bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental effects of within-brood genetic variation on parasite resistance in a wild bird host
Authors: Gutiérrez Jessica , Taff Conor C. , Tupy Suzannah , Goncalves Catherine , Knutie Sarah A. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractHosts can differ in parasite susceptibility across individuals, populations, and species. Genetic variation can influence parasite susceptibility by affecting host resistance to parasitism. For example, genetic variation among related individuals, such as within broods of offspring, might be a key factor influencing within-brood resistance to ectoparasitism. The goal of this study was to determine if within-brood variation of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) affects susceptibility to ectoparasitic blowflies (Protocalliphora sialia). To address the goal, we conducted a partial cross-fostering study for which half of the nestlings were cross-fostered (experimental) or not (control). Nestling physiology (i.e., glucose, hemoglobin, and parasite-specific IgY antibody levels), morphometrics (i.e., mass, tarsus length, bill length, and first primary feather), survival, nestling status (resident versus fostered), and sex were characterized. We also quantified parasite abundance, life stage, and pupal size. We found that experimental nests had fewer parasites and more larvae than pupae compared to control nests, which suggest that within-brood genetic variation affects parasite abundance. However, this effect was driven by the sex ratio with the experimental nests, with female-biased nests having fewer parasites than male-biased nests. Treatment did not affect nestling morphometrics, physiology, or survival at the nest level. Within experimental nests, resident females had significantly higher hemoglobin levels when compared to fostered females. Resident and fostered males and fostered females had significantly higher glucose levels than resident females. Together, these results suggest that resident females were fed upon less than fostered females and may have been less stressed than males and fostered females. Overall, our study demonstrates the importance of considering within-brood variation and nestling sex in understanding host-parasite interactions.
DLPFC-tDCS unable to modulate mind-wandering propensity nor underlying functional or effective brain connectivity
Authors: Coulborn Sean , Fernández-Espejo Davinia 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThere is conflicting evidence over the ability to modulate mind-wandering propensity with anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC-tDCS). Here, 20 participants received 20-minutes of anodal and sham DLPFC-tDCS while in the MRI scanner, in two separate sessions (counterbalanced). In each session, they completed two runs of a sustained attention to response task (before and during tDCS), which included probes recording subjective responses of mind-wandering. We assessed the effects of tDCS on behavioural responses as well as functional and effective dynamics, via dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) and dynamic causal modelling analyses over regions of the default mode, salience and executive control networks. Behavioural results provided substantial evidence in support of no effect of tDCS on task performance nor mind-wandering propensity. Similarly, we found no effect of tDCS on frequency (how often) or dwell time (time spent) of underlying brain states nor effective connectivity. Overall, our results suggest that DLPFC-tDCS is unable to modulate mind-wandering propensity or influence underlying brain function. This expands previous behavioural replication failures in suggesting that DLPFC-tDCS may not lead to even subtle (i.e., under a behavioural threshold) changes in brain activity during self-generated cognition.
Background modeling, Quality Control and Normalization for GeoMx RNA data with GeoDiff
Authors: Yang Lei , Yang Zhi , Danaher Patrick , Zimmerman Stephanie , Hether Tyler , Henderson David , Beechem Joseph 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundNanoString’s GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) RNA assay can measure mRNA from hundreds of regions of customizable shape and size, yet it gives unique challenge in Quality Control(QC) and normalizating due to the omnipresent background noise incurred by the non-specific probe binding, which could not be addressed by conventional methods.Results and discussionUsing Poisson Background model, Background Score Test, Negative Binomial threshold model and Poisson threshold model for normalization from the R package GeoDiff, we perform tasks including size factor estimation, QC and normalization on GoeMx RNA assay data. They are shown to outperform conventional methods like Limit of Quantification for QC as to consistency/false positive rate and 75% quantile normalization as to eliminating technical variability and recovering true signal.ConclusionsWe present a statistical model based workflow for QC and normalizing GeoMx RNA data using GeoDiff, justified by statistical theory and validated by real/simulated data.
Peripheral ghrelin administration prevents the behavioral effects of restraint stress in mice: possible implication of PVNCRHneurons
Authors: Dos-Santos Raoni Conceição , Flores Rafael Appel , de Jesus Aline Alves , Rorato Rodrigo , Mecawi André Souza , Antunes-Rodrigues José , Kagohara Elias Lucila Leico 
Published: May 2022

AbstractGhrelin is a gut-derived hormone that is secreted during conditions of negative caloric balance and acts as a key modulator of feeding, increasing food intake and affecting several physiological systems such as metabolism, behavior and the control of endocrine and autonomic functions. Previous studies showed that ghrelin participates in the stress response, acting on hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons that express corticotropin-releasing hormone (PVNCRHneurons). In the present study, we investigated the effects of ghrelin administration on the behavioral responses to restraint stress in mice. In their homecage, C57Bl6 mice in basal conditions expressed the behaviors of surveying, walking, rearing, grooming and, to a lesser extent, digging, climbing and freezing. Restraint stress increased the time spent in grooming without significant changes in other behaviors. Ghrelin administration did not affect behavior in control mice, but it reversed the effect of restraint stress on grooming. Chemogenetic activation of PVNCRHneurons by clozapine N-Oxide (CNO) administration in hM3Dq DREADD mice increased grooming, while ghrelin mitigated this effect. In addition, CNO administration decreased walking and rearing, both in the presence or absence of ghrelin. Food intake was increased by ghrelin administration, however, it was not affected by stress or CNO. These results indicate that ghrelin decreases the activity of PVNCRHneurons, partially preventing the behavioral effects of restraint stress. The inhibitory input to PVNCRHneurons probably arrives from other nuclei, since GABAergic neurons were not identified in the PVN neurons of these mice.
Enrichment of hard sweeps on the X chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Harris Mariana , Garud Nandita 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe characteristic properties of the X chromosome, such as male hemizygosity and its unique inheritance pattern, expose it to natural selection in a way that can be different from the autosomes. Here, we investigate the differences in the tempo and mode of adaptation on the X chromosome and autosomes in a population of Drosophila melanogaster. Specifically, we test the hypothesis that due to hemizygosity and a lower effective population size on the X, the relative proportion of hard sweeps, which are expected when adaptation is gradual, compared to soft sweeps, which are expected when adaptation is rapid, is greater on the X than on the autosomes. We quantify the incidence of hard versus soft sweeps in North American D. melanogaster population genomic data with haplotype homozygosity statistics and find an enrichment of the proportion of hard versus soft sweeps on the X chromosome compared to the autosomes, confirming predictions we make from simulations. Understanding these differences may enable a deeper understanding of how important phenotypes arise as well as the impact of fundamental evolutionary parameters on adaptation, such as dominance, sex-specific selection, and sex-biased demography.
Secretin modulates appetite via brown adipose tissue - brain axis
Authors: Sun Lihua , Laurila Sanna , Lahesmaa Minna , Rebelos Eleni , Virtanen Kirsi A. , Schnabl Katharina , Klingenspor Martin , Nummenmaa Lauri , Nuutila Pirjo 
Published: May 2022

AbstractSecretin activates brown adipose tissue (BAT) and induces satiation in both mice and humans. However, the exact brain mechanism of this satiety inducing, secretin-mediated gut-BAT-brain axis is unknown. In this placebo-controlled, single-blinded neuroimaging study, firstly using [18F]FDG-PET measures (n = 15), we established that secretin modulated brain glucose consumption through the BAT-brain axis. Predominantly, we found that BAT and caudate glucose uptake levels were negatively correlated (r = −0.54, p = 0.037) during secretin but not placebo condition. Then, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI; n = 14), we found that secretin down-regulated the brain response to appetizing food images and improved inhibitory control. Finally, in a PET-fMRI fusion analysis (n = 10), we disclosed the patterned correspondence between caudate glucose uptake and neuroactivity to reward and inhibition, showing that the secretin-induced neurometabolic coupling pattern promoted satiation. These findings suggest that secretin modulates the BAT-brain metabolic crosstalk and subsequent neurometabolic coupling to induce satiation, bearing potential clinical benefits for treating eating disorders.Significance of the studySecretin activates brown adipose tissue and induces satiation, but the underlying brain mechanisms are still unclear. This placebo-controlled PET-fMRI study uses brain metabolic and BOLD measures to dissect the modulatory effects of secretin on brain functions associative to satiation. Findings show that secretin i) modulates caudate glucose metabolism via the BAT-brain axis, ii) enhances BOLD response in inhibitory control, and iii) reduces reward-related BOLD response. Further evidence shows that these measured effects are tightly linked via the secretin-mediated brain neurometabolic coupling. This study significantly advances our knowledge on how secretin leads to satiation and highlights the potential role of secretin in treating eating disorders and obesity.
Examining Effects of Schizophrenia on EEG with Explainable Deep Learning Models
Authors: Ellis Charles A. , Sattiraju Abhinav , Miller Robyn , Calhoun Vince 
Published: May 2022

AbstractSchizophrenia (SZ) is a mental disorder that affects millions of people globally. At this time, diagnosis of SZ is based upon symptoms, which can vary from patient to patient and create difficulty with diagnosis. To address this issue, researchers have begun to look for neurological biomarkers of SZ and develop methods for automated diagnosis. In recent years, several studies have applied deep learning to raw EEG for automated SZ diagnosis. However, the use of raw time-series data makes explainability more difficult than it is for traditional machine learning algorithms trained on manually engineered features. As such, none of these studies have sought to explain their models, which is problematic within a healthcare context where explainability is a critical component. In this study, we apply perturbation-based explainability approaches to gain insight into the spectral and spatial features learned by two distinct deep learning models trained on raw EEG for SZ diagnosis for the first time. We develop convolutional neural network (CNN) and CNN long short-term memory network (CNN-LSTM) architectures. Results show that both models prioritize the T8 and C3 electrodes and the δ- and γ-bands, which agrees with previous literature and supports the overall utility of our models. This study represents a step forward in the implementation of deep learning models for clinical SZ diagnosis, and it is our hope that it will inspire the more widespread application of explainability methods for insight into deep learning models trained for SZ diagnosis in the future.
NFYA promotes the malignant behavior of triple-negative breast cancer through the regulation of lipid metabolism
Authors: Okada Nobuhiro , Ueki Chihiro , Shimazaki Masahiro , Tsujimoto Goki , Kohno Susumu , Muranaka Hayato , Yoshikawa Kiyotsugu , Takahashi Chiaki 
Published: May 2022

AbstractTwo splicing variants exist in NFYA, which exhibits high expression in many human tumor types, and their expression balance is known to correlate with prognosis in breast cancer, but functional differences are still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that NFYAv1, the long-form variant, upregulates the transcription of ACACA and FASN, essential lipogenic enzymes, to enhance the malignant behavior of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Loss of the NFYAv1-lipogenesis axis strongly suppresses the malignant behavior in vitro and in vivo, indicating that the NFYAv1-lipogenesis axis is essential for TNBC malignant behavior and that the axis might be a potential therapeutic target for TNBC. Furthermore, mice deficient in lipogenic enzymes such as Acly, Acaca, and Fasn exhibit embryonic lethality, but our Nfyav1-deficient mice have no apparent developmental abnormalities. Taken together, our results elucidate NFYAv1-lipogenesis axis has significant tumor-promoting effects and the potential for NFYAv1 to be a safer therapeutic target for TNBC.
ADAM10 pharmacological inhibition modifies the expression of components of the dopaminergic system
Authors: Maitra Subhamita , Vincent Bruno 
Published: May 2022

AbstractDopamine is a primary neurotransmitter associated with memory formation, emotional control, reward processing and other higher order mental functions. Altered dopamine signaling is implied in several neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. Age-related memory decline often presents itself with spectrum of overtly behavioral responses in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, thus suggesting that an alteration of dopaminergic transmission could account for the psychotic symptoms observed along the pathology. Since less sAPPα production due to reduced α-secretase activity is a direct contributor of compromised neuroprotection and can impart higher vulnerability to cellular insults, we explored the impact of specific inhibition of ADAM10, the main neuronal α-secretase, on dopamine system components in cultured human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. We found that dopamine receptor D4 protein levels were dose-dependently down regulated by GI254023X, but not by the ADAM17-specific inhibitor TAPI-0. We then established that GI254023X operates at a transcriptional levels. Furthermore, we showed that GI254023X treatment also significantly increased the levels of active PKA as well as the transcription of the dopamine-degrading enzymes catechol-O-methyltransferase, monoamine oxidase A and monoamine oxidase B. Altogether, our data propose that ADAM10 inhibition modulates the dopaminergic system to possibly trigger psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease.
Advancing North: White-nosed coati’s Nasua narica Range Expansion in Arizona
Authors: Ragan Kinley , Walker Faith M. , Stevens Lawrence E. , Schipper Jan 
Published: May 2022

AbstractOver the past century, the white-nosed coati (WNC; Nasua narica) has expanded its northernmost range from the United States-Mexico border into northern Arizona. WNC are medium-sized, opportunistic omnivores that often occur in large groups (“bands”) and forage on insects, fruits, and small vertebrates. We compiled data from iNaturalist, published literature, Arizona Game and Fish records, museum collections, personal communications, and our own camera trap photography to chronicle this range expansion. Historical records documented WNC populations in mountainous areas along the US-Mexican border but rarely north of Tucson, AZ. The popularity of using wildlife cameras in both research and recreation, paired with the advancement of citizen science projects like iNaturalist have generated a vast amount of new data on species distributions. With this new body of information we report the range of WNC now occurs over 400 km farther north, extending north of Flagstaff, Arizona. Recent records include occurrence in ponderosa pine forest that sustain sometimes heavy winter snow – an environment vastly different from the species’ normal range. The northward expansion of this meso-carnivore invites many questions about drivers of range expansion, including climate change, mesopredator release, or simple opportunism. More research into the behavior and ecology of WNC in the northern extent of their range is needed to guide understanding and potential future management of this species, its impacts, and prediction of other such range expansions.
On predicting heterogeneity in nanoparticle dosage
Authors: Dowling Celia V. , Cevaal Paula M. , Faria Matthew , Johnston Stuart T. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractNanoparticles are increasingly employed as a vehicle for the targeted delivery of therapeutics to specific cell types. However, much remains to be discovered about the fundamental biology that dictates the interactions between nanoparticles and cells. Accordingly, few nanoparticle-based targeted therapeutics have succeeded in clinical trials. One element that hinders our understanding of nanoparticle-cell interactions is the presence of heterogeneity in nanoparticle dosage data obtained from standard experiments. It is difficult to distinguish between heterogeneity that arises from stochasticity in nanoparticle behaviour, and that which arises from heterogeneity in the cell population. Mathematical investigations have revealed that both sources of heterogeneity contribute meaningfully to the heterogeneity in nanoparticle dosage. However, these investigations have relied on simplified models of nanoparticle internalisation. Here we present a stochastic mathematical model of nanoparticle internalisation that incorporates a suite of relevant biological phenomena such as multistage internalisation, cell division, asymmetric nanoparticle inheritance and nanoparticle saturation. Critically, our model provides information about nanoparticle dosage at an individual cell level. We perform model simulations to examine the influence of specific biological phenomena on the heterogeneity in nanoparticle dosage. Under certain modelling assumptions, we derive analytic approximations of the nanoparticle dosage distribution. We demonstrate that the analytic approximations are accurate, and show that nanoparticle dosage can be described by a Poisson mixture distribution with rate parameters that are a function of Beta-distributed random variables. We discuss the implications of the analytic results with respect to parameter estimation and model identifiability from standard experimental data. Finally, we highlight extensions and directions for future research.
Strange attractor of a narwhal (Monodon monoceros)
Authors: Podolskiy Evgeny A. , Heide-Jørgensen Mads Peter 
Published: May 2022

AbstractDetecting structures within the continuous diving behavior of marine animals is challenging, and no universal framework is available. We captured such diverse structures using chaos theory. By applying time-delay embedding to exceptionally long dive records (83 d) from the narwhal, we reconstructed the state-space portrait. Using measures of chaos, we detected a diurnal pattern and its seasonal modulation, classified data, and found how sea-ice appearance shifts time budgets. There is more near-surface rest but deeper dives at solar noon, and more intense diving during twilight and at night but to shallower depths (likely following squid); sea-ice appearance reduces rest. The introduced geometrical approach is simple to implement and potentially helpful for mapping and labeling long-term behavioral data, identifying differences between individual animals and species, and detecting perturbations.
Using eDNA metabarcoding to establish targets for freshwater fish composition following river restoration
Authors: Ito Gen , Yamauchi Hiroshi , Shigeyoshi Miwa , Ashino Kousuke , Yonashiro Chie , Asami Maki , Goto Yuko , Duda Jeffrey J. , Yamanaka Hiroki 
Published: May 2022

AbstractEstablishing realistic targets for fish community composition is needed to assess the effectiveness of river restoration projects. We used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with MiFish primers to obtain estimates of fish community composition across 17 sites upstream, downstream and within a restoration mitigation project area (Kaihotsu– Kasumi) located in the Shigenobu River system, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. We evaluate the benefits of using eDNA to quickly, sensitively, and extensively gather data to establish existing fish community composition in the restoration area, as well as potential future short-term, medium-term, and long-term targets of species assemblages that could realistically emerge following dispersal into the project area from upstream and downstream populations. We compare results from eDNA metabarcoding with species lists obtained from contemporaneous capture surveys and historical information. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling plots of community composition obtained from eDNA surveys showed that the Kaihotsu–Kasumi restoration area and surrounding river reaches were divided into three clusters: upper reaches, middle and lower reaches, and estuarine reaches. The Kaihotsu– Kasumi restoration area sites were included in the group containing the middle and lower reaches of the inflow and outflow rivers that were near the restoration area. We detected a total of twenty-six species in this group, twenty-one native species and five non-native species. Therefore, these native species were considered suitable as short-term target species with high potential for dispersal into Kaihotsu–Kasumi restoration area. By comparison, only 14 species would have been selected as target species based on capture surveys and historical literature. One factor increasing the resolution of our eDNA surveys was our ability to identify the presence of intraspecific lineages of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Clades A and B), which were missed by the capture surveys. These results indicate that the eDNA metabarcoding method can provide more comprehensive and realistic short-term target species estimates than capture surveys, as well as provide higher resolution monitoring through intraspecific lineage detection.