bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acute toxicity of Leaf extracts ofEnydra fluctuansLour in Zebrafish (Danio rerioHamilton)
Authors: Xavier Jobi , Kripasana Kshetrimayum 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe present study was focused on the concentration dependent changes in oral acute toxicity of leaf extracts ofE. fluctuansin zebrafish. The study was also aimed at the details of histopathological changes in gill, liver, brain and intestine of zebrafish exposed to the leaf extracts of the plantE. fluctuans.Enydra fluctuansLour is an edible semi-aquatic herbaceous plant used widely for the alleviation of the different diseases. Since there were no toxicity studies conducted on this plant the present study was an attempt to look into the elements of toxicity of the plants. Two types of experiments are conducted in the present study. First, the acute oral toxicity study was conducted as per the OECD guidelines 203. Second, histopathological changes were observed in the fishes exposed to the lethal concentrations of plant extract. The oral acute toxicity studies conducted on Zebrafish have revealed that the leave extracts ofE. fluctuanswere toxic to the tested fish at the concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight. The histopathological studies conducted on intestine of treated fishes showed that treatment has induced rupturing of villi structure and fusion of villi membrane and detachment of villi structure from basal membrane of intestine. The histology of the liver also showed severe vacuolization in the cells while it is not affected in control. The studies on gills showed the detachment of basal epithelial membrane in gills compared to control which might have led to death of the fish. The histopathological observations of brain tissues treated with test samples also revealed the marked impingement in brain parenchyma while the control is normal without impingement of brain.
Detection of four imperiled western North American freshwater mussel species from environmental DNA with multiplex qPCR assays
Authors: Rodgers Torrey W. , Dysthe Joseph C. , Tait Cynthia , Franklin Thomas W. , Schwartz Michael K. , Mock Karen E. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe developed multiplexed, species-specific, quantitative PCR assays for the detection of four freshwater mussel species native to western North America,Gonidea angulata, Margaritifera falcata,Anodonta nuttallianaandAnodonta oregonensis, from environmental DNA (eDNA). These species have experienced dramatic declines over the last century and are currently threatened in many portions of their ranges. Therefore, improved tools for detecting and monitoring these species are needed. Species-specificity and sensitivity of assays were empirically tested in the lab, and multiplex assays were also validated with field collected eDNA samples. All assays were species-specific, sensitive, and effective for detection from eDNA samples collected from streams and rivers. These assays will aid in the detection, monitoring, management, and conservation of these vulnerable species.
Body temperature maintenance acclimates in a winter-tenacious songbird
Authors: Stager Maria , Senner Nathan R. , Tobalske Bret W. , Cheviron Zachary A. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTFlexibility in heat generation and dissipation mechanisms provides endotherms the ability to match their thermoregulatory strategy with external demands. However, the degree to which these two mechanisms account for seasonal changes in body temperature regulation is unexplored. Here we present novel data on the regulation of avian body temperature to investigate how birds alter mechanisms of heat production and heat conservation to deal with variation in ambient conditions. We subjected Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) to chronic cold acclimations of varying duration and subsequently quantified their metabolic rates, thermal conductance, and ability to maintain normothermia. Cold-acclimated birds adjusted traits related to both heat generation (increased summit metabolic rate) and heat conservation (decreased conductance) to improve their body temperature regulation. Increases in summit metabolic rate occurred rapidly, but plateaued after one week of cold exposure. In contrast, changes to conductance occurred only after nine weeks of cold exposure. Thus, the ability to maintain body temperature continued to improve throughout the experiment, but the mechanisms underlying this improvement changed through time. Our results demonstrate the ability of birds to adjust thermoregulatory strategies in response to thermal cues and reveal that birds may combine multiple responses to meet the specific demands of their environments.
Insulin-like growth factor 1 induces oxidative damage, but does not affect survival in a songbird
Authors: Lendvai Ádám Z. , Tóth Zsófia , Pénzes Janka , Vogel-Kindgen Sarah , Gander Bruno A. , Vágási Csongor I. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractLifespan evolves as a compromise between antagonistic selection forces. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a pleiotropic hormone that regulates several life-history traits. High levels of IGF-1 have been linked to increased mortality, partly by causing oxidative stress. However, these effects have no experimental evidence in wild animals. We implanted microspheres loaded with exogenous IGF-1 into bearded reedlings, a common short-lived Eurasian songbird. The treatment elevated plasma IGF-1 levels for at least 24 h. Oxidative damage to lipids significantly increased the day after the manipulation in treated birds, but returned to baseline levels four days post-treatment. The treatment had no effect on survival over 16 months; however, birds with higher pre-treatment (baseline) IGF-1 levels had better survival prospects. These results suggest that, although high IGF-1 levels may induce oxidative damage, natural variation in this hormone’s level may reflect the outcome of individual optimization.
Tracing theIn VivoFate of Nanoparticles with a “Non-Self” Biological Identity
Authors: Mohammad-Beigi Hossein , Scavenius Carsten , Jensen Pia Bomholt , Kjaer-Sorensen Kasper , Oxvig Claus , Boesen Thomas , Enghild Jan J. , Sutherland Duncan S. , Hayashi Yuya 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTNanoparticles can acquire a biomolecular corona with a species-specific biological identity. However, “non-self” incompatibility of recipient biological systems is often not considered, for example, when rodents are used as a model organism for preclinical studies of biomolecule-inspired nanomedicines. Using zebrafish embryos as an emerging model for nano-bioimaging, here we unraveled thein vivofate of intravenously injected 70 nm SiO2nanoparticles with a protein corona pre-formed from fetal bovine serum (FBS), representing a non-self biological identity. Strikingly rapid sequestration and endolysosomal acidification of nanoparticles with the pre-formed FBS corona were observed in scavenger endothelial cells within minutes after injection. This led to loss of blood vessel integrity and inflammatory activation of macrophages over the course of several hours. As unmodified nanoparticles or the equivalent dose of FBS proteins alone failed to induce the observed pathophysiology, this signifies how the corona enriched with a differential repertoire of proteins can determine the fate of the nanoparticlesin vivo. Our findings thus reveal the adverse outcome triggered by incompatible protein coronas and indicate a potential pitfall in the use of mismatched species combinations during nanomedicine development.
Custom-molded headcases have limited efficacy in reducing head motion during naturalistic fMRI experiments
Authors: Jolly E , Sadhukha S , Chang L.J. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEffectively minimizing head motion continues to be a challenge for the collection of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. The use of individual-specific custom molded headcases is a promising solution to this issue, but there has been limited work to date. In the present work, we examine the efficacy of headcases in a larger group of participants engaged in naturalistic scanning paradigms including: long movie-watching scans (∼20-45min) and a recall task that involved talking aloud inside the MRI. Unlike previous work, we find that headcases do not reliably reduce motion during movie viewing compared to alternative methods such as foam pillows or foam pillows plus medical tape. Surprisingly, we also find that motion isworsewhen participants talk aloud while wearing headcases. These differences appear to be driven by large, brief rotations of the head as well as translations in the z-plane as participants speak. Smaller, constant head movements appear equivalent with or without headcases. The largest reductions in head motion are observable when participants were situated with both foam pillows and medical tape. Altogether, this work suggests that in a healthy adult population, custom-molded headcases may provide limited efficacy in reducing head motion beyond existing tools available to researchers. We hope this work can help improve the quality of custom headcases, motivate the investigation of additional solutions, and provide additional information about head motion in naturalistic contexts.
Differential and spatial expression meta-analysis of genes identified in genome-wide association studies of depression
Authors: Wu Wennie , Howard Derek , Sibille Etienne , French Leon 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder worldwide and affects individuals of all ages. It causes significant psychosocial impairments and is a major cause of disability. A recent consortium study identified 102 genetic variants and 269 genes associated with depression. To provide targets for future depression research, we prioritized these recently identified genes using expression data. We examined differential expression of these genes in three studies that profiled gene expression of MDD cases and controls across multiple brain regions. In addition, we integrated anatomical expression information to determine which brain regions and transcriptomic cell-types highly express the candidate genes. We highlight 11 of the 269 genes with the most consistent differential expression:MANEA, UBE2M, CKB, ITPR3, SPRY2, SAMD5, TMEM106B, ZC3H7B, LST1, ASXL3andHSPA1A. The majority of these top genes were found to have sex-specific differential expression. We place greater emphasis onMANEAas it is the top gene in a more conservative analysis of the 269. Specifically, differential expression ofMANEAwas strongest in cerebral cortex regions and had opposing sex-specific effects. Anatomically, our results suggest the importance of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, cholinergic, monoaminergic, and enteric neurons. These findings provide a guide for targeted experiments to advance our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of depression.
Arf1-Ablation-Induced Neuronal Damage Promotes Neurodegeneration Through an NLRP3 Inflammasome–Meningeal γδ T cell–IFNγ-Reactive Astrocyte Pathway
Authors: Wang Guohao , Yin Weiqin , Shin Hyunhee , Hou Steven X. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractNeurodegenerative diseases are often initiated from neuronal injury or disease and propagated through neuroinflammation and immune response. However, the mechanisms by which injured neurons induce neuroinflammation and immune response that feedback to damage neurons are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Arf1 ablation in adult mouse neurons resulted in activation of a reactive microglia–A1 astrocyte–C3 pathway in the hindbrain and midbrain but not in the forebrain, which caused demyelination, axon degeneration, synapse loss, and neurodegeneration. We further find that the Arf1-ablated neurons released peroxided lipids and ATP that activated an NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia to release IL-1β, which together with elevated chemokines recruited and activated γδT cells in meninges. The activated γδ T cells then secreted IFNγ that entered into parenchyma to activate the microglia–A1 astrocyte–C3 neurotoxic pathway for destroying neurons and oligodendrocytes. Finally, we show that the Arf1-reduction-induced neuroinflammation–IFNγ–gliosis pathway exists in human neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. This study illustrates perhaps the first complete mechanism of neurodegeneration in a mouse model. Our findings introduce a new paradigm in neurodegenerative research and provide new opportunities to treat neurodegenerative disorders.
A Controlled Slip: Training Propulsion via Acceleration of the Trailing Limb
Authors: Farrens Andria J. , Lilley Maria , Sergi Fabrizio 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWalking function, which is critical to performing many activities of daily living, is commonly assessed by walking speed. Walking speed is dependent on propulsion, which is governed by ankle moment and the posture of the trailing limb during push-off. Here, we present a new gait training paradigm that utilizes a dual belt treadmill to train both components of propulsion by accelerating the belt of the trailing limb during push off. Accelerations require subjects to produce greater propulsive force to counteract inertial effects, and increase trailing limb angle through increased belt velocity.We hypothesized that exposure to our training p rogram would produce after effects in propulsion mechanics and, consequently, walking speed. We tested our protocol on healthy subjects at two acceleration magnitudes–Perceptible (PE), and Imperceptible, (IM)–and compared their results to a third control group (VC) that walked at a higher velocity during training.Results show that the PE group significantly increased walking speed following training (mean ± s.e.m: 0.073 ± 0.013 m/s, p < 0.001). The change in walking speed in the IM and VC groups was not significant at the group level (IM: 0.032 ± 0.013 m/s; VC: -0.003 ± 0.013 m/s). Responder analysis showed that changes in push-off posture and in neuro-motor control of ankle plantar-flexor muscles contributed to the larger increases in gait speed measured in the PE group compared to the IM and VC groups. Analysis of the effects during and after training suggest that changes in neuromotor coordination are consistent with use-dependent learning.
SCITO-seq: single-cell combinatorial indexed cytometry sequencing
Authors: Hwang Byungjin , Lee David S. , Tamaki Whitney , Sun Yang , Ogorodnikov Anton , Hartoularos George , Winters Aidan , Song Yun S. , Chow Eric D. , Spitzer Matthew H. , Ye Chun Jimmie 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe development of DNA-barcoded antibodies to tag cell-surface molecules has enabled the use of droplet-based single cell sequencing (dsc-seq) to profile the surface proteomes of cells. Compared to flow and mass cytometry, the major limitation of current dsc-seq-based workflows is the high cost associated with profiling each cell, thus precluding its use in applications where millions of cells are required. Here, we introduce SCITO-seq, a new workflow that combines combinatorial indexing and commercially available dsc-seq to enable cost-effective cell surface proteomic sequencing of greater than 105cells per microfluidic reaction. We demonstrate SCITO-seq’s feasibility and scalability by profiling mixed species cell lines and mixed human T and B lymphocytes. To further demonstrate its applicability, we show comparable cellular composition estimates in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained with SCITO-seq and mass cytometry. SCITO-seq can be extended to include simultaneous profiling of additional modalities such as transcripts and accessible chromatin or tracking of experimental perturbations such as genome edits or extracellular stimuli.
Simulating the Influence of Conjugative Plasmids Kinetic Values on the Multilevel Dynamics of Antimicrobial Resistance in a Membrane Computing Model
Authors: Campos Marcelino , Millán Álvaro San , Sempere José M. , Lanza Val F. , Coque Teresa M. , Llorens Carlos , Baquero Fernando 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPlasmids harboring antibiotic resistance genes differ in their kinetic values as plasmid conjugation rate, segregation rate by incompatibility with related plasmids, rate of stochastic loss during replication, cost reducing the host-cell fitness, and frequency of compensatory mutations to reduce plasmid cost, depending on the cell mutation frequency. How variation in these values influence the success of a plasmid and their resistance genes in complex ecosystems, as the microbiota? Genes are located in plasmids, plasmids in cells, cells in populations. These populations are embedded in ensembles of species in different human hosts, are able to exchange between them bacterial ensembles during cross-infection and are located in the hospital or the community setting, under various levels of antibiotic exposure. Simulations using new membrane computing methods help predict the influence of plasmid kinetic values on such multilevel complex system. In our simulation, conjugation frequency needed to be at least 10−3to clearly influence the dominance of a strain with a resistant plasmid. Host strains able to stably maintain two copies of similar plasmids harboring different resistances, coexistence of these resistances can occur in the population. Plasmid loss rates of 10−4or 10−5or plasmid fitness costs ≥0.06 favor the plasmids located in the most abundant species. The beneficial effect of compensatory mutations for plasmid fitness cost is proportional to this cost, only at high mutation frequencies (10−3-10−5). Membrane computing helps set a multilevel landscape to study the effect of changes in plasmid kinetic values on the success of resistant organisms in complex ecosystems.
Evaluations of serological test in the diagnosis of 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infections during the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Lin Dachuan , Liu Lei , Zhang Mingxia , Hu Yunlong , Yang Qianting , Guo Jiubiao , Dai Youchao , Xu Yuzhong , Cai Yi , Chen Xinchun , Huang Kaisong , Zhang Zheng 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe ongoing SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has killed over twenty-one thousand and sickened over four hundred thousand people worldwide, posing a great challenge to global public health. A sensitive and accurate diagnosis method will substantially help to control disease expansion. Here, we developed a chemiluminescence-immunoassay method based on the recombinant nucleocapsid antigen and the magnetic beads for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections and surveillance of antibody changing pattern.Serums from 29 healthy individuals, 51 tuberculosis patients, and 79 SARS-CoV-2 confirmed patients were employed to evaluate the performance of this approach. Compared to the IgM testing, the IgG testing was more reliable in which it identified 65 SARS-CoV-2 infections from the 79 confirmed patients and only two false-positive cases from the 80 control group with a sensitivity and specificity reaching 82.28% and 97.5%, respectively. However, only a slight difference (not statistically significant) in the detected cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections was observed between the IgM and IgG testing manner in patients at a different time of onset of disease. A performance comparison between an ELISA kit using the same nucleocapsid antigen and our chemiluminescence method was undertaken. The same false-positive cases were seen in both methods from the paired control group, while ELISA kit can only detect half of the SARS-CoV-2 infections from paired SARS-CoV-2 confirmed patients group than that of the chemiluminescence method, indicating a higher performance for the chemiluminescence-immunoassay approach. Together, our studies provide a useful and valuable serological testing tool for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the community.
Pyrethroid resistance in Anopheles gambiae not associated with insecticide-treated mosquito net effectiveness across sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Larsen David A. , Church Rachael L. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundPyrethroid resistance is a major concern for malaria vector control programs that predominantly rely on insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN). Contradictory results of the impact of resistance have been observed in field studies.MethodsWe combined continent-wide estimates of pyrethroid resistance in Anopheles gambiae from 2006-2017 with continent-wide survey data to assess the effect of increasing pyrethroid resistance on the effectiveness of ITNs to prevent malaria infections in sub-Saharan Africa. We utilized both a pooled-data approach and meta-regression of survey regions to assess how pyrethroid resistance affects the association between ITN ownership and malaria outcomes in children aged 6-59 months.FindingsITN ownership reduced the risk of malaria outcomes in both pooled and meta-regression approaches. In the pooled analysis, there was no observed interaction between ITN ownership and estimated level of pyrethroid resistance (Likelihood ratio [LR] test = 1.127 for the outcome of rapid diagnostic test confirmed malaria infection, p = 0.2885; LR test = 0.161 for the outcome of microscopy confirmed malaria infection, p = 0.161; LR test = 0.646 for the outcome of moderate or severe anemia, p = 0.4215). In the meta-regression approach the level of pyrethroid resistance did not explain any of the variance in subnational estimates of ITN effectiveness for any of the outcomes.InterpretationITNs decreased risk of malaria outcomes independent of the levels of pyrethroid resistance in the malaria vector populations.FundingDAL did not receive funding and RC received a SOURCE grant from Syracuse University for this project.
Estrogen and sex-dependent loss of the vocal learning system in female zebra finches
Authors: Choe Ha Na , Tewari Jeevan , Zhu Kevin W. , Davenport Matthew , Matsunami Hiroaki , Jarvis Erich D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSex hormones alter the organization of the brain during early development and coordinate various behaviors throughout life. In zebra finches, song learning is limited to males, and the associated song learning brain pathway only matures in males and atrophies in females. This atrophy can be reversed by giving females exogenous estrogen during early post-hatch development, but whether normal male song system development requires estrogen is uncertain. For the first time in songbirds, we administered exemestane, a potent third generation estrogen synthesis inhibitor, from the day of hatching until adulthood. We examined the behavior, brain, and transcriptome of individual song nuclei of these pharmacologically manipulated animals. We found that males with long-term exemestane treatment had diminished male-specific plumage, impaired song learning, but retained normal song nuclei sizes and most, but not all, of their specialized transcriptome. Consistent with prior findings, females with long-term estrogen treatment retained a functional song system, and we further observed their song nuclei had specialized gene expression profiles similar, but not identical to males. We also observed that different song nuclei responded to estrogen manipulation differently, with Area X in the striatum being the most altered by estrogen modulation. These findings support the hypothesis that song learning is an ancestral trait in both sexes, which was subsequently suppressed in females of some species, and that estrogen has come to play a critical role in modulating this suppression as well as refinement of song learning.