bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
History-based action selection bias in posterior parietal cortex
Authors: Hwang Eun Jung , Dahlen Jeffrey E. , Mukundan Madan , Komiyama Takaki 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMaking decisions based on choice-outcome history is a crucial, adaptive ability in life. However, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying history-dependent decision-making are poorly understood. In particular, history-related signals have been found in many brain areas during various decision-making tasks, but the causal involvement of these signals in guiding behavior is unclear. Here we addressed this issue utilizing behavioral modeling, two-photon calcium imaging, and optogenetic inactivation in mice. We report that a subset of neurons in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) closely reflect the choice-outcome history and history-dependent decision biases, and PPC inactivation diminishes the history dependency of choice. Specifically, many PPC neurons show history- and bias-tuning during the inter-trial intervals (ITI), and history dependency of choice is affected by PPC inactivation during ITI and not during trial. These results indicate that PPC is a critical region mediating the subjective use of history in biasing action selection.
MicroRNAs promote skeletal muscle differentiation of mesodermal iPSC-derived progenitors
Authors: Giacomazzi Giorgia , Holvoet Bryan , Trenson Sander , Caluwé Ellen , Kravic Bojana , Grosemans Hanne , Cortés-Calabuig Álvaro , Deroose Christophe M. , Huylebroeck Danny , Hashemolhosseini Said , Janssens Stefan , McNally Elizabeth , Quattrocelli Mattia , Sampaolesi Maurilio 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMuscular dystrophies (MDs) are often characterized by impairment of both skeletal and cardiac muscle. Regenerative strategies for both compartments therefore constitute a therapeutic avenue. Mesodermal iPSC-derived progenitors (MiPs) can regenerate both striated muscle types simultaneously in mice. Importantly, MiP myogenic propensity is influenced by somatic lineage retention. However, it is still unknown whether human MiPs have in vivo potential. Furthermore, methods to enhance the intrinsic myogenic properties of MiPs are likely needed, given the scope and need to correct large amounts of muscle in the MDs. Here, we document that human MiPs can successfully engraft into the skeletal muscle and hearts of dystrophic mice. Utilizing non-invasive live imaging and selectively induced apoptosis, we report evidence of striated muscle regeneration in vivo in mice by human MiPs. Finally, combining RNA-seq and miRNA-seq data, we define miRNA cocktails that promote the myogenic potential of human MiPs.
Nigritoxin is a bacterial toxin for crustaceans and insects
Authors: Labreuche Yannick , Chenivesse Sabine , Jeudy Alexandra , Le Panse Sophie , Boulo Viviane , Ansquer Dominique , Pagès Sylvie , Givaudan Alain , Czjzek Mirjam , Le Roux Frédérique 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe Tetraconata (Pancrustacea) concept proposes that insects are more closely related to aquatic crustaceans than to terrestrial centipedes or millipedes. The question therefore arises whether insects have kept crustacean-specific genetic traits that could be targeted by specific toxins. Here we show that a toxin (nigritoxin), originally identified in a bacterial pathogen of shrimp, is lethal for organisms within the Tetraconata and non-toxic to other animals. X-ray crystallography reveals that nigritoxin possesses a new protein fold of the α/β type. The nigritoxin N-terminal domain is essential for cellular translocation and likely encodes specificity for Tetraconata. Once internalized by eukaryotic cells, nigritoxin induces apoptotic cell death through structural features that are localized in the C-terminal domain of the protein. We propose that nigritoxin will be an effective means to identify a Tetraconata evolutionarily conserved pathway and speculate that nigritoxin holds promise as an insecticidal protein.
Structure-mediated modulation of mRNA abundance by A-to-I editing
Authors: Brümmer Anneke , Yang Yun , Chan Tracey W. , Xiao Xinshu 
Published: October 2017

AbstractRNA editing introduces single nucleotide changes to RNA, thus potentially diversifying gene expression. Recent studies have reported significant changes in RNA editing profiles in disease and development. The functional consequences of these widespread alterations remain elusive because of the unknown function of most RNA editing sites. Here, we carry out a comprehensive analysis of A-to-I editomes in human populations. Surprisingly, we observe highly similar editing profiles across populations despite striking differences in the expression levels of ADAR genes. Striving to explain this discrepancy, we uncover a functional mechanism of A-to-I editing in regulating mRNA abundance. We show that A-to-I editing stabilizes RNA secondary structures and reduces the accessibility of AGO2-miRNA to target sites in mRNAs. The editing-dependent stabilization of mRNAs in turn alters the observed editing levels in the stable RNA repertoire. Our study provides valuable insights into the functional impact of RNA editing in human cells.
Chemical messages from an ancient buried bottle: metabolomics for wine archeochemistry
Authors: Roullier-Gall Chloé , Heinzmann Silke S. , Garcia Jean-Pierre , Schmitt-Kopplin Philippe , Gougeon Régis D. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractRestoration works in the old Clunisian Saint-Vivant monastery in Burgundy revealed an unidentified wine bottle (SV1) dating between 1772 and 1860. Chemical evidence for SV1 origin and nature are presented here using non-targeted Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance analyses. The SV1 chemical diversity was compared to red wines (Pinot Noir) from the Romanée Saint Vivant appellation and from six different vintages spanning from 1915 to 2009. The close metabolomic signature between SV1 and Romanée Saint Vivant wines spoke in favor of a filiation between these wines, in particular considering the Pinot noir grape variety. A further statistical comparison with up to 77 Pinot noir wines from Burgundy and vintages from nearly all the 20th century, confirmed that SV1 must have been made more than one hundred years ago. The increasing number of detected high masses and of nitrogen containing compounds with the ageing of the wine was in accordance with known ageing mechanisms. Besides, resveratrol was shown here to be preserved for more than one hundred years in wine. For the first time, the age of an old unknown wine along with its grape variety have been assessed through non-targeted metabolomic analyses.
In vivo-like 3-D model for sodium nitrite- and acrylamide-induced hepatotoxicity tests utilizing HepG2 cells entrapped in micro-hollow fibers
Authors: Chu Qiang , Zhao Yiying , Shi Xuer , Han Wen , Zhang Yanzhen , Zheng Xiaodong , Zhu Jing 
Published: October 2017

AbstractTo address the need for a high throughput toxicity test in the modern food industry, an in vivo-like 3-D cell model was constructed in this study to provide an alternative to controversial long-term animal models and to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of the traditional monolayer model. The model formed cell cylindroids within polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fibers and therefore mimicked the microenvironment of liver tissue. Microscopy methods were used, and liver-specific functions were measured to demonstrate the superiority of the model compared to the monolayer model, as well as to optimize the model for best cell performances. Later, toxicity tests of sodium nitrite and acrylamide were conducted in both the 3-D model and the monolayer model to study the sensitivity of the 3-D model in toxicity responses. As expected, HepG2 cells within the 3-D model responded at lower concentrations and shorter exposure times compared to cells within the monolayer model. Furthermore, western blot analysis of apoptosis pathways also supported the argument.
Rapid Characterization of Local Shape Memory Properties through Indentation
Authors: Li Peizhen , Karaca Haluk E. , Cheng Yang-Tse 
Published: October 2017

AbstarctShape memory alloys (SMAs) have the ability to show large recoverable shape changes upon temperature, stress or magnetic field cycling. Their shape memory, material and magnetic properties (e.g. transformation temperatures, strain, saturation magnetization and strength) determine their prospects for applications from small-scale microelectromechanical systems to large scale aerospace and biomedical systems. It should be noted that properties of SMAs are highly temperature dependent. Generally, the conventional mechanical characterization methods (e.g, tension, compression, and torsion) are used on bulk samples of SMAs to determine those properties. In this article, it will be shown that indentation technique can be used as an alternative rapid method to determine some of the important shape memory properties of SMAs. Indentation response of a high-temperature NiTiHf alloy was determined as a function of temperature. A clear relationship between the work recoverable ratio and transformation temperatures, superelastic and plastic behavior was observed. This work shows that indentation response can be used to measure local superelasticity response, determine phase transformation temperatures and reveal the temperature intervals of the deformation mechanisms of shape memory alloys.
Ant Droplet Dynamics Evolve via Individual Decision-Making
Authors: Sakiyama Tomoko 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe droplets of a set of ants were studied while they constructed a bridge. A droplet is a group of ants derived from a larger group. Several experimental studies have revealed the droplet dynamics of ants that resemble the self-organising characteristics that are displayed in their physico-chemical systems. However, little is known regarding how these typical behaviours emerge from individual decision-making. In this study, I developed an agent-based model where artificial ants aggregated, thereby resulting in chain and droplet growth. In my proposed model, the agents tuned their weight thresholds according to the local pattern stability and propagation of negative information. As a result, it was revealed that the droplet dynamics of my proposed model partly matched the time series of droplets of real ants, as demonstrated in previous experimental studies that included the fluctuation function and interdrop increments that followed a scale-free distribution.
Identifying critical recruitment bottlenecks limiting seedling establishment in a degraded seagrass ecosystem
Authors: Statton John , Montoya Leonardo R. , Orth Robert J. , Dixon Kingsley W. , Kendrick Gary A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIdentifying early life-stage transitions limiting seagrass recruitment could improve our ability to target demographic processes most responsive to management. Here we determine the magnitude of life-stage transitions along gradients in physical disturbance limiting seedling establishment for the marine angiosperm, Posidonia australis. Transition matrix models and sensitivity analyses were used to identify which transitions were critical for successful seedling establishment during the first year of seed recruitment and projection models were used to predict the most appropriate environments and seeding densities. Total survival probability of seedlings was low (0.001), however, transition probabilities between life-stages differed across the environmental gradients; seedling recruitment was affected by grazing and bioturbation prevailing during the first life-stage transition (1 month), and 4–6 months later during the third life-stage transition when establishing seedlings are physically removed by winter storms. Models projecting population growth from different starting seed densities showed that seeds could replace other more labour intensive and costly methods, such as transplanting adult shoots, if disturbances are moderated sufficiently and if large numbers of seed can be collected in sufficient quantity and delivered to restoration sites efficiently. These outcomes suggest that by improving management of early demographic processes, we could increase recruitment in restoration programs.
Logistic growth of a surface contamination network and its role in disease spread
Authors: Lei Hao , Li Yuguo , Xiao Shenglan , Yang Xinyan , Lin ChaoHsin , Norris Sharon L. , Wei Daniel , Hu Zhongmin , Ji Shengcheng 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSurfaces and objects surround us, and touching them is integral to everyday life. Pathogen contaminated surfaces (fomites) are known to transmit diseases. However, little is known about the ways and speed at which surfaces become contaminated. We found that under certain conditions, the number of contaminated surfaces grows logistically, corresponding to possible rapid transmission of infection. In such a surface network, pathogen can be transmitted great distances quickly—as far as people move. We found that the surface contamination network in aircraft cabins exhibits a community structure, with small communities connected by the aisle seatback surfaces and toilets, which are high-touch surfaces. In less than two to three hours, most high-touch surfaces in the cabin are contaminated, and within five to six hours nearly all touchable surfaces are contaminated. During short haul flight, aisle passengers have higher fomite exposure. This closely matches the spatial infection pattern of one reported inflight norovirus outbreaks. Our model is generally applicable to other crowded settings. The commonly repeated advice to “wash hands frequently” may be replaced in future by more strategic advice such as “clean surfaces right now”, or advice based on who should wash their hands, and when.
Dynamic fingerprinting of sub-cellular nanostructures by image mean square displacement analysis
Authors: Digiacomo Luca , D’Autilia Francesca , Durso William , Tentori Paolo Maria , Caracciolo Giulio , Cardarelli Francesco 
Published: October 2017

AbstractHere we provide demonstration that image mean square displacement (iMSD) analysis is a fast and robust platform to address living matter dynamic organization at the level of sub-cellular nanostructures (e.g. endocytic vesicles, early/late endosomes, lysosomes), with no a-priori knowledge of the system, and no need to extract single trajectories. From each iMSD, a unique triplet of average parameters (namely: diffusivity, anomalous coefficient, size) are extracted and represented in a 3D parametric space, where clustering of single-cell points readily defines the structure “dynamic fingerprint”, at the whole-cell-population level. We demonstrate that different sub-cellular structures segregate into separate regions of the parametric space. The potency of this approach is further proved through application to two exemplary, still controversial, cases: i) the intracellular trafficking of lysosomes, comprising both free diffusion and directed motion along cytoskeletal components, and ii) the evolving dynamic properties of macropinosomes, passing from early to late stages of intracellular trafficking. We strongly believe this strategy may represent a flexible, multiplexed platform to address the dynamic properties of living matter at the sub-cellular level, both in the physiological and pathological state.
Multiple mechanisms are involved in new imazamox-resistant varieties of durum and soft wheat
Authors: Domínguez-Mendez Rafael , Alcántara-de la Cruz Ricardo , Rojano-Delgado Antonia M. , Fernández-Moreno Pablo T. , Aponte Raphael , De Prado Rafael 
Published: October 2017

AbstractWeed control in wheat is one of the major goals of farmers in their efforts toward obtaining the highest crop yields for human foods. Several studies (dose-response, enzyme activity, absorption-translocation and metabolism) were conducted to characterize the resistance level of two new wheat cultivars called Rafalín (Triticum aestivum) and Antoñín (T. durum) that were obtained by conventional breeding based on Clearfield® technology; they are resistant (R) to imazamox compared to their sensitive (S) counterparts (Gazul and Simeto, respectively). The R-cultivars were 93.7-fold (Rafalín) and 43.7-fold (Antoñín) more resistant than their respective S-cultivars. The acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme activity revealed high resistance to imidazolinone (IMI) herbicides in R-cultivars, but no cross-resistance to other ALS herbicides was found. The Ser653Asn mutation that confers resistance to IMI herbicides was identified in the imi1 and imi2 genes of Rafalín and only in the imi1 gene of Antoñín. The 14C-imazamox absorption did not differ between the R- and S-cultivars. Imazamox was metabolized by Cyt-P450 into imazamox-hydroxyl and imazamox-glucoside in the R-cultivars, altering their translocation patterns. The differential sensitivity to imazamox between R-cultivars was due to the number of resistance genes that carry each genotype. The R-cultivars Rafalín and Antoñín could be excellent weed control tools.
Impact of Educational Interventions on Acceptance and Uptake of Male Circumcision in the General Population of Western China: A Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors: Zhou Bo , Ning Chuanyi , McCann Chase D. , Liao Yanyan , Yang Xiaobo , Zou Yunfeng , Jiang Junjun , Liang Bingyu , Abdullah Abu S. , Qin Bo , Upur Halmurat , Zhong Chaohui , Ye Li , Liang Hao 
Published: October 2017

AbstractTo compare different intervention models for promoting male circumcision (MC) to prevent HIV transmission in Western China. A total of 1690 male participants from multiple study sites were cluster randomly allocated to three-stage (Model A), two-stage (Model B), and one-stage (Model C) educational interventions. In all three interventions models, knowledge about MC significantly increased and the reported willingness to accept MC increased to 52.6% (255/485), 67.0% (353/527), and 45.5% (219/481) after intervention, respectively (P < 0.05). Rate of MC surgery uptake was highest (23.7%; 115/485) among those who received Model A intervention, compared to those who received Model B (17.1%; 90/527) or Model C (9.4%; 45/481) interventions (P < 0.05). Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified that Model A or Model B had twice the effect of Model C on MC uptake, with relative risks of 2.4 (95%CI, 1.5–3.8) and 2.2 (95%CI, 1.3–3.6), respectively. Model B was the most effective model for improving participants’ willingness to accept MC, while Model A was most successful at increasing uptake of MC surgery. Self-reported attitude towards MC uptake was not strongly correlated with actual behavior in this study focusing on the general male population in Western China.
Healthy Adults Display Long-Term Trait-Like Neurobehavioral Resilience and Vulnerability to Sleep Loss
Authors: Dennis Laura E. , Wohl Rachael J. , Selame Lauren A. , Goel Namni 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSleep loss produces well-characterized cognitive deficits, although there are large individual differences, with marked vulnerability or resilience among individuals. Such differences are stable with repeated exposures to acute total sleep deprivation (TSD) within a short-time interval (weeks). Whether such stability occurs with chronic sleep restriction (SR) and whether it endures across months to years in TSD, indicating a true trait, remains unknown. In 23 healthy adults, neurobehavioral vulnerability to TSD exposures, separated by 27–2,091 days (mean: 444 days; median: 210 days), showed trait-like stability in performance and subjective measures (82–95% across measures). Similarly, in 24 healthy adults, neurobehavioral vulnerability to SR exposures, separated by 78–3,058 days (mean: 935 days; median: 741 days), also showed stability (72–92% across measures). Cognitive performance outcomes and subjective ratings showed consistency across objective measures, and consistency across subjective measures, but not between objective and subjective domains. We demonstrate for the first time the stability of phenotypic neurobehavioral responses in the same individuals to SR and to TSD over long-time intervals. Across multiple measures, prior sleep loss responses are strong predictors of individual responses to subsequent sleep loss exposures chronically or intermittently, across months and years, thus validating the need for biomarkers and predictors.
High-concentration hydrogen protects mouse heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury through activation of thePI3K/Akt1 pathway
Authors: Chen Ouyang , Cao Zhiyong , Li He , Ye Zhouheng , Zhang Rongjia , Zhang Ning , Huang Junlong , Zhang Ting , Wang Liping , Han Ling , Liu Wenwu , Sun Xuejun 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe study investigated the role of Akt1 through the cardioprotection of high-concentration hydrogen (HCH). C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the following groups: sham, I/R, I/R + HCH, I/R + HCH + LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor), I/R + HCH + wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor), I/R + LY294002, and I/R + wortmannin. After 45 min of ischemia, HCH (67% H2 and 33% O2) was administered to mice during a 90-min reperfusion. To investigate the role of Akt1 in the protective effects of HCH, mice were divided into the following groups: I/R + A-674563 (Akt1 selective inhibitor), I/R + HCH + A-674563, I/R + CCT128930 (Akt2 selective inhibitor), and I/R + HCH + CCT128930. After a 4-h reperfusion, serum biochemistry, histological, western blotting, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to evaluate the role of the PI3K-Akt1 pathway in the protection of HCH. In vitro, 75% hydrogen was administered to cardiomyocytes during 4 h of reoxygenation after 3-h hypoxia. Several analyses were performed to evaluate the role of the Akt1 in the protective effects of hydrogen. HCH resulted in the phosphorylation of Akt1 but not Akt2, and Akt1 inhibition markedly abolished HCH-induced cardioprotection. Our findings reveal that HCH may exert cardioprotective effects through a PI3K-Akt1-dependent mechanism.
HtrA1 activation is driven by an allosteric mechanism of inter-monomer communication
Authors: Cabrera Alvaro Cortes , Melo Esther , Roth Doris , Topp Andreas , Delobel Frederic , Stucki Corinne , Chen Chia-yi , Jakob Peter , Banfai Balazs , Dunkley Tom , Schilling Oliver , Huber Sylwia , Iacone Roberto , Petrone Paula 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe human protease family HtrA is responsible for preventing protein misfolding and mislocalization, and a key player in several cellular processes. Among these, HtrA1 is implicated in several cancers, cerebrovascular disease and age-related macular degeneration. Currently, HtrA1 activation is not fully characterized and relevant for drug-targeting this protease. Our work provides a mechanistic step-by-step description of HtrA1 activation and regulation. We report that the HtrA1 trimer is regulated by an allosteric mechanism by which monomers relay the activation signal to each other, in a PDZ-domain independent fashion. Notably, we show that inhibitor binding is precluded if HtrA1 monomers cannot communicate with each other. Our study establishes how HtrA1 trimerization plays a fundamental role in proteolytic activity. Moreover, it offers a structural explanation for HtrA1-defective pathologies as well as mechanistic insights into the degradation of complex extracellular fibrils such as tubulin, amyloid beta and tau that belong to the repertoire of HtrA1.