bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A mosaic adeno-associated virus vector as a versatile tool that exhibits high levels of transgene expression and neuron specificity in primate brain
Authors: Kimura Kei , Nagai Yuji , Hatanaka Gaku , Fang Yang , Zheng Andi , Fujiwara Maki , Nakano Mayuko , Hori Yukiko , Takeuchi Ryosuke , Inagaki Mikio , Minamimoto Takafumi , Fujita Ichiro , Inoue Ken-ichi , Takada Masahiko
Published: July 2021

Recent emphasis has been placed on gene transduction mediated through recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to manipulate activity of neurons and their circuitry in the primate brain. In the present study, we created a novel AAV vector of which capsid was composed of capsid proteins derived from the serotypes 1 and 2 (AAV1 and AAV2). Following the injection into the frontal cortex of macaque monkeys, this mosaic vector, termed AAV2.1 vector, was found to exhibit the excellence in transgene expression (for the AAV1 vector) and neuron specificity (for the AAV2 vector) simultaneously. To explore its applicability to chemogenetic manipulation and in vivo calcium imaging, the AAV2.1 vector expressing excitatory DREADDs or GCaMP was injected into the striatum or the visual cortex of macaque monkeys, respectively. Our results have defined that such vectors secure intense and stable expression of the target proteins and yield conspicuous modulation and imaging of neuronal activity.
Dique Filipeia: A rehabilitation protocol for non-intubated COVID-19 in-hospital patients
Authors: Frazão Murillo , de Brito Marinho Paiva Kamila Januária , da Nova Sá Rossana Maria , Santos Menezes Fábio dos , dos Santos Alves Laís Ailenny , de Souza Rocha Anderson Igor Silva , de França Eduardo Eriko Tenório , Cruz Santos Amilton da , Brasileiro-Santos Maria do Socorro
Published: July 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the “Dique Filipeia” rehabilitation protocol in patients with COVID-19 admitted to reference hospitals.

Methods

This is an experimental study with COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospitals wards being considered eligible. The study outcomes were assessed between patients undergoing the rehabilitation protocol (Dique Filipeia group) and patients who did not receive the protocol (control group). The rehabilitation protocol consisted in classifying patients daily into four levels of severity through peripheral oxygen saturation. Severity was classified by the oxygen flow needed to maintain a saturation greater than or equal to the cut-off point of 93%. A standardized ventilatory support and functional rehabilitation exercises were performed for each severity level patient, followed by an attempt to wean oxygen.

Results

A total of 727 patients were analyzed in the study. The Dique Filipeia group presented a lower total (132.7 ± 35.3 vs 307.0 ± 114.3 m3/patient; effect size 1.73) and daily (2.9 ± 1.0 vs 6.8 ± 3.1 m3/day/patient; effect size 1.46) oxygen expenditure than the control group. The Dique Filipeia patients presented higher hospital discharge (64.9 ± 9.3 vs 35.4 ± 7.5%; effect size 3.46) and lower length of stay (15.8 ± 4.2 vs 29.1 ± 3.4 days; effect size 3.47) than the control group. The Dique Filipeia group patients, who were demanding oxygen therapy, were using 6.2 ± 4.3 L/min of oxygen at day 1. There was a statistically significant reduction from day 2 (p = 0.0001) and oxygen flow was reduced below 1L/min after day 7.

Conclusions

The implementation of a standardized rehabilitation protocol reduced oxygen expenditure, increased hospital discharge and reduced the length of hospital stay. Dique Filipeia is a practical, feasible and safe protocol.
Loss of the H4 lysine methyltransferase KMT5B drives tumorigenic phenotypes by depleting H3K27me3 at loci otherwise retained in H3K27M mutant DIPG cells
Authors: Kessler Ketty , Mackay Alan , Grabovska Yura , Molinari Valeria , Burford Anna , Temelso Sara , Tari Haider , Yara-Romero Erika , Liu Ilon , Yu Lu , Castel David , Choudhary Jyoti , Sottoriva Andrea , Filbin Mariella , Vinci Mara , Jones Chris
Published: July 2021

DIPG are characterised by histone H3K27M mutations, resulting in global loss of the repressive mark H3K27me3, although certain key loci are retained. We recently identified subclonal loss-of-function mutations in the H4 lysine methyltransferase KMT5B to be associated with enhanced invasion/migration, but the mechanism by which this occurred was unclear. Here we use integrated ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq and RNA-seq on patient-derived, subclonal and CRISPR-Cas9-KD DIPG cells to show that loss of KMT5B/C causes depletion of these retained H3K27me3 loci via changes in chromatin accessibility, causing a raft of transcriptional changes which promote tumorigenesis. De-repression occurred at bivalent loci marked by H3K4me3, driving increased transcriptional heterogeneity and elevated gene expression associated with increased invasion, abrogated DNA repair and mesenchymal transition, along with a markedly altered secretome. These data suggest a previously unrecognised trans-histone (H4/H3) interaction in DIPG cells with a potentially profound effect on their diffusely infiltrating phenotype.
Cardiac adenylyl cyclase type 8 overexpression increases locomotor activity in mice by modulating EEG-gamma oscillations
Authors: Agrimi Jacopo , Menicucci Danilo , Qu Jia-Hua , Laurino Marco , Mackey Chelsea D , Hasnain Laila , Tarasova Yelena S , Tarasov Kirill V , McDevitt Ross A , Hoover Donald B , Gemignani Angelo , Paolocci Nazareno , Lakatta Edward G
Published: July 2021

The central nervous system modulates heart function on a beat-to-beat basis via increasingly understood mechanisms. Conversely, whether and how humoral/functional cardiac variations shape brain activity and adaptive behavior remains unclear. This study shows that mice overexpressing adenylyl cyclase type 8 in myocytes (TGAC8), characterized by persistently elevated heart rate/contractility, also display increased locomotion. This effect is sustained by enhanced gamma rhythms, as evidenced by simultaneous behavioral and EEG/ECG monitoring. These changes are specific because they are not paralleled by other modifications, such as heightened anxiety-like behavior. In unison, TGAC8 mice hippocampus exhibits upregulated GABA-A receptors, whose activation chiefly accounts for gamma activity generation. Moreover, the Granger causality analysis between ECG and EEG attests to the causal involvement of the autonomic component of the heartbeat in shaping EEG gamma oscillations in a bottom-up modality. Mechanistically, TGAC8 harbors elevated circulating dopamine/DOPA levels of cardiac origin and upregulated hippocampal D5 dopamine receptor levels. In synergy with the GABA-A receptor, D5 activation favors hippocampal inhibitory currents that drive EEG gamma oscillations. These studies, therefore, inform how heart-initiated functional and/or humoral modifications reverberate back to the brain to modulate specific primary adaptive responses, such as locomotion.

Significance

The brain is continuously aware of the functional status of many bodily organs, modulating, for instance, the heart’s activity beat-by-beat. Conversely, how cardiac activity modifications impact brain function and behavior is less understood. We disclose that augmenting myocyte adenyl cyclase 8 (AC8) activity in mice increases their locomotion. Elevated cardiac AC8 levels lead to higher circulating dopamine and DOPA, hormones crucially involved in movement control, and increased expression of the hippocampus’s GABA-A and D5 receptors; the activation of the latter modifies hippocampal gamma oscillations shaping locomotor activity. Thus, the brain interprets changes in myocardial AC8 activity as a “sustained exercise-like” situation and responds by activating areas commanding to increase locomotion.
Quantitative proteomics reveals the selectivity of ubiquitin-binding autophagy receptors in the turnover of damaged lysosomes by lysophagy
Authors: Eapen Vinay V. , Swarup Sharan , Hoyer Melissa J. , Paulo Joao A. , Harper J. Wade
Published: July 2021

Removal of damaged organelles via the process of selective autophagy constitutes a major form of cellular quality control. Damaged organelles are recognized by a dedicated surveillance machinery, leading to the assembly of an autophagosome around the damaged organelle, prior to fusion with the degradative lysosomal compartment. Lysosomes themselves are also prone to damage and are degraded through the process of lysophagy. While early steps involve recognition of ruptured lysosomal membranes by glycan-binding Galectins and ubiquitylation of transmembrane lysosomal proteins, many steps in the process, and their inter-relationships, remain poorly understood, including the role and identity of cargo receptors required for completion of lysophagy. Here, we employ quantitative organelle capture and proximity biotinylation proteomics of autophagy adaptors, cargo receptors, and Galectins in response to acute lysosomal damage, thereby revealing the landscape of lysosomal proteome remodeling during lysophagy. Among proteins dynamically recruited to damaged lysosomes were ubiquitin-binding autophagic cargo receptors. Using newly developed lysophagic flux reporters including Lyso-Keima, we demonstrate that TAX1BP1, together with its associated kinase TBK1, are both necessary and sufficient to promote lysophagic flux in both Hela cells and induced neurons (iNeurons). While the related receptor OPTN can drive damage-dependent lysophagy when overexpressed, cells lacking either OPTN or CALCOCO2 still maintain significant lysophagic flux in HeLa cells. Mechanistically, TAX1BP1-driven lysophagy requires its N-terminal SKICH domain, which binds both TBK1 and the autophagy regulatory factor RB1CC1, and requires upstream ubiquitylation events for efficient recruitment and lysophagic flux. These results identify TAX1BP1 as a central component in the lysophagy pathway and provide a proteomic resource for future studies of the lysophagy process.
Connectivity and dynamics in the olfactory bulb
Authors: Kersen David E. Chen , Tavoni Gaia , Balasubramanian Vijay
Published: July 2021

Dendrodendritic interactions between excitatory mitral cells and inhibitory granule cells in the olfactory bulb create a dense interaction network, reorganizing sensory representations of odors and, consequently, perception. Large-scale computational models are needed for revealing how the collective behavior of this network emerges from its global architecture. We propose an approach where we summarize anatomical information through dendritic geometry and density distributions which we use to calculate the probability of synapse between mitral and granule cells, while capturing activity patterns of each cell type in the neural dynamical systems theory of Izhikevich. In this way, we generate an efficient, anatomically and physiologically realistic large-scale model of the olfactory bulb network. Our model reproduces known connectivity between sister vs. non-sister mitral cells; measured patterns of lateral inhibition; and theta, beta, and gamma oscillations. It in turn predicts testable relations between network structure, lateral inhibition, and odor pattern decorrelation; between the density of granule cell activity and LFP oscillation frequency; how cortical feedback to granule cells affects mitral cell activity; and how cortical feedback to mitral cells is modulated by the network embedding. Additionally, the methodology we describe here provides a tractable tool for other researchers.

Author summary

The function of the olfactory bulb (OB) critically depends on connectivity patterns between its excitatory and inhibitory cells. Here, we develop an anatomically grounded algorithm for efficiently determining the probability of synapses between mitral cells and granule cells in the OB. We use this algorithm to generate a large-scale network model of the OB with characteristic connectivity distributions between cell types, as well as between sister mitral cells. We simulate the network using the dynamical systems approach of Izhikevich for describing neurons, and show how network structure affects GC-mediated processes, including LFP oscillation frequency, lateral inhibition, odor decorrelation, and cortical feedback. Our results suggest how alterations to the OB network through processes like neurogenesis, or via injury or disease, can have significant effects on function.
Diet modifies allele-specific phenotypes inDrosophilacarrying epilepsy-associatedPNPOvariants
Authors: Chi Wanhao , Iyengar Atulya SR , Fu Wenqin , Liu Wei , Berg Abigayle E , Wu Chun-Fang , Zhuang Xiaoxi
Published: July 2021

Pyridox(am)ine 5’-phosphate oxidase (PNPO) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP), the active form of vitamin B6 required for the synthesis of neurotransmitters GABA and monoamines. Pathogenic variants inPNPOhave been repeatedly identified in patients with neonatal epileptic encephalopathy and early-onset epilepsy. These patients often exhibit different types of seizures and variable comorbidities, including developmental impairment and intellectual disability. It is unclear how seizure types and associated comorbidities are linked to specificPNPOalleles and to what degree diet can modify their expression. Furthermore, the molecular characteristics ofPNPOvariants have not been examined in model systems. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated four knock-inDrosophilaalleles,hWT, hR116Q, hD33V, andhR95H, in which the endogenousDrosophila PNPO(sugarlethal) was replaced by wild-type humanPNPOcDNA and epilepsy-associated variants corresponding to R116Q, D33V, and R95H, respectively. We examined these knock-in flies at the molecular, circuitry, and behavioral levels. Collectively, we found a wide range of phenotypes in an allele- and diet-dependent manner. Specifically, the D33V mutation reduces the mRNA level, R95H reduces the protein stability, and R116Q alters the protein localization of PNPO in the brain. D33V and R95H mutations lead to partial and complete lethality during development, respectively and R116Q and D33V mutations shorten lifespan. At the behavioral level,hD33V/hR95Htrans-heterozygous flies are hypoactive on all tested diets whereashR116Qflies show diet-dependent locomotor activities. At the circuitry level,hD33Vhomozygotes show rhythmic burst firing andhD33V/hR95Htrans-heterozygotes exhibit spontaneous seizure discharges. InhR95Hhomozygotes rescued with PLP supplementation, we uncovered that PLP deficiency abolishes development and causes extreme seizures in adults. Lastly, genetic and electrophysiological analyses demonstrate thathWT/hR95Hheterozygous flies are prone to seizures due to a dominant-negative effect of hR95Hon hWT, highlighting the possibility that human R95H carriers may also be susceptible to epilepsy. Together, this study demonstrates that humanPNPOvariants interact with diet to contribute to phenotypic variations; and that the knock-inDrosophilamodel offers a powerful approach to systematically examine clinical manifestations and the underlying mechanisms of human PNPO deficiency.
Gata2a maintains cebpa and npm1a in haematopoietic stem cells to sustain lineage differentiation and genome stability
Authors: Mahony Christopher B. , Noyvert Boris , Vrljicak Pavle , Ott Sascha , Higgs Martin , Monteiro Rui
Published: July 2021

The transcription factor Gata2 is required to produce and maintain haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in development and adult haematopoiesis. Mutations in GATA2 lead to GATA2 deficiency syndrome and predispose patients to acquire leukaemia. Here we use zebrafish gata2a enhancer deletion mutants and single cell transcriptomics to understand how GATA2 mediates survival and differentiation of haematopoietic stem cells in GATA2 deficiency. Gata2a mutants show marrow failure, neutropenia, B-lymphopenia and erythrocytosis from 6 months post-fertilization (mpf). Single cell transcriptional profiling of the adult kidney marrow demonstrated that HSPCs express elevated expression of erythroid- and decreased expression of myeloid genes, including cebpa. This is associated with a lineage skewing towards the erythroid fate at the expense of the myeloid fate. Thus, Gata2a is required to initiate and maintain lineage priming in HSPCs, favouring myeloid differentiation. Gata2a regulates expression of multiple targets associated with replication and DNA damage repair (DDR), including npm1a, a zebrafish NPM1 orthologue. Accordingly, mutant marrow cells show increased DNA damage associated with progressive loss of npm1a expression with age. This effect was replicated by inhibiting NPM1 activity in murine HPC7 progenitor cells. We propose that the impaired DDR leads to marrow failure in GATA2 deficiency. This leads to increased genomic instability in the surviving HSPCs, favouring acquisition of secondary leukaemogenic mutations.
Construction of functional biliary epithelial branched networks with predefined geometry using digital light stereolithography
Authors: Mazari-Arrighi Elsa , Ayollo Dmitry , Farhat Wissam , Marret Auriane , Gontran Emilie , Dupuis-Williams Pascale , Larghero Jerome , Chatelain Francois , Fuchs Alexandra
Published: July 2021

Cholangiocytes, biliary epithelial cells, are known to spontaneously self-organize into spherical cysts with a central lumen. In this work, we explore a promising biocompatible stereolithographic approach to encapsulate cholangiocytes into geometrically-controlled 3D hydrogel structures to guide them towards the formation of branched tubular networks. We demonstrate that within the appropriate mix of hydrogels, normal rat cholangiocytes can proliferate, migrate and organize into branched tubular structures, form walls consisting of a cell monolayer, transport fluorescent dyes into the luminal space and show markers of epithelial maturation such as primary cilia. The resulting structures have dimensions typically found in the intralobular and intrahepatic bile ducts and are stable for weeks, without any requirement of bulk supporting material, thereby offering total access to the basal side of these biliary epithelial constructs.
Global distribution and diversity of alien Ponto-Caspian amphipods
Authors: Copilaș-Ciocianu Denis , Sidorov Dmitry , Šidagytė-Copilas Eglė
Published: July 2021

The Ponto-Caspian region is an important donor of aquatic alien species throughout the Northern Hemisphere, many of which are amphipod crustaceans. Despite decades of ongoing spread and negative effects on native biota, a complete picture of the global diversity and distribution of these amphipods has yet to emerge, hampering efficient monitoring and predictions of future invasions. Herein, we provide a comprehensive summary of alien species taxonomic and ecomorphological diversity, as well as high-resolution distribution maps and biogeographical patterns based on >8000 global records. We find that up to 39 species in 19 genera and five families, belonging to all four currently recognized ecomorphs, are potentially alien, their diversity gradually decreasing with distance from the native region. Most species (62%) have limited distributions, 15% are widespread, and 23% exhibit intermediate ranges. We also find that regions adjacent to the native areal are comparatively less well-sampled than more distant regions. Biogeographical clustering revealed three faunal provinces that largely correspond with the Southern, Central and Northern invasion corridors. We conclude that 1) alien amphipods are a representative subsample of the native Ponto-Caspian phylogenetic and ecomorphological diversity, and 2) that their biogeographical patterns are driven by anthropogenic factors acting on distinct native regional species pools.
Cell minor-axis length is a critical feature for breast cancer cell migration on straight, wavy, loop and grid microfibre patterns
Authors: Zhang Duo , Sheng Yaqi , Piano Nicholas , Jakuszeit Theresa , Cozens Edward , Dong Lingqing , Lei Iek Man , Wang Wenyu , Terentjev Eugene , Huang Yan Yan Shery
Published: July 2021

Cell migration plays an important role in physiological and pathological processes where the fibrillar morphology of extracellular matrice (ECM) could regulate the migration dynamics. To mimic the morphological characteristics of fibrillar matrix structures, low-voltage continuous electrospinning was adapted to construct straight, wavy, looped and gridded fibre patterns made of polystyrene (of fibre diameter ca. 3 μm). With microfibres deposited onto non-passivated surfaces, cells were permitted to explore their different shapes in response to the directly-adhered fibre, as well as to the neighbouring patterns. For all the patterns studied, analysing cellular migration dynamics of MDA-MB-231 (a highly migratory breast cancer cell line) demonstrated a switch in behaviour when the pattern features approach the upper limit of the cell minor axis. Our findings suggest that, although cells dynamically adjust their shapes in response to different fibrillar environments during migration, their ability to divert from an existing fibre track is limited by the size along the cell minor axis. We therefore conclude that the upper limit of cell minor axis might act as a guide for the design of microfibre patterns for different purposes of cell migration.
Hyperspectral characterisation of natural illumination in woodland and forest environments
Authors: Shiwen Li , Steel Laura , Dahlsjö Cecilia A. L. , Peirson Stuart N. , Shenkin Alexander , Morimoto Takuma , Smithson Hannah E. , Spitschan Manuel
Published: July 2021

Light in nature is complex and dynamic, and varies along spectrum, space, direction, and time. While both spectrally resolved measurements and spatially resolved measurements are widely available, spectrally and spatially resolved measurements are technologically more challenging. Here, we present a portable imaging system using off-the-shelf components to capture the full spherical light environment in a spectrally and spatially resolved fashion. The method relies on imaging the 4π-steradian light field reflected from a mirrored chrome sphere using a commercial hyperspectral camera (400-1000 nm) from multiple directions and an image-processing pipeline for extraction of the mirror sphere, removal of saturated pixels, correction of specular reflectance of the sphere, promotion to a high dynamic range, correction of misalignment of images, correction of intensity compression, erasure of the imaging system, unwrapping of the spherical images, filling-in blank regions, and stitching images collected from different angles. We applied our method to Wytham Woods, an ancient semi-natural woodland near Oxford, UK. We acquired a total of 168 images in two sites with low and high abundance of ash, leading to differences in canopy, leading to a total 14 hyperspectral light probes. Our image-processing pipeline corrected small (<3 °) field-based misalignment adequately. Our novel hyperspectral imaging method is adapted for field conditions and opens up novel opportunities for capturing the complex and dynamic nature of the light environment.
Identification and characterization of bacterial glycogen-degrading enzymes in the vaginal microbiome
Authors: Jenkins Dominick J. , Woolston Benjamin M. , Hood-Pishchany M. Indriati , Pelayo Paula , Konopaski Alyssa N. , Peters M. Quinn , France Michael T. , Ravel Jacques , Mitchell Caroline M. , Rakoff-Nahoum Seth , Whidbey Christopher , Balskus Emily P.
Published: July 2021

The healthy human vaginal microbiota is generally dominated by lactobacilli, and the transition to a more diverse community of anaerobic microbes is associated with health risks. Glycogen released by lysed epithelial cells is believed to be an important nutrient source in this environment. However, the mechanism by which vaginal bacteria metabolize glycogen is unclear, with evidence implicating both microbial and human enzymes. Here, we biochemically characterize six glycogen-degrading enzymes (GDEs) from vaginal bacteria that support the growth of amylase-deficientL. crispatuson glycogen. We reveal variations in the pH tolerance and susceptibility to inhibition between enzymes from different organisms. Analysis of vaginal microbiome datasets show these enzymes are expressed in all Community State Types. Finally, we confirm the presence and activity of bacterial GDEs in cervicovaginal fluid. This work establishes that bacterial GDEs can participate in the breakdown of glycogen, providing insight into metabolism that may shape the vaginal microbiota.
Spontaneous emergence of multicellular heritability
Authors: Dahaj Seyed Alireza Zamani , Burnetti Anthony , Day Thomas C. , Yunker Peter J. , Ratcliff William C. , Herron Matthew D.
Published: July 2021

The Major Transitions in evolution include events and processes that result in the emergence of new levels of biological individuality. For collectives to undergo Darwinian evolution, their traits must be heritable, but the emergence of higher-level heritability is poorly understood and has long been considered a stumbling block for nascent evolutionary transitions. A change in the means by which genetic information is utilized and transmitted has been presumed necessary. Using analytical models, synthetic biology, and biologicallyinformed simulations, we explored the emergence of trait heritability during the evolution of multicellularity. Contrary to existing theory, we show that no additional layer of genetic regulation is necessary for traits of nascent multicellular organisms to become heritable; rather, heritability and the capacity to respond to natural selection on multicellular-level traits can arise “for free.” In fact, we find that a key emergent multicellular trait, organism size at reproduction, is usually more heritable than the underlying cell-level trait upon which it is based, given reasonable assumptions.
Quantitative single molecule RNA-FISH and RNase-free cell wall digestion in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Bartholomai Bradley M. , Gladfelter Amy S. , Loros Jennifer J. , Dunlap Jay C.
Published: July 2021

Single molecule RNA-FISH (smFISH) is a valuable tool for analysis of mRNA spatial patterning in fixed cells that is underutilized in filamentous fungi. A primary complication for fixed-cell imaging in filamentous fungi is the need for enzymatic cell wall permeabilization, which is compounded by considerable variability in cell wall composition between species. smFISH adds another layer of complexity due to a requirement for RNase free conditions. Here, we describe the cloning, expression, and purification of a chitinase suitable for supplementation of a commercially available RNase-free enzyme preparation for efficient permeabilization of the Neurospora cell wall. We further provide a method for smFISH in Neurospora which includes a tool for generating numerical data from images that can be used in downstream customized analysis protocols.
Spectral estimation of in-vivo wheat chlorophyll a/b ratio under contrasting water availabilities
Authors: Mulero Gabriel , Bacher Harel , Kleiner Uri , Peleg Zvi , Herrmann Ittai
Published: July 2021

To meet the ever-growing global population necessities, it is needed to identify climate change-relevant plant traits to integrate into breeding programs. Developing new tools for fast and accurate estimation of chlorophyll parameters, chlorophyll a (Chl-a), chlorophyll b (Chl-b) content, and their ratio (Chl-a/b), can promote breeding programs of wheat with enhanced climate adaptively. Spectral reflectance of leaves is affected by changes in pigments concentration and can be used to estimate chlorophyll parameters. The current study identified and validated the top spectral indices known and developed new vegetation indices (VIs) for Chl-a and Chl-b content estimation and used them to non-destructively estimate Chl-a/b values and compare them to hyperspectral estimations. Three wild emmer introgression lines, with contrasting drought stress responsiveness dynamics, were selected. Well and limited irrigation irrigation regimes were applied. The wheat leaves were spectrally measured with a handheld spectrometer to acquire their reflectance at the 330 to 790 nm range. Regression models based on calculated VIs as well as all hyperspectral curves were calibrated and validated against chlorophyll extracted values. The developed VIs resulted in high accuracy of Chl-a and Chl-b estimation allowing indirect non-destructive estimation of Chl-a/b with root mean square error (RMSE) values that could fit 6 to 10 times in the range of the measured values. They also performed similarly to the hyperspectral models. Altogether, we present here a new tool for a non-destructive estimation of Chl-a/b which can serve as a basis for future breeding efforts of climate-resilience wheat as well as other crops.
Mcc1229, an Stx2a-amplifying microcin, is produced in vivo and requires CirA for activity
Authors: Nawrocki Erin M. , Hutchins Laura E. , Eaton Kathryn A. , Dudley Edward G.
Published: July 2021

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strains, including the foodborne pathogen E. coli O157:H7, are responsible for thousands of hospitalizations each year. Various environmental triggers can modulate pathogenicity in EHEC by inducing expression of Shiga toxin (Stx), which is encoded on a lambdoid prophage and transcribed together with phage late genes. Cell-free supernatants of the sequence type (ST) 73 E. coli strain 0.1229 are potent inducers of Stx2a production in EHEC, suggesting that 0.1229 secretes a factor that activates the SOS response and leads to phage lysis. We previously demonstrated that this factor, designated microcin (Mcc) 1229, was proteinaceous and plasmid-encoded. To further characterize Mcc1229 and support its classification as a microcin, we investigated its regulation, determined its receptor, and identified loci providing immunity. Production of Mcc1229 was increased upon iron limitation, as determined by ELISA, lacZ fusions, and qRT-PCR. Spontaneous Mcc1229-resistant mutants and targeted gene deletion revealed that CirA was the Mcc1229 receptor. TonB, which interacts with CirA in the periplasm, was also essential for Mcc1229 import. Subcloning of the Mcc1229 plasmid indicated that Mcc activity was neutralized by two ORFs, each predicted to encode a domain of unknown function (DUF)-containing protein. In a germfree mouse model of infection, colonization with 0.1229 suppressed subsequent colonization of EHEC. Although Mcc1229 was produced in vivo, it was dispensable for colonization suppression. The regulation, import, and immunity determinants identified here are consistent with features of other Mccs, suggesting that Mcc1229 be included in this class of small molecules.
Hydroxyl radical mediated damage of proteins in low oxygen solution investigated using X-ray footprinting mass spectrometry
Authors: Kristensen Line G. , Holton James M. , Rad Behzad , Chen Yan , Petzold Christopher J. , Gupta Sayan , Ralston Corie Y.
Published: July 2021

In the method of X-ray footprinting mass spectrometry (XFMS), proteins at micromolar concentration in solution are irradiated with a broadband X-ray source, and the resulting hydroxyl radical modifications are characterized using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to determine sites of solvent accessibility. These data are used to infer structural changes in proteins upon interaction with other proteins, folding, or ligand binding. XFMS is typically performed under aerobic conditions; dissolved molecular oxygen in solution is necessary in many, if not all, the hydroxyl radical modifications that are generally reported. In this study we investigated the result of X-ray induced modifications to three different proteins under aerobic versus low oxygen conditions, and correlated the extent of damage with dose calculations. We observed a concentration-dependent protecting effect at higher protein concentration for a given X-ray dose. For the typical doses used in XFMS experiments there was minimal X-ray induced aggregation and fragmentation, but for higher doses we observed formation of covalent higher molecular weight oligomers, as well as fragmentation, which was affected by the amount of dissolved oxygen in solution. The higher molecular weight products in the form of dimers, trimers, and tetramers were present in all sample preparations, and, upon X-ray irradiation, these oligomers became non-reducible as seen in SDS-PAGE. The results provide an important contribution to the large body of X-ray radiation damage literature in structural biology research, and will specifically help inform the future planning of XFMS, and well as X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments.
vineyard vines and The Brotherhood of the Traveling Pants
Authors: Murray Meghan , Loftus Matthew
Published: July 2021

This case, “vineyard vines and The Brotherhood of the Traveling Pants,” introduces students to a unique partnership in the social media advertising world. Preppy clothing powerhouse vineyard vines had a history of interacting with its customers by featuring user-generated content in its catalogs and on its website and decided to continue this tradition on social media by partnering with a group of fans called The Brotherhood of the Traveling Pants. This successful and authentic social media marketing campaign resulted in increased sales for vineyard vines and influencer status for the members of The Brotherhood. At the end of the campaign, the vineyard vines marketing team is left debating how to grow its social media presence through partnerships. The case has been used as part of a social media marketing course and would be effective in any undergraduate- or graduate-level marketing course.
Have Text, Will Travel: Can Airbnb Use Review Text Data to Optimize Profits?
Authors: Gibbs Shea , Venkatesan Rajkumar
Published: July 2021

Hundreds of thousands of would-be hoteliers have been popping up all around the world, hoping to rent their own homes and apartments to complete strangers through a service called Airbnb. The goal of Airbnb’s aspiring hosts was to use the company’s website to attract guests who were willing to pay the highest rates to stay in their homes for a short time. For Airbnb, the goal was to improve customer review performance so it could, in turn, increase profits. How could the company achieve its goal? Enter text mining, a technique that allowed businesses to scour Internet pages, decipher the meaning of groups of words, and assign the words a sentiment proxy through the use of a software package.

In order for text mining to be useful for Airbnb, its marketing professionals first had to gain access to customer review data on the company’s own website. The team then had to analyze the data to find ways to improve property performance. Was the team going to be able to leverage this large amount of data to determine a strategy going forward?
Starbucks’s Loyalty Reigns
Authors: Murray Meghan
Published: July 2021

By July 2015, 20% of Starbucks’s payments in the United States came through its mobile app. The company had created a tool to both drive loyalty and grow its customer base. No stranger to innovation, Starbucks was partnering with iTunes as early as 2007, earned its first mobile marketer of the year award by 2010, introduced its mobile app in 2011, and by 2015, 94% of Facebook users were either fans of Starbucks or friends with someone who was. This case explores the company’s commitment to mobile and its social media prowess, and considers just what it takes to drive loyalty in a customer base.
Cold Opportunity (A): The Nils Bergqvist Story
Authors: Sarasvathy Saras D.
Published: July 2021

Suitable for MBA and executive learners, this case series presents a narrative that prompts students to discuss entrepreneurial thinking. An entrepreneur who loves his native Swedish Lapland uses his natural gift for effectuation to ask What? What next? And What now? As his ventures evolve, students will wonder how they would master similar challenges to their own entrepreneurial plans and expectations. The case can be taught in either one or two sessions of a 90-minute MBA course or a four-hour executive education class.
Under Armour’s Willful Digital Moves
Authors: Saghian Mina , Murray Meghan
Published: July 2021

In 2013, Under Armour had $2.3 billion in sales yet only $500 million came from its women’s apparel, and the company was ready to expand into the female market segment. The “I Will What I Want” global women’s marketing campaign was the largest Under Armour had ever run. Founder Keven Plank and his team launched the campaign on a multichannel platform, with social media at its core. The campaign’s success surpassed what Plank had imagined, and he is left wondering where to take Under Armour’s advertising and marketing next. This case has been used successfully in a marketing course and would be suited for any class with a focus on interactive media, technology, and multichannel marketing.
Linking paternalistic leadership to work engagement among Chinese expatriates: a job demand-resource perspective
Authors: He Guohua , Wang Yanfei , Zheng Xinnian , Guo Zisheng , Zhu Yu
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study explores how paternalistic leadership (PL) influences Chinese expatriates' work engagement in a cross-cultural context, and examines how expatriates' cross-cultural adaptability sets a boundary condition for this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from two-wave surveys of 82 supervisors and 318 Chinese expatriate teachers from 57 Confucius Institutes in 18 countries. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

Benevolent and moral leadership as job resources are negatively related to work–family conflict (WFC), whereas the job demand of authoritarian leadership positively relates to WFC. Further, WFC mediates the effect of PL styles on Chinese expatriates' work engagement. Cross-cultural adaptability moderates the negative relationship between WFC and work engagement, and the indirect effect of PL styles on work engagement through WFC.

Practical implications

Organizations should consider WFC an important intervening mechanism linking PL and Chinese expatriates' work engagement. Cross-cultural organizations can mitigate the negative impact of WFC on work engagement by enhancing expatriates' cross-cultural adaptability.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine the PL–work engagement relationship via a work–family interface, which contributes to integrating leadership and work–family outcomes. It enriches research on the JD-R model by showing that job resources and job demands affect employee outcomes through the mediation of stressors. Furthermore, this study identifies a new personal resource by examining cross-cultural adaptability's moderating role.
Short of drugs? Call upon operations and supply chain management
Authors: de Vries Harwin , Jahre Marianne , Selviaridis Kostas , van Oorschot Kim E. , Van Wassenhove Luk N.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This “impact pathways” paper argues that operations and supply chain management (OSCM) could help address the worsening drug shortage problem in high-income countries. This significant societal problem poses difficult challenges to stakeholders given the complex and dynamic nature of drug supply chains. OSCM scholars are well positioned to provide answers, introducing new research directions for OSCM in the process.

Design/methodology/approach

To substantiate this, the authors carried out a review of stakeholder reports from six European countries and the academic literature.

Findings

There is little academic research and no fundamental agreement among stakeholders about causes of shortages. Stakeholders have suggested many government measures, but little evidence exists on their comparative cost-effectiveness.

Originality/value

The authors discuss three pathways of impactful research on drug shortages to which OSCM could contribute: (1) Developing an evidence-based system view of drug shortages; (2) Studying the comparative cost-effectiveness of key government interventions; (3) Bringing supply chain risk management into the government and economics perspectives and vice versa. Our study provides a baseline for future COVID-19-related research on this topic.
Exploring the application of blockchain to humanitarian supply chains: insights from Humanitarian Supply Blockchain pilot project
Authors: Baharmand Hossein , Maghsoudi Amin , Coppi Giulio
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Some studies and reports have recently suggested using blockchain technology to improve transparency and trust in humanitarian supply chains (HSCs). However, evidence-based studies to display the utility and applicability of blockchains in HSCs are missing in the literature. This paper aims to investigate the key drivers and barriers of blockchain application to HSCs and explore whether evidence could support that the application of blockchain improves transparency and trust in HSCs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper puts forward a two-stage approach to explore the blockchain application in HSCs: an initial exploration of humanitarian practitioners and academicians interested in blockchain through focus group discussions; semi-structured interviews with practitioners involved at the UK Department for International Development's Humanitarian Supply Blockchain pilot project.

Findings

First, we found that main drivers include accountability, visibility, traceability, trust, collaboration, time efficiency, reducing administrative work and cross-sector partnership. Main barriers, however, are composed of engagement issues, lack of technical skills and training, lack of resources, privacy concerns, regulatory problems, pilot scalability issues and governance challenges. Second, evidence from our case study revealed the blockchain application could have added value to improve visibility and traceability, thus contributing to improve transparency. Concerning trust, evidence supports that blockchain could enhance both commitment and swift trust in the pilot study.

Practical implications

Our study contributes to a more understanding of added values and challenges of blockchain application to HSCs and creates a perspective for humanitarian decision-makers.

Originality/value

This study provides the first evidence from the actual application of blockchain technology in HSCs. The study discovered that it is still less evident in many humanitarian organizations, including medium- and small-sized nongovernmental organizations, that they engage in a direct deployment of in-house or customized blockchain-based HSC. Instead, these actors are more likely to indirectly use blockchain in HSCs through a private commercial partner.
Luxury supply chain management: a framework proposal based on a systematic literature review
Authors: Brandao Maicom Sergio , Godinho Filho Moacir , da Silva Andrea Lago
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to identify the main elements that describe the luxury supply chain. It discusses the relationship between them in a framework that organises and summarises the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted that returned 288 papers, which were selected based on specific quality and theme criteria. Content analysis was used to investigate the alignment of critical success factors with the performance goals and configuration elements of luxury supply chains in the final sample of 66 papers.

Findings

The results provide a framework that clarifies the relationship between the configuration elements and supply chain performance goals and the critical success factors for three different levels of the luxury market. Depending on the level of luxury, performance goals and configuration elements assume a different importance and different characteristics. An understanding of these differences is relevant for defining strategies and managing luxury supply chains properly. The three different configurations also reveal new research avenues to be further investigated.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited in terms of its data source as the papers reviewed were collected from only three academic databases.

Practical implications

The findings of this work help incorporate knowledge about luxury supply chain management into a framework that can be easily used for defining strategies and organising the supply chain according to the different levels of luxury.

Originality/value

This study represents an important evolution in organising the current literature on luxury supply chain management into a framework that covers critical success factors, supply chain performance goals and configuration elements for three different levels of luxury, which in turn creates promising opportunities for future enquiry.
Does brand type affect what consumers discuss? A comparison of attribute-based reviews of value and premium brands of an innovative product
Authors: Yi Jisu , Oh Yun Kyung
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This research aims to investigate the role of brand types (value brand vs premium brand) in determining review content. Specifically, this research focuses on attribute-based reviews for an innovative product and suggests that consumers of value brands tend to discuss more attributes in their product reviews than those of premium brands. Also, this research suggests that review valence and time have moderating effects on the relationship between brand types and the number of attributes discussed in a review.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employed a data set of online consumer reviews (N = 106,980) for wireless earbuds from Amazon.com. It extracted products' attributes from review text using Bigram analysis and measured the number of attributes discussed in a review. It then analyzed the effect of brand types (value brand vs premium brand) on the number of attributes and the moderating effect of review valence and time.

Findings

The estimation results of Poisson models reveal that reviews for value brands tend to contain more product attributes than reviews for premium brands. Interestingly, the tendency is stronger among positive (vs negative) reviews, and it decreases over time as more reviews are accumulated.

Originality/value

While existing studies focused on the outcomes of the review content, there was not enough investigation into the determinants of the review content. This study focuses on the number of attributes discussed in a review, a key content characteristic, and provides the first empirical evidence that review content differs by brand types of an innovative product.
Recommended angle of a modular dynamic façade in hot-arid climate: daylighting and energy simulation
Authors: Golzan Seyedeh Samaneh , Pouyanmehr Mina , Sadeghi Naeini Hassan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The modular dynamic façade (MDF) concept could be an approach in a comfort-centric design through proper integration with energy-efficient buildings. This study focuses on obtaining and/or calculating an efficient angle of the MDF, which would lead to the optimum performance in daylight availability and energy consumption in a single south-faced official space located in the hot-arid climate of Yazd, Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology consists of three fundamental parts: (1) based on previous related studies, a diamond-based dynamic skin façade was applied to a south-faced office building in a hot-arid climate; (2) the daylighting and energy performance of the model were simulated annually; and (3) the data obtained from the simulation were compared to reach the optimum angle of the MDF.

Findings

The results showed that when the angle of the MDF openings was set at 30°, it could decrease energy consumption by 41.32% annually, while daylight simulation pointed that the space experienced the minimum possible glare at this angle. Therefore, the angle of 30° was established as the optimum angle, which could be the basis for future investment in responsive building envelopes.

Originality/value

This angular study simultaneously assesses the daylight availability, visual comfort and energy consumption on a MDF in a hot-arid climate.