bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PERFORATION-TYPE ANCHORS INSPIRED BY SKIN LIGAMENT FOR THE ROBOTIC FACE COVERED WITH LIVING SKIN
Authors: Kawai M. , Nie M. , Oda H. , Takeuchi S. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSkin equivalent, a living skin model composed of cells and extracellular matrix, possesses the potential as an ideal covering material for robots due to their biological functionalities. To employ skin equivalents as a coverage material for robots, a secure method for attaching them to the underlying structure is required. In this study, we developed a perforation-type anchor inspired by the structure of skin ligaments as a technique to effectively adhere skin equivalent to robotic surfaces, ensuring a smooth and non-protrusive integration, akin to natural skin adherence. We showed the effectiveness of plasma treatment for collagen-gel penetration within the perforation-type anchor. In characterizing the anchoring system, we investigated the impact of anchor diameter on preventing contraction and changes in holding strength. To showcase the versatility of perforation-type anchors in three-dimensional (3D) coverage applications, a 3D facial mold with intricate surface structure was covered with skin equivalent. Furthermore, we constructed a robotic face covered with dermis equivalent, capable of expressing smiles with the actuation to the skin equivalent through perforation-type anchors.This research introduces an approach for the adhesion and actuation of skin equivalent with perforation-type anchors, potentially contributing to advancements in biohybrid robotics technology.
Stable Isotope Probing-nanoFTIR for Quantitation of Cellular Metabolism and Observation of Growth-dependent Spectral Features
Authors: Burr David J. , Drauschke Janina , Kanevche Katerina , Kümmel Steffen , Stryhanyuk Hryhoriy , Heberle Joachim , Perfumo Amedea , Elsaesser Andreas 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study utilizes nanoscale Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (nanoFTIR) to perform stable isotope probing (SIP) on individual bacteria cells cultured in the presence of13C-labelled glucose. SIP-nanoFTIR simultaneously quantifies single-cell metabolism through infrared spectroscopy and acquires cellular morphological information via atomic force microscopy. The redshift of the amide I peak corresponds to the isotopic enrichment of newly synthesized proteins. These observations of single-cell translational activity are comparable to those of conventional methods, examining bulk cell numbers. Observing cells cultured under conditions of limited carbon, SIP-nanoFTIR is used to identify environmentally-induced changes in metabolic heterogeneity and cellular morphology. Individuals outcompeting their neighboring cells will likely play a disproportionately large role in shaping population dynamics during adverse conditions or environmental fluctuations. Additionally, SIP-nanoFTIR enables the spectroscopic differentiation of specific cellular growth phases. During cellular replication, subcellular isotope distribution becomes more homogenous, which is reflected in the spectroscopic features dependent on the extent of13C-13C mode coupling or to specific isotopic symmetries within protein secondary structures. As SIP-nanoFTIR captures single-cell metabolism, environmentally-induced cellular processes and subcellular isotope localization, this technique offers widespread applications across a variety of disciplines including microbial ecology, biophysics, biopharmaceuticals, medicinal science and cancer research.
Loss of NAT10 disrupts enhancer organization via p300 mislocalization and suppresses transcription of genes necessary for metastasis progression
Authors: Amin Ruhul , Ha Ngoc-Han , Qiu Tinghu , Holewinski Ronald , Lam Khiem C. , Lopès Amélie , Liu Huaitian , Tran Andy D. , Lee Maxwell P. , Gamage Supuni Thalalla , Andresson Thorkell , Goldszmid Romina S. , Meier Jordan L. , Hunter Kent W. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAcetylation of protein and RNA represent a critical event for development and cancer progression. NAT10 is the only known RNA acetylase that catalyzes the N4-actylcytidine (ac4C) modification of RNAs. Here, we show that the loss of NAT10 significantly decreases lung metastasis in allograft and genetically engineered mouse models of breast cancer. NAT10 interacts with a mechanosensitive, metastasis susceptibility protein complex at the nuclear pore. In addition to its canonical role in RNA acetylation, we find that NAT10 interacts with p300 at gene enhancers. NAT10 loss is associated with p300 mislocalization into heterochromatin regions. NAT10 depletion disrupts enhancer organization, leading to alteration of gene transcription necessary for metastatic progression, including reduced myeloid cell-recruiting chemokines that results in a less metastasis-prone tumor microenvironment. Our study uncovers a distinct role of NAT10 in enhancer organization of metastatic tumor cells and suggests its involvement in the tumor-immune crosstalk dictating metastatic outcomes.
Ligand supplementation restores the cancer therapy efficacy of an antirheumatic drug auranofin from serum inactivation
Authors: Wang Yuan , Cao Bei , Wang Qianqian , Fang Xin , Wang Junjian , Chan Albert S. C. , Xiong Xiaolin , Zou Taotao 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACTAuranofin, an FDA-approved antirheumatic gold drug, has gained ongoing interest in clinical studies for treating advanced or recurrent tumors. However, gold ion’s dynamic thiol exchange nature strongly attenuates its bioactivity due to the fast formation of covalent albumin-gold adducts. Here we report that newly-added thiols can modulate the dynamic albumin-gold binding and recover the therapeutic efficacy. Initially, we found that auranofin supplemented with its own thiol ligand, TGTA (1-thio-β-D-glucose tetraacetate), significantly restored the anticancer activities in cells and patient-derived xenograft models. Then, screening a collection of ligand fragments followed by machine learning evaluation unveiled diverse synergizing thiols, including pantethine that effectuates auranofin at a low dosage used for rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly, the thiol exchange inside cells accounts for a cuproptosis-like phenotype induced by auranofin. Together, we believe the ligand-enabled dynamic modulation strategy is of value to researchers and clinicians contemplating metallodrugs and ligand-like molecules in cancer therapy.
Activated fibroblasts drive cellular interactions in end-stage pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Tadros Hanna J. , Turaga Diwakar , Zhao Yi , Tsai Chang-Ru , Adachi Iki A. , Li Xiao , Martin James F. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a relatively rare but debilitating diagnosis in the pediatric population and patients with end-stage HCM require heart transplantation. In this study, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing on pediatric HCM and control myocardium. We identified distinct underling cellular processes in pediatric, end-stage HCM in cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and myeloid cells, compared to controls. Pediatric HCM was enriched in cardiomyocytes exhibiting “stressed” myocardium gene signatures and underlying pathways associated with cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac fibroblasts exhibited clear activation signatures and heightened downstream processes associated with fibrosis, more so than adult counterparts. There was notable depletion of tissue-resident macrophages, and increased vascular remodeling in endothelial cells. Our analysis provides the first single nuclei analysis focused on end-stage pediatric HCM.
Undoing the ‘nasty: dissecting touch-sensitive stigma movement (thigmonasty) and its loss in self-pollinating monkeyflowers
Authors: Fishman Lila , McIntosh Mariah , Nelson Thomas C. , Baesen Kailey , Finseth Findley R. , Stark-Dykema Evan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractRapid touch-sensitive stigma closure is a novel plant reproductive trait found in hundreds of Lamiales species. The origins, mechanisms, and functions of stigma closure remain poorly understood, but its repeated loss in self-fertilizing taxa and direct tests implicate adaptive roles in animal-mediated cross-pollination. Here, we document several additional losses of stigma closure in monkeyflowers (Mimulus), then use quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and gene expression analyses to provide a first glimpse into the genetic and molecular basis of stigma mechanosensing and movement. Variation in stigma closure in hybrids between selfer/non-closerMimulus nasutusand outcrosser/fast-closerM. guttatushas a moderately complex genetic basis, with four QTLs together explaining ∼70% of parental divergence.Loss of stigma closure inM. nasutusappears genetically independent from other aspects of the floral selfing syndrome and from a parallel loss in M. parishii. Analyses of stylar gene expression in closerM. guttatus,M. nasutus, and a rareM. guttatusnon-closer genotype identify functional candidates involved in mechanosensing, turgor regulation, and cell wall remodeling. Together, these analyses reveal a polygenic genetic architecture underlying gain and loss of a novel plant movement, illuminate selfer-outcrosser reproductive divergence, and initiate mechanistic investigations of an unusually visible manifestation of plant intelligence.
Sounds of the underground reflect soil biodiversity dynamics across a grassy woodland restoration chronosequence
Authors: Robinson Jake M. , Taylor Alex F. , Fickling Nicole W. , Sun Xin , Breed Martin F. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractFifty-nine percent of the world’s species inhabit the soil. However, soils are degrading at unprecedented rates, necessitating efficient, cost-effective, and minimally intrusive biodiversity monitoring methods to aid in their restoration. Ecoacoustics is emerging as a promising tool for detecting and monitoring soil biodiversity, recently proving effective in a temperate forest restoration context. However, understanding the efficacy of soil ecoacoustics in other ecosystems and bioregions is essential. Here, we applied ecoacoustics tools and indices (Acoustic Complexity Index, Bioacoustic Index, Normalised Difference Soundscape Index) to measure soil biodiversity in an Australian grassy woodland restoration chronosequence. We collected 240 soil acoustic samples from two cleared plots (continuously cleared through active management), two woodland restoration plots (revegetated 14-15 years ago), and two remnant vegetation plots over 5 days at Mount Bold, South Australia. We used a below-ground sampling device and sound attenuation chamber to record soil invertebrate communities, which were also manually counted. We show that acoustic complexity and diversity were significantly higher in revegetated and remnant plots than in cleared plots, both in-situ and in sound attenuation chambers. Acoustic complexity and diversity were also strongly positively associated with soil invertebrate abundance and richness, and each chronosequence age class supported distinct invertebrate communities. Our results provide support that soil ecoacoustics can effectively measure soil biodiversity in woodland restoration contexts. This technology holds promise in addressing the global need for effective soil biodiversity monitoring methods and protecting our planet’s most diverse ecosystems.
Comparison of the capacity of several machine learning tools to assist immunofluorescence-based detection of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies
Authors: Bertin Daniel , Bongrand Pierre , Bardin Nathalie 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe success of artificial intelligence and machine learning is an incentive to develop new algorithms to increase the rapidity and reliability of medical diagnosis. Here we compared different strategies aimed at processing microscope images used to detect anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, an important vasculitis marker: (i) basic classifier methods (logistic regression, k-nearest neighbors and decision tree) were used to process custom-made indices derived from immunofluorescence images yielded by 137 sera. (ii) These methods were combined with dimensional reduction to analyze 1733 individual cell images. iii) More complex models based on neural networks were used to analyze the same dataset. The efficiency of discriminating between positive and negative samples and different fluorescence patterns was quantified with Rand-type accuracy index, kappa index and ROC curve. It is concluded that basic models trained on a limited dataset allowed positive/negative discrimination with an efficiency comparable to that obtained by conventional analysis performed by humans (0.84 kappa score). More extensive datasets may be required for efficient discrimination between different fluorescence patterns generated by different auto-antibody species.
Feeling at Home in a Virtually Amputated Body; Neural and Phenomenological Effects of Illusory Embodiment in Body Integrity Dysphoria
Authors: Saetta Gianluca , Peter Yannik , Ruddy Kathy , Ho Jasmine T. , Luechinger Roger , Cross Emily , Michels Lars , Lenggenhager Bigna 
Published: January 2024

AbstractIn Body Integrity Dysphoria (BID) a profound incongruity between the physical body and the desired, i.e., amputated body, often leads to a desire for limb amputation. Virtual reality (VR) and multisensory stimulation paradigms provide powerful tools to create the experience of being embodied in an amputated body.Here we investigate the impact of such an experience on neural and subjective responses in 18 individuals with BID and 18 controls. We used both task-based and resting-state MRI before and after participants played an immersive virtual game in an amputated body corresponding to their desired bodily shape and mimicking their movements. The task-based fMRI assessed neural activity when viewing images of the body in the desired versus the undesired state.Individuals with BID reported higher sense of ownership and control over the virtual body. Task-based fMRI showed increased pre-VR activity in the right superior parietal lobule (rSPL), right angular gyrus, and right supplementary motor area in the BID group, normalizing after VR exposure. Resting-state fMRI showed reduced connectivity in the rSPL, visuo-occipital areas, fronto-parietal, and fronto-striatal mirror and limb system networks, also normalising post-VR. Additionally, there was a normalization in the pattern of increased connectivity of cortico-striatal tracts connecting the rSPL and the pars orbitalis of the right inferior frontal gyrus with the nucleus accumbens.Our findings suggest that virtual embodiment effectively modulates BID-related neural networks, offering a safe, cost-effective intervention for BID and highlights VR’s potential in exploring the complex interaction between body and self, with potential implications for similar psychiatric conditions.
Implementation of Community Health Worker Support for Tobacco Cessation: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Foo Cheryl Y. S. , Potter Kevin , Nielsen Lindsay , Rohila Aarushi , Maravic Melissa Culhane , Schnitzer Kristina , Pachas Gladys N. , Levy Douglas E. , Reyering Sally , Thorndike Anne N. , Cather Corinne , Evins A. Eden 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveAdults with serious mental illness have high tobacco use disorder rates and underutilization of first-line tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy. In a randomized trial, participants offered community health worker (CHW) support and primary care provider (PCP) education had higher tobacco abstinence rates at two years, partly through increased tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy initiation. This study determined the association between participant-CHW engagement and tobacco abstinence outcomes.MethodsThis was a secondary, mixed-methods analysis of 196 participants in the trial’s intervention arm. Effects of CHW visit number and duration, CHW co-led smoking cessation group sessions attended, and CHW-attended PCP visit number on tobacco use disorder pharmacotherapy initiation and tobacco abstinence were modeled using logistic regression. Interviews with 12 CHWs, 16 participants, and 17 PCPs were analyzed thematically.ResultsYear-two tobacco abstinence was associated with CHW visit number (OR=1.85, 95% CI=[1.29, 2.66]) and duration (OR=1.85, 95% CI=[1.33, 2.58]) and number of groups attended (OR=1.51, 95% CI=[1.00, 2.28]); effects on pharmacotherapy initiation were similar. 1-3 CHW visits per month over two years was optimal for achieving abstinence. Interviews identified engagement facilitators, including CHWs establishing trust, providing goal accountability, skills reinforcement, and assistance overcoming barriers to treatment access and adherence related to social determinants of health and illness factors. Robust training and supervision facilitated CHW effectiveness. Barriers included PCPs’ and care teams’ limited understanding of the CHW role.ConclusionsFeasible CHW engagement was associated with tobacco abstinence in adults with serious mental illness. CHW implementation may benefit from promoting CHW training and integration within clinical teams.HighlightsGreater participant engagement with community health workers (CHWs) (e.g., visit number, duration) was associated with higher tobacco abstinence rates in a two-year intervention for adults with serious mental illness and tobacco use disorder.Interviews with participants, CHWs, and primary care providers (PCPs) indicated that CHWs built trust, facilitated health behavior change, helped participants overcome adverse social determinants of health and other barriers to obtaining effective tobacco use disorder treatment.Training and supervision were perceived to be essential to CHW effectiveness; CHWs and PCPs suggested insufficient integration of CHWs into psychiatric rehabilitation and healthcare teams as an addressable implementation barrier.
Determinants of Hepatitis B Viral infection among pregnant women in Greater Monrovia, Liberia
Authors: Kohar Henry Torbandu , Adu George Asumah , Addo Henry Ofosu , Afari Edwin , Kenu Ernest , Wurapa Frederick 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe global prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection is estimated to affect over 2 billion individuals, with a notable proportion ranging from 6% to 25% residing in the Sub-Saharan African region. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone has been estimated to be approximately 2%. However, current understanding of the actual risk factors associated with HBV in the Greater Monrovia remains unclear. Consequently, this study aimed to identify the factors associated with hepatitis B Viral infection among pregnant women residing in Greater Monrovia, Liberia.MethodsAn unmatched case control study of 141 cases of HBV infected pregnant women and 141 controls was conducted. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle activities and medical related risk factors were collected for both groups with a structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analyses established associations between the HBV infection and risk factors studied.ResultsIn all, 141 cases of HBV infected pregnant women and 141 controls participated in this study. The mean age of cases was 35.6 years (SD ±9.5) and 36.1 years (SD ±8.4) for controls. Low-income level <100 dollars [aOR 13.0 (4.48-37.82, p<0.001)], employment [aOR 0.04 (0.09-0.18) p<0.001], STI history [aOR 5.19 (1.68-16.02, p=0.004)] and living with a HBV infected person [aOR 35.11 (4.24-58.90), p=0.001] were factors associated with HBV infection among pregnant women in Greater Monrovia.ConclusionThe risk factors of HBV infection among pregnant women in Greater Monrovia were engagement in formal employment, low-income level, history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and residing with an individual infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Control efforts by designated state institutions should include advocacy and awareness creation on HBV status identification, safe sex, and vaccination of uninfected individuals.
Mitotic Activity and DNA Maintenance of Adult Neural Stem Cells is Regulated by Beclin1
Authors: Kalinina A. , Dhaliwal J. , Xue Y , Vaculik M. , McCambley M. , Fong B.C. , Cook D. , Slack R.S. , Lagace D.C. 
Published: January 2024

SUMMARYBeclin1 is a tumor suppressor gene that can regulate proliferation under pathological conditions. Whether Beclin1 has a role in regulating proliferation in physiological conditions remains unknown. Here, through the creation of an inducible transgenic mouse that removes Beclin1 from adult neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) and their progeny we uncovered that Beclin1 is required cell-autonomously to sustain proliferating NSCPsin vivoandex vivo. Flow cytometry analysis and single-cell RNA-sequencing show that Beclin1 is required for mitosis. Additional analysis of the proliferating NSPCs resolved by stage of cell cycle uncovered that Beclin1-null cells have a distinct differential developmental trajectory accompanied by downregulation of genes involved in chromosomal maintenance and upregulation of cell stress genes upon cell cycle exit. These effects align with DNA damage in Beclin1-null cells and ultimately result in less adult-born granular neurons. Together these data identify Beclin1 as a novel regulator of mitosis in adult NSPCs.
Queen loss fails to elicit physiological and transcriptional responses in workers of the invasive garden antLasius neglectus
Authors: Majoe Megha , Stolarek Nicole , Vizueta Joel , Xiong Zijun , Schrader Lukas , Boomsma Jacobus J. , Foitzik Susanne , Libbrecht Romain , Nehring Volker 
Published: January 2024

AbstractInsect colonies with morphologically distinct castes have been called superorganisms because their queens and workers are functionally analogous to the germline and soma in metazoan bodies. In the haplodiploid ants, workers typically lost the sperm storage organ but retained ovaries so they can lay unfertilized eggs. Worker reproduction often occurs after queen loss and is accompanied by a number of physiological changes. However, in some evolutionarily derived ants, workers have become functionally sterile and in many of these species colonies contain multiple queens and can readily raise replacement queens - a syndrome characteristic for invasive ants. We hypothesized that the combination of full worker sterility and regular queen replacement should have eliminated important aspects of the physiological interdependence between queens and workers. We tested this hypothesis by analysing fat body gene expression and worker resistance to oxidative stress in colonies of the invasive antLasius neglectuswith and without queens. We found age-related transcriptional shifts between young and old queens and young and old workers, suggesting rapid ageing in all castes. However, the removal of any queens in controlled experiments failed to elicit changes in the transcriptional activity and oxidative stress resistance of workers, consistent with our hypothesis. The invasive syndrome of this ant may thus have led to a somatic work force that evolved to be physiologically independent of queen presence.
Drawings reveal changes in object memory, but not spatial memory, across time
Authors: Megla Emma , Rosenthal Samuel R. , Bainbridge Wilma A. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractTime has an immense influence on our memory. Truncated encoding leads to memory for only the ‘gist’ of an image, and long delays before recall result in generalized memories with few details. Here, we used crowdsourced scoring of hundreds of drawings made from memory after variable encoding (Experiment 1) and retentions of that memory (Experiment 2) to quantify what features of memory content change across time. We found that whereas some features of memory are highly dependent on time, such as the proportion of objects recalled from a scene and false recall for objects not in the original image, spatial memory was highly accurate and relatively independent of time. We also found that we could predict which objects were recalled across time based on the location, meaning, and saliency of the objects. The differential impact of time on object and spatial memory supports a separation of these memory systems.