bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ancestral reconstruction of the MotA stator subunit reveals that conserved residues far from the pore are required to drive flagellar motility
Authors: Islam Md Imtiazul , Ridone Pietro , Lin Angela , Michie Katharine A , Matzke Nicholas J , Hochberg Georg , Baker Matthew AB
Published: October 2022

The bacterial flagellar motor (BFM) is a rotary nanomachine powered by the translocation of ions across the inner membrane through the stator complex. The stator complex consists of two membrane proteins: MotA and MotB (in H+powered motors), or PomA and PomB (in Na+powered motors). In this study we used ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) to probe which residues of MotA correlate with function and may have been conserved to preserve motor function. We reconstructed ten ancestral sequences of MotA and found four of them were motile in combination with contemporaryE. coliMotB and in combination with our previously published functional ancestral MotBs. Sequence comparison between wild-type (WT)E. coliMotA and MotA-ASRs revealed 30 critical residues across multiple domains of MotA that were conserved among all motile stator units. These conserved residues included pore-facing, cytoplasm-facing and MotA-MotA intermolecular facing sites. Overall, this work demonstrates the role of ASR in assessing conserved variable residues in a subunit of a molecular complex.
7SK methylation Promotes Transcriptional Activity
Authors: Perez-Pepe Marcelo , Desotell Anthony W. , Li Hengyi , Li Wenxue , Han Bing , Lin Qishan , Klein Daryl E. , Liu Yansheng , Goodarzi Hani , Alarcón Claudio R.
Published: October 2022

A fundamental facet of cell signaling is the conversion of extracellular signals into adaptive transcriptional responses. The role of RNA modifications in this process is poorly understood. The small nuclear RNA 7SK prevents transcription elongation by sequestering the complex CDK9/CCNT1 (P-TEFb). We discovered that METTL3 methylates 7SK. The m6A methylation of 7SK in turn promotes its binding to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (HNRNPs), with consequent release of the HEXIM1/P-TEFb complex – leading to the induction of growth factor-stimulated transcriptional responses. The methylation of 7SK relies on the activation of METTL3 via phosphorylation downstream of growth factors-signaling pathways such as the epidermal growth factor (EGF). Our findings establish a novel function for the m6A modification in converting growth-factor signaling events to a transcriptional elongation regulatory response via an RNA-methylation-dependent switch.

One-Sentence Summary

m6A methylation of the non-coding RNA 7SK promotes transcriptional activity upon growth factor stimulation.
AlphaFold predicted structure of the Hsp90-like domains of the neurodegeneration linked protein sacsin reveals key residues for ATPase activity
Authors: Perna Laura , Romano Lisa E. L. , Prodromou Chrisostomos , Chapple J. Paul
Published: October 2022

The ataxia-linked protein sacsin has three regions of partial homology to Hsp90’s N-terminal ATP binding domain. Although a crystal structure for the Hsp90-like domain of sacsin has been reported the precise molecular interactions required for ATP-binding and hydrolysis are unclear. To better understand how sacsin may function as an ATPase we utilized an AlphaFold predicted structure of its Hsp90-like domain. Superimposition onto Hsp90, and other modelling approaches, have resulted in novel insights into sacsin’s structure. These encompass identification of residues within the sacsin Hsp90-like domains that are required for ATP binding and hydrolysis, including the catalytic arginine residues equivalent to that of the Hsp90 middle domain. Importantly, our analysis allows comparison of the Hsp90 middle domain with corresponding sacsin regions and has identified that sacsin has a shorter lid segment than the N-terminal domain of Hsp90. We also speculate, from a structural viewpoint, why ATP competitive inhibitors of Hsp90 do not appear to affect sacsin. Together our analysis supports the hypothesis that sacsin’s function is ATP-driven and would be consistent with it having a role as a molecular chaperone. We propose that the SR1 regions of sacsin be renamed as HSP-NRD (Hsp90 N-Terminal Repeat Domain; residues 84-324) and the fragment immediately after as HSP-MRD (Hsp90 Middle Repeat Domain; residues 325-518).
Absence ofStaphylococcus aureusin wild populations of fish supports a spillover hypothesis
Authors: Matuszewska Marta , Dabrowska Alicja , Murray Gemma G. R. , Kett Steve M. , Vick Andy J. A. , Banister Sofie C. , Pantoja Munoz Leonardo , Cunningham Peter , Welch John J. , Holmes Mark A. , Weinert Lucy A.
Published: October 2022

Staphylococcus aureusis a human commensal and opportunistic pathogen that can also colonise and cause disease in other animal species. In humans and livestock, whereS. aureusis most studied, there is evidence that strains have different host specialisms. Recent studies have foundS. aureusin many wild animals, including fish, whose physiologies and ecologies are very different to humans. However, it remains unclear whetherS. aureusis adapted to and persisting within these species, or if its presence is due to repeated spillover from a source population. Distinguishing between these two scenarios is important for both public health and conservation. In this study we looked for evidence to support the hypothesis that the presence ofS. aureusin fish is the result of spillover, through testing for the presence ofS. aureusin fish that are isolated from likely source populations. We sampled 123 brown trout and their environment from 16 sites in the Scottish Highlands. All these sites are remote and have very low populations density of wild animal species known to carryS. aureus, but were selected to represent variable levels of exposure to humans, avian and livestock species. While our sampling methods readily detectedS. aureusfrom the external and internal organs of a farmed fish, we did not detectS. aureusin any wild trout or their environment from any of the 16 sites. We sequenced 12S. aureusisolates from the farmed fish. While they were all from clonal-complex 45, the genomic diversity was high enough to indicate repeated acquisition from a source population. In addition, the presence of a φSa3 prophage containing a human immune evasion cluster indicates a recent history of these isolates within human populations. Taken together, our results support the presence ofS. aureusin fish being due to spillover from other host populations, rather than the adaptation ofS. aureusto aquaculture or fish populations. Given predictions that fish consumption will increase, more whole genome sequencing ofS. aureusin aquaculture is needed to understand the presence ofS. aureusin these environments and to mitigate the risk to fish and human health.
MicroED structure of a protoglobin reactive carbene intermediate
Authors: Danelius Emma , Porter Nicholas J. , Unge Johan , Arnold Frances H. , Gonen Tamir
Published: October 2022

Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) is an emerging technique which has shown great potential for describing new chemical and biological molecular structures. [1] Several important structures of small molecules, natural products and peptides have been determined usingab initiomethods. [2] However, only a couple of novel protein structures have thus far been derived by MicroED. [3, 4] Taking advantage of recent technological advances including higher acceleration voltage and using a low-noise detector in counting mode, we have determined the first structure of anAeropyrum pernixprotoglobin (ApePgb) variant by MicroED using an AlphaFold2 model for phasing. The structure revealed that mutations introduced during directed evolution enhance carbene transfer activity by reorienting an alphahelix ofApePgb into a dynamic loop making the catalytic active site more readily accessible. After exposing the tiny crystals to substrate, we also trapped the reactive iron-carbenoid intermediate involved in this engineeredApePgb’s new-to-nature activity, a challenging carbene transfer from a diazirine via a putative metallo-carbene. The bound structure discloses how an enlarged active site pocket stabilizes the carbene bound to the heme iron and, presumably, the transition state for formation of this key intermediate. This work demonstrates that improved MicroED technology and the advancement in protein structure prediction now enables investigation of structures that were previously beyond reach.
How a methanogen assimilates sulfate: Structural and functional elucidation of the complete sulfate-reduction pathway
Authors: Jespersen Marion , Wagner Tristan
Published: October 2022

By growing on sulfate as the sole source of sulfur,Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicusbreaks a dogma: the ancient metabolic pathways methanogenesis and sulfate-reduction should not co-occur in one organism due to toxic intermediates and energetic barriers. Using a complementary approach of physiological, biochemical, and structural studies, we provide a snapshot of the complete sulfate-reduction pathway of the methanogenic archaeon. While the first two reactions proceed via an ATP-sulfurylase and APS-kinase, common to other organisms, the further steps are catalysed by non-canonical enzymes. 3’-phosphoadenosine-5’-phosphosulfate (PAPS) released by the APS-kinase is converted into sulfite and 3’-phosphoadenosine-5’-phosphate (PAP) by a new class of PAPS-reductase that shares high similarity with the APS-reductases involved in dissimilatory sulfate-reduction. The generated PAP is efficiently hydrolysed by a PAP-phosphatase that was likely derived from an RNA exonuclease. Finally, the F420-dependent sulfite-reductase converts sulfite to sulfide for cellular assimilation. While metagenomic and metatranscriptomic studies suggest that genes of the sulfate-reduction pathway are present in various methanogens,M. thermolithotrophicususes a distinct way to assimilate sulfate. We propose that its entire sulfate-assimilation pathway was derived from a “mix-and-match” strategy in which the methanogen acquired assimilatory and dissimilatory enzymes from other microorganisms and shaped them to fit its physiological needs.
Generalized strategy for engineering mammalian cell-compatible RNA-based biosensors from random sequence libraries
Authors: Allchin Everett R. , Rosch Jonah C. , Kim Hyosung , Lippmann Ethan S.
Published: October 2022

Fluorescent RNA-based biosensors are useful tools for real-time detection of molecules in living cells. These biosensors typically consist of a chromophore-binding aptamer and a target-binding aptamer, whereby the chromophore-binding aptamer is destabilized until a target is captured, which causes a conformational change to permit chromophore binding and an increase in fluorescence. The target-binding region is typically fabricated using known riboswitch motifs, which are already known to have target specificity and undergo structural changes upon binding. However, known riboswitches only exist for a limited number of molecules, significantly constraining biosensor design. To overcome this challenge, we designed a framework for producing mammalian cell-compatible biosensors using aptamers selected from a large random library by capture-SELEX. As a proof-of-concept, we generated and characterized a fluorescent RNA biosensor against L-dopa, the precursor of several neurotransmitters. Overall, we suggest that this approach will have utility for generating RNA biosensors that can reliably detect custom targets in mammalian cells.
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 and its variant polymorphisms on host responses and viral pathogenesis
Authors: Kehrer Thomas , Cupic Anastasija , Ye Chengjin , Yildiz Soner , Bouhhadou Mehdi , Crossland Nicholas A , Barrall Erika , Cohen Phillip , Tseng Anna , Çağatay Tolga , Rathnasinghe Raveen , Flores Daniel , Jangra Sonia , Alam Fahmida , Mena Nacho , Aslam Sadaf , Saqi Anjali , Marin Arturo , Rutkowska Magdalena , Ummadi Manisha R. , Pisanelli Giuseppe , Richardson R. Blake , Veit Ethan C. , Fabius Jacqueline M. , Soucheray Margaret , Polacco Benjamin J. , Evans Matthew J. , Swaney Danielle L. , Gonzalez-Reiche Ana S. , Sordillo Emilia M. , van Bakel Harm , Simon Viviana , Zuliani-Alvarez Lorena , Fontoura Beatriz M. A. , Rosenberg Brad R. , Krogan Nevan J. , Martinez-Sobrido Luis , García-Sastre Adolfo , Miorin Lisa
Published: October 2022

We and others have previously shown that the SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein ORF6 is a powerful antagonist of the interferon (IFN) signaling pathway by directly interacting with Nup98-Rae1 at the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and disrupting bidirectional nucleo-cytoplasmic trafficking. In this study, we further assessed the role of ORF6 during infection using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 viruses carrying either a deletion or a well characterized M58R loss-of-function mutation in ORF6. We show that ORF6 plays a key role in the antagonism of IFN signaling and in viral pathogenesis by interfering with karyopherin(importin)-mediated nuclear import during SARS-CoV-2 infection bothin vitro, and in the Syrian golden hamster modelin vivo. In addition, we found that ORF6-Nup98 interaction also contributes to inhibition of cellular mRNA export during SARS-CoV-2 infection. As a result, ORF6 expression significantly remodels the host cell proteome upon infection. Importantly, we also unravel a previously unrecognized function of ORF6 in the modulation of viral protein expression, which is independent of its function at the nuclear pore. Lastly, we characterized the ORF6 D61L mutation that recently emerged in Omicron BA.2 and BA.4 and demonstrated that it is able to disrupt ORF6 protein functions at the NPC and to impair SARS-CoV-2 innate immune evasion strategies. Importantly, the now more abundant Omicron BA.5 lacks this loss-of-function polymorphism in ORF6. Altogether, our findings not only further highlight the key role of ORF6 in the antagonism of the antiviral innate immune response, but also emphasize the importance of studying the role of non-spike mutations to better understand the mechanisms governing differential pathogenicity and immune evasion strategies of SARS-CoV-2 and its evolving variants.

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY

SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 subverts bidirectional nucleo-cytoplasmic trafficking to inhibit host gene expression and contribute to viral pathogenesis.
Morphological and phylogenetic resolution ofConoideocrella luteorostrata(Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae), a potential biocontrol fungus forFiorinia externain United States Christmas tree production areas
Authors: Lovett Brian , Barrett Hana , Macias Angie M. , Stajich Jason E. , Kasson Lindsay R. , Kasson Matt T.
Published: October 2022

The entomopathogenic fungusConoideocrella luteorostrata(Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) has recently been implicated in natural epizootics among exotic elongate hemlock scale (EHS) insects in Fraser fir Christmas tree farms in the eastern U.S. Since 1913, asexual populations ofC. luteorostratahave been reported from various plant-feeding Hemiptera in the southeastern U.S., but a thorough morphological and phylogenetic examination of the species, particularly detailed characterization of populations involved in recent epizootics in EHS, are lacking. The recovery of multiple strains ofC. luteorostratafrom mycosed EHS cadavers collected in Ashe County North Carolina provided an opportunity to conduct pathogenicity assays and morphological and phylogenetic studies to investigate genus- and species-level boundaries among members of the Clavicipitaceae. Pathogenicity assays confirmedC. luteorostratacauses mortality of EHS first instar crawlers, an essential first step in developingC. luteorostrataas a biocontrol. The results of the morphological study failed to recover a sexual stage from EHS cadavers or pure cultures, but revealed conidia aligned with previous measurements of the paecilomyces-like asexual state ofC. luteorostrata(6.9 µm x 2.6 µm average), with colony and conidiophore morphology consistent with previously reported observations. Additionally, a hirsutella-like synanamorph ofC. luteorostratawas observed for the first time under specific lab conditions. In both a four-locus, 54-taxa Clavicipitaceae-wide phylogenetic analysis including the D1–D2 domains of the nuclear 28S rRNA gene (28S), elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1-α), DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit 1 (RPB1) and DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2) and a two-locus, 38-taxa (28S & EF1-α) phylogenetic analysis,C. luteorostrata,C. tenuisandC. krungchingensiswere resolved as strongly supported monophyletic lineages across all loci and both methods (maximum likelihood & Bayesian inference) of phylogenetic inference with the exception of 28S forC. tenuis. Despite the strong support for individualConoideocrellaspecies, none of the analyses supported the monophyly of the genus, with the inclusion ofDussiella. Due to the paucity of publicly available RPB1 and RPB2 sequence data forConoideocrella, EF1-α provided superior delimitation of intraspecies groupings forC. luteorostrataandC. tenuisand should be used in future studies. Further development ofC. luteorostrataas a biocontrol agent against EHS both in Christmas tree farms and surrounding hemlock forests will require additional surveys across diverse Hemiptera and expanded pathogenicity testing to better understand host range and efficacy of this fungus.
Evidence of a novel viral membrane fusion mechanism shared by the Hepaci, Pegi and Pestiviruses
Authors: Oliver Michael R. , Toon Kamilla , Lewis Charlotte B. , Devlin Stephen , Gifford Robert J. , Grove Joe
Published: October 2022

Enveloped viruses encode specialised glycoproteins that mediate fusion of viral and host membranes. Discovery and understanding of the molecular mechanisms of fusion has been achieved through structural analyses of glycoproteins from many different viruses, and yet the fusion mechanisms of some viral genera remain unknown. We have employed systematic genome annotation and AlphaFold modelling to predict the structures of the E1E2 glycoproteins from sixty viral species in the Hepaci, Pegi and Pestivirus genera. Whilst the predicted structure of E2 varied widely, E1 exhibited a very consistent fold across genera, despite little or no homology at the sequence level. Critically, the structure of E1 is unlike any other known viral glycoprotein. This is the first evidence that the Hepaci, Pegi and Pestiviruses possess a common and novel membrane fusion mechanism. Comparison of E1E2 models from various species reveals recurrent features that are likely to be mechanistically important and sheds light on the evolution of membrane fusion in these viral genera. These findings provide new fundamental understanding of viral membrane fusion and are relevant to structure-guided vaccinology.
Molecular programs of regional specification and neural stem cell fate progression in developing macaque telencephalon
Authors: Micali Nicola , Ma Shaojie , Li Mingfeng , Kim Suel-Kee , Mato-Blanco Xoel , Sindhu Suvimal , Arellano Jon I. , Gao Tianliuyun , Duque Alvaro , Santpere Gabriel , Sestan Nenad , Rakic Pasko
Published: October 2022

Early telencephalic development involves patterning of the distinct regions and fate specification of the neural stem cells (NSCs). These processes, mainly characterized in rodents, remain elusive in primates and thus our understanding of conserved and species-specific features. Here, we profiled 761,529 single-cell transcriptomes from multiple regions of the prenatal macaque telencephalon. We defined the molecular programs of the early organizing centers and their cross-talk with NSCs, finding primate-biased signaling active in the antero-ventral telencephalon. Regional transcriptomic divergences were evident at early states of neocortical NSC progression and in differentiated neurons and astrocytes, more than in intermediate transitions. Finally, we show that neuropsychiatric disease- and brain cancer-risk genes have putative early roles in the telencephalic organizers’ activity and across cortical NSC progression.

One-Sentence Summary

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals molecular logics of arealization and neural stem cell fate specification in developing macaque brain
An empirical study on individual performance and turnover intention among university employees: a multiple mediation model
Authors: Aftab Muhammad , Bokhari Syed Asad Abbas , Ali Murad
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the behavior of individual employee's performance concerning their organizational citizenship and turnover intention in the higher education sector. This study attempts to examine the effects of two potential sequential mediators – job satisfaction and employee engagement – on employees' job embeddedness, organizational citizenship behavior, and turnover intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a survey conducted among the employees of major universities in the Republic of Korea. A total of 213 valid responses are used to analyze the hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that the relationship between job embeddedness and organizational citizenship behavior is significantly mediated by job satisfaction. However, the mediating role of job satisfaction on the link between job embeddedness and employees' intention to leave is not significant. Relatedly, employee engagement has a significant mediating effect on job embeddedness and organizational citizenship behavior but no demonstrable mediating effect between job embeddedness and employees' turnover intentions.

Practical implications

The results provide guidance that can assist organizations in increasing their employees' organizational citizenship behavior and lowering their intentions to leave, particularly in the education sector.

Originality/value

This study contributes to existing knowledge regarding the roles that job satisfaction and employee engagement play as two potential sequential mediators in the relation between job embeddedness and organizational citizenship behavior.
The role and place of mentorship for young people with blindness and low vision in educational contexts
Authors: Cain Melissa , Blackstock Danika Rhiannon , Fanshawe Melissa , Sukhai Mahadeo , Latour Ainsley
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to understand the role and value of mentorship for young people with blindness and low vision (BLV) through their education and work journey and to provide a conceptual framework for developing mentoring opportunities for young people with BLV.

Design/methodology/approach

Experiences of formal and informal mentorship were gathered within two distinct groups: adolescents with BLV in Australia and young adults with BLV in Canada. Qualitative data were collected from semi-structured individualized interviews regarding the experiences, understanding, and valuing of mentorship within these groups.

Findings

Results indicate the importance of informal role models and formal mentors within the lives of participants and how these become more refined and specific over time. Australian students valued role models as examples of success and inspiration for their own goals. Canadian mentees desired mentors as examples of personal lived experiences and providers of career-specific advice.

Originality/value

The study is original in its focus on the role of mentors for young people with blindness or low vision.
International marketing strategy of emerging market firms: the case of Bangladesh
Authors: Fregidou-Malama Maria , Chowdhury Ehsanul Huda , Hyder Akmal S.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study aims to increase understanding of factors influencing the international marketing (IM) strategy of products from emerging markets (EMs) to international markets.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted case studies by collecting qualitative data through semistructured interviews with respondents from four food product companies in Bangladesh.

Findings

This study finds that the firms employ local Bangladeshi people who are knowledgeable in the company culture. They strategically focus on countries where the Bangladeshi diaspora lives and initially target them, approaching natives later. They adapt and customize products to the importers’ requirements to make them visible and increase understanding between product providers and local customers. The findings show that EM firms encounter a mentality that poor countries produce poor quality products; this mindset makes the internationalization of their business difficult.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributes to international product marketing of EM firms by constructing a model of a modern people-oriented marketing strategy for food products. This study contributes to literature on culture by illustrating that the cultural dimensions of collectivism and uncertainty avoidance enhance the development of networks and trust and impact marketing strategy.

Originality/value

This study theorizes the importance of context and an innovation-driven modern people-oriented IM strategy that adapts to customers’ preferences for food products and emphasizes the contribution of diaspora. This research reveals that Bangladeshi firms face challenges both because customers link the country and the companies to low-quality products and because governmental regulations prevent them from establishing a local presence in other countries. This study analyzes challenges EM firms face in the process of IM and the factors affecting Bangladesh in particular.
Large‐scale investigation of zoonotic viruses in the era of high‐throughput sequencing
Authors: Kawasaki Junna , Tomonaga Keizo , Horie Masayuki
Published: October 2022

Zoonotic diseases considerably impact public health and socioeconomics. RNA viruses reportedly caused approximately 94% of zoonotic diseases documented from 1990 to 2010, emphasizing the importance of investigating RNA viruses in animals. Furthermore, it has been estimated that hundreds of thousands of animal viruses capable of infecting humans are yet to be discovered, warning against the inadequacy of our understanding of viral diversity. High‐throughput sequencing (HTS) has enabled the identification of viral infections with relatively little bias. Viral searches using both symptomatic and asymptomatic animal samples by HTS have revealed hidden viral infections. This review introduces the history of viral searches using HTS, current analytical limitations, and future potentials. We primarily summarize recent research on large‐scale investigations on viral infections reusing HTS data from public databases. Furthermore, considering the accumulation of uncultivated viruses, we discuss current studies and challenges for connecting viral sequences to their phenotypes using various approaches: performing data analysis, developing predictive modeling, or implementing high‐throughput platforms of virological experiments. We believe that this article provides a future direction in large‐scale investigations of potential zoonotic viruses using the HTS technology.
The effect of diet on melanin pigmentation in animals
Authors: Britton Sarah , Davidowitz Goggy
Published: October 2022

Melanin, including both eu‐ and pheomelanin forms, is the most common pigment type in animals and plays numerous adaptive roles. However, the effect of diet on melanin pigmentation is not well reviewed or synthesized. Understanding how diet influences melanin may lead to valuable insights such as explaining intraspecific variation or explaining when melanin‐based traits are plastic or condition dependent versus when they are prioritized or canalized.

In order to assess the state of the literature and the current understanding of the effects of diet on melanin pigmentation we conducted a systematic literature search. We use the search results to highlight common patterns across animals. In particular we focus on three questions: Which dietary components can influence melanin? Which aspects of melanin‐based traits are influenced by diet? What factors can mediate the influence of diet on melanin?

The effect of diet on melanin is complex and multifaceted. Diet itself can vary in a number of ways including diet quantity, protein content, fatty acid content and amount of metals and other micronutrients. We discuss the mechanisms by which these components influence melanin pigmentation.

Diet can influence the size, darkness and colour of melanin‐based traits. Often, diet influences one of these aspects but not another, which may reflect the processes of melanin synthesis and distribution.

Factors that mediate whether melanin pigmentation responds to dietary variation include the type of trait, life stage, sex and environmental stress. Methodology (e.g. degree of manipulation relative to natural conditions) can also influence results. These nuances should be considered when developing hypotheses about the effects of diet on melanin pigmentation.

We conclude with important areas for future research, including the proximate mechanisms connecting diet and melanin, how diet affects internal melanin, how diet mediates costs of melanin pigmentation and how diet affects the evolution of melanin‐based traits. Overall, diet has important and complex effects on melanin and likely plays an important role in the ecology and evolution of melanin pigmentation.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
The cAMP‐PKA signalling pathway regulates hyphal growth, conidiation, trap morphogenesis, stress tolerance, and autophagy in Arthrobotrys oligospora
Authors: Zhu Mei‐Chen , Zhao Na , Liu Yan‐Kun , Li Xue‐Mei , Zhen Zheng‐Yi , Zheng Ya‐Qing , Zhang Ke‐Qin , Yang Jin‐Kui
Published: October 2022

The cyclic adenosine monophosphate‐protein kinase A (cAMP‐PKA) signalling pathway is evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotes and plays a crucial role in defending against external environmental challenges, which can modulate the cellular response to external stimuli. Arthrobotrys oligospora is a typical nematode‐trapping fungus that specializes in adhesive networks to kill nematodes. To elucidate the biological roles of the cAMP‐PKA signalling pathway, we characterized the orthologous adenylate cyclase AoAcy, a regulatory subunit (AoPkaR), and two catalytic subunits (AoPkaC1 and AoPkaC2) of PKA in A. oligospora by gene disruption, transcriptome, and metabolome analyses. Deletion of Aoacy significantly reduced the levels of cAMP and arthrobotrisins. Results revealed that Aoacy, AopkaR, and AopkaC1 were involved in hyphal growth, trap morphogenesis, sporulation, stress resistance, and autophagy. In addition, Aoacy and AopkaC1 were involved in the regulation of mitochondrial morphology, thereby affecting energy metabolism, whereas AopkaC2 affected sporulation, nuclei, and autophagy. Multi‐omics results showed that the cAMP‐PKA signalling pathway regulated multiple metabolic and cellular processes. Collectively, these data highlight the indispensable role of cAMP‐PKA signalling pathway in the growth, development, and pathogenicity of A. oligospora, and provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms of signalling pathways in sporulation, trap formation, and lifestyle transition.
The Impact of Foreign Ownership on the Choice between Emission Taxes and Emission Standards*
Authors: Chiou Jiunn‐Rong , Chen Hung‐Yi
Published: October 2022

This research examines how foreign ownership affects the choice of two environmental policies. We find that a monopoly with foreign ownership produces more (less) and abates less (more) under emission standards than under emission taxes. As foreign ownership increases, with a small foreign ownership level the government is more likely to adopt the emission tax; and with a large foreign ownership level, if the abatement efficiency is high, then the government is also more likely to adopt the emission tax. We also examine the duopoly case in which a domestic firm with foreign ownership competes with another pure domestic firm.
The role of social networks in the adoption of competing new technologies in Ghana
Authors: Abdul Mumin Yazeed , Abdulai Awudu , Goetz Renan
Published: October 2022

We use a detailed dataset to examine the impact of social networks, conditional on contextual and individual confounders, on farmers' adoption of competing improved soybean varieties in Ghana. Based on the contagion conceptual framework, we employ a spatial autoregressive multinomial probit model to examine how neighbours' varietal and cross‐varietal adoption of improved varieties affect a farmer's adoption decision in the social network. Our results show that adoption decisions in a network tend to converge on one variety, such that beyond a threshold of adopting neighbours of that improved variety, the cross‐varietal effects tend to lose significance in the network. If the shares of adopting neighbours of the improved varieties are equal, we find evidence that farmers are not more likely to adopt either improved variety compared to farmers with no neighbours who have adopted the improved varieties. The findings demonstrate the significance of neighbourhood effects in the adoption of competing technologies.
Evolution of polyphenolic, anthocyanin, and organic acid components during coinoculation fermentation (simultaneous inoculation of LAB and yeast) and sequential fermentation of blueberry wine
Authors: Zhang Jigang , Fang Ling , Huang Xudong , Ding Zhien , Wang Chuyan
Published: October 2022

This research aims to investigate the effects of both sequential fermentation and coinoculation fermentation with yeast and lactic acid bacterial (LAB) on the dynamics of changes in basic quality parameters and organic acid, anthocyanin, and phenolic components as well as antioxidant activity during the fermentation of blueberry. The coculture‐fermented blueberry wine showed significant decreases in total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins,by 23.9%, 15.9%, and 13.7%, respectively, as compared with those before fermentation Fermentation changed the contents of organic acids in each group, with a more than 7‐fold increase in lactic acid contents as well as a more than 4‐fold reduction in quinic acid and malic acid contents. The content of all investigated anthocyanins first increased and then decreased. Moreover, different fermentation strategies exerted a profound influence on the dynamic change in phenolic components during fermentation; specifically, most of the phenolic acids showed a trend of increasing first, then decreasing, and finally increasing. Gallic acid, p‐coumaric acid, quercetin, and myricetin were increased by 116.9%, 130.1%, 127.2% and 177.6%, respectively, while syringic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, and vanillic acid were decreased by 49.5%, 68.5%, and 37.1% in sequentially fermented blueberry wine. Coinoculation fermentation with yeast and LAB produces faster dynamic variations and higher organic acid, anthocyanin, and phenolic profiles than sequential inoculation fermentation.

Practical Application

In this work, brewing technology of sequential fermentation and coinoculation fermentation with yeast and LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum SGJ‐24 and Oenococcus oeni SD‐2a) was adopted to ferment blueberry wine. This is an innovative technology of fruit wine brewing technology to produce wine products. Compared with traditional sequential brewing, simultaneous inoculation brewing can significantly accelerate the brewing process of fruit wine and slightly improve the quality of fruit wine in terms of active ingredients.
Improving the performance of bioelectrochemical sulfate removal by applying flow mode
Authors: Dai Shixiang , Harnisch Falk , Bin‐Hudari Mohammad Sufian , Keller Nina Sophie , Vogt Carsten , Korth Benjamin
Published: October 2022

Treatment of wastewater contaminated with high sulfate concentrations is an environmental imperative lacking a sustainable and environmental friendly technological solution. Microbial electrochemical technology (MET) represents a promising approach for sulfate reduction. In MET, a cathode is introduced as inexhaustible electron source for promoting sulfate reduction via direct or mediated electron transfer. So far, this is mainly studied in batch mode representing straightforward and easy‐to‐use systems, but their practical implementation seems unlikely, as treatment capacities are limited. Here, we investigated bioelectrochemical sulfate reduction in flow mode and achieved removal efficiencies (Esulfate, 89.2 ± 0.4%) being comparable to batch experiments, while sulfate removal rates (Rsulfate, 3.1 ± 0.2 mmol L−1) and Coulombic efficiencies (CE, 85.2 ± 17.7%) were significantly increased. Different temperatures and hydraulic retention times (HRT) were applied and the best performance was achieved at HRT 3.5 days and 30°C. Microbial community analysis based on amplicon sequencing demonstrated that sulfate reduction was mainly performed by prokaryotes belonging to the genera Desulfomicrobium, Desulfovibrio, and Desulfococcus, indicating that hydrogenotrophic and heterotrophic sulfate reduction occurred by utilizing cathodically produced H2 or acetate produced by homoacetogens (Acetobacterium). The advantage of flow operation for bioelectrochemical sulfate reduction is likely based on higher absolute biomass, stable pH, and selection of sulfate reducers with a higher sulfide tolerance, and improved ratio between sulfate‐reducing prokaryotes and homoacetogens.
Catching the tide: Reversing legal trends to find collective and long‐term solutions that value the natural world
Authors: Reid Colin T.
Published: October 2022

The social and economic trends that have contributed to the current climate and biodiversity crises have been created by and reflected in the law in many ways. Looking primarily at experience in the UK, it can be seen that much that is deeply embedded in the law needs to change to enable a more sustainable future. In particular, we have seen a move to greater individualism when we need to adopt more collective solutions, we have seen an emphasis on short‐term priorities when we need to take a longer‐term view and we have seen a focus on economic and commercial value when we need to value more highly the natural world. The past trends in the evolution of the law must be reversed, requiring consideration across many legal areas. Examples of past evolution are identified to show how the law encourages unsustainable ways of working and obstructs, or fails to enable and incentivise, improvement, before more recent positive developments are discussed to illustrate how legal structures can be recast to support a new way of living based on collective and long‐term approaches and a partnership with nature. Ensuring a sustainable future requires a break from many inherited legal structures.
Ultrasonographic measurement of the adrenal gland‐to‐abdominal aortic ratio as a valuable method of estimating normal adrenal size in rabbits
Authors: Ghaffari Tina , Mirshahi Ali , Sarchahi Ali Asghar , Azizzadeh Mohammad
Published: October 2022

A wide range has been reported for the ultrasonographic measurements of the normal adrenal gland in rabbits. Therefore, having sufficient information about the normal measurements of the adrenal gland and their relationship with indicators such as weight, sex and the diameter of the internal abdominal aorta will be of great help in diagnosing diseases of the adrenal gland. In the present study, 21 healthy adult intact rabbits were selected. The abdominal cavity of the animals was examined using ultrasound; adrenal gland parameters such as length, width, height, circumference and area on the right and left sides were measured in both sagittal and transverse planes. Additionally, the diameter of the abdominal aorta in the sagittal plane was imaged. After statistical analysis, the parameters of the adrenal glands on the right and left showed a positive significant correlation with the weight and the diameter of the abdominal aorta, although no significant correlation was found between these parameters and sex. The ratio of adrenal gland parameters to abdominal aortic diameter was calculated and the statistical analysis of the values showed that, except for the ratio of left adrenal area to aortic diameter, the other ratio of adrenal gland parameters to abdominal aortic diameter was not significantly related to weight. Therefore, these ratios can be used as suitable indicators for assessing the change in size of the adrenal gland of rabbits of different sizes. Knowing the relationship between normal adrenal measurements and the indices such as weight, sex and diameter of the abdominal aorta can help clinicians and researchers evaluate the changes in the size of the adrenal gland.
COVID‐19 vaccine acceptance among pregnant women and the reasons for hesitancy: A multi‐centre cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Rikard‐Bell Monica , Elhindi James , Lam Justin , Seeho Sean , Black Kirsten , Melov Sarah , Jenkins Greg , McNab Justin , Wiley Kerrie , Pasupathy Dharmintra
Published: October 2022

Background

On 9 June 2021, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommended that pregnant women receive Comirnaty (Pfizer) messenger RNA vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.

Aim

This multi‐centre study aimed to assess vaccine acceptance, reasons for hesitancy and determine if differences exist between health districts, to inform future policy strategies for COVID‐19 vaccination in pregnancy.

Materials and methods

An online survey (developed based on the World Health Organization Behavioural and Social Drivers survey and modified for the pregnant population) was administered to a sample population of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at two metropolitan hospitals (Westmead and Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH)) in New South Wales between 15 September 2021 and 22 October 2021.

Results

There were 287 pregnant women surveyed (Westmead 198 (69%), RNSH 66 (23%), no site 23 (8%)). There was a significantly lower Socio‐Economic Indexes for Areas score (5.66 vs 9.45, P = 0.001), fewer women born in Australia (37% vs 53%, P = 0.02) and higher number of children (0.77 vs 0.41, P = 0.01) among Westmead respondents. There was lower vaccination uptake (68% vs 86%, P = 0.01) and willingness to receive vaccine (68% vs 88% P = 0.01) at Westmead compared to RNSH. There was an increased proportion of respondents who were concerned that the vaccine could cause harm to the unborn baby at Westmead (38% vs 11%, P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Along with healthcare provider recommendation for vaccination in pregnancy, materials should be targeted to specific safety concerns of pregnant women.
Efficacy of intermittent compression devices for thromboembolic prophylaxis in major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lott Natalie , Robb Felicity , Nolan Erin , Attia John , Reeves Penny , Gani Jon , Smith Stephen
Published: October 2022

Background

The benefits of mechanical prophylaxis for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in abdominal and pelvic surgery are uncertain, with different guidelines stating that graduated compression stockings (GCS) and intermittent pneumatic compression devices (IPCDs) can be used either alone or in combination. To review the efficacy of IPCDs in preventing VTE following abdominal and pelvic surgery.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted, identifying relevant literature reporting clinical trials conducted in abdominopelvic surgery, comparing the effect of IPCDs alone or in combination with no prophylaxis, GCS and chemical prophylaxis. The review identified studies reported from 1966 to 2022 in Medline, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials.

Results

Thirteen RCTs involving 1914 participants were identified. IPCDs were superior to placebo (OR VTE 0.39; 95% CI 0.20–0.76) but not superior to other forms of prophylaxis (OR 0.83; 95% CI 0.30–2.27) or to GCS alone (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.24–3.36). The addition of IPCDs to GCS compared with GCS alone was beneficial (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.23–0.91) as was the addition of IPCDs to standard perioperative chemoprophylaxis (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.09–0.74). The overall quality and reliability of trials were low, with high risk of bias.

Conclusions

IPCDs are more effective than placebo in reducing VTE rates but are not more effective than other forms of thrombo‐prophylaxis (chemical or mechanical) following abdominal and pelvic surgery. There is poor quality evidence to suggest that they might have a role as additional prophylaxis when combined with GCS and chemical prophylaxis.
The comparison of two different strategies of intravitreal conbercept for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Chinese patients results from a 48‐week randomized phase 4 study: STAR study
Authors: Li Xiaoxin , Qu Jinfeng , Su Guanfang , Yu Suqin , Zhang Yongjin , Sadda Srini Vas ,   STAR Study Group
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To compare a treat‐and‐extend (TAE) strategy with a fixed dosing regimen of intravitreal conbercept (IVC) for the management of treatment‐naïve polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) patients.

Methods

249 patients with treatment‐naïve PCV were randomized 1:1 to fixed dosing regimen with injections every 12 weeks (3 + Q12W) group or treat‐and‐extend regimen(3 + TAE) group. Patients received 3 monthly intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg conbercept as loading dose in both groups. The 3 + Q12W patients were monitored monthly and received mandated injections every 12 weeks; the 3 + TAE patients were monitored and treated monthly until the resolution of exudative disease activity; the interval between visits was then individualized according to study protocol. Visual and anatomical outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results

At 48 weeks, there was no significant difference between the 3 + Q12W group and 3 + TAE group in mean BCVA improvement (p = 0.421), mean changes in central retinal thickness (CRT) (p = 0.818), maximum retinal thickness (MRT) (p = 0.448), pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height (p = 0.221), PED volume (p = 0.076), branching vascular network (BVN) area (p = 0.615), polypoidal lesion number (p = 0.701), polypoidal lesion area (p = 0.424), rates of patients who avoided vision loss of ≥15 ETDRS letters (p = 0.397) or complete polypoidal lesion regression rate (43.8% vs. 41.8%, p = 0.814). The 3 + Q12W group had more decreased retinal haemorrhage area (p = 0.014) and fewer mean numbers of injections comparing with 3 + TAE group (6.6 vs. 9.4, p < 0.001). Mean maximum extension interval between injections after loading injections was 9.6 ± 2.0 weeks for 3 + TAE group, with 27.8% of patients achieving an extension interval of 12 weeks and 61.1% patients 8 weeks or more.

Conclusions

Both 3 + Q12W and 3 + TAE regimens of IVC could result in improvement in visual and anatomical outcomes in PCV patients.