bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid indicators of deprivation using grocery shopping data
Authors: Bannister Adam , Botta Federico
Published: December 2021

Measuring socio-economic indicators is a crucial task for policy makers who need to develop and implement policies aimed at reducing inequalities and improving the quality of life. However, traditionally this is a time-consuming and expensive task, which therefore cannot be carried out with high temporal frequency. Here, we investigate whether secondary data generated from our grocery shopping habits can be used to generate rapid estimates of deprivation in the city of London in the UK. We show the existence of a relationship between our grocery shopping data and the deprivation of different areas in London, and how we can use grocery shopping data to generate quick estimates of deprivation, albeit with some limitations. Crucially, our estimates can be generated very rapidly with the data used in our analysis, thus opening up the opportunity of having early access to estimates of deprivation. Our findings provide further evidence that new data streams contain accurate information about our collective behaviour and the current state of our society.
Effect of external thermal insulation layer on the Chinese solar greenhouse microclimate
Authors: Fan Zilong , Liu Xingan , Yue Xiang , Zhang Lei , Xie Xiaoyu , Li Yiming , Li Tianlai
Published: December 2021

In order to optimize the heat preservation capacity of Chinese solar greenhouse (CSG) and further reduce energy consumption, we clarified the mechanism of the external thermal insulation layer that affects the microclimate environment of CSG. The most suitable external insulation layer thickness (EILT) of the solar greenhouse envelope structure in high latitude and cold region has been indicated. A three-dimensional mathematical model was developed based on computational fluid dynamics and verified using experimental measurement. The temperature variations, heat variations and economic benefit were analysed. The results indicated that covering the outer surface of the enclosures with a thermal insulation layer could effectively increase the greenhouse temperature by 1.2–4.0°C. The influence degree of the external thermal insulation layer on the greenhouse microclimate was as follows: sidewall (SW) > north wall (NW) > north roof (NR). In high-dimensional and cold areas, covering the outer surface of all enclosures with insulation layer as the suitable solution could raise the greenhouse air temperature maximally. The suitable EILT of each maintenance structure was obtained as follows: NW 80 mm, SW 80 mm, NR 100 mm.
Triaxial testing on water permeability evolution of fractured shale
Authors: Wang Menglai , Zhang Dongming
Published: December 2021

A sound understanding of the water permeability evolution in fractured shale is essential to the optimal hydraulic fracturing (reservoir stimulation) strategies. We have measured the water permeability of six fractured shale samples from Qiongzhusi Formation in southwest China at various pressure and stress conditions. Results showed that the average uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and average tensile strength of the Qiongzhusi shale samples were 106.3 and 10.131 MPa, respectively. The nanometre-sized (tiny) pore structure is the dominant characteristic of the Qiongzhusi shale. Following this, we proposed a pre-stressing strategy for creating fractures in shale for permeability measurement and its validity was evaluated by CT scanning. Shale water permeability increased with pressure differential. While shale water permeability declined with increasing effective stress, such effect dropped significantly as the effective stress continues to increase. Interestingly, shale permeability increased with pressure when the pressure is relatively low (less than 4 MPa), which is inconsistent with the classic Darcy's theory. This is caused by the Bingham flow that often occurs in tiny pores. Most importantly, the proposed permeability model would fully capture the experimental data with reasonable accuracy in a wide range of stresses.
Deep learning based models to study the effect of glaucoma genes on angle dysgenesis in-vivo
Authors: Gupta Viney , Birla Shweta , Varshney Toshit , Somarajan Bindu I , Gupta Shikha , Gupta Mrinalini , Mahalingam Karthikeyan , Singh Abhishek , Gupta Dinesh
Published: December 2021

Objective

To predict the presence of Angle Dysgenesis on Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (ADoA) using deep learning and to correlate ADoA with mutations in known glaucoma genes.

Design

A cross-sectional observational study.

Participants

Eight hundred, high definition anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) B-scans were included, out of which 340 images (One scan per eye) were used to build the machine learning (ML) model and the rest were used for validation of ADoA. Out of 340 images, 170 scans included PCG (n=27), JOAG (n=86) and POAG (n=57) eyes and the rest were controls. The genetic validation dataset consisted of another 393 images of patients with known mutations compared with 320 images of healthy controls

Methods

ADoA was defined as the absence of Schlemm’s canal(SC), the presence of extensive hyper-reflectivity over the region of trabecular meshwork or a hyper-reflective membrane (HM) over the region of the trabecular meshwork. Deep learning was used to classify a given ASOCT image as either having angle dysgenesis or not. ADoA was then specifically looked for, on ASOCT images of patients with mutations in the known genes for glaucoma (MYOC, CYP1B1, FOXC1andLTBP2).

Main Outcome measures

Using Deep learning to identify ADoA in patients with known gene mutations.

Results

Our three optimized deep learning models showed an accuracy > 95%, specificity >97% and sensitivity >96% in detecting angle dysgenesis on ASOCT in the internal test dataset. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, based on the external validation cohort were 0.91 (95% CI, 0.88 to 0.95), 0.80 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.86) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.80 to 0.91) for the three models. Amongst the patients with known gene mutations, ADoA was observed among all the patients withMYOCmutations, as it was also observed among those withCYP1B1, FOXC1and withLTBP2mutations compared to only 5% of those healthy controls (with no glaucoma mutations).

Conclusions

Three deep learning models were developed for a consensus-based outcome to objectively identify ADoA among glaucoma patients. All patients withMYOCmutations had ADoA as predicted by the models.
Antibodies to ILT3 abrogate myeloid immunosuppression and enable tumor killing
Authors: Brandish Philip E. , Palmieri Anthony , Ayanoglu Gulesi , Baker Jeanne , Bueno Raphael , Byford Alan , Caniga Michael , Chappell Craig , Cherwinski Holly , Cua Daniel J. , Du Xiaoyan , Fayadat-Dilman Laurence , Hall Brian E. , Issafras Hassan , Joyce-Shaikh Barbara , Juan Veronica , Levy Rachel D. , Loboda Andrey , Lunceford Jared , Mieczkowski Carl , Meehl Michael , Qu Yujie , Rosenzweig Michael , Singh Latika , Stivers Peter , Tramontozzi Peter J. , Vermilya Kimberly , Vroom Karin , Wilson Douglas C. , Zhang Chungsheng , Zhang-Hoover Jie
Published: December 2021

Tumor myeloid suppressor cells impede response to T cell checkpoint immunotherapy. Immunoglobulin-like transcript 3 (ILT3, gene name, LILRB4) expressed on dendritic cells (DCs) promotes antigen-specific tolerance. Circulating monocytic MDSCs that express ILT3 have been linked to clinical outcomes and a soluble form of ILT3 is elevated in certain cancers. We find that LILRB4 expression is correlated with Gene Expression Profile of T-cell inflamed tumor microenvironment shown to be significantly associated with response to the anti-PD1 antibody pembrolizumab across several tumor types. A potent and selective anti-ILT3 mAb effectively antagonized IL-10 polarization of DCs and enabled T cell priming. In an MLR assay anti-ILT3 combined with pembrolizumab afforded greater CD8+ T cell activation compared to either agent alone. Anti-ILT3 antibodies impaired the acquisition of a suppressive phenotype of monocytes co-cultured with SK-MEL-5 cancer cells, accompanied by a reduction in surface detection of peptidase inhibitor 16, a cis interaction candidate for ILT3. Growth of myeloid cell-abundant SK-MEL-5 tumors was abrogated by ILT3 blockade and remodeling of the immune tumor microenvironment was evident by CyTOF. These data support the testing of anti-ILT3 antibodies for the treatment of a wide range of solid tumors replete with myeloid cells.
Functional Network Connectivity Imprint In Febrile Seizures
Authors: Acharya Ullas V , Kulanthaivelu Karthik , Panda Rajanikant , Saini Jitender , Gupta Arun K , Sankaran Bindu Parayil , Raghavendra Kenchaiah , Mundlamuri Ravindranath Chowdary , Sinha Sanjib , Keshavamurthy ML , Bharath Rose Dawn
Published: December 2021

Complex febrile seizures (CFS), a subset of paediatric febrile seizures (FS), have been studied for their prognosis, epileptogenic potential and neurocognitive outcome. We evaluated their functional connectivity differences with simple febrile seizures (SFS) in children with recent-onset FS. Resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) datasets of 24 children with recently diagnosed FS (SFS-n=11; CFS-n=13) were analysed. Functional connectivity (FC) was estimated using time series correlation of seed region–to-whole-brain-voxels and network topology was assessed using graph theory measures. Regional connectivity differences were correlated with clinical characteristics (FDR correctedp <0.05). CFS patients demonstrated increased FC of the bilateral middle temporal pole (MTP), and bilateral thalami when compared to SFS. Network topology study revealed increased clustering coefficient and decreased participation coefficient in basal ganglia and thalamus suggesting an inefficient-unbalanced network topology in patients with CFS. The number of seizure recurrences negatively correlated with the integration of Left Thalamus (r= −0.58) and FC measures of Left MTP to ‘Right Supplementary Motor and left Precentral’ connectivity (r=−0.53). The FC of Right MTP to Left Amygdala, Putamen, Parahippocampal, and Orbital Frontal Cortex (r=0.61) and FC of Left Thalamus to left Putamen, Pallidum, Caudate, Thalamus Hippocampus and Insula (r 0.55) showed a positive correlation to the duration of the longest seizure. The findings of the current study report altered connectivity in children with CFS proportional to the seizure recurrence and duration. Regardless of the causal/consequential nature, such observations demonstrate the imprint of these disease-defining variables of febrile seizures on the developing brain.
Multi T1-weighted contrast imaging and T1 mapping with Compressed sensing FLAWS at 3T
Authors: Beaumont J. , Fripp J. , Raniga P. , Acosta O. , Ferre J.C. , McMahon K. L. , Trinder J. , Kober T. , Gambarota G.
Published: December 2021

The Fluid And White matter Suppression (FLAWS) MRI sequence allows for the acquisition of multiple T1-weighted contrasts in a single sequence acquisition. However, its acquisition time is prohibitive for use in clinical practice when the k-space is linearly downsampled and reconstructed using the Generalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA) technique. This study proposes a FLAWS sequence optimization tailored to allow for the acquisition of FLAWS images with a Cartesian phyllotaxis k-space undersampling and compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction at 3T. The CS FLAWS sequence parameters were determined using a method previously employed to optimize FLAWS imaging at 1.5T and 7T. In-vivo experiments show that the proposed CS FLAWS optimization allows to reduce the FLAWS sequence acquisition time from 8 mins to 6 mins without decreasing the FLAWS image quality. In addition, this study demonstrates for the first time that T1-weighted imaging with low B1 sensitivity and T1 mapping can be performed with the FLAWS sequence at 3T for both GRAPPA and CS reconstructions. The FLAWS T1 mapping was validated using in-silico, in-vitro and in-vivo experiments with comparison against the inversion recovery turbo spin echo and MP2RAGE T1 mappings. These new results suggest that the recent advances in FLAWS imaging allow to combine the MP2RAGE imaging benefits (T1-weigthed imaging with low B1 sensitivity and T1 mapping) and with the previous version of FLAWS imaging benefits (multi T1-weighted contrast imaging) in a single 6 mins sequence acquisition.

Graphical abstract
An exploration of linkage fine-mapping on sequences from case-control studies
Authors: Nickchi Payman , Karunarathna Charith , Graham Jinko
Published: December 2021

Linkage analysis maps genetic loci for a heritable trait by identifying genomic regions with excess relatedness among individuals with similar trait values. Analysis may be conducted on related individuals from families, or on samples of unrelated individuals from a population. For allelically heterogeneous traits, population-based linkage analysis can be more powerful than genotypic-association analysis. Here, we focus on linkage analysis in a population sample, but use sequences rather than individuals as our unit of observation. Earlier investigations of sequence-based linkage mapping relied on known sequence relatedness, whereas we infer relatedness from the sequence data. We propose two ways to associate similarity in relatedness of sequences with similarity in their trait values and compare the resulting linkage methods to two genotypic-association methods. We also introduce a procedure to label case sequences as potential carriers or non-carriers of causal variants after an association has been found. This post-hoc labeling of case sequences is based on inferred relatedness to other case sequences. Our simulation results indicate that methods based on sequence-relatedness improve localization and perform as well as genotypic-association methods for detecting rare causal variants. Sequence-based linkage analysis therefore has potential to fine-map allelically heterogeneous disease traits.
Protection following BNT162b2 booster substantially exceeds that of a fresh 2-dose vaccine: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Amir Ofra , Goldberg Yair , Mandel Micha , Bar-On Yinon M. , Bodenheimer Omri , Ash Nachman , Alroy-Preis Sharon , Huppert Amit , Milo Ron
Published: December 2021

Israel began administering a BNT162b2 booster dose to restore protection following the waning of the 2-dose vaccine. Biological studies have shown that a fresh booster leads to increased antibody levels compared to a fresh 2-dose vaccine, which may suggest increased effectiveness. To compare the real-world effectiveness of a fresh booster dose with that of a fresh 2-dose vaccine, we conduct a quasi-experimental study that compares populations that were eligible to receive the vaccine at different times due to age cutoff policies. Our analysis shows that a fresh booster increases protection against confirmed infection by 3.7 (95% CI: 2.7 to 5.2) fold compared to a fresh 2-dose vaccine.
Notch inhibition promotes regeneration and immunosuppression supports cone survival in a zebrafish model of inherited retinal dystrophy
Authors: Fogerty Joseph , Song Ping , Boyd Patrick , Grabinski Sarah , Hoang Thanh , Reich Adrian , Cianciolo Lauren T. , Blackshaw Seth , Mumm Jeff S. , Hyde David R. , Perkins Brian D.
Published: December 2021

Photoreceptor degeneration leads to irreversible vision loss in humans with retinal dystrophies such as Retinitis Pigmentosa. Whereas photoreceptor loss is permanent in mammals, zebrafish possesses the ability to regenerate retinal neurons and restore visual function. Following acute damage, Müller glia (MG) re-enter the cell cycle and produce multipotent progenitors whose progeny differentiate into mature neurons. Both MG reprogramming and proliferation of retinal progenitor cells require reactive microglia and associated inflammatory signaling. Paradoxically, MG in zebrafish models of photoreceptor degeneration fail to re-enter the cell cycle and regenerate lost cells. Here, we used the zebrafish cep290 mutant to demonstrate that progressive cone degeneration generates an immune response but does not stimulate MG proliferation. Acute light damage triggered photoreceptor regeneration in cep290 mutants but cones were only restored to pre-lesion densities. Using irf8 mutant zebrafish, we found that the chronic absence of microglia reduced inflammation and rescued cone degeneration in cep290 mutants. Finally, single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed sustained expression of notch3 in MG of cep290 mutants and inhibition of Notch signaling induced MG to re-enter the cell cycle. Our findings provide new insights on the requirements for MG to proliferate and the potential for immunosuppression to prolong photoreceptor survival.
A transcriptomic atlas ofAedes aegyptireveals detailed functional organization of major body parts and gut regional specializations in sugar-fed and blood-fed adult females
Authors: Hixson Bretta , Bing Xiao-Li , Yang Xiaowei , Bonfini Alessandro , Nagy Peter , Buchon Nicolas
Published: December 2021

Mosquito vectors transmit numerous pathogens, but large gaps remain in our understanding of their physiology. To facilitate future explorations of mosquito biology, with specific attention to the major vectorAedes aegypti, we have created Aegypti-Atlas (http://aegyptiatlas.buchonlab.com/), an online resource hosting RNAseq profiles ofAe. Aegyptibody parts (head, thorax, abdomen, gut, Malpighian tubules, and ovaries), gut regions (crop, proventriculus, anterior and posterior midgut, and hindgut), and a time course of blood meal digestion in the gut. Using Aegypti-Atlas, we provide new insights into the regionalization of gut function, blood feeding response, and immune defenses. We find that the anterior and posterior regions of the mosquito midgut possess clearly delineated digestive specializations which are preserved in the blood-fed state. Blood feeding initiates the sequential transcriptional induction and repression/depletion of multiple cohorts of peptidases throughout blood meal digestion. With respect to defense, immune signaling components, but not recognition or effector molecules, show enrichment in ovaries. Basal expression of antimicrobial peptides is dominated by two genes, holotricin and gambicin, that are expressed in the carcass and the digestive tissues, respectively, in a near mutually exclusive manner. In the midgut, gambicin and other immune effector genes are almost exclusively expressed in the anterior regions, while the posterior midgut exhibits the hallmarks of immune tolerance. Finally, in a cross-species comparison between the midguts ofAe. aegyptiandAnopheles gambiae, we observe that regional digestive and immune specializations are closely conserved, indicating that our data may yield inferences that are broadly relevant to multiple mosquito vector species. We further demonstrate that the expression of orthologous genes is highly correlated, with the exception of a ‘species signature’ comprising a small number of highly/disparately expressed genes. With this work, we show the potential of Aegypti-Atlas to unlock a more complete understanding of mosquito biology.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of molecular expression pattern and intercellular interactions in glial scar responding to spinal cord injury
Authors: Gong Leilei , Gu Yun , Han Xiaoxiao , Luan Chengcheng , Wang Xinghui , Sun Yufeng , Fang Mengya , Yang Shuhai , Xu Lai , Sun Hualin , Yu Bin , Gu Xiaosong , Zhou Songlin
Published: December 2021

Adult regeneration in spinal cord is poor in mammalian but remarkable in the neonatal mammals and some vertebrates, including fish and salamanders. Increasing evidences basis of this interspecies and ontogeny highlighted the pivotal roles of neuron extrinsic factors-the glial scar, which exert confusing inhibiting or promoting regeneration function, but the spatiotemporal ordering of cellular and molecular events that drive repair processes in scar formation remains poorly understood. Here, we firstly constructed tissue-wide gene expression measurements of mouse spinal cords over the course of scar formation using the spatial transcriptomics (ST) technology in Spinal cord injury (SCI) repair. We analyzed the transcriptomes of nearly 15449 spots from 32 samples and distinguished normal and damage response regions. Compared to histological changes, spatial mapping of differentiation transitions in spinal cord injury site delineated the possible trajectory between subpopulations of fibroblast, glia and immune cell more comprehensively and defined the extent of scar boundary and core more accurately. Locally, we identified gene expression gradients from leading edge to the core of scar areas that allow for re-understanding of the scar microenvironment and found some regulators in special cell types, such as Thbs1 and Col1a2 in macrophage, CD36 and Postn in fibroblast, Plxnb2 and Nxpe3 in microglia, Clu in astrocyte and CD74 in oligodendrocyte. Last, we profiled the bidirectional ligand-receptor interactions at the neighbor cluster boundary, contributing to maintain scar architecture during gliosis and fibrosis, and found GPR37L1_PSAP and GPR37_PSAP were top 2 enriched gene-pairs between microglia and fibroblast or microglia and astrocyte. Together, the establishment of these profiles firstly uncovered scar spatial heterogeneity and lineage trajectory, provide an unbiased view of scar and served as a valuable resource for CNS injury treatment.

Highlights

Spatial illustration of gene expression pattern after T10 right lateral hemisection.

Spatial atlas of scar formation by 21 cell types around damaged area.

The origin, trajectory reconstruction and functional diversity of cell types in different stages of scar formation.

Novel insights for glial scar boundary and potential benefits for recovery intervention after SCI.
Effect of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Freund’s adjuvant-induced Rheumatoid Arthritis in Sprague Dawley Rats
Authors: Sanghavi Satyen , Kedage Vinayak , Singh Rajesh Pratap , Chandran Parvathi , Jadhav Vidya , Shinde Sujata
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) therapy is a new approach to treat RA. Studies evaluating anti-inflammatory effects of MSCs per RA severity are scarce. Our primary objective was to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects, change in cytokine levels and cartilage regeneration of two different MSC preparations delivered through two different routes of administration in three RA stages: mild, moderate and severe.

Methods

Human-derived umbilical cord tissue MSCs (hUCT-MSCs) and human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hBM-MSCs) delivered via intra-plantar and intravenous routes were tested in Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Arthritis severity was based on the arthritis score (<3=mild, 3=moderate and 4=severe). Assessments included changes in arthritis scoring, paw swelling, haematology parameters, biomarkers (TNFα and IL-10) and histopathology analysis.

Results

MSC treatment significantly reduced arthritis scores in all treatment groups. IL-10 levels increased 30 days after treatment with (IP)hUCT-MSCs (P=0.0241), (IV)hUCT-MSCs (P=0.0095) and (IP)hBM-MSCs (P=0.0002). TNF-α levels reduced compared to positive control at 30 days: (IP)hUCT-MSCs (P=0.0060), (IV)hUCT-MSCs (P=0.0003), (IP)hBM-MSCs (P=0.0005), (IV)hBM-MSCs (P<0.0001) and continued through 30-60 days. Microscopic examination showed regenerative changes in animal joints treated with both intra-plantar or intravenous MSCs. Arthritis scores reduced in all RA severity groups while benefits (changes in IL-10 and TNF-alpha) were more pronounced in moderate and severe RA. Haematology parameters remained similar among all animal groups at baseline, 30 days and 60 days indicating safety of MSCs.

Conclusion

Treatment with hUCT MSCs and hBM MSCs were safe, well-tolerated and effectively reduced joint inflammation, synovial cellularity and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in CFA-induced RA rat model.
Endothelial Rbpj is essential for the education of tumour-associated macrophages
Authors: Mülfarth Ronja , Alsina-Sanchis Elisenda , Moll Iris , Böhn Sarah , Wiedmann Lena , Jordana Lorea , Ziegelbauer Tara , Taylor Jacqueline , De Angelis Rigotti Francesca , Stögbauer Adrian , Giaimo Benedetto Daniele , Cerwenka Adelheid , Borggrefe Tilman , Fischer Andreas , Rodriguez-Vita Juan
Published: December 2021

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most lethal gynaecological cancers worldwide. EOC cells educate tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) through CD44-mediated cholesterol depletion to generate an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME). In addition, tumour cells frequently activate Notch1 receptors on endothelial cells (ECs) to facilitate metastasis. However, little is known whether the endothelium would also influence the education of recruited monocytes. Here, we report that canonical Notch signalling through RBPJ in ECs is an important player in the education of TAMs and EOC progression. Deletion of Rbpj in the endothelium of adult mice reduced infiltration of monocyte-derived macrophages into the TME of EOC and prevented the acquisition of a typical TAM gene signature. This was associated with stronger cytotoxic activity of T cells and decreased tumour burden. Mechanistically, we identified CXCL2 as a novel Notch/RBPJ target gene. This angiocrine factor regulates the expression of CD44 on monocytes and subsequent cholesterol depletion of TAMs. Bioinformatic analysis of ovarian cancer patient data showed that increased CXCL2 expression is accompanied by higher expression of CD44 and TAM education. As such, EOC cells employ the tumour endothelium to secrete CXCL2 in order to facilitate an immunosuppressive microenvironment.
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals micro-evolution of the stickleback immune system
Authors: Fuess Lauren E. , Bolnick Daniel I.
Published: December 2021

Pathogenic infection is an important driver of many ecological processes. Furthermore, variability in immune function is an important driver of differential infection outcomes. New evidence would suggest that immune variation extends to broad cellular structure of immune systems. However, variability at such broad levels is traditionally difficult to detect in non-model systems. Here we leverage single cell transcriptomic approaches to document signatures of microevolution of immune system structure in a natural system, the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We sampled nine adult fish from three populations with variability in resistance to a cestode parasite,Schistocephalus solidus, to create the first comprehensive immune cell atlas forG. aculeatus. Eight major immune cell types, corresponding to major vertebrate immune cells, were identified. We were also able to document significant variation in both abundance and expression profiles of the individual immune cell types, among the three populations of fish. This variability may contribute to observed variability in parasite susceptibility. Finally, we demonstrate that identified cell type markers can be used to reinterpret traditional transcriptomic data. Combined our study demonstrates the power of single cell sequencing to not only document evolutionary phenomena (i.e. microevolution of immune cells), but also increase the power of traditional transcriptomic datasets.
DNA replication dynamics during erythrocytic schizogony in the malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium knowlesi
Authors: McDonald Jennifer , Merrick Catherine J.
Published: December 2021

Malaria parasites are unusual, early-diverging protozoans with non-canonical cell cycles. They do not undergo binary fission, but divide primarily by schizogony. This is a syncytial mode of replication involving asynchronous production of multiple nuclei within the same cytoplasm, culminating in a single mass cytokinesis event. The rate and efficiency of parasite replication is fundamentally important to malarial disease, which tends to be severe in hosts with high parasite loads. Here, we have studied for the first time the dynamics of schizogony in two human malaria parasite species, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium knowlesi. These differ in their cell-cycle length, the number of progeny produced and the genome composition, among other factors. Comparing them could therefore yield new information about the parameters and limitations of schizogony. We report that the dynamics of schizogony differ significantly between these two species, most strikingly in the gap phases between successive nuclear replications, which are longer in P. falciparum and shorter, but more heterogenous, in P. knowlesi. In both species, gaps become longer as schizogony progresses, whereas each period of active replication grows shorter. In both species there is also extreme variability between individual cells, with some schizonts producing many more nuclei than others, and some individual nuclei arresting their replication for many hours while adjacent nuclei continue to replicate. The efficiency of schizogony is probably influenced by a complex set of factors in both the parasite and its host cell.
Unsupervised functional neurocartography of the Aplysia buccal ganglion
Authors: Costa Renan M. , Dharmaraj Vijay A. , Homma Ryota , Neveu Curtis L. , Kristan William B. , Byrne John H.
Published: December 2021

A major limitation of large-scale neuronal recordings is the difficulty in locating homologous neurons in different subjects, referred to as the “correspondence” issue. This issue stems, at least in part, from the lack of a unique feature that unequivocally identifies each neuron. One promising approach to this problem is the functional neurocartography framework developed by Frady et al. (2016), in which neurons are identified by a semisupervised machine learning algorithm using a combination of multiple selected features. Here, the framework was adapted to the buccal ganglia of Aplysia. Multiple features were derived from neuronal activity during motor pattern generation, responses to peripheral nerve stimulation, and the spatial properties of each cell. The feature set was optimized based on its potential usefulness in discriminating neurons from each other, and then used to match putatively homologous neurons across subjects with the functional neurocartography software. An alternative matching method based on a cyclic matching algorithm was also developed, which allows for unsupervised extraction of groups of neurons and automated selection of high-quality matches. This improvement enabled unsupervised implementation of the machine learning algorithm, thereby enhancing scalability of the analysis. This study paves the way for investigating the roles of both well-characterized and previously uncharacterized neurons in Aplysia, and helps to adapt the neurocartography framework to other systems.
Prenatal thyroid hormones accelerate postnatal growth and telomere shortening in wild great tits
Authors: Hsu Bin-Yan , Cossin-Sevrin Nina , Stier Antoine , Ruuskanen Suvi
Published: December 2021

Early-life environment is known to affect later-life health and disease, which could be mediated by the early-life programming of telomere length, a key hallmark of ageing. According to thefetal programming of telomere biology hypothesis, variation in prenatal exposure to hormones is likely to influence telomere length. Yet the contribution of key metabolic hormones,i.e. thyroid hormones (THs), has been largely ignored. We recently showed that in contrast to predictions, exposure to elevated prenatal THs increased postnatal telomere length in wild collared flycatchers, but the generality of such effect, its underlying proximate mechanisms and consequences on survival have not been investigated. We therefore conducted a comprehensive study evaluating the impact of THs on potential drivers of telomere dynamics (growth, post-natal THs, mitochondria and oxidative stress), telomere length and medium-term survival using wild great tits as a model system. While prenatal THs did not significantly affect telomere length a week after hatching (i.e. day 7), they influenced postnatal telomere shortening (i.e. shorter telomeres at day 14 and the following winter) but not apparent survival. Circulating THs, mitochondrial density or oxidative stress biomarkers were not significantly influenced, whereas TH-supplemented group showed accelerated growth, which may explain the observed delayed effect on telomeres. We discuss several alternative hypotheses that may explain the contrast with our previous findings in flycatchers. Given that shorter telomeres in early life tend to be carried until adulthood and are often associated with decreased survival prospects, the effects of prenatal THs on telomeres may have long-lasting effects on senescence.
A radical approach to radicals
Authors: Liu Youjia , Biczysko Malgorzata , Moriarty Nigel W.
Published: December 2021

Nitroxide radicals are characterized by a long-lived spin-unpaired electronic ground state and are strongly sensitive to their chemical surroundings. Combined with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, these electronic features have led to the widespread application of nitroxide derivatives as spin labels for use in studying protein structure and dynamics. Site-directed spin labelling requires the incorporation of nitroxides into the protein structure, leading to a new protein–ligand molecular model. However, in protein crystallographic refinement nitroxides are highly unusual molecules with an atypical chemical composition. Because macromolecular crystallography is almost entirely agnostic to chemical radicals, their structural information is generally less accurate or even erroneous. In this work, proteins that contain an example of a radical compound (Chemical Component Dictionary ID MTN) from the nitroxide family were re-refined by defining its ideal structural parameters based on quantum-chemical calculations. The refinement results show that this procedure improves the MTN ligand geometries, while at the same time retaining higher agreement with experimental data.
Light-weight wideband antenna array with low sidelobes for SAR applications
Authors: Kazemi Reza , Fallah Mohsen , Abbasi Bijan , MohseniArmaki Seyyed Hossein
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to achieve the low-cost, light-weight and compact antenna array with wide bandwidth and low side lobe levels for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications in Ku frequency band.

Design/methodology/approach

A compact design of a rectangular microstrip patch antenna array using multilayered dielectric structure is presented in Ku-band for advanced broadband SAR systems. In this design, stepped pins are used to connect the microstrip feed lines to the radiating patches.

Findings

The simulation and fabrication results of the multilayered antenna and a 1×16-element linear array of the antenna with Taylor amplitude distribution in the feeding network are presented. The antenna element has a 10-dB impedance bandwidth of more than 26%, and the linear array shows reduction in bandwidth percentage (about 15.4%). Thanks to Taylor amplitude tapering, the side lobe level (SLL) of the array is lower than −24 dB. The maximum measured gains of the antenna element and the linear array are 7 and 19.2 dBi at the center frequency, respectively.

Originality/value

In the communication systems, a high gain narrow beamwidth radiation pattern achieved by an array of multiple antenna elements with optimized spacing is a solution to overcome the path loss, atmospheric loss, polarization loss, etc. Also, wideband characteristics and compact size are desirable in satellite and SAR systems. This paper provides the combination of these features by microstrip structures.
Application of the extended theory of planned behavior to street-food consumption: testing the effect of food neophobia among Indian consumers
Authors: Khanna Suvidha , Nagar Komal , Chauhan Vinay , Bhagat Sheetal
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to find out how food neophobia, perceived risk and perceived value affect their consumers' attitude and consumption intention toward street-food, when researching tourists' food consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework is tested using primary data collected from 445 tourists drawn from a main urban center of Jammu situated in northern India. Structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was used to analyze data using partial least squares (PLS) method.

Findings

Findings of the study provide evidence that perceived value of the street-food vendor through word of mouth (WoM) positively influenced tourists 2019 attitudes and intention to consumer street-food, while food neophobia lead to negative attitude and intention to consume. The findings further indicate that a significant negative relationship exists between perceived risk and intention to consume street-food.

Originality/value

Although several studies have been conducted in the past related to the food experiences of tourists at various destinations, the current study is the first attempt to offer an Asian perspective on and fresh insights into factors affecting tourists' street-food selection in unfamiliar environments. The paper is useful for both practitioners and academicians interested in tourist consumption behavior and food tourism, as it would help in developing effective marketing and operational strategies to develop tourism through street-vending management.
Influence of socioemotional wealth on non-family managers’ risk taking and product innovation in family businesses
Authors: Ng Poh Yen , Dayan Mumin , Makri Marianna
Published: December 2021

Purpose

There is a growing interest in understanding family firms’ strategic behavior using the socioemotional wealth (SEW) perspective. This study explores how family SEW dimensions influence non-family managers’ attitudes toward risk in the context of product innovation. This study also examines whether managerial risk-taking mediates the relationship between SEW and product innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a sample of 150 family firms in the United Arab Emirates and collects data from family owners and non-family managers via self-administered questionnaires. The study uses SmartPLS structural equation modeling to test the conceptual model and the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicate that multidimensional SEW influences non-family managers’ risk-taking behavior in different magnitudes and directions, thus impacting firms’ product innovation. Moreover, risk-taking partially mediates the relationship between SEW dimensions and product innovation.

Originality/value

While product innovation could be seen as a loss scenario for family firms due to the potential loss of SEW, growth, continuity and reputation outweighed the desire to maintain control for the firms in this sample. Thus, these firms encourage non-family managers to take risks in product innovation.
Influencing factors and paths of upgrading consumer goods industry in Shanghai: a FsQCA approach
Authors: Shen Lei , Sun Cong , Ali Muhammad
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study examines the factors that influence the improvement of the consumer goods sector in three dimensions (technology, internal factors and external environment) for exploring the upgrading paths of Shanghai's consumer goods industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper targeted eight sub-industries of consumer goods as case studies, including food processing, and investigated from qualitative and quantitative perspectives using the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework.

Findings

The study confirms the diversity of paths to promote the upgrading of the consumer goods industry in Shanghai, and three paths are summarized in this paper. The “human–environment” linkage upgrade path is to bring sufficient economic contribution to help industrial upgrading by expanding market share, and this path is suitable for large enterprises in the industry to adopt; the “internal factor aggregation” upgrading path is to strengthen the aggregation effect of resources, form industrial clusters and link high human aggregation with industrial aggregation to exert leverage to transform and upgrade the consumer goods industry, and this path is suitable for SMEs in the industry to adopt; the “technology–environment” linkage upgrade path is to use technological factors for product innovation to occupy a favorable market position, to obtain high economic returns and realize industrial upgrading under the joint action of technology and external environment, and this path is suitable for high-tech enterprises to adopt.

Originality/value

Shanghai still has a large area for growth toward foreign metropolises, under the backdrop of the strong development of new manufacturing. Also, to diversify their investment portfolio, the consumer goods industry should focus on population, job density and industrial growth while looking into industrial aggregation.
Development of empirically based customer-derived positioning taxonomy for consumer electronics sector in the Indian emerging market
Authors: Saqib Natasha , Satar Mir Shahid
Published: December 2021

Purpose

An Indian emerging market positioning taxonomy has been developed in response to the literature review's findings that existing positioning typologies/taxonomies are based on managerial perspectives rather than consumer/customer perceptions and are only developed for advanced countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a three-step process for developing and validating a scale in order to conduct its research. In the first phase, items are generated and selected based on a literature review, focus groups and expert opinion. Exploratory factor analysis is used to fine-tune the scale in the second phase. Phase 3 uses CFA to establish convergent, discriminant and nomological validity through the use of CFA.

Findings

A consumer-based taxonomy of positioning strategies were developed as a result of the research. Six distinct positioning strategies emerged that was named (1) Value for Money, (2) Functional (3) Premiumisation, (4) Promotional Campaign, (5) Brand Name (6) Visual Aesthetics.

Research limitations/implications

Developing and validating measurement scales will be made easier with the help of this paper. Target populations, industry and geography selection and a cross-sectional time horizon are just a few of the study's drawbacks.

Practical implications

The study's practical implications include six factors/strategies that managers, advertising executives and marketing experts of consumer electronics companies in the Indian emerging market could use to position their products, resulting in the overall success of their organisations.

Originality/value

This study adds to the marketing literature by providing a solid theoretical foundation and a validated instrument for operationalising positioning strategies.
Strategic leadership and management factors driving sustainability in health-care organizations in Thailand
Authors: Suriyankietkaew Suparak , Kungwanpongpun Pavinee
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This empirical study aims to identify the essential strategic leadership and management factors underlying sustainability in healthcare. It also examines which factors drive sustainability performance outcomes (SPO) in health-care organizations, an analysis lacking to date. It provides a strategic leadership and management perspective toward sustainable healthcare, responding to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation adopted Sustainable Leadership as its research framework. Using a cross-sectional survey, 543 employees working in health-care and pharmaceutical companies in Thailand voluntarily provided responses. Factor analyses and structural equation modeling were employed.

Findings

The results revealed an emergent research model and identified 20 unidimensional strategic leadership and management factors toward sustainability in healthcare. The findings indicate significant positive effects on SPO in health-care organizations. Significant factors include human resource management/development, ethics, quality, environment and social responsibility, and stakeholder considerations.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted in one country. Future studies should examine these relationships in diverse contexts. In practice, health-care firms should foster significant strategic leadership and management practices to improve performance outcomes for sustainability in healthcare.

Originality/value

This paper is the first empirical, multidisciplinary study with a focus on strategic leadership, health-care management and organizational sustainability. It identifies a proxy for measuring the effects of essential strategic leadership and managerial factors for sustainability in pharmaceutical health-care companies. It advances our currently limited knowledge and provides managerial implications for improving performance outcomes toward sustainable healthcare.
Two facets of pride and knowledge hiding: an empirical analysis
Authors: Han Myat Su , Hampson Daniel Peter , Wang Yonggui
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether or not the two facets of pride, hubristic and authentic, are associated with knowledge hiding.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collects survey data (N = 343) from one of the leading information technology (IT) companies in Myanmar at two stages with a two-month interval. This study uses multiple regression analyses to test this study’s hypotheses.

Findings

Results reveal that hubristic pride is positively related to knowledge hiding, whereas the relationship between authentic pride and knowledge hiding is negative. These relationships are contingent upon the level of employees’ self-efficacy.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests that managers should include measures for moral emotions in their recruitment and selection criteria. Furthermore, the authors suggest that managers should design strategies to induce moral emotions at the workplace and enhance personal resources (e.g. self-efficacy), which have an instrumental effect in maximizing the prosocial facet of pride (i.e. authentic pride) as well as minimizing adverse experiences of the antisocial facet of pride (i.e. hubristic pride), thereby reducing knowledge hiding.

Originality/value

The findings shed light on the significance of the inclusion of emotional variables in understanding employees’ knowledge hiding. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first empirical study to examine the combined effect of emotive and cognitive variables in predicting knowledge hiding by demonstrating that hubristic pride only mitigates knowledge hiding behavior among high self-efficacious employees.