bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Excitatory postsynaptic calcium transients at Aplysia sensory-motor neuron synapses allow for quantal examination of synaptic strength over multiple days in culture
Authors: Dunn Tyler W , Sossin Wayne S 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe ability to monitor changes in strength at individual synaptic contacts is required to test the hypothesis that specialized synapses maintain changes in synaptic strength that underlie memory. Measuring excitatory post-synaptic calcium transients through calcium permeable AMPA receptors is one way to monitor synaptic strength at individual synaptic contacts. Using a membrane targeted genetic calcium sensor, we demonstrate that one can measure synaptic events at individual synaptic contacts in Aplysia sensory-motor neuron synapses. These results show that synaptic strength is not evenly distributed between all contacts in these cultures, but dominated by multiquantal sites of synaptic contact. The probability, quantal size and quantal content can be measured over days at individual synaptic contacts using this technique. Surprisingly, most synaptic contacts were not found opposite presynaptic varicosities, but instead at areas of pre- and post-synaptic contact with no visible thickening of membranes. This technique shows promise in being able to address whether specialized synapses maintain synaptic strength underlying memory.
Data-Driven Network Models for Genetic Circuits From Time-Series Data with Incomplete Measurements
Authors: Yeung Enoch , Kim Jongmin , Yuan Ye , Gonçalves Jorge , Murray Richard M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSynthetic gene networks are frequently conceptualized and visualized as static graphs. This view of biological programming stands in stark contrast to the transient nature of biomolecular interaction, which is frequently enacted by labile molecules that are often unmeasured. Thus, the network topology and dynamics of synthetic gene networks can be difficult to verifyin vivoorin vitro, due to the presence of unmeasured biological states. Here we introduce the dynamical structure function as a new mesoscopic, data-driven class of models to describe gene networks with incomplete measurements. We introduce a network reconstruction algorithm and a code base for reconstructing the dynamical structure function from data, to enable discovery and visualization of graphical relationships in a genetic circuit diagram astime-dependent functionsrather than static, unknown weights. We prove a theorem, showing that dynamical structure functions can provide a data-driven estimate of the size of crosstalk fluctuations from an idealized model. We illustrate this idea with numerical examples. Finally, we show how data-driven estimation of dynamical structure functions can explain failure modes in two experimentally implemented genetic circuits, a historical genetic circuit and a newE. colibased transcriptional event detector.
Assessing the effectiveness of oxathiapiprolin towardsPhytophthora agathidicida, the causal agent of kauri dieback disease
Authors: Lacey Randy F. , Fairhurst Michael J. , Daley Kaitlyn J. , Ngata-Aerengamate Te Amohaere , Patterson Haileigh R. , Patrick Wayne M. , Gerth Monica L. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPhytophthoraspecies cause disease and devastation of plants in ecological and horticultural settings worldwide. A recently identified species,P. agathidicida, infects and ultimately kills the treasured kauri trees that are endemic to New Zealand. Currently there are few options for controlling or treatingP. agathidicida. In this study, we sought to assess the toxicity of the oomycide oxathiapiprolin against several lifecycle stages of two geographically distinctP. agathidicidaisolates. Half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values were determined to be approximately 0.1 ng/ml for inhibiting mycelial growth, indicating thatP. agathidicidamycelia are more sensitive to oxathiapiprolin than those from most otherPhytophthoraspecies that have been studied. Oxathiapiprolin was also highly effective at inhibiting the germination of zoospores (EC50= 2-9 ng/ml for the two isolates) and oospores (complete inhibition at 100 ng/ml). In addition, oxathiapiprolin delayed the onset of detached kauri leaf infection in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, the results presented here highlight the significant potential of oxathiapiprolin as a tool to aid in the control of kauri dieback disease.
Droplet-based single cell RNA sequencing of bacteria identifies known and previously unseen cellular states
Authors: McNulty Ryan , Sritharan Duluxan , Liu Shichen , Hormoz Sahand , Rosenthal Adam Z. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractClonal bacterial populations rely on transcriptional variation to differentiate into specialized cell states that increase the community’s fitness. Such heterogeneous gene expression is implicated in many fundamental microbial processes including sporulation, cell communication, detoxification, substrate utilization, competence, biofilm formation, motility, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance1. To identify these specialized cell states and determine the processes by which they develop, we need to study isogenic bacterial populations at the single cell level2,3. Here, we develop a method that uses DNA probes and leverages an existing commercial microfluidic platform (10X Chromium) to conduct bacterial single cell RNA sequencing. We sequenced the transcriptome of over 15,000 individual bacterial cells, detecting on average 365 transcripts mapping to 265 genes per cell inB. subtilisand 329 transcripts mapping to 149 genes per cell inE. coli. Our findings correctly identify known cell states and uncover previously unreported cell states. Interestingly, we find that some metabolic pathways segregate into distinct subpopulations across different bacteria and growth conditions, suggesting that some cellular processes may be more prone to differentiation than others. Our high throughput, highly resolved single cell transcriptomic platform can be broadly used for understanding heterogeneity in microbial populations.
CD36 family members are TCR-independent ligands for CD1 antigen-presenting molecules
Authors: Gherardin Nicholas A. , Redmond Samuel J. , McWilliam Hamish E.G. , Almeida Catarina F. , Gourley Katherine H.A. , Seneviratna Rebecca , Li Shihan , De Rose Robert , Nguyen-Robertson Catriona V. , Su Shian , Ritchie Matthew E. , Villadangos Jose A. , Moody D. Branch , Pellicci Daniel G. , Uldrich Adam P. , Godfrey Dale I. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCD1c presents lipid-based antigens to CD1c-restricted T cells which are thought to be a major component of the human T cell pool. The study of CD1c-restricted T cells, however, is hampered by the presence of an abundantly expressed CD1c-binding partner on blood cells distinct to the T cell receptor (TCR), confounding analysis of TCR-mediated CD1c tetramer staining. Here, we identify the CD36 family (CD36, CD36-L1 and CD36-L2) as novel ligands for CD1c, CD1b and CD1d proteins, and show that CD36 is the receptor responsible for non-TCR-mediated CD1c tetramer staining of blood cells. Moreover, CD36-blockade enables tetramer-based identification of CD1c-restricted T cells and clarifies identification of CD1b- and CD1d-restricted T cells. We use this technique to characterise CD1c-restricted T cells ex vivo and show diverse phenotypic features, TCR repertoire and antigen-specific subsets. Accordingly, this work will enable further studies into the biology of CD1 and human CD1-restricted T cells.One Sentence SummaryCD1 molecules bind CD36 family members and blockade of this interaction facilitates the study of CD1-restricted T cells.
Additive and synergistic effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, insect pollination and nutrient availability in a perennial fruit crop
Authors: Chen Ke , Kleijn David , Scheper Jeroen , Fijen Thijs P.M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractManaging ecosystem services may reduce the dependence of modern agriculture on external inputs and increase the sustainability of agricultural production. Insect pollinators and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide vital ecosystem services for crop production, but it has not been tested whether their effects on crop yield interact and how their effects are influenced by nutrient availability. Here we use potted raspberry (Rubus idaeusL.) plants in a full-factorial randomized block design to assess the interacting effects of insect pollination, AMF inoculation and four levels of fertilizer application. AMF inoculation increased the per-plant flower number by 33% and fruit number by 35%, independently from insect pollination and fertilizer application. Single berry weight furthermore increased more strongly with fertilizer application rates in AMF inoculated plants than in non-inoculated plants. As a consequence, AMF inoculation boosted raspberry yield by 43% compared to non-inoculated plants. AMF inoculation increased pollinator visitation rate under intermediate fertilizer levels, suggesting additional indirect effects of AMF on yield. Fruit yield of pollinated plants increased more strongly with fertilizer application rate than the yield of plants from which pollinators had been excluded. At maximum nutrient availability, the combined benefits of both ecosystem services resulted in a 135% higher yield than that of fertilizer-only treatments. Our results suggest that benefits of ecosystem services on yield can be additive or synergistic to the effects of conventional management practices. Intensive, high-input farming systems that do not consider the potential adverse effects of management on ecosystem service providing species may risk becoming limited by delivery of ecosystem services. Pro-actively managing ecosystem services, on the other hand, has the potential to increase crop yield at the same level of external inputs.
DFT and Raman study of all-transastaxanthin optical isomers
Authors: Yao Guohua , Guo Shuju , Yu Wenjie , Muhammad Muhammad , Liu Jianguo , Huang Qing 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAstaxanthin (AST) is a xanthophyll carotenoid widely distributed in aquatic animals, which has many physiological functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic activities. Astaxanthin has three optical isomers, including a pair of enantiomers (3S,3 ‘Sand 3R,3 ‘R) and a meso form (3R,3 ‘S). Different optical isomers have differences in a variety of physiological functions. Traditionally, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) can be used to distinguish these isomers. In this work, it’s found that Raman spectroscopy can be employed to distinguish the three optical isomers. Because the intensities of two Raman bands at 1190 cm-1and 1215 cm-1of three isomers are different. DFT calculations are performed and used to analyze the spectral differences. The calculation results show that the structures of these chiral isomers are not strictly mirror-symmetrical to each other, which leads to the difference in their Raman spectra.HighlightsRaman spectroscopy can be utilized to distinguish three optical isomers of all-transastaxanthin.The DFT-calculated spectrum is used to explain why the Raman bands of optical isomers at 1190 and 1215 cm-1are different.The structural parameters of the three optical isomers have been identified.
Industry 4.0 technologies as enablers of lean and agile supply chain strategies: an exploratory investigation
Authors: Raji Ibrahim Oluwole , Shevtshenko Eduard , Rossi Tommaso , Strozzi Fernanda 
Published: March 2021

PurposeLean and agile are essential supply chain management (SCM) strategies that enhance companies' performance. Previous studies have reported the capabilities of different SCM strategies to enhance performance; however, the emergence of Industry 4.0 technologies has bred focus on the possibility of attaining more levels of operational performance. Despite being demonstrated helpful at enabling supply chain (SC) strategies, the literature linking Industry 4.0 with SCM strategies is still in its infancy. Thus, this work investigates the degree to which “Industry 4.0 technologies” enable the implementation of lean and agile practices and subsequently assesses the potential performance implications of integrating Industry 4.0 technologies with the SC operations.Design/methodology/approachThe work employs an exploratory case study approach using empirical data from selected organisations drawn from an Estonian manufacturing cluster and digital solution providing companies. The data collected via interviews were used to assign numerical scores and subsequently aggregated across the five cases for the research variables of interest. The work is crowned with a model grounded on the cross-case analysis to depict which technologies impact each of the lean and agile practices.FindingsThe analysis enabled comprehension of the potential impact and level of importance of the main Industry 4.0 technologies on lean and agile practices and ultimately the potential implication on performance. The findings revealed that the technologies have a high impact on the practices. Although the impacts are of varying degrees, the analysis provides means to identify the technologies with the most significant impact on lean and agile SCM and the sets of practices with the greatest likelihood of being enabled by various digital technologies.Practical implicationsThe work presents various lean and agile practices that practitioners can deploy to operations, alongside the technologies that could support the implementation of the practices towards achieving the various performance measures. Also, it provides some guides for the digital solution providing companies towards understanding the SCM practices that can be improved upon by various digital technologies. This enables them to have more saleable proposals for intending companies who might be sceptical about transiting into the digital operation phase.Originality/valueThis is the first attempt to empirically address the connection between Industry 4.0 technologies and the integrated lean and agile strategies despite literature backing of the complementary nature of the two SCM strategies.
Quality objectives in management systems – their attributes, establishment and motivational function
Authors: Bugdol Marek , Jedynak Piotr 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to show the ways of setting quality objectives, their attributes and the conditions under which they can perform a motivational function.Design/methodology/approachCollecting relevant data, the authors used the results of previous research and theoretical assumptions concerning quality objectives. Subsequently, they carried out a survey and exemplification research based on participatory observations, document content analysis and interviews.FindingsGoals are set mainly by top management, but the communication process itself is insufficient; the needs of system users are not taken into account. In the opinion of the employees, quality objectives are measurable and objective, although not very ambitious. For quality objectives to fulfil a motivational function, they should be objective and measurable. Also, the allocation of tasks among employees needs to be fair. Furthermore, quality objectives have to play a greater role in remuneration systems.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first publications on the role and function of quality objectives. Its advantage is that it defines the conditions under which such objectives can have a motivational effect and encourage employees to pursue the improvement of their products and services.
Collaborative consumption sport hosting: value and consumption constraints
Authors: Goldman Michael , Brown Brandon , Schwarz Eric C. 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to find evidence of the benefits and constraints of collaborative consumption experiences by investigating the perceptions of hosts and visitors that attended professional regular season basketball and baseball games in the USA.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through four focus groups with 37 total participants and were analyzed through qualitative content analysis.FindingsThe results show that participants in a collaborative consumption experience perceive four types of value: social interaction and belonging, new fandom, travel bucket list experiences and local and sport knowledge. In addition, the results provide evidence of five consumption constraints related to collaborative consumption: expenses, average experiences, seat location, interpersonal disconnects and personal risk.Research limitations/implicationsThe selection of only two sites for the study limited the data triangulation that was possible. This study should be replicated across a wider range of teams and countries to confirm the main findings of the study.Practical implicationsPractitioners can use this initial study to better understand the benefits hosts and visitors perceive in the experience, and therefore the kind of experience design that would encourage increased purchases and loyalty.Originality/valueThis paper provides qualitative insights into the benefits and detriments of a collaborative consumption sport experience, based on participants' involvement in an innovative peer-to-peer platform.
An execution environment as a service for adaptive long-running workflows
Authors: Souza-Júnior Milton Secundino de , Rosa Nelson Souto , Lins Fernando Antônio Aires 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to present Long4Cloud (long-running workflows execution environment for cloud), a distributed and adaptive LRW execution environment delivered “as a service” solution.

Design/methodology/approach
LRWs last for hours, days or even months and their duration open the possibility of changes in business rules, service interruptions or even alterations of formal regulations of the business before the workflow completion. These events can lead to problems such as loss of intermediary results or exhaustion of computational resources used to manage the workflow execution. Existing solutions face those problems by merely allowing the replacement (at runtime) of services associated with activities of the LRW.

Findings
LONG4Cloud extends the previous works in two main aspects, namely, the inclusion of dynamic reconfiguration capabilities and the adoption of an “as a service” delivery mode. The reconfiguration mechanism uses quiescence principles, data and state management and provides multiple adaptive strategies. Long4Cloud also adopts a scenario-based analysis to decide the adaptation to be performed. Events such as changes in business rules or service failures trigger reconfigurations supported by the environment. These features have been put together in a solution delivered “as a service” that takes advantage of cloud elasticity and allows to better allocate cloud resources to fit into the demands of LRWs.

Originality/value
The original contribution of Long4Cloud is to incorporate adaptive capabilities into the LRW execution environment as an effective way to handle the specificities of this kind of workflow. Experiments using current data of a Brazilian health insurance company were carried out to evaluate Long4Cloud and show performance gains in the execution of LRWs submitted to the proposed environment.
Is it your personality, your boundary leadership or both? An integrative approach for the improvement of school management team effectiveness
Authors: Benoliel Pascale 
Published: March 2021

PurposeReorganizing schools and managing through teams is seen as a way to achieve school goals, especially in educational contexts that are highly focused on measurable student achievements. This shift to shared leadership requires principals to play a key role in promoting school management team (SMT) outcomes. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate how principals' personality traits and behavior complement each other and combine in an integrative model of SMT effectiveness. Specifically, the research aims to examine the mediating role of principals' internal and external boundary activities between principals' traits from the Big Five typology, namely, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experience and neuroticism and SMT effectiveness.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from two sources to minimize problems associated with same-source bias. In total, 92 SMTs and their principals from 92 public schools in Israel participated in the study. Overall, 295 SMT members and 92 principals were included in the sample. Data were aggregated at the school level of analysis. The theoretical model was tested with structural equation modeling. The bootstrapping procedure, to ascertain the presence of indirect effects, was employed.FindingsThe findings of structural equation modeling indicated that principal external activities partially mediated the relationship of conscientiousness and extraversion to SMT effectiveness, providing support for an integrated trait–behavioral model of leadership for SMT effectiveness.Originality/valueAs schools involve increasingly interconnected professional networks based on relationships, acknowledging that SMT effectiveness may be influenced by principals' personality traits that translate into leadership behavior may clarify the implications of principals' traits for educational teams. Importantly, the proposed integrative model points to possible mechanisms linking principal traits, behaviors and effectiveness by positioning principals' boundary activities as one possible mechanism through which principal traits facilitate SMT effectiveness. The findings can help deepen our understanding of which kinds of principals engage in boundary activities, contributing to the discussion of what factors influence principals' practices with implications for school managers' selection practices.
Prevalence and correlates of contraceptive use among vocational schools adolescents in Northern Thailand
Authors: Yau Shamsudeen , Adamu Yau , Wongsawat Pramote , Songthap Archin 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with contraceptive use among school-going adolescents.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study was conducted among vocational school students in Phitsanulok, Northern Thailand. The study employed a multistage random sampling technique to select 391 students from three schools that were purposively selected.FindingsThe prevalence of contraceptive use during the most recent sexual intercourse was 75.8%. The condom was the most commonly used contraceptive method, followed by emergency pills and the rhythm/calendar method. Being male, in the second academic year, sexual communication with parents, sex with a casual partner or sex worker and contraceptive use at sexual initiation were significant risk factors for contraceptive use (p < 0.05). The preventive factors were subdistrict municipality area residency, extended family, medium or high income and partners who drank (p < 0.05).Originality/valueThe authors found a high prevalence of contraceptive use among school-going adolescents. Maintaining and improving this trend would require a concerted effort from all stakeholders to promote early sexuality communication and ensure access and use of contraceptive services.