bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insula dynorphin and kappa opioid receptor systems regulate alcohol drinking in a sex-specific manner in mice
Authors: Pina Melanie M. , Pati Dipanwita , Neira Sofia , Taxier Lisa R. , Stanhope Christina M. , Mahoney Alexandra A. , D’Ambrosio Shannon , Kash Thomas L. , Navarro Montserrat 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAlcohol use disorder is complex and multi-faceted, involving the coordination of multiple signaling systems across numerous brain regions. Previous work has indicated that both the insular cortex and dynorphin (DYN)/Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) systems contribute to excessive alcohol use. More recently, we identified a microcircuit in the medial aspect of the insular cortex that signals through DYN/KOR. Here, we explored the role of insula DYN/KOR circuit components on alcohol intake in a long-term intermittent access (IA) procedure. Using a combination of conditional knockout strategies and site-directed pharmacology, we discovered distinct and sex-specific roles for insula DYN and KOR in alcohol drinking and related behavior. Our findings show that insula DYN deletion blocked escalated consumption and decreased overall intake of and preference for alcohol in male and female mice. This effect was specific to alcohol in male mice, as DYN deletion did not impact sucrose intake. Further, insula KOR antagonism reduced alcohol intake and preference during the early phase of IA in male mice only. Alcohol consumption was not affected by insula KOR knockout in either sex. In addition, we found that long-term IA decreased the intrinsic excitability of DYN and deep layer pyramidal neurons (DLPN) in the insula of male mice. Excitatory synaptic transmission was also impacted by IA, as it drove an increase in excitatory synaptic drive in both DYN neurons and DLPN. Combined, our findings suggest there is a dynamic interplay between excessive alcohol consumption and insula DYN/KOR microcircuitry.Significance StatementThe insular cortex is a complex region that serves as an integratory hub for sensory inputs. In our previous work, we identified a microcircuit in the insula that signals through the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) and its endogenous ligand dynorphin (DYN). Both the insula and DYN/KOR systems have been implicated in excessive alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Here, we utilize converging approaches to determine how insula DYN/KOR microcircuit components contribute to escalated alcohol consumption. Our findings show that insula DYN/KOR systems regulate distinct phases of alcohol consumption in a sex-specific manner, which may contribute to the progression to AUD.
Evidence for a long-range RNA-RNA interaction between ORF8 and Spike of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Omoru Okiemute B. , Pereira Filipe , Janga Sarath Chandra , Manzourolajdad Amirhossein 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 has affected people worldwide as the causative agent of COVID-19. The virus is related to the highly lethal SARS-CoV responsible for the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak in Asia. Research is ongoing to understand why both viruses have different spreading capacities and mortality rates. Like other beta coronaviruses, RNA-RNA interactions occur between different parts of the viral genomic RNA, resulting in discontinuous transcription and production of various sub-genomic RNAs. These sub-genomic RNAs are then translated into other viral proteins. In this work, we performed a comparative analysis for novel long-range RNA-RNA interactions that may involve the Spike region. Comparing predictions between reference sequences of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 revealed several predictions amongst which a thermodynamically stable long-range RNA-RNA interaction between (23660-23703 Spike) and (28025-28060 ORF8) unique to SARS-CoV-2 was observed. Using data gathered worldwide, sequence variation patterns observed in the population support the in-silico RNA-RNA base-pairing predictions within these regions, suggesting further evidence for the interaction. The predicted interactions can potentially be related to the regulation of sub-genomic RNA production rates in SARS-CoV-2 and their subsequent accessibility to the host transcriptome.
Mitochondria transplantation between living cells
Authors: Gäbelein Christoph G. , Feng Qian , Sarajlic Edin , Zambelli Tomaso , Guillaume-Gentil Orane , Kornmann Benoît , Vorholt Julia A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMitochondria and the complex endomembrane system are hallmarks of eukaryotic cells. To date, it has been difficult to manipulate organelle structures within single live cells. We developed a FluidFM-based approach to extract, inject and transplant organelles from and into living cells with subcellular spatial resolution. The approach enabled the transfer of controlled quantities of mitochondria into cells while maintaining their viability and monitoring their fate in new host cells. Transplantation of healthy and drug-impaired mitochondria into primary keratinocytes allowed real-time tracking of mitochondrial subpopulation rescue. Fusion with the mitochondrial network of recipient cells occurred 20 min after transplantation and continued for over 16 hours. After transfer of mitochondria and cell propagation over generations, we show that donor mtDNA was replicated in recipient cells without the need for selection pressure. The approach opens new prospects for the study of organelle physiology and homeostasis, but also for mechanobiology, synthetic biology, and therapy.
Pentameric assembly of the Kv2.1 tetramerization domain
Authors: Xu Zhen , Khan Saif , Schnicker Nicholas J. , Baker Sheila A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe Kv family of voltage-gated potassium channels regulate neuronal excitability. The biophysical characteristic of Kv channels can be matched to the needs of different neurons by forming homotetrameric or heterotetrameric channels within one of four subfamilies. The cytoplasmic tetramerization (T1) domain plays a major role in dictating the compatibility of different Kv subunits. The only Kv subfamily missing a representative structure of the T1 domain is the Kv2 family. We used X-ray crystallography to solve the structure of the human Kv2.1 T1 domain. The structure is similar to other T1 domains but surprisingly formed a pentamer instead of a tetramer. In solution the Kv2.1 T1 domain also formed a pentamer as determined with in-line SEC-MALS-SAXS and negative stain EM. The Kv2.1 T1-T1 interface involves electrostatic interactions including a salt bridge formed by the negative charges in a previously described CDD motif, and inter-subunit coordination of zinc. We show that zinc binding is important for stability. In conclusion, the Kv2.1 T1 domain behaves differently from the other Kv T1 domains which may reflect the versatility of Kv2.1, the only Kv subfamily that can assemble with the regulatory KvS subunits and scaffold ER-plasma membrane contacts.
Exploring agricultural entrepreneurship and new technologies: academic and practitioners' views
Authors: Secinaro Silvana , Dal Mas Francesca , Massaro Maurizio , Calandra Davide 
Published: November 2021

PurposeThis paper investigates the relationship between agricultural entrepreneurship (AE) and new technologies using academic and practitioners' perspectives to understand how new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and augmented reality can promote agri-businesses.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts a content and thematic analysis of 325 academic sources extracted from the Scopus database and 683 patents retrieved from the European Patent Office (EPO) dataset. Additionally, the research applies the Kruskal–Wallis test as a non-parametric test for evaluating differences in the main concepts discussed in the two sources.FindingsThe academic and practitioners' debate highlights a trading zone among the two streams. patents' analysis from the EPO reveals four main common themes as a new business that benefits from AI in weather predictions, new smart and intelligent ways to monitor crops, new businesses that use clouds to control plant's humidity. The analysis of Scopus's sources demonstrates theoretical approaches related to the technology acceptance model (TAM) and practical strategies in terms of entrepreneurial skills to support the agricultural sector. However, barriers among the two streams of sources exist in innovation management and scale-up entrepreneurial initiatives.Research limitations/implicationsRegarding implications, the authors aim to connect academic and practitioners' views by understanding the new potential innovation applications and the connected new research avenues. Limitations might arise from the sources used to develop our analysis.Originality/valueThe paper is novel because it investigates the issues arising from the relationship between AE and new technologies by examining original validated patents released by practitioners and approved by the EPO, rather than reviewing blogs or the financial press. This leads to a holistic understanding of the impact of tangible practices among agricultural entrepreneurs. The results support the view that new trading zones and case studies are needed to highlight and show the positive impact of technologies in this field. The authors argue that practitioners require scholars to reduce the ambiguity between AE and its expected results, leading to investments to boost new agricultural business ideas.
The stabilising impact of natural selection on the allometry of sexual ornaments: Fish that escape locomotor constraints exhibit extravagant ornamentation
Authors: Summers Thomas C. , Ord Terry J. 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Positive allometry has been considered a hallmark of sexual selection whereby larger males of superior condition develop disproportionately larger ornaments for their body size compared to smaller males of poorer condition.

Yet many structures known to be sexually selected often exhibit other allometric patterns. This has led to controversy over the utility of allometry in adequately capturing the signature of sexual selection, particularly if static (within population) and evolutionary (across species) allometries are functionally constrained by stabilising natural selection.

To investigate this, we evaluated the allometries of ornamental head crests and dorsal fins across multiple species of blenny fish. In particular, we compared species that occupied an aquatic environment—where swimming performance was expected to have constrained ornament size—with species that have transitioned onto land where such biomechanical constraints on ornament size have been removed.

Static allometries of both head crest and dorsal fin ornaments were found to be positive in males, but less so in females, across all species examined. This was consistent with the allometric theory of sexual selection that predicts positive allometry specifically in male ornamentation. Nevertheless, male allometric exponents were constrained in aquatic species whereas males of terrestrial species were free to exaggerate the size of their ornaments. Natural selection therefore appears to limit the evolution of ornament size in aquatics, and probably because of the biomechanical constraints associated with swimming. These differences in within‐population static allometry between aquatic and terrestrial species in turn manifested in a greater across‐species evolutionary allometric elevation, but not exponent, for terrestrial species relative to aquatic species.

These findings indicate that the study of ornament allometries can provide useful insights into the role of sexual selection on ornament elaboration and also help reveal the presence of opposing natural selection that might result in alternative allometric patterns. The relationship between static and evolutionary allometries remains complex, and our results caution against the interpretation of evolutionary allometry in the absence of a clear understanding of the underlying static allometries associated with it.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
On this side of the fence: Functional responses to linear landscape features shape the home range of large herbivores
Authors: Seigle‐Ferrand Juliette , Marchand Pascal , Morellet Nicolas , Gaillard Jean‐Michel , Hewison A. J. Mark , Saïd Sonia , Chaval Yannick , Santacreu Hugo , Loison Anne , Yannic Glenn , Garel Mathieu 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Understanding the consequences of global change for animal movement is a major issue for conservation and management. In particular, habitat fragmentation generates increased densities of linear landscape features that can impede movements.

While the influence of these features on animal movements has been intensively investigated, they may also play a key role at broader spatial scales (e.g. the home range scale) as resources, cover from predators/humans, corridors/barriers or landmarks. How space use respond to varying densities of linear features has been mostly overlooked in large herbivores, in contrast to studies done on predators. Focusing on large herbivores should provide additional insights to understand how animals solve the trade‐off between energy acquisition and mortality risk.

Here, we investigated the role of anthropogenic (roads and tracks) and natural (ridges, valley bottoms and forest edges) linear features on home range features in five large herbivores. We analysed an extensive GPS monitoring database of 710 individuals across nine populations, ranging from mountain areas mostly divided by natural features to lowlands that were highly fragmented by anthropogenic features.

Nearly all of the linear features studied were found at the home range periphery, suggesting that large herbivores primarily use them as landmarks to delimit their home range. In contrast, for mountain species, ridges often occurred in the core range, probably related to their functional role in terms of resources and refuge. When the density of linear features was high, they no longer occurred predominantly at the home range periphery, but instead were found across much of the home range. We suggest that, in highly fragmented landscapes, large herbivores are constrained by the costs of memorising the spatial location of key features, and by the requirement for a minimum area to satisfy their vital needs.

These patterns were mostly consistent in both males and females and across species, suggesting that linear features have a preponderant influence on how large herbivores perceive and use the landscape.
Characterization and stability of peppermint oil emulsions using polyglycerol esters of fatty acids and milk proteins as emulsifiers
Authors: Xie Hujun , Ni Fangfang , Liu Chengzhi , Shi Jieyu , Ren Gerui , Wu Zunyi , Song Zhijun 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThree peppermint oil emulsions using polyglycerol esters of fatty acids‐casein (PGFE‐CN), polyglycerol esters of fatty acids‐sodium caseinate (PGFE‐NaCN), and polyglycerol esters of fatty acids‐whey protein isolate (PGFE‐WPI) as emulsifiers were fabricated, and the droplet size, zeta potential, viscosity, and stability of emulsions were determined. The experimental results showed that the emulsion containing PGFE‐CN has relatively smaller droplet size of 231.77 ± 0.49 nm. No significant changes were observed on the average particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential during 4‐week of storage, indicating that the emulsions kept stable against pH, salt ion, freeze‐thaw, and storage. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) results showed that the electrostatic interaction occurs between CN and PGFE in the emulsion. The confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) was used to observe the microstructure of the emulsion, proving that droplets were evenly distributed throughout the aqueous phase by PGFE‐CN emulsifier. The protein‐stabilized emulsions can be used as potential carriers for the delivery of the lipophilic nutrients such as peppermint oil.Practical ApplicationPGFE‐CN emulsifier can be directly added to the beverage systems containing oil or protein, such as coconut milk, peanut milk, and walnut milk. It can enhance the stability of beverage, prevent the precipitation, stratification, and oil floating, improve the homogeneity of the system and therefore extend the shelf life.
Moisture variation analysis of the green plum during the drying process based on low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Zhu Yingying , Ju Ronghua , Ma Feifei , Qian Jinrong , Yan Jun , Li Shuxian , Li Zhong 
Published: November 2021

AbstractGreen plums were dried at 50, 60, 70, and 80 ℃ to study the dynamic changes of internal moisture during the drying process. Low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) was used to study the dynamic changes across the T2 relaxation spectrum, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provided visualization of the plums throughout the process. The results indicate a negative linear relationship between the lost moisture of the plums (p < 0.05) as drying time increased. Relaxation times T21, T22, and T23, and the peak areas of A21 and A23 decreased significantly during the drying process. The MRI results also show that the brightness of the images decreased as the drying time increased, indicating that the higher the temperature, the greater the water loss inside the plums. Color measurements demonstrated that the high temperature dried plums had better sensory quality. Correlation analysis implies a strong positive relationship between A23 and Atotal and water content, with coefficients of 0.958 and 0.936, respectively. Principal component analysis results show that the drying temperature has a significant effect on the sample's internal moisture release. LF‐NMR is a fast, convenient, and feasible technique for monitoring the moisture variation of green plums during the drying process.Practical ApplicationLow‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) was used to study the moisture dynamic changes of green plums across the T2 relaxation spectrum, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provided visualization of plums throughout the process. The drying temperature has a significant effect on the green plum's internal moisture release and may affect the quality of the plums. LF‐NMR might be a complementary technique in monitoring the moisture variation of green plums during the drying process.
Prioritising national dementia guidelines for general practice: A Delphi approach
Authors: Mazza Danielle , McCarthy Edwina , Camões‐Costa Vera , Mansfield Elise , Bryant Jamie , Waller Amy , Lin Xiaoping , Piterman Leon 
Published: November 2021

AbstractObjectivesAustralian guidelines for dementia cover 109 recommendations for dementia care. Knowing which recommendations to implement poses a challenge for general practitioners (GPs). This study aimed to gather general practice perspectives of priority recommendations for GPs in their practice.MethodsTo explore which recommendations are most important and those requiring the greatest support in GP implementation, a Delphi study was conducted. Thirty‐six GPs, 4 practice nurses and 1 medical services director completed two rounds of email questionnaires.ResultsRecommendations requiring support for GP implementation relate to early assessment of behavioural and psychological symptoms; mental health interventions tailored to the person's preferences and abilities; language and cultural barriers in access to information and services; and cognitive and learning needs in treatment delivery.ConclusionsIt is critical to understand where support may be needed for GPs to successfully implement recommendations to improve care provided to people with dementia and their carers.
Exploring the dependencies among main cryptocurrency log‐returns: A hidden Markov model
Authors: Pennoni Fulvia , Bartolucci Francesco , Forte Gianfranco , Ametrano Ferdinando 
Published: November 2021

AbstractA hidden Markov model is proposed for the analysis of time‐series of daily log‐returns of the last 4 years of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. These log‐returns are assumed to have a multivariate Gaussian distribution conditionally on a latent Markov process having a finite number of regimes or states. The hidden regimes represent different market phases identified through distinct vectors of expected values and variance–covariance matrices of the log‐returns, so that they also differ in terms of volatility. Maximum‐likelihood estimation of the model parameters is carried out by the expectation–maximisation algorithm, and regimes are singularly predicted for every time occasion according to the maximum‐a‐posteriori rule. Results show three positive and three negative phases of the market. In the most recent period, an increasing tendency towards positive regimes is also predicted. A rather heterogeneous correlation structure is estimated, and evidence of structural medium term trend in the correlation of Bitcoin with the other cryptocurrencies is detected.
Draw the Circle Wide
Authors: Ross Kenneth R. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn ecumenical missiology, the question of unity has always been a matter of concentric circles, with the call to unity extending its horizons ever outward. What began as a movement to promote greater cooperation in mission stimulated initiatives to achieve church unity, and this in turn fostered an ecumenical vision that embraced the “whole inhabited earth” – all of humanity and indeed the entire natural order. This article argues that the conditions prevailing in the early 21st century have put a premium on the most extensive expression of the ecumenical vision. Examining two seminal World Council of Churches statements on mission, Together Towards Life and “The Arusha Call to Discipleship,” it examines how the two documents have shifted thinking about mission and unity toward a vision that extends to humanity as a whole and indeed the entire creation.
The Need of Global Social Nearness in Light of the Teachings of the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti
Authors: Alva Reginald 
Published: November 2021

AbstractDespite calls from global authorities to maintain social (physical) distance to stop the spread of COVID‐19, Pope Francis, in his encyclical Fratelli tutti, appealed for global social nearness to face the disastrous impact of the pandemic on people’s lives. The encyclical raised several issues concerning the plight of the weak and the vulnerable amid the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, he did not address the plight of vulnerable people within the Catholic Church in the encyclical. Thus, in this paper, I will first examine the need for social nearness to weak and vulnerable people within the Catholic Church. Next, in light of the teachings of Fratelli tutti, I will examine the need for social nearness to the weakest in society, especially those affected by COVID‐19. Finally, I will examine the need for global mutual solidarity to face the various challenges caused by the pandemic. I will also explore the concrete proposals Pope Francis noted in his encyclical that are needed to accelerate global mutual solidarity during the pandemic and in the post–COVID‐19 world. The main source for this paper is Fratelli tutti itself. I will also refer to other church documents on social outreach and the opinions of experts in various fields.