bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A cerebellar internal model calibrates a feedback controller involved in sensorimotor control
Authors: Markov Daniil A. , Petrucco Luigi , Kist Andreas M. , Portugues Ruben
Published: February 2020

Animals must adapt their behavior to survive in a changing environment. Behavioral adaptations can be evoked by two mechanisms: feedback control and internal-model-based control. Feedback controllers can maintain the sensory state of the animal at a desired level under different environmental conditions. In turn, internal models learn the relationship between behavior and resulting sensory consequences in order to modify the behavior when this relationship changes. Here, we present multiple perturbations in visual feedback to larval zebrafish performing the optomotor response and show that they react to these perturbations through a feedback control mechanism. In contrast, if a perturbation is long-lasting, fish adapt their behavior by updating a cerebellum-dependent internal model. We use modelling and functional imaging to show that neuronal requirements for these mechanisms are met in the larval zebrafish brain. Our results illustrate the role of the cerebellum in encoding internal models and how these can calibrate neuronal circuits involved in reactive behaviors depending on the interactions between animal and environment.

Highlights

Behavioral reactions to unexpected changes in visual feedback are implemented by a feedback control mechanism

A long-lasting change in visual feedback updates the state of the neuronal controller

The cerebellar internal model mediates this recalibration
Alzheimer’s disease-relevant tau modifications selectively impact neurodegeneration and mitophagy in a novelC. eleganssingle-copy transgenic model
Authors: Guha Sanjib , Fischer Sarah , Johnson Gail VW , Nehrke Keith
Published: February 2020

Background

A defining pathological hallmark of the progressive neurodegenerative disorder Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the accumulation of misfolded tau with abnormal post-translational modifications (PTMs). These include phosphorylation at Threonine 231 (T231) and acetylation at Lysine 274 (K274) and at Lysine 281 (K281). Although tau is recognized to play a central role in pathogenesis of AD, the precise mechanisms by which these abnormal PTMs contribute to the neural toxicity of tau is unclear.

Methods

Human 0N4R tau (wild type) was expressed in touch receptor neurons of the genetic model organismC. elegansthrough single-copy gene insertion. Defined mutations were then introduced into the single-copy tau transgene through CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. These mutations included T231E and T231A, to mimic phosphorylation and phospho-ablation of a commonly observed pathological epitope, respectively, and K274/281Q, to mimic disease-associated lysine acetylation. Stereotypical touch response assays were used to assess behavioral defects in the transgenic strains as a function of age, and genetically-encoded fluorescent biosensors were used to measure the morphological dynamics and turnover of touch neuron mitochondria.

Results

Unlike existing tau overexpression models,C. eleganssingle-copy expression of tau did not elicit overt pathological phenotypes at baseline. However, strains expressing disease associated PTM-mimetics (T231E and K274/281Q) exhibited reduced touch sensation and morphological abnormalities that increased with age. In addition, the PTM-mimetic mutants lacked the ability to engage mitophagy in response to mitochondrial stress.

Conclusions

Limiting the expression of tau results in a genetic model where pathological modifications and age result in evolving phenotypes, which may more closely resemble the normal progression of AD. The finding that disease-associated PTMs suppress compensatory responses to mitochondrial stress provides a new perspective into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD.
Single exposure to social defeat or immobilization stress fails to induce lasting alterations in general anxiety and hippocampal neurogenesis in Wistar and wild-type Groningen rats
Authors: Patel Deepika , Koutlas Ioannis , de Waard Sebastiaan H. , Buwalda Bauke
Published: February 2020

Suppression of hippocampal neurogenesis is a readout for stress-induced alterations in neuroplasticity. In this study, we hypothesized that a single episode of severe social or non-social stress would differentially suppress neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) 10 days later in two rat strains. We anticipated that the suppression following social stress would be less severe in wildtype Groningen (WTG) rats, a rat strain considered relatively resilient to social stressors. Male Wistar and WTG were subjected to either social defeat or to immobilization stress. Behavioral response to social defeat and acute corticosterone response to both stressors was measured as well as anxiety behavior 10 days later on the elevated plus maze. Subsequently, brains were collected following cardiac aldehyde perfusion. The behavioral freezing response to defeat was much stronger in Wistar rats as compared to WTG rats. Acute corticosteroid response was similar in both strains although Wistar rats more rapidly resumed baseline values. There was no significant effect of both stressors on hippocampal DG cell proliferation and differentiation as well as on anxiety behavior. However, a striking strain difference appeared in anxiety behavior and both markers of neurogenesis. The WTG strain exhibiting much lower anxiety as well as reduced rate of hippocampal neurogenesis under all treatments. The results in this study suggest that both short-lasting acute stressors failed to induce lasting anxiety or decreased neurogenesis in the DG. Future studies could explore if and how rate of hippocampal neurogenesis is related with behavioral coping with stress.
Competitive binding of independent extension and retraction motors explains the quantitative dynamics of type IV pili
Authors: Koch Matthias D. , Fei Chenyi , Wingreen Ned S. , Shaevitz Joshua W. , Gitai Zemer
Published: February 2020

The functions of type IV pili (TFP) are mediated by cycles of extension and retraction. The coordination of these cycles remains mysterious due to poor quantification of TFP dynamics. Here we fluorescently label the TFP in the opportunistic pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosaand track the full extension and retraction cycles of individual TFP to quantify their dynamics. We test several models for the switch between extension and retraction using quantitative experiments, biophysical modeling and genetics. We invalidate the prominent hypothesis that this switch is triggered by surface contact. Instead, we show that the entire repetitive cycle of extension and retraction of individual TFP is governed by the stochastic binding of antagonistic extension and retraction motors and explain how this mechanism quantitatively defines physiologically-important features like TFP length and their production rate. Interestingly, our results suggest that the major throttle of TFP production is the unbinding of the retraction motor.
DeepTracer: Predicting Backbone Atomic Structure from High Resolution Cryo-EM Density Maps of Protein Complexes
Authors: Pfab Jonas , Si Dong
Published: February 2020

Motivation

Accurately determining the atomic structure of proteins represents a fundamental problem in the field of structural bioinformatics. A solution would be significant as protein structure information could be utilized in the medical field, e.g. in the development of vaccines for new viruses. This paper focuses on predicting the protein structure based on 3D images of the proteins captured through cryogenic electron microscopes (cryo-EM). A fully automated computationally efficient protein structure prediction method would be particularly beneficial in the field of cryo-EM as the technology allows researchers to photograph multiple large protein complexes in a single study, which means that a fast prediction method could allow for a high throughput of derived protein structures. We present a deep learning approach, DeepTracer, for predicting locations of the backbone atoms, secondary structure elements, and the amino acid types. In order to connect the predicted amino acids into chains, we applied a modified traveling salesman algorithm.

Results

We trained our deep learning model on experimental cryo-EM density maps and tested it on a set of 50 density maps. We found that our new approach predicted protein structures with an average RMSD value of 1.18 and a coverage of 87.5%. Furthermore, we detected secondary structure information for 87.2% of amino acids correctly. We also showed preliminarily that 25.2% of amino acid types could be predicted directly from the 3D cryo-EM density map, considering 20 different types in total. Finally, we noted that the prediction runtime of DeepTracer is significantly improved compared to other methods. It predicts a large protein complex structure of more than 30,000 amino acids in only 2 hours.

Availability

The repository of this project will be published.

Contact

dongsi@uw.edu

Supplementary information

Supplementary data will be available atBioinformaticsonline.
Rice Bran and Quercetin Produce a Positive Synergistic Effect on Human Gut Microbiota, Elevate the Level of Propionate, and Reduce the Population ofEnterobacteriaceaefamily when Determined using a Bioreactor Model
Authors: Ghimire Sudeep , Wongkuna Supapit , Sankaranarayanan Ranjini , Ryan Elizabeth P. , Bhat G. Jayarama , Scaria Joy
Published: February 2020

Diet is one of the prominent determinants of gut microbiota composition significantly impacting human health. Recent studies with dietary supplements such as rice bran and quercetin have been shown to provide a beneficial impact on the host by positively influencing the gut microbiota. However, the specific bacterial species impacted when rice bran or quercetin is present in the diet is not well understood. Therefore, in this study, we used a minibioreactor array system as a model to determine the effect of quercetin and rice bran individually, as well as in combination, on gut microbiota without the confounding host factors. We found that rice bran exerts higher shift in gut microbiome composition when compared to quercetin. At the species level,Acidaminococcus intestiniwas the only significantly enriched taxa when quercetin was supplemented, while 15 species were enriched in rice bran supplementation and 13 were enriched when quercetin and rice bran were supplemented in combination. When comparing the short chain fatty acid production, quercetin supplementation significantly enriched isobutyrate production while propionate dominated the quercetin and rice bran combined group. Higher levels of propionate were highly correlated to the lower abundance of the potentially pathogenicEnterobacteriaceaefamily. These findings suggest that the combination of rice bran and quercetin serve to enrich beneficial bacteria and reduce potential opportunistic pathogens. However, furtherin vivostudies are necessary to determine the synergistic effect of rice bran and quercetin on host health and immunity.

Importance

Rice bran and quercetin are dietary components that shape host health by interacting with the gut microbiome. Both these substrates have been reported to provide nutritional and immunological benefits individually. However, considering the complexity of the human diet, it is useful to determine how the combination of food ingredients such as rice bran and quercetin influences the human gut microbiota. Our study provides insights into how these ingredients influence microbiome composition alone and in combinationin vitro. This will allow us to identify which species in the gut microbiome are responsible for biotransformation of these dietary ingredients.. Such information is helpful for the development of synbiotics to improve gut health and immunity.
Endocrine fine-tuning of daily locomotor activity patterns under non-starving conditions in Drosophila
Authors: Pauls Dennis , Selcho Mareike , Räderscheidt Johanna , Amatobi Kelechi M. , Fekete Agnes , Krischke Markus , Hermann-Luibl Christiane , Ünal Ayten Gizem , Ehmann Nadine , Itskov Pavel M. , Helfrich-Förster Charlotte , Kühnlein Ronald P. , Mueller Martin J. , Wegener Christian
Published: February 2020

1.

Animals need to balance competitive behaviours to maintain internal homeostasis. The underlying mechanisms are complex, but typically involve neuroendocrine signalling. UsingDrosophila, we systematically manipulated signalling between energy-mobilising endocrine cells producing adipokinetic hormone (AKH), octopaminergic neurons and the energy-storing fat body to assess whether this neuroendocrine axis involved in starvation-induced hyperactivity also balances activity levels underad libitumaccess to food.

Our results suggest that AKH signals via two divergent pathways that are mutually competitive in terms of activity and rest. AKH increases activity via the octopaminergic system during the day, while it prevents high activity levels during the night by signalling to the fat body. This regulation involves feedback signalling from octopaminergic neurons to AKH-producing cells (APCs). APCs are known to integrate a multitude of metabolic and endocrine signals. Our results add a new facet to the versatile regulatory functions of APCs by showing that their output contributes to shape the daily activity pattern underad libitumaccess to food.
A divergent cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase complex controls the atypical replication of a malaria parasite during gametogony and transmission
Authors: Balestra Aurélia C , Zeeshan Mohammad , Rea Edward , Pasquarello Carla , Brusini Lorenzo , Mourier Tobias , Subudhi Amit Kumar , Jemelin Natacha Klages , Arboit Patrizia , Pandey Rajan , Brady Declan , Vaughan Sue , Holder Anthony A , Pain Arnab , Ferguson David J P , Hainard Alexandre , Tewari Rita , Brochet Mathieu
Published: February 2020

Cell cycle transitions are generally triggered by variation in the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) bound to cyclins. Malaria-causing parasites have a life cycle with unique cell-division cycles, and a repertoire of divergent CDKs and cyclins of poorly understood function and interdependency. We show thatPlasmodium bergheiCDK-related kinase 5 (CRK5), is a critical regulator of atypical mitosis in the gametogony and is required for mosquito transmission. It phosphorylates canonical CDK motifs of components in the pre-replicative complex and is essential for DNA replication. During a replicative cycle, CRK5 stably interacts with a singlePlasmodium-specific cyclin (SOC2), although we obtained no evidence of SOC2 cycling by transcription, translation or degradation. Our results provide evidence that duringPlasmodiummale gametogony, this divergent cyclin/CDK pair fills the functional space of other eukaryotic cell-cycle kinases controlling DNA replication.
Separation of newly replicated bacterial chromosomes: the role ofEscherichia coliTopoisomerase IV
Authors: Helgesen Emily , Sætre Frank , Skarstad Kirsten
Published: February 2020

Topoisomerase IV (TopoIV) is a vital bacterial enzyme which disentangles newly replicated DNA and enables segregation of daughter chromosomes. In bacteria, DNA replication and segregation are concurrent processes. This means that TopoIV must continually remove inter-DNA linkages during replication. There exists a short time lag of about 5-10 minutes between replication and segregation in which the daughter chromosomes are intertwined. Exactly where TopoIV binds during the cell cycle has been the subject of much debate. We show here that TopoIV localizes to the origin proximal side of the fork trailing protein SeqA and follows the movement pattern of the replication machinery in the cell.
Overexpression of sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase enhances photosynthesis inChlamydomonas reinhardtiiand has no effect on the abundance of other Calvin-Benson cycle enzymes
Authors: Hammel Alexander , Sommer Frederik , Zimmer David , Stitt Mark , Mühlhaus Timo , Schroda Michael
Published: February 2020

The productivity of plants and microalgae needs to be increased to feed the growing world population and to promote the development of a low-carbon economy. This goal can be achieved by improving photosynthesis via genetic engineering. In this study, we have employed the Modular Cloning strategy to overexpress the Calvin-Benson cycle (CBC) enzyme sedoheptulose-1,7 bisphosphatase (SBP1) up to 3-fold in the unicellular green algaChlamydomonas reinhardtii. The protein derived from the nuclear transgene represented ∼0.3% of total cell protein. Photosynthetic rate and growth were significantly increased in SBP1-overexpressing lines under high-light and high-CO2conditions. Absolute quantification of the abundance of all other CBC enzymes by the QconCAT approach revealed no consistent differences between SBP1-overexpressing lines and the recipient strain. This analysis also revealed that the eleven CBC enzymes represent 11.9% of total cell protein inChlamydomonas. Here the range of concentrations of CBC enzymes turned out to be much larger than estimated earlier, with a 128-fold difference between the most abundant CBC protein (rbcL) and the least abundant (triose phosphate isomerase). Accordingly, the concentrations of the CBC intermediates are often but not always higher than the binding site concentrations of the enzymes for which they act as substrates. The enzymes with highest substrate to binding site ratios might represent good candidates for overexpression in subsequent engineering steps.
Crystal structures and comparisons of huntite aluminum borates REAl3(BO3)4 (RE = Tb, Dy and Ho)
Authors: Chong Saehwa , Riley Brian J. , Nelson Zayne J. , Perry Samuel N.
Published: February 2020

Three huntite-type aluminoborates of stoichiometry REAl3(BO3)4 (RE = Tb, Dy and Ho), namely, terbium/dysprosium/holmium trialuminium tetrakis(borate), were synthesized by slow cooling within a K2Mo3O10 flux with spontaneous crystallization. The crystal structures were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) data. The synthesized borates are isostructural to the huntite [CaMg3(CO3)4] structure and crystallized within the trigonal R32 space group. The structural parameters were compared to literature data of other huntite REAl3(BO3)4 crystals within the R32 space group. All three borates fit well into the trends calculated from the literature data. The unit-cell parameters and volumes increase linearly with larger RE cations whereas the densities decrease. All of the crystals studied were refined as inversion twins.
Syntheses and crystal structures of a new pyrazine dicarboxamide ligand, N
2,N
3-bis(quinolin-8-yl)pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxamide, and of a copper perchlorate binuclear complex
Authors: Cati Dilovan S. , Stoeckli-Evans Helen
Published: February 2020

The title pyrazine dicarboxamide ligand, N
2,N
3-bis(quinolin-8-yl)pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxamide (H2L1), C24H16N6O2, has a twisted conformation with the outer quinoline groups being inclined to the central pyrazine ring by 9.00 (6) and 78.67 (5)°, and by 79.94 (4)° to each other. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to the (10\overline{1}) plane, which are in turn linked by offset π–π interactions [intercentroid distances 3.4779 (9) and 3.6526 (8) Å], forming a supramolecular three-dimensional structure. Reaction of the ligand H2L1 with Cu(ClO4)2 in acetonitrile leads to the formation of the binuclear complex, [μ-(3-{hydroxy[(quinolin-8-yl)imino]methyl}pyrazin-2-yl)[(quinolin-8-yl)imino]methanolato]bis[diacetonitrilecopper(II)] tris(perchlorate) acetonitrile disolvate, [Cu2(C24H15N6O2)(CH3CN)4](ClO4)3·2CH3CN or [Cu2(HL1−)(CH3CN)4](ClO4)3·2CH3CN (I). In the cation of complex I, the ligand coordinates to the copper(II) atoms in a bis-tridentate fashion. A resonance-assisted O—H...O hydrogen bond is present in the ligand; the position of this H atom was located in a difference-Fourier map. Both copper(II) atoms are fivefold coordinate, being ligated by three N atoms of the ligand and by the N atoms of two acetonitrile molecules. The first copper atom has a perfect square-pyramidal geometry while the second copper atom has a distorted shape. In the crystal, the cation and perchlorate anions are linked by a number of C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a supramolecular three-dimensional structure.
Crystal structure of a two-dimensional metal–organic framework assembled from lithium(I) and γ-cyclodextrin
Authors: Krukle-Berzina Kristine , Belyakov Sergey , Mishnev Anatoly , Shubin Kirill
Published: February 2020

The crystal structure of the polymeric title compound, catena-poly[[[diaqualithium]-μ-γ-cyclodextrin(1−)-[aqualithium]-μ-γ-cyclodextrin(1−)] pentadecahydrate], {[Li2(C48H79O40)2(H2O)3]·15H2O}
n
, consists of deprotonated γ-cyclodextrin (CD) molecules assembled by lithium ions into metal–organic ribbons that are cross-linked by multiple O—H...O hydrogen bonds into sheets extending parallel to (0\overline11). Within a ribbon, one Li+ ion is coordinated by one deprotonated hydroxyl group of the first γ-CD torus and by one hydroxyl group of the second γ-CD torus as well as by two water molecules. The other Li+ ion is coordinated by one deprotonated hydroxyl and by one hydroxyl group of the second γ-CD torus, by one hydroxyl group of the first γ-CD torus as well as by one water molecule. The coordination spheres of both Li+ cations are distorted tetrahedral. The packing of the structure constitute channels along the a axis. Parts of the hydroxymethyl groups in cyclodextrin molecules as well as water molecules show two-component disorder. Electron density associated with additional disordered solvent molecules inside the cavities was removed with the SQUEEZE [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18] routine in PLATON. These solvent molecules are not considered in the given chemical formula and other crystal data. Five out of the sixteen hydroxymethyl groups and one water molecule are disordered over two sets of sites.
Lean Six Sigma and quality frameworks in higher education – a review of literature
Authors: Davidson Janelle Margaret , Price Oriana Milani , Pepper Matthew
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present a review of literature that considers the use of quality frameworks in higher education (HE). Quality frameworks provide a minimum standard of teaching and learning of students. This systematic literature review identifies the tools and techniques to continuously improve the systems and processes that underpin teaching and learning are missing. With this in mind, the authors present a focus on Lean Six Sigma (LSS) as an improvement methodology adopted by the HE sector and present the factors that drive or hinder the implementation of LSS in higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature and thematic analysis has been undertaken relating to the application of quality frameworks and methodologies within the literature set.

Findings

The findings show that quality frameworks to be lacking insofar as their focus on compliance is no incentive for continuous improvement. This finding is not unique to the HEI sector and similar challenges exist in other sectors. A further finding identifies the need for academic professional practice to go beyond quality assurance to attend to the transformation of students. Together these present an apparent disconnect between continuous improvement methodology and HE quality frameworks.

Research limitations/implications

A literature review does have limitations insofar as some literature may have been missed because of different key terms. A further consideration being literature from 2019 not available at the time the review was conducted.

Practical implications

It represents the state of play in regard to the use of quality frameworks operating in HE and business schools. Insight is offered into how the use of continuous improvement methods can deliver quality in HE to benefit the sector, students and others. An agenda for future research is offered.

Originality/value

The discussion is valuable as it seeks to improve understanding of the relationships between methodologies with adopted quality frameworks in the HEI sector. A contribution is made in the use of force field analysis to represent the critical success factors and barriers of LSS in HEI.
The impact of patient recovery flexibility on service experience in public healthcare
Authors: Kumar Pradeep
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aims to identify the dimensions of patient recovery flexibility in the public healthcare context and its impact on the service experience. The study also explores the strategies and contextual influences to attain patient recovery flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a case study method based on a semi-structured interview with healthcare professionals, observations and informal discussions.

Findings

In the present study, several dimensions of patient recovery flexibility are reported. Different internal and external strategies to exhibit patient recovery flexibility, as well as two contextual influences, are identified. An integrative framework is developed to establish the relationship of patient recovery flexibility with service experience in public healthcare.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted in a public healthcare setting in India. The sample size for the semi-structured interview was limited to healthcare professionals, and the patient’s perspective is missing.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the growing need for patient recovery flexibility as a strategy in the public healthcare delivery system. It offers new insights to address the gap in the literature regarding the linkage of patient recovery flexibility and service experience. The study provides an integrative framework of dimensions of patient recovery flexibility, strategies, contextual influences and the impact on the service experience. The framework and propositions presented in the study will guide future research that is needed in this area. This study provides an overview to shape and redesign the after-service support from a flexibility perspective in public healthcare for the improved service experience.
The role of information in the migration experience of young Polish women in the UK
Authors: Benson Marshall Melanie , Cox Andrew , Birdi Briony
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Since Poland's accession to the European Union in 2004, migration from Poland to the UK has increased substantially. These migrants are generally young and highly educated, and are migrating for reasons of economic improvement and self-fulfilment. Many are women migrating independently, an emerging trend in migration in general. Information behaviour research around migration has tended to focus on populations such as refugees; less research has been done on the information behaviour of economic migrants. This paper, therefore, investigates the role of information in the migration experience of young Polish women in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes an interpretivist, constructionist perspective. An exploratory study was conducted, involving expert and pilot interviews and analysis of secondary data. In the main study, 21 participants were interviewed using a semi-structured technique. Data were analysed thematically.

Findings

The paper provides insights into the information behaviour and experience of this migrant group. They were found to be confident and successful information users, partly because their migration was planned, their language skills were high and cultural differences from their host country were not substantial. Weak ties were an important source of information. The paper contextualises these findings against previous research on migration in information science, and presents a model of the underlying factors shaping the relationship between migration and information behaviour.

Originality/value

The paper examines the migration experience of a relatively understudied group, drawing attention to a broader range of experience and demonstrating that a wider conceptualisation of migration is required in information behaviour. It presents a model of key factors shaping information behaviour around migration, which is relevant not only to the information field, but also to a wider range of areas. It also delivers practical recommendations for migrants and those working with them.
A project portfolio selection framework for transforming Iranian universities into entrepreneurial institutions
Authors: Golghamat Raad Nima , Akbarpour Shirazi Mohsen
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This research proposes a framework by which universities can define and implement projects that transform them into entrepreneurial universities. The framework helps decision-makers identify suitable goals and strategies, gather a list of projects to fulfill the goals and strategies and prioritize the projects and form a portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed framework, importance–performance matrix, hierarchical strategic planning, Delphi technique, DEMATEL-based ANP and a multi-objective model are used. The mathematical model consists of four objective functions including efficiency, quality and balance maximization and also cost and risk minimization. The proposed framework is applied to Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, and the results are brought in this paper.

Findings

The output of the proposed framework is a portfolio of projects that aims to transform a traditional university into a third-generation one. Although the final portfolio must be customized for different universities, the proposed steps of the framework can be helpful for almost all cases.

Originality/value

The suggested framework is unique and uses both qualitative and quantitative techniques for project portfolio selection.
Demographic diversity, processes and outcomes: an integrated multilevel framework
Authors: Mansoor Sadia , French Erica , Ali Muhammad
Published: February 2020

Purpose

A narrow focus of past diversity research and inconsistent findings have contributed to a lack of understanding of how to manage diversity for positive outcomes. Focusing on age, gender and ethnic diversity, this paper aims to review literature on group objective demographic diversity and individual perceived demographic diversity to present an integrated multilevel framework for our improved understanding and to present testable propositions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a thorough review of 51 empirical studies of demographic diversity at individual and group levels to propose a multilevel framework.

Findings

Drawing on information elaboration theory, social categorization theory and social identity theory, an integrated multilevel framework is proposed at individual and group levels. The framework suggests that demographic diversity (age, gender and ethnicity) aids positive information elaboration processes, while also causing negative social categorization processes. These processes impact individual and group outcomes. The framework also identifies moderating factors not sufficiently addressed in the demographic diversity literature. Propositions and implications for future research in the field of demographic diversity are presented.

Originality/value

This review provides an integrated multilevel framework of objective and perceived demographic diversity and its positive and negative processes and effects at both individual and group levels, drawn from information elaboration, social categorization and social identity theories.
What’s in a name? Complications in overcoming reputational damage during the corporate recovery process
Authors: Welch James
Published: February 2020

Purpose

It is an unfortunate and sometimes entirely avoidable prospect that very successful companies can suffer self-inflicted reputational harm due to poor corporate executive decision making. One contemporary example is seen with the once popular and rapidly growing pizza chain, Papa John’s as the company has been facing an uphill battle to recover its reputational standing following recent scandal. This article examines the recovery process and the very specific complications with the company itself.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case study approach examining corporate reputational recovery using a four-pronged turnaround model of replacing the leadership, restructuring the organization, redeveloping the strategy, and re-branding the product.

Findings

While the four pronged approach of replace, restructure, redevelop, and re-brand, appears to be a model that can work across industries, there are some challenges depending on corporate specifics. The major challenge with Papa John’s seems to be in the ongoing connection to the founder with related problems dealing with the legacy of the corporate culture. After all, it is very difficult to move beyond reputational damage for a company still bearing the name of the corporate executive who had been the source of the scandal as well as a company that is largely intact structurally.

Originality/value

This article examines the corporate recovery process for Papa Johns Pizza using a four step model for corporate recovery. The new four pronged approach centers on replacement of the corporate leadership, restructure of the organization, redevelopment of strategy and the re-branding of the product. Papa Johns continues to struggle to regain traction following public relations stumbles in 2017 and 2018 and the four pronged corporate recovery model serves as a valuable analytical tool to examine the impact and effectiveness of their efforts thus far as well as their future prospects.
Pleiotropic effects of Ubi4, a polyubiquitin precursor required for ubiquitin accumulation, conidiation and pathogenicity of a fungal insect pathogen
Authors: Wang Ding‐Yi , Ren Kang , Tong Sen‐Miao , Ying Sheng‐Hua , Feng Ming‐Guang
Published: February 2020

Ubi4 is a polyubiquitin precursor well characterized in yeasts but unexplored in insect mycopathogens. Here, we report that orthologous Ubi4 plays a core role in ubiquitin‐ and asexual lifestyle‐required cellular events in Beauveria bassiana. Deletion of ubi4 led to abolished ubiquitin accumulation, blocked autophagic process, severe defects in conidiation and conidial quality, reduced cell tolerance to oxidative, osmotic, cell wall perturbing and heat‐shock stresses, decreased transcript levels of development‐activating and antioxidant genes, but light effect on radial growth under normal conditions. The deletion mutant lost insect pathogenicity via normal cuticle infection and was severely compromised in virulence via cuticle‐bypassing infection due to a block of dimorphic transition critical for acceleration of host mummification. Proteomic and ubiquitylomic analyses revealed 1081 proteins differentially expressed and 639 lysine residues significantly hyper‐ or hypo‐ubiquitylated in the deletion mutant, including dozens of ubiquitin‐activating, conjugating and ligating enzymes, core histones, and many more involved in proteasomes, autophagy‐lysosome process and protein degradation. Singular deletions of seven ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme genes exerted differential Ubi4‐like effects on conidiation level and conidial traits. These findings uncover an essential role of Ubi4 in ubiquitin transfer cascade and its pleiotropic effects on the in vitro and in vivo asexual cycle of B. bassiana.
Susceptibility Factors and Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Alcoholic Pancreatitis
Authors: Takahashi Toshimasa , Miao Yifan , Kang Fei , Dolai Subhankar , Gaisano Herbert Y.
Published: February 2020

Alcohol is a major cause of acute and chronic pancreatitis. There have been some recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying alcoholic pancreatitis, which include perturbation in mitochondrial function and autophagy and ectopic exocytosis, with some of these cellular events involving membrane fusion soluble N‐ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor receptor protein receptor proteins. Although new insights have been unraveled recently, the precise mechanisms remain complex, and their finer details have yet to be established. The overall pathophysiology of pancreatitis involves not only the pancreatic acinar cells but also the stellate cells and duct cells. Why only some are more susceptible to pancreatitis and with increased severity, while others are not, would suggest that there may be undefined protective factors or mechanisms that enhance recovery and regeneration after injury. Furthermore, there are confounding influences of lifestyle factors such as smoking and diet, and genetic background. Whereas alcohol and smoking cessation and a generally healthy lifestyle are intuitively the advice given to these patients afflicted with alcoholic pancreatitis in order to reduce disease recurrence and progression, there is as yet no specific treatment. A more complete understanding of the pathogenesis of pancreatitis from which novel therapeutic targets could be identified will have a great impact, particularly with the stubbornly high fatality (>30%) of severe pancreatitis. This review focuses on the susceptibility factors and underlying cellular mechanisms of alcohol injury on the exocrine pancreas.
Use of stimulants, over‐the‐counter and prescription drugs among Danish pregnant women
Authors: Volqvartz Tabia , Vestergaard Anna Louise , Aagaard Sissel K. , Andreasen Mette F. , Lesnikova Iana , Uldbjerg Niels , Larsen Agnete , Bor Pinar
Published: February 2020

Using self‐reports and blood samples from 225 unselected Danish first trimester pregnant women, the purpose of this study was to assess their use of stimulants, for example caffeine and nicotine as well as over‐the‐counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. According to self‐reported information, 24% had used prescription drugs and 48% had used OTC drugs mainly acetaminophen (42%), 9.3% were habitual smokers, 44% stated a daily use of caffeinated beverages, and 1.3% used illegal drugs. Ultra‐performance liquid chromatography with high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐HR‐TOFMS) analysis was performed on corresponding blood samples applying golden standards for use of UPLC‐HR‐TOFMS in forensic medicine. Traces of prescription drugs were detected in 5.3% of the samples and 8.9% contained OTC drugs (acetaminophen 7.1%). Traces of smoking were identified in 8.0%, caffeine in 83% and illegal drugs in 0.9%. These results indicate a substantial use of OTC drugs and caffeine among Danish pregnant women. Blood analysis indicated that many women could be unaware of their caffeine intake. As common substances may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, healthcare professionals should inquire about such habits during pregnancy. The results also underline the need for more research into the molecular effects of such drugs on placental function and foetal development.
Bufalin reverses multidrug resistance by regulating stemness through the CD133/nuclear factor‐κB/MDR1 pathway in colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhan Yueping , Qiu Yanyan , Wang Haijing , Wang Ziyuan , Xu Jian , Fan Guohua , Xu Jianhua , Li Wei , Cao Yijun , Le Van‐Minh , Ly Hai‐Trieu , Yuan Zeting , Xu Ke , Yin Peihao
Published: February 2020

Recent studies have shown that MDR could be induced by the high stemness of cancer cells. In a previous study, we found bufalin could reverse MDR and inhibit cancer cell stemness in colorectal cancer, but the relationship between them was unclear. Here we identified overexpressing CD133 increases levels of Akt/nuclear factor‐κB signaling mediators and MDR1, while increasing cell chemoresistance. Furthermore, bufalin reverses colorectal cancer MDR by regulating cancer cell stemness through the CD133/nuclear factor‐κB/MDR1 pathway in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that bufalin could be developed as a novel 2‐pronged drug that targets CD133 and MDR1 to eradicate MDR cells and could ultimately be combined with conventional chemotherapeutic agents to improve treatment outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer.
Human‐associated species dominate passerine communities across the United States
Authors: Sofaer Helen R. , Flather Curtis H. , Jarnevich Catherine S. , Davis Kristin P. , Pejchar Liba
Published: February 2020

Aim

Human development and agriculture can have transformative and homogenizing effects on natural systems, shifting the composition of ecological communities towards non‐native and native species that tolerate or thrive under human‐dominated conditions. These impacts cannot be fully captured by summarizing species presence, as they include dramatic changes to patterns of species abundance. However, how human land use patterns and species invasions intersect to shape patterns of abundance and dominance within ecological communities is poorly understood even in well‐known taxa.

Location

Conterminous United States.

Time period

2010–2012.

Major taxa studied

Passeriformes.

Methods

We analyse continental‐scale monitoring data to study the proportional abundance of non‐native and native synanthropic species within passerine bird communities. Synanthropic species are those that benefit from an association with humans. We estimate how the amount and configuration of human development and agriculture relate to the degree to which human‐associated species dominate passerine communities across the continent.

Results

Human‐associated species comprised the majority of detected passerine individuals across two‐thirds of bird surveys. Non‐native and synanthropic species responded differently to land cover and reached highest relative abundance in different portions of the continent. The proportional abundance of synanthropic birds increased rapidly with development, but was not related to the configuration of land cover. The proportion of non‐native individuals was higher when intensively‐used land cover was more aggregated.

Main conclusions

Even low amounts of intensively‐used lands were associated with a dramatic reshaping of passerine communities, with consequences for patterns of relative abundance across the continent.
Ellipsis as Resistance in Heinrich Böll's “Wanderer, kommst du nach Spa…” (1950)
Authors: Bjornstad Jennifer
Published: February 2020

One of the most salient features of Heinrich Böll's short story “Wanderer, kommst du nach Spa…” (1950) is its prominent and liberal use of typographical ellipsis. The ellipses that permeate this wartime story both underline the theme of loss and enable the narrator to use his tale to exercise one last measure of resistance to his fate. As part of a first‐person narrative, the ellipses can be read as an assertion of narrative authority and authenticity. Through the refusal to say certain words and phrases and by rejecting physical and chronological restrictions, the young narrator rejects Nazi ideology and creates for himself a limited yet meaningful sense of freedom. His resistance is mirrored by the final image of the text, an indelible cross on the wall which, like a textual ellipsis, persistently marks that which has been erased.
Groundwater Model Simulations of Stakeholder‐Identified Scenarios in a High‐Conflict Irrigated Area
Authors: Kniffin Maribeth , Bradbury Kenneth R. , Fienen Michael , Genskow Kenneth
Published: February 2020

This study investigated collaborative groundwater‐flow modeling and scenario analysis in the Little Plover River basin, Wisconsin, USA where an unconfined aquifer supplies groundwater for agricultural irrigation, industrial processing, municipal water supply, and stream baseflow. We recruited stakeholders with diverse interests to identify, prioritize, and evaluate scenarios defined as management changes to the landscape. Using a groundwater flow model, we simulated the top 10 stakeholder‐ranked scenarios under historically informed dry, average, and wet weather conditions and evaluated the ability of scenarios to meet government‐defined stream flow performance measures. Results show that multiple changes to the landscape are necessary to maintain optimum stream flow, particularly during dry years. Yet, when landscape changes from three scenarios—transferring water from the local waste water treatment plant to basin headwaters, moving municipal wells further from the river and downstream, and converting 240 acre (97 ha) of irrigated land to unirrigated land—were simulated in combination, the probability of meeting or exceeding optimum flows rose to 75, 65, and 34% at upper, mid, and lower stream gages, respectively, in dry climate conditions. Discussions with stakeholders reveal that the collaborative model and scenario analysis process resulted in social learning that built upon the existing complex and dynamic institutional landscape. The approach provided a forum for solution‐based discussions, and the model served as an important mediation tool for the development and evaluation of community‐defined scenarios in a high conflict environment. Today, stakeholders continue to work collaboratively to overcome challenges and implement voluntary solutions in the basin.
Impact of problematic eating behaviour and parental feeding styles on early childhood caries
Authors: Nembhwani Harsha V. , Winnier Jasmin
Published: February 2020

Background

Eating behaviour in childhood has been implicated in development of early childhood caries. Parenting feeding styles can also contribute to development of various eating behaviours.

Aim

To evaluate relationship between children's eating behaviour and parental feeding styles with ECC in preschool children.

Design

A case‐control study was conducted in 440 children who were selected and divided into 2 groups: Group A—children with ECC and Group B—children without ECC. Dental caries was recorded using dmft index. The parents of children in both groups were requested to complete the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) and Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire (PFQ).

Results

There was positive association of food avoidance subscales of CEBQ (Satiety Responsiveness, Food Fussiness, Slowness in Eating, and Emotional Undereating) along with certain food‐approaching subscales (Desire to Drink and Emotional Overeating) with dental caries status. It was also seen that parental feeding patterns such as Encouragement and Instrumental feeding contributed to decrease in dental caries of the child when compared to Control and Emotional feeding.

Conclusion

Certain eating and feeding behaviours can possibly be associated with development of ECC, such behaviours can be successfully identified using CEBQ and PFQ.
The Battle begins: Is strip surgery really necessary?
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad
Published: February 2020

Objectives

To measure the effects of previous Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) procedure.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted in a private hair transplant clinic after obtaining informed consent. Only those patients were included who had a previous strip harvest surgery (FUT) and opted for Follicular Unit Excision/Extraction (FUE) procedure. In all the patients, the donor hairs were trimmed to about 1‐2 mm length. The width of the scar, the hair density above and below the scar, and hair angles above and below the scar were measured. All the patients underwent FUE procedure using 0.9 mm serrated punch. Twenty attempts were made above and below the scar (about 0.5 cm), and the total number of hair and transections was measured. All the data were analyzed statistically.

Results

Ten patients were included. The average width of the scar was 2.47 mm. The mean hair density was found to be 155.4 hairs per cm2 above the scar and 130.8 per cm2 below the scar. The mean hair angle was found to be 28.21 degrees above the scar and 39.19 degrees below the scar in midline occipital above the scar (P < .05). The average hair count was found to be 49.8 hairs above the scar and 47.2 hairs above the scar (P < .05). The transection of hair was doubled below the scar (P < .05)

Conclusion

The Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) procedure does leave some impacts on the donor area other than the scar only. The change in angle results in higher transection of hair above the scar.