bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dairy vs. beef production – expert views on welfare
Authors: Mandel Roi , Bracke Marc B.M. , Nicol Christine J. , Webster John A. , Gygax Lorenz 
Published: December 2021

AbstractConsumers’ views and concerns about the welfare of farm animals may play an important role in their decision to consume dairy, meat and/or plants as their primary protein source. As animals are killed prematurely in both dairy and beef industries, it is important to quantify and compare welfare compromise in these two sectors before the point of death. Seventy world-leading bovine welfare experts based in 23 countries, were asked to evaluate the likelihood of a bovine to experience 12 states of potential welfare concern, inspired by the Welfare Quality® protocol. The evaluation focused on the most common beef and dairy production systems in the experts’ country, and was carried out separately for dairy/beef calves raised for red-meat, dairy/beef calves raised for veal, dairy/beef calves raised as replacement, and for dairy/beef cows. The results show experts rated the overall likelihood of a negative welfare state (i.e. welfare risk) to be higher in animals from dairy herds than from beef herds, for all animal categories, regardless of whether they were used to produce milk, red-meat or veal. These findings suggest that consuming food products derived from common dairy production systems (dairy or meat), may be more harmful to the welfare of animals than consuming products derived from common beef production systems (i.e. from animals solely raised for their meat). Raising awareness about the linkage between dairy and meat production, and the toll of milk production on the welfare state of animals in the dairy industry, may encourage a more sustainable and responsible food consumption.
A naturally DNase-free CRISPR-Cas12c enzyme silences gene expression
Authors: Huang Carolyn J. , Adler Benjamin A. , Doudna Jennifer A. 
Published: December 2021

SUMMARYUsed widely for genome editing in human cells, plants and animals, CRISPR-Cas enzymes including Cas9 and Cas12 provide RNA-guided immunity to microbes by targeting foreign DNA sequences for cleavage. We show here that the native activity of CRISPR-Cas12c protects bacteria from phage infection by binding to DNA targets without cleaving them, revealing that antiviral interference can be accomplished without chemical attack on the invader or general metabolic disruption in the host. Biochemical experiments demonstrate that Cas12c is a site-specific ribonuclease capable of generating mature CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) from precursor transcripts. Furthermore, we find that crRNA maturation is essential for Cas12c-mediated DNA targeting. Surprisingly, however, these crRNAs direct double-stranded DNA binding by Cas12c using a mechanism that precludes DNA cutting. Cas12c’s RNA-guided DNA binding activity enables robust transcriptional repression of fluorescent reporter proteins in cells. Furthermore, this naturally DNase-free Cas12c enzyme can protect bacteria from lytic bacteriophage infection when targeting an essential phage gene. Together these results show that Cas12c employs targeted DNA binding to provide anti-viral immunity in bacteria, providing a native DNase-free pathway for transient antiviral immunity.
Processing body dynamics drive non-genetic MEK inhibitors tolerance by fine-tuning KRAS and NRAS translation
Authors: Vidal-Cruchez Olivia , Nicolini Victoria J , Rete Tifenn , Rezzonico Roger , Lacoux Caroline , Fassy Julien , Jacquet Karine , Domdom Marie-Angela , Ventujol Chloé , Juhel Thierry , Roméo Barnabé , Roux Jérémie , Hubstenberger Arnaud , Mari Bernard , Mograbi Baharia , Hofman Paul , Brest Patrick 
Published: December 2021

AbstractOveractivation of the Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a critical driver of many human cancers. However, therapies targeting this pathway have proven effective in only a few cancers, as cancers inevitably develop resistance. Puzzling observations suggest that MAPK targeting fails in tumors due to early compensatory RAS overexpression, albeit by unexplained mechanisms. We identified a novel mechanism of drug tolerance to MEK inhibitors (MEKi) that involves Processing Bodies (PBs), a membraneless organelle (MLO). MEKi promoted translation of the oncogenes KRAS and NRAS, which in turn triggered BRAF phosphorylation. This overexpression, which occurred in the absence of neotranscription, depended on PB dissolution as the source of the RAS mRNA. Moreover, in response to MEKi removal, the process was dynamic as PBs rapidly reformed and reduced MAPK signaling. These results highlight a dynamic spatiotemporal negative feedback loop of MAPK signaling via RAS mRNA sequestration. Furthermore, we observed a phenotype with a low number of PBs along with strong KRAS and NRAS induction capacities. Overall, we describe a new intricate mechanism involving PBs in the translational regulation of essential cellular signaling pathways like MAPKs, paving the way for future therapies altering MLO and thereby improving targeted cancer therapies.
Exophers are components of mammalian cell neurobiology in health and disease
Authors: Siddique Ibrar , Di Jing , Williams Christopher K. , Markovic Daniela , Vinters Harry V. , Bitan Gal 
Published: December 2021

AbstractMaintenance of cellular homeostasis is critically important for the survival of cells and organisms. Degradation and recycling of biomolecules and whole organelles is an essential mechanism for maintaining cellular homeostasis. The main systems responsible for these processes are the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy-lysosome pathway. Another mechanism was reported in c. elegans—formation of large, membrane-enclosed projections called “exophers,” into which cells direct debris and toxic protein aggregates1. Exophers were shown to act as large, temporary disposal compartments that disconnected from the cells within several hours. Here, we report the discovery of exophers in the mammalian brain, including the brains of humans and mice. Similar to those described in nematodes, the mammalian exophers appear to emanate from the cell body, initially connected by a nanotube, and eventually disconnect. Rare, innate exophers were found in healthy human brain and primary neurons from wild-type mice, presumably mediating transfer of large cargo between cells. The number of exophers increased as an adaptive response under proteostatic stress, e.g., in Alzheimer’s disease brain or in primary neurons from two tauopathy mouse models, where the exophers likely facilitated expulsion of proteotoxic material. Our findings suggest that exopherogenesis is a rare, innate house-keeping process that is elevated adaptively in response to proteostatic pressure and is a conserved mechanism from nematodes to humans.
SPECIFIC DETECTION OF SARS-COV-2 B.1.1.529 (OMICRON) VARIANT BY FOUR RT-qPCR DIFFERENTIAL ASSAYS
Authors: Erster Oran , Beth-Din Adi , Asraf Hadar , Levy Virginia , Kabat Areej , Mannasse Batya , Azar Roberto , Shifman Ohad , Lazar Shirley , Mandelboim Michal , Fleishon Shay , Mendelson Ella , Zuckerman Neta S 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn this report, we describe four RT-qPCR assays that enable rapid identification of the newly emerging SARS-COV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern. The assays target Omicron characteristic mutations in the nsp6 (Orf1a), spike and nucleocapsid genes. We demonstrate that the assays are straightforward to assemble and perform, are amendable for multiplexing, and may be used as a reliable first-line tool to identify B.1.1.529 suspected samples. Importantly, this is a preliminary development report. Further validation and optimization of the assays described herein will be published hereafter.
Fawn and deer: a public institution’s biological assets valuation
Authors: Abdullah Zaimah , Shaari Hasnah , Chandren Sitraselvi , Mohd Ariff Arifatul Husna 
Published: December 2021

Study level/applicability
The teaching case is designed to be used by students in higher education institutions at the undergraduate level. This case may also be relevant for staff at the bursary departments of any public universities or public organizations that have biological assets.

Case overview
This case provides a study on agricultural activity at Universiti Pengurusan Malaysia (UNIPM). The purpose of this case is to create greater awareness for case users on the accounting framework and on methods recommended for recording specific assets in agricultural activity, i.e., biological assets. This case provides users with experience in explaining the nature of an organization’s agricultural activities and accounting for biological assets as recommended in the Malaysian accounting framework. In addition, users are exposed to some current issues in accounting standards, such as ethical issues. In this case, Fakhrul, an accountant at UNIPM and a leader of the Asset Unit, was responsible for reporting the value of all UNIPM’s assets, including biological assets. He was instructed to accurately recognize, measure, and disclose the value of biological assets according to the appropriate accounting standard. Furthermore, UNIPM had been urged to replace the existing accounting standard of the Malaysian Private Entity Reporting Standard (MPERS) with the Malaysian Public Sector Accounting Standard (MPSAS). Fakhrul was considering how to account for and report biological assets according to the new MPSAS. This case is a decision making or ‘unfinished’ case which is suitable for financial accounting and reporting courses. The names of the people and the university are fictitious, but the details were based on actual events. A series of interviews were conducted with the key players to gather the data. Other useful documents such as the university’s annual report, university’s website and the deer reports were also referred.

Expected learning outcomes
The primary objective of this teaching case is to provide an opportunity for case users to understand both the accounting framework and the methods recommended for recording specific assets in agricultural activity. More specifically, the teaching objectives of this case are to achieve the following learning outcomes: to identify the relevant accounting standard for recognizing, measuring, reporting, and disclosing biological assets by public universities in Malaysia, to apply the appropriate accounting treatment in recognizing, measuring, reporting, and disclosing biological assets in accordance with the appropriate accounting standard for public universities in Malaysia and to understand the ethical issues involved in deer valuation methods.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code
CSS 1: Accounting and finance.
A machine learning method to predict the technology adoption of blockchain in Palestinian firms
Authors: Hamdan Ihab K.A. , Sumarliah Eli , Fauziyah Fauziyah 
Published: December 2021

PurposeThe study aims to deliver a decision support system for business leaders to estimate the potential for effective technological adoption of the blockchain (TAB) with a machine learning approach.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a Bayesian network examination to develop an extrapolative system of decision support, highlighting the influential determinants that managers can employ to predict the TAB possibilities in their companies. Data were gathered from 167 SMEs in the largest industrial sectors in Palestine.FindingsThe results reveal perceived benefit and ease of use as the most influential determinants of the TAB.Originality/valueThis research is an initial effort to examine factors influencing TAB in the perspective of SMEs in Palestine using machine learning algorithms.
Strategic responses to crisis: a review and synthesis of promising research directions
Authors: Kozachenko Ekaterina , Anand Amitabh , Shirokova Galina 
Published: December 2021

Purpose
A strategic response to crisis research is a critical and growing area of study in management and business literature. Consequently, the sudden rise of COVID-19, that has a substantial adverse impact on the global economy in a relatively short period of time, brings into sharp focus on the possible and most effective types of strategic responses adopted by firms. In this context, this study aims to shed light on the types of strategic responses adopted by firms and the possible outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach
To contribute to the advancement of knowledge around strategic responses in general for business, this study conducted a keyword bibliometric analysis reviewing 66 articles from highly ranked journals according to ABS list of journals published between the period 2006–2020 and synthesize the existing research on strategic responses.

Findings
This research enabled the identification of the novel typology of strategic responses to the crisis, such as revived stakeholders’ relationships, revived pricing mechanisms and revived organizational compliance, and their outcomes. Additionally, the analysis established many research areas for scholars who will deal with this topic in the future.

Originality/value
The literature review contributes to the management and business literature by providing a novel and comprehensive classification of crisis responses and synthesizing all new knowledge gained within a new conceptual framework.
Research Highlight: Social dispersal in giraffes
Authors: Börger Luca 
Published: December 2021

AbstractResearch Highlight: Bond, M. L., Lee, D. E., Ozgul, A., Farine, D. R., & König, B. (2021). Leaving by staying: Social dispersal in giraffes. Journal of Animal Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2656.13582. Dispersal is a key ecological and evolutionary process, which shows marked variability between and within species. The social and kinship structure of species fundamentally affects the patterns and types of dispersal, but information on how animals with fission–fusion group dynamics disperse is missing. Bond et al. provide novel data on natal dispersal of giraffe calves in relation to their dynamic multilayered social system, showing that individuals from both sexes can disperse socially, by switching association with different social groups, without leaving their natal area.The results highlight that traditional spatial‐only measures of dispersal, such as dispersal distance, may be inadequate for social species with overlapping social units.
Contentious connections: infrastructure, dignity, and collective life in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Destrée Pauline 
Published: December 2021

AbstractInfrastructural systems have emerged as productive ethnographic sites for analysing political subjectivities and rationalities. Through the case of shared electricity and prepaid meters in the compound housing system of Accra, Ghana, I suggest that infrastructures’ political potential lies in their imaginative and hermeneutic abilities to foster desires for dignity, sustain well‐being, and question moral ideals of collective life. In contrast to recent anthropological work that has emphasized the material basis of infrastructures as ‘techno‐political’ devices materializing certain logics of rule and governance, I reclaim a poetics of sociality whereby infrastructures mobilize a politics of (unwanted) collective life. Through the ‘electricity stories’ circulated by tenants, I chart how the moral economy of infrastructure in a context of collective precarity redistributes marginalization and freedom in ways that always exceed political rationales of energy reforms and policies.
The price of a sex offense conviction: A comparative analysis of the costs of community supervision
Authors: Huebner Beth M. , Giuffre Andrea , Pleggenkuhle Breanne , Kras Kimberly R. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractMonetary sanctions can expand the scope and depth of punishment. Most research on monetary sanctions has centered on fines and fees assessed by the court, but they are also routinely imposed as part of the probation and parole sentence. In this article, we draw on in‐depth interview data from a sample of individuals under correctional supervision to document the often hidden costs of correctional control. We further consider a subsample of participants convicted of sexual offenses to illustrate the unique way that monetary sanctions are levied on groups of people who are considered more morally culpable and worthy of carceral control. We find that monetary sanctions are regularly assessed and challenging for most participants. The stigma of a sexual offense conviction and economic precarity, particularly among Black members of the sample, further the costs of punishment. We contend that costs associated with a sexual offense are unique because they can continue in perpetuity, govern normative behavior, and are centered on an assumption of continued guilt. We argue that the monetary sanctions levied against convicted persons, especially individuals with sexual offenses, demonstrate the often hidden and expansive nature of carceral control for other marginalized groups.
Frequency, composition and mobility of Escherichia coli‐derived transposable elements in holdings of plasmid repositories
Authors: Brkljacic Jelena , Wittler Bettina , Lindsey Benson English , Ganeshan Veena Devi , Sovic Michael G. , Niehaus Jason , Ajibola Walliyulahi , Bachle Susanna M. , Fehér Tamás , Somers David E. 
Published: December 2021

SummaryBy providing the scientific community with uniform and standardized resources of consistent quality, plasmid repositories play an important role in enabling scientific reproducibility. Plasmids containing insertion sequence elements (IS elements) represent a challenge from this perspective, as they can change the plasmid structure and function. In this study, we conducted a systematic analysis of a subset of plasmid stocks distributed by plasmid repositories (The Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center and Addgene) which carry unintended integrations of bacterial mobile genetic elements. The integration of insertion sequences was most often found in, but not limited to, pBR322‐derived vectors, and did not affect the function of the specific plasmids. In certain cases, the entire stock was affected, but the majority of the stocks tested contained a mixture of the wild‐type and the mutated plasmids, suggesting that the acquisition of IS elements likely occurred after the plasmids were acquired by the repositories. However, comparison of the sequencing results of the original samples revealed that some plasmids already carried insertion mutations at the time of donation. While an extensive BLAST analysis of 47 877 plasmids sequenced from the Addgene repository uncovered IS elements in only 1.12%, suggesting that IS contamination is not widespread, further tests showed that plasmid integration of IS elements can propagate in conventional Escherichia coli hosts over a few tens of generations. Use of IS‐free E. coli hosts prevented the emergence of IS insertions as well as that of small indels, suggesting that the use of IS‐free hosts by donors and repositories could help limit unexpected and unwanted IS integrations into plasmids.
Functional role and regulation of permeability‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) in the fetal membrane during drug transportation
Authors: Kammala Ananthkumar , Benson Meagan , Ganguly Esha , Richardson Lauren , Menon Ramkumar 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectiveNa+/H+ exchange regulatory factor‐1 (NHERF‐1) is a class I PDZ (PSD95/Discs‐large/ZO‐1) binding protein involved in cell‐surface expression and stabilization of transporter proteins, including permeability‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) in various cell types. P‐gp, expressed in placental trophoblasts, is an efflux transporter protein that influences the pharmacokinetics of various drugs used during pregnancy. Previously we have reported that NHERF‐1 regulates fetal membrane inflammation. However, the role of NHERF‐1 in regulating P‐gp in the fetal membrane during drug transportation remains unclear. This study determined the interplay between NHERF‐1 and P‐gp in human fetal membrane cells.MethodsFetal membranes from normal, term cesareans were screened for P‐gp by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Chorionic trophoblast (CTC), with the highest expression of P‐gp among fetal membrane cells, was further used to test interactive properties between NHERF‐1 and P‐gp. BeWo (placental trophoblast cell line) cells were used as a control. Immunoprecipitation (IP) of CTC lysates using the P‐gp antibody followed by western blot determined co‐precipitation of NHERF‐1. Silencing NHERF‐1 using small interfering RNA further tested the relevance of NHERF‐1 in P‐gp expression and function in CTC and BeWo cells. NHERF‐1 regulation of P‐gp's efflux function (drug resistance) was further tested using the ENZOTM efflux dye kit.ResultsImmunohistochemistry localized, and western blot confirmed P‐gp in human fetal membranes, primarily in the CTC with limited expression in the amnion epithelial layer. P‐gp expression in the membranes was similar to that seen in the placenta. IP data showed P‐gp co‐precipitating with NHERF1. Silencing of NHERF‐1 resulted in significant drug resistance suggesting P‐gp function mediated through NHERF1 in CTCs.ConclusionProinflammatory mediator NHERF‐1 regulates P‐gp and control drug transportation across the fetal membranes. Our data suggest a novel functional role for fetal membranes during pregnancy. Besides the placenta, fetal membranes may also regulate efflux of materials at the feto‐maternal interface and control drug transport during pregnancy.
The upregulation of tryptophan hydroxylase‐2 expression is important for premature ejaculation treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Authors: Zhu Tianle , Gao Pan , Gao Jingjing , Liu Xi , Jiang Hui , Zhang Xiansheng 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlthough there was some evidence to suggest that the serotonergic system in the brain played an important role in premature ejaculation (PE), tryptophan hydroxylase‐2 (TPH2) is considered to be the key enzyme for the synthesis of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) and few studies have reported that brain TPH2 is involved in the regulation of ejaculation.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate whether changes in brain TPH2 levels were associated with PE and to explore the effects of acute administration of dapoxetine on TPH2 expression in the brain of rats with rapid ejaculation.Materials and methodsBased on the ejaculation frequency, the male rats were split into three groups: “rapid,” “normal,” and “sluggish” ejaculators. The level of 5‐HT in the brain was determined by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. TPH2 expression was detected by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe results showed that the concentration of 5‐HT and the expression of TPH2 in rapid rats were the lowest, while those in sluggish rats were the highest. Correlation analysis also indicated the level of TPH2 was positively correlated with ejaculation latency (r = 0.8633, p < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with ejaculation frequency (r = –0.874, p < 0.001). In addition, dapoxetine acute administration to rapid rats resulted in upregulation of TPH2 expression in the brain.DiscussionThere was an important link between the level of TPH2 and the change of ejaculation behaviors. Decreased expression of TPH2 in relevant brain regions will lead to rapid ejaculation. Moreover, the effect of dapoxetine on prolonging ejaculation may be due to the upregulation of TPH2 expression.ConclusionWe found the correlation between the level of TPH2 in the brain and PE. The findings in this study will open up a novel way for future research in PE therapy.