bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
HealthCall: Smartphone Enhancement of Brief Interventions to Reduce Heavy Drinking In HIV Care
Authors: Hasin Deborah , Aharonovich Efrat , Zingman Barry , Stohl Malka , Walsh Claire , Elliott Jennifer C. , Fink David , Knox Justin , Durant Sean , Menchaca Raquel , Sharma Anjali 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundHeavy drinking among people living with HIV (PLWH) worsens their health outcomes and disrupts their continuum of care. Brief interventions to reduce heavy drinking in primary care are effective, but in heavy-drinking PLWH, more extensive intervention may be needed. Lengthy interventions are not feasible in most HIV primary care settings, and patients seldom follow referrals to outside treatment. Utilizing visual and video features of smartphone technology, we developed the “HealthCall” app to provide continued engagement after brief intervention, in order to reduce drinking and improve other aspects of HIV care while making minimal demands on providers.MethodsAlcohol-dependent patients at a large urban HIV clinic were randomized to one of three groups: (1) Motivational Interviewing (MI) plus HealthCall (n=39), (2) NIAAA Clinician’s Guide (CG) plus HealthCall (n=38), or (3) CG-only (n=37). Baseline drinking-reduction interventions were ∼25 minutes, with brief (10-15 min) check-in sessions at 30 and 60 days. HealthCall involved daily use of the smartphone for 3-5 min/day, covering drinking and other aspects of the prior 24 hours. Outcomes assessed at 30 and 60 days, and 3, 6 and 12 months, included drinks per drinking day, drinks per day, and days drank, using the Timeline Followback. Analysis were conducted using generalized linear mixed models with pre-planned contrasts.ResultsStudy retention was excellent (85%-94% across timepoints) and unrelated to treatment arm or patient characteristics. During treatment, patients in MI+HealthCall drank less than others (p=0.07-0.003). However, at 6 and 12 months, drinking was lowest among patients who had been in CG+HealthCall (p=0.04-0.06).ConclusionDuring treatment, patients in MI+HealthCall drank less than patients in the CG conditions. However, at 6 and 12 months, drinking was lower among patients in CG+HealthCall. Given the importance of drinking reduction and the low costs and time required for HealthCall, pairing HealthCall with brief interventions within HIV clinics merits widespread consideration.
The interaction of p38 with its upstream kinase MKK6
Authors: Kumar Ganesan Senthil , Page Rebecca , Peti Wolfgang 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTMitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK; p38, ERK and JNK) cascades are evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways that regulate the cellular response to a variety of extracellular stimuli, such as growth factors and interleukins. The MAPK p38 is activated by its specific upstream MAPK kinases, MKK6 and MKK3. However, a comprehensive molecular understanding of how these cognate upstream kinases bind and activate p38 is still missing. Here, we combine NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry to define the binding interface between full-length MKK6 and p38. We show that p38 engages MKK6 not only via its hydrophobic docking groove, but also helix αF, a secondary structural element that plays a key role in organizing the kinase core. We also show that, unlike MAPK phosphatases, the p38 conserved docking (CD) site is much less affected by MKK6 binding. Finally, we demonstrate that these interactions with p38 are conserved independent of the MKK6 activation state. Together, our results reveal differences between specificity markers of p38 regulation by upstream kinases, which do not effectively engage the CD site, and downstream phosphatases, which require the CD site for productive binding.
Global Trends in eHealth Research: Analysis and Visualization of Author and Indexer-Supplied Keywords
Authors: Nwagwu Williams Ezinwa , Onyancha Omwoye Bosire 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis article examined the growth and development of ehealth research based on the headcount and analysis of the characteristics of keywords used by authors and indexers to represent their research content during 1945-2019 as indexed in the Elsevier’s Scopus database. The results show that although the term ehealth originated in the late 1990s, but it has become an envelope term for much older terms such as telemedicine, and its variants which originated much earlier. The keywords were spread in 27 Scopus Subject Areas, with medicine (44.04%), engineering (12.84%) and computer science (11.47%) leading while by Scopus All Science Journal Classification, Health Sciences accounted for 55.83% of the keywords and physical sciences followed with 30.62%. The rest two classifications namely social sciences and life sciences made only single digit contributions. Although the primary essence of ehealth was how to meet health needs, the work of engineers who either initially deployed telephone to meet their health needs or, and, computer scientists, who addressed the need to design technologies for medical services is very significant. It is concluded that ehealth is a multidisciplinary area that is attractive to researchers from all disciplines because of its sensitive focus on health, and therefore requires pooling and integrating of resources and expertise, methods and approaches.
Convergent morphology and divergent phenology: unravelling the coexistence of mimeticMorphobutterfly species
Authors: Le Roy Camille , Roux Camille , Authier Elisabeth , Bastide Héloïse , Debat Vincent , Llaurens Violaine 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe emergence and persistence of closely-related species in sympatry is puzzling because the potential gene flow and the common local selective pressures may lead to either merging or competitive exclusion. Some species ofMorphobutterflies occurring in sympatry display highly similar wing colour patterns. Associated with erratic flight abilities, their bright colouration may limit predator success and discourage future attacks. The evolution of similar colouration in sympatric species is thus likely under local selection by predators (i.e. escape mimicry). Such phenotypic similarity may promote interspecific territoriality and/or reproductive interference, questioning how closely-related co-mimetic species become sexually isolated and coexist in sympatry. We performed a series of field experiments using flyingMorphodummies placed in a natural habitat where wild males commonly patrol. Analysing the interactions of wildMorphowith different dummies, we show that similarity in wing colour pattern leads to interspecific territoriality and courtship among sympatric species. Using genomic data, we then showed that sympatricMorphospecies are surprisingly strictly isolated despite their close relatedness and the observed heterospecific interactions. Finally, using a mark-recapture experiment, we discovered a strong temporal segregation in patrolling activity of males from two co-mimetic sister species. Such divergence in phenology may favour sympatry between closely-related species, despite behavioural interferences induced by the local convergence in colour pattern. Altogether, our findings show that temporal segregation may facilitate the co-existence of closely-related species sharing the same ecological niche, suggesting that phenological shifts may represent an overlooked factor of sympatric speciation. Our study therefore highlights how the evolution of multiple traits may favour species diversification in sympatry by partitioning niche in different dimensions.
Automated Morphometric Analysis Reveals Plasticity Induced by Chronic Antidepressant Treatment in Hippocampal Astrocytes
Authors: Sethi Parul , Virmani Garima , Thumu Surya Chandra Rao , Ramanan Narendrakumar , Marathe Swananda 
Published: November 2020

AbstractNervous system development and plasticity involves changes in cellular morphology, making morphological analysis a valuable exercise in the study of nervous system development, function and disease. Morphological analysis is a time-consuming exercise requiring meticulous manual tracing of cellular contours and extensions. We have developed a software tool, called SMorph, to rapidly analyse the morphology of cells of the nervous system. SMorph performs completely automated Sholl analysis. It extracts 23 morphometric features based on cell images and Sholl analysis parameters, followed by Principal Component Analysis. SMorph is tested on neurons, astrocytes and microglia and reveals subtle changes in cell morphology. Using SMorph, we found that chronic 21-day treatment with antidepressant desipramine results in a significant structural remodeling in hippocampal astrocytes. Given the proposed involvement of astroglial structural changes and atrophy in major depression in humans, our results reveal a novel kind of structural plasticity induced by chronic antidepressant administration.
A Novel Cell Therapy for COVID-19 and Potential Future Pandemics: Virus Induced Lymphocytes (VIL)
Authors: Sivapalan Rohan , Liu Jinyan , Chakraborty Krishnendu , Arthofer Elisa , Choudhry Modassir , Barie Philip S , Barouch Dan H , Henley Tom 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTThea prioriT cell repertoire and immune response against SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens may explain the varying clinical course and prognosis of patients having a mild COVID-19 infection as opposed to those developing more fulminant multisystem organ failure and associated mortality. Using a novel SARS-Cov-2-specific artificial antigen presenting cell (aAPC), coupled with a rapid expansion protocol (REP) as practiced in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy, we generate an immune catalytic quantity of Virus Induced Lymphocytes (VIL). Using T cell receptor (TCR)-specific aAPCs carrying co-stimulatory molecules and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I immunodominant SARS-CoV-2 peptide-pentamer complexes, we expand virus-specific VIL derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of convalescent COVID-19 patients up to 1,000-fold. This is achieved in a clinically relevant 7-day vein-to-vein time-course as a potential adoptive cell therapy (ACT) for COVID-19. We also evaluate this approach for other viral pathogens using Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific VIL from donors as a control. Rapidly expanded VIL are enriched in virus antigen-specificity and show an activated, polyfunctional cytokine profile and T effector memory phenotype which may contribute to a robust immune response. Virus-specific T cells can also be delivered allogeneically via MHC-typing and patient human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matching to provide pragmatic treatment in a large-scale therapeutic setting. These data suggest that VIL may represent a novel therapeutic option that warrants further clinical investigation in the armamentarium against COVID-19 and other possible future pandemics.
Plot diversity differentially affects the chemical composition of leaves, roots and root exudates in four subtropical tree species
Authors: Weinhold Alexander , Döll Stefanie , Liu Min , Schedl Andreas , Xu Xingliang , Neumann Steffen , van Dam Nicole M. 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTPlants produce thousands of compounds, collectively called the metabolome, which mediate interactions with other organisms. The metabolome of an individual plant may change according to the number and nature of these interactions. We tested the hypothesis that tree diversity level affects the metabolome of four subtropical tree species in a biodiversity ecosystem-functioning experiment, BEF-China. We postulated that the chemical diversity of leaves, roots and root exudates increases with tree diversity. We expected the strength of this diversity effect to differ among leaf, root and root exudates samples. Considering their role in plant competition, we expected to find the strongest effects in root exudates.In an ecometabolomics approach, roots, root exudates and leaves of four tree species(Cinnamomum camphora, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Daphniphyllum oldhamii, Schima superba)were sampled from selected plots in BEF-China. Samples were extracted and analysed using Liquid Chromatography-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry. The exudate metabolomes were normalized over their non-purgeable organic carbon level. Multivariate analyses were applied to identify the effect of both neighbouring (local) trees and plot diversity on tree metabolomes. The species and sample specific metabolites were assigned to major compound classes using the ClassyFire tool, whereas m/z features related to diversity effects were annotated manually.Individual tree species showed distinct leaf, root and root exudate metabolomes. The main compound class in leaves were the flavonoids, whereas carboxylic acids, prenol lipids and specific alkaloids were most prominent in root exudates and roots. Overall plot diversity had a stronger effect on metabolome profiles than the diversity of local, directly neighbouring trees. Leaf metabolomes responded more often to tree diversity level than exudates, whereas root metabolomes varied the least. We found not overall correlation between metabolite richness or diversity and tree diversity.Synthesis: Classification of metabolites supported initial ecological interpretation of differences among species and organs. Particularly the metabolomes of leaves and root exudates respond to differences in tree diversity. These responses were neither linear nor uniform and individual metabolites showed different dynamics. More controlled interaction experiments are needed to dissect the causes and consequences of the observed shifts in plant metabolomes.
A Non-Genetic, Cell Cycle Dependent Mechanism of Platinum Resistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gonzalez-Rajal Alvaro , Marzec Kamila A , McCloy Rachael , Nobis Max , Chin Venessa , Hastings Jordan F. , Lai Kaitao , Kennerson Marina , Hughes William E , Vaghjiani Vijesh , Timpson Paul , Cain Jason E. , Neil Watkins D. , Croucher David R. , Burgess Andrew 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWe previously used a pulse-based in vitro assay to unveil targetable signalling pathways associated with innate cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma (Hastings et al., 2020). Here we advanced this model system and identified a non- genetic mechanism of resistance that drives recovery and regrowth in a subset of cells. Using RNAseq and a suite of biosensors to track single cell fates both in vitro and in vivo, we identified that early S phase cells have a greater ability to maintain proliferative capacity, which correlated with reduced DNA damage over multiple generations. In contrast, cells in G1, late S or those treated with PARP/RAD51 inhibitors, maintained higher levels of DNA damage and underwent prolonged S/G2 phase arrest and senescence. Combined with our previous work, these data indicate that there is a non-genetic mechanism of resistance in lung adenocarcinoma that is dependent on the cell cycle stage at the time of cisplatin exposure.
Heritability of DNA methylation in threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Authors: Hu Juntao , Wuitchik Sara J. S. , Barry Tegan N. , Rogers Sean M. , Jamniczky Heather A. , Barrett Rowan D. H. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractEpigenetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic change are hypothesized to contribute to population persistence and adaptation in the face of environmental change. To date, few studies have explored the heritability of intergenerationally stable methylation levels in natural populations, and little is known about the relative contribution ofcis- andtrans-regulatorychanges to methylation variation. Here, we explore the heritability of DNA methylation, and conduct methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTL) analysis to investigate the genetic architecture underlying methylation variation between marine and freshwater ecotypes of threespine stickleback(Gasterosteus aculeatus).We quantitatively measured genome-wide DNA methylation in fin tissue using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing of F1 and F2 crosses, and their marine and freshwater source populations. We identified cytosines (CpG sites) that exhibited stable methylation levels across generations. We found that genetic variance explained an average of 24 to 35% of the methylation variance, with a number of CpG sites possibly autonomous from genetic control. Finally, we detected bothcis- andtrans-meQTLs, with onlytrans-meQTLs overlapping with previously identified genomic regions of high differentiation between marine and freshwater ecotypes, as well as identified the genetic architecture underlying two key CpG sites that were differentially methylated between ecotypes. These findings demonstrate a potential role for DNA methylation in facilitating adaptation to divergent environments and improve our understanding of the heritable basis of population epigenomic variation.
Nonlinear Stability Analysis for Artificial Kidney Multi-compartmental Models
Authors: Abohtyra Rammah 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis paper addresses a new global stability analysis for a specific class of nonlinear multi-compartment models with non-positive flows and whose balances are described by equilibrium sets. We apply the stability analysis to our physiological-based model of extracellular fluid used during dialysis therapy in end-stage kidney disease patients. To gain an in-depth understanding of the risk associated with fluid removal by the artificial kidney during the short time (3-5hrs) of the dialysis therapy, we use the stability results to analyze the solution’s behavior of our model under standard ultrafiltration and patient-specific ultrafiltration profiles. Therefore, the standard ultrafiltration profiles do not guarantee optimal outcomes, and we highly recommend incorporating physiological insights into the ultrafiltration profiles to improve outcomes.
An initial ‘snapshot’ of sensory information biases the likelihood and speed of subsequent changes of mind
Authors: Turner William , Feuerriegel Daniel , Hester Robert , Bode Stefan 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWe often need to rapidly change our mind about perceptual decisions in order to account for new information and correct mistakes. One fundamental, unresolved question is whether information processed prior to a decision being made (‘pre-decisional information’) has any influence on the likelihood and speed with which that decision is reversed. We investigated this using a luminance discrimination task in which participants indicated which of two flickering greyscale squares was brightest. Following an initial decision, the stimuli briefly remained on screen, and participants could change their response. Using psychophysical reverse correlation, we examined how moment-to-moment fluctuations in stimulus luminance affected participants’ decisions. This revealed that the strength of even the very earliest (pre-decisional) evidence was associated with the likelihood and speed of later changes of mind. To account for this effect, we propose an extended diffusion model in which an initial ‘snapshot’ of sensory information biases ongoing evidence accumulation.Author SummaryTo avoid harm in an ever-changing world we need to be able to rapidly change our minds about our decisions. For example, imagine being unable to overrule a decision to run across a street when you realise a speeding car is approaching. In this study, we examined the information processing dynamics which underlie perceptual judgements and changes of mind. By reverse correlating participants decisions with the moment-to-moment sensory evidence they received, we show that the very earliest information, processed prior to an initial decision being made, can have a lasting influence over the speed and likelihood of subsequent changes of mind. To account for this, we develop a model of perceptual decisions in which initial sensory evidence exerts a lasting bias over later evidence processing. When fit to participants’ behavioural responses alone, this model predicted their observed information usage patterns. This suggests that an initial ‘snapshot’ of sensory information may influence the ongoing dynamics of the perceptual decision process, thus influencing the speed and likelihood of decision reversals.
Possible biased virulence attenuation in the Senegal strain of Ehrlichia ruminantium by ntrX gene conversion from an inverted segmental duplication
Authors: Gordon Jonathan L. , Oliva Chavez Adela S. , Martinez Dominique , Vachiery Nathalie , Meyer Damien F. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractEhrlichia ruminantium is a tick-borne intracellular pathogen of ruminants that causes heartwater, a disease present in Sub-saharan Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean, inducing significant economic losses. At present, three avirulent strains of E. ruminantium (Gardel, Welgevonden and Senegal isolates) have been produced by a process of serial passaging in mammalian cells in vitro, but unfortunately their use as vaccines do not offer a large range of protection against other strains, possibly due to the genetic diversity present within the species (Cangi et al. 2016). So far no genetic basis for virulence attenuation has been identified in any E. ruminantium strain that could offer targets to facilitate vaccine production. Virulence attenuated Senegal strains have been produced twice independently, and require many fewer passages to attenuate than the other strains. We compared the genomes of a virulent and attenuated Senegal strain and identified a likely attenuator gene, ntrX, a global transcription regulator and member of a two-component system that is linked to environmental sensing. This gene has an inverted partial duplicate close to the parental gene that shows evidence of gene conversion in different E. ruminantium strains. The pseudogenisation of the gene in the avirulent Senegal strain occurred by gene conversion from the duplicate to the parent, transferring a 4bp deletion which is unique to the Senegal strain partial duplicate amongst the wild isolates. We confirmed that the ntrX gene is not expressed in the avirulent Senegal strain by RT-PCR. The inverted duplicate structure combined with the 4bp deletion in the Senegal strain can explain both the attenuation and the faster speed of attenuation in the Senegal strain relative to other strains of E. ruminantium. Our results identify nrtX as a promising target for the generation of attenuated strains of E. ruminantium by random or directed mutagenesis that could be used for vaccine production.
CA2 inhibition reduces the precision of hippocampal assembly reactivation
Authors: He Hongshen , Boehringer Roman , Huang Arthur J.Y. , Overton Eric T.N. , Polygalov Denis , Okanoya Kazuo , McHugh Thomas J. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe structured reactivation of hippocampal neuronal ensembles during fast synchronous oscillatory events termed sharp-wave ripples (SWRs) has been suggested to play a crucial role in the storage and use of memory. Activity in both the CA2 and CA3 subregions can proceed this population activity in CA1 and chronic inhibition of either region alters SWR oscillations. However, the precise contribution of CA2 to the oscillation, as well as to the reactivation of CA1 neurons within it, remains unclear. Here we employ chemogenetics to transiently silence CA2 pyramidal cells in mice and observe that while SWRs still occur, the reactivation of CA1 pyramidal cell ensembles within the events lose both temporal and informational precision. These observations suggest that CA2 activity contributes to the fidelity of experience-dependent hippocampal replay.