bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phosphorus storage and utilization strategies of two bloom-forming freshwater cyanobacteria
Authors: Xiao Man , Burford Michele A. , Prentice Matthew J. , Galvanese Elena F. , Chuang Ann , Hamilton David P.
Published: July 2023

The inter-relationships between cellular phosphorus (P) storage, dissolved inorganic P (DIP) uptake affinity, alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations were studied in two ubiquitous diazotrophic freshwater cyanobacteria,
Raphidiopsis raciborskii
(six strains) and
Chrysosporum ovalisporum
(two strains). DIP uptake kinetics were measured using rates of incorporation of the radio-isotope,
33
P and APA as a proxy for DOP-ester utilization. The study showed that DIP uptake of individual strains followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics (modified in our study to incorporate cellular P quotas), but differed with DIN and P availability, and between growth stages. High-affinity DIP uptake and APA were activated below a P quota threshold of approximately 0.01 µg P µg
−1
C across the species and strains.
C. ovalisporum
had significantly higher APA and P quotas (per unit C and cell) but lower uptake affinity than
R. raciborskii
. Demand for DIP by
C. ovalisporum
increased when N fixation occurred, but typically not for
R. raciborskii
. Our results indicate that cyanobacterial species and strains differ in their strategies to P limiting conditions, and highlight the interplay between N and P. Physiological adaptations like APA and diazotrophy of cyanobacteria adapting to low DIP and/or DIN conditions may occur simultaneously and drive species dominance in oligotrophic environments.
Parallel genetic adaptation of Bacillus subtilis to different plant species
Authors: Hu Guohai , Wang Yue , Blake Christopher , Nordgaard Mathilde , Liu Xin , Wang Bo , Kovács Ákos T.
Published: July 2023

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria benefit plants by stimulating their growth or protecting them against phytopathogens. Rhizobacteria must colonize and persist on plant roots to exert their benefits. However, little is known regarding the processes by which rhizobacteria adapt to different plant species, or behave under alternating host plant regimes. Here, we used experimental evolution and whole-population whole-genome sequencing to analyse how

Bacillus subtilis

evolves on Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato seedlings, and under an alternating host plant regime, in a static hydroponic setup. We observed parallel evolution across multiple levels of biological organization in all conditions, which was greatest for the two heterogeneous, multi-resource, spatially structured environments at the genetic level. Species-specific adaptation at the genetic level was also observed, possibly caused by the selection stress imposed by different host plants. Furthermore, a trade-off between motility and biofilm development was supported by mutational changes in motility- and biofilm-related genes. Finally, we identified several condition-specific and common targeted genes in different environments by comparing three different

B. subtilis

biofilm adaptation settings. The results demonstrate a common evolutionary pattern when

B. subtilis

is adapting to the plant rhizosphere in similar conditions, and reveal differences in genetic mechanisms between different host plants. These findings will likely support strain improvements for sustainable agriculture.
Understanding the fine-scale heterogeneity and spatial drivers of malaria transmission using model-based geostatistical methods in Kenya
Authors: Mategula Donnie , Gichuki Judy
Published: July 2023

Malaria remains a public health concern. Monitoring the fine-scale heterogeneity of the malaria burden enables more targeted control efforts. Although malaria indicator surveys (MIS) have been crucial in evaluating the progress of malaria control interventions, they are only designed to provide a cross-sectional national and regional malaria disease burden. Recent advances in geostatistical methods allow us to interpolate national survey data to describe subnational disease burden that is crucial in informing targeted control.

A binomial geostatistical model employing Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) parameter estimation methods is used to understand the spatial drivers of malaria risk in Kenya and to predict malaria risk at a fine-scale resolution, including identifying hotspots.

A total of 11,549 children aged six months to 14 years from 207 clusters were sampled in this survey and used in the present analysis. The national malaria prevalence based on the data was 8.4%, with the highest in the lake endemic zone (18.1 %) and the lowest in the low-risk zone (<1 %). The analysis shows that elevation, proportion of ITN distributed, rainfall, temperature and urbanization covariates are all significant predictors of malaria transmission. The 5x5 Km resolution maps show that malaria is heterogeneous in Kenya, with hotspot areas in the lake endemic area, the coastal areas, and some parts of the shores of Lake Turkana and Kajiado.

The high-resolution malaria prevalence maps produced as part of the analysis have shown that Kenya has additional malaria hotspots, especially in areas least expected. These findings call for a rethinking of malaria burden classification in some regions for effective planning, implementation, resource mobilization, monitoring, and evaluation of malaria interventions in the country.
Alcohol-Induced Mucociliary Dysfunction: Role of Defective CFTR Channel Function
Authors: Rasmussen Lawrence , Stafford Denise , LaFontaine Jennifer , Allen Antonio , Antony Linto , Kim Hyunki , Raju S. Vamsee
Published: July 2023

Excessive alcohol use is thought to increase the risk of respiratory infections by impairing mucociliary clearance (MCC). In this study, we investigate the hypothesis that alcohol reduces the function of CFTR, the protein that is defective in individuals with cystic fibrosis, thus altering mucus properties to impair MCC and the airway’s defense against inhaled pathogens.

Methods

Sprague Dawley rats with wild type CFTR (+/+), matched for age and sex, were administered either a Lieber-DeCarli alcohol diet or a control diet with the same number of calories for eight weeks. CFTR activity was measured using nasal potential difference (NPD) assay and Ussing chamber electrophysiology of tracheal tissue samples. In vivo MCC was determined by measuring the radiographic clearance of inhaled Tc99 particles and the depth of the airway periciliary liquid (PCL) and mucus transport rate in excised trachea using micro-optical coherence tomography (µOCT). The levels of rat lung MUC5b and CFTR were estimated by protein and mRNA analysis.

Results

Alcohol diet was found to decrease CFTR ion transport in the nasal and tracheal epitheliumin vivoandex vivo. This decrease in activity was also reflected in partially reduced full-length CFTR protein levels but not, in mRNA copies, in the lungs of rats. Furthermore, alcohol-fed rats showed a significant decrease in MCC after 8 weeks of alcohol consumption. The trachea from these rats also showed reduced PCL depth, indicating a decrease in mucosal surface hydration that was reflected in delayed mucus transport. Diminished MCC rate was also likely due to the elevated MUC5b expression in alcohol-fed rat lungs.

Conclusions

Excessive alcohol use can decrease the expression and activity of CFTR channels, leading to reduced airway surface hydration and impaired mucus clearance. This suggests that CFTR dysfunction plays a role in the compromised lung defense against respiratory pathogens in individuals who drink alcohol excessively.

What is the current scientific knowledge on this subject?

Excessive alcohol is associated with delayed mucociliary clearance (MCC) and an increased risk of respiratory infections among heavy drinkers.

What does this study add to the field?

Chronic alcohol use reduces CFTR activity and airway surface hydration explaining the mechanisms underlying mucociliary dysfunction. Acquired CFTR dysfunction may be a suitable target to improve host immunity in those affected by prolonged alcohol use.
Aging alters the functional connectivity of motor theta networks during sensorimotor reactions
Authors: Yordanova Juliana , Falkenstein Michael , Kolev Vasil
Published: July 2023

Objective

Both cognitive and primary motor networks alter with advancing age in humans. The networks activated in response to external environmental stimuli supported by theta oscillations remain less well explored. The present study aimed to characterize the effects of aging on the functional connectivity of response-related theta networks during sensorimotor tasks.

Methods

Electroencephalographic signals were recorded in young and middle-to-old age adults during three tasks performed in two modalities, auditory and visual: a simple reaction task, a Go-NoGo task, and a choice-reaction task. Response-related theta oscillations were computed. The phase-locking value (PLV) was used to analyze the spatial synchronization of primary motor and motor control theta networks.

Results

Performance was overall preserved in older adults. Independently of the task, aging was associated with reorganized connectivity of the contra-lateral primary motor cortex. In young adults, it was synchronized with motor control regions (intra-hemispheric premotor/frontal and medial frontal). In older adults, it was only synchronized with intra-hemispheric sensorimotor regions.

Conclusions

Motor theta networks of older adults manifest a functional decoupling between the response-generating motor cortex and motor control regions, which was not modulated by task variables. The overall preserved performance in older adults suggests that the increased connectivity within the sensorimotor network is associated with an excessive reliance on sensorimotor feedback during movement execution compensating for a deficient cognitive regulation of motor regions during sensorimotor reactions.

Highlights

The connectivity of motor theta networks is modulated by sensory and cognitive variables in sensorimotor tasks.

Motor theta oscillations of young adults are synchronized between the primary motor cortex and cognitive control regions.

In contrast, motor theta networks of older adults are decoupled from motor control regions during sensorimotor reactions.
Resting EEG Periodic and Aperiodic Components Predict Cognitive Decline Over 10 Years
Authors: Finley Anna J. , Angus Douglas J. , Knight Erik , van Reekum Carien M. , Lachman Margie E. , Davidson Richard J. , Schaefer Stacey M.
Published: July 2023

Measures of intrinsic brain function at rest show promise as predictors of cognitive decline in humans, including EEG metrics such as individual alpha peak frequency (IAPF) and the aperiodic exponent, reflecting the strongest frequency of alpha oscillations and the relative balance of excitatory:inhibitory neural activity, respectively. Both IAPF and the aperiodic exponent decrease with age and have been associated with worse executive function and working memory. However, few studies have jointly examined their associations with cognitive function, and none have examined their association with longitudinal cognitive decline rather than cross-sectional impairment. In a preregistered secondary analysis of data from the longitudinal Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, we tested whether IAPF and aperiodic exponent measured at rest predict cognitive function (N= 235; age at EEG recordingM= 55.10, SD = 10.71) over 10 years. The IAPF and the aperiodic exponent interacted to predict decline in overall cognitive ability, even after controlling for age, sex, education, and lag between data collection timepoints. Post-hoc tests showed that “mismatched” IAPF and aperiodic exponents (e.g., higher exponent with lower IAPF) predicted greater cognitive decline compared to “matching” IAPF and aperiodic exponents (e.g., higher exponent with higher IAPF; lower IAPF with lower aperiodic exponent). These effects were largely driven by measures of executive function. Our findings provide the first evidence that IAPF and the aperiodic exponent are joint predictors of cognitive decline from midlife into old age and thus may offer a useful clinical tool for predicting cognitive risk in aging.

Significance Statement

Measures of intrinsic brain function at rest assessed noninvasively from the scalp using electroencephalography (EEG) show promise as predictors of cognitive decline in humans. Using data from 235 participants from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) longitudinal study, we found two resting EEG markers (individual peak alpha frequency and aperiodic exponent) interacted to predict cognitive decline over a span of 10 years. Follow-up analyses revealed that “mismatched” markers (i.e., high in one and low in the other) predicted greater cognitive decline compared to “matching” markers. Because of the low cost and ease of collecting EEG data at rest, the current research provides evidence for possible scalable clinical applications for identifying individuals at risk for accelerated cognitive decline.
Learning generalizable visuomotor mappings for de novoskills
Authors: Velázquez-Vargas Carlos A. , Daw Nathaniel D. , Taylor Jordan A.
Published: July 2023

A fundamental feature of the human brain is its capacity to learn novel motor skills. This capacity requires the formation of vastly different visuomotor mappings. In this work, we ask how these associations are formedde novo, hypothesizing that under specific training regimes generalizable mappings are more readily formed, while in others, local state-actions associations are favored. To test this, we studied learning in a simple navigation task where participants attempted to move a cursor between various start-target locations by pressing three keyboard keys. Importantly, the mapping between the keys and the direction of cursor movement was unknown to the participants. Experiments 1 and 2 show that participants who were trained to move between multiple start-target pairs had significantly greater generalization than participants trained to move between a single pair. Whereas Experiment 1 found significant generalization when start-targets were distal, Experiment 2 found similar generalization for proximal targets, which suggests that generalization differences are due to knowledge of the visuomotor mapping itself and not simply due to planning. To gain insight into the potential computational mechanisms underlying this capacity, we explored how a visuomotor mapping could be formed through a set of models that afforded construction of a generalizable mappings (model-based), local state-action associations (model-free), or a hybrid of both. Our modeling work suggested that without continued variability between start-target pairs during training, model-based processes eventually gave way to model-free processes. In Experiment 3, we sought to further test this shift in learning processes by exposing participants to initially high variability before settling into a condition of no variability over a long-period of training. We found that generalization performance remained intact after a prolonged period of no variability suggesting that the formation of visuomotor mappings might occur at an early stage of learning. Finally, in Experiment 4 we show that adding stochasticity in the mapping can also promote model-based learning of a visuomotor mapping, suggesting that the learning may unfold implicitly. Overall, these studies shed light on how humans could acquire visuomotor mappings in their lives through exposure to variability in their feedback.
Chronic warming and dry soils limit carbon uptake and growth despite a longer growing season in beech and oak
Authors: Didion-Gency Margaux , Vitasse Yann , Buchmann Nina , Gessler Arthur , Gisler Jonas , Schaub Marcus , Grossiord Charlotte
Published: July 2023

Progressively warmer and drier conditions impact tree phenology and carbon cycling with large consequences for forest carbon balance. However, it remains unclear how individual impacts of warming and drier soils differ from their combined one and how species interactions modulate tree responses. Using mesocosms, we assessed the multi-year impact of continuous air warming and lower soil moisture acting alone or combined on phenology, leaf-level photosynthesis, non-structural carbohydrate concentrations, and aboveground growth of young European beech and Downy oak trees. We further tested how species interactions (monoculturesvs. mixtures) modulated these effects. Warming prolonged the growing season of both species but reduced growth for oak. In contrast, lower moisture did not impact phenology but reduced trees’ assimilation and growth for both species. Combined impacts of warming and drier soils did not differ from single ones. Performances of both species in the mixtures were enhanced compared to the monocultures under extreme conditions. Our work revealed that higher temperature and lower soil moisture have contrasting impacts on phenologyvs. leaf-level assimilation and growth, with the former being driven by temperature and the latter by moisture. Furthermore, we show a compensation of the negative impacts of extreme events by tree species interactions.
Alternative TSS use is widespread inCryptococcusfungi in response to environmental cues and regulated genome-wide by the transcription factor Tur1
Authors: Vi Dang Thi Tuong , Maufrais Corinne , Colin Jessie , Moyrand Frédérique , Mouyna Isabelle , Coppee Jean-Yves , Onyishi Chinaemerem U. , Lipecka Joanna , Guerrera Ida Chiara , May Robin C. , Janbon Guilhem
Published: July 2023

Alternative transcription start site (TSS) usage regulation has been identified as a major means of gene expression regulation in metazoans. However, in fungi, its impact remains elusive as its study has thus far been restricted to model yeasts. Here, we first re-analysed TSS-seq data to define genuine TSS clusters in two species of pathogenicCryptococcus. We identified two types of TSS clusters associated with specific DNA sequence motifs. Our analysis also revealed that alternative TSS usage regulation in response to environmental cues is widespread inCryptococcus, altering gene expression and protein targeting. Importantly, we performed a forward genetic screen to identify a unique transcription factor (TF) named Tur1, which regulates alternative TSS (altTSS) usage genome-wide when cells switch from exponential phase to stationary phase. ChiP-Seq and DamID-Seq analyses suggest that at some loci the role of Tur1 might be direct. Tur1 has been previously shown to be essential for virulence inC. neoformans. We demonstrated here that atur1Δ mutant strain is more sensitive to superoxide stress and phagocytosed more efficiently by macrophages than the wild-type (WT) strain.
Metaplasticity of cortical glutamatergic LTP by diurnal intracellular chloride dynamics
Authors: Alfonsa Hannah , Vyazovskiy Vladyslav V. , Akerman Colin J.
Published: July 2023

Neural plasticity varies depending on the time of day and preceding sleep-wake history. It is unclear however, how diurnal changes in cellular physiology modulate a neuron’s propensity to exhibit synaptic plasticity. Recently it has been shown that cortical pyramidal neurons exhibit diurnal changes in their transmembrane chloride gradients, which shift the equilibrium potential for GABAA receptors (EGABAA). Here we demonstrate that diurnal EGABAA affects membrane potential dynamics and glutamatergic long-term potentiation (LTP) elicited by high-frequency spiking activity in pyramidal neurons of mouse cortex. More depolarized EGABAA values associated with the active period facilitate LTP induction by promoting residual depolarization during synaptically-evoked spiking. Diurnal differences in LTP can be reversed by switching the EGABAA-dependent effects on membrane potential dynamics, either by direct current injection or pharmacologically altering EGABAA. These findings identify EGABAA as a metaplastic regulator of glutamatergic synaptic potentiation, which has implications for understanding synaptic plasticity during waking and sleep.
Age and Task Modulate Olfactory Sensitivity in the Florida Carpenter AntCamponotus floridanus
Authors: Ferguson S.T. , Bakis I. , Edwards N.D. , Zwiebel L.J.
Published: July 2023

Age-related changes in behavior and sensory perception have been observed in a wide variety of animal species. In ants and other eusocial insects, workers often progress through an ordered sequence of olfactory-driven behavioral tasks. Notably, these behaviors are plastic, and workers adapt and rapidly switch tasks in response to changing environmental conditions. In the Florida carpenter ant, smaller minors typically perform most of the work needed to maintain the colony while the larger majors are specialized for nest defense and rarely engage in these routine tasks. Here, we investigate the effects of age and task group on olfactory responses to a series of odorant blends in minor and major worker castes. Consistent with their respective roles within the colony, we observed significant age-associated shifts in the olfactory responses of minors as they transitioned between behavioral states, whereas the responses of majors remained consistently low regardless of age. Furthermore, we identified a unitary compound, 3-methylindole, which elicited significantly higher responses and behavioral aversion in minor nurses than in similarly aged foragers suggesting that this compound may play an important role in brood care. Taken together, our results suggest that age- and task-associated shifts in olfactory physiology may play a critical role in the social organization of ant colonies.

Simple Summary

Florida carpenter ants (Camponotus floridanus) live in colonies comprised of thousands of workers. The smallest workers, known as minors, engage in routine tasks such as nursing and foraging while the largest workers, known as majors, are thought to be soldiers specialized for defending the nest. How ant colonies allocate their workforce to address the dynamic and ever-changing needs of the colonies remains an open question in the field, but current evidence suggests that ant social behavior likely results from a combination of genetic/epigenetic, physiological, and systems-level processes. Here, we extend these studies by investigating the role of olfactory sensitivity in regulating ant behavior. Minor workers exhibited significant shifts in olfactory sensitivity and odor coding as they aged and switched tasks. The olfactory sensitivity of majors, however, remained relatively stable as they aged. From these studies, we also identified a single compound, 3-methylindole, which elicited significantly higher olfactory responses and aversive behavior in nurses compared to foragers, suggesting that this chemical may have a role in brood care. Overall, these studies support the hypothesis that changes in olfactory sensitivity play an important role in regulating social behavior in ants.
A spatial threshold for astrocyte calcium surge
Authors: Lines Justin , Baraibar Andres , Nanclares Carmen , Martín Eduardo D. , Aguilar Juan , Kofuji Paulo , Navarrete Marta , Araque Alfonso
Published: July 2023

Astrocytes are active cells involved in brain function through the bidirectional communication with neurons, in which the astrocyte calcium signal plays a crucial role. Synaptically-evoked calcium increases can be localized to independent subcellular domains or expand to the entire cell, i.e., calcium surge. In turn, astrocytes may regulate individual synapses by calcium-dependent release of gliotransmitters. Because a single astrocyte may contact ∼100,000 synapses, the control of the intracellular calcium signal propagation may have relevant consequences on brain function by regulating the spatial range of astrocyte neuromodulation of synapses. Yet, the properties governing the spatial dynamics of the astrocyte calcium signal remains poorly defined. Imaging subcellular responses of cortical astrocytes to sensory stimulation in mice, we show that sensory-evoked astrocyte calcium responses originated and remained localized in domains of the astrocytic arborization, but eventually propagated to the entire cell if a spatial threshold of >23% of the arborization being activated was surpassed. Using transgenicIP3R2-/-mice, we found that type-2 IP3receptors were necessary for the generation of the astrocyte calcium surge. We finally show using in situ electrophysiological recordings that the spatial threshold of the astrocyte calcium signal consequently determined the gliotransmitter release. Present results reveal a fundamental property of astrocyte calcium physiology, i.e., a spatial threshold for the astrocyte intracellular calcium signal propagation, which depends on astrocyte intrinsic properties and governs the astrocyte integration of local synaptic activity and the subsequent neuromodulation.

One-Sentence Summary

There is a spatial threshold for the astrocyte intracellular calcium signal propagation that is determined by astrocyte intrinsic properties and controls gliotransmission.
A simple mechanism for epigenetic inheritance of silent chromatin
Authors: Yuan Andy H. , Moazed Danesh
Published: July 2023

Mechanisms enabling genetically identical cells to differentially regulate gene expression are complex and central to organismal development and evolution. While gene silencing pathways involving sequence-specific recruitment of histone-modifying enzymes are prevalent in nature, examples of sequence-independent heritable gene silencing are scarce. Studies ofSchizosaccharomyces pombeindicate that sequence-independent propagation of heterochromatin can occur but requires numerous multisubunit protein complexes and their various activities. Such complexity has precluded a coherent articulation of the minimal requirements for heritable gene silencing by conventional approaches. Here, we take an unconventional approach to defining these requirements by engineering sequence-independent silent chromatin inheritance inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. The memory-conferring mechanism is remarkably simple and requires only two proteins, one that recognizes histone H3 methylation and deacetylates histone H4, and another that recognizes unmodified H4 and catalyzes H3 methylation. These bilingual “read-write” proteins form an interdependent positive feedback loop capable of transmitting sequence-independent silent information over multiple generations.
A neuronal substrate for translating nutrient state and resource density estimations into foraging decisions
Authors: Goldschmidt Dennis , Tastekin Ibrahim , Münch Daniel , Park Jin-Yong , Haberkern Hannah , Serra Lúcia , Baltazar Célia , Jayaraman Vivek , Rubin Gerald M. , Ribeiro Carlos
Published: July 2023

Foraging animals must balance the costs of exploring their surroundings with the potential benefits of finding nutritional resources. Each time an animal encounters a food source it must decide whether to initiate feeding or continue searching for potentially better options. Experimental evidence and patch foraging models predict that this decision depends on both nutritional state and the density of available resources in the environment. How the brain integrates such internal and external states to adapt the so-called exploration-exploitation trade-off remains poorly understood. We use video-based tracking to show thatDrosophilaregulates the decision to engage with food patches based on nutritional state and travel time between food patches, the latter being a measure of food patch density in the environment. To uncover the neuronal basis of this decision process, we performed a neurogenetic silencing screen of more than 400 genetic driver lines with sparse expression patterns in the fly brain. We identified a population of neurons in the central complex that acts as a key regulator of the decision to engage with a food patch. We show that manipulating the activity of these neurons alters the probability to engage, that their activity is modulated by the protein state of the animal, and that silencing these neurons perturbs the ability of the animal to adjust foraging decisions to the fly’s travel time between food patches. Taken together, our results reveal a neuronal substrate that integrates nutritional state and patch density information to control a specific foraging decision, and therefore provide an important step towards a mechanistic explanation of the cognitive computations that resolve complex cost-benefit trade-offs.
Prevention of tau accumulation through inhibition of hnRNP R-dependent axonalMaptmRNA localization
Authors: Zare Abdolhossein , Salehi Saeede , Briese Michael , Sendtner Michael
Published: July 2023

Deposition of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau in the brain is a pathological hallmark and closely correlates with onset and course of Alzheimeŕs disease. While tau reduction is being pursued as therapeutic strategy, prolonged lowering of total tau might lead to adverse effects, necessitating the development of more targeted approaches. We report that the RNA-binding protein hnRNP R facilitates the axonal localization of theMaptmRNA encoding tau. Depletion of hnRNP R reduces tau in axons but not neuronal cell bodies. Brains of Alzheimer’s disease mice deficient for hnRNP R contain less tau tangles and amyloid-β plaques. Neurons treated with blocking antisense oligonucleotides to mask hnRNP R binding sites ofMaptmRNA show reduced axonal tau levels, similar to hnRNP R-deficient neurons. Lowering of tau levels selectively in axons, a major subcellular site of tangle formation and spreading, thus represents a novel therapeutic perspective for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
An integrated single-cell RNA-seq atlas of the mouse hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus links transcriptional and functional types
Authors: Berkhout J.B. , Poormoghadam D. , Yi C. , Kalsbeek A. , Meijer O.C. , Mahfouz A.
Published: July 2023

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is a highly complex brain region that is crucial for homeostatic regulation through neuroendocrine signalling, outflow of the autonomic nervous system, and projections to other brain areas. The past years, single-cell datasets of the hypothalamus have contributed immensely to the current understanding of the diverse hypothalamic cellular composition. While the PVN has been adequately classified functionally, its molecular classification is currently still insufficient.

To address this, we created a detailed atlas of PVN transcriptional cell types by integrating various PVN single-cell datasets into a recently published hypothalamus single-cell transcriptome atlas. Furthermore, we functionally profiled transcriptional cell types, based on relevant literature, existing retrograde tracing data and existing single-cell data of a PVN-projection target region.

In our PVN atlas dataset, we identify the well-known different neuropeptide types, each composed of multiple novel subtypes. We identifyAvp-Tac1, Avp-Th, Oxt-Foxp1, Crh-Nr3c1andTrh-Nfibas the most important neuroendocrine subtypes based on markers described in literature. To characterize the pre-autonomic functional population, we integrated a single-cell retrograde tracing study of spinally-projecting pre-autonomic neurons into our PVN atlas. We identify these (pre-sympathetic) neurons to co-cluster with theAdarb2+clusters in our dataset. Finally, we identify expression of receptors forCrh, Oxt, Penk, Sst, andTrhin the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, a key region that pre-parasympathetic PVN neurons project to.

Concluding, our study present a detailed overview of the transcriptional cell types of the murine PVN, and provides a first attempt to resolve functionality for the identified populations.
Evidence of an optimal error rate for motor skill learning
Authors: Al-Fawakhiri Naser , Kayani Sarosh , McDougle Samuel D.
Published: July 2023

When acquiring a motor skill, learners must practice the skill at a difficulty that is challenging but still manageable in order to gradually improve their performance. In other words, during training the learner must experience success as well as failure. Does there exist an optimal proportion of successes and failures to promote the fastest improvements in skill? Here, we build on a recent theoretical framework for optimal machine learning, extending it to the learning of motor skills. We then designed a custom task whose difficulty dynamically changed along with subjects’ performance, constraining the error rate during training. In a large behavioral dataset, we observe evidence that learning is greatest at around a ∼30% error rate, matching our theoretical predictions.

Author Summary

Practicing a motor skill involves successfully performing intended movements and learning from mistakes. Is there an optimal proportion of mistakes during training that leads to fast and efficient skill learning? Inspired by recent theoretical work on principles of machine learning, we mathematically derive an “optimal error rate” for a simple motor skill and then experimentally validate our predictions. We find both theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting that ∼30% is the optimal error rate for motor learning, which has practical implications both for rehabilitation and for sports coaching and training.
CrysFieldExplorer: rapid optimization of the crystal field Hamiltonian
Authors: Ma Qianli , Bai Xiaojian , Feng Erxi , Zhang Guannan , Cao Huibo
Published: July 2023

A new approach to the fast optimization of crystal electric field (CEF) parameters to fit experimental data is presented. This approach is implemented in a lightweight Python-based program, CrysFieldExplorer. The main novelty of the method is the development of a unique loss function, referred to as the spectrum characteristic loss (L
Spectrum), which is based on the characteristic polynomial of the Hamiltonian matrix. Particle swarm optimization and a covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy are used to find the minimum of the total loss function. It is demonstrated that CrysFieldExplorer can perform direct fitting of CEF parameters to any experimental data such as a neutron spectrum, susceptibility or magnetization measurements etc. CrysFieldExplorer can handle a large number of non-zero CEF parameters and reveal multiple local and global minimum solutions. Crystal field theory, the loss function, and the implementation and limitations of the program are discussed within the context of two examples.
Barrier identification, analysis and solutions of blockchain adoption in construction: a fuzzy DEMATEL and TOE integrated method
Authors: Wu Haitao , Zhong Wenyan , Zhong Botao , Li Heng , Guo Jiadong , Mehmood Imran
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Blockchain has the potential to facilitate a paradigm shift in the construction industry toward effectiveness, transparency and collaboration. However, there is currently a paucity of empirical evidence from real-world construction projects. This study aims to systematically review blockchain adoption barriers, investigate critical ones and propose corresponding solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated method was adopted in this research based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) theory and fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach. Blockchain adoption barriers were first presented using the TOE framework. Then, key barriers were identified based on the importance and causality analysis in the fuzzy DEMATEL. Several suggestions were proposed to facilitate blockchain diffusion from the standpoints of the government, the industry and construction organizations.

Findings

The results highlighted seven key barriers. Specifically, the construction industry is more concerned with environmental barriers, such as policy uncertainties (E2) and technology maturity (E3), while most technical barriers are causal factors, such as “interoperability (T4)” and “smart contracts' security (T2)”.

Practical implications

This study contributes to a better understanding of the problem associated with blockchain implementation and provides policymakers with recommendations.

Originality/value

Identified TOE barriers lay the groundwork for theoretical observations to comprehend the blockchain adoption problem. This research also applied the fuzzy method to blockchain adoption barrier analysis, which can reduce the uncertainty and subjectivity in expert evaluations with a small sample.
Factors influencing the effectiveness of graduate architects as construction contract administrators (CCA)
Authors: Tiew Si Yee , Aman Hashim Helena , Zolkafli @ Zulkifly Umi Kalsum
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Various studies have been conducted to explore the factors that are important to be considered for the effectiveness of construction contract administration (CCA) but lack in the context of graduate architects. The purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing the effectiveness of graduate architects in CCA and possible methods to enhance their work efficiency through developing the relevant skills in a changing construction environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper identified the factors that influence the effectiveness of graduate architects in CCA through the quantitative methods. General skill elements that are perceived as essential for the effectiveness of CCA had been investigated through a survey of graduate architects in the construction industry. One hundred and twenty-seven completed questionnaires returned were analyzed and tested using descriptive analysis and relative important index (RII).

Findings

The result from the study showed that the factors influencing the effectiveness of graduate architects as CCA are building construction skills, design management skills, project management skills, soft skills and dispute resolution skills.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study can be utilized for developing models/tools in the future that would improve the work performance of graduate architects in CCA. Educators may utilize this study to improve their syllabus to cater to the market's demand and facilitate students' entry into the labor market.
Global fintech trends and their impact on international business: a review
Authors: Cumming Douglas , Johan Sofia , Reardon Robert
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an in-depth examination of the emergent state of financial technology (fintech), particularly emphasizing capital-raising innovations and their implications for international business.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the highly influential articles published in fintech, the authors identify the advantages and disadvantages of each significant fintech in the credit, deposit and capital-raising services sector. The authors assess the adoption of these services and the international firm-level implications of their use.

Findings

This study highlights fintech’s role in fostering entrepreneurial internationalization, with a particular focus on the impact of crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending and online banking. A thorough analysis of Google Scholar citations uncovers research gaps and unveils emerging trends bridging international business and fintech. Furthermore, the examination of regulatory efforts presents evidence of a robust positive relationship between global e-commerce legislation and fintech adoption, demonstrating the interconnected nature of these elements in the world of international business.

Research limitations/implications

Fintech research in international business has only taken off in the last five years. Innovations and regulatory developments are continuously evolving.

Originality/value

This study emphasizes the significance of fintech in international business research, addressing its implications on regulatory environments, entrepreneurial internationalization and multinational corporations’ global strategies. By investigating the synergies and applications of various fintech types, the research provides valuable insights for scholars and practitioners, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of international finance.
To be or not to be digital? A bibliometric analysis of adoption of eHealth services
Authors: Cobelli Nicola , Blasioli Emanuele
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to introduce new tools to develop a more precise and focused bibliometric analysis on the field of digitalization in healthcare management. Furthermore, this study aims to provide an overview of the existing resources in healthcare management and education and other developing interdisciplinary fields.

Design/methodology/approach

This work uses bibliometric analysis to conduct a comprehensive review to map the use of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2) research models in healthcare academic studies. Bibliometric studies are considered an important tool to evaluate research studies and to gain a comprehensive view of the state of the art.

Findings

Although UTAUT dates to 2003, our bibliometric analysis reveals that only since 2016 has the model, together with UTAUT2 (2012), had relevant application in the literature. Nonetheless, studies have shown that UTAUT and UTAUT2 are particularly suitable for understanding the reasons that underlie the adoption and non-adoption choices of eHealth services. Further, this study highlights the lack of a multidisciplinary approach in the implementation of eHealth services. Equally significant is the fact that many studies have focused on the acceptance and the adoption of eHealth services by end users, whereas very few have focused on the level of acceptance of healthcare professionals.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to conduct a bibliometric analysis of technology acceptance and adoption by using advanced tools that were conceived specifically for this purpose. In addition, the examination was not limited to a certain era and aimed to give a worldwide overview of eHealth service acceptance and adoption.
Identification and functional analysis of CG3526 in spermatogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Hu Qihao , Xiao Yanhong , Wei Runnan , Tang Ting , Wen Liang , Lu Yuzhen , Yu Xiao‐Qiang
Published: July 2023

Spermatogenesis is a critical part of reproduction in insects; however, its molecular mechanism is still largely unknown. In this study, we identified a testis‐specific gene CG3526 in Drosophila melanogaster. Bioinformatics analysis showed that CG3526 contains a zinc binding domain and 2 C2H2 type zinc fingers, and it is clustered to the vertebrate really interesting new gene (RING) family E3 ubiquitin‐protein ligases. When CG3526 was knocked down by RNA interference (RNAi), the testis became much smaller in size, and the apical tip exhibited a sharp and thin end instead of the blunt and round shape in the control testis. More importantly, compared to the control flies, only a few mature sperm were present in the seminal vesicle of C587‐Gal4 > CG3526 RNAi flies. Immunofluorescence staining of the testis from CG3526 RNAi flies showed that the homeostasis of testis stem cell niche was disrupted, cell distribution in the apical tip was scattered, and the process of spermatogenesis was not completed. Furthermore, we found that the phenotype of CG3526 RNAi flies’ testis was similar to that of testis of Stat92E RNAi flies, the expression level of CG3526 was significantly downregulated in the Stat92EF06346 mutant flies, and the promoter activity of CG3526 was upregulated by STAT92E. Taken together, our results indicated that CG3526 is a downstream effector gene in the JAK‐STAT signaling pathway that plays a key role in the spermatogenesis of Drosophila.
Masculinizer gene controls sexual differentiation in Hyphantria cunea
Authors: Li Xiaowei , Liu Huihui , Bi Honglun , Wang Yaohui , Xu Jun , Zhang Sufang , Zhang Zhen , Zhang Ze , Huang Yongping
Published: July 2023

The Masculinizer gene, Masc, encodes a lepidopteran‐specific novel CCCH‐type zinc finger protein, which controls sex determination and dosage compensation in Bombyx mori. Considering the potential application of it in pest control, it is necessary to investigate the function of Masc gene in Hyphantria cunea, a globally invasive forest pest. In the present study, we identified and functionally characterized the Masc gene, HcMasc, in H. cunea. Sequence analysis revealed that HcMASC contained the conserved CCCH‐type zinc finger domain, nuclear localization signal, and male determining domain, in which the last was confirmed to be required for its masculinization in BmN cell line. However, expression data showed that unlike male‐biased expression in B. mori, HcMasc gene expresses in main all developmental stages or tissues in both sexes. Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR‐associated protein 9‐based disruption of the common exons 1 and 3 of the HcMasc gene resulted in imbalanced sex ratio and abnormal external genitalia of both sexes. Our results suggest that the HcMasc gene is required for both male and female sexual differentiation and dosage compensation in H. cunea and provide a foundation for developing better strategies to control this pest.
When policy entrepreneurs drift between levels: The creation of the International Renewable Energy Agency
Authors: Mueller Tony
Published: July 2023

This article examines the crucial role of subnational actors in the diffusion of policy change at the international level, illustrated by the creation of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). First, the concept of interlevel mobility, which combines the two‐level game theory and policy entrepreneurship literature, is introduced. Second, the paper explores how subnational actors navigate between the national, international, and transnational levels, exerting influence and placing their preferences on the political agenda. This research contributes to a more robust theoretical understanding of policy entrepreneurship, provides new insights into the origins of IRENA, and offers valuable guidance for policymakers seeking to foster change, by linking policy change at the international level with subnational actors.
The efficacy of performing field surveys during the dry and rainy seasons to estimate species richness and composition of local bat assemblages
Authors: Butolo Maria Julia Muzetti , Breviglieri Crasso Paulo Bosco , da Silva Fernando Rodrigues
Published: July 2023

Here we assessed the efficacy of performing field surveys during both dry and rainy seasons to estimate species richness and composition of phyllostomid bats in 12 sites of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Our goal was to elucidate two opposite scenarios. If bat species compositions differ between the dry and rainy seasons, then field surveys in both seasons will be considered complementary for estimating local bat assemblages. In contrast, if bat species compositions in the dry season are a nested subset of the species present in the rainy season, then field surveys in both seasons will be considered redundant. Our results showed that field surveys performed only during the rainy season exhibited the same efficacy in recording bat species as field surveys considering both dry and rainy seasons combined. Consequently, the rare species sampled in the rainy season contributed to the uniqueness of communities in terms of species composition. Considering that time, funding, and the number of field personnel available for work are important factors when determining the sampling effort in highly biodiverse regions like the tropics, our results can be useful in establishing protocols for research projects with limited resources aiming to create a comprehensive list of species.