bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A balance between pro-inflammatory and pro-reparative macrophages is observed in regenerative D-MAPS
Authors: Liu Yining , Suarez-Arnedo Alejandra , Shetty Shamitha , Wu Yaoying , Schneider Michelle , Collier Joel H. , Segura Tatiana
Published: August 2022

Microporous annealed particle scaffolds (MAPS) are a new class of granular materials generated through the interlinking of tunable microgels, which produce an interconnected network of void space. These microgel building blocks can be designed with different mechanical or bio-active parameters to facilitate cell infiltration and modulate host response. Previously, changing the chirality of the microgel crosslinking peptides from L- to D-amino acids led to significant tissue regeneration and functional recovery in D-MAPS-treated cutaneous wounds. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effect of D-MAPS in a subcutaneous implantation model. We uncovered how macrophages are the key antigen-presenting cells to uptake and present these biomaterials to the adaptive immune system. A robust linker-specific IgG2b/IgG1 response to D-MAPS was detected as early as 14 days post-implantation. The fine balance between pro-regenerative and pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotypes was observed in D-MAPS as an indicator for regenerative scaffolds. Our work offers valuable insights into the temporal cellular response to synthetic porous scaffolds and establishes a foundation for further optimization of immunomodulatory pro-regenerative outcomes.
Genetic diversity and spread dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants present in African populations
Authors: Mtetwa Desire , Mutetwa Tapiwa Fidelity , Manjengwa Tafadzwa , Mazadza Allen , Chikwambi Zedias
Published: August 2022

The dynamics of COVID-19 disease have been extensively researched in many settings around the world, but little is known about these patterns in Africa. 6139 complete nucleotide genomes from 51 African nations were obtained and analyzed from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and Global Initiative on Sharing Influenza Data (GISAID) databases to examine genetic diversity and spread dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Africa. We investigated their diversity using several clade and lineage nomenclature systems, and used maximum parsimony inference methods to recreate their evolutionary divergence and history. According to this study, only 193 of the 2050 Pango lineages discovered worldwide circulated in Africa after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, with five different lineages dominating at various points during the outbreak. We identified South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria as key sources of viral transmissions between Sub-Saharan African nations because they had the most SARS-CoV-2 genomes sampled and sequenced. These results shed light on the evolutionary dynamics of the circulating viral strains in Africa. Genomic surveillance is one of the important techniques in the pandemic preparedness toolbox and to better understand the molecular, evolutionary, epidemiological, and spatiotemporal dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, genomic surveillance activities across the continent must be expanded. The effectiveness of molecular surveillance as a method for tracking pandemics strongly depends on continuous and reliable sampling, speedy virus genome sequencing, and prompt reporting and we have to improve in all these aspects in Africa. Additionally, the pandemic breakout revealed that current land-border regulations aimed at limiting virus’s international transmission are ineffective and a lot needs to be done to implement and improve our African land-borders as far as epidemiology is concerned in order to contain such outbreaks in the future.
A Simplified Function-First Method for the Discovery and Optimization of Bispecific Immune Engaging Antibodies
Authors: Shepherd Alex , Bennychen Bigitha , Marcil Anne , Bloemberg Darin , Pon Rob , Weeratna Risini , McComb Scott
Published: August 2022

Bi-specific T-cell engager antibodies (BITEs) are synthetic soluble molecules derived from antibodies that induce active contact between T-cells and other target cells in the body. BITE therapeutics have shown great promise for the treatment of various forms of cancer; however, the current development process for BITEs is time consuming and costly. BITE development requires empirical testing and characterization of the individual antigen binding domains, followed by extensive engineering and optimization in bi-specific molecular format to generate a molecule with strong biological activity and appropriate characteristics for clinical development. Here, we sought to create a cost efficient high-throughput method for creating and evaluating BITEs using a simplified function first approach to identify bioactive molecules without purification. Using a plasmid with a modular structure to allow high efficiency exchange of either binder arm, we established a simple method to combine many novel tumour-targeting single chain variable (scFv) domains with the well-characterized OKT3 scFv CD3-targeting domain. After generating these novel plasmids, we demonstrate two systems for high throughput functional screening of BITE molecules based on Jurkat T cells (referred to as BITE-J). Using BITE-J we evaluate four EGFRvIII BITEs, identifying two constructs with superior activity. We then confirmed this activity in primary T cells, where novel EGFRvIII-BITEs induced T cell activation and antigen selective tumor killing. We also demonstrate that we can similarly exchange the CD3-interacting element of our bi-modular plasmid. By testing several novel CD3-targeting scFv elements for activity in EGFRvIII-targeted BITEs, we were able to identify highly active BITE molecules with desirable properties for downstream development. In summary, BITE-J presents a low cost, high-throughput method for the rapid assessment of novel BITE molecules without the need for purification and quantification.
Prevalence and heterogeneity of antibiotic-resistant genes inOrientia tsutsugamushiand other rickettsial genomes
Authors: Rao R. Shyama Prasad , Ghate Sudeep D. , Shastry Rajesh P. , Kurthkoti Krishna , Suravajhala Prashanth , Patil Prakash , Shetty Praveenkumar
Published: August 2022

Despite a million infections every year and an estimated one billion people at risk, scrub typhus is regarded as a neglected tropical disease. The causative bacteriumOrientia tsutsugamushi, a member of rickettsiae, seems to be intrinsically resistant to several classes of antibiotics. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant scrub typhus is likely to become a global public health concern. Yet, it is unknown as to how common antibiotic-resistant genes are inO. tsutsugamushi, and how variable these loci are among the genomes of rickettsiae. By using the comprehensive antibiotic resistance database, we explored 79 complete genomes from 24 species of rickettsiae for putative antibiotic-resistant loci. There were 244 unique antibiotic-resistant genes in rickettsiae. Both the total and unique antibiotic-resistant genes inO. tsutsugamushiwere significantly less compared to other members of rickettsiae. However, antibiotic-resistant genes inO. tsutsugamushigenomes were more unique and highly variable. Many genes such as resistant versions ofevgS, andvanS A/Gwere present in numerous copies. These results will have important implications in the context of antibiotic-resistant scrub typhus.
Mesenchymal stromal cell encapsulation in uniform chitosan beads using microchannel emulsification
Authors: Shin Dongjin S , Touani Francesco K , Aboud Damon G.K , Kietzig Anne-Marie , Lerouge Sophie , Hoesli Corinne A
Published: August 2022

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells hold potential in repairing damaged tissue through paracrine effects. Their delivery though injectable biodegradable microbeads can improve cell retention and survival at the infusion site. A stirred emulsion process was previously implemented to immobilize these cells in injectable chitosan microbeads for cell therapy applications, but this process leads to broad bead size distribution (coefficient of variation > 40 %). Polydisperse beads may negatively affect the viability of the entrapped cells through oxygen limitations, damage to larger beads during injection, and reduced control over the cell payload and treatment reproducibility. The objective of this work was to modify a microchannel emulsification system initially designed for alginate-based encapsulation to immobilize mesenchymal stromal/stem cells in monodisperse chitosan microbeads. The main factors (e.g., microchannel geometry, chitosan solution viscosity, interfacial tension and flow rate) affecting droplet generation and diameter were investigated. The adapted process enabled the production of monodisperse chitosan microbeads with controlled sizes ranging from 600 µm – 1500 µm in diameter at a coefficient of variation less than 10 %. In a single pass through a 21 G syringe needle (ID: 513 µm), the fraction of ruptured beads was significantly reduced for microchannel-generated vs stirred emulsion-generated beads with matching volume-weighed bead diameter (D[4,3]). The viability of the immobilized cells immediately after the process was 95 % ± 2 % and no significant difference in cell survival and growth factor secretion was observed between microchannel and stirred emulsion-generated beads over 3 days of culture. Future directions include channel multiplexing to increase throughput for clinical applications. Although the device was developed for cell encapsulation, this process could be implemented for encapsulation of other biomolecules, bioactive or living cell agents for applications in the food and drug industry.
Macrophage-Based iNos Reporter Reveals Polarization and Reprogramming in the Context of Breast Cancer
Authors: Mas-Rosario Javier A. , Medor Josue D. , Jeffway Mary I. , Martínez-Montes José M. , Farkas Michelle E.
Published: August 2022

As part of the first line of defense against pathogens, macrophages possess the ability to differentiate into divergent phenotypes with varying functions. The process by which these cells change their characteristics, commonly referred to as macrophage polarization, allows them to change into broadly pro-inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) subtypes, and depends on the polarizing stimuli. Deregulation of macrophage phenotypes can result in different pathologies or affect the nature of some diseases, such as cancer and atherosclerosis. For this reason, it is necessary to better understand macrophage phenotype conversion in relevant models. However, there are few existing probes to track macrophage changes in multicellular environments. In this study, we generated an eGFP reporter cell line based on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNos) promoter activity in RAW264.7 cells (RAW:iNos-eGFP). iNos is associated with macrophage activation to pro-inflammatory states, and decreases in immune-suppressing ones. We validated the fidelity of the reporter for iNos, including following cytokine-mediated polarization, and confirmed that reporter and parental cells behaved similarly. RAW:iNos-eGFP cells were then used to track macrophage responses in different in vitro breast cancer models, and their re-education from anti- to pro-inflammatory phenotypes via a previously reported pyrimido(5,4-b)indole small molecule, PBI1. Using two mouse mammary carcinoma cell lines, 4T1 and EMT6, effects on macrophages were assessed via conditioned media, two-dimensional/monolayer co-culture, and three-dimensional spheroid models. While conditioned media derived from 4T1 or EMT6 cells and monolayer co-cultures of each with RAW:iNos-eGFP cells all resulted in decreased fluorescence, the trends and extents of effects differed. We also observed decreases in iNos-eGFP signal in the macrophages in co-culture assays with 4T1- or EMT6-based spheroids. We then showed that we are able to enhance iNos production in the context of these cancer models using PBI1, tracking increased fluorescence. Taken together, we demonstrate that this reporter-based approach provides a facile means to study macrophage responses in complex, multicomponent environments. Beyond the initial studies presented here, this platform can be used with a variety of in vitro models and extended to in vivo applications with intravital imaging.
A Double Dissociation between Savings and Long-Term Memory in Motor Learning
Authors: Hadjiosif Alkis M. , Morehead J. Ryan , Smith Maurice A.
Published: August 2022

Both declarative and procedural memories are easier to reacquire than learn from scratch. This advantage, known as savings, has been widely assumed to result from the reemergence of stable long-term memories. In fact, the presence of savings has often been used as a marker for whether a memory had been consolidated. However, recent findings have demonstrated that motor learning rates can be systematically controlled, providing a mechanistic alternative to the reemergence of a stable long-term memory, and recent work has reported conflicting results about whether implicit contributions to savings in motor learning are present, absent, or inverted, suggesting a limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms. In order to elucidate the mechanism responsible for savings in motor learning, we investigate the relationship between savings and long-term memory by determining how they depend on different components of motor learning. To accomplish this, we experimentally dissect motor adaptation based on short-term (1-minute) temporal persistence. Surprisingly, we find that a temporally-volatile component of implicit learning leads to savings whereas temporally-persistent learning does not, but that temporally-persistent learning leads to long-term memory at 24 hours whereas temporally-volatile learning does not. Moreover, we find that temporally-persistent implicit learning not only fails to contribute to savings, but that it produces an anti-savings which acts to reduce the net savings, and we show that the balance between temporally-volatile and temporally-persistent components can explain seemingly inconsistent reports about implicit savings. The clear double dissociation between the mechanisms for savings and long-term memory formation challenges widespread assumptions about the connection between savings and memory consolidation, and provides new insight into the mechanisms for motor learning.
Independent synaptic inputs to motor neurons driving antagonist muscles
Authors: Borzelli Daniele , Vieira T.M.M. , Botter A. , Gazzoni M. , Lacquaniti F. , d’Avella A.
Published: August 2022

The CNS may produce the same endpoint trajectory or torque profile with different muscle activation patterns. What differentiates these patterns is the presence of co-contraction, which does not contribute to joint torque generation but allows to modulate mechanical impedance. Whether co-contraction is controlled through the same synaptic input to motor neurons involved in generating joint torque is still unclear. We hypothesized that co-contraction is controlled through a specific synaptic input, independent from that underlying the control of torque. To test this hypothesis, we asked participants to concurrently generate multi-directional isometric forces at the hand and to modulate the co-contraction of arm muscles to displace and stabilize a virtual end-effector. The firings of motor units were identified through decomposition of High-Density EMGs collected from two antagonist muscles, Biceps Brachii and Triceps Brachii. We found significant peaks in the coherence between the neural drive to the two muscles, suggesting the existence of a common input modulating co-contraction across different exerted forces. Moreover, the within-muscle coherence computed after removing the component synchronized with the drive to the antagonist muscle or with the exerted force revealed two subsets of motor neurons that were selectively recruited to generate joint torque or modulate co-contraction. This study is the first to directly investigate the extent of shared versus independent control of antagonist muscles at the motor neuron level in a task involving concurrent force generation and modulation of co-contraction.

Significance Statement

How the CNS coordinates the activity of antagonist muscles to modulate limb mechanical impedance is still unclear. We hypothesized that a common synaptic input, shared by the motor neurons pools of antagonist muscles, and independent from the inputs underlying force generation, regulates co-contraction. We then analyzed the coherence between the firing trains of motor neurons to assess whether a common input drives antagonist muscles only during tasks requiring co-activation for impedance but not for force generation. Results highlighted the existence of separate neural pathways underlying the control of joint torque or impedance. Scientifically, this study addressed an important gap in understanding how neural drive is delivered to antagonist muscles, disentangling the control of muscles for joint torque or impedance modulation.
dbEmbryo multi-omics database for analyses of synergistic regulation in early mammalian embryo development
Authors: Huang Xin , Tang Xiaohan , Bai Xuemei , Li Honglei , Tao Huan , Wang Junting , Li Yaru , Sun Yu , Zheng Yang , Xu Xiang , Wang Longteng , Ding Yang , Lu Meisong , Zhou Pingkun , Bo Xiaochen , Li Hao , Chen Hebing
Published: August 2022

During early mammalian embryo development, different epigenetic marks undergo reprogramming and play crucial roles in the mediation of gene expression. Currently, several databases provide multi-omics information on early embryos. However, how interconnected epigenetic markers function together to coordinate the expression of the genetic code in a spatiotemporal manner remains difficult to analyze, markedly limiting scientific and clinical research. Here, we present dbEmbryo, an integrated and interactive multi-omics database for human and mouse early embryos. dbEmbryo integrates data on gene expression, DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin accessibility, and higher-order chromatin structure profiles for human and mouse early embryos. It incorporates customized analysis tools, such as “multi-omics visualization,” “Gene&Peak annotation,” “ZGA gene cluster,” “cis-regulation,” “synergistic regulation,” “promoter signal enrichment,” and “3D genome.” Users can retrieve gene expression and epigenetic profile patterns to analyze synergistic changes across different early embryo developmental stages. We showed the uniqueness of dbEmbryo among extant databases containing data on early embryo development and provided an overview. Using dbEmbryo, we obtained a phase-separated model of transcriptional control during early embryo development. dbEmbryo offers web-based analytical tools and a comprehensive resource for biologists and clinicians to decipher molecular regulatory mechanisms of human and mouse early embryo development.
Engineering the band gap and optical properties of a two-dimensional molybdenum carbon fluoride MXene
Authors: Anh Doan Thi Kieu , Mui Luong Viet , Minh Pham Hong , Binh Nguyen Thanh , Cadatal-Raduban Marilou
Published: August 2022

Using first-principles density functional theory, we investigated the electronic and optical properties of monolayer and multilayer nanosheets of molybdenum carbon fluoride (Mo2CF2), a two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal carbide MXene. The indirect band gap of the Mo2CF2 semiconductor can be engineered by controlling the number of layers where the band gap energy changes from 0.278 eV for the monolayer to 0.249 eV for the trilayer nanosheet. The decrease in band gap energy in the multilayer is due to interlayer coupling, which splits the bands according to the number of layers. Mo2CF2 behaves as a metal with an anomalous dispersion and high optical conductivity at incident photon energies of 0.68–2.19, 3.49–6.68 and 7.30–8.31 eV. It has a relatively low reflectivity and is absorbing over a broad range of photon energies from about 0.429 (2890), 0.387 (3204) and 0.345 eV (3594 nm) for the monolayer, bilayer and trilayer nanosheets, respectively, achieving peak absorption in the vacuum ultraviolet region at about 7.9 eV (157 nm). The optical properties of Mo2CF2 can likewise be tuned by varying the number of layers. The unique behavior of its optical properties along with the ability to control its electronic and optical properties enhances the potential of 2D Mo2CF2 for various applications in the fields of electronics and energy storage.
Corporate governance, CEO compensation, and corporate performance: evidence from India
Authors: Jatana Chhavi
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of corporate governance (CG) on chief executive officer compensation (CEO COMP) and pay–performance relationship (PPR) in Indian listed firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 196 companies listed on the S&P BSE 500 (Standard and Poor's Bombay Stock Exchange 500) Index has been analyzed using the panel (random effects) regression technique over the period 2010–2019. In addition, the system GMM technique was used to deal with the endogeneity issue.

Findings

The study found that block ownership and ownership concentration negatively impact COMP measures and PPR. Board size also had a negative direct and moderating impact on CEO COMP; however, the linkages were generally insignificant, especially for total pay. Similarly, outsider blockholders were found to be playing an insignificant role. Further, board independence positively influences COMP levels and PPR, though the results were mixed with respect to significance. Finally, CEO duality positively and significantly influences CEO COMP and PPR. A comparison before and after the new Indian Companies Act 2013 also revealed similar results, particularly in the after period. It suggests that the new legislative initiative was not effective enough in improving the CG and, hence, the alignment of pay with performance.

Originality/value

This study investigates the direct and moderating impact of CG on CEO COMP in the context of emerging economy India. Further, it makes a comparison before and after the introduction of the new governance reform, that is, the Indian Companies Act, 2013. Moreover, providing support to the entrenchment effect, the study reveals that large shareholders expropriate minority shareholders’ wealth by not aligning CEO pay with performance, making agency problems graver in emerging economies like India.
Coupling coordination degree spatiotemporal characteristics and driving factors between new urbanization and construction industry: evidence from China
Authors: Ma Shengbin , Li Zhongfu , Li Long , Yuan Mengqi
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The coordinated development of the urbanization and construction industry is crucial for the sustainable development of cities. However, the coupling relationship and coordination mechanism between them remain unclear. To bridge this gap, this study attempts to explore the level of coupling coordination between new urbanization and construction industry development and investigate the critical driving factors influencing their coupling coordination degree.

Design/methodology/approach

By referring to the existing literature, two index systems were established to evaluate the development level of the new urbanization and construction industry. The spatiotemporal characteristics of the coupled coordinated development of the new urbanization and construction industry in China from 2014 to 2020 were investigated using the coupling coordination model. The Markov chain and geographic detector were adopted to understand the transition probability and driving factors of the coupling coordination degree.

Findings

The results indicate that the coupling degree of China's new urbanization and construction industry is high, and the two systems exhibit obvious interaction phenomena. However, the construction industry in most provinces lags behind the new urbanization. A positive interactive relationship and coordination mechanism has not been established between the two systems. Furthermore, the  coupling contribution degree of the driving factors from high to low is as follows: market size > labor resource concentration > government investment ability > economic development level > industrial structure > production efficiency > technology level. Accordingly, a driving mechanism including market, policy, economic, and production technology drivers was developed.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing a set of scientific analysis methods to address the deficiency of coordination mechanism research on new urbanization and the construction industry. The results also provide a theoretical basis for decision makers to develop differentiated sustainable development policies.
Finnish university students' satisfaction with e-learning outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Nikou Shahrokh , Maslov Ilia
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Students' satisfaction with e-learning outcomes is a vital component in determining the adoption of e-learning systems. Understanding the antecedent factors impacting students' satisfaction with e-learning outcomes helps decision-makers at the higher education to take the necessary actions to enhance the quality of students' performance, especially during the exceptional times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims to determine and analyse the antecedent factors influencing students' satisfaction with e-learning outcomes during the pandemic. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is used to analysis a proposed research model.

Findings

The SEM results show that digital communities in e-learning, information technology (quality and accessibility) and the online course design quality directly influence students' satisfaction with e-learning outcomes. More interestingly, results show that the COVID-19-related factors (1) awareness of the COVID-19, (2) perceived challenges (negatively) and (3) the educational institutions' preparedness also influence e-learning outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

The results suggest that the decision-makers at the educational institutions should consider adopting a blended learning system approach to deliver e-learning during the emergency, such as the COVID-19 outbreak situation.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies in higher education context, which seek to identify the antecedent factors that influence students' satisfaction with e-learning outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fairness perceptions regarding in-work benefits: a survey experiment
Authors: Senghaas Monika , Osiander Christopher , Stephan Gesine , Struck Olaf
Published: August 2022

Purpose

In many countries, individuals can receive welfare support whilst simultaneously being employed. The level of earned income that welfare recipients are allowed to keep has long been a subject of debate. Core issues include whether in-work benefit regulations provide incentives for individuals to expand labour market participation and are thus also socially effective and whether the population perceives welfare benefits for individuals who earn own income as fair. This article contributes to the debate about the social legitimacy of in-work benefit regulations by shedding light on the principles guiding judgements about an adequate amount of in-work benefit receipt.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a factorial survey experiment to investigate which factors guide judgements about an adequate level of in-work benefit receipt. In the authors' factorial survey, the household composition, health status, and monthly earnings of a hypothetical in-work benefit recipient were varied experimentally. The study investigates Germany's basic income support programme, a means-tested social policy programme that targets both unemployed and employed individuals.

Findings

The results show that respondents consider higher earnings retention rates for lower-income earners to be fair. This preference mirrors the German legislation, which is based on the principle of need. Furthermore, the presence of children and of physical as well as mental health impairments are associated with support for higher earnings retention rates.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that citizens support the core features of in-work benefit regulations but do not consider in-work benefit recipients as a homogenous group when assessing the adequate level of benefit receipt.
Discovering a tourism destination with social media data: BERT-based sentiment analysis
Authors: Viñán-Ludeña Marlon Santiago , de Campos Luis M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze a tourist destination using sentiment analysis techniques with data from Twitter and Instagram to find the most representative entities (or places) and perceptions (or aspects) of the users.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used 90,725 Instagram posts and 235,755 Twitter tweets to analyze tourism in Granada (Spain) to identify the important places and perceptions mentioned by travelers on both social media sites. The authors used several approaches for sentiment classification for English and Spanish texts, including deep learning models.

Findings

The best results in a test set were obtained using a bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) model for Spanish texts and Tweeteval for English texts, and these were subsequently used to analyze the data sets. It was then possible to identify the most important entities and aspects, and this, in turn, provided interesting insights for researchers, practitioners, travelers and tourism managers so that services could be improved and better marketing strategies formulated.

Research limitations/implications

The authors propose a Spanish-Tourism-BERT model for performing sentiment classification together with a process to find places through hashtags and to reveal the important negative aspects of each place.

Practical implications

The study enables managers and practitioners to implement the Spanish-BERT model with our Spanish Tourism data set that the authors released for adoption in applications to find both positive and negative perceptions.

Originality/value

This study presents a novel approach on how to apply sentiment analysis in the tourism domain. First, the way to evaluate the different existing models and tools is presented; second, a model is trained using BERT (deep learning model); third, an approach of how to identify the acceptance of the places of a destination through hashtags is presented and, finally, the evaluation of why the users express positivity (negativity) through the identification of entities and aspects.
Mental health professionals’ views of the borderline personality disorder diagnosis for children and young people: a Q-methodological study
Authors: Vickers Gemma , Combes Helen , Lonsdale Jennie
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a controversial psychiatric diagnosis. Despite an increasing amount of research looking at the BPD diagnosis when applied to young people, there is limited understanding of the key viewpoints of mental health professionals working with young people in the UK. This research aims to use Q-methodology to contribute to understanding the multiple views of the diagnosis.

Design/methodology/approach

Q-statements about views of the BPD diagnosis were selected from relevant journals, internet sites and social media platforms and were validated by a Q-methodology research group, the research supervisors and an online group of individuals with BPD. Q-sorts were then used to explore the viewpoints of 27 mental health professionals in the UK working with children and adolescents. Analysis of the data was completed using Q-methodology analysis software.

Findings

Three main factors emerged from the data, explaining 66% of the variance. Of the 27 participants, 24 loaded onto these three factors, defined as: harmful not helpful; language and optimism; and caution and specialist services. Three Q-sorts did not load significantly onto any one factor.

Originality/value

There appears to be at least three ways of understanding the BPD diagnosis for young people. It may be useful for clinicians to consider and share their own viewpoint, be open to difference and formulate difficulties from an individual perspective.
Condition-based monitoring of the rail wheel using logical analysis of data and ant colony optimization
Authors: Osman Hany , Yacout Soumaya
Published: August 2022

Purpose

In this paper, a data mining approach is proposed for monitoring the conditions leading to a rail wheel high impact load. The proposed approach incorporates logical analysis of data (LAD) and ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithms in extracting patterns of high impact loads and normal loads from historical railway records. In addition, the patterns are employed in establishing a classification model used for classifying unseen observations. A case study representing real-world impact load data is presented to illustrate the impact of the proposed approach in improving railway services.

Design/methodology/approach

Application of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches becomes an essential tool in improving the performance of railway transportation systems. By using these approaches, the knowledge extracted from historical data can be employed in railway assets monitoring to maintain the assets in a reliable state and to improve the service provided by the railway network.

Findings

Results achieved by the proposed approach provide a prognostic system used for monitoring the conditions surrounding rail wheels. Incorporating this prognostic system in surveilling the rail wheels indeed results in better railway services as trips with no-delay or no-failure can be realized. A comparative study is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach versus other classification algorithms. In addition to the highly interpretable results obtained by the generated patterns, the comparative study demonstrates that the proposed approach provides classification accuracy higher than other common machine learning classification algorithms.

Originality/value

The methodology followed in this research employs ACO algorithm as an artificial intelligent technique and LDA as a machine learning algorithm in analyzing wheel impact load alarm-collected datasets. This new methodology provided a promising classification model to predict future alarm and a prognostic system to guide the system while avoiding this alarm.
When sensemaking remains local: implications for distributed sensemaking in reform implementation
Authors: Filstad Cathrine , Olsen Trude Høgvold , Thomassen Anja Overgaard
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the literature on distributed sensemaking by studying how the police establish and develop their new position as police contacts during the police reform.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors studied how the position of police contact, a cornerstone of the recent Norwegian police reform, was interpreted and practised. The authors interviewed police contacts at two different times during reform implementation to explore how they made sense of and practised their job.

Findings

The authors identified three interpretations of the position of police contact and describe them as ideal types: an administrative position, a professional position and a strategic position. The ideal types were reinforced rather than developing towards a shared understanding. Our data demonstrate that the sensemaking processes and experimentation to settle into the new position involved local actors internally in the police and externally in relation to local authorities, and reinforced local interpretations.

Originality/value

This study supports the notion of sensemaking as distributed but extends previous research by suggesting that “ideal types” help us understand the content of interpretations. This study also extends the understanding by showing that distributed sensemaking takes place as individuals make sense of more open-ended problems. This challenges the understanding of the term distributed, because unless challenged, distributed sensemaking in isolated pockets of the organization remain local, and the authors suggest that the term local distributed sensemaking captures this phenomenon.
Distinguishing the most valuable consumers in social commerce using graphical evaluation and review technique – in the view of incentives
Authors: Chen Xu , Wu Yingliang , Liao Junfeng , Zuo Wenming , Zhong Rujie
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The incentive cost of enterprises increases significantly with the rapid growth of the social commerce (SC) market. In this context, enterprises need to develop the optimal strategy to improve incentive effectiveness and reduce cost. Different types of consumers’ responses to incentives bring different values to enterprises. Hence, this paper proposes the social commerce value network (SCVN) to help enterprises study the contributions of different types of consumers to the network.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the graphical evaluation and review technique (GERT), the authors construct the social commerce value GERT (i.e. SCV-GERT) network and design three progressive experiments for estimating the value contributions of “network stage”, “consumer type”, and “resource type” to the SCVN under the same incentives. The authors initialize the SCV-GERT model with consumer data in SC and distinguish the most valuable consumers by adjusting the incentive parameters.

Findings

The results show that the SCV-GERT model can well describe the value flow of SCVN. The incentive on forwarding consumers brings the greatest value gain to the SCVN, and social trust contributes the most to forwarding consumers.

Practical implications

Under the guidance of the results, platforms and enterprises in SC can select the optimal type of consumers who bring the maximum network value so as to improve the effectiveness of incentive strategy and reduce marketing costs. A four-level incentive system should be established according to the ranking of the corresponding value gains: forwarding consumers > agent consumers > commenting consumers > potential consumers. Enterprises also need to find ways to improve the social resource investments of consumers participating in SC.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the incentive problem in SC grounded in the SCVN and uses the GERT method to construct the SCV-GERT model, which is the first attempt to introduce GERT into the SC context. This study also makes up for the lack of comparative research on different types of consumers in SC and can provide support for enterprises’ customer relationship management and marketing decisions.
Benchmarking eleven biodiversity indicators based on environmental DNA surveys: More diverse functional traits and evolutionary lineages inside marine reserves
Authors: Dalongeville Alicia , Boulanger Emilie , Marques Virginie , Charbonnel Eric , Hartmann Virginie , Santoni Marie Catherine , Deter Julie , Valentini Alice , Lenfant Philippe , Boissery Pierre , Dejean Tony , Velez Laure , Pichot Franck , Sanchez Loic , Arnal Veronique , Bockel Thomas , Delaruelle Gwenaelle , Holon Florian , Milhau Tristan , Romant Lola , Manel Stéphanie , Mouillot David
Published: August 2022

To mitigate the ongoing threats to coastal ecosystems, and the biodiversity erosion they are causing, marine‐protected areas (MPAs) have emerged as powerful and widespread conservation tools. Strictly no‐take MPAs, also called marine reserves, undeniably promote fish biomass and density, but it remains unclear how biodiversity responds to protection. Identifying which facets of biodiversity respond to protection is critical for the management of MPAs and the development of relevant conservation strategies towards the achievement of biodiversity targets.

We collected 99 environmental DNA (eDNA) samples inside and outside nine marine reserves in the Mediterranean Sea to assess the effect of protection on 11 biodiversity indicators based on fish traits, phylogeny and vulnerability to fishing. We controlled for the effect of environmental heterogeneity (habitat, bathymetry, productivity, temperature and accessibility) using a principal component analysis, and for spatial autocorrelation due to potential unmeasured factors.

We found a positive and significant effect of protection on only 3 out of 11 indicators: functional and phylogenic diversity but also the ratio between demerso‐pelagic and benthic species richness. Rather, total fish richness responded significantly and negatively to protection. We did not detect any significant effect of protection on threatened and elasmobranch species richness, probably due to their large home range compared to the size of Mediterranean marine reserves.

Synthesis and applications: Our findings highlight the importance of looking beyond the mere number of species to fully depict and understand the effect of marine reserves on biodiversity and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation measures. Rather, we propose a dashboard of three eDNA‐based indicators that can provide an early signal of ecosystem deterioration or recovery. eDNA metabarcoding offers a powerful tool to supply site‐specific and standardized taxonomic‐, phylogenetic‐ and trait‐based biodiversity assessments, in complement to other classical techniques, such as visual censuses or video surveys, able to estimate species abundance but also individual life‐stage and size.
Cryptosporulation in Kurthia spp. forces a rethinking of asporogenesis in Firmicutes
Authors: Fatton Mathilda , Filippidou Sevasti , Junier Thomas , Cailleau Guillaume , Berge Matthieu , Poppleton Daniel , Blum Thorsten B. , Kaminek Marek , Odriozola Adolfo , Blom Jochen , Johnson Shannon L. , Abrahams Jan Pieter , Chain Patrick S. , Gribaldo Simonetta , Tocheva Elitza I. , Zuber Benoît , Viollier Patrick H. , Junier Pilar
Published: August 2022

Endosporulation is a complex morphophysiological process resulting in a more resistant cellular structure that is produced within the mother cell and is called endospore. Endosporulation evolved in the common ancestor of Firmicutes, but it is lost in descendant lineages classified as asporogenic. While Kurthia spp. is considered to comprise only asporogenic species, we show here that strain 11kri321, which was isolated from an oligotrophic geothermal reservoir, produces phase‐bright spore‐like structures. Phylogenomics of strain 11kri321 and other Kurthia strains reveals little similarity to genetic determinants of sporulation known from endosporulating Bacilli. However, morphological hallmarks of endosporulation were observed in two of the four Kurthia strains tested, resulting in spore‐like structures (cryptospores). In contrast to classic endospores, these cryptospores did not protect against heat or UV damage and successive sub‐culturing led to the loss of the cryptosporulating phenotype. Our findings imply that a cryptosporulation phenotype may have been prevalent and subsequently lost by laboratory culturing in other Firmicutes currently considered as asporogenic. Cryptosporulation might thus represent an ancestral but unstable and adaptive developmental state in Firmicutes that is under selection under harsh environmental conditions.
Lasiodiplodia theobromae protein LtScp1 contributes to fungal virulence and protects fungal mycelia against hydrolysis by grapevine chitinase
Authors: Peng Junbo , Li Xinghong , Li Yonghua , Zhang Wei , Zhou Ying , Yan Jiye
Published: August 2022

The LysM proteins have been reported to be important for the virulence and host immunity suppression in herbaceous plant pathogens, whereas far less information is documented in the woody plant pathogen Lasiodiplodia theobromae. To investigate the functional mechanism of LysM protein in L. theobromae, one gene LtScp1 was cloned and characterized detailedly in the current study. Transcription profiling revealed that LtScp1 was highly expressed at the infectious stages. Compared to wild type, overexpression and silencing of LtScp1 in L. theobromae led to significantly increased and decreased lesion areas, respectively. Moreover, LtScp1 was determined to be a secreted protein via a yeast signal peptide trapping system. Interestingly, LtScp1 was confirmed to be modified by the N‐glycosylation, which is necessary for the homodimerization of LtScp1 molecules. Furthermore, it was found that LtScp1 interacted with the grapevine chitinase VvChi4 and interfered the ability of VvChi4 to bind chitin. Collectively, these results suggest that LtScp1 functions as a virulence factor to protect the fungus from degradation during the infection.
Enhanced ability of freshwater bacteria to secrete extracellular vesicles upon interaction with virus
Authors: Silva Thiago P. , Gamalier Juliana P. , Zarantonello Victor , Soares Caique R. , Resende Nathália S. , Barros Nathan O. , Melo Rossana C. N.
Published: August 2022

The ability of freshwater bacteria to secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) upon interaction with viruses remains to be established. Here, we investigated for the first time if freshwater virus‐infected bacteria release EVs in both natural ecosystems and virus‐like particles (VLPs)‐enriched cultures. We performed a systematic study using transmission electron microscopy to visualize viruses and EVs at high resolution and single‐cell imaging analyses to quantitate nascent EVs at the surface of gram‐negative bacteria. First, by analysing freshwater samples from a tropical ecosystem (Negro River/Amazon Basin/Brazil), we captured bacteriophages‐infected bacteria releasing EVs from their outer membrane. Next, VLPs isolated from these samples and inoculated in bacterial cultures not only impacted bacteria growth and viability but also led them to a significant release of EVs (~300% increase in numbers/cell section) compared to controls. The numbers of both budding and free EVs and EVs per linear micrometre of cell envelope were significantly higher in infected bacteria. Our findings identify a yet‐not recognized capability of freshwater bacteria in generating EVs (overvesiculation) in response to viral infection. Since viruses are abundant members of aquatic ecosystems and bacteria are natural hosts for them, such interaction is an interesting event for microbial communities to be explored in freshwater ecosystems.
ProX from marine Synechococcus spp. show a sole preference for glycine‐betaine with differential affinity between ecotypes
Authors: Ford Benjamin A. , Ranjit Pramita , Mabbutt Bridget C. , Paulsen Ian T. , Shah Bhumika S.
Published: August 2022

Osmotic stress, caused by high or fluctuating salt concentrations, is a crucial abiotic factor affecting microbial growth in aquatic habitats. Many organisms utilize common responses to osmotic stress, generally requiring active extrusion of toxic inorganic ions and accumulation of compatible solutes to protect cellular machinery. We heterologously expressed and purified predicted osmoprotectant, proline/glycine betaine‐binding proteins (ProX) from two phylogenetically distinct Synechococcus spp. MITS9220 and WH8102. Homologues of this protein are conserved only among Prochlorococcus LLIV and Synechococcus clade I, III and CRD1 strains. Our biophysical characterization show Synechococcus ProX exists as a dimer, with specificity solely for glycine betaine but not to other osmoprotectants tested. We discovered that MITS9220_ProX has a 10‐fold higher affinity to glycine betaine than WH8102_ProX, which is further elevated (24‐fold) in high salt conditions. The stronger affinity and effect of ionic strength on MITS9220_ProX glycine betaine binding but not on WH8102_ProX alludes to a novel regulatory mechanism, providing critical functional insights into the phylogenetic divergence of picocyanobacterial ProX proteins that may be necessary for their ecological success.