bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain transplantation of genetically corrected Sanfilippo B Neural Stem Cells induces partial cross-correction of the disease
Authors: Pearse Yewande , Clarke Don , Kan Shih-hsin , Le Steven Q. , Sanghez Valentina , Luzzi Anna , Pham Ivy , Nih Lina R. , Cooper Jonathan D. , Dickson Patricia I. , Iacovino Michelina
Published: July 2022

Sanfilippo syndrome type B (Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB or MPS IIIB) is a recessive genetic disorder that severely affects the brain due to a deficiency in the enzyme α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU), leading to intralysosomal accumulation of partially degraded heparan sulfate. There are no effective treatments for this disorder. In this project, we carried out an ex vivo lentiviral correction of neural stem cells derived from Naglu-/- mice (iNSCs) using a modified enzyme in which the NAGLU is fused to an Insulin-like Growth Factor II receptor (IGFIIR) binding peptide in order to improve the cross-correction efficiency. After brain transplantation of these corrected iNSCs into Naglu-/- mice and long-term evaluation of the cross-correction, we successfully detected NAGLU-IGFII activity in all transplanted animals, as well as decreased lysosomal accumulation and reduced astrocytic and microglial activation throughout the transplanted brain. In addition, we identified a novel neuropathological phenotype in untreated brains characterized by decreased levels of MAP2 protein and accumulation of synaptophysin-positive aggregates in the brain. Following transplantation, this Naglu-/- -specific phenotype was altered with restored levels of MAP2 expression and significantly reduced formation of synaptophysin-positive aggregates. Our results demonstrate the feasibility and long-term benefit of genetically corrected iNSCs transplantation in the Sanfilippo B brain and effective cross-correction of Sanfilippo-associated pathology in Naglu-/- mice. Our findings suggest that genetically engineered iNSCs can be used to effectively deliver the missing enzyme to the brain and treat Sanfilippo type B-associated neuropathology.
NFYA promotes the anti-tumor effects of gluconeogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma through the regulation of PCK1 expression
Authors: Tsujimoto Goki , Ito Rin , Yoshikawa Kei , Ueki Chihiro , Okada Nobuhiro
Published: July 2022

Reprogramming of glucose metabolism occurs in many human tumor types, and one of these, gluconeogenesis, is known to exhibit anti-tumor effects in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The transcription factor NFYA regulates gluconeogenesis in the normal liver tissue, but the function of the NFYA-gluconeogenesis axis in cancer and the functional differences of NFYA splicing variants in the regulation of gluconeogenesis is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that NFYAv2, the short-form variant, upregulates the transcription of a gluconeogenic enzyme PCK1. We further reveal that its regulation induces high ROS levels and energy crisis in HCC and promotes cell death. These indicate that the NFYAv2-gluconeogenesis axis has enhanced anti-tumor effects in HCC, suggesting that the axis may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC. Furthermore, Nfyav1-deficient mice, spontaneously overexpressing Nfyav2, had no increasing gluconeogenesis in the liver. Taken together, our results reveal NFYAv2-gluconeogenesis axis has anti-tumor effects and the potential for NFYAv2 to be a safer therapeutic target for HCC.
DNA methylation is a widespread mechanism of light-induced circadian clock period plasticity
Authors: Kim Suil , McMahon Douglas G.
Published: July 2022

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is a principal light-responsive circadian clock that adjusts circadian rhythms in mammalian physiology and behavior to changes in external light signals. Although mechanisms underlying how light acutely resets the timing of circadian rhythms have been characterized, it remains elusive how light signals induce lasting changes in circadian period, so-called period after-effects. Here we have found that the period after-effects on circadian behavior of changing photoperiods are blocked by application of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors directed to the SCN. At the level of single light pulses that act as clock-resetting stimulations, pharmacologically inhibiting DNA methylation in the SCN significantly attenuates period after-effects following acute phase shifts in behavioral rhythms in vivo, and blocks period after-effects on clock gene rhythms in the isolated ex vivo SCN. Acute clock resetting shifts themselves, however, do not appear to require DNA methylation at the SCN and behavioral levels, in contrast to subsequent period plasticity. Our results indicate that DNA methylation in the SCN mediates light-induced period after-effects in response to photoperiods, and single light pulses, and together with previous studies showing that DNA methylation in the SCN is essential for period after-effects of non-24hr light cycles (T-cycles), suggest that DNA methylation in the SCN is a widespread mechanism of light-induced circadian period plasticity.
Fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8) and core fucose expression in oxidative stress response
Authors: Kyunai Yuki M. , Sakamoto Mika , Koreishi Mayuko , Yoshio Tsujino , Satoh Ayano
Published: July 2022

GlycoMaple is a new tool to predict glycan structures based on the expression levels of 950 genes encoding glycan biosynthesis-related enzymes and proteins using RNA-seq data. The antioxidant response, protecting cells from oxidative stress, has been focused on because its activation may relieve pathological conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases. Genes involved in the antioxidant response are defined within the GO:0006979 category, including 441 human genes. Fifteen genes overlap between the glycan biosynthesis-related genes defined by GlycoMaple and the antioxidative response genes defined by GO:0006979, one of which is FUT8. 5-Hydroxy-4-phenyl-butenolide (5H4PB) extracted from Chinese aromatic vinegar induces the expression of a series of antioxidant response genes that protect cells from oxidative stress via activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2–antioxidative response element pathway. Here, we show that FUT8 is upregulated in both our RNA-seq data set of 5H4PB-treated cells and publicly available RNA-seq data set of cells treated with another antioxidant, sulforaphane. Applying our RNA-seq data set to GlycoMaple led to a prediction of an increase in the core fucose of N-glycan that was confirmed by flow cytometry using a fucose-binding lectin. These results suggest that FUT8 and core fucose expression may increase upon the antioxidant response.
Earl Grey: a fully automated user-friendly transposable element annotation and analysis pipeline
Authors: Baril Tobias , Galbraith James , Hayward Alex
Published: July 2022

Transposable elements (TEs) are major components of eukaryotic genomes and are implicated in a range of evolutionary processes. Yet, TE annotation and characterisation remains challenging, particularly for non-specialists, since existing pipelines are typically complicated to install, run, and extract data from. Current methods of automated TE annotation are also subject to issues that reduce overall quality, particularly: (i) fragmented and overlapping TE annotations, leading to erroneous estimates of TE count and coverage; (ii) repeat models represented by short sections of total TE length, with poor capture of 5’ and 3’ ends. To address these issues, we present Earl Grey, a fully automated TE annotation pipeline designed for user-friendly curation and annotation of TEs in eukaryotic genome assemblies. Using nine simulated genomes and an annotation ofDrosophila melanogaster, we show that Earl Grey outperforms current widely-used TE annotation methodologies in ameliorating the issues mentioned above, whilst scoring highly in benchmarking for TE annotation and classification, and being robust across genomic contexts. Earl Grey provides a comprehensive and fully automated TE annotation toolkit that provides researchers with paper-ready summary figures and outputs in standard formats compatible with other bioinformatics tools. Earl Grey has a modular format, with great scope for the inclusion of additional modules focussed on further quality control and tailored analyses in future releases.
Early phyllosphere microbial associations impact plant reproductive success
Authors: Mehlferber Elijah C. , McCue Kent F. , Debray Reena , Kaulbach Griffin , Ferrel Jon E. , Khanna Rajnish , Koskella Britt
Published: July 2022

The above-ground plant microbiome (the phyllosphere) is increasingly recognized as an important component of plant health. We hypothesized that phyllosphere interactions may be disrupted in a greenhouse setting, where microbial dispersal is limited, and that adding a microbial amendment might yield important benefits to the host plant.

Using a newly developed synthetic phyllosphere microbiome for Tomato, we tested this hypothesis across multiple trials by manipulating microbial colonization of leaves and measuring subsequent plant growth and reproductive success, comparing results from plants grown in both greenhouse and field settings.

We confirmed that greenhouse-grown plants have a depauperate phyllosphere microbiome and that the addition of the synthetic microbial community was responsible for a clear and repeatable increase in fruit production in this setting. We further show that this effect is synergistic with the addition of micronutrient-based soil amendments, with important implications for agriculture.

These results suggest that greenhouse environments have poor phyllosphere microbiome establishment, with negative impacts on the plant. The results also implicate the phyllosphere microbiome as a key component of plant fitness, emphasizing that these communities have a clear role to play in the ecology and evolution of plant communities.
Acetaminophen production in the edible, filamentous cyanobacteriumArthrospira platensis
Authors: Hilzinger Jacob M. , Friedline Skyler , Sivanandan Divya , Cheng Ya-Fang , Yamazaki Shunsuke , Clark Douglas S. , Skerker Jeffrey M. , Arkin Adam P.
Published: July 2022

Spirulina is the common name for the edible, non-heterocystous, filamentous cyanobacteriumArthrospira platensisthat is grown industrially as a food supplement, animal feedstock, and pigment source. Although there are many applications for engineering this organism1–3, until recently no genetic tools or reproducible transformation methods have been published. While recent work showed the production of a diversity of proteins inA. platensis, including single domain antibodies for oral delivery, there remains a need for a modular, characterized genetic toolkit4. Here, we establish and characterize a genetic toolkit and reproducible method for the transformation ofA. platensisand engineer this bacterium to produce acetaminophen as proof-of-concept for small molecule production in an edible host from CO2, H2O, and light. This work opensA. platensisto the wider scientific community for future engineering as a functional food for nutritional enhancement, modification of organoleptic traits, and production of pharmaceuticals for oral delivery.
The two Gtsf paralogs in silkworms orthogonally activate their partner PIWI proteins for target cleavage
Authors: Izumi Natsuko , Shoji Keisuke , Kiuchi Takashi , Katsuma Susumu , Tomari Yukihide
Published: July 2022

The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is a protection mechanism against transposons in animal germ cells. Most PIWI proteins possess piRNA-guided endonuclease activity, which is critical for silencing transposons and producing new piRNAs. Gametocyte-specific factor 1 (Gtsf1), an evolutionarily conserved zinc finger protein, promotes catalysis by PIWI proteins. Many animals have multiple Gtsf1 paralogs; however, their respective roles in the piRNA pathway are not fully understood. Here, we dissected the roles of Gtsf1 and its paralog Gtsf1-like (Gtsf1L) in the silkworm piRNA pathway. We found that Gtsf1 and Gtsf1L preferentially bind the two silkworm PIWI paralogs, Siwi and BmAgo3, respectively, and facilitate the endonuclease activity of each PIWI protein. This orthogonal activation effect was further supported by specific reduction of BmAgo3-boundMasculinizerpiRNA and Siwi-boundFeminizerpiRNA, the unique piRNA pair required for silkworm feminization, upon depletion of Gtsf1 and Gtsf1L, respectively. Our results indicate that the two Gtsf paralogs in silkworms activate their respective PIWI partners, thereby facilitating the amplification of piRNAs.
Croton caudatus Geiseler Induces Differentiation of the Acute Myeloid Leukemia cell lines
Authors: Machathoibi Takhellambam Chanu , Singh Lisam Shanjukumar
Published: July 2022

Croton caudatus Geiseler (CCG) is a traditional medicinal plant and it has also been reported as having anticancer activity. However, most of the studies of the anticancer activity of CGG based only on cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties. The present study investigates the anticancer activity of leaf crude extract of CCG on an acute myeloid leukemia cell line, HL60. The results showed that CCG promotes the monocyte macrophage-like morphology of HL60 cells but it does not cause cytotoxicity on HL60.The results also showed that CCG increased the expression of a marker for monocyte/macrophage differentiation, CD11b, and induced arrest of cell cycle at S phase. Further, the results indicate that leaf the crude extract of CCG has a very high ROS activity. The present study is the first report of CCG inducing cell differentiation. The overall results suggest that CCG is a promising agent for differentiation induction chemotherapy (DIC) for leukemia.
Microbiome response in an urban river system is dominated by seasonality over wastewater treatment upgrades
Authors: Kodera Sho M. , Sharma Anukriti , Martino Cameron , Dsouza Melissa , Grippo Mark , Lutz Holly L. , Knight Rob , Gilbert Jack A. , Negri Cristina , Allard Sarah M.
Published: July 2022

Microorganisms such as coliform-forming bacteria are commonly used to assess freshwater quality for drinking and recreational use. However, such organisms do not exist in isolation; they exist within the context of dynamic, interactive microbial communities which vary through space and time. Elucidating spatiotemporal microbial dynamics is imperative for discriminating robust community changes from ephemeral ecological trends, and for improving our overall understanding of the relationship between microbial communities and ecosystem health. We conducted a seven-year (2013-2019) microbial time-series investigation in the Chicago Area Waterways (CAWS): an urban river system which, in 2016, experienced substantial upgrades to disinfection processes at two wastewater reclamation plants (WRPs) that discharge into the CAWS and improved stormwater capture, to improve river water quality and reduce flooding. Using culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches, we compared CAWS microbial ecology before and after the intervention. Examinations of time-resolved beta distances between WRP-adjacent sites showed that community similarity measures were often consistent with the spatial orientation of site locations to one another and to the WRP outfalls. Fecal coliform results suggested that upgrades reduced coliform-associated bacteria in the effluent and the downstream river community. However, examinations of whole community changes through time suggest that the upgrades did little to affect overall riverine community dynamics, which instead were overwhelmingly driven by yearly patterns consistent with seasonality. Such results emphasize the dynamic nature of microbiomes in open environmental systems such as the CAWS, but also suggest that the seasonal oscillations remain consistent even when perturbed.

Importance

This study presents a systematic effort to combine 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing with traditional culture-based methods to evaluate the influence of treatment innovations and systems upgrades on the microbiome of the Chicago Area Waterway System, representing the longest and most comprehensive characterization of the microbiome of an urban waterway yet attempted. We found that the systems upgrades were successful in improving specific water quality measures immediately downstream of wastewater outflows. Additionally, we found that the implementation of the water quality improvement measures to the river system did not disrupt the overall dynamics of the downstream microbial community, which remained heavily influenced by seasonal trends.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of N-acetyl aspartate in first depressive episode and chronic major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Saccaro Luigi F. , Tassone Matteo , Tozzi Francesca , Rutigliano Grazia
Published: July 2022

N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) is a marker of neuronal integrity and metabolism. Deficiency in neuronal plasticity and hypometabolism are implicated in the pathophysiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). To test if cerebral NAA concentrations decrease progressively over the MDD course, we conducted a meta-analysis of Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) studies comparing NAA concentrations in chronic MDD (cMDD) and first episode of depression (FED) to healthy controls. We searched Scopus® and Web of Knowledge □ using search terms related to depression and NAA. Hedges’ g was used as effect size measure, together with heterogeneity analyses, test of moderators and publication bias and quality assessment. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020221050). Sixty-two studies were included and meta-analyzed using a random-effect model for each brain region. NAA concentrations were significantly reduced in cMDD compared to healthy controls within the frontal lobe (n=26, Hedges’ g= -0.330, 95% CI -0.598 to -0.062; p= 0.018), the occipital lobe (n = 4, Hedges’ g= -0.677, 95% CI -1.013 to -0.341; p = 0.007), the thalamus (n= 4, Hedges’ g= -0.673, 95% CI -1.108 to -0.238; p = 0.016) and the frontal (n = 6, Hedges’ g= -0.471, 95% CI -0.891 to -0.052; p= 0.034) and periventricular white matter (n= 3, Hedges’ g= -0.478, 95% CI -0.938 to -0.018; p= 0.047). We highlighted a gap of knowledge regarding NAA levels in FED. Sensitivity analyses indicated that antidepressant treatment may reverse NAA alterations in the frontal lobe. Our findings are in line with previous evidence showing alterations in the aforementioned brain areas in MDD. Future studies should assess NAA alterations in the early stages of the illness and their longitudinal progression, also considering our preliminary results on the modifying effect of antidepressant treatment.
Uncertainty and error in SARS-CoV-2 epidemiological parameters inferred from population-level epidemic models
Authors: Whittaker Dominic G. , Herrera-Reyes Alejandra D. , Hendrix Maurice , Owen Markus R. , Band Leah R. , Mirams Gary R. , Bolton Kirsty J. , Preston Simon P.
Published: July 2022

During the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, epidemic models have been central to policy-making. Public health responses have been shaped by model-based projections and inferences, especially related to the impact of various non-pharmaceutical interventions. Accompanying this has been increased scrutiny over model performance, model assumptions, and the way that uncertainty is incorporated and presented. Here we consider a population-level model, focusing on how distributions representing host infectiousness and the infection-to-death times are modelled, and particularly on the impact of inferred epidemic characteristics if these distributions are misspecified. We introduce an SIR-type model with the infected population structured by ‘infected age’, i.e. the number of days since first being infected, a formulation that enables distributions to be incorporated that are consistent with clinical data. We show that inference based on simpler models without infected age, which implicitly misspecify these distributions, leads to substantial errors in inferred quantities relevant to policy-making, such as the reproduction number and the impact of interventions. We consider uncertainty quantification via a Bayesian approach, implementing this for both synthetic and real data focusing on UK data in the period 15 Feb–14 Jul 2020, and emphasising circumstances where it is misleading to neglect uncertainty.
POT-3 preferentially binds the terminal DNA-repeat on the telomeric G-overhang
Authors: Yu Xupeng , Gray Sean , Ferreira Helder
Published: July 2022

Eukaryotic chromosomes typically end in 3’ telomeric overhangs. The safeguarding of telomeric single-stranded DNA overhangs is carried out by factors related to the Protection of Telomeres 1 (POT1) protein in humans. Of the three POT1-like proteins inC. elegans, POT-3 was the only member thought to not play a role at telomeres. Here, we provide evidence that POT-3 is abona fidetelomere-binding protein. Using a new loss-of-function mutant, we show that the absence of POT-3 causes telomere lengthening and increased levels of telomeric C-circles. We find that POT-3 directly binds the telomeric G-strandin vitroand map its minimal DNA binding site to the six-nucleotide motif, GCTTAG. We further show that the closely related POT-2 protein binds the same motif, but that POT-3 shows higher sequence selectivity. Crucially, in contrast to POT-2, POT-3 prefers binding sites immediately adjacent to the 3’ end of DNA. These differences are significant as genetic analyses reveal thatpot-2andpot-3do not function redundantly with each otherin vivo. Our work highlights the rapid evolution and specialisation of telomere binding proteins and places POT-3 in a unique position to influence activities that control telomere length.
The extracellular matrix protein fibronectin modulates metanephric kidney development
Authors: Skoczynski Kathrin , Kraus Andre , Büttner-Herold Maike , Amann Kerstin , Schiffer Mario , Hermann Kristina , Herrnberger Leonie , Tamm Ernst R. , Buchholz Bjoern
Published: July 2022

Complex interactions of the branching ureteric bud and surrounding mesenchymal cells during metanephric kidney development determine the final number of nephrons. Alterations that result in impaired nephron endowment predispose to arterial hypertension and chronic kidney disease. In the kidney, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are usually regarded as acellular scaffolds or as the common histological end-point of chronic kidney diseases. Only little is known about their physiological role in kidney development. The ECM protein fibronectin is expressed at early time points of kidney growth. Therefore, we were interested in the characterization of its expression and role in kidney development. In mouse, fibronectin was expressed during all stages of kidney development with significant changes over time. At embryonic day (E) 12.0 and E13.5 fibronectin lined the ureteric bud epithelium, which was less pronounced at E16.5 and then switched to a glomerular expression in the postnatal and adult kidneys. Similar results were obtained in human kidneys. Deletion of fibronectin at E13.5 in cultured metanephric mouse kidneys resulted in reduced kidney sizes, impaired branching morphogenesis and decreased glomerulogenesis. In line with these findings, fibronectin deletion led to reduced cell proliferation of the branching epithelial cells. Fibronectin colocalized with alpha8 integrin and fibronectin loss caused a reduction in alpha8 integrin-dependent formation of glial cell line-derived factor and expression of Wnt11, both of which are essentially involved in promoting ureteric bud branching. In conclusion, the ECM protein fibronectin acts as a regulator of metanephric kidney development and is a determinant of nephron number.
A modular dCas9-based recruitment platform for combinatorial epigenome editing
Authors: Swain Tessa , Pflueger Christian , Freytag Saskia , Poppe Daniel , Pflueger Jahnvi , Nguyen Trung , Li Ji Kevin , Lister Ryan
Published: July 2022

CRISPR-dCas9 based targeted epigenome editing tools allow precise manipulation and functional investigation of various genome modifications. However, these tools often display substantial context dependency, with highly variable efficacy between target genes and cell types, potentially due to underlying variation in the chromatin modifications present. While simultaneous recruitment of multiple distinct ‘effector’ chromatin regulators has improved efficacy, these systems typically lack control over which effectors bind and their spatial organisation. To overcome this we have created a new modular combinatorial epigenome editing platform, called SSSavi. This system acts as an interchangeable and reconfigurable docking platform fused to dCas9 to enable simultaneous recruitment of up to four different effectors, allowing precise control and reconfiguration of the effector composition and spatial ordering of their binding. We demonstrate the activity and specificity of the SSSavi system and compare it to existing multi-effector targeting systems, establishing its efficacy. Furthermore, by altering the spatial ordering of effector recruitment, across multiple target genes and cell lines, we demonstrate the importance of effector recruitment order for effective transcriptional regulation. Together, this system offers the capacity to explore effector co-recruitment to specific loci to potentially enhance the manipulation of chromatin contexts previously resistant to targeted epigenomic editing.
Neural activity and theta rhythmicity in the anterior hypothalamic nucleus are involved in regulating social investigation
Authors: Jabarin Renad , Dagash Wael , Netser Shai , Pal Shelly , Paul Blesson K. , Barkai Edi , Wagner Shlomo
Published: July 2022

Social interactions are highly complex, involving both approach and avoidance actions towards specific individuals, dependent on the social context. Currently, the brain regions subserving these behaviors are not fully known. The anterior hypothalamic nucleus (AHN) is a relatively unstudied and poorly defined brain area, known as part of the medial hypothalamic defensive system. Recent studies that examined the role of the AHN in various contexts have yielded contradicting results regarding its contribution to approach, avoidance, and escape behaviors. Yet, none of these studies has directly examined its role in social interactions. Here we explored the role of AHN neurons in regulating approach and avoidance actions towards distinct stimuli during various types of social interactions, using electrophysiological recording of neural activity in the AHN of behaving mice, c-Fos staining, and direct optogenetic stimulation. We found that theta rhythmicity in the AHN was enhanced during affiliative interactions, but decreased during aversive ones. Moreover, spiking activity of AHN neurons was found to be elevated more persistently during investigation of social stimuli, as compared to objects. Notably, AHN neuronal firing was found to be modulated by theta rhythmicity during social interactions. Finally, we found that during social interaction, direct optogenetic stimulation of AHN neurons augmented approach behavior towards stimuli associated with the optogenetic activation. Overall, our results suggest a context-dependent role for AHN neuronal activity in regulating approach behavior during social interactions, and for theta rhythmicity in mediating the valence of the social context.
Acute innate immune activation in silkworm by the human commensal bacterium Cutibacterium acnes
Authors: Matsumoto Yasuhiko , Sato Eri , Sugita Takashi
Published: July 2022

Cutibacterium acnes is a pathogenic bacterium that cause inflammatory diseases of the skin and intervertebral discs. The immune activation induced by C. acnes requires multiple cellular responses in the host. Silkworm, an invertebrate, generates melanin by phenoloxidase upon recognizing bacterial or fungal components. Therefore, the melanization reaction can be used as an indicator of innate immune activation. A silkworm infection model was developed for evaluating the virulence of C. acnes, but a system for evaluating the induction of innate immunity by C. acnes using melanization as an indicator has not yet been established. Here we demonstrated that C. acnes rapidly causes melanization of the silkworm hemolymph within 3 h. On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive bacterium identical to C. acnes, does not cause immediate melanization. Even injection of heat-killed C. acnes cells caused melanization of the silkworm hemolymph. DNase, RNase, and protease treatment of the heat-treated C. acnes cells did not decrease the silkworm hemolymph melanization. Treatment with peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes, such as lysostaphin and lysozyme, however, decreased the induction of melanization by the heat-treated C. acnes cells. These findings suggest that silkworm hemolymph melanization may be a useful indicator to evaluate innate immune activation by C. acnes and that C. acnes peptidoglycans are involved in the induction of innate immunity in silkworms.
Identifying and responding to social media risks: towards an organizational paracrisis communication framework
Authors: Chen Feifei , Holladay Sherry J.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper seeks to advance paracrisis research by clarifying paracrises’ distinct features and developing typologies of paracrises and response strategies with strong external validity.

Design/methodology/approach

A case series study of 143 paracrises systematically selected from various news and trade sources was conducted to build an organizational paracrisis communication framework that connects paracrisis clusters with paracrisis response strategies.

Findings

Results of the study attest to the validity of the paracrisis concept by demonstrating refined paracrisis clusters’ connections with refined paracrisis response strategies.

Research limitations/implications

This study enriches paracrisis research by refining the paracrisis definition, paracrisis clusters and response strategies. Its rigorous descriptions of how organizations address paracrises distinguish paracrisis response strategies from traditional crisis response strategies and generate rich possibilities for future analytic investigations.

Originality/value

As perhaps the first empirical attempt to build a comprehensive framework of organizational paracrisis communication, this descriptive study lays the groundwork for the burgeoning paracrisis communication research.
Utilizing mobile-learning and CAP(E) lesson framework in improving the productive skills of learners in a hybrid environment
Authors: Ironsi Chinaza Solomon , Bensen Bostancı Hanife
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Research advocates for the use of good teaching practices and approaches while integrating technology in digitally enhanced learning. This is on the premise that previous studies on mobile learning have neglected this aspect of technology integration resulting in numerous challenges. Moreover, there is evidence in the literature showing a scarcity of studies on the use of mobile learning in teaching productive skills. On the other hand, linguists recommend the use of responsive lesson design frameworks in language teaching, claiming effectiveness in teaching all language skills. However, responsive lesson design frameworks are yet to be implemented in a classroom setting. To bridge these gaps in scientific literature, our study decides to utilize the CAPE framework as a good teaching method for improving the productive skills of students in mobile-based instruction.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes a mixed-methods research design with an experimental approach. Post-tests and interviews were employed to elicit information from the student-participants on the objective of the study.

Findings

Following the analysis of the collected data, notable findings were obtained. While there was evidence to show that the students perceived m-learning as boring and ineffective when incorporated with a traditional lesson framework, our study unveiled that students showed a different perception when incorporated with the CAPE framework.

Practical implications

Our study unveils that integrating responsive lesson frameworks with m-learning improves the speaking and writing skills of students.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence to show the role of good teaching practices like integrating responsive LDFs and mobile learning in improving the productive skills of students. This study is the first to investigate the integration of CAPE and mobile learning in enhancing expressive skills.
The mission statement in Catholic higher education organizations and identity challenges
Authors: Serra Fernando Antonio Ribeiro , Mazieri Marcos Rogério , Scafuto Isabel Cristina , Westarb Cruz June Alisson , Pinoti Fabio
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Mission statements are usually related to strategic management and elements related to the organization's identity. Catholic higher education organizations (CHEOs) identity is based on the Charisma of the founder of the Catholic order or congregation. If in contradiction, it puts their organizational legitimacy at risk. If organizations deviate from their identity, it means a mission drift. Even more severe is when mission statements are misaligned with the identity. In this study, the authors seek better understand the mission drift by the misalignment between the mission statement and the organizational identity of the CHEOs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the mission statements of 112 Catholic CHEOs in Brazil. They used lexical analysis based on descending hierarchical classification and post-factorial analysis. They analyzed the vocabularies of each class extracted from the descending hierarchical classification and determine the presence or absence of the Charisma.

Findings

The results indicate that aspects of Catholic identity through the Charisma are manifested in the organizational mission but are not predominant. There is a variation of the mission statements relative to the Charisma of the orders and congregations. A significant part manifests generically. They respond in a similar and isomorphic way or to internal institutional pressures of CHEOs.

Originality/value

The authors empirically identified a mission drift, considering the mismatch between the mission statement and the Charisma. The authors emphasize that for organizational identity to manifest, it should consider the identity that emerges from the founder's Charisma. This influence must appear in central elements of the organizational identity, such as the mission statements.
Young people between education and the labour market during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
Authors: Fiaschi Davide , Tealdi Cristina
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The aim is to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the careers of different groups of young individuals, based on transition probabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyse the evolution of individual shares and flows between different types of employment (self-employment, temporary, and permanent), unemployment, education, and other types of inactivity of individuals aged 20–29 in Italy.

Findings

The authors find that the pandemic worsened an already concerning situation of higher inactivity rates, compared to other EU countries. In quarters III and IV of 2020, mainly females and non-Italian citizens were less in (permanent and temporary) employment and more in the NLFET (neither in the labour force nor in education or training) state compared to the same quarters one year before. The authors also find evidence of a temporary but not persistent return to education among 20–24 years old individuals, particularly females. These changes are suggestive of a prolongation of the time needed to achieve temporary and permanent employment, mostly for females and non-Italian citizens.

Originality/value

The contribution lies in the provision of a rigorous estimation and analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the careers of young individuals in Italy.
Designing energy policy in the presence of underground economy: the case of Pakistan
Authors: Ahad Muhammad , Farid Saqib , Anwer Zaheer
Published: July 2022

Purpose

In the presence of informal sector in the country, designing an energy policy and the pursuit of higher economic growth become challenging for emerging economies. These economies are usually resource starved, and the presence of underground economy leads to faulty estimates of energy demand. The authors explore the energy–growth nexus in the presence of underground economy for Pakistan, an emerging economy host to large informal sector and facing recurring energy crises.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors evaluate the impact of underground economy on energy demand in the presence of explanatory variables, including official gross domestic product (GDP), foreign direct investment and financial development. The authors first assess the influence of official economy on the consumption of energy. The authors investigate how energy consumption is influenced solely by underground economy. Finally, the authors evaluate the impact of true GDP on the energy consumption. The authors employ combined cointegration method of Bayer and Hanck (2013) and then apply vector error correction model.

Findings

The results reveal that official GDP, underground economy and true GDP positively and significantly affect energy consumption in both short and long run. Similarly, financial development as well as foreign direct investment enhance energy consumption. The authors find unidirectional causality between energy consumption and official GDP variables (OGDP → EC), underground economy (UE → EC) and true GDP variables (TGDP → EC) in the long run. The authors observe bidirectional causality in the short run between energy consumption and official GDP (OGDP ↔ EC) and true GDP (TGDP ↔ EC).

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, no study examines the causal relationship of energy consumption and underground economy. Overall, the findings assist policymakers to consider and implement different energy-related policies considering the significant role of underground economy for energy consumption in Pakistan.
Digital welfare state and problem arising: an exploration and future research agenda
Authors: Larasati Zita Wahyu , Yuda Tauchid Komara , Syafa'at Akbarian Rifki
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The penetration of technology and the strengthening of evidence-based policies have paved the way for the automated delivery of social services. This study aims to discuss the inherent risks of this automatization, particularly those associated with the discrimination, exclusion and inequality problem, which the authors package under the theoretical umbrella of a digital welfare state (DWS).

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual article reviews the literature on the welfare DWS, with an empirical focus on the recent experience of selected countries from India, Kenya and Sweden. These countries reflect three different types of welfare regimes but are connected by the same digital social risk. The authors’ exploration also includes questions about what this DWS has in common with and how it differs from the previous era. This article illustrates that there has been a very similar trajectory in regards to the development of the DWS and the associated risks in the examined countries.

Findings

DWS has triggered new social risks (e.g. discrimination, exclusion and inequality in welfare access) that are a result of data breaches experienced by citizens. Further, vulnerable groups in the digital age should be viewed not only as those who lack access to welfare services, such as education, health and employment, but also as those without internet access, without digital skills and excluded from the DWS system.

Originality/value

The article calls for the development of scholarly research into the DWS in particular and the contemporary one in general. The authors also predict that a critical aspect of the future regime typology rests in the ability to mobilize resources to address contemporary digital risks, as every country is equally vulnerable to them. Overall, this article can be considered to be one of the initial works that focus on cross-national comparison across different meta-welfare regimes.
The political determinants of country crises
Authors: Hilmário de Oliveira Siqueira Alexandre
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Country crises can provoke damages to a country's economic activity and citizens in a way that will always demand a deeper understanding of their determinants. Political issues are commonly mentioned as an important factor boosting these crises. This paper investigates the political factors behind financial crises and recessions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using variables from the ICRG rating system, logistic panel regressions are run to determine whether or not the political risk variables explain country crises.

Findings

Results disclose the importance of socioeconomic conditions to financial crises and recessions with no influence from the political arena. Against expectations, political instability does not help to explain crises. Political risk ratings also show their importance, demonstrating that the higher is the risk, the higher is the probability of debt and currency crises occurrence.

Originality/value

The findings in this paper contribute to a growing literature of political risk and crises, enhancing the value of political risk assessment and increasing the application of its consequences.
The impact of influential shareholders on corporate dividend policy: evidence from Russia
Authors: Ershova Tatiana , Zavertiaeva Marina , Kirpishchikov Dmitry
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study examines the impact of influential shareholders, namely, state and influential businessmen, on the dividend policies of firms. A special focus is made on the causal effect of exogenous changes: general and personal economic sanctions leading to toughened state policies concerning dividends.

Design/methodology/approach

Russian firms included into the Moscow Stock Exchange Broad Market Index were examined for a period from 2009 to 2019 using a generalized method of moments and a tobit model. The effect of personal sanctions was elucidated with the use of difference-in-differences method with multiple time periods.

Findings

The analysis showed that government or businessmen's ownership does not affect dividend payments. However, after 2014, state-owned companies began to increase their payments. At the same time, owing to a series of changes triggered by general economic sanctions, businessmen-owned companies decrease their dividends payout ratio. Personal sanctions imposed do not have long-term effect on Russian companies' dividends.

Originality/value

This study estimates the effect of ownership structure on dividend payouts after an exogenous change. The results show that there is heterogeneity in influential owners' decisions regarding dividends and changes strengthening it.
Viscoelastic and viscoacoustic modelling using the Lie product formula
Authors: Araujo Edvaldo S. , Pestana Reynam C.
Published: July 2022

We present efficient and accurate modelling of seismic wavefields in anelastic media. We use a first‐order viscoelastic wave equation based on the generalized Robertsson's formulation. In our work, viscoacoustic and viscoelastic wave equations use the standard linear solid mechanism. To numerically solve the first‐order wave equation, we employed a scheme derived from the Lie product formula, where the time evolution operator of the analytic solution is written as a product of exponential matrices, and each exponential matrix term is approximated by the Taylor series expansion. The accuracy of the proposed scheme is evaluated by comparison with the analytical solution for a homogeneous medium. We also present simulations of some geological models with different structural complexities, whose results confirm the accuracy of the proposed scheme and illustrate the attenuation effect on the seismic energy during its propagation in the medium. Our results demonstrate that the numerical scheme employed can be used to extrapolate wavefields stably for even larger time steps than those usually used by traditional finite‐difference schemes.
Sick of social status: A Bourdieusian perspective on morbidity and health inequalities
Authors: Balaj Mirza , Eikemo Terje A.
Published: July 2022

Self‐reported health (SRH) is one of the most frequently used measures for examining socioeconomic inequalities in health. Studies find that when faced with ‘identical objective health’, individuals in lower socioeconomic groups consistently report worse SRH than those in higher socioeconomic groups. Such findings are often dismissed as being the result of reporting bias, and existing literature dominated by the biomedical conception of SRH has not investigated the underlying social mechanisms at work. To address this limitation, drawing on the work of Bourdieu we employ a relational thinking between health and social position. By way of multiple correspondence analysis, we construct social space of health determinants for three European countries from different welfare states and map the trajectories of educational groups experiencing similar levels of morbidity and their relation to SRH. Differences in SRH observed among social groups for the same level of morbidity are understood in relation to the position and the relative power of individuals in different educational groups to maintain or improve their social conditions, especially with increasing levels of health loss. Our analysis indicates that reporting differences in SRH among educational groups emerges from objectively healthy individuals and follows differences in accumulation of social advantages and disadvantages.
Grammatical Coding and the Discursive Construction of Participants: Spanish Passives in Written Press News Discourse
Authors: Aijón Oliva Miguel A.
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a comparative analysis of two Spanish constructions that are usually characterised as passive, namely the periphrastic or attributive passive – formed with the verbser‘be’ plus a participle – and the reflexive passive – formed with third‐person reflexive cliticse. An isomorphic functional approach is adopted whereby the inherent syntactic‐semantic features of each construction are considered to be at the basis of their discourse‐pragmatic uses. Using a corpus of local written news pieces from the Peninsular town of Salamanca, the grammatical expression of both the initiators and the endpoints of events in each construction is quantitatively and qualitatively analysed, paying special attention to their variable encoding and placement within the clause and the semantic correlates of formal variation. While attributive passives are used to predicate transitive events of topical endpoints, reflexive passives often conceptualise events as thetic, reducing transitivity and defocusing initiators. These meanings are projected onto the discourse‐pragmatic domain by favouring different interpretations of the role of human participants, particularly with respect to their involvement in events amenable to negative judgements. This supports the hypothesis that the syntax and semantics of each grammatical construction are undetachable from its communicative potential in specific contexts.
Ancestral relatedness and visits between national leaders: Evidence from China†
Authors: Yan Jiaqiang , Zhou Yonghong
Published: July 2022

This study explores the factors that affect visits between national leaders in the world, shedding light on their ancestral origins. We combine data on visits involving Chinese leaders from 1993 to 2013 with genetic distance that captures ethnic differences transmitted intergenerationally. Empirical analysis shows that there are more visits between Chinese leaders and leaders of countries that have smaller genetic distance to China. Furthermore, the impact of genetic distance is achieved primarily through trade and positioning of political relationships, which are proxies for economic and political exchanges, respectively. Our findings show that ancestral relatedness plays an important part in modern diplomatic activities.