bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanistic insights into the function of 14-3-3 proteins as negative regulators of brassinosteroid signaling in Arabidopsis
Authors: Obergfell Elsa , Hohmann Ulrich , Moretti Andrea , Hothorn Michael
Published: October 2023

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are vital plant steroid hormones sensed at the cell surface by a membrane signaling complex comprising the receptor kinase BRI1 and a SERK-family co-receptor kinase. Activation of this complex lead to dissociation of the inhibitor protein BKI1 from the receptor and to differential phosphorylation of BZR1/BES1 transcription factors by the glycogen synthase kinase 3 protein BIN2. Many phosphoproteins of the BR signaling pathway, including BRI1, SERKs, BKI1 and BZR1/BES1 can associate with 14-3-3 proteins. In this study, we use quantitative ligand binding assays to define the minimal 14-3-3 binding sites in the N-terminal lobe of the BRI1 kinase domain, in BKI1, and in BZR1 fromArabidopsis thaliana. All three motifs require to be phosphorylated to specifically bind 14-3-3s with mid- to low micromolar affinity. BR signaling components display minimal isoform preference within the 14-3-3 non-ε subgroup. 14-3-3ƛ and 14-3-3ω isoform complex crystal structures reveal that BKI1 and BZR1 bind as canonical type II 14-3-3 linear motifs. Disruption of key amino acids in the phosphopeptide binding site through mutation impairs the interaction of 14-3-3ƛ with all three linear motifs. Notably, quadruple loss-of-function mutants from the non-ε group exhibit gain-of-function brassinosteroid signaling phenotypes, suggesting a role for 14-3-3 proteins as overall negative regulators of the BR pathway. Collectively, our work provides further mechanistic and genetic evidence for the regulatory role of 14-3-3 proteins at various stages of the brassinosteroid signaling cascade.
A discovery platform to identify inducible synthetic circuitry from varied microbial sources
Authors: Robinson Clare M , Carreno David , Weber Tim , Chen Yangyumeng , Riglar David T
Published: October 2023

Gut microbes encode a variety of systems for molecular sensing and controlling conditional gene expression within the mammalian gut. Synthetic biology approaches such as whole-cell biosensing and 'sense-and-respond' therapeutics aim to tap into this vast sensing repertoire to drive clinical and pre-clinical applications. An ongoing constraint is the limited number of well-characterized inducible circuit components to specifically sense in vivo conditions of interest, such as disease. Here, we extend the flexibility and power of a biosensor screening platform using bacterial memory circuits encoded in a gut commensal E. coli. We construct libraries driven by potential sensory components derived from a combination of E. coli promoters or bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) sourced from diverse gut bacteria. Each is tagged with unique DNA barcodes using a pooled construction method. Using our pipeline, we evaluate sensor activity and performance heterogeneity across in vitro and in vivo conditions including using a mouse inflammation model. We demonstrate the method's ability to identify biosensors of interest, including the identification of unannotated TCSs. Following the optimisation of library construction, analysis, and delivery to account for the challenges of working with engineered bacteria within a conventional mammalian gut microbiome, we identify and validate several further biosensors of interest responding to the murine gut environment, and specifically during inflammatory conditions. This approach can be applied to transcriptionally activated sensing elements of any type and will allow for rapid development of new biosensors that can advance synthetic biology approaches for complex environments.
Gene expression variation across genetically identical individuals predicts reproductive traits
Authors: Webster Amy K. , Willis John H. , Johnson Erik , Sarkies Peter , Phillips Patrick C.
Published: October 2023

In recent decades, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been the major approach to understand the biological basis of individual differences in traits and diseases. However, GWAS approaches have limited predictive power to explain individual differences, particularly for complex traits and diseases in which environmental factors play a substantial role in their etiology. Indeed, individual differences persist even in genetically identical individuals, although fully separating genetic and environmental causation is difficult in most organisms. To understand the basis of individual differences in the absence of genetic differences, we measured two quantitative reproductive traits in 180 genetically identical young adultCaenorhabditis elegansroundworms in a shared environment and performed single-individual transcriptomics on each worm. We identified hundreds of genes for which expression variation was strongly associated with reproductive traits, some of which depended on individuals’ historical environments and some of which was random. Multiple small sets of genes together were highly predictive of reproductive traits, explaining on average over half and over a quarter of variation in the two traits. We manipulated mRNA levels of predictive genes to identify a set of causal genes, demonstrating the utility of this approach for both prediction and understanding underlying biology. Finally, we found that the chromatin environment of predictive genes was enriched for H3K27 trimethylation, suggesting that gene expression variation may be driven in part by chromatin structure. Together, this work shows that individual, non-genetic differences in gene expression are both highly predictive and causal in shaping reproductive traits.
A PARP14/TARG1-Regulated RACK1 MARylation Cycle Drives Stress Granule Dynamics in Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Challa Sridevi , Nandu Tulip , Kim Hyung Bum , Gong Xuan , Renshaw Charles W. , Li Wan-Chen , Tan Xinrui , Aljardali Marwa W. , Camacho Cristel V. , Chen Jin , Kraus W. Lee
Published: October 2023

Mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation (MARylation) is emerging as a critical regulator of ribosome function and translation. Herein, we demonstrate that RACK1, an integral component of the ribosome, is MARylated on three acidic residues by the mono(ADP-ribosyl) transferase (MART) PARP14 in ovarian cancer cells. MARylation of RACK1 is required for stress granule formation and promotes the colocalization of RACK1 in stress granules with G3BP1, eIF3η, and 40S ribosomal proteins. In parallel, we observed reduced translation of a subset of mRNAs, including those encoding key cancer regulators (e.g., AKT). Treatment with a PARP14 inhibitor or mutation of the sites of MARylation on RACK1 blocks these outcomes, as well as the growth of ovarian cancer cells in culture and in vivo. To re-set the system after prolonged stress and recovery, the ADP-ribosyl hydrolase TARG1 deMARylates RACK1, leading to the dissociation of the stress granules and the restoration of translation. Collectively, our results demonstrate a therapeutically targetable pathway that controls stress granule assembly and disassembly in ovarian cancer cells.

We have discovered a druggable PARP14/TARG1-regulated pathway that mediates site- specific mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation of RACK1, a ribosomal protein. This pathway controls stress granule assembly and disassembly, as well as the translation of a subset of mRNAs, to modulate the growth of ovarian cancer cells in culture and in vivo.
Representations of the intrinsic value of information in mouse orbitofrontal cortex
Authors: Bussell Jennifer J. , Badman Ryan P. , Márton Christian D. , Bromberg-Martin Ethan S. , Abbott L.F. , Rajan Kanaka , Axel Richard
Published: October 2023

Animals are motivated to seek information that does not influence reward outcomes, suggesting that information has intrinsic value. We have developed an odor-based information seeking task that reveals that mice choose to receive information even though it does not alter the reward outcome. Moreover, mice are willing to pay for information by sacrificing water reward, suggesting that information is of intrinsic value to a mouse. We used a microendoscope to reveal neural activity in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) while mice learned the information seeking task. We observed the emergence of distinct populations of neurons responsive to odors predictive of information and odors predictive of water reward. A latent variable model recapitulated these different representations in the low-dimensional dynamics of OFC neuronal population activity. These data suggest that mice have evolved separate pathways to represent the intrinsic value of information and the extrinsic value of water reward. Thus, the desire to acquire knowledge is observed in mice, and the value of this information is represented in the OFC. The mouse now provides a facile experimental system to study the representation of the value of information, a higher cognitive variable.
Learner support services at distance higher education institutions in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir
Authors: Wani Shabir Ahmed , Asgar Ali , Srivastava Manjulika
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper presents the features and relevance of open distance learning in the context of the socio-economic conditions of people living in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India. Although the primary purpose of the present study was to ascertain the effectiveness of the learner support services (LSSs) and different facilities offered by the open distance learning (ODL) institutions in that specific region. On the basis of these findings, few suggestions are made for the improvement in the support services, in order to make the ODL system more responsive to the area-specific needs of the learners, especially those residing in inaccessible areas such as J&K.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey-based descriptive methodology was applied to conduct this study. The data extracted from primary and secondary sources were analysed to reach certain conclusions. In total, 1,200 distance learners constituted the sample of the research. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed and distributed amongst learners and academics in the region to obtain their feedback and opinion on different aspects of support services and facilities offered to ODL learners.

Findings

Results of the study revealed that overall, the LSSs were satisfactory on different parameters, although they slightly varied from institution to institution. However, there was still scope for improvement in certain areas, where institutions further need to make serious efforts to address the identified gaps for improving the LSS and make teaching-learning more learner-centric in view of their specific requirements and local circumstances of J&K.

Research limitations/implications

The present study focusses on presenting an overview of the only major components of LSS offered by ODL institutions and covers six distance education institutions (DEIs) located in different geographical locations within the limited jurisdiction of J&K. There is still scope to make focused (institution-wise) studies in a more specific situation and context to ascertain the problems in a more realistic way.

Practical implications

Although the study has been conducted in a specific territory of J&K, the findings reported in the paper may be equally useful for the other ODL institutions with similar characteristics or located in similar geographical locations, as support services are essential common components of institutions offering distance education programmes or courses.

Originality/value

The study is original research work conducted in the specific context of J&K, and its findings are based on the primary and secondary data collected from learners and other stakeholders of the selected ODL institutions. This work may be significant for the DEIs of J&K to get familiar with the essential components of LSS and develop a mechanism to further improve the academic and administrative support services for distance learners.
Accessing collective memory: the role of oral history in building an inclusive archives reflecting a people’s archives
Authors: Schellnack-Kelly Isabel
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to discuss accessing oral history in building an inclusive archives from communities that once dwelled in the Kruger National Park. In March 2022, in the Daily Maverick, the South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy stated that there is a need for a shift to an Africanised conservation approach that embraces the diverse cultures, traditions and knowledge systems in South Africa. It is, thus, important for wilderness areas in South Africa to undertake projects to collect and share indigenous knowledge that can be captured and used to conserve wilderness areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology that was applied for the purpose of this study is a multimethod approach but is dominated by a qualitative approach.

Findings

During three interviews, three focus groups of five persons and three onsite visits, several concerns were identified as requiring more investigations and efforts to ensure archives can be publicly accessible.

Originality/value

History on Africa has largely been written by the global north and kept behind expensive paywalls (Fengu, 2022). The oral history projects being undertaken in South Africa are to be commended in for filling gaps in the historical discourse neglected by the colonial and apartheid dispensations.
Inequality, poverty, and resilience to economic shrinking
Authors: Smythe Anthony , Martins Igor , Andersson Martin
Published: October 2023

Purpose

With the recognition that generating economic growth is not the same as sustaining it, the challenge to catch-up and growth literature is discerning between these processes. Recent research suggests that the decline in the frequency of “shrinking” episodes is more important for long-term development than higher growth rates. By using a framework centred around social capabilities, this study aims to investigate the effects of income inequality and poverty on economic shrinking frequency, as opposed to previous literature that has exclusively had a growth focus. The aim is to investigate how and why some societies might be more resilient to economic shrinking.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is a quantitative study, and the authors build a longitudinal data set including 23 developing countries throughout 42 years to test the paper’s purpose. This study uses country and period fixed-effects specifications as well as cross-sectional graphical representations to investigate the relationship between proxies of economic inclusivity and the frequency of shrinking episodes.

Findings

The authors demonstrate that while inclusive societies are more resilient to shrinking overall, it is changes in poverty levels, but not changes in income inequality, that appear to be correlated with economic shrinking frequency. Inequality, while still an important element to explain countries’ growth potential as an initial condition, does not seem to make the sample more resilient to shrinking. The authors conclude that the mechanisms in which poverty and inequality are correlated with the catch-up process must run through different channels. Ultimately, processes that explain growth may intersect but not always overlap with the ones that explain resilience to shrinking.

Originality/value

The need for inclusive growth in long-term development has been championed for decades, yet inclusion has seldom been explored from the shrinking perspective. Though poverty reduction is already an important mainstream political objective, this paper differentiates itself by providing an alternate viewpoint of why this is important. Income inequality could have more of an economic growth limiting effect, while poverty reduction could be required to build resilience to economic shrinking. Developing countries will need both growth and resilience to shrinking, to catch-up with higher-income economies, which policymakers might need to balance carefully.
Change agents under tensions: a paradox approach to strategies for transforming higher education toward sustainability
Authors: Bohunovsky Lisa , Radinger-Peer Verena , Zint Michaela , Penker Marianne
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Guided by paradox theory, the study aims to significantly advance Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions (SHEI) scholarship and inform change agents’ (CAs) practices by uncovering the tensions underlying the challenges CAs face in embedding sustainability in their universities and learning about potential strategies to manage these tensions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a multi-step, mix-methods study including interviews (n = 15), an online survey (n = 36) and focus groups (n = 29) with CAs from 17 of Austria’s 22 public universities. Participating CAs consisted of faculty, staff and administrators with leading roles in their Higher Education Institutions’ sustainability change processes.

Findings

Austrian SHEI CAs’ responses revealed 15 tensions at and between the individual, organizational and system level addressing academic, organizational and external stakeholder engagement aspects. Six tensions were selected for more in-depth exploration including elaboration of management strategies, building on CAs’ experiences. Results revealed examples of acceptance, separation and synthesis strategies.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the exploratory nature of our study, the authors do not claim to have identified a comprehensive list of tensions underlying the challenges faced by SHEI CAs, nor of all potential management strategies.

Practical implications

Although this study focused exclusively on Austrian SHEI CAs, the challenges they shared were consistent with those in the literature and, thus, insights should also support the CAs’ efforts in other countries.

Originality/value

This study offers novel perspectives on how to manage the challenges to SHEI. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first to describe paradox theory-informed management strategies recommended by a heterogenous group of SHEI CAs to address the barriers they face in transforming their universities toward sustainability.
Capital requirements – risk taking/stability nexus during the global financial crisis and COVID-19: international evidence of Islamic banks
Authors: Ding Xiao Ling , Haron Razali , Hasan Aznan
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to determine how Basel III capital requirements affect the stability of Islamic banks globally during the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The secondary data for all Islamic banks worldwide from 2004 to 2021 is obtained from the FitchConnect database. The main technique was a two-step generalized method of moment (GMM) system, and the data were tested using pooled ordinary least squares, fixed effects and difference GMM models for robustness checks.

Findings

Regression results support the moral hazard hypothesis based on evidence that both the total capital ratio and the Tier 1 capital ratio have a statistically significant positive impact on the stability of Islamic banks globally. Furthermore, neither the global financial crisis of 2008–2009 nor COVID-19 (2020–2021) significantly impacted the stability of Islamic banks worldwide. The results are robust across alternative measures of stability, capital buffers, dummy variables and estimation techniques. According to the descriptive statistics, the number of Islamic banks that disclose their regulatory capital ratios to the public has increased over the study period, and the mean of total capital and Tier 1 ratios are considerably greater than what is required by Basel II and Basel III.

Research limitations/implications

Bankers, regulators and policymakers should benefit from the evidence on capital and risk management in Islamic banking according to Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) and Islamic financial services board (IFSB) international standards in various jurisdictions.

Originality/value

This research builds on earlier studies that were both beneficial and instructive by exploring the relationship between BCBS and IFSB capital guidelines and the trustworthiness of Islamic banks in greater depth. This study uses numerous capital ratios, buffers and stability measures to provide an international context for research on Islamic banking. In addition, the database is up-to-date to include information about the COVID-19 pandemic aftereffects in the year 2021. This study also introduces the Basel membership of Islamic banks to provide context for countries still at the Basel II stage or are yet to begin implementing the Basel III international standard.
Users in preparers' shoes: mobilizing the sense of belonging in popular report development in local governments
Authors: Cohen Sandra , Karatzimas Sotirios
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The scope of this study is to explore informed citizens' engagement in the development of real municipalities' popular reports. For this purpose, an exploratory experiment is performed where potential users of popular reports with certain accounting skills (i.e. groups of undergraduate accounting students) act as preparers of these reports.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses insights from the sense of belonging theory in an ambivalent way: to explain citizens' interest in popular reports and to consider popular reports as an impetus triggering citizens' sense of belonging. By content-analyzing the reports developed and taking stock of the students' perceptions on aspects of popular reports, a template for a popular report for local governments is synthesized. Further, by comparing the study findings with theoretical recommendations and popular reporting practices, the authors offer insights on the content and layout of popular reports which is expected to enhance the sense of belonging of citizens within their city.

Findings

The undergraduate students while relying on earlier examples and existing models have created their own reports in which they have used financial and non-financial information indicating the significance of both types of information for citizens. The evidenced heterogeneity in the developed reports is expected to be the effect of the sense of belonging. Moreover, the study reveals citizens' positive stance toward the adoption of co-development and co-creation approaches in the design of popular reports by citizen groups and municipal authorities which is consistent with a sense of belonging mobilization.

Originality/value

This study adds to the literature on the content and characteristics of popular reports by giving voice to the citizens themselves through an exploratory experiment that permits the sense of belonging to take effect.
AI micro-decisions in FinTechs: a mixed method research design
Authors: Issa Helmi , Jabbouri Rachid , Mehanna Rock-Antoine
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The exponential growth of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, coupled with advanced algorithms and increased computational capacity, has facilitated their widespread adoption in various industries. Among these, the financial technology (FinTech) sector has been significantly impacted by AI-based decision-making systems. Nevertheless, a knowledge gap remains regarding the intricate mechanisms behind the micro-decision-making process employed by AI algorithms. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This research utilized a sequential mixed-methods research approach and obtained data through 18 interviews conducted with a single FinTech firm in France, as well as 148 e-surveys administered to participants employed at different FinTechs located throughout Europe.

Findings

Three main themes (ambidexterity, data sovereignty and model explainability) emerge as underpinnings for effective AI micro decision-making in FinTechs.

Practical implications

This research aims to minimize ambiguity by putting forth a proposition for a model that functions as an “infrastructural” layer, providing a more comprehensive illumination of the micro-decisions made by AI.

Originality/value

This research pioneers as the very first empirical exploration delving into the essential factors that underpin effective AI micro-decisions in FinTechs.
The relationship between green packaging awareness, initiatives, and behavior: an exploratory study on India rural population
Authors: George Hesil Jerda , Susainathan Sahayaselvi , Parayitam Satyanarayana
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the antecedents and consequences of green packaging behavior (GPB). A conceptual model has been developed wherein green packaging awareness (GPA) and green packaging initiatives (GPI) are precursors of GPB, and environmental concern and availability of various green packaging alternatives are moderators. The outcomes of GPB in terms of environmental and personal benefits are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Unlike most papers focusing on green packaging from a marketing perspective, this study explores the behavior of rural households from 47 villages in southern India. A carefully crafted survey instrument was developed, and data were collected from 395 respondents. After checking the instrument’s psychometric properties, the results were analyzed using Hayes’s PROCESS macros.

Findings

The results indicate that GPA and GPI are positively associated with GPB, GPA predicts GPI, and GPI mediates the relationship between GPA and GPB. Furthermore, findings suggest that environmental concern moderates the relationship between GPI and GPB, and the three-way interaction between the availability of green packaging (second moderator), environmental concern (first moderator), and GPI influences the GPB. Moreover, the outcomes of GPB in terms of environmental and personal benefits are established.

Research limitations/implications

This research has several theoretical implications. It documents that individual awareness of green packaging is a precursor to GPB. This study focused on the rural population from a developing country (India) and hence may suffer from a lack of generalizability across developed nations. However, the results could be generalizable across other developing nations worldwide.

Practical implications

This study motivates individuals to engage in proenvironmental behavior. Moreover, it highlights the importance of GPB in deriving environmental and personal benefits. It is also equally crucial for individuals to engage in proper waste management practices so that the environment is not polluted.

Social implications

The findings from this research are helpful to society as it focuses on the proenvironmental behavior of individuals. Particularly concerning packaging, this study points out that buying products with green packaging and reusing and recycling such packages is essential to protect the environment.

Originality/value

This study fills the gaps in the literature by focusing on the GPB of the rural population. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the moderated-mediation model developed and tested in this research is the first of its kind and thus makes a significant contribution to the literature on green packaging and waste management.
At a cost: A review of the public accountability risks of Social Impact Bonds
Authors: Demuynck Simon , Van Dooren Wouter
Published: October 2023

Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) have gained popularity as an alternative financing method for public services. SIBs promise to have lower risks for public budgets than traditional approaches. However, integrating private finance instruments into established public accountability procedures is notoriously difficult. Through a systematic review of the empirical research on implemented SIBs, this article examines those public accountability concerns. The results indicate that narratives of a new, more horizontal way of holding organisations accountable should not be accepted too easily. Risks are identified in the literature in four public accountability dimensions: transparency, controllability, responsiveness, and liability. Accountability safeguards will need to centre on establishing detailed procedures that precisely delineate the role of each actor, building effective platforms for both gathering and sharing information, and adequately transferring risks. At the same time, these safeguards could come at the cost of the attractiveness of the instrument for investors, creating a catch‐22 in which making the SIB a sustainable model of service delivery at the same time may undermine its viability.

Points for practitioners

To address public accountability risks, practitioners can focus on establishing procedures that clearly define the roles of each actor involved in the SIB, creating effective platforms for gathering and sharing information between partners and making sure that financial risks are adequately transferred to private partners.

At the same time, implementing safeguards for public accountability may prove challenging, as it increases transaction costs and undermines the attractiveness of SIBs for all actors.

Administrations should use SIBs sparingly and transition from multiplex SIBs to two‐party contracts once programmes prove effective.
Effect of electron donors on CO2 fixation from a model cement industry flue gas by non‐photosynthetic microbial communities in batch and continuous reactors
Authors: Alvarez‐Guzmán Cecilia Lizeth , Muñoz‐Páez Karla María , Valdez‐Vazquez Idania
Published: October 2023

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different inorganic compounds as electron donors for the capture of CO2 from a model cement flue gas CO2/O2/N2 (4.2:13.5:82.3% v/v) using a non‐photosynthetic microbial community. The inoculum obtained from a H2‐producing reactor was acclimated to CO2 consumption achieving 100% of CO2 removal after 45 days. Na2S, MnCl2, NaNO2, NH4Cl, Na2S2O3, and FeCl2 were used as energy source for CO2 fixation by the acclimated microbial community showing different efficiencies, being Na2S the best electron donor evaluated (100% of CO2 consumption) and FeCl2 the less effective (28% of CO2 consumption). In all treatments, acetate and propionate were the main endpoint metabolites. Moreover, scaling the process to a continuous laboratory biotrickling filter using Na2S as energy source showed a CO2 consumption of up to 77%. Analysis of the microbial community showed that Na2S and FeCl2 exerted a strong selection on the microbial members in the community showing significant differences (PERMANOVA, p = 0.0001) compared to the control and the other treatments. Results suggest that the CO2 fixing pathways used by the microbial community in all treatments were the 3‐hydroxypropionate‐4‐hydroxybutyrate cycle and the Wood‐Ljungdahl pathway.
Integrated genomics and phenotype microarray analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae industrial strains for rice wine fermentation and recombinant protein production
Authors: Son Ye Ji , Jeon Min‐Seung , Moon Hye Yun , Kang Jiwon , Jeong Da Min , Lee Dong Wook , Kim Jae Ho , Lim Jae Yun , Seo Jeong‐Ah , Jin Jae‐Hyung , Bahn Yong‐Sun , Eyun Seong‐il , Kang Hyun Ah
Published: October 2023

The industrial potential of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has extended beyond its traditional use in fermentation to various applications, including recombinant protein production. Herein, comparative genomics was performed with three industrial S. cerevisiae strains and revealed a heterozygous diploid genome for the 98‐5 and KSD‐YC strains (exploited for rice wine fermentation) and a haploid genome for strain Y2805 (used for recombinant protein production). Phylogenomic analysis indicated that Y2805 was closely associated with the reference strain S288C, whereas KSD‐YC and 98‐5 were grouped with Asian and European wine strains, respectively. Particularly, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in FDC1, involved in the biosynthesis of 4‐vinylguaiacol (4‐VG, a phenolic compound with a clove‐like aroma), was found in KSD‐YC, consistent with its lack of 4‐VG production. Phenotype microarray (PM) analysis showed that KSD‐YC and 98‐5 displayed broader substrate utilization than S288C and Y2805. The SNPs detected by genome comparison were mapped to the genes responsible for the observed phenotypic differences. In addition, detailed information on the structural organization of Y2805 selection markers was validated by Sanger sequencing. Integrated genomics and PM analysis elucidated the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of industrial S. cerevisiae strains, providing a platform to improve fermentation processes and genetic manipulation.
Metabarcoding using nanopore long‐read sequencing for the unbiased characterization of apicomplexan haemoparasites
Authors: Huggins Lucas G. , Colella Vito , Young Neil D. , Traub Rebecca J.
Published: October 2023

Apicomplexan haemoparasites generate significant morbidity and mortality in humans and other animals, particularly in many low‐to‐middle income countries. Malaria caused by Plasmodium remains responsible for some of the highest numbers of annual deaths of any human pathogen, whilst piroplasmids, such as Babesia and Theileria can have immense negative economic effects through livestock loss. Diagnosing haemoparasites via traditional methods like microscopy is challenging due to low‐level and transient parasitaemia. PCR‐based diagnostics overcome these limitations by being both highly sensitive and specific, but they may be unable to accurately detect coinfections or identify novel species. In contrast, next‐generation sequencing (NGS)‐based methods can characterize all pathogens from a group of interest concurrently, although, the short‐read platforms previously used have been limited in the taxonomic resolution achievable. Here, we used Oxford Nanopore Technologies' (ONT) long‐read MinION™ sequencer to conduct apicomplexan haemoparasite metabarcoding via sequencing the near full‐length 18S ribosomal RNA gene, demonstrating its ability to detect Babesia, Hepatozoon, Neospora, Plasmodium, Theileria and Toxoplasma species. This method was tested on blood‐extracted DNA from 100 dogs and the results benchmarked against qPCR and Illumina‐based metabarcoding. For two common haemoparasites, nanopore sequencing performed as well as qPCR (kappa agreement statistics > 0.98), whilst also detecting one pathogen, Hepatozoon felis, missed by the other techniques. The long‐reads obtained by nanopore sequencing provide an improved species‐level taxonomic resolution whilst the method's broad applicability mean it can be used to explore apicomplexan communities from diverse mammalian hosts, on a portable sequencer that easily permits adaptation to field use.
First case report of erlotinib plus ramucirumab treatment for lung carcinosarcoma with EGFR L858R mutation
Authors: Ishibashi Naoya , Tabata Toshiharu , Nonomura Ryo , Oshima Yutaka , Sasaki Takanobu , Mitomo Hideki , Sugawara Takafumi , Sagawa Motoyasu
Published: October 2023

Lung carcinosarcoma is acknowledged as a rare form of lung cancer. Due to its rarity, the inability to conduct large‐scale clinical trials and interventions is currently carried out based on empirical evidence. In this study, we report the case of a 73‐year‐old female patient diagnosed with postoperative recurrence of lung carcinosarcoma. The resected tumor was diagnosed as lung carcinosarcoma, and genetic testing revealed the presence of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon21 L858R. Approximately 2 years postoperatively, the tumor recurred and the patient was treated with erlotinib plus ramucirumab, which were effective in controlling metastatic disease. Erlotinib plus ramucirumab is therefore a treatment option for EGFR mutation‐positive lung carcinosarcoma.
How do lead auditor instructions influence component auditors' evidence collection decisions? The joint influence of construal interpretations and responsibility
Authors: Zhu Skye , Phang Soon‐Yeow
Published: October 2023

Regulators have raised concerns about the quality of component auditors' work. Of particular concern is that component auditors often do not adequately perform procedures and gather enough quality evidence. This failure is likely caused by component auditors' different interpretations of lead auditor instructions and by their lack of responsibility. Our interview findings suggest that component auditors tend to interpret lead auditor instructions concretely because they often receive detailed instructions from lead auditors. We propose that a responsibility prompt reminding component auditors to be aware of their obligations to the group audit engagement can improve their evidence collection. In two experiments, we find that our proposed responsibility prompt can effectively improve component auditors' evidence collection decisions and that this finding holds across different cultural settings. Our third experiment provides evidence that a responsibility prompt improves component auditors' evidence collection when provided to auditors who receive instructions that prime low‐level (but not high‐level) construals. Overall, our findings suggest that prompting component auditors to internalize the responsibility of a group audit engagement is a viable way to improve the quality of group audits.
Perceptions of farmers towards carnivores in an Ethiopian protected area
Authors: Shibru Simon , Tolcha Abraham , Melese Meseretu , Ayechew Belayneh , Tsegaye Genaye , Gatew Shetie
Published: October 2023

We explored farmers' perceptions of the causes and consequences of human‐carnivore conflict in Maze National Park, Ethiopia. We selected 225 household heads randomly from five villages for interview using survey questionnaires. We identified the five villages randomly from the 16 that border the park. The majority (75.1%) of the respondents had a negative perception towards the park and the carnivores due to livestock depredation. Overall, 1142 livestock depredation were reported over 3 years (2017–2019). Cattle, sheep and goats were reportedly the most depredated animals. The numbers of livestock depredated significantly varied among villages and predators. Farmers perceived lions as the major livestock depredator followed by leopards and spotted hyaenas and they perceived that proximity, poor livestock husbandry and low natural prey density were the main causes of livestock depredation. The distance of the household holdings to the park was correlated negatively with the depredation level. Farmers use guarding, cut‐and‐carry systems and dogs to reduce carnivores' predation. Allocating enough spatial differences between the park and the villages and altering the timing and frequency with which livestock grazing overlaps with the diurnal activities of carnivores may lead to a win–win outcome promoting coexistence.
Parents’ descriptions of labouring with an antepartum fetal death: Findings from the Birthing in Grief study
Authors: Warland Jane , Pollock Danielle , Collier Ashleigh , Horey Dell , Boyle Frances
Published: October 2023

Background

Evidence to guide intrapartum care when an unborn baby has died is limited.

Aims

To explore parents' experiences of care during labour of an antepartum stillbirth.

Materials and Methods

Semi‐structured interviews with 18 bereaved parents from across Australia. Content analysis was conducted.

Findings

Two broad themes were identified: ‘explaining every step’ and ‘helping us feel like parents.’ Sub‐themes under the first broad theme, ‘explaining every step’, were ‘how and when information was given’ and ‘what happens next.’ ‘Like any other parent’, ‘feeling the pain’ and ‘everything is clouded’ were sub‐themes of the second broad theme. These findings mapped to current Australian clinical practice guidelines for bereavement care around stillbirth and neonatal death, ie good communication, recognition of parenthood, shared decision making and effective support.

Conclusions

This study on parents' experiences of labour with a fetal death in utero brings an important perspective to intrapartum care for this group. As far as we are aware, this study is the first to focus solely on this aspect of care. Our findings could be readily mapped to the four perinatal bereavement care goals. Parents wanted care providers to facilitate their choices, their sense of control, their autonomy and their agency. They wanted to feel that they had received the ‘best’ care available.
How does fairness promote innovative behavior in organizational change?: The importance of social context
Authors: Kim Myungsun , Choi Daejeong , Guay Russell P. , Chen Angela
Published: October 2023

This study examined how and when employee perceptions of change fairness increase their engagement in innovative behavior during organizational change. Drawing upon fairness heuristic theory, we suggest that change fairness plays a pivotal role as a key heuristic about trustworthiness of leaders and managers in motivating employees to engage in innovative behavior. We also suggest that this change fairness effect becomes stronger or weaker depending on social contexts (change norms, change norm strength, and status differentiation) within a group. Our findings from survey data (N = 318; 35 teams) supported our hypotheses, showing that change fairness is positively related to innovative behavior and that this relationship becomes weaker when (a) group members demonstrate supportive behaviors for the planned change on average (positive change norms), (b) all group members uniformly demonstrate change‐supportive behaviors (strong change norms), and (c) group members' social status perceptions are similar (low status differentiation). We provide insights into theory development and change implementation in practice by highlighting the crucial role of fairness as a key decision heuristic about the trustworthiness of management and demonstrating how social contexts substitute the fairness effect on innovative behavior.
‘Finprint’ technopolitics and the corporatisation of global food governance
Authors: Martin Sarah J. , Mather Charles
Published: October 2023

Our concern in this paper is the environmental ‘footprinting’ of food and its role as a source of technopolitical power in global food governance. Our case is the highly industrialised farmed salmon sector which currently generates metrics and carefully curated visualisations to promote this fish as a more sustainable and ‘climate friendly’ protein relative to animal protein produced on land. We show how these metrics and visualisations depend on an industrial production and measurement infrastructure. Significantly, this infrastructure and the metrics that it generates is being promoted as a ‘climate smart’ solution to small‐scale and extensive aquaculture in the Global South. Salmon aquaculture industry proposals for the transfer of technology from salmon farming to global aquaculture are explicitly articulated in global food governance and other institutional spaces. While there may be frictions in the transfer of salmon aquaculture's infrastructure of measurement to aquaculture in the Global South, our analysis suggests that environmental footprinting of food—and its associated measurement infrastructure—may be an emerging source of technopolitical power in increasingly corporatised global food governance systems.
Lymphocytic vasculitis in livedoid vasculopathy: A report of 137 cases
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Liu Yu , Ban Fazhan , Sun Zhongbing , Liao Wenjun , Wang Lei
Published: October 2023

Background

Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is characterized by fibrin deposition and thrombosis in the small vessels of the superficial dermis. It is widely recognized as an occlusive disease, which is primarily treated with anticoagulation therapy.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and histopathological characteristics of patients diagnosed with LV at a tertiary dermatology department to explore the characteristics of lymphocytic vasculitis in LV. The frequency of vasculitis and the types of vessels involved were examined based on the diameters and elastic fiber distribution of the involved vessels. In addition, the immunophenotypes of infiltrating lymphocytes were analyzed.

Results

In a large retrospective series including 358 LV cases, we identified 137 (38.3%) cases of lymphocytic vasculitis. Among them, 48 cases involved medium‐sized vessels, including arterioles and venules, whereas 89 cases involved only small vessels. In addition, 12 cases displayed a segmental distribution of vasculitis. The infiltrating lymphocytes were mainly T cells, with dominant cells stained positive for CD4.

Conclusions

Lymphocytic vasculitis forms part of the histological spectrum of LV, affecting both medium‐sized and small vessels. It is possible that the occlusion of small vessels may represent a phenomenon secondary to lymphocytic vasculitis.
Atta mexicanawaste dumps are hot spots of soil nutrients in an urbanNeotropicalcloud forest environment
Authors: Baena Martha L. , de la Luz Avendaño‐Yáñez María , González‐Zamora Arturo , Delfín‐Alfonso Christian A. , Perroni Yareni
Published: October 2023

Little is known about the activity of leaf‐cutter ants such asAtta mexicanain urban environments.

This study evaluated the soil nutrient concentration ofA. mexicananests and waste dumps compared with adjacent soils to the nests as a control in a Neotropical urban environment.

The high nutrient concentration values in waste dumps, such as total C (360%), total N (340%), ammonium (900%) and nitrate (270%) higher than those found in the adjacent soils, except for total P, P‐Bray and sulphates, indicate thatA. mexicanawaste dumps may be hot spots of high nutrient concentrations in surface soil of an urban ecosystem.
Creep life prediction of Ni‐based single‐crystal superalloy plate with film‐cooling holes using a modified critical distance method based on the improved weight function
Authors: Wang Ping , Wen Zhixun , Li Meng , Lu Guangxian , Li Zhenwei , He Pengfei
Published: October 2023

This paper proposed a new weight function modified critical distance method to predict the creep life of Ni‐based single‐crystal superalloy plate with film‐cooling holes through experimental and numerical research. The creep test and numerical simulation results both indicated that cracks originated around the hole, and the location of the maximum Mises stress point around the hole was consistent with the crack initiation point shown in the test results. Considering the stress gradient in the thickness direction, a critical fracture surface was defined, and the stress distribution at the critical fracture surface was defined using polynomials. An improved stress gradient function and weight function were introduced to calculate the effective stress at the critical fracture surface. The effective stress was used to predict the creep life of the plate with film‐cooling holes. Compared with the experimental results, the errors were all within the dispersion band of 1.5 times, indicating good prediction results.