bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vivometabolomics identifies CD38 as an emergent vulnerability inLKB1-mutant lung cancer
Authors: Deng Jiehui , Peng David H. , Fenyo David , Yuan Hao , Lopez Alfonso , Levin Daniel S. , Meynardie Mary , Quinteros Mari , Ranieri Michela , Sahu Soumyadip , Lau Sally C. M. , Shum Elaine , Velcheti Vamsidhar , Punekar Salman R. , Rekhtman Natasha , Dowling Catríona M. , Weerasekara Vajira , Xue Yun , Ji Hongbin , Siu Yik , Jones Drew , Hata Aaron N. , Shimamura Takeshi , Poirier John T. , Rudin Charles M , Hattori Takamitsu , Koide Shohei , Papagiannakopoulos Thales , Neel Benjamin G. , Bardeesy Nabeel , Wong Kwok-kin
Published: April 2023

LKB1/STK11 is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a major role in controlling cell metabolism, resulting in potential therapeutic vulnerabilities in LKB1-mutant cancers. Here, we identify the NAD+degrading ectoenzyme, CD38, as a new target in LKB1-mutant NSCLC. Metabolic profiling of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) revealed that LKB1 mutant lung cancers have a striking increase in ADP-ribose, a breakdown product of the critical redox co-factor, NAD+. Surprisingly, compared with other genetic subsets, murine and human LKB1-mutant NSCLC show marked overexpression of the NAD+-catabolizing ectoenzyme, CD38 on the surface of tumor cells. Loss of LKB1 or inactivation of Salt-Inducible Kinases (SIKs)—key downstream effectors of LKB1— induces CD38 transcription induction via a CREB binding site in the CD38 promoter. Treatment with the FDA-approved anti-CD38 antibody, daratumumab, inhibited growth of LKB1-mutant NSCLC xenografts. Together, these results reveal CD38 as a promising therapeutic target in patients with LKB1 mutant lung cancer.

SIGNIFICANCE

Loss-of-function mutations in theLKB1tumor suppressor of lung adenocarcinoma patients and are associated with resistance to current treatments. Our study identified CD38 as a potential therapeutic target that is highly overexpressed in this specific subtype of cancer, associated with a shift in NAD homeostasis.
The covariance environment defines cellular niches for spatial inference
Authors: Haviv Doron , Gatie Mohamed , Hadjantonakis Anna-Katerina , Nawy Tal , Pe’er Dana
Published: April 2023

The tsunami of new multiplexed spatial profiling technologies has opened a range of computational challenges focused on leveraging these powerful data for biological discovery. A key challenge underlying computation is a suitable representation for features of cellular niches. Here, we develop the covariance environment (COVET), a representation that can capture the rich, continuous multivariate nature of cellular niches by capturing the gene-gene covariate structure across cells in the niche, which can reflect the cell-cell communication between them. We define a principled optimal transport-based distance metric between COVET niches and develop a computationally efficient approximation to this metric that can scale to millions of cells. Using COVET to encode spatial context, we develop environmental variational inference (ENVI), a conditional variational autoencoder that jointly embeds spatial and single-cell RNA-seq data into a latent space. Two distinct decoders either impute gene expression across spatial modality, or project spatial information onto dissociated single-cell data. We show that ENVI is not only superior in the imputation of gene expression but is also able to infer spatial context to disassociated single-cell genomics data.
Efficient k-mer based curation of raw sequence data: application inDrosophila suzukii
Authors: Gautier Mathieu
Published: April 2023

Several studies have highlighted the presence of contaminated entries in public sequence repositories, calling for special attention to the associated metadata. Here, we propose and evaluate a fast and efficientk–mer-based approach to assess the degree of mislabeling or contamination. We applied it to high-throughput whole-genome raw sequence data for 236 Ind-Seq and 22 Pool-Seq samples of the invasive speciesDrosophila suzukii. We first used CLARK software to build a dictionary of species-discriminatingk–mersfrom the curated assemblies of 29 target drosophilid species (includingD. melanogaster, D. simulans, D. subpulchrella, orD. biarmipes) and 12 common drosophila pathogens and commensals (including Wolbachia). Counting the number ofk–merscomposing each query sample sequence that matched a discriminatingk–merfrom the dictionary provided a simple criterion for assignment to target species and evaluation of the entire sample. Analyses of a wide range of samples, representative of both target and other drosophilid species, demonstrated very good performance of the proposed approach, both in terms of run time and accuracy of sequence assignment. Of the 236D. suzukiiindividuals, five were re-assigned toD. simulansand eleven toD. subpulchrella. Another four showed moderate to substantial microbial contamination. Similarly, among the 22 Pool-Seq samples analyzed, two from the native range were found to be contaminated with 1 and 7D. subpulchrellaindividuals, respectively (out of 50), and one from Europe was found to be contaminated with 5 to 6D. immigransindividuals (out of 100). Overall, the present analysis allowed the definition of a large curated dataset consisting of>60 population samples representative of the worldwide genetic diversity, which may be valuable for further population genetics studies onD. suzukii. More generally, while we advocate careful sample identification and verification prior to sequencing, the proposed framework is simple and computationally efficient enough to be included as a routine post-hoc quality check prior to any data analysis and prior to data submission to public repositories.
Targeting Sex Determination to Suppress Mosquito Populations
Authors: Li Ming , Kandul Nikolay P. , Sun Ruichen , Yang Ting , Benetta Elena D. , Brogan Daniel J. , Antoshechkin Igor , Sánchez C. Héctor M. , Zhan Yinpeng , DeBeaubien Nicolas A. , Loh YuMin M. , Su Matthew P. , Montell Craig , Marshall John M. , Akbari Omar S.
Published: April 2023

Each year, hundreds of millions of people are infected with arboviruses such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika, which are all primarily spread by the notorious mosquitoAedes aegypti. Traditional control measures have proven insufficient, necessitating innovations. In response, here we generate a next generation CRISPR-based precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) forAedes aegyptithat disrupts genes essential for sex determination and fertility, producing predominantly sterile males that can be deployed at any life stage. Using mathematical models and empirical testing, we demonstrate that released pgSIT males can effectively compete with, suppress, and eliminate caged mosquito populations. This versatile species-specific platform has the potential for field deployment to effectively control wild populations of disease vectors.
Barriers and facilitators to sexual and reproductive health rights for Persons with Disability in Nepal: a scoping review
Authors: Bhattarai Sanju , Saugat Pratap KC , Kakchapati Sampurna , Poudel Shraddha , Baral Sushil Chandra , Marston Cicely
Published: April 2023

Persons with disability have the same sexual and reproductive health needs as people without disability but their rights have consistently been overlooked. They face numerous challenges to access sexual and reproductive health services in Nepal, however coherent evidence on nature, size, and extent of these challenges are not available. We carried out a literature review to explore barriers and facilitators encountered by persons with disability while accessing sexual and reproductive health services in Nepal. We reviewed published government policies on reproductive health and disability, searched PubMed database and used google scholar search engine to find literature published between 2011 to 2021 that reported on barriers and facilitators to sexual and reproductive health rights for person with disability in Nepal. Out of 2145 identified literature only 21 literatures meeting the eligibility criteria were included in the analysis. We found inadequate inclusion of PWDs in health sector policies, lack of knowledge about SRH needs, misconception and poor attitude and lack of social support in accessing SRH rights and services. In Nepal, people with disabilities face multitude of barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare. Multilevel measures informed by further studies on vulnerabilities and experience of different subgroups of PWDs.
Adherence to the TRIPOD statement of clinical prediction models for spinal pain or osteoarthritis: a protocol for a meta-research study
Authors: Feller Daniel , Wingbermuhle Roel , Innocenti Tiziano , Ostelo Raymond , Chiarotto Alessandro
Published: April 2023

Background

Studies that develop and/or validate a clinical (diagnostic or prognostic) prediction model should be reported with sufficient details to enable the clinician to use the model in clinical practice. Also, an adequate reporting enables researchers to externally validate the model and assess its validity and reliability. To improve the reporting of multivariable prediction models, the TRIPOD checklist was released in 2015.

Objective

Evaluate the quality of reporting of prediction model studies conducted in patients with back pain, neck pain or osteoarthritis.

Methods

We will perform a systematic review of the literature, searching MEDLINE (via Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, and CINHAL (via EBSCO) for studies that describe a model development, external validation, update, or a combination of these in patients with back pain, neck pain or osteoarthritis. The completeness of the reporting will be evaluated using a specific adherence assessment form of the TRIPOD. Two authors will independently perform the study selection and data extraction processes. A descriptive analysis of the total score and the individual items of the TRIPOD will be produced.

Ethics and dissemination

Upon the completion of the study, a manuscript with the results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
A novel Energy Landscape method incorporating the Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic model and the pairwise Maximum Entropy model, revealing the significant contribution of Bactericides to the development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Zhang Kaiyang , Nakaoka Shinji
Published: April 2023

1

The dysbiosis of microbiota has been reported to be associated with numerous human pathophysiological processes, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). With advancements in highthroughput sequencing, various methods have been developed to study the alteration of microbiota in the development and progression of diseases. However, a suitable approach to assess the global stability of the microbiota in disease states through time-series microbiome data is yet to be established. In this study, we introduce a novel Energy Landscape construction method, which incorporates the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model and the pairwise Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model, and demonstrate its utility by applying it to an IBD time-series dataset. Through this method, we obtained the “energy” profile for the potential patterns of microbiota to occur under disease, indicating their stability and prevalence. The results suggest the potential contribution of several microbial genera, includingBacteroides, Alistipes, andFaecalibacterium, as well as their interactions, to the development of IBD. Our proposed method provides a novel and insightful tool for understanding the alteration and stability of the microbiota under disease states and offers a more holistic view of its complex dynamics at play in microbiota-mediated disease.
Unravelling genome organization of neopolyploid flatwormMacrostomum lignano
Authors: Zadesenets Kira S. , Ershov Nikita I. , Bondar Natalya P. , Rubtsov Nikolai B.
Published: April 2023

Whole genome duplication (WGD) is an evolutionary event resulting in a redundancy of genetic material. Different mechanisms of genome doubling through allo- or autopolyploidization could lead to distinct evolutionary trajectories of newly formed polyploids. Genome studies on such species are undoubtedly important for understanding one of the crucial stages of genome evolution. However, assembling neopolyploid appears to be a challenging task because its genome consists of two homologous (or homeologous) chromosome sets and therefore contains the extended paralogous regions with a high homology level. Post-WGD evolution of polyploids includes rediploidization, first part of which is cytogenetic diploidization led to the formation of species, whose polyploid origin might be hidden by disomic inheritance and diploid-like meiosis. Earlier we uncovered the hidden polyploid origin of free-living flatworms of the genusMacrostomum(Macrostomum lignano, M. janickei, andM. mirumnovem). Despite the different mechanisms for their genome doubling, cytogenetic diploidization in these species accompanied by intensive chromosomal rearrangements including chromosomes fusions. In this study, we reported unusual subgenomic organization ofM. lignanothrough generation and sequencing of two new laboratory sublines of DV1 that differ only by a copy number of the large chromosome MLI1. Using non-trivial assembly-free comparative analysis of their genomes, including adapted multivariate k-mer analysis, and self-homology within the published genome assembly ofM. lignano, we deciphered DNA sequences belonging to MLI1 and validated them by sequencing the pool of microdissected MLI1. Here we presented the uncommon mechanism of genome rediplodization ofM. lignano, which consists in (1) presence of three subgenomes, emerged via formation of large fused chromosome and its variants, and (2) sustaining their heterozygosity through inter- and intrachromosomal rearrangements.
ER-to-lysosome Ca2+refilling followed by K+efflux-coupled store-operated Ca2+entry in inflammasome activation and metabolic inflammation
Authors: Kang Hyereen , Choi Seong Woo , Kim Joo Young , Oh Soo-Jin , Kim Sung Joon , Lee Myung-Shik
Published: April 2023

We studied lysosomal Ca2+in inflammasome. LPS+palmitic acid (PA) decreased lysosomal Ca2+([Ca2+]Lys) and increased [Ca2+]ithrough mitochondrial ROS, which was suppressed inTrpm2-KO macrophages. Inflammasome activation and metabolic inflammation in adipose tissue of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice were ameliorated byTrpm2KO. ER→lysosome Ca2+refilling occurred after lysosomal Ca2+release whose blockade attenuated LPS+PA-induced inflammasome. Subsequently, store-operated Ca2+entry (SOCE) was activated whose inhibition suppressed inflammasome. SOCE was coupled with K+efflux whose inhibition reduced ER Ca2+content ([Ca2+]ER) and impaired [Ca2+]Lysrecovery. LPS+PA activated KCa3.1 channel, a Ca2+-activated K+channel. Inhibitors of KCa3.1 channel orKcnn4KO reduced [Ca2+]ER, attenuated increase of [Ca2+]ior inflammasome activation by LPS+PA, and ameliorated HFD-induced inflammasome or metabolic inflammation. Lysosomal Ca2+release induced delayed JNK and ASC phosphorylation through CAMKII-ASK1. These results suggest a novel role of lysosomal Ca2+release sustained by ER→lysosome Ca2+refilling and K+efflux through KCa3.1 channel in inflammasome activation and metabolic inflammation.
Molecular physiology of Antarctic diatom natural assemblages reveals multiple strategies contributing to their ecological success
Authors: Moreno Carly M. , Bernish Maggie , Meyer Meredith G. , Li Zuchuan , Waite Nicole , Cohen Natalie R. , Schofield Oscar , Marchetti Adrian
Published: April 2023

The continental shelf of the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is a highly variable system characterized by strong cross-shelf gradients, rapid regional change and large blooms of phytoplankton, notably diatoms. Rapid environmental changes coincide with shifts in plankton community composition and productivity, food web dynamics and biogeochemistry. Despite progress in identifying important environmental factors influencing plankton community composition in the WAP, the molecular basis for their survival in this oceanic region, as well as variations in species abundance, metabolism and distribution remain largely unresolved. Across a gradient of physicochemical parameters, we analyzed the metabolic profiles of phytoplankton as assessed through metatranscriptomic sequencing. Distinct phytoplankton communities and metabolisms closely mirrored the strong gradients in oceanographic parameters that existed from coastal to offshore regions. Diatoms were abundant in coastal, southern regions, where colder and fresher waters were conducive to a bloom of the centric diatom,Actinocyclus. Members of this genus invested heavily in growth and energy production; carbohydrate, amino acid and nucleotide biosynthesis pathways; and coping with oxidative stress, resulting in uniquely expressed metabolic profiles compared to other diatoms. We observed strong molecular evidence for iron limitation in shelf and slope regions of the WAP, where diatoms in these regions employed iron-starved induced proteins, a geranylgeranyl reductase, aquaporins, and urease, among other strategies, while limiting the use of iron-containing proteins. The metatranscriptomic survey performed here revealed functional differences in diatom communities and provides further insight into the environmental factors influencing the growth of diatoms and their predicted response to changes in ocean conditions.
Exploring the impact of read clustering thresholds on RADseq-based systematics: an empirical example from European amphibians
Authors: Rancilhac Loïs , Sylvestre Florent , Hutter Carl R. , Arntzen Jan W. , Babik Wieslaw , Crochet Pierre-Andre , Deso Grégory , Duguet Rémi , Galan Pedro , Pabijan Maciej , Policain Mathieu , Priol Pauline , Sabino-Pinto Joana , Capstick Maria , Elmer Kathryn R. , Dufresnes Christophe , Vences Miguel
Published: April 2023

Restriction site-Associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) has great potential for genome-wide systematics studies of non-model organisms. However, accurately assembling RADseq reads into orthologous loci remains a major challenge in the absence of a reference genome. Traditional assembly pipelines cluster putative orthologous sequences based on a user-defined clustering threshold. Because improper clustering of orthologs is expected to affect results in downstream analyses, it is crucial to design pipelines for empirically optimizing the clustering threshold. While this issue has been largely discussed from a population genomics perspective, it remains understudied in the context of phylogenomics and coalescent species delimitation. To address this issue, we generated RADseq assemblies of representatives of the amphibian generaDiscoglossus, Rana, LissotritonandTriturususing a wide range of clustering thresholds. Particularly, we studied the effects of the intra-sample Clustering Threshold (iCT) and between-sample Clustering Threshold (bCT) separately, as both are expected to differ in multi-species data sets. The obtained assemblies were used for downstream inference of concatenation-based phylogenies, and multi-species coalescent species trees and species delimitation. The results were evaluated in the light of a reference genome-wide phylogeny calculated from newly generated Hybrid-Enrichment markers, as well as extensive background knowledge on the species’ systematics. Overall, our analyses show that the inferred topologies and their resolution are resilient to changes of the iCT and bCT, regardless of the analytical method employed. Except for some extreme clustering thresholds, all assemblies yielded identical, well-supported inter-species relationships that were mostly congruent with those inferred from the reference Hybrid-Enrichment data set. Similarly, coalescent species delimitation was consistent among similarity threshold values. However, we identified a strong effect of the bCT on the branch lengths of concatenation and species trees, with higher bCTs yielding trees with shorter branches, which might be a pitfall for downstream inferences of evolutionary rates. Our results suggest that the choice of assembly parameters for RADseq data in the context of shallow phylogenomics might be less challenging than previously thought. Finally, we propose a pipeline for empirical optimization of the iCT and bCT, implemented in optiRADCT, a series of scripts readily usable for future RADseq studies.
Generation ofde novomiRNAs from template switching during DNA replication
Authors: Mönttinen Heli A. M. , Frilander Mikko J. , Löytynoja Ari
Published: April 2023

The mechanisms generating novel genes and genetic information are poorly known, even for microRNA (miRNA) genes with an extremely constrained design. All miRNA primary transcripts need to fold into a stem-loop structure to yield short gene products (∼22 nt) that bind and reppress their mRNA targets. While a substantial number of miRNA genes are ancient and highly conserved, short secondary structures coding for entirely novel miRNA genes have been shown to emerge in a lineage-specific manner. Template switching is a DNA-replication-related mutation mechanism that can introduce complex changes and generate perfect base pairing for entire hairpin structures in a single event. Here we show that the template-switching mutations (TSMs) have participated in the emergence of over 6,000 suitable hairpin structures in the primate lineage to yield at least 18 new human miRNA genes, that is 26% of the miRNAs inferred to have arisen since the origin of primates. While the mechanism appears random, the TSM-generated miRNAs are enriched in introns where they can be expressed with their host genes. The high frequency of TSM events provides raw material for evolution. Being orders of magnitude faster than other mechanisms proposed forde novocreation of genes, TSM-generated miRNAs enable near-instant rewiring of genetic information and rapid adaptation to changing environments.
Derivation of trophoblast stem cells unveils unrestrained potential of mouse ESCs and epiblast
Authors: Jana Debabrata , Sailasree Purnima , Singh Priya , Srivastava Mansi , Vishnu Vijay V , Kale Hanuman T , Lakshmi Jyothi , Srinivas Gunda , Sowpati Divya Tej , Shekar P Chandra
Published: April 2023

mESCs and epiblast are considered to follow strict lineage adherence and lack the potential to contribute to trophoectoderm. Here, we report the derivation of trophoblast stem cells (ESTS) from the mESCs. The single-cell transcriptome and molecular characterization of ESTS show similarity with TSCs. They efficiently integrate into the TE compartment of the blastocyst and contribute to the placenta during development. We discovered GSK3β as a critical regulator of the TE fate of ESCs. It plays a vital stage-specific role during ESTS derivation. We further show β-CATENIN and an intron-I regulatory element ofCdx2are essential for the TE fate of ESCs. We further show that the mouse epiblast can readily differentiate into TE lineage. In contrast to the paradigm of the restricted potential of pluripotent ESCs and epiblast, our data shows that murine ESCs and epiblast have the unrestrained developmental potential for extraembryonic lineages.
Multiple domains of the integral KREPA3 protein are critical for the structure and precise functions of RNA Editing Catalytic Complexes inTrypanosoma brucei
Authors: Davidge Brittney , McDermott Suzanne M , Carnes Jason , Lewis Isaac , Tracy Maxwell , Stuart Kenneth D.
Published: April 2023

The gRNA directed U-insertion and deletion editing of mitochondrial mRNAs that is essential in different life cycle stages for the protozoan parasiteTrypanosoma bruceiis performed by three similar multi-protein catalytic complexes (CCs) that contain the requisite enzymes. These CCs also contain a common set of eight proteins that have no apparent direct catalytic function, including six that have an OB-fold domain. We show here that one of these OB-fold proteins, KREPA3 (A3), has structural homology to other editing proteins, is essential for editing and is multifunctional. We investigated A3 function by analyzing the effects of single amino acid loss of function mutations most of which were identified by screening bloodstream form (BF) parasites for loss of growth following random mutagenesis. Mutations in the ZFs, an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) and several within or near the C-terminal OB-fold domain variably impacted CC structural integrity and editing. Some mutations resulted in almost complete loss of CCs and its proteins and editing whereas others retained CCs but had aberrant editing. All but a mutation which is near the OB-fold affected growth and editing in BF but not procyclic form (PF) parasites. These data indicate that multiple positions within A3 have essential functions that contribute to the structural integrity of CCs, the precision of editing and the developmental differences in editing between BF and PF stages.
The interplay between the polar growth determinant DivIVA, the segregation protein ParA and their novel interaction partner PapM controls theMycobacterium smegmatiscell cycle by modulation of DivIVA subcellular distribution
Authors: Matusiak Izabela , Strzałka Agnieszka , Wadach Patrycja , Szwajczak Ewa , Szydłowska-Helbrych Aleksandra , Kepplinger Bernhard , Pióro Monika , Jakimowicz Dagmara
Published: April 2023

Bacterial chromosome segregation is facilitated by the ParABS system. The ParB protein binds centromere-likeparSsequences and forms nucleoprotein complexes. These nucleoprotein complexes are segregated by the dynamic ATPase ParA. In mycobacteria, ParA also interacts with the polar growth determinant DivIVA (Wag31). This interaction was earlier shown to facilitate the segregation of ParB complexes but also to affect cell extension. Here, we identify an additional partner of ParA inMycobacterium smegmatis, named PapM. UsingE. colibased analysis, we show that PapM likewise interacts with DivIVA and that the tripartite interaction of ParA-PapM-DivIVA is phosphorylation-dependent: ParA binding to DivIVA is diminished, while PapM binding is promoted upon phosphorylation of DivIVA. The presence of PapM enhances the dissociation of ParA from the DivIVA complex upon its phosphorylation. Studies ofM. smegmatismutant strains reveal that altered PapM levels influence chromosome segregation and cell length. The elimination of PapM affects ParA dynamics. Further, ParA and, to a lesser extent, PapM modulates the subcellular distribution of DivIVA. Altogether our studies show that the tripartite interplay between ParA-DivIVA and PapM controls the switch between cell division and cell elongation and in this way affects the mycobacterial cell cycle.

Importance

The genus of Mycobacteria includes important clinical pathogens (M. tuberculosis). Bacteria of this genus share the unusual features of their cell cycle such as asymmetric polar cell elongation and long generation time. Markedly, control of the mycobacterial cell cycle still remains not fully understood. The main cell growth determinant in Mycobacteria is an essential protein DivIVA, which is also involved in cell division. DivIVA activity is controlled by phosphorylation but the mechanism and significance of this process is unknown. Here, we show how the previously established protein interaction partner of DivIVA in Mycobacteria, the segregation protein ParA, affects the DivIVA subcellular distribution. We also demonstrate the role of a newly identifiedM. smegmatisDivIVA and ParA interaction partner, a protein named PapM, and we establish how their interactions are modulated by phosphorylation. Demonstrating that the tripartite interplay affects the mycobacterial cell cycle contributes to general understanding of mycobacterial growth regulation.
Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes)
Authors: Moulton Derek E. , Oliveri Hadrien , Goriely Alain , Thorogood Chris
Published: April 2023

Carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes) are a striking example of a natural pitfall trap. The trap’s slippery rim, or peristome, plays a critical role in insect capture via an aquaplaning mechanism that is well documented. Whilst the peristome has received significant research attention, the conspicuous variation in peristome geometry across the genus remains unexplored. We examined the mechanics of prey capture usingNepenthespitcher plants with divergent peristome geometries. Inspired by living materials, we developed a mathematical model that links the peristomes’ three-dimensional geometries to the physics of prey capture under the laws of Newtonian mechanics. Linking form and function enables us to test hypotheses related to the function of features such as shape and ornamentation, orientation in a gravitational field, and the presence of ‘teeth’, while analysis of the energetic costs and gains of a given geometry provides a means of inferring potential evolutionary pathways. In a separate modeling approach, we show how prey size may correlate with peristome dimensions for optimal capture. Our modeling framework provides a physical platform to understand how divergence in peristome morphology may have evolved in the genusNepenthesin response to shifts in prey diversity, availability, and size.

Significance Statement

Pitcher plants (Nepenthes) produce an astonishing array of leaf-derived traps into which preys (typically insects) slide from a rim (the peristome). How prey capture varies across this varied genus is a mystery. We hypothesized that insects behave differently depending on peristome size and geometry. We examined the physics of prey capture under the laws of Newtonian mechanics to show that prey size and behavior correlate with peristome shape. We conclude that a diversity of peristomes inNepenthesevolved in response to variation in prey capture.
Crystal bending in triple-Laue X-ray interferometry. Part II. Phase-contrast topography
Authors: Massa E. , Mana G. , Sasso C. P.
Published: April 2023

In a previous paper [Sasso et al. (2023). J. Appl. Cryst.
56, 707–715], the operation of a triple-Laue X-ray interferometer having the splitting or recombining crystal cylindrically bent was studied. It was predicted that the phase-contrast topography of the interferometer detects the displacement field of the inner crystal surfaces. Therefore, opposite bendings result in the observation of opposite (compressive or tensile) strains. This paper reports on the experimental confirmation of this prediction, where opposite bendings were obtained by copper deposition on one or the other of the crystal sides.
Crystal bending in triple-Laue X-ray interferometry. Part I. Theory
Authors: Sasso C. P. , Mana G. , Massa E.
Published: April 2023

The measured value of the (220) lattice-plane spacing of silicon 28 using scanning X-ray interferometry is essential to realize the kilogram by counting 28Si atoms. An assumption made is that the measured lattice spacing is the bulk value of an unstrained crystal forming the analyser of the interferometer. However, analytical and numerical studies of the X-ray propagation in bent crystals suggest that the measured lattice spacing might refer to the analyser surface. To confirm the result of these studies and to support experimental investigations of the matter by phase-contrast topography, a comprehensive analytical model is given of the operation of a triple-Laue interferometer having the splitting or recombining crystal bent.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of N-[2-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)phenyl]-3-nitro-N-[(3-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl]benzenesulfonamide
Authors: Mammadova Gunay Z. , Annadurdyyeva Selbi , Burkin Gleb M. , Khrustalev Victor N. , Akkurt Mehmet , Yıldırım Sema Öztürk , Bhattarai Ajaya
Published: April 2023

In the title compound, C23H17N3O9S2, C—H...O hydrogen bonds link adjacent molecules in a three-dimensional network, while π–π stacking interactions, with centroid–centroid distances of 3.8745 (9) Å, between the furan and an arene ring of one of the two (3-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl groups, result in chains parallel to the a axis. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that O...H/H...O (40.1%), H...H (27.5%) and C...H/H...C (12.4%) interactions are the most significant contributors to the crystal packing.
Rural youths' choice of livelihood strategies and their effect on income poverty and food security in Rwanda
Authors: Kangondo Angelique , Ndyetabula Daniel Wilson , Mdoe Ntengua , Mlay Gilead Isaac
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims at exploring the choices of livelihood strategies amongst the rural youth and how these choices relate to food security and income poverty.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used data from the 2016/17 wave of Integrated Household Living Condition Survey, with a sample size of 1,050 rural youths. Statistical and econometrics methods including descriptive statistics and the Multinomial Endogenous Treatment Effect (METE) model were used to analyse the data.

Findings

Livelihood choices were grouped into five categories, namely agriculture, non-farm wage employment, agriculture plus non-farm wage, agriculture plus self-employment and agriculture plus non-farm wage plus self-employment. The estimates from METE indicate that the youths' choice of non-farm wage, agriculture plus non-farm wage and agriculture plus self-employment contributes substantially to household food security improvement and poverty reduction. These findings show that agriculture is necessary but not a sufficient livelihood strategy to sustain the rural youth's contribution to youth's household welfare. The rural youth will pursue agriculture as a reliable source of livelihood not only for food self-sufficiency, but also for ensuring adequate return to labour.

Originality/value

This paper extends single choice analysis to multiple choices impact analysis, which has the advantage of accounting for selection bias due to both observed and unobserved heterogeneity. This paper assesses the differential impact of the choice of single as well as multiple livelihood strategies.
Source, message and medium? The role of personal values in forming credibility perceptions of non-sponsored product review videos
Authors: Alsaeed Ghadeer R. , Keeling Kathleen Anne , Sarantopoulos Panagiotis , Gadalla Eman
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate an integrated, holistic assessment of the characteristics by which consumers judge non-sponsored product review video (PRV) source, message and medium components as credible, and how these are linked to personal values for a deeper understanding of multidimensional credibility assessments of PRVs.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a means-end approach, the authors draw on credibility theory and the persuasion knowledge model to analyse data from 21 in-depth semi-structured laddering interviews.

Findings

First, the authors demonstrate distinctive contributions of the video modality towards PRV credibility assessments and the interplay between specific PRV characteristics, cognitive and socio-emotional consequences, and personal values in an ongoing process of credibility assessment. Second, high persuasion knowledge creates awareness of the potential phoniness of the market, revealing a dark side to PRV use even in non-sponsored PRV seemingly created and shared as an act of benevolent concern between consumers.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focused on the credibility of non-sponsored PRVs, future studies might investigate motivations and attributes by which users judge sponsored reviews. Also, the roles of specific product categories and existing brand trust on PRVs credibility provide avenues for further research.

Practical implications

This research offers practical implications for reviewers and brand managers to leverage the unique informational values of video by focusing on the interplay between credibility attributes and customer values.

Originality/value

This work advances credibility theory in the PRV context by examining how non-sponsored PRVs are evaluated as credible, by highlighting consumer persuasion knowledge and scepticism and including the holistic effects of the interplay between source, message and video format characteristics and by linking these to consumers’ goals and values.
Climate change adaptation based on computable general equilibrium models – a systematic review
Authors: Wei Taoyuan , Aaheim Asbjørn
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to identify the current state of the art and the gaps in the application of computable general equilibrium (CGE) models on studying climate change adaptation.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review is conducted to select, classify and analyze relevant studies from two databases of Web of Science and Scopus.

Findings

Totally, 170 articles based on selected keywords were found from both databases, where 56 articles were duplicates. The authors further excluded 17 articles owing to preliminary exclusion criteria. Hence, 97 papers were selected for full-text review and more detailed assessment. Only a few of the studies explicitly have addressed the role of autonomous adaptation embodied in the CGE models. Over one-third of the studies have focused on planned adaptation without explicitly mentioning autonomous adaptation. Agriculture was the most addressed sector, and country-level models are the most adopted. Only one article has focused on South America.

Research limitations/implications

The review suggests that autonomous adaptation embodied in CGE models was not well addressed in the literature. As the limited studies have shown that autonomous adaptation can dramatically mitigate direct climate change impacts, further studies are needed to examine the importance of the autonomous adaptation for better understanding of climate change impacts. Furthermore, CGE models can provide a joint assessment considering both mitigation and adaptation strategies and management measures as such models have also been widely used to address effects of mitigation measures in the literature.

Originality/value

The studies on climate change adaptation based on CGE models have been systematically reviewed, and state-of-the-art knowledge and research gaps have been identified.
Do guests care more about hotel cleanliness during COVID-19? Understanding factors associated with cleanliness importance of hotel guests
Authors: Yang Yang , Lin Michael S. , Magnini Vincent P.
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Growing health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic have led guests to focus on various aspects of hotel cleanliness. This study aims to investigate whether customers’ perceived importance of hotel cleanliness during their stay depends on local pandemic severity and moderators of the pandemic–cleanliness relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on TripAdvisor data from 26,519 reviews in 2020 for 2,024 hotels across the USA, this study evaluated the importance of hotel cleanliness using the estimated coefficient of the cleanliness score in a regression of overall hotel rating scores.

Findings

Results of a multilevel ordered logit model confirmed that a more difficult local pandemic situation rendered cleanliness more important during hotel stays. Additionally, the effect of the pandemic was more pronounced among specific groups: men and travelers with more expertise, and guests staying in hotels without COVID-19 protocols for linen cleaning, with a lower average rating, with a larger size and in a more urbanized location.

Originality/value

This study represents a pioneering effort to assess how pandemics shape people’s (perceived) importance of cleanliness during hotel stays based on revealed data. Despite potential managerial relevance, a number of the moderating variables included in this study, such as traveler expertise and hotel location, have never been studied within the context of cleanliness perceptions during a pandemic.
Examining the cross-level mechanisms of the influence of supervisors’ job crafting on frontline employees’ engagement and performance
Authors: Zhao Xinyuan (Roy) , Wang Jiale , Mattila Anna , Leong Aliana Man Wai , Cui Zhenzhen , Sun Zaoning , Yang Chunjiang , Chen Yashuo
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Frontline employees’ proactive behaviors (i.e. job crafting) are critical to satisfying customers’ idiosyncratic needs. If the supervisors practice job crafting, their subordinates are more likely to mimic such behaviors. However, there has been limited research on how leaders’ job crafting can influence subordinates’ job crafting. This study aims to examine the cross-level mechanisms (i.e. trickle-down effects) of supervisors’ job crafting on the subordinates’ attitudes and performance. Specifically, such trickle-down effects can be explained via two cross-level mechanisms of the supervisors’ job crafting on the subordinates’ work engagement and performance: social learning mechanism and job demands-resources mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-wave cross-lagged study was conducted in two-week intervals. The valid responses from 67 supervisors and their 201 subordinates were collected. The data set was analyzed using multilevel Structural Equation Modeling.

Findings

The results demonstrated that the social learning and job demands-resources mechanisms are not independent. The supervisor’s job crafting improves employment relationships, subsequently encourages subordinates’ job crafting and ultimately enhances work engagement and work performance.

Practical implications

The findings suggested that hospitality organizations should encourage job crafting among supervisors and managers. A proactive hotel manager can establish strong employment relationships, motivate subordinates to work proactively and obtain positive work outcomes.

Originality/value

The findings enrich the knowledge about the trickle-down effects of supervisors on subordinates in terms of job-crafting behaviors. In particular, this study found a new theoretical perspective that the job demands-resources and social learning mechanisms may not be independent, and the subordinates’ perception of the employment relationship plays a critical role.
The role of digital business transformation in frugal innovation and SMEs’ resilience in emerging markets
Authors: Al Omoush Khaled , Lassala Carlos , Ribeiro-Navarrete Samuel
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The present study aims to examine the relationships between digital business transformation, organizational learning, frugal innovation and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) resilience in emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data collection has been implemented using a questionnaire method from 214 owners and managers of SMEs. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to examine the measurement model and test hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that digital business transformation significantly impacts frugal innovation and SMEs' resilience in emerging markets. They also confirm the significant impact of frugal innovation on SMEs' resilience. Furthermore, the results revealed that organizational learning significantly impacts digital business transformation, frugal innovation and SMEs' resilience.

Originality/value

This study provides novel insights into the existing theories and literature regarding the determinants of SMEs' resilience in emerging markets. It also provides practical contributions, confirming the SMEs' need to develop their dynamic capabilities, including digital transformation, frugal innovation and organizational learning to maintain their resilience.
Effects of interfirm IT capability and interfirm trust on omnichannel integration: the mediating role of interfirm integration
Authors: Li Yang , Huang Xianbao , Zhang Kai
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Although past studies have suggested that business-to-business (B2B) interfirm relationship management contributes to a firm’s omnichannel integration, little research has been undertaken to reveal how that happens. This study aims to draw upon the relational view to propose a research model that associates interfirm information technology (IT) capability and interfirm trust with omnichannel integration through interfirm integration (i.e. authority integration and cooperative integration). Furthermore, this work considers a firm’s channel usage variety as the boundary condition of the interfirm integration’s influence.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model was examined using a seemingly unrelated regression of archival data and matched a survey of 324 Chinese omnichannel firms.

Findings

Interfirm IT capability positively relates to authority integration, and interfirm trust positively relates to cooperative integration. Authority integration and cooperative integration are both positively associated with omnichannel integration. A high level of channel usage variety strengthens the relationship between cooperative integration and omnichannel integration.

Originality/value

Prior literature has called for research on the factors influencing omnichannel integration within a B2B setting. This study answers this research call by examining interfirm IT capability, interfirm trust and interfirm integration as factors associated with omnichannel integration. This work also examines how channel usage variety regulates the relationship between interfirm integration and omnichannel integration.
Technological capabilities and global value chains: insights from Spanish SMEs in the hotel industry
Authors: Romero Isidoro , Fernández-Serrano José , Cáceres-Carrasco Rafael
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study explores the role of international tour operators as the agents assuming the governance and the upgrading of the tourism global value chains (TGVCs), with a special focus on their influence on the development of technological capabilities (TCs) in the hotel industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The data used in this article originates from a survey carried out in 2016 on Spanish small and medium-sized hotel companies. An ordinal regression analysis is employed to test the hypotheses proposed in this research.

Findings

This study finds that tour operators exert a positive effect on the technological upgrading process in the hotel industry by stimulating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to invest in TCs. The causal mechanisms through which these effects take place differ across the various stages of the relationship between hotel companies and tour operators.

Practical implications

The results have implications both for hotel management in terms of how hotels take advantage of technological upgrading to become more competitive, and for public administrations in terms of what measures can boost the development of hotel TCs in order to increase their added value.

Originality/value

To date, very few studies have analysed the tourism sector based on the influence on the development of TCs of SME hotels by combining GVC concepts and the resource-based view. It is also the first time that the causal mechanisms are shown to explain such influences.