bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional architecture of motion direction in the mouse superior colliculus
Authors: Li Ya-tang , Turan Zeynep , Meister Markus 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMotion vision is important in guiding animal behavior. Both the retina and the visual cortex process object motion in largely unbiased fashion: all directions are represented at all locations in the visual field. We investigate motion processing in the superior colliculus of the awake mouse, by optically recording neural responses across both hemispheres. Within the retinotopic map, one finds large regions of ∼500 μm size where neurons prefer the same direction of motion. This preference is maintained in depth to ∼350 μm. The scale of these patches, ∼30 deg of visual angle, is much coarser than the animal’s visual resolution. A global map of motion direction shows approximate symmetry between the left and right hemispheres and a net bias for upward-nasal motion in the upper visual field. Unlike other parts of the early visual system, the superior colliculus develops a locally biased representation of object motion.
Distinct roles for motor cortical and thalamic inputs to striatum during motor learning and execution
Authors: Wolff Steffen B. E. , Ko Raymond , Ölveczky Bence P. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe acquisition and execution of learned motor sequences are mediated by a distributed motor network, spanning cortical and subcortical brain areas. The sensorimotor striatum is an important cog in this network, yet how its two main inputs, from motor cortex and thalamus respectively, contribute to its role in motor learning and execution remains largely unknown. To address this, we trained rats in a task that produces highly stereotyped and idiosyncratic motor sequences. We found that motor cortical input to the sensorimotor striatum is critical for the learning process, but after the behaviors were consolidated, this corticostriatal pathway became dispensable. Functional silencing of striatal-projecting thalamic neurons, however, disrupted the execution of the learned motor sequences, causing rats to revert to behaviors produced early in learning and preventing them from re-learning the task. These results show that the sensorimotor striatum is a conduit through which motor cortical inputs can drive experience-dependent changes in subcortical motor circuits, likely at thalamostriatal synapses.
Obesity Potentiates TH2 Immunopathology via Dysregulation of PPARγ
Authors: Bapat Sagar P. , Liang Yuqiong , Liu Sihao , Zhang Ling-juan , Vogel Ian , Mar Darryl J. , Zhou Carmen , Choi Eun Jung , Chang Christina , He Nanhai , Lee In-kyu , Suh Jae Myoung , Crotty Alexander Laura E. , Liddle Christopher , Atkins Annette R. , Yu Ruth T. , Downes Michael , Ansel K. Mark , Marson Alexander , Gallo Richard L. , Evans Ronald M. , Zheng Ye 
Published: October 2019

AbstractHow obesity affects immune function is not well understood. Clinically, obesity is strongly associated with severe TH2 immunopathology1-3, though the physiological, cellular, and molecular underpinnings of this association remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that obese mice are susceptible to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), a major manifestation of TH2 immunopathology and disease burden in humans4,5. Mechanistically, we show that dysregulation of the nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) in T cells is a causal link between obesity and the increased TH2 immunopathology. We find that PPARγ oversees a cellular metabolic transcriptional program that restrains nuclear gene expression of the chief TH2 priming and effector cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4). Accordingly, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), potent PPARγ agonists, robustly protect obese mice from TH2 immunopathology. Collectively, these findings establish PPARγ as a molecular link between obesity and TH2 immune homeostasis and identify TZDs as novel therapeutic candidates for TH2 immunopathology. Fundamentally, these findings demonstrate that shifting physiologic metabolic states can shape the tone of adaptive immune responses to modulate differential disease susceptibility.
Distinct medial-temporal lobe mechanisms of encoding and amygdala-mediated memory reinstatement for disgust and fear
Authors: Riegel Monika , Wierzba Małgorzata , Wypych Marek , Ritchey Maureen , Jednoróg Katarzyna , Grabowska Anna , Vuilleumier Patrik , Marchewka Artur 
Published: October 2019

AbstractRemembering events that evoke emotions such as disgust or fear is critical to our survival. However, previous studies investigating the interplay between emotion and memory disregarded the effects of specific emotions, leading to inconsistent results. Also, the role of amygdala throughout memory stages has been poorly understood. Here, we show that after 3 weeks delay, word pairs evoking disgust were remembered better than pairs evoking fear. These two emotions distinctly modulated neural mechanisms of memory. Successful encoding of disgust-evoking information was mediated by univariate activation in amygdala and perirhinal cortex, in contrast to fear-evoking memories that engaged hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. Critically, univariate activation in the amygdala during encoding was correlated with memory reinstatement of individual word pairs, and more so for disgust than for fear. Together, these findings shed a new light on the role of the amygdala and medial temporal lobe regions in encoding and reinstatement of specific emotional memories.
Developmental plasticity of hearing sensitivity in red-eared sliderTrachemys scripta elegans
Authors: Wang Jichao , Li Handong , Wang Tongliang , Chen Bo , Cui Jianguo , Shi Haitao 
Published: October 2019

AbstractDevelopmental plasticity of hearing sensitivity (DPHS) has been verified in some groups of vertebrates. Turtles face a trade-off between terrestrial and aquatic hearing in different acoustic environments throughout ontogeny. However, how chelonian hearing sensitivity changes throughout ontogeny is still unclear. To verify DPHS in turtles, auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were compared using hearing thresholds and latencies in female red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) aged 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years, and the results showed hearing sensitivity bandwidths of approximately 200–1100, 200–1100, 200–1300, and 200–1400 Hz, respectively. The lowest threshold sensitivity was approximately 600□Hz. Below 600 Hz, ABR threshold decreased rapidly with increasing age (1 week to 1 year), with significant differences between age groups, but no significant difference between the 1- and 5-year age groups (stimulus frequency, 200–600 Hz). Above 600 Hz, ABR threshold was the lowest in the 5-year age group. These findings show that aging was accompanied by hearing sensitivity changes, suggesting rapid, frequency-segmented development during ontogeny. This variability in hearing sensitivity differs from that reported in other vertebrates, and allows adaptation to acoustically distinct environments throughout ontogeny. Our findings further elucidate the developmental patterns of the vertebrate auditory system.
Data-driven modelling of mutational hotspots and in-silico predictors in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Waring A.J. , Harper A.R. , Salatino S. , Kramer C.M. , Neubauer S , Thomson K.L. , Watkins H. , Farrall M. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTBackgroundAlthough rare-missense variants in Mendelian disease-genes have been noted to cluster in specific regions of proteins, it is not clear how to consider this information when evaluating the pathogenicity of a gene or variant. Here we introduce methods for gene-association and variant-interpretation that utilise this powerful signal.MethodsWe present a case-control rare-variant association test, ClusterBurden, that combines information on both variant-burden and variant-clustering. We then introduce a data-driven modelling framework to estimate mutational hotspots in genes with missense variant-clustering and integrate further in-silico predictors into the models.ResultsWe show that ClusterBurden can increase statistical power to scan for putative disease-genes, driven by missense variants, in simulated data and a 34-gene panel dataset of 5,338 cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We demonstrate that data-driven models can allow quantitative application of the ACMG criteria PM1 and PP3, to resolve a wide range of pathogenicity potential amongst variants of uncertain significance. A web application (Pathogenicity_by_Position) is accessible for missense variant risk prediction of six sarcomeric genes and an R package is available for association testing using ClusterBurden.ConclusionThe inclusion of missense residue position enhances the power of disease-gene association and improves rare-variant pathogenicity interpretation.
Impact of IoT on social innovation in Japan
Authors: Shenkoya Temitayo , Dae-Woo Cho 
Published: October 2019

Purpose
Recently, the discussion on the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) in theory and in practice is increasing. While some proponent envisage that the IoT will bring about positive radical change in the modern society, others argue that the IoT will introduce more disadvantages in the long run (mainly in terms of job losses) than advantages. The purpose of this paper is to arbitrate this controversy by examining the impact of IoT on the Japanese society.

Design/methodology/approach
While previous studies have largely been qualitative in nature, in this study, a quantitative approach was used. A multi-dimensional analysis was carried out and the statistical method known as the one-way analysis of variance was used to process the data obtained during this study.

Findings
The results show that indeed the IoT has a positive impact on the daily lives of the Japanese people, however the change it brings are mainly incremental change and not radical. Furthermore, rather than reducing job opportunities, it has created more opportunities and simplified operation processes.

Research limitations/implications
However, a limitation of this study is in its narrow scope. It is important to note that further studies on an international level or perhaps multi-national level is needed. Furthermore, there may be other underlining factors, such as culture, social, economic, geographical location, technology capacity, that may contribute to the impact of the IoT on daily life. Therefore, future research needs to verify if indeed this is the case.

Originality/value
This research successful arbitrates the argument about the impact of the IoT on the society by specifically showing that the advantages brought by the IoT out-ways its disadvantages. Furthermore, the uncertainty (fear of job losses) expressed by some experts was addressed in this study. The results obtained showed that the diffusion of the IoT has no correlation with job loss but rather supports improved working environment and creation of jobs.
Habitat structure drives the evolution of aerial displays in birds
Authors: Menezes João C. T. , Santos Eduardo S. A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractJohn Endler's sensory drive hypothesis posits that physical properties of the environment may shape signalling traits by determining how effective they are in communicating. Evidence abounds of signalling environment driving selection on colours and vocalizations, yet little is known about its influence on visual signals produced via body movements (i.e., gestural displays).Here, we aimed to perform the most taxonomically comprehensive assessment of sensory drive by testing the hypothesis that habitat structure drives the evolution of aerial sexual displays in passerine birds (order Passeriformes). We base this hypothesis on physical properties of habitats that should allow aerial displays to transmit more broadly in open habitats.To test the hypothesis, we performed Bayesian phylogenetic comparative analyses using species‐level phylogenetic trees and a dataset of 469 species from across the Americas.We found that evolutionary gain of aerial displays is on average six times more frequent in open‐habitat passerines than in forest ones.The influence of habitat structure on the evolution of aerial sexual displays attests to the importance of sensory drive as a deterministic evolutionary force within sexual selection, as opposed to models that assume a purely arbitrary direction of sexual trait evolution.
Variation in selective regimes drives intraspecific variation in life‐history traits and migratory behaviour along an elevational gradient
Authors: Lundblad Carl G. , Conway Courtney J. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Comparative studies, across and within taxa, have made important contributions to our understanding of the evolutionary processes that promote phenotypic diversity. Trait variation along geographic gradients provides a convenient heuristic for understanding what drives and maintains diversity. Intraspecific trait variation along latitudinal gradients is well‐known, but elevational variation in the same traits is rarely documented. Trait variation along continuous elevational gradients, however, provides compelling evidence that individuals within a breeding population may experience different selective pressures.

Our objectives were to quantify variation in a suite of traits along a continuous elevational gradient, evaluate whether individuals in the population experience different selective pressures along that gradient and quantify variation in migratory tendency along that gradient.

We examined variation in a suite of 14 life‐history, morphological and behavioural traits, including migratory tendency, of yellow‐eyed juncos along a continuous 1000‐m elevational gradient in the Santa Catalina Mountains of Arizona.

Many traits we examined varied along the elevational gradient. Nest survival and nestling growth rates increased, while breeding season length, renesting propensity and adult survival declined, with increasing elevation. We documented the migratory phenotype of juncos (partial altitudinal migrants) and show that individual migratory tendency is higher among females than males and increases with breeding elevation.

Our data support the paradigm that variation in breeding season length is a major selective pressure driving life‐history variation along elevational gradients and that individuals breeding at high elevation pursue strategies that favour offspring quality over offspring quantity. Furthermore, a negative association between adult survival and breeding elevation and a positive association between nest survival and breeding elevation help explain both the downslope and reciprocal upslope seasonal migratory movements that characterize altitudinal migration in many birds. Our results demonstrate how detailed studies of intraspecific variation in suites of traits along environmental gradients can lend new insights into the evolutionary processes that promote diversification and speciation, the causes of migratory behaviour, and how animal populations will likely respond to climate change.
Intraspecific variation in body size of bumblebee workers influences anti‐predator behaviour
Authors: Gavini Sabrina S. , Quintero Carolina , Tadey Mariana 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Flower‐dwelling predators make flowers dangerous foraging sites for pollinators, potentially affecting their anti‐predator behaviour. Moreover, predation vulnerability often varies among pollinators' body sizes with interspecific comparisons showing that smaller species are more vulnerable than larger ones. However, how intraspecific body size variation influences pollinator behaviour under predation risk is still unknown, especially under natural conditions.

We hypothesized that bumblebee workers of different sizes will exhibit different foraging strategies under predation risk. We predict that (a) small workers should more often exhibit anti‐predator behaviours than larger workers. We also hypothesized that the anti‐predator behaviour should be influenced by predator size and reward availability; therefore, we expect (b) higher avoidance behaviour towards larger predator sizes and (c) more and longer visits to inflorescences with high nectar availability. Finally, we expect that (d) nectar availability should overcome the anti‐predator behaviour in less vulnerable, large, workers.

We recorded flower visitation, time spent and rejection behaviours of different sizes of Bombus terrestris (Apidae) workers (large, medium and small) to inflorescences of Alstroemeria aurea (Alstroemeriaceae) with different treatments of artificial spiders (small and large) and nectar availability (with, without).

Anti‐predator and foraging behaviour of bumblebees was affected by the size of the worker, the presence of artificial spiders and nectar availability. Large and medium size bumblebees strongly reduced flower visitation and time spent in the presence of artificial spiders, consistently avoiding flowers with spiders, regardless of spider size or nectar availability. Instead, small bumblebees seldom modified their behaviour when facing artificial spiders, only increasing their avoidance or decreasing their foraging time in nectarless flowers hosting large artificial spiders.

This pattern of larger workers being more sensitive to predation risk than smaller ones at the intraspecific level in B. terrestris is contrary to the expected and acknowledged trend based on previous interspecific comparisons, but partially consistent with predictions of models of optimal foraging theory. Intraspecific behavioural variability was uncovered only when nectar was available, whereas artificial predator size rarely modified bumblebee anti‐predator and foraging behaviour. Therefore, our findings suggest that the trade‐off between maximizing resource intake and minimizing predation risk strongly varies across bumblebee worker body sizes.
Plastic leaf morphology in three species of Quercus: The more exposed leaves are smaller, more lobated and denser
Authors: Kusi Joseph , Karsai Istvan 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPhenotypic plasticity and developmental instability in leaf traits are common in oak species but the role of environmental factors is not well understood. To decipher possible correlations between different leaf traits and effects of the position of leaves within the tree canopy, we quantified the plasticity of three leaf traits of 30 trees of Quercus alba L., Quercus palustris Muench and Quercus velutina Lam. We hypothesized that trees could modify the shape of their leaves for better adaptation to the variable microclimate within the canopy. Our results demonstrated that the south and north outer leaves were significantly smaller, more lobed and denser than those situated in the inner canopy. The order of leaves on the branch accounted for the plasticity of leaf traits in Q. alba only. Plasticity of lobing in Q. alba and Q. velutina depended on the height of the trees. We detected fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in all three species, but the source of variation depended on branch position in Q. velutina only. FA was more pronounced in north‐facing leaves. Plasticity of the leaf traits ranged from small to medium. Plasticity of leaf area and leaf mass per area (LMA) depended on the branch position. However, the plasticity of lobation was not affected by the location of a branch within the tree canopy. Quercus alba and Q. palustris had similar plastic responses but the plasticity of Q. velutina was significantly smaller. We concluded that individual plants detect and cope with environmental stress through vegetative organ modification.
An Analysis of Hounsfield Unit Values and Volumetrics from Computerized Tomography of the Proximal Femur for Sex and Age Estimation
Authors: Ford Jonathan M. , Kumm Todd R. , Decker Summer J. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractSex and age are two elements in the establishment of a biological profile for forensic identification. While the pelvic bones are the most ideal structures for sex estimation, the condition of a body is not always ideal due to the nature of death, such as in mass disasters, or postmortem processes. This study utilized CT scans and resultant 3D models of 100 male and 100 female adults of known ages ranging from 18 to 98 years old to collect volumetric and Hounsfield unit measurements of the proximal femur. Equations were created to establish logistic regression models for sex estimation and linear regression models for age estimation. The resultant sex estimation method had an accuracy of 93.5% and utilized the volume of the proximal femur. This study provides three linear regression models for age with an accuracy range of 86%–92% ±12 years. As imaging technologies are increasingly adopted for forensic purposes, the power of 3D data will provide the opportunity for more quantitative and reproducible analyses. The proposed method for sex and age estimation provides a reliable tool that can be utilized in both day‐to‐day casework and disaster victim identification.
Ultrasound versus magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of shoulder joint pathologies in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Abdelzaher Mohamed Gamal , Tharwat Samar , AbdElkhalek Ahmed , Abdelsalam Adel 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that has a great impact on different joints, may result in their destruction and loss of function. Although the shoulder is affected in a large portion of patients with RA, it does not receive much attention during the follow up of RA. The precise diagnosis of shoulder pain in RA is a clinical challenge and benefits from a reliable imaging modality to detect its exact origin.AimTo determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound (US) in detecting shoulder joint pathologies in RA, considering magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the gold standard.Materials and MethodsThis cross‐sectional, observational study was carried out on 30 RA patients complaining of unilateral or bilateral shoulder pain. Patients were subjected to history taking, clinical shoulder examination, plain X‐ray, US examination following a standardized protocol, and MRI. The results were correlated with each other.ResultsIn comparison with the MRI findings, US showed high accuracy in terms of sensitivity (Sn) and specificity (Sp) in supraspinatus tendinopathy (Sn 96.6%; Sp 93.3%), biceps tenosynovitis (Sn 87.5%; Sp 97.6%), subacromial‐subdeltoid bursitis (Sn 72.7%; Sp 95.7%), humeral erosions (Sn 90.5%; Sp 97.3%), and acromioclavicular osteoarthritis (Sn 85.7%; Sp 95.7%). In terms of reliability, the agreement between US and MRI was almost perfect (κ = .9, P < .001).ConclusionUS may have a role as the initial imaging modality in RA patients with shoulder pain, as it is highly sensitive and specific in detecting different pathological abnormalities of the shoulder.