bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The roles of performance measurement and management in the development and implementation of business ecosystem strategies
Authors: Micheli Pietro , Muctor Gurpreet
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Performance measurement and management (PMM) systems have traditionally enabled strategy execution within and across firms. However, PMM have been criticized as overly static and deterministic and therefore inappropriate for emergent and dynamic contexts, such as those that characterize business ecosystems.The study aims to address the roles of organizational PMM practices in the development and implementation of business ecosystem strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors carried out a qualitative, longitudinal study during 2016–2020 at a Japanese multinational technology corporation attempting to create an ecosystem strategy to expand its market and diversify its offering. The authors collected interview, observation and archival data, spanning the period from framing the initial strategy to establishing the ecosystem.

Findings

The process of developing and implementing the ecosystem strategy was emergent and highly iterative, rather than planned and linear, eventually requiring key decision-makers in the company to challenge some of their deeply held assumptions. PMM practices first acted as barriers to ecosystem development by promoting an excessive focus on revenue generation. Once modified, PMM helped capture, convey and reassess the ecosystem strategy. Performance targets, indicators and strategy maps were not just data gathering and reporting mechanisms but key means to express competing perspectives.

Practical implications

When developing an ecosystem strategy, managers should adopt a participatory and iterative approach, reviewing the complementary effects of various PMM tools at different points in time.

Originality/value

The study is among the first to provide an in-depth account of ecosystem strategy creation and implementation and to identify the diverse roles and effects of PMM practices in dynamic and complex contexts.
Basel III liquidity regulatory framework and bank liquidity creation in MENA countries
Authors: Alaoui Mdaghri Anas , Oubdi Lahsen
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the potential impact of the Basel III liquidity requirements, namely, the net stable funding ratio (NSFR) and the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR), on bank liquidity creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a dynamic panel model using the Quasi-Maximum Likelihood estimation on an unbalanced panel dataset of 129 commercial banks operating in 10 Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries from 2009 to 2017.

Findings

The results show that the NSFR significantly negatively affects liquidity creation. Similarly, the LCR exerts a substantial negative impact on the liquidity creation of the sampled MENA banks. These findings suggest that complying with both liquidity requirements tends to curtail liquidity creation. Moreover, further regression analysis of large and small bank sub-samples uncovered results similar to the overall MENA sample.

Research limitations/implications

The findings raise interesting policy implications and suggest a trade-off between the benefits of the financial resiliency induced by implementing liquidity requirements and the creation of liquidity essential for promoting economic growth in the region.

Originality/value

Most empirical research focuses on the relationship between bank capital and liquidity creation. To the knowledge, this paper is the first to provide empirical evidence on the effect of both the NSFR and LCR regulatory liquidity standards on bank liquidity creation in the MENA region.
Digital technologies (DT) adoption in agri-food supply chains amidst COVID-19: an approach towards food security concerns in developing countries
Authors: Joshi Sudhanshu , Sharma Manu
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the critical factors for digital technologies (DT) adoption to develop a sustainable agri-food supply chain (AFSC). As the developing countries are struggling to survive during COVID-19, DT adoption in AFSC can bring resilience and minimizes the food security concerns.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has used Fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) methods for identifying the critical success factors (CSFs) for DT adoption and inter-relationship among them to explore the crucial factors for food security across AFSC.

Findings

The research reveals that “Digital Technologies, Logistics and infrastructure” is the most crucial CSF for managing food security in developing economy during the COVID-19 situation. This factor supports the decision-makers to manage data for demand and supply management and helps to survive and sustain in the disruptive environment. The findings of the study will help farmers and supply chain partners to manage the smooth flow of food items from source to end-users during a disruptive environment. The sourcing, manufacturing and delivery methods are needed to be changed with DT inclusion and may support to redesign their internal systems for improvisation. This shorter AFSC will enhance the resilience in AFSCs.

Research limitations/implications

The emergency situation raised by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought global food security concerns. Adoption of DT across AFSCs can strategically reduce food waste and optimize the demand and supply balance.

Originality/value

The study aims to build a comprehensive framework by identifying the CSFs to develop resilient and sustainable AFSC amidst COVID-19.
Advertising strategy and contract coordination for a supply chain system: immediate and delayed effects
Authors: Yu Hui , Yang Wei , Xu Na , Du Yang
Published: October 2021

Purpose

After receiving advertising messages, most consumers rarely purchase the advertised products at once, which results in a delay between advertising exposure and its effect. This paper is devoted to exploring the advertising decision and coordination issues for a supply chain system subject to advertising immediate and delayed effects.

Design/methodology/approach

By applying the game theory, the differential game models with delay are constructed for the supply chain to examine the equilibrium advertising efforts, brand goodwill and the optimal profits under the different cooperation situations. A class of transfer payment contracts is designed to achieve the best outcome of the supply chain. Illustrative examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of addressed results and provide some managerial perspectives.

Findings

It can be found that the complete cooperation situation can stimulate the advertising investment, drive the product demand and improve the economic profit. Also, a class of transfer payment contracts is designed in this paper, such that the supply chain can perfectly realize the profit maximization, and each member can achieve the Pareto improvement.

Research limitations/implications

This work does not address the random market environment, which can be filled in the future. Furthermore, this paper has been done in a single supply chain structure. It is an interesting future line of research when taking competitive behavior (e.g. competition among manufacturers, retailers or supply chains) into account.

Practical implications

This study will help managers make advertising strategies, advise an optimal cooperation way and design the coordination contracts to ensure the economic development of the supply chain. These obtained conclusions may provide a valuable decision-support for marketing management.

Originality/value

For a supply chain, the most previous literature about dynamic advertising models focused on a single advertising effect-immediate effect. This work explores advertising strategy with double advertising effects and investigates the coordinating power of new transfer payment contracts.
Fine‐scale spatial patterns of wildlife disease are common and understudied
Authors: Albery Gregory F. , Sweeny Amy R. , Becker Daniel J. , Bansal Shweta
Published: October 2021

All parasites are heterogeneous in space, yet little is known about the prevalence and scale of this spatial variation, particularly in wild animal systems. To address this question, we sought to identify and examine spatial dependence of wildlife disease across a wide range of systems.

Conducting a broad literature search, we collated 31 datasets featuring 89 replicates and 71 unique host–parasite combinations, only 51% of which had previously been used to test spatial hypotheses. We analysed these datasets for spatial dependence within a standardised modelling framework using Bayesian linear models, and we then meta‐analysed the results to identify generalised determinants of the scale and magnitude of spatial autocorrelation.

We detected spatial autocorrelation in 48/89 model replicates (54%) across 21/31 datasets (68%), spread across parasites of all groups. Even some very small study areas (under 0.01 km2) exhibited substantial spatial variation.

Despite the common manifestation of spatial variation, our meta‐analysis was unable to identify host‐, parasite‐, or sampling‐level determinants of this heterogeneity across systems. Parasites of all transmission modes had easily detectable spatial patterns, implying that structured contact networks and susceptibility effects are potentially as important in spatially structuring disease as are environmental drivers of transmission efficiency.

Our findings demonstrate that fine‐scale spatial patterns of infection manifest frequently and across a range of wild animal systems, and many studies are able to investigate them—whether or not the original aim of the study was to examine spatially varying processes. Given the widespread nature of these findings, studies should more frequently record and analyse spatial data, facilitating development and testing of spatial hypotheses in disease ecology. Ultimately, this may pave the way for an a priori predictive framework for spatial variation in novel host–parasite systems.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Drivers of zooplankton community composition in a novel ecosystem: Hawai'i mangroves as a case study
Authors: Lewis Casey L. , Granek Elise F.
Published: October 2021

Management of established non‐native plants is challenging because removal is expensive and can produce negative consequences, yet establishment can create novel ecosystems. Red mangrove propagules were introduced to Moloka'i, Hawai'i, in 1902 to mitigate the effects of soil erosion and have since spread along the coast and to adjacent islands creating novel habitat.

We compared zooplankton communities between novel mangrove and historical non‐mangrove habitat both within fishponds and along open coastline to examine environmental factors, including mangrove presence, affecting zooplankton community composition.

Community composition patterns were driven by lunar cycle and site characteristics, including fishpond structure, mangrove and open‐coast shoreline length, percent of mangrove shoreline length, total percent mangrove leaf carbon and upstream watershed disturbance.

Our findings indicate that during the tropical summer reproductive season, non‐native mangroves support diversity, richness and community composition similar to non‐mangrove areas, though some widespread taxa have lower abundance, and some rare taxa are more abundant in mangroves.

Additionally, fishpond zooplankton community structure is significantly different from open‐coast areas, indicating fishponds, themselves, create novel habitat.

Synthesis and application. In the face of declining fisheries, threatened reef habitat and changing climatic conditions, non‐native mangroves may provide, rather than impede, zooplankton habitat availability in novel locations.
Differences in bee community composition between restored and remnant prairies are more strongly linked to forb community differences than landscape differences
Authors: Lane Ian G. , Portman Zachary M. , Herron‐Sweet Christina H. , Pardee Gabriella L. , Cariveau Daniel P.
Published: October 2021

Grassland restoration is an important tool for conserving bee biodiversity within agricultural landscapes. Restorations foster increases in local bee abundance and α‐diversity; however, these measures are insufficient for understanding whether remnant communities are being conserved. We compared native bee α‐diversity, β‐diversity and community composition between restored and remnant prairies in Minnesota, USA. We then investigated two potential drivers of bee community dissimilarity between restored and remnant prairies: proportion of agricultural land surrounding a restoration and differences in floral community between restored and remnant prairies.

We selected 10 restored prairies that lie along a gradient of increasing agricultural land cover, ranging from 20% to 85% of surrounding land in agricultural production. We paired each restoration with a nearby prairie remnant and sampled bee and floral communities concurrently in each restoration–remnant pair. We quantified bee and forb α‐diversity, community composition, β‐diversity and levels of dissimilarity between restoration–remnant pairs along the gradient of agricultural development. Additionally, we quantified differences in the community‐weighted mean between restored and remnant prairies for two bee traits, oligolecty and tongue length, to investigate how differences in floral community between restored and remnant prairies may influence bee community composition.

While bee α‐diversity between restored and remnant prairies was similar, bee composition between restorations and remnants was significantly different with restorations being more homogeneous than remnants. Differences in bee community composition and β‐diversity were not significantly related to agricultural landscapes or floral community dissimilarity; however, we found a significantly higher proportion of oligolectic bees in remnant prairies. This difference in oligolectic bees was likely related to the absence of important host plants in restorations.

Synthesis and application. Prairie restorations should seek to provide diverse floral resources that are of similar composition to remnant prairies. Specifically, providing important floral host plants for pollen specialist bees could improve restorations' ability to conserve prairie remnant bee communities.
Influence of habitat quality and resource density on breeding‐season female monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus movement and space use in north‐central USA agroecosystem landscapes
Authors: Fisher Kelsey E. , Bradbury Steven P.
Published: October 2021

The eastern North American monarch butterfly is at risk of quasi‐extinction due, in part, to the loss of breeding habitat in agricultural landscapes of the USA Midwest. Because adult females are not patch residents, egg abundance and distribution across the landscape are a function of their perceptual range, flight directionality and flight step lengths. Conservation actions that account for habitat use in agricultural landscapes can enhance functional connectivity.

Field‐captured females (n = 114) were released in a 64‐ha area containing restored prairies, grass‐dominated fields and crop fields in Floyd County, Iowa, USA, and two 1,000 m linear north–south sections of grass‐dominated roadside along secondary roads (~35 ha) with different proximity to prairie habitat in rural Story County, Iowa. Radio‐tagged or untagged monarchs were released in areas with high density, low density and zero density of forage and oviposition resources, as well as on habitat edges between high‐ and zero‐density habitats. Monarchs were observed for 1 hr. Radio‐tagged individuals that flew beyond visual detection were relocated using handheld radiotelemetry.

Monarchs moved within and between habitat classes and typically performed upwind search behaviour. Monarchs successfully located resources, with some flying over 500 m to find high‐density areas, providing evidence that the monarch's perceptual distance is >100 m. Regardless of habitat class or field site, most step lengths were <50 m, and turn angles were directional. Large steps (≥50 m) crossing habitat boundaries occurred with approximately half of the monarchs, which may indicate initiation of long‐range searches for suitable habitat, consistent with their vagile behaviour. Establishing habitat patches 50 m apart in agricultural landscapes would facilitate efficient movement.

Synthesis and applications. This study provides an extensive dataset of directly observed breeding‐season monarch butterflies to assess the utilization of agricultural landscapes. Documentation of step lengths >50 m in complex, agricultural landscapes would not have been possible without the aid of radiotelemetry. Results provide improved estimates of perceptual range and flight patterns within and between habitat patches that support models that simulate natural population dynamics to enable conservation planning at a landscape scale.
COVID‐19 and novel mRNA vaccines in pregnancy: an updated literature review
Authors: Joubert E , Kekeh AC , Amin CN
Published: October 2021

The novel coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2, or COVID‐19, has affected the world on a pandemic scale resulting in catastrophic outcomes and deaths. Currently, there is limited safety data specific to mRNA vaccine use in pregnant or lactating individuals and the potential risks to a pregnant individual and the fetus are unknown. We report an updated literature review of current information and evidence available to aid in the decision whether to vaccinate against COVID‐19 currently being made by pregnant individuals and their healthcare providers so that they are able to make a well‐informed recommendation and decision.
Technical efficiency and farmland expansion: Evidence from oil palm smallholders in Indonesia
Authors: Dalheimer Bernhard , Kubitza Christoph , Brümmer Bernhard
Published: October 2021

This study asks whether innovation in smallholder production reduces or accelerates land expansion. Even though innovation in agriculture has reduced land expansion globally, rebound effects can occur locally and often at the expense of vital ecosystem functions. In contrast to other studies that investigate rebound effects in response to technological innovation, our study focuses on technical efficiency, the remaining component of total factor productivity. We use a short panel dataset from smallholder oil palm farmers in Sumatra, Indonesia, and develop a two‐stage approach in which we estimate technical efficiency and determine its land expansion effect. Our findings suggest that technical efficiency and in particular land efficiency are low, indicating that 50% of the currently cultivated land could be spared. However, the land‐sparing effect of increasing technical efficiency is at risk of being offset by about half due to a rebound effect. To maximize the conservation potential from increasing smallholder efficiency, policies need to simultaneously incentivize well‐functioning land markets and stricter protection measures for land with high ecological value to mitigate local rebound effects.
An invasive grass and litter impact tree encroachment into a native grassland
Authors: Dettlaff Margarete A. , Erbilgin Nadir , Cahill James F.
Published: October 2021

Questions

Woody plant encroachment and invasive plants are two critical factors that negatively impact grass‐dominated ecosystems. While studies have extensively investigated these factors individually, research on how invasive species impact the susceptibility of grasslands to encroachment is less common. Using the aspen parkland, an endangered savannah‐type ecosystem, we asked how the presence of a widespread invasive grass in North America, smooth brome (Bromus inermis), impacted the growth and survival of one‐year old trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) seedlings. We also asked if plant litter was a potential mechanism of inhibition (as has been proposed for brome litter) or coexistence (as has been hypothesized for aspen litter) in this system.

Location

Alberta, Canada.

Methods

We used a manipulative experimental approach to determine if the survival and subsequent growth of planted aspen seedlings was impacted by the presence of smooth brome and manipulation of litter amount and type.

Results

We found that the presence of smooth brome reduced aspen survival by 57% compared to uninvaded habitats, likely mediated by reduced soil moisture, while litter manipulation had no effect on survival. For surviving seedlings, local context had complex impacts on growth; the addition of aspen litter to brome‐invaded communities increased seedling growth while aspen litter additions to native communities resulted in decreased growth.

Conclusion

These results suggest that invasion by smooth brome will alter the dynamics of aspen establishment in this system, potentially leading to significant changes to this already endangered landscape. Though smooth brome may serve as a barrier to aspen establishment, accumulation of aspen litter from nearby stands to brome patches could lead to faster growth of seedlings in invaded areas at the edge of existing aspen stands. Our results also suggest more generally that the impact of invasive plants on the establishment of native woody plants can be dependent on litter inputs.
COVID‐19 infection in chronic myeloid leukaemia after one year of the pandemic in Italy. A Campus CML report
Authors: Breccia Massimo , Abruzzese Elisabetta , Accurso Vincenzo , Attolico Immacolata , Barulli Sara , Bergamaschi Micaela , Binotto Gianni , Bocchia Monica , Bonifacio Massimiliano , Caocci Giovanni , Capodanno Isabella , Castagnetti Fausto , Cavazzini Francesco , Crisà Elena , Crugnola Monica , Stella De Candia Maria , Elena Chiara , Fava Carmen , Galimberti Sara , Gozzini Antonella , Gugliotta Gabriele , Intermesoli Tamara , Iurlo Alessandra , La Barba Gaetano , Latagliata Roberto , Leonetti Crescenzi Sabrina , Levato Luciano , Loglisci Giuseppina , Lucchesi Alessandro , Luciano Luigiana , Lunghi Francesca , Luzi Debora , Malato Alessandra , Cristina Miggiano Maria , Pizzuti Michele , Pregno Patrizia , Rapezzi Davide , Rege‐Cambrin Giovanna , Rosti Gianantonio , Russo Sabina , Sancetta Rosaria , Rita Scortechini Anna , Sorà Federica , Sportoletti Paolo , Stagno Fabio , Tafuri Agostino , Tiribelli Mario , Foà Robin , Saglio Giuseppe
Published: October 2021

Limited information is available on the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the management of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The Campus CML network collected retrospective information on 8 665 CML patients followed at 46 centres throughout Italy during the pandemic between February 2020 and January 2021. Within this cohort, we recorded 217 SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive patients (2·5%). Most patients (57%) were diagnosed as having SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during the second peak of the pandemic (September 2020 to January 2021). The majority (35%) was aged between 50 and 65 years with a male prevalence (73%). Fifty‐six percent of patients presented concomitant comorbidities. The median time from CML diagnosis to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was six years (three months to 18 years). Twenty‐one patients (9·6%) required hospitalization without the need of respiratory assistance, 18 (8·2%) were hospitalized for respiratory assistance, 8 (3·6%) were admitted to an intensive care unit, while 170 (78%) were only quarantined. Twenty‐three percent of patients discontinued tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy during the infection. Twelve patients died due to COVID‐19 with a mortality rate of 5·5% in the positive cohort and of 0·13% in the whole cohort. We could also document sequelae caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and an impact of the pandemic on the overall management of CML patients.
Challenges with buprenorphine inductions in the context of the fentanyl overdose crisis: A case series
Authors: Shearer Daniel , Young Samantha , Fairbairn Nadia , Brar Rupinder
Published: October 2021

Introduction and Aims

North America is currently experiencing an epidemic of opioid overdose deaths, driven by the proliferation of fentanyl in the street drug market. Although buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NX) is an evidence‐based, first‐line opioid agonist for the management of opioid use disorder, a key challenge in its prescribing lies in the fact that it can precipitate opioid withdrawal during its initial induction process. At this time, there is minimal literature on the BUP/NX induction process in individuals who use illicit fentanyl regularly.

Design, Methods and Results

A case series from a Vancouver, Canada addiction medicine clinic of three fentanyl‐exposed patients who experienced unexpected, precipitated withdrawal when initiating BUP/NX.

Discussion and Conclusion

These cases describe incidents of precipitated opioid withdrawal occurring after unusually long periods of fentanyl abstention. Although fentanyl is experienced as a short‐acting opioid, the drug persists much longer in the body's peripheral tissues. Here, we highlight the new challenges fentanyl may pose to current BUP/NX induction strategies, and explore the possibility of a long‐acting pharmacokinetic effect of fentanyl in the setting of repeated illicit use.
Uncoordinated urbanization and economic growth—The moderating role of natural resources
Authors: Lu Shuo , Zhou Yong , Song Wei
Published: October 2021

Malthusian population theory states that, when population growth exceeds the growth of the means of production, socioeconomic development will be hindered. This paper analyzes this issue from the perspective of uncoordinated urbanization. We used the data available for 262 cities at the prefecture level and above in China, for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. We empirically investigated the relationship between uncoordinated urbanization and urban economic growth. We also examined how this relationship is affected by natural resource constraints. The research results show that there are temporal and spatial differences in the distribution of uncoordinated urbanization in China. From a temporal perspective, from 2000 to 2015, 45.61% of China’s 262 cities show under‐urbanization, while 36.45% of cities show over‐urbanization. However, the number of cities with over‐urbanization is growing. From a spatial perspective, the number of cities in the northeastern region with over‐urbanization is declining. Conversely, the number of cities with over‐urbanization in Beijing in the central and southeastern coastal areas is increasing. Empirical research shows that uncoordinated urbanization and urban economic growth have an inverted U‐shaped relationship. Abundant natural resources can make the inverted U‐shaped curve of uncoordinated urbanization and economic growth flatter. The “resource curse” seems to occur only under high levels of uncoordinated urbanization (over‐urbanization). For some cities where there is under‐urbanization, abundant natural resources are conducive to urban economic growth.
Spatial‐temporal evolution and influence factors of China’s agricultural non‐point source pollution discharge intensity in recent 40 years
Authors: Zou Lilin , Zheng Xumin , Wang Yongsheng
Published: October 2021

The excessive use of agricultural chemicals and the unreasonable use of agricultural wastes are the main problems encountered by China’s agriculture department. However, the comprehensive study on the discharge intensity of China’s agricultural non‐point source pollution (ANPSP) under the long‐term series has not been fully explored. On the basis of our previous research, the spatial‐temporal characteristics and influence factors of ANPSP discharge intensity in China from 1978 to 2017 were analyzed. The results showed that the discharge intensity from 1978 to 2017 was on a declining curve and roughly underwent four stages, including the free development stage, reform promotion stage, market regulation stage, and policy incentive stage. In this process, the discharge intensity of COD, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) was, respectively, declined to 1829.1 tons/108 yuan, 758.3 tons/108 yuan, and 100.1 tons/108 yuan. The regional discharge intensity has varied obviously in space as time goes by, showing the characteristics of spatial agglomeration, agglomeration weakening, spatial differentiation, and differentiation aggravation. The influence factor analysis indicated that under the background of implementing the traditional farming mode, increasing farmers’ incomes, adjusting the plantation structure, and remaining the stable agricultural product prices, China’s ANPSP discharge intensity could be reduced effectively.
Can you crowdsource expertise? Comparing expert and crowd‐based scoring keys for three situational judgment tests
Authors: Brown Matt I. , Grossenbacher Michael A. , Martin‐Raugh Michelle P. , Kochert Jonathan , Prewett Matthew S.
Published: October 2021

It is common practice to rely on a convenience sample of subject matter experts (SMEs) when developing scoring keys for situational judgment tests (SJTs). However, the defining characteristics of what constitutes a SME are often ambiguous and inconsistent. Sampling SMEs can also impose considerable costs. Other research fields have adopted crowdsourcing methods to replace or reproduce judgments thought to require subject matter expertise. Therefore, we conducted the current study to compare crowdsourced scoring keys to SME‐based scoring keys for three SJTs designed for three different job domains: Medicine, Communication, and Military. Our results indicate that scoring keys derived from crowdsourced samples are likely to converge with keys based on SME judgment, regardless of test content (r = .88 to .94 between keys). We observed the weakest agreement among individual MTurk and SME ratings for the Medical SJT (classification consistency = 61%) relative to the Military and Communication SJTs (80% and 85%). Although general mental ability and conscientiousness were each related to greater expert similarity among MTurk raters, the average crowd rating outperformed nearly all individual MTurk raters. Using randomly‐drawn bootstrapped samples of MTurk ratings in each of the three samples, we found that as few as 30–40 raters may provide adequate estimates of SME judgments of most SJT items. These findings suggest the potential usefulness of crowdsourcing as an alternative or supplement to SME‐generated scoring keys.
Cold stress‐induced miRNA and degradome changes in four soybean varieties differing in chilling resistance
Authors: Kuczyński Jakub , Gracz‐Bernaciak Joanna , Twardowski Tomasz , Karłowski Wojciech M. , Tyczewska Agata
Published: October 2021

Chilling stress is one of the most important factors limiting soybean yield in the temperate climate. It significantly constraints the spatial distribution and agricultural productivity of plants, thereby affecting their growth and development. In this study, to determine the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes in the chilling resistance of four soybean cultivars (Augusta, Fiskeby V, Toyomusume and Glycine soja) with varying stress susceptibility, 72 small RNA libraries and 24 degradome libraries for high‐throughput sequencing were constructed. A total of 321 known miRNAs were identified, and 348 novel miRNAs were predicted in three analysed tissues. Moreover, under stress conditions, the differential expression of 162 known miRNAs, including well‐conserved, legume‐ and soybean‐specific miRNAs and 18 novel miRNAs, was found in the four tested cultivars. Degradome analysis allowed to assign the differentially expressed miRNAs to their potential target genes. They were found to be related to plant abiotic stress response mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species scavenging, flavonoid biosynthesis and regulation of osmotic potential based on GO and KEGG annotations. The findings of this study constitute a valuable insight into the function of miRNAs in the chilling resistance of soybean and may provide crucial knowledge in the development of new cultivars.
New distributional opportunities with niche innovation in Eurasian snowfinches
Authors: Cobos Marlon E. , Cheng Yalin , Song Gang , Lei Fumin , Peterson A. Townsend
Published: October 2021

This study explores the evolutionary history of ecological niche characters in the Eurasian snowfinch lineage. Specifically, we use new analytical approaches to reconstruct ecological niche evolution, taking into account uncertainty in knowledge of the ecological niche limits. We found an overall pattern of niche conservatism in relation to both temperature and precipitation characteristics of niches, but for one dramatic niche evolution event, inMontifringilla nivalis. Interestingly, this species is also that which has the broadest geographic distribution among snowfinches. We conclude that an evolutionary change in niche characteristics perhaps withinM. nivalis(i.e. present in some and not all of its populations) made possible the broad, westward range expansion of that species, thus changing dramatically the distributional potential of the snowfinch lineage.
Fine‐scale phylogeography of coastal fishes in the South China Sea: Possible roles of biological traits and geography
Authors: Muto Nozomu , Kakioka Ryo , Ghaffar Mazlan Abd , Quan Nguyen Van , Vilasri Veera , Traifalgar Rex F. M. , Babaran Ricardo P. , Muto Fumihito , Takeshima Hirohiko , Motomura Hiroyuki , Ishikawa Satoshi
Published: October 2021

Aim

Although the underlying biotic and abiotic factors of phylogeographic patterns is an important topic in biogeography, they remain largely unexplored in marine fishes. We empirically investigated the effects of several biological traits on phylogeographic patterns of selected marine fishes. We predict that overall similarity in these traits correlates with similarity in phylogeographic patterns among species, and that genetic diversity and demographic stability are associated with these traits, as well as the local (paleo)environment.

Location

Five localities in the South China Sea (SCS).

Taxon

Thirteen species of coastal marine fishes.

Methods

Phylogeographic Concordance Factors (PCFs) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences were tested for correlation with similarity based on distribution range, depth of occurrence, habitat preference, salinity tolerance and fecundity among the subset of the focal species. The relationship between phylogeographic patterns and these traits was also qualitatively examined. Bayesian model averaging was used to test the association between these traits and the genetic diversity estimates.

Results

Pairwise PCFs of five species across all localities were correlated with pairwise biological similarity, with depth and distribution ranges contributing most to the biological similarity. Nucleotide diversity of Indo‐west Pacific species tended to be greater than that of circumtropical species. Populations showing signs of demographic expansions were concentrated in three localities. A novel concordant population break across six focal species and other marine organisms coincided with the dispersal barrier previously suggested by biophysical dispersal modelling.

Main conclusions

Abiotic factors were dominant in controlling phylogeographic patterns, with possible contributions from biotic factors. Depth and distribution ranges, or other eco‐physiological traits underlying these, might have influenced the phylogeographic patterns of several species, presumably coupled with historical vicariance. The geography of local populations relative to the shallow continental shelf may explain the heterogeneous demography. Historical vicariance and contemporary ocean currents have contributed to the concordant population break.
The association between the community SARS exposure and allostatic load among Chinese older adults
Authors: Ye Xin , He Ping
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Previous studies have found that severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was associated with the physical and psychological stress of those infected. However, research is sparse regarding the long‐term health consequence of community SARS exposure for older adults.

Methods

Using data from the 2011 and 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we estimated multilevel regression models of allostatic load (AL) in the years after the SARS epidemic among 7735 respondents. Interaction terms between SARS epidemic exposure and social participation or community environment were included to examine potential effects.

Results

We found that community SARS exposure was associated with greater AL for those who had no social participation. Among those who were in worse community environment, community SARS exposure was strongly related to elevated load in the cardiovascular system. However, for those had social participation and lived in better community environment, community SARS exposure manifested no association with AL years later. Active social participation and better community environment could offset the negative association between SARS exposure and AL.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings helped determine the positive direction of future social efforts and policy decisions to guide the global recovery from the devastating COVID‐19 pandemic.
Endocytic protein Pal1 regulates appressorium formation and is required for full virulence ofMagnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Chen Deng , Hu Hong , He Wenhui , Zhang Shimei , Tang Mengxi , Xiang Shikun , Liu Caiyun , Cai Xuan , Hendy Ahmed , Kamran Muhammad , Liu Hao , Zheng Lu , Huang Junbing , Chen Xiao‐Lin , Xing Junjie
Published: October 2021

Endocytosis plays key roles during infection of plant‐pathogenic fungi, but its regulatory mechanisms are still largely unknown. Here, we identified a putative endocytosis‐related gene,PAL1, which was highly expressed in appressorium ofMagnaporthe oryzae, and was found to be important for appressorium formation and maturation. Deletion ofPAL1significantly reduced the virulence ofM. oryzaedue to defects in appressorial penetration and invasive growth in host cells. The Pal1 protein interacted and colocalized with the endocytosis protein Sla1, suggesting it is involved in endocytosis. The Δpal1mutant was significantly reduced in appressorium formation, which was recovered by adding exogenous cAMP and 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine (IBMX). Moreover, the phosphorylation level of Pmk1 in Δpal1was also reduced, suggesting Pal1 functions upstream of both the cAMP and Pmk1 signalling pathways. As a consequence, the utilization of glycogen and lipid, appressorial autophagy, actin ring formation, localization of septin proteins, as well as turgor accumulation were all affected in the Δpal1mutant. Taken together, Pal1 regulates cAMP and the Pmk1 signalling pathway for appressorium formation and maturation to facilitate infection ofM. oryzae.
Fractal triads efficiently sample ecological diversity and processes across spatial scales
Authors: Simpson Elizabeth G. , Pearse William D.
Published: October 2021

The relative influence of ecological assembly processes, such as environmental filtering, competition and dispersal, vary across spatial scales. Changes in phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity across environments provide insight into these processes, however, it is challenging to assess the effect of spatial scale on these metrics. Here, we outline a nested sampling design that fractally spaces sampling locations to concentrate statistical power across spatial scales in a study area. We test this design in northeast Utah, at a study site with distinct vegetation types (including sagebrush steppe and mixed conifer forest), that vary across environmental gradients. We demonstrate the power of this design to detect changes in community phylogenetic diversity across environmental gradients and assess the spatial scale at which the sampling design captures the most variation in empirical data. We find clear evidence of broad‐scale changes in multiple features of phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity across aspect. At finer scales, we find additional variation in phylodiversity, highlighting the power of our fractal sampling design to efficiently detect patterns across multiple spatial scales. Thus, our fractal sampling design and analysis effectively identify important environmental gradients and spatial scales that drive community phylogenetic structure. We discuss the insights this gives us into the ecological assembly processes that differentiate plant communities found in northeast Utah.
Strategies to enhance pediatric clinical trial participation: A systematic review with narrative synthesis
Authors: McKenzie Paige Leigh , Siegel Dawn H. , Cullen Danielle , Castelo‐Soccio Leslie
Published: October 2021

Background/Objectives

Recruitment has been identified as a key barrier to conducting pediatric trials. However, no current guidelines have been used for evidence‐based strategies to optimize the recruitment of children. In this review, we identify and codify strategies to enhance pediatric clinical trial participation in the current literature for future study in implementation trials.

Methods

Searches were conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Studies were included if they focused on improving recruitment of children <18 years of age into clinical trials and were published prior to December 1, 2020. Data extracted included information on study design, recruitment population, key recruitment strategy recommendations, and motivators and barriers of trial participation.

Results

Out of the 80 included studies, strategies proposed to increase pediatric clinical trial participation were extremely varied in terms of strategy type and level of evidence. None of these studies were pediatric dermatology specific. We categorized strategies into the following groups: protocol development/pre‐trial planning, trial marketing, educational tools, communication strategies, community involvement, incentives, or structural changes.

Conclusions

We identified and codified strategies reported in the literature for increasing pediatric recruitment and found that few are evidence‐based. Investigators should consider incorporating strategies to enhance recruitment in each stage of clinical trial conduct and tailor recruitment techniques to the specific population of interest. While some strategies should be employed broadly, others could benefit from further study in implementation trials to determine their comparative effectiveness in recruiting different groups of children.
English plantain deploys stress tolerance mechanisms at various organization levels across an altitudinal gradient in the Pyrenees
Authors: Morales Melanie , Pasques Ot , Munné‐Bosch Sergi
Published: October 2021

High‐mountain plants must withstand high solar irradiation and low temperatures during winter. Furthermore, climate change is increasing drought events, which pose an additional threat to plants. Here, we studied the stress tolerance mechanisms at various levels of biological organization in English plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), focusing on photoprotective and antioxidant responses. The response of populations from three different altitudes in the Eastern Pyrenees (1030, 1380, and 1660 m. a.s.l.) was compared during both autumn and winter. Results showed that plants not only suffered from photoinhibition due to very low temperatures at the highest elevation during winter, but also from mild drought stress at the lowest altitude during autumn. Individuals growing at the highest elevation showed reductions in the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm ratio), which might be caused by the lack of an increased induction of tolerance mechanisms at the highest elevation compared to the intermediate one. Although most leaves died at the highest elevation, plants could withstand stress at the organism level by generating new leaves once the stress ceased. Drought at the lowest elevation during autumn caused mild stress with small decreases in the Fv/Fm ratio, along with an increase in abscisic acid and jasmonic acid content. This study underlines the great capacity of English plantain to adapt to high elevation by activating not only photo‐ and antioxidant protection mechanisms and adjustments in stress‐related phytohormones, but also by fully regenerating its aboveground biomass through renewed growth once the stress has ceased.
A novel allele, HLA‐DPA1*01:87Q identified by next generation sequencing
Authors: Liacini Abdelhamid , Peters Lindsey , Gravante Christopher , Pfau Kimberly , Geier Steven
Published: October 2021

A point mutation in Exon 1, 1‐3 (ATG>ACG) causes a non‐synonymous change to the start codon, which may affect expression.
Inserción del riesgo natural en la planificación territorial
Authors: Camargo Mora María Gabriela , Guerrero Camargo Omar Antonio , Guerrero Camargo Omar Alejandro
Published: October 2021

El artículo presente hace una síntesis de las metodologías implementadas para insertar la amenaza natural y la vulnerabilidad en la Planificación Territorial como variables condicionantes de la ocupación del suelo, a partir de estudios y experiencias realizadas. En las ciudades latinoamericanas, existe una ocupación de áreas urbanas o suburbanas que no son adecuadas para vivir, ya que están bajo amenazas de inundación, riesgos sísmicos, geológicos, movimientos de masas, entre otras, que ponen en situación de peligro a la población y sus bienes. En la última década, ha tomado importancia considerar el riesgo socio-natural como condicionante de la ocupación del territorio, para así pasar de un paradigma de respuesta inmediata a uno de prevención y mitigación de desastres a mediano y largo plazo. La planificación territorial se presenta como una oportunidad para avanzar en este sentido, mediante la incorporación del análisis de amenazas (ubicación, intensidad y frecuencia) y la exposición de la población ante eventos.
La verticalización como régimen urbano. El caso de las ciudades chilenas
Authors: Vergara Vidal Jorge
Published: October 2021

La proliferación de las edificaciones de altura para uso residencial en los paños centrales y pericentrales de las ciudades chilenas es un fenómeno reciente, cuya intensidad alienta la pregunta sobre sus efectos en la interacción urbana. El presente texto explora los registros y relatos que dan pie a dos narrativas diferentes sobre el fenómeno de la verticalización: una, articulada en torno a las encuestas de edificación, y, la otra, en torno a notas de prensa sobre sucesos en edificios de altura. Ambas son útiles para verificar cómo este fenómeno, agenciado en entidades arquitectónicas, pasa a constituirse en un régimen urbano, es decir, como una configuración normativa capaz de producir modos de orden para la interacción en las ciudades.