bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Central amygdala mineralocorticoid receptors modulate alcohol self-administration
Authors: Makhijani Viren H. , Irukulapati Preethi , Van Voorhies Kalynn , Fortino Brayden , Besheer Joyce 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTThe mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is an emerging target in the field of alcohol research. The MR is a steroid receptor in the same family as the glucocorticoid receptor, with which it shares the ligand corticosterone in addition to the MR selective ligand aldosterone. Recent studies have shown correlations between central amygdala (CeA) MR expression and alcohol drinking in rats and macaques, as well as correlations between aldosterone and alcohol craving in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Additionally, our previous work demonstrated that systemic treatment with the MR antagonist spironolactone reduced alcohol self-administration and response persistence in both male and female rats. This study examined if reductions in self-administration following MR antagonist treatment were related to dysregulation of MR-mediated corticosterone negative feedback. Female rats treated with spironolactone (50 mg/kg; IP) showed increased plasma corticosterone following self-administration which correlated with reduced alcohol self-administration. Next, local microinjection of the MR-selective antagonist eplerenone was used to identify the brain-regional locus of MR action on alcohol self-administration. Eplerenone infusion produced dose-dependent reductions in alcohol self-administration in the CeA, but had no effect in the dorsal hippocampus. Finally, to assay the functional role of CeA MR expression in alcohol self-administration, CeA MR was knocked down by antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) infusion prior to alcohol self-administration. Rats showed a transient reduction in alcohol self-administration 1 day after ASO infusion. Together these studies demonstrate a functional role of CeA MR in modulating alcohol self-administration and make a case for studying MR antagonists as a novel treatment for AUD.
Genome analysis of the fatal tapewormSparganum proliferumunravels the cryptic lifecycle and mechanisms underlying the aberrant larval proliferation
Authors: Kikuchi Taisei , Dayi Mehmet , Hunt Vicky L. , Toyoda Atsushi , Maeda Yasunobu , Kondo Yoko , de Noya Belkisyole Alarcon , Noya Oscar , Kojima Somei , Kuramochi Toshiaki , Maruyama Haruhiko 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe cryptic parasiteSparganum proliferumproliferates in humans and invades tissues and organs. Only scattered cases have been reported, butS. proliferuminfection is always fatal. However, theS. proliferumphylogeny and lifecycle are still an enigma.ResultsTo investigate the phylogenetic relationships betweenS. proliferumand other cestode species, and to examine the underlying mechanisms of pathogenicity, we sequenced the entireS. proliferumgenome. Additionally,S. proliferumplerocercoid larvae transcriptome analyses were performed to identify genes involved in asexual reproduction in the host. The genome sequences confirmed that theS. proliferumgenetic sequence is distinct from that of the closely relatedSpirometra erinaceieuropaei. Moreover, nonordinal extracellular matrix coordination allows for asexual reproduction in the host and loss of sexual maturity inS. proliferumis related to its fatal pathogenicity in humans.ConclusionsThe high-quality reference genome sequences generated should prove valuable for future studies of pseudophyllidean tapeworm biology and parasitism.
Dopamine responses reveal efficient coding of cognitive variables
Authors: Motiwala Asma , Soares Sofia , Atallah Bassam V. , Paton Joseph J. , Machens Christian K. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractReward expectations based on internal knowledge of the external environment are a core component of adaptive behavior. However, internal knowledge may be inaccurate or incomplete due to errors in sensory measurements. Some features of the environment may also be encoded inaccurately to minimise representational costs associated with their processing. We investigate how reward expectations are affected by differences in internal representations by studying rodents’ behaviour and dopaminergic activity while they make time based decisions. Several possible representations allow a reinforcement learning agent to model animals’ choices during the task. However, only a small subset of highly compressed representations simultaneously reproduce, both, animals’ behaviour and dopaminergic activity. Strikingly, these representations predict an unusual distribution of response times that closely matches animals’ behaviour. These results can inform how constraints of representational efficiency may be expressed in encoding representations of dynamic cognitive variables used for reward based computations.
Focal cortical surface cooling is a novel and safe method for intraoperative functional brain mapping
Authors: Ibayashi Kenji , Cardenas Araceli R. , Oya Hiroyuki , Kawasaki Hiroto , Kovach Christopher K. , Howard Matthew A. , Long Michael A. , Greenlee Jeremy D.W. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTObjectiveElectrical cortical stimulation (ECS) has been the gold standard for intraoperative functional mapping in neurosurgery, yet it carries the risk of induced seizures. Here we assess the safety of focal cortical cooling (CC) as a potential alternative to ECS for functional brain mapping.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 40 consecutive subjects (n=13 tumor, 27 mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) resection) who underwent intraoperative CC during craniotomy at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics from 2007 through 2019 (CC group). Thirty-eight of the 40 subjects had ECS performed along with CC during the same procedure. To assess the safety of CC, intra- and post-operative seizure incidence and post-operative neurological deficits were collected together with new post-operative radiographic findings not related to the surgical procedure itself (i.e. non-mapping portions). As a control cohort, we collected 55 consecutive subjects (n=21 MTLE, 34 tumor/vascular pathology) who underwent awake ECS mapping without CC between 2006 and 2019 (ECS-alone group). To evaluate potential long term effects of mapping techniques (CC and/or ECS), we separately collected another 25 consecutive subjects who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy(ATL) without CC nor ECS between 2007 and 2019 (No ECS/No CC-ATL group).ResultsA total of 79 brain sites were cooled in the 40 CC subjects, including inferior frontal gyrus (44%), precentral gyrus (39%), postcentral gyrus (6%), subcentral gyrus (4%) and superior temporal gyrus (6%). No intraoperative seizures were reported in the CC group, whereas 3.6% of ECS-alone group had intraoperative seizures. The incidence of seizure(s) within the first post-operative week did not significantly differ amongst CC (7.9%), ECS-alone (9.0%) and No ECS/No CC-ATL groups (12%). There was no significante difference in the incidence of postoperative radiographic change between CC (7.5%) and ECS-alone groups (5.5 %). The long term seizure outcome for MTLE subjects did not statistically differ regarding ‘good’ outcomes (Engel I+II): CC group (80%), ECS-alone (83.3%) and No ECS/No CC-ATL group (83.3%).ConclusionsCortical cooling when used as an intraoperative mapping technique is safe, and may complement traditional electrical cortical stimulation.
The hippocampus as the switchboard between perception and memory
Authors: Treder Matthias S. , Charest Ian , Michelmann Sebastian , Martín-Buro María Carmen , Roux Frédéric , Carceller-Benito Fernando , Ugalde-Canitrot Arturo , Rollings David T. , Sawlani Vijay , Chelvarajah Ramesh , Wimber Maria , Hanslmayr Simon , Staresina Bernhard P. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAdaptive memory recall requires a rapid and flexible switch from external perceptual reminders to internal mnemonic representations. However, owing to the limited temporal or spatial resolution of brain imaging modalities used in isolation, the hippocampal-cortical dynamics supporting this process remain unknown. We thus employed an object-scene cued recall paradigm across two studies, including intracranial Electroencephalography (iEEG) and high-density scalp EEG. First, a sustained increase in hippocampal high gamma power (60-110 Hz) emerged 500 ms after cue onset and distinguished successful vs. unsuccessful recall. This increase in gamma power for successful recall was followed by a decrease in hippocampal alpha power (8-12 Hz). Intriguingly, the hippocampal gamma power increase marked the moment at which extrahippocampal activation patterns shifted from perceptual cue towards mnemonic target representations. In parallel, source-localised EEG alpha power revealed that the recall signal progresses from hippocampus to posterior parietal cortex and then to medial prefrontal cortex. Together, these results identify the hippocampus as the switchboard between perception and memory and elucidate the ensuing hippocampal-cortical dynamics supporting the recall process.SignificanceHow do we adaptively switch from perceiving the external world to retrieving goal-relevant internal memories? To tackle this question, we used – in a cued-recall paradigm - direct intracranial recordings from the human hippocampus complemented by high-density scalp Electroencephalography (EEG). We found that a hippocampal signal ~500 ms after a perceptual cue marks the conversion from external (perceptual) to internal (mnemonic) representations. This sets in motion a recall cascade involving posterior parietal and medial prefrontal cortex, revealed via source-localised and time-resolved EEG alpha power. Together, these results unveil the hippocampal-cortical dynamics supporting rapid and flexible memory recall.
Diffusion tensor imaging and arterial tissue: establishing the influence of arterial tissue microstructure on fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity and tractography
Authors: Tornifoglio B. , Stone A. J. , Johnston R. D. , Shahid S. S. , Kerskens C. , Lally C. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this study we investigated the potential of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for providing insight into microstructural changes in arterial tissue by exploring the influence that cell, collagen and elastin content have on fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and tractography. Five ex vivo porcine carotid artery models (n = 6 vessels each) – native, fixed native, collagen degraded, elastin degraded and decellularised – were developed to selectively remove components of arterial microstructure. Intact vessels were imaged at 7 T using a DTI protocol with b = 0 and 800 s/mm2and 10 isotopically distributed directions. FA and MD values were evaluated in the medial layer of vessels and compared across tissue models. FA values measured in native and fixed native vessels were significantly higher (p<0.0001) than those in the elastin degraded and decellularised arteries. Collagen degraded vessels had a significantly higher (p<0.01) FA than elastin degraded and decellularised vessels. Native and fixed vessels had significantly lower (p<0.0001) MD values than elastin degraded, while the MD in decellularised arteries was significantly higher than that in both native (p<0.01) and fixed (p<0.005) tissue. Significantly lower (p<0.005) MD was measured in collagen degraded compared with the elastin degraded model. Tractography results yielded similar helically arranged tracts for native and collagen degraded vessels, whilst elastin degraded and decellularised vessels showed no consistent tracts. FA, MD and tractography were found to be highly sensitive to changes in the microstructural composition of arterial tissue, with cell content being a dominant source of the measured anisotropy in the vessel wall.
Massively multiplex single-molecule oligonucleosome footprinting
Authors: Abdulhay Nour J , McNally Colin P , Hsieh Laura J , Kasinathan Sivakanthan , Keith Aidan , Estes Laurel S , Karimzadeh Mehran , Underwood Jason G , Goodarzi Hani , Narlikar Geeta J , Ramani Vijay 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTOur understanding of the beads-on-a-string arrangement of nucleosomes has been built largely on high-resolution sequence-agnostic imaging methods and sequence-resolved bulk biochemical techniques. To bridge the divide between these approaches, we present the single-molecule adenine methylated oligonucleosome sequencing assay (SAMOSA). SAMOSA is a high-throughput single-molecule sequencing method that combines adenine methyltransferase footprinting and single-molecule real-time DNA sequencing to natively and nondestructively measure nucleosome positions on individual chromatin fibres. SAMOSA data allows unbiased classification of single-molecular ‘states’ of nucleosome occupancy on individual chromatin fibres. We leverage this to estimate nucleosome regularity and spacing on single chromatin fibres genome-wide, at predicted transcription factor binding motifs, and across both active and silent human epigenomic domains. Our analyses suggest that chromatin is comprised of a diverse array of both regular and irregular single-molecular oligonucleosome patterns that differ subtly in their relative abundance across epigenomic domains. This irregularity is particularly striking in constitutive heterochromatin, which has typically been viewed as a conformationally static entity. Our proof-of-concept study provides a powerful new methodology for studying nucleosome organization at a previously intractable resolution, and offers up new avenues for modeling and visualizing higher-order chromatin structure.1-sentence summaryHigh-throughput single-molecule real-time footprinting of chromatin arrays reveals heterogeneous patterns of oligonucleosome occupancy.
Real-time detection of bursts in neuronal cultures using a Neuromorphic Auditory Sensor and Spiking Neural Networks
Authors: Dominguez-Morales Juan P. , Buccelli Stefano , Gutierrez-Galan Daniel , Colombi Ilaria , Jimenez-Fernandez Angel , Chiappalone Michela 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe correct identification of burst events is crucial in many scenarios, ranging from basic neuroscience to biomedical applications. However, none of the burst detection methods that can be found in the literature have been widely adopted for this task. As an alternative to conventional techniques, a novel neuromorphic approach for real-time burst detection is proposed and tested on acquisitions from in vitro cultures. The system consists of a Neuromorphic Auditory Sensor, which converts the input signal obtained from electrophysiological recordings into spikes and decomposes them into different frequency bands. The output of the sensor is sent to a trained spiking neural network implemented on a SpiNNaker board that discerns between bursting and non-bursting activity. This data-driven approach was compared with 8 different conventional spike-based methods, addressing some of their drawbacks, such as being able to detect both high and low frequency events and working in an online manner. Similar results in terms of number of detected events, mean burst duration and correlation as current state-of-the-art approaches were obtained with the proposed system, also benefiting from its lower power consumption and computational latency. Therefore, our neuromorphic-based burst detection paves the road to future implementations for neuroprosthetic applications.
Substitutional landscape of a split fluorescent protein fragment using high-density peptide microarrays
Authors: Antonescu Oana N. , Rasmussen Andreas , Damm Nicole A.M. , Heidemann Ditte F. , Popov Roman , Nesterov-Mueller Alexander , Johansson Kristoffer E. , Winther Jakob R. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTSplit fluorescent proteins have wide applicability as biosensors for protein-protein interactions, genetically encoded tags for protein detection and localization, as well as fusion partners in super-resolution microscopy. We have established and validated a novel platform for functional analysis of leave-one-out split fluorescent proteins (LOO-FPs) in high throughput and with rapid turnover. We have screened more than 12,000 strand 10 variants using high-density peptide microarrays for binding and functional complementation in Green Fluorescent Protein. We studied the effect of peptide length and the effect of different linkers to the solid support and mapped the effect of all possible amino acid substitutions on each position as well as in the context of some single and double amino acid substitutions. As all peptides were tested in 12 duplicates, the analysis rests on a firm statistical basis allowing determination of robustness and precision of the method. We showed that the microarray fluorescence correlated with the affinity in solution between the LOO-FP and peptides. A double substitution yielded a peptide with 9-fold higher affinity than the starting peptide.
Influence of fatigue on reaction times and corticospinal excitability during movement preparation
Authors: De Doncker William , Brown Katlyn E , Kuppuswamy Annapoorna 
Published: May 2020

AbstractSlower self-selected ballistic movement speeds and reduced corticospinal excitability at rest are associated with post-stroke fatigue (PSF). It is unclear if fatigue-related differences in corticospinal excitability, measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation, prior to a movement will explain slower movement speeds. We hypothesized that the levels of PSF explains the modulation of corticospinal excitability during movement preparation and altered behaviour. In this study, 73 non-depressed, high functioning, chronic, first-time stroke survivors performed a simple warned and unwarned auditory reaction time task. We show a reduced suppression of corticospinal excitability during movement preparation, an increased facilitation immediately prior to movement onset and slower reaction times in those with greater levels of PSF. Reduced suppression and increased facilitation of corticospinal excitability prior to movement onset in high fatigue is an indicator of poor modulation of pre-movement excitability which may in turn reflect poor sensory processing, supporting the sensory attenuation model of fatigue.
Harnessing Tactile Waves to Measure Skin-to-Skin Interactions
Authors: Kirsch Louise P. , Job Xavier E. , Auvray Malika , Hayward Vincent 
Published: May 2020

AbstractSkin-to-skin touch is an essential form of tactile interaction, yet, there is no known method to quantify how we touch our own skin or someone else’s skin. Skin-to-skin touch is particularly challenging to measure objectively since interposing an instrumented sheet, no matter how thin and flexible, between the interacting skins is not an option. To fill this gap, we explored a technique that takes advantage of the propagation of vibrations from the locus of touch to pick up a signal remotely that contains information about skin-to-skin tactile interactions. These “tactile waves” were measured by an accelerometer sensor placed on the touching finger. Tactile tonicity and speed had a direct influence on measured signal power when the target of touch was the self or another person. The measurements were insensitive to changes in the location of the sensor relative to the target. Our study suggests that this method has potential for probing behaviour during skin-to-skin tactile interactions and could be a valuable technique to study social touch, self-touch, and motor-control. The method is non-invasive, easy to commission, inexpensive, and robust.
Development and optimization of a high-throughput 3D rat Purkinje neuron culture
Authors: Uggerud Ida M. , Krakenes Torbjorn , Hirai Hirokazu , Vedeler Christian A. , Schubert Manja 
Published: May 2020

AbstractImproved understanding of the mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative disease has been hampered by the lack of robust cellular models that faithfully replicatein vivofeatures. Here, we present a refined protocol for generating age-dependent, well-developed and synaptically active rat Purkinje neurons, responsive to paracrine factors and supporting a 3D cell network. Our model provides high experimental flexibility, high-throughput screening capabilities and reliability to elucidate Purkinje neuron function, communication and neurodegenerative mechanisms.
Electro-acupuncture Alleviates METH Withdrawal-induced Spatial Memory Deficits by Restoring Astrocyte-drived Glutamate Uptake in dCA1
Authors: Shi Pengbo , Li Zhaosu , Xu Xing , Nie Jiaxun , Liu Dekang , Cai Qinglong , Zhao Yonghua , Guan Yun , Ge Feifei , Guan Xiaowei 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTMethamphetamine (METH) is frequently abused drug and produces cognitive deficits. METH could induce hyper-glutamatergic state in the brain, which could partially explain METH-related cognitive deficits, but the synaptic etiology remains incompletely understood. To address this issue, we explored the role of dCA1 tripartite synapses and the potential therapeutic effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) in the development of METH withdrawal-induced spatial memory deficits in mice. We found that METH withdrawal weakened astrocytic capacity of glutamate (Glu) uptake, but failed to change Glu release from dCA3, which lead to hyper-glutamatergic excitotoxicity at dCA1 tripartite synapses. By restoring the astrocytic capacity of Glu uptake, EA treatments suppressed the hyper-glutamatergic state and normalized the excitability of postsynaptic neuron in dCA1, finally alleviated spatial memory deficits in METH withdrawal mice. These findings indicate that astrocyte at tripartite synapses might be a key target for developing therapeutic interventions against METH-associated cognitive disorders, and EA represent a promising non-invasive therapeutic strategy for the management of drugs-caused neurotoxicity.