bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the impact of dengue containment activities using high-resolution observational data
Authors: Rehman Nabeel Abdur , Salje Henrik , Kraemer Moritz U G , Subramanian Lakshminarayanan , Cauchemez Simon , Saif Umar , Chunara Rumi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDengue virus causes over 96 million cases worldwide per year and is ex-panding rapidly in geographic range, especially in urban areas. Containment activities are an essential part of reducing the public health burden caused by dengue, but systematic evidence on the comparative efficacy of activities from the field is lacking. To our knowledge, the effect of containment activities on local (sub-city) scale disease dynamics has never been systematically characterized using empirical containment and case data. We combine data from a comprehensive dengue containment monitoring system with confirmed dengue case data from the local government hospitals to estimate the efficacy of seven common containment activities in two urban areas in Pakistan. We use a modified version of the time series Suspected Infected Recovered frame-work to estimate how the reproductive number, R0, of the outbreak changed in relation to deployment of each containment activity. We also estimate the spatial dependence of cases based on deployment of each containment activity. Both analyses suggest that activities aimed at the adult phase of the mosquito lifecycle have the highest efficacy, with fogging having the largest quantifiable effect in reducing cases immediately after deployment. In examining the efficacy of containment activities contemporaneously deployed in the same locations, results here can guide recommendations for future deployment of resources during dengue outbreaks in urban settings.
Heterogeneity in the respiratory symptoms of patients with mild-moderate COPD
Authors: Johnson Kate M. , Safari Abdollah , Tan Wan C. , Bourbeau Jean , FitzGerald J Mark , Sadatsafavi Mohsen ,   for the Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) study and the Canadian Respiratory Research Network
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe burden of symptoms varies markedly between patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and is only weakly correlated with lung function impairment. While heterogeneity in lung function decline and exacerbations have been previously studied, the extent of heterogeneity in symptoms and the factors associated with this heterogeneity are not well understood.MethodsA sample of the general Canadian population ≥40 years with persistent airflow limitation was followed for up to 3 years. Participants reported whether they experienced chronic coughing, phlegm, wheezing, or dyspnea during visits at 18-month intervals. We used mixed-effect logistic regression models (separately for each symptom) to assess overall heterogeneity in the occurrence of symptoms between individuals, and the proportion of variation in symptom burden explained by lung function versus all other clinical characteristics of participants.Results548 participants (54% male, mean age 67 years) contributed 1,086 visits in total, and 82% of patients reported at least one symptom during follow-up. There was substantial heterogeneity in the individual-specific probabilities for the occurrence of symptoms. This heterogeneity was highest for dyspnea and lowest for phlegm (interquartile range of probabilities: 0.15-0.77 and <0.01-0.53, respectively). FEV1 explained 82% of the variation between individuals in the occurrence of phlegm, 26% for dyspnea, 3% for cough, and <0.1% for wheeze. All clinical characteristics of participants (including FEV1) explained between 86% of heterogeneity in the occurrence of phlegm to <1% for wheeze.ConclusionThere is marked heterogeneity in the burden of respiratory symptoms between COPD patients. The ability of lung function and other commonly measured clinical characteristics to explain this heterogeneity differs between symptoms.
A single cell transcriptomic analysis of human neocortical development
Authors: Polioudakis Damon , Torre-Ubieta Luis de la , Langerman Justin , Elkins Andrew G. , Stein Jason L. , Vuong Celine K. , Opland Carli K. , Lu Daning , Connell William , Ruzzo Elizabeth K. , Lowe Jennifer K. , Hadzic Tarik , Hinz Flora I. , Sabri Shan , Lowry William E. , Plath Kathrin , Geschwind Daniel H. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDefining the number, proportion, or lineage of distinct cell types in the developing human brain is an important goal of modern brain research. We defined single cell transcriptomic profiles for 40,000 cells at mid-gestation to identify cell types in the developing human neocortex. We define expression profiles corresponding to all known major cell types at this developmental period and identify multiple transcription factors and co-factors expressed in specific cell types, providing an unprecedented resource for understanding human neocortical development including the first single-cell characterization of human subplate neurons. We characterize major developmental trajectories during early neurogenesis, showing that cell type differentiation occurs on a continuum that involves transitions that tie cell cycle progression with early cell fate decisions. We use these data to deconvolute regulatory networks and map neuropsychiatric disease genes to specific cell types, implicating dysregulation of specific cell types, as the mechanistic underpinnings of several neurodevelopmental disorders. Together these results provide an extensive catalog of cell types in human neocortex and extend our understanding of early cortical development, human brain evolution and the cellular basis of neuropsychiatric disease.One Sentence SummaryComprehensive single cell transcriptomes in developing human cortex inform models of cell diversity, differentiation and disease risk.
Frontal and occipito-temporal Theta activity as marker of error monitoring in Human-Avatar joint performance
Authors: Moreau Q. , Candidi M. , Era V. , Tieri G. , Aglioti S.M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDiscrepancies between sensory predictions and action outcome are at the base of error coding. However, these phenomena have mainly been studied focusing on individual performance. Here, we explored prediction errors during a human-avatar motor interaction and focused on both the classical frontal error-related brain responses and the activity of the action observation network. Our motor interaction paradigm required healthy individuals to synchronize their reach-to-grasp movements with those of a virtual partner in conditions that did (Interactive) or did not require (Cued) movement prediction and adaptation to the partner’s actions. Crucially, in 30% of the trials the virtual partner suddenly and unpredictably changed its movement trajectory thereby violating the human participant’s expectation. These changes elicited error-related neuromarkers (ERN/Pe - Theta/Alpha modulations) over fronto-central electrodes mainly during the Interactive condition. Source localization and connectivity analyses showed that the frontal Theta activity induced by violations of the expected interactive movements was in phase with occipito-temporal Theta activity. These results expand current knowledge about the neural correlates of on-line motor interactions linking the frontal error-monitoring system to visual, body motion-related, responses.
Competition within species determines the value of a mutualism between species
Authors: Sun Syuan-Jyun , Horrocks Nicholas P.C. , Kilner Rebecca M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSocial interactions within species, and mutualisms between species are both well characterised, but their influence on each other is poorly understood. We determined how interactions among burying beetlesNicrophorus vespilloidesinfluence the value of their interactions with the mitePoecilochirus carabi.Beetles transport these mites to carrion, upon which both species breed. We show that mites help beetles win intraspecific contests for this scarce resource: mites raise beetle body temperature, which enhances beetle competitive prowess. However, mites confer this benefit only upon smaller beetles, which are otherwise doomed by their size to lose contests for carrion. Larger beetles need no assistance to win a carcass and lose reproductive success when breeding alongside mites. We conclude that social interactions within species explain whether interactions with another species are mutualistic or parasitic.One Sentence SummarySocial interactions within species can explain whether interactions with a second species are mutualistic or parasitic.
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Dynamics in Movement Intermittency
Authors: Susilaradeya Damar , Xu Wei , Hall Thomas M , Galán Ferran , Alter Kai , Jackson Andrew 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWhat determines how we move in the world? Motor neuroscience often focusses either on intrinsic rhythmical properties of motor circuits or extrinsic sensorimotor feedback loops. Here we show that the interplay of both intrinsic and extrinsic dynamics is required to explain the intermittency observed in continuous tracking movements. Using spatiotemporal perturbations in humans, we demonstrate that apparently discrete submovements made 2-3 times per second reflect constructive interference between motor errors and continuous feedback corrections that are filtered by intrinsic circuitry in the motor system. Local field potentials in monkey motor cortex revealed characteristic signatures of a Kalman filter giving rise to both low-frequency cortical cycles during movement, and delta oscillations during sleep. We interpret these results within the framework of optimal feedback control, and suggest that the intrinsic rhythmicity of motor cortical networks reflects an internal model of external dynamics which is used for state estimation during feedback-guided movement.
Cdc42 negatively regulates endocytosis during apical plasma membrane maintenance and development in mouse tubular organs in vivo
Authors: Shitara Akiko , Malec Lenka , Ebrahim Seham , Chen Desu , Bleck Christopher , Hoffman Matthew P. , Weigert Roberto 
Published: August 2018

AbstractLumen establishment and maintenance are fundamental for tubular organs physiological functions. Most of the studies investigating the mechanisms regulating this process have been carried out in cell cultures or in smaller organisms, whereas little has been done in mammalian model systems in vivo. Here we used the salivary glands of live mice to examine the role of the small GTPase Cdc42 in the regulation of the homeostasis of the intercellular canaliculi, a specialized apical domain of the acinar cells, where protein and fluid secretion occur. Depletion of Cdc42 in adult mice induced a significant expansion of the apical canaliculi, whereas depletion at late embryonic stages resulted in a complete inhibition of their post-natal formation. In addition, intravital subcellular microscopy revealed that reduced levels of Cdc42 affected membrane trafficking from and towards the plasma membrane, highlighting a novel role for Cdc42 in membrane remodeling through the negative regulation of selected endocytic pathways.
Association of SRB1, ITGB2 gene polymorphisms with coronary heart disease in Chinese Han population
Authors: Sun Yuan , Long-Wang Tian , Zeng Yong , Gong Feng-Ying , Zhu Hui-Juan , Pan Hui , Wang Ying , Wang Jia-Li 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies in mice and humans have implicated the lipoprotein receptor SRB1 in association with atherosclerosis and lipid levels. In our previous proteomics research, the expression of ITGB2 has differences between epicardial and subcutaneous adipose tissue. However, the association between the reported variants and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) was not confirmed.MethodsWe conducted a case–control study consisted of 496 CHD patients and 367 controls. The two groups are adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes status and the proportion of dyslipidemia. The genotypes and allele frequency of variants rs838880,rs5888,rs5889 in SRB1 and rs235326,rs2070947,rs2070946 in ITGB2 were determined using Sequenom Mass-ARRAY technology.ResultsThe genotypes frequencies of all the six SNPs were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium test. For gene SRB1 rs838880, there was a significant difference in the alleles frequency(p=0.017), genotype frequency(p=0.0028), recessive model (p=0.000672) between CHD group and control group. For gene ITGB2 rs2070947, there was a significant difference in the recessive model (p=0.03). By comparing the clinical and serum metabolic indexes of SNP sites by genotype we find that among three genotypes of SRB1 rs5888,there were significant difference in the level of dyslipidemia history and serum LPA, among three genotypes of ITGB2 rs235236,there were significant difference in the levels of serum HDL,APOA1 and hypertension history, among three genotypes of ITGB2 rs2070947,there were significant difference in the level of serum APOA1,hsCRP.ConclusionsOur findings indicated that SNP rs838880 of gene SRB1 and rs2070947 of gene ITGB2 are associated with the risk of CHD in Chinese han population.
Temporal dependence of shifts in mu opioid receptor mobility at the cell surface after agonist binding observed by single-particle tracking
Authors: Metz Marissa J. , Pennock Reagan L. , Krapf Diego , Hentges Shane T. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAgonist binding to the mu opioid receptor (MOR) results in conformational changes that allow recruitment of G-proteins, activation of downstream effectors and eventual desensitization and internalization, all of which could affect receptor mobility. The present study employed single particle tracking (SPT) of quantum dot labeled FLAG-tagged MORs to examine shifts in MOR mobility after agonist binding. FLAG-MORs on the plasma membrane were in both mobile and immobile states under basal conditions. Activation of FLAG-MORs with DAMGO caused an acute increase in the fraction of mobile MORs, and free portions of mobile tracks were partially dependent on interactions with G-proteins. In contrast, 10-minute exposure to DAMGO or morphine increased the fraction of immobile FLAG-MORs. While the decrease in mobility with prolonged DAMGO exposure corresponded to an increase in colocalization with clathrin, the increase in colocalization was present in both mobile and immobile FLAG-MORs. Thus, no single mobility state of the receptor accounted for colocalization with clathrin. These findings demonstrate that SPT can be used to track agonist-dependent changes in MOR mobility over time, but that the mobility states observed likely arise from a diverse set of interactions and will be most informative when examined in concert with particular downstream effectors.
Elimination of Vesicular Zinc Alters the Behavioural and Neuroanatomical Effects of Social Defeat Stress in Mice
Authors: McAllister Brendan B. , Wright David K. , Wortman Ryan C. , Shultz Sandy R. , Dyck Richard H. 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTChronic stress can have deleterious effects on mental health, increasing the risk of developing depression or anxiety. But not all individuals are equally affected by stress; some are susceptible while others are more resilient. Understanding the mechanisms that lead to these differing outcomes has been a focus of considerable research. One unexplored mechanism is vesicular zinc – zinc that is released by neurons as a neuromodulator. We examined how chronic stress, induced by repeated social defeat, affects mice that lack vesicular zinc due to genetic deletion of zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3). These mice, unlike wild type mice, did not become socially avoidant of a novel conspecific, suggesting resilience to stress. However, they showed enhanced sensitivity to the potentiating effect of stress on cued fear memory. Thus, the contribution of vesicular zinc to stress susceptibility is not straightforward. Stress also increased anxiety-like behaviour but produced no deficits in a spatial Y-maze test. We found no evidence that microglial activation or hippocampal neurogenesis accounted for the differences in behavioural outcome. Volumetric analysis revealed that ZnT3 KO mice have larger corpus callosum and parietal cortex volumes, and that corpus callosum volume was decreased by stress in ZnT3 KO, but not wild type, mice.
Activation of polarized cell growth by inhibition of cell polarity
Authors: Geymonat Marco , Chessel Anatole , Dodgson James , Punter Hannah , Horns Felix , Nagy Attila Csikász , Carazo Salas Rafael Edgardo 
Published: August 2018

AbstractA key feature of cells is the capacity to activate new functional polarized domains contemporaneously to pre-existing ones. How cells accomplish this is not clear. Here, we show that in fission yeast inhibition of cell polarity at pre-existing domains of polarized cell growth is required to activate new growth. This inhibition is mediated by the ERM-related polarity factor Tea3, which antagonizes the activation of the Rho-GTPase Cdc42 by its co-factor Scd2. We demonstrate that Tea3 acts in a phosphorylation-dependent manner controlled by the PAK kinase Shk1 and that, like Scd2, Tea3 is direct substrate of Shk1. Importantly, we show that Tea3 and Scd2 compete for their binding to Shk1, indicating that their biochemical competition for Shk1 underpins their antagonistic roles in controlling polarity. Thus, by preventing pre-existing growth domains from becoming overpowering, Tea3 allows cells to redistribute their polarity-activating machinery to prospective sites and control their timing of activation.
Oncogenic activation of Nrf2 by specific knockout of Nrf1α that acts as a dominant tumor repressor
Authors: Qiu Lu , Wang Meng , Hu Shaofan , Ru Xufang , Ren Yonggang , Yu Siwang , Zhang Yiguo 
Published: August 2018

SUMMARYLiver-specific knockout of Nrf1 in mice leads to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with dyslipidemia, and its deterioration results in spontaneous hepatoma, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. A similar pathological model is herein reconstructed by using human Nrf1α-specific knockout cell lines. We demonstrated that a marked increase of the inflammation marker COX2 in Nrf1α−/− cells. Loss of Nrf1α leads to hyperactivation of Nrf2, which results from substantial decreases in both Keap1 and PTEN in Nrf1α−/− cells. Further investigation of xenograft mice showed that malignant growth of Nrf1α−/−-derived tumor is almost abolished by silencing Nrf2, while Nrf1α+/+-tumor is markedly repressed by inactive Nrf2−/−ΔTA, but unaffected by a priori constitutive activator of caNrf2ΔN. Mechanistic studies unraveled there exist opposing and unifying inter-regulatory cross-talks between Nrf1 and Nrf2. Collectively, Nrf1α manifests a dominant tumor-suppressive effect by confining Nrf2 oncogenicity, while Nrf2 can directly activate the transcriptional expression of Nrf1 to form a negative feedback loop.HIGHLIGHTSOpposing and unifying inter-regulatory cross-talks between Nrf1α and Nrf2Malignant growth of Nrf1α−/−-derived tumor is prevented by silencing Nrf2Hyper-activation of Nrf2 by Nrf1α−/− results from decreased Keap1 and PTENNrf1α+/+-tumor is repressed by Nrf2−/−ΔTA, but unaltered by its active caNrf2ΔN
Multiple isotopic models using various kinetic fractionation coefficients to estimateδ18O of leaf water
Authors: Zhang Yonge , Yu Xinxiao , Chen Lihua , Jia Guodong 
Published: August 2018

AbstractInvestigation ofδ18O of leaf water may improve our understanding of the evapotranspiration partitioning and material exchange between the inside and outside of leaves. In this study,δ18O of bulk leaf water (δL,b) was estimated by both isotopic–steady–state (ISS) and non–steady–state (NSS) assumptions considering the Péclet effect. Specifically, we carefully modified kinetic fractionation coefficients (αk). The results showed that the Péclet effect is required to predictδL,b. On the diel time scale, both NSS assumption + Péclet effect (NSS + P) and ISS assumption + Péclet effect (ISS + P) using modifiedαk(αk–modified) forδL,bshowed a good agreement with observedδL,b(p> 0.05). When using previously proposedαk, however, both NSS + P and ISS + P were not reliable estimators ofδL,b(p< 0.05). On a longer time scale (days), estimates of daily meanδL,bfrom ISS + P outperformed the estimates from NSS + P when using the sameαkvalues. Also, the employment ofαk–modifiedimproved model performance in predicting daily meanδL,bcompared to the use of previously proposedαk. Clearly, special care must be taken concerningαkwhen using isotopic models to estimateδL,b.HighlightFor hourly and daily mean data sets, the employment of modified kinetic fractionation coefficients significantly improved model performance forδ18O of bulk leaf water.
Effect of methylene blue on the formation of oxidized phospholipid vesicles
Authors: Fabre J-F. , Cerny M. , Cassen A. , Mouloungui Z. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSoybean phosphatidylcholine, which is rich in linoleic acid, was oxidized with singlet oxygen through photosensitization with methylene blue. This compound facilitates the oxidation of phospholipids relative to the reaction with free unsaturated fatty acids. A response surface methodology was used to control oxidation, with methylene blue concentration and the amount of available air as independent variables. The conjugated diene-to triene ratio was then monitored. Hydroperoxide yield dependent principally on the amount of air, whereas photosensitizer concentration strongly influenced the size and zeta potential of vesicles formed by the sonication of oxidized phospholipids in water. Methylene blue plays an important role in the surface charge expression and ion permeability of these vesicles.
Analysing the barriers of lean in Indian coal mining industry using integrated ISM-MICMAC and SEM
Authors: Khaba Sorokhaibam , Bhar Chandan 
Published: August 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a model for key barriers to lean implementation in the Indian coal mining industry.Design/methodology/approachInterpretive structural modeling (ISM) has been used to develop a proper hierarchy and contextual relationship of key barriers to lean implementation in the Indian coal mining industry through literature review and expert opinion which is followed by the classification of barriers using Matrice d’ Impacts Croisés-Multiplication Appliquée á un Classement (MICMAC) and questionnaire-based survey to validate the ISM model using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsIn this study, 14 key barriers to lean implementation in the Indian coal mining industry have been identified, modeled and analyzed. The lack of top management commitment, financial constraints and lack of inter-departments co-ordination are found to be the most important barriers to lean implementation in the mining industry. The ISM-based model is validated using the SEM.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis of data represents that relatively more participants were from the mines located in eastern India and the maximum participants were managers and executives holding different levels (lower, middle or upper), although key participants in different mines were encouraged to distribute the survey to other employees also.Practical implicationsThis model on lean barriers would help the decision makers, researchers and practitioners to anticipate potential barriers to lean implementation and support the existing academic research on lean. Accordingly, the focus on the lean barriers can be prioritized for the better utilization of the available resources for eliminating or minimizing the barriers.Originality/valueThis paper is an original contribution of analysis of the lean barriers in Indian mining industry using the integrated ISM–MICMAC and SEM approach.