bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stress diminishes outcome but enhances response representations during instrumental learning
Authors: Meier Jacqueline Katharina , Staresina Bernhard P. , Schwabe Lars 
Published: February 2021

AbstractStress may shift behavioural control from a goal-directed system that encodes action-outcome relationships to a habit system that learns stimulus-response associations. Although this shift to habits is highly relevant for stress-related psychopathologies, limitations of existing behavioural paradigms hindered previous research to answer the fundamental question of whether the stress-induced bias to habits is due to impaired goal-directed or enhanced habitual processing (or both). Here, we leveraged EEG-based multivariate pattern analysis to decode neural outcome representations, crucial for goal-directed control, and response representations, essential for habitual responding, during instrumental learning. We show that stress reduces outcome representations but enhances response representations, both of which were directly associated with a behavioural index of habitual responding. Further, changes in outcome and response representations were uncorrelated, suggesting that these may reflect distinct processes. Our findings indicate that habit behaviour under stress is the result of both enhanced habitual and diminished goal-directed processing.
Impact of an oral amino acid provision on Achilles peritendinous amino acid concentrations in young and older adults
Authors: Carroll Chad C. , Couture Samantha , Farino Dominick O. , Patel Shivam H. , Campbell Nathan W.C. , Stout Julianne , Sabbaghi Arman 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTRecent studies have indicated that consumption of amino acid-rich compounds can increase tendon collagen content and enhance biomechanical function. Still, it is not clear as to what extent oral consumption of amino acids alters peritendinous amino acid concentrations. Whether aging alters the delivery of amino acids to tendon tissue after oral consumption is also not known. Using microdialysis, we determined the impact of a single oral essential amino acid bolus on Achilles peritendinous amino acid concentrations in younger (n=7; 27±1 yr.) and older adults (n=6; 68±2 yrs.) over four hours. The peritendinous concentration of all amino acids in the beverage except methionine (p=0.136) and glycine (p=0.087) increased with time (p<0.05). Additionally, the concentrations of glycine and arginine were greater in older adults (p≤0.05). We also accessed the impact of amino acid consumption on peritendinous concentrations of pro-collagen Iα1, a marker of collagen synthesis. Pro-collagen Iα1 tended to change with time (p=0.071) but was not altered age (p=0.226). We demonstrate that an oral amino acid bolus leads to modest increases in Achilles peritendinous amino acid concentrations in young and older adults. The concentration of some amino acids was also greater in older adults. However, the amino acid bolus did not significantly impact peritendinous pro-collagen concentrations.
Streamlining differential exon and 3’ UTR usage with diffUTR
Authors: Gerber Stefan , Schratt Gerhard , Germain Pierre-Luc 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundDespite the importance of alternative poly-adenylation and 3’ UTR length for a variety of biological phenomena, there are limited means of detecting UTR changes from standard transcriptomic data.ResultsWe present thediffUTRBioconductor package which streamlines and improves upon differential exon usage (DEU) analyses, and leverages existing DEU tools and alternative polyadenylation site databases to enable differential 3’ UTR usage analysis. We demonstrate thediffUTRfeatures and show that it is more flexible and more accurate than state-of-the-art alternatives, both in simulations and in real data.ConclusionsdiffUTRenables differential 3’ UTR analysis and more generally facilitates DEU and the exploration of their results.
Cholinergic signalling at the body wall neuromuscular junction couples to distal inhibition of feeding inC. elegans
Authors: Izquierdo Patricia G. , Thisainathan Thibana , Atkins James H. , Lewis Christian J. , Tattersall John E.H. , Green A. Christopher , Holden-Dye Lindy , O’Connor Vincent 
Published: February 2021

AbstractComplex biological functions within organisms are frequently orchestrated by systemic communication between tissues. In the model organismC. elegans, the pharyngeal and body wall neuromuscular junctions are two discrete structures that control feeding and locomotion, respectively. These distinct tissues are controlled by separate, well-defined neural circuits. Nonetheless, the emergent behaviours, feeding and locomotion, are coordinated to guarantee the efficiency of food intake. We show that pharmacological hyperactivation of cholinergic transmission at the body wall muscle reduces the rate of pumping behaviour. This was evidenced by a systematic screening of the cholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb’s effect on the rate of pharyngeal pumping on food in mutant worms. The screening revealed that the key determinant of the inhibitory effect of aldicarb on pharyngeal pumping is the L-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expressed in body wall muscle. This idea was reinforced by the observation that selective hyperstimulation of the body wall muscle L-type receptor by the agonist levamisole inhibited pumping. Overall, our results reveal that body wall cholinergic transmission controls locomotion and simultaneously couples a distal inhibition of feeding.
An exon junction complex-independent function of Barentsz in neuromuscular synapse growth
Authors: Ho Cheuk Hei , Roignant Jean-Yves , Tang Zuojian , Brown Stuart , Treisman Jessica E. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe exon junction complex controls the translation, degradation and localization of spliced mRNAs, and three of its four core subunits also play a role in splicing. Here we show that the fourth subunit, Barentsz, has distinct biological functions within and separate from the exon junction complex in neuromuscular development. Barentsz controls the distribution of mitochondria in larval muscles, a function that also depends on other subunits of the exon junction complex and that is not rescued by a transgene in which residues required for binding to the core subunit eIF4AIII are mutated. In contrast, interactions with the exon junction complex are not required for Barentsz to promote the growth of neuromuscular synapses. We found that the Activin ligand Dawdle shows reduced expression inbarentszmutants and acts downstream of Barentsz to control synapse growth. Bothbarentszanddawdleare required in motor neurons, muscles and glia for normal synapse growth, and exogenous Dawdle can rescue synapse growth in the absence ofbarentsz. These results identify a biological function for Barentsz that is independent of the exon junction complex.
Protocell Arrays for Simultaneous Detection of Diverse Analytes
Authors: Zhang Yan , Kojima Taisuke , Kim Ge-Ah , McNerney Monica P. , Takayama Shuichi , Styczynski Mark P. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSimultaneous detection of multiple analytes from a single sample (multiplexing), particularly when at the point of need, can guide complex decision-making without increasing the required sample volume or cost per test. Despite recent advances, multiplexing still typically faces the critical limitation of measuring only one type of molecule per assay platform – for example, only small molecules or only nucleic acids. In this work, we address this bottleneck with a customizable platform that integrates cell-free expression (CFE) with a polymer-based aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) to produce membrane-less “protocells” containing transcription and translation machinery used for analyte detection. Multiple protocells are arrayed in microwells where each protocell droplet performs distinct reactions to detect chemically diverse targets including small molecules, minerals, and nucleic acid sequences, all from the same sample. We demonstrate that these protocell arrays can measure analytes in a human biofluid matrix, maintain function after lyophilization and rehydration, and produce visually interpretable readouts, illustrating its potential for application as a minimal-equipment, field-deployable, multi-analyte detection tool.
Overexpression of ELOVL6 has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Ruoya 
Published: February 2021

AbstractHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a high mortality disease. Extension of long-chain fatty acid family member 6 (ELOVL6) is a key enzyme involved in fat formation that catalyzes the elongation of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Overexpression of ELOVL6 has been associated with obesity-related malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma, breast, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. The following study investigated the role of ELOVL6 in HNSCC patients. Gene expression and clinicopathological analysis, enrichment analysis, and immune infiltration analysis were based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), with additional bioinformatics analyses. The statistical analysis was conducted in R, and TIMER was used to analyze the immune response of ELOVL6 expression in HNSCC. The expression of ELOVL6 was related to tumor grade. Survival analysis showed that patients with high expression of ELOVL6 had a poor prognosis. Moreover, the results of GSEA enrichment analysis showed that ELOVL6 affects the occurrence of HNSCC through fatty acid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and other pathways. Finally, ELOVL6 verified by the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database were consistent with the mRNA levels in HNSCC samples. ELOVL6 is a new biomarker for HNSCC that may be used as a potential predictor of the prognosis of human HNSCC.
Developmental change in prefrontal cortex recruitment supports the emergence of value-guided memory
Authors: Nussenbaum Kate , Hartley Catherine A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPrioritizing memory for valuable information can promote adaptive behavior across the lifespan, but it is unclear how the neurocognitive mechanisms that enable the selective acquisition of useful knowledge develop. Here, using a novel task coupled with functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined how children, adolescents, and adults (N = 90) learn from experience what information is likely to be rewarding, and modulate encoding and retrieval processes accordingly. We found that the ability to use learned value signals to selectively enhance memory for useful information strengthened throughout childhood and into adolescence. Encoding and retrieval of high- vs. low-value information was associated with increased activation in striatal and prefrontal regions implicated in value processing and cognitive control. Age-related increases in value-based lateral prefrontal cortex modulation mediated the relation between age and memory selectivity. Our findings demonstrate that developmental increases in the strategic engagement of the prefrontal cortex support the emergence of adaptive memory.
p53 pro-apoptotic activity is regulated by the G2/M promoting factor Cdk1 in response to DNA damage
Authors: Ruiz-Losada Mireya , González Raul , Peropadre Ana , Baonza Antonio , Estella Carlos 
Published: February 2021

SummaryExposure to genotoxic stress promotes cell-cycle arrest and DNA repair or apoptosis. These “life” or “death” cell fate decisions often rely on the activity of the tumor suppressor genep53. Therefore, howp53activity is precisely regulated is essential to maintain tissue homeostasis and to prevent cancer development. Here we demonstrate thatDrosophila p53pro-apoptotic activity is regulated by the G2/M kinase Cdk1. We find that cell cycle arrested or endocycle-induced cells are refractory to ionizing radiation induced apoptosis. We show that the p53 protein is not able to bind to and to activate the expression of the pro-apoptotic genes in experimentally arrested cells. Our results indicate that p53 genetically and physically interacts with Cdk1 and that p53 pro-apoptotic role is regulated by the cell cycle status of the cell. We propose a model in which cell cycle progression and p53 pro-apoptotic activity are molecularly connected to coordinate the appropriate response after DNA damage.
Attention to speech: Mapping distributed and selective attention systems
Authors: Agmon Galit , Yahav Paz Har-Shai , Ben-Shachar Michal , Golumbic Elana Zion 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDaily life is full of situations where many people converse at the same time. Under these noisy circumstances, individuals can employ different listening strategies to deal with the abundance of sounds around them. In this fMRI study we investigated how applying two different listening strategies – Selective vs. Distributed attention – affects the pattern of neural activity. Specifically, in a simulated ‘cocktail party’ paradigm, we compared brain activation patterns when listenersattend selectivelyto only one speaker and ignore all others, versus when theydistribute their attentionand attempt to follow two or four speakers at the same time. Results indicate that the two attention types activate a highly overlapping, bilateral fronto-temporal-parietal network of functionally connected regions. This network includes auditory association cortex (bilateral STG/STS) and higher-level regions related to speech processing and attention (bilateral IFG/insula, right MFG, left IPS). Within this network, responses in specific areas were modulated by the type of attention required. Specifically, auditory and speech-processing regions exhibited higher activity during Distributed attention, whereas fronto-parietal regions were activated more strongly during Selective attention. This pattern suggests that a common perceptual-attentional network is engaged when dealing with competing speech-inputs, regardless of the specific task at hand. At the same time, local activity within nodes of this network varies when implementing different listening strategies, reflecting the different cognitive demands they impose. These results nicely demonstrate the system’s flexibility to adapt its internal computations to accommodate different task requirements and listener goals.Significance StatementHearing many people talk simultaneously poses substantial challenges for the human perceptual and cognitive systems. We compared neural activity when listeners applied two different listening strategy to deal with these competing inputs:attending selectivelyto one speaker vs.distributing attentionamong all speakers. A network of functionally connected brain regions, involved in auditory processing, language processing and attentional control was activated when applying both attention types. However, activity within this network was modulated by the type of attention required and the number of competing speakers. These results suggest a common ‘attention to speech’ network, providing the computational infrastructure to deal effectively with multi-speaker input, but with sufficient flexibility to implement different prioritization strategies and to adapt to different listener goals.
Synthesis, Physiochemical and Biological evaluation of Inclusion Complex of Benzyl Isothiocyanate encapsulated in cyclodextrins for triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Uppal Shivani , Kumar Rajendra , Kaur Khushwinder , Sareen Shweta , Bhatia Alka , Mehta S.K. 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTBenzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), an organic dietary compound, is allied with a major role in the potential chemopreventive effects. BITC has acknowledged rising attention as a therapeutic compound to be used in medicine because of its high potency and characteristic biopharmaceutical properties, like high permeability with marginal aqueous solubility. The highly volatile and hydrophobic nature brought a need to provide a suitable delivery-matrix to BITC to exploit its pharmacological potential to the fullest. It has been successfully incorporated in β-CD and HP-β-CD using acoustic forces and thoroughly characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, DSC, TEM, and SAXS. The complexation helped in masking the acute odour, achieving a controlled release of BITC, and made its use viable by prolonging the retention time and thereby sustaining the biological effects. Different models like Higuchi, first-order kinetic decay, Korsmeyer-Peppas model were applied, suggesting a diffusion-controlled mechanism of release. Also, the bioaccessibility and stability of BITC in anin vitrodigestion model was evaluated. The main objective of the present work was to systemically study the credibility of BITC-CD complexes in well-established tumor mimicking 2D cell culture models and produce a conclusive report on its chemotherapeutic activity. Thein vitroanti-cancer activity of BITC and the formed sonochemical complexes was confirmed by MTT assay and further evaluated using apoptosis assay and production of ROS like moieties. Cell cycle analysis was done to evaluate the growth inhibitory mechanism of BITC. Strikingly, BITC and its complexes showcased ROS generation and lysosome-mediated cell death. Effect on cell migration was assessed using wound healing assay. The results promptly suggest the functional efficacy of the CDs in releasing BITC and attest the ability of the complexes to provide alternate to otherwise remedially sparse triple-negative breast cancer.
A direct computation of a certain family of integrals
Authors: Fornari Lorenzo , Laeng Enrico , Pata Vittorino 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe authors propose a rather elementary method to compute a family of integrals on the half line, involving positive powers of sin x and negative powers of x, depending on the integer parameters n≥q≥1.Design/methodology/approachCombinatorics, sine and cosine integral functions.FindingsThe authors prove an explicit formula to evaluate sinc-type integrals.Originality/valueThe proof is not present in the current literature, and it could be of interest for a large audience.
Circular economy business model for smart tourism: the case of Ecobnb
Authors: del Vecchio Pasquale , Malandugno Caterina , Passiante Giuseppina , Sakka Georgia 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe paper aims to shed new light on the process of value creation and business model innovation resulting from circular economy in the context of smart tourism.Design/methodology/approachThe study embraces a qualitative and exploratory approach related to a single case study. Data have been collected through the integration of web-based desk analysis, interviews and social big data analytics.FindingsFindings are related to Ecobnb, a network-based tourism company, coherent with the principles of value creation and business model innovation in the context of circular economy and smart tourism.Research limitations/implicationsThe study allows understanding of how smart tourism and circular economy can represent two important lenses for managing complexity and driving tourism companies and destinations toward sustainable and smart value creation processes.Practical implicationsPractical implications arise for managers and destination makers in terms of innovation of the tourism management and transition of the business models toward a circular configuration.Social implicationsThe study offers social implications by contributing to the dissemination of a culture of sustainability in tourism management and active involvement of local stakeholders in the growth of a tourism destination.Originality/valueThe study provides an original contribution to the debate on tourism by highlighting the obsolescence of traditional models of management in tourism companies and destinations, seen during the recent pandemic emergence, could be solved through the virtuous integration of digital technologies and sustainable approaches.
Economic regulation, opportunity-driven entrepreneurship and gender gap: emerging versus high-income economies
Authors: Bárcena-Martín Elena , Medina-Claros Samuel , Pérez-Moreno Salvador 
Published: February 2021

PurposeInstitutional environment plays a crucial role in determining the nature of entrepreneurship that prevails in an economy. In this paper, the authors address how business, labour and credit regulations contribute differently to both the overall prevalence of opportunity-driven entrepreneurship (ODE) and its gender gap in high-income and emerging economies.Design/methodology/approachOn the basis of an unbalanced panel of 41 countries over the period 2005–2016, the authors estimate system generalised method of moment models. The authors also perform an ordinary least square analysis to address gender differences in ODE.FindingsThe authors find that higher credit market liberalisation is especially associated with more entrepreneurship by opportunity. Nevertheless, while credit market regulation stands out as a key element to promote opportunity-based entrepreneurship in both high-income and emerging countries, in the emerging world business regulation is also largely related to the prevalence of opportunity entrepreneurship. In terms of gender gap, business and labour market freedom seem to exert an equalising effect on the divide in entrepreneurship by opportunity, specifically in emerging economies.Originality/valueFindings allow the identification of regulatory policy reform priorities to enhance the prevalence of ODE depending on the level of a country's development. They also identify which specific areas of economic regulation would speed up closing the gender gap in opportunity entrepreneurship.
The COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the personalization of the government in Italy
Authors: Rullo Luigi 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe article investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and deepened the presidentialization of politics in Italy. It examines how a series of innovative rules and procedures adopted by the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to face the extraordinary event are part of a permanent presidentialization dynamic.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzes the role of prime minister in coping with the pandemic in Italy within the analytical framework of the personalization of politics. Section 1 investigates how the prime minister has resorted to autonomous normative power through intensive use of the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers (DPCM). Section 2 observes the establishment of a more direct relationship with citizens through extensive use of digital communication and high engagement. Section 3 analyzes the “personal task force” appointed by the prime minister and highlights a new balance between technocratic/private roles and politics undermining democratic accountability.FindingsBy examining three main aspects of the personalization of politics, the article observes that the COVID-19 pandemic has facilitated the movement to presidentialization of power in Italy. It argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened political and institutional trends already in place before the crisis.Originality/valueThe article expands the comparative research on the presidentialization of politics. The Italian case clearly underlines how the pandemic crisis represented a further step of progressive dominance of the “executive” over the other branches of government. The article suggests an agenda for future cross-institutional and cross-national analysis.