bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensorimotor adaptation compensates for distortions of 3D shape information
Authors: Cesanek Evan , Taylor Jordan A. , Domini Fulvio 
Published: February 2019

AbstractVisual perception often fails to recover the veridical 3D shape of objects in the environment due to ambiguity and variability in the available depth cues. However, we rely heavily on 3D shape estimates when planning movements, for example reaching to pick up an object from a slanted surface. Given the wide variety of distortions that can affect 3D perception, how do our actions remain accurate across different environments? One hypothesis is that the visuomotor system performs selective filtering of 3D information to minimize distortions. Indeed, some studies have found that actions appear to preferentially target stereo information when it is put in conflict with texture information. However, since these studies analyze averages over multiple trials, this apparent preference could be produced by sensorimotor adaptation. In Experiment 1, we create a set of cue-conflict stimuli where one available depth cue is affected by a constant bias. Sensory feedback rapidly aligns the motor output with physical reality in just a few trials, which can make it seem as if action planning selectively relies on the reinforced cue—yet no change in the relative influences of the cues is necessary to eliminate the constant errors. In contrast, when one depth cue becomes less correlated with physical reality, variable movement errors will occur, causing canonical adaptation to fail as the opposite error corrections cancel out. As a result, canonical adaptation cannot explain the preference for stereo found in studies with variable errors. However, Experiment 2 shows that persistent errors can produce a novel form of adaptation that gradually reduces the relative influence of an unreliable depth cue. These findings show that grasp control processes are continuously modified based on sensory feedback to compensate for both biases and noise in 3D visual processing, rather than having a hardwired preference for one type of depth information.
Production, purification, and kinetics of the poly-β-hydroxybutyrate depolymerase fromMicrobacterium paraoxydansRZS6: A novel biopolymer-degrading organism isolated from a dumping yard
Authors: Sayyed RZ , Wani SJ , Alyousef Abdullah A. , Alqasim Abdulaziz , Syed Asad 
Published: February 2019

AbstractPoly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) depolymerase can decompose biodegradable polymers and therefore has great commercial significance in the bioplastic sector. However, few reports have described PHB depolymerases based on isolates obtained from plastic-contaminated sites that reflect the potential of the source organism. In this study, we evaluatedMicrobacterium paraoxydansRZS6 as a producer of extracellular PHB depolymerase isolated from a plastic-contaminated site in the municipal area of Shahada, Maharashtra, India, for the first time. The isolate was identified using the polyphasic approach, i.e., 16S rRNA gene sequencing, gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters, and BIOLOG identification, and was found to hydrolyze PHB on minimal salt medium containing PHB as the only source of carbon. Both isolates produced PHB depolymerase at 30°C within 2 days and at 45°C within 4 days. The enzyme was purified most efficiently using an octyl-sepharose CL-4B column, with the highest purification yield of 6.675 U/mg/mL. The enzyme required Ce2+and Mg2+ions but was inhibited by Fe2+ions and mercaptoethanol. Moreover, enzyme kinetic analysis revealed that the enzyme was a metalloenzyme requiring Mg2+ions, with optimum enzyme activity at 45°C (thermophilic) and under neutrophilic conditions (optimum pH = 7). The presence of Fe2+ions (1 mM) and mercaptoethanol (1000 ppm) completely inhibited the enzyme activity. The molecular weight of the enzyme (40 kDa), as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, closely resembled that of PHB depolymerase fromAureobacterium saperdae. Scale-up from the shake-flask level to a laboratory-scale bioreactor further enhanced the enzyme yield. Our findings highlighted the applicability ofM. paraoxydansas a producer of extracellular PHB depolymerase isolated from a plastic-contaminated site in the municipal area of Shahada, Maharashtra, India.
Spatial and temporal profiling of receptor membrane insertion controls commissural axon responses to midline repellents
Authors: Pignata Aurora , Ducuing Hugo , Boubakar Leila , Gardette Thibault , Kindbeiter Karine , Bozon Muriel , Tauszig-Delamasure Servane , Falk Julien , Thoumine Olivier , Castellani Valérie 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAccurate perception of guidance cues is crucial for axonal pathfinding. During their initial navigation in the spinal cord, commissural axons are kept insensitive to midline repellents. Through yet unclear mechanisms acting during midline crossing in the floor plate, they switch on responsiveness to various repulsive signals, that establish a permanent midline barrier and propel the axons for exit. Whether these gains of response are coupled to occur in synchrony or rather are independently activated through signaling-specific programs is fully unknown. We set-up a paradigm for live imaging and super resolution analysis of guidance receptor dynamics during commissural growth cone navigation in chick and mouse embryos. We uncovered a remarkable program of delivery and allocation of receptors at the growth cone surface, generating receptor-specific spatial and temporal profiles. This reveals a mechanism whereby commissural growth cones can discriminate coincident repulsive signals that they functionalize at different time points of their navigation.
Plant-microbe specificity varies as a function of elevation
Authors: Cobian Gerald M. , Egan Cameron , Amend Anthony S. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractSpecialized associations between interacting species are a fundamental determinant of the diversity and distribution of both partners. How specialization of guilds of organisms varies along environmental gradients underpins popular theories of biogeography and macroecology, whereas the degree of specialization of a species is typically considered fixed. However, the extent to which environmental context impacts specialization dynamics is seldom examined empirically. In this study, we examine how specialization within a bipartite network consisting of three co-occurring plant species and their foliar fungal endophyte symbionts changes along a 1 000-meter elevation gradient where host species were held constant. The gradient, along the slope of Mauna Loa shield volcano, represents the entire elevational range of two of the three plants. Network and plant specialization values displayed a parabolic relationship with elevation, and were highest at middle elevations, whereas bipartite associations were least specific at low and high elevations. Shannon’s diversity of fungal endophytes negatively correlated with specificity, and was highest at the ends of the transects. Although plant host was a strong determinant of fungal community composition within sites, fungal species turnover was high among sites and plant host predicted a weak, though significant proportion of compositional variance. There was no evidence of spatial or elevational patterning in fungal community compositon. Our work demonstrates that specificity can be a plastic trait which is influenced by the environment and centrality of the host within its natural range.
Endophilin-A controls recruitment, priming and fusion of neurosecretory vesicles
Authors: Gowrisankaran Sindhuja , Steubler Vicky , Houy Sébastien , Peña del Castillo Johanna G. , Gelker Monika , Kroll Jana , Pinheiro Paulo S. , Halbsgut Nils , Raimundo Nuno , Sørensen Jakob B. , Milosevic Ira 
Published: February 2019

SUMMARYEndophilins-A are conserved endocytic adaptors with membrane curvature-sensing and - inducing properties. We show here that, independently of their role in endocytosis, endophilin-A1 and endophilin-A2 regulate exocytosis of neurosecretory vesicles. The number of neurosecretory vesicles was not altered in chromaffin cells without endophilin, yet fast capacitance and amperometry measurements revealed reduced exocytosis, smaller vesicle pools and changed fusion kinetics. Both endophilin-A1 (brain-enriched) and A2 (ubiquitous) rescued exocytic defects, but endophilin-A2 was more efficient. Distribution of neurosecretory vesicles was altered in the plasma membrane proximity, but levels and distributions of main exocytic and endocytic factors were unchanged, and slow compensatory endocytosis was not robustly affected. Endophilin’s role in exocytosis is mediated through its SH3-domain and, at least in part, interaction with intersectin, a coordinator of exocytic and endocytic traffic. Altogether, we report that endophilins-A, key endocytic proteins linked to neurodegeneration, directly regulate exocytosis by controlling vesicle recruitment, priming and fusion.Abstract FigureRecruitment, priming and fusion of secretory vesicles is controlled by endophilinLack of endophilins alters the distribution of secretory vesicles near the PMEndophilin’s role in exocytosis is mediated through its SH3-domainEndophilin regulates intersectin localization by keeping it away from the PM
Dissection of the cellular function of the ZBED6 transcription factor in mouse myoblast cells using gene editing, RNAseq and proteomics
Authors: Younis Shady , Naboulsi Rakan , Wang Xuan , Cao Xiaofang , Larsson Mårten , Sargsyan Ernest , Bergsten Peter , Welsh Nils , Andersson Leif 
Published: February 2019

SUMMARYThe transcription factor ZBED6 acts as a repressor ofIgf2and affects directly or indirectly the transcriptional regulation of thousands of genes. Here, we use gene editing in mouse C2C12 myoblasts and show that ZBED6 regulatesIgf2exclusively through its binding site 5′-GGCTCG-3′ in intron 1 ofIgf2. Deletion of this motif (Igf2ΔGGCT) or complete ablation ofZbed6leads to ~20-fold up-regulation of IGF2 protein. Quantitative proteomics revealed an activation of Ras signaling pathway in bothZbed6-/-andIgf2ΔGGCTmyoblasts, and a significant enrichment of mitochondrial membrane proteins among proteins showing altered expression inZbed6-/-myoblasts. BothZbed6-/-andIgf2ΔGGCTmyoblasts showed a faster growth rate and developed myotube hypertrophy. These cells exhibited an increased O2consumption rate, due to IGF2 up-regulation. Transcriptome analysis revealed ~30% overlap between differentially expressed genes inZbed6-/-andIgf2ΔGGCTmyotubes, with an enrichment of up-regulated genes involved in muscle development. In contrast, ZBED6-overexpression in myoblasts led to cell apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, reduced mitochondrial activities and ceased myoblast differentiation. The similarities in growth and differentiation phenotypes observed inZbed6-/-andIgf2ΔGGCTmyoblasts demonstrates that ZBED6 affects mitochondrial activity and myogenesis largely through its regulation of IGF2 expression. This study suggests that the interaction between ZBED6-Igf2may be a therapeutic target for human diseases where anabolism is impaired.
Leptin and adiponectin dynamics at patients with rectal neoplasm - gender differences
Authors: Florescu Alexandru , Branisteanu Dumitru , Bilha Stefana , Scripcariu Dragos , Florescu Ioana , Scripcariu Viorel , Dimofte Gabriel , Grigoras Ioana 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackground.Numerous studies associate adipokines with colorectal malignancy, but few data deal with patients suffering exclusively of rectal carcinoma (RC). Aims. We evaluated leptin and adiponectin levels in RC patients compared to healthy population and their dynamics after surgery. Material and methods. Serum leptin and adiponectin were evaluated before surgery in 59 RC consecutive patients (38 males and 21 females), and in age and weight matched healthy controls. Measurements were repeated at 24, 72 hours and 7 days after surgery. Results. Adipokine levels were higher in women. Controls had higher leptin (32.±4.34 vs 9.51±1.73 ng/ml in women and 11±2.66 vs 2.54±0.39 ng/ml in men, p=0.00048 and 0.0032) and lower adiponectin (9±0.64 vs 11.85±1.02 µg/ml in women and 7.39±0.51 vs 8.5±0.62 µg/ml in men, p=0.017 and 0.019) than RC patients. Surgery caused an increase of leptin from 5.11±0.8 to 18.7±2.42 ng/ml, p=6.85 × 108, and a decrease of adiponectin from 9.71±0.58 to 7.87±0.47 µg/ml, p=1.4 × 1010 for all RC patients and returned thereafter to the initial range at 7 days. Adipokines were correlated with body weight (BW). The significance of correlation persisted after surgery only in males, but disappeared in females. Adipokines were not modified by tumor position, presurgical chemoradiotherapy or surgical technique. Women with RC experiencing weight loss had higher adiponectin than women without weight modifications (p<0.05 at all time points). Conclusions. Adipokine levels of patients with RC differ from the healthy population, possibly reflecting an adaptation to disease. Adipokine modifications after surgery may be related to acute surgical stress. Whether leptin and adiponectin directly interact is not clear. Women have higher adipokine levels, more so after significant weight loss, but the strength of their correlation with BW decreases after surgery. These data suggest gender differences in the adipokine profile of RC patients which may find clinical applications.
A Community-based assessment of quality of health care received and client satisfaction in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Akinyinka Modupe Rebekah , Oluwole Esther Oluwakemi , Odusanya Olumuyiwa Omotola 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundQuality of health care and client satisfaction are key elements in improving the performance of health systems. A community-based assessment was conducted to determine the level of client satisfaction and the perception of the quality of services received by citizens of Lagos State.MethodologyA descriptive cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative methods, was conducted in four local government areas of Lagos state selected by multi-stage sampling techniques. The survey instruments included an interviewer- administered, pre-tested questionnaire and a 10-itemed focus group discussion guide. The survey obtained information about quality of the facilities and services. The outcome variables were client satisfaction and service quality.ResultsTwo thousand respondents were recruited with a mean age of 37.6±10.21 years. Almost all respondents (98%) rated the health facilities to be clean, 96% felt they received effective treatment from their providers. Six out of ten respondents rated the waiting time to be short and 60% felt that most drugs were available. Eight-five percent opined that the quality of care received was good and 95% were satisfied with the services received. There was a significant correlation between quality of care and client satisfaction (r=0.145, p=0.001). Service factors such as perceived effectiveness of treatment received, confidence in health providers and use of higher level of health care were predictive of client satisfaction and good service quality.ConclusionMost clients were satisfied with health services and felt that service quality was good.
Sudden elevation of plasma D‐dimer levels induced by the combination therapy of dabrafenib and trametinib: Report of two cases
Authors: Akino Saki , Ohashi Hiroyuki , Okano Tatsuro , Takeuchi Sora , Kawakami Tamihiro , Soma Yoshinao , Kadono Takafumi 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe combination therapy of dabrafenib and trametinib revolutionized the treatment for BRAF V600‐mutated melanoma. Various adverse events have been reported for this treatment, most notably fever. Herein, we report two cases of novel an adverse event, namely sudden and significant elevation of plasma D‐dimer level induced by this therapy. In the first case, the remarkable elevation of plasma D‐dimer level up to 87.4 mg/dL was noted on day 11, and in the second case, the plasma D‐dimer level reached 125.5 mg/dL on day 25. In both cases, D‐dimer levels gradually decreased after the cessation of this therapy. Although the exact cause is not clear, we assume two possible hypotheses: the first is that the combination therapy may induce disseminated intravascular coagulation, and the second is that the therapy induced pathological condition of secondary thrombotic microangiopathies. Our cases suggest that this thrombotic adverse event should not be overlooked, and coagulation parameters need to be monitored during the course of this treatment.
Human‐habitat associations in the native distributions of alien bird species
Authors: Cardador Laura , Blackburn Tim M. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

The role of human tolerance is increasingly being proposed as a key driver of invasion success by alien species. Human‐habitat associations may facilitate both transport – making a species more available for introduction – and establishment – by creating environmental matching between human‐altered habitats at the sites of origin and introduction. Nevertheless, the assumption that alien species exhibit associations with human habitats in their native ranges has been largely overlooked.

We conduct the first global assessment of the relative importance of human‐habitat associations in shaping the native distributions of species introduced world‐wide, in relation to other key important drivers, that is climate and land‐use. For this, we applied deviance partitioning analysis and species distribution models (SDM) to 776 introduced alien bird species from five continents.

While an independent effect of climate, and a joint effect of climate and non‐urban land uses, appear as major factors governing alien species distribution in their native ranges, significant independent contributions of anthropogenic variables were found for most species. The effect of anthropogenic variables was mostly positive, or concave with highest responses at intermediate values. Notably, human‐habitat associations in the native distributions of alien birds were significantly higher than expected, relative to a pool of available species from the same bird families (N = 3,565). Thus, introduced alien birds are a non‐random sample with respect to their association with human‐altered habitats. However, an increase in introduction rates of species showing no response, or a negative response, to human influence has occurred over recent decades.

Synthesis and applications. To prevent invasions, understanding which species are most likely to become successful aliens outside their native range is essential. Our results support the hypothesis that association with humans may be an important driver of alien bird species distribution in their native ranges, and thus increase the likelihood that these species will end up being introduced and established elsewhere. To provide policymakers with robust predictions of invasion risk, we recommend including human‐habitat associations in invasion risk assessments, and accounting for them in species distribution models.
Richness of plant communities plays a larger role than climate in determining responses of species richness to climate change
Authors: Wang Qi , Zhang Zhenhua , Du Rui , Wang Shiping , Duan Jichuang , Iler Amy Marie , Piao Shilong , Luo Caiyun , Jiang Lili , Lv Wangwang , Zhang Lirong , Meng Fandong , Suonan Ji , Li Yaoming , Li Bowen , Liu Peipei , Dorji Tsechoe , Wang Zhezhen , Li Yinnian , Du Mingyuan , Zhou Huakun , Zhao Xinquan , Wang Yanfen 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Experimental warming in situ suggests that warming could lead to a loss of biodiversity. However, species that remain in situ and experience climate change will interact with species tracking climate change, which could also affect patterns of biodiversity. The relative contribution of species gains and losses to net changes in species richness is still unclear.

We use transplanted plant communities to test the hypothesis that both the change in climate and ecological communities tracking climate change will influence how species richness responds to climate change. Three intact alpine plant communities were reciprocally transplanted to create scenarios in which species experienced warmer and wetter conditions (transferred to lower elevations) and cooler and drier conditions (transferred to higher elevations) over 10 years on the Tibetan Plateau. Communities transplanted into the same elevation as controls represent species tracking climate change.

Transferring to lower elevations generally caused a net increase in richness and a higher rate of gains relative to the control plots; the magnitude of this effect depended on the specific elevation. Transferring to higher elevations lead to either net increases or decreases in richness and gains, depending on elevation. Species gains predicted much more variation in changes in species richness (50%) than did species loss (9%).

Species richness at the receptor site and the donor site were both important predictors of variation in species richness, and the abiotic environment did not explain additional variation. Changes in cover of dominant plant species in response to transfers did not predict changes in species richness, species gain or species loss. Our results suggest that species gains from species tracking climate change at the receptor sites, rather than species loss from the donor sites, predicted changes in species richness.

Synthesis. Warming experiments with physical barriers to dispersal may overestimate the negative effect of warming on plant diversity by not accounting for species gains. Our study highlights the importance of biotic factors in addition to the abiotic environment, when considering how climate change will affect plant diversity.
A novel method for using ecoacoustics to monitor post‐translocation behaviour in an endangered passerine
Authors: Metcalf Oliver C. , Ewen John G. , McCready Mhairi , Williams Emma M. , Rowcliffe J. Marcus 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Conservation translocations are an important tool in wildlife management, but monitoring of translocations has traditionally suffered from a lack of techniques for effective post‐release monitoring. Increasing understanding of post‐release movements is vital in improving the success of translocations, but few methods exist to efficiently monitor highly mobile and cryptic species post‐release.

We present a novel approach to using dynamic occupancy modelling in combination with data derived from autonomous acoustic recording units to monitor the post‐release behaviour of hihi (Notiomystis cincta), a threatened endemic bird, at a translocation site in New Zealand. The process of analysing large quantities of acoustic data was facilitated by using automated classifiers and manual validation, an approach that was both accurate and efficient.

We find that this approach detects behavioural change consistent with the transition from exploration of a new site to territory formation. We identify that hihi territories at the study site were closely linked to watercourses, but were not related to distance from release site.

We find that this method is able to effectively monitor post‐release dispersal, and could provide a cost‐efficient and less invasive alternative to radiotracking for monitoring of vocal species.