bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diversity of satellite glia in sympathetic and sensory ganglia
Authors: Mapps Aurelia A , Thomsen Michael B , Boehm Erica , Zhao Haiqing , Hattar Samer , Kuruvilla Rejji 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTSatellite glia are the major glial type found in ganglia of the peripheral nervous system and wrap around cell bodies of sympathetic and sensory neurons that are very diverse. Other than their close physical association with peripheral neurons, little is known about this glial population. Here, we performed single cell RNA sequencing analysis and identified five different populations of satellite glia from sympathetic and sensory ganglia. We identified three shared populations of satellite glia enriched in immune-response genes, immediate-early genes and ion channels/ECM-interactors, respectively. Sensory- and sympathetic-specific satellite glia are differentially enriched for modulators of lipid synthesis and metabolism. Sensory glia are also specifically enriched for genes involved in glutamate turnover. Further, satellite glia and Schwann cells can be distinguished by unique transcriptional signatures. This study reveals remarkable heterogeneity of satellite glia in the peripheral nervous system.
Structurally and functionally distinct early antibody responses predict COVID-19 disease trajectory and mRNA vaccine response
Authors: Chakraborty Saborni , Gonzalez Joseph C. , Sievers Benjamin L. , Mallajosyula Vamsee , Chakraborty Srijoni , Dubey Megha , Ashraf Usama , Cheng Bowie Yik-Ling , Kathale Nimish , Tran Kim Quyen Thi , Scallan Courtney , Sinnott Aanika , Cassidy Arianna , Chen Steven T. , Gelbart Terri , Gao Fei , Golan Yarden , Ji Xuhuai , Kim-Schulze Seunghee , Prahl Mary , Gaw Stephanie L. , Gnjatic Sacha , Marron Thomas U. , Merad Miriam , Arunachalam Prabhu S. , Boyd Scott D. , Davis Mark M. , Holubar Marisa , Khosla Chaitan , Maecker Holden T. , Maldonado Yvonne , Mellins Elizabeth D. , Nadeau Kari C. , Pulendran Bali , Singh Upinder , Subramanian Aruna , Utz Paul J. , Sherwood Robert , Zhang Sheng , Jagannathan Prasanna , Tan Gene S. , Wang Taia T. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA damaging inflammatory response is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 but mechanisms contributing to this response are unclear. In two prospective cohorts, early non-neutralizing, afucosylated, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG predicted progression from mild, to more severe COVID-19. In contrast to the antibody structures that predicted disease progression, antibodies that were elicited by mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were low in Fc afucosylation and enriched in sialylation, both modifications that reduce the inflammatory potential of IgG. To study the biology afucosylated IgG immune complexes, we developed an in vivo model which revealed that human IgG-FcγR interactions can regulate inflammation in the lung. Afucosylated IgG immune complexes induced inflammatory cytokine production and robust infiltration of the lung by immune cells. By contrast, vaccine elicited IgG did not promote an inflammatory lung response. Here, we show that IgG-FcγR interactions can regulate inflammation in the lung and define distinct lung activities associated with the IgG that predict severe COVID-19 and protection against SARS-CoV-2.One Sentence SummaryDivergent early antibody responses predict COVID-19 disease trajectory and mRNA vaccine response and are functionally distinct in vivo.
Retinal organoids derived from rhesus macaque iPSCs undergo accelerated differentiation compared to human stem cells
Authors: Lopez Antonio Jacobo , Kim Sangbae , Qian Xinye , Rogers Jeffrey , Stout J. Timothy , Thomasy Sara M. , Torre Anna La , Chen Rui , Moshiri Ala 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTPurposeTo compare the timing and efficiency of the development of non-human primate (NHP) derived retinal organoids in comparison to those derived from human embryonic stem cells.MethodsHuman embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced-pluripotent stem cells (rhiPSCs) derived from non-human primates (Macaca mulatta) were differentiated into retinal organoids by using an established differentiation protocol. Briefly, embryoid bodies were formed from pluripotent stem cells and induced into a neural lineage with neural induction media with the addition of BMP4. Thereafter, self-formation of optic vesicles was allowed to form in a 2D culture in retinal differentiation media (RDM). Optic vesicles were then manually harvested and cultured in suspension in 3D-RDM media until analysis. Differences in the timing of differentiation and efficiency of retinal organoid development were assessed by light microscopy, electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, and single-cell transcriptomics.ResultsGeneration of retinal organoids was achieved from both human and several NHP pluripotent stem cells lines. All rhiPSC lines resulted in retinal differentiation with the formation of optic vesicle-like structures similar to what has been observed in hESC retinal organoids. NHP retinal organoids had laminated structure and were composed of mature retinal cell types including cone and rod photoreceptors. Single cell RNA sequencing was conducted at two time points, which allowed identification of cell types and characterization of developmental trajectory in the developing organoid. Important differences between rhesus and human cells were measured regarding the timing and efficiency of retinal organoid differentiation. While the culture of NHP-derived iPSCs is relatively difficult compared to human stem cells, the generation of retinal organoids is feasible and may be less time consuming due to an intrinsically faster timing of retinal differentiation.ConclusionsRetinal organoids produced from iPSCs derived from Rhesus monkey using established protocols differentiate through the stages of organoid development faster than those derived from human stem cells. The production of NHP retinal organoids may be advantageous to reduce experimental time and cost for basic biology studies in retinogenesis as well as for preclinical trials in NHPs studying retinal allograft transplantation.
Assembly and levels of P-TEFb depend on reversible phosphorylation of cyclin T1
Authors: Huang Fang , Nguyen Trang T. T. , Echeverria Ignacia , Ramachandran Rakesh , Cary Daniele C. , Paculova Hana , Sali Andrej , Weiss Arthur , Peterlin B. Matija , Fujinaga Koh 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) is a critical co-activator for transcription of most cellular and viral genes, including those of HIV. While P-TEFb is regulated by 7SK snRNA in proliferating cells, it is absent in quiescent and terminally differentiated cells, which has remained unexplored. In these cells, we found that CycT1 not bound to CDK9 is rapidly degraded. Moreover, productive CycT1:CDK9 interactions require phosphorylation of two threonine residues (Thr143 and Thr149) in CycT1 by PKC. Conversely, PP1 dephosphorylates these sites. Thus, PKC inhibitors or removal of PKC by chronic activation results in P-TEFb disassembly and CycT1 degradation. This finding not only recapitulates P-TEFb depletion in resting CD4+ T cells but also in anergic T cells. Importantly, our studies reveal mechanisms of P-TEFb inactivation underlying T cell quiescence, anergy, and exhaustion as well as proviral latency and terminal differentiation of cells.
GmSALT3 expression improves reactive oxygen species detoxification in salt-stressed soybean roots
Authors: Qu Yue , Yu Lili , Guan Rongxia , Berkowitz Oliver , David Rakesh , Whelan James , Ford Melanie , Wege Stefanie , Qiu Lijuan , Gilliham Matthew 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSoybean plants are salinity (NaCl) sensitive, with their yield significantly decreased under moderately saline conditions. GmSALT3 is the dominant gene underlying a major QTL for salt tolerance in soybean. GmSALT3 encodes a transmembrane protein belonging to the plant cation/proton exchanger (CHX) family. It is currently unknown through which molecular mechanism(s) the ER-localised GmSALT3 contributes to salinity tolerance, as its localisation excludes direct involvement in ion exclusion. In order to gain insights into potential molecular mechanism(s), we used RNA-seq analysis of roots from two soybean NILs (Near Isogenic Lines); NIL-S (salt-sensitive, Gmsalt3) and NIL-T (salt-tolerant, GmSALT3), grown under control and saline conditions (200 mM NaCl) at three time points (0h, 6h, and 3 days). Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that NIL-T has greater responses aligned to oxidation reduction. ROS were shown less abundant and scavenging enzyme activity was higher in NIL-T, consistent with the RNA-seq data. Further analysis indicated that genes related to calcium signalling, vesicle trafficking and Casparian strip (CS) development were upregulated in NIL-T following salt treatment. We propose that GmSALT3 improves the ability of NIL-T to cope with saline stress through preventing ROS overaccumulation in roots, and potentially modulating Ca2+ signalling, vesicle trafficking and formation of diffusion barriers.HighlightRNA-seq analysis revealed that GmSALT3, which confers improved salt tolerance on soybean, improves reactive oxygen species detoxification in roots.
Gaining or cutting SLAC: the evolution of plant guard cell signalling pathways
Authors: Sussmilch Frances C. , Maierhofer Tobias , Herrmann Johannes , Voss Lena J. , Lind Christof , Messerer Maxim , Müller Heike M. , Bünner Maria S. , Ache Peter , Mayer Klaus F. X. , Becker Dirk , Roelfsema M. Rob G. , Geiger Dietmar , Schultz Jörg , Hedrich Rainer 
Published: May 2021

SummaryThe evolution of adjustable plant pores (stomata), enabling CO2 acquisition in cuticle wax-sealed tissues was one of the most significant events in the development of life on land. But how did the guard cell signalling pathways that regulate stomatal movements evolve? We investigate this through comparison of fern and angiosperm guard cell transcriptomes. We find that these divergent plant groups share expression of similar genes in guard cells including biosynthesis and signalling genes for the drought stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA). However, despite conserved expression in guard cells, S-type anion channels from the SLAC/SLAH family – known for ABA-mediated stomatal closure in angiosperms – are not activated by the same pathways in ferns, highlighting likely differences in functionality. Examination of other land plant channels revealed a complex evolutionary history, featuring multiple gains or losses of SLAC activation mechanisms, as these channels were recruited to a role in stomatal closure. Taken together, the guard cells of flowering and non-flowering plants share similar core features, but also show lineage-specific and ecological niche-related adaptations, likely underlying differences in behaviour.
Oxytocin modulates neurocomputational mechanisms underlying prosocial reinforcement learning
Authors: Martins Daniel , Lockwood Patricia , Cutler Jo , Moran Rosalyn , Paloyelis Yannis 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHumans often act in the best interests of others. However, how we learn which actions result in good outcomes for other people and the neurochemical systems that support this ‘prosocial learning’ remain poorly understood. Using computational models of reinforcement learning, functional magnetic resonance imaging and dynamic causal modelling, we examined how different doses of intranasal oxytocin, a neuropeptide linked to social cognition, impact how people learn to benefit others (prosocial learning) and whether this influence could be dissociated from how we learn to benefit ourselves (self-oriented learning). We show that a low dose of oxytocin prevented decreases in prosocial performance over time, despite no impact on self-oriented learning. Critically, oxytocin produced dose-dependent changes in the encoding of prediction errors (PE) in the midbrain-subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) pathway specifically during prosocial learning. Our findings reveal a new role of oxytocin in prosocial learning by modulating computations of PEs in the midbrain-sgACC pathway.
Membrane architecture and adherens junctions contribute to strong Notch pathway activation
Authors: Falo-Sanjuan Julia , Bray Sarah J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe Notch pathway mediates cell-to-cell communication in a variety of tissues, developmental stages and organisms. Pathway activation relies on the interaction between transmembrane ligands and receptors on adjacent cells. As such, pathway activity could be influenced by the size, composition or dynamics of contacts between membranes. The initiation of Notch signalling in theDrosophilaembryo occurs during cellularization, when lateral cell membranes and adherens junctions are first being deposited, allowing us to investigate the importance of membrane architecture and specific junctional domains for signaling. By measuring Notch dependent transcription in live embryos we established that it initiates while lateral membranes are growing and that signalling onset correlates with a specific phase in their formation. However, the length of the lateral membranesper sewas not limiting. Rather, the adherens junctions, which assemble concurrently with membrane deposition, contributed to the high levels of signalling required for transcription, as indicated by the consequences from depleting α-Catenin. Together, these results demonstrate that the establishment of lateral membrane contacts can be limiting for Notch trans-activation and suggest that adherens junctions play an important role in modulating Notch activity.
Local food communities: exploring health-related adaptivity and self-management practices
Authors: Birtalan Ilona Liliána , Neulinger Ágnes , Bárdos György , Rigó Adrien , Rácz József , Boros Szilvia 
Published: May 2021

PurposeWhile many characteristics of food consumption have been examined, little attention has been given to the health potential of consuming from local food communities. Local food communities, including community supported agriculture (CSA) are food initiatives, which try to respond to the healthy food, environmental or socioeconomic challenges of the food system. As a step toward understanding local food communities, this study sets out to examine the health-related adaptivity and self-management practices of CSA participation.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative research approach, which included semi-structured interviews (n = 35), was designed to discover the potential for being healthy: the ability to adapt and to self-manage among CSA participants. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe results suggest that local food communities can influence health-related adaptivity and self-management in the following themes: awareness of product origins; enhanced food-management capability; expanding applicability and usability of the food environment; and strengthening one's food-related self-image.Practical implicationsIncreasing the presence of local food communities might be part of developing strategies to evaluate the health effects of the local food environment and to encourage consumers to take responsibility for their own health.Originality/valueThis study extends the food consumption literature to include new knowledge about how local food communities facilitate individual efforts to enhance their own potential for health as well as improving understanding of the mechanisms that underpin a healthy diet.
Dual-rail–guided vehicle scheduling in an automated storage and retrieval system with loading and collision-avoidance constraints
Authors: Ma Changpu , Zhou Binghai 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThe use of multiple-capacity rail-guided vehicles (RGVs) has made automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) optimization more complex. The paper performs dual-RGV scheduling considering loading/unloading and collision-avoidance constraints simultaneously as these issues have only been considered separately in the previous literature.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes a novel model for dual-RGV scheduling with two-sided loading/unloading operations and collision-avoidance constraints. To solve the proposed problem, a hybrid harmony search algorithm (HHSA) is developed. To enhance its performance, a descent-based local search with eight move operators is introduced.FindingsA group of problem instances at different scales are optimized with the proposed algorithm and the results are compared with those of two other high-performance methods. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can efficiently solve realistically sized cases of dual multi-capacity RGV scheduling problems in AS/RSs.Originality/valueFor the first time in the research on dual multi-capacity RGV scheduling in an AS/RS, two-sided loading/unloading operations and collision avoidance constraints are simultaneously considered. Furthermore, a mathematical model for minimizing the makespan is developed and the HHSA is developed to determine solutions.
Relationship between clinical governance and hospital performance: a cross-sectional study of psychiatric hospitals in Ghana
Authors: Azilaku Joshua Cobby , Abor Patience Aseweh , Abuosi Aaron Asibi , Anaba Emmanuel Anongeba , Titiati Abraham 
Published: May 2021

PurposeClinical governance (CG) is crucial for healthcare quality of care improvement and safeguarding high standards of care. Little is known about CG in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors assessed health workers' perceptions of CG and hospital performance in Ghana's psychiatric hospitals.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 230 health workers across two psychiatric hospitals in Ghana. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0.FindingsThe majority (59.5%) of the respondents were females. The authors found that less than five in ten respondents felt that the hospitals have adopted measures to promote quality assurance (43.2%) and research and development (43.7%). However, a little above half of the respondents felt that the hospitals have adopted measures to promote education and training (57.7%); clinical audit (52.7%); risk management (50.7%) and clinical effectiveness (68.6%). The authors also found a statistically significant association between CG and hospital performance (p < 0.05).Research limitations/implicationsThere was a positive relationship between CG and hospital performance. Therefore, investing in CG may help to increase hospital performance.Originality/valueThis is the maiden study to investigate CG and hospital performance in Ghana's psychiatric hospitals and one of the few studies in Africa. This study makes a modest contribution to the global discourse on the subject matter.
Exploring governments' role in mergers and acquisitions using IVIF MULTIMOORA-COPRAS technique
Authors: Opoku-Mensah Evans , Yin Yuming , Asiedu-Ayeh Love Offeibea , Asante Dennis , Tuffour Priscilla , Ampofo Sandra Asantewaa 
Published: May 2021

PurposeExisting studies have found that most merger and acquisition (M&A) activities do not create the intended synergy. These studies have mainly investigated how firms' internal factors contribute to M&A successes or failures. The current study differs from the earlier ones by exploring how governments' activities can contribute to the creation of acquisition synergy.Design/methodology/approachA novel technique based on multi-objective optimization by ratio analysis and complex proportional assessment method under an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy (IVIF) environment is proposed to prioritize these government roles needed during the M&A process focusing on the Chinese M&A market.FindingsEnactments of regulations and loan guarantees are the most important strategies to help Chinese acquirers overcome acquisition failures. While tax relief ranks third, government training support ranks fourth. Finally, the result shows that government institutional support is the least to help acquirers overcome acquisition failures.Practical implicationsThe government has a role to play in the acquisition success. Although this study has prioritized governments' role in relative importance order, the authors recommend that governments capable of providing all these strategies should do so without any specific order. However, if otherwise, governments should not neglect the strategies with less weight completely but rather consider reducing capital allocations to such strategies. Moreover, this study shows how firms with stronger business ties with government officials may enjoy success during acquisition activities. The authors recommend that firms intending to make acquisitions develop stronger ties with governments in order to benefits from governments.Originality/valueThis is the first study to develop a theoretical framework showing how government can contribute to M&A success. The study achieves this by extending Keynesian's arguments and identifies five (5) ways in which governments can ensure acquisition success. Second, within fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (F-MCDM) research, this study is the first to show the applicability of integrated multi-objective optimization by ratio analysis (MULTIMOORA) and complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) techniques in an IVIF environment. The novel methodology proposed in this study offers an insightful research method to future studies focusing on group decision problems.
Determinants of the number of deaths from COVID-19: differences between low-income and high-income countries in the initial stages of the pandemic
Authors: Valero Magali , Valero-Gil Jorge Noel 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand the factors that contribute to the number of reported coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths among low-income and high-income countries, and to understand the sources of differences between these two groups of countries.Design/methodology/approachMultiple linear regression models evaluate the socio-economic factors that determine COVID-19 deaths in the two groups of countries. The Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition is used to examine sources of differences between these two groups.FindingsLow-income countries report a significantly lower average number of COVID-19 deaths compared to high-income countries. Community mobility and the easiness of carrying the virus from one place to another are significant factors affecting the number of deaths, while life expectancy is only significant in high-income countries. Higher health expenditure is associated with more reported deaths in both high- and low-income countries. Factors such as the transport infrastructure system, life expectancy and the percent of expenditure on health lead to the differences in the number of deaths between high- and low-income countries.Social implicationsOur study shows that mobility measures taken by individuals to limit the spread of the virus are important to prevent deaths in both high- and low-income countries. Additionally, our results suggest that countries with weak health institutions underestimate the number of deaths from COVID-19, especially low-income countries. The underestimation of COVID-19 deaths could be affecting a great number of people in poverty in low-income economies.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the emerging literature on COVID-19 and its relation to socio-economic factors by examining the differences in reported between deaths between rates in low-income and high-income countries.