bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
rTMS to right parietal cortex decreases the precision of spatial priors in perceptual decision making
Authors: Zuanazzi Arianna , Meijer David , Noppeney Uta
Published: August 2023

Throughout life human observers make perceptual decisions under uncertainty guided by prior knowledge about the world’s causal structure and properties. According to Bayesian probability theory, optimal decision making relies on integrating prior knowledge with current sensory inputs, weighted by their relative precisions (i.e., inverse of uncertainty). Thus, representing uncertainty is essential for optimal decisions. Although extensive research suggests that human perceptual decision making follows Bayesian principles, the neural underpinnings of priors and their uncertainties remain elusive. In this five-day study, we employed psychophysics, Bayesian causal inference models, and offline low-frequency (i.e., 1Hz) transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to probe the role of right intraparietal sulcus (IPS), a key region for spatial processing, in the integration of prior knowledge with auditory/visual inputs for spatial decisions. Model-free and Bayesian modelling analyses consistently showed a reduction in the precision of observers’ long-term spatial prior and in the influence of their previous spatial choices on their current spatial decisions for right IPS-TMS compared to sham-TMS. In contrast, the causal prior and the auditory/visual uncertainties remained unaffected. The results show that offline IPS-TMS can selectively reduce the precision or influence of observers’ long-term spatial prior and their short-term spatial expectations on perceptual decisions, without affecting their causal prior or sensory uncertainties (i.e., likelihood). Our findings provide causal evidence for the role of parietal cortex, situated at the top of the audiovisual spatial processing hierarchy, in encoding the uncertainty of spatial - but not causal - priors during perceptual decision-making.

Significance statement

Perceptual decisions under uncertainty are pervasive in everyday life. Substantial evidence suggests that humans perform perceptual decisions near-optimally. They combine sensory inputs with prior knowledge about the signals’ causal structure and locations weighted by their uncertainties. Yet, the neural underpinnings remain elusive. Combining psychophysics, Bayesian models, and offline low-frequency inhibitory transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we provide causal evidence that the parietal cortex is crucial for encoding the uncertainty of spatial - but not causal - priors during perceptual decision-making. Intriguingly, observers relied less on their long-term and short-term prior spatial expectations after parietal-TMS, as compared to sham-TMS. These results provide important insights into the neural substrates of priors and their uncertainties as key ingredients for near-optimal decisions consistent with normative Bayesian principles.
A simple solid media assay for detection of synergy between bacteriophages and antibiotics
Authors: Khong Ethan , Oh Joseph , Jimenez Julian M. , Liu Roland , Dunham Sage , Monsibais Alisha , Rhoads Alison , Ghatbale Pooja , Garcia Andrew , Cobián Güemes Ana Georgina , Blanc Alisha N. , Chiu Megan , Kuo Peiting , Proost Marissa , Kline Ahnika , Aslam Saima , Schooley Robert T. , Whiteson Katrine , Fraley Stephanie I. , Pride David T.
Published: August 2023

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) has necessitated the development of alternative therapies to deal with this global threat. Bacteriophages (viruses that target bacteria) that kill ARB are one such alternative. While phages have been used clinically for decades with inconsistent results, a number of recent advances in phage selection, propagation and purification have enabled a reevaluation of their utility in contemporary clinical medicine. In most phage therapy cases, phages are administered in combination with antibiotics to ensure that patients receive the standard-of-care treatment. Some phages may work cooperatively with antibiotics to eradicate ARB, as often determined using non-standardized broth assays. We sought to develop a solid media-based assay to assess cooperativity between antibiotics and phages to offer a standardized platform for such testing. We modeled the interactions that occur between antibiotics and phages on solid medium to measure additive, antagonistic, and synergistic interactions. We then tested the method using different bacterial isolates, and identified a number of isolates where synergistic interactions were identified. These interactions were not dependent on the specific organism, phage family, or antibiotic used.A priorisusceptibility to the antibiotic or the specific phage were not requirements to observe synergistic interactions. Our data also confirm the potential for the restoration of vancomycin to treat Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) when used in combination with phages. Solid media assays for the detection of cooperative interactions between antibiotics and phages can be an accessible technique adopted by clinical laboratories to evaluate antibiotic and phage choices in phage therapy.
Efficient and multiplexed tracking of single cells using whole-body PET/CT
Authors: Nguyen Hieu T.M. , Das Neeladrisingha , Wang Yuting , Ruvalcaba Carlos , Mehadji Brahim , Roncali Emilie , Chan Charles K.F. , Pratx Guillem
Published: August 2023

In vivomolecular imaging tools are crucially important for elucidating how cells move through complex biological systems, however, achieving single-cell sensitivity over the entire body remains challenging. Here, we report a highly sensitive and multiplexed approach for tracking upwards of 20 single cells simultaneously in the same subject using positron emission tomography (PET). The method relies on a new tracking algorithm (PEPT-EM) to push the cellular detection threshold to below 4 Bq/cell, and a streamlined workflow to reliably label single cells with over 50 Bq/cell of18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). To demonstrate the potential of method, we tracked the fate of over 70 melanoma cells after intracardiac injection and found they primarily arrested in the small capillaries of the pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and digestive organ systems. This study bolsters the evolving potential of PET in offering unmatched insights into the earliest phases of cell trafficking in physiological and pathological processes and in cell-based therapies.

TEASER

A novel PET imaging workflow reveals the fate of single cells across the body.
Nitric Oxide modulates spontaneous Ca2+release and ventricular arrhythmias during β-adrenergic signalling throughS-nitrosylation of Calcium/Calmodulin dependent kinase II
Authors: Power Amelia S. , Asamudo Esther , Worthington Luke P. I. , Alim Chidera C. , Parackal Raquel , Wallace Rachel S. , Ebenebe Obialunanma V. , Heller Brown Joan , Kohr Mark J. , Bers Donald M. , Erickson Jeffrey R.
Published: August 2023

Rationale

Nitric oxide (NO) has been identified as a signalling molecule generated during β-adrenergic receptor (AR) stimulation in the heart. Furthermore, a role for NO in triggering spontaneous Ca2+release viaS-nitrosylation of Ca2+/calmodulin kinase II delta (CaMKIIδ) is emerging. NO donors are routinely used clinically for their cardioprotective effects in the heart, but it is unknown how NO donors modulate the pro-arrhythmic CaMKII to alter cardiac arrhythmia incidence.

Objective

We test the role ofS-nitrosylation of CaMKIIδ at the Cys-273 inhibitory site and Cys-290 activating site in cardiac Ca2+handling and arrhythmogenesis before and during β-AR stimulation.

Methods and Results

We measured Ca2+-handling in isolated cardiomyocytes from C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice and mice lacking CaMKIIδ expression (CaMKIIδ-KO) or with deletion of theS-nitrosylation site on CaMKIIδ at Cys-273 or Cys-290 (CaMKIIδ-C273S and -C290A knock-in mice). Cardiomyocytes were exposed to NO donors, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO; 150 μM), sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 200 μM) and/or β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (ISO; 100 nM). WT and CaMKIIδ-KO cardiomyocytes treated with GSNO showed no change in Ca2+transient or spark properties under baseline conditions (0.5 Hz stimulation frequency). Both WT and CaMKIIδ-KO cardiomyocytes responded to ISO with a full inotropic and lusitropic Ca2+transient response as well as increased Ca2+spark frequency. However, the increase in Ca2+spark frequency was significantly attenuated in CaMKIIδ-KO cardiomyocytes. The protection from ISO-induced Ca2+sparks and waves was mimicked by GSNO pre-treatment in WT cardiomyocytes, but lost in CaMKIIδ-C273S cardiomyocytes that displayed a robust increase in Ca2+waves. This observation is consistent with CaMKIIδ-C273S-nitrosylation being critical in limiting ISO-induced arrhythmogenic sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+leak. When GSNO was applied after ISO this protection was not observed in WT or CaMKIIδ-C273S but was apparent in CaMKIIδ-C290A. In Langendorff-perfused isolated hearts, GSNO pre-treatment limited ISO-induced arrhythmias in WT but not CaMKIIδ-C273S hearts, while GSNO exposure after ISO sustained or exacerbated arrhythmic events.

Conclusions

We conclude that priorS-nitrosylation of CaMKIIδ at Cys-273 can limit subsequent β-AR induced arrhythmias, but thatS-nitrosylation at Cys-290 might worsen or sustain β-AR-induced arrhythmias. This has important implications for the administration of NO donors in the clinical setting.
Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of viral hepatitis and HIV co-infection in the Central African Republic
Authors: Basimane-Bisimwa Parvine , Koyaweda Giscard Wilfried , Ngaïganam Edgarthe , Vickos Ulrich , Sibiro Ornella Anne Demi , Yambiyo Brice Martial , Sombié Benjamin Seydou , Pélembi Pulchérie , Moussa Sandrine , Bekondi Claudine , Giles-Vernick Tamara , Manirakiza Alexandre , Vray Muriel , Komas Narcisse Patrice Joseph
Published: August 2023

Background

The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of viral hepatitis infection in the world. The present study describes the geographic distribution of viral hepatitis infections and molecular characterization of these viruses in the CAR.

Methodology

Out of 12,599 persons enrolled during the 4th Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2010 in the CAR, 10,621 Dried Blood Spot (DBS) samples were obtained and stored at -20°C. Of these DBS, 4,317 samples were randomly selected to represent all regions of the CAR. Serological tests for hepatitis B, D, and C viruses were performed using the ELISA technique. Molecular characterization was performed to identify strains.

Results

Of the 4,317 samples included, 53.2% were males and 46.8% females. The HBsAg prevalence among participants was 12.9% and that HBc-Ab was 19.7%. The overall prevalence of the HCV was 0.6%. Co-infection of HIV/HBV was 1.41% and that of HBV/HDV was 16.6%. A total of 77 HBV, 6 HIV, and 6 HDV isolates were successfully sequenced, with 72 HBV (93.5%) strains belonging to genotype E and 5 (6.5%) isolates belonging to genotype D. The 6 HDV isolates all belonged to clade 1, while 4 recombinants sub-type were identified among the 6 isolates of HIV.

Conclusion

Our study found a high prevalence of HBV, HBV/HDV and HBV/HIV co-infection, but a low prevalence of HCV. CAR is still in an area of high HBV endemicity. This study’s data and analyses would be useful for establishing an integrated viral hepatitis and HIV surveillance program in the CAR.
Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals
Authors: Moguem Soubgui Arlette Flore , Ndeme Mboussi Wilfred Steve , Kojom Foko Loick Pradel , Embolo Enyegue Elisée Libert , Koanga Mogtomo Martin Luther
Published: August 2023

Background

Surveillance of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 dynamics is crucial to understanding natural history and providing insights into the population’s exposure risk and specific susceptibilities. This study investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, its predictors, and immunological status among unvaccinated patients in Cameroon.

Materials and Methods

A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted between January and September 2022 in the town of Douala. Patients were consecutively recruited, and data of interest were collected using a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to determine Immunoglobin titres (IgM and IgG) by ALFA, CD4+ cells by flow cytometry, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by ELISA.

Results

A total of 342 patients aged 41.5 ± 13.9 years were included. Most participants (75.8%) were asymptomatic. The overall prevalence of IgM and IgG was 49.1% and 88.9%, respectively. Ageusia and anosmia have displayed the highest positive predictive values (90.9% and 82.4%) and specificity (98.9% and 98.3%). The predictors of IgM seropositivity were being aged 60 – 70 years (aOR = 0.54,p= 0.02) and ageusia (aOR = 9.31,p= 0.01), whereas those of IgG seropositivity included health facility (aOR = 0.23,p= 0.02) and ageusia (aOR = 0.21,p= 0.04). CD4+, IFN-γ, and IL-6 were impaired in seropositive individuals, with a confounding role of socio-demographic factors or comorbidities.

Conclusion

Although the WHO declared the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency, the findings of this study indicate the need for continuous surveillance to adequately control the disease in Cameroon.
Modelling the Interplay between Responsive Individual Vaccination Decisions and the Spread of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Wallrafen-Sam Karina , Quesada Maria Garcia , Lopman Benjamin A. , Jenness Samuel M.
Published: August 2023

The uptake of COVID-19 vaccines remains low despite their high effectiveness. Epidemic models that represent decision-making psychology can provide insight into the potential impact of vaccine promotion interventions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We coupled a network-based mathematical model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Georgia, USA with a social-psychological vaccination decision-making model in which vaccine side effects, post-vaccination infections, and other unidentified community-level factors could “nudge” individuals towards vaccine resistance while hospitalization spikes could nudge them towards willingness.

Combining an increased probability of hospitalization-prompted resistant-to-willing switches with a decreased probability of willing-to-resistant switches prompted by unidentified community-level factors increased vaccine uptake and decreased SARS-CoV-2 incidence by as much as 30.7% and 24.0%, respectively. The latter probability had a greater impact than the former. This illustrates the disease prevention potential of vaccine promotion interventions that address community-level factors influencing decision-making and anticipate the case curve instead of reacting to it.
Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in primary human nasal cultures demonstrates Delta as most cytopathic and Omicron as fastest replicating
Authors: Tanneti Nikhila S , Patel Anant K , Tan Li Hui , Marques Andrew D , Perera Ranawaka A P M , Sherrill-Mix Scott , Kelly Brendan J , Renner David M , Collman Ronald G , Rodino Kyle , Lee Carole , Bushman Frederic D , Cohen Noam A , Weiss Susan R
Published: August 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was marked with emerging viral variants, some of which were designated as variants of concern (VOCs) due to selection and rapid circulation in the human population. Here we elucidate functional features of each VOC linked to variations in replication rate. Patient-derived primary nasal cultures grown at air-liquid-interface (ALI) were used to model upper-respiratory infection and human lung epithelial cell lines used to model lower-respiratory infection. All VOCs replicated to higher titers than the ancestral virus, suggesting a selection for replication efficiency. In primary nasal cultures, Omicron replicated to the highest titers at early time points, followed by Delta, paralleling comparative studies of population sampling. All SARS-CoV-2 viruses entered the cell primarily via a transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2)-dependent pathway, and Omicron was more likely to use an endosomal route of entry. All VOCs activated and overcame dsRNA-induced cellular responses including interferon (IFN) signaling, oligoadenylate ribonuclease L degradation and protein kinase R activation. Among the VOCs, Omicron infection induced expression of the most IFN and IFN stimulated genes. Infections in nasal cultures resulted in cellular damage, including a compromise of cell-barrier integrity and loss of nasal cilia and ciliary beating function, especially during Delta infection. Overall, Omicron was optimized for replication in the upper-respiratory system and least-favorable in the lower-respiratory cell line; and Delta was the most cytopathic for both upper and lower respiratory cells. Our findings highlight the functional differences among VOCs at the cellular level and imply distinct mechanisms of pathogenesis in infected individuals.

Importance

Comparative analysis of infections by SARS-CoV-2 ancestral virus and variants of concern including Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, indicated that variants were selected for efficiency in replication. In infections of patient-derived primary nasal cultures grown at air-liquid-interface to model upper-respiratory infection, Omicron reached highest titers at early time points, a finding that was confirmed by parallel population sampling studies. While all infections overcame dsRNA-mediated host responses, infections with Omicron induced the strongest interferon and interferon stimulated gene response. In both primary nasal cultures and lower-respiratory cell line infections by Delta were most damaging to the cells as indicated by syncytia formation, loss of cell barrier integrity and nasal ciliary function.
Reorganization of Septin structures regulates early myogenesis
Authors: Ugorets Vladimir , Mendez Paul-Lennard , Zagrebin Dmitrii , Russo Giulia , Kerkhoff Yannic , Herpelinck Tim , Kotsaris Georgios , Jatzlau Jerome , Stricker Sigmar , Knaus Petra
Published: August 2023

Controlled myogenic differentiation is crucial for developmental formation, homeostatic maintenance and adult repair of skeletal muscle and relies on cell fate determinants in myogenic progenitors or resident stem cells. Proliferating muscle progenitors migrate, adopt spindle shape, align membranes and fuse into multinuclear syncytia. These processes are accompanied by cyto-architectural changes driven by rearranging of cytoskeletal components such as actin and microtubules. Here we highlight septins, the fourth component of the cytoskeleton, to represent an essential structural element of myoblasts. Specifically, Septin9 regulates myoblast differentiation during the early commitment process. Depletion of Septin9 in C2C12 cells and primary myoblasts led to a precocious switch from a proliferative towards a committed progenitor transcriptomic program. Additionally, we report Septin9 undergoing substantial reorganization and downregulation during myogenic differentiation. Together, we propose filamentous septin structures and their controlled reorganization in myoblasts to provide a key temporal regulation mechanism for the differentiation of myogenic progenitors.
Astroglia proliferate upon biogenesis of tunneling nanotubes and clearance of α-synuclein toxicities
Authors: Raghavan Abinaya , Kashyap Rachana , Sreedevi P , Jos Sneha , Chatterjee Suchana , Alex Ann , D’Souza Michelle Ninochka , Giridharan Mridhula , Muddashetty Ravi , Manjithaya Ravi , Padavattan Sivaraman , Nath Sangeeta
Published: August 2023

Astrocytic cells are a subtype of glial cells that engulf pathogenic aggregates derived from degenerative neurons to facilitate its degradation. Here, we show that exposure to α-SYN protofibrils caused a transient increase in biogenesis of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) in primary astrocytes and astrocyte-origin cancer cell-lines (U-87 MG, U251). Biogenesis of nascent TNTs corresponds to α-SYN protofibril-induced organelle toxicities, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oxidative stress-induced premature cellular senescence. These TNTs mediate cell-to-cell transfer of α-SYN protofibrils, toxic lysosomes and mitochondria. Biogenesis of TNTs precedes clearance of α-SYN-induced organelle toxicities, cellular ROS levels and reversal of cellular senescence. Consequences of cellular clearance results in enhanced cell proliferation. Further, we have shown α-SYN-induced senescence promotes transient localization of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in the nucleus. FAK mediated regulation of Rho-associated kinases may have a role in the biogenesis of TNTs, successively proliferation. Our study emphasizes that TNT biogenesis may have a potential role in the clearance of α-SYN toxicities and reversal of stress-induced cellular senescence, consequences of which cause enhanced proliferation in the post-recovered astroglia cells.

Highlights

α-SYN protofibrils treated astroglia cells proliferate upon transient biogenesis of TNTs.

Transient TNT biogenesis precedes clearance of α-SYN toxicities and reversal of senescence.

Stress-induced senescence results in nuclear localization of FAK and ROCK mediated TNT biogenesis.

The rescued cells enhance proliferation through ROCK mediated ERK1/2 and NFκB signalling cascades.

Synopsis

Graphical Abstract:

α-SYN protofibrils-induced biogenesis of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) aids to enhance cellular clearance of toxic burdens as a cellular survival strategy. α-SYN protofibrils treated toxic senescence cells regulate FAK mediated modulation of ROCK signalling cascades to promote TNT biogenesis and rescue the cellular toxicities. The rescued cells eventually enhance cell proliferation.
Integrated high-confidence and high-throughput approaches for quantifying synapse engulfment by oligodendrocyte precursor cells
Authors: Kahng Jessica A. , Xavier Andre M. , Ferro Austin , Auguste Yohan S.S. , Cheadle Lucas
Published: August 2023

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) sculpt neural circuits through the phagocytic engulfment of synapses during development and in adulthood. However, precise techniques for analyzing synapse engulfment by OPCs are limited. Here, we describe a two-pronged cell biological approach for quantifying synapse engulfment by OPCs which merges low-and high-throughput methodologies. In the first method, an adeno-associated virus encoding a pH-sensitive, fluorescently-tagged synaptic marker is expressed in neuronsin vivo.This construct allows for the differential labeling of presynaptic inputs that are contained outside of and within acidic phagolysosomal compartments. When followed by immunostaining for markers of OPCs and synapses in lightly fixed tissue, this approach enables the quantification of synapses engulfed by around 30-50 OPCs within a given experiment. In the second method, OPCs isolated from dissociated brain tissue are fixed, incubated with fluorescent antibodies against presynaptic proteins, and then analyzed by flow cytometry. This approach enables the quantification of presynaptic material within tens of thousands of OPCs in less than one week. These methods extend beyond the current imaging-based engulfment assays designed to quantify synaptic phagocytosis by brain-resident immune cells, microglia. Through the integration of these methods, the engulfment of synapses by OPCs can be rigorously quantified at both the individual and populational levels. With minor modifications, these approaches can be adapted to study synaptic phagocytosis by numerous glial cell types in the brain.
NMR measurements of transient low-populated tautomeric and anionic Watson-Crick-like G·T/U in RNA:DNA hybrids: Implications for the fidelity of transcription and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing
Authors: Szekely Or , Rangadurai Atul Kaushik , Gu Stephanie , Manghrani Akanksha , Guseva Serafima , Al-Hashimi Hashim M.
Published: August 2023

Many biochemical processes use the Watson-Crick geometry to distinguish correct from incorrect base pairing. However, on rare occasions, mismatches such as G•T/U can transiently adopt Watson-Crick-like conformations through tautomerization or ionization of the bases, giving rise to replicative and translational errors. The propensities to form Watson-Crick-like mismatches in RNA:DNA hybrids remain unknown, making it unclear whether they can also contribute to errors during processes such as transcription and CRISPR/Cas editing. Here, using NMRR1ρexperiments, we show that dG•rU and dT•rG mismatches in two RNA:DNA hybrids transiently form tautomeric (Genol•T/U ⇄G•Tenol/Uenol) and anionic (G•T−/U−) Watson-Crick-like conformations. The tautomerization dynamics were like those measured in A-RNA and B-DNA duplexes. However, anionic dG•rU−formed with a ten-fold higher propensity relative to dT−•rG and dG•dT−and this could be attributed to the lowerpKa(ΔpKa∼0.4-0.9) of U versus T. Our findings suggest plausible roles for Watson-Crick-like G•T/U mismatches in transcriptional errors and CRISPR/Cas9 off-target gene editing, uncover a crucial difference between the chemical dynamics of G•U versus G•T, and indicate that anionic Watson-Crick-like G•U−could play a significant role evading Watson-Crick fidelity checkpoints in RNA:DNA hybrids and RNA duplexes.
A chromosome-level genome assembly ofZasmidium syzygiiisolated from banana leaves
Authors: van Westerhoven A.C. , Mehrabi R. , Talebi R. , Steentjes M.B.F. , Corcolon B. , Chong Pablo A. , Kema G.H.J. , Seidl M. F.
Published: August 2023

Accurate taxonomic classification of samples from infected host material is essential for disease diagnostics and genome analyses. Despite the importance, diagnosis of fungal pathogens causing banana leaf diseases remains challenging. Foliar diseases of bananas are mainly caused by threePseudocercosporaspecies, of which the most predominant causal agent isP. fijiensis. Here, we sequenced and assembled four fungal isolates obtained from necrotic banana leaves in Bohol (Philippines) and obtained a high-quality genome assembly for one of these isolates. The samples were initially identified asP. fijiensisusing PCR diagnostics, however, the assembly size was consistently 30 Mb smaller than expected. Based on the ITS sequences, we identified the samples asZasmidium syzygii(98.7% identity). The high-qualityZasmidium syzygiiassembly is 42.5 Mb in size, comprising 16 contigs, of which 11 are complete. The genome contains 98.6% of the expected single-copy BUSCO genes and contains 14,789 genes and 10.3% repeats. The three short-read assemblies are less continuous but have similar genome sizes (40.4 – 42.4 Mb) and contain between 96.5% and 98.4% BUSCO genes. All four isolates have identical ITS sequences and are distinct fromZasmidiumisolates that were previously sampled from banana leaves. We thus report the first continuous genome assembly of a member of theZasmidiumgenus, forming an essential resource for further analysis to enhance our understanding of the diversity of pathogenic fungal isolates as well as fungal diversity.
Aromatic natural products synthesis from aromatic lignin monomers usingAcinetobacter baylyiADP1
Authors: Biggs Bradley W. , Tyo Keith E. J.
Published: August 2023

Achieving sustainable chemical synthesis and a circular economy will require process innovation to minimize or recover existing waste streams. Valorization of lignin biomass has the ability to advance this goal. While lignin has proved a recalcitrant feedstock for upgrading, biological approaches can leverage native microbial metabolism to simplify complex and heterogeneous feedstocks to tractable starting points for biochemical upgrading. Recently, we demonstrated that one microbe with lignin relevant metabolism,Acinetobacter baylyiADP1, is both highly engineerable and capable of undergoing rapid design-build-test-learn cycles, making it an ideal candidate for these applications. Here, we utilize these genetic traits and ADP1’s native β-ketoadipate metabolism to convert mock alkali pretreated liquor lignin (APL) to two valuable natural products, vanillin-glucoside and resveratrol. En route, we create strains with up to 22 genetic modifications, including up to 8 heterologously expressed enzymes. Our approach takes advantage of preexisting aromatic species in APL (vanillate, ferulate, andp-coumarate) to create shortened biochemical routes to end products. Together, this work demonstrates ADP1’s potential as a platform for upgrading lignin waste streams and highlights the potential for biosynthetic methods to maximize the existing chemical potential of lignin aromatic monomers.
Time-Resolved Cryo-EM Specimen Preparation with Single Millisecond Precision
Authors: Montaño Romero Alejandra , Bonin Calli , Twomey Edward C.
Published: August 2023

Molecular structures can be determinedin vitroandin situwith cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Specimen preparation is a major obstacle in cryo-EM. Typical sample preparation is orders of magnitude slower than biological processes. Time-resolved cryo-EM (TR-cryo-EM) can capture short-lived states. Here, we present Cryo-EM Sample Preparation with light-Activated Molecules (C-SPAM), an open-source, photochemistry-coupled device for TR-cryo-EM with single millisecond resolution, tunable timescales, and broad biological applications.
Expanding the Cell-Free Reporter Protein Toolbox by Employing a Split mNeonGreen System to Reduce Protein Synthesis Workload
Authors: Copeland Caroline E. , Heitmeier Chloe J. , Doan Khoa D. , Lee Shea C. , Kwon Yong-Chan
Published: August 2023

The cell-free system offers potential advantages in biosensor applications, but their limited substrate supply poses a challenge in balancing enough sensing resources to detect low limits of analyte while providing a robust output signal. In this study, we harnessed split versions of fluorescent proteins, particularly split super-folder green fluorescent protein and mNeonGreen, to improve energy efficiency and enhance detection limit in the cell-free system. A comparative analysis of the expression of 1-10 and eleventh segments of beta strands in both whole-cell and cell-free platforms revealed distinct fluorescence patterns. Moreover, integrating SynZip peptide linkers substantially improved complementation, achieving a fluorescence intensity reaching 73.6% of the full-length protein and a 4.8-fold increase in expression compared to the split system without the SynZip peptide linkers. The split protein reporter system can enable energy-efficient sensing of low analyte levels in the cell-free system, broadening the toolbox of cell-free biosensor repertoire.
Distances in the face-centered cubic crystalline structure applying operational research
Authors: Stomfai Gergely , Kovács Gergely , Nagy Benedek , Turgay Neşet Deniz , Vizvári Béla
Published: August 2023

The f.c.c. (face-centered cubic) grid is the structure of many crystals and minerals. It consists of four cubic lattices. It is supposed that there are two types of steps between two grid points. It is possible to step to one of the nearest neighbors of the same cubic lattice (type 1) or to step to one of the nearest neighbors of another cubic lattice (type 2). Steps belonging to the same type have the same length (weight). However, the two types have different lengths and thus may have different weights. This paper discusses the minimal path between any two points of the f.c.c. grid. The minimal paths are explicitly given, i.e. to obtain a minimal path one is required to perform only O(1) computations. The mathematical problem can be the model of different spreading phenomena in crystals having the f.c.c. structure.
Decomposition of value added in gross exports: a critical review
Authors: Feás Enrique
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to settle the methodological debate on the decomposition of value added in gross exports, proposing a standard, exposing the drawbacks of the alternatives and quantifying the differences.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper systematizes the analytical framework and assesses and quantifies the various methodologies and its main differences.

Findings

The decomposition method of Borin and Mancini (2023), using a source-based approach and an exporting country perspective, should be considered as the standard for decomposing the value added in gross exports. This study finds that alternative approaches and perspectives are methodologically inferior, and that tailored perspectives do not provide an increase in accuracy that compensates their drawbacks.

Originality/value

This paper’s contribution is fourfold: it rejects the alleged equivalence between approaches and perspectives, defending the superiority of a particular method, approach and perspective; it gives quantitative examples of the differences between them; it proves that the drawbacks of tailored perspectives do not compensate their alleged accuracy (as they do not result in big quantitative differences with the standard perspective); and it argues that no valid standard decomposition can forego the calculation of value added exported, which requires the expression of exports in terms of final demand.
Framework for cloud product lifecycle management system: a case study of an automotive industry
Authors: Tanpure Ganesh , Yadav Vinod , Jain Rakesh , Soni Gunjan
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems have gained wide popularity for their role in manufacturing organizations for creating, managing and distributing product data. These systems are one of various enterprise systems which are required for smooth functioning and meeting the scaling up requirements organization. However, with introduction of cloud technology and other industry 4.0 initiatives, there has been focus on moving the on-premises IT application to the cloud. Such a move needs to be carried out by identifying and evaluating various challenges. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned objective.

Design/methodology/approach

The challenges identified through literature review have also been confirmed to be present via interview, system observation and documentation review through case study-based validation in an automotive component manufacturing industry.

Findings

The article identifies needs and challenges of cloud PLM systems and presents a generic framework for developing an approach for cloud PLM journey for an organization. The article also provides an approach for resolving the different challenges to realizing the designed system.

Originality/value

The simplified generic framework has been presented for use by industry professionals and researchers for designing cloud PLM systems that would fulfill expectations of different levels of stakeholders.
Mentoring at work: a talent development tool for Gen Y and Gen Z
Authors: Saxena Anubhuti
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The aim of the article is to explore how mentoring can act as a strategy for developing talent of the emerging young workforce, which predominantly comprises Gen Y and Gen Z.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is authored by an independent writer who provides insightful commentary and contextualizes the articles.

Findings

To gain a competitive edge, firms must adapt to modern ways of Talent Development that foster a passion for work among new hires. Modern ways of mentoring such as Reverse Mentoring, Group Mentoring, Distance Mentoring or Anonymous Mentoring, Flash Mentoring or Speed Mentoring, Peer Mentoring can enable employers to be proactive in managing talent and foster better intergenerational relationships at the workplace.

Practical implications

As Gen Y and Gen Z are redefining workplace norms, it is crucial for HR partitioners to find out new ways to align the entire HR function with the needs of these tech-savvy generations and ensure they can perform to their potential. This study sheds light on various Mentoring methods, which managers can use to transform conventional approaches to Talent Development.

Originality/value

The briefing streamlines the reading process for busy executives and researchers by curating the most relevant information and presenting it in a concise and user-friendly format, allowing them to save time and quickly absorb key insights.
Talent trouble at a start-up: the case of TechShlok
Authors: Sharma Pooja , Bhattacharya Sanjay , Jain Avi
Published: August 2023

Learning outcomes

This case study aims to understand the criticalities of hiring in a knowledge-based start-up; the various ways of retaining talent in a knowledge-based start-up; the competency requirements of human resource professionals in start-up organizations; the trade-off between business profitability and the R&D drive of the company; and the various organizational structures available for a knowledge-based start-up.

Case overview/synopsis

Ayush Jain, a first-generation entrepreneur, is facing a challenge with his start-up, TechShlok. TechShlok is an IT solution provider with its headquarters in Jaipur, India. The company is doing very well and is able to achieve many accolades. As the company grows in business and employee strength, it is facing talent acquisition and retention challenges. Ayush is in a fix to solve the talent issue and retain the key talent of the organization.

Complexity academic level

The case can be taught in a Human Resource Management course, including “talent management” and “human resource planning”. The case may be taught at upper undergraduate levels. It can also be taught in courses of entrepreneurship and knowledge-based start-ups.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
The impact of cyberattacks awareness on customers’ trust and commitment: an empirical evidence from the Pakistani banking sector
Authors: Bajwa Ishtiaq Ahmad , Ahmad Shabir , Mahmud Maqsood , Bajwa Farooq Ahmad
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The banking industry has always been vulnerable to cyberattacks. In recent years, Pakistan’s banking sector experienced the most intense cyberattack in its over 70-year history. Due to these attacks, a large number of debit card accounts of major banks were negotiated. This study aims to examine the impact of cyberattack awareness and customers’ commitment levels after these cyberattacks.

Design/methodology/approach

The study integrated the commitment–trust theory framework for the relationship of trust and commitment to the usage of online banking services. The partial least square structural equation modeling is being used to explore the relationship between customer’s trust, which is an outcome of continuous usage, and customer perception of affirmative cybersecurity measures the bank.

Findings

The findings revealed that customer trust in online banking is positively associated with customer commitment, but customers’ cyberattack awareness negatively impacts customer trust and commitment to online banking.

Practical implications

The study highlights the importance of proactive communication, transparency and robust incident response that helps organizations establish themselves as trustworthy entities while prioritizing customer information and transaction protection.

Originality/value

The authors report on how cyberattacks on the banking sector influence the trust and commitment of the customers in the sector. The variable of cyberattack awareness used in this study is novel in online banking literature.
Into the Shark tank: an exploratory analysis of pharmapreneurial motivation and intention in Jordan
Authors: Ayesh Osama Mohammad , Zeqiri Jusuf , Gleason Kimberley , Alserhan Baker Ahmad
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial motivation and pharmapreneurial intention among pharmacists in Jordan.The authors also assessed the moderating effect of gender and the COVID-19 pandemic on the relationship between these two variables.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a quantitative study targeting pharmacists and using a nonprobability sample. A structured questionnaire was distributed through official channels to the entire population of registered pharmacists in Jordan. SmartPLS 3 was used for carrying an advanced structural equation model analysis, and SPSS 26 for the descriptive statistics.

Findings

The three entrepreneurial motivation variables (behavioral control [BC], risk tolerance and desirability of self-employment) affected pharmapreneurial intention, with BC contributing more to pharmapreneurial intention among pharmacists in Jordan than the other variables examined. On the other hand, gender and COVID-19 did not moderate this relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The authors find that entrepreneurial motivation affects pharmapreneurial intention. Consequently, the authors provide insights to policymakers and educators regarding dovetailing the recent financial literacy programs implemented in Jordanian schools with medical education in Jordan to better motivate the formation of pharmapreneurial intention.

Practical implications

Policymakers and educators should be dovetailing the recent financial literacy programs implemented in Jordanian schools with medical education in Jordan to better motivate the formation of pharmapreneurial intention.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine pharmapreneurship in Jordan.
Co-branding drivers between professional sport organizations and on-field sports apparel sponsors
Authors: Abdolmaleki Hossein , Mohammadi Sardar , Babaei Mehdi , Soheili Behzad , Dickson Geoff , Funk Dan
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate drivers of co-branding, and the relative strength of these drivers within the Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL). The study examines sport sponsorship, and specifically the relationship between professional football teams and on-field apparel sponsors.

Design/methodology/approach

Sixteen experts participated in semi-structured interviews and ranked the co-branding drivers. The expert opinions were organized into estimates and triangular fuzzy numbers were established before the Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System converted the fuzzy outputs into crisp output values using the Centroid method. Next, the rankings of the drivers by the same 16 participants were analyzed using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP).

Findings

The study identified four main factors with 19 indicators: brand management (i.e. enhancing brand value, utilizing the knowledge and experience of partner brands, brand position, brand identity, brand equity and brand image), partner relationships (i.e. satisfaction, mutual trust, commitment, common interest, product reliability and innovative strategies), marketing factors (i.e. marketing mix, market position, competitive advantage and entry into new domestic markets) and supporting factors (i.e. copyright, contracts and social media law). The AHP identified the most influential factors as marketing, partner relationships, brand management and support.

Originality/value

Based on the study’s findings, the authors recommend that PGPL teams adopt a partnership mindset, seek alignment of values and recognize the plurality of stakeholders to a sponsorship and their relationships to each other. The study highlights the challenges of co-branding activities in a developing country where trademark laws are not well developed.
Artificial intelligence (AI) for user experience (UX) design: a systematic literature review and future research agenda
Authors: Stige Åsne , Zamani Efpraxia D. , Mikalef Patrick , Zhu Yuzhen
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The aim of this article is to map the use of AI in the user experience (UX) design process. Disrupting the UX process by introducing novel digital tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve efficiency and accuracy, while creating more innovative and creative solutions. Thus, understanding how AI can be leveraged for UX has important research and practical implications.

Design/methodology/approach

This article builds on a systematic literature review approach and aims to understand how AI is used in UX design today, as well as uncover some prominent themes for future research. Through a process of selection and filtering, 46 research articles are analysed, with findings synthesized based on a user-centred design and development process.

Findings

The authors’ analysis shows how AI is leveraged in the UX design process at different key areas. Namely, these include understanding the context of use, uncovering user requirements, aiding solution design, and evaluating design, and for assisting development of solutions. The authors also highlight the ways in which AI is changing the UX design process through illustrative examples.

Originality/value

While there is increased interest in the use of AI in organizations, there is still limited work on how AI can be introduced into processes that depend heavily on human creativity and input. Thus, the authors show the ways in which AI can enhance such activities and assume tasks that have been typically performed by humans.
The role of collective intelligence and collective agency in enterprising communities
Authors: Rae David , Blenker Per
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce the concept of Entrepreneurial Collective Intelligence (ECI) as a means of understanding how communities of entrepreneurial actors learn to act both collectively and knowingly. It explores how connections between processes of CI, agency and action can explain and enable the development entrepreneurial community organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

There is a selective literature review of prior works on the related fields of community and collective entrepreneurship; collectives and intelligence; agency and action. The review is used to propose a framework of collective entrepreneurial intelligence, agency and action. An interpretive approach is used to research four case studies of community organisations which use CI to generate entrepreneurial outcomes.

Findings

The cases are compared with themes from prior literature to develop a conceptual model of four ECI processes which enable intelligence, agency and action: collaborative processes; distributed working; intelligence representations and organisation of infrastructures. These are theorised to discuss ideas, challenges, methods and questions to enhance entrepreneurial actions, based on sharing knowledge and learning, in the context of collective agency, action and intelligence.

Research limitations/implications

The four processes, both together and separately, represent a coherent framework useful for further studies on the role of collectives in enterprising communities.

Practical implications

The four processes each represent a central area of attention, not only for development, learning, decision-making and leadership within enterprising communities but also for entrepreneurship education in terms of alternative didactics, pedagogies and learning forms.

Social implications

The improved knowledge on the role of collective agency and CI within entrepreneurial processes is useful for strengthening civil activism and other fruitful forms of entrepreneurial collective processes. This may help solve complicated societal problems where traditional conceptions of entrepreneurship fail.

Originality/value

The conceptual contribution is to explain the dynamic relationships between ECI and action, mediated by collective agency. The role of CI in informing entrepreneurial communities is explored and four enabling processes are proposed. This coherent framework is useful for further studies on the role of collectives in enterprising communities, whilst informing their learning, decision-making and leadership.