bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ExoS Effector inPseudomonas aeruginosaHyperactive Type III Secretion System Mutant Promotes Enhanced Plasma Membrane Rupture in Neutrophils
Authors: Reuven Arianna D. , Mwaura Bethany W. , Bliska James B. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractPseudomonas aeruginosais an opportunistic bacterial pathogen responsible for a large percentage of airway infections that cause morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, especially those with cystic fibrosis (CF). One importantP. aeruginosavirulence factor is a type III secretion system (T3SS) that translocates effectors into host cells. ExoS is a T3SS effector with ADP ribosyltransferase (ADPRT) activity. The ADPRT activity of ExoS promotesP. aeruginosavirulence by inhibiting phagocytosis and limiting the oxidative burst in neutrophils. TheP. aeruginosaT3SS also translocates flagellin, which can activate the NLRC4 inflammasome, resulting in: 1) gasdermin-D (GSDMD) pores, release of IL-1β and pyroptosis; and 2) histone 3 citrullination (CitH3) and decondensation and expansion of nuclear DNA into the cytosol. However, recent studies with theP. aeruginosalaboratory strain PAO1 indicate that ExoS ADPRT activity inhibits activation of the NLRC4 inflammasome in neutrophils. Here, an ExoS+CF clinical isolate ofP. aeruginosawith a hyperactive T3SS was identified. Variants of the hyperactive T3SS mutant or PAO1 were used to infect neutrophils from C57BL/6 mice or mice engineered to have a CF genotype or a defect in inflammasome assembly. Responses to NLRC4 inflammasome assembly or ExoS ADPRT activity were assayed, results of which were found to be similar for C57BL/6 or CF neutrophils. The hyperactive T3SS mutant had enhanced resistance to neutrophil killing, like previously identified hypervirulentP. aeruginosaisolates. ExoS ADPRT activity in the hyperactive T3SS mutant regulated inflammasome and nuclear DNA decondensation responses like PAO1 but promoted enhanced CitH3 and plasma membrane rupture (PMR). Glycine supplementation inhibited PMR caused by the hyperactive T3SS mutant, suggesting ninjurin-1 is required for this process. These results identify enhanced neutrophil PMR as a pathogenic activity of ExoS ADPRT in a hypervirulentP. aeruginosaisolate.
Argon neuroprotection in a non-human primate model of transient endovascular ischemic stroke
Authors: Gonzalez Torrecilla S , Delbrel A , Giacomino L , Meunier D , Sein J , Renaud L , Brige P , Garrigue P , Hak JF , Guillet B , Brunel H , Farjot G , Brochier T , Velly L 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated the efficacy of argon neuroprotection in rodent models of cerebral ischemia. The objective of the present study was to confirm a potential neuroprotective effect of argon in a non-human primate model of endovascular ischemic stroke as an essential step before considering the use of argon as a neuroprotective agent in humans.MethodsThirteen adult monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were allocated to two groups: a control group (n=8) without neuroprotection and an argon group (n=5) in which argon inhalation (90 min) was initiated 30 minutes after onset of ischemia. Animals in both groups underwent brain MRI (pre-ischemic) at least 7 days before the intervention. The monkeys were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia induced by a transient (90 min) middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). After tMCAO, MRI was performed 1 hour after cerebral reperfusion. The ischemic core volume was defined by the apparent diffusion coefficient (aDC) and edema in fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) acquisitions. MRI masks were applied to distinguish between cortical and subcortical abnormalities. In addition, a modified version of the Rankin scale was used to neurologically assess post-tMCAO.ResultsDespite variability in the ischemic core and edema volumes in the control group, argon significantly reduced ischemic core volume after ischemia compared to the control group (1.1±1.6 cm3vs.8.5±8.1 cm3;p=0.03). This effect was limited to cortical structures (0.6±1.1 cm3vs.7.4±7.2 cm3;p=0.03). No significant differences were observed in the edema volumes. Measures of neurological clinical outcome suggested a better prognosis in argon-treated animals.ConclusionsIn the tMCAO macaque model, argon induced effective neuroprotective effects, leading to a reduced ischemic core in cortical areas. These results support the potential use of this therapeutic approach for future clinical studies in stroke patients.
Differential contribution of distinct neuronal populations to danger representations
Authors: Menegolla Ana Paula , Lopez-Fernandez Guillem , Herry Cyril , Martin-Fernandez Mario 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe recognition of specific stimuli and contexts in dangerous situations determines the expression of behaviors needed to appropriately cope with each threatening encounter. Moreover, the detection of common features shared by different dangerous situations allows eliciting general brain states and is necessary for both the expression of preparatory reactions and adaptive behavioral responses in a timely manner. However, it is unknown how general and specific danger representations emerge from the combined activity of different neuronal populations to elicit the expression of adaptive defensive responses. Using a behavioral paradigm that exposes mice to multiple threatening situations and calcium imaging recordings in freely moving mice, we investigated the role of different dmPFC neuronal populations in the generation of general and specific neuronal representations. Our results suggest that the population of somatostatin positive (SST+) interneurons generates specific representations while those arising from parvalbumin positive (PV+) interneurons are mainly unspecific. Together, this data suggests the presence of distinct information in different dmPFC neurons allowing a collective encoding of both general and specific danger representations.
Control of Munc13-1 Activity by Autoinhibitory Interactions Involving the Variable N-terminal Region
Authors: Xu Junjie , Esser Victoria , Gołębiowska-Mendroch Katarzyna , Bolembach Agnieszka A. , Rizo Josep 
Published: January 2024

AbstractRegulation of neurotransmitter release during presynaptic plasticity underlies varied forms of information processing in the brain. Munc13s play essential roles in release via their conserved C-terminal region, which contains a MUN domain involved SNARE complex assembly, and control multiple presynaptic plasticity processes. Munc13s also have a variable N-terminal region, which in Munc13-1 includes a calmodulin binding (CaMb) domain involved in short-term plasticity and a C2A domain that forms an inhibitory homodimer. The C2A domain is activated by forming a heterodimer with the zinc-finger domain of αRIMs, providing a link to αRIM-dependent short- and long-term plasticity. However, it is unknown how the functions of the N- and C-terminal regions are integrated, in part because of the difficulty of purifying Munc13-1 fragments containing both regions. We describe for the first time the purification of a Munc13-1 fragment spanning its entire sequence except for a flexible region between the C2A and CaMb domains. We show that this fragment is much less active than the Munc13-1 C-terminal region in liposome fusion assays and that its activity is strongly enhanced by the RIM2α zinc-finger domain together with calmodulin. NMR experiments show that the C2A and CaMb domains bind to the MUN domain and that these interactions are relieved by the RIM2α ZF domain and calmodulin, respectively. These results suggest a model whereby Munc13-1 activity in promoting SNARE complex assembly and neurotransmitter release are inhibited by interactions of the C2A and CaMb domains with the MUN domain that are relieved by αRIMs and calmodulin.
An Integrative Network Approach for Longitudinal Stratification in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Ryan Barry , Marioni Riccardo E. , Simpson T. Ian 
Published: January 2024

AbstractParkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms resulting from the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Currently, there is no cure for the disease which is in part due to the heterogeneity in patient symptoms, trajectories and manifestations. There is a known genetic component of PD and genomic datasets have helped to uncover some aspects of the disease. Understanding the longitudinal variability of PD is essential as it has been theorised that there are different triggers and underlying disease mechanisms at different points during disease progression. In this paper, we perform longitudinal and cross-sectional experiments to identify which data modalities or combinations of modalities are informative at different time points. We use clinical, genomic, and proteomic data from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative. We validate the importance of flexible data integration by highlighting the varying combinations of data modalities for optimal stratification at different disease stages in idiopathic PD. We show there is a shared signal in the DNAm signatures of participants with a mutation in a causal gene of PD and participants with idiopathic PD. We also show that integration of SNPs and DNAm data modalities has potential for use as an early diagnostic tool for individuals with a genetic cause of PD.
Search for dark photon dark matter in the mass range
41−74  μeV
using millimeter-wave receiver and radioshielding box
Authors: Adachi S. , Fujinaka R. , Muto Y. , Nakata H. , Sueno Y. , Sumida T. , Suzuki J. , Tajima O. , Takeuchi H. , Honda S. ,   DOSUE-RR Collaboration
Published: January 2024

Dark photons have been considered potential candidates for dark matter. The dark photon dark matter (DPDM) has a mass and interacts with electromagnetic fields via kinetic mixing with a coupling constant of χ. Thus, DPDMs are converted into ordinary photons at metal surfaces. Using a millimeter-wave receiver set in a radioshielding box, we performed experiments to detect the conversion photons from the DPDM in the frequency range 10–18 GHz, which corresponds to a mass range 41–74  μeV. We found no conversion photon signal in this range and set the upper limits to χ<(0.5–3.9)×10−10 at a 95% confidence level.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Credibility of food processing companies in terms of food safety: perspective of Generation Z consumers
Authors: Czernyszewicz Eugenia , Wiśniewska Małgorzata Zdzisława 
Published: January 2024

PurposeThe authors aimed to identify the opinions of young adult consumers regarding food processing companies’ (FPCs) credibility in terms of food safety (FS).Design/methodology/approachThe authors surveyed Generation Z (GenZ) consumers. The authors assessed the reliability of the research questionnaire using Cronbach’s alpha statistics. The authors used descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA analysis of variance in the data analysis to determine intergroup variability. The authors performed statistical analyses using IBM SPSS Statistics. 27.FindingsThe most valued determinants for consumers were competence and skills, and the most valued family members’ opinions on FS, followed by experts’ opinions. FS concerns are more associated with FPCs than with farmers. The ethics of conduct and moral responsibility play an important role in assessing the FPCs’ credibility.Research limitations/implicationsThe questionnaire did not focus on specific food industries, such as fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, dairy, etc. In the future, a similar survey on producers’ credibility should consider the issue of FS risks associated with the specifics of a particular industry.Originality/valueThe authors proposed a set of factors that may determine young adult consumers’ perception of the FPCs’ credibility, which they may use for research within other consumer groups.
External drivers of inter-organizational collaboration in megaproject: a perspective based on project governance
Authors: Liu Kai , Liu Yuming , Kou Yuanyuan 
Published: January 2024

PurposeInter-organizational collaboration is the organizational guarantee and key link to achieve the goals of megaproject management. Project governance has always played an important role in the construction of megaprojects, but the relationship between project governance and organizational collaboration is unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the role paths of different project governance mechanisms in influencing the collaborative behaviors of stakeholders and collaborative performance and to elucidate the mechanism of project governance on inter-organizational collaboration.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework was developed based on a comprehensive literature review, termed the structural equation model (SEM). The hypotheses of the model were tested based on data obtained from a questionnaire survey of 235 experts with experience in megaprojects within the construction industry in China.FindingsThe results show that project governance positively contributes to the collaborative behavior of megaproject stakeholders and the collaborative performance of the project team. Collaborative behavior acts as a partial mediator between project governance and the collaborative performance of the megaproject inter-organization alliance. The complexity of the project modulates the relationship between the governance mechanism of the project and the collaborative behavior of the stakeholders, which affects the collaborative performance of the megaproject inter-organization alliance.Originality/valueThe findings provide theoretical and practical implications for promoting positive collaborative behavior among stakeholders in megaproject selection and improving the collaborative performance of megaproject inter-organization alliances.
Is the internet helping farmers build climate resilience? Evidence from rice production in the Jianghan Plain, China
Authors: Tong Qingmeng , Ran Shan , Liu Xuan , Zhang Lu , Zhang Junbiao 
Published: January 2024

Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to examine the impact of agricultural internet information (AII) acquisition on climate-resilient variety adoption among rice farmers in the Jianghan Plain region of China. Additionally, it explores the influencing channels involved in this process.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on survey data for 877 rice farmers from 10 counties in the Jianghan Plain, China, this paper used an econometric approach to estimate the impact of AII acquisition on farmers’ adoption of climate-resilient varieties. A recursive bivariate Probit model was used to address endogeneity issues and obtain accurate estimates. Furthermore, three main influencing mechanisms were proposed and tested, which are broadening information channels, enhancing social interactions and improving agricultural skills.

Findings
The results show that acquiring AII can overall enhance the likelihood of farmers adopting climate-resilient varieties by 36.8%. The three influencing channels are empirically confirmed. Besides, educational attainment, income and peer effects can facilitate farmers’ acquisition of AII, while climate conditions and age significantly influence the adoption of climate-resilient varieties.

Practical implications
Practical recommendations are put forward to help farmers build climate resilience, including investing in rural internet infrastructures, enhancing farmers’ digital literacy and promoting the dissemination of climate-resilient information through diverse internet platforms.

Originality/value
Strengthening climate resilience is essential for sustaining the livelihoods of farmers and ensuring national food security; however, the role of internet information has received limited attention. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the casual relationship between internet information and climate resilience, which fills the research gap.
Leveraging strategic leadership for boosting operational resilience in hotels: the role of crisis response strategies and e-readiness
Authors: Ghazi Karam Mansour , Salem Islam Elbayoumi , Dar Hesham , Elbaz Ahmed Mohamed 
Published: January 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of strategic leadership (SL) on business operational resilience (OR) in the hotel industry in Egypt, namely, during and after the pandemic. This investigation also aimed to explore the mediating function of crisis response strategies (CRSs) and organisational e-readiness (Oe-R) in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach
The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire as the primary data collection method. Using partial least squares structural equation simulation (PLS-SEM), the study used a comprehensive sample that targets the general managers of all five-star hotels in Egypt.

Findings
Results indicated that SL has a positive impact on CRSs and Oe-R. Furthermore, the results reveal a positive influence of Oe-R on both CRSs and hotel OR. On the other hand, CRSs do not influence hotel OR. The findings showed that CRSs fully mediate the link between SL and OR. However, CRSs do not serve as a mediator between Oe-R and OR. Furthermore, the findings showed that Oe-R partially mediates the link between SL and both OR and CRSs.

Practical implications
The study yields unique and valuable theoretical and practical insights to guide hotel leaders and managers towards adaptive recovery and resilience in turbulent and crisis-ridden environments by demonstrating that the combined mediating function of CRS and Oe-R is more effective in strengthening the relationship between SL and OR.

Originality/value
This study represents a pioneering investigation that establishes a correlation between SL and OR, either through direct or indirect means. The research examines the involvement of CRSs and Oe-R as collaborative mediators in this relationship. Previous studies undertaken in the hotel industry and service sector have not investigated this specific element.
Unleashing the creative spark: the mediating role of employee work engagement on the relationship between employee training and creativity
Authors: Singh Yuvika , Phoolka Shivinder 
Published: January 2024

PurposeThis study aims to explore the mediating role of employee work engagement in the relationship between training and creativity in the education sector in India.Design/methodology/approachThe sample for this study consisted of 260 faculty members from 11 public universities in the Punjab region. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results of the study revealed that training has a significant direct and indirect effect on employee creativity through employee work engagement. The findings suggest that training can stimulate work engagement, highlighting the importance of fostering employee engagement for enhancing creativity.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the method used in this study may not facilitate direct generalizations, it offers valuable insights into prevalent discursive strategies found in numerous contemporary public organizations.Practical implicationsThe findings offer insights for designing targeted training interventions to enhance work engagement and foster creativity among faculty members in the education sector.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by addressing a gap in research on the interaction between training, work engagement and creativity. As there have been limited studies on this topic in the education sector in India, this research provides novel insights and extends the understanding of how these variables are related.
Contemporary crisis management in Ukraine's higher education system: a case study from the crises of the pandemic and the invasion
Authors: Kuzmina Svitlana L. , Popova Olena , Bachurina Ludmyla 
Published: January 2024

PurposeTaking the Institute of Philology and Journalism at Ukraine's Taurida National University as a case study, this paper overviews and distils the crisis management measures utilised in transitioning to fully online education during the crises of the Covid-19 pandemic and full-scale Russian invasion and violence.Design/methodology/approachWith the aim of spotlighting the experiences of the people most directly impacted by these two contemporary crises, this case study documents the lived experience of the authors—all of whom are/were teaching staff at the Institute—and Institute students’ responses to online surveys conducted between 2020 and 2022.FindingsThe Institute's case study demonstrates that contemporary crisis management via transitioning to fully online learning can be achieved if the following instrumental and methodological components are employed: (1) an initial assessment of the risks and opportunities for the educational community involved; (2) the right choice of online teaching and communications tools; (3) followed by flexibility and gradualism in onward planning (i.e. where technology and pedagogy are understood as interconnected) taking members’ feedback into account. However, the success of these components is contingent upon fulfilling psychological components, with care devoted to: upholding members’ psychological well-being; offering members ongoing technical support; and strengthening trust between members.Originality/valueThis case study offers transferable and adaptable findings for successful crisis management in education, from the Ukrainian context out to the wider world.
Science to practice – networked governance of sustainability transitions in an African university
Authors: Jimu Tawanda , Rennkamp Britta 
Published: January 2024

Purpose
This paper aims to present insights on the governance of sustainability transitions in higher education in Africa. The authors interrogate the research literatures on the governance of socio-technical transitions in water, electricity, transport and waste management, and identify barriers and enabling factors that enhance transformative practices in universities.

Design/methodology/approach
The analytical framework proposed in this paper combines the elements of governance network theory (GNT) and transition topology. The framework of this study is grounded in an actor-centric approach using GNT to understand networks conducive to sustainability transitions. Events and governance networks were mapped on a transition topology to visualise organisational and institutional changes over time. The study engaged students, management, academic and administrative staff in building a community of practice towards sustainability. This research is based on qualitative content analysis grounded in interview data, focus group discussions, workshops, webinars and secondary data analysis.

Findings
The findings show that the university has consolidated a sustainability vision and targets, but several factors prevent the community from achieving these targets, including hierarchical decision-making processes, a multitude of disjointed committees and fragmentation in the campus community.

Originality/value
This research adds to an emerging body of literature in the field of sustainability in higher education with two contributions. Firstly, the study presents a novel perspective(s) on the governance of sustainability transitions by combining the literatures on governance and sustainability transitions using a new methodological approach of transition topology to show organisational and institutional changes. Secondly, the study presents new empirical evidence for improving the governance of sustainability transitions in a diverse and highly unequal African university community in the process of (de)colonisation of knowledge and governance.