bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Involvement of Lateral Habenula Dysfunction in Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Motivational Deficits
Authors: Flerlage William J. , Langlois Ludovic D. , Rusnak Milan , Simmons Sarah C. , Gouty Shawn , Armstrong Regina C. , Cox Brian M. , Symes Aviva J. , Tsuda Mumeko C. , Nugent Fereshteh S.
Published: May 2022

Affective disorders including depression (characterized by reduced motivation, social withdrawal and anhedonia), anxiety and irritability are frequently reported as long-term consequences of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)1 in addition to cognitive deficits, suggesting a possible dysregulation within mood/motivational neural circuits. One of the important brain regions that control motivation and mood is the lateral habenula (LHb) whose hyperactivity is associated with depression2. Here we used a repetitive closed head injury mTBI model that is associated with social deficits in adult male mice3 and explored the possible long-term alterations in LHb activity and motivated behavior 10-14 days post-injury. We found that mTBI increased the proportion of spontaneous tonically active LHb neurons while decreased LHb bursting. Additionally, mTBI diminished spontaneous glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic activity onto LHb neurons, while synaptic excitation and inhibition (E/I) balance was shifted toward excitation through a greater suppression of GABAergic transmission. Behaviorally, mTBI increased the latency in grooming behavior in sucrose splash test suggesting reduced self-care motivated behavior following mTBI. To show whether limiting LHb hyperactivity could restore motivational deficits in grooming behavior, we then tested the effects of Gi (hM4Di)-DREADD-mediated inhibition of LHb activity in sucrose splash test. We found that chemogenetic inhibition of LHb glutamatergic neurons was sufficient to reverse mTBI-induced delays in grooming behavior. Overall, our study provides the first evidence for persistent LHb neuronal dysfunction due to an altered synaptic integration as causal neural correlates of dysregulated motivational states by mTBI.
Novel Computational Models of Evoked Dopamine Release In Vivo Measured by Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Quantify the Regulation of Presynaptic Kinetics by Synucleins
Authors: Shashaank N , Somayaji Mahalakshmi , Miotto Mattia , Mosharov Eugene V. , Knowles David A. , Ruocco Giancarlo , Sulzer David L.
Published: May 2022

Dopamine neurotransmission in the striatum is central to many normal and disease functions. Ventral midbrain dopamine neurons exhibit ongoing tonic firing that produce low extrasynaptic levels of dopamine below the detection of extrasynaptic electrochemical recordings (∼10 – 20 nanomolar), with superimposed bursts that can saturate the dopamine uptake transporter and produce transient micromolar concentrations. The bursts have previously been shown to lead to presynaptic plasticity via multiple mechanisms, but analysis methods for these kinetic parameters are limited. To provide a deeper understanding of the mechanics of dopamine neurotransmission, we present three computational models of dopamine release with different levels of spatiotemporal complexity to analyze in vivo fast-scan cyclic voltammetry recordings from the dorsal striatum of mice. The models accurately fit to the cyclic voltammetry data and provide estimates of presynaptic dopamine facilitation/depression kinetics and dopamine transporter reuptake kinetics. We use the models to analyze the role of synuclein proteins in neurotransmission and quantify recent findings linking presynaptic protein α-synuclein to the short-term facilitation and long-term depression of dopamine release.
Development of dim-light vision in the nocturnal coral reef fish family, Holocentridae
Authors: Fogg Lily G. , Cortesi Fabio , Lecchini David , Gache Camille , Marshall N. Justin , de Busserolles Fanny
Published: May 2022

Developmental changes to the visual systems of animals are often associated with ecological shifts. Reef fishes experience a change in habitat between larval life in the shallow open ocean to juvenile and adult life on the reef. Some species also change their lifestyle over this period and become largely nocturnal. While these ecological transitions are well documented, little is known about the ontogeny of nocturnal reef fish vision. Here, we used histology and transcriptomics to investigate visual development in 12 representative species from both subfamilies, Holocentrinae (squirrelfishes) and Myripristinae (soldierfishes), in the nocturnal coral reef fish family, Holocentridae. Results revealed that the visual systems of holocentrids are initially well-adapted to photopic conditions with pre-settlement larvae having high cone densities, high cone opsin gene expression, a broad cone opsin gene repertoire (8 genes) and a multibank retina (i.e., stacked layers of rods) comprising up to two rod banks. At reef settlement, holocentrids started to invest more in their scotopic visual system and upregulated genes involved in cell differentiation/proliferation. By adulthood, they had well-developed scotopic vision with a rod-dominated multibank retina comprising 5-17 rod banks, increased summation of rods onto ganglion cells, high rod opsin gene expression, reduced cone opsin gene expression and repertoire (1-4 genes) and upregulated phototransduction genes. Finally, although the two subfamilies shared similar ecologies across development, their visual systems diverged after settlement, with Myripristinae investing more in scotopic vision than Holocentrinae. Hence, both ecology and phylogeny likely determine the development of the holocentrid visual system.

Summary statement

Coral reef fishes in the family Holocentridae remodel their retina at the cellular and molecular levels to adapt to a nocturnal lifestyle during development.
Insomnia symptoms and risk of bloodstream infections: prospective data from the prospective population-based HUNT Study, Norway
Authors: Thorkildsen Marianne S. , Laugsand Lars E. , Nilsen Tom I.L. , Mohus Randi M. , Høvik Lise H. , Rogne Tormod , Solligård Erik , Damås Jan K. , Gustad Lise T.
Published: May 2022

Objective

Previous research suggest decreased immune function and increased risk of infections in persons with insomnia. We examined the effect of insomnia symptoms on risk of bloodstream infections (BSI) and BSI-related mortality in a population-based prospective study.

Methods

A total of 53,536 participants in the Norwegian HUNT2 study (1995–97) were linked to prospective data on clinically relevant BSIs until 2011. In Cox regression, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for a first-time BSI and for BSI related mortality (BSI registered ≤30 days prior to death) associated with insomnia symptoms.

Results

Compared with participants who reported “no symptoms of insomnia”, participants reporting having “difficulty initiating sleep” often/almost every night had a HR for a first-time BSI of 1.14 (95% CI 0.96–1.34). Participants reporting “difficulties maintaining sleep” often/almost every night had a HR of 1.19 (95% CI 1.01–1.40), whereas those having a “feeling of non-restorative sleep” once a week or more had a HR of 1.23 (95% CI 1.04–1.46). Participants experiencing all three above insomnia symptoms frequently had a HR of 1.39 (1.04–1.87) and being troubled by insomnia to a degree that affected work performance was associated with a HR of 1.41 (95% CI 1.08–1.84). The HRs for BSI related mortality suggest an increased risk with increasing insomnia symptoms, but confidence intervals are wide and inconclusive.

Conclusions

We found that frequent insomnia symptoms and insomnia symptoms that affected work performance was associated with a weak positive increased risk of BSI.
Socioeconomic inequality in SARS-CoV-2 testing and COVID-19 outcomes in UK Biobank over the first year of the pandemic: can inequalities be explained by selection bias?
Authors: Carter Alice R , Clayton Gemma L , Borges M Carolina , Howe Laura D , Hughes Rachael A , Davey Smith George , Lawlor Deborah A , Tilling Kate , Griffith Gareth J
Published: May 2022

Background

Structural barriers to testing may introduce selection bias in COVID-19 research. We explore whether changes to testing and lockdown restrictions introduce time-specific selection bias into analyses of socioeconomic position (SEP) and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

Using UK Biobank (N = 420 231; 55 % female; mean age = 56·3 [SD=8·01]) we estimated the association between SEP and i) being tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection versus not being tested ii) testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection versus testing negative and iii) testing negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection versus not being tested, at four distinct time-periods between March 2020 and March 2021. We explored potential selection bias by examining the same associations with hypothesised positive (ABO blood type) and negative (hair colour) control exposures. Finally, we conducted a hypothesis-free phenome-wide association study to investigate how individual characteristics associated with testing changed over time.

Findings

The association between low SEP and SARS-CoV-2 testing attenuated across time-periods. Compared to individuals with a degree, individuals who left school with GCSEs or less had an OR of 1·05 (95% CI: 0·95 to 1·16) in March-May 2020 and 0·98 (95% CI: 0·94 to 1·02) in January-March 2021. The magnitude of the association between low SEP and testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection increased over the same time-period. For the same comparisons, the OR for testing positive increased from 1·27 (95% CI: 1·08 to 1·50), to 1·73 (95% CI: 1·59 to 1·87). We found little evidence of an association between both control exposures and all outcomes considered. Our phenome-wide analysis highlighted a broad range of individual traits were associated with testing, which were distinct across time-periods.

Interpretation

The association between SEP (and indeed many individual traits) and SARS-CoV-2 testing changed over time, indicating time-specific selection pressures in COVID-19. However, positive, and negative control analyses suggest that changes in the magnitude of the association between SEP and SARS-CoV-2 infection over time were unlikely to be explained by selection bias and reflect true increases in socioeconomic inequalities.

Funding

University of Bristol; UK Medical Research Council; British Heart Foundation; European Union Horizon 2020; Wellcome Trust and The Royal Society; National Institute of Health Research; UK Economic and Social Research Council
A parallel channel of state-dependent sensory signaling from the cholinergic basal forebrain to the auditory cortex
Authors: Zhu Fangchen , Elnozahy Sarah E. , Lawlor Jennifer , Kuchibhotla Kishore V.
Published: May 2022

Cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) signaling exhibits multiple timescales of activity with classic, slow signals related to brain and behavioral states and faster, phasic signals reflecting behavioral events, including movement and reinforcement. Recent evidence suggests that the CBF may also exhibit fast, sensory-evoked responses. It remains unknown, however, whether such sensory signals target the sensory cortex and how they relate to local functional topography. Moreover, the extent to which fast and slow CBF activity interact has been largely unexplored. Here, we used simultaneous two-channel, two-photon imaging of CBF axons and auditory cortical (AC) neurons to reveal that CBF axons project a robust, non-habituating, and stimulus-specific sensory signal to the AC. Individual axon segments exhibited heterogeneous but stable tuning to auditory stimuli allowing stimulus identity to be decoded from the population. However, CBF axons displayed no tonotopy and their frequency tuning was uncoupled from that of nearby cortical neurons. Chemogenetic suppression revealed the auditory thalamus as a principal source of auditory information to the CBF. Finally, slow fluctuations in cholinergic activity modulated the fast, sensory-evoked signals in the same axons, suggesting that a multiplexed combination of fast and slow signals is projected from the CBF to the AC. Taken together, our work demonstrates a novel, non-canonical function of the CBF as a parallel channel of state-dependent sensory signaling to the sensory cortex that provides repeated representations of a broad range of sound stimuli at all points on the tonotopic map.
Microbial paracetamol degradation involves a high diversity of novel amidase enzyme candidates
Authors: Rios-Miguel Ana B. , Smith Garrett J. , Cremers Geert , van Alen Theo , Jetten Mike S.M. , Op den Camp Huub J. M. , Welte Cornelia U.
Published: May 2022

Pharmaceuticals are relatively new to nature and often not completely removed in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Consequently, these micropollutants end up in water bodies all around the world posing a great environmental risk. One exception to this recalcitrant conversion is paracetamol, whose full degradation has been linked to several microorganisms. However, the genes and corresponding proteins involved in microbial paracetamol degradation are still elusive. In order to improve our knowledge of the microbial paracetamol degradation pathway, we inoculated a bioreactor with sludge of a hospital WWTP (Pharmafilter, Delft, NL) and fed it with paracetamol as the sole carbon source. Paracetamol was fully degraded without any lag phase and the enriched microbial community was investigated by metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses, which demonstrated that the microbial community was very diverse. Dilution and plating on paracetamol-amended agar plates yielded twoPseudomonassp. isolates: a fast-growingPseudomonassp. that degraded 200 mg/L of paracetamol in approximately 10 hours while excreting a dark brown component to the medium, and a slow-growingPseudomonassp. that degraded paracetamol without obvious intermediates in more than 90 days. EachPseudomonassp. contained a different highly-expressed amidase (31% identity to each other). These amidase genes were not detected in the bioreactor metagenome suggesting that other as-yet uncharacterized amidases may be responsible for the first biodegradation step of paracetamol. Uncharacterized deaminase genes and genes encoding dioxygenase enzymes involved in the catabolism of aromatic compounds and amino acids were the most likely candidates responsible for the degradation of paracetamol intermediates based on their high expression levels in the bioreactor metagenome and thePseudomonasspp. genomes. Furthermore, cross-feeding between different community members might have occurred to efficiently degrade paracetamol and its intermediates in the bioreactor. This study increases our knowledge about the ongoing microbial evolution towards biodegradation of pharmaceuticals and points to a large diversity of (amidase) enzymes that are likely involved in paracetamol metabolism in WWTPs.

Highlights

Paracetamol was fully degraded by activated sludge from hospital wastewater.

Low paracetamol concentrations were removed by a diverse microbial community.

Pseudomonassp. dominated cultures with high paracetamol concentration.

Uncharacterized amidases are probably involved in degrading paracetamol in WWTPs.

Deaminases and dioxygenases might be degrading paracetamol transformation products.
Microglial expression of the Wnt signalling modulator DKK2 differs between human Alzheimer’s disease brains and mouse neurodegeneration models
Authors: Aghaizu Nozie D. , Jolly Sarah , Samra Satinder K. , Kalmar Bernadett , Craessaerts Katleen , Greensmith Linda , Salinas Patricia C. , Strooper Bart De , Whiting Paul J.
Published: May 2022

Wnt signalling is crucial for synapse and cognitive function. Indeed, deficient Wnt signalling is causally related to increased expression of DKK1, an endogenous negative Wnt regulator, and synapse loss, both of which likely contribute to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Increasingly, AD research efforts have probed the neuroinflammatory role of microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), which have furthermore been shown to be modulated by Wnt signalling.

The DKK1 homologue DKK2 has been previously identified as an activated response and/or disease-associated microglia (DAM/ARM) gene in a mouse model of AD. Here we performed a detailed analysis of DKK2 in mouse models of neurodegeneration, and in human AD brain. In APP/PS1 and APPNL-G-F AD mouse model brains as well as in SOD1G93A ALS mouse model spinal cords, but not in control littermates, we demonstrated significant microgliosis and microglial Dkk2 mRNA upregulation in a disease-stage dependent manner. In the AD models, these DAM/ARM Dkk2+ microglia preferentially accumulated close to βAmyloid plaques. Furthermore, recombinant DKK2 treatment of rat hippocampal primary neurons blocked WNT7a-induced dendritic spine and synapse formation, indicative of an anti-synaptic effect similar to that of DKK1. In stark contrast, no such microglial DKK2 upregulation was detected in the post-mortem human frontal cortex from individuals diagnosed with AD or pathological ageing.

In summary, the difference in microglial expression of the DAM/ARM gene DKK2 between mouse models and human AD brain highlights the increasingly recognised limitations of using mouse models to recapitulate facets of human neurodegenerative disease.

Significance statement

The endogenous negative Wnt regulator Dkk2 is significantly upregulated at the mRNA level in microglia of AD mouse models, implying that microglia derived Dkk2 protein may detrimentally contribute to a reduced Wnt signalling tone in the AD brain, a known pathophysiological manifestation. Indeed, recombinant DKK2 prevented Wnt- dependent synapse formation in cultured neurons. However, DKK2 upregulation was not recapitulated in post-mortem human AD brains.

The success of neurodegeneration animal models has relied on pathophysiology that for the most part correctly modelled human disease. Increasingly however, limitations to the validity of mouse models to recapitulate human neurodegenerative disease have become apparent, as evidenced by the present study by the difference in microglial DKK2 expression between AD mouse models and human AD brain.
An Entropy Approach for Choosing Gene Expression Cutoff
Authors: Vuong Hy , Nguyen Tung , Nguyen Huy , Truong Thao , Pham Son
Published: May 2022

Annotating cell types using single-cell transcriptome data usually requires binarizing the expression data to distinguish between the background noise vs. real expression or low expression vs. high expression cases. A common approach is choosing a “reasonable” cutoff value, but it remains unclear how to choose it. In this work, we describe a simple yet effective approach for finding this threshold value.
VanRS and CroRS cross-talk revealed by coevolutionary modeling regulates antibiotic resistance in VanA-type vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Jiang Xian-Li , Nguyen Uyen Thy , Ziegler Cheyenne , Goel Deepshikha , Palmer Kelli , Morcos Faruck
Published: May 2022

Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause bacteremia and endocarditis. Previous studies have shown that concurrent treatment with cephalosporin and vancomycin antibiotics exhibit synergy in vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis to render the bacterium susceptible to antibiotic treatment whereas treatment with each antibiotic separately was not successful. Proteins responsible for mediating vancomycin and cephalosporin resistance are classified as two-component systems (TCS). TCS consist of a histidine kinase that phosphorylates a response regulator after environmental activation. These signaling networks have been shown to exhibit cross-talk interactions, and through direct coupling analysis, we identify encoded specificity between vancomycin resistance TCS, which are horizontally acquired, and cephalosporin resistance TCS, which are endogenous to E. faecalis. To verify cross-talk between these pathways is responsible for vancomycin and cephalosporin synergy, we use RNA-Seq to identify differentially expressed genes in VanA- and VanB-type vancomycin resistant enterococci after treatment with the cephalosporin antibiotic, ceftriaxone, and also with vancomycin. We find that cross-talk between VanSA and CroR in strain HIP11704 may be responsible for synergy, demonstrating that horizontally acquired TCS can have large impacts on pre-existing signaling networks. The presence of encoded specificity between exogenous TCS and endogenous TCS show that the systems co-evolve, and cross-talk between these systems may be exploited to engineer genetic elements that disrupt antibiotic resistance TCS pathways.

Author Summary

Bacteria may transmit genetic elements to other bacteria through the process known as horizontal gene transfer. In some enterococci, vancomycin resistance genes are acquired this way. Proteins encoded within the bacterial genome can interact with proteins acquired through horizontal gene transfer. The interaction that occurs between proteins VanSA and VanRA is known to mediate vancomycin antibiotic resistance in VanA-type vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE), and the interaction between proteins CroS and CroR is an important pathway in cephalosporin antibiotic resistance. We show that the VanSA, which is obtained through horizontal gene transfer, inhibits CroR under treatment with antibiotics vancomycin and ceftriaxone. This interaction is responsible for the observed synergy between vancomycin and ceftriaxone in VanA-type VREs. These findings demonstrate how horizontally acquired genes may produce proteins that interrupt known protein interactions, including antibiotic resistance signaling pathways in bacteria. Furthermore, the specific mechanism found for VanA-type VREs provides a basis for engineering of horizontally acquired proteins that disrupt antibiotic resistance pathways.
Reconstructing the decline of Atlantic Cod with the help of environmental variability in the Scotian Shelf of Canada
Authors: Choi Jae S.
Published: May 2022

Ignoring environmental variability can lead to imprecise and inaccurate estimates of abundance and their spatial distribution of organisms. Fully embracing environmental variability can improve precision and accuracy of estimates of abundance and distribution, especially when they can often be measured with lower costs. Using the example of Atlantic cod in the Scotian Shelf of the northwest Atlantic Ocean, we demonstrate the improved clarity of their historical population trends when such informative features are included. Further, the use of Bayesian spatiotemporal Conditional auto-regressive models substantially improves our ability to understand the role of ecosystem variability upon cod, even when samples are incomplete or missing. Finally, by decomposing biomass into number, weight and a Hurdle process to estimate habitat conditions, we can extract much more information on what has occurred in the past and make reasoned inference on processes.

One-Sentence Summary

Deconstructing and reconstructing cod with environmental variability
Organic food market segmentation based on the neobehavioristic theory of consumer behavior
Authors: Tohidi Amirhossein , Mousavi Seyedehmona , Dourandish Arash , Alizadeh Parisa
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Although Iran is one of the largest producers and exporters of saffron in the world, the organic saffron market in Iran is still in its early stages, and there is scarce empirical evidence in this regard. Therefore, the study's primary purpose is to segment the organic saffron market in Mashhad, Iran using neobehavioristic theory and machine learning methods.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the neobehavioristic theory of consumer behavior, the organic saffron market was segmented using crisp and fuzzy clustering algorithms. Also, to assess the relative importance of the factors affecting the intention to buy organic saffron in each market segment, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the output of the artificial neural network (ANN). A total of 400 questionnaires were collected in Mashhad, Iran in January and February 2020.

Findings

In contrast to the belief that psychological factors are more important in market segmentation than demographic characteristics, findings showed that the demographic characteristics of consumers, especially education and income, are the dominant variables in the segmentation of the organic food market. Among the 4 A’s marketing mix elements, the results showed that a low level of awareness and accessibility are obstacles to organic saffron market development. Advertising, distribution channel improvement, package downsizing and online business development are suggested strategies for expanding the organic saffron market in Iran.

Practical implications

The results of the present study will help policymakers and suppliers of organic saffron to identify their target markets and design short- and long-term marketing strategies to develop the organic saffron market.

Originality/value

Machine learning methods and the neobehavioristic theory of consumer behavior were used to segment the organic food market.
The nature of innovation in hospital building design: a mixed grounded theory study
Authors: Sal Moslehian Anahita , Kocaturk Tuba , Andrews Fiona , Tucker Richard
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Despite the undeniable need for innovation in hospital building design, the literature highlights the disconnect between research and practice as the primary knowledge gap hindering such innovation. This study shows this focus to be an oversimplification, for the complex processes that trigger design innovations and impact their ecosystems need to be examined from a systemic perspective. This paper aims to conceptualise the evolution of hospital building design and identify and explain the main factors triggering design and construction innovations over the past 100 years.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel hybrid research design to mixed grounded theory (MGT) methodology, with Charmaz constructivist paradigm, is developed as a new systematic way of constructing and interpreting the concepts and interconnections among them that triggered design innovation.

Findings

This study represents a taxonomy of concepts and an explanatory innovation framework, containing 617 interconnections between 146 factors classified across 14 categories. The complex innovation ecosystem comprises multi-faceted processes between heterogenous factors with both individual and collective impacts on design innovations.

Originality/value

This research highlights the main components of the innovation ecosystem and its overall behaviour in this field, and the most influential and interrelated contextual factors, as well as representing and mapping generative interactions that support innovation processes. This knowledge can help hospital researchers, designers, policymakers and stakeholders adopt a multidimensional outlook to analyse the strength of all influential factors, introduce potential novel ways of collaborating, conceptualise an organisational approach, re-formulate research questions through transdisciplinary methods and introduce interdisciplinary courses and programs in architecture schools, thereby contributing to timely design innovation.
How do nonprofit organizations (NPOs) effectively engage with the public on social media? Examining the effects of interactivity and emotion on Twitter
Authors: Zhang Yafei , Dong Chuqing , Cheng Yuan
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This study seeks to understand the communication factors associated with effective social media for nonprofit organizations (NPOs). Specifically, the study investigated how interactive and emotional communication strategies influence public engagement in different ways, and how the effects differ by service-oriented and other types of NPOs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using computer-assisted textual and emotional analyses, the authors examined the functional interactivity, contingency interactivity and emotion elements of 301,559 tweets from the 100 largest US nonprofits. Negative binomial regression was applied to test the relationships among these elements and public engagement on Twitter (i.e. likes and retweets).

Findings

Findings revealed negative effects of functional interactivity on likes, negative effects of contingency interactivity on likes and retweets but a positive effect of functional interactivity on retweets. The findings also showed negative effects of emotion valence on likes and retweets but positive effects of emotion strength on likes and retweets. There were varying effects of interactivity and emotion on public engagement for service-oriented and other types of NPOs.

Originality/value

This study advances the nonprofit social media scholarship in several ways. First, this study suggests a clear yet largely ignored distinction in the effects of functional and contingency interactivity on public engagement. Second, this study is an early attempt to examine the role and impact of emotion elements in nonprofit social media success without downplaying the role of interactivity. Third, this study is one of the earliest attempts to include interaction effects for different types of NPOs. Last, this study contributes to the organizational social media use research by demonstrating the benefits of computer-assisted approaches in processing text data on social media. From a practical perspective, this study provides strategic guidelines for NPOs to design effective communication contents and improve their public engagement on social media.
Exoskeletons: a review of recent progress
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an insight into recent developments in the robotic exoskeleton business by considering research, corporate activities, products and emerging applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a short introduction, this first provides examples of exoskeleton research involving artificial intelligence (AI). It then identifies recent market entrants and their products and discusses emerging industrial applications. Finally, conclusions are drawn.

Findings

The exoskeleton business is in a highly dynamic state. A research effort involving AI techniques seeks to impart exoskeletons with greatly enhanced capabilities, particularly in clinical applications. Many new companies have been established during the past decade, and several are exploiting academic research. The majority are targeting applications in the clinical market. The industrial sector is viewed as a key growth area, but applications remain limited, although some exist for robotic gloves, upper-body, waist and lower-body devices in the logistics, construction, automotive and other industries. Industrial applications for full-body exoskeleton are yet to progress beyond the trial stage.

Originality/value

This provides details of recent academic and corporate developments and emerging industrial applications in the robotic exoskeleton business.
Catalyzing resource recombination in higher education through potential building and value realizing capabilities
Authors: Muneeb Dilnaz , Aslam Haris , Abdalla Shahira , Hayat Naeem , Ahmad Syed Zamberi
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine internal market orientation (IMO), potential building capabilities and value realizing capabilities, i.e. dynamic capabilities (DC) as an antecedent of resource recombination in higher education institutions of the United Arab Emirates.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 349 faculty members and analyzed using the covariance-based structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

Results did not support a direct relationship between IMO and resource recombination. However, results did provide support for IMO’s significant impact on potential building and value realizing capabilities. The impact of potential building capabilities on resource recombination was partially supported, whereas the impact of value realizing capabilities on resource recombination was fully supported.

Practical implications

This study provides guidelines for the higher education managers, especially for the strategic management of its resources. The study also provides a basis for improving internal market policies to remain abreast of DC to succeed in the market. Most significantly, the findings of the study offer guidance toward effective resource planning and innovative management practices.

Originality/value

This study identifies the essential resources and capabilities framework that guides firms to modify their capabilities in the face of changing environment.
Spider webs as eDNA samplers: Biodiversity assessment across the tree of life
Authors: Gregorič Matjaž , Kutnjak Denis , Bačnik Katarina , Gostinčar Cene , Pecman Anja , Ravnikar Maja , Kuntner Matjaž
Published: May 2022

The concept of environmental DNA (eDNA) utilizes nucleic acids of organisms directly from the environment. Recent breakthrough studies have successfully detected a wide spectrum of prokaryotic and eukaryotic eDNA from a variety of environments, ranging from ancient to modern, and from terrestrial to aquatic. With their diversity and ubiquity in nature, spider webs might act as powerful biofilters and could thus represent a promising new source of eDNA, but their utility under natural field conditions is severely understudied. Here, we bridge this knowledge gap to establish spider webs as a source of eDNA with far reaching implications. First, we conducted a field study to track specific arthropod targets from different spider webs. We then used high‐throughput amplicon sequencing of taxonomic barcodes to investigate the utility of spider web eDNA for biodiversity monitoring of animals, fungi and bacteria. Our results show that genetic remains on spider webs allow the detection of even the smallest target organisms. We also demonstrate that eDNA from spider webs is useful in research of community compositions across the different domains of life, with potentially highly detailed temporal and spatial information.
Comparing genome‐based estimates of relatedness for use in pedigree‐based conservation management
Authors: Hauser Samantha S. , Galla Stephanie J. , Putnam Andrea S. , Steeves Tammy E. , Latch Emily K.
Published: May 2022

Researchers have long debated which estimator of relatedness best captures the degree of relationship between two individuals. In the genomics era, this debate continues, with relatedness estimates being sensitive to the methods used to generate markers, marker quality, and levels of diversity in sampled individuals. Here, we compare six commonly used genome‐based relatedness estimators (kinship genetic distance [KGD], Wang maximum likelihood [TrioML], Queller and Goodnight [Rxy], Kinship INference for Genome‐wide association studies [KING‐robust), and pairwise relatedness [RAB], allele‐sharing coancestry [AS]) across five species bred in captivity–including three birds and two mammals–with varying degrees of reliable pedigree data, using reduced‐representation and whole genome resequencing data. Genome‐based relatedness estimates varied widely across estimators, sequencing methods, and species, yet the most consistent results for known first order relationships were found using Rxy, RAB, and AS. However, AS was found to be less consistently correlated with known pedigree relatedness than either Rxy or RAB. Our combined results indicate there is not a single genome‐based estimator that is ideal across different species and data types. To determine the most appropriate genome‐based relatedness estimator for each new data set, we recommend assessing the relative: (1) correlation of candidate estimators with known relationships in the pedigree and (2) precision of candidate estimators with known first‐order relationships. These recommendations are broadly applicable to conservation breeding programmes, particularly where genome‐based estimates of relatedness can complement and complete poorly pedigreed populations. Given a growing interest in the application of wild pedigrees, our results are also applicable to in situ wildlife management.
Sinorhizobium meliloti ohrR genes affect symbiotic performance with alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Authors: Zhang Lanya , Li Ningning , Wang Yawen , Zheng Wenjia , Shan Dandan , Yu Liangliang , Luo Li
Published: May 2022

Sinorhizobium meliloti infects the host plant alfalfa to induce formation of nitrogen‐fixation root nodules, which inevitably elicit reactive oxygen species (ROS) bursts and organic peroxide generation. The MarR family regulator OhrR regulates the expression of chloroperoxidase and organic hydrogen resistance protein, which scavenge organic peroxides in free‐living S. meliloti cells. The single mutant of ohrR genes SMc01945 (ohrR1) and SMc00098 (ohrR2) lacked symbiotic phenotypes. In this work, we identified the novel ohrR gene SMa2020 (ohrR3) and determined that ohrR genes are important for rhizobial infection, nodulation and nitrogen fixation with alfalfa. By analysing the phenotypes of the single, double and triple deletion mutants of ohrR genes, we demonstrate that ohrR1 and ohrR3 slightly affect rhizobial growth, but ohrR2 and ohrR3 influence cellular resistance to the organic peroxide, tert‐butyl hydroperoxide. Deletion of ohrR1 and ohrR3 negatively affected infection thread formation and nodulation, and consequently, plant growth. Correspondingly, the expression of the ROS detoxification genes katA and sodB as well as that of the nitrogenase gene nifH was downregulated in bacteroids of the double and triple deletion mutants, which may underlie the symbiotic defects of these mutants. These findings demonstrate that OhrR proteins play a role in the S. meliloti‐alfalfa symbiosis.
Continuous on‐board behaviour classification using accelerometry: A case study with a new GPS‐3G‐Bluetooth system in Pacific black ducks
Authors: Yu Hui , Deng Jian , Leen Trent , Li Guozheng , Klaassen Marcel
Published: May 2022

Over the past two decades, accelerometer (ACC) data have been increasingly used to study animal behaviours and energetics. However, the large amount of raw ACC data can be a burden to device storage and power consumption and in many cases may also require device retrieval for data collection. On‐board data processing to reduce data volume and power consumption for data transmission may hold promise to alleviate these problems and allow for next‐generation, smart trackers.

We developed a tracking system processing raw ACC data on‐board of trackers into behaviours using an XGBoost machine learning model. We used this system on six free‐ranging Pacific black ducks Anas superciliosa to study eight behaviours every 2 s.

The on‐board XGBoost model for behaviour classification had 92.04% overall accuracy. One day of continuous behaviour records was compressed on‐board to as little as 17.28 kB for routine transmission via the 3G network. We received behaviour data from the six ducks continuously for periods ranging between 56 days and 14 months.

On‐board processing of raw ACC data and data transmission proofed highly energy efficient and came at a minimal weight cost to the trackers, providing great potential to open up new areas in ecological and behavioural research.
How representative are data from global trials on programmed death-1 blockade in melanoma?
Authors: Schummer Patrick , Schilling Bastian
Published: May 2022

Linked Article: Bai et al. Br J Dermatol 2022; 187:401–410.
A UK consensus algorithm for early treatment modification in newly diagnosed systemic light‐chain amyloidosis
Authors: Ravichandran Sriram , Mahmood Shameem , Wisniowski Brenden , Sachchithanantham Sajitha , Popat Rakesh , Lachmann Helen , Rabin Neil , Ramasamy Karthik , Hawkins Stephen , Kyriakou Charalampia , Gillmore Julian , Yong Kwee , Hawkins Philip , Jackson Graham , Pratt Guy , D. Wechalekar Ashutosh
Published: May 2022

Depth of response is the critical determinant of prognosis in amyloid light‐chain (AL) amyloidosis. Here, we aim to identify patients who are unlikely to improve response based on analysis of baseline characteristics and 1‐month response. In a multivariate model, difference in involved amyloidogenic and uninvolved serum free light chains (dFLC) at diagnosis (dFLC >400 mg/l, odds ratio [OR] 4.051, p < 0.005) and no response at 1 month (OR 4.787, p < 0.005) were significant predictors of no improvement in response. Only 5% of patients with a dFLC of >400 mg/l and no response at 1 month improved their response (p < 0.005). We suggest that these patients should switch treatment early, subject to their functional status.
Home-made topical therapy back applicator
Authors: AlJasser Mohammed I. , AlRuhaimi Danah K.
Published: May 2022

Self-application of topical therapy to the skin of the back skin can be challenging. Having a simple method to make an applicator at home might be useful. We describe a simple home-made device to apply topical therapy to the back.
Genetic clinicians' confidence in BOADICEA comprehensive breast cancer risk estimates and counselees' psychosocial outcomes: A prospective study
Authors: Brédart Anne , De Pauw Antoine , Tüchler Anja , Lakeman Inge M. M. , Anota Amélie , Rhiem Kerstin , Schmutzler Rita , van Asperen Christi J. , Devilee Peter , Stoppa‐Lyonnet Dominique , Kop Jean‐Luc , Dolbeault Sylvie
Published: May 2022

Counseling for familial breast cancer focuses on communicating the gene test result (GENE) to counselees, but risk prediction models have become more complex by including non‐genetic risk factors (NGRF) and polygenic risk scores (PRS). We examined genetic clinicians' confidence in counseling and counselees' psychosocial outcomes, using the BOADICEA risk prediction tool with different categories of risk factors as input. A prospective observational study in Dutch, French and German genetic clinics was performed including 22 clinicians, and 406 of 460 (88.3%) eligible cancer‐unaffected women at high breast cancer risk assessed at pre‐test and 350 (76.1%) at post‐test. We performed multilevel analyses accounting for the clinician, and counselees' characteristics. Overall, risk estimates category by GENE versus GENE+ NGRF, or GENE+NGRF+PRS differed in 11% and 25% of counselees, respectively. In multilevel analyses, clinicians felt less confident in counseling when the full model provided lower breast cancer risks than GENE (i.e., in 8% of cases). Older counselees expressed higher breast cancer risk perception and worries about the hereditary predisposition when the full model provided higher breast cancer risks than GENE only. Genetic clinicians appear confident with breast cancer risk comprehensive models, which seem only to affect perceptions of older counselees.
Feasibility of face mask spirometry during decannulation in head and neck surgery: Prospective cohort study
Authors: Sánchez‐Guerrero José Antonio , Cebrià i Iranzo Maria Àngels , Ferrer‐Sargues Francisco José , Périé Sophie
Published: May 2022

Objectives

To analyse the relationship between spirometric parameters measured with a face mask versus a mouthpiece, as well as the feasibility of face mask spirometric evaluation in a head and neck surgery (HNS) decannulation context. Furthermore, we examine peak inspiratory flow (PIF) cut‐off values before and after decannulation.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Otolaryngology HNS Department of a university teaching hospital.

Participants

Twenty‐four patients were selected. A maximal flow‐volume loop was conducted before (with mouthpiece) and after (with mouthpiece and face mask) decannulation.

Main outcome measures

Recorded outcomes were forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second, peak expiratory flow, PIF, forced expiratory flow at 50% of FVC and forced inspiratory flow at 50% of FVC. Spearman correlation coefficients between spirometric parameters measured with a face mask versus a mouthpiece were calculated. Wilcoxon test was used to check differences between mouthpiece and face mask values.

Results

Correlation between mouthpiece and face mask spirometric values was moderate to high (r = 0.46–0.95). All parameters measured by spirometry were significantly lower with a face mask than those obtained with a mouthpiece (p < 0.05). Before decannulation, the lowest PIF value (tested with mouthpiece) that allowed successful decannulation was 1 L/s. After decannulation, the lowest PIF value tested with mouthpiece and face mask for successful completion of the decannulation process were 0.77 and 0.56 L/s, respectively.

Conclusion

Face mask is a feasible option to perform a spirometry when face diseases hinder spirometric evaluation through a mouthpiece in an HNC surgery context.
CDK5RAP3, an essential regulator of checkpoint, interacts with RPL26 and maintains the stability of cell growth
Authors: Yan Hongchen , Xu Jun‐jie , Ali Ilyas , Zhang Wei , Jiang Ming , Li Guiping , Teng Yong , Zhu Guangxun , Cai Yafei
Published: May 2022

Purpose and Materials

CDK5RAP3 (CDK5 regulatory subunit associated protein 3) was originally identified as a binding protein of CDK5. It is a crucial gene controlling biological functions, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. Although previous studies have also shown that CDK5RAP3 is involved in a variety of signalling pathways, however, the mechanism of CDK5RAP3 remains largely undefined. This study utilized MEFs from conditional knockout mice to inhibit CDK5RAP3 and knockdown CDK5RAP3 in MCF7 to explore the role of CDK5RAP3 in cell growth, mitosis, and cell death.

Results

CDK5RAP3 was found to be widely distributed throughout the centrosome, spindle, and endoplasmic reticulum, indicating that it is involved in regulating a variety of cellular activities. CDK5RAP3 deficiency resulted in instability of cell growth. CDK5RAP3 deficiency partly blocks the cell cycle in G2/M by downregulating CDK1 (Cyclin‐dependent kinase 1) and CCNB1 (Cyclin B1) expression levels. The cell proliferation rate was decreased, thereby slowing down the cell growth rate. Furthermore, the results showed that CDK5RAP3 interacts with RPL26 (ribosome protein L26) to regulate the mTOR pathway. CDK5RAP3 and RPL26 deficiency inhibited mTOR/p‐mTOR protein and induce autophagy, resulting in an upregulation of the percentage of apoptosis, and the upregulated percentage of apoptosis also slowed cell growth.

Conclusions

Our experiments show that CDK5RAP3 interacts with RPL26 and maintains the stability of cell growth. It shows that CDK5RAP3 plays an important role in cell growth and can be used as the target of gene medicine.