bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protective effects of saffron and its constituent crocetin to motor symptoms, short life span and rough-eyed phenotypes in the fly models of Parkinson’s diseasein vivo
Authors: Inoue Eiji , Suzuki Takahiro , Shimizu Yasuharu , Sudo Keiichi , Kawasaki Haruhisa , Ishida Norio 
Published: December 2020

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder with motor symptoms linked to the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. α-Synuclein is an aggregation-prone neural protein that plays a role in the pathogenesis of PD. In our previous paper, we found that saffron; the stigma ofCrocus sativusLinné (Iridaceae), and its constituents (crocin and crocetin) suppressed aggregation of α-synuclein and promoted the dissociation of α-synuclein fibrilsin vitro. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary saffron and its constituent, crocetin,in vivoon a fly PD model overexpressing several mutant α-synuclein in a tissue-specific manner. Saffron and crocetin significantly suppressed the decrease of climbing ability in theDrosophilaoverexpressing A30P (A30P fly PD model) or G51D (G51D fly PD model) mutated α-synuclein in neurons. Saffron and crocetin extended the life span in the G51D fly PD model. Saffron suppressed the rough-eyed phenotype and the dispersion of the size histogram of the ocular long axis in A30P fly PD model in eye. Saffron had a cytoprotective effect on a human neuronal cell line with α-synuclein fibrils. These data showed that saffron and its constituent crocetin have protective effects on the progression of PD disease in animalsin vivoand suggest that saffron and crocetin can be used to treat PD.
No such thing as a free-rider? Understanding multicountry drivers of childhood and adult vaccination
Authors: Verelst Frederik , Kessels Roselinde , Willem Lander , Beutels Philippe 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundIncreased vaccine hesitancy and refusal negatively affects vaccine uptake leading to vaccine preventable disease reemergence. We aimed to quantify the relative importance of characteristics people consider when making vaccine decisions for themselves, or for their child, with specific attention for underlying motives arising from context, such as required effort (accessibility) and opportunism (free riding on herd immunity).MethodsWe documented attitudes towards vaccination and performed a discrete choice experiment in 4802 respondents in The United Kingdom, France and Belgium eliciting preferences for six attributes: (1) vaccine effectiveness, (2) vaccine preventable disease burden, (3) vaccine accessibility in terms of co-payment, vaccinator and administrative requirements, (4) frequency of mild vaccine-related side-effects, (5) vaccination coverage in the country’s population and (6) local vaccination coverage in personal networks. We distinguished adults deciding on vaccination for themselves (‘oneself’ group) from parents deciding for their youngest child (‘child’ group).ResultsWhile all six attributes were found to be significant, vaccine effectiveness and accessibility stand out in all (sub)samples, followed by vaccine preventable disease burden. We confirmed that people attach more value to severity of disease compared to its frequency and discovered that peer influence dominates free-rider motives, especially for the vaccination of children.ConclusionsThese behavioral data are insightful for policy and are essential to parameterize dynamic vaccination behavior in simulation models. In contrast to what most game theoretical models assume, social norms dominate free-rider incentives. Therefore policy-makers and healthcare workers should actively communicate on high vaccination coverage, and draw attention to the effectiveness of vaccines, while optimizing their practical accessibility.
A Machine Learning Framework to Detect Syncope using the Active Stand
Authors: Carmody M. , Finucane C. , Nolan H. , O’Dwyer C. , Kwok M. , Kenny R. A. , Fan C.W. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundVasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most common form of syncope, accounting for 50-60% of unexplained syncope. Currently diagnosis is achieved via clinical assessment combined with the Head-Up Tilt Test (HUT).AimTo examine the utility of the active stand test (AS) to identify those with a positive HUT or diagnosis of VVS.DesignRetrospective study of hemodynamic responses to AS.MethodsContinuous blood pressure responses to AS from 101 patients attending a Falls and Blackouts Unit were acquired, including: 37 controls (CON), 64 with a clinical diagnosis of VVS (VVS+) (34 tilt-positive (HUT+) and 30 tilt-negative (HUT-)) with a mean age of 25 ± 9 years. A total of 33 hemodynamic features were extracted with a subset of these entered into linear discriminant classifier. Classification accuracy was assessed using N-fold cross-validation.ResultsResults indicated that it was possible to classify the outcome of the HUT with sensitivity of 58.8%, specificity of 63.3% and an accuracy of 60.9%. Using a multivariate classifier it was possible to identify those with a positive diagnosis of VVS with a sensitivity of 84.3%, specificity of 72.9% and an accuracy of 80.2%.ConclusionThis study highlights the existence of a unique AS hemodynamic response characterised by autonomic hypersensitivity exhibited by young patients prone to VVS which is detectable using a multi-parameter machine learning framework. With further verification, this approach may have applications in syncope and falls diagnosis, population studies and the tracking of treatment efficacy.
Use of waggle dance information in honey bees is linked to gene expression in the antennae, but not in the brain
Authors: Kennedy Anissa , Peng Tianfei , Glaser Simone M. , Linn Melissa , Foitzik Susanne , Grüter Christoph 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCommunication is essential for social animals, but deciding how to utilize information provided by conspecifics is a complex process that depends on environmental and intrinsic factors. Honey bees use a unique form of communication, the waggle dance, to inform nestmates about the location of food sources. However, as in many other animals, experienced individuals often ignore this social information and prefer to rely on prior experiences, i.e. private information. The neurosensory factors that drive the decision to use social information are not yet understood. Here we test whether the decision to use social dance information or private information is linked to gene expression differences in different parts of the nervous system. We trained bees to collect food from sugar water feeders and observed whether they utilize social or private information when exposed to dances for a new food source. We performed transcriptome analysis of four brain parts critical for cognition: the subesophageal ganglion, the central brain, the mushroom bodies, and the antennal lobes but, unexpectedly, detected no differences between social or private information users. In contrast, we found 413 differentially expressed genes in the antennae, suggesting that variation in sensory perception mediate the decision to use social information. Social information users were characterized by the upregulation of dopamine and serotonin genes while private information users upregualted several genes coding for odor perception. These results highlight that decision making in honey bees might also depend on peripheral processes of perception rather than higher-order brain centers of information integration.
Perception of Non-Verbal Prosody in Children with ASD
Authors: Maslennikova Aleksandra V. , Portnova Galina V. , Martynova Olga V. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractParalinguistic features of the speaker, such as prosody, temp, loudness, and dynamics, are an important marker of a person’s emotional state. The deficit of processing of emotional prosody could be preferably associated with the impairments in individuals with ASD’s social behavior. The following two groups of children participated in our study: 30 preschoolers from 4 to 6 years old in the target group (39.1 ± 6.4 scores by Childhood Autism Rating Scale), 24 preschoolers of the control group from 4 to 6 years in the control group. The prosody stimuli were the combination of syllables, said with intonations of “joy,” “angry,” “sadness,” “fear,” and “calm.” Fast Fourier transform (FFT) is used to analyze power spectrum density (PSD). The resulting normalized spectrum was integrated over unit width intervals in the range of interest (2 to 20 Hz with a step in 1Hz). Children with ASD, similarly to TD children, showed the most pronounced differenced of EEG in response to prosodics of fear and anger. The significant groups’ differences in PSD were detected for sad and joy intonations. Indexes of EEG differences between pleasure and painful intonations were significantly higher in the control group than children with ASD and between sadness and calm or joy and calm intonations. This paper makes up two main contributions: In general, we obtained that children with ASD have less response to a human voice’s emotional intonation. The physical characteristics of stimuli are more critical than a sign of emotions. The effect of EEG spectral power has hemisphere specialization in the healthy control group, but not in ASD children. Since spectral power for negative emotions in the target group is higher, we proposed that ASD children worse recognize positive emotions than negative emotions.
Intraspecific variation in thermal tolerance differs between tropical and temperate fishes
Authors: Nati J.J.H. , Svendsen M.B.S. , Marras S. , Killen S.S. , Steffensen J.F. , McKenzie D.J. , Domenici P. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHow ectothermic animals will cope with global warming, especially more frequent and intense heatwaves, is a critical determinant of the ecological impacts of climate change. There has been extensive study of upper thermal tolerance limits among fish species but how intraspecific variation in tolerance may be affected by habitat characteristics and evolutionary history has not been considered. Intraspecific variation is a primary determinant of species vulnerability to climate change, with implications for global patterns of impacts of ongoing warming. Using published critical thermal maximum (CTmax) data on 203 marine and freshwater fish species, we found that intraspecific vsariation in upper thermal tolerance varies according to a species’ latitude and evolutionary history. Notably, freshwater tropical species have lower variation in tolerance than temperate species in the northern hemisphere, which implies increased vulnerability to impacts of thermal stress. The extent of variation in CTmaxamong fish species has a strong phylogenetic signal, which may indicate a constraint on evolvability to rising temperatures in tropical fishes. That is, in addition to living closer to their upper thermal limits, tropical species may have higher sensitivity and lower adaptability to global warming compared to temperate counterparts. This is evidence that tropical fish communities, worldwide, are especially vulnerable to ongoing climate change.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Endothelial Cell Transcriptome Heterogeneity under Homeostatic Laminar Flow
Authors: Liu Ziqing , Ruter Dana L , Quigley Kaitlyn , Jiang Yuchao , Bautch Victoria L 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTObjectiveEndothelial cells that form the innermost layer of all vessels exhibit heterogeneous cell behaviors and responses to pro-angiogenic signals that are critical for vascular sprouting and angiogenesis. Once vessels form, remodeling and blood flow lead to endothelial cell quiescence, and homogeneity in cell behaviors and signaling responses. These changes are important for the function of mature vessels, but whether and at what level endothelial cells regulate overall expression heterogeneity during this transition is poorly understood. Here we profiled endothelial cell transcriptomic heterogeneity, and expression heterogeneity of selected proteins, under homeostatic laminar flow.Approach and ResultsSingle-cell RNA sequencing and fluorescence microscopy were used to characterize heterogeneity in RNA and protein gene expression levels of human endothelial cells under homeostatic laminar flow compared to non-flow conditions. Analysis of transcriptome variance, Gini coefficient, and coefficient of variation showed that more genes increased RNA heterogeneity under laminar flow relative to genes whose expression became more homogeneous. Analysis of a subset of genes for relative protein expression revealed that most protein profiles showed decreased heterogeneity under flow. In contrast, the magnitude of expression level changes in RNA and protein was coordinated among endothelial cells in flow vs. non-flow conditions.ConclusionsEndothelial cells exposed to homeostatic laminar flow showed increased cohort heterogeneity in RNA expression levels, while cohort expression heterogeneity of selected cognate proteins decreased under laminar flow. These findings suggest that EC homeostasis is imposed at the level of protein translation and/or stability rather than transcriptionally.
Repurposing potential of FDA‐approved and investigational drugs for COVID‐19 targeting SARS‐CoV‐2 spike and main protease and validation by machine learning algorithm
Authors: Verma Akalesh Kumar , Aggarwal Rohit 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe present study aimed to assess the repurposing potential of existing antiviral drug candidates (FDA‐approved and investigational) against SARS‐CoV‐2 target proteins that facilitates viral entry and replication into the host body. To evaluate molecular affinities between antiviral drug candidates and SARS‐CoV‐2 associated target proteins such as spike protein (S) and main protease (Mpro), a molecular interaction simulation was performed by docking software (MVD) and subsequently the applicability score was calculated by machine learning algorithm. Furthermore, the STITCH algorithm was used to predict the pharmacology network involving multiple pathways of active drug candidate(s). Pharmacophore features of active drug(s) molecule was also determined to predict structure–activity relationship (SAR). The molecular interaction analysis showed that cordycepin has strong binding affinities with S protein (−180) and Mpro proteins (−205) which were relatively highest among other drug candidates used. Interestingly, compounds with low IC50 showed high binding energy. Furthermore, machine learning algorithm also revealed high applicability scores (0.42–0.47) of cordycepin. It is worth mentioning that the pharmacology network depicted the involvement of cordycepin in different pathways associated with bacterial and viral diseases including tuberculosis, hepatitis B, influenza A, viral myocarditis, and herpes simplex infection. The embedded pharmacophore features with cordycepin also suggested strong SAR. Cordycepin's anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 activity indicated 65% (E‐gene) and 42% (N‐gene) viral replication inhibition after 48h of treatment. Since, cordycepin has both preclinical and clinical evidences on antiviral activity, in addition the present findings further validate and suggest repurposing potential of cordycepin against COVID‐19.
Low pup survival rate is associated with maternal Naq3 genotype and hypothalamic Vps8 expression levels in mice
Authors: Suto Jun‐ichi , Kojima Misaki 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPups born from females of the inbred mouse strain RR/Sgn tend to have low survival rates during rearing. We have previously identified Naq3, a quantitative trait locus underlying this low pup survival rate. In the present study, we confirmed the effect of Naq3 in congenic mice and investigated whether Vps8 is a candidate gene for Naq3. The survival rate of pups on the twelfth postpartum day was significantly decreased for mothers homozygous for the Naq3 allele. Hypothalamic expression of Vps8 was induced by nurturing in wild‐type mice, and was significantly lower in Naq3 congenic mice than in wild‐type mice. Thus, Vps8 is suggested to be involved in maternal nurturing, and therefore, as a plausible candidate gene for Naq3.
Fostering a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the Canadian agricultural economics profession
Authors: Yiridoe Emmanuel K. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe Canadian agricultural economics profession, like much of society, is faced with the important challenge of how to effectively achieve aspirational goals of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). I argue that the Canadian agricultural economics society (CAES) will benefit from integrating EDI into our core mission and key activities. I focus on a select set of issues that I believe will further this effort. Given the critical role of scholarly merit and merit‐based systems and processes in the CAES mandate and activities, I also explore how meritocracy and scholarly merit can be aligned with EDI principles. The paper concludes with suggestions and recommendations for consideration by the CAES.
Utilizing left atrial strain to identify patients at risk for atrial fibrillation on ibrutinib
Authors: Singh Arushi , El Hangouche Nadia , McGee Katherine , Gong Fei‐Fei , Lentz Robert , Feinglass Joseph , Akhter Nausheen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundIbrutinib is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), though echocardiographic predictors of AF have not been studied in this population. We sought to determine whether left atrial (LA) strain on transthoracic echocardiography could identify patients at risk for developing ibrutinib‐related atrial fibrillation (IRAF).MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of 66 patients who had an echocardiogram prior to ibrutinib treatment. LA strain was measured with TOMTEC Imaging Systems, obtaining peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) and peak atrial contraction strain (PACS) on 4‐chamber and 2‐chamber views. Statistical analysis was performed with chi‐square analysis, t test, or binomial regression analysis, with a P‐value < .05 considered statistically significant.ResultsTwenty‐two patients developed IRAF (33%). Age at initiation of ibrutinib was significantly associated with IRAF (65.1 years vs 74.1 years, P = .002). Mean ibrutinib dose was lower among patients who developed IRAF (388.2 ± 121.7 vs 448.6 ± 88.4, P = .025). E/e′ was significantly higher among patients who developed IRAF (11.5 vs 9.3, P = .04). PALS was significantly lower in patients who developed AF (30.3% vs 36.3%, P = .01). On multivariate regression analysis, age, PALS, and PACS were significantly associated with IRAF. On multivariate regression analysis, only PACS remained significantly associated with IRAF while accounting for age.ConclusionsAge, ibrutinib dose, E/e′, and PALS on pre‐treatment echocardiogram were significantly associated with development of IRAF. On multivariate regression analyses, age, PALS, and PACS remained significantly associated with IRAF. Impaired LA mechanics add to the assessment of patients at risk for IRAF.
Landholder perceptions of revegetation on the Atherton Tablelands, far North Queensland
Authors: Vos Amy , Davies Kayt 
Published: December 2020

SummaryThe need to expand areas of native vegetation is clear to ecologists and governments; however, the privately owned nature of most cleared land means landholder support is critical. To improve landholder engagement in revegetation programmes, insight is needed into the information and attitudes being shared in landholder communities, especially by landholders with experience of participation in revegetation initiatives. Using a grounded theory framework, a content analysis was conducted on data gathered from semi‐structured interviews with 20 landholders who have undertaken revegetation on their properties. Three dominant themes emerged from the analysis of reasons for engaging with revegetation programmes, relating to perceived ‘environmental’, ‘personal’ or ‘agricultural’ benefits. Some unexpected impacts of the planting were also identified, both positive and negative. Suggested ways to improve landholder participation included increased funding and support; improved information regarding funding already available; and clearer communication about vegetation management laws.
Effects of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen on hatching behavior and hatching time in the katydid, Eobiana engelhardti subtropica Bey‐Bienko (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)
Authors: Arai Tetsuo 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe trigger for the hatching behavior and determination of hatching time of the katydids, Eobiana engelhardti subtropica (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) have been shown to be influenced by light–dark signals or temperature. In this study, I investigated the effects of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen on the hatching behavior and hatching time of the katydid. Eggs rarely hatched under a constant temperature of 25°C and hatched sporadically at a constant temperature of 15°C under continuous light in the air. However, when eggs were exposed to 100% oxygen or a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen (2:1 or 1:1), hatching occurred within a few seconds. Hatching behavior was directly triggered by high concentrations of oxygen. It was inhibited by exposure to 100% carbon dioxide, 100% nitrogen, or a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen (1:2). The hatching time, determined by the temperature fall (transfer from 25°C to 15°C), was delayed by these gases, and was reset by the transfer back of eggs to the air. This suggests the existence of a time‐measuring mechanism that is triggered by the transfer of eggs to the air. These results, indicating that hatching behavior was directly triggered by high concentrations of oxygen and that hatching time was set by the transfer from carbon dioxide or nitrogen to the air, are new findings to the best of my knowledge.
Age and associated stress field of middle Miocene back‐arc basalt magmatism in Northeast Japan
Authors: Hosoi Jun , Yamaji Atsushi , Iwano Hideki , Danhara Tohru , Hirata Takafumi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA large volume of middle Miocene basaltic rocks is widely distributed across the back‐arc region of Northeast Japan, including around the Dewa Mountains. Petrological research has shown that basaltic rocks of the Aosawa Formation around the Dewa Mountains were generated as a result of the opening of the Sea of Japan. To determine the precise ages of the middle Miocene basaltic magmatism, we conducted U–Pb and fission‐track (FT) dating of a rhyolite lava that constitutes the uppermost part of the Aosawa Formation. In addition, we estimated the paleostress field of the volcanism using data from a basaltic dike swarm in the same formation. The rhyolite lava yields a U–Pb age of 10.73 ±0.22 Ma (2σ) and a FT age of 10.6 ±1.6 Ma (2σ), and the paleostress analysis suggests a normal‐faulting stress regime with a NW–SE‐trending σ3‐axis, a relatively high stress ratio, and a relatively high magma pressure. Our results show that the late Aosawa magmatism occurred under NW–SE extensional stress and ended at ~ 11 Ma.
Ranking nomination rules on the basis of nominating power distributions
Authors: Iwata Yukinori 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this study, we explore a method of ranking nomination rules as a collective decision‐making procedure. Nomination rules determine which alternatives are eligible for collective decision‐making by aggregating the opinions of nominators, which are expressed positively or negatively. It is possible to compare nomination rules based on their “nominating power” distributions because they can be seen as multiple simple games. Our nomination rules ranking has a two‐step aggregation representation. In the first step, the distribution of nominating power with regard to each issue is aggregated into an indicator based on the sign inversion of the inequality measure of voting power in simple games, as proposed by Laruelle and Valenciano (2004). Subsequently, in the second step, the aggregator sums the indicator on each issue. We add a separability axiom to the set of Laruelle and Valenciano's axioms to characterize our nomination rules ranking that has the two‐step aggregation representation.