bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parent–infant affect synchrony during social and solo play
Authors: Kidby Sayaka , Neale Dave , Wass Sam , Leong Victoria
Published: March 2023

While mother–infant affect synchrony has been proposed to facilitate the early development of social understanding, most investigations into affect synchrony have concentrated more on negative than positive affect. We analysed affect sharing during parent–infant object play, comparing positive and negative affect, to examine how it is modulated by shared playful activity. Mother–infant dyads (
N
= 20, average infant age 10.7 months) played together (social) or separately (solo) using an object. Both participants increased positive affect during social play as compared with solo play. Positive affect synchrony also increased during social play compared with solo play, whereas negative affect synchrony did not differ. Closer examination of the temporal dynamics of affect changes showed that infants' shifts to positive affect tended to occur contingently in response to their mothers', whereas mothers’ shifts to negative affect followed their infants'. Further, during social play, positive affect displays were more long-lived while negative more short-lived. While our sample was small and from a homogeneous population (e.g. white, highly educated parents), limiting the implications of the findings, these results demonstrate that maternal active engagement in playful interaction with her infant affords, increases, and extends infant positive affect and parent–infant positive affect synchrony, providing insights into how the social context modulates infants’ affective experiences.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Face2face: advancing the science of social interaction’.
Your turn, my turn. Neural synchrony in mother–infant proto-conversation
Authors: Nguyen Trinh , Zimmer Lucie , Hoehl Stefanie
Published: March 2023

Even before infants utter their first words, they engage in highly coordinated vocal exchanges with their caregivers. During these so-called proto-conversations, caregiver–infant dyads use a presumably universal communication structure—turn-taking, which has been linked to favourable developmental outcomes. However, little is known about potential mechanisms involved in early turn-taking. Previous research pointed to interpersonal synchronization of brain activity between adults and preschool-aged children during turn-taking. Here, we assessed caregivers and infants at 4–6 months of age (
N
= 55) during a face-to-face interaction. We used functional-near infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning to measure dyads' brain activity and microcoded their turn-taking. We also measured infants’ inter-hemispheric connectivity as an index for brain maturity and later vocabulary size and attachment security as developmental outcomes potentially linked to turn-taking. The results showed that more frequent turn-taking was related to interpersonal neural synchrony, but the strength of the relation decreased over the course of the proto-conversation. Importantly, turn-taking was positively associated with infant brain maturity and later vocabulary size, but not with later attachment security. Taken together, these findings shed light on mechanisms facilitating preverbal turn-taking and stress the importance of emerging turn-taking for child brain and language development.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Face2face: advancing the science of social interaction’.
Evaluation of Triglyceride-Glucose Index as a Marker for Severity in New Onset Diabetes in Patients of COVID-19 Pneumonia- a Single Center Study
Authors: Ashraf Faiza , Mehmood Majid , Aurang Zeb Mohammad , Rehman Jehanzeb ur , Siddiqui Fariha Masood
Published: March 2023

IntroductionSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV 2) Covid-19 is responsible for the pandemic affecting the world population since 2019. Starting from Wuhan, China enveloped the globe within a few months. It affected the healthy population, but played havoc in terms of mortality and morbidity for old and diseased populations. Diabetes is a known condition putting patients at high risk of complications, resulting from metabolic syndrome-derived impaired immune responses. The world is still grappling with the challenge of managing diabetic patients with covid pneumonia and newly added Diabetics resulting from post covid complications driven by Covid-19-induced damage to pancreatic beta cells. Resulting in worsening of existing Diabetic control and new onset Diabetes (NOD) in susceptible individuals. The TYG (Triglyceride-Glucose Index) may serve as a marker to identify patients at risk of developing a serious illnessHypothesisTriglyceride Glucose Index is a marker for severity of Covid-19 and new onset of diabetes.Aim        To evaluate role of TYG index in prediction of new onset of Diabetes mellitus in Covid-19 patients and as a marker for disease severity in diabetic Covid-19 patients.MethodologyThis cross-sectional study was carried out in Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalakot. Covid-19 patients' diagnosis was confirmed by RT-PCR. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1c), fasting glucose and Triglycerides (TG) were performed at the biochemistry lab using SELECTRA chemical analyzer. TYG index was calculated and related with clinical symptoms of patients.ResultsA total of 2974 samples has been tested by RT-PCR. Three hundred and ninety-three (13%) were positive for COVID-19 infection. Twenty-one patients (5%) developed new-onset Diabetes (NOD) during the COVID infection. A TYG index of 43 people affected with COVID-19 (21 NOD and 22 non-diabetic individuals (control group) was calculated as a marker of severity index. It was found that the higher TYG was associated with severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19 diabetes.                         ConclusionCovid-19 infection is associated with worsening disease in preexisting diabetic patients and is responsible for new-onset Diabetes in patients. TYG index correlates directly with the severity of Covid-19. TYG index can be used as a predictor marker for mortality and morbidity in Covid-19.
Exploring the Interplay between BOLD Signal Variability, Complexity, and Static and Dynamic Functional Brain Network Features during Movie Viewing
Authors: Ghaderi Amir Hossein , Wang Hongye , Protzner Andrea
Published: March 2023

As the brain is dynamic and complex, knowledge of brain signal variability and complexity is crucial in our understanding of brain function. Recent resting-fMRI studies revealed links between BOLD signal variability or complexity with static/dynamics features of functional brain networks (FBN). However, no study has examined the relationships between these brain metrics. The association between brain signal variability and complexity is still understudied. Here we investigated the association between movie naturalistic-fMRI BOLD signal variability/complexity and static/dynamic FBN features using graph theory analysis. We found that variability positively correlated with fine-scale complexity but negatively correlated with coarse-scale complexity. Hence, variability and coarse-scale complexity correlated with static FC oppositely. Specifically, regions with high centrality and clustering coefficient were related to less variable but more complex signal. Similar relationship persisted for dynamic FBN, but the associations with certain aspects of regional centrality dynamics became insignificant. Our findings demonstrate that the relationship between BOLD signal variability, static/dynamic FBN with BOLD signal complexity depends on the temporal scale of signal complexity. Additionally, altered correlation between variability and complexity with dynamic FBN features may indicate the complex, time-varying feature of FBN and reflect how BOLD signal variability and complexity co-evolve with dynamic FBN over time.
Defining Destigmatizing Design Guidelines for Use in Sexual Health-Related Digital Technologies: A Delphi Study
Authors: Abdulai Abdul-Fatawu , Howard A.Fuchsia , Yong Paul J. , Currie Leanne M.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Stigma has been recognized as a significant issue in sexual health, yet no specific guidelines exist to support digital health development teams in creating stigma-alleviating sexual health digital platforms. The purpose of this study was to develop a set of design guidelines that would serve as a reference point for addressing stigma during the design of sexual health-related digital platforms.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a 3-round Delphi study among 14 researchers in stigma and sexual health. A preliminary list of 28 design guidelines was generated from a literature review. Participants appraised and critiqued the clarity and usefulness of the preliminary list and provided comments for each item and for the overall group of items at each round. At each round, a content validity index and an interquartile range were calculated to determine the level of consensus regarding the clarity and usefulness of each guideline. Items were retained if there was high consensus and discarded if there was no consensus after the three rounds.

Results

Nineteen design guidelines achieved consensus. Most of them were content-related guidelines and sought to address the emotional concerns of patients that could potentially aggravate stigma. The findings also reflected modern stigma management strategies of making stigma a societal attribute by challenging, exposing, and normalizing stigma attributes via web platforms.

Conclusion

To address stigma via digital platforms, developers should not just concentrate on technical solutions but seriously consider content-related and emotional design components that are likely to result in stigma
Perinatal SSRI Exposure Impacts Innate Fear Circuit Activation and Behavior in Mice and Humans
Authors: Zanni Giulia , Van Dijk Milenna , Cagliostro Martha Caffrey , Stevens Gregory S. , Pini Nicolò , Rose Ariel L. , Kesin Alexander L. , Lugo-Candelas Claudia , Goncalves Priscila Dib , MacKay Alexandra S. , Kulkarni Praveen , Ferris Craig F. , Weissman Myrna M. , Talati Ardesheer , Ansorge Mark S. , Gingrich Jay A.
Published: March 2023

Serotonin shapes brain structure and function during early development across phylogenetically diverse species. In mice and humans, perinatal SSRI exposure produces brain alterations and increases anxiety/depression-related behaviors in the offspring. It remains unclear whether shared brain circuit changes underlie the behavioral impact of perinatal SSRIs across species. We examine how developmental SSRI-exposure in mice and humans changes fear-related brain activation and behavior. SSRI-administered mice showed increased defense responses to a predator odor that were associated with stronger fMRI-based fear circuit activation when compared to saline controls. Similarly, human adolescents exposed to SSRIsin uteroshowed greater activation of fear brain structures and exhibited higher anxiety and depressive symptoms than unexposed adolescents. Perinatal SSRI enhances innate fear-related responses and fear brain circuit activation that are conserved across species.

One Sentence Summary

Since SSRI use in pregnancy is common, we determined the effects of altered serotonin signaling during development in mice and humans.
An exploratory factor analysis approach to identifying patient benefits of a cost-of-care conversation tool in routine prenatal care
Authors: Rivelli Anne , Fitzpatrick Veronica , Shields Maureen , Erwin Kim
Published: March 2023

To address the need for cost-of-care conversations in prenatal care, the CONTINUE (cost conversations inroutineprenatal care) study was conducted with prenatal patients to better understand the benefits of implementing a cost-of-care conversation “cost” tool into routine obstetrics (OB) care. This research team conducted a multi-phase, mixed-methods research study to identify 18 target benefits of a cost tool to initiate and standardize cost-of-care conversation and, subsequently, developed and validated a cost tool. The cost tool was piloted and data pertaining to cost tool benefits were collected through interviews and surveys. To comprehensively assess the cost tool’s utility, exploratory factor analysis was performed to classify the underlying factor structure of the 18 benefit item responses. Data includes patients’ self-reported experiences of benefit items, as collected from third trimester prenatal patient participants who received the tool at the beginning of their prenatal care in three midwestern-based hospital clinics within one healthcare system. The present study describes the factor analysis approach used to identify the three final factors that emerged from the data. This analysis provides a framework for exploring patient-specific predictors of experiencing the benefit-related factors of a cost tool incorporated into routine OB care.

Statements and Declarations

This study was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, #77290.
Molecular determinants for Rous sarcoma virus intasome assemblies
Authors: Bera Sibes , Shi Ke , Aihara Hideki , Grandgenett Duane P. , Pandey Krishan K.
Published: March 2023

Integration of retroviral DNA into the host genome involves formation of integrase (IN)-DNA complexes termed intasomes. Here, we report the single-particle cryo-EM structure of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) strand transfer complex (STC) intasome produced with IN and a preassembled viral/target DNA substrate. The STC structure had an overall resolution of 3.36 Å and 3 Å in the conserved intasome core (CIC) region. Our structure demonstrated the flexibility of the distal IN subunits relative to the IN subunits in the CIC, similar to previously shown with the RSV octameric cleaved synaptic complex (CSC) intasome produced with IN and viral DNA only. An extensive analysis of higher-resolution STC structure helped in identification of nucleoprotein interactions important for intasome assembly. Using structure-function studies, we determined the mechanisms of several IN-DNA interactions critical for assembly of both RSV intasomes. We determined the role of IN residues R244, Y246 and S124 in CSC and STC intasome assemblies and their catalytic activities, demonstrating differential effects. Taken together, these studies advance our understanding of different RSV intasome structures and molecular determinants involved in their assembly.
Neutrophilic Inflammation in Models of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is Rescued by a Lactobacilli Based Live Biotherapeutic
Authors: Nicola Teodora , Wenger Nancy , Xu Xin , Evans Michael , Rezonzew Gabriel , Qiao Luhua , Yang Youfeng , Ambalavanan Namasivayam , Blalock J Edwin , Gaggar Amit , Lal Charitharth Vivek
Published: March 2023

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease of prematurity. Exposure to noxious stimuli such as hyperoxia, volutrauma, and infection in infancy can have long-reaching impacts on lung health and predispose towards the development of conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood. BPD and COPD are both marked by lung tissue degradation, neutrophil influx, and decreased lung function. Both diseases also express a change in microbial signature dominated byProteobacteriaabundance andLactobacillusscarcity. However, the relationship between pulmonary microbial dysbiosis and the mechanisms of downstream disease development has yet to be elucidated. We hypothesized that a double-hit hyperoxia and LPS murine model of BPD would show heightened Ac-PGP pathway and neutrophil activity. Through gain- and loss-of-function studies in the same model we showed that Ac-PGP plays a critical role in driving BPD development. We tested a novel inhaled live biotherapeutic using activeLactobacillusstrains to counteract lung dysbiosis inin vitroandin vivomodels of BPD and COPD. TheLactobacillusLBP is effective in improving lung structure and function, reducing neutrophil influx, and reducing a broad swath of pro-inflammatory markers in these models of chronic pulmonary disease. Live inhaled microbiome-based therapeutics show promise in addressing common pathways of disease progression that in the future can be targeted in a variety of chronic lung diseases.
Human basal-like breast cancer is represented by one of the two mammary tumor subtypes in dogs
Authors: Watson Joshua , Wang Tianfang , Ho Kun-Lin , Feng Yuan , Dobbin Kevin K , Zhao Shaying
Published: March 2023

Background

About 20% of breast cancers in humans are basal-like, a subtype that is often triple negative and difficult to treat. An effective translational model for basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is currently lacking and urgently needed. To determine if spontaneous mammary tumors in pet dogs could meet this need, we subtyped canine mammary tumors and evaluated the dog-human molecular homology at the subtype level.

Methods

We subtyped 236 canine mammary tumors from 3 studies by applying various subtyping strategies on their RNA-seq data. We then performed PAM50 classification with canine tumors alone, as well as with canine tumors combined with human breast tumors. We investigated differential gene expression, signature gene set enrichment, expression association, mutational landscape, and other features for dog-human subtype comparison.

Results

Our independent genome-wide subtyping consistently identified two molecularly distinct subtypes among the canine tumors. One subtype is mostly basal-like and clusters with human BLBC in cross-species PAM50 classification, while the other subtype does not cluster with any human breast cancer subtype. Furthermore, the canine basal-like subtype recaptures key molecular features (e.g., cell cycle gene upregulation, TP53 mutation) and gene expression patterns that characterize human BLBC. It is enriched histological subtypes that match human breast cancer, unlike the other canine subtype. However, about 33% of canine basal-like tumors are estrogen receptor negative (ER-) and progesterone receptor positive (PR+), which is rare in human breast cancer. Further analysis reveals that these ER-PR+ canine tumors harbor additional basal-like features, including upregulation of genes of interferon-γ response and of the Wnt-pluripotency pathway. Interestingly, we observed an association ofPGRexpression with gene silencing in all canine tumors, and with the expression of T cell exhaustion markers (e.g.,PDCD1) in ER-PR+ canine tumors.

Conclusions

We identify a canine mammary tumor subtype that molecularly resembles human BLBC overall, and thus could serve as a vital spontaneous animal model of this devastating breast cancer subtype. Our study also sheds light on the dog-human difference in the mammary tumor histology and the hormonal cycle.
The concordance of length- and sequence-based STRs used in forensic markers with guidance for practice
Authors: Sathirapatya Tikumphorn , Worrapitirungsi Wikanda , Sukawutthiya Poonyapat , Noh Hasnee , Pitiwararom Rachatipan , Vongpaisarnsin Kornkiat
Published: March 2023

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has shed light on every aspect of genetic discoveries, including forensic genetics. The Miseq® FGx Forensic Genetic System (Verogen) is one of the pioneering forensic NGS that provided a complete system from library preparation to data analysis. The system has been validated by several studies and led to a more practical aspect. Short tandem repeat (STR) is a well-established marker that was designed specifically for human individualization. Since NGS provides different data from fragment analysis, a new STR nomenclature is established to make NGS backward compatible with the previous data. In this study, Thai population were used to evaluate the Miseq® FGx Forensic genetic system (Verogen) in practical aspect, including concordance study and forensic population parameters. In summary, we purposed a practical guideline for sequence-based STRs.
Combined statistical-biophysical modeling links ion channel genes to physiology of cortical neuron types
Authors: Bernaerts Yves , Deistler Michael , Gonçalves Pedro J. , Beck Jonas , Stimberg Marcel , Scala Federico , Tolias Andreas S. , Macke Jakob , Kobak Dmitry , Berens Philipp
Published: March 2023

Neural cell types have classically been characterized by their anatomy and electrophysiology. More recently, single-cell transcriptomics has enabled an increasingly fine genetically defined taxonomy of cortical cell types, but the link between the gene expression of individual cell types and their physiological and anatomical properties remains poorly understood. Here, we develop a hybrid modeling approach to bridge this gap. Our approach combines statistical and mechanistic models to predict cells’ electrophysiological activity from their gene expression pattern. To this end, we fit biophysical Hodgkin-Huxley-based models for a wide variety of cortical cell types using simulation-based inference, while overcoming the challenge posed by the mismatch between the mathematical model and the data. Using multimodal Patch-seq data, we link the estimated model parameters to gene expression using an interpretable sparse linear regression model. Our approach recovers specific ion channel gene expressions as predictive of biophysical model parameters including ion channel densities, directly implicating their mechanistic role in determining neural firing.
Identifying key features of digital elements used during online science practicals
Authors: Janštová Vanda , Novotný Petr , Chlebounová Irena , Guitart Fina , Forne Ester , Tortosa Montserrat
Published: March 2023

As in everyday life, we use more digital elements as part of formal and informal education. To serve their educational purpose well, systematic research is desirable on identifying and measuring their characteristics. This study focuses on science practicals, which are complex and vary in organizational settings and specific arrangements, including usage of digital elements. We describe digital resources on which teaching online science practicals during COVID-19 forced lockdowns were built. We identified their key characteristics, as part of the Erasmus+ project ‘My Home – My Science Lab’, where science teachers in Slovakia, Czechia, Slovenia, France, and Spain shared web resources they used and would recommend and why. We recorded 89 inputs representing 50 unique web resources. Teachers preferred free web resources, mostly for knowledge revision, and newly discovered half of them due to forced distant teaching. The best evaluated resources were those supporting interaction (especially among peers), focused on teaching subjects and/or ICT, ready to use, and with a clear structure. The web resource most frequently mentioned and used in all countries was PhET (Interactive Simulations for Science and Math) providing free science principles simulations. Other characteristics mentioned in the literature (eg., supporting creativity and independent solving, connecting different levels of organization, authenticity, flexibility) were not that important for the overall rating.
A paper based microfluidic platform combining LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a for fluorometric detection of nucleic acids
Authors: Sen Anindita , Morris Calum , Priye Aashish , Broom Murray
Published: March 2023

Nucleic acid isothermal amplification methods are advantageous for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics because of their precision, sensitivity, and low power requirements. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an established method, renowned for its nucleic acid amplification efficiency and robust amplification of semi purified target nucleic acids. However, LAMP may be prone to non-specific amplification causing false positives and therefore fails to replace PCR as the gold standard method in clinical testing. We show that LAMP combined with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology is an effective alternative for overcoming the limitations of LAMP alone. Nucleic acids are first isothermally pre-amplified to enrich for targets, then specific amplification detection signals are generated by sequences of RNA guided recognition of amplicons. We are the first to demonstrate a paper based microfluidic system for detecting pathogen nucleic acids in samples by combining the power of LAMP and CRISPR technology. We show that although LAMP may produce non-specific amplification, the possibility of detecting a false positive can be eliminated by combining LAMP with CRISPR based detection. We demonstrate that a paper based microfluidic platform has the potential to compete with the conventional Nucleic acid testing (NAT) technologies not only in terms of robustness but also in terms of cost and complexity.
Neutralizing Antibodies with Neurotropic Factor Treatment Maintain Neurodevelopmental Gene Expression Upon Exposure to Human Cytomegalovirus
Authors: O’Brien Benjamin S. , Mokry Rebekah L. , Schumacher Megan L. , Rosas Suzette , Terhune Scott S. , Ebert Allison D.
Published: March 2023

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta herpesvirus that causes severe congenital birth defects including microcephaly, vision loss, and hearing loss. Infection of cerebral organoids with HCMV causes significant downregulation of genes involved in critical neurodevelopmental pathways. The precise features of the infection causing this dysregulation remain unknown. Entry of HCMV into human cells is determined by the composition of glycoproteins in viral particles, which is influenced by the source of the virus. This includes a trimer complex and a pentamer complex with the latter enriched from replication in epithelial cells. To begin dissecting which features contribute to neuronal pathogenesis, we evaluated infection using virus from different sources along with the distribution of cellular entry receptors on cells in cerebral organoids. We observed significant increases in the number of viral genomes, viral spread and penetrance, and multinucleated syncytia in neural tissues infected with HCMV propagated in epithelial cells compared to fibroblasts. To determine if this was related to entry receptor distribution, we measured expressions of cellular entry receptors and observed similar distributions of all receptors on cells obtained from organoids indicating that source of virus is likely the key determinant. Next, we asked whether we could limit pathogenesis using neutralization antibodies. We found that pre-treatment with antibodies against viral glycoprotein B (gB) and gH successfully decreased viral genome levels, viral gene expression, and virus-induced syncytia. In contrast, targeting specific cellular entry receptors failed to limit infection. Using an antibody against gB, we also observed partial protection of developmental gene expression that was further improved by the addition of brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). These studies indicate that source of HCMV is a key determinant of neuronal pathogenesis that can be limited by neutralization antibodies and neurotropic factors.
Detrimental Impact of a Type VI Secretion System on Direct Interspecies Electron Transfer
Authors: Smith Jessica A. , Holmes Dawn E. , Woodard Trevor L. , Li Yang , Liu Xinying , Wang Li-Ying , Meier David , Schwarz Ingrid A. , Lovley Derek R.
Published: March 2023

Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) is important in anaerobic communities of environmental and practical significance. Other than the need for close physical contact for electrical connections, the interactions of DIET partners are poorly understood. Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) typically kill competitive microbes. Surprisingly,Geobacter metallireducenshighly expressed T6SS genes when DIET-based co-cultures were initiated withGeobacter sulfurreducens. T6SS gene expression was lower when the electron shuttle anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate was added to alleviate the need for interspecies contact. Disruption ofhcp, theG. metallireducensgene for the main T6SS needle-tube protein subunit, and the most highly upregulated gene in DIET-grown cells, eliminated the long lag periods required for the initiation of DIET. The mutation did not aid DIET in the presence of granular activated carbon, consistent with the fact that DIET partners do not make physical contact when electrically connected through conductive materials. Thehcp-deficient mutant also established DIET quicker withMethanosarcina barkeri. However, the mutant also reduced Fe(III) oxide faster than the wild-type strain, a phenotype not expected from the loss of the T6SS. Quantitative PCR revealed greater gene transcript abundance for key components of extracellular electron transfer in thehcp-deficient mutant versus the wild-type strain, potentially accounting for the faster Fe(III) oxide reduction and impact on DIET. The results highlight that interspecies interactions beyond electrical connections may influence DIET effectiveness. The unexpected increase in the expression of genes for extracellular electron transport components whenhcpwas deleted emphasize the complexities in evaluating the electromicrobiology of highly adaptableGeobacterspecies.

IMPORTANCE

Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) is an alternative to the much more intensively studied process of interspecies H2transfer as a mechanism for microbes to share electrons during the cooperative metabolism of energy sources. DIET is an important process in anaerobic soils and sediments generating methane, a significant greenhouse gas. Facilitating DIET can accelerate and stabilize the conversion of organic wastes to methane biofuel in anaerobic digesters. Therefore, a better understanding of the factors controlling how fast DIET partnerships are established is expected to lead to new strategies for promoting this bioenergy process. The finding that when co-cultured withG. sulfurreducens, G. metallireducensinitially expressed a type VI secretion system, a behavior not conducive to interspecies cooperation, illustrates the complexity in establishing syntrophic relationships.
ERF1 inhibits lateral root emergence by promoting local auxin accumulation with altered distribution and repressingARF7expression
Authors: Zhao Pingxia , Zhang Jing , Chen Siyan , Zhang Zisheng , Wan Guangyu , Mao Jieli , Wang Zhen , Tan Shutang , Xiang Chengbin
Published: March 2023

Lateral roots (LRs) are crucial for plants to sense environmental signals in addition to water and nutrient absorption. Auxin is key for LR formation, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we report thatArabidopsisERF1 inhibits LR emergence by promoting local auxin accumulation with altered distribution and regulating auxin signaling. Loss ofERF1increases LR density compared with the wild type, whereasERF1overexpression causes the opposite phenotype. ERF1 enhances auxin transport by upregulatingPIN1andAUX1, resulting in excessive auxin accumulation in the endodermal, cortical, and epidermal cells surrounding LR primordia. Furthermore, ERF1 repressesARF7transcription, consequently affecting the expression of cell wall remodeling genes that facilitate LR emergence. Together, our study reveals that ERF1 integrates environmental signals to promote local auxin accumulation with altered distribution and repressARF7, consequently inhibiting LR emergence in adaptation to fluctuating environments.

Highlights

ERF1 functions as a negative regulator of lateral root emergence

ERF1 enhances rootward and shootward auxin transport by directly upregulating the expression ofPIN1andAUX1, resulting in high local auxin accumulation and abnormal auxin distribution in the endodermal, cortical, and epidermal cells overlying lateral root primordia

ERF1 represses the transcription ofARF7and cell wall remodeling genes in lateral root emergence
The best plant-guarding ants in extrafloral nectaried plants and myrmecophytes according to baiting tests
Authors: Souza Leticia Silva , Calixto Eduardo Soares , Domingos Saulo Santos , Bächtold Alexandra , Silva Estevao Alves
Published: March 2023

Extrafloral nectaried plants and myrmecophytes offer resources to ants that may engage in protective mutualisms. The role of different ant species in herbivore deterrence has long been analyzed by using herbivore baits, and ants are regarded as effective plant guards if they attack and/or remove the baits (mostly termites) from plants. Here, we conducted a comparative investigation on which ants display aggression toward baits, which ants are better plant guards, and which plants (extrafloral nectaried plants or myrmecophytes) are better defended by ants. Data from the literature revealed that baiting studies have been performed on 37 extrafloral nectaried plant species and 19 myrmecophytes, and have involved over 30 genera of ants. Extrafloral nectaried plants and myrmecophytes rely on specific ant fauna to defend them from herbivores. In extrafloral nectaried plants,CamponotusandCrematogasterwere regarded as the best plant protectors, as they attacked baits in nearly all plants. In myrmecophytes,Azteca, PheidoleandPseudomyrmexwere the most important bait attackers. Myrmecophytes were better protected by ants, as all baits were attacked; in extrafloral nectaried plants, some ants failed to attack the baits. Plants can be patrolled by several different ants, but there is a core of ants that excel in protection, and this varies according to plant type (extrafloral nectaried plants and myrmecophytes). With this knowledge, it may be possible to label different ants as effective plant guards, to anticipate their effects on plant performance and even to understand their potential role as biological control agents.
Simulations suggest walking with reduced propulsive force would not mitigate the energetic consequences of lower tendon stiffness
Authors: Pimentel Richard E. , Sawicki Gregory S. , Franz Jason R.
Published: March 2023

Aging elicits numerous effects that impact both musculoskeletal structure and walking function. Tendon stiffness (kT) and push-off propulsive force (FP) both impact the metabolic cost of walking and are diminished by age, yet their interaction has not been studied. We combined experimental and computational approaches to investigate whether age-related changes in function (adopting smaller FP) may be adopted to mitigate the metabolic consequences arising from changes in structure (reduced kT). We recruited 12 young adults and asked them to walk on a force-sensing treadmill while prompting them to change FP(±20% & ±40% of typical) using targeted biofeedback. In models driven by experimental data from each of those conditions, we altered the kTof personalized musculoskeletal models across a physiological range (2-8% strain) and simulated individual-muscle metabolic costs for each kTand FPcombination. We found that kTand FPindependently affect walking metabolic cost, increasing with higher kTor as participants deviated from their typical FP. Our results show no evidence for an interaction between kTand FPin younger adults walking at fixed speeds. Individual lower body muscles showed unique effects across the kTand FPlandscape. Our simulations suggest that reducing FPduring walking would not mitigate the metabolic consequences of lower kT. Wearable devices and rehabilitative strategies can focus on either kTor FPto reduce age-related increases in walking metabolic cost.

Author Summary

Our muscles and tendons are affected by aging. Tendon stiffness and push-off forces both impact the energy cost of walking, which in turn increases with age. We investigated whether age-related changes in function (less push-off force) may be adopted to mitigate the metabolic consequences arising from structural changes (lower tendon stiffness). Reducing push-off force during walking would not mitigate the metabolic consequences of lower tendon stiffness. Wearable devices and rehabilitative strategies can focus on either tendon stiffness or push off intensity to reduce age-related increases in walking metabolic cost.
A large-scale retrospective study in metastatic breast cancer patients using circulating tumor DNA and machine learning to predict treatment outcome and progression-free survival
Authors: Beddowes Emma J , Ortega-Duran Mario , Karapanagiotis Solon , Martin Alistair , Gao Meiling , Masina Riccardo , Woitek Ramona , Tanner James , Tippin Fleur , Kane Justine , Lay Jonathan , Brouwer Anja , Sammut Stephen-John , Chin Suet-Feung , Gale Davina , Tsui Dana , Dawson Sarah Jane , Rosenfeld Nitzan , Callari Maurizio , Rueda Oscar M , Caldas Carlos
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Monitoring levels of circulating tumor-derived DNA (ctDNA) represents a non-invasive snapshot of tumor burden and potentially clonal evolution. Here we describe how a novel statistical model that uses serial ctDNA measurements from shallow whole genome sequencing (sWGS) in metastatic breast cancer patients produces a rapid and inexpensive assessment that is predictive of treatment response and progression-free survival.

Patients and Methods

A cohort of 188 metastatic breast cancer patients had DNA extracted from serial plasma samples (total 1098, median=4, mean=5.87). Plasma DNA was assessed using sWGS and the tumor fraction in total cell free DNA estimated using ichorCNA. This approach was compared with ctDNA targeted sequencing and serial CA 15-3 measurements. The longitudinal ichorCNA values were used to develop a Bayesian learning model to predict subsequent treatment response.

Results

We identified a transition point of 7% estimated tumor fraction to stratify patients into different categories of progression risk using ichorCNA estimates and a time-dependent Cox model, validated across different breast cancer subtypes and treatments, outperforming the alternative methods. We then developed a Bayesian learning model to predict subsequent treatment response with a sensitivity of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.66.

Conclusion

In patients with metastatic breast cancer, sWGS of ctDNA and ichorCNA provide prognostic and predictive real-time valuable information on treatment response across subtypes and therapies. A prospective large-scale clinical trial to evaluate clinical benefit of early treatment changes based on ctDNA levels is now warranted.
Modulations of right hemisphere connectivity in young children relates to the perception of spoken words
Authors: Iyer Kartik K. , Bell Nicola , Copland David A. , Arnott Wendy L. , Wilson Wayne J. , Angwin Anthony J.
Published: March 2023

The early school years shape a young brain’s capability to comprehend and contextualize words within milliseconds of exposure. Parsing word sounds (phonologicalinterpretation) and word recognition (enablingsemanticinterpretation) are integral to this process. Yet little is known about the causal mechanisms of cortical activity during these early developmental stages. In this study, we aimed to explore these causal mechanisms via dynamic causal modelling of event-related potentials (ERPs) acquired from 30 typically developing children (ages 6 to 8 years) as they completed a spoken word-picture matching task. Source reconstruction of high-density electroencephalography (128 channels) was used to ascertain differences in whole-brain cortical activity during semantically “congruent” and “incongruent” conditions. Source activations analyzed during the N400 ERP window identified significant regions-of-interest (pFWE<.05) localized primarily in the right hemisphere when contrasting congruent and incongruent word-picture stimuli. Dynamic causal models (DCMs) were tested on source activations in the fusiform gyrus (rFusi), inferior parietal lobule (rIPL), inferior temporal gyrus (rITG) and superior frontal gyrus (rSFG). DCM results indicated that a fully connected bidirectional model with self-(inhibiting) connections over rFusi, rIPL and rSFG provided the highest model evidence, based on exceedance probabilities derived from Bayesian statistical inferences. Connectivity parameters of rITG and rSFG regions from the winning DCM were negatively correlated with behavioural measures of receptive vocabulary and phonological memory (pFDR<.05), such that lower scores on these assessments corresponded with increased connectivity between temporal pole and anterior frontal regions. The findings suggest that children with lower language processing skills required increased recruitment of right hemisphere frontal/temporal areas during task performance.
Design and characterization of porous poly(glycerol-dodecanedioate) scaffolds for cartilage repair
Authors: Qin Yue , Ramaraju Sriharsha , Hollister Scott J. , Coleman Rhima M.
Published: March 2023

Synthetic polymeric scaffolds play an important role in establishing the microenvironment for chondrocytes in engineered cartilage. A three-dimensional pore network allows cell accommodation and supports extracellular matrix (ECM) production by chondrocytes. Ligand coating and biomechanical properties of scaffolds guide regeneration of functional cartilage by mediating cell attachment and establishing the local strain environment. Poly(glycerol-dodecanedioate) (PGD) is a novel biodegradable elastomer with nonlinear-elastic properties similar to native cartilage. However, its harsh curing environments limit the feasibility of common strategies for pore creation in polymeric scaffolds. Herein, we developed porous PGD (pPGD) scaffolds with tailorable pore structures using an inverse molding method and evaluated the range of scaffold structural parameters achievable and their subsequent mechanical properties. The influence of coating PGD with various ECM ligands on the cell shape, metabolic activity, and ECM production of human articular chondrocytes (hACs) was evaluated. pPGD scaffolds were created with pore sizes ranging from 250 – 1000 μm, resulting in 20 – 50% porosity. The morphology and metabolic activity of hACs on PGD were regulated by the type of ligand coating used. When compared to tissue culture plastic, PGD enhanced ECM production in monolayer cultures. Finite element analysis showed that the tensile strains that developed on the pores’ surfaces were at levels shown to be anabolic for hACs. The predicted strain profile varied with pore size and porosity under load, demonstrating that the pore structural parameters could be tuned to optimize cellular-level strains. These results suggest that pPGD scaffolds have the potential to guide cartilage regeneration.

Statement of Significance

Previous studies have established the importance of designing pore geometry and surface properties in engineered cartilage tissue constructs. This work reports the development and assessment of pPGD scaffolds with tunable pore and surface parameters for cartilage regeneration. The cellular-level strain that cells may experience inside the pores was influenced by the scaffolds’ pore geometry. Ligand coating on PGD balanced out the less ideal properties of the material itself and regulated the shape, attachment, metabolic activity, and ECM production of hACs duringin vitroculture. These findings highlight how intelligent design of scaffold parameters can optimize chondrocyte function during 3D culture by tuning ligand presentation and cellular-level strain profiles.
An algorithmic application with flexible airspace approach
Authors: Kökhan Ahmet , Kökhan Serhan , Gökdalay Meriç
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop an operational level decision support system model for air traffic controllers (ATCos) within the framework of the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) concept to enable more efficient use of airspace capacity. This study produces a systematic solution to the route selection process so that the ATCo can determine the most efficient route with an operational decision support system model using Dijkstra’s Shortest Path Algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a new decision support system model for ATCos in decision-making positions was recommended and used. ATCos use this model as a main model for determining the shortest and safest route for aircraft as an operational-level decision support system. Dijkstra Algorithm, used in the model, is defined step by step and then explained with the pseudocode.

Findings

It has been determined that when the FUA concept and DSS are used while the ATCo chooses a route, significant fuel, time and capacity savings are achieved in flight operations. Emissions resulting from the negative environmental effects of air transportation are reduced, and significant capacity increase can be achieved. The operational level decision support system developed in the study was tested with 55 scenarios on the Ankara–Izmir flight route compared to the existing fixed route. The results for the proposed most efficient route were achieved at 11.22% distance (nm), 9.36%-time (min) savings and 837.71 kg CO2 emission savings.

Originality/value

As far as the literature is reviewed, most studies aimed at increasing airspace efficiency produce solutions that try to improve rather than replace the normal process. Considering the literature positioning of this study compared to other studies, the proposed model provides a new systematic solution to the problems that cause human-induced route inefficiency within the framework of the FUA concept.
Simultaneous UAV having actively sweep angle morphing wing and flight control system design
Authors: Uzun Metin , Oktay Tugrul
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve autonomous flight performance of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having actively sweep angle morphing wing using simultaneous UAV and flight control system (FCS) design.

Design/methodology/approach

An UAV is remanufactured in the ISTE Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Laboratory. Its wing sweep angle can vary actively during flight. FCS parameters and wing sweep angle are simultaneously designed to optimize autonomous flight performance index using a stochastic optimization method called as simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA). Results obtained are applied for flight simulations.

Findings

Using simultaneous design process of an UAV having actively sweep angle morphing wing and FCS design, autonomous flight performance index is maximized.

Research limitations/implications

Authorization of Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Turkey is crucial for real-time UAV flights.

Practical implications

Simultaneous UAV having actively sweep angle morphing wing and FCS design process is so beneficial for recovering UAV autonomous flight performance index.

Social implications

Simultaneous UAV having actively sweep angle morphing wing and FCS design process achieves confidence, high autonomous performance index and simple service demands of UAV operators.

Originality/value

Composing a novel approach to improve autonomous flight performance index (e.g. less settling and rise time, less overshoot meanwhile trajectory tracking) of an UAV and creating an original procedure carrying out simultaneous UAV having actively sweep angle morphing wing and FCS design idea.