bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An altered microbiome in urban coyotes mediates relationships between anthropogenic diet and poor health
Authors: Sugden Scott , Sanderson Dana , Ford Kyra , Stein Lisa Y. , St. Clair Colleen Cassady 
Published: December 2020

AbstractGeneralist species able to exploit anthropogenic food sources are becoming increasingly common in urban environments. Coyotes (Canis latrans) are one such urban generalist that now resides in cities across North America, where diseased or unhealthy coyotes are frequently reported in cases of human-wildlife conflict. Coyote health and fitness may be related to habitat use and diet via the gut microbiome, which has far-reaching effects on animal nutrition and physiology. In this study, we used stomach contents, stable isotope analysis, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and measures of body condition to identify relationships among habitat use, diet, fecal microbiome composition, and health in urban and rural coyotes. Three distinct relationships emerged: (1) Urban coyotes consumed more anthropogenic food, which was associated with increased microbiome diversity, higher abundances ofStreptococcusandEnterococcus, and poorer average body condition. (2) Conversely, rural coyotes harbored microbiomes rich in Fusobacteria,Sutterella,andAnaerobiospirillum, which were associated with protein-rich diets and improved body condition. (3) Diets rich in anthropogenic food were associated with increased abundances ofErysipelotrichiaceae,Lachnospiraceae, andCoriobacteriaceae, which correlated with larger spleens in urban coyotes. Urban coyotes also had an increased prevalence of the zoonotic parasiteEchinococcus multilocularis, but there were no detectable connections between parasite infection and microbiome composition. Our results demonstrate how the consumption of carbohydrate-rich anthropogenic food by urban coyotes alters the microbiome to negatively affect body condition, with potential relationships to parasite susceptibility and conflict-prone behavior.
Curcumin protects rat hippocampal neurons against pseudorabies virus by regulating the BDNF/TrkB pathway
Authors: Yang Bingjie , Luo Guodong , Zhang Chen , Feng Luqiu , Luo Xianmei , Gan Ling 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPseudorabies virus (PRV) infection can elicit nervous system disorders. Curcumin has been reported to have neuroprotective effects. However, whether curcumin can protect neurons against PRV infection and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, for the first time, the protective effects of curcumin against PRV-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction in rat hippocampal neurons and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) pathway were investigated. Results indicated that PRV with a titer of 3.06 × 106 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infective dose) induced oxidative damage of hippocampal neurons 2 h post-infection and that 10 μM curcumin improved the viability of PRV-infected hippocampal neurons. Blocking the BDNF/TrkB pathway reversed the neuroprotective effects of curcumin, which were imparted by decreasing the PRV-induced upregulation of nitric oxide synthase expression, repressing the PRV-activated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, and mitochondrial dysfunction. To conclude, curcumin exhibited a neuroprotective role against PRV infection by upregulating the BDNF/TrkB pathway. This study provides insight into the anti-PRV neuroprotective application of curcumin and the underlying mechanism in the prophylaxis and treatment of neurological disorders caused by PRV infection.
Local injections of β-NGF accelerates endochondral fracture repair by promoting cartilage to bone conversion
Authors: Rivera Kevin O. , Russo Fabrizio , Boileau Ryan M. , Tomlinson Ryan E. , Miclau Theodore , Marcucio Ralph S. , Desai Tejal A. , Bahney Chelsea S. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThere are currently no pharmacological approaches in fracture healing designed to therapeutically stimulate endochondral ossification. In this study, we test nerve growth factor (NGF) as an understudied therapeutic for fracture repair. We first characterized endogenous expression of Ngf and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) during tibial fracture repair, finding that they peak during the cartilaginous phase. We then tested two injection regimens and found that local β-NGF injections during the endochondral/cartilaginous phase promoted osteogenic marker expression. Gene expression data from β-NGF stimulated cartilage callus explants show a promotion in markers associated with endochondral ossification such as Ihh, Alpl, and Sdf-1. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed the promotion of genes associated with Wnt activation, PDGF- and integrin-binding. Subsequent histological analysis confirmed Wnt activation following local β-NGF injections. Finally, we demonstrate functional improvements to bone healing following local β-NGF injections which resulted in a decrease in cartilage and increase of bone volume. Moreover, the newly formed bone contained higher trabecular number, connective density, and bone mineral density. Collectively, we demonstrate β-NGF’s ability to promote endochondral repair in a murine model and uncover mechanisms that will serve to further understand the molecular switches that occur during cartilage to bone transformation.
Exploring the effectiveness of a COVID-19 contact tracing app using an agent-based model
Authors: Almagor Jonatan , Picascia Stefano 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA contact-tracing strategy has been deemed necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 following the relaxation of lockdown measures. Using an agent-based model, we explore one of the technology-based strategies proposed, a contact-tracing smartphone app. The model simulates the spread of COVID-19 in a population of agents on an urban scale. Agents are heterogeneous in their characteristics and are linked in a multi-layered network representing the social structure—including households, friendships, employment and schools. We explore the interplay of various adoption rates of the contact-tracing app, different levels of testing capacity, and behavioural factors to assess the impact on the epidemic. Results suggest that a contact tracing app can contribute substantially to reducing infection rates in the population when accompanied by a sufficient testing capacity or when the testing policy prioritises symptomatic cases. As user rate increases, prevalence of infection decreases. With that, when symptomatic cases are not prioritised for testing, a high rate of app users can generate an extensive increase in the demand for testing, which, if not met with adequate supply, may render the app counterproductive. This points to the crucial role of an efficient testing policy and the necessity to upscale testing capacity.
Tracing selection signatures in the pig genome gives evidence for selective pressures on a unique curly hair phenotype in Mangalitza
Authors: Schachler Kathrin , Distl Ottmar , Metzger Julia 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSelection for desirable traits and breed-specific phenotypes has left distinctive footprints in the genome of pigs. As representative of a breed with strong selective traces aiming for robustness, health and performance, the Mangalitza pig, a native curly-haired pig breed from Hungary, was investigated in this study. Whole genome sequencing and SNP chip genotyping was performed to detect runs of homozygosity (ROH) in Mangalitza and Mangalitza-crossbreeds. We identified breed specific ROH regions harboring genes associated with the development of the curly hair type and further characteristics of this breed. Further analysis of two matings of Mangalitza with straight-coated pig breeds confirmed an autosomal dominant inheritance of curly hair. Subsequent scanning of the genome for variant effects on this trait revealed two variants potentially affecting hair follicle development and differentiation. Validation in a large sample set as well as in imputed SNP data confirmed these variants to be Mangalitza-specific. Herein, we demonstrated how strong artificial selection has shaped the genome in Mangalitza pigs and left traces in the form of selection signatures. This knowledge on genomic variation promoting unique phenotypes like curly hair provides an important resource for futures studies unraveling genetic effects for special characteristics in livestock.
The role of semantics in the perceptual organization of shape
Authors: Schmidt Filipp , Kleis Jasmin , Morgenstern Yaniv , Fleming Roland W. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractEstablishing correspondence between objects is fundamental for object constancy, similarity perception and identifying transformations. Previous studies measured point-to-point correspondence between objects before and after rigid and non-rigid shape transformations. However, we can also identify ‘similar parts’ on extremely different objects, such as butterflies and owls or lizards and whales. We measured point-to-point correspondence between such object pairs. In each trial, a dot was placed on the contour of one object, and participants had to place a dot on ‘the corresponding location’ of the other object. Responses show correspondence is established based on similarities between semantic parts (such as head, wings, or legs). We then measured correspondence between ambiguous objects with different labels (e.g., between ‘duck’ and ‘rabbit’ interpretations of the classic ambiguous figure). Despite identical geometries, correspondences were different across the interpretations, based on semantics (e.g., matching ‘Head’ to ‘Head’, ‘Tail’ to ‘Tail’). We present a zero-parameter model based on labeled semantic part data (obtained from a different group of participants) that well explains our data and outperforms an alternative model based on contour curvature. This demonstrates how we establish correspondence between very different objects by evaluating similarity between semantic parts, combining perceptual organization and cognitive processes.
The impacts of COVID-19, meteorology, and emission control policies on PM2.5 drops in Northeast Asia
Authors: Kang Yoon-Hee , You Seunghee , Bae Minah , Kim Eunhye , Son Kyuwon , Bae Changhan , Kim Yoonha , Kim Byeong-Uk , Kim Hyun Cheol , Kim Soontae 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn January 2020, anthropogenic emissions in Northeast Asia reduced due to the COVID-19 outbreak. When outdoor activities of the public were limited, PM2.5 concentrations in China and South Korea between February and March 2020 reduced by − 16.8 μg/m3 and − 9.9 μg/m3 respectively, compared with the average over the previous three years. This study uses air quality modeling and observations over the past four years to separate the influence of reductions in anthropogenic emissions from meteorological changes and emission control policies on this PM2.5 concentration change. Here, we show that the impacts of anthropogenic pollution reduction on PM2.5 were found to be approximately − 16% in China and − 21% in South Korea, while those of meteorology and emission policies were − 7% and − 8% in China, and − 5% and − 4% in South Korea, respectively. These results show that the influence on PM2.5 concentration differs across time and region and according to meteorological conditions and emission control policies. Finally, the influence of reductions in anthropogenic emissions was greater than that of meteorological conditions and emission policies during COVID-19 period.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Aging-associated distinctive DNA methylation changes of LINE-1 retrotransposons in pure cell-free DNA from human blood
Authors: Mahmood Wardah , Erichsen Lars , Ott Pauline , Schulz Wolfgang A. , Fischer Johannes C. , Arauzo-Bravo Marcos J. , Bendhack Marcelo L. , Hassan Mohamed , Santourlidis Simeon 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLINE-1 hypomethylation of cell-free DNA has been described as an epigenetic biomarker of human aging. However, in the past, insufficient differentiation between cellular and cell-free DNA may have confounded analyses of genome-wide methylation levels in aging cells. Here we present a new methodological strategy to properly and unambiguously extract DNA methylation patterns of repetitive, as well as single genetic loci from pure cell-free DNA from peripheral blood. Since this nucleic acid fraction originates mainly in apoptotic, senescent and cancerous cells, this approach allows efficient analysis of aged and cancerous cell-specific DNA methylation patterns for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Using this methodology, we observe a significant age-associated erosion of LINE-1 methylation in cfDNA suggesting that the threshold of hypomethylation sufficient for relevant LINE-1 activation and consequential harmful retrotransposition might be reached at higher age. We speculate that this process might contribute to making aging the main risk factor for many cancers.
Macromolecular changes in spinal cord white matter characterize whiplash outcome at 1-year post motor vehicle collision
Authors: Hoggarth Mark A. , Elliott James M. , Smith Zachary A. , Paliwal Monica , Kwasny Mary J. , Wasielewski Marie , Weber Kenneth A. , Parrish Todd B. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractEach year, whiplash injuries from motor vehicle collisions (MVC) affect millions worldwide, with no strong evidence of pathology. While the majority recover soon after the injury, the same is not true for roughly 20% reporting higher levels of pain and distress, without diagnostic options. This study used magnetization transfer (MT) imaging to quantify white matter integrity in 78 subjects with varying levels of pain, 1 year after MVC. MT images of the cervical spinal cord were collected parallel to the intervertebral disks. MT ratios (MTR) were calculated in select white matter tracts along with MTR homogeneity (MTRh) at each level. Significant differences were observed between clinical outcome groups in the left and right spinothalamic tracts (p = 0.003 and 0.020) and MTRh (p = 0.009). MTRh was elevated in females with poor recovery versus females reporting recovery (p < 0.001) or milder symptoms (p < 0.001), and in males reporting recovery (p = 0.007) or no recovery (p < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between recovery status and sex (p = 0.015). MT imaging identified tract specific and regional changes in white matter integrity suggesting potential insults to the cord. Additionally, significant MTRh differences between sexes were observed, characterizing the heterogeneity of whiplash recovery and worse outcomes in females.
Ternary Ti alloys functionalised with antibacterial activity
Authors: Bolzoni L. , Alqattan M. , Peters L. , Alshammari Y. , Yang F. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractProsthesis bacterial infection occurring during surgery is a rising health issue. Pathogenic bacterial infection causes inflammation, interferes with the healing process, inhibits osteogenesis and, eventually, leads to implant failure. These issues can be tackled either by applying coatings or developing multifunctional (i.e. structural and antibacterial) materials. In this work, β eutectoid bearing functionalised Ti alloys were designed and manufactured via the cost-effective press and sinter powder metallurgy route. The systematic analysis of the ternary Ti–xCu–yMn alloys shows that the mechanical properties proportionally increase with the amount of alloying elements added. All the ternary Ti–xCu–yMn alloys have strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli with respect to the negative control (i.e. pure Ti). Our study demonstrates that ternary Ti–xCu–yMn alloys are promising candidates for structural prostheses functionalised with antibacterial capability.
Anthropogenic Pb contribution in soils of Southeast China estimated by Pb isotopic ratios
Authors: Li Jianwu , Hao Guoshuang , Wang Xudong , Ruan Li , Zhou Jinjie 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIsotopic ratios were used to identify the source of Lead (Pb) contamination in rural soils from Southeast China. Enrichment of Pb in surface soils was detected from three sampling locations, with the206Pb/207Pb ratio indicating recent anthropogenic input. The206Pb/207Pb ratio from deeper soil profiles reflected the ratio from parent basalt. Mass fractions of anthropogenic-derived Pb for soil samples in the upper profiles was as high as 50%, implying that surface soils in the current study were impacted by anthropogenic activity. The206Pb/207Pb and208Pb/206Pb ratios were similar to anthropogenic sources including the combustion of coal, which has been common practice in the region for 2500 years. Considering the relatively short history of petroleum use in this area and the rural location of soils, anthropogenic Pb source from coal burning was considered to be the main cause of lead pollution.
Trends in mortality from external causes in the Republic of Seychelles between 1989 and 2018
Authors: Abio Anne , Bovet Pascal , Didon Joachim , Bärnighausen Till , Shaikh Masood Ali , Posti Jussi P. , Lowery Wilson Michael 
Published: December 2020

AbstractData on injury-related mortality are scarce in the African region. Mortality from external causes in the Seychelles was assessed, where all deaths are medically certified and the population is regularly enumerated. The four fields for underlying causes of death recorded were reviewed in the national vital statistics register. The age-standardised mortality rates were estimated (per 100,000 person-years) from external causes in 1989–1998, 1999–2008, and 2009–2018. Mortality rates per 100,000 person-years from external causes were 4–5 times higher among males than females, and decreased among males over the three 10-year periods (127.5, 101.4, 97.1) but not among females (26.9, 23.1, 26.9). The contribution of external causes to total mortality did not change markedly over time (males 11.6%, females 4.3% in 1989–2018). Apart from external deaths from undetermined causes (males 14.6, females 2.4) and “other unintentional injuries” (males 14.1, females 8.0), the leading external causes of death in 2009–2018 were drowning (25.9), road traffic injuries (18.0) and suicide (10.4) among males; and road traffic injuries (4.6), drowning (3.4) and poisoning (2.6) among females. Mortality from broad categories of external causes did not change consistently over time but rates of road traffic injuries increased among males. External causes contributed approximately 1 in 10 deaths among males and 1 in 20 among females, with no marked change in cause-specific rates over time, except for road traffic injuries. These findings emphasise the need for programs and policies in various sectors to address this large, but mostly avoidable health burden.
Properties and role of interfaces in multimaterial 3D printed composites
Authors: Zorzetto Laura , Andena Luca , Briatico-Vangosa Francesco , De Noni Lorenzo , Thomassin Jean-Michel , Jérôme Christine , Grossman Quentin , Mertens Anne , Weinkamer Richard , Rink Marta , Ruffoni Davide 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn polyjet printing photopolymer droplets are deposited on a build tray, leveled off by a roller and cured by UV light. This technique is attractive to fabricate heterogeneous architectures combining compliant and stiff constituents. Considering the layer-by-layer nature, interfaces between different photopolymers can be formed either before or after UV curing. We analyzed the properties of interfaces in 3D printed composites combining experiments with computer simulations. To investigate photopolymer blending, we characterized the mechanical properties of the so-called digital materials, obtained by mixing compliant and stiff voxels according to different volume fractions. We then used nanoindentation to measure the spatial variation in mechanical properties across bimaterial interfaces at the micrometer level. Finally, to characterize the impact of finite-size interfaces, we fabricated and tested composites having compliant and stiff layers alternating along different directions. We found that interfaces formed by deposition after curing were sharp whereas those formed before curing showed blending of the two materials over a length scale bigger than individual droplet size. We found structural and functional differences of the layered composites depending on the printing orientation and corresponding interface characteristics, which influenced deformation mechanisms. With the wide dissemination of 3D printing techniques, our results should be considered in the development of architectured materials with tailored interfaces between building blocks.
Enantiomer-specific activities of an LRH-1 and SF-1 dual agonist
Authors: Mays Suzanne G. , Stec Józef , Liu Xu , D’Agostino Emma H. , Whitby Richard J. , Ortlund Eric A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractChirality is an important consideration in drug development: it can influence recognition of the intended target, pharmacokinetics, and off-target effects. Here, we investigate how chirality affects the activity and mechanism of action of RJW100, a racemic agonist of the nuclear receptors liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1). LRH-1 and SF-1 modulators are highly sought as treatments for metabolic and neoplastic diseases, and RJW100 has one of the few scaffolds shown to activate them. However, enantiomer-specific effects on receptor activation are poorly understood. We show that the enantiomers have similar binding affinities, but RR-RJW100 stabilizes both receptors and is 46% more active than SS-RJW100 in LRH-1 luciferase reporter assays. We present an LRH-1 crystal structure that illuminates striking mechanistic differences: SS-RJW100 adopts multiple configurations in the pocket and fails to make an interaction critical for activation by RR-RJW100. In molecular dynamics simulations, SS-RJW100 attenuates intramolecular signalling important for coregulator recruitment, consistent with previous observations that it weakly recruits coregulators in vitro. These studies provide a rationale for pursuing enantiomerically pure RJW100 derivatives: they establish RR-RJW100 as the stronger LRH-1 agonist and identify a potential for optimizing the SS-RJW100 scaffold for antagonist design.
Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 mediates overlapping mechanisms across brain disorders
Authors: Bach Snow , Ryan Niamh M. , Guasoni Paolo , Corvin Aiden P. , El-Nemr Rania A. , Khan Danyal , Sanfeliu Albert , Tropea Daniela 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMECP2 and its product, Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), are mostly known for their association to Rett Syndrome (RTT), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Additional evidence suggests that MECP2 may underlie other neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions, and perhaps modulate common presentations and pathophysiology across disorders. To clarify the mechanisms of these interactions, we develop a method that uses the binding properties of MeCP2 to identify its targets, and in particular, the genes recognized by MeCP2 and associated to several neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Analysing mechanisms and pathways modulated by these genes, we find that they are involved in three main processes: neuronal transmission, immuno-reactivity, and development. Also, while the nervous system is the most relevant in the pathophysiology of the disorders, additional systems may contribute to MeCP2 action through its target genes. We tested our results with transcriptome analysis on Mecp2-null models and cells derived from a patient with RTT, confirming that the genes identified by our procedure are directly modulated by MeCP2. Thus, MeCP2 may modulate similar mechanisms in different pathologies, suggesting that treatments for one condition may be effective for related disorders.