bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Exon Junction Complex and intron removal prevents resplicing of mRNA
Authors: Joseph Brian , Lai Eric C. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAccurate splice site selection is critical for fruitful gene expression. Here, we demonstrate theDrosophilaEJC suppresses hundreds of functional cryptic splice sites (SS), even though majority of these bear weak splicing motifs and appear incompetent. Mechanistically, the EJC directly conceals splicing elements through position-specific recruitment, preventing SS definition. We note that intron removal using strong, canonical SS yields AG|GU signatures at exon-exon junctions. Unexpectedly, we discover that scores of these minimal exon junction sequences are in fact EJC-suppressed 5’ and 3’ recursive SS, and that loss of EJC regulation from such transcripts triggers faulty mRNA resplicing. An important corollary is that intronless cDNA expression constructs from aforementioned targets yield high levels of unanticipated, truncated transcripts generated by resplicing. Consequently, we conclude the EJC has ancestral roles to defend transcriptome fidelity by (1) repressing illegitimate splice sites on pre-mRNAs, and (2) preventing inadvertent activation of such sites on spliced segments.
Long-read assembly of a Great Dane genome highlights the contribution of GC-rich sequence and mobile elements to canine genomes
Authors: Halo Julia V. , Pendleton Amanda L. , Shen Feichen , Doucet Aurélien J. , Derrien Thomas , Hitte Christophe , Kirby Laura E. , Myers Bridget , Sliwerska Elzbieta , Emery Sarah , Moran John V. , Boyko Adam R. , Kidd Jeffrey M. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractTechnological advances have allowed improvements in genome reference sequence assemblies. Here, we combined long- and short-read sequence resources to assemble the genome of a female Great Dane dog. This assembly has improved continuity compared to the existing Boxer-derived (CanFam3.1) reference genome. Annotation of the Great Dane assembly identified 22,182 protein-coding gene models and 7,049 long non-coding RNAs, including 49 protein-coding genes not present in the CanFam3.1 reference. The Great Dane assembly spans the majority of sequence gaps in the CanFam3.1 reference and illustrates that 2,151 gaps overlap the transcription start site of a predicted protein-coding gene. Moreover, a subset of the resolved gaps, which have an 80.95% median GC content, localize to transcription start sites and recombination hotspots more often than expected by chance, suggesting the stable canine recombinational landscape has shaped genome architecture. Alignment of the Great Dane and CanFam3.1 assemblies identified 16,834 deletions and 15,621 insertions, as well as 2,665 deletions and 3,493 insertions located on secondary contigs. These structural variants are dominated by retrotransposon insertion/deletion polymorphisms and include 16,221 dimorphic canine short interspersed elements (SINECs) and 1,121 dimorphic long interspersed element-1 sequences (LINE-1_Cfs). Analysis of sequences flanking the 3’ end of LINE-1_Cfs (i.e., LINE-1_Cf 3’-transductions) suggests multiple retrotransposition-competent LINE-1_Cfs segregate among dog populations. Consistent with this conclusion, we demonstrate that a canine LINE-1_Cf element with intact open reading frames can retrotranspose its own RNA and that of a SINEC_Cf consensus sequence in cultured human cells, implicating ongoing retrotransposon activity as a driver of canine genetic variation.SignificanceAdvancements in long-read DNA sequencing technologies provide more comprehensive views of genomes. We used long-read sequences to assemble a Great Dane dog genome that provides several improvements over the existing reference derived from a Boxer dog. Assembly comparisons revealed that gaps in the Boxer assembly often occur at the beginning of protein-coding genes and have a high-GC content, which likely reflects limitations of previous technologies in resolving GC-rich sequences. Dimorphic LINE-1 and SINEC retrotransposon sequences represent the predominant differences between the Great Dane and Boxer assemblies. Proof-of-principle experiments demonstrated that expression of a canine LINE-1 could promote the retrotransposition of itself and a SINEC_Cf consensus sequence in cultured human cells. Thus, ongoing retrotransposon activity may contribute to canine genetic diversity.
The cell-autonomous clock of VIP receptor VPAC2 cells drives circadian behaviour
Authors: Hamnett Ryan , Chesham Johanna E. , Maywood Elizabeth S. , Hastings Michael H. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCircadian (∼daily) rhythms pervade mammalian behaviour. They are generated by cell-autonomous, transcriptional/translational feedback loops (TTFL), active in all tissues. This distributed clock network is co-ordinated by the principal circadian pacemaker, the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Its robust and accurate time-keeping arises from circuit-level interactions that bind its individual cellular clocks into a coherent time-keeper. Cells that express the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) mediate retinal entrainment of the SCN, and in the absence of VIP, or its cognate receptor VPAC2, circadian behaviour is compromised because SCN cells cannot synchronise. The contributions to SCN pacemaking and circadian behaviour of other cell types, not least the VPAC2-expressing target cells of VIP, are, however, not understood. We therefore employed intersectional genetics to manipulate the cell-autonomous TTFL of VPAC2-expressing cells, creating temporally chimaeric mice. We could then determine whether and how VPAC2-expressing cells (a minority ∼35% of SCN cells) contribute to SCN time-keeping. Lengthening of the intrinsic TTFL period of VPAC2 cells by deletion of theCK1εTauallele concomitantly lengthened the period of circadian behavioural rhythms. It also increased the variability of the circadian period of bioluminescent TTFL rhythms in SCN slices recordedex vivo. Abrogation of circadian competence in VPAC2 cells by deletion ofBmal1severely disrupted circadian behavioural rhythms and compromised TTFL time-keeping in the corresponding SCN slices. Thus, VPAC2-expressing cells are a distinct, functionally powerful subset of the SCN circuit, contributing to computation of ensemble period and maintenance of circadian robustness. These findings extend our understanding of SCN circuit topology.
Vesicular release probability sets the strength of individual Schaffer collateral synapses
Authors: Dürst Céline D. , Wiegert J. Simon , Schulze Christian , Helassa Nordine , Török Katalin , Oertner Thomas G. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractInformation processing in the brain is controlled by quantal release of neurotransmitters, a tightly regulated process. From ultrastructural analysis, it is known that presynaptic boutons along single axons differ in the number of vesicles docked at the active zone. It is not clear whether the probability of these vesicles to get released (pves) is homogenous or also varies between individual boutons. Here, we optically measure evoked transmitter release at individual Schaffer collateral synapses at different calcium concentrations, using the genetically encoded glutamate sensor iGluSnFR. Fitting a binomial model to measured response amplitude distributions allowed us to extract the quantal parametersN, pves, andq. We find that Schaffer collateral boutons typically release single vesicles under lowpvesconditions and switch to multivesicular release in high calcium saline. Analyzing the variability of quantal parameters, we conclude that the vesicular release probability rather than the number of readily releasable vesicles or their transmitter content determines the potency of individual boutons.
Efficient population modification gene-drive rescue system in the malaria mosquitoAnopheles stephensi
Authors: Adolfi Adriana , Gantz Valentino M. , Jasinskiene Nijole , Lee Hsu-Feng , Hwang Kristy , Bulger Emily A. , Ramaiah Arunachalam , Bennett Jared B. , Terradas Gerard , Emerson J.J. , Marshall John M. , Bier Ethan , James Anthony A. 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTThe development of Cas9/gRNA-mediated gene-drive systems has bolstered the advancement of genetic technologies for controlling vector-borne pathogen transmission. These include population suppression approaches, genetic analogs of insecticidal techniques that reduce the number of vector insects, and population modification (replacement/alteration) approaches, which interfere with competence to transmit pathogens. We developed a recoded gene-drive rescue system for population modification in the malaria vector,Anopheles stephensi, that relieves the load in females caused by integration of the drive into thekynurenine hydroxylasegene by rescuing its function. Non-functional resistant alleles are eliminated via a dominantly-acting maternal effect combined with slower-acting standard negative selection, and a functional resistant allele does not prevent drive invasion. Small cage trials show that single releases of gene-drive males robustly result in efficient population modification with ≥95% of mosquitoes carrying the drive within 5-11 generations over a range of initial release ratios.
p53 Controls Murine Gammaherpesvirus Latency and Prevents Infection-AssociatedIgH/c-MycTranslocations
Authors: Owens Shana M. , Sifford Jeffrey M. , Li Gang , Salinas Eduardo , Ghosh Debopam , Miller Andrew D. , Stumhofer Jason , Forrest J. Craig 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTGammaherpesviruses (GHVs) establish life-long infections and cause cancer in humans and other animals. To facilitate chronic infection, GHV oncoproteins promote cellular proliferation and differentiation. Aberrant cell-cycle progression driven by viral oncogenes should trigger activation of tumor suppressor p53, unless p53 is functionally deactivated during GHV latency establishment. However, interactions of GHVs with the p53 pathway during the establishment and maintenance of latent infection are poorly defined. Here we demonstratein vivothat p53 is induced specifically in infected cells during latency establishment by murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68). In the absence of p53, MHV68 latency establishment was significantly increased, especially in germinal center B cells, and correlated with enhanced cellular proliferation. However, enhanced latency was not sustainable, and MHV68 exhibited a defect in long-term latency maintenance in p53-deficient mice. Moreover,IgH/c-Myctranslocations were readily detected in B cells from infected p53-null mice indicating virus-driven genomic instability. These data demonstrate that p53 intrinsically restricts MHV68 latency establishment and reveal a paradigm in which a host restriction factor provides a long-term benefit to a chronic pathogen by limiting infection-associated damage.
Genetic recombination in disgust-associated bitter taste-responsive neurons of the central nucleus of amygdala in male mice
Authors: Tanaka Daisuke H. , Li Shusheng , Mukae Shiori , Tanabe Tsutomu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractA bitter substance induces specific orofacial and somatic behavioral reactions such as gapes in mice as well as monkeys and humans. These reactions have been proposed to represent affective disgust, and therefore, understanding the neuronal basis of the reactions would pave the way to understand affective disgust. It is crucial to identify and access the specific neuronal ensembles that are activated by bitter substances, such as quinine, the intake of which induces disgust reactions. However, the method to access the quinine-activated neurons has not been fully established yet. Here, we show evidence that a targeted recombination in active populations (TRAP) method, induces genetic recombination in the quinine-activated neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). CeA is one of the well-known emotional centers of the brain. We found that the intraoral quinine infusion, that resulted in disgust reactions, increased bothcFos-positive cells andArc-positive cells in the CeA. By usingArc-CreER;Ai3 TRAP mice, we induced genetic recombination in the quinine-activated neurons and labelled them with fluorescent protein. We confirmed that the quinine-TRAPed fluorescently-labelled cells preferentially coexpressedArcafter quinine infusion. Our results suggest that the TRAP method can be used to access specific functional neurons in the CeA.
Learning in the eyes: specific changes in gaze patterns track explicit and implicit visual learning
Authors: Arató József , Rothkopf Constantin A. , Fiser József 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWhat is the link between eye movements and sensory learning? Although some theories have argued for a permanent and automatic interaction between what we know and where we look, which continuously modulates human information- gathering behavior during both implicit and explicit learning, there exist surprisingly little evidence supporting such an ongoing interaction. We used a pure form of implicit learning called visual statistical learning and manipulated the explicitness of the task to explore how learning and eye movements interact. During both implicit exploration and explicit visual learning of unknown composite visual scenes, eye movement patterns systematically changed in accordance with the underlying statistical structure of the scenes. Moreover, the degree of change was directly correlated with the amount of knowledge the observers acquired. Our results provide the first evidence for an ongoing and specific interaction between hitherto accumulated knowledge and eye movements during both implicit and explicit learning.
The role of WO42−on surface passivation for Q235 carbon steel in tungstate solution
Authors: Chen Yijiang , Zhang Pei , Zhou Yong , Yan Fuan 
Published: August 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this work is to reveal the mechanism of WO42−on surface passivation for Q235 carbon steel in tungstate solution.Design/methodology/approachIn Na2WO4solutions with the different concentrations of WO42−, the spontaneous passivation occurred on the surface of Q235 carbon steel when the concentration of WO42−was up to 0.13 mmol/L, which was attributed to the formations of the inner deposition film and the outer adsorption film on the Q235 surface under the action of WO42−.FindingsThe inner deposition film presented a two-layer microstructure: the inside layer was composed of Fe2O3mainly, and the outside layer comprised Fe(OH)2•nH2O, Fe(OH)3•nH2O, FeWO4and Fe2(WO4)3.Originality/valueBoth FeWO4and Fe2(WO4)3 repaired the defects in the outside layer of the inner deposition film; however, the outer adsorption film played a more important role in the surface passivation than the inner deposition film did.
The drivers of desirability in scarcity marketing
Authors: Chen Tser Yieth , Yeh Tsai Lien , Wang Ya Jou 
Published: August 2020

PurposeMarketers make an effort to affect consumers through scarcity marketing thus shaping the perception of scarcity and creating desirability for consumers. To expand the scarcity-expensiveness-desirability model and to enhance insights for practical applications, this study modifies the causal relationship among two types of scarcity, three types of expansiveness and desirability.Design/methodology/approachThis study surveyed 400 Taipei city residents who had purchase experience with luxury brands products in Taiwan. The study employed structural equation modeling as empirical analysis.FindingsThe empirical results show that limited-quantity scarcity main influences perceived social status and then affects desirability. The second path is that limited-quantity scarcity influences perceived uniqueness and then affects desirability. Therefore, perceived social status and perceived uniqueness dominate the majority of effects on desirability because they are the recognition of the individual compared to others, especially when applied to luxury goods.Practical implicationsBecause limited-quantity scarcity has a greater impact on desirability than limited-time scarcity in the empirical results, marketers can adopt limited-quantity scarcity messages that are better than limited-time scarcity, to increase consumers’ desire to purchase luxury goods.Originality/valueThe first novelty of this study is dividing scarcity marketing into limited-quantity and limited-time scarcity in the scarcity-expensiveness-desirability model. This study extends expensiveness in the scarcity-expensiveness-desirability model with a complete demonstration, that is, perceived social status, perceived uniqueness and perceived value, which is the second novelty of this study.
Building organizational trust through internal communication
Authors: Pološki Vokić Nina , Rimac Bilušić Milka , Najjar Dijana 
Published: August 2020

PurposeAlthough multiple research studies disclosed that internal communication is effective in building trust within organizations, the link between employees' satisfaction with internal communication and their trust in their employers has not been explored. The paper explores the interrelationship between eight facets of internal communication satisfaction (ICS) and five dimensions of organizational trust (OT).Design/methodology/approachThe quantitative questionnaire-based field research was conducted on a sample of 289 employees. For the assessment of the ICS, the Internal Communication Satisfaction Scale – UPZIK developed by Tkalac Vercic et al. (2009) was used. OT was assessed using the scale developed by Shockley-Zalabak et al. (2000).FindingsThe research revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between the ICS and OT, both when considering five individual OT dimensions and the overall OT. Moreover, two ICS dimensions – “Satisfaction with communication climate” and “Satisfaction with communication with immediate supervisor” – were found to be the strongest predictors of OT.Originality/valueThe research adds to the discussion of antecedents of trust in organizations by positioning the ICS as a powerful generator of OT.
Working capital management and profitability of listed manufacturing firms in Ghana
Authors: Amponsah-Kwatiah Kofi , Asiamah Michael 
Published: August 2020

PurposeThis study examines the effect of working capital management on profitability of listed manufacturing firms in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a quantitative research approach within the causal research design using a balance panel of 20 manufacturing listed firms from 2015 to 2019.FindingsThe study reveals that inventory management, account receivables, account payables, cash conversion cycle, current asset, current ratio and firm size have positive effects on return on assets (ROA) and return on return on equity(ROE) whilst leverage affects them negatively.Research limitations/implicationsThe study only covers 20 manufacturing firms generally due to data unavailability. However, the outcome has useful information for manufacturing firms.Practical implicationsThe study brings to light effective ways of improving the profitability of manufacturing firms through policies.Social implicationsThe findings are beneficial to manufacturing firms and countries for the purpose of improving performance of firms and welfare of the people through direct and indirect chain effects of increasing investments, remunerations and scales of production.Originality/valueThis study adds insights into the existing literature on working capital management namely methodology, effects of components on profitability of manufacturing firms and socioeconomic implications- evidence from Ghana.
Impact of activity-based workplaces on burnout and engagement dimensions
Authors: Appel-Meulenbroek Rianne , Voordt Theo van der , Aussems Rik , Arentze Theo , Le Blanc Pascale 
Published: August 2020

PurposeThis paper aims to explore, which characteristics of activity-based offices are related to the position of workers on the burnout – engagement continuum.Design/methodology/approachLiterature review and an online survey amongst knowledge workers in the Netherlands, which provided data of 184 respondents from 14 organisations. The data has been analysed by descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, factor analyses and path analysis, to test the conceptual model.FindingsFive physical work environment constructs were identified of which three showed to have significant relations with employees’ position on one of the three dimensions of the burnout – engagement continuum. Distraction has a direct and indirect (through overload) negative relation with the individual strain (meaning increased exhaustion). Office comfort has indirect positive relations (through recognition and appreciation) with the interpersonal strain (meaning increased involvement). The possibility for teleworking has an indirect positive relation (through control) on the self-evaluation strain (meaning increased efficacy).Practical implicationsThe findings show that in the design and management of a healthy physical work environment, corporate real estate managers and human resource managers should particularly pay attention to lowering distraction, providing comfortable workplaces and considering the option of teleworking to some extent.Originality/valueThis paper provides new insights into the impact of distinct activity-based workplace characteristics on workers’ position on the burnout – engagement continuum.
Characterizing well-being capabilities in services
Authors: Tikkanen Hannu 
Published: August 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to characterize how services present responsibilized consumers with well-being capabilities. This is done by drawing on structuration theory and literatures on responsibilization, social well-being and psychological well-being.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on conceptual development and a qualitative interpretive study of value propositions in texts and images on websites of 11 different self-tracking wearables and applications.FindingsThis paper introduces the changing–coping–countering characterization to explicate different types of well-being capabilities that are represented in services. These capabilities represent different stances towards structures. This paper proposes and discusses how these capabilities can have different impacts on well-being on individual and collective levels.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to the perspective of services in a self-tracking context. Further empirical research is needed to investigate well-being capabilities from consumer perspectives.Practical implicationsThe proposed characterization can help practitioners in becoming more reflexive concerning their value propositions that relate to consumer well-being. This implies becoming aware of well-being discourses that shape and affect service development.Originality/valueThis paper provides a novel characterization for understanding the role of services in the context of responsibilization. It contributes to structural perspectives on the role of services in contributing to well-being.