bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel age-dependent cortico-subcortical morphologic interactions predict fluid intelligence: A multi-cohort geometric deep learning study
Authors: Wu Yunan , Besson Pierre , Azcona Emanuel A. , Bandt S. Kathleen , Parrish Todd B , Breiter Hans C , Katsaggelos Aggelos K.
Published: October 2020

Brain structure is tightly coupled with brain functions, but it remains unclear how cognition is related to brain morphology, and what is consistent across neurodevelopment. In this work, we developed graph convolutional neural networks (gCNNs) to predict Fluid Intelligence (Gf) from shapes of cortical ribbons and subcortical structures. T1-weighted MRIs from two independent cohorts, the Human Connectome Project (HCP; age: 28.81±3.70) and the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD; age: 9.93±0.62) were independently analyzed. Cortical and subcortical surfaces were extracted and modeled as surface meshes. Three gCNNs were trained and evaluated using six-fold nested cross-validation. Overall, combining cortical and subcortical surfaces yielded the best predictions on both HCP (R=0.454) and ABCD datasets (R=0.314), and outperformed the current literature. Across both datasets, the morphometry of the amygdala and hippocampus, along with temporal, parietal and cingulate cortex consistently drove the prediction of Gf, suggesting a novel reframing of the morphometry underlying Gf.
Structural characterisation of KKT4, an unconventional microtubule-binding kinetochore protein
Authors: Ludzia Patryk , Lowe Edward D. , Marcianò Gabriele , Mohammed Shabaz , Redfield Christina , Akiyoshi Bungo
Published: October 2020

The kinetochore is the macromolecular protein machinery that drives chromosome segregation by interacting with spindle microtubules. Unlike most other eukaryotes that have canonical kinetochore proteins, a group of evolutionarily divergent eukaryotes called kinetoplastids (such asTrypanosoma brucei) have a unique set of kinetochore proteins. To date, KKT4 is the only kinetoplastid kinetochore protein that is known to bind microtubules. Here we use X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and crosslinking mass spectrometry to characterise the structure and dynamics of KKT4. We show that its microtubule-binding domain consists of a coiled-coil structure followed by a positively charged disordered tail. The crystal structure of the C-terminal BRCT domain of KKT4 reveals that it is likely a phosphorylation-dependent protein-protein interaction domain. The BRCT domain interacts with the N-terminal region of the KKT4 microtubule-binding domain and with a phosphopeptide derived from KKT8. Finally, we show that KKT4 binds DNA with high affinity. Taken together, these results provide the first structural insights into the unconventional kinetoplastid kinetochore protein KKT4.
Rapidemic, a versatile and label-free DNAzyme-based platform for visual nucleic acid detection
Authors: van den Brink Marijn , Tandar Sebastian T. , van den Akker Tim A. P. , Jovikj Sinisha , Defourt Violette , Langelaar Tom G. B. , Delzenne Tijn O. , van Strien Kelly , Schonk Amber W. , Beers Aukje J. A. M. , Golov Eugene , Chong Lucy J. , Bergman Güniz Özer , Meijdam Joey J. W. D. , Crooijmans Marjolein E. , Claessen Dennis , de Winde Johannes H.
Published: October 2020

In the last three decades, there have been recurring outbreaks of infectious diseases, brought to light with the recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Attempts to effectively contain the spread of infectious diseases have been hampered by the lack of rapidly adaptable, accurate, and accessible point-of-care diagnostic testing. In this study, we present a novel design of a label-free DNAzyme-based detection method called Rapidemic. This assay combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with linear strand-displacement amplification (LSDA) and guanine-quadruplex (GQ) DNAzyme-catalysed colour-changing reaction. The colorimetry basis of the signal readout omits the need for extensive instrumentation. Moreover, the primer-based sequence detection of RPA gives Rapidemic a potential to be rapidly adapted to target a new sequence. As a proof of concept, we developed the assay to detect isolated genomic DNA ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae. The use of low-pH buffers and the optimization of the dilution rates from each preceding reaction to the next showed to be successful strategies to enable visible detection with this method. These findings demonstrate for the first time that a label-free DNAzyme-based detection method can be coupled to RPA and LSDA for nucleic acid detection.
Nucleolin is expressed in human fetal brain development and reactivated in human glial brain tumors regulating angiogenesis and vascular metabolism
Authors: Schwab Marc , de Trizio Ignazio , Shiu Jau-Ye , Ghobrial Moheb , Sürücü Oguzkan , Girolamo Francesco , Errede Mariella , Yilmaz Murat , Haybaeck Johannes , Moiraghi Alessandro , Monnier Philippe P. , Lawler Sean E. , Greenfield Jeffrey , Radovanovic Ivan , Frei Karl , Schlapbach Ralph , Vogel Viola , Virgintino Daniela , De Bock Katrien , Wälchli Thomas
Published: October 2020

Glioblastoma (GBM) is amongst the deadliest human cancers and is characterized by high levels of vascularisation. Angiogenesis is highly dynamic during brain development and almost quiescent in the adult brain, but is reactivated in vascular-dependent CNS pathologies such as brain tumors. Nucleolin (NCL) is a known regulator of cell proliferation and angiogenesis, but its roles on physiological and pathological brain vasculature remain unknown. Here, we studied the expression of Nucleolin in the neurovascular unit (NVU) in human fetal brains and human gliomasin vivoas well as its effects on sprouting angiogenesis and endothelial metabolismin vitro. Nucleolin is highly expressed in endothelial- and perivascular cells during brain development, downregulated in the adult brain, and upregulated in glioma. Moreover, Nucleolin expression in tumor- and blood vessel cells correlated with glioma malignancyin vivo. In culture, siRNA-mediated NCL knockdown reduced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) sprouting angiogenesis, proliferation and filopodia extension, and reduced glucose metabolism. Mechanistically, RNA sequencing of Nucleolin knockdown in HUVECs revealed a putative p53-TIGAR-HK2 regulation of endothelial glycolysis. These findings identify Nucleolin as a neurodevelopmental factor reactivated in glioma that positively regulates sprouting angiogenesis and endothelial metabolism. Our findings have important implications in therapeutic targeting of glioma.
Augmentation of Antibacterial Activity in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Through Systems-Level Analysis and CRISPR-mediated Activation of CD14
Authors: Hirakawa Matthew P. , Tjahjono Nikki , Light Yooli K. , Chintalapudi Prem , Butler Kimberly S. , Branda Steven S. , Krishnakumar Raga
Published: October 2020

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have broad-ranging therapeutic capabilities, however MSC use is confounded by cell-to-cell heterogeneity, and source-to-source phenotypic inconsistencies. We utilized a systems-based approach to compare MSCs which displayed different capacity for antibacterial activity. Although MSCs from both sources satisfied traditional MSC-defining criteria, comparative transcriptomics and quantitative membrane proteomics demonstrated two unique molecular profiles. The antibacterial MSCs respond rapidly to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and have elevated levels of the LPS co-receptor CD14. CRISPR-mediated overexpression of endogenous CD14 in non-antibacterial MSCs resulted in faster LPS response and enhanced antimicrobial activity. Single-cell transcriptome profiling of CD14-activated MSCs revealed uniform enhancement of LPS response kinetics, and a shift in the ground state of these MSCs. Our results demonstrate that systems-level analysis can reveal critical molecular targets to optimize desirable properties in MSCs, and that overexpression of CD14 in these cells can shift their state to be more responsive to future bacterial challenge.
HDAC3 regulates senescence and lineage specificity in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Eichner Lillian J. , Curtis Stephanie D. , Brun Sonja N. , Baumgart Joshua T. , Ross Debbie S. , Rymoff Tammy J. , Shaw Reuben J.
Published: October 2020

Transcriptional deregulation is a common feature of many cancers, which is often accompanied by changes in epigenetic controls. These findings have led to the development of therapeutic agents aimed at broad modulation and reprogramming of transcription in a variety of cancers. Histone Deacetylase 3, HDAC3, is one of the main targets of HDAC inhibitors currently in clinical development as cancer therapies, yet thein vivorole of HDAC3 in solid tumors is unknown. Here, we define the role of HDAC3 in two genetic engineered models of the most common subtypes of Kras-driven Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), KrasG12D, STK11−/−(KL) and KrasG12D, p53−/−(KP), where we found that HDAC3 is strongly required for tumor growth of both genotypesin vivo. Transcriptional profiling and mechanistic studies revealed that HDAC3 represses p65 NF-κB-mediated induction of the Senescence Associated Secretory Program (SASP) and HDAC3 binds directly at the promoters of SASP CXC chemokines. Additionally, HDAC3 was found to cooperate with the lung cancer lineage transcription factor NKX2-1 to mediate expression of a common set of target genes. Leveraging observations about one HDAC3/NKX2-1 common target, FGFR1, we identified that an HDAC3-dependent transcriptional cassette becomes hyperactivated as Kras mutant cancer cells develop resistance to the MEK inhibitor Trametinib, and this can be rescued by treatment with the Class I HDAC inhibitor Entinostat. These unexpected findings reveal new roles for HDAC3 in proliferation control in tumorsin vivoand identify specific therapeutic contexts for the utilization of HDAC3 inhibitors, whose ability to mechanistically induce SASP may be harnessed therapeutically.
Long rDNA amplicon sequencing of insect-infecting nephridiophagids reveals their affiliation to the Chytridiomycota (Fungi) and a potential to switch between hosts
Authors: Strassert Jürgen F. H. , Wurzbacher Christian , Hervé Vincent , Antany Taraha , Brune Andreas , Radek Renate
Published: October 2020

Nephridiophagids are unicellular eukaryotes that parasitize the Malpighian tubules of numerous insects. Their life cycle comprises multinucleate vegetative plasmodia that divide into oligonucleate and uninucleate cells, and sporogonial plasmodia that form uninucleate spores. Nephridiophagids are poor in morphological characteristics, and although they have been tentatively identified as early-branching fungi based on the SSU rRNA gene sequences of three species, their exact position within the fungal tree of live remained unclear. In this study, we described two new species of nephridiophagids (Nephridiophaga posticiandNephridiophaga javanicae) from cockroaches. Using long-read sequencing of the entire rDNA operon of numerous further species obtained from cockroaches and earwigs to improve the resolution of the phylogenetic analysis, we found a robust affiliation of nephridiophagids with the Chytridiomycota — a group of zoosporic fungi that comprises parasites of diverse host taxa, such as microphytes, plants, and amphibians. The presence of the same nephridiophagid species in two only distantly related cockroaches indicates their host specificity is not a strict as generally assumed.
Heterozygous deletion of SYNGAP enzymatic domains in rats causes selective learning, social and seizure phenotypes
Authors: Katsanevaki D. , Till SM. , Buller-Peralta I. , Watson TC. , Nawaz MS. , Arkell D. , Tiwari S. , Kapgal V. , Biswal S. , Smith JAB. , Anstey NJ. , Mizen L. , Perentos N. , Jones MW. , Cousin MA. , Chattarji S. , Gonzalez-Sulser A. , Hardt O. , Wood ER. , Kind PC.
Published: October 2020

Pathogenic variants inSYNGAP1are one of the most common genetic causes of nonsyndromic intellectual disability (ID) and are considered a risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).SYNGAP1encodes asynapticGTPaseactivatingprotein that modulates the intrinsic GTPase activity of several small G-proteins and is implicated in regulating the composition of the postsynaptic density. By targeting the deletion of exons encoding the calcium/lipid binding (C2) andGTPaseactivatingprotein (GAP) domains, we generated a novel rat model to study SYNGAP related pathophysiology. We find that rats heterozygous for the C2/GAP domain deletion (Syngap+/Δ-GAP) exhibit reduced exploration and fear extinction, altered social behaviour, and spontaneous seizures, while homozygous mutants die within days after birth. This new rat model reveals that the enzymatic domains of SYNGAP are essential for normal brain function and provide an important new model system in the study of both ID/ASD and epilepsy.
Drainage-structuring of ancestral variation and a common functional pathway shape limited genomic convergence in natural high- and low-predation guppies
Authors: Whiting James R. , Paris Josephine R. , van der Zee Mijke J. , Parsons Paul J. , Weigel Detlef , Fraser Bonnie A.
Published: October 2020

Studies of convergence in wild populations have been instrumental in understanding adaptation by providing strong evidence for natural selection. At the genetic level, we are beginning to appreciate that the re-use of the same genes in adaptation occurs through different mechanisms and can be constrained by underlying trait architectures and demographic characteristics of natural populations. Here, we explore these processes in naturally adapted high- (HP) and low-predation (LP) populations of the Trinidadian guppy, Poecilia reticulata. As a model for phenotypic change this system provided some of the earliest evidence of rapid and repeatable evolution in vertebrates; the genetic basis of which has yet to be studied at the whole-genome level. We collected whole-genome sequencing data from ten populations (176 individuals) representing five independent HP-LP river pairs across the three main drainages in Northern Trinidad. We evaluate population structure, uncovering several LP bottlenecks and variable between-river introgression that can lead to constraints on the sharing of adaptive variation between populations. Consequently, we found limited selection on common genes or loci across all drainages. Using a pathway type analysis, however, we find evidence of repeated selection on different genes involved in cadherin signalling. Finally, we found a large repeatedly selected haplotype on chromosome 20 in three rivers from the same drainage. Taken together, despite limited sharing of adaptive variation among rivers, we found evidence of convergent evolution associated with HP-LP environments in pathways across divergent drainages and at a previously unreported candidate haplotype within a drainage.
“Sifarchaeota” a novel Asgard phylum capable of polysaccharide degradation and anaerobic methylotrophy
Authors: Farag Ibrahim F. , Zhao Rui , Biddle Jennifer F.
Published: October 2020

The Asgard superphylum is a deeply branching monophyletic group of Archaea, recently described as some of the closest relatives of the eukaryotic ancestor. The wide application of genomic analyses from metagenome sequencing has established six distinct phyla, whose genomes encode for diverse metabolic capacities and play important biogeochemical and ecological roles in marine sediments. Here, we describe two metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) recovered from deep marine sediments off Costa Rica margin, defining a novel lineage phylogenetically married to Thorarchaeota, as such we propose the name “Sifarchaeota” for this phylum. The two “Sifarchaeota” MAGs encode for an anaerobic methylotrophy pathway enabling the utilization of C1-C3 compounds (methanol and methylamines) to synthesize acetyl CoA. Also, the MAGs showed a remarkable saccharolytic capabilities compared to other Asgard lineages and encoded for diverse classes of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) targeting different mono-, di- and oligosaccharides. Comparative genomic analysis based on the full metabolic profiles of Asgard lineages revealed the close relation between “Sifarchaeota” and Odinarchaeota MAGs, which suggested a similar metabolic potentials and ecological roles. Furthermore, we identified multiple potential horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events from different bacterial donors within “Sifarchaetoa” MAGs, which hypothetically expanded “Sifarchaeota” capacities for substrate utilization, energy production and niche adaptation.

Importance

Deep marine sediments are the home of multiple poorly described archaeal lineages, many of which have ecological and evolutionary importance. We recovered metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) belonging to a novel Asgard phylum from the deep sediment of the Costa Rica margin. We proposed the name “Sifarchaeota” to describe the members of this phylum. Representative genomes of the “Sifarchaeota” showed remarkable saccharolytic capacities extending the known metabolic features encoded by the Asgard lineages. We attribute its ability to survive under the deep sediment conditions to its putative capacities to utilize different (C1-C3) compounds commonly encountered in deep sediment environments via anaerobic methylotrophy pathway. Also, we showed the importance of horizontal gene transfer in enhancing the “Sifarchaeota” collective adaptation strategies.
EnvRtype: a software to interplay enviromics and quantitative genomics in agriculture
Authors: Costa-Neto Germano , Galli Giovanni , Carvalho Humberto Fanelli , Crossa José , Fritsche-Neto Roberto
Published: October 2020

Envirotyping is an essential technique used to unfold the non-genetic drivers associated with the phenotypic adaptation of living organisms. Here we introduce theEnvRtypeR package, a novel toolkit developed to interplay large-scale envirotyping data (enviromics) into quantitative genomics. To start a user-friendly envirotyping pipeline, this package offers: (1) remote sensing tools for collecting (get_weather and extract_GIS functions) and processing ecophysiological variables (processWTH function) from raw environmental data at single locations or worldwide; (2) environmental characterization by typing environments and profiling descriptors of environmental quality (env_typing function), in addition to gathering environmental covariables as quantitative descriptors for predictive purposes (W_matrix function); and (3) identification of environmental similarity that can be used as an enviromic-based kernel (env_typing function) in whole-genome prediction (GP), aimed at increasing ecophysiological knowledge in genomic best-unbiased predictions (GBLUP) and emulating reaction norm effects (get_kernel and kernel_model functions). We highlight literature mining concepts in fine-tuning envirotyping parameters for each plant species and target growing environments. We show that envirotyping for predictive breeding collects raw data and processes it in an eco-physiologically-smart way. Examples of its use for creating global-scale envirotyping networks and integrating reaction-norm modeling in GP are also outlined. We conclude thatEnvRtypeprovides a cost-effective envirotyping pipeline capable of providing high quality enviromic data for a diverse set of genomic-based studies, especially for increasing accuracy in GP across untested growing environments.
Bayesian Encoding and Decoding as Distinct Perspectives on Neural Coding
Authors: Lange Richard D. , Shivkumar Sabyasachi , Chattoraj Ankani , Haefner Ralf M.
Published: October 2020

One of the most influential, and controversial, ideas in neuroscience has been to understand the brain in terms of Bayesian computations. Unstated differences in how Bayesian ideas are operationalized across different models make it difficult to ascertain both which empirical data support which models, and how Bayesian computations might be implemented by neural circuits. In this paper, we make one such difference explicit by identifying two distinct philosophies that underlie existing neural models of Bayesian inference: one in which the brain recovers experimenter-defined structures in the world from sensory neural activity (Decoding), and another in which the brain represents latent quantities in an internal model that explains its inputs (Encoding). These philosophies require profoundly different assumptions about the nature of inference in the brain, and lead to different interpretations of empirical data. Here, we characterize and contrast both philosophies in terms of motivations, empirical support, and relationship to neural data. We also show that this implicit difference in philosophy underlies some of the debate on whether neural activity is better described as a sampling-based, or a parametric, distributional code. Using a simple model of primary visual cortex as an example, we show mathematically that it is possible that the very same neural activity can be described as probabilistic inference by neural sampling in theEncodingframework while also forming a linear probabilistic population code (PPC) in theDecodingframework. This demonstrates that certain families of Encoding and Decoding models are compatible with each other rather than competing explanations of data. In sum, Bayesian Encoding and Bayesian Decoding are distinct, non-exclusive philosophies, and appreciating their similarities and differences will help organize future work and allow for stronger empirical tests about the nature of inference in the brain.
Sculpting New Visual Categories into the Human Brain
Authors: Iordan Coraline Rinn , Ritvo Victoria J. H. , Norman Kenneth A. , Turk-Browne Nicholas B. , Cohen Jonathan D.
Published: October 2020

Learning requires changing the brain. This typically occurs through experience, study, or instruction. We report a proof-of-concept for a new way for humans to acquire visual knowledge by directly sculpting activity patterns in the human brain that mirror those expected to arise through learning. We used a non-invasive technique (closed-loop real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback) to create new categories of visual objects in the brain, without the participants’ explicit awareness. After neural sculpting, participants exhibited behavioral and neural biases for the sculpted, but not for the control categories. The ability to sculpt new perceptual distinctions in the human brain offers a new paradigm for human fMRI research that allows for non-invasive, causal testing of the link between neural representations and behavior. As such, beyond its current application to perception, our work potentially has broad relevance to other domains of cognition such as decision-making, memory, and motor control.

Significance Statement

Objects that belong to the same category tend to elicit similar patterns of brain activity. Here we reverse this mapping and ask whether neural similarity is sufficient to induce increased perceptual discrimination and categorical perception. We do this by using real-time fMRI to modify neural representations of objects in high-level visual cortex. Participants viewed an object and received closed-loop neurofeedback that pushed them to represent the object more similarly to a brain activity pattern we chose for that category. After successfully self-modulating their brain activity, participants began to perceive objects assigned to the same brain pattern as more categorically distinct from those assigned to a different brain pattern. These findings open a new avenue for understanding and accelerating human learning.
Multivariate distributions of behavioural, morphological, and ontogenetic traits in hybrids bring new insights into the divergence of sympatric Arctic charr morphs
Authors: Horta-Lacueva Quentin J.B. , Snorrason Sigurður S. , Morrissey Michael B. , Leblanc Camille A. , Kapralova Kalina H.
Published: October 2020

Studying the development of fitness related traits in hybrids from populations diverging in sympatry is a fundamental approach to understand the processes of speciation. However, such traits are often affected by covariance structures that complicate the comprehension of these processes, especially because the interactive relationships between traits of different nature (e.g. morphology, behaviour, life-history) remain largely unknown in this context. In a common garden setup, we conducted an extensive examination of phenotypic traits suspected to be involved in the divergence of two recently evolved morphs of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), and investigated the consequences of potential patterns of trait covariance on the phenotype of their hybrids. We observed differences among morphs in overall phenotypic variance and in trait correlations. Phenotypic contrainsts also tended to be reduced in the hybrids, which corroborates the narrative of hybridization facilitating adaptive divergence by relaxing trait covariance. However, the hybrids were associated with reduced phenotypic variance at different scales (i.e. at the scale of the entirePmatrix and in different parts of the multivariate space), and we identified stronger correlations between several ontogenetic and morphological traits in the hybrids than in both morphs. These findings suggest a limited potential for hybridization to generate phenotypic novelty, and emphasise the need for multivariate approaches conciliating ontogenetic, morphological and behavioural processes to study the processes of adaptive divergence and speciation.
Acis-regulatory element promoting increased transcription at low temperature in cultured ectothermicDrosophilacells
Authors: Bai Yu , Caussinus Emmanuel , Leo Stefano , Bosshardt Fritz , Myachina Faina , Rot Gregor , Robinson Mark D. , Lehner Christian F.
Published: October 2020

Cells of many ectothermic species, includingDrosophila melanogaster, maintain homeostatic function within a considerable temperature range. The cellular mechanisms enabling temperature acclimation are still poorly understood. At the transcriptional level, the heat shock response has been extensively analyzed. The opposite has received less attention. Here, using culturedDrosophilacells, we have identified genes with increased transcript levels at the lower end of the readily tolerated temperature range, as well as chromatin regions with increased DNA accessibility. Candidatecis-regulatory elements (CREs) for transcriptional upregulation at low temperature were selected and evaluated with a novel reporter assay for accurate assessment of their temperature-dependency. Robust transcriptional upregulation at low temperature could be demonstrated for a fragment from thepastrelgene, which expresses more transcript and protein at reduced temperatures. The CRE is controlled by the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and antagonizing activities of the transcription factors Pointed and Ets97D.
Foxc1 establishes enhancer accessibility for craniofacial cartilage differentiation
Authors: Xu Pengfei , Yu Haoze Vincent , Tseng Kuo-Chang , Flath Mackenzie , Fabian Peter , Segil Neil , Crump J. Gage
Published: October 2020

The specification of cartilage requires Sox9, a transcription factor with broad roles for organogenesis outside the skeletal system. How Sox9 gains selective access to cartilage-specific cis-regulatory regions during skeletal development had remained unclear. By analyzing chromatin accessibility during the differentiation of neural crest cells into chondrocytes of the zebrafish head, we find that cartilage-associated chromatin accessibility is dynamically established. Cartilage-associated regions that become accessible after neural crest migration are co-enriched for Sox9 and Fox transcription factor binding motifs. In zebrafish lacking Foxc1 paralogs, we find a global decrease in chromatin accessibility in chondrocytes, consistent with a later loss of dorsal facial cartilages. Zebrafish transgenesis assays confirm that many of these Foxc1-dependent elements function as enhancers with region- and stage-specific activity in facial cartilages. We propose that Foxc1-dependent chromatin accessibility helps directs the versatile Sox9 protein to a chondrogenic program in the face.

Highlights

Dynamic chromatin accessibility across facial cartilage development

Co-enrichment of Fox- and Sox-binding motifs in accessible regions

Foxc1 establishes accessibility in a subset of facial cartilage enhancers

Modular activity of Foxc1-dependent cartilage enhancers in zebrafish
An advanced workflow for single-particle imaging with the limited data at an X-ray free-electron laser
Authors: Assalauova Dameli , Kim Young Yong , Bobkov Sergey , Khubbutdinov Ruslan , Rose Max , Alvarez Roberto , Andreasson Jakob , Balaur Eugeniu , Contreras Alice , DeMirci Hasan , Gelisio Luca , Hajdu Janos , Hunter Mark S. , Kurta Ruslan P. , Li Haoyuan , McFadden Matthew , Nazari Reza , Schwander Peter , Teslyuk Anton , Walter Peter , Xavier P. Lourdu , Yoon Chun Hong , Zaare Sahba , Ilyin Viacheslav A. , Kirian Richard A. , Hogue Brenda G. , Aquila Andrew , Vartanyants Ivan A.
Published: October 2020

An improved analysis for single-particle imaging (SPI) experiments, using the limited data, is presented here. Results are based on a study of bacteriophage PR772 performed at the Atomic, Molecular and Optical Science instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source as part of the SPI initiative. Existing methods were modified to cope with the shortcomings of the experimental data: inaccessibility of information from half of the detector and a small fraction of single hits. The general SPI analysis workflow was upgraded with the expectation-maximization based classification of diffraction patterns and mode decomposition on the final virus-structure determination step. The presented processing pipeline allowed us to determine the 3D structure of bacteriophage PR772 without symmetry constraints with a spatial resolution of 6.9 nm. The obtained resolution was limited by the scattering intensity during the experiment and the relatively small number of single hits.
How do followers infer the motives behind an influencer's advertising disclosures?
Authors: Han Haejoo , Yi Jisu , Jun Sunghee , Ahn Sungsook
Published: October 2020

Purpose

In the context of influencer marketing, this study examines the effects of explicit advertising disclosure on consumers' inference regarding influencers' sincere recommendation intent, and its consequences for consumers' purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

In Study 1, participants were randomly assigned to the conditions of explicit advertising disclosure (e.g. #AD, #Sponsored) and subtle advertising disclosure (e.g. #ThankYou), and indicated their inference regarding influencers' recommendation motives and their own purchase intentions. One-way ANOVA analysis reveals the effect of advertising disclosure on consumers' purchase intentions and the PROCESS model indicates the mediating role of consumers' inferences regarding influencers' sincere recommendation intent. In Study 2, we implemented a 2 (explicit vs. subtle advertising disclosure) × 2 (moderate vs. large size of followers) between-subjects design, using a two-way ANOVA analysis. We analyzed the moderated mediation effect via the PROCESS model.

Findings

Consumers are less inclined to purchase products when influencers express explicit advertising disclosures, compared to when the advertising disclosures are subtle (Study 1). These negative effects of advertising disclosure can be caused by consumers' inferences regarding influencers' sincere recommendation intent in terms of posting content (Studies 1 and 2). Additionally, the negative effect is particularly prominent when an influencer has a large (vs. moderate) number of followers (Study 2).

Originality/value

By examining (1) the effects of explicit advertising disclosure on consumers' inference regarding influencers' persuasion motives and (2) the role of the influencer's number of followers, this research provides both theoretical and practical insights for understanding how best to implement influencer marketing.
Benchmarking health-care supply chain by implementing Industry 4.0: a fuzzy-AHP-DEMATEL approach
Authors: Hossain Md Kamal , Thakur Vikas
Published: October 2020

Purpose

With the rising needs of health-care (HC) services during the health outbreaks, it is essential to upgrade the existing HC delivery infrastructure. The study aims to prioritize and highlight the interrelationships among the key factors of the smart health-care supply chain (HCSC) by implementing the concept of Industry 4.0.

Design/methodology/approach

The key factors of implementing Industry 4.0 in HCSC have been identified through extensive literature review and stakeholders' opinions. To achieve the abovementioned objectives, the present study proposed hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tools, namely, the fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy- decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL). The Fuzzy-AHP prioritized the factors of implementing Industry 4.0 in HCSC, while the cause–effect relationships among the factors have been explored using fuzzy-DEMATEL.

Findings

The results of the study indicated that HC logistics management (HCLM) is the most prioritized factor of implementing Industry 4.0 in HCSC, followed by the integrated HCSC, then sustainable HCSC practices, HCSC innovation and technological aspects, HCSC institutional perspectives, HCSC competitiveness, social aspects and economic factors of HCSC. The cause–effect analysis has highlighted integrated HCSC, HCLM, HCSC competitiveness and social aspects as the cause group factors and they are the critical success parameters for implementing Industry 4.0 in the HCSC.

Practical implications

The results of the study can be useful for policymakers, humanitarian organizations, health administrators and other decision makers considering the smartening of HCSC to enhance the operational performance of health facilities.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies to have been conducted so far in which the subfactors of HCSC implementing Industry 4.0 have been identified and analyzed using the fuzzy-AHP and fuzzy-DEMATEL hybrid approach.
Gray clustering model based on the degree of dynamic weighted incidence for panel data and its application
Authors: Wu Honghua , Qu Zhongfeng
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to propose a clustering model for panel data. More specifically, the paper aims to construct a gray incidence model for panel data to solve the classification with multi-factors and multi-attributes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for a clustering theory study using gray incidence theory based on dynamic weighted function. The paper presents an example to verify the rationality of the new model, which suggests that the new model can reflect the incidence degree of panel data.

Findings

The paper provides a new gray incidence model based on a dynamic weighted function that can amplify the characteristics of the sample to some extent. The properties of the new incidence model, such as normalization, symmetry and nearness, are all satisfied. The paper also shows that the new incidence model performs very well on cluster discrimination.

Originality/value

The new model in this paper has supplemented and improved the gray incidence analysis theory for panel data.
Collaborative process competence as an enabler of supply chain collaboration in competitive environments and the impact on customer account management
Authors: Ralston Peter M. , Keller Scott B. , Grawe Scott J.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the current research seeks to understand what role supply chain (SC) collaboration plays in effectively managing customers of a firm. The research also investigates what role industry competitive intensity plays on SC collaboration formation.

Design/methodology/approach

The current research utilizes empirical survey data from professionals whose companies collaborate within a SC. Structural equations modeling is employed to assess the relationship of collaborative process competence on SC collaboration as well as the moderating impact of industry competitive intensity. A further boundary condition is examined with the partner interdependence SC collaboration relationship. Additionally the SC collaboration account management relationship is also investigated.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights on how SC collaboration contributes to focal firm customer account management. Additionally, results suggest that collaborative process competence and its relationship with SC collaboration works differently in the presence of partner interdependence and the moderator of industry competitive intensity.

Research limitations/implications

While the findings help to promote the generalizability of the new research, future research could seek to understand how firms could develop specific account management value propositions through SC collaboration in specific contexts.

Originality/value

The main contributions of the work include empirical analysis of a proposed theoretical model, a better understanding of the role collaborative process competence plays on SC collaboration formation and the discussion of customer account management as an outcome of SC collaboration.
Target dynamic grasping during mobile robot movement based on learning methods
Authors: Li Enbo , Feng Haibo , Zhai Yanwu , Haitao Zhou , Xu Li , Fu Yili
Published: October 2020

Purpose

One of the development trends of robots is to enable robots to have the ability of anthropomorphic manipulation. Grasping is the first step of manipulation. For mobile manipulator robots, grasping a target during the movement process is extremely challenging, which requires the robots to make rapid motion planning for arms under uncertain dynamic disturbances. However, there are many situations require robots to grasp a target quickly while they move, such as emergency rescue. The purpose of this paper is to propose a method for target dynamic grasping during the movement of a robot.

Design/methodology/approach

An off-line learning from demonstrations method is applied to learn a basic reach model for arm and a motion model for fingers. An on-line dynamic adjustment method of arm speed for active and passive grasping mode is designed.

Findings

The experimental results of the robot movement on flat, slope and speed bumps ground show that the proposed method can effectively solve the problem of fast planning under uncertain disturbances caused by robot movement. The method performs well in the task of target dynamic grasping during the robot movement.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is to propose a method to solve the problem of rapid motion planning of the robot arm under uncertain disturbances while the robot is grasping a target in the process of robot movement. The proposed method significantly improves the grasping efficiency of the robot in emergency situations. Experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively solve the problem.
Probabilistic vehicle trajectory prediction via driver characteristic and intention estimation model under uncertainty
Authors: Liu Jinxin , Xiong Hui , Wang Tinghan , Huang Heye , Zhong Zhihua , Luo Yugong
Published: October 2020

Purpose

For autonomous vehicles, trajectory prediction of surrounding vehicles is beneficial to improving the situational awareness of dynamic and stochastic traffic environments, which is a crucial and indispensable element to realize highly automated driving.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the overall framework consists of two parts: first, a novel driver characteristic and intention estimation (DCIE) model is built to indicate the higher-level information of the vehicle using its low-level motion variables; then, according to the estimation results of the DCIE model, a classified Gaussian process model is established for probabilistic vehicle trajectory prediction under different motion patterns.

Findings

The whole method is later applied and analyzed in the highway lane-change scenarios with the parameters of models learned from the public naturalistic driving data set. Compared with other traditional methods, the performance of this proposed approach is proved superior, demonstrated by the higher accuracy in the long prediction horizon and a more reasonable description of uncertainty.

Originality/value

This hierarchical approach is proposed to make trajectory prediction accurately both in the short term and long term, which can also deal with the uncertainties caused by the perception system or indeterminate vehicle behaviors.
Board governance quality and risk disclosure compliance among financial institutions in Uganda
Authors: Nkuutu Geofrey , Ntayi Joseph Mpeera , Nkote Isaac Nabeeta , Munene John , Kaberuka Will
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of board governance quality (BGQ) and its mechanisms, namely board activity, board independence, board communication and board expertise, on the level of risk disclosure compliance (RDC) among financial institutions (FIs) in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a cross-sectional design where data are collected through a questionnaire survey and audited financial statements of 83 FIs. The authors employ partial least square structural equation modeling (SmartPLS32.7) to test hypotheses.

Findings

The authors find that the level of RDC in Ugandan FIs is low. Further, the study finds the positive relation between BGQ and RDC. Moreover, the authors find that RDC is positively and significantly related with board activity, board independence, board communication and board expertise. Furthermore, the authors find that the level of RDC is positively and significantly related to ownership type, firm size and board size, respectively. Nevertheless, industry type, number of branches and firm age are insignificantly related to RDC.

Practical implications

The study provides relevant insights into regulators and policy makers with early symptoms of potential problems regarding weak board governance in FIs. Policy makers may also use these findings as a guideline tool for improving existing board governance frameworks in place and development of new disclosure policies. In addition, the study provides an input into the review and amendments of existing corporate governance codes for the regulators.

Originality/value

This study offers the empirical evidence on the nexus between BGQ and RDC of FIs in Uganda. Moreover, the study also offers evidence on how BGQ mechanisms impact RDC. The study also further adds theoretical foundations to the RDC literature.
Reading experience librarianship: working with readers in the 21st century
Authors: Dali Keren , Vannier Clarissa , Douglass Lindsay
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Addressed to the audience of LIS educators at all levels, from full-time and adjunct faculty teaching in LIS programs, to librarians and library consultants delivering professional development training, to practitioners who work with readers in all types of libraries, this article makes a case for replacing the term “readers' advisory” with the term “Reading Experience (RE) librarianship” as a designator of the current professional practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Using historical and discursive analysis based on the extensive literature review, this article argues that a number of factors call for the change in terminology: changes in the human factor (i.e., changes in readers and reading behavior; and changes in relationships between readers and librarians) and changes in the library environment (the rise of “experience” in libraries; a greater commitment to outreach and community engagement; and the fact that librarians are already practicing RE librarianship without recognizing it as such). It also examines the role of LIS educators in fostering and supporting RE librarianship.

Findings

On the one hand, the new terminology will be more reflective of the work that reader service librarians currently do, thus doing justice to a wide range of activities and expanded roles of librarians; on the other hand, it will serve as an imperative and a motivator to further transform reader services from in-house interactions with and programs for avid readers into a true community engagement, with much broader goals, scope and reach.

Originality/value

The article stands to coin a new professional term for the transformed library practice, thus recording a radical change in longstanding professional activities and encouraging new community-oriented thinking about the expanded role of librarians in promoting reading in diverse social environments.
Intellectual capital and business model: a systematic literature review to explore their linkages
Authors: Baima Gabriele , Forliano Canio , Santoro Gabriele , Vrontis Demetris
Published: October 2020

Purpose

In the last decades, business and management scholars have given great attention to intellectual capital (IC), which could seem a mature topic, having arrived at its third wave of studies. However, its intersections with the business model (BM) remain an under-investigated topic, and the authors wanted to investigate two research questions (RQs): how the literature addressing IC and BM has evolved so far in the business and management domains? What are possible future research trends of business and management studies regarding IC and BM?

Design/methodology/approach

This study answers these questions through a systematic literature review (SLR) of 74 peer-reviewed articles in the area of business and management. First, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to evaluate what is the current trend of such publications and what are the most relevant articles, authors, countries and journals. Then, a content analysis was performed to aggregate and systematize the results and identify future lines of research.

Findings

Results show that most of the studies conducted to date are focused on the aspects of value creation and value capture, with a primary focus on investigating the relationship between IC and firms' performances (e.g. economic, financial and organizational).

Originality/value

The relationship between IC and BM has been quite neglected by the literature, or at least it leaves room for further research lines. For example, little is known about how firms use the various IC assets to leverage new forms of value proposition, new target markets or new sources of revenues. This is one of the first papers systematizing the current body of knowledge on this topic and drawing future lines of research.
Political connections, media impact and state-owned enterprises: an empirical analysis on corporate financial performance
Authors: Giosi Alessandro , Caiffa Marco
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the differential impact on the stock market of statements made by and information about directors and companies who are politically connected, compared to directors and companies with no political connections. The authors also analyze the role played by state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which the authors have identified as politically connected companies because most board members are appointed by political authorities. Furthermore, the boundaries and institutional environment within which SOEs operate are likely to be different from private companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample is composed of over 60,000 news articles on the boards of directors (both with political roles and without political roles) of listed Italian companies in the period 1998–2013. On that sample the authors run a regression analysis under the signaling theory approach.

Findings

Results suggest a positive effect on market capitalization associated with individual political connections. This effect decreases when the political connection extends to the whole enterprise although it still remains, while a negative effect is associated with state-controlled enterprises. The impact of negative news content does not change depending on whether a board member has a political role or not.

Originality/value

Previous research has demonstrated a causal link between stock prices and their reaction to corporate news (Engelberg and Parsons, 2011; Peress, 2014), but no studies have quantified the different reactions that occur when the news mentions politically connected companies and individuals who hold a political role.