bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Imaging low-mass planets within the habitable zone of α Centauri
Authors: Wagner K. , Boehle A. , Pathak P. , Kasper M. , Arsenault R. , Jakob G. , Käufl U. , Leveratto S. , Maire A.-L. , Pantin E. , Siebenmorgen R. , Zins G. , Absil O. , Ageorges N. , Apai D. , Carlotti A. , Choquet É. , Delacroix C. , Dohlen K. , Duhoux P. , Forsberg P. , Fuenteseca E. , Gutruf S. , Guyon O. , Huby E. , Kampf D. , Karlsson M. , Kervella P. , Kirchbauer J.-P. , Klupar P. , Kolb J. , Mawet D. , N’Diaye M. , Orban de Xivry G. , Quanz S. P. , Reutlinger A. , Ruane G. , Riquelme M. , Soenke C. , Sterzik M. , Vigan A. , de Zeeuw T. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractGiant exoplanets on wide orbits have been directly imaged around young stars. If the thermal background in the mid-infrared can be mitigated, then exoplanets with lower masses can also be imaged. Here we present a ground-based mid-infrared observing approach that enables imaging low-mass temperate exoplanets around nearby stars, and in particular within the closest stellar system, α Centauri. Based on 75–80% of the best quality images from 100 h of cumulative observations, we demonstrate sensitivity to warm sub-Neptune-sized planets throughout much of the habitable zone of α Centauri A. This is an order of magnitude more sensitive than state-of-the-art exoplanet imaging mass detection limits. We also discuss a possible exoplanet or exozodiacal disk detection around α Centauri A. However, an instrumental artifact of unknown origin cannot be ruled out. These results demonstrate the feasibility of imaging rocky habitable-zone exoplanets with current and upcoming telescopes.
Recent African strains of Zika virus display higher transmissibility and fetal pathogenicity than Asian strains
Authors: Aubry Fabien , Jacobs Sofie , Darmuzey Maïlis , Lequime Sebastian , Delang Leen , Fontaine Albin , Jupatanakul Natapong , Miot Elliott F. , Dabo Stéphanie , Manet Caroline , Montagutelli Xavier , Baidaliuk Artem , Gámbaro Fabiana , Simon-Lorière Etienne , Gilsoul Maxime , Romero-Vivas Claudia M. , Cao-Lormeau Van-Mai , Jarman Richard G. , Diagne Cheikh T. , Faye Oumar , Faye Ousmane , Sall Amadou A. , Neyts Johan , Nguyen Laurent , Kaptein Suzanne J. F. , Lambrechts Louis 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe global emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) revealed the unprecedented ability for a mosquito-borne virus to cause congenital birth defects. A puzzling aspect of ZIKV emergence is that all human outbreaks and birth defects to date have been exclusively associated with the Asian ZIKV lineage, despite a growing body of laboratory evidence pointing towards higher transmissibility and pathogenicity of the African ZIKV lineage. Whether this apparent paradox reflects the use of relatively old African ZIKV strains in most laboratory studies is unclear. Here, we experimentally compare seven low-passage ZIKV strains representing the recently circulating viral genetic diversity. We find that recent African ZIKV strains display higher transmissibility in mosquitoes and higher lethality in both adult and fetal mice than their Asian counterparts. We emphasize the high epidemic potential of African ZIKV strains and suggest that they could more easily go unnoticed by public health surveillance systems than Asian strains due to their propensity to cause fetal loss rather than birth defects.
Multifunctional evolution of B and AGL6 MADS box genes in orchids
Authors: Hsu Hsing-Fun , Chen Wei-Han , Shen Yi-Hsuan , Hsu Wei-Han , Mao Wan-Ting , Yang Chang-Hsien 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe previously found that B and AGL6 proteins form L (OAP3-2/OAGL6-2/OPI) and SP (OAP3-1/OAGL6-1/OPI) complexes to determine lip/sepal/petal identities in orchids. Here, we show that the functional L’ (OAP3-1/OAGL6-2/OPI) and SP’ (OAP3-2/OAGL6-1/OPI) complexes likely exist and AP3/PI/AGL6 genes have acquired additional functions during evolution. We demonstrate that the presumed L’ complex changes the structure of the lower lateral sepals and helps the lips fit properly in the center of the flower. In addition, we find that OAP3-1/OAGL6-1/OPI in SP along with presumed SP’ complexes regulate anthocyanin accumulation and pigmentation, whereas presumed L’ along with OAP3-2/OAGL6-2/OPI in L complexes promotes red spot formation in the perianth. Furthermore, the B functional proteins OAP3-1/OPI and OAGL6-1 in the SP complex could function separately to suppress sepal/petal senescence and promote pedicel abscission, respectively. These findings expand the current knowledge behind the multifunctional evolution of the B and AGL6 genes in plants.
Genotyping cognate Plasmodium falciparum in humans and mosquitoes to estimate onward transmission of asymptomatic infections
Authors: Sumner Kelsey M. , Freedman Elizabeth , Abel Lucy , Obala Andrew , Pence Brian W. , Wesolowski Amy , Meshnick Steven R. , Prudhomme-O’Meara Wendy , Taylor Steve M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMalaria control may be enhanced by targeting reservoirs of Plasmodium falciparum transmission. One putative reservoir is asymptomatic malaria infections and the scale of their contribution to transmission in natural settings is not known. We assess the contribution of asymptomatic malaria to onward transmission using a 14-month longitudinal cohort of 239 participants in a high transmission site in Western Kenya. We identify P. falciparum in asymptomatically- and symptomatically-infected participants and naturally-fed mosquitoes from their households, genotype all parasites using deep sequencing of the parasite genes pfama1 and pfcsp, and use haplotypes to infer participant-to-mosquito transmission through a probabilistic model. In 1,242 infections (1,039 in people and 203 in mosquitoes), we observe 229 (pfcsp) and 348 (pfama1) unique parasite haplotypes. Using these to link human and mosquito infections, compared with symptomatic infections, asymptomatic infections more than double the odds of transmission to a mosquito among people with both infection types (Odds Ratio: 2.56; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.36–4.81) and among all participants (OR 2.66; 95% CI: 2.05–3.47). Overall, 94.6% (95% CI: 93.1–95.8%) of mosquito infections likely resulted from asymptomatic infections. In high transmission areas, asymptomatic infections are the major contributor to mosquito infections and may be targeted as a component of transmission reduction.
Descriptive multi-agent epidemiology via molecular screening on Atlantic salmon farms in the northeast Pacific Ocean
Authors: Bateman Andrew W. , Schulze Angela D. , Kaukinen Karia H. , Tabata Amy , Mordecai Gideon , Flynn Kelsey , Bass Arthur , Di Cicco Emiliano , Miller Kristina M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractRapid expansion of salmon aquaculture has resulted in high-density populations that host diverse infectious agents, for which surveillance and monitoring are critical to disease management. Screening can reveal infection diversity from which disease arises, differential patterns of infection in live and dead fish that are difficult to collect in wild populations, and potential risks associated with agent transmission between wild and farmed hosts. We report results from a multi-year infectious-agent screening program of farmed salmon in British Columbia, Canada, using quantitative PCR to assess presence and load of 58 infective agents (viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotes) in 2931 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Our analysis reveals temporal trends, agent correlations within hosts, and agent-associated mortality signatures. Multiple agents, most notablyTenacibaculum maritimum, were elevated in dead and dying salmon. We also report detections of agents only recently shown to infect farmed salmon in BC (Atlantic salmon calicivirus, Cutthroat trout virus-2), detection in freshwater hatcheries of two marine agents (Kudoa thyrsitesandTenacibaculum maritimum), and detection in the ocean of a freshwater agent (Flavobacterium psychrophilum). Our results provide information for farm managers, regulators, and conservationists, and enable further work to explore patterns of multi-agent infection and farm/wild transmission risk.
Submicron spatial resolution optical coherence tomography for visualising the 3D structures of cells cultivated in complex culture systems
Authors: Tsai Chia-Ying , Shih Cheng-Hung , Chu Hsiao-Sang , Hsieh Yi-Ting , Huang Sheng-Lung , Chen Wei-Li 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThree-dimensional (3D) configuration of in vitro cultivated cells has been recognised as a valuable tool in developing stem cell and cancer cell therapy. However, currently available imaging approaches for live cells have drawbacks, including unsatisfactory resolution, lack of cross-sectional and 3D images, and poor penetration of multi-layered cell products, especially when cells are cultivated on semitransparent carriers. Herein, we report a prototype of a full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) system with isotropic submicron spatial resolution in en face and cross-sectional views that provides a label-free, non-invasive platform with high-resolution 3D imaging. We validated the imaging power of this prototype by examining (1) cultivated neuron cells (N2A cell line); (2) multilayered, cultivated limbal epithelial sheets (mCLESs); (3) neuron cells (N2A cell line) and mCLESs cultivated on a semitransparent amniotic membrane (stAM); and (4) directly adherent colonies of neuron-like cells (DACNs) covered by limbal epithelial cell sheets. Our FF-OCT exhibited a penetrance of up to 150 μm in a multilayered cell sheet and displayed the morphological differences of neurons and epithelial cells in complex coculture systems. This FF-OCT is expected to facilitate the visualisation of cultivated cell products in vitro and has a high potential for cell therapy and translational medicine research.
MEF2C shapes the microtranscriptome during differentiation of skeletal muscles
Authors: Piasecka Agnieszka , Sekrecki Michał , Szcześniak Michał Wojciech , Sobczak Krzysztof 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMyocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) is a transcription factor that regulates heart and skeletal muscle differentiation and growth. Several protein-encoding genes were identified as targets of this factor; however, little is known about its contribution to the microtranscriptome composition and dynamics in myogenic programs. In this report, we aimed to address this question. Deep sequencing of small RNAs of human muscle cells revealed a set of microRNAs (miRNAs), including several muscle-specific miRNAs, that are sensitive to MEF2C depletion. As expected, in cells with knockdown of MEF2C, we found mostly downregulated miRNAs; nevertheless, as much as one-third of altered miRNAs were upregulated. The majority of these changes are driven by transcription efficiency. Moreover, we found that MEF2C affects nontemplated 3′-end nucleotide addition of miRNAs, mainly oligouridylation. The rate of these modifications is associated with the level of TUT4 which mediates RNA 3′-uridylation. Finally, we found that a quarter of miRNAs which significantly changed upon differentiation of human skeletal myoblasts is inversely altered in MEF2C deficient cells. We concluded that MEF2C is an essential factor regulating both the quantity and quality of the microtranscriptome, leaving an imprint on the stability and perhaps specificity of many miRNAs during the differentiation of muscle cells.
Multiple objects interacting with a solidification front
Authors: Tyagi Sidhanth , Monteux Cécile , Deville Sylvain 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe interaction of objects suspended in a liquid melt with an advancing solidification front is of special interest in nature and engineering sciences. The front can either engulf the object into the growing crystal or repel it. Therefore, the object-front confrontation can have a strong influence on the microstructure and mechanical or functional properties of the solidified material. The past theoretical models and experimental studies have mostly investigated the interaction of isolated, spherical, and hard objects in pure melts. However, the outcome of object-front interactions in complex (more realistic) systems, where multiple objects and solutes are present, is still poorly understood. Here we show the interaction of multiple oil droplets with an ice-water front in the absence and presence of solute effects using in situ cryo-confocal microscopy. We report on how the object size, number of objects, and bulk solute concentration influence the the object-front interaction and the front morphology, as well as the subsequent object spatial distribution. We suggest that the volume fraction of objects suspended in a liquid melt in conjunction with the amount of bulk solute concentration are two important parameters to be incorporated in the development of object-front interaction models.
Traffic signal optimization on a square lattice with quantum annealing
Authors: Inoue Daisuke , Okada Akihisa , Matsumori Tadayoshi , Aihara Kazuyuki , Yoshida Hiroaki 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe spread of intelligent transportation systems in urban cities has caused heavy computational loads, requiring a novel architecture for managing large-scale traffic. In this study, we develop a method for globally controlling traffic signals arranged on a square lattice by means of a quantum annealing machine, namely the D-Wave quantum annealer. We first formulate a signal optimization problem that minimizes the imbalance of traffic flows in two orthogonal directions. Then we reformulate this problem as an Ising Hamiltonian, which is compatible with quantum annealers. The new control method is compared with a conventional local control method for a large 50-by-50 city, and the results exhibit the superiority of our global control method in suppressing traffic imbalance over wide parameter ranges. Furthermore, the solutions to the global control method obtained with the quantum annealing machine are better than those obtained with conventional simulated annealing. In addition, we prove analytically that the local and the global control methods converge at the limit where cars have equal probabilities for turning and going straight. These results are verified with numerical experiments.
Comparative study of generalized couette flow of couple stress fluid using optimal homotopy asymptotic method and new iterative method
Authors: Farooq Muhammad , Khan Alamgeer , Nawaz Rashid , Islam Saeed , Ayaz Muhammad , Chu Yu-Ming 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this research work, we have studied the steady generalized Couette flow of couple stress fluid between two parallel plates considering the non-isothermal effects. The governing equations that are, continuity, momentum and energy equations are reduced to ordinary differential equations. The Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method (OHAM) and New Iterative Method (NIM) are used to solve this coupled system of differential equations. Using the said methods, we have obtained expressions for velocity profile, temperature distribution, volume flux, average velocity and shear stress. The results of OHAM and NIM are compared numerically as well as graphically and a tremendous agreement is attained.
Rat in vitro spermatogenesis promoted by chemical supplementations and oxygen-tension control
Authors: Matsumura Takafumi , Sato Takuya , Abe Takeru , Sanjo Hiroyuki , Katagiri Kumiko , Kimura Hiroshi , Fujii Teruo , Tanaka Hiromitsu , Hirabayashi Masumi , Ogawa Takehiko 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn vitro spermatogenesis (IVS) using air–liquid interphase organ culture method is possible with mouse testis tissues. The same method, however, has been hardly applicable to animals other than mice, only producing no or limited progression of spermatogenesis. In the present study, we challenged IVS of rats with modifications of culture medium, by supplementing chemical substances, including hormones, antioxidants, and lysophospholipids. In addition, reducing oxygen tension by placing tissues in an incubator of lower oxygen concentration and/or applying silicone cover ceiling on top of the tissue were effective for improving the spermatogenic efficiency. Through these modifications of the culture condition, rat spermatogenesis up to round spermatids was maintained over 70 days in the cultured tissue. Present results demonstrated a significant progress in rat IVS, revealing conditions commonly favorable for mice and rats as well as finding rat-specific optimizations. This is an important step towards successful IVS in many animal species, including humans.
Diversification of OmpA and OmpF of Yersinia ruckeri is independent of the underlying species phylogeny and evidence of virulence-related selection
Authors: Ormsby Michael J. , Davies Robert L. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractYersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM) which causes economically significant losses in farmed salmonids, especially Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum). However, very little is known about the genetic relationships of disease-causing isolates in these two host species or about factors responsible for disease. Phylogenetic analyses of 16 representative isolates based on the nucleotide sequences of 19 housekeeping genes suggests that pathogenic Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout isolates represent distinct host-specific lineages. However, the apparent phylogenies of certain isolates has been influenced by horizontal gene transfer and recombinational exchange. Splits decomposition analysis demonstrated a net-like phylogeny based on the housekeeping genes, characteristic of recombination. Comparative analysis of the distribution of individual housekeeping gene alleles across the isolates demonstrated evidence of genomic mosaicism and recombinational exchange involving certain Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout isolates. Comparative nucleotide sequence analysis of the key outer membrane protein genes ompA and ompF revealed that the corresponding gene trees were both non-congruent with respect to the housekeeping gene phylogenies providing evidence that horizontal gene transfer has influenced the evolution of both these surface protein-encoding genes. Analysis of inferred amino acid sequence variation in OmpA identified a single variant, OmpA.1, that was present in serotype O1 and O8 isolates representing typical pathogenic strains in rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon, respectively. In particular, the sequence of surface-exposed loop 3 differed by seven amino acids to that of other Y. ruckeri isolates. These findings suggest that positive selection has likely influenced the presence of OmpA.1 in these isolates and that loop 3 may play an important role in virulence. Amino acid sequence variation of OmpF was greater than that of OmpA and was similarly restricted mainly to the surface-exposed loops. Two OmpF variants, OmpF.1 and OmpF.2, were associated with pathogenic rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon isolates, respectively. These OmpF proteins had very similar amino acid sequences suggesting that positive evolutionary pressure has also favoured the selection of these variants in pathogenic strains infecting both species.
Elucidating the involvement of apoptosis in postmortem proteolysis in porcine muscles from two production cycles using metabolomics approach
Authors: Ma Danyi , Suh Dong Ho , Zhang Jiaying , Chao Yufan , Duttlinger Alan W. , Johnson Jay S. , Lee Choong Hwan , Kim Yuan H. Brad 
Published: February 2021

AbstractApoptosis has been suggested as the first step in the process of conversion of muscle into meat. While a potential role of apoptosis in postmortem proteolysis has been proposed, the underlying mechanisms by which metabolome changes in muscles would influence apoptotic and proteolytic process, leading to meat quality variation, has not been determined. Here, apoptotic and proteolytic attributes and metabolomics profiling of longissimus dorsi (LD) and psoas major (PM) muscles in pigs from two different production cycles (July–Jan vs. Apr–Sep) were evaluated. PM showed higher mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP), concurrent with less extent of calpain-1 autolysis and troponin T degradation and higher abundance of HSP27 and αβ-crystallin compared to LD (P < 0.05). Apr–Sep muscles showed concurrence of extended apoptosis (indicated by higher MMP), calpain-1 autolysis and troponin T degradation, regardless of muscle effects (P < 0.05). Metabolomics profiling showed Apr–Sep muscles to increase in oxidative stress-related macronutrients, including 6-carbon sugars, some branched-chain AA, and free fatty acids. Antioxidant AA (His and Asp) and ascorbic acid were higher in July–Jan (P < 0.05). The results of the present study suggest that early postmortem apoptosis might be positively associated with pro-oxidant macronutrients and negatively associated with antioxidant metabolites, consequently affecting meat quality attributes in a muscle-specific manner.
MC4R mutant mice develop ovarian teratomas
Authors: Naser Abdullah An , Miyazaki Takehiro , Wang Jun , Takabayashi Shuji , Pachoensuk Theeranukul , Tokumoto Toshinobu 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTeratomas in mice, composed of different tissue types, are derived from primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the foetal gonads. The strongest candidate gene in the testicular teratoma locus (Ter) responsible for testicular teratoma formation was identified as mutation in Dnd1, Dnd1R178*. However, the phenotype of mice with a mutated Dnd1 gene was germ cell loss. This suggests that other genes are involved in teratoma formation. Testicular teratomas can also be induced experimentally (experimentally testicular teratomas: ETTs) in 129/Sv mice by transplanting E12.5 foetal testes into adult testes. Previously, we mapped the ett1 locus, which is the locus responsible for ETT formation on chromosome 18. By exome sequence analysis of the 129 and LTXBJ (LT) strains, we identified a missense mutation in the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene among 8 genes in the ett1 region. The missense mutation causes a substitution of glycine 25 by serine. Thus, this gene is a candidate for ETT formation. We established the LT-ett1 congenic strain, which introduced the locus responsible for ETT formation genetically into the genomes of a testicular teratoma non-susceptible strain. In this study, we crossed LT-ett1 and a previously established LT-Ter strain to establish the double congenic strain LT-Ter-ett1. Also, we established a strain with a point mutation in the MC4R gene of the LT strain by genome editing, LT-MC4RG25S. Furthermore, double genetically modified strain LT-Ter-MC4RG25S was established to address the relation between Ter and MC4R. Surprisingly, highly developed ovarian teratomas (OTs), instead of testicular teratomas, appeared not only in the LT-Ter-MC4RG25S and LT-MC4RG25S strains but also in the LT-ett1 and LT-Ter-ett1 strains. The incidence of OT formation was high in double genetically modified strains. The results demonstrated that MC4R is one of the genes responsible for OT formation. It was suggested that the effect of the missense mutation in MC4R on teratoma formation was promoted by abnormal germ cell formation by the mutation in DND1.
Cavitation bubble dynamics in a vicinity of a thin membrane wetted by different fluids
Authors: Lokar Žiga , Petkovšek Rok , Dular Matevž 
Published: February 2021

AbstractUnderstanding and controlling the interaction of cavitation bubbles and nearby material is becoming essential optimization of various processes. We examined the interaction of a single bubble with a membrane with different fluids on each side of it. Significant differences in bubble behavior depending on the fluid properties were observed, while the influence of membrane properties was less pronounced. The study has important implications, such as optimization of sonoporation (targeted drug delivery) where the mechanism, by which the permeability of the membrane is increased, is still not well understood. These results show that the focus of the optimization process should, in the first place, lie on the properties of liquids, rather than the mechanical properties of the membrane itself.