bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Timing malaria transmission with mosquito fluctuations
Authors: Pigeault R. , Caudron Q. , Nicot A. , Rivero A. , Gandon S. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTTemporal variations in the activity of arthropod vectors can dramatically affect the epidemiology and evolution of vector-borne pathogens. Here we explore the “Hawking hypothesis” stating that these pathogens may evolve the ability to time investment in transmission to match the activity of their vectors. First, we use a theoretical model to identify the conditions promoting the evolution of time-varying transmission strategies in pathogens. Second, we experimentally test the “Hawking hypothesis” by monitoring the within-host dynamics of Plasmodium relictum throughout the acute and the chronic phases of the bird infection. To explore the periodicity in the host parasite density, we develop a new methodology to correct for non-stationarities in the host parasitaemia. We detect a periodic increase of parasitaemia and mosquito infection in the late afternoon that coincides with an increase in the biting activity of its natural vector. We also detect a positive effect of mosquito bites on Plasmodium replication in the birds both in the acute and in the chronic phases of the infection. This study highlights that Plasmodium parasites use two different strategies to increase the match between transmission potential and vector availability. We discuss the adaptive nature of these unconditional and plastic transmission strategies with respect to the time-scale and the predictability of the fluctuations in the activity of the vector.Impact SummarySeasonal and daily fluctuations in the environment affect the abundance and the activity of vectors and may therefore have profound consequences on the transmission of infectious diseases. Here we show that, in accord with evolutionary theory, malaria parasites have evolved two different and complementary strategies to cope with fluctuations in mosquito availability. First, Plasmodium relictum adopts an unconditional strategy whereby within-host parasitaemia and mosquito infection increases in the afternoon and in the evening, when its vector, the Culex pipiens mosquito, is most active. Second, we find evidence for a plastic strategy allowing the parasitaemia to rapidly increase after exposure to mosquito bites.
The neural representation of missing speech and the influence of prior knowledge on cortical fidelity and latency
Authors: Constantino Francisco Cervantes , Simon Jonathan Z. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn naturally noisy listening conditions, for example at a cocktail party, noise disruptions may completely mask significant parts of a sentence, and yet listeners may still perceive the missing speech as being present. Here we demonstrate that dynamic speech-related auditory cortical activity, as measured by magnetoencephalography (MEG), which can ordinarily be used to directly reconstruct to the physical speech stimulus, can also be used to “reconstruct” acoustically missing speech. The extent to which this occurs depends on the extent that listeners are familiar with the missing speech, which is consistent with this neural activity being a dynamic representation of perceived speech even if acoustically absence. Our findings are two-fold: first, we find that when the speech is entirely acoustically absent, the acoustically absent speech can still be reconstructed with performance up to 25% of that of acoustically present speech without noise; and second, that this same expertise facilitates faster processing of natural speech by approximately 5 ms. Both effects disappear when listeners have no or very little prior experience with a given sentence. Our results suggest adaptive mechanisms of consolidation of detailed representations about speech, and the enabling of strong expectations this entails, as identifiable factors assisting automatic speech restoration over ecologically relevant timescales.
Interaction of septin 7 and DOCK8 in equine lymphocytes reveals novel insights into signaling pathways associated with autoimmunity
Authors: Schauer Melanie , Kleinwort Kristina J H , Degroote Roxane L , Wiedemann Carmen , Kremmer Elisabeth , Hauck Stefanie M , Deeg Cornelia A 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTThe GTP-binding protein septin 7 is involved in various cellular processes, including cytoskeleton organization, migration and the regulation of cell shape. Septin 7 function in lymphocytes, however, is poorly characterized. Since the intracellular signaling role of septin 7 is dependent on its interaction network, interaction proteomics was applied to attain novel knowledge about septin 7 function in hematopoietic cells. Our previous finding of decreased septin 7 expression in blood-derived lymphocytes in ERU, a spontaneous animal model for autoimmune uveitis in man, extended the role of septin 7 to a potential key player in autoimmunity. Here, we revealed novel insights into septin 7 function by identification of DOCK8 as an interaction partner in primary blood-derived lymphocytes. Since DOCK8 is associated with important immune functions, our finding of significantly decreased DOCK8 expression and altered DOCK8 interaction network in ERU might explain changes in immune response and shows the contribution of DOCK8 in pathomechanisms of spontaneous autoimmune diseases. Moreover, our analyses revealed insights in DOCK8 function, by identifying the signal transducer ILK as a DOCK8 interactor in lymphocytes. Our finding of the enhanced enrichment of ILK in ERU cases indicates a deviant influence of DOCK8 on inter- and intracellular signaling in autoimmune disease.
nNOS-expressing neurons in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta
Authors: Paul Eleanor J , Kalk Eliza , Tossell Kyoko , Irvine Elaine E. , Withers Dominic J. , Leiper James , Ungless Mark A 
Published: January 2018

AbstractGABA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compact (SNc) play key roles in reward and aversion through their local inhibitory control of dopamine neuron activity and through long-range projections to several target regions including the nucleus accumbens. It is not clear if some of these GABA neurons are dedicated local interneurons or if they all collateralize and send projections externally as well as making local synaptic connections. Testing between these possibilities has been challenging in the absence of interneuron-specific molecular markers. We hypothesised that one potential candidate might be neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), a common interneuronal marker in other brain regions. To test this, we used a combination of immunolabelling (including antibodies for nNOS that we validated in tissue from nNOS-deficient mice) and cell-type-specific virus-based anterograde tracing in mice. We show that nNOS-expressing neurons in the parabrachial pigmented (PBP) part of the VTA and the SNc are GABAergic local interneurons, whereas nNOS-expressing neurons in the Rostral Linear Nucleus (RLi) are mostly glutamatergic and project to a number of regions, including the lateral hypothalamus, the ventral pallidum, and the median raphe nucleus. Taken together, these findings indicate that nNOS is expressed by neurochemically- and anatomically-distinct neuronal sub-groups in a sub-region-specific manner in the VTA and SNc.
Modeling Avian Full Annual Cycle Distribution and Population Trends with Citizen Science Data
Authors: Fink Daniel , Auer Tom , Johnston Alison , Ruiz-Gutierrez Viviana , Hochachka Wesley M. , Kelling Steve 
Published: January 2018

AbstractInformation on species’ distributions and abundances, and how these change over time are central to the study of the ecology and conservation of animal populations. This information is challenging to obtain at relevant scales across range-wide extents for two main reasons. First, local and regional processes that affect populations vary throughout the year and across species’ ranges, requiring fine-scale, year-round information across broad — sometimes hemispheric — spatial extents. Second, while citizen science projects can collect data at these scales, using these data requires appropriate analysis to address known sources of bias. Here we present an analytical framework to address these challenges and generate year-round, range-wide distributional information using citizen science data. To illustrate this approach, we apply the framework to Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), a long-distance Neotropical migrant and species of conservation concern, using data from the citizen science project eBird. We estimate occurrence and relative abundance with enough spatiotemporal resolution to support inference across a range of spatial scales throughout the annual cycle. Additionally, we generate intra-annual estimates of the range, intra-annual estimates of the associations between species and the local environment, and inter-annual trends in relative abundance. This is the first example of an analysis to capture intra- and inter-annual distributional dynamics across the entire range of a broadly distributed, highly mobile species.
A constraint-based model reveals hysteresis in island biogeography
Authors: Burger Joseph R. , Anderson Robert P. , Balk Meghan A. , Fristoe Trevor S. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAimWe present a Constraint-based Model of Dynamic Island Biogeography (C-DIB) that predicts how species functional traits interact with dynamic environments to determine the candidate species available for local community assembly on real and habitat islands through time.LocationReal and habitat islands globally.MethodsWe develop the C-DIB model concept, synthesize the relevant literature, and present a toolkit for evaluating model predictions for a wide variety of “island” systems and taxa.ResultsThe C-DIB model reveals that as islands cycle between phases of increasing or decreasing size and connectivity to a source pool, the dominant process driving species’ presence or absence switches between colonization and extinction. Both processes are mediated by interactions between organismal traits and environmental constraints. Colonization probability is predicted by a species’ ability to cross the intervening matrix between a population source and the island; population persistence (or extinction) is predicted by the minimum spatial requirements to sustain an isolated population. The non-random distributions of mammals on islands of the Sunda Shelf and Great Basin “sky islands” provide example study systems for evaluating the C-DIB model.Main conclusionsBecause different suites of traits impose constraints on the processes of colonization and extinction, similar environmental conditions can host different candidate species despite the same predicted richness. Thus, the model exemplifies the specific yet underappreciated role ofhysteresis–the dependency of outcomes not only on the current system state –but also the historical contingency of environmental change in affecting populations and communities in insular systems.
A non-canonical role for dynamin-1 in regulating early stages of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in non-neuronal cells
Authors: Srinivasan Saipraveen , Burckhardt Christoph J. , Bhave Madhura , Chen Zhiming , Chen Ping-Hung , Wang Xinxin , Danuser Gaudenz , Schmid Sandra L. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDynamin GTPases are best studied for their role in the terminal membrane fission process of clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME); but, they have also been proposed to regulate earlier stages of CME. Although highly enriched in neurons, dynamin-1 (Dyn1) is, in fact, widely expressed along with dynamin-2 (Dyn2), but inactivated in non-neuronal cells via phosphorylation by GSK3β kinase. Here, we study the differential, isoform-specific functions of Dyn1 and Dyn2 as regulators of CME. Endogenously expressed Dyn1 and Dyn2 were fluorescently-tagged either separately or together in two cell lines with contrasting Dyn1 expression levels. By quantitative live cell dual and triple-channel total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy we find that Dyn2 is more efficiently recruited to clathrin-coated pits (CCPs) than Dyn1, and that Dyn2, but not Dyn1 exhibits a burst of assembly prior to CCV formation. Activation of Dyn1 by acute inhibition of GSK3β results in more rapid endocytosis of transferrin receptors, increased rates of CCP initiation and decreased CCP lifetimes, but did not significantly affect the extent of Dyn1 recruitment to CCPs. Thus, activated Dyn1 can regulate early stages of CME even when present at low, substoichiometric levels relative to Dyn2, and apparently without assembly into supramolecular collar-like structures. Under physiological conditions Dyn1 is activated downstream of EGF-receptor signaling to alter CCP dynamics. We identify sorting nexin 9 (SNX9) as a preferred binding partner to activated Dyn1 that is partially required for Dyn1-dependent effects on early stages of CCP maturation. Together, we decouple regulatory and scission functions of dynamins and report a scission-independent, isoformspecific regulatory role for Dyn1 in clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
BMP Signaling Downstream of the Highwire E3 Ligase Sensitizes Nociceptors
Authors: Honjo Ken , Tracey W. Daniel 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA comprehensive understanding of the molecular machinery important for nociception is essential to improving the treatment of pain. Here, we show that the BMP signaling pathway regulates nociception downstream of the E3 ubiquitin ligase highwire (hiw). Hiw loss of function in nociceptors caused antagonistic and pleiotropic phenotypes with simultaneous insensitivity to noxious heat but sensitized responses to optogenetic activation of nociceptors. Thus, hiw functions to both positively and negatively regulate nociceptors. We find that a sensory transduction-independent sensitization pathway was associated with BMP signaling. BMP signaling in nociceptors was up-regulated in hiw mutants, and nociceptor-specific expression of hiw rescued all nociception phenotypes including the increased BMP signaling. Blocking the transcriptional output of the BMP pathway with dominant negative Mad suppressed nociceptive hypersensitivity that was induced by interfering with hiw. The up-regulated BMP signaling phenotype in hiw genetic mutants could not be suppressed by mutation in wallenda suggesting that hiw regulates BMP in nociceptors via a wallenda independent pathway. In a newly established Ca2+ imaging preparation, we observed that up-regulated BMP signaling caused a significantly enhanced Ca2+ signal in the axon terminals of nociceptors that were stimulated by noxious heat. This response likely accounts for the nociceptive hypersensitivity induced by elevated BMP signaling in nociceptors. Finally, we showed that acute activation of BMP signaling in nociceptors was sufficient to sensitize nociceptive responses to optogenetically-triggered nociceptor activation without altering nociceptor morphology. Overall, this study demonstrates the previously unrevealed roles of the Hiw-BMP pathway in the regulation of nociception and provides the first direct evidence that up-regulated BMP signaling physiologically sensitizes responses of nociceptors and nociception behaviors.Author SummaryAlthough pain is a universally experienced sensation that has a significant impact on human lives and society, the molecular mechanisms of pain remain poorly understood. Elucidating these mechanisms is particularly important to gaining insight into the clinical development of currently incurable chronic pain diseases. Taking an advantage of the powerful genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies), we unveil the Highwire-BMP signaling pathway as a novel molecular pathway that regulates the sensitivity of nociceptive sensory neurons. Highwire and the molecular components of the BMP signaling pathway are known to be widely conserved among animal phyla, from nematode worms to humans. Since abnormal sensitivity of nociceptive sensory neurons can play a critical role in the development of chronic pain conditions, a deeper understanding of the regulation of nociceptor sensitivity has the potential to advance effective therapeutic strategies to treat difficult pain conditions.
Quantitative Assessment of Protein Activity in Orphan Tissues and Single Cells Using the metaVIPER Algorithm
Authors: Ding Hongxu , Douglass Eugene F. , Sonabend Adam M. , Mela Angeliki , Bose Sayantan , Gonzalez Christian , Canoll Peter D. , Sims Peter A. , Alvarez Mariano J. , Califano Andrea 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWe and others have shown that transition and maintenance of biological states is controlled by master regulator protein, which can be inferred by interrogating tissue-specific regulatory models (interactomes) with transcriptional signatures, using the VIPER algorithm. Yet, some tissues may lack molecular profiles necessary for interactome inference (orphan tissues), or, as for single cells isolated from heterogeneous samples, their tissue context may be undetermined. To address this problem, we introduce metaVIPER, a novel algorithm designed to assess protein activity in tissue-independent by integrative analysis of multiple, non-tissue-matched interactomes. This assumes that transcriptional targets of each protein will be recapitulated by one or more available interactome. We confirmed the algorithm’s value in assessing protein dysregulation induced by somatic mutations, as well as in assessing protein activity in orphan tissues and, most critically, in single cells, thus allowing transformation of noisy and potentially biased RNA-Seq signatures into reproducible protein-activity signatures.
Self-reported food safety knowledge and practices of Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households
Authors: Hassan Hussein F. , Dimassi Hani , Karam Zeina Nakat 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess level of food safety knowledge and self-reported practices among Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households and to identify the association between knowledge/practices and socio-demographic characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,500 participants from different gender, age, area of residence, income, marital status and education. They completed a questionnaire of six questions about demographics, and 26 questions related to knowledge and self-reported practices in terms of food handling, storage, usage of kitchen facilities and personal hygiene subgroups. SPSS v23 was used for statistical analyses. Student t-test and analysis of variance were conducted. Significance level of 0.05 was used.

Findings
On average, participants scored 55.6±16.3, 51.3±25.7, 67.4±19.3 and 89.1±16.3 on food handling, storage, usage of kitchen facilities and personal hygiene, respectively, whereas the passing (score above 50 percent) rates were 64.5, 69.9, 90.5 and 99.1, respectively, for the different subgroups. Gender had significant (p<0.05) effect on food handling and personal hygiene; age, marital status and education had significant (p<0.05) effect on handling, usage of kitchen facilities and personal hygiene; area of residence had significant (p<0.05) effect on storage, handling and usage of kitchen facilities; income had significant (p<0.05) effect on handling and usage of kitchen facilities. Overall mean food safety knowledge and self-reported practices score was 63.8±12.6; passing rate was 86.2; gender, age, area of residence, education, marital status and income had significant (p<0.05) effect. Food safety self-reported practices and knowledge scores were significantly (p<0.001) related to a weak to moderate correlation coefficient (R=0.34).

Practical implications
The results confirm the need for ongoing educational initiatives to improve the relatively low food safety knowledge and practices among the Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households.

Originality/value
No study has determined the food safety knowledge and self-reported practices of Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households before.
Mobile banking adoption in an emerging economy
Authors: Priya Richa , Gandhi Aradhana Vikas , Shaikh Ateeque 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors affecting mobile banking adoption among young Indian consumers.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a cross-sectional survey research design to empirically examine the factors affecting mobile banking adoption among young Indian consumers. The study sample consists of 269 respondents aged between 23 and 30 years from India.FindingsThe findings of the study suggest that perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEU), perceived credibility (PC) and structural assurance (SA) are strong determinants of user satisfaction (US) and behavioral intention (BI) to use the mobile banking service. US was found to partially mediate the relationship between PU, PEU, PC and SA and BI to use the service. Perceived risk was found to be statistically insignificant in terms of its relationship with BI to use the service.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study provide good evidence for banks to further revamp their work practices in the area of mobile banking to enhance the overall penetration of mobile banking in India.Originality/valueThe study identifies factors influencing mobile banking adoption among young Indian consumers. Furthermore, this study suggests that US partially mediates the relationship between factor influencing mobile banking adoption and BI.
An integrated approach for prioritizing lean and agile production factors based on costs of quality with a case study in the home appliance industry
Authors: Shahin Arash , Rezaei Marzieh 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to prioritize lean production (LP) and agile production (AP) factors based on costs of quality (COQ).

Design/methodology/approach
After literature review, two separated houses of quality (HoQ) have been developed. By the first HoQ, LP and AP factors can be proritized based on prevention and appraisal costs and by the second HoQ, LP and AP factors can be prioritized based on failure costs. The proposed approach has been examined by analyzing data collected from 36 home appliance producers of Isfahan as an industrial province of Iran.

Findings
The first HoQ indicates that the highest and the lowest priorities are related to over-production (lean factor) and speed (agility factor), respectively. The second HoQ implies that the highest and the lowest priorities are related to responsiveness (agility factor) and inventory (lean factor), respectively. Quadrant analysis also indicates that defectives and over-processing are the two factors that have the highest priorities based on both failure costs and appraisal and prevention costs. As a major finding, LP factors have strong relationship with prevention and appraisal costs; and AP factors have strong relationship with failure costs.

Practical implications
The proposed approach helps organizations in reducing their costs. By clarifying the relationship of the LP and AP factors and the COQ, managers can determine appropriate strategies with the lowest cost.

Originality/value
The integrated approach of this study has not been applied and studied in the literature. The subject of the relationship of LP and AP and COQ is relatively new, which integrates the two areas of production management and quality management.