bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel mouse model of focal limbic seizures that reproduces behavioral impairment associated with cortical slow wave activity
Authors: Sieu Lim-Anna , Singla Shobhit , Sharafeldin Abdelrahman , Chandrasekaran Ganesh , Valcarce-Aspegren Marcus , Niknahad Ava , Fu Ivory , Doilicho Natnael , Gummadavelli Abhijeet , McCafferty Cian , Crouse Richard , Perrenoud Quentin , Picciotto Marina , Cardin Jessica , Blumenfeld Hal 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPatients with focal temporal lobe seizures often experience loss of consciousness. In humans, this loss of consciousness has been shown to be positively correlated with EEG neocortical slow waves, similar to those seen in non-REM sleep. Previous work in rat models of temporal lobe seizures suggests that decreased activity of subcortical arousal systems cause depressed cortical function during seizures. However, these studies were performed under light anesthesia, making it impossible to correlate behavior, and therefore consciousness, to electrophysiologic data. Further, the genetic and molecular toolkits allowing for precise study of the underlying neural circuitry are much more developed in mice than in rats. Here, we describe an awake-behaving, head-fixed mouse model of temporal lobe seizures with both spared and impaired behavior reflecting level of consciousness. Water-restricted mice were head-fixed on a running wheel and trained to associate an auditory stimulus to the delivery of a drop of water from a dispenser. To investigate the effect of seizures on behavior, seizures were electrically induced by stimulating either the left or right hippocampus via a chronically-implanted electrode, while mice were performing the task. Behavior was measured by monitoring lick responses to the auditory stimulus and running speed on the wheel. Further, local field potentials (LFP) signals were simultaneously recorded from hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Induced focal seizures were 5-30s in duration, and repeatable for several weeks (n=20 animals). Behavioral responses showed a decrease in lick rate to auditory stimulus, and decreased running speed during seizures (p<0.01, n=20 animals). Interestingly, licking response to sound could vary from being impaired to normal during seizures. We found that behavioral impairment is correlated with large amplitude cortical slow-wave activity in frontal cortex, as seen in patients with temporal lobe seizures. These results suggest that induced focal limbic seizures in the mouse can impair consciousness and that the impaired consciousness is correlated with depressed cortical function resembling slow wave sleep. This novel mouse model has similar characteristics with previously studied rat models and human temporal lobe seizures. By leveraging the genetic and molecular techniques available in the mouse, this model can be used to further uncover fundamental mechanisms for loss of consciousness in focal seizures.
The tunicate metabolite 2-(3,5-diiodo-4-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-amine targets ion channels of vertebrate sensory neurons
Authors: Paguigan Noemi D. , Yan Yannan , Karthikeyan Manju , Chase Kevin , Carter Jackson , Leavitt Lee S. , Lim Albebson L. , Lin Zhenjian , Memon Tosifa , Christensen Sean B. , Bentzen Bo H. , Schmitt Nicole , Reilly Christopher A. , Teichert Russell W. , Olivera Baldomero M. , Raghuraman Shrinivasan , Schmidt Eric W. 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTMarine tunicates produce defensive amino-acid derived metabolites, including 2-(3,5-diiodo-4-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-amine (DIMTA), but their mechanisms of action are rarely known. Using an assay-guided approach, we found that out of the many different sensory cells in the mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG), DIMTA selectively affected low-threshold cold thermosensors. Whole-cell electrophysiology experiments using DRG cells, channels expressed inXenopusoocytes and human cell lines revealed that DIMTA blocks several potassium channels, reducing the magnitude of the afterhyperpolarization and increasing the baseline [Ca2+]i of low-threshold cold thermosensors. When injected into mice, DIMTA increased the threshold of cold sensation by >3 oC. DIMTA may thus serve as a lead in the further design of compounds that inhibit problems in the cold-sensory system, such as cold allodynia and other neuropathic pain conditions.
An optimized protocol for assay for transposase-accessible chromatin by sequencing (ATAC-seq) library preparation from adultDrosophila melanogasterneurons
Authors: Merrill Collin B. , Pabon Miguel A. , Montgomery Austin B. , Rodan Aylin R. , Rothenfluh Adrian 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTAssay for transposase-accessible chromatin by sequencing (ATAC-seq) is rapidly becoming the assay of choice to investigate chromatin-mediated gene regulation, largely because of low input requirements, a fast workflow, and the ability to interrogate the entire genome in an unbiased manner. Many studies using ATAC-seq use mammalian or human-derived tissues, and established protocols work well in these systems. However, ATAC-seq is not yet widely used inDrosophila. Vinegar flies present several advantages over mammalian systems that make them an excellent model for ATAC-seq studies, including abundant genetic tools that allow straightforward targeting, transgene expression, and genetic manipulation, and are not available in mammalian models. Because current ATAC-seq protocols are not optimized to use flies, we developed an optimized workflow that accounts for several complicating factors present inDrosophila. We examined parameters affecting nuclei isolation, including input size, freezing time, washing, and possible confounds from retinal pigments. Then, we optimized the enzymatic steps of library construction to account for the smallerDrosophilagenome size. Finally, we used our optimized protocol to generate ATAC-seq libraries that meet ENCODE quality metrics. Our optimized protocol enables extensive ATAC-seq experiments inDrosophila, thereby leveraging the advantages of this powerful model system to understand chromatin-mediated gene regulation.
Simple mechanisms of plant reproductive benefits yield different dynamics in pollination and seed dispersal mutualisms
Authors: Hale Kayla R. S. , Maes Daniel P. , Valdovinos Fernanda S. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPollination and seed dispersal mutualisms are critical for biodiversity and ecosystem services yet face mounting threats from anthropogenic perturbations that cause their populations to decline. Characterizing the dynamics of these mutualisms when populations are at low density is important to anticipate consequences of these perturbations. We developed simple population dynamic models detailed enough to distinguish different mechanisms by which plant populations benefit from animal pollination or seed dispersal. We modeled benefits as functions of foraging rate by animals on plant rewards and specified whether they affected plant seed set, germination, or negative density dependence during recruitment. We found that pollination and seed dispersal mutualisms are stable at high density but exhibit different dynamics at low density, depending on plant carrying capacity, animal foraging efficiency, and whether populations are obligate upon their partners for persistence. Under certain conditions, all mutualisms experience destabilizing thresholds in which one population declines because its partner is too rare. Plants additionally experience Allee effects when obligate upon pollinators. Finally, pollination mutualisms can exhibit bistable coexistence at low or high density when plants are facultative upon pollinators. Insights from our models can inform conservation efforts, as mutualist populations continue to decline globally.
Perceived stress among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder in Egypt
Authors: El-Monshed Ahmed Hashem , Amr Mostafa 
Published: May 2021

Purpose
Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families especially their mothers face numerous and pervasive challenges. Difficulties to access quality care, financial burden, issues of adulthood and their child’s behaviors may produce significant stressors to mothers. This study aims to assess perceived stress among mothers of children with ASD in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt on 94 mothers of children with ASD using a structured questionnaire of the socio-demographic and clinical features of the studied mothers and their children and the perceived stress scale (PSS).

Findings
The mean total PSS score of mothers was 31.97 ± 12.39 and the level of autism had a statistically significant relation with stress perceived by the studied mothers.

Research limitations/implications
The findings in this study were based on caregivers’ self-reporting. As such, inaccurate reporting might have biased the findings. The main limitations of this study include non-participation and dropout. During data collection, some mothers declined to participate in the study. Also, the current study was conducted in one hospital. This represents a loss of valuable information and may weaken the generalizability of the current study findings. Another limitation is the use of a convenience sample in the study. With the use of convenience sampling, there is an increased risk of bias, as study participants may not accurately reflect the characteristics of the total population.

Practical implications
Caregivers’ education programs through media and press should be developed for mothers of children with ASD to help those who experience levels of stress by presenting knowledge about ASD and treatment and training on adaptive coping methods and teaching communication and problem-solving. Recognizing levels of stress and parent counseling may be a useful strategy. Regular periodic meetings should be conducted between mothers and hospital personnel to promote proper communication. One key policy implication, this paper can derive from this study is the need for cooperation between the Ministry of Health, social welfare and other relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations to provide support for families of individuals with ASD such as financial aids. It is also recommended that future study would benefit a larger sample to enhance external validity. As well, future qualitative research is recommended to more fully understand the lived experience of mothers of children with ASD.

Originality/value
This study provides evidence that mothers of children with ASD experienced high perceived stress. Caregivers’ education programs through media and press should be developed in Egypt for mothers of children with ASD.
Effects of innovation modes and network partners on innovation performance of young firms
Authors: Li Haiyan 
Published: May 2021

PurposeWhile the importance of “science and technology-based innovation” (STI) and “doing, using and interacting-based innovation” (DUI) innovation modes in firm innovation performance has been well-established, little is known about how they affect the innovation performance of young firms. The author examines the most effective innovation mode and boundary conditions for the innovation performance of developing companies.Design/methodology/approachThe author tests the two modes of innovation using data from 159 young firms in China.FindingsThe author’s analysis indicates that a higher level of DUI innovation mode is more relevant to the innovation performance of newly established enterprises. Moreover, the effectiveness of the innovation mode is bound by the networks in which the company operates and interacts. The effectiveness of STI and DUI innovation modes is enhanced when there are high levels of innovation and business network interconnectedness from the technology network partner.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings have important implications on innovation research as they highlight the joint effects of innovation modes and quality of network ties on young firms seeking to improve their innovation performance.Practical implicationsSTI and DUI innovation modes represent different forms of innovation activities that may affect the knowledge and resources of young firms used to improve innovation performance. Knowing this can help young firms to choose effective innovation mode.Originality/valueThis study makes three contributions. The first is to pay specific attention to the neglected topic of the influence of STI and DUI innovation modes on innovation performance of young firms. Understanding that the two innovation modes offer different methods of gaining knowledge and resources can help young firms choose an effective innovation mode for their business; Second, the author examines the boundary conditions of the effectiveness of innovation modes. Specially, the author examines the moderating role of external networks, which can help clarify conflicting results in this regard. 10;The third contribution is to investigate the importance of network relationships for innovation activities moving beyond the extent of network relationships to instead consider the ability of those relationships to expose a firm to innovative techniques and methods.
Review of maximum power point tracking algorithms of PV system
Authors: Elbarbary Zakaria Mohamed Salem , Alranini Mohamed Abdullrahman 
Published: May 2021

PurposeSilicon photovoltaics technology has drawbacks of high cost and power conversion efficiency. In order to extract the maximum output power of the module, maximum power point (MPP) is used by implying the nonlinear behavior of I-V characteristics. Different techniques are used regarding maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The paper aims to review the techniques of MPPT used in PV systems and review the comparison between Perturb and Observe (P&O) method and incremental conductance (IC) method that are used to track the maximum power and gives a comparative review of all those techniques.Design/methodology/approachA study of MPPT techniques for photovoltaic (PV) systems is presented. Matlab Simulink is used to find the MPP using P&O simulation along with IC simulation at a steady temperature and irradiance.FindingsMATLAB simulations are used to implement the P&O method and IC method, which includes a PV cell connected to an MPPT-controlled boost converter. The simulation results demonstrate the accuracy of the PV model as well as the functional value of the algorithms, which has improved tracking efficiency and dynamic characteristics. P&O solution gave 94% performance when configured. P&O controller has a better time response process. As compared to the P&O method of tracking, the incremental conductance response rate was significantly slower.Originality/valueIn PV systems, MPPT techniques are used to optimize the PV array output power by continuously tracking the MPP under a variety of operating conditions, including cell temperature and irradiation level.
The effects of mental budgeting and pain of payment on the financial decision making of socially excluded people
Authors: Chun Sungyong , Johnson Devon S. 
Published: May 2021

PurposeConsumers who experience social exclusion often prefer high-risk financial products over low-risk financial products. The aim of this study is to examine how this effect can be attenuated by applying the theories of mental budgeting and pain of payment. The authors’ aim in pursuing this research is to improve the effectiveness of financial professionals and others in educating consumers on healthy financial practices. Understanding how social exclusion experiences influence financial decision-making is essential for continued progress in consumer financial education.Design/methodology/approachThe authors examine the effect of consumers experiencing social exclusion on preference for high-risk financial products using an experimental design involving the manipulation of social exclusion/inclusion experiences. Data were collected from 148 consumers of mutual fund investment services via Amazon Mechanical Turk.FindingsThe study found that consumers experiencing social exclusion are more likely to make high risk investments. It also found that this effect is moderated by consumers' level of mental budgeting such that at high levels of mental budgeting the effect of social exclusion on investment choice is attenuated. The study further finds that the moderating effect of mental budgeting is mediated by pain of payment.Social implicationsThe findings of this study suggest that policymakers can reduce unduly risky personal investment behavior by triggering mental budgeting thoughts using methods such as advertising and explicit mention of transaction fees.Originality/valueThe present study builds on existing research demonstrating the adverse behavioral consequences of social exclusion but refines our understanding by demonstrating the attenuating effect of mental budgeting and the mediating effect of pain of payment on high risk financial purchases.
Vulnerability assessment of rural social-ecological system to climate change: a case study of Yunnan Province, China
Authors: He Yueyue , Zhou Changchun , Ahmed Tanveer 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to quantitatively measure the vulnerability level of the whole rural social-ecological system in Yunnan Province and to analyze the spatial differences of the vulnerability in different regions.Design/methodology/approachBased on the “exposure-sensitivity-adaptability” vulnerability assessment framework, this paper establishes the index system of rural social-ecological system vulnerability to climate change. Combined with the questionnaire survey and meteorological data, the entropy method was used to measure and analyze the vulnerability level and influencing factors of the overall rural social-ecological system in Yunnan Province. At the same time, the vulnerability level of social-ecological system in Yunnan Province is divided into five levels, and the spatial differences of vulnerability level of 16 states (cities) in Yunnan Province are analyzed.FindingsThe results show that: the social-ecological system has high exposure to climate change (0.809), strong sensitivity (0.729), moderate adaptability (0.297) and overall system vulnerability is at a medium level (0.373). Yunnan Province is divided into five levels of social-ecological system vulnerable areas. The areas of extreme, severe, moderate, mild and slight vulnerability account for 21.45%, 24.65%, 36.82%, 13.18% and 3.90% of the whole province, respectively. The geographical division and vulnerability division of Yunnan Province are basically consistent in space.Originality/valueComprehensive evaluation of the vulnerability of the social-ecological system of Yunnan Province to climate change is the scientific basis for the country to formulate countermeasures against climate change, and it is also the need to improve the adaptability of the social and economic system of the fragile area, reduce the vulnerability and realize the sustainable development of national social economy. The research results can provide a basis for decision-making of climate adaptation in Yunnan and other regions and provide methods and indicators for the assessment of social-ecological system vulnerability under the background of climate change.
Entrepreneurship? Let us do it later: procrastination in the intention–behavior gap of student entrepreneurship
Authors: Harima Aki , Gießelmann Jessica , Göttsch Vibeka , Schlichting Lina 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThis study aims to explore the intention–behavior gap of student entrepreneurs who develop entrepreneurial intention in a venture creation course and decide to continue working on the business idea after completing the course. While many students decide to work on business concepts, they often struggle with taking further steps when the course ends. This suggests that the development of entrepreneurial intention in the course does not directly lead to entrepreneurial actions after the course. Hence, this paper examines the sources for the intention–action gap and behavioral responses of student entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approachThis study applied a systematic inductive qualitative research method to examine how student entrepreneurs encounter challenges after the entrepreneurship program and how they respond to them. The authors selected a venture development course at a German public university as their research context.FindingsThe findings revealed that students encountered substantial challenges after the program, which invoked their procrastinating behaviors. Based on the findings, this study developed a process model of the intention–behavior gap in student entrepreneurship. The process model provides a roadmap to follow the main findings, which consist of three main parts: (1) the antecedents of the intention–behavior gap; (2) behavioral responses of student entrepreneurs and (3) the outcomes of procrastination.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the emerging student entrepreneurship literature by identifying obstacles for students who intend to continue developing a venture after attending venture creation courses, as well as elaborating on possible student responses to these barriers and their subsequent impact on their nascent ventures. Furthermore, the findings contribute to developing the understanding of the intention–behavior gap in entrepreneurship education at higher education institutions by highlighting challenges for students that emerge in the transition phase from course participants to autonomous entrepreneurial actors.Originality/valueScholars have generally emphasized the vital role of entrepreneurship education in developing the entrepreneurial intentions of students as prospective entrepreneurs. However, researchers have only rarely examined how these intentions are translated into actions. Furthermore, the existing research on students' intention–behavior gap is limited to quantitative studies that demonstrate the existence of the gap empirically or apply theoretically derived moderators to their analysis. Consequently, the literature calls for more qualitative, explorative research approaches to understand what happens to students' entrepreneurial intentions once their entrepreneurship program is over.