bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) on sperm cell morphology and reproductive hormonal profiles in cypermethrin-induced male infertility
Authors: Azubuike Ubah Simon , Adikpe Agbonu Oluwa , Kwinjoh Columbus Philemon , Owoicho Abah Kenneth , Chika Chibuogwu Ijeoma , Eneojo Abalaka Samson , Bankole Abayomi Samuel , Ikechukwu Enem Simon , Etudaye Ajayi Itopa 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDate fruits are endowed with medicinal values, including boosting the male fertility status, but with meagre empirical evidence. Thus, the current study was designed to assess the ameliorative and potential adverse effects of date fruit extracts (Phoenix dactylifera) on cypermethrin-induced male infertility. The study was conducted in two phases using adult male Wistar rats (n = 42, 180 – 220 g and aged 14 - 16 weeks). The first phase was a single oral dose toxicity study to ascertain the suitability of date fruit extract and cypermethrin administered at 250 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg, respectively. The second phase, which included four treatment groups of six animals per group, assessed the effects of date fruits on cypermethrin-induced infertility. At the termination of the experiment, semen was collected by epididymal extraction for the assessment of sperm abnormalities, motility, mass activity, semen pH, and percentage live. Serum samples were also collected for testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) profiling, and the collected data was subjected to statistical analysis. The group administered only cypermethrin showed a decrease in percentage motility, live, mass activity and an increase in total abnormalities over the control group while the group exposed to only date fruits extracts showed increased percentage motility, live, mass activity and a decrease in total abnormalities over the control. The results of a combined administration of date fruit extracts and cypermethrin on a separate group showed a consistently reduced percentage of anatomically abnormal sperm cells and a general improvement of sperm motility and mass activity. There was no significant difference in the weight of the Wister rats in all the groups (p > 0.05). However, testosterone and FSH levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by date fruit extract treatment. The current report provides evidence of the potential ameliorative effects of date fruit extracts in cypermethrin-induced male infertility and cautions excessive use or abuse since some adverse effects were observed.
Diversification of mammalian deltaviruses by host shifting
Authors: Bergner Laura M. , Orton Richard J. , Broos Alice , Tello Carlos , Becker Daniel J. , Carrera Jorge E. , Patel Arvind H. , Biek Roman , Streicker Daniel G. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractHepatitis delta virus (HDV) is an unusual RNA agent that replicates using host machinery but exploits hepatitis B virus (HBV) to mobilize its spread within and between hosts. In doing so, HDV enhances the virulence of HBV. How this seemingly improbable hyper-parasitic lifestyle emerged is unknown, but underpins the likelihood that HDV and related deltaviruses may alter other host-virus interactions. Here, we show that deltaviruses diversify by transmitting between mammalian species. Among 96,695 RNA sequence datasets, deltaviruses infected bats, rodents and an artiodactyl from the Americas, but were absent from geographically overrepresented Old World representatives of each mammalian order, suggesting a relatively recent diversification within the Americas. Consistent with diversification by host shifting, both bat and rodent-infecting deltaviruses were paraphyletic and co-evolutionary modeling rejected co-speciation with mammalian hosts. In addition, a two-year field study showed common vampire bats in Peru were infected by two divergent deltaviruses, indicating multiple introductions to a single host species. One vampire bat-associated deltavirus was detected in the saliva of up to 35% of individuals, formed phylogeographically compartmentalized clades, and infected a sympatric bat, illustrating horizontal transmission within and between species on ecological timescales. Consistent absence of HBV-like viruses in two deltavirus-infected bat species indicated acquisitions of novel viral associations during the divergence of bat and human-infecting deltaviruses. Our analyses support an American zoonotic origin of HDV and reveal prospects for future cross-species emergence of deltaviruses. Given their peculiar life history, deltavirus host shifts will have different constraints and disease outcomes compared to ordinary animal pathogens.Significance StatementSatellites are virus-like agents which require both a host and a virus to complete their life cycle. The only human-infecting satellite is hepatitis delta virus (HDV), which exacerbates liver disease in patients co-infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). How HDV originated is a longstanding evolutionary puzzle. Using terabase-scale data mining, co-evolutionary analyses, and field studies in bats, we show that deltaviruses can jump between highly divergent host species. Our results further suggest that the contemporary association between HDV and HBV likely arose following zoonotic transmission from a yet undiscovered animal reservoir in the Americas. Plastic host and virus associations open prospects that deltaviruses might alter the virulence of multiple viruses in multiple host species.
A subpopulation of astrocyte progenitors defined by Sonic hedgehog signaling
Authors: Gingrich Ellen , Case Kendra , Garcia A. Denise R. 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTThe molecular signaling pathway, Sonic hedgehog (Shh), is critical for the proper development of the central nervous system. The requirement for Shh signaling in neuronal and oligodendrocyte development in the developing embryo are well established. Here, we show that Shh signaling also operates in a subpopulation of progenitor cells that generate cortical astrocytes. In the neonatal brain, cells expressing the Shh target gene,Gli1, are found in the subventricular zone (SVZ), a germinal zone harboring astrocyte progenitor cells. Using a genetic inducible fate mapping strategy, we show that these cells give rise to half of the cortical astrocyte population, suggesting that the cortex harbors astrocytes from different lineages. Shh activity in SVZ progenitor cells is transient but recurs in a subpopulation of mature astrocytes localized in layers IV and V in a manner independent of their lineage. These data identify a novel role for Shh signaling in cortical astrocyte development and support a growing body of evidence pointing to astrocyte heterogeneity.
Directional translocation resistance of Zika xrRNA
Authors: Suma Antonio , Coronel Lucia , Bussi Giovanni , Micheletti Cristian 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTxrRNAs from flaviviruses survive in host cells for their exceptional dichotomic response to the unfolding action of different enzymes. They can be unwound, and hence copied, by replicases, and yet can resist degradation by exonucleases. How the same stretch of xrRNA can encode such diverse responses is an open question. Here, by using atomistic models and translocation simulations, we uncover an elaborate and directional mechanism for how stress propagates when the two xrRNA ends, 5′ and 3′, are driven through a pore. Pulling the 3′ end, as done by replicases, elicits a progressive unfolding; pulling the 5′ end, as done by exonucleases, triggers a counterintuitive molecular tightening. Thus, in what appears to be a remarkable instance of intra-molecular tensegrity, the very pulling of the 5′ end is what boosts resistance to translocation and consequently to degradation. The uncovered mechanistic principle might be co-opted to design molecular meta-materials.
jouvence, a new human H/ACA snoRNA involves in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation
Authors: El-Khoury Flaria , Bignon Jérôme , Martin Jean-René 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSmall nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are non-coding RNAs conserved from archeobacteria to mammals. In humans, various snoRNAs have been associated with pathologies as well as with cancer. Recently inDrosophila, a new snoRNA namedjouvencehas been involved in lifespan. Since snoRNAs are well conserved through evolution, both structurally and functionally,jouvenceorthologue has been identified in human, allowing hypothesizing thatjouvencecould display a similar function (increasing healthy lifespan) in human. Here, we report the characterization of the human snoRNA-jouvence, which was not yet annotated in the genome. We show, both in stably cancerous cell lines and in primary cells, that its overexpression stimulates the cell proliferation. In contrast, its knockdown, by siRNA leads to an opposite phenotype, a decrease in cell proliferation. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that overexpression ofjouvenceleads to a dedifferentiation signature of the cells, a cellular effect comparable to rejuvenation. Inversely, the knockdown ofjouvenceleads to a decrease of genes involved in ribosomes biogenesis and spliceosome in agreement with the canonical role of a H/ACA box snoRNA. In this context,jouvencecould represent a now tool to fight against the deleterious effect of aging, as well as a new target in cancer therapy.
Reward-predictive cues elicit maladaptive reward seeking in adolescent rats
Authors: Marshall Andrew T. , Maidment Nigel T. , Ostlund Sean B. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractImpulsive behavior during adolescence may stem from a developmental imbalance between motivational and impulse control systems, producing greater urges to pursue reward and weakened capacities to inhibit such actions. Here, we developed a Pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT) protocol to assay rats’ ability to suppress cue-motivated reward seeking based on changes in reward expectancy. Traditionally, PIT studies focus on how reward-predictive cues motivate instrumental reward-seeking behavior (lever pressing). However, cues signaling imminent reward delivery also elicit countervailing focal-search responses (food-cup approach). We first examined how reward expectancy (cue-reward probability) influences expression of these competing behaviors. Adult male rats increased rates of lever pressing when presented with cues signaling lower probabilities of reward but focused their activity at the food cup on trials with cues that signaled higher probabilities of reward. We then compared adolescent and adult male rats in their responsivity to cues signaling different reward probabilities. In contrast to adults, adolescent rats did not flexibly adjust their pattern of responding based on the expected likelihood of reward delivery but increased their rate of lever pressing for both weak and strong cues. These findings indicate that impulse control over cue-motivated behavior is fundamentally dysregulated during adolescence, providing a model for studying neurobiological mechanisms of adolescent impulsivity.
Spatially-specific working memory activity in the human superior colliculus
Authors: Rahmati Masih , DeSimone Kevin , Curtis Clayton E. , Sreenivasan Kartik K. 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTTheoretically, working memory (WM) representations are encoded by population activity of neurons with distributed tuning across the stored feature. Here, we leverage computational neuroimaging approaches to map the topographic organization of human superior colliculus (SC) and model how population activity in SC encodes WM representations. We first modeled receptive field properties of voxels in SC, deriving a detailed topographic organization resembling that of the primate SC. Neural activity within male and female human SC persisted throughout a retention interval of several types of modified memory-guided saccade tasks. Assuming an underlying neural architecture of the SC based on its retinotopic organization, we used an encoding model to show that the pattern of activity in human SC represents locations stored in WM. Our tasks and models allowed us to dissociate the locations of visual targets and the motor metrics of memory-guided saccades from the spatial locations stored in WM, thus confirming that human SC represents true WM information. These data have several important implications. They add the SC to a growing number of cortical and subcortical brain areas that form distributed networks supporting WM functions. Moreover, they specify a clear neural mechanism by which topographically organized SC encodes WM representations.Significance StatementUsing computational neuroimaging approaches, we mapped the topographic organization of human superior colliculus (SC) and modeled how population activity in SC encodes working memory (WM) representations, rather than simpler visual or motor properties that have been traditionally associated with the laminar maps in the primate SC. Together, these data both position the human SC into a distributed network of brain areas supporting WM and elucidate the neural mechanisms by which the SC supports WM.
Spatiotemporal dimensions of a reproductive life history trait in a spiny lizard radiation (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae)
Authors: Velasco Julián A. , Campillo-García Gustavo , Pinto-Ledezma Jesús , Flores-Villela Oscar 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe ecological and evolutionary factors underlying life history trait variation is one of the most interesting topics in biology. Although many studies have evaluated either macroevolutionary or macroecological patterns of life history traits across several taxonomic groups, only few studies have attempted to integrate both dimensions in a single analytical framework. Here, we study how parity mode evolved across multiple scales in the radiation of spiny lizards (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). We adopted macroecological and macroevolutionary approaches to explore how climate across spatial and temporal scales drives the evolution of viviparity in this lizard radiation. We find support for a weak signature of current climates on the geographical distribution of oviparous and viviparous species. By contrast, we detected that evolutionary transitions from oviparity to viviparity reach a peak during the MidMiocene Climatic Optimum — a period with a profound climate change event. We suggest that this abrupt climatic cooling promoted evolutionary transitions to viviparity simultaneously across three clades in the spiny lizard radiation. The decoupling in macroecological and macroevolutionary patterns found here suggests that past climate change has played a larger role than current climates in the spatial and temporal diversification of this reproductive life history trait.
Dynamic expression and localization of the LIN-2/7/10 protein scaffolding complex duringC. elegansvulval development
Authors: Gauthier Kimberley D. , Rocheleau Christian E. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe evolutionarily conserved LIN-2 (CASK)/LIN-7 (Lin7A-C)/LIN-10 (APBA1) complex plays an important role in regulating spatial organization of membrane proteins and signaling components. InC. elegans,the complex is essential for development of the vulva by promoting the localization of the sole Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) orthologue, LET-23, to the basolateral membrane of the vulva precursor cells (VPCs) where it can specify the vulval cell fate. However, the expression and localization of the LIN-2/7/10 complex, and how the complex regulates receptor localization, are not known. Here we describe anin vivoanalysis of the complex inC. elegansVPCs. Only LIN-7 colocalizes with LET-23 EGFR at the basolateral membrane, while the LIN-2/7/10 complex components instead colocalize at cytoplasmic foci, consistent with Golgi or endosomes. LIN-10 recruits LIN-2, which in turn recruits LIN-7. We demonstrate that the complex formsin vivowith particularly strong interaction and colocalization between LIN-2 and LIN-7. Our data suggest that the LIN-2/7/10 complex forms on endomembrane compartments where it likely targets LET-23 EGFR to the basolateral membrane, and point to distinct regulation between LIN-2/7 and LIN-10.Summary StatementLIN-10 recruits LIN-2 and LIN-7 to Golgi or recycling endosomes, consistent with targeting rather than tethering the epidermal growth factor receptor to the basolateral membrane inC. elegans.
Loss of O-GlcNAcylation on MeCP2 Thr 203 Leads to Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Cheng Juanxian , Zhao Zhe , Chen Liping , Du Ruijing , Wu Yan , Zhu Qian , Fan Ming , Duan Xiaotao , Wu Haitao 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMutations of the X-linked methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene in humans are responsible for most cases of Rett syndrome (RTT), an X-linked progressive neurological disorder. While genome-wide screens in clinical trials reveal several putative RTT-associated mutations onMECP2, their causative relevance regarding the functional regulation of MeCP2 on the etiologic sites at the protein level require more evidence. In this study, we demonstrate that MeCP2 is dynamically modified by O-linked-β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) at threonine 203 (T203), an etiologic site in RTT patients. Disruption of the O-GlcNAcylation of MeCP2 specifically at T203 impairs dendrite development and spine maturation in cultured hippocampal neurons, and disrupts neuronal migration, dendritic spine morphogenesis and dysfunction of synaptic transmission in the developing and juvenile mouse cerebral cortex. Mechanistically, genetic disruption of O-GlcNAcylation at T203 on MeCP2 decreases neuronal activity-induced induction ofBdnftranscription. Our study highlights the critical role of MeCP2 T203 O-GlcNAcylation in neural development and synaptic transmission potentiallyviaBDNF.
Associations of Global Country Profiles and Modifiable Risk Factors with COVID-19 Cases and Deaths
Authors: Burden Samuel Joseph , Rademaker Josefien , Weedon Benjamin David , Whaymand Luke , Dawes Helen , Jones Alexander 
Published: June 2020

AbstractModifiable risk factors affect SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality raising the possibility that lifestyle modification could play a role. This has not been studied at a global level. We analysed publicly available data from countries reporting COVID-19 cases and deaths. Associations of modifiable risk factors with total cases and excess deaths were determined with and without adjustment for confounders. 4,670,832 cases and 311,384 deaths were reported by 181 countries by 18th May 2020. Wealthier countries had the greatest caseload. Obesity was the primary modifiable risk factor for infection and greater age, male sex, physical inactivity and low salt consumption were associated with excess deaths. Obesity was less influential on mortality than physical inactivity. Globally, obesity confers vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection and physical inactivity likely explains the greater mortality in the obese. High salt consumption may induce reductions in tissue ACE2 expression and subsequently reduce mortality rates.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Fear of COVID-19 during the Rapid Rise Period in Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Anwar , Hossain K M Amran , Walton Lori Maria , Uddin Zakir , Haque Md. Obaidul , Kabir Md. Feroz , Arafat S. M. Yasir , Sakel Mohamed , Faruqui Rafey , Jahid Ikbal Kabir , Hossain Zahid 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo determine the level of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) related to COVID-19 preventive health habits and perception of Fear towards COVID-19 in subjects living in Bangladesh.DesignProspective, cross-sectional survey of (n= 2157) male and female subjects, 13-90 years of age, living in Bangladesh.MethodsEthical Approval and Trial registration were obtained prior to the commencement of the study. Subjects who volunteered to participate and signed the informed consent were enrolled in the study and completed the “Fear of COVID-19 Scale” (FCS).ResultsTwenty-eight percent (28.69%) of subjects reported one or more COVID-19 symptoms and 21.4% of subjects reported one or more comorbidities. Knowledge scores were slightly higher in males (8.75± 1.58) than females (8.66± 1.70). Knowledge was significantly correlated with age (p<.005), an education level (p<.001), Attitude (p<.001), and urban location (p=<.001). Knowledge scores showed an inverse correlation with Fear scores (p=<.001). Eighty-three percent (83.7%) of subjects with COVID-19 symptoms reported wearing a mask in public and 75.4% of subjects reported staying away from crowded places. Subjects with one or more symptoms reported higher Fear compared to subjects without (18.73± 4.6; 18.45± 5.1).ConclusionsOverall, Bangladeshis reported a high prevalence of self-isolation, positive preventive health behaviors related to COVID-19, and moderate to high fear levels. Higher Knowledge and Practice were found in males, higher education levels, older age, and urban location. “Fear” of COVID-19 was more prevalent in female and elderly subjects. Positive “Attitude” was reported for the majority of subjects, reflecting the belief that COVID-19 was controllable and containable.Ethical approvalEthical permission obtained from the Institutional review board (BPA-IPRR/IRB/29/03/2020/021) of Institute of Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation, and Research (IPRR), the academic organization of the Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association.WHO Trial registryThe trial registration obtained prospectively from a primary trial registry of WHO (CTRI/2020/04/024413).Data AvailabilityThe data are available regarding this study and can be viewed upon request
Research on the influence of background light on the accuracy of a three-dimensional coordinate measurement system based on dual-PSD
Authors: Lu Xiaohong , Zhou Yu , Qiao Jinhui , Luan Yihan , Wang Yongquan 
Published: June 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the measurement error of a three-dimensional coordinate measurement system based on dual-position-sensitive detector (PSD) under different background light.

Design/methodology/approach
The mind evolutionary algorithm (MEA)-back propagation (BP) neural network is used to predict the three-dimensional coordinates of the points, and the influence of the background light on the measurement accuracy of the three-dimensional coordinates based on PSD is obtained.

Findings
The influence of the background light on the measurement accuracy of the system is quantitatively calculated. The background light has a significant influence on the prediction accuracy of the three-dimensional coordinate measurement system. The optical method, electrical method and photoelectric compensation method are proposed to improve the measurement accuracy.

Originality/value
BP neural network based on MEA is applied to the coordinate prediction of the three-dimensional coordinate measurement system based on dual-PSD, and the influence of background light on the measurement accuracy is quantitatively analyzed.