bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probing the structural pathway of conformational polymorph nucleation by comparing a series of α,ω-alkanedicarboxylic acids
Authors: Shi Peng , Xu Shijie , Ma Yiming , Tang Weiwei , Zhang Feng , Wang Jingkang , Gong Junbo
Published: March 2020

Herein the nucleation pathway of conformational polymorphs was revealed by studying the relationships and distinctions among a series of α,ω-alkanedicarboxylic acids [HOOC–(CH2)n−2–COOH, named DAn, wheren= 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15] in the solid state and in solution. Their polymorphic outcomes, with the exception of DA5, show solvent dependence: form I with conformation I crystallizes from solvents with hydrogen-bond donating (HBD) ability, whereas form II with conformation II crystallizes preferentially from solvents with no HBD ability. In contrast, form II of DA5 does not crystallize in any of the solvents used. Quantum mechanical computation showed that there is no direct conformational link between the solvents and the resultant polymorphic outcomes. Surprisingly, solute aggregates were found in no-HBD solvents by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and only monomers could be detected in HBD solvents, suggesting stronger solvation. Furthermore, it was found that all six compounds including DA5 followed the same pattern in solution. Moreover, crystal-packing efficiency calculations and stability tests stated that dimorphs of DA5 bear a greater stability difference than others. These suggest that the rearrangement from conformation II to I could not be limited by hard desolvation in HBD solvents, where form I was also obtained. In other systems, metastable II was produced in the same solvents, probably as a result of the rearrangement being limited by hard desolvation. In this work, a comparative study uncovers the proposed nucleation pathway: difficulty in desolvation has a remarkable effect on the result of rearrangement and nucleation outcome.
High-resolution cryo-EM reconstructions in the presence of substantial aberrations
Authors: Bromberg Raquel , Guo Yirui , Borek Dominika , Otwinowski Zbyszek
Published: March 2020

Here, an analysis is performed of how uncorrected antisymmetric aberrations, such as coma and trefoil, affect cryo-EM single-particle reconstruction (SPR) results, and an analytical formula quantifying information loss owing to their presence is inferred that explains why Fourier-shell coefficient-based statistics may report significantly overestimated resolution if these aberrations are not fully corrected. The analysis is validated with reference-based aberration refinement for two cryo-EM SPR data sets acquired with a 200 kV microscope in the presence of coma exceeding 40 µm, and 2.3 and 2.7 Å reconstructions for 144 and 173 kDa particles, respectively, were obtained. The results provide a description of an efficient approach for assessing information loss in cryo-EM SPR data acquired in the presence of higher order aberrations, and address inconsistent guidelines regarding the level of aberrations that is acceptable in cryo-EM SPR experiments.
Plasmodium vivaxand human hexokinases share similar active sites but display distinct quaternary architectures
Authors: Srivastava Shanti Swaroop , Darling Joseph E. , Suryadi Jimmy , Morris James C. , Drew Mark E. , Subramaniam Sriram
Published: March 2020

Malaria is a devastating disease caused by a protozoan parasite. It affects over 300 million individuals and results in over 400 000 deaths annually, most of whom are young children under the age of five. Hexokinase, the first enzyme in glucose metabolism, plays an important role in the infection process and represents a promising target for therapeutic intervention. Here, cryo-EM structures of two conformational states ofPlasmodium vivaxhexokinase (PvHK) are reported at resolutions of ∼3 Å. It is shown that unlike other known hexokinase structures, PvHK displays a unique tetrameric organization (∼220 kDa) that can exist in either open or closed quaternary conformational states. Despite the resemblance of the active site of PvHK to its mammalian counterparts, this tetrameric organization is distinct from that of human hexokinases, providing a foundation for the structure-guided design of parasite-selective antimalarial drugs.
Hypothesis for a mechanism of beam-induced motion in cryo-electron microscopy
Authors: Thorne Robert E.
Published: March 2020

Estimates of heat-transfer rates during plunge-cooling and the patterns of ice observed in cryo-EM samples indicate that the grid bars cool much more slowly than do the support foil and sample near the middle of the grid openings. The resulting transient temperature differences generate transient tensile stresses in the support foil. Most of this foil stress develops while the sample is liquid and cooling toward its glass transitionTg, and so does not generate tensile sample stress. As the grid bars continue cooling towards the cryogen temperature and contracting, the tensile stress in the foil is released, placing the sample in compressive stress. Radiation-induced creep in the presence of this compressive stress should generate a doming of the sample in the foil openings, as is observed experimentally. Crude estimates of the magnitude of the doming that may be generated by this mechanism are consistent with observation. Several approaches to reducing beam-induced motion are discussed.
First synthesis of a unique icosahedral phase from the Khatyrka meteorite by shock-recovery experiment
Authors: Hu Jinping , Asimow Paul D. , Ma Chi , Bindi Luca
Published: March 2020

Icosahedral quasicrystals (i-phases) in the Al–Cu–Fe system are of great interest because of their perfect quasicrystalline structure and natural occurrences in the Khatyrka meteorite. The natural quasicrystal of composition Al62Cu31Fe7, referred to as i-phase II, is unique because it deviates significantly from the stability field of i-phase and has not been synthesized in a laboratory setting to date. Synthetic i-phases formed in shock-recovery experiments present a novel strategy for exploring the stability of new quasicrystal compositions and prove the impact origin of natural quasicrystals. In this study, an Al–Cu–W graded density impactor (GDI, originally manufactured as a ramp-generating impactor but here used as a target) disk was shocked to sample a full range of Al/Cu starting ratios in an Fe-bearing 304 stainless-steel target chamber. In a strongly deformed region of the recovered sample, reactions between the GDI and the steel produced an assemblage of co-existing Al61.5Cu30.3Fe6.8Cr1.4 i-phase II + stolperite (β, AlCu) + khatyrkite (θ, Al2Cu), an exact match to the natural i-phase II assemblage in the meteorite. In a second experiment, the continuous interface between the GDI and steel formed another more Fe-rich quinary i-phase (Al68.6Fe14.5Cu11.2Cr4Ni1.8), together with stolperite and hollisterite (λ, Al13Fe4), which is the expected assemblage at phase equilibrium. This study is the first laboratory reproduction of i-phase II with its natural assemblage. It suggests that the field of thermodynamically stable icosahedrite (Al63Cu24Fe13) could separate into two disconnected fields under shock pressure above 20 GPa, leading to the co-existence of Fe-rich and Fe-poor i-phases like the case in Khatyrka. In light of this, shock-recovery experiments do indeed offer an efficient method of constraining the impact conditions recorded by quasicrystal-bearing meteorite, and exploring formation conditions and mechanisms leading to quasicrystals.
Solution structure and assembly of β-amylase 2 fromArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Chandrasekharan Nithesh P. , Ravenburg Claire M. , Roy Ian R. , Monroe Jonathan D. , Berndsen Christopher E.
Published: March 2020

Starch is a key energy-storage molecule in plants that requires controlled synthesis and breakdown for effective plant growth. β-Amylases (BAMs) hydrolyze starch into maltose to help to meet the metabolic needs of the plant. In the model plantArabidopsis thalianathere are nine BAMs, which have apparently distinct functional and domain structures, although the functions of only a few of the BAMs are known and there are no 3D structures of BAMs from this organism. Recently, AtBAM2 was proposed to form a tetramer based on chromatography and activity assays of mutants; however, there was no direct observation of this tetramer. Here, small-angle X-ray scattering data were collected from AtBAM2 and its N-terminal truncations to describe the structure and assembly of the tetramer. Comparison of the scattering of the AtBAM2 tetramer with data collected from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) BAM5, which is also reported to form a tetramer, showed there were differences in the overall assembly. Analysis of the N-terminal truncations of AtBAM2 identified a loop sequence found only in BAM2 orthologs that appears to be critical for AtBAM2 tetramer assembly as well as for activity.
Do high-performance work systems mediate the relationship between HR practices and employee performance in multinational corporations (MNCs) in developing economies?
Authors: Abugre James Baba , Nasere David
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of job involvement as high-performance work system (HPWS) on the relationship between human resource (HR) practices and employee performance in multinational corporations (MNCs) in developing economies using Ghana as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

Using questionnaires to collect data from 317 employees and ten MNCs in Ghana, structural equation modeling (SEM), multiple regression and bootstrapping analysis were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results showed that an HPWS proxy as job involvement fully mediates the relationship between HR practices and employee performance. The findings also showed that training and development and compensation and reward have a significant and direct positive effect on employee performance.

Practical implications

This paper provides a practical guide to management and corporations on the significance of training and compensation on employee performance in MNCs. The study, therefore, recommends managers of firms and corporations to take a serious look at their HR practices and institute an HPWS, which can positively improve both corporate and employee performance.

Originality/value

This paper enhances our understanding of micro-level HPWS in the form of job involvement as a positive mediator between training and development and employee performance on the one hand, and between compensation and reward and employee performance on the other hand in work organizations in a less-studied context.
The joint production of confidence – self-regulation in European crowdfunding markets
Authors: Odorović Ana , Wenzlaff Karsten
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The paper discusses the rationale for a widespread reliance on Codes of Conduct (CoC) in European crowdfunding through the lenses of economic theories of self-regulation. By analysing the institutional design of CoCs in crowdfunding, the paper illustrates the differences in their regulatory context, inclusiveness, monitoring and enforcement. It offers the first systematic overview of substantial rules of CoCs in crowdfunding.

Design/methodology/approach

A comparative case study of nine CoCs in Europe is used to illustrate differences in their institutional design and discern the economic purpose of the CoC.

Findings

The institutional design of different CoCs in Europe mainly supports voluntary theories of self-regulation. In particular, the theory of reputation commons has the most explanatory power. The substantial rules of CoC in different markets show the potential sources of market failure through the perspectives of platforms.

Research limitations/implications

CoCs appear in various regulatory, cultural, and industry contexts of different countries. Some of the institutional design features of CoC might be a result of these characteristics.

Practical implications

Crowdfunding associations wishing to develop their own CoC may learn from a comparative overview of key provisions.

Social implications

For governments in Europe, contemplating creating or revising bespoke crowdfunding regimes, the paper identifies areas where crowdfunding platforms perceive market failure.

Originality/value

This paper is the first systematic study of self-regulatory institutions in European crowdfunding. The paper employs a theoretical framework for the analysis of self-regulation in crowdfunding and provides a comparison of a regulatory context, inclusiveness, monitoring and enforcement of different CoCs in Europe.
Impact of personal and organizational factors on knowledge sharing attitude of university teachers in Pakistan
Authors: Javaid Javaria , Soroya Saira , Mahmood Khalid
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the attitude of faculty members towards knowledge-sharing in the University of Education, Lahore. The impact of personal and organizational factors that may contribute to effective knowledge-sharing among the university’s teaching staff is also analyzed. The factors affecting the willingness of the faculty members to share knowledge are broadly classified as “organizational” and “personal” factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on permanent teaching staff working at different campuses of the University of Education all over the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The survey instrument for this study was adapted from four studies. The questionnaires were distributed among 246 faculty members personally.

Findings

The findings of the study showed that the faculty members were familiar with the importance of knowledge-sharing and were also interested in sharing their knowledge and expertise with others. The results showed that organizational factors (trust, reward system and organizational culture) played a vital role in enhancing the knowledge-sharing attitude of faculty members. The impact of these factors on knowledge-sharing attitude was significant.

Originality/value

This is the very first study which explored the personal and organizational factors of knowledge-sharing in a specific academic institution from Pakistan. The findings of the research provided useful insights to the management of the University of Education particularly and other universities in general to design strategies for enhancing knowledge-sharing culture in the higher education institution. These findings may also be helpful for other developing countries.
Enriching the library subject headings with folksonomy
Authors: Yu Wei , Chen Junpeng
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of enriching the library subject headings with folksonomy for enhancing the visibility and usability of the library subject headings.

Design/methodology/approach

The WorldCat-million data set and SocialBM0311 are preprocessing and over 210,000 library catalog records and 124,482 non-repeating tags were adopted to construct the matrix to observe the semantic relation between library subject headings and folksonomy. The proposed system is compared with the state-of-the-art methods and the parameters are fixed to obtain effective performance.

Findings

The results demonstrate that by integrating different semantic relations from library subject headings and folksonomy, the system’s performance can be improved compared to the benchmark methods. The evaluation results also show that the folksonomy can enrich library subject headings through the semantic relationship.

Originality/value

The proposed method simultaneous weighted matrix factorization can integrate the semantic relation from the library subject headings and folksonomy into one semantic space. The observation of the semantic relation between library subject headings and social tags from folksonomy can help enriching the library subject headings and improving the visibility of the library subject headings.
Strategic foresight of xerox servitization: look back and look forward
Authors: Harris Wesley L. , Wonglimpiyarat Jarunee
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the strategies of Xerox Corporation (Xerox) in the copier industry, as its inception to date. In particular, it examines the process of Xerox’s creating platform advantage (the capability to engender an increasing future and continuing success of new innovations or businesses). The study provides insights on Xerox’s pursuit of specific strategies in managing technological innovations in the midst of fierce market competition.

Design/methodology/approach

The research study uses a case study methodology to explore the strategic foresight of Xerox servitization. The study develops the new methodological tool to analyse the process of technology platform and business platform creation. The model can be applied to any industry to understand the pursuit of strategies in high-tech based market competition.

Findings

The analyses of Xerox’s strategies, as its inception to date, have revealed the process of platform creation (technology platform and business platform), which enabled Xerox to enjoy a continuing advantage. The results have shown that the pursuit of specific strategy is motivated by risk considerations as much as by a search for profit. Xerox has continually upgraded its platforms to get ready for the competition under the digital transformation of servitization.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this research study is the development of a new methodological framework, which can be used to analyse the process of platform creation in any industry. The new framework introduces a dynamic concept (rather than a static concept generally found in the previous literature) of technology and business platforms. This research study contributes to the body of knowledge in the areas of strategic management of innovation.
To be attractive or to be authentic? How two competing motivations influence self-presentation in online dating
Authors: Peng Kun
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper examines how and why online daters, differentiated by gender, strategically self-present in online dating profiles when pursuing two competing goals: attracting potential daters and avoiding detection as a liar.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey and a content analysis were employed to test four hypotheses.

Findings

The results revealed that seeking to project an attractive image in online dating was significantly associated with acquisitive self-presentation. The online daters adopted falsification more than any other strategies, and women were more likely than men to embellish their self-presentation, especially their physical appearance.

Originality/value

The findings clarify people's mate selection processes in light of the interpersonal deception theory (IDT) and the information manipulation theory (IMT) as well as take an evolutionary psychological perspective on computer-mediated communication. For practitioners, they provide a more nuanced picture of deceptive communication in online dating and, for online daters, can guide the adaptation of their online behaviors.
The relationships between student engagement and learning outcome in the undergraduate sports science program in Ethiopia
Authors: Tadesse Tefera , Edo Beshir
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Whereas the influence of engagement on learning outcomes has been extensively investigated, this has not been studied for undergraduate students of sports science major field. The objective of this study was to measure the extent of student engagement and learning outcomes and further examine their relationships in the context of a sports science program in the Ethiopian public higher education system.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a cross-sectional survey design collecting quantitative data from a random sample (n=83) of volunteered undergraduate sports science students from four public universities in Ethiopia. The student engagement theories were used as guiding frameworks.

Findings

Findings reveal above-average levels of engagement and learning outcome scores and low to moderate relations between the scores of engagement and outcomes measured. Both independently and interdependently, the student engagement factors reveal statistically significant relationships with all the measured outcomes, adjusted R2ranging between 17 and 50 percent (p< 0.001).

Research limitations/implications

Because of disciplinary focus on sports science and small sample size, generalization is limited in scope.

Practical implications

Higher education teachers and administrators who work with undergraduates of sports science major should take into consideration the contexts and the relevance of student engagement for greater learning outcomes, especially student-teacher relationships. Hence, mandating instructional interventions to promote engagement through authentic faculty development and increasing academic rigor should be serious concerns.

Originality/value

Undergraduate students of sports science major field have received little attention in the higher education research literature, and discipline-based education research is a growing field of inquiry. This study addresses this gap.
The buyer–seller relationship: a literature synthesis on dynamic perspectives
Authors: Hussain Khalid , Jing Fengjie , Junaid Muhammad , Shi Huayu , Baig Usman
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Contemporary scholars contend that the buyer–seller relationship is dynamic in nature, so it grows, matures and declines over time. However, most studies that adopt the dynamic perspective debates its conceptualization and how dynamic effects are captured. This scholarly discourse has led to multiple dynamic perspectives and resulted in fragmented and scattered literature on the subject. This study aims to synthesize the large body of research on dynamic perspectives in a systematic way.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows a systematic review approach to extract and review 192 research articles from four electronic databases: Web of Science, EBSCOhost Business, ScienceDirect and Emerald. Based on the inclusion criteria that the articles examine time-dependent relationship development in light of a generalizable dynamic perspective, 61 articles were selected for the final examination and reporting.

Findings

This review reveals that most research on the buyer–seller dynamic relationship follows at least one of four perspectives: the relationship lifecycle, relationship age, relationship velocity and the asymmetric–dynamic perspective. Each perspective offers a distinct conceptualization of relationship development and has certain advantages that enable researchers to capture information about relationships’ growth trajectory in a unique manner.

Practical implications

Firms need a set of diverse strategies for their customers, depending on the state of the relationships’ development, as strategies that pay off at initial levels may fail at later stages. This study helps managers select an appropriate dynamic perspective that best aligns with their customers’ stage of relationship development so they can devise customized relationship-management strategies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this article is the first attempt to organize the discourse of a large body of research on dynamic perspectives, and therefore it helps academicians and practitioners to choose the dynamic perspective that best suits their objectives and research settings. This review documents key research areas that have been overlooked and highlights opportunities for future research.
Researcher-practitioner reflections: the therapeutic utility of the visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with stalkers
Authors: Wheatley Rachael , Kuss Daria J.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper outlines researcher–practitioner reflections on the use of a visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with men convicted of stalking. It draws on and assimilates participant experiences of the VARGT as a research engagement tool. Further, it extends discussion to propose its value as a generic engagement tool for when personal insights and collaborative case formulations may otherwise be difficult to access.

Design/methodology/approach

The repertory grid technique, developed from Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory (1955), was adapted visually for utility in a mixed methods research study with those who commit stalking offences (Wheatley, in preparation). Analytical and reflexivity processes within this original study highlighted rich and recurrent data across the sample pertaining to the positive participant experience of the VARGT, unrelated to its core research question.

Findings

This paper presents reflections and psychological discussion for experiences of using the VARGT. Key features clustered around therapeutic alliance and engagement, enlightenment and a motivation for positive change.

Practical implications

This paper suggests the VARGT has value in participant–client engagement, particularly where sensitive topics are being investigated and participants have difficulty directly articulating their psychosocial functioning.

Originality/value

This novel technique offers potential as an engagement tool for use in research and clinical settings.
Demographic change as a driver for tourism automation
Authors: Webster Craig , Ivanov Stanislav
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how demographic changes in developed countries will continue to drive the tourism and hospitality industries to adopt automation in business operations.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is an analysis of the trends in human reproduction in the developed countries and a discussion of their implications for the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

Findings

There are three major solutions to the demographic problem faced in developed countries and the replacement of human labour with automation is the most practical, immediate and has the fewest risks and negative externalities.

Practical implications

Industry has to adapt to the new demographic reality and embrace automation of services, educate their customers and have policies to deal with the resistance expected by labour.

Social implications

Society can expect that many of the tasks they commonly expect humans to be involved in will be done by machines and artificial intelligence in the near future, if demographic trends continue and massive immigration into developed countries is not a continuing phenomenon.

Originality/value

This links the relationship between demographic trends to the use of automation in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.
Slow food tourism: an ethical microtrend for the Anthropocene
Authors: Fusté-Forné Francesc , Jamal Tazim
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to discuss Slow Food Tourism (SFT) as an ethical paradigm and important tourism microdriver to address sustainability and climate change. Its key principles are based on slow, sustainable, secure and democratic processes for SFT.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on published research to identify ethical parameters for a slow food paradigm for tourism.

Findings

Within the context of a global, technological and rapidly changing world, SFT is a pathway to contribute to locally based agricultural and food practices for sustainable development, food security, social sustainability and community well-being. SFT visitors are active participants in ecological, cultural and heritage conservation through co-creating with local producers the sociability, enjoyment and sharing of bioregional foods in diverse ethnic and cultural spaces.

Originality/value

This research advocates that SFT is an important microtrend that supports a much-needed paradigm shift toward a conscious way of slow living, sustainable travel and responsible food production–consumption to help address the climate crisis and global environmental challenges in the Anthropocene.
A cognition-driven framework for the evaluation of startups in the digital economy
Authors: Simões Jéssica C.M. , Ferreira Fernando A.F. , Peris-Ortiz Marta , Ferreira João J.M.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Capital restrictions normally exist in the creation of a startup, requiring investors to analyze funding alternatives in a highly competitive climate. Although different types of incentives to support startups exist, these incentives are only available to those companies that fulfill the requirements of the funding program to which they have applied. Due to social and economic changes introduced by the digital economy, however, existing mechanisms for assessing the potential growth of startups are scarce, outdated or simply incomplete, distorting the results of such evaluations.

Design/methodology/approach

Evaluating business opportunities and how to exploit them are critical activities for an entrepreneur. This study sought to address this issue through the combined use of cognitive mapping and the Decision EXpert (DEX) technique. Assuming a constructivist stance, the study brought together a panel of experienced entrepreneurs and business investors to identify and articulate the criteria to be considered in the evaluation and classification of startups.

Findings

The evaluation system created in this study was tested, and the results were validated by the expert panel on a collective basis, demonstrating that the dual methodology used can increase our understanding of the decision problem at hand and lead to more informed and potentially better evaluations of the potential growth of startups.

Originality/value

The authors know of no prior work reporting the integrated use of cognitive mapping and DEX in this study context.
A framework to dynamic identification of project risks
Authors: Moshtaghian Farzaneh , Golabchi Mahmood , Noorzai Esmatullah
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Merging and updating project information and recording changes can give dynamic risk identification at all stages of the project. The main purpose of this research is to create an integration in construction information.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the 5D model was prepared and then all model information was entered into the database designed in SQL Server, the project report tables were coded, and finally, a database with four groups of information was ready for risk identification.

Findings

Creating an integrated risk identification platform reduced rework and time and cost control and change management, which were positive effects of risk identification at the right time.

Research limitations/implications

In order to identify risks, creating multilateral databases whose information integration enables timely completion of the project and compliance with the planning.

Practical implications

This research is the basis for identifying project risks within the framework of building information modeling and can be an effective contribution to increasing the risk-taking efficiency of the project.

Originality/value

As a matter of fact, marked time and cost are terrific motivating forces for the building industry, materializing with identify risk well-time. In any case, identifying risk engaged with all of the dimensions depend on this industry.
Little direct effect of diurnal temperature amplitude on growing seasonal CO2 fluxes in alpine humid shrubland, Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhu Jingbin , Li Hongqin , Zhang Fawei , He Huidan , Li Yingnian , Yang Yongsheng , Zhang Guangru , Wang Chunyu , Luo Fanglin
Published: March 2020

The amplitude of the diurnal temperature (ADT) has been decreasing under climate change, with substantial anticipated effects on alpine grassland carbon budgets. Here, we quantified the temporal response of the growing seasonal CO2 fluxes to ADT over alpine shrubland on Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) from 2003 to 2016. At a daily scale, net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and gross primary production (GPP) quadratically responded to ADT with optimum values of 15.4 and 13.4°C, respectively. Ecosystem respiration (RES) negatively linearly correlated with ADT. Partial correlation, and classification and regression trees (CART) analysis, both showed that the maximal (MaxTa) or minimal air temperature (MinTa), rather than ADT, played much more important role in daily variations of CO2 fluxes. At a monthly scale, GPP and NEE were both positively and negatively controlled by MaxTa while RES was negatively determined by MinTa, respectively. Monthly ADT exerted a negligible influence on monthly CO2 fluxes. At an annual scale, only MaxTa played a significant role in variations of GPP and RES. NEE did not significantly respond to ADT, MaxTa or MinTa. The little direct correlations between NEE and ADT at daily, monthly or annual scales contradicts a previous hypothesis that a larger ADT would enhance carbon sequestration capacity over alpine ecosystems. Given the positive impact of MaxTa on GPP and MinTa on RES, our study would suggest that a decreasing ADT could indirectly stimulate more carbon loss and weaken the carbon sequestration capacity of alpine shrublands under the scenario of further increases in MinTa over QTP.
Mind and Spirit: a comparative theory about representation of mind and the experience of spirit
Authors: Luhrmann T.M.
Published: March 2020

This special issue reports the findings of the Mind and Spirit project. We ask whether different understandings of ‘mind’, broadly construed, might shape the ways that people attend to and interpret thoughts and other mental events – and whether their judgements affect their experience of (what they take to be) gods and spirits. We argue in this collection that there are indeed cultural differences in local theories of minds, in the way social worlds draws the line between interior and exterior, and that these differences do affect the way people sense invisible others. This introduction lays out the ideas that inspired the project and the methods that we used. This is the first report on our work.
Thinking about thinking: the mind's porosity and the presence of the gods
Authors: Luhrmann T.M.
Published: March 2020

The Mind and Spirit project found that the way a social world invites its members to experience thought appears to have consequences. When the boundary between inner awareness and outer world is culturally represented as porous, so that thoughts can be construed to move in and out of the mind as if they had agency and power, people are more likely to describe their experience of invisible others as if those others could be experienced with the senses. They are more likely to say that a god or spirit spoke in a way they could hear with their ears, or that they sensed a presence in the room.
Alternative balanced scorecards built from paradigm models in strategic HRM and employment/industrial relations and used to measure the state of employment relations and HR system performance across U.S. workplaces
Authors: Kaufman Bruce E. , Barry Michael , Wilkinson Adrian , Gomez Rafael
Published: March 2020

This paper constructs alternative balanced scorecards based on high‐performance work system (HPWS) and employment relations system (ERS) models. The models are depicted and compared in diagrams and used as framework skeletons for building separate HPWS and ERS scorecards, intended to provide a detailed data picture of the operational health and performance of an organization's employment/HR system and its operations, processes, and inputs/outputs. The scorecards are filled in with nationally representative data from 2,000+ U.S. workplaces using more than 50 employment/HR indicators, as reported by separate panels of managers and employees. The indicators for each workplace are aggregated into an overall HR/employment system score, ranked from low‐to‐high, and graphed as frequency distributions. These distributions provide a unique snapshot picture of the mean and dispersion of the state of employment relations and HR system performance for companies across the United State. They also reveal that “models matter” since the HPWS and ERS scorecards provide distinctly different evaluation assessments.
A reverse chemical ecology approach to explore wood natural durability
Authors: Perrot Thomas , Salzet Guillaume , Amusant Nadine , Beauchene Jacques , Gérardin Philippe , Dumarçay Stéphane , Sormani Rodnay , Morel‐Rouhier Mélanie , Gelhaye Eric
Published: March 2020

The natural durability of wood species, defined as their inherent resistance to wood‐destroying agents, is a complex phenomenon depending on many biotic and abiotic factors. Besides the presence of recalcitrant polymers, the presence of compounds with antimicrobial properties is known to be important to explain wood durability. Based on the advancement in our understanding of fungal detoxification systems, a reverse chemical ecology approach was proposed to explore wood natural durability using fungal glutathione transferases. A set of six glutathione transferases from the white‐rot Trametes versicolor were used as targets to test wood extracts from seventeen French Guiana neotropical species. Fluorescent thermal shift assays quantified interactions between fungal glutathione transferases and these extracts. From these data, a model combining this approach and wood density significantly predicts the wood natural durability of the species tested previously using long‐term soil bed tests. Overall, our findings confirm that detoxification systems could be used to explore the chemical environment encountered by wood‐decaying fungi and also wood natural durability.
Available Water Supplies in Beijing, China, Under Single‐ and Multi‐Year Drought
Authors: Chang Huanyu , Zhao Yong , Wang Qingming , Wang Jianhua , Li Haihong , Zhai Jiaqi , Han Jingyan , Jiang Shan
Published: March 2020

Since its implementation in 2015, the Middle Route of the South‐to‐North Water Diversion Project (MR‐SNWDP) has transferred an average of 45 billion cubic meters of surface water per year from the Yangtze River in southern China to the Yellow River and Hai River Basin in northern China, but how that supply is able to cope with droughts under different scenarios has not been explored. In this study, using the water demand for 2020 as the guaranteed water target, a Water Evaluation and Planning system was used to simulate available water supplies in Beijing under different drought scenarios. In the case of a single‐year drought, without the MR‐SNWDP, Beijing’s water shortage ratio was 16.7%; with the MR‐SNWDP, this ratio reduced to 7.3%. In the case of a multi‐year drought, without the MR‐SNWDP, Beijing’s water shortage ratio was 25.3%; with the MR‐SNWDP, this ratio reduced to 7.4% and domestic water supply was improved. Our research suggests that to prepare for multi‐year drought in the Beijing area, the SNWDP supports increased supplies to the region that would mitigate drought effects. This study is, however, mostly focused on water supply provision to Beijing and does not comprehensively evaluate other potential impacts. Multiple additional avenues could be pursued that include replenishing groundwater, increasing reservoir storage, and water conservation methods. Further research is needed to explore the relative costs and benefits of these approaches.
Tools to map target genes of bacterial two‐component system response regulators
Authors: Rajeev Lara , Garber Megan E. , Mukhopadhyay Aindrila
Published: March 2020

Studies on bacterial physiology are incomplete without knowledge of the signalling and regulatory systems that a bacterium uses to sense and respond to its environment. Two‐component systems (TCSs) are among the most prevalent bacterial signalling systems, and they control essential and secondary physiological processes; however, even in model organisms, we lack a complete understanding of the signals sensed, the phosphotransfer partners and the functions regulated by these systems. In this review, we discuss several tools to map the genes targeted by transcriptionally acting TCSs. Many of these tools have been used for studying individual TCSs across diverse species, but systematic approaches to delineate entire signalling networks have been very few. Since genome sequences and high‐throughput technologies are now readily available, the methods presented here can be applied to characterize the entire DNA‐binding TCS signalling network in any bacterial species and are especially useful for non‐model environmental bacteria.
Assessment of anxiety and depression in patients with incidental pulmonary nodules and analysis of its related impact factors
Authors: Li Lihong , Zhao Yan , Li Hui
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To assess anxiety and depression in patients with incidental pulmonary nodules and analyze the related impact factors.

Methods

All patients were assessed by questionnaires for their anxiety and depression after incidentally found pulmonary nodules. Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD), generalized anxiety disorder scale‐7 (GAD‐7), and multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) were used to evaluate their anxiety and depression in order to understand the basic information and social support, and to analyze the related factors.

Results

The HAD scale was used in 201 patients with pulmonary nodules. Univariate analysis showed the frequency of visits and social support had significant effects on anxiety (χ2 = 9.604, 20.912, P < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that social support (OR = 4.042, 95% CI: 2.1617.558, P < 0.05) was an independent influencing factor of anxiety. Univariate analysis showed that marital status, exposure history and social support had significant effects on depression (χ2 = 10.626, 6.005, 3.984, P < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that marital status (OR = 0.375, 95% CI: 0.186–0.754, P < 0.05) and social support (OR = 2.206, 95% CI: 1.016–4.789, P < 0.05) were independent influencing factors of depression. The results of GAD‐7 showed the incidence of anxiety in patients with pulmonary nodules was 59.3% (108/182). Univariate analysis showed that anxiety was correlated with a history of chronic disease, psychological disease and social support (χ2 = 9.949, 8.356, 11.872, P < 0.05). Further regression analysis showed that a previous history of psychological disease (OR = 5.088, 95% CI: 1.804–14.339) and social support (OR = 2.768, 95% CI: 1.505–5.094), were independent influencing factors of anxiety.

Conclusions

The results of the study concluded that anxiety was affected by social support and previous psychological factors, while depression was affected by marital status and social support. Doctors should therefore strengthen communication with patients, and alleviate the negative emotions of patients as far as possible.
Exosome miR‐27a‐3p secreted from adipocytes targets ICOS to promote antitumor immunity in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Fan Xuehan , Wang Jingya , Qin Tingting , Zhang Yujia , Liu Wenting , Jiang Kaiting , Huang Dingzhi
Published: March 2020

Background

The clinical benefit of immunotherapy has been limited to a small subset of patients with cancer. Several clinical trials with immune checkpoint inhibitors in multiple cancers have shown some improvement in obese patients. However, how obesity regulates the immune microenvironment remains unclear.

Methods

Bioinformatic analysis was used to discover immune microenvironmental‐related genes associated with body mass index (BMI). The expression of ICOS in tumor tissues was detected using western blot, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and flow cytometry. RT‐qPCR was used to measure the expression of miR‐27a‐3p. The interaction between miR‐27a‐3p and ICOS was confirmed by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Functional testing of T cells based on proliferation and interferon (IFN)‐gamma secretion was performed using ELISA and flow cytometry.

Results

ICOS, an immune microenvironment‐related gene, was significantly upregulated in obese patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). MiR‐27a‐3p showed a negative correlation with ICOS and suppressed the expression of ICOS. We determined that dipocyte‐derived exo‐miR‐27a‐3p could alter the tumor microenvironment by inhibiting ICOS+ T cell proliferation and IFN‐gamma secretion in vitro.

Conclusions

Adipocyte‐derived exo‐miR‐27a‐3p can inhibit ICOS+ T cell proliferation and IFN‐gamma secretion. The upregulation of ICOS+ T cell functions caused by the downregulation of miR‐27a‐3p in adipose tissue derived exosomes is one of the potential mechanisms for the improved efficacy of immunotherapy in obese LUAD patients.
The role of immunosuppressive agents in the management of severe and refractory immune‐related adverse events
Authors: Wang Anqi , Xu Yan , Fei Yunyun , Wang Mengzhao
Published: March 2020

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors has improved survival in some types of cancer and brought promising prospects to cancer immunotherapy. Despite their clinical benefits, significant off‐target toxicities resulting from the immune system activation have been observed, namely immune‐related adverse events (irAEs), which pose to clinicians a new challenge of optimal management. With steroids being the mainstay of current management of irAEs, immunosuppressive agents are especially indicated for severe or steroid‐refractory cases, based on current immunopathophysiological knowledge and on extrapolations of treatment options for primary autoimmune disorders. This review focuses on the status and recent clinical progress of immunosuppressive agents in the management of severe and steroid‐refractory irAEs.
Incomplete distal renal tubular acidosis in children
Authors: Alonso‐Varela Marta , Gil‐Peña Helena , Santos Fernando
Published: March 2020

Aim

To describe incomplete distal renal tubular acidosis (iDRTA) in paediatric patients, a term used for the diagnosis of patients who do not develop spontaneous overt metabolic acidosis but are unable to acidify the urine in response to an ammonium chloride load.

Methods

Tests used to explore urinary acidification were revised. In addition, publications in English extracted from 161 entries yielded by a PubMed database search, using ‘incomplete distal renal tubular acidosis’ as keyword, were reviewed.

Results

Incomplete distal renal tubular acidosis has mostly been identified in adults with autoimmune diseases, nephrolithiasis, nephrocalcinosis and/or osteopenia. iDRTA has been reported in few paediatric patients with rickets, congenital abnormalities of kidney and urological tract and/or growth failure. The pathophysiological mechanisms potentially responsible for the defect of urinary acidification are discussed as well as the clinical and biochemical findings of iDRTA described in children.

Conclusion

The presentation of iDRTA in children differs from adults. The clinical and biochemical features of iDRTA are not well characterised in paediatric patients. The detection of iDRTA in groups of population such as heterozygous carriers of primary DRTA gene mutations and children with hypocitraturia or hypercalciuria might be of clinical interest to better know the pathophysiology and natural history of iDRTA.
Gender differences in the development of semantic and spatial processing of numbers
Authors: Zhang Tingyan , Chen Chuansheng , Chen Chen , Wei Wei
Published: March 2020

This study recruited kindergarteners and first graders to investigate gender and grade differences in semantic and spatial processing of number magnitude. Results based on the Bayesian statistics showed that (1) there was extreme evidence in favour of grade differences in both semantic processing and spatial processing; (2) there were no gender differences in semantic processing; and (3) boys developed earlier than girls in spatial processing of numbers, especially for the more difficult task. These results are discussed in terms of gender differences in cognitive mechanisms underlying semantic and spatial processing of number magnitude.