bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trace fossil evidence for infaunal moulting in a Middle Devonian non-trilobite euarthropod
Authors: Mángano M. Gabriela , Ortega-Hernández Javier , Piñuela Laura , Buatois Luis A. , Rodríguez-Tovar Francisco J. , García-Ramos José Carlos 
Published: March 2020

AbstractTrace fossils represent the primary source of information on the evolution of animal behaviour through deep time, and provide exceptional insights into complex life strategies that would be otherwise impossible to infer from the study of body parts alone. Here, we describe unusual trace fossils found in marginal-marine, storm- and river-flood deposits from the Middle Devonian Naranco Formation of Asturias (northern Spain) that constitute the first evidence for infaunal moulting in a non-trilobite euarthropod. The trace fossils are preserved in convex hyporelief, and include two main morphological variants that reflect a behavioural continuum. Morphotype 1 consists of a structure that superficially resembles a Rusophycus with an oval outline that possesses a distinctly three lobed axis with an elevated central ridge and regularly spaced transverse furrows that convey the appearance of discrete body segments. The anterior part is the most irregular region of the structure, and it is not always recorded. Morphotype 2 displays more elongated, tubular morphology. Careful observation, however, reveals that it comprises up to three successive morphotype 1 specimens organised in a linear fashion and partially truncating each other. Trilobate morphology and effaced transverse furrows are locally evident, but the predominant morphological feature is the continuous, elevated ridge. The detailed morphology of morphotype 1 and well-preserved, discrete segments of morphotype 2 closely resemble the dorsal exoskeleton of the enigmatic late Carboniferous euarthropod Camptophyllia, suggesting the possible affinities of the producer. Comparisons with patterns of Devonian phacopid trilobite exuviation suggest that the Naranco Formation trace fossils may have been produced by the infaunal activities of an euarthropod that anchored its dorsal exoskeleton in the firm sediment during the body inversion moult procedure. Our findings expand the phylogenetic and environmental occurrence of infaunal moulting in Palaeozoic euarthropods, and suggest a defensive strategy against predation, previously only known from trilobites preserved in open-marine deposits.
Scrambled body differentiates body part ownership from the full body illusion
Authors: Kondo Ryota , Tani Yamato , Sugimoto Maki , Inami Masahiko , Kitazaki Michiteru 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIllusory body ownership can be induced in a body part or a full body by visual-motor synchronisation. A previous study indicated that an invisible full body illusion can be induced by the synchronous movement of only the hands and feet. The difference between body part ownership and the full body illusion has not been explained in detail because there is no method for separating these two illusions. To develop a method to do so, we scrambled or randomised the positions of the hands and feet and compared it with the normal layout stimulus by manipulating visual-motor synchronisation. In Experiment 1, participants observed the stimuli from a third-person perspective, and the questionnaire results showed that the scrambled body stimulus induced only body part ownership, while the normal layout stimulus induced both body part ownership and full body ownership when the stimuli were synchronous with participants’ actions. In Experiment 2, we found similar results as with the first-person perspective stimuli in a questionnaire. We did not find significant skin conductance response difference between any conditions in either Experiment 2 or 3. These results suggest that a spatial relationship is necessary for the full body illusion, but not for body part ownership.
Colorectal cancer-associated anaerobic bacteria proliferate in tumor spheroids and alter the microenvironment
Authors: Kasper Stephen H. , Morell-Perez Carolina , Wyche Thomas P. , Sana Theodore R. , Lieberman Linda A. , Hett Erik C. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRecent reports show that colorectal tumors contain microbiota that are distinct from those that reside in a ‘normal’ colon environment, and that these microbiota can contribute to cancer progression. Fusobacterium nucleatum is the most commonly observed species in the colorectal tumor microenvironment and reportedly influences disease progression through numerous mechanisms. However, a detailed understanding of the role of this organism in cancer progression is limited, in part due to challenges in maintaining F. nucleatum viability under standard aerobic cell culture conditions. Herein we describe the development of a 3-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroid model that can harbor and promote the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Bacteria-tumor cell interactions and metabolic crosstalk were extensively studied by measuring the kinetics of bacterial growth, cell morphology and lysis, cancer-related gene expression, and metabolomics. We observed that viable F. nucleatum assembles biofilm-like structures in the tumor spheroid microenvironment, whereas heat-killed F. nucleatum is internalized and sequestered in the cancer cells. Lastly, we use the model to co-culture 28 Fusobacterium clinical isolates and demonstrate that the model successfully supports co-culture with diverse fusobacterial species. This bacteria-spheroid co-culture model enables mechanistic investigation of the role of anaerobic bacteria in the tumor microenvironment.
Specific circulating microRNAs during hepatitis E infection can serve as indicator for chronic hepatitis E
Authors: Harms Dominik , Choi Mira , Allers Kristina , Wang Bo , Pietsch Heiko , Papp C.-Patrick , Hanisch Lina , Kurreck Jens , Hofmann Jörg , Bock C.-Thomas 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 3 and 4 (HEV-3, HEV-4) infections are an emerging public health issue in industrialized countries. HEV-3 and −4 are usually self-limiting but can progress to chronic hepatitis E in immunocompromised individuals. The molecular mechanisms involved in persistent infections are poorly understood. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) can regulate viral pathogenesis and can serve as novel disease biomarkers. We aimed to explore the modulation of serum miRNAs in patients with acute (AHE) and chronic (CHE) hepatitis E. Both AHE- and CHE-patients exhibited high viral loads (median 3.23E + 05 IU/mL and 2.11E + 06 IU/mL, respectively) with HEV-3c being the predominant HEV-genotype. Expression analysis of liver-specific serum miRNAs was performed using real-time PCR. miR-99a-5p, miR-122-5p, and miR-125b-5p were upregulated in AHE (4.70–5.28 fold) and CHE patients (2.28–6.34 fold), compared to HEV-negative controls. Notably, miR-192-5p was increased 2.57 fold while miR-125b-5p was decreased 0.35 fold in CHE but not in AHE patients. Furthermore, decreased miR-122-5p expression significantly correlates with reduced liver transaminases in CHE patients. To our knowledge, this marks the first investigation concerning the regulation of circulating liver-specific miRNAs in acute and chronic HEV infections. We found that miR-125b-5p, miR-192-5p, and miR-99a-5p may prove useful in the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis E.
Limitations of concurrently representing objects within view and in visual working memory
Authors: Liang Tengfei , Cheng Zijian , Hu Wenjing , Ye Chaoxiong , Zhang Jiafeng , Liu Qiang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRepresenting visibly present stimuli is as limited in capacity as representing invisible stimuli in visual working memory (WM). In this study, we explored whether concurrently representing stimuli within view affects representing objects in visual WM, and if so, whether this effect is modulated by the storage states (active and silent state) of memory contents? In experiment 1, participants were asked to perform the change-detect task in a simultaneous-representing condition in which WM content and the continuously-visible stimuli in view were simultaneously represented, as well as a baseline condition in which only the representations of visual WM content were maintained. The results showed that the representations in visual WM would be impaired when the continuously-visible stimuli in view were concurrently represented, revealed by the reduced CDA amplitude and the lower behavior performance. In experiment 2, a dual-serial retro-cue paradigm was adopted to guide participants to maintain memory items in two different storage states, and the results revealed that simultaneously representing the continuously-visible stimuli and the WM content would only impair the WM representations in the active state. These evidences demonstrated that only the visual WM representations that were maintained in the active state would definitely share the limited resources with the representations of continuously-visible information, and further supported the dissociation between the active state and silent state of visual WM storage.
Vulnerability of Tritia reticulata (L.) early life stages to ocean acidification and warming
Authors: Oliveira Isabel B. , Freitas Daniela B. , Fonseca Joana G. , Laranjeiro Filipe , Rocha Rui J. M. , Hinzmann Mariana , Machado Jorge , Barroso Carlos M. , Galante-Oliveira Susana 
Published: March 2020

AbstractOcean acidification and warming (OA-W) result mainly from the absorption of carbon dioxide and heat by the oceans, altering its physical and chemical properties and affecting carbonate secretion by marine calcifiers such as gastropods. These processes are ongoing, and the projections of their aggravation are not encouraging. This work assesses the concomitant effect of the predicted pH decrease and temperature rise on early life stages of the neogastropodTritia reticulata(L.), a common scavenger of high ecological importance on coastal ecosystems of the NE Atlantic. Veligers were exposed for 14 days to 12 OA-W experimental scenarios generated by a factorial design of three pH levels (targeting 8.1, 7.8 and 7.5) at four temperatures (16, 18, 20 and 22 °C). Results reveal effects of both pH and temperature (T °C) on larval development, growth, shell integrity and survival, individually or interactively at different exposure times. All endpoints were initially driven by pH, with impaired development and high mortalities being recorded in the first week, constrained by the most acidic scenarios (pHtarget7.5). Development was also significantly driven by T °C, and its acceleration with warming was observed for the remaining exposure time. Still, by the end of this 2-weeks trial, larval performance and survival were highly affected by the interaction between pH and T °C: growth under warming was evident but only for T °C ≤ 20 °C and carbonate saturation (pHtarget ≥ 7.8). In fact, carbonate undersaturation rendered critical larval mortality (100%) at 22 °C, and the occurrence of extremely vulnerable, unshelled specimens in all other tested temperatures. As recruitment cohorts are the foundation for future populations, our results point towards the extreme vulnerability of this species in case tested scenarios become effective that, according to the IPCC, are projected for the northern hemisphere, where this species is ubiquitous, by the end of the century. Increased veliger mortality associated with reduced growth rates, shell dissolution and loss under OA-W projected scenarios will reduce larval performance, jeopardizingT. reticulatasubsistence.
Janus effect of glucocorticoids on differentiation of muscle fibro/adipogenic progenitors
Authors: Cerquone Perpetuini Andrea , Giuliani Giulio , Reggio Alessio , Cerretani Mauro , Santoriello Marisabella , Stefanelli Roberta , Palma Alessandro , Vumbaca Simone , Harper Steven , Castagnoli Luisa , Bresciani Alberto , Cesareni Gianni 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMuscle resident fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), support muscle regeneration by releasing cytokines that stimulate the differentiation of myogenic stem cells. However, in non-physiological contexts (myopathies, atrophy, aging) FAPs cause fibrotic and fat infiltrations that impair muscle function. We set out to perform a fluorescence microscopy-based screening to identify compounds that perturb the differentiation trajectories of these multipotent stem cells. From a primary screen of 1,120 FDA/EMA approved drugs, we identified 34 compounds as potential inhibitors of adipogenic differentiation of FAPs isolated from the murine model (mdx) of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The hit list from this screen was surprisingly enriched with compounds from the glucocorticoid (GCs) chemical class, drugs that are known to promote adipogenesis in vitro and in vivo. To shed light on these data, three GCs identified in our screening efforts were characterized by different approaches. We found that like dexamethasone, budesonide inhibits adipogenesis induced by insulin in sub-confluent FAPs. However, both drugs have a pro-adipogenic impact when the adipogenic mix contains factors that increase the concentration of cAMP. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that treatment with glucocorticoids induces the transcription of Gilz/Tsc22d3, an inhibitor of the adipogenic master regulator PPARγ, only in anti-adipogenic conditions. Additionally, alongside their anti-adipogenic effect, GCs are shown to promote terminal differentiation of satellite cells. Both the anti-adipogenic and pro-myogenic effects are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor and are not observed in the presence of receptor inhibitors. Steroid administration currently represents the standard treatment for DMD patients, the rationale being based on their anti-inflammatory effects. The findings presented here offer new insights on additional glucocorticoid effects on muscle stem cells that may affect muscle homeostasis and physiology.
Fluorescent sp3 Defect-Tailored Carbon Nanotubes Enable NIR-II Single Particle Imaging in Live Brain Slices at Ultra-Low Excitation Doses
Authors: Mandal Amit Kumar , Wu Xiaojian , Ferreira Joana S. , Kim Mijin , Powell Lyndsey R. , Kwon Hyejin , Groc Laurent , Wang YuHuang , Cognet Laurent 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCellular and tissue imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, ~1000–1350 nm) is advantageous for in vivo studies because of low light extinction by biological constituents at these wavelengths. However, deep tissue imaging at the single molecule sensitivity has not been achieved in the NIR-II window due to lack of suitable bio-probes. Single-walled carbon nanotubes have emerged as promising near-infrared luminescent molecular bio-probes; yet, their inefficient photoluminescence (quantum yield ~1%) drives requirements for sizeable excitation doses (~1–10 kW/cm2) that are significantly blue-shifted from the NIR-II region (<850 nm) and may thus ultimately compromise live tissue. Here, we show that single nanotube imaging can be achieved in live brain tissue using ultralow excitation doses (~0.1 kW/cm2), an order of magnitude lower than those currently used. To accomplish this, we synthesized fluorescent sp3-defect tailored (6,5) carbon nanotubes which, when excited at their first order excitonic transition (~985 nm) fluoresce brightly at ~1160 nm. The biocompatibility of these functionalized nanotubes, which are wrapped by encapsulation agent (phospholipid-polyethylene glycol), is demonstrated using standard cytotoxicity assays. Single molecule photophysical studies of these biocompatible nanotubes allowed us to identify the optimal luminescence properties in the context of biological imaging.
Annexin B12 Trimer Formation is Governed by a Network of Protein-Protein and Protein-Lipid Interactions
Authors: Tao Meixin , Isas J. Mario , Langen Ralf 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMembrane protein oligomerization mediates a wide range of biological events including signal transduction, viral infection and membrane curvature induction. However, the relative contributions of protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions to protein oligomerization remain poorly understood. Here, we used the Ca2+-dependent membrane-binding protein ANXB12 as a model system to determine the relative contributions of protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions toward trimer formation. Using an EPR-based detection method, we find that some protein-protein interactions are essential for trimer formation. Surprisingly, these interactions are largely hydrophobic, and they do not include the previously identified salt bridges, which are less important. Interfering with membrane interaction by mutating selected Ca2+-ligands or by introducing Lys residues in the membrane-binding loops had variable, strongly position-dependent effects on trimer formation. The strongest effect was observed for the E226Q/E105Q mutant, which almost fully abolished trimer formation without preventing membrane interaction. These results indicate that lipids engage in specific, trimer-stabilizing interactions that go beyond simply providing a concentration-enhancing surface. The finding that protein-membrane interactions are just as important as protein-protein interactions in ANXB12 trimer formation raises the possibility that the formation of specific lipid contacts could be a more widely used driving force for membrane-mediated oligomerization of proteins in general.
Interfacial effects on leakage currents in Cu/α-cristobalite/Cu junctions
Authors: Lin Kuan-Bo , Su Yen-Hsun , Kaun Chao-Cheng 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAs the miniaturization trend of integrated circuit continues, the leakage currents flow through the dielectric films insulating the interconnects become a critical issue. However, quantum transport through the mainstream on-chip interfaces between interconnects and dielectrics has not been addressed from first principles yet. Here, using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory and nonequilibrium Green’s function formalism, we investigate the interfacial-dependent leakage currents in the Cu/α-cristobalite/Cu junctions. Our results show that the oxygen-rich interfaces form the lowest-leakage-current junction under small bias voltages, followed by the silicon-rich and oxygen-poor ones. This feature is attributed to their transmission spectra, related to their density of states and charge distributions. However, the oxygen-poor interfacial junction may conversely have a better dielectric strength than others, as its transmission gap, from −2.8 to 3.5 eV, is more symmetry respect to the Fermi level than others.
Feedbacks and eddy diffusivity in an energy balance model of tropical rainfall shifts
Authors: Peterson Henry G. , Boos William R. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRadiative feedbacks are known to strongly modify horizontal shifts of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) produced by remote atmospheric energy sources. This study uses a one-dimensional moist energy balance model to understand how radiative feedbacks and the structure of an imposed eddy diffusivity can influence such ITCZ shifts. The Planck feedback is shown to damp ITCZ shifts more strongly for extratropical forcings than for tropical ones, because lower moisture content in cold regions makes the temperature response larger there. The water vapor feedback on ITCZ shifts is shown to be dominated by changes in the cross-equatorial asymmetry of the relative humidity of subtropical dry zones, with additional contributions by the changes in mixing ratio that occur at fixed relative humidity and by the meridional shift of the humid ITCZ. Finally, the ITCZ response is found to be highly sensitive to the meridional structure of the diffusivity; the ITCZ shift increases with the tropical diffusivity, even when the global mean diffusivity is fixed.
Postgraduate Specialization Fellowship Training for Audiologists: Survey Results From Educators, Supervisors, and Students
Authors: Arenberg Julie G. , Hull Ray H. , Hunter Lisa 
Published: March 2020

Purpose
From the Audiology Education Summit held in 2017, several working groups were formed to explore ideas about improving the quality and consistency in graduate education in audiology and externship training. The results are described here from one of the working groups formed to examine postgraduate specialization fellowships.

Method
Over the course of a year, the committee designed and implemented two surveys: one directed toward faculty and one toward students. The rationale for the survey and the results are presented. Comparisons between faculty and student responses are made for similar questions.

Results
Overall, the results demonstrate that the majority of both students and faculty believe that postgraduation specialization fellowships are needed for either 1 year or a flexible length. There was a consensus of opinion that the fellowship should be paid, as these would be designed for licensed audiologists. Most believed that the fellowships should be “governed by a professional organization (e.g., American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Academy of Audiology, American Doctors of Audiology, etc.),” or less so, a “separate body for this specific purpose.” Potential topics for specialization identified were the following: tinnitus, vestibular, cochlear implants, pediatrics, and intraoperative monitoring. The highest priority attributes for a specialization site were “abundant access to patient populations,” “staff of clinical experts,” and “active research.” The weight put toward these attributes differed between faculty and students with faculty prioritizing “university/academic centers,” and “access to academic coursework in the fellowship area.” The faculty rated “caseload diversity,” “minimum hours,” “research,” and “academic affiliation” as requirements for a fellowship site, with less weight for “coursework” and “other.” Finally, the students valued “improved personal ability to provide exceptional patient care,” “the potential for increased job opportunities,” and the “potential for a higher salary” as benefits most important to them, with lower ratings for “recognition as a subject matter expert” or “potential pathway to Ph.D. program.”

Conclusions
As a result of the survey, further exploration of a postgraduate specialization fellowship is warranted, especially to determine funding opportunities to offset cost for the sites and to ensure that fellows are paid adequately.
Numerical simulations of large-amplitude oscillations in flux rope solar prominences
Authors: Liakh V. , Luna M. , Khomenko E. 
Published: March 2020

Context. Large-amplitude oscillations (LAOs) of solar prominences are a very spectacular, but poorly understood, phenomena. These motions have amplitudes larger than 10 km s−1 and can be triggered by the external perturbations such as Moreton or EIT waves.
Aims. Our aim is to analyze the properties of LAOs using realistic prominence models and the triggering mechanism by external disturbances.
Methods. We performed time-dependent numerical simulations of LAOs using a magnetic flux rope model with the two values of shear angle and density contrast. We studied the internal modes of the prominence using horizontal and vertical triggering. In addition, we used perturbation that arrives from outside to understand how such external disturbance can produce LAOs.
Results. The period of longitudinal oscillations and its behavior with height show good agreement with the pendulum model. The period of the transverse oscillations remains constant with height, suggesting a global normal mode. The transverse oscillations typically have shorter periods than longitudinal oscillations.
Conclusions. The periods of the longitudinal and transverse oscillations show only weak dependence on the shear angle of the magnetic structure and prominence density contrast. The external disturbance perturbs the flux rope exciting oscillations of both polarizations. Their properties are a mixture of those excited by purely horizontal and vertical driving.