bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of functional networks for syllable and word-level processing
Authors: Rimmele J.M. , Sun Y. , Michalareas G. , Ghitza O. , Poeppel D. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSpeech comprehension requires the ability to temporally segment the acoustic input for higher-level linguistic analysis. Oscillation-based approaches suggest that low-frequency auditory cortex oscillations track syllable-sized acoustic information and therefore emphasize the relevance of syllabic-level processing for speech segmentation. Most linguistic approaches, however, focus on mapping from acoustic-phonemic representations to the lexical level. How syllabic processing interacts with higher levels of speech processing, beyond segmentation, including the anatomical and neurophysiological characteristics of the networks involved, is debated. Here we investigate the effects of lexical processing and the interactions with (acoustic) syllable processing by examining MEG data recorded in two experiments using a frequency-tagging paradigm. Participants listened to disyllabic words presented at a rate of 4 syllables/sec. Two conjectures were evaluated: (i) lexical processing of words activates a network that interacts with syllable processing; and (ii) syllable transitions contribute to word-level processing. We show that lexical content activated a left-lateralized frontal and superior and middle temporal network and increased the interaction between left middle temporal areas and auditory cortex (phase-phase coupling). Mere syllable-transition information, in contrast, activated a bilateral superior-, middle temporal and inferior frontal network and increased the interaction between those areas. Word and syllable processing interacted in superior and middle temporal areas (cross-frequency coupling), whereas syllable tracking (cerebro-acoustic coherence) decreased when word-level information was present. The data provide a new perspective on speech comprehension by demonstrating a contribution of an acoustic-syllabic to lexical processing route.Significance statementThe comprehension of speech requires integrating information at multiple time scales, including phonemic, syllabic, and word scales. Typically, we think of decoding speech in the service of recognizing words as a process that maps from phonemic units to words. Recent neurophysiological evidence, however, has highlighted the relevance of syllable-sized chunks for segmenting speech. Is there more to recognizing spoken language? We provide neural evidence for brain network dynamics that support an interaction of lexical with syllable-level processing. We identify cortical networks that differ depending on whether lexical-semantic information versus low-level syllable-transition information is processed. Word- and syllable-level processing interact within MTG and STG. The data enrich our understanding of comprehension by implicating a mapping from syllabic to lexical representations.
Assays for monitoringToxoplasma gondiiinfectivity in the laboratory mouse
Authors: Wang Qiuling , David Sibley L. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractToxoplasmais a widespread parasite of animals including many rodents that are a natural part of the transmission cycle between cats, which serve as the definitive host. Although wild rodents, including house mice, are relatively resistant, laboratory mice are highly susceptible to infection. As such, laboratory mice and have been used to compare pathogenesis of natural variants, and to evaluate the contributions of both host and parasite genes to infection. Protocols are provided here for evaluating acute and chronic infection with different parasite strains in laboratory mice. These protocols should provide uniform standards for evaluating natural variants and attenuated mutants and for comparing outcomes across different studies and between different laboratories.
Population productivity of wedgefishes, guitarfishes, and banjo rays: inferring the potential for recovery
Authors: D’Alberto Brooke M. , Carlson John K. , Pardo Sebastián A. , Simpfendorfer Colin A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractRecent evidence of widespread and rapid declines of wedgefishes, guitarfishes, and banjo ray populations (Order Rhinopristiformes), driven by a high demand for their fins in Asian markets and the quality of their flesh, raises concern about their risk of over-exploitation and extinction. Using life history theory and incorporating uncertainty into a modified Euler-Lotka model, maximum intrinsic rates of population increase (rmax) were estimated for nine species from the four families of rhinopristiforms. Estimates of medianrmaxvaried from −0.04 to 0.60 year−1among the nine species, but generally increased with increasing maximum size. In comparison to 115 other species of chondrichthyans for whichrmaxvalues were available, the families Rhinidae and Glaucostegidae are relatively productive, while most species from Rhinobatidae and Trygonorrhinidae had relatively lowrmaxvalues. If the demand for their high value products can be addressed, then population recovery for this species is likely possible but will vary depending on the species.
Lineage does not regulate the connectivity of projection neurons in the mouse olfactory bulb
Authors: Sánchez-Guardado Luis , Lois Carlos 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLineage regulates the synaptic connections between neurons in some regions of the invertebrate nervous system. In mammals recent experiments suggest that cell lineage determines the connectivity of pyramidal neurons in the neocortex, but the functional relevance of this phenomenon and whether it occurs in other neuronal types remains controversial. We investigated whether lineage plays a role in the connectivity of mitral and tufted cells, the projection neurons in the mouse olfactory bulb. We used transgenic mice to label neuronal progenitors sparsely and observed that clonally related neurons receive synaptic input from olfactory sensory neurons expressing different olfactory receptors. These results indicate that lineage does not determine the connectivity between olfactory sensory neurons and olfactory bulb projection neurons.
Islet macrophages drive islet vascular remodeling and compensatory hyperinsulinemia in the early stages of diabetes
Authors: Chittezhath Manesh , Gunaseelan Divya , Zheng Xiaofeng , Hasan Riasat , Tay Vanessa SY , Lim Seok Ting , Wang Xiaomeng , Bornstein Stefan , Berggren Per-Olof , Boehm Bernhard , Ruedl Christiane , Ali Yusuf 
Published: March 2019

Abstractβ-cells respond to peripheral insulin resistance by increasing circulating insulin in early type-2 diabetes (T2D). Islet remodeling supports this compensation but the drivers of this process remain poorly understood. Infiltrating macrophages have been implicated in late stage T2D but relatively little is known on islet resident macrophages, especially in early T2D. We hypothesize that islet resident macrophages contribute to islet vascular remodeling and hyperinsulinemia, the failure of which results in a rapid progression to T2D. Using genetic and diet-induced models of compensatory hyperinsulinemia we show that its depletion significantly compromises islet remodeling in terms of size, vascular density and insulin secretion capacity. Depletion of islet macrophages reduces VEGF-A secretion from both human and mouse islets ex vivo and the impact of reduced VEGF-A functionally translates to delayed re-vascularization upon transplantation in vivo. Hence, we show a new role of islet resident macrophages in the context of early T2D and suggest that there is considerable utility in harnessing islet macrophages to promote islet remodeling and islet insulin secretion capacity.HighlightsThe compensatory hyperinsulinemic phase of type-2 diabetes is accompanied with significant pancreatic islet remodeling.Bona fideislet resident macrophages are increased during the diabetic compensation phase by largelyin situproliferation.Ablating macrophages severely compromises the islet remodeling process and exacerbates glycemic controlin vivo.Mouse and human islet macrophages contribute VEGF-A to the islet environment.Specific removal of islet macrophages delays islet vascularization in compensatory hyperinsulinemic mice.
Genomics of expanded avian sex chromosomes shows that certain chromosomes are predisposed towards sex-linkage in vertebrates
Authors: Sigeman Hanna , Ponnikas Suvi , Chauhan Pallavi , Dierickx Elisa , de L. Brooke M. , Hansson Bengt 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTSex chromosomes have evolved from the same autosomes multiple times across vertebrates, suggesting that certain genomic regions are predisposed towards sex-linkage. However, to test this hypothesis detailed studies of independently originated sex-linked regions and their gene content are needed. Here we address this problem through comparative genomics of birds where multiple chromosomes appear to have formed neo-sex chromosomes: larks (Alaudidae; Sylvioidea). We detected the largest known avian sex chromosome (195.3 Mbp) and show that it originates from fusions between (parts of) four avian chromosomes (Z, 3, 4A and 5). We found evidence of five evolutionary strata where recombination has been suppressed at different time points, and that these time points correlate with the level of Z–W gametolog differentiation. We show that there is extensive homology to sex chromosomes in other vertebrate lineages: three of the fused chromosomes (Z, 4A, 5) have independently evolved into sex chromosomes in fish (Z), turtles (Z, 5), lizards (Z, 4A) and mammals (Z, 4A). Moreover, we found that the fourth chromosome, chromosome 3, was significantly enriched for genes with predicted sex-specific functions. These results support a key role of chromosome content in the evolution of sex chromosomes in vertebrates.
WAT’s up!? – Organ-on-a-chip integrating human mature white adipose tissues for mechanistic research and pharmaceutical applications
Authors: Rogal Julia , Binder Carina , Kromidas Elena , Probst Christopher , Schneider Stefan , Schenke-Layland Katja , Loskill Peter 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObesity and its numerous adverse health consequences have taken on global, pandemic proportions. White adipose tissue (WAT) – a key contributor in many metabolic diseases – contributes about one fourth of a healthy human’s body mass. Despite its significance, many WAT-related pathophysiogical mechanisms in humans are still not understood, largely due to the reliance on non-human animal models. In recent years, Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platforms have developed into promising alternatives for animal models; these systems integrate engineered human tissues into physiological microenvironment supplied by a vasculature-like microfluidic perfusion. Here, we report the development of a novel OoC that integrates functional mature human WAT. The WAT-on-a-chip is a multilayer device that features tissue chambers tailored specifically for the maintenance of 3D tissues based on human primary adipocytes, with supporting nourishment provided through perfused media channels. The platform’s capability to maintain long-term viability and functionality of WAT was confirmed by real-time monitoring of fatty acid uptake, by quantification of metabolite release into the effluent media as well as by an intact responsiveness to a therapeutic compound. The novel system provides a promising tool for wide-ranging applications in mechanistic research of WAT-related biology, in studying of pathophysiological mechanisms in obesity and diabetes, and in R&D of pharmaceutical industry.
Relationship between cardiac cycle and the timing of actions during action execution and observation
Authors: Palser E. R. , Glass J. , Fotopoulou A. , Kilner J. M. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPrevious research suggests that there may be a relationship between the timing of motor events and phases of the cardiac cycle. However, this relationship has thus far only been researched using simple isolated movements such as key-presses in reaction-time tasks and only in a single subject acting alone. Other research has shown both movement and cardiac coordination among interacting individuals. Here, we investigated how the cardiac cycle relates to ongoing self-paced movements in both action execution and observation using a novel dyadic paradigm. We recorded electrocardiography (ECG) in 26 healthy adult subjects who formed 19 dyads (7 comprised of two subjects and 12 subjects paired with an experimenter). Each dyad contained an action executioner and observer as they performed a self-paced sequence of movements. We demonstrated that heartbeats are timed to movements during both action execution and observation. Specifically, movements were less likely to culminate synchronously with the heartbeat, around the time of the R-peak of the ECG. The same pattern was observed for action observation, with the observers’ heartbeats occurring off-phase with movement culmination. These findings demonstrate that there is coordination between an action executioner’s cardiac cycle and the timing of their movements, and that the same relationship is mirrored in an observer. This suggests that previous findings of interpersonal coordination may be caused by the mirroring of a phasic relationship between movement and the heart.
N-linked glycans confer protein stability and modulate multidrug efflux pump assemblyin Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Abouelhadid Sherif , Raynes John , Bui Tam T.T. , Cuccui Jon , Wren Brendan W. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIt is now apparent that nearly all bacteria species have at least a single glycosylation system, but the direct effect(s) of these protein post translational modifications are unresolved. In this study, we used the generalN-linked glycosylation pathway fromCampylobacter jejunito investigate the biophysical roles of protein modification on the CmeABC multidrug efflux pump complex. The study reveals the multifunctional role ofN-linked glycans in enhancing protein thermostability, stabilising protein complexes and the promotion of protein-protein interaction. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that regardless of glycan diversification among domains of life,N-linked glycans confer a common evolutionary intrinsic role.
Beta secretase 1-dependent amyloid precursor protein processing promotes excessive vascular sprouting through NOTCH3 signaling
Authors: Durrant Claire S. , Ruscher Karsten , Sheppard Olivia , Coleman Michael P. , Özen Ilknur 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAmyloid beta peptides (Aβ) proteins play a key role in vascular pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) including impairment of the blood brain barrier and aberrant angiogenesis. Although previous work has demonstrated a pro-angiogenic role of Aβ, the exact mechanisms by which amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and endothelial angiogenic signalling cascades interact in AD remain a largely unsolved problem. Here, we report that increased endothelial sprouting in human-APP transgenic mouse (TgCRND8) tissue is dependent on β-secretase (BACE1) processing of APP. Higher levels of Aβ processing in TgCRND8 tissue coincides with decreased NOTCH3/JAG1 signalling, over-production of endothelial filopodia and increased numbers of vascular pericytes. Using a novel in vitro approach to study sprouting angiogenesis in TgCRND8 organotypic brain slice cultures (OBSCs), we find that BACE1 inhibition normalises excessive endothelial filopodia formation and restores NOTCH3 signalling. These data present the first evidence for the potential of BACE1 inhibition as an effective therapeutic target for aberrant angiogenesis in AD.SignificanceIn this study, we show that targeting amyloid beta processing provides an opportunity to selectively target tip cell filopodia-driven angiogenesis and develop therapeutic targets for vascular dysfunction related to aberrant angiogenesis in AD. Our data provide the first evidence for a safe level of BACE1 inhibition that can normalize excess angiogenesis in AD, without inducing vascular deficits in healthy tissue. Our findings may pave the way for the development of new angiogenesis dependent therapeutic strategies in Alzheimer’s Disease.
Uncovering the gene machinery of the Amazon River microbiome to degrade rainforest organic matter
Authors: Santos Célio Dias , Sarmento Hugo , de Miranda Fernando Pellon , Henrique-Silva Flávio , Logares Ramiro 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThe Amazon River receives, from the surrounding rainforest, huge amounts of terrestrial organic matter (TeOM), which is typically resistant to microbial degradation. However, only a small fraction of the TeOM ends up in the ocean, indicating that most of it is degraded in the river. So far, the nature of the genes involved in TeOM degradation and their spatial distributions are barely known. Here, we examined the Amazon River microbiome gene repertoire and found that it contains a substantial gene-novelty, compared to other environments (rivers and rainforest soil). We predicted ~3.7 million non-redundant genes, affiliating mostly to bacteria. The gene-functions involved in TeOM degradation revealed that lignin degradation correlated to tricarboxylates and hemicellulose processing, pointing to higher lignin degradation rates under consumption of labile compounds. We describe the biochemical machinery that could be speeding up the decomposition of recalcitrant compounds in Amazonian waters, previously reported only in incubation experiments.
Numerical simulation for behind armor blunt trauma of human torso under non-penetrating ballistic impact
Authors: Tang Fan , Guo Zerong , Yuan Mengqi , Qian Xinming , Du Zhiming 
Published: March 2019

AbstractA human torso finite element model with high bio-fidelity was developed to study the behind armor blunt trauma (BABT) of pistol cartridge on human torso with bulletproof composite structure (BCS) and the effect of buffer layer (expandable polyethylene, EPE) on BABT. The bulletproof structure was made of multilayered composite of aluminum alloy (AlSi10Mg) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), and the ANSYS/LS-DYNA software was used to simulate the blunt ballistic impact process of pistol cartridge on human torso. Results indicated that the BCS could resist the shooting speed of 515 m/s without being broken. During the process of pistol cartridge shooting the BCS, the energy of pistol cartridge was transmitted to the human organs through the BCS, thereby causing human injury. Moreover, the mechanical response parameters of various organs were determined by the distance between the human organs and the impact point. The sternal fracture and liver rupture were not produced based on the threshold stress of sternum and liver injury, no matter whether the buffer layer was added or not. According to the Axelsson injury model, a slight to moderate injury was created when there was no buffer layer, but the injury level was trace to slight caused by the buffer layer with thickness of 1.0 mm, and the buffer layer with thickness of 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm caused subtle BABT. It was concluded that the buffer layer could effectively reduce the BABT, and the reduction was related to the thickness of the buffer layer. This study reveals the mechanism of the BABT, which can provide a theoretical basis for the design of the bulletproof structure and the evaluation of structural bulletproof performance and protection performance.
Modelling input data interactions for the optimization of artificial neural networks used in the prediction of pitting corrosion
Authors: Boucherit Mohamed Nadir , Amzert Sid Ahmed , Arbaoui Fahd , Boukhari Yakoub , Brahimi Abdelkrim , Younsi Aziz 
Published: March 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to predict the localized corrosion resistance by the application of artificial neural networks. It emphasizes the importance to take into account the relationships between the physical parameters before presenting them to the network.

Design/methodology/approach
The work was conducted in two phases. At the beginning, the authors executed an experimental program to measure pitting corrosion resistance of carbon steel in an aqueous environment. More than 900 electrochemical experiments were conducted in chemical solutions containing different concentrations of pitting agents, corrosion inhibitors and oxidant reagents. The obtained results were collected in a table where for a combination of the experimental parameters corresponds a pitting potential Epit obtained from the corresponding electrochemical experiment. In the second step, the authors used the experimental data to train different artificial neuron networks for predicting pitting potentials.

Findings
In this step, the authors considered the relationships that the chemical parameters are likely to have between them. Two types of relationships were taken into account: chemical equilibria which are controlled by the pH and the synergistic relationships that some corrosion inhibitors may have when they are in the presence of a chemical oxidant.

Originality/value
This comparative study shows that adjusting the input data by considering the physical relationships between them allows a better prediction of the pitting potential. The quality of the prediction, quantified by a regression factor, is qualitatively confirmed by a statistical distribution of the gap between experimental and calculated pitting potentials.
Students’ perceptions of employability following a capstone course
Authors: Gilbert Guinevere , Wingrove Dallas 
Published: March 2019

Purpose
Graduate employability represents a fundamental outcome of higher education. The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare students’ perceptions of their employability through their experience of a simulated or real-life project. The context of the project is a capstone course, implemented in an Australian university, which was designed to enhance employability and foster transferable graduate attributes, including professional communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors designed and conducted quantitative research to capture and measure students’ perceptions of their employability at the conclusion of a capstone course over three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017.

Findings
The results of this paper show that students undertaking a real-life project which makes a social contribution reported a significantly stronger development of work-ready skills in managing projects than students undertaking a simulation project. Specifically, interaction with industry and leadership were reported to be more developed.

Originality/value
The study contributes to knowledge of the relationship between capstone learning and students’ perceptions of employability. It advances the understanding of capstone course design and pedagogy which strengthens the link between learning and work.