bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing Eco-Friendly Strategy Implementation and Its Impacts on Business Performance: The Role of Organizational Strategic Capabilities
Authors: Elok S. Pusparini  , Budi Widjaja Soetjipto  , Riani Rachmawati  , Lily Sudhartio  , Uliyatun Nikmah
Published: April 2021

The increasing movements on the implementation of environmental sustainability and its impact on business performance become one of the important discussions on the strategic management field. Organizations are forced to major environmental initiatives to answer the green business inquiries. Constructed from the organizational capabilities literature of strategic management, this study explains how organizations strengthen their performances toward the implementation of environmentaly friendly or also called as ecofriendly business strategy and proposes hypotheses to answer the questions on how the organizational capabilities that represents internal organizational factors affect business performance through the mediating effect of eco-friendly strategy implementation Using a model integrating resource-based theory, institutional theory, and strategic business unit perspectives, this study tests the causalities upon the hotel industry in Indonesia which currently facing the force to adopt environmental friendly business practices due to the expansive development within the industry. This study used SPSS software followed by mediation test to analyze the mediating effect of eco-friendly strategy implementation on the relationship between organizational strategic capabilities and business performance. Research data were collected through the questionnaires, resulting 109 data from two-starred and above hotels across major cities in Indonesia. The findings of this study indicate that organizational strategic capabilities have a positive and significant effect on eco-friendly strategy implementation and business performances respectively while the mediating effect of Eco-friendly strategy implementation were partially found.Drawing from these results, the implications of the findings upon industrial, policies, and further research avenues are discussed.
Total Factor Productivity Shock and Economic Growth in Selected Asean+3 Countries: A New Evidence Using a Panel Var
Authors: Noorazeela Zainol Abidin  , Ishak Yussof  , Zulkefly Abdul Karim
Published: April 2021

A comparison between countries shows that there is a difference in terms of economic growth achievement across nations. This difference is due to the contribution of capital growth, labor, and total factor productivity (TFP). Although the use of capital and labor plays a vital role in the production, the contribution of TFP growth is also indispensable, as it saves production costs. Nevertheless, in 1995-2000, most countries have experienced a negative growth of TFP in which can affect its contribution to economic growth. Therefore, the focal point of this study is to analyze the impact of TFP growth shock on economic growth in selected ASEAN+3 countries (i.e., Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, South Korea, and Japan), using the data set from 1981 to 2014. The study employed the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) method in analyzing the propagation of the shocks through impulse response function and variance decomposition. The main findings revealed that TFP growth shocks have a positive impact on economic growth. Besides, the results also showed that over the next ten years, the proportion of human capital variation would be more dominant in contributing to the economic growth for the selected ASEAN+3 countries. As the surge in TFP growth had a positive impact on economic growth, this finding indicated that each country needs to allocate more expenditure in the Research and Development (R&D) activities.
LGBTI Sexualities and intersectional research
Authors: Barros Rosanna , Romero López Agustín , Granero Andújar Alejandro
Published: April 2021

We examine testimonies pertaining to the integration of a gender perspective beyond the dichotomy man-woman into practices of affective-sexual adult learning and education (ALE). We are interested in inclusive practices able to expand voices from specific vulnerable groups against discriminations and multiple oppressions among the aged when belonging to LGBTI Communities. The framework is based on post-feminist contributions, to allow for a democratic understanding of gender equality as well as to integrate population sectors suffering from different types of gender-based violence, such as non-heterosexual, trans and intersex people. The narrative literature review method was chosen, and international scientific search engines and databases were consulted to find literature in Portuguese, Spanish and English. A total of 25 educational interventions were selected for analysis. To discuss the data, we resorted to Barragán’s (1996) theoretical models. The results show a small number of internationally documented experiences on affective-sexual education with the elderly and adults
Medication Intake, Perceived Barriers, and Their Correlates Among Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Results From Diabetes MILES – The Netherlands
Authors: Hogervorst Stijn , Adriaanse Marce C. , Hugtenburg Jacqueline G. , Bot Mariska , Speight Jane , Pouwer Frans , Nefs Giesje
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate medication intake, perceived barriers and their correlates in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 3,383 Dutch adults with diabetes (42% type 1; 58% type 2) completed the 12-item ‘Adherence Starts with Knowledge’ questionnaire (ASK-12; total score range: 12-60) and reported socio-demographics, clinical and psychological characteristics and health behaviors. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used.

Results

Adults with type 1 diabetes had a slightly lower mean ASK-12 score (i.e. more optimal medication intake and fewer perceived barriers) than adults with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. After adjustment for covariates, correlates with suboptimal intake and barriers were fewer severe hypoglycemic events and more depressive symptoms and diabetes-specific distress. In type 2 diabetes, correlates were longer diabetes duration, more depressive symptoms and diabetes-specific distress.

Conclusions

Adults with type 1 diabetes showed slightly more optimal medication intake and fewer perceived barriers than adults with non-insulin treated type 2 diabetes. Correlates differed only slightly between diabetes types. The strong association with depressive symptoms and diabetes-specific distress in both diabetes types warrants attention, as improving these outcomes in some people with diabetes might indirectly improve medication intake.
Racially Disparate Expression of mTOR/ERK-1/2 Allied Proteins in Cancer
Authors: Mishra Sanjay , Charan Manish , Verma Ajeet Kumar , Ramaswamy Bhuvaneswari , Ahirwar Dinesh Kumar , Ganju Ramesh K.
Published: April 2021

Recent studies revealed that ethnic differences in mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK-1/2) signaling pathways might be associated with the development and progression of different human malignancies. The African American (AA) population has an increased rate of cancer incidence and mortality compared to the Caucasian American (CA) population. Although the socioeconomic differences across different ethnic groups contribute to the disparity in developing different cancers, recent scientific evidence indicates the association of molecular and genetic variations in racial disparities of different human malignancies. The mTOR and ERK-1/2 signaling pathways are one of the well-known oncogenic signaling mechanisms that regulate diverse molecular and phenotypic aspects of normal as well as cancer cells in response to different external or internal stimuli. To date, very few studies have been carried out to explore the significance of racial disparity with abnormal mTOR and ERK-1/2 kinase signaling pathways, which may contribute to the development of aggressive human cancers. In this review, we discuss the differential regulation of mTOR and ERK-1/2 kinase signaling pathways across different ethnic groups, especially between AA and CA populations. Notably, we observed that key signaling proteins associated with mTOR and ERK-1/2 pathway including transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), Akt, and VEGFR showed racially disparate expression in cancer patients. Overall, this review article encompasses the significance of racially disparate signaling molecules related to mTOR/ERK1/2 and their potential in developing tailor-made anti-cancer therapies.
Mitochondrial Control of Stem Cell State and Fate: Lessons From Drosophila
Authors: Tiwari Satish Kumar , Mandal Sudip
Published: May 2021

Over the years, Drosophila has served as a wonderful genetically tractable model system to unravel various facets of tissue-resident stem cells in their microenvironment. Studies in different stem and progenitor cell types of Drosophila have led to the discovery of cell-intrinsic and extrinsic factors crucial for stem cell state and fate. Though initially touted as the ATP generating machines for carrying various cellular processes, it is now increasingly becoming clear that mitochondrial processes alone can override the cellular program of stem cells. The last few years have witnessed a surge in our understanding of mitochondria’s contribution to governing different stem cell properties in their subtissular niches in Drosophila. Through this review, we intend to sum up and highlight the outcome of these in vivo studies that implicate mitochondria as a central regulator of stem cell fate decisions; to find the commonalities and uniqueness associated with these regulatory mechanisms.
Application of SNAP-Tag in Expansion Super-Resolution Microscopy Using DNA Oligostrands
Authors: Yao Longfang , Zhang Li , Fei Yiyan , Chen Liwen , Mi Lan , Ma Jiong
Published: April 2021

Expansion super-resolution technology is a new technology developed in recent years. It anchors the dye on the hydrogel and the dye expands with the expansion of the hydrogel so that a super-resolution map can be obtained under an ordinary microscope. However, by labeling the target protein with a first antibody and secondary antibody, the distance between the fluorescent group and the actual target protein is greatly increased. Although fluorescent proteins can also be used for expansion super-resolution to reduce this effect, the fluorescent protein is often destroyed during sample preparation. To solve this problem, we developed a novel label system for expansion microscopy, based on a DNA oligostrand linked with a fluorescent dye, acrylamide group (linker), and benzoylguanine (BG, a small substrate molecule for SNAP-tag). This protocol greatly reduced the error between the position of fluorescent group and the actual target protein, and also reduced loss of the fluorescent group during sample preparation.
Sensitive Detection of Sulfide Ion Based on Fluorescent Ionic Liquid–Graphene Quantum Dots Nanocomposite
Authors: Qiu Guanhua , Han Yaoqi , Zhu Xiaoqi , Gong Jiawei , Luo Tao , Zhao Chang , Liu Junjie , Liu Jiyang , Li Xiang
Published: April 2021

Sulfide ions (S2−) that are widely distributed in biological and industrial fields are extremely toxic and pose great harms to both ecological environment and human health. However, fluorescent sensors toward S2− ions commonly use S2−-recovered fluorescence of fluorophore that is first quenched mainly by metal ions. Fluorescent probe which enables direct, selective, and sensitive detection of S2− ion is highly desirable. Herein, we demonstrate one-step preparation of fluorescent ionic liquid–graphene quantum dots (IL-GQDs) nanocomposite, which can act as a fluorescent probe for direct and sensitive detection of S2− ion. The IL-GQDs nanocomposite is easily synthesized via facile molecular fusion of carbon precursor and in situ surface modification of GQDs by IL under hydrothermal condition. The as-prepared IL-GQDs nanocomposite has uniform and ultrasmall size, high crystallinity, and bright green fluorescence (absolute photoluminescence quantum yield of 18.2%). S2− ions can strongly and selectively quench the fluorescence of IL-GQDs because of the anion exchange ability of IL. With IL-GQDs nanocomposite being fluorescent probe, direct and sensitive detection of S2− is realized with a linear detection range of 100nM–10μM and 10μM–0.2mM (limit of detection or LOD of 23nM). Detection of S2− ions in environmental river water is also achieved.
Comparative Study of NAP-XPS and Cryo-XPS for the Investigation of Surface Chemistry of the Bacterial Cell-Envelope
Authors: Kjærvik Marit , Ramstedt Madeleine , Schwibbert Karin , Dietrich Paul M. , Unger Wolfgang E. S.
Published: April 2021

Bacteria generally interact with the environment via processes involving their cell-envelope. Thus, techniques that may shed light on their surface chemistry are attractive tools for providing an understanding of bacterial interactions. One of these tools is Al Kα-excited photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with its estimated information depth of <10 nm. XPS-analyses of bacteria have been performed for several decades on freeze-dried specimens in order to be compatible with the vacuum in the analysis chamber of the spectrometer. A limitation of these studies has been that the freeze-drying method may collapse cell structure as well as introduce surface contaminants. However, recent developments in XPS allow for analysis of biological samples at near ambient pressure (NAP-XPS) or as frozen hydrated specimens (cryo-XPS) in vacuum. In this work, we have analyzed bacterial samples from a reference strain of the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens using both techniques. We compare the results obtained and, in general, observe good agreement between the two techniques. Furthermore, we discuss advantages and disadvantages with the two analysis approaches and the output data they provide. XPS reference data from the bacterial strain are provided, and we propose that planktonic cells of this strain (DSM 50090) are used as a reference material for surface chemical analysis of bacterial systems.
The Immune Microenvironment in Human Papilloma Virus-Induced Cervical Lesions—Evidence for Estrogen as an Immunomodulator
Authors: R. S. Jayshree
Published: April 2021

Globally, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is a common sexually transmitted disease. However, most of the HPV infections eventually resolve aided by the body’s efficient cell-mediated immune responses. In the vast majority of the small group of patients who develop overt disease too, it is the immune response that culminates in regression of lesions. It is therefore a rarity that persistent infection by high-risk genotypes of HPV compounded by other risk factors progresses through precancer (various grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia—CIN) to cervical cancer (CxCa). Hence, although CxCa is a rare culmination of HPV infection, the latter is nevertheless causally linked to >90% of cancer. The three ‘Es’ of cancer immunoediting viz. elimination, equilibrium, and escape come into vogue during the gradual evolution of CIN 1 to CxCa. Both cell-intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms operate to eliminate virally infected cells: cell-extrinsic players are anti-tumor/antiviral effectors like Th1 subset of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, Natural Killer cells, etc. and pro-tumorigenic/immunosuppressive cells like regulatory T cells (Tregs), Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs), type 2 macrophages, etc. And accordingly, when immunosuppressive cells overpower the effectors e.g., in high-grade lesions like CIN 2 or 3, the scale is tilted towards immune escape and the disease progresses to cancer. Estradiol has long been considered as a co-factor in cervical carcinogenesis. In addition to the gonads, the Peyer’s patches in the gut synthesize estradiol. Over and above local production of the hormone in the tissues, estradiol metabolism by the gut microbiome: estrobolome versus tryptophan non-metabolizing microbiome, regulates free estradiol levels in the intestine and extraintestinal mucosal sites. Elevated tissue levels of the hormone serve more than one purpose: besides a direct growth-promoting action on cervical epithelial cells, estradiol acting genomically via Estrogen Receptor-α also boosts the function of the stromal and infiltrating immunosuppressive cells viz. Tregs, MDSCs, and carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. Hence as a corollary, therapeutic repurposing of Selective Estrogen Receptor Disruptors or aromatase inhibitors could be useful for modulating immune function in cervical precancer/cancer. The immunomodulatory role of estradiol in HPV-mediated cervical lesions is reviewed.
Communicating the “Race” for the COVID-19 Vaccine: An Exploratory Study in Newspapers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Brazil
Authors: Massarani Luisa , Neves Luiz Felipe Fernandes
Published: April 2021

The search for an effective solution to control the COVID-19 pandemic has mobilized an unprecedented effort by science to develop a vaccine against the disease, in which pharmaceutical companies and scientific institutions from several countries participate. The world closely monitors research in this area, especially through media coverage, which plays a key role in the dissemination of trustful information and in the public’s understanding of science and health. On the other hand, anti-vaccine movements dispute space in this communication environment, which raises concerns of the authorities regarding the willingness of the population to get vaccinated. In this exploratory study, we used computer-assisted content analysis techniques, with WordStat software, to identify the most addressed terms, semantic clusters, actors, institutions, and countries in the texts and titles of 716 articles on the COVID-19 vaccine, published by The New York Times (US), The Guardian (United Kingdom), and Folha de São Paulo (Brazil), from January to October 2020. We sought to analyze similarities and differences of countries that stood out by the science denialism stance of their government leaders, reflecting on the severity of the pandemic in these places. Our results indicate that each newspaper emphasized the potential vaccines developed by laboratories in their countries or that have established partnerships with national institutions, but with a more politicized approach in Brazil and a little more technical-scientific approach in the United States and the United Kingdom. In external issues, the newspapers characterized the search for the discovery of a vaccine as a race in which nations and blocs historically marked by economic, political, and ideological disputes are competing, such as the United States, Europe, China, and Russia. The results lead us to reflect on the responsibility of the media to not only inform correctly but also not to create stigmas related to the origin of the vaccine and combat misinformation.
EEG-Based Auditory Attention Detection and Its Possible Future Applications for Passive BCI
Authors: Belo Joan , Clerc Maureen , Schön Daniele
Published: April 2021

The ability to discriminate and attend one specific sound source in a complex auditory environment is a fundamental skill for efficient communication. Indeed, it allows us to follow a family conversation or discuss with a friend in a bar. This ability is challenged in hearing-impaired individuals and more precisely in those with a cochlear implant (CI). Indeed, due to the limited spectral resolution of the implant, auditory perception remains quite poor in a noisy environment or in presence of simultaneous auditory sources. Recent methodological advances allow now to detect, on the basis of neural signals, which auditory stream within a set of multiple concurrent streams an individual is attending to. This approach, called EEG-based auditory attention detection (AAD), is based on fundamental research findings demonstrating that, in a multi speech scenario, cortical tracking of the envelope of the attended speech is enhanced compared to the unattended speech. Following these findings, other studies showed that it is possible to use EEG/MEG (Electroencephalography/Magnetoencephalography) to explore auditory attention during speech listening in a Cocktail-party-like scenario. Overall, these findings make it possible to conceive next-generation hearing aids combining customary technology and AAD. Importantly, AAD has also a great potential in the context of passive BCI, in the educational context as well as in the context of interactive music performances. In this mini review, we firstly present the different approaches of AAD and the main limitations of the global concept. We then expose its potential applications in the world of non-clinical passive BCI.
Proof of Concept: Measuring Aortic Annulus Resistance by Means of Pressure-Volume Curves During Balloon Inflation to Guide Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Noterdaeme Timothée , Gesenhues Jonas , Vogt Felix , Massberg Steffen , Marx Nikolaus
Published: April 2021

This study assessed the basic working principle to measure aortic annulus resistance during balloon inflation for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), by acquisition of pressure-volume curve for a guided semi-automatic implantation. A modular bench-system was used which allows the incremental inflation of valvuloplasty balloons by means of a stepper-motor driven linear axis with simultaneous recording of the pressure changes inside the system. Different porcine aortic xenografts were assessed by use of a non-compliant valvuloplasty balloon. In a second step transcatheter aortic stents were implanted inside target sized xenografts. The recorded pressure volume-curves showed that the system can accurately differentiate between different xenografts and assess the quality of the tissue rendering real-time analysis of pressure-volume curves during balloon-inflation possible, which has the potential to optimize the implantation procedure by direct adaptation to the patient specific anatomy and characteristics. Further investigations and development are warranted.
The Carbon-Sulfur Link in the Remineralization of Organic Carbon in Surface Sediments
Authors: Bradbury Harold J. , Turchyn Alexandra V. , Bateson Adam , Antler Gilad , Fotherby Angus , Druhan Jennifer L. , Greaves Mervyn , Sevilgen Duygu S. , Hodell David A.
Published: April 2021

Here we present the carbon isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and the sulfur isotopic composition of sulfate, along with changes in sulfate concentrations, of the pore fluid collected from a series of sediment cores located along a depth transect on the Iberian Margin. We use these data to explore the coupling of microbial sulfate reduction (MSR) to organic carbon oxidation in the uppermost (up to nine meters) sediment. We argue that the combined use of the carbon and sulfur isotopic composition, of DIC and sulfate respectively, in sedimentary pore fluids, viewed through a δ13CDIC vs. δ34SSO4 cross plot, reveals significant insight into the nature of carbon-sulfur coupling in marine sedimentary pore fluids on continental margins. Our data show systemic changes in the carbon and sulfur isotopic composition of DIC and sulfate (respectively) where, at all sites, the carbon isotopic composition of the DIC decreases before the sulfur isotopic composition of sulfate increases. We compare our results to global data and show that this behavior persists over a range of sediment types, locations and water depths. We use a reactive-transport model to show how changes in the amount of DIC in seawater, the carbon isotopic composition of organic matter, the amount of organic carbon oxidation by early diagenetic reactions, and the presence and source of methane influence the carbon and sulfur isotopic composition of sedimentary pore fluids and the shape of the δ13CDIC vs. δ34SSO4 cross plot. The δ13C of the DIC released during sulfate reduction and sulfate-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane is a major control on the minimum δ13CDIC value in the δ13CDIC vs. δ34SSO4 cross plot, with the δ13C of the organic carbon being important during both MSR and combined sulfate reduction, sulfate-driven AOM and methanogenesis.
Health Effects and Life Stage Sensitivities in Zebrafish Exposed to an Estrogenic Wastewater Treatment Works Effluent
Authors: Cooper Ruth , David Arthur , Lange Anke , Tyler Charles R.
Published: April 2021

A wide range of health effects in fish have been reported for exposure to wastewater treatment work (WwTW) effluents including feminized responses in males. Most of these exposure studies, however, have assessed acute health effects and chronic exposure effects are less well established. Using an Estrogen Responsive Element-Green Fluorescent Protein (ERE-GFP)-Casper transgenic zebrafish, we investigated chronic health effects and life stage sensitivities for exposure to an estrogenic WwTW effluent and the synthetic estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Exposure to the WwTW effluent (at full strength;100%) and to 10 ng/L (nominal) EE2 delayed testis maturation in male fish but accelerated ovary development in females. Exposure to 50% and 100% effluent, and to 10 ng/L EE2, also resulted in skewed sex ratios in favor of females. Differing patterns of green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression, in terms of target tissues and developmental life stages occurred in the ERE-GFP- zebrafish chronically exposed to 100% effluent and reflected the estrogenic content of the effluent. gfp and vitellogenin (vtg) mRNA induction were positively correlated with measured levels of steroidal estrogens in the effluent throughout the study. Our findings illustrate the importance of a fish’s developmental stage for estrogen exposure effects and demonstrate the utility of the ERE-GFP zebrafish for integrative health analysis for exposure to estrogenic chemical mixtures.
Carney Triad, Carney-Stratakis Syndrome, 3PAS and Other Tumors Due to SDH Deficiency
Authors: Pitsava Georgia , Settas Nikolaos , Faucz Fabio R. , Stratakis Constantine A.
Published: May 2021

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is a key respiratory enzyme that links Krebs cycle and electron transport chain and is comprised of four subunits SDHA, SDHB, SDHC and SDHD. All SDH-deficient tumors are caused by or secondary to loss of SDH activity. As many as half of the familial cases of paragangliomas (PGLs) and pheochromocytomas (PHEOs) are due to mutations of the SDHx subunits. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) associated with SDH deficiency are negative for KIT/PDGFRA mutations and present with distinctive clinical features such as early onset (usually childhood or adolescence) and almost exclusively gastric location. SDH-deficient GISTs may be part of distinct clinical syndromes, Carney-Stratakis syndrome (CSS) or dyad and Carney triad (CT). CSS is also known as the dyad of GIST and PGL; it affects both genders equally and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with incomplete penetrance. CT is a very rare disease; PGL, GIST and pulmonary chondromas constitute CT which shows female predilection and may be a mosaic disorder. Even though there is some overlap between CT and CSS, as both are due to SDH deficiency, CSS is caused by inactivating germline mutations in genes encoding for the SDH subunits, while CT is mostly caused by a specific pattern of methylation of the SDHC gene and may be due to germline mosaicism of the responsible genetic defect.
Review of Modeling and Simulation Methods for Cyber Physical Power System
Authors: Fan Hong , Wang Hongxiang , Xia Shiwei , Li Xuan , Xu Pengfei , Gao Yuhan
Published: May 2021

With the development of informatization and intellectualization technology, the power system has become the cyber-physical power system (CPPS) with deep integration of the cyber side and the physical side. As the support system of smart grids with new forms and features, the CPPS considers the coupling relationship between the communication network and the physical power grid, and is a research hotspot in the field of smart grids. This paper provides an overview of the CPPS framework and describes the interaction between the communication network and the physical power grid. Then the mainstream modeling and simulation methods of CPPS are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of each method are pointed out. In the end, the paper looks forward to the possible research directions of CPPS in the future. The article provides researchers with different perspectives on the dynamic model and simulation methods of CPPS.
Stakeholder Perceptions on the Governance of Fisheries Systems Transformed by Hydroelectric Dam Development in the Madeira River, Brazil
Authors: Doria Carolina R. C. , Dutka-Gianelli Jynessa , Paes de Souza Mariluce , Lorenzen Kai , Athayde Simone
Published: April 2021

Hydroelectric dams often have significant impacts on freshwater fisheries. Major impacts are known to be driven by changes in river hydrology and fish ecology, but the role of governance arrangements in mitigating or exacerbating fisheries impacts from hydropower development is less understood. This study presents an analysis of stakeholder perceptions about the effects of hydroelectric dam implementation on fisheries governance arrangements in the Madeira River basin, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 stakeholders representing the fishers and fish traders, government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Fishers, non-governmental, and private sector agents perceived hydropower development to be the strongest factor driving fisheries decline or change over the past 10 years, while government staff perceived overfishing to be an equally or even more important factor. Most stakeholders affirmed that fisheries governance arrangements have weakened in the face of hydropower development, and that these arrangements have been insufficient to effectively mitigate or compensate for negative impacts on fisheries. Fishers, non-governmental and private sector agents saw lack of opportunities to participate in fisheries governance as a major contributing factor, while government staff emphasized lack of qualified personnel, lack of trust between agencies, and control over the decision-making process held by hydropower companies. Perspectives on other implications of governance arrangements were shared across stakeholder groups. These included increased conflicts; lack of interaction and coordination between agencies; the fragility of fishers’ social organization; lack of trust and reciprocity between organizations; and power imbalances between stakeholders. The results show that hydropower development impairs and changes relationships between diverse players involved in fisheries governance, which can exacerbate existing weaknesses and negatively affect fishery sustainability. Drawing from the perspectives and comments of the various stakeholders who participated in the study, we provide recommendations to improve freshwater fisheries governance in the Madeira River basin and in the Brazilian Amazon.
Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Sustainability: An Ecosystem Services Assessment of Plans for Singapore’s First “Forest Town”
Authors: Tan Beverley Anne , Gaw Leon Yan-Feng , Masoudi Mahyar , Richards Daniel Rex
Published: April 2021

Rapid urbanization in many parts of the world has increasingly put the environment under pressure, with natural landscapes cleared to make way for built infrastructure. Urban ecosystems, and the services that they provide, can offer nature-based solutions to the challenges of urbanization. There is increasing interest in better incorporating ecosystems into urban planning and design in order to deliver greater provision of ecosystem services and enhance urban liveability. However, there are few examples of built or proposed urban developments that have been designed specifically with ecosystem services in mind–partly because there are few modeling tools available to support urban planners and designers by informing their design workflows. Through using Singapore’s latest nature-centric town as a case study, this article assesses the impacts of nature-based solutions in urban design on ecosystem services performance, through a spatially explicit modeling approach. The proposed future scenario for the nature-centric town was projected to result in substantial declines in the provision of all ecosystem services, as a result of the removal of large areas of natural vegetation cover. However, the future scenario compared favourably against three older towns that have been constructed in Singapore, showing the best performance for four out of six ecosystem services. This simulation exercise indicates that designing towns with ecosystem services in mind, and incorporating nature-based solutions into urban design, can help to achieve enhanced performance in providing ecosystem services. The models developed for this study have been made publicly available for use in other tropical cities.
Climate Change Impacts on the Future of Forests in Great Britain
Authors: Yu Jianjun , Berry Pam , Guillod Benoit P. , Hickler Thomas
Published: April 2021

Forests provide important ecosystem services but are being affected by climate change, not only changes in temperature and precipitation but potentially also directly through the plant-physiological effects of increases in atmospheric CO2. We applied a tree-species-based dynamic model (LPJ-GUESS) at a high 5-km spatial resolution to project climate and CO2 impacts on tree species and thus forests in Great Britain. Climatic inputs consisted of a novel large climate scenario ensemble derived from a regional climate model (RCM) under an RCP 8.5 emission scenario. The climate change impacts were assessed using leaf area index (LAI) and net primary productivity (NPP) for the 2030s and the 2080s compared to baseline (1975–2004). The potential CO2 effects, which are highly uncertain, were examined using a constant CO2 level scenario for comparison. Also, a climate vulnerability index was developed to assess the potential drought impact on modeled tree species. In spite of substantial future reductions in rainfall, the mean projected LAI and NPP generally showed an increase over Britain, with a larger increment in Scotland, northwest England, and west Wales. The CO2 increase led to higher projected LAI and NPP, especially in northern Britain, but with little effect on overall geographical patterns. However, without accounting for plant-physiological effects of elevated CO2, NPP in Southern and Central Britain and easternmost parts of Wales showed a decrease relative to 2011, implying less ecosystem service provisioning, e.g., in terms of timber yields and carbon storage. The projected change of LAI and NPP varied from 5 to 100% of the mean change, due to the uncertainty arising from natural weather-induced variability, with Southeast England being most sensitive to this. It was also the most susceptible to climate change and drought, with reduced suitability for broad-leaved trees such as beech, small-leaved lime, and hornbeam. These could lead to important changes in woodland composition across Great Britain.
A Trait-Based Protocol for the Biological Control of Invasive Exotic Plant Species
Authors: Zhang Hui , Jiang Kai , Zhao Yang , Xing Yuting , Ge Haijie , Cui Jie , Liu Tiedong , Wang Chen
Published: April 2021

Selecting appropriate native species for the biological control of invasive exotic plants is a recurring challenge for conservationists, ecologists, and land managers. Recently developed trait-based approaches may be an effective means of overcoming this challenge. However, we lack a protocol and software platform that can be used to quickly and effectively select potential native plant species for performing biological control of the invasive exotic plant species. Here, our study introduces a protocol and a software program that can be used for trait-based selection of appropriate native plant species for performing biocontrol of invasive exotic plant species. In particular, we illustrate the effectiveness of this software program and protocol by identifying native species that can be used for the biological control ofLeucaena leucocephala(Lam.) de Wit, a highly invasive plant species found in many parts of the world.Bougainvillea spectabiliswas the only native species selected by our software program as a potential biocontrol agent forL. leucocephala.When separately planting 4 seedlings ofB. spectabilisand two unselected species (Bombax ceiba, andFicus microcarpa) as neighbors of each individual ofL. leucocephalafor 3 years, we found thatB. spectabilis, which was functionally similar to the invasiveL. leucocephala, significantly limited the invasion of the latter, while the unselected native plant species could not. That was because all the seedling ofB. spectabilissurvived, while half seedlings of unselected species (B. ceibaandF. microcarpa) died, during the experimental period when planted withL. leucocephalaseedlings. Moreover, the growth ofL. leucocephalawas restricted when planted withB. spectabilis, in contrastB. ceibaandF. microcarpadid not influence the growth ofL. leucocephala.Overall, our software program and protocol can quickly and efficiently select native plant species for use in the biological control of invasive exotic plant species. We expect that this work will provide a general protocol to perform biological control of many different types of invasive exotic plant species.
Genomic Regions Related to White/Black Tail Feather Color in Dwarf Chickens Identified Using a Genome-Wide Association Study
Authors: Nie Changsheng , Qu Liang , Li Xinghua , Jiang Zhihua , Wang Kehua , Li Haiying , Wang Huie , Qu Changqing , Qu Lujiang , Ning Zhonghua
Published: April 2021

Although the genetic foundation of chicken body feather color has been extensively explored, that of tail feather color remains poorly understood. In the present study, we used a synthetic chicken dwarf line (DW), derived from hybrids bred between a black tail chicken breed, Rhode Island Red (RIR), and a white tail breed, dwarf layer (DL), to investigate the genetic rules associated white/black tail color. Even though the body feathers are predominantly red, the DW line still comprises individuals with black or white tails after more than 10 generations of self-crossing and selection for the body feather color. We first performed four crosses using the DW chickens, including black-tailed males to females, reciprocal crosses between the black and white, and white males to females to elucidate the inheritance pattern of the white/black tail. We also performed a genome-wide association (GWA) analysis to determine the candidate genomic regions underlying the tail feather color using black tail chickens from the RIR and DW lines and white individuals from the DW line. In the crossing experiment, we found that (i) the white/black tail feather color is independent of body feather color; (ii) the phenotype is a simple autosomal trait; and (iii) the white is dominant to the black in the DW line. The GWA results showed that seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 24 were significantly correlated with tail feather color. The significant region (3.97–4.26 Mb) comprises nine known genes (NECTIN1, THY1, gga-mir-1466, USP2, C1QTNF5, RNF26, MCAM, CBL, and CCDC153) and five anonymous genes. This study revealed that the white/black tail feather trait is autosome-linked in DW chickens. Fourteen genes were found in the significant ~0.29 Mb genomic region, and some, especially MCAM, are suggested to play critical roles in the determination of white/black tail feather color. Our research is the first study on the genetics underlying tail feather color and could help further the understanding of feather pigmentation in chickens.
Dissecting the Roles of LncRNAs in the Development of Periventricular White Matter Damage
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Liu Heng , Liao Xiaoli , Qiao Lixing , Zhu Lihua , Wu Shun , Zhou Yan , Zhang Yi , Li Bangbang , Lin Lili , Ma Jingjing , Gu Qianying , Shu Jiaping
Published: April 2021

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) has high expression in the brain. Animal studies have shown that lncRNA plays an important role in brain functions and mediates the development of many neurological diseases. However, data on the expression of lncRNAs and the clinical significance in prematurely born infants with diseases such as periventricular white matter damage (PWMD) remains scant. Here, we compared the expression of the lncRNAs in whole blood samples obtained from prematurely born infants with PWMD with samples from prematurely born infants without PWMD. Our data demonstrated differential expression of the lncRNAs between the two groups. Further, we showed that the lncRNAs play important roles in the development of PWMD. Our findings give insights into the functions of the lncRNAs in PWMD and provide evidence for the improvement of diagnostic and treatment strategies in infants with PWMD.
Omics Approaches for Understanding Biogenesis, Composition and Functions of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Zamith-Miranda Daniel , Peres da Silva Roberta , Couvillion Sneha P. , Bredeweg Erin L. , Burnet Meagan C. , Coelho Carolina , Camacho Emma , Nimrichter Leonardo , Puccia Rosana , Almeida Igor C. , Casadevall Arturo , Rodrigues Marcio L. , Alves Lysangela R. , Nosanchuk Joshua D. , Nakayasu Ernesto S.
Published: May 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer structures released by organisms from all kingdoms of life. The diverse biogenesis pathways of EVs result in a wide variety of physical properties and functions across different organisms. Fungal EVs were first described in 2007 and different omics approaches have been fundamental to understand their composition, biogenesis, and function. In this review, we discuss the role of omics in elucidating fungal EVs biology. Transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics have each enabled the molecular characterization of fungal EVs, providing evidence that these structures serve a wide array of functions, ranging from key carriers of cell wall biosynthetic machinery to virulence factors. Omics in combination with genetic approaches have been instrumental in determining both biogenesis and cargo loading into EVs. We also discuss how omics technologies are being employed to elucidate the role of EVs in antifungal resistance, disease biomarkers, and their potential use as vaccines. Finally, we review recent advances in analytical technology and multi-omic integration tools, which will help to address key knowledge gaps in EVs biology and translate basic research information into urgently needed clinical applications such as diagnostics, and immuno- and chemotherapies to fungal infections.
Genomic Adaptive Evolution of Sand Rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) and Its Implications for Desert Ecosystem Restoration
Authors: Qian Chaoju , Yan Xia , Fang Tingzhou , Yin Xiaoyue , Zhou Shanshan , Fan Xingke , Chang Yuxiao , Ma Xiao-Fei
Published: April 2021

Natural selection is a significant driver of population divergence and speciation of plants. Due to local adaptation to geographic regions with ecological gradients, plant populations harbored a wide range of adaptive genetic variation to enable them to survive the heterogeneous habitats. This is all the more necessary for desert plants, as they must tolerant more striking gradients of abiotic stresses. However, the genomic mechanism by which desert plants adapt to ecological heterogeneity remains unclear, which could help to guide the sustainability of desert ecosystems. Here, using restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing in 38 natural populations, we investigated the genomic divergence and environmental adaptation of sand rice,Agriophyllum squarrosum, an annual pioneer species that covers sand dunes in northern China. Population genetic structure analyses showed that sand rice could be divided into three geographically distinct lineages, namely,Northwest,Central, andEast. Phylogeographic analyses revealed that the plant might originate locally in Bergen County and further differentiated into theEastlineage and then theCentrallineage. Ecological niche modeling found that different lineages occupied distinct ecological niches, suggesting that the ecological gradient would have triggered genomic differentiation among sand rice lineages. Ecological association study supported that the three SNPs under divergent selection were closely correlated with precipitation gradients, indicating that precipitation might be the most important stress trigger for lineage diversity in sand rice. These adaptive SNPs could be used to genotype suitable germplasms for the ecological restoration of specific desertified lands. Further analyses found that genetic structure could significantly overestimate the signals for balancing selection. Within theCentrallineage, we still found that 175 SNPs could be subject to balancing selection, which could be the means by which sand rice maintains genetic diversity and adapts to multiple stresses across heterogeneous deserts and sandy lands. From a genomic point of view, this study highlighted the local and global adaptation patterns of a desert plant to extreme and heterogeneous habitats. Our data provide molecular guidance for the restoration of desertified lands in the arid and semi-arid regions of China and could facilitate the marker assistant breeding of this potential crop to mitigate climate change.
CD4+ T Cells of Prostate Cancer Patients Have Decreased Immune Responses to Antigens Derived From SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein
Authors: Taborska Pavla , Strizova Zuzana , Stakheev Dmitry , Sojka Ludek , Bartunkova Jirina , Smrz Daniel
Published: May 2021

The adaptive immune response to severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is important for vaccine development and in the recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Men and cancer patients have been reported to be at higher risks of contracting the virus and developing the more severe forms of COVID-19. Prostate cancer (PCa) may be associated with both of these risks. We show that CD4+ T cells of SARS-CoV-2-unexposed patients with hormone-refractory (HR) metastatic PCa had decreased CD4+ T cell immune responses to antigens from SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein but not from the spiked glycoprotein of the ‘common cold’-associated human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) as compared with healthy male volunteers who responded comparably to both HCoV-229E- and SARS-CoV-2-derived antigens. Moreover, the HCoV-229E spike glycoprotein antigen-elicited CD4+ T cell immune responses cross-reacted with the SARS-CoV-2 spiked glycoprotein antigens. PCa patients may have impaired responses to the vaccination, and the cross-reactivity can mediate antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of COVID-19. These findings highlight the potential for increased vulnerability of PCa patients to COVID-19.