bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A pathogenic fungus uses volatiles to entice male flies into fatal matings with infected female cadavers
Authors: Naundrup Andreas , Bohman Björn , Kwadha Charles A. , Jensen Annette B. , Becher Paul G. , De Fine Licht Henrik H.
Published: October 2021

To ensure dispersal, many parasites and pathogens behaviourally manipulate infected hosts. Other pathogens and certain insect-pollinated flowers use sexual mimicry and release deceptive mating signals. However, it is unusual for pathogens to rely on both behavioural host manipulation and sexual mimicry. Here, we show that the host-specific and behaviourally manipulating pathogenic fungus, Entomophthora muscae, generates a chemical blend of volatile sesquiterpenes and alters the level of natural host cuticular hydrocarbons in dead infected female house fly (Musca domestica) cadavers. Healthy male house flies respond to the fungal compounds and are enticed into mating with dead female cadavers. This is advantageous for the fungus as close proximity between host individuals leads to an increased probability of infection. The fungus-emitted volatiles thus represent the evolution of an extended phenotypic trait that exploit male flies’ willingness to mate and benefit the fungus by altering the behavioural phenotype of uninfected healthy male host flies.
Morphology and gene expression profiling provide complementary information for mapping cell state
Authors: Way Gregory P. , Natoli Ted , Adeboye Adeniyi , Litichevskiy Lev , Yang Andrew , Lu Xiaodong , Caicedo Juan C. , Cimini Beth A. , Karhohs Kyle , Logan David J. , Rohban Mohammad H. , Kost-Alimova Maria , Hartland Kate , Bornholdt Michael , Chandrasekaran Srinivas Niranj , Haghighi Marzieh , Weisbart Erin , Singh Shantanu , Subramanian Aravind , Carpenter Anne E.
Published: October 2021

Morphological and gene expression profiling can cost-effectively capture thousands of features in thousands of samples across perturbations by disease, mutation, or drug treatments, but it is unclear to what extent the two modalities capture overlapping versus complementary information. Here, using both the L1000 and Cell Painting assays to profile gene expression and cell morphology, respectively, we perturb A549 lung cancer cells with 1,327 small molecules from the Drug Repurposing Hub across six doses, providing a data resource including dose-response data from both assays. The two assays capture both shared and complementary information for mapping cell state. Cell Painting profiles from compound perturbations are more reproducible and show more diversity, but measure fewer distinct groups of features. Applying unsupervised and supervised methods to predict compound mechanisms of action (MOA) and gene targets, we find that the two assays provide a partially shared, but also a complementary view of drug mechanisms. Given the numerous applications of profiling in biology, our analyses provide guidance for planning experiments that profile cells for detecting distinct cell types, disease phenotypes, and response to chemical or genetic perturbations.
The SAMBA tool uses long reads to improve the contiguity of genome assemblies
Authors: Zimin Aleksey V. , Salzberg Steven L.
Published: October 2021

Third-generation sequencing technologies can generate very long reads with relatively high error rates. The lengths of the reads, which sometimes exceed one million bases, make them invaluable for resolving complex repeats that cannot be assembled using shorter reads. Many high-quality genome assemblies have already been produced, curated, and annotated using the previous generation of sequencing data, and full re-assembly of these genomes with long reads is not always practical or cost-effective. One strategy to upgrade existing assemblies is to generate additional coverage using long-read data, and add that to the previously assembled contigs. SAMBA is a tool that is designed to scaffold and gap-fill existing genome assemblies with additional long-read data, resulting in substantially greater contiguity. SAMBA is the only tool of its kind that also computes and fills in the sequence for all spanned gaps in the scaffolds, yielding much longer contigs. Here we compare SAMBA to several similar tools capable of re-scaffolding assemblies using long-read data, and we show that SAMBA yields better contiguity and introduces fewer errors than competing methods. SAMBA is open-source software that is distributed at https://github.com/alekseyzimin/masurca.
DOT1L bridges transcription and heterochromatin formation at pericentromeres
Authors: Malla Aushaq B. , Yu Haoming , Kadimi Srilekha , Lam TuKiet , Cox Andy L. , Smith Zachary D. , Lesch Bluma J.
Published: October 2021

Repetitive DNA elements are packaged in heterochromatin, but many require bursts of transcription to initiate and maintain long-term silencing. The mechanisms by which these heterochromatic genome features are transcribed remain largely unknown. Here, we show that DOT1L, a conserved histone methyltransferase that modifies lysine 79 of histone H3 (H3K79), has a specialized role in transcription of major satellite repeats to maintain pericentromeric heterochromatin and genome stability. We discover that H3K79me3 is enriched at repetitive elements, that DOT1L loss specifically compromises pericentromeric satellite transcription, and that this function depends on interaction between DOT1L and the chromatin remodeler SMARCA5. Activation of pericentromeric repeats by DOT1L drives the first establishment of heterochromatin structures in cleavage-stage embryos and is required for preimplantation viability. Our findings uncover a vital instructive role for DOT1L as a bridge between transcriptional activation of heterochromatic repeats and maintenance of genome integrity, and illuminate global chromatin dynamics during early development.
Translocation of polyubiquitinated protein substrates by the hexameric Cdc48 ATPase
Authors: Ji Zhejian , Li Hao , Peterle Daniele , Paulo Joao A. , Ficarro Scott B. , Wales Thomas E. , Marto Jarrod A. , Gygi Steven P. , Engen John R. , Rapoport Tom A.
Published: October 2021

The hexameric Cdc48 ATPase (p97 or VCP in mammals) cooperates with its cofactor Ufd1/Npl4 to extract polyubiquitinated proteins from membranes or macromolecular complexes for degradation by the proteasome. Here, we clarify how the Cdc48 complex unfolds its substrates and translocates polypeptides with branchpoints. The Cdc48 complex recognizes primarily polyubiquitin chains, rather than the attached substrate. Cdc48 and Ufd1/Npl4 cooperatively bind the polyubiquitin chain, resulting in the unfolding of one ubiquitin molecule (initiator). Next, the ATPase pulls on the initiator ubiquitin and moves all ubiquitin molecules linked to its C-terminus through the central pore of the hexameric double-ring, causing transient ubiquitin unfolding. When the ATPase reaches the isopeptide bond of the substrate, it can translocate and unfold both N- and C-terminal segments. Ubiquitins linked to the branchpoint of the initiator dissociate from Ufd1/Npl4 and move outside the central pore, resulting in the release of unfolded, polyubiquitinated substrate from Cdc48.
Aurora B/C-dependent phosphorylation promotes Rec8 cleavage in mammalian oocytes
Authors: Nikalayevich Elvira , El Jailani Safia , Cladière Damien , Gryaznova Yulia , Fosse Célia , Touati Sandra A. , Buffin Eulalie , Wassmann Katja
Published: October 2021

To generate haploid gametes, cohesin is removed in a step-wise manner from chromosome arms in meiosis I and the centromere region in meiosis II, to segregate chromosomes and sister chromatids, respectively. Meiotic cohesin removal requires cleavage of the meiosis-specific kleisin subunit Rec8 by the protease Separase[1, 2]. In yeast, Rec8 is kept in a non-phosphorylated state by the action of PP2A-B56, which is localised to the centromere region, thereby preventing cohesin removal from this region in meiosis I[3-5]. However, it is unknown whether Rec8 has to be equally phosphorylated for cleavage, and whether centromeric cohesin protection is indeed brought about by dephosphorylation of Rec8 preventing cleavage, in mammalian meiosis. The identity of one or several potential Rec8-specific kinase(s) is also unknown. This is due to technical challenges, as Rec8 is poorly conserved preventing a direct translation of the knowledge gained from model systems such as yeast and C. elegans to mammals, and additionally, there is no turn-over of Rec8 after cohesion establishment, preventing phosphomutant analysis of functional Rec8. To address how Rec8 cleavage is brought about in mammals, we adapted a biosensor for Separase to study Rec8 cleavage in single mouse oocytes by live imaging, and identified phosphorylation sites promoting cleavage. We found that Rec8 cleavage by Separase depends on Aurora B/C kinase activity, and identified a residue promoting cleavage and being phosphorylated in an Aurora B/C kinase-dependent manner. Accordingly, inhibition of Aurora B/C kinase during meiotic maturation impairs endogenous Rec8 phosphorylation and chromosome segregation.
A molecular switch between mammalian MLL complexes dictates response to Menin-MLL inhibition
Authors: Soto-Feliciano Yadira M. , Sánchez-Rivera Francisco J. , Perner Florian , Barrows Douglas W. , Kastenhuber Edward R. , Ho Yu-Jui , Carroll Thomas , Xiong Yijun , Anand Disha , Soshnev Alexey , Gates Leah , Beytagh Mary Clare , Cheon David , Gu Shengqing , Liu X. Shirley , Krivtsov Andrei V. , Meneses Maximiliano , de Stanchina Elisa , Stone Richard M. , Armstrong Scott A. , Lowe Scott W. , Allis C. David
Published: October 2021

The chromatin adaptor Menin interacts with oncogenic fusion proteins encoded byMLL1-rearrangements (MLL1-r), and small molecules that disrupt these associations are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of leukemia. By integrating chromatin-focused and genome-wide CRISPR screens with genetic, pharmacological, and biochemical approaches in mouse and human systems, we discovered a molecular switch between the MLL1-Menin and MLL3/4-UTX chromatin modifying complexes that dictates response to Menin-MLL inhibitors. We show that MLL1-Menin safeguards leukemia survival by impeding binding of the MLL3/4-UTX complex at a subset of target gene promoters. Disrupting the interaction between Menin and MLL1 leads to UTX-dependent transcriptional activation of a tumor suppressor gene-program that is crucial for a therapeutic response in murine and human leukemia. We establish the therapeutic relevance of this mechanism by showing that CDK4/6 inhibitors allow re-activation of this tumor-suppressor program in Menin-inhibitor insensitive leukemia cells, mitigating treatment resistance. The discovery of a molecular switch between MLL1-Menin and MLL3/4-UTX complexes on chromatin sheds light on novel functions of these evolutionary conserved epigenetic mediators and is particularly relevant to understand and target molecular pathways determining response and resistance in ongoing phase 1/2 clinical trials.
Molecular Insights into the Differential Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOC)
Authors: Mandal Nabanita , Padhi Aditya K. , Rath Soumya Lipsa
Published: October 2021

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected the lives and livelihood of millions of individuals around the world. It has mutated several times after its first inception, with an estimated two mutations occurring every month. Although we have been successful in developing vaccines against the virus, emergence of variants has enabled it to escape therapy. Few of the generated variants are also reported to be more infectious than the wild-type (WT). In this study, we analyze the attributes of all RBD/ACE2 complexes for the reported VOCs, namely, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta through computer simulations. Results indicate differences in orientation and binding energies of the VOCs from the WT. Overall, it was observed that electrostatic interactions play a major role in the binding of the complexes. Detailed residue level energetics revealed that the most prominent changes in interaction energies were seen particularly at the mutated residues which were present at RBD/ACE2 interface. We found that the Delta variant is one of the most tightly bound variants of SARS-CoV-2 with dynamics similar to WT. High binding affinity of RBD towards ACE2 is indicative of an increase in the viral transmission and infectivity. The details presented in our study would prove extremely useful for the design and development of effective therapeutic strategies for the emerging variants of the virus.
Thioflavin T indicates membrane potential in mammalian cells and can affect it in a blue light dependent manner
Authors: Skates Emily , Delattre Hadrien , Schofield Zoe , Asally Munehiro , Soyer Orkun S.
Published: October 2021

The fluorescent benzothiazole Thioflavin T (ThT) has a high binding affinity to protein aggregates and is used as a marker for the study of this process, most commonly in the context of neurodegenerative disease research and diagnosis. Recently, this same dye was shown to indicate membrane potential in bacteria due to its cationic nature. This finding prompted a question whether ThT fluorescence is linked to the membrane potential in mammalian cells, which would be important for appropriate utilisation of ThT in research and diagnosis. Here, we show that ThT localises into the mitochondria of HeLa cells in a membrane-potential dependent manner. Specifically, ThT colocalised in cells with a well-established mitochondrial membrane-potential indicator Tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) and gave similar temporal responses as TMRM to treatment with a protonophore, carbonyl cyanide-4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP). Additionally, we found that presence of ThT together with exposure to blue light (λ=405 nm) exposure, but neither factor alone, caused depolarisation of mitochondrial membrane potential. This depolarisation effect was recapitulated by a mathematical model implementing the potential-dependent distribution of ThT and its light-dependent binding in mitochondria. These results show that ThT can act as a membrane potential dye in mammalian cells, when used at low concentrations and with low blue-light exposure, while it causes dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential at higher concentrations and in the presence of blue light excitation. This conclusion motivates a re-evaluation of ThT’s use at micromolar range in live-cell analyses, while indicating that this dye can enable future studies on the potential connections between membrane potential dynamics and protein aggregation.
Synchrotron CT of an equine digit at the Australian Synchrotron Imaging and Medical Beamline
Authors: Montgomery J. B. , Klein M. , Boire J. R. , Beck C. , Häusermann D. , Maksimenko A. , Hall C. J.
Published: October 2021

Laminitis is an extremely painful and debilitating condition of horses that can affect their athletic ability and even quality of life. The current gold standard for assessment of laminar tissue is histology, which is the only modality that enables detailed visualization of the lamina. Histology requires dissection of the hoof and therefore can only represent one specific time point. The superior spatial and contrast resolution of synchrotron computed tomography (sCT), when compared with readily available imaging modalities, such as radiographs and conventional CT, provides an opportunity for detailed studies of the lamina without the need for hoof dissection and histological assessment. If the resolution of histology can be matched or even approached, dynamic events, such as laminar blood flow, could also be studied on the microscopic tissue level. To investigate this possible application of sCT further, two objectives are presented: (i) to develop a protocol for sCT of an equine digit using cadaver limbs and (ii) to apply the imaging protocol established during (i) for sCT imaging of the vasculature within the foot using an ex vivo perfusion system to deliver the vascular contrast. The hypotheses were that sCT would allow sufficient resolution for detailed visualization to the level of the secondary lamellae and associated capillaries within the equine digit. Synchrotron CT enabled good visualization of the primary lamellae (average length 3.6 mm) and the ex vivo perfusion system was able to deliver vascular contrast agent to the vessels of the lamina. The individual secondary lamellae (average length 0.142 mm) could not be seen in detail, although differentiation between primary and secondary lamellae was achieved. This approaches, but does not yet reach, the current gold standard, histology, for assessment of the lamellae; however, with further refinement of this imaging technique, improved resolution may be accomplished in future studies.
Changing brands and impacts on Las Vegas: messages for Asian gambling destinations
Authors: Marie Jamieson Lynn , Howell Brandon Douglas , Siu Lam Carlos
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to discover, qualitatively, periods of involvement in Las Vegas gambling marketing campaigns and analyze success factors that may be useful to other gambling destinations, particularly in the Asian market.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was established to allow a two-pronged approach of semi-structured interviews and site analysis coupled with review of planning and marketing documents in Las Vegas, Nevada 1980–2000 era and ending with the 2019 branding approach.

Findings

Results revealed degrees of success and rationales for changes in campaigns over a 40-year period. When analyzing market strategies, it became evident that many factors were involved decisions to visit Las Vegas, such as social, safety and security factors, as well as opportunities for recreation.

Research limitations/implications

Gaining access to top level executives proved challenging due to reluctance of subjects wanting to disclose business strategies.

Originality/value

This study was unique in employing qualitative processes to elicit planning and marketing approaches and relative successes or failures from those involved in multi-property management. Further, analysis of documents over a wide time frame provided insight into the pitfalls and strengths associated with various campaigns.
A remanufacturing inventory model to control the carbon emission using cap-and-trade regulation with the hexagonal fuzzy number
Authors: Arora Ritu , Singh Anubhav Pratap , Sharma Renu , Chauhan Anand
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The awareness for protecting the environment has resulted in remanufacturing and recycling policies in manufacturing industries. Carbon emission is one of the most important elements affecting the environment. Carbon emission due to production and transportation creates complicated situations for the manufacturing firms by affecting the manufacturer's carbon quota. The ecological consequences posed in a reverse logistic model are the subject of this study.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study explores the fuzzy model of economic production for both remanufacturing and recycling with uncertain cost parameters under the cap-and-trade rule to control the carbon emission due to different modes of transportation. Due to imprecise cost parameters, the hexagonal fuzzy numbers are set to fuzzify the overall cost, which leads to correct decisions in a more confident way. The result is defuzzified by using graded mean integration.

Findings

This study offers an explicit condition to control the carbon emission of the manufacturer and reduce the optimum cost. The findings indicate that the collection of used goods that can be remanufactured must be increased. The model is validated numerically. Sensitivity analysis explores the various aspects of different parameters on net cost to accomplish the fuzzy production model.

Originality/value

Under fuzzy inference, the research offers a relevant contribution in the field of recycling with controlling carbon emission by using the cap-and-trade policy. This study provides a trading strategy for a manufacturer's decision to avoid losses.
The effects of misinformation on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Bangladesh
Authors: Mahmud Md. Rifat , Bin Reza Raiyan , Ahmed S.M. Zabed
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the general population in Bangladesh and the role of misinformation in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among ordinary citizens. In addition to demographic and vaccine-related information, a five-point Likert scale was used to measure vaccine-related misinformation beliefs and how to counter them. Chi-square tests were used to examine the relationship between demographic variables and vaccine acceptance. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify vaccine hesitancy by different demographic groups. Nonparametric Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed to determine the significance of difference between demographic groups in terms of their vaccine-related misinformation beliefs. Finally, the total misinformation score was computed to examine the correlation between vaccine hesitancy and the total score.

Findings

This study found that nearly half of the respondents were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine, whereas more than one third of the participants were unsure about taking the vaccine. Demographic variables (e.g., gender, age and education) were found to be significantly related to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that respondents who were below 40 years of age, females and those who had lower education attainments had significantly higher odds of vaccine hesitancy. There were significant differences in participants’ vaccine-related misinformation beliefs based on their demographic characteristics, particularly in the case of educational accomplishments. A highly significant negative correlation was found between total misinformation score and vaccine acceptance.

Research limitations/implications

The survey was conducted online, and therefore, it automatically precluded non-internet users from completing the survey. Further, the number of participants from villages was relatively low. Overall, the results may not be representative of the entire population in Bangladesh.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper could guide government agencies and policymakers in devising appropriate strategies to counter COVID-related misinformation to reduce the level of vaccine hesitancy in Bangladesh.

Originality/value

To the authors’ best knowledge, this study is the first to measure the level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and the influence of misinformation in this process among the general public in Bangladesh.
Envisioning the future of technology integration for accessible hospitality and tourism
Authors: Tlili Ahmed , Altinay Fahriye , Altinay Zehra , Zhang Ye
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine a topic of growing significance to hospitality and tourism scholars and practitioners – how emerging technologies can fulfill accessible hospitality and tourism services for people with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of the literature based on the Web of Science database and qualitative research were conducted. Specifically, bibliometric analysis and thematic analyzes of expert interviews were used. The obtained views from experts in the field further validated and enriched the obtained findings.

Findings

The primary topics of exploration in existing literature were identified, such as social networks and data-empowered services. The potential areas of further advances are also revealed such as the need for cross-country collaborations and potential gaps between scholarly and practitioner interest in the topic.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited by the scope of adopted search keywords and databases.

Practical implications

This study offers vital practical implications for the future integration of emerging technologies to fulfill accessible hospitality and tourism. It also demonstrates the pressing need for more interconnected global collaborations for this important initiative.

Social implications

This study emphasizes how the hospitality and tourism industry could better leverage technological power to empower people with disabilities. It also points out the importance of an inclusive process for technology implementation for accessible hospitality and tourism services to fully represent the interests of disabled customers (including the consideration of their different backgrounds).

Originality/value

This study sheds light on the future research directions of technological empowerment of accessible hospitality/tourism. It also makes methodological contributions by demonstrating what bibliometric analysis has to offer to relevant fields of studies. The solicited views of experts in the field from different countries on the topic further add to the depth and value of the findings while demonstrating the combination of these two approaches as a promising mixed-methods route to produce richer and more robust findings.
The impact of customer knowledge management, TQM and marketing capabilities on product innovation performance of Malaysian SMEs: an empirical study
Authors: Yusr Maha Mohammed , Mokhtar Sany Sanuri Mohd , Perumal Selvan , Salimon Maruf Gbadebo
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Several strategies and processes can help companies to enhance the success rate of new products. This study aims to identify a few strategies for that purpose represented by total quality management (TQM) practices, building knowledge and capabilities. Moreover, the current paper discusses the role of applying TQM practices and customer knowledge management in developing the marketing capabilities of the organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a quantitative approach where the data collected from 141 manufacturing small and medium enterprises operating in Malaysia and partial least squares technique was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings of this study highly support all the proposed hypotheses and establish marketing capabilities as a facilitator in the relationship between TQM practices, customer knowledge management and product innovation performance. However, customer knowledge management and TQM were found not to have an impact on product innovation performance.

Originality/value

The introduced model contributes to enhancing the understanding of the impact of customer knowledge on the success of product innovation performance. The model further includes TQM as a process that helps the organization get customer satisfaction information. The incorporation of these two processes will support the organization’s capabilities in the innovation field.
Predicting donors’ behavior in contributing to health compared to non-health sectors: an application of revised theory of planned behavior in Iran
Authors: Fehresti Saeedeh , Takian Amirhossein , Jaafaripooyan Ebrahim , Parsaeian Mahboubeh , Jalilian Habib
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to predict the behavior of donors to give to the health sector compared with other sectors in Shiraz city, South Iran, using the revised theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Design/methodology/approach

This was a descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study. A standard questionnaire, which comprising 32 items, was used to survey 277 donors affiliated with various charitable associations in the city of Shiraz, South of Iran, in 2018. Participants were selected using stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques. The authors used a revised TPB, a general model to predict and explain behavior across various types of behaviors and predict behavior based on an individual’s attitudes and beliefs. This model was used to examine the influence of eight social-psychological variables (attitude, perceived behavioral control [PBC], subjective norm, descriptive norm, moral norm, past behavior, intention behavior, self-reported) on an individual’s intention to donate to health sector charity. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 22.0.

Findings

The score of all constructs of TPB in the health sector was significantly higher than in the non-health sector (P < 0.001), except for the PBC. This indicates that it does not influence the donors’ behavioral intention in selecting of charitable activity domains (e.g. health and non-health). The constructs of the moral norm, descriptive norm and past behavior in the health sector donors; and the constructs of attitude, moral norms and the variables of the annual income, and work experience in the non-health sector donors were identified as significant predictors of donors’ intention behavior. Moreover, attitude, moral norm, descriptive norm, past behavior, male gender and the annual income were the significant predictors of donors’ intention to give to health charity initiatives.

Originality/value

One of the most important mechanisms to compensate for the shortage of resources of the health system is the use of donors’ participation capacity. However, different donors act differently in selecting charitable activity domains, including the health sector and non-health sector (e.g. school-building donors’ association, house-building donors’ association, city-building donors’ association, library-building donors’ association, etc.). To attract donors’ participation in the health sector, some interventions to change the behavioral intention of donors towards the health sector through constructs of TPB should be taken.
Implications of COVID-19 related non-pharmaceutical measures on household livelihood and food security in Pakistan
Authors: Shahbaz Pomi , Haq Shamsheer ul , Boz Ismet
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19 is a health and humanitarian disaster threatening the livelihood and nutritional security of the people globally. This study examined the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic-related non-pharmaceutical measures on households' livelihood and food security in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected through an online survey from 712 households were analyzed through descriptive statistics, t-test, and binary logit model.

Findings

More than 71% of the total households asserted that COVID-19 had affected their livelihoods negatively. Results revealed that food insecurity among households had increased more than two folds during one year of the COVID-19 compared to the pre-pandemic period. Moreover, the number of households in food insecure and severely food insecure groups had also increased significantly during the pandemic. Increasing monthly income was negatively associated with the COVID-19 induced food security and livelihood shocks implying that households with lower monthly income were likely to suffer more from the COVID-19. Households having agriculture as their main source of livelihood were 35 percentage points less likely to suffer the negative effects of the pandemic compared to wage earners. Wage-earners were 29 percentage points more likely to suffer worsened food security than salaried persons during the COVID-19 period. A large proportion of the households were forced to change their nutritional patterns to negate the adverse consequence of the pandemic on their livelihood and food security.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional nature of the collected data does not allow developing a causal relationship between COVID-19 implications and the food security of the households.

Originality/value

The pandemic has affected every sphere of life in developing countries but there is no study to assist the policymakers that how to minimize the impacts of the COVID-19 on the food security of households. Therefore, the study will fill this gap in the literature and help policymakers in developing countries to develop strategies to lessen the impact of the pandemic on food security.
Sailing through the COVID-19 pandemic: managing expatriates' psychological well-being and performance during natural crises
Authors: Tripathi Chhaya Mani , Singh Tripti
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The unprecedented challenges brought about by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected people's lives worldwide. The purpose of this study is to propose a conceptual model to explain how natural crisis events, such as COVID-19, cause stress and influence the psychological well-being (PWB) and performance of expatriates.

Design/methodology/approach

The model presented in this conceptual paper is based on Bader and Berg's (2014) two-stage stress emergence and outcome model developed to study expatriates' performance in terrorism-endangered countries. The authors apply their model to natural crisis events and provide propositions to explain the postulated relationships.

Findings

The proposed model delineates the stressors that emerge from psychological and situational factors, and how they impact the PWB and performance of expatriates. The article emphasizes how resilience, social network, and support from the organization, supervisor, and family can help mitigate the adverse effects of stress on the PWB of expatriates. Furthermore, keeping in mind the prevailing situations due to COVID-19, the authors shed light on the indispensability of virtual collaboration in ameliorating expatriates' performance in challenging times.

Practical implications

Implications are discussed for organizations in devising plans and strategies to deal with unforeseen crisis events.

Originality/value

This study extends the expatriation literature to the events of natural crisis by incorporating the stress emergence-outcome model. In doing so, the authors identify the factors relevant to natural crises and apply them to understand how they could impact expatriates in such times.
Longitudinal effects of emotion regulation on social anxiety and affect among young adults
Authors: Mukherjee Koninika , Hussain Dilwar
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Due to ongoing significant life changes during the transition into higher education, social anxiety can be problematic, especially for college students. It has adverse effects on various aspects of one’s life, including one’s feelings and emotions. The study investigated the interplay between social anxiety and emotions and its impact on affect. The aim of this study is to examine the role of difficulties in emotion regulation in the relationship between social anxiety and change in affect.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a longitudinal study. Data was collected with self-report instruments at two time points with a gap of four months. Participants were Indian undergraduate students from a technical institute.

Findings

The result revealed that high social anxiety in tandem with difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior significantly impacts changes in positive affect. However, this effect was significant only in the presence of depression.

Research limitations/implications

This study highlights the harmful impact of comorbid issues such as depression in socially anxious individuals. The present study might have implications for educators and clinicians working with college students.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only study to test the proposed research model in a sample of Indian college students. The use of a moderated moderation analysis with the three regulation strategies and depression also adds to the uniqueness of this study.
Does law as resource bring a competitive advantage to companies?
Authors: Teixeira Fernando , J. Ferreira João , Mota Veiga Pedro
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Resources and their analysis are essential to understand better companies’ internal and external dynamics and the weight each has in obtaining competitive advantages over the competition. This study aims to address the law and legal knowledge as a fundamental resource for companies to succeed in the markets to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Based upon a sample of 200 managers, a structural equation model was used to validate the hypotheses under study.

Findings

Results show awareness and managers’ perception of the importance of law as a resource and its advantages for companies and the dichotomy between recognising this importance and not using it consistently.

Originality/value

Knowing the scope of business law and its growing importance for companies and being academically aware of the inexistence of studies that analyse the law as an individualised resource for companies, this study has a crucial contribution to the interconnection of these two fields – business and law.
Investor activism strategies of private equity firms: evidence from continental Europe
Authors: Berezinets Irina , Ilina Yulia
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with the issue of shareholder activism of private equity investors in public companies. The study identifies characteristics of target firms and investors related to the likelihood of private equity activism. The research also examines whether shareholder activism strategy of private equity investors is associated with the better performance in future and value creation of target firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies econometric modeling to hand-collected data on private equity investments in listed companies, in the form of private investment in public equity and open-market share purchases, from eight Continental Europe’s countries for the period 2005–2014.

Findings

The findings indicate that the probability of shareholder activism is higher if the target firm’s industry corresponds to the private equity investor’s industry specialization, if the private equity firm is older, if the target is larger and the average ownership share purchased by the investor is higher. Conversely, the probability of shareholder activism is lower where a private equity firm invests in the target for the first time. A target firm with an activist investor has poorer operational performance results one year following the investment compared to a target firm with a passive private equity investor.

Research limitations/implications

Results from the analysis of transactions in Continental Europe countries with French and German legal origin may be not generalizable to other markets with the different legal tradition and institutional environment.

Originality/value

This research provides new empirical evidence on private equity activism in listed companies of Continental Europe. By distinguishing between active and passive investments, testing rarely considered characteristics to provide valuable insights and analyzing the effect of activism on the target firm’s performance, the study contributes variously to the still-limited body of literature on private equity activism in public companies with a governance structure based on concentrated ownership. The findings emphasize the relationship between shareholder activism and both target and investor’s characteristics from perspective of mitigating agency problem and value creation in target firms. By simultaneously investigating investments in public companies from several European markets, the study complements empirical evidence mostly obtained from studies of a single national market.
A whole‐plant economics spectrum including bark functional traits for 59 subtropical woody plant species
Authors: Li Jinlong , Chen Xiaoping , Niklas Karl J. , Sun Jun , Wang Zhaoying , Zhong Quanlin , Hu Dandan , Cheng Dongliang
Published: October 2021

The whole‐plant economics spectrum (PES) refers to the trade‐offs among the many plant functional traits that are commonly used as indicators of major adaptive strategies, thereby providing insights into plant distributions, ecosystem processes and evolution. However, there are few studies of what may be called the whole‐PES that integrates bark, wood and leaf functional traits for different leaf types and growth habits (evergreen vs. deciduous species).

To address this gap in our knowledge, 6 bark traits, 7 wood traits (including mechanical support and nutrient transport characteristics) and 12 leaf traits (including chemical, structural and physiological characteristics) of 59 representative subtropical woody species were examined using principal component analysis (PCA) to determine PES strategies.

The economics spectra of bark (BES), wood (WES) and leaves (LES), and the entire PES indicated that major traits represent resource acquisition strategies and conservation strategies clustering on the opposite ends of the PCA axis. A significant correlation was observed among the 25 functional traits. The data indicated that N and P nutrient levels were at the hub of BES, WES, LES and PES interrelationships. Evergreen and deciduous species had different WES and LES, and thus PES resource acquisition strategies. With the exception of the BES, evergreen species clustered on the conservative side, whereas deciduous species clustered on the acquisitive side.

Synthesis. The PES presented here informs our understanding of whole‐plant responses to environmental differences, particularly regarding the role of N and P traits at the whole‐plant level. It also reveals and further supports the notion that evergreen and deciduous species, respectively, manifest conservative and acquisitive strategies, further informing our understanding of species biodiversity maintenance.
Putting vascular epiphytes on the traits map
Authors: Hietz Peter , Wagner Katrin , Nunes Ramos Flavio , Cabral Juliano Sarmento , Agudelo Claudia , Benavides Ana María , Cach‐Pérez Manuel Jesús , Cardelús Catherine L. , Chilpa Galván Nahlleli , Erickson Nascimento da Costa Lucas , de Paula Oliveira Rodolfo , Einzmann Helena J. R. , de Paiva Farias Rafael , Guzmán Jacob Valeria , Kattge Jens , Kessler Michael , Kirby Catherine , Kreft Holger , Krömer Thorsten , Males Jamie , Monsalve Correa Samuel , Moreno‐Chacón Maria , Petter Gunnar , Reyes‐García Casandra , Saldaña Alfredo , Schellenberger Costa David , Taylor Amanda , Velázquez Rosas Noé , Wanek Wolfgang , Woods Carrie L. , Zotz Gerhard
Published: October 2021

Plant functional traits impact the fitness and environmental niche of plants. Major plant functional types have been characterized by their trait spectrum, and the environmental and phylogenetic imprints on traits have advanced several ecological fields. Yet, very few trait data on epiphytes, which represent almost 10% of vascular plants, are available.

We collated 76,561 trait observations for 2,882 species of vascular epiphytes and compared these to non‐epiphytic herbs and trees to test hypotheses related to how the epiphytic habit affects traits, and if epiphytes occupy a distinct region in the global trait space. We also compared variation in traits among major groups of epiphytes, and investigated the coordination of traits in epiphytes, ground‐rooted herbs and trees.

Epiphytes differ from ground‐rooted plants mainly in traits related to water relations. Unexpectedly, we did not find lower leaf nutrient concentrations, except for nitrogen. Mean photosynthetic rates are much lower than in ground‐rooted plants and lower than expected from the nitrogen concentrations. Trait syndromes clearly distinguish epiphytes from trees and from most non‐epiphytic herbs.

Among the three largest epiphytic taxa, orchids differ from bromeliads and ferns mainly by having smaller and more numerous stomata, while ferns differ from bromeliads by having thinner leaves, higher nutrient concentrations, and lower water content and water use efficiency.

Trait networks differ among epiphytes, herbs and trees. While all have central nodes represented by SLA and mass‐based photosynthesis, in epiphytes, traits related to plant water relations have stronger connections, and nutrients other than potassium have weaker connections to the remainder of the trait network. Whereas stem‐specific density reflects mechanical support related to plant size in herbs and trees, in epiphytes it mostly reflects water storage and scales with leaf water content.

Synthesis. Our findings advance our understanding of epiphyte ecology, but we note that currently mainly leaf traits are available. Important gaps are root, shoot and whole plant, demographic and gas exchange traits. We suggest how future research might use available data and fill data gaps.
Publication rates of abstracts presented at the annual scientific meetings held by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in 2011 and 2016
Authors: Sezgin Nurdan , Karadayi Sukriye , Karadayi Beytullah
Published: October 2021

Prior research evaluating the papers presented in forensic sciences in international meetings is scant. This study determines the possible predictions concerning publications by comparing the publication rates, publication years, and presentation types, time until publication, participating countries, and criteria of the published journals in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). The publication rates of abstracts presented at scientific meetings of AAFS, a prestigious forensic science organization, along with the aforementioned components and the extent of their contribution in 2011 and 2016 were investigated. The abstracts presented at the AAFS meetings in 2011 and 2016 were reviewed retrospectively within the scope of this study. The Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases were searched using a specified process that included the title, first and last author surnames, and keywords. Results revealed that approximately 21% and 24% of the papers presented at the 2011 and 2016 AAFS meetings, respectively, were published. Considering the publication rates of abstracts according to sections, the publication rates for the 2011 AAFS meeting ranged from 4% (questioned documents) to 31% (anthropology) and from 5% (questioned documents) to 32% (pathology/biology), on average, for the 2016 AAFS meeting. It was determined that the papers were largely published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences for both annual scientific meetings. Future studies should concentrate on the obstacles to the publication of papers presented at such prestigious organizations and strategies to facilitate the publication process such that they do not lose their value over time.
Castration induced circRNA expressional changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue of male pigs
Authors: Wang Jing , Yang Youbing , Xing Baosong , Chen Junfeng , Lu Qingxia , Zhang Jiaqing , Ren Qiaoling , Ma Qiang , Guo Hongxia , Cao Hai
Published: October 2021

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) participated in regulation of lipid metabolism; however, its functional role on castration‐induced lipid deposition has not been deeply researched. So in this research, we firstly compared circRNAs expressional differences in subcutaneous adipose tissue between intact and castrated male Huainan pigs. A total of 6116 differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) were detected between these two groups (|log2foldchange| ≥ 1 and padj ≤ 0.05); GO and KEGG analysis showed that their parent genes were mainly enriched in metabolism‐related pathway. And TGF‐beta, insulin, AMPK, and MAPK pathways might play vital role in castration‐induced lipid deposition. The miRNAs enriched in the constructed circRNA–miRNA network were mainly participated in adipogenesis and lipid metabolism, such as miR‐143a‐3p, miR‐378, and miR‐195. And it was verified that testosterone upregulated miR‐181a but downregulated circ_0005912 expression in a dose‐dependent manner in porcine intramuscular adipocytes, and overexpression of miR‐181a inhibited circ_0005912. Taken together, these DECs may participate in the regulation of lipid metabolism after castration by reaction with miRNAs, which indicated the novel role of circRNAs in castration‐induced lipid deposition.