bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predator avoidance and foraging for food shape synchrony and response to perturbations in trophic metacommunities
Authors: Quévreux Pierre , Pigeault Rémi , Loreau Michel
Published: June 2021

The response of species to perturbations strongly depends on spatial aspects in populations connected by dispersal. Asynchronous fluctuations in biomass among populations lower the risk of simultaneous local extinctions and thus reduce the regional extinction risk. However, dispersal is often seen as passive diffusion that balances species abundance between distant patches, whereas ecological constraints, such as predator avoidance or foraging for food, trigger the movement of individuals. Here, we propose a model in which dispersal rates depend on the abundance of the species interacting with the dispersing species (e.g., prey or predators) to determine how density-dependent dispersal shapes spatial synchrony in trophic metacommunities in response to stochastic perturbations. Thus, unlike those with passive dispersal, this model with density-dependent dispersal bypasses the classic vertical transmission of perturbations due to trophic interactions and deeply alters synchrony patterns. We show that the species with the highest coefficient of variation of biomass governs the dispersal rate of the dispersing species and determines the synchrony of its populations. In addition, we show that this mechanism can be modulated by the relative impact of each species on the growth rate of the dispersing species. Species affected by several constraints disperse to mitigate the strongest constraints (e.g., predation), which does not necessarily experience the highest variations due to perturbations. Our approach can disentangle the joint effects of several factors implied in dispersal and provides a more accurate description of dispersal and its consequences on metacommunity dynamics.
Increased lung cell entry of B.1.617.2 and evasion of antibodies induced by infection and BNT162b2 vaccination
Authors: Arora Prerna , Kempf Amy , Nehlmeier Inga , Sidarovich Anzhalika , Krüger Nadine , Graichen Luise , Moldenhauer Anna-Sophie , Winkler Martin S. , Schulz Sebastian , Jäck Hans-Martin , Stankov Metodi V. , Behrens Georg M. N. , Pöhlmann Stefan , Hoffmann Markus
Published: June 2021

The delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.617.2, emerged in India and has subsequently spread to over 80 countries. B.1.617.2 rapidly replaced B.1.1.7 as the dominant virus in the United Kingdom, resulting in a steep increase in new infections, and a similar development is expected for other countries. Effective countermeasures require information on susceptibility of B.1.617.2 to control by antibodies elicited by vaccines and used for COVID-19 therapy. We show, using pseudotyping, that B.1.617.2 evades control by antibodies induced upon infection and BNT162b2 vaccination, although with lower efficiency as compared to B.1.351. Further, we found that B.1.617.2 is resistant against Bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody with emergency use authorization for COVID-19 therapy. Finally, we show increased Calu-3-lung cell entry and enhanced cell-to-cell fusion of B.1.617.2, which may contribute to augmented transmissibility and pathogenicity of this variant. These results identify B.1.617.2 as an immune evasion variant with increased capacity to enter and fuse lung cells.
Dynamic Self-Reinforcement of Gene Expression Determines Acquisition and Retention of Cellular Mechanical Memory
Authors: Price Christopher C. , Mathur Jairaj , Boerckel Joel D. , Pathak Amit , Shenoy Vivek B.
Published: June 2021

Mechanotransduction describes activation of gene expression by changes in the cell’s physical microenvironment. Recent experiments show that mechanotransduction can lead to long-term “mechanical memory”, where cells cultured on stiff substrates for sufficient time (priming phase) maintain altered phenotype after switching to soft substrates (dissipation phase), as compared to unprimed controls. The timescale of memory acquisition and retention is orders of magnitude larger than the timescale of mechanosensitive cellular signaling, and memory retention time changes continuously with priming time. We develop a model that captures these features by accounting for positive reinforcement in mechanical signaling. The sensitivity of reinforcement represents the dynamic transcriptional state of the cell composed of protein lifetimes and 3D chromatin organization. Our model provides a single framework connecting microenvironment mechanical history to cellular outcomes ranging from no memory to terminal differentiation. Predicting cellular memory of environmental changes can help engineer cellular dynamics through changes in culture environments.
P2Y6 receptor signaling in natural killer cells impairs insulin sensitivity in obesity
Authors: Sieben Anna , Hausen Anne Christine , Klemm Paul , Jais Alexander , Heilinger Christian , Alber Jens , Folz-Donahue Kat , Schumacher Lena , Altmüller Janine , Franitza Marek , Giavalisco Patrick , Hinze Yvonne , Brodesser Susanne , Kukat Christian , Theurich Sebastian , Brüning Jens C.
Published: June 2021

Natural killer (NK) cells contribute to the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance and have previously been shown to up-regulate the expression of the P2Y purinoreceptor 6 (P2Y6R) upon high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Here, we reveal that NK cell-specific inactivation of the P2Y6R gene improves insulin sensitivity in obese mice and reduces the expression of chemokines in adipose tissue infiltrating NK-cells. Obese mice lacking P2Y6R specifically in NK cells exhibited a reduction in adipose tissue inflammation, exhibited improved insulin-stimulated suppression of lipolysis in adipose tissue and a reduction in hepatic glucose production, leading to an overall improvement of systemic insulin sensitivity. In contrast, myeloid lineage specific P2Y6R inactivation does not affect energy or glucose homeostasis in obesity. Collectively, we show that P2Y6R signaling in NK cells contributes to the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance and thus might be a future target for the treatment of obesity-associated insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
The Immune Factors Driving DNA Methylation Variation in Human Blood
Authors: Bergstedt Jacob , Azzou Sadoune Ait Kaci , Tsuo Kristin , Jaquaniello Anthony , Urrutia Alejandra , Rotival Maxime , Lin David T. S. , MacIsaac Julia L. , Kobor Michael S. , Albert Matthew L. , Duffy Darragh , Patin Etienne , Quintana-Murci Lluís ,   Milieu Intérieur Consortium
Published: June 2021

Epigenetic changes are required for normal development, yet the nature and respective contribution of factors that drive epigenetic variation in humans remain to be fully characterized. Here, we assessed how the blood DNA methylome of 884 adults is affected by DNA sequence variation, age, sex and 139 factors relating to life habits and immunity. Furthermore, we investigated whether these effects are mediated or not by changes in cellular composition, measured by deep immunophenotyping. We show that DNA methylation differs substantially between naïve and memory T cells, supporting the need for adjustment on these cell-types. By doing so, we find that latent cytomegalovirus infection drives DNA methylation variation and provide further support that the increased dispersion of DNA methylation with aging is due to epigenetic drift. Finally, our results indicate that cellular composition and DNA sequence variation are the strongest predictors of DNA methylation, highlighting critical factors for medical epigenomics studies.
Genetically encoded green fluorescent biosensors for monitoring UDP-GlcNAc in live cells
Authors: Li Zefan , Zhang Jing , Ai Hui-wang
Published: June 2021

Uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is a nucleotide sugar used by glycosyltransferases to synthesize glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans, glycolipids, and glycoRNA. UDP-GlcNAc also serves as the donor substrate for the formation of O-GlcNAc, a dynamic intracellular protein modification involved in diverse signaling and disease processes. UDP-GlcNAc is thus a central metabolite connecting nutrition, metabolism, signaling, and disease. There is a great interest in monitoring UDP-GlcNAc in biological systems. Here, we present the first genetically encoded, green fluorescent UDP-GlcNAcsensor (UGAcS), an optimized insertion of a circularly permuted green fluorescent protein (cpGFP) into an inactive mutant of an E. coli UDP-GlcNAc transferase, for ratiometric monitoring of UDP-GlcNAc dynamics in live mammalian cells. Although UGAcS responds to UDP-GlcNAc quite selectively among various nucleotide sugars, UDP and UTP interfere with the response. We thus developed another biosensor named UXPS, which is responsive to UDP and UTP but not UDP-GlcNAc. We demonstrated the use of the biosensors to follow UDP-GlcNAc levels in cultured mammalian cells perturbed with nutritional changes, pharmacological inhibition, and knockdown or overexpression of key enzymes in the UDP-GlcNAc synthesis pathway. We further utilized the biosensors to monitor UDP-GlcNAc concentrations in pancreatic MIN6 β-cells under various culture conditions.
Quantitative Mining of Compositional Heterogeneity in Cryo-EM Datasets of Ribosome Assembly Intermediates
Authors: Rabuck-Gibbons Jessica N. , Lyumkis Dmitry , Williamson James R.
Published: June 2021

Macromolecular complexes are dynamic entities whose function is often intertwined with their many structural configurations. Single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) offers a unique opportunity to characterize macromolecular structural heterogeneity by virtue of its ability to place distinct populations into different groups through computational classification. However, current workflows are limited, and there is a dearth of tools for surveying the heterogeneity landscape, quantitatively analyzing heterogeneous particle populations after classification, deciding how many unique classes are represented by the data, and accurately cross-comparing reconstructions. Here, we develop a workflow that contains discovery and analysis modules to quantitatively mine cryo-EM data for a set of structures with maximal diversity. This workflow was applied to a dataset of E. coli 50S ribosome assembly intermediates, which is characterized by significant structural heterogeneity. We identified new branch points in the assembly process and characterized the interactions of an assembly factor with immature intermediates. While the tools described here were developed for ribosome assembly, they should be broadly applicable to the analysis of other heterogeneous cryo-EM datasets.
Dissemination and progression of pulmonaryMycobacterium aviuminfection in mouse model is associated with type 2 macrophage activation
Authors: Rosenbloom Raymond , Gavrish Igor , Seidel Kerstin , Kramnik Igor , Crossland Nicholas A
Published: June 2021

Pulmonary infections caused by the group of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM),Mycobacterium aviumcomplex (MAC), are increasing worldwide and a growing public health concern. Pulmonary granulomas are the hallmark of MAC lung infection, yet reliable correlates of granuloma progression and susceptibility in immunocompetent hosts are poorly defined. The development of mouse models that recapitulate the diversity of granulomas seen in MAC pulmonary disease in humans is crucial to study mechanisms of susceptibility in humans and for preclinical evaluation of therapeutics. Unlike widely used inbred mouse strains, mice that carry the mutant allele at the genetic locussst1develop human-like pulmonary tuberculosis featuring well-organized caseating granulomas. These mice became instrumental in pre-clinical testing of novel interventions. In this study we tested whether the B6.Sst1S that carries thesst1mutant allele on standard B6 background develop more advanced pulmonary infection with NTMM. avium spp. hominissuis (M.av). To assess pulmonary disease progression, we utilized traditional semi-quantitative histomorphological evaluation and fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry (fmIHC) in combination with whole slide imaging and digital image analysis. After infection with the laboratoryM.avstrain 101, the B6.Sst1S pulmonary lesions progressed 12 – 20 weeks post infection, although we did not observe the formation of necrotic granulomas during this interval. Using fmIHC, we determined that the disease progression was associated with a steadily increasing proportion of mycobacteria infected Arg1+ and double positive iNOS+/Arg1+ macrophages. The B6.Sst1S granulomas had a greater proportion of Arg1+ and double positive iNOS+/Arg1+ macrophages, and decreased T cell density, as compared to wild type B6 mice. Thus, the genetic composition of the B6.Sst1S mice renders them more susceptible to pulmonaryM.avinfection. In combination with more virulent clinical isolates ofM.avthese mice could provide an improved mouse model that recapitulates more severe pulmonary disease in humans. The Arg1 macrophage expression in this model combined with automated fmIHC could serve as a sensitive biomarker for the unbiased assessment of medical countermeasures against NTM infection.
Patterns and Mechanisms of Sex Ratio Distortion in the Collaborative Cross Mouse Mapping Population
Authors: Haines Brett A. , Barradale Francesca , Dumont Beth L.
Published: June 2021

In species with single-locus, chromosome-based mechanisms of sex determination, the laws of segregation predict an equal ratio of females to males at birth. Here, we show that departures from this Mendelian expectation are commonplace in the 8-way recombinant inbred Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse population. More than one-third of CC strains exhibit significant sex ratio distortion (SRD) at wean, with twice as many male-biased than female-biased strains. We show that these pervasive sex biases persist across multiple breeding environments, are stable over time, are not fully mediated by maternal effects, and are not explained by sex-biased neonatal mortality. SRD exhibits a heritable component, but QTL mapping analyses and targeted investigations of sex determination genes fail to nominate any large effect loci. These findings, combined with the reported absence of sex ratio biases in the CC founder strains, suggest that SRD manifests from multilocus combinations of alleles only uncovered in recombined CC genomes. We speculate that the genetic shuffling of eight diverse parental genomes during the early CC breeding generations led to the decoupling of sex-linked drivers from their co-evolved suppressors, unleashing complex, multiallelic systems of sex chromosome drive. Consistent with this interpretation, we show that several CC strains exhibit copy number imbalances at co-evolved X-and Y-linked ampliconic genes that have been previously implicated in germline genetic conflict and SRD in house mice. Overall, our findings reveal the pervasiveness of SRD in the CC population and nominate the CC as a powerful resource for investigating sex chromosome genetic conflict in action.

ARTICLE SUMMARY

We compiled breeding records from The Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse mapping population to quantify the frequency and explore potential mechanisms of sex ratio distortion. Strikingly, more than one-third of CC strains yield significantly sex-biased litters. These sex biases are not mediated by environmental effects and are moderately heritable. We conclude that the widespread sex ratio distortion in the CC manifests from multilocus permutations of selfish sex-linked elements and suppressors that are only recovered in the recombinant CC strains.
The neural basis of temperature-driven host seeking in the human threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis
Authors: Bryant Astra S. , Ruiz Felicitas , Lee Joon Ha , Hallem Elissa A.
Published: June 2021

Soil-transmitted parasitic nematodes infect approximately one billion people and are a major cause of morbidity worldwide1–8. The infective larvae (iL3s) of these parasites actively search for hosts in a poorly understood, sensory-driven process that requires thermal cues9,10. Here, we describe the neural basis of temperature-driven host seeking in parasitic nematodes using the human threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis. We show that S. stercoralis thermosensation is mediated by the AFD neurons, a thermosensory neuron class that is conserved between parasitic and free-living nematodes11. We demonstrate that S. stercoralis AFD displays parasite-specific adaptations that enable both nonlinear and linear encoding of temperatures up to human body temperature. Furthermore, we describe a novel thermosensory behavior in which S. stercoralis iL3s generate spontaneous reversals of temperature preference at below-body temperatures. Finally, we identify three thermoreceptors selectively expressed in S. stercoralis AFD that display parasite-specific sensitivities to human body temperatures and likely enable temperature-driven host seeking by iL3s. Our results are the first direct evidence that the sensory neurons of soil-transmitted parasitic nematodes exhibit parasite-specific neural adaptations and sensory coding strategies that allow them to target human hosts, a finding with important implications for efforts to develop new therapeutic strategies for nematode control.
Structural insight into molecular inhibitory mechanism of InsP6 on African Swine Fever Virus mRNA-decapping enzyme g5Rp
Authors: Yang Yan , Zhang Changhui , Li Li , Li Xuehui , Yang Xin , Zhao Yao , Chen Cheng , Wang Wei , Zhong Zhihui , Yang Cheng , Huang Zhen , Su Dan
Published: June 2021

Removal of 5′ cap on cellular mRNAs by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) decapping enzyme g5R protein (g5Rp) is beneficial to viral gene expression during the early stages of infection. As the only nucleoside diphosphate linked moiety X (Nudix) decapping enzyme encoded in the ASFV genome, g5Rp works in both the degradation of cellular mRNA and hydrolyzation of the diphosphoinositol polyphosphates. Here, we report the structures of dimeric g5Rp and its complex with inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6). The two g5Rp protomers interact head-to-head to form a dimer, and the dimeric interface is formed by extensive polar and nonpolar interactions. Each protomer composed a unique N-terminal helical domain and C-terminal classic Nudix domain. As a mRNA decapping enzyme, we identified key residues, including K8, K94, K95, K98, K175, R221, and K243 located on the substrate RNA binding interfaces of g5Rp, are important to RNA binding and decapping enzyme activity. Furthermore, we identified that the g5Rp-mediated mRNA decapping was inhibited by the InsP6. The g5Rp–InsP6 complex structure showed that the InsP6 molecules occupy the same regions that primarily mediate g5Rp-RNA interaction, elucidating the roles of InsP6 in the regulation of the viral decapping activity of g5Rp in mRNA degradation. Collectively, these results provide the structural basis of interaction between RNA and g5Rp and highlight the inhibitory mechanism of InsP6 on mRNA decapping by g5Rp.
Adaptive shifts underlie the divergence in wing morphology in bombycoid moths
Authors: Aiello Brett R. , Tan Milton , Sikandar Usama Bin , Alvey Alexis J. , Bhinderwala Burhanuddin , Kimball Katalina C. , Barber Jesse R. , Hamilton Chris A. , Kawahara Akito Y. , Sponberg Simon
Published: June 2021

The evolution of flapping flight is linked to the prolific success of insects. Across Insecta, wing morphology diversified, strongly impacting aerodynamic performance. In the presence of ecological opportunity, discrete adaptive shifts and early bursts are two processes hypothesized to give rise to exceptional morphological diversification. Here, we use the sister-families Sphingidae and Saturniidae to answer how the evolution of aerodynamically important traits is linked to clade divergence and through what process(es) these traits evolve. Many agile Sphingidae evolved hover-feeding behaviors, while adult Saturniidae lack functional mouth parts and rely on a fixed energy budget as adults. We find that Sphingidae underwent an adaptive shift in wing morphology coincident with life history and behavior divergence, evolving small high aspect-ratio wings advantageous for power reduction that can be moved at high frequencies, beneficial for flight control. In contrast, Saturniidae, which do not feed as adults, evolved large wings and morphology which surprisingly does not reduce aerodynamic power, but could contribute to their erratic flight behavior, aiding in predator avoidance. We suggest that after the evolution of flapping flight, diversification of wing morphology can be potentiated by adaptative shifts, shaping the diversity of wing morphology across insects.
Nuclear envelope reshaping around the vacuole determines the morphology of the ribosomal DNA
Authors: Matos-Perdomo Emiliano , Santana-Sosa Silvia , Ayra-Plasencia Jessel , Machín Félix
Published: June 2021

The ribosomal DNA array (rDNA) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has served as a model to address chromosome organization. In cells arrested before anaphase (mid-M), the rDNA acquires a highly structured chromosomal organization referred to as the rDNA loop, whose length can double the cell diameter. Previous works established that complexes such as condensin and cohesin are essential to attain this structure. Here, we report that the rDNA loop adopts distinct morphologies that arise as spatial adaptations to changes in the nuclear morphology triggered during the mid-M arrests. Interestingly, the formation of the rDNA loop results in the appearance of a space under the loop (SUL) which is devoid of any nuclear component yet colocalizes with the vacuole. We finally show that the formation and maintenance of the rDNA loop and the SUL require TORC1 and membrane synthesis. We propose that the rDNA-associated nuclear envelope (NE) reshapes into a loop to accommodate the vacuole, with the nucleus becoming bilobed.
The transcriptome of rat hippocampal subfields
Authors: Machado João P. D. , Athie Maria C.P. , Matos Alexandre H. B. , Lopes-Cendes Iscia , Vieira André. S.
Published: June 2021

The hippocampus comprises several neuronal populations such as CA1, CA2, CA3, and the dentate gyrus (DG), which present different neuronal origins, morphologies, and molecular mechanisms. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) allows selectively collecting samples from target regions and eliminating unwanted cells to obtain more specific results. LCM of hippocampus neuronal populations coupled with RNA-seq analysis has the potential to allow the exploration of the molecular machinery unique to each of these subfields. Previous RNA-seq investigation has already provided a molecular blueprint of the hippocampus, however, there is no RNA-seq data specific for each of the rat hippocampal regions. Serial tissue sections covering the hippocampus were produced from frozen brains of adult male Wistar rats, and the hippocampal subfields CA1, CA2, CA3, and DG were identified and isolated by LCM. Total RNA was extracted from samples, and cDNA libraries were prepared and run on a HiSeq 2500 platform. Reads were aligned using STAR, and the DESeq2 statistics package was used to estimate gene expression. We found evident segregation of the transcriptomic profile from different regions of the hippocampus and the expression of known, as well as novel, specific marker genes for each region. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of CA1 subfield indicates an enrichment of actin regulation and postsynaptic membrane AMPA receptors genes indispensable for long-term potentiation. CA2 and CA3 transcripts were found associated with the increased metabolic processes. DG expression was enriched for ribosome and spliceosome, both required for protein synthesis and maintenance of cell life. The present findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the differences in the molecular machinery expressed by the rat hippocampal neuronal populations, further exploring underlying mechanisms responsible for each subflied specific functions.
Chrysomycin A inhibits the topoisomerase I of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Muralikrishnan Balaji , Edison Lekshmi K. , Dusthackeer Azger , Jijimole G R , Ramachandran Ranjit , Madhavan Aravind , Ramakrishnan Ajay Kumar
Published: June 2021

Novel anti-tuberculosis drugs are essential to manage drug resistant tuberculosis, caused by the notorious pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We recently reported the antimycobacterial activity of chrysomycin A in vitro and in infected macrophages. In this study, we report that the molecule inhibits the growth of drug resistant clinical strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and acts in synergy with anti-TB drugs such as ethambutol, ciprofloxacin and novobiocin. In pursuit of its mechanism of action, it was found that chrysomycin A renders bactericidal activity by interacting with DNA at specific sequences and by inhibiting topoisomerase I activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It also exhibits weak inhibition of gyrase enzyme of the pathogen.
Lipid and nucleocapsid N-protein accumulation in COVID-19 patient lung and infected cells
Authors: Grootemaat Anita E. , van der Niet Sanne , Scholl Edwin R. , Roos Eva , Schurink Bernadette , Bugiani Marianna , Miller Sara E. , Larsen Per , Pankras Jeannette , Reits Eric A. , van der Wel Nicole N.
Published: June 2021

The pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global outbreak and prompted an enormous research effort. Still, the subcellular localization of the corona virus in lungs of COVID-19 patients is not well understood. Here, the localization of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins is studied in postmortem lung material of COVID-19 patients and in SARS- CoV-2 infected Vero cells, processed identically. Correlative light and electron microscopy on semi- thick cryo-sections, demonstrated induction of electron-lucent, lipid filled compartments after SARS- CoV-2 infection in both lung and cell cultures. In lung tissue, the non-structural protein 4 and the stable nucleocapsid N-protein, were detected on these novel lipid filled compartments. The induction of such lipid filled compartments and the localization of the viral proteins in lung of patients with fatal COVID-19, may explain the extensive inflammatory response and provide a new hallmark for SARS- Cov-2 infection at the final, fatal stage of infection.
Automated quantification of vomeronasal glomeruli number, size, and color composition after immunofluorescent staining
Authors: Jangjoo Shahab Bahreini , Lin Jennifer M , Etaati Farhood , Fearnley Sydney , Cloutier Jean-François , Khmaladze Alexander , Forni Paolo E.
Published: June 2021

Glomeruli are neuropil rich regions of the main or accessory olfactory bulbs where the axons of olfactory or vomeronasal neurons and dendrites of mitral/tufted cells form synaptic connections. In the main olfactory system olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) expressing the same receptor innervate one or two glomeruli. However, in the accessory olfactory system, vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) expressing the same receptor can innervate up to 30 different glomeruli in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB).

Genetic mutation disrupting genes with a role in defining the identity/diversity of olfactory and vomeronasal neurons can alter number and size of glomeruli. Interestingly, two cell surface molecules, Kirrel2 and Kirrel3, have been indicated to play a critical role in the organization of axons into glomeruli in the AOB.

Being able to quantify differences in glomeruli features such as number, size or immunoreactivity for specific markers is an important experimental approach to validate the role of specific genes in controlling neuronal connectivity and circuit formation in control or mutant animals. Since the manual recognition and quantification of glomeruli on digital images is a challenging and time-consuming task, we generated a program in Python able to identify glomeruli in digital images and quantify their properties, such as size, number, and pixel intensity. Validation of our program indicates that our script is a fast and suitable tool for high throughput quantification of glomerular features of mouse lines with different genetic makeup.
The population genomics of increased virulence and antibiotic resistance in human commensal Escherichia coli over 30 years in France
Authors: Marin Julie , Clermont Olivier , Royer Guilhem , Mercier-Darty Mélanie , Decousser Jean Winoc , Tenaillon Olivier , Denamur Erick , Blanquart François
Published: June 2021

Escherichia coli is a commensal species of the lower intestine, but also a major pathogen causing intestinal and extra-intestinal infections, increasingly prevalent and resistant to antibiotics. Most studies on genomic evolution of E. coli used isolates from infections. Here instead, we whole-genome sequenced a collection of 403 commensal E. coli isolated from fecal samples of healthy adult volunteers in France (1980-2010). These isolates were distributed mainly in phylogroups A and B2 (30% each) and belonged to 152 sequence types (STs), the five most frequent being ST10 (phylogroup A) (16.3%), ST73 and ST95 (phylogroup B2) (6.3 and 5.0%, respectively), ST69 (phylogroup D) (4.2%) and ST59 (phylogroup F) (3.9%), and 224 O:H serotypes. ST and serotype diversity increased over time. The O1, O2, O6 and O25-groups used in bioconjugate O-antigen vaccine against extra-intestinal infections were found in 23% of the strains of our collection. The increase in frequency of virulence-associated genes and antibiotic resistances was driven by two evolutionary mechanisms. Evolution of virulence gene frequency was driven by both clonal expansion of STs with more virulence genes (“ST-driven”) and increases in gene frequency within STs independently of changes in ST frequencies (“gene-driven”). In contrast, the evolution of resistance was dominated by increases in frequency within STs (“gene-driven”). This study provides a unique picture of the phylogenomic evolution of E. coli in its human commensal habitat over 30 years and will have implications for the development of preventive strategies.

IMPORTANCE

Escherichia coli is an opportunistic pathogen with the greatest burden of antibiotic resistance, one of the main causes of bacterial infections and an increasing concern in an ageing population. Deciphering the evolutionary dynamics of virulence and antibiotic resistance in commensal E. coli is important to understand adaptation and anticipate future changes. The gut of vertebrates is the primary habitat of E. coli and probably where selection for virulence and resistance take place. Unfortunately, most whole-genome sequenced strains are isolated from pathogenic conditions. Here, we whole genome sequenced 403 E. coli commensals isolated from healthy French subjects on a 30-year period. Virulence genes increased in frequency by both clonal expansion of clones carrying them and increases in frequency within clones whereas resistance genes increased by within clone increased frequency. Prospective studies of E. coli commensals should be performed worldwide to have a broader picture of evolution and adaptation of this species.
The transracial aesthetic labour of an international teaching assistant
Authors: Ramjattan Vijay A.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper introduces the concept of transracial aesthetic labour to understand why and how an international teaching assistant (ITA) vocally changes meanings of his racial identity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a narrative analysis to detail instances of transracial aesthetic labour.

Findings

For the ITA, this labour involved orally distancing from or aligning with particular Indian stereotypes for specific contexts.

Research limitations/implications

Transracial aesthetic labour may occur in other industries that deem race an integral part of sounding right or looking good for the job.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the need for ITAs and universities to rethink the meaning of transracial to combat racist perceptions of ITAs' speech.

Originality/value

The paper advances the aesthetic labour literature by exploring how race is vocally performed for this labour and introducing ITAs as aesthetic labourers.
Postmodern approaches to business management and innovative notions for contextual adaptation – A review
Authors: Thrassou Alkis , Chebbi Hela , Uzunboylu Naziyet
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This article calls for a multi-perspective innovative strategic outlook to examine the matter across its varied managerial and marketing functions and across geographic regions and organizational types.

Design/methodology/approach

Traversing the typological and geographic spectrum of businesses, one observes an incessantly changing environment, characterized by constant shape-shifting of all macro- and micro-environmental forces. Amidst this ultra-competitive new setting, organizations globally are struggling to evolve in a manner that befits their individual and collective contextual developments. Irrevocably, time-honored strategies and tactics, appear decreasingly capable to deliver the means to increasingly obscure effects, thus, creating a visible gap in extant theoretical knowledge and a definite need for effective contemporary practices. Inescapably, organizations have begun to abandon the habitual road of conventional strategic practices to adopt innovative means to often innovative ends, urged also by the pandemic condition of 2020+.

Findings

It endeavors to implicitly define and communicate a changing organizational spirit and philosophy, infused with innovativeness, and which transcends the limitations of tangible functionality to embrace strategic, managerial and marketing notions pertaining to the wider business environment shifts and developments.

Originality/value

This article endeavors to implicitly define and communicate a changing organizational spirit and philosophy that transcends the limitations of tangible functionality to embrace strategic management and marketing notions pertaining to the wider business environment shifts and developments.
Evaluating trauma informed care training for services supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage
Authors: Burge Rupert , Tickle Anna , Moghaddam Nima
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Implementing trauma informed care (TIC) for individuals facing homelessness and multiple disadvantage is proposed to help both service users and staff work effectively and therapeutically together. However, the effectiveness of implementing TIC via training is debatable. This study aims to explore the effects of a four-day TIC and psychologically informed environments training package in such services.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis explores the effect of this training on the degree of TIC as measured by the TICOMETER, a psychometrically robust organisational measure of TIC. The study examines group and individual level changes from before training and again at six-month and one-year follow-up time-points.

Findings

At the group level analysis, three of the five TICOMETER domains (knowledge and skills, relationships, and policies and procedures) were higher when compared to pre-training scores. The remaining two domains (service delivery and respect) did not improve. Individual-level analysis showed some participants’ scores decreased following training. Overall, the training appeared to modestly improve the degree of TIC as measured by the TICOMETER and these effects were sustained at one-year follow-up.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are limited by the design and low response rates at follow-up.

Practical implications

Training is necessary but not sufficient for the implementation of TIC and needs to be complemented with wider organisational and system-level changes.

Originality/value

This paper is the first UK study to use the TICOMETER.
Mitigating challenges of small social enterprises to improve performance
Authors: Abedin Behnam , Douglas Heather , Watson Jason , Bidar Reihaneh
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Small social enterprises (SEs) face many challenges as they seek to secure their survival, sustainability and performance, but little is known about the interrelations among these challenges and how these SEs might mitigate their challenges by using online platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the results of 19 in-depth semi-structured interviews with founders of small SEs in Australia, the authors present two integrative frameworks: one demonstrates how different challenges directly or indirectly influence SE performance, and the other represents the linkage between online platforms use and SE performance.

Findings

The authors’ findings indicate that SEs face social, economic and organizational challenges, and that SEs use online platforms to mitigate these challenges and improve their performance. Online platforms enable these enterprises to identify funding opportunities, recruit staff and volunteers, connect with other SEs, form partnerships, promote their organization, market their products and services, and avoid competition and duplication in their ecosystem.

Research limitations/implications

The authors provide a guiding model for further research on using online platforms to mitigate challenges for small enterprises to improve performance. This study advances current understanding of why some SEs fail to thrive, while others survive, flourish and grow.

Originality/value

The authors’ study advances the resource-based view by identifying how online platforms offer a valuable resource to improve SE performance, and assist managers to maintain the strategic direction of their enterprise.
Prior information in econometric real estate appraisal: a mixed estimation procedure
Authors: Doszyń Mariusz
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present how prior knowledge about the impact of real estate features on value might be utilised in the econometric models of real estate appraisal. In these models, price is a dependent variable and real estate features are explanatory variables. Moreover, these kinds of models might support individual and mass appraisals.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed estimation procedure was discussed in the research. It enables using sample and prior information in an estimation process. Prior information was provided by real estate experts in the form of parameter intervals. Also, sample information about the prices and features of undeveloped land for low-residential purposes was used. Then, mixed estimation results were compared with ordinary least squares (OLS) outcomes. Finally, the estimated econometric models were assessed with regard to both formal criteria and valuation accuracy.

Findings

The OLS results were unacceptable, mostly because of the low quality of the database, which is often the case on local, undeveloped real estate markets. The mixed results are much more consistent with formal expectations and the real estate valuations are also better for a mixed model. In a mixed model, the impact of each real estate feature could be estimated, even if there is no variability in the sample information. Valuations are also more precise in terms of their consistency with market prices. The mean error (ME) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) are lower for a mixed model.

Originality/value

The crucial problem in econometric property valuation is that it involves the unreliability of databases, especially on undeveloped, local markets. The applied mixed estimation procedure might support sample information with prior knowledge, in the form of stochastic restrictions imposed on parameters. Thus, that kind of knowledge might be obtained from real estate experts, practitioners, etc.
Sharing is entertaining: the impact of consumer values on video sharing and brand equity
Authors: Souki Gustavo Quiroga , Chinelato Flavia Braga , Gonçalves Filho Cid
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The study aims to ascertain the impacts of entertainment, social and functional values on the likelihood of sharing commercial videos online and verify whether consumers' likelihood to share videos impacts brand attachment and brand equity.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with 368 university students who watched videos of five companies on YouTube Brazil. The electronic form had 24 questions covering the constructs entertainment value, social value, functional value, likelihood to share, brand attachment and brand equity. The structural equation modeling (SEM) tested the survey´s hypothetical model.

Findings

The entertainment value and the social value had positive impacts on the likelihood to share commercial videos online. Moreover, the likelihood to share videos positively impacted brand attachment and brand equity. Finally, brand attachment had a positive effect on brand equity.

Practical implications

Entertainment and social values affect the likelihood to share commercial videos, stimulating consumer engagement with brands through interactive marketing on SNSs. Therefore, companies should produce fun videos that add social value to consumers to go viral, positively influencing brands. Finally, another contribution is the impact of video sharing on brand attachment. Previous studies have contemplated only the opposite relationship between these constructs.

Originality/value

This research adds value to interactive marketing by investigating consumers' behaviors, their interactivity in social networking sites (SNSs) and the impacts on brands. It is the only study that simultaneously contemplates the effects of entertainment, social and functional values on the likelihood to share commercial videos online and demonstrates its impact on brand attachment and brand equity.
How sharenting drives sherub marketing: insights from an interpretative phenomenological perspective
Authors: Kaur Supreet , Kumar Satinder
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The present study investigates the antecedents of sharenting, underlying strategies to mitigate the privacy risks of sharing children's personally identifiable information (PII) and majorly explores the relationship between sharenting activities of the parents and their buying behaviour. The study corroborates the previous studies in an advanced manner and adds a new construct “sherub marketing” as an effective marketing tool to impact the buying decisions of the parents.

Design/methodology/approach

Following interpretative phenomenological analysis, semi-structured personal interviews were conducted towards actively engaged parents on social media. For inferential analysis, responses of 23 parents were analysed with the help of theoretical thematic analysis

Findings

The findings uncover the multifaceted reasons persisting behind sharenting activities of the parents and observe a strong relationship between sharenting and buying behaviour of parents. The study results into exploration of sherub marketing as an effective marketing tool to influence the actions of the sharenters.

Practical implications

The study will be of use to both the practitioners and the society as a whole as it indicates the ramification of parental sharing and the role of marketers in influencing the purchasing decisions of the sharenters.

Originality/value

The present study is a novice and untapped area in the literature of interactive marketing and sheds light on sherub marketing as an effective marketing strategy.
Application of the new Swedish planning support system Citylab to a Chinese urban case
Authors: Ji Yunzhu , Gu Zhenhong , Wennersten Ronald , Zhang Tong , Duan Yixing
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper we present a case study where the Swedish planning support system Citylab is applied to a Chinese case in Changzhou's Tianning District.

Design/methodology/approach

China's planning system is a vertical system based on policy development on the national level, policies which are to be implemented on local level. There is a gap between the ambitious central policies and the implementations on local levels. China is now exporting its planning model to other developing countries which makes it urgent to show examples of other strategies including more horizontal planning involving the public. The planning system in Sweden is based on a much more horizontal process. Therefore, the authors try to learn from Sweden's vertical planning system in the urban development environment of China.

Findings

A key message for policy makers in China is that systems like Citylab can play an important role in developing practical and scalable examples of more sustainable city districts. The paper concludes that a barrier for local sustainability planning in China is still lack of effective communication between local actors including the public.

Originality/value

The authors exemplified Changzhou Tianning District's practical exploration, thus proving the adapted Citylab method's practical operability. Based on the common problems faced by eco-city development in developing countries, the method framework of Citylab is applicable to other developing countries, with strong room for deduction and development.
Reflections on music therapy with older adults from an ethnographic perspective
Authors: Schneible Brigette K. , Gabriel Jay F. , Bradt Joke
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Older adults often navigate periods of disruptive transition, such as rehousing, that can be understood in terms of ritual transformation, a concept that describes changes to the social self in terms of deconstruction, liminality and reconstruction. Music therapy can assist older adults’ movement through these stages. This paper aims to engage theoretical perspectives on ritual to consider the social and cultural transformation of these residents of a long-term care nursing home.

Design/methodology/approach

Ethnographic theory and literature on the ritual process are used to reflect on one music therapist’s (first author’s) experience providing music therapy to older adult residents of a long-term care nursing home. The therapist facilitated a collaborative “healing story” whose performative aspects engaged the residents in their own healing process. These experiences culminated in a group songwriting experience with a resident choir ensemble.

Findings

The healing narrative involved aspects of the person, selfhood, relationship and culture more than elements of physicality or functional abilities. Music therapists working with older adults may find this theoretical perspective informative in interpreting resident behaviors and needs, identifying and addressing therapeutic goals and fostering a healing narrative.

Originality/value

Care and interventions for older adults are often guided by the biomedical model of aging as an illness. While sociological and psychological theories of aging offer alternatives, these are not always prominent in interventions. This exploration of aging and transition as ritual transformation offers one such needed and insightful perspective to inform practice.