bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disentangling “Bayesian brain” theories of autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Schneebeli Maya , Haker Helene , Rüesch Annia , Zahnd Nicole , Marino Stephanie , Paolini Gina , Iglesias Sandra , Petzschner Frederike H. , Stephan Klaas Enno
Published: February 2022

Background

Bayesian theories of perception have provided a variety of alternative mechanistic explanations for autistic symptoms, including (1) overprecise sensations, (2) imprecise priors, (3) inflexible priors, and (4) altered hierarchical learning. Here, we designed a set of experiments to systematically test predictions from each of the four hypotheses in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods

Two versions of a two-alternative forced-choice (2AFC) random dot motion task were developed to disentangle the influence of sensory inputs and prior expectations and test implications of the four Bayesian hypotheses. Using a cross-sectional observational study design, behavioural data were obtained from participants with autism spectrum disorder (N=47) and a control group (N=50). Analyses used mixed effects models and a drift diffusion model.

Results

Contrary to the sensory overprecision hypothesis, individuals with ASD did not differ from controls in performance or parameter estimates during the perceptual 2AFC task. When adding cues to the task, individuals with ASD profited less from this prior information than controls, as predicted by the imprecise prior hypothesis. However, individuals with ASD were still able to update their initial priors, contradicting the inflexible prior hypothesis. Finally, in line with the hierarchical learning hypothesis, volatility differentially modulated expectation effects, exerting a significantly smaller effect in the ASD group compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Our findings support two mutually compatible alterations of perception in ASD (imprecise priors and, to a lesser degree, altered hierarchical learning). By contrast, they are not compatible with the notions of sensory overprecision and inflexible priors.
Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the SARS-COV-2-Delta (B.1.617.2) in China-A Real World Study
Authors: Ma Xinge , Han Jianfeng , Li Hongxia , Liu Chang
Published: February 2022

Abstracts

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delta (B.1.617.2) variant is highly transmissible and has contributed to a surge in cases globally. This study aimed to explore the potential of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) variant in China.

Methods

In this real-world study, all data were extracted from Xi’an Chest Hospital. Confirmed cases infected with Delta VOC with exact date of positive viral testing were included for analysis. Patients meeting the study criteria were divided into unvaccinated and partially vaccinated (one dose), full vaccinated (two doses), and booster vaccination of COVID-19.

Results

A total of 455 cases were enrolled in this study. Proportion of severe and critical cases in full vaccinated cases (1.82%) and cases with booster vaccination (1.35%) of COVID-19 were much lower than that of unvaccinated and partially vaccinated cases (8.16%). In addition, cases with booster vaccination (12.78 days) and full vaccinated cases (12.59 days) showed shorter duration of viral shedding than that in unvaccinated and partially vaccinated cases (13.87 days).

Conclusion

This is the first real world study indicating that Covid-19 vaccines showed much powerful effectiveness against the SARS-COV-2-Delta (B.1.617.2) in China, including lowing the proportion of severe illness and shorting the virus shedding time.
Duration of protection of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in Qatar
Authors: Chemaitelly Hiam , Ayoub Houssein H. , AlMukdad Sawsan , Tang Patrick , Hasan Mohammad R. , Yassine Hadi M. , Khatib Hebah A. Al , Smatti Maria K. , Coyle Peter , Kanaani Zaina Al , Kuwari Einas Al , Jeremijenko Andrew , Kaleeckal Anvar Hassan , Latif Ali Nizar , Shaik Riyazuddin Mohammad , Rahim Hanan F. Abdul , Nasrallah Gheyath K. , Al Kuwari Mohamed Ghaith , Butt Adeel A. , Romaihi Hamad Eid Al , Al-Thani Mohamed H. , Khal Abdullatif Al , Bertollini Roberto , Abu-Raddad Laith J.
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Qatar has been experiencing a large SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) wave that started on December 19, 2021. We assessed duration of protection of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccines after second dose and after third/booster dose against symptomatic Omicron infection and against COVID-19 hospitalization and death, between December 23, 2021 and February 2, 2022.

METHODS

Vaccine effectiveness was estimated using the test-negative, case-control study design, applying the same methodology used earlier to assess waning of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 effectiveness in the same population during earlier infection waves.

RESULTS

BNT162b2 effectiveness against symptomatic Omicron infection was highest at 61.9% (95% CI: 49.9-71.1%) in the first month after the second dose, but then gradually declined and was at 10% or less starting from the 5th month after the second dose. After the booster, effectiveness rapidly rebounded to peak at about 55% between 2-5 weeks after the booster, but then started to decline again thereafter. Effectiveness against severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19 was maintained at >70% after the second dose and at >90% after the booster with no evidence for declining effectiveness over time. mRNA-1273 effectiveness against symptomatic Omicron infection was highest at 44.8% (95% CI: 16.0-63.8%) in the first three months after the second dose, before gradually declining to negligible levels thereafter. After the booster, effectiveness rapidly rebounded to peak at about 55% between 2-5 weeks after the booster, but then declined again thereafter. Effectiveness against severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19 was high at >60% after the second dose and at >80% after the booster, but the confidence intervals were wide owing to the small number of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines show a similar level and pattern of protection against symptomatic Omicron infection. Protection against Omicron is lower than that against Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants, and wanes more rapidly than against earlier variants after the second and booster doses. Meanwhile, protection against hospitalization and death appears robust and durable after both the second and booster doses.
Dopaminergic medication increases motivation to exert cognitive control by reducing subjective effort costs in Parkinson’s patients
Authors: Bogdanov Mario , LoParco Sophia , Otto A. Ross , Sharp Madeleine
Published: February 2022

Engaging in demanding mental activities requires the allocation of cognitive control, which can be effortful and aversive. Individuals thus tend to avoid exerting cognitive effort if less demanding behavioral options are available. Recent accounts propose a key role for dopamine in motivating behavior by increasing the sensitivity to rewards associated with effort exertion. Whether dopamine additionally plays a specific role in modulating the sensitivity to the costs of cognitive effort, even in the absence of any incentives, is much less clear. To address this question, we assessed cognitive effort avoidance in patients (n = 38) with Parkinson’s disease, a condition characterized by loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, both ON and OFF dopaminergic medication and compared them to healthy controls (n = 24). Effort avoidance was assessed using the Demand Selection Task (DST), in which participants could freely choose between performing a high-demand or a low-demand version of a task-switching paradigm. Critically, participants were not offered any incentives to choose the more effortful option, nor for good performance. Healthy controls and patients OFF their dopaminergic medications preferred the low-demand option, in keeping with the tendency to avoid effort on this task previously demonstrated in young adults. In contrast, patients ON dopaminergic medications displayed significantly less effort avoidance than when they were OFF medications. This change in preference could not be explained by differences in task-switching performance or the patients’ ability to detect the different levels of cognitive demand in the DST. Our findings provide evidence that dopamine replacement in Parkinson’s patients increases the willingness to engage in cognitively demanding behavior, even in the absence of any clear benefits. These results suggest that dopamine plays a role in reducing the sensitivity to effort costs that is independent of its role in enhancing the sensitivity to the benefits of effort exertion.
Evaluation of a Rapid and Accessible RT-qPCR Approach for SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Identification
Authors: Yeung Priscilla S.-W. , Wang Hannah , Sibai Mamdouh , Solis Daniel , Yamamoto Fumiko , Iwai Naomi , Jiang Becky , Hammond Nathan , Truong Bernadette , Bihon Selamawit , Santos Suzette , Mar Marilyn , Mai Claire , Mfuh Kenji O. , Miller Jacob A. , Huang ChunHong , Sahoo Malaya K. , Zehnder James L. , Pinsky Benjamin A.
Published: February 2022

The ability to distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) is of ongoing interest due to differences in transmissibility, response to vaccination, clinical prognosis, and therapy. Although detailed genetic characterization requires whole-genome sequencing (WGS), targeted nucleic acid amplification tests can serve a complementary role in clinical settings, as they are more rapid and accessible than sequencing in most laboratories.

We designed and analytically validated a two-reaction multiplex reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay targeting spike protein mutations L452R, E484K, and N501Y in Reaction 1, and del69-70, K417N, and T478K in Reaction 2. This assay had 95-100% agreement with WGS in 502 upper respiratory swabs collected between April 26 and August 1, 2021, consisting of 43 Alpha, 2 Beta, 20 Gamma, 378 Delta, and 59 non-VOC infections. Validation in a separate group of 230 WGS-confirmed Omicron variant samples collected in December 2021 and January 2022 demonstrated 100% agreement.

This RT-qPCR-based approach can be implemented in clinical laboratories already performing SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests to assist in local epidemiological surveillance and clinical decision-making.
Antibody Evasion Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Sublineages
Authors: Iketani Sho , Liu Lihong , Guo Yicheng , Liu Liyuan , Huang Yiming , Wang Maple , Luo Yang , Yu Jian , Yin Michael T. , Sobieszczyk Magdalena E. , Huang Yaoxing , Wang Harris H. , Sheng Zizhang , Ho David D.
Published: February 2022

The identification of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529.1 or BA.1) of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) in Botswana in November 20211 immediately raised alarms due to the sheer number of mutations in the spike glycoprotein that could lead to striking antibody evasion. We2 and others3–6 recently reported results in this Journal confirming such a concern. Continuing surveillance of Omicron evolution has since revealed the rise in prevalence of two sublineages, BA.1 with an R346K mutation (BA.1+R346K) and B.1.1.529.2 (BA.2), with the latter containing 8 unique spike mutations while lacking 13 spike mutations found in BA.1. We therefore extended our studies to include antigenic characterization of these new sublineages. Polyclonal sera from patients infected by wild-type SARS-CoV-2 or recipients of current mRNA vaccines showed a substantial loss in neutralizing activity against both BA.1+R346K and BA.2, with drops comparable to that already reported for BA.12,3,5,6. These findings indicate that these three sublineages of Omicron are antigenically equidistant from the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and thus similarly threaten the efficacies of current vaccines. BA.2 also exhibited marked resistance to 17 of 19 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies tested, including S309 (sotrovimab)7, which had retained appreciable activity against BA.1 and BA.1+R346K2–4,6. This new finding shows that no presently approved or authorized monoclonal antibody therapy could adequately cover all sublineages of the Omicron variant.
Transcriptome Mining Reveals a Spectrum of RNA Viruses in Primitive Plants
Authors: Mifsud Jonathon C.O. , Gallagher Rachael V. , Holmes Edward C. , Geoghegan Jemma L.
Published: February 2022

Current knowledge of plant viruses stems largely from those affecting economically important plants. Yet, plant species in cultivation represent a small and bias subset of the plant kingdom. Here, we describe virus diversity and abundance from a survey of 1079 transcriptomes from species across the breadth of the plant kingdom (Archaeplastida) by analysing open-source data from the One Thousand Plant Transcriptomes Initiative (1KP). We identified 104 potentially novel viruses, of which 40% comprised single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses across eight orders, including members of the Hepelivirales, Tymovirales, Cryppavirales, Martellivirales and Picornavirales. One-third of the newly described viruses comprised double-stranded RNA viruses from the orders Durnavirales and Ghabrivirales. The remaining were negative-sense RNA viruses from the Rhabdoviridae, Aspiviridae, Yueviridae, Phenuiviridae and the newly proposed Viridisbunyaviridae. Our analysis considerably expands the known host range of 13 virus families to include lower plants (e.g., Benyviridae and Secoviridae) and four virus families to include algae hosts (e.g., Tymoviridae and Chrysoviridae). The discovery of the first 30 kDa movement protein in a non-vascular plant, suggests that the acquisition of plant virus movement proteins occurred prior to the emergence of the plant vascular system. More broadly, however, a co-phylogeny analysis revealed that the evolutionary history of these families is largely driven by cross-species transmission events. Together, these data highlight that numerous RNA virus families are associated with older evolutionary plant lineages than previously thought and that the scarcity of RNA viruses found in lower plants to date likely reflects a lack of investigation rather than their absence.

Importance

Our knowledge of plant viruses is mainly limited to those infecting economically important host species. In particular, we know little about those viruses infecting primitive plant lineages such as the ferns, lycophytes, bryophytes and charophytes. To expand this understanding, we conducted a broad-scale viral survey of species across the breadth of the plant kingdom. We find that primitive plants harbour a wide diversity of RNA viruses including some that are sufficiently divergent to comprise a new virus family. The primitive plant virome we reveal offers key insights into the evolutionary history of core plant virus gene modules and genome segments. More broadly, this work emphasises that the scarcity of viruses found in these species to date likely reflects the absence of research in this area.
Optimal pathways control fixation of multiple mutations during cancer initiation
Authors: Teimouri Hamid , Spaulding Cade , Kolomeisky Anatoly B.
Published: February 2022

Cancer starts after initially healthy tissue cells accumulate several specific mutations or other genetic alterations. The dynamics of tumor formation is a very complex phenomenon due to multiple involved biochemical and biophysical processes. It leads to a very large number of possible pathways on the road to final fixation of all mutations that marks the beginning of the cancer, complicating the understanding of microscopic mechanisms of tumor formation. We present a new theoretical framework of analyzing the cancer initiation dynamics by exploring the properties of effective free-energy landscape of the process. It is argued that although there are many possible pathways for the fixation of all mutations in the system, there are only few dominating pathways on the road to tumor formation. The theoretical approach is explicitly tested in the system with only two mutations using analytical calculations and Monte Carlo computer simulations. Excellent agreement with theoretical predictions is found for a large range of parameters, supporting our hypothesis and allowing us to better understand the mechanisms of cancer initiation. Our theoretical approach clarifies some important aspects of microscopic processes that lead to tumor formation.
The NOD/RIPK2 signaling pathway contributes to osteoarthritis susceptibility
Authors: Jurynec Michael J. , Gavile Catherine M. , Honeggar Matthew , Ma Ying , Veerabhadraiah Shivakumar R. , Novak Kendra A. , Hoshijima Kazuyuki , Kazmers Nikolas H. , Grunwald David J.
Published: February 2022

Introductory paragraph

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease characterized by loss of homeostasis of the joint with consequent remodeling of tissue architecture1. The molecular pathways that limit disease onset or progression are unknown2-5, and consequently no disease-modifying drugs are available1,6-9. We sought genes that contribute to dominant forms of hereditary OA with the aim of identifying pathways whose activity level contributes to OA susceptibility. We found seven independent alleles affecting the NOD/RIPK2 pathway. To determine if altered signaling is sufficient to confer heightened OA susceptibility, mice carrying the OA-associated hyperactive Ripk2104Asp allele were generated. Knees of heterozygous Ripk2104Asp mice exhibit no overt signs of joint remodeling. Nevertheless, the mice respond to injury with markedly advanced post-traumatic OA. Uninjured heterozygous Ripk2104Asp mice appear primed to develop OA: their knees exhibit elevated NOD/RIPK2 pathway activity, localized inflammation, and altered expression of extracellular matrix genes linked to OA. In contrast to the joint, the mice display no evidence of systemic elevated inflammation. Elevated NOD/RIPK2 signaling confers vulnerability to OA.
CameraTrapDetectoR: Automatically detect, classify, and count animals in camera trap images using artificial intelligence
Authors: Tabak Michael A. , Falbel Daniel , Hamzeh Tess , Brook Ryan K. , Goolsby John A. , Zoromski Lisa D. , Boughton Raoul K. , Snow Nathan P. , VerCauteren Kurt C. , Miller Ryan S.
Published: February 2022

Motion-activated wildlife cameras, or camera traps, are widely used in biological monitoring of wildlife. Studies using camera traps amass large numbers of images and analyzing these images can be a large burden that inhibits research progress. We trained deep learning computer vision models using data for 168 species that automatically detect, count, and classify common North American domestic and wild species in camera trap images. We provide our trained models in an R package, CameraTrapDetectoR. Three types of models are available: a taxonomic class model classifies objects as mammal (human and non-human) or avian; a taxonomic family model that recognizes 31 mammal, avian, and reptile families; a species model that recognizes 75 domestic and wild species including all North American wild cat species, bear species, and Canid species. Each model also includes a category for vehicles and empty images. The models performed well on both validation datasets and out-of-distribution testing datasets as mean average precision values ranged from 0.80 to 0.96. CameraTrapDetectoR provides predictions as an R object (a data frame) and flat file and provides the option to create plots of the original camera trap image with the predicted bounding box and label. There is also the option to apply models using a Shiny Application, with a point-and-click graphical user interface. This R package has the potential to facilitate application of deep learning models by biologists using camera traps.
COPD and social distancing in the UK
Authors: Walker Mark David , Lane Hakan
Published: February 2022

Background

Those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) were at a higher risk of experiencing severe illness in the event of contracting COVID-19. Did they therefore act more cautiously?

Aim

The aim was to determine whether the condition of COPD incurred significant change in social distancing behavior compared to the general public.

Design and Setting

Data was used from the Imperial ‘COVID-19 Behavioural Tracker’, which details results of regular public surveying on attitudes surrounding COVID-19 guidance.

Methods

Responses by U.K. participants to twenty questions reflecting willingness to adhere to social distancing guidance were compared in those reporting COPD and non-COPD status.

Results

Those with COPD stated a significantly greater willingness to wear face masks during early stages of pandemic. There was greater reluctance to go out and go shopping. There was no apparent or significant difference in willingness to use public transport, suggesting that this was an unavoidable necessity for all. The relationship between level of adherence and COVID-19 case numbers was weak both for those of both COPD and non-COPD status.

Discussion

These results suggest that those with COPD were more cautious and followed guidance more willingly. Advice provided by GP’s and healthcare professionals is likely to be beneficial in guiding patient behaviour.
Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater during New York City’s second wave of COVID-19: Sewershed-level trends and relationships to publicly available clinical testing data
Authors: Hoar Catherine , Chauvin Francoise , Clare Alexander , McGibbon Hope , Castro Esmeraldo , Patinella Samantha , Katehis Dimitrios , Dennehy John J. , Trujillo Monica , Smyth Davida S. , Silverman Andrea I.
Published: February 2022

New York City’s ongoing wastewater monitoring program tracked trends in sewershed-level SARS-CoV-2 loads starting in the fall of 2020, just before the start of the City’s second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. During a five-month study period, from November 8, 2020 to April 11, 2021, viral loads in influent wastewater from each of New York City’s 14 wastewater treatment plants were measured and compared to new laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases for the populations in each corresponding sewershed, estimated from publicly available clinical testing data. We found significant positive correlations between viral loads in wastewater and new COVID-19 cases. The strength of the correlations varied depending on the sewershed, with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients ranging between 0.38 and 0.81 (mean = 0.55). Based on a linear regression analysis of a combined data set for New York City, we found that a 1 log10 change in the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in wastewater corresponded to a 0.6 log10 change in the number of new laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases/day in a sewershed. An estimated minimum detectable case rate between 2 - 8 cases/day/100,000 people was associated with the method limit of detection in wastewater. This work offers a preliminary assessment of the relationship between wastewater monitoring data and clinical testing data in New York City. While routine monitoring and method optimization continue, information on the development of New York City’s ongoing wastewater monitoring program may provide insights for similar wastewater-based epidemiology efforts in the future.
Combination of an inject-and-transfer system for serial femtosecond crystallography
Authors: Lee Keondo , Kim Jihan , Baek Sangwon , Park Jaehyun , Park Sehan , Lee Jong-Lam , Chung Wan Kyun , Cho Yunje , Nam Ki Hyun
Published: February 2022

Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) enables the determination of the room-temperature crystal structure of macromolecules without causing radiation damage and provides time-resolved molecular dynamics by pump-probe experiments. In the SFX experiment, the injector-based sample delivery method continuously provides fresh crystals to X-rays, and the fixed-target scanning method can be programmed to move the crystals to the desired location. This study introduces a combination of the inject-and-transfer system (BITS) method for sample delivery for SFX experiments, a hybrid injection, and a fixed-target scanning method. BITS allows solution samples to be reliably deposited on an ultraviolet ozone (UVO)-treaed polyimide films at flow rates as low as 1 nl/min. In application of BITS in SFX experiment, the lysozyme crystal samples were embedded in a viscous lard medium and injected at a 50–100 nl/min flow rate through a syringe needle onto an UVO-treated polyimide film mounted on a fixed-target scan stage. The deposited crystal sample on film were raster scanned to XFEL by motion stage in the horizontal and vertical directions. Using this method, we successfully determined the room-temperature structure of lysozyme at 2.1 Å resolution. This method can be applied to the SFX experiments.
Ehrlichia SLiM ligand mimetic activates Hedgehog signaling to engage a BCL-2 anti-apoptotic cellular program
Authors: Byerly Caitlan D. , Mitra Shubhajit , Patterson LaNisha L. , Pittner Nicholas A. , Velayutham Thangam S. , Paessler Slobodan , Veljkovic Veljko , McBride Jere W.
Published: February 2022

Ehrlichia chaffeensis (E. chaffeensis) has evolved eukaryotic ligand mimicry to repurposes multiple cellular signaling pathways for immune evasion. In this investigation, we demonstrate that TRP120 has a novel repetitiveshortlinermotif (SLiM) that activates the evolutionarily conserved Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway to inhibit apoptosis. In silico analysis revealed that TRP120 has sequence and functional similarity with Hh ligands and a candidate Hh ligand SLiM was identified. siRNA knockdown of Hh signaling and transcriptional components significantly reduced infection. Co-immunoprecipitation and surface plasmon resonance demonstrated that rTRP120-TR interacted directly with Hh receptor Patched-2 (PTCH2). E. chaffeensis infection resulted in early activation of Hh transcription factor GLI-1 and upregulation of Hh target genes. Moreover, soluble recombinant TRP120 (rTRP120) activated Hh and induced gene expression consistent with the eukaryotic Hh ligand. The TRP120 Hh SLiM (NPEVLIKD) induced nuclear translocation of GLI-1 in THP-1 cells and primary human monocytes and induced a rapid and expansive activation of Hh pathway target genes. Furthermore, Hh activation was blocked by an α-TRP120 Hh SLiM antibody.

TRP120 Hh SLiM significantly increased levels of Hh target, anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), and siRNA knockdown of BCL-2 dramatically inhibited infection.

Blocking Hh signaling with the inhibitor Vismodegib, induced a pro-apoptotic cellular program defined by decreased mitochondria membrane potential, significant reductions in BCL-2, activation of caspase 3 and 9, and increased apoptotic cells. This study reveals a novel E. chaffeensis SLiM ligand mimetic that activates Hh signaling to maintain E. chaffeensis infection by engaging a BCL-2 anti-apoptotic cellular program.

Author summary

Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligately intracellular bacterium that preferentially infects and replicates within mononuclear phagocytes and survives intracellularly by modulating cellular signaling pathways to subvert innate immune defenses. This investigation reveals the complex and expanding role that the E. chaffeensis TRP120 moonlighting effector and SLiM ligand mimetics have on immune subversion and infection through activation and regulation of evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways. Herein, we define a TRP120 Hh SLiM mimetic that induces Hh signaling and regulates the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 to prevent sequential activation of caspase 9 and 3, promoting E. chaffeensis infection. This study defines a novel prokaryotic SLiM mimetic that repurposes evolutionarily conserved eukaryotic signaling pathways to promote survival of an intracellular bacterium.
Pre-B cell receptor acts as a selectivity switch for Galectin-1 at the pre-B cell surface
Authors: Touarin Pauline , Serrano Bastien , Courbois Audrey , Bornet Olivier , Chen Qian , Scott Lincoln G. , Mancini Stéphane J.C. , Williamson James R. , Sebban-Kreuzer Corinne , Elantak Latifa
Published: February 2022

Galectins are glycan binding proteins translating the sugar-encoded information of cellular glycoconjugates into many physiological activities including immunity, cell migration, and signaling. During early B lymphocytes (BL) development at the pre-B cell stage, BL express the pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR) and are supported by mesenchymal stromal cells secreting Galectin-1 (Gal-1). Gal-1 interacts with glycosylated receptors from stromal and pre-B cell surfaces but also with the pre-BCR through a direct carbohydrate-independent contact. How this interaction might interplay with the glycan-decoding function of Gal-1 is unknown. Here, we investigated Gal-1 binding to cell surface ligands using NMR spectroscopy on native membranes. We showed that pre-BCR regulates Gal-1 binding to specifically target α2,3-sialylated receptors on pre-B cells. Upon pre-BCR interaction, dynamic changes resulted in additional contacts with α2,3-sialylated glycans converting Gal-1 from an exo- to an endo-type lectin. Remarkably, this selectivity switch is able to promote pre-B cell survival. Altogether, we shed light on a new mechanism allowing fine-tuning of Galectin specificity at the cell surfaces.
Aerosol Formation During Processing of Potentially Infectious Samples on Roche Immunochemistry Analyzers (cobas e analyzers) and in an End-to-End Laboratory Workflow to Model SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk for Laboratory Operators
Authors: Burghardt Géza V. , Eckl Markus , Huether Doris , Larbolette Oliver H.D. , Faso Alessia Lo , Ofenloch-Haehnle Beatus R. , Riesch Marlene A. , Herb Rolf A.
Published: February 2022

Background

This study assessed formation of potentially infectious aerosols during processing of infectious samples in a real-world laboratory setting, which could then be applied in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods

This two-part study assessed aerosol formation when using cobas e analyzers only and in an end-to-end laboratory workflow. To estimate aerosol formation, recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was used as a surrogate marker for infectious virus particles to evaluate the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection to laboratory operators. Using the HBsAg model, air sampling was performed at different positions around the cobas e analyzers and in four scenarios reflecting critical handling and/or transport locations in an end-to-end laboratory workflow. Aerosol formation of HBsAg was quantified using the Elecsys® HBsAg II quant II assay. The model was then applied to a SARS-CoV-2 context using SARS-CoV-2 infection-specific parameters to calculate viral RNA copies.

Results

Following application to SARS-CoV-2, the mean HBsAg uptake per hour when recalculated into viral RNA copies was 1.9 viral RNA copies across the cobas e analyzers and 0.87 viral RNA copies across all tested scenarios in an end-to-end laboratory workflow. This corresponds to a maximum aspiration rate of <16 viral RNA copies during an 8-hour shift when using cobas e analyzers and/or in an end-to-end laboratory workflow.

Conclusions

The low production of marker-containing aerosol when using cobas e analyzers and in an end-to-end laboratory workflow is consistent with a remote risk of laboratory-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection for laboratory operators.

This study investigated the formation of potentially infectious aerosols during processing of infectious samples in a model using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as a marker for infectious virus particles. The risk to laboratory operators of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was then inferred. Air sampling was performed around cobas e analyzers and in an end-to-end laboratory workflow, after which HBsAg was quantified and applied to SARS-CoV-2 using SARS-CoV-2 infection-specific parameters. The maximum aspiration rate of <16 viral RNA copies/8-hour shift, when applied to a SARS-CoV-2 context, poses a remote risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection to laboratory operators.
Expression and secretion of circular RNAs in the parasitic nematode,Ascaris suum
Authors: Minkler Sarah J. , Loghry-Jansen Hannah J. , Sondjaja Noelle A. , Kimber Michael J.
Published: February 2022

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a recently identified RNA species with emerging functional roles as microRNA (miRNA) and protein sponges, regulators of gene transcription and translation, and as modulators of fundamental biological processes including immunoregulation. circRNAs have been found in a variety of species including plants, animals, and model genetic organisms such as the free-living nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans. Relevant to this study, circRNAs have recently been described in the parasitic nematode,Haemonchus contortus, suggesting they may have functionally important roles in parasites. Given this involvement in regulating biological processes, a better understanding of their role in parasites could be leveraged for future control efforts. Here, we report the use of next-generation sequencing to identify 1,997 distinct circRNAs expressed in adult female stages of the gastrointestinal parasitic nematode,Ascaris suum. We describe spatial expression in the ovaries and body wall muscle, and also report circRNA presence in extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by the parasite into the external environment. Further, we used anin-silicoapproach to predict that a subset ofAscariscircRNAs bind both endogenous parasite miRNAs as well as human host miRNAs, suggesting they could be functional as both exogenous and endogenous miRNA sponges to alter gene expression. There was not a strong correlation betweenAscariscircRNA length endogenous miRNA interactions, indicatingAscariscircRNAs are enriched forAscarismiRNA binding sites, but that human miRNAs were predicted form a more thermodynamically stable bond withAscariscircRNAs. These results suggest that secreted circRNAs could be interacting with host miRNAs at the host-parasite interface and influencing host gene transcription. Lastly, although we previously found that therapeutically relevant concentrations of the anthelmintic drug ivermectin inhibited EV release from parasitic nematodes, we did not observe a direct effect onAscariscircRNAs expression or secretion.
Marketing platform products for successful customer outcomes: an empirical investigation of project process integration
Authors: Hong Paul C. , Park Young Soo , Deng Xiyue , Hwang David W.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Cross-functional teams engage in developing platform projects which become the basis of many smaller projects. The purpose of this paper is to examine how project teams engage in front-end plan formulation and backend work implementation. This paper shows the critical linkage role of platform product practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the conceptual framework and research model by using a survey questionnaire for the target respondents of product development managers from the USA and Korea. After refining processes, this study determines the items for each variable for the large-scale survey.

Findings

Results suggest that when heavy-manager and customers are jointly or separately involved with a project team for the formation of shared team purpose and mission, then there would be differences in terms of information quality, shared team purpose and mission and the project outcomes. If the primary roles of heavyweight leadership and customer involvement are to improve information quality in terms of reduction of uncertainty and equivocality, then the project team is empowered enough to work on the formation of shared team purpose and mission on their own. Platform product practices are a linkage between front-end planning and back-end work doing which guides more specific projects with shared purpose and performance goals.

Research limitations/implications

As the data collection was limited to the USA and Korea, generalizability across diverse contexts requires caution. However, the findings provide meaningful insight on how to manage projects in an environment of increasing complexity and ambiguity.

Practical implications

This study provides interesting insight into how project teams approach platform product development. Based on the empirical test, this study shows how cross-functional teams integrate front-end project plan formulation and back-end project work implementation. This study also presents how heavyweight manager and customer involvement addresses the front-end information challenges and influence platform product practices.

Originality/value

This study empirically tests the role of fuzzy front planning in impacting project team success. In particular, this study highlights the dynamic relationships between heavyweight managers and customer involvement, information quality (i.e. uncertainty and equivocality), and the nature of team purpose and mission which are all crucial for effective cross-functional teamwork.
How global mindset drives innovation and exporting performance: the roles of relational and bricolage capabilities
Authors: Chang Chia-Wen , Huang Heng-Chiang
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Emerging markets play an important role in the global economy. However, a common feature of most emerging markets is that firms must operate in a resource-constrained environment. In emerging markets, global mindset is a necessary resource for firms’ global competitiveness. Although global mindset has been proven to improve export performance, the theoretical mechanism behind this relationship is less clear. Based on the resource-based on the resource-based view and capability-building perspective, this study developed a model linking global mindset, relational capability, bricolage capability, innovation, and export performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted to collect data from exporting firms in Taiwan. Subsequently, the data (n= 172) were analyzed using a partial least squares program.

Findings

The analytical results reveal that a global mindset positively influences relational and bricolage capabilities; relational capability positively affects bricolage capability; relational capability and bricolage capability have significant and direct effects on innovation; and innovation positively affects export performance.

Originality/value

The findings confirm that a global mindset plays a crucial role in the capability-building process, which suggests that it contributes to the development of relational and bricolage capabilities. Also, relational capability is critical for exporting firms to develop bricolage capability. Finally, innovation is an important mediating mechanism between capabilities and export performance. Therefore, exporting firms can develop their international business models on the basis of their capabilities, including relational capability and bricolage capability. These capabilities improve innovation, which, in turn, enhances export performance in a resource-constrained environment.
Perceived change uncertainty and behavioral change support: the role of positive change orientation
Authors: Katsaros Kleanthis Konstantinos , Tsirikas Athanasios N.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Drawing from uncertainty reduction theory and uncertainty management theory, the aim of the research is to investigate the influence of positive change orientation (i.e. change self-efficacy, positive attitudes toward change, perceived control) on the perceived change uncertainty and behavioral change support (i.e. compliance, cooperation and championing) relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper hypothesizes that employees' positive change orientation partially mediates the relationship between perceived change uncertainty and behavioral change support. The research data were collected from employees and their supervisors in three sequential phases. The research model was tested with the use of Structural Equation Modeling.

Findings

The research findings suggest that employees' change self-efficacy and attitudes toward change partially mediates the negative relationship between perceived change uncertainty and behavioral change support.

Practical implications

The results support that change management practitioners will benefit significantly if they manage to influence their employees' positive change orientation as well as to decrease the perceived uncertainty to provoke change supportive behaviors. Relevant suggestions are made.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in the finding that employees' change self-efficacy as well as their attitudes toward change partially mediates the relationship between perceived change uncertainty and behavioral change support. Further, the research findings add to the uncertainty reduction theory and uncertainty management theory as well as other related notions.
Examining 50 years of social marketing through a bibliometric and science mapping analysis
Authors: Salgado Sequeiros Jessica , Molina-Collado Arturo , Gómez-Rico Mar , Basil Debra
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Through a bibliometric analysis and scientific mapping, this study aims to examine research in the field of social marketing over the past 50 years and to propose a future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

A bibliometric analysis based on keyword co-occurrences is used to analyze 1,492 social marketing articles published from 1971 to 2020. The articles were extracted from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. SciMAT software was used, which provides a strategic diagram of topics, clusters, networks and relationships, allowing for the identification and assessment of relational connections among social marketing topics.

Findings

The results show that advertising, fear and children were some of the driving themes of social marketing over the past 50 years. In addition, the analysis identifies four promising areas for future research: consumption, intervention, strategy and analytical perspectives.

Research limitations/implications

This analysis can serve as a reference guide for future research in the field of social marketing. This study focused on quantitative analysis. An in-depth qualitative analysis would be a valuable future extension.

Originality/value

This research offers a unique systematic analysis of the progression of social marketing scholarship and provides a guide for future research related to social marketing. Importantly, this work suggests crucial issues that have not yet been sufficiently developed.
Integration of UTAUT model in Thailand cashless payment system adoption: the mediating role of perceived risk and trust
Authors: Namahoot Kanokkarn Snae , Jantasri Viphasiri
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model that examines the relationships among the five dimensions of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) toward the overall behavioral intentions (BIs); to use cashless payment systems in Thailand, which are practically based on the basic models and theories of consumer behavior such as the theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of planned behavior (TPB) and technology acceptance model (TAM); and to explain the indirect effects between UTAUT and BIs to use cashless payment systems mediating by perceived risk and trust.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 708 respondents, who have had an experience with a cashless payment system in Thailand, were selected using a stage sampling method. The data obtained from the participants were analyzed using a structural equation modelling approach.

Findings

The results of this paper reveal that UTAUT model, perceived risk and trust have all significant influences on BIs to use a cashless payment system. This suggests that consumers in Thailand adopt to specific financial technological innovation if they perceive that the risk is low and they can trust the system, especially if it is associated with a reliable online banking network.

Originality/value

The basic understanding of the UTAUT model that influences BIs to use cashless payment systems has been the focus of this current paper. This paper empirically examined the overall direct and indirect influences of UTAUT model and perceived risk, trust and BI to use. This current paper also expands the UTAUT theory by exploring several dimensions (i.e. performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influence). Research findings reveal that effort expectancy can reduce perceived risk and increase trust in Thailand's cashless payment systems. This can generate more customer interest and engagement, as well as provide insights into customers' intentions in using a cashless payment system.
Why online consumers have the urge to buy impulsively: roles of serendipity, trust and flow experience
Authors: Bao Zheshi , Yang Jing
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate some determinants of impulse buying in online shopping and then indicate the underlying mechanism regarding why consumers have the urge to buy impulsively.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 315 valid data were collected from consumers who had online shopping experience through an online survey. These data were then analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypotheses and proposed model.

Findings

The results illustrate that consumers' serendipity, trust and flow experience facilitate impulse buying. Some inner relationships among the three factors have also been illustrated. Finally, antecedents of trust and flow experience were examined from a perspective of perceived information value.

Originality/value

This research provides new insights into existing literature on impulse buying in online shopping by developing a well-organized framework, which emphasizes the role of serendipity in motivating the urge to buy impulsively. Besides, it also extends the understanding of flow experience and trust in the process of online impulse buying.