bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety and protection of plasma donors: A scoping review and evidence (gap) map
Authors: Schroyens Natalie , D’aes Tine , Buck Emmy De , Mikkelsen Susan , Tiberghien Pierre , van den Hurk Katja , Erikstrup Christian , Compernolle Veerle , Remoortel Hans Van
Published: July 2023

Background and objectives

As part of a large-scale European project aiming to safely increase plasma collection in Europe, the current scoping review identifies the existing evidence (gaps) on adverse events (AEs) and other health effects in plasmapheresis donors, as well as factors that may be associated with such events/effects.

Materials and methods

We searched 6 databases and 3 registries. Study characteristics (publication type and language, study design, population, outcomes, associated factors, time of assessment, duration of follow-up, number and frequency of donations within the study period, convalescent plasma (y/n), study setting, and location) were charted in duplicate and in consultation with a content expert group. Results were synthesized narratively and in an interactive evidence gap map (EGM).

Results

Ninety-four research articles and 5 registrations focused on AEs (n = 38) and/or other health effects (n = 77) in plasmapheresis donors. Around 90% were observational studies (57 controlled; 33 uncontrolled), and most of them were performed in Europe (55%) or the USA (20%). Factors studied in association with donor health included donor characteristics (e.g., sex, age) (n = 27), cumulative number of donations (n = 21), donation frequency (n = 11), plasma collection device or program (n = 11), donor status (first-time versus repeat) (n = 10), donation volume per session (n = 8), time in donation program (n = 3), preventive measures (n = 2), or other (n = 9).

Conclusion

The current scoping review and EGM provide accessible tools for researchers and policy-makers to identify the available evidence and existing research gaps concerning plasmapheresis donation safety. Controlled, prospective studies with long-term donor follow-up are scarce. Furthermore, additional experimental studies comparing the health effects of different donation frequencies are required to inform a safe upper limit for donation frequency.
COVID-19 Case and Mortality Surveillance using Daily SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater Samples adjusting for Meteorological Conditions and Sample pH
Authors: Abelson Samantha , Penso Johnathon , Alsuliman Bader , Babler Kristina , Sharkey Mark , Stevenson Mario , Grills George , Mason Christopher E. , Solo-Gabriele Helena , Kumar Naresh
Published: July 2023

Background

Wastewater monitoring is increasingly used for community surveillance of infectious diseases, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic as the genomic footprints of pathogens shed by infected individuals can be traced in the environment. However, detection and concentration of pathogens in the environmental samples and their efficacy in predicting infectious diseases can be influenced by meteorological conditions and quality of samples.

Objectives

This research examines whether meteorological conditions and sample pH affect SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in wastewater samples, and whether the association of SARS-CoV-2 with COVID-19 cases and mortality improves when adjusted for meteorological conditions and sample pH value in Miami-Dade County, FL.

Methods

Daily wastewater samples were collected from Miami-Dade Wastewater Treatment Plant in Key Biscayne, Florida from August 2021 to August 2022. The samples were analyzed for pH and spiked with OC43. RNA was extracted from the concentrated wastewater sample and SARS-CoV-2 was quantified using qPCR. COVID-19 and mortality data were acquired from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and meteorological data from the National Climatic Data Center. COVID-19 case and mortality rates were modelled with respect to time-lagged wastewater SARS-CoV-2 adjusting for meteorological conditions, and sample pH value and OC43 recovery.

Results

Temperature, dew point, pH values and OC43 recovery showed significant associations with wastewater SARS-CoV-2. Time-lagged wastewater SARS-CoV-2 showed significant associations with COVID-19 case and mortality incidence rates. This association improved when wastewater SARS-CoV-2 levels were adjusted for (or instrumented on) meteorological conditions, OC43 recovery, and sample pH. A 0.47% change in COVID-19 case incidence rate was associated with 1% change in wastewater SARS-CoV-2 (β ∼ 0.47; 95% CI = 0.29 – 0.64; p < 0.001). A 0.12 % change in COVID-19 mortality rate was associated with 1 % change in SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater 44 days prior. A 0.07% decline in COVID-19 mortality rate was associated with a unit increase in ambient temperature 28 days prior.

Discussion

Time lagged wastewater SARS-CoV-2 (and its adjustment for sample pH and RNA recovery) and meteorological conditions can be used for the surveillance of COVID-19 case and mortality. These findings can be extrapolated to improve the surveillance of other infectious diseases by proactive measurements of infectious agent(s) in the wastewater samples, adjusting for meteorological conditions and sample pH value.
Determining the importance of the stringent response for methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusvirulence using a zebrafish model of infection
Authors: Choudhury Naznin R. , Urwin Lucy , Salamaga Bartłomiej , Prince Lynne R. , Renshaw Stephen A. , Corrigan Rebecca M.
Published: July 2023

Staphylococcus aureusis a bacterial pathogen that poses a major threat to human health. The ability of this bacterium to adapt to stresses encountered in the host is essential for disease. The stringent response is a signalling pathway utilised by all bacteria to alarm cells when stressed, and has been linked to the virulence of a number of species. This signalling pathway is controlled by the nucleotide alarmones guanosine tetra-(ppGpp) and pentaphosphate (pppGpp: collectively termed (p)ppGpp), produced inS. aureusby three synthetase enzymes: Rel, RelP and RelQ. Here, we used a triple (p)ppGpp synthetase mutant ((p)ppGpp0) to examine the importance of this signalling network for the survival and virulence ofS. aureus in vivo. Using an established zebrafish larval infection model, we observed that infection with (p)ppGpp0resulted in attenuated virulence, which was not due to a reduced ability of the mutant to replicatein vivo. Of the three (p)ppGpp synthetases, Rel was established as key during infection, but roles for RelP and RelQ were also observed. Zebrafish myeloid cell depletion restored the virulence of (p)ppGpp0during systemic infection, indicating that (p)ppGpp is important for survival within host phagocytes. Primary macrophages infection studies, followed byin vitrotolerance assays to key innate immune effectors, demonstrated that (p)ppGpp0was more susceptible to stressors found within the intracellular macrophage environment, with roles for all three synthetases implicated. Lastly, the absence of CodY, a transcription factor linked to the stringent response, significantly increased the tolerance ofS. aureusto phagolysosomal-like stressorsin vitro, but had no impactin vivo. Taken together, these results define the importance of the stringent response forS. aureusinfection, revealing that (p)ppGpp produced by all three synthetases is required for bacterial survival within the host environment by mediating adaptation to the phagolysosome.
Hue selectivity from recurrent circuitry inDrosophila
Authors: Christenson Matthias P , Díez Álvaro Sanz , Heath Sarah L , Saavedra-Weisenhaus Maia , Adachi Atsuko , Abbott L.F. , Behnia Rudy
Published: July 2023

A universal principle of sensory perception is the progressive transformation of sensory information from broad non-specific signals to stimulus-selective signals that form the basis of perception. To perceive color, our brains must transform the wavelengths of light reflected off objects into the derived quantities of brightness, saturation and hue. Neurons responding selectively to hue have been reported in primate cortex, but it is unknown how their narrow tuning in color space is produced by upstream circuit mechanisms. To enable circuit level analysis of color perception, we here report the discovery of neurons in theDrosophilaoptic lobe with hue selective properties. Using the connectivity graph of the fly brain, we construct a connectomics-constrained circuit model that accounts for this hue selectivity. Unexpectedly, our model predicts that recurrent connections in the circuit are critical for hue selectivity. Experiments using genetic manipulations to perturb recurrence in adult flies confirms this prediction. Our findings reveal the circuit basis for hue selectivity in color vision.
reanalyzerGSE: tackling the everlasting lack of reproducibility and reanalyses in transcriptomics
Authors: Ruiz José L , Terrón-Camero Laura C , Castillo-González Julia , Fernández-Rengel Iván , Delgado Mario , Gonzalez-Rey Elena , Andrés-León Eduardo
Published: July 2023

In the current context of transcriptomics democratization, there is an unprecedented surge in the number of studies and datasets. However, advances are hampered by aspects such as the reproducibility crisis, and lack of standardization, in particular with scarce reanalyses of secondary data. reanalyzerGSE, is a user-friendly pipeline that aims to be an all-in-one automatic solution for locally available transcriptomic data and those found in public repositories, thereby encouraging data reuse. With its modular and expandable design, reanalyzerGSE combines cutting-edge software to effectively address simple and complex transcriptomic studies ensuring standardization, up to date reference genome, reproducibility, and flexibility for researchers.

Availability and implementation

The reanalyzerGSE open-source code and test data are freely available at bothhttps://github.com/BioinfoIPBLN/reanalyzerGSEand 10.5281/zenodo.XXXX under the GPL3 license.

Supplementary dataare available.
Feeding behaviour, species associations and natural diets of 10 Cyprinid fish species from South-West Sri Lanka
Authors: Kortmulder Koenraad , van der Wiele Peter
Published: July 2023

Sri Lanka has been a favored region for studies of fish assemblages in tropical streams. Food, habitats, reproduction and species segregation have been in focus. The present paper introduces a new approach, comparing feeding behavior of 10 indigenous cyprinid species as observed in aquaria under standardized conditions. It is found that species with similar feeding habits (as to substrate preferences and some characteristics of snapping and processing) are largely separated in their typical habitats in the wild. This conclusion is similar to what others, working with largely the same species in the same region, have found, namely that co-existing species differ in their food preferences. But our conclusion was arrived at independently on the basis of different data. Advantages of behavior studies in this context are discussed, such as identification of evolutionary adaptations in behavior and added information onwherein their common habitat co-occurring species collect certain food items that are commonly found in gut content analyses.
Eye lens organoids going simple: characterization of a new 3-dimensional organoid model for lens development and pathology
Authors: Duot Matthieu , Viel Roselyne , Viet Justine , Le Goff-Gaillard Catherine , Paillard Luc , Lachke Salil A. , Gautier-Courteille Carole , Reboutier David
Published: July 2023

The ocular lens, along with the cornea, focuses light on the retina to generate sharp images. Opacification of the lens, or cataract, is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Presently, the best approach for cataract treatment is to surgically remove the diseased lens and replace it with an artificial implant. Although effective, this is costly and can have post-surgical complications. Toward identifying alternate treatments, it is imperative to develop organoid models relevant for lens studies and anti-cataract drug screening. Here, we demonstrate that by culturing mouse lens epithelial cells under defined 3-dimensional (3D) culture conditions, it is possible to generate organoids that display optical properties and recapitulate many aspects of lens organization at the tissue, cellular and transcriptomic levels. These 3D cultured lens organoids can be rapidly produced in large amounts. High-throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) on specific organoid regions isolated by laser capture microdissection (LCM) and immunofluorescence assays demonstrate that these lens organoids display spatiotemporal expression of key lens genes,e.g.,Jag1,Pax6,Prox1,Hsf4andCryab. Further, these lens organoids are amenable to induction of opacities. Finally, knockdown of a cataract-linked RNA-binding protein encoding gene,Celf1, induces opacities in these organoids, indicating their use in rapidly screening for genes functionally relevant to lens biology and cataract. In sum, this lens organoid model represents a compelling new tool to advance the understanding of lens biology and pathology, and can find future use in the rapid screening of compounds aimed at preventing and/or treating cataract.
Unbiased counting of whole proteins with nanopores over the full dynamic range of a proteome: a computational study
Authors: Sampath G.
Published: July 2023

A computational model is presented for nanopore-based counting of intact single protein molecules in a sample regardless of the number of copies. It is based on measurable quantities and low detector bandwidths and can be applied to the full dynamic range of a proteome without the need for proteolysis or complex protein separation methods. Denatured unfolded whole protein molecules are assumed to translocate through a nanopore via electrophoresis and diffusion. A low solution pH helps keep the required detector bandwidth B in the 10-20 KHz range. An incremental Fokker-Planck drift-diffusion model is used to calculate two measurable quantities: 1) the total time (in the precision range set by B) for a protein to translocate through the pore, computed from the mean incremental translocation times of residues exiting the pore in succession; and 2) the volumes of protein segments inside the pore during translocation (used here as a proxy for the current blockade signal level) over alternate time blocks of width 1/2B. These are used to obtain volume-based string codes for each protein, substrings thereof as protein identifiers, and, if multiple copies are present, the copy number for a protein. This is a non-destructive single-molecule label-free alternative to mass spectrometry (MS) and other methods based on antibodies or optical tagging, it does not use any sequence identity information. Computational results are presented for the human proteome (Uniprot id UP000005640_9606; 20598 curated proteins). Total translocation times for the entire proteome (one copy per protein) are found to be in the tens of minutes. Over 80% of the proteome can be identified; higher percentages are possible by comparing whole proteins based on their string codes and total translocation times. Extrapolation of these results to a parallel 1000 pore array suggests that ∼109individual protein molecules can be counted in 15-20 hours.
Stand age diversity and climate change affects forests’ resilience and stability, although unevenly
Authors: Vangi Elia , Dalmonech Daniela , Cioccolo Elisa , Marano Gina , Bianchini Leonardo , Puchi Paulina F. , Grieco Elisa , Cescatti Alessandro , Colantoni Andrea , Chirici Gherardo , Collalti Alessio
Published: July 2023

Stand age significantly influences the functioning of forest ecosystems by shaping structural and physiological plant traits, affecting water and carbon budgets. Forest age distribution is determined by the interplay of tree mortality and regeneration, influenced by both natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Thus, human-driven alteration of tree age distribution presents an underexplored avenue for enhancing forest stability and resilience. In our study, we investigated how age distribution impacts the stability and resilience of the forest carbon budget under both current and future climate conditions. We employed a biogeochemical model on three historically managed forest stands, projecting their future as undisturbed systems, i.e., left at their natural evolution with no management interventions. The model, driven by climate data from five Earth System Models under four representative climate scenarios and one baseline scenario, spanned 11 age classes for each stand. Our findings indicate that Net Primary Production (NPP) peaks in the young and middle-aged classes (16- to 50-year-old), aligning with ecological theories, regardless of the climate scenario. Under climate change, the beech forest exhibited an increase in NPP and maintained stability across all age classes, while resilience remained constant with rising atmospheric CO2and temperatures. However, NPP declined under climate change scenarios for the Norway spruce and Scots pine sites. In these coniferous forests, stability and resilience were more influenced. These results underscore the necessity of accounting for age classes and species-specific reactions in evaluating the impacts of climate change on forest stability and resilience. We, therefore, advocate for customized management strategies that enhance the adaptability of forests to changing climatic conditions, taking into account the diverse responses of different species and age groups to climate.
Endocytosis Inhibitors Block SARS-CoV-2 Pseudoparticle Infection of Mink Lung Epithelium
Authors: Song Ann , Phandthong Rattapol , Talbot Prue
Published: July 2023

Both spill over and spill back of SARS-CoV-2 virus have been reported on mink farms in Europe and the United States. Zoonosis is a public health concern as dangerous mutated forms of the virus could be introduced into the human population through spillback. The purpose of our study was to determine the SARS-CoV-2 entry mechanism using mink lung epithelial cell line (Mv1Lu) and to block entry with drug inhibitors. Mv1Lu cells were susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 viral pseudoparticle infection, validating them as a suitable disease model for COVID-19. Inhibitors of TMPRSS2 and of endocytosis, two pathways of viral entry, were tested to identify those that blocked infection. Dyngo4a, a small molecule endocytosis inhibitor, significantly reduced infection, while TMPRSS2 inhibitors had minimal impact, supporting the conclusion that the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into Mv1Lu cells occurs primarily through endocytosis. The small molecule inhibitors that were effective in this study could potentially be used therapeutically to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in mink populations. This study will facilitate the development of therapeutics to prevent zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants to other animals, including humans.
Mechanical stress combines with planar polarised patterning during metaphase to orient embryonic epithelial cell divisions
Authors: Blanchard Guy B. , Scarpa Elena , Muresan Leila , Sanson Bénédicte
Published: July 2023

The orientation of cell division (OCD) in the plane of epithelia drives tissue morphogenesis and relaxes stresses, with errors leading to pathologies. Stress anisotropy, cell elongation and planar polarisation can all contribute to the OCD, but it is unclear how these interactin vivo.

In the planar polarisedDrosophilaembryonic ectoderm during axis elongation, planar OCD is highly variable. We show that both a temporary reversal of tissue stress anisotropy and local compression from neighbouring dividing cells re-orient mitotic spindles during metaphase, independently of interphase cell elongation. Isotropic cells align their OCD to the anterior-posterior (AP) embryonic axis, mediated by tissue-wide planar polarised Myosin II, while the spindle of elongated cells is sterically constrained to cell long axes.

Thus AP-patterning ensures that cell division combines with cell rearrangement to extend the body axis, except when strong local stress anisotropy is dissipated by cells dividing according to their elongation.
Structural basis for auto-inhibition and activation of a short prokaryotic Argonaute associated TIR-APAZ defense system
Authors: Guo Lijie , Huang Pingping , Li Zhaoxin , Shin Young-Cheul , Yan Purui , Lu Meiling , Chen Meirong , Xiao Yibei
Published: July 2023

Short prokaryotic Ago accounts for most prokaryotic Argonaute (pAgo) and is involved in defending bacteria against invading nucleic acids. Short prokaryotic Ago associated with APAZ-TIR (SPARTA) has been shown to oligomerize and deplete NAD+upon guide-mediated target DNA recognition. However, the molecular basis of SPARTA inhibition and activation remains unknown. Here we determine the cryo-EM structures ofCrenotalea thermophilaSPARTA in its inhibited, transient, as well as activated states. The SPARTA is auto-inhibited by its acidic tail, which occupies the guide-target binding channel. Guide mediated target binding expels this acidic tail and triggers substantial conformational changes to expose Ago-Ago dimerization interface. As a result, SPARTA assembles into an active TIR-APAZ4/short Ago4octamer, where the four TIR domains are rearranged and packed to form NADase active sites. Together with biochemical evidence, our results provide a panoramic vision explaining SPARTA auto-inhibition and activation, and expand understanding of pAgo mediated bacterial defense systems.
Collaborative Cross mice have diverse phenotypic responses to infection with Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusUSA300
Authors: Nagarajan Aravindh , Scoggin Kristin , Gupta Jyotsana , Aminian Manuchehr , Garry Adams L. , Kirby Michael , Threadgill David , Andrews-Polymenis Helene
Published: July 2023

Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) is an opportunistic pathogen causing diseases ranging from mild skin infections to life threatening conditions, including endocarditis, pneumonia, and sepsis. To identify host genes modulating this host-pathogen interaction, we infected 25 Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse strains with methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) and monitored disease progression for seven days using a surgically implanted telemetry system. CC strains varied widely in their response to intravenous MRSA infection. We identified eight ‘susceptible’ CC strains with high bacterial load, tissue damage, and reduced survival. Among the surviving strains, six with minimal colonization were classified as ‘resistant’, while the remaining six tolerated higher organ colonization (‘tolerant’). The kidney was the most heavily colonized organ, but liver, spleen and lung colonization were better correlated with reduced survival. Resistant strains had higher pre-infection circulating neutrophils and lower post-infection tissue damage compared to susceptible and tolerant strains. We identified four CC strains with sexual dimorphism: all females survived the study period while all males met our euthanasia criteria earlier. In these CC strains, males had more baseline circulating monocytes and red blood cells. We identified several CC strains that may be useful as new models for endocarditis, myocarditis, pneumonia, and resistance to MRSA infection. Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) analysis identified two significant loci, on Chromosomes 18 and 3, involved in early susceptibility and late survival after infection. We prioritizedNpc1andIfi44lgenes as the strongest candidates influencing survival using variant analysis and mRNA expression data from kidneys within these intervals.

Author Summary

Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusis a human opportunistic pathogen that can cause life-threatening diseases. To study the influence of host genetics on the outcome of MRSA infection, we infected a collection of genetically diverse mice. We identified different phenotypes for survival, organ colonization, and tissue damage, and classified CC strains into MRSA susceptible, tolerant, and resistant categories. We identified several parameters that correlated with these phenotypes. Four CC strains exhibited strong sexual dimorphism in infection outcome: females lived longer, and males had higher baseline circulating monocytes and red blood cells. Several of the CC strains we characterize may represent better animal models for diseases caused by MRSA. QTL analysis identified two genes,Npc1andIfi44l, as strong candidates for involvement in early susceptibility and late survival after MRSA infection. Our data suggests a strong involvement of host genetics in MRSA infection outcome.
Cotton Microbiome Profiling and Cotton Leaf Curl Disease (CLCuD) Suppression through Microbial Consortia associated withGossypium arboreum
Authors: Aqueel Rhea , Badar Ayesha , Roy Nazish , Mushtaq Qandeel , Ali Aimen Fatima , Bashir Aftab , Ijaz Umer Zeeshan , Malik Kauser Abdulla
Published: July 2023

The failure of breeding strategies has caused scientists to shift to other means where the new approach involves exploring the microbiome to modulate plant defense mechanisms against CLCuD. The cotton microbiome of CLCuD-resistant varieties may harbor a multitude of bacterial genera that significantly contribute to disease resistance and provide information on metabolic pathways that differ between the susceptible and resistant varieties. The current study aimed to explore the microbiome of CLCuD-susceptibleGossypium hirsutumand CLCuD-resistantGossypium arboreum. Microbial community surveys performed using 16S rRNA gene amplification revealed thatPseudomonasinhabited the rhizosphere whileBacilluswas predominantly found in the phyllosphere of CLCuV-tolerantG. arboreum. The study was done for the leaf endophyte, leaf epiphyte, rhizosphere, and root endophyte of the two cotton species. Furthermore, our disease incidence assay using pot experiments has revealed mechanistic insights through salicylic acid-producingSerratia spp. andFictibacillus spp. isolated from CLCuD-resistantG. arboreum, which exhibited viral disease suppression and induced systemic resistance in CLCuD susceptibleG. hirsutum.
Ventral pallidum GABA and glutamate neurons drive approach and avoidance through distinct modulation of VTA cell types
Authors: Faget Lauren , Oriol Lucie , Lee Wen-Chun , Sargent Cody , Ramanathan Dhakshin , Hnasko Thomas S.
Published: July 2023

The ventral pallidum (VP) contains GABA and glutamate (Glut) neurons projecting to ventral tegmental area (VTA) whose stimulation drives approach and avoidance, respectively. Yet little is known about the cell-type-specific mechanisms by which VP projections to VTA drive behavior. Here, we found that both VP GABA and Glut neurons were activated during approach to reward or delivery of an aversive stimulus. Stimulation of VP GABA neurons inhibited VTA GABA, but activated dopamine (DA) and glutamate neurons. Remarkably, this cell-type-specific recruitment was behavior-contingent such that VTA recruitment was inhibited when evoked by the subject’s own action. Conversely, VP Glut neurons activated VTA GABA, as well as DA and Glut neurons, despite driving aversion. However, VP Glut neurons evoked DA in reward-associated ventromedial nucleus accumbens (NAc), but reduced DA in aversion-associated dorsomedial NAc. These findings show how heterogeneous VP cell types can engage VTA cell types to shape approach and avoidance behaviors.

HIGHLIGHTS

VP GABA and Glut neurons are activated by approach to reward and aversive stimuli

VP GABA and Glut neurons oppositely affect VTA GABA, both activate VTA DA and Glut

VP Glut neurons activate DA release in ventral NAc but inhibit DA from dorsal NAc

VTA DA responses to VP GABA activity are inhibited by the subject’s own action
Cortical timescales and the modular organization of structural and functional brain networks
Authors: Lurie Daniel J. , Pappas Ioannis , D’Esposito Mark
Published: July 2023

Recent years have seen growing interest in characterizing the properties of regional brain dynamics and their relationship to other features of brain structure and function. In particular, multiple studies have observed regional differences in the “timescale” over which activity fluctuates during periods of quiet rest. In the cerebral cortex, these timescales have been associated with both local circuit properties as well as patterns of inter-regional connectivity, including the extent to which each region exhibits widespread connectivity to other brain areas. In the current study, we build on prior observations of an association between connectivity and dynamics in the cerebral cortex by investigating the relationship between BOLD fMRI timescales and the modular organization of structural and functional brain networks. We characterize network community structure across multiple scales and find that longer timescales are associated with greater within-community functional connectivity and diverse structural connectivity. We also replicate prior observations of a positive correlation between timescales and structural connectivity degree. Finally, we find evidence for preferential functional connectivity between cortical areas with similar timescales. We replicate these findings in an independent dataset. These results contribute to our understanding of functional brain organization and structure-function relationships in the human brain, and support the notion that regional differences in cortical dynamics may in part reflect the topological role of each region within macroscale brain networks.
A Scoping Review of Approaches for the Detection and Management of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia in Primary Care
Authors: Khan Abdullah Zafar , McCombe Geoff , McErlean Sarah , Ledwidge Mark , Brett Tom , Cullen Walter , Gallagher Joe
Published: July 2023

Background

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a genetic condition characterised by a lifelong elevation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). FH is one of the most common genetic diseases, with an estimated global prevalence of 1 in 250 individuals. However, it is both underdiagnosed and undertreated. Primary care can be a valuable asset for the opportunistic detection and management of FH.

Aim

To examine the employed strategies for improving the detection and management of FH in a primary care setting.

Method

Six electronic databases (PubMed, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Scopus) were searched from May – June 2022 for papers published in English following Arksey and O’Malley’s six-stage scoping review process.

Results

The initial search identified 1401 articles and a total of 30 studies were included in this review. A diverse range of methods have been studied for improving identification of FH. Three studies examined reduction in patient LDL-c levels from management in primary care. Two thirds of the studies with primary care management had a significant reduction in patient LDL-c levels.

Conclusion

The lack of consistency across the diagnostic criteria and the low number of studies addressing the reduction of patient LDL-c levels are major features of this review. Further research should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the approaches for improving the detection and management of adult patients with FH in a primary care setting.
The reward system plays a role in natural story comprehension
Authors: Kobo Oren , Yeshurun Yaara , Schonberg Tom
Published: July 2023

Prediction is a fundamental process that spans most facets of human cognition and is one of the most essential aspects of efficient language processing. At the same time, prediction plays a critical role in reward processing. Nevertheless, the exploration of the involvement of the reward system during language processing has not yet been directly tested. Here, we investigated the role of reward-processing regions while listening to a natural story. In a pre-registered study, we utilized a published dataset in which half of the participants listened to a natural story and the others listened to a scrambled version of it. We compared the functional MRI signals in the reward system between these conditions and discovered a unique pattern that differentiates between them. This suggests that the reward system is activated during the comprehension of natural stories. We also found that the fMRI signals in reward areas are related to the predictability level of processed sentences and that the system might be involved in higher predictability during the processing of a natural story.
Rapid plant-to-plant systemic signaling via aCuscutabridge
Authors: Fichman Yosef , Peláez-Vico María Ángeles , Mudalige Asha Kaluwella , Lee Hyun-Oh , Mittler Ron , Park So-Yon
Published: July 2023

Cuscuta, commonly known as dodder, is a parasitic plant that thrives by attaching itself to the stems of other plants. It is found across the globe and is notorious for obstructing crop growth as a weed. Over the past decade,Cuscutahas been used to gain insights into plant-plant interactions and molecular trafficking. Here, we report that two plants connected via aCuscutabridge can exchange rapid systemic calcium, electric, and reactive oxygen species signals. These findings suggest that plant interactions with Cuscuta may have beneficial effects to plants, enabling them to rapidly communicate with each other.
Trafficking Machinery is Rapidly Primed to Facilitate Polarised IL-6 Secretion in Dendritic Cells
Authors: Warner Harry , Chen Tongxiang , Mahajan Shweta , Beest Martin ter , Linders Peter , Franciosa Giulia , Bianchi Frans , van den Bogaart Geert
Published: July 2023

The mounting of an adaptive immune response is critical for removing pathogens from the body and generating immunological memory. Central to this process are myeloid cells, which sense pathogens through a variety of cell surface receptors, engulf and destroy pathogens and become activated. Activation is essential for the release of cytokines as well as the cell-surface presentation of pathogen-derived-antigens. Activation-induced cytokine release by myeloid cells requires a complex series of molecular events to facilitate cytokine expression. However, although the transcriptional machinery regulating cytokine expression is well defined, it is becoming increasingly clear that trafficking machinery has to be re-programmed through post-translational modifications to dynamically regulate cytokine secretory events. We demonstrate through quantitative total internal-resonance fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy that short-term stimulation with the pathogenic stimulus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is sufficient to up-regulate IL-6 secretion rates in human blood monocyte-derived dendritic cells and that this secretion is asymmetric and thus polarised. Using bioinformatics analysis of our phosphoproteomic data, we demonstrate that LPS stimulation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells rapidly reprograms SNARE-associated membrane trafficking machinery, through phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events. Finally, we link this enhanced rate of secretion to the phosphorylation of the SNARE protein VAMP3 at serine 44 (48 in mice), by showing that this phosphorylation drives the release of VAMP3 by its chaperone WDFY2 and the complexing of VAMP3 with STX4 at the plasma membrane.
Structure and DNA-bridging activity of the essential Rec114–Mei4 trimer interface
Authors: Liu Kaixian , Grasso Emily M. , Pu Stephen , Zou Mengyang , Liu Shixin , Eliezer David , Keeney Scott
Published: July 2023

The DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that initiate meiotic recombination are formed by an evolutionarily conserved suite of factors that includes Rec114 and Mei4 (RM), which regulate DSB formation both spatially and temporally. In vivo, these proteins form large immunostaining foci that are integrated with higher-order chromosome structures. In vitro, they form a 2:1 heterotrimeric complex that binds cooperatively to DNA to form large, dynamic condensates. However, understanding of the atomic structures and dynamic DNA binding properties of RM complexes is lacking. Here, we report a structural model of a heterotrimeric complex of the C terminus of Rec114 with the N terminus of Mei4, supported by nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. This minimal complex, which lacks the predicted intrinsically disordered region of Rec114, is sufficient to bind DNA and form condensates. Single-molecule experiments reveal that the minimal complex can bridge two or more DNA duplexes and can generate force to condense DNA through long-range interactions. AlphaFold2 predicts similar structural models for RM orthologs across diverse taxa despite their low degree of sequence similarity. These findings provide insight into the conserved networks of protein–protein and protein–DNA interactions that enable condensate formation and promote formation of meiotic DSBs.
Service innovation research: a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer
Authors: Kumar Rajeev , Saxena Shubham , Kumar Vikas , Prabha Vineet , Kumar Rohit , Kukreti Ankur
Published: July 2023

Purpose

“The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on service innovation during the past two decades and provide an analysis of sources of publication, citations and authorship using bibliometric analysis techniques (VOSviewer).” This paper aims to assesses the important trends, enhance the academic debate, identify research gaps and propose future directions and a research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines 176 articles in English language published from 2002 to 2022 from the Scopus database by adopting the bibliometric technique using VOSviewer software. This paper analyzes the different levels and boundaries of service innovation using bibliometric analysis of “service innovation research” using VOSviewer software. The methodology analyzes the number of citations, co-citations, keywords, authors, journals and countries.

Findings

The review of the past 20 years indicates a substantial growth in the number of good research publications on service innovation. The UK, the USA, Sweden and Australia dominate this research area with the most articles published to date under the subject area of “Business management.” The review highlighted that most of the studies on service innovation focused on products, companies and processes in the services industry. The most critical factors behind service innovation failure are improper management and lack of knowledge. The citation analysis revealed various research implications and directions for the future.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses only on service innovation and excludes research on performance management and control. Thus, future studies may explore this area of research in future studies. Only research articles were analyzed; conference papers, reports, manuals and white papers from practice were excluded. Research implications indicate that future studies on service innovation would be essential for organizational excellence, not process excellence.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and essential trends of research on service innovation. This study identifies the research gaps and provides a clear research agenda for understanding the various elements of service innovation.
Adopting a gender quota policy in Qatar: a path to gender equity
Authors: Lari Noora
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Societal barriers continue to cause gender disparities in women’s share of political authority. As a representative case study for the Arab Gulf region, this paper aims to investigate public opinion on adopting a nationwide quota for women’s participation in top government offices in the Qatar context. It gathers insights on the following question: How does public opinion respond to a proposed new political arrangement of implementing gender quota laws in Qatar?

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via a national telephone survey of a representative sample of 660 Qatari nationals chosen by simple random sampling. A regression analysis was performed for the primary outcome: support for a gender quota system that guarantees a specific proportion of places for women in the government and executive positions.

Findings

Unsurprisingly, the findings reveal gender variations in support for the three distinct types of egalitarian policy examined (i.e. a quota for women in top government positions; a quota for women in executive positions in public ministries; and equal wages), with women being more supportive than men.

Research limitations/implications

Assessing the public attitudes toward adopting legislative gender quotas is of interest to policy-makers and civil organizations alike that seek to advance women’s political status and democratic representation.

Originality/value

This study is among the very few to empirically examine public opinion on quotas as state-directed initiatives to promote the involvement of women in political power in Qatar.
The effect of innovation on competitive advantage and SMEs performance in Vietnam: the moderating role of customer orientation
Authors: D.P. Tran Khanh , Vo T.N. Thuy , Thai N.B. Tram
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out how absorptive capacity (AC), leadership capacity (LC) and government support (GS) affect small and medium enterprises (SMEs) innovation (product innovation [PDI], process innovation [PCI] and distribution channel innovation [DCI]), taking into consideration the role of innovation (PDI, PCI and DCI) on competitive advantage and SMEs performance and the moderating role of customer orientation (CO).

Design/methodology/approach

This study gives a theoretical model tested using structural equation modeling. The information used to test the hypotheses came from interviews with the top managers of Vietnam’s SMEs. The 633 survey respondents from the southern part of Vietnam were chosen for the study. The goal of the 47-item questionnaire is to look at how all variables relate to each other.

Findings

The results show that a firm’s LC has the most significant impact on innovation, followed by its AC and GS. According to the study, DCI does not lead to competitive advantage but improves SMEs’ performance. In addition, the study’s findings indicate that CO moderates the relationship between PDI – SMEs performance and DCI – SMEs performance.

Research limitations/implications

The classification of only three types of innovation (PDI, PCI and DCI) restricted the applicability of the research to other kinds of innovation in SMEs. Second, only AC, LC and GS are identified in this study as external factors that influence business innovation. In this study, the authors have not studied different business industries; the authors recommend that the research in the back on SMEs should investigate their classification into distinct industry groups, including agricultural, forestry and marine products; industry and construction; and commerce and services.

Practical implications

This study shows the importance of innovation senior management for innovation in SMEs. This study found that innovation, especially continuous innovation, increased competitive advantage and SMEs performance. Companies that wish to innovate must have access to external resources and support. Moreover, enterprises must comprehend their consumers’ wants to achieve innovation and better SMEs’ performance.

Social implications

This research significantly contributes to enterprise innovation and operational efficiency for the sustainable development of SMEs in Vietnam. It is expected to enhance employment opportunities, maintain social stability and expand Vietnam’s gross domestic product.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the growing knowledge of the indirect and direct effects, the mediating function of innovation (PDI, PCI and DCI) on competitive advantage and SMEs performance and the moderating effect of CO.
Integrated Green Lean Six Sigma-Industry 4.0 approach to combat COVID-19: from literature review to framework development
Authors: Kaswan Mahender Singh , Rathi Rajeev , Antony Jiju , Cross Jennifer , Garza-Reyes Jose Arturo , Singh Mahipal , Preet Singh Inder , Sony Michael
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a surge in demand for health-care facilities, medicines, vaccines and other health-care items. The purpose of this study is to investigate different facets of integrated Green Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0 approach in the context of COVID-19 for better healthcare management. Integrating Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has the potential to meet the modern demand of health-care units and also leads to improving the quality of inpatient care with better safety, hygiene and real-time diagnoses. A systematic review has been conducted to determine the tools/techniques, challenges, application areas and potential benefits for the adoption of an integrated GLSS-I4.0 approach within health-care facilities from the perspective of COVID management. Further, a conceptual framework of integrated GLSS-I4.0 has been proposed for better COVID management.

Design/methodology/approach

To conduct the literature review, the authors used the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis and covers relevant papers from the arrival of COVID-19. Based on the systematic understanding of the different facets of the integrated GLSS-I4.0 approach and through insights of experts (academicians and health-care personnel), a conceptual framework is proposed to combat COVID-19 for better detection, prevention and cure.

Findings

The systematic review presented here provides different avenues to comprehend the different facets of the integrated GLSS-I4.0 approach in different areas of COVID health-care management. In this study, the proposed framework reveals that the Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence are the major constituents of I4.0 technologies that lead to better COVID management. Moreover, integration of I4.0 with GLSS aids during different stages of the COVID management, right from diagnosis, manufacture of items and inpatient and outpatient care of the affected person.

Practical implications

This study provides a significant knowledge database to the practitioners by understanding different tools and techniques of an integrated approach for better COVID management. Moreover, the proposed framework aids to grab day-to-day information from the affected people and ensures reduced hospital stay with better space utilization and the creation of a healthy environment around the patient. This inclusive implementation of the proposed framework will enhance knowledge base in medical areas and provides different novel prospects to combat other medical urgencies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to review different facets of the integrated GLSS-I4.0 approach with a view of the COVID health-care perspective and provides a conceptual framework.