bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-vivo whole-cortex estimation of excitation-inhibition ratio indexes cortical maturation and cognitive ability in youth
Authors: Zhang Shaoshi , Larsen Bart , Sydnor Valerie Jill , Zeng Tianchu , An Lijun , Yan Xiaoxuan , Kong Ru , Kong Xiaolu , Gur Ruben C. , Gur Raquel E. , Moore Tyler M. , Wolf Daniel H. , Holmes Avram J , Xie Yapei , Zhou Juan Helen , Fortier Marielle V , Tan Ai Peng , Gluckman Peter , Chong Yap Seng , Meaney Michael , Deco Gustavo , Satterthwaite Theodore D , Yeo B.T. Thomas
Published: June 2023

A balanced excitation-inhibition ratio (E/I ratio) is critical for healthy brain function, but challenging to measure in-vivo in humans. Here we present an approach to non-invasively estimate whole-cortex E/I ratio by fitting a large-scale biophysically plausible model to resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data. We first confirm our model generates realistic brain dynamics in the Human Connectome Project. Next, we show that the estimated E/I ratio is sensitive to the GABA-agonist benzodiazepine alprazolam during fMRI. Furthermore, drug-induced E/I changes are spatially consistent with positron emission tomography measurement of benzodiazepine receptor density. We then leverage the model to investigate the hypothesis that the E/I ratio is normatively refined during development and supports improvement in cognitive ability. We find that the E/I ratio declines heterogeneously across the cerebral cortex during youth, with the greatest reduction occurring in sensorimotor systems relative to association systems. Importantly, among children with the same chronological age, a lower E/I ratio (especially in association cortex) is linked to better cognitive performance. This result is replicated across North American (8.2 to 23.0 years old) and Asian (7.2 to 7.9 years old) cohorts, suggesting that a more mature E/I ratio indexes improved cognition during normative development. Overall, our approach opens the door to studying cortex-wide E/I ratio changes across the lifespan and in neuropsychiatric disorders.
TRAILS: tree reconstruction of ancestry using incomplete lineage sorting
Authors: Rivas-González Iker , Schierup Mikkel H , Wakeley John , Hobolth Asger
Published: June 2023

Genome-wide genealogies of multiple species carry detailed information about demographic and selection processes on individual branches of the phylogeny. Here, we introduce TRAILS, a hidden Markov model that accurately infers time-resolved population genetics parameters, such as ancestral effective population sizes and speciation times, for ancestral branches using a multi-species alignment of three species and an outgroup. TRAILS leverages the information contained in incomplete lineage sorting fragments by modelling genealogies along the genome as rooted three-leaved trees, each with a topology and two coalescent events happening in discretized time intervals within the phylogeny. Posterior decoding of the hidden Markov model can be used to infer the ancestral recombination graph for the alignment and details on demographic changes within a branch. Since TRAILS performs posterior decoding at the base-pair level, genome-wide scans based on the posterior probabilities can be devised to detect deviations from neutrality. Using TRAILS on a human-chimp-gorilla-orangutan alignment, we recover speciation parameters and extract information about the topology and coalescent times at high resolution.

Author summary

DNA sequences can be compared to reconstruct the evolutionary history of different species. While the ancestral history is usually represented by a single phylogenetic tree, speciation is a more complex process, and, due to the effect of recombination, different parts of the genome might follow different genealogies. For example, even though humans are more closely related to chimps than to gorillas, around 15% of our genome is more similar to the gorilla genome than to the chimp one. Even for those parts of the genome that do follow the same human-chimp topology, we might encounter a last common ancestor at different time points in the past for different genomic fragments. Here, we present TRAILS, a new framework that utilizes the information contained in all these genealogies to reconstruct the speciation process. TRAILS infers unbiased estimates of the speciation times and the ancestral effective population sizes, improving the accuracy when compared to previous methods. TRAILS also reconstructs the genealogy at the highest resolution, inferring, for example, when common ancestry was found for different parts of the genome. This information can also be used to detect deviations from neutrality, effectively inferring natural selection that happened millions of years ago. We validate the method using extensive simulations, and we apply TRAILS to a human-chimp-gorilla multiple genome alignment, from where we recover speciation parameters that are in good agreement with previous estimates.
A benchmark study of data normalisation methods for PTR-TOF-MS exhaled breath metabolomics
Authors: Roquencourt Camille , Lamy Elodie , Bardin Emmanuelle , Deviller Philippe , Grassin-Delyle Stanislas
Published: June 2023

Background

Volatilomics is the branch of metabolomics dedicated to the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath for medical diagnostic or therapeutic monitoring purposes. Real-time mass spectrometry technologies such as proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) are commonly used, and data normalisation is an important step to discard unwanted variation from non-biological sources, as batch effects and loss of sensitivity over time may be observed. As normalisation methods for real-time breath analysis have been poorly investigated, we aimed to benchmark known metabolomic data normalisation methods and apply them to PTR-MS data analysis.

Methods

We compared seven normalisation methods, five statistically based and two using multiple standard metabolites, on two datasets from clinical trials for COVID-19 diagnosis in patients from the emergency department or intensive care unit. We evaluated different means of feature selection to select the standard metabolites, as well as the use of multiple repeat measurements of ambient air to train the normalisation methods.

Results

We show that the normalisation tools can correct for time-dependent drift. The methods that provided the best corrections for both cohorts were Probabilistic Quotient Normalisation and Normalisation using Optimal Selection of Multiple Internal Standards. Normalisation also improved the diagnostic performance of the machine learning models, significantly increasing sensitivity, specificity and area under the ROC curve for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the importance of adding an appropriate normalisation step during the processing of PTR-MS data, which allows significant improvements in the predictive performance of statistical models.
Nanobiopsy investigation of the subcellular mtDNA heteroplasmy in human tissues
Authors: Bury Alexander , Vincent Amy E. , Pyle Angela , Actis Paolo , Hudson Gavin
Published: June 2023

Mitochondrial function is critical to continued cellular vitality and is an important contributor to a growing number of human diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction is typically heterogeneous, mediated through the clonal expansion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants in a subset of cells in a given tissue. To date, our understanding of the dynamics of clonal expansion of mtDNA variants has been technically limited to the single cell-level. Here, we report the use of nanobiopsy for subcellular sampling from human tissue, combined with next-generation sequencing to assess subcellular mtDNA mutation load in human tissue from mitochondrial disease patients. The ability to map mitochondrial mutation loads within individual cells of diseased tissue samples will further our understanding of mitochondrial genetic diseases.
Tumor-derived exosomal miR-222-3p induce cancer-associated fibroblasts activation to foster progression of renal cancer
Authors: Yang Yang , Zhu Jie , Shen Dong-lai , Han Ce , Wang Chen-feng , Cui Bo , Fan Wen-mei , Huang Yan , Li Xiu-bin , Zhang Xu , Gao Yu
Published: June 2023

The interaction between tumor-derived exosomes and stroma is crucial for tumor progression. However, the mechanisms by which tumor cells influence stromal changes are not yet fully understood. Our study revealed that high-metastatic renal cancer cells are more effective in converting normal fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) compared to low-metastatic renal cancer cells. Meanwhile, high-metastatic renal cancer cells secrete more exosomal miR-222-3p, which can directly target PANK3, activate NF-kB signaling pathway in fibroblasts and induce intracellular metabolic reprogramming to produce more lactic acid through Warburg effect. The activated CAFs further promote renal cancer progression by secreting lactic acid and inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and IL-8. Patients with renal cancer who have high levels of serum exocrine miR-222-3p are more likely to experience progression. These findings suggest that the intercellular communication between renal cancer cells and fibroblasts is facilitated by tumor exosomes. Targeting this communication may hold promise for the prevention and treatment of renal cancer.
CD95L concatemers highlight difference in the manner CD95-mediated apoptotic and non-apoptotic pathways are triggered
Authors: Lebrault Eden , Oblet Christelle , Kurma Keerthi , Levoin Nicolas , Jean Mickael , Vacher Pierre , Legembre Patrick
Published: June 2023

To better understand the stoichiometry of CD95L required to trigger apoptotic and non-apoptotic signals, we generated several CD95L concatemers from dimer to hexamer conjugatedviaa flexible link (GGGGS)2. These ligands reveal that although the hexameric structure is the best stoichiometry to trigger cell death, a dimer is sufficient to induce the apoptotic response in CD95-sensitive Jurkat cells. Interestingly, only trimeric and hexameric forms can implement a potent Ca2+response, suggesting that while CD95 aggregation controls the implementation of the apoptotic signal, both aggregation and conformation are required to implement the Ca2+pathway.
Single-molecule imaging reveals the kinetics of non-homologous end-joining in living cells
Authors: Mikhova Mariia , Goff Noah J. , Janovič Tomáš , Heyza Joshua R. , Meek Katheryn , Schmidt Jens C.
Published: June 2023

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the predominant pathway that repairs DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) in vertebrates. However, due to challenges in detecting DSBs in living cells, the repair capacity of the NHEJ pathway is unknown. The DNA termini of many DSBs must be processed to allow ligation while minimizing genetic changes that result from break repair. Emerging models propose that DNA termini are first synapsed ~115Å apart in one of several long-range synaptic complexes before transitioning into a short-range synaptic complex that juxtaposes DNA ends to facilitate ligation. The transition from long-range to short-range synaptic complexes involves both conformational and compositional changes of the NHEJ factors bound to the DNA break. Importantly, it is unclear how NHEJ proceedsin vivobecause of the challenges involved in analyzing recruitment of NHEJ factors to DSBs over time in living cells. Here, we develop a new approach to study the temporal and compositional dynamics of NHEJ complexes using live cell single-molecule imaging. Our results provide direct evidence for stepwise maturation of the NHEJ complex, pinpoint key regulatory steps in NHEJ progression, and define the overall repair capacity NHEJ in living cells.
A CDC-42-regulated actin network is necessary for nuclear migration through constricted spaces inC. elegans
Authors: Ho Jamie , Guerrero Leslie A. , Libuda Diana , Luxton GW Gant , Starr Daniel A
Published: June 2023

Successful nuclear migration through constricted spaces between cells or in the extracellular matrix relies on the ability of the nucleus to deform. Little is known of how this takes placein vivo. We study confined nuclear migration inCaenorhabditis eleganslarval P-cells, which is mediated by the LINC complex to pull nuclei towards the minus ends of microtubules. Null mutations of LINC componentunc-84lead to a temperature-dependent phenotype, suggesting a parallel pathway for P-cell nuclear migration. A forward genetic screen for enhancers ofunc-84identifiedcgef-1(CDC-42Guanine NucleotideExchangeFactor). Knockdown of CDC-42 in the absence of the LINC complex led to a P-cell nuclear migration defect. Expression of constitutively active CDC-42 rescued nuclear migration incgef-1; unc-84double mutants suggesting CDC-42 functions downstream of CGEF-1. The Arp2/3 complex and non-muscle myosin II (NMY-2) were also found to function parallel to the LINC pathway. In our model, CGEF-1 activates CDC-42, induces actin polymerization through the Arp2/3 complex to deform the nucleus during nuclear migration while NMY-2 helps push the nucleus through confined spaces.
HuR-miRNA complex Activates RAS GTPase RalA to Facilitate Endosome Targeting and Extracellular Export of miRNAs
Authors: Ghosh Syamantak , Choudhury Sourav Hom , Mukherjee Kamalika , Bhattacharyya Suvendra N.
Published: June 2023

Extracellular vesicles-mediated exchange of miRNA cargos between diverse types of mammalian cells is a major mechanism of controlling cellular miRNA levels and activity and thus to regulate expression of miRNA-target genes in both donor and recipient cells. Despite tremendous excitement related to extracellular vesicles-associated miRNAs as biomarkers or having therapeutic potential, the mechanism of selective packaging of miRNAs into endosomes and multivesicular bodies for subsequent extracellular export is a poorly studied area due to lack of assay system to study such processesin vitro. We have developed anin vitroassay with endosomes isolated from mammalian macrophage cells to follow miRNA packaging into endocytic organelles. The synthetic miRNAs, used in the assay, get imported inside the isolated endosomes during thein vitroreaction and become protected from RNase in a time and concentration dependent manner. The selective miRNA accumulation inside endosomes requires both ATP and GTP hydrolysis and the miRNA binding protein HuR. The HuR-miRNA complex binds and stimulates the endosomal RalA GTPase to facilitate the import of miRNAs into endosomes and their subsequent export as part of the extracellular vesicles. The endosomal targeting of miRNAs is also very much dependent on endosome maturation process that is controlled by Rab5 protein and ATP.

Graphical Abstract

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miRNAs get imported to endosomesin vitro andare become protected to RNase

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Endosomal miRNA import is sequence specific and requires miRNA exporter protein HuR

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HuR-miRNA complex activates RalA GTPases to complete miRNA import.

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Rab5 protein and ATP hydrolysis is required for endosome maturation and miRNA import
Koalas, cameras and a primary school: Obtaining ecological insights for land management through a mini-citizen science project with young students
Authors: Williams Sharon , Salmon Gerard , Dempsey Daniel , Philpot David , Faulkner Geoff
Published: June 2023

Koalas are an endangered species in Eastern Australia and the management of habitat revegetation sites is essential for the marsupial’s survival. This report summarises the results of a partnership between revegetation managers and a local primary school that connected children to real world scientific practice. Ten infrared motion sensor cameras were installed on a five-year-old revegetation offset site in south-east Queensland, Australia to capture movements of koalas and other fauna. Primary school students screened images from these cameras for animal presence in a mini-citizen science project through an easy-to-use website created specifically for this project. Aspects of these results were used to modify the land’s management by site supervisors. This report outlines processes involved in having Queensland primary school students participate in a mini web-based citizen science project, presents some of the ecological results obtained through the investigation and makes recommendations for future projects of this type.
Control of stem cell behavior by CLE–JINGASA signaling in the shoot apical meristem inMarchantia polymorpha
Authors: Takahashi Go , Kiyosue Tomohiro , Hirakawa Yuki
Published: June 2023

Land plants undergo indeterminate growth by the activity of meristems in both gametophyte (haploid) and sporophyte (diploid) generations1-3. In the sporophyte of the flowering plantArabidopsis thaliana, the apical meristems are located at the shoot and root tips, in which a number of regulatory gene homologs are shared for their development, implying deep evolutionary origins4-7. However, little is known about their functional conservation with gametophytic meristems in distantly related land plants such as bryophytes8-17, even though genomic studies have revealed the subfamily-level diversity of regulatory genes is mostly conserved throughout land plants18-23. Here we show that a NAM/ATAF/CUC (NAC) domain transcription factor, JINGASA (MpJIN), acts downstream of CLV3/ESR-related (CLE) peptide signaling and controls stem cell behavior in the gametophytic shoot apical meristem of the liverwortMarchantia polymorpha. We found that MpJINshows heterogeneous expression in space and time within the stem cell zone, associated with the loss andde novospecification of stem cell identity at the branching event. Consistent with the expression pattern, induction of MpJINresults in ectopic periclinal cell division in the stem cell zone and meristem termination. Comparative expression analysis suggests that the function of JIN/FEZ subfamily genes was shared between the shoot apical meristems in the gametophyte and sporophyte generations in early land plants but was lost in certain lineages including the flowering plantA. thaliana.
Hypoxia-driven deSUMOylation of EXOSC10 promotes adaptive changes in the transcriptome profile
Authors: Filippopoulou Chrysa , Thome Chairini C. , Perdikari Sofia , Ntini Evgenia , Simos George , Bohnsack Katherine E. , Chachami Georgia
Published: June 2023

Reduced oxygen availability (hypoxia) triggers adaptive cellular responses via hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-dependent transcriptional activation. Adaptation to hypoxia also involves transcription-independent processes like post-translational modifications, however these mechanisms are poorly characterized. Investigating the involvement of protein SUMOylation in response to hypoxia, we discovered that hypoxia strongly decreases the SUMOylation of Exosome subunit 10 (EXOSC10), the catalytic subunit of the RNA exosome, in a HIF-independent manner. EXOSC10 is a multifunctional exoribonuclease enriched in the nucleolus that mediates the processing and degradation of various RNA species. We demonstrate that the Ubiquitin-specific protease 36 (USP36) SUMOylates EXOSC10 and we reveal SUMO1/sentrin-specific peptidase 3 (SENP3) as the enzyme mediating deSUMOylation of EXOSC10. Under hypoxia, EXOSC10 dissociates from USP36 and translocates from the nucleolus to the nucleoplasm concomitant with its deSUMOylation. Loss of EXOSC10 SUMOylation does not detectably affect rRNA maturation but affects the mRNA transcriptome by modulating the expression levels of hypoxia-related genes. Our data suggest that dynamic modulation of EXOSC10 SUMOylation and localization under hypoxia regulates the RNA degradation machinery to facilitate cellular adaptation to low oxygen conditions.
Infection-induced vascular inflammation in COVID-19 links focal microglial dysfunction with neuropathologies through IL-1/IL-6-related systemic inflammatory states
Authors: Fekete Rebeka , Simats Alba , Bíró Eduárd , Cserép Csaba , Schwarcz Anett D , Pósfai Balázs , Szabadits Eszter , Környei Zsuzsanna , Tóth Krisztina , Kellermayer Anna , Dávid Csaba , Acsády László , Kontra Levente , Silvestre-Roig Carlos , Moldvay Judit , Fillinger János , Hortobágyi Tibor , Liesz Arthur , Benkő Szilvia , Dénes Ádám
Published: June 2023

COVID-19 is associated with diverse neurological abnormalities, which predict poor outcome in patients. However, the mechanisms whereby infection-induced inflammation could affect complex neuropathologies in COVID-19 are unclear. We hypothesized that microglia, the resident immune cells of brain, are centrally involved in this process. To study this, we developed an autopsy platform allowing the integration of molecular anatomy-, protein- and mRNA data sets in post-mortem mirror blocks of brain and peripheral organ samples from COVID-19 cases. Nanoscale microscopy, single-cell RNA sequencing and analysis of inflammatory and metabolic signatures revealed distinct mechanisms of microglial dysfunction associated with cerebral SARS-CoV-2 infection. We observed focal loss of microglial P2Y12R at sites of virus-associated vascular inflammation together with dysregulated microglia-vascular-astrocyte interactions, Cx3Cr1-fractalkine axis deficits and mitochondrial failure in severely affected medullary autonomic nuclei and other brain areas. Microglial dysfunction occurs at sites of excessive synapse- and myelin phagocytosis and loss of glutamatergic terminals. While central and systemic viral load is strongly linked in individual patients, the regionally heterogenous microglial reactivity in the brain correlated with the extent of central and systemic inflammation related to IL-1 / IL-6 via virus-sensing pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and inflammasome activation pathways. Thus, SARS-CoV-2-induced central and systemic inflammation might lead to a primarily glio-vascular failure in the brain, which could be a common contributor to diverse COVID-19-related neuropathologies.
Overexpression of the receptor-like kinaseBIR1gene causesSOBIR1- andEDS1-dependent cell death phenotypes in Arabidopsis
Authors: Guzmán-Benito Irene , Robinson Carmen , Punzón Isabel , Llave César
Published: June 2023

The receptor-like kinaseBAK1-INTERACTING RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1(BIR1) functions as a negative regulator of multiple resistance signaling pathways inArabidopsis thaliana. Previous studies showed that loss ofBIR1function leads to extensive cell death and activation of constitutive immune responses. Here, we use a dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible expression system to investigate the impact ofBIR1overexpression on plant growth and development and immune regulation. We show that, in the absence of microbes or microbe-derived elicitors/effectors, plants that overexpressBIR1displayed cell death phenotypes that concur with the transcriptomic up-regulation of multiple immune pathways involved in pathogen perception and defense signal transduction.BIR1overexpression has similar loss-of-function effects toBIR1depletion in knockout plants, which suggests that properBIR1homeostasis requires a tight regulation ofBIR1expression within a functional threshold. We show thatENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY 1(EDS1) andSUPPRESSOR OF BIR1-1(SOBIR1) are required for the effector-triggered immunity (ETI)-type cell death phenotypes associated with overexpression ofBIR1. Our data is then consistent with the current hypothesis by which loss ofBIR1regulation and/or integrity is sensed by one or several guarding resistance (NLR) proteins to initiate a cell death response, in which SOBIR1 cooperates with EDS1 to transduce signals downstream of R proteins.

Summary Statement

Regulation of the receptor-like kinaseBIR1has a strong impact on plant growth and development and immune homeostasis in Arabidopsis.BIR1overexpression causes cell death-and senescence-like phenotypes that requireEDS1andSOBIR1signaling pathways, and that resemble to those observed byBIR1depletion.
Type IV-A3 CRISPR-Cas systems drive inter-plasmid conflicts by acquiring spacersin trans
Authors: Benz Fabienne , Camara-Wilpert Sarah , Russel Jakob , Wandera Katharina G. , Čepaitė Rimvydė , Ares-Arroyo Manuel , Gomes-Filho José Vicente , Englert Frank , Kuehn Johannes , Gloor Silvana , Cuénod Aline , Aguilà-Sans Mònica , Maccario Lorrie , Egli Adrian , Randau Lennart , Pausch Patrick , Rocha Eduardo , Beisel Chase L. , Madsen Jonas S. , Bikard David , Hall Alex R. , Sørensen Søren J , Pinilla-Redondo Rafael
Published: June 2023

Type IV-A CRISPR-Cas systems are primarily encoded on plasmids and form multi-subunit ribonucleoprotein complexes with unknown biological functions. In contrast to other CRISPR-Cas types, they lack the archetypical CRISPR acquisition module and encode a DinG helicase instead of a nuclease component. Type IV-A3 systems are carried by large conjugative plasmids that often harbor multiple antibiotic-resistance genes. Although their CRISPR array contents suggest a role in inter-plasmid conflicts, this function and the underlying mechanisms have remained unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that a plasmid-encoded type IV-A3 CRISPR-Cas system co-opts the type I-E adaptation machinery from its clinicalKlebsiella pneumoniaehost to update its CRISPR array. Furthermore, we demonstrate that robust interference of conjugative plasmids and phages is elicited through CRISPR RNA-dependent transcriptional repression. By targeting plasmid core functions, type IV-A3 can prevent the uptake of incoming plasmids, limit their horizontal transfer, and destabilize co-residing plasmids, altogether supporting type IV-A3’s involvement in plasmid competition. Collectively, our findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms and ecological function of type IV-A3 systems and have broad implications for understanding and countering the spread of antibiotic resistance in clinically relevant strains.
The Role of Respiratory Complex IV in Lifespan Length and Quality
Authors: Castejon-Vega Beatriz , Fernandez-Guerrero Ignacio , Myers Kevin , Kataura Tetsushi , Stefanatos Rhoda , Korolchuk Viktor I. , Sanz Alberto
Published: June 2023

Mitochondria play a pivotal role in lifespan regulation, though the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. As ageing progresses, damaged mitochondria with reduced ATP production and increased Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation accumulate, yet mitochondrial depletion extends the lifespan of various animal models. Our previous research demonstrated that complex I (CI) activity during development but not adulthood is crucial for determining the lifespan ofDrosophila melanogaster. Still, CI-deficient mitochondria do not generate excessive ROS, failing to recapitulate mitochondrial ageing. In this study, we focus on complex IV (CIV), whose depletion leads to the accumulation of “old-mitochondria”, i.e. producing less ATP and more ROS. We reveal that CIV’s role in longevity is more intricate than CI’s, shaping lifespan through two “windows of opportunity”. The first window, shared by CI and CIV, occurs during development. Small perturbations in CIV during development lead to the emergence of short-lived flies. These flies exhibit an adult phenotype reminiscent of mitochondrial- associated diseases, primarily characterised by their inability to store fat efficiently. Accordingly, partial complementation of CIV function using an alternative oxidase (AOX) restores molecular and physiological phenotypes. The second window emerges during fly senescence, where CIV deficiency curtails lifespan without hastening ageing—flies die earlier but not more rapidly. Notably, only the developmental phenotype is associated with TOR dysregulation and altered autophagy, emphasising that developmental dysfunction uniquely interferes with nutrient sensing and the main cellular recycling pathway. This study sheds light on the multifaceted role of mitochondrial complex IV in modulating lifespan, providing potential targets for interventions to foster healthy ageing.
A conformationally constrained synthetic peptide efficiently inhibits malaria parasite entry into human red blood cells
Authors: Biswas Anamika , Narayan Akash , Sinha Suman , Mandal Kalyaneswar
Published: June 2023

Restricting the conformational freedom of a peptide by backbone cyclization and incorporation of an additional disulfide bond leads to a unique cyclic peptide that inhibits the invasion of red blood cells by malaria parasites efficiently. The engineered peptide exhibits twenty fold enhanced affinity towards its receptor (PfAMA1) compared to the native peptide ligand (PfRON2).
Are we ready to transition to sustainable sheep production in New Zealand? A critical analysis from the perspectives of transition intention and sustainable tool adoption
Authors: Yang Wei , Phong Luu Quoc , De Silva Tracy-Anne , Penelope Jemma
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to understand New Zealand sheep farmers’ readiness toward sustainability transition by assessing their intentions of transition and adoption of sustainability tools, with information collection considered to mediate the intention–adoption relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the data collected from a survey of New Zealand sheep farmers in 2021, the empirical analysis was developed to investigate farmers’ perceptions of and attitudes toward readiness to move toward a sustainability transition. Structural equation modeling associated with principal component analysis was used to empirically test the theory of planned behavior constructs.

Findings

The results show that pressure from the public and the sheep industry, and the perceived controls of transition drive the intention of sustainability transition; farmers with higher intention of sustainability transition are found to be more likely to adopt sustainability tools. However, there is an attitude–behavior gap, wherein positive attitudes toward sustainability transition may not lead to a higher likelihood of adopting sustainability tools. There is no evidence of the mediating role of information collection on the intention–adoption relationship, while a positive effect was found in information collection on the adoption of sustainability tools.

Practical implications

The empirical evidence indicates that policymakers need to help increase the awareness of sustainable production and help farmers overcome barriers to achieving sustainable production by finding ways to turn intentions into adoption.

Originality/value

Being the first attempt to empirically assess farmers’ readiness toward sustainability transition, the study fills the gap of limited understanding of the link between sustainability transition intention and sustainable tools adoption in sustainability transition.
Breaking the glass ceiling for a sustainable future: the power of women on corporate boards in reducing ESG controversies
Authors: Issa Ayman , Hanaysha Jalal Rajeh
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between board gender diversity and environmental, social and governance (ESG) controversies and to determine if a critical mass of female directors has a significant impact on ESG performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzes a sample of non-financial companies from 13 European countries between 2004 and 2021. The primary method used to reach conclusions was the pooled ordinary least squares regression. Additionally, the study used supplementary techniques such as alternative measurement, sub-sample analysis and two-stage least squares to enhance its reliability.

Findings

The results indicate that a higher representation of women on boards is correlated with a reduction in the number of ESG controversies, particularly when there are three or more female directors. Furthermore, the relationship between board gender diversity and ESG controversies may be affected by factors such as industry, governance and a company’s environmental performance.

Practical implications

This study suggests that increasing women’s representation on boards may mitigate ESG controversies and improve firm reputation and performance, especially in industries with high ESG risks. Policymakers can support this through policies, targets, training and inclusive practices. The findings also inform investors and stakeholders of the relationship between board gender diversity and ESG controversies.

Originality/value

This study expands the understanding of the relationship between board gender diversity and sustainable accounting and finance. It focuses on the effect that having female board members has on corporate policies, which is significant for shaping global policies that promote diversity on boards.
Impact of ethnic and cultural diversity on millennial living preferences and homeownership
Authors: Wu Yi , Tidwell Alan , Sah Vivek
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine living preference and tenure among millennials, with a particular focus on the impact of ethnic and cultural diversity on housing outcomes including observed homeownership inequalities.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the individual panel data from three waves in American Housing Survey, 2015–2019, this study compares the likelihood of co-residing among Asian and Hispanic millennials with non-Hispanic white millennial peers. Furthermore, this study estimates the effect of co-residence on homeownership across generational and ethnic backgrounds.

Findings

This study finds a preference for coresident adult familial households among foreign-born Asian and Hispanic millennials, and US-born Hispanic millennials when compared to their non-Hispanic white millennial peers. The results are robust after considering neighborhood selection bias, affordability and education. The effect of co-residence on ownership is significant and positive, suggesting this living arrangement contributes to homeownership across all generational and ethnic groups.

Practical implications

Housebuilders should be aware of Asian and Hispanic millennials’ increased appetite for extended family living arrangements and consider increasing the physical size of affordable or workforce-oriented rental housing and new single family construction to accommodate more adult co-living arrangements.

Originality/value

This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the role ethnic and cultural diversity has on millennial adult living preferences and its generational differences, which is not just “boomeranging” as identified by previous literature, contributing to the growing interest in the housing research on the effect of ethnic diversity and culture on millennials’ homeownership rates.
Increasing stakeholder engagement in research projects through standardization activities
Authors: Lindner René , Hernantes Josune , Jaca Carmen
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This research assesses the implications of integrating standardization activities into European research projects to foster the engagement of project internal and external stakeholders and into different project stakeholder management theories.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes the integration of standardization and the engagement of project internal and external stakeholders in standardization activities in a multi-case study of four European Framework Program projects and with the projects Advancing Resilience of Historic Areas Against Climate-Related and Other Hazards (ARCH) and Smart Mature Resilience (SMR) in two separate case studies more deeply. The multi-case study mainly evaluates the stakeholder participation in 10 CEN Workshop Agreements. While in the two case studies, among other things, two project surveys are used to investigate how stakeholder engagement was supported by standardization activities.

Findings

The results show that standardization significantly supports stakeholder engagement and lead to a proposal on how standardization can support achieving stakeholder engagement goals in the different research project phases.

Originality/value

This research provides practical information for policy-makers who support standardization as a tool for research, as well as for researchers and project managers who want to use standardization activities efficiently in research projects.
More burden less access: a study of sanitation issues in urban slums of Aligarh district
Authors: Iqrar Sanoobia , Musavi Azra
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The present study intends to highlight the issues and challenges pertinent to sanitation practices among urban slum women in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary qualitative data has been collected from 100 households sampled by stratified random and purposive sampling through in-depth interviews, and a structured interview schedule and themes were developed accordingly.

Findings

The main theme-based results of the study included the challenges of open defecation in slums, public toilets as an alternative, sanitation-related stress in slum women, compromised state of health of women and children, menstrual hygiene among women in slums and increasing burden on women in terms of water management. The study recommends the creation of toilets in every slum locality with maintenance and awareness to be raised.

Originality/value

Urban sanitation has received less research than rural sanitation. The present study focused on the issues of urban sanitation, which are often neglected. To ensure the study's uniqueness, researchers visited and mentioned each open defecation site to understand the situation.

Peer review

The peer-review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2022-0782
Simulation experiment study on friction and wear of materials under high humidity conditions
Authors: Zhang Meixian , Ou Yiding , Yuan Haibing , Pan Junlin , Ma Lei
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the practicability of the self-designed ambient humidity controllable pin-disc/rolling multifunctional friction and wear test device and to evaluate the friction and wear characteristics of materials under diverse ambient humidity conditions in different contact forms.

Design/methodology/approach

The practicability of the self-designed multifunctional friction tester was examined by the friction and wear tests of materials under different ambient humidity conditions [65%RH, 98%RH (relative humidity)] in diverse contact forms (pin/disc and rolling). Meanwhile, the friction and wear properties of pin/disc samples also rolling samples were assessed from three aspects: average friction coefficient, wear mass and wear morphology.

Findings

The results prove that the self-designed multifunctional friction tester has practicability. Therefore, it can be used to simulate the friction and wear tests of materials under diverse ambient humidity conditions in different contact forms. Besides, it is evident that the wear damage of pin/disc and rolling samples are greatly improved under high ambient humidity conditions. And when other conditions are identical, the higher the ambient humidity, the smaller the average friction coefficient, wear mass and wear damage degree of pin/disc also rolling samples.

Originality/value

This paper offers a self-designed multifunctional friction and wear test device. And the tester not only can realize the control of test ambient humidity, but also achieve the wear test of pin/disc or rolling contact forms. The design and production of the tester can offer convenience for the research of tribology, and provide fundamental guidance for the study of materials under high humidity condition in diverse contact forms.
HyFlex pedagogy: six strategies supported by design-based research
Authors: Howell Emily , Hubbard Koti , Linder Sandra , Madison Stephanie , Ryan Joseph , Bridges William C.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study investigates the following research question: What pedagogical strategies are necessary for the success of HyFlex course design? The findings to this question are based in new media literacies and help to further pedagogy in an emerging HyFlex model while also grounding in needed theorization.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses design-based research (DBR) across two iterations and four doctoral, higher education courses, using mixed methods of data collection and analysis.

Findings

Six pedagogical strategies influential for HyFlex research are presented, each grounded in a new media literacy skill.

Originality/value

These six pedagogical strategies help practitioners grappling with the HyFlex or blended learning model merge traditional pedagogy with how this might be tailored for students entrenched in a participatory culture.
An empirical assessment of the effects of background, institutional support and peer effects on Black college student success
Authors: Mao En , Meder Martin E. , Zhang Jing
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This research explores the key factors that contribute to the success of Black students in a predominantly White institution (PWI). Two measures of success are examined: cumulative grade point average (GPA) and graduation status.

Design/methodology/approach

Using student-level data from a southeastern university, this research estimates education production functions using ordinary least squares regression.

Findings

While the negative effect of being Black is significant for both cumulative GPA and graduation status, the effect becomes overshadowed when peer effects are added. The authors also found the critical effect of institutional support on student success.

Research limitations/implications

The student-level data are restricted to a single institution over a relatively short period of time, which limits the authors' ability to analyze institution-level factors.

Practical implications

This research provides a broad view of many significant factors for student success with particular highlights on the importance of encouraging Black students to utilize institutional support.

Originality/value

This study is an extension of the education production function model in the field of student success. The study identified peer effects and institutional support as more powerful determinants of student success than race.
Why might psychopathy develop? Beyond a protective function: a commentary on Zara et al. (2023)
Authors: Brazil Kristopher J.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Zara et al. (2023) provide novel findings into how psychopathy may develop, showing that early life predictors of poor relationships (e.g. being unwanted before birth) are predictive of psychopathy in adulthood. The authors provide a theoretical interpretation of why psychopathy might develop based on these findings by using an adaptive perspective, suggesting that psychopathy may protect or shield individuals from poor relationships. This commentary aims to critically evaluate and extend this latter suggestion in hopes of fostering further research and clarity on the topic.

Design/methodology/approach

After presenting an overview of evolutionary perspectives, a summary and elaboration are presented of the interpretation that psychopathy may be an adaptive response that functions to protect individuals from poor relationships. Then, an additional adaptive interpretation is offered.

Findings

Psychopathy describes a collection of traits and behavior that facilitates an approach-oriented and exploitative motivational style that might suggest more than a protective function. When negative or poor relationships are experienced (e.g. being unwanted), it is suggested that psychopathy may begin to develop not just for protection (If I am not loved, I will shield myself from those around me) but to actively orient toward exploitation (If I am not loved, I will exploit those around me).

Originality/value

This commentary hopes to arouse further interest into the theoretical interpretations of why psychopathy may develop that are based on findings of how psychopathy develops. These considerations are consequential for understanding what to target in treatments that aim to meet the specific needs and motivations of individuals with psychopathic traits.
How do you solve a problem like Michael?
Authors: Ibekwe Fidelia
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Celebrate Michael Buckland's impressive legacy to LIS by showing his humanity, generosity and versatility.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is walk through a scientific career in LIS. Through personal anecdotes and life history and building upon Michael Buckland's legacy, it summarises the author’s own work seen through the prism of her interactions with Buckland, leading to scholarly contributions articulating significant statements about the field of LIS as well as pointers to past relevant publications.

Findings

Michael Buckland has a unique way of putting an end to thorny LIS issues as well as being a documentator extraordinaire.

Originality/value

It is a personal account, as such cannot be evaluated through the classical norms of empirical research as there is no ground truth. This account shows how chance encounters with fellow scholars can have a lasting influence on one's academic career as well as wider impact in a field.
An artificial neural network (ANN) approach for early cost estimation of concrete bridge systems in developing countries: the case of Sri Lanka
Authors: Fernando Nirodha , T.A. Kasun Dilshan , Zhang Hexin (Johnson)
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The Government’s investment in infrastructure projects is considerably high, especially in bridge construction projects. Government authorities must establish an initial forecasted budget to have transparency in transactions. Early cost estimating is challenging for Quantity Surveyors due to incomplete project details at the initial stage and the unavailability of standard cost estimating techniques for bridge projects. To mitigate the difficulties in the traditional preliminary cost estimating methods, there is a requirement to develop a new initial cost estimating model which is accurate, user friendly and straightforward. The research was carried out in Sri Lanka, and this paper aims to develop the artificial neural network (ANN) model for an early cost estimate of concrete bridge systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The construction cost data of 30 concrete bridge projects which are in Sri Lanka constructed within the past ten years were trained and tested to develop an ANN cost model. Backpropagation technique was used to identify the number of hidden layers, iteration and momentum for optimum neural network architectures.

Findings

An ANN cost model was developed, furnishing the best result since it succeeded with around 90% validation accuracy. It created a cost estimation model for the public sector as an accurate, heuristic, flexible and efficient technique.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the current body of knowledge by providing the most accurate early-stage cost estimate for the concrete bridge systems in Sri Lanka. In addition, the research findings would be helpful for stakeholders and policymakers to propose policy recommendations that positively influence the prediction of the most accurate cost estimate for concrete bridge construction projects in Sri Lanka and other developing countries.