bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deep convolutional neural network with face identity recognition experience exhibits brain-like neural representations of personality traits
Authors: Li Wenlu , Li Jin , Jiang Tianzi 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTFaces contain both identity and personality trait information. Previous studies have found that convolutional neural networks trained for face identity recognition spontaneously generate personality trait information. However, the successful classification of different personality traits does not necessarily mean that convolutional neural networks adopt brain-like representation mechanisms to achieve the same computational goals. Our study found that convolutional neural network with visual experience in face identity recognition (VGG-face) exhibited brain-like neural representations of personality traits, including coupling effects and confusion effects, while convolutional neural networks with the same network architecture but lacked visual experience for face identity recognition (VGG-16 and VGG-untrained) did not exhibit brain-like effects. In addition, compared to the VGG-16 and the VGG-untrained, the VGG-face exhibited higher similarity in neural representations with the human brain across all individual personality traits. In summary, these findings revealed the necessity of visual experience in face identity recognition for developing face personality traits judgment.
Protective role ofPtendownregulation in Huntington’s Disease models
Authors: Nisha  , Thapliyal Deepti , Gohil Bhavya , Modak Aninda Sundar , Ahuja Sanchi , Singh N. Tarundas , Sahu Bhavani Shankar , Singh M. Dhruba 
Published: April 2024

AbstractHuntington’s disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder that stems from the expansion of CAG repeats within the coding region of the Huntingtin gene. Currently, there exists no effective therapeutic intervention that can prevent the progression of the disease. Our investigation aims to identify a novel genetic modifier with therapeutic potential. We employ transgenic flies containingHtt93QandHtt138Q.mRFP constructs, which encode mutant pathogenic Huntingtin proteins featuring 93 and 138 polyglutamine (Q) repeats, respectively. The resultant mutant protein causes the loss of photoreceptor neurons in the eye and a progressive loss of neuronal tissues in the brain and motor neurons inDrosophila. Several findings have demonstrated the association of HD with growth factor signaling defects. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) have been implicated in the negative regulation of insulin signaling/receptor tyrosine signaling pathway which regulates the growth and survival of cells. In the present study, we downregulatedPtenand found a significant improvement in morphological phenotypes in the eye, brain, and motor neurons. These findings were further correlated with the enhancement of the functional vision and climbing ability of the flies. We also noted the reduction in both poly(Q) aggregate levels and caspase activity which are involved in the apoptotic pathway. Moreover, we elucidated the protective role of Pten inhibition through the utilization of VO-OHpic (referred to as PTENi). In alignment with the genetic modulation ofPten, pharmaceutical inhibition ofPtenimproved the climbing ability of flies and reduced the poly(Q) aggregates and apoptosis levels. A similar reduction in poly(Q) aggregates was observed in the mouse neuronal inducible HD cell line model. Our study illustrates that Pten inhibition is a potential therapeutic approach for HD.
An Open Resource: MR and light sheet microscopy stereotaxic atlas of the mouse brain
Authors: Mansour Harrison , Azrak Ryan , Cook James J. , Hornburg Kathryn J. , Qi Yi , Tian Yuqi , Williams Robert W. , Yeh Fang-Cheng , White Leonard E. , Johnson G. Allan 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTWe have combined MR histology and light sheet microscopy (LSM) of five postmortem C57BL/6J mouse brains in a stereotaxic space based on micro-CT yielding a multimodal 3D atlas with the highest spatial and contrast resolution yet reported. Brains were imaged in situ with multi gradient echo (mGRE) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at 15 μm resolution (∼ 2.4 million times that of clinical MRI). Scalar images derived from the average DTI and mGRE provide unprecedented contrast in 14 complementary 3D volumes, each highlighting distinct histologic features. The same tissues scanned with LSM and registered into the stereotaxic space provide 17 different molecular cell type stains. The common coordinate framework labels (CCFv3) complete the multimodal atlas. The atlas has been used to correct distortions in the Allen Brain Atlas and harmonize it with Franklin Paxinos. It provides a unique resource for stereotaxic labeling of mouse brain images from many sources.
Nucleic Acid Aptamers Protect Against Lead (Pb(II)) Toxicity
Authors: Anwar Afreen , De Ayreflor Reyes Solimar Ramis , John Aijaz Ahmad , Breiling Erik , O’Connor Abigail M. , Reis Stephanie , Shim Jae-Hyuck , Shah Ali Asghar , Srinivasan Jagan , Farny Natalie G. 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTLead (Pb(II)) is a pervasive heavy metal toxin with many well-established negative effects on human health. Lead toxicity arises from cumulative, repeated environmental exposures. Thus, prophylactic strategies to protect against the bioaccumulation of lead could reduce lead-associated human pathologies. Here we show that DNA and RNA aptamers protectC. elegansfrom toxic phenotypes caused by lead. Reproductive toxicity, as measured by brood size assays, is prevented by co-feeding of animals with DNA or RNA aptamers. Similarly, lead-induced behavioral anomalies are also normalized by aptamer feeding. Further, cultured human HEK293 and primary murine osteoblasts are protected from lead toxicity by transfection with DNA aptamers. The osteogenic development, which is decreased by lead exposure, is maintained by prior transfection of lead-binding DNA aptamers. Aptamers may be an effective strategy for the protection of human health in the face of increasing environmental toxicants.SYNOPSISLead remains a pervasive environmental contaminant with significant human health implications. This study investigates an entirely novel intervention for the problem of lead toxicity, using nucleic acid aptamers.
An ALS Therapeutic Assembly Modulator Target in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Implications for ALS Pathophysiology, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics
Authors: Yu Shao Feng , Michon Maya , Lingappa Anuradha F. , Paulvannan Kumar , Solas Dennis , Staats Kim , Ichida Justin , Dey Debendranath , Rosenfeld Jeffrey , Lingappa Vishwanath R. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAssembly modulators are a new class of allosteric site-targeted therapeutic small molecules, some of which are effective at restoring nuclear localization of TDP-43 in ALS cellular models, and display efficacy in a variety of ALS animal models. One of these compounds has been shown to target a small subfraction of protein disulfide isomerase, a known allosteric modulator implicated in ALS pathophysiology, within a novel, transient, and energy-dependent multi-protein complex that includes other important members of the ALS interactome, such as TDP- 43, RanGTPase, and selective autophagy receptor p62/SQSTM1. Building on earlier literature suggesting PBMC dysfunction in ALS, we demonstrate here that a similar multi-protein complex drug target is present in PBMCs with signature alterations in PBMCs from ALS patients compared to PBMCs from healthy individuals. ALS-associated changes in the drug target include increased RanGTPase and MMP9, diminished p62/SQSTM1, and most distinctively, appearance of a 17kDa post-translationally modified form of RanGTPase. Many of these changes are not readily apparent from analysis of whole cell extracts, as a number of the proteins present in the target multi-protein complex, including RanGTPase, comprise a miniscule percent of their total in cell extracts. A small subset of each of these proteins appear to come together in a transient, energy-dependent fashion, to form the drug target. Furthermore, whole blood from ALS patients shows a distinctive degradation of RanGTPase not observed in blood from healthy individuals, which appears to be rescued by treatment with either of two structurally unrelated ALS-active assembly modulators. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that ALS is fundamentally a disorder of homeostasis that can be both detected and treated by assembly modulators.
Characterizing medaka visual features using a high-throughput optomotor response assay
Authors: Suzuki Risa , Woo Jia Zheng , Thumberger Thomas , Hofmann Gero , Wittbrodt Joachim , Tavhelidse-Suck Tinatini 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMedaka fish (Oryzias latipes) is a powerful model to study genetics underlying the developmental and functional traits of the vertebrate visual system. We established a simple and high-throughput optomotor response (OMR) assay utilizing medaka larvae to study visual functions including visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Our assay presents multiple adjustable stripes in motion to individual fish in a linear arena. For that the OMR assay employs a tablet display and theFish Stripessoftware to adjust speed, width, color, and contrast of the stripes. Our results demonstrated that optomotor responses were robustly induced by black and white stripes presented from below in the linear-pool-arena. We detected robust strain specific differences in the OMR when comparing long established medaka inbred strains. We observed an interesting training effect upon the initial exposure of larvae to thick stripes, which allowed them to better respond to narrower stripes. The OMR setup and protocol presented here provide an efficient tool for quantitative phenotype mapping, addressing visual acuity, trainability of cortical neurons, color sensitivity, locomotor response, retinal regeneration and others. Our open-source setup presented here provides a crucial prerequisite for ultimately addressing the genetic basis of those processes.
Synaptic-dependent developmental dysconnectivity in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
Authors: Alvino F.G. , Gini S. , Minetti A. , Pagani M. , Sastre-Yagüe D. , Barsotti N. , De Guzman E. , Schleifer C. , Stuefer A. , Kushan L. , Montani C. , Galbusera A. , Papaleo F. , Lombardo M. V. , Pasqualetti M. , Bearden C.E. , Gozzi A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractChromosome 22q11.2 deletion is among the strongest known genetic risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Brain imaging studies have reported disrupted large-scale functional connectivity in people with 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). However, the significance and biological determinants of these functional alterations remain unclear. Here, we use a cross-species design to investigate the developmental trajectory and neural underpinnings of brain dysconnectivity in 22q11DS. We find that LgDel mice, an established mouse model of 22q11DS, exhibit age-specific patterns of functional MRI (fMRI) dysconnectivity, with widespread fMRI hyper-connectivity in juvenile mice reverting to focal hippocampal hypoconnectivity over puberty. These fMRI connectivity alterations are mirrored by co-occurring developmental alterations in dendritic spine density, and are both transiently normalized by developmental GSK3β inhibition, suggesting a synaptic origin for this phenomenon. Notably, analogous hyper-to hypoconnectivity reconfiguration occurs also in human 22q11DS, where it affects hippocampal and cortical regions spatially enriched for synaptic genes that interact with GSK3β, and autism-relevant transcripts. Functional dysconnectivity in somatomotor components of this network is predictive of age-dependent social alterations in 22q11.2 deletion carriers. Taken together, these findings suggest that synaptic-related mechanisms underlie developmentally mediated functional dysconnectivity in 22q11DS.
The psychedelic, DOI, increases dopamine release in nucleus accumbens to predictable rewards and reward cues
Authors: Martin David , Delgado Angel , Calu Donna 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPsychedelics produce lasting therapeutic responses in neuropsychiatric diseases suggesting they may disrupt entrenched associations and catalyze learning. Here, we examine psychedelic effects on dopamine signaling in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core, a region extensively linked to reward learning, motivation, and drug-seeking. We measure phasic dopamine transients following acute psychedelic administration during well learned Pavlovian tasks in which sequential cues predict rewards. We find that the psychedelic 5-HT2A/2Cagonist, DOI, increases dopamine signaling to rewards and proximal reward cues but not to the distal cues that predict these events. We determine that the elevated dopamine produced by psychedelics to reward cues occurs independently of psychedelic-induced changes in reward value. The increased dopamine associated with predictable reward cues supports psychedelic-induced increases in prediction error signaling. These findings lay a foundation for developing psychedelic strategies aimed at engaging error-driven learning mechanisms to disrupt entrenched associations or produce new associations.
Right Thoracotomy with Central Cannulation for Valve Surgery: 10 Years of Experience
Authors: Sharma Anil , Dixit Sunil , Sharma Dr.Mohit , Mittal Dr.Sourabh , Shah Dr.Apurva , Goyal Shefali 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study is to report the early outcomes of valvular heart surgeries performed via the right thoracotomy approach. While thoracotomy with femoro-femoral bypass is an established method for minimally invasive open-heart surgeries, thoracotomy with conventional cannulation is still being explored. In our center, we conducted 958 valvular heart surgery cases using the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach with central cannulation and data were analyzed.MethodsThis is a retrospective observational study based on prospectively collected data from patients who underwent valvular heart surgery at our center spanning from April 2013 to April 2023. The data encompass demographics, procedures, operative techniques, post-operative morbidity, mortality, and a 1-month follow-up.ResultsOur study revealed no procedure-related mortality. No patient required conversion to median sternotomy. Smooth cannulation and satisfactory exposure were achieved in all patients. The study encompassed a wide age range, from 14 to 68 years, with 618 female patients (64.5%) and 340 male patients (35.5%).The average cross-clamp time ranged from 38 to 90 minutes, the duration of cardio-pulmonary bypass ranged from 45 to 105 minutes, post-operative extubation ranged from 3 to 8 hours, the average drain volume ranged from 100 to 350 ml, and the incision size ranged from 5 to 7 cm.ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that conventional cannulation via the right antero-lateral thoracotomy approach for valvular heart disease is a viable alternative to reduce the side effects associated with sternotomy and femoral cannulation. This procedure is safe, reproducible, and provides the same level of treatment quality.
Estimating and predicting kidney function decline in the general population
Authors: Iwagami Masao , Odani Kazunori , Saito Tomoki 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntroductionWe aimed to estimate the rate of kidney function decline over 10 years in the general population and develop a machine learning model to predict it.MethodsWe used the JMDC database from 2012 to 2021, which includes company employees and their family members in Japan, where annual health checks are mandated for people aged 40–74 years. We estimated the slope (average change) of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a period of 10 years. Then, using the annual health-check results and prescription claims for the first five years from 2012 to 2016 as predictor variables, we developed an XGBoost model, evaluated its prediction performance with the root mean squared error (RMSE), R2, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for rapid decliners (defined as the slope <-3 ml/min/1.73 m2/year) using 5-fold cross validation, and compared these indicators with those of the linear regression model using only eGFR data from 2012 to 2016.ResultsWe included 126 424 individuals (mean age, 45.2 years; male, 82.4%; mean eGFR, 79.0 ml/min/1.73 m2in 2016). The mean slope was -0.89 (standard deviation, 0.96) ml/min/1.73 m2/year. The predictive performance of the XGBoost model (RMSE, 0.78; R2, 0.35; and AUROC, 0.89) was better than that of the linear regression model using only eGFR data (RMSE, 1.94; R2, -3.03; and AUROC, 0.79).ConclusionApplication of machine learning to annual health-check and claims data could predict the rate of kidney function decline, whereas the linear regression model using only eGFR data did not work.
Foraging Under Uncertainty Follows the Marginal Value Theorem with Bayesian Updating of Environment Representations
Authors: Webb James , Steffan Paul , Hayden Benjamin Y. , Lee Daeyeol , Kemere Caleb , McGinley Matthew 
Published: April 2024

AbstractForaging theory has been a remarkably successful approach to understanding the behavior of animals in many contexts. In patch-based foraging contexts, the marginal value theorem (MVT) shows that the optimal strategy is to leave a patch when the marginal rate of return declines to the average for the environment. However, the MVT is only valid in deterministic environments whose statistics are known to the forager; naturalistic environments seldom meet these strict requirements. As a result, the strategies used by foragers in naturalistic environments must be empirically investigated. We developed a novel behavioral task and a corresponding computational framework for studying patch-leaving decisions in head-fixed and freely moving mice. We varied between-patch travel time, as well as within-patch reward depletion rate, both deterministically and stochastically. We found that mice adopt patch residence times in a manner consistent with the MVT and not explainable by simple ethologically motivated heuristic strategies. Critically, behavior was best accounted for by a modified form of the MVT wherein environment representations were updated based on local variations in reward timing, captured by a Bayesian estimator and dynamic prior. Thus, we show that mice can strategically attend to, learn from, and exploit task structure on multiple timescales simultaneously, thereby efficiently foraging in volatile environments. The results provide a foundation for applying the systems neuroscience toolkit in freely moving and head-fixed mice to understand the neural basis of foraging under uncertainty.
Phylogeography of the Giant Honeybees Based on Mitochondrial Gene Sequences
Authors: Bhatta Chet P. , Cluff Sarah C. , Smith Deborah R. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe carried out a phylogenetic analysis of the giant honeybees using mitochondrial COI and COII gene sequences analyzed with maximum likelihood methods. Our goal was to resolve phylogenetic relationships amongApis laboriosa, and theApis dorsatasubspecies:A. d. dorsata, A. d. binghami, andA. d. breviligula, the last two of which have been proposed as full species by several authors. We obtained strong support for four clades withinA. dorsata: the three subspecies mentioned above, and a fourth from south India, but our analysis did not resolve the phylogenetic relationships among the four clades withinA. dorsatain the broad sense. Recognition of these distinct lineages is important for conservation planning, so that their individual ecologies and migration patterns can be taken into account.
Surface passivation and functionalization for interferometric scattering microscopy
Authors: Sülzle Jenny , Elfeky Laila , Manley Suliana 
Published: April 2024

AbstractInterferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy enables the label-free observation of biomolecule interactions with surfaces. Consequently, single-particle imaging and tracking with iSCAT is a growing area of study. However, establishing reliable cover glass passivation and functionalization methods are crucial to reduce non-specific binding and prepare surfaces forin vitrosingle-molecule binding experiments. Existing protocols for fluorescence microscopy can contain strongly scattering or mobile components, which make them impractical for iSCAT-based microscopy. In this study, we characterize several different surface coatings using iSCAT. We present approaches for cover glass passivation using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and polyethylene glycol (PEG, 2k) along with functionalization via a maleimide-thiol linker. These coatings are compatible with water or salt buffers, and show low background scattering; thus, we are able to measure proteins as small as 60 kDa. In this technical note, we offer a surface preparation suitable forin vitroexperiments with iSCAT.
3D Printers in Hospitals: Bacterial Contamination of Common and Antimicrobial 3D-Printed Material
Authors: Jackson Katelin C. , Clancey Erin , Call Douglas R. , Lofgren Eric 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTCOVID-19 has presented hospitals with unique challenges. A SHEA Research Network survey showed that 40% reported “limited” or worse levels of personal protective equipment (PPE), and 13% were self-producing PPE to address those deficits, including 3D-printed items. However, we do not know how efficiently, if at all, 3D-printed materials can be disinfected. Additionally, two filaments, PLACTIVE and BIOGUARD, claim to be antimicrobial; they use copper nanocomposites and silver ions to reduce bacterial populations. We assess how PLACTIVE and BIOGUARD may be contaminated and how well they reduce contamination, and how readily Polylactic Acid (PLA), a standard 3D-printed material, may be disinfected.3D-printed materials, including PLACTIVE and BIOGUARD, are readily contaminated with bacteria that are common in hospitals and can sustain that contamination. Our findings reveal that the levels of contamination on PLACTIVE and BIOGUARD can vary under specific conditions such as layer height or bacterial contact time, sometimes surpassing or falling short of PLA. However, disinfected disks had lower overall CFU averages than those that were not, but the level of disinfection was variable, and bacterial populations recovered hours after disinfection application. Proper disinfection and using appropriate 3D-printed materials are essential to limit bacterial contamination. 3D printers and their products can be invaluable for hospitals, especially when supplies are low, and healthcare worker safety is paramount. Environmental services should be made aware of the presence of antimicrobial 3D-printed materials, and patients should be discouraged from printing their own items for use in hospital environments.IMPORTANCEThe COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals, prompting the utilization of 3D-printed materials to address shortages. Given the role of environmental contamination in healthcare-associated infections, understanding the potential for bacterial colonization on these materials is crucial. Our findings highlight the importance of proper disinfection practices and material selection in mitigating bacterial contamination, enhancing infection prevention strategies in hospitals, and ensuring the safety of healthcare workers and patients.