bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure of a filamentous virus uncovers familial ties within the archaeal virosphere
Authors: Wang Fengbin , Baquero Diana P , Su Zhangli , Osinski Tomasz , Prangishvili David , Egelman Edward H , Krupovic Mart
Published: March 2020

Viruses infecting hyperthermophilic archaea represent one of the most enigmatic parts of the global virome, with viruses from different families showing no genomic relatedness to each other or to viruses of bacteria and eukaryotes. Tristromaviruses, which build enveloped filamentous virions and infect hyperthermophilic neutrophiles of the order Thermoproteales, represent one such enigmatic virus families. They do not share genes with viruses from other families and have been believed to represent an evolutionarily independent virus lineage. A cryo-electron microscopic reconstruction of the tristromavirus Pyrobaculum filamentous virus 2 at 3.4 Å resolution shows that the virion is constructed from two paralogous major capsid proteins (MCP) which transform the linear dsDNA genome of the virus into A-form by tightly wrapping around it. Unexpectedly, the two MCP are homologous to the capsid proteins of other filamentous archaeal viruses, uncovering a deep evolutionary relationship within the archaeal virosphere.
Optic Disc Measures in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Community-based Study of Middle-aged and Older Adults
Authors: Lee Samantha Sze-Yee , Sanfilippo Paul G. , Hunter Michael , Yazar Seyhan , James Alan , Mackey David A.
Published: March 2020

Précis:

This study found an association between thinner superotemporal retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the lack of association of sleep apnea with other disc measures does not support a link with glaucoma.

Aim:

Previous findings on the link between OSA and increased glaucoma risk have been inconsistent. In a community-based study of middle-aged and older adults, we explored for differences in optic disc measures that may resemble preclinical glaucomatous changes in relation to OSA status and severity.

Methods:

A total of 865 participants (46 to 67 y; 45% male) underwent an at-home sleep study during which their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and sleep oxygen saturation level were measured. Participants were determined to have no OSA (AHI<5 events/h), mild (AHI 5 to 15), moderate (AHI 16 to 30), or severe OSA (AHI>30). At a 6-year follow-up visit, the optic discs of both eyes were imaged using spectral domain optic coherence tomography to measure the Bruch membrane opening-minimum rim widths and RNFL thicknesses.

Results:

On the basis of the AHI, 411 participants (48%) had OSA, of whom 92 (11% of total sample) and 26 (3%) had moderate and severe OSA, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, participants with severe OSA had thinner RNFL superotemporally than those without OSA or with mild OSA (P<0.001 and 0.001, respectively). In addition, superotemporal RNFL was inversely associated with AHI (P=0.004) and sleep time with oxygen saturation level <90% (P=0.005). There was no association between OSA measures and Bruch membrane opening-minimum rim widths.

Conclusions:

Our findings do not provide strong evidence of a link between measures of OSA and the optic disc. However, the association between increased OSA severity and thinner superotemporal RNFL has been reported consistently in previous studies and thus warrants further evaluation.
A 12-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Topiramate for the Treatment of Compulsive Buying Disorder
Authors: Nicoli de Mattos Cristiana , Kim Hyoun S. , Marasaldi Renata F. , Requião Marinalva G. , de Oliveira Elen Cristina , Zambrano Filomensky Tatiana , Tavares Hermano
Published: March 2020

Background

Topiramate is an anticonvulsant that has shown promise as a pharmacological agent for the treatment of addictive disorders, including compulsive buying disorder (CBD). The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of topiramate in the treatment of CBD and its associated characteristics using a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design.

Methods

Fifty patients seeking treatment of CBD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 25) or the control group (n = 25). Both groups received 4 sessions of psychoeducation.

Results

Forty-four participants completed the follow-up with no differences in the rate of dropout between groups. There were no differences between participants who received topiramate or placebo in reducing CBD symptoms assessed by the primary outcome scale (Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale – Shopping Version). However, participants who received topiramate were significantly more likely to show clinical improvement when assessed by a secondary outcome measure, the Compulsive Buying Follow-Up Scale. In addition, there was a trend among participants who received topiramate to report improvements in aspects of hoarding and impulsivity compared with the control group. There were significant improvements in comorbid depression and social adjustments over time, but no group × time interaction was found.

Conclusions

The results do not provide support for the use of topiramate in the treatment of CBD. Future investigation with larger and representative samples and longer follow-up period are needed.
Adult intestinal transplantation in the United States
Authors: Iyer Kishore , Moon Jang
Published: March 2020

Purpose of review

There has been a striking decline in the annual volumes of adult intestinal transplants performed in the United States from a peak in 2008, reaching its lowest volume in 2019. The current review examines the pattern and potential reasons for the decline.

Recent findings

We observe that while improvements in intestinal rehabilitation may be contributing to some of the decline, movements of key personnel and the paucity of experts in a rarefied field may also be contributing to declining volumes.

We suggest that the decline in volumes of adult intestinal transplants are likely to be multifactorial. At a time of improving transplant outcomes, the indications for intestinal transplant suggested by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, may be outdated and worthy of revision.
Treatment Outcome in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With Hyperleukocytosis in the Yeungnam Region of Korea: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Park Kyung Mi , Yang Eu Jeen , Lee Jae Min , Hah Jeong Ok , Park Sang Kyu , Park Eun Sil , Lim Jae Young , Kim Ji Yoon , Park Jikyoung , Shim Ye Jee , Kong Seom Gim , Lim Young Tak
Published: March 2020

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with hyperleukocytosis at diagnosis is associated with early morbidity and mortality due to complications of leukostasis. Of 535 pediatric ALL patients (January 2004 to December 2016 from the Yeungnam region of Korea), 72 (13.5%) patients with an initial white blood cell (WBC) count of ≥100×109/L were included in this study, of whom 38 patients had extreme hyperleukocytosis (WBC>200×109/L) at diagnosis. Fourteen patients (19.4%) had ≥1 early respiratory and neurologic complications during induction therapy. Relapse occurred in 8 patients (24.2%) with extreme hyperleukocytosis and in 1 patient (3.0%) with an initial WBC count of 100 to 200×109/L (P=0.012). Estimated 10-year event-free survival rate (EFS) and overall survival rate were 78.3%±8.4% and 82.6%±7.7%, respectively. The 10-year EFS was significantly lower in patients with an initial WBC count of >200×109/L than in those with an initial WBC count of 100 to 200×109/L (65.7%±13.4% vs. 91.2%±7.9%; P=0.011). The 10-year EFS and overall survival rate did not differ significantly between patients with extreme hyperleukocytosis who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and those who received chemotherapy. In conclusion, pediatric ALL with hyperleukocytosis can lead to early complications and mortality. Patients with initial extreme hyperleukocytosis showed significantly poorer prognosis than those with WBC counts of 100 to 200×109/L.
The Ventilator-Dependent Child
Authors: Estrem Bruce , Wall Jill , Paitich Lindsey , Maynard Roy
Published: March 2020

Pediatric Home Service (PHS) in Roseville, Minnesota, has provided home care for children with medical complexity for over 30 years. This article describes the PHS program for educating and training home care nurses (HCNs). Since the inception of the company, advanced training for family and professional caregivers of ventilator-dependent children has been an important focus. The current program for HCN has three components and incorporates simulation and in-home training. Standardizing educational requirements and competencies for pediatric HCNs across nursing agencies has the potential to improve outcomes for children with medical complexity receiving home healthcare services.
Sociality enhances survival in science, especially for female researchers
Authors: van der Wal Jessica E.M. , Thorogood Rose , Horrocks Nicholas P.C.
Published: March 2020

Intense competition for limited opportunities means the career path of a scientist is a challenging one, and female scientists in particular are less likely to survive in academia. Collaboration is a key factor in scientific advances, and in social species enhanced sociality improves fitness and longevity. Yet whether sociality influences career progression and survival in science, and how this might differ between genders, is largely unknown. We built authorship social networks from publication records to test how sociality predicts career progression and survival in a cohort of biologists contributing to three international conferences in the 1990s. We show that sociality has the strongest effect for female researchers but, regardless of gender, publishing with many diverse co-authors significantly reduces time to become a principal investigator and increases career duration. Publishing repeatedly with co-authors also enhances career progression in both genders, but reduces career length for men. These findings demonstrate that the value of collaboration extends beyond scientific advances, and can directly benefit the career progression and longevity of research scientists themselves. Efforts to encourage researchers at all levels to invest in collaborations, particularly with female researchers, will help to close the gender gap in science and academia.
Decoding the transcriptome of atherosclerotic plaque at single-cell resolution
Authors: Alsaigh Tom , Evans Doug , Frankel David , Torkamani Ali
Published: March 2020

Atherogenesis involves an interplay of inflammation, tissue remodeling and cellular transdifferentiation (CTD), making it especially difficult to precisely delineate its pathophysiology. Here we examine the single-cell transcriptome of entire atherosclerotic core (AC) plaques and patient-matched proximal adjacent (PA) portions of carotid artery tissue from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. We use a novel tissue dissociation strategy, single-cell RNA sequencing, and systems-biology approaches to analyze the transcriptional profiles of six main cell populations and identify key gene drivers of pathogenic biological processes in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs). Our results reveal an anatomic continuum whereby PA cells promote and respond to inflammatory processes and eventually transition through CTD into matrix-secreting cells in the AC. Inflammatory signaling in PA ECs is driven by IL6, while TNFa signaling defines inflammation in both PA ECs and VSMCs. Furthermore, we identifyPOSTN, SPP1 and IBSPin AC VSMCs, andITLN1, SCXandS100A4in AC ECs as key drivers of CTD in the atherosclerotic core. These results establish an anatomic framework for atherogenesis and suggest a site-specific strategy for disruption of disease progression.
Comparative analysis of biological aspects ofLeishmania infantumisolates
Authors: Ferreira-Paes Taiana , Charret Karen S. , Ribeiro Merienny R.S. , Rodrigues Raquel F. , Leon Leon L.
Published: March 2020

Leishmania infantum infantum(LII) is one of the species that causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Old World, whileL. infantum chagasi(LIC), and is present in the New World. Few studies address the biological differences, as well as the behaviour of these strains during infection. These parasites live inside the cells of their hosts, continuously evading the microbicidal mechanisms and modulating the immune response of these cells. One of the mechanisms used by these protozoa involves the L-arginine metabolism. Given the importance of the understanding of differences betweenLeishmaniaspecies, as well as establishing a better murine model to study leishmaniases, the objectives of this work were to analyse the biological and molecular differences between twoLeishmania infantumstrains (LII and LIC) and the degree of susceptibility of mice with different genetic backgrounds to infection, as well as to understand the role of arginase (ARG)/nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the parasite-host relationship. The infectivityin vivoandin vitroof LII and LIC was performed in BALB/c and Swiss Webster mice, as well the NOS and ARG activities. The LII strain showed more infective than the LIC strain bothin vivoandin vitro. In animals infected by both strains, a difference in NOS and ARG activities occurred.In vitro, promastigotes of LII isolated from BALB/c and Swiss Webster mice showed higher ARG activity than the LIC during the growth curve, however, no difference was observed in intracellular NO production by promastigotes between these strains. A comparison of the sequences of the ARG gene was made and both strains were identical. However, despite the similarity, the strains showed different expression of this gene. It can be concluded that althoughL. chagasistrains are considered identical toL. infantumstrains, both have different biological behaviour.
The PK/PD Integration and Resistance of Tilmicosin AgainstMycoplasma hyopneumoniae
Authors: Huang Zilong , Hu Zixuan , Xia Xirui , Zheng Haorui , Gu Xiaoyan , Shen Xiangguang , Yang Hong , Ding Huanzhong
Published: March 2020

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniaeis the major pathogen causing enzootic pneumonia in pigs.M. hyopneumoniaeinfection can lead to considerable economic losses in the pig-breeding industry. Here, this study established a first-order absorption, one-compartment model to study the relationship between the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) index of tilmicosin againstM. hyopneumoniae in vitro. We simulated the drug concentration of timicosin in the fluid lining the lung epithelia of pigs. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tilmicosin againstM. hyopneumoniaewith an inoculum of 106CFU/mL was 1.6 μg/mL using the microdilution method. Static time–kill curves showed that, if the drug concentration >1 MIC, the antibacterial effect showed different degrees of inhibition. At 32 MIC, the amount of bacteria decreased by 3.16 log10CFU/mL, thereby achieving a mycoplasmacidal effect. TheM. hyopneumoniaecount was reduced from 3.61 to 5.11 log10CFU/mL upon incubation for 96 h in a dynamic model with a dose of 40–200 mg, thereby achieving mycoplasmacidal activity. The peak concentration by MIC (Cmax/MIC) and the area under the concentration-time curve over 96 h divided by the MIC (AUC0–96 h/MIC) were the best-fit PK/PD parameters for predicting the antibacterial activity of tilmicosin againstM. hyopneumoniae(R2= 0.99), suggesting that tilmicosin had concentration-dependent activity. The estimated value for Cmax/MIC and AUC0–96 h/MIC for 2log10(CFU/mL) reduction and 3log10(CFU/mL) reduction from baseline was 1.44 and 1.91, and 70.55 h and 96.72 h, respectively. FourM. hyopneumoniaestrains (M1–M4) with reduced sensitivity to tilmicosin were isolated from the four dose groups. The susceptibility of these strains to tylosin, erythromycin and lincomycin was also reduced significantly. For sequencing analyses of 23S rRNA, an acquired A2058G transition in region V was found only in resistantM. hyopneumoniaestrains (M3, M4). In conclusion, in anin vitromodel, the effect of tilmicosin againstM. hyopneumoniaewas concentration-dependent and had a therapeutic effect. These results will help to design the optimal dosing regimen for tilmicosin inM. hyopneumoniaeinfection, and minimize the emergence of resistant bacteria.
No Relationship Between Perceived Health Anomalies and Perceived Experimental Success in Retired Breeder Male Hartley Albino Guinea Pigs
Authors: Bain Chandra B. , Settlage Julie M. , Blair Grace A. , Poelzing Steven
Published: March 2020

Guinea pigs used in our laboratory for cardiac research sometimes exhibit physical abnormalities. These issues may abate or intensify during the time they are housed in our facility. After using a guinea pig for research, experimentalists note the apparent health of an animal based on visible features and/or abnormal electrophysiology of the heart. There was an existing anecdotal observation that the health of the Guinea Pigs, and subsequently the experimental success rate, had a seasonal variation; therefore we sought to determine if there is a time of year in which our guinea pigs are more likely to be perceived as unhealthy, and whether any determined monthly pattern correlates with an experimentalist’s ability to complete an experimental protocol. An electronic log was created to record the perceived health of the animal and the ability to complete the experiment successfully. Irregular symptoms included, but were not limited to, severe weight or hair loss and irregularities with the heart found post thoracotomy or during baseline electrophysiological recordings of whole-heart preparations. Animals that did not exhibit significant weight or hair loss, or other ailments were considered “healthy”. Overall, our results indicate that there are no monthly variations in perceived Hartley Albino guinea pig health or correlations with experimental completion rates, suggesting mild hair or weight loss that is common when shipping animals may not significantly affect the ability to conductex vivowhole-heart electrophysiological studies.
Antibacterial efficacy of Jackfruit rag extract against clinically important pathogens and validation of its antimicrobial activity inShigella dysenteriaeinfectedDrosophila melanogasterinfection model
Authors: Dhwani NV , Raju Gayathri , Mathew Sumi E , Baranwal Gaurav , Shivaram Shivakumar B , Katiyar Neeraj , Pramanik Nilkamal , Jhunjhunwala Siddharth , Shilpashree H.B. , Nagegowda Dinesh A. , Kumar Ritesh , Shasany Ajit K. , Biswas Raja , Shankarappa Sahadev A
Published: March 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial property of extract derived from a part of the Jackfruit called ‘rag’, that is generally considered as fruit waste. Morpho-physical characterization of the Jackfruit rag extract (JFRE) was performed using gas-chromatography, where peaks indicative of furfural; pentanoic acid; and hexadecanoic acid were observed.In vitrobiocompatibility of JFRE was performed using the MTT assay, which showed comparable cellular viability between extract-treated and untreated mouse fibroblast cells. Agar well disc diffusion assay exhibited JFRE induced zones of inhibition for a wide variety of laboratory and clinical strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Analysis of electron microscope images of bacterial cells suggests that JFRE induces cell death by disintegration of the bacterial cell wall and precipitating intracytoplasmic clumping. The antibacterial activity of the JFREs was further validatedin vivousingShigella dysenteriaeinfected fly model, where JFRE pre-fed flies infected withS. dysenteriaehad significantly reduced mortality compared to controls. JFRE demonstrates broad antibacterial property, bothin vitroandin vivo, possibly by its activity on bacterial cell wall. This study highlights the importance of exploring alternative sources of antibacterial compounds, especially from plant-derived waste, that could provide economical and effective solutions to current challenges in antimicrobial therapy.
Metaplasticity in the ventral pallidum as a potential marker for the development of diet-induced obesity
Authors: Gendelis Shani , Inbar Dorrit , Inbar Kineret , Mesner Shanee , Kupchik Yonatan M.
Published: March 2020

A major driver of obesity is the increasing palatability of processed foods. Although reward circuits promote the consumption of palatable food their involvement in obesity remains unclear. The ventral pallidum (VP) is a key hub in the reward system that encodes the hedonic aspects of palatable food consumption and participates in various proposed feeding circuits. However, there is still no evidence for its involvement in developing diet-induced obesity. Here we examine, using male C57bl6/J mice and patch-clamp electrophysiology, how chronic high-fat-high-sugar (HFHS) diet changes the physiology of the VP and whether mice that gain the most weight differ in their VP physiology from others. We found that 10-12 weeks of HFHS diet hyperpolarized and decreased the firing rate of VP neurons without a major change in synaptic inhibitory input. Within the HFHS group, obesity-prone (OP, top 33% weight gainers) mice had a more hyperpolarized VP with longer latency to fire action potentials upon depolarization compared to obesity-resistant (OR, bottom 33% weight gainers) mice. OP mice also showed synaptic potentiation of inhibitory inputs both at the millisecond and minute ranges. Moreover, we found that the tendency to potentiate the inhibitory inputs to the VP might exist in overeating mice even before exposure to HFHS, thus making it a potential property of being an overeater. These data point to the VP as a critical player in obesity and suggest that hyperpolarized membrane potential of, and potentiated inhibitory inputs to, VP neurons may play a significant role in promoting overeating of palatable food.

Significance statement

In modern world, where highly-palatable food is readily available, overeating is often driven by motivational, rather than metabolic, needs. It is thus conceivable that reward circuits differ between obese and normal-weight individuals. But is such difference, if it exists, innate or develops with overeating? Here we reveal synaptic properties in the ventral pallidum, a central hub of reward circuits, that differ between mice that gain the most and the least weight when given unlimited access to highly-palatable food. We show that these synaptic differences exist also without exposure to palatable food, potentially making them innate properties that render some more susceptible than others to overeat. Thus, the propensity to overeat may have a strong innate component embedded in reward circuits.
Multiple-biological matrices metabolomics identified new metabolite biomarkers for the precise diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and associated tissue metastasis
Authors: Luo Xialin , Liu Jingjing , Wang Huaizhi , Lu Haitao
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To improve clinical diagnosis and enhance therapeutic outcome, we figure out to identify and validate metabolite biomarkers from the plasma samples of patients with pancreatic cancer that can easily, sensitively and efficiently diagnose the onsite progression, and metastasis of the disease.

Experimental Design

We employed the newly developed precision-targeted metabolomics method to validate that many differential metabolites have the capacity to markedly distinguish patients with pancreatic cancer from healthy controls. To further enhance the specificity and selectivity of metabolite biomarkers, a dozen tumor tissues from PC patients and paired normal tissues were used to clinically validate the biomarker performance.

Results

We eventually verified five new metabolite biomarkers in plasma (creatine, inosine, beta-sitosterol, sphinganine and glycocholic acid), which can be used to readily diagnose pancreatic cancer in a clinical setting. Excitingly, we proposed a panel biomarker by integrating these five individual metabolites into one pattern, demonstrating much higher accuracy and specificity to precisely diagnose pancreatic cancer than conventional biomarkers (CA125, CA19-9, CA242 and CEA); Moreover, we characterized succinic acid and gluconic acid as having a great capability to monitor the progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer at different stages.

Conclusions

Taken together, this metabolomics method was used to identify and validate metabolite biomarkers that can precisely and sensitively diagnose the onsite progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer in a clinical setting. Furthermore, such effort should leave clinicians with the correct time frame to facilitate early and efficiently therapeutic interventions, which could largely improve the five-year survival rate of PC patients.
Three-dimensional contact point determination and contour reconstruction during active whisking behavior of the awake rat
Authors: Huet Lucie A. , Emnett Hannah M. , Hartmann Mitra J. Z.
Published: March 2020

The rodent vibrissal (whisker) system has been studied for decades as a model of active touch sensing. There are no sensors along the length of a whisker; all sensing occurs at the whisker base. Therefore, a large open question in many neuroscience studies is how an animal could estimate the three-dimensional location at which a whisker makes contact with an object. In the present work we simulated the exact shape of a real rat whisker to demonstrate the existence of a unique mapping from triplets of mechanical signals at the whisker base to the three-dimensional whisker-object contact point. We then used high speed video to record whisker deflections as an awake rat whisked against a peg and used the mechanics resulting from those deflections to extract the contact points along the peg surface. A video shows the contour of the peg gradually emerging during active whisking behavior.
Assessing the impact of introductory programming workshops on the computational reproducibility of biomedical workflows
Authors: Deardorff Ariel
Published: March 2020

Introduction

As biomedical research becomes more data-intensive, computational reproducibility is a growing area of importance. Unfortunately, many biomedical researchers have not received formal computational training and often struggle to produce results that can be reproduced using the same data, code, and methods. Programming workshops can be a tool to teach new computational methods, but it is not always clear whether researchers are able to use their new skills to make their work more computationally reproducible.

Methods

This mixed methods study consisted of in-depth interviews with 14 biomedical researchers before and after participation in an introductory programming workshop. During the interviews, participants described their research workflows and responded to a quantitative checklist measuring reproducible behaviors. The interview data was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach, and the pre and post workshop checklist scores were compared to assess the impact of the workshop on computational reproducibility of the researchers’ workflows.

Results

Pre and post scores on a checklist of reproducible behaviors did not increase in a statistically significant manner. The qualitative interviews revealed that several participants had made small changes to their workflows including switching to open source programming languages for their data cleaning, analysis, and visualization. Overall many of the participants indicated higher levels of programming literacy and an interest in further training. Factors that enabled change included supportive environments and an immediate research need, while barriers included collaborators that were resistant to new tools and a lack of time.

Conclusion

While none of the participants completely changed their workflows, many of them did incorporate new practices, tools, or methods that helped make their work more reproducible and transparent to other researchers. This indicate that programming workshops now offered by libraries and other organizations contribute to computational reproducibility training for researchers
Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of gamma rays and sodium azide in M2generation of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp.]
Authors: Raina Aamir , Khan Samiullah
Published: March 2020

Legumes play a pivotal role in combating the chronic hunger and malnutrition in the developing nations and are also ideal crops to achieve global food and nutrition security. In the era of climate change, erratic rainfalls, depleting arable land and water resource, feeding the rapidly growing population is a challenging task. Like most other pulses, cowpea is a self pollinated, nutritious, versatile and widely adapted grain legume, but harbor a little accessible genetic variability. Lack of sufficient genetic variability and small size of flowers, traditional plant breeding methods are not enough to meet the demands of improvement of cowpea. Hence, induced mutagenesis was employed to induce significant genetic variability across a range of agro-economical traits in two cowpea varieties Gomati VU-89 and Pusa- 578 from M1 to M4 generations. The success of induced mutagenesis largely depends on the selection of appropriate mutagen, its dose, effectiveness and efficiency. Hence present study was conduct to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of single and combined doses of sodium azide and gamma rays to set an appropriate protocol for induced mutagenesis experimentation in cowpea.
Schistosoma Japonicuminfection in Treg-specific USP21 knock-out mice
Authors: Zhang Youxiang , Xu Guina , Zhang Baoxin , Zhang Shan , Li Yangyang , Huang Qing , Chen Simin , Zeng Fansheng , Li Bin , Qin Zhiqiang , Zhang Zuping
Published: March 2020

USP21, an E3 de-ubiquitin enzyme playing vital roles in physiological activities, is important for Treg cells to maintain immune homeostasis and control immune tolerance. To understand its diverse functions and potential mechanism is essential for disease development. We, using the USP21 gene-conditional knock-out mice model ofSchistosoma Japonicuminfection, found more cercariae developed into adults, and more eggs deposited in the liver in KO mice. However, immunohistochemistry showed the degree and the area of egg granuloma and liver fibrosis were both reduced. This suggested knock-out USP21 did affect the immunoregulation between schistosomes and the host. In KO mice the content of IFN-gamma and IL-4, and the expression of anti-SEA IgG and anti-SWAP IgG both increased in the liver, spleen and blood by flow cytometry, while the content of IL-10, lL-17A, IL-23, IL-9 and the expression of USP21 and anti-SEA IgM decreased. This indicated USP21-knockout-Tregs promoted both Th1-type and Th2-type immunity and inhibited other immunities during schistosomes infection, which disordered the host immunity. This study revealed the immunomodulatory of USP21 and preliminarily suggests it might be essential to regulate the complex immune network between the host and schistosomes. USP21 provides a new possible target for schistosomiasis treatment in the future.

Author summary

Schistosomiasis is a common neglected tropical disease that affects more than 230 million people worldwide. Therefore, the study on the mechanism of immune interaction between schistosomas and the host is not only helpful for the understanding of immune homeostasis, but also helpful for the further development of the treatment of schistosomiasis. Ubiquitin Specific Protease 21(USP21) has been shown to be involved in the regulation of many biological processes, such as maintaining immune homeostasis and regulating cell growth. Here, we observed that the specific deletion of USP21 led to the decrease of mice’s ability to resist schistosomes infection and promoted the survival of schistosomes. It was also proved that unstable regulatory T cells would produce polarization phenomenon and promote differentiation to helper T cells, which would lead to disorder of immune response in mice. However, this process reduced the serious immune pathological damage caused by egg granuloma. Our findings reveal that USP21 may be an important molecule regulating immune interaction betweenSchistosoma japonicumand the host.
Identification of X-chromosomal genes that drive global X-dosage effects in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Genolet Oriana , Monaco Anna A. , Dunkel Ilona , Boettcher Michael , Schulz Edda G.
Published: March 2020

X-chromosomal genes contribute to sex differences, in particular during early development, when both X chromosomes are active in females. Here, double X-dosage shifts female pluripotent cells towards the naive stem cell state by increasing pluripotency factor expression, inhibiting the differentiation-promoting MAP kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway and delaying differentiation. To identify the genetic basis of these sex differences, we have performed a series of CRISPR knockout screens in murine embryonic stem cells to comprehensively identify X-linked genes that cause the female pluripotency phenotype. We found multiple genes that act in concert, among which Klhl13 plays a central role. We show that this E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate adaptor protein promotes pluripotency factor expression, delays differentiation and represses MAPK target genes, and we identify putative substrates. We thus elucidate the mechanisms that drive sex-induced differences in pluripotent cells with implications for gender medicine in the context of induced pluripotent stem cell based therapies.
Dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brain
Authors: Schmid Alexandra C. , Boyaci Huseyin , Doerschner Katja
Published: March 2020

There is growing research interest in the neural mechanisms underlying the recognition of material categories and properties. This research field, however, is relatively more recent and limited compared to investigations of the neural mechanisms underlying object and scene category recognition. Motion is particularly important for the perception of non-rigid materials, but the neural basis of non-rigid material motion remains unexplored. Using fMRI, we investigated which brain regions respond preferentially to material motion versus other types of motion. We introduce a new database of stimuli – dynamic dot materials – that are animations of moving dots that induce vivid percepts of various materials in motion, e.g. flapping cloth, liquid waves, wobbling jelly. Control stimuli were scrambled versions of these same animations and rigid three-dimensional rotating dots. Results showed that isolating material motion properties with dynamic dots (in contrast with other kinds of motion) activates a network of cortical regions in both ventral and dorsal visual pathways, including areas normally associated with the processing of surface properties and shape, and extending to somatosensory and premotor cortices. We suggest that such a widespread preference for material motion is due to strong associations between stimulus properties. For example viewing dots moving in a specific pattern not only elicits percepts of material motion; one perceives a flexible, non-rigid shape, identifies the object as a cloth flapping in the wind, infers the object’s weight under gravity, and anticipates how it would feel to reach out and touch the material. These results are a first important step in mapping out the cortical architecture and dynamics in material-related motion processing.
Genetic sex determination and sex-specific lifespan in tetrapods – evidence of a toxic Y effect
Authors: Sultanova Zahida , Downing Philip A. , Carazo Pau
Published: March 2020

Sex-specific lifespans are ubiquitous across the tree of life and exhibit broad taxonomic patterns that remain a puzzle, such as males living longer than females in birds and vice versa in mammals. The prevailing “unguarded-X” hypothesis (UXh) explains this by differential expression of recessive mutations in the X/Z chromosome of the heterogametic sex (e.g., females in birds and males in mammals), but has only received indirect support to date. An alternative hypothesis is that the accumulation of deleterious mutations and repetitive elements on the Y/W chromosome might lower the survival of the heterogametic sex (“toxic Y” hypothesis). Here, we report lower survival of the heterogametic relative to the homogametic sex across 138 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, as expected if sex chromosomes shape sex-specific lifespans. We then analysed bird and mammal karyotypes and found that the relative sizes of the X and Z chromosomes are not associated with sex-specific lifespans, contrary to UXh predictions. In contrast, we found that Y size correlates negatively with male survival in mammals, where toxic Y effects are expected to be particularly strong. This suggests that small Y chromosomes benefit male lifespans. Our results confirm the role of sex chromosomes in explaining sex differences in lifespan, but indicate that, at least in mammals, this is better explained by “toxic Y” rather than UXh effects.
Rab27b regulates the release, autophagic clearance, and toxicity of alpha-synuclein
Authors: Underwood Rachel , Wang Bing , Carico Christine , Whitaker Robert H. , Placzek William J. , Yacoubian Talene
Published: March 2020

Alpha synuclein (αsyn) is the primary component of proteinaceous aggregates termed Lewy Bodies that pathologically define synucleinopathies including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). αSyn is hypothesized to spread through the brain in a prion-like fashion by misfolded protein forming a template for aggregation of endogenous αsyn. The release and uptake of αsyn from cell to cell are considered important processes for this prion-like spread. Rab27b is one of several GTPases essential to the endosomal-lysosomal pathway and is implicated in protein secretion and clearance but has yet to be characterized in its role in αsyn spread. In this study, we used a paracrine αsynin vitromodel to test the impact of Rab27b on αsyn release, clearance, and toxicity. shRNA-mediated knockdown (KD) of Rab27b increased αsyn-mediated paracrine toxicity. While Rab27b reduced αsyn release primarily through non-exosomal pathways, the αsyn released under KD conditions was of higher molecular weight species by size exclusion chromatography. Rab27b KD increased intracellular insoluble αsyn levels and led to an accumulation of endogenous LC3 positive puncta. Rab27b KD also decreased LC3 turnover with chloroquine treatment, indicating a defect in autophagic flux. Rab27b protein levels were increased in postmortem human brain lysates from PD and DLB subjects compared to healthy controls. These data indicate a role for Rab27b in the release, clearance, and toxicity of αsyn and ultimately in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (C7H9N4O2)[ZnCl3(H2O)]
Authors: El Hamdani Hicham , El Amane Mohamed , Saadi Mohamed , El Ammari Lahcen
Published: March 2020

In the title molecular salt, 1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-purin-9-ium aquatrichloridozincate(II), (C7H9N4O2)[ZnCl3(H2O)], the fused ring system of the cation is close to planar, with the largest deviation from the mean plane being 0.037 (3) Å. In the complex anion, the ZnII cation is coordinated by three chloride ions and one oxygen atom from the water ligand in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. In the crystal, inversion dimers between pairs of cations linked by pairwise N—H...O hydrogen bonds generate R
2
2(10) rings. The anions are linked into dimers by pairs of O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds and the respective dimers are linked by O—H...O and N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds. Together, these generate a three-dimensional supramolecular network. Hirshfeld surfaces were generated to gain further insight into the packing.
Tris(1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)amine methanol trisolvate
Authors: Anzaldo-Olivares Bertin , Arroyo Maribel , Ramírez-Monroy Armando , Bernès Sylvain
Published: March 2020

The structure of the tertiary amine tris(1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)amine (C24H21N7, abbreviated ntb) has been previously reported twice as solvates, namely the monohydrate and the acetonitrile–methanol–water (1/0.5/1.5) solvate, both with the tripodal conformation formed via multiple hydrogen bonds. Now, we report the trimethanol adduct, ntb·3CH3OH, where the amine has the stair conformation featuring one benzimidazole group oriented in the opposite direction from the other two. The asymmetric unit contains one-half amine, completed through the mirror plane m in space group Pmn21 to form the ntb molecule, with the H atom for each imidazole moiety equally disordered between both N sites available in the imidazole ring. The asymmetric unit also contains one and a half methanol molecules, one being placed in general position with the hydroxy H atom disordered over two sites with occupancy ratio 1:1, while the other lies on the m mirror plane, and has thus its hydroxy H atom disordered by symmetry. As in the previously reported solvates, all imine and amine groups of the ntb molecules and the methanol molecules are involved in N—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds. In the title compound, however, the involved H atom is systematically a disordered H atom provided by an imidazole group or a methanol molecule.
12,15-Dimethyl-8-oxatetracyclo[8.8.0.02,7.011,16]octadeca-1(18),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaen-10-ol
Authors: Lough Alan J. , Koh Samuel , Tam William
Published: March 2020

In the title compound, C19H18O2, the pyran ring is in a half-chair conformation. The fused ring system comprising the benzene and cyclohexene rings is essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.053 Å) and forms a dihedral angle of 27.95 (6)° with the other benzene ring. In the crystal, O—H...O hydrogen bonds connect the molecules into chains propagating along [001].
Does co-production build on co-creation or does co-creation result in co-producing?
Authors: Luonila Mervi , Jyrämä Annukka
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to deepen the theoretical understanding on value (co-)creation particularly in the context of arts.

Design/methodology/approach

Through critical readings of the current theories on co-creation and co-production, we analyse literature relating to the network and service-dominant logic from the perspective of the arts field.

Findings

It is argued here that the context for value co-creation might be better analysed through network relationships, allowing a better identification of actors and their roles. We highlight the role of non-expert consumers through their co-creational experiences. In addition, we question the implicit assumption that the outcome of value co-creation is always progressive.

Practical implications

The paper provides deeper understanding for art managers of the mechanisms of value (co-)creation.

Social implications

The paper provides new knowledge of the variety of levels of relations in the value co-creation.

Originality/value

The novelty of the paper lies in the new conceptual framework that offers both a wider perspective for theory building of value (co)creation in the context of arts management and deeper understanding for art managers of the mechanisms of value (co-)creation.
Assembling tribes
Authors: Diaz Ruiz Carlos A. , Penaloza Lisa , Holmqvist Jonas
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the dynamics of ephemerality within consumer tribes by conceptualizing how tribes constitute, disperse and reconstitute. Building upon assemblage thinking, a philosophical approach that redistributes agency from the subject to a web of interconnected human–material actants, this paper shows that tribes manifest via hybrid assemblages of people, things and ideas.

Design/methodology/approach

Insights are drawn from a three-year assemblage-oriented ethnographic study of a salsa-dancing tribe, specifically their ephemeral gatherings across multiple sites without hierarchical organization. Methods include observations as a consumer–participant, producer–participant and in-depth interviewing.

Findings

Introduces a framework documenting how tribes disperse temporarily and reconstitute via a dual process of ascription and distribution. Tribes reconstitute when consumers reproduce an assemblage that effectively overcomes a meshwork of practical challenges. Consumers ascribe to the standards of the tribe while, alternatively, tribes distribute the assemblage beyond the immediate group.

Research limitations/implications

Conceptualizes the socio-technical dynamics that tribes mobilize to disassemble and reassemble through ephemeral gatherings. Proposes a framework on hybrid interdependencies, including not only participants but also techniques, devices and sites.

Practical implications

While previous research shows that tribes can collapse, the authors propose that marketers can intervene to foster long-term resilience. As tribes disperse, consumer and marketing efforts operate at different temporal sequences to enable tribal reconstitutions.

Originality/value

Contributes to the literature on consumer tribes by theorizing ephemerality per ascription and distribution mechanisms.
Facing the fear: resilience and social support in veterans and civilians with PTSD
Authors: Wall Charlotte Louise , Lowe Michelle
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of resilience and social support on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of 121 veterans (n = 56) and civilians (n = 65).

Design/methodology/approach

Gender, age and marital status were collected, along with occupation for civilians and the unit served with, rank, length of time deployed, overall months active and location for veterans. The trauma experiences scale for civilians, the PTSD checklist for civilian and military, Resilience Research Centre’s Adult Resilience Measure-28, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Deployment Risk and Resiliency Inventory-2 scales were used.

Findings

The results revealed for both samples, resilience and social support (except unit support for veterans) impacted PTSD symptoms. However, social support did not mediate the relationship between resilience and PTSD.

Practical implications

Implications for policy and practice were discussed.

Originality/value

The originality of this research stems from the incorporation of both a civilian and military sample by comparing their levels of PTSD, resilience and social support.
Modelling sectoral spillovers in the USA (1992–2015)
Authors: Konstantakis Konstantinos N. , Michaelides Panayotis G. , Papageorgiou Theofanis , Daglis Theodoros
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This research paper uses a novel methodological approach to investigate the spillover effects among the key sectors of the US economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper links the US sectors via a node theoretic scheme based on a general equilibrium framework, whereas it estimates the general equilibrium equation as a Global Vector Autoregressive process, taking into consideration the potential existence of dominant units.

Findings

Based on our findings, the dominant sector in the US economy, for the period 1992–2015, is the sector of information technology, finance and communications, a fact that gives credence to the view that the US economy is a service-driven economy. In addition, the US economy seems to benefit by the increased labour mobility across knowledge-intensive sectors, thus avoiding the ‘employment trap’ which in turn enabled the US economy to overcome the financial crisis of 2007.

Originality/value

Firstly, the paper models by means of a network approach which is based on a general equilibrium framework, the linkages between the US sectors while treating the sector of information, technology, communications and finance as dominant, as dictated by its degree of centrality in the network structure. Secondly, the paper offers a robustness analysis regarding both the existence and the identification of dominant sectors (nodes) in the US economy. Thirdly, the paper studies a wide period, namely 1992–2015, fully capturing the recent global recession, while acknowledging the impact of the global crisis through the introduction of the relevant exogenous dummy variables; Lastly and most importantly, it is the first study to apply the GVAR approach in a network general equilibrium framework at the sectoral level.