bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploiting long read sequencing to detect azole fungicide resistance mutations inPyrenophora teresusing unique molecular identifiers
Authors: Zulak Katherine G. , Farfan-Caceres Lina , Knight Noel L. , Lopez-Ruiz Francisco J.
Published: May 2023

Resistance to fungicides is a global challenge as target proteins under selection can evolve rapidly, reducing fungicide efficacy. To manage resistance, detection technologies must be fast and flexible enough to cope with a rapidly increasing number of mutations. The most important agricultural fungicides are azoles that target the ergosterol biosynthetic enzyme sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51). Mutations associated with azole resistance in theCyp51promoter and coding sequence can co-occur in the same allele at different positions and codons, increasing the complexity of resistance detection. Resistance mutations arise rapidly and cannot be detected using traditional amplification-based methods if they are not known. To capture the complexity of azole resistance in two net blotch pathogens of barley we used the Oxford Nanopore MinION to sequence the promoter and coding sequence ofCyp51A. This approach detected all currently known mutations from biologically complex samples increasing the simplicity of resistance detection as multiple alleles can be profiled in a single assay. With the mobility and decreasing cost of long read sequencing, we demonstrate this approach is broadly applicable for characterizing resistance within known agrochemical target sites.
Dopamine D2 receptors in mossy cells reduce excitatory transmission and are essential for hippocampal function
Authors: Gulfo Michelle C. , Lebowitz Joseph J. , Ramos Czarina , Hwang Dong-Woo , Nasrallah Kaoutsar , Castillo Pablo E.
Published: May 2023

Hilar mossy cells (MCs) are principal excitatory neurons of the dentate gyrus (DG) that play critical roles in hippocampal function and have been implicated in brain disorders such as anxiety and epilepsy. However, the mechanisms by which MCs contribute to DG function and disease are poorly understood. Expression from the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) gene (Drd2) promoter is a defining feature of MCs, and previous work indicates a key role for dopaminergic signaling in the DG. Additionally, the involvement of D2R signaling in cognition and neuropsychiatric conditions is well-known. Surprisingly, though, the function of MC D2Rs remain largely unexplored. In this study, we show that selective and conditional removal ofDrd2from MCs of adult mice impaired spatial memory, promoted anxiety-like behavior and was proconvulsant. To determine the subcellular expression of D2Rs in MCs, we used a D2R knockin mouse which revealed that D2Rs are enriched in the inner molecular layer of the DG, where MCs establish synaptic contacts with granule cells. D2R activation by exogenous and endogenous dopamine reduced MC to dentate granule cells (GC) synaptic transmission, most likely by a presynaptic mechanism. In contrast, removingDrd2from MCs had no significant impact on MC excitatory inputs and passive and active properties. Our findings support that MC D2Rs are essential for proper DG function by reducing MC excitatory drive onto GCs. Lastly, impairment of MC D2R signaling could promote anxiety and epilepsy, therefore highlighting a potential therapeutic target.

SIGNIFICANCE

Growing evidence indicates that hilar mossy cells (MCs) of the dentate gyrus play critical but incompletely understood roles in memory and brain disorders, including anxiety and epilepsy. Dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs), implicated in cognition and several psychiatric and neurological disorders, are considered to be characteristically expressed by MCs. Still, the subcellular localization and function of MC D2Rs are largely unknown. We report that removing theDrd2gene specifically from MCs of adult mice impaired spatial memory and was anxiogenic and proconvulsant. We also found that D2Rs are enriched where MCs synaptically contact dentate granule cells (GC) and reduce MC-GC transmission. This work uncovered the functional significance of MC D2Rs, thus highlighting their therapeutic potential in D2R- and MC-associated pathologies.
Quantifying the relationship between within-host dynamics and transmission for viral diseases of livestock
Authors: Gubbins Simon
Published: May 2023

Understanding the population dynamics of an infectious disease requires linking within-host dynamics and between-host transmission in a quantitative manner, but this is seldom done in practice. Here a simple phenomenological model for viral dynamics within a host is linked to between-host transmission by assuming that the probability of transmission is related to log viral titre. Data from transmission experiments for two viral diseases of livestock, foot-and- mouth disease virus in cattle and swine influenza virus in pigs, are used to parameterise the model and, importantly, test the underlying assumptions. The model allows the relationship between within-host parameters and transmission to be determined explicitly through their influence on the individual reproduction number and generation time. Furthermore, these critical within-host parameters (time and level of peak titre, viral growth and clearance rates) can be computed from more complex within-host models, raising the possibility of assessing the impact of within-host processes on between-host transmission in a more detailed quantitative manner.

Author summary

For a pathogen to be able to transmit between hosts it must replicate to a sufficiently high level within an infected host. Because of this linking the dynamics of a pathogen within a host to transmission between hosts is important for understanding an infectious disease and its control. In this study I develop a simple mathematical model for the within-host dynamics and combine it with a model relating the probability of transmission to the level of the pathogen. I use the model derive explicit relationships between parameters related to the within-host dynamics, such as viral growth and clearance rates, and summary transmission measures, such as the reproduction number and generation time. I test the assumptions in the underlying model and estimate parameters using data from transmission experiments for two important viral diseases, foot-and-mouth disease virus in cattle and swine influenza virus in pigs. Identifying the critical within host parameters that influence transmission allows the impact of within-host processes on between-host transmission to be investigated in a more detailed quantitative manner.
Genetic inactivation of essentialHSF1reveals an isolated transcriptional stress response selectively induced by protein misfolding
Authors: Ciccarelli Michela , Masser Anna E. , Kaimal Jayasankar Mohanakrishnan , Planells Jordi , Andréasson Claes
Published: May 2023

Heat Shock Factor 1 (Hsf1) in yeast drives the basal transcription of key proteostasis factors and its activity is induced as part of the core heat shock response. Exploring Hsf1 specific functions has been challenging due to the essential nature of theHSF1gene and the extensive overlap of target promoters with environmental stress response (ESR) transcription factors Msn2 and Msn4 (Msn2/4). In this study, we constructed a viablehsf1Δ strain by replacing theHSF1open reading frame with genes that constitutively express Hsp40, Hsp70 and Hsp90 from Hsf1-independent promoters. Phenotypic analysis showed that thehsf1Δ strain grow slowly, is sensitive to heat as well as protein misfolding and accumulates protein aggregates. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the transcriptional response to protein misfolding induced by azetidine-2-carboxylic acid is fully dependent of Hsf1. In contrast, thehsf1Δ strain responded to heat shock through the ESR. Following HS, Hsf1 and Msn2/4 showed functional compensatory induction with stronger activation of the remaining stress pathway when the other branch was inactivated. Thus, we provide a long overdue genetic test of the function of Hsf1 in yeast using the novelhsf1Δ construct. Our data highlight that the accumulation of misfolded proteins is uniquely sensed by Hsf1-Hsp70 chaperone titration inducing a highly selective transcriptional stress response.
Asparagine synthetase and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor are critical responders to nutrient supply inKRASmutant colorectal cancer
Authors: Lu Lingeng , Zhang Qian , Shen Xinyi , Zhen Pinyi , Marin Audrey , Milian Rolando Garcia- , Roper Jatin , Khan Sajid A. , Johnson Caroline H.
Published: May 2023

The nutrient status of the tumor microenvironment has major impacts on cell growth. Under nutrient depletion, asparagine synthetase (ASNS)-mediated asparagine production increases to sustain cell survival. G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER1) signaling converges via cAMP/PI3K/AKT with KRAS signaling to regulateASNSexpression. However, the role of GPER1 in CRC progression is still debated, and the effect of nutrient supply on bothASNSandGPER1relative toKRASgenotype is not well understood. Here, we modeled a restricted nutrient supply by eliminating glutamine from growing cancer cells in a 3D spheroid model of human female SW48KRASwild-type (WT) andKRASG12A mutant (MT) CRC cells, to examine effects onASNSandGPER1expression. Glutamine depletion significantly inhibited cell growth in bothKRASMT and WT cells; however,ASNSandGPER1were upregulated inKRASMT compared to WT cells. When nutrient supply was adequate,ASNSandGPER1were not altered between cell lines. The impact of estradiol, a ligand for GPER1, was examined for any additional effects on cell growth. Under glutamine deplete conditions, estradiol decreased the growth ofKRASWT cells but had no effect onKRASMT cells; estradiol had no additive or diminutive effect on the upregulation ofASNSorGPER1between the cell lines. We further examined the association ofGPER1andASNSlevels with overall survival in a clinical colon cancer cohort of The Cancer Genome Atlas. Both highGPER1andASNSexpression associated with poorer overall survival for females only in advanced stage tumors. These findings suggest thatKRASMT cells have mechanisms in place that respond to decreased nutrient supply, typically observed in advanced tumors, by increasing the expression ofASNSandGPER1to drive cell growth. Furthermore,KRASMT cells are resistant to the protective effects of estradiol under nutrient deplete conditions. ASNS and GPER1 may therefore be potential therapeutic targets that can be exploited to manage and controlKRASMT CRC.
Local changes in potassium ions modulate dendritic integration
Authors: Nordentoft Malthe Skytte , Papoutsi Athanasia , Takahashi Naoya , Heltberg Mathias Spliid , Jensen Mogens Høgh , Rasmussen Rune Nguyen
Published: May 2023

During neuronal activity the extracellular concentration of potassium ions ([K+]o) increases substantially above resting levels, but it remains unclear what role these [K+]ochanges play in dendritic integration of synaptic inputs. We used mathematical formulations and biophysical modeling to explore the role of activity-dependent K+changes near dendritic segments of a visual cortex pyramidal neuron, receiving synaptic inputs tuned to stimulus orientation. We found that the fine-scale spatial arrangement of inputs dictates the magnitude of [K+]ochanges around the dendrites: Dendritic segments with similarly-tuned inputs can attain substantially higher [K+]oincreases than segments with diversely-tuned inputs. These [K+]oelevations in turn increase dendritic excitability, leading to more robust and prolonged dendritic spikes. Ultimately, these local effects amplify the gain of neuronal input-output transformations, causing higher orientation-tuned somatic firing rates without compromising orientation selectivity. Our results suggest that local activity-dependent [K+]ochanges around dendrites may act as a “volume knob” that determines the impact of synaptic inputs on feature-tuned neuronal firing.
Why millennials of smart city are willing to pay premium for toxic-free food products: social media perspective
Authors: Trivedi Mridul , Bulsara Hemantkumar P. , Shukla Yupal
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the smart city millennials’ willingness to pay a premium (WTP) toward toxic-free food products (TFPs). Specifically, it explores the role of social media and environmental concern (EC), using the theory of planned behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a self-administered questionnaire to gather data from 337 millennials living in an Indian smart city, and analyzed them using PLS-SEM.

Findings

The authors found that both EC and social media influence millennials' attitude and purchase intention (PI). The PI so formed, in turn, has both a significant and positive influence on the WTP for TFPs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, the study is possibly pioneering, especially in the Indian context, as it considers the theory of planned behavior (TPB)'s perspective on millennials of a smart city with respect to TFP. Besides, data on the willingness to pay premium vis-à-vis the social media influence have also shed light on the contexts' uniqueness.
Determinants of Polish young adults' attitudes toward food safety
Authors: Czernyszewicz Eugenia
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Determine the elements of young adult consumers' attitudes toward food safety using a food safety attitude (FSA) questionnaire and identify the factors influencing them.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a descriptive and explanatory perspective to the research problem. Determination of students' attitudes was carried out by direct survey using a questionnaire. The ABC model of attitude was used to construct the statements in the questionnaire. The respondents' answers were analyzed using statistical methods.

Findings

The proposed questionnaire has proven to be a useful tool for assessing food safety attitudes and has identified important new elements in consumers' attitudes. Students' attitudes toward food safety are shaped by sociodemographic and psychosocial factors such as customer type, attitude toward risk, and how they make food purchasing decisions.

Research limitations/implications

Information about students' attitudes was obtained only from surveys. The survey results provide valuable insights for business practice.

Practical implications

Findings can be used to increase the effectiveness of efforts by various organizations aimed at changing consumer attitudes and behavior and to help understand why consumers implement some food safety behaviors and not others.

Social implications

The research results will help more effectively target efforts to change consumer attitudes, which could translate into a reduction in cases of illness caused by eating unsafe food or following proper practices when shopping and at the home preparation stage.

Originality/value

Development of a reliable tool for the study of attitudes. Identify the new elements of young adult consumers' attitudes and the factors that shape them.
Embedding Canva into the marketing classroom: a dialogic and social learning approach to classroom innovation
Authors: Hinchcliff Mercedez , Mehmet Michael
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a conceptual framework as a six-stage guided implementation for educators to embed Canva (an online design tool) into their marketing subjects to encourage super-skills of the 21st century including stronger collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication which in turn increases a student's work readiness.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework is designed from sociocultural and experiential approaches of learning and teaching. It is based on dialogic and social learning theories and guided by the 21st century skills, experience, student interactions and reflections.

Findings

Based on the initial staff and student reflections and the author's extensive teaching experience, the implementation of Canva into marketing subjects suggests students are increasing their creativity, design, collaborative and critical thinking skills due to the unique features of the tool. This is suggestive that the implementation process developed through the conceptual framework of embedding Canva supported not only the students’ learning experience but allowed for a more immersive experience for teaching staff as well.

Originality/value

This paper provides a pedagogical and theoretically supported rationalisation for a staged approach to embed Canva into a classroom to assist educators in fostering students’ critical thinking skills, communication, collaboration whilst encouraging higher quality and creativity of assessments. This paper may have a continued flow on effect to student's work readiness by equipping them with a needed marketing tool in their career pursuits.
Government emergency aid and perceived financial security in COVID-19: evidence from a sample of vulnerable women in Brazil
Authors: Rabelo Dutra Vanessa , Mendonça Flores Silvia Amélia , Mendes Vieira Kelmara , Bunde Altacir
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine if public policy satisfaction is related with perceived financial security. The public policy examined is an emergency income policy in Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a questionnaire to interview a random sample of 235 single-parent women who received Emergency Aid (EA) resources in Brazil during the pandemic. The questionnaire included measures of financial security, financial anxiety, financial resilience and profile aspects. The authors applied a multiple regression approach to identify the determinants of financial security during the pandemic.

Findings

Our findings show that factors such as satisfaction with the emerging income policy and financial resilience are positively related to perceived financial security. Financial anxiety, financial fragility and job loss in the pandemic are negatively related with perceived financial security.

Research limitations/implications

While our results correspond to a random probabilistic sample of women residing in southern Brazil, they may not be generalizable to Brazil as a whole.

Practical implications

This study provides evidence of the financial situation in the pandemic for the lives of economically vulnerable women. The research encourages government and financial institutions to understand the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations during the pandemic and analyzes the direct results of EA. The study contributes to the establishment of policies to support vulnerable populations, encouraging security and financial resilience.

Originality/value

This research is innovative in its analysis of women’s financial situations during the pandemic, taking into consideration both behavioral aspects and profiles. Our focus on a specific case of emergency income policy adds to the understanding of the relation of such policies on vulnerable populations.
Social enablers of Industry 4.0 technology adoption: transformational leadership and emotional intelligence
Authors: van Dun Desirée H. , Kumar Maneesh
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Many manufacturers are exploring adopting smart technologies in their operations, also referred to as the shift towards “Industry 4.0”. Employees' contribution to high-tech initiatives is key to successful Industry 4.0 technology adoption, but few studies have examined the determinants of employee acceptance. This study, therefore, aims to explore how managers affect employees' acceptance of Industry 4.0 technology, and, in turn, Industry 4.0 technology adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

Rooted in the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model and social exchange theory, this inductive research follows an in-depth comparative case study approach. The two studied Dutch manufacturing firms engaged in the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in their primary processes, including cyber-physical systems and augmented reality. A mix of qualitative methods was used, consisting of field visits and 14 semi-structured interviews with managers and frontline employees engaged in Industry 4.0 technology adoption.

Findings

The cross-case comparison introduces the manager's need to adopt a transformational leadership style for employees to accept Industry 4.0 technology adoption as an organisational-level factor that extends existing Industry 4.0 technology user acceptance theorising. Secondly, manager's and employee's recognition and serving of their own and others' emotions through emotional intelligence are proposed as an additional individual-level factor impacting employees' acceptance and use of Industry 4.0 technologies.

Originality/value

Synthesising these insights with those from the domain of Organisational Behaviour, propositions were derived from theorising the social aspects of effective Industry 4.0 technology adoption.
Prevalence and characteristics of mental and physical disorders among female prisoners: a mixed-methods systematic review
Authors: Friestad Christine , Haukvik Unn Kristin , Johnsen Berit , Vatnar Solveig Karin
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to provide an overview and quality appraisal of the current scientific evidence concerning the prevalence and characteristics of mental and physical disorders among sentenced female prisoners.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods systematic literature review.

Findings

A total of 4 reviews and 39 single studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Mental disorders were the main area of investigation in the majority of single studies, with substance abuse, particularly drug abuse, as the most consistently gender biased disorder, with higher prevalence among women than men in prison. The review identified a lack of updated systematic evidence on the presence of multi-morbidity.

Originality/value

This study provides an up-to-date overview and quality appraisal of the current scientific evidence concerning the prevalence and characteristics of mental and physical disorders among female prisoners.
A learning trajectory planning for vibration suppression of industrial robot
Authors: Zou Yanbiao , Liu Tao , Zhang Tie , Chu Hubo
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a learning exponential jerk trajectory planning to suppress the residual vibrations of industrial robots.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on finite impulse response filter technology, a step signal with a proper amplitude first passes through two linear filters and then performs exponential filter shaping to obtain an exponential jerk trajectory and cancel oscillation modal. An iterative learning strategy designed by gradient descent principle is used to adjust the parameters of exponential filter online and achieve the maximum vibration suppression effect.

Findings

By building a SCARA robot experiment platform, a series of contrast experiments are conducted. The results show that the proposed method can effectively suppress residual vibration compared to zero vibration shaper and zero vibration and derivative shaper.

Originality/value

The idea of the adopted iterative leaning strategy is simple and reduces the computing power of the controller. A cheap acceleration sensor is available because it just needs to measure vibration energy to feedback. Therefore, the proposed method can be applied to production practice.
Financial development, growth and productivity
Authors: Magazzino Cosimo , Santeramo Fabio Gaetano
Published: May 2023

Purpose

In this paper, the heterogeneity of the linkages among financial development, productivity and growth across income groups is emphasized.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical analysis is conducted with an illustrative sample of 130 economies over the period 1991–2019 and classified into four subsamples: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), developing, least developed and net food importing developing countries. Forecast error variance decompositions and panel vector auto-regressive estimations are computed, with insightful findings.

Findings

Higher levels of output stimulate the economic development in the agricultural sector, mainly via the productivity channel and, in the most developed economies, also through access to credit. Differently, in developing and least developed economies, the role of access to credit is marginal. The findings have practical implications for stakeholders involved in the planning of long-run investments. In less developed economies, priorities should be given to investments in technology and innovation, whereas financial markets are more suited to boost the development of the agricultural sector of developed economies.

Originality/value

The authors conclude on the credit–output–productivity nexus and contribute to the literature in (at least) three ways. First, they assess how credit access, agricultural output and agricultural productivity are jointly determined. Second, they use a novel approach, which departs from most of the case studies based on single-country data. Third, they conclude on potential causality links to conclude on policy implications.
How resistance to change impairs innovation
Authors: Nowak Radoslaw M.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The study identifies the gap in the understanding of how employee resistance to change (RTC) could impact different stages of the process of innovation. To address this research gap, the paper introduces a new model, which theorizes three moderating effects of RTC on the different elements of absorptive capacity (ACAP).

Design/methodology/approach

This study empirically tests the proposed model, using survey data collected from healthcare organizations in the United States of America.

Findings

First, the study reveals that RTC could damage the critical “connectedness” between potential absorptive capacity (PACAP) and realized absorptive capacity (RACAP), thus limiting the organization's ability to exploit new knowledge. Second, the findings also reveal that RTC can reduce the positive effect of acquisition (ACQ) on assimilation – the function responsible for decoding the meaning and for assimilating new valuable information incoming from the market.

Research limitations/implications

Research limitations of this study are discussed further.

Practical implications

The paper presents specific practical implications for managers.

Social implications

text.

Originality/value

This paper advances past research and practice by revealing two new mechanisms. When employees resist new changes initiated in the organizations, the resistance of employees will hinder the process of innovation in the following ways. (1) At the beginning of the process, employees can oppose and reject new valuable ideas incoming from the market. (2) At the stage of the implementation, such employees can engage in behavior that will weaken the organization's ability to successfully implement new process improvements that could otherwise increase organizational effectiveness.
Native palms and trees mediate drought impacts on dry neotropical pastures
Authors: Hernández‐Salmerón Ivan Raniero , Delconte Valentina , van Hoeflaken Jannes , Solorio‐Sánchez Francisco Javier , Holmgren Milena
Published: May 2023

Dry forests are the most threatened biome across the global tropics. Despite their massive conversion into agricultural landscapes, local farmers often retain disperse trees and palms within grazing pastures. Understanding how on‐farm tree cover in the dry neotropics impacts the environmental and productive functions of pastures is key for biodiversity conservation and the development of climate‐resilient production systems.

We studied tree composition of 23 dry cattle pastures in Yucatan, Mexico. We assessed the effects of palms, N2−fixing trees and non‐N2‐fixing trees on microsite environmental conditions, bare soil cover and the performance of grasses and woody plants in their understory during the dry and wet seasons of 2018 and 2019.

We found that 45% of the total pool of tree species of the native dry forest is conserved in the pastures of Yucatan. Palms were the most abundant overstory functional group with a relative abundance of 45%, followed by N2‐fixing trees and non‐N2‐fixing trees with 33% and 22%.

Palms and trees ameliorated the impact of seasonal drought on grasses but slowed down their recovery during the wet season. Palms had overall higher positive effects on grass greenness and height than N2‐fixing trees and non‐N2‐fixing trees and these effects were higher during the driest season. Palms decreased bare soil less than trees. Shrubs and tree seedlings tended to increase in the understory of all functional groups as the canopies of palms and trees became denser.

Synthesis and applications. Climate warming and the alteration of precipitation regimes are expected to compromise pasture and cattle productivity worldwide. Our results show that fostering the maintenance of a diversity of native palms and trees has positive effects on the functioning of cattle pastures, especially during dry periods. A larger appreciation and understanding of the facilitative effects of remnant palms and trees on pastures during seasonal droughts may help developing more climate‐resilient livestock systems that maintain productivity during dry conditions while contributing also to tree biodiversity conservation.
Ballistic impact of hollow‐point ammunition on porcine bone
Authors: Watson Kayla E. , Henwood Bailey J. , Hewins Katherine , Roberts Andrew , Hazael Rachael
Published: May 2023

Identifying failure mechanisms in skeletal tissue allows a deeper understanding of the effects of specific projectile impacts on bone. While ballistic trauma in flat bones is largely researched, knowledge of how long bones react to gunshot impacts is limited in the literature. The impacts of deforming ammunition appear to produce higher levels of fragmentation; however, these have not been studied in depth. This study compares the damage to femora bone by HP 0.357 and 9 mm projectiles constructed with both full and semi‐metal jackets. Impact experiments were undertaken on a single‐stage light gas gun involving the use of a high‐speed video camera and full reconstruction of the bones to ascertain fracture patterns occurring in the femora. Higher degrees of fragmentation are likened to the presence of semi‐jacketed HP projectiles than jacketed HP projectiles. The observations of external facing beveled edges are believed to be associated with the increased separation of the jacket and lead core of projectiles. Additionally, experimentation has shown that the amount of kinetic energy lost postimpact is likely related to the presence or the absence of a metal jacket on an HP projectile. The observed data, therefore, suggest that the composition, rather than the configuration, of a projectile affects the type and extent of the damage.
Financial globalisation in ASEAN+3: Navigating the financial trilemma
Authors: Gopalan Sasidaran , Gupta Bhavya , Rajan Ramkishen S.
Published: May 2023

This paper offers a critical narrative of the ASEAN+3 economies' tryst with financial globalisation over the last two decades, with a specific focus on the evolution of the region's internationalisation of the financial sector. By applying the ‘Financial Trilemma’ framework, we posit how the recent emergence of foreign fintech players, digital banks, and Big Techs in finance are promoting further de facto financial integration in the region whilst also simultaneously exacerbating financial stability concerns alongside posing other non‐financial risks to market integrity, consumer privacy, and data protection. The regulation of fintechs and Big Tech in finance introduces a different type of policy trilemma for regulators across three discrete policy objectives/outcomes, viz. financial stability/market integrity; market efficiency/competition; data privacy/consumer protection. We argue that this necessitates greater regional financial cooperation by the ASEAN+3 economies which inevitably requires regional financial regulators to be prepared to forsake a degree of sovereign autonomy over respective national financial policies and to stave off systemic risks arising from the interconnected nature of transnational digital banking conglomerates.
Too cold is better than too hot: Preferred temperatures and basking behaviour in a tropical freshwater turtle
Authors: Kidman Rosie A. , McKnight Donald T. , Schwarzkopf Lin , Nordberg Eric J.
Published: May 2023

Thermoregulation is critical to the survival of animals. Tropical environments can be particularly thermally challenging as they reach very high, even lethal, temperatures. The thermoregulatory responses of tropical freshwater turtles to these challenges are poorly known. One common thermoregulatory behaviour is diurnal basking, which, for many species, facilitates heat gain. Recently, however, a north‐eastern Australian population of Krefft's river turtles (Emydura macquarii krefftii) has been observed basking nocturnally, possibly to allow cooling. To test this, we determined the thermal preference (central 50% of temperatures selected) of E. m. krefftii in an aquatic thermal gradient in the laboratory. We then conducted a manipulative experiment to test the effects of water temperatures, both lower and higher than preferred temperature, on diurnal and nocturnal basking. The preferred temperature range fell between 25.3°C (±SD: 1.5) and 27.6°C (±1.4) during the day, and 25.3°C (±2.4) and 26.8°C (±2.5) at night. Based on this, we exposed turtles to three 24 h water temperature treatments (‘cool’ [23°C], ‘preferred’ [26°C] and ‘warm’ [29°C]) while air temperature remained constant at 26°C. Turtles basked more frequently and for longer periods during both the day and night when water temperatures were above their preferred range (the ‘warm’ treatment). This population frequently encounters aquatic temperatures above the preferred thermal range, and our results support the hypothesis that nocturnal basking is a mechanism for escaping unfavourably warm water. Targeted field studies would be a valuable next step in understanding the seasonal scope of this behaviour in a natural environment.
Invasion strategies ofCynodon dactylon: Competitive ability under low‐nutrient conditions
Authors: García Silvina , Guido Anaclara , Pezzani Fabiana , Lattanzi Fernando Alfredo
Published: May 2023

Cynodon dactylonis one of the five most important invasive alien species worldwide. It is the invasive alien species with the broadest distribution range in Uruguay, and its expansion is frequently associated with disturbances. Since natural grasslands are facing processes of productive intensification,C. dactylonrepresents a threat as it could displace native species. However, the mechanisms that explain its invasion success remain unclear. The objective of this study was to analyse interspecific interactions under low nutrient conditions betweenC. dactylonand two species that are native to theCampograsslands in Uruguay. Specifically, we assessed differences in the components of competitive ability effects and responses (or tolerance) as possible mechanisms involved inC. dactyloninvasiveness. We performed a greenhouse experiment in pots with low‐nutrient substrate assessing pair‐wise interactions betweenC. dactylon,Mnesithea selloanaandPaspalum notatumplus control pots consisting of single individual of each species. The invasive species showed greater competitive ability than both native grasses, as it reduced their below and above‐biomass. Conversely, the size ofC. dactylonplants interacting with native species was similar to that of singleC. dactylonplants growing alone (controls). This reveals that the greater competitive ability of the invasive species was due to a greater tolerance to grow with neighbouring plants. The reason underlying this tolerance was a marked increase in biomass allocation towards stolons and leaves, at the expense of roots. Conversely, native species barely changed their shoot‐root allocation pattern when interacting with neighbours. Furthermore,C. dactyloninduced reproductive development solely when interacting with neighbours. Along with the fact that the potential growth rate of the invasive and native species was quite similar, these results suggest that sensitive and rapidly triggered shade avoidance responses could be one mechanism involved in the invasion success ofC. dactylon.
Claudin‐2 in hyperproliferative migrating keratinocytes and migration inhibition via siRNA knockdown
Authors: Telgenhoff Dale
Published: May 2023

Claudin‐2 is a tight junction protein found in various tissues including the epidermis of the skin. Intracellular signalling via claudin‐2 may have an effect on cell proliferation and migration. While the role of claudin‐2 in the epidermis has not been established, here we show an increase in claudin‐2 expression in hyperproliferative archival skin samples. To further examine the role of claudin‐2 in cell migration we examined its expression in cultured keratinocytes and found it was increased in wound margins in an in vitro scratch test assay. We then used a claudin‐2 knockdown assay using small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) with a 77% transfection efficiency and decrease in claudin‐2 protein via Western blot analysis to examine cell migration, which was inhibited following claudin‐2 knockdown over a 5‐day period. Cells transfected with claudin‐2 siRNA also showed a decreased size compared to controls and a more diffuse staining pattern. Lastly we examined claudin‐2 expression in migrating keratinocytes by Western blot analysis and found a significant decrease in protein staining in scratch‐test assay cultures after 4 h, followed by a significant increase in claudin‐2 protein after 24 h. Taken together these results indicate a role for claudin‐2 signalling in proliferation and cell migration in the epidermis of the skin.
Time to acute general surgical review: a retrospective study in a tertiary referral centre
Authors: Chan Erick , Izwan Sara , Ng Justin , Swindon Daisy , Teng Roy , Wong Kok Sum (Chloe) , Cooper Michelle
Published: May 2023

Background

The Acute Surgical Unit (ASU) is a busy service receiving Emergency Department (ED) referrals for adult and paediatric general surgery care alongside trauma. The ASU model deviates from the traditional on‐call model and has been shown to improve efficiency and patient outcomes. The primary aim was to evaluate time to surgical review ED presentation and general surgical referral. Secondary aims were to assess referral numbers, pathology and demographics at our institution.

Methods

A retrospective observational analysis was conducted on all referral times from the ED to the ASU between 1 April and 30 September 2022. Patient demographics, triage and referral times, and diagnoses were collected from the electronic medical record. Time between referral, review and surgical admission were calculated.

Results

A total of 2044 referrals were collected during the study period, and 1951 (95.45%) were included for analysis. Average time from ED presentation to surgical referral was 4 hours and 54 min with average time to surgical review from referral taking 40 min. On average, total time from ED presentation to surgical admission was 5 h and 34 min. Trauma Responds took 6 min to review. Colorectal pathology was the most commonly referred disease type.

Conclusion

The ASU model is efficient and effective within our health service. Overall delays in surgical care may be external to the general surgery unit, or before the patient is made known to the surgical team. Analysis of time to surgical review is a key statistic in the delivery of acute surgical care.
A canal, urban sprawl and wetland loss: The case of Kozhikode, India, from colonialism to climate change era
Authors: Bhagyanathan Anjana , Dhayanithy Deepak
Published: May 2023

Wetlands have historically been considered hindrances to development, with ‘reclamation’ considered the appropriate management practice. This is no different in India, where most cities are built on wetlands. This study examines the case of fast urbanising Kozhikode City on the south‐west coast of India by overlaying political and developmental interventions of the city with its ecological realities. While pre‐colonial settlements in the region were predominantly along the coast leaving the marshy inland areas, the need for resource mobilisation by colonial forces led to the development of Conolly Canal through the wetlands. The spoil bank of the canal spawned the development of roads cutting across the wetlands, a process continuing to this day, with consequent ribbon development. Wetland loss due to reduction in depth, core area loss, fragmentation and salinity intrusion have gone hand in hand with the city's rapid urbanisation. While the looming threat of climate change is forcing Kozhikode's planners to revive the canal, wetlands that sustain the canal (and the city) are buried too far beneath the piecemeal undertakings that have shaped the city. This paper reconstructs the environmental history of the city, the canal and the wetlands from the establishment of the city to the present, spanning a period of 500 years. Determinants of urban growth including canal construction, transport network development in line with the spoil banks and rapid urbanisation processes are chronicled to understand the interconnectedness between ecology, urban sprawl and the rationality of disaster preparedness. In this context, the future development proposals for the region are examined especially with the wetlands as the backdrop. We employ mixed methodologies to track this history including satellite imagery, geographic information systems (GIS), archives and interviews with senior citizens. This framework can be applied to other cities to understand the metabolic relationship of urban growth with ecology and its changing history.
Pest suppression by bats and management strategies to favour it: a global review
Authors: Tuneu‐Corral Carme , Puig‐Montserrat Xavier , Riba‐Bertolín Daniel , Russo Danilo , Rebelo Hugo , Cabeza Mar , López‐Baucells Adrià
Published: May 2023

Fighting insect pests is a major challenge for agriculture worldwide, and biological control and integrated pest management constitute well‐recognised, cost‐effective ways to prevent and overcome this problem. Bats are important arthropod predators globally and, in recent decades, an increasing number of studies have focused on the role of bats as natural enemies of agricultural pests. This review assesses the state of knowledge of the ecosystem services provided by bats as pest consumers at a global level and provides recommendations that may favour the efficiency of pest predation by bats. Through a systematic review, we assess evidence for predation, the top‐down effect of bats on crops and the economic value of ecosystem services these mammals provide, describing the different methodological approaches used in a total of 66 reviewed articles and 18 agroecosystem types. We also provide a list of detailed conservation measures and management recommendations found in the scientific literature that may favour the delivery of this important ecosystem service, including actions aimed at restoring bat populations in agroecosystems. The most frequent recommendations include increasing habitat heterogeneity, providing additional roosts, and implementing laws to protect bats and reduce agrochemical use. However, very little evidence is available on the direct consequences of these practices on bat insectivory in farmland. Additionally, through a second in‐depth systematic review of scientific articles focused on bat diet and, as part of the ongoing European Cost Action project CA18107, we provide a complete list of 2308 documented interactions between bat species and their respective insect pest prey. These pertain to 81 bat species belonging to 36 different genera preying upon 760 insect pests from 14 orders in agroecosystems and other habitats such as forest or urban areas. The data set is publicly available and updatable.
Host specificity and association of Cerambycidae with the physical characteristics of the wood of trees in a tropical dry forest
Authors: Vargas‐Cardoso Orthon Ricardo , Corona‐López Angélica María , Flores‐Palacios Alejandro , Flores‐Franco Gabriel , Figueroa‐Brito Rodolfo , Sosa‐Armenta Jessica Maria , Toledo‐Hernández Víctor Hugo
Published: May 2023

Few studies test the host specificity of tropical dry forest cerambycids, in this study, we examined the host preferences of the cerambycids of a tropical dry forest in central Mexico and the association of cerambycid richness and abundance with the physical characteristics of the wood of their host plants. Branch segments of 81 species of woody plants were cut and left exposed to allow cerambycids oviposition, and the branches were collected and placed in emergence chambers. We measured the density, decomposition rate, and volume of wood for each branch segment. Fifty‐seven species of cerambycids emerged. We categorized the cerambycids by the degree of host specificity: 23% were generalists, 14% were specialists, and for 63% of the data were insufficient to determine specificity. For the first time we report, for the tropical dry forest, preference patterns between Cerambycidae (subfamilies and species) and their host plants (families and species). Physical characteristics of wood, such as density and decomposition rate, were strongly related to the presence of cerambycids. Cerambycidae in this forest use wood resources that decompose at an intermediate rate and are relatively soft. The cerambycids were most often generalists, and specific cerambycid/tree species associations were rare, but close commensal relationships were found at the level of subfamilies and plant families. Cerambycid richness and abundance depend on the type of host, medium decomposed woods, and the great abundance of each individual host in the area.
Hatching plasticity in a Southeast Asian tree frog mitigates submergence‐induced mortality
Authors: Poo Sinlan , Candia Ana Karen , Cohen Kristina L. , Erickson Francesca T. , Mason Sara A. , Nissen Bradley D. , McNear Adair F. , Reinig Jonathon J. , Sherrock Joseph S. , Aguiluz Ashley R. , Jacques Letitia L. , Jenkins Hanna E. R. , Devan‐Song Anne
Published: May 2023

Environmentally cued hatching has been well‐documented in amphibians in response to a wide range of abiotic and biotic factors. The hatching of terrestrial amphibian eggs in response to flooding may be basal within the group, but amphibian lineages in tropical Asia and sub‐Saharan Africa have not received as much attention as their Neotropical counterparts. We investigated submergence‐induced hatching inFeihyla hansenae, a Rhacophorid tree frog with terrestrial eggs. We quantified natural rates of clutch submergence at our study site in Thailand. Using submergence experiments, we found that embryos are capable of hatching early to escape flooding, and that failure to hatch results in mortality. Among the embryos that were able to hatch early, only the earliest, youngest hatchlings experienced a trade‐off in body size that persisted for 6 days, while later, older hatchlings were not significantly smaller than spontaneous hatchlings under control conditions. By incorporating our natural and experimental data into Monte Carlo methods to simulate and compare survival probabilities with and without hatching plasticity, we found an overall 3.1% increase in submergence survival due to hatching plasticity. Our findings support the idea that flooding‐induced hatching is widespread across amphibians with terrestrial eggs and highlight the importance of researching understudied tropical regions. As climate change is projected to affect rainfall patterns, the ability of embryos to escape abiotic egg‐stage threats may be an indicator of species' ability to flexibly navigate a changing environment.