bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal dynamics of complex ecological networks: Power-law scaling and implications for conservation planning
Authors: Wright Christopher
Published: July 2019

Spatial constraints on the topology of complex networks are just beginning to be appreciated, both theoretically and in concrete examples like the Internet and global air transportation network. Ecological networks, composed of habitat patches connected by species dispersal, are intrinsically spatial and show promise as a tool for conservation planning; but while habitat-loss effects on ecological networks have been simulated, such effects have not been directly measured in ecological networks varying over time. In this study, I used satellite remote sensing to study ecological networks composed of wetland habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America. I find power-law scaling of important topological properties as a function of dispersal ability and as wetland density varies with climate. Prairie wetland networks are 'meso-worlds' with mean topological distance increasing faster with network size than small-world networks, but slower than regular lattices. While similar dynamics have been shown in random spatial networks, these results emphasize the importance of processes determining locations of nodes in a spatial network, with possible implications in other areas like wireless communication networks or disease transmission networks. Wetland networks establish a climate envelope for landscape connectivity in the PPR, and I show that wetland-dependent species face a 'crisis of connectivity' with climate change. The global biodiversity crisis requires that conservation planners act quickly over large areas using limited resources; a network-based approach to coarse-filter conservation planning in dynamic landscapes should be broadly applicable to this problem.
Adenovirus-mediated transfer of siRNA against survivin enhances the radiosensitivity of human non-small cell lung cancer cells
Authors: Yang Cheng-Ta , Li Jhy-Ming , Weng Hsu-Huei , Li Ya-Chin , Chen Miao-Fen
Published: July 2019

Expression of survivin has been reported to be correlated with shorter survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and overexpression of survivin may lead to radioresistance in various human cancers. In this study, we inhibited survivin expression by using an adenoviral vector (AdsiSurvivin)-mediated RNAi to elucidate the combined effect of survivin-targeting gene therapy and radiotherapy on the NSCLC cells. Our data revealed that AdsiSurvivin exerted survivin gene silencing, induced apoptosis, and significantly attenuated the growth potential in NSCLC cells within 72 hours after infection. The combined treatment modalities with AdsiSurvivin infection and radiation were significantly more potent on cell-growth inhibition than monotherapy. In H1650, H460, A549, and H1975 human NSCLC cells, the survival ratios of AdsiSurvivin-treated groups at m.o.i. of 25 and 50 were significantly lower than those of control groups at varying radiation dose (0~8 Gy; three-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). The cytotoxicity of combined AdsiSurvivin infection and irradiation increased in a dose-dependent manner in both the virus and the irradiation treatment. Knockdown of the survivin gene expression appears to be a promising treatment strategy for NSCLC. Our data warrants the need for further effort to develop survivin-targeted radiosensitizer for lung cancer treatment.
Evidence of existence of totally different types of ribosomes in intermediate animals
Authors: Wang Haoran , Gao Mary , Kenzo Sato , Hirai Kazumitsu
Published: July 2019

In all organisms, messenger-directed protein synthesis is catalyzed by ribonucleoprotein particles called ribosomes. A ribosome is typically composed of one small and one large subunit which contain one short (18S) and one long (28S) rRNAs, respectively. Surprisingly, in this study, three similar size rRNAs (18-21S) were revealed in the electrophoresis profile of the total RNAs of tapeworm Spirometra erinaceiuropaei. Northern blot analysis shows that one of the three bands belongs to 18S rRNA, and the other two bands are of 28S rRNAs, implying structurally distinct ribosomes in this intermediate animal. Furthermore, similar, but not identical profiles were observed in two other tapeworms Diphyllobothrium hottai and Diphyllobothrium Nipponkaiizeme. Relevant to this finding, in flatworm Paragonimus westermani, 18S rRNAs were found much more numerous than 28S rRNAs. Moreover, consistent with this biochemical finding, transmission electron microscopy examinations show that the ribosomes isolated from Spirometra erinaceiuropaei are composed of either one ball or two similar size subunits (balls), while the structure of ribosomes isolated from control liver tissue exactly match the conventional large and small subunit ribosome model. Our study provides direct biochemical and biophysical evidence of structurally distinct novel type of ribosomes in intermediate eukaryotic flatworms. These finding may be important for re-recognition of biological protein synthesis and evolutionary process of living things.
Novel mutations in the toll like receptor genes cause hyporesponsiveness to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection
Authors: Bhide Mangesh , Mucha Rastislav , Mikula Ivan , Kisova Lucia , Skrabana Rostislav , Novak Michal , Mikula Ivan
Published: July 2019

Toll like receptors play a central role in the recognition of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Mutations in TLR1, TLR2 and TLR4 genes may change the PAMP reorganization ability which causes altered responsiveness to the bacterial pathogens. A case control study, performed to assess the association between TLR gene mutations and susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), revealed novel mutations (TLR1 - Ser150Gly and Val220Met; TLR2 - Phe670Leu) that hindered either PAMP recognition or further downstream TLR pathway activation. A cytokine expression experiments (IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-&x03B3;) in the challenged mutant and wild type moDCs (mocyte derived dendritic cells) confirmed the negative impact of these mutations and altered TLR downstream activation. Further In silico analysis of the TLR1 and TLR4 ectodomains (ECD) revealed the polymorphic nature of the central ECD and irregularities in the central LRR motifs. The most critical positions that may alter the pathogen recognition ability of TLR were: the 9th amino acid position in LRR motif (TLR1, LRR10) and 4th residue downstream to LRR domain (exta LRR region of TLR4). The study describes novel mutations in the TLRs and presents their association with the MAP infection.
Trophoblastic hormones direct early human embryogenesis
Authors: Gallego Miguel , Porayette Prashob , Kaltcheva Maria , Bowen Richard , Vadakkadath Meethal Sivan , Atwood Craig
Published: July 2019

Division of the human zygote leads to the formation of the blastocyst that contains human embryonic stem cells (hESC) which develop into the embryo. Little is known about the physiological signals that direct hESC division and differentiation during early embryogenesis. A number of growth factors, including the pregnancy-associated hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), are secreted by trophoblasts^1-3^ that lie adjacent to the embryoblast in the blastocyst, but it is not known whether these growth factors directly signal the epiblast. Here we show that hCG promotes the division of embryoblast-derived inner mass cells (hESC), and their differentiation during blastulation and neurulation. Inhibition of LH/hCG receptor (LHCGR) signaling with P-antisense oligonucleotides suppresses hESC proliferation. Similarly, hESC proliferation can be blocked using an antibody against the extracellular activation site of LHCGR, an effect that is reversed by treatment with hCG. hCG treatment rapidly upregulates steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-mediated cholesterol transport and the synthesis of progesterone, a neurogenic steroid^4,5^. Treatment of hESC colonies with progesterone induces neurulation as demonstrated by the expression of nestin and the formation of columnar neuroectodermal cells that organize into neural tube-like rosettes. Suppression of progesterone signaling by withdrawing progesterone or treating with the progesterone receptor antagonist RU-486 inhibits the differentiation of hESC colonies into embryoid bodies (blastulation) and rosettes (neurulation). These results explain the default pathway of hESC differentiation towards a neural stem cell fate in vitro. Collectively, our findings implicate trophoblastic hCG secretion and signaling via LHCGR on the adjacent embryoblast in the induction of hESC proliferation and differentiation into blastocysts and neurula. This paracrine/juxtacrine signaling by extraembryonic tissues is the commencement of trophic support by placental tissues in the growth and development of the human embryo.
Kinetic control of eukaryotic chromatin structure by recursive topological restraints
Authors: Borek Dominika , Otwinowski Zbyszek
Published: July 2019

Chromatin structure undergoes many changes during the cell cycle and in response to regulatory events. A basic unit of chromatin organization is the nucleosome core particle. However, very little is known about how nucleosomes are arranged into higher-order structures in vivo, even though the efficiency and precision of cell division imply high levels of structural organization. We propose abandoning the current paradigm of chromatin organization based on thermodynamics of the lowest energy state and replace it with the idea of a topologically restrained, high-energy structure. We propose that DNA is subject to a recursive topological restraint, and is anchored by hemicatenates that are part of the chromosomal scaffold. Long-distance cis-regulation of transcription is a natural consequence of recursive topological restraint. This new theory of chromatin structure has a multitude of consequences for key aspects of cellular biology.
Anhedonia in the shadow of chronic social defeat stress, or When the experimental context matters
Authors: Bondar Natalia P. , Kovalenko Irina L. , Avgustinovich Damira F. , Smagin Dmitry A. , Kudryavtseva Natalia N.
Published: July 2019

One of the core symptoms of major depression in human is anhedonia. For that reason, one of the main requirements towards experimental depression models is that they be able to demonstrate anhedonia in animals, that have been exposed to stressful events, and other behavioral changes attributable to a depression-like state. However, the results presented in the literature are contradictory: sweet solution intake, which is considered as a parameter of hedonic/anhedonic behavior in animals, responds quite differently to stressful situations in that it is either unaffected or increased or decreased. Different experimental designs used for the study of anhedonia in male mice exposed to chronic social defeat stress were tried to understand the reasons for so contradictory responses. Anhedonia appears as an abrupt reduction in sweet solution consumption in stressed animals and by failure to attain recovery after deprivation. However, it was also demonstrated that sucrose solution intake and preference strongly depend on the experimental context; that the possible critical factor may be prior acquaintance with the hedonic stimulus – or the lack whereof. Analysis of literature data and ours allowed us to conclude that the lack of a significant decrease in sweet solution intake in stressed animals is no evidence of lack of depression. This decrease is evidence of anhedonia only provided other symptoms of depression are present. Hedonic consumable intake can be decreased over various motivations, conditions or diseases, in particular, a high level of anxiety or pathological aggression.
Fundamentally different strategies for transcriptional regulation are revealed by analysis of binding motifs
Authors: Mirny Leonid , Wunderlich Zeba
Published: July 2019

To regulate a particular gene, a transcription factor (TF) needs to bind a specific genome location. How is this genome address specified amid the presence of ~10^6-10^9 decoy sites? Our analysis of 319 known TF binding motifs clearly demonstrates that prokaryotes and eukaryotes use strikingly different strategies to target TFs to specific genome locations; eukaryotic TFs exhibit widespread nonfunctional binding and require clustering of sites in regulatory regions for specificity.
Fundamentally different strategies for transcriptional regulation are revealed by analysis of binding motifs
Authors: Wunderlich Zeba , Mirny Leonid
Published: July 2019

To regulate a particular gene, a transcription factor (TF) needs to bind a specific genome location. How is this genome address specified amid the presence of ~10^6^-10^9^ decoy sites? Our analysis of 319 known TF binding motifs clearly demonstrates that prokaryotes and eukaryotes use strikingly different strategies to target TFs to specific genome locations; eukaryotic TFs exhibit widespread nonfunctional binding and require clustering of sites in regulatory regions for specificity.
Social Processing of Discrete Emotions in Humans
Authors: Vigil Jacob
Published: July 2019

I asked human observers to rate capacity and trustworthiness trait impressions of, and to indicate affiliative and avoidant dispositions, and felt emotive responses toward social objects. I show that interpersonal dispositions and emotive responses are systematically associated with variation in perceived levels of these trait impressions. The findings suggest that perception and expression of cues that signal capacity and trustworthiness of reciprocating altruism may underlie discrete affect behaviors in humans.
DNA Genealogy, Mutation Rates, and Some Historical Evidences Written in Y-Chromosome
Authors: Klyosov Anatole
Published: July 2019

Origin of peoples in a context of DNA genealogy is an assignment of them to a particular tribe (all members of which belong to a certain haplogroup) or its branch (a lineage), initiated in a genealogical sense by a common ancestor and an estimation of a time span between the common ancestor and its current descendants. We have developed an approach to kinetics of haplotype mutations in non-recombinant segments of the Y-chromosome and illustrated it with a number of haplotype series related to various populations (timespans to common ancestors shown as years before the present): Basques R1b1b2 (4,050), near thirty of European countries R1a1 (between 4,100 and 4,825), India R1a1 (3,675), the Arabian Peninsula R1a1 (3,750), South India Chenchu R1a1 (3,200 and 350, two lineages), bearers of so-called Cohen Modal Haplotype (CMH) J1 (4,000 and 1,050, two lineages), and CMH J2 (1,400), Arabian CMH J1 (9,000), Bulgarian and Croatian Gypsies H1 (575 and 1,125, respectively), Polynesians C2 (800), South African Lemba (625), the oldest Balkan R1a1 population (11,600), and Native Americans Q (16,000). Some of these findings are supported by independent estimates.
Computational methods in cancer gene networking
Authors: Wang Edwin
Published: July 2019

In the past few years, many high-throughput techniques have been developed and applied to biological studies. These techniques such as “next generation” genome sequencing, chip-on-chip, microarray and so on can be used to measure gene expression and gene regulatory elements in a genome-wide scale. Moreover, as these technologies become more affordable and accessible, they have become a driving force in modern biology. As a result, huge amount biological data have been produced, with the expectation of increasing number of such datasets to be generated in the future. High-throughput data are more comprehensive and unbiased, but ‘real signals’ or biological insights, molecular mechanisms and biological principles are buried in the flood of data. In current biological studies, the bottleneck is no longer a lack of data, but the lack of ingenuity and computational means to extract biological insights and principles by integrating knowledge and high-throughput data. Here I am reviewing the concepts and principles of network biology and the computational methods which can be applied to cancer research. Furthermore, I am providing a practical guide for computational analysis of cancer gene networks.
Concurrent Acquisition of a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Diverse Influenza H5N1 Clade 2.2 Sub-clades
Authors: Niman Henry , Aly Mona , Arafa Abdel-Satar , El-Sayed Nasr , Nayel Ahmed , Abdelghani Ahmed , Esmat Hala , Raczniak Gregory , Agyen-Frempong Mensah , Ampofo William , Boynton Bruce
Published: July 2019

Highly pathogenic Influenza A H5N1 was first identified in Guangdong Province in 1996, followed by human cases in Hong Kong in 1997 1,2. The number of confirmed human cases now exceeds 300 and the associated Case Fatality Rate exceeds 60% 3. The genetic diversity of the serotype continues to increase. Four distinct clades or sub-clades have been linked to human cases 4-7. The gradual genetic changes identified in the sub-clades have been attributed to copy errors by viral encoded polymerases that lack an editing function, thereby resulting in antigenic drift 8. We report here the concurrent acquisition of the same polymorphism by multiple, genetically distinct, clade 2.2 sub-clades in Egypt, Russia, Kuwait, and Ghana. These changes are not easily explained by the current theory of “random mutation” through copy error, and are more easily explained by recombination with a common source. The recombination role is further supported by the high fidelity replication in swine influenza 9 and aggregation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in H5N1 clade 2.2 hemagglutinin 10.
Persisters show heritable phenotype and generate bacterial heterogeneity and noise in protein expression
Authors: Jacob Jaison
Published: July 2019

Persisters are a small subpopulation of bacteria that survive a lethal concentration of antibiotic without antibiotic resistance genes. Isolation of persisters from normally dividing population is considered difficult due to their slow growth, low numbers and phenotypic shift i.e. when re-grown in antibiotic free medium, they revert to parent population. Inability to isolate persisters is a major hindrance in this field of research. Here we reject the ‘phenotypic shift’ phenomenon exhibited by persisters. Persisters, on the other hand, exhibit a heritable phenotype and can be easily isolated from a normally dividing population that allows their selective growth. Rather than a single subset, they comprise many distinct subgroups each exhibiting different growth rates, colony sizes, antibiotic tolerance and protein expression levels. Clearly, they are one of the sources of bacterial heterogeneity and noise in protein expression. Existence of persisters in normally dividing population can explain some of the unsolved puzzles like antibiotic tolerance, post-antibiotic effect and viable but non-culturable bacterial state. We hypothesize that persisters are aging bacteria.
Strategies for recovering exact structure of neural circuits with broadly targeted fluorescent connectivity probes
Authors: Mishchenko Yuriy
Published: July 2019

We present a framework for reconstructing structure of complete neural circuitsin the brain using collections of independent measurements of connectivityperformed with existing anatomical or functional fluorescent probes, anddesigned to provide complementary information about neural circuit’s structureby targeting slightly different its parts either in deterministic or stochasticsuccession. We discuss specific implementation of this procedure usingsynaptic fluorescent marker GRASP and Cre/Lox system Brainbow to collectensemble of observations of the sets of synapses between stochastically labeledsamples of neurons. By representing such measurements mathematically asweak constraints on circuit’s connectivity matrix and by solving a constrainedoptimization problem, we are able to exactly deduce the wiring diagram in C.Elegans in an in-silico experiment from only ~10,000 measurements. Thisoffers possibility for routinely reconstructing complete connectivity in smallerorganisms, such as C. Elegans, using exclusively light microscopy instrumentsover the span of single weeks.
Skeletal Evidence for Leprosy in India by the Second Millenium B.C.
Authors: Robbins Gwendolyn , Tripathy Veena , Misra VN , Mohanty RK , Shinde VS , Gray Kelsey , Schug Malcolm
Published: July 2019

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that affects almost 500,000 people worldwide^1^. The timing of first infection, geographic origin, and pattern of transmission of the disease are unknown^1-3^. Comparative genomics research has recently suggested M. leprae evolved in East Africa or South Asia before spreading to Europe and the rest of the World^4-5^. The earliest accepted textual evidence indicates that leprosy existed in India by at least 600 B.C. and was known in Europe by 400 B.C.^6-7^. The earliest skeletal evidence was dated 300-200 B.C. in Egypt^8^ and Thailand^9^. Here, we report the presence of lepromatous leprosy in skeletal remains from Balathal, a Chalcolithic site (2300-1550 B.C.) in India^10-11^. A middle aged adult male skeleton demonstrates manifestations of facies leprosa and rhinomaxillary syndrome, degenerative joint disease, infectious involvement of the tibia (periostitis), and injury to the peripheral skeleton, often the result of skin anaesthesia. Paleopathological analysis indicates that lepromatous leprosy was present in India by 1800 B.C., a result which supports some translations of the Atharva Veda that reference leprosy and its treatment in hymns composed before the first millennium B.C.^12^. The presence of leprosy in Chalcolithic India suggests M. leprae may have been transmitted during the second or third millennium B.C., at a time when there was substantial interaction between South Asia, West Asia, and Northeastern Africa^13^. This evidence should be impetus to look for additional skeletal and molecular evidence of leprosy in human remains from this time period in India and Africa to confirm the origin of the disease.
Limiting effect of diazepam on Lewis lung carcinoma metastasis in anxious male mice
Authors: Kaledin Vasily , Ilnitskaya Svetlana , Nikolin Valery , Popova Nelly , Smagin Dmitry , Kudryavtseva Natalia
Published: July 2019

Aim: It has been shown previously that chronic social defeat stress produces development of strong anxiety and increases intensity of experimental metastasis in the losers in comparison with the control mice. The question was: is it possible to decrease the number of metastases in the losers by chronic or acute diazepam treatment.

Materials and Methods.

Sensory contact model was used for generating male mice with repeated experience of social defeats or victories in daily agonistic interactions. Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells (LLC) were injected into the tail vein of animals after 10 days of agonistic interactions. Then mice were treated acutely or chronically (7 days) with diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p). Number of metastases in the lung was calculated in 16 days after tumor cell transplantation.

Results.

Chronic diazepam treatment produced decrease of number of LLC metastases in anxious losers, whereas in the winners and control mice diazepam was ineffective. Conclusion: Diazepam may decrease intensity of metastasis in anxious mice.
Cattle Egrets and dry fish business in coastal areas
Authors: Seedikkoya Kotta , Azeezpa PA
Published: July 2019

Cattle Egret is one of the common wetland birds in India known for its efficiency to make use of human interfered habitats. The present study is an attempt to document maggots of houseflies and calliphorids in the coastal sun drying fish yards and the role of the species in containing the vector species. The number of flies and maggots were found related with the visit of cattle egrets, demonstrating the importance of the species in controlling the vectors.
The Relationship between Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: Issues in Model Specification
Authors: Tiruneh Gizachew
Published: July 2019

*Objective:*

To investigate the best statistical models that describe the effect of physical activity on BMI.*Design:* Cross-sectional analyses of physical activity and BMI data.

Subjects:

107 obese, overweight, and healthy college students (mean duration of physical activity for the normal, overweight, and obese students: 89, 59, and 24 months, respectively; mean BMI for the normal, overweight, and obese students: 21.61, 27.07, and 35.54 kg/m^2^, respectively).*Measurements:* Inverse linear, inverse logarithmic, and inverse logistics models were used to analyze survey data for physical activity (measured by both frequency and duration of exercise) and BMI. Gender, age, and physical intensity variables were also statistically controlled.

*Results:*

Coefficients of determination, r-squared, showed the inverse logarithmic model is more accurate in describing the effect of physical activity on BMI than is the inverse linear model. The inverse logistic method also showed physical activity affects BMI.

*Conclusions:*

Although the inverse logarithmic method can be used in some cases, the inverse logistic model seems to be theoretically and empirically best suited in describing the relationship between physical activity and body weight.
Dysbindin-1 in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia cases is reduced in an isoform-specific manner unrelated to altered dysbindin-1 gene expression
Authors: Tang Junxia , LeGros Robert , Louneva Natalia , Yeh Lilly , Cohen Julia , Hahn Chang-Gyu , Blake Derek , Arnold Steven , Talbot Konrad
Published: July 2019

DTNBP1 (dystrobrevin binding protein 1) remains one of the top candidate genes in schizophrenia. Reduced expression of this gene and the protein it encodes, dysbindin-1, has been reported in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of schizophrenia cases. It has not been established, however, if all dysbindin-1 isoforms are reduced in the DLPFC or if the reduction is associated with reduced DTNBP1 gene expression. Using Western blotting of whole-tissue lysates of the DLPFC with antibodies differentially sensitive to the three major isoforms of this protein (dysbindin-1A, -1B, and -1C), we found no significant differences between our schizophrenia cases and matched controls in dysbindin-1A or -1B, but did find a mean 46% reduction in dysbindin-1C in 71% of 28 case-control pairs (p = 0.022). This occurred in the absence of the one DTNBP1 risk haplotype for schizophrenia reported in the US and without alteration in levels of dysbindin-1C transcripts. Conversely, the absence of changes in the dysbindin-1A and -1B isoforms was accompanied by increased levels of their transcripts. We thus found no correspondence between alterations in dysbindin-1 gene and protein expression, the latter of which might be due to posttranslational modifications such as ubiquitination. Reduced DLPFC dysbindin-1C in schizophrenia probably occurs in PSDs, where we find dysbindin-1C to be heavily concentrated in the human brain. Given known postsynaptic effects of dysbindin-1 reductions in the rodent homolog of the prefrontal cortex, these findings suggest that reduced dysbindin-1C in the DLPFC may contribute to cognitive deficits of schizophrenia by promoting NMDA receptor hypofunction.
A Reaction Route Approach to Flux Balance Analysis
Authors: Fishtik Ilie
Published: July 2019

Background:

Flux balance and network-based pathway analyses are theoretical tools aimed to find optimal steady state flux distributions in a metabolic network subject to additional constraints on the rates of the reaction steps. Although these methods are mathematically accurate, there are several physicochemical and computational aspects that are questionable and misleading. In particular, it is well known that the flux balance analysis may result in multiple flux distributions for the same objective function.

Results:

The flux balance and network-based pathway analyses are reformulated in terms of reaction routes (RRs), a theoretical framework that has been developed by Horiuti over 50 years ago. Not only does the theory of RRs provide the most general and rigorous definition of a pathway, but it also relates the steady state rates of the reaction steps with the rates along RRs or pathways. In this work, we employ the simple relation between the steady state rates of the reaction steps and the rates along RRs (fluxes) established by Horiuti to eliminate the steady state constraints. Conclusion: The newly proposed RR approach represents a powerful tool for a deeper understanding of optimal flux distributions in metabolic reaction systems. Application of the RR approach to several typical systems from the literature surprisingly reveals that an infinite number of flux distributions for the same optimal objective function may be a rule rather than the exception
Vision senses number directly
Authors: Ross John , Burr David
Published: July 2019

We have recently suggested that numerosity is a primary sensory attribute, showing that it is strongly susceptible to adaptation. Here we use the Method of Single Stimuli (MSS) to show that observers can extract a running average of the numerosity of a succession of stimuli and hold it in mind for use as a standard of comparison for subsequent stimuli. Accuracy and precision of judgments are high and not reduced by potentially misleading variables like texture density or display area.
Single cell fertilizer (SCF): Evidence to prove that bio-molecules are potent nutrient for plant growth
Authors: Sen Sribir , Roy Amit Kr. , Choudhury Sayan , Ghosh Shibu , Das Somenath , Roy Sohini , Ghosh Rajib , Dey Dipankar , Pathak Deben , Upadhyay Sanjeev , Chattopadhya Isita
Published: July 2019

Fertilizers of various kinds are used for the cultivation of crop plants for hyper production of plant based food materials. The study used bio-molecules made in a bacterial cell. The experimental results showed tremendous effect on plant growth. These cellular molecules were made by treating the bacterial cells with lysozyme and protenase K. The wet/weight was increased in multiple folds compared to that of control sets. The fold of increase was 4.79 for rice, 2.77 for wheat, 1.89 for gram and 1.89 for pea when bacterial cellular molecules were used as fertilizer.
Range-based techniques for discovering optimality and analyzing scaling relationships in neuromechanical systems
Authors: Alicea Bradly
Published: July 2019

In this paper, a method for decoupling the neuromuscular function of a set of limbs from the role morphology plays in regulating the performance of an activity is introduced. This method is based on two previous methods: the rescaled range analysis specific to time series data, and the use of scaling laws. A review of the literature suggests that limb geometry can either facilitate or constrain performance as measured experimentally. Whether limb geometry is facilitatory or acts as a constraint depends on the size differential between arm morphology and the underlying muscle. "Changes in size and shape" are theoretically extrapolations of morphological geometry to other members of a population or species, to other species, or to technological manipulations of an individual via prosthetic devices. Three datasets are analyzed using the range-based method and a Monte-Carlo simulation, and are used to test the various ways of executing this analysis. It was found that when performance is kept stable but limb size and shape is scaled by a factor of .25, the greatest gain in performance results. It was also found that introducing force-based perturbations results in 'shifts' in the body geometry/performance relationship. While results such as this could be interpreted as a statistical artifact, the non-linear rise within a measurement class and linear decrease between measurement classes suggests an effect of scale in the optimality of this relationship. Overall, range-based techniques allow for the simulation and modeling of myriad changes in phenotype that result from biological and technological manipulation.
Ultrasonicated synthesis of 1-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-prop-2-en-1-ones and their antimicrobial screening
Authors: Shelke Sharad , Sonawane Mahendra , Karale Bhausaheb , Gill Charnshing
Published: July 2019

Abstract: A facile synthesis of title compounds has been carried out under ultrasound irradiation. The main advantages of the present procedure are shorter reaction time and higher yield. Products have been characterized by IR, PMR, CMR, GCMS study and screened for their antimicrobial activity.
Evaluation and Validation of clinical 4.23 T sodium MRI in animals and human: Application of oblique multi-slice spin-echo pulse sequence
Authors: Sharma Rakesh , Katz Jose
Published: July 2019

Objective:

Application of high-field 4.23 T MRI clinical imager was demonstrated for sodium-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data acquisition. Primary hypothesis: Sodium [Na] in brain is MR visible. Secondary hypothesis was, if, application of multislice spin echo (MSSE) pulse sequence at selected scan parameters can sufficiently visualize the total sodium signal as indicator of sub-clinical activity. Material and Methods: MSSE pulse sequence technique was used to simulate sodium images of human brain. For validation purpose, inversion recovery pulse sequence was validated by optimization of scan inversion time (TI). Phantom of sodium and rat brain were imaged. Sodium images were validated and compared with proton MRI images.

Results:

MSSE pulse technique enabled to visualize the sodium signal at optimized scan parameters. Specifically, MSSE pulse technique enabled the identification of different sodium rich areas due to their subphysiological activity in the brain, comparable with proton MRI images. Reconstruction images of brain further enhanced the power to classify the brain tissue. Intracellular sodium images of agarose-saline solution filled-tube phantom were generated by use of inversion recovery pulse sequence. Conclusion: Using MSSE pulse sequence at 4.23 T, in vivo sodium images can be generated within acceptable scan time for routine clinical brain examination for achieving better sub-physiological information as obtained from proton MRI.
Myosin II isoforms with separate but linked functions determine the fate of lamellipodia extension during cell spreading
Authors: Betapudi Venkaiah
Published: July 2019

Non-muscle myosin II role has been implicated in the extension of lamellipodia, a critical step in the initiation of directed cell migration, invasion and other cellular processes, but the mechanistic details are limited to driving retrograde actin filaments. The present study reveals distinct localization of myosin IIA and IIB with an unexpected opposite mechanical roles in mediating lamellipodia extension during spreading. Attachment of cells to matrix is impaired in the absence of either isoforms, but differential regulation of focal contacts formation occurs in myosin IIA^-^; and IIB^-^; cells. Spreading cells expressing both isoforms display an organized actin network consisting of retrograde filaments, arcs and central filaments. Loss of actin arcs and central filaments occurs upon depletion of either myosin IIA or IIB, but myosin IIB^-^; cells displayed long parallel actin filaments elongated from cell edge. From these studies, a model for myosin IIA and IIB with separate, but linked mechanical roles in mediating lamellipodia extension is developed.
A new mathematical model for radiation cell killing mechanism: Target cumulating model
Authors: Liang Zhao , Shixiu Wu , Congyin Xie , Li Zhang
Published: July 2019

There are numerous mathematical or statistical models have been given out for radiation cell killing mechanism. Unfortunately, none of the model could explain the mechanism perfectly. The more advanced model for it is still necessary to be researched. Following common assumption, a new theoretical model named "target cumulating" model is induced from the molecular and particle physics level. The result of theoretical calculation gives the equation of cell survival rate corresponding to delivered dose and other sensitivity parameters. In addition to fit the cell survival curve well, the new model showed advantages with comparing to previous models. Also, the new model predicts or explains some phenomenon that had been observed in laboratory (e.g. dose rate effect and low dose hypersensitivity).
ER localized bestrophin1 activates Ca2+ dependent ion channels TMEM16A and SK4
Authors: Barro-Soria René , AlDehni Fadi , Almaça Joana , Ousingsawat Jiraporn , Witzgall Ralph , Schreiber Rainer , Kunzelmann Karl
Published: July 2019

Bestrophins form Ca2+ activated Cl- channels and regulate intercellular Ca2+ signaling1. We demonstrate that bestrophin 1 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it physically interacts with stromal interacting molecule 1 (Stim1), the ER-Ca2+ sensor2,3. Intracellular Ca2+ transients in HEK293 cells elicited by stimulation of purinergic P2Y2-receptors were augmented but more transient after expression of hBest1, in contrast to dominant negative hBest1-R218C, which attenuated Ca2+ increase. The p21-activated protein kinase Pak2 was found to phosphorylate hBest1, thereby enhancing Ca2+ signaling and activation of Ca2+ dependent Cl- (TMEM16A)4 and K+ (SK4)5 channels. Lack of bestrophin 1 expression in respiratory epithelial cells of mBest1 knockout mice caused expansion of ER cisterns and induced Ca2+ deposits. We propose that hBest1 is important for Ca2+ handling of the ER store, probably by controlling the function of Stim1 and by acting as a counter-ion channel to balance transient membrane potentials occurring through inositol trisphosphate (IP3) induced Ca2+ release and refill of the ER-Ca2+ store. Thus bestrophin 1 controls activation of Ca2+ dependent ion channels by regulation of compartmentalized Ca2+ signaling.
Cooperative effect of ribosomal protein s19 and Pim-1 kinase on murine c-Myc expression and myeloid/erythroid cellularity
Authors: Frojmark Anne-Sophie , Badhai Jitendra , Klar Joakim , Thuveson Maria , Schuster Jens , Dahl Niklas
Published: July 2019

Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a bone marrow failure syndrome associated with heterozygous mutations in the ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19) gene in a subgroup of patients. One of the interacting partners with RPS19 is the oncoprotein PIM-1 kinase. We intercrossed Rps19+/- and Pim-1-/- mice strains to study the effect from the disruption of both genes. The double mutant (Rps19+/-Pim-1-/-) mice display normal growth with increased peripheral white- and red blood cell counts when compared to the w.t. mice (Rps19+/+Pim-1+/+). Molecular analysis of bone marrow cells in Rps19+/-Pim-1-/- mice revealed up-regulated levels of c-Myc and the anti-apoptotic factors Bcl2, BclXL and Mcl-1. This is associated with a reduction of the apoptotic factors Bak and Caspase 3 as well as the cell cycle regulator p21. Our findings suggest that combined Rps19 insufficiency and Pim-1 deficiency promotes murine myeloid cell growth through a deregulation of c-Myc and a simultaneous up-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl proteins.
Cerebral and Spinal Modulation of Pain by Emotions
Authors: Roy Mathieu , Piche Mathieu , Chen Jen-I , Peretz Isabelle , Rainville Pierre
Published: July 2019

Emotions have powerful effects on pain perception. However, the brain mechanisms underlying these effects remain largely unknown. In this study, we combined functional cerebral imaging with psychophysiological methods to explore the neural mechanisms implicated in the emotional modulation of spinal nociceptive responses (RIII-reflex) and pain perception in healthy participants. Emotions induced by pleasant or unpleasant pictures modulated the responses to painful electrical stimulations in the right insula, paracentral lobule, parahippocampal gyrii, thalamus and amygdala. Right insula activation covaried with the modulation of pain perception, consistent with a role of this structure in the integration of pain signals with the ongoing emotion. In contrast, activity in the thalamus and amygdala was associated with the modulation of spinal reflex responses. Connectivity analyses further supported a segregation of networks involved in cerebral and cerebro-spinal modulation, highlighting the multiplicity of emotion-related processes affecting pain.
Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction enhances AAV mediated gene transfection: human RPE cells in vitro and the rat retina in vivo
Authors: Li Hongli , Zheng Xiaozhi , Wang Huiping , Li Fan , Wu Ying , Du Lianfang
Published: July 2019

The present study was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) mediated rAAV2-EGFP to cultured human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in vitro and the rat retina in vivo. In vitro study, cultured human RPE cells were exposed to US under different conditions with or without microbubbles. Furthermore, the effect of UTMD to rAAV2-EGFP itself and the cells were evaluated. In vivo study, gene transfer was examined by injecting rAAV2-EGFP into the subretinal space of the rats with or without microbubbles and then exposed to US. We investigated EGFP expression in vivo via stereomicroscopy and performed quantitative analysis by Axiovision 3.1 software. HE staining and frozen sections were used to observe tissue damage and location of EGFP gene expression. In vitro study, the transfection efficiency of rAAV2-EGFP increased 74.85% under the optimal UTMD conditions. Furthermore, there was almost no cytotoxicity to the cells and rAAV2-EGFP itself. In vivo study, UTMD could be used safely to enhance and accelerate transgene expression of the retina. Fluorescence expression was mainly located in the layer of retina. UTMD is a promising method for gene delivery to the retina.
Phylogeny of conserved adenines in linkers of Group-I introns
Authors: Ganesan Natarajan , Kesavan Chandrasekhar
Published: July 2019

We have analyzed the linkers in group-I introns, a characteristic region that is crucial to the folding and splicing process of the folded RNA, in seventy sequences spreading across r-RNA, t-RNA and organelle genes from various organisms including algae, fungi and protozoa. The study revealed a high degree of consensus of specific adenine residues in J3/4, J6/7 and J8/7 stems of the linker regions that were required to stabilize the local orientation, either as single residue or by forming unusual base pairs along with divalent metal ions. Conservation of these residues in the Group-I intron linkers suggests their significant contribution to the folded structure whose bonding and geometry recruit metal ions to interact in stabilizing the folded nature of RNA.
Glacial cycles promote greater dispersal, which can help explain larger clutch sizes, in north temperate birds
Authors: Winkler David , Greenberg Russell , Martin Thomas , Adler Frederick , Flaxman Samuel
Published: July 2019

Earth’s glacial history and patterns in the life history traits of the planet’s avifauna suggest the following interpretations of how recent geological history has affected these key characteristics of the biota: 1) Increased colonizing ability has been an important advantage of increased dispersal, and life history strategies are better categorized by dispersive colonizing ability than by their intrinsic growth rates; 2) Birds of the North Temperate Zone show a greater tendency to disperse, and they disperse farther, than tropical or south temperate birds; 3) Habitat changes associated with glacial advance and retreat selected for high dispersal ability, particularly in the North; and 4) Selection for greater dispersal throughout the unstable Pleistocene has also resulted in other well-recognized life history contrasts, especially larger clutch sizes in birds of North Temperate areas.
Temporal dynamics of travelling theta wave activity in infants responding to visual looming
Authors: van der Weel Ruud , van der Meer Audrey
Published: July 2019

A fundamental property of most animals is the ability to see whether an object is approaching on a direct collision course and, if so, when it will collide. Using high-density electroencephalography in 5- to 11-month-old infants and a looming stimulus approaching under three different accelerations, we investigated how the young human nervous system extracts and processes information for impending collision. Here we show that infants' looming related brain activity is characterized by theta oscillations. Source analyses reveal clear localised activity in the visual cortex. Analysing the temporal dynamics of the source waveform, we provide evidence that the temporal structure of different looming stimuli is sustained during processing in the more mature infant brain, providing infants with increasingly veridical time-to-collision information about looming danger as they grow older and become mobile.
Golden sections of inter-atomic distances as exact ionic radii of atoms
Authors: Heyrovska Raji
Published: July 2019

The Golden ratio which appears in the geometry of a variety of creations in Nature is found to arise right in the Bohr radius of the hydrogen atom due to the opposite charges of the electron and proton. The bond length of the hydrogen molecule is the diagonal of a square on the Bohr radius and hence also has two Golden sections, which form the cationic and anionic radii of hydrogen. It is shown here that these radii account quantitatively for the bond lengths of many hydrides when added to the atomic and Golden ratio based ionic radii of many other atoms.
The circadian system alters thermoregulation depending on the time of day and feeding condition
Authors: Nagashima Kei , Tokizawa Ken , Uchida Yuki
Published: July 2019

The circadian rhythm of body temperature (Tb) is a well-known phenomenon. However, it is unknown how the circadian system affects thermoregulation. Food deprivation in mice induces a greater reduction of Tb particularly in the light phase. We examined the role of the clock gene and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) during induced hypothermia. At 20C with fasting, mice increased their metabolic heat production in the dark phase and maintained T~b~, whereas in the light phase, heat production was less, resulting in hypothermia. Under these conditions, neuronal activity in the SCN, assessed by cFos expression, increased only in the light phase. The differences between the phases in Clock mutant mice were less marked. The neural network between the SCN and paraventricular nucleus appeared to be important in hypothermia. These findings suggest that the circadian system per se is influenced by both the feeding condition and environmental temperature and that it modulates thermoregulation.
Neurogenesis and astrogenesis contribute to vestibular compensation in the neurectomized adult cat: cellular and behavioral evidence
Authors: Dutheil Sophie , Brezun Jean Michel , Leonard Jacques , Lacour Michel , Tighilet Brahim
Published: July 2019

Neurogenesis occurs in some regions of the adult mammalian brain and gives rise to neurons integrated into functional networks. In pathological or postlesional conditions, neurogenesis and astrogenesis can also occur, as demonstrated in the deafferented vestibular nuclei after unilateral vestibular neurectomy in the adult cat. Here we report that in cats infused with an antimitotic drug, cytosine-[beta]-D arabinofuranoside (AraC), the number of GAD67 and GFAP immunoreactive cells is increased, despite the total mitotic activity blockade observed in the deafferented vestibular nuclei after unilateral vestibular neurectomy. At the behavioral level, recovery of posturo-locomotor function was drastically delayed, and no alteration of the horizontal spontaneous nystagmus was observed. These cellular and behavioral results suggest that reactive neurogenesis and astrogenesis might contribute highly to vestibular compensation in the adult cat, probably by accelerating the recovery of vestibular functions.