bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Particle morphology of medusavirus inside and outside the cells reveals a new maturation process of giant viruses
Authors: Watanabe Ryoto , Song Chihong , Kayama Yoko , Takemura Masaharu , Murata Kazuyoshi 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMedusavirus, a giant virus, is phylogenetically closer to eukaryotes than the other giant viruses and has been recently classified as an independent species. However, details of its morphology and maturation process in host cells remain unclear. Here, we investigated the particle morphology of medusavirus inside and outside infected cells using conventional transmission electron microscopy (C-TEM) and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The C-TEM of amoeba infected with the medusavirus showed four types of particles: empty, DNA-full, and the corresponding intermediates. Time-dependent changes in the proportion and following intracellular localization of these particles suggested a new maturation process for the medusavirus. Empty particles and viral DNAs were produced independently in the cytoplasm and nucleus, respectively, and only empty particles located near the nucleus incorporated the viral DNA into the capsid. All four types of particles were also found outside the cells. The cryo-EM of these particles showed that the intact capsid structure, covered with three different types of spikes, was conserved among all particle types, although with minor size-related differences. The internal membrane exhibited a structural array similar to that of the capsid, interacted closely with the capsid, and displayed open membrane structures in the empty and empty-intermediate particles. This result suggests that the open structures in the internal membrane are used for an exchange of scaffold proteins and viral DNA during the maturation process. This new model of the maturation process of medusavirus provides insight into the structural and behavioral diversity of giant viruses.ImportanceGiant viruses exhibit diverse morphologies and maturation processes. In the present study, medusavirus showed four types of particle morphologies both inside and outside the infected cells, when propagated in the laboratory using amoeba culture. Time-course analysis of the medusavirus particles in the infected cells reveals a new maturation process. Empty viral particles and viral DNAs were produced independently in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and only the empty particles located near the nucleus incorporated the viral DNA. Consequently, many immature particles, along with mature virions, were released from the host cells. Except for showing a small change in size, the capsid structures were well preserved during the maturation process. The empty viral particles and corresponding intermediates showed open membrane structures, which are presumably used for exchanging scaffold proteins and viral DNAs.
Six-month sequelae of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective cohort study of 10,024 breakthrough infections
Authors: Taquet Maxime , Dercon Quentin , Harrison Paul J 
Published: October 2021

AbstractVaccination has proven effective against infection with SARS-CoV-2, as well as death and hospitalisation following COVID-19 illness. However, little is known about the effect of vaccination on other acute and post-acute outcomes of COVID-19. Data were obtained from the TriNetX electronic health records network (over 81 million patients mostly in the USA). Using a retrospective cohort study and time-to-event analysis, we compared the incidences of COVID-19 outcomes between individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine (approved for use in the USA) at least 2 weeks before SARS-CoV-2 infection and propensity score-matched individuals unvaccinated for COVID-19 but who had received an influenza vaccine. Outcomes were ICD-10 codes representing documented COVID-19 sequelae in the 6 months after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (recorded between January 1 and August 31, 2021). Associations with the number of vaccine doses (1 vs. 2) and age (< 60 vs. ≥ 60 years-old) were assessed. Among 10,024 vaccinated individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection, 9479 were matched to unvaccinated controls. Receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose was associated with a significantly lower risk of respiratory failure, ICU admission, intubation/ventilation, hypoxaemia, oxygen requirement, hypercoagulopathy/venous thromboembolism, seizures, psychotic disorder, and hair loss (each as composite endpoints with death to account for competing risks; HR 0.70-0.83, Bonferroni-corrected p<.05), but not other outcomes, including long-COVID features, renal disease, mood, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Receiving 2 vaccine doses was associated with lower risks for most outcomes. Associations between prior vaccination and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection were marked in those < 60 years-old, whereas no robust associations were observed in those ≥ 60 years-old. In summary, COVID-19 vaccination is associated with lower risk of several, but not all, COVID-19 sequelae in those with breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. These benefits of vaccination were clear in younger people but not in the over-60s. The findings may inform service planning, contribute to forecasting public health impacts of vaccination programmes, and highlight the need to identify additional interventions for COVID-19 sequelae.
Glucose intolerance in aging is mediated by the Gpcpd1-GPC metabolic axis
Authors: Cikes Domagoj , Leutner Michael , Cronin Shane J.F. , Novatchkova Maria , Pfleger Lorenz , Klepochová Radka , Lair Benjamin , Lac Marlène , Bergoglio Camille , Viguerie Nathalie , Dürnberger Gerhard , Roitinger Elisabeth , Rullman Eric , Gustafsson Thomas , Hagelkruys Astrid , Tavernier Geneviève , Bourlier Virginie , Knauf Claude , Krebs Michael , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra , Moro Cedric , Krssak Martin , Orthofer Michael , Penninger Josef M. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractSkeletal muscle plays a central role in the regulation of systemic metabolism during lifespan. With aging, muscle mediated metabolic homeostasis is perturbed, contributing to the onset of multiple chronic diseases. Our knowledge on the mechanisms responsible for this age-related perturbation is limited, as it is difficult to distinguish between correlation and causality of molecular changes in muscle aging. Glycerophosphocholine phosphodiesterase 1 (GPCPD1) is a highly abundant muscle enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of the lipid glycerophosphocholine (GPC). The physiological function of GPCPD1 remained largely unknown. Here, we report that the GPCPD1-GPC metabolic pathway is dramatically perturbed in the aged muscle. Muscle-specific inactivation ofGpcpd1resulted in severely affected glucose metabolism, without affecting muscle development. This pathology was muscle specific and did not occur in white fat-, brown fat- and liver-deficientGpcpd1deficient mice. Moreover, in the muscle specific mutant mice, glucose intolerance was markedly accelerated under high sugar and high fat diet. Mechanistically,Gpcpd1deficiency results in accumulation of GPC, without any other significant changes in the global lipidome. This causes an “aged-like” transcriptomic signature in youngGpcpd1deficient muscles and impaired insulin signaling. Finally, we report that GPC levels are markedly perturbed in muscles from both aged humans and patients with Type 2 diabetes, with a high correlation between GPC levels and increased chronological age. Our findings show the novel and critical physiological function of GPCPD1-GPC metabolic pathway to glucose metabolism, and the perturbation of this pathway with aging, which may contribute to glucose intolerance in aging.
Synonymous mutations can alter protein dimerization through localized interface misfolding involving self-entanglements
Authors: Dang Lan Pham , Nissley Daniel Allen , Sitarik Ian , Van Quyen Vu , Jiang Yang , Li Mai Suan , O’Brien Edward P. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTSynonymous mutations in messenger RNAs (mRNAs) can reduce protein-protein binding affinities by more than half despite leaving the protein’s amino acid sequence unaltered. Here, we use coarse-grain simulations of protein synthesis, ejection from the ribosome, post-translational dynamics, and dimerization to understand how synonymous mutations can influence the dimerization of the two E. coli homodimers oligoribonuclease and ribonuclease T. We synthesize each protein from its wildtype, fastest- and slowest-translating synonymous mRNAs and calculate the ensemble-average interaction energy between the resulting dimers. We find, similar to experiments with other dimers, that oligoribonuclease’s dimerization is altered by synonymous mutations. Relative to wildtype, the dimer interaction energy becomes 4% and 10% stronger, respectively, when translated from its fastest- and slowest-translating mRNAs. Ribonuclease T dimerization, however, is insensitive to synonymous mutations. The structural and kinetic origin of these changes are misfolded states containing non-covalent lasso-entanglements, many of which structurally perturb the dimer interface, whose probability of occurrence depends on translation speed. Translation of the fast- and slow-translating mRNAs of oligoribonuclease decreases the population of these misfolded states relative to wildtype. For ribonuclease T, however, these misfolded populations are insensitive to synonymous mutations. Entanglements cause altered dimerization energies for oligoribonuclease as there is a significant association (odds ratio: 50) between non-native self-entanglements and weak-binding dimer conformations. These conclusions are independent of model resolution, as entangled structures persist in long-time-scale all-atom simulations. Thus, non-native changes in entanglement is a mechanism through which oligomer structure and function can be altered.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSynonymous mutations affect a range of post-translational protein functions, including dimerization, without altering the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein. This suggests that proteins somehow retain a “memory” of their translation-elongation kinetics long after synthesis is complete. Here, we demonstrate that synonymous mutations can change the likelihood that nascent proteins misfold into self-entangled conformations. These self-entangled structures are similar to the native state but with key conformational perturbations that disrupt the dimer interface, reducing their ability to dimerize. Rearrangement of such self-entangled states to the native state is a slow process, offering a structural explanation for how translation-elongation kinetics can influence long-time-scale protein-protein binding affinities.
Antigen experience relaxes the organisational structure of the T cell receptor repertoire
Authors: Mark Michal , Reich-Zeliger Shlomit , Greenstein Erez , Reshef Dan , Madi Asaf , Chain Benny , Friedman Nir 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe creation and evolution of the T cell receptor repertoire within an individual combines stochastic and deterministic processes. We systematically examine the structure of the repertoire in different T cell subsets in young, adult and LCMV infected mice, from the perspective of variable gene usage, nucleotide sequences and amino acid motifs. Young individuals share a high level of organization, especially in the frequency distribution of variable genes and amino acid motifs. In adult mice, this structure relaxes and is replaced by idiotypic evolution of the effector and regulatory repertoire. The repertoire of CD4+ regulatory T cells was more similar to naïve cells in young mice, but became more similar to effectors with age. Finally, we observed a dramatic restructuring of the repertoire following infection with LCMV. We hypothesize that the stochastic process of recombination and thymic selection initially impose a strong structure to the repertoire, which gradually relaxes following asynchronous responses to different antigens during life.
Building control (amendment) regulations 2014: integration and compliance in large Irish construction organisations
Authors: Dennehy Gavin , Kennedy Bobby , Spillane John 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the factors relating to the integration and compliance of Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (BC(A)R 2014) in large Irish construction organisations.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the aim, a mixed method approach is adopted, initially, providing a critique of the literature review, followed by a combination of 7 semi-structured interviews and 30 questionnaires from industry practitioners.FindingsFindings demonstrate that BC(A)R has had a significant positive effect on the industry, eliminating previous bad practice, by increasing the accountability for professionals signing-off on new buildings, and highlights the emphasis on certification in successfully achieving practical completion on projects.Practical implicationsThe findings provide further justification on the need for compliance, and integration, of BC(A)R in the Irish construction sector, offering further evidence, where needed, on the benefit of its adoption.Originality/valueThe originality and value of this research lies in the limited number of studies in the area, particularly in the context of large Irish construction projects, which this study aims to fulfil.
Objective evaluation of optical illusion skirt based on image texture features
Authors: Wei Wenda , Liu Chengxia , Wang Jianing 
Published: October 2021

PurposeNowadays, most methods of illusion garment evaluation are based on the subjective evaluation of experienced practitioners, which consumes time and the results are too subjective to be accurate enough. It is necessary to explore a method that can quantify professional experience into objective indicators to evaluate the sensory comfort of the optical illusion skirt quickly and accurately. The purpose of this paper is to propose a method to objectively evaluate the sensory comfort of optical illusion skirt patterns by combining texture feature extraction and prediction model construction.Design/methodology/approachFirstly, 10 optical illusion sample skirts are produced, and 10 experimental images are collected for each sample skirt. Then a Likert five-level evaluation scale is designed to obtain the sensory comfort level of each skirt through the questionnaire survey. Synchronously, the coarseness, contrast, directionality, line-likeness, regularity and roughness of the sample image are calculated based on Tamura texture feature algorithm, and the mean, contrast and entropy are extracted of the image transformed by Gabor wavelet. Both are set as objective parameters. Two final indicators T1 and T2 are refined from the objective parameters previously obtained to construct the predictive model of the subjective comfort of the visual illusion skirt. The linear regression model and the MLP neural network model are constructed.FindingsResults show that the accuracy of the linear regression model is 92%, and prediction accuracy of the MLP neural network model is 97.9%. It is feasible to use Tamura texture features, Gabor wavelet transform and MLP neural network methods to objectively predict the sensory comfort of visual illusion skirt images.Originality/valueCompared with the existing uncertain and non-reproducible subjective evaluation of optical illusion clothing based on experienced experts. The main advantage of the authors' method is that this method can objectively obtain evaluation parameters, quickly and accurately obtain evaluation grades without repeated evaluation by experienced experts. It is a method of objectively quantifying the experience of experts.
Business model adaptation as a strategic response to crises: navigating the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Chanyasak Teerawut , Koseoglu Mehmet Ali , King Brian , Aladag Omer Faruk 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
This study aims to explore how hotels adapt their business models as a strategic response to crisis situations. It sheds light on the processes and methods of business model adaptation during severe crisis situations, such as the COVID-19 outbreak.

Design/methodology/approach
A single-case study was conducted. Data were collected from the owner/manager of a boutique hotel chain in Chiang Mai, Thailand through an extensive interviewing process. The authors also examined corporate documents. The authors then re-organized the material as a coherent narrative about how the company navigated the COVID-19 crisis.

Findings
The findings show that the hotels in the study adapted their business models by cutting costs through stopping non-essential operations, increasing non-room revenues and adding new revenue channels, bringing in cash from advance bookings, securing financial support from creditors, leveraging government support and training staff for the “new normal.”

Originality/value
Few previous studies have focused on business model adaptation during the COVID-19 crisis. The investigation of this largely neglected area provides two main contributions. First, it extends the literature on crisis management in hospitality firms by examining business model adaptation patterns and processes during unprecedented crisis conditions. Second, it provides managerial insights and a business model adjustment framework to help practitioners in urban settings in their efforts toward recovery from the COVID crisis.
Perceived organizational politics, knowledge hiding and diminished promotability: how do harmony motives matter?
Authors: De Clercq Dirk , Sofyan Yunita , Shang Yufan , Espinal Romani Luis 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
This study aims to investigate an underexplored behavioral factor, knowledge hiding, that connects employees’ perceptions of organizational politics (POP) with their diminished promotability, while also considering the moderating role of employees’ harmony motives in this process.

Design/methodology/approach
The research hypotheses are tested with multisource, three-round data collected among employees and their supervisors.

Findings
Employees’ beliefs about self-serving organizational decision-making increase their propensity to hide knowledge, which, in turn, diminishes their promotability. This intermediate role of knowledge hiding is more prominent when their disintegration avoidance motive is strong but less prominent when their harmony enhancement motive is strong.

Practical implications
A refusal to share knowledge with organizational colleagues, as a covert response to POP, can create a negative cycle for employees. They are frustrated with decision-making practices that are predicated on favoritism, but by choosing seemingly subtle ways to respond, they compromise their own promotion prospects. To avoid this escalation, employees should adopt an active instead of passive approach toward maintaining harmony in their work relationships.

Originality/value
This research contributes to extant research by detailing a hitherto overlooked reason that employees’ frustrations with dysfunctional politics may escalate into an enhanced probability to miss out on promotion opportunities. They respond to this situation by engaging in knowledge hiding. As an additional contribution, this study details how the likelihood of this response depends on employees’ harmony motives.
Green marketing and perceived SME profitability: the meditating effect of green purchase behaviour
Authors: Martins Albert 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThe concept of green marketing has emerged as a panacea for reducing the negative impact of business activities on the environment. Many studies have investigated the impact of green marketing on green purchase behavior, sustainable competitive advantage, etc., without much being explored about how green marketing translates into firms' profitability, particularly among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. This study, therefore, investigates the influence of green marketing on perceived SME profitability alongside the mediating effect of green purchase behaviour.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research approach was adopted, where a cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect the data from 400 SME owners/managers in Ghana. Using Statistical Package for Social Science, the data were analysed through descriptive statistics, correlation and macro Process version 3.4.1.FindingsThe results reveal that the dimensions (environmental knowledge, environmental concern, green price, green advertising and green product) of green marketing distinctively have significant positive effect on perceived SME profitability as well as green purchase behaviour. Furthermore, green purchase behaviour significantly mediates the relationship between green marketing dimensions and perceived SME profitability such that the indirect effects are far greater than the direct effects.Practical implicationsSME managers should include the green marketing dimensions in their business plans and develop strategies to implement them in order to enhance green purchase behaviour of their products and services which will, in turn, lead to profitability.Originality/valueIn augmenting green marketing literature, this study provides an insight into how SMEs can leverage on the distinct dimensions of green marketing to influence green purchase behaviour and profitability in an emerging market context.
Covid-19 is driving fear and greed in consumer behaviour and purchase pattern
Authors: Satish Kavya , Venkatesh Abhishek , Manivannan Anand Shankar Raja 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis research aims to study the recent changes in consumer behaviour and purchase pattern during the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 pandemic has forced consumers to stockpile, which has its own consequences. The article proposes the importance of “minimalism in consumption” to avoid greed in consumer behaviour.Design/methodology/approachThe data are collected from consumers across India using an online survey during the first lockdown from March 2020 to May 2020. A simple random sampling technique is used for data collection, and the collected data are analysed using SPSS version 26.FindingsThe study states that there will be a shift in the purchase pattern of the consumers if lockdowns are imposed in the future or during any other crisis. However, at present, consumers have developed a stockpiling mentality fearing the unavailability of essentials.Research limitations/implicationsPandemic has stimulated a drastic change in consumer behaviour, which is a situational effect. Each crisis affects consumer behaviour in a different way. In this research, we have considered only fear, greed and anxiety in the light of Covid-19. On the other hand, the research intends to draw realistic conclusions based on consumers' experiences during the lockdown.Practical implicationsThe study proposes solutions that will help marketers frame exclusive strategies for a future crisis. Analysing the change in consumer behaviour and the shift in purchase patterns will emphasize the importance of market research to know consumer expectations during a crisis situation in order to cater to their new demands.Social implicationsConsumers who stockpile should realize the unavailability of goods to other consumers who are in need. They also have to understand the importance of “minimalism in consumption” during a crisis.Originality/valueThe data are collected during the most taxing crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic. Data are collected at the peak time of the first wave of Covid-19 in India, during a major shift in consumers' behaviour and purchase pattern. The article brings to the larger consciousness and also preaches a life lesson to all consumers to execute their responsibilities in consumption without over-demands and expectations.