bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Wetness Duration and Incubation Temperature on Development of Ascosporic Infections by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Shahoveisi F. , del Río Mendoza L. E.
Published: January 2020

The impact of wetness duration and incubation temperatures on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ascospore germination and ascosporic infection efficiency were evaluated. Ascospore germination was optimal when incubated in continuous moisture (free water) at 21°C. Significantly lower germination was observed at 10 or 30°C. Interrupting ascospore wet incubation was detrimental for germination. In infection efficiency studies, dry bean and canola flowers were inoculated with dry ascospores and placed on leaves of dry bean and canola plants, respectively. Dry bean plants were incubated for 196 h at 18 to 20°C in alternating 8 to 16 h wet/12 to 24 h dry periods. Canola plants were incubated for 240 h at 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30°C in alternating 6 to 18 h wet/18 to 6 h dry periods. Interrupting wet incubation delayed symptom appearance and hindered development of the epidemics on both plant types. Logistic regression models estimated at 50% the probability of disease development on dry bean and canola plants when 68 and 48 h of wet incubation at 20°C accumulated in a period of 6 days, respectively. The canola model was validated using data from field trials. Results of these studies will contribute to develop more accurate warning models for diseases caused by S. sclerotiorum.
Lady’s Slipper Orchid and Hydrangea: New Ornamental Hosts of Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) in Minnesota
Authors: Baumann Mattie M. , Kiambi Roy G. , Lockhart Benham E.
Published: January 2020

The lady’s slipper orchids are a subfamily encompassing over 160 species, including the state flower of Minnesota, Cypripedium reginae. Hydrangea is a genus of about 75 species of shrubs and trees that are popular in perennial gardens. Chlorotic and necrotic foliar symptoms were observed in lady’s slipper orchid and Hydrangea arborescens on plants in St. Paul, Minnesota. From partially purified extracts, virus particles resembling those of tobacco rattle virus (TRV) were observed. TRV-specific primers amplified products from both hydrangea and lady’s slipper and were then sequenced. The sequences matched published TRV sequences with 99% identity, confirming the presence of the virus. TRV has a broad host range including ornamental, vegetable, and weed hosts. This is the first report of TRV infection in both lady’s slipper and hydrangea in Minnesota and the United States.
In vivomolecular signatures of cerebellar pathology in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3
Authors: Costa Maria do Carmo , Radzwion Maria , McLoughlin Hayley S. , Ashraf Naila S. , Fischer Svetlana , Shakkottai Vikram G. , Maciel Patrícia , Paulson Henry L. , Öz Gülin
Published: January 2020

Background

No treatment exists for the most common dominantly inherited ataxia Machado-Joseph disease, or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). Successful evaluation of candidate therapeutics will be facilitated by validated noninvasive biomarkers of aspects of disease pathology recapitulated by animal models.

Objective

We sought to identify shared neurochemical signatures in two mouse models of SCA3 that reflect aspects of the human disease pathology.

Methods

Cerebellar neurochemical concentrations in homozygous YACMJD84.2 (Q84/Q84) and hemizygous CMVMJD135 (Q135) mice were measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 9.4 tesla. Motivated by the shared neurochemical abnormalities in the two models, we determined the levels of neurofilament medium (NFL, indicator of neuroaxonal integrity) and myelin basic protein (MBP, indicator of myelination) in cerebellar lysates from a subset of mice and from patients with SCA3. Finally, NFL and MBP levels were measured in cerebellar extracts of Q84/Q84 mice upon sustained silencing of the mutantATXN3gene from 6-8 weeks-of-age until death.

Results

Both Q84/Q84 and Q135 mice displayed lowerN-acetylaspartate than wild-type littermates, indicating neuroaxonal loss/dysfunction, and lowermyo-inositol and total choline, indicating disturbances in phospholipid membrane metabolism and demyelination. Cerebellar NFL and MBP levels were accordingly lower in both models as well as in the cerebellar cortex of patients with SCA3 than controls. Furthermore, long-term sustained RNAi-mediated reduction of ATXN3 levels increased NFL and MBP in Q84/Q84 cerebella.

Conclusions

N-acetylaspartate,myo-inositol and total choline levels in the cerebellum are candidate biomarkers of neuroaxonal and oligodendrocyte pathology in SCA3, which are reversible by reduction of mutantATXN3levels.
Improved multi-type birth-death phylodynamic inference in BEAST 2
Authors: Scire Jérémie , Barido-Sottani Joëlle , Kühnert Denise , Vaughan Timothy G. , Stadler Tanja
Published: January 2020

The multi-type birth-death model with sampling is a phylodynamic model which enables quantification of past population dynamics in structured populations, based on phylogenetic trees. The BEAST 2 packagebdmmimplements an algorithm for numerically computing the probability density of a phylogenetic tree given the population dynamic parameters under this model. In the initial release ofbdmm, analyses were limited to trees consisting of up to approximately 250 genetic samples for numerical reasons. We implemented important algorithmic changes tobdmmwhich dramatically increase the number of genetic samples that can be analyzed, and improve the numerical robustness and efficiency of the calculations. Being able to use bigger datasets leads to improved precision of parameter estimates. Furthermore, we report on several model extensions tobdmm, inspired by properties common to empirical datasets. We apply this improved algorithm to two partly overlapping datasets of Influenza A virus HA sequences sampled around the world, one with 500 samples, the other with only 175, for comparison. We report and compare the global migration patterns and seasonal dynamics inferred from each dataset.

Availability

The latest release with our updates,bdmm0.3.5, is freely available as an open access package of BEAST 2. The source code can be accessed athttps://github.com/denisekuehnert/bdmm.
PEDF-Rpsa-Itga6 signaling regulates cortical neuronal morphogenesis
Authors: Blazejewski Sara M. , Bennison Sarah A. , Ha Ngoc T. , Liu Xiaonan , Smith Trevor H. , Dougherty Kimberly J. , Toyo-oka Kazuhito
Published: January 2020

Neuromorphological defects underlie neurodevelopmental disorders and functional defects. We identified a function for ribosomal protein SA (Rpsa) in regulating neuromorphogenesis usingin uteroelectroporation to knockdown Rpsa, which results in apical dendrite misorientation, fewer/shorter extensions with decreased arborization, and decreased spine density with altered spine morphology. We investigated Rpsa’s ligand, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), and interacting partner on the plasma membrane, Integrin subunit α6 (Itga6). Rpsa, PEDF, and Itga6 knockdown cause similar phenotypes, with Rpsa and Itga6 overexpression rescuing morphological defects in PEDF deficient neuronsin vivo. Additionally, Itga6 overexpression increases and stabilizes Rpsa expression on the plasma membrane by preventing ubiquitination of Rpsa. GCaMP6s was used to functionally analyze Rpsa knockdown viaex vivocalcium imaging. Rpsa deficient neurons showed less fluctuation in fluorescence intensity, suggesting defective sub-threshold calcium signaling. Our study identifies a role for PEDF-Rpsa-Itga6 signaling in neuromorphogenesis, thus implicating these molecules in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders and identifying them as potential therapeutic candidates.
Phylogenomics unravels speciation patterns in temperate-montane plant species: a case study on the recently radiatingRanunculus auricomusspecies complex
Authors: Tomasello Salvatore , Karbstein Kevin , Hodač Ladislav , Paetzold Claudia , Hörandl Elvira
Published: January 2020

The time frame and geographical patterns of diversification processes in European temperate-montane herbs are still not well understood. We used the sexual species of theRanunculus auricomuscomplex as a model system to understand how vicariance vs. dispersal processes in the context of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations have triggered speciation in temperate-montane plant species. We employed Target Enrichment sequence data from about 600 nuclear genes and coalescent-based species tree inference methods to resolve phylogenetic relationships among the sexual taxa of the complex. We estimated absolute divergence times and, using ancestral range reconstruction, we tested if speciation was rather enhanced by vicariance or dispersal processes.

Phylogenetic relationships among taxa were fully resolved. Incongruence among species trees mainly concerned the intraspecific relationships inR. notabiliss.l.,R. cassubicifoliuss.l., and the position of the tetraploidR. marsicus. Speciation events took place in a very short time at the end of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (830-580 ka). A second wave of intraspecific geographical differentiation within and around the European mountain systems happened between 200-100 ka. Ancestral range reconstruction supports the existence of a widespread European ancestor of theR. auricomuscomplex. Vicariance processes have triggered allopatric speciation in temperate-montane plant species during the climatic deterioration occurred in the last phase of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition. Vegetation restructuring from forest into tundra could have confined these forest species into isolated glacial refugia. During subsequent warming periods, range expansions of these locally distributed species could have been hampered by congeneric competitors in the same habitat.
Integrative molecular profiling of autoreactive CD4 T cells in autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Renand Amédée , Cervera-Marzal Iñaki , Gil Laurine , Dong Chuang , Kervagoret Erwan , Auble Hélène , Habes Sarah , Cardon Anais , Judor Jean-Paul , Mosnier Jean-François , Brouard Sophie , Gournay Jérôme , Milpied Pierre , Conchon Sophie
Published: January 2020

Background & Aims

In most autoimmune disorders, crosstalk of B cells and CD4 T cells results in the accumulation of autoantibodies. In autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), the presence of anti-Soluble Liver Antigen (SLA or SepSecs) autoantibodies is associated with significantly reduced overall survival, but the associated autoreactive CD4 T cells have not been characterized yet. Here we isolated and deeply characterized SLA-specific CD4 T cells in AIH patients.

Methods

We used briefex vivorestimulation with overlapping SLA-derived peptides to isolate and phenotype circulating SLA-specific CD4 T cells, and integrative single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) to characterize their transcriptome and TCR repertoire in n=5 AIH patients. SLA-specific CD4 T cells were tracked in peripheral blood through TCR sequencing, to identify their phenotypic niche. We further characterized disease-associated peripheral blood T cells by high content flow cytometry in an additional cohort of n=46 AIH patients and n=18 non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) controls.

Results

Autoreactive SLA-specific CD4 T cells were only detected in patients with anti-SLA autoantibodies and had a memory PD-1+CXCR5−CCR6−CD27+phenotype. ScRNA-seq revealed their pro-inflammatory/B-Helper profile (IL21, IFNG, TIGIT,CTLA4, NR3C1, CD109, KLRB1andCLEC2D). Autoreactive TCR clonotypes were restricted to the memory PD-1+CXCR5−CD4 T cells. This subset was significantly increased in the blood of AIH patients and supported B cell differentiation through IL-21. Finally, we identified a specific phenotype (PD-1+CD38+CD27+CD127−CXCR5−) of CD4 T cells linked to disease activity and IgG response during AIH.

Conclusions

This work provides for the first time a deep characterization of rare circulating autoreactive CD4 T cells and the identification of their peripheral reservoir in AIH. We also propose a generic phenotype of pathogenic CD4 T cells related to AIH disease activity.
Context-dependent odor learning requires the anterior olfactory nucleus
Authors: Levinson Max , Kolenda Jacob P. , Alexandrou Gabriella J. , Escanilla Olga , Smith David M. , Cleland Thomas A. , Linster Christiane
Published: January 2020

Learning to associate the context in which a stimulus occurs is an important aspect of animal learning. We propose that the association of an olfactory stimulus with its multisensory context is mediated by projections from ventral hippocampal networks (vHC) to the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON). Using a contextually-cued olfactory discrimination task, rats were trained to associate two olfactory stimuli with different responses depending on visuo-spatial context. Temporary lesions of the AON or vHC impaired performance on this task. In contrast, such lesions did not impair performance on a non-contextual olfactory discrimination task. Moreover, vHC lesions also impaired performance on an analogous contextually-cued texture discrimination task, whereas AON lesions affected only olfactory contextual associations. We describe a distinct role for the AON in olfactory processing, and conclude that early olfactory networks such as the olfactory bulb and AON function as multimodal integration networks rather than processing olfactory signals exclusively.

Significance statement

Contextual information has long been known to play a key role in cognitive functions such as memory and decision making. We here show the contextual modulation of neural information in early primary sensory networks and its effects on contextually conditional learned behavior. We propose that projections from ventral hippocampus to anterior olfactory nucleus convey contextual information to the early olfactory system, modulating sensory representations and olfactory perception. Using behavioral pharmacology and computational modeling, we show how established network structures can mediate multimodal information and use context to make olfactory decisions.
Transcriptional and Cellular Diversity of the Human Heart
Authors: Tucker Nathan R. , Chaffin Mark , Fleming Stephen J. , Hall Amelia W. , Parsons Victoria A. , Bedi Kenneth , Akkad Amer-Denis , Herndon Caroline N. , Arduini Alessandro , Papangeli Irinna , Roselli Carolina , Aguet François , Choi Seung Hoan , Ardlie Kristin G. , Babadi Mehrtash , Margulies Kenneth B. , Stegmann Christian M. , Ellinor Patrick T.
Published: January 2020

Introduction

The human heart requires a complex ensemble of specialized cell types to perform its essential function. A greater knowledge of the intricate cellular milieu of the heart is critical to increase our understanding of cardiac homeostasis and pathology. As recent advances in low input RNA-sequencing have allowed definitions of cellular transcriptomes at single cell resolution at scale, here we have applied these approaches to assess the cellular and transcriptional diversity of the non-failing human heart.

Methods

Microfluidic encapsulation and barcoding was used to perform single nuclear RNA sequencing with samples from seven human donors, selected for their absence of overt cardiac disease. Individual nuclear transcriptomes were then clustered based upon transcriptional profiles of highly variable genes. These clusters were used as the basis for between-chamber and between-sex differential gene expression analyses and intersection with genetic and pharmacologic data

Results

We sequenced the transcriptomes of 287,269 single cardiac nuclei, revealing a total of 9 major cell types and 20 subclusters of cell types within the human heart. Cellular subclasses include two distinct groups of resident macrophages, four endothelial subtypes, and two fibroblasts subsets. Comparisons of cellular transcriptomes by cardiac chamber or sex reveal diversity not only in cardiomyocyte transcriptional programs, but also in subtypes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and vascularization. Using genetic association data, we identified strong enrichment for the role of cell subtypes in cardiac traits and diseases. Finally, intersection of our dataset with genes on cardiac clinical testing panels and the druggable genome reveals striking patterns of cellular specificity.

Conclusions

Using large-scale single nuclei RNA sequencing, we have defined the transcriptional and cellular diversity in the normal human heart. Our identification of discrete cell subtypes and differentially expressed genes within the heart will ultimately facilitate the development of new therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases.
MINREACT: an efficient algorithm for identifying minimal metabolic networks
Authors: Sambamoorthy Gayathri , Raman Karthik
Published: January 2020

Genome-scale metabolic models are widely constructed and studied for understanding various design principles underlying metabolism, predominantly redundancy. Metabolic networks are highly redundant and it is possible to minimise the metabolic networks into smaller networks that retain the functionality of the original network. Here, we establish a new method, MinReactthat systematically removes reactions from a given network to identify minimal reactome(s). We show that our method identifies smaller minimal reactomes than existing methods and also scales well to larger metabolic networks. Notably, our method exploits known aspects of network structure and redundancy to identify multiple minimal metabolic networks. We illustrate the utility of MinReactby identifying multiple minimal networks for 74 organisms from the BiGG database. We show that these multiple minimal reactomes arise due to the presence of compensatory reactions/pathways. We further employed MinReactfor a case study to identify the minimal reactomes of different organisms in both glucose and xylose minimal environments. Identification of minimal reactomes of these different organisms elucidate that they exhibit varying levels of redundancy. A comparison of the minimal reactomes on glucose and xylose illustrate that the differences in the reactions required to sustain growth on either medium. Overall, our algorithm provides a rapid and reliable way to identify minimal subsets of reactions that are essential for survival, in a systematic manner.

Author summary

An organism’s metabolism is routinely modelled by a metabolic network, which consists of all the enzyme-catalysed reactions that occur in the organism. These reactions are numerous, majorly due to the presence of redundant reactions that perform compensatory functions. Also, not all the reactions are functional in all environments and are unique to the environmental conditions. So, it is possible to minimise such large metabolic networks into smaller functional networks. Such minimal networks help in easier dissection of the capabilities of the network and also further our understanding of the various redundancies and other design principles occurring in these networks. Here, we have developed a new algorithm for identification of such minimal networks, that is efficient and superior to existing algorithms. We show the utility of our algorithm in identifying such minimal sets of reactions for many known metabolic networks. We have also shown a case study, using our algorithm to identify such minimal networks for different organisms in varied nutrient conditions.
Deep Learning Enhanced Hyperspectral Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
Authors: Ochoa Marien , Rudkouskaya Alena , Yao Ruoyang , Yan Pingkun , Barroso Margarida , Intes Xavier
Published: January 2020

Acquiring dense high-dimensional optical data in biological applications remains a challenge due to the very low levels of light typically encountered. Single pixel imaging methodologies enable improved detection efficiency in such conditions but are still limited by relatively slow acquisition times. Here, we propose a Deep Learning framework, NetFLICS-CR, which enables fast hyperspectral lifetime imaging forin vivoapplications at enhanced resolution, acquisition and processing speeds, without the need of experimental training datasets. NetFLICS-CR reconstructs intensity and lifetime images at 128×128 pixels over 16 spectral channels while reducing the current acquisition times from ∼2.5 hours at 50% compression to ∼3 minutes at 99% compression when using a single-pixel Hyperspectral Macroscopic Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (HMFLI) system. The potential of the technique is demonstratedin silico, in vitroandin vivothrough the monitoring of receptor-ligand interactions in mice liver and bladder and further imaging of intracellular drug delivery of the clinical drug Trastuzumab in live animals bearing HER2-positive breast tumor xenografts.
Spinal stretch reflexes support efficient control of reaching
Authors: Weiler Jeffrey , Gribble Paul L , Pruszynski J. Andrew
Published: January 2020

Efficiently controlling the movement of our hand requires coordinating the motion of multiple joints of the arm. Although it is widely assumed that this type of efficient control is implemented by processing that occurs in the cerebral cortex and brain stem, recent work has shown that spinal circuits can generate efficient motor output that supports keeping the hand in a static location. Here, we show that a spinal pathway can also efficiently control the hand during reaching. In our first experiment we applied multi-joint mechanical perturbations to participant’s elbow and wrist as they began reaching towards a target. We found that spinal stretch reflexes evoked in elbow muscles were not proportional to how much the elbow muscles were stretched but instead were efficiently scaled to the hand’s distance from the target. In our second experiment we applied the same elbow and wrist perturbations but had participants change how they grasped the manipulandum, diametrically altering how the same wrist perturbation moved the hand relative to the reach target. We found that changing the arm’s orientation diametrically altered how spinal reflexes in the elbow muscles were evoked, and in such a way that were again efficiently scaled to the hand’s distance from the target. These findings demonstrate that spinal circuits can help efficiently control the hand during dynamic reaching actions, and show that efficient and flexible motor control is not exclusively dependent on processing that occurs within supraspinal regions of the nervous system.
Risk factors associated with canine overweightness and obesity in an owner-reported survey
Authors: Perry LeeAnn M. , Shmalberg Justin , Tanprasertsuk Jirayu , Massey Dan , Honaker Ryan W. , Jha Aashish R.
Published: January 2020

Background

Overweightness and obesity in dogs are associated with negative health outcomes. A better understanding of risk factors associated with canine weight is fundamental to identifying preventative interventions and treatments. In this cross-sectional study, we used a direct to consumer approach to collect body condition scores (BCS), as well as demographic, diet, and lifestyle data on 4,446 dogs. BCS was assessed by owners using a 9-point system and categorized as ideal (BCS 4-5), overweight (BCS 6), and obese (BCS 7+). Following univariate analyses, a stepwise procedure was used to select variables which were included in multivariate logistic regression models. One model was created to compare ideal to all overweight and obese dogs, and another was created to compare ideal to obese dogs only. We then used Elastic Net selection and XGBoost variable importance measures to validate these results.

Results

Overall, 1,480 (33%) of dogs were reported to be overweight or obese, of which 356 (8% total) of dogs were reported to be obese. Seven factors were significantly associated with both overweightness/obesity and obesity alone in all three analyses (stepwise, Elastic Net, and XGBoost): diet composition, probiotic supplementation, treat quantity, exercise, age, food motivation level, and pet appetite. Neutering was also associated with overweightness/obesity in all analyses.

Conclusions

This study recapitulated established risk factors associated with BCS (age, exercise, neutering). Moreover, we elucidated associations between previously examined risk factors and BCS (diet composition, treat consumption, and temperament) and identified a novel factor (probiotic supplementation). Specifically, relative to dogs on fresh food diets, BCS was higher in dogs eating dry food both alone and in combination with other foods. Furthermore, dogs receiving probiotics, but not other forms of supplementation, were more likely to have an ideal BCS. Future studies should corroborate these findings with experimental manipulations.
Measuring genetic variation in the multi-ethnic Million Veteran Program (MVP)
Authors: Hunter-Zinck Haley , Shi Yunling , Li Man , Gorman Bryan R. , Ji Sun-Gou , Sun Ning , Webster Teresa , Liem Andrew , Hsieh Paul , Devineni Poornima , Karnam Purushotham , Radhakrishnan Lakshmi , Schmidt Jeanette , Assimes Themistocles L. , Huang Jie , Pan Cuiping , Humphries Donald , Brophy Mary , Moser Jennifer , Muralidhar Sumitra , Huang Grant D. , Przygodzki Ronald , Concato John , Gaziano John M. , Gelernter Joel , O’Donnell Christopher J. , Hauser Elizabeth R. , Zhao Hongyu , O’Leary Timothy J. , Tsao Philip S. , Pyarajan Saiju ,   on behalf of the VA Million Veteran Program
Published: January 2020

The Million Veteran Program (MVP), initiated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), aims to collect consented biosamples from at least one million Veterans. Presently, blood samples have been collected from over 800,000 enrolled participants. The size and diversity of the MVP cohort, as well as the availability of extensive VA electronic health records make it a promising resource for precision medicine. MVP is conducting array-based genotyping to provide genome-wide scan of the entire cohort, in parallel with whole genome sequencing, methylation, and other omics assays. Here, we present the design and performance of MVP 1.0 custom Axiom®array, which was designed and developed as a single assay to be used across the multi-ethnic MVP cohort. A unified genetic quality control analysis was developed and conducted on an initial tranche of 485,856 individuals leading to a high-quality dataset of 459,777 unique individuals. 668,418 genetic markers passed quality control and showed high quality genotypes not only on common variants but also on rare variants. We confirmed the substantial ancestral diversity of MVP with nearly 30% non-European individuals, surpassing other large biobanks. We also demonstrated the quality of the MVP dataset by replicating established genetic associations with height in European Americans and African Americans ancestries. This current data set has been made available to approved MVP researchers for genome-wide association studies and other downstream analyses. Further data releases will be available for analysis as recruitment at the VA continues and the cohort expands both in size and diversity.
QTL mapping reveals genomic regions for yield based on incremental tolerance index to drought stress and related agronomic traits in canola
Authors: Raman Harsh , Raman Rosy , Mathews Ky , Diffey Simon , Salisbury Phil
Published: January 2020

Drought stress especially at the reproductive stage is a major limiting factor that compromises the productivity and profitability of canola in many regions of the world. Improved genetics for drought tolerance would enable the identification and development of resilient varieties, resulting in increased canola production. The main objective of this study was to dissect the genetic basis of seed yield under water-limited conditions in canola. A doubled haploid population derived from a cross between two Australian parental lines, RP04 and Ag-Outback, was evaluated to identify the genetic variation in fractional normalised deviation vegetative index (NDVI), above ground shoot biomass accumulation, flowering time, and plasticity in seed yield under irrigated and rainfed field conditions in two consecutive years. An irrigation treatment was applied at the 50% flowering stage and an incremental drought tolerance index (DTI) was estimated for seed yield. By utilising a genetic linkage map based on 18,851 genome-wide DArTseq markers, we identified 25 genomic regions significantly associated with different traits (LOD ≥ 3), accounting for 5.5 to 22.3% of the genotypic variance. Three significant genomic regions on chromosome A06, A10 and C04 were associated with DTI for seed yield. Some of the QTL were localised in the close proximity of candidates genes involved in traits contributing to drought escape and drought avoidance mechanisms, includingFLOWERING LOCUS T(FT) andFLOWERING LOCUS C(FLC). Trait-marker associations identified herein can be validated across diverse environments, and the sequence based markers may be used in a marker assisted selection breeding strategy to enhance drought tolerance in canola breeding germplasm.
Subliminal perception can be predicted from prestimulus activity
Authors: Railo Henry , Piccin Roberto , Lukasik Karolina M.
Published: January 2020

Individuals are able to discriminate visual stimuli they report not consciously seeing. This phenomenon is known as “subliminal perception.” Such capacity is often assumed to be relatively automatic in nature, and rely on stimulus-driven activity in low-level cortical areas. Instead, here we asked to what extent neural activity before stimulus presentation influences subliminal perception. We asked participants to discriminate the location of a briefly presented low-contrast visual stimulus, and then rate how well they saw the stimulus. Consistent with previous studies, participants correctly discriminated with slightly above chance-level accuracy the location of a stimulus they reported not seeing. Signal detection analyses indicated that while subjects categorized their percepts as “unconscious”, their capacity to discriminate these stimuli lay on the same continuum as conscious vision. We show that the accuracy of discriminating the location of a subliminal stimulus could be predicted with relatively high accuracy (AUC = .70) based on lateralized electroencephalographic (EEG) activity before the stimulus, the hemifield where the stimulus was presented, and accuracy of previous trial’s discrimination response. Altogether, our results suggest that rather than being a separate unconscious capacity, subliminal perception is based on similar processes as conscious vison.
Determination of the full deformation tensor by multi-Bragg fast scanning nano X-ray diffraction
Authors: Johannes Andreas , Rensberg Jura , Grünewald Tilman A. , Schöppe Philipp , Ritzer Maurizio , Rosenthal Martin , Ronning Carsten , Burghammer Manfred
Published: January 2020

This work showcases a method to map the full deformation tensor in a single micro-sized crystal. It is shown that measuring the position of two Bragg reflections in reciprocal space is sufficient to obtain the full deformation tensor, if the condition of incompressibility of the material is imposed. This method is used to reveal the surface tension induced deformation at the edges of an as-grown single-crystal VO2 microwire. All components of the deformation tensor of the microwire were measured down to an absolute value of 10−4 in an 8 × 14 µm projected area of the wire. With a beam-defined spatial resolution of 150 × 150 nm, the measurement time was merely 2.5 h.
Alternative regulatory policies, compliance and corporate governance quality
Authors: Bajra Ujkan , Čadež Simon
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the evolution of corporate compliance with the eighth Company Law Directive (CLD) over time, the relationship between the degree of compliance with the eighth CLD and corporate governance quality (CGQ), and the relative effect of compliance with the eighth CLD and Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) on CGQ.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested on a sample of EU firms that are cross listed in the EU and the USA and, thus, subject to both EU and US legislation, using fixed effects panel regression analysis.

Findings

The authors find that compliance levels with the eighth CLD are increasing over time, yet they vary considerably across constituent provisions. The authors also find that higher compliance is positively related to CGQ, although the effect size is higher for compliance with the eighth CLD than for compliance with SOX.

Originality/value

This study is original from many perspectives. Unlike most prior studies, which rely on binary variables to represent the constructs appraised in this study, novel and advanced measures of compliance and CGQ are constructed. Next, this study examines EU firms that have received very little research interest compared to US firms. Third, in an innovative approach, the authors appraise the relationship between the degree of compliance and CGQ longitudinally at both the aggregate and the constituent provision levels.
Big data and HR analytics in the digital era
Authors: Dahlbom Pauli , Siikanen Noora , Sajasalo Pasi , Jarvenpää Marko
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on how the HR function takes advantage of human resource analytics (HRA), including big data (BD), and discuss factors hindering HRA and data utilization. Moreover, the authors discuss the implications of the HRA-induced role transformation of the human resource (HR) function.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an explorative case study based on qualitative interviews in nine leading Finnish companies.

Findings

The results indicate that both technical and human obstacles, operating with very basic HR processes and traditional information systems and poor data quality, hinder adoption of advanced HRA. This, combined with lacking skills in analytics and business understanding, inability to go beyond reporting, misconceptions related to BD and traditional compliance-oriented HR culture pose further challenges for the data analytics capacity and business partner role of the HR function. Senior executives expect no significant advancements of HRA, while HR professionals saw potential value in BD, although skepticism was not uncommon. The results point toward a need for increased cooperation with data analysts and HR professionals in provision and understanding the HR-related data for business-related decision making. Furthermore, cultural change and organizational redesign may be called for, in addition to overcoming technological obstacles related to BD, for it to have an impact on HR practices. HRA utilization and role transition of the HR function seem closely related and this transformation can be mutually reinforcing.

Originality/value

This study provides and theorizes explorative data on HRA within a group of some of the largest Finnish companies, pointing toward an immature state of the art in BD and HRA utilization and there being a relationship between HRA and the role transition of the HR function in organizations.
On the induction heating contribution in magnetic pulse forming processes for tube forming application
Authors: Bay Francois , Alves Jose
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of the induction heating phenomenon during magnetic pulse forming (MPF) of thin walled tube components. The approach is based on the advanced use of the multiphysics finite element software FORGE® coupling electromagnetism, heat transfer and solid mechanics. Although the global contribution of thermal effects is found to be almost negligible with respect to the volume forces, it can be observed that localized softening due to the heating process induces shock absorbing behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Due to the strong multiphysics couplings between solid mechanics, electromagnetism and heat transfer, it is not always obvious to quantify the contributions of the various physical phenomena. It is thus intended here to take advantage of the numerical framework and tool that has developed to dissociate and quantify the influence of Joule heating phenomena due to eddy currents during MPF processes.

Findings

In this paper, the sensitivity of the MPF process has been analyzed to the induction heating source term for a specific tube forming case. An analysis of the electric output signal shows that inductance sensitivity to heating remains small when compared to the mechanical deformation. Regarding mechanical analysis of the process, induction heating contribution has a very slight impact at the global scale, but its effect is more noticeable at the small scale where it is likely that the localized heating induces shock absorption properties through softening. The extension of these results to other materials (for which the thermal dependency of mechanical behavior is different), as well as to a larger range of energy inputs, still needs to be carried out. Such phenomena should be considered for instance for high precision forming.

Originality/value

The analysis of the influence of heating due to eddy currents in magnetic pulse forming processes has not been extensively studied. The originality of this work is to try to quantify its effect on the process by using a numerical-based approach.
Impact of employee job satisfaction and commitment on customer perceived value
Authors: Charni Hanen , Brun Isabelle , Ricard Line
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of employee job satisfaction and affective commitment as perceived by customers on customer perceived value, more specifically its benefits dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 652 panellists from a large Canadian polling firm self-administer a web-based questionnaire. To measure customer perceived value, a formative index is used which contributes to topical literature through a unique methodology. Hypotheses are tested using a structural equation model.

Findings

An analysis of the direct, indirect and total effects confirms the unique positive impact of employee job satisfaction and affective commitment, as perceived by customers, on the emotional, social, relationship and epistemic benefits, as well as on the formative index of customer perceived value.

Practical implications

Customer perceptions of employee attitudes (job satisfaction and affective commitment) represent a unique opportunity for banks to differentiate their value proposition in a hypercompetitive market.

Originality/value

This study is the first to consider customer perceptions of employee job satisfaction and affective commitment in relation to a formative index of customer perceived value and its related benefits dimensions.
Risk governance and bank profitability in ASEAN-5: a comparative and empirical study
Authors: Karyani Etikah , Dewo Setio Anggoro , Santoso Wimboh , Frensidy Budi
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the disparity between the disclosures of risk governance (RGOV) categories, namely, structures both at the board and management level, and RGOV practices among five of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN-5) countries. Furthermore, this paper investigates the effects of RGOV and its categories on return on assets (ROA).

Design/methodology/approach

Using 285 ASEAN-5 bank-year observations comprising hand-collected data for the period of 2010–2014, RGOV indexes are developed on the basis of 12 of the 13 governance guidelines published by the Basel Committee.

Findings

Although some banks are found to be early adopters, there is an increasing trend of disclosure for all of the investigated categories. Furthermore, there are no effects of the overall RGOV, board-level RGOV structure and risk management practice on ROA. However, the effect of the management-level RGOV structure on ROA is negative and significant.

Research limitations/implications

Measurements of RGOV indexes are based solely on the examination of criteria that have not been previously tested. Other limitations are related to the information completeness, subjectivity and interpretation.

Practical implications

Management-level RGOV tends to decrease profitability because of the additional costs related to its implementation. Financial regulators may find this result useful as feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of regulation and possible future improvements.

Originality/value

This paper’s uniqueness lies in constructing new RGOV indexes on the basis of the latest bank governance guidelines from the Basel Committee issued on July 9, 2015.
Synergistic impacts of co‐occurring invasive grasses cause persistent effects in the soil‐plant system after selective removal
Authors: Zenni Rafael D. , da Cunha Wanderson L. , Musso Carolina , de Souza Jocemara V. , Nardoto Gabriela B. , Miranda Heloisa S.
Published: January 2020

Human influence on the environment is so extensive that virtually all ecosystems on the planet are now affected by biological invasions. And, often, ecosystems are invaded by multiple co‐occurring non‐native species. Hence, it is important to understand the impacts these invasions are producing on biodiversity and ecosystem processes.

Here, we present results of a 2‐year long field experiment where we tested the effects of co‐occurring invasive C4African grasses in a Cerrado area in central Brazil. We compared plant and arthropod communities, plant biomass, and soil nitrogen dynamics and soil chemical characteristics across five experimental treatments:Urochloa decumbensremoval;Melinis minutifloraremoval; bothU.decumbensandM.minutifloraremoval;U.decumbensandM.minutiflorainvaded plots; and uninvaded Cerrado. We hypothesized that selective removal of invasive grasses would have distinct effects on the native ecosystem structure and functioning. We expected that each invasive grass would produce a different type of impact on the native ecosystem and that their impacts would be synergistic when co‐occurring.

Removal ofM.minutifloradoubled native plant diversity and biomass when compared to invaded plots, whereas removal ofU.decumbensdid not alter these parameters. Cerrado plots had four times more plant species than plots cleared of invasives. Removal of invasive grasses did not affect the species richness or community composition of soil epigeal fauna. Cerrado soils had lower fertility, organic matter content and pH than invaded soils. The effects were generally higher when both invasive grasses were removed, suggesting impacts were synergistic, butM.minutiflorahad greater effects on plants and soils thanU.decumbens. Both invasive species produced negative impacts, but a single species was the main driver. We also detected persistent effects of the invasive grass species on the ecosystem after 2 years of removal.

We conclude that invasive species of the same functional group have similar types of effects in native ecosystems, but the magnitude of impact was largely dependent on invasive species biomass and cover. Where multiple invasive species are present, research and management of invaded ecosystems should tackle the interacting effects of co‐occurring invaders.
Antibacterial applications of metal–organic frameworks and their composites
Authors: Shen Mofei , Forghani Fereidoun , Kong Xueqian , Liu Donghong , Ye Xingqian , Chen Shiguo , Ding Tian
Published: January 2020

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous coordination materials composed of multidentate organic ligands and metal ions or metal clusters. MOFs have the great potential to be utilized in antibacterial materials for biological, environmental, and food antimicrobial fields. In recent years, MOFs have been applied to various antibacterial fields due to their sustained release capability, porosity, and structural flexibility in combination with many chemicals and/or materials (such as nanoparticles, antibiotics, phytochemicals, and polymers). This review offers a detailed summary of the antibacterial applications of MOFs and their composites, focusing on the combination types of MOFs composites and the antibacterial effect in different applications. These applications are illustrated by the examples discussed in this review.
The Effects of Creative Culture on Real Earnings Management*
Authors: Guggenmos Ryan D. , Van der Stede Wim A.
Published: January 2020

Creativity and innovation have been identified by senior executives as some of the most desired characteristics of corporate culture. Accordingly, managers strive to build these cultures within their organizations. However, research in psychology suggests that these attempts may have unintended negative consequences. In this study, I predict and find that managers in a more (versus less) innovative company culture will engage in higher levels of real earnings management (REM). I then test two construal level theory (CLT)‐based interventions designed to reduce REM. As I predict, I find that in more innovative corporate cultures an intervention that makes downside risk more salient reduces REM, but an intervention that encourages managers to consider the “big‐picture” impact of their decision reduces REM to a greater extent. Unexpectedly, I also find that the effect of the “big‐picture” intervention reverses in a less innovative corporate culture leading to an increase in REM. My findings contribute to the emerging accounting literature regarding REM. I also extend the psychology literature investigating the link between opportunistic behavior and creativity, and I also expand research into how interventions based on CLT can affect judgment and decision making in an accounting context.
Novel M2‐selective, Gi‐biased agonists of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors
Authors: Randáková Alena , Nelic Dominik , Ungerová Dana , Nwokoye Peter , Su Qiwen , Doležal Vladimír , El‐Fakahany Esam E. , Boulos John , Jakubík Jan
Published: January 2020

Background and Purpose

More than 30% of currently marketed medications act via GPCRs. Thus, GPCRs represent one of the most important pharmacotherapeutic targets. In contrast to traditional agonists activating multiple signalling pathways, agonists activating a single signalling pathway represent a new generation of drugs with increased specificity and fewer adverse effects.

Experimental Approach

We have synthesized novel agonists of muscarinic ACh receptors and tested their binding and function (on levels of cAMP and inositol phosphates) in CHO cells expressing individual subtypes of muscarinic receptors, primary cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells and suspensions of digested native tissues from rats. Binding of the novel compounds to M2 receptors was modelled in silico.

Key Results

Two of the tested new compounds (1‐(thiophen‐2‐ylmethyl)‐3,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyridinium and 1‐methyl‐1‐(thiophen‐2‐ylmethyl)‐3,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyridinium) only inhibited cAMP synthesis in CHO cells, primary cultures, and native tissues, with selectivity for M2 muscarinic receptors and displaying bias towards the Gi signalling pathway at all subtypes of muscarinic receptors. Molecular modelling revealed interactions with the orthosteric binding site in a way specific for a given agonist followed by agonist‐specific changes in the conformation of the receptor.

Conclusions and Implications

The identified compounds may serve as lead structures in the search for novel non‐steroidal and non‐opioid analgesics acting via M2 and M4 muscarinic receptors with reduced side effects associated with activation of the phospholipase C signalling pathway.