bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolic insights into microbially induced calcite formation by Bacillaceae for application in bio-based construction materials
Authors: Seidel Michael , Hamley-Bennett Charlotte , Reeksting Bianca J. , Bagga Manpreet , Hellmann Lukas , Hoffmann Timothy D. , Kraemer Christiane , Ofiţeru Irina Dana , Paine Kevin , Gebhard Susanne 
Published: November 2024

AbstractMicrobially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) offers promising solutions for sustainable, low-cement infrastructure materials. While it is known how urea catabolism leads to biomineralization, the non-ureolytic pathways of MICP are less clear. This limits the use of the latter in biotechnology, despite its clear benefit of avoiding toxic ammonia release. To address this knowledge gap, the present study explored the interdependence between carbon source utilization and non-ureolytic MICP. We show that acetate can serve as the carbon source driving calcite formation in several environmental Bacillaceae isolates. This effect was particularly clear in aSolibacillus silvestrisstrain, which could precipitate almost all provided calcium when provided with a 2:1 acetate-to-calcium molar ratio, and we show that this process was independent of active cell growth. Genome sequencing and gene expression analyses revealed an apparent link between acetate catabolism and calcite precipitation in this species, suggesting MICP may be a calcium stress response.Development of a simple genetic system forS. silvestrisled to deletion of a proposed calcium binding protein, although this showed minimal effects on MICP. Taken together, this study provides insights into the physiological processes leading to non-ureolytic MICP, paving the way for targeted optimization of biomineralization for sustainable materials development.
Sigma factors as potential targets to enhance recombinant protein expression
Authors: Pohlen Laura , García Emily , Martínez Luz María , Flores Noemí , Büchs Jochen , Gosset Guillermo , Lara Alvaro R. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe transcriptional factors control the expression of many genes and represent an important layer of complexity in cell factories. However, the effect of individual sigma factor deletions from a biomanufacturing perspective has not been addressed. In this contribution, growth and oxygen consumption ofE. coliBW25113 strains with individual inactivation of each sigma factor were characterized under various conditions. The deletion ofrpoDhas been reported to be lethal forE. coli. However, the evaluatedrpoDmutant did not exhibit major growth defects in the mineral medium and is explained because therpoDgene is duplicated in this strain. Recombinant protein was expressed at three different induction levels in a mineral and LB media. ThefliAmutant was the best producer in the mineral medium, whereas therpoDmutant overperformed the other strains in LB medium. This suggest that a lowerrpoDgene dosage is positive for the performance of the cell factory in complex medium. In cultures at 20 °C, therpoSmutant exhibited the greatest recombinant expression. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic study evaluating the potential of sigma factor deletion for improving recombinant protein production.
In silico analysis of metabolic burden effects on a multicellular integral controller
Authors: Campanile Giovanni , Martinelli Vittoria , Salzano Davide , Fiore Davide , di Bernardo Mario 
Published: November 2024

AbstractMetabolic burden is a critical limiting factor in the design of synthetic circuits, affecting both their reliability and performance. To mitigate its effects, distributing control functions across different cell populations within a multicellular control architecture offers a promising solution, while simultaneously enhancing modularity and re-usability of the circuits. We first present a model that explicitly accounts for limited ribosome availability within cells. Using this framework, we then derive a mathematical model of a multicellular antithetic integral controller that incorporates these shared resources. Through numerical bifurcation analysis andin silicoagent-based experiments in BSim, we compare the multicellular controller against its traditional single-cell (embedded) implementation, evaluating both resource utilization and stability.
Structure of an Archaeal Ribosome with a Divergent Active Site
Authors: Nissley Amos J. , Shulgina Yekaterina , Kivimae Roan W. , Downing Blake E. , Penev Petar I. , Banfield Jillian F. , Nayak Dipti D. , Cate Jamie H. D. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe ribosome is the universal translator of the genetic code and is shared across all life. Despite divergence in ribosome structure over the course of evolution, the peptidyl transferase center (PTC), the catalytic site of the ribosome, has been thought to be nearly universally conserved. Here, we identify clades of archaea that have highly divergent ribosomal RNA sequences in the PTC. To understand how these PTC sequences fold, we determined cryo-EM structures of thePyrobaculum calidifontisribosome. We find that sequence variation leads to the rearrangement of key PTC base triples and differences between archaeal and bacterial ribosomal proteins also enable sequence variation in archaeal PTCs. Finally, we identify a novel archaeal ribosome hibernation factor that differs from known bacterial and eukaryotic hibernation factors and is found in multiple archaeal phyla. Overall, this work identifies factors that regulate ribosome function in archaea and reveals a larger diversity of the most ancient sequences in the ribosome.
Draft genome sequence of the glasshouse-potato aphidAulacorthum solani
Authors: Torres Joseph , Rozo-Lopez Paula , Brewer William , Ziabari Omid Saleh , Parker Benjamin J. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractAulacorthum solaniis a worldwide agricultural pest aphid capable of feeding on a wide range of host plants. This insect causes mechanical damage to crops and is a vector of plant viruses. We found that the publicly available genome forA. solaniis contaminated with another aphid species, and we produced a new genome using a barcoded isogenic laboratory line. We produced Oxford Nanopore and Illumina reads to generate a draft assembly, and we sequenced RNA to aid in the annotation of our assembly. OurA. solanidraft genome is 671 Mbp containing 7,020 contigs with an N50 length of 196 kb with a BUSCO completeness of 98.6%. Out of the 24,981 genes predicted by E-GAPx, 22,804 were annotated with putative functions based on homology to other aphid species. This genome will provide a useful resource for the community of researchers studying aphids from agricultural and genomic perspectives.
Human skin rejuvenation via mRNA
Authors: Li Li , Tang Zhengkuan , Portillo Xavier , Arora Rohit , Yang Madeleine , Mintzer Esther , Han Patrick , Zhang Zhenrui , Majewski Dorothy D. , Titelman Asaf Ashkenazy , Plesa Alexandru M. , Shadpour Michael , McNamee Shannon M. , Zheng Yue , Li Xiaolong , Tam Jenny , McGee Jean S. , Sol Stefano , Boncimino Fabiana , Zhang Yu Shrike , Mandinova Anna , Murphy George F. , Kupper Thomas S , Ma Sai , Church George M. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTAging is characterized by a gradual decline in function, partly due to accumulated molecular damage. Human skin undergoes both chronological aging and environmental degradation, particularly UV-induced photoaging. Detrimental structural and physiological changes caused by aging include epidermal thinning due to stem cell depletion and dermal atrophy associated with decreased collagen production. Here, we present a comprehensive single-cell atlas of skin aging, analyzing samples from young, middle-aged, and elderly individuals, including both sun-exposed and sun-protected areas. This atlas reveals age-related cellular composition and function changes across various skin cell types, including epidermal stem cells, fibroblasts, hair follicles, and endothelial cells. Using our atlas, we have identified basal stem cells as a highly variable population across aging, more so than other skin cell populations such as fibroblasts. In basal stem cells, we identified ATF3 as a novel regulator of skin aging. ATF3 is a transcriptional factor for genes involved in the aging process, with its expression reduced by 20% during aging. Based on this discovery, we have developed an innovative mRNA-based treatment to mitigate the effects of skin aging. Cell senescence decreased 25% in skin cells treated with ATF3 mRNA, and we observed an over 20% increase in proliferation in treated basal stem cells. Importantly, we also found crosstalk between keratinocytes and fibroblasts as a critical component of therapeutic interventions, with ATF3 rescue of basal cells significantly enhancing fibroblast collagen production by approximately 200%. We conclude that ATF3-targeted mRNA treatment effectively reverses the effects of skin aging by modulating specific cellular mechanisms, offering a novel, targeted approach to human skin rejuvenation.
Stress Changes the Bacterial Biomolecular Condensate Material State and Shifts Function from mRNA Decay to Storage
Authors: Ortiz-Rodríguez Luis A. , Yassine Hadi , Nandana Vidhyadhar , Azaldegui Christopher A. , Cheng Jiayu , Schrader Jared M. , Biteen Julie S. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBacterial ribonucleoprotein bodies (BR-bodies) are dynamic biomolecular condensates that play a pivotal role in RNA metabolism. We investigated how BR-bodies significantly influence mRNA fate by transitioning between liquid- and solid-like states in response to stress. With a combination of single-molecule and bulk fluorescence microscopy, biochemical assays, and quantitative analyses, we determine that BR-bodies promote efficient mRNA decay in a liquid-like condensate during exponential growth. On the other hand, BR-bodies are repurposed from sites of mRNA decay to reservoirs for mRNA storage under stress, a functional change that is enabled by their transition to a more rigid state, marked by reduced internal dynamics, increased molecular density, and prolonged residence time of ribonuclease E. Furthermore, we manipulated ATP levels and translation rates and conclude that the accumulation of ribosome-depleted mRNA is a key factor driving these material state transitions, and that condensate maturation further contributes to this process. Upon nutrient replenishment, stationary-phase BR-bodies disassemble, releasing stored mRNAs for rapid translation, demonstrating that BR-body function is governed by a reversible mechanism for resource management. These findings reveal adaptive strategies by which bacteria regulate RNA metabolism through condensate-mediated control of mRNA decay and storage.
Srs2/PARI DNA helicase mediates abscission inhibition in response to chromatin bridges in yeast and human cells
Authors: Dam Monica , Brownlow Nicola , Furst Audrey , Spiegelhalter Coralie , Mendoza Manuel 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe coordination of chromosome segregation with cytokinesis is crucial for maintaining genomic stability. Chromatin bridges, arising from DNA replication stress or catenated chromosomes, can interfere with this process, leading to genomic instability if not properly managed. Here, we uncover that the budding yeast DNA helicase Srs2 and its human homolog PARI delay the timing of abscission events in the presence of chromatin bridges. We demonstrate that Srs2 is essential for delaying abscission in yeast cells with chromatin bridges, and preventing their damage by cytokinesis. In human cells, PARI similarly plays a key role in delaying abscission events, such as midbody severing and actin patch disassembly during cytokinesis, in response to chromatin bridges caused by topoisomerase II inhibition. Our results also show that PARI functions within the Aurora B-mediated abscission checkpoint pathway. These findings reveal an evolutionarily conserved role of the Srs2/PARI DNA helicase in maintaining genomic integrity by modulating abscission timing in response to chromatin bridge formation.
Broad Instantaneous Bandwidth Microwave Spectrum Analyzer with a Microfabricated Atomic Vapor Cell
Authors: Shi Yongqi , Ruster Thomas , Ho Melvyn , Karlen Sylvain , Haesler Jacques , Treutlein Philipp 
Published: November 2024

We report on broad instantaneous bandwidth microwave spectrum analysis with hot Rb87 atoms in a microfabricated vapor cell in a large magnetic field gradient. The sensor is a MEMS atomic vapor cell filled with isotopically pure Rb87 and N2 buffer gas to localize the motion of the atoms. The microwave signals of interest are coupled through a coplanar waveguide to the cell, inducing spin-flip transitions between optically pumped ground states of the atoms. A static magnetic field with large gradient maps the frequency spectrum of the input microwave signals to a position-dependent spin-flip pattern on absorption images of the cell recorded with a laser beam onto a camera. In our proof-of-principle experiment, we demonstrate a microwave spectrum analyzer that has ≈1  GHz instantaneous bandwidth centered around 13 GHz, 3 MHz frequency resolution, 2 kHz refresh rate, and a −23  dBm single-tone microwave power detection limit in 1 s measurement time. A theoretical model is constructed to simulate the image signals by considering the processes of optical pumping, microwave interaction, diffusion of Rb87 atoms, and laser absorption. We expect to reach more than 25 GHz instantaneous bandwidth in an optimized setup, limited by the applied magnetic field gradient. Our demonstration offers a practical alternative to conventional microwave spectrum analyzers based on electronic heterodyne detection.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Does mobile government become an administrative burden for older adults?
Authors: Chen Tao , Shang Tiancheng , Yan Rongxiao , He Kang 
Published: November 2024

PurposeThe study explores how mobile governance affects the administrative burden on older adults, focusing on learning, psychological and compliance costs.Design/methodology/approachUsing attribution theory, the research employs a quantitative research design, utilizing surveys to gather data from 516 older adults across three cities in China: Quzhou, Wuhan and Shanghai. The study examines how intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors of m-government interfaces impact older adults’ administrative burden.FindingsPerceived complexity increases learning, psychological and compliance costs for older adults. Personalization and high-quality information decrease these costs, enhancing user satisfaction. Visual appeal decreases anxiety and psychological costs.Originality/valueThis research links attribution theory with m-government’s administrative burden on older adults, offering new insights into optimizing m-government to serve older adults better.
The two-stage pricing of preannouncement for platform introducing self-operated logistics under consideration of the first- or second-mover advantage
Authors: Li Ping , Wu Bin 
Published: November 2024

PurposeThe optimization of transport efficiency by self-operated logistics has brought competitive advantages to platform, who is gradually developing self-operated logistics and adopting the preannouncement to announce the related information in advance. The purpose of this paper is to explore the development order of self-operated logistics on platform under consideration of preannounce behavior.Design/methodology/approachThis paper considers the sequence of platform constructing the self-operated logistics and constructs the two-stage pricing models to analyze the optimal pricing of platforms under different preannounce strategies, including four scenarios: {no-preannounce, first mover}, {no-preannounce, second mover}, {preannounce, first mover} and {preannounce, second mover}.FindingsThe authors receive several conclusions: First, under no-preannounce scenario, regardless of the sequence of entry into self-operated logistics market, when the quality differentiation of two platforms’ self-operated logistics is moderate, the ratio pricing of two platforms at competition stage is positively correlated with quality differentiation of their self-operated logistics. Additionally, there exists the substitution effect between preannouncement and quality differentiation under no-preannounce condition, and the first-mover platform should increase the pricing of the monopoly phase until it is twice as high as its pricing during the competition phase. Interestingly, the pricing of platform and the strategy for developing self-operated logistics are symmetric between first- and second-mover scenarios.Originality/valueFirst, this study analyzes the pricing and self-operated logistics construction under different preannounce strategies, enriching the interdisciplinary research on corporate marketing and providing scientific suggestions on how to use preannouncement to acquire competitive advantages. Second, this paper also considers the sequence of platform developing self-operated logistics and analyzes how platform develops self-operated logistics as well as pricing to gain first-mover and second-mover advantages. Third, this paper develops the two-stage pricing models that consider the continuity of pricing in different cycles, enriching the relevant theories and models.
A Fourier-based approach to understanding the impact of dairy farming on red meat prices: evidence from the Turkish case
Authors: Bor Ozgur 
Published: November 2024

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the drivers behind the notable increase in red meat prices in Turkey, attributing the rise primarily to policy interventions within the dairy industry which result in a reduction of farm capacity for dairy farmers.Design/methodology/approachTo analyze the factors that determine the price of carcass red meat, cattle fattening feed is identified as a variable that directly affects carcass pricing, while the ratio of farm gate milk prices to milk feed prices is assumed to have an indirect impact. Monthly data from January 2011 to December 2022 are used in the analysis. The time series examined is influenced by time-dependent nonlinear Fourier trends that are computed for use in the estimation part.FindingsThe study reveals that fluctuations in cattle fattening feed prices have an immediate impact on carcass prices, while changes in the ratio of raw milk prices to milk feed prices exhibit a time lag. Although short-term interventions to the farm gate milk prices can initially suppress carcass prices, it is important to consider their medium and long-term effects, as these can manifest as a decrease in the number of animals available.Originality/valueThe research sheds light on the intricate interplay between policy interventions in the dairy sector and their ripple effects on the broader red meat market, contributing valuable insights to both academic and policy discourse.
Analysing the impact of gamification training on reinforcing the relationship of ISA employee engagement and employee task performance – empirical study
Authors: Mohanty Sattwik , Christopher B. Prabu 
Published: November 2024

Purpose
This paper aims to examine the effect of gamification training on employee task performance within the context of intellectual, social and affective (ISA) employee engagement in India. The use of gamification in training as a possible precursor to increased employee engagement is a fascinating research topic, especially as employee engagement is becoming an increasingly important factor in workplace success.

Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the aim of this study, 300 responses were obtained from employees in an Indian company using online surveys to quantitatively assess levels of employee engagement and task performance. Statistical tests like SPSS 20.0 and Smart PLS 3.0 were run on the collected data to see if gamification training led to significantly higher levels of employee engagement and if this engagement had an effect on task performance.

Findings
Result tells that social and affective engagement mediates the relationship between gamification training and employee task performance in gamification-using organisations, relative to intellectual engagement. As social and affective engagement has considerable positive effects on employee job performance and gamification training, gamification training is a critical approach for organisations to implement to increase employee engagement and, consequently, performance.

Originality/value
Using an innovative variable of employee engagement – specifically, ISA employee engagement – the authors have sought to establish a mediating link between gamification and employee task performance. Therefore, the study’s designs have practical value for organisations because they incorporate the ISA engagement scale into a game-based learning environment.
Remote work and psychological distress: evidence from the understanding America study dataset
Authors: Jong Jaehee , Lee Jungtaek 
Published: November 2024

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how working remotely relates to psychological distress and also how this relationship varies by gender, age and employment sector.Design/methodology/approachWe examined 30 waves of longitudinal data (observations = 76,845 and respondents = 4,542) drawn from the Understanding America Study (UAS), a nationally representative panel collected during the period March 2020–October 2021, and analyzed the data using a negative binomial panel model.FindingsThe results show that both female and male workers who worked remotely during this time period experienced psychological distress. For workers aged 30–54 and those 55 years of age or above, and those who worked for nonprofit and private organizations, remote work was strongly related to psychological distress. Alternatively, remote work had no significant effect on psychological distress among younger and government workers.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to both research and practice related to flexible work arrangements by delving into the influence of remote work on a key employee well-being outcome, psychological distress, which has been understudied in research on human resource practices.