bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ClinCNV: multi-sample germline CNV detection in NGS data
Authors: Demidov German , Sturm Marc , Ossowski Stephan
Published: June 2022

Germline copy number variants (CNVs) are a common source of genomic variation involved in many genetic disorders, and their detection is crucial for clinical molecular diagnostics. Genomic microarrays, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) have been widely used for CNV detection in clinics for many years. Similarly, next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications such as whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) are well-established, highly accurate techniques for the detection of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and small insertions and deletions (indels). However, CNV detection using NGS remains challenging due to short read lengths, smaller than CNVs sizes. CNV detection using read coverage depths summarized in genomic regions is affected by various biases that arise during the library preparation and sequencing. We have developed a novel strategy for detecting CNVs, implemented in the tool ClinCNV (freely available on https://github.com/imgag/ClinCNV). ClinCNV does multi-sample normalization and CNV calling, using an original algorithm taking the best from the circular binary segmentation method and Hidden Markov model-based approaches. Here, we describe the methods and discuss the results obtained by applying ClinCNV to thousands of clinical WES, WGS, and shallow-WGS samples in various clinical and research settings.
Death-associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK3) regulates the myogenic reactivity of cerebral arterioles
Authors: Turner Sara R. , Carlson David A. , Chappellaz Mona , Sutherland Cindy , Haystead Timothy A.J. , Cole William C. , MacDonald Justin A.
Published: June 2022

The vascular smooth muscle (VSM) of resistance blood vessels displays intrinsic autoregulatory responses to increased intraluminal pressure, the myogenic response. In the brain, the myogenic responses of cerebral arterioles are critical to homeostatic blood flow regulation. Here we provide the first evidence to link the death-associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK3) to the myogenic response of rat and human cerebral arterioles. DAPK3 is a Ser/Thr kinase involved in Ca2+− sensitization mechanisms of VSM contraction. Ex vivo administration of a specific DAPK3 inhibitor (i.e., HS38) could attenuate vessel constrictions invoked by serotonin as well as intraluminal pressure elevation. The HS38-dependent dilation was not associated with any change in myosin light chain (LC20) phosphorylation. The results suggest that DAPK3 does not regulate Ca2+ sensitization pathways during the myogenic response of cerebral vessels but rather operates to control the actin cytoskeleton. Finally, a slow return of myogenic tone was observed during the sustained exposure of cerebral arterioles to a suite of DAPK3 inhibitors. Recovery of tone was associated with greater LC20 phosphorylation that suggests intrinsic signaling compensation in response to attenuation of DAPK3 activity. The translational importance of DAPK3 to the human cerebral vasculature was noted, with robust expression of the protein kinase and significant HS38-dependent attenuation of myogenic reactivity found for human pial vessels.
Combinatorial encoding of odors in the mosquito antennal lobe
Authors: Singh Pranjul , Goyal Shefali , Gupta Smith , Garg Sanket , Tiwari Abhinav , Rajput Varad , Bates Alexander Shakeel , Gupta Arjit Kant , Gupta Nitin
Published: June 2022

Among the cues that a mosquito uses to find a host for blood-feeding, the smell of the host plays an important role. Previous studies have shown that host odors contain hundreds of chemical odorants, which are detected by different receptors on the peripheral sensory organs of mosquitoes. But how individual odorants are encoded by downstream neurons in the mosquito brain is not known. We developed an in vivo preparation for patch-clamp electrophysiology to record from projection neurons and local neurons in the antennal lobe of Aedes aegypti. Combining intracellular recordings with dye-fills, morphological reconstructions, and immunohistochemistry, we identify different sub-classes of antennal lobe neurons and their putative interactions. Our recordings show that an odorant can activate multiple neurons innervating different glomeruli, and that the stimulus identity and its behavioral preference are represented in the population activity of the projection neurons. Our results provide the first detailed description of olfactory neurons in the central nervous system of mosquitoes and lay a foundation for understanding the neural basis of their olfactory behaviors.
Insights into deuterostome evolution from the biphasic transcriptional programme of hemichordates
Authors: Perez-Posada Alberto , Lin Che-Yi , Fan Tzu-Pei , Lin Ching-Yi , Chen Yi-Chih , Gómez Skarmeta José Luis , Yu Jr-Kai , Su Yi-Hsien , Tena Juan J.
Published: June 2022

Evolutionary history of deuterostomes remains unsolved and is intimately related to the origin of chordates. Among deuterostomes, hemichordates and echinoderms (collectively called Ambulacraria) are sister groups of chordates. Comparative studies involving these three groups provide valuable insights into deuterostome evolution. Indirect developing hemichordates produce planktonic larvae that bear resemblance to echinoderm larvae before undergoing metamorphosis into an adult body plan with anteroposterior polarity homologous to that of chordates. Therefore, understanding the developmental processes of indirect-developing hemichordates can help understand the evolution of deuterostomes and the origins of chordates. In this study, we analysed the transcriptomes and chromatin accessibility of multiple developmental stages of the indirect-developing hemichordatePtychodera flavaand discovered that it exhibits a biphasic developmental program controlled by distinct sets of transcription factors and their corresponding regulatory elements. Comparative analyses of transcriptomes and network analyses revealed that the gastrula transcriptome is relatively ancient, and the TFs orchestrating its gene expression are highly interconnected in networks of cis-regulatory interactions. Comparing the developmental transcriptomes of hemichordates, echinoderms, and amphioxus, revealed high conservation of gene expression during gastrulation that extends to the neurula stages of amphioxus, along with remarkable similarity in larval transcriptomes across the three species. Additionally, we show thatP. flavapossesses conserved interactions of transcription factors necessary for the development of echinoderm endomesoderm and chordate axial mesoderm, including conserved cis-regulatory elements of the FoxA transcription factor that is central to the two networks. These findings suggest the existence of a deuterostome phylotypic stage during gastrulation governed by gene regulatory networks with conserved cis-regulatory interactions. Conversely, integration of gene expression data with synteny data revealed that gene expression recapitulates the independent evolutionary history of the Ancestral Linkage Groups that underwent rearrangements in each deuterostome lineage, suggesting a potential role of genome rearrangement during the evolution of larval strategies in hemichordates and deuterostome body plans.
Off-manifold coding in visual cortex revealed by sleep
Authors: de Oliveira Eliezyer Fermino , Kim Soyoun , Qiu Tian Season , Peyrache Adrien , Batista-Brito Renata , Sjulson Lucas
Published: June 2022

Low-dimensional neural manifolds are controversial in part because it is unclear how to reconcile them with high-dimensional representations observed in areas such as primary visual cortex (V1). We addressed this by recording neuronal activity in V1 during slow-wave sleep, enabling us to identify internally-generated low-dimensional manifold structure and evaluate its role during visual processing. We found that movements and visual stimuli were both encoded in the “on-manifold” subspace preserved during sleep. However, only stimuli were encoded in the “off-manifold” subspace, which contains activity patterns that are less likely than chance to occur spontaneously during sleep. This off-manifold activity comprises sparse firing in neurons with the strongest low-dimensional modulation by movement, which paradoxically prevents movement-evoked activity from interfering with stimulus representations. These results reveal an unexpected link between low-dimensional dynamics and sparse coding, which together create a protected off-manifold coding space keeping high-dimensional representations separable from movement-evoked activity.
Hybrid immunity shifts the Fc-effector quality of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine-induced immunity
Authors: Bowman Kathryn A. , Stein Daniel , Shin Sally , Ferbas Kathie G. , Tobin Nicole H , Mann Colin , Fischinger Stephanie , Ollmann Saphire Erica , Lauffenburger Douglas , Rimoin Anne W. , Aldrovandi Grace , Alter Galit
Published: June 2022

Despite the robust immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines, emerging data reveal enhanced neutralizing antibody and T cell cross-reactivity among individuals that previously experienced COVID-19, pointing to a hybrid immune advantage with infection-associated immune priming. Beyond neutralizing antibodies and T cell immunity, mounting data point to a potential role for additional antibody effector functions, including opsinophagocytic activity, in the resolution of symptomatic COVID-19. Whether hybrid immunity modifies the Fc-effector profile of the mRNA vaccine-induced immune response remains incompletely understood. Thus, here we profiled the SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral immune response in a group of individuals with and without prior COVID-19. As expected, hybrid Spike-specific antibody titers were enhanced following the primary dose of the mRNA vaccine, but were similar to those achieved by naïve vaccinees after the second mRNA vaccine dose. Conversely, Spike-specific vaccine-induced Fc-receptor binding antibody levels were higher after the primary immunization in individuals with prior COVID-19, and remained higher following the second dose compared to naïve individuals, suggestive of a selective improvement in the quality, rather than the quantity, of the hybrid humoral immune response. Thus, while the magnitude of antibody titers alone may suggest that any two antigen exposures – either hybrid immunity or two doses of vaccine alone - represent a comparable prime/boost immunologic education, we find that hybrid immunity offers a qualitatively improved antibody response able to better leverage Fc effector functions against conserved regions of the virus.
Hydrodynamics shapes self-recruitment in anemonefishes
Authors: Sato Masaaki , Honda Kentaro , Nakamura Yohei , Bernardo Lawrence Patrick C. , Bolisay Klenthon O. , Yamamoto Takahiro , Herrera Eugene C. , Nakajima Yuichi , Lian Chunlan , Uy Wilfredo H. , Fortes Miguel D. , Nadaoka Kazuo , Nakaoka Masahiro
Published: June 2022

Many marine species have a pelagic larval phase that undergo dispersal among habitats. Studies on marine larval dispersal have revealed a large variation in the spatial scale of dispersal, and accumulated evidence has shown that seascape patchiness is the major determinant for variation in self-recruitment. However, few studies have investigated the influence of geographic settings on marine larval dispersal. Bays or lagoons generally enhance the retention of larvae, while larvae are more likely to be flushed by strong currents in open coasts. To examine associations between larval dispersal, geographic setting, and hydrodynamics, we compared fin-scale dispersal patterns, self-recruitment, and local retention of two anemonefishes (Amphiprion frenatus and A. perideraion) between a semi-enclosed bay and an open coast in the Philippines combining genetic parentage analysis and biophysical dispersal modelling. Contrary to our expectations, parentage analysis revealed lower estimates of self-recruitment in the semi-closed bay (0–2%) than in the open coast (14–15%). The result was consistent with dispersal simulations predicting lower local retention and self-recruitment in the former (0.4% and 19%) than in the latter (2.9% and 38%). Dispersal modelling also showed that cross-shore currents toward offshore were much stronger around the semi-closed bay and were negatively correlated with local retention and self-recruitment. These results suggest that stronger cross-shore currents around the semi-closed bay transport anemonefish larvae to the offshore and mainly contributed to the lower self-recruitment. Our results highlight difficulty in predicting self-recruitment from geographic setting alone and importance of hydrodynamics on it.
Biofunctional nanodot arrays in living cells uncover synergistic co-condensation of Wnt signalodroplets
Authors: Philippi Michael , Richter Christian P. , Kappen Marie , Watrinet Isabelle , Miao Yi , Runge Mercedes , Jorde Lara , Korneev Sergej , Holtmannspötter Michael , Kurre Rainer , Holthuis Joost C. M. , Garcia K. Christopher , Plückthun Andreas , Steinhart Martin , Piehler Jacob , You Changjiang
Published: June 2022

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of transient signaling platforms in the plasma membrane has remained a key experimental challenge. Here, we have developed biofunctional nanodot arrays (bNDAs) to spatially control dimerization and clustering of cell surface receptors at nanoscale. High-contrast bNDAs with spot diameters of ∼300 nm were obtained by capillary nanostamping of BSA bioconjugates, which were subsequently biofunctionalized by reaction with tandem anti- GFP clamp fusions. We achieved spatially controlled assembly of active Wnt signalosomes at the nanoscale in the plasma membrane of live cells by capturing the co-receptor Lrp6 into bNDAs via an extracellular GFP tag. Strikingly, we observed co-recruitment of co-receptor Frizzled-8 as well as the cytosolic scaffold proteins Axin-1 and Disheveled-2 into Lrp6 nanodots in the absence of ligand. Density variation and the high dynamics of effector proteins uncover highly cooperative liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)-driven assembly of Wnt “signalodroplets” at the plasma membrane, pinpointing the synergistic effects of LLPS for Wnt signaling amplification. These insights highlight the potential of bNDAs for systematically interrogating nanoscale signaling platforms and condensation at the plasma membrane of live cells.
Pan-genome inversion index reveals evolutionary insights into the subpopulation structure of Asian rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Zhou Yong , Yu Zhichao , Chebotarov Dmytro , Chougule Kapeel , Lu Zhenyuan , Rivera Luis F. , Kathiresan Nagarajan , Al-Bader Noor , Mohammed Nahed , Alsantely Aseel , Mussurova Saule , Santos João , Thimma Manjula , Troukhan Maxim , Fornasiero Alice , Green Carl D. , Copetti Dario , Kudrna Dave , Llaca Victor , Lorieux Mathias , Zuccolo Andrea , Ware Doreen , McNally Kenneth , Zhang Jianwei , Wing Rod A.
Published: June 2022

Understanding and exploiting genetic diversity is a key factor for the productive and stable production of rice. Utilizing 16 high-quality genomes that represent the subpopulation structure of Asian rice (O. sativa), plus the genomes of two close relatives (O. rufipogonandO. punctata), we built a pan-genome inversion index of 1,054 non-redundant inversions that span an average of ∼ 14% of theO. sativacv. Nipponbare reference genome sequence. Using this index we estimated an inversion rate of 1,100 inversions per million years in Asian rice, which is 37 to 73 times higher than previously estimated for plants. Detailed analyses of these inversions showed evidence of their effects on gene regulation, recombination rate, linkage disequilibrium and agronomic trait performance. Our study uncovers the prevalence and scale of large inversions (≥ 100 kb) across the pan-genome of Asian rice, and hints at their largely unexplored role in functional biology and crop performance.
Hydrological dynamics drive the transition of antibiotic resistance genes between particle-attached and free-living lifestyles in a deep freshwater reservoir
Authors: Adyari Bob , Hou Liyuan , Zhang Lanping , Chen Nengwang , Ju Feng , Zhu Longji , Yu Chang-Ping , Hu Anyi
Published: June 2022

Despite the growing awareness of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spreading in the environment, there is a knowledge gap on the fate and transport of ARGs in particle-attached (PA) and free-living (FL) lifestyles in deep freshwater ecosystems experiencing seasonal hydrological changes. Here, we examined the ARG profiles using high-throughput quantitative PCR in PA and FL lifestyles at four seasons representing two hydrological seasons (i.e., vertical mixing and thermal stratification) in the Shuikou Reservoir (SR), Southern China. The results indicated that seasonal hydrological dynamics were critical for influencing ARGs in PA and FL fractions, and the transition of ARGs between the two lifestyles. Although both PA and FL ARG profiles were likely to be shaped by horizontal gene transfer, PA and FL ARGs had different responses to the changes in physico-chemicals (e.g., nutrients and dissolved oxygen) caused by seasonal hydrological dynamics. The particle-associated niche (PAN) index revealed that there were 94 non-conservative ARGs (i.e., no preferences for PA and FL), 23 conservative ARGs that preferred PA lifestyle, and 16 conservative ARGs for FL lifestyle. A sharp decline in the number of conservative ARGs in stratified seasons suggests a hydrological dynamics-dependent transition of ARGs between two lifestyles. Remarkably, the conservative ARGs (in PA or FL lifestyle) were more closely related to bacterial OTUs in their preferred lifestyle compared to their counterpart lifestyle, suggesting a lifestyle-dependent ARG enrichment. Altogether, these findings enhance our understanding of the role of seasonal hydrological changes in the dissemination of ARGs in different size fractions in deep aquatic ecosystems.
Filling gaps on the diversity and biogeography of Chilean millipedes (Myriapoda: Diplopoda)
Authors: Parra-Gómez Antonio , Fernández Leonardo D.
Published: June 2022

Research on the diversity and biogeography of Chilean millipedes (Diplopoda) represents a severe gap in knowledge. To reduce this gap we conducted a study to: (1) investigate the state of knowledge of millipede diversity, and (2) assess the pattern and causes underlying the latitudinal diversity gradient in Chilean millipedes. After combining the number of described species with those that have not yet been formally described, we concluded that there are 95 native millipede species in Chile. A diversity estimate suggested that in the future this number could increase to 125 or 197 species. However, this estimate is based on limited data. Therefore, the number of millipede species inhabiting Chile probably exceeds our estimate. Consistently, rarefaction-extrapolation curves revealed that we have not yet recorded a substantial fraction of millipede diversity and that increased sampling effort will reveal the presence of a greater number of millipede species in Chile. Most millipede species exhibited narrow geographic ranges in Chile. The north-south distribution of their species richness followed a bell-shaped latitudinal gradient of diversity, i.e. diversity peaked at the temperate climate of central Chile and then decreases towards the arid and polar climates of northern and southern Chile, respectively. The causes underlying this biogeographical pattern were water availability, ambient energy input and climate stability. This finding provided support for two of the five biogeographic hypotheses we tested: water-energy balance and climate stability. Thus, Chilean millipedes were more diverse at sites that exhibit warm and humid (temperate) climates for much of the year.
Clostridium scindens colonization of gnotobiotic mice promotes a chronic unresolving infection with Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Graham M , DiBenedetto N , Delaney ML , Lavin R , Pavao A , Yeliseyev V , Bry L
Published: June 2022

The commensal Clostridium scindens has been regarded as a promising bacteriotherapeutic against Clostridioides difficile infection due to its ability to consume host factors that can promote C. difficile growth, and its production of the antimicrobial compound 1-acetyl-β-carboline. We investigated C. scindens’ protective effects against C. difficile using defined colonization studies in gnotobiotic mice. Mice infected with C. difficile develop lethal infection within 48 hours. In contrast, 88% of mice pre-colonized with C. scindens survived acute infection with delayed C. difficile colonization, lower biomass, and toxin B levels at 24 hours after infection. However, two weeks post-challenge, surviving mice showed comparable levels of cecal C. difficile vegetative and spore biomass and toxin B, as seen during acute infection. After two weeks, co-colonized mice exhibited mucosal colonic hyperplasia with focal pseudomembranes, modeling a chronic and recurrent infection state. Our findings illustrate how the commensal microbiota can modulate host and pathogen interactions leading to chonic C. difficile carriage and infection.
Cell Wall Dynamics in a Filamentous Fungus
Authors: Chevalier Louis , Sala Mario Pinar , Le Borgne Rémi , Durieu Catherine , Peñalva Miguel , Boudaoud Arezki , Minc Nicolas
Published: June 2022

Hyphal tip growth allows filamentous fungi to colonize space, reproduce or infect. It features remarkable morphogenetic plasticity including unusually fast elongation rates, tip turning, branching or bulging. These shape changes are all driven from the expansion of a protective cell wall (CW) secreted from apical pools of exocytic vesicles. How CW secretion, remodeling and deformation are modulated in concert to support rapid tip growth and morphogenesis while ensuring surface integrity remains poorly understood. We implemented sub-resolution imaging to map the dynamics of CW thickness and secretory vesicles in Aspergillus nidulans. We found that tip growth is associated with balanced rates of CW secretion and expansion, which limit temporal fluctuations in CW thickness, elongation speed and vesicle amount, to less than 10-15%. Affecting this balance through modulations of growth or trafficking yield to near-immediate changes in CW thickness, mechanics and shape. We developed a model with mechanical feedback which accounts for steady states of hyphal growth as well as rapid adaptation of CW mechanics and vesicle recruitment to different perturbations. These data provide unprecedented details on how CW dynamics emerges from material secretion and expansion, to stabilize fungal tip growth as well as promote its morphogenetic plasticity.
Fungi with history: Unveiling the mycobiota of historic documents of Costa Rica
Authors: Escudero-Leyva Efraín , Vieto Sofía , Avendaño Roberto , Rojas-Gätjens Diego , Agüero Paola , Pacheco Carlos , Montero Mavis L. , Chaverri Priscila , Chavarría Max
Published: June 2022

Through nondestructive techniques, we studied the physicochemical characteristics and mycobiota of five key historic documents from Costa Rica, including the Independence Act of Costa Rica from 1821. We determined that for documents dated between 1500 and 1900 (i.e., the Cloudy Days Act, the Independence Act, and two documents from the Guatemalan Series from 1539 and 1549), the paper composition was cotton, whereas the 1991 replicate of the Political Constitution from 1949 was made of wood cellulose with an increased lignin content. We also determined that the ink employed in 1821 documents is ferrogallic, i.e., formed by iron sulfate salts in combination with gallic and tannic acids. In total, 22 fungal isolates were obtained: 15 from the wood-cellulose-based Political Constitution and seven from the other three cotton-based documents. These results suggest that cotton-based paper is the most resistant to microbial colonization. Molecular identifications using three DNA markers (i.e., ITS nrDNA, beta-tubulin, and translation elongation factor 1-alpha) classified the isolates in eight orders and ten genera. The most frequent genera were Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Purpureocillium. Of the isolates, 95% presented cellulolytic activity correlated to their ability to cause deterioration of the paper. This work increases the knowledge of the fungal diversity that inhabits historic documents and its relationship with paper composition and provides valuable information to develop strategies to conserve and restore these invaluable documents.
Polishing copy number variant calls on exome sequencing data via deep learning
Authors: Özden Furkan , Alkan Can , Çiçek A. Ercüment
Published: June 2022

Accurate and efficient detection of copy number variants (CNVs) is of critical importance owing to their significant association with complex genetic diseases. Although algorithms that use whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data provide stable results with mostly valid statistical assumptions, copy number detection on whole-exome sequencing (WES) data shows comparatively lower accuracy. This is unfortunate as WES data are cost-efficient, compact, and relatively ubiquitous. The bottleneck is primarily due to the noncontiguous nature of the targeted capture: biases in targeted genomic hybridization, GC content, targeting probes, and sample batching during sequencing. Here, we present a novel deep learning model, DECoNT, which uses the matched WES and WGS data, and learns to correct the copy number variations reported by any off-the-shelf WES-based germline CNV caller. We train DECoNT on the 1000 Genomes Project data, and we show that we can efficiently triple the duplication call precision and double the deletion call precision of the state-of-the-art algorithms. We also show that our model consistently improves the performance independent of (1) sequencing technology, (2) exome capture kit, and (3) CNV caller. Using DECoNT as a universal exome CNV call polisher has the potential to improve the reliability of germline CNV detection on WES data sets.
The 2′-deoxyribofuranoside of 3-phenyltetrahydropyrimido[4,5-c]pyridazin-7-one: a bicyclic nucleoside with sugar residues in N and S conformations, and its molecular recognition
Authors: Mei Hui , Budow-Busse Simone , Kondhare Dasharath , Eickmeier Henning , Reuter Hans , Seela Frank
Published: June 2022

The title compound 3-phenyltetrahydropyrimido[4,5-c]pyridazine 2′-deoxyribonucleoside [systematic name: 6-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3-phenylpyrimido[4,5-c]pyridazin-7-one monohydrate, C17H18N4O4·H2O, 1] shows two conformations in the crystalline state and the two conformers (1a and 1b) adopt different sugar puckers. The sugar residue of 1a shows a C2′-endo S-type conformation, while 1b displays a C3′-endo N-type sugar pucker. Both conformers adopt similar anti conformations around the N-glycosylic bonds, with χ = −97.5 (3)° for conformer 1a and χ = −103.8 (3)° for conformer 1b. The extended crystalline network is stabilized by several intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving nucleoside and water molecules. The nucleobases and phenyl substituents of the two conformers (1a and 1b) are stacked and display a reverse alignment. A Hirshfeld surface analysis supports the hydrogen-bonding pattern, while curvedness surfaces visualize the stacking interactions of neighbouring molecules. The recognition face of nucleoside 1 for base-pair formation mimics that of 2′-deoxythymidine. Nucleoside 1 shows two pK
a values: 1.8 for protonation and 11.2 for deprotonation. DNA oligonucleotides containing nucleoside 1 were synthesized and hybridized with complementary DNA strands. Nucleoside 1 forms a stable base pair with dA which is as stable as the canonical dA–dT pair. The bidentate 1–dA base pair is strengthened by a third hydrogen bond provided by the dA analogue 3-bromopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-4,6-diamine 2′-deoxyribofuranoside (4). By this, duplex stability is increased and the suggested base-pairing patterns are supported.
Assessing the impacts of government environmental policies on the small and medium-sized firm's performances in Korea and China
Authors: Joo Hye-Young , Min Hokey
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine which role governments can play in facilitating the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)' environmental capabilities in a global marketplace. It also investigates whether the extent of the impact of government intervention on firm performance varies depending on country-specific policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop a series of hypotheses that are predicated on the ecological modernization theory and the institutional theory. To test those hypotheses, the authors collected cross-national data reflecting both Korean and Chinese SME practices and then used the structural equation model. In addition, the authors utilized cross-validation techniques for methodological rigor.

Findings

A series of hypotheses test results revealed that government intervention had a positive impact on the MNF's environmental innovation capabilities and technological innovation capabilities. In addition, the authors discovered that SMEs' reaction to government intervention had a mediating effect between government intervention and the SME's performance. This discovery verifies the ecological modernization and institutional theories.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that conducted cross-cultural analyses of two different nations with contrasting government structures (i.e. capitalistic versus socialistic).
Ethics-related value acculturation: the case of Thai employees working at UK and Japanese MNCs in Thailand
Authors: Takeda Sachiko , Secchi Davide , Bray Jeff
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Multinational corporations (MNCs) at their foreign subsidiaries hire local employees, whose cultural values may differ from the organisations' home cultures. Such value differences may pose managerial difficulties, making it critical to observe whether working at MNCs changes local employees' cultural values, reducing these differences. This study investigates how and to what extent local employees from a collectivistic culture acculturate their ethics-related values when working at MNCs' foreign subsidiaries. The authors examine (1) whether local employees change their values to become closer to the MNCs' home cultures, and if so, (2) whether the cultural distance between the MNCs' home and host national cultures affect the degree of such adaptation.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected through stratified random sampling from Thai employees of a Japanese-owned MNC (n = 196), a UK-owned MNC (n = 143) and a Thai-owned organisation (n = 137), all operating in Thailand. Hypotheses were developed using Berry's bidimensional acculturation model and were tested using OLS and logistic regression analyses.

Findings

The study's findings indicate that MNCs' local employees from collectivistic cultures adopt Berry's integration acculturation strategy and acculturate their ethics-related values – collectivism, ethical relativism, collective responsibility preference and executive pay differentiation tolerance – towards the values prevalent in MNCs' home cultures. Overall, acculturation is greater when cultural distance is greater. New insights are presented in relation to collective responsibility preference and pay differentiation tolerance.

Originality/value

Findings add to current knowledge on acculturation in management by (1) providing new insights into value acculturation (2) utilising Berry's acculturation model to analyse employees' acculturation within an organisation in the context of an emerging economy, outside the more frequently studied topic of mergers and acquisitions, and (3) investigating the impact of cultural distance on the degree of employee acculturation outside the field of expatriate adjustment.
Review platforms as prosumer communities: theory, practices and implications
Authors: Chan Haksin , Zeng Kevin J. , Yang Morgan X.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This article aims to advance a new theoretical perspective on the basis of prosumption theory, namely, that online review platforms can be conceptualized as prosumer communities (and online reviews as prosumer-generated content). This perspective meshes with message tuning research to suggest specific mechanisms through which peer-to-peer prosumption takes place in online review communities. Overall, this article enriches and deepens theoretical understanding of prosumption behavior in the product review context and offers practical advice for inducing high-value, prosumer-generated content in online communities.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploratory observations of current practices across a wide spectrum of review platforms were conducted. The observed platforms include independent review sites (e.g. Yelp) and review sites affiliated with e-tailers (e.g. Amazon), general review sites (e.g. Viewpoints) and product-specific review sites (e.g. Healthgrades), large-scale review sites (e.g. TripAdvisor) and review sites of a smaller scale (e.g. Judy’s Book) and review sites based in different geographic regions, including Australia (e.g. Productreview.com.au), China (e.g. Taobao), Europe (e.g. Reevoo), India (e.g. Zomato) and North America (e.g. Foursquare).

Findings

Theoretical analysis suggests that high-quality review content is the result of collaborative prosumption characterized by three distinct value-adding processes: history-based message tuning, audience-based message tuning and norm-based message tuning. In-depth observations reveal that today’s review platforms are leveraging these value-adding processes to varying degrees. The overwhelming diversity of the observed platform features points to the need for more research on platform design and management.

Research limitations/implications

This research identifies three distinct dimensions of review quality – novelty, relevancy and congruency – that can be systematically managed through platform design. The exploratory nature of this research necessitates follow-up work to further investigate how high-quality review content emerges in the historical, interpersonal and cultural contexts of online prosumer communities.

Practical implications

The prosumption-inducing mechanisms identified in this research have major consumer welfare and strategy implications. First, they may lead to novel, relevant and congruent consumer reviews. Second, they may enhance the value of brand communities (which rely heavily on collaborative prosumption).

Originality/value

This research addresses two intriguing questions pertinent to marketing theory and practice in the digital era. First, how do high-quality reviews emerge on product review platforms (which consist of ordinary consumers)? Second, what constitutes high-quality review content and how can platform managers facilitate the collaborative creation of high-quality review content by ordinary consumers?
The role of trust in sports organization crisis communication: the case of the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal
Authors: Lee Seomgyun , Oh Taeyeon
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The current study examines (1) the relationships among the crisis response, trust and negative behavioral intentions (i.e. avoidance and revenge), (2) the mediation role of trust in the crisis communication of sports organization and (3) the moderation effect of team identification between the crisis response and trust.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was used to collect data from 324 Major League Baseball (MLB) fans who met specific criteria (i.e. background information; knowing about the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal and how the team responded to it). Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were employed to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The findings showed that perceived adequacy of the crisis response positively influenced sports fans' perceived trust. This trust was negatively associated with revenge and avoidance intentions. The mediation effect of trust was also found in the relationship between the crisis response and both avoidance and revenge intentions. Regarding the interaction effect of team identification, however, the relationship between the crisis response and trust was not moderated by team identification levels.

Originality/value

The present study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of crisis communication in sports fans' perceptions and behavioral intentions. It illuminates a psychological process through which perceived adequacy of crisis response reduces negative behavioral intentions through trust.
Mental health of healthcare professionals: headaches and professional commitment interact to impact nurse turnover intention
Authors: Pham Thi Tuan Linh , Chang Hao-Yuan , Wong Alice May-Kuem , Van Vu Hong , Teng Ching-I
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Nurses' health is vital for retaining nurses in the profession. However, lack of study has examined how headaches and professional commitment interact to impact professional turnover intention. This study aims to examine the moderating effect of nurses' headaches on the relationship among professional commitment factors (affective professional commitment, continuance professional commitment and normative professional commitment) and nurses' professional turnover intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a two-wave design and questionnaires to survey 524 nurses from a large medical center in Taiwan during February and March 2017 (the first wave) and June and August 2017 (the second wave). Headaches were measured using descriptions formulated by the International Headache Society. Items measuring other constructs came from relevant literature. Regression analysis was used to assess relationships between the constructs.

Findings

All aspects of professional commitment are negatively related to professional turnover intention (B [CI] = −0.47 [−0.58, −0.36], −0.20 [−0.29, −0.11], −0.22 [−0.32, −0.12], p < 0.001). Headaches reduce the negative relation between affective professional commitment and professional turnover intention (B [CI] = 0.14 [0.02,0.27], p = 0.02).

Practical implications

Headaches could interfere with nurses' commitment to the nursing profession and influence nurses' intention to leave. Managers should seek means to help alleviate nurses' headaches.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine how headaches and professional commitment interact to influence nurses' professional turnover intention.
The role of relational and transactional factors in the adoption of virtual governance strategies
Authors: Taylor Jennifer Fries
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the factors of the exchange relationship that influence a target-partner’s decisions to adopt virtual governance strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses are tested using an online panel of 259 key informants from manufacturing firms that sell goods to retailers. Data are analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study confirms the hypotheses that the target partner’s trust in the initiating partner is a significant driver of supply chain management system (SCMS) adoption intention. While trust fully mediates the adverse effects of technological uncertainty on adoption intentions, asset specificity directly influences both trust and adoption intentions. Additionally, the initiating-partner’s incentive orientation mitigates these effects and encourages SCMS adoption.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the study of virtual governance and interorganizational adoption decisions in two primary ways. First, it elucidates the relationship between transaction costs and relational norms. Second, it examines the role that the shadow of past incentives has on the target-partner’s decisions to electronically integrate with the initiating partner.

Practical implications

The findings from this study contribute to the virtual governance and interorganizational technology adoption literature by demonstrating the relevance of characteristics of the exchange relationship in the target-partner’s decision to adopt the SCMS technologies necessary for electronic integration. This study provides a better understanding of the function of transaction costs and relational norms that paves the way for further exploration of the choice to adopt virtual governance strategies.

Originality/value

Given that SCMSs enable virtual governance, the findings of this study make important contributions to understanding how transactional and relational elements of the exchange relationship influence a target-partner’s decisions to participate in vertical control strategies with an initiating-partner.
Evaluation of greenness of green buildings based on carbon emissions
Authors: Zhang Jingqi , Zhao Hui , Li Zhijie , Guo Ziliang
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate green buildings from the angle of greenness and improve the evaluation system. And the matter-element extension method is used to evaluate the greenness of green buildings, in order to provide useful references for the evaluation system of green buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

First, this paper studies the aspects of safety and durability, health and comfort, living convenience, resource-saving, environmental liability and ecological quality, etc. For the first time, carbon emission is included in the evaluation system, 18 key evaluation indexes are determined by using the Delphi method, and the green building evaluation index system is established. Then, the combined weight method is proposed to determine the weight of each evaluation index, and the greenness evaluation model of green building is established with the matter-element extension method. Finally, taking Beijing Daxing International Airport as an example, the evaluation model of green building greenness was established to evaluate the building.

Findings

In this paper, the greenness evaluation model of green building established by the matter-element extension method solves the problem of incompatibility between qualitative and quantitative material elements in multi-factor evaluation. It makes the evaluation indexes more accurate and objective relative to the affiliation calculation of the evaluation set and improves the scientific, accuracy and reliability of the evaluation model.

Originality/value

In this paper, for the first time, carbon emission-related indicators are included in the green building evaluation system, which makes the evaluation system more perfect. In addition, a more scientific extension matter-element method is used to evaluate the greenness of green buildings, breaking the previous rough star evaluation method.
Optimal synthesis of cogeneration systems using novel intuitionistic fuzzy P-graph
Authors: Lin Ting-Yu , Chang Ping-Teng , Lin Kuo-Ping , Chen Miao-Tzu
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study is aimed to develop a novel intuitionistic fuzzy P-graph with Gaussian membership function to help decision-makers deal with complex process network systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Two fuzzy P-graph case studies of the cogeneration system were selected, and relevant data were collected, including the structure and flow sequence of the system, and the rate of material and product transitions between the operating units. Gaussian function membership was set according to the restriction of fuzzy upper and lower bounds. Then the α-cut was used to obtain different upper and lower bound restrictions of each membership degree. After finding the optimal and suboptimal solutions for different membership degrees, the results of non-membership and hesitation were calculated.

Findings

The proposed method will help the decision maker consider the risk and provide more feasible solutions to choose the optimal and suboptimal solutions based on their own or through experience. The proposed model in this study has more flexibility in operation and decision making.

Originality/value

This study is the first to propose a novel intuitive fuzzy P-graph and demonstrates the effectiveness and flexibility of the method by two case studies of the cogeneration system. However, the addition of hesitation can increase the error tolerance of the system. Even for the solutions with a high degree of membership, optimal and suboptimal solutions still exist for the decision maker to select. Since decision makers expect the higher achievement of the target requirements; thus, it is important to have more feasible solutions with a high degree of membership.
Socio-economic impact on the availability of basic amenities: a comparative analysis of villages of hilly states, India
Authors: Patra Pradipta , Roy Arijit , Ghosh Arpita , Malik Parul
Published: June 2022

Purpose

India has taken a successful step towards meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by providing access to basic amenities such as safe drinking water, waste management, drainage systems and bio-compost pits in households. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that significantly impact access to such basic amenities in villages in two states in the hilly regions of India.

Design/methodology/approach

Village-level secondary data collected from the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) website has been analyzed using multiple linear regression and non-parametric statistical tests. Socio-economic and demographic variables are the independent factors in regression whereas availability of basic amenities is the dependent variable.

Findings

Findings reveal that in Himachal Pradesh, gender ratio, annual income per family, percentage of BPL households, percentage of pucca houses, and percentage of village population above graduation, significantly impact access to piped water in village households. Also, literacy rate and percentage of population with education above graduation significantly impact availability of compost pits. Further, in Uttarakhand, percentage of pucca houses influences access to waste collection system and availability of compost pits. Availability of drainage systems is influenced by literacy rate. A comparison between the two hilly states reveals that Himachal Pradesh is better off in terms of ease of access to drinking water whereas Uttarakhand is ahead in terms of other amenities.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other studies have used socio-economic and demographic variables to study access to basic amenities in villages in hilly states in India.
Influencer marketing: sponsorship disclosure and value co-creation behaviour
Authors: Bu Yi , Parkinson Joy , Thaichon Park
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationships between sponsorship disclosure, influencer type and audience value co-creation behaviour in influencer marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

This study explores audience value co-creation behaviour in influencer marketing through sponsorship disclosure and influencer type using a 3 (sponsorship disclosure: explicit vs implicit vs no disclosure) × 3 (influencer type: micro vs meso vs macro) factorial between-subjects design.

Findings

This study finds that the influence of explicit disclosure on audience value co-creation behaviour (participation behaviour and citizenship behaviour) is greater than when that information is either implied or not disclosed. Likewise, the influence of macro-influencers on audience participation behaviour is higher than that of micro-influencers and meso-influencers. The findings also show that the interaction effect between influencer type and sponsorship disclosure significantly impacts audience participation behaviour.

Originality/value

This study introduces value co-creation behaviour into influencer marketing and expands research on sponsorship disclosure and influencer type. The study further enriches the value co-creation behaviour antecedent research in influencer marketing.