bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of shear and tensile loading on fibrin molecular structure revealed by coherent Raman microscopy
Authors: Wang Yujen , Kumar Sachin , Nisar Arsalan , Bonn Mischa , Rausch Manuel K. , Parekh Sapun H.
Published: July 2020

Blood clots are essential biomaterials that prevent blood loss and provide a temporary scaffold for tissue repair. In their function, these materials must be capable of resisting mechanical forces from hemodynamic shear and contractile tension without rupture. Fibrin networks, the primary load-bearing element in blood clots, have unique nonlinear mechanical properties resulting from their hierarchical structure, which provides multiscale load bearing from fiber deformation to protein unfolding. Here, we study the fiber and molecular scale response of fibrin under shear and tensile loadsin situusing a combination of fluorescence and vibrational (molecular) microscopy. Imaging protein fiber orientation and molecular vibrations, we find that fiber orientation and molecular changes in fibrin appear at much larger strains under shear compared to uniaxial tension. Orientation levels reached at 150% shear strain were reached already at 60% tensile strain, and molecular unfolding of fibrin was only seen at shear strains above 300%, whereas fibrin unfolding began already at 20% tensile strain. Moreover, shear deformation caused progressive changes in vibrational modes consistent with increased protofibril and fiber packing that were already present even at very low tensile deformation. Together with a bioinformatic analysis of the fibrinogen primary structure, we propose a scheme for the molecular response of fibrin from low to high deformation, which may relate to the teleological origin of its resistance to shear and tensile forces.

Graphical Abstract
A Sequence determinant in 3’UTR of mRNAs for Nuclear Retention by Paraspeckles
Authors: Jacq Audrey , Becquet Denis , Boyer Bénédicte , Guillen Séverine , Bello-Goutierrez Maria-Montserrat , Blanchard Marie-Pierre , Villard Claude , Belghazi Maya , Torres Manon , Franc Jean-Louis , François-Bellan Anne-Marie
Published: July 2020

Paraspeckles are nuclear membraneless structures composed of a long non-coding RNA, Nuclear-Enriched-Abundant-Transcript-1 and RNA binding proteins, which associate numerous mRNAs. It is therefore believed that their cellular function is to sequester in the nucleus their associated proteins and/or target mRNAs. However, little is known about the molecular determinant in mRNA targets that allow their association to paraspeckles except that inverted repeats of Alu sequences (IRAlu) present in 3’UTR of mRNAs may allow this association. While in a previous study we established the list of paraspeckle target RNAs in a rat pituitary cell line, we didn’t find however, inverted repeated SINEs, the rat equivalent of primate IRAlus in 3’UTR of these RNAs. By developing a candidate gene strategy, we selected a paraspeckle target gene, namely calreticulin mRNA, and we searched for other potential RNA recruitment elements in its 3’UTR, since 3’UTRs usually contain the sequence recognition for nuclear localization. We found a 15-nucleotide sequence, present as a tandem repeat in 3’UTR of this mRNA, which is involved in the nuclear retention by paraspeckles. While being not overrepresented in the 3’UTR of the paraspeckle target RNAs, this recruitment element was present in near 30% of all 3’UTR mRNAs. In addition, since an oligonucleotide containing this sequence binds the paraspeckle protein component HNRNPK, it is proposed that HNRNPK may constitute a bridging protein between paraspeckles and target mRNAs.
3D Microwell Platforms for Control of Single Cell 3D Geometry and Intracellular Organization
Authors: Wilson Robin E. , Denisin Aleksandra K. , Dunn Alexander R. , Pruitt Beth L.
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Cell structure and migration is impacted by the mechanical properties and geometry of the cell adhesive environment. Most studies to date investigating the effects of 3D environments on cells have not controlled geometry at the single-cell level, making it difficult to understand the influence of 3D environmental cues on single cells. Here, we developed microwell platforms to investigate the effects of 2D vs 3D geometries on single-cell F-actin and nuclear organization.

Methods

We used microfabrication techniques to fabricate three polyacrylamide platforms: 3D microwells with a 3D adhesive environment (3D/3D), 3D microwells with 2D adhesive areas at the bottom only (3D/2D), and flat 2D gels with 2D patterned adhesive areas (2D/2D). We measured geometric swelling and Young’s modulus of the platforms. We then cultured C2C12 myoblasts on each platform and evaluated the effects of the engineered microenvironments on F-actin structure and nuclear shape.

Results

We tuned the mechanical characteristics of the microfabricated platforms by manipulating the gel formulation. Crosslinker ratio strongly influenced geometric swelling whereas total polymer content primarily affected Young’s modulus. When comparing cells in these platforms, we found significant effects on F-actin and nuclear structures. Our analysis showed that a 3D/3D environment was necessary to increase actin and nuclear height. A 3D/2D environment was sufficient to increase actin alignment and nuclear aspect ratio compared to a 2D/2D environment.

Conclusions

Using our novel polyacrylamide platforms, we were able to decouple the effects of 3D confinement and adhesive environment, finding that both influenced actin and nuclear structure.
Biology and physics of heterochromatin-likedomains/complexes
Authors: Singh Prim B. , Belyakin Stepan N. , Laktionov Petr P.
Published: July 2020

The hallmarks of constitutive heterochromatin, HP1 and H3K9me2/3, assemble heterochromatin-likedomains/complexesoutsidecanonical constitutively heterochromatic territories where they regulate chromatin-templated processes. Domains are more than 100kb in size; complexes less than 100kb. They are present in the genomes of organisms ranging from fission yeast to man, with an expansion in size and number in mammals. Some of the likely functions of the domains/complexes include silencing of the donor mating type region in fission yeast, regulation of mammalian imprinted genes and the phylotypic progression during vertebrate development. Farcis- andtrans-contacts between micro-phase separated domains/complexes in mammalian nuclei contribute to the emergence of epigenetic compartmental domains (ECDs) detected in Hi-C maps. We speculate that a thermodynamic description of micro-phase separation of heterochromatin-likedomains/complexes will require a gestalt shift away from the monomer as the “unit of incompatibility”, where it is the choice of monomer that determines the sign and magnitude of the Flory-Huggins parameter, χ. Instead, a more dynamic structure, the oligo-nucleosomal “clutch”, consisting of between 2 to 10 nucleosomes is both the long sought-after secondary structure of chromatin and its unit of incompatibility. Based on this assumption we present a simple theoretical framework that enables an estimation of χ for domains/complexes flanked by euchromatin and thereby an indication of their tendency to phase separate. The degree of phase separation is specified by χN, where N is the number of “clutches” in a domain/complex. Our approach may provide an additional tool for understanding the biophysics of the 3D genome.
Modelling cortical laminar connectivity in the macaque brain
Authors: Shamir Ittai , Assaf Yaniv
Published: July 2020

In 1991, Felleman and Van Essen published their seminal study regarding hierarchical processing in the primate cerebral cortex. Their work encompassed a widescale analysis of connections reported through tracing between 35 regions in the macaque visual cortex, extending from cortical regions to the laminar level. In this work, we revisit laminar-level connectivity in the macaque brain using a whole-brain MRI-based approach. We use multi-modal ex-vivo MRI imaging of the macaque brain in both white and grey matter, which are then integrated via a simple model of laminar connectivity. This model uses a granularity-based approach to define a set of rules that expands cortical connections to the laminar level. Different fiber tracking routines are then examined in order to explore the ability of our model to infer laminar connectivity. The network of macaque cortical laminar connectivity resulting from the chosen routine is then validated in the visual cortex by comparison to findings from Felleman and Van Essen with an 83% accuracy level. By using a more comprehensive definition of the cortex that addresses its heterogenous laminar composition, we can explore a new avenue of structural connectivity on the laminar level.
Regression of Human Breast Carcinoma in Nude Mice After AdsfltGene Therapy is Mediated by Tumor Vascular Endothelial Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Felici Angelina , Bottaro Donald P. , Mangoni Antonella , Reusch Petra , Marmé Dieter , Kovesdi Imre , De Silva Dinuka M. , Lee Young H. , Capogrossi Maurizio C. , Mühlhauser Judith
Published: July 2020

Two vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors, FLT-1 and KDR, are expressed preferentially in proliferating endothelium. There is increasing evidence that recombinant, soluble VEGF receptor domains interfering with VEGF signaling may inhibitin vivoneoangiogenesis, tumor growth and metastatic spread. We hypothesized that a soluble form of FLT-1 receptor (sFLT-1) could inhibit the growth of pre-established tumors via an anti-angiogenic mechanism. A replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad) vector carrying the sflt-1 cDNA (Adsflt) was used to overexpress the sFLT-1 receptor in a breast cancer animal model. MCF-7 cells, which produce VEGF, were used to establish solid tumors in the mammary fat pads of female nude mice. After six weeks tumors were injected either with Adsflt, or a negative control virus (AdCMV.βgal). After six months, average tumor volume in the Adsflt-infected group (33 ± 22 mm3) was decreased by 91% relative to that of the negative control group (388 ± 94 mm3;P<0.05). Moreover, 10 of 15 Adsflt-infected tumors exhibited complete regression. The vascular density in Adsflt-infected tumors was reduced by 50% relative to that of negative controls (P<0.05), consistent with sFLT-1-mediated tumor regression through an anti-angiogenic mechanism. Moreover, cell necrosis and fibrosis associated with long-term regression of Adsflt–infected tumors were preceded by apoptosis of tumor vascular endothelial cells. Mice treated with Adsfltintratumorally showed no delay in the healing of cutaneous wounds, providing preliminary evidence that Ad-mediated sFLT-1 overexpression may be an effective anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer without the risk of systemic anti-angiogenic effects.
Reovirus σ3 protein limits interferon expression and cell death induction
Authors: Roebke Katherine E , Guo Yingying , Parker John S. L. , Danthi Pranav
Published: July 2020

Induction of necroptosis by mammalian reovirus requires both type I interferon (IFN)-signaling and viral replication events that lead to production of progeny genomic dsRNA. The reovirus outer capsid protein µ1 negatively regulates reovirus-induced necroptosis by limiting RNA synthesis. To determine if the outer capsid protein σ3, which interacts with µ1, also functions in regulating cell death, we used siRNA-mediated knockdown. Similar to that observed by diminishment of µ1 expression, knockdown of newly synthesized σ3 enhances necroptosis. σ3 knockdown does not impact reovirus RNA synthesis. Instead, this increase in necroptosis following σ3 knockdown is accompanied by an increase in IFN production. Furthermore, ectopic expression of σ3 is sufficient to block IFN expression following infection. Surprisingly, the capacity of σ3 protein to bind dsRNA does not impact its capacity to diminish production of IFN. Consistent with this, infection with a virus harboring a mutation in the dsRNA binding domain of σ3 does not result in enhanced production of IFN or cell death. Together, these data suggest that σ3 limits the production of IFN to control innate immune signaling and cell death following infection through a mechanism that is independent of its dsRNA binding capacity.

IMPORTANCE

We use mammalian reovirus as a model to study how virus infection modulates innate immune signaling and cell death induction. Here we sought to determine how viral factors regulate these processes. Our work highlights a previously unknown role for the reovirus outer capsid protein σ3 in limiting the induction of a necrotic form of cell death called necroptosis. Induction of cell death by necroptosis requires production of interferon. σ3 limits the induction of necroptosis by preventing excessive production of interferon following infection.
The isolateCaproiciproducenssp. 7D4C2 producesn-caproate at mildly acidic conditions from hexoses: genome and rBOX comparison with related strains and chain-elongating bacteria
Authors: Esquivel-Elizondo Sofia , Bağcı Caner , Temovska Monika , Jeon Byoung Seung , Bessarab Irina , Williams Rohan B. H. , Huson Daniel H. , Angenent Largus T.
Published: July 2020

Background

Bulk production of medium-chain carboxylates (MCCs) with 6-12 carbon atoms is of great interest to biotechnology. Open cultures (e.g., reactor microbiomes) have been utilized to generate MCCs in bioreactors. When in-line MCC extraction and prevention of product inhibition is required, the bioreactors have been operated at mildly acidic pH (5.0-5.5). However, model chain-elongating bacteria grow optimally at neutral pH values. Here, we isolated a chain-elongating bacterium (strain 7D4C2) that thrives at mildly acidic pH. We studied its metabolism and compared its whole genome and the reverse β-oxidation (rBOX) genes to other bacteria.

Results

Strain 7D4C2 produces lactate, acetate,n-butyrate,n-caproate, biomass, and H2/CO2from hexoses. With only fructose as substrate (pH 5.5), the maximumn-caproate specificity (i.e., productsperother carboxylates produced) was 60.9 ± 1.5%. However, this was considerably higher at 83.1 ± 0.44% when both fructose andn-butyrate (electron acceptor) were combined as a substrate. A comparison of serum bottles with fructose andn-butyrate with an increasing pH value from 4.5 to 9.0 showed a decreasingn-caproate specificity from ∼92% at mildly acidic pH (pH 4.5-5.0) to ∼24% at alkaline pH (pH 9.0). Moreover, when carboxylates were extracted from the broth (undissociatedn-caproic acid was ∼0.3 mM), then-caproate selectivity (i.e., productpersubstrate fed) was 42.6 ± 19.0% higher compared to serum bottles without extraction. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain 7D4C2 is most closely related to the isolatesCaproicibacter fermentans(99.5%) andCaproiciproducens galactitolivorans(94.7%), which are chain-elongating bacteria that are also capable of lactate production. Whole-genome analyses indicate that strain 7D4C2,C. fermentans, andC. galactitolivoransbelong to the same genus ofCaproiciproducens. Their rBOX genes are conserved and located next to each other, forming a gene cluster, which is different than for other chain-elongating bacteria such asMegasphaeraspp.

Conclusions

Caproiciproducensspp., comprising strain 7D4C2,C. fermentans, C. galactitolivorans, and several unclassified strains, are chain-elongating bacteria that encode a highly conserved rBOX gene cluster.Caproiciproducenssp. 7D4C2 (DSM 110548) was studied here to understandn-caproate production better at mildly acidic pH within microbiomes and has the additional potential as a pure-culture production strain to convert sugars inton-caproate.
Epigenetic conflict on a degenerating Y chromosome increases mutational burden in Drosophila males
Authors: Wei Kevin H.-C. , Gibilisco Lauren , Bachtrog Doris
Published: July 2020

Large portions of eukaryotic genomes consist of transposable elements (TEs), and the establishment of transcription-repressing heterochromatin during early development safeguards genome integrity in Drosophila. Repeat-rich Y chromosomes can act as reservoirs for TEs (‘toxic’ Y effect), and incomplete epigenomic defenses during early development can lead to deleterious TE mobilization. Here, we contrast the dynamics of early TE activation in two Drosophila species with vastly different Y chromosomes of different age. Zygotic TE expression is elevated in male embryos relative to females in both species, mostly due to expression of Y-linked TEs. Interestingly, male-biased TE misexpression diminishes across development inD. pseudoobscura, but remains elevated inD. miranda, the species with the younger and larger Y chromosome. The repeat-rich Y ofD. mirandastill contains many actively transcribed genes, which compromise the formation of silencing heterochromatin. Elevated TE expression results in morede novoinsertions of repeats in males compared to females. This lends support to the idea that the ‘toxic’ Y chromosome can create a mutational burden in males when genome-wide defense mechanisms are compromised, and suggests a previously unappreciated epigenetic conflict on evolving Y chromosomes between transcription of essential genes and silencing of selfish DNA.
Piezo1 Mediates Keratinocyte Mechanotransduction
Authors: Moehring Francie , Mikesell Alexander R. , Sadler Katelyn E. , Menzel Anthony D. , Stucky Cheryl L.
Published: July 2020

Epidermal keratinocytes mediate touch sensation by detecting and encoding tactile information to sensory neurons. However, the specific mechanotransducers that enable keratinocytes to respond to mechanical stimulation are unknown. Here, we found that the mechanically-gated ion channel Piezo1 is the major keratinocyte mechanotransducer. Keratinocyte expression of Piezo1 is critical for normal sensory afferent firing and behavioral responses to mechanical stimuli.
Multistep changes in amyloid structure that are induced by cross-seeding on a rugged energy landscape
Authors: Yuzu Keisuke , Yamamoto Naoki , Noji Masahiro , So Masatomo , Goto Yuji , Iwasaki Tetsushi , Tsubaki Motonari , Chatani Eri
Published: July 2020

Amyloid fibrils are aberrant protein aggregates associated with various amyloidoses and neurodegenerative diseases. It is recently indicated that structural diversity of amyloid fibrils often results in different pathological phenotypes including cytotoxicity and infectivity. The diverse structures are predicted to propagate by seed-dependent growth, which is one of the characteristic properties of amyloid fibrils. However, much remains unknown regarding how exactly the amyloid structures are inherited to subsequent generations by seeding reaction. Here, we investigated the behaviors of self- and cross-seeding of amyloid fibrils of human and bovine insulin in terms of thioflavin T fluorescence, morphology, secondary structure, and iodine staining. Insulin amyloid fibrils exhibited different structures depending on species, and each of which replicated in self-seeding. In contrast, gradual structural changes were observed in cross-seeding, and a new-type amyloid structure with distinct morphology and cytotoxicity was formed when human insulin was seeded with bovine insulin fibrils. Remarkably, iodine staining tracked changes in amyloid structure sensitively, and singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis of the UV-Vis absorption spectra of the fibril-bound iodine has revealed the presence of one or more intermediate metastable states during the structural changes. From these findings, we propose a propagation scheme with multistep structural changes in cross-seeding between two heterologous proteins, which is accounted for as a consequence of the rugged energy landscape of amyloid formation.
X-ray scattering study of water confined in bioactive glasses: experimental and simulated pair distribution function
Authors: Khoder Hassan , Schaniel Dominik , Pillet Sébastien , Bendeif El-Eulmi
Published: July 2020

Temperature-dependent total X-ray scattering measurements for water confined in bioactive glass samples with 5.9 nm pore diameter have been performed. Based on these experimental data, simulations were carried out using the Empirical Potential Structure Refinement (EPSR) code, in order to study the structural organization of the confined water in detail. The results indicate a non-homogeneous structure for water inside the pore, with three different structural organizations of water, depending on the distance from the pore surface: (i) a first layer (4 Å) of interfacial pore water that forms a strong chemical bond with the substrate, (ii) intermediate pore water forming a second layer (4–11 Å) on top of the interfacial pore water, (iii) bulk-like pore water in the centre of the pores. Analysis of the simulated site–site partial pair distribution function shows that the water–silica (Ow–Si) pair correlations occur at ∼3.75 Å. The tetrahedral network of bulk water with oxygen–oxygen (Ow–Ow) hydrogen-bonded pair correlations at ∼2.8, ∼4.1 and ∼4.5 Å is strongly distorted for the interfacial pore water while the second neighbour pair correlations are observed at ∼4.0 and ∼4.9 Å. For the interfacial pore water, an additional Ow–Ow pair correlation appears at ∼3.3 Å, which is likely caused by distortions due to the interactions of the water molecules with the silica at the pore surface.
Embedding-theory-based simulations using experimental electron densities for the environment
Authors: Ricardi Niccolò , Ernst Michelle , Macchi Piero , Wesolowski Tomasz Adam
Published: July 2020

The basic idea of frozen-density embedding theory (FDET) is the constrained minimization of the Hohenberg–Kohn density functional E
HK[ρ] performed using the auxiliary functional E_{v_{AB}}^{\rm FDET}[\Psi _A, \rho _B], where Ψ
A
is the embedded N

A
-electron wavefunction and ρ
B
(r) is a non-negative function in real space integrating to a given number of electrons N

B
. This choice of independent variables in the total energy functional E_{v_{AB}}^{\rm FDET}[\Psi _A, \rho _B] makes it possible to treat the corresponding two components of the total density using different methods in multi-level simulations. The application of FDET using ρ
B
(r) reconstructed from X-ray diffraction data for a molecular crystal is demonstrated for the first time. For eight hydrogen-bonded clusters involving a chromophore (represented as Ψ
A
) and the glycylglycine molecule [represented as ρ
B
(r)], FDET is used to derive excitation energies. It is shown that experimental densities are suitable for use as ρ
B
(r) in FDET-based simulations.
What shapes students' perceptions of group work: personality or past experience?
Authors: Elmassah Suzanna , Mostafa Bacheer Shereen , James Reynold
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Group work (GW) as a collaborative learning method for university students is a much-researched topic in the literature. However, a fairly neglected area is that of students' perceptions of the same. This study purports to bridge this gap in the extant literature via identifying the determinants of these perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using primary data gathered from a sample of 443 university students, the study applies the structural equation modeling (SEM) to estimate the impact of both personal traits and past experiences on the students' perceptions.

Findings

The SEM results reveal that students' perceptions of GW are determined by their relevant past experiences not by their personalities. This position is contradictory to other relevant studies undertaken thus far.

Practical implications

Accordingly, the study stresses the need for educators to create positive group experiences among students and to convert their past negative experiences into positive ones.

Originality/value

Whilst group work holds significant learning benefits for students, negative perceptions about this rich method could eventuate in students refraining from participating in the same. By isolating the determinants associated with students' negative perceptions of GW, this study provides educationists with a strong case for developing suitable interventions aimed at enhancing students' positive perceptions of GW, and resultantly further maximizing its potential benefits.
The merger of Baltimore Hebrew University with Towson University: three leadership models converge
Authors: Bor Hana , Shargel Rebecca
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The study aims to learn how a small private university dedicated to Judaic studies successfully merged with a large public university? Our study investigates how Baltimore Hebrew University (BHU) successfully integrated into the much larger Towson University (TU), while maintaining its unique Jewish identity.

Design/methodology/approach

How did leadership facilitate a successful merging of a small private university with a large public university? Our case study investigates how BHU successfully integrated into the much larger TU. Given that past research has focused primarily on the financial aspects, the purpose of the present study is to analyze how leaders successfully navigated the complex processes of integrating the two institutions through envisioning, communicating and planning effectively. This research uniquely investigates the role of leadership as the driving force in moving the merger forward and facilitating the process. The authors analyzed the circumstances that facilitated the merger and discovered that leadership pushed this merger forward, particularly the confluence of three approaches—visionary, transformational and servant leadership. This research has implications for guiding future mergers of smaller colleges with larger universities. This case study is particularly timely, during this uncertain age of COVID-19, when many universities are considering creative solutions, including potential mergers with other institutions, in the face of increasing financial difficulties.

Findings

Implications of this research can help illuminate future mergers of smaller colleges with larger universities in cases where the smaller institution desires to retain its strong cultural or historical identity. The authors found that the “right leadership on the ground” is a crucial component needed for a successful merger, particularly in a higher education setting.

Research limitations/implications

Our research provides a concrete example that can be used help campus administrators assess whether they have the leadership structure in place to successfully navigate a merger as a path forward.

Originality/value

This case study is particularly timely, during this uncertain age of COVID-19, when many universities are considering creative solutions, including potential mergers with other institutions, in the face of increasing financial difficulties.
Lean Production implementation, Cloud-Supported Logistics and Supply Chain Integration: interrelationships and effects on business performance
Authors: Novais Luciano , Maqueira Marín Juan Manuel , Moyano-Fuentes José
Published: July 2020

Purpose

With support from the dynamic capabilities theory, this paper examines the role of Cloud Computing technology use in logistics (Cloud-Supported Logistics) and its effect on business results in Lean manufacturing management (Lean Production implementation) and Supply Chain Integration contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the survey method, a random sample of 260 companies in intermediate positions in their supply chains was gathered from a population of 1,717 Spanish companies and used to test five hypotheses. The data were collected by telephone survey using a computerised system with a response rate of 15.6% (260 valid questionnaires). Structural equation modelling was used to test the five proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The findings indicate that Cloud-Supported Logistics use plays an important role in achieving better business results in Lean Production environments. Lean Production has been found to have both a direct effect and an even more powerful indirect effect on performance through the Cloud-Supported Logistics and Supply Chain Integration that these technologies produce. Supply Chain Integration is also found to have a mediating effect in the Cloud-Supported Logistics–performance relationship.

Originality/value

This study is valuable for academics and practitioners as it provides evidence of the relevant role played by Cloud-Supported Logistics in Lean Production implementation contexts. Cloud-Supported Logistics and Lean Production are strategically and operationally linked and their joint use results in Supply Chain Integration and better business performance.
Proactively and reactively managing risks through sales & operations planning
Authors: Dittfeld Hendryk , Scholten Kirstin , Van Donk Dirk Pieter
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Risks can easily disrupt the demand–supply match targeted by sales and operations planning (S&OP). As surprisingly little is known of how organizations identify, assess, treat and monitor risks through tactical planning processes, this paper zooms in on the S&OP set-up and process parameters to explore how risks are managed through S&OP.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study analyzes the S&OP processes of seven organizations in the process industry, drawing on 17 in-depth interviews with high-ranking representatives, internal and external documents, and a group meeting with participating organizations.

Findings

The study finds that organizations proactively design their S&OP based on their main risk focus stemming from the planning environment. In turn, such designs proactively support organizations' risk identification, assessment, treatment and monitoring through their S&OP execution. Reactively, a crisis S&OP meeting – making use of the structure of S&OP – can be used as a risk-treatment tool, and S&OP design can be temporarily adapted to deal with emerging risks.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to empirically elucidate risk management through S&OP. S&OP design, execution and adaption are identified as three interconnected strategies that allow organizations to manage risks. The design enables risk management activities in the monthly execution of S&OP. The reactive role of S&OP in risk management is particularly novel.
High-performance work systems and open innovation: moderating role of IT capability
Authors: Zheng Jia , Liu Hefu , Zhou Jingmei
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of high-performance work systems (HPWS) on open innovation and the moderating role of information technology (IT) capability on the relationship between HPWS and open innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a questionnaire survey in the industrial parks of the Yangzi River Delta in China and obtained 108 useful responses.

Findings

HPWS positively impacts open innovation. IT exploration capability strengthens the relationship between HPWS and open innovation, whereas IT exploitation capability and ambidexterity do not strengthen such relationship.

Research limitations/implications

Firms should use HPWS to improve employees' motivation of external learning and searching for enhancing innovation openness. They should acknowledge the enabling role of IT exploration capability in facilitating employees' learning and searching toward open innovation and discreetly develop IT exploitation capability and ambidexterity during external knowledge searching, which may not achieve the desired facilitation purpose.

Originality/value

This study contributes to human resource management (HRM) by suggesting that a new antecedent, which is HPWS in our case, should be taken into account when considering the influence of HRM in the process of open innovation. This study has important implications for HPWS, IT capability and open innovation; open innovation can be improved by using HPWS and IT capability. This study also expands IT ambidexterity to HRM and innovation studies.
Future temporal focus in resilience research: when leader resilience provides a role model
Authors: Lin Tzu-Ting , Liao Yuanhsi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Despite more and more researchers recommend that time-related issues should be considered into the resilience research, temporal issue is still largely neglected in empirical domain. The purpose of this study is to introduce the concept of future temporal focus, while investigating whether and when leader resilience contributes to subordinates' level of conveyed resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey responses from a two-source field study involving 222 supervisor–subordinate dyads were collected. Regression-based moderation and bootstrapping analyses were adapted to analyze data and test hypotheses by using the PROCESS syntax in SPSS software.

Findings

Results showed that there is no significant effect of leader resilience on subordinate resilience. However, consistent with hypotheses, leader's future temporal focus and resilience had a significant interactive effect on subordinate's resilience. That is, when leaders had higher level of future temporal focus, their resilience would be positively correlated with subordinate resilience.

Practical implications

The findings of the study provide important practical insights into developing relevant training and intervention programs in organizations to cultivate employee resilience. These can also be strengthened by encouraging leaders' future-oriented cognition on work-related domains and leader–member exchange relationship.

Originality/value

Overall, this study introduced temporal focus into resilience theory by providing evidence of its impacts on employee behaviors, and emphasized the important role of future temporal focus of leader.
Should companies invest in human resource development practices? The role of intellectual capital and organizational performance improvements
Authors: Chen Mavis Yi-Ching , Lam Long W. , Zhu Julie N.Y.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In this study, the authors employ an intellectual-capital based view of the firm to examine the relationship between three bundles of human resource development (HRD) practices (i.e. developmental, constructive and collaborative HRD practices), three dimensions of intellectual capital (i.e. human capital, organizational capital and social capital), and organizational performance improvements. Specifically, the authors investigate the mediating role of intellectual capital in the relationship between HRD practices and changes in organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors randomly distributed questionnaires to 1,000 HR executives of Taiwanese firms to assess the firms' HRD practices and intellectual capital. Firm performance data in terms of return on assets (ROA) were obtained from the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ). To test the model, the authors used the longitudinal data over three years from 213 firms in Taiwan.

Findings

The results show that human capital and social capital mediate the relationship between HRD practices (i.e. developmental and collaborative HRD practices) and organizational performance improvements in terms of return-on-assets growth.

Originality/value

This study adds to the empirical evidence regarding whether or not investment in HRD practices can lead to positive changes in financial performance.
Examining the impact of justice perceptions on workplace bullying: a moderated mediational model of PCV and PDO
Authors: Rai Arpana , Agarwal Upasna A.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between justice perceptions (distributive, procedural and interactional) and workplace bullying and to test the mediating role of psychological contract violation (PCV) in this relationship and the extent to which the mediation is moderated by power distance orientation (PDO).

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws upon quantitative data collected via self-reported survey questionnaires from 422 full-time Indian managerial employees working across different service sector–based Indian organizations.

Findings

The results revealed that justice perceptions (distributive, procedural and interactional) negatively correlated with workplace bullying. The hypothesized moderated mediation condition was supported as the results suggest that the PCV mediated the justice-bullying relationship and the PDO moderated this mediating pathway, i.e. indirect effects of justice (procedural and interactional) perceptions on workplace bullying via PCV were weaker for employees with a high PDO.

Research limitations/implications

A cross-sectional design and the use of self-reported questionnaire data in the sample are few limitations of the study.

Practical implications

This study contributes toward a better understanding of the relationships between justice, PCV and workplace bullying. It also highlights the role played by individual cultural dispositions in influencing their perceptions of workplace bullying. Given the perceptual and subjective elements of workplace bullying, understanding how justice and workplace bullying are related in not only important theoretically but also critical from a practical standpoint.

Originality/value

To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first study that links justice, PCV, workplace bullying and PDO in one study. This study is also important in terms of its context.
Central interaction between the apelinergic and vasopressinergic systems in the regulation of the haemodynamic parameters in rats maintained on a high‐fat diet
Authors: Wojno Olena , Czarzasta Katarzyna , Puchalska Liana , Kowalczyk Malgorzata , Cudnoch‐Jedrzejewska Agnieszka
Published: July 2020

A high‐fat diet can affect the central activity of the apelinergic and vasopressinergic systems, which can have a significant impact on cardiovascular regulation. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of the central interaction between apelin and vasopressin in the regulation of the cardiovascular system in Sprague Dawley rats maintained on a normal‐fat diet (NFD) or on a high‐fat diet (HFD). The animals were instrumented with a cannula implanted into the left cerebral ventricle for intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of saline (0.9% NaCl), apelin‐13 (APLN‐13), V1a receptor antagonist (V1aRANT) APJ receptor antagonist (F13A), vasopressin (AVP); and with a catheter placed within the femoral artery for mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate monitoring. Blood, the hypothalamus and the medulla oblongata were collected for biochemical analysis. The hypertensive effect of APLN‐13 was blocked by a prior ICV infusion of V1aRANT, only in the NFD rats. However, the hypertensive effect of AVP was blocked by the prior ICV infusion of F13A in both the NFD and HFD rats. A HFD caused an increase in the protein level of APJ and V1a receptors, both in the hypothalamus and the medulla oblongata. This study confirms the presence of an interaction between both peptides in the central regulation of the cardiovascular system in rats on a NFD or a HFD.
Reversion of cardiovascular remodelling in renovascular hypertensive 2K‐1C rats by renin–angiotensin system inhibitors
Authors: Corrêa José Wilson do Nascimento , Prado Cibele Maria , Riul Maria Elena , Araújo Alice Valença , Rossi Marcos Antonio , Bendhack Lusiane Maria
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Evaluate whether the RAS dual blockade would induce additional beneficial effects on cardiovascular remodelling when compared to monotherapy in renal hypertensive two kidneys–one clip (2K‐1C) rats.

Methods

Hypertensive 2K‐1C and normotensive (2K) rats were treated for 14 days with submaximal doses of losartan (LOS), enalapril (ENA), losartan plus enalapril (LOS + ENA) or vehicle (water). Blood pressure and some parameters of cardiovascular remodelling were evaluated.

Results

Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was higher in 2K‐1C (209 ± 3 mm Hg, P < .05) than in 2K (113 ± 1 mm Hg) rats. There was an additional effect in 2K‐1C treated with LOS + ENA (153 ± 9 mm Hg) on lowering SBP when compared to LOS (184 ± 12 mm Hg) or ENA (177 ± 9 mm Hg). None of the treatments had effect on SBP in 2K rats. In 2K‐1C, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was reduced by all treatments, although the cardiac hypertrophy indexes remained unchanged. 2K‐1C aortas presented medial thickening that was partially reduced by the treatments. Intimal hyperplasia observed in 2K‐1C (15.56 ± 0.89 µm vs 8.24 ± 0.80 µm) was reversed by ENA (9.52 ± 0.45 µm) or LOS + ENA (8.17 ± 0.53 µm). Collagen deposition was increased in 2K‐1C hearts (1.77 ± 0.16 vs 1.28 ± 0.09) and aortas (8.1 ± 0.6 vs 5.2 ± 0.2). Treatment with LOS reduced (1.12 ± 0.14%) and ENA (0.81 ± 0.11%) or LOS + ENA (0.86 ± 0.11%) additionally diminished collagen only in 2K‐1C hearts.

Conclusions

Submaximal doses of ACEi and/or ARB have inhibitory actions on cardiac remodelling and vascular hypertrophy not entirely dependent on their effects on blood pressure normalization in renovascular hypertensive rats. Combined therapy produced additional reduction in blood pressure than monotherapy despite a similar inhibition on cardiovascular remodelling.
Applying systems‐based thinking to build better IEP relationships: a case for relational coordination
Authors: Singh Shailen , Keese Jeffrey
Published: July 2020

This paper explores methods by which the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) development process can be improved through the use of systems‐based thinking, specifically through the use of Gittell’s (2016) Relational Coordination Model. IEP development meetings have been described as meaningless rituals where parents often leave feeling ostracized from their child’s academic experience due to an overemphasis on academic jargon and procedure (Rock, 2000; Salas, 2004). Systems‐based thinking would encourage administrators to empower parents as equal partners in the IEP development process, as originally intended by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1994. Furthermore, using Relational Coordination as a framework for work‐group structure would also allow school officials to create meaningful relationships with parents based on trust, thus resulting in a more positive IEP development experience and more robust educational plans.
Fish Quality Index Method: Principles, weaknesses, validation, and alternatives—A review
Authors: Bernardo Yago A. A. , Rosario Denes K. A. , Delgado Isabella F. , Conte‐Junior Carlos A.
Published: July 2020

Fish is a high nutritional value matrix of which production and consumption have been increasing in the last years. Advancements in the efficient evaluation of freshness are essential to optimize the quality assessment, to improve consumer safety, and to reduce raw material losses. Therefore, it is necessary to use rapid, nondestructive, and objective methodologies to evaluate the quality of this matrix. Quality Index Method (QIM) is a tool applied to indicate fish freshness through a sensory evaluation performed by a group of assessors. However, the use of QIM as an official method for quality assessment is limited by the protocol, sampling size, specificities of the species, storage conditions, and assessor's experience, which make this method subjective. Also, QIM may present divergences regarding the development of microorganisms and chemical analysis. In this way, novel quality evaluation methods such as electronic noses, electronic tongues, machine vision system, and colorimetric sensors have been proposed, and novel technologies such as proteomics and mitochondrial analysis have been developed. In this review, the weaknesses of QIM were exposed, and novel methodologies for quality evaluation were presented. The consolidation of these novel methodologies and their use as methods of quality assessment are an alternative to sensory methods, and their understanding enables a more effective fish quality control.
The anticholesterol oxidation effects of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.) in frozen fish burgers submitted to grilling
Authors: Guizellini Glória Maria , Torres Elizabeth Aparecida Ferraz Da Silva , Freitas Rosana Aparecida Manólio Soares , Saldanha Tatiana , Sawaya Alexandra Christine Helena Frankland , Gamallo Ormindo Domingues , Soares Maiara Jurema , de Oliveira Vanessa Sales , Sampaio Geni Rodrigues
Published: July 2020

This study determined the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.), as well as evaluated their anticholesterol oxidation potential in fish burgers. The total phenolic contents were 1.1 ± 0.1 mg GAE/g FW to garlic and 1.3 ± 0.4 mg GAE/g FW for leek. Leek extract showed antioxidant activity index (1.3 ± 0.01) in DPPH and β‐carotene/linoleic acid assay (66.5 ± 1.6%); however, in ORAC assay, no statistic differences were observed (P > 0.05). Besides that, bioactive compounds of garlic and leek extracts were identified by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray by ionization‐mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐ESI‐MS). Fish burgers were prepared using different concentrations of leek and garlic and stored at −18 °C for 90 days. Thus, at days 0, 30, 60, and 90, the samples were grilled and analyzed as to their cholesterol and cholesterol oxidation products contents. Storage and grilling led to an increase in cholesterol oxidation products; however, addition of garlic and leek minimized cholesterol oxidation products formation. After 90 days, samples containing 3% leek + 0.5% garlic ware the most effective in inhibiting the cholesterol oxides formation during storage and showed the lowest increase in cholesterol oxidation products content (21.16%). Thus, the findings of this research indicate the potential application of garlic and leek as natural inhibitors of cholesterol oxidation in food.

Practical Application

Garlic and leek have a set of bioactive compounds with a wide antioxidant capacity when used in meat foods such as fish burgers. Garlic and leek used as natural antioxidants perform well in the shelf life of fish burgers and can be substitutes for synthetic antioxidants in this type of product. The presence of both vegetables reduced the formation of prejudicial products to human health generated during the shelf life of the food.
A chromosome‐level genome assembly provides new insights into paternal genome elimination in the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis
Authors: Li Meizhen , Tong Haojie , Wang Shuping , Ye Wanyi , Li Zicheng , Omar Mohamed A.A. , Ao Yan , Ding Simin , Li Zihao , Wang Ying , Yin Chuanlin , Zhao Xianxin , He Kang , Liu Feiling , Chen Xi , Mei Yang , Walters James R. , Jiang Mingxing , Li Fei
Published: July 2020

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are economically important agricultural pests with several compelling biological phenomena including paternal genome elimination (PGE). However, limited high‐quality genome assemblies of mealybugs hinder a full understanding of this striking and unusual biological phenomenon. Here, we generated a chromosome‐level genome assembly of cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis, by combining Illumina short reads, PacBio long reads and Hi‐C scaffolding. The assembled genome was 292.54 Mb with a contig N50 of 489.8 kb and a scaffold N50 of 49.0 Mb. Hi‐C scaffolding assigned 84.42% of the bases to five chromosomes. A total of 110.75 Mb (37.9%) repeat sequences and 11,880 protein‐coding genes were predicted. The completeness of the genome assembly was estimated to be 95.5% based on BUSCO genes. In addition, 27,086 (95.3%) full‐length PacBio transcripts were uniquely mapped to the assembled scaffolds, suggesting the high quality of the genome assembly. We showed that cotton mealybugs lack differentiated sex chromosomes by analysing genome resequencing data of males and females. DAPI staining confirmed that one chromosome set in males becomes heterochromatin at an early embryo stage. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays with sequencing analysis demonstrated that the epigenetic modifications H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 are distributed across the whole genome in males, suggesting that these two modifications might be involved in maintaining heterochromatin status. Both markers were more likely to be distributed in repeat regions, while H3K27me3 had higher overall enrichment. Our results provide a valuable genomic resource and shed new light on the genomic and epigenetic basis of PGE in cotton mealybugs.