A novel ilarvirus protein CP-RT is expressed via stop codon readthrough and suppresses RDR6-dependent RNA silencing.

Ilarviruses are a relatively understudied but important group of plant RNA viruses that includes a number of crop pathogens. Their genomes comprise three RNA segments encoding two replicase subunits, movement protein, coat protein (CP), and (in some ilarvirus subgroups) a protein that suppresses RNA silencing. Here we report that, in many ilarviruses, RNA3 encodes an additional protein (termed CP-RT) as a result of ribosomal readthrough of the CP stop codon into a short downstream readthrough (RT) ORF. Using asparagus virus 2 as a model, we find that CP-RT is expressed in planta where it functions as a weak suppressor of RNA silencing. CP-RT expression is essential for persistent systemic infection in leaves and shoot apical meristem. CP-RT function is dependent on a putative zinc-finger motif within RT. Replacing the asparagus virus 2 RT with the RT of an ilarvirus from a different subgroup restored the ability to establish persistent infection. These findings open up a new avenue for research on ilarvirus silencing suppression, persistent meristem invasion and vertical transmission.

Event related potentials (ERP) reveal a robust response to visual symmetry in unattended visual regions.

Visual symmetry at fixation generates a bilateral Event Related Potential (ERP) called the Sustained Posterior Negativity (SPN). Symmetry presented in the left visual hemifield generates a contralateral SPN over the right hemisphere and vice versa. The current study examined whether the contralateral SPN is modulated by the focus of spatial attention. On each trial there were two dot patterns, one to the left of fixation, and one to the right of fixation. A central arrow cue pointed to one of the patterns and participants discriminated its regularity (symmetry or random). We compared contralateral SPN amplitude generated by symmetry at attended and unattended spatial locations. While the response to attended symmetry was slightly enhanced, the response to unattended symmetry was still substantial. Although visual symmetry detection is a computational challenge, we conclude that the brain processes visual symmetry in unattended parts of the visual field.

Reduction in vertical transmission rate of bean common mosaic virus in bee-pollinated common bean plants.

Vertical transmission, the transfer of pathogens across generations, is a critical mechanism for the persistence of plant viruses. The transmission mechanisms are diverse, involving direct invasion through the suspensor and virus entry into developing gametes before achieving symplastic isolation. Despite the progress in understanding vertical virus transmission, the environmental factors influencing this process remain largely unexplored. We investigated the complex interplay between vertical transmission of plant viruses and pollination dynamics, focusing on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The intricate relationship between plants and pollinators, especially bees, is essential for global ecosystems and crop productivity. We explored the impact of virus infection on seed transmission rates, with a particular emphasis on bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Under controlled growth conditions, BCMNV exhibited the highest seed transmission rate, followed by BCMV and CMV. Notably, in the field, bee-pollinated BCMV-infected plants showed a reduced transmission rate compared to self-pollinated plants. This highlights the influence of pollinators on virus transmission dynamics. The findings demonstrate the virus-specific nature of seed transmission and underscore the importance of considering environmental factors, such as pollination, in understanding and managing plant virus spread.

Elucidation of physico-chemical principles of high-density lipoprotein-small RNA binding interactions.

Extracellular small RNAs (sRNAs) are abundant in many biofluids, but little is known about their mechanisms of transport and stability in RNase-rich environments. We previously reported that high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) in mice were enriched with multiple classes of sRNAs derived from the endogenous transcriptome, but also from exogenous organisms. Here, we show that human HDL transports tRNA-derived sRNAs (tDRs) from host and nonhost species, the profiles of which were found to be altered in human atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that HDL binds to tDRs through apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and that these interactions are conferred by RNA-specific features. We tested this using microscale thermophoresis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays and found that HDL binds to tDRs and other single-stranded sRNAs with strong affinity but did not bind to double-stranded RNA or DNA. Furthermore, we show that natural and synthetic RNA modifications influenced tDR binding to HDL. We demonstrate that reconstituted HDL bound to tDRs only in the presence of apoA-I, and purified apoA-I alone were able to bind sRNA. Conversely, phosphatidylcholine vesicles did not bind tDRs. In summary, we conclude that HDL binds to single-stranded sRNAs likely through nonionic interactions with apoA-I. These results highlight binding properties that likely enable extracellular RNA communication and provide a foundation for future studies to manipulate HDL-sRNA interactions for therapeutic approaches to prevent or treat disease.

AI Body Composition in Lung Cancer Screening: Added Value Beyond Lung Cancer Detection.

Background An artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm has been developed for fully automated body composition assessment of lung cancer screening noncontrast low-dose CT of the chest (LDCT) scans, but the utility of these measurements in disease risk prediction models has not been assessed. Purpose To evaluate the added value of CT-based AI-derived body composition measurements in risk prediction of lung cancer incidence, lung cancer death, cardiovascular disease (CVD) death, and all-cause mortality in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). Materials and Methods In this secondary analysis of the NLST, body composition measurements, including area and attenuation attributes of skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue, were derived from baseline LDCT examinations by using a previously developed AI algorithm. The added value of these measurements was assessed with sex- and cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models with and without the AI-derived body composition measurements for predicting lung cancer incidence, lung cancer death, CVD death, and all-cause mortality. Models were adjusted for confounding variables including age; body mass index; quantitative emphysema; coronary artery calcification; history of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and stroke; and other PLCOM2012 lung cancer risk factors. Goodness-of-fit improvements were assessed with the likelihood ratio test. Results Among 20 768 included participants (median age, 61 years [IQR, 57-65 years]; 12 317 men), 865 were diagnosed with lung cancer and 4180 died during follow-up. Including the AI-derived body composition measurements improved risk prediction for lung cancer death (male participants: χ2 = 23.09, P < .001; female participants: χ2 = 15.04, P = .002), CVD death (males: χ2 = 69.94, P < .001; females: χ2 = 16.60, P < .001), and all-cause mortality (males: χ2 = 248.13, P < .001; females: χ2 = 94.54, P < .001), but not for lung cancer incidence (male participants: χ2 = 2.53, P = .11; female participants: χ2 = 1.73, P = .19). Conclusion The body composition measurements automatically derived from baseline low-dose CT examinations added predictive value for lung cancer death, CVD death, and all-cause death, but not for lung cancer incidence in the NLST. Clinical trial registration no. NCT00047385 © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Fintelmann in this issue.

Long-term aspartame and saccharin intakes are related to greater volumes of visceral, intermuscular, and subcutaneous adipose tissue: the CARDIA study.

BACKGROUND: Artificial sweetener (ArtSw) intakes have been previously associated with higher BMI in observational studies and may promote visceral and skeletal muscle adipose tissue (AT) accumulation. This study aimed to determine whether habitual, long-term ArtSw or diet beverage intakes are related to greater AT depot volumes and anthropometry-related outcomes. METHODS: A validated diet history questionnaire was administered at baseline, year 7, and year 20 examinations in 3088 men and women enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults cohort (CARDIA), mean age of 25.2 years and mean BMI of 24.5 kg/m2 at baseline. Volumes of visceral (VAT), intermuscular (IMAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were assessed by computed tomography at year 25. Linear regression evaluated associations of aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, total ArtSw, and diet beverage intakes with AT volumes, anthropometric measures, and 25-year change in anthropometry. Cox regression estimated associations of ArtSw with obesity incidence. Adjustments were made for demographic and lifestyle factors, total energy intake, and the 2015 healthy eating index. RESULTS: Total ArtSw, aspartame, saccharin, and diet beverage intakes were positively associated with VAT, SAT, and IMAT volumes (all ptrend ≤ 0.001), but no associations were observed for sucralose intake (all ptrend > 0.05). In addition, total ArtSw, saccharin, aspartame, and diet beverage intakes were associated with greater body mass index, body weight, waist circumference, and their increases over a 25-year period. Except for saccharin (ptrend = 0.13), ArtSw, including diet soda, was associated with greater risks of incident obesity over a median 17.5-year follow-up (all ptrend < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that long-term intakes of aspartame, saccharin, or diet soda may increase AT deposition and risk of incident obesity independent of diet quality or caloric intake. Coupled with previous evidence, alternatives to national recommendations to replace added sugar with ArtSw should be considered since both may have health consequences.

Investigating the interactions of endornaviruses with each other and with other viruses in common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Plant viruses of the genus Alphaendornavirus are transmitted solely via seed and pollen and generally cause no apparent disease. It has been conjectured that certain plant endornaviruses may confer advantages on their hosts through improved performance (e.g., seed yield) or resilience to abiotic or biotic insult. We recently characterised nine common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties that harboured either Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus (PvEV1) alone, or PvEV1 in combination with PvEV2 or PvEV1 in combination with PvEV2 and PvEV3. Here, we investigated the interactions of these endornaviruses with each other, and with three infectious pathogenic viruses: cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), and bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV). RESULTS: In lines harbouring PvEV1, PvEV1 and PvEV2, or PvEV1, PvEV2 plus PvEV3, the levels of PvEV1 and PvEV3 RNA were very similar between lines, although there were variations in PvEV2 RNA accumulation. In plants inoculated with infectious viruses, CMV, BCMV and BCMNV levels varied between lines, but this was most likely due to host genotype differences rather than to the presence or absence of endornaviruses. We tested the effects of endornaviruses on seed production and seedborne transmission of infectious pathogenic viruses but found no consistent relationship between the presence of endornaviruses and seed yield or protection from seedborne transmission of infectious pathogenic viruses. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that endornaviruses do not interfere with each other's accumulation. There appears to be no direct synergy or competition between infectious pathogenic viruses and endornaviruses, however, the effects of host genotype may obscure interactions between endornaviruses and infectious viruses. There is no consistent effect of endornaviruses on seed yield or susceptibility to seedborne transmission of other viruses.

Identification and characterization of Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus 1, 2 and 3 in common bean cultivars of East Africa.

Persistent viruses include members of the family Endornavirus that cause no apparent disease and are transmitted exclusively via seed or pollen. It is speculated that these RNA viruses may be mutualists that enhance plant resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. Using reverse transcription coupled polymerase chain reactions, we investigated if common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties popular in east Africa were hosts for Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus (PvEV) 1, 2 or 3. Out of 26 bean varieties examined, four were infected with PvEV1, three were infected with both PvEV1 and PvEV2 and three had infections of all three (PvEV) 1, 2 and 3. Notably, this was the first identification of PvEV3 in common bean from Africa. Using high-throughput sequencing of two east African bean varieties (KK022 and KK072), we confirmed the presence of these viruses and generated their genomes. Intra- and inter-species sequence comparisons of these genomes with comparator sequences from GenBank revealed clear species demarcation. In addition, phylogenetic analyses based on sequences generated from the helicase domains showed that geographical distribution does not correlate to genetic relatedness or the occurrence of endornaviruses. These findings are an important first step towards future investigations to determine if these viruses engender positive effects in common bean, a vital crop in east Africa.

Association of potato consumption with calcified atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries: The NHLBI Family Heart Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: While the association of potato consumption with risk factors for coronary artery disease has been inconsistent, no data are available in the literature on the influence of potato consumption on subclinical disease. Thus, we sought to examine whether baked/mashed potato consumption is associated with calcified atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a cross-sectional design, we studied 2208 participants of the NHLBI Family Heart Study. These subjects were selected based on their elevated cardiovascular disease risk compared to the general population. Potato consumption was assessed by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We defined prevalent CAC using an Agatston score of at least 100 and fitted generalized estimating equations to calculate prevalence odds ratios of CAC. Mean age at initial clinic visit was 58.2 years and 55% were female. Median consumption of potatoes was 2-4/week. There was no statistically significant association between frequency of potato consumption and prevalent CAC: odds ratios (95% CI) for CAC were 1.0 (reference), 0.85 (0.56-1.30), 0.85 (0.58-1.26), and 0.95 (0.60-1.53) among subjects reporting potato consumption of <1/week, 1/week, 2-4/week, and 5+/week, respectively (p for linear trend 0.83), adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking, exercise, diabetes, hypertension, total calories, prevalent coronary heart disease, income, education, and daily red meat intake. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant association between baked/mashed potato consumption and CAC in older adults. STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00005136. Study registration date: 5/25/2000.

Gestational Diabetes History and Glucose Tolerance After Pregnancy Associated With Coronary Artery Calcium in Women During Midlife: The CARDIA Study.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes (GD) leads to earlier onset and heightened risk of type 2 diabetes, a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is unclear whether attaining normoglycemia can ameliorate the excess CVD risk associated with GD history. This study sought to evaluate GD history and glucose tolerance after pregnancy associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC) in women, a manifestation of atherosclerotic CVD and a predictor of CVD clinical events. METHODS: Data were obtained from the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults), a US multicenter, community-based prospective cohort of young Black (50%) and White adults aged 18 to 30 years at baseline (1985-1986). The sample included 1133 women without diabetes at baseline, who had ≥1 singleton births (n=2066) during follow-up, glucose tolerance testing at baseline and up to 5 times during 25 years (1986-2011), GD status, and CAC measurements obtained from 1 or more follow up examinations at years 15, 20, and 25 (2001-2011). CAC was measured by noncontrast cardiac computed tomography; dichotomized as Any CAC (score>0) or No CAC (score=0). Complementary log-log models for interval-censored data estimated adjusted hazard ratios of CAC and 95% confidence intervals for GD history and subsequent glucose tolerance groups (normoglycemia, prediabetes, or incident diabetes) on average 14.7 years after the last birth adjusted for prepregnancy and follow-up covariates. RESULTS: Of 1133 women, 139 (12.3%) reported GD and were 47.6 years of age (4.8 SD) at follow-up. CAC was present in 25% (34/139) of women with GD and 15% (149/994) of women with no GD. In comparison with no GD/normoglycemia, adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) were 1.54 (1.06-2.24) for no GD/prediabetes and 2.17 (1.30-3.62) for no GD/incident diabetes, and 2.34 (1.34-4.09), 2.13 (1.09-4.17), and 2.02 (0.98-4.19) for GD/normoglycemia, GD/prediabetes, and GD/incident diabetes, respectively (overall P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Women without previous GD showed a graded increase in the risk of CAC associated with worsening glucose tolerance. Women with a history of GD had a 2-fold higher risk of CAC across all subsequent levels of glucose tolerance. Midlife atherosclerotic CVD risk among women with previous GD is not diminished by attaining normoglycemia.

Axonal Injury Partially Mediates Associations Between Increased Left Ventricular Mass Index and White Matter Damage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Left ventricular (LV) mass index is a marker of subclinical LV remodeling that relates to white matter damage in aging, but molecular pathways underlying this association are unknown. This study assessed if LV mass index related to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of microglial activation (sTREM2 [soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2]), axonal injury (NFL [neurofilament light]), neurodegeneration (total-tau), and amyloid-ß, and whether these biomarkers partially accounted for associations between increased LV mass index and white matter damage. We hypothesized higher LV mass index would relate to greater CSF biomarker levels, and these pathologies would partially mediate associations with cerebral white matter microstructure. METHODS: Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project participants who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance, lumbar puncture, and diffusion tensor imaging (n=142, 72±6 years, 37% mild cognitive impairment [MCI], 32% APOE-ε4 positive, LV mass index 51.4±8.1 g/m2, NFL 1070±588 pg/mL) were included. Linear regressions and voxel-wise analyses related LV mass index to each biomarker and diffusion tensor imaging metrics, respectively. Follow-up models assessed interactions with MCI and APOE-ε4. In models where LV mass index significantly related to a biomarker and white matter microstructure, we assessed if the biomarker mediated white matter associations. RESULTS: Among all participants, LV mass index was unrelated to CSF biomarkers (P>0.33). LV mass index interacted with MCI (P=0.01), such that higher LV mass index related to increased NFL among MCI participants. Associations were also present among APOE-ε4 carriers (P=0.02). NFL partially mediated up to 13% of the effect of increased LV mass index on white matter damage. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical cardiovascular remodeling, measured as an increase in LV mass index, is associated with neuroaxonal degeneration among individuals with MCI and APOE-ε4. Neuroaxonal degeneration partially reflects associations between higher LV mass index and white matter damage. Findings highlight neuroaxonal degeneration, rather than amyloidosis or microglia, may be more relevant in pathways between structural cardiovascular remodeling and white matter damage.

The cucumber mosaic virus 1a protein regulates interactions between the 2b protein and ARGONAUTE 1 while maintaining the silencing suppressor activity of the 2b protein.

The cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) 2b viral suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR) is a potent counter-defense and pathogenicity factor that inhibits antiviral silencing by titration of short double-stranded RNAs. It also disrupts microRNA-mediated regulation of host gene expression by binding ARGONAUTE 1 (AGO1). But in Arabidopsis thaliana complete inhibition of AGO1 is counterproductive to CMV since this triggers another layer of antiviral silencing mediated by AGO2, de-represses strong resistance against aphids (the insect vectors of CMV), and exacerbates symptoms. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and co-immunoprecipitation assays we found that the CMV 1a protein, a component of the viral replicase complex, regulates the 2b-AGO1 interaction. By binding 2b protein molecules and sequestering them in P-bodies, the 1a protein limits the proportion of 2b protein molecules available to bind AGO1, which ameliorates 2b-induced disease symptoms, and moderates induction of resistance to CMV and to its aphid vector. However, the 1a protein-2b protein interaction does not inhibit the ability of the 2b protein to inhibit silencing of reporter gene expression in agroinfiltration assays. The interaction between the CMV 1a and 2b proteins represents a novel regulatory system in which specific functions of a VSR are selectively modulated by another viral protein. The finding also provides a mechanism that explains how CMV, and possibly other viruses, modulates symptom induction and manipulates host-vector interactions.

Elevated Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity Relates to Longitudinal Gray and White Matter Changes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether baseline aortic stiffness, measured by aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), relates to longitudinal cerebral gray or white matter changes among older adults. Baseline cardiac magnetic resonance imaging will be used to assess aortic PWV while brain magnetic resonance imaging will be used to assess gray matter and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes at baseline, 18 months, 3 years, 5 years, and 7 years. Approach and Results: Aortic PWV (m/s) was quantified from cardiac magnetic resonance. Multimodal 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging included T1-weighted imaging for quantifying gray matter volumes and T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging for quantifying WMHs. Mixed-effects regression models related baseline aortic PWV to longitudinal gray matter volumes (total, frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, hippocampal, and inferior lateral ventricle) and WMH volumes (total, frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital) adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, cognitive diagnosis, Framingham stroke risk profile, APOE (apolipoprotein E)-ε4 carrier status, and intracranial volume. Two hundred seventy-eight participants (73±7 years, 58% male, 87% self-identified as non-Hispanic White, 159 with normal cognition, and 119 with mild cognitive impairment) from the Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project (n=335) were followed on average for 4.9±1.6 years with PWV measurements occurring from September 2012 to November 2014 and longitudinal brain magnetic resonance imaging measurements occurring from September 2012 to June 2021. Higher baseline aortic PWV was related to greater decrease in hippocampal (ß=-3.6 [mm3/y]/[m/s]; [95% CI, -7.2 to -0.02] P=0.049) and occipital lobe (ß=-34.2 [mm3/y]/[m/s]; [95% CI, -67.8 to -0.55] P=0.046) gray matter volume over time. Higher baseline aortic PWV was related to greater increase in WMH volume over time in the temporal lobe (ß=17.0 [mm3/y]/[m/s]; [95% CI, 7.2-26.9] P<0.001). All associations may be driven by outliers. CONCLUSIONS: In older adults, higher baseline aortic PWV related to greater decrease in gray matter volume and greater increase in WMHs over time. Because of unmet cerebral metabolic demands and microvascular remodeling, arterial stiffening may preferentially affect certain highly active brain regions like the temporal lobes. These same regions are affected early in the course of Alzheimer disease.

The landscape of disaster film, 2000-20.

The general public's understanding of disasters is influenced by the portrayal of such events in popular culture. Disaster films have remained a core attraction in this regard. A systematic assessment of the most recent disaster film cycle (that is, from January 2000-December 2019) is warranted, therefore, to gain insights into the current landscape of the genre and to comprehend better the imagery that people encounter onscreen. This study evaluated 173 disaster films and found that most depict natural hazards and global catastrophes despite films about monsters and smaller-scale disasters being the most popular. It provides a foundation for future research on the relevance of disaster films to disaster scholarship and emergency management practice. And it offers a starting point to analyse the role of disaster films in shaping the meaning and experience of disasters, generally, and the layperson's understanding of disasters and emergency management, including expectations of responder agencies and organisations.

Workflow Integration of Research AI Tools into a Hospital Radiology Rapid Prototyping Environment.

The field of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging is undergoing explosive growth, and Radiology is a prime target for innovation. The American College of Radiology Data Science Institute has identified more than 240 specific use cases where AI could be used to improve clinical practice. In this context, thousands of potential methods are developed by research labs and industry innovators. Deploying AI tools within a clinical enterprise, even on limited retrospective evaluation, is complicated by security and privacy concerns. Thus, innovation must be weighed against the substantive resources required for local clinical evaluation. To reduce barriers to AI validation while maintaining rigorous security and privacy standards, we developed the AI Imaging Incubator. The AI Imaging Incubator serves as a DICOM storage destination within a clinical enterprise where images can be directed for novel research evaluation under Institutional Review Board approval. AI Imaging Incubator is controlled by a secure HIPAA-compliant front end and provides access to a menu of AI procedures captured within network-isolated containers. Results are served via a secure website that supports research and clinical data formats. Deployment of new AI approaches within this system is streamlined through a standardized application programming interface. This manuscript presents case studies of the AI Imaging Incubator applied to randomizing lung biopsies on chest CT, liver fat assessment on abdomen CT, and brain volumetry on head MRI.

Right lateralized alpha desynchronization increases with the proportion of symmetry in the stimulus.

Research into the neural basis of symmetry perception has intensified in the last two decades; however, the functional role of neural oscillations remains unclear. In previous work Makin et al. (2014, Journal of Vision, 14, 1-12) and Wright et al. (2015, Psychophysiology, 52, 638-647) examined occipital alpha event-related desynchronization (alpha ERD). It was concluded that alpha ERD is right lateralized during active regularity discrimination but not during a secondary task. Furthermore, alpha ERD was unaffected by stimulus properties, such as the type of regularity. These conclusions are refuted by new time-frequency analysis on an electroencephalography (EEG) data set first introduced by Makin et al. (2020, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 32, 353-366). We compared alpha ERD across five tasks. First, we found that right lateralization of alpha ERD was evident in all tasks, not just active regularity discrimination. This was caused by hemispheric differences in alpha power during prestimulus baseline (left < right), which equalized after stimulus onset (left = right). Second, we found that Alpha ERD increased with the proportion of symmetric elements in the image (PSYMM). Sensitivity to PSYMM was stronger on the right. These findings suggest that known extrastriate symmetry activations are accompanied by reduced alpha power.

Electrophysiological priming effects confirm that the extrastriate symmetry network is not gated by luminance polarity.

It is known that the extrastriate cortex is activated by visual symmetry. This activation generates an ERP component called the Sustained Posterior Negativity (SPN). SPN amplitude increases (i.e., becomes more negative) with repeated presentations. We exploited this SPN priming effect to test whether the extrastriate symmetry response is gated by element luminance polarity. On each trial, participants observed three stimuli (patterns of dots) in rapid succession (500 ms. with 200 ms. gaps). The patterns were either symmetrical or random. The dot elements were either black or white on a grey background. The triplet sequences either showed repeated luminance (black > black > black, or white > white > white) or changing luminance (black > white > black, or white > black > white). As predicted, SPN priming was comparable in repeated and changing luminance conditions. Therefore, symmetry with black elements is not processed independently from symmetry with white elements. Source waveform analysis confirmed that this priming happened within the extrastriate symmetry network. We conclude that the network pools information across luminance polarity channels.

Viral Perturbation of Alternative Splicing of a Host Transcript Benefits Infection.

Pathogens disturb alternative splicing patterns of infected eukaryotic hosts. However, in plants it is unknown if this is incidental to infection or represents a pathogen-induced remodeling of host gene expression needed to support infection. Here, we compared changes in transcription and protein accumulation with changes in transcript splicing patterns in maize (Zea mays) infected with the globally important pathogen sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). Our results suggested that changes in alternative splicing play a major role in determining virus-induced proteomic changes. Focusing on maize phytoene synthase1 (ZmPSY1), which encodes the key regulatory enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis, we found that although SCMV infection decreases total ZmPSY1 transcript accumulation, the proportion of splice variant T001 increases by later infection stages so that ZmPSY1 protein levels are maintained. We determined that ZmPSY1 has two leaf-specific transcripts, T001 and T003, distinguished by differences between the respective 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs). The shorter 3'-UTR of T001 makes it the more efficient mRNA. Nonsense ZmPSY1 mutants or virus-induced silencing of ZmPSY1 expression suppressed SCMV accumulation, attenuated symptoms, and decreased chloroplast damage. Thus, ZmPSY1 acts as a proviral host factor that is required for virus accumulation and pathogenesis. Taken together, our findings reveal that SCMV infection-modulated alternative splicing ensures that ZmPSY1 synthesis is sustained during infection, which supports efficient virus infection.

Neural underpinnings of value-guided choice during auction tasks: An eye-fixation related potentials study.

Values are attributed to goods during free viewing of objects which entails multi- and trans-saccadic cognitive processes. Using electroencephalographic eye-fixation related potentials, the present study investigated how neural signals related to value-guided choice evolved over time when viewing household and office products during an auction task. Participants completed a Becker-DeGroot-Marschak auction task whereby half of the stimuli were presented in either a free or forced bid protocol to obtain willingness-to-pay. Stimuli were assigned to three value categories of low, medium and high value based on subjective willingness-to-pay. Eye fixations were organised into five 800 ms time-bins spanning the objects total viewing time. Independent component analysis was applied to eye-fixation related potentials. One independent component (IC) was found to represent fixations for high value products with increased activation over the left parietal region of the scalp. An IC with a spatial maximum over a fronto-central region of the scalp coded the intermediate values. Finally, one IC displaying activity that extends over the right frontal scalp region responded to intermediate- and low-value items. Each of these components responded early on during viewing an object and remained active over the entire viewing period, both during free and forced bid trials. Results suggest that the subjective value of goods are encoded using sets of brain activation patterns which are tuned to respond uniquely to either low, medium, or high values. Data indicates that the right frontal region of the brain responds to low and the left frontal region to high values. Values of goods are determined at an early point in the decision making process and carried for the duration of the decision period via trans-saccadic processes.

Association of smoking with abdominal adipose deposition and muscle composition in Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) participants at mid-life: A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Smokers have lower risk of obesity, which some consider a "beneficial" side effect of smoking. However, some studies suggest that smoking is simultaneously associated with higher central adiposity and, more specifically, ectopic adipose deposition. Little is known about the association of smoking with intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), an ectopic adipose depot associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and a key determinant of muscle quality and function. We tested the hypothesis that smokers have higher abdominal IMAT and lower lean muscle quality than never smokers. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We measured abdominal muscle total, lean, and adipose volumes (in cubic centimeters) and attenuation (in Hounsfield units [HU]) along with subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volumes using computed tomography (CT) in 3,020 middle-aged Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) participants (age 42-58, 56.3% women, 52.6% white race) at the year 25 (Y25) visit. The longitudinal CARDIA study was initiated in 1985 with the recruitment of young adult participants (aged 18-30 years) equally balanced by female and male sex and black and white race at 4 field centers located in Birmingham, AL, Chicago, IL, Minneapolis, MN, and Oakland, CA. Multivariable linear models included potential confounders such as physical activity and dietary habits along with traditional CVD risk factors. Current smokers had lower BMI than never smokers. Nevertheless, in the fully adjusted multivariable model with potential confounders, including BMI and CVD risk factors, adjusted mean (95% CI) IMAT volume was 2.66 (2.55-2.76) cm3 in current smokers (n = 524), 2.36 (2.29-2.43) cm3 in former smokers (n = 944), and 2.23 (2.18-2.29) cm3 in never smokers (n = 1,552) (p = 0.007 for comparison of former versus never smoker, and p < 0.001 for comparison of current smoker versus never and former smoker). Moreover, compared to participants who never smoked throughout life (41.6 [41.3-41.9] HU), current smokers (40.4 [39.9-40.9] HU) and former smokers (40.8 [40.5-41.2] HU) had lower lean muscle attenuation suggesting lower muscle quality in the fully adjusted model (p < 0.001 for comparison of never smokers with either of the other two strata). Among participants who had ever smoked, pack-years of smoking exposure were directly associated with IMAT volume (ß [95% CI]: 0.017 [0.010-0.025]) (p < 0.001). Despite having less SAT, current smokers also had higher VAT/SAT ratio than never smokers. These findings must be viewed with caution as residual confounding and/or reverse causation may contribute to these associations. CONCLUSIONS: We found that, compared to those who never smoked, current and former smokers had abdominal muscle composition that was higher in adipose tissue volume, a finding consistent with higher CVD risk and age-related physical deconditioning. These findings challenge the belief that smoking-associated weight loss or maintenance confers a health benefit.