bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination and competition between path integration and landmark navigation in the estimation of heading direction
Authors: Harootonian Sevan K. , Ekstrom Arne D. , Wilson Robert C.
Published: July 2021

Successful navigation requires the ability to compute one’s location and heading from incoming multisensory information. Previous work has shown that this multisensory input comes in two forms: body-based idiothetic cues, from one’s own rotations and translations, and visual allothetic cues, from the environment (usually visual landmarks). However, exactly how these two streams of information are integrated is unclear, with some models suggesting the body-based idiothetic and visual allothetic cues are combined, while others suggest they compete. In this paper we investigated the integration of body-based idiothetic and visual allothetic cues in the computation of heading using virtual reality. In our experiment, participants performed a series of body turns of up to 360 degrees in the dark with only a brief flash (300ms) of visual feedback en route. Because the environment was virtual, we had full control over the visual feedback and were able to vary the offset between this feedback and the true heading angle. By measuring the effect of the feedback offset on the angle participants turned, we were able to determine the extent to which they incorporated visual feedback as a function of the offset error. By further modeling this behavior we were able to quantify the computations people used. While there were considerable individual differences in performance on our task, with some participants mostly ignoring the visual feedback and others relying on it almost entirely, our modeling results suggest that almost all participants used the same strategy in which idiothetic and allothetic cues are combined when the mismatch between them is small, but compete when the mismatch is large. These findings suggest that participants update their estimate of heading using a hybrid strategy that mixes the combination and competition of cues.

Author summary

Successful navigation requires us to combine visual information about our environment with body-based cues about our own rotations and translations. In this work we investigated how these disparate sources of information work together to compute an estimate of heading. Using a novel virtual reality task we measured how humans integrate visual and body-based cues when there is mismatch between them — that is, when the estimate of heading from visual information is different from body-based cues. By building computational models of different strategies, we reveal that humans use a hybrid strategy for integrating visual and body-based cues — combining them when the mismatch between them is small and picking one or the other when the mismatch is large.
Short homology-directed repair using optimized Cas9 in the pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans enables rapid gene deletion and tagging
Authors: Huang Manning Y. , Joshi Meenakshi B. , Boucher Michael J. , Lee Sujin , Loza Liza C. , Gaylord Elizabeth A. , Doering Tamara L. , Madhani Hiten D.
Published: July 2021

Cryptococcus neoformans, the most common cause of fungal meningitis, is a basidiomycete haploid budding yeast with a complete sexual cycle. Genome modification by homologous recombination is feasible using biolistic transformation and long homology arms, but the method is arduous and unreliable. Recently, multiple groups have reported the use of CRISPR-Cas9 as an alternative to biolistics, but long homology arms are still necessary, limiting the utility of this method. Since the S. pyogenes Cas9 derivatives used in prior studies were not optimized for expression in C. neoformans, we designed, synthesized, and tested a fully C. neoformans-optimized Cas9. We found that a Cas9 harboring only common C. neoformans codons and a consensus C. neoformans intron together with a TEF1 promoter and terminator and a nuclear localization signal (C. neoformans-optimized CAS9 or “CnoCAS9”) reliably enabled genome editing in the widely-used KN99α C. neoformans strain. Furthermore, editing was accomplished using donors harboring short (50 bp) homology arms attached to marker DNAs produced with synthetic oligonucleotides and PCR amplification. We also demonstrated that prior stable integration of CnoCAS9 further enhances both transformation and homologous recombination efficiency; importantly, this manipulation does not impact virulence in animals. We also implemented a universal tagging module harboring a codon-optimized fluorescent protein (mNeonGreen) and a tandem Calmodulin Binding Peptide-2X FLAG Tag that allows for both localization and purification studies of proteins for which the corresponding genes are modified by short homology-directed recombination. These tools enable short-homology genome engineering in C. neoformans.
Network-Based Discovery of Opioid Use Vulnerability in Rats Using the Bayesian Stochastic Block Model
Authors: Allen Carter , Kuhn Brittany N. , Cannella Nazzareno , Crow Ayteria D. , Roberts Analyse T. , Lunerti Veronica , Ubaldi Massimo , Hardiman Gary , Solberg Woods Leah C. , Ciccocioppo Roberto , Kalivas Peter W. , Chung Dongjun
Published: July 2021

Opioid use disorder is a psychological condition that affects over 200,000 people per year in the U.S., causing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to label the crisis as a rapidly spreading public health epidemic. It has been found that the behavioral relationship between opioid exposure and development of opioid use disorder varies greatly between individuals, implying existence of sup-populations with varying degrees of opioid vulnerability. In this study, we assessed several behavioral variables across heroin taking, refraining and seeking to establish how these factors interact with one another resulting in a heroin dependent, resilient, or vulnerable behavioral phenotype. Over 400 (male and female) heterogeneous stock rats were used in these two studies, and data were collected from two geographically distinct locations. Rats underwent heroin self-administration training, followed by a progressive ratio and heroin-primed reinstatement test. Next, rats underwent extinction training and a cue-induced reinstatement test. To assess how these variables contribute to heroin addiction vulnerability, we developed a network-based data analysis workflow. Specifically, we integrated different cohorts of rats, remove possible batch effects, and constructed a rat-rat similarity network based on their behavioral patterns. We then implemented community detection on this similarity network using a Bayesian degree-corrected stochastic block model to uncover sub-populations of rats with differing levels of opioid vulnerability. We discovered three distinct behavioral sub-populations, each with significantly different behavioral outcomes that allowed for unique characterization of each cluster in terms of vulnerability to opioid use and seeking. We implement this analysis workflow as an open source R package, named mlsbm.
Rapid synaptic plasticity contributes to a learned conjunctive code of position and choice-related information in the hippocampus
Authors: Zhao Xinyu , Hsu Ching-Lung , Spruston Nelson
Published: July 2021

To successfully perform goal-directed navigation, animals must know where they are and what they are doing—e.g., looking for water, bringing food back to the nest, or escaping from a predator. Hippocampal neurons code for these critical variables conjunctively, but little is known about how this where/what code is formed or flexibly routed to other brain regions. To address these questions, we performed intracellular whole-cell recordings in mouse CA1 during a cued, two-choice virtual navigation task. We demonstrate that plateau potentials in CA1 pyramidal neurons rapidly strengthen synaptic inputs carrying conjunctive information about position and choice. Plasticity-induced response fields were modulated by cues only in animals previously trained to collect rewards based on these cues. Thus, we reveal that gradual learning is required for the formation of a conjunctive population code, upstream of CA1, while plateau-potential-induced synaptic plasticity in CA1 enables flexible routing of the code to downstream brain regions.
Integrative analysis of the shikonin metabolic network identifies new gene connections and reveals evolutionary insight into shikonin biosynthesis
Authors: Suttiyut Thiti , Auber Robert P. , Ghaste Manoj , Kane Cade N. , McAdam Scott A. M. , Wisecaver Jennifer H. , Widhalm Joshua R.
Published: July 2021

Plant specialized 1,4-naphthoquinones present a remarkable case of convergent evolution. Species across multiple discrete orders of vascular plants produce diverse 1,4-naphthoquinones via one of several pathways using different metabolic precursors. Evolution of these pathways was preceded by events of metabolic innovation and many appear to share connections with biosynthesis of photosynthetic or respiratory quinones. Here, we sought to shed light on the metabolic connections linking shikonin biosynthesis with its precursor pathways and on the origins of shiknoin metabolic genes. Downregulation of Lithospermum erythrorhizon geranyl diphosphate synthase (LeGPPS), recently shown to have been recruited from a cytoplasmic farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS), resulted in reduced shikonin production and a decrease in expression of mevalonic acid and phenylpropanoid pathway genes. Next, we used LeGPPS and other known shikonin pathway genes to build a coexpression network model for identifying new gene connections to shikonin metabolism. Integrative in silico analyses of network genes revealed candidates for biochemical steps in the shikonin pathway arising from Boraginales-specific gene family expansion. Multiple genes in the shikonin coexpression network were also discovered to have originated from duplication of ubiquinone pathway genes. Taken together, our study provides evidence for transcriptional crosstalk between shikonin biosynthesis and its precursor pathways, identifies several shikonin pathway gene candidates and their evolutionary histories, and establishes additional evolutionary links between shikonin and ubiquinone metabolism. Moreover, we demonstrate that global coexpression analysis using limited transcriptomic data obtained from targeted experiments is effective for identifying gene connections within a defined metabolic network.
Structural studies on cell wall biogenesis-I: A method to produce high-quality protoplasts from alga Micrasterias denticulate, an emerging model in plant biology
Authors: Selvaraj M.
Published: July 2021

Micrasterias denticulate is a freshwater unicellular green alga emerging as a model system in plant cell biology. This is an algae that has been examined in the context of cell wall research from early 1970’s. Protoplast production from such a model system is important for many downstream physiological and cell biological studies. The algae produce intact protoplast in a straight two-step protocol involving 5% mannitol, 2% cellulysin, 4mM calcium chloride under a ‘temperature ramping’ strategy. The process of protoplast induction and behavior of protoplast was examined by light microscopy and reported in this study.
TMEM120A/TACAN inhibits mechanically activated Piezo2 channels
Authors: Del Rosario John Smith , Gabrielle Matthew , Yudin Yevgen , Rohacs Tibor
Published: July 2021

Mechanically activated Piezo2 channels are key mediators of light touch and proprioception in mice and humans. Relatively little is known about what other proteins regulate Piezo2 activity in a cellular context. TACAN (TMEM120A) was proposed to act as a high threshold mechanically activated ion channel in nociceptive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Here we find that TACAN co-expression robustly reduced mechanically activated Piezo2 currents, but did not inhibit mechanically activated Piezo1 and TREK1 currents. TACAN co-expression did not affect cell surface expression of either Piezo1 or Piezo2 and did not have major effects on the cortical actin or tubulin cytoskeleton. TACAN expression alone did not result in the appearance of mechanically activated currents above background. In addition, TACAN and Piezo2 expression in DRG neurons overlapped, and siRNA mediated knockdown of TACAN did not decrease the proportion of slowly adapting mechanically activated currents, but resulted in an increased proportion of rapidly adapting currents. Our data do not support TACAN being a mechanically activated ion channel, and identify it as a negative modulator of Piezo2 channel activity.
Activity-dependent LTP in the dentate gyrus promotes epileptic seizures
Authors: Nasrallah Kaoutsar , Agustina Frechou M. , Yoon Young J. , Persaud Subrina , Gonçalves Tiago , Castillo Pablo E.
Published: July 2021

Epilepsy is a devastating brain disorder whose cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Excitatory mossy cells (MCs) in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus are implicated in temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common form of focal epilepsy in adults. However, the role of MCs during initial seizures, before MC loss occurs, is unclear. Here, we show that initial seizures induced with kainic acid (KA) intraperitoneal injection in adult mice, a well-established model of experimental epilepsy, not only increased MC and granule cell (GC) activity in vivo, but also triggered a BDNF-dependent long-term potentiation at MC-GC synapses (MC-GC LTP). In vivo induction of MC-GC LTP worsened KA-induced seizures, whereas selective MC silencing and Bdnf genetic removal from GCs, which abolishes LTP, were both anti-epileptic. Thus, initial seizures strengthen MC-GC synaptic transmission, thereby promoting epileptic activity. Our findings reveal a potential mechanism of epileptogenesis that may help develop therapeutic strategies for early intervention.
Spike protein cleavage-activation mediated by the SARS-CoV-2 P681R mutation: a case-study from its first appearance in variant of interest (VOI) A.23.1 identified in Uganda
Authors: Lubinski Bailey , Frazier Laura , Phan My , Bugumbe Daniel , Cunningham Jessie L , Tang Tiffany , Daniel Susan , Cotten Matthew , Jaimes Javier A. , Whittaker Gary
Published: July 2021

The African continent like all other parts of the world with high infection/low vaccination rates can, and will, be a source of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. The A.23 viral lineage, characterized by three spike mutations F157L, V367F and Q613H, was first identified in COVID-19 cases from a Ugandan prison in July 2020, and then was identified in the general population with additional spike mutations (R102I, L141F, E484K and P681R) to comprise lineage A.23.1 by September 2020, with this virus being designated a variant of interest (VOI) in Africa and with subsequent spread to 26 other countries. The P681R spike substitution of the A.23.1 VOI is of note as it increases the number of basic residues in the sub-optimal SARS-CoV-2 spike protein furin cleavage site; as such, this substitution may affect viral replication, transmissibility or pathogenic properties. The same P681R substitution has also appeared in B.1.617 variants, including B.1.617.2 (Delta). Here, we performed assays using fluorogenic peptides mimicking the S1/S2 sequence from A.23.1 and B.1.617.2 and observed significantly increased cleavability with furin, compared to sequences derived from the original Wuhan-Hu1 S1/S2. We performed functional infectivity assays using pseudotyped MLV particles harboring SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and observed an increase in transduction for A.23.1-pseudotyped particles compared to Wuhan-Hu-1 in Vero-TMPRSS2 and Calu-3 cells (with a presumed early entry pathway), although lowered infection in Vero E6 cells (with a presumed late entry pathway). However, these changes in infectivity were not reproduced in the original Wuhan-Hu-1 spike bearing only the P681R substitution. Our findings suggest that while A.23.1 has increased furin-mediated cleavage linked to the P681R substitution, which may affect viral infection and transmissibility, this substitution alone is not sufficient and needs to occur on the background of other spike protein changes to enable its full functional consequences.
Mega-fire in Redwood Tanoak Forest Reduces Bacterial and Fungal Richness and Selects for Pyrophilous Taxa and Traits that are Phylogenetically Conserved
Authors: Enright Dylan J. , Frangioso Kerri M. , Isobe Kazuo , Rizzo David M. , Glassman Sydney I.
Published: July 2021

Mega-fires of unprecedented size, intensity, and socio-economic impacts have surged globally due to climate change, fire suppression, and development. Soil microbiomes are critical for post-fire plant regeneration and nutrient cycling, yet how mega-fires impact the soil microbiome remains unclear. We had a serendipitous opportunity to obtain pre- and post-fire soils from the same sampling locations because the 2016 Soberanes Fire, a mega-fire burning >500 Km2, burned with high severity throughout several of our established redwood-tanoak plots. This makes our study the first to examine microbial fire response in redwood-tanoak forests. We re-sampled soils immediately post-fire from two burned plots and one unburned plot to elucidate the effect of mega-fire on soil microbiomes. We used Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S and ITS1 to determine that both bacterial and fungal richness were reduced by 38-70% in burned plots, with richness unchanged in the unburned plot. Fire altered composition by 27% for bacteria and 24% for fungi, whereas the unburned plots experienced no change in fungal and negligible change in bacterial composition. We observed several pyrophilous taxa previously observed in Pinaceae forests, indicating that these microbes are likely general fire-responders across forest types. Further, the pyrophilous taxa that positively responded to fire were phylogenetically conserved, suggesting shared evolutionary traits. For bacteria, fire selected for increased Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. For fungi, fire selected for the Ascomycota classes Pezizomycetes and Eurotiomycetes and for a Basidiomycota class of heat-resistant Geminibasidiomycete yeasts. We hypothesize that microbes share analogous fire response to plants and propose a trait-based conceptual model of microbial response to fire that builds from Grimes Competitor-Stress tolerator-Ruderal framework (C-S-R) and its recent applications to microbes. Using this framework and established literature on several microbial species, we hypothesize some generalizable principals to predict which microbial taxa will respond to fire.
daf-16/FOXO blocks adult cell fate in Caenorhabditis elegans dauer larvae via lin-41/TRIM71
Authors: Wirick Matthew J. , Cale Allison R. , Smith Isaac T. , Alessi Amelia F. , Starostik Margaret R. , Cuko Liberta , Lalk Kyal , Schmidt Mikayla N. , Olson Benjamin S. , Salomon Payton M. , Santos Alexis , Schmitter-Sánchez Axel , Galagali Himani , Ranke Kevin J. , Wolbert Payton A. , Knoblock Macy L. , Kim John K. , Karp Xantha
Published: July 2021

Many tissue-specific stem cells maintain the ability to produce multiple cell types during long periods of non-division, or quiescence. FOXO transcription factors promote quiescence and stem cell maintenance, but the mechanisms by which FOXO proteins promote multipotency during quiescence are still emerging. The single FOXO ortholog in C. elegans, daf-16, promotes entry into a quiescent and stress-resistant larval stage called dauer in response to adverse environmental cues. During dauer, stem and progenitor cells maintain or re-establish multipotency to allow normal development to resume after dauer. We find that during dauer, daf-16/FOXO prevents epidermal stem cells (seam cells) from prematurely adopting differentiated, adult characteristics. In particular, dauer larvae that lack daf-16 misexpress collagens that are normally adult-enriched. Using col-19p::gfp as an adult cell fate marker, we find that all major daf-16 isoforms contribute to opposing col-19p::gfp expression during dauer. By contrast, daf-16(0) larvae that undergo non-dauer development do not misexpress col-19p::gfp. Adult cell fate and the timing of col-19p::gfp expression are regulated by the heterochronic gene network, including lin-41 and lin-29. lin-41 encodes an RNA-binding protein orthologous to LIN41/TRIM71 in mammals, and lin-29 encodes a conserved zinc finger transcription factor. In non-dauer development lin-41 opposes adult cell fate by inhibiting the translation of lin-29, which directly activates col-19 transcription and promotes adult cell fate. We find that during dauer, lin-41 blocks col-19p::gfp expression, but surprisingly, lin-29 is not required in this context. Additionally, daf-16 promotes the expression of lin-41 in dauer larvae. The col-19p::gfp misexpression phenotype observed in dauer larvae with reduced daf-16 requires the downregulation of lin-41, but does not require lin-29. Taken together, this work demonstrates a novel role for daf-16/FOXO as a heterochronic gene that promotes expression of lin-41/TRIM71 to contribute to multipotent cell fate in a quiescent stem cell model.
Evaluation of persistence and fate of ex vivo edited-HSC modified with donor template and Its role in correcting Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Pattabhi Sowmya , Lotti Samantha N. , Berger Mason P. , Singh Swati , Rawlings David J.
Published: July 2021

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by a single nucleotide transversion in exon 1 of the HBB gene that changes the hydrophobicity of adult globin (βA), leading to substantial morbidity and reduced lifespan. Ex vivo autologous gene editing utilizing co-delivery of a designer nuclease along with a DNA donor template allows for precise homology-directed repair (HDR). These gene corrected cells when engrafted into the bone marrow (BM) can prove to be therapeutic and serves as an alternative to HLA-matched BM transplantation. In the current study, we extensively explored the role of single stranded oligonucleotide (ssODN) and recombinant adeno-associated 6 (rAAV6) donor template delivery to introduce a codon-optimized change (E6optE) or a sickle mutation (E6V) change following Crispr/Cas9-mediated cleavage of HBB in healthy human mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (mPBSCs). We achieved efficient HDR in vitro in edited cells and observed robust human CD45+ engraftment in the BM of NBSGW mice at 16-17 weeks. Notably, recipients of ssODN-modified HSC exhibited a significantly higher proportion of HDR-modified cells within individual BM, CD34+ and CD235+ compartments of both E6optE and E6V cohorts. We further assessed key functional outcomes including RNA transcripts analysis and globin sub-type expression. Our combined findings demonstrate the capacity to achieve clinically relevant HDR in vitro and in vivo using both donor template delivery method. The use of ssODN donor template-delivery is consistently associated with higher levels of gene correction in vivo as demonstrated by sustained engraftment of HDR-modified HSC and erythroid progeny. Finally, the HDR-based globin protein expression was significantly higher in the E6V ssODN-modified animals compared to the rAAV6-modified animals confirming that the ssODN donor template delivery outperforms rAAV6-donor template delivery.
Southern Hybridization of Radiolabeled Probes to Nucleic Acids Immobilized on Membranes
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: July 2021

In this protocol, restriction fragments that have been transferred to a membrane by Southern blotting are hybridized to a labeled probe. Methods for stripping the probe from the membrane are also included.
Role of perceived HRM toward workplace bullying and turnover intention: mediating role of resilience and psychological health
Authors: Noopur  , Burman Richa
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The present research work has tried to investigate the impact of workplace bullying (WB) on turnover intention (TI); the study has also analyzed the effect of psychological health (PH) and resilience (RS) indirectly as mediators in between WB and TI. Further, the role of perceived HRM as a moderator directly and through RS has been tested. The study has been carried in the context of Indian IT sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of the moderated mediation model was done through PLS-SEM, owing to the medium size of the sample. SmartPLS 3 was used to check on the psychometric principles if any for the measurement model and also adopt a two-step analysis for the proposed model.

Findings

The findings of the present study have validated the empirical model, showing a significant relationship in between the proposed constructs. WB had a positive impact on TI whereas PH and RS turned out to be partial mediators but there was no evidence as to which mediator had a larger impact. Further, perceived HRM served as a moderator in between WB and TI and also through RS.

Originality/value

The study is first of its kind which has tried to investigate an exhaustive mediated moderation model in the Indian IT sector. The study has postulated that it is not just the HRM content but the perceptions of employees toward HRM which can be beneficial in resolving sensitive issues such as WB and eventually turnover intents.
Food waste management: an example from university refectory
Authors: Börühan Gülmüş , Ozbiltekin-Pala Melisa
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The study analysed the amount of plate waste in a university refectory in Izmir, Turkey to find ways of minimizing plate waste in the university, providing sustainability and contributing to the development of circular economy and raising awareness about the plate waste problem.

Design/methodology/approach

Observation and semi-structured interviews were used to determine the volume of plate waste and level of awareness of academicians, students and administrative staff and suggest sustainable solutions for food waste in university refectories. The data gained from the semi-structured interviews were analysed with qualitative analysis software (MAXQDA®).

Findings

Plate waste in the university's refectories is increasing due to the lack of precautionary measures. Academicians, students and administrative staff all showed low awareness rates.

Originality/value

This study is original in investigating theoretically and empirically one of the main reasons for food waste, namely plate waste in mass consumption sites, and evaluating the effect of food waste from an economic, social and environmental perspective.
Linkages between entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurship education: new evidence on the gender imbalance
Authors: Salavou Helen Efstratios , Chalkos Georgios , Lioukas Spyros
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Embracing the theories of gender role and career socialization, this study focuses on young adults and explores gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurship education.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on 203 young adults, this study employs a logistic regression model to test hypothesis 1 regarding differences in gender. In addition, it performs an analysis of variance using the two groups of young adults with and without academic entrepreneurship education to detect differences in entrepreneurial intentions between men (hypothesis 2) and women (hypothesis 3).

Findings

The empirical findings from a European country trailing in university-level entrepreneurship education confirm the dominant evidence that young women have lower entrepreneurial intentions than young men. In addition, women's proclivity toward entrepreneurship is lower with academic entrepreneurship education than without.

Originality/value

This study provides new evidence from Greece, which has few studies on entrepreneurship education at the tertiary level. Scholars are advised to keep track of the new pathway exploring linkages between gender, entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurship education. Policymakers in Europe are encouraged to establish an approach of tailoring university courses to their students. Currently, society will benefit from entrepreneurship education curricula targeting young women based on their particular needs and interests, while nurturing their entrepreneurial intentions.
Discussing: “The very idea of organizing becomes literally meaningless”
Authors: Letiche Hugo
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Gunther Anders in the 20th century and Hartmut Rosa in the 21st have argued that the technics of organization – that is, its physical and social technologies, have from acceleration become so uncontrollable and unpredictable that circumstances actually outstrip awareness to the degree that intentional “organizing” is more a fable than a reality, as stated in the quote from Rosa that forms the title of this article.

Design/methodology/approach

In this article, two critical theorists are examined who have fundamentally rejected the “control” thesis that dominates organization theory. It is a thesis that assumes that organizational change ought to be goal-directed, leadership driven and make use of soft and hard technologies to achieve defined objectives.

Findings

The prevailing “idea” of organizing has become illusionary. The technics of accelerationism have overpowered it. Not “organizing” but “ethic-sizing” is what remains as the: “What is to be done.”

Originality/value

The tradition of Gunther Anders and Hartmut Rosa (second and third generation Frankfurter School) and the implications of their work for our assumptions about the relations between technology, control and organization is for a first time evidenced in this article.
Overcoming physical distancing in online communities to create human spaces for societal transformations
Authors: Westermann Felix , Doll Linda , Duprés Maren , Späth Sofia , Schweizer-Ries Petra Monika
Published: July 2021

Purpose

How can social presence, participation and a sense of community be formed in an online setting without compromising on social connectedness through physical distancing? Under consideration of the goals for an Education for Sustainable Development, transformative science and the social techniques of Theory U, developed by Otto Scharmer (2016), an online Community of Inquiry of researchers, practitioners and learners was to be developed, followed and observed to discuss the question whether and how it was possible to create an awareness-based, future-oriented and socially committed online community that would enrich social transformation processes.

Design/methodology/approach

Methods of 1st, 2nd and 3rd person research were applied, as well as group discussions, one Mentimeter survey and one standardised questionnaire with an open question.

Findings

Results indicate that it is not only possible to create a feeling of community in an online setting, but also point to the terms and conditions which act as enablers and influencers, like seeing each other face-to-face, collective check-ins and check-outs as well as small group break-out sessions. Video conferencing and the practicing of rules of conduct and communication, also referred to as netiquette, enable a transcendence of the physical distance to reach a feeling of belonging and social presence in the perception of the participants.

Originality/value

In line with global sustainable development, the study also sets an example for how to reduce personal emissions when planning an international conference. Also, it shows how to create online spaces to connect people worldwide, which will support to take over responsibilities as world citizens.
How user personality and information characteristics influence the creative information quality on open innovation platforms: an elaboration likelihood model
Authors: Zhou Lixin , Zhang Zhenyu , Zhao Laijun , Yang Pingle
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Large volumes of users' creative information have rapidly become vital resources in the open innovation platforms, so it is crucial to identify high-quality information from massive creative information. However, the existing literature on the quality of creative information only focuses on the information characteristics or publishers' features.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors used the elaboration likelihood model to examine the joint effect of central route factors (information characteristics: timeliness, readability and sentiment) and peripheral route factors (source characteristics: personality traits, past successful experiences and social network location) on the quality of creative information. Furthermore, the author explored the moderating roles of companies' support between central and peripheral route factors on the quality of creative information. Finally, binary logistic regression was adopted to test the research hypotheses on the empirical data from Salesforce.

Findings

The results indicated that users with high extroversion, conscientiousness, social centrality and prior success rate tended to propose high-quality information. Meanwhile, information timeliness, readability and sentiment also negatively influence the quality of creative information.

Originality/value

Different from previous studies, the study findings not only provide insights on identifying the quality of creative information from an information perspective, but also promotes the awareness of the intrinsic personality traits of information users and innovative support efforts by platforms and their managers.
The role of supervisor support for strengths use in promoting perceived employability and career satisfaction
Authors: Matsuo Makoto
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine how perceived supervisor support for strengths use (PSSSU) directly and indirectly facilitates career satisfaction and perceived employability as mediated by strengths use behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-wave questionnaire survey was administered to nurses (n = 221) and analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results indicated that PSSSU directly enhanced career satisfaction and indirectly enhanced perceived employability through strengths use behavior.

Research limitations/implications

As the sample was limited to nurses in a Japanese hospital, it is possible that the characteristics of the national culture and occupation affected the results.

Practical implications

Support for strengths use is important especially in stressful work environments in order to retain professional employees by enhancing their employability and career satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature by identifying the different effects of PSSSU on the two types of career-related well-being. The present research is the first study to show the mediating role played by strengths use behavior in linking PSSSU to perceived employability.
Diagnosis of COVID-19 through blood sample using ensemble genetic algorithms and machine learning classifier
Authors: Doewes Rumi Iqbal , Nair Rajit , Sharma Tripti
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This purpose of this study is to perfrom the analysis of COVID-19 with the help of blood samples. The blood samples used in the study consist of more than 100 features. So to process high dimensional data, feature reduction has been performed by using the genetic algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors will implement the genetic algorithm for the prediction of COVID-19 from the blood test sample. The sample contains records of around 5,644 patients with 111 attributes. The genetic algorithm such as relief with ant colony optimization algorithm will be used for dimensionality reduction approach.

Findings

The implementation of this study is done through python programming language and the performance evaluation of the model is done through various parameters such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and area under curve (AUC).

Originality/value

The implemented model has achieved an accuracy of 98.7%, sensitivity of 96.76%, specificity of 98.80% and AUC of 92%. The results have shown that the implemented algorithm has performed better than other states of the art algorithms.
Experimental evidence that effects of megaherbivores on mesoherbivore space use are influenced by species' traits
Authors: Wells Harry B. M. , Crego Ramiro D. , Opedal Øystein H. , Khasoha Leo M. , Alston Jesse M. , Reed Courtney G. , Weiner Sarah , Kurukura Samson , Hassan Abdikadir A. , Namoni Mathew , Ekadeli Jackson , Kimuyu Duncan M. , Young Truman P. , Kartzinel Tyler R. , Palmer Todd M. , Pringle Robert M. , Goheen Jacob R.
Published: July 2021

The extinction of 80% of megaherbivore (>1,000 kg) species towards the end of the Pleistocene altered vegetation structure, fire dynamics and nutrient cycling world‐wide. Ecologists have proposed (re)introducing megaherbivores or their ecological analogues to restore lost ecosystem functions and reinforce extant but declining megaherbivore populations. However, the effects of megaherbivores on smaller herbivores are poorly understood.

We used long‐term exclusion experiments and multispecies hierarchical models fitted to dung counts to test (a) the effect of megaherbivores (elephant and giraffe) on the occurrence (dung presence) and use intensity (dung pile density) of mesoherbivores (2–1,000 kg), and (b) the extent to which the responses of each mesoherbivore species was predictable based on their traits (diet and shoulder height) and phylogenetic relatedness.

Megaherbivores increased the predicted occurrence and use intensity of zebras but reduced the occurrence and use intensity of several other mesoherbivore species. The negative effect of megaherbivores on mesoherbivore occurrence was stronger for shorter species, regardless of diet or relatedness.

Megaherbivores substantially reduced the expected total use intensity (i.e. cumulative dung density of all species) of mesoherbivores, but only minimally reduced the expected species richness (i.e. cumulative predicted occurrence probabilities of all species) of mesoherbivores (by <1 species).

Simulated extirpation of megaherbivores altered use intensity by mesoherbivores, which should be considered during (re)introductions of megaherbivores or their ecological proxies. Species' traits (in this case shoulder height) may be more reliable predictors of mesoherbivores' responses to megaherbivores than phylogenetic relatedness, and may be useful for predicting responses of data‐limited species.
Invasion drives plant diversity loss through competition and ecosystem modification
Authors: Carboni Marta , Livingstone Stuart W. , Isaac Marney E. , Cadotte Marc W.
Published: July 2021

Although invasive plants increasingly contribute to the current biodiversity crisis, the mechanisms through which they impact native communities are still poorly understood. Community ecology theory has emphasized direct competitive displacement over common resources, but invasion‐driven ecosystem modifications, such as altered soil pH, might also have consequences for plant diversity. However, the relative importance of ecosystem modification compared to direct resource competition has rarely been tested.

Here we studied the invasive vine Vincetoxicum rossicum across invaded meadows in southern Ontario, Canada. In each meadow site, we quantified: (a) the strength of impact on the resident plant community, (b) the potential for competition with resident species (as the degree of niche dissimilarity and competitive superiority to the residents based on their functional traits) and (c) the amount of ecosystem modification related to invasion.

We found that impacts on plant biodiversity were more negative where the invader had greater potential to competitively displace species (because it had a similar niche as the residents or was competitively superior), but also where it strongly altered soil N pools, moisture and pH.

Synthesis. Our case study suggests that while competition is undoubtedly an important driver of invasion impact, ecosystem modifications can have cascading effects on plant communities, thereby magnifying the impacts of biological invasions.
Dynamics of Baltic Sea phages driven by environmental changes
Authors: Hoetzinger Matthias , Nilsson Emelie , Arabi Rahaf , Osbeck Christofer M. G. , Pontiller Benjamin , Hutinet Geoffrey , Bayfield Oliver W. , Traving Sachia , Kisand Veljo , Lundin Daniel , Pinhassi Jarone , Middelboe Mathias , Holmfeldt Karin
Published: July 2021

Phage predation constitutes a major mortality factor for bacteria in aquatic ecosystems, and thus, directly impacts nutrient cycling and microbial community dynamics. Yet, the population dynamics of specific phages across time scales from days to months remain largely unexplored, which limits our understanding of their influence on microbial succession. To investigate temporal changes in diversity and abundance of phages infecting particular host strains, we isolated 121 phage strains that infected three bacterial hosts during a Baltic Sea mesocosm experiment. Genome analysis revealed a novel Flavobacterium phage genus harboring gene sets putatively coding for synthesis of modified nucleotides and glycosylation of bacterial cell surface components. Another novel phage genus revealed a microdiversity of phage species that was largely maintained during the experiment and across mesocosms amended with different nutrients. In contrast to the newly described Flavobacterium phages, phages isolated from a Rheinheimera strain were highly similar to previously isolated genotypes, pointing to genomic consistency in this population. In the mesocosm experiment, the investigated phages were mainly detected after a phytoplankton bloom peak. This concurred with recurrent detection of the phages in the Baltic Proper during summer months, suggesting an influence on the succession of heterotrophic bacteria associated with phytoplankton blooms.
Attitudes to Climate Migrants: Results from a Conjoint Survey Experiment in Denmark
Authors: Hedegaard Troels Fage
Published: July 2021

As global warming increases the temperature of the planet, so does the likelihood that European countries will be faced with climate migrants. Since climate migrants cannot apply for asylum, they would need public and political support to gain residency in the countries to which they migrate. In this article, I show how likely Danes are to grant residency to climate migrants compared to other types of migrants and explore what individual‐level factors explain variations in this. I answer the two questions by combining the results of a conjoint survey experiment with an election survey. The results show that climate migrants are perceived to be less deserving of permanent residency than migrants who typically could qualify for asylum, but more likely to be deemed deserving than those who could broadly be called economic migrants. The results also show that three factors explain variations in this – attitudes to climate change, attitudes to migration and ideology.
A comprehensive review on polarity, partitioning, and interactions of phenolic antioxidants at oil–water interface of food emulsions
Authors: Farooq Shahzad , Abdullah  , Zhang Hui , Weiss Jochen
Published: July 2021

There has been a growing interest in developing effective strategies to inhibit lipid oxidation in emulsified food products by utilization of natural phenolic antioxidants owing to their growing popularity over the past decades. However, due to the complexity of emulsified systems, the inhibition mechanism of phenolic antioxidants against lipid oxidation is rather complicated and not yet fully understood. In order to highlight the importance of polarity of phenolic antioxidants in emulsified systems according to the polar paradox, this review covers the recent progress on chemical, enzymatic, and chemoenzymatic lipophilization techniques used to modify the polarity of antioxidants. The partitioning behavior of phenolic antioxidants at the oil–water interface, which can be influenced by the presence of synthetic surfactants and/or antioxidant emulsifiers (e.g., polysaccharides, proteins, and phospholipids), is discussed. In addition, the emerging phenolic antioxidants among phenolic acids, flavonoids, tocopherols, and stilbenes applied in food emulsions are elaborated. As well, the interactions of polar–nonpolar antioxidants are stressed as a promising strategy to induce synergistic interactions at oil–water interface for improved oxidative stability of emulsions.
Water‐soluble polymers in agriculture: xanthan gum as eco‐friendly alternative to synthetics
Authors: Berninger Teresa , Dietz Natalie , González López Óscar
Published: July 2021

Water‐soluble polymers (WSPs) are a versatile group of chemicals used across industries for different purposes such as thickening, stabilizing, adhesion and gelation. Synthetic polymers have tailored characteristics and are chemically homogeneous, whereas plant‐derived biopolymers vary more widely in their specifications and are chemically heterogeneous. Between both sources, microbial polysaccharides are an advantageous compromise. They combine naturalness with defined material properties, precisely controlled by optimizing strain selection, fermentation operational parameters and downstream processes. The relevance of such bio‐based and biodegradable materials is rising due to increasing environmental awareness of consumers and a tightening regulatory framework, causing both solid and water‐soluble synthetic polymers, also termed ‘microplastics’, to have come under scrutiny. Xanthan gum is the most important microbial polysaccharide in terms of production volume and diversity of applications, and available as different grades with specific properties. In this review, we will focus on the applicability of xanthan gum in agriculture (drift control, encapsulation and soil improvement), considering its potential to replace traditionally used synthetic WSPs. As a spray adjuvant, xanthan gum prevents the formation of driftable fine droplets and shows particular resistance to mechanical shear. Xanthan gum as a component in encapsulated formulations modifies release properties or provides additional protection to encapsulated agents. In geotechnical engineering, soil amended with xanthan gum has proven to increase water retention, reduce water evaporation, percolation and soil erosion – topics of high relevance in the agriculture of the 21st century. Finally, hands‐on formulation tips are provided to facilitate exploiting the full potential of xanthan gum in diverse agricultural applications and thus providing sustainable solutions.
Optimizing sampling design and sequencing strategy for the genomic analysis of quantitative traits in natural populations
Authors: Paril Jefferson F. , Balding David J. , Fournier‐Level Alexandre
Published: July 2021

Mapping the genes underlying ecologically relevant traits in natural populations is fundamental to develop a molecular understanding of species adaptation. Current sequencing technologies enable the characterization of a species’ genetic diversity across the landscape or even over its whole range. The relevant capture of the genetic diversity across the landscape is critical for a successful genetic mapping of traits and there are no clear guidelines on how to achieve an optimal sampling and which sequencing strategy to implement. Here we determine, through simulation, the sampling scheme that maximizes the power to map the genetic basis of a complex trait in an outbreeding species across an idealized landscape and draw genomic predictions for the trait, comparing individual and pool sequencing strategies. Our results show that quantitative trait locus detection power and prediction accuracy are higher when more populations over the landscape are sampled and this is more cost‐effectively done with pool sequencing than with individual sequencing. Additionally, we recommend sampling populations from areas of high genetic diversity. As progress in sequencing enables the integration of trait‐based functional ecology into landscape genomics studies, these findings will guide study designs allowing direct measures of genetic effects in natural populations across the environment.