bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linking variation in planktonic primary production to coral reef fish growth and condition
Authors: Roche Ronan C. , Heenan Adel , Taylor Brett M. , Schwarz Jill N. , Fox Michael D. , Southworth Lucy K. , Williams Gareth J. , Turner John R.
Published: August 2022

Within low-nutrient tropical oceans, islands and atolls with higher primary production support higher fish biomass and reef organism abundance. External energy subsidies can be delivered onto reefs via a range of physical mechanisms. However, the influence of spatial variation in primary production on reef fish growth and condition is largely unknown. It is not yet clear how energy subsidies interact with reef depth and slope. Here we test the hypothesis that with increased proximity to deep-water oceanic nutrient sources, or at sites with shallower reef slopes, parameters of fish growth and condition will be higher. Contrary to expectations, we found no association between fish growth rate and sites with higher mean chlorophyll-a values. There were no differences in fishδ15N orδ13C values between depths. The relationship between fish condition and primary production was influenced by depth, driven by increased fish condition at shallow depths within a primary production ‘hotspot’ site. Carbonδ13C was depleted with increasing primary production, and interacted with reef slope. Our results indicate that variable primary production did not influence growth rates in planktivorousChromis fieldiwithin 10–17.5 m depth, but show site-specific variation in reef physical characteristics influencing fish carbon isotopic composition.
Juvenile emperor penguin range calls for extended conservation measures in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Houstin Aymeric , Zitterbart Daniel P. , Heerah Karine , Eisen Olaf , Planas-Bielsa Víctor , Fabry Ben , Le Bohec Céline
Published: August 2022

To protect the unique and rich biodiversity of the Southern Ocean, conservation measures such as marine protected areas (MPAs) have been implemented. Currently, the establishment of several additional protection zones is being considered based on the known habitat distributions of key species of the ecosystems including emperor penguins and other marine top predators. However, the distribution of such species at sea is often insufficiently sampled. Specifically, current distribution models focus on the habitat range of adult animals and neglect that immatures and juveniles can inhabit different areas. By tracking eight juvenile emperor penguins in the Weddell Sea over 1 year and performing a meta-analysis including previously known data from other colonies, we show that conservation efforts in the Southern Ocean are insufficient for protecting this highly mobile species, and particularly its juveniles. We find that juveniles spend approximately 90% of their time outside the boundaries of proposed and existing MPAs, and that their distribution extends beyond (greater than 1500 km) the species' extent of occurrence as defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Our data exemplify that strategic conservation plans for the emperor penguin and other long-lived ecologically important species should consider the dynamic habitat range of all age classes.
Humpback whale song revolutions continue to spread from the central into the eastern South Pacific
Authors: Schulze Josephine N. , Denkinger Judith , Oña Javier , Poole M. Michael , Garland Ellen C.
Published: August 2022

Cultural transmission of behaviour is an important aspect of many animal communities ranging from humans to birds. Male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) sing a repetitive, stereotyped, socially learnt and culturally transmitted song display that slowly evolves each year. Most males within a population sing the same, slow-evolving song type; but in the South Pacific, song ‘revolutions’ have led to rapid and complete replacement of one song type by another introduced from a neighbouring population. Songs spread eastwards, from eastern Australia to French Polynesia, but the easterly extent of this transmission was unknown. Here, we investigated whether song revolutions continue to spread from the central (French Polynesia) into the eastern (Ecuador) South Pacific region. Similarity analyses using three consecutive years of song data (2016–2018) revealed that song themes recorded in 2016–2018 French Polynesian song matched song themes sung in 2018 Ecuadorian song, suggesting continued easterly transmission of song to Ecuador, and vocal connectivity across the entire South Pacific Ocean basin. This study demonstrates songs first identified in western populations can be transmitted across the entire South Pacific, supporting the potential for a circumpolar Southern Hemisphere cultural transmission of song and a vocal culture rivalled in its extent only by our own.
Linking bacteria, volatiles and insects on carrion: the role of temporal and spatial factors regulating inter-kingdom communication via volatiles
Authors: von Hoermann Christian , Weithmann Sandra , Sikorski Johannes , Nevo Omer , Szpila Krzysztof , Grzywacz Andrzej , Grunwald Jan-Eric , Reckel Frank , Overmann Jörg , Steiger Sandra , Ayasse Manfred
Published: August 2022

Multi-kingdom community complexity and the chemically mediated dynamics between bacteria and insects have recently received increased attention in carrion research. However, the strength of these inter-kingdom interactions and the factors that regulate them are poorly studied. We used 75 piglet cadavers across three forest regions to survey the relationship between three actors (epinecrotic bacteria, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and flies) during the first 4 days of decomposition and the factors that regulate this interdependence. The results showed a dynamic bacterial change during decomposition (temperature–time index) and across the forest management gradient, but not between regions. Similarly, VOC emission was dynamic across a temperature–time index and the forest management gradient but did not differ between regions. However, fly occurrence was dynamic across both space and time. The strong interdependence between the three actors was mainly regulated by the temperature–time index and the study regions, thereby revealing regulation at temporal and spatial scales. Additionally, the actor interdependence was stable across a gradient of forest management intensity. By combining different actors of decomposition, we have expanded our knowledge of the holistic mechanisms regulating carrion community dynamics and inter-kingdom interactions, an important precondition for better describing food web dynamics and entire ecosystem functions.
Increasing hypoxia progressively slows early embryonic development in an oviparous reptile, the green turtle,
Chelonia mydas
Authors: Adams David M. , Williamson Sean A. , Evans Roger G. , Reina Richard D.
Published: August 2022

Green turtle (
Chelonia mydas
) embryos are in an arrested state of development when the eggs are laid, but in the presence of oxygen, arrest is broken and development resumes within 12–16 h. However, the precise oxygen level at which embryos break arrest and continue development is not known. To better understand the impact of oxygen concentration on breaking of arrest and early embryonic development, we incubated freshly laid eggs of the green sea turtle for three days at each of six different oxygen concentrations (less than or equal to 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 9% and 21%) and monitored the appearance and growth of white spots on the shell, indicative of embryonic development. As reported previously, white spots did not develop on eggs incubated in anoxia (less than or equal to 1% oxygen). For all other treatments, mean time to white spot detection and white spot growth rate varied inversely with oxygen concentration. In nearly all cases the difference between eggs at different oxygen levels was statistically significant (
p
≤ 0.05). This suggests that sea turtle embryonic development may respond to oxygen in a dose-dependent manner. Our results indicate that the development of green turtle embryos may be slowed if they are exposed to the most hypoxic conditions reported in mature natural nests.
Where traditional extinction estimates fall flat: using novel cophylogenetic methods to estimate extinction risk in platyhelminths
Authors: Mulvey Laura P. A. , Warnock Rachel C. M. , De Baets Kenneth
Published: August 2022

Today parasites comprise a huge proportion of living biodiversity and play a major role in shaping community structure. Given their ecological significance, parasite extinctions could result in massive cascading effects across ecosystems. It is therefore crucial that we have a way of estimating their extinction risk. Attempts to do this have often relied on information about host extinction risk, without explicitly incorporating information about the parasites. However, assuming an identical risk may be misleading. Here, we apply a novel metric to estimate the cophylogenetic extinction rate,
Ec
, of parasites with their hosts. This metric incorporates information about the evolutionary history of parasites and hosts that can be estimated using event-based cophylogenetic methods. To explore this metric, we investigated the use of different cophylogenetic methods to inform the
Ec
rate, based on the analysis of polystome parasites and their anuran hosts. We show using both parsimony- and model-based approaches that different methods can have a large effect on extinction risk estimation. Further, we demonstrate that model-based approaches offer greater potential to provide insights into cophylogenetic history and extinction risk.
Receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies contribute more to SARS-CoV-2 neutralization when target cells express high levels of ACE2
Authors: Farrell Ariana Ghez , Dadonaite Bernadeta , Greaney Allison J. , Eguia Rachel , Loes Andrea N. , Franko Nicholas M. , Logue Jennifer , Carreño Juan Manuel , Abbad Anass , Chu Helen Y. , Matreyek Kenneth A. , Bloom Jesse D.
Published: August 2022

Neutralization assays are experimental surrogates for the effectiveness of infection- or vaccine-elicited polyclonal antibodies and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2. However, the measured neutralization can depend on details of the experimental assay. Here we systematically assess how ACE2 expression in target cells affects neutralization by antibodies to different spike epitopes in lentivirus pseudovirus neutralization assays. For high ACE2-expressing target cells, receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies account for nearly all neutralizing activity in polyclonal human sera. But for lower ACE2-expressing target cells, antibodies targeting regions outside the RBD make a larger (although still modest) contribution to serum neutralization. These serum-level results are mirrored for monoclonal antibodies: N-terminal domain (NTD) antibodies and RBD antibodies that do not compete for ACE2 binding incompletely neutralize on high ACE2-expressing target cells, but completely neutralize on cells with lower ACE2 expression. Our results show that ACE2 expression level in the target cells is an important experimental variable, and that high ACE2 expression emphasizes the role of a subset of RBD-directed antibodies.
Primate Social Organization Evolved from a Flexible Pair-Living Ancestor
Authors: Olivier Charlotte-Anaïs , Martin Jordan S. , Pilisi Camille , Agnani Paul , Kauffmann Cécile , Hayes Loren , Jaeggi Adrian V. , Schradin C.
Published: August 2022

Explaining the evolution of primate social organization has been fundamental to understand human sociality and social evolution more broadly. It has often been suggested that the ancestor of all primates was solitary and that other forms of social organization evolved later. However, previous research included the assumption that many understudied primate species were solitary, then finding transitions to more complex social systems being driven by various life history traits and ecological factors. Here we show that when intra-specific variation is accounted for, the ancestral social organization of primates was variable, with the most common social organization being pair-living but with approximatively 15-20% of social units of the ancestral population deviating from this pattern by being solitary living. We built a detailed database from primary field studies quantifying the number of individuals (social units) expressing different social organizations in each population. We used Bayesian phylogenetic models to infer the probability of each social organization, conditional on several socio-ecological predictors, in ancestral populations. Body size and activity patterns had large effects on transitions between types of social organizations. Our results challenge the assumption that ancestral primates were solitary and that pair-living evolved afterwards. Moreover, our results emphasize the importance of focusing on field data and accounting for intra-specific variation. Pair-living is evolutionary ancient, likely caused by reproductive benefits such as access to partners and reduced intra-sexual competition, with more complex social structure (pair-bonding) and care systems (biparental and allo-parental care) evolving later.

Significance Statement

Was the ancestor of all primates a solitary-living species? Did more social forms of primate societies evolve from this basic and simple society? The dogma has been that the answer is yes. We used a modern statistical analysis, including variations within species, to show that the ancestral primate social organization was most likely variable. Most lived in pairs, and only 15-20% of individuals were solitary. Living in pairs was likely ancient and caused by reproductive benefits, like access to partners and reduced competition with the sexes. More complex social elaborations like pair-bonds, and biparental and allo-parental care, probably evolved later.
Chemically synthesized guide RNAs can direct CRISPR-CasRx cleavage of circRNAs with high efficiency and specificity
Authors: Rahimi Karim , Andersen Maria Schertz , Seeler Sabine , Hansen Thomas Birkballe , Kjems Jørgen
Published: August 2022

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are characterized by a covalently closed circular structure, formed from pre-mRNAs through an alternative splicing mechanism named back-splicing. CircRNAs have been shown to play a regulatory role in the development of eukaryotic organisms and to be implicated in human diseases. However, the extensive sequence-overlap between circRNAs and their linear RNA counterparts makes it technically difficult to deplete circRNAs without affecting their linear host, which complicates functional studies. Therefore, it is important to identify the most efficient and specific strategy for circRNA depletion. In this study, we demonstrate that CRISPR/RfxCas13d (CasRx)-mediated circRNA depletion is, for the circRNAs studied, more efficient than Argonaute 2-dependent short hairpin RNA (agoshRNA)-mediated depletion and with fewer off-target effects on the linear host RNAs. Furthermore, we show that synthetic guide RNAs (syn-gRNAs) can be used in combination with CasRx to efficiently deplete circRNA, ciRS-7. Finally, none of the knockdown (KD) strategies tested (pre-gRNA, gRNA, syn-gRNA and agoshRNA) showed any significant off-target effects on the global transcriptome. Taken together, CasRx-mediated circRNA KD strategies, using either vector-based or syn-gRNA, are useful tools for future studies on circRNA functions.
β-catenin interacts with the TAZ1 and TAZ2 domains of CBP/p300 to activate gene transcription
Authors: Brown Alexandra D. , Cranstone Connor , Dupré Denis J. , Langelaan David N.
Published: August 2022

The transcriptional co-regulator β-catenin is a critical effector of the canonical Wnt-signalling pathway, which plays a crucial role in regulating cell fate and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Deregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is characteristic in the development of major types of cancer, where accumulation of β-catenin promotes cancer cell proliferation and renewal. β-catenin gene expression is facilitated through recruitment of co-activators such as histone acetyltransferases CBP/p300; however, the mechanism of their interaction is not fully understood. Here we investigate the interaction between the C-terminal transactivation domain of β-catenin and CBP/p300. Using a combination of pulldown assays, isothermal titration calorimetry, and nuclear resonance spectroscopy we determine the disordered C-terminal region of β-catenin binds promiscuously to the TAZ1 and TAZ2 domains of CBP/p300. We then map the interaction site of the C-terminal β-catenin transactivation domain onto TAZ1 and TAZ2 using chemical-shift perturbation studies. Luciferase-based gene reporter assays indicate Asp750-Leu781 is critical to β-catenin gene activation, and mutagenesis revealed that acidic and hydrophobic residues within this region are necessary to maintain TAZ1 binding. These results provide a mechanistic understanding of Wnt/β-catenin gene regulation that underlies cell development and provide a framework to develop methods to block β-catenin dependent signalling in the future.
A confinable female-lethal population suppression system in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Smidler Andrea L. , Pai James J. , Apte Reema A. , Sánchez C. Héctor M. , Corder Rodrigo M. , Gutiérrez Eileen Jeffrey , Thakre Neha , Antoshechkin Igor , Marshall John M. , Akbari Omar S.
Published: August 2022

Malaria is among the world’s deadliest diseases, predominantly affecting sub-Saharan Africa, and killing over half a million people annually. Controlling the principal vector, the mosquito Anopheles gambiae, as well as other anophelines, is among the most effective methods to control disease spread. Here we develop an innovative genetic population suppression system termed Ifegenia (Inherited Female Elimination by Genetically Encoded Nucleases to Interrupt Alleles) in this deadly vector. In this bicomponent CRISPR-based approach, we disrupt a female-essential gene, femaleless (fle), demonstrating complete genetic sexing via heritable daughter gynecide. Moreover, we show that Ifegenia males remain reproductively viable, and can load both fle mutations and CRISPR machinery to induce fle mutations in subsequent generations, resulting in sustained population suppression. Through modeling, we demonstrate that iterative releases of non-biting Ifegenia males can act as an effective, confinable, controllable, and safe population suppression and elimination system.
Resolving the origins of secretory products and anthelmintic responses in a human parasitic nematode at single-cell resolution
Authors: Henthorn Clair R. , Airs Paul M. , Neumann Emma K. , Zamanian Mostafa
Published: August 2022

Nematode excretory-secretory (ES) products are essential for the establishment and maintenance of infections in mammals and are valued as therapeutic and diagnostic targets. While parasite effector proteins contribute to host immune evasion and anthelmintics have been shown to modulate secretory behaviors, little is known about the cellular origins of ES products or the tissue distributions of drug targets. We leveraged single-cell approaches in the human parasiteBrugia malayito generate an annotated cell expression atlas of microfilariae. We show that prominent antigens are transcriptionally derived from both secretory and non-secretory cell and tissue types, and anthelmintic targets display distinct expression patterns across neuronal, muscular, and other cell types. While the major classes of anthelmintics do not affect the viability of isolated cells at pharmacological concentrations, we observe cell-specific transcriptional shifts in response to ivermectin. Finally, we introduce a microfilariae cell culture model to enable future functional studies of parasitic nematode cells. We expect these methods to be readily adaptable to other parasitic nematode species and stages.
Optimization of universal primer set for the identification of all Influenza A viruses using real-time PCR
Authors: Harkness Altrice , Matthews Qiana L , Smith Lula , Roberston Bokai , Wu Hongzhuan
Published: August 2022

Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) occurs worldwide among aquatic wild and may mutate into a strain capable of efficient human-to-human transmission and cause a pandemic that could kill a large fraction of the human population. The purpose of this study is to efficiently identify and diagnose the virus for immediate treatment and prevention. Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RRT-PCR or qPCR) was identified as the most efficient way to detect AIV in previous laboratory research, however only one pair of primers was used. In order to further optimize the test and make it commercially available in the future, we first tested an eight pair primer set via RRT-PCR by using standard AIV isolates from Dr.Gaimbrone’s lab (Auburn University). Using the AIV isolates, the optimal cDNA and primer concentrations were determined, this aided in the identification of the most sensitive primer set. Primers PA, HA, NP, and NA were able to detect the cDNA of positive AIV isolates at a low concentration of 0.0039 mg/ml. AIV cDNA were detected by primers M and HA at its lowest concentration of 0.0001 and 0.01 pmol/μl. In order to further test our lab results, 20 fecal samples from aquatic wild birds were collected from Alabama Shakespeare Park located in Montgomery, Alabama during the winter season. The samples were analyzed using RRT-PCR. HA primer set detected 10 positive samples for Avian Influenza and is the most sensitive primer set to be used in RRT-PCR. The field sample detection confirmed laboratory results and revealed that local aquatic birds are actively shedding low pathogenic avian influenza virus(LPAIV). The optimization of all primer sets used in this study will aid in disease surveillance, facilitate quick diagnosis of Influenza A viruses, and implement an effective prevention of flu pandemic.
Shared retinoic acid responsive enhancers coordinately regulate nascent transcription of Hoxb coding and non-coding RNAs in the developing mouse neural tube
Authors: Afzal Zainab , Lange Jeffrey , Nolte Christof , McKinney Sean , Wood Christopher , Paulson Ariel , De Kumar Bony , Unruh Jay , Slaughter Brian D. , Krumlauf Robb
Published: August 2022

Signaling pathways regulate the patterns of Hox gene expression that underlie their functions in specification of axial identity. Little is known about the properties of cis-regulatory elements and underlying transcriptional mechanisms that integrate graded signaling inputs to coordinately control Hox expression. Here we optimized single molecule fluorescent in situ hybridization (smFISH) technique with probes spanning introns to evaluate how three shared retinoic acid response element (RARE)-dependent enhancers in the Hoxb cluster regulate patterns of nascent transcription in vivo at the level of single cells in wild type and mutant embryos. We predominately detect nascent transcription of only a single Hoxb gene in each cell, with no evidence for simultaneous co-transcriptional coupling of all or specific subsets of genes. Single and/or compound RARE mutations indicate each enhancer differentially impacts global and local patterns of nascent transcription, suggesting that selectivity and competitive interactions between these enhancers is important to robustly maintain the proper levels and patterns of nascent Hoxb transcription. This implies rapid and dynamic regulatory interactions potentiate transcription of genes through combined inputs from these enhancers in coordinating the RA response.
Near infrared spectroscopy detection of hemispheric cerebral ischemia following middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats
Authors: Wong Ardy , Bhuiyan Mohammad Iqbal Hossain , Rothman Jeffrey , Drew Kelly , Pourrezaei Kambiz , Sun Dandan , Barati Zeinab
Published: August 2022

Timely and sensitive in vivo estimation of ischemic stroke-induced brain infarction are necessary to guide diagnosis and evaluation of treatments’ efficacy. The gold standard for estimation of the cerebral infarction volume is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is expensive and not readily accessible. Measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) is the status quo for confirming reduced blood flow in experimental ischemic stroke models. However, rCBF reduction following cerebral artery occlusion often does not correlate with subsequent infarct volume. In the present study, we employed the continuous-wave near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique to monitor cerebral oxygenation during 90 min of the intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in Sprague-Dawley rats (n=8, male). The NIRS device consisted of a controller module and an optical sensor with two LED light sources and two photodiodes making up two parallel channels for monitoring left and right cerebral hemispheres. Optical intensity measurements were converted to deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) and oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) changes relative to a 2-min window prior to MCAO. Area under the curve (auc) for Hb and HbO2 was calculated for the 90-min occlusion period for each hemisphere (ipsilateral and contralateral). To obtain a measure of total ischemia, auc of the contralateral side was subtracted from the ipsilateral side resulting in ΔHb and ΔHbO2 parameters. Infarct volume (IV) was calculated by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining at 24h reperfusion. Results showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.81, p = 0.03) between ΔHb and infarct volume. In conclusion, our results show feasibility of using a noninvasive optical imaging instrument, namely NIRS, in monitoring cerebral ischemia in a rodent stroke model. This cost-effective, non-invasive technique may improve the rigor of experimental models of ischemic stroke by enabling in vivo longitudinal assessment of cerebral oxygenation and ischemic injury.
Natural and pathological aging distinctively impact the vomeronasal detection system and social behavior
Authors: Portalés Adrián , Chamero Pablo , Jurado Sandra
Published: August 2022

Normal aging and many age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease cause deficits in olfaction, however it is currently unknown how natural and pathological aging impact the detection of social odors which might contribute to the impoverishment of social behavior at old age further worsening overall health. Here, we investigated the effect of aging in the recognition of social cues and the display of social behavior. Our findings indicate that aging distinctively disrupts the processing of social olfactory cues decreasing social odor exploration, discrimination and habituation in both wild type senescent (2-year-old) mice and in 1-year-old double mutant model of Alzheimer’s disease (APP/PS1Het). Furthermore, social novelty was diminished in 1-year-old APP/PS1Het mice, indicating that alterations in the processing of social cues are accelerated during pathological aging. Analysis of the vomeronasal organ, the main gateway to pheromone-encoded information, indicated that natural and pathological aging distinctively reduce the neurogenic ability of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium. Cell proliferation remained majorly preserved in 1-year model of Alzheimer’s disease (APP/PS1Het), whereas naturally aged animals exhibited significant deficiencies in the number of mature, proliferative and progenitor cells. This study reveals fundamental differences in the cellular processes by which natural and pathological aging disrupt the exploration of social cues and social behavior.
An intrinsic alkalization circuit turns onmntP-riboswitch under manganese stress inEscherichia coli
Authors: Kalita Arunima , Mishra Rajesh Kumar , Kumar Vineet , Arora Amit , Dutta Dipak
Published: August 2022

The trace metal manganese in excess affects iron-sulfur cluster and heme-protein biogenesis eliciting cellular toxicity. The manganese efflux protein MntP is crucial to evading manganese toxicity in bacteria. Recently, two Mn-sensing riboswitches upstream ofmntPandalxinEscherichia colihave been reported to mediate the upregulation of their expression under manganese shock. As thealx-riboswitch is also responsive to alkaline shock administered externally, it is intriguing whethermntP-riboswitch is also responsive to alkaline stress. Furthermore, how both manganese and alkaline pH simultaneously regulate these two riboswitches under physiological conditions is a puzzle. Using multiple approaches, we show that manganese shock activated glutamine synthetase (GlnA) and glutaminases (GlsA and GlsB) to spike ammonia production inE. coli. The elevated ammonia intrinsically alkalizes the cytoplasm. We establish that this alkalization under manganese stress is crucial for attaining the highest degree of riboswitch activation. Additional studies showed that alkaline pH promotes a 17 to 22-fold tighter interaction between manganese and themntP-riboswitch element. Our study uncovers a physiological linkage between manganese efflux and pH homeostasis that mediates enhanced manganese tolerance.

Significance statement

Riboswitch RNAs are cis-acting elements that can adopt alternative conformations in the presence or absence of a specific ligand(s) to modulate transcription termination or translation initiation processes. In the present work, we show that how manganese and alkaline pH both are necessary for maximalmntP-riboswitch activation to mitigate the manganese toxicity. This study bridges the gap between earlier studies that separately emphasize the importance of alkaline pH and manganese in activating the riboswitches belonging to theyybP-ykoY-family. This study also ascribes a physiological relevance as to how manganese can rewire cellular physiology to render cytoplasmic pH alkaline for its homeostasis.
Diffusion controls local versus dispersed inheritance of histones during replication and shapes epigenomic architecture
Authors: Singh Archit , Chakrabarti Shaon
Published: August 2022

The dynamics of inheritance of histones and their associated modifications across cell divisions can have major consequences on maintenance of the cellular epigenomic state. Recent experiments contradict the long-held notion that histone inheritance during replication is always local, suggesting that active and repressed regions of the genome exhibit fundamentally different histone dynamics independent of transcription-coupled turnover. Here we develop a stochastic model of histone dynamics at the replication fork and demonstrate that differential diffusivity of histones in active versus repressed chromatin is sufficient to quantitatively explain these recent experiments. Further, we use the model to predict patterns in histone mark similarity between pairs of genomic loci that should be developed as a result of diffusion, but not from PRC2 mediated mark spreading or transcriptional processes. Interestingly, using a combination of CHIP-seq, replication timing and Hi-C datasets we demonstrate that all the computationally predicted patterns are consistently observed for both active and repressive histone marks in two different cell lines. Our results suggest that in contrast to current models that posit histone transfer exclusively between parental and daughter DNA strands, dislodged histones in euchromatin and facultative heterochromatin diffuse within larger “Diffusion-Accessible-Domains” (DADs), leading to redistribution of epigenetic marks both within and across chromosomes. Preservation of the epigenomic state across cell divisions therefore might be achieved not by passing on strict positional information of histone marks, but by maintaining the marks in somewhat larger DADs of the genome.
Crystal structure determination, Hirshfeld surface, crystal void, intermolecular interaction energy analyses, as well as DFT and energy framework calculations of 2-(4-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-1-yl)acetic acid
Authors: Irrou Ezaddine , Elmachkouri Younesse Ait , Oubella Ali , Ouchtak Hassan , Dalbouha Samira , Mague Joel T. , Hökelek Tuncer , El Ghayati Lhoussaine , Sebbar Nada Kheira , Taha Mohamed Labd
Published: August 2022

In the title molecule, C7H6N4O3, the bicyclic ring system is planar with the carboxymethyl group inclined by 81.05 (5)° to this plane. In the crystal, corrugated layers parallel to (010) are generated by N—H...O, O—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions. The layers are associated through C—H...π(ring) interactions. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H...O/O...H (34.8%), H...N/N...H (19.3%) and H...H (18.1%) interactions. The volume of the crystal voids and the percentage of free space were calculated to be 176.30 Å3 and 10.94%, showing that there is no large cavity in the crystal packing. Computational methods revealed O—H...N, N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen-bonding energies of 76.3, 55.2, 32.8 and 19.1 kJ mol−1, respectively. Evaluations of the electrostatic, dispersion and total energy frameworks indicate that the stabilization is dominated via dispersion energy contributions. Moreover, the optimized molecular structure, using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6–311G(d,p) level, was compared with the experimentally determined one. The HOMO–LUMO energy gap was determined and the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface was calculated at the B3LYP/6–31G level to predict sites for electrophilic and nucleophilic attacks.
Does economic policy uncertainty affect bank profitability?
Authors: Ozili Peterson K. , Arun Thankom G.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Managers are concerned about how the macroeconomic environment affects business profit. Focusing on banks, this study aims to investigate the effect of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on bank profitability in 22 advanced countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the panel fixed effect regression methodology to assess the effect of EPU on several measures of bank profitability for 22 advanced countries from 1998 to 2017. The measures of bank profitability are net interest margin, lending-deposit spread, non-interest income (NII) ratio, after-tax return on asset, before-tax return on asset, after-tax return on equity and before-tax return on equity.

Findings

The findings reveal that high EPU negatively affects bank NII. Real gross domestic product growth rate, nonperforming loans and regulatory capital ratio are negatively related to profitability in times of high EPU. The findings also reveal that high EPU has a positive effect on bank profitability in Asia and the region of the Americas, as these regions witnessed high return on equity in times of high EPU.

Practical implications

The implication of the findings is that, although EPU has a depressive effect on some indicators of bank profitability, regional characteristics can ameliorate the depressive effects of EPU on bank profitability.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature that examine the economic consequences of EPU on firms. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to examine how regional characteristics affect the relationship between EPU and bank profitability using cross-country data.
The nexus between green human resource management processes and the sustainability of educational institutions: the mediating effect of strategic excellence
Authors: Mohammed Atheer Abdullah , Fisal Muthana Zahim
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to propose a novel research model to test the nexus between green human resource management processes, strategic excellence and the sustainability of educational institutions in Iraqi academic settings.

Design/methodology/approach

This examination in Iraqi higher education is finalised across three key stages: determining the knowledge gaps, reviewing the literature and building the hypothesised conceptual model. A case study complemented by a quantitative methodology using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) was performed.

Findings

Green human resource management processes significantly impact the sustainability of Iraqi educational institutions through their strategic excellence.

Originality/value

This research provides new insights into green human resource management processes, strategic excellence and the sustainability of educational institutions in emerging economies such as Iraq.
Applications of augmented reality for construction productivity improvement: a systematic review
Authors: Adebowale Oluseyi Julius , Agumba Justus Ngala
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Despite the significance of the construction industry to the nation's economic growth, there is empirical evidence that the sector is lagging behind other industries in terms of productivity growth. The need for improvements inspired the industry's stakeholders to consider using emerging technologies that support the enhancement. This research aims to report augmented reality applications essential for contractors' productivity improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

This study systematically reviewed academic journals. The selection of journal articles entailed searching Scopus and Web of Science databases. Relevant articles for reviews were identified and screened. Content analysis was used to classify key applications into six categories. The research results were limited to journal articles published between 2010 and 2021.

Findings

Augmented reality can improve construction productivity through its applications in assembly, training and education, monitoring and controlling, interdisciplinary function, health and safety and design information.

Originality/value

The research provides a direction for contractors on key augmented reality applications they can leverage to improve their organisations' productivity.
Alterations in epidermal function in type 2 diabetes: Implications for the management of this disease
Authors: Man Mao‐Qiang , Wakefield Joan S. , Mauro Theodora M. , Elias Peter M.
Published: August 2022

Epidermal function is regulated by numerous exogenous and endogenous factors, including age, psychological stress, certain skin disorders, ultraviolet irradiation and pollution, and epidermal function itself can regulate cutaneous and extracutaneous functions. The biophysical properties of the stratum corneum reflect the status of both epidermal function and systemic conditions. Type 2 diabetes in both murine models and humans displays alterations in epidermal functions, including reduced levels of stratum corneum hydration and increased epidermal permeability as well as delayed permeability barrier recovery, which can all provoke and exacerbate cutaneous inflammation. Because inflammation plays a pathogenic role in type 2 diabetes, a therapy that improves epidermal functions could be an alternative approach to mitigating type 2 diabetes and its associated cutaneous disorders.
Does the definition of preventable emergency department visit matter? An empirical analysis using 20 million visits in Ontario and Alberta
Authors: Lau Tammy , Maltby Alana , Ali Shehzad , Moran Valérie , Wilk Piotr
Published: August 2022

Objectives

This study had two objectives: (1) to estimate the prevalence of preventable emergency department (ED) visits during the 2016–2020 time period among those living in 19 large urban centers in Alberta and Ontario, Canada, and (2) to assess if the definition of preventable ED visits matters in estimating the prevalence.

Methods

A retrospective, population‐based study of ED visits that were reported to the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2020, was conducted. Preventable ED visits were operationalized based on the following approaches: (1) Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), (2) ambulatory care–sensitive conditions (ACSC), (3) family practice–sensitive conditions (FPSC), and (4) sentinel nonurgent conditions (SNC). The overall proportion of ED visits that were preventable was estimated. We also estimated the adjusted relative risks of preventable ED visits by patients' sex and age, fiscal year, province of residence, and census metropolitan area (CMA) of residence.

Results

There were 20,171,319 ED visits made by 8,919,618 patients ages 1 to 74 who resided in one of the 19 CMAs in Alberta or Ontario. On average, there were 2.26 visits per patient over the period of 4 fiscal years; most patients made one (44.22%) or two ED visits (20.72%). The overall unadjusted prevalence of preventable ED visits varied by definition; 35.33% of ED visits were defined as preventable based on CTAS, 12.88% based on FPSC, 3.41% based on SNC, and 2.33% based on ACSC.

Conclusions

There is a substantial level of variation in prevalence estimates across definitions of preventable ED visits, and care should be taken when interpreting these estimates as each has a different meaning and may lead to different conclusions. The conceptualization and measurement of preventable ED visits is complex and multifaceted and may not be adequately captured by a single definition.
Establishing the international research priorities for pediatric emergency medicine point‐of‐care ultrasound: A modified Delphi study
Authors: Snelling Peter J. , Shefrin Allan E. , Moake Matthew M. , Bergmann Kelly R. , Constantine Erika , Deanehan J. Kate , Dessie Almaz S. , Elkhunovich Marsha A. , Gold Delia L. , Kornblith Aaron E. , Lin‐Martore Margaret , Nti Benjamin , Pade Kathryn H. , Parri Niccolò , Sivitz Adam , Lam Samuel H. F.
Published: August 2022

Background

The Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) Point‐of‐care Ultrasound (POCUS) Network (P2Network) was established in 2014 to provide a platform for international collaboration among experts, including multicenter research. The objective of this study was to use expert consensus to identify and prioritize PEM POCUS topics, to inform future collaborative multicenter research.

Methods

Online surveys were administered in a two‐stage, modified Delphi study. A steering committee of 16 PEM POCUS experts was identified within the P2Network, with representation from the United States, Canada, Italy, and Australia. We solicited the participation of international PEM POCUS experts through professional society mailing lists, research networks, social media, and “word of mouth.” After each round, responses were refined by the steering committee before being reissued to participants to determine the ranking of all the research questions based on means and to identify the high‐level consensus topics. The final stage was a modified Hanlon process of prioritization round (HPP), which emphasized relevance, impact, and feasibility.

Results

Fifty‐four eligible participants (16.6%) provided 191 items to Survey 1 (Round 1). These were refined and consolidated into 52 research questions by the steering committee. These were issued for rating in Survey 2 (Round 2), which had 45 participants. At the completion of Round 2, all questions were ranked with six research questions reaching high‐level consensus. Thirty‐one research questions with mean ratings above neutral were selected for the HPP round. Highly ranked topics included clinical applications of POCUS to evaluate and manage children with shock, cardiac arrest, thoracoabdominal trauma, suspected cardiac failure, atraumatic limp, and intussusception.

Conclusions

This consensus study has established a research agenda to inform future international multicenter PEM POCUS trials. This study has highlighted the ongoing need for high‐quality evidence for PEM POCUS applications to guide clinical practice.
Prioritizing measures to assess performance of drug treatment services: a Delphi process with funders, treatment providers and service‐users
Authors: Stirling Robert , Nathan Sally , Ritter Alison
Published: August 2022

Background and aim

While many studies have examined outcome measurement as part of clinical trials and routine outcome collection at the person‐level in alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services, there has been limited attention to measures required to assess performance at the service‐level. In Australia, non‐government services are primarily funded by government using public funds; however, there is no standardized approach to performance measurement. This study sought to establish a finite list of performance measures that represented consensus between funders, treatment providers and service‐users.

Method

A three‐round Delphi process was undertaken with (i) funders of treatment (n = 10), (ii) treatment providers (n = 10) and (iii) treatment service‐users (n = 10). Participants were asked to rate a range of measures on a 10‐point Likert scale on how important they were to be included in contracts with funders. Measures with a median score > 7 and agreement among participants above 70% were the criteria for inclusion in the final set of measures. Qualitative data in the form of text responses provided by participants for their ratings in rounds 1 and 2 were also analysed.

Results

Participants rated 93 measures in round 1, which reduced to 78 measures in round 2 and 32 measures in round 3. Fifteen service‐level measures and two system‐level measures met criteria for inclusion in the final set of performance measures. The final set of measures cover a range of measurement types: outcomes (n = 5), access (n = 3), structural (n = 3), experience (n = 2), input (n = 2), process (n = 1) and output (n = 1).

Conclusion

In Australia, performance measures for alcohol and other drug treatment services that represent a consensus among service‐users, providers and funders focus upon demonstrating accountability for public funds, improving services and communicating key measures of success to future service‐users and the broader community.
Study of variants in genes implicated in rare familial migraine syndromes and their association with migraine in 200,000 exome‐sequenced UK Biobank participants
Authors: Markel Katherine Alexis , Curtis David
Published: August 2022

Background

A number of genes have been implicated in rare familial syndromes which have migraine as part of their phenotype but these genes have not previously been implicated in the common form of migraine.

Methods

Among exome‐sequenced participants in the UK Biobank, we identified 7194 migraine cases with the remaining 193,433 participants classified as controls. We investigated rare variants in 10 genes previously reported to be implicated in conditions with migraine as a prominent part of the phenotype and carried out gene‐ and variant‐based tests for association.

Results

We found no evidence for association of these genes or variants with the common form of migraine seen in our subjects. In particular, a frameshift variant in KCNK18, p.(Phe139Trpfs*24), which had been shown to segregate with migraine with aura in a multiply affected pedigree, was found in 196 (0.10%) controls as well as in 10 (0.14%) cases (χ2 = 0.96, 1 df, p = 0.33).

Conclusions

Since there is no other reported evidence to implicate KCNK18, we conclude that this gene and its product, TRESK, should no longer be regarded as being involved in migraine aetiology. Overall, we do not find that rare, functional variants in genes previously implicated to be involved in familial syndromes including migraine as part of the phenotype make a contribution to the commoner forms of migraine observed in this population.
Covid‐19 vaccination uptake by Hapū Māmā – How are we progressing?
Authors: Ormandy Judy , Meikle Awhina , Filoche Sara , Henry Claire , Claricoats Grace
Published: August 2022

The Covid‐19 vaccine has been recommended for pregnant people (hapū māmā) in Aotearoa New Zealand since June 2021. We surveyed people birthing in a tertiary hospital regarding their vaccination status and reasons for this. There were 74% (142/191) of pregnant people who were fully vaccinated. Motivators for vaccination included protection against Covid‐19 and antibody transfer to the baby (pēpē). Unvaccinated participants worried about vaccine safety. Concerns were raised about the change in official advice without well‐communicated reasons for the change. Future vaccine and booster rollouts must be delivered equitably and hapū māmā must be a priority group.