bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing the potential for maternal–fetal signalling in oviparous and viviparous lizards
Authors: Wen Jinglin , Ishihara Teruhito , Renfree Marilyn B. , Griffith Oliver W.
Published: October 2022

The evolution of a placenta requires several steps including changing the timing of reproductive events, facilitating nutrient exchange, and the capacity for maternal–fetal communication. To understand the evolution of maternal–fetal communication, we used ligand-receptor gene expression as a proxy for the potential for cross-talk in a live-bearing lizard (
Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii
) and homologous tissues in a related egg-laying lizard (
Lampropholis guichenot
i
). Approximately 70% of expressed ligand/receptor genes were shared by both species. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that there was no GO-enrichment in the fetal membranes of the egg-laying species, but live-bearing fetal tissues were significantly enriched for 50 GO-terms. Differences in enrichment suggest that the evolution of viviparity involved reinforcing specific signalling pathways, perhaps to support fetal control of placentation. One identified change was in transforming growth factor beta signalling. Using immunohistochemistry, we show the production of the signalling molecule inhibin beta B (INHBB) occurs in viviparous fetal membranes but was absent in closely related egg-laying tissues, suggesting that the evolution of viviparity may have involved changes to signalling via this pathway. We argue that maternal–fetal signalling evolved through co-opting expressed signalling molecules and recruiting new signalling molecules to support the complex developmental changes required to support a fetus
in utero
.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom’.
Origin, form and function of extraembryonic structures in teleost fishes
Authors: Concha Miguel L. , Reig Germán
Published: October 2022

Teleost eggs have evolved a highly derived early developmental pattern within vertebrates as a result of the meroblastic cleavage pattern, giving rise to a polar stratified architecture containing a large acellular yolk and a small cellular blastoderm on top. Besides the acellular yolk, the teleost-specific yolk syncytial layer (YSL) and the superficial epithelial enveloping layer are recognized as extraembryonic structures that play critical roles throughout embryonic development. They provide enriched microenvironments in which molecular feedback loops, cellular interactions and mechanical signals emerge to sculpt, among other things, embryonic patterning along the dorsoventral and left–right axes, mesendodermal specification and the execution of morphogenetic movements in the early embryo and during organogenesis. An emerging concept points to a critical role of extraembryonic structures in reinforcing early genetic and morphogenetic programmes in reciprocal coordination with the embryonic blastoderm, providing the necessary boundary conditions for development to proceed. In addition, the role of the enveloping cell layer in providing mechanical, osmotic and immunological protection during early stages of development, and the autonomous nutritional support provided by the yolk and YSL, have probably been key aspects that have enabled the massive radiation of teleosts to colonize every ecological niche on the Earth.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom’.
How two extraembryonic epithelia became one: serosa and amnion features and functions of
Drosophila
's amnioserosa
Authors: Schmidt-Ott Urs , Kwan Chun Wai
Published: October 2022

The conservation of gene networks that specify and differentiate distinct tissues has long been a subject of great interest to evolutionary developmental biologists, but the question of how pre-existing tissue-specific developmental trajectories merge is rarely asked. During the radiation of flies, two extraembryonic epithelia, known as serosa and amnion, evolved into one, called amnioserosa. This unique extraembryonic epithelium is found in fly species of the group Schizophora, including the genetic model organism
Drosophila melanogaster
, and has been studied in depth. Close relatives of this group develop a serosa and a rudimentary amnion. The scuttle fly
Megaselia abdita
has emerged as an excellent model organism to study this extraembryonic tissue organization. In this review, development and functions of the extraembryonic tissue complements of
Drosophila
and
Megaselia
are compared. It is concluded that the amnioserosa combines cells, genetic pathway components and functions that were previously associated either with serosa development or amnion development. The composite developmental trajectory of the amnioserosa raises the question of whether merging tissue-specific gene networks is a common evolutionary process.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom’.
Immune function of the serosa in hemimetabolous insect eggs
Authors: Jacobs Chris G. C. , van der Hulst Remy , Chen Yen-Ta , Williamson Ryan P. , Roth Siegfried , van der Zee Maurijn
Published: October 2022

Insects comprise more than a million species and many authors have attempted to explain this success by evolutionary innovations. A much overlooked evolutionary novelty of insects is the serosa, an extraembryonic epithelium around the yolk and embryo. We have shown previously that this epithelium provides innate immune protection to eggs of the beetle
Tribolium castaneum.
It remained elusive, however, whether this immune competence evolved in the
Tribolium
lineage or is ancestral to all insects. Here, we expand our studies to two hemimetabolous insects, the bug
Oncopeltus fasciatus
and the swarming grasshopper
Locusta migratoria
. For
Oncopeltus
, RNA sequencing reveals an extensive response upon infection, including the massive upregulation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We demonstrate antimicrobial activity of these peptides using
in vitro
bacterial growth assays and describe two novel AMP families called Serosins and Ovicins. For both insects, quantitative polymerase chain reaction shows immune competence of the eggs when the serosa is present, and
in situ
hybridizations demonstrate that immune gene expression is localized in the serosa. This first evidence from hemimetabolous insect eggs suggests that immune competence is an ancestral property of the serosa. The evolutionary origin of the serosa with its immune function might have facilitated the spectacular radiation of the insects.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom’.
Review of extra-embryonic tissues in the closest arthropod relatives, onychophorans and tardigrades
Authors: Treffkorn Sandra , Mayer Georg , Janssen Ralf
Published: October 2022

The so-called extra-embryonic tissues are important for embryonic development in many animals, although they are not considered to be part of the germ band or the embryo proper. They can serve a variety of functions, such as nutrient uptake and waste removal, protection of the embryo against mechanical stress, immune response and morphogenesis. In insects, a subgroup of arthropods, extra-embryonic tissues have been studied extensively and there is increasing evidence that they might contribute more to embryonic development than previously thought. In this review, we provide an assessment of the occurrence and possible functions of extra-embryonic tissues in the closest arthropod relatives, onychophorans (velvet worms) and tardigrades (water bears). While there is no evidence for their existence in tardigrades, these tissues show a remarkable diversity across the onychophoran subgroups. A comparison of extra-embryonic tissues of onychophorans to those of arthropods suggests shared functions in embryonic nutrition and morphogenesis. Apparent contribution to the final form of the embryo in onychophorans and at least some arthropods supports the hypothesis that extra-embryonic tissues are involved in organogenesis. In order to account for this role, the commonly used definition of these tissues as ‘extra-embryonic’ should be reconsidered.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom’.
The rate and role of pseudogenes of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
Authors: Soler-Camargo Naila Cristina , Silva-Pereira Taiana Tainá , Zimpel Cristina Kraemer , Camacho Maurício F. , Zelanis André , Aono Alexandre H. , Patané José Salvatore , dos Santos Andrea Pires , Guimarães Ana Marcia Sá
Published: October 2022

Whole-genome sequence analyses have significantly contributed to the understanding of virulence and evolution of the

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

complex (MTBC), the causative pathogens of tuberculosis. Most MTBC evolutionary studies are focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms and deletions, but rare studies have evaluated gene content, whereas none has comprehensively evaluated pseudogenes. Accordingly, we describe an extensive study focused on quantifying and predicting possible functions of MTBC and Mycobacterium canettii pseudogenes. Using NCBI’s PGAP-detected pseudogenes, we analysed 25 837 pseudogenes from 158 MTBC and M. canetii strains and combined transcriptomics and proteomics of

M. tuberculosis

H37Rv to gain insights about pseudogenes' expression. Our results indicate significant variability concerning rate and conservancy of in silico predicted pseudogenes among different ecotypes and lineages of tuberculous mycobacteria and pseudogenization of important virulence factors and genes of the metabolism and antimicrobial resistance/tolerance. We show that in silico predicted pseudogenes contribute considerably to MTBC genetic diversity at the population level. Moreover, the transcription machinery of

M. tuberculosis

can fully transcribe most pseudogenes, indicating intact promoters and recent pseudogene evolutionary emergence. Proteomics of

M. tuberculosis

and close evaluation of mutational lesions driving pseudogenization suggest that few in silico predicted pseudogenes are likely capable of neofunctionalization, nonsense mutation reversal, or phase variation, contradicting the classical definition of pseudogenes. Such findings indicate that genome annotation should be accompanied by proteomics and protein function assays to improve its accuracy. While indels and insertion sequences are the main drivers of the observed mutational lesions in these species, population bottlenecks and genetic drift are likely the evolutionary processes acting on pseudogenes' emergence over time. Our findings unveil a new perspective on MTBC’s evolution and genetic diversity.
Network Segregation in Aging Females and Evaluation of the Impact of Sex Steroid Hormones
Authors: Hicks Tracey H. , Magalhães Thamires N. C. , Ballard Hannah K. , Jackson T. Bryan , Cox Sydney J. , Bernard Jessica A.
Published: October 2022

Males and females show differential patterns in connectivity in resting-state networks (RSNs) during normal aging, from early adulthood to late middle age. Age-related differences in network integration (effectiveness of specialized communication at the global network level) and segregation (functional specialization at the local level of specific brain regions) may also differ by sex. These differences may be due at least in part to endogenous hormonal fluctuation, such as that which occurs in females during midlife with the transition to menopause when levels of estrogens and progesterone drop markedly. A limited number of studies that have investigated sex differences in the action of steroid hormones in brain networks. Here we investigated how sex steroid hormones relate to age-network relationships in both males and females, with a focus on network segregation. Females displayed a significant quadratic relationship between age and network segregation for the cerebellar-basal ganglia and salience networks. In both cases, segregation was still increasing through adulthood, highest in midlife, and with a downturn thereafter. However, there were no significant relationships between sex steroid hormone levels and network segregation levels in females, and they did not exhibit significant associations between progesterone or 17β-estradiol and network segregation. Patterns of connectivity between the cerebellum and basal ganglia have been associated with cognitive performance and self-reported balance confidence in older adults. Together, these findings suggest that network segregation patterns with age in females vary by network, and that sex steroid hormones are not associated with this measure of connectivity in this cross-sectional analysis. Though this is a null effect, it remains critical for understanding the extent to which hormones relate to brain network architecture.
Natural variability in bee brain size and symmetry revealed by micro-CT imaging and deep learning
Authors: Lösel Philipp D. , Monchanin Coline , Lebrun Renaud , Jayme Alejandra , Relle Jacob , Devaud Jean-Marc , Heuveline Vincent , Lihoreau Mathieu
Published: October 2022

Analysing large numbers of brain samples can reveal minor, but statistically and biologically relevant variations in brain morphology that provide critical insights into animal behaviour, ecology and evolution. So far, however, such analyses have required extensive manual effort, which considerably limits the scope for comparative research. Here we used micro-CT imaging and deep learning to perform automated analyses of 3D image data from 187 honey bee and bumblebee brains. We revealed strong inter-individual variations in total brain size that are consistent across colonies and species, and may underpin behavioural variability central to complex social organisations. In addition, the bumblebee dataset showed a significant level of lateralization in optic and antennal lobes, providing a potential explanation for reported variations in visual and olfactory learning. Our fast, robust and user-friendly approach holds considerable promises for carrying out large-scale quantitative neuroanatomical comparisons across a wider range of animals. Ultimately, this will help address fundamental unresolved questions related to the evolution of animal brains and cognition.

Author Summary

Bees, despite their small brains, possess a rich behavioural repertoire and show significant variations among individuals. In social bees this variability is key to the division of labour that maintains their complex social organizations, and has been linked to the maturation of specific brain areas as a result of development and foraging experience. This makes bees an ideal model for understanding insect cognitive functions and the neural mechanisms that underlie them. However, due to the scarcity of comparative data, the relationship between brain neuro-architecture and behavioural variance remains unclear. To address this problem, we developed an AI-based approach for automated analysis of brain images and analysed an unprecedentedly large dataset of honey bee and bumblebee brains. Through this process, we were able to identify previously undescribed anatomical features that correlate with known behaviours, supporting recent evidence of lateralized behaviour in foraging and pollination. Our method is open-source, easily accessible online, user-friendly, fast, accurate, and robust to different species, enabling large-scale comparative analyses across the animal kingdom. This includes investigating the impact of external stressors such as environmental pollution and climate change on cognitive development, helping us understand the mechanisms underlying the cognitive abilities of animals and the implications for their survival and adaptation.
Plasticity of the face-hand sensorimotor circuits after a traumatic brachial plexus injury
Authors: de Figueiredo Torres Fernanda , Ramalho Bia Lima , Rodrigues Marcelle Ribeiro , Schmaedeke Ana Carolina , Moraes Victor Hugo , Reilly Karen T. , de Paula Carvalho Raquel , Vargas Claudia D.
Published: October 2022

Background

Traumatic brachial plexus injury (TBPI) is a potentially debilitating event, that usually affects young men following car or motorbike accidents. TBPI interferes with hand sensorimotor function, is associated with chronic pain, and causes cortical reorganization. Interactions between the somatosensory and motor cortices are of fundamental importance for motor control. The hands and face stand out as regions of high functionality with a privileged interaction existing between them, as reflected by the proximity and extension of their representations. Face-hand sensorimotor interactions have been demonstrated in healthy subjects.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the sensorimotor interaction in the hand and between the face and the hand in TBPI patients in order to better understand the plasticity of face-hand sensorimotor circuits following TBPI.

Method

The experimental design consisted of activating the representation of a hand muscle using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) preceded by an electrical stimulation (ES) applied to the hand or face, which allows the investigation of the cortical reorganization resulting from TBPI. In the paradigm called afferent inhibition (AI), the motor evoked potential (MEP) in a target muscle is significantly reduced by a previous peripheral ES. AI can be evoked in short-latency (SAI) or long-latency (LAI) interstimulus intervals. Nine TBPI patients participated: five had partial sensorimotor function in their hands and were evaluated on the injured side (TBPI-I group) and four had complete loss of sensorimotor function in their hands and were evaluated on the uninjured side (TBPI-UI group). A control group (CG) included 18 healthy adults. A detailed clinical evaluation complemented the analysis.

Results

The results showed preserved hand sensorimotor integration for TBPI patients at SAI intervals, but not at LAI intervals. For the face-to-hand sensorimotor integration, the results showed no inhibition at SAI intervals for the TBPI patients. For LAI intervals, a facilitation effect was observed for the TBPI patients, an effect we termed long afferent facilitation or LAF. LAF positively correlated with results in the Central Sensitization Inventory and in the Disabilities Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire.

Conclusion

These results point to the existence of an inhibitory regulation system between the representations of the face and the hand that seems to be suppressed in TBPI and correlates with pain. Moreover, brain changes arising from TBPI are not restricted to the hemisphere contralateral to the injured limb, but extend to both hemispheres.
Leak current, even with gigaohm seals, can cause misinterpretation of stem-cell derived cardiomyocyte action potential recordings
Authors: Clark Alexander P. , Clerx Michael , Wei Siyu , Lei Chon Lok , de Boer Teun P. , Mirams Gary R. , Christini David J. , Krogh-Madsen Trine
Published: October 2022

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) have become an essential tool to study arrhythmia mechanisms. Much of the foundational work on these cells, and the computational models built from the resultant data, has overlooked the contribution of seal-leak current on the immature and heterogeneous phenotype that has come to define these cells. Here, we usein silicoandin vitrostudies to demonstrate how seal-leak current depolarises action potentials (APs), substantially affecting their morphology, even with seal resistances (Rseal) above 1 GΩ. We show that compensation of this leak current is difficult due to challenges with recording accurate measures of Rsealduring an experiment. Using simulation, we show that Rsealmeasures: 1) change during an experiment, invalidating the use of pre-rupture values, and 2) are polluted by the presence of transmembrane currents at every voltage. Finally, we posit the background sodium current in baseline iPSC-CM models imitates the effects of seal-leak current and is increased to a level that masks the effects of seal-leak current on iPSC-CMs. Based on these findings, we make three recommendations to improve iPSC-CM AP data acquisition, interpretation, and model-building. Taking these recommendations into account will improve our understanding of iPSC-CM physiology and the descriptive ability of models built from such data.

Key points

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) are an essential tool in the study of cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms.

Their immature and heterogeneous action potential phenotype complicates the interpretation of experimental data, and has slowed their acceptance in industry and academia.

We suggest that a leak current caused by an imperfect pipette-membrane seal during single-cell patch-clamp experiments is partly responsible for inducing this phenotype.

Usingin vitroexperiments and computational modelling, we show that this seal-leak current affects iPSC-CM AP morphology, even under ‘ideal’ experimental conditions.

Based on these findings, we make recommendations that should be considered when interpreting, analysing and fitting iPSC-CM data.
Effective NGN2-based neuronal programming of hiPSCs in an automated microfluidic platform
Authors: Angiolillo S , Micheli S , Gagliano O
Published: October 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases represent an increasing health burden, with a worrying lack of models recapitulating the hallmarks of the pathology.

Recently, lab-on-a-chip technology has opened new reliable alternatives to conventionalin vitromodels able to replicate key aspects of human physiology. For instance, microfluidics allows to mimic the extracellular accumulation of misfolded proteins in the finely controlled microenvironment, thanks to the intrinsic high surface-area-to-volume ratio.

Automated microfluidic platforms offer advantages in implementing high-throughput, standardized and parallelized assays, suitable for drug screenings and developing new therapeutic approaches in a cost-effective way.

However, the major challenges in the broad application of automated lab-on-a-chip in biological research are the lack of production robustness and ease of use of the devices.

Here, we present an automated microfluidic platform able to host the rapid conversion of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into neurons via NGN2 viral programming in a user-friendly manner.

The design of the platform, built with multilayer soft-lithography techniques, shows easiness in the fabrication and assembly thanks to the simple geometry and experimental reproducibility at the same time.

The all operations are automatically managed from the cell seeding, medium change, doxycycline-mediated neuronal induction, and selection of the genetically engineered cells, to the analysis, including immunofluorescence assay.

Our results show a high-throughput, efficient and homogenous conversion of hiPSCs in neurons in 10 days showing the expression of mature marker MAP2, and calcium signaling. The neurons-on-chip model here described represents a fully automated loop system able to address the challenges in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and improve current preclinical models.
No evidence that analgesic use after COVID-19 vaccination negatively impacts antibody responses
Authors: Lafleur Bonnie J. , White Lisa , Dake Michael D. , Nikolich Janko Z. , Sprissler Ryan , Bhattacharya Deepta
Published: October 2022

Uptake of mRNA vaccines, especially booster immunizations, against COVID-19 has been lower than hoped, perhaps in part due to their reactogenicity. Analgesics might alleviate symptoms associated with vaccination, but studies to measure their impact on immune responses have been limited to relatively small cohorts. We semi-quantitatively measured antibody responses following COVID-19 vaccination in 2354 human participants surveyed about analgesic use. Participants who used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen after vaccination showed elevated antibody levels against the receptor binding domain of Spike protein relative to those who did not use analgesics. This pattern was observed for both mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 and across age groups. Participants who used analgesics more frequently reported fatigue, muscle aches, and headaches than those who did not use painkillers. Amongst participants who reported these symptoms, we observed no statistically significant differences in antibody levels irrespective of analgesic use. These data suggest that antibody levels are elevated as a function of symptoms and inflammatory processes rather than painkiller use per se. Taken together, we find no evidence that analgesic use reduces antibody responses after COVID-19 vaccination. Recommendation of their use to alleviate symptoms might improve uptake of booster immunizations.
Comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic analysis of embryonic melanoblasts uncovers lineage-specific mechanisms of melanoma metastasis and therapy resistance
Authors: Gopalan Vishaka , Day Chi-Ping , Pérez-Guijarro Eva , Chin Sung , Ebersole Jessica , Smith Cari , Simpson Mark , Sassano Antonella , Constantino Maira Alves , Wu Emily , Yang Howard H. , Lee Maxwell P. , Hannenhalli Sridhar , Merlino Glenn , Marie Kerrie L.
Published: October 2022

Across cancers, tumor cells can resemble embryonic cell states that may allow them to metastasize and evade therapies. Melanoma is a cancer of the melanocyte that exhibits a wide range of transcriptional states characterized by alterations in embryonic melanocyte gene expression patterns. How these states and their functions are related to the embryonic precursors of melanocytes, the melanoblasts, is unknown. Here, we present the first high-resolution single-cell RNA-seq profiles of embryonic melanocytic lineages in mice. We discover a diverse array of transcriptional cell states in this lineage and confirm, for the first time at the single-cell level, that melanocytes arise from Schwann-cell precursors (SCPs), a highly plastic cell population, via a newly described intermediate mesenchymal-like state. Via novel computational strategies to map these developmental cell states to metastatic melanoma, we find that SCP-resembling tumors are associated with exclusion of the immune cells and non-response to immune checkpoint blockade. In contrast, a higher mesenchymal profile underlies immune dysfunction and resistance to BRAF-inhibition therapy. We also carry out the first time-resolved single-cell RNA-seq study of early melanoma metastatic colonization, demonstrating that melanoma cells activate a SCP program transiently during early metastatic colonization. Finally, we discover a hybrid lineage state that resembles multiple melanocytic lineages simultaneously and is enriched in melanoma cells during metastatic seeding and in therapy resistance. Our work reveals that the lineage-specific mechanisms underlie melanoma progression/evolution, including early metastatic colonization and therapeutic resistance.
Brain-imaging evidence for compression of binary sound sequences in human memory
Authors: Planton Samuel , Roumi Fosca Al , Wang Liping , Dehaene Stanislas
Published: October 2022

According to the language of thought hypothesis, regular sequences are compressed in human memory using recursive loops akin to a mental program that predicts future items. We tested this theory by probing memory for 16-item sequences made of two sounds. We recorded brain activity with functional MRI and magneto-encephalography (MEG) while participants listened to a hierarchy of sequences of variable complexity, whose minimal description required transition probabilities, chunking, or nested structures. Occasional deviant sounds probed the participants’ knowledge of the sequence. We predicted that task difficulty and brain activity would be proportional to the complexity derived from the minimal description length in our formal language. Furthermore, activity should increase with complexity for learned sequences, and decrease with complexity for deviants. These predictions were upheld in both fMRI and MEG, indicating that sequence predictions are highly dependent on sequence structure and become weaker and delayed as complexity increases. The proposed language recruited bilateral superior temporal, precentral, anterior intraparietal and cerebellar cortices. These regions overlapped extensively with a localizer for mathematical calculation, and much less with spoken or written language processing. We propose that these areas collectively encode regular sequences as repetitions with variations and their recursive composition into nested structures.
Organelle proteomic profiling reveals lysosomal heterogeneity in association with longevity
Authors: Yu Yong , Gao Shihong M. , Guan Youchen , Hu Pei-Wen , Zhang Qinghao , Liu Jiaming , Jing Bentian , Zhao Qian , Sabatini David M , Abu-Remaileh Monther , Jung Sung Yun , Wang Meng C.
Published: October 2022

Lysosomes are active sites to integrate cellular metabolism and signal transduction. A collection of proteins associated with the lysosome mediate these metabolic and signaling functions. Both lysosomal metabolism and lysosomal signaling have been linked to longevity regulation; however, how lysosomes adjust their protein composition to accommodate this regulation remains unclear. Using deep proteomic profiling, we systemically profiled lysosome-associated proteins linked with different longevity mechanisms. We further discovered the lysosomal recruitment of AMPK and nucleoporin proteins and their requirements for longevity in response to increased lysosomal lipolysis. Through comparative proteomic analyses of lysosomes from different tissues and labeled with different markers, we discovered lysosomal heterogeneity across tissues as well as the specific enrichment of the Ragulator complex on Cystinosin positive lysosomes. Together, this work uncovers lysosomal proteome heterogeneity at different levels and provides resources for understanding the contribution of lysosomal protein dynamics to signal transduction, organelle crosstalk and organism longevity.
Morphofunctional evaluation of the adrenal gland in rats submitted to nutritional restriction during pregnancy
Authors: Telles Bruno dos Santos , Rebelato Hércules Jonas , Esquisatto Marcelo Augusto Marretto , Catisti Rosana
Published: October 2022

Poor nutrition during pregnancy causes permanent metabolic and/or structural adaptation in offspring. The adrenal gland produces various steroid hormones during pregnancy. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of diet during pregnancy on the adrenal glands of Wistar rats. For this, 10-week-old pregnant Wistar rats (p, n=15) and non-pregnant rats (np, n=15) were divided into three groups and received a normoproteic control diet (C, 17% casein, n=5), isocaloric low-protein diet (PR, 6% casein, n=5), or 50% calorie restriction (CR, 50% of the diet consumed by group C), over a period of 21 days. On the 21st day of gestation (21dG, p groups) or on the 21st day of diet (np groups), after anesthetic deepening, the right adrenal gland was collected, weighed (total mass), and prepared for inclusion in Paraplast® for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis (Ki-67, glucocorticoid receptors (GR), and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)) in the different areas of the gland. Data, expressed as the mean ± SD, were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-test (p < 0.05). CR in pregnancy increased the amount of GR, MR, and Ki-67 receptors in the adrenal gland. The npRC group showed highest GR staining compared to the animals that received a normal diet. Protein restriction in pregnancy decreases adrenal MR. The results allowed us to conclude that even without altering the weight of the adrenal glands, the pRC group suffered the most from stress during the study, suggesting that CR associated with pregnancy can cause morphofunctional changes in the adrenal glands.
Transcriptomics in serum and culture medium reveal shared and differential gene regulation in pathogenic and commensalStreptococcus suis
Authors: Fredriksen Simen , Ruijten Suzanne D. E. , Murray Gemma G. R. , Juanpere-Borràs Maria , van Baarlen Peter , Boekhorst Jos , Wells Jerry M.
Published: October 2022

Streptococcus suiscolonizes the upper respiratory tract of healthy pigs at high abundance but can also cause opportunistic respiratory and systemic disease. Disease-associatedS. suisreference strains are well studied, but less is known about commensal lineages. It is not known what mechanisms enable someS. suislineages to cause disease while others persist as commensal colonizers, or to what extent gene expression in disease-associated and commensal lineages diverge. In this study we compared the transcriptomes of 21S. suisstrains grown in active porcine serum and Todd-Hewitt yeast broth. These strains included both commensal and pathogenic strains, including several strains of sequence type (ST) 1, which is responsible for most cases of human disease and considered the most pathogenicS. suislineage. We sampled the strains during their exponential growth phase and mapped RNA-sequencing reads to the corresponding strain genomes. We found that the transcriptomes of pathogenic and commensal strains with large genomic divergence were unexpectedly conserved when grown in active porcine serum, but that regulation and expression of key pathways varied. Notably, we observed strong variation of expression across media of genes involved in capsule production in pathogens, and of the agmatine deiminase system in commensals. ST1 strains displayed large differences in gene expression between the two media compared to strains from other clades. Their capacity to regulate gene expression across different environmental conditions may be key to their success as zoonotic pathogens.
TCOF1 is a single-component scaffold of the nucleolar fibrillar center
Authors: Jaberi-Lashkari Nima , Lee Byron , Aryan Fardin , Calo Eliezer
Published: October 2022

Many of the biological structures that exist across the tree of life are built on self-interacting scaffolds, from the actin cytoskeleton to the collagen extracellular matrix. Intracellular membraneless organelles, such as the nucleolus, are biological structures consisting of hundreds of dynamically interacting components, yet it is unclear whether the underlying organization of these complex assemblies can be scaffolded by such self-interacting components. Here, we show that TCOF1 is a single-component scaffold of the nucleolar fibrillar center (FC), based on thermodynamics of its assembly in cells, as well as sufficiency and loss-of-function experiments. TCOF1 is necessary for the formation of the FC, and defines the FC through assembly mediated by homotypic interactions of its Serine/Glutamate (S/E)-rich low-complexity regions (LCRs). Ultimately, introduction of TCOF1 into a species that lacks the FC is sufficient to form an FC-like nucleolar subcompartment. Thus, we demonstrate how a single protein component can explain the formation and evolution of a complex biological structure.
Gaq-PKD/PKCμ regulates the IkB transcription to limit the NF-kB mediated inflammatory response essential for early pregnancy
Authors: Jiang Yufei , He Yan , Liu Songting , Li Gaizhen , Chen Dunjin , Deng Wenbo , Li Ping , Zhang Ying , Wu Jinxiang , Li Jianing , Wang Longmei , Lin Jiajing , Wang Haibin , Kong Shuangbo , Shi Guixiu
Published: October 2022

Decidualization, denoting the transformation of endometrial stromal cells into specialized decidual cells, is a prerequisite for normal embryo implantation and a successful pregnancy in human. Here we demonstrated that knockout of Gaq lead to an aberrantly enhanced inflammatory state during decidualization. Furthermore, we showed that deficiency of Gaq resulted in over-activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling, due to the decreased expression ofNFκBIA,which encode the IκB protein and is the negative regulator for NFκB. Mechanistically, Gaq deficiency decreased the PKD/PKCμ phosphorylation levels, so leading to attenuated HDAC5 phosphorylation and thus its nuclear export. Aberrantly high level of nuclear HADC5 retarded histone acetylation to inhibitNFκBIAtranscription during decidualization. Consistently, pharmacological activation of the PKD/PKCμ or inhibition of the HDAC5 signaling restored the inflammatory state and proper decidual response. Finally, we disclosed that over-active inflammatory state in Gaq deficient decidua deferred the blastocyst hatching and adhesion in vitro, and the decidual expression of Gαq was significantly lower in women with recurrent pregnancy loss compared with normal pregnancy. In brief, we showed here that Gαq as a key regulator of the inflammatory cytokine’s expression and decidual homeostasis in response to differentiation cues, which is required for successful implantation and early pregnancy.
Reward-motivated memories influence new learning across development
Authors: Cohen Alexandra O. , Phaneuf Camille V. , Rosenbaum Gail M. , Glover Morgan M. , Avallone Kristen N. , Shen Xinxu , Hartley Catherine A.
Published: October 2022

Previously rewarding experiences can influence choices in new situations. Past work has demonstrated that existing reward associations can either help or hinder future behaviors and that there is substantial individual variability in the transfer of value across contexts. Developmental changes in reward sensitivity may also modulate the impact of prior reward associations on later goal-directed behavior. The current study aimed to characterize how reward associations formed in the past affected learning in the present from childhood to adulthood. Participants completed a reinforcement learning paradigm using high- and low-reward stimuli from a task completed 24 h earlier, as well as novel stimuli, as choice options. We found that prior high-reward associations impeded learning across all ages. We then assessed how individual differences in the prioritization of high- versus low-reward associations in memory impacted new learning. Greater high-reward memory prioritization was associated with worse learning performance for previously high-reward relative to low-reward stimuli across age. Adolescents also showed impeded early learning regardless of individual differences in high-reward memory prioritization. Detrimental effects of previous reward on choice behavior did not persist beyond learning. These findings indicate that prior reward associations proactively interfere with future learning from childhood to adulthood and that individual differences in reward-related memory prioritization influence new learning across age.
Is any open innovation pattern emerging in the Italian fashion field? Preliminary evidence from some case studies
Authors: Bigliardi Barbara , Bottani Eleonora , Filippelli Serena , Tagliente Leonardo , Venturini Karen
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore whether open innovation is emerging in the Italian fashion industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on available studies on innovation and open innovation, we first identified the main facets of open innovation within the industry investigated, such as the process of searching for new ideas, the involvement of external partners in the new product development process and the use of collaboration mechanisms between supply chain partners. Starting from these findings, the authors designed a semi-structured questionnaire that was used as a guideline for 15 case studies, carried out in the Italian fashion industry.

Findings

The outcomes from the case studies allow drawing some conclusions about the emergency of open innovation in the fashion industry and the related patterns.

Originality/value

Given its exploratory nature, this study is expected to start a debate about open innovation in the fashion industry, as well as to encourage future studies in this field.
Consumption of marketer-generated content: consumers as curators of marketing messages that they consume on social media
Authors: Noguti Valeria
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to understand how structural characteristics of social media enable consumers to satisfy needs related to marketer-generated content (MGC) and identify the consequences of consumer exposure to MGC.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper revisits research on antecedents and consequences of advertising consumption to build an emergent conceptual model applied to MGC through the investigation of consumer experiences in social media. Thirty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with consumers who follow brands on Instagram. The interview transcripts were coded and analysed using a grounded theory approach.

Findings

This study finds that, structurally, MGC consumption is characterised by the combination of: consumer micro-control over both content and timing/place of consumption and ease of consumption, enabling consumers to seek pleasure and utility without effort. The data show that MGC is only likely to be shared to a restricted group with strong social connections, such as family members and close friends with similar interests, with whom new interactions develop over brands and products, online or in person. MGC consumption experiences also generate significant consumer learning that improves purchase outcomes for consumers. Three types of MGC consumers were identified in the data: “enthusiasts”, “circumstantial” and “occasional”.

Research limitations/implications

This study updates previous literature, offering a conceptual framework that specifies how the structural characteristics of social media are conducive to consumer exposure to self-curated MGC flows. This research also uncovers unique social dynamics and consumer learning related to MGC consumption.

Practical implications

Insights from this study suggest alternative business models that may be attractive for consumers, brands and social media platforms. This research also suggests ways in which brands can improve consumer MGC experiences.

Originality/value

This research demonstrates how and why consumers embrace MGC at scale through social media and reveals consequences of MGC consumption.
Digitization of fabric comfort: a multidimensional evaluation strategy to human perceptions of sensorial, thermal and acoustic comfort in clothing
Authors: Hu Xiaorui , Chen Zihan , Sun Fengxin
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Current measurement methods for fabric comfort attributes generally suffer from either complicated testing processes and intricate measuring equipment or partial evaluation objectives and thus are difficult for effectively evaluating multidimensional human perceptions towards the comprehensive comfort of fabrics. The purpose of this paper is to develop a facile test device, namely fabric comfort tester, to achieve a comprehensive evaluation of human sensations in terms of sensorial, thermal and acoustic comfort in clothing.

Design/methodology/approach

The prototype of the designed device was introduced, which enables a simultaneous test for multiple physical and mechanical properties of fabrics based on a force sensor and a set of infrared sensors via constructing multi-deformation states of the measured fabrics. Eleven measurement indices extracted from the measurement curves are defined and interpreted based on correlation analysis. A series of regression models are developed by relating the measurement indices with subjective evaluation results and validated by a set of independent samples.

Findings

Human perceptions of sensorial, thermal and acoustic comfort in clothing can be predicted by the measured physical indices and the designed test device with the developed regression models provides an alternative method to characterize the fabric comfort attributes effectively.

Originality/value

The work develops a novel device for objective evaluation of fabric comfort properties by a simultaneous test, integrating the mechanical measurement with thermal test and thereby filling the gap between the existing evaluation methods and practical requirements for the digitalization of fabric comfort in present textile and garment trade.
Citizenship behavior and new venture survival: a cultural tightness-looseness capabilities lens
Authors: Pidduck Robert J. , Kelemen Thomas K. , Bolino Mark C.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The authors advance a model theorizing how new ventures elicit citizenship behaviors to cultivate dynamic capabilities that help bolster survival in their nascent years of operations—a characteristically resource-scarce and turbulent context.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on and integrating research on citizenship behaviors with dynamic capabilities, the authors develop a theory that new ventures that are better able to evoke a combination of affiliative and challenging citizenship behaviors from their wider entrepreneurial team (i.e. internal, and external stakeholders) are more adept at mitigating the liabilities of smallness and newness. As these behaviors are spontaneous and not explicitly remunerated, new ventures become stronger at utilizing their limited resource base for remaining lean and agile. Further, key boundary conditions are theorized that the sociocultural norms the venture is embedded within serve to heighten/attenuate the degree to which entrepreneurs can effectively cultivate dynamic capabilities from their team's “extra mile” behaviors.

Findings

The propositions extend a rich body of research on citizenship behaviors into the new venture domain. As all new ventures face the challenge of overcoming liabilities of newness, models that help understand why some are more adept at overcoming this and why others fail, hold substantive practical utility.

Originality/value

This research is the first to unpack how citizenship behaviors manifest among an extended range of stakeholders traditionally overlooked in new venture teams research and the mechanism for how this links to venture survival.
COVID-19, firm characteristics and stock volatility: new evidence from the Indian tourism sector
Authors: Khanna Rupika , Sharma Chandan , Pant Abhay
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper provides new evidence on Indian tourism firms by investigating the role of a firm's financial conditions typified by its leverage, earnings, size, cash holdings, and excess cash in moderating the pandemic-led idiosyncratic volatility in its stock prices.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ a firm-level panel comprising 82 publicly-listed tourism firms from India. Firm risk is estimated for the period beginning January 2020 to December 2020.

Findings

This paper finds non-linear effects of the pandemic on the idiosyncratic risk of the sample firms. Precisely, stock price volatility rises, but as the market absorbs this information, volatility subsides even as the disease spreads further. Further, lower levels of past debt and earnings and higher cash holdings ameliorate the pandemic's effects on tourism firms' risk. Contrasting the view that “excess” cash reflects poor operational performance, we show that “excess” cash firms are better prepared to face the adverse effects of the pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

This study’s sample period fully encompasses the first wave of the pandemic (January–December 2020) of the novel coronavirus infection spread.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to assess the moderating effects of company fundamentals on the risk of Indian tourism firms. In doing so, the authors account for non-linear effects of the pandemic on firms' idiosyncratic volatility over time.