bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term Immunity of a Microneedle Array Patch of SARS-CoV-2 S1 Protein Subunit Vaccine Irradiated by Gamma Rays in Mice
Authors: Kim Eun , Khan Muhammad S. , Shin Juyeop , Huang Shaohua , Ferrari Alessandro , Han Donghoon , An Eunjin , Kenniston Thomas W. , Cassaniti Irene , Baldanti Fausto , Jeong Dohyeon , Gambotto Andrea
Published: October 2024

COVID-19 vaccines effectively prevent symptomatic infection and severe disease, including hospitalization and death. However, unequal vaccine distribution during the pandemic, especially in low- and middle-income countries, has led to the emergence of vaccine-resistant strains. This underscores the need for alternative, safe, and thermostable vaccine platforms, such as dissolved microneedle array patches (MAP) delivering a subunit vaccine, which eliminate the need for cold chain and trained healthcare personnel. This study demonstrates that the SARS-CoV-2 S1 monomer with RS09, a TLR-4 agonist peptide, serves as an optimal protein subunit immunogen. This combination stimulates a stronger S1-specific immune response, resulting in binding to the membrane-bound spike on the cell surface and ACE2-binding inhibition, compared to the monomer S1 alone or trimer S1, regardless of RS09. MAP delivery of the rS1RS09 subunit vaccine elicited higher and longer-lasting immunity compared to conventional intramuscular injection. S1-specific IgG levels remained significantly elevated for up to 70 weeks post-administration. Additionally, different doses of 5, 15, and 45μg of MAP vaccines induced robust and sustained Th2-prevalent immune responses, suggesting a dose-sparing effect and inducing significantly high neutralizing antibodies against the Wuhan, Delta, and Omicron variants at 15 and 45μg dose. Moreover, gamma irradiation as a terminal sterilization method did not significantly affect immunogenicity, with irradiated vaccines maintaining comparable efficacy to non-irradiated ones. The stability of MAP vaccines was evaluated after long-term storage at room temperature and refrigeration for 19 months, showing minimal protein degradation. Further, after an additional one-month of storage at elevated temperature (42°C), rS1RS09 in both non-irradiated and irradiated MAP degraded less than 3%, while the liquid subunit vaccine degraded over 23%. Overall, these results indicate that gamma irradiation sterilized MAP-rS1RS09 vaccines maintain stability during extended storage without refrigeration, supporting their potential for mass production and widespread use in global vaccination efforts.
Experimental field trials model how the climate crisis will alter the phyllosphere and carposphere fungal communities ofVitissp. L’Acadie Blanc
Authors: Blakney Andrew J.C. , Carisse Odile , Van Der Heyden Hervé , Pitre Frederic E. , Pedneault Karine
Published: October 2024

The climate crisis is changing temperature regimes worldwide, threatening global viticulture and wine production, as temperature is a primary driver of grape development. In Atlantic Canada, temperatures are projected to increase, inducing premature grape ripening, which can impact their biochemical profiles and, consequently, the quality of the vines and wines produced. Temperature is also a key factor in determining the composition and structure of resident fungal communities on the leaves (phyllosphere) and fruits (carposphere) of grape vines. Therefore, to better understand how these communities might change under potential future temperature regimes, we experimentally manipulated grapevines (Vitissp. cv. L’Acadie blanc) in the field. We used on-the-row mini-greenhouses to increase the temperature at different developmental, or phenological, stages of the fruits, and across the whole season. Phyllosphere and carposphere were sampled at four developmental stages, their DNA was extracted, and the fungal communities were identified via ITS metabarcoding. We found that phyllosphere and carposphere had significantly different community composition, which remained relatively stable throughout plant development. Increased temperature treatments had the most significant effect on fungal phyllosphere communities; we observed that phyllosphere samples exposed to higher temperatures before the onset of ripening maintained more diverse fungal communities throughout development. Our analysis showed that the increase in fungal diversity among phyllopshere communities corresponds to enrichments in potential phytopathogenic fungal taxa. However, this increase in phyllosphere fungal diversity was not conserved at other growth stages when the leaves developed at higher temperatures for the whole season. The results of this study will contribute to better understanding the impact of the climate crisis on grapevine phyllosphere and carposphere fungal community composition and assembly. This will allow producers to better adapt to climate variability and to better understand the role that these communities could play on grapevine health.
Structure of AcMNPV nucleocapsid reveals DNA portal organization and packaging apparatus of circular dsDNA baculovirus
Authors: Effantin Gregory , Kandiah Eaazhisai , Pelosse Martin
Published: October 2024

Baculoviruses are large DNA viruses found in nature propagating amongst insects and lepidoptera in particular. Their viral cycle has been studied and characterized over decades and they are nowadays considered as invaluable biotechnology tools widely used as biopesticides, recombinant expression systems or delivery vehicle for gene therapy. However, very little is known about the baculovirus nucleocapsid assembly at a molecular level. Here, we solved the whole structure of the nucleocapsid ofAutographa californicamultiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) by applying cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM) combined tode novomodelling and Alphafold2 predictions. Our structure completes prior observations from the helical sheath and the basal structure and elucidate the intricate architecture of the apical cap, unravelling for the first time the organization of a baculoviral DNA portal featuring intriguing symmetry mismatches between its core and vertex. The core, closing the capsid at the apex, holds two antiparallel DNA helices of the covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA genome tethered to Ac54 proteins. Different symmetry components at the apical cap and basal structure are constituted of the same building block, made of Ac101/Ac144, proving the versatility of this modular pair. The crown forming the portal vertex displays a C21 symmetry and contains, amongst others, the motor-like protein Ac66. Our findings support the viral portal to be involved in DNA packaging, most probably in conjunction with other parts of a larger DNA packaging apparatus that are not bound to mature virions and await further elucidation.
Artificial intelligence networks combining histopathology and machine learning can extract axon pathology in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Yazdanbakhsh Arash , Dang Kim , Kuang Kelvin , Lian Tingru , Liu Xuefeng , Xie Songlin , Zikopoulos Basilis
Published: October 2024

Axon features that underlie the structural and functional organization of cortical pathways have distinct patterns in the brains of neurotypical controls (CTR) compared to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, detailed axon study demands labor-intensive surveys and time-consuming analysis of microscopic sections from post-mortem human brain tissue, making it challenging to systematically examine large regions of the brain. To address these challenges, we developed an approach that uses machine learning to automatically classify microscopic sections from ASD and CTR brains, while also considering different white matter regions: superficial white matter (SWM), which contains a majority of axons that connect nearby cortical areas, and deep white matter (DWM), which is comprised exclusively by axons that participate in long-range pathways. The result was a deep neural network that can successfully classify the white matter below the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of ASD and CTR groups with 98% accuracy, while also distinguishing between DWM and SWM pathway composition with high average accuracy, up to 80%. Multidimensional scaling analysis and sensitivity maps further underscored the reliability of ASD vs CTR classification, based on the consistency of axon pathology, while highlighting the important role of white matter location that constrains pathway dysfunction, based on several shared anatomical markers. Large datasets that can be used to expand training, validation, and testing of this network have the potential to automate high-resolution microscopic analysis of post-mortem brain tissue, so that it can be used to systematically study white matter across brain regions in health and disease.

One Sentence Statement

Histopathology-trained AI can identify ASD network disruptions and guide development of diagnostics and targeted therapeutics.
F-BAR proteins CIP4 and FBP17 function in cortical neuron radial migration and process outgrowth
Authors: English Lauren A. , Taylor Russell J. , Cameron Connor J. , Broker Emily A. , Dent Erik W.
Published: October 2024

Neurite initiation from newly born neurons is a critical step in neuronal differentiation and migration. Neuronal migration in the developing cortex is accompanied by dynamic extension and retraction of neurites as neurons progress through bipolar and multipolar states. However, there is a relative lack of understanding regarding how the dynamic extension and retraction of neurites is regulated during neuronal migration. In recent work we have shown that CIP4, a member of the F-BAR family of membrane bending proteins, inhibits cortical neurite formation in culture, while family member FBP17 induces premature neurite outgrowth. These results beg the question of how CIP4 and FBP17 function in radial neuron migration and differentiationin vivo, including the timing and manner of neurite extension and retraction. Indeed, the regulation of neurite outgrowth is essential for the transitions between bipolar and multipolar states during radial migration. To examine the effects of modulating expression of CIP4 and FBP17in vivo, we usedin uteroelectroporation, in combination with our published Double UP technique, to compare knockdown or overexpression cells with control cells within the same mouse tissue of either sex. We show that either knockdown or overexpression of CIP4 and FBP17 results in the marked disruption of radial neuron migration by modulating neuronal morphology and neurite outgrowth, consistent with our findings in culture. Our results demonstrate that the F-BAR proteins CIP4 and FBP17 are essential for proper radial migration in the developing cortex and thus play a key role in cortical development.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

During embryonic development, radial migration of newly born cortical neurons is a complex process that underlies the proper formation of the neocortex, the outermost layers of neurons in the brain. Disruptions in radial migration results in profound effects on cognitive function and can lead to devastating developmental disabilities. To better understand this critical process in brain development we examined two members of the F-BAR family of membrane bending proteins, CIP4 and FBP17, which are present in the developing brain. We demonstrate that intracellular concentrations of these proteins must be tightly regulated. Increasing or decreasing levels of either protein has profound effects on neuronal morphology and proper radial migration, suggesting they are key players in cortical development.
Palmitoylated Importin α Regulates Mitotic Spindle Orientation Through Interaction with NuMA
Authors: Sutton Patrick James , Mosqueda Natalie , Brownlee Christopher W.
Published: October 2024

Regulation of cell division orientation is a fundamental process critical to differentiation and tissue homeostasis. Microtubules emanating from the mitotic spindle pole bind a conserved complex of proteins at the cell cortex which orients the spindle and ultimately the cell division plane. Control of spindle orientation is of particular importance in developing tissues, such as the developing brain. Misorientation of the mitotic spindle and thus subsequent division plane misalignment can contribute to improper segregation of cell fate determinants in developing neuroblasts, leading to a rare neurological disorder known as microcephaly. We demonstrate that the nuclear transport protein importin α, when palmitoylated, plays a critical role in mitotic spindle orientation through localizing factors, such as NuMA, to the cell cortex. We also observe craniofacial developmental defects inXenopus laeviswhen importin α palmitoylation is abrogated, including smaller head and brains, a hallmark of spindle misorientation and microcephaly. These findings characterize not only a role for importin α in spindle orientation, but also a broader role for importin α palmitoylation which has significance for many cellular processes.
Proximity labeling reveals differential interaction partners of the human mitochondrial import receptor proteins TOMM20 and TOMM70
Authors: Akram Saira , Zittlau Katharina I. , Maček Boris , Jansen Ralf-Peter
Published: October 2024

Import of most mitochondrial proteins requires that their precursor proteins are bound by the (peripheral) receptor proteins TOM20, TOM22, and TOM70. For budding yeast TOM20 and TOM70, there is evidence of specific yet overlapping substrate recognition, but no such data is available for metazoan cells. Using APEX2-based proximity labeling, we thus created association profiles for human TOMM20 and TOMM70 in HeLa cells. We particularly focused on their interaction with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) since there is evidence for RNA association with the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) and local translation at the mitochondrial surface, but these processes are poorly understood. Our results show a preferred association of several RBPs and translation factors with TOMM20 over TOMM70. These include SYNJBP2, a previously identified membrane-bound RBP that binds and protects mRNAs encoding mitochondrial proteins. Translational inhibition by puromycin resulted in an even increased association of these RBPs with TOMM20 compared to TOMM70, suggesting that TOMM20 but not TOMM70 might play a role in preserving cellular hemostasis during translation stress by retaining protective RBPs and translation-related proteins at the MOM.
Plant species vary in nectar peroxide, an antimicrobial defense tolerated by some bacteria and yeasts
Authors: Landucci Leta , Vannette Rachel L.
Published: October 2024

Floral nectar attracts pollinators but can also harbor microbes including plant pathogens. Nectar contains antimicrobial constituents including hydrogen peroxide, yet it is unclear how widespread nectar hydrogen peroxide might be among plant species or how effective against common nectar microbes. Here, we surveyed 45 flowering plant species distributed across 23 families and reviewed the literature for measurements of 13 other species to assess the field-realistic range of nectar hydrogen peroxide (Aim 1) and explored whether plant defense hormones induce nectar hydrogen peroxide upregulation (Aim 2). Further, we tested the hypotheses that variation in microbial tolerance to peroxide is predicted by microbe isolation environment (Aim 3), that increasing hydrogen peroxide in flowers alters microbial abundance and community assembly (Aim 4), and that microbial community context affects microbial tolerance to peroxide (Aim 5). We found that sampled plants contained nectar hydrogen peroxide ranging from 0 to 2940 µM, although half of the sampled species concentrations were less than 100 µM. While plant defensive hormones did not change the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in floral nectar, enzymatically upregulated concentrations in living flowers significantly reduced microbial growth. Together, our results suggest that nectar peroxide is a common but not pervasive antimicrobial defense among nectar-producing plants. In addition, nectar microbes vary in tolerance and detoxification ability, and co-growth can facilitate the survival and growth of less tolerant species, suggesting a key role for community dynamics in microbial colonization of nectar.
Reward invigorates isometric gripping actions
Authors: Marbaker Rachel M. , Schmad Ryan C. , Al-Ghamdi Razan A. , Sukumar Shruthi , Ahmed Alaa A.
Published: October 2024

Individuals exhibit a propensity to move faster toward more rewarding stimuli. While this phenomenon has been observed in movements, the effect of reward on implicit control of isometric actions, like gripping or grasping, is relatively unknown. How reward-related invigoration generalizes to other effortful actions is an important question. Reward invigorates reaching movements and saccades, supporting the idea that reward pays the additional effort cost of moving faster. Effort in isometric force generation is less understood, so here we ask whether and how reward-related invigoration generalizes to isometric force gripping. And if so, what implicit characteristics of gripping change when there is a prospect of reward? Participants (N=19) gripped a force transducer and the force applied was mapped to radial position of an onscreen cursor. Each trial, a target appeared in one of four locations; increasing grip force moved the cursor toward the target. The gripping action was interchangeable for all target positions. In each block of 100 trials, one target was consistently rewarded, while the other targets were not. When gripping to acquire the rewarded target, participants reacted faster, generated force more rapidly and to a greater extent, while intriguingly maintaining the same accuracy and integral of force over time. These findings support the generalization of reward-related invigoration in isometric force tasks, and that the brain exquisitely trades-off reward and effort costs to obtain reward more rapidly without compromising accuracy or more effort costs than necessary.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

Gripping actions are important for day-to-day tasks, for medical diagnostics like strength and force control, and for choice selection in decision-making experiments. Comparing isometric gripping responses to reward and nonreward cues, we observed reward-based invigoration mediated by selective increases in effort. These findings can be leveraged to provide additional insight into the decision making process, and better understand the effect of reward on movement vigor and the implicit control of accuracy.
Inhibition of the RNA Regulator HuR mitigates spinal cord injury by potently suppressing post-injury neuroinflammation
Authors: Husain Mohammed Amir , Smith Reed , Sorge Robert E. , Kaimari Abdulraheem , Si Ying , Hassan Ali Z. , Guha Abhishek , Smith Katherine A. , Cardozo Christopher P. , DeBerry Jennifer J. , Andrabi Shaida A. , Nabors L. Burt , Filippova Natalia , Webb Caroline K. , King Peter H.
Published: October 2024

Background

Neuroinflammation plays a significant role in promoting secondary tissue injury after spinal cord trauma. Within minutes after spinal cord injury (SCI), microglia and astrocytes become activated and produce inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2 which induce tissue injury through cytotoxicity, vascular hyperpermeability, and secondary ischemia. The inflammatory cascade is amplified by chemokines such as CCL2 and CXCL1 that promote recruitment of peripheral inflammatory cells into the injured spinal cord. HuR is a key post-transcriptional RNA regulator that controls glial expression of many pro-inflammatory factors by binding to adenylate- and uridylate-rich elements in 3’ untranslated regions of the mRNA. SRI-42127 is a small molecule inhibitor that blocks HuR nucleocytoplasmic translocation, a process critical for its regulatory function. The goal of this study was to assess the potential of SRI-42127 for suppressing neuroinflammation after SCI and improving functional outcome.

Methods

Adult female mice underwent a contusion injury at the T10 level. SRI-42127 or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally starting 1 h after injury and up to 5 days. Locomotor function was assessed by open field testing, balance beam and rotarod. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess lesion size, neuronal loss, myelin sparing, microglial activation and HuR localization. Molecular analyses of spinal cord and peripheral tissues for expression of inflammatory mediators included qPCR, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, or western blot. Post-SCI pain was assessed by the mouse grimace scale.

Results

SRI-42127 significantly attenuated loss of locomotor function and post-SCI pain. Histologic correlates to these beneficial effects included reduced lesion size, neuronal loss, and an increase in myelin sparing. There was reduced microglial activation at the epicenter with concomitant attenuation of HuR nucleocytoplasmic translocation. Molecular analysis revealed a striking reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators at the epicenter including IL-6, MMP-12, IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, COX-2, and chemokines CCL2, CXCL1, and CXCL2. Suppression of inflammatory responses extended peripherally including serum, liver, and spleen.

Conclusion

Targeting HuR after SCI is a viable therapeutic approach for suppressing neuroinflammatory responses after tissue injury and improving functional outcome.
Alternatives to Friction Coefficient: Fine Touch Perception Relies on Frictional Instabilities
Authors: Derkaloustian Maryanne , Bhattacharyya Pushpita , Ngo Truc , Cashaback Joshua G. A. , Medina Jared , Dhong Charles B.
Published: October 2024

Fine touch perception is often correlated to material properties and friction coefficients, but the inherent variability of human motion has led to low correlations and contradictory findings. Instead, we hypothesized that humans use frictional instabilities to discriminate between objects. We constructed a set of coated surfaces with physical differences which were imperceptible by touch but created different types of instabilities based on how quickly a finger is slid and how hard a human finger is pressed during sliding. We found that participant accuracy in tactile discrimination most strongly correlated with formations of steady sliding, and response times negatively correlated with stiction spikes. Conversely, traditional metrics like surface roughness or average friction coefficient did not predict tactile discriminability. Identifying the central role of frictional instabilities as an alternative to using friction coefficients should accelerate the design of tactile interfaces for psychophysics and haptics.
String-pulling by the common marmoset
Authors: Bertrand Mathilde , Karkuszewski Michael , Kersten Rhonda , Orban de Xivry Jean-Jacques , Pruszynski J. Andrew
Published: October 2024

Coordinated hand movements used to grasp and manipulate objects are crucial for many daily activities, such as tying shoelaces or opening jars. Recently, the string-pulling task – which involves cyclically reaching, grasping and pulling a string – has been used to study coordinated hand movements in rodents and humans. Here we characterize how adult common marmosets perform the string-pulling task and describe changes in performance across the lifespan. Marmosets (n=15, 7 female) performed a string-pulling task for a food reward using an instrumented apparatus attached to their home-cage. Movement kinematics were acquired using markerless video tracking and we assessed individual hand movements and bimanual coordination using standard metrics. Marmosets oriented their gaze towards the string above their hands and readily performed the task regardless of sex or age. The task required very little training and animals routinely engaged in multiple pulling trials per session despite not being under water or food control. All marmosets showed consistent pulling speed and similar hand movements regardless of age. Adult marmosets exhibited a clear hand effect, performing straighter and faster movements with their right hand despite showing idiosyncratic hand preference according to a traditional food retrieval assay. Hand effects were also evident for younger animals but seemed attenuated in the older animals. In terms of bimanual coordination, all adult marmosets demonstrated an alternating movement pattern for vertical hand positions. Two younger and two older marmosets exhibited idiosyncratic coordination patterns even after substantial experience. In general, younger and older animals exhibited higher variability in bimanual coordination than did adults.
The Oviposition Inhibitory Neuron is a potential hub of multi-circuit integration in the Drosophila brain
Authors: Weber-Langstaff Rhessa A. , Srivastava Pranjal , Kunin Alexander , Gutierrez Gabrielle J.
Published: October 2024

Understanding how neural circuits integrate sensory and state information to support context-dependent behavior is a central challenge in neuroscience. Oviposition is a complex process during which a fruit fly integrates context and sensory information to choose an optimal location to lay her eggs. The circuit that controls the oviposition sequence is known, but how the oviposition circuit integrates multiple sensory modalities and internal states is not. We investigated the neural circuitry underlying complex processing related to oviposition using the Hemibrain connectome. We identified the Oviposition Inhibitory Neuron (oviIN) as a key hub in the oviposition circuit and analyzed its inputs to uncover potential parallel pathways that may be responsible for computations related to decision-making. We applied graph-theoretic analyses to the subconnectome of inputs to the oviIN to identify clusters of neurons that may constitute novel circuits. Our findings indicate that the inputs to oviIN form multiple parallel pathways through the unstructured neuropils of the Superior Protocerebrum, a region implicated in context-dependent processing and decision-making.
Loss of Calcitonin Gene Related Receptor component protein (RCP) in nervous system can bias “gepant” antagonism
Authors: Rahman Shafaqat M. , Dickerson Ian , Luebke Anne E.
Published: October 2024

We examined calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)’s effects on behavioral surrogates for motion-induced nausea and static imbalance in the nestinRCP (-/-), a novel mouse model that loses expression of receptor component protein (RCP) in the nervous system after tamoxifen induction. The assays used were the motion-induced thermoregulation and center of pressure (CoP) assays. Findings suggest CGRP’s affects behavioral measures in the nestinRCP (-/-) similarly to littermate controls, since CGRP was observed to increase female sway and diminishes tail vasodilations to provocative motion in both sexes. However, the CGRP-receptor antagonist olcegepant did not antagonize CGRP’s effects in the nestinRCP (-/-), whereas it was effective in littermate controls. Findings suggest RCP loss may change the sensitivity of the CGRP receptor and affect the efficacy of receptor antagonists.

Significance Statement

Research in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has primarily focused on ligand- receptor interactions at the calcitonin-like receptor (CLR) and receptor activity-modifying unit 1 (RAMP1) subunits. However, the role of receptor component protein (RCP), which mediates signaling via the Gα-stimulatory pathway, is less understood. A novel tamoxifen-inducible mouse model, nestinRCP (-/-), was generated to study loss of RCP in CGRP signaling in the nervous system, and behavioral changes to motion-induced nausea and postural sway were studied after systemic injections of CGRP or CGRP co-delivered with migraine drugs. Findings from this study suggest the loss of CGRP-RCP can bias “gepant” antagonists like olcegepant, and may promote development of therapies to inhibit the RCP-CLR interactions.
Shared and unique lifetime stressor characteristics and network connectivity predict adolescent anxiety and depression
Authors: Qu Yueyue , Chopra Sidhant , Qu Shijie , Cocuzza Carrisa Veronica , Labache Lo(ï)c , Bauer Clemens C.C. , Morfini Francesca , Whitfield-Gabrieli Susan , Slavich George M , Joormann Jutta , Holmes Avram J
Published: October 2024

Exposure to major life stressors and aberrant functional connectivity have been linked to anxiety and depression, especially in adolescence. However, it remains unclear if specific characteristics of major life stressors and functional network disruptions differentially predict anxiety and depression symptoms over time and, if so, whether they act independently or jointly. We collected baseline lifetime stressor exposure data and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data in a longitudinal sample of 107 adolescents enriched for anxiety and depressive disorders. We examined five stressor characteristics: physical danger, interpersonal loss, humiliation, entrapment, and role change/disruption. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed at baseline, 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. Linear mixed effect models tested if these stressor characteristics, functional connectivity within and between frontoparietal, default, and ventral attention networks, and their interactions differentially predicted anxiety and depression symptoms at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. Greater lifetime severity of physical danger and humiliation prospectively predicted increased anxiety symptoms at both follow-ups, whereas greater lifetime entrapment severity prospectively predicted higher anxiety and depression symptoms. Only the effects of lifetime entrapment severity were robust to including within- and between-network functional connectivity metrics and other significantly predictive stressor characteristics. Lifetime entrapment severity more strongly predicted anxiety symptoms in youth with higher default network connectivity. Greater functional connectivity between frontoparietal and default networks prospectively predicted increased depression symptoms. Taken together, these results underscore the critical importance of using stressor characteristics and functional connectivity jointly to study predictors for adolescent anxiety and depression.
Posterior parietal cortex mediates rarity-induced decision bias and learning under uncertainty
Authors: Sheng Weihao , Huang Xinrui , Xie Yang , Tsakiris Manolis C. , Yang Yang
Published: October 2024

Making decisions when outcomes are uncertain requires judgment of outcome probability, yet such judgments are often inaccurate, owing to reliance on heuristics that introduce systematic errors like overweighting of low probabilities. Here, using a decision-making task in which the participants were unaware of outcome probabilities, we discovered that both humans and mice exhibit a rarity-induced decision bias (RIDB),i.e., a preference towards rare rewards, which persists throughout task performance. Optogenetics experiments demonstrated that activity in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is required for the RIDB. Usingin vivoelectrophysiology, we found that rare rewards bidirectionally modulate choice-encoding PPC neurons to bias subsequent decisions towards rare rewards. Learning dynamically recruits PPC neurons and enhances their stimulus encoding, and the activity of these neurons is essential for stimulus-guided decisions. We then developed a dual-agent model that successfully recapitulates the decision-making and learning behaviours, and corroborates the specific functions of PPC neurons in mediating decision-making and learning. This study not only extends our understanding of rare probability overweighting to a context where the outcome probability is unknown and characterizes the neural basis for RIDB in the PPC, but moreover reveals an evolutionarily conserved heuristic that persistently impacts decision-making and learning under uncertainty.
Characterization of Hippo Signaling Components in the Early Dorsal Pancreatic Bud
Authors: Ahuja Neha , Maynard Caitlin , Bierschenck Tyler , Cleaver Ondine
Published: October 2024

All pancreatic lineages originate from a transitory structure known as the multipotent progenitor epithelium (MPE), which is a placode formed via epithelial stratification. Cells within the MPE undergode novolumenogenesis to give rise to an epithelial plexus, which serves as a progenitor niche for subsequent development of endocrine, ductal and acinar cell types. Recent evidence suggests that Hippo signaling is required for pancreatic cell differentiation, but little is known about the function of Hippo signaling in the development of the MPE. Here, we characterize the expression of YAP1, TAZ, and the Hippo regulators LATS1/2 kinases and MERLIN in early murine pancreatic epithelium, during epithelial stratification, plexus development and emergence of endocrine cells. We find that YAP1 expression is relatively low in the pancreas bud during stratification, but increases by E11.5. Intriguingly, we find that TAZ, but not YAP1, is expressed in early endocrine cells. We further find that MERLIN and LATS1/2 kinases are robustly expressed during the period of rapid stratification and become markedly apical at nascent lumens. To gain a better understanding of how Hippo signaling and lumen formation are connected, we analyzed the expression of Hippo signaling components in anin vitromodel of lumen formation and found that they are dynamically regulated during lumenogenesis. Together, our results point to a relationship between Hippo signaling and lumen formation during pancreatic development.

HIGHLIGHTS

YAP1 expression in the early mouse pancreatic anlagen is low until approximately E11.5, when it becomes localized to cell nuclei in multipotent progenitor cells. At E14.5, we find nuclear YAP1 in ductal cells.

YAP1 is not expressed in early and midgestation endocrine cells. By contrast, TAZ is expressed in first transition endocrine cells.

Hippo regulators MERLIN and LATS1/2 kinases are robustly expressed in the early pancreatic bud by E10.5. Both MERLIN and LATS1/2 exhibit strong apical localization in epithelial cells at nascent microlumens.

Usingin vitromodels ofde novopancreas lumen formation, we show that YAP1 nuclear localization is high in early phases of lumen formation and gradually decreases as lumens matures.
‘Mini analysis’ is an unreliable reporter of synaptic changes
Authors: Greger Ingo H. , Watson Jake F.
Published: October 2024

Analysis of miniature postsynaptic currents (mPSCs, or ‘minis’) is one of the most extensively employed approaches to determine the functional properties of synaptic connections. The popularity of this technique stems from its simplicity. Patch-clamp recording is used to observe spontaneous transmission occurring at synapses throughout a neuron’s dendritic tree. These events are analysed in an attempt to determine quantal synaptic parameters and changes during experimental manipulation. For decades, changes in the amplitude or frequency of mPSCs have been interpreted as evidence for specific synaptic modifications, including changes in presynaptic release sites, postsynaptic receptor abundance or even nanoscale changes in the alignment of synaptic machinery. However, at the majority of brain synapses, these events are small, with many undetectable due to recording noise. Here, using both simulated and experimental data, we demonstrate that interpreting synaptic changes from mPSC datasets is fundamentally fallible. Due to incomplete detection of event distributions, seemingly specific changes in mPSC amplitude or frequency falsely report actual synaptic changes. In addition, probabilistic detection of small events gives false confidence in the completeness of detection and inaccurate determination of quantal size. We not only demonstrate the dense pitfalls of mini analysis, but also establish a method for experimental detection of the detection limit, allowing more robust data analysis and scientific interpretation.
Decoding Olfactory Bulb Output: A Behavioral Assessment of Rate, Synchrony, and Respiratory Phase Coding
Authors: Fu Xiaochen , Reinert Janine K. , Lindeman Sander , Fukunaga Izumi
Published: October 2024

The olfactory system is a well-known model for studying the temporal encoding of sensory stimuli due to its rhythmic stimulus delivery through respiration. The sniff rhythm is considered critical to structuring the output of computation in the primary olfactory area, the olfactory bulb. Here, Neuropixels recording from awake, head-fixed mice confirmed that both the rate and sniff-locked spike timing are informative about odour identity. We tested the behavioural importance of these temporal features using simple closed-loop optogenetics embedded in custom behavioural paradigms. We found that mice perceive differences in evoked spike counts and discriminate between synchronous vs. asynchronous activations of the output neurons. Surprisingly, they failed to distinguish the timing of evoked activity relative to the sniff cycle. These results challenge the utility of internally generated rhythms as reference signals in the neural encoding of the environment.
How to establish customers’ green brand relationships and behaviors: from green consumption consciousness perspectives
Authors: Hsu Li-Chun
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to understand how the consumer–green brand relationship affects the behavior of consumers of e-commerce platforms for smallholder farmers; it did so by formulating and testing a framework based on social identity perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling was applied to data from 532 questionnaire responses.

Findings

All hypotheses were supported. Customers’ environmental consciousness, green brand consciousness and green brand self-expression strongly affect green consumption consciousness. The effect of environmental consciousness on green brand identification is stronger than that of environmental consciousness on green brand consciousness and that of green brand self-expression on green brand identification.

Practical implications

Suggestions for managing green brands on e-commerce platforms for smallholder farmers and references for strategizing are also provided.

Originality/value

This study accounts for a wide range of antecedents of green consumption consciousness based on a social identity perspective. This study is the first to elucidate how green consumption affects the e-commerce branding of green smallholder farmers.
Decarbonization and waste reduction in a disrupted food supply chain: a step towards achieving food sustainability
Authors: Rana Ranveer Singh , Kumar Dinesh , Prasad Kanika
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to reduce carbon emissions and minimize waste in the event of disruptions in a short and fast-food perishable such as fruits, vegetables, packaged food items, etc. supply chain through optimal investment in green and preservation technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized a Hessian matrix approach to optimize decision variables with an objective to maximize the profit function.

Findings

The study demonstrates that investing in both green and preservation technology within a short and fast-food supply chain is highly beneficial for decarbonization and waste reduction and it leads to profit maximization. It has been shown with the help of a numerical experiments with investment in both green and preservation technology that total profit is 3.09% higher than without investment made in either technology.

Practical implications

This study aids the industry in achieving food sustainability by minimizing waste of perishables and also minimizes carbon emissions which is essential for environmental protection. It assists industries in determining the optimal investment in preservation technology to minimize waste and in green technology to reduce emissions, thereby maximizing profits.

Originality/value

The current study formulates an inventory model that helps in decarbonization and waste reduction in food supply chain with the consideration of machine learning, demand disruption, preservation technology investment, screening of purchased items, waste disposal, a double triangular distribution deterioration rate, green technology investment, carbon emissions from various supply chain activities, carbon tax policy and fuel price variation over time for perishable food products in a two-warehouse system.
Deciphering consumer behaviours in the innovative hospitality settings
Authors: Magdy Ahmed , Hassan Hamada Gamal
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the antecedents and consequences of consumer participation behaviour in the hotel industry. It investigates how citizenship behaviour influences the link between participation and switching intention. It also investigates hotel innovativeness, brand identification and consumer value co-creation using the frameworks of innovation diffusion theory, social identity theory and social exchange theory. By combining different academic perspectives, the study provides a thorough grasp of the elements that influence consumer behaviour and loyalty to hospitality brands.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a descriptive-analytical approach to survey 526 guests who stayed at five-star hotels affiliated with chains in Egypt. The hotels were chosen using stratified random sampling, which ensured representation across multiple segments. For practical reasons, convenience sampling techniques were used to pick research participants. To test the study hypotheses, structural equation modelling was used, which provided a strong statistical analysis to assess the correlations between variables and validate the suggested theoretical framework.

Findings

The research indicates that hotel innovativeness has a substantial impact on consumers’ brand identification and involvement behaviour, but not their propensity to move brands. The relationship between participation behaviours and intention to switch is mediated by consumer citizenship behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional study methodology may not address causal linkages or developmental difficulties because it only collected data at one point in time. A longer study period is required, and the sample group’s breadth is restricted to five-star hotel guests from Egypt’s chain-affiliated hotels.

Originality/value

This study offers a thorough methodology for assessing how hotel innovation influences consumer brand identification. It also looks at how consumer brand identification affects involvement and switching intentions. The study also investigates the moderating influence of consumer citizenship behaviour in the link between involvement and switching intentions.
A hybrid conceptual procurement framework for BIM uptake to enhance buildings' sustainability performance in the Jordanian public sector
Authors: Alhusban Mohammad , Nasereddin Mohammad , Alghossoon Abdullah , Hatamleh Muhammad T.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

A large portion of the public building projects in Jordan suffers from sustainability performance issues. Therefore, this research aims to develop a hybrid procurement framework to enhance the implementation of BIM in the Jordanian public sector for better sustainable building performance. This study also aims to identify the influence of procurement factors on BIM adoption and usage in the public sector in Jordan and to provide a holistic picture of recent research on technology acceptance and adoption in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was adopted using semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (n = 12) in Jordan to explore procurement routes issues facing the adoption of BIM and to find proposed measures. Then, the findings of the interviews analysis using conventional content analysis and literature review were used based on a problem-solving approach to develop a hybrid conceptual procurement framework for BIM uptake to enhance the sustainability of building performance. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted to validate and refine the proposed conceptual procurement framework.

Findings

It was revealed that the deployment of unfavourable construction procurement approaches represents a major hurdle towards BIM implementation. Though essential for enhancing BIM implementation, it is revealed that a fundamental change from the common Design bid build (DBB) to more collaborative procurement approaches remains infeasible in view of the realities that govern the construction industry. Moreover, this study has found the key procurement approach challenges for effective BIM implementation.

Research limitations/implications

Research is limited to the public sector in Jordan and further qualitative and quantitative testing of the conceptual procurement framework is needed to adjust the framework before large-scale testing.

Originality/value

The developed conceptual procurement framework is the first of its kind and draws a set of procurement approach remedies for the Jordanian public sector to foster the implementation of BIM.
Data-driven approach to optimizing property management strategies: spatial modeling analytics of short-term rentals
Authors: Ndaguba Emeka Austin , Van Zyl Cina
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of locational and seasonal factors on the financial performance of short-term rental properties in Margaret River, Western Australia. It seeks to address the gap in understanding how these factors influence key financial metrics such as average daily rate (ADR) and occupancy rates, providing insights for property managers, investors and policymakers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a mixed-method approach, integrating advanced predictive modeling techniques, such as Random Forests and Gradient Boosting, with spatial clustering algorithms like density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) and ordering points to identify the clustering structure (OPTICS). The study analyzes a comprehensive data set of short-term rental properties between 2012 and 2019. It focuses on locational attributes, seasonal variations and financial outcomes.

Findings

The findings reveal that properties located near tourist attractions and amenities consistently achieve higher ADRs and occupancy rates, confirming the critical role of location in driving rental demand. Seasonal analysis indicates significant fluctuations in both ADR and occupancy rates, with peaks during high tourist seasons and troughs in off-peak periods. The study underscores the importance of dynamic pricing strategies to optimize revenue and sustain occupancy across different seasons. In addition, it highlights the influence of property features, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, on ADR, while noting that larger properties do not necessarily achieve higher occupancy rates.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could expand the scope to include different locations and explore the long-term impacts of locational and seasonal factors on property performance.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature by integrating spatial analysis with advanced predictive modeling techniques to provide a nuanced understanding of how locational and seasonal factors impact financial performance in the short-term rental market. It offers a novel application of data analytics within the context of tourism and hospitality management, bridging theoretical frameworks with practical insights.