bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multidimensional approach to formulating a specialized diet for northern corn rootworm larvae
Authors: Huynh Man P. , Hibbard Bruce E. , Lapointe Stephen L. , Niedz Randall P. , French B. Wade , Pereira Adriano E. , Finke Deborah L. , Shelby Kent S. , Coudron Thomas A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe northern corn rootworm (NCR),Diabrotica barberiSmith & Lawrence, is a major pest of maize (Zea maysL.). This pest has developed resistance to insecticides and adapted to crop rotation and may already be in the early stages of adaptation to toxins produced byBacillus thuringiensis(Bt). Toxicity bioassays using artificial diet have proven to be valuable for monitoring resistance in many species, but no artificial diet has been developed specifically for NCR larvae. Toward this end, we first evaluated knownDiabroticadiets to identify a starting media. We then developed a specialized diet for NCR using an iterative approach. Screening designs including 8 diet components were performed to identify the principal nutritional components contributing to multiple developmental parameters (survival, weight, and molting). We then applied mixture designs coupled with response surface modeling to optimize a blend of those components. Finally, we validated an improved NCR diet formulation that supports approximately 97% survival and molting, and a 150% increase in larval weight after 10 days of feeding compared with the best previously published artificial diet. This formulation appears suitable for use in diet bioassays as a tool for evaluating the resistance of NCR populations to insecticides.
“Hit the missing stimulus”. A simultaneous EEG-fMRI study to localize the generators of endogenous ERPs in an omitted target paradigm
Authors: Ragazzoni Aldo , Di Russo Francesco , Fabbri Serena , Pesaresi Ilaria , Di Rollo Andrea , Perri Rinaldo Livio , Barloscio Davide , Bocci Tommaso , Cosottini Mirco , Sartucci Ferdinando 
Published: March 2019

AbstractEvent-Related Potentials (ERPs) occurring independently from any stimulus are purely endogenous (emitted potentials) and their neural generators can be unequivocally linked with cognitive processes. In the present study, the subjects performed two similar visual counting tasks: a standard two-stimulus oddball, and an omitted-target oddball task, characterized by the physical absence of the target stimulus. Our investigation aimed at localizing the neural sources of the scalp-recorded endogenous/emitted ERPs. To optimize the source localization, the high temporal resolution of electrophysiology was combined with the fine spatial information provided by the simultaneous recording of functional magnetic resonance (fMRI). Both tasks identified two endogenous ERP components in the 300 to 520 ms interval. An earlier component, pP2, showed a bilateral generator in the anterior Insula. A later P3 component (P3b) was generated bilaterally in the temporal-parietal junction, the premotor and motor area and the anterior intraparietal sulcus (this latter one only in the standard oddball). Anticipatory slow waves (beginning 900 to 500 ms pre-stimulus), also of endogenous nature, were produced by the inferior and middle frontal gyrus and the supplementary and cingulate motor areas. Our protocol disentangled pre- from post-stimulus fMRI activations and provided original clues to the psychophysiological interpretation of emitted/endogenous ERPs.
Structural properties and enzyme stabilization function of the intrinsically disordered LEA_4 protein TdLEA3 from wheat
Authors: Koubaa Sana , Bremer Anne , Hincha Dirk K. , Brini Faiçal 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLate Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins are mostly predicted to be intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that are induced under conditions of cellular dehydration. Their functions, however, are largely unexplored and also their structure and interactions with potential target molecules have only recently been investigated in a small number of proteins. Here, we have characterized the wheat LEA protein TdLEA3, which has sequence homology with the group of LEA_4 proteins that are characterized by the 11-mer repeat motif TAQAAKEKAXE. TdLEA3 has five repeats of this imperfectly conserved 11-mer amino acid motif. To investigate the structure of the protein, we used circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The data show that TdLEA3 was largely disordered under fully hydrated conditions and acquired α-helical structure upon drying and in the presence of trifluoroethanol (TFE). Moreover, the addition of increasing glycerol concentrations to the protein solution induced a progressive gain in α-helix content. Activity assays indicated that TdLEA3 was able to prevent the inactivation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) under heat, dehydration-rehydration and freeze-thaw treatments. In addition, TdLEA3 reduced aggregate formation in the enzyme during these treatments.
Effects of RNAi-based silencing of chitin synthase gene on moulting and fecundity in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum)
Authors: Ye Chao , Jiang Yi-Di , An Xin , Yang Li , Shang Feng , Niu Jinzhi , Wang Jin-Jun 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is an important agricultural pest and an ideal model organism for various studies. Chitin synthase (CHS) catalyses chitin synthesis, a critical structural component of insect exoskeletons. Here, we identified a CHS gene from A. pisum, ApisCHS. The ApisCHS expression profiles showed that ApisCHS was expressed in various developmental stages and in all tested tissues of A. pisum, including the epidermis, embryo, gut and haemolymph. Notably, ApisCHS exhibited peak expression in the middle of each nymphal period and was extremely highly expressed in the epidermis and embryo. RNA interference (RNAi) showed that ~600 ng of dsRNA is an effective dose for gene silencing by injection for dsRNA delivery; moreover, 1200 ng·μL−1 dsRNA induced CHS gene silencing by a plant-mediated feeding approach. A 44.7% mortality rate and a 51.3% moulting rate were observed 72 h after injection of dsApisCHS into fourth-instar nymphs, compared with the levels in the control (injected with dsGFP). Moreover, a longer period was required for nymph development and a 44.2% deformity rate among newborn nymphs was obtained upon ingestion of dsApisCHS. These results suggest that ApisCHS plays a critical role in nymphal growth and embryonic development in pea aphids, and is a potential target for RNAi-based aphid pest control.
One-step loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for the rapid and sensitive detection of Fusarium fujikuroi in bakanae disease through NRPS31, an important gene in the gibberellic acid bio-synthesis
Authors: Zhang S. Y. , Dai D. J. , Wang H. D. , Zhang C. Q. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractRice bakanae disease caused by Fusarium fujikuroi is one of the most famous seed borne diseases. If infected seeds are used, this disease will occur with serious impacts. Thus, a simple, reliable, specific and sensitive method for surveillance is urgently needed to screen infected seeds and seedlings at early developmental stages. In this study, a rapid and efficient loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method was developed to detect F. fujikuroi in contaminated rice seeds and seedlings for diagnosis of bakanae disease. NRPS31 gene plays an important role in the gibberellic acid (GA) bio-synthesis of F. fujikuroi, and is not present in any other sequenced fungal genome, and thus was adopted as the target for LAMP primer design. The LAMP assay enables the fast detection of as little as 1 fg of pure genomic F. fujikuroi DNA within 60 minutes. Further tests indicated that the LAMP assay was more sensitive and faster than the traditional isolation method for F. fujikuroi detection in rice seeds and seedlings. Our results show that this LAMP assay is a useful and convenient tool for detecting F. fujikuroi, and it can be applied widely in seed quarantine of bakanae disease, providing valid data for disease prevention.
Methodological refinement of Aldara-induced psoriasiform dermatitis model in mice
Authors: Horváth Szabina , Komlódi Rita , Perkecz Anikó , Pintér Erika , Gyulai Rolland , Kemény Ágnes 
Published: March 2019

AbstractImiquimod (IMQ)-induced skin inflammation is currently the most widely accepted psoriasis animal model, however, it features several limitations. We have modified the IMQ-model to minimize its systemic effects towards effectively maintaining the characteristic skin reactions. The original protocol (OP) uses 62.5 mg Aldara cream (or vaseline) on the shaved back skin of mice for 4 days. In contrast, in our modified protocol (MP) 25 mg Aldara and vaseline are applied simultaneously in separate Finn chambers over the dorsal skin of mice. In both the OP and MP groups, histology showed unequivocal hallmarks of psoriasiform dermatitis. Additionally, skin scaling and blood perfusion values were similar. While Aldara elicited significantly increased skin thickness in the MP group, significant weight loss, spleen enlargement, increased inflammatory cytokine levels in plasma, and treatment related death were only observed in the OP group. Our new method reproduces psoriatic skin alterations highlighting considerably reduced systemic inflammatory reactions. Possessing psoriasiform and control skin areas on the same mouse also reduces inter-individual differences. Additionally, the new method permits prolonged IMQ treatment studies to mimic the chronic nature of psoriasis. Finally, our experimental approach may also be used in other mouse models, to prevent the undesired systemic effects of topically applied drugs.
A colorimetric strategy based on dynamic chemistry for direct detection of Trypanosomatid species
Authors: Tabraue-Chávez Mavys , Luque-González María Angélica , Marín-Romero Antonio , Sánchez-Martín Rosario María , Escobedo-Araque Pablo , Pernagallo Salvatore , Díaz-Mochón Juan José 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLeishmaniasis and Chagas disease are endemic in many countries, and re-emerging in the developed countries. A rapid and accurate diagnosis is important for early treatment for reducing the duration of infection as well as for preventing further potential health complications. In this work, we have developed a novel colorimetric molecular assay that integrates nucleic acid analysis by dynamic chemistry (ChemNAT) with reverse dot-blot hybridization in an array format for a rapid and easy discrimination of Leishmania major and Trypanosoma cruzi. The assay consists of a singleplex PCR step that amplifies a highly homologous DNA sequence which encodes for the RNA component of the large ribosome subunit. The amplicons of the two different parasites differ between them by single nucleotide variations, known as “Single Nucleotide Fingerprint” (SNF) markers. The SNF markers can be easily identified by naked eye using a novel micro Spin-Tube device "Spin-Tube", as each of them creates a specific spot pattern. Moreover, the direct use of ribosomal RNA without requiring the PCR pre-amplification step is also feasible, further increasing the simplicity of the assay. The molecular assay delivers sensitivity capable of identifying up to 8.7 copies per µL with single mismatch specificity. The Spin-Tube thus represents an innovative solution providing benefits in terms of time, cost, and simplicity, all of which are crucial for the diagnosis of infectious disease in developing countries.
Extensive elemental mapping unlocks Mg/Ca ratios as climate proxy in seasonal records of Mediterranean limpets
Authors: Hausmann N. , Prendergast A. L. , Lemonis A. , Zech J. , Roberts P. , Siozos P. , Anglos D. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractElemental analysis of biogeochemical archives is an established technique used to study climate in a range of applications, including ocean circulation, glacial/interglacial climates, and anthropogenic climate change. Data from mollusc archives are especially important because of their global abundance and sub-annual resolution. Despite this potential, they are underrepresented among palaeoclimate studies, due to enigmatic physiological influences skewing the elemental record. Understanding the patterns behind these influences will improve data interpretation and lead to the development of new climate proxies. Here, we show for the first time that extensive spatial mapping of multiple mollusc specimens using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) across a wider region can resolve enigmatic patterns within the elemental record caused by physiological influences. 2D elemental (Mg/Ca) maps of whole limpet shells (Patella caerulea) from across the Mediterranean revealed patterns of variability within individual mollusc records as well as within isochronous parts of specimens. By registering and quantifying these patterns, we established previously uninterpretable correlations with temperature (R2 > 0.8, p < 0.01). This outcome redefines the possibilities of accessing sub-annual climate proxies and presents the means to assess annual temperature ranges using oxygen isotope analysis requiring only 2 samples per shell.
Insights into the dynamic nature of the dsRNA-bound TLR3 complex
Authors: Gosu Vijayakumar , Son Seungwoo , Shin Donghyun , Song Ki-Duk 
Published: March 2019

AbstractToll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), an endosomal receptor crucial for immune responses upon viral invasion. The TLR3 ectodomain (ECD) is responsible for double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) recognition and mutational analysis suggested that TLR3 ECD C-terminal dimerization is essential for dsRNA binding. Moreover, the L412F polymorphism of TLR3 is associated with human diseases. Although the mouse structure of the TLR3-dsRNA complex provides valuable insights, the structural dynamic behavior of the TLR3-dsRNA complex in humans is not completely understood. Hence, in this study, we performed molecular dynamic simulations of human wild-type and mutant TLR3 complexes. Our results suggested that apoTLR3 ECD dimers are unlikely to be stable due to the distance between the monomers are largely varied during simulations. The observed interaction energies and hydrogen bonds in dsRNA-bound TLR3 wild-type and mutant complexes indicate the presence of a weak dimer interface at the TLR3 ECD C-terminal site, which is required for effective dsRNA binding. The L412F mutant exhibited similar dominant motion compared to wild-type. Additionally, we identified the distribution of crucial residues for signal propagation in TLR3-dsRNA complex through the evaluation of residue betweenness centrality (CB). The results of this study extend our understanding of TLR3-dsRNA complex, which may assist in TLR3 therapeutics.
Tryptophan hydroxylase (TRH) loss of function mutations in Daphnia deregulated growth, energetic, serotoninergic and arachidonic acid metabolic signalling pathways
Authors: Campos Bruno , Rivetti Claudia , Tauler Roma , Piña Benjamin , Barata Carlos 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSerotonin has a pivotal function regulating development, growth, reproduction and behavior in animals. In this paper, we studied the deregulatory effects of the deprivation of serotonin in Daphnia magna TRH CRISPR-Cas9 mutants. Bi-allelic in-del THR mutants and, to a lesser extent, mono-allelic ones grew less, reproduced later, and produced smaller clutches than wild type clones. Transcriptomic and functional gene analyses showed a down-regulation of growth/molting and energy metabolism signaling pathways in TRH mutants, while revealing marked differences between mono- and bi-allelic clones. Bi-allelic mutants, lacking serotonin, presented the serotonergic synapse and arachidonic acid metabolic pathways down-regulated while the tryptophan to kynurenine was upregulated, thus indicating a cross-talk between the serotonergic and arachidonic acid metabolic pathways. Finally, the effects on the insulin growth factor-mediated signaling pathway were marginal. These changes in functional and metabolic pathways are consistent with previously reported effects in D. magna exposed to pharmaceuticals that inhibited arachidonic metabolism or enhanced the levels of serotonin.
Four-Year Outcome of Aflibercept for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy
Authors: Nishikawa Keiichi , Oishi Akio , Hata Masayuki , Miyake Masahiro , Ooto Sotaro , Yamashiro Kenji , Miyata Manabu , Tamura Hiroshi , Ueda-Arakawa Naoko , Takahashi Ayako , Kawashima Yu , Tsujikawa Akitaka 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIntravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents such as ranibizumab and aflibercept are the first-line treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, data about long-term outcome in real-world clinical practice is scarce. We recruited 98 AMD patients and investigated four-year visual outcome. During the four years, 25 patients dropped out. The survivors received 7.0 ± 0.1 injections during the first year and 8.0 ± 7.4 injections in the following three years. The logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) at baseline, year one, and year four was 0.28, 0.14 (P = 0.033), and 0.22 (P = 0.697), respectively. The gain of vision was not different among AMD subtypes (typical AMD, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, and retinal angiomatous proliferation; P = 0.513) Among the investigated factors, the presence of external limiting membrane (ELM), the absence of vitreoretinal adhesion, and thicker choroid at baseline were associated with better logMAR values at year four (coefficient beta = −0.388, 0.201, and −0.001; P = 7.34 × 10−6; 0.01, and 0.028, respectively). In the present study, vision was retained at baseline level after the four-year treatment with aflibercept. The status of ELM, vitreoretinal adhesion, and choroidal thickness were predictive factors for final vision.
Chronic contact with realistic soil concentrations of imidacloprid affects the mass, immature development speed, and adult longevity of solitary bees
Authors: Anderson Nicholas L. , Harmon-Threatt Alexandra N. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe non-target effects of pesticides are an area of growing concern, particularly for ecologically and economically important organisms such as bees. Much of the previous research on the effects of neonicotinoids, a class of insecticide that has gained attention for non-target effects, on bees focused on the consumption of contaminated food resources by a limited number of eusocial species. However, neonicotinoids are known to accumulate and persist in soils at concentrations 2 to 60 times greater than in food resources, and may represent an important route of exposure for diverse and ecologically important ground-nesting bees. This study aimed to assess the effect of chronic contact exposure to realistic soil concentrations of imidacloprid, the most widely used neonicotinoid pesticide, on bee longevity, development speed, and body mass. Cohorts ofOsmia lignariaandMegachile rotundatawere used as proxies for ground-nesting species. We observed species- and sex-specific changes to adult longevity, development speed, and mass in response to increasing concentrations of imidacloprid. These results suggest that chronic exposure to nesting substrates contaminated with neonicotinoids may represent an important route of exposure that could have considerable physiological and ecological consequences for bees and plant-pollinator interactions.
Comparative label-free lipidomic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during dormancy and reactivation
Authors: Raghunandanan Sajith , Jose Leny , Gopinath Vipin , Kumar Ramakrishnan Ajay 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMycobacterium tuberculosis employs several strategies to combat and adapt to adverse conditions encountered inside the host. The non-replicative dormant state of the bacterium is linked to drug resistance and slower response to anti-tubercular therapy. It is known that alterations in lipid content allow dormant bacteria to acclimatize to cellular stress. Employing comparative lipidomic analysis we profiled the changes in lipid metabolism in M. tuberculosis using a modified Wayne’s model of hypoxia-induced dormancy. Further we subjected the dormant bacteria to resuscitation, and analyzed their lipidomes until the lipid profile was similar to that of normoxially grown bacteria. An enhanced degradation of cell wall-associated and cytoplasmic lipids during dormancy, and their gradual restoration during reactivation, were clearly evident. This study throws light on distinct lipid metabolic patterns that M. tuberculosis undergoes to maintain its cellular energetics during dormancy and reactivation.
A Spiking Neural Network Model of Depth from Defocus for Event-based Neuromorphic Vision
Authors: Haessig Germain , Berthelon Xavier , Ieng Sio-Hoi , Benosman Ryad 
Published: March 2019

AbstractDepth from defocus is an important mechanism that enables vision systems to perceive depth. While machine vision has developed several algorithms to estimate depth from the amount of defocus present at the focal plane, existing techniques are slow, energy demanding and mainly relying on numerous acquisitions and massive amounts of filtering operations on the pixels’ absolute luminance value. Recent advances in neuromorphic engineering allow an alternative to this problem, with the use of event-based silicon retinas and neural processing devices inspired by the organizing principles of the brain. In this paper, we present a low power, compact and computationally inexpensive setup to estimate depth in a 3D scene in real time at high rates that can be directly implemented with massively parallel, compact, low-latency and low-power neuromorphic engineering devices. Exploiting the high temporal resolution of the event-based silicon retina, we are able to extract depth at 100 Hz for a power budget lower than a 200 mW (10 mW for the camera, 90 mW for the liquid lens and ~100 mW for the computation). We validate the model with experimental results, highlighting features that are consistent with both computational neuroscience and recent findings in the retina physiology. We demonstrate its efficiency with a prototype of a neuromorphic hardware system and provide testable predictions on the role of spike-based representations and temporal dynamics in biological depth from defocus experiments reported in the literature.
Involvement of TRPM2 and TRPM8 in temperature-dependent masking behavior
Authors: Ota Wataru , Nakane Yusuke , Kashio Makiko , Suzuki Yoshiro , Nakamura Kazuhiro , Mori Yasuo , Tominaga Makoto , Yoshimura Takashi 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMasking is a direct behavioral response to environmental changes and plays an important role in the temporal distribution of activity. However, the mechanisms responsible for masking remain unclear. Here we identify thermosensors and a possible neural circuit regulating temperature-dependent masking behavior in mice. Analysis of mice lacking thermosensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (Trpv1/3/4 and Trpm2/8) reveals that temperature-dependent masking is impaired in Trpm2- and Trpm8-null mice. Several brain regions are activated during temperature-dependent masking, including the preoptic area (POA), known as the thermoregulatory center, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is the primary circadian pacemaker, the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), and the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The POA, SCN, PVT are interconnected, and the PVT sends dense projections to the NAc, a key brain region involved in wheel-running activity. Partial chemical lesion of the PVT attenuates masking, suggesting the involvement of the PVT in temperature-dependent masking behavior.