bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modulation in Alpha Band Activity Reflects Syntax Composition: An MEG Study of Minimal Syntactic Binding
Authors: Hardy Sophie M. , Jensen Ole , Wheeldon Linda , Mazaheri Ali , Segaert Katrien 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSuccessful sentence comprehension requires the binding, or composition, of multiple words into larger structures to establish meaning. Using magnetoencephalography, we investigated the neural mechanisms involved in binding at the syntax level, in a task where contributions from semantics were minimized. Participants were auditorily presented with minimal sentences that required binding (pronoun and pseudo-verb with the corresponding morphological inflection; “she grushes”) and pseudo-verb wordlists that did not require binding (“cugged grushes”). Relative to no binding, we found that syntactic binding was associated with a modulation in alpha band (8-12 Hz) activity in left-lateralized language regions. First, we observed a significantly smaller increase in alpha power around the presentation of the target word (“grushes”) that required binding (-0.05s to 0.1s), which we suggest reflects an expectation of binding to occur. Second, during binding of the target word (0.15s to 0.25s), we observed significantly decreased alpha phase-locking between the left inferior frontal gyrus and the left middle/inferior temporal cortex, which we suggest reflects alpha-driven cortical disinhibition serving to strengthen communication within the syntax composition neural network. Together, our findings highlight the critical role of rapid spatial-temporal alpha band activity in controlling the allocation, transfer and coordination of the brain’s resources during syntax composition.
Independent host- and bacterium-based determinants protect a model symbiosis from phage predation
Authors: Lynch Jonathan B. , Bennett Brittany D. , Merrill Bryan D. , Ruby Edward G. , Hryckowian Andrew J. 
Published: July 2021

Summary/AbstractBacteriophages (phages) are diverse and abundant constituents of microbial communities worldwide, and are capable of modulating bacterial populations in diverse ways. Here we describe a novel phage, ϕHNL01, which infects the marine bacteriumVibrio fischeri. We use culture-based approaches to demonstrate that mutations in the exopolysaccharide locus ofV. fischerirender this bacterium resistant to infection by ϕHNL01, highlighting the extracellular matrix as a key determinant of phage tropism in this interaction. Additionally, using the natural symbiosis betweenV. fischeriand the squidEuprymna scolopes, we show that during colonization,V. fischeriis protected from phage present in the ambient seawater. Taken together, these findings shed light on independent yet synergistic host- and bacterium-based strategies for resisting symbiosis-disrupting phage predation, and present important implications for understanding these strategies in the context of host-associated microbial ecosystems.
Impact of temperature on the affinity of SARS-CoV-2 Spike for ACE2
Authors: Prévost Jérémie , Richard Jonathan , Gasser Romain , Ding Shilei , Fage Clément , Anand Sai Priya , Adam Damien , Vergara Natasha Gupta , Tauzin Alexandra , Benlarbi Mehdi , Gong Shang Yu , Goyette Guillaume , Privé Anik , Moreira Sandrine , Charest Hugues , Roger Michel , Mothes Walther , Pazgier Marzena , Brochiero Emmanuelle , Boivin Guy , Abrams Cameron F. , Schön Arne , Finzi Andrés 
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACTThe seasonal nature in the outbreaks of respiratory viral infections with increased transmission during low temperatures has been well established. The current COVID-19 pandemic makes no exception, and temperature has been suggested to play a role on the viability and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2. The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the Spike glycoprotein binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to initiate viral fusion. Studying the effect of temperature on the receptor-Spike interaction, we observed a significant and stepwise increase in RBD-ACE2 affinity at low temperatures, resulting in slower dissociation kinetics. This translated into enhanced interaction of the full Spike to ACE2 receptor and higher viral attachment at low temperatures. Interestingly, the RBD N501Y mutation, present in emerging variants of concern (VOCs) that are fueling the pandemic worldwide, bypassed this requirement. This data suggests that the acquisition of N501Y reflects an adaptation to warmer climates, a hypothesis that remains to be tested.
Metabolic state of human blastocysts measured by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
Authors: Venturas Marta , Shah Jaimin S. , Yang Xingbo , Sanchez Tim , Conway William , Sakkas Denny , Needleman Dan J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMammalian embryos undergo large changes in metabolism over the course of preimplantation development. Embryo metabolism has long been linked to embryo viability, suggesting its potential utility in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) to aid in selecting high quality embryos. However, the metabolism of human embryos remains poorly characterized due to a lack of non-invasive methods to measure their metabolic state. Here, we explore the application of metabolic imaging via fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) for studying human blastocysts. We use FLIM to measure the autofluorescence of two central coenzymes, NAD(P)H and FAD+, in 215 discarded human blastocysts from 137 patients. We find that FLIM is sensitive enough to detect significant metabolic differences between blastocysts. We show that the metabolic state of human blastocysts changes continually over time, and that variations between blastocyst are partially explained by both the time since fertilization and their developmental stage, but not their morphological grade. We also observe significant metabolic heterogeneity within individual blastocysts, including between the inner cell mass and the trophectoderm, and between the portions of hatching blastocysts within and without the zona pellucida. Taken together, this work reveals novel aspects of the metabolism of human blastocysts and suggests that FLIM is a promising approach to assess embryo viability through non-invasive, quantitative measurements of their metabolism.
SAXS analysis of intrinsic tenase complex bound to lipid nanodisc highlights intermolecular contacts between factors VIIIa/IXa
Authors: Childers Kenneth C. , Peters Shaun C. , Lollar P. , Spencer H. Trent , Doering Christopher B. , Spiegel P. Clint 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe intrinsic tenase (Xase) complex, formed by factors (f)VIIIa and fIXa, forms on activated platelet surfaces and catalyzes the activation of factor X to Xa, stimulating thrombin production in the blood coagulation cascade. The structural organization of the membrane-bound Xase complex remains largely unknown, hindering our understanding of the structural underpinnings that guide Xase complex assembly. Here, we aimed to characterize the Xase complex bound to a lipid nanodisc with biolayer interferometry (BLI) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Using immobilized lipid nanodiscs, we measured binding rates and nanomolar affinities for fVIIIa, fIXa, and the Xase complex. An ab initio molecular envelope of the nanodisc-bound Xase complex allowed us to computationally model fVIIIa and fIXa docked onto a flexible lipid membrane and identify protein-protein interactions. Our results highlight multiple points of contact between fVIIIa and fIXa, including a novel interaction with fIXa at the fVIIIa A1-A3 domain interface. Lastly, we identified hemophilia A/B-related mutations with varying severities at the fVIIIa/fIXa interface that may regulate Xase complex assembly. Together, our results support the use of SAXS as an emergent tool to investigate the membrane-bound Xase complex and illustrate how mutations at the fVIIIa/fIXa dimer interface may disrupt or stabilize the activated enzyme complex.
Monoacylglycerol disrupts Golgi structure and perilipin 2 association with lipid droplets
Authors: Harris Lydia-Ann L.S. , Skinner James R. , Shew Trevor M. , Abumrad Nada A. , Wolins Nathan E. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe two major products of intestinal triacylglycerol digestion and lipoprotein lipolysis are monoacylglycerols (MAG) and fatty acids. In the gut, these products are taken up by enterocytes and packaged into perilipin-coated cytosolic lipid droplets and then secreted as chylomicrons. We observed that fat feeding or intragastric administration of triacylglycerol oil caused the enterocyte Golgi to fragment into submicron puncta dispersed throughout the cytosol. Further, this apparent Golgi dispersion was also observed in cultured fibroblasts after treatment with fat (cream) and pancreatic lipase, but not when treated with deactivated lipase. We therefore hypothesized that a hydrolytic fat product, specifically monoacylglycerols, fatty acids or a combination of these molecules can trigger Golgi fragmentation. Disruption of coatomer function is known to cause Golgi to fuse with the ER, and blocks perilipin 2 delivery to lipid droplets. Thus, we assessed the effects of MAG on coatomer distribution, Golgi structure and perilipin 2 localization. We found that MAG, but not fatty acids, dispersed coatomer from the Golgi, fragmented the Golgi and caused perilipin 2 to accumulate on cellular membranes. Thus, our findings suggest that monoacylglycerol production during digestion disperses the Golgi, possibly by altering coatomer function, which may regulate metabolite transport between the ER and Golgi.
sMEK1 promotes crosstalk between IRE1 and Akt signalling pathways: Evidence for a novel IRE1/sMEK1/Akt complex
Authors: Qadri Ozaira , Bashir Samirul , Banday Mariam , Pal Debnath , Fazili Khalid Majid 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is a dynamic cellular pathway that helps maintain proteostasis during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. One of the key UPR sensors is IRE1, which plays a central role in managing ER stress and interacts with other cellular pathways to regulate cell homeostasis. The Akt signalling pathway, on the other hand, is a crucial survival pathway involved in diverse cellular functions like growth, proliferation, glucose metabolism, and survival. This study explores the interplay between these two important cell signalling pathways. Specifically, our study revealed that IRE1 negatively regulates Akt through the protein phosphatase sMEK1. We identified sMEK1 and Akt as novel interacting partners of IRE1, which together form a ternary complex that helps coordinate the IRE1 and Akt signalling networks. The IRE1/sMEK1/Akt ternary complex results in the dephosphorylation of Akt by sMEK1 in the presence of activated IRE1. Together, this study sheds light on the molecular mechanism underlying the UPR/Akt link and provides valuable insights into the overall impact of their interaction.
Light-dependent THRUMIN1 phosphorylation regulates its association with actin filaments and 14-3-3 proteins
Authors: Dwyer Matthew E. , Hangarter Roger P. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractLight-dependent chloroplast movements in leaf cells contribute to the optimization of photosynthesis. Low light conditions induce chloroplast accumulation along periclinal cell surfaces, providing greater access to the available light, whereas high light induces movement of chloroplasts to anticlinal cell surfaces providing photodamage protection and allowing more light to reach underlying cell layers. The THRUMIN1 protein is required for normal chloroplast movements in Arabidopsis thaliana and has been shown to localize at the plasma membrane and to undergo rapid light-dependent interactions with actin filaments through the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region. A predicted WASP-Homology 2 (WH2) domain was found in the intrinsically disordered region but mutations in this domain did not disrupt localization of THRUMIN1:YFP to actin filaments. A series of other protein truncations and site-directed mutations of known and putative phosphorylation sites indicated that a phosphomimetic mutation (serine to aspartic acid) at position 170 disrupted localization of THRUMIN1 with actin filaments. However, the phosphomimetic mutant rescued the thrumin1-2 mutant phenotype for chloroplast movement and raises questions about the role of THRUMIN1’s interaction with actin. Mutation of serine 146 to aspartic acid also resulted in cytoplasmic localization of THRUMIN1:YFP in Nicotiana benthamiana. Mutations to a group of putative zinc-binding cysteine clusters implicates the C-terminus of THRUMIN1 in chloroplast movement. Phosphorylation-dependent association of THRUMIN1 with 14-3-3 KAPPA and OMEGA were also identified. Together, these studies provide new insights into the mechanistic role of THRUMIN1 in light-dependent chloroplast movements.One Sentence SummarySite-directed mutagenesis of THRUMIN1 revealed critical sites involved in blue light-dependent localization of THRUMIN1 to actin filaments, 14-3-3 proteins, and its regulation of chloroplast movement.
Sustainable assessment criteria for airport runway material selection: a fuzzy analytical hierarchy approach
Authors: AlKheder Sharaf , AlKandari Dalal , AlYatama Sarah 
Published: July 2021

PurposeAirport construction is extremely different than the construction of any other transport infrastructure. It is a vital area affecting both the environment and the economy. Therefore, sustainable selection of building materials represents a very important step. The main objective of this paper was to develop a set of sustainable assessment criteria (SAC) to assist design team members in the selection between two different material alternatives when constructing a new runway in Kuwait international airport. The proposed materials were asphalt or concrete.Design/methodology/approachA set of 24 sub-criteria were developed, those were emerged from three main criteria: technical, environmental and socio-economic. Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) was employed to assign weights and to measure the relative importance of these criteria for the material alternatives selection. The prioritizing process for criteria was based on a survey of 100 responses.FindingsIt had been concluded from the use of FAHP that asphalt material was a better alternative in maintainability, ease of construction, health and safety, initial cost and energy saving. Concrete was better in fire resistance, durability, decay resistance, energy saving and thermal insulation, maintenance cost, aesthetics, minimizing pollution, impact on air quality, low toxicity, environmentally disposal sound system, amount of likely wastage and raw material extraction method.Originality/valueDevelop a set of SAC to assist design team members in deciding between two material alternatives to construct a runway.
Enhancing healthcare supply chain resilience: decision-making in a fuzzy environment
Authors: Rehman Obaid ur , Ali Yousaf 
Published: July 2021

PurposeResilience is a fundamental component of healthcare supply chains, as the quality and endurance of human life are dependent on them. However, there are numerous resilience-building measures, and there is a need for prioritization of those strategies. This research study aims to prioritize resilience strategies for healthcare supply chains while considering the risks that most severe, probable to occur and have the lengthiest periods of recovery.Design/methodology/approachThis research study has used multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques for analysis. Initially, the criteria for prioritization of risks, i.e. severity, probability of occurrence and recovery time were assigned with importance weights through the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Then, these weights were used in the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPIS) analysis for prioritization of risks. Subsequently, the identified risks were used for highlighting the appropriate resilience strategies through the fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) technique.FindingsResults indicate that Industry 4.0, multiple sourcing, risk awareness, agility and global diversification of suppliers, markets and operations are the most significant resilience strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThis study's limitation is that it is conducted in a general perspective, rather than reducing the context to a developing or developed country. Different areas have variable market factors, due to which potential risks occur in a different form. Moreover, resilience strategies work differently in different environments. Therefore, for future endeavors, the studies should be carried out in a limited context.Originality/valueThis research study proposes a novel MCDM-based approach for ranking resilience strategies, in light of the most probable, severe and long-lasting risks. In addition, this approach has been employed for the enhancement of resilience in healthcare supply chains.
Can you grow your supply chain without skills? The role of human resource management for better supply chain management in Latin America
Authors: Patrucco Andrea Stefano , Rivera Liliana , Mejía-Argueta Christopher , Sheffi Yossi 
Published: July 2021

PurposeIn line with the knowledge-based view of organizations, this paper aims to analyze how supply chain (SC) employees contribute to the creation of competitive advantage through knowledge acquisition and utilization activities. The authors consider SC employees' skills and competencies, their external network of relationships, their job satisfaction and company investments in training and test how they relate to SC-level outcomes (i.e. SC growth).Design/methodology/approachThe authors design a research model including the aforementioned variables, and the authors apply structural equation modeling (SEM) to survey data collected from 246 SC professionals in Latin America. The authors also use multi-group analysis to evaluate how the relationships between these variables change with different levels of company investment in training.FindingsThe results show that a broad professional network of relationships contributes to increasing the skills and competencies of SC professionals, which, in turn, impact job satisfaction and SC performance. This reinforces the value of investing in skilled human talent, who can contribute to knowledge acquisition, utilization, and, ultimately, to SC competitiveness. Companies that invest more in training to develop their SC employees benefit from stronger SC outcomes.Originality/valueThis study contributes to broadening the understanding of the impact of human resource management (HRM) on supply chain management (SCM). One of the added original foci of this research is the emphasis on developing countries where these HRM-to-SCM performance relationships have not been studied before.
An empirical study on company’s perception of integrated reporting in India
Authors: Mishra Nandita , Nurullah Mohamed , Sarea Adel 
Published: July 2021

PurposeInternational Integrated Reporting Council is in its 10th year of establishment and the integrated reporting (IR) framework released in 2013 was under revision in the year, 2020. Despite some significant developments in the past 10 years, the authors know very little about the perception of preparers towards IR. This paper aims to study the perception of the preparers and to understand the current status of the adoption of IR in India.Design/methodology/approachThe top 500 companies from ET 500 list have been analysed. Banks and financial institutions (a total of 69) have been excluded for the study. Out of 431 companies, the status of IR has been checked by the questionnaire-based survey. Principle component analysis, a dimensionality reduction technique was performed on the responses to understand the important components impacting the perception of companies. Also, a case study methodology has been adopted to compare and analyse the IR trends in the manufacturing and industrial sector.FindingsThe result shows that the majority of companies have a positive opinion about IR and the three major components impacting their perception are – concise reporting, effective and transparent reporting and finally, better decision-making.Practical implicationsThe result of this study will be useful for the policymakers, regulators, companies who have or will adopt IR. Paper gives a relevant view to academicians for assessing the effectiveness and perception of IR.Originality/valueVery few studies can be found in India which focusses on analysing the perception of preparers towards the IR. Specially after the circular of SEBI in 2017, it becomes even more important to analyse the insight and awareness of the companies who have adopted IR. The paper is a timely and relevant contribution to the literature by providing insight over the opinion of preparers in India.
Managing market risk for financial performance: experience from micro finance institutionin Kenya
Authors: Kahihu Peter Karugu , Wachira David Muturi , Muathe Stephen Makau 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate on managing market risk and financial performance, experience from microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Kenya.

Design/methodology/approach
This study used positivism philosophy and used explanatory non-experimental research designs. The targeted population was all the 13 registered deposit-taking MFIs in Kenya and a census approach was used. The study used secondary data which was collected and analyzed from microfinance Institutions annual audited financial reports for the period between 2014 to 2018. This study was anchored on two theories, namely, resource-based value theory and extreme value theory.

Findings
The results indicated that interest rate and financial leverage risk had a positive significant effect on the financial performance of MFIs in Kenya. Foreign exchange risk was found to have a negative significant effect on the financial performance of MFIs. However, inflation rate risk was found to have no significant effect on the financial performance of MFIs.

Research limitations/implications
This study recommended that the chief executive officers of MFIs should use the mechanism of identifying market risk variables, especially Interest rate, financial leverage and foreign exchange risks to enable them to put the necessary measures to mitigate those risks and enhance the financial performance of MFIs in Kenya.

Originality/value
This study is unique as it touches the microfinance industry which has a steady fast growth in assisting accessibility of financial services to small and medium enterprises. Most of the previous study concentrated on other industry in the financial sector.