bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influenza A virus during pregnancy disrupts maternal intestinal immunity and fetal cortical development in a dose- and time-dependent manner
Authors: Otero Ashley M. , Connolly Meghan G. , Gonzalez-Ricon Rafael J. , Wang Selena S. , Allen Jacob M. , Antonson Adrienne M.
Published: December 2023

Epidemiological studies link neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) with exposure to maternal viral infection in utero. It is hypothesized that the mechanism governing this link involves the activation of maternal intestinal T helper 17 (TH17) cells, which produce effector cytokine interleukin (IL)-17. While IL-17 is implicated as a major driver of fetal brain abnormalities, this inflammation-induced TH17 pathway has not been thoroughly examined in models of live viral infection during pregnancy. Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is consistently linked to offspring NDDs and can result in host intestinal dysregulation. Therefore, it is possible that intestinal TH17 cells and subsequent production of IL-17 could drive fetal brain abnormalities during gestational IAV infection. To test this, we inoculated pregnant mice with two infectious doses of IAV and evaluated peak innate and adaptive immune responses in the dam and fetus. While respiratory IAV infection led to dose-dependent maternal colonic shortening and microbial dysregulation, there was no elevation in intestinal TH17 cells nor IL-17. Fetal cortical abnormalities and global changes in fetal brain transcripts were observable in the high-dose IAV group, despite a lack of IL-17 signaling. Profiling fetal microglia and border-associated macrophages (BAMs) –potential cellular mediators of IAV-induced cortical abnormalities –revealed dose-dependent differences in the numbers of BAMs but not microglia. Overall, our data support the idea of an infection severity threshold for downstream maternal inflammation and fetal cortical abnormalities, confirming the use of live pathogens in NDD modeling to better evaluate the complete immune response and to improve translation to the clinic.
The molecular basis of sugar detection by an insect taste receptor
Authors: Gomes João Victor T. , Singh-Bhagania Shivinder , Cenci Matthew , Cordon Carlos Chacon , Singh Manjodh , Butterwick Joel A.
Published: December 2023

Animals crave sugars because of their energy potential and the pleasurable sensation of tasting sweetness. Yet all sugars are not metabolically equivalent, requiring mechanisms to detect and differentiate between chemically similar sweet substances. Insects use a family of ionotropic gustatory receptors to discriminate sugars, each of which is selectively activated by specific sweet molecules. To gain insight into the molecular basis of sugar selectivity, we determined structures of Gr9, a gustatory receptor from the silkworm Bombyx mori (BmGr9), in the absence and presence of its sole activating ligand, D-fructose. These structures, along with structure-guided mutagenesis and functional assays, illustrate how specificity for D-fructose is seemingly achieved by a ligand-binding pocket that precisely matches the overall shape and pattern of chemical groups in D-fructose. However, our computational docking and experimental binding assays revealed that other sugars also bind BmGr9, yet they are unable to activate the receptor. We identified the conformational change required to open the channel gate that provides an additional layer of receptor tuning in BmGr9; only D-fructose can both fit into the pocket and simultaneously engage a bridge of two conserved aromatic residues that connects the pocket to the ion conducting pore. Thus, chemical specificity does not depend solely on the selectivity of the ligand-binding pocket, but it is an emergent property arising from a combination of receptor-ligand interactions and allosteric coupling. Our results support a model whereby coarse receptor tuning is derived from the size and chemical characteristics of the pocket, whereas fine-tuning of receptor activation is achieved through the selective engagement of an allosteric pathway that regulates ion conduction.
High order expression dependencies finely resolve cryptic states and subtypes in single cell data
Authors: Jansma Abel , Yao Yuelin , Wolfe Jareth , Del Debbio Luigi , Beentjes Sjoerd , Ponting Chris P. , Khamseh Ava
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Single cells are typically typed by clustering in reduced dimensional transcriptome space. Here we introduce Stator, a novel method, workflow and app that reveals cell types, subtypes and states without relying on local proximity of cells in gene expression space. Rather, Stator derives higher-order gene expression dependencies from a sparse gene-by-cell expression matrix. From these dependencies the method multiply labels the same single cell according to type, sub-type and state (activation, differentiation or cell cycle sub-phase). By applying the method to data from mouse embryonic brain, and human healthy or diseased liver, we show how Stator first recapitulates other methods’ cell type labels, and then reveals combinatorial gene expression markers of cell type, state, and disease at higher resolution. By allowing multiple state labels for single cells we reveal cell type fates of embryonic progenitor cells and liver cancer states associated with patient survival.
Development of a sensor for disulfide bond formation in diverse bacteria
Authors: Mendoza Jocelyne , Dyotima  , Abulaila Sally , Landeta Cristina
Published: December 2023

In bacteria, disulfide bonds contribute to the folding and stability of proteins important for processes in the cellular envelope. InE. coli, disulfide bond formation is catalyzed by DsbA and DsbB enzymes. DsbA is a periplasmic protein that catalyzes disulfide bond formation in substrate proteins while DsbB is an inner membrane protein that transfers electrons from DsbA to quinones, thereby regenerating the DsbA active state. Actinobacteria including mycobacteria use an alternative enzyme named VKOR which performs the same function as DsbB. Disulfide bond formation enzymes, DsbA and DsbB/ VKOR represent novel drug targets because their inhibition could simultaneously affect the folding of several cell envelope proteins including virulence factors, proteins involved in outer membrane biogenesis, cell division, and antibiotic resistance. We have previously developed a cell-based and target-based assay to identify molecules that inhibit the DsbB and VKOR in pathogenic bacteria, usingEscherichia colicells expressing a periplasmic β-Galactosidase sensor (β-Galdbs) which is only active when disulfide bond formation is inhibited. Here we report the construction of plasmids that allow fine-tuning of the expression of the β-Galdbssensor and can be mobilized into other gram-negative organisms. As an example, when harbored inP. aeruginosaUCBPP-PA14, β-Galdbsbehaves similarly as inE. coliand the biosensor responds to the inhibition of the two DsbB proteins. Thus, these β-Galdbsreporter plasmids provide a basis for identifying novel inhibitors of DsbA and DsbB/VKOR against multi-drug resistant, gram-negative pathogens and to further study oxidative protein folding in diverse gram-negative bacteria.

Importance

Disulfide bonds contribute to the folding and stability of proteins in the bacterial cell envelope. Disulfide bond-forming enzymes represent new drug targets against multidrug-resistant bacteria since inactivation of this process would simultaneously affect several proteins in the cell envelope, including virulence factors, toxins, proteins involved in outer membrane biogenesis, cell division, and antibiotic resistance. Identifying the enzymes involved in disulfide bond formation in gram-negative pathogens as well as their inhibitors can contribute to the much-needed antibacterial innovation. In this work, we developed sensors of disulfide bond formation for gram-negative bacteria. These tools will enable the study of disulfide bond formation and the identification of inhibitors for this crucial process in diverse gram-negative pathogens.
Between group heritability and the status of hereditarianism as an evolutionary science
Authors: Roseman Charles C , Bird Kevin A
Published: December 2023

Hereditarianism is a school of thought that contends there are substantial evolved cognitive and behavioral differences among groups of humans which are both resistant to environmental intervention and are a root cause of differential social outcomes across groups. The relationship of betweengroup heritabilityto within-group heritabilityis one of the key theoretical components of hereditarianism and forms one of the bases for its claim to be an evolutionary science. Here, we examine the relationship betweenandand its application to problems in the hereditarian literature from an evolutionary genetic perspective. We demonstrate that the formulation of the relationship betweenandused in the hereditarian literature has no evolutionary content. By re-writing the relationship betweenandin a novel evolutionary framework, we demonstrate that there is no way to predictusingwithout considerable additional theory that is absent from the hereditarian literature. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the hereditarian technique that usesandas a means of judging whether a given difference between groups may be plausibly ameliorated through environmental intervention is mathematically flawed. Lastly, we fill a gap in the hereditarian literature by writing out a means of usingto predict the absolute difference between groups under a neutral evolutionary model and find that it is much smaller than claimed by hereditarians. In conclusion, we propose a path forward for the study of human variation that moves us past the ill-conceived nature vs. nurture question and allows us to focus on more productive issues.
Wolbachiainfection negatively impactsDrosophila simulansheat tolerance in a strain- and trait-specific manner
Authors: Ferguson Liam , Ross Perran A. , van Heerwaarden Belinda
Published: December 2023

The susceptibility of insects to rising temperatures has largely been measured by their ability to survive thermal extremes. However, until recently, the capacity for maternally inherited endosymbionts to influence insect heat tolerance has been overlooked. Further, the impact of heat on traits like fertility, which can decline at temperatures below the lethal thermal limit has largely been ignored. Here, we assess the impact of threeWolbachiastrains (wRi,wAu, andwNo) on the survival and fertility ofDrosophila simulansexposed to heat stress during development or as adults. The impact ofWolbachiainfection on heat tolerance was generally small and trait/strain specific. Only thewNo infection significantly reduced survival and fertility of adult males after a heat shock. When exposed to a fluctuating heat stress during development, thewRi andwAu strains reduced egg-to-adult survival but only thewNo infection reduced male fertility.Wolbachiadensities of all three strains decreased under developmental heat stress, but reductions occurred at temperatures above those that reduced fertility of the host. These findings reveal the complexity of endosymbiont-host-environment interactions and emphasise the necessity to account for endosymbionts and their effect on both survival and fertility when investigating the vulnerability of insects to climate change.
Vagal interoception of microbial metabolites from the small intestinal lumen
Authors: Jameson Kelly G. , Kazmi Sabeen A. , Son Celine , Mazdeyasnan Donya , Leshan Emma , Vuong Helen E. , Paramo Jorge , Lopez-Romero Arlene , Yang Long , Schweizer Felix E. , Hsiao Elaine Y.
Published: December 2023

The vagus nerve is proposed to enable communication between the gut microbiome and brain, but activity-based evidence is lacking. Herein, we assess the extent of gut microbial influences on afferent vagal activity and metabolite signaling mechanisms involved. We find that mice reared without microbiota (germ-free, GF) exhibit decreased vagal afferent tone relative to conventionally colonized mice (specific pathogen-free, SPF), which is reversed by colonization with SPF microbiota. Perfusing non-absorbable antibiotics (ABX) into the small intestine of SPF mice, but not GF mice, acutely decreases vagal activity, which is restored upon re-perfusion with bulk lumenal contents or sterile filtrates from the small intestine and cecum of SPF, but not GF, mice. Of several candidates identified by metabolomic profiling, microbiome-dependent short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and 3-indoxyl sulfate stimulate vagal activity with varied response kinetics, which is blocked by co-perfusion of pharmacological antagonists of FFAR2, TGR5, and TRPA1, respectively, into the small intestine. At the single-unit level, serial perfusion of each metabolite class elicits more singly responsive neurons than dually responsive neurons, suggesting distinct neuronal detection of different microbiome- and macronutrient-dependent metabolites. Finally, microbial metabolite-induced increases in vagal activity correspond with activation of neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract, which is also blocked by co-administration of their respective receptor antagonists. Results from this study reveal that the gut microbiome regulates select metabolites in the intestinal lumen that differentially activate chemosensory vagal afferent neurons, thereby enabling microbial modulation of interoceptive signals for gut-brain communication.

HIGHLIGHTS

Microbiota colonization status modulates afferent vagal nerve activity

Gut microbes differentially regulate metabolites in the small intestine and cecum

Select microbial metabolites stimulate vagal afferents with varied response kinetics

Select microbial metabolites activate vagal afferent neurons and brainstem neurons via receptor-dependent signaling
Spatial transcriptomics analysis identifies a unique tumor-promoting function of the meningeal stroma in melanoma leptomeningeal disease
Authors: Alhaddad Hasan , Ospina Oscar E. , Khaled Mariam Lotfy , Ren Yuan , Forsyth Peter , Pina Yolanda , Macaulay Robert , Law Vincent , Tsai Kenneth Y. , Cress W Douglas , Fridley Brooke , Smalley Inna
Published: December 2023

Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) remains a rapidly lethal complication for late-stage melanoma patients. The inaccessible nature of the disease site and lack of understanding of the biology of this unique metastatic site are major barriers to developing efficacious therapies for patients with melanoma LMD. Here, we characterize the tumor microenvironment of the leptomeningeal tissues and patient-matched extra-cranial metastatic sites using spatial transcriptomic analyses within vitroandin vivovalidation. We show the spatial landscape of melanoma LMD to be characterized by a lack of immune infiltration and instead exhibit a higher level of stromal involvement. We show that the tumor-stroma interactions at the leptomeninges activate pathways implicated in tumor-promoting signaling, mediated through upregulation of SERPINA3 at the tumor-stroma interface. Our functional experiments establish that the meningeal stroma is required for melanoma cells to survive in the CSF environment and that these interactions lead to a lack of MAPK inhibitor sensitivity in the tumor. We show that knocking down SERPINA3 or inhibiting the downstream IGR1R/PI3K/AKT axis results in re-sensitization of the tumor to MAPK-targeting therapy and tumor cell death in the leptomeningeal environment. Our data provides a spatial atlas of melanoma LMD, identifies the tumor-promoting role of meningeal stroma, and demonstrates a mechanism for overcoming microenvironment-mediated drug resistance unique to this metastatic site.
Seasonal tissue-specific gene expression reveals reproductive and stress-related transcriptional systems in wild crown-of-thorns starfish
Authors: Morin Marie , Jönsson Mathias , Wang Conan K. , Craik David J. , Degnan Sandie M. , Degnan Bernard M.
Published: December 2023

Animals are influenced by the season, yet we know little about the changes that occur in most species throughout the year. This is particularly true in tropical marine animals that experience relatively small annual temperature and daylight changes. Like many coral reef inhabitants, the crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), well known as a notorious consumer of corals and destroyer of coral reefs, reproduces exclusively in the summer. By comparing gene expression in seven somatic tissues procured from wild COTS sampled on the Great Barrier Reef, we identified more than 2,000 protein-coding genes that change significantly between summer and winter. COTS genes that appear to mediate conspecific communication – including both signalling factors released into the surrounding sea water and cell surface receptors – are upregulated in external secretory and sensory tissues in the summer, often in a sex-specific manner. The sexually dimorphic gene expression appears to be underpinned by sex- and season-specific transcription factors (TFs) and gene regulatory programs. There are over 100 TFs that are seasonally expressed, 86% of which are significantly upregulated in the summer. Six nuclear receptors are upregulated in all tissues in the summer, suggesting that systemic seasonal changes are hormonally controlled, as occurs in vertebrates. Unexpectedly, there is a suite of stress-related chaperone proteins and TFs, including HIFα, ATF3, C/EBP, CREB and NF-κB, that are uniquely co-expressed in gravid females. The upregulation of these stress proteins in the summer suggests the demands of oogenesis in this highly fecund starfish affects protein stability and turnover in somatic cells. Together, these circannual changes in COTS gene expression provide novel insights into seasonal changes in this coral reef pest and have the potential to identify vulnerabilities for targeted biocontrol.
Single-cell transcriptomics reveals heterogenous thymic dendritic cell subsets with distinct functions and requirements for thymocyte-regulated crosstalk
Authors: Srinivasan Jayashree , Helm Bryan R. , Yang Yilin , Moore Colin , Moore John F. , Calindi Aparna , Selden Hilary J , Heiser Cody N. , Liu Qi , Lau Ken S. , Ehrlich Lauren I. R.
Published: December 2023

Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for establishing central tolerance in the thymus; however, mechanisms supporting their homeostasis and activation remain unresolved. Through single-cell transcriptomics and functional assays, we identify seven thymic conventional DC (cDC) subsets and discriminate their abilities to present self-antigens and induce regulatory T cells (Tregs). Mice blocked at different stages of T-cell development reveal that CD4+single-positive (SP) and CD8SP thymocytes differentially support homeostasis and activation of cDC1s versus cDC2s/ plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), respectively. CD8SP regulate cDCs via interferon signaling, while CD4SP promote NF-kB activation. CD40, which activates non-canonical NF-kB signaling, is required for both activation and homeostasis of cDC1s, although only activation is driven by cognate interactions with CD4SPs. Surprisingly, some DCs display an activated signature in the absence of mature thymocytes. Altogether, this study comprehensively identifies functionally distinct thymic DC subsets and elucidates requirements for crosstalk with thymocyte subsets that support their homeostasis and activation.
Structural and practical identifiability of contrast transport models for DCE-MRI
Authors: Conte Martina , Woodall Ryan T. , Gutova Margarita , Chen Bihong T. , Shiroishi Mark S. , Brown Christine E. , Munson Jennifer M. , Rockne Russell C.
Published: December 2023

Compartment models are widely used to quantify blood flow and transport in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. These models analyze the time course of the contrast agent concentration, providing diagnostic and prognostic value for many biological systems. Thus, ensuring accuracy and repeatability of the model parameter estimation is a fundamental concern. In this work, we analyze the structural and practical identifiability of a class of nested compartment models pervasively used in analysis of MRI data. We combine artificial and real data to study the role of noise in model parameter estimation. We observe that although all the models are structurally identifiable, practical identifiability strongly depends on the data characteristics. We analyze the impact of increasing data noise on parameter identifiability and show how the latter can be recovered with increased data quality. To complete the analysis, we show that the results do not depend on specific tissue characteristics or the type of enhancement patterns of contrast agent signal.
FURNA: a database for function annotations of RNA structures
Authors: Zhang Chengxin , Freddolino P. Lydia
Published: December 2023

Despite the increasing number of 3D RNA structures in the Protein Data Bank, the majority of experimental RNA structures lack thorough functional annotations. As the significance of the functional roles played by non-coding RNAs becomes increasingly apparent, comprehensive annotation of RNA function is becoming a pressing concern. In response to this need, we have developed FURNA (Functions ofRNAs), the first database for experimental RNA structures that aims to provide a comprehensive repository of high-quality functional annotations. These include Gene Ontology terms, Enzyme Commission numbers, ligand binding sites, RNA families, protein binding motifs, and cross-references to related databases. FURNA is available athttps://seq2fun.dcmb.med.umich.edu/furna/to enable quick discovery of RNA functions from their structures and sequences.
Evaluation of doxorubicin administrations in hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of genetic polymorphism, case study: Egypt
Authors: Tawfik Amina , Shouman Samia , Tabashy Reda , Omran Mervat , Gad El-Mola Mohamed
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This scientific article aims to evaluate the efficacy of the drug Doxorubicin for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Egypt. The study analyzes data from patients referred to a multi-disciplinary consultation at the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. The study includes 40 intermediate-stage HCC patients who underwent treatment with either Doxorubicin-Lipiodol or Doxorubicin-loaded drug-eluting beads-trans-arterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE).

Design/methodology/approach

Patients referred to a multi-disciplinary consultation at the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University with a possible diagnosis of HCC in the intermediate stage were eligible for the study.

Findings

The study finds that the plasma peak concentration of Doxorubicin is significantly higher in patients treated with Lipiodol compared to those treated with DEB-TACE. The median plasma peak concentration of patients treated with Lipiodol was significantly higher 424 (202.5–731) than the peak level of patients treated with beads 84.95 (26.6–156.5) with p-value = 0.036. However, there is no significant difference in other pharmacokinetic parameters between the two treatment groups. The research article also investigates the genetic polymorphisms in HCC patients treated with Doxorubicin-Lipiodol and Doxorubicin-loaded DEB-TACE. It identifies a significant association between the ABCB1 gene (C3435T) and the concentration of Doxorubicin in plasma. Patients with the CCand computed tomography (CT) genotypes of ABCB1 have higher concentrations of Doxorubicin compared to those with the TT genotype. Furthermore, the study examines the progression-free survival rates and tumour response in the two treatment groups. It demonstrates that DEB-TACE patients have a higher progression-free survival rate compared to cTACE patients. DEB-TACE also leads to better tumour regression.

Originality/value

The current study helps to increase the understanding of the genetic factors that may contribute to HCC susceptibility in the Egyptian population. However, it is essential to consider that genetic polymorphism is just one aspect of HCC risk, and other factors such as environment, lifestyle and viral infections also play crucial roles. Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors in HCC development among Egyptians.
Solving hospital waste management problem in a developing country – a case of Varanasi city in India
Authors: Raj Abhishek , Mishra Vinaytosh , Tanksale Ajinkya , Samuel Cherian
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to solve the problem of healthcare waste management in developing countries. The buildup of medical waste has attracted the attention of all spheres of society due to the expanding population and developing economy. Timely collection and processing of medical waste are extremely important due to its potential hazards. Although the problem of planning medical waste management has been addressed in developed countries, it persists in several developing countries. This research is motivated by an example of a city in India characterized by a dense population, abundant health-care facilities and a lack of planning for managing large medical waste generated daily.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors address the problem of designing the network of collection and processing facilities for medical waste and optimizing the vehicle route that collects and transfers the waste between facilities. Due to distinct topographic restrictions in the considered city, the collection and transfer process needs to be conducted in two echelons – from hospitals to collection centers using smaller vehicles and then to the processing facilities using trucks. This work addresses these two problems as a two-echelon location-routing problem.

Findings

A mixed-integer programming model is developed to minimize the cost of opening the facilities and transporting medical waste. Several managerial insights are drawn up to assist planners and decision-makers.

Originality/value

This study follows a case study approach to provide a descriptive and prescriptive approach to hospital waste management in the ancient city of Varanasi. The city has witnessed unplanned growth over the years and is densely populated. The health-care facilities in the city have a large catchment area and attract patients from neighboring districts. The situation analysis based on secondary data and unstructured interviews of the stakeholders suggests that the ad hoc approach prevails in present hospital waste management in the city.
The use of virtual reality as e-training tool for dies’ changeover in stamping presses: a case study on automotive industry
Authors: Mendes Monteiro Jorge , Torres Diamantino , Ramos Ana Luísa , Pimentel Carina
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to research the usage of virtual reality as a tool to train employees in a changeover process in a company, and if it guarantees the same level of quality. Moreover, another goal is to understand how it can influence the machines’ availability, reducing the number of hours a machine is stopped to perform training sessions.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the goals proposed, the action research strategy was used. After defining the context and purpose, two full cycles were applied, composed by five activities: diagnosis, action planning, action taking, action evaluation and specify the learning.

Findings

The results are extremely satisfactory. On the one hand, it can be concluded that virtual reality is a reliable training tool, guaranteeing proper training to the employees. On the other hand, based on the previous point, the researchers were able to conclude that it is possible to increase machines’ availability, reducing by 50% the time needed to have the machines stopped to run a changeover training.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to use the action research strategy to develop a virtual reality simulation as a training tool for machines’ changeover in the automotive industry.
Telling more or less? The impact of blank-leaving narrative style on story immersion and brand attitude
Authors: Fan Chao , Jiang Feng , Yu Mingzhe , Tao Xiaobo
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Brand storytelling is an effective marketing tool. However, when choosing whether to tell more or tell less, it remains unclear which of these two narrative styles is most effective. This study aims to examine whether blank-leaving(less) leads to favourable brand attitudes and compares its effects on consumers’ story immersion, to non-blank-leaving(more).

Design/methodology/approach

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypotheses. In Study 1, a single-factorial design was used with 252 participants assigned at random to one of two narrative conditions: blank-leaving or non-blank-leaving. Study 2 replicated Study 1 and investigated the moderating role of implicit mindsets.

Findings

The results show that a blank-leaving narrative style increases favourable brand attitudes. Consumers present deeper immersion in the brand story that uses blank-leaving, as compared to non-blank-leaving, leading to a more favourable brand attitude. Furthermore, this effect is stronger for individuals with growth mindsets.

Practical implications

Telling the brand story using a blank-leaving narrative style is more effective in catching consumers’ attention than non-blank-leaving. In particular, a blank-leaving narrative is a good approach for targeting consumers who have a growth mindset.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to investigate and compare the effects of blank-leaving and non-blank-leaving narrative styles on brand attitudes in the context of storytelling marketing.
From screen to cart: how influencers drive impulsive buying in livestreaming commerce?
Authors: Ma Xinyu , Aw Eugene Cheng-Xi , Filieri Raffaele
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The recent livestreaming commerce has magnified the role of influencer marketing, where the influencers are partnering with brands for product promotion. This study examines the impact of influencer attributes, interaction strategies and parasocial relationships on impulsive buying in livestreaming commerce.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey with 368 livestreaming commerce users was analyzed using the symmetric-thinking approach – partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and asymmetric thinking approach – fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

The results of PLS-SEM indicate that influencer trustworthiness, influencer interactivity and self-disclosure determine parasocial relationships, which in turn influence impulsive buying. The fsQCA finding returned three configurations with various combinations of the causal conditions (i.e. influencer attributes, interaction strategies, parasocial relationships, perceived fit uncertainty and perceived quality uncertainty) explaining the formation of impulsive buying.

Originality/value

These findings provide unique linear and nonlinear insights to explain the combinatory effects of influencer attributes, interaction strategies, parasocial relationships, perceived fit uncertainty and perceived quality uncertainty on impulsive buying in livestreaming commerce.
Mathematical optimization of the sustainable gasoline supply chain: systematic literature review
Authors: Arab Alireza , Sheikholislam Mohammad Ali , Abdollahi Lashaki Saeid
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review studies on mathematical optimization of the sustainable gasoline supply chain to help decision-makers understand the current situation, the exact dimensions of the problem and the models provided in the literature. So, a more realistic mathematical optimization model can be achieved by fully covering all dimensions of the supply chain of this product.

Design/methodology/approach

To evaluate and comprehend the mathematical optimization of the sustainable gasoline supply chain research area, a systematic literature review is undertaken that covers material collection, descriptive analysis, content analysis and material evaluation steps. Finally, based on this process, 69 related articles were carefully investigated.

Findings

The results of the systematic literature review show the main areas of the published papers on mathematical optimization of sustainable gasoline supply chain problems and the gaps for future research in this field presented based on them.

Research limitations/implications

This approach is subject to limitations because the protocol of the systematic review of the research literature only included searching for the considered combination of keywords in the Scopus and ProQuest databases. Furthermore, the protocol used in this paper restricts documents to English.

Practical implications

The results have significant implications for both academicians and practitioners in this field. It can be useful for academics to comprehend the gaps and future trends in this field. Also, for practitioners, it can be useful to identify and understand the parts of the mathematical optimization model, which can help them model this problem effectively and efficiently.

Originality/value

No systematic literature review has been done in this field by considering gasoline to the best of the authors’ knowledge and delivers new facts for the future development of this field.
Examining some dynamics related to YouTube ad clutter in a high–clutter context
Authors: Senarathna Tharindu , Wijetunga Dinuka
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to test some dynamics related to YouTube advertising clutter and viewers' attitudes towards YouTube channels operated by traditional television (TV) companies (These YouTube channels tend to have a greater ad clutter since their videos have embedded ads of programme sponsors in addition to regular YouTube advertisements).

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a positivistic, quantitative methodology, the study collected data through an online survey from a sample of 295 YouTube viewers in Sri Lanka. Data were analysed using the regression-based PROCESS macro, utilising the SPSS software.

Findings

Ad clutter has a negative impact on viewers' attitudes towards the YouTube channel, but only indirectly, through irritation. Skippability of advertisements does not moderate the relationship between ad clutter and ad irritation, but non-skippability increases ad irritation (direct relationship).

Practical implications

YouTube channel owners should pay careful attention to having an optimum level of advertising because clutter resulting in high ad irritation leading to a negative attitude towards the channel could reduce subscriptions. Offering an ad skippability option is unlikely to reduce irritation if there is high clutter.

Originality/value

Although ad clutter is well-researched, its impact on viewer responses to online media channels is uncommon. With YouTube poised to become a top ad revenue-generating medium, this study contributes by examining some dynamics related to ad clutter in a possibly high-clutter context.
Intraspecific variation of heat tolerance in a model ectotherm: The role of oxygen, cell size and body size
Authors: Leiva Félix P. , Santos Mauro , Rezende Enrico L. , Verberk Wilco C. E. P.
Published: December 2023

Virtually all aspects of the biology of ectotherms are size‐and temperature‐dependent. Aerobic metabolism is often proposed to explain such relationships, with oxygen limitation setting limits to heat tolerance and constraining growth. However, experimental tests of the role of oxygen in heat tolerance have yielded mixed results, suggesting that oxygen limitation may be important only in certain contexts and on certain time scales but not others.

Here, using thermal death time curves, which incorporate the intensity and duration of heat stress, we quantify the ability to survive heat stress in multiple inbred lines of Drosophila melanogaster, under normal and low oxygen conditions. The lines were selected to differ markedly in body size and cell size, as these traits have been hypothesised to shape thermal tolerance via their effects on oxygen supply and demand.

Low oxygen condition markedly reduced survival time across inbred lines, especially when flies were exposed to prolonged, mild heat stress.

Variations in heat tolerance among lines were partly related to cell size and body size differences, especially under chronic exposure to high temperatures, under hypoxia and in flies that exhibit larger cell size, supporting the idea that differences in cell size affect the oxygen supply and demand via differences in surface area to volume ratio.

Because differences in heat tolerance were manifested at different timescales, our results underscore the need to close the gap between responses to acute timescales, typically employed in laboratory studies, and chronic timescales, which are ecologically more relevant.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Essential oils: An eco‐friendly alternative for controlling toxigenic fungi in cereal grains
Authors: Almeida Naara A. , Freire Luísa , Carnielli‐Queiroz Lorena , Bragotto Adriana P. A. , Silva Nathália C. C. , Rocha Liliana O.
Published: December 2023

Fungi are widely disseminated in the environment and are major food contaminants, colonizing plant tissues throughout the production chain, from preharvest to postharvest, causing diseases. As a result, grain development and seed germination are affected, reducing grain quality and nutritional value. Some fungal species can also produce mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites for vertebrate animals. Natural compounds, such as essential oils, have been used to control fungal diseases in cereal grains due to their antimicrobial activity that may inhibit fungal growth. These compounds have been associated with reduced mycotoxin contamination, primarily related to reducing toxin production by toxigenic fungi. However, little is known about the mechanisms of action of these compounds against mycotoxigenic fungi. In this review, we address important information on the mechanisms of action of essential oils and their antifungal and antimycotoxigenic properties, recent technological strategies for food industry applications, and the potential toxicity of essential oils.
Emerging technologies in seafood processing: An overview of innovations reshaping the aquatic food industry
Authors: Russo Giovanni Luca , Langellotti Antonio L. , Torrieri Elena , Masi Paolo
Published: December 2023

Seafood processing has traditionally been challenging due to the rapid spoilage rates and quality degradation of these products. With the rise of food science and technology, novel methods are being developed to overcome these challenges and improve seafood quality, shelf life, and safety. These methods range from high‐pressure processing (HPP) to edible coatings, and their exploration and application in seafood processing are of great importance. This review synthesizes the recent advancements in various emerging technologies used in the seafood industry and critically evaluates their efficacy, challenges, and potential benefits. The technologies covered include HPP, ultrasound, pulsed electric field, plasma technologies, pulsed light, low‐voltage electrostatic field, ozone, vacuum cooking, purified condensed smoke, microwave heating, and edible coating. Each technology offers unique advantages and presents specific challenges; however, their successful application largely depends on the nature of the seafood product and the desired result. HPP and microwave heating show exceptional promise in terms of quality retention and shelf‐life extension. Edible coatings present a multifunctional approach, offering preservation and the potential enhancement of nutritional value. The strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) analysis indicates that, despite the potential of these technologies, cost‐effectiveness, scalability, regulatory considerations, and consumer acceptance remain crucial issues. As the seafood industry stands on the cusp of a technological revolution, understanding these nuances becomes imperative for sustainable growth. Future research should focus on technological refinements, understanding consumer perspectives, and developing regulatory frameworks to facilitate the adoption of these technologies in the seafood industry.
Noncovalent interactions between biomolecules facilitated their application in food emulsions' construction: A review
Authors: Yuan Yi , Chen Congrong , Guo Xinyi , Li Bing , He Ni , Wang Shaoyun
Published: December 2023

The use of biomolecules, such as proteins, polysaccharides, saponins, and phospholipids, instead of synthetic emulsifiers in food emulsion creation has generated significant interest among food scientists due to their advantages of being nontoxic, harmless, edible, and biocompatible. However, using a single biomolecule may not always meet practical needs for food emulsion applications. Therefore, biomolecules often require modification to achieve ideal interfacial properties. Among them, noncovalent interactions between biomolecules represent a promising physical modification method to modulate their interfacial properties without causing the health risks associated with forming new chemical bonds. Electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonding are examples of noncovalent interactions that facilitate biomolecules' effective applications in food emulsions. These interactions positively impact the physical stability, oxidative stability, digestibility, delivery characteristics, response sensitivity, and printability of biomolecule‐based food emulsions. Nevertheless, using noncovalent interactions between biomolecules to facilitate their application in food emulsions still has limitations that need further improvement. This review introduced common biomolecule emulsifiers, the promotion effect of noncovalent interactions between biomolecules on the construction of emulsions with different biomolecules, their positive impact on the performance of emulsions, as well as their limitations and prospects in the construction of biomolecule‐based emulsions. In conclusion, the future design and development of food emulsions will increasingly rely on noncovalent interactions between biomolecules. However, further improvements are necessary to fully exploit these interactions for constructing biomolecule‐based emulsions.
Experimental results on data analysis algorithms for extracting and interpreting edge feature data for duct tape and textile physical fit examinations
Authors: Prusinowski Meghan , Tavadze Pedram , Andrews Zachary , Lang Logan , Pulivendhan Divyanjali , Neumann Cedric , Romero Aldo H. , Trejos Tatiana
Published: December 2023

A physical fit is an important observation that can result from the forensic analysis of trace evidence as it conveys a high degree of association between two items. However, physical fit examinations can be time‐consuming, and potential bias from analysts may affect judgment. To overcome these shortcomings, a data analysis algorithm using mutual information and a decision tree has been developed to support practitioners in interpreting the evidence. We created these tools using data obtained from physical fit examinations of duct tape and textiles analyzed in previous studies, along with the reasoning behind the analysts' decisions. The relative feature importance is described by material type, enhancing the knowledge base in this field. Compared with the human analysis, the algorithms provided accuracies above 90%, with an improved rate of true positives for most duct tape subsets. Conversely, false positives were observed in high‐quality scissor cut (HQ‐HT‐S) duct tape and textiles. As such, it is advised to use these algorithms in tandem with human analysis. Furthermore, the study evaluated the accuracy of physical fits when only partial sample lengths are available. The results of this investigation indicated that acceptable accuracies for correctly identifying true fits and non‐fits occurred when at least 35% of a sample length was present. However, lower accuracies were observed for samples prone to stretching or distortion. Therefore, the models described here can provide a valuable supplementary tool but should not be the sole means of evaluating samples.
No change in mother's own milk provision and breastfeeding rates in preterm infants during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Berns Monika , Kusztrich Ariane , Bührer Christoph
Published: December 2023

Aim

The aim of the study was to evaluate the duration of mother's own milk (MOM) provision to preterm very low‐birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) infants during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We hypothesised that COVID‐19 restrictions would reduce the duration of MOM provision.

Methods

This retrospective study compared VLBW infants born at the Berlin university hospital during the pandemic (15 March 2020 to 14 March 2021, n = 108) with infants born in the pre‐pandemic year (01 January 2019 to 31 January 2019, n = 121). We calculated the duration of MOM provision and analysed factors associated with its early cessation.

Results

During the pandemic, the rate of primiparous mothers increased from 29% to 44% while the distribution of all other parental and infants' characteristics remained similar. There were no differences in the median duration of MOM provision (47 vs. 51 days), feeding type (MOM 67% vs. 65%) and breastfeeding rates at discharge (exclusive, 8% vs. 13%; partial 69% vs. 60%). Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed smoking during pregnancy and parental school education consistently as independent risk factors for early cessation of MOM provision.

Conclusion

Supply of MOM for VLBW infants can be upheld also during pandemic restrictions.
1,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3 potentiates the innate immune response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Japanese Black cattle
Authors: Oyamada Youki , Iizasa Ei'ichi , Usa Amane , Otomaru Konosuke
Published: December 2023

1,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), a bioactive vitamin D, is known to regulate immune responses in mammals. However, its impact on the innate immune responses of Japanese Black cattle, which are beef cattle endemic to Japan, remains unknown. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the immune responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Japanese Black cattle. As a result, the treatment of 1,25(OH)2D3 upregulated the expression of antibacterial peptides, bovine beta‐defensin 10 (DEFB10), and lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Moreover, 1,25(OH)2D3 enhanced the inflammatory responses, including C‐X‐C motif ligand 8 (CXCL8) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), while reducing the expression of anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL10, leading to an inflammatory phenotype. However, in contrast to humans and mice, 1,25(OH)2D3 did not alter the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and downregulated triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 1 (TREM1) with LPS treatment. These results suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 potentiates the innate immune responses of Japanese Black cattle, albeit with different effects and mechanisms as compared to humans and mice.