bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No functional contribution of the gustatory receptor, Gr64b, co-expressed in olfactory sensory neurons of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Mahadevan Venkatesh Pal , Lavista-Llanos Sofía , Knaden Markus , Hansson Bill S.
Published: July 2022

Chemosensation is essential for the survival of insects. Activities like searching for food, mating, and oviposition in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster are to a great extent governed by chemical cues detected via olfaction and gustation. This chemical information is conveyed to higher brain centres via populations of diverse olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and gustatory sensory neurons (GSNs) expressing olfactory receptors (ORs) and gustatory receptors (GRs), respectively. ORs are exclusively expressed in the antenna and in the maxillary palps, while GRs are widely expressed in the labellum, tarsi, genitalia etc. Interestingly, 14 GRs were previously reported to be expressed in the antenna of D. melanogaster. However, the spatial expression pattern for all GRs and their functional role are still unclear. Recent data challenge the dogma that single OSNs express a single OR. In the present study, we studied the expression of 12 previously reported GRs among sensory structures on the fly antenna using the Gal4-UAS binary expression system. We observed antennal expression of nine out of the 12 reported. Out of these nine, consistent expression was only apparent for Gr64b, and we reconfirmed its presence in OSNs innervating three glomeruli in the antennal lobe. These glomeruli are known to be innervated by ab5A, ab5B and ab8A OSNs, respectively. Next, we generated double labelling crosses with Gr64b and observed co-expression of Gr64b with Or47a, which is expressed in the ab5B neuron. To elucidate the functional role of Gr64b co-expressed with Or47b, we challenged Or47a-expressing OSNs in wild type and Gr64b-/- mutant flies with odor stimulation using the single sensillum recording technique in two satiation states (fed and starved). Notably, we did not observe any significant odor sensitivity or specificity changes in Gr64b mutants as compared to wild type flies. Taken together, our results reveal co-expression of GRs with ORs in olfactory sensory neurons, while the functional contribution of the GR in this context remains obscure.
“Upregulation of TLR4/MyD88 pathway in alcohol-induced Wernicke’s encephalopathy: findings in preclinical models and in a postmortem human case”
Authors: Moya Marta , Escudero Berta , Gómez-Blázquez Elena , Rebolledo-Poves Ana Belen , López-Gallardo Meritxell , Guerrero Carmen , María Marco Eva , Orio Laura
Published: July 2022

Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a neurologic disease caused by vitamin B1 or thiamine deficiency (TD), being the alcohol use disorder (AUD) its main risk factor. WE patients present limiting motor, cognitive and emotional alterations related to a selective cerebral vulnerability. Neuroinflammation has been proposed as one of the phenomena contributing to brain damage. Our previous studies provide evidence for the involvement of the innate immune receptor Toll-like (TLR) 4 in the inflammatory response induced in the frontal cortex and cerebellum in TD animal models (animals fed with TD diet and receiving pyrithiamine). However, the effects of the combination of chronic alcohol consumption and TD on TLR4 and their specific contribution to the pathogenesis of WE are currently unknown. Additionally, no studies on TLR4 have been conducted on WE patients since brains from these patients are difficult to achieve. Here, we used rat models of chronic alcohol (CA; 9 months of forced consumption of 20% (w/v) alcohol), TD hit (TDD; TD diet + daily 0.25 mg/kg i.p. pyrithiamine during 12 days), or a combined treatment (CA+TDD) to check the activation of the proinflammatory TLR4/MyD88 pathway and related markers in the frontal cortex and the cerebellum. In addition, we characterized for the first time the TLR4 and its co-receptor MyD88 signature, along with other markers of this proinflammatory signaling such as phospo-NFκB p65 and IκBα, in the post-mortem human frontal cortex and cerebellum (gray and white matter) of an alcohol-induced WE patient, comparing it with negative (no disease) and positive (aged brain with Alzheimer’s disease) control subjects for neuroinflammation. We found an increase in the cortical TLR4 and its adaptor molecule MyD88, together with an upregulation of the proinflammatory signaling molecules p-NF-ĸB and IĸBα in the CA+TDD animal model. In the patient diagnosed with alcohol-induced WE we observed cortical and cerebellar upregulation of the TLR4/MyD88 pathway. Thus, our findings provide evidence, both in the animal model and the human postmortem brain, of the upregulation of the TLR4/MyD88 proinflammatory pathway in WE related to alcohol consumption.
Regulation of oxidative phosphorylation by Nuclear myosin 1 protects cells from metabolic reprogramming and tumorigenesis in mice
Authors: Venit Tomas , Sapkota Oscar , Abdrabou Wael Said , Loganathan Palanikumar , Pasricha Renu , Mahmood Syed Raza , El Said Nadine Hosny , Thomas Sneha , Idaghdour Youssef , Magzoub Mazin , Percipalle Piergiorgio
Published: July 2022

Metabolic reprogramming is one of the hallmarks of tumorigenesis. Using a combination of multi-omics, here we show that nuclear myosin 1 (NM1) serves as a key regulator of cellular metabolism. As part of the nutrient-sensing PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, NM1 forms a positive feedback loop with mTOR and directly affects mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) via transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial transcription factors TFAM and PGC1α. NM1 depletion leads to suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, underdevelopment of mitochondria inner cristae, and redistribution of mitochondria within the cell, which is associated with reduced expression of OXPHOS genes, decreased mitochondrial DNA copy number and deregulated mitochondrial dynamics. This leads to metabolic reprogramming of NM1 KO cells from OXPHOS to aerobic glycolysis and with a metabolomic profile typical for cancer cells, namely, increased amino acid-, fatty acid-, and sugar metabolism, and increased glucose uptake, lactate production, and intracellular acidity. We show that NM1 KO cells form solid tumors in a nude mouse model even though they have suppressed the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway suggesting that the metabolic switch towards aerobic glycolysis provides a sufficient signal for carcinogenesis. We suggest that NM1 plays a key role as a tumor suppressor and that NM1 depletion may contribute to the Warburg effect at the early onset of tumorigenesis.
Null models for the Opportunity for Selection
Authors: Waples R. S. , Reed Thomas E.
Published: July 2022

Crow’s ‘Opportunity for Selection’ (I=variance in relative fitness) is an important albeit controversial eco-evolutionary concept, particularly regarding the most appropriate null model(s). Here we treat this topic in a comprehensive way by considering opportunities for both fertility selection (If) and viability selection (Im) for discrete generations, both seasonal and lifetime reproductive success in age-structured species, and for experimental designs that include either a full or partial life cycle, with complete enumeration or random subsampling. For each scenario, a null model that includes random demographic stochasticity can be constructed that follows Crow’s initial formulation that I=If+Im. The two components of I are qualitatively different. Whereas an adjusted If (ΔIf) can be computed that accounts for random demographic stochasticity in offspring number, Im cannot be similarly adjusted in the absence of data on phenotypic traits under viability selection. Including as potential parents some individuals that die before reproductive age produces an overall, zero-inflated-Poisson null model. It is always important to remember that (1) Crow’s I represents only the opportunity for selection and not selection itself, and (2) the species’ biology can lead to random stochasticity in offspring number that is either overdispersed or underdispersed compared to the Poisson (Wright-Fisher) expectation.
Predicting the causative pathogen among children with pneumonia using a causal Bayesian network
Authors: Wu Yue , Mascaro Steven , Bhuiyan Mejbah , Fathima Parveen , Mace Ariel O. , Nicol Mark P. , Richmond Peter , Kirkham Lea-Ann , Dymock Michael , Foley David A. , McLeod Charlie , Borland Meredith L. , Martin Andrew , Williams Phoebe C.M. , Marsh Julie A. , Snelling Tom , Blyth Christopher C.
Published: July 2022

Background

Pneumonia remains a leading cause of hospitalization and death among young children worldwide, and the diagnostic challenge of differentiating bacterial from non-bacterial pneumonia is the main driver of antibiotic use for treating pneumonia in children. Causal Bayesian networks (BNs) serve as powerful tools for this problem as they provide clear maps of probabilistic relationships between variables and produce results in an explainable way by incoporating both domain expert knowledge and numerical data.

Methods

We used domain expert knowledge and data in combination and iteratively, to construct, parameterise and validate a causal BN to predict causative pathogens for childhood pneumonia. Expert knowledge elicitation occurred through a series of group workshops, surveys and one-on-one meetings involving 6-8 experts from diverse domain areas. The model performance was evaluated based on both quantitative metrics (area under the receiver-operator curve (AUROC) and log loss) and qualitative expert validation. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to investigate how the target output is influenced by varying key assumptions of particular high degree of uncertainty around data or domain expert knowledge.

Results

Designed to apply to a cohort of children with X-ray confirmed pneumonia who presented to a tertiary paediatric hospital in Australia, the resulting BN offers explainable and quantitative predictions on a range of variables of interest, including the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia, detection of respiratory pathogens in the nasopharynx, and the clinical phenotype of a pneumonia episode. Satisfactory numeric performance has been achieved including an AUROC of 0.8 in predicting the clinical diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. Three commonly encountered scenarios were presented to demonstrate the potential usefulness of the BN outputs in various clinical pictures.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first causal model developed to help determine the causative pathogen for paediatric pneumonia. It can be utilized to derive recommendations to support more directed and judicious use of antimicrobials for relevant cohorts. The BN needs further validation before it can be clinically implemented. Our model framework and the methodological approach can be adapted beyond our context to broad respiratory infections and geographical and healthcare settings.
A Multivariate Comparison of EEG and fMRI to ECoG Using Visual Object Representations in Humans
Authors: Ebrahiminia Fatemeh , Cichy Radoslaw Martin , Khaligh-Razavi Seyed-Mahdi
Published: July 2022

1.

Today most neurocognitive studies in humans employ the non-invasive neuroimaging techniques fMRI and EEG. However, how the data provided by fMRI and EEG relate exactly to the underlying neural activity remains incompletely understood. Here, we pursued this open question by relating EEG and fMRI data at the level of neural population codes using multivariate pattern analysis. For this, we recorded EEG and fMRI data while participants viewed everyday objects in different viewing conditions, and then related the data to ECoG data recorded for the same stimulus set. The comparison of EEG and ECoG data showed that object category signals emerge swiftly in the visual system and can be detected by both EEG and ECoG at similar temporal delays after stimulus onset. The correlation between EEG and ECoG reduces and onset latencies increase when object representations tolerant to changes in scale and orientation are considered. The comparison of fMRI and ECoG overall revealed a tighter relationship in occipital than in temporal regions, related to differences in fMRI signal-to-noise ratio. Together, our results reveal a complex relationship between fMRI, EEG and ECoG signals at the level of population codes that critically depends on the time point after stimulus onset, the region investigated, and the visual contents used.
HT-SIP: A semi-automated Stable Isotope Probing pipeline identifies interactions in the hyphosphere of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Nuccio Erin E. , Blazewicz Steven J. , Lafler Marissa , Campbell Ashley N. , Kakouridis Anne , Kimbrel Jeffrey A. , Wollard Jessica , Vyshenska Dariia , Riley Robert , Tomatsu Andy , Hestrin Rachel , Malmstrom Rex R. , Firestone Mary , Pett-Ridge Jennifer
Published: July 2022

Background

Linking the identity of wild microbes with their ecophysiological traits and environmental functions is a key ambition for microbial ecologists. Of many techniques that strive to meet this goal, Stable Isotope Probing—SIP—remains the most comprehensive for studying whole microbial communities in situ. In DNA-SIP, active microorganisms that take up an isotopically heavy substrate build heavier DNA, which can be partitioned by density into multiple fractions and sequenced. However, SIP is relatively low throughput and requires significant hands-on labor. We designed and tested a semi-automated DNA-SIP pipeline to support well-replicated, temporally-resolved amplicon or metagenomics experiments that enable studies of dynamic microbial communities over space and time. To test this pipeline, we assembled SIP-metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) from the hyphosphere zone surrounding arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), in combination with a 13CO2 plant labelling study.

Results

Our semi-automated pipeline for DNA fractionation, cleanup, and nucleic acid quantification of SIP density gradients requires six times less hands-on labor compared to manual SIP and allows 16 samples to be processed simultaneously. Automated density fractionation increased the reproducibility of SIP gradients and reduced variation compared to manual fractionation, and we show adding a non-ionic detergent to the gradient buffer improved SIP DNA recovery. We then tested this pipeline on samples from a highly-constrained soil microhabitat with significant ecological importance, the AMF fungal hyphosphere. Processing via our quantitative SIP pipeline confirmed the AMF Rhizophagus intraradices and its associated microbiome were highly 13C enriched, even though the soils’ overall enrichment was only 1.8 atom% 13C. We assembled 212 13C-enriched hyphosphere MAGs, and the hyphosphere taxa that assimilated the most AMF-derived 13C (range 10-33 atom%) were from the phlya Myxococcota, Fibrobacterota, Verrucomicrobiota, and the ammonia oxidizing archaeon genus Nitrososphaeara.

Conclusions

Our semi-automated SIP approach decreases operator time and errors and improves reproducibility by targeting the most labor-intensive steps of SIP—fraction collection and cleanup. Here, we illustrate this approach in a unique and understudied soil microhabitat—generating MAGs of active microbes living in the AMF hyphosphere (without plant roots). Their phylogenetic composition and gene content suggest predation, decomposition, and ammonia oxidation may be key processes in hyphosphere nutrient cycling.
Goat PRP14 (gPRP14) has xeno-antigenic properties and works as a vaccine in preclinical models of cancer
Authors: Minucci Saverio , Bussolati Benedetta , Massa Paul E. , Brossa Alessia , Ravasio Roberto , Saadeldin Mona , Degani Genny , Papadimitriou Elli , Saadeldin Amal , Salvaggio Antonio , Visintin Cristina , Rizzi Giulia , Ricagno Stefano , Popolo Laura , Vanoni Maria Antonietta , Pelicci Pier Giuseppe
Published: July 2022

We studied the activity of recombinant goat PRP14 (gPRP14), a member of the RID protein family, as a xeno-antigen in preclinical models of cancer. Antisera from rabbits and mice immunized with gPRP14 showed strong reactivity against several tumor cell types, which was absent towards normal cells: the tumor selectivity was related to surface and intra-cellular expression in tumor cells, and to an exclusively intra-cellular localization in normal cells. In vitro, binding to tumor cells was followed by cytotoxicity which could be rescued by the addition of excess soluble antigen. In vivo, an anti-tumor activity of immunization with gPRP14 was observed in murine syngeneic models of breast cancer and melanoma: the anti-tumor response was present when gPRP14 was administered in a preventive setting, and persisted upon repeated challenges with tumor cells in long-term survivor mice. Finally, we showed that both the humoral and T-cell mediated responses are needed for the optimal anti-tumor effect in the murine melanoma model. Thus, we have performed an initial characterization of gPRP14 as a cancer vaccine, which -given the potential wide range of tumor cells positive for the antigen-appears as a promising, novel immunotherapy.
Identification and characterisation of variable rhythms using CosinorPy
Authors: Moškon Miha
Published: July 2022

Background and objective

Analysis of rhythmic data has become an important aspect in biological and medical science, as well as other fields of science. Parametric methods based on trigonometric regression reflect several advantages in comparison to their alternatives. Software packages for parametric analysis of rhythmic data are mostly based on a single-component cosinor model, which is not able to describe asymmetric rhythms that might reflect multiple peaks per period. Moreover, a basic cosinor model is unable to describe rhythmicity that is changed with time. Here, we present some important extensions of the recently developed CosinorPy Python package to address these gaps.

Methods

The extended package CosinorPy provides the functionalities to perform a detailed individual or comparative analysis of rhythms reflecting (1) multiple asymmetric peaks per period, (2) forced, damped, or sustained rhythms, and (3) shift of the midline statistics of rhythm over time. In all these cases the package is able to assess the (differential) rhythmicity parameters, evaluate their significance and confidence intervals, and provide a set of publication-ready figures.

Results

We demonstrate the package in some typical scenarios that incorporate different types of rhythmic dynamics, such as asymmetric, damped, and forced rhythms. We show that the proposed implementation of a generalised cosinor model is capable of reducing the error of estimated rhythmicity parameters in cases that tend to be problematic for alternative models. The implementation of the presented package is available together with scripts to reproduce the reported results athttps://github.com/mmoskon/CosinorPy.

Conclusion

According to our knowledge, CosinorPy currently presents the only implementation that is able to cover all the above scenarios using a parametric model with vast applications in biology and medicine as well as in other scientific domains.
Global quantitative understanding of nonequilibrium cell fate decision making in response to pheromone
Authors: Li Sheng , Liu Qiong , Wang Erkang , Wang Jin
Published: July 2022

Cell cycle arrest and polarized cell growth are commonly used to qualitatively characterize the fate of yeast in response to pheromone. However, the quantitative decision-making process underlying the time-dependent changes in cell fate remains unclear. Here, by observing the multi-dimensional responses at the single-cell level experimentally, we find that yeast cells have various fates. Multiple states are revealed, along with the kinetic switching rates and pathways among them, giving rise to a quantitative landscape of mating response. We developed a theoretical framework using a nonequilibrium landscape and flux theory to account for the cell morphology observed experimentally and performed a stochastic simulation of biochemical reactions to explain the signal transduction and cell growth. Our experimental results established the first global quantitative demonstration of the real-time synchronization of intracellular signaling with their physiological growth and morphological functions which reveals the underlying physical mechanism. This study provides an emerging mechanistic approach for understanding the nonequilibrium global pheromone-regulated cell fate decision-making in growth and morphology.
Novel class of yellow emitting carbon dots stimulate collective cell migration and 3D uptake in vivo
Authors: Singh Udisha , Shah Krupa , Kansara Krupa , Kumar Ashutosh , Bhatia Dhiraj
Published: July 2022

We present a new class of nitrogen-doped yellow fluorescent carbon dots, synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method. These bright fluorescent nanoparticles have excitation and emission spectra near the red region of the visible light spectrum that are quite useful for bioimaging applications. Using organic molecules like ortho- phenylenediamine (OPDA), L-ascorbic acid and urea, yellow fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized. We obtained a scalable number of CDs having an average size of 3 nm. The CDs show significant emission spectra in the yellow fluorescence region (λem= 557 nm). The CDs show remarkable stability in their fluorescence in different pH conditions, ionic stability, photostability as well as thermal stability. These CDs are efficiently uptaken by mammalian cells through clathrin-mediated pathway. Apart from in vitro studies we have also used zebrafish larvae as a 3D in vivo model, and showed that CDs were uptaken efficiently by larvae showing maximum accumulation and fluorescence in the yolk sac region and the notochord region. The CDs also offer enhancement in cell proliferation, hence showing the application in wound healing. The fluorescence of CDs is quite robust and is not affected by most external stimuli, hence can be explored as a promising bioimaging tool for targeted bioimaging and biomedical applications.
Modeling the carbon-dioxide response function in fMRI under task and resting-state conditions
Authors: Shams Seyedmohammad , Prokopiou Prokopis , Esmaelbeigi Azin , Mitsis Georgios D. , Chen J. Jean
Published: July 2022

Conventionally, cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is estimated as the amplitude of the hemodynamic response to vascular stimuli. While the CVR amplitude has established clinical utility, the temporal characteristics of CVR have been increasingly explored and may yield even more pathology-sensitive parameters. This work is motivated by the current need to evaluate the feasibility of dCVR modeling in various noise conditions. In this work, we present a comparison of several recently published model-based deconvolution approaches for estimating h(t), including maximum a posterior likelihood (MAP), inverse logit (IL), canonical correlation analysis (CCA), and basis expansion (using Gamma and Laguerre basis sets). To aid the comparison, we devised a novel simulation framework that allowed us to target a wide range of SNRs, ranging from 10 to −7 dB, representative of both task and resting-state CO2 changes. In addition, we built ground-truth h(t) into our simulation framework, overcoming the practical limitation that the true h(t) is unknown in methodological evaluations. Moreover, to best represent realistic noise found in fMRI scans, we extracted it from in-vivo resting-state scans. Furthermore, we introduce a simple optimization of the CCA method (CCAopt) and compare its performance to these existing methods. Our findings suggest that model-based methods can reasonably estimate dCVR even amidst high noise, and in a manner that is largely independent of the underlying model assumptions for each method. We also provide a quantitative basis for making methodological choices, based on the desired dCVR parameters, the estimation accuracy and computation time. The BEL method provided the highest accuracy and robustness, followed by the CCAopt and IL methods. Of the three, the CCAopt method required the lowest computational time. These findings lay the foundation for wider adoption of dCVR estimation in CVR mapping.
The effect of combined dexmedetomidine and isoflurane anaesthesia on visually evoked responses in rats – an electrophysiological study
Authors: Østergaard Freja Gam , Skoven Christian Stald , Laursen Bettina , Dyrby Tim B. , Wade Alex
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study was to pilot an anaesthetic regime with the potential to be used for blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) of the visual system. We used electrophysiology to explore the effect of an anaesthesia regime, combining dexmedetomidine and isoflurane, on the visual system of female Sprague-Dawley rats. This paradigm is hypothesised to affect neural signalling less than other paradigms, and thus may be suitable for studies using BOLD fMRI. Electrodes were implanted bilaterally in the visual cortex (VC) and superior colliculus (SC) of 16 rats. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and steady-state VEPs (SSVEPs) were recorded during 1 Hz and 14 Hz light stimulation, respectively. As a control experiment an exploration of the wash-out of isoflurane was performed. The combined anaesthetic regime showed, that the visually evoked responses were almost completely abolished at the initiation of anaesthesia, but gradually recovered to baseline levels over time in the SC. In contrast, the evoked response in the VC only partially recovered, staying significantly below baseline condition. BOLD fMRI results from a previously published study supports this finding.
The individual and combined benefits of different non-equilibrium proofreading mechanisms
Authors: Mohr Adélaïde A. , Busiello Daniel M. , Zamuner Stefano , De Los Rios Paolo
Published: July 2022

Genome duplication, transcription and translation are among many crucial cellular processes that need to be performed with high fidelity. However those extremely low error rates cannot be explained with simple equilibrium thermodynamic considerations. They instead require considering irreversible, energy consuming reactions in the overall mechanism. We develop here a model of substrates selection comprising energy consuming steps and which aims at selecting right substrates among wrong ones. With this model, we investigate the impact of energy consumption on the accuracy and the speed of the selection, as well as different selection strategies. The model presented here encompasses the classic kinetic proofreading scheme and a different mechanism whereby the rates of the energy consuming step are modulated by the nature of the substrate. We show that, in our framework, the fastest and most accurate selection strategy relies on a combination of both mechanisms. A structurally and biochemically informed coarse-grained description of real biological processes such as DNA replication and protein translation, traditionally used as examples of kinetic proofreading at work, shows that, as a matter of fact, a combination of both mechanisms explored here is exploited.
A Physcomitrella PIN protein acts in spermatogenesis and sporophyte retention
Authors: Lüth Volker M. , Rempfer Christine , van Gessel Nico , Herzog Oliver , Hanser Melanie , Braun Marion , Decker Eva L. , Reski Ralf
Published: July 2022

The auxin efflux PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins are conserved in all land plants and important players in plant development. In the moss Physcomitrella (Physcomitrium patens) three canonical PINs (PpPINA-C) are expressed in the leafy shoot (gametophore). PpPINA and PpPINB show functional activity in vegetative growth and sporophyte development. Here, we examined the role of PpPINC in the life cycle of Physcomitrella.

We established reporter and knockout lines for PpPINC and analysed vegetative and reproductive tissues using microscopy and transcriptomic sequencing of moss gametangia.

PpPINC is expressed in immature leaves, mature gametangia and during sporophyte development. The sperm cells (spermatozoids) ofpinC knockout mutants exhibit increased motility and an altered flagella phenotype. Further, thepinC mutants have a higher portion of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to spermatogenesis, increased fertility, and an increased abortion rate of premeiotic sporophytes.

Here, we show that PpPINC is important for spermatogenesis and sporophyte retention. We propose an evolutionary conserved way of polar growth during early moss embryo development and sporophyte attachment to the gametophore, while suggesting the mechanical function in sporophyte retention of a ring structure, the Lorch ring.
The Radon transform as a tool for 3D reciprocal-space mapping of epitaxial microcrystals
Authors: Meduňa Mojmír , Isa Fabio , Bressan Franco , von Känel Hans
Published: July 2022

This work presents a new approach suitable for mapping reciprocal space in three dimensions with standard laboratory equipment and a typical X-ray diffraction setup. The method is based on symmetric and coplanar high-resolution X-ray diffraction, ideally realized using 2D X-ray pixel detectors. The processing of experimental data exploits the Radon transform commonly used in medical and materials science. It is shown that this technique can also be used for diffraction mapping in reciprocal space even if a highly collimated beam is not available. The application of the method is demonstrated for various types of epitaxial microcrystals on Si substrates. These comprise partially fused SiGe microcrystals that are tens of micrometres high, multiple-quantum-well structures grown on SiGe microcrystals and pyramid-shaped GaAs/Ge microcrystals on top of Si micropillars.
Suppression of phase-transition temperature in aluminium indium tungstate and aluminium indium molybdate
Authors: Lovings La'Nese , Dietzel Dominik , Lind Cora
Published: July 2022

Aluminium indium tungstate (AlInW3O12) and aluminium indium molybdate (Al0.84In1.16Mo3O12) were synthesized by non-hydrolytic sol–gel chemistry, and their crystal structures, phase transition and thermal expansion behavior were studied using variable-temperature synchrotron powder diffraction. AlInW3O12 adopts an orthorhombic phase above 260 K and gradually transitions to a monoclinic polymorph below this temperature. Al0.84In1.16Mo3O12 also shows a gradual transition between the monoclinic and orthorhombic structures between 330 and 445 K. Both materials display much lower phase-transition temperatures than predicted on the basis of the parent compounds and Vegard's law. This suppression is attributed to the large size difference between Al3+ and In3+. Interestingly, both samples display positive thermal expansion along all unit-cell axes instead of the typically observed negative expansion of orthorhombic A
2
M
3O12 compositions.
Specialty beers market: a comparative study of producers and consumers behavior
Authors: Haddad Felipe Furtini , Ribeiro Ana Paula Lima , Vieira Kelly Carvalho , Pereira Rafaela Corrêa , Carneiro João de Deus Souza
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to identify, with producers of specialty beers (SBs), producers' perceptions regarding the consumers, besides analyzing the consumer's behavior of SBs regarding consumers' preferences, perceptions and determining buying factors.

Design/methodology/approach

In the qualitative analysis, interviews were performed with 14 professionals from the SB industry. In the quantitative study, 301 consumers of SB answered a questionnaire about preferences, perception and determining buying factors of special beer. Techniques such as content analysis, frequency analysis, cross-tabulation and hierarchical cluster analysis were used in this study.

Findings

The study demonstrated an important convergence in the perceptions of producers about consumers and the real behavior of SB consumers, mainly on factors of beer packaging, label, style and price. Those respondents consuming just SB were characterized by having higher income, frequency and time of beer consumption and willingness to pay more for the product. Cluster analysis allowed to segment respondents into three groups: (1) beginners in the universe of SBs who also drink commercial beers; (2) regular consumers willing to pay more for SB and (3) legitimate consumers of SB averse to commercial beer.

Practical implications

There are practical implications in this study such as new products development and assertive creation of labels and packaging for special beers.

Social implications

There are social implications in this study such as the convergence between industry professionals and consumers.

Originality/value

By addressing professionals and consumers, this study generated scientific information and knowledge to assist the specialty brewing industry in developing new products and defining marketing strategies as well as creating actions for bringing producers and consumers closer together to benefit both parties.
Brand hate: a literature review and future research agenda
Authors: Aziz Rahila , Rahman Zillur
Published: July 2022

Purpose

A conceptual confusion has evolved in brand hate (BH) research mainly due to multiple conceptualizations, models and constructs in the field. As such, there is an urgent need to bring these insights together for a holistic understanding of research in BH, fostering its growth. This paper aims to fill this theoretical gap by bringing together the field of BH and delineating opportunities for further research.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted for a period of about two decades, from 1998 to August 2021. The authors included the English articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals with full texts relevant to this study, leading to a usable sample of 55 articles.

Findings

The authors’ findings reveal that the literature has inadequately distinguished BH as emotion and relationship, while the theoretical domain used to explore BH remains largely dominated by the psychology literature. Furthermore, BH research has primarily focused on services, with little distinction made between hatred across product and service context, with most studies set in developed countries. The authors further identify the need to investigate boundary conditions influencing BH and develop a more robust measure of BH to capture its dynamic facet.

Research limitations/implications

By presenting a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the research in BH and highlighting the future research avenues, this study is believed to spur scholarly research and serve as a valuable tool for the researchers in advancing the research in BH.

Practical implications

Analysis of determinants and antecedents of BH provide managers an opportunity to nip the evil in the bud by preventing such situations that may lead to BH. Furthermore, insights into different BH consequences and boundary conditions allow brand managers to devise appropriate strategies to mitigate adverse reactions and foster positive consumer–brand relationships.

Originality/value

This study provides a thorough analysis of the current state of BH research in one place and draws a road map for scholars to further the research in this area.
How to enhance supply chain resilience: a logistics approach
Authors: Song Malin , Ma Xiaowei , Zhao Xin , Zhang Liangliang
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Logistics capability is an important enabler of supply chain resilience (SCR). However, few studies have analyzed the underlying influence mechanism of logistics capability on SCR in extreme conditions, such as those of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study is to increase understanding of the role of logistics capabilities in constituting a resilient supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon the dynamic capability perspective and contingency theory, the proposed conceptual framework aims to demonstrate the relationship between a firm's logistics capabilities and SCR. Furthermore, the conceptual framework is illustrated by empirical evidence from a case study of a Chinese manufacturing company, which focuses on extracting practical lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

The findings suggest that digitalization, innovativeness, and modularization comprise potential mediating pathways for firm logistics capability to affect SCR and government policies, risk management culture, trust and cooperation moderate the effect positively. The potential associations are identified and elucidated by detecting the corresponding strategies and practices of a Chinese manufacturer that performed well amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Practical implications

This study provides specific guidelines for logistics managers to enhance SCR during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeing SCR as a dynamic capability, the framework is also instructive for manufacturers, supply chain members, and policymakers to achieve the sustained competitive advantage of supply chains.

Originality/value

The findings expand the understanding of enhancing SCR in a logistics approach. The empirical validation of propositions in the case study reveals a new vista for research on SCR.
“Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno”: understanding unauthorised file sharing in online communities from a public goods contribution perspective
Authors: Shao Xiuyan , Jiang Hemin , Siponen Mikko , Cao Cong , Huang Xiaohua
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Unauthorised file sharing (UFS) in online communities (OCs) is a major intellectual property concern. Researchers have traditionally viewed UFS as digital piracy and have suggested that deterrents, such as legal actions, should be in place. However, previous research has not considered the OC context and cannot explain why OC members share unauthorised files even when there is legislation against this in place. In OCs, UFS exhibits features of public goods contribution. Therefore, the authors claim that public goods contribution motivations can provide a compelling explanation for UFS in OCs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a theoretical model in which two egoistic public goods contribution motivations (namely, warm-glow giving and demand for resources) are tested alongside motivations informed by the sanctions described by deterrence theory, a theory widely used within the digital piracy perspective.

Findings

The authors find that warm glow and demand for resources are positively related to UFS in OCs; the effect of warm glow is moderated by users' attachment to OCs. Importantly, the results suggest that although sanctions significantly predict UFS, the effect of sanctions on UFS becomes insignificant in the presence of warm glow, demand for resources and attachment.

Originality/value

The study offers new insights into why users engage in UFS and highlights that public goods contribution should be taken into account in developing anti-piracy policies and practices.
Drivers of foreign direct investment: new evidence from West African regions
Authors: Korsah Emmanuel , Amanamah Richmell Baaba , Gyimah Prince
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically investigate the factors attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses secondary data from the World Bank and the Global State of Democracy Indices of 16 West African countries (WACs) over the period from 1989 to 2018. Fixed- and random-effects econometric regression models are used to assess the nexus between 12 macroeconomic indicators (including political risk and cultural factors) and FDI inflows into WACs.

Findings

The critical drivers of FDI inflows into WACs are the richness of natural resources, market size or gross domestic product (GDP), imports and exports of goods and services, trade openness and the currency's strength as measured by the exchange rate. The result also reveals that French-speaking countries attract more FDI than other English-speaking countries. The previously cited determinants of FDI, such as infrastructural development, inflation, tax and political stability, are insignificant in determining FDI inflows into WACs.

Originality/value

This study uncovers the critical drivers explaining the FDI inflows into WACs, where FDI accounts for 39% of external finance. The study's contribution is that Francophone WACs attract more FDI than Anglophone WACs. The most important drivers of FDI are abundant natural resources, GDP, imports, exports, trade openness and exchange rate.
The effect of superfine grinding on physicochemical properties of three kinds of mushroom powder
Authors: Gong Pin , Huang Zihan , Guo Yuxi , Wang Xiaojuan , Yue Shan , Yang Wenjuan , Chen Fuxin , Chang Xiangna , Chen Lei
Published: July 2022

The effects of superfine grinding on apparent structure, physicochemical properties, and functional characteristics of three kinds of mushroom (Lentinus edodes, Hericium erinaceus, and Cordyceps militaris) powders were investigated. Coarse and 100‐mesh powders of the mushrooms were prepared by common grinding, while a superfine powder was obtained by superfine grinding. By comparing the mushrooms before and after grinding, it was found that the mushroom fines did not produce new chemical groups but increased crystallinity. The results of the physicochemical properties revealed that the fines became less fluid after grinding. The protein content and solubility increased as the particle size decreased. The water and oil holding capacity, glucose binding capacity, cation exchange capacity, and antioxidant activity of the mushroom fines increased after grinding. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development process of edible mushroom food, as well as new ideas for the development of edible mushrooms.
Did conversion to thoracotomy during thoracoscopic lobectomy increase post‐operative complications and prejudice survival? Results of best evidence topic analysis
Authors: Fiorelli Alfonso , Forte Stefano , Santini Mario , Petersen René Horsleben , Fang Wentao
Published: July 2022

The potential complications related to unplanned conversion to thoracotomy remains a major concern in thoracoscopic lobectomy and may limit the wide adoption of this strategy. We reviewed the literature from 1990 until February 2022, analyzing all papers comparing successful thoracoscopic lobectomy versus converted thoracoscopic lobectomy and/or upfront thoracotomy lobectomy to establish whether unplanned conversion negatively affected outcomes. Thirteen studies provided the most applicable evidence to evaluate this issue. Conversion to thoracotomy was reported to occur in up to 23% of cases (range, 5%–16%). Vascular injury, calcified lymph nodes, and dense adhesions were the most common reasons for conversion. Converted thoracoscopic lobectomy compared to successful thoracoscopic lobectomy was associated with longer operative time and hospital stay in all studies, with higher postoperative complication rates in seven studies, and with higher perioperative mortality rates in four studies. No significant differences were found between converted thoracoscopic lobectomy and upfront thoracotomy lobectomy. Five studies evaluated long‐term survival, and in all papers conversion did not prejudice survival. Surgeons should not fear unplanned conversion during thoracoscopic lobectomy, but to avoid unexpected conversion that may negatively impact surgical outcome, a careful selection of patients is recommended–especially for frail patients.
A systematic method for hypothesis synthesis and conceptual model development
Authors: Grames Eliza M. , Schwartz Danielle , Elphick Chris S.
Published: July 2022

Conceptual models are necessary to synthesize what is known about a topic, identify gaps in knowledge and improve understanding. The process of developing conceptual models that summarize the literature using ad hoc approaches has high potential to be incomplete due to the challenges of tracking information and hypotheses across the literature.

We present a novel, systematic approach to conceptual model development through qualitative synthesis and graphical analysis of hypotheses already present in the scientific literature. Our approach has five stages: researchers explicitly define the scope of the question, conduct a systematic review, extract hypotheses from prior studies, assemble hypotheses into a single network model and analyse trends in the model through network analysis.

The resulting network can be analysed to identify shifts in thinking over time, variation in the application of ideas over different axes of investigation (e.g. geography, taxonomy, ecosystem type) and the most important hypotheses based on the network structure. To illustrate the approach, we present examples from a case study that applied the method to synthesize decades of research on the effects of forest fragmentation on birds.

This approach can be used to synthesize scientific thinking across any field of research, guide future research to fill knowledge gaps efficiently and help researchers systematically build conceptual models representing alternative hypotheses.
How is illiquidity priced in the Chinese stock market?
Authors: Liu Jun , Wu Kai , Jiang Fuwei , Shen Zhiqi
Published: July 2022

This study investigates the liquidity premium in the Chinese stock market. We found that the expected stock returns increase monotonically with the quintile sort on characteristic liquidity with descending patterns. The characteristic liquidity premium ranges from 0.82% to 1.28% per month, which is much higher than that of their US counterparts. Moreover, our multivariate decomposition approach highlights that characteristic illiquidity premiums can be explained mainly by size, idiosyncratic volatility and momentum. The net systematic liquidity premium reaches 0.84% per month, driven mainly by commonality beta. The finding shows that a liquidity‐based strategy forecasts cross‐section and time‐series expected returns.
Decreased severity of COVID‐19 in vaccinated pregnant individuals during predominance of different SARS‐CoV‐2 variants
Authors: Eid Joe , Abdelwahab Mahmoud , Williams Hayley , Caplan Madeleine , Hajmurad Sema , Venkatesh Kartik K , Costantine Maged M. , Rood Kara M.
Published: July 2022

Problem

Since the start of the pandemic, Pregnant individuals have been disproportionately affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Vaccination has been shown to be protective against severe disease. However, data on effectiveness of vaccine in reducing disease severity are limited in pregnant individuals who later developed COVID‐19.

Method of study

This is a single academic center retrospective cohort study of pregnant individuals who tested positive for COVID‐19 from December 2020 through January 2022. The cohort was divided into two groups based on vaccination status. The primary outcome of our study was progression to severe or critical disease. A secondary analysis was performed based on the timeframes of predominance of different variants of SARS‐CoV‐2, to determine whether the effect of vaccination was different during these epochs.

Results

Our cohort included 472 patients among which 125 (26.5%) were vaccinated and 347 were unvaccinated. None of the patients in the vaccinated group who later developed COVID‐19 progressed to severe or critical disease compared to 7.2% in the unvaccinated one (p < .01). Similarly, after adjusting for medical comorbidities, obesity, receipt of monoclonal antibodies, and trimester at diagnosis, vaccinated individuals who later developed COVID‐19 were less likely to be admitted to the hospital (1.6% vs. 14.7%, aOR .14, 95% CI .22–.47) compared with unvaccinated ones.

Conclusion

Vaccination against SARS‐CoV‐2 in pregnant individuals who later develop a breakthrough infection, is associated with decreased progression to severe or critical COVID‐19, and need for hospital and ICU admissions. Vaccination is specifically effective during the predominance of the more severe Delta variant.