bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pericytes take up and degrade α-synuclein but succumb to apoptosis under cellular stress
Authors: Stevenson Taylor J. , Johnson Rebecca H. , Savistchenko Jimmy , Rustenhoven Justin , Woolf Zoe , Smyth Leon C. D. , Murray Helen C. , Faull Richard L. M. , Correia Jason , Schweder Patrick , Heppner Peter , Turner Clinton , Melki Ronald , Dieriks Birger V. , Curtis Maurice A. , Dragunow Michael 
Published: October 2022

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is characterised by the progressive loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and the presence of aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn). Pericytes and microglia, two non-neuronal cells contain α-syn in the human brain, however, their role in disease processes is poorly understood. Pericytes, found surrounding the capillaries in the brain are important for maintaining the blood–brain barrier, controlling blood flow and mediating inflammation. In this study, primary human brain pericytes and microglia were exposed to two different α-synuclein aggregates. Inflammatory responses were assessed using immunocytochemistry, cytometric bead arrays and proteome profiler cytokine array kits. Fixed flow cytometry was used to investigate the uptake and subsequent degradation of α-syn in pericytes. We found that the two α-syn aggregates are devoid of inflammatory and cytotoxic actions on human brain derived pericytes and microglia. Although α-syn did not induce an inflammatory response, pericytes efficiently take up and degrade α-syn through the lysosomal pathway but not the ubiquitin–proteasome system. Furthermore, when pericytes were exposed the ubiquitin proteasome inhibitor—MG132 and α-syn aggregates, there was profound cytotoxicity through the production of reactive oxygen species resulting in apoptosis. These results suggest that the observed accumulation of α-syn in pericytes in human PD brains likely plays a role in PD pathogenesis, perhaps by causing cerebrovascular instability, under conditions of cellular stress.
Ecological factors are likely drivers of eye shape and colour pattern variations across anthropoid primates
Authors: Perea-García Juan Olvido , Ramarajan Kokulanantha , Kret Mariska E. , Hobaiter Catherine , Monteiro Antónia 
Published: October 2022

AbstractExternal eye appearance across primate species is diverse in shape and colouration, yet we still lack an explanation for the drivers of such diversity. Here we quantify substantial interspecific variation in eye shape and colouration across 77 primate species representing all extant genera of anthropoid primates. We reassess a series of hypotheses aiming to explain ocular variation in horizontal elongation and in colouration across species. Heavier body weight and terrestrial locomotion are associated with elongated eye outlines. Species living closer to the equator present more pigmented conjunctivae, suggesting photoprotective functions. Irises become bluer in species living further away from the equator, adding to existing literature supporting a circadian clock function for bluer irises. These results shift the current focus from communicative, to ecological factors in driving variation in external eye appearance in anthropoid primates. They also highlight the possibility that similar ecological factors contributed to selection for blue eyes in ancestral human populations living in northern latitudes.
Subcellular partitioning of protein kinase activity revealed by functional kinome profiling
Authors: Wegman-Points Lauren , Alganem Khaled , Imami Ali Sajid , Mathis Victoria , Creeden Justin Fortune , McCullumsmith Robert , Yuan Li-Lian 
Published: October 2022

AbstractProtein kinases and their substrates form signaling networks partitioned across subcellular compartments to facilitate critical biological processes. While the subcellular roles of many individual kinases have been elucidated, a comprehensive assessment of the synaptic subkinome is lacking. Further, most studies of kinases focus on transcript, protein, and/or phospho-protein expression levels, providing an indirect measure of protein kinase activity. Prior work suggests that gene expression levels are not a good predictor of protein function. Thus, we assessed global serine/threonine protein kinase activity profiles in synaptosomal, nuclear, and cytosolic fractions from rat frontal cortex homogenate using peptide arrays. Comparisons made between fractions demonstrated differences in overall protein kinase activity. Upstream kinase analysis revealed a list of cognate kinases that were enriched in the synaptosomal fraction compared to the nuclear fraction. We identified many kinases in the synaptic fraction previously implicated in this compartment, while also identifying other kinases with little or no evidence for synaptic localization. Our results show the feasibility of assessing subcellular fractions with peptide activity arrays, as well as suggesting compartment specific activity profiles associated with established and novel kinases.
Effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on child blood pressure in a European cohort
Authors: Parada-Ricart Ester , Luque Veronica , Zaragoza Marta , Ferre Natalia , Closa-Monasterolo Ricardo , Koletzko Berthold , Grote Veit , Gruszfeld Dariusz , Verduci Elvira , Xhonneux Annick , Escribano Joaquin 
Published: October 2022

AbstractHypertension is a public health issue that can have its origin in the early phases of development. Maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) could play a role in offspring’s cardio-metabolic programming. To assess the relationship between MSDP and later blood pressure (BP) in children we conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized dietary intervention trial (EU-Childhood Obesity Project). Healthy term infants with normal birth weight were recruited during the first 8 weeks of life in 5 European countries and followed until 11 years of age. Data on MSDP was collected at recruitment. BP and anthropometry were assessed at 11 years of age. Children were classified according to AAP guidelines as normal BP: BP < 90th percentile; high BP: ≥ 90th percentile with the subset of children having BP > 95th percentile categorized as hypertensive. Out of 572 children, 20% were exposed to MSDP. At 11 years, 26.8% had BP over the 90th centile. MSDP beyond 12 weeks of gestation was associated with higher systolic BP percentile (adjusted B 6.935; 95% CI 0.454, 13.429; p = 0.036) and over twofold increase likelihood of hypertension (OR 2.195; 95% CI 1.089, 4.423; p = 0.028) in children at 11 years. MSDP was significantly associated with later BP in children.
Determination of the boundary lipids of sticholysins using tryptophan quenching
Authors: Palacios-Ortega Juan , Amigot-Sánchez Rafael , García-Montoya Carmen , Gorše Ana , Heras-Márquez Diego , García-Linares Sara , Martínez-del-Pozo Álvaro , Slotte J. Peter 
Published: October 2022

AbstractSticholysins are α-pore-forming toxins produced by the sea-anemone Stichodactyla helianthus. These toxins exert their activity by forming pores on sphingomyelin-containing membranes. Recognition of sphingomyelin by sticholysins is required to start the process of pore formation. Sphingomyelin recognition is coupled with membrane binding and followed by membrane penetration and oligomerization. Many features of these processes are known. However, the extent of contact with each of the different kinds of lipids present in the membrane has received little attention. To delve into this question, we have used a phosphatidylcholine analogue labeled at one of its acyl chains with a doxyl moiety, a known quencher of tryptophan emission. Here we present evidence for the contact of sticholysins with phosphatidylcholine lipids in the sticholysin oligomer, and for how each sticholysin isotoxin is affected differently by the inclusion of cholesterol in the membrane. Furthermore, using phosphatidylcholine analogs that were labeled at different positions of their structure (acyl chains and headgroup) in combination with a variety of sticholysin mutants, we also investigated the depth of the tryptophan residues of sticholysins in the bilayer. Our results indicate that the position of the tryptophan residues relative to the membrane normal is deeper when cholesterol is absent from the membrane.
Warming and predation risk only weakly shape size-mediated priority effects in a cannibalistic damselfly
Authors: Raczyński Mateusz , Stoks Robby , Sniegula Szymon 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDifferences in hatching dates can shape intraspecific interactions through size-mediated priority effects (SMPE), a phenomenon where bigger, early hatched individuals gain advantage over smaller, late hatched ones. However, it remains unclear to what extent and how SMPE are affected by key environmental factors such as warming and predation risk imposed by top predators. We studied effects of warming (low and high temperature) and predation risk (presence and absence of predator cues of perch) on SMPE in life history and physiological traits in the cannibalistic damselfly Ischnura elegans. We induced SMPE in the laboratory by manipulating hatching dates, creating following groups: early and late hatchlings reared in separate containers, and mixed phenology groups where early and late hatchlings shared the same containers. We found strong SMPE for survival and emergence success, with the highest values in early larvae of mixed phenology groups and the lowest values in late larvae of mixed phenology groups. Neither temperature nor predator cues affected SMPE for these two traits. The other life history traits (development rate and mass at emergence) did not show SMPE, but were affected by temperature and predator cues. A tendency for SMPE was found for protein content, in the high temperature treatment. The other physiological traits (phenoloxidase activity and fat content) showed fixed expressions across treatments, indicating decoupling between physiology and life history. The results underline that SMPEs are trait-dependent, and only weakly or not affected by temperature and predation risk.
Adolescent-onset depression is associated with altered social functioning into middle adulthood
Authors: Chang Katherine , Kuhlman Kate Ryan 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDepression during sensitive periods of social development may have consequences that extend well beyond mental health, and far into adulthood. This study compared the social functioning of adults with adolescent-onset depression (ages 10–20) to those with adult-onset depression (ages 21+). Participants were 3,360 adults (67.2% female; ages 42 ± 15) who had experienced major depression. Adult functional outcomes were marital status, divorce, number of children, years of education, employment status, household income, dependency on welfare, and obesity. Participants with depression during adolescence were less likely to get married, have children, and more likely to have lower household incomes. Depression during adolescence may be associated with broader functional outcomes that impact individuals and society, and may be mitigated through intervention and effective policy.
The role of the Aspergillus nidulans high mobility group B protein HmbA, the orthologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nhp6p
Authors: Ámon Judit , Varga Gabriella , Pfeiffer Ilona , Farkas Zoltán , Karácsony Zoltán , Hegedűs Zsófia , Vágvölgyi Csaba , Hamari Zsuzsanna 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe mammalian HMGB1 is a high-mobility-group B protein, which is both an architectural and functional element of chromatin. Nhp6p, the extensively studied fungal homologue of HMGB1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has pleiotropic physiological functions. Despite the existence of Nhp6p orthologues in filamentous ascomycetes, little is known about their physiological roles besides their contribution to sexual development. Here we study the function of HmbA, the Aspergillus nidulans orthologue of Nhp6p. We show that HmbA influences the utilization of various carbon- and nitrogen sources, stress tolerance, secondary metabolism, hyphae elongation and maintenance of polarized growth. Additionally, by conducting heterologous expression studies, we demonstrate that HmbA and Nhp6p are partially interchangeable. HmbA restores SNR6 transcription and fitness of nhp6AΔBΔ mutant and reverses its heat sensitivity. Nhp6Ap complements several phenotypes of hmbAΔ, including ascospore formation, utilization of various carbon- and nitrogen-sources, radial growth rate, hypha elongation by polarized growth. However, Nhp6Ap does not complement sterigmatocystin production in a hmbAΔ strain. Finally, we also show that HmbA is necessary for the normal expression of the endochitinase chiA, a cell wall re-modeller that is pivotal for the normal mode of maintenance of polar growth.
Osteohistology of a Triassic dinosaur population reveals highly variable growth trajectories typified early dinosaur ontogeny
Authors: Barta Daniel E. , Griffin Christopher T. , Norell Mark A. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIntraspecific variation in growth trajectories provides a fundamental source of variation upon which natural selection acts. Recent work hints that early dinosaurs possessed elevated levels of such variation compared to other archosaurs, but comprehensive data uniting body size, bone histology, and morphological variation from a stratigraphically constrained early dinosaur population are needed to test this hypothesis. The Triassic theropodCoelophysis bauri, known from a bonebed preserving a single population of coeval individuals, provides an exceptional system to assess whether highly variable growth patterns were present near the origin of Dinosauria. Twenty-four histologically sampled individuals were less than a year to at least four years old and confirm the right-skewed age distribution of theCoelophysisassemblage. Poor correlations among size, age, and morphological maturity strongly support the presence of unique, highly variable growth trajectories in early dinosaurs relative to coeval archosaurs and their living kin.
Dynamics of human milk oligosaccharides in early lactation and relation with growth and appetitive traits of Filipino breastfed infants
Authors: Samuel Tinu M. , Hartweg Mickaël , Lebumfacil Jowena D. , Buluran Katherine. B. , Lawenko Rachel. B. , Estorninos Elvira M. , Binia Aristea , Sprenger Norbert 
Published: October 2022

AbstractHuman milk oligosaccharides play a key role in the maturation of the infant gut microbiome and immune system and are hypothesized to affect growth. This study examined the temporal changes of 24 HMOs and their associations to infant growth and appetitive traits in an exploratory, prospective, observational, study of 41 Filipino mother-infant dyads. Exclusively breastfed, healthy, term infants were enrolled at 21–26 days of age (≈ 0.75 mo) and followed for 6 months. Infant growth measures and appetitive traits were collected at visit 1 (V1) (≈ 0.75 mo), V2 (≈ 1.5 mo), V3 (2.5 mo), V4 (2.75 mo), V5 (4 mo), and V6 (6 mo), while HMOs were measured at V1, V2, V3 and V5. Overall exposure to each HMO was summarized as area under the curve from baseline to 4 months of age and examined in association with each measure of growth at 6 months using linear regression adjusted for maternal age at birth, infant sex, birth weight, and mode of delivery. We saw modest associations between several HMOs and infant growth parameters. Our results suggest that specific HMOs, partly as proxy for milk groups (defined by Secretor and Lewis status), may be associated with head circumference and length, increasing their relevance especially in populations at the lower end of the WHO growth curve. We did not identify the same HMOs associated with infant appetitive traits, indicating that at least in our cohort, changes in appetite were not driving the observed associations between HMOs and growth.Clinical trial registration: NCT03387124.
Continuous variable measurement device independent quantum conferencing with postselection
Authors: Fletcher Alasdair I. , Pirandola Stefano 
Published: October 2022

AbstractA continuous variable (CV), measurement device independent (MDI) quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol is analyzed, enabling three parties to connect for quantum conferencing. We utilise a generalised Bell detection at an untrusted relay and a postselection procedure, in which distant parties reconcile on the signs of the displacements of the quadratures of their prepared coherent states. We derive the rate of the protocol under a collective pure-loss attack, demonstrating improved rate-distance performance compared to the equivalent non-post-selected protocol. In the symmetric configuration in which all the parties lie the same distance from the relay, we find a positive key rate over 6 km. Such postselection techniques can be used to improve the rate of multi-party quantum conferencing protocols at longer distances at the cost of reduced performance at shorter distances.
Experimental quantum state discrimination using the optimal fixed rate of inconclusive outcomes strategy
Authors: Gómez Santiago , Gómez Esteban S. , Jiménez Omar , Delgado Aldo , Walborn Stephen P. , Lima Gustavo 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe problem of non-orthogonal state discrimination underlies crucial quantum information tasks, such as cryptography and computing protocols. Therefore, it is decisive to find optimal scenarios for discrimination among quantum states. We experimentally investigate the strategy for the optimal discrimination of two non-orthogonal states considering a fixed rate of inconclusive outcomes (FRIO). The main advantage of the FRIO strategy is to interpolate between unambiguous and minimum error discrimination by solely adjusting the rate of inconclusive outcomes. We present a versatile experimental scheme that performs the optimal FRIO measurement for any pair of generated non-orthogonal states with arbitrary a priori probabilities and any fixed rate of inconclusive outcomes. Considering different values of the free parameters in the FRIO protocol, we implement it upon qubit states encoded in the polarization mode of single photons generated in the spontaneous parametric down-conversion process. Moreover, we resort to a newfangled double-path Sagnac interferometer to perform a three-outcome non-projective measurement required for the discrimination task, showing excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction. This experiment provides a practical toolbox for a wide range of quantum state discrimination strategies using the FRIO scheme, which can significantly benefit quantum information applications and fundamental studies in quantum theory.
Wireless power transfer based on 2D routing
Authors: Wu Zhouyi , Yu Haochen , Schreurs Dominique , Huangfu Jiangtao 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIn this paper, a dual-frequency wireless power transfer method is proposed, capable of achieving controllable routing and providing power through magnetic coupling resonance to various positions on a two-dimensional plane. The plane is composed of multiple power supply units with a uniform structure. Every unit has two different resonant states to switch, an activated state to power the receiver and a low-power inactive state adopted to maintain power required for state-switching. By switching and combining units in different states through wireless control circuits, directional wireless transfer of power on the plane can be realized. The circuit of power transfer through coupling is modelled and analysed. Electromagnetic simulations are conducted, followed by implementation and test of an experimental system. Both single-receiver and multiple-receiver situations are applicable in this method. The highest transmission efficiency can reach 93.3% under single receiver situation after coupling 5 units, which reveals satisfactory ability in flexibility and efficiency. Embedded in multiple application scenes, we envision further possibilities of this method such as indoor-device wireless charging and free-moving robot charging systems in factories.
Post-endotoxin exposure-induced lung inflammation and resolution consequences beneficially impacted by lung-delivered IL-10 therapy
Authors: Poole Jill A. , Gaurav Rohit , Schwab Aaron , Nelson Amy J. , Gleason Angela , Romberger Debra J. , Wyatt Todd A. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAlthough lung diseases typically result from long-term exposures, even a robust, one-time exposure can result in long-lasting consequences. Endotoxin is a ubiquitous environmental/occupational inflammatory agent often used to model airway inflammation. Using a murine model, the return to lung homeostasis following high dose inhalant lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10–100 μg) exposure were delineated over 2 weeks. LPS-induced rapid weight loss, release of proinflammatory mediators, and inflammatory cell influx with prolonged persistence of activated macrophages CD11c+CD11b+ and recruited/transitioning CD11cintCD11b+ monocyte-macrophages out to 2 weeks. Next, lung-delivered recombinant (r) interleukin (IL)-10 was intratracheally administered for 3 doses initiated 5 h following LPS (10 μg) exposure for 2 days. IL-10 therapy reduced LPS-induced weight loss and increased blood glucose levels. Whereas there was no difference in LPS-induced bronchoalveolar lavage airway fluid cellular influx, total lung cell infiltrates were reduced (37%) with rIL-10 treatment. Post-LPS exposure treatment with rIL-10 strikingly reduced lavage fluid and lung homogenate levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (88% and 93% reduction, respectively), IL-6 (98% and 94% reduction), CXCL1 (66% and 75% reduction), and CXCL2 (47% and 67% reduction). LPS-induced recruited monocyte-macrophages (CD11cintCD11b+) were reduced (68%) with rIL-10. Correspondingly, LPS-induced lung tissue CCR2+ inflammatory monocyte-macrophage were reduced with rIL-10. There were also reductions in LPS-induced lung neutrophils, lymphocyte subpopulations, collagen content, and vimentin expression. These findings support the importance of studying resolution processes for the development of treatment after unintended environmental/occupational biohazard exposures. Short-term, lung-delivered rIL-10 favorably hastened inflammatory recovery processes following acute, high dose inhalant LPS exposure.