bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantification of the effect of hemodynamic occlusion in two-photon imaging
Authors: Yogesh Baba , Heindorf Matthias , Jordan Rebecca , Keller Georg B. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTThe last few years have seen an explosion in the number of tools available to measure neuronal activity using fluorescence imaging (Chen et al., 2013; Feng et al., 2019; Jing et al., 2019; Sun et al., 2018; Wan et al., 2021). When performed in vivo, these measurements are invariably contaminated by hemodynamic occlusion artifacts. In widefield calcium imaging, this problem is well recognized. For two-photon imaging, however, the effects of hemodynamic occlusion have only been sparsely characterized. Here we perform a quantification of hemodynamic occlusion effects using measurements of fluorescence changes observed with GFP expression using both widefield and two-photon imaging. We find that in many instances the magnitude of signal changes attributable to hemodynamic occlusion is comparable to that observed with activity sensors. Moreover, we find that hemodynamic occlusion effects were spatially heterogeneous, both over cortical regions and across cortical depth, and exhibited a complex relationship with behavior. Thus, hemodynamic occlusion is an important caveat to consider when analyzing and interpreting not just widefield but also two-photon imaging data.
The structure of the Tad pilus alignment complex reveals a periplasmic conduit for pilus extension
Authors: Evans Sasha L. , Peretiazhko Iryna , Karnani Sahil Y. , Marmont Lindsey S. , Wheeler James H. R. , Tseng Boo Shan , Durham William M. , Whitney John C. , Bergeron Julien R. C. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe Tad (Tightadherence) pilus is a bacterial appendage implicated in bacterial virulence, cell-cell aggregation, and biofilm formation. Despite its homology to the well-characterised Type IV pilus, the structure and assembly mechanism of the Tad pilus are poorly understood. Here, we investigate the role of the protein RcpC fromPseudomonas aeruginosa. Our analyses reveal that RcpC forms a dodecameric periplasmic complex, anchored to the inner membrane by a transmembrane helix, and interacting with the outer membrane secretin RcpA. We use single-particle Cryo-EM to elucidate the structure of this RcpC dodecamer, and cell-based assays to demonstrate that the RcpC-RcpA complex is essential for Tad-mediated cell-cell aggregation. Collectively, these data demonstrate that RcpC forms the Tad pilus alignment complex, which provides a conduit across the periplasm for the Tad pilus filament to access the extracellular milieu. Our experimental data and structure-based models allow us to propose a mechanism for Tad plus assembly.
Retrograde transport of neurotrophin receptor TrkB-FL induced by excitotoxicity regulates Golgi stability and is a target for stroke neuroprotection
Authors: Esteban-Ortega Gema María , Díaz-Guerra Margarita 
Published: October 2024

AbstractExcitotoxicity, aberrant function of survival pathways dependent on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and disruption of the Golgi complex are shared pathological hallmarks of relevant chronic and acute neurological diseases, including stroke. However, precise interdependence among these mechanisms is not completely defined, a knowledge essential to develop neuroprotective strategies. For ischemic stroke, a leading cause of death, disability and dementia, promising results have been obtained by interfering excitotoxicity, major mechanism of neuronal death in the penumbra area surrounding the infarct. We are exploring neuroprotection by promotion of survival cascades dependent on BDNF binding to full-length tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB-FL) receptor, which become aberrant after excitotoxicity induction. We have previously developed a blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeable neuroprotective peptide (MTFL457) containing a TrkB-FL sequence which efficiently prevents receptor processing induced by excitotoxicity and preserves BDNF-dependent pathways in a model of ischemia, where it efficiently decreases infarct size and improves neurological outcome after stroke. In this work, using cellular and animal models, we demonstrate that excitotoxicity-induced TrkB-FL downregulation is secondary to receptor endocytosis, receptor interaction with endosomal protein hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (Hrs), retrograde transport to the Golgi and disruption of this organelle. Interestingly, peptide MTFL457efficiently interferes TrkB-FL/Hrs interaction and receptor trafficking, processes required for excitotoxic Golgi fragmentation and TrkB-FL cleavage, demonstrating a central role for TrkB-FL in the control of Golgi stability. These results also suggest the potential of peptide MTFL457to preserve function of this organelle and of critical neuronal survival pathways in stroke and, probably, other neurodegenerative diseases associated to excitotoxicity.
Motor Equivalence in Motor Awareness
Authors: Fasola J , Betka S , Faivre N , Blanke O , Kannape OA 
Published: October 2024

AbstractMotor awareness (MA) describes the level of conscious access we have to the details of our movements and as such is critical to the feeling of control we maintain over our actions (sense of agency). Although our movements rely on specific sensorimotor transformations as well as distinct reference frames for the active body part, or effector, numerous studies report spatiotemporal thresholds of MA that are comparable across different effectors and tasks as well as supramodal. However, this has not been tested directly and there is currently no direct empirical support for effector-independent MA nor a description of a potentially shared underlying mechanisms. We therefore designed a goal-directed reaching paradigm that participants performed once with their upper-limbs, using a joystick, and once with their full body, by leaning and thereby displacing their center-of-mass. We assessed both MA and corrective movements for sensorimotor mismatches by providing either veridical feedback or introducing random spatial deviations. We hypothesized that changes in motor compensation and awareness, across effectors, with and without a concurrent cognitive load, would follow the same pattern of behavior if they relied on a shared underlying mechanism. Our results lend support for such an effector-independent mechanism, as we observed that MA was comparable across effectors: i) in un-deviated control trials with and without cognitive load, ii) in converging trials where the direction of the deviation corresponded to the direction of the target location, and iii) based on strongly correlated psychometric MA thresholds across effectors. At the same time, data from diverging trials, where the direction of the deviation opposed the direction of the target location, indicate that in case of conflicting information and increased kinematic task demands MA draws on effector-specific sensorimotor information, corresponding to performance differences between hand and full body movements observed in baseline blind-reaching versus visually guided reaching. Overall, our findings provide a direct link between low-level sensorimotor transformations and abstract motor representations and their role in MA, consolidating a gap in conceptual frameworks of the sense of agency.
Ninjurin-1 mediated plasma membrane rupture is a two-step process requiring cell swelling
Authors: Hartenian Ella , Bernard Elliott M. , Ammirati Giulia , Monnier Sylvain , Leloup Hubert B. , Agustoni Magalie , Bissegger Lukas , Santos José Carlos , Mari Stefania , Sieben Christian , Petrilli Virginie , Müller Daniel , Broz Petr 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPlasma membrane rupture (PMR) and the release of cytosolic content are hallmarks of necrotic cell death. The plasma membrane protein ninjurin-1 (NINJ1) actively promotes cell lysis by polymerizing into membrane embedded filaments that induce the formation of large plasma membrane lesions. Yet the signals controlling NINJ1 polymerization and the opening of membrane lesions remain unknown. Here we combine cell biology and biophysical measurements to characterize the steps preceding NINJ1-induced PMR in cells undergoing ferroptosis. Our results show that NINJ1 lesions form through a 2-step mechanism requiring oligomerization, which is triggered by signal 1, and subsequent lesion opening driven by signal 2, which we determine to be cell swelling without a concomitant increase in intracellular pressure. The close homologue NINJ2 polymerizes with similar kinetics to NINJ1 but fails to form lesions during cell swelling, further highlighting that oligomerization and PMR are distinct events. Chimeras between NINJ1 and NINJ2 show that the unstructured N-terminal region of NINJ1 controls lesion opening in response to cell swelling. In summary, our data establish a new 2-step model for NINJ1-driven necrosis in which initial oligomerization causes the formation of NINJ1 filaments that serve as ‘weak links’ in the plasma membrane and can break once cell swelling causes a rise in membrane tension and mechanical stress.
Ephrin-mediated dendrite-dendrite repulsion regulates compartment-specific targeting of dendrites in the central nervous system
Authors: Deng Xiaobing , Zhu Sijun 
Published: October 2024

AbstractNeurons often forms synaptic contacts at specific subcellular domains to differentially regulate the activity of target neurons. However, how dendrites are targeted to specific subcellular domains of axons is rarely studied. Here we useDrosophilamushroom body out neurons (MBONs) and local dopaminergic neurons (DANs) as a model system to study how dendrites and axons are targeted to specific subcellular domains (compartments) of mushroom body axonal lobes to form synaptic contacts. We found that Ephrin-mediated dendrite-dendrite repulsion between neighboring compartments restricts the projection of MBON dendrites to their specific compartments and prevents the formation of ectopic synaptic connections with DAN axons in neighboring compartments. Meanwhile, DAN neurons in a subset of compartments may also depend on their partner MBONs for projecting their axons to a specific compartment and cover the same territory as their partner MBON dendrites. Our work reveals that compartment-specific targeting of MBON dendrites and DAN axons is regulated in part by a combination of dendrite-dendrite repulsion between neighboring compartments and dendrite-axon interactions within the same compartment.
Effects of mutant and non-mutant strains ofBacillus subtilisto produceogirifromCitrullus vulgarisseeds on their microbial diversity and physicochemical properties
Authors: Babatuyi Catherine Y. , Oyetayo Victor O , Akinyosoye Felix A 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe desire for safe and natural seasoning is increasing as a result of side effects associated with artificial seasonings.Ogiri, one of such natural seasonings is a fermented product with different substrates in Africa, especially West Africa. IsolatedBacillus subtilisstrains from fermentedCitrullus vulgariswere exposed to different Ultraviolet (UV) irradiations and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) at varying intervals of time to obtain mutant strains. Eight (8) mutant strains ofB. subtilisthat produced high D-ribose metabolites were used for controlled starter-fermentation ofC. vulgarisfor 5 days to produceogiri. The non-mutant (NMS00) and the market (RTE00) served as control samples. Microbial ecology (load and occurrence) and colour characteristics of the samples were determined. The pH increased with the fermentation period from 4.08 ± 0.01 to 9.86 ± 0.01, while the total titratable acidity fluctuated with the fermentation days. The microbial count increased from 1.0 × 103cfu/g to 5.2 × 104cfu/g.B. subtiliswas mainly isolated fromogirisamples fermented with mutant strains, while other microorganisms were isolated from samples NMS00 and RTE00. Sample fermented with a mutant strain ofB. subtilisexposed to inoculating chamber UV light for 90 sec (MIC67) was closer to sample RTE00 in colour measurements. Some of theogiriproduced from mutant strains ofB. subtilishad improved colour characteristics and were not characterized by spoilage or pathogenic microorganisms associated with the market sample. Therefore, could be incorporated into food systems.ImportanceGenetic modification ofBacillus subtilisstrains for the fermentation ofCitrullus vulgarisseeds to produce a food condiment (ogiri), which modified and controlled the kind of microbial load, occurrence and isolations during the fermentation. This prevented pathogenic microorganisms’ proliferation that usually characterized traditional way of its production. The behavioural coordination of pH and the total titratable acidity during fermentation reflected on the availability of the microbial metabolism to improve the fermentation rate. Furthermore, it was revealed that the colour measurements of some samples fermented with mutant strains ofBacillus subtilis, which is usually used to determine food acceptance were improved and better than the control samples.Introducing a natural seasoning to serve as functional food in combating the side effects of consumption of artificial seasoning linked to harmful effects that has become a global cause of health issues, which necessitated this research, aside serving as a low-cost protein substitute.
Identifying barriers of financial app usage and their impact on negative emotions, customer ratings and recommendation intention: a text-mining based approach
Authors: Das Sneha , Ray Arghya 
Published: October 2024

PurposeLimited studies in the mobile payment segment have attempted at understanding the factors that resist customers from using financial apps or mobile payment services (MPSs). This study aims at identifying the barriers from online customer reviews and examine how these barriers affect customers’ negative emotions (anger, fear, sadness), customer ratings and recommendation intentions.Design/methodology/approachThis study, divided into three phases, has adopted a text-mining based mixed-method approach on 14,043 reviews present in Google PlayStore or App Store pages about financial apps used in India.FindingsPhase 1 identified barriers like, “bad user experience”, “UPI failure”, “trust issues”, “transaction delays” from the reviews. Phase 2 found that “bad user experience” and “UPI failure” trigger both “anger” and “sadness”. “Transaction delays” and “money lost in transaction” stimulate “fear”. From the IRT stance, in Phase 3 this study has found that barriers like, “transaction error”, “UPI failure” (usage), “bad user experience” (image) and “trust issues” (tradition) have a significant negative impact on both customer ratings and recommendation intention.Originality/valueThe current study contributes to the existing literature on MPSs by identifying barriers from user generated content. Additionally, this study has also examined the impact of the barriers on customers’ negative emotions and recommendation intention.
The effects of service quality on relationship quality and loyalty in business-to-business electrical and electronics industry
Authors: Tangchua Pornpana , Vanichchinchai Assadej 
Published: October 2024

PurposeThis study investigates the relationships between service quality, relationship quality (i.e. satisfaction, trust and commitment) and loyalty in the business-to-business (B2B) context.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was developed from a comprehensive literature review. It was verified by experts and statistical techniques. The data were collected from senior purchasing officers in 232 electrical and electronics companies in Thailand. Path analysis of structural equation modeling was used to analyze the hypothesized model.FindingsIt was found that service quality has a significant positive direct effect on satisfaction, trust and commitment. Commitment significantly affects loyalty, while service quality, satisfaction and trust do not.Originality/valueThis is one of the first examples of empirical research to examine the links between service quality, components of relationship quality and loyalty in the B2B electrical and electronics context.
Continuity in public transport provision during the Covid-19 pandemic – responding to organisational and health challenges facing workers
Authors: Cullen Anne Marie , McQuaid Ronald , Hail Yvonne , Kinahan Mary , D'Alonzo Luca , Leva Maria Chiara 
Published: October 2024

PurposeThis paper explores and analyses the major challenges faced by both customer-facing and office-based public transport employees during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic and the responses of their employers to their concerns.Design/methodology/approachQualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups were carried out, involving 39 employees and directors representing a wide range of professionals working in the transport sector in three European countries, Poland, Ireland and the UK. Data were analysed through thematic analysis and the emerging issues explored.FindingsMajor employee challenges included: access to resources for safe working; worker mental health and well-being; and the effects of changing working practices, particularly flexible working, on their wider household circumstances and work–life balance (especially combining childcare responsibilities with work). First, physical health safety measures (such as PPE) were put in place for all workers, although sometimes with delays. Second, concerning practical support for mental health and well-being at work, the findings highlight that their employers’ practical support was considered limited by some customer-facing participants. In contrast, participants working from home were offered considerably greater employer support for their well-being, including increased and regular communication regarding work and non-work-related topics to tackle isolation and lack of social interactions. Third, work–life balance, and especially childcare were significant issues for those working from home. To improve organisational resilience, employer support for workers needs to better reflect employees’ job role, work setting and location, as well as their household demands such as childcare.Practical implicationsThe lessons learned from this study contribute to future employer responses and practices and their organisational resilience, both in times of major crises and also for improving mental-health and childcare support in normal times.Originality/valueThe study considers the role of employee perspectives on organisational resilience and service continuity in public transport during a crisis and in three countries. Importantly, the data were gathered contemporaneously during the early stages of the pandemic, and so are not influenced by retrospective rationalisation or uncertain recollections.
Multi-criteria decision-making model for sustainability functions integrated Industry 4.0 technologies within small and medium enterprises in emerging countries
Authors: Santos André de Mendonça , Sant'Anna Ângelo Márcio de Oliveira , Barbosa Ava Santana , Becker Adriano Machado , Ayala Néstor Fabián 
Published: October 2024

PurposeIn the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) era, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face significant pressure to make their manufacturing operations more sustainable. However, SMEs often lack the knowledge and information needed to leverage I4.0 technologies for achieving sustainability. This paper aims to develop a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model to prioritize sustainability functions supported by I4.0 technologies in SMEs.Design/methodology/approachThe fuzzy-DEMATEL method was developed to classify sustainability functions based on their prominence and influence, categorizing them into cause-and-effect groups. Experts in I4.0 technologies, sustainability and SMEs from Brazil were consulted during the data collection phase. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to validate the results obtained through the DEMATEL method.FindingsThe results indicate that the most prominent and influential sustainability functions include organizing production processes, employee skill development and simplifying production planning and control. Therefore, investing in I4.0 technologies to support these functions can enable SMEs to amplify the impact of their sustainability initiatives and improve operational efficiency. The authors also observed that improving quality monitoring is the primary function within the effect group.Practical implicationsThis paper serves as a roadmap for SME managers seeking to enhance the effectiveness of their sustainability practices using I4.0 technologies, thereby maximizing impact while minimizing the complexity of implementation.Originality/valueThis study ranks key sustainability functions as actions and practices that SMEs can implement using I4.0 technologies to achieve sustainability. It also identifies the most prominent and influential functions managers should prioritize when investing in I4.0 technologies.
Value-in-context: co-creation across different context levels in the service ecosystem
Authors: Wieczerzycki Marcin , Ratajczak-Mrozek Milena , Hauke-Lopes Aleksandra , Colurcio Maria 
Published: October 2024

Purpose
This study aims to provide in-depth insight into how value is co-created on different levels of context (i.e. dyads, triads and networks) within a service ecosystem, and thus examine the impact of indirect service-for-service exchanges on the value co-creation process, the interdependencies between different levels of context and the roles in the value co-creation process that the actors play depending on the context level.

Design/methodology/approach
Using the theoretical framework of service-dominant logic, the authors carry out a case study analysis of a service ecosystem built around a digital platform where independent confectioneries sell customised cakes to customers.

Findings
This paper provides evidence for the importance of a wider context extending beyond producer–customer dyad as well as indirect service-for-service exchanges in the process of value co-creation. This paper also conceptualises trans-contextual exchanges, that is, exchanges occurring between different context levels of the service ecosystem. The analysis also allowed us to establish that the same actors simultaneously play different roles in the service ecosystem, depending on the level of context.

Research limitations/implications
This study highlights the importance of indirect service-for-service exchanges and trans-contextual exchanges. Constituting discreet avenues of value co-creation, often obscured from a single actor of a service ecosystem, these two types of exchanges are nonetheless crucial to understanding the full scope of the ecosystem’s interconnectedness, the varying roles of its actors, as well as supporting the scaling up process of the service ecosystem.

Originality/value
Althogh there are studies examining value co-creation within wider contexts or ecosystems from the service-dominant logic perspective, usually little attention is paid to the indirect service-for-service exchanges and the interplay between different levels of context.