bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Male attention allocation depends on social context
Authors: Burridge Shelby D. , Schlupp Ingo , Makowicz Amber M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAttention, although limited, is a mechanism used to filter large amounts of information and determine what stimuli are most relevant at a particular moment. In dynamic social environments, multiple individuals may play a pivotal role in any given interaction where a male’s attention may be divided between a rival, a current mate, and/or future potential mates. Here, we investigated impacts of the social environment on attention allocation in male sailfin mollies,Poecilia latipinna, which are a part of a sexual-unisexual mating system with the Amazon molly,Poecilia formosa. We asked: 1) Does the species of female influence the amount of attention a male allocates to her? And 2) Is a male’s attention towards his mate influenced by different social partners? Males direct more attention toward a stimulus female when she was a conspecific. We also show that males perceive a larger male as a more relevant stimulus to pay attention to than a smaller male, and a conspecific female as a more relevant stimulus compared to a heterospecific female. Our results show differential allocation of attention is dependent upon multiple components of the social environment in which an individual interacts.SignificanceThis study investigates how attention is allocated in males when presented with social distractions. Assuming that attentional capacity is finite, males may face a tradeoff between different cognitive-demanding stimuli, such as rival males and potential future mates, when mating. Here, we show that male attention allocation in both intra- and intersexual interactions is multifaceted and context dependent. This suggests that individuals within the social environment vary in how meaningful (i.e., able to capture attention) they are to males during mating encounters. Understanding how social partners can cause a shift of attention away from a mating opportunity is essential to understanding the influence of the social context on sexual selection.
Kinetic pathway of ATP-induced DNA interactions of ParA2, a protein essential for segregation ofVibrio choleraechromosome 2
Authors: Chodha Satpal S. , Brooks Adam C. , Davis Peter , Ramachandran Revathy , Chattoraj Dhruba K , Hwang Ling Chin 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTVibrio choleraechromosome 2 (Chr2) requires its own ParABS system for segregation. Without it,V. choleraebecomes nonviable and loses pathogenicity. ParA2 of Chr2 is a Walker-type ATPase that is the main driver of Chr2 segregation. Most of our understanding of ParA function comes from studying plasmid partition systems. How ParA provides the motive force in segregation of chromosomes, which are much larger than plasmids, is less understood and different models have been proposed. Here we analyzedin vivobehavior and kinetic properties of ParA2 using cell imaging, biochemical and biophysical approaches. ParA2 formed an asymmetric gradient in the cell that localized dynamically in the cell cycle. We found that ParA2 dimers bind ATP and undergo a slow conformational change to an active DNA-binding state, similar to P1 ParA. The presence of DNA catalyzes ParA2 conformational change to allow cooperative binding of active ParA2 dimers to form higher-order oligomers on DNA. Nucleotide exchange rates were also slow, thus providing a control of ParA2 recruitment and dynamic localizations. Although highly conserved in biochemical properties, ParA2 showed faster overall ATP cycling and DNA-rebinding rates than plasmid ParAs, suggesting that this could be shared kinetic features among chromosomal ParAs to regulate the transport of a much larger DNA cargo.
Therapeutic immunization againstHelicobacter pyloriinfection in BALB/c mice induced by a multi-epitope vaccine based on computer-aided design
Authors: Ma Junfei , Wang Shuying , Ji Qianyu , Liu Qing 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundCombined antibiotic regimens have caused problems such as increasing antimicrobial resistance toH. pyloriand intestinal flora disturbance. Vaccination is a great alternative approach, but also faces the limited immune response induced by monovalent vaccines. Therefore, the development of multi-epitope vaccines is promising immunotherapy to controlH. pyloriinfection.ObjectiveTo develop a multi-epitope vaccine and evaluate its therapeutic efficacy againstH. pyloriinfection.Materials and MethodsThe B and T cell epitopes from UreB, FlaA, AlpB, SabA, and HpaA were linked for producing 2 multi-epitope vaccines (CTB-S3 and CTB-S5) by a structural evaluation based on computer-aided design. The abilities to produce antigen-specific antibodies and neutralizing antibodies of CTB-S3 and CTB-S5 were evaluated in BALB/c mice. After that, their therapeutic efficacy was explored inH. pylori-infectedmice.ResultsCTB-S3 or CTB-S5 could induce high levels of specific antibodies against UreB, FlaA, AlpB, SabA, HpaA, and neutralizing antibodies againstH. pyloriurease and adhesion. Also, oral therapeutic immunization with CTB-S3 or CTB-S5 could decreaseH. pyloricolonization and reduce stomach damage; the protection was correlated withH. pylori-specific IgG, SIgA antibodies, and CD4+T cell immune response.ConclusionsOur study developed a multi-epitope vaccine based on a computer-aided design. The CTB-S3 and CTB-S5 vaccines may be promising therapeutic candidate vaccines againstH. pyloriinfection and provide a reference for vaccine design of other pathogens.
ksrates: positioning whole-genome duplications relative to speciation events inKSdistributions
Authors: Sensalari Cecilia , Maere Steven , Lohaus Rolf 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSummaryWe presentksrates, a user-friendly command-line tool to position ancient whole-genome duplication (WGD) events with respect to speciation events in a phylogeny by comparing paralog and orthologKSdistributions derived from genomic or transcriptomic sequences, while adjusting for substitution rate differences among the lineages involved.Availability and implementationksratesis implemented in Python 3 and as a Nextflow pipeline. The source code, Singularity and Docker containers, documentation and tutorial are available viahttps://github.com/VIB-PSB/ksrates.Contactsteven.maere@ugent.vib.be,rolf.lohaus@ugent.vib.be
Spatial alanine metabolism determines local growth dynamics ofEscherichia colicolonies
Authors: Díaz-Pascual Francisco , Lempp Martin , Nosho Kazuki , Jeckel Hannah , Jo Jeanyoung K. , Neuhaus Konstantin , Hartmann Raimo , Jelli Eric , Hansen Mads Frederik , Price-Whelan Alexa , Dietrich Lars E.P. , Link Hannes , Drescher Knut 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBacteria commonly live in spatially structured biofilm assemblages, which are encased by an extracellular matrix. Metabolic activity of the cells inside biofilms causes gradients in local environmental conditions, which leads to the emergence of physiologically differentiated subpopulations. Information about the properties and spatial arrangement of such metabolic subpopulations, as well as their interaction strength and interaction length scales are lacking, even for model systems likeEscherichia colicolony biofilms grown on agar-solidified media. Here, we use an unbiased approach, based on temporal and spatial transcriptome and metabolome data acquired duringE. colicolony biofilm growth, to study the spatial organization of metabolism. We discovered that alanine displays a unique pattern among amino acids and that alanine metabolism is spatially and temporally heterogeneous. At the anoxic base of the colony, where carbon and nitrogen sources are abundant, cells secrete alanineviathe transporter AlaE. In contrast, cells utilize alanine as a carbon and nitrogen source in the oxic nutrient-deprived region at the colony mid-height,viathe enzymes DadA and DadX. This spatially structured alanine cross-feeding influences cellular viability and growth in the cross-feeding-dependent region, which shapes the overall colony morphology. More generally, our results on this precisely controllable biofilm model system demonstrate a remarkable spatiotemporal complexity of metabolism in biofilms. A better characterization of the spatiotemporal metabolic heterogeneities and dependencies is essential for understanding the physiology, architecture, and function of biofilms.
Destabilization of β-cell FIT2 by saturated fatty acids contribute to ER stress and diabetes
Authors: Zheng Xiaofeng , Ho Qing Wei Calvin , Chua Minni , Stelmashenko Olga , Muralidharan Sneha , Torta Federico , Chew Elaine Guo Yan , Lian Michelle Mulan , Foo Jia Nee , Wenk Markus , Silver David L. , Berggren Per-Olof , Ali Yusuf 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTWestern type diets are linked to obesity and diabetes partly because of their high saturated fatty acid (SFA) content. We found that SFAs, but not unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs), reduced the number of lipid droplets (LDs) within pancreatic β-cells. Mechanistically, SFAs but not USFAs disabled LD biogenesis by inducing palmitoylation and subsequent ERAD-C mediated degradation of LD formation protein, Fat storage-Inducing Transmembrane protein 2 (FIT2). Targeted ablation of FIT2 reduced β-cell LD numbers, lowered β-cell ATP levels, reduced Ca2+ signaling, downregulated β-cell transcription factors (RNA sequencing analysis), and exacerbated diet-induced diabetes in mice. Subsequent mass spectrometry studies revealed increased C16:0 ceramide accumulation in islets of mice lacking β-cell FIT2 under lipotoxic conditions. Inhibition of ceramide synthases ameliorated the enhanced ER stress. Overexpression of FIT2 increased number of intracellular LDs and rescued SFA-induced ER-stress and apoptosis thereby highlighting the protective role of FIT2 and LDs against β-cell lipotoxicity and diet-induced diabetes.
Dissecting the genetic architecture of quantitative traits using genome-wide identity-by-descent sharing
Authors: Fraimout Antoine , Guillaume Frédéric , Li Zitong , Sillanpää Mikko J. , Rastas Pasi , Merilä Juha 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAdditive and dominance genetic variances underlying the expression of quantitative traits are important quantities for predicting short-term responses to selection, but they are notoriously challenging to estimate in most non-model wild populations. Specifically, large-sized or panmictic populations may be characterized by low variance in genetic relatedness among individuals which in turn, can prevent accurate estimation of quantitative genetic parameters. We used estimates of genome-wide identity-by-descent (IBD) sharing from autosomal SNP loci to estimate quantitative genetic parameters for ecologically important traits in nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) from a large, outbred population. Using empirical and simulated datasets, with varying sample sizes and pedigree complexity, we assessed the performance of different crossing schemes in estimating additive genetic variance and heritability for all traits. We found that low variance in relatedness characteristic of wild outbred populations with high migration rate can impair the estimation of quantitative genetic parameters and bias heritability estimates downwards. On the other hand, the use of a half-sib/full-sib design allowed precise estimation of genetic variance components, and revealed significant additive variance and heritability for all measured traits, with negligible dominance contributions. Genome-partitioning and QTL mapping analyses revealed that most traits had a polygenic basis and were controlled by genes at multiple chromosomes. Furthermore, different QTL contributed to variation in the same traits in different populations suggesting heterogenous underpinnings of parallel evolution at the phenotypic level. Our results provide important guidelines for future studies aimed at estimating adaptive potential in the wild, particularly for those conducted in outbred large-sized populations.
Host-derived Reactive Nitrogen Species mediate theCryptococcus neoformansyeast-to-titan switch via fungal-derived superoxide
Authors: Zhou Xin , Desanti Guillaume E. , May Robin C. , Dambuza Ivy M. , Ballou Elizabeth R. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn the host lung, the human fungal pathogenCryptococcus neoformansundergoes a morphological switch from small haploid yeast to large polyploid titan cell, contributing toC. neoformansvirulence. Titan cells are less readily phagocytosed and can survive host nitrosative and oxidative stresses. We and others previously showed that titanization is triggered by host-relevant signals including CO2and lung-resident bacteria, and addition of these factor is sufficient to induce titan cellsin vitro. Here we investigate the molecular mechanisms that drive this transition and demonstrate that host-derived immune signals can increase the degree and frequency of titanization. Specifically, host-relevant reactive nitrogen species increase the accumulation of endogenous superoxide within cryptococcal cells, particularly within nuclei, where it can cause genotoxic stress. Consistent with this, we observe the accumulation of Rad51 protein, a marker of the double strand break repair pathway, in titanizing cultures. Blocking superoxide accumulation inhibits titanization, yet titanization also requires superoxide detoxification through Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity. Loss of mitochondrial Sod2 activity locks cells in the yeast phase, while Sod1 is required for the production of viable titan daughter cells. We hypothesize that the redox responsive transcription factor Yap1 in part mediates this response by regulatingSOD2/SOD1. In addition, we show that Sod1 translocates to the nucleus, where it is likely involved in the detoxification of genotoxic superoxide. Together, these findings reveal a major new regulatory mechanism for the yeast-to-titan transition.Author SummaryDuring fungal infection, host phagocytes produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), major determinants of infection outcome. Fungal pathogens have developed numerous strategies to neutralize and detoxify ROS, but RNS remain important effectors for infection control. In the lung, the human fungal pathogenCryptococcus neoformanscan undergo a morphological switch from small haploid yeast to large highly polyploid titan cells with increased ROS/RNS stress resistance, and the capacity to produce haploid or aneuploid daughters. Here, we report that RNS are a major signal driving the frequency and degree of titanization and act by increasing endogenous ROS within the fungus. We show that the accumulation of endogenous ROS is required for the yeast-to-titan transition, and is associated with increased genotoxic stress leading to polyploidy. Yet, failure to detoxify this ROS, either in mutants defective in Superoxide Dismutase activity or the oxidative stress response protein Yap1, impairs titan cell budding and reduces progeny viability. Therefore, the interface of exogenous RNS and endogenous ROS regulation during host-pathogen interaction represents an Achilles’ heel for this major human fungal pathogen.
miRNA-dependent poly(A) length control in uncoupling transcription and translation of haploid male germ cells
Authors: Tang Chong , Guo Mei , Shi Zhuoxing , Wang Zhuqing , Luo Chunhai , Chen Sheng , Ruan Fengying , Chen Zhichao , Yang Linfeng , Wei Xiongyi , Wu Chuanwen , Luo Bei , Lv Zhou , Huang Jin , Zhang Dong , Yu Cong , Gao Qiang , Zhang Ying , Yan Wei , Sun Fei 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAs one of the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, transcription and translation’s uncoupling plays an essential role in development and adulthood physiology. However, it remains elusive how thousands of mRNAs get translationally silenced while stability is maintained for up to hours or even days before translation. In addition to oocytes and neurons, developing spermatids have significant uncoupling of transcription and translation for delayed translation. Therefore, spermiogenesis represents an excellentin vivomodel for investigating the mechanism underlying uncoupled transcription and translation. Through full-length poly(A) deep sequencing, we discovered dynamic changes in poly(A) length through deadenylation and re-polyadenylation. Deadenylation appeared to be mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs), and transcripts with shorter poly(A) tails tend to be sequestered into ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) for translational repression and stabilization. In contrast, re-polyadenylation allows for translocation of the translationally repressed transcripts from RNPs to polysomes for translation. Overall, our data suggest that miRNA-dependent poly(A) length control represents a novel mechanism underlying uncoupled translation and transcription in haploid male germ cells.
The manager’s conundrum in governing a farmers’ association
Authors: Ooi Sue Chern , Abdul Malak Siti Seri Delima , Che Ahmad Ayoib 
Published: March 2021

Learning outcomes
The main objectives of this case are to provide an opportunity for case users to understand the organisational governance framework in a farmers' association and how to build an effective organisational board. More specifically, the teaching objectives of this case are as follows: to provide an overview of the functions of different types of governance structures in a farmers' association. To understand the importance of good governance practices in a farmers' association and for its stakeholders. To relate democratic theory, stakeholder theory, agency theory and stewardship theory with the governance practices of a farmers' association. To critically evaluate the board governance in a farmers' association and recommend measures to enhance the practices.

Case overview/synopsis
The teaching case presents the governance practices in a farmers' association in Malaysia, ZIX-PPK and the various governance challenges that emerged in the PPK subsequent to the appointment of politically affiliated directors. Prior to 2019, ZIX-PPK was an outstanding PPK under the helm of the General Manager, Khadijah. The PPK had continually been recognised as an exceptional and excellent PPK by the Farmers' Organisation Authority and the Muda Agricultural Development Authority. However, the Arahan Pendaftar Bil 1/2019 required changes to the governance structures of ZIX-PPK, with five new directors being appointed by the minister. The appointment threatened the independence and autonomy of ZIX-PPK and affected the dynamic of the board of directors. Khadijah had to search for measures that could improve the board governance in ZIX-PPK. The names, in this case, had been altered but the details were based on an actual event. The data were collected through interviews with key players and with reference to the minutes and other documentation of ZIX-PPK.

Complexity academic level
The teaching case can be used by students in higher education institutions at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The case may also be relevant for training purposes to farmers' associations and any non-profit organisations.

Subject code
CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Suitability of the high performance organization framework for Egyptian ICT companies: a replication study
Authors: Ateia Mohammed Azmy , El Galaly Saneya Abdelfattah , de Waal André 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to answer the research question “Is the high-performance organization (HPO) Framework suitable for non-governmental private sector organizations, specifically the affiliates of international companies operating in the ICT sector in Egypt?”

Design/methodology/approach
The research concerns a replication study in which the HPO Questionnaire was used to collect data, and factor analysis was applied to evaluate the reliability and consistency of the HPO Framework. The research approach was the same as applied by de Waal et al. (2016), but this time the research population consisted of affiliates of international ICT companies, instead of local ICT companies as in the de Waal et al. (2016) study.

Findings
Data gathered by means of the HPO Questionnaire from managers of these affiliates were used to evaluate the reliability and internal consistency of the HPO Framework. The confirmatory factor analysis was done twice, once for the original 35-characteristic HPO Framework and once for the 26-characteristic HPO Framework as proposed by de Waal et al. (2016) for Egyptian local ICT companies. The study results clearly show the applicability of the original 35-characteristic HPO Framework for measuring the organizational strength and identifying performance-gaps of ICT companies that are affiliates of international organizations operating in Egypt.

Originality/value
This study adds to the growing HPO literature on developing countries and helps Egyptian ICT companies to adopt high-performance practices to be able to contribute more to the economic development of Egypt.
The role of perceived social media agility in customer engagement
Authors: Gligor David , Bozkurt Sıddık 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
The concept of agility has been applied to several domains to help firms develop the capability to quickly adjust their operations to cope and thrive in environments characterized by frequent changes. Despite the soaring number of social media users and the benefits associated with agility in other domains, the application of agility in a social media context has yet to be explored. Further, little is known about how agility in a social media context impacts desirable customer-related attributes, such as customer engagement and customer-based brand equity (CBBE). This paper aims to address this gap by adapting the construct to social media (i.e. perceived social media agility) and exploring its impact on customer engagement and CBBE.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper conducted an online survey with 200 adult subjects. This paper used multivariate regression analyzes to empirically test a scale for perceived social media agility and explore its impact on CBBE and customer engagement, along with the moderating role of customer change-seeking behavior.

Findings
The study results show that perceived social media agility directly and indirectly (through customer engagement) positively influences CBBE. Also, results show that the positive impact of perceived social media agility on CBBE is further magnified for customers high on change-seeking. However, customer change-seeking does not affect the strength or direction of the impact of perceived social media agility on customer engagement.

Originality/value
This paper contributes to social media literature by adapting and testing a measurement scale for the construct of perceived social media agility and exploring its role in enhancing customer engagement and CBBE.