bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microbial electrochemical systems for enhanced degradation of glyphosate: Electrochemical performance, degradation efficiency, and analysis of the anodic microbial community
Authors: Rafieenia Razieh , Mahmoud Mohamed , El-Gohary Fatma , Rossa Claudio Avignone 
Published: February 2022

AbstractGlyphosate, one of the most used herbicides worldwide, is known as an aquatic contaminant of concern, and can present adverse impacts in agroecosystems. In this study, we investigated the degradation of glyphosate in microbial electrochemical systems (MESs), and analysed the microbial composition of enriched anodic biofilms, and comparing them with microbial communities of non-MESs enriched cultures. MESs supported higher glyphosate degradation (68.41 ± 1.21 % to 73.90 ± 0.79 %) compared to non-MESs cultures (48.88 ± 0.51 %). The Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) analysis showed that MESs operated at +300 mV, produced a maximum current of 611.95 μA, which was the highest among all the applied voltages. 16S amplicon sequencing revealed a significant difference in microbial community composition of MESs anodic biofilms and non-MESs enriched communities. The anodic biofilms were dominated by Rhodococcus (51.26 %), Pseudomonas (10.77 %), and Geobacter (8.67 %) while in non-MESs cultures, methanogens including Methanobrevibacter (51.18 %), and Methanobacterium (10.32 %), were the dominant genera. The present study suggested that MESs could be considered as a promising system for glyphosate degradation.
Microglial TNFα controls synaptic GABAARs, sleep slow waves and memory consolidation
Authors: Pinto Maria Joana , Bizien Lucy , Fabre Julie M.J. , Ðukanović Nina , Lepetz Valentin , Henderson Fiona , Pujol Marine , Sala Romain W. , Tarpin Thibault , Popa Daniela , Triller Antoine , Léna Clément , Fabre Véronique , Bessis Alain 
Published: February 2022

AbstractMicroglia sense the changes in their environment. How microglia actively translate these changes into suitable cues to adapt brain physiology is unknown. We reveal an activity-dependent regulation of cortical inhibitory synapses by microglia, driven by purinergic signaling acting on P2RX7 and mediated by microglia-derived TNFα. We demonstrate that sleep induces microglia-dependent synaptic enrichment of GABAARs in a manner dependent on microglial TNFα and P2RX7. We further show that microglia-specific depletion of TNFα alters slow waves during NREM sleep and blunt memory consolidation in sleep-dependent learning tasks. Together, our results reveal that microglia orchestrate sleep-intrinsic plasticity of synaptic GABAARs, sculpt sleep slow waves and support memory consolidation.
The Impact of Protection Measures and Treatment on Pneumonia Infection: A Mathematical Model Analysis supported by Numerical Simulation
Authors: Teklu Shewafera Wondimagegnhu , Kotola Belela Samuel 
Published: February 2022

AbstractPneumonia has been a major airborne transmitted disease and continues to pose a major public health burden in both developed and developing countries of the world. In this study, we constructed and analyzed a nonlinear deterministic compartmental mathematical model for assessing the community-level impacts of vaccination, other protection measures like practicing good hygiene, avoiding close contacts with sick people and limiting exposure to cigarette smoke, etc. and treatment on the transmission dynamics of pneumonia disease in a population of varying size. Our model exhibits two kinds of equilibrium points: pneumonia disease-free equilibrium point, and pneumonia endemic equilibrium point(s). Using center manifold criteria, we have verified that the pneumonia model exhibits backward bifurcations whenever its effective reproduction number ℛP < 1 and in the same region, the model shows the existence of more than one endemic equilibrium point where some of which are stable and others are unstable. Thus, for pneumonia infection, the necessity of the pneumonia effective reproduction number ℛP < 1, although essential, it might not be enough to completely eradicate the pneumonia infection from the considered community. Our examination of sensitivity analysis shows that the pneumonia infection transmission rate denoted by β plays a crucial role to change the qualitative dynamics of pneumonia infection. By taking standard data from published literature, our numerical computations show that the numerical value of pneumonia infection model effective reproduction number is ℛP = 8.31 at β = 4.21 it implies that the disease spreads throughout the community. Finally, our numerical simulations show that protection, vaccination, and treatment against pneumonia disease have the effect of decreasing pneumonia expansion.
Comparison of two sampling, quenching and extraction methods for quantitative yeasts metabolomics
Authors: Li Xiang , Rovetta Mattia , van Dam Patricia T.N. , Pabst Martin , Heinemann Matthias 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTKnowing intracellular metabolite concentrations is important for fundamental metabolism research as well as for biotechnology. The first steps in a quantitative metabolomics workflow, i.e., sampling, quenching, and extraction, are key to obtaining unbiased quantitative data. A qualified quenching and extraction method not only needs to rapidly terminate the in vivo biochemical reaction activities to preserve the endogenous metabolite levels but also has to fully extract all metabolites from cells. Recently, two different filtration-based sampling, quenching, and extraction methods have been proposed and used for quantitative yeast metabolomics. One method integrates the quenching and extraction into one step using a methanol-acetonitrile-water solution after a filtration step, while the other —more conventional— method quenches with cold methanol and extracts with boiling ethanol. In this study, we tested whether these two methods are equally well suited for quantitative metabolome analyses with yeast. Using isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) with GC-MS and LC-MS as analytical methods, in combination with precise quantification of cell volumes, we determined absolute concentrations of 63 intracellular metabolites covering amino acids, organic acids, phosphorylated sugars, and nucleotides in two S. cerevisiae strains with different physiology. By analyzing the data from samples generated with the two methods, we found that while both methods yielded essentially identical concentrations for amino and organic acids, the cold-solvent extraction yielded significantly lower concentrations for particularly phosphorylated sugars and nucleotides, presumably because of lower quenching or extraction efficiency of this method. Our results show that methanol-quenching combined with boiling-ethanol-extraction is the more accurate approach when aiming to quantify a broad range of different metabolites from yeast cells. The significant discrepancy observed between both common metabolite extraction methods demonstrates the importance of method optimization for quantitative studies in particular when working with microbes with rigid cell walls such as those found in yeast.
Structural insights into the peptide selectivity and activation of human neuromedin U receptors
Authors: You Chongzhao , Zhang Yumu , Xu Peiyu , Huang Sijie , Yin Wanchao , Xu H. Eric , Jiang Yi 
Published: February 2022

AbstractNeuromedin U receptors (NMURs), including NMUR1 and NMUR2, are a group of Gq/11-coupled G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) related to pleiotropic physiological functions. Upon stimulation by two endogenous neuropeptides, neuromedin U and S (NMU and NMS) with similar binding affinities, NMUR1 and NMUR2 primarily display distinct peripheral tissue and central nervous system (CNS) functions, respectively, due to their distinct tissue distributions. These NMU receptors have triggered extensive attention as drug targets for obesity and immune inflammation. Specifically, selective agonists for NMUR1 in peripheral tissue show promising long-term anti-obesity effects with fewer CNS-related side effects. However, the mechanisms of peptide binding specificity and receptor activation remain elusive due to the lack of NMU receptor structures, which hamper drug design targeting NMU receptors. Here, we report four cryo-electron microscopy structures of Gq chimera-coupled NMUR1 and NMUR2 bound with NMU and NMS. These structures present the conserved overall peptide-binding mode and reveal the mechanism of peptide selectivity for specific NMURs, as well as the common activation mechanism of the NMUR subfamily. Together, these findings provide insights into the molecular basis of the peptide recognition selectivity and offer a new opportunity for designing selective drugs targeting NMURs.
Cigarette smoke induces pulmonary arterial dysfunction through an imbalance in the guanylyl cyclase redox status
Authors: Sevilla-Montero J. , Pino-Fadón J. , Munar-Rubert O. , Villegas-Esguevillas M. , Climent B. , Agrò M. , Choya-Foces C. , Martínez-Ruiz A. , Balsa E. , Muñoz C. , Gómez-Punter RM. , Vázquez-Espinosa E. , Cogolludo A. , Calzada MJ. 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whose main risk factor is cigarette smoking (CS), is one of the most common diseases globally. Many COPD patients also develop pulmonary hypertension (PH), a severe complication that leads to premature death. Evidence suggests reactive oxygen species (ROS) involvement in COPD and PH, especially regarding pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) dysfunction. However, the effects of CS on the pulmonary vasculature are not completely understood. Herein we provide evidence on the effects of CS extract (CSE) exposure on PASMC regarding ROS production, antioxidant response and its consequences on vascular tone dysregulation. Our results indicate that CSE exposure promotes mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and increased mitochondrial superoxide levels. However, the increase in superoxide did not parallel a counterbalancing antioxidant response in human pulmonary artery (PA) cells. Interestingly, the mitochondrial superoxide chelator mitoTEMPO reduced mitochondrial fission and membrane potential depolarization caused by CSE. As we have previously shown, CSE reduces PA vasoconstriction and vasodilation. In this respect, mitoTEMPO prevented the impaired nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation, while vasoconstriction remained reduced. Finally, we observed a CSE-driven downregulation of the Cyb5R3 enzyme, which prevents soluble guanylyl cyclase oxidation in PASMC. This might explain the CSE-mediated decrease in PA vasodilation. These results provide evidence that there might be a connection between mitochondrial ROS and altered vasodilation responses in PH secondary to COPD, and strongly support the potential of antioxidant strategies specifically targeting mitochondria as a new therapy for these diseases.Graphical abstract
Mechanical competition promotes selective listening to receptor inputs to resolve directional dilemmas in neutrophil migration
Authors: Hadjitheodorou Amalia , Bell George R. R. , Ellett Felix , Irimia Daniel , Tibshirani Robert , Collins Sean R. , Theriot Julie A. 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTAs neutrophils navigate complex environments to reach sites of infection, they may encounter obstacles that force them to split their front into multiple leading edges, raising the question of how the cell selects which front to maintain and which front(s) to abandon. Here we challenge chemotaxing HL60 neutrophil-like cells with symmetric bifurcating microfluidic channels, enabling us to probe the cell-intrinsic properties of their decision-making process. Using supervised statistical learning, we demonstrate that cells commit to one leading edge late in the decision- making process, rather than amplifying early pre-existing asymmetries. Furthermore, we use optogenetic tools to show that receptor inputs only bias the decision similarly late, once mechanical stretching begins to weaken each front. Finally, optogenetic attempts to reverse cell decisions reveal that, once an edge begins retracting, it commits to this fate, with the kinase ROCK limiting its sensitivity to inputs until the retraction is complete. Collectively our results suggest a “selective listening” model in which both actively protruding cell fronts and actively retracting cell rears have strong commitment to their current migratory program.
Brassinosteroids modulate autophagy through phosphorylation of RAPTOR1B by the GSK3-like kinase BIN2 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Liao Ching-Yi , Pu Yunting , Nolan Trevor M. , Montes Christian , Guo Hongqing , Walley Justin W. , Yin Yanhai , Bassham Diane C. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractMacroautophagy/autophagy is a conserved recycling process that maintains cellular homeostasis during environmental stress. Autophagy is negatively regulated by TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR), a nutrient-regulated protein kinase that in plants is activated by several phytohormones, leading to increased growth. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms by which TOR integrates autophagy and hormone-signaling are poorly understood. Here, we show that TOR modulates brassinosteroid (BR)-regulated plant growth and stress-response pathways. Active TOR was required for full BR-induced growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. Autophagy was constitutively up-regulated upon blocking BR biosynthesis or signaling, and down-regulated by increasing the activity of the BR pathway. BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2) kinase, a GSK3-like kinase functioning as a negative regulator in BR signaling, directly phosphorylated Regulatory-Associated Protein of TOR 1B (RAPTOR1B), a substrate-recruiting subunit in the TOR complex, at a conserved serine residue within a typical BIN2 phosphorylation motif. Mutation of RAPTOR1B serine 916 to alanine, to block phosphorylation by BIN2, repressed autophagy and increased phosphorylation of the TOR substrate autophagy-related protein 13a (ATG13a). By contrast, this mutation had only a limited effect on growth. We present a model in which RAPTOR1B is phosphorylated and inhibited by BIN2 when BRs are absent, activating the autophagy pathway. When BRs signal and inhibit BIN2, RAPTOR1B is thus less inhibited by BIN2 phosphorylation. This leads to increased TOR activity and ATG13a phosphorylation, and decreased autophagy activity. Our studies define a new mechanism by which coordination between BR and TOR signaling pathways helps to maintain the balance between plant growth and stress responses.
Impacts of corporate announcements on stock returns during the global pandemic: evidence from the Indian stock market
Authors: Pandey Dharen Kumar , Kumari Vineeta , Tiwari Brajesh Kumar 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThe authors examine the impacts of corporate announcements on stock returns during the pandemic stress.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ the event study methodology with the market model on a sample of 90 events (announcement and ex-date).FindingsThe authors find that all the corporate announcements do not impact the stock returns in a similar pattern. While the bonus announcement, ex-bonus and ex-split events led to positive significant abnormal returns on the event date, the rights issue and stock-split announcements failed to influence the stock returns. The findings suggest that before making such announcements, the corporates should wait until the market recovers because even the positively impacting events result in negative market responses during pandemic stress.Practical implicationsThis study will guide the policymakers to stimulate share prices during such pandemics with the help of various corporate announcements. The investors will be assisted in understanding the stock market mechanism and making wise decisions before reacting to corporate actions during a pandemic or emergency period. While the policymakers are concerned with influencing the share prices, the investors are concerned with the composition of the risk-return parameters in their portfolio. This study will act as an essential investment tool for both.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, the authors conduct the first-ever study to examine the impacts of corporate announcements during a pandemic stress period that significantly contributes to the literature. The authors examine the announcement effects in India and accurately anticipate that this study will be a pioneer in this field. This study also paves the way for future researches in this area.
Economic policy uncertainty, bank nonperforming loans and loan loss provisions: are they correlated?
Authors: Ozili Peterson K. 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThis paper examines the correlation of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) with nonperforming loans and loan loss provisions for 22 major developed countries over the 2008–2017 period.Design/methodology/approachThe study used the Pearson correlation methodology to assess the correlation between EPU, bank nonperforming loans and loan loss provisions.FindingsThe findings reveal that EPU is negatively correlated with nonperforming loans and loan loss provisions in the banking sector of EU countries but not for non-EU countries. Also, EPU is negatively correlated with nonperforming loans in the banking sector of the most advanced economies – the G7 countries, while loan loss provisions are more responsive to changes in EPU than NPLs in EU countries.Practical implicationsThe implication of the findings is that the correlation of EPU with loan loss provisions and nonperforming loans is influenced by regional characteristics.Originality/valueThis study is the first to analyze the association of EPU with bank nonperforming loans and loan loss provisions under regional classifications such as the EU, non-EU and the G7 countries. This study provides insights on how regional differences might explain the co-movement of EPU with bank nonperforming loans and loan loss provisions.
Application of the principle of transparency in processing of European national libraries patrons' personal data
Authors: Katulić Anita , Katulić Tihomir , Hebrang Grgić Ivana 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the legal obligation of European libraries to ensure the transparent personal data processing and respect for user privacy. This paper will examine how libraries use privacy notices on websites to communicate with patrons about the processing of personal data and in what manner have libraries been guided by applicable transparency guidelines.

Design/methodology/approach
The method used is the analysis of privacy policies and other privacy documents found on the websites of national libraries. The analysis sample includes documents of 45 European national libraries, 28 out of those being national libraries of European Union (EU) Member States. The elements for this analysis are derived from the mandatory elements of the General Data Protection Regulation and the recommendations of the WP29/EDPB Transparency Guidelines.

Findings
The findings suggest that European national libraries largely adhere to EU data protection standards. In total, 60% libraries use a separate privacy page, and 53% of the EU Member State national libraries websites managed to comply with publishing all necessary data protection information in a way recommended by the Guidelines, compared to 47% of non-Member State national libraries.

Originality/value
The research contributes to the understanding of the importance of the principle of transparency and its operationalization.
Mediating effects of employees' eudaimonic and hedonic well-being between distributed leadership and ambidextrous innovation: does employees' age matter?
Authors: Berraies Sarra 
Published: February 2022

PurposeDrawing upon the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, this research examines the contribution of distributed leadership (DL) to ambidextrous innovation and the mediating roles of employees' eudaimonic well-being (EWB) and hedonic well-being (HWB) in this link. It also investigates the moderating effect of employees' age in the relationship between DL and EWB and HWB.Design/methodology/approachThe author formulated a series of hypotheses that we tested based on a survey of 329 middle managers working in Tunisian ICT firms and through the partial least square-structural equation modelling method.FindingsThis research provides empirical evidence of the mediating effects of EWB and HWB between DL and ambidextrous innovation. The multi-group analysis performed shows that employees' age moderates the links between DL and EWB and HWB. These relationships are significant and positive for Generation X and Generation Y and not for Baby-Boomers.Originality/valueDespite the importance of the DL style, this variable has been studied mainly within educational institutions. This research pioneers the investigation of the mediating effect of HWB and EWB between DL and ambidextrous innovation in the business context. A major implication is that, through a DL style, managers can nurture the well-being of employees of different ages and promote ambidextrous innovation.
Analysis of the poor-quality in building elements: providers' perspectives
Authors: Olanrewaju AbdulLateef , Lee Hui Jing Alice 
Published: February 2022

PurposePoor quality in building projects is high and increasing. Poor quality can increase the cost of a building by up to more than 50% and can delay a project by up to 50%. This research investigated the poor quality of building elements/components.Design/methodology/approachThe site operatives were requested to rate the frequency of poor quality in 25 building elements/components. The frequencies of the poor quality were scored on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from least often to extremely often. The survey forms were administered to construction site operatives by hand delivery.FindingsThe data revealed that poor quality occurred in more than 80% of the building projects completed. Approximately 40% of the cost of a building project is attributed to poor quality. In total, 70% of the respondents measured the poor quality of building elements as being high and frequent. The size and frequency of poor quality are higher in concrete, plaster, brick, foundations and roof trusses.Practical implicationsThe research findings would help to reduce claims, disputes, maintenance costs and waste on sites.Originality/valueThis research provides fresh information on poor quality in building projects and provides a systemic process for anticipating poor quality in building projects. The findings also provide an option to increase maintenance span and a means to reduce claims and disputes in the construction sector.