bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dispersal timing determines the importance of priority effects in bacterial communities
Authors: Svoboda Pavel , Lindström Eva S , Ahmed Osman Omneya , Langenheder Silke 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
The order and timing of species arrival during community assembly can have long term effects on community structure due to priority effects. The importance of such processes in complex bacterial communities where dispersal involves mixing of entire communities is currently not known. Here we used a transplant experiment with two bacterioplankton communities of different origin (freshwater and brackish). Sterile medium of each origin was initially inoculated with a bacterial community of different (‘alien’) origin, followed by dispersal of the respective ‘home’ community at different time points after initial inoculation. We found that the later the dispersal with the ‘home’ community occurred the smaller the effect on the final community composition. This suggests that priority effects by the initially inoculated community reduce the establishment success of taxa from the later arriving community and that this effect depends on dispersal timing.
Burial-induced oxygen-isotope re-equilibration of fossil foraminifera explains ocean paleotemperature paradoxes
Authors: Bernard S. , Daval D. , Ackerer P. , Pont S. , Meibom A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractOxygen-isotope compositions of fossilised planktonic and benthic foraminifera tests are used as proxies for surface- and deep-ocean paleotemperatures, providing a continuous benthic record for the past 115 Ma. However, visually imperceptible processes can alter these proxies during sediment burial. Here, we investigate the diffusion-controlled re-equilibration process with experiments exposing foraminifera tests to elevated pressures and temperatures in isotopically heavy artificial seawater (H218O), followed by scanning electron microscopy and quantitative NanoSIMS imaging: oxygen-isotope compositions changed heterogeneously at submicrometer length scales without any observable modifications of the test ultrastructures. In parallel, numerical modelling of diffusion during burial shows that oxygen-isotope re-equilibration of fossil foraminifera tests can cause significant overestimations of ocean paleotemperatures on a time scale of 107 years under natural conditions. Our results suggest that the late Cretaceous and Paleogene deep-ocean and high-latitude surface-ocean temperatures were significantly lower than is generally accepted, thereby explaining the paradox of the low equator-to-pole surface-ocean thermal gradient inferred for these periods.
Large-scale suppression of recombination predates genomic rearrangements in Neurospora tetrasperma
Authors: Sun Yu , Svedberg Jesper , Hiltunen Markus , Corcoran Pádraic , Johannesson Hanna 
Published: October 2017

AbstractA common feature of eukaryote genomes is large chromosomal regions where recombination is absent or strongly reduced, but the factors that cause this reduction are not well understood. Genomic rearrangements have often been implicated, but they may also be a consequence of recombination suppression rather than a cause. In this study, we generate eight high-quality genomic data sets of the filamentous ascomycete Neurospora tetrasperma, a fungus that lacks recombination over most of its largest chromosome. The genomes surprisingly reveal collinearity of the non-recombining regions and although large inversions are enriched in these regions, we conclude these inversions to be derived and not the cause of the suppression. To our knowledge, this is the first time that non-recombining, genic regions as large as 86% of a full chromosome (or 8 Mbp), are shown to be collinear. These findings are of significant interest for our understanding of the evolution of sex chromosomes and other supergene complexes.
Bisphenol A in eggs causes development-specific liver molecular reprogramming in two generations of rainbow trout
Authors: Sadoul Bastien , Birceanu Oana , Aluru Neel , Thomas Jith K. , Vijayan Mathilakath M. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the manufacture of plastics and epoxy resins and is prevalent in the aquatic environment. BPA disrupts endocrine pathways in fish, but the long-term developmental implications are unknown. We demonstrate that BPA deposition in the eggs of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), an ecologically and economically important species of fish, reprograms liver metabolism in the offspring and alters the developmental growth trajectory in two generations. Specifically, BPA reduces growth during early development, followed by a catch-up growth post-juveniles. More importantly, we observed a developmental shift in the liver transcriptome, including an increased propensity for protein breakdown during early life stages to lipid and cholesterol synthesis post- juveniles. The liver molecular responses corresponded with the transient growth phenotypes observed in the F1 generation, and this was also evident in the F2 generation. Altogether, maternal and/or ancestral embryonic exposure to BPA affects liver metabolism leading to development-distinct effects on growth, underscoring the need for novel risk assessment strategies for this chemical in the aquatic environment. This is particularly applicable to migratory species, such as salmon, where distinct temporal changes in growth and physiology during development are critical for their spawning success.
Atmospheric Beacons of Life from Exoplanets Around G and K Stars
Authors: Airapetian Vladimir S. , Jackman Charles H. , Mlynczak Martin , Danchi William , Hunt Linda 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe current explosion in detection and characterization of thousands of extrasolar planets from the Kepler mission, the Hubble Space Telescope, and large ground-based telescopes opens a new era in searches for Earth-analog exoplanets with conditions suitable for sustaining life. As more Earth-sized exoplanets are detected in the near future, we will soon have an opportunity to identify habitale worlds. Which atmospheric biosignature gases from habitable planets can be detected with our current capabilities? The detection of the common biosignatures from nitrogen-oxygen rich terrestrial-type exoplanets including molecular oxygen (O2), ozone (O3), water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) requires days of integration time with largest space telescopes, and thus are very challenging for current instruments. In this paper we propose to use the powerful emission from rotational-vibrational bands of nitric oxide, hydroxyl and molecular oxygen as signatures of nitrogen, oxygen, and water rich atmospheres of terrestrial type exoplanets “highlighted” by the magnetic activity from young G and K main-sequence stars. The signals from these fundamental chemical prerequisites of life we call atmospheric “beacons of life” create a unique opportunity to perform direct imaging observations of Earth-sized exoplanets with high signal-to-noise and low spectral resolution with the upcoming NASA missions.
Differentiation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells from Sox10-Venus Mice to Oligodendrocytes and Astrocytes
Authors: Suzuki Nobuharu , Sekimoto Kaori , Hayashi Chikako , Mabuchi Yo , Nakamura Tetsuya , Akazawa Chihiro 
Published: October 2017

AbstractOligodendrocytes are well known as myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system (CNS). However, detailed mechanisms of oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination are poorly understood, particularly due to the difficulty of the purification of murine oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). We have recently established a transgenic mouse line that expresses a fluorescent protein Venus under the promoter of Sox10, whose expression is restricted to OPCs and oligodendrocytes in the CNS. Here, we have characterized Venus-positive cells from theSox10-Venus mouse brain for analyzing oligodendrocyte differentiation. We first purified Venus-positive cells from the postnatal day 0–2 brain by flow cytometry. Most of the Venus-positive cells expressed NG2, an OPC marker. After induction of differentiation, an increased population of galactocerebroside-positive oligodendrocytes and decrease of OPCs were observed in the Venus-positive culture. Furthermore, a time-lapse analysis showed that Venus-positive oligodendrocytes dynamically changed their morphology with highly branched cell processes during differentiation. In addition, we found that Venus-positive OPCs were able to differentiate to type II astrocytes.In vivo, OPCs and oligodendrocytes express Venus, and some of astrocytes were positive for Venus in the ventral cortex. Taken together, theSox10-Venus mouse system is useful for analyzing differentiation and multipotency of murine OPCs.
High fat diet exacerbates murine psoriatic dermatitis by increasing the number of IL-17-producing γδ T cells
Authors: Nakamizo Satoshi , Honda Tetsuya , Adachi Akimasa , Nagatake Takahiro , Kunisawa Jun , Kitoh Akihiko , Otsuka Atsushi , Dainichi Teruki , Nomura Takashi , Ginhoux Florent , Ikuta Koichi , Egawa Gyohei , Kabashima Kenji 
Published: October 2017

AbstractPsoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by epidermal hyperplasia via the IL-23/IL-17 axis. Various studies have indicated the association between obesity and psoriasis, however, the underlying mechanisms remains unclarified. To this end, we focused on high-fat diet (HFD) in this study, because HFD is suggested as a contributor to obesity, and HFD-fed mice exhibit exacerbated psoriatic dermatitis. Using murine imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis and HFD-induced obesity models, we have revealed a novel mechanism of HFD-induced exacerbation of psoriatic dermatitis. HFD-fed mice exhibited aggravated psoriatic dermatitis, which was accompanied with increased accumulation of IL-17A-producing Vγ4+γδ T cells in the skin. HFD also induced the increase of Vγ4+γδ T cells in other organs such as skin draining lymph nodes, which preceded the increase of them in the skin. In addition, HFD-fed mice displayed increased expression of several γδ T cell-recruiting chemokines in the skin. On the other hand,ob/obmice, another model of murine obesity on normal diet, did not exhibit aggravated psoriatic dermatitis nor accumulation of γδ T cells in the dermis. These results indicate that HFD is a key element in exacerbation of IMQ-induced psoriatic dermatitis, and further raise the possibility of HFD as a factor that links obesity and psoriasis.
Methods to Evaluate Cell Growth, Viability, and Response to Treatment in a Tissue Engineered Breast Cancer Model
Authors: Goliwas Kayla F. , Richter Jillian R. , Pruitt Hawley C. , Araysi Lita M. , Anderson Nicholas R. , Samant Rajeev S. , Lobo-Ruppert Susan M. , Berry Joel L. , Frost Andra R. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe use of in vitro, engineered surrogates in the field of cancer research is of interest for studies involving mechanisms of growth and metastasis, and response to therapeutic intervention. While biomimetic surrogates better model human disease, their complex composition and dimensionality make them challenging to evaluate in a real-time manner. This feature has hindered the broad implementation of these models, particularly in drug discovery. Herein, several methods and approaches for the real-time, non-invasive analysis of cell growth and response to treatment in tissue-engineered, three-dimensional models of breast cancer are presented. The tissue-engineered surrogates used to demonstrate these methods consist of breast cancer epithelial cells and fibroblasts within a three dimensional volume of extracellular matrix and are continuously perfused with nutrients via a bioreactor system. Growth of the surrogates over time was measured using optical in vivo (IVIS) imaging. Morphologic changes in specific cell populations were evaluated by multi-photon confocal microscopy. Response of the surrogates to treatment with paclitaxel was measured by optical imaging and by analysis of lactate dehydrogenase and caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 in the perfused medium. Each method described can be repeatedly performed during culture, allowing for real-time, longitudinal analysis of cell populations within engineered tumor models.
Tuning a sign of magnetoelectric coupling in paramagnetic NH2(CH3)2Al1−xCrx(SO4)2 × 6H2O crystals by metal ion substitution
Authors: Kapustianyk V. , Eliyashevskyy Yu. , Czapla Z. , Rudyk V. , Serkiz R. , Ostapenko N. , Hirnyk I. , Dayen J.-F. , Bobnar M. , Gumeniuk R. , Kundys B. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractHybrid organometallic systems offer a wide range of functionalities, including magnetoelectric (ME) interactions. However, the ability to design on-demand ME coupling remains challenging despite a variety of host-guest configurations and ME phases coexistence possibilities. Here, we report the effect of metal-ion substitution on the magnetic and electric properties in the paramagnetic ferroelectric NH2(CH3)2Al1−x
Cr
x
(SO4)2 × 6H2O. Doing so we are able to induce and even tune a sign of the ME interactions, in the paramagnetic ferroelectric (FE) state. Both studied samples with x = 0.065 and x = 0.2 become paramagnetic, contrary to the initial diamagnetic compound. Due to the isomorphous substitution with Cr the ferroelectric phase transition temperature (T
c
) increases nonlinearly, with the shift being larger for the 6.5% of Cr. A magnetic field applied along the polar c axis increases ferroelectricity for the x = 0.065 sample and shifts T
c
to higher values, while inverse effects are observed for x = 0.2. The ME coupling coefficient αME = 1.7 ns/m found for a crystal with Cr content of x = 0.2 is among the highest reported up to now. The observed sign change of αME with a small change in Cr content paves the way for ME coupling engineering.
The Role of Autophagy in Critical Illness-induced Liver Damage
Authors: Thiessen Steven E. , Derese Inge , Derde Sarah , Dufour Thomas , Pauwels Lies , Bekhuis Youri , Pintelon Isabel , Martinet Wim , Van den Berghe Greet , Vanhorebeek Ilse 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), mediate critical illness-induced organ failure, often affecting the liver. Autophagy is known to alleviate both and suppressed or insufficiently activated autophagy in prolonged illness has shown to associate with organ failure. Whether insufficient autophagy contributes to organ failure during critical illness by affecting these underlying mechanisms is incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated whether the inability to acutely activate hepatic autophagy during critical illness aggravates liver damage by increasing hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction and affecting the UPR. In a mouse model of critical illness, induced by surgery and sepsis, we investigated the impact of inactivating hepatic autophagy on markers of hepatic mitochondrial function, the UPR and liver damage in acute (1 day) and prolonged (3 days) critical illness. Hepatic autophagy inactivation during critical illness acutely worsened mitochondrial dysfunction and time-dependently modulated the hepatic UPR. Furthermore, autophagy inactivation aggravated markers of liver damage on both time points. In conclusion, the inability to acutely activate autophagy in liver during critical illness worsened hepatic mitochondrial damage and dysfunction, partially prohibited acute UPR activation and aggravated liver damage, indicating that autophagy is crucial in alleviating critical illness-induced organ failure.
Bacteria-inspired nanorobots with flagellar polymorphic transformations and bundling
Authors: Ali Jamel , Cheang U Kei , Martindale James D. , Jabbarzadeh Mehdi , Fu Henry C. , Jun Kim Min 
Published: October 2017

AbstractWirelessly controlled nanoscale robots have the potential to be used for both in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications. So far, the vast majority of reported micro- and nanoscale swimmers have taken the approach of mimicking the rotary motion of helical bacterial flagella for propulsion, and are often composed of monolithic inorganic materials or photoactive polymers. However, currently no man-made soft nanohelix has the ability to rapidly reconfigure its geometry in response to multiple forms of environmental stimuli, which has the potential to enhance motility in tortuous heterogeneous biological environments. Here, we report magnetic actuation of self-assembled bacterial flagellar nanorobotic swimmers. Bacterial flagella change their helical form in response to environmental stimuli, leading to a difference in propulsion before and after the change in flagellar form. We experimentally and numerically characterize this response by studying the swimming of three flagellar forms. Also, we demonstrate the ability to steer these devices and induce flagellar bundling in multi-flagellated nanoswimmers.
Rancher-reported efficacy of lethal and non-lethal livestock predation mitigation strategies for a suite of carnivores
Authors: Scasta J. D. , Stam B. , Windh J. L. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractPastoralists have dealt with livestock losses from predators for millennia, yet effective mitigation strategies that balance wildlife conservation and sustainable agriculture are still needed today. In Wyoming, USA, 274 ranchers responded to a retrospective survey, and rated the efficacy of predation mitigation strategies for foxes, dogs, coyotes, wolves, bobcats, mountain lions, bears, and birds (buzzards, eagles, hawks, ravens). Rancher reported efficacy of mitigation varied by predator species, mitigation strategy, and lethality of strategies, but not livestock type. Ranchers perceive they were most effective at mitigating predation by foxes and coyotes, moderately effective at mitigating large carnivores, and the least effective at mitigating birds. Ranchers also reported that avian predators seem to be the most challenging predator type. The general perception was lethal mitigation strategies were more effective than non-lethal strategies, with guard animals showing the most potential among the non-lethal options. In general, ranchers did not perceive non-lethal strategies as a proxy for lethal strategies. However, a few ranchers reported being successful with non-lethal options such as herding, fencing, and stalling at night but more details about such successful applications are needed. Innovation in current or novel non-lethal mitigation strategies, and examples of efficacy, are needed to justify producer adoption.
ALF: a strategy for identification of unauthorized GMOs in complex mixtures by a GW-NGS method and dedicated bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Košir Alexandra Bogožalec , Arulandhu Alfred J. , Voorhuijzen Marleen M. , Xiao Hongmei , Hagelaar Rico , Staats Martijn , Costessi Adalberto , Žel Jana , Kok Esther J. , Dijk Jeroen P. van 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe majority of feed products in industrialised countries contains materials derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In parallel, the number of reports of unauthorised GMOs (UGMOs) is gradually increasing. There is a lack of specific detection methods for UGMOs, due to the absence of detailed sequence information and reference materials. In this research, an adapted genome walking approach was developed, called ALF: Amplification of Linearly-enriched Fragments. Coupling of ALF to NGS aims for simultaneous detection and identification of all GMOs, including UGMOs, in one sample, in a single analysis. The ALF approach was assessed on a mixture made of DNA extracts from four reference materials, in an uneven distribution, mimicking a real life situation. The complete insert and genomic flanking regions were known for three of the included GMO events, while for MON15985 only partial sequence information was available. Combined with a known organisation of elements, this GMO served as a model for a UGMO. We successfully identified sequences matching with this organisation of elements serving as proof of principle for ALF as new UGMO detection strategy. Additionally, this study provides a first outline of an automated, web-based analysis pipeline for identification of UGMOs containing known GM elements.
Lateralized occipito-temporal N1 responses to images of salient distorted finger postures
Authors: Espírito Santo Miguel G. , Chen Hsin-Yuan , Schürmann Martin 
Published: October 2017

AbstractFor humans as social beings, other people’s hands are highly visually conspicuous. Exceptionally striking are hands in other than natural configuration which have been found to elicit distinct brain activation. Here we studied response strength and lateralization of this activation using event-related potentials (ERPs), in particular, occipito-temporal N1 responses as correlates of activation in extrastriate body area. Participants viewed computer-generated images of hands, half of them showing distorted fingers, the other half showing natural fingers. As control stimuli of similar geometric complexity, images of chairs were shown, half of them with distorted legs, half with standard legs. The contrast of interest was between distorted and natural/standard stimuli. For hands, stronger N1 responses were observed for distorted (vs natural) stimuli from 170 ms post stimulus. Such stronger N1 responses were found for distorted hands and absent for distorted chairs, therefore likely unrelated to visuospatial processing of the unusual distorted shapes. Rather, N1 modulation over both hemispheres – but robustly right-lateralized – could reflect distorted hands as emotionally laden stimuli. The results are in line with privileged visual processing of hands as highly salient body parts, with distortions engaging neural resources that are especially activated for biological stimuli in social perception.
Evidence of long-term NAO influence on East-Central Europe winter precipitation from a guano-derived δ15N record
Authors: Cleary Daniel M. , Wynn Jonathan G. , Ionita Monica , Forray Ferenc L. , Onac Bogdan P. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractCurrently there is a scarcity of paleo-records related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), particularly in East-Central Europe (ECE). Here we report δ15N analysis of guano from a cave in NW Romania with the intent of reconstructing past variation in ECE hydroclimate and examine NAO impacts on winter precipitation. We argue that the δ15N values of guano indicate that the nitrogen cycle is hydrologically controlled and the δ15N values likely reflect winter precipitation related to nitrogen mineralization prior to the growing season. Drier conditions indicated by δ15N values at AD 1848–1852 and AD 1880–1930 correspond to the positive phase of the NAO. The increased frequency of negative phases of the NAO between AD 1940–1975 is contemporaneous with higher δ15N values (wetter conditions). A 4‰ decrease in δ15N values at the end of the 1970’s corresponds to a strong reduction in precipitation associated with a shift from negative to positive phase of the NAO. Using the relationship between NAO index and δ15N values in guano for the instrumental period, we reconstructed NAO-like phases back to AD 1650. Our results advocate that δ15N values of guano offer a proxy of the NAO conditions in the more distant past, helping assess its predictability.