bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinetic tracking of Plasmodium falciparum antigen presentation reveals determinants of protein export and membrane insertion
Authors: Shao Jinfeng , Arora Gunjan , Manzella-Lapeira Javier , Brzostowski Joseph A. , Desai Sanjay A.
Published: September 2021

Intracellular malaria parasites export many proteins into their host cell, inserting several into the erythrocyte plasma membrane to enable interactions with their external environment. While static techniques have identified some surface-exposed proteins, other candidates have eluded definitive localization and membrane topology determination. Moreover, both export kinetics and the mechanisms of membrane insertion remain largely unexplored. We introduce Reporter of Insertion and Surface Exposure (RISE), a method for continuous nondestructive tracking of antigen exposure on infected cells. RISE utilizes a small 11 aa NanoLuc fragment inserted into a target protein and detects surface exposure through high-affinity complementation. We tracked insertion of CLAG3, a malaria parasite protein linked to nutrient uptake, throughout the P. falciparum cycle in human erythrocytes. Our approach also revealed key determinants of trafficking and surface exposure. Removal of a C-terminal transmembrane domain aborted export. Unexpectedly, certain increases in the exposed reporter size improved surface exposure by up to 50-fold, revealing that both size and charge of the extracellular epitope influence membrane insertion. Insertion of parasite proteins at the host cell surface and antigen accessibility is regulated by multiple factors, enabling intracellular parasite survival and immune evasion under a broad range of conditions.
Wnt signaling rescues amyloid beta induced stem cell loss
Authors: Kaur Prameet , Chua Ellora Hui Zhen , Lim Wen Kin , Harmston Nathan , Tolwinski Nicholas S.
Published: September 2021

Previously, we established an optogenetic model to induce Amyloid-β intracellular oligomerization to model distinct disease etiologies (Limet al. 2020). Here we examine the effect of Wnt signaling on Amyloid in this model. We observe that Wnt activation rescues the detrimental effects of Amyloid expression and oligomerization. We analyze the gene expression changes downstream of Wnt that contribute to this rescue and find changes in aging related genes, protein misfolding, metabolism and inflammation. We propose that Wnt expression reduces inflammation through repression of Toll activating factors and confirm that chronic Toll activation reduces lifespan. We propose that the protective effect observed for Lithium treatment functions at least in part through Wnt activation and inhibition of inflammation.
Chaos in small microbial communities
Authors: Karkaria Behzad D. , Manhart Angelika , Fedorec Alex J. H. , Barnes Chris P.
Published: September 2021

Predictability is a fundamental requirement in biological engineering. As we move to building coordinated multicellular systems, the potential for such systems to display chaotic behaviour becomes a concern. Therefore understanding which systems show chaos is an important design consideration. We developed a methodology to explore the potential for chaotic dynamics in small microbial communities governed by resource competition, intercellular communication and competitive bacteriocin interactions. We show that we can expect to find chaotic states in relatively small synthetic microbial systems, understand the governing dynamics and provide insights into how to control such systems. This work is the first to query the existence of chaotic behaviour in synthetic microbial communities and has important ramifications for the fields of biotechnology, bioprocessing and synthetic biology.
The second lineage differentiation of bovine embryos fails in the absence of OCT4/POU5F1
Authors: Simmet Kilian , Kurome Mayuko , Zakhartchenko Valeri , Reichenbach Horst-Dieter , Springer Claudia , Bähr Andrea , Blum Helmut , Philippou-Massier Julia , Wolf Eckhard
Published: September 2021

The mammalian blastocyst undergoes two lineage segregations, i.e., formation of the trophectoderm and subsequently differentiation of the hypoblast (HB) from the inner cell mass, leaving the epiblast (EPI) the remaining pluripotent lineage. To clarify expression patterns of markers specific for these lineages in bovine embryos, we analyzed day 7, 9 and 12 blastocysts completely derived ex vivo by staining for OCT4, NANOG, SOX2 (EPI) and GATA6, SOX17 (HB) and identified genes specific for these developmental stages in a global transcriptomics approach. To study the role of OCT4, we generated OCT4-deficient (OCT4 KO) embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer or in vitro fertilization. OCT4 KO embryos reached the expanded blastocyst stage by day 8 but lost of NANOG and SOX17 expression, while SOX2 and GATA6 were unaffected. Blastocysts transferred to recipient cows from day 6 to 9 expanded, but the OCT4 KO phenotype was not rescued by the uterine environment. Exposure of OCT4 KO embryos to exogenous FGF4 or chimeric complementation with OCT4 intact embryos did not restore NANOG or SOX17 in OCT4-deficient cells. Our data show, that OCT4 is required cell-autonomously for the maintenance of pluripotency of the EPI and differentiation of the HB in bovine embryos.
Fibroadipogenic Progenitors contribute to microvascular repair during skeletal muscle regeneration
Authors: Ollitrault David , Buffa Valentina , Correra Rosamaria , Sayed Angeliqua , Hoareau Bénédicte , Pöhle-Kronawitter Sophie , Stricker Sigmar , Hulot Jean-Sebastien , Valente Mariana , Marazzi Giovanna , Sassoon David
Published: September 2021

Skeletal muscle injury results in a disruption of the muscle bed vascular network. A local source of vascular progenitors during muscle regeneration has not been clearly identified. Fibroadipogenic progenitors (FAPs) are required for proper regeneration, however they can also directly contribute to fibrotic and fatty infiltration in response to chronic muscle injury and muscle disease. We show here that acute muscle injury leads to hypoxia and glucose deprivation, triggering FAP proliferation and differentiation into endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. In response to glucose deprivation, FAPs down regulate fibrotic and fat associated genes and acquire an endothelial cell fate, which is dependent upon mTORC2-HIF2α-eNOS pathway. These findings bring new insights into the mechanisms of vascular regeneration during muscle regeneration and define a highly plastic resident progenitor population that responds to oxygen/glucose-deprivation induced cell stress by promoting an endothelial cell fate.
GMQN: A reference-based method for correcting batch effects as well as probes bias in HumanMethylation BeadChip
Authors: Xiong Zhuang , Li Mengwei , Ma Yingke , Li Rujiao , Bao Yiming
Published: September 2021

Illumina HumanMethylation BeadChip is one of the most cost-effective ways to quantify DNA methylation levels at the single-base level across the human genome, which makes it a routine platform for epigenome-wide association studies. It has accumulated tens of thousands of DNA methylation array samples in public databases, thus provide great support for data integration and further analysis. However, majority of public DNA methylation data are deposited as processed data without background probes which are widely used in data normalization. Here we present Gaussian mixture quantile normalization (GMQN), a reference based method for correcting batch effects as well as probes bias in HumanMethylation BeadChip. Availability and implementation: https://github.com/MengweiLi-project/gmqn.
Impaired photoprotection in Phaeodactylum tricornutum KEA3 mutants reveals the proton regulatory circuit of diatoms light acclimation
Authors: Seydoux Claire , Storti Mattia , Giovagnetti Vasco , Matuszyńska Anna , Guglielmino Erika , Zhao Xue , Giustini Cécile , Pan Yufang , Angulo Jhoanell , Ruban Alexander V. , Hu Hanhua , Bailleul Benjamin , Courtois Florence , Allorent Guillaume , Finazzi Giovanni
Published: September 2021

Diatoms are amongst the most successful clades of oceanic phytoplankton, significantly contributing to photosynthesis on Earth. Their ecological success likely stems from their ability to acclimate to changing environmental conditions, including e.g. variable light intensity. Diatoms are outstanding at dissipating light energy exceeding the maximum photosynthetic electron transfer (PET) capacity of via Non Photochemical Quenching (NPQ). While the molecular effectors of this process, as well as the role of the Proton Motive Force (PMF) in its regulation are known, the putative regulators of the PET/PMF relationship in diatoms remain unidentified. Here, we demonstrate that the H+/K+ antiporter KEA3 is the main regulator of the coupling between PMF and PET in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. By controlling the PMF, it modulates NPQ responses at the onset of illumination, during transients and in steady state conditions. Under intermittent light KEA3 absence results in reduced fitness. Using a parsimonious model including only two components, KEA3 and the diadinoxanthin de-epoxidase, we can describe most of the feedback loops observed between PET and NPQ. This two-components regulatory system allows for efficient responses to fast (minutes) or slow (e.g. diel) changes in light environment, thanks to the presence of a regulatory Ca2+-binding domain in KEA3 that controls its activity. This circuit is likely finely tuned by the NPQ effector proteins LHCX, providing diatoms with the required flexibility to thrive in different ocean provinces.

One sentence summary

The author(s) responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (https://academic.oup.com/plcell/pages/General-Instructions) is Giovanni Finazzi.
Leishmania Hijacks microRNA Import-Export Machinery of Infected Macrophage and Survives by Cross-Communicating Host miR-146a to Subjugate HuR and miR-122 in Neighbouring cells
Authors: Ganguly Satarupa , Ghoshal Bartika , Banerji Ishani , Bhattacharjee Shreya , Chakraborty Sreemoyee , Goswami Avijit , Mukherjee Kamalika , Bhattacharyya Suvendra N.
Published: September 2021

Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, infects and resides within tissue macrophage cells of the mammalian host. It is not clear how the parasite infected cells cross-talk with the non-infected cells in the infection niche to regulate the infection process. Interestingly, miRNAs, the regulatory small RNAs of the host, could get trafficked into and out of infected cells as part of extracellular vesicles to ensure exchange of the epigenetic signals and can regulate the expression of their target genes in both donor and recipient cells.Leishmania, for its survival in host macrophage, adopts a dual strategy to regulate the intercellular transport of host miRNAs. The parasite, by preventing mitochondrial function of the host cells, restricts the entry of liver cell derived miR-122 containing extracellular vesicles in infected macrophage to curtail the inflammatory response by miR-122. The parasite reciprocally upregulates the extracellular export of anti-inflammatory miR-146a from the infected cells. The exported miR-146a restricts miR-122 production in liver cells and polarizes neighbouring naïve macrophages to the M2 state. miR-146a upregulates IL-10 in neighbouring macrophages where miR-146a dominates the RNA binding and miRNA suppressor protein HuR to inhibit the expression of proinflammatory cytokine mRNAs having HuR-interacting AU-rich elements and polarized the recipient cells to M2 stage.

Graphical Abstract

Key Findings

Leishmaniastops vesicular entry of inflammatory miR-122 in infected cells by causing mitochondrial depolarization

Leishmaniasecrets miR-146a from infected cells to stop miR-122 production in neighbouring hepatocytes

miR-146a containing vesicles secreted by infected cells stops inflammatory response in recipient naïve macrophage

miR-146 targets RNA binding protein HuR to stop inflammatory cytokine production
Genome-wide association mapping of ethanol sensitivity in the Diversity Outbred mouse population
Authors: Parker Clarissa C. , Philip Vivek M. , Gatti Daniel M. , Kasparek Steven , Kreuzman Andrew M. , Kuffler Lauren , Mansky Benjamin , Masneuf Sophie , Sharif Kayvon , Sluys Erica , Taterra Dominik , Taylor Walter M. , Thomas Mary , Polesskaya Oksana , Palmer Abraham A. , Holmes Andrew , Chesler Elissa J.
Published: September 2021

Background

A strong predictor for the development of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is altered sensitivity to the intoxicating effects of alcohol. Individual differences in the initial sensitivity to alcohol are controlled in part by genetic factors. Mice offer a powerful tool for elucidating the genetic basis of behavioral and physiological traits relevant to AUDs; but conventional experimental crosses have only been able to identify large chromosomal regions rather than specific genes. Genetically diverse, highly recombinant mouse populations allow for the opportunity to observe a wider range of phenotypic variation, offer greater mapping precision, and thus increase the potential for efficient gene identification.

Methods

We have taken advantage of the Diversity Outbred (DO) mouse population to identify and precisely map quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with ethanol sensitivity. We phenotyped 798 male J:DO mice for three measures of ethanol sensitivity: ataxia, hypothermia, and loss of the righting response. We used high density MEGAMuga and GIGAMuga arrays to obtain genotypes ranging from 77,808 – 143,259 SNPs. In addition, we performed RNA sequencing in striatum to map expression QTLs and to identify gene expression-trait correlations.

Results

We then applied a systems genetic strategy to identify narrow QTLs and construct the network of correlations that exist between DNA sequence, gene expression values and ethanol-related phenotypes to prioritize our list of positional candidate genes.

Conclusions

Our results can be used to identify alleles that contribute to AUDs in humans, elucidate causative biological mechanisms, or assist in the development of novel therapeutic interventions.
Blocking a dead-end assembly pathway creates a point of regulation for the DEAD-box ATPase Has1 and prevents platform misassembly
Authors: Liu Xin , Huang Haina , Karbstein Katrin
Published: September 2021

Assembly of ribosomal subunits occurs via parallel pathways, which accelerate the process and render it more robust. Nonetheless, in vitro analyses have also demonstrated that some assembly pathways are dead-ends, presumably due to rRNA misfolding. If and how these non-productive pathways are avoided during assembly in vivo remains unknown. Here we use a combination of biochemical, genetic, proteomic and structural analyses to demonstrate a role for assembly factors in biasing the folding landscape away from non-productive intermediates. By binding Rrp36, Rrp5 is prevented from forming a premature interaction with the platform, which leads to a dead-end intermediate, and a misassembled platform that is functionally defective. The DEAD-box ATPase Has1 separates Rrp5 and Rrp36, allowing Rrp5 to reposition to the platform, thereby promoting ribosome assembly and enabling rRNA processing. Thus, Rrp36 establishes an ATP-dependent regulatory point that ensures correct platform assembly by opening a new folding channel that avoids funnels to misfolding.
The effect of taxes, similar financial liabilities and demographic variables on Turkey's table wine market: a survey
Authors: Tosun Ayse Nil , Yilmaz Ayfer Ezgi
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study examines the effect of taxes, similar financial liabilities, and demographic variables such as respondent age, company age, and field of operation on the table wine market in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted on the wine producers and importers via SurveyMonkey. Thirty-six survey questions were answered using a five-point Likert scale. The responses obtained from 51 owners and administrators of wine companies were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 23 program.

Findings

Excise and value-added taxes affected the amount and price of table wine production in Turkey, whereas the banderole affected quality and price. The excise tax, value-added tax, banderole, Resource Utilization Support Fund, customs duty, and authorizations also affected the amount, quality and price of table wine imports. Although financial liabilities such as the banderole, Resource Utilization Support Fund and authorizations required for import do not constitute a heavy load on wine costs, they do have similar effects as other taxes on table wine imports.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this study was its sample size. Only 51 individuals responded, as it was an online questionnaire. However, this did not compromise the representativeness of the sample with regard to the company's field of operation (production and import of table wine), lending credibility to the opinions provided.

Originality/value

This study establishes that, contrary to popular belief, decisions regarding wine production and import are not solely affected by a heavy tax burden. Other factors, such as the banderole, Resource Utilization Support Fund, ages of companies and respondents and authorizations required for import, which are not viewed as a heavy burden in monetary terms, also prove to be decisive.
What drives clients to purchase green building?: The cybernetic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process approach
Authors: Durdyev Serdar , Mohandes Saeed Reza , Mahdiyar Amir , Ismail Syuhaida
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Homebuyers' motivation to purchase the green building (GB) is vital for the widespread adoption of greener practices and for tackling the adverse impact of the built environment. In this regard, through the lenses of qualified and competent GB developers (GBD) and real estate agents (REAs) using judgment sampling technique, this paper aims to evaluate the factors stimulating the purchase intention of Malaysian homebuyers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the interval-valued fuzzy Delphi method (IVFDM) to identify influential factors, while the cybernetic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (CFAHP) for prioritizing the identified factors according to their significance in nationwide promotion of GBs is utilized.

Findings

The findings, which are consistent with those reported in the literature and validated by the focus group, uncover the most prominent factors that drive the purchase intention of GB homebuyers. The results indicate that the homebuyers are familiar with the benefits of GB; however, the benefits are not sufficient to overcome the perceived “high cost” of green practices. Hence, homebuyers still seek financial incentives, which is a clear indication that financial issues are the most motivating factor.

Practical implications

Increase in informative promotion of GB is necessary, particularly among prospective homebuyers in developing countries where GB adoption is in its infancy. Frontline players (those who are responsible for wider promotion) can utilize the factors that this study found to be important to identify appropriate steps to increase prospective homebuyers' motivation for purchasing greener dwellings.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, review and identification of the most cited determinants that have been reported in the context of the subject. Second, this paper presents the most significant determinants in a developing country setting through the lenses of Malaysian experts in the area. Third, improvement measures could be implemented in Malaysia and other developing countries to promote the GB paradigm with an aim to make the building environment more sustainable.
Does immigration affect residential real estate prices? Evidence from Australia
Authors: Gopy-Ramdhany Narvada , Seetanah Boopen
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of immigration on housing prices in Australia both at the national and regional levels.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for eight Australian states on a quarterly basis from 2004–2017 is used. To study the possible dynamic and endogenous relationship between housing prices and immigration, a panel vector autoregressive error correction model (PVECM) is adopted.

Findings

Analysis of the results indicates that in the short run immigration positively and significantly affects housing prices, whereas in the long run no significant relationship was observed between the two variables. From the regional breakdown and analysis, it is discerned that in some states there is a significant and positive effect of immigration on residential real estate prices in the long run. Causality analysis confirms that the direction of causation is from immigration to housing prices.

Practical implications

The study illustrates that immigration and interstate migration, as well as high salaries, have been causing a rise in housing demand and subsequently housing prices. To monitor exceedingly high housing prices, local authorities should be controlling migration and salary levels.

Originality/value

Past research studies had highlighted the importance of native interstate migration in explaining the nexus between immigration – housing prices. In this study, it has been empirically verified how immigration has been affecting the locational decisions of natives and subsequently how this has been affecting housing prices.
CEO pay slice and acquisitions in Australia: the role of tournament incentives
Authors: Luong Hoa , Gunasekarage Abeyratna , Shams Syed
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper investigates the influence of tournament incentives, measured by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) pay slice (CPS), on the acquisition decisions of Australian firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies ordinary least squares regression analyses to a sample of 1,429 acquisition observations announced by 986 unique Australian firms spanning the 2001–2015 period. Event study methodology was employed to capture the market reaction to acquisition announcements. Multinomial logit models, a two-stage least squares instrumental variable (IV) approach and propensity score matching (PSM) technique were performed for robustness and endogeneity correction purposes.

Findings

The results suggest that CPS has a positive and significant relationship with the announcement period abnormal return realised by acquirers, implying that executives are motivated to exert best efforts and support the CEO in making value-creating acquisitions. Further analyses reveal that management teams of high CPS firms demonstrate efficiencies in executing acquisitions. The positive relationship between the CPS and abnormal return is more pronounced in acquisitions of private targets, domestic targets and bidders with high-quality CEOs. These acquisitions make a significant contribution to the long-run performance of the firm, which provides support for the effort inducement hypothesis.

Practical implications

The study's empirical evidence implies that the strong governance environment in Australia and a highly monitored acquisition market and compensation contracts motivates executives to exert their efforts to make value-enhancing acquisitions.

Originality/value

This paper appears to be the first investigation that makes a link between CPS in different components (i.e. short-term, long-term and total pay) as proxy for tournament incentives and the outcomes of both public and non-public acquisitions in the Australian setting.
Perceptions of online self- and peer-assessment: accounting students in a large undergraduate cohort
Authors: Pidduck Teresa Michelle , Bauer Nadia
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Self-assessment (SA) and peer-assessment (PA) are considered useful tools in the development of lifelong learning and reflective skills. The authors implemented a teaching intervention using SA and PA amongst a large cohort of final year undergraduate students. The purpose of this study was to investigate students' perceptions of online SA and PA in order to understand the differences between these perceptions and to allow instructors to adopt differentiated instruction in developing a diverse student group's professional skills.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design adopted a mixed methods approach through the use of surveys that were administered before and after the SA and peer-assessment intervention in a taxation module taught at a large public South African university. Through the use of a series of open and closed questions students' perceptions on SA and peer-assessment were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Findings

The findings show that student perceptions of SA and peer-assessment differed significantly, where perceptions of SA were more positive than those towards PA. The findings indicate that SA and peer-assessment still present a challenge in an online context for large student cohorts, despite improved tracking, faster feedback and anonymity.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature by analysing students' perceptions about SA and peer-assessment in an accounting education context and in an online setting in South Africa.
(En) act your age! Marketing and the marketization of history in young SMEs
Authors: Weatherbee Terrance , Sears Donna
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how wineries used history in their marketing communications to overcome the liability of newness in a settled field that valorizes duration and longevity.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple-case study investigated the treatment of history in marketing by young wineries in a new wine region. Data included interviews, site visits and marketing communications.

Findings

Wineries worked to communicate stakeholder legitimacy and authenticity by constructing organizational histories through bricolage, communicating history in symbolic, material and practice forms.

Research limitations/implications

Young organizations can communicate field legitimacy and projections of organizational and product authenticity through constructed histories. Results may not be generalizable to other jurisdictions as wine marketing is normatively subject to government regulation. The importance of history in marketing communications also varies across sectors.

Practical implications

Young businesses in sectors where tradition, place and longevity are venerated can establish authenticity and legitimacy through the marketization of history by following practices that demonstrate adherence to tradition and making thoughtful choices in the construction of the symbolic and material aspects of their organizations.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that new/young organizations can use bricolage to create their own marketized histories as proxies for age.
Case-wise analysis of Love-type wave propagation in an irregular fissured porous stratum coated by a sandy layer
Authors: Gupta Shishir , Das Soumik , Dutta Rachaita
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the dispersion and damping behaviors of Love-type waves propagating in an irregular fluid-saturated fissured porous stratum coated by a sandy layer.

Design/methodology/approach

Two cases are analyzed in this study. In case-I, the irregular fissured porous stratum is covered by a dry sandy layer, whereas in case-II, the sandy layer is considered to be viscous in nature. The method of separation of variables is incorporated in this study to acquire the displacement components of the considered media.

Findings

With the help of the suitable boundary conditions, the complex frequency relation is established in each case leading to two distinct equations. The real and imaginary parts of the complex frequency relation define the dispersion and attenuation properties of Love-type waves, respectively. Using the MATHEMATICA software, several graphical implementations are executed to illustrate the influence of the sandiness parameter, total porosity, volume fraction of fissures, fluctuation parameter, flatness parameters and ratio of widths of layers on the phase velocity and attenuation coefficient. Furthermore, comparison between the two cases is clearly framed through the variation of aforementioned parameters. Some particular cases in the presence and absence of irregular interfaces are also analyzed.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, although many articles regarding the surface wave propagation in different crustal layers have been published, the propagation of Love-type waves in a sandwiched fissured porous stratum with irregular boundaries is still undiscovered. Results accomplished in this analytical study can be employed in different practical areas, such as earthquake engineering, material science, carbon sequestration and seismology.
Transforming social studies curriculum to integrate a social justice framework
Authors: Popp Jacquelynn S. , Montgomery Josh , Hoard Jodi , Brock Cynthia
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empower teachers to engage in a process of curricular transformation to integrate a social justice framework, even if it means starting with small steps.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present a set of guiding principles on which social studies teachers can draw to transform their curriculum to embody a social justice framework within and across units of historical inquiry. The principles are anchored in an example historical unit, the Chicago Haymarket Affair of 1886, and an analogous contemporary sub-unit, The Exonerated Five (formerly The Central Park Five incident of 1989).

Findings

The guiding principles represent an accessible approach educators can flexibly apply to their process of curricular transformation. The authors provide a balanced approach of emphasizing the need for educators to restructure social studies curriculum with the feasibility of this process at larger or smaller scales according to educators' readiness for change.

Originality/value

The authors outline a process to empower teachers to change the status quo of their social studies teaching, at a scale determined by the teacher. The authors provide a practical, concrete set of guiding principles for educators to make changes that represent social justice integration aligned with existing social studies curriculum and standards. The authors encourage teachers to reflect on their readiness for and progress toward transforming their curriculum to integrate a social justice framework.
The role of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in regulating macrophage polarization in RAW264.7 cells
Authors: Liu Lian , Peng Shuang , Duan Mengyun , Liu Cuiliu , Li Lingrui , Zhang Xing , Ren Boxu , Tian Hongyang
Published: September 2021

Schistosomiasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease that is endemic in Asia. Macrophages are mainly involved in the inflammatory response of late schistosoma infection. Our previous study found that C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression is significantly increased, and M2 macrophages are activated in schistosome‐induced liver fibrosis mice. However, the role of CHOP in the regulation of macrophage polarization remains to be further studied. Western blotting or quantitative PCR revealed that IL‐4 increased the expression of arginase‐1, macrophage mannose receptor 1, phosphorylation signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (p‐STAT6), Krüppel‐like factor 4 (KLF4), CHOP, and IL‐13 receptor alpha (IL‐13Rα) and induced M2 polarization in RAW264.7 as measured by flow cytometry. Inhibiting STAT6 phosphorylation (AS1517499) reduced the IL‐4‐induced expression of KLF4, CHOP, and IL‐13Rα and also the number of M2 macrophages. The overexpression of CHOP stimulated M2 polarization, but AS1517499 inhibited this effect. CHOP increased the protein expression of KLF4 but did not change the expression of p‐STAT6. Soluble egg antigen (SEA) could promote the IL‐4‐induced protein expression of p‐STAT6, CHOP, and KLF4. Overall, the findings show that SEA can promote the activation of M2 macrophages by causing increased CHOP‐induced KLF4 levels and activation of STAT6 phosphorylation.
Identifying the characteristics of occupation‐centred practice: A Delphi study
Authors: Ford Ellie , Di Tommaso Amelia , Molineux Matthew , Gustafsson Louise
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Occupation‐centred practice is key to aligning with the contemporary paradigm. Benefits of this approach for clients and the profession are well documented, yet how to identify occupation‐centred practice is not yet understood. Therefore, this study aimed to uncover the characteristics of occupation‐centred practice and how they can be identified in practice.

Methods

A three round Delphi survey was conducted to gain consensus on the defining characteristics of occupation‐centred practice. Purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling were used to distribute three survey rounds to occupational therapists internationally. Content analysis was used to create characteristics, descriptions, and examples of occupation‐centred practice. Percentage agreement between occupational therapists were calculated to determine consensus.

Results

Responses were received from 100 participants in round one, 89 in round two, and 70 in round three. Round one generated 12 characteristics that were refined and finalised into four defining characteristics, one of which had three subcharacteristics. The four characteristics are as follows: guided by theory and philosophy grounded in occupation, language and documentation promotes occupation among stakeholders, understanding and incorporating the person's context, and occupation as core to practice, which includes occupation in goal setting, assessment, and intervention. Descriptions and examples were generated for each characteristic.

Conclusion

This study presents valuable information for occupational therapists wanting to practise in an occupation‐centred manner. The characteristics, descriptions, and examples provide a foundation upon which occupational therapists can understand and identify occupation‐centred practice. Examples provided were highly influenced by factors including practice settings and preferred terminology. Future research will explore the creation of a tool for occupational therapists to evaluate their own practice against the characteristics to demonstrate areas of strength and for development.
Synergistic effects of temperature and light affect the relationship between Taonia atomaria and its epibacterial community: a controlled conditions study
Authors: Paix Benoit , Potin Philippe , Schires Gaëtan , Le Poupon Christophe , Misson Benjamin , Leblanc Catherine , Culioli Gérald , Briand Jean‐François
Published: September 2021

In the context of global warming, this study aimed to assess the effect of temperature and irradiance on the macroalgal Taonia atomaria holobiont dynamics. We developed an experimental set‐up using aquaria supplied by natural seawater with three temperatures combined with three irradiances. The holobiont response was monitored over 14 days using a multi‐omics approach coupling algal surface metabolomics and metabarcoding. Both temperature and irradiance appeared to shape the microbiota and the surface metabolome, but with a distinct temporality. Epibacterial community first changed according to temperature, and later in relation to irradiance, while the opposite occurred for the surface metabolome. An increased temperature revealed a decreasing richness of the epiphytic community together with an increase of several bacterial taxa. Irradiance changes appeared to quickly impact surface metabolites production linked with the algal host photosynthesis (e.g. mannitol, fucoxanthin, dimethylsulfoniopropionate), which was hypothesized to explain modifications of the structure of the epiphytic community. Algal host may also directly adapt its surface metabolome to changing temperature with time (e.g. lipids content) and also in response to changing microbiota (e.g. chemical defences). Finally, this study brought new insights highlighting complex direct and indirect responses of seaweeds and their associated microbiota under changing environments.
Microbes mediating the sulfur cycle in the Atlantic Ocean and their link to chemolithoautotrophy
Authors: De Corte Daniele , Muck Simone , Tiroch Johanna , Mena Catalina , Herndl Gerhard J. , Sintes Eva
Published: September 2021

Only about 10%–30% of the organic matter produced in the epipelagic layers reaches the dark ocean. Under these limiting conditions, reduced inorganic substrates might be used as an energy source to fuel prokaryotic chemoautotrophic and/or mixotrophic activity. The aprA gene encodes the alpha subunit of the adenosine‐5′‐phosphosulfate (APS) reductase, present in sulfate‐reducing (SRP) and sulfur‐oxidizing prokaryotes (SOP). The sulfur‐oxidizing pathway can be coupled to inorganic carbon fixation via the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle. The abundances of aprA and cbbM, encoding RuBisCO form II (the key CO2 fixing enzyme), were determined over the entire water column along a latitudinal transect in the Atlantic from 64°N to 50°S covering six oceanic provinces. The abundance of aprA and cbbM genes significantly increased with depth reaching the highest abundances in meso‐ and upper bathypelagic layers. The contribution of cells containing these genes also increased from mesotrophic towards oligotrophic provinces, suggesting that under nutrient limiting conditions alternative energy sources are advantageous. However, the aprA/cbbM ratios indicated that only a fraction of the SOP is associated with inorganic carbon fixation. The aprA harbouring prokaryotic community was dominated by Pelagibacterales in surface and mesopelagic waters, while Candidatus Thioglobus, Chromatiales and the Deltaproteobacterium_SCGC dominated the bathypelagic realm. Noticeably, the contribution of the SRP to the prokaryotic community harbouring aprA gene was low, suggesting a major utilization of inorganic sulfur compounds either as an energy source (occasionally coupled with inorganic carbon fixation) or in biosynthesis pathways.
An atlas of bacterial secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters
Authors: Wei Bin , Du Ao‐Qi , Zhou Zhen‐Yi , Lai Cong , Yu Wen‐Chao , Yu Jin‐Biao , Yu Yan‐Lei , Chen Jian‐Wei , Zhang Hua‐Wei , Xu Xue‐Wei , Wang Hong
Published: September 2021

Bacterial secondary metabolites are rich sources of novel drug leads. The diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in genome‐sequenced bacteria, which will provide crucial information for the efficient discovery of novel natural products, has not been systematically investigated. Here, the distribution and genetic diversity of BGCs in 10 121 prokaryotic genomes (across 68 phyla) were obtained from their PRISM4 outputs using a custom python script. A total of 18 043 BGCs are detected from 5743 genomes with non‐ribosomal peptide synthetases (25.4%) and polyketides (15.9%) as the dominant classes of BGCs. Bacterial strains harbouring the largest number of BGCs are revealed and BGC count in strains of some genera vary greatly, suggesting the necessity of individually evaluating the secondary metabolism potential. Additional analysis against 102 strains of discovered bacterial genera with abundant amounts of BGCs confirms that Kutzneria, Kibdelosporangium, Moorea, Saccharothrix, Cystobacter, Archangium, Actinosynnema, Kitasatospora, and Nocardia, may also be important sources of natural products and worthy of priority investigation. Comparative analysis of BGCs within these genera indicates the great diversity and novelty of the BGCs. This study presents an atlas of bacterial secondary metabolite BGCs that provides a lot of key information for the targeted discovery of novel natural products.
Technical and interpretive pitfalls of postmortem CT: Five examples of errors revealed by autopsy
Authors: Yoshida Maiko , Makino Yohsuke , Hoshioka Yumi , Saito Naoki , Yamaguchi Rutsuko , Chiba Fumiko , Inokuchi Go , Iwase Hirotaro
Published: September 2021

Image acquisition of dead bodies, particularly using postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), has become common in forensic investigations worldwide. Meanwhile, in countries such as Japan which have an extremely low rate of autopsy, PMCT is being increasingly used in the clinical field to certify the cause of death (COD) without performing an autopsy or toxicological tests, even in cases of unnatural death. Additionally, these PMCT images are predominantly interpreted by clinical personnel such as emergency physicians or clinicians who are not trained in PMCT interpretation and who work for the police, that is, the so‐called police doctors. Many potential pitfalls associated with the use of PMCT have been previously described in textbooks and published papers, including the pitfalls of not performing a complete forensic pathology investigation, and the use of physicians without appropriate PMCT training to interpret PMCT and direct death investigation and certification. We describe five examples in which apparent misdiagnosis of COD based on PMCT misinterpretation was revealed by autopsy. Here are the five examples of errors: (1) Postmortem changes were misinterpreted as COD, (2) resuscitation effects were misinterpreted as COD, (3) COD was determined after an incomplete examination, (4) fatal findings caused by external origin were wrongly interpreted as ‘of internal origin’ based on PMCT, and (5) non‐fatal findings on PMCT were wrongly interpreted as fatal. Interpretation of PMCT by appropriately trained physicians and an accompanying complete forensic investigation, including autopsy when indicated, is necessary to prevent significant errors in COD determination and related potential adverse medicolegal consequences.
Scenarios of social isolation during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: de Góis Marcos Paulo Ferreira , Parente‐Ribeiro Leticia , Gomes Paulo Cesar da Costa , Gomes Rafael Augusto Andrade , Leite Thomaz Menezes , Iorio Leonardo José , Leles Amaral Gabriela , da Silva Campos Igor Ribeiro , Dettmann Beatriz Brum Domingues , Ferreira Lohanne Fernanda Gonçalves , Araújo Patricia Luana Costa
Published: September 2021

This work analyses the construction of social isolation as a public problem during the first wave of COVID‐19, drawing on experiences in Rio de Janeiro which, in addition to being one of the country’s major cities, had among the highest mortality rates in Brazil in 2020. We consider both the legal measures enacted by government agencies to contain the contagion and media coverage on the effects of these measures at the local level. The results show that, in the absence of compulsory confinement measures, urban public spaces were deployed both by government agencies and the media in a process by which social isolation was framed as a public problem. Legal measures affected daily patterns of movement, mobility, and sociability, and intervened in the dynamics of central urban functions and in access to and use of public spaces. Media reports gave voice to levels of public agreement or disagreement with regulations and emphasised the significance of legal measures to contain the spread of the virus. Public spaces are at the core of debates about compliance with legal measures to enforce social isolation because they are privileged places where social issues become visible and problematic material expressions of relationships between citizens and the law.
A case‐control analysis of stroke in COVID‐19 patients: Results of unusual manifestations of COVID‐19–study 11
Authors: García‐Lamberechts Eric Jorge , Miró Òscar , Fragiel Marcos , Llorens Pere , Jiménez Sònia , Piñera Pascual , Burillo‐Putze Guillermo , Martín Alfonso , Martín‐Sánchez Francisco Javier , Jacob Javier , Alquézar‐Arbé Aitor , Ejarque Martínez Laura , Rodríguez Miranda Belén , Ruiz Grinspan Martín , Domínguez María Jesús , Teigell Muñoz Francisco Javier , Gayoso Martín Sara , García García Ángel , Iglesias Vela Marta , Carbajosa Virginia , Salido Mota Manuel , Marchena González María José , Agüera Urbano Carmen , Porta‐Etessam Jesus , Calvo Elpidio , González del Castillo Juan ,   the Spanish Investigators on Emergency Situations TeAm (SIESTA) network
Published: September 2021

Objective

We investigated the incidence, predictor variables, clinical characteristics, and stroke outcomes in patients with COVID‐19 seen in emergency departments (EDs) before hospitalization.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all COVID‐19 patients diagnosed with stroke during the COVID‐19 outbreak in 62 Spanish EDs. We formed two control groups: COVID‐19 patients without stroke (control A) and non–COVID‐19 patients with stroke (control B). We compared disease characteristics and four outcomes between cases and controls.

Results

We identified 147 strokes in 74,814 patients with COVID‐19 seen in EDs (1.96‰, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.66‰ to 2.31‰), being lower than in non–COVID‐19 patients (6,541/1,388,879, 4.71‰, 95% CI = 4.60‰ to 4.83‰; odds ratio [OR] = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.35 to 0.49). The estimated that standardized incidences of stroke per 100,000 individuals per year were 124 and 133 for COVID‐19 and non–COVID‐19 individuals, respectively (OR = 0.93 for COVID patients, 95% CI = 0.87 to 0.99). Baseline characteristics associated with a higher risk of stroke in COVID‐19 patients were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and previous cerebrovascular and coronary diseases. Clinically, these patients more frequently presented with confusion, decreased consciousness, and syncope and higher D‐dimer concentrations and leukocyte count at ED arrival. After adjustment for age and sex, the case group had higher hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates (but not mortality) than COVID‐19 controls without stroke (OR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.27 to 9.16; and OR = 3.79, 95% CI = 1.69 to 8.50, respectively) and longer hospitalization and greater in‐hospital mortality than stroke controls without COVID‐19 (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.24 to 1.94; and OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.37 to 2.30, respectively).

Conclusions

The incidence of stroke in COVID‐19 patients presenting to EDs was lower than that in the non–COVID‐19 reference sample. COVID‐19 patients with stroke had greater need for hospitalization and ICU admission than those without stroke and longer hospitalization and greater in‐hospital mortality than non–COVID‐19 patients with stroke.