bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DOTA chelation through click chemistry enables favorable biodistribution of89Zr-radiolabeled antibodies: A comparison with DFO chelation
Authors: Imura Ryota , Kumakura Yoshitaka , Yan Lin , Shimoura Yuki , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Ida Hiroyuki , Wada Youichiro , Akimitsu Nobuyoshi
Published: September 2022

Currently, the DFO chelator is commonly used to conjugate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and89Zr, whereas the DOTA chelator is commonly used to conjugate mAbs and alpha- and beta-emitting metal radionuclides. However, if the degradation of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-mAb is not negligible, the in vivo biodistribution of89Zr might not reflect that of metal radionuclides conjugated with DOTA-mAb. We hypothesized that [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-mAb as a new imaging counterpart would accurately predict the biodistribution of therapeutic metal radionuclides delivered by DOTA-mAb. In this study, we prepared [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-trastuzumab for the first time by a two-step reaction using click chemistry and then investigated the differences in biodistribution profiles between two chelating approaches for89Zr.

Methods

We prepared [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-trastuzumab from DOTA-tetrazine conjugates (DOTA-Tz) and transcyclooctene-trastuzumab conjugates (TCO-trastuzumab). We first radiolabeled DOTA-Tz with89Zr in a reaction solution of MeOH and HEPES buffer and then used a click reaction to obtain [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-Tz/TCO-trastuzumab. We performed biodistribution studies and PET imaging with [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-trastuzumab in a mouse model of HER2-positive ovarian cancer, SKOV3 xenograft mice at 24, 72, and 144 hours post-injection and compared these data with those of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-trastuzumab.

Results

TCO-trastuzumab was radiolabeled with [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-Tz in the two-step reaction in good radiochemical yield (57.8 ± 17.6%). HER2-positive tumors were clearly visualized with [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-trastuzumab in PET imaging studies. The temporal profile changes of89Zr radioactivity in SKOV3 tumors and bone marrow were sufficiently different between [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-trastuzumab and [89Zr]Zr-DFO-trastuzumab (P < 0.05). Conclusion: [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-trastuzumab can be produced by the two-step radiolabeling reaction based on the Tz/TCO click reaction. Presumably,89Zr released from DFO is not negligible. In contrast, [89Zr]Zr-DOTA-mAb would better predict the biodistribution of [177Lu]Lu- or [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-mAb than [89Zr]Zr-DFO-mAb, thus avoiding the use of different chelator for89Zr at the expense of the click chemistry step.

Graphical Abstract
Progression Analysis of Disease with Survival (PAD-S) by SurvMap identifies different prognostic subgroups of breast cancer in a large combined set of transcriptomics and methylation studies
Authors: Forés-Martos Jaume , Suay-García Beatriz , Bosch-Romeu Raquel , Sanfeliu-Alonso Maria Carmen , Falcó Antonio , Climent Joan
Published: September 2022

Progression analysis of disease (PAD) is a methodology that incorporates the output of Disease-Specific Genomic Analyses (DSGA) to an unsupervised classification scheme based on Topological Data Analysis (TDA). PAD makes use of data derived from healthy individuals to split individual diseased samples into healthy and disease components. Then, the shape characteristics of the disease component are extracted trough the generation of a combinatioral graph by means of the Mapper algorithm. In this paper we introduce a new filtering function for the Mapper algorithm that naturally integrates information on genes linked to disease-free or overall survival. We propose a new PAD-extended methodology termed Progression Analysis of Disease with Survival (PAD-S) and implement it in an R package called SurvMap which allows users to carry out all the steps involved in PAD-S, as well as in traditional PAD analyses. We tested PAD-S methodology using SurvMap on a large combined transcriptomics breast cancer dataset demonstrating its capacity to identify sets of samples displaying highly significant differences in terms of disease free survival (p = 8 × 10−14) and idiosyncratic biological features. PAD-S and SurvMap were also able to identify sets of samples with significantly different relapse-free survivals and molecular profiles inside breast cancer intrinsic subgroups (luminal A, luminal B, Her2, and basal). Finally, to illustrate that PAD-S and SurvMap are general-purpose analysis tools that can be applied to different types of omics data, we also carried out analyses in a breast cancer methylation dataset derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) identifying groups of patients with significant differences in terms of overall survival and methylation profiles.
High diversity and sharing of strongylid nematodes in humans and great apes co-habiting unprotected area in Cameroon
Authors: Ilík Vladislav , Kreisinger Jakub , Modrý David , Schwarz Erich M. , Tagg Nikki , Mbohli Donald , Irène Charmance Nkombou , Petrželková Klára J. , Pafčo Barbora
Published: September 2022

Rapid increases in human populations and environmental changes of past decades have led to intensified contact with wildlife and significantly contributed to pathogen transmission in both directions, especially between humans and non-human primates, whose close phylogenetic relationship facilitates cross-infection. Using high-throughput sequencing, we studied strongylid communities in sympatric western lowland gorillas, central chimpanzees and humans co-occurring in an unprotected area in the northern periphery of the Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon. We identified 65 strongylid ITS-2 amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) in humans and great apes. Great apes exhibited higher strongylid diversity than humans. Necator and Oesophagostomum were the most prevalent genera, and we commonly observed mixed infections of more than one strongylid species. Human strongylid nematodes were dominated by the human hookworm N. americanus, while great apes were mainly infected with N. gorillae, O. stephanostomum and trichostrongylids. We were also able to detect rare strongylid taxa (such as Ancylostoma and Ternidens). We detected eight ASVs shared between humans and great apes (four N. americanus variants, two N. gorillae variants, one O. stephanostomum type I and one Trichostrongylus sp. type II variant). Our results show that knowledge of strongylid communities in primates, including humans, is still limited. Sharing the same habitat, especially outside protected areas (where access to the forest is not restricted), can enable mutual exchange of parasites and can even override host phylogeny or conserved patterns.
A systematic review of the effects of recreation on mammals and birds in mountains: Insights and future research directions
Authors: Hochreutener Adrian , Rupf Reto , Pickering Catherine , Signer Claudio
Published: September 2022

Mountainous areas are popular destinations for outdoor recreation, which can have environmental impacts on wildlife. We assessed research studies about the impacts of recreation on mammals and birds in montane, subalpine and alpine zones using a systematic literature review methodology to identify trends and gaps. We found that research on this topic so far has concentrated on specific regions, seasons, infrastructure, activities and taxa. Most of the 67 articles revived were from Europe (52%) or Northern America (37%) and mainly from subalpine habitats (49%), focused on recreation infrastructure (51%) and mainly done either in summer (47%) or winter (25%). Research was not taxonomically representative but focused on cervids (Cervidae, 21%), bovids (Bovidae, 17%) and grouse (Phasianidae, 8%). It included few species of high conservation value. Almost all research (91%) found significant effects, which were predominantly negative (82%). Infrastructure, such as trails, had the most evidence for negative effects, followed by activities such as hiking and backcountry skiing. Much of the research looked at impacts at individual (42%) or population level (40%) responses, such as changes in behaviour or reductions in habitat, with limited research on communities (7%) or for popular activities such as mountain biking. We invite researchers to make use of emerging technologies, such as remote sensing, and to address research gaps including more regions, taxa and activities. Utilizing current research, land managers can implement more evidence-based strategies to minimise impacts of recreation and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
Comparative RNA-seq analysis of resistant and susceptible banana genotypes reveals molecular mechanisms in response toBanana bunchy top virus(BBTV)
Authors: Lantican Darlon V. , Nocum Jen Daine L. , Manohar Anand Noel C. , Mendoza Jay-Vee S. , Gardoce Roanne R. , Lachica Grace C. , Gueco Lavernee S. , Dela Cueva Fe M.
Published: September 2022

Banana is a major fruit crop in the Philippines and remains to be a large contributor to the country’s dollar reserve. Among the main hindrances in global banana production, diseases such as Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) caused by BBTV can bring catastrophic loss to any banana plantation. To elucidate the resistance mechanism and understand the interplay of host factors in the presence of the invading pathogen, we implemented RNA-seq-based comparative transcriptomics analyses of mock- and BBTV-inoculated resistant (wildM. balbisiana) and susceptible (M. acuminata‘Lakatan’) banana genotypes. Similar patterns of expression for 119 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed on both genotypes, representing the typical defense response of banana to BBTV. A set of 173 DEGs specific to the susceptible ‘Lakatan’ banana cultivar revealed potential host factors and susceptibility mechanisms involved in successful BBTV infection. Further, differential transcriptomic analysis revealed 268 DEGs exclusive to the resistant wildM. balbisiana, unraveling insights into the complex resistance mechanisms involved in BBTV defense such as pathogen perception, phytohormone action, reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypersensitive response (HR), production of secondary metabolites and cell wall modification. The DEGs identified in this study will aid in the design of foreground markers for the precise integration of resistance genes during marker-assisted breeding programs. Furthermore, the application of these results will also enable the foreseen deployment of genome-edited banana cultivars targeting the resistance and host factor genes towards a future-proof banana industry.
Multilayer Networks of Plasmid Genetic Similarity Reveal Potential Pathways of Gene Transmission
Authors: Shapiro Julie Teresa , Zorea Alvah , Brown Kav Aya , Ontiveros Vicente J. , Mizrahi Itzak , Pilosof Shai
Published: September 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to public health. Plasmids are principal vectors of antimicrobial resistance genes, greatly contributing to their spread and mobility across hosts. Nevertheless little is known about the dynamics of plasmid genetic exchange across animal hosts. The cow rumen ecosystem is an excellent model system because it hosts diverse plasmid communities which interact and exchange genes. Here, we use theory and methodology from network and disease ecology to investigate the potential of gene transmission between plasmids using a data-set of 21 plasmidomes from a single dairy cow population. We constructed a multilayer network based on pairwise genetic similarity between plasmids serving as a signature for past genetic exchange to identify potential routes and mechanisms of gene transmission within and between cows. The transmission network was dominated by links between cows. Modularity analysis unraveled a major cross-cow transmission pathway with additional small pathways. Plasmid functions influenced network structure: plasmids containing mobility genes were more connected; those with the same AMR genes formed their own modules. We find signatures of gene superspreading in which a few plasmids and cows are responsible for most gene exchange. An agent-based transmission model showed that a new gene invading the cow population is likely to reach all cows. Finally, we showed that link weights contain a non-random signature for the mechanisms of gene transmission allowing us to differentiate between dispersal and genetic exchange. These results provide insights into the mechanisms by which genes, including those providing AMR, spread across animal hosts.
Selection Of Models For The Regression Problems In Biology Using Chi-Square Test
Authors: Gupta Aaditya Prasad
Published: September 2022

Biological systems, at all scales of organization from nucleic acids to ecosystems, are inherently complex and variable. Therefore mathematical models have become an essential tool in systems biology, linking the behavior of a system to the interaction between its components. Parameters in empirical mathematical models for biology must be determined using experimental data, a process called regression because the experimental data are noisy and incomplete. The term “regression” dates back to Galton’s studies in the 1890s. Considering all this, biologists, therefore, use statistical analysis to detect signals from the system noise. Statistical analysis is at the core of most modern biology and many biological hypotheses, even deceptively. Regression analysis is used to demonstrate association among the variables believed to be biologically related and fit the model to give the best model. There are two types of regression, linear and nonlinear regression to determine the best fit of the model. In this manuscript, we perform a least squares error fit to different models and select the best fit model using theχ2-test, and determine the p-value of the selected model to data that was collected when various doses of a drug were injected into three animals, and the change in blood pressure for each animal was recorded.
Sedimentary DNA can reveal the past population dynamics of a pelagic copepod
Authors: Nakane Kai , Liu Xin , Doi Hideyuki , Dur Gaël , Kuwae Michinobu , Ban Syuhei , Tsugeki Narumi
Published: September 2022

Copepods play a key trophic role as secondary producers, transferring primary production to higher trophic levels such as fish. Copepod production contributes significantly to successful fish recruitment. Despite their importance, knowledge of copepod dynamics over several decades remains limited due to the lack of long-term data series with adequate sampling and analysis. However, an understanding of long-term copepod dynamics is urgently required to strive toward better management for sustainable aquatic ecosystems and fish recruitment.

Sedimentary DNA (sedDNA) has been developing as a useful tool for reconstructing past plankton dynamics. This study evaluates whether sedDNA targeting the pelagic copepod,Eodiaptomus japonicus, in Lake Biwa (Japan) can be an effective tool for elucidating its past population dynamics.

We applied a quantitative polymerase chain reaction method targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene on two sediment cores and compared the detected sedDNA concentrations with the unique long-term dataset of demographic traits, biomass, specific growth rate, production, subitaneous eggs, and resting eggs ofE. japonicus.

The sedDNA concentration ofE. japonicusrecovered from sediment layers correlated significantly within situproduction, biomass, and production of immediately hatching eggs but not with resting eggs or specific growth rate. Our study provides evidence for the effective use of sedDNA as a tracking tool for assessing past copepod production dynamics.
Targeting extracellular vesicle delivery to the lungs by microgel encapsulation
Authors: Cober Nicholas D. , Rowe Katelynn , Deng Yupu , Benavente-Babace Ainara , Courtman David W. , Godin Michel , Stewart Duncan J.
Published: September 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by stem and progenitor cells have significant potential as cell-free ‘cellular’ therapeutics. Yet, small EVs (<200 nm) are rapidly cleared after systemic administration, mainly by the liver, presenting challenges targeting EVs to a specific organ or tissue. Microencapsulation using natural nano-porous hydrogels (microgels) has been shown to enhance engraftment and increase the survival of transplanted cells. We sought to encapsulate EVs within microgels to target their delivery to the lung by virtue of their size-based retention within the pulmonary microcirculation. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) derived EVs were labelled with the lipophilic dye (DiR) and encapsulated within agarose-gelatin microgels. Endothelial cells and bone marrow derived macrophages were able to take up EVs encapsulated in microgelsin vitro, but less efficiently than the uptake of free EVs. Following intrajugular administration, microgel encapsulated EVs were selectively retained within the lungs for 72 hours, while free EVs were rapidly cleared by the liver. Furthermore, microgel loaded EVs demonstrated greater uptake by lung cells, in particular CD45+ immune cells, as assessed by flow cytometry compared to free EVs. Microencapsulation of EVs may be a novel tool for enhancing targeted delivery of EVs for future therapeutic applications.
Lionfish (Pterois volitans) can see UV light: UV Vision in an Invasive Aquatic Predator
Authors: Phillips Elizabeth W. , de Wit Karen E. , Kotrschal Alexander
Published: September 2022

UV vision is wide-spread across animals. Many coral reef fish species use the reflection of UV light to communicate with conspecifics, as most aquatic predators are UV-blind. This creates a “secret” communication system for prey fish to signal to others while minimizing their risk of predation. Exploitation of this system by a predator that can see UV light would likely help facilitate prey detection and increase predator efficiency. Recently, indirect evidence has emerged that the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans), a highly invasive predator in the Caribbean, might be able to see into the UV spectrum. We propose that UV vision might be an important, and so far overlooked, reason for lionfish’s predatory success. Using an associative learning assay, we investigated lionfish’s ability to discriminate UV from non-UV light and found the first behavioral evidence that lionfish can indeed see UV light. We also measured the UV body reflectance of lionfish and found that lionfish reflect UV light, suggesting that lionfish may communicate with conspecifics via UV vision. Further studies should investigate if the UV vision is more widespread in marine predators than originally thought, as well as continue to investigate the function of UV vision in lionfish and other predators.
Targeting intracellular Neu1 for Coronavirus Infection Treatment
Authors: Yang Darong , Wu Yin , Turan Isaac , Keil Joseph , Li Kui , Chen Michael H , Liu Runhua , Wang Lizhong , Sun Xue-Long , Chen Guo-Yun
Published: September 2022

There are no effective therapies for COVID-19 or antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, current vaccines appear less efficacious for new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Thus, there is an urgent need to better understand the virulence mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 and the host response to develop therapeutic agents. Here, we show host Neu1 regulates coronavirus replication by controlling sialylation on coronavirus nucleocapsid protein. Coronavirus nucleocapsid proteins in COVID-19 patients and in coronavirus HCoV-OC43-infected cells were heavily sialylated; this sialylation controlled the RNA binding activity and replication of coronavirus. Neu1 overexpression increased HCoV-OC43 replication, whereas Neu1 knockdown reduced HCoV-OC43 replication. Moreover, a newly developed Neu1 inhibitor, Neu5Ac2en-OAcOMe, selectively targeted intracellular sialidase, which dramatically reduced HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro and rescued mice from HCoV-OC43 infection-induced death. Our findings suggest that Neu1 inhibitors could be used to limit SARS-CoV-2 replication in patients with COVID-19, making Neu1 a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19 and future coronavirus pandemics.
The crystal structure ofVibrio cholerae(6-4) photolyase reveals interactions with cofactors and a DNA binding region
Authors: Cakilkaya Baris , Kavakli Ibrahim Halil , DeMirci Hasan
Published: September 2022

Photolyases (PLs) reverse UV-induced DNA damage using blue light as an energy source. Of these photolyases, (6-4) PLs repair (6-4)-lesioned photoproducts. We recently identified a gene fromVibrio cholerae (Vc) encoding a (6-4) PL, but structural characterization is needed to elucidate specific interactions with the chromophore cofactors. Here, we determined the crystal structure ofVc(6-4) PL at 2.5 Å resolution. Our high-resolution structure revealed that the two well-known cofactors, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and the photoantenna 6,7-dimethyl 8-ribityl-lumazin (DMRL), stably interact with an α-helical and an α/β domain, respectively. Additionally, the structure has a third cofactor with distinct electron clouds corresponding to a [4Fe-4S] cluster. Moreover, we identified that Asp106 makes a hydrogen bond with the water and DMRL, which indicates further stabilization of the photoantenna DMRL withinVc(6-4) PL. Further analysis of theVc(6-4) PL structure revealed a possible region responsible for DNA binding. The region located between residues 478-484 may bind the lesioned DNA, with Arg483 potentially forming a salt bridge with DNA to stabilize further the interaction ofVc(6-4) PL with its substrate. Our comparative analysis revealed that the DNA lesion could not bind to theVc(6-4) PL in a similar fashion to theDrosophila melanogaster Dm(6-4) PL without a significant conformational change of the protein. The 23rdhelix of the bacterial (6-4) PLs seems to have remarkable plasticity, and conformational changes facilitate DNA binding. In conclusion, our structure provides further insight into DNA repair by a (6-4) PL containing three cofactors.
Cross-biome microbial networks reveal functional redundancy and suggest genome reduction through functional complementarity
Authors: Puente-Sánchez Fernando , Pascual-García Alberto , Bastolla Ugo , Pedrós-Alió Carlos , Tamames Javier
Published: September 2022

Microbial communities are complex and dynamic entities, and their structure arises from the interplay of a multitude of factors, including the interactions of microorganisms with each other and with the environment. Since each extant community has a unique eco-evolutionary history, it might appear that contingency rather than general rules govern their assembly. In spite of this, there is evidence that some general assembly principles exist, at least to a certain extent. In this work, we sought to identify those principles by performing a cross-study, cross-biome meta-analysis of microbial occurrence data in more than 5,000 samples from ten different environmental groups. We adopted a novel algorithm that allows the same taxa to aggregate with different partners in different habitats, capturing the complexity of interactions inherent to natural microbial communities. We tried to decouple function from phylogeny, the environment, and genome size, in order to provide an unbiased characterization of phylogenetic and functional redundancy in environmental microbial assemblages. We then examined the phylogenetic and functional composition of the resulting inferred communities, and searched for global patterns of assembly both at the community level and in individual metabolic pathways.

Our analysis of the resulting microbial assemblages highlighted that environmental communities are more functionally redundant than expected by chance. This effect is greater for communities appearing in more than one environment, suggesting a link between functional redundancy and environmental adaptation. In spite of this, certain pathways are observed in fewer taxa than expected by chance, suggesting the presence of auxotrophy, and presumably cooperation among community members, which is supported by our analysis of amino acid biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, this hypothetical cooperation may play a role in genome reduction, since we observed a negative relationship between the size of bacterial genomes and the number of taxa of the community they belong to.

Overall, our results provide a global characterization of environmental microbial communities, and offer design principles for engineering robust bacterial communities.
Tilt In Place Microscopy (TIPM): a simple, low-cost solution to image neural responses to body rotations
Authors: Hamling Kyla R. , Zhu Yunlu , Auer Franziska , Schoppik David
Published: September 2022

Animals use information about gravity and other destabilizing forces to balance and navigate through their environment. Measuring how brains respond to these forces requires considerable technical knowledge and/or financial resources. We present a simple alternative: Tilt In Place Microscopy (TIPM). TIPM is a low-cost and non-invasive way to measure neural activity following rapid changes in body orientation. Here we used TIPM to study vestibulospinal neurons in larval zebrafish during and immediately after roll tilts. Vestibulospinal neurons responded with reliable increases in activity that varied as a function of ipsilateral tilt amplitude. TIPM differentiated tonic (i.e. sustained tilt) from phasic responses, revealing coarse topography of stimulus sensitivity in the lateral vestibular nucleus. Neuronal variability across repeated sessions was minor relative to trial-to-trial variability, allowing us to use TIPM for longitudinal studies of the same neurons across two developmental timepoints. There, we observed global increases in response strength, and systematic changes in the neural representation of stimulus direction. Our data extend classical characterization of the body tilt representation by vestibulospinal neurons and establish TIPM’s utility to study the neural basis of balance, especially in developing animals.

Significance Statement

Vestibular sensation influences everything from navigation to interoception. Here we detail a straight-forward, validated and nearly-universal approach to image how the nervous system senses and responds to body tilts. We use our new method to replicate and expand upon past findings of tilt sensing by a conserved population of spinal-projecting vestibular neurons. The simplicity and broad compatibility of our approach will democratize the study of the brain’s response to destabilization, particularly across development.
Emergence of flagella-like oscillations in single microtubules driven by collective dynein transport
Authors: Yadav Shivani A. , Khetan Neha , Khatri Dhruv , Athale Chaitanya A.
Published: September 2022

Flagellar and ciliary oscillations result from a combination of stereotypical axonemal geometry, collective mechanics of motors, microtubules (MTs), elastic linkers and biochemical regulation. However, the minimal essential components and constraints resulting in flagellar oscillations remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that periodic, low-frequency waves of flagella-like oscillationsin vitroemerge from a ATP-driven collective molecular motor transport of MTs clamped at one end. The spontaneous oscillations arise without any external forcing and can be explained by an insilicomodel of molecular motor binding driven MT bending and buckling followed by motor detachment driven ‘recovery’ stroke. We demonstrate that transitions in single MT patterns between flapping, flagellar-beating and looping are determined solely by the self-organization of collective motor transport and filament elasticity.
Broad host tropism of ACE2-using MERS-related coronaviruses and determinants restricting viral recognition
Authors: Ma Chengbao , Liu Chen , Xiong Qing , Gu Mengxue , Shi Lulu , Wang Chunli , Si Junyu , Tong Fei , Liu Peng , Huang Meiling , Yan Huan
Published: September 2022

Phylogenetically distant coronaviruses have evolved to use ACE2 as their common receptors, including NL63 and many Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus-related viruses. We recently reported two Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) closely related bat merbecoviruses, NeoCoV and PDF-2180, use Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for entry. However, their host range and cross-species transmissibility remain unknown. Here, we characterized their species-specific receptor preference by testing ACE2 orthologs from 49 bats and 53 non-bat mammals. Both viruses exhibited broad receptor recognition spectra and are unable to use ACE2 orthologs from 24 species, mainly Yinpterochiropteran bats. Comparative analyses of bat ACE2 orthologs underscored four crucial host range determinants, all confirmed by subsequent functional assays in human and bat cells. Among them, residue 305, participating in a critical interaction, plays a crucial role in host tropism determination. NeoCoV-T510F, a mutation that enhances human ACE2 recognition, further expanded the potential host range via tighter interaction with an evolutionary conserved hydrophobic pocket. Our results elucidated the molecular basis for the species-specific ACE2 usage of MERS-related viruses across mammals and shed light on their zoonotic risks.
77Se and 125Te solid-state NMR and X-ray diffraction structural study of chalcogen-bonded 3,4-dicyano-1,2,5-chalcogenodiazole cocrystals
Authors: Nag Tamali , Ovens Jeffrey S. , Bryce David L.
Published: September 2022

Three novel chalcogen-bonded cocrystals featuring 3,4-dicyano-1,2,5-selenodiazole (C4N4Se) or 3,4-dicyano-1,2,5-tellurodiazole (C4N4Te) as chalcogen-bond donors and hydroquinone (C6H6O2), tetraphenylphosphonium chloride (C24H20P+·Cl−) or tetraethylphosphonium chloride (C8H20P+·Cl−) as chalcogen-bond acceptors have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), powder X-ray diffraction and 77Se/125Te magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The single-crystal XRD results show that the chalcogenodiazole molecules interact with the electron donors through two σ-holes on each of the chalcogen atoms, which results in highly directional and moderately strong chalcogen bonds. Powder XRD confirms that the crystalline phases are preserved upon moderate grinding of the samples for solid-state NMR experiments. Measurement of 77Se and 125Te chemical shift tensors via magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy confirms the number of magnetically unique chalcogen sites in each asymmetric unit and reveals the impact of chalcogen-bond formation on the local electronic structure. These NMR data are further assessed in the context of analogous data for a wider range of crystalline chalcogen-bonded systems.
Chemical characterization, absolute configuration and optical purity of (1S)-(+)- and (1R)-(–)-10-camphorsulfonic acid
Authors: Cheng Hong , Yan Dingce , Wu Liqing , Liang Ping , Cai Yuncheng , Li Li
Published: September 2022

Comprehensive chemical characterization for two isomers of camphorsulfonic acid (CSA), occasionally used in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), was performed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectroscopy in negative electrospray ionization mode and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in electron ionization mode. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra together with quantum chemical calculations using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) were used to assign the stereochemistry for CSA for the first time and these assignments were then confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. As crystals were grown under the same conditions of high supersaturation using a mixed solvent without water removal, the crystal structures of the two enantiomers contained one ordered molecule of water in the asymmetric unit. The crystals of the (+)-enantiomer have a 1S,4R configuration and the H atom of the sulfonic acid group combines with the water molecule to form a hydronium ion, namely, hydronium (1S,4R)-(7,7-dimethyl-2-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-1-yl)methanesulfonate, H3O+·C10H15O4S−. The crystals of the (−)-enantiomer have a 1R,4S configuration. The determination of the optical purity of CSA using NMR spectroscopy with a chiral solvating agent, (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine, and GC/MS with a chiral column has been well explored. The results showed that the examined samples of these two isomers of CSA proved to be enantiomerically pure. In particular, for (1R)-(−)-10-camphorsulfonic acid, this is, to our knowledge, the first description on its spectral characterization in a scientific context.
Towards an emic model of business culture
Authors: Berger Ron , Drori Netanel , Rachamim Matti , Alon Ilan
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to generalize emic studies of culture and thus provide indigenous view nuanced particularly for emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors review four local business frameworks and deconstruct each into three different constructs. The authors systematically evaluate culture specific studies, particularities of jaan pehchaan (India), guanxi (China), sviazi (Russia) and wasta (Arab countries).

Findings

Building on social networking theory, the authors synthesize an emic model for four types of large emerging markets cultures – China, Russia, India and Arab countries – and divide them according to their affective, conative and cognitive elements.

Practical implications

By knowing the impact of the constructs and how to leverage it, managers can successfully penetrate and manage these complex markets.

Originality/value

Current models of culture, such as the ones proposed by Hofstede and GLOBE, are etic in their orientation, attempting to find variations in common dimensions across different cultures. Emic approaches to studying culture are more bottom-up and are idiosyncratic to the culture.
Investigating the impact of artificial intelligence on consumer’s purchase intention in e-retailing
Authors: Bhagat Rohit , Chauhan Vinay , Bhagat Pallavi
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Technology has been witnessing a rapid growth. The advent of artificial intelligence has further enhanced the satisfaction level of consumers, which makes it even more vital in the current scenario. This paper aims to explore the factors affecting practical implacability of artificial intelligence and its impact on consumers’ online purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper has used a technology-based model as the base to explore the different factors affecting consumers’ purchase intention towards e-retailing. This study has formulated a model that demonstrates the integration of artificial intelligence in retailing by the business organizations so as to understand the needs of customers and help them accept technology. This study has further explored faith, subjective norms and consciousness as constructs which enhance the implacability of artificial intelligence.

Findings

This study shows that artificial intelligence positively influences consumers’ buying behaviour. This study through a model also shows that integration of artificial intelligence enhances consumers’ purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

The study has been focusing on a portion of target population. So there is scope to include the whole set of the population to get closer-to-accurate results.

Practical implications

The study offers useful inputs for academicians as well as marketers for predicting buying behaviour of consumers. Marketing managers can use artificial intelligence–embedded technology to enhance online purchase intention.

Social implications

The study shows that an increase in consciousness towards e-retailing has made consumers keenly analyse and purchase products on the basis of merit and usefulness of the products.

Originality/value

The contribution has been made with the best of knowledge in formulating an integrated artificial intelligence model for consumers’ purchase intention in e-retailing.
Do remittances matter for health outcomes in developing countries? Fresh evidence from a panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model
Authors: Djeunankan Ronald , Tekam Honoré
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to contribute to the growing literature on the effects of remittances and the determinants of health outcomes by analysing for the first time the effect of remittances on health outcomes in developing countries using a panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses panel data from 107 developing countries over the period from 1990 to 2018 to examine the effect of remittances on health outcome in developing countries.

Findings

The main findings from study is that remittances improve health outcomes in developing countries. Another finding of this study is that income, trade, foreign direct investment and financial devlopment improve health outcome.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is fourfold. Firstly, it adopts the PVAR methodology in a Generalized Method of Moments framework proposed by Abrigo and Love (2016). Secondly, it analyses the implications of remittances on health outcomes by relying on two comprehensive measures of health outcomes commonly used in the literature which are life expectancy at birth and the rate of under-five mortality rates. Thirdly, we identify governance and maternal education as the channels through which remittances improve health outcomes in developing countries. Finally, the current paper covers an extensive time span (29 years) and focuses on a large sample (107 countries).
Social media usage and its impact on users’ mental health: a longitudinal study and inputs to policymakers
Authors: A. Apoorva , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Hussain Zahid , Chatterjee Sheshadri
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a systematic meta-analysis from the year 2000 up to 2021 by reviewing relevant studies in extant literature related to the impact of social media on mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts bibliometric methods and longitudinal statistical analysis to analyze extant literature. The structured literature review and meta-analysis findings on social media usage (SMU) and its impact on mental health indicate emerging research patterns in potentially leading to an integrative view.

Findings

This paper highlights the importance of challenges regarding SMU and its impact on users’ mental health. This study shows interesting meta-analysis on the issues such as Facebook and teenagers’ mental health; Instagram and teenagers’ mental health; Twitter and teenagers’ mental health; and so on from the past 20 years.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is a literature review on a critical social issue like SMU and its impact on users’ mental health. The meta-analysis is conducted only on the indexed paper and does not take the books, blogs and other kinds of literature in this domain. The analysis is carried out only for the research articles published from 2000 to 2021.

Practical implications

Social media refers to any platform involving interactive digital technologies that encourage and facilitate users’ participation. SMU and its impact on users’ mental health can be attributed as contributing factors to the next global crisis. Studies suggest that increased SMU can potentially make users socially anxious. This study provides input to the policymakers, scholars and practitioners to understand the gravity of the situation and develop appropriate policy to overcome the challenges.

Originality/value

The rapidly evolving nature of technology and social media calls for a careful examination of its risks despite the many benefits of e-participation and digital interaction. Although there is widespread acknowledgment of the problematic revelation that the pattern of SMU closely mirrors mainstream addictive behavior; yet, there are only a limited number of comparative studies available. This may be one of the few studies which highlight the issue of SMU and its impact on users’ mental health. Moreover, this study also adds to the body of literature.
Drivers and outcomes of circular economy implementation: evidence from China
Authors: Li Yina , Hu Yuzhou , Li Lixu , Zheng Jiayan , Yin Ying , Fu Shaoling
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Although the circular economy is widely regarded as an essential strategy for firms, the present understanding of the drivers and outcomes of circular economy implementation is underdeveloped. In this paper, the authors draw on the natural resource-based view and information processing theory to explore how an environmental orientation and digital supply chain platforms promote circular economy implementation, and increase the impact of circular economy implementation on financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 249 Chinese firms and used hierarchical regression analysis to test hypotheses.

Findings

The empirical results reveal that three primary modes of circular economy implementation—reinvent and rethink (INV), restore, reduce and avoid (RRA), and recirculate (REC)—are all driven by environmental orientation and digital supply chain platforms. More interestingly, digital supply chain platforms have an inverted U-shaped moderating effect on the relationships between environmental orientation and INV and between environmental orientation and RRA. Most importantly, INV and RRA are positively related to financial performance, whereas REC does not have a significant relationship with financial performance.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to the literature on the circular economy by revealing new drivers and outcomes of different modes of its implementation. Additionally, the findings have implications for how firms should frame their circular economy initiatives in the context of the digital revolution.
Investigating the effects of gradual deployment of market penetration rates (MPR) of connected vehicles on delay time and fuel consumption
Authors: Ansariyar Alireza , Tahmasebi Milad
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This research paper aims to investigate the effects of gradual deployment of market penetration rates (MPR) of connected vehicles (MPR of CVs) on delay time and fuel consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

A real-world origin-destination demand matrix survey was conducted in Boston, MA to identify the number of peak hour passing vehicles in the case study.

Findings

The results showed that as the number of CVs (MPR) in the network increases, the total delay time decreases by an average of 14% and the fuel consumption decreases by an average of 56%, respectively, from scenarios 3 to 15 compared to scenario 2.

Research limitations/implications

The first limitation of this study was considering a small network. The considered network shows a small part of the case study.

Originality/value

This study can be a milestone for future research regarding gradual deployment of CVs’ effects on transport networks. Efficient policy(s) may define based on the results of this network for Brockton transport network.
Applying an improved three-stage DEA model to evaluate the innovation resource allocation efficiency in industrial enterprises
Authors: Zhu Yongfeng , Wang Zilong , Yang Jie
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The existing three-stage network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models with shared input are self-assessment model that are prone to extreme efficiency scores in pursuit of decision-making units (DMUs) efficiency maximization. This study aims to solve the sorting failure problem of the three-stage network DEA model with shared input and applies the proposed model to evaluate innovation resource allocation efficiency of Chinese industrial enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-stage network cross-DEA model considering shared input is proposed by incorporating the cross-efficiency model into the three-stage network DEA model. An application of the proposed model in the innovation resource allocation of industrial enterprise is implemented in 30 provinces of China during 2015–2019.

Findings

The efficiency of DMU would be overestimated if the decision-maker preference is overlooked. Moreover, the innovation resource allocation performance of Chinese industrial enterprises had a different spatial distribution, with high in eastern and central China and low in western China. Eastern China was good at knowledge production and technology development but not good at commercial transformation. Northeast China performed well in technology development and commercial conversion but not in knowledge production. The central China did not perform well in terms of technology development.

Originality/value

A three-stage network DEA model with shared input is proposed for the first time, which makes up for the problem of sorting failure of the general three-stage network model.
From sense to meaning: Narrative Function Coding System for the experience of illness
Authors: Freda Maria Francesca , Lemmo Daniela , Auriemma Ersilia , De Luca Picione Raffaele , Martino Maria Luisa
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Consistent with current literature, which highlights the role of narration as a key tool for exploring the processes by which people construct the meaning of their critical experiences the authors propose a theoretical and methodological model to analyse the narratives of illness and identify any innovative aspects. The generative model of mind presented refers to a semiotic, narrative and socio-constructivist perspective according to which narration constitutes one of the possible processes by which the affective and pre-verbal sense of experience is transformed into a meaning that can be symbolized and shared.

Design/methodology/approach

The onset of an illness represents a critical event which interrupts a person's life narrative, shattering his/her biographical continuity and undermining any assumptions of him/herself and the world. In particular, the model proposes a method of analysis, currently absent in literature, of the narrative interview Narrative Function Coding System (NFC) in order to grasp the ways by which four main narrative functions, namely psychic functions, are classified: the search for meaning, the expression of emotions, the temporal organization and the orientation to action.

Findings

NFC appears to be able to capture the complexity of the narrative process of construction of illness' sense-meaning making process, identifying both representative modalities of good functioning, which express a gradual process of connection with the variability of the experience, and modalities that express moments of disorganization and rigidity, which can persist throughout the time of treatment. The NFC represents not only a method for analysing illness narratives but also a method for tracking and monitoring the process of clinical intervention and change.

Originality/value

The sense-meaning making process perspective within the narrative socio-constructivist and semiotic framework of analysis proposed by NFC is currently absent in the literature. NFC can be a device for analysing the narrative process of sense-meaning making both for its use for clinical and preventive purposes. In addition we believe that this method, which focuses on the “form” and “way” of narratively constructing the subjective experience, rather than on the specific thematic content, can be used with all types of illness narratives, in particular the longitudinal one to explore the changes in sense-meaning making process.