bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The life history model of the insurance hypothesis
Authors: Chen Bin-Bin
Published: May 2017

Nettle et al.’s explanation based on the insurance hypothesis applies only to the association between food insecurity and body weight among adult women, but not to the results about there being no such associations among adult men and children. These results may be best understood when the insurance hypothesis is integrated with the life history model.
A life-history theory perspective on obesity
Authors: Dittmann Andrea G. , Maner Jon K.
Published: May 2017

We extend Nettle et al.’s insurance hypothesis (IH) argument, drawing upon life-history theory (LHT), a developmental evolutionary perspective that documents downstream consequences of early-life exposure to unpredictable environments. We discuss novel evidence consistent with both IH and LHT, suggesting that early-life exposure to unpredictable environments is associated with reduced engagement in weight management behaviors and a greater probability of adulthood obesity.
Potential psychological accounts for the relation between food insecurity and body overweight
Authors: Ert Eyal , Heiman Amir
Published: May 2017

We suggest two psychological mechanisms, temporal discounting and feeling of resource scarcity, for explaining the relation between food insecurity and body overweight. We demonstrate how Nettle et al.’s findings could be explained, post hoc, by each of these accounts, suggesting that their data are not rich enough to allow identification of mechanisms that underlie food insecurity and overweight relationship.
Towards a behavioural ecology of obesity
Authors: Higginson Andrew D. , McNamara John M. , Dall Sasha R. X.
Published: May 2017

Addressing the obesity epidemic depends on a holistic understanding of the reasons that people become and maintain excessive fat. Theories about the causes of obesity usually focus proximately or evoke evolutionary mismatches, with minimal clinical value. There is potential for substantial progress by adapting strategic body mass regulation models from evolutionary ecology to human obesity by assessing the role of information.
Predicting human adiposity – sometimes – with food insecurity: Broaden the model for better accuracy
Authors: Hill Sarah E. , Proffitt Leyva Randi P. , DelPriore Danielle J.
Published: May 2017

The target article explores the role of food insecurity as a contemporary risk factor for human overweight and obesity. The authors provide conditional support for the insurance hypothesis among adult women from high-income countries. We consider the potential contribution of additional factors in producing variation in adiposity patterns between species and across human contexts.
Anorexia: A perverse effect of attempting to control the starvation response
Authors: Nesse Randolph M.
Published: May 2017

Starvation arouses evolved protective mechanisms including binge eating and increased metabolic efficiency and fat storage. When aroused by dieting, the experiences of out-of-control eating, increased appetite, and increased fat storage arouse greater fears of obesity, spurring renewed attempts to restrict intake severely. The resulting positive feedback cycle escalates into bulimia for many, and anorexia in a few.
Obesity as self-regulation failure: A “disease of affluence” that selectively hits the less affluent?
Authors: Sacco Pier Luigi
Published: May 2017

An effect of the long-term cycle of industrial and post-industrial global development is the increasingly generalized access to abundant and diversified food sources. This poses a substantial problem of self-regulation that mainly affects the less affluent and whose failures may play an important role in the explanation of the increasing social incidence of overweight and obesity problems.
Children respond to food restriction by increasing food consumption
Authors: Tapper Katy
Published: May 2017

Consistent with the insurance hypothesis, research shows that when children experience restricted access to food, they display increased intake when restrictions are lifted. This effect appears more robust for girls compared to boys, and for children with lower levels of inhibitory control. The insurance hypothesis has potentially important implications for parental feeding practices.
Obesity is not just elevated adiposity, it is also a state of metabolic perturbation
Authors: Wells Jonathan CK
Published: May 2017

Nettle et al. miss the crucial difference between adaptive models of storing energy and explanations for the pathological metabolic state of obesity. I suggest that the association of food insecurity with obesity in women from industrialized settings is most likely due to reverse causation: Poverty reduces agency to resist obesogenic foods, and this scenario is compounded by perturbations of insulin metabolism stemming from high adiposity and lipogenic diets.
Adaptive principles of weight regulation: Insufficient, but perhaps necessary, for understanding obesity
Authors: Nettle Daniel , Andrews Clare , Bateson Melissa
Published: May 2017

We reflect on the major issues raised by a thoughtful and diverse set of commentaries on our target article. We draw attention to the need to differentiate between ultimate and proximate explanation; the insurance hypothesis (IH) needs to be understood as an ultimate-level argument, although we welcome the various suggestions made about proximate mechanisms. Much of this response is concerned with clarifying the interrelationships between adaptationist explanations like the IH, constraint explanations, and dysfunction explanations, in understanding obesity. We also re-examine the empirical evidence base, concurring that it is equivocal and only partially supportive. Several commentators offer additional supporting evidence, whereas others propose alternative explanations for the evidence we reviewed and suggest ways that our current knowledge could be strengthened. Finally, we take the opportunity to clarify some of the assumptions and predictions of our formal model.
Birth weight interacts with a functional variant of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) to predict executive functioning in children
Authors: Wade Mark , Prime Heather , Hoffmann Thomas J. , Schmidt Louis A. , O'Connor Thomas G. , Jenkins Jennifer M.
Published: May 2017

Genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is associated with several psychiatric conditions characterized by deficits in executive functioning (EF). A specific OXTR variant, rs2254298, has previously been associated with brain functioning in regions implicated in EF. Moreover, birth weight variation across the entire range is associated with individual differences in cortical structure and function that underlie EF. This is the first study to examine the main and interactive effect between rs2254298 and birth weight on EF in children. The sample consisted of 310 children from an ongoing longitudinal study. EF was measured at age 4.5 using observational tasks indexing working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. A family-based design that controlled for population admixture, stratification, and nongenomic confounds was employed. A significant genetic association between rs2254298 and EF was observed, with more copies of the major allele (G) associated with higher EF. There was also a significant interaction between rs2254298 and birth weight, such that more copies of the major allele in combination with higher birth weight predicted better EF. Findings suggest that OXTR may be associated with discrete neurocognitive abilities in childhood, and these effects may be modulated by intrauterine conditions related to fetal growth and development.
Executive Functioning in Pedophilia and Child Sexual Offending
Authors: Massau Claudia , Tenbergen Gilian , Kärgel Christian , Weiß Simone , Gerwinn Hannah , Pohl Alexander , Amelung Till , Mohnke Sebastian , Kneer Jonas , Wittfoth Matthias , Ristow Inka , Schiltz Kolja , Beier Klaus M. , Ponseti Jorge , Walter Martin , Kruger Tillmann H.C. , Walter Henrik , Schiffer Boris
Published: May 2017

Objectives: Pedophilia (P) is a psychiatric disease associated with sexual attraction toward children and often accompanied by child sexual offending (CSO). Consequently, it is important to address the understanding of executive dysfunctions that may increase the probability of CSO. Moreover, this research field has been lacking to disentangle executive deficits associated with pedophilia (as a deviant sexual preference) from those associated with CSO (as a deviant sexual behavior). Methods: The German multi-sided research network NeMUP offers the opportunity to overcome these limitations. By applying the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery in four carefully matched groups of men: (1) pedophiles with (N=45) and (2) without (N=45) a history of sexual offending against children; (3) child molesters without pedophilia (N=19), and (4) non-offending controls (N=49), we were able to analyze executive functioning in pedophilia and CSO independently. Results: Both CSO groups as compared to both non-CSO groups exhibited worsened response inhibition ability. However, only non-pedophilic offenders showed additionally disabled strategy use ability. Regarding set-shifting abilities, the P+CSO group showed the best performance. We also found that performances were affected by age: only in pedophiles, response inhibition worsened with age, while age-related deficits in set-shifting abilities were restricted to non-pedophilic participants. The latter also differentiated between both sexual preference groups. Conclusions: Our results are the first to demonstrate that executive dysfunctions are related to offense status rather than pedophilic preference. Furthermore, there was evidence for differentiating age and performance correlations between pedophiles and non-pedophiles, which warrants further investigation. (JINS, 2017, 23, 460–470)
Reproductive and pituitary-adrenal axis parameters in normal and prenatally stressed prepubertal blue foxes (Alopex lagopus)
Authors: Osadchuk L. V. , Braastad B. O. , Hovland A. L. , Bakken M.
Published: May 2017

Man-animal relationships are involved in the process of fox domestication. Handling being an important part of man-animal contacts, causes stress responses in farm-bred blue foxes. The purpose of this study was to determine how prenatal stress induced by handling pregnant vixens influences certain morphometric and hormonal parameters of adrenocortical and gonadal function in the prepubertal offspring. Blue fox females were subjected to daily handling sessions, each of 1 min, in the last trimester of pregnancy (term = 52 days). Plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, progesterone, oestradiol and testosterone, as well as the in vitro adrenal and gonadal production of steroids were measured by radio-immunoassay in control (C, no. = 56) and prenatally stressed (PS, no. = 56) blue fox cubs of both sexes at the age of 6 to 7 months. Prenatal stress decreased plasma concentration of cortisol (C: 31·0 (s.e. 4·3) v. PS: 22·7(s.e. 1·6) ng/ml, P < 0·05) as well as progesterone (C: 1·00(s.e. 0·10) v. PS: 0·65(s.e. 0·05) ng/ml, P < 0·05) in female cubs. Prenatal stress did not cause any changes in adrenal or gonadal weights, plasma concentrations of testosterone or oestradiol, or in vitro adrenal or gonadal steroid production, in either sex. It is concluded that persistent handling of pregnant blue foxes did not affect the prepubertal development of the reproductive system but resulted in disregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the female offspring.
Efficiency of vaginal electrical resistance measurements for oestrous detection and insemination in Rathi cows
Authors: Meena R. S. , Sharma S. S. , Purohit G. N.
Published: May 2017

The efficiency of vaginal electrical resistance (VER) measurements for oestrous detection was determined in four experiments. The mean VER during oestrus, metoestrus, dioestrus, pro-oestrus and anoestrus was 32·68±0·46, 41·26±1·17, 50·23±0·55, 43·52±0·54 and 55·86±0·57 ohms, respectively. There were significant (P < 0·01) differences between VERs at the different oestrous cycle stages, except those during pro-oestrus and metoestrus which were similar. Twelve cows were induced in oestrus using prostaglandin (PG) administration to study the changes in VER during the peri-oestrus period. VER values changed both on a within-day (P < 0·05) and day-today (P < 0·001) basis following PG administration. Of the eight cows that responded, all were classified as in oestrus by VER in comparison to five detected in oestrus by a teaser bull. There was a significant association between VER and probability of conception (P < 0·01). Conception rates were 84, 61 and 20% when animals were inseminated at VER ranges of 26 to 30, 31 to 35 and 36 to 40 ohms, respectively. In the final experiment VER was recorded each day at the time of milking in 22 cyclic cows for 60 days. Animals were inseminated when the VER declined below 35 ohms. Of these 22 cows five cows showed overt signs of oestrus and 11/22 (50%) became pregnant. Twenty-one days post AI, five cows returned to oestrus, based on low VER, whereas 17 continued to show a high VER but eight of these (8/17) were subsequently classified as non-cyclic. It is concluded that VER can effectively be used for oestrus detection and identification of the optimum time for insemination but has limited value for pregnancy diagnosis. Cows should be inseminated when a VER reading of less than 36 ohms is recorded.
Faulty Assumptions Impair Earthquake Hazard Assessment in Italy
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: May 2017

Along faults in the Central Apennine Mountains, weather and landslides may cause rock exposure that is mistakenly attributed to earthquakes.
Fundamental differences in diversity and genomic population structure between Atlantic and Pacific Prochlorococcus
Authors: Kashtan Nadav , Roggensack Sara E , Berta-Thompson Jessie W , Grinberg Maor , Stepanauskas Ramunas , Chisholm Sallie W
Published: May 2017

The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans represent different biogeochemical regimes in which the abundant marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus thrives. We have shown that Prochlorococcus populations in the Atlantic are composed of hundreds of genomically, and likely ecologically, distinct coexisting subpopulations with distinct genomic backbones. Here we ask if differences in the ecology and selection pressures between the Atlantic and Pacific are reflected in the diversity and genomic composition of their indigenous Prochlorococcus populations. We applied large-scale single-cell genomics and compared the cell-by-cell genomic composition of wild populations of co-occurring cells from samples from Station ALOHA off Hawaii, and from Bermuda Atlantic Time Series Station off Bermuda. We reveal fundamental differences in diversity and genomic structure of populations between the sites. The Pacific populations are more diverse than those in the Atlantic, composed of significantly more coexisting subpopulations and lacking dominant subpopulations. Prochlorococcus from the two sites seem to be composed of mostly non-overlapping distinct sets of subpopulations with different genomic backbones—likely reflecting different sets of ocean-specific micro-niches. Furthermore, phylogenetically closely related strains carry ocean-associated nutrient acquisition genes likely reflecting differences in major selection pressures between the oceans. This differential selection, along with geographic separation, clearly has a significant role in shaping these populations.
Inertial displacement of a domain wall excited by ultra-short circularly polarized laser pulses
Authors: Janda T. , Roy P. E. , Otxoa R. M. , Šobáň Z. , Ramsay A. , Irvine A. C. , Trojanek F. , Surýnek M. , Campion R. P. , Gallagher B. L. , Němec P. , Jungwirth T. , Wunderlich J.
Published: May 2017

Domain wall motion driven by ultra-short laser pulses is a pre-requisite for envisaged low-power spintronics combining storage of information in magnetoelectronic devices with high speed and long distance transmission of information encoded in circularly polarized light. Here we demonstrate the conversion of the circular polarization of incident femtosecond laser pulses into inertial displacement of a domain wall in a ferromagnetic semiconductor. In our study, we combine electrical measurements and magneto-optical imaging of the domain wall displacement with micromagnetic simulations. The optical spin-transfer torque acts over a picosecond recombination time of the spin-polarized photo-carriers that only leads to a deformation of the initial domain wall structure. We show that subsequent depinning and micrometre-distance displacement without an applied magnetic field or any other external stimuli can only occur due to the inertia of the domain wall.
Vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy of the lowest-lying electronic state in subcritical and supercritical water
Authors: Marin Timothy W. , Janik Ireneusz , Bartels David M. , Chipman Daniel M.
Published: May 2017

The nature and extent of hydrogen bonding in water has been scrutinized for decades, including how it manifests in optical properties. Here we report vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectra for the lowest-lying electronic state of subcritical and supercritical water. For subcritical water, the spectrum redshifts considerably with increasing temperature, demonstrating the gradual breakdown of the hydrogen-bond network. Tuning the density at 381 °C gives insight into the extent of hydrogen bonding in supercritical water. The known gas-phase spectrum, including its vibronic structure, is duplicated in the low-density limit. With increasing density, the spectrum blueshifts and the vibronic structure is quenched as the water monomer becomes electronically perturbed. Fits to the supercritical water spectra demonstrate consistency with dimer/trimer fractions calculated from the water virial equation of state and equilibrium constants. Using the known water dimer interaction potential, we estimate the critical distance between molecules (ca. 4.5 Å) needed to explain the vibronic structure quenching.
Correction: Corrigendum: A brain-sparing diphtheria toxin for chemical genetic ablation of peripheral cell lineages
Authors: Pereira Mafalda M. A. , Mahú Inês , Seixas Elsa , Martinéz-Sánchez Noelia , Kubasova Nadiya , Pirzgalska Roksana M. , Cohen Paul , Dietrich Marcelo O. , López Miguel , Bernardes Gonçalo J. L. , Domingos Ana I.
Published: May 2017

Nature Communications 8: Article number: 14967 (2017); Published 3 April 2017; Updated 17 May 2017 The financial support for this Article was not fully acknowledged. The Acknowledgements should have included the following: [***Human Frontiers Science Program (HFSP) funds the labs of A.I.D. and P.C. ***].
Injection of embryonic stem cell derived macrophages ameliorates fibrosis in a murine model of liver injury
Authors: Haideri Sharmin S. , McKinnon Alison C. , Taylor A. Helen , Kirkwood Phoebe , Starkey Lewis Philip J. , O’Duibhir Eoghan , Vernay Bertrand , Forbes Stuart , Forrester Lesley M.
Published: May 2017

Chronic liver injury can be caused by viral hepatitis, alcohol, obesity, and metabolic disorders resulting in fibrosis, hepatic scarring, and cirrhosis. Novel therapies are urgently required and previous work has demonstrated that treatment with bone marrow derived macrophages can improve liver regeneration and reduce fibrosis in a murine model of hepatic injury and fibrosis. Here, we describe a protocol whereby pure populations of therapeutic macrophages can be produced in vitro from murine embryonic stem cells on a large scale. Embryonic stem cell derived macrophages display comparable morphology and cell surface markers to bone marrow derived macrophages but our novel imaging technique revealed that their phagocytic index was significantly lower. Differences were also observed in their response to classical induction protocols with embryonic stem cell derived macrophages having a reduced response to lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma and an enhanced response to IL4 compared to bone marrow derived macrophages. When their therapeutic potential was assessed in a murine, carbon tetrachloride-induced injury and fibrosis model, embryonic stem cell derived macrophages significantly reduced the amount of hepatic fibrosis to 50% of controls, down-regulated the number of fibrogenic myofibroblasts and activated liver progenitor cells. To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates a therapeutic effect of macrophages derived in vitro from pluripotent stem cells in a model of liver injury. We also found that embryonic stem cell derived macrophages repopulated the Kupffer cell compartment of clodronate-treated mice more efficiently than bone marrow derived macrophages, and expressed comparatively lower levels of Myb and Ccr2, indicating that their phenotype is more comparable to tissue-resident rather than monocyte-derived macrophages.
Monocrotophos pesticide affects synthesis and conversion of sex steroids through multiple targets in male goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Authors: Tian Hua , Sun Yang , Wang Hui , Bing Xin , Wang Wei , Ru Shaoguo
Published: May 2017

Monocrotophos (MCP) is an organophosphorus pesticide that is median-toxic to fish. MCP pesticide resulted in an increase of 17 beta estradiol following a decrease in testosterone in male goldfish (Carassius auratus). To fully understand the mechanism of MCP pesticide that causes the imbalance between male and female hormones, we determined the levels of plasma cholesterol, spermatic steroidogenic acute regulatory protein mRNA, steroidogenesis enzyme mRNA, plasma sex hormone synthesis intermediates, and effectual hormones in male goldfish exposed to MCP pesticide at nominal concentrations of 0.01, 0.10, and 1.00 mg/L for 21 days in a semi-static exposure system. The results indicated that MCP pesticide (a) led to decreased steroidogenic acute regulatory protein mRNA levels; (b) decreased mRNA levels of cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme and cytochrome P450 17 alpha hydroxylase, which are steroidogenesis enzymes involved in androgen synthesis; and (c) increased cytochrome P450 aromatase mRNA levels, a steroidogenesis enzyme involved in the synthesis of effectual estrogen. The present study provides evidence that MCP pesticide affects synthesis and conversion of sex steroids through multiple targets in male goldfish.
Sustainability is possible despite greed - Exploring the nexus between profitability and sustainability in common pool resource systems
Authors: Osten Friedrich Burkhard von der , Kirley Michael , Miller Tim
Published: May 2017

The sustainable use of common pool resources has become a significant global challenge. It is now widely accepted that specific mechanisms such as community-based management strategies, institutional responses such as resource privatization, information availability and emergent social norms can be used to constrain individual ‘harvesting’ to socially optimal levels. However, there is a paucity of research focused specifically on aligning profitability and sustainability goals. In this paper, an integrated mathematical model of a common pool resource game is developed to explore the nexus between the underlying costs and benefits of harvesting decisions and the sustainable level of a shared, dynamic resource. We derive optimal harvesting efforts analytically and then use numerical simulations to show that individuals in a group can learn to make harvesting decisions that lead to the globally optimal levels. Individual agents make their decision based on signals received and a trade-off between economic and ecological sustainability. When the balance is weighted towards profitability, acceptable economic and social outcomes emerge. However, if individual agents are solely driven by profit, the shared resource is depleted in the long run - sustainability is possible despite some greed, but too much will lead to over-exploitation.
Optical metasurfaces for high angle steering at visible wavelengths
Authors: Lin Dianmin , Melli Mauro , Poliakov Evgeni , Hilaire Pierre St. , Dhuey Scott , Peroz Christophe , Cabrini Stefano , Brongersma Mark , Klug Michael
Published: May 2017

Metasurfaces have facilitated the replacement of conventional optical elements with ultrathin and planar photonic structures. Previous designs of metasurfaces were limited to small deflection angles and small ranges of the angle of incidence. Here, we have created two types of Si-based metasurfaces to steer visible light to a large deflection angle. These structures exhibit high diffraction efficiencies over a broad range of angles of incidence. We have demonstrated metasurfaces working both in transmission and reflection modes based on conventional thin film silicon processes that are suitable for the large-scale fabrication of high-performance devices.
The protective effect of human renal sinus fat on glomerular cells is reversed by the hepatokine fetuin-A
Authors: Wagner R. , Machann J. , Guthoff M. , Nawroth P. P. , Nadalin S. , Saleem M. A. , Heyne N. , Königsrainer A. , Fend F. , Schick F. , Fritsche A. , Stefan N. , Häring H.-U. , Schleicher E. , Siegel-Axel D. I.
Published: May 2017

Renal sinus fat (RSF) is a perivascular fat compartment located around renal arteries. In this in vitro and in vivo study we hypothesized that the hepatokine fetuin-A may impair renal function in non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by altering inflammatory signalling in RSF. To study effects of the crosstalk between fetuin-A, RSF and kidney, human renal sinus fat cells (RSFC) were isolated and cocultured with human endothelial cells (EC) or podocytes (PO). RSFC caused downregulation of proinflammatory and upregulation of regenerative factors in cocultured EC and PO, indicating a protective influence of RFSC. However, fetuin-A inverted these benign effects of RSFC from an anti- to a proinflammatory status. RSF was quantified by magnetic resonance imaging and liver fat content by 1H-MR spectroscopy in 449 individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes. Impaired renal function was determined via urinary albumin/creatinine-ratio (uACR). RSF did not correlate with uACR in subjects without NAFLD (n = 212, p = 0.94), but correlated positively in subjects with NAFLD (n = 105, p = 0.0005). Estimated glomerular filtration rate ﻿(eGRF) was inversely correlated with RSF, suggesting lower eGFR for subjects with higher RSF (r = 0.24, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, our data suggest that in the presence of NAFLD elevated fetuin-A levels may impair renal function by RSF-induced proinflammatory signalling in glomerular cells.
Secreted Frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) chemo-sensitizes cancer stem cells derived from human breast, prostate, and ovary tumor cell lines
Authors: Deshmukh A. , Kumar S. , Arfuso F. , Newsholme P. , Dharmarajan A.
Published: May 2017

This study investigated molecular signals essential to sustain cancer stem cells (CSCs) and assessed their activity in the presence of secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. SFRP4 is a known Wnt antagonist, and is also pro-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic. Additionally, sFRP4 has been demonstrated to confer chemo-sensitization and improve chemotherapeutic efficacy. CSCs were isolated from breast, prostate, and ovary tumor cell lines, and characterized using tumor-specific markers such as CD44+/CD24−/CD133+. The post-transcription data from CSCs that have undergone combinatorial treatment with sFRP4 and chemotherapeutic drugs suggest downregulation of stemness genes and upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers. The post-translational modification of CSCs demonstrated a chemo-sensitization effect of sFRP4 when used in combination with tumor-specific drugs. SFRP4 in combination with doxorubicin/cisplatin reduced the proliferative capacity of the CSC population in vitro. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is important for proliferation and self-renewal of CSCs in association with human tumorigenesis. The silencing of this signaling pathway by the application of sFRP4 suggests potential for improved in vivo chemo-responses.
The calming effect of a new wearable device during the anticipation of public speech
Authors: T. Azevedo Ruben , Bennett Nell , Bilicki Andreas , Hooper Jack , Markopoulou Fotini , Tsakiris Manos
Published: May 2017

We assessed the calming effect of doppel, a wearable device that delivers heartbeat-like tactile stimulation on the wrist. We tested whether the use of doppel would have a calming effect on physiological arousal and subjective reports of state anxiety during the anticipation of public speech, a validated experimental task that is known to induce anxiety. Two groups of participants were tested in a single-blind design. Both groups wore the device on their wrist during the anticipation of public speech, and were given the cover story that the device was measuring blood pressure. For only one group, the device was turned on and delivered a slow heartbeat-like vibration. Participants in the doppel active condition displayed lower increases in skin conductance responses relative to baseline and reported lower anxiety levels compared to the control group. Therefore, the presence, as opposed to its absence, of a slow rhythm, which in the present study was instantiated as an auxiliary slow heartbeat delivered through doppel, had a significant calming effect on physiological arousal and subjective experience during a socially stressful situation. This finding is discussed in relation to past research on responses and entrainment to rhythms, and their effects on arousal and mood.
GCN2 phosphorylates HIV-1 integrase and decreases HIV-1 replication by limiting viral integration
Authors: Jaspart A. , Calmels C. , Cosnefroy O. , Bellecave P. , Pinson P. , Claverol S. , Guyonnet-Dupérat V. , Dartigues B. , Benleulmi M. S. , Mauro E. , Gretteau P. A. , Parissi V. , Métifiot M. , Andreola M. L.
Published: May 2017

GCN2 is a serine/threonine kinase involved in cellular stress response related to amino acid starvation. Previously, we showed that GCN2 interacts with HIV-1 integrase and is activated during HIV-1 infection. Herein, we identified HIV-1 integrase as a previously unknown substrate of GCN2 in vitro with a major site of phosphorylation at residue S255 located in the C-terminal domain of HIV-1 integrase. The underlying mechanism was investigated and it appeared that the integrase active site was required in order for GCN2 to target the integrase residue S255. Moreover, various integrases from other retroviruses (e.g. MLV, ASV) were also recognized as a substrate by GCN2. In cells, HIV-1 lentiviral particles harboring mutation at integrase position 255 were affected in their replication. Preventing phosphorylation resulted in an increase in infectivity that correlated with an increase in viral DNA integration. Infectivity of MLV was also higher in cells knocked-out for GCN2 suggesting a conserved mechanism to control viral replication. Altogether, our data suggest that GCN2 may constitute a general guardian of genome stability by regulating foreign DNA integration and as such be part of the antiviral armamentarium of the cell.
The molecular determinants for distinguishing between ubiquitin and NEDD8 by USP2
Authors: Shin Yung-Cheng , Chen Jou-Han , Chang Shih-Chung
Published: May 2017

Ubiquitin (Ub) shares the highest sequence identity with neuronal-precursor-cell-expressed developmentally downregulated protein-8 (NEDD8) in the Ub-like protein family. However, different enzyme systems are precisely employed for targeting Ub and NEDD8 to specific substrates. The molecular determinants for distinguishing between Ub and NEDD8 by Ub-specific peptidases (USPs) remain poorly characterized. By replacing the non-conserved residues of Ub with their NEDD8 equivalents by mutagenesis, and vice versa, we observed that the Ub4K, Ub12E, and Ub14E mutants partially and the Ub4K/12E/14E/72A mutant completely prevented their hydrolysis by USP2. The NEDD84F and NEDD814T mutants were slightly hydrolyzed by USP2; however, the NEDD812T/14T/72R and NEDD84F/12T/14T/72R mutants were accessible for hydrolysis by USP2, suggesting that Ub and NEDD8 residues 4, 12, 14, and 72 serve as the molecular determinants for specific recognition by USP2. We also demonstrated that the level of inhibition caused by Ub mutants with multiple mutation sites was not purely additive when compared with the single mutation results. Furthermore, USP2 was determined to bind to the N-terminus of Ub to form a stable interaction, after which it binds with the C-terminus of Ub to ensure substrate specificity. The same results were also discovered when Ub, Ub4K/12E/14E/72A, NEDD8, and NEDD84F/12T/14T/72R were incubated with USP21.
Reliability in adolescent fMRI within two years – a comparison of three tasks
Authors: Vetter Nora C. , Steding Julius , Jurk Sarah , Ripke Stephan , Mennigen Eva , Smolka Michael N.
Published: May 2017

Longitudinal developmental fMRI studies just recently began to focus on within-subject reliability using the intraclass coefficient (ICC). It remains largely unclear which degree of reliability can be achieved in developmental studies and whether this depends on the type of task used. Therefore, we aimed to systematically investigate the reliability of three well-classified tasks: an emotional attention, a cognitive control, and an intertemporal choice paradigm. We hypothesized to find higher reliability in the cognitive task than in the emotional or reward-related task. 104 healthy mid-adolescents were scanned at age 14 and again at age 16 within M = 1.8 years using the same paradigms, scanner, and scanning protocols. Overall, we found both variability and stability (i.e. poor to excellent ICCs) depending largely on the region of interest (ROI) and task. Contrary to our hypothesis, whole brain reliability was fair for the cognitive control task but good for the emotional attention and intertemporal choice task. Subcortical ROIs (ventral striatum, amygdala) resulted in lower ICCs than visual ROIs. Current results add to the yet sparse overall ICC literature in both developing samples and adults. This study shows that analyses of stability, i.e. reliability, are helpful benchmarks for longitudinal studies and their implications for adolescent development.
TRPV4-dependent induction of a novel mammalian cold-inducible protein SRSF5 as well as CIRP and RBM3
Authors: Fujita Takanori , Higashitsuji Hiroaki , Higashitsuji Hisako , Liu Yu , Itoh Katsuhiko , Sakurai Toshiharu , Kojima Takahiro , Kandori Shuya , Nishiyama Hiroyuki , Fukumoto Motoi , Fukumoto Manabu , Shibasaki Koji , Fujita Jun
Published: May 2017

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) and RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) are two evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding proteins that are structurally related to hnRNPs and upregulated in response to moderately low temperatures in mammalian cells. Although contributions of splicing efficiency, the gene promoters activated upon mild hypothermia and the transcription factor Sp1 to induction of CIRP have been reported, precise mechanisms by which hypothermia and other stresses induce the expression of mammalian cold-inducible proteins (CIPs) are poorly understood. By screening the serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs), we report that the transcript and protein levels of SRSF5 were increased in mammalian cells cultured at 32 °C. Expression of SRSF5 as well as CIRP and RBM3 were also induced by DNA damage, hypoxia, cycloheximide and hypotonicity. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that SRSF5 was constitutively expressed in male germ cells and the level was decreased in human testicular germ cell tumors. SRSF5 facilitated production of p19 H-RAS, and increased sensitivity to doxorubicin in human U-2 OS cells. Induction of CIPs was dependent on transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel protein, but seemed independent of its ion channel activity. These findings indicate a previously unappreciated role for the TRP protein in linking environmental stress to splicing.
Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching extract induce apoptosis via mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in HepG2 cells
Authors: Qi Guoyuan , Liu Zhigang , Fan Rong , Yin Ziru , Mi Yashi , Ren Bo , Liu Xuebo
Published: May 2017

Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching (AMC), a unique and nutritious potherb widely distributed in china, has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies indicated that AMC extract exhibited antioxidant and antitumor properties. However, the chemical composition of AMC and molecular mechanism of AMC toxicity to HepG2 cells have not yet been elucidated. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the chemical compositions and the underlying mechanisms of the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of AMC on HepG2. HPLC-MS analysis showed that AMC contain five compounds with chlorogenic acid accounting for 43 percent. Also, AMC strongly inhibited the cell growth and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells by significantly upregulating the protein expressions of Fas, Fas-L, Bax/Bcl-2, cyto-c, cleaved caspase-3, and PARP in a dose-dependent manner, which indicates AMC induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Moreover, AMC provoked the production of ROS, H2O2, and NO, modulating the PI3K/Akt, MAPK, NFκB and Nrf2 pathways and their downstream transcriptional cascades, ultimately evoked oxidative stress and apoptosis in HpeG2 cells. Further in vivo experiments demonstrated that AMC significantly suppressed the tumor growth, suggesting that AMC may be a novel promising agent for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.
Circulating microRNA-214 and -126 as potential biomarkers for canine neoplastic disease
Authors: Heishima Kazuki , Ichikawa Yukie , Yoshida Kyoko , Iwasaki Ryota , Sakai Hiroki , Nakagawa Takayuki , Tanaka Yuiko , Hoshino Yuki , Okamura Yasuhiko , Murakami Mami , Maruo Kohji , Akao Yukihiro , Mori Takashi
Published: May 2017

Circulating microRNAs in the blood may provide diagnostic and prognostic information about canine neoplastic diseases, and their profiles may be conserved between human and canine species. We performed RT-qPCR to obtain the profiles of circulating plasma microRNA-214 and -126 in total 181 cases of canine neoplastic diseases and healthy controls. MicroRNA-214 levels were high in 2 epithelial tumours (thyroid and mammary carcinomas) and 4 non-epithelial tumours (osteosarcoma, histiocytic sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and hemangiosarcoma). In contrast, microRNA-126 levels were high in 6 epithelial tumours (mammary, hepatocellular, squamous cell, thyroid, transitional cell carcinomas, and adenocarcinoma) and 4 non-epithelial tumours (osteosarcoma, mast cell tumour, melanoma, and hemangiosarcoma). The diagnostic potential of microRNA-214 was relatively high in sarcomas, whereas that of microR-126 was high in most types of the tumours. MicroRNA-214 and -126 were prognostic predictors in 2 groups (adenocarcinoma and non-epithelial tumours except for osteosarcoma) and 3 groups (epithelial tumours, adenocarcinoma, and melanoma), respectively. Additionally, the microRNA levels did not show a strong correlation with the other clinical parameters. In conclusion, circulating microRNA-214 and -126 have the potential to be diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for canine neoplastic diseases. Furthermore, their profiles may be key references as well for exploring novel biomarkers for human cancers.
Assessment of tissue-specific accumulation, elimination and toxic effects of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) in carp through aquatic food web
Authors: Di Shanshan , Liu Ruiquan , Tian Zhongnan , Cheng Cheng , Chen Li , Zhang Wenjun , Zhou Zhiqiang , Diao Jinling
Published: May 2017

Microcosms containing DDT spiked-sediment, Tubifex tubifex and carp (Cyprinus carpio) were constructed to simulate a freshwater system. The accumulation, elimination and toxic effects of DDT (p,p’-DDT, o,p’-DDT), and its metabolites DDD (p,p’-DDD, o,p’-DDD) and DDE (p,p’-DDE, o,p’-DDE) were studied in T. tubifex and carp. Tissue/organ distributions of DDTs were also investigated in carp. The bioaccumulation and elimination of DDT differed in T. tubifex, carp and its tissues/organs. Unimodal or bimodal distributions were observed, and the concentrations of DDT metabolites (DDD and p,p’-DDE) increased over time. The carp organ with the highest concentrations of DDTs (DDT, DDD and DDE) was the gill. The largest mass distribution of DDTs was also in gill, followed by muscle and gastrointestinal tract. Maximum levels of DDTs in whole carp and carp muscle were 161 and 87 ng/g, respectively; therefore, the levels of DDTs observed in carp in this study were insufficient to constitute a health concern if present in fish for human consumption. Significant changes were observed in some biomarkers, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione, and carboxylesterase, in T. tubifex and carp tissues during DDT exposure. Tissue-specific accumulation of DDTs in carp can be a key indicator of exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations.
Functional characterization and differential nutritional regulation of putative Elovl5 and Elovl4 elongases in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea)
Authors: Li Songlin , Monroig Óscar , Wang Tianjiao , Yuan Yuhui , Carlos Navarro Juan , Hontoria Francisco , Liao Kai , Tocher Douglas R. , Mai Kangsen , Xu Wei , Ai Qinghui
Published: May 2017

In the present study, two elongases, Elovl4 and Elovl5, were functionally characterized and their transcriptional regulation in response to n-3 LC-PUFA administration were investigated in vivo and in vitro. We previously described the molecular characterization of croaker elovl5. Here, we report the full-length cDNA sequence of croaker elovl4, which contained 1794 bp (excluding the polyA tail), including 909 bp of coding region that encoded a polypeptide of 302 amino acids possessing all the characteristic features of Elovl proteins. Functional studies showed that croaker Elovl5, displayed high elongation activity towards C18 and C20 PUFA, with only low activity towards C22 PUFA. In contrast, croaker Elovl4 could effectively convert both C20 and C22 PUFA to longer polyenoic products up to C34. n-3 LC-PUFA suppressed transcription of the two elongase genes, as well as srebp-1 and lxrα, major regulators of hepatic lipid metabolism. The results of dual-luciferase reporter assays and in vitro studies both indicated that the transcriptions of elovl5 and elovl4 elongases could be regulated by Lxrα. Moreover, Lxrα could mediate the transcription of elovl4 directly or indirectly through regulating the transcription of srebp-1. The above findings contribute further insight and understanding of the mechanisms regulating LC-PUFA biosynthesis in marine fish species.
Correction: Corrigendum: Risk Model for Colorectal Cancer in Spanish Population Using Environmental and Genetic Factors: Results from the MCC-Spain study
Authors: Ibáñez-Sanz Gemma , Díez-Villanueva Anna , Alonso M. Henar , Rodríguez-Moranta Francisco , Pérez-Gómez Beatriz , Bustamante Mariona , Martin Vicente , Llorca Javier , Amiano Pilar , Ardanaz Eva , Tardón Adonina , Jiménez-Moleón Jose J. , Peiró Rosana , Alguacil Juan , Navarro Carmen , Guinó Elisabet , Binefa Gemma , Fernández-Navarro Pablo , Espinosa Anna , Dávila-Batista Verónica , Molina Antonio José , Palazuelos Camilo , Castaño-Vinyals Gemma , Aragonés Nuria , Kogevinas Manolis , Pollán Marina , Moreno Victor
Published: May 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 43263; published online: 24 February 2017; updated: 17 May 2017 The original version of this Article contained a typographical error in the spelling of the author Pablo Fernández-Navarro, which was incorrectly given as Pablo Fernández Navarro. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
The Devil is in the Definition
Authors: Rauscher Hubert
Published: May 2017

Nanomaterials are explicitly or implicitly addressed in a variety of legislative provisions worldwide. For legal clarity it is necessary to define the term ″nanomaterial″ in a regulatory context. This chapter discusses the challenges in finding an appropriate definition that fits in with hazard neutral or with hazard related contexts. Approaches to find appropriate defining criteria can involve specifying quantitative, semi-quantitative and qualitative identifiers. Whereas size is used as criterion to identify nanomaterials in hazard neutral as well as in hazard related contexts, other identifiers (certain physicochemical, novel or unique properties) are used more in hazard-driven regulatory contexts. The practical implementation of nanomaterial definitions leads to further challenges regarding the measurement of quantitative identifiers and particularly the specification of semi-quantitative and qualitative criteria. In addition, clear and open communication between all stakeholders is essential to establish and implement regulatory definitions of the term nanomaterial in specific contexts and to generate and communicate a broad understanding of the term.
Acceptance of Agri-Food Nanotechnology: Insights from the Evolution of Food Technology, Novel Foods and the Psychology of Novel Food Acceptance and Evidence from Present Research
Authors: Gupta Nidhi , Frewer Lynn , Fischer Arnout
Published: May 2017

Food technology has evolved from being focused on the issues associated with food availability to include, more latterly, additional foci on food safety, sustainability and functionality. Despite the intuitive appeal of these beneficial factors in providing the basis for consumer acceptance of emerging technologies applied to food production, consumer acceptance of the benefits of agri-food nanotechnology will not be automatic. Understanding consumer psychology is essential if we are to understand and predict peoples' responses to (bio) nanotechnology in the agri-food sector. A review of the socio-psychological factors influencing the societal response to novel food technologies in the past may throw some light onto the possible trajectory of the societal response to agri-food applications of nanotechnology. This chapter draws insights from past research into the psychology of novel food acceptance, novel foods and the evolution of food technology, along with current evidence from present research on agri-food nanotechnology, to identify potential barriers and opportunities for the development and introduction of agri-food nanotechnology.
Public Perceptions of Nanotechnologies: Lessons from Genetically Modified Foods
Authors: Bennett David , Radford Tim
Published: May 2017

This chapter focuses on the public perception of the applications of nanotechnology in food. It covers public perception surveys, the positions of various organizations—both for and against—methods of engaging the public, its regulation and possible ways forward. The most striking aspects of the public’s perceptions of nanotechnology in food since the first version of this chapter in April 2009 are how the debate about it remains where it was then, summed up as knowing very little about it coupled with “wariness, unease, uncertainty, and sometimes outright negativity.” In this, they share a great deal with attitudes to genetically modified (GM) foods. An absolute condition for the acceptance of a new technology is the recognition of its benefits by consumers. One of the most striking aspects of this debate is the way in which the activities of campaigning non-governmental organizations have waxed and, more recently, waned. Again strikingly, earlier attempts at public consultation were abandoned after being found to be ineffective or even greeted with antagonism. Food applications of nanotechnology fall under stringent general food regulations and specific guidelines have been issued. This chapter concludes by outlining many ways for effective public communication and suggesting that this is the key to the way forward.