bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungusRhizophagus irregularisexpresses an outwardly Shaker-like channel involved in rice potassium nutrition
Authors: Corratgé-Faillie Claire , Matic Louise , Chmaiss Layla , Zhour Houssein , Lolivier Jean-Pierre , Audebert Pierre-Alexandre , Bui Xuan Thai , Seck Maguette , Chinachanta Kawiporn , Fizames Cécile , Wipf Daniel , Sentenac Hervé , Very Anne-Aliénor , Courty Pierre-Emmanuel , Luu Doan Trung
Published: November 2022

Potassium (K+) plays crucial roles in many physiological, molecular and cellular processes in plants. Direct uptake of this nutrient by root cells has been extensively investigated, however, indirect uptake of K+mediated by the interactions of the roots with fungi in the frame of a mutualistic symbiosis, also called mycorrhizal nutrient uptake pathway, is much less known. We identified an ion channel in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungusRhizophagus irregularis. This channel exhibits the canonical features of Shaker-like channel shared in other living kingdoms and is named RiSKC3. Transcriptionally expressed in hyphae and in arbuscules of colonized rice roots, RiSKC3 has been shown to be located in the plasma membrane. Voltage-clamp functional characterization inXenopusoocytes revealed that RiSKC3 is endowed with outwardly-rectifying voltage-gated activity with a high selectivity for potassium over sodium ions. RiSKC3 may have a role in the AM K+pathway for rice nutrition in normal and salt stress conditions. The current working model proposes that K+ions taken up by peripheral hyphae ofR. irregularisare secreted towards the host root into periarbuscular space by RiSKC3.

Significance Statement

Arbuscular mycorhizal fungusRhizophagus irregularisexpresses a Shaker-like channel, located in the plasma membrane, endowed with a strictly outwardly-rectifying voltage-gated activity with a high selectivity for potassium over sodium ions. The current working model proposes that K+ions taken up by peripheral hyphae ofR. irregularisare secreted towards the host root into periarbuscular space by this Shaker-like channel.
Measuring the 3D wake of swimming dice snakes using volumetric velocimetry
Authors: Stin Vincent , Godoy-Diana Ramiro , Bonnet Xavier , Herrel Anthony
Published: November 2022

Experimental observations of the 3-dimensional wake of swimmers are scarce. This study provides the first experimental measurements of the three-dimensional vortical structures of an anguilliform swimmer. A volumetric velocimetry (DDPTV) setup was used to quantify the wake of freely swimming dice snakes (Natrix tessellata) in a tank. Multiple swimming trials were recorded with three snakes swimming at a forward swimming speed ranging from 0.2 to 0.8L.s−1. The volumetric measurements show that during swimming,Natrix tessellatasheds vortex tubes from different parts of its body with oscillating lateral undulations. The vortex tubes are then linked to form a hairpin-like structure as predicted by computational fluid dynamic analyses. Quantitative measurements show that the vortex size gradually increases over time. The vortex circulation decreases after attaining a maximum. These results provide an experimental demonstration that the 3D wake structure of an anguilliform swimmer takes well organized dynamic shapes as predicted and provide baseline data for future studies comparing the wake structure of snakes with different locomotor ecologies.
Towards Environmental Control of Microbiomes
Authors: Sharpless Will , Sander Kyle , Song Fangchao , Kuehl Jennifer , Arkin Adam Paul
Published: November 2022

Microbial communities have consequential effects on health and the environment yet remain uncontrollable due to their complex dynamics. Ecological modeling offers a platform to overcome their nonlinear and interconnected nature but traditionally does not account for context-dependence. Here, we extend the generalized Lotka-Volterra (gLV) model to accommodate a varying environment by identifying how environmental changes alter species growth rates and interactions in a manner that predicts full community trajectories across environmental gradients. We identify key environment-varying interactions within a synthetic community derived from the Oryzae sativa rhizosphere, and demonstrate how variations in the environment change fixed point compositions and rates of convergence. With our model, we simulate how precise perturbations of the environment can offer improvements in an optimal control problem of driving a community to a target composition. We show that environmental perturbation can minimize the total species input (direct species perturbation) and greatly expand the set of initial states from which a desired target can be reached despite stochasticity. This work demonstrates that a formal perspective on environmental influence of community dynamics is valuable for not only understanding seasonal changes or anthropogenic manipulations, but is critical for improving control of the microbiome.
Optical tuning of polymer functionalized zinc oxide quantum dots as a selective probe for specific detection of antibiotics
Authors: Verma Awadhesh Kumar , Dhiman Tarun Kumar , Lakshmi GBVS , Solanki Pratima
Published: November 2022

It is crucial to monitor the antibiotic levels in the environment like water, food products in the current scenario as the antibiotic concentration above threshold is harmful for the human health. Excess consumption of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance that hinders the control and cure of microbial diseases. So, these challenges motivated to devise an optical nano-senor which can sense the ultra-low concentration of antibiotics. In this proposed research work, emphasis is to develop a method which is simple and selective to analyze the detection and presence of antibiotics in various samples like tape water milk etc. using fluorescent ZnO QDs based nano-sensor. For this, fluorescent and different polymers (polyvinylalcohol – PVA and polyvinylpyrrolidine – PVP) capped ZnO QDs were synthesized using modified sol-gel technique. These were used as fluorescent probe to monitor the presence of antibiotics. The optical characterizations of synthesized QDs were performed using UV-Visible absorption & fluorescence spectroscopic methods while structural characteristics were analyzed by using FTIR, XRD and EDX. Charge on the synthesized QDs were obtained with the help of ZETA potential. Here ten different antibiotics were targeted among, Ciprofloxacin and Moxifloxacin have shown excellent sensing and specificity with PVA-ZnO QDs and PVP-ZnO QDs respectively.
Pairing Metagenomics and Metaproteomics to Characterize Ecological Niches and Metabolic Essentiality of gut microbiomes
Authors: Wang Tong , Li Leyuan , Figeys Daniel , Liu Yang-Yu
Published: November 2022

The genome of a microorganism encodes its potential functions that can be implemented through expressed proteins. It remains elusive how a protein’s selective expression depends on its metabolic essentiality to microbial growth or its ability to claim resources as ecological niches. To reveal a protein’s metabolic or ecological role, we developed a computational pipeline, which pairs metagenomics and metaproteomics data to quantify each protein’s gene-level and protein-level functional redundancy simultaneously. We first illustrated the idea behind the pipeline using simulated data of a consumer-resource model. We then validated it using real data from human and mouse gut microbiome samples. In particular, we analyzed ABC-type transporters and ribosomal proteins, confirming that the metabolic and ecological roles predicted by our pipeline agree well with prior knowledge. Finally, we performedin vitrocultures of a human gut microbiome sample and investigated how oversupplying various sugars involved in ecological niches influences the community structure and protein abundance. The presented results demonstrate the performance of our pipeline in identifying proteins’ metabolic and ecological roles, as well as its potential to help us design nutrient interventions to modulate the human microbiome.
A graph clustering algorithm for detection and genotyping of structural variants from long reads
Authors: Gaitán Nicolás , Duitama Jorge
Published: November 2022

Structural variants (SV) are polymorphisms defined by their length (>50 bp). The usual types of SVs are deletions, insertions, translocations, inversions, and copy number variants. SV detection and genotyping is fundamental given the role of SVs in phenomena such as phenotypic variation and evolutionary events. Thus, methods to identify SVs using long read sequencing data have been recently developed. We present an accurate and efficient algorithm to predict SVs from long-read sequencing data. The algorithm starts collecting evidence (Signatures) of SVs from read alignments. Then, signatures are clustered based on a Euclidean graph with coordinates calculated from lengths and genomic positions. Clustering is performed by the DBSCAN algorithm, which provides the advantage of delimiting clusters with high resolution. Clusters are transformed into SVs and a Bayesian model allows to precisely genotype SVs based on their supporting evidence. This algorithm is integrated in the single sample variants detector of the Next Generation Sequencing Experience Platform (NGSEP), which facilitates the integration with other functionalities for genomics analysis. For benchmarking, our algorithm is compared against different tools using VISOR for simulation and the GIAB SV dataset for real data. For indel calls in a 20x depth Nanopore simulated dataset, the DBSCAN algorithm performed better, achieving an F-score of 98%, compared to 97.8 for Dysgu, 97.8 for SVIM, 97.7 for CuteSV, and 96.8 for Sniffles. We believe that this work makes a significant contribution to the development of bioinformatic strategies to maximize the use of long read sequencing technologies.
Human influenza A virus H1N1 in marine mammals in California, 2019
Authors: Plancarte Magdalena , Kovalenko Ganna , Baldassano Julie , Ramírez Ana L. , Carrillo Selina , Duignan Pádraig J. , Goodfellow Ian , Bortz Eric , Dutta Jayeeta , van Bakel Harm , Coffey Lark L.
Published: November 2022

From 2011-2018, we conducted surveillance in marine mammals along the California coast for influenza A virus (IAV), frequently detecting anti-influenza antibodies and intermittently detecting IAV. In spring 2019, this pattern changed. Despite no change in surveillance intensity, we detected IAV RNA in 10 samples in March and April, mostly in nasal and rectal swabs from northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). Although virus isolation was unsuccessful, IAV sequenced from one northern elephant seal nasal swab showed close genetic identity with pandemic H1N1 IAV subclade 6B.1A.1 that was concurrently circulating in humans in the 2018/19 influenza season. This represents the first report of human A(H1N1)pdm09 IAV in northern elephant seals since 2010, suggesting IAV continues to spill over from humans to pinnipeds.
Design And Optimization Studies Of Tablet In Tablet Formulation Of Diclofenac And Misoprostol: Application Of Response Surface Methodology And Compressional Behaviour Strategy
Authors: Shah Shabana Naz , Ali Huma , Yasmin Riffat , Perveen Shaheen , Zafar Farya , Israr Fozia , Aslam Nousheen
Published: November 2022

The present study was aimed to develop compression coated tablets of diclofenac sodium (75mg) in the inner core and misoprostol (200 mg) as the outer shell for the effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as this dosing frequency is not available in the market yet. Diclofenac sodium inner tablet was manufactured by wet granulation and its enteric coating was applied by Eudragit L 100-55, Isopropyl Alcohol and Opadry II Blue 85 F205034. While immediate-release misoprostol outer shell was also manufactured by wet granulation and coated by Opadry white and Polyethylene glycol 6000. Design of experiment®software was used for formulation design and optimization. Quality attributes such as tablet weight, hardness, disintegration time, percent drug dissolution and assay were performed as per official methods and satisfactory results were reported. Physical and chemical stability of selected formulations was evaluated following the ICH guidelines for accelerated stability testing. The compressional analysis of optimized formulation was performed to check the optimum compression pressure to obtain a stable formulation. Based on satisfactory quality attributes; formulation DF9MF7 was successfully developed as compression coated tablet with calculated shelf life of 4.8years. Compression coated tablets comprising of enteric coated diclofenac sodium as inner core and misoprostol as outer shell were successfully developed by wet granulation.
Disruption ofZea mays isochorismate synthase1decreases PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA LYASE activity and suppresses hypersensitive response-induced metabolism
Authors: Benke Ryan L. , McCoy Rachel M. , Ibrahim Iskander M. , Simpson Jeffery P. , Muro-Villanueva Fabiola , Zhan Ross , Chapple Clint , Widhalm Joshua R. , Puthiyaveetil Sujith , Johal Gurmukh S. , Dilkes Brian P.
Published: November 2022

ISOCHORISMATE SYNTHASE (ICS) catalyzes the isomerization of chorismate to isochorismate, an essential precursor in the biosynthesis of the Photosystem I electron carrier phylloquinone and of one of two pathways for the biosynthesis of the defense response hormone salicylic acid (SA). We characterized aZea mays ics1mutant for impacts on metabolism, photosynthesis, and immune signaling. Phylloquinone was reduced in the mutant resulting in low electron transfer rates and high electron backflow rates. SA accumulation induced by autoactive alleles of the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) geneResistance to Puccinia sorgi1(Rp1)requiredics1. Induced accumulation of SA was not required for lesion formation by the autoactiveRp1-D21#4allele. Metabolomic analyses and SA supplementation ofRp1-D21#4mutants,ics1-1mutants andRp1-D21#4; ics1-1double mutants demonstrated that most hypersensitive response-induced metabolism requiredics1but this was independent of SA accumulation. Both the PAL and ICS pathways contributed to SA biosynthesis in maize as labeled phenylalanine was incorporated into SA glucoside. Maizeics1-1mutants had low PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA LYASE activity, accumulated phenylalanine, and decreased abundance of phenylalanine derived metabolites. This demonstrates that the ICS and PAL pathways interact by a yet unknown mechanism complicating the interpretation of SA biosynthesis in plants from genetics alone.
Challenges in screening forde novononcoding variants contributing to genetically complex phenotypes
Authors: Castro Christopher P. , Diehl Adam G. , Boyle Alan P.
Published: November 2022

Understanding the genetic basis for complex, heterogeneous disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a persistent challenge in human medicine. Owing to their phenotypic complexity, the genetic mechanisms underlying these disorders may be highly variable across individual patients. Furthermore, much of their heritability is unexplained by known regulatory or coding variants. Indeed, there is evidence that much of the causal genetic variation stems from rare andde novovariants arising from ongoing mutation. These variants occur mostly in noncoding regions, likely affecting regulatory processes for genes linked to the phenotype of interest. However, because there is no uniform code for assessing regulatory function, it is difficult to separate these mutations into likely functional and nonfunctional subsets. This makes finding associations between complex diseases and potentially causalde novosingle-nucleotide variants (dnSNVs) a difficult task. To date, all but one published study in this area has failed to find any significant associations between dnSNVs from ASD patients and any class of known regulatory elements. We sought to identify the underlying reasons for this and present strategies for overcoming these challenges. We show that, contrary to previous claims, the main reason for failure to find robust statistical enrichments is not the number of families sampled, but the quality and relevance to ASD of the annotations used to prioritize dnSNVs, and the reliability of the set of dnSNVs itself. We present a list of recommendations for designing future studies of this sort that will help researchers avoid common pitfalls.
“Peptidergic modulation of motor neuron output via CART signaling at C bouton synapses”
Authors: Eleftheriadis Panagiotis E. , Pothakos Konstantinos , Sharples Simon A. , Apostolou Panagiota E. , Mina Maria , Tetringa Efstathia , Miles Gareth B. , Zagoraiou Laskaro
Published: November 2022

The intensity of muscle contraction, and therefore movement vigour, needs to be adaptable to enable complex motor behaviors. This can be achieved by adjusting the properties of motor neurons, which form the final common pathway for all motor output from the central nervous system. Here we identify novel roles for a neuropeptide, Cocaine and Amphetamine Regulated Transcript (CART), in the control of movement vigour. We reveal distinct, but parallel mechanisms by which CART and acetylcholine, both released at C bouton synapses on motor neurons, selectively amplify the output of subtypes of motor neurons that are recruited during intense movement. We find that mice with broad genetic deletion of CART or selective elimination of acetylcholine from C boutons exhibit deficits in behavioral tasks that require higher levels of motor output. Overall, these data uncover novel spinal modulatory mechanisms that control movement vigour to support movements that require a high degree of muscle force.
Structural transitions in TCTP tumor protein upon Mcl-1 binding
Authors: Malard Florian , Sizun Christina , Thureau Aurélien , Carlier Ludovic , Lescop Ewen
Published: November 2022

Translationally Controlled Tumour Protein (TCTP) is a pro-survival factor in tumor cells. TCTP inhibits the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway by potentiating the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL. Specifically, TCTP binds Bcl-xL and inhibits the Bax-dependent Bcl-xL-induced cytochrome c release and TCTP reduces Mcl-1 turnover by inhibiting its ubiquitinylation, thus resulting in decreased Mcl-1 mediated apoptosis. TCTP owns a BH3-like motif forming a β-strand buried in the globular domain of the protein. The crystal structure of TCTP BH3-like peptide in complex with Bcl-xL highlighted the α-helical conformation of TCTP BH3-like motif, suggesting major changes in TCTP structure upon complex formation. However, the structural impact of the interaction on the full-length TCTP and the structural description of TCTP/Mcl-1 interaction are still lacking. Here using biophysical/biochemical methods (NMR, SAXS, circular dichroism, limited proteolysis), we provide an in-depth description of the TCTP/Mcl-1 complex. We demonstrate that full length TCTP binds to the BH3 binding groove of Mcl-1 via its BH3-like motif which interconverts between different binding modes at the micro- to milli-second timescale. As a consequence of the engagement of the BH3-like motif in the interface, the TCTP globular domain is destabilized into a molten-globule state. We also establish that the residue D16 in TCTP BH3-like motif is crucial for the stability and dynamics of the intermolecular interface. As a conclusion, we reveal here in details the structural plasticity of TCTP and discuss its implications for TCTP biology and for future anticancer drug design strategies aiming at targeting TCTP complexes.

Contact

Ewen Lescop,ewen.lescop@cnrs.fr.

Supplementary Information

Supplementary figures, tables and files.
Uncovering molecular grammars of intrinsically disordered regions that organize nucleolar fibrillar centers
Authors: King Matthew R. , Lin Andrew Z. , Ruff Kiersten M. , Farag Mina , Ouyang Wei , Vahey Michael D. , Lundberg Emma , Pappu Rohit V.
Published: November 2022

The nucleolus is a multilayered structure. Each layer is thought to be a compositionally distinct phase, although how these phases form and interface with one another remains unclear. Using computational, proteomics,in vitro, andin vivostudies, we uncover distinct molecular grammars within intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of nucleolar proteins that localize to fibrillar centers (FCs) and dense fibrillar components (DFCs). FC and DFC proteins feature two distinct types of IDRs namely those with long tracts of acidic residues and those with blocks of lysines interspersed by acid-rich-regions. We find that phase separation driven by complex coacervation in mixtures of nucleolar proteins, with their distinctive IDRs, and ribosomal DNA and RNA molecules is sufficient to drive the formation of structural facsimiles of FCs and DFCs.

One-Sentence Summary

Facsimiles of core nucleolar substructures were reconstituted via phase separation of key protein and nucleic acid mixtures.
Parent-reported phenotype data on chromosome 6 aberrations collected via an online questionnaire: data consistency and data availability
Authors: Engwerda Aafke , Frentz Barbara , Rraku Eleana , Simoes de Souza Nadia F. , Swertz Morris A. , Plantinga Mirjam , Kerstjens-Frederikse Wilhelmina S. , Ranchor Adelita V. , van Ravenswaaij-Arts Conny M. A.
Published: November 2022

Background

Even with the introduction of new genetic techniques that enable accurate genomic characterization, knowledge about the phenotypic spectrum of rare chromosomal disorders is still limited, both in literature and existing databases. Yet this clinical information is of utmost importance for health professionals and the parents of children with rare diseases. Since existing databases are often hampered by the limited time and willingness of health professionals to input new data, we collected phenotype data directly from parents of children with a chromosome 6 disorder. These parents were reached via social media, and the information was collected via the online Chromosome 6 Questionnaire, which includes 115 main questions on congenital abnormalities, medical problems, behaviour, growth and development. Here, we assess data consistency by comparing parent-reported phenotypes to phenotypes based on copies of medical files for the same individual and data availability by comparing the data available on specific characteristics reported by parents to data available in existing literature.

Results

The reported answers to the main questions on phenotype characteristics were 85–95% consistent, and the consistency of answers to subsequent more detailed questions was 77–96%. For all but two main questions, significantly more data was collected from parents via the Chromosome 6 Questionnaire than was currently available in literature. For the topics developmental delay and brain abnormalities, no significant difference in the amount of available data was found. The only feature for which significantly more data was available in literature was a sub-question on the type of brain abnormality present.

Conclusions

This is the first study to compare phenotype data collected directly from parents to data extracted from medical files on the same individuals. We found that the data was highly consistent, and phenotype data collected via the online Chromosome 6 Questionnaire resulted in more available information on most clinical characteristics when compared to phenotypes reported in literature reports thus far. We encourage active patient participation in rare disease research and have shown that parent-reported phenotypes are very reliable and contribute to our knowledge of the phenotypic spectrum of rare chromosomal disorders.
Periodic neglect after frontoparietal lesions provides causal evidence for rhythmic attention sampling
Authors: Raposo Isabel , Szczepanski Sara M. , Haaland Kathleen , Endestad Tor , Solbakk Anne-Kristin , Knight Robert T. , Helfrich Randolph F.
Published: November 2022

Contemporary models conceptualize spatial attention as a blinking spotlight that sequentially samples visual space. Hence, behavior fluctuates over time even in states of presumed ‘sustained’ attention. Recent evidence suggested that rhythmic neural activity in the frontoparietal network constitutes the functional basis of rhythmic attentional sampling. However, causal evidence to support this notion remains absent. Using a lateralized spatial attention task, we addressed this issue in patients with focal lesions in the frontoparietal attention network. Our results uncovered that frontoparietal lesions introduce periodic neglect, i.e., temporally-specific behavioral deficits that were aligned with the underlying neural oscillations. Attention-guided perceptual sensitivity was on par with healthy controls during optimal phases but attenuated during the less excitable sub-cycles. Theta-dependent sampling (3 – 8 Hz) was causally dependent on prefrontal cortex, while alpha-band sampling (8 – 14 Hz) emerged from parietal areas. Collectively, our findings reveal that lesion-induced high amplitude, low frequency brain activity is not epiphenomenal, but has immediate behavioral consequences. More generally, these results provide causal evidence for the hypothesis that the functional architecture of attention is inherently rhythmic.
CellSighter – A neural network to classify cells in highly multiplexed images
Authors: Amitay Yael , Bussi Yuval , Feinstein Ben , Bagon Shai , Milo Idan , Keren Leeat
Published: November 2022

Multiplexed imaging enables measurement of multiple proteinsin situ, offering an unprecedented opportunity to chart various cell types and states in tissues. However, cell classification, the task of identifying the type of individual cells, remains challenging, labor-intensive, and limiting to throughput. Here, we present CellSighter, a deep-learning based pipeline to accelerate cell classification in multiplexed images. Given a small training set of expert-labeled images, CellSighter outputs the label probabilities for all cells in new images. CellSighter achieves over 80% accuracy for major cell types across imaging platforms, which approaches inter-observer concordance. Ablation studies and simulations show that CellSighter is able to generalize its training data and learn features of protein expression levels, as well as spatial features such as subcellular expression patterns. CellSighter’s design reduces overfitting, and it can be trained with only thousands or even hundreds of labeled examples. CellSighter also outputs a prediction confidence, allowing downstream experts control over the results. Altogether, CellSighter drastically reduces hands-on time for cell classification in multiplexed images, while improving accuracy and consistency across datasets.
Out of thin air: surveying tropical bat roosts through air sampling of eDNA
Authors: Garrett Nina R. , Watkins Jonathan , Francis Charles , Simmons Nancy B. , Ivanova Natalia V. , Naaum Amanda , Briscoe Andrew , Drinkwater Rosie , Clare Elizabeth L.
Published: November 2022

Understanding roosting behaviour is essential to bat conservation and biomonitoring, often providing the most accurate methods of assessing population size and health. However, roosts can be challenging to survey. Roosts can be physically impossible to access or present risks for researchers and disturbance during monitoring can disrupt natural bat behaviour and present material risks to the population e.g. disrupting hibernation cycles.

One solution to this is the use of non-invasive monitoring approaches. Environmental (e)DNA has proven especially effective at detecting rare and elusive species particularly in hard-to-reach locations. It has recently been demonstrated that eDNA is carried in air and, when collected in semi-confined spaces can provide remarkably accurate profiles of biodiversity, even in complex tropical communities.

In this study we deploy novel airborne eDNA collection for air for the first time in a natural setting and use this approach to survey difficult to access potential roosts in the neotropics. Using airborne eDNA we confirmed the presence of bats in 9 out of 12 roosts. The identified species matched previous historical records of roost use obtained from photographic and live capture methods demonstrating the utility of this approach. We also detected the presence of the white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngi) which had never been confirmed in the area but was long suspected. In addition to the bats, we also detected several non-bat vertebrates, including the big-eared climbing rat (Ototylomys phyllotis), which has previously been observed in and around bat roosts. We also detected eDNA from other local species known to be in the vicinity. Using airborne eDNA to detect new roosts and monitor known populations, particularly when species turnover is rapid, could maximize efficiency for surveyors while minimizing disturbance to the animals. This study presents the first applied use of airborne eDNA collection for ecological analysis and demonstrates a clear utility for this technology in the wild.
Heavy-chain CDR3-engineered B cells facilitatein vivoevaluation of HIV-1 vaccine candidates
Authors: He Wenhui , Ou Tianling , Skamangas Nickolas , Bailey Charles C. , Bronkema Naomi , Guo Yan , Yin Yiming , Kobzarenko Valerie , Zhang Xia , Pan Andi , Liu Xin , Allwardt Ava E. , Mitra Debasis , Quinlan Brian , Sanders Rogier W. , Choe Hyeryun , Farzan Michael
Published: November 2022

V2-glycan/apex broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) recognize a closed quaternary epitope of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env). This closed structure is necessary to elicit apex antibodies and useful to guide maturation of other bnAb classes. To compare antigens designed to maintain this conformation, apex-specific responses were monitored in mice engrafted with a diverse repertoire of B cells expressing the HCDR3 of the apex bnAb VRC26.25. Engineered B cells affinity matured, guiding improvement of VRC26.25 itself. We found that soluble Env (SOSIP) variants differed significantly in their ability to raise anti-apex responses. A transmembrane SOSIP (SOSIP-TM) delivered as an mRNA-lipid nanoparticle elicited more potent neutralizing responses than multimerized SOSIP proteins. Importantly, SOSIP-TM elicited neutralizing sera from B cells engineered with the predicted VRC26.25-HCDR3 progenitor, which also affinity matured. Our data show that HCDR3-edited B cells facilitate efficientin vivocomparisons of Env antigens and highlight the potential of an HCDR3-focused vaccine approach.
Supporting university students’ learning across time and space: a from-scratch, personalised and mobile-friendly approach
Authors: Rossiter Eliza , Thomson T.J. , Fitzgerald Rachel
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use and effectiveness of a bespoke mobile learning resource, Pocket Tutor. This resource responds to a number of teaching and learning challenges within the tertiary education context. These include those related to the number and type of learning activities that can be offered, class pacing, subject-specific content considerations and the availability and quality of off-the-shelf learning resources. Educators have to potentially contend with all of these amidst mounting institutional constraints and external pressures. Yet, a supplemental, from-scratch online learning resource can help mitigate some of these challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents the successes and challenges of introducing a mobile learning resource, Pocket Tutor, to bolster autonomous learning in a supported university learning environment. Pocket Tutor was designed and developed in 2019 and integrated in 2020 and 2021 into a multimedia design class offered at a large university in the Asia-Pacific. The resource’s effectiveness is measured against common technology acceptance factors – including self-efficacy, enthusiasm and enjoyment in relation to contextual purpose and class learning outcomes – through a multi-pronged approach consisting of a class-wide survey, developed specifically for this purpose and analysis of usage data. Deeper context was also provided through a small pool of follow-up interviews.

Findings

Evidence from this study’s data suggests that a bespoke, mobile-learning resource can provide greater consistency, more relevance, more flexibility for when and where students learn and more efficiency with limited opportunities for synchronous interaction. At the same time, a bespoke mobile-learning resource represents a significant investment of skill and time to develop and maintain.

Originality/value

This study responds to calls from scholars who argue that more research (especially that is qualitative and discipline-specific) is needed to investigate students’ willingness to use learning apps on their mobile devices. This study pairs such research about student willingness with actual usage data and student reflections to more concretely address the role of mobile learning resources in higher education contexts. This study also, importantly, does not just assess perceptions and attitudes about mobile learning resources in the abstract but assesses attitudes and usage patterns for specific generic and bespoke mobile learning resources available for students in a specific university class (thereby providing discipline-specific insights). This study also provides a unique contribution by including multiple years of data and, thus, offers a longitudinal view on how mobile-learning resources are perceived and used in a particular higher education context.
Sharing or hiding? The influence of supervisor bottom-line mentality on employee knowledge behaviors
Authors: Chen Silu , Liu Wenxing , Zhu Yanghao , Shu Peipei
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Drawing on the dual-strategies theory of social rank and leader distance theory, this paper aims to investigate the influence of supervisor bottom-line mentality (BLM) on employee knowledge-related behaviors by considering the mediating role of perceived leader prestige or dominance and the moderating role of supervisor–subordinate guanxi (SSG).

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected survey data from 185 research and development employees in East China at three-time points. The authors conducted path analysis and bootstrapping-based analytic approach to test the hypotheses by Mplus7.0.

Findings

The results showed that supervisor BLM has a negative effect on employee knowledge sharing and a positive effect on knowledge hiding. Besides, perceived leader prestige or dominance mediated the relationship between supervisor BLM and employee knowledge hiding. Furthermore, SSG moderated the relationship between supervisor BLM and perceived leader prestige or dominance, as well as the indirect effects of supervisor BLM on knowledge hiding via perceived leader prestige or dominance.

Originality/value

There is limited research on investigating the influence of supervisor BLM in the field of knowledge management. The authors carried out this study to provide evidence of how and when supervisor BLM affects employee knowledge sharing and hiding.
Factors of green innovation: the role of dynamic capabilities and knowledge sharing through green creativity
Authors: Ma Li , Ali Azhar , Shahzad Mohsin , Khan Adnan
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The manufacturing industry has recently faced many environmental issues and pressures due to increased environmental awareness. Business leaders identified that green innovation (GI) is a crucial aspect of sustainable development (SD) and can provide a competitive edge. On the other hand, boosting SD through GI is a complicated network activity involving various partners, and there is a need to transmit or share knowledge equitably and acceptably. Following the natural resource-based view (NRBV), this research presents a novel framework for investigating how green knowledge sharing (GKS) and green dynamic capabilities (GDC) affect green creativity (GC) and GI directly and through GC. Besides, the moderation of mimetic pressure (MP) was also evaluated in these targeted relations, as it is a critical element for enhancing GI in the context of SD.

Design/methodology/approach

Data consisted 232 respondents from Pakistani manufacturing industries, and seven substantial hypotheses were verified regarding the direct, mediating and moderating effect of targeted variables in confounding ways using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

According to the empirical findings, GKS and GDC positively correlate with GC and GI. Moreover, GKS and GDC significantly and positively impact GI both directly and indirectly. Furthermore, GC partially mediates GI, whereas MP has a significant moderating effect in these relationships.

Originality/value

A significant correlation among these constructs was observed, demonstrating the conceptual framework for this study. These findings can assist practitioners and academics gain a better understanding of how to manage and evaluate GI in manufacturing projects at both the project and firm levels. Therefore, policymakers and project managers can enhance GI by focusing more on GKS, GDC, MP and GC.
Getting acquainted with social networks and apps: protecting patron privacy
Authors: Anderson Katie Elson
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inform libraries and library workers about the importance of protecting patron privacy.

Design/methodology/approach

An overview on the topic of patron privacy and libraries, including literature and best practices.

Findings

Patron privacy is potentially being compromised in a number of different ways, and it is important to be informed, to educate and to organize to protect patron privacy.

Originality/value

Privacy is a core value of librarianship, and this column highlights ways to become informed about the ways in which patron privacy can be compromised.
Knowledge transferring and conversion in the early stage of collaborative product design by entrepreneurial teams
Authors: Laptev Georgy , Shaytan Dmitry
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to discover a model of knowledge conversion and knowledge transferring/sharing barriers in an entrepreneurial team (ET) working with innovative users at the early and fuzzy front end (FFE) stage of collaborative product design (Co-PD) process.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory research framework included sampling, data collection and data analysis, through sequential levels of categorizations, undertaken jointly with constant comparative analysis. The sample frame is the pool of ETs/startups from university business accelerators that carry out Co-PD at the FFE stage. The research survey is based on observations of the collaborative ETs activities, questionnaires and in-depth interviews with them. The research was conducted on individual and team levels when Co-PD process and ET activities were in progress.

Findings

This study identified specific set of concepts of knowledge conversion and transferring/sharing and their barriers that reflect specificity of Co-PD processes at the FFE stage in collaborative ETs. The discovered conversion process is represented by the socialization, externalization and internalization, three-mode knowledge conversion model. The significance of barriers and frequency of their occurrence were measured in knowledge transferring/sharing in collaborative ETs on individual and team levels.

Originality/value

This study shows novel insights into how knowledge transfers/shares and converts in the context of ET working with innovative users in Co-PD process at the FFE stage.
Drivers of e-government use during the COVID-19 pandemic: the case of Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Hoai Than , Borazon Elaine Quintana
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted various systems that drove people to adapt to certain technologies, such as electronic government services, for daily survival and to meet social distancing requirements. Therefore, this study aims to determine the antecedents of e-government use based on prospect theory and modified unified theory of acceptance use of technology (UTAUT) during a pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Convenience sampling of 368 respondents from Vietnam was conducted, and questionnaires were distributed personally or by email. The data were analyzed following a two-stage structural equation modeling (SEM) using SPSS v23 and AMOS v23. The validity and reliability of the instrument were tested and ensured.

Findings

Results show that perceived severity drives government support and social influence while perceived security drives government support, social influence and trust. Social influence enhances government support and trust, which both drives e-government use. Mediation analysis shows that government support mediates perceived the influence of perceived severity on e-government use.

Practical implications

The integration of prospect theory and UTAUT brings into light what will drive the adoption of e-government in the context of Vietnam. Supporting mechanisms, such as security measures, trust-building, government support and social influence, will drive citizens to adapt to technologies provided by the government but would also rely on the perceived risks and benefits.

Originality/value

This study integrates prospect theory and a modified version of UTAUT to explain the drivers of e-government use. The results reveal that under uncertainties, government support is critical in driving the use of e-government for people to manage the daily lives for survival.
Interim financial reporting disclosure by listed firms in the Asia-Pacific region and influencing factors
Authors: Nguyen Huu Cuong
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the levels of interim financial reporting (IR) disclosure by listed firms in the Asia-Pacific region and factors influencing these disclosure levels.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a sample of 700 interim reports issued in 2012 by the top 100 listed firms in seven Asia-Pacific countries (Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam), the author constructed a disclosure index consisting of disclosure items commonly required across the sample countries. Using this index, the study measures the extent to which listed firms in the Asia-Pacific Region comply with IR disclosure requirements. The study performs ordinary least square regression to investigate the influence of the four country-level factors including international financial reporting standard (IFRS) adoption, audit review, reporting frequency and reporting lag.

Findings

This research documents that IR disclosure varies significantly across the region. The IR disclosure levels are positively associated with IFRS adoption, audit review and mandatory of quarterly reporting, but negatively associated with reporting lag.

Originality/value

IR regulation varies across the Asia-Pacific region, but there is no existing research on the country-level factors influencing IR disclosure practices. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first paper providing some insights into IR disclosure levels by listed firms in the region. It also contributes to the disclosure literature by providing empirical evidence on the country-level factors influencing these disclosure levels. Deriving from the findings, the authors offer recommendations for regulators, investors and listed firms on the issue of reviewing the regulation, using information and preparing IR.
Convergence analysis of science, technology, and environment expenditure: evidence from Indian states
Authors: Akram Vaseem
Published: November 2022

Purpose

There is vast disparity in public expenditure on science, technology and environment (STE) across various Indian states. Public expenditure on STE is crucial in maintaining symmetric growth, social cohesion and sustainable development. Literature on this topic is scarce, which prompted the investigation of club convergence of STE public expenditure. In particular, the purpose of this paper to study the club convergence of STE public expenditure in the case of 20 Indian states during the period from 1987–1988 to 2019–2020.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies the clustering algorithm to identify club convergence, advanced by the Phillips and Sul test, which enables identification of multiple steady states or club convergence, unlike beta and sigma convergences.

Findings

The findings of this paper show that all Indian states do not converge towards single steady states. This suggests a disparity in STE public expenditure across Indian states. Moreover, the findings favour three clubs that have their own unique transition paths. The results of this study are supported by the robustness check.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that the allocation of public expenditure on STE can be made based on club convergence to achieve social cohesion, sustainable development and millennium development goals across states.

Originality/value

Although several previous studies have investigated the convergence of public expenditure by considering either aggregate public expenditure or health/education expenditure, literature on the convergence hypothesis of STE public expenditure, particularly across Indian states, is scarce. Moreover, this paper is unique, as it examines multiple steady states or club convergence. Finally, this paper contributes to policymaking by suggesting which states should be given a push to achieve social cohesion and sustainable development.
Preparing leadership for daunting 21st Century challenges
Authors: Allio Robert J.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Given the dynamic uncertainty of markets and the painful consequences of wrong choices, we need to adopt a realistic perspective on how to develop the next generation of leaders to respond to these and other dilemmas.

Design/Methodology/Approach

At the simplest level, good leadership is determined by who we are, what we do and how we do it. I contend that practice is essential: that leadership skills and competencies improve with experimentation, applied experience, critical self-evaluation and refinement. 10;

Findings

In sum, leadership is a journey of discovery. Leaders become competent only through deliberate practice, seeking feedback, engaging in humble reflection and remaining open to change.

Practical/Implications

Learning how to lead in radically different situations in a volatile era is not a challenge that a model can resolve.

Originality/value

Our current leadership models fail to offer useful, practicable guidance. Every good leader must makes choices based on a combination of factors, including his or her perception of organizational priorities, interpretation of the landscape and composition of stakeholders