bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulforaphane exhibits in vitro and in vivo antiviral activity against pandemic SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal HCoV-OC43 coronaviruses
Authors: Ordonez Alvaro A. , Bullen C. Korin , Villabona-Rueda Andres F. , Thompson Elizabeth A. , Turner Mitchell L. , Davis Stephanie L. , Komm Oliver , Powell Jonathan D. , D’Alessio Franco R. , Yolken Robert H. , Jain Sanjay K. , Jones-Brando Lorraine
Published: March 2021

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has incited a global health crisis. Currently, there are no orally available medications for prophylaxis for those exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and limited therapeutic options for those who develop COVID-19. We evaluated the antiviral activity of sulforaphane (SFN), a naturally occurring, orally available, well-tolerated, nutritional supplement present in high concentrations in cruciferous vegetables with limited side effects. SFN inhibited in vitro replication of four strains of SARS-CoV-2 as well as that of the seasonal coronavirus HCoV-OC43. Further, SFN and remdesivir interacted synergistically to inhibit coronavirus infection in vitro. Prophylactic administration of SFN to K18-hACE2 mice prior to intranasal SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly decreased the viral load in the lungs and upper respiratory tract and reduced lung injury and pulmonary pathology compared to untreated infected mice. SFN treatment diminished immune cell activation in the lungs, including significantly lower recruitment of myeloid cells and a reduction in T cell activation and cytokine production. Our results suggest that SFN is a promising treatment for prevention of coronavirus infection or treatment of early disease.
Age-Related Type I Collagen Modifications Reveal Tissue-Defining Differences Between Ligament and Tendon
Authors: Hudson David M. , Archer Marilyn , Rai Jyoti , Weis MaryAnn , Fernandes Russell J. , Eyre David R.
Published: March 2021

Tendons and ligaments tend to be pooled into a single category as dense elastic bands of collagenous connective tissue. They do have many similar properties, for example both tissues are flexible cords of fibrous tissue that join bone to either muscle or bone. Tendons and ligaments are both prone to degenerate and rupture with only limited capacity to heal, however; healing outcomes for tendons are often faster than ligament injuries. Type I collagen constitutes about 80% of the dry weight of tendons and ligaments and is principally responsible for the core strength of each tissue. Collagen synthesis is a complex process with multiple steps and numerous post-translational modifications including proline and lysine hydroxylation, hydroxylysine glycosylation and covalent cross-linking. The chemistry, placement and quantity of intramolecular and intermolecular cross-links are believed to be key contributors to the tissue-specific variations in material strength and biological properties of collagens. As tendons and ligaments grow and develop, the collagen cross-links are known to chemically mature, strengthen and change in profile. Accordingly, changes in cross-linking and other post-translational modifications are likely associated with tissue development and degeneration. Using mass spectrometry, we have compared tendon and ligaments from fetal and adult bovine knee joints to investigate changes in collagen post-translational properties. Although hydroxylation levels at the type I collagen helical cross-linking lysine residues were similar in all adult tissues, ligaments had significantly higher levels of glycosylation at these sites compared to tendon. Differences in lysine hydroxylation were also found between the tissues at the telopeptide cross-linking sites. Total collagen cross-linking analysis, including mature trivalent cross-links and immature divalent cross-links, revealed unique cross-linking profiles between tendon and ligament tissues. Tendons were found to have a significantly higher frequency of smaller diameter collagen fibrils compared with ligament, which we propose is a consequence of the unique cross-linking profile of each tissue. Understanding the specific molecular characteristics that define and distinguish these specialized tissues will be important for designing improved orthopedic treatment approaches.
Retinal waves but not visual experience are required for development of retinal direction selectivity maps
Authors: Tiriac Alexandre , Bistrong Karina , Feller Marla B.
Published: March 2021

Retinal waves and visual experience have been implicated in the formation of retinotopic and eye-specific maps throughout the visual system, but whether either play a role in the development of the maps within the retina itself is unknown. We explore this question using direction-selective retinal ganglion cells, which are organized into a map that aligns to the body and gravitational axes of optic flow. Using two-photon population calcium imaging, we find that the direction selectivity map is present at eye opening and is unaltered by dark-rearing. Remarkably, the horizontal component of the direction selectivity map is absent in mice lacking normal retinal waves, whereas the vertical component remains normal. These results indicate that intrinsic patterns of activity, rather than extrinsic motion signals are critical for the establishment of direction selectivity maps in the retina.

One Sentence Summary

Horizontal direction selectivity in the retina is absent in mice lacking normal retinal waves.
Unlimited cooperativity ofBetatectivirusSSB, a novel DNA binding protein related to an atypical group of SSBs from protein-primed replicating bacterial viruses
Authors: Lechuga A. , Kazlauskas D. , Salas M. , Redrejo-Rodríguez M.
Published: March 2021

Bam35 and related betatectiviruses are tail-less bacteriophages that prey on members of theBacillus cereusgroup. These temperate viruses replicate their linear genome by a protein-primed mechanism. In this work, we have identified and characterized the product of the viral ORF2 as a single-stranded DNA binding protein (hereafter B35SSB). B35SSB binds ssDNA with great preference over dsDNA or RNA in a sequence-independent, highly cooperative manner that results in a non-specific stimulation of DNA replication. We have also identified several aromatic and basic residues, involved in base-stacking and electrostatic interactions, respectively, that are required for effective protein-ssDNA interaction.

Although SSBs are essential for DNA replication in all domains of life as well as many viruses, they are very diverse proteins. However, most SSBs share a common structural domain, named OB-fold. Protein-primed viruses could constitute an exception, as no OB-fold DNA binding protein has been reported. Based on databases searches as well as phylogenetic and structural analyses, we showed that B35SSB belongs to a novel and independent group of SSBs. This group contains proteins encoded by protein-primed viral genomes from unrelated viruses, spanning betatectiviruses and Φ29 and close podoviruses, and they share a conserved pattern of secondary structure. Sensitive searches and structural predictions indicate that B35SSB contains a conserved domain resembling a divergent OB-fold, which would constitute the first occurrence of an OB-fold-like domain in a protein-primed genome.

Highlights

Bam35 ORF 2 product encodes a viral single-stranded DNA binding protein (B35SSB).

B35SSB binds ssDNA in a highly cooperative manner but with no sequence specificity.

B35SSB-ssDNA binding is mediated by base-stacking and ionic interactions.

Bam35 and Φ29-related SSBs form a novel group of SSBs from protein-primed viruses.

The B35-Φ29 SSBs group shares a highly divergent OB-fold-like domain.
Demonstration of local adaptation of maize landraces by reciprocal transplantation
Authors: Janzen Garrett M. , Aguilar-Rangel María Rocío , Cíntora-Martínez Carolina , Blöcher-Juárez Karla Azucena , González-Segovia Eric , Studer Anthony J. , Runcie Daniel E. , Flint-Garcia Sherry A. , Rellán-Álvarez Rubén , Sawers Ruairidh J. H. , Hufford Matthew B.
Published: March 2021

Populations are locally adapted when they exhibit higher fitness than foreign populations in their native habitat. Maize landrace adaptations to highland and lowland conditions are of interest to researchers and breeders. To determine the prevalence and strength of local adaptation in maize landraces, we performed a reciprocal transplant experiment across an elevational gradient in Mexico. We grew 120 landraces, grouped into four populations (Mexican Highland, Mexican Lowland, South American Highland, South American Lowland), in Mexican highland and lowland common gardens and collected phenotypes relevant to fitness, as well as reported highland-adaptive traits such as anthocyanin pigmentation and macrohair density. 67k DArTseq markers were generated from field specimens to allow comparison between phenotypic patterns and population genetic structure.

We found phenotypic patterns consistent with local adaptation, though these patterns differ between the Mexican and South American populations. While population genetic structure largely recapitulates drift during post-domestication dispersal, landrace phenotypes reflect adaptations to native elevation. Quantitative traitQSTwas greater than neutralFSTfor many traits, signaling divergent directional selection between pairs of populations. All populations exhibited higher fitness metric values when grown at their native elevation, and Mexican landraces had higher fitness than South American landraces when grown in our Mexican sites. Highland populations expressed generally higher anthocyanin pigmentation than lowland populations, and more so in the highland site than in the lowland site. Macrohair density was largely non-plastic, and Mexican landraces and highland landraces were generally more pilose. Analysis ofδ13C indicated that lowland populations may have lower WUE. Each population demonstrated garden-specific correlations between highland trait expression and fitness, with stronger positive correlations in the highland site.

These results give substance to the long-held presumption of local adaptation of New World maize landraces to elevation and other environmental variables across North and South America.
Symbiodiniaceae conduct under natural bleaching stress during advanced gametogenesis stages of the mesophotic coralAlveopora allingi
Authors: Eyal Gal , Eyal-Shaham Lee , Loya Yossi
Published: March 2021

The mesophotic coralAlveopora allingifrom the northern Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, Red Sea, is affected by year-round partial coral-bleaching events. During these events, the migration of Symbiodiniaceae takes place from the coral-host mesoglea to the developed oocytes in bleached parts of colonies ofA. allingibut not in the non-bleached parts. Additionally, these oocytes are abnormal, missing part of the structural material of the peripheral areas and are also significantly larger in the bleached areas of the colonies. Hence, we suggest a parasitic behavior of the symbionts or a commensalism relationship which enhance symbionts’ needs during bleaching periods and may boost the gametogenesis development in these corals. We propose that evolutionarily, this behavior may greatly contribute to the symbiont community survival throughout the bleaching period, and it can also be beneficial for the host’s persistence and adaptation to bleaching through the acquisition of a specific symbiont community following the bleaching event.
Parallel and recurrent cascade models as a unifying force for understanding sub-cellular computation
Authors: Harkin Emerson F. , Shen Peter R. , Goel Anish , Richards Blake A. , Naud Richard
Published: March 2021

Neurons are very complicated computational devices, incorporating numerous non-linear processes, particularly in their dendrites. Biophysical models capture these processes directly by explicitly modelling physiological variables, such as ion channels, current flow, membrane capacitance, etc. However, another option for capturing the complexities of real neural computation is to use cascade models, which treat individual neurons as a cascade of linear and non-linear operations, akin to a multi-layer artificial neural network. Recent research has shown that cascade models can capture single-cell computation well, but there are still a number of sub-cellular, regenerative dendritic phenomena that they cannot capture, such as the interaction between sodium, calcium, and NMDA spikes in different compartments. Here, we propose that it is possible to capture these additional phenomena usingparallel, recurrentcascade models, wherein an individual neuron is modelled as a cascade of parallel linear and non-linear operations that can be connected recurrently, akin to a multi-layer, recurrent, artificial neural network. Given their tractable mathematical structure, we show that neuron models expressed in terms of parallel recurrent cascades can themselves be integrated into multi-layered artificial neural networks and trained to perform complex tasks. We go on to discuss potential implications and uses of these models for artificial intelligence. Overall, we argue that parallel, recurrent cascade models provide an important, unifying tool for capturing single-cell computation and exploring the algorithmic implications of physiological phenomena.
Quantitative blood flow estimationin vivoby optical speckle image velocimetry
Authors: Qureshi Muhammad Mohsin , Liu Yan , Mac Khuong Duy , Kim Minsung , Safi Abdul Mohaimen , Chung Euiheon
Published: March 2021

Speckle based methods are popular non-invasive, label-free full-field optical techniques for imaging blood flow maps at single vessel resolution with a high temporal resolution. However, conventional speckle approach cannot provide an absolute velocity map with magnitude and direction. Here, we report a novel optical speckle image velocimetry (OSIV) technique for measuring the quantitative blood flow vector map by utilizing particle image velocimetry with speckle cross-correlations. We demonstrate that our OSIV instrument has a linearity range up to 7 mm/s, higher than conventional optical methods. Our method can measure the absolute flow vector map at up to 190 Hz without sacrificing the image size, and it eliminates the need for a high-speed camera/detector. We applied OSIV to image the blood flow in a mouse brain, and as a proof of concept, imaged the real-time dynamic changes in the cortical blood flow field during the stroke processin vivo. Our wide-field quantitative flow measurement OSIV method without the need of tracers provides a valuable tool for studying the healthy and diseased brain.
Structures of TRPM5 channel elucidate mechanism of activation and inhibition
Authors: Ruan Zheng , Haley Emery , Orozco Ian J. , Sabat Mark , Myers Richard , Roth Rebecca , Du Juan , Lü Wei
Published: March 2021

The Ca2+-activated TRPM5 channel plays an essential role in the perception of sweet, bitter, and umami stimuli in type II taste cells and in insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells1–3. Interestingly, the voltage dependence of TRPM5 in taste bud cells depends on the intracellular Ca2+concentration4, yet the mechanism remains elusive. Here we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of the zebrafish TRPM5 in an apo closed state, a Ca2+-bound open state, and an antagonist-bound inhibited state, at resolutions up to 2.3 Å. We defined two novel ligand binding sites: a Ca2+binding site (CaICD) in the intracellular domain (ICD), and an antagonist binding site in the transmembrane domain (TMD) for a drug (NDNA) that regulates insulin and GLP-1 release5. The CaICDsite is unique to TRPM5 and has two roles: shifting the voltage dependence toward negative membrane potential, and promoting Ca2+binding to the CaTMDsite that is conserved throughout Ca2+-sensitive TRPM channels6. Replacing glutamate 337 in the CaICDsite with an alanine not only abolished Ca2+binding to CaICDbut also reduced Ca2+binding affinity to CaTMD, suggesting a cooperativity between the two sites. We have defined mechanisms underlying channel activation and inhibition. Conformational changes initialized from both Ca2+sites, 70 Å apart, are propagated to the ICD–TMD interface and cooperatively open the ion-conducting pore. The antagonist NDNA wedges into the space between the S1-S4 domain and pore domain, stabilizing the TMD in an apo-like closed state. Our results lay the foundation for understanding the voltage-dependent TRPM channels and developing new therapeutic agents to treat metabolic disorders.
Defining Vascular Cognitive Impairment in India—A Descriptive Study of MRI Volumetry vs. Cognition in ‘Normal’ Adults
Authors: Sundar Uma , Mukhopadhyay Amita , Raghavan Sheelakumari , Menon Ramshekhar N. , Kesavadas Chandrasekharan , Shah Nilesh , Adsul Balkrishna B. , Joshi Anagha R.
Published: March 2021

Background

It is important to establish criteria to define Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) in India as VCI is an image-based diagnosis and MRI changes resulting from age with prevalent vascular risk factors may confound MRI interpretation.

Objective

To establish normative community data for MRI volumetry including white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), correlated with age-stratified cognitive scores and vascular risk factors in adults ≥40 years old.

Materials and Methods

We screened 2651 individuals without known neurological morbidity, living in Mumbai and nearby rural areas, using validated Marathi translations of Kolkata Cognitive Battery (KCB) and Geriatric depression score (GDS). We stratified 1961 persons with GDS ≤9 by age and cognitive score, and randomly selected ten percent from each subgroup for MRI brain volumetry. Crude volumes were standardized to reflect percentage of intracranial volume.

Results

MRI volumetry studies were done in 199 individuals (F/M = 90/109; 73 with BMI ≥25; 44 hypertensives; 29 diabetics; mean cognitive score 76.5). Both grey and white matter volumes decreased with increasing age. WMHV increased with age and hypertension. Grey matter volume decreased with increasing WMHV. Positive predictors of cognition included standardized hippocampal volume (HCV), urban living, education, and BMI, while WMHV and age were negative predictors. Urban dwellers had higher cognitive scores than rural, and (paradoxically) smaller HCV.

Conclusions

Further study is warranted into sociodemographic and biological factors that mutually influence cognition. Our findings contribute to baseline diagnostic criteria for VCI and could help in early diagnosis and control of cognitive decline and its key risk factors.
Factors confounding the athlete biological passport: a systematic narrative review
Authors: Krumm Bastien , Faiss Raphael
Published: March 2021

Background

Through longitudinal, individual and adaptive monitoring of blood biomarkers, the haematological module of the athlete biological passport (ABP) has become a valuable tool in anti-doping efforts. The composition of blood as a vector of oxygen in the human body varies in athletes with the influence of multiple intrinsic (genetic) or extrinsic (training or environmental conditions) factors. In this context, it is fundamental to establish a comprehensive understanding of the various causes that may affect blood variables and thereby alter a fair interpretation of ABP profiles.

Methods

This literature review described the potential factors confounding the ABP to outline influencing factors altering haematological profiles acutely or chronically.

Results

Our investigation confirmed that natural variations in ABP variables appear relatively small, likely—at least in part—because of strong human homeostasis. Furthermore, the significant effects on haematological variations of environmental conditions (e.g. exposure to heat or hypoxia) remain debatable. The current ABP paradigm seems rather robust in view of the existing literature that aims to delineate adaptive individual limits. Nevertheless, its objective sensitivity may be further improved.

Conclusions

This narrative review contributes to disentangling the numerous confounding factors of the ABP to gather the available scientific evidence and help interpret individual athlete profiles.

Key points

Through longitudinal, individual and adaptive monitoring of blood biomarkers, the haematological module of the athlete biological passport (ABP) has become a valuable tool in anti-doping efforts.

This literature review described the potential factors confounding the ABP to outline influencing factors altering haematological profiles acutely or chronically.

While our results support the current ABP paradigm as rather robust to delineate adaptive individual limits, our work may contribute to disentangling the numerous confounding factors of the ABP to gather the available scientific
Relationship between teaching modality and COVID-19, well-being, and teaching satisfaction (Campus & Corona): a cohort study among students in higher education
Authors: Fretheim Atle , Helleve Arnfinn , Løyland Borghild , Sandbekken Ida Hellum , Flatø Martin , Telle Kjetil , Watle Sara Sofie Viksmoen , Schjøll Alexander , Helseth Sølvi , Jamtvedt Gro , Hart Rannveig Kaldager
Published: March 2021

Background

After lock-down during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, higher education institutions globally struggled to balance the need for infection control and educational requirements as they prepared to reopen. A particularly difficult choice was whether to offer for in-person or online teaching, since there was little or no empirical research to inform this decision. Norwegian universities and university colleges opted for a hybrid model when they reopened for the autumn semester, with some students offered more in-person teaching than others. This gave us an opportunity to study the association between different teaching modalities and COVID-19 risk, quality of life (subjective well-being), and teaching satisfaction.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study among students in higher education institutions in Norway. Participants were surveyed biweekly from September to December in 2020.

Findings

26 754 students from 14 higher education institutions provided data to our analyses. Our best estimate for the association between two weeks of in-person teaching and COVID-19 risk was −22% (95% CI −77% to 33%), compared to online teaching. Quality of life was positively associated with in-person teaching (3% relative risk difference; 95% CI 2% to 4%), as was teaching satisfaction (10%; 95% CI 8% to 11%).

Interpretation

The association between COVID-19 infection and teaching modality was highly uncertain. Shifting from in-person to online teaching seems to have a negative impact on the well-being of students in higher education.

Funding

None.
Regional performance variation in external validation of four prediction models for severity of COVID-19 at hospital admission: An observational multi-centre cohort study
Authors: Wickstrøm Kristin E. , Vitelli Valeria , Carr Ewan , Holten Aleksander R. , Bendayan Rebecca , Reiner Andrew H. , Bean Daniel , Searle Tom , Shek Anthony , Kraljevic Zeljko , Teo James , Dobson Richard , Tonby Kristian , Köhn- Luque Alvaro , Amundsen Erik K.
Published: March 2021

Background

Several prediction models for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have been published. Prediction models should be externally validated to assess their performance before implementation. This observational cohort study aimed to validate published models of severity for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 using clinical and laboratory predictors.

Methods

Prediction models fitting relevant inclusion criteria were chosen for validation. The outcome was either mortality or a composite outcome of mortality and ICU admission (severe disease). 1295 patients admitted with symptoms of COVID-19 at Kings Cross Hospital (KCH) in London, United Kingdom, and 307 patients at Oslo University Hospital (OUH) in Oslo, Norway were included. The performance of the models was assessed in terms of discrimination and calibration.

Results

We identified two models for prediction of mortality (referred to as Xie and Zhang1) and two models for prediction of severe disease (Allenbach and Zhang2).

The performance of the models was variable. For prediction of mortality Xie had good discrimination at OUH with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) 0.87 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.79-0.95] and acceptable discrimination at KCH, AUROC 0.79 [0.76-0.82]. In prediction of severe disease, Allenbach had acceptable discrimination (OUH AUROC 0.81 [0.74-0.88] and KCH AUROC 0.72 [0.68-0.75]). The Zhang models had moderate to poor discrimination. Initial calibration was poor for all models but improved with recalibration.

Conclusions

The performance of the four prediction models was variable. The Xie model had the best discrimination for mortality, while the Allenbach model had acceptable results for prediction of severe disease.
Analysis of CHD-7 defective dauer nematodes implicates collagen misregulation in CHARGE syndrome features
Authors: Jofré Diego M. , Hoffman Dane K. , Cervino Ailen S. , Grundy McKenzie , Yun Sijung , Amrit Francis RG. , Stolz Donna B. , Salvatore Esteban , Rossi Fabiana A. , Ghazi Arjumand , Cirio M. Cecilia , Yanowitz Judith L. , Hochbaum Daniel
Published: March 2021

CHARGE syndrome is a complex developmental disorder caused by mutations in the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein7 (CHD7) and characterized by retarded growth and malformations in the heart and nervous system. Despite the public health relevance of this disorder, relevant targets of CHD7 that relate to disease pathology are still poorly understood. Here we report thatchd-7, the nematode ortholog of Chd7, is required for dauer morphogenesis, lifespan determination, and stress response. Consistent with our discoveries, we foundchd-7to be allelic toscd-3, a previously identified dauer suppressor from the TGF-β pathway. Notably, DAF-12 promotedchd-7 expression, which is necessary to repressdaf-9for execution of the dauer program. Transcriptomic analysis comparingchd-7–defective and normal dauers showed enrichment of collagen genes, consistent with a conserved role for the TGF-β pathway in formation of the extracellular matrix. To validate a conserved function forchd-7in vertebrates, we usedXenopus laevisembryos, an established model to study craniofacial development. Morpholino mediated knockdown of Chd7 led to a reduction incol2a1mRNA levels. Both embryonic lethality and craniofacial defects in Chd7-depleted tadpoles were partially rescued by over-expression ofcol2a1mRNA. We suggest that pathogenic features of CHARGE syndrome caused by Chd7 mutations, such as craniofacial malformations, result from the reduction of collagen levels, implying that the extracellular matrix might represent a critical target of Chd7 in CHARGE development.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

CHARGE Syndrome is a complex developmental disorder caused by mutations in the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein-7 (CHD7). Unfortunately, the cellular events that lead to CHARGE syndrome are still poorly understood. InC. elegans, we identifiedchd-7in a screen for suppressors of dauer formation, an alternative larval stage that develops in response to sensory signals of a harsh environment. We found thatchd-7regulates expression of collagens, which constitute the worm’s cuticle, a specialized extracellular matrix. In frog’s embryos, we show that Chd7 inhibition leads to poor Col2a1, which is necessary and sufficient to exhibit CHARGE features. These studies establishC. elegansas an amenable animal model to study the etiology of the developmental defects associated with pathogenic Chd7.
ACE2 protein expression within isogenic cell lines is heterogeneous and associated with distinct transcriptomes
Authors: Sherman Emily J. , Emmer Brian T.
Published: March 2021

The membrane protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a physiologic regulator of the renin-angiotensin system and the cellular receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Prior studies of ACE2 expression have primarily focused on mRNA abundance, with investigation at the protein level limited by uncertain specificity of commercial ACE2 antibodies. Here, we report our development of a sensitive and specific flow cytometry-based assay for cellular ACE2 protein abundance. Application of this approach to multiple cell lines revealed an unexpected degree of cellular heterogeneity, with detectable ACE2 protein in only a subset of cells in each isogenic population. This heterogeneity was mediated at the mRNA level by transcripts predominantly initiated from theACE2proximal promoter. ACE2 expression was heritable but not fixed over multiple generations of daughter cells, with gradual drift toward the original heterogeneous background. RNA-seq profiling identified distinct transcriptomes of ACE2-expressing relative cells to non-expressing cells, with enrichment in functionally related genes and transcription factor target sets. Our findings provide a validated approach for the specific detection of ACE2 protein at the surface of single cells, support an epigenetic mechanismACE2gene regulation, and identify specific pathways associated with ACE2 expression in HuH7 cells.
Benchmarking smart manufacturing drivers using Grey TOPSIS and COPRAS-G approaches
Authors: Malaga Anilkumar , Vinodh S.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The objective of the study is to identify and analyse drivers of smart manufacturing using integrated grey-based approaches. The analysis facilitates industry practitioners in the identification of preference of drivers through which smart manufacturing can be implemented. These drivers are explored based on existing literature and expert opinion.

Design/methodology/approach

Modern manufacturing firms have been adopting smart manufacturing concepts to sustain in the global competitive landscape. Smart manufacturing incorporates integrated technologies with a flexible workforce to interlink the cyber and physical world. In order to facilitate the effective deployment of smart manufacturing, key drivers need to be analysed. This article presents a study in which 25 drivers of smart manufacturing and 8 criteria are analysed. Integrated grey Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (grey TOPSIS) is applied to rank the drivers. The derived ranking is validated using “Complex Proportional Assessment – Grey” (COPRAS-G) approach.

Findings

In total, 25 drivers with 8 criteria are being considered and an integrated grey TOPSIS approach is applied. The ranking order of drivers is obtained and further sensitivity analysis is also done.

Research limitations/implications

In the present study, 25 drivers of smart manufacturing are analysed. In the future, additional drivers could be considered.

Practical implications

The study presented has been done with inputs from industry experts, and hence the inferences have practical relevance. Industry practitioners need to focus on these drivers in order to implement smart manufacturing in industry.

Originality/value

The analysis of drivers of smart manufacturing is the original contribution of the authors.
Impact of e-leadership and team dynamics on virtual team performance in a public organization
Authors: Elyousfi Fatima , Anand Amitabh , Dalmasso Audrey
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study examines the effect of various attributes of leadership and teams, modeled as perceived e-leadership and perceived team dynamics on virtual team (VT) performance in a public organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a survey instrument, data were collected from 184 participants involved in a virtual workplace from one of the largest Canadian public organizations. This study uses PLS-SEM software and quantitative methods.

Findings

This research identified that perceived team dynamics, which includes team member behavior, collaboration and support, has a significant medium effect on VT member performance. However, perceived e-leadership, which includes leaders' trust, leader communication/co-ordination and leader behavior, has a significant small effect on VT performance.

Originality/value

This study contribute to literature on VTs and VT's performance specially in public organizations. As the existing literature on employee performance has mainly focused on private organizations, and more so on VTs. However, little is known about VTs in public organizations and specifically about their performance.
A classification model for formal high-end menswear retailers in Italy
Authors: Arrigo Elisa , Brun Alessandro
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Despite menswear is gaining a significant relevance in terms of retail sales, it represents a neglected topic within the academic literature. Therefore, this paper aims at providing a better understanding of the formal menswear market by developing a tailor-made classification model for the identification of retailers' clusters and at discovering the critical success factors (CSFs).

Design/methodology/approach

This research looked at most formal high-end menswear retailers in Italy adopting a methodology based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process and multiple case studies. Thirty interviews were conducted with experts, managers and shopkeepers from case studies.

Findings

The study develops for the first time a classification framework of formal high-end menswear retailers and a matching matrix to jointly analyse retailers' clusters and customer profiles in Italy. The results identify the CSFs pursued by menswear retailers and highlight the existence of four clusters of retailers (Differentiated Fashion Firms; Formal Menswear Leaders; Tailoring Firms and Luxury Brands) and seven customer profiles (Habitual Professionals, Special Events, Young People, Occasional Professionals, Foreigners, VIPs and Fashionistas).

Originality/value

The formal high-end menswear represents one of the most traditional Italian heritage markets while being almost ignored in the academic literature. Thus, the value of this research lays in deepening our understanding of this market from the retailers' perspective, by providing for the first time a taxonomy of its players and contributing to identifying the CSFs and the main customer profiles.
On the determinants, gains and challenges of electronic banking adoption in Nigeria
Authors: Aduba Joseph Junior
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the gains, challenges and determinants of electronic banking adoption in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applied the generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM) to a large sample of respondents surveyed from five of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to model the determinants of electronic banking. In addition to many other advantages, GSEM can be used as a likelihood function. As a result, this paper proposes GSEM as the most appropriate tool for modelling the socioeconomic determinant of electronic banking adoption.

Findings

About three-quarter of respondents adopted at least a form of electronic banking. However, only a tenth of users used e-banking for purchase of goods or services, implying low electronic payment adoption. The low adoption of electronic payment was due to poor digital security infrastructure which made users vulnerable to widespread electronic frauds. The findings also show that the adoption of e-banking platforms or services was characterized by users' socioeconomic status. For example, the odds of adopting internet/mobile banking decreases with older users but increase with higher educational attainment and income, whereas the odds of adopting e-banking platforms such as short message service (SMS) and point of sale (POS) banking increases with older users and informally employed users respectively.

Practical implications

For a sustainable cashless economy and financial inclusion in Nigeria, policy consolidation that provides safe e-banking services is necessary. Also, e-banking service providers should deliver specific contents and services that match the physical and economic characteristics of users.

Originality/value

Generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM) is a robust likelihood function method that combines the power of structural equation modelling with the generalized linear model. The application of GSEM to predict the likelihood of adopting a banking technology or Service has not been explored in electronic banking literature. Also, as a fast-growing economy with a heterogeneous population, Nigeria presents an interesting context to study the determinants of electronic banking.
The best practice of marketing strategies for the Malaysian business event industry from experts' perspective
Authors: Hazira Mohd Nasir , Alagas Elangkovan Narayanan , Amin Muslim , Zamzuri Norol Hamiza , Zairul Mohd Mohd
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the best practices in marketing strategies for the Malaysian business event industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology was adopted to collect primary data from semi-structured interviews. The informants included ten experts from the Malaysian business event industry. The data collected were then grouped using the ATLAS.ti (v.8) software for thematic analysis. A trustworthiness assessment was applied to increase the credibility and ensure the rigour of the qualitative findings.

Findings

The qualitative results revealed the following final themes: event marketing, the marketing plan, the 7 Ps of the marketing mix, strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and traditional and digital marketing. Interestingly, three inductive themes were also emerged as follows: relationship marketing, unique selling points (USPs) and key opinion leaders.

Research limitations/implications

This study looked at Malaysian business events and focused only on findings from the industry expert's perspective. In the future, further investigation may concentrate on other business event industry players such as destination marketing companies, airline operators, travel intermediaries, clients, suppliers, universities and the government.

Practical implications

The findings offer a holistic approach to increase Malaysia's competitiveness among other primary business event host destinations in the Asian-Pacific, improve its worldwide and Asian-Pacific rankings and better position the country as a preferred business event destination during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Originality/value

This is the first such study to date, which has never been explored in qualitative academic research. This study has substantial implications for various business event industry stakeholders in Malaysia.
Oxidation of organoarsenicals and antimonite by a novel flavin monooxygenase widely present in soil bacteria
Authors: Zhang Jun , Chen Jian , Wu Yi‐Fei , Wang Zi‐Ping , Qiu Ji‐Guo , Li Xiao‐Long , Cai Feng , Xiao Ke‐Qing , Sun Xiao‐Xu , Rosen Barry P. , Zhao Fang‐Jie
Published: March 2021

Arsenic can be biomethylated to form a variety of organic arsenicals differing in toxicity and environmental mobility. Trivalent methylarsenite (MAs(III)) produced in the methylation process is more toxic than inorganic arsenite (As(III)). MAs(III) also serves as a primitive antibiotic and, consequently, some environmental microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to detoxify MAs(III). However, the mechanisms of MAs(III) detoxification are not well understood. In this study, we identified an arsenic resistance (ars) operon consisting of three genes, arsRVK, that contribute to MAs(III) resistance in Ensifer adhaerens ST2. ArsV is annotated as an NADPH‐dependent flavin monooxygenase with unknown function. Expression of arsV in the arsenic hypersensitive Escherichia coli strain AW3110Δars conferred resistance to MAs(III) and the ability to oxidize MAs(III) to MAs(V). In the presence of NADPH and either FAD or FMN, purified ArsV protein was able to oxidize both MAs(III) to MAs(V) and Sb(III) to Sb(V). Genes with arsV‐like sequences are widely present in soils and environmental bacteria. Metagenomic analysis of five paddy soils showed the abundance of arsV‐like sequences of 0.12–0.25 ppm. These results demonstrate that ArsV is a novel enzyme for the detoxification of MAs(III) and Sb(III) and the genes encoding ArsV are widely present in soil bacteria.
Molecular identification of a forensically relevant blowfly species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from the Nagpur region of Maharashtra, India
Authors: Shinde Apurva M. , Mahakalkar Archana L. , Sapkal Hemant P. , Abd Al GAlil Fahd Mohammed , Al‐Mekhlafi Fahd A. , Wadaan Muhammad A.
Published: March 2021

Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are widely distributed in many parts of the world. These flies have forensic importance, as they infest carrion soon after death; this helps not only to estimate the post‐mortem interval, but also other forensic interpretations. However, the forensic value of most entomofauna found at crime scenes is dependent on accurate species identification. Traditional identification of blowflies is based on morphology, but this has limitations when it comes to identifying degraded or damaged samples, or immature stages of the flies. To increase the accuracy of species identification, DNA‐based technologies have been applied. Molecular identification, using the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase I gene coupled with its phylogenetic analysis, has demonstrated the potential for rapid and accurate identification of Calliphoridae species. The present study used this process of molecular identification to identify blowflies collected from the Nagpur region (Maharashtra, India). Five flies belonging to two species (Chrysoma megacephala and Chrysomya rufifacies) have been identified by mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase I gene sequences, and have been added to GenBank [Accession nos: ‐ (MT502110, MT502109 Chrysomya megacephala) (MT502108, MT502111 – Chrysomya rufifacies) to aid researchers in the correct identification of blowfly species for future research or forensic applications.
The secret lives of single cells
Authors: Wood Thomas K.
Published: March 2021

Looking back fondly on the first 15 years of Microbial Biotechnology, a trend is emerging that biotechnology is moving from studies that focus on whole‐cell populations, where heterogeneity exists even during robust growth, to those with an emphasis on single cells. This instils optimism that insights will be made into myriad aspects of bacterial growth in communities.
Protein quantification in ecological studies: A literature review and empirical comparisons of standard methodologies
Authors: Zaguri Moshe , Kandel Shani , Rinehart Shelby A. , Torsekar Viraj R. , Hawlena Dror
Published: March 2021

Protein quantification is a routine procedure in ecological studies despite the inherent limitations of well‐acknowledged protein determination methods which have been largely overlooked by ecologists. Thus, we want to bridge this knowledge gap, in hopes of improving the way ecologists quantify proteins and interpret findings.

We surveyed the ecological literature to determine how and why ecologists quantify proteins. To determine whether different quantification methods produce comparable results across taxa, and between populations of a single species, we estimated the protein content of eight phylogenetically diverse taxa, and of desert isopods fed different diets, using various derived protocols of the 'crude protein', Bradford and bicinchoninic acid approach (BCA) methods.

We found that ecologists use many protein quantification procedures, often without reporting the crucial information needed to evaluate and repeat their methods. Our empirical work demonstrated that the three quantification methods examined, and their derived protocols, resulted in highly divergent protein estimations that were inconsistent in rank across taxa, preventing conversion between methods. We also found that different quantification methods yielded different answers to whether isopod protein content is affected by diet.

We conclude that commonly used quantification techniques yield distinct protein estimations with varying precision, and no single method is likely to be more accurate than another across taxa which may lead to inconsistent results across taxa and between conspecifics. Inaccurate protein quantification may explain the observed mismatch between organismal N and protein that has plagued some recent studies and that contradicts the principles of ecological stoichiometry. We recommend using a single BCA protocol to reduce inconsistencies across studies, until the promising amino acid analysis becomes more affordable, accurate and accessible to ecologists. Until then, ecologists should consider the abovementioned drawbacks of protein quantification methods and interpret their results accordingly.
Markers for the involvement of endothelial cells and the coagulation system in chronic urticaria: A systematic review
Authors: Mostmans Yora , De Smedt Katleen , Richert Bertrand , Elieh Ali Komi Daniel , Maurer Marcus , Michel Olivier
Published: March 2021

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a chronic inflammatory mast cell‐driven disorder. Endothelial cells (ECs) contribute importantly to key features of CU. Several markers of EC (dys)function in CU have been reported, but have not yet been systematically reviewed. In this study, we systematically reviewed and categorized all published markers of EC functions in CU through a comprehensive search in Pubmed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and SCOPUS using the following Mesh terms: CU AND pathogenesis AND (vasculopathy OR microangiopathy OR ECs OR marker). In total, 79 articles were selected and the identified biomarkers were categorized according to EC (dys)function in CU. The most frequent and consistently reported upregulated biomarkers in CU skin were adhesion molecules, TF, and P‐selectin. The most frequently reported upregulated and reliable biomarkers in sera of CU patients were F1+2 for coagulation cascade involvement, D‐dimers for fibrinolysis, and MMP‐9 for vascular permeability. Emerging biomarkers described in the selected articles were endostatin, heat shock proteins, cleaved high molecular weight kininogen, and adipokines. This systematic review contributes to the pool of growing evidence for vascular involvement in CU where EC dysfunction is present in different aspects of cell survival, maintenance of vascular structure, and coagulation/fibrinolysis balance.