bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chromatin Remodeling in Patient-Derived Colorectal Cancer Models
Authors: Xiang Kun , Wang Ergang , Rupprecht Gabrielle , Mantyh John , Negrete Marcos , Sanati Golshid , Hsu Carolyn , Randon Peggy , Dohlman Anders , Kretzschmar Kai , Giroux Nicholas , Ding Shengli , Wang Lihua , Balcazar Jorge Prado , Huang Qiang , Sundaramoorthy Pasupathi , Xi Rui , McCall Shannon Jones , Wang Zhaohui , Kang Yubin , Kopetz Scott , Crawford Gregory E. , Clevers Hans , Hsu David , Shen Xiling
Published: July 2022

Patient-Derived Organoids (PDO) and Xenografts (PDX) are the current gold standards for patient derived models of cancer (PDMC). Nevertheless, how patient tumor cells evolve in these models and the impact on drug response remains unclear. Herein, we compared the transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility landscapes of six matched sets of colorectal cancer (CRC) PDO, PDX, PDO-derived PDX (PDOX), and original patient tumors (PT) and discovered two major remodeling axes. The first axis delineates PDX and PDO from PT, and the second axis distinguishes PDX and PDO. PDOX were more similar to PDX than they were to PDO, indicating that the growth environment is a driving force for chromatin adaptation. Using bivariate genomic footprinting analysis, we identified transcription factors (TF) that differentially bind to open chromatins between matched PDO and PDOX. Among them, KLF14 and EGR2 footprints were enriched in all six PDOX relative to matched PDO, and silencing of KLF14 or EGR2 promoted tumor growth. Furthermore, EPHA4, a shared downstream target gene of KLF14 and EGR2, altered tumor sensitivity to MEK inhibitor treatment. Altogether, patient-derived CRC cells undergo both common and distinct chromatin remodeling in PDO and PDX/PDOX, driven largely by their respective microenvironments, which results in differences in growth and drug sensitivity and needs to be taken into consideration when interpreting their ability to predict clinical outcome.
Immunity priming uncouples the growth-defense tradeoff in tomato
Authors: Leibman-Markus Meirav , Schneider Anat , Gupta Rupali , Marash Iftah , Rav-David Dalia , Carmeli-Weissberg Mira , Elad Yigal , Bar Maya
Published: July 2022

Plants have developed an array of mechanisms to protect themselves against pathogen invasion. The deployment of defense mechanisms is imperative for plant survival, but can come at the expense of plant growth, leading to the “growth- defense trade-off” phenomenon. Following pathogen exposure, plants can develop resistance to further attack. This is known as induced resistance, or priming. Here, we investigated the growth-defense trade-off, examining how defense priming via Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR), or Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR), affects tomato development and growth. We found that defense priming can promote, rather than inhibit, plant development, and that defense priming and growth tradeoffs can be uncoupled. Cytokinin response was activated during induced resistance, and found to be required for the observed growth and disease resistance resulting from ISR activation. ISR was found to have a stronger effect on plant development than SAR. Our results suggest that growth promotion and induced resistance can be co-dependent, and that in certain cases, defense priming can drive developmental processes and promote plant yield.

Summary statement

Growth-defense tradeoffs in plants result in loss of yield. Here, we demonstrate that immunity priming in different pathways uncouples this tradeoff and allows for disease resistant plants with robust growth.
Linking collective migration/growth to differentiation boosts global shaping of the transcriptome and exhibits a grasshopper effect for driving maturation
Authors: Ogoke Ogechi , Guiggey Daniel , Chiang Alexander , Thompson Sarah , Anh Nguyen Tram Hoang , Berke Daniel , Ott Cortney , Kalinousky Allison , Shamul Claire , Chen Peter , Ross Shatoni , Chen Zhaowei , Srivastava Pooja , Gaughan Chris , Mahajan Supriya , Zhao Ruogang , Gunawan Rudyanto , Parashurama Natesh
Published: July 2022

The shift from collective migration to differentiation is a crucial process in epithelial biology but recreating this intricate transition has thus far proved elusive. We provide experimental, mechanistic,in vivo, and bioinformatic data supporting an undoubtable link between human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)- derived collectively migrating hepatoblasts (MHB), and transcriptionally mature, functional hPSC- hepatocytes (HEPs), which incorporates two unrecognized steps. The protocol induces FOXA-dependent induction of HBs, leading to TBX3-positive, YAP-TEAD active MHB’s which provide a transcriptional match with murine liver E9.5 MHBs. Simple cultivation changes trigger MHB’s to rapidly form functional day 18 HEPs, predicted by a deep-learning designed gene circuit, resulting in a ∼236% fold- increase in maturation (PACNet), on par with the highest score, but with enhanced global transcriptional shaping. Overall, incorporating the MHB to HEP transition establishes a new, unrecognized, and highly efficient mechanism for differentiation that can be cumulatively integrated with existing methods to overcome barriers to maturation.
Variation of length and sequence of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1 supports “hermit-to-king” crab hypothesis
Authors: Chow Seinen , Hamasaki Katsuyuki , Konishi Kooichi , Yanagimoto Takashi , Wagatsuma Ryota , Takeyama Haruko
Published: July 2022

Lithodoid and paguroid crabs are morphologically assigned to the superfamilies Lithodoidea and Paguroidea, respectively. Molecular analyses, however, have revealed closer genetic proximity of the lithodoid crabs to the family Paguridae than to other families of Paguroidea, provoking a long debate. We investigated the length and nucleotide sequence variation of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) in lithodoid and paguroid species. Uniquely short ITS1s (215–253 bp) were observed in seven lithodoid species belonging to the families Lithodidae and Hapalogastridae. In contrast, ITS1 length varied considerably in 13 paguroid species belonging to the families Coenobitidae, Diogenidae, and Paguridae. Short-to-long ITS1s (238–1090 bp) were observed in five species of the family Paguridae, and medium to long ITS1s (573–1166 bp) were observed in eight species of the families Coenobitidae and Diogenidae. Interestingly, ITS1s of considerably different sizes coexist in individual paguroid species. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the short ITS1s observed in the family Paguridae were descendants of longer ITS1s and were homologous to the short ITS1 of lithodoid species. ITS1 sequences of the families Coenobitidae and Diogenidae shared no nucleotide elements similar to those of lithodoid and pagurid species. These molecular signals indicate that the short ITS1 in pagurid lineage was passed on to lithodoid lineage, strongly supporting the “hermit-to-king” crab hypothesis.
Encoding of Dynamic Facial Information in the Middle Dorsal Face Area
Authors: Yang Zetian , Freiwald Winrich A.
Published: July 2022

Faces in motion reveal a plethora of information through visual dynamics. Faces can move in complex patterns while transforming facial shape, e.g. during the generation of different emotional expressions. While motion and shape processing have been studied extensively in separate research enterprises, much less is known about their conjunction during biological motion. Here we took advantage of the discovery in brain-imaging studies of an area in the dorsal portion of the macaque monkey superior temporal sulcus (STS), the middle dorsal face area (MD), with selectivity for naturalistic face motion. To gain mechanistic insights into the coding of facial motion, we recorded single-unit activity from MD, testing whether and how MD cells encode face motion. The MD population was highly sensitive to naturalistic facial motion and facial shape. Some MD cells responded only to the conjunction of facial shape and motion, others were selective for facial shape even without movement, and yet others were suppressed by facial motion. We found that this heterogeneous MD population transforms face motion into a higher-dimensional activity space, a representation that would allow for high sensitivity to relevant small-scale movements. Indeed we show that many MD cells carry such sensitivity for eye movements. We further found that MD cells encode motion of head, mouth, and eyes in a separable manner, requiring the use of multiple reference frames. Thus, MD is a bona-fide face-motion area that uses highly heterogeneous cell populations to create codes capturing even complex facial motion trajectories.
Deep embedded clustering by relevant scales and genome-wide association study in autism
Authors: Ueno Fumihiko , Onuma Tomomi , Takahashi Ippei , Ohseto Hisashi , Narita Akira , Obara Taku , Ishikuro Mami , Murakami Keiko , Noda Aoi , Matsuzaki Fumiko , Metoki Hirohito , Tamiya Gen , Kure Shigeo , Kuriyama Shinichi
Published: July 2022

The etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) remains unclear. Stratifying patients with ASD may help to identify genetically homogeneous subgroups. Using a deep embedded clustering algorithm, we conducted cluster analyses of Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK) datasets and performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of the clusters. We observed no significant associations in the conventional GWAS comparing all patients to all controls. However, in the GWAS, comparing patients divided into clusters with similar phenotypes to controls (cluster-based GWAS), we identified 90 chromosomal loci that satisfied the P < 5.0 × 10−8, several of which were located within or near previously reported candidate genes for ASD. Our findings suggest that clustering may successfully identify subgroups with relatively homogeneous disease etiologies.
A bead-based GPCR phosphorylation immunoassay for high-throughput ligand profiling and GRK inhibitor screening
Authors: Kaufmann Johanna , Blum Nina Kathleen , Nagel Falko , Schuler Anna , Drube Julia , Degenhart Carsten , Engel Julian , Eickhoff Jan Eicke , Dasgupta Pooja , Fritzwanker Sebastian , Guastadisegni Maria , Schulte Clemens , Miess-Tanneberg Elke , Maric Hans Michael , Spetea Mariana , Kliewer Andrea , Baumann Matthias , Klebl Bert , Reinscheid Rainer K. , Hoffmann Carsten , Schulz Stefan
Published: July 2022

Analysis of agonist-driven phosphorylation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can provide valuable insights into the receptor activation state and ligand pharmacology. However, to date, assessment of GPCR phosphorylation using high-throughput applications has been challenging. We have developed and validated a bead-based immunoassay for the quantitative assessment of agonist-induced GPCR phosphorylation that can be performed entirely in multiwell cell culture plates. The assay involves immunoprecipitation of affinity-tagged receptors using magnetic beads followed by protein detection using phosphorylation-state-specific and phosphorylation state-independent anti-GPCR antibodies. As proof of concept, five prototypical GPCRs (MOP, C5a1, D1, SST2, CB2) were treated with different agonists and antagonists, and concentration-response curves were generated. We then extended our approach to establish selective cellular GPCR kinase (GRK) inhibitor assays, which led to the rapid identification of a selective GRK5/6 inhibitor (LDC8988) and a highly potent pan-GRK inhibitor (LDC9728). In conclusion, this versatile GPCR phosphorylation assay can be used extensively for ligand profiling and inhibitor screening.
Targeting oncogenic KRasG13C with nucleotide-based covalent inhibitors
Authors: Goebel Lisa , Kirschner Tonia , Koska Sandra , Rai Amrita , Janning Petra , Maffini Stefano , Vatheuer Helge , Czodrowski Paul , Goody Roger S. , Müller Matthias P. , Rauh Daniel
Published: July 2022

Mutations within Ras proteins represent major drivers in human cancer. In this study, we report the structure-based design, synthesis, as well as biochemical and cellular evaluation of nucleotide-based covalent inhibitors for KRasG13C, an important oncogenic mutant of Ras that has not been successfully addressed in the past. Mass spectrometry experiments and kinetic studies reveal promising molecular properties of these covalent inhibitors, and X-ray crystallographic analysis has yielded the first reported crystal structures of KRasG13C covalently locked with these GDP analogues. Importantly, KRasG13C covalently modified with these inhibitors can no longer undergo SOS-catalysed nucleotide exchange. As a final proof-of-concept, we show that in contrast to KRasG13C, the covalently locked protein is unable to induce oncogenic signalling in cells, further highlighting the possibility of using nucleotide-based inhibitors with covalent warheads in KRasG13C-driven cancer.
Tracing the origin of Oriental beech stands across Western Europe and reporting hybridization with European beech – implications for assisted gene flow
Authors: Kurz Mirjam , Kölz Adrian , Gorges Jonas , Carmona Beatriz Pablo , Brang Peter , Vitasse Yann , Kohler Martin , Rezzonico Fabio , Smits Theo H. M. , Bauhus Jürgen , Rudow Andreas , Hansen Ole Kim , Vatanparast Mohammad , Sevik Hakan , Zhelev Petar , Gömöry Dušan , Paule Ladislav , Sperisen Christoph , Csilléry Katalin
Published: July 2022

Human-aided translocation of individuals within the species’ range, assisted gene flow (AGF), has been suggested as a climate change mitigation strategy, especially for foundational species, such as forest trees. The benefits and risks of AGF largely depend on the genetic divergence between host and donor populations, their rate and direction of hybridization, and the climate distance that the transfer involves. In this study, we explored the use of Oriental beech (Fagus sylvatica subsp. orientalis), growing from Iran to the Balkans, for AGF in populations of European beech (F. sylvatica subsp. sylvatica), which grow throughout Europe and are increasingly affected by climate warming. Using 16 microsatellite loci and samples from 13 and 6 natural populations of Oriental and European beech, respectively, we identified 5 distinct genetic clusters in Oriental beech with a divergence (FST) of 0.15 to 0.25 from European beech. Using this knowledge, we tracked the origin of 11 Oriental beech stands in Western Europe, some established in the early 1900s. In two stands of Greater Caucasus origin, we additionally genotyped offspring and found evidence for extensive hybridization, with 41.3% and 17.8% of the offspring having a hybrid status. Further, climate data revealed a higher degree of seasonality across the Oriental beech growing sites than across the planting sites in Western Europe, with some sites additionally having a warmer and drier climate. Accordingly, in one of these stands, we found evidence that bud burst of Oriental beech occurs four days earlier than in European beech. These results suggest that AGF of Oriental beech could increase the genetic diversity of European beech stands and may even help the introgression of variants that are more adapted to future climatic conditions. Our study showcases an evaluation of the benefits and risks of AGF and calls for similar studies on other native tree species.
Synthetic HNK-1 containing glycans provide insight into binding properties of serum antibodies from MAG-neuropathy patients
Authors: Bunyatov Mehman , Wolfert Margreet A. , Huizinga Ruth , Schreurs Marco W.J. , Jacobs Bart C. , Boons Geert-Jan
Published: July 2022

Anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-MAG) neuropathy is an autoimmune disease in which IgM autoantibodies target glycoconjugates of peripheral nerves resulting in progressive demyelination. To examine fine specificities of serum IgM autoantibodies and develop a more robust platform for diagnosis and disease monitoring, we describe here a chemoenzymatic approach that readily provided a panel of HNK-1 containing oligosaccharides presented on type 2 oligo-N-acetyl lactosamine (LacNAc) chains typical of glycosphingolipids. The compounds were prepared by a chemoenzymatic strategy in which an oligo-LacNAc structure was assembled enzymatically and then subjected to protecting group manipulation to chemically install a 3-O-sulfate glucuronic acid moiety. The synthetic strategy is highly divergent and made it possible to prepare from key precursors, additional compounds lacking sulfate of HNK-1 and derivatives in which the HNK-1 epitope is replaced by sulfate or sialic acid. The oligosaccharides were printed as a microarray to examine binding specificities of several monoclonal antibodies and serum antibodies of anti-MAG neuropathy patients. Surprisingly, three distinct patient subgroups were identified with variable dependance on the length of the LacNAc chain and sulfation of the glucuronyl moiety. In most cases, a lacto-neohexaose backbone was required for binding indicating the antibodies target corresponding glycosphingolipids.

Significance statement

A chemoenzymatic strategy is introduced in which a glycan backbone is assembled by glycosyltransferases to give a core oligosaccharide that is subjected to protecting group manipulations and chemical glycosylations to install terminal epitopes. It addresses limitations of enzymatic synthesis when specific glycosyltransferases or glycan-modifying enzymes for terminal epitope synthesis are not readily available. It provided an unprecedented panel of HNK-1 containing oligosaccharides, which was used to develop a glycan microarray that uncovered distinct binding preferences of serum antibodies of anti-MAG patients. The clinical spectrum of IgM monoclonal gammopathy varies substantially and an understanding of binding properties of IgM auto-antibodies will provide opportunities to monitor disease progression and develop personalized treatment options.
Parallel duplication and loss of aquaporin-coding genes during the ‘out of the sea’ transition as potential key drivers of animal terrestrialization
Authors: Martínez-Redondo Gemma I. , Guerrero Carolina Simón , Aristide Leandro , Balart-García Pau , Tonzo Vanina , Fernández Rosa
Published: July 2022

One of the most important physiological challenges animals had to overcome during terrestrialization (i.e., the transition from sea to land) is water loss, which alters their osmotic and hydric homeostasis. Aquaporins are a superfamily of membrane water transporters heavily involved in osmoregulatory processes. Their diversity and evolutionary dynamics in most animal lineages remain unknown, hampering our understanding of their role in marine-terrestrial transitions. Here, we interrogated aquaporin gene repertoire evolution across the main terrestrial animal lineages. We annotated aquaporin-coding genes in genomic data from 458 species from 7 animal phyla where terrestrialization episodes occurred. We then explored aquaporin gene evolutionary dynamics to assess differences between terrestrial and aquatic species through phylogenomics and phylogenetic comparative methods. Our results revealed parallel aquaporin-coding gene duplications in aquaporins during the transition from marine to non-marine environments (e.g., brackish, freshwater and terrestrial), rather than from aquatic to terrestrial ones, with some notable duplications in ancient lineages. Contrarily, we also recovered a significantly lower number of superaquaporin genes in terrestrial arthropods, suggesting that more efficient oxygen homeostasis in land arthropods might be linked to a reduction in this type of aquaporins. Our results thus indicate that aquaporin-coding gene duplication and loss might have been one of the key steps towards the evolution of osmoregulation across animals, facilitating the ‘out of the sea’ transition and ultimately the colonisation of land.
Adipose tissue mitochondrial respiration in Atlantic salmon: implications for sex-dependent life-history variation
Authors: Prokkola Jenni M. , Wagner Anita , Koskinen Elisabeth , Debes Paul V. , House Andrew , Åsheim Eirik R. , Primmer Craig R. , Pirinen Eija , Aykanat Tutku
Published: July 2022

Adipose tissue is essential for energy homeostasis, with mitochondria having a central role in its function. Mitochondria-mediated white adipose tissue dysfunction has been linked to several metabolic disorders in humans but surprisingly little is known about natural variation in mitochondrial function in wild animal populations, and its evolutionary significance. Early sexual maturation (low age-at-maturity) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is promoted by higher adiposity and has a strong genetic association with thevgll3locus. This makes Atlantic salmon a convenient wild model to study the potential role of mitochondria-mediated adipose tissue processes in relation to the timing of maturation. Yet, mitochondrial respiration has not been measured in the adipose tissue in fish, and the lack of data is restricting the development of informed hypotheses. Here, using 13 Atlantic salmon individuals reared in common-garden conditions, we first verified the feasibility of measuring mitochondrial respiration in the adipose tissue. As expected, the respiration level was generally low, but nonetheless we successfully quantified its biological variation in the adipose tissue. Next, we analysed the potential association of mitochondrial respiration with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content, adipocyte size, sex, and thevgll3genotype. Despite low samples sizes, mitochondrial respiration, leak respiration, and coupling capacity (P/E ratio) were marginally significantly decreased in immature females carrying with thevgll3early maturation compared to the alternative genotype. Based on these results, we suggested two new hypotheses on how the coupling capacity of oxidative phosphorylation could be linked with the timing of maturation via adiposity and pave the way to study the mechanistic relationships between life-history variation and mitochondrial bioenergetics in wild populations.
Supporting agile innovation and knowledge by managing human resource flexibility
Authors: Martinez-Sanchez Angel , Vicente-Oliva Silvia
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the implications of managing human resource (HR) flexibility and absorptive capacity (AC) of knowledge for the implementation of agile innovation methods in the new product development (NPD) process of manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this, the authors have carried out a meta-analysis by defining first a research question that determines the design of bibliometric data and compilation. The study question is: How firms can support agile initiatives in innovation considering their HR flexibility and AC? The Web of Science Collection has been consulted in three steps with several search strings. The analysis of 161 references without duplicities in the period 1997–2021 provides the foundations for exploring the research question.

Findings

The authors propose research hypotheses to analyze the interrelationship between HR flexibility, AC and agile innovation according to the literature-based discussion. The authors have identified and develop metrics to pilot the transition to agile that have been also adapted to specific innovation departures points before the transition. The authors also propose and discuss some organizational changes and practical guidelines to pilot transitions to agile that should be useful to the firm’s strategic decision of implementing the most adequate type of agile innovation.

Originality/value

Even though flexibility and innovation are very important needs for many firms, agile schemes are still under-studied topics in the NPD of manufacturing firms. There are no specific studies in the literature that analyze the interrelationship between HR flexibility, AC and agile innovation, identifying common aspects and different approaches. Thus, this study is of original nature and the developed managerial tools, composed of metrics and organizational changes, will be useful to managers and permitted the authors to achieve the proposed goal.
An exploration of treatment providers experiences of delivering a high intensity intervention, with violent offenders
Authors: Connell Rachel , Johnson Darren
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Whilst a great deal of research exists on the effectiveness of treatment with violent offenders comparatively little is known about the experience of treatment providers. The purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of four prison officers delivering a high-intensity intervention, with violent offenders.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was used to gain a rich, individualised account of treatment providers’ experiences, with interpretative phenomenological analysis applied by the lead researcher (first author). External auditing analysis was conducted by the second author.

Findings

The analysis generated two superordinate themes: “Impact on Self-Coping” and “With Great Challenge Comes Great Reward” with pertinent sub-themes. The findings support the existing evidence regarding the relevance of individual characteristics and coping style on well-being, regardless of the nature of the offences being discussed. Working with violent offenders could be challenging yet rewarding with adequate support in place.

Practical implications

It is imperative that treatment providers are offered support and encouragement in undertaking their role and that a rehabilitative culture is promoted and reinforced within custodial environments. Additional training for facilitators to develop effective self-coping strategies was recommended in addition to careful management of delivery periods.

Originality/value

These findings add to the evidence base in relation to the impact of high-intensity treatment provision on individual well-being; suggestions are made to support clinical and organisational good practice.
Systematic review of short-term study abroad outcomes and an agenda for future research
Authors: Bradly Andrew , Iskhakova Marina
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to serve as a comprehensive review of short-term study abroad (STSA) outcomes to help guide future STSA and study abroad (SA) scholars and practitioners in the further development of the field.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is the first comprehensive and systematic review of all outcomes of STSA programs within the SA body of research based on 156 papers.

Findings

The study provides the first comprehensive classification of all previously studied STSA outcomes (85) into six categories: cross-cultural outcomes, STSA pedagogy outcomes, personal and professional outcomes; language outcomes; teacher and faculty outcomes; and other outcomes. Distinct sub-categories are identified that provide insights on the current landscape of STSA and related research.

Research limitations/implications

This study makes a significant contribution to the theory and practice of SA, and among the key contributions are a systematic understanding of the scale and scope of STSA outcomes; insights on the most efficient design of future STSA programs; and an expanded understanding of the role and importance of STSA programs in international education. Furthermore, a comprehensive STSA outcomes map develops an extensive research agenda.

Social implications

While the COVID-19 pandemic currently limits the opportunities for STSA, given its previous popularity, the authors envisage a strong return in the coming years of this form of affordable and valuable global learning. STSA programs have become an important component of higher education and which require considerable resources from participants and educational institutions alike. Therefore, further research is needed to understand the impacts of STSA programs and to further improve program design. Such research will serve to better inform both academic understanding of the phenomenon and educational practice.

Originality/value

The study provides the first comprehensive classification of all studied STSA outcomes.
An initial feasibility study into ray-based slicing for revolving thin-wall parts using a rotary 3D printer
Authors: Zhao Donghua , Zhu Gaohan , He Jiapeng , Guo Weizhong
Published: July 2022

Purpose

With the development of 3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM), curved layer fused deposition modeling (CLFDM) has been researched to cope with the flat layer AM inherited problems, such as stair-step error, anisotropy and the time-cost and material-cost problems from the supporting structures. As one type of CLFDM, cylindrical slicing has obtained some research attention. However, it can only deal with rotationally symmetrical parts with a circular slicing layer, limiting its application. This paper aims to propose a ray-based slicing method to increase the inter-layer strength of flat layer-based AM parts to deal with more general revolving parts.

Design/methodology/approach

Specifically, the detailed algorithm and implementation steps are given with several examples to enable readers to understand it better. The combination of ray-based slicing and helical path planning has been proposed to consider the nonuniform path spacing between the adjacent paths in the same curved layer. A brief introduction of the printing system is given, mainly including a 3D printer and the graphical user interface.

Findings

The preliminary experiments are successfully conducted to verify the feasibility and versatility of the proposed and improved slicing method for the revolving thin-wall parts based on a rotary 3D printer.

Originality/value

This research is early-stage work, and the authors are intended to explore the process and show the initial feasibility of ray-based slicing for revolving thin-wall parts using a rotary 3D printer. In general, this research provides a novel and feasible slicing method for multiaxis rotary 3D printers, making manufacturing revolving thin-wall and complex parts possible.
Analysis of the dynamic return and volatility connectedness for non-ferrous industrial metals during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis
Authors: Umar Zaghum , Jareño Francisco , Escribano Ana
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the dynamic return and volatility connectedness for six major industrial metals (tin, lead, nickel, zinc, copper and aluminium) and the coronavirus media coverage index (MCI).

Design/methodology/approach

To that purpose, this study applies the fresh time-varying parameter vector autoregression methodology (TVP–VAR model) during the sample period between 2 January, 2020, and 16 April, 2021, that is, covering the three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Findings

This study’s results show interesting findings. First, dynamic total return and volatility connectedness changes over time, highlighting a significant increase during the third wave of the pandemic. Second, the MCI index is a leading net transmitter in terms of return and volatility at the introduction of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus crisis. Third, this study clearly distinguishes two profiles among industrial metals: copper and tin/zinc as net transmitters and lead and aluminium as net receivers. Finally, the most relevant differences between them are concentrated not only at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (first wave) but also during the second and third waves of the coronavirus outbreak.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research that explores the dynamic return and volatility connectedness in the industrial metal market, applying the TVP–VAR methodology during the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Gains and losses when implementing CSR: insights from Taiwanese banks
Authors: Thanh Binh Nguyen Thi
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The benefits gained from the implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) are not consistent across related studies. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to use the threshold model to explain this problem and further recognize the gains and losses of Taiwan’s commercial banks in participating in CSR.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the data of listed banks during the period of 2008–2020 and applies the multi-threshold regression model for designing the model with debt ratio as a threshold variable. These thresholds are used to classify the data into three regimes; low, medium and high debt ratios for examining how banks’ participation in social responsibility affects their financial performance, costs and depositors' confidence.

Findings

The implementation of CSR can enable the low debt banks to reduce costs and generate positive effects on the growth of profitability and time deposits. Conversely, the commitment to CSR of the bank group with medium and high debt ratios negatively affects their profits, and their costs increase insignificantly. Besides, the depositors' confidence in bank groups with low and moderate debt ratios increase, but those of high debt ratio group decrease.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the existent literature in several ways: first, the nonlinear model is applied to eliminate the asymmetric of the data. Second, this paper highlights the importance of debt ratio in assessing the effectiveness of CSR engagement. Third, quality of loans is the key factor determining the bank's profitability and expenses. Fourth, depositors' confidence in commercial banks is lower when their debt ratio is too high.
A novel trophic cascade between cougars and feral donkeys shapes desert wetlands
Authors: Lundgren Erick J. , Ramp Daniel , Middleton Owen S. , Wooster Eamonn I. F. , Kusch Erik , Balisi Mairin , Ripple William J. , Hasselerharm Chris D. , Sanchez Jessica N. , Mills Mystyn , Wallach Arian D.
Published: July 2022

Introduced large herbivores have partly filled ecological gaps formed in the late Pleistocene, when many of the Earth's megafauna were driven extinct. However, extant predators are generally considered incapable of exerting top‐down influences on introduced megafauna, leading to unusually strong disturbance and herbivory relative to native herbivores.

We report on the first documented predation of juvenile feral donkeys Equus africanus asinus by cougars Puma concolor in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of North America. We then investigated how cougar predation corresponds with differences in feral donkey behaviour and associated effects on desert wetlands.

Focusing on a feral donkey population in the Death Valley National Park, we used camera traps and vegetation surveys to compare donkey activity patterns and impacts between wetlands with and without cougar predation.

Donkeys were primarily diurnal at wetlands with cougar predation, thereby avoiding cougars. However, donkeys were active throughout the day and night at sites without predation. Donkeys were ~87% less active (measured as hours of activity a day) at wetlands with predation (p < 0.0001). Sites with predation had reduced donkey disturbance and herbivory, including ~46% fewer access trails, 43% less trampled bare ground and 192% more canopy cover (PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.22, p = 0.0003).

Our study is the first to reveal a trophic cascade involving cougars, feral equids and vegetation. Cougar predation appears to rewire an ancient food web, with diverse implications for modern ecosystems. Our results suggest that protecting apex predators could have important implications for the ecological effects of introduced megafauna.
Interregional infrastructure, competition for capital, and local public expenditure policies: Evidence from China's high‐speed rail network
Authors: Pu Long , Ma Guangrong , Liu Chong
Published: July 2022

Interregional infrastructure promotes market integration and enhances the mobility of capital, thereby intensifying fiscal competition among local governments. Exploiting the expansion of China's high‐speed rail (HSR) network as plausibly exogenous shocks, this study examines how Interregional infrastructure affects the fiscal competition among local governments. We find that after connecting with the HSR network, city governments tend to dedicate a lower proportion of public spending to consumption goods, which benefit immobile households, and invest more in productive inputs, which attract mobile firms. We also find that the negative effect of HSR connection on the proportion of consumption goods is more pronounced in peripheral cities than core cities because periphery cities face a larger increase in capital mobility due to the core–periphery effects of trade integration induced by HSR. Our findings indicate that the behavioural responses of local governments should be accounted for when assessing the social welfare of interregional infrastructure.
A robust textual analysis of the dynamics of Hong Kong property market
Authors: Wong Ken , Kwong Max , Luk Paul , Cheng Michael
Published: July 2022

Market sentiments influence the dynamics of Hong Kong’s macro‐critical property market, but the unobservable nature of market sentiments makes it difficult to systemically assess this sentiment channel. Using text mining techniques, this paper sets up a news‐based property market sentiment index and a Google Trends‐based buyer incentive index for Hong Kong and studies the sentiment channel of transmission in the Hong Kong property market. The news‐based property market sentiment index can reflect the change in sentiments in past key events, with the sentiments in the primary market tending to lead that of the secondary market during the low housing supply period. For the Google Buyer Incentive Index, we find that it has value‐added in forecasting (or nowcasting) the official property price index. In mapping out the sentiment channel using a structural vector‐autoregressive model, we find that an improvement in market sentiments could stimulate buyers’ incentives, which then together would affect property prices and transaction volumes.
Copy number variants and placental abnormalities in stillborn fetuses: A secondary analysis of the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network study
Authors: Workalemahu Tsegaselassie , Dalton Susan , Allshouse Amanda , Carey Andrew Z. , Page Jessica M. , Blue Nathan R. , Thorsten Vanessa , Goldenberg Robert L. , Pinar Halit , Reddy Uma M. , Silver Robert M.
Published: July 2022

Objective

To examine the association of fetal/placental DNA copy number variants (CNVs) with pathologic placental lesions (PPLs) in pregnancies complicated by stillbirth.

Design

A secondary analysis of stillbirth cases in the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network case–control study.

Setting

Multicenter, 59 hospitals in five geographical regions in the USA.

Population

387 stillbirth cases (2006–2008).

Methods

Using standard definitions, PPLs were categorised by type including maternal vascular, fetal vascular, inflammatory and immune/idiopathic lesions. Single‐nucleotide polymorphism array detected CNVs of at least 500 kb. CNVs were classified into two groups: normal, defined as no CNV >500 kb or benign CNVs, and abnormal, defined as pathogenic or variants of unknown clinical significance.

Main outcome measures

The proportions of abnormal CNVs and normal CNVs compared between stillbirth cases with and without PPLs using the Wald Chi‐square test.

Results

Of 387 stillborn fetuses, 327 (84.5%) had maternal vascular PPLs and 60 (15.6%) had abnormal CNVs. Maternal vascular PPLs were more common in stillborn fetuses with abnormal CNVs than in those with normal CNVs (81.7% versus 64.2%; P = 0.008). The proportions of fetal vascular, maternal/fetal inflammatory and immune/idiopathic PPLs were similar among stillborn fetuses with abnormal CNVs and those with normal CNVs. Pathogenic CNVs in stillborn fetuses with maternal vascular PPLs spanned several known genes.

Conclusions

Abnormal placental/fetal CNVs were associated with maternal vascular PPLs in stillbirth cases. The findings may provide insight into the mechanisms of specific genetic abnormalities associated with placental dysfunction and stillbirth.
Government Spending Multipliers in Times of Tight and Loose Monetary Policy in New Zealand*
Authors: Haug Alfred A. , Power India
Published: July 2022

We investigate the cumulative government spending multiplier in times of tight and loose monetary policy for New Zealand. Using local projections with instrumental variables, we find the spending multiplier peaks at 0.61 under loose monetary policy, while remaining statistically insignificant when monetary policy is tight. Splitting government spending into two components leads to different results. The government consumption multiplier does not depend on the stance of monetary policy and peaks at 0.55. However, the government investment multiplier peaks at 0.84 when monetary policy is loose, but is not statistically significant when it is tight.
Predator or prey? Effects of farm growth on neighbouring farms
Authors: Appel Franziska , Balmann Alfons
Published: July 2022

We provide explorative insights on how farms which manage strong and successful growth affect farms in their neighbourhoods through spatial competition for land. The study is based on an exploratory analysis of repeated framed experiments within the business game FarmAgriPoliS (Appel & Balmann,Ecological Complexity, 40, 2019). In particular, we analyse the spatial influences of different behavioural clusters of farm managers. Our analysis finds that farms which manage strong growth substantially affect the development of farms in a spatial neighbourhood of some 10 km. Although the influence on the neighbourhood decreases with distance, the functional correlations of farm growth as well as exits are neither linear nor exponential, but eventually rather wave‐like. We further discuss the spatial interdependence of farms and the related overlaps of the predator–prey phenomenon with the phenomena of farms' path dependency and agricultural structural change. We conclude that along with farmers' strategies and their abilities, the characteristics of their neighbours and the distances between neighbouring farms also determine who is ‘predator’ and who is ‘prey’.
Groundwater‐Mediated Influences of Beaver‐Mimicry Stream Restoration: A Modeling Analysis
Authors: Bobst Andrew L. , Payn Robert A. , Shaw Glenn D.
Published: July 2022

Beaver‐mimicry stream restoration (BMR) involves the alteration of a stream channel to approximate the effects of beaver activity. Project objectives often include increasing groundwater storage and dry‐season streamflow, but limited data are available to understand the nature of its effects on groundwater dynamics. We developed generic groundwater models of mountain headwater streams to investigate the effects of installing a single beaver‐mimicry structure (BMS) using different restoration designs in varied hydrogeologic settings. The magnitude of changes in dry‐season net stream gains from a single BMS was always a minor component of the channel water balance, and would be too small to measure in the field; however, the modeled patterns of change caused by a single BMS help to understand the underlying mechanisms. All tested scenarios caused increases in groundwater recharge from the stream, which resulted in increased groundwater levels, and groundwater outflow from the model domain. For scenarios that did not include evapotranspiration, most treatments in gaining and losing settings caused slight increases in dry‐season net stream gains, but in strongly losing settings net stream gains were reduced. The addition of simulated evapotranspiration often resulted in decreased dry‐season net stream gains, since evapotranspiration increased with groundwater elevations. BMR design and siting influence the types of hydrologic effects that should be anticipated.
Alcohol solution strength preference predicts compulsive‐like drinking behavior in rats
Authors: Foo Jerome C. , Meinhardt Marcus W. , Skorodumov Ivan , Spanagel Rainer
Published: July 2022

Background

Understanding compulsive drinking behavior is key to improving outcomes in the treatment of addiction. In the present study, we investigated compulsive‐like drinking in alcohol‐addicted rats using the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) model of relapse behavior, which involves repeated deprivation and reintroduction phases; the latter approximate relapse.

Methods

High‐resolution longitudinal drinking and locomotor data were measured while rats (n = 30) underwent a four‐bottle (water, 5%, 10%, 20% alcohol v/v) free‐choice ADE paradigm. Alcohol bottles were adulterated with the bitter compound quinine during a reintroduction phase to test for compulsive behavior. We characterized how drinking and locomotor behavior during ADE + quinine differed from a regular ADE and how, at the individual level, behavioral parameters extracted from the regular ADE related to compulsive‐like drinking. Associations of drinking with locomotor activity were also examined.

Results

In the ADE with quinine, we observed reduced consumption of alcohol and a shift to preference for stronger alcohol. Quinine acted by decreasing both the access size and frequency of drinking of 5% alcohol while increasing the frequency of consumption of 20% alcohol. Preference for higher alcohol concentrations prior to the quinine challenge was associated with greater compulsive‐like drinking behavior; higher baseline consumption of 20% alcohol correlated with more drinking of quinine‐adulterated solutions while high frequency and amount of 5% alcohol consumption at baseline were correlated with being more strongly affected by quinine. Associations between locomotor activity and drinking behavior were observed at the hourly level. These associations reflected changing preferences across experimental phases.

Conclusion

Drinking patterns, and specifically solution preference, may offer insights into the presentation of compulsive‐like drinking. The findings provide a preclinical basis for observations from epidemiological studies that link higher risk and burden of alcohol‐related disease to stronger alcohol concentrations and encourage further translational studies to better understand the underlying mechanisms.
Evaluation of concentrated growth factor and blood clot as scaffolds in regenerative endodontic procedures: A retrospective study
Authors: Yang Fengjiao , Yu Lintong , Li Jiahui , Cheng Jing , Zhang Yishan , Zhao Xiaoe , Song Guangtai
Published: July 2022

The study aims to investigate and compare the success rate of concentrated growth factor (CGF) and blood clot (BC) as scaffolds in regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs). Immature permanent necrotic teeth treated by REPs with at least a 6‐month follow‐up were included. These teeth were divided into the CGF (53 teeth) and BC (68 teeth) groups. Treatment outcomes were assessed using a combined clinical and radiographic scoring system. The total success rate was 91.74% over a mean follow‐up period of 23.15 months. There was no significant difference between the CGF group (86.79%) and BC group (95.59%). The success rate of traumatic teeth (84.31%) was significantly lower than that of teeth with developmental dental anomalies (98.39%) (p < 0.05). CGF may be a suitable alternative scaffold in REPs when adequate bleeding cannot be achieved. Moreover, compared to developmental dental anomalies, traumatic teeth treated by REPs may be more vulnerable to failure.