bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
YY males of the dioecious plantMercurialis annuaare fully viable but produce largely infertile pollen
Authors: Li Xinji , Veltsos Paris , Cossard Guillaume , Gerchen Jörn , Pannell John R.
Published: June 2019

The suppression of recombination during sex-chromosome evolution is thought to be favoured by linkage between the sex-determining locus and sexually-antagonistic loci, and leads to the degeneration of the chromosome restricted to the heterogametic sex. Despite substantial evidence for genetic degeneration at the sequence level, the phenotypic effects of the earliest stages of sex-chromosome evolution are poorly known. Here, we compare the morphology, viability and fertility between XY and YY individuals produced by crossing seed-producing males in the dioecious plantMercurialis annuaL., which has young sex chromosomes with limited X-Y sequence divergence. We found no significant difference in viability or vegetative morphology between XY and YY males. However, electron microscopy revealed clear differences in pollen anatomy, and YY males were significantly poorer sires in competition with their XY counterparts. Our study suggests either that the X chromosome is required for full male fertility inM. annua, or that male fertility is sensitive to the dosage of relevant Y-linked genes. We discuss the possibility that the maintenance of male-fertility genes on the X chromosome might have been favoured in recent population expansions, which selected for the ability of females to produce pollen in the absence of males.
Liquid-liquid phase separation and aggregation of the prion protein globular domain modulated by a high-affinity DNA aptamer
Authors: Matos Carolina O. , Passos Yulli M. , do Amaral Mariana J. , Macedo Bruno , Tempone Matheus , Bezerra Ohanna C. L. , Moraes Milton O. , Almeida Marcius S. , Weber Gerald , Missailidis Sotiris , Silva Jerson L. , Pinheiro Anderson S. , Cordeiro Yraima
Published: June 2019

Structural conversion of cellular prion protein (PrPC) into scrapie PrP (PrPSc) and subsequent aggregation are key events for the onset of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). Experimental evidences support the role of nucleic acids (NAs) in assisting the protein conversion process. Here, we used the SELEX methodology to identify two 25-mer DNA aptamers against the globular domain of recombinant murine PrP (rPrP90-231), namely A1 and A2. High-affinity binding of A1 and A2 to rPrP was verified by ITC. Aptamers structure was characterized by theoretical predictions, CD, NMR and SAXS, revealing that A1 adopts a hairpin conformation. Aptamer binding caused dynamic aggregation of rPrP90-231, resulting from the ability of rPrP90-231to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). While free rPrP90-231phase separated into large droplets, aptamer binding increased the amount but reduced the size of the condensates. Strikingly, a modified A1 aptamer that does not adopt a hairpin structure induced transition to an ordered state, suggestive of amyloid formation on the surface of the droplets. Our results describe for the first time PrP:NA interaction leading to LLPS and modulation of this effect depending on NA structure and binding stoichiometry, shedding light on the role of NAs in PrP misfolding and TSEs.
Transient invaders can induce shifts between alternative stable states of microbial communities
Authors: Amor Daniel R. , Ratzke Christoph , Gore Jeff
Published: June 2019

Microbial dispersal often leads to the arrival of outsider organisms into ecosystems. When their arrival give rise to successful invasions, outsider species establish within the resident community, which can dramatically alter the ecosystem. Seemingly less influential, the potential impact of unsuccessful invaders that interact only transiently with the community has remained largely ignored. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that such transient invasions can perturb the stability of microbial ecosystems and induce a lasting transition to an alternative stable state, even when the invader species itself does not survive the transition. First, we develop a mechanistic understanding of how environmental changes caused by such transient invaders can drive a community shift in a simple, bistable model system. Beyond this, we show that transient invaders can also induce switches between stable states in more complex communities isolated from natural soil samples. Our results demonstrate that short-term interactions with an invader species can induce lasting shifts in community composition and function.

One Sentence Summary

Transient invaders can cause lasting shifts in community composition and function.
Engineering gene overlaps to sustain genetic constructs in vivo
Authors: Decrulle Antoine L. , Frenoy Antoine , Meiller-Legrand Thomas A. , Bernheim Aude , Lotton Chantal , Gutierrez Arnaud , Lindner Ariel B.
Published: June 2019

Evolution is often an obstacle to the engineering of stable biological systems due to the selection of mutations inactivating costly gene circuits. Gene overlaps induce important constraints on sequences and their evolution. We show that these constraints can be harnessed to increase the stability of synthetic circuits by purging loss-of-function mutations. We combine computational and synthetic biology approaches to rationally design an overlapping reading frame expressing an essential gene within an existing gene to protect. Our algorithm succeeded in creating overlapping reading frames in 80% ofE. coligenes. Experimentally, scoring mutations in both genes of such overlapping construct, we found that a significant fraction of mutations impacting the gene to protect have a deleterious effect on the essential gene. Such an overlap thus protects a costly gene from removal by natural selection by associating the benefit of this removal with a larger or even lethal cost. In our synthetic constructs, the overlap converts many of the possible mutants into evolutionary dead-ends, effectively changing the fitness landscape and reducing the evolutionary potential of the system.
Vapor inhalation of cannabidiol (CBD) in rats
Authors: Javadi-Paydar Mehrak , Creehan Kevin M. , Kerr Tony M. , Taffe Michael A.
Published: June 2019

Cannabidiol (CBD) is increasingly available in e-cigarette liquids and other products. CBD use has been promoted for numerous purported benefits which have not been rigorously assessed in preclinical studies. The objective of this study was to further validate an inhalation model to assess CBD effects in the rat. The primary goal was to determine plasma CBD levels after vapor inhalation and compare that with the levels observed after injection. Secondary goals were to determine if hypothermia is produced in male Sprague-Dawley rats and if CBD affects nociception measured by the warm water tail-withdrawal assay. Blood samples were collected from rats exposed for 30 minutes to vapor generated by an e-cigarette device using CBD (100, 400 mg/mL in the propylene glycol vehicle). Separate experiments assessed the body temperature response to CBD in combination with nicotine (30 mg/mL) and the anti-nociceptive response to CBD. Vapor inhalation of CBD produced concentration-related plasma CBD levels in male and female Wistar rats that were within the range of levels produced by 10 or 30 mg/kg, CBD, i.p.. Dose-related hypothermia was produced by CBD in male Sprague-Dawley rats and this was partially attenuated by 5-HT1a receptor blockade. Nicotine (30 mg/mL) inhalation enhanced the effect of CBD. CBD inhalation had no effect on anti-nociception alone or in combination with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhalation. The vapor-inhalation approach is a suitable pre-clinical model for the investigation of the effects of inhaled CBD. This route of administration produces hypothermia in rats, while i.p. injection does not at comparable plasma CBD levels.
Do These Crayfish Make Me Look Fat? Body Condition Correlates To Prey Abundance In Three Hellbender (Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis) Populations
Authors: Hecht Kirsten , Nickerson Max , Freake Michael , Colclough Phil , Stofer Katie
Published: June 2019

In ecological studies body condition is often measured as an indicator of animal health or well-being. The Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is a threatened salamander species found throughout the montane regions of the eastern United States. Although few young individuals have historically been found in the wild, recent studies in Blue Ridge Physiographic Regions have uncovered larvae in several streams. In Little River, Tennessee, differences in the crayfish population, the principal component of the adult Hellbender diet, was hypothesized as a potential reason for the large number of immature individuals, and lack of large adults. To investigate this hypothesis, we compared body condition of Hellbenders in three streams with different crayfish relative frequencies. Body condition of Hellbenders was positively correlated with crayfish relative frequencies, with Hellbenders in the stream with the highest crayfish relative frequency exhibiting the highest expected mass per total length.
Time-varying nodal measures with temporal community structure: a cautionary note to avoid misinterpretation
Authors: Thompson WH , Kastrati G , Finc K , Wright J , Shine JM , Poldrack RA
Published: June 2019

In network neuroscience, temporal network models have gained popularity. In these models, network properties have been related to cognition and behaviour. Here we demonstrate that calculating nodal properties that are dependent on temporal community structure (such as the participation coefficient) in time-varying contexts can potentially lead to misleading results. Specifically, with regards to the participation coefficient, increases in integration can be inferred when the opposite is occuring. Further, we present a temporal extension to the participation coefficient measure (temporal participation coefficient) that circumnavigates this problem by jointly considering all community partitions assigned to a node through time. The proposed method allows us to track a node’s integration through time while adjusting for the possible changes in the community structure of the overall network.
Dynamic pneumococcal genetic adaptations support bacterial growth and inflammation during coinfection with influenza
Authors: Smith Amanda P. , Lane Lindey C. , Opijnen Tim van , Woolard Stacie , Carter Robert , Iverson Amy , Burnham Corinna , Vogel Peter , Roeber Dana , Hochu Gabrielle , Johnson Michael D.L. , McCullers Jonathan A. , Rosch Jason , Smith Amber M.
Published: June 2019

Streptococcus pneumoniae(pneumococcus) is one of the primary bacterial pathogens that complicates influenza virus infections. These bacterial coinfections increase influenza-associated morbidity and mortality through a number of immunological and viral-mediated mechanisms, but the specific bacterial genes that contribute to post-influenza pathogenicity are not known. Here, we used genome-wide transposon mutagenesis (Tn-Seq) to reveal bacterial genes that confer improved fitness in influenza-infected hosts. The majority of the 32 identified genes are involved in bacterial metabolism, including nucleotide biosynthesis, amino acid biosynthesis, protein translation, and membrane transport. We generated single-gene deletion (SGD) mutants of five identified genes: SPD1414, SPD2047 (cbiO1),SPD0058 (purD), SPD1098, and SPD0822 (proB), to investigate their effect onin vivofitness, disease severity, and host immune responses. Growth of SGD mutants was slightly attenuatedin vitroandin vivo, but each still grew to high titers in the lungs of mock- and influenza-infected hosts. Despite high bacterial loads, mortality was significantly reduced or delayed with all SGD mutants. Time-dependent reductions in pulmonary neutrophils, inflammatory macrophages, and select proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were also observed. Immunohistochemical staining further revealed that neutrophil phenotype and distribution was altered in the lungs of influenza-SGD coinfected animals. These studies demonstrate a critical role for specific bacterial genes and for bacterial metabolism in driving virulence and modulating immune function during influenza-associated bacterial pneumonia.
Modulation of post-traumatic immune response using anti-IL-1 therapy for improved visual outcomes: Anti-IL-1 improves post-traumatic visual outcomes
Authors: Evans Lucy P. , Woll Addison W. , Wu Shu , Todd Brittany P. , Hehr Nicole , Hedberg-Buenz Adam , Anderson Michael G. , Newell Elizabeth A. , Ferguson Polly J. , Mahajan Vinit B. , Harper Mathew M. , Bassuk Alexander G.
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study was to characterize acute changes in inflammatory pathways in the mouse eye following a blast-mediated TBI (bTBI) model, and to determine if modulation of these pathways could protect the structure and function of retinal ganglion cells (RGC). bTBI was induced in C57BL/6J male mice by exposure to three 20 PSI blast waves, with an interblast interval of one hour. Acute cytokine expression in retinal tissue was measured through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) 4 hours post-blast. Increased retinal expression of lL-1β, IL-1α, IL-6, and TNFα was observed in bTBI mice exposed to blast when compared to shams, which was associated with activation of microglia and macroglia reactivity, assessed via immunohistochemistry with IBA-1 and GFAP, respectively, 1 week post-blast. Inhibition of the IL-1 pathway was accomplished using anakina, an IL-1RI antagonist. Retinal function and structure were evaluated 4 weeks post-injury using pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), respectively. After bTBI, anakinra treatment resulted in a preservation of RGC function and RGC structure when compared to saline treated bTBI mice. Optic nerve integrity analysis demonstrated a tred of decreased suggesting that IL-1 blockade also prevents axonal damage after blast. Blast exposure results in increased retinal inflammation including upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of resident microglia and macroglia. This may partially explain the RGC loss we observed in this model as blockade of the acute inflammatory response after injury with the IL-1R1 antagonist anakinra resulted in preservation of RGC function and structure.

Significance Statement

Blast-mediated traumatic brain injury (bTBI) affects military members and civilians as a direct result of combat, workplace accidents, or intentional terrorist attacks. The retina is a central nervous system (CNS) tissue that is vulnerable to blast exposure. Individuals with bTBI often report visual dysfunction, but the mechanisms of ocular injury are poorly understood. This study demonstrates that damaging neuroinflammation contributes to retinal injury following blast-mediated TBI. We also identified anakinra, an anti-IL-1 therapy currently utilized for other diseases, as a potential pharmacologic agent that could prevent ocular damage after blast. These findings will aide in the development of novel treatments for vision preservation.
A robust metatranscriptomic technology for population-scale studies of diet, gut microbiome, and human health
Authors: Hatch Andrew , Horne James , Toma Ryan , Twibell Brittany L. , Somerville Kalie M. , Pelle Benjamin , Canfield Kinga P. , Genkin Matvey , Banavar Guruduth , Perlina Ally , Messier Helen , Klitgord Niels , Vuyisich Momchilo
Published: June 2019

A functional readout of the gut microbiome is necessary to enable precise control of the gut microbiome’s functions, which support human health and prevent or minimize a wide range of chronic diseases. Stool metatranscriptomic analysis offers a comprehensive functional view of the gut microbiome, but despite its usefulness, it has rarely been used in clinical studies due to its complexity, cost, and bioinformatic challenges. This method has also received criticism due to potential intra-sample variability, rapid changes, and RNA degradation. Here, we describe a robust and automated stool metatranscriptomic method, called Viomega, which was specifically developed for population-scale studies. Viomega includes sample collection, ambient temperature sample preservation, total RNA extraction, physical removal of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), preparation of directional Illumina libraries, Illumina sequencing, taxonomic classification based on a database of >110,000 microbial genomes, and quantitative microbial gene expression analysis using a database of ~100 million microbial genes. We applied this method to 10,000 human stool samples, and performed several small-scale studies to demonstrate sample stability and consistency. In summary, Viomega is an inexpensive, high throughput, automated, and accurate sample-to-result stool metatranscriptomic technology platform for large-scale studies and a wide range of applications.
Single cell RNA-sequencing reveals cellular heterogeneity and trajectories of lineage specification during murine embryonic limb development
Authors: Kelly Natalie H. , Huynh Nguyen P.T. , Guilak Farshid
Published: June 2019

The coordinated spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression in the murine hindlimb determines the identity of mesenchymal progenitors and the development of diversity of musculoskeletal tissues they form. Hindlimb development has historically been studied with lineage tracing of individual genes selected a priori, or at the bulk tissue level, which does not allow for the determination of single cell transcriptional programs yielding mature cell types and tissues. To identify the cellular trajectories of lineage specification during limb bud development, we used single cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to profile the developing murine hindlimb between embryonic days (E)11.5-E18.5. We found cell type heterogeneity at all time points, and the expected cell types that form the mouse hindlimb. In addition, we used RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to examine the spatial locations of cell types and cell trajectories to understand the ancestral continuum of cell maturation. This data provides a resource for the transcriptional program of hindlimb development that will support future studies of musculoskeletal development and generate hypotheses for tissue regeneration.
Prefix Block-Interchanges on Binary and Ternary Strings
Authors: Rahman Md. Khaledur , Rahman M. Sohel
Published: June 2019

The genome rearrangement problem computes the minimum number of operations that are required to sort all elements of a permutation. A block-interchange operation exchanges two blocks of a permutation which are not necessarily adjacent and in a prefix block-interchange, one block is always the prefix of that permutation. In this paper, we focus on applying prefix block-interchanges on binary and ternary strings. We present upper bounds to group and sort a given binary/ternary string. We also provide upper bounds for a different version of the block-interchange operation which we refer to as the ‘restricted prefix block-interchange’. We observe that our obtained upper bound for restricted prefix block-interchange operations on binary strings is better than that of other genome rearrangement operations to group fully normalized binary strings. Consequently, we provide a linear-time algorithm to solve the problem of grouping binary normalized strings by restricted prefix block-interchanges. We also provide a polynomial time algorithm to group normalized ternary strings by prefix block-interchange operations. Finally, we provide a classification for ternary strings based on the required number of prefix block-interchange operations.
Bacterial Controller Aided Wound Healing: A Case Study in Dynamical Population Controller Design
Authors: Green Leopold N. , Hu Chelsea Y. , Ren Xinying , Murray Richard M.
Published: June 2019

Wound healing is a complicated biological process consisting of many types of cellular dynamics and functions regulated by chemical and molecular signals. Recent advances in synthetic biology have made it possible to predictably design and build closed-loop controllers that can function appropriately alongside biological species. In this paper we develop a simple dynamical population model mimicking the sequential relay-like dynamics of cellular populations involved in the wound healing process. Our model consists of four nodes and five signals whose parameters we can tune to simulate various chronic healing conditions. We also develop a set of regulator functions based on type-1 incoherent feed forward loops (IFFL) that can sense the change from acute healing to incomplete chronic wounds, improving the system in a timely manner. Both the wound healing and type-1 IFFL controller architectures are compatible with available synthetic biology experimental tools for potential applications.
Placenta microbiome diversity is associated with maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and placenta biogeography
Authors: Benny Paula A. , Al-Akwaa Fadhl M. , Dirkx Corbin , Schlueter Ryan J. , Wolfgruber Thomas K. , Chern Ingrid Y. , Hoops Suzie , Knights Dan , Garmire Lana X.
Published: June 2019

Recently there has been considerable debate in the scientific community regarding the placenta as the host of a unique microbiome. No studies have addressed the associations of clinical conditions such as maternal obesity, or localizations on the placental microbiome. We examined the placental microbiome in a multi-ethnic maternal pre-pregnant obesity cohort using controls for environmental contaminants and an optimized microbiome protocol to enrich low bacterial biomass samples. We confirmed that a distinct placenta microbiome does exist, as compared to the environmental background. The placenta microbiome consists predominantly of Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Chryseobacterium. Moreover, the microbiome in the placentas of obese pre-pregnant mothers are less diverse when compared to those of mothers of normal pre-pregnancy weight. Lastly, microbiome richness also decreases from the maternal side to fetal side. In summary, our study reveals associations of placental microbiome with placenta biogeography and with maternal pre-pregnant obesity.
Three-dimensional analysis of β-cell proliferation by a novel mouse model
Authors: Tokumoto Shinsuke , Yabe Daisuke , Tatsuoka Hisato , Usui Ryota , Fauzi Muhammad , Botagarova Ainur , Goto Hisanori , Herrera Pedro Luis , Ogura Masahito , Inagaki Nobuya
Published: June 2019

Inducing β-cell proliferation could inhibit diabetes progression. Many factors have been suggested as potential β-cell mitogens, but their impact on β-cell replication has not been confirmed due to the lack of a standardized β-cell proliferation assay. In this study, we developed a novel method that specifically labels replicating β cells and yields more reproducible results than current immunohistochemical assays. We established a mouse line expressing the fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator (Fucci2a) reporter only in β cells through Cre-mediated recombination under the control of the rat insulin promoter (RIP-Cre;Fucci2aR). Three-dimensional imaging of optically cleared pancreas tissue from these mice enabled the quantification of replicating β cells in islets and morphometric analysis of islets following mitogen treatment. Intravital imaging of RIP-Cre;Fucci2aR mice revealed cell cycle progression of β cells. Thus, this novel mouse line is a powerful tool for spatiotemporal analysis of β-cell proliferation in response to mitogen stimulation.
Transient transcriptome sequencing: computational pipeline to quantify genome-wide RNA kinetic parameters and transcriptional enhancer activity
Authors: Villamil Gabriel , Wachutka Leonhard , Cramer Patrick , Gagneur Julien , Schwalb Björn
Published: June 2019

In the accompanying chapter (Gressel, Lidschreiber, Cramer), we describe the detailed experimental protocol for transient transcriptome sequencing (TT-seq). TT-seq detects metabolically labeled, newly synthesized RNA fragments genome-wide in living cells. TT-seq can monitor gene activity and the dynamics of enhancer landscapes with great sensitivity, but this requires careful computational analysis of the data. In this manuscript, we present the bioinformatics workflow used to analyze TT-seq data. In particular, we describe pre-processing steps, including a reliable and robust normalization strategy, and several downstream analysis tools that enable the user to quantify RNA synthesis, splicing and degradation activities. Together, these tools form a comprehensive analysis pipeline that can be adapted to almost any TT-seq application.
Elucidating the Influence of Linker Histone Variants on Chromatosome Dynamics and Energetics
Authors: Woods Dustin C. , Wereszczynski Jeff
Published: June 2019

Linker histones are epigenetic regulators that bind to nucleosomes and alter chromatin structures and dynamics. Biophysical studies have revealed two binding modes in the linker histone/nucleosome complex, the chromatosome, where the linker histone is either centered on or askew from the dyad axis. Each has been posited to have distinct effects on chromatin, however the molecular and thermodynamic mechanisms that drive them and their dependence on linker histone compositions remain poorly understood. We present molecular dynamics simulations of chromatosomes with the globular domain of two linker histone variants, generic H1 (genGH1) and H1.0 (GH1.0), to determine how their differences influence chromatosome structures, energetics, and dynamics. Results show that both unbound linker histones adopt a single compact conformation. Upon binding, DNA flexibility is reduced, resulting in increased chromatosome compaction. While both variants enthalpically favor on-dyad binding, energetic benefits are significantly higher for GH1.0, suggesting that GH1.0 is more capable than genGH1 of overcoming the large entropic reduction required for on-dyad binding which helps rationalize experiments that have consistently demonstrated GH1.0 in on-dyad states but that show genGH1 in both locations. These simulations highlight the thermodynamic basis for different linker histone binding motifs, and details their physical and chemical effects on chromatosomes.
Lower dormancy with rapid germination is an important strategy for seeds in an arid zone with unpredictable rainfall
Authors: Duncan Corrine , Schultz Nick , Lewandrowski Wolfgang , Good Megan , Cook Simon
Published: June 2019

Seed germination traits are key drivers of population dynamics, yet they are under-represented in community ecology studies, which have predominately focussed on adult plant and seed morphological traits. We studied the seed traits and germination strategy of eight woody plant species to investigate regeneration strategies in the arid zone of eastern Australia. To cope with stochastic and minimal rainfall, we predict that arid seeds will either have rapid germination across a wide range of temperatures, improved germination under cooler temperatures, or dormancy and/or longevity traits to delay or stagger germination across time. To understand how temperature affects germination responses, seeds of eight keystone arid species were germinated under laboratory conditions, and under three diurnal temperatures (30/20°C, 25/15°C and 17/7°C) for 30 days. Seeds of species in this study are currently stored for minesite restoration projects, hence we tested for decline in seed viability across 24 months in dry storage at similar storage conditions (≈20°C). Six of the eight arid species studied had non-dormant, rapidly germinating seeds, and only two species had physiological dormancy traits. Seed longevity differed widely between species, from one recalcitrant species surviving only months in storage (P50 = <3 months) and one serotinous species surviving for many years (P50 = 84 months). Our results highlight the importance of understanding the reproductive strategies of plant species in arid environments. Rapid germination, the dominant seed trait of species included in this study, allows arid species to capitalise on sporadic rainfall. However, some species also exhibit dormancy and delayed germination; this an alternative strategy which spreads the risk of germination failure over time. We highlight important seed traits and germination strategies of plants from an arid zone with stochastic rainfall and discuss the implications for their restoration.
Some chalcones derived from thiophene-3-carbaldehyde: synthesis and crystal structures
Authors: Vu Quoc Trung , Tran Thi Thuy Duong , Dang Thanh Thuan , Phung Ngoc Thanh , Nguyen Thien Vuong , Nguyen Thuy Chinh , Van Meervelt Luc
Published: June 2019

The synthesis, spectroscopic data and crystal and molecular structures of four 3-(3-phenylprop-1-ene-3-one-1-yl)thiophene derivatives, namely 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(thiophen-3-yl)prop-1-en-3-one, C13H10O2S, (1), 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(thiophen-3-yl)prop-1-en-3-one, C14H12O2S, (2), 1-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-3-(thiophen-3-yl)prop-1-en-3-one, C15H14O2S, (3), and 1-(4-bromophenyl)-3-(thiophen-3-yl)prop-1-en-3-one, C13H9BrOS, (4), are described. The four chalcones have been synthesized by reaction of thiophene-3-carbaldehyde with an acetophenone derivative in an absolute ethanol solution containing potassium hydroxide, and differ in the substituent at the para position of the phenyl ring: –OH for 1, –OCH3 for 2, –OCH2CH3 for 3 and –Br for 4. The thiophene ring in 4 was found to be disordered over two orientations with occupancies 0.702 (4) and 0.298 (4). The configuration about the C=C bond is E. The thiophene and phenyl rings are inclined by 4.73 (12) for 1, 12.36 (11) for 2, 17.44 (11) for 3 and 46.1 (6) and 48.6 (6)° for 4, indicating that the –OH derivative is almost planar and the –Br derivative deviates the most from planarity. However, the substituent has no real influence on the bond distances in the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety. The molecular packing of 1 features chain formation in the a-axis direction by O—H...O contacts. In the case of 2 and 3, the packing is characterized by dimer formation through C—H...O interactions. In addition, C—H...π(thiophene) interactions in 2 and C—H...S(thiophene) interactions in 3 contribute to the three-dimensional architecture. The presence of C—H...π(thiophene) contacts in the crystal of 4 results in chain formation in the c-axis direction. The Hirshfeld surface analysis shows that for all four derivatives, the highest contribution to surface contacts arises from contacts in which H atoms are involved.
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and interaction energy and DFT studies of 5,5-diphenyl-1,3-bis(prop-2-yn-1-yl)imidazolidine-2,4-dione
Authors: Ghandour Ismail , Bouayad Abdelouahed , Hökelek Tuncer , Haoudi Amal , Capet Frédéric , Renard Catherine , Kandri Rodi Youssef
Published: June 2019

The title compound, C21H16N2O2, consists of an imidazolidine unit linked to two phenyl rings and two prop-2-yn-1-yl moieties. The imidazolidine ring is oriented at dihedral angles of 79.10 (5) and 82.61 (5)° with respect to the phenyl rings, while the dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 62.06 (5)°. In the crystal, intermolecular C—HProp...OImdzln (Prop = prop-2-yn-1-yl and Imdzln = imidazolidine) hydrogen bonds link the molecules into infinite chains along the b-axis direction. Two weak C—HPhen...π interactions are also observed. The Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H...H (43.3%), H...C/C...H (37.8%) and H...O/O...H (18.0%) interactions. Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions are the dominant interactions in the crystal packing. Computational chemistry indicates that the C—HProp...OImdzln hydrogen-bond energy in the crystal is −40.7 kJ mol−1. Density functional theory (DFT) optimized structures at the B3LYP/6–311G(d,p) level are compared with the experimentally determined molecular structure in the solid state. The HOMO–LUMO behaviour was elucidated to determine the energy gap.
Testing a structural equation model of polychronicity
Authors: Daskin Mustafa
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of ethical climate as an antecedent of polychronicity, then in turn the effect of polychronicity on frontline employees’ service innovative behaviours (SIBE) and error strain and the moderating role of organization mission fulfilment in these relationships in a hotel job context in Penang, Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

In the current study, the data were collected from 312 frontline employees in the survey premises. A partial least square approach of the structural equation modelling technique (PLS-SEM) was used to test the associations among study variables.

Findings

The study findings reveal that ethical climate had positive impact on polychronicity. Significantly, polychronicity made positive influence on SIBEs and negative influence on error strain. Organization mission fulfilment was found to boost the influence of ethical climate on polychronicity. Finally, while organization mission fulfilment was found to boost the positive influence of polychronicity on SIBEs, on the other hand, buffers the negative impact of polychronicity on error strain.

Practical implications

The present study procures implications for practitioners in terms of establishing ethical climate in work environment and maximizing the frontline employees’ SIBEs while minimizing error strain. In addition, this research procures valuable implications to apply efficient managerial tools and improve job results in the lodging industry context of Peninsular Malaysia.

Originality/value

This study by investigating the untested associations such as the influence of polychronicity on frontline employees’ SIBEs and error strain contributes to the related literature.
An evaluation of sensory processing training on the competence, confidence and practice of teachers working with children with autism
Authors: Ruttledge Aideen , Cathcart John
Published: June 2019

Purpose

At present, there is no research to support teachers’ use of sensory interventions in the classroom. This study aims to investigate the extent to how participation in a sensory processing training session would improve teachers’ competence, confidence and practice towards supporting children with autism.

Design/methodology/approach

A pilot study design with mixed qualitative and quantitative methods was used to evaluate the impact of sensory processing training on six teachers who taught at least one child with autism in a mainstream school. The Autism Education Trust Competency Framework and face-to-face semi-structured interviews were completed with participants both pre (Time 1) and post (Time 2) training session.

Findings

Quantitative findings presented statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in results with large effect sizes in the areas of confidence, knowledge, implementing sensory strategies, adjusting sensory environments, reviewing and reflecting. Qualitative data provided by participants corroborated this and indicated a need for further and more detailed training in the area. There was no change in the practice of teachers consulting with pupils about their sensory needs.

Practical implications

This study found that the attendance of teachers at sensory processing training is justified and the promotion of sensory processing training is therefore warranted.

Originality/value

Findings of this pilot study indicate that sensory processing training for teachers does improve competence, confidence and practice towards supporting children with autism. Review of the session to allow more detail, including consulting with the children themselves, is recommended.
The effects of peripheral service quality on spectators’ emotions and behavioural intentions
Authors: Foroughi Behzad , Mohammad Shah Khairul Anuar , Ramayah Thurasamy , Iranmanesh Mohammad
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of peripheral service quality on football match spectators’ emotions and behavioural intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from a survey of 342 spectators of professional league football in Malaysia and analysed using the partial least squares technique.

Findings

The results illustrated the significant role of both pleasant and unpleasant emotions in forming spectators’ behavioural intentions. Furthermore, they demonstrated that the drivers of pleasant and unpleasant emotions are different. While entertainment, electronic devices and stadium announcers have positive effects on pleasant emotion, facilities and electronic devices have negative effects on unpleasant emotion. Entertainment, electronic devices and stadium announcers have indirect effects on behavioural intentions through pleasant emotions. Unpleasant emotions mediated the effects of facilities and electronic devices on behavioural intentions.

Originality/value

The findings of this study suggest that football marketers must understand the crucial role of peripheral service quality and spectators’ emotions. Through stimulating pleasant emotions in spectators and preventing unpleasant emotions from arising, football marketers can ensure that these spectators will attend football stadiums.
Pathogens without borders
Authors: Paat Yok-Fong , Torres Luis R.
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Drawing insights from the ecological theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore social determinants related to pathways to high-risk sexual behaviors of international travelers across their life span.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 45 international travelers in Houston, a critical transit point frequented by international visitors.

Findings

Overall, several ecological settings (individuals, interpersonal, institutional and contextual) related to two typologies of international travelers (risk takers vs non-risk takers) and their inclination to engage in high-risk sexual practices in an international or/and local context were identified.

Research limitations/implications

This research calls for the need to assess high-risk sexual behaviors from the ecological perspective to better understand the dynamics of disease transmission among frequent international travelers from diverse backgrounds/life styles and age cohorts.

Practical implications

Prevention and treatment programs developed for at-risk international travelers should target both distal and proximal social factors that predispose travelers to vulnerable situations. To build a reliable health surveillance network, policy makers, health practitioners and educators must focus not only on individual-level determinants but also on other ecological determinants that branch out beyond the personal level (e.g. interpersonal, institutional and contextual levels). Multi-level formal and informal social networks can be developed to promote a global social climate and environment that encourage safe sex and safety precautions.

Social implications

To raise awareness, the public must be constantly reminded that outbreaks of potentially health hazards can lead to unpredictable morbidity/mortality and security risks that place a burden on our nation’s economic growth, emergency responsiveness and homeland security infrastructure.

Originality/value

The study is one of very few to address international travelers’ health risk, while abroad, from an ecological lens across the life course.
Islamic marketing and consumer behavior toward halal food purchase in Bangladesh
Authors: Ashraf Mohammad Ali
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine consumer behavior toward halal food purchase in Bangladesh. Specifically, how do individual beliefs about trustworthiness of the halal food products affect individual intentions to purchases and actual purchasing behavior?

Design/methodology/approach

To answer this question, a theoretical framework using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as its basis was established. Using measurement scales created to assess different aspects of trustworthiness, and perceived behavioral control and subjective norms, a survey instrument was developed to test the various relationships implied by TPB. Data were collected from the households located in the metropolitan city of Dhaka during the months of November and December 2017, and the analysis of this data helps answer questions about the different relationships of the constructs of the study.

Findings

The findings of the study revealed that four factors, namely, trustworthiness, attitude, normative structure and self-efficacy, significantly influence halal food purchasing. The results also demonstrated that trustworthiness of halal food is one of the most important variables of food marketing in Bangladesh.

Research limitations/implications

In reality, there is a serious lacking of halal food marketing particularly in Bangladesh. In this respect, this study can be a pioneer one and may have some limitations in terms of research procedures.

Practical implications

It is crucial for the halal food marketing and its management organizations to provide their products and services in Islamic way, because it is different from the conventional way of modern marketing.

Social implications

This result specifically implies that like normative structure and self-efficacy, trust in the authenticity of halal food is particularly important to influence attitude toward halal food purchase in Bangladesh.

Originality/value

This study is perhaps the first study in the context of Bangladesh food market that deals with the halal food purchase behavior of the consumers. In this regard, the findings of the study are important in Islamic marketing and halal food marketing.
Political advertising and voting behaviour in a nascent democracy
Authors: Abdennadher Raef , Ayed Lazhar , Wood Bronwyn P.
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of political advertising on voter attitude and the processes of decision-making in the specific context of the inaugural democratic experience of post-revolutionary Tunisia.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted in Tunisia, where the target respondents included Tunisian’s eligible to vote during the presidential campaign of October 2014. The study uses questionnaires for data collection using a convenience sampling technique.

Findings

The major findings of the study are that the persuasion power of advertising has a direct impact on voter involvement, trust and attitude towards voting. Specifically, involvement significantly influences a voter’s attitude. The hypothesis on the impact of trust on attitude, and the hypothesis related to the mediating role of trust and involvement were rejected.

Research limitations/implications

The study recommends specialists in political advertising and politicians themselves give consideration to the trust and involvement considerations of the Tunisian voter, to enhance and optimize the quality and credibility of political advertising in the future.

Practical implications

The research offers some interesting findings for professionals in political advertising, for companies operating in political research, or advertising agencies. In this context, advertising agencies need to give prescient consideration to the trust of the voter by developing a credible and believable discourse.

Social implications

In the context of a nascent democracy, it is very important to educate people so they become familiarized with the practices of democracy, and to give them the ability to make the right choice. The study recommends specialists in political advertising and also politicians give consideration to the trust and involvement considerations of the Tunisian voter, to enhance and optimize the quality and credibility of political advertising.

Originality/value

This research paper related to political advertising can be used to formulate appropriate political advertising strategies and to ameliorate and optimize the advertising discourse in the context of a nascent democracy.
Facets of business-to-business brand equity: mixed-methods approach
Authors: Sharma Priyanka , Sengupta Raghu Nandan , Lichtenthal J. David
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight various aspects of business-to-business brand equity (B2BBE) and explain relative impact of marketing/advertising, research and development (R&D), human resource and distribution network to build compelling business brands that display better firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 51 in-depth semi-structured interviews with distributors and industrial buyers revealed different facets of B2BBE. Generalized method of moments (GMM) was applied on a large-scale panel data set of industrial firms to estimate the effects of firms’ R&D, advertising/marketing, distribution and staff training (proxy to sources of B2BBE) on sales.

Findings

First, varying levels of product application criticality and end-customer brand stature reflect four distinct organizational purchase requirements, namely, assured performance, prestige, brand leaders and commodity. Second, a taxonomy of five sources of B2BBE (prominence, solutions, accessibility, relationships and network strength) manifests buyers’ interactive experience during the purchase cycle. Third, it illustrates the positive short-term effect of all explanatory variables coupled with the positive long-term impact of R&D on sales.

Practical implications

Features like B2C brand image, clear and precise product information, credit/flexible payment terms, distributor image, add-on services to the core product and upstream–downstream referrals characterize strong brands. GMM model results help managers, in budget allocation.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies in proposing a comprehensive B2BBE framework based on triangulation; deployment of a common structure to simultaneously investigate distributors and industrial buyers, to discover whether their philosophies reinforce/undermine industrial branding strategies; and suggesting the use of GMM model to arrive at actionable insights.
Colour, culture and difference in Australian teacher education: voices from the edge
Authors: Joseph Dawn , Johnson Richard
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Although much has been written about international students in higher education in Australia, there is a paucity of research and discussion about international academics especially non-whites and their lived experience in the workplace. This paper represents the voices of two academics working in metropolitan universities in Melbourne. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of how in spite of all the goodwill and highbrow research, the “corridors of academia” need to be examined in considering the politics of inclusion and internationalisation as the authors still need to address issues of colour as they exist in the academy.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use narrative inquiry and reflection to tell the story as both phenomenon and method where the phenomenon is the story and inquiry is the narrative.

Findings

The findings suggest student and staff perceptions of difference are mostly theorised but not practiced within the academy.

Research limitations/implications

The paper includes two voices, a limitation in itself, thus generalisations cannot be made to other academics or institutions. The authors recommend more professional development for staff and students alike to embrace issues of colour, culture and difference.

Practical implications

The authors draw attention to the need for academics to reflect on their behaviour within their own academic communities and be more aware of minority groups in academia.

Social implications

By including and listening to issues facing minority groups (academics and students) can only improve the social cohesion of university worksites.

Originality/value

This is an original work carried out by both authors. It raises concerns that may also be experienced international staff and or students.