bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Local opposite orientation preferences in V1: fMRI sensitivity to fine-grained pattern information
Authors: Alink Arjen , Walther Alexander , Krugliak Alexandra , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe orientation of a visual grating can be decoded from human primary visual cortex (V1) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at conventional resolutions (2–3 mm voxel width, 3T scanner). It is unclear to what extent this information originates from different spatial scales of neuronal selectivity, ranging from orientation columns to global areal maps. According to the global-areal-map account, fMRI orientation decoding relies exclusively on fMRI voxels in V1 exhibiting a radial or vertical preference. Here we show, by contrast, that 2-mm isotropic voxels in a small patch of V1 within a quarterfield representation exhibit reliable opposite selectivities. Sets of voxels with opposite selectivities are locally intermingled and each set can support orientation decoding. This indicates that global areal maps cannot fully account for orientation information in fMRI and demonstrates that fMRI also reflects fine-grained patterns of neuronal selectivity.
A conserved neuronal DAF-16/FoxO plays an important role in conveying pheromone signals to elicit repulsion behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Park Donha , Hahm Jeong-Hoon , Park Saeram , Ha Go , Chang Gyeong-Eon , Jeong Haelim , Kim Heekyeong , Kim Sunhee , Cheong Eunji , Paik Young-Ki 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAnimals use pheromones as a conspecific chemical language to respond appropriately to environmental changes. The soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans secretes ascaroside pheromones throughout the lifecycle, which influences entry into dauer phase in early larvae, in addition to sexual attraction and aggregation. In adult hermaphrodites, pheromone sensory signals perceived by worms usually elicit repulsion as an initial behavioral signature. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal pheromone sensory process from perception to repulsion in adult hermaphrodites remain poorly understood. Here, we show that pheromone signals perceived by GPA-3 is conveyed through glutamatergic neurotransmission in which neuronal DAF-16/FoxO plays an important modulatory role by controlling glutaminase gene expression. We further provide evidence that this modulatory role for DAF-16/FoxO seems to be conserved evolutionarily by electro-physiological study in mouse primary hippocampal neurons that are responsible for glutamatergic neurotransmission. These findings provide the basis for understanding the nematode pheromone signaling, which seems crucial for adaptation of adult hermaphrodites to changes in environmental condition for survival.
Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors
Authors: Rampley Cordelia P. N. , Davison Paul A. , Qian Pu , Preston Gail M. , Hunter C. Neil , Thompson Ian P. , Wu Ling Juan , Huang Wei E. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis work serves as a proof-of-concept for bacterially derived SimCells (Simple Cells), which contain the cell machinery from bacteria and designed DNA (or potentially a simplified genome) to instruct the cell to carry out novel, specific tasks. SimCells represent a reprogrammable chassis without a native chromosome, which can host designed DNA to perform defined functions. In this paper, the use of Escherichia coli MC1000 ∆minD minicells as a non-reproducing chassis for SimCells was explored, as demonstrated by their ability to act as sensitive biosensors for small molecules. Highly purified minicells derived from E. coli strains containing gene circuits for biosensing were able to transduce the input signals from several small molecules (glucarate, acrylate and arabinose) into the production of green fluorescent protein (GFP). A mathematical model was developed to fit the experimental data for induction of gene expression in SimCells. The intracellular ATP level was shown to be important for SimCell function. A purification and storage protocol was developed to prepare SimCells which could retain their functions for an extended period of time. This study demonstrates that SimCells are able to perform as ‘smart bioparticles’ controlled by designed gene circuits.
Phase transitions in disordered mesoporous solids
Authors: Schneider Daniel , Kondrashova Daria , Valiullin Rustem 
Published: July 2017

AbstractFluids confined in mesoporous solids exhibit a wide range of physical behavior including rich phase equilibria. While a notable progress in their understanding has been achieved for fluids in materials with geometrically ordered pore systems, mesoporous solids with complex pore geometries still remain a topic of active research. In this work we study phase transitions occurring in statistically disordered linear chains of pores with different pore sizes. By considering, quite generally, two phase change mechanisms, nucleation and phase growth, occurring simultaneously we obtain the boundary transitions and the scanning curves resulting upon reversing the sign of the evolution of the chemical potential at different points along the main transition branches. The results obtained are found to reproduces the key experimental observations, including the emergence of hysteresis and the scanning behavior. By deriving the serial pore model isotherm we suggest a robust framework for reliable structural analysis of disordered mesoporous solids.
Routes Obey Hierarchy in Complex Networks
Authors: Csoma Attila , Kőrösi Attila , Rétvári Gábor , Heszberger Zalán , Bíró József , Slíz Mariann , Avena-Koenigsberger Andrea , Griffa Alessandra , Hagmann Patric , Gulyás András 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe last two decades of network science have discovered stunning similarities in the topological characteristics of real life networks (many biological, social, transportation and organizational networks) on a strong empirical basis. However our knowledge about the operational paths used in these networks is very limited, which prohibits the proper understanding of the principles of their functioning. Today, the most widely adopted hypothesis about the structure of the operational paths is the shortest path assumption. Here we present a striking result that the paths in various networks are significantly stretched compared to their shortest counterparts. Stretch distributions are also found to be extremely similar. This phenomenon is empirically confirmed on four networks from diverse areas of life. We also identify the high-level path selection rules nature seems to use when picking its paths.
Phylogenetic relationships among tribes of the green lacewing subfamily Chrysopinae recovered based on mitochondrial phylogenomics
Authors: Jiang Yunlan , Garzón-Orduña Ivonne J. , Winterton Shaun L. , Yang Fan , Liu Xingyue 
Published: July 2017

AbstractChrysopidae (green lacewings) is the second largest family in Neuroptera, and it includes medium-size lacewings largely recognized by the presence of golden-colored eyes, bright green bodies and delicate wings with dense venation patterns. The subfamily Chrysopinae includes 97% of the species diversity in the family and it is currently divided into four tribes: Ankylopterygini, Belonopterygini, Chrysopini and Leucochrysini. Here we sequenced and annotated the nearly complete mitochondrial genomes of four species of each these tribes: Abachrysa eureka, Italochrysa insignis, Leucochrysa pretiosa, Parankyloteryx sp. We then reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships with estimated divergence times among tribes of Chrysopinae based on the mt genomic data. Our results suggest that Chrysopinae sans Nothancyla verreauxi evolved as two reciprocally monophyletic lineages formed by stem members of the tribes Leucochrysini plus Belonopterygini on one hand, and the stem members of Ankylopterygini plus Chrysopini on the other. Our estimations of divergence times place the diversification of stem Chrysopinae into the extant tribes during the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous. The relatively young ages previously estimated for the green lacewing divergences were probably underestimated due to false inferences of homology between non-sister taxa that are later correctly identified as homoplasy after more taxa are added.
Disposition and Residue Depletion of Metronidazole in Pigs and Broilers
Authors: Pan Yuanhu , Yi Jiliang , Zhou Bo , Xie Shuyu , Chen Dongmei , Tao Yanfei , Qu Wei , Liu Zhenli , Huang Lingli , Yuan Zonghui 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMetronidazole (MNZ) is used in veterinary medicine for the treatment of anaerobic infections and a variety of protozoal and parasitic diseases. Current study has been conducted to examine the disposition and residue depletion studies of MNZ and its main metabolites in pigs and broilers. After a single oral administration of MNZ, the concentrations of MNZ and its main metabolites in the excreta of pigs and broilers were determined by LC-MS/MS. More than 75% of the drug was recovered within 14 days, of which MNZ accounted for about 40%, MNZ-OH 20–25% and MAA less than 10%. The residue depletion study showed that MNZ was the most predominant residue in all of the tissues and could be detected in liver, kidney and muscle up to the withdrawal time of 14 days. MNZ-OH concentrations were lower than MNZ in all of the tissues, but its elimination half-life was close to MNZ. It is proposed that kidney and muscle are appropriate residue target tissues and both MNZ and its hydroxylated metabolite, MNZ-OH, should be monitored in the routine surveillance of MNZ related residues in food of animal origin.
Disturbance and mosquito diversity in the lowland tropical rainforest of central Panama
Authors: Loaiza Jose R. , Dutari Larissa C. , Rovira Jose R. , Sanjur Oris I. , Laporta Gabriel Z. , Pecor James , Foley Desmond H. , Eastwood Gillian , Kramer Laura D. , Radtke Meghan , Pongsiri Montira 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) is well-known in ecology providing an explanation for the role of disturbance in the coexistence of climax and colonist species. Here, we used the IDH as a framework to describe the role of forest disturbance in shaping the mosquito community structure, and to identify the ecological processes that increase the emergence of vector-borne disease. Mosquitoes were collected in central Panama at immature stages along linear transects in colonising, mixed and climax forest habitats, representing different levels of disturbance. Species were identified taxonomically and classified into functional categories (i.e., colonist, climax, disturbance-generalist, and rare). Using the Huisman-Olff-Fresco multi-model selection approach, IDH testing was done. We did not detect a unimodal relationship between species diversity and forest disturbance expected under the IDH; instead diversity peaked in old-growth forests. Habitat complexity and constraints are two mechanisms proposed to explain this alternative postulate. Moreover, colonist mosquito species were more likely to be involved in or capable of pathogen transmission than climax species. Vector species occurrence decreased notably in undisturbed forest settings. Old-growth forest conservation in tropical rainforests is therefore a highly-recommended solution for preventing new outbreaks of arboviral and parasitic diseases in anthropic environments.
A polypeptide from the junction region sequence of EWS-FLI1 inhibits Ewing’s sarcoma cells, interacts with the EWS-FLI1 and partner proteins
Authors: Thangaretnam Krishna Priya , Gopisetty Gopal , Ramanathan Priya , Rajkumar Thangarajan 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe EWS-FLI1 chimeric protein uniquely expressed in Ewing’s sarcoma has an obligate role in its aetiology. In our previous report we showed that ectopic expression of the DNA sequences form the junction region (a.a 251–280) can inhibit Ewing’s sarcoma cell growth. In the present report, we introduced a peptide (TAT/NLS/EWS-PEP) comprising of thirty amino acids spanning the junction in conjunction with HIV-1-trans-activating (TAT) and nuclear localization signal sequence (NLS). Peptide uptake and localization studies revealed presence of peptide in ~99% of transduced cells and in the nucleus. Peptide transfection induced cytotoxicity relative to untreated and TAT-NLS peptide treated Ewing’s sarcoma cells. The peptide inhibited clonogenicity, cell cycle, bromo-deoxy uridine (BrdU) uptake and invasion capacity of treated cells. The treatment also affected epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and EWS-FLI1 target gene expression levels. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments involving ectopically expressed full-length EWS-FLI1 protein and the peptide revealed an interaction. Additionally, we found that peptide interaction also occurs with the protein-GGAA microsatellite sequences complex known to contain EWS-FLI1. Further, in the pull-down assay, the peptide was found to interact with proteins known to potentially interact with EWS-FLI1. Based on these results we conclude that peptide could be applied in targeting EWS-FLI1 protein.
Ndrg1 promotes adipocyte differentiation and sustains their function
Authors: Cai Kai , El-Merahbi Rabih , Loeffler Mona , Mayer Alexander E. , Sumara Grzegorz 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAdipocytes play a central role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis in the body. Differentiation of adipocyte precursor cells requires the transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (Pparγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/Ebps). Transcriptional activity is regulated by signaling modules activated by a plethora of hormones and nutrients. Mechanistic target of rapamacin complexes (mTORC) 1 and 2 are central for the coordination of hormonal and nutritional inputs in cells and are essential for adipogenesis. Serum glucocorticoid kinase 1 (Sgk1)-dependent phosphorylation of N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (Ndrg1) is a hallmark of mTORC2 activation in cells. Moreover, Pparγ activation promotes Ndrg1 expression. However, the impact of Ndrg1 on adipocyte differentiation and function has not yet been defined. Here, we show that Ndrg1 expression and its Sgk1-dependent phosphorylation are induced during adipogenesis. Consistently, we demonstrate that Ndrg1 promotes adipocyte differentiation and function by inducing Pparγ expression. Additionally, our results indicate that Ndrg1 is required for C/Ebpα phosphorylation. Moreover, we found that Ndrg1 phosphorylation by Sgk1 promotes adipocyte formation. Taken together, we show that induction of Ndrg1 expression by Pparγ and its phosphorylation by Sgk1 kinase are required for the acquisition of adipocyte characteristics by precursor cells.
Calcium and vitamin-D deficiency marginally impairs fracture healing but aggravates posttraumatic bone loss in osteoporotic mice
Authors: Fischer Verena , Haffner-Luntzer Melanie , Prystaz Katja , vom Scheidt Annika , Busse Björn , Schinke Thorsten , Amling Michael , Ignatius Anita 
Published: July 2017

AbstractCalcium and vitamin-D (Ca/VitD) deficiency is a major risk factor for osteoporosis. It may also contribute to the compromised bone healing frequently observed in osteoporotic patients, since calcium is essential for fracture-callus mineralization. Additionally, clinical data suggest systemic bone loss following fracture, which may aggravate osteoporosis and thus increase the risk for fragility fractures in osteoporotic patients further. However, the role of Ca/VitD in fracture healing and posttraumatic bone turnover has to date been poorly investigated. Here, we studied bone regeneration and posttraumatic bone turnover in C57BL/6 J mice with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis. Mice were fed a standard or a Ca/VitD-deficient diet. Notably, fracture healing was only marginally disturbed in Ca/VitD-deficient mice. However, deficient mice displayed significantly increased serum parathyroid hormone levels and osteoclast activity, as well as reduced bone mass in the intact skeleton post-fracture, suggesting considerably enhanced calcium mobilization from the intact skeleton during bone regeneration. Ca/VitD supplementation initiated post-fracture prevented posttraumatic bone loss by reducing bone resorption and furthermore improved bone repair. These results imply that adequate Ca/VitD supply post-fracture is essential to provide sufficient calcium for callus-mineralization in order to prevent posttraumatic bone loss and to reduce the risk for secondary fractures in osteoporotic patients with Ca/VitD deficiency.
Neural substrates of embodied natural beauty and social endowed beauty: An fMRI study
Authors: Zhang Wei , He Xianyou , Lai Siyan , Wan Juan , Lai Shuxian , Zhao Xueru , Li Darong 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWhat are the neural mechanisms underlying beauty based on objective parameters and beauty based on subjective social construction? This study scanned participants with fMRI while they performed aesthetic judgments on concrete pictographs and abstract oracle bone scripts. Behavioral results showed both pictographs and oracle bone scripts were judged to be more beautiful when they referred to beautiful objects and positive social meanings, respectively. Imaging results revealed regions associated with perceptual, cognitive, emotional and reward processing were commonly activated both in beautiful judgments of pictographs and oracle bone scripts. Moreover, stronger activations of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and motor-related areas were found in beautiful judgments of pictographs, whereas beautiful judgments of oracle bone scripts were associated with putamen activity, implying stronger aesthetic experience and embodied approaching for beauty were elicited by the pictographs. In contrast, only visual processing areas were activated in the judgments of ugly pictographs and negative oracle bone scripts. Results provide evidence that the sense of beauty is triggered by two processes: one based on the objective parameters of stimuli (embodied natural beauty) and the other based on the subjective social construction (social endowed beauty).
Temporally Robust Eye Movements through Task Priming and Self-referential Stimuli
Authors: Jung Eun-Soo , Lee Dong-Gun , Lee Kyeongho , Lee Soo-Young 
Published: July 2017

AbstractStudies have demonstrated connections between eye movements and attention shifts. However, little is known about the general factors that contribute to the self-consistency of idiosyncratic scanpaths as a function of attention shifts over time. The present work repeatedly measured human eye movements at various time intervals that ranged from less than one hour to one year between recording sessions. With and without task context, subjects observed multiple images with multiple areas of interest, including their own sporadically interspersed facial images. As reactions to visual stimuli, the eye movements of individuals were compared within and between subjects. We compared scanpaths with dynamic time warping and identified subjects based on the comparisons. The results indicate that within-subject eye movement comparisons remain more similar than between-subject eye movement comparisons over time and that task context and self-referential stimuli contribute to the consistency of idiosyncrasies in attention shift patterns.
Rapid de novo assembly of the European eel genome from nanopore sequencing reads
Authors: Jansen Hans J. , Liem Michael , Jong-Raadsen Susanne A. , Dufour Sylvie , Weltzien Finn-Arne , Swinkels William , Koelewijn Alex , Palstra Arjan P. , Pelster Bernd , Spaink Herman P. , Thillart Guido E. van den , Dirks Ron P. , Henkel Christiaan V. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWe have sequenced the genome of the endangered European eel using the MinION by Oxford Nanopore, and assembled these data using a novel algorithm specifically designed for large eukaryotic genomes. For this 860 Mbp genome, the entire computational process takes two days on a single CPU. The resulting genome assembly significantly improves on a previous draft based on short reads only, both in terms of contiguity (N50 1.2 Mbp) and structural quality. This combination of affordable nanopore sequencing and light weight assembly promises to make high-quality genomic resources accessible for many non-model plants and animals.
Lateral prefrontal activity as a compensatory strategy for deficits of cortical processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Zamorano Francisco , Billeke Pablo , Kausel Leonie , Larrain Josefina , Stecher Ximena , Hurtado Jose M. , López Vladimir , Carrasco Ximena , Aboitiz Francisco 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder in childhood and is characterized by a delay of cortical maturation in frontal regions. In order to investigate interference control, which is a key function of frontal areas, a functional MRI study was conducted on 17 ADHD boys and 17 typically developing (TD) boys, while solving the multi source interference task (MSIT). This task consists of two conditions, a “congruent condition” and an “incongruent condition”. The latter requires to inhibit information that interferes with task-relevant stimuli. Behavioral results showed that ADHD subjects committed more errors than TD children. In addition, TD children presented a larger MSIT effect -a greater difference in reaction times between the incongruent and the congruent conditions- than ADHD children. Associated to the MSIT effect, neuroimaging results showed a significant enhancement in the activation of the right lateral prefrontal cortex (rlPFC) in ADHD than in TD subjects. Finally, ADHD subjects presented greater functional connectivity between rlPFC and bilateral orbitofrontal cortex than the TD group. This difference in connectivity correlated with worse performance in both groups. Our results could reflect a compensatory strategy of ADHD children resulting from their effort to maintain an adequate performance during MSIT.
Transcriptome profiling of mouse colonic eosinophils reveals a key role for eosinophils in the induction of s100a8 and s100a9 in mucosal healing
Authors: Reichman Hadar , Moshkovits Italy , Itan Michal , Pasmanik-Chor Metsada , Vogl Thomas , Roth Johannes , Munitz Ariel 
Published: July 2017

AbstractEosinophils are bone marrow-derived cells that have been largely implicated in Th2-associated diseases. Recent data highlights a key role for eosinophils in mucosal innate immune responses especially in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is one of the largest eosinophil reservoirs in the body. Although eosinophils express and synthesize a plethora of proteins that can mediate their effector activities, the transcriptome signature of eosinophils in mucosal inflammation and subsequent repair has been considerably overlooked. We demonstrate that eosinophils are recruited to the colon in acute inflammatory stages where they promote intestinal inflammation and remain in substantial numbers throughout the mucosal healing process. Microarray analysis of primary colonic eosinophils that were sorted at distinct stages of mucosal inflammation and repair revealed dynamic regulation of colonic eosinophil mRNA expression. The clinically relevant genes s100a8 and s100a9 were strikingly increased in colonic eosinophils (up to 550-fold and 80-fold, respectively). Furthermore, local and systemic expression of s100a8 and s100a9 were nearly diminished in eosinophil-deficient ΔdblGATA mice, and were re-constituted upon adoptive transfer of eosinophils. Taken together, these data may provide new insight into the involvement of eosinophils in colonic inflammation and repair, which may have diagnostic and therapeutic implications.