bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microglia-neuron communication at nodes of Ranvier depends on neuronal activity through potassium release and contributes to myelin repair
Authors: Ronzano R. , Roux T. , Thetiot M. , Aigrot M.S. , Richard L. , Lejeune F.X. , Mazuir E. , Vallat J.M. , Lubetzki C. , Desmazières A.
Published: September 2020

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, are key players in healthy brain homeostasis and plasticity. In neurological diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis, activated microglia either promote tissue damage or favor neuroprotection and myelin regeneration. The mechanisms for microglia-neuron communication remain largely unkown. Here, we identify nodes of Ranvier as a direct and stable site of interaction between microglia and axons, in both mouse and human tissue. Using dynamic imaging, we highlight the preferential interaction of microglial processes with nodes of Ranvier along myelinated fibers. We show that microglianode interaction is modulated by neuronal activity and associated potassium release, with THIK-1 ensuring their microglial read-out. Disrupting axonal K+flux following demyelination polarizes microglia towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype and decreases remyelination rate. Taken together, these findings identify the node of Ranvier as a major site for microglia-neuron communication, participating in the pro-remyelinating effect of microglia after myelin injury.
Defining Substrate Requirements for Cleavage of Farnesylated Prelamin A by the Integral Membrane Zinc Metalloprotease ZMPSTE24
Authors: Wood Kaitlin M. , Spear Eric D. , Mossberg Otto W. , Odinammadu Kamsi O. , Xu Wenxin , Michaelis Susan
Published: September 2020

The integral membrane zinc metalloprotease ZMPSTE24 plays a key role in the proteolytic processing of farnesylated prelamin A, the precursor of the nuclear scaffold protein lamin A. Failure of this processing step results in the accumulation of permanently farnesylated forms of prelamin A which cause the premature aging disease Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), as well as related progeroid disorders, and may also play a role in physiological aging. ZMPSTE24 is an intriguing and unusual protease because its active site is located inside of a closed intramembrane chamber formed by seven transmembrane spans with side portals in the chamber permitting substrate entry. The specific features of prelamin A that make it the sole known substrate for ZMPSTE24 in mammalian cells are not well-defined. At the outset of this work it was known that farnesylation is essential for prelamin A cleavagein vivoand that the C-terminal region of prelamin A (41 amino acids) is sufficient for recognition and processing. Here we investigated additional features of prelamin A that are required for cleavage by ZMPSTE24 using a well-established humanized yeast system. We analyzed the 14-residue C-terminal region of prelamin A that lies between the ZMPSTE24 cleavage site and the farnesylated cysteine, as well 23-residue region N-terminal to the cleavage site, by generating a series of alanine substitutions, alanine additions, and deletions in prelamin A. Surprisingly, we found that there is considerable flexibility in specific requirements for the length and composition of these regions. We discuss how this flexibility can be reconciled with ZMPSTE24’s selectivity for prelamin A.
Replicability, repeatability, and long-term reproducibility of cerebellar morphometry
Authors: Sörös Peter , Wölk Louise , Bantel Carsten , Bräuer Anja , Klawonn Frank , Witt Karsten
Published: September 2020

To identify robust and reproducible methods of cerebellar morphometry that can be used in future large-scale structural MRI studies, we investigated the replicability, repeatability, and longterm reproducibility of three fully-automated software tools: FreeSurfer, CERES, and ACAPULCO. Replicability was defined as computational replicability, determined by comparing two analyses of the same high-resolution MRI data set performed with identical analysis software and computer hardware. Repeatability was determined by comparing the analyses of two MRI scans of the same participant taken during two independent MRI sessions on the same day for the Kirby-21 study. Long-term reproducibility was assessed by analyzing two MRI scans of the same participant in the longitudinal OASIS-2 study. We determined percent difference, the image intraclass correlation coefficient, the coefficient of variation, and the intraclass correlation coefficient between two analyses. Our results show that CERES and ACAPULCO use stochastic algorithms that result in surprisingly high differences between identical analyses for ACAPULCO and small differences for CERES. Changes between two consecutive scans from the Kirby-21 study were less than ±5% in most cases for FreeSurfer and CERES (i.e., demonstrating high repeatability). As expected, long-term reproducibility was lower than repeatability for all software tools. In summary, CERES is an accurate, as demonstrated before, and reproducible tool for fully-automated segmentation and parcellation of the cerebellum. We conclude with recommendations for the assessment of replicability, repeatability, and longterm reproducibility in future studies on cerebellar structure.
Inhibition of HIF-1α accumulation in prostate cancer cells is initiated during early stages of mammalian orthoreovirus infection
Authors: Bussiere Luke D. , Miller Cathy L.
Published: September 2020

Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) is a safe and effective cancer killing virus that has completed Phase I-III clinical trials against numerous cancer types. While many patients experience benefit from MRV therapy, pre-defined set points necessary for FDA approval have not been reached. Therefore, additional research into MRV biology and the effect of viral therapy on different tumor genetic subtypes and microenvironments is necessary to identify tumors most amenable to MRV virotherapy. In this work we analyzed the stage of viral infection necessary to inhibit HIF-1α, an aggressive cancer activator induced by hypoxia. We ruled out a number of viral proteins and the virus genome as being necessary and determined that a step parallel with virus core movement across the endosomal membrane was required for this inhibition. Altogether, this work clarifies the mechanisms of MRV-induced HIF-1α inhibition and provides biological relevance for using MRV to inhibit the devastating effects of tumor hypoxia.
Evolution of bone cortical compactness in slow arboreal mammals
Authors: Alfieri F. , Nyakatura J.A. , Amson E.
Published: September 2020

Lifestyle convergences and related phenotypes are a major topic in evolutionary biology. Low bone cortical compactness (CC), shared by the two genera of ‘tree sloths’, has been linked to their convergently evolved slow arboreal ecology. The proposed relationship of low CC with ‘tree sloths’ lifestyle suggests a potential convergent acquisition of this trait in other slow arboreal mammals. ‘Tree sloths’, ‘Lorisidae’, Palaeopropithecidae,Megaladapisand koalas were included in a phylogenetically informed CC analysis of the humerus and femur, as well as closely related but ecologically distinct taxa. We found that ‘tree sloths’ are unparalleled by any analysed clade, in featuring an extremely low CC. A tendency for low CC was however found in palaeopropithecids (especiallyPalaeopropithecus) andMegaladapis. On the other hand, low CC was not found in ‘Lorisidae’. Koalas, although deviating from the compact structure generally observed in mammals, are not clearly distinct from their sister taxon (wombats) and show humeral CC that is higher than femoral CC. Multiple factors seem to influence CC, preventing the recognition of a simple relationship between slow arborealism and low CC. Highly compact cortical bone in extinct sloths confirms that low CC in ‘tree sloths’ likely represents a recent convergence.
A glimpse of antimicrobial resistance gene diversity in kefir and yoghurt
Authors: Tóth Adrienn Gréta , Csabai István , Maróti Gergely , Jerzsele Ákos , Dubecz Attila , Patai Árpád V. , Nagy Sára Ágnes , Makrai László , Bányai Krisztián , Szita Géza , Solymosi Norbert
Published: September 2020

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat gaining more and more practical significance every year. The protection of bacteria against antimicrobials based on antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) developed in evolution. One of the essential clinical questions is the origin of ARGs of pathogen bacteria. Since the bacteria can share genetic components by horizontal gene transfer (HGT), all even non-pathogen bacteria may provide ARG to any pathogens when they became close physically. The bacteria of the human gut may make contact with bacteria entered into the body by food. The fermented food contains bacteria in high amount by its nature. Here we studied the diversity of ARG content by a unified metagenomic approach in various kefir and yoghurt products, in grain and isolated bacterial strains. We found numerous ARGs of commonly used fermenting bacteria with diversity characteristics in kefir and yoghurt samples. Even with the strictest filter restrictions we identified ARGs undermining the efficacy of aminocoumarin, aminoglycoside, carbapenem, cephalosporin, cephamycin, diaminopyrimidine, elfamycin, fluoroquinolone, fosfomycin, glycylcycline, lincosamides, macrolide, monobactam, nitrofuran, nitroimidazole, penam, penem, peptide, phenicol, rifamycin, tetracycline and triclosan. In the case of genelmrD, we detected genetic environment providing mobility of this ARG. Our findings support that theory during the fermentation process the food ARG content can grow by the bacteria multiplication. Results presented suggest that starting culture strains of fermented food should be monitored and selected to decrease the ARG amount intake by nutrition.
Influence of On-Off dynamics and selective attention on the spatial pattern of correlated variability in neocortex
Authors: Shi Yan-Liang , Steinmetz Nicholas A. , Moore Tirin , Boahen Kwabena , Engel Tatiana A.
Published: September 2020

Correlated activity fluctuations in neocortex influence sensory responses and behavior. Neural correlations reflect anatomical connectivity and change dynamically with cognitive states, such as attention. Yet, how anatomical connectivity and cognitive states define the population structure of correlations is not known. We measured correlations in single cortical columns and found that the magnitude of correlations, their attentional modulation and dependence on lateral distance are predicted by On-Off dynamics, synchronous fluctuations in population activity across cortical layers. We developed a network model, in which spatial connectivity correlates the On-Off dynamics across nearby columns. We show that attentional inputs modulate the spatial extent of On-Off dynamics, resulting in spatially non-uniform changes in correlations. We confirm this prediction in our columnar recordings by showing that attentional modulation of correlations depends on lateral distance. Our results reveal how heterogeneous spatial patterns of correlations arise from the connectivity and network dynamics during attention.
Structural and mechanistic basis of the EMC-dependent biogenesis of distinct transmembrane clients
Authors: Miller-Vedam Lakshmi E. , Bräuning Bastian , Popova Katerina D. , Oakdale Nicole T. Schirle , Bonnar Jessica L. , Prabu Jesuraj Rajan , Boydston Elizabeth A. , Sevillano Natalia , Shurtleff Matthew J. , Stroud Robert M. , Craik Charles S. , Schulman Brenda A. , Frost Adam , Weissman Jonathan S.
Published: September 2020

Membrane protein biogenesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is complex and failure-prone. The ER membrane protein complex (EMC), comprising eight conserved subunits, has emerged as a central player in this process. Yet, we have limited understanding of how EMC enables insertion and integrity of diverse clients, from tail-anchored to polytopic transmembrane proteins. Here, yeast and human EMC cryo-EM structures reveal conserved intricate assemblies and human-specific features associated with pathologies. Structure-based functional studies revealed at least two separable EMC activities, as an insertase regulating tail-anchored protein levels and as a polytopic membrane protein holdase chaperone. These depend on mechanistically coupled yet spatially distinct regions including two lipid-accessible membrane cavities which confer client-specific regulation, and a novel, non-insertase EMC function mediated by the EMC lumenal domain. Our studies illuminate the structural and mechanistic basis of EMC’s multifunctionality and point to its role in differentially regulating the biogenesis of distinct client protein classes.
When the microbiome defines the host phenotype: selection on vertical transmission in varying environments
Authors: Bruijning Marjolein , Henry Lucas P. , Forsberg Simon K.G. , Metcalf C. Jessica E. , Ayroles Julien F.
Published: September 2020

The microbiome can contribute to variation in fitness-related traits of their hosts, and thus to host evolution. Hosts are therefore expected to be under selection to control their microbiome, for instance through controlling microbe transmission from parents to offspring. Current models have mostly focused on microbes that either increase or decrease fitness. In that case, host-level selection is relatively straightforward, favouring either complete or no inheritance. In natural systems, however, vertical transmission fidelity varies widely, and microbiome composition is often shaped by a combination of vertical and horizontal transmission modes. We propose that such mixed transmission could optimize host fitness under fluctuating environments. Using a general model, we illustrate that decreasing vertical transmission fidelity increases the amount of microbiome variation, and thus potentially phenotypic variation, across hosts. Whether or not this is advantageous depends on environmental conditions, how much the microbiome changes during host development, and the contribution of other factors to trait variation. We discuss how environmentally-dependent microbial effects can favor intermediate transmission, review examples from natural systems, and suggest research avenues to empirically test our predictions. Overall, we show that imperfect transmission may be adaptive by allowing individuals to ensure phenotypic variability in their offspring in contexts where varying environments mean that this strategy increases long-term fitness.
Induction of a regulatory myeloid program in bacterial sepsis and severe COVID-19
Authors: Reyes Miguel , Filbin Michael R. , Bhattacharyya Roby P. , Sonny Abraham , Mehta Arnav , Billman Kianna , Kays Kyle R. , Pinilla-Vera Mayra , Benson Maura E. ,   MGH COVID-19 Collection & Processing Team, Cosimi Lisa A. , Hung Deborah T. , Levy Bruce D. , Villani Alexandra-Chloe , Sade-Feldman Moshe , Baron Rebecca M. , Goldberg Marcia B. , Blainey Paul C. , Hacohen Nir
Published: September 2020

A recent estimate suggests that one in five deaths globally are associated with sepsis1. To date, no targeted treatment is available for this syndrome, likely due to substantial patient heterogeneity2,3and our lack of insight into sepsis immunopathology4. These issues are highlighted by the current COVID-19 pandemic, wherein many clinical manifestations of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection parallel bacterial sepsis5–8. We previously reported an expanded CD14+ monocyte state, MS1, in patients with bacterial sepsis or non-infectious critical illness, and validated its expansion in sepsis across thousands of patients using public transcriptomic data9. Despite its marked expansion in the circulation of bacterial sepsis patients, its relevance to viral sepsis and association with disease outcomes have not been examined. In addition, the ontogeny and function of this monocyte state remain poorly characterized. Using public transcriptomic data, we show that the expression of the MS1 program is associated with sepsis mortality and is up-regulated in monocytes from patients with severe COVID-19. We found that blood plasma from bacterial sepsis or COVID-19 patients with severe disease induces emergency myelopoiesis and expression of the MS1 program, which are dependent on the cytokines IL-6 and IL-10. Finally, we demonstrate that MS1 cells are broadly immunosuppressive, similar to monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and have decreased responsiveness to stimulation. Our findings highlight the utility of regulatory myeloid cells in sepsis prognosis, and the role of systemic cytokines in inducing emergency myelopoiesis during severe bacterial and SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Deletion of intestinal SHP impairs short-term response to cholic acid challenge in mice
Authors: Nguyen James T , Riessen Ryan R , Zhang Tongyu , Kieffer Colin , Anakk Sayeepriyadarshini
Published: September 2020

Small heterodimer partner (SHP) is a crucial regulator of bile acid (BA) transport and synthesis; however, its intestine-specific role is not fully understood. Here, we report that Intestine-specificShpknockout (IShpKO) mice have higher intestinal and hepatic BAs, but not serum BAs when challenged with an acute (5-day) 1% cholic acid (CA) diet. Consistent with this finding, BA synthetic genesCyp7A1andCyp8b1are not repressed to the same extent inIShpKOcompared to control mice post-CA challenge. Loss of intestinal SHP did not alterFxrαmRNA but increasedAsbt(BA ileal uptake transporter) andOstα(BA ileal efflux transporter) expression even under chow-fed conditions. Surprisingly, the acute CA diet inIShpKOdid not elicit the expected induction ofFgf15but was able to maintain the suppression ofAsbt, andOstα/βmRNA levels. At the protein level, ASBT was downregulated, while OSTα/β expression was induced and maintained regardless of diet. Examination of ileal histology inIShpKOmice challenged with acute CA diet revealed reduced villus length and goblet cell numbers. However, no difference in goblet cell number, villus morphology, crypt depth, and the expression of BA regulator and transporter genes was seen betweenf/f ShpandIShpKOmice after chronic (14-day) CA diet suggesting an adaptive response. We found the upregulation of thePparα-Ugtaxis, which can reduce the BA burden and compensate for the ileal SHP function. Thus, our study reveals that ileal SHP expression contributes to both overall intestinal structure and BA homeostasis.
Sunday driver mediates multi-compartment Golgi outposts defects induced by amyloid precursor protein
Authors: Du Qianqian , Chang Jin , Cheng Guo , Zhao Yinyin , Zhou Wei
Published: September 2020

Golgi defects including Golgi fragmentation are pathological features of Alzheimer’ disease (AD). As a pathogenic factor of AD, amyloid precursor protein (APP) induces Golgi fragmentation in soma. However, how APP regulates Golgi outposts (GOs) in dendrites remains unclear. Given that APP resided and affected GOs movements, especially reversed the distribution of multi-compartment GOs (mcGOs), we investigated the regulatory mechanism of mcGOs movements inDrosophilalarvae. Knockdown experiments showed the bidirectional mcGOs movements were cooperatively controlled by dynein heavy chain (Dhc) and kinesin heavy chain subunits. Notably, only Dhc mediated APP’s regulation on mcGOs movements. Further, by loss-of-function screening, the adaptor protein Sunday driver (Syd) was identified to mediate APP-induced alteration of the direction of mcGOs movements, and dendritic defects. Collectively, by elucidating a model of bidirectional mcGOs movements, we revealed the mechanism of APP’s regulation on the direction of mcGOs movements. It provides new insights into AD pathogenesis.
Deploying a novel tuberculosis molecular bacterial load assay to assess the elimination rate ofMycobacterium tuberculosisin patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Tanzania
Authors: Mbelele Peter M. , Mpolya Emmanuel A. , Sauli Elingarami , Mtafya Bariki , Ntinginya Nyanda E. , Addo Kennedy K. , Kreppel Katharina , Mfinanga Sayoki , Phillips Patrick P.J. , Gillespie Stephen H. , Heysell Scott K. , Sabiiti Wilber , Mpagama Stellah G.
Published: September 2020

Background

Rifampin or multidrug-resistant-tuberculosis (RR/MDR-TB) treatment has transitioned to injectable-free regimens. We tested whetherM. tuberculosis(Mtb) elimination rates measured by molecular bacterial load assay (TB-MBLA) in sputa correlate with composition of the RR/MDR-TB antibiotic regimen.

Methods

Serial sputa were collected from patients with RR/MDR- and drug-sensitive TB at day 0, 3, 7, 14, and then monthly for 4 months of anti-TB treatment. TB-MBLA was used to quantify viableMtb16S rRNA in sputum for estimation of colony-forming-unit per mL (eCFU/mL).Mtbelimination rates were compared among regimens using nonlinear-mixed-effects modeling of repeated measures.

Results

Among 37 patients with a total of 296 serial sputa; 7 patients received rifampin/isoniazid/pyrazinamide/ethambutol (RHZE), 8 an all-oral bedaquiline-based regimen, 9 an injectable and bedaquiline-containing regimen, and 13 an injectable-containing but bedaquiline-free regimen. The overall mean dailyMtbelimination was −0.24 [95% Confidence-Interval (CI); −0.39 to −0.08)] log10eCFU/mL, and it varied with treatment-regimen (p < 0.001). Compared to the adjustedMtbelimination of −0.17 (95% CI; −0.23 to −0.12) for the injectable-containing but bedaquiline-free reference regimen, the elimination rates were −0.62 (95% CI; −1.05 to −0.20) log10eCFU/mL for the injectable and bedaquiline-containing regimen (p = 0.019), −0.35 (95% CI; −0.65 to −0.13) log10eCFU/mL for the all-oral bedaquiline-based regimen (p = 0.054), and −0.29 (95% CI; −0.78 to +0.22) log10eCFU/mL for RHZE (p = 0.332)

Conclusion

TB-MBLA distinguishedMtbelimination rates in sputa from patients receiving different treatment regimens, suggesting a reliable monitoring tool for RR/MDR-TB, that does not require mycobacterial culture.
Inhaled corticosteroid use in COVID-19
Authors: Husby Anders , Pottegård Anton , Hviid Anders
Published: September 2020

Background

Recent evidence has established a beneficial effect of systemic corticosteroids for treatment of moderate-to-severe COVID-19. However, it is unknown if inhaled corticosteroid use is associated with reduced morbidity of the disease.

Methods

In a nationwide cohort of hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 test-positive individuals in Denmark, we estimated the 30-day hazard ratio of intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death among users of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) compared with users of non-ICS inhalers (β2-agonist/muscarinic-antagonists), or non-users of ICS, with Cox regression adjusted for age, sex, and other confounders. We repeated these analyses among influenza test-positive patients during 2010–2018.

Results

Among 2,180 hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients, 282 were admitted to ICU and 421 died within 30 days. ICS use was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.25 (95% CI [CI], 0.60 to 2.61) for ICU admission and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.54 to 1.31) for death compared with non-ICS inhaler use. Compared with no ICS use, the hazard ratio of ICU admission or death was 1.22 (95% CI, 0.77 to 1.94) and 1.05 (95% CI, 0.75 to 1.47), respectively. Among 10,279 hospitalized influenza patients, the hazard ratios were 1.43 (95% CI, 0.89 to 2.30) and 1.11 (95% CI, 0.85 to 1.46) for ICU admission, and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.63 to 1.01) and 1.03 (95% CI, 0.87 to 1.22) for death compared with non-ICS inhaler use and no ICS use, respectively.

Conclusions

Our results do not support an effect of inhaled corticosteroid use on COVID-19 morbidity, however we can only rule out moderate-to-large reduced or increased risks.
Training a neural network to learn other dimensionality reduction removes data size restrictions in bioinformatics and provides a new route to exploring data representations
Authors: Dexter Alex , Thomas Spencer A. , Steven Rory T. , Robinson Kenneth N. , Taylor Adam J. , Elia Efstathios , Nikula Chelsea , Campbell Andrew D. , Panina Yulia , Najumudeen Arafath K. , Murta Teresa , Yan Bin , Grabowski Piotr , Hamm Gregory , Swales John , Gilmore Ian S. , Yuneva Mariia O. , Goodwin Richard J.A. , Barry Simon , Sansom Owen J. , Takats Zoltan , Bunch Josephine
Published: September 2020

High dimensionality omics and hyperspectral imaging datasets present difficult challenges for feature extraction and data mining due to huge numbers of features that cannot be simultaneously examined. The sample numbers and variables of these methods are constantly growing as new technologies are developed, and computational analysis needs to evolve to keep up with growing demand. Current state of the art algorithms can handle some routine datasets but struggle when datasets grow above a certain size. We present a training deep learning via neural networks on non-linear dimensionality reduction, in particular t-distributed stochastic neighbour embedding (t-SNE), to overcome prior limitations of these methods.

One Sentence Summary

Analysis of prohibitively large datasets by combining deep learning via neural networks with non-linear dimensionality reduction.
Lions and brown bears colonized North America in multiple synchronous waves of dispersal across the Bering Land Bridge
Authors: Salis Alexander T , Bray Sarah C E , Lee Michael S Y , Heiniger Holly , Barnett Ross , Burns James A , Doronichev Vladimir , Fedje Daryl , Golovanova Liubov , Harington C Richard , Hockett Bryan , Kosintsev Pavel , Lai Xulong , Mackie Quentin , Vasiliev Sergei , Weinstock Jacobo , Yamaguchi Nobuyuki , Meachen Julie , Cooper Alan , Mitchell Kieren J
Published: September 2020

The Bering Land Bridge connecting North America and Eurasia was periodically exposed and inundated by oscillating sea levels during the Pleistocene glacial cycles. This land connection allowed the intermittent dispersal of animals, including humans, between Western Beringia (far north-east Asia) and Eastern Beringia (north-west North America), changing the faunal community composition of both continents. The Pleistocene glacial cycles also had profound impacts on temperature, precipitation, and vegetation, impacting faunal community structure and demography. While these paleoenvironmental impacts have been studied in many large herbivores from Beringia (e.g., bison, mammoths, horses), the Pleistocene population dynamics of the diverse guild of carnivorans present in the region are less well understood, due to their lower abundances. In this study, we analyze mitochondrial genome data from ancient brown bears (Ursus arctos; n = 103) and lions (Pantheraspp.; n = 39), two megafaunal carnivorans that dispersed into North America during the Pleistocene. Our results reveal striking synchronicity in the population dynamics of Beringian lions and brown bears, with multiple waves of dispersal across the Bering Land Bridge coinciding with glacial periods of low sea levels, as well as synchronous local extinctions in Eastern Beringia during Marine Isotope Stage 3. The evolutionary histories of these two taxa underscore the crucial biogeographic role of the Bering Land Bridge in the distribution, turnover, and maintenance of megafaunal populations in North America.
Phenotypic and functional characterisation of first trimester human placental macrophages, Hofbauer cells
Authors: Thomas Jake , Appios Anna , Zhao Xiaohui , Dutkiewicz Roksana , Donde Maria , Lee Colin , Naidu Praveena , Lee Christopher , Cerveira Joana , Liu Bing , Ginhoux Florent , Burton Graham , Hamilton Russell S. , Moffett Ashley , Sharkey Andrew , McGovern Naomi
Published: September 2020

Hofbauer cells (HBC) are a population of macrophages found in high abundance within the stroma of the first trimester human placenta. HBC are the only fetal immune cell population within the stroma of healthy placenta. However, the functional properties of these cells are poorly described. Aligning with their predicted origin via primitive haematopoiesis, we find that HBC are transcriptionally similar to yolk sac macrophages. Phenotypically, HBC can be identified as HLA-DR-FOLR2+macrophages. We identify a number of factors HBC secrete (including IL-8 and MMP-9) that could affect placental angiogenesis and remodelling. We determine that HBC have the capacity to play a defensive role, where they are responsive to Toll-like receptor stimulation and are microbicidal. Finally, we also identify a population of placenta-associated maternal macrophages (PAMM1a) that adhere to the placental surface and express factors, such as fibronectin, that may aid in repair.

Using transcriptomic and proteomic data, Thomas, J. et al, analyse human first trimester placental macrophages and delineate markers that identify them. They also reveal that Hofbauer cells have microbicidal capacity, providing the fetus with an additional layer of protection from certain microbes.

One sentence summary

Hofbauer cells are primitive placental macrophages with a unique phenotype and role in fetal defence.

Non-standard abbreviation

Placental associated maternal monocytes/macrophages, PAMM.
Sleep-specific changes in physiological brain pulsations
Authors: Helakari H , Korhonen V , Holst SC , Piispala J , Kallio M , Väyrynen T , Huotari N , Raitamaa L , Tuunanen J , Kananen J , Järvelä M , Raatikainen V , Borchardt V , Kinnunen H , Nedergaard M , Kiviniemi V
Published: September 2020

Sleep is known to increase the convection of interstitial brain metabolites along with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We used ultrafast magnetic resonance encephalography (MREGBOLD) to quantify the effect of sleep on physiological (vasomotor, respiratory and cardiac) brain pulsations driving the CSF convection in humans. Transition to electroencephalography verified sleep occurred in conjunction with power increase and reduced spectral entropy (SE) of physiological brain pulsations. During sleep, the greatest increase in spectral power was in very-low frequency (VLF < 0.1 Hz) waves, followed by respiratory and cardiac brain pulsations. SE reduction coincided with decreased vigilance in awake state and could robustly (ROC 0.88, p < 0.001) differentiate between sleep vs. awake states, indicating the sensitivity of SE of the MREGBOLDsignal as a marker for sleep level. In conclusion, the three physiological brain pulsation contribute to the sleep-associated increase in glymphatic CSF convective flow in an inverse frequency order.

Highlights

Brain tissue contains almost no connective tissue, this enabling pressure waves to initiate long-distance brain pulsations

Brain pulsations are induced by vasomotion, respiration, and the cardiac cycle

Sleep strikingly increases spectral power and decreases spectral entropy of brain pulsations, especially for the very low frequency vasomotor waves

Spectral entropy of brain pulsations detected by MREG is a sensitive measure of vigilance, resembling the corresponding entropy changes detected by scalp EEG
The potential function of forehead gland secretions in conflict resolution of the male Great Himalayan leaf-nosed bats
Authors: Zhang Chunmian , Sun Congnan , Lucas Jeffrey R. , Gu Hao , Feng Jiang , Jiang Tinglei
Published: September 2020

Chemical communication is an important aspect of social behavior in almost all animals. Here, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to detect the chemical composition, and behavioral tests to evaluate the potential function of forehead gland secretions between adult male Great Himalayan leaf-nosed bats,Hipposideros armiger. Our results showed that the concentrations of compounds and their categories differed significantly among individuals, and behavioral studies indicated that males are capable of utilizing the secretions for individual discrimination. Moreover, paired males that were incapable of gland protrusion showed more physical contact and longer contest duration compared to pairs in which both males could protrude the gland. In trials where only one male could protrude the gland, males with gland protrusion were more likely to win in contests. These findings provide the first behavioral evidence that chemical communication plays a vital role in conflict resolution in non-human mammals.
When things go wrong: the implications for facilitators of work integrated learning placements in international destinations
Authors: Agnew Deborah , Abery Elizabeth , Schulz Sam , Pill Shane
Published: September 2020

Purpose

International work integrated learning (iWIL) placements for university students are widely promoted within universities. However, they cannot be offered and sustained without a great deal of time and effort; most commonly the responsibility of an assigned university facilitator. Preparation and support are essential for a positive student experience and iWIL outcome. However, not all experiences and outcomes are positive, or predictable.

Design/methodology/approach

Personal vignettes of university iWIL facilitators are used to create a collaborative autoethnography (CAE) of experiences and outcomes where placements have been affected by unexpected or unprecedented “critical incidents” and the impact incurred on these academics. The vignettes are analyzed according to the Pitard (2016) six-step structural analysis model.

Findings

Analysis of the vignettes identifies a resulting workload cost, emotional labor and effect on staff wellbeing. Due to the responsibility and expectations of the position, these incidents placed the university iWIL facilitator in a position of vulnerability, stress, added workload and emotional labor that cannot be compared to other academic teaching roles.

Practical implications

It is intended through the use of “real life” stories presented in the vignettes, to elicit consideration and recognition of the role of the iWIL facilitator when dealing with “the negatives” and “bring to light” management and support strategies needed.

Originality/value

Research is scant on iWIL supervisor experience and management of “critical incidents”, therefore this paper adds to the literature in an area previously overlooked.
Home-based telework: usefulness and facilitators
Authors: Ollo-López Andrea , Goñi-Legaz Salomé , Erro-Garcés Amaya
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This article aims to analyze individual-, organizational- and country-level factors that determine the use of home-based telework across Europe according to the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the technology–organization–environment model.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the impact of individual-, organizational- and country-level factors on telework, multilevel models are estimated to prevent problems derived from biased standard errors when micro- and macro-level data are combined.

Findings

The main findings show that, according to the usefulness side of the TAM, employees with family responsibilities, those that live away from their work and highly qualified workers use more home-based telework. Additionally, and according to the ease of use side of the TAM, empowerment in firms facilitates home-based telework. At the country level, lower power distance, individualism and femininity, better telework regulations and technology developments are also facilitators of home-based telework.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by the cross-sectional nature of the data. This prevents the estimation of causal effects. Additional research would benefit from the use of panel data and from a more detailed analysis of the effects of country dimensions.

Practical implications

From an applied perspective, politics related to cultural dimensions are suggested to stimulate home-based telework.

Originality/value

The research contributes to previous literature by: (1) considering a large sample to conduct an empirical analysis of the use of home-based telework across Europe, (2) including micro and macro factors, (3) providing a theoretical framework to explain home-based telework, (4) applying a rigorous definition of home-based telework and (5) focusing on employees who are able to adopt home-based telework.
Advancing the multidimensional approach to family business professionalization
Authors: Polat Gülçin
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Although it has been implicitly or explicitly assumed that family business professionalization is indeed a multidimensional construct, there has been a tendency to confine it to the employment of nonfamily managers and delegating authority in academic research. Dekkeret al.(2013) have made an impressive work in untangling the multidimensional structure of family business professionalization. This paper aims to introduce a more comprehensive multidimensional approach and a framework to understand and study family business professionalization by identifying additional dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual framework relies on insights derived from the literature on family business professionalization, occupational professionalism and organizational professionalism to reveal the broader multidimensionality of family business professionalization.

Findings

The proposed framework extends the definition of family business professionalization and offers additional dimensions which were grouped under five overarching headings: professionalization of management, professionalization of organizational structure, processes and operations, professionalization of family's relationship with business, professionalization of employees and professionalization of work environment and culture.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by providing a wider approach for the understanding of family business professionalization. It presents a new way of thinking about family business professionalization, underlining the importance of employees and organizational culture for the professionalization process in family firms.
Fire emergency evacuation procedures for differently-abled community in high-rise buildings
Authors: Egodage Nishadi , Abdeen Fathima Nishara , Sridarran Pournima
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The incidence of disability is increasing globally over the past decades. Despite the increased proportion of disabled individuals, established fire emergency evacuation procedures for disabled in high-rise buildings are lacking attention. Hence, this paper aims to focus on investigating fire emergency evacuation procedures for differently-abled people in high-rise buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the gap, the case study strategy under the qualitative research approach was deployed by focussing 10 high-rise buildings. Data collected through semi-structured interviews and document reviews were analysed using content analysis.

Findings

The study findings revealed that even though a fire disaster is a major area to be considered, there is a noticeable gap in legal requirements related to differently-abled fire evacuation in Sri Lanka compared to the global context. Moreover, it was identified that importance given to differently enabled fire evacuations procedures varied based on the type of high-rise facilities in which hospitals and hotels provided more importance compared to office buildings, apartments and shopping complexes. Further, the study has highlighted the main gaps in the evacuation procedures and improvements required. Lack of imposed regulations for disabled evacuation was identified as a major barrier hindering the development of effective fire evacuation procedures for disabled, which creates a cascading effect. Further, the consideration given to legal, organisational, individual and technological factors would assist in straightening the identified issues.

Originality/value

This research provides a clear insight into the necessity of focussing at disabled individuals when developing fire emergency procedures. Most importantly, this study had exposed the current gaps in fire emergency evacuation procedures for the disabled community. Understanding these gaps is of high value for industry practitioners to ensure disabled safety during a fire emergency.
Sustainable industry 4.0 – an exploratory study for uncovering the drivers for integration
Authors: Harikannan N. , Vinodh S. , Gurumurthy Anand
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The concept of sustainable manufacturing has been adopted by manufacturing organizations to develop eco-friendlier products and processes. In recent times, industries are progressing toward Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Guided with smart intelligent devices, I4.0 can possibly decrease excess production, material movement and consumption of energy. If so, it is hypothesized that there is a good synergy between I4.0 and sustainability, which warrants an integrated approach for implementation. This amalgamation is termed as “Sustainable industry 4.0.” Hence, this paper aims to systematically identify and analyze the drivers for this integration.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the analysis of 20 drivers identified from literature review for simultaneous deployment of I4.0 and sustainable manufacturing. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) is used to derive the structural model for analyzing the causal association between drivers. Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification (MICMAC) analysis is being performed to group the drivers.

Findings

The results showed that the dominant drivers derived are societal pressure and public awareness (D18), government policies on support I4.0 (D12), top management involvement and support (D15) and government promotions and regulations (D16). Also, the MICMAC analysis revealed many driving, dependent, linkage and autonomous drivers.

Research limitations/implications

The opinion from experts with combined expertise on I4.0 and sustainability was obtained. The respondent size could be increased in future studies.

Practical implications

The study has been done based on inputs from industry practitioners. Managerial and practical implications are presented. ISM shows that the drivers for deploying sustainable I4.0 are highly inter-related. It also reveals the pre-requisites for each level of the drivers.

Originality/value

The idea of analyzing the drivers for sustainable I4.0 is the original contribution of the authors.
Data science in the business environment: customer analytics case studies in SMEs
Authors: Lu Jing , Cairns Lisa , Smith Lucy
Published: September 2020

Purpose

A vast amount of complex data is being generated in the business environment, which enables support for decision-making through information processing and insight generation. The purpose of this study is to propose a process model for data-driven decision-making which provides an overarching methodology covering key stages of the business analytics life cycle. The model is then applied in two small enterprises using real customer/donor data to assist the strategic management of sales and fundraising.

Design/methodology/approach

Data science is a multi-disciplinary subject that aims to discover knowledge and insight from data while providing a bridge to data-driven decision-making across businesses. This paper starts with a review of established frameworks for data science and analytics before linking with process modelling and data-driven decision-making. A consolidated methodology is then described covering the key stages of exploring data, discovering insights and making decisions.

Findings

Representative case studies from a small manufacturing organisation and an independent hospice charity have been used to illustrate the application of the process model. Visual analytics have informed customer sales strategy and donor fundraising strategy through recommendations to the respective senior management teams.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of this research has focused on customer analytics in small to medium-sized enterprise through two case studies. While the aims of these organisations are rather specific, they share a commonality of purpose for their strategic development, which is addressed by this paper.

Originality/value

Data science is shown to be applicable in the business environment through the proposed process model, synthesising micro- and macro-solution methodologies and allowing organisations to follow a structured procedure. Two real-world case studies have been used to highlight the value of the data-driven model in management decision-making.
From lived experience to experiential knowledge: a working model
Authors: Grundman Shimri Hadas , Edri Neta , Stanger Elran Renana
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present a working model for using experiential knowledge in the work of lived experience practitioners within the mental health field.

Design/methodology/approach

The working model is constructed from three key elements, namely, components of lived experience, the Library of Life Experiences and the NISE technique for sharing experiential knowledge (NISE: need identification; inner identification; sharing experiential knowledge and interpersonal encounter).

Findings

The model will be described, followed by central themes that emerged from a pilot course that was taught in Israel in 2019 to a group of peers working in the mental health system. The central themes were: developing peer identity; sharing peer language; internalizing the working model; understanding the peer role; and awakening social consciousness.

Originality/value

The original working model and training course were co-produced and co-conducted by peer specialists and mental health professionals, for the use of lived experience practitioners.
The impact of top management’s environmental responsibility audit on corporate environmental investment: evidence from China
Authors: Zeng Changli , Zhang Lu , Li Jiangtao
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of top management’s environmental responsibility audit (ERA) implementation on firms’ investment for environmental protection in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample comprises firms publicly traded on A-Share in China from 2011 to 2017. The authors used the ordinary least squares regression model to test the relation between ERA implementation and corporate environmental investment.

Findings

Firms’ environmental investment increases significantly after the ERA implementation. Compared to state-owned enterprises (SOEs), non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs) are more likely to increase their environmental investment after ERA implementation. Moreover, such change is more likely for non-heavily polluting enterprises (non-HPEs) compared to heavily polluting enterprises (HPEs).

Practical implications

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the positive influence of environmental enforcement on corporate behavior, which could serve as reference for regulators on the latest environmental accounting practice in China and other emerging economies.

Social implications

This paper shows that clear assignment of environmental responsibility and subsequent assessment of environmental performance are contributing factors to effective and efficient implementation of an environmental management system.

Originality/value

Contributing to accounting and environmental management literature, this paper explains how mandated environmental audit incentivizes firms to deal with environmental issues. Because there is no prior research concerning the mandatory implementation of environmental audit in China, this paper is of high-innovatory value by providing a better understanding of environmental auditing and providing an economic explanation for government intervention as an effective means of mitigating environmental degradation in emerging economies.