bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aggression experience and observation promote shared behavioral and neural changes
Authors: Iravedra-Garcia Jorge M. , Guthman Eartha Mae , Cuturela Lenca , Ocasio-Arce Edgar J. , Pillow Jonathan W. , Falkner Annegret L. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe ability to observe the social behavior of others and use observed information to bias future action is a fundamental building block of social cognition1,2. A foundational question is whether social observation and experience engage common circuit mechanisms that enable behavioral change. While classic studies on social learning have shown that aggressive behaviors can be learned through observation3, it remains unclear whether aggression observation promotes persistent neural changes that generalize to new contexts. Here, to directly compare the effects of aggression experience and observation at brain-wide scale, we develop a strategy to perform large-scale cell-type specific recordings across subcortical networks for social behavior control and learning. We record longitudinally while animals “train” through direct experience or observation, then probe shared differences in behavior and neural activity in a novel “hard” aggression context. Using supervised and unsupervised methods for behavioral quantification, we detect unique signatures of a shared behavioral strategy not present in animals with no training. During observation, we find widespread activation that mimics experience in networks for behavior generation, with critical differences in signals associated with reward and threat learning. After observation, we observe that changes persist into the novel aggression context, with increased similarity in the neural dynamics between experience and observation groups. Network-level modeling reveals persistent shared changes to a core aggression network, with widespread decoupling of inhibition from a key hypothalamic output region. This demonstrates that “experience-like” activity during observation can recruit a shared plasticity mechanism that biases behavior toward adaptive defensive strategies in new contexts.
Disruption of Collective Behavior Correlates with Reduced Interaction Efficiency
Authors: Nguyen Justine B. , Cook Chelsea N. 
Published: December 2024

SummaryGroup-living organisms commonly engage in collective behavior to respond to an ever-changing environment. How individuals utilize local information to produce such large-scale, cohesive behaviors and the factors that impact these dynamics are of high research interest, especially since animals face increasingly challenging environmental conditions due to pollution and climate change. Western honeybees (Apis mellifera) are highly social insects that depend on the tight coordination of many individuals to ensure optimum colony function. We used fanning, a collective thermoregulatory behavior in honeybees that depends on both social and thermal contexts, as a case study for collective behavior. To elucidate the mechanisms behind the coordination of fanning, we used oxytetracycline, an antibiotic historically used in apiculture and known environmental pollutant that impairs bee physiology and behavior. Specifically, we hypothesized that oxytetracycline will interfere social interactions which will lead to a disruption in honeybee fanning behavior. We found that longer exposure to antibiotics decreases fanning in honeybees. Using an automated tracking software, we show that antibiotic treatment lowers the number of interactions bees have despite increasing average movement velocity, thereby impeding the social dynamics within these small bee groups. Our results contribute strong evidence that interactions between individuals may drive the collective thermoregulatory fanning response in honeybees. This work emphasizes the importance of understanding the social mechanisms that underlie critical collective animal coordination and how the effects of a common environmental pollutant on an individual can scale to affect populations.
CDH3-AS1 antisense RNA enhances P-cadherin translation and acts as a tumor suppressor in melanoma
Authors: Chadourne Manon , Griffith Crystal , Xu Xiaonan , Brennan Emily , Vera Olga , Mecozzi Nicol , Wang Kaizhen , Jaeger Alex M. , Karreth Florian A. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThousands of regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been annotated; however, their functions in gene regulation and contributions to cancer formation remain poorly understood. To gain a better understanding of the influence of ncRNAs on gene regulation during melanoma progression, we mapped the landscape of ncRNAs in melanocytes and melanoma cells. Nearly half of deregulated genes in melanoma are ncRNAs, with antisense RNAs (asRNAs) comprising a large portion of deregulated ncRNAs.CDH3-AS1, the most significantly downregulated asRNA, overlaps theCDH3gene, which encodes P-cadherin, a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion that was also reduced in melanoma. Overexpression ofCDH3-AS1increased cell aggregation and reduced xenograft tumor growth, mimicking the tumor-suppressive effects ofCDH3.CDH3-AS1interacted withCDH3mRNA and enhanced P-cadherin protein levels. Interestingly, secondary structures at theCDH35’ end regulated P-cadherin translation, and ribosome profiling revealed thatCDH3-AS1promotes ribosome occupancy at theCDH3mRNA. Notably, ribosome occupancy was generally increased in mRNAs having cognate asRNA that are complementary to the 5’UTR. Taken together, this study revealed theCDH3-AS1-mediated enhancement of P-cadherin translation, underscoring the broader potential of asRNAs as regulators of protein-coding genes and their role in diseases like melanoma.
The Effect of Visual Field Occlusion on Visually Induced Motion Sickness
Authors: Aihara Takatsugu , Yamada Sachiko , Ban Hiroshi 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTVisually induced motion sickness (VIMS), characterized by symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and postural instability, presents significant challenges in modern visual and interactive technologies. These symptoms undermine the immersion into and comfort of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) systems and reduce the usability of autonomous vehicles, highlighting the urgent need to address VIMS for broader adoption of these technologies. While previous studies have largely focused on the motion characteristics that induce VIMS, the impact of visual field configuration, such as segmentation and occlusion, has been largely unexplored. To bridge this gap, we conducted five human psychophysics experiments systematically investigating how visual field segmentation and masking influence VIMS under controlled three-dimensional optical flow conditions. Participants were exposed to different masking patterns, including variations in the number of divided sections, the masking of the central screen region, and the thickness of the masks. Paired-comparison methods were employed to assess participants’ susceptibility to VIMS under each condition. Our findings showed that visual field segmentation significantly influenced VIMS susceptibility. Specifically, the results revealed three key findings: (1) segmenting the visual field into multiple subsections using visual masks significantly increased VIMS susceptibility, (2) thinner masks exacerbated motion sickness more than thicker ones, and (3) masking the central region of the screen reduced susceptibility. These effects were independent of the presented motion patterns. Our findings offer new insights for optimizing the design of VR/AR systems, graphical user interfaces, and autonomous vehicles by highlighting the importance of visual field configuration in mitigating VIMS for improving user experience.
Maize TIR-only Proteins ZmTIR1 and ZmTIR2, but not ZmTIR3 Confer Auto-active Hypersensitive Response Likely by Forming Condensation
Authors: Kang Zi-Xuan , Ge Qi-Dong , Zhang Man-Lin , Tang Chang-Xiao , Yang Man , Liu Shuqing , Dai Yu-Chen , Zhang Hua , Zang Ke , Li Shengjun , Wang Guan-Feng 
Published: December 2024

SUMMARYNucleotide binding, leucine-rich-repeat (NLR) proteins are the major intracellular receptors for defending against pathogen infection. The recognition between NLRs and pathogen secreted effectors often triggers a localized programmed cell death termed hypersensitive response (HR). Despite significant progresses have been achieved in understanding canonical NLRs with the N-terminal Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domains, the molecular mechanisms underlying TIR-only proteins in plant immune responses remain unclear. In this study, we identified six TIR-containing proteins in maize, including three TIR-only proteins. Functional analysis showed that ZmTIR1 and ZmTIR2, but not ZmTIR3, confer autoactive HR when transiently expressed inN. benthamiana. The autoactivity conferred by ZmTIR1 and ZmTIR2 depends on EDS1-PAD4-RNL module and their putative NADase activities. Interestingly, ZmTIR1 and ZmTIR2 predominantly localize in the punctate dots and likely form condensation, while ZmTIR3 mainly localizes in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Two specific amino acids in the BB-loop region were identified to be required for ZmTIR1- and ZmTIR2-mediated condensation formation and auto-HR. Furthermore,ZmTIRandZmTIR2are induced byCochliobolus heterostrophus, the causal agent of southern leaf blight (SLB) in maize, and knock-down the expression ofZmTIR1orZmTIR2decreased the resistance to SLB in maize. Our study reveals a novel mechanism of monocot TIR-only proteins in maize immune responses.
Best Cochlear Locations for Delivering Interaural Timing Cues in Electric Hearing
Authors: Borjigin Agudemu , Dennison Stephen R. , Thakkar Tanvi , Kan Alan , Litovsky Ruth Y. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractGrowing numbers of children and adults who are deaf are eligible to receive cochlear implants (CI), which provide access to everyday sound. CIs in both ears (bilateral CIs or BiCIs) are becoming standard of care in many countries. However, their effectiveness is limited because they do not adequately restore the acoustic cues essential for sound localization, particularly interaural time differences (ITDs) at low frequencies. The cochlea, the auditory sensory organ, typically transmits ITDs more effectively at the apical region, which is specifically "tuned" to low frequencies. We hypothesized that effective restoration of robust ITD perception through electrical stimulation with BiCIs depends on targeting cochlear locations that transmit information most effectively. Importantly, we show that these locations can occur anywhere along the cochlea, even on the opposite end of the frequency map from where ITD cues are most dominantly encoded in an acoustic hearing system.
A Variational Autoencoder Model for Clustering of Cell Nuclei on Microgroove Substrates: Potential for Disease Diagnosis
Authors: Roellinger Bettina , Thenier Francois , Leclech Claire , Coirault Catherine , Angelini Elsa , Barakat Abdul I. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTVarious diseases including laminopathies and certain types of cancer are associated with abnormal nuclear mechanical properties that influence cellular and nuclear deformations in complex environments. Recently, microgroove substrates designed to mimic the anisotropic topography of the basement membrane have been shown to induce significant 3D nuclear deformations in various adherent cell types. Importantly, these deformations are different in myoblast cells derived from laminopathy patients from those in cells derived from normal individuals. Here we assess the ability of a variational autoencoder (VAE) and a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to cluster patches of nuclei of both wildtype myoblast cells and myoblast cells with laminopathy-associated mutations cultured on microgroove substrates, and we explore the impact of image processing parameters on clustering performance. We show that a standard VAE with GMM is able to cluster nuclei based on their morphologies and degrees of deformations and that these clusters correspond to either wildtype myoblasts or myoblasts with LMNA mutations. The current results suggest that combining deep learning techniques with microgroove substrates enables automatic classification of nuclear deformations and thus provides a promising approach for easy and rapid diagnosis of pathologies that involve abnormalities in nuclear deformation.
The endophytic fungusCosmosporellasp. VM-42 fromVinca minoris a source of bioactive compounds with potent activity against drug-resistant bacteria
Authors: He Ting , Li Xiao , del Carmen Flores-Vallejo Rosario , Radu Ana-Maria , van Dijl Jan Maarten , Haslinger Kristina 
Published: December 2024

AbstractMedicinal plants serve as valuable resources for the isolation of endophytic fungi.Vinca minoris a well-known producer of important vinca alkaloids and emerges as a promising source of endophytic fungi with antibacterial potential and biosynthetic capacity. In this study, we isolated an endophytic fungus fromV. minorand identified it asCosmosporellasp. VM-42. To date, relatively little is known about this fungal genus. The ethyl acetate extract of this isolate selectively inhibited Gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MSSA and MRSA). Therefore, we isolated the most abundant compound from the crude extract and identified it as nectriapyrone with MIC and MBC values ranging from 125 to 62.5 µg/mL against MSSA and MRSA strains. We further sequenced and annotated the 39.07 Mb genome of the isolate, revealing that it encodes 9,842 protein-coding genes, including 415 genes for carbohydrate-active enzymes and various biosynthetic gene clusters. Our untargeted metabolomic analysis shows that the fungus produces various secondary metabolites, including cyclodepsipeptides, dimeric naphtho-γ-pyrones, and macrolactones, which are known to have antifungal and antibacterial activities. In addition, we used small-molecule epigenetic modulators to activate the expression of silent biosynthetic gene clusters to broaden the chemical profile ofCosmosporellasp. VM-42. Taken together, we provide a first systematic analysis ofCosmosporellasp. VM-42, and our results show that it is a promising source of compounds with pharmacological potential against drug resistant bacteria.HighlightsFirst comprehensive study ofCosmosporellasp. VM-42 by genomics and metabolomicsThe fungus produces chemically-diverse secondary metabolites with antibacterial activityNectriapyrone, the main compound, shows bactericidal activity against MSSA and MRSASmall-molecule epigenetic modulators trigger production of putatively new secondary metabolites.Other secondary metabolites ofCosmosporellamay present novel bioactivities.
Truncated TrkB: The predominant TrkB Isoform in Nociceptors
Authors: Merlo Jaclyn , Fang-Mei Chang , Tran Michael , Alfaro Jessie , Ibrahim Tarek , Wu Ping , Ruparel Shivani 
Published: December 2024

AbstractTruncated TrkB (TrkBT1), traditionally considered a dominant-negative regulator of full-length TrkB (TrkBTK+), remains poorly understood in peripheral sensory neurons, particularly nociceptors. Furthermore, sensory neuronal TrkB expression and function has been traditionally associated with non-nociceptive neurons, particularly Aδ low-threshold mechanoreceptors. This study challenges prevailing assumptions by demonstrating that TrkBT1 is the predominant TrkB isoform expressed in sensory neurons and plays a functional role in modulating neuronal activity. We demonstrate that TrkBT1 is the predominant isoform expressed in nociceptors, identified by markers such as TRPV1, TRPA1, TRPM8 and 5HT3A, as well as non-nociceptors, while the full-length isoform (TrkBTK+) is restricted to non-nociceptive subpopulation. Functionally, we show that acute application of BDNF induces modest calcium influx in nociceptors and prolonged BDNF exposure significantly potentiates capsaicin-induced calcium influx, an effect blocked by the TrkB-specific antagonist ANA12. Additionally, BDNF also promotes the survival of both nociceptive and non-nociceptive neurons in culture, an effect dependent on TrkBT1 activity. Our data also reveal that ANA12 inhibits BDNF-mediated neuronal sensitization and survival in a concentration-dependent manner, implicating distinct TrkBT1 signaling pathways in these processes. Collectively, our findings redefine TrkBT1 as a functional modulator of nociceptor activity rather than a passive regulator of full-length TrkB. By uncovering its dual roles in nociceptor sensitization and survival, this study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of BDNF/TrkB signaling in pain. Future work evaluating the role of TrkBT1 in sensory biology could offer new perspectives on how this receptor contributes to neuronal function and plasticity during chronic pain conditions.
The effect of using information technology on corporate resilience in the face of tension-causing factors within companies
Authors: Dehghan Sanaz , Hajiha Zohreh , Salehi Mahdi 
Published: December 2024

Purpose
It is crucial to identify the factors that affect corporate resilience to compare a company with others and assess its competitiveness. This study aims to examine the effect of using information technology (IT) on corporate resilience in the face of tension-causing factors within companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE).

Design/methodology/approach
The statistical population of this study includes all the companies listed on the TSE during 2013–2022. A total of 196 companies were selected as the final research sample. The panel data is used to test the research hypotheses using Stata 14.

Findings
The results demonstrate that tension-causing factors within the company have a negative effect on corporate resilience. Moreover, the results indicate that investment in software positively affects the relationship between company tension-causing factors and corporate resilience. Furthermore, the results show that investment in hardware positively affects the relationship between tension-causing factors within companies and corporate resilience.

Originality/value
This study creates a bridge between research on IT, corporate resilience and tension-causing factors within companies. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effect of IT on corporate resilience in the face of tension-causing factors within companies in Iran, particularly in the TSE, thereby contributing to the existing literature in this area.
An IoT-based heat stress management system for the construction industry
Authors: Kodikara Edirisinghe Ruwini , Gunathilake Lahiru 
Published: December 2024

PurposeAlarming statistics underscore the pressing need for effective heat stress management strategies for the construction industry. Validated, holistic systems are lacking. This paper presents the usability of a technological solution that generates early warnings to proactively manage heat stress conditions.Design/methodology/approachTheoretical frameworks guiding technology design, development and validation proposed in this paper are based on the principles of technology readiness levels (TRL). The system encompasses two types of heat stress indicators: environmental and workers’ temperature data. Portable weather stations generate a hierarchy of environmental measurements at multiple levels at various work zones. Internet of Things (IoT) enabled smart vests monitor construction workers’ body temperature in real-time. A web-based system and a smartphone app enable data visualization. The system was deployed on residential construction sites, and usability was evaluated using the strong theoretical frameworks of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and System Usability Scale (SUS). Perceptions of both construction workers and management personnel were captured.FindingsThe usability test provided valuable insights into the effectiveness and practicality of the system. Both construction workers and management provided positive feedback, indicating that the system was user-friendly and enhanced their awareness of thermal conditions on site. The integration of individual temperature monitoring with environmental data has proven to be beneficial for managing heat stress.Originality/valueThis study contributes by providing a validated innovative system that monitors thermal conditions on construction sites using smart personal protective equipment (PPE) and IoT technology. The proposed system, tailored to the construction industry, enables the combining of personal and environmental data to comprehensively and effectively understand thermal conditions. This approach has the potential to reduce heat-related incidents and improve overall worker safety and productivity.
The state as creative destroyer: a systems perspective on entrepreneurship by organised monopolies on violence
Authors: Roth Steffen 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThis article explores the concept of state entrepreneurship, particularly focusing on its darker aspects when states act as creative destroyers.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a systems-theoretical approach to develop a comprehensive framework for understanding the nature of statehood and its role in driving disruptive innovation. The research design includes an analysis of cases of state-mandated planned obsolescence, examining the ethical, political and economic implications of these strategies.FindingsThe main findings highlight that while state-driven innovation is often justified by noble goals such as climate change mitigation, these strategies may lead to ethically questionable outcomes, particularly when economic benefits for the state or associated entities are involved. The study also demonstrates that several aspects of state entrepreneurship align with established definitions of dark side entrepreneurship. The article concludes by underscoring the need for further research into the social costs incurred as states pursue their entrepreneurial missions.Originality/valueThe article demonstrates that states are organisations that pursue business models that would be considered unethical if adopted by other organisations. These models include strategies of state-mandated forms of planned obsolescence, a strategy commonly regarded as environmentally unsustainable or even criminal if performed by business organisations.
Toward sustainable ERP systems and their impact on individual performance in manufacturing SMEs: evidence from a North African developing country
Authors: Ali Mohammed , Ahmed Fawad 
Published: December 2024

PurposeDespite the acknowledged potential of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, existing literature falls short in providing a detailed analysis of the impact these systems may have on user performance. Consequently, this research undertakes a nuanced examination, probing into the dynamics of ERP system utilization. This study posits that elevating employee and organizational performance mandates a dual commitment—ensuring the inherent quality of ERP systems while concurrently fostering user satisfaction and optimizing system usage.Design/methodology/approachSurvey questionnaire was used to collect data and to empirically validate the proposed model. There were total 406 respondents as users of ERP systems within the manufacturing sector in Sudan. SmartPLS SEM was used to analyze data.FindingsThe results confirm the hypothesized relationships underscoring the pivotal role of system usage and user satisfaction as predictive indicators of individual performance and that the quality of information and service are influential determinants not only of ERP system utilization but also of user satisfaction.Originality/valueAddressing UN SDGs, this paper charts a course for comprehending and optimizing the interplay between ERP systems and performance within manufacturing firms in Republic of the Sudan and fills knowledge gap from North African region enterprises.