease genes and prediction scores suggest biological relevance for some variants. We show that high-throughput sequencing has value beyond SNV detection and the requirement to individually evaluate each clone.