bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Soluble CTLA-4 mainly produced by Treg cells inhibits type 1 inflammation without hindering type 2 immunity to allow for inflammation resolution
Authors: Osaki Motonao , Sakaguchi Shimon 
Published: May 2023

AbstractCTLA-4 exists as membrane (mCTLA-4) and soluble (sCTLA-4) forms. Here, we show that effector-type regulatory T cells (Tregs) are main sCTLA-4 producers in basal and inflammatory states with distinct kinetics upon TCR stimulation. Mice specifically deficient in sCTLA-4 production exhibited spontaneous activation of Th1, Th17, Tfh, and Tc1 cells, autoantibody and IgE production, M1-like macrophage polarization, and impaired wound healing. In contrast, sCTLA-4-intact mCTLA-4-deficient mice, when compared with double-deficient mice, developed milder systemic inflammation and showed predominant activation/differentiation of Th2, M2-like macrophages, and eosinophils. Consistently, recombinant sCTLA-4 inhibitedin vitrodifferentiation of naïve T cells towards Th1 through CD80/CD86 blockade on antigen-presenting cells, but did not affect Th2 differentiation. Moreover, sCTLA-4-intact mCTLA-4-deficient Tregs effectively suppressed Th1-mediated experimental colitis whereas double-deficient Tregs did not. Thus, sCTLA-4 production by Tregs during chronic inflammation is instrumental in controlling type 1 immunity while allowing type 2 immunity to dominate and facilitate inflammation resolution.
Use of Artificial Intelligence for Automated Detection and Surveillance of Red Imported Fire Ants Nests
Authors: Su Xin , Shi Guijie , Zhong Jiamei , Li Yuling , Dai Wennan , Xu Guohua , Fox Eduardo G. P. , Qiu Hualong , Yan Zheng 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe red imported fire ant,Solenopsis invictaBuren is a destructive invasive species that has spread around the world. Early detection ofS. invictanests is critical for effective monitoring and control in invaded regions. This study presents a novel surveillance system forS. invictanests combining artificial intelligence and robotic dogs. The system was designed with intelligent recognition algorithms to accurately identifyS. invictanests. With a precision rate of 95%, the system yielded efficient detection ofS. invictanests with increased sensitivity and low missing and false discovery rates, which can aid or even replace humans in locating and delivering pesticides to fire ant nests in open fields to effective control of this invasive pest.
The RNA-binding protein, Imp specifies olfactory navigation circuitry and behavior inDrosophila
Authors: Hamid Aisha , Gattuso Hannah , Caglar Aysu Nora , Pillai Midhula , Steele Theresa , Gonzalez Alexa , Nagel Katherine , Syed Mubarak Hussain 
Published: May 2023

AbstractComplex behaviors depend on the precise developmental specification of neuronal circuits, but the relationship between genetic programs for neural development, circuit structure, and behavioral output is often unclear. The central complex (CX) is a conserved sensory-motor integration center in insects that governs many higher order behaviors and largely derives from a small number of Type II neural stem cells. Here, we show that Imp, a conserved IGF-II mRNA-binding protein expressed in Type II neural stem cells, specifies components of CX olfactory navigation circuitry. We show: (1) that multiple components of olfactory navigation circuitry arise from Type II neural stem cells and manipulating Imp expression in Type II neural stem cells alters the number and morphology of many of these circuit elements, with the most potent effects on neurons targeting the ventral layers of the fan-shaped body. (2) Imp regulates the specification of Tachykinin expressing ventral fan-shaped body input neurons. (3) Imp in Type II neural stem cells alters the morphology of the CX neuropil structures. (4) Loss of Imp in Type II neural stem cells abolishes upwind orientation to attractive odor while leaving locomotion and odor-evoked regulation of movement intact. Taken together, our work establishes that a single temporally expressed gene can regulate the expression of a complex behavior through the developmental specification of multiple circuit components and provides a first step towards a developmental dissection of the CX and its roles in behavior.
Ocean-scale variation in migration schedules of a long-distance migratory seabird is fully compensated upon return to the breeding site
Authors: van Bemmelen Rob SA , Moe Børge , Schekkerman Hans , Hansen Sveinn Are , Snell Katherine RS , Humphreys Elizabeth M , Mäntylä Elina , Hallgrimsson Gunnar Thor , Gilg Olivier , Ehrich Dorothée , Calladine John , Hammer Sjúrður , Harris Sarah , Lang Johannes , Vignisson Sölvi Rúnar , Kolbeinsson Yann , Nuotio Kimmo , Sillanpää Matti , Sittler Benoît , Sokolov Aleksandr , Klaassen Raymond H.G. , Phillips Richard A. , Tulp Ingrid 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundMigratory birds generally have tightly scheduled annual cycles, in which delays can have carry-over effects on the timing of later events, ultimately impacting reproductive output. Whether temporal carry-over effects are more pronounced among migrations over larger distances, with tighter schedules, is a largely unexplored question.MethodsWe tracked individual Arctic SkuasStercorarius parasiticus, a long-distance migratory seabird, from eight breeding populations between Greenland and Siberia using light-level geolocators. We tested whether migration schedules among breeding populations differ as a function of their use of seven widely divergent wintering areas across the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.ResultsBreeding at higher latitudes led not only to later reproduction and migration, but also faster spring migration and shorter time between return to the breeding area and clutch initiation. Wintering area was consistent within individuals among years; and more distant areas were associated with more time spent on migration and less time in the wintering areas. Skuas adjusted the period spent in the wintering area, regardless of migration distance, which buffered the variation in timing of autumn migration. Choice of wintering area had only minor effects on timing of return at the breeding area and timing of breeding and these effects were not consistent between breeding populations.ConclusionThe lack of a consistent effect of wintering area on timing of return between breeding areas indicates that individuals synchronize their arrival with others in their population despite extensive individual differences in migration strategies.
Sequential Switching Through IgG1 is Redundant for Allergic Reactivity and Memory to Allergens
Authors: Koenig Joshua F.E. , Wade-Vallance Adam , Jiménez-Saiz Rodrigo , Bruton Kelly , Gadkar Siyon , Grydziuszko Emily , Walker Tina , Gordon Melissa E. , Waserman Susan , Jordana Manel 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAllergic reactions to foods are driven by allergen-binding immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies. IgE- expressing cells can be generated through a sequential class switching pathway where activated B cells first switch to an intermediary isotype, most frequently IgG1, and then to IgE. It has been proposed that sequential class switch recombination is important in generating high affinity IgE, augmenting anaphylactic reactions, and in holding the memory of IgE responses. Here, we observed surprising redundancy of sequential switching through IgG1 for the functional affinity of the IgE repertoire against multiple food allergens as well as for the ability of IgE to elicit anaphylaxis. We further found that sequential switching via IgG1 was irrelevant for allergic memory. These results indicate that allergen-specific IgG1 B cells are redundant in sensitization, anaphylaxis, and food allergy persistence, thereby implicating other switching pathways as important considerations in the development of therapeutics for allergic diseases.
Structural evidence for elastic tethers connecting separating chromosomes in crane-fly spermatocytes
Authors: Forer Arthur , Otsuka Shotaro 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTDifferent types of anaphase bridges have been reported to form between segregating chromosomes during cell division. Previous studies using laser microsurgery suggested that elastic tethers connect the telomeres of separating anaphase chromosomes in many animal meiotic and mitotic cells. However, structural evidence is lacking for their existence. In this study, we correlated live imaging with electron tomography of crane-fly primary spermatocytes to examine whether visible structures connect separating telomeres in meiosis I. We found structures extending between separating telomeres in all stages of anaphase, from very early anaphase to late anaphase. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the structures consist of two components: one is darkly stained, looking somewhat like chromatin, whereas the other is more lightly stained, appearing filamentous with internal thinner filaments. While in early anaphase both structures extend between telomeres, in later anaphase the darker structure extends shorter distances from the telomeres but the lighter structure still extends between the separating telomeres. From these observations, we deduced that these structures represent the ‘tethers’ inferred from the laser-cutting experiments in crane-fly spermatocytes. Since the presence of elastic tethers are suggested in a variety of animal cells, they probably are present during anaphase in all animal cells.
NoWolbachiaprotection againstPlasmodium falciparuminfection in the major malaria mosquitoAnopheles moucheti
Authors: Mouillaud Théo , Berger Audric , Buysse Marie , Rahola Nil , Daron Josquin , Agbor Jean-Pierre , Sango Sandrine N. , Neafsey Daniel E. , Duron Olivier , Ayala Diego 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSince the discovery of natural malaria vector populations infected by the endosymbiont bacteriumWolbachia, a renewed interest has arisen for using this bacterium as an alternative for malaria control. Among naturally infected mosquitoes,Anopheles moucheti, a major malaria mosquito in Central Africa, exhibits one of the highest prevalences ofWolbachiainfection. To better understand whether this maternally inherited bacterium could be used for malaria control, we investigatedWolbachiainfluence inAn. mouchetipopulations naturally infected by the malaria parasitePlasmodium falciparum. To this end, we collected mosquitoes in a village from Cameroon, Central Africa, where this mosquito is the main malaria vector. We found that the prevalence ofWolbachiabacterium was almost fixed in the studied mosquito population, and was higher than previously recorded. We also quantifiedWolbachiain whole mosquitoes and dissected abdomens, confirming that the bacterium is also elsewhere than in the abdomen, but at lower density. Finally, we analyzed the impact ofWolbachiapresence and density onP. falciparuminfection.Wolbachiadensity was slightly higher in mosquitoes infected with the malaria parasite than in uninfected mosquitoes. However, we observed no correlation between theP. falciparumandWolbachiadensities. In conclusion, our study indicates that naturally occurringWolbachiainfection does not affectP. falciparumdevelopment withinAn. mouchetimosquitoes.
Consumers’ perceptions of meat safety and quality – a qualitative content analysis from Afghanistan
Authors: Nasiri Mustafa , Gassler Birgit , Teuber Ramona 
Published: May 2023

PurposeThis study analyses consumers’ perception of meat quality and safety in Afghanistan at the pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest stages.Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data were collected through seven focus group discussions with 52 participants in Kabul and Bamyan, Afghanistan, between September and December 2020. A qualitative content analysis was undertaken using the Total Food Quality Model and the MAXQDA software.Findings At the pre-harvest stage, both sedentary and nomadic ruminants’ meat was perceived as high in quality and safety, with lower food safety hazards, unlike urban-raised ruminants’ meat. At the harvest stage, supermarket meat was perceived as better in hygiene, but not in freshness. Additionally, there were doubts about the Halal-slaughtering of this meat. Conversely, butchery meat was perceived as fresh, natural and trustworthy, but unhygienic. At the post-harvest stage, the most important quality attributes before purchase were color, freshness, place-of-origin, safety and Halal-slaughtering, and after purchase were taste and tenderness. Lack of consumer trust was also noticed for the formal institution, i.e. supermarket meat.Research limitations/implications This study provides valuable new results from Afghanistan that could be transferred to other Islamic-developing countries given the similarities in their meat industry, i.e. availability of both formal and informal institutions, and the sensitivity of Muslim consumers to Halal-slaughtering. Nonetheless, the qualitative nature of the study design demands further research, employing, e.g. a quantitative approach. Future studies conducted in other countries with similar context could validate the results of this paper.Originality/value Knowledge on consumer behavior in Afghanistan is scarce. The present study is one among a few that provides empirical evidence on Afghan consumers. Additionally, it is the first study to compare consumers’ perceptions of traditional butchery meat and supermarket meat.
Success of digital marketing model for software development industry: validation of survey based results with case study analysis
Authors: Gupta Nidhi , Singh Sultan 
Published: May 2023

PurposeThe paper aims to clarify the validity of the digital marketing model for software IT professionals. It proposes a model of buying behavior practices followed in digital era and outlining all six critical factors that were considered for developing this model. So the main objective of the study is to validate the success of digital marketing model through a survey-based results and case study analysis and synthesize the results for the success of digital marketing model for software development industry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper opted for an exploratory study using the structured questionnaire. The data were collected using online platform. The present study covers the analysis of a survey of 406 IT professionals from software development industry to understand their buying behavior through digital marketing. Regression technique has been used to find the important predictors of the digital marketing model with its impact on the demographic variables.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights about digital marketing model whose validity has been checked by synthesizing the results of both overall and case study. The results show that predictors elucidate Durbin–Watson in the acceptable range and are suitable for the model.Research limitations/implicationsData were collected during Covid period. So it was quite a challenging task and moreover sample size could not be increased due to this problem.Practical implicationThe paper includes implications for the development of digital marketing model for software IT professionals. Finally, this study will contribute to the further research for many prominent researchers who express their doubts about the state and future of digital marketing studies, characterized by contradictory and confusing empirical findings. A larger quantitative study on IT companies' digital marketing from different regions is recommended as a future line of research in order to encourage the unique globalized level model development.Social implicationsMany organizations use digital marketing successfully since with the great amount of awareness generated about the digitalization among the customers has propelled for its development.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills an identified need to study how IT professional's digital buying marketing practices need to be studied.
A roadmap for triggering the convergence of global ESG disclosure standards: lessons from the IFRS foundation and stakeholder engagement
Authors: Zaid Mohammad A.A. , Issa Ayman 
Published: May 2023

Purpose
Motivated by the growing and urgent demands for a unified set of internationally accepted, and high-quality environmental, social and governance (hereafter ESG) disclosure standards, this exploratory study aims to propose a roadmap for setting out the proper technical groundwork for global ESG disclosure standards.

Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory study is conducted to gain initial understanding and insights into establishing a worldwide set of standards for reporting on sustainability, as this topic has not been extensively studied. This study examines the viewpoints of various stakeholders, including sustainability practitioners, academics and organizations focused on ESG issues, to generate knowledge that is more solid than knowledge produced when one group of stakeholders work alone.

Findings
The results revealed that there is an ongoing and incompatible debate regarding several conceptual and practical challenges for setting a unified set of ESG disclosure standards.

Practical implications
The study results provide multidimensional insights for regulatory parties and standard-setters to develop a high-quality package of global ESG reporting standards. This, in turn, enables different groups of stakeholders to understand the firm’s impact on the environment, society and economy.

Originality/value
Research into this timely and relevant global issue is considered an appealing area of study and deserves significant attention. Thereby, working on this topic merits remarkable attention. Furthermore, this exploratory article provides valuable and informative suggestions for creating a unified and high-quality set of internationally accepted sustainability reporting standards.
Measures for improving the buildability of building designs in construction industry
Authors: Osuizugbo Innocent Chigozie 
Published: May 2023

Purpose
Despite many studies on buildability from different perspectives and methods, the problems associated with buildability have not ceased from confronting the construction industry. This paper aims to determine the critical measures for improving the buildability of building designs in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was developed to address the aim of the study. Data were collected through the administration of questionnaires to purposively selected group of quantity surveyors, builders, engineers and architects. A total of 368 questionnaires were administered and a response rate of 60% (219 questionnaires were returned) was achieved. Data elicited were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Findings
The results revealed that “the benefits of improved buildability should be made known to designers”, “more technical literature for improving buildability should be provided to designers” and “more education and training on buildability should be given to designers” are the top most important three measures for improving the buildability of building designs in the construction industry.

Originality/value
This study highlights the measures for improving buildability of building designs which are considered significant by construction professionals. An understanding of these measures is essential for reducing buildability problems as well as for improving and embedding buildability as a practice in the construction industry.
Impact of cloud computing as a digital technology on SMEs sustainability
Authors: Al-Mutawa Basma , Saeed Al Mubarak Muneer Mohammed 
Published: May 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the adoption of cloud computing as a digital technology by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and assess its impact on sustainability of such enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach
A model was developed that featured factors influencing SMEs sustainability. Primary quantitative data was gathered using a survey as an instrument. Total set of n = 387 responses were gathered using a convenience sampling method.

Findings
Findings reveal that cost reduction, ease of use, reliability and sharing and collaboration factors have significant statistical impacts on SMEs sustainability, whereas privacy and security factor has no significant statistical on SMEs sustainability.

Practical implications
The study poses significant implications on managers and SME development authority to create an inductive environment for technological support for SMEs’ sustainability.

Originality/value
The study enhances SMEs’ performance and sustainability by upgrading their existing information and communications technology as a digital infrastructure and benefiting from novel IT-based cloud revolution. Several studies have provided an understanding of the use of cloud computing services in SMEs but lack enough information about the challenges and impact on SMEs sustainability.
Ensuring bachelor’s thesis assessment quality: a case study at one Dutch research university
Authors: Hsiao Ya-Ping (Amy) , van de Watering Gerard , Heitbrink Marthe , Vlas Helma , Chiu Mei-Shiu 
Published: May 2023

PurposeIn the Netherlands, thesis assessment quality is a growing concern for the national accreditation organization due to increasing student numbers and supervisor workload. However, the accreditation framework lacks guidance on how to meet quality standards. This study aims to address these issues by sharing our experience, identifying problems and proposing guidelines for quality assurance for a thesis assessment system.Design/methodology/approachThis study has two parts. The first part is a narrative literature review conducted to derive guidelines for thesis assessment based on observations made at four Dutch universities. The second part is a case study conducted in one bachelor’s psychology-related program, where the assessment practitioners and the vice program director analyzed the assessment documents based on the guidelines developed from the literature review.FindingsThe findings of this study include a list of guidelines based on the four standards. The case study results showed that the program meets most of the guidelines, as it has a comprehensive set of thesis learning outcomes, peer coaching for novice supervisors, clear and complete assessment information and procedures for both examiners and students, and a concise assessment form.Originality/valueThis study is original in that it demonstrates how to holistically ensure the quality of thesis assessments by considering the context of the program and paying more attention to validity (e.g. program curriculum and assessment design), transparency (e.g. integrating assessment into the supervision process) and the assessment expertise of teaching staff.