bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A lysosomal lipid transport pathway that enables cell survival under choline limitation
Authors: Scharenberg Samantha G. , Dong Wentao , Nyame Kwamina , Levin-Konigsberg Roni , Krishnan Aswini R. , Rawat Eshaan S. , Spees Kaitlyn , Bassik Michael C. , Abu-Remaileh Monther
Published: November 2022

Lysosomes degrade macromolecules and recycle their nutrient content to support cell function and survival over a broad range of metabolic conditions. Yet, the machineries involved in lysosomal recycling of many essential nutrients remain to be discovered, with a notable example being choline, an essential metabolite liberated in large quantities within the lysosome via the degradation of choline-containing lipids. To identify critical lysosomal choline transport pathways, we engineered metabolic dependency on lysosome-derived choline in pancreatic cancer cells. We then exploited this dependency to perform an endolysosome-focused CRISPR-Cas9 negative selection screen for genes mediating lysosomal choline recycling. Our screen identified the orphan lysosomal transmembrane protein SPNS1, whose loss leads to neurodegeneration-like disease in animal models, as critical for cell survival under free choline limitation. We find thatSPNS1loss leads to massive accumulation of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) within the lysosome. Mechanistically, we revealed that SPNS1 is required for the efflux of LPC species from the lysosome to enable their reesterification into choline-containing phospholipids in the cytosol. Using cell-based lipid uptake assays, we determine that SPNS1 functions as a proton gradient-dependent transporter of LPC. Collectively, our work defines a novel lysosomal phospholipid salvage pathway that is required for cell survival under conditions of choline limitation, and more broadly, provides a robust platform to deorphan lysosomal gene functions.
Lactate-derived HDAC6 Lactylation as a new target for neuronal protection in cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury
Authors: Cao Jun , Hong Zexuan , Zeng Fanning , Qin Zaisheng , Lin Miao , Wang Hao , Zuo Daming , Tao Tao
Published: November 2022

Lactylation is a newly found lactate-derived post-translational modification, which is firstly reported on histone protein lysine residues to regulate gene expression. Here, we provided evidence that higher serum lactate level was possibly associated with better prognosis in ischemic stroke patients. Meanwhile, inhibition of endogenous lactate increased the infarct volume and decreased protein pan-lactylation in the affected brain tissue in cerebral ischemia mice. We further demonstrated that downregulating lactylation level of Hdac6 (Histone Deacetylase 6) in neurons exacerbated ischemic neuronal injury. The underlying mechanisms involved Hdac6 lactylation disturbing calcium homeostasis through binding BiP (Binding immunoglobulin protein), an endoplasmic reticulum-related protein. Collectively, our findings identified a new effect of lactate for neuroprotection through Hdac6 lactylation during cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury which introduced a potential therapeutic approach against ischemic stroke.
Reactivating Positive Personality Traits During Sleep Promotes Positive Self-Referential Processing
Authors: Yao Ziqing , Xia Tao , Wei Jinwen , Zhang Zhiguo , Lin Xuanyi , Zhang Dandan , Qin Pengmin , Ma Yina , Hu Xiaoqing
Published: November 2022

Positive self-view is evident by a bias in favor of positive self-referential processing, as individuals tend to endorse positive characteristics over negative ones when making self-judgments. While research suggests that a positivity bias can contribute to psychological well-being, it remains unclear how to enhance positive self-referential processing. Here, we reported an integrated training procedure that aimed at enhancing individuals’ positive self-referential processing. Specifically, participants engaged in a cue-approach training task (CAT) during wakefulness where they gave speeded motor responses to positive personality traits. In a subsequent nap, we unobtrusively re-played half of the trained positive traits during participants’ slow-wave sleep to reactivate memories associated with these positive traits (targeted memory reactivation, TMR). Upon awakening, we found that CAT+TMR enhanced participants’ positive self-referential processing, as evidenced by faster endorsement of positive traits. Further analysis revealed that this enhancement was associated with specific brainwave patterns during sleep: delta (1–4 Hz) traveling waves moving from posterior to anterior brain regions. These findings demonstrate the potential benefits of integrated wakeful cue-approach training and sleep-based memory reactivation in strengthening positive self-referential processing.
Inferring delays in partially observed gene regulatory networks
Authors: Hong Hyukpyo , Cortez Mark Jayson , Cheng Yu-Yu , Kim Hang Joon , Choi Boseung , Josić Krešimir , Kim Jae Kyoung
Published: November 2022

Motivation

Cell function is regulated by gene regulatory networks (GRNs) defined by protein-mediated interaction between constituent genes. Despite advances in experimental techniques, we can still measure only a fraction of the processes that govern GRN dynamics. To infer the properties of GRNs using partial observation, unobserved sequential processes can be replaced with distributed time delays, yielding non-Markovian models. Inference methods based on the resulting model suffer from the curse of dimensionality.

Results

We develop a simulation-based Bayesian MCMC method for the efficient and accurate inference of GRN parameters when only some of their products are observed. We illustrate our approach using a two-step activation model: An activation signal leads to the accumulation of an unobserved regulatory protein, which triggers the expression of observed fluorescent proteins. With prior information about observed fluorescent protein synthesis, our method successfully infers the dynamics of the unobserved regulatory protein. We can estimate the delay and kinetic parameters characterizing target regulation including transcription, translation, and target searching of an unobserved protein from experimental measurements of the products of its target gene. Our method is scalable and can be used to analyze non-Markovian models with hidden components.

Availability

Accompanying code in R is available athttps://github.com/Mathbiomed/SimMCMC.

Contact

jaekkim@kaist.ac.krorkresimir.josic@gmail.comorcbskust@korea.ac.kr

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available atBioinformaticsonline.
Parametric information about eye movements is sent to the ears
Authors: Lovich Stephanie N , King Cynthia D , Murphy David LK , Landrum Rachel , Shera Christopher A , Groh Jennifer M
Published: November 2022

Eye movements alter the relationship between the visual and auditory spatial scenes. Signals related to eye movements affect neural pathways from the ear through auditory cortex and beyond, but how these signals contribute to computing the locations of sounds with respect to the visual scene is poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the information contained in eye movement-related eardrum oscillations (EMREOs), pressure changes recorded in the ear canal that occur in conjunction with simultaneous eye movements. We show that EMREOs contain parametric information about horizontal and vertical eye displacement as well as initial/final eye position with respect to the head. The parametric information in the horizontal and vertical directions can be modelled as combining linearly, allowing accurate prediction of the EMREOs associated with oblique (diagonal) eye movements. Target location can also be inferred from the EMREO signals recorded during eye movements to those targets. We hypothesize that the (currently unknown) mechanism underlying EMREOs could impose a two-dimensional eye-movement related transfer function on any incoming sound, permitting subsequent processing stages to compute the positions of sounds in relation to the visual scene.

Significance Statement

When the eyes move, the alignment between the visual and auditory scenes changes. We are not perceptually aware of these shifts -- which indicates that the brain must incorporate accurate information about eye movements into auditory and visual processing. Here we show that the small sounds generated within the ear by the brain contain accurate information about contemporaneous eye movements in the spatial domain: the direction and amplitude of the eye movements could be inferred from these small sounds. The underlying mechanism(s) likely involve(s) the ear’s various motor structures, and could facilitate the translation of incoming auditory signals into a frame of reference anchored to the direction of the eyes and hence the visual scene.
Insights into the Interactions of Peptides with Monolayer-Protected Metal Nanoclusters
Authors: Tiwari Vikas , Garg Sonali , Karmakar Tarak
Published: November 2022

Monolayer-protected atomically precise metal nanoclusters (MPC) are an important class of molecules that have potential applications in catalysis, imaging, and drug delivery. Recent studies have shown that peptide-based drugs can be complexed with MPCs to avoid enzymatic degradation and get delivered to targeted cells. Although the MPCs potential role in imaging and drug delivery processes have been studied, for their impactful use, specific molecular interactions between MPCs and biomolecules, mainly proteins and peptides should be explored in detail. In this work, we have carried out atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interactions between Au-based MPCs and an anticancer peptide, melittin. The MEL peptides get attached to the MPCs surface by the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds between the peptide amino acid residues with MPCs ligands. Additionally, the positively charged residues such as Lys and Arg, the Trp, and the N-terminal of the peptide anchor strongly to the MPC core playing a crucial role in the peptide’s overall stabilization on the MPC surface.
Prediction-error signals in anterior cingulate cortex drive task-switching
Authors: Cole Nicholas , Harvey Matthew , Myers-Joseph Dylan , Gilra Aditya , Khan Adil G.
Published: November 2022

Task-switching is a fundamental cognitive ability that allows animals to update their knowledge of current rules or contexts. Detecting discrepancies between predicted and observed events is essential for this process. However, little is known about how the brain computes cognitive prediction-errors and whether neural prediction-error signals are causally related to task-switching behaviours. Here we trained mice to use a prediction-error to switch, in a single trial, between responding to the same stimuli using two distinct rules. Optogenetic silencing and un-silencing, together with widefield and two-photon calcium imaging revealed that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was specifically required for this rapid task-switching, but only when it exhibited neural prediction-error signals. These prediction-error signals were projection-target dependent and were larger preceding successful behavioural transitions. An all-optical approach revealed a disinhibitory interneuron circuit required for successful prediction-error computation. These results reveal a circuit mechanism for computing prediction-errors and transitioning between distinct cognitive states.
Global Endometrial DNA Multi-omics Analysis Reveals Insights into mQTL Regulation and Associated Endometriosis Disease Risk
Authors: Mortlock Sally , Houshdaran Sahar , Kosti Idit , Rahmioglu Nilufer , Nezhat Camran , Vitonis Allison F. , Andrews Shan V. , Grosjean Parker , Paranjpe Manish , Horne Andrew W. , Jacoby Alison , Lager Jeannette , Opoku-Anane Jessica , Vo Kim Chi , Manvelyan Evelina , Sen Sushmita , Ghukasyan Zhanna , Collins Frances , Santamaria Xavier , Saunders Philippa , Kober Kord , McRae Allan F. , Terry Kathryn L. , Vallvé-Juanico Júlia , Becker Christian , Rogers Peter A.W. , Irwin Juan C. , Zondervan Krina , Montgomery Grant W. , Missmer Stacey , Sirota Marina , Giudice Linda
Published: November 2022

Endometriosis is a leading cause of pain and infertility affecting millions of women globally. Identifying biologic and genetic effects on DNA methylation (DNAm) in endometrium increases understanding of mechanisms that influence gene regulation predisposing to endometriosis and offers an opportunity for novel therapeutic target discovery. Herein, we characterize variation in endometrial DNAm and its association with menstrual cycle phase, endometriosis, and genetic variants through analysis of genome-wide genotype data and methylation at 759,345 DNAm sites in endometrial samples from 984 deeply-phenotyped participants. We identify significant differences in DNAm profiles between menstrual cycle phases and at four DNAm sites between stage III/IV endometriosis and controls. We estimate that 15.4% of the variation in endometriosis is captured by DNAm, and identify DNAm networks associated with endometriosis. DNAm quantitative trait locus (mQTL) analysis identified 118,185 independentcis-mQTL including some tissue-specific effects. We find significant differences in DNAm profiles between endometriosis sub- phenotypes and a significant association between genetic regulation of methylation in endometrium and disease risk, providing functional evidence for genomic targets contributing to endometriosis risk and pathogenesis.
PIEZO2 in somatosensory neurons controls gastrointestinal transit
Authors: Servin-Vences M. Rocio , Lam Ruby M. , Koolen Alize , Wang Yu , Saade Dimah N. , Loud Meaghan , Kacmaz Halil , Beyder Arthur , Marshall Kara L. , Bönnemann Carsten G. , Chesler Alexander T. , Patapoutian Ardem
Published: November 2022

The gastrointestinal tract is in a state of constant motion. These movements are tightly regulated by the presence of food and help digestion by mechanically breaking down and propelling gut content. Mechanical sensing in the gut is thought to be essential for regulating motility; however, the identity of the neuronal populations, the molecules involved, and the functional consequences of this sensation are unknown. Here, we show that humans lacking PIEZO2 exhibit impaired bowel sensation and motility. Piezo2 in mouse dorsal root but not nodose ganglia is required to sense gut content, and this activity slows down food transit rates in the stomach, small intestine, and colon. Indeed, Piezo2 is directly required to detect colon distensionin vivo. Our study unveils the mechanosensory mechanisms that regulate the transit of luminal contents throughout the gut, which is a critical process to ensure proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste removal.

Highlights

Individuals with PIEZO2 syndrome present impaired bowel sensation and gastrointestinal dysfunction.

PIEZO2 in DRG neurons plays an important role in regulating gut motility.

Lack of PIEZO2 from sensory neurons accelerates gastric emptying and intestinal transit.

DRG neurons detect colon distension via PIEZO2.
Conformational changes in the essentialE. coliseptal cell wall synthesis complex suggest an activation mechanism
Authors: Britton Brooke M. , Yovanno Remy A. , Costa Sara F. , McCausland Joshua , Lau Albert Y. , Xiao Jie , Hensel Zach
Published: November 2022

The bacterial divisome, a macromolecular machine that is composed of more than thirty proteins inE. coli, orchestrates the essential process of cell wall constriction during cell division. Novel antimicrobial strategies can target protein-protein interactions within the divisome and will benefit from insights into divisome structure and dynamics. In this work, we combined structure prediction, molecular dynamics simulation, single-molecule imaging, and mutagenesis to construct a model of the core complex of theE. colidivisome composed of the essential septal cell wall synthase complex formed by FtsW and FtsI, and its regulators FtsQ, FtsL, FtsB, and FtsN. We observed extensive interactions in four key regions in the periplasmic domains of the complex. FtsQ, FtsL, and FtsB scaffold FtsI in an extended conformation with the FtsI transpeptidase domain lifted away from the membrane through interactions among the C-terminal domains. FtsN binds between FtsI and FtsL in a region rich in residues with superfission (activating) and dominant negative (inhibitory) mutations. Mutagenesis experimentsin celluloandin silicorevealed that the essential domain of FtsN functions as a tether to tie FtsI and FtsL together, impacting interactions between the anchor-loop of FtsI and the putative catalytic region of FtsW, suggesting a mechanism of how FtsN activates the cell wall synthesis activities of FtsW and FtsI.
The connectome of an insect brain
Authors: Winding Michael , Pedigo Benjamin D. , Barnes Christopher L. , Patsolic Heather G. , Park Youngser , Kazimiers Tom , Fushiki Akira , Andrade Ingrid V. , Khandelwal Avinash , Valdes-Aleman Javier , Li Feng , Randel Nadine , Barsotti Elizabeth , Correia Ana , Fetter Richard D. , Hartenstein Volker , Priebe Carey E. , Vogelstein Joshua T. , Cardona Albert , Zlatic Marta
Published: November 2022

Brains contain networks of interconnected neurons, so knowing the network architecture is essential for understanding brain function. We therefore mapped the synaptic-resolution connectome of an insect brain (Drosophilalarva) with rich behavior, including learning, value-computation, and action-selection, comprising 3,013 neurons and 544,000 synapses. We characterized neuron-types, hubs, feedforward and feedback pathways, and cross-hemisphere and brain-nerve cord interactions. We found pervasive multisensory and interhemispheric integration, highly recurrent architecture, abundant feedback from descending neurons, and multiple novel circuit motifs. The brain’s most recurrent circuits comprised the input and output neurons of the learning center. Some structural features, including multilayer shortcuts and nested recurrent loops, resembled powerful machine learning architectures. The identified brain architecture provides a basis for future experimental and theoretical studies of neural circuits.

One-Sentence Summary

We generated a synaptic-resolution brain connectome and characterized its connection types, neuron types, and circuit motifs.
Reputation risk during dishonest social decision-making modulates anterior insular and cingulate cortex activity and connectivity
Authors: Dupont Lennie , Santangelo Valerio , Azevedo Ruben , Panasiti Maria Serena , Aglioti Salvatore Maria
Published: November 2022

To explore the neural underpinnings of (dis)honest decision making under quasi-ecological conditions, we used an fMRI adapted version of a card game in which deceptive or truthful decisions are made to an opponent, with or without the risk of getting caught by them. Dishonest decisions were associated to increased activity in a cortico-subcortical circuit including the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), anterior insula (AI), left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, and right caudate. Crucially, deceptive immoral decisions under reputation risk enhanced activity of – and functional connectivity between – the bilateral ACC and left AI, suggesting the need for heightened emotional processing and cognitive control when making immoral decisions under reputation risk. Tellingly, more manipulative individuals required less involvement of the ACC during risky self-gain lies but more involvement during other-gain truths, pointing to the need of cognitive control only when going against one’s own moral code.
Balance between direct and indirect pathways of the nucleus accumbens controls social behavior in mice
Authors: Le Merrer J. , Detraux B. , Gandía J. , De Groote A. , Fonteneau M. , de Kerchove d’Exaerde A. , Becker J.A.J.
Published: November 2022

Background

Deficient social interactions are a hallmark of major neuropsychiatric disorders, and cumulating evidence point to altered social reward and motivation as key underlying mechanisms in these pathologies. In the present study, we aimed at assessing the role of the two striatal projecting neuronal (SPN) populations bearing either D1R or D2R dopamine receptors (D1R- and D2R-SPNs), in modulating social behavior and other behaviors often altered in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Methods

We selectively ablated D1R- and D2R-SPNs using an inducible diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR)-mediated cell targeting strategy and assessed social behavior as well as repetitive/perseverative behavior, motor function and anxiety levels. We tested the effects of optogenetic stimulation of D2R-SPNs in theNucleus Accumbens(NAc) and pharmacological compounds repressing D2R-SPN.

Results

Targeted deletion of D1R-SPNs in the NAc blunted social behavior in mice, facilitated skill motor learning and increased anxiety levels. These behaviors were normalized by pharmacological inhibition of D2R-SPN, which also repressed transcription in the efferent nucleus, the ventral pallidum (VP). In contrast, ablation of D1R-SPNs in the dorsal striatum had no impact on social behavior, impaired motor skill learning, and decreased anxiety levels. Deletion of D2R-SPNs in the NAc also produced motor stereotypies but facilitated social behavior and impaired skill motor learning. We mimicked excessive D2R-SPN activity by optically stimulating D2R-SPNs in the NAc and evidenced a severe deficit in social interaction that was prevented by D2R-SPN pharmacological inhibition.

Conclusions

Repressing D2R-SPN activity may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to relieve social deficit in neuropsychiatric disorders.
A study on experimental bias in post-translational modification predictors
Authors: Zuallaert Jasper , Ramasamy Pathmanaban , Bouwmeester Robbin , Callewaert Nico , Degroeve Sven
Published: November 2022

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) play an important role in numerous biological processes by significantly affecting protein structure and dynamics. Effective computational methods that provide a sequence-based prediction of PTM sites are desirable to guide functional experiments. Whereas these methods typically train neural networks on one-hot encoded amino acid sequences, protein language models carry higher-level pattern information that may improve sequence based prediction performance and hence constitute the current edge of the field. In this study, we first evaluate the training of convolutional neural networks on top of various protein language models for sequence based PTM prediction. Our results show substantial prediction accuracy improvements for various PTMs with current procedures of dataset compilation and model performance evaluation. We then used model interpretation methods to study what these advanced models actually base their learning on. Importantly for the entire field of PTM site predictors trained on proteomics-derived data, our model interpretation and transferability experiments reveal that the current approach to compile training datasets based on proteomics data leads to an artefactual protease-specific training bias that is exploited by the prediction models. This results in an overly optimistic estimation of prediction accuracy, an important caveat in the application of advanced machine learning approaches to PTM prediction based on proteomics data. We suggest a partial solution to reduce this data bias by implementing negative sample filtering, only allowing candidate PTM sites in matched peptides that are present in the experimental metadata.

Availability and implementation

The prediction tool, with training and evaluation code, trained models, datasets, and predictions for various PTMs are available athttps://github.com/jasperzuallaert/PhosphoLingo.

Contact

sven.degroeve@vib-ugent.beandnico.callewaert@vib-ugent.be

Supplementary information

Supplementary materials are available atbioRxiv.
Consumer attitudes and sociodemographic profiles in purchasing organic food products: evidence from a Greek and Swedish survey
Authors: Diagourtas Georgios , Kounetas Kostas Elias , Simaki Vasiliki
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study explores Greek and Swedish consumers' attitude towards organic food consumption in order to demonstrate possible differences that can be identified based on health and ecological consciousness beliefs rather than demographic factors. The examination of an emerging and a more mature market allow the authors to provide more targeted marketing strategies that possibly increase organic food consumption in both countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt an econometric approach to the analysis of consumer behavior in relation to organic food consumption in Sweden and Greece. More specifically, the authors examine the motivations and postexperiences of organic food consumers of different socioeconomic profiles in these two countries, one in northern and one in southern Europe. The authors apply an ordered logistic regression analysis model to map out the interaction between consumer attitudes and sociodemographic variables.

Findings

The authors results show that consumers in Sweden more frequently purchase organic foods than consumers in Greece. Environmental protection and ethical values increase the odds for Swedish organic food consumers to buy organic food products. Health consciousness and family well-being are perceived as factors that increase the odds for Greek organic food consumers to buy organic foods. Sociodemographic factors do not play a pivotal role for consumer behavior in relation to organic food in both countries.

Originality/value

This study distinguishes between organic food consumers in two countries with different levels of organic food production and export activity, size of organic market, national organic labeling system and legal definition and standards of organic food. Within these differences, the organic food industry could align its marketing efforts better rather focus on simplistic demographics. The current view unfolds the fact that there are limited studies comparing two European markets at different stages of development and the factors that influence organic food consumer behavior.
Doing well by doing good: why is investing in university social responsibility a good business for higher education institutions cross culturally?
Authors: El-Kassar Abdul-Nasser , Makki Dania , Gonzalez-Perez Maria Alejandra , Cathro Virginia
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to corroborate the importance of university social responsibility (USR) for universities and to establish a rationale for their investment in a strategically implement socially responsible initiatives and programmes and gain returns from such investments. This purpose can be achieved by examining a complex conceptual model connecting USR with many desired student-related outcomes that leverage the university's competitiveness, long sustainability and contribution to the triple bottom line – “people, planet, and profit”.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a cross-country comparative study using quantitative techniques. Their analysis was guided by a holistic conceptual model constructed and experimentally evaluated using obtained primary data. The robustness of the suggested model was evaluated using structural equation modelling with partial least squares.

Findings

The findings validate the hypothesized associations and indicate that adopting USR initiatives increases student satisfaction and alumni loyalty through student-university identification, perceived university image, and service quality. In addition, the cross-country analysis finds no variation in the strength of the connections owing to cultural variations, except for the association between service quality and institution image.

Practical implications

Incorporating USR at the centre of university's strategy not only complements its teaching and research goals but also answers the requirements and expectations of stakeholders, increases competitiveness and assures sustainable performance.

Originality/value

This cross-cultural USR study uses a mix of methods to show that, even though USR is important, until now, its importance has been overlooked.
A robotic 3D printing system for supporting-free manufacturing of complex model based on FDM technology
Authors: Jing Xishuang , Lv Duanping , Xie Fubao , Zhang Chengyang , Chen Siyu , Mou Ben
Published: November 2022

Purpose

3D printing technology has the characteristics of fast forming and low cost and can manufacture parts with complex structures. At present, it has been widely used in various manufacturing fields. However, traditional 3-axis printing has limitations of the support structure and step effect due to its low degree of freedom. The purpose of this paper is to propose a robotic 3D printing system that can realize support-free printing of parts with complex structures.

Design/methodology/approach

A robotic 3D printing system consisting of a 6-degrees of freedom robotic manipulator with a material extrusion system is proposed for multi-axis additive manufacturing applications. And the authors propose an approximation method for the extrusion value E based on the accumulated arc length of the already printed points, which is used to realize the synchronous movement between multiple systems. Compared with the traditional 3-axis printing system, the proposed robotic 3D printing system can provide greater flexibility when printing complex structures and even realize curved layer printing.

Findings

Two printing experiments show that compared with traditional 3D printing, a multi-axis 3D printing system saves 47% and 79% of materials, respectively, and the mechanical properties of curved layer printing using a multi-axis 3D printing system are also better than that of 3-axis printing.

Originality/value

This paper shows a simple and effective method to realize the synchronous movement between multiple systems so as to develop a robotic 3D printing system that can realize support-free printing and verifies the feasibility of the system through experiments.
Online political engagement, cognitive skills and engagement with misinformation: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States
Authors: Ahmed Saifuddin , Madrid-Morales Dani , Tully Melissa
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Informational use of social media facilitates political engagement. Yet, there is also evidence of the perils of frequent political engagement in misinformation propagation. This study aims to examine the association between online political engagement, perceived exposure to misinformation, individuals’ cognitive characteristics and misinformation sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, online surveys were conducted in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa (Study 1) and the United States (Study 2).

Findings

Study 1 finds that online political engagement is positively associated with perceived exposure to and sharing of misinformation. Mediation analyses suggest that the relationship between online political engagement and misinformation sharing is mediated by perceived exposure to misinformation. Further, the likelihood of sharing misinformation is found to increase at higher levels of online political engagement, but those with low need for cognition (NFC) are more vulnerable to such sharing. Study 2 explores cognitive ability in place of NFC. The results follow similar patterns as Study 1 – online political engagement is linked to misinformation sharing via higher perceived exposure to misinformation. The authors also find that the tendency to share misinformation increases with frequent exposure to misinformation but those with lower cognitive ability are more prone to such sharing.

Originality/value

In both contexts, the data show that perceived exposure to misinformation mediates the relationship between online political engagement and misinformation sharing and those with low NFC and cognitive ability are more vulnerable. Overall, the findings offer insight into the mechanisms of political engagement and sharing misinformation.
Organic silicone-modified waterborne epoxy coatings using aqueous curing agents technology
Authors: Lv Xinyan , Liang Yisheng , Zhong Jiang , He Haifeng
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The silicone modifications of two-component epoxy resin coatings are commonly built on epoxy resins rather than on epoxy curing agents. The silicone-modified epoxy curing agent system is rarely reported yet. This study aims to prepare the polysiloxane (PS)-modified waterborne epoxy coatings based on aqueous curing agents technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Waterborne epoxy curing agents with different contents of terminal epoxy PS were synthesized by reacting with triethylenetetramine, followed by incorporating of epoxy resin (NPEL-128) and polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether. The waterborne epoxy coatings were prepared with the above curing agents, and their performance was investigated through thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical characterization, gloss measurement, chemical resistance test and ultraviolet (UV) aging experiment.

Findings

The results showed that the epoxy coating prepared by silicon-modified curing agent has higher gloss, better chemical resistance and UV resistance than the coating from unmodified curing agent with terminal epoxy PS and commercially available waterborne epoxy curing agent (Aradur 3986), as well as the competitive mechanical properties and heat resistance. Reduced water absorption on fibrous paper was also obtained with the help of silicon-modified curing agent.

Originality/value

These findings will be valuable for resin researchers in addressing the modification issues about waterborne epoxy resin and curing agent.
Contributions of metalinguistic awareness and lexical inference to reading comprehension in upper‐elementary Chinese students
Authors: Cheng Xi , Zhang Haomin (Stanley)
Published: November 2022

Background

The present study aimed to examine and compare the relative contributions of three facets of metalinguistic awareness (phonological awareness, orthographic awareness and morphological awareness) and lexical inferencing ability to Chinese reading comprehension across upper elementary grades.

Method

Fifty‐three third graders, 79 fourth graders and 108 fifth graders were administered a battery of tests including non‐verbal intelligence, phonological awareness, morphological awareness, orthographic awareness, lexical inference and reading comprehension.

Results

The multivariate analyses across grade groups revealed the continued progress in children's performances on morphological awareness but not on phonological and orthographic awareness. More important, hierarchical regressions exhibited the same pattern across grades, suggesting that morphological awareness was the sole consistent indicator of reading comprehension in all grades. Finally, lexical inferencing ability contributed to reading comprehension only in fifth‐grade students after accounting for the effects of metalinguistic awareness.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the importance of morphological awareness as the most potent meaning‐building metalinguistic skill that can consistently predict Chinese reading comprehension in upper elementary children and indicate that the contribution of lexical inferencing ability differs as a function of children’s reading skills. Results were discussed in relation to the Reading Systems Framework and implications for educational instruction were provided.
The spiral of plastic pollution: a compensatory urge from the collective unconscious for an ecological‐psychological transformation of civilization
Authors: Bucher Susanna
Published: November 2022

This article explores the symbolism of plastic pollution. Plastic and microplastic particles are now found everywhere – in the Arctic, in deep ocean trenches, in human organs – and plastic accumulates in our oceans forming gigantic spiral‐shaped garbage patches. Both spiral symbolism and E.A. Poe’s ‘Maelström’ are suggestive of a necessary fundamental ecological‐psychological transformation of our one‐sidedly logos‐dominated civilization. Plastic, the author argues, has become a carrier of our longing for immortality: in plastic, humanity has synthesized an ‘immortal’, a virtually non‐biodegradable substance. To avert what Jung called a ‘catastrophic enantiodromia’, humanity must relinquish its ecologically and psychologically detrimental consumerist mentality and jump into the unknown towards a less resource‐intensive lifestyle. The author’s dream about sea salt and spiral‐shaped marine animals is interpreted as a compensatory urge from the collective unconscious for humanity to reconnect to inner and outer nature by cultivating the neglected eros principle – feeling‐based relatedness – as a felt realization that we are part of nature on which we depend. Instead of succumbing to paralyzing fear or denial, the author argues for facing the abyss of our ecological‐psychological crisis and acting, informed by science. For ecological‐psychological transformation, Jungian psychology can play an important role.
The tree that called my name: on the significance of encountering the constellated symbol in the natural, other‐than‐human, world
Authors: Brown Gillian M.
Published: November 2022

In this paper I explore what it means to encounter the symbol as a meaningful object, or process, within the environment of the other‐than‐human. Using Jung’s account in ‘The spirit mercurius’ of an enlisted Indigenous soldier who attempts to desert his barracks on hearing a native Oji tree calling him, I compare the evolving stages of consciousness theorised by Jung to explain this phenomenon with the progression discussed by him in his commentary on Dorn’s coniunctio. My aim is to clarify Jung’s understanding of the symbolically constellated and ‘undifferentiated’ worldview of what Jung calls the ‘primitive’. I also draw on the work of Spitzform, Searles, Roszak, Fisher, Chalquist, Prentice and Rust in relation to the emerging field of ecopsychology, where consideration of a fundamental link between psychological and material existence – between psyche and ecos – has been proposed as an essential component of psychological theory, and in which our alienation from our natural surroundings has been identified as pathological. I include observations from my own experience of working therapeutically with clients in outdoor settings and I ask how a more ecosystemically integrated sense of self might be sought for a psyche that encounters symbolic material within its containing environment.
From dissociation to integration: the value of the ‘green factor’
Authors: Peresso Patrizia
Published: November 2022

This paper will focus on what the author calls the ‘green factor’: the ‘plant world’s’ ability to foster and manifest profound healing and self‐healing processes. This factor could be considered an element capable of promoting the analytic couple’s journey in individuation through a good enough rhythmical interaction. Such interaction is made possible by creating and maintaining, in therapy, a good level of empathy, mirroring and resonance that ‐ echoing natural cyclical rhythms primarily in non‐verbal communication ‐ fosters the passage from dissociation to integration. This dynamic depends mainly on paying constant attention to the various kinds of images referring to nature, both inside and outside ourselves, i.e. attention on the green world that reconnects us with the wider ecosystem of which we human beings form a part. The author suggests that remembering and respecting the profound relationship between ‘Mind and Earth’ or Psyche and Gaia means developing and cultivating an ecological attitude or eco‐oriented epistemology, a theory according to which, individual wellbeing can be considered a fragment of the health of our planet, in the same way as the individual anima is a spark of anima mundi. This theory has been embraced by numerous scholars ranging from Jung to Bateson, Mancuso and Schore.
N‐homocysteinylation of α‐synuclein promotes its aggregation and neurotoxicity
Authors: Zhou Lingyan , Guo Tao , Meng Lanxia , Zhang Xingyu , Tian Ye , Dai Lijun , Niu Xuan , Li Yiming , Liu Congcong , Chen Guiqin , Liu Chaoyang , Ke Wei , Zhang Zhaohui , Bao Anyu , Zhang Zhentao
Published: November 2022

The aggregation of α‐synuclein plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Epidemiological evidence indicates that high level of homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with an increased risk of PD. However, the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), a reactive thioester of Hcy, covalently modifies α‐synuclein on the K80 residue. The levels of α‐synuclein K80Hcy in the brain are increased in an age‐dependent manner in the TgA53T mice, correlating with elevated levels of Hcy and HTL in the brain during aging. The N‐homocysteinylation of α‐synuclein stimulates its aggregation and forms fibrils with enhanced seeding activity and neurotoxicity. Intrastriatal injection of homocysteinylated α‐synuclein fibrils induces more severe α‐synuclein pathology and motor deficits when compared with unmodified α‐synuclein fibrils. Increasing the levels of Hcy aggravates α‐synuclein neuropathology in a mouse model of PD. In contrast, blocking the N‐homocysteinylation of α‐synuclein ameliorates α‐synuclein pathology and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. These findings suggest that the covalent modification of α‐synuclein by HTL promotes its aggregation. Targeting the N‐homocysteinylation of α‐synuclein could be a novel therapeutic strategy against PD.
Free public transport and older people: An ethnographic study of an Australian bus service
Authors: Rambaldini‐Gooding Delia , Molloy Luke , Parrish Anne‐Maree , Strahilevitz Michal , Clarke Rodney , Perez Pascal
Published: November 2022

Objectives

This study explores older people's use of a free bus service in Wollongong, Australia. The research focus was on understanding the experiences of people over the age of 60 who use the service and the extent to which it contributes to their physical, mental and social well‐being.

Methods

The ethnographic research utilised fieldwork and interviews for data collection. Participant observations took place on the bus, and interviews were undertaken at bus stops. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.

Results

The research highlighted how bus services can be caring places for older people and a bus journey could be characterised as a therapeutic milieu. Travelling on the bus provided opportunities for health promotion due to active transport. Subsidised access to public transport supported people to maintain social connections throughout the city.

Conclusions

Bus travel has contributed positively to the physical, mental and social well‐being of people over the age of 60 in Wollongong.
A survey on the use of rugs in Australian horses
Authors: Cox EG , Bell RJW , Greer RM , Jeffcott LB
Published: November 2022

The practice of horse rugging has important implications for horse welfare and performance, but in Australia, rugging practices have not been properly documented. The objective of this study was to obtain an understanding of Australian horse rugging practices. An online survey reviewed the management of 2659 Australian horses over 12 months. Of the reported horses a total of 84.8% were rugged, although most owners (69.5%) indicated that they were unsure whether horses needed to be rugged at all. Rugging was felt by 59.8% of owners to be a requirement for horses in competition. Riding and competition were significantly associated with the use of rugs. Nearly all respondents (89.0%) felt that ‘over‐rugging’ was a concern. However, 4.8% of owners would use up to 4 rugs at any one time on their horse and 21.4% of horses were still rugged in temperatures above 20°C in Australia. Many Australian horse owners (42.8%) also believe that horses feel cold if they are not rugged. Anthropomorphism when it comes to rugging horses cannot be justified as the horse has a much wider thermoneutral zone (TNZ) than humans. Australian climate, owner opinions, equestrian discipline and whether a horse is used for riding influence Australian horse rugging practices. However, current practices are based on limited available research and are not necessarily to the benefit of the horse. The major limitation was that the survey likely attracted respondents who are interested in the topic creating a self‐selection bias.
Calcaratarin D, a labdane diterpenoid, attenuates mouse asthma via modulating alveolar macrophage function
Authors: Liao Wupeng , Foo Hazel Yu Ci , Tran Thi Ngoc Quy , Chai Christina Li Lin , Wong Wai Shiu Fred
Published: November 2022

Background and Purpose

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) contribute to airway inflammation and remodelling in allergic asthma. Calcaratarin D (CalD), a labdane diterpenoid from rhizomes of the medicinal plant Alpinia calcarata, has recently been shown to possess anti‐inflammatory properties. The present study evaluated protective effects of CalD in a house dust mite (HDM)‐induced asthma mouse model.

Experimental Approach

The effects of CalD on AMs in contributing to anti‐inflammatory effects in asthma were investigated through in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro experiments.

Key Results

CalD reduced total bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and differential cell count, serum IgE levels, mucus hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness in HDM‐challenged mice. Additionally, CalD affected a wide array of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and oxidative damage markers in isolated lung tissues. CalD suppressed the HDM‐induced increase in Arg1 (M2 macrophage marker) in AMs from lung tissue and reduced lung polyamine levels. CalD weakened antigen presentation capability of AMs by reducing CD80 expression, reduced AM‐derived CCL17 and CCL22 levels, and lessened Th2 cytokines from CD4+ T‐cells from asthma lung digest. CalD blocked the HDM‐induced FoxO1/IRF4 pathway and restored impaired the Nrf2/HO‐1 antioxidant pathway in lung tissues. CalD inhibited IL‐4/IL‐13‐stimulated JAK1/STAT6 pathway, FoxO1 protein expression, and chemokine production in primary AMs. Structure–activity relationship study revealed the α,β‐unsaturated γ‐butyrolactone in CalD is capable of forming covalent bonds with cellular protein targets essential for its action.

Conclusion and Implications

Our results demonstrate for the first time that CalD is a novel anti‐inflammatory natural compound for allergic asthma that modulates AM function.
External validation of the GAP model in Chinese patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Zhang Xinran , Ren Yanhong , Xie Bingbing , Wang Shiyao , Geng Jing , He Xuan , Jiang Dingyuan , He Jiarui , Luo Sa , Wang Xin , Song Dingyun , Fan Mingming , Dai Huaping
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The GAP model was widely used as a simple risk “screening” method for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Objectives

We sought to validate the GAP model in Chinese patients with IPF to evaluate whether it can accurately predict the risk for mortality.

Methods

A total of 212 patients with IPF diagnosed at China‐Japan Friendship Hospital from 2015 to 2019 were enrolled. The latest follow‐up ended in September 2022. Cumulative mortality of each GAP stage was calculated and compared based on Fine‐Gray models for survival, and lung transplantation was treated as a competing risk. The performance of the model was evaluated in terms of both discrimination and calibration.

Results

The cumulative mortality in patients with GAP stage III was significantly higher than that in those with GAP stage I or II (Gray's testp < 0.0001). The Harrell c‐index for the GAP calculator was 0.736 (95% CI: 0.667–0.864). The discrimination for the GAP staging system were similar with that for the GAP calculator. The GAP model overestimated the mortality rate at 1‐ and 2‐year in patients classified as GAP stage I (6.90% vs. 1.77% for 1‐year, 14.20% vs. 6.78% for 2‐year).

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that the GAP model overestimated the mortality rate in mild group.