bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lack of specificity in Geobacter periplasmic electron transfer
Authors: Choi Sol , Chan Chi Ho , Bond Daniel R. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractReduction of extracellular acceptors requires electron transfer across the periplasm. In Geobacter sulfurreducens, three separate cytoplasmic membrane cytochromes are utilized for menaquinone oxidation depending on redox potential, and at least five cytochrome conduits span the outer membrane. Because G. sulfurreducens produces 5 structurally similar triheme periplasmic cytochromes (PpcABCDE) that differ in expression level, midpoint potential, and heme biochemistry, separate periplasmic carriers could be needed for specific redox potentials, terminal acceptors, or growth conditions. Using a panel of marker-free single, quadruple, and quintuple mutants, the role of ppcA and its four paralogs was examined. Three quadruple mutants containing only one paralog (PpcA, PpcB, and PpcD) reduced Fe(III) citrate and Fe(III) oxide at the same rate and extent, even though PpcB and PpcD were at much lower levels than PpcA in the periplasm. Mutants containing only PpcC and PpcE showed defects, but were nearly undetectable in the periplasm. When expressed sufficiently, PpcC and PpcE supported wild type Fe(III) reduction. PpcA and PpcE from G. metallireducens similarly restored metal respiration in G. sulfurreducens. PgcA, an unrelated extracellular triheme c-type cytochrome, also participated in periplasmic electron transfer. While triheme cytochromes were important for metal reduction, sextuple ΔppcABCDE ΔpgcA mutants still grew near wild type rates and displayed normal cyclic voltammetry profiles when using anodes as electron acceptors. These results reveal broad promiscuity in the periplasmic electron transfer network of metal-reducing Geobacter, and suggests an as-yet undiscovered periplasmic mechanism supports electron transfer to electrodes.ImportanceMany inner and outer membrane redox proteins used by Geobacter for electron transfer to extracellular acceptors are known to have specific functions. However, how these are connected by periplasmic redox carriers remains poorly understood. Since Geobacter sulfurreducens contains multiple paralogous triheme periplasmic cytochromes, each with their own unique biochemical properties and expression profiles, it has been hypothesized that each cytochrome is involved in different respiratory pathways depending on redox potential or energy conservation needs. Here we show that instead of being specific for single conditions, the many periplasmic cytochromes of Geobacter show evidence of being highly promiscuous. Surprisingly, while any one of 6 triheme cytochromes could support similar growth with soluble or insoluble metals, none of these were required when cells utilized electrodes. These findings could simplify construction of synthetic electron transfer pathways.
SNAP-tag and HaloTag fused proteins for HaSX8-inducible control over synthetic biological functions in engineered mammalian cells
Authors: Dotson Hannah L. , Ngo John T. 
Published: August 2022

ABSTRACTDrug-inducible systems allow biological processes to be regulated through the administration of exogenous chemical inducers. Such methods can be used to study native biological activities, or to control synthetically engineered ones, with temporal and dose-dependent control. However, the number of existing drug-inducible systems is limited, and there remains a need for synthetic biology components that can be combined with the existing toolset and regulated with independent and orthogonal control. Here, we describe new cell engineering components that can be regulated via a heterodimerization of SNAP-tag and HaloTag domains using a selective small molecule crosslinker termed “HaXS8.” The construction and validation of multiple HaXS8-sensitive components are described, including systems for regulating transcription, Cre recombinase activity, and caspase-9 activity in mammalian cells. The systems elaborate the ability to control gene expression, DNA recombination, and apoptosis in cell engineered systems.
The small RNA landscape is stable with age and resistant to loss of dFOXO signaling in Drosophila
Authors: Gartland Siobhan , Marr Michael T. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAging can be defined as the progressive loss of physiological homeostasis that leads to a decline in cellular and organismal function. In recent years, it has become clear that small RNA pathways play a role in aging and aging related phenotypes. Small RNA pathways regulate many important processes including development, cellular physiology, and innate immunity. The pathways illicit a form of posttranscriptional gene regulation that relies on small RNAs bound by the protein components of the RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs), which inhibit the expression of complementary RNAs. In Drosophila melanogaster, Argonaute 1 (Ago1) is the core RISC component in microRNA (miRNA) silencing, while Argonaute 2 (Ago2) is the core RISC component in small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing. The expression of Ago1 and Ago2 is regulated by stress response transcription factor Forkhead box O (dFOXO) increasing siRNA silencing efficiency. dFOXO plays a role in multiple stress responses and regulates pathways important for longevity. Here we use a next-generation sequencing approach to determine the effects of aging on small RNA abundance and RISC loading in male and female Drosophila. In addition, we examine the impact of the loss of dFOXO on these processes. We find that the relative abundance of the majority of small RNAs does not change with age. Additionally, under normal growth conditions, the loss of dFOXO has little effect on the small RNA landscape. However, we observed that age affects loading into RISC for a small number of miRNAs.
The potential of the Beauveria bassiana MHK isolate for mosquito larval control
Authors: Tawidian Patil , Kang Qing , Michel Kristin 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae Giles (Diptera: Culicidae), and the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae) are of public health concern due to their ability to transmit disease-causing parasites and pathogens. Current mosquito control strategies to prevent vector-borne diseases rely mainly on the use of chemicals. However, insecticide resistance in mosquito populations necessitates alternative control measures, including biologicals such as entomopathogenic fungi. Here we report the impact of a Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hyprocreales: Cordycipitaeceae) isolate, MHK, isolated from field-collected Ae. albopictus larvae on mosquito survival and development. Larval infection bioassays using three B. bassiana conidial doses were performed on the second and third larval instars of An. gambiae and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. Larvae were monitored daily for survival and development to pupae and adults. Our results show that B. bassiana MHK was more effective in killing An. gambiae than Ae. albopictus larvae. We further observed delays in development to pupae and adults in both mosquito species exposed the varying doses of B. bassiana as compared to the water control. In addition, larval exposure to B. bassiana reduced adult male and female survival in both mosquito species, further contributing to mosquito population control. Thus, this study identifies the locally isolated fungus, B. bassiana MHK, as a possible biological control agent of two mosquito species of public health concern, increasing the arsenal for integrated mosquito control.
The Administration Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria Reducing Environmental Alkyl and Fatty Acid Hydroperoxides on Piglets in the Absence of Antimicrobial Agents and in the Presence of Iron
Authors: Noguchi Tatsuo , Watanabe Akio , Sagane Yoshimasa , Nomoto Kouji , Terao Junji , Suzuki Tomonori , Uchino Masataka , Abe Akira , Niimura Youichi , Ikeda Shuhei 
Published: August 2022

AbstractA lactic acid bacterium, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P1-2 (LpP1-2), can reduce environmental fatty acid hydroperoxides. The administration of LpP1-2 to oxygen-sensitive short-lived nematode mutants and iron-overloaded rats reduced the oxidative stress-related index. Since young piglets have a weak defense system against oxidative stress and are vulnerable to environmental stress, antimicrobial agents have been administered in the rearing. Based on these results, we investigated the effect of LpP1-2 administration to prepartum sows and infant piglets until weaning without antimicrobial agents on the growth of young piglets.The group including both sows and piglets that were administrated with lactic acid bacteria containing LpP1-2 (LABLp) until the end of lactation showed the growth-promoting effect of piglet from lactation to early regular rearing, and even in late regular rearing. Blood biochemical markers were in the normal ranges in both LABLp-administrated and non-administrated groups, but various disease-related markers tended to decrease in the administrated group.To investigate the effects of LABLp administration on postpartum piglets, the piglets born from prenatally LABLp-administrated sows were divided into two groups and then administrated with or without LABLp. The piglets in the LABLp-administrated group tended to grow very slightly higher than those in the non-administrated group from lactation to early regular rearing. After that, the growth in both groups was almost the same. These results suggest that LABLp administration to prepartum sows is essential for the growth-promoting effect.The postnatal LABLp-administrated piglets showed a lower serum lipid peroxidation index than the non-administrated piglets, and had higher numbers of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria in feces at the end of LABLp treatment. In fattening performances, the LABLp-administrated group showed a significant improvement in meat quality.We also discuss the growth and physiological effects by LpP1-2 administration with iron on piglets because iron administration is another important issue in piglet farming.
A scoping review of disparities in health and health-care service provisions experienced by adults with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Sidhu Harsimran Kaur , Greene M. Claire 
Published: August 2022

Purpose
Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to have a poor health status because of being diagnosed with a range of physical and mental health conditions and experience disparities in health care. The purpose of this study is to find barriers to health care experienced by adults with ASD and find gaps in health care which health-care providers can work to fill.

Design/methodology/approach
This scoping review aimed to identify studies that report on disparities in health and health-care service provisions experienced by adults with ASD. The authors included articles that described health-care disparities for patients with ASD and were published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2010 and April 2022. The authors searched the following databases and medical journals to search for eligible studies: Google Scholar, Pubmed, Elsevier, Sage Publications and Embase. The authors comprehensively searched key terms related to ASD, health care and disparities.

Findings
The core defining features of ASD, which include communication and social impairments and deficits in sensory processing, were found to be barriers in the health-care experience of adults with ASD. Continued research and changes in health care, such as developing interventions to empower patients, adequately training providers and increasing the accessibility of the health-care system, are necessary to ensure adults with ASD receive adequate medical care.

Research limitations/implications
Additionally, clarifying the current literature on this topic can guide future research efforts to explore the influence of factors such as gender and the spectrum of autism itself leading to various levels of abilities and their influence on the health-care experience of adults with ASD.

Practical implications
Overall, the findings from this scoping review underline the importance of providing readily accessible evidence-based, age-appropriate primary and hospital health care for adults with ASD.

Social implications
Further interventions are needed to empower patients, adequately train providers, increase the accessibility of the health-care system, increase support for ASD patients and decrease discrimination.

Originality/value
This paper is a scoping literature review of the original work done by researchers in the field of developmental disorders and health care.
Stylometric features in librarian’s responses to user queries: implications for user interaction in digital information services
Authors: Park Jung Ran , Poole Erik , Li Jiexun 
Published: August 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore linguistic stylometric patterns encompassing lexical, syntactic, structural, sentiment and politeness features that are found in librarians’ responses to user queries.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 462 online texts/transcripts comprising answers of librarians to users’ questions drawn from the Internet Public Library were examined. A Principal Component Analysis, which is a data reduction technique, was conducted on the texts and transcripts. Data analysis illustrates the three principal components that predominantly occur in librarians’ answers: stylometric richness, stylometric brevity and interpersonal support.

Findings
The results of the study have important implications in digital information services because stylometric features such as lexical richness, structural clarity and interpersonal support may interplay with the degree of complexity of user queries, the (a)synchronous communication mode, application of information service guideline and manuals and overall characteristics and quality of a given digital information service. Such interplay may bring forth a direct impact on user perceptions and satisfaction regarding interaction with librarians and the information service received through the computer-mediated communication channel.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the stylometric features encompassing lexical, syntactic, structural, sentiment and politeness using Principal Component Analysis have not been explored in digital information/reference services. Thus, there is an emergent need to explore more fully how linguistic stylometric features interplay with the types of user queries, the asynchronous online communication mode, application of information service guidelines and the quality of a particular digital information service.
Linear regression model and least square method for experimental identification of AMBU bag in simple ventilator
Authors: Truong Cong Toai , Huynh Kim Hieu , Duong Van Tu , Nguyen Huy Hung , Pham Le An , Nguyen Tan Tien 
Published: August 2022

PurposeIn the COVID-19 outbreak periods, people's life has been deranged, leading to disrupt the world. Firstly, the number of deaths is growing and has the potential to surpass the highest level at any time. Secondly, the pandemic broke many countries' fortified lines of epidemic prevention and gave people a more honest view of its seriousness. Finally, the pandemic has an impact on life, and the economy led to a shortage in medical, including a lack of clinicians, facilities and medical equipment. One of those, a simple ventilator is a necessary piece of medical equipment since it might be useful for a COVID-19 patient's treatment. In some cases, the COVID-19 patients require to be treated by modern ventilators to reduce lung damage. Therefore, the addition of simple ventilators is a necessity to relieve high work pressure on medical bureaucracies. Some low-income countries aim to build a simple ventilator for primary care and palliative care using locally accessible and low-cost components. One of the simple principles for producing airflow is to squeeze an artificial manual breathing unit (AMBU) iterative with grippers, which imitates the motion of human fingers. Unfortunately, the squeezing angle of grippers is not proportional to the exhaust air volume from the AMBU bag. This paper aims to model the AMBU bag by a mathematical equation that enables to implement on a simple controller to operate a bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilator with high accuracy performance.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a curvature function to estimate the air volume exhausting from the AMBU bag. Since the determination of the curvature function is sophisticated, the coefficients of the curvature function are approximated by a quadratic function through the experimental identification method. To obtain the high accuracy performance, a linear regression model and a least square method are employed to investigate the characteristic of the BVM ventilator's grippers angle with respect to the airflow volume produced by the AMBU bag.FindingsThis paper investigates the correlation between the exhausting airflow of the AMBU bag and the grippers angle of the BVM ventilator.Originality/valueThe experimental results validated that the regression model of the characteristic of the exhausting airflow of the AMBU bag with respect to the grippers' angle has been fitted with a coefficient over 98% within the range of 350–750 ml.
Understanding urban festival attendees’ involvement in Hong Kong dragon boat festival
Authors: Otoo Felix Elvis , Ngwira Cecilia , Kankhuni Zandivuta 
Published: August 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of involvement, satisfaction and festival attachment on urban Dragon Boat Festival (DBF) attendees’ future intentions.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 307 participants of the Hong Kong DBF using a survey instrument. Data was analysed using a series of analytical tools including factor analysis, structural equation modelling and bootstrap mediation.

Findings
Results indicate that festival attendees’ involvement and satisfaction directly influenced future intentions with the DBF, but this was not the case for festival attachment. Consequently, satisfaction is a key puzzle piece for understanding why DBF attendees may not revisit despite a positive attachment to the DBF.

Research limitations/implications
The study draws implications for DBF promotion as an urban cultural event.

Originality/value
This study sheds light on the key drivers of attendees’ future intentions among both residents and tourists to urban festivals. A noble contribution to knowledge in this regard is that attachment alone is not sufficient to induce loyalty among DBF patrons. Essentially, satisfaction is a vital element for repeat visits. The study also makes important distinctions in determining elements of attachment.
Mobile wallets in cash-based economies during COVID-19
Authors: Okonkwo Chinedu Wilfred , Amusa Lateef Babatunde , Twinomurinzi Hossana , Fosso Wamba Samuel 
Published: August 2022

PurposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic altered business and personal activities globally especially stimulating contactless financial transactions. However, despite the similar national lockdowns in cash-based economies, the adoption of contactless transactions through the widely available mechanism, mobile wallets, remained low. This research aimed to identify the factors surrounding this peculiarity.Design/methodology/approachThe study was investigated using a composite model based on the diffusion of innovation theory (DIT), technology acceptance model (TAM) and information systems success model (ISSM). Data were collected from 621 Cameroonian mobile wallet users and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation (PLS-SEM) modeling.FindingsThe key findings revealed that the usage of mobile wallets, in the current form, were not affected by the perceived ease of use and did not match the existing lifestyle of users in Cameroon (no compatibility). The branding of mobile wallets (image) which was based on global messaging did not appeal to Cameroonians; in fact, the branding gave mobile wallets a negative image.Originality/valueThese key findings reveal the dangers of assuming that global strategies which have been effective in dealing with the pandemic will be effective in low-income or cash-based economies. The findings suggest that considering essential contextual dispositions is critical.
Effects of age and income moderation on adoption of mobile payments in Brazil
Authors: Abegao Neto Fernando Luis , Figueiredo Julio César Bastos de 
Published: August 2022

PurposeThis study aims to measure the effects of moderation by age and income in mobile payment systems' intended use as predictors of performance expectation, effort expectation, social influence, risk and perceived costs.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on a survey that generated a sample of 1,742 Brazilian users that responded to the measurement scale. The research data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation model.FindingsAll proposed latent variables were significant, with income positively moderating the performance expectation and negatively moderating the perceived cost and perceived risk. In addition, age positively moderates performance expectation and negatively moderates cost perception.Originality/valueThe findings evolved previous literature by understanding moderating effects that make it possible for companies operating in mobile payments to generate segmented communication and engagement plans for users of different income and age brackets.
Balancing strategic renewal, cost and efficiency: a case study in digital transformation
Authors: Wang Ke , Zhang Zhichao , Xiong Jie , Li Hongwei , Liu Haibo , Ma Huimin 
Published: August 2022

Purpose
Recent studies have indicated that digital transformation can benefit an organization’s strategic renewal. However, there is little knowledge on how business executives engage in digital transformation for this purpose, especially in the service sectors of emerging markets. Therefore, this study aims to examine how business managers accomplish strategic renewal through digital transformation in emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a longitudinal single case study of a leading business firm in China’s real estate industry, China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. (COLI). Results of the analysis of semistructured interviews and rich secondary data allowed us to better understand how business managers react to changing customer demands by building and implementing divergent digital tools to fulfill strategic renewal.

Findings
The results showed that business executives of COLI developed the Whole Life Cycle Management System, to achieve strategic renewal. The system benefits resource allocation and potential adjustments to strategic goals. This study also helps update the organizational structure of the marketing and consumer services departments, helping better satisfy consumers’ demands and waste fewer resources. Thus, COLI accomplished structural, contextual and leadership-based ambidexterity.

Originality/value
This study provides a fresh understanding of the link between digitalization and strategic renewal by providing a fine-grained analysis of leading service providers in emerging markets. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to investigate the role of digital transformation in strategic renewal from an ambidexterity perspective.