bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of pedunculopontine nucleus cholinergic lesion on gait and dyskinesia in hemiparkinsonian rats
Authors: Chambers Nicole E. , Coyle Michael , Sergio Jordan , Lanza Kathryn , Saito Carolyn , Topping Brent , Clark Stewart D. , Bishop Christopher 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) cholinergic neurons are implicated in freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease (PD) and motor stereotypy in normal animals, but the causal role of these neurons on specific gait parameters and treatment‐induced dyskinesia remains speculative. Therefore, we examined whether selective cholinergic lesion of the rostral PPN affects PD motor and gait deficits, L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia and motor improvement, and DA‐agonist‐induced dyskinesia. Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to one unilaterally lesioned group: Sham lesion, PPN cholinergic lesion with diphtheria urotensin II fusion toxin, medial forebrain bundle dopamine lesion with 6‐hydroxydopamine, or dual acetylcholine and dopamine lesion. We used gait analysis and forepaw adjusting steps to examine PD gait and motor deficits. Forepaw adjusting steps were also used to assess motor improvement with L‐DOPA treatment. The abnormal involuntary movements scale measured L‐DOPA and dopamine D1‐ and D2‐receptor agonist‐induced dyskinesia. Lesions, verified via tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry reduced an average of 95% of nigral dopamine neurons and 80% of PPN cholinergic neurons, respectively. Rats receiving acetylcholine and dual lesion demonstrated enhanced freezing, and acetylcholine lesioned rats exhibited increased print area and stand index. Dopamine and dual lesion produced similar forepaw adjusting steps task on and off L‐DOPA. Relative to DA lesioned rats, dual lesioned rats displayed reduced L‐DOPA and DA agonist‐induced dyskinesia at specific time points. Our results indicate that PPN cholinergic neurons affect gait parameters related to postural stability. Therefore, therapeutically targeting PPN cholinergic neurons could reduce intractable postural instability in PD without affecting motor benefits or side effects of L‐DOPA treatment.
Endocannabinoids and cortical plasticity: CB1R as a possible regulator of the excitation/inhibition balance in health and disease
Authors: Durieux Lucas J. A. , Gilissen Sara R. J. , Arckens Lutgarde 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe endocannabinoid system has been linked to neurological disorders in which the excitation inhibition (E/I) balance in the neocortex is dysregulated, such as schizophrenia. The main endocannabinoid receptor type 1 of the central nervous system—CB1R—is expressed on different cell types, that when activated, modulate the cortical E/I balance. Here we review how CB1R signalling contributes to phases of heightened plasticity of the neocortex. We review the major role of the CB1R in cortical plasticity throughout life, including the early life sensory critical periods, the later maturation phase of the association cortex in adolescence, and the adult phase of sensory deprivation‐induced cortical plasticity. Endocannabinoid‐mediated long‐term potentiation and depression of synapse strength fine‐tune the E/I balance in visual, somatosensory and association areas. We emphasize how a distinct set of key endocannabinoid‐regulated elements such as GABA and glutamate release, basket parvalbumin interneurons, somatostatin interneurons and astrocytes, are essential for normal cortical plasticity and dysregulated in schizophrenia. Even though a lot of data has been gathered, mechanistic knowledge about the exact CB1R‐based modulation of excitation and/or inhibition is still lacking depending on cortical area and maturation phase in life. We emphasize the importance of creating such detailed knowledge for a better comprehension of what underlies the dysregulation of the neocortex in schizophrenic patients in adulthood. We propose that taking age, brain area and cell type into consideration when modulating the cortical E/I imbalance via cannabinoid‐based pharmacology may pave the way for better patient care.
An investigation into the relationship between stimulus property, neural response and its manifestation in the visual evoked potential involving retinal resolution
Authors: Marcar Valentine L. , Wolf Martin 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe visual evoked potential (VEP) has been shown to reflect the size of the neural population activated by a processing mechanism selective to the temporal – and spatial luminance contrast property of a stimulus. We set out to better understand how the factors determining the neural response associated with these mechanisms. To do so we recorded the VEP from 14 healthy volunteers viewing two series of pattern reversing stimuli with identical temporal—and spatial luminance contrast properties. In one series the size of the elements increased towards the edge of the image, in the other it decreased. In the former element size was congruent with receptive field size across eccentricity, in the later it was incongruent. P100 amplitude to the incongruent series exceeded that obtained to the congruent series. Using electric dipoles due the excitatory neural response we accounted for this using dipole cancellation of electric dipoles of opposite polarity originating in supra‐ and infragranular layers of V1. The phasic neural response in granular lamina of V1 exhibited magnocellular characteristics, the neural response outside of the granular lamina exhibited parvocellular characteristics and was modulated by re‐entrant projections. Using electric current density, we identified areas of the dorsal followed by areas of the ventral stream as the source of the re‐entrant signal modulating infragranular activity. Our work demonstrates that the VEP does not signal reflect the overall level of a neural response but is the result of an interaction between electric dipoles originating from neural responses in different lamina of V1.
Identifying the fingerprint of permanganate oxidizable carbon as a measure of labile soil organic carbon using Fourier transform mid‐infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy
Authors: Huang Jing , Rinnan Åsmund , Bruun Thilde Bech , Engedal Tine , Bruun Sander 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPermanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) is a sub‐pool of labile soil organic carbon (SOC) and is defined as the carbon (C) that can be oxidized by potassium permanganate (KMnO4). Determination of the content of POXC has been used as a way to measure labile C and may be related to soil microbial biomass and particulate organic C. Fourier transform mid‐infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR‐PAS) has been used for characterizing the chemical composition of soil organic matter. The objective of the current study was to identify the chemical information in the FTIR‐PAS spectra that is unique to POXC and therefore associated with labile C. FTIR‐PAS was used for characterizing SOC using a set of soil samples collected in four different countries (Laos, Malaysia, Peru and Thailand, n = 575). Partial least squares (PLS) regression was used to correlate the collected FTIR‐PAS spectra with both POXC and total SOC. The FTIR‐PAS spectra combined with the PLS method was useful for predicting both SOC and POXC. However, SOC and POXC were also highly correlated (R2 = 0.84), and because POXC can be seen as a fraction of total SOC, a method for extracting the FTIR‐PAS fingerprint of the POXC model that is independent of SOC was applied for the first time. The results showed that the POXC prediction was mainly based on its strong correlation with SOC and there was little information unique to POXC. However, the results do indicate four dominant peaks at 1,574, 1,495, 1,138 and 1,041 cm−1 to be specific for POXC. These peaks can be ascribed to amide II, aromatics, polysaccharides and carbohydrates, respectively.Highlights
Permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) was predicted using FTIR‐photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR‐PAS).
The POXC prediction using FTIR‐PAS is mainly based on its high correlation with SOC.
A method extracting the unique spectral features of POXC independently of SOC was applied.
Around 11% of the information used to predict POXC was identified as unique.
Four dominant peaks were found to represent the POXC fingerprint.
Are networks of trophic interactions sufficient for understanding the dynamics of multi‐trophic communities? Analysis of a tri‐trophic insect food‐web time‐series
Authors: Kawatsu Kazutaka , Ushio Masayuki , van Veen F. J. Frank , Kondoh Michio 
Published: January 2021

AbstractResource–consumer interactions are considered a major driving force of population and community dynamics. However, species also interact in many non‐trophic and indirect ways and it is currently not known to what extent the dynamic coupling of species corresponds to the distribution of trophic links. Here, using a 10‐year data set of monthly observations of a 40‐species tri‐trophic insect community and nonlinear time series analysis, we compare the occurrence and strengths of both the trophic and dynamic interactions in the insect community. The matching between observed trophic and dynamic interactions provides evidence that population dynamic interactions reflect resource–consumer interactions in the many‐species community. However, the presence of a trophic interaction does not always correspond to a detectable dynamic interaction especially for top‐down effects. Moreover a considerable proportion of dynamic interactions are not attributable to direct trophic interactions, suggesting the unignorable role of non‐trophic and indirect interactions as co‐drivers of community dynamics.
Cancer in myasthenia gravis subtypes in relation to immunosuppressive treatment and acetylcholine receptor antibodies: A Swedish nationwide register study
Authors: Verwijst Johanna , Westerberg Elisabet , Punga Anna Rostedt 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackground and purposeThe potentially increased risk of extrathymic cancers in myasthenia gravis (MG) remains uncertain. We present the occurrence of extrathymic cancer diagnoses in different MG subgroups.MethodsWe conducted a nationwide Swedish register‐based cohort study, including patients who had their first MG diagnosis or first prescription of acetylcholine esterase inhibitors between the years 2006 and 2018. Timing and subtypes of cancer diagnosis in relation to MG as well as corticosteroid‐sparing immunosuppressants (CSISs) were identified from national patient, cancer and drug registers.ResultsIn the study population of 2812 MG patients, 92 had juvenile MG (3%), 632 had early‐onset MG (23%), 1968 had late‐onset MG (LOMG; 70%) and 120 patients had thymoma‐associated MG (TAMG; 4%). Extrathymic cancers were observed in 630 patients (22.4%). Skin cancer and cancer in the male genital organs were most common (N = 138, respectively), followed by cancers in the female genital organs (N = 103), digestive organs (N = 90) and breast (N = 80). Patients with TAMG (29.2%) and LOMG (28.4%) had the highest occurrence of extrathymic cancer. Cancer frequency was comparable between acetylcholine receptor antibody seropositive and seronegative patients. Two or more CSIS prescriptions significantly increased the frequency of cancer, especially cancers in the digestive organs (p = 0.0026), male genital organs (p = 0.0037) and skin (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsMost extrathymic cancer types in MG were observed in TAMG and LOMG patients, and there was a clear correlation between CSIS exposure and cancer risk. This study sheds light on extrathymic cancers also in non‐thymoma MG.
Is the Symbol Digit Modalities Test a useful outcome in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis?
Authors: Koch Marcus W. , Mostert Jop , Repovic Pavle , Bowen James D. , Uitdehaag Bernard , Cutter Gary 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundIt is unclear which cognitive outcome measure is the most useful for clinical trials in multiple sclerosis. To investigate the usefulness of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) as a clinical outcome measure in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), we describe the frequency of worsening and improvement events in a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) dataset.MethodsUsing original trial data from the ASCEND trial (n = 889), a recent large RCT in SPMS, we describe worsening and similarly defined improvement with and without 3‐month confirmation on the SDMT in the whole trial cohort and unconfirmed worsening and improvement on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) in a smaller subset (n = 107).ResultsSomewhat unexpectedly, SDMT scores steadily increased throughout the 2 years of follow‐up in this trial. There were overall few SDMT worsening events throughout the trial (generally fewer than 10% of participants), but improvement events steadily increased from around 50% of participants with improvement at 12 weeks to more than 70% at 84 weeks and beyond. PASAT scores followed a similar pattern.ConclusionsIn this well‐characterized clinical trial cohort, the SDMT does not reflect the steady cognitive decline that patients with SPMS experience. Both SDMT and PASAT scores improve throughout follow‐up, possibly due to a practice effect. The SDMT may not be a useful outcome measure of disease progression in 2‐year clinical trials in SPMS.
Expression of select mRNA in Thoroughbreds with catastrophic racing injuries
Authors: Page Allen E. , Adam Emma , Arthur Rick , Barker Virginia , Franklin Forrest , Friedman Ron , Grande Timothy , Hardy Michael , Howard Bruce , Partridge Emma , Rutledge Matthew , Scollay Mary , Stewart John C. , Vale Alina , Horohov David W. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe ability to identify horses at risk for catastrophic injuries continues to be a pressing issue for the racing industry, especially given recent events in North America.ObjectivesSince most catastrophic injuries occur in areas of existing pathology and this pathology is likely to elicit an inflammatory response, it was hypothesised that analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression would detect significant changes in select genes in horses at risk for a catastrophic injury.Study designProspective cohort study.MethodsFive racing jurisdictions across the United States participated in this study. A total of 686 Tempus®RNA Blood Tube samples were collected for mRNA analysis from 107 catastrophically injured horses, as well as from noninjured horses sampled either prerace (n = 374) or postrace (n = 205). A subset of horses (n = 37) were sampled both prerace and postrace for analysis of expression changes during the postrace period.ResultsOf 21 genes analysed via RT‐qPCR, the expression of 12 genes (ALOX5AP, CD14, IL‐10, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, MMP1, PTGS2, TLR4, TNFα, TNFSF13BandVEGFA) changed significantly within 45 minutes after a race and were excluded. Of the remaining nine genes (BMP‐2, IGF‐1, IL1RN, MMP2, MMP9, Osteoprotegrin, RANKL, SAA1 and TGFβ), three genes (IGF‐1, IL1RNandMMP2) were found to be significantly different between catastrophically injured and noninjured horses using multiple logistic regression modelling. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of models, which included mRNA expression, demonstrated sensitivities from 76%‐82% (95% CI: 67%‐93%) and specificities from 84%‐88% (95% CI: 71%‐94%) at the Youden Index.Main limitationsSamples were collected as soon as possible postinjury (within 30 minutes).ConclusionsAnalysis of mRNA expression of specific genes in the future may be considered as an economical, accessible and noninvasive means by which horses at risk for catastrophic injury can be identified.
Itch intensity in prurigo nodularis is closely related to dermal interleukin‐31, oncostatin M, IL‐31 receptor alpha and oncostatin M receptor beta
Authors: Hashimoto Takashi , Nattkemper Leigh A. , Kim Hei Sung , Kursewicz Christina D. , Fowler Emilie , Shah Serena M. , Nanda Sonali , Fayne Rachel A. , Paolini John F. , Romanelli Paolo , Yosipovitch Gil 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPrurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic skin dermatosis with hyperkeratotic and intensely pruritic nodules. Managing PN‐associated itch is difficult because its aetiology is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between itch intensity in PN and the expression of a pruritogenic cytokine interleukin (IL)‐31, its receptor complex components IL‐31 receptor α (IL‐31RA) and oncostatin M receptor β (OSMRβ), and oncostatin M (OSM), which is a ligand of OSMR β, through immunofluorescence staining examination. Itch intensity in PN was closely correlated with the number of dermal IL‐31(+) cells (Spearman's r = 0.551, p < 0.05), dermal IL‐31RA(+) cells (r = 0.475, p < 0.05) and dermal OSM(+) cells (r = 0.505, p < 0.05). In addition, the number of dermal OSMRβ (+) cells was increased in PN (t test, p < 0.05), despite not being correlated with itch intensity (Spearman's r = 0.375, p > 0.05). Major cellular sources of dermal IL‐31 were T cells (27.0% of total IL‐31–expressing cells) and macrophages (35.0%), while those of OSM were mainly T cells (49.8%) and mast cells (26.8%). IL‐31RA–expressing dermal cells were mostly mast cells (49.3%) and macrophages (36.6%), and OSMRβ was mainly expressed by macrophages (51.8%) in the dermis. These findings indicate that IL‐31 (mainly from macrophages and T cells) and OSM (principally from T cells and mast cells) stimulate dermal cells expressing IL‐31RA and OSMRβ (e.g. macrophages), which may further promote itch and inflammation in PN. This complex dermal milieu of cell/cytokine/receptor network can be a therapeutic target for PN‐associated itch.
Wild bees as winners and losers: Relative impacts of landscape composition, quality, and climate
Authors: Kammerer Melanie , Goslee Sarah C. , Douglas Margaret R. , Tooker John F. , Grozinger Christina M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWild bees, like many other taxa, are threatened by land‐use and climate change, which, in turn, jeopardizes pollination of crops and wild plants. Understanding how land‐use and climate factors interact is critical to predicting and managing pollinator populations and ensuring adequate pollination services, but most studies have evaluated either land‐use or climate effects, not both. Furthermore, bee species are incredibly variable, spanning an array of behavioral, physiological, and life‐history traits that can increase or decrease resilience to land‐use or climate change. Thus, there are likely bee species that benefit, while others suffer, from changing climate and land use, but few studies have documented taxon‐specific trends. To address these critical knowledge gaps, we analyzed a long‐term dataset of wild bee occurrences from Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC, USA, examining how different bee genera and functional groups respond to landscape composition, quality, and climate factors. Despite a large body of literature documenting land‐use effects on wild bees, in this study, climate factors emerged as the main drivers of wild‐bee abundance and richness. For wild‐bee communities in spring and summer/fall, temperature and precipitation were more important predictors than landscape composition, landscape quality, or topography. However, relationships varied substantially between wild‐bee genera and functional groups. In the Northeast USA, past trends and future predictions show a changing climate with warmer winters, more intense precipitation in winter and spring, and longer growing seasons with higher maximum temperatures. In almost all of our analyses, these conditions were associated with lower abundance of wild bees. Wild‐bee richness results were more mixed, including neutral and positive relationships with predicted temperature and precipitation patterns. Thus, in this region and undoubtedly more broadly, changing climate poses a significant threat to wild‐bee communities.
Estimating the carbon storage potential and greenhouse gas emissions of French arable cropland using high‐resolution modeling
Authors: Launay Camille , Constantin Julie , Chlebowski Florent , Houot Sabine , Graux Anne‐Isabelle , Klumpp Katja , Martin Raphaël , Mary Bruno , Pellerin Sylvain , Therond Olivier 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMany studies have assessed the potential of agricultural practices to sequester carbon (C). A comprehensive evaluation of impacts of agricultural practices requires not only considering C storage but also direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and their side effects (e.g., on the water cycle or agricultural production). We used a high‐resolution modeling approach with the Simulateur mulTIdisciplinaire pour les Cultures Standard soil‐crop model to quantify soil organic C (SOC) storage potential, GHG balance, biomass production and nitrogen‐ and water‐related impacts for all arable land in France for current cropping systems (baseline scenario) and three mitigation scenarios: (i) spatial and temporal expansion of cover crops, (ii) spatial insertion and temporal extension of temporary grasslands (two sub‐scenarios) and (iii) improved recycling of organic resources as fertilizer. In the baseline scenario, SOC decreased slightly over 30 years in crop‐only rotations but increased significantly in crop/temporary grassland rotations. Results highlighted a strong trade‐off between the storage rate per unit area (kg C ha−1 year−1) of mitigation scenarios and the areas to which they could be applied. As a result, while the most promising scenario at the field scale was the insertion of temporary grassland (+466 kg C ha−1 year−1 stored to a depth of 0.3 m compared to the baseline, on 0.68 Mha), at the national scale, it was by far the expansion of cover crops (+131 kg C ha−1 year−1, on 17.62 Mha). Side effects on crop production, water irrigation and nitrogen emissions varied greatly depending on the scenario and production situation. At the national scale, combining the three mitigation scenarios could mitigate GHG emissions of current cropping systems by 54% (−11.2 from the current 20.5 Mt CO2e year−1), but the remaining emissions would still lie far from the objective of C‐neutral agriculture.