bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Chinese eye exercises on myopia control in an East Asian population: a meta-analysis
Authors: Sangvatanakul Paradi , Tangthianchaichana Jakkree , Tasanarong Adis , Pabalan Noel , Tharabenjasin Phuntila 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectiveThe rates of myopia (−0.50 diopter), and high myopia (≥ −6.0 diopter) have been increasing in East Asian populations; the reasons for which may include the combinations of genetic, environment and behavioural factors. The most affected demography point to the young elite population of intellectuals produced from universities. Of the several recommendations to address the myopia epidemic, the influence of Chinese eye exercises (CEE) have been examined. However, reports have been inconsistent, prompting a meta-analysis to obtain more precise estimates.MethodsEight articles were included in the meta-analysis where we operated on the hypothesis that CEE either increased or reduced myopia control. We compared the subjects that performed CEE against those that did not. We used and estimated odds ratios [ORs] and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the generic inverse variance method. Subgroup analysis involved quality (high/serious and low/non-serious) and frequency (> 5 times/week) of performing CEE comprised. Heterogeneity was subjected to outlier treatment which split the findings into pre- (PRO) and post- (PSO) outlier. The strength of evidence in our findings were based on high significance (Pa < 10−5), surviving the Bonferroni correction and homogeneity (I2 = 0%). Outcomes with these features comprised our core findings.ResultsOur core findings were found in the PSO overall indicating elevated myopia control (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.61-0.86, Pa = 0.0002) and CEE subgroups (Serious: OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.84, Pa < 10−5; Frequent: OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.45-0.68, Pa < 10−5). The low quality subgroup outcome was null in PRO (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.50-1.86, Pa = 0.92) but conveyed significantly less myopia control in PSO (OR1.57, 95% CI 1.24-2.01, Pa = 0.0002).ConclusionsThis meta-analysis found that CEE afforded 28% greater control of myopia. Enabled by outlier treatment, this finding was homogeneous and consistent. Subgroup effects elevated myopia control to 62% when CEE was done up to 5 times a week. Improper CEE performance implied reduced myopia control of up to 57%.
Long-Term Effects of Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke and Botulinum Neurotoxin on Wrist and Finger Passive Mechanical Properties
Authors: Binder-Markey Benjamin I , Murray Wendy M , Dewald Julius P.A. 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTBackgroundNeural impairments that follow hemiparetic stroke may negatively affect passive muscle properties, further limiting recovery. However, factors such as hypertonia, spasticity, and botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), a common clinical intervention, confound our understanding of muscle properties in chronic stroke.ObjectiveTo determine if muscle passive biomechanical properties are different following prolonged, stroke-induced, altered muscle activation and disuse.MethodsTorques about the metacarpophalangeal and wrist joints were measured in different joint postures in both limbs of participants with hemiparetic stroke. First, we evaluated 27 participants with no history of BoNT; hand impairments ranged from mild to severe.Subsequently, seven participants with a history of BoNT injections were evaluated. To mitigate muscle hypertonia, torques were quantified after an extensive stretching protocol and under conditions that encouraged participants to sleep. EMGs were monitored throughout data collection.ResultsAmong participants who never received BoNT, no significant differences in passive torques between limbs were observed. Among participants who previously received BoNT injections, passive flexion torques about their paretic wrist and finger joints were larger than their nonparetic limb (average interlimb differences = +42.0±7.6SEM Ncm, +26.9±3.9SEM Ncm, respectively), and the range of motion for passive finger extension was significantly smaller (average interlimb difference = -36.3°±4.5°SEM; degrees).ConclusionOur results suggest that neural impairments that follow chronic, hemiparetic stroke do not lead to passive mechanical changes within the wrist and finger muscles. Rather, consistent with animal studies, the data points to potential adverse effects of BoNT on passive muscle properties post-stroke, which warrant further consideration.
Long term development of a realistic and integrated socio-ecological system
Authors: Gaucherel C. , Carpentier C. , Geijzendorffer I.R. , Pommereau F. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe developed a discrete and qualitative model of integrated socio-ecosystems, with the help of formal Petri nets. We illustrated such Petri nets in the case study of temporary marshes in the Mediterranean part of France, the Camargue delta, by integrating biotic, abiotic and human-related components along with their processes into the same interaction network. The model demonstrated that when marshes are exposed to extensive grazing the presence of marsh heritage species is facilitated by opening up the vegetation through various trajectories. This supports the commonly used management practice of extensive grazing to conserve certain protected habitats. With this Possibilistic approach, we identified all potential ecosystem trajectories and provided their differential (non-systematic) impacts on heritage species richness (number). Hence, we rigorously demonstrate with this new type of model that grazing benefits marsh species which are faced with competition from common grassland species. The detailed analysis of the explicit state space and trajectories allows exploring simultaneously the identification of a range of recommendations for management strategies.
Attenuated directed exploration during reinforcement learning in gambling disorder
Authors: Wiehler A. , Chakroun K. , Peters J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractGambling disorder is a behavioral addiction associated with impairments in value-based decision-making and behavioral flexibility and might be linked to changes in the dopamine system. Maximizing long-term rewards requires a flexible trade-off between the exploitation of known options and the exploration of novel options for information gain. This exploration-exploitation trade-off is thought to depend on dopamine neurotransmission. We hypothesized that human gamblers would show a reduction in directed (uncertainty-based) exploration, accompanied by changes in brain activity in a fronto-parietal exploration-related network.Twenty-three frequent, non-treatment seeking gamblers and twenty-three healthy matched controls (all male) performed a four-armed bandit task during functional magnetic resonance-imaging. Computational modeling using hierarchical Bayesian parameter estimation revealed signatures of directed exploration, random exploration, and perseveration in both groups. Gamblers showed a reduction in directed exploration, whereas random exploration and perseveration were similar between groups.Neuroimaging revealed no evidence for group differences in neural representations of basic task variables (expected value, prediction errors). Our hypothesis of reduced frontal pole recruitment in gamblers was not supported. Exploratory analyses revealed that during directed exploration, gamblers showed reduced parietal cortex and substantia-nigra / ventral-tegmental-area activity. Cross-validated classification analyses revealed that connectivity in an exploration-related network was predictive of group status, suggesting that connectivity patterns might be more predictive of problem gambling than univariate effects.Findings reveal specific reductions in strategic exploration gamblers that might be linked to altered processing in a fronto-parietal network and/or changes in dopamine neurotransmission implicated in gambling disorder.Significance statementWiehler et al. report that gamblers rely less on the strategic exploration of unknown, but potentially better rewards during reward learning. This is reflected in a related network of brain activity. Parameters of this network can be used to predict the presence of problem gambling behavior in participants.
Representations of the amacrine cell population underlying retinal motion anticipation
Authors: Menz Michael D. , Lee Dongsoo , Baccus Stephen A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRetinal amacrine cells are a diverse population of inhibitory interneurons, posing a challenge to understand the specific roles of those interneurons in computations of the similarly diverse ganglion cell population. Here we study the predictive computation of motion anticipation, which is thought to compensate for processing delays when encoding moving objects. We recorded the membrane potential of the salamander amacrine cell population optically while recording electrically from ganglion cells with a multielectrode array. We find unexpectedly that ganglion cells with the greatest anticipation for moving stimuli exhibit a new type of predictive motion anticipation that is inconsistent with prior models of delayed inhibition. Based on the spatiotemporal correlations between thousands of amacrine and ganglion cell pairs, we modeled the contribution of the traveling wave of activity for different amacrine cell populations to the encoding of a moving bar. These models indicate that the population responses of slow biphasic amacrine cells create the greatest contribution to both types of ganglion cell motion anticipation, supporting a role for this specific amacrine cell class in the predictive encoding of moving stimuli.Significance StatementThe prediction of moving stimuli is a widespread function occurring in both visual and auditory systems. The diversity of interneuron populations makes it a challenge to understand the mechanisms of these computations. To analyze how the retina anticipates motion, we optically measured inhibitory amacrine cell population activity simultaneously with electrical recording from ganglion cell populations. We then used computational modelling to assess which amacrine cell types have the right spatiotemporal responses to generate motion anticipation. In contrast to previous suggestions of a general role for inhibition, we find that slow biphasic amacrine cells specifically have the greatest contribution to motion anticipation, thus highlighting the need to directly measure and model the effects of interneuron populations in complex sensory computations.
Proma Plasmids are Instrumental in the Dissemination of Linuron Catabolic Genes between Different Genera
Authors: Werner Johannes , Nour Eman , Bunk Boyke , Spröer Cathrin , Smalla Kornelia , Springael Dirk , Öztürk Başak 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTPromA plasmids are broad host range plasmids, which are often cryptic and hence have an uncertain ecological role. We present three novel PromA γ plasmids which carry genes associated with degradation of the phenylurea herbicide linuron, two (pPBL-H3-2 and pBPS33-2) of which originate from unrelatedHydrogenophagahosts isolated from different environments, and one (pEN1) which was exogenously captured from an on-farm biopurification system. BothHydrogenophagaplasmids carry all three necessary gene clusters determining the three main steps for conversion of linuron to Krebs cycle intermediates, while pEN1 only determines the initial linuron hydrolysis step. Linuron catabolic gene clusters that determine the same step were identical on all plasmids, encompassed in differently arranged constellations and characterized by the presence of multiple IS1071elements. In all plasmids except pEN1, the insertion spot of the catabolic genes in the PromA γ plasmids was the same. Highly similar PromA plasmids carrying the linuron degrading gene cargo at the same insertion spot were were previously identified in linuron degradingVariovoraxsp. Interestingly, in bothHydrogenophagapopulations not every PromA plasmid copy carries catabolic genes. The results indicate that PromA plasmids are important vehicles of linuron catabolic gene dissemination, rather than being cryptic and only important for the mobilization of other plasmids.
Activity/rest rhythms of Drosophila populations selected for divergent eclosion timing under temperature cues
Authors: Abhilash Lakshman , Arshad Kalliyil , Sheeba Vasu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDespite the fact that the rhythm in adult emergence and rhythm in locomotor activity are two different rhythmic phenomena that occur at distinct life-stages of the fly life cycle, previous studies have hinted at similarities in certain aspects of the organisation of the circadian clock driving these two rhythms. In an earlier study, we have shown that selection on timing of adult emergence behaviour in populations of Drosophila melanogaster leads to the co-evolution of temperature sensitivity of circadian clocks driving eclosion. In this study, we were interested in asking if temperature sensitivity of the locomotor activity rhythm has evolved in our populations with divergent timing of adult emergence rhythm, with the goal of understanding the extent of similarity (or lack of it) in circadian organisation between the two rhythms. We found that in response to simulated jetlag with temperature cycles, late chronotypes (populations selected for predominant emergence during dusk) indeed re-entrain faster than early chronotypes (populations selected for predominant emergence during dawn), thereby indicating enhanced sensitivity of the activity/rest clock to temperature cues in these stocks (entrainment is the synchronisation of internal rhythms to cyclic environmental time-cues). Additionally, we found that late chronotypes show higher plasticity of phases across regimes, day-to-day stability in phases and amplitude of entrainment, all indicative of enhanced temperature sensitive activity/rest rhythms. Our results highlight remarkably similar organisation principles between emergence and activity/rest rhythms.
A yeast FRET biosensor enlightens cAMP signalling
Authors: Botman Dennis , O’Toole Tom G. , Goedhart Joachim , Bruggeman Frank J. , van Heerden Johan H. , Teusink Bas 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe cAMP-PKA signalling cascade in budding yeast regulates adaptation to changing environments. We developed yEPAC, a FRET-based biosensor for cAMP measurements in yeast. We used this sensor with flow cytometry for high-throughput single cell-level quantification during dynamic changes in response to sudden nutrient transitions. We found that the characteristic cAMP peak differentiates between different carbon source transitions, and is rather homogenous among single-cells, especially for transitions to glucose. The peaks are mediated by a combination of extracellular sensing and intracellular metabolism. Moreover, the cAMP peak follows Weber’s law; its height scales with the relative, and not the absolute, change in glucose. Lastly, our results suggest that the cAMP peak height conveys information about prospective growth rates. In conclusion, our yEPAC-sensor makes possible new avenues for understanding yeast physiology, signalling and metabolic adaptation.
Antagonistic center-surround mechanisms for direction selectivity in the retina
Authors: Ankri Lea , Ezra-Tsur Elishai , Maimon Shir R. , Kaushansky Nathali , Rivlin-Etzion Michal 
Published: November 2019

SummaryA key feature in sensory processing is center-surround receptive field antagonism. Retinal direction-selectivity (DS) relies on asymmetric inhibition from starburst amacrine cells (SAC) to direction selective ganglion cells (DSGC). SAC exhibit antagonistic center-surround, depolarizing to light increments and decrements in their center and surround, respectively, but the role of this property in DS remains elusive. We found that a repetitive stimulation exhausts SAC center and enhances its surround and used it to distinguish center-from surround-mediated responses. Center, but not surround stimulation, induced direction-selective responses in SAC, as predicted by an elementary spatiotemporal model. Nevertheless, both SAC center and surround elicited direction-selective responses in DSGCs, but to opposite directions. Physiological and morphology-based modeling data show that the opposed responses resulted from inverted DSGC’s excitatory-inhibitory temporal balance, indicating that SAC response time rules DS. Our findings reveal antagonistic center-surround mechanisms for DS, and demonstrate how context-dependent center-surround reorganization enables flexible computations.
Sfrp1 deficiency makes retinal photoreceptors prone to degeneration
Authors: Cisneros Elsa , di Marco Fabiana , Rueda-Carrasco Javier , Lillo Concepción , Pereyra Guadalupe , Martín-Bermejo María Jesús , Vargas Alba , Sanchez Rocío , Sandonís África , Esteve Pilar , Bovolenta Paola 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMillions of individuals worldwide suffer from impaired vision, a condition with multiple origins that often impinge upon the light sensing cells of the retina, the photoreceptors, affecting their integrity. The molecular components contributing to this integrity are however not yet fully understood. Here we have asked whether Secreted Frizzled Related Protein 1 (SFRP1) may be one of such factors. SFRP1 has a context-dependent function as modulator of Wnt signalling or of the proteolytic activity of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteases (ADAM) 10, a main regulator of neural cell-cell communication. We report that in Sfrp1-/- mice, the outer limiting membrane (OLM) is discontinuous and the photoreceptors disorganized and more prone to light-induced damage. Sfrp1 loss significantly enhances the effect of the Rpe65Leu450Leu genetic variant -present in the mouse genetic background- which confers sensitivity to light-induced stress. These alterations worsen with age, affect visual function and are associated to an increased proteolysis of Protocadherin 21 (PCDH21), localized at the photoreceptor outer segment, and N-cadherin, an OLM component. We thus propose that SFRP1 contributes to photoreceptor fitness with a mechanism that involves the maintenance of OLM integrity. These conclusions are discussed in view of the broader implication of SFRP1 in neurodegeneration and aging.
MicroRNA-148a Regulates Low-Density Lipoprotein Metabolism by Repressing the (Pro)renin Receptor
Authors: Wang Na , He Lishu , Lin Hui , Tan Lunbo , Sun Yuan , Zhang Xiaoying , Danser A.H. Jan , Lu Hong S. , He Yongcheng , Lu Xifeng 
Published: November 2019

AbstractHigh plasma LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) concentration is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. Hepatic LDLR regulates LDL metabolism, and thereby plasma LDL-c concentration. Recently, we identified the (pro)renin receptor [(P)RR] as a novel regulator of LDL metabolism, which regulates LDLR degradation and hence its protein abundance and activity. In silicon analysis suggests that the (P)RR is a target of miR-148a. In this study we determined whether miR-148a could regulate LDL metabolism by regulating (P)RR expression in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. We found that miR-148a suppressed (P)RR expression by binding to the 3’-untranslated regions (3’-UTR) of (P)RR mRNA. Mutating the binding sites for miR-148a in the 3’-UTR of (P)RR mRNA abolished the inhibitory effects of miR-148a on (P)RR expression. In line with our recent findings, reduced (P)RR expression resulted in decreased cellular LDL uptake, likely as a consequence of decreased LDLR protein abundance. Overexpressing the (P)RR prevented miR-148a-induced reduction in LDLR abundance and cellular LDL uptake. Our study supports a new concept that miR-148a is a regulator of (P)RR expression. By reducing (P)RR abundance, miR-148a decreases LDLR protein abundance and consequently cellular LDL uptake.
Evaluating the effects of arousal and emotional valence on performance of racing greyhounds
Authors: Starling Melissa , Spurrett Anthony , McGreevy Paul 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe racing greyhound industry in Australia has come under scrutiny in recent years due to animal welfare concerns, including so-called behavioural wastage whereby physically sound greyhounds are removed from the racing industry because of poor performance. The non-medical reasons why greyhounds perform poorly at the racetrack are not well understood, but may include insufficient reinforcement for racing, or negative affective states associated with the context of racing. This study sought evidence for the affective states of greyhounds (n=525) at race meets and associations of those states with performance. It collected demographic, behavioural and performance data, along with infrared thermographic images of greyhounds at race-meets to investigate whether arousal influenced performance. It also collected behavioural data in the catching pen at the completion of races to examine possible evidence of frustration that may reflect sub-optimal behavioural reinforcement.Linear regression models were built to determine factors affecting greyhound performance. Increasing mean eye temperature after the race and increasing greyhound age both had a statistically significant, negative effect on performance. The start box number also had a significant effect, with boxes 4, 5 and 7 having a negative effect on performance. There was a significant effect of track on mean eye temperatures before and after the race, suggesting that some tracks may be inherently more stressful for greyhounds than others. Behaviours that may indicate frustration in the catching pen were extremely common at two tracks, but much less common at the third, where play objects in motion were used to draw greyhounds into the catching pen. The study provides evidence for the use of eye temperature in predicting performance, guidance for assessment of poor performance in greyhounds and suggested approaches to the management of frustration in racing greyhounds.
The novel microRNAs hsa-miR-nov7 and hsa-miR-nov3 are over-expressed in locally advanced breast cancer
Authors: Poduval Deepak , Sichmanova Zuzana , Straume Anne Hege , Lønning Per Eystein , Knappskog Stian 
Published: November 2019

AbstractmiRNAs are an important class of small non-coding RNAs, which play a versatile role in gene regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Expression of miRNAs is often deregulated in human cancers.We analyzed small RNA massive parallel sequencing data from 50 locally advanced breast cancers aiming to identify novel breast cancer related miRNAs. We successfully predicted 10 novel miRNAs, out of which 2 (hsa-miR-nov3 and hsa-miR-nov7) were recurrent. Applying high sensitivity qPCR, we detected these two microRNAs in 206 and 214 out of 223 patients in the study from which the initial cohort of 50 samples were drawn. We found hsa-miR-nov3 and hsa-miR-nov7 both to be overexpressed in tumor versus normal breast tissue in a separate set of 13 patients (p=0.009 and p=0.016, respectively) from whom both tumor tissue and normal tissue were available. We observedhsa-miR-nov3to be expressed at higher levels in ER-positive compared to ER-negative tumors (p=0.037). Further stratifications revealed particularly low levels in the her2-like and basal-like cancers compared to other subtypes (p=0.009 and 0.040, respectively).We predicted target genes for the 2 microRNAs and identified inversely correlated genes in mRNA expression array data available from 203 out of the 223 patients. Applying the KEGG and GO annotations to target genes revealed pathways essential to cell development, communication and homeostasis.Although a weak association between high expression levels ofhsa-miR-nov7and poor survival was observed, this did not reach statistical significance.hsa-miR-nov3expression levels had no impact on patient survival.