bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endogenous RNA editing of a nuclear gene BOSS triggers flowering in tomato
Authors: Wang Wenqian , Ye Jie , Yu Chuying , Xie Qingmin , Wang Xin , Yu Huiyang , Song Jianwen , Li Changxing , Cui Long , Han Heyou , Yang Changxian , Li Hanxia , Lu Yongen , Wang Taotao , Zhang Yuyang , Zhang Junhong , Ouyang Bo , Ye Zhibiao
Published: June 2021

RNA editing is defined as the production of transcripts with RNA sequences different from those of the DNA template. Most of previous RNA editing studies have focused on organelles, while RNA editing of nuclear transcripts is largely unknown. Here, we describe the first example of nuclear transcript RNA editing in plant, the BOSS RNA editing regulates tomato flowering. The SNP (SNP1) located in the 5’UTR of BOSS gene (the Balancer of SP and SFT) is associated with tomato early flowering, and two transcripts of BOSS produced by SNP1 associated RNA editing show functional differentiation, where BOSS-β transcript promotes flowering while BOSS-α does not. Furthermore, these two transcripts of BOSS are shown to regulate SP (anti-florigen) pathway at transcription level in the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Our findings reveal a new layer of complexity in the control of plant stem cell proliferation and provide the evidence of RNA-editing of a single gene for flowering, suggesting that molecular breeding programs to increase the RNA-editing efficiency may improve the productivity of tomatoes and other agricultural organisms.
Early postnatal activation of the hypoxia pathway disrupts β-cell function
Authors: Yang Juxiang , Hammoud Batoul , Ridler Abigail , Won Kyoung-Jae , Hoshi Toshinori , Stanley Charles A. , Stanescu Diana E. , Ackermann Amanda M.
Published: June 2021

Hypoxic insults in the perinatal period can lead to persistent hyperinsulinism and profound hypoglycemia in newborns. We studied the impact of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1A (HIF1A) pathway on postnatal β-cell function. Rat pups were treated daily between postnatal day (P)7 to P10 with adaptaquin (AQ), an inhibitor of prolyl hydroxylases, which stabilizes HIF1A. AQ-treated pups were hypoglycemic and had higher plasma insulin concentrations. Their islets had a decreased glucose threshold for insulin secretion, indicative of a delay in β-cell postnatal functional maturation. Histology analyses revealed that AQ-treated pups had increased pancreatic insulin-positive area but no changes in the number of islets or number of β-cells per islet, suggesting larger average β-cell size. AQ-treated rat pups had decreased expression of cell cycle genes and decreased numbers of proliferating β-cells. In conclusion, pharmacologic activation of the HIF1A pathway in the early postnatal period leads to hyperinsulinism, due to the persistence of a low glucose threshold for insulin secretion, and to decreased early postnatal β-cell proliferation, suggesting it can impact adult β-cell mass and diabetes risk.
A deep generative model of 3D single-cell organization
Authors: Donovan-Maiye Rory M. , Brown Jackson M. , Chan Caleb K. , Ding Liya , Yan Calysta , Gaudreault Nathalie , Theriot Julie A. , Maleckar Mary M. , Knijnenburg Theo A. , Johnson Gregory R.
Published: June 2021

1

We introduce a framework for end-to-end integrative modeling of 3D single-cell multi-channel fluorescent image data of diverse subcellular structures. We employ stacked conditional β-variational autoencoders to first learn a latent representation of cell morphology, and then learn a latent representation of subcellular structure localization which is conditioned on the learned cell morphology. Our model is flexible and can be trained on images of arbitrary subcellular structures and at varying degrees of sparsity and reconstruction fidelity. We train our full model on 3D cell image data and explore design trade-offs in the 2D setting. Once trained, our model can be used to impute structures in cells where they were not imaged and to quantify the variation in the location of all subcellular structures by generating plausible instantiations of each structure in arbitrary cell geometries. We apply our trained model to a small drug perturbation screen to demonstrate its applicability to new data. We show how the latent representations of drugged cells differ from unperturbed cells as expected by on-target effects of the drugs.

2

Author summary

It’s impossible to acquire all the information we want about every cell we’re interested in in a single experiment. Even just limiting ourselves to imaging, we can only image a small set of subcellular structures in each cell. If we are interested in integrating those images into a holistic picture of cellular organization directly from data, there are a number of approaches one might take. Here, we leverage the fact that of the three channels we image in each cell, two stay the same across the data set; these two channels assess the cell’s shape and nuclear morphology. Given these two reference channels, we learn a model of cell and nuclear morphology, and then use this as a reference frame in which to learn a representation of the localization of each subcellular structure as measured by the third channel. We use β-variational autoencoders to learn representations of both the reference channels and representations of each subcellular structure (conditioned on the reference channels of the cell in which it was imaged). Since these models are both probabilistic and generative, we can use them to understand the variation in the data from which they were trained, to generate instantiations of new cell morphologies, and to generate imputations of structures in real cell images to create an integrated model of subcellular organization.
Indigenous ancestry and admixture in the Uruguayan population
Authors: Spangenberg Lucía , Fariello María Inés , Arce Darío , Illanes Gabriel , Greif Gonzalo , Shin Jong-Yeon , Yoo Seong-Keun , Seo Jeong-Sun , Robello Carlos , Kim Changhoon , Novembre John , Sans Mónica , Naya Hugo
Published: June 2021

The Amerindian group known as the Charrúas inhabited Uruguay at the timing of European colonial contact. Even though they were extinguished as an ethnic group as a result of a genocide, Charrúan heritage is part of the Uruguayan identity both culturally and genetically. While mitochondrial DNA studies have shown evidence of Amerindian ancestry in living Uruguayans, here we undertake whole-genome sequencing of 10 Uruguayan individuals with Charruan heritage. We detect chromosomal segments of Amerindian ancestry supporting the presence of indigenous genetic ancestry in living descendants. Specific haplotypes were found to be enriched in ‘Charrúas’ and rare in the rest of the Amerindian groups studied. Some of these we interpret as the result of positive selection, as we identified selection signatures and they were located mostly within genes related to the infectivity of specific viruses.

Historical records describe contacts of the Charrúas with other Amerindians, such as Guaraní, and patterns of genomic similarity observed here concur with genomic similarity between these groups. Less expected, we found a high genomic similarity of the Charrúas to Diaguita from Argentinian and Chile, which could be explained by geographically proximity.

Finally, by fitting admixture models of Amerindian and European ancestry for the Uruguayan population, we were able to estimate the timing of the first pulse of admixture between European and Uruguayan indigenous peoples in 1658 and the second migration pulse in 1683. Both dates roughly concurring with the Franciscan missions in 1662 and the foundation of the city of Colonia in 1680 by the Spanish.
A landscape model for cell fate decisions during mesoendoderm differentiation in C. elegans based on Wnt dynamics
Authors: Chang Shyr-Shea , Bao Zhirong , Siggia Eric D.
Published: June 2021

Geometric models allow us to quantify topography of the Waddington landscape and gain quantitative insights of gene interaction in cell fate differentiation. Often mutant phenotypes show partial penetrance and there is a dearth of quantitative models that can exploit this data and make predictions about new allelic combinations with no additional parameters. C. elegans with its invariant cell lineages has been a key model system for discovering the genes controlling development. Here we focus on the differentiation of the endoderm founder cell named E from its mother, the EMS cell. Mutants that convert E to its sister MS fate have figured prominently in deciphering the Wnt pathway in worm. We construct a bi-valued Waddington landscape model that predicts the effect on POP-1/TCF and SYS-1/beta-catenin levels based on the penetrance of mutant alleles and RNAi, and relates the levels to fate choice decisions. A subset of the available data is used to fit the model and remaining data is then correctly predicted. Simple kinetic arguments show that contrary to current belief the ratio of these two proteins alone is not indicative of fate outcomes. Furthermore, double mutants within a background reduction of POP-1 levels are predicted with no adjustable parameters and their relative penetrance can differ from the same mutants with the wild-type POP-1 level, which calls for further experimental investigations. Our model refines the content of existing gene networks and invites extensions to other manifestations of the Wnt pathway in worm.
Megakaryocyte derived immune-stimulating cells regulate host-defense immunity against bacterial pathogens
Authors: Wang Jin , Xie Jiayi , Wang Daosong , Han Xue , Chen Minqi , Shi Guojun , Jiang Linjia , Zhao Meng
Published: June 2021

Megakaryocytes (MKs) continuously produce platelets to support hemostasis and form a niche for hematopoietic stem cell maintenance in the bone marrow. MKs are also involved in inflammation responses; however, the mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, using single-cell sequencing we identified an MK-derived immune-stimulating cell (MDIC) population exhibiting both MK-specific and immune characteristics, which highly expresses CXCR4 and immune response genes to participate in host-protective response against bacteria. MDICs interact with myeloid cells to promote their migration and stimulate the bacterial phagocytosis of macrophages and neutrophils by producing TNFα and IL-6. CXCR4highMDICs egress circulation and infiltrate into the spleen, liver, and lung upon bacterial infection. Ablation of MKs suppresses the innate immune response and T cell activation to impair the anti-bacterial effects in mice under the Listeria monocytogenes challenge. Using hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell lineage-tracing mouse line, we show that MDICs are generated from infection-induced emergency megakaryopoiesis in response to bacterial infection. Overall, we identify MDICs as an MK subpopulation, which regulates host-defense immune response against bacterial infection.
Interferon-gamma and TNF-alpha synergistically enhance the immunomodulatory capacity of Endometrial-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cell secretomes by differential microRNA and extracellular vesicle release
Authors: de Pedro María de los Ángeles , Marinaro Federica , López Esther , Pulido María , Sánchez-Margallo Francisco Miguel , Álvarez Verónica , Casado Javier G
Published: June 2021

Endometrial Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (endMSCs) can be easily isolated from menstrual blood by plastic adherence. These cells have a potent pro-angiogenic and immunomodulatory capacity, and their therapeutic effect is mediated by paracrine mechanisms where secretome have a key role. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate different priming conditions in endMSCs using pro-inflammatory cytokines and Toll-Like Receptor ligands. Ourin vitroresults revealed a synergistic and additive effect of IFNγ and TNFα on endMSCs. The combination of these pro-inflammatory cytokines significantly increased the release of Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) in endMSCs. Additionally, this study was focused on the phenotype of IFNγ/TNFα-primed endMSCs (endMSCs*). Here we found that immune system-related molecules such as CD49d, CD49e, CD54, CD56, CD58, CD63, CD126, CD152, or CD274 were significantly altered in endMSCs* when compared to control cells. Afterward, our study was completed with the characterization of released miRNAs by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Briefly, our system biology approaches demonstrated that endMSCs* showed an increased release of 25 miRNAs whose target genes were involved in immune response and inflammation. Finally, the cellular and molecular characterization was completed within vitrofunctional assays.

In summary, the relevance of our results lies in the therapeutic potential of endMSCs*. The differences in cell surface molecules involved in migration, adhesion and immunogenicity, allowed us to hypothesize that endMSCs* may have an optimal homing and migration capacity towards inflammatory lesions. Secondly, the analysis of miRNAs, target genes and the subsequent lymphocyte activation assays demonstrated that IFNγ/TNFα-primed secretome may exert a potent effect on the regulation of adverse inflammatory reactions.
AP-2α and AP-2β cooperatively function in the craniofacial surface ectoderm to regulate chromatin and gene expression dynamics during facial development
Authors: Otterloo Eric Van , Milanda Isaac , Pike Hamish , Li Hong , Jones Kenneth L , Williams Trevor
Published: June 2021

The facial surface ectoderm is essential for normal development of the underlying cranial neural crest cell populations, providing signals that direct appropriate growth, patterning, and morphogenesis. Despite the importance of the ectoderm as a signaling center, the molecular cues and genetic programs implemented within this tissue are understudied. Here we show that removal of two members of the AP-2 transcription factor family, AP-2α and AP-2ß, within the early embryonic ectoderm leads to major alterations in the mouse craniofacial complex. Significantly, there are clefts in both the upper face and mandible, accompanied by fusion of the upper and lower jaws in the hinge region. Comparison of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analyses between controls and mutants revealed significant changes in chromatin accessibility and gene expression centered on multiple AP-2 binding motifs associated with enhancer elements within these ectodermal lineages. In particular, loss of these AP-2 proteins affects both skin differentiation as well as multiple signaling pathways, most notably the WNT pathway. The role of reduced Wnt signaling throughput in the mutant phenotype was further confirmed using reporter assays and rescue experiments involving Wnt1 ligand overexpression. Collectively, these findings highlight a conserved ancestral function for AP-2 transcription factors in ectodermal development and signaling, and provide a framework from which to understand the gene regulatory network operating within this tissue that directs vertebrate craniofacial development.
Most primary olfactory neurons have individually neutral effects on behavior
Authors: Tumkaya Tayfun , Burhanudin Safwan , Khalilnezhad Asghar , Stewart James , Choi Hyungwon , Claridge-Chang Adam
Published: June 2021

Animals use olfactory receptors to navigate mates, food, and danger. However, for complex olfactory systems, it is unknown what proportion of primary olfactory sensory neurons can individually drive avoidance or attraction. Similarly, the rules that govern behavioral responses to receptor combinations are unclear. We used optogenetic analysis in Drosophila to map the behavior elicited by olfactory-receptor neuron (ORN) classes: just one-fifth of ORN-types drove either avoidance or attraction. Although wind and hunger are closely linked to olfaction, neither had much effect on single-class responses. Several pooling rules have been invoked to explain how ORN types combine their behavioral influences; we activated two-way combinations and compared patterns of single- and double-ORN responses: these comparisons were inconsistent with simple pooling. We infer that the majority of primary olfactory sensory neurons have neutral behavioral effects individually, but participate in broad, odor-elicited ensembles with potent behavioral effects arising from complex interactions.
Modeling and optimization of solar-assisted heat pump drying of pumpkin slice
Authors: Dai Yaping , Deng Kaibo
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To reduce energy consumption, the time needed of drying, and the loss of ß-carotene content, and ascorbic acid content, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for optimization.

Design/methodology/approach

To reduce energy consumption, the time needed of drying, and the loss of ß-carotene content, and ascorbic acid content, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for optimization.

Findings

The results show that the optimum solar-assisted heat pump drying (SAHPD) conditions for drying pumpkin slice were: drying temperature of 67.40 °C, loading density of 1.05 kg/m3, and material thickness of 4 mm. Under these conditions, slice of pumpkin were dried in 440.637 min, where the unit energy consumption, ascorbic acid content, and ß-carotene content were 16.737 kJ/g, 25.682 mg/ (100–g dried sample), and 10.202 mg/g, respectively. The structure of the samples dried using the optimized SAHPD method exhibited a more complete cell morphology than those dried using heat pump drying when examined using scanning electronic microscopy.

Originality/value

This suggests that the optimized SAHPD conditions used in this study are important for production and processing.
Framing sports' corporate social responsibility: US women's vs men's soccer leagues
Authors: Painter David Lynn , Sahm Brittani , Schattschneider Paul
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This investigation's purpose is to compare coverage of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) behaviors of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Major League Soccer (MLS). The goals are (1) to extend CSR analyses beyond organizational reports and (2) to compare coverage of professional sports teams' CSR behaviors across genders.

Design/methodology/approach

Specifically, this quantitative content analysis compared local newspaper coverage of the socially responsible behaviors of the three NWSL and MLS teams owned and operated by the same organizations in Portland, Houston and Orlando.

Findings

The NWSL teams received significantly less and more negative coverage than the MLS teams. Moreover, the NWSL coverage was more individualistic, more focused on ethics and quoted individual team players more frequently, while the MLS coverage was more collective, focused on philanthropy and quoted team organization members more frequently.

Research limitations/implications

Although intentionally based on a sample of six teams, this study's results suggest the biases in coverage of women's sports teams extend beyond the playing field to their corporate social responsibility behaviors, reporting and news coverage.

Originality/value

As one of the first studies to analyze media coverage of professional sports team's CSR activities and to compare their socially responsible behaviors across genders, the results provide compelling implications for CSR scholars and practitioners, especially in the sports industry.
Performance of large firms in Greece during the unstable period of 2011–2016: lessons from the weak parts of Europe
Authors: Tsiapa Maria
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The unprecedented economic crisis in Greece deeply affected entrepreneurship, which was traditionally characterised by low levels of innovation and competitiveness, the dominant presence of micro-sized enterprises and the weak signs of prosperity in large firms. This paper, in acknowledgement of the necessary transformations that production incurred due to the crisis, attempts to detect the characteristics of large manufacturing firms that contributed to their greater resilience during the unstable period of 2011–2016 by analysing the determinants of the higher profitability of firms. The analysis shows that firms that improved their productivity and sales levels and in parallel are flexible, in the sense that they have limited amounts of both assets and liabilities and thus a small risk, are those that presented higher profits during the period under study. Initial conditions, sectoral characteristics and the broader national environment do not seem to have a strong contributive role in firms' profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis follows a dynamic system generalised method of moments (GMM) estimation based on a panel data set of 125 Greek large firms over the time span 2011–2016.

Findings

The analysis shows that firms that improve their productivity and sales levels and in parallel are flexible, in the sense that they have a limited amount of both assets and liabilities and thus a small risk, are those that present higher profits during the period under study. Initial conditions, sectoral characteristics and the broader national environment do not seem to have a strong contributive role in firms' profitability.

Research limitations/implications

The present paper attempts to explain the performance of the most dynamic large manufacturing firms in Greece by investigating the role of some of the most important determinants of firm profitability (according to data availability), acknowledging, however, some analysis' limitations as the absence of some other parameters like the export activity or the incorporation of any innovative features in the firms

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper lies in two points. First, the subject of the analysis is the large firms in Greece, which have not received much attention as Greek entrepreneurship was traditionally based on the light, labour- or resource-intensive production and the main bulk of the literature was not on that topic. Second, during the deep and protracted crisis that Greece has experienced, several production transformations have taken place that remain partly undiscovered. The present paper attempts to analyse the characteristics of large firms that drove their profitability and improved their resilience during the crucial time period 2011–16.
A biblioguidance approach to understanding and developing adolescents' social-emotional competence in the health education classroom: a formative research study
Authors: Banas Jennifer R. , Valley Julia A. , Chaudhri Amina
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Though the benefits of social-emotional competence (SEC) are well-recognized, measuring it and designing appropriately matched interventions remains elusive and methodologically challenging. This paper shares formative research designed to uncover the SEC of one secondary school health teacher's students and to help her make evidence-based curricular and instructional decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Inspired by bibliguidance (or bibliotherapeutic) approaches to well-being, the researchers and teacher developed a fiction literature curriculum intended to foster SEC and health literacy skills. A mixed-method approach was used to gather and analyze data from 133 students and a teacher. A survey and journal entries embedded into the curriculum, and an interview were the sources.

Findings

Results indicate the curriculum paired well with national standards for health education and a respected SEC framework; it also served well as a vehicle to reveal students' SEC. Students appeared to be competent in some areas and less in others, and there were differences between self-assessed and expressed competence.

Practical implications

Biblioguidance approaches to developing SEC in health education and other school subjects are worth continued investigation. The current results will be used to revise the curriculum and to develop supplemental materials.

Originality/value

In sharing the processes and findings, the authors hope teachers seeking to foster their students' SEC will replicate this work. Further, they hope health educators will gain recognition as the ideal professionals to deliver social-emotional learning instruction in schools.
Contemporary trends in professional development of teachers: importance of recognising the context
Authors: Nawab Ali , Bissaker Kerry , Datoo Al Karim
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Whereas the achievement of students has closely been linked with the quality of teachers and there is a bulk of literature supporting the need of teachers' preparation in enhancing their quality, professional development (PD) of teachers has been a central focus of reform initiatives in education across the globe. This paper aims at analysing the existing literature on PD of teachers to reflect on the models and characteristics of effective PD, and to highlight the importance of context in PD of teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

To respond to the aim of the paper, a search in the field of pedagogy in Education Resource Information Centre (ERIC) was undertaken. The search strings used were “models of teachers' professional development”, “characteristics of teachers professional development” and “context in professional development” restricted to time period from 2000 to 2020.

Findings

The major argument this paper presents is that the models and characteristics of PD are relative and there is no uniform model to be implemented across contexts. Instead of debating the models and characteristics of effective PD, academics and practitioners have to be watchful to the context and the real needs of teachers in a particular context.

Originality/value

The paper critiques the generalisation of Western generated PD models to the developing world especially Pakistan which the existing research and literature is silent about.
Heal nodes specification improvement using modified CHEF method for group based detection point network
Authors: AR Suhas , Priyatham M. Manoj
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to make use of multiple parameters namely; residual energy, closeness to centre and mobility of detection point (DP) for the selection of detection point network (DPN). In the novel method proposed, the path will have less number of DPs participating in the entire DPN.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed novel method will find out the special detection point (SDP) based on three criteria, namely, the amount of mobility for DP, the amount of remaining energy and the amount of distance between two DPs. This proposed method is an attempt to resolve the network lifetime problems during the communication of DPs over a period of time. It is developed for increasing the lifetime ratio, throughput, residual energy, number of alive nodes.

Findings

The simulation results of the novel method show the improvement over the existing methods investigated based on the lifetime ratio, throughput, remaining energy and alive nodes.

Practical implications

In the proposed method, the communication is done between different DPs in the network. The commutation is done using SDPs only from one cluster to another cluster. It is proposed for the implementation of energy efficient data sensing in mobile communication networks.

Originality/value

It is a significant mechanism for energy efficient data sensing of one DP to another DP of different clusters in the network. The total energy consumed for a period of time by the network is significantly reduced from the novel method.
Digital healthcare retail: role of presence in creating patients' experience
Authors: Sreejesh S. , Sarkar Juhi Gahlot , Sarkar Abhigyan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the impact of technology-enabled service co-creation on patients' service patronage behaviour in healthcare retailing. The first objective is to examine the mediating roles of spatial presence and co-presence in the relationship between technology enabled co-creation and service experience. The second objective is to investigate if healthcare service experience impacts patients' relationship value with hospitals and subsequent patronage intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a sample of 516 customers of three leading hospitals in India during the social isolation period of COVID-19. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The study results demonstrate that customers' favourably perceived technology-enabled co-creation generates feelings of spatial presence and co-presence in the technology-enabled platform. The feeling of presence enhances patients' health care service experiences which in turn predict their relationship value perceptions towards the healthcare service provider. Co-presence dominates as a mediator in terms of magnitude over spatial presence. The favourable value perception positively impacts patients' intention to come back to the same hospital.

Research limitations/implications

The study uses cross-sectional data, which does not incorporate any temporal variations in the investigated relationships. The study does not account for differences in government vs. private undertakings of healthcare system.

Practical implications

The findings envisage a digital healthcare retail system, where hospitals can enhance patients' perceptions of healthcare service experience, relational value and re-patronage intention, based on the digital mediated environment design elements, i.e. spatial presence and co-presence. As co-presence is a dominant factor, ensuring that human healthcare experts (rather than technology based e-service elements like chatbots) participate in healthcare service co-creation is of prime importance to provide enriching service experience to the patients.

Originality/value

The value of the research lies in extending the theories of presence, UTAUT and S-O-R to understand digital healthcare retailing, in order to identify the mechanism of how online co-creative platform can generate hospital patronage behaviour among patients through the serial mediation of presence, augmented service experience and relationship value.
Awareness and adoption of positive selection technology among yam farmers in West Africa
Authors: Asante Bright Owusu , Osei-Adu Jonas , Osei Kingsley , Ennin Stella Ama , Aighewi Beatrice , Opoku Monica
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how awareness influences the adoption of positive selection (PS) technology among smallholder yam farmers in West Africa. PS has the potential of increasing yield and reducing disease incidence and severity in yam production.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies the average treatment effect (ATE) methodology to estimate the rates of awareness and adoption of the PS technology and associated factors using data from 678 smallholder seed yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria.

Findings

The results indicate that the actual adoption rates of PS technology are 58 and 55%, while the potential adoption rates are estimated at 89.5 and 79.3% for Ghana and Nigeria, respectively, if the PS technology was fully disseminated. This leads to adoption gaps of 31.7 and 24.8%, respectively, for Ghana and Nigeria stemming from incomplete awareness of the PS among the population of yam growing farmers. The PS adoption is high among the educated young farmers who are members of farmer based organizations and participate in demonstrations.

Practical implications

Promotional efforts for enhancing awareness and adoption of PS should target educated youth willing to participate in field demonstrations and should focus on scaling up of PS technology to ensure quality farmer saved seed yams and enhance yam productivity in West Africa.

Originality/value

The introduction of PS in seed yam production is quite recent also its introduction to seed yam farmers in West Africa. Subsequently, a better understanding of what the adoption status would be should everyone in the population of yam farmers are aware of PS is vital for policy, research and development.
Factors influencing the smart supply chain innovation performance of commodity distribution enterprises: an investigation from China
Authors: Liu Weihua , Zhang Jiahui , Wang Siyu
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study explores the influencing factors affecting smart supply chain innovation (SSCI) performance of commodity distribution enterprises, and proposes the corresponding framework from the perspective of the application of technology to improve the SSCI performance and make up the research gap in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-case study method is adopted in this study. Four distribution commodity distribution enterprises A, B, C and D in China are chosen as case enterprises. The interviews with senior management team members are used to collect data. The combination of open coding and axial coding are used to process the data. By testing the reliability and validity, the theoretical framework is summarized.

Findings

First, we find that the technology application cost inhibits SSCI and that the level of technology suitable for enterprise development will promote SSCI. Second, SSCI in structure, management and services can improve the performance and innovation ability of enterprises. Third, the quality of multi-channel integration and degree of customization around customer demand can significantly modify the above effects.

Originality/value

Compared with previous studies, this study reveals for the first time the correlation between the SSCI performance and technology application, SSCI in structure, management and service, providing new ideas for relevant researches on SSCI, and providing new theoretical support for managers' decision-making related to SSCI.
Leveraging online behaviors for interpretable knowledge-aware patent recommendation
Authors: Du Wei , Yan Qiang , Zhang Wenping , Ma Jian
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Patent trade recommendations necessitate recommendation interpretability in addition to recommendation accuracy because of patent transaction risks and the technological complexity of patents. This study designs an interpretable knowledge-aware patent recommendation model (IKPRM) for patent trading. IKPRM first creates a patent knowledge graph (PKG) for patent trade recommendations and then leverages paths in the PKG to achieve recommendation interpretability.

Design/methodology/approach

First, we construct a PKG to integrate online company behaviors and patent information using natural language processing techniques. Second, a bidirectional long short-term memory network (BiLSTM) is utilized with an attention mechanism to establish the connecting paths of a company — patent pair in PKG. Finally, the prediction score of a company — patent pair is calculated by assigning different weights to their connecting paths. The semantic relationships in connecting paths help explain why a candidate patent is recommended.

Findings

Experiments on a real dataset from a patent trading platform verify that IKPRM significantly outperforms baseline methods in terms of hit ratio and normalized discounted cumulative gain (nDCG). The analysis of an online user study verified the interpretability of our recommendations.

Originality/value

A meta-path-based recommendation can achieve certain explainability but suffers from low flexibility when reasoning on heterogeneous information. To bridge this gap, we propose the IKPRM to explain the full paths in the knowledge graph. IKPRM demonstrates good performance and transparency and is a solid foundation for integrating interpretable artificial intelligence into complex tasks such as intelligent recommendations.
Are low- and middle-income countries profiting from fast fashion?
Authors: Khurana Karan , Muthu S.S.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

In the last two decades, the fashion value chain traveled to developing parts of the world. To these nations, it paved a path for socio-economic development initially but lately, the aftermath has costed more. This article visualizes the gains and losses of fast fashion to these countries.

Design/methodology/approach

An in-depth systematic literature review was performed to analyze the secondary data from academic journals and reports from international organizations. The authors have compiled their empirical journeys in academia, research and industry from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) based on Schon's (1983, 1990) theory of reflective practice. Further on, the article is structured using the value chain analysis (VCA) method which visualizes the aftermath of mass-producing fashion for the developed countries.

Findings

In this research it was found that LMICs have made substantial economic progress in the past two decades, however at a high social and environmental cost. It is the right time to find a balance between economic development and harm caused to the citizens of these nations.

Originality/value

At the moment the existing academic literature talks about unsustainable practices in the fashion sector around the world. This research precisely targets the LMICs where the aftermath is supposed to be much more severe. Further, it provides solutions and urges these nations to bring a substantial change throughout the value chain for a robust future.
Energy technological innovation and carbon emissions mitigation: evidence from China
Authors: Cheng Shuping , Meng Lingjie , Xing Lu
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of energy technological innovation on carbon emissions in China from 2001 to 2016.

Design/methodology/approach

Conditional mean (CM) methods are first applied to implement our investigation. Then, considering the tremendous heterogeneity in China, quantile regression is further employed to comprehensively investigate the potential heterogeneous effect between energy technological innovation and carbon emission intensity.

Findings

The results suggest that renewable energy technological innovation has a significantly positive effect on carbon emission intensity in lower quantile areas and a negative effect in higher quantile areas. Contrarily, fossil energy technological innovation exerts a negative correlation with carbon emission intensity in lower quantile areas and a positive effect on carbon emission intensity in higher quantiles areas.

Originality/value

Considering that energy consumption is the main source of CO2 emissions, it is of great importance to study the impact of energy technological innovation on carbon emissions. However, the previous studies mainly focus on the impact of integrated technological innovation on carbon emissions, ignoring the impact of energy technological innovation on carbon emissions mitigation. To fill this gap, we construct an extended STIRPAT model to examine the effects of renewable energy technological innovation and fossil energy technological innovation on carbon emissions in this paper. The results can provide a reference for the government to formulate carbon mitigation policies.
Expanding mutational spectrum of HRAS by a patient with Schimmelpenning–Feuerstein–Mims syndrome
Authors: Luo Qi , Zhang Qin , Shen Jinwen , Guan Wenbin , Li Ming , Zhang Jia , Tan Zhen
Published: June 2021

As one of the epidermal nevus syndromes, Schimmelpenning–Feuerstein–Mims (SFM) is characterized by craniofacial nevus sebaceous (NS) and extracutaneous abnormalities (e.g., brain, eyes, and bone). Here, we report a case of a 4‐year‐old boy who presented with significant skin abnormalities (NS in the scalp, extensive epidermal nevus along Blaschko’s lines), ocular abnormalities (strabismus), central nervous system abnormalities (seizure and mental retardation), lymphatic dysplasia (chylous pleural and pericardial effusion), cardiac abnormalities (patent foramen ovale), urogenital system abnormalities (cryptorchidism, hypospadias), and a tumor predisposition (embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma). DNA samples from NS, rhabdomyosarcoma, and peripheral blood leukocytes were analyzed by next‐generation sequencing. A novel mutation in the HRAS gene (c.38G>T; p.Gly13Val) was detected in a mosaic state in NS, rhabdomyosarcoma, and peripheral blood leukocytes, with different ratio of heterozygous mutation (HRAS c.38G>T) of 39.90% (9412/23 588 reads), 73.03% (205 562/281 468 reads), and 14.16% (15 837/111 842 reads), respectively. By predicting the impact of the mutation on the biological function of protein, we found that the novel HRAS mutation (c.38G>T; p.Gly13Val) had the highest damaging scores among other HRAS mutations reported so far. This is the first reported SFM syndrome patient with novel mosaic HRAS mutation, which may help to expand the mutational spectrum of HRAS and better understand the role of HRAS in the disease.
Role of necroptosis in infection‐related, immune‐mediated, and autoimmune skin diseases
Authors: Liu Lulu , Tang Ziting , Zeng Yilan , Liu Yuanhong , Zhou Lu , Yang Shengbo , Wang Dan
Published: June 2021

Regulated necrosis, also termed necroptosis, is another programmed cell death depending on a unique molecular pathway that does not overlap with apoptosis. Tumor necrosis factor and Toll‐like receptor family members, interferon, and other mediators are the factors that mainly cause necroptosis. Activating necroptosis by ligands of death receptors requires the kinase activity of receptor‐interacting proteins 1 and 3, and a mixed lineage kinase domain‐like protein, which is a critical downstream mediator of necroptosis. Increasing evidence has revealed that necroptosis does not only involve physiological regulation but also the occurrence, development, and prognosis of certain diseases, such as septicemia, neurodegenerative diseases, and ischemic–reperfusion injury. Many excellent documented systematic discussions of necroptosis and its role in various skin diseases. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanism of necroptosis, as well as the current knowledge on the contribution of necroptosis, in infection‐related, immune‐mediated, autoimmune skin diseases, and malignant skin tumors.
Microbiome of juvenile corals in the outer reef slope and lagoon of the South China Sea: insight into coral acclimatization to extreme thermal environments
Authors: Qin Zhenjun , Yu Kefu , Chen Shuchang , Chen Biao , Liang Jiayuan , Yao Qiucui , Yu Xiaopeng , Liao Zhiheng , Deng Chuanqi , Liang Yanting
Published: June 2021

Environmental conditions between the outer reef slope (ORS) and lagoon in tropical atolls are significantly different, but the variations of juvenile coral‐microbiomes in the two environments and their relationship with coral thermal acclimatization are poorly understood. We explored this issue based on local water conditions and the microbiome of juvenile corals in the ORS and lagoon in the central South China Sea. Coral‐symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae showed significant differences among coral species; Pocillopora verrucosa and Pachyseris rugosa in the ORS, and Acropora formosa in the lagoon were dominated by Durusdinium, but other corals were dominated by Cladocopium. Although A. formosa in the ORS were dominated by Cladocopium (C3u), they were dominated by Durusdinium (D1/D1a) and Cladocopium (C50) in the lagoon. Other coral species were both dominated by Cladocopium in the lagoon and ORS. The relative abundance of bacteria in the Deinococcus–Thermus was generally higher in the lagoon corals than in the ORS corals. Our study indicates that P. verrucosa, P. rugosa and Porites lutea may have high thermal tolerance based on the relatively high abundance of heat‐tolerant Durusdinium and Thermus scotoductus. Likewise, A. formosa in the lagoon may acclimatize to the thermal environment based on a high relative abundance of heat‐tolerant Durusdinium.
A rare suicide case involving fatal bleeding from varicose veins
Authors: Handlos Petr , Handlosová Klára , Klabal Ondřej , Uvíra Matěj
Published: June 2021

This case report deals with a sharp force suicide case, which may challenge the experience of many forensic pathologists as well as the studies published to date. An overview of the published cases shows that sharp force suicides account only for 1.6%–3% of all suicides and the self‐inflicted injuries are usually localized on the body parts easily accessible with one's hand including the neck, thorax, or upper extremities, as well as in locations of major vascular bundles or vital organs. Reported, however, is a case in which the victim relied on the knowledge of her medical condition and used a kitchen knife to incise her varicose veins, which resulted in fatal bleeding. The case is rare on a number of grounds: incision of varicose veins is rarely the method of choice in suicide cases, injuries of peripheral veins are rarely fatal, and so are injuries of isolated veins where no damage to arteries is suffered.
Mixed‐Status Siblings Now in Mexico: How U.S. Documentation and Transborder Experiences Shape Pathways across Borders
Authors: Gallo Sarah
Published: June 2021

Drawing from an ethnographic study with mixed‐status siblings who relocated from the United States to Mexico, I argue that access to U.S. papers continues to shape young people’s educational lives beyond U.S. borders. Findings illustrate how U.S. passport privileges as well as young people’s crossing of national, institutional, and linguistic borders shape how they navigate their migration and educational experiences within and across the transnational contexts of their lives.
Nicotine Inhalation and Suicide: Clinical Correlates and Behavioral Mechanisms
Authors: Swann Alan C. , Graham David P. , Wilkinson Anna V. , Kosten Thomas R.
Published: June 2021

Background and Objectives

Extensive evidence links smoking and suicide independently of psychiatric diagnoses, but there are questions about the pathophysiology and specificity of this relationship. We examined characteristics of this linkage to identify potential transdiagnostic mechanisms in suicide and its prevention.

Methods

We reviewed literature that associated suicide with smoking and e‐cigarettes, including the temporal sequence of smoking and suicide risk and their shared behavioral risk factors of sensitization and impulsivity.

Results

Smoking is associated with increased suicide across psychiatric diagnoses and in the general population, proportionately to the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Rapid nicotine uptake into the brain through inhalation of conventional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes (e‐cigarette), or even second‐hand smoke can facilitate long‐term sensitization and short‐term impulsivity. Both impair action regulation and predispose to negative affect, continued smoking, and suicidal behavior. Intermittent hypoxia, induced by cigarettes or e‐cigarettes, synergistically promotes impulsivity and sensitization, exacerbating suicidality. Two other shared behavioral risks also develop negative urgency (combined impulsivity and negative affect) and cross‐sensitization to stressors or to other addictive stimuli. Finally, early smoking onset, promoted by e‐cigarettes in never‐smokers, increases subsequent suicide risk.

Conclusion and Scientific Significance

Prevention or cessation of nicotine inhalation can strategically prevent suicidality and other potentially lethal behavior regardless of psychiatric diagnoses. Medications for reducing smoking and suicidality, especially in younger smokers, should consider the neurobehavioral mechanisms for acute impulsivity and longer‐term sensitization, potentially modulated more effectively through glutamate antagonism rather than nicotine substitution. (Am J Addict 2021;30:316–329)