bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Directed biomechanical compressive forces enhance fusion efficiency in model placental trophoblast cultures
Authors: Parameshwar Prabu Karthick , Li Chen , Arnauts Kaline , Jiang Junqing , Rostami Sabra , Campbell Benjamin E. , Lu Hongyan , Rosenzweig Derek Hadar , Vaillancourt Cathy , Moraes Christopher 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe syncytiotrophoblast is a multinucleated structure that arises from fusion of mononucleated cytotrophoblasts, to sheath the placental villi and regulate transport across the maternal-fetal interface. Here, we ask whether the dynamic mechanical forces that must arise during villous development might influence fusion, and explore this question using in vitro choriocarcinoma trophoblast models. We demonstrate that mechanical stress patterns arise around sites of localized fusion in cell monolayers, in patterns that match computational predictions of villous morphogenesis. We then externally apply these mechanical stress patterns to cell monolayers and demonstrate that equibiaxial compressive stresses (but not uniaxial or equibiaxial tensile stresses) enhance expression of the syndecan-1 marker of fusion. These findings suggest that the mechanical stresses that contribute towards sculpting the placental villi may also impact fusion in the developing tissue. We then extend this concept towards 3D cultures and demonstrate that fusion can be enhanced by applying low isometric compressive stresses to spheroid models, even in the absence of an inducing agent. These results indicate that mechanical stimulation is a potent activator of cellular fusion, suggesting novel avenues to improve experimental reproductive modelling, placental tissue engineering, and understanding disorders of pregnancy development.
Neuronal and behavioral responses to naturalistic texture images in macaque monkeys
Authors: Ziemba Corey M. , Goris Robbe L. T. , Stine Gabriel M. , Perez Richard K. , Simoncelli Eero P. , Movshon J. Anthony 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe visual world is richly adorned with texture, which can serve to delineate important elements of natural scenes. In anesthetized macaque monkeys, selectivity for the statistical features of natural texture is weak in V1, but substantial in V2, suggesting that neuronal activity in V2 might directly support texture perception. To test this, we investigated the relation between single cell activity in macaque V1 and V2 and simultaneously measured behavioral judgments of texture. We generated stimuli along a continuum between naturalistic texture and phase-randomized noise and trained two macaque monkeys to judge whether a sample texture more closely resembled one or the other extreme. Analysis of responses revealed that individual V1 and V2 neurons carried much less information about texture naturalness than behavioral reports. However, the sensitivity of V2 neurons, especially those preferring naturalistic textures, was significantly closer to that of behavior compared with V1. The firing of both V1 and V2 neurons predicted perceptual choices in response to repeated presentations of the same ambiguous stimulus in one monkey, despite low individual neural sensitivity. However, neither population predicted choice in the second monkey. We conclude that neural responses supporting texture perception likely continue to develop downstream of V2. Further, combined with neural data recorded while the same two monkeys performed an orientation discrimination task, our results demonstrate that choice-correlated neural activity in early sensory cortex is unstable across observers and tasks, untethered from neuronal sensitivity, and thus unlikely to reflect a critical aspect of the formation of perceptual decisions.Significance statementAs visual signals propagate along the cortical hierarchy, they encode increasingly complex aspects of the sensory environment and likely have a more direct relationship with perceptual experience. We replicate and extend previous results from anesthetized monkeys differentiating the selectivity of neurons along the first step in cortical vision from area V1 to V2. However, our results further complicate efforts to establish neural signatures that reveal the relationship between perception and the neuronal activity of sensory populations. We find that choice-correlated activity in V1 and V2 is unstable across different observers and tasks, and also untethered from neuronal sensitivity and other features of nonsensory response modulation.
Spontaneous pain dynamics characterized by stochasticity in awake human LFP with chronic pain
Authors: Ryu Jihye , Kao Jonathan , Bari Ausaf 
Published: February 2024

AbstractChronic pain involves persistent fluctuations lasting seconds to minutes, yet there are limited studies on spontaneous pain fluctuations utilizing high-temporal-resolution electrophysiological signals in humans. This study addresses the gap, capturing data during awake deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in five chronic pain patients. Patients continuously reported pain levels using the visual analog scale (VAS), and local field potentials (LFP) from key pain-processing structures (ventral parietal medial of the thalamus, VPM; subgenual cingulate cortex, SCC; periaqueductal gray, PVG) were recorded. Our novel AMI analysis revealed that regular spike-like events in the theta/alpha band was associated with higher pain; and regular events in the gamma band was associated with opioid effects. We demonstrate a novel methodology that successfully characterizes spontaneous pain dynamics with human electrophysiological signals, holding potential for advancing closed-loop DBS treatments for chronic pain.
Stereotyped cell lineage trees support robust development
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Li Zizhang , Chen Jingyu , Yang Wenjing , Wu Peng , Chen Feng , He Xingxing , Chen Xiaoshu , Yang Jian-Rong 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMulticellular organisms must have robust development to ensure physiological stability in the face of environmental changes or perturbations. While various mechanisms contributing to developmental robustness have been identified at the subcellular level, those at the intercellular and tissue level remain largely unknown. Our study explores this question using an in vitro directed differentiation model of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into lung progenitor cells. Integrated analysis of single-cell transcriptomes and high-density cell lineage trees (CLTs) of the same colonies allowed a fine-resolution recapitulation of known cell types, as well as their differentiation hierarchies and developmental trajectories. Most importantly, we observed stable cell type compositions among many sub-CLTs across biological replicates. Systematic comparison among CLTs by a novel computational framework for CLT alignment suggests that stereotypical development extends beyond stable cell type composition to a degree of significant resemblance in sub-CLT topology. The existence of such sub-CLTs resembling each other not only deepens our understanding of developmental robustness by demonstrating the existence of a stereotyped program, but also suggests a novel perspective for the function of specific cell types in the context of stereotyped sub-CLTs.
Thermal acclimation of stem respiration reduces global carbon burden
Authors: Zhang Han , Wang Han , Wright Ian J. , Prentice I. Colin , Harrison Sandy P. , Smith Nicholas G. , Westerband Andrea , Rowland Lucy , Plavcova Lenka , Morris Hugh , Reich Peter B. , Jansen Steven , Keenan Trevor 
Published: February 2024

AbstractStem respiration is a key driver of carbon flux from ecosystems to the atmosphere, yet its response to global warming remains poorly constrained. In particular it has been proposed that stem respiration acclimates to changing temperatures, which could have large implications for carbon cycling under climate change, but no theory exists to predict acclimated respiration rates. Here, we hypothesized that stem respiration is physiologically linked to transpiration in order to maintain hydraulic continuity. We then use that linkage, combined with Eco-evolutionary optimality theory, to develop a theoretical prediction of the temperature sensitivity of both acclimated and instantaneous stem respiration. Leveraging an extensive global dataset, we observe temperature sensitivities of stem respiration across geographical and seasonal variations that are consistent with this prediction. Our findings reveal that stem respiration contributes approximately a quarter of the global above-ground auto-trophic respiration, with an estimated annual emission of around 11.20 ± 5.88 Pg C—comparable to total anthropogenic emissions. Importantly, incorporating thermal acclimation of stem respiration into projections significantly reduces predicted land ecosystem carbon emissions by 4.41 and 9.56 Pg C under the SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios, respectively, for the 21st century.
Association of Macular Pigment Density with Plasma Macular Carotenoids levels, And lipids in Indian patients with early Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Srinivasan Senthilkumari , Rajendren Anand , Panneerselvam Bala , Uduman Mohammed Sithiq 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPurposeThe objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) with plasma carotenoids [(L) and (Z)] and serum lipids in South Indian young healthy volunteers and patients with early AMD.MethodsTwo hundred and fourteen (N= 214) study participants (Healthy control group (N) = 178; Early AMD group (N) = 36) were enrolled after getting their written informed consent. The MPOD of the study participants was assessed using MPS II (Electron Technology, UK) after completing their routine ocular examination. Serum lipids were measured by the standard technique. Plasma levels of L, Z, lycopene and beta-carotene were estimated by HPLC with PDA detector.Statistical analysis usedCorrelations among variables in serum, plasma and the MPOD were established using Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient.ResultsThe overall mean MPOD in healthy control group and early AMD group was found to be 0.47 ± 0.16 (N= 178; 317 eyes) and 0.35 ± 0.22 (N=36; 38 eyes) at 1° eccentricity respectively and was found to be significantly low as compared to healthy control group (p<0.001). A strong positive association was found between plasma L, Z and L+Z and MPOD. Serum HDL showed a strong negative association with MPOD and other lipids showed very weak association. MPOD was unaffected by BMI.ConclusionsMPOD is positively associated with plasma L,Z and L+Z, adding further evidence that additional intake of L/Z may be beneficial in delaying the risk of AMD in our population
A Versatile Functional Interaction between Electrically Silent KVSubunits and KV7 Potassium Channels
Authors: Renigunta Vijay , Xhaferri Nermina , Shaikh Imran Gousebasha , Schlegel Jonathan , Bisen Rajeshwari , Sanvido Ilaria , Kalpachidou Theodora , Kummer Kai , Oliver Dominik , Leitner Michael G. , Lindner Moritz 
Published: February 2024

SummaryVoltage-gated K+(KV) channels govern K+-ion flux across cell membranes in response to changes in membrane potential. They are formed by the assembly of four subunits, typically from the same family. Electrically silent KVchannels (KVS), however, are unable to conduct currents on their own. It has been assumed that these KVS must obligatorily assemble with subunits from the KV2 family into heterotetrameric channels, thereby giving raise to currents distinct from those of homomeric KV2 channels.Herein, we show that KVS subunits indeed also modulate the activity, biophysical properties and surface expression of recombinant KV7 isoforms in a subunit-specific manner. Employing co-immunoprecipitation, and proximity labelling, we unveil the spatial coexistence of KVS and KV7 within a single protein complex. Electrophysiological experiments further indicate functional interaction and probably heterotetramer formation. Finally, single-cell transcriptomic analyses identify native cell types in which this KVS and KV7 interaction may occur. Our finding demonstrate that KVcross-family interaction is much more versatile than previously thought – possibly serving nature to shape potassium conductance to the needs of individual cell types.
Late-Life Alcohol Exposure Does Not Exacerbate Age-Dependent Reductions in Mouse Spatial Memory and Brain TFEB Activity
Authors: Chen Hao , Hinz Kaitlyn , Zhang Chen , Rodriguez Yssa , Williams Sha Neisha , Niu Mengwei , Ma Xiaowen , Chao Xiaojuan , Frazier Alexandria L. , McCarson Kenneth E. , Wang Xiaowan , Peng Zheyun , Liu Wanqing , Ni Hong-Min , Zhang Jianhua , Swerdlow Russell H. , Ding Wen-Xing 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAlcohol consumption is believed to affect Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk, but the contributing mechanisms are not well understood. A potential mediator of the proposed alcohol-AD connection is autophagy, a degradation pathway that maintains organelle and protein homeostasis. Autophagy is in turn regulated through the activity of Transcription factor EB (TFEB), which promotes lysosome and autophagy-related gene expression. To explore the effect of alcohol on brain TFEB and autophagy, we exposed young (3-month old) and aged (23-month old) mice to two alcohol-feeding paradigms and assessed biochemical, transcriptome, histology, and behavioral endpoints. In young mice, alcohol decreased hippocampal nuclear TFEB staining but increased SQSTM1/p62, LC3-II, ubiquitinated proteins, and phosphorylated Tau. Hippocampal TFEB activity was lower in aged mice than it was in young mice, and Gao-binge alcohol feeding did not worsen the age-related reduction in TFEB activity. To better assess the impact of chronic alcohol exposure, we fed young and aged mice alcohol for four weeks before completing Morris Water and Barnes Maze spatial memory testing. The aged mice showed worse spatial memory on both tests. While alcohol feeding slightly impaired spatial memory in the young mice, it had little effect or even slightly improved spatial memory in the aged mice. These findings suggest that aging is a far more important driver of spatial memory impairment and reduced autophagy flux than alcohol consumption.
A generic noninvasive neuromotor interface for human-computer interaction
Authors:   CTRL-labs at Reality Labs, Sussillo David , Kaifosh Patrick , Reardon Thomas 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSince the advent of computing, humans have sought computer input technologies that are expressive, intuitive, and universal. While diverse modalities have been developed, including keyboards, mice, and touchscreens, they require interaction with an intermediary device that can be limiting, especially in mobile scenarios. Gesture-based systems utilize cameras or inertial sensors to avoid an intermediary device, but they tend to perform well only for unobscured or overt movements. Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) have been imagined for decades to solve the interface problem by allowing for input to computers via thought alone. However high-bandwidth communication has only been demonstrated using invasive BCIs with decoders designed for single individuals, and so cannot scale to the general public. In contrast, neuromotor signals found at the muscle offer access to subtle gestures and force information. Here we describe the development of a noninvasive neuromotor interface that allows for computer input using surface electromyography (sEMG). We developed a highly-sensitive and robust hardware platform that is easily donned/doffed to sense myoelectric activity at the wrist and transform intentional neuromotor commands into computer input. We paired this device with an infrastructure optimized to collect training data from thousands of consenting participants, which allowed us to develop generic sEMG neural network decoding models that work across many people without the need for per-person calibration. Test users not included in the training set demonstrate closed-loop median performance of gesture decoding at 0.5 target acquisitions per second in a continuous navigation task, 0.9 gesture detections per second in a discrete gesture task, and handwriting at 17.0 adjusted words per minute. We demonstrate that input bandwidth can be further improved up to 30% by personalizing sEMG decoding models to the individual, anticipating a future in which humans and machines co-adapt to provide seamless translation of human intent. To our knowledge this is the first high-bandwidth neuromotor interface that directly leverages biosignals with performant out-of-the-box generalization across people.
Genetic and physical interactions reveal overlapping and distinct contributions to meiotic double-strand break formation inC. elegans
Authors: Raices Marilina , Balmir Fabiola , Silva Nicola , Li Wei , Grundy McKenzie K. , Hoffman Dane K. , Altendorfer Elisabeth , Camacho Carlos Jaime , Bernstein Kara A. , Colaiácovo Monica P. , Yanowitz Judith 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACTDouble-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most deleterious lesions experienced by our genome. Yet, DSBs are intentionally induced during gamete formation to promote the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes. While the conserved topoisomerase-like enzyme Spo11 catalyzes DSBs, additional regulatory proteins—referred to as “Spo11 accessory factors”— regulate the number, timing, and placement of DSBs during early meiotic prophase ensuring that SPO11 does not wreak havoc on the genome. Despite the importance of the accessory factors, they are poorly conserved at the sequence level suggesting that these factors may adopt unique functions in different species. In this work, we present a detailed analysis of the genetic and physical interactions between the DSB factors in the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansproviding new insights into conserved and novel functions of these proteins. This work shows that HIM-5 is the determinant of X-chromosome-specific crossovers and that its retention in the nucleus is dependent on DSB-1, the sole accessory factor that interacts with SPO-11. We further provide evidence that HIM-5 coordinates the actions of the different accessory factors sub-groups, providing insights into how components on the DNA loops may interact with the chromosome axis.
Kir6.2-KATPchannels alter glycolytic flux to modulate cortical activity, arousal, and sleep-wake homeostasis
Authors: Constantino Nicholas J. , Carroll Caitlin M. , Williams Holden C. , Yuede Carla M. , Sheehan Patrick W. , Andy Snipes J. , Musiek Erik S. , Johnson Lance A. , Macauley Shannon L. 
Published: February 2024

SummaryMetabolism plays an important role in the maintenance of vigilance states (e.g. wake, NREM, and REM). Brain lactate fluctuations are a biomarker of sleep. Increased interstitial fluid (ISF) lactate levels are necessary for arousal and wake-associated behaviors, while decreased ISF lactate is required for sleep. ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels couple glucose-lactate metabolism with neuronal excitability. Therefore, we explored how deletion of neuronal KATPchannel activity (Kir6.2-/- mice) affected the relationship between glycolytic flux, neuronal activity, and sleep/wake homeostasis. Kir6.2-/- mice shunt glucose towards glycolysis, reduce neurotransmitter synthesis, dampen cortical EEG activity, and decrease arousal. Kir6.2-/- mice spent more time awake at the onset of the light period due to altered ISF lactate dynamics. Together, we show that Kir6.2-KATPchannels act as metabolic sensors to gate arousal by maintaining the metabolic stability of each vigilance state and providing the metabolic flexibility to transition between states.HighlightsGlycolytic flux is necessary for neurotransmitter synthesis. In its absence, neuronal activity is compromised causing changes in arousal and vigilance states despite sufficient energy availability.With Kir6.2-KATPchannel deficiency, the ability to both maintain and shift between different vigilance states is compromised due to changes in glucose utilization.Kir6.2-KATPchannels are metabolic sensors under circadian control that gate arousal and sleep/wake transitions.Graphical Abstract
Identifying HRV and EEG correlates of well-being using ultra-short, portable, and low-cost measurements
Authors: Cannard Cédric , Delorme Arnaud , Wahbeh Helané 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWearable electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG) devices may offer a non-invasive, user-friendly, and cost-effective approach for assessing well-being (WB) in real-world settings. However, challenges remain in dealing with signal artifacts (such as environmental noise and movements) and identifying robust biomarkers. We evaluated the feasibility of using portable hardware to identify potential EEG and heart-rate variability (HRV) correlates of WB. We collected simultaneous ultrashort (2-minute) EEG and ECG data from 60 individuals in real-world settings using a wrist ECG electrode connected to a 4-channel wearable EEG headset. These data were processed, assessed for signal quality, and analyzed using the open-source EEGLAB BrainBeats plugin to extract several theory-driven metrics as potential correlates of WB. Namely, the individual alpha frequency (IAF), frontal and posterior alpha asymmetry, and signal entropy for EEG. SDNN, the low/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio, the Poincaré SD1/SD2 ratio, and signal entropy for HRV. We assessed potential associations between these features and the main WB dimensions (hedonic, eudaimonic, global, physical, and social) implementing a pairwise correlation approach, robust Spearman’s correlations, and corrections for multiple comparisons. Only 8 files showed poor signal quality and were excluded from the analysis. Eudaimonic (psychological) WB was positively correlated with SDNN and the LF/HF ratio. EEG posterior alpha asymmetry was positively correlated with Physical WB (i.e., sleep and pain levels). No relationships were found with the other metrics, or between EEG and HRV metrics. These physiological metrics enable a quick, objective assessment of well-being in real-world settings using scalable, user-friendly tools.
Coordination between cytoskeletal organization, cell contraction and extracellular matrix development, is depended on LOX for aneurysm prevention
Authors: Aviram Rohtem , Zaffryar-Eilot Shelly , Kaganovsky Anna , Odeh Anas , Melamed Shay , Militsin Ruslana , Pinnock Cameron B. , Shemesh Ariel , Palty Raz , Ganesh Santhi K. , Hasson Peleg 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDistinct, seemingly independent, cellular pathways affecting intracellular machineries or extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and organization, have been implicated in aneurysm formation. One of the key genes associated with the pathology in both humans and mice is Lysyl oxidase (LOX), a secreted ECM-modifying enzyme, highly expressed in medial vascular smooth muscle cells. To dissect the mechanisms leading to aneurysm development, we conditionally deletedLoxin smooth muscle cells. We find that cytoskeletal organization is lost followingLoxdeletion. Cell culture assays and in vivo analyses demonstrate a cell-autonomous role for LOX affecting myosin light chain phosphorylation and cytoskeletal assembly resulting in irregular smooth muscle contraction. These results not only highlight new intracellular roles for LOX, but notably they link between multiple processes leading to aneurysm formation suggesting LOX coordinates ECM development, cytoskeletal organization and cell contraction required for media development and function.