bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anomalous invasion dynamics due to dispersal polymorphism and dispersal-reproduction trade-offs
Authors: Keenan Vincent A. , Cornell Stephen J.
Published: February 2020

Dispersal polymorphism and mutation play significant roles during biological invasions, potentially leading to evolution and complex behaviour such as accelerating or decelerating invasion fronts. However, life history theory predicts that reproductive fitness — another key determinant of invasion dynamics – may be lower for more dispersive strains. Here, we use a mathematical model to show that unexpected invasion dynamics emerge from the combination of heritable dispersal polymorphism, dispersal-fitness trade-offs, and mutation between strains. We show that the invasion dynamics are determined by the trade-off relationship between dispersal and population growth rates of the constituent strains. We find that invasion dynamics can be “anomalous” (i.e. faster than any of the strains in isolation), but that the ultimate invasion speed is determined by the traits of at most two strains. The model is simple but generic, so we expect the predictions to apply to a wide range of ecological, evolutionary or epidemiological invasions.
Responses of tree species traits to soil variation in the cerrado
Authors: Meira-Neto João Augusto Alves , Tolentino Glaucia Soares , Buttschardt Tillmann , Máguas Cristina
Published: February 2020

Aims

The Cerrado is a rich tropical savanna in plant species and to understand how key functional traits respond to soil variables can help to understand this hotspot functioning. This work aimed to answer i) whether the Cerrado tree species respond to soil by functional traits, ii) how the functional traits respond to soil variation in the Cerrado, and iii) whether the functional traits responses are interconnected.

Methods

We used an RLQ method to associate soil variables to functional traits and GLMs for additional analysis. We used the nitrogen-fixing character as categorical trait and maximum plant height, maximum stem diameter, stem elongation, leaf nitrogen, leaf carbon, leaf C/N, leaf d15N and leaf d 13C as continuous traits.

Results

The RLQ showed that tree species responded to the soil variables with differences between nitrogen-fixing species and other species. The increase of CEC and decrease of aluminium saturation induced an increase of SLA and of stem elongation. CEC and aluminium saturation did not influence the leaf N% and C%. The increase of soil inorganic nitrogen is associated to an increase of leaf N% and of leaf C%. The C/N ratio explained negatively the δ13C and the stem elongation variation. Nitrogen fixing species presented low C/N ratios and high δ13C.

Conclusions

The relative disassociation of the variation of SLA and stem elongation (mostly driven by CEC and aluminium variation) from the variation of N% and C% (mostly associated with inorganic nitrogen variation) can be a result of enhanced water use efficiency in N-enriched plants.
Removal modelling in ecology
Authors: de Rivera Oscar Rodriguez , McCrea Rachel
Published: February 2020

Removal models were proposed over 80 years ago as a tool to estimate unknown population size. Although the models have evolved over time, in essence, the protocol for data collection has remained similar: at each sampling occasion attempts are made to capture and remove individuals from the study area. Within this paper we review the literature of removal modelling and highlight the methodological developments for the analysis of removal data, in order to provide a unified resource for ecologists wishing to implement these approaches. Models for removal data have developed to better accommodate important feature of the data and we discuss the shift in the required assumption for the implementation of the models. The relative simplicity of this type of data and associated models mean that the method remains attractive and we discuss the potential future role of this technique.

Author summary

Since the introduction of the removal in 1939, the method has being extensively used by ecologists to estimate population size. Although the models have evolved over time, in essence, the protocol for data collection has remained similar: at each sampling occasion attempts are made to capture and remove individuals from the study area. Here, we introduce the method and how it has been applied and how it has evolved over time. Our study provides a literature review of the methods and applications followed by a review of available software. We conclude with a discussion about the opportunities of this model in the future.
Causal modeling refutes Hockett’s hypothesis that bite configuration affects human sound evolution
Authors: Tarasov Sergei , Uyeda Josef C.
Published: February 2020

Blasiet al.(Research article, 15 March 2019) argue in support of Hockett’s hypothesis – that languages of hunter-gatherers are less likely to develop labiodental sounds than those of agricultural societies due to the former’s heavy-wear diet that favors edge-to-edge bite, thereby decreasing likelihood of labiodental articulation. We reanalyze the data in Blasiet al.and find little to no support in favor of the Hockett’s hypothesis. The negative association between labiodentals and hunter-gatherers instead appears to be an artifact of labiodental decline with increasing distance from Africa, which is a general trend of language phonemes.
A New World begomovirus infecting Cotton in Argentina
Authors: Delfosse Verónica , Debat Humberto , Zavallo Diego , Moyano Sabrina , Luna Facundo , Kresic Iván Bonacic , Asurmendi Sebastian , Gomez-Talquenca Sebastian , Distéfano Ana Julia
Published: February 2020

Cotton (Gossypiumspp.) is a globally significant cash crop cultivated for its versatile fiber, widely used in the textile industry. Cotton, as other crops, is vulnerable to infectious pathogens. Several of them, including viruses, are a major threat to cotton production. Geminiviruses (familyGeminiviridae) are insect transmitted, small non-enveloped viruses, with circular single-stranded DNA genomes, which are encapsidated in quasi-icosahedral geminated virions. Here we present evidence of a novel begomovirus (genusBegomovirus) infecting cotton from Argentina. Two circular ssDNA virus sequences were assembled from high-throughput sequencing data fromGossyipium hirsutumcotton samples showing mosaic symptoms from Argentina. Structural and functional annotation indicated that the virus sequences corresponded to complete DNA components A and B of a novel New World bipartite begomovirus. Genetic distance and evolutionary analyses support that the detected sequences correspond to a new virus, a tentative prototype member of a novel species which we propose the name “Cotton mosaic virus” (CoMV).
USP29 is a novel non-canonical Hypoxia Inducible Factor-α activator
Authors: Schober Amelie S , Martín-Barros Inés , Martín-Mateos Teresa , Pérez-Andrés Encarnación , Carlevaris Onintza , Pozo Sara , Cortazar Ana R , Aransay Ana M , Carracedo Arkaitz , Mayor Ugo , Sée Violaine , Berra Edurne
Published: February 2020

Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) is the master transcriptional regulator that orchestrates cellular adaptation to low oxygen. HIF is tightly regulated via the stability of its α-subunit, which is subjected to oxygen-dependent proline hydroxylation by Prolyl-Hydroxylase Domain containing proteins (PHDs/EGLNs), and ultimately targeted for proteasomal degradation through poly-ubiquitination by von-Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL). However, sustained HIF-α signalling is found in many tumours independently of oxygen availability pointing towards the relevance of non-canonical HIF-α regulators. In this study, we establish the Ubiquitin Specific Protease 29 (USP29) as direct post-translational activator of HIF-α in a variety of cancer cell lines. USP29 binds to HIF-α, decreases poly-ubiquitination and thus protects HIF-α from proteasomal degradation. Deubiquitinating activity of USP29 is essential to stabilise not only HIF-1α but also HIF-2α, via their C-termini in an oxygen/PHD/pVHL-independent manner. Furthermore, in prostate cancer samples the expression ofUSP29correlates with the HIF-target geneCA9(carbonic anhydrase 9) as well as disease progression and severity.
Ctdnep1 and Eps8L2 regulate dorsal actin cables for nuclear positioning during cell migration
Authors: Calero-Cuenca Francisco J. , Osorio Daniel S. , Sridhara Sreerama Chaitanya , Jiao Yue , Diaz Jheimmy , Carvalho-Marques Sofia , Cadot Bruno , Gomes Edgar R.
Published: February 2020

Cells actively position their nuclei within the cytoplasm for multiple cellular and physiological functions. Different cell types position their nuclei away from the leading edge to migrate properly. In migrating fibroblasts, nuclear positioning is driven by dorsal actin cables connected to the nuclear envelope by the LINC complex on Transmembrane Actin-associated Nuclear (TAN) lines. How dorsal actin cables are organized to form TAN lines is unknown. Here, we report a role for Ctdnep1/Dullard, a nuclear envelope phosphatase, and the actin regulator Eps8L2, on nuclear positioning. We demonstrate that Ctdnep1 and Eps8L2 directly interact to regulate the formation and thickness of dorsal actin cables required for TAN lines engagement for nuclear positioning. Our work establishes a novel mechanism to locally regulate actin at the nuclear envelope for nuclear positioning.
Phylogeny of the stink bug tribe Chlorocorini (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) based on DNA and morphological data: the evolution of key phenotypic traits
Authors: Genevcius Bruno C. , Greve Caroline , Koehler Samantha , Simmons Rebecca B. , Rider David A. , Grazia Jocelia , Schwertner Cristiano F.
Published: February 2020

Pentatomidae is the third largest family of true bugs, comprising over 40 tribes. Few tribes have been studied in a phylogenetic context, and none of them have been examined using molecular data. Moreover, little is known about the evolution of key morphological characters widely used in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies at multiple levels. Here, we conduct a phylogenetic study of the tribe Chlorocorini (Pentatominae) combining 69 morphological characters and five DNA loci. We use the inferred phylogeny to reconstruct the evolution of key morphological characters such as the spined humeral angles of the pronotum, a dorsal projection on the apices of the femora and characters of male genitalia. We provide solid evidence that the tribe as currently recognized is not monophyletic based both on DNA and morphological data. The generaArveliusSpinola andEludocorisThomas were consistently placed outside of the Chlorocorini, while the remaining genera were found to form a monophyletic group. We also show that nearly all morphological diagnostic characters for the tribe are homoplastic. The only exception is the development of the hypandrium, which, contrary to expectations for genital traits, showed the slowest evolutionary rates. In contrast, the most rapidly evolving trait is the length of the ostiolar ruga, which may be attributed to selection favoring anti-predatory behavior and other functions of its associated scent glands. Lastly, we also provide a preliminary glimpse of the main phylogenetic relationships within the Pentatomidae, which indicates that most of the included subfamilies and tribes are not monophyletic. Our results suggest that the current subfamily-level classification of Pentatomidae is not adequate to reflect its evolutionary history, and we urge for a more complete phylogeny of the family.
TheDrosophilaseminal Sex Peptide can associate with rival as well as own sperm and provide function for SP in polyandrous females
Authors: Misra Snigdha , Wolfner Mariana F.
Published: February 2020

In populations in which females tend to mate with more than one male, sperm competition and cryptic female choice can occur, triggering biases in sperm use and influencing males’ paternity share outcome of the mating. This competition occurs in the context of molecules and cells of male and female working interdependently towards the common goal of optimal fertilization. For example, a male’s seminal fluid molecules modify the female’s physiology to increase reproductive success. However, since some of these modifications induce long-term changes in female physiology, this can indirectly benefit rival males. Indeed, rival males can tailor their ejaculates accordingly, minimizing the energy cost of mating. Here we investigate the direct benefits that seminal fluid proteins from an ejaculate of one male can confer to sperm of a rival. We report that Sex Peptide (SP) that a female receives from one male can bind to sperm from a prior mate, that were already stored in the female. Moreover, the second male’s SP can restore fertility and facilitate efficient sperm release or utilization of sperm received from the first male that had been stored in the female. Thus, SP from one male can directly benefit another and as such is a key molecular component in the process of inter-ejaculate interaction.
Enhancing GABAergic Tone in the Rostral Nucleus of the Solitary Tract Reconfigures Sensorimotor Neural Activity
Authors: Sammons Joshua D. , Bass Caroline E. , Victor Jonathan D. , Di Lorenzo Patricia M.
Published: February 2020

Recent work has shown that most cells in the rostral, gustatory portion of the nucleus tractus solitarius (rNTS) in awake, freely licking rats show lick-related firing. However, the relationship between taste-related and lick-related activity in rNTS remains unclear. Here, we tested if GABA-derived inhibitory activity regulates the balance of lick- and taste-driven neuronal activity. Combinatorial viral tools were used to restrict expression of ChR2-EYFP to GAD1+ GABAergic neurons. Viral infusions were bilateral in rNTS. 2-4wks later, an optical fiber attached to 8-16 drivable microwires was implanted into the rNTS. After recovery, water-deprived rats were presented with taste stimuli in an experimental chamber. Trials were 5 consecutive taste licks [NaCl, KCl, NH4Cl, sucrose, MSG/IMP, citric acid, quinine, or artificial saliva (AS)] separated by 5 AS licks on a VR5 schedule. Each taste lick triggered a 1s train of laser light (25Hz; 473nm; 8-10mW) in a random half of the trials. In all, 113 cells were recorded in the rNTS, 50 responded to one or more taste stimuli without GABA enhancement. Selective changes in response magnitude (spike count) within cells shifted across unit patterns but preserved inter-stimulus relationships. Cells where enhanced GABAergic tone increased lick coherence conveyed more information distinguishing basic taste qualities and different salts than other cells. In addition, GABA activation significantly amplified the amount of information that discriminated palatable vs. unpalatable tastants. By dynamically regulating lick coherence and remodeling the across-unit response patterns to taste, enhancing GABAergic tone in rNTS reconfigures the neural activity reflecting sensation and movement.

Significance Statement

The rostral nucleus tractus solitarius (rNTS) is the first structure in the central gustatory pathway. Electrophysiological recordings from the rNTS in awake, freely-licking animals show that cells in this area have lick- as well as taste-related activity, but the relationship between these characteristics is not well understood. Here, we showed evidence that GABA activation can dynamically regulate both of these two properties in rNTS cells to enhance the information conveyed, especially about palatable vs. unpalatable tastants. These data provide insights into the role of inhibitory activity in the rNTS.
Building a robust chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) method with substantially improved efficiency
Authors: Zhao Huimin , Li Hongyan , Jia Yaqi , Wen Xuejing , Guo Huiyan , Xu Hongyun , Wang Yucheng
Published: February 2020

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is the gold-standard method to detect the interactions between proteins and chromatin, and is a powerful tool to identify epigenetic modifications. Although ChIP protocols for plant species have been developed, many specific features of plants, especially woody plants, still hinder the efficiency of immunoprecipitation, resulting inefficient ChIP enrichment. There is an active demand for a highly efficient ChIP protocol. In the present study, we employedBetula platyphylla(birch) andArabidopsis thalianaas the research materials, and five factors closely associated with ChIP efficiency were identified, including crosslinking, chromatin concentration using centrifugal filter, using new immunoprecipitation buffer, rescue DNA with proteinase K, and using sucrose to increase immunoprecipitation efficiency. Optimization of any these factors can significantly improve ChIP efficiency. Considering these factors together, a robust ChIP protocol was developed, for which the average fold enrichments were 16.88 and 6.43 fold of that gained using standard ChIP in birch and Arabidopsis, respectively. As this built ChIP method works well in both birch and Arabidopsis, it should be also suitable for other woody and herbaceous species. In addition, this ChIP method make it is possible to detect low-abundance TF-DNA interactions, and may extend the application of ChIP in plant kingdom.

One sentence summary

Building a ChIP method that increases fold enrichment of birch by 16 folds in average and is adapted for both woody and herbaceous plants.
Notch Signaling Commits Mesoderm to the Cardiac Lineage
Authors: Bardot Evan S. , Jadhav Bharati , Wickramasinghe Nadeera , Rezza Amélie , Rendl Michael , Sharp Andrew J. , Dubois Nicole C.
Published: February 2020

During development multiple progenitor populations contribute to the formation of the four-chambered heart and its diverse lineages. However, the underlying mechanisms that result in the specification of these progenitor populations are not yet fully understood. We have previously identified a population of cells that gives rise selectively to the heart ventricles but not the atria. Here, we have used this knowledge to transcriptionally profile subsets of cardiac mesoderm from the mouse embryo and have identified an enrichment for Notch signaling components in ventricular progenitors. Using directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, we next investigated the role of Notch in cardiac mesoderm specification in a temporally controlled manner. We show that transient Notch induction in mesoderm increases cardiomyocyte differentiation efficiency, while maintaining cardiomyocytes in an immature state. Finally, our data suggest that Notch interacts with WNT to enhance commitment to the cardiac lineage. Overall, our findings support the notion that key signaling events during early heart development are critical for proper lineage specification and provide evidence for early roles of Notch and WNT during mouse and human heart development.

Summary statement

Early fate decisions are dictated by the embryonic signaling environment. We show that Notch signaling is active during early mouse development and that activating Notch in human cardiac mesoderm enhances cardiomyocyte differentiation efficiency.
Cerebellar theta and beta noninvasive stimulation rhythms differentially influence episodic memory versus language
Authors: Dave Shruti , VanHaerents Stephen , Voss Joel L.
Published: February 2020

The cerebellum is thought to interact with distributed brain networks to support cognitive abilities such as episodic memory and language. Episodic memory and language networks have been associated with distinct endogenous oscillatory activity frequency bands: theta (∼3-8 Hz) versus beta (∼13-30 Hz), respectively. We sought to test whether it is possible to toggle cerebellar participation in episodic memory versus language by noninvasively stimulating with theta versus beta rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation. Cerebellar theta stimulation improved episodic memory encoding but did not influence neural signals of language processing, whereas beta stimulation of the same cerebellar location increased neural signals of language processing but did not influence episodic memory encoding. This constitutes evidence for double-dissociation of cerebellar contributions to language versus episodic memory based on stimulation frequency pattern, supporting the hypothesis that the cerebellum can be biased to support these distinct cognitive abilities at the command of network-specific rhythmic activity.
PAG1 directs SRC-family kinase intracellular localization to mediate receptor tyrosine kinase-induced differentiation
Authors: Foltz Lauren , Palacios-Moreno Juan , Mayfield Makenzie , Kinch Shelby , Dillon Jordan , Syrenne Jed , Levy Tyler , Grimes Mark
Published: February 2020

All receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) activate similar downstream signaling pathways through a common set of effectors, yet it is not fully understood how different receptors elicit distinct cellular responses to cause cell proliferation, differentiation, or other cell fates. We tested the hypothesis that regulation of SRC Family Kinase (SFK) signaling by the scaffold protein, PAG1, influences cell fate decisions following RTK activation. We generated a neuroblastoma cell line expressing a PAG1 fragment that lacks the membrane spanning domain (PAG1™-) and localized to the cytoplasm. PAG1™-cells exhibited higher amounts of active SFKs and increased growth rate. PAG1™-cells were unresponsive to TRKA and RET signaling, two RTKs that induce neuronal differentiation, but retained responses to EGFR and KIT. Under differentiation conditions, PAG1™-cells continued to proliferate and did not extend neurites or increase β-III tubulin expression. FYN and LYN were sequestered in multivesicular bodies (MVBs), and dramatically more FYN and LYN were in the lumen of MVBs in PAG1™-cells. In particular, activated FYN was sequestered in PAG1™-cells, suggesting that disruption of FYN localization led to the observed defects in differentiation. The results demonstrate that PAG1 directs SFK intracellular localization to control activity and to mediate signaling by RTKs that induce neuronal differentiation.
An asymmetry in the frequency and position of mitosis in the epiblast precedes gastrulation and suggests a role for mitotic rounding in cell delamination during primitive streak epithelial-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Despin-Guitard Evangéline , Mathiah Navrita , Stower Matthew , Nahaboo Wallis , Eski Elif Sema , Singh Sumeet Pal , Srinivas Shankar , Migeotte Isabelle
Published: February 2020

The epiblast, a pseudostratified epithelium, is the precursor for the three main germ layers required for body shape and organogenesis: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. At gastrulation, a subpopulation of epiblast cells constitutes a transient posteriorly located structure called the primitive streak, where cells that undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition make up the mesoderm and endoderm lineages.

In order to observe the behavior of individual cells, epiblast cells were labeled ubiquitously or in a mosaic fashion using fluorescent membrane reporters. The cell shapes of individual cells and the packing and behaviour of neighbouring cells during primitive streak formation were recorded through live time-lapse imaging. Posterior epiblast displayed a higher frequency of rosettes, a signature of cell rearrangements, prior to primitive streak initiation. A third of rosettes were associated with a central cell undergoing mitosis. Interestingly, cells at the primitive streak, in particular delaminating cells, underwent mitosis twice more frequently than other epiblast cells, suggesting a role for cell division in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Pseudostratified epithelia are characterized by interkinetic nuclear migration, where mitosis occurs at the apical side of the epithelium. However, we found that exclusively on the posterior side of the epiblast, mitosis was not restricted to the apical side. Non-apical mitosis was apparent as early as E5.75, just after the establishment of the anterior-posterior axis, and prior to initiation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Non-apical mitosis was associated with primitive streak morphogenesis, as it occurred specifically in the streak even when ectopically located. Most non-apical mitosis resulted in one or two daughter cells leaving the epiblast layer to become mesoderm. Furthermore, in contrast to what has been described in other pseudostratified epithelia such as neuroepithelium, the majority of cells dividing apically detached completely from the basal pole in the epiblast.

Cell rearrangement associated with mitotic cell rounding in the posterior epiblast during gastrulation, in particular when it occurs on the basal side, might thus facilitate cell ingression through the PS and transition to a mesenchymal phenotype.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Nondestructive evaluation of 3D microstructure evolution in strontium titanate
Authors: Trenkle A. , Syha M. , Rheinheimer W. , Callahan P.G. , Nguyen L. , Ludwig W. , Lenthe W. , Echlin M. P. , Pollock T. M. , Weygand D. , De Graef M. , Hoffmann M. J. , Gumbsch P.
Published: February 2020

Nondestructive X-ray diffraction contrast tomography imaging was used to characterize the microstructure evolution in a polycrystalline bulk strontium titanate specimen. Simultaneous acquisition of diffraction and absorption information allows for the reconstruction of shape and orientation of more than 800 grains in the specimen as well as porosity. Three-dimensional microstructure reconstructions of two coarsening states of the same specimen are presented alongside a detailed exploration of the crystallographic, topological and morphological characteristics of the evolving microstructure. The overall analysis of the 3D structure shows a clear signature of the grain boundary anisotropy, which can be correlated to surface energy anisotropy: the grain boundary plane distribution function shows an excess of 〈100〉-oriented interfaces with respect to a random structure. The results are discussed in the context of interface property anisotropy effects.
Reconstructing intragranular strain fields in polycrystalline materials from scanning 3DXRD data
Authors: Henningsson N. Axel , Hall Stephen A. , Wright Jonathan P. , Hektor Johan
Published: February 2020

Two methods for reconstructing intragranular strain fields are developed for scanning three-dimensional X-ray diffraction (3DXRD). The methods are compared with a third approach where voxels are reconstructed independently of their neighbours [Hayashi, Setoyama & Seno (2017). Mater. Sci. Forum, 905, 157–164]. The 3D strain field of a tin grain, located within a sample of approximately 70 grains, is analysed and compared across reconstruction methods. Implicit assumptions of sub-problem independence, made in the independent voxel reconstruction method, are demonstrated to introduce bias and reduce reconstruction accuracy. It is verified that the two proposed methods remedy these problems by taking the spatial properties of the inverse problem into account. Improvements in reconstruction quality achieved by the two proposed methods are further supported by reconstructions using synthetic diffraction data.
The structural study of mutation-induced inactivation of human muscarinic receptor M4
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Wu Meng , Wu Lijie , Xu Yueming , Li Fei , Wu Yiran , Popov Petr , Wang Lin , Bai Fang , Zhao Suwen , Liu Zhi-Jie , Hua Tian
Published: February 2020

Human muscarinic receptor M4 belongs to the class A subfamily of the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). M4 has emerged as an attractive drug target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Recent results showed that M4-mediated cholinergic transmission is related to motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Selective ligand design for the five muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAchR) subtypes currently remains challenging owing to the high sequence and structural similarity of their orthosteric binding pockets. In order to obtain M4-selective antagonists, a new approach was tried to lock M4 into an inactive form by rationally designing an N4497.49R mutation, which mimics the allosteric sodium binding in the conserved sodium site usually found in class A GPCRs. In addition, the crystal structure of the mutation-induced inactive M4 was determined. By comparative analysis with other mAchR structures, followed by functional assays, the N4497.49R mutation was shown to stabilize M4 into an inactive state. Virtual screening of a focused ligand library using the crystal structure showed that the inactive M4 prefers antagonists much more than agonists. This study provides a powerful mutation strategy to stabilize GPCRs in inactive states and facilitate their structure determination.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (E)-3-(benzylideneamino)-5-phenylthiazolidin-2-iminium bromide
Authors: Duruskari Gulnara Sh. , Akkurt Mehmet , Mammadova Gunay Z. , Chyrka Taras , Maharramov Abel M.
Published: February 2020

The central thiazolidine ring of the title salt, C16H16N3S+·Br−, adopts an envelope conformation, with the C atom bearing the phenyl ring as the flap atom. In the crystal, the cations and anions are linked by N—H...Br hydrogen bonds, forming chains parallel to the b-axis direction. Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots indicate that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H...H (46.4%), C...H/H...C (18.6%) and H...Br/Br...H (17.5%) interactions.
6-[(tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)oxy]-3-ethenyl-7-methoxy-4-[(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]naphtho[2,3-c]furan-1(3H)-one
Authors: Weil Matthias , Kremsmayr Thomas , Mihovilovic Marko D.
Published: February 2020

The tricyclic core in the title compound, C26H34O4Si2, shows disorder of the furan ring and deviates slightly from planarity, with the largest displacement from the least-squares plane [0.166 (2) Å] for the major disordered part of the methine C atom. To this C atom the likewise disordered vinyl group is attached, lying nearly perpendicular to the tricyclic core. In the crystal, mutual C—H...π interactions between the methine group of the furan ring and the central ring of the tricyclic core of an adjacent molecule lead to inversion-related dimers.
2-Aminoanilinium 4-methylbenzenesulfonate
Authors: Narvekar Kedar U. , Srinivasan Bikshandarkoil R.
Published: February 2020

In the extended structure of the title molecular salt, C6H9N2
+·C7H7O3S−, the cations and anions are linked by N—H...O hydrogen bonds to generate [010] chains.
Differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and early onset schizophrenia: two clinical cases
Authors: Martin Ann Marie , Stavropoulos Katherine , Blacher Jan
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Historically, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were sometimes diagnosed with schizophrenia or major psychosis. Although significant advancements in the process of differential diagnosis have been made since 1950s, there still exists a problematic delay in diagnosis due to overlap of symptoms. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia can mimic the social difficulties and stereotyped behaviors characteristic of ASD, whereas positive symptoms of schizophrenia can be perceived as restricted and repetitive behaviors, complicating the diagnostic process. The purpose of this paper is to present two clinical cases that highlight the complexities in differential diagnosis of early psychosis, schizophrenia and ASD.

Design/methodology/approach

Two females, 14 and 16 years of age, were referred to a free screening clinic in Southern California to be assessed for possible ASD. Both females were referred because of the presentation of restricted and repetitive behaviors and social communication difficulties. Both females and their families were administered a battery of measures to ascertain the youths’ cognitive functioning, adaptive living skills and severity of autism-related behaviors.

Findings

The 14-year-old presented with early-stage (prodromal or at-risk mental state) psychosis; 16-year-old met criteria for schizophrenia. Both were referred to clinics specializing in treatment for psychosis and/or schizophrenia. Neither met criteria for ASD.

Originality/value

More published studies are needed on the overlap of symptoms between ASD and schizophrenia to help prevent diagnostic overshadowing of autistic symptoms and promote treatment during the early stages of psychosis. This is particularly important given the strong evidence that early treatment for psychosis improves social, cognitive and functional outcomes.
Do wine buyers behave differently in brick and mortar vs online stores?
Authors: Higuet Marguerite , Remaud Hervé
Published: February 2020

Purpose

To measure the extent to which wine buyers behave differently when purchasing wine online vs in two brick and mortar stores. The article aims to extend the use of the Double Jeopardy principle and empirical-based methodology to the wine category in a European retailing context.

Design/methodology/approach

Customer loyalty data of two brick and mortar stores and the website orders of a Belgian retailer have been gathered for a one-year period. Data have been analysed based on three specific wine attributes: country of origin, grape variety and brand. Double Jeopardy measurements have been calculated for each of these attributes.

Findings

This study enlarges the scope of use of the Dirichlet principles. All three hypotheses derived from the Double Jeopardy patterns across all attributes are confirmed. From the perspective of these principles, we demonstrated that wine buyers do not behave differently in brick and mortar vs online stores.

Originality/value

Very few studies have analysed and understood wine buyers' behaviour using actual purchasing data from retail stores, and none have been released comparing online and brick and mortar stores owned by the same retail brand. From that perspective, our study demystifies the way people really buy, and confirms what has been found in other product categories.
The effectiveness of quality awards on the company's performance – the case of Iran's national quality awards
Authors: Safari Hossein , Razghandi Elham , Fathi Mohammad Reza , Cruz-Machado Virgilio , Cabrita Maria do Rosário
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between getting quality awards by companies and their financial performance in Iran's business.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first step, the relationship between awards scores and financial performance by canonical correlation analysis was examined. Then, binary and multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the degree of impact of each financial performance measure on getting quality awards. Finally, two forecasting functions were explored: the probability of achieving quality awards and the probability of achieving different levels of these awards.

Findings

Based on the analyzed data of 112 companies through canonical correlation analysis, there was a weak relationship between financial performance and getting quality awards. Also, by using logistic regression, no result was found to prove the impact of financial performance measures on getting Iran's national quality awards. It can be concluded that conceptually, deployment of excellence organizational models will not result in favorable outcomes, especially in the financial scope. Also, practically, excellence models have not been well deployed in Iranian companies, or these models do not fit to Iran's business environment. Organizational culture may not be consistent with quality.

Originality/value

Quality awards are given to qualified companies following the establishment of models of excellence such as the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). The main novelty of this research is to clarify the relationship between getting quality awards by companies and their financial performance in Iran's business.
The National Spot Exchange Limited: The Sordid Saga
Authors: Barua Samir K.
Published: February 2020

Exchanges are designed to be default tolerant. The exchange functions as a counter-party in all transactions. A system of margining ensures that a transaction is always consummated even if either the buyer or the seller fails to honour his/her commitment. Investigations on the payment crisis at the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) in 2013 involving Rs. 5,600 crore revealed that the reasons for the crisis lay in the hubris of the promoters, connivance and collusion of the independent and institutional directors on the board of NSEL, benevolence of the government and ambivalence of the regulator. The failure raises serious concerns about governance at all levels in the country. Fundamental principles of governance were given a short shrift.
ABC's Search for the Pied Piper of Consultant
Authors: Sharma Sunil , Srinivasa Addepalli
Published: February 2020

The case provides rich description of an actual decision making situation related to selection of a consulting company. An Indian company a US based manufacturer of Widgets with intent to capture 20% market share in India. When in-house efforts didn't yield quick results, the company decided to explore the option of hiring a consulting firm to develop a growth strategy. Various stakeholders were involved in the actual decision making which was seen as a trade-off between expertise and price.
CEO narcissism, CEO duality, TMT agreeableness and firm performance
Authors: Uppal Nishant
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between Chief Executive Officer (CEO) narcissism and firm performance. Further, it examined the moderation effects of CEO duality and top management team (TMT) and board member agreeableness on the CEO narcissism–firm performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on survey data from 373 CEOs in the automobile industry in India. The paper used mixed method research where CEO narcissism and TMT agreeableness has been measured using survey instruments, other data such as firm performance has been captured using secondary sources.

Findings

The study confirms that the relationship between CEO narcissism and firm performance is curvilinear, meaning that narcissism can positively impact firm performance to a point, but may become counter-productive or ineffective beyond that. Further, CEO duality and TMT and board member agreeableness significantly impact this relationship.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to study how CEO behavior can affect variance in firm performance. The authors discuss theoretical and practical implications and offer suggestions for future research.
Leaders influencing innovation
Authors: Hoang Giang , Wilson-Evered Elisabeth , Lockstone-Binney Leonie
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Innovation is ever more critical for sustainable business performance in the contemporary, global economic and social context. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are arguably well positioned to innovate through their potential for rapid adjustment. Although leadership and organizational climate have been identified as playing a key role in innovation, little is known about whether such influences play out in SMEs. The aim of this study is to explore how leaders shape the organizational climate of their firms to enhance innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The article presents findings from semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 CEOs of SMEs in the Vietnamese tourism sector.

Findings

The findings indicate that SME leaders in the tourism sector influenced an organizational climate that provided for autonomy and supported innovation through a number of leadership approaches. They also used daily interaction-based practices to drive the innovative behaviors of employees and developed reward systems to encourage innovation in their organizations.

Research limitations/implications

This study explored leaders' approaches toward developing an organizational climate to stimulate innovation in tourism SMEs. Where leaders share frequent communication and knowledge with their subordinates, they perceive a climate for innovation developments, which stimulates innovation in tourism SMEs.

Practical implications

The study provides implications for managers to improve creativity and innovation in firms through the development of reward and incentive systems along with leadership and team development programs.

Originality/value

This study describes how different leader approaches affect innovation through orientating the organizational climate and business processes within their firms toward encouraging staff to initiate and try out new ideas.
Balancing academia and family life
Authors: Ren Xiaoni , Caudle Darren John
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore and compare academics’ experiences of managing work-life balance (WLB) in the British and Chinese contexts. The authors have three specific purposes. Firstly, to investigate whether there are marked gender differences in either context, given female and male academics’ work is considered fully comparable. Secondly, to examine contextual factors contributing to gender differences that influence and shape decisions in WLB and career paths. Thirdly, to explore the gendered consequences and implications.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-national and multilevel analytical approach to WLB was chosen to unpick and explore gender land contextual differences and their influence on individual academics’ coping strategies. To reflect the exploratory nature of uncovering individual experience and perceptions, the authors used in-depth, semi-structured interviews. In total, 37 academics participated in the study, comprised of 18 participants from 6 universities in the UK and 19 participants from 6 universities in China.

Findings

This study reveals gendered differences in both the British and Chinese contexts in three main aspects, namely, sourcing support; managing emotions; and making choices, but more distinct differences in the latter context. Most significantly, it highlights that individual academics’ capacity in cultivating and using coping strategies was shaped simultaneously by multi-layered factors at the country level, the HE institutional level and the individual academics’ level.

Originality/value

Very few cross-cultural WLB studies explore gender differences. This cross-national comparative study is of particular value in making the “invisible visible” in terms of the gendered nature of choices and decisions within the context of WLB. The study has significant implications for female academics exercising individual scope in carving out a career, and for academic managers and institutions, in terms of support, structure and policy.
Improving graduate outcomes
Authors: Okolie Ugochukwu Chinonso , Elom Elisha Nwonu , Igwe Paul Agu , Binuomote Michael Olayinka , Nwajiuba Chinyere Augusta , Igu Ntasiobi C.N.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study explores how the implementation of problem-based learning (PBL) in technical and vocational education training (TVET) systems of Nigerian higher education (HE) can enhance quality graduate outcomes. The study also explores the issues and challenges of PBL implementation in the TVET system of Nigerian HE.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows the assumptions of qualitative research. The authors interviewed 55 participants and had a focus group with 7 TVET postgraduate students. The 55 interviewees were drawn from TVET teachers (n = 33; 24 males and 9 females), Directors at National Board for Technical Education (n = 4; 3 males and 1 female), Directors of National Directorate of Employment (n = 5; 3 males and 2 females), Directors at the Federal Ministry of Education (n = 3 males), and industry executives (n = 10; 7 males and 3 females). Data were collected through a semistructured interview approach, transcribed and coded using NVivo 12 plus and analyzed through thematic analysis.

Findings

The results show that PBL in the Nigerian TVET system has positive implications for quality TVET graduate outcomes in that it can enable integrating theory and practice, motivate learning, improve students' self-efficacy, allow students to construct learning on their own, enhance graduate competencies and graduate employability. It also revealed six perceived possible major challenges to effective implementation of PBL in the Nigerian TVET system, which includes inadequacy of teaching and learning facilities; corruption in Nigerian education sector; recruitment of unqualified incompetent TVET teachers; difficulties in identifying real-life problems, among others. Participants offered benchmarks and actions and standards for improving the identified challenges, which formed a framework for coping with issues, challenges, and barriers to effective implementation of PBL in the TVET system of Nigerian HE (Table 1).

Originality/value

The results of this study are original and serve as an advocacy for Nigerian HE authorities to explore how PBL can be implemented in the TVET system to improve graduate outcomes. The study serves as a starting point for more research in the domain of improving the quality of TVET programs in Nigerian HE. Industry leaders and policymakers in Nigeria and other developing countries could use the findings from this study to increase HE and industry participation and partnership for quality of TVET program.
Generalized thermoelastic interaction in a two-dimensional porous medium under dual phase lag model
Authors: Hobiny Aatef , Abbas Ibrahim
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to use the generalized model for thermoelastic wave under the dual phase lag (DPL) model to compute the increment of temperature, the components of displacement, the changes in volume fraction field and the stress components in a two-dimensional (2D) porous medium.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Fourier and Laplace transformations with the eigenvalue technique, the exact solutions of all physical quantities are obtained.

Findings

The derived method is evaluated with numerical results, which are applied to the porous medium in a simplified geometry.

Originality/value

Finally, the outcomes are graphically represented to show the difference among the models of classical dynamical coupled, the Lord and Shulman and DPL.
Rude bosses versus rude subordinates
Authors: Günsoy Ceren
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Workplace incivility has detrimental effects on targets of such behaviors and can lead to further conflict. This research aims to examine whether cultural differences in people’s approach to social respect and status may influence their responses to incivility displayed by superiors and subordinates.

Design/methodology/approach

Three studies (n = 1043) examined how people from honor cultures (southern states of the USA; Latin America) and dignity cultures (northern states of the USA) would perceive and respond to uncivil superiors relative to uncivil subordinates. Studies 1 and 2 used scenarios; in Study 3, employed participants recalled their own incivility experiences.

Findings

Participants from honor cultures were more likely to perceive the mistreatment negatively if it came from a superior than a subordinate (all studies) and more likely to indicate that they would retaliate against an uncivil superior than an uncivil subordinate (Studies 1 and 3). Moreover, for participants from honor cultures (but not from dignity cultures), anger mediated the relation between the appraisal of incivility and retaliation only when the offender was a superior (all studies).

Research limitations/implications

This research relied on scenarios and people’s recollections, focusing on a limited range of responses to incivility. Future research should conduct laboratory experiments and examine additional responses. Nevertheless, these findings suggest that being mistreated by a superior or a subordinate has different meanings and consequences for people from diverse cultures, which can have implications for cross-cultural work interactions.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this research is the first to compare people’s emotional and behavioral responses to uncivil superiors with their responses to uncivil subordinates in honor cultures.