bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-NMDAR encephalitis antibodies cause long-lasting degradation of the hippocampal neural representation of memory
Authors: Zamani AmirPasha , Peixoto-Moledo Paula , Tomàs David P. , Rotstein Horacio G. , Dalmau Josep , Jercog Pablo E.
Published: November 2022

N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome together with a reduction of NMDAR. Although in most patients the life-threatening symptoms of the acute stage resolve with immunotherapy, memory and executive functions remain altered for several months or years. A mechanistic explanation for these long-lasting cognitive effects is still lacking and previous animal models have not explored this effect.

Here, we combined repeat calcium imaging of the same population of hundreds of hippocampal CA1 neurons for three months along with two behavioral tasks to assess retrograde and anterograde memory loss using a reported mouse model of cerebroventricular transfer of patients’ CSF antibodies. We measured how memory-related neuronal activity is affected by the presence of NMDAR antibodies during the induction of the model and its long-lasting recovery. In addition, we developed a computational model that provides a mechanistic explanation for the long-term antibody-mediated impairment of memory.

The findings show that the presence of antibodies leads to an increase of CA1 neuronal firing rate, resulting in a reduction of the amount of information encoded by these cells. Furthermore, the antibodies cause a degradation of the hippocampal neuronal response stability over time, providing a neural correlate of memory dysfunction. All these neuronal alterations span the 3 months of recordings, and in some cases beyond the last recording point. The computational model shows that a reduction of NMDAR is sufficient to cause the changes observed in neuronal activity, including the different involvement of excitatory and inhibitory inputs to CA1 neurons.

Altogether, we show that the antibody-mediated reduction of NMDAR leads to long-term changes in hippocampal neuronal activity which extend far beyond the antibody clearance, providing a mechanism that can account for the cognitive deficits observed in the protracted recovery of patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
Kinetic models for PET displacement studies
Authors: Laurell Gjertrud Louise , Plavén-Sigray Pontus , Johansen Annette , Raval Nakul Ravi , Nasser Arafat , Madsen Clara Aabye , Madsen Jacob , Hansen Hanne Demant , Donovan Lene Lundgaard , Knudsen Gitte Moos , Lammertsma Adriaan A , Ogden R Todd , Svarer Claus , Schain Martin
Published: November 2022

The traditional design of PET target engagement studies is based on a baseline scan and one or more scans after drug administration. We here evaluate an alternative design in which the drug is administered during an on-going scan (i.e., a displacement study). This approach results both in lower radiation exposure and lower costs. Existing kinetic models assume steady state. This condition is not present during a drug displacement and consequently, our aim here was to develop kinetic models for analysing PET displacement data.

We modified existing compartment models to accommodate a time-variant increase in occupancy following the pharmacological in-scan intervention. Since this implies the use of differential equations that cannot be solved analytically, we developed instead one approximate and one numerical solution. Through simulations, we show that if the occupancy is relatively high, it can be estimated without bias and with good accuracy. The models were applied to PET data from six pigs where [11C]UCB-J was displaced by intravenous brivaracetam. The dose-occupancy relationship estimated from these scans showed good agreement with occupancies calculated with Lassen plot applied to baseline-block scans of two pigs. In summary, the proposed models provide a framework to determine target occupancy from a single displacement scan.
Beyond viral detection: multitrophic effects of covert infection with an RNA virus in medfly
Authors: Hernández-Pelegrín Luis , García-Martínez Ricardo , Llácer Elena , Nieves Lorena , Llopis-Giménez Ángel , Catalá-Oltra Marta , Dembilio Óscar , Pérez-Hedo Meritxell , Urbaneja Alberto , Ros Vera I.D. , Beitia Francisco , Herrero Salvador
Published: November 2022

Summary/abstract

Background

With the advent of high-throughput sequencing, large sets of insect-infecting RNA viruses producing apparent asymptomatic infections are being discovered. In the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly)Ceratitis capitata, an agricultural key pest of a wide range of fruits, up to 13 different RNA viruses have been described. Recent analysis demonstrated a wide distribution of these viruses in different medfly strains collected worldwide, but little is known about the interactions between those viruses and the medfly host. Previous studies suggested that a higher abundance of Ceratitis capitata nora virus (CcaNV) decreased medfly developmental time. Here, we investigated the effect of CcaNV on a broad range of parameters related to host fitness and its interaction with other trophic levels.

Results

CcaNV purified from a naturally infected medfly strain was used to infect CcaNV-free flies orally and subsequently monitor pupal weight, adult emergence, flying ability and longevity. Our results revealed detrimental effects associated with a CcaNV infection in the medfly, in terms of reduced pupal weight and reduced adult longevity. Moreover, we tested the influence of a CcaNV infection in medflies on the parasitism performance ofAganaspis daci, a medfly endoparasitoid used in biological control programs against medflies. Our results showed thatA. daciprogeny increased when parasitizing on CcaNV-infected larvae.

Conclusions

Our results proved that covert RNA viruses can impact on the insect ecology, directly affecting its insect host biology and indirectly influencing multitrophic interactions.
Extracellular matrix protein anosmin-1 overexpression regulates dopaminergic phenotype in the CNS and the PNS with no pathogenic consequences in MPTP model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Villadiego Javier , García-Swinburn Roberto , García-González Diego , Lebrón-Galán Rafael , Murcia-Belmonte Verónica , García-Roldán Ernesto , Suárez-Luna Nela , Nombela Cristina , Marchena Miguel , de Castro Fernando , Toledo-Aral Juan José
Published: November 2022

The development and survival of dopaminergic neurons are influenced by the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway. Anosmin-1 (A1) is an extracellular matrix protein that acts as a major regulator of this signaling pathway, controlling FGF diffusion, and receptor interaction and shuttling. Furthermore, overexpression of A1in vivogives rise to higher number of dopaminergic neurons in the olfactory bulb. Here, using A1 overexpressing mice (A1-mice), we studied the effects of A1 on different populations of catecholaminergic neurons in the central (CNS) and the peripheral nervous systems (PNS). A1 overexpression increases the number of dopaminergic SNpc neurons and alters the striosome/matrix organization of the striatum. Interestingly, these numerical and morphological changes in the nigrostriatal pathway of A1-mice do not confer an altered susceptibility to experimental MPTP-parkinsonism with respect to wild type controls. Moreover, the study of the effects of A1 overexpression was extended to different dopaminergic tissues associated with the PNS, detecting a significant reduction in the number of dopaminergic chemosensitive carotid body glomus cells in A1-mice. Overall, these analyses confirm A1 as a principal regulator of the FGF pathway in the development and survival of dopaminergic neurons in different nuclei of the mammalian nervous system.
Virulence adaptation ofPseudomonas aeruginosaphospholipase mutant with altered membrane phospholipid composition
Authors: Caliskan Muttalip , Poschmann Gereon , Gudzuhn Mirja , Waldera-Lupa Daniel , Streit Wolfgang R. , Jaeger Karl-Erich , Stühler Kai , Kovacic Filip
Published: November 2022

Membrane protein and phospholipid (PL) composition changes in response to environmental cues and during infections. Covalent modification and remodelling of the acyl chain length of PLs is an important bacterial adaptation mechanism. However, little is known about which bacterial pathways are regulated in response to altered PL composition. Here, we showed thatP. aeruginosaphospholipase A, PlaF, which modulates membrane PL composition, is important for biofilm biogenesis, and we performed whole-cell quantitative proteomics ofP. aeruginosawild-type and ΔplaFbiofilms to identify pathways regulated by PlaF. The results revealed profound alterations in the abundance of several two-component systems (TCSs), including accumulation of PprAB, which controls the transition to biofilm. Furthermore, a unique phosphorylation pattern of transcriptional regulators, transporters and metabolic enzymes, as well as differential production of seven proteases, in ΔplaF, indicate that PlaF-mediated virulence adaptation involves complex transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation. Moreover, proteomics revealed the depletion of pyoverdine-mediated iron uptake pathway proteins in ΔplaF, which agrees with the decreased concentrations of extracellular pyoverdine and intracellular iron and is likely responsible for its prolonged lag growth phase, presumably due to reduced iron uptake. Conversely, the accumulation of proteins from alternative iron-uptake systems in ΔplaFsuggests that PlaF may function as a switch between different iron-acquisition pathways. The observation that ΔplaFaccumulates PL-acyl chain modifying and PL synthesis enzymes reveals novel insights into the role of PlaF for membrane PL homeostasis. Although the precise mechanism by which PlaF simultaneously affects multiple pathways remains to be elucidated, we suggest that PlaF-catalyses the degradation of PLs which then serve as a signal that is amplified by proteins of two-component, phosphorylation and proteolytic degradation systems to elicit the global adaptive response inP. aeruginosa.
A back-translational study of descending interactions with central mechanisms of hyperalgesia induced by high frequency stimulation in rat and human
Authors: Patel Ryan , Taylor Joseph L , Dickenson Anthony H , McMahon Stephen B , Bannister Kirsty
Published: November 2022

In humans and animals, high frequency electrocutaneous stimulation (HFS) may produce an ‘early long-term potentiation-like’ sensitisation. Peripheral and central modulatory processes are proposed to play a role. To explore the impact of descending inhibitory pathway activation on the development of HFS-induced hyperalgesia, we concurrently applied HFS with i) a conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm during psychophysical testing in humans, or ii) a diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) paradigm duringin vivoelectrophysiological recording of spinal neurones in anaesthetised animals in parallel studies that utilised identical stimuli. HFS induced enhanced perceptual responses to pin-prick stimuli in cutaneous areas secondary to the area of stimulation in humans and heightened the excitability of spinal neurones in rats (which exhibited stimulus intensity dependent coded responses to pin-prick stimulation in a manner that tracked with human psychophysics), where we also observed indicators of increased central neuronal hyperexcitability. In humans, a HFS(+CPM) paradigm did not alter primary or secondary hyperalgesia, and the area and pain intensity of secondary hyperalgesia did not correlate with temporal summation of pain or CPM magnitude, while in rats application of a DNIC paradigm concurrent to HFS did not impact the development of neuronal hyperexcitability. Concordance between human and rat data supports their translational validity. Our finding that excitatory signalling exceeds inhibitory controls suggests that dampening facilitatory mechanisms may be a preferable strategy for certain chronic pain states. If facilitatory mechanisms dominate, our data could explain why enhancing activity in descending inhibitory controls is not sufficient to induce pain relief in vulnerable patients.
Self-Regulation of Visual Word Form Area activation with real-time fMRI neurofeedback
Authors: Haugg Amelie , Frei Nada , Menghini Milena , Stutz Felizia , Steinegger Sara , Röthlisberger Martina , Brem Silvia
Published: November 2022

The Visual Word Form Area (VWFA) is a key region of the brain’s reading network and its activation has been shown to be strongly associated with reading skills. Here, for the first time, we investigated whether voluntary regulation of VWFA activity is feasible using real-time fMRI neurofeedback. 40 adults with typical reading skills were instructed to either upregulate (UP group) or downregulate (DOWN group) their own VWFA activity during six neurofeedback training runs. The VWFA target region was individually defined based on a functional localizer task. Before and after training, also regulation runs without feedback (“no-feedback runs”) were performed.

When comparing the two groups, we found stronger activity across the whole reading network, including the VWFA, for the UP than the DOWN group. Crucially, we observed a significant interaction of group and time (pre, post) for the no-feedback runs: The two groups did not differ in their VWFA activity before neurofeedback training, but the UP group showed significantly stronger activity than the DOWN group after neurofeedback training. Our results indicate that self-regulation of the VWFA activity is feasible and that, once learned, successful self-regulation can even be performed in the absence of feedback. These results are a crucial step toward to development of a potential clinical intervention to improve reading skills in individuals with reading impairments.
Flux analysis reveals specific regulatory modalities of gene expression
Authors: Martin Benjamin , Suter David Michael
Published: November 2022

The level of a given protein is determined by rates of mRNA and protein synthesis and degradation. The reliable quantification of these rates is thus essential to understand how protein levels are regulated. While several studies have quantified the contribution of different steps of gene expression in regulating protein levels, these are limited by the use of equilibrium approximations when studying out-of-equilibrium biological systems. Here we introduce flux analysis to quantify the contribution of gene expression steps to regulate the dynamics of the expression level for specific proteins. We use flux analysis to analyze a published RNA-seq and proteomics dataset of mouse bone marrow-derived DCs stimulated with LPS. Our analysis revealed six regulatory modalities shared by sets of genes with clear functional signatures. We also find that protein degradation plays a stronger role than expected in the adaptation of protein levels to LPS stimulation. These findings suggest that shared regulatory strategies can lead to versatile responses at the protein level and highlight the importance of going beyond steady-state approximations to uncover the dynamic contribution of different steps of gene expression to protein levels.
PTHrP buffers Wnt/β-catenin activity through a negative feedback loop to maintain articular cartilage homeostasis
Authors: Tong Wenxue , Xu Jiankun , Qi Qiuli , Chen Hongjiang , Huang Tao , Chen Chunxia , Liu Weiyang , Huang Zhonglian , Chen Youbin , Ma Zebin , Zhao Di , Hu Jun
Published: November 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease worldwide and a leading cause of disability. The Wnt/β-catenin cascade is essential in articular cartilage development and homeostasis. It has proved that both overexpression and loss of β-catenin lead to cartilage degeneration and OA symptoms. However, the mechanism of Wnt/β-catenin balance in healthy cartilage remains unclear. In the present work, we confirmed that the Wnt/β-catenin activation and PTHrP suppression in cartilage during the post-traumatic OA process. Then, we demonstrated that Wnt/β-catenin upregulated PTHrP expression through binding to its promoter (P2), and induce mRNA (AT6) transcript expression, while PTHrP repressed Wnt/β-catenin activity, and formed a Wnt/β-catenin-PTHrP negative feedback loop in the very primary chondrocytes to maintain cartilage homeostasis. However, this negative feedback loop vanished in dedifferentiated chondrocytes, hypertrophic chondrocytes, and IL-1β treated very primary chondrocytes. We further found that miR-106b-5p was increased in these “aberrant” chondrocytes and directly targeted PTHrP mRNA to abolish the feedback loop. PKC-ζ was activated by PTHrP through phosphorylation at Thr410/403, and subsequently induced β-catenin phosphorylation and ubiquitination. Finally, we disclosed that exogenous PTHrP attenuated OA progression exogenous PTHrP attenuated OA progression. Together, these findings reveal that PTHrP is a vital mediator to keep Wnt/β-catenin activity homeostasis in healthy cartilage through a negative feedback loop, and PTHrP might be a therapeutic target for OA and cartilage regeneration.
Dendritic modulation enables multitask representation learning in hierarchical sensory processing pathways
Authors: Wybo Willem A.M. , Tsai Matthias C. , Khoa Tran Viet Anh , Illing Bernd , Jordan Jakob , Morrison Abigail , Senn Walter
Published: November 2022

While sensory representations in the brain depend on context, it remains unclear how such modulations are implemented at the biophysical level, and how processing layers further in the hierarchy can extract useful features for each possible contextual state. Here, we first demonstrate that thin dendritic branches are well suited to implementing contextual modulation of feedforward processing. Such neuron-specific modulations exploit prior knowledge, encoded in stable feedforward weights, to achieve transfer learning across contexts. In a network of biophysically realistic neuron models with context-independent feedforward weights, we show that modulatory inputs to thin dendrites can solve linearly non-separable learning problems with a Hebbian, error-modulated learning rule. Finally, we demonstrate that local prediction of whether representations originate either from different inputs, or from different contextual modulations of the same input, results in representation learning of hierarchical feedforward weights across processing layers that accommodate a multitude of contexts.
Intraspecific diversity in the mechanisms underlying abamectin resistance in a cosmopolitan pest
Authors: Villacis-Perez Ernesto , Xue Wenxin , Vandenhole Marilou , De Beer Berdien , Dermauw Wannes , Van Leeuwen Thomas
Published: November 2022

Pesticide resistance relies on a myriad of mechanisms, ranging from single mutations to a complex and polygenic architecture, and it involves mechanisms such as target-site insensitivity, metabolic detoxification, or a combination of these, with either additive or synergistic effects. Several resistance mechanisms against abamectin, a macrocyclic lactone widely used in crop protection, have been reported in the cosmopolitan pestTetranychus urticae. However, it has been shown that a single mechanism cannot account for the high levels of abamectin resistance found across different mite populations. Here, we used experimental evolution combined with bulked segregant analyses to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with abamectin resistance in two genetically unrelated strains ofT. urticae. In these two independent QTL mapping experiments, three and four QTLs were identified, of which three were shared between experiments. Shared QTLs contained genes encoding subunits of the glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) and harboured previously reported mutations, including G314D inGluCl1and G326E inGluCl3, but also novel resistance candidate loci, including DNA helicases and chemosensory receptors. Surprisingly, the fourth QTL, present only in only one of the experiments and thus unique for one parental resistant strain, revealed a non-functional variant ofGluCl2, suggesting gene knock-out as resistance mechanism. Our study uncovers the complex basis of abamectin resistance, and it highlights the intraspecific diversity of genetic mechanisms underlying resistance in a cosmopolitan pest.
An ultra-fast, proteome-wide response to the plant hormone auxin
Authors: Roosjen Mark , Kuhn Andre , Mutte Sumanth K. , Boeren Sjef , Krupar Pavel , Koehorst Jasper , Fendrych Matyáš , Friml Jiří , Weijers Dolf
Published: November 2022

The plant signaling molecule auxin controls growth and development through a simple nuclear pathway that regulates gene expresion. There are however several cellular and physiological responses to auxin that occur within seconds, far too rapid to be mediated by transcriptional changes, for which no molecular mechanism has yet been identified. Using a phosphoproteomic strategy inArabidopsis thalianaroots, we identify an ultra-rapid auxin response system that targets over 1700 proteins, many within 30 seconds. Auxin response is chemically specific, requires known auxin-binding proteins, and targets various pathways. Through exploring its temporal dynamics, we infer auxin-triggered kinase-substrate networks and identify apoplastic pH changes as a target of signaling and as part of a relay mechanism. By generating a variety of phosphoproteomic datasets, integrated with structural information in a web-app, and by demonstrating analysis and inference strategies, we offer a resource to explore rapid and dynamic signaling in plants.
A serine-folate metabolic unit controls resistance and tolerance of infection
Authors: Grimes Krista , Beckwith Esteban J. , Pearson William H. , Jacobson Jake , Chaudhari Surabhi , Aughey Gabriel N. , Larrouy-Maumus Gerald , Southall Tony D. , Dionne Marc S.
Published: November 2022

Immune activation drives metabolic change in most animals. Immune-induced metabolic change is most conspicuous as a driver of pathology in serious or prolonged infection, but it is normally expected to be important to support immune function and recovery. Many of the signalling mechanisms linking immune detection with metabolic regulation, and their specific consequences, are unknown. Here, we show thatDrosophila melanogasterrespond to many bacterial infections by altering expression of genes of the folate cycle and associated enzymes of amino acid metabolism. The net result of these changes is increased flow of carbon from glycolysis into serine and glycine synthesis and a shift of folate cycle activity from the cytosol into the mitochondrion. Immune-induced transcriptional induction ofastrayandNmdmc, the two most-induced of these enzymes, depends onDifandfoxo. Loss ofastrayorNmdmcresults in infection-specific immune defects. Our work thus shows a key mechanism that connects immune-induced changes in metabolic signalling with the serine-folate metabolic unit to result in changed immune function.
3D Analysis of the Force Generated by a Honeybee During Flight
Authors: Mahadeeswara Mandiyam Y. , Srinivasan Mandyam V.
Published: November 2022

To better understand the turning flight characteristics of the bees, we developed a procedure for estimating the instantaneous total force generated by the bee, along with its centrifugal force component, at each instant of time. We calculated the magnitude and direction of the total force vector (TFV) with respect to the three body axes of the bee and examined its variation with time during turning flights. The results of this study revealed that turns in the cloud are executed by (a) holding the magnitude of the TFV vector constant and (b) by redirecting the body (and therefore the turning force) appropriately to execute a coordinated turn. We also calculated and analysed the TFVs of bees flying in a curved tunnel. The characteristics of these TFVs (magnitude and direction) are very similar to those for bees flying in the cloud. This is a novel finding as there are no studies which have estimated the instantaneous flight force magnitude and direction of a turning bee (these are not saccadic or evasive turns) in an outdoor or indoor setup. However, similar results have been reported for pigeons and cockatiels while executing smooth turns in the horizontal plane.
GSK3 inhibition reverts mesenchymal transition in human primary corneal endothelial cells
Authors: Maurizi Eleonora , Merra Alessia , Macaluso Claudio , Schiroli Davide , Pellegrini Graziella
Published: November 2022

Human corneal endothelial cells are organized in a tight mosaic of hexagonal cells and serve a critical function in maintaining corneal hydration and clear vision. Regeneration of the corneal endothelial tissue is hampered by its poor proliferative capacity, which is partially retrievedin vitro, albeit only for a limited number of passages before the cells undergo mesenchymal transition (EnMT). Although different culture conditions have been proposed in order to delay this process and prolong the number of cell passages, EnMT has still not been fully understood and successfully counteracted. In this perspective, we identified herein a single GSK3 inhibitor, CHIR99021, able to revert and avoid EnMT in primary human corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs) from old donors until late passagesin vitro(P8), as shown from cell morphology analysis (circularity). In accordance, CHIR99021 reduced expression of α-SMA, an EnMT marker, while restored endothelial markers such as ZO-1, Na+/K+ATPase and N-cadherin, without increasing cell proliferation. A further analysis on RNA expression confirmed CHIR99021 induced downregulation of EnMT markers (αSMA and CD44), upregulation of the proliferation repressor p21 and revealed novel insights into the β-catenin and TGFβ pathways intersections in HCEnCs. The use of CHIR99021 sheds light on the mechanisms involved in EnMT and brings a substantial advantage in maintaining primary HCEnCs in culture until late passages, while preserving the correct morphology and phenotype. Altogether, these results bring crucial advancements towards the improvement of the corneal endothelial cells based therapy.
Notch inhibition rescues TNF-α mediated block in multiciliated ependymal cell differentiation: Implications for hydrocephalus therapy
Authors: Adeyemi Clementine , Abdi Khadar
Published: November 2022

Hydrocephalus is a prevalent condition among newborns leading to substantial neurocognitive and motor impairment. Novel therapies are needed to supplant invasive surgeries, but identifying targetable cells and pathways remains a hurdle to devising alternative pharmacological options. Multiciliated ependymal cells (MECs) promote cerebrospinal fluid flow within brain ventricles, and their dysfunction is associated with various forms of hydrocephalus. Here we show that an acute exposure to TNF-α strongly impairs the conversion of ependymal cell radial glial progenitors (ecRGPs) into MECs. Inhibition of MEC differentiation was correlated with elevated expression levels of notch pathway effectors normally downregulated prior to the transition of ecRGPs into MECs. TNF-α inhibitedMulticilingene upregulation along with downstream genes critical for centriole amplification and multicilia formation, resulting in cells with greatly diminished basal bodies and multicilia. Treatment with notch inhibitor DBZ, either in parallel with TNF-α or sequentially days later, rescued MEC differentiation and expression of genes required for multicilia formation. These results provide a rationale for how TNFα can impair MEC development, and they offer a targetable pathway to the treatment of some forms of hydrocephalus.
Preparation of inactivated whole culture vaccine composed ofPasteurella multocida, Avibacterium paragallinarum, andOrnithobacterium rhinotrachealeand evaluation of its protective efficacy in chickens
Authors: Roshdy Sally , Soliman Rafik , Aly Manal A. , Omar Lamiaa , Samir Ahmed , Abo-Elyazeed Heidy , Aboul-Ella Hassan
Published: November 2022

Poultry, mainly chickens and its white meat represents one of the main, nutritionally valuable, and affordable red meat replacer source of protein throughout the whole world with special reference to developing countries. A long list of microbial agents especially bacterial pathogens threat chickens production cycles. They constitute one of the major problems facing the rapidly expanding poultry industry and are responsible for considerable economic losses.). Fowl Cholera, Infectious Coryza, and Ornithobacterium Rhinotracheale (ORT) diseases were among the serious bacterial infections that affect respiratory tract of chickens with an global adverse effect on poultry production. A formalized whole culture vaccine of composed ofP. multocidaserotypes A5, A8, A9 and D2,Avibacterium paragallinarumserotype A and C andOrnithobacterium rhinotrachealeserotype A was prepared. This polyvalent vaccine proved to be safe producing no adverse side effects when injected in chickens. The immunizing efficacy of this vaccine was evaluated in SPF chickens, which were immunized at 6 weeks of age. The protective efficacy of the vaccine was determined using challenge test. The developed vaccine was effective in protecting chickens against Fowl Cholera, Infectious Coryza and Ornithobacterium Infection (ORT diseases) in chickens against challenge with these pathogens. Vaccinated chickens challenged with virulentPasteurella Multocidaserotypes A5, A8, A9 and D2 showed protection rates of 86.6%, 93.3%, 93.3% and 93.3%, respectively, as compared with 100% mortality in the non-vaccinated control. Vaccinated chickens challenged withAvibacterium paragallinarumserotypes A and C showed protection rates of 86.6% and 93.3%, respectively. Also, the protection rate against challenge with virulentOrnithobacterium rhinotrachealeserotype A reached to 96.6%.
Sex-differences in prostaglandin signaling: a semi-systematic review and characterization of PTGDS expression in human sensory neurons
Authors: Shen Breanna Q. , Sankaranarayanan Ishwarya , Price Theodore J. , Tavares-Ferreira Diana
Published: November 2022

There is increasing evidence of sex differences in underlying mechanisms causing pain in preclinical models, and in clinical populations. There are also important disconnects between clinical pain populations and the way preclinical pain studies are conducted. For instance, osteoarthritis pain more frequently affects women but most preclinical studies have been conducted using males in animal models. The most widely used painkillers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), act on the prostaglandin pathway by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the preclinical and clinical literature on the role of prostaglandins and COX in inflammation and pain. We aimed to specifically identify studies that used both sexes and investigate whether any sex-differences in the action of prostaglandins and COX inhibition had been reported, either in clinical or preclinical studies. We conducted a PubMed search and identified 369 preclinical studies and 100 clinical studies that matched our inclusion/exclusion criteria. Our analysis shows that only 17% of preclinical studies on prostaglandins used both sexes and, out of those, only 19% analyzed or reported data in a sex-aware fashion. In contrast, 79% of the clinical studies analyzed used both sexes. However, only 6% of those reported data in a sex-aware fashion. Interestingly, 14 out of 15 preclinical studies and 5 out of 6 clinical studies that analyzed data in a sex-aware fashion have identified sex-differences. This builds on the increasing evidence of sex-differences in prostaglandin signaling and the importance of sex-awareness in data analysis. The preclinical literature identifies a sex difference in prostaglandin D2synthase (PTGDS) expression where it is higher in female than in male rodents in the nervous system. We experimentally validated that PTGDS expression is higher in female human dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons recovered from organ donors. Our semi-systematic literature review reveals a need for continued inclusivity of both male and female animals in prostaglandins studies and sex-aware analysis in data analysis in preclinical and clinical studies. Our finding of sex-differences in neuronal PTGDS expression in humans exemplifies the need for a more comprehensive understanding of how the prostaglandin system functions in the DRG in rodents and humans.
Emergent perceptual biases from state-space geometry in spiking recurrent neural networks trained to discriminate time intervals
Authors: Serrano-Fernández Luis , Beirán Manuel , Parga Néstor
Published: November 2022

A stimulus held in working memory is perceived as contracted towards the average stimulus. This contraction bias has been extensively studied in psychophysics, but little is known about its origin from neural activity. By training recurrent networks of spiking neurons to discriminate temporal intervals, we explored the causes of this bias and how behavior relates to population firing activity. We found that the trained networks exhibited animal-like behavior. Various geometric features of neural trajectories in state space encoded warped representations of the durations of the first interval modulated by sensory history. Formulating a novel normative model, we showed that these representations conveyed a Bayesian estimate of the interval durations, thus relating activity and behavior. Importantly, our findings demonstrate that Bayesian computations already occur during the sensory phase of the first stimulus and persist throughout its maintenance in working memory, until the time of stimulus comparison.
Barriers to corporate social responsibility performance in construction organizations
Authors: Nguyen Minh Van
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to identify and prioritize barriers to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the construction sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was first conducted to identify barriers to CSR performance. After that, construction professionals were invited to validate the appropriateness of the obstacles. The discussion allowed the establishment of a list of barriers to CSR performance and their corresponding categories. Data collected from the survey were then analyzed to prioritize the importance of these barriers by the fuzzy DEMATEL-based ANP (DANP) technique.

Findings

The findings presented 16 barriers to CSR, which were categorized into four clusters. The fuzzy DANP analysis showed that strategic vision is the most crucial cluster, followed by the measurement system, stakeholder perspective and scarce resources. Among the sixteen barriers examined, lack of awareness, knowledge and information of CSR; low priority of CSR; lack of metrics to quantify CSR benefits; lack of guidelines and coherent strategies; and lack of CSR enforcement mechanism are the five most crucial barriers.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first that proposes a comprehensive model to prioritize barriers to CSR performance of contractors considering their interrelationships. It provides construction stakeholders with a framework for understanding the linkage between the barriers and CSR framework under the umbrella of stakeholder theory. Thus, the findings might assist construction practitioners and academics in fostering the success of CSR implementation.
Covid-19 and informational efficiency in Asian emerging markets: a comparative study of conventional and Shariah-compliant stocks
Authors: Raza Muhammad Wajid , Said Bahrawar , Elshahat Ahmed
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to provide a comparative insight into the level of informational efficiency and irregularities of Shariah-compliant stocks and conventional stocks in three emerging markets, namely, China, Malaysia and Pakistan. The empirical evidence is provided for pre-crisis and crisis periods caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Informational efficiency is measured using the variance ratio (VR) Test developed by Kim (2006). The Approximate Entropy (ApEn) Metrics is used to investigate the level of irregularities in stock prices caused by the pandemic.

Findings

All the three emerging markets in the sample are not immune to the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic. The level of informational efficiency of both the Shariah-compliant and conventional stock is affected by the crisis. However, the former exhibits relatively high level of informational efficiency and stability in returns as compared to more volatility of conventional stocks.

Practical implications

This study provides market agents and policy makers with a robust assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on informational efficiency of Shariah-compliant and conventional stocks. Relatively high informational efficiency of Shariah-compliant stocks indicates that they are more transparent and that investors can trust the Shariah-compliant stocks more. This higher level of transparency and trust leads to more steady returns and lower levels of risk even during turbulent time like Covid-19. Investors can gain superior returns by conducting fundamental analysis and investing in index funds.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that highlights the difference in informational efficiency of conventional stocks and Shariah-compliant stocks in the crisis period caused by Covid-19. Unlike previous studies, this study uses firm level data which enables firm-wise assessment of informational efficiency.
An assessment of the linkages between the construction and other sectors of the Nigerian economy
Authors: Saka Najimu , Arowoiya Victor
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The construction sector (CNS) occupies a very unique position in any economy depending on whether developed or developing economy. The size and linkages of the CNS are expected to be high to help push or pull the economy from developing to developed economy through elaborate forward and backward linkages, a cardinal aim of developing economies. This paper aims to investigate the forward and backward linkages of the CNS in the Nigerian economy.

Design/methodology/approach

In contrast to the traditional input–output analysis to assess sectoral economic performance and production interdependence, this paper used econometric techniques, including unit root test, cointegration test and Granger causality test to analyze the data. Time-series data (TSD) for the study were extracted from United Nations Statistical Department database.

Findings

The result indicated that the CNS has low forward linkages but high backward linkages to virtually all the sectors of the Nigerian economy. Thus, the outputs of construction mainly satisfy the manufacturing and other activities.

Originality/value

The paper gives an insight into the construction on backward linkages but less extensive forward linkages. The paper recommends a massive local content development of sector to deepen backward and forward linkages and thus helps pull or push weak sectors out of stagnation.
Alternative paths to high mass customization capability and the subsequent performance outcome
Authors: Sheng Hongyan , Feng Taiwen , Liu Lunming
Published: November 2022

Purpose

According to sociotechnical systems theory, this study examines the configurational effects of modularity (product and process modularity), supply chain integration (information, operational and relational integration) and the characteristics of customer need (customer need tacitness and diversity) on MCC and the impact of high MCC generated by different configurations on economic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study tests the model by combining fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) with propensity score matching methods based on data from 277 Chinese manufacturers.

Findings

The authors identify four equifinal configurations sufficient for high MCC and categorize them into three types: modularity + integration oriented, integration + customer need oriented, modularity + integration + customer need balance. The results further indicate that the high MCC triggered by three types of configuration affects economic performance in different ways.

Practical implications

The results deliver an important message to manufacturing enterprises that high MCC can be achieved through multiple equally-effective combinations. Moreover, managers should focus on the fit between multiple conditions and choose the appropriate pathway to enhance economic performance.

Originality/value

From a configurational perspective, these findings enrich the literature on enablers and performance outcomes of MCC by introducing an integrated model.
Wearing leadership bi-focals in the post-pandemic university
Authors: Lieberman Devorah
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to provide insight for higher education leaders about how to navigate the immediate needs and long-term needs of an institution. COVID-19 disrupted higher education in unprecedented ways, but the post-pandemic world is proving to be just as challenging – if not more so. Presidents and higher education leaders must be nimble, prepared and multi-skilled to address immediate challenges while making the tough strategic decisions to ensure that colleges and universities remain viable and sustainable for generations to come.

Design/methodology/approach

This discussion focuses on the dual vision and the leadership skills that are essential in addressing both the short-term and long-term threats to colleges and universities resulting from the COVID pandemic (wearing leadership bi-focals). It analyzes the post-pandemic trends that are adversely impacting the future of higher education and details how the President is guiding her team at the University of La Verne through this generational crisis – a process she describes as wearing leadership bifocals.

Findings

What began as a sudden global health crisis has shaken institutions of higher education to their core, challenging some of the very foundations upon which they were built. By adopting a bifocal strategy, the University of La Verne can more clearly assess the challenges it faces in the post-pandemic world and the new opportunities around the corner. While this approach ultimately is a team effort, effective implementation requires leadership from the top. The entire campus community is depending on the President to inspire and lead.

Research limitations/implications

Much has been written about leadership during these troubling times in higher education. This paper is intended hoped to offer a best-practices approach for college and university Presidents in engaging their campus communities in addressing the short- and long-term challenges facing them.

Originality/value

The author’s lengthy experience as a University president and Provost – along with a focus on communication skills – provides a unique framework for addressing the complex challenges confronting higher education.
Synthesis and characterization of vanillin derived bio-based benzoxazine resin for high temperature application
Authors: Patil Dhananjay A. , Naiker Vidhukrishnan Ekambaram , Phalak Ganesh A. , Chugh Karan W. , Mhaske S.T.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to synthesize two different benzoxazines (Bz) monomers using bio-based and petroleum-based primary amines, respectively, and they have been compared to study their thermal and mechanical performances.

Design/methodology/approach

A bio-based bisphenol, Divanillin (DiVa), was formed by reacting two moles of vanillin with one mole of ethylenediamine (EDA) which was then reacted firstly with paraformaldehyde and EDA to form the benzoxazine DiVa-EDA-Bz, and secondly with paraformaldehyde and furfuryl amine (FFA) to form the benzoxazine DiVa-FFA-Bz. The molecular structure and thermal properties of the benzoxazines were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H,13C) spectroscopies, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The benzoxazines were further coated on mild steel panels to evaluate their mechanical properties and chemical resistance.

Findings

The DSC results of DiVa-FFA-Bz showed two exothermic peaks related to crosslinking compared to the one in DiVa-EDA-Bz. The DiVa-FFA-Bz also showed a higher heat of polymerization than DiVa-EDA-Bz. The TGA results showed that DiVa-FFA-Bz exhibited higher thermal stability with a residual char of 54.10% than 43.24% for DiVa-EDA-Bz. The chemical resistance test results showed that DiVa-FFA-Bz showed better chemical resistance and mechanical properties due to its higher crosslinking density.

Originality/value

This study shows the use of bio-based materials, vanillin and FFA, for synthesizing a benzoxazine resin and its application at high temperatures.
Developing a digital application for quality assurance of assessment programmes in higher education
Authors: Schellekens Lonneke H. , van der Schaaf Marieke F. , van der Vleuten Cees P.M. , Prins Frans J. , Wools Saskia , Bok Harold G.J.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to report the design, development and evaluation of a digital quality assurance application aimed at improving and ensuring the quality of assessment programmes in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The application was developed using a design-based research (DBR) methodology. The application’s design was informed by a literature search and needs assessment of quality assurance stakeholders to ensure compliance with daily practices and accreditation requirements. Stakeholders from three study programmes evaluated the application.

Findings

As part of the development of the application, module- and programme-level dashboards were created to provide an overview of the programme’s outcomes, assessment methods, assessment metrics, self-evaluated quality indicators and assessment documents. The application was evaluated by stakeholders at the module and programme levels. Overall, the results indicated that the dashboards aided them in gaining insight into the assessment programme and its alignment with underlying assessments.

Practical implications

Visualisation of the assessment programme’s structure and content identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement, which can be used to initiate a dialogue and further actions to improve assessment quality.

Originality/value

The application developed facilitates a cyclical and transparent assessment quality assurance procedure that is continuously available to various stakeholders in quality assurance.
Impact of organizational climate, culture, leadership and structure on competitive advantage: mediating effect of absorptive capacity
Authors: Mehmood Khawaja Khalid , Mushtaq Mehreen , Hanaysha Jalal Rajeh
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This research aimed to investigate absorptive capacity's (AC) mediating effect among four important organizational factors, namely transformational leadership (TL), innovative culture (IC), organizational structure (OS), organizational climate (OC)) and competitive advantage (CA).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method was used for data collection and 107 valid responses were received from managers and top executives of different hotels operating in Pakistan. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) statistical techniques were used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings infer that OC positively affects CA by improving AC in an organization. Furthermore, AC was found as a partial mediator for the relationship among TL and CA as well as for the relationship among IC and CA.

Originality/value

Despite the abundance of research on AC, the empirical studies regarding Ac's mediating effect among various organizational factors and CA are limited. Therefore, this paper makes a noteworthy contribution to the body of knowledge by testing the mediating effect of AC among various organizational factors and CA with reference to hospitality sector in Pakistan.