bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The anterior insula channels prefrontal expectancy signals during affective processing
Authors: Teckentrup Vanessa , Meer Johan N. van der , Borchardt Viola , Fan Yan , Neuser Monja P. , Tempelmann Claus , Herrmann Luisa , Walter Martin , Kroemer Nils B. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractExpectancy shapes our perception of impending events. Although such an interplay between cognitive and affective processes is often impaired in mental disorders, it is not well understood how top-down expectancy signals modulate future affect. We therefore track the information flow in the brain during cognitive and affective processing segregated in time using task-specific cross-correlations. Participants in two independent fMRI studies (N1 = 37 & N2 = 55) were instructed to imagine a situation with affective content as indicated by a cue, which was then followed by an emotional picture congruent with expectancy. To correct for intrinsic covariance of brain function, we calculate resting-state cross-correlations analogous to the task. First, using factorial modeling of delta cross-correlations (task-rest) of the first study, we find that the magnitude of expectancy signals in the anterior insula cortex (AIC) modulates the BOLD response to emotional pictures in the anterior cingulate and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex in opposite directions. Second, using hierarchical linear modeling of lagged connectivity, we demonstrate that expectancy signals in the AIC indeed foreshadow this opposing pattern in the prefrontal cortex. Third, we replicate the results in the second study using a higher temporal resolution, showing that our task-specific cross-correlation approach robustly uncovers the dynamics of information flow. We conclude that the AIC arbitrates the recruitment of distinct prefrontal networks during cued picture processing according to triggered expectations. Taken together, our study provides new insights into neuronal pathways channeling cognition and affect within well-defined brain networks. Better understanding of such dynamics could lead to new applications tracking aberrant information processing in mental disorders.
Estrogenic action by tris(2,6-dimethylphenyl) phosphate, an impurity in resorcinol bis[di(2,6-dimethylphenyl) phosphate] flame retardant formulations, impairs the development of female reproductive functions
Authors: Sano Kazuhiro , Matsukami Hidenori , Suzuki Go , Htike Nang Thinn Thinn , Morishita Masahiro , Shwe Tin Tin Win , Hashimoto Shunji , Kawashima Takaharu , Isobe Tomohiko , Nakayama Shoji F. , Tsukahara Shinji , Maekawa Fumihiko 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundDevelopmental exposure to environmental chemicals with estrogen-like activity has been suspected to permanently impair women’s health.ObjectivesIn this study, we used a mouse model to evaluate whether a chemical having putative estrogen-like action detected by in vitro study, namely tris(2,6-dimethylphenyl) phosphate (TDMPP) impairs sexual differentiation of the brain.MethodsTo induce developmental exposure, TDMPP was administered subcutaneously to dams from gestational day 14 to parturition and to pups from postnatal day 0 to 9 at two different doses (TDMPP-high and TDMPP-low groups, respectively). To compare the results between TDMPP and typical estrogen exposures, 17β-estradiol was administered at two different doses on the same treatment schedule (E2-low and E2-high groups, respectively). A vehicle control group was formed by administering an equivalent volume of sesame oil to dams and to pups.ResultsAlthough there was no specific impairment in female ovary morphology, precocious puberty, detected by vaginal opening, and irregular estrous cycles, detected by vaginal cytology after sexual maturation, were found in TDMPP- and E2-treated groups, but not in the vehicle control group. In addition, lower lordosis response during reproductive behavioral tests was found in TDMPP- or E2-treated groups. To further clarify whether TDMPP directly affects sexual differentiation of the brain, we evaluated the transfer of TDMPP into the brain and the formation of sexual dimorphic nuclei. We detected a certain amount of TDMPP and its metabolites in the mouse brain after treatment, and masculinization of sexual dimorphic nuclei in the hypothalamus of female mice, suggesting the direct impact of TDMPP in developing brain.DiscussionTaken together, the experimental evidence demonstrates that TDMPP directly enters the fetal and neonatal brain, inducing changes of sex-related brain structures, and impairing female reproductive functions.
Root density sensing allows pro-active modulation of shoot growth to avoid future resource limitation
Authors: Wheeldon Cara D. , Walker Catriona H. , Bennett Tom 
Published: February 2019

ABSTRACTPlants use environmental cues to determine their optimal root and shoot growth. It is well known to gardeners and horticulturists alike that soil volume – most commonly in the form of pot size – strongly restricts plant growth, but the mechanisms by which this effect occurs remain unclear. Here, we show that shoot growth scales directly with soil volume, independently of the nutritional content of the soil, and that plants can become ‘volume restricted’ even in the presence of abundant resources. We show that plants can detect their soil volume as early as 3 weeks post germination, and that shoot growth restriction therefore constitutes a pro-active ‘decision’ by the plant to avoid resource limitation later in the life cycle. Shoot growth restriction is not directly linked to root growth restriction, and does not occur in response to the mechanical detection of the pot walls. Rather, we show that plants detect their soil volume by detecting the density of roots in the proximity of their root system. As such, volume restriction may be intimately connected with the mechanism by which plants sense and respond to the roots of other plants in the rhizosphere. Our work demonstrates the remarkable ability of plants to make pro-active decisions about their growth to ensure they can complete their cycle, and has important implications for agricultural practise regarding both nutrient use efficiency and yield.
Unmasking of novel mutations within XK gene that could be used as Diagnostic Markers to Predict McLeod syndrome: Using in silico analysis
Authors: Mustafa Mujahed I. , Hassan Mohamed A. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundMcLeod neuroacanthocytosis syndrome is a rare X-linked recessive multisystem disorder affecting the peripheral and central nervous systems, red blood cells, and internal organs.MethodsWe carried out in silico analysis of structural effect of each SNP using different bioinformatics tools to predict substitution influence on protein structural and functional level.Result2 novel mutations out of 104 nsSNPs that are found to be deleterious effect on the XK structure and function.ConclusionThe present study provided a novel insight into the understanding of McLeod syndrome, SNPs occurring in coding and non-coding regions, may lead to RNA alterations and should be systematically verified. Functional studies can gain from a preliminary multi-step approach, such as the one proposed here; we prioritize SNPs for further genetic mapping studies. This will be a valuable resource for neurologists, hematologists, and clinical geneticists on this rare and debilitating disease.
Comparison of muscle activity, strength and balance, before and after a 6-month training using the FIFA11+ program (part 2)
Authors: Oshima Takeshi , Nakase Junsuke , Inaki Anri , Mochizuki Takafumi , Takata Yasushi , Shimozaki Kengo , Kinuya Seigo , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki 
Published: February 2019

AbstractPurposeSports injuries can significantly impact an athlete’s career, as well as impose a high financial burden on teams. Therefore, the prevention of sports injuries is an essential aspect of sports medicine. To evaluate the effects of a 6-month training period, using part 2 of the FIFA11+, on the activation and strength of core and lower limb muscles, and on static and dynamic balance performance.Materials and MethodsEight college male soccer players, 20.4±0.5 years old, completed the FIFA11+ program (part 2) at least 3x per week for 6 months. The following variables were measured, before and after the 6-month training program: activity of more than 30 muscles (with a focus on core and lower limb muscles), measured using the standardized uptake values of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) on positron emission tomography (PET-CT); isokinetic strength of the knee flexor and extensor and hip abductor muscles, measured at 60°/s; static balance over a 60-s period, measured using a Gravicorder; and dynamic balance, measured using the Star Excursion Balance Test.ResultsTraining improved activity levels of core (obliquus externus abdominis and erector spinae) and lower limb (tibialis anterior of the both legs) muscles (p≤0.03), corrected the between-limb difference in activation of the semimembranosus and improved dynamic balance, with a greater training effect on the non-dominant limb (p≤0.02). Training also improved knee flexor force of the non-dominant lower limb (p=0.02).ConclusionRoutine performance of the FIFA11+ (part 2) program can improve activation of core and lower limb muscles, with a concomitant improvement in dynamic balance.
Low-dimensional Dynamics of Two Coupled Biological Oscillators
Authors: Droin Colas , Paquet Eric R , Naef Felix 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe circadian clock and the cell cycle are two biological oscillatory processes that coexist within individual cells. These two oscillators were found to interact, which can lead to their synchronization. Here, we develop a method to infer their coupling and non-linear dynamics from thousands of mouse and human single-cell microscopy traces. This coupling predicts multiple phase-locked states showing different degrees of robustness against molecular fluctuations inherent to cellular scale biological oscillators. Moreover, the phase–locked states were temperature-independent and evolutionarily conserved from mouse to human, hinting at a common underlying dynamical mechanism. Finally, we detected a signature of the coupled dynamics in a physiological context, where tissues with different proliferation states exhibited shifted circadian clock phases.
Relationship between the Changes over Time of Bone and Muscle Health in Children and Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Médéa Locquet , Charlotte Beaudart , Nancy Durieux , Jean-Yves Reginster , Olivier Bruyère 
Published: February 2019

AbstractVarious cross-sectional studies provide an abundance of evidence that shows a relationship between bone quantity and muscle health. However, one question remains, less-often studied: is their development - or decline – associated? The aim of the research was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the studies exploring the association between changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and changes in muscle parameters (registration CRD42018093813). We searched for prospective studies, both in children and adults, by consulting electronic databases (Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-AMED, Scopus). Each review steps were performed by two independent reviewers. For outcomes reported by less of 3 studies, we synthetized the results narratively. In other cases, a meta-analysis was performed, giving an overall r coefficient and its 95% confidence interval (CI). Fifteen papers were included. In connection with the change of BMD, 10 studies concerned the parallel change of lean mass, 4 were about grip strength, and 1 was about physical performance. Children were the population of interest for 5 studies, while the aging population was the focus of the other studies. The correlation between hip BMD and lean mass was significant, with an overall coefficient r = 0.37 (95% CI 0.23-0.49). High heterogeneity was observed between studies but the length of follow-up, sex and study quality did not seem to significantly influence results. The systematic review allowed some other highlights: a significant link between changes in BMD and changes in muscle strength was observed (p-value <0.05 in the 4 studies), in addition to changes in performance (1 study, r = 0.21, p-value = 0.004). Despite the heterogeneity between studies, we highlighted a significant association between the change of BMD and the change of various muscle parameters. Future studies should investigate preventive and therapeutic strategies that are based on a single entity: the ‘muscle-bone unit’.
Keystoneness, centrality, and the structural controllability of ecological networks
Authors: Cagua Edgar Fernando , Wootton Kate L. , Stouffer Daniel B. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

An important dimension of a species' role is its ability to alter the state and maintain the diversity of its community. Centrality metrics have often been used to identify these species, which are sometimes referred as “keystone” species. However, the relationship between centrality and keystoneness is largely phenomenological and based mostly on our intuition regarding what constitutes an important species. While centrality is useful when predicting which species' extinctions could cause the largest change in a community, it says little about how these species could be used to attain or preserve a particular community state.

Here we introduce structural controllability, an approach that allows us to quantify the extent to which network topology can be harnessed to achieve a desired state. It also allows us to quantify a species' control capacity—its relative importance—and identify the set of species that are critical in this context because they have the largest possible control capacity. We illustrate the application of structural controllability with ten pairs of uninvaded and invaded plant‐pollinator communities.

We found that the controllability of a community is not dependent on its invasion status, but on the asymmetric nature of its mutual dependences. While central species were also likely to have a large control capacity, centrality fails to identify species that, despite being less connected, were critical in their communities. Interestingly, this set of critical species was mostly composed of plants and included every invasive species in our dataset. We also found that species with high control capacity, and in particular critical species, contribute the most to the stable coexistence of their community. This result was true, even when controlling for the species' degree, abundance/interaction strength, and the relative dependence of their partners.

Synthesis. Structural controllability is strongly related to the stability of a network and measures the difficulty of managing an ecological community. It also identifies species that are critical to sustain biodiversity and to change or maintain the state of their community and are therefore likely to be very relevant for management and conservation.
Subnational Location Capital: The Role of Subnational Institutional Actors and Socio‐spatial Factors on Firm Location
Authors: Monaghan Sinéad M. , Gunnigle Patrick , Lavelle Jonathan 
Published: February 2019

AbstractFirms do not simply locate, but rather seek to accrue location‐based advantages such as knowledge, market insidership and resource utilization. Adopting the lens of social capital, this paper explores how subnational institutional actors facilitate location capital for firms. Using qualitative case study analysis of six multinational companies (MNCs), we highlight the important role of subnational institutional actors in fostering three dimensions of subnational location capital – structural, relational and cognitive. We show that subnational location capital, defined as the economic and social assets accessible through relationships within a subnational location, enable firms to derive advantages via subnational engagement. These findings contribute to the growing literature on the dynamic interaction of firms with subnational location, particularly the nuanced role of subnational institutional actors with MNCs.
Do High‐sensitivity Troponin and Natriuretic Peptide Predict Death or Serious Cardiac Outcomes After Syncope?
Authors: Clark Carol L. , Gibson Thomas A. , Weiss Robert E. , Yagapen Annick N. , Malveau Susan E. , Adler David H. , Bastani Aveh , Baugh Christopher W. , Caterino Jeffrey M. , Diercks Deborah B. , Hollander Judd E. , Nicks Bret A. , Nishijima Daniel K. , Shah Manish N. , Stiffler Kirk A. , Storrow Alan B. , Wilber Scott T. , Sun Benjamin C. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectivesAn estimated 1.2 million annual emergency department (ED) visits for syncope/near syncope occur in the United States. Cardiac biomarkers are frequently obtained during the ED evaluation, but the prognostic value of index high‐sensitivity troponin (hscTnT) and natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) are unclear. The objective of this study was to determine if hscTnT and NT‐proBNP drawn in the ED are independently associated with 30‐day death/serious cardiac outcomes in adult patients presenting with syncope.MethodsA prespecified secondary analysis of a prospective, observational trial enrolling participants ≥ age 60 presenting with syncope, at 11 United States hospitals, was conducted between April 2013 and September 2016. Exclusions included seizure, stroke, transient ischemic attack, trauma, intoxication, hypoglycemia, persistent confusion, mechanical/electrical invention, prior enrollment, or predicted poor follow‐up. Within 3 hours of consent, hscTnT and NT‐proBNP were collected and later analyzed centrally using Roche Elecsys Gen 5 STAT and 2010 Cobas, respectively. Primary outcome was combined 30‐day all‐cause mortality and serious cardiac events. Adjusting for illness severity, using multivariate logistic regression analysis, variations between primary outcome and biomarkers were estimated, adjusting absolute risk associated with ranges of biomarkers using Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods.ResultsThe cohort included 3,392 patients; 367 (10.8%) experienced the primary outcome. Adjusted absolute risk for the primary outcome increased with hscTnT and NT‐proBNP levels. HscTnT levels ≤ 5 ng/L were associated with a 4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3%–5%) outcome risk, and hscTnT > 50 ng/L, a 29% (95% CI = 26%–33%) risk. NT‐proBNP levels ≤ 125 ng/L were associated with a 4% (95% CI = 4%–5%) risk, and NT‐proBNP > 2,000 ng/L a 29% (95% CI = 25%–32%) risk. Likelihood ratios and predictive values demonstrated similar results. Sensitivity analyses excluding ED index serious outcomes demonstrated similar findings.ConclusionshscTnT and NT‐proBNP are independent predictors of 30‐day death and serious outcomes in older ED patients presenting with syncope.
Comparison of Subjective Responses to Oral and Intravenous Alcohol Administration Under Similar Systemic Exposures
Authors: Plawecki Martin Henry , Durrani Adnan Mahmood , Boes Julian , Wetherill Leah , Kosobud Ann , O'Connor Sean , Ramchandani Vijay A. 
Published: February 2019

BackgroundIndividuals perceive the effects of alcohol differently, and the variation is commonly used in research assessing the risk for developing an alcohol use disorder. Such research is supported by both oral and intravenous (IV) alcohol administration techniques, and any differences attributable to the route employed should be understood. Our objective was to test whether an individual's subjective responses to alcohol are similar when the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) trajectory resulting from oral administration is matched by IV administration.MethodsWe conducted a 2‐session, within‐subject study in 44 young adult, healthy, nondependent drinkers (22 females and 22 males). In the first session, subjects ingested a dose of alcohol which was individually calculated, on the basis of total body water, to yield a peak BrAC near 80 mg/dl, and the resulting BrAC trajectory was recorded. A few days later, subjects received an IV alcohol infusion rate profile, precomputed to replicate each individual's oral alcohol BrAC trajectory. In both sessions, we assessed 4 subjective responses to alcohol: SEDATION, SIMULATION, INTOXICATION, and HIGH; at baseline and frequently for 4 hours. We compared the individuals’ baseline‐corrected responses at peak BrAC and at half‐peak BrAC on both the ascending and descending limbs. We also computed and compared Pearson‐product moment correlations of responses by route of administration, the Mellanby measure of acute adaptation to alcohol, and the area under the entire response curve for each subjective response.ResultsNo significant differences in any measure could be attributed to the route of alcohol administration. Eleven of 12 response comparisons were significantly correlated across the routes of alcohol administration, with 9 surviving correction for multiple measures, as did the Mellanby effect and area under the response curve correlations.ConclusionsThe route of alcohol administration has a minimal effect on subjective responses to alcohol when an individual's BrAC exposure profiles are similar.
Advanced interatrial block is a surrogate for left atrial strain reduction which predicts atrial fibrillation and stroke
Authors: Lacalzada‐Almeida Juan , Izquierdo‐Gómez María Manuela , García‐Niebla Javier , Elosua Roberto , Jiménez‐Sosa Alejandro , Baranchuk Adrian , Bayes de Luna Antonio 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe association between advanced interatrial block (aIAB) and atrial fibrillation (AF) is known as “Bayes’ Syndrome.” There is little information on the prognostic role that new speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) imaging techniques could play in it. We have examined the relationship between left atrial (LA) STE and the prediction of new‐onset AF and/or stroke in IAB patients.MethodsThis is an observational prospective and unicentric cohort study with 98 outpatients: 55 (56.2%) controls with normal ECG without IAB, 21 (21.4%) with partial IAB (pIAB) and 22 (22.4%) with aIAB. The end point was new‐onset AF, ischemic stroke and the composite of both.ResultsDuring a mean follow‐up of 1.9 (1.7–2.3) years, 20 patients presented the end point (18 new‐onset AF and two strokes): 8 (14.5%) in the control group, 3 (14.3%) in pIAB and 9 (40.9%) in aIAB, p = 0.03. In multivariable comprehensive Cox regression analyses, a decrease in absolute value of strain rate during the booster pump function phase (SRa) was the only variable independently related to the appearance in the evolution of the end point, in the first model (age, P‐wave duration and SRa): HR 19.9 (95% CI, 3.12–127.5), p = 0.002 and in the second (age, presence of aIAB and SRa): HR 24.2 (95% CI, 3.15–185.4), p = 0.002.ConclusionsIn patients with IAB, a decrease in absolute value of LA SRa with STE predicts new‐onset AF and ischemic stroke. Future studies should confirm our results and assess the prognostic usefulness of LA STE in patients with IAB.