bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recruitment of Archaeal DTD is a Key Event in the Emergence of Land Plants
Authors: Mazeed Mohd , Singh Raghvendra , Kumar Pradeep , Raman Bakthisaran , Kruparani Shobha P. , Sankaranarayanan Rajan
Published: May 2020

Land plant evolution is a major leap in the history of life that took place during the Neoproterozoic Era (∼800 Mya). Charophyceae, a class of rhyzophytic green algae emerged as a land plant with innovations in biochemical, cytological and developmental adaptations and played a crucial role in establishing life on the land1,2. One such striking architectural innovation is “root” that experience harsh environmental assaults such as floods, waterlogging and therefore is the epicentre for anaerobic fermentation, which produces toxic acetaldehyde3. Here, we show that such produced acetaldehyde makes N-ethyl-adducts on a central component of translation machinery aa-tRNA. The Plant kingdom is unique among life forms in possessing two chirality-based proofreading systems represented by D-aminoacyl-tRNA deacylases (DTD1 and DTD2), derived from Bacteria and Archaea4. We identified a unique role of archaeal derived chiral proofreading module DTD2 that selectively deacylates N-ethyl-D-aminoacyl-tRNAs (NEDATs) in plants. NEDAT deacylase function is exclusive to DTD2, as no other proofreading modules with similar substrates like canonical DTD1 and peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase (PTH) can clear NEDATs. Thus, the study elucidates the cause of hypersensitivity of DTD2 knockout plants for both ethanol and acetaldehyde. We further show NEDAT elimination is rooted in Archaea which possess the biosynthesis machinery for ethanol fermentation similar to plants. While absent in other algal branches, DTD2 can be identified in plants from land plant ancestors-Charophytes onwards. DTD2 is the only gene that has only archaeal origin among the genes ascribed for architectural and genomic innovations that happened in the land plant ancestors. The work has uncovered an important gene transfer event from methanogenic archaea to the charophytes in the oldest terrestrial ecosystem bog that contains excess of D-amino acids and deprived of oxygen.
Peel-1negative selection promotes screening-free CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: McDiarmid Troy A. , Au Vinci , Moerman Donald G. , Rankin Catharine H.
Published: May 2020

Improved genome engineering methods that enable automation of large and precise edits are essential for systematic investigations of genome function. We adaptedpeel-1negative selection to an optimized Dual-Marker Selection (DMS) cassette protocol for CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering inCaenorhabditis elegansand observed robust increases in multiple measures of efficiency that were consistent across injectors and four genomic loci. The use of Peel-1-DMS selection killed animals harboring transgenes as extrachromosomal arrays and spared genome edited integrants, often circumventing the need for visual screening to identify genome edited animals. To demonstrate the applicability of the approach, we created deletion alleles in the putative proteasomal subunitpbs-1and the uncharacterized geneK04F10.3and used machine vision to automatically characterize their phenotypic profiles, revealing homozygous essential and heterozygous behavioral phenotypes. These results provide a robust and scalable approach to rapidly generate and phenotype genome edited animals without the need for screening or scoring by eye.

Author summary

The ability to directly manipulate the genome and observe the resulting effects on the traits of an organism is a powerful approach to investigate gene function. CRISPR-based approaches to genome engineering have revolutionized such functional studies across model organisms but still face major challenges that limit the scope and complexity of projects that can be achieved in practice. Automating genome engineering and phenotyping would enable large-scale investigations of genome function in animals. Here, we describe the adaptation ofpeel-1negative selection to an optimized dual-marker selection cassette CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering method inC. elegansand combine it with automated machine vision phenotyping to achieve functional studies without the need for screening or scoring by eye. To demonstrate the applicability of the approach, we generated novel deletion alleles in two understudied genes,pbs-1andK04F10.3,and used machine vision to characterize their phenotypic profiles, revealing homozygous lethal and heterozygous behavioral phenotypes. Our results open the door to systematic investigations of genome function in this model organism.
Characterization of two novel EF-hand proteins identifies a clade of putative Ca2+-binding protein specific to the Ambulacraria
Authors: Soto-Acabá Arisnel , Ortíz-Pineda Pablo A. , García-Arrarás José E.
Published: May 2020

In recent years, transcriptomic databases have become one of the main sources for protein discovery. In our studies of nervous system and digestive tract regeneration in echinoderms, we have identified several transcripts that have attracted our attention. One of these molecules corresponds to a previously unidentified transcript (Orpin) from the sea cucumberHolothuria glaberrimathat appeared to be upregulated during intestinal regeneration. We have now identified a second highly similar sequence and analyzed the predicted proteins using bioinformatics tools. Both sequences have EF-hand motifs characteristic of calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) and N-terminal signal peptides. Sequence comparison analyses such as multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses only showed significant similarity to sequences from other echinoderms or from hemichordates. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that transcripts from these sequences are expressed in various tissues including muscle, haemal system, gonads, and mesentery. However, contrary to previous reports, there was no significant differential expression in regenerating tissues. Nonetheless, the identification of unique features in the predicted proteins suggests that these might comprise a novel subfamily of EF-hand containing proteins specific to the Ambulacraria clade.
Influence of the artificial sodium saccharin sweetener Sucram®on the microbial community composition in the rumen content and attached to the rumen epithelium in dairy cattle: A pilot study
Authors: Koester Lucas R. , Anderson Chiron J. , Cortes Bienvenido W. , Lyte Mark , Schmitz-Esser Stephan
Published: May 2020

The products of rumen microbial fermentations are considered essential for animal growth and performance. Changes in these microbial communities can have major effects on animal growth and performance. Saccharin-based artificial sweeteners can be included in livestock diets to increase palatability and encourage feed intake. Despite the importance of the rumen microbial fermentation, little or no research is available regarding how saccharin-based artificial sweeteners affect rumen content and rumen epithelial microbial communities. The aim of this study was to identify changes in both the rumen content and rumen epithelial microbial communities in response to the supplementation of Sucram®, a sodium-saccharin-based sweetener (Pancosma S.A./ADM Groups, Rolle, Switzerland) during standard, non-stress conditions using 16SrRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

The rumen epithelial and rumen content microbiota of five Holstein-Friesian milking dairy cattle were compared before (baseline, BL) and after a 28-day supplementation of Sucram®. Illumina MiSeq-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted, and community analysis revealed significant changes in the abundance of specific phylotypes when comparing BL to Sucram®experimental groups. Sucram®did not have a significant effect on overall rumen microbial community structure between experimental groups. Statistically significant changes in microbial community composition following Sucram®supplementation were observed most consistently across a number of bacterial taxa in the rumen epithelium, while fewer changes were seen in the rumen content. Predicted genomic potentials of several significantly different OTUs were mined for genes related to feed efficiency and saccharin degradation. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) classified asPrevotellaandSharpeawere significantly (p<0.05) increased in samples supplemented with Sucram®, whereas a reduction in abundance was seen for OTUs classified asTreponema,Leptospiraceae,Ruminococcusand methanogenic archaea. This is the first study to report an effect of Sucram®on ruminant microbial communities, suggesting possible beneficial impacts of Sucram®on animal health and performance that may extend beyond increasing feed palatability.
Identification of French Guiana anopheline mosquitoes by MALDI-TOF MS profiling using protein signatures from two body parts
Authors: Briolant Sébastien , de Melo Costa Monique , Nguyen Christophe , Dusfour Isabelle , de Santi Vincent Pommier , Girod Romain , Almeras Lionel
Published: May 2020

In French Guiana, the malaria, a parasitic infection transmitted byAnophelinemosquitoes, remains a disease of public health importance. To prevent malaria transmission, the main effective way remainsAnophelescontrol. For an effective control, accurateAnophelesspecies identification is indispensable to distinguish malaria vectors from non-vectors. Although, morphological and molecular methods are largely used, an innovative tool, based on protein pattern comparisons, the Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption / Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) profiling, emerged this last decade for arthropod identification. However, the limited mosquito fauna diversity of reference MS spectra remains one of the main drawback for it large usage. The aim of the present study was then to create and to share reference MS spectra for the identification of French GuianaAnophelinespecies. A total of eight distinctAnophelesspecies, among which four are malaria vectors, were collected in 6 areas. To improveAnophelesidentification, two body parts, legs and thoraxes, were independently submitted to MS for the creation of respective reference MS spectra database (DB). This study underlined that double checking by MS enhanced theAnophelesidentification confidence and rate of reliable classification. The sharing of this reference MS spectra DB should made easierAnophelesspecies monitoring in endemic malaria area to help malaria vector control or elimination programs.
Plant Co-expression Annotation Resource: a webserver for identifying targets for genetically modified crop breeding pipelines
Authors: Viana Marcos José Andrade , Zerlotini Adhemar , de Alvarenga Mudadu Mauricio
Published: May 2020

Background

The development of genetically modified crops (GM) includes the discovery of candidate genes through bioinformatics analysis using genomics data, gene expression, and others. Proteins of unknown function (PUFs) are interesting targets for GM crops breeding pipelines for the novelty associated to such targets and also to avoid copyright protections. One method of inferring the putative function of PUFs is by relating them to factors of interest such as abiotic stresses using orthology and co-expression networks, in a guilt-by-association manner.

Results

In this regard, we have downloaded, analyzed, and processed genomics data of 53 angiosperms, totaling 1,862,010 genes and 2,332,974 RNA. Diamond and InterproScan were used to discover 72,266 PUFs for all organisms. RNA-seq datasets related to abiotic stresses were downloaded from NCBI/GEO. The RNA-seq data was used as input to the LSTrAP software to construct co-expression networks. LSTrAP also created clusters of transcripts with correlated expression, whose members are more probably related to the molecular mechanisms associated to abiotic stresses in the plants. Orthologous groups were created (OrhtoMCL) using all 2,332,974 proteins in order to associate PUFs to abiotic stress related clusters of co-expression and therefore infer their function in a guilt-by-association manner.

Conclusion

A freely available web resource named “Plant Co-expression Annotation Resource” (https://www.machado.cnptia.embrapa.br/plantannot),Plantannot, was created to provide indexed queries to search for PUF putatively associated to abiotic stresses. The web interface also allows browsing, querying and retrieving of public genomics data from 53 plants. We hopePlantannotto be useful for researchers trying to obtain novel GM crops resistant to climate change hazards.
How and why plants and human N-glycans are different: Insight from molecular dynamics into the “glycoblocks” architecture of complex carbohydrates
Authors: Fogarty CA , Harbison AM , Dugdale AR , Fadda E
Published: May 2020

N-glycosylation is one of the most abundant and diverse post-translational modifications of proteins, implicated in protein folding and structural stability, and mediating interactions with receptors and with the environment. All N-glycans share a common core from which linear or branched arms stem from, with functionalization specific to different species and to the cells’ health and disease state. This diversity generates a rich collection of structures, all diversely able to trigger molecular cascades and to activate pathways, which also include adverse immunogenic responses. These events are inherently linked to the N-glycans 3D architecture and dynamics, which remain for the large part unresolved and undetected because of their intrinsic structural disorder. In this work we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to provide insight into N-glycans 3D structure by analysing the effects of a set of very specific modifications found in plants and invertebrate N-glycans, which are immunogenic in humans. We also compare these structural motifs and combine them with mammalian N-glycans motifs to devise strategies for the control of the N-glycan 3D structure through sequence. Our results suggest that the N-glycans architecture can be described in terms of the local spatial environment of groups of monosaccharides. We define these “glycoblocks” as self-contained 3D units, uniquely identified by the nature of the residues they comprise, their linkages and structural/dynamic features. This alternative description of glycans 3D architecture can potentially lead to an easier prediction of sequence-to-structure relationships in complex carbohydrates, with important implications in glycoengineering design.
Golgi-Dependent Copper Homeostasis Sustains Synaptic Development and Mitochondrial Content
Authors: Hartwig Cortnie , Macías Méndez Gretchen , Bhattacharjee Shatabdi , Vrailas-Mortimer Alysia D. , Zlatic Stephanie A. , Freeman Amanda A. H. , Gokhale Avanti , Concilli Mafalda , Savas Christie Sapp , Rudin-Rush Samantha , Palmer Laura , Shearing Nicole , Margewich Lindsey , McArthy Jacob , Taylor Savanah , Roberts Blaine , Lupashin Vladimir , Polishchuk Roman S. , Cox Daniel N. , Jorquera Ramon A. , Faundez Victor
Published: May 2020

Rare genetic diseases preponderantly affect the nervous system with phenotypes spanning from neurodegeneration to neurodevelopmental disorders. This is the case for both Menkes and Wilson disease, arising from mutations in ATP7A and ATP7B, respectively. The ATP7A and ATP7B proteins localize to the Golgi and regulate copper homeostasis. We demonstrate conserved interactions between ATP7 paralogs with the COG complex, a Golgi complex tether. Disruption ofDrosophilacopper homeostasis by ATP7 tissue-specific transgenic expression caused alterations in epidermis, catecholaminergic, sensory, and motor neurons. Prominent among neuronal phenotypes was a decreased mitochondrial content at synapses, a phenotype that paralleled with alterations of synaptic morphology, transmission, and plasticity. These neuronal and synaptic phenotypes caused by transgenic expression of ATP7 were rescued by downregulation or haploinsufficiency of COG complex subunits. We conclude that the integrity of Golgi-dependent copper homeostasis mechanisms, requiring ATP7 and COG, are necessary to maintain mitochondria functional integrity and localization to synapses.

Significance Statement

Menkes and Wilson disease affect copper homeostasis and characteristically afflict the nervous system. However, their molecular neuropathology mechanisms remain mostly unexplored. We demonstrate that copper homeostasis in neurons is maintained by two factors that localize to the Golgi apparatus, ATP7 and the COG complex. Disruption of these mechanisms affect mitochondrial function and localization to synapses as well as neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. These findings suggest a new principle of interorganelle communication whereby the Golgi apparatus and mitochondria are functionally coupled through homeostatically controlled cellular copper levels.
Chromosome-scale genome assembly ofFusarium oxysporumstrain Fo47, a fungal endophyte and biocontrol agent
Authors: Wang Bo , Yu Houlin , Jia Yanyan , Dong Quanbin , Steinberg Christian , Alabouvette Claude , Edel-Hermann Veronique , Kistler H. Corby , Ye Kai , Ma Li-Jun , Guo Li
Published: May 2020

Here, we report a chromosome-level genome assembly ofFusarium oxysporumstrain Fo47 (12 pseudomolecules; contig N50: 4.52Mb), generated using a combination of PacBio long-read, Illumina pair-ended and Hi-C sequencing data. AlthoughF. oxysporumcauses vascular wilt to over 100 plant species, the strain Fo47 is classified as an endophyte and widely used as a biocontrol agent for plant disease control. The Fo47 genome carries a single accessory chromosome of 4.23 Mb, compared to the reference genome ofF. oxysporumf.sp.lycopersicistrain Fol4287. The high-quality assembly and annotation of the Fo47 genome will be a valuable resource for studying the mechanisms underlying the endophytic interactions betweenF. oxysporumand plants, as well as deciphering the genome evolution of theF. oxysporumspecies complex.
A functional screen for optimization of short hairpin RNA biogenesis and RISC loading
Authors: Sons Robert L , Kaufmann Kyle W , Hammond Scott M
Published: May 2020

Gene silencing via short hairpin mediated RNAi (shRNA) is a valuable experimental tool and has promise as a therapeutic strategy. Several shRNA platforms make use of the loop and flanking sequences from the endogenous microRNA (miRNAs) miR-30a or other miRNAs to provide an RNA structure for efficient and accurate biogenesis of the RNA trigger. However, the stem regions of these shRNAs are typically designed as perfect duplex structures which is an uncommon feature for endogenous miRNA precursors. A limitation of these designs is that shRNAs with perfect duplex stems undergo extensive stem cleavage analogous to the Dicer independent miRNA miR-451, destroying the shRNA trigger sequence that is present in the 3P arm. We employed an unbiased screen of > 9000 shRNA structures to identify features that prevent stem cleavage and promote canonical biogenesis and loading into the effector complex RISC. We find that a central stem bulge or kink reduces central stem cleavage and improves accuracy of Dicer processing. Furthermore, 9 - 10 GC nucleotides in the guide strand improves shRNA efficiency. These design rules enable more effective shRNA tools and are compatible with existing sets of optimized guide/target sequences.
Convolutional Neural Networks for Classifying Melanoma Images
Authors: Sagar Abhinav , Jacob Dheeba
Published: May 2020

In this work, we address the problem of skin cancer classification using convolutional neural networks. A lot of cancer cases early on are misdiagnosed leading to severe consequences including the death of patient. Also there are cases in which patients have other problems and doctors interpret it as skin cancer. This leads to unnecessary time and money spent for further diagnosis. In this work, we address both of the above problems using deep neural networks and transfer learning architecture. We have used publicly available ISIC databases for both training and testing our network. Our model achieves an accuracy of 0.935, precision 0.94, recall 0.77, F1 score 0.85 and ROC-AUC 0.861 which is better than the previous state of the art approaches.
Potently neutralizing human antibodies that block SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding and protect animals
Authors: Zost Seth J. , Gilchuk Pavlo , Case James Brett , Binshtein Elad , Chen Rita E. , Reidy Joseph X. , Trivette Andrew , Nargi Rachel S. , Sutton Rachel E. , Suryadevara Naveenchandra , Williamson Lauren E. , Chen Elaine C. , Jones Taylor , Day Samuel , Myers Luke , Hassan Ahmed O. , Kafai Natasha M. , Winkler Emma S. , Fox Julie M. , Steinhardt James J. , Ren Kuishu , Loo Yueh-Ming , Kallewaard Nicole L. , Martinez David R. , Schäfer Alexandra , Gralinski Lisa E. , Baric Ralph S. , Thackray Larissa B. , Diamond Michael S. , Carnahan Robert H. , Crowe James E.
Published: May 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major threat to global health for which there are only limited medical countermeasures, and we lack a thorough understanding of mechanisms of humoral immunity1,2. From a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the spike (S) glycoprotein isolated from the B cells of infected subjects, we identified several mAbs that exhibited potent neutralizing activity with IC50values as low as 0.9 or 15 ng/mL in pseudovirus or wild-type (wt) SARS-CoV-2 neutralization tests, respectively. The most potent mAbs fully block the receptor-binding domain of S (SRBD) from interacting with human ACE2. Competition-binding, structural, and functional studies allowed clustering of the mAbs into defined classes recognizing distinct epitopes within major antigenic sites on the SRBD. Electron microscopy studies revealed that these mAbs recognize distinct conformational states of trimeric S protein. Potent neutralizing mAbs recognizing unique sites, COV2-2196 and COV2-2130, bound simultaneously to S and synergistically neutralized authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus. In two murine models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, passive transfer of either COV2-2916 or COV2-2130 alone or a combination of both mAbs protected mice from severe weight loss and reduced viral burden and inflammation in the lung. These results identify protective epitopes on the SRBDand provide a structure-based framework for rational vaccine design and the selection of robust immunotherapeutic cocktails.
Epithelial Cell-like Elasticity Modulates E-cadherin Adhesion Organization
Authors: Eftekharjoo Mohamad , Chatterji Siddharth , Maruthamuthu Venkat
Published: May 2020

E-cadherin adhesions are essential for cell-to-cell cohesion and mechanical coupling between epithelial cells and reside in a micro-environment that comprises the adjoining epithelial cells. While E-cadherin has been shown to be a mechanosensor, it is unknown if E-cadherin adhesions can differentially sense stiffness within the range of that of epithelial cells. A survey of literature shows that epithelial cells’ Young’s moduli of elasticity lie predominantly in the sub kPa to few kPa range, with cancer cells often being softer than non-cancerous ones. Here, we devised oriented E-cadherin-coated soft silicone substrates with sub kPa or few kPa elasticity, but with similar viscous moduli, and found that E-cadherin adhesions differentially organize depending on the magnitude of epithelial cell-like elasticity. Linearly shaped E-cadherin adhesions associated with radially oriented actin, but not irregularly shaped E-cadherin adhesions associated with circumferential actin foci, were much more numerous on 2.4 kPa E-cadherin substrates compared to 0.3 kPa E-cadherin substrates. However, the total amount of E-cadherin in both types of adhesions taken together was similar on the 0.3 kPa and 2.4 kPa E-cadherin substrates, across many cells. Furthermore, while the average extent of nuclear recruitment of the mechanoresponsive transcription factor YAP on the 0.3 kPa E-cadherin substrate was undiminished relative to that on the 2.4 kPa substrate, a fraction of cells on the softer substrate displayed relatively high levels of YAP nuclear recruitment. Our results show that E-cadherin adhesions can be regulated by epithelial cell-like elasticity and have significant implications for disease states like carcinomas characterized by altered epithelial cell elasticity.
Lipopolysaccharide preconditioning augments phagocytosis of malaria-parasitized red blood cells through induced bone marrow-derived macrophages in the liver, thereby increasing the murine survival afterPlasmodium yoeliiinfection
Authors: Ono Takeshi , Yamaguchi Yoko , Nakashima Hiroyuki , Nakashima Masahiro , Ishikiriyama Takuya , Seki Shuhji , Kinoshita Manabu
Published: May 2020

Malaria remains a grave concern for humans, as effective medical countermeasures for malaria infection have yet to be developed. Phagocytic clearance of parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs) by macrophages is an important front-line innate host defense against malaria infection. We previously showed that repeated injections of low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prior to bacterial infection, called LPS preconditioning, strongly augmented phagocytic/bactericidal activity in murine macrophages. However, how LPS preconditioning prevents murine malaria infection is unclear. We investigated the protective effects of LPS preconditioning against lethal murine malaria infection, focusing on CD11bhighF4/80lowliver macrophages, which are increased by LPS preconditioning. Mice were subjected to LPS preconditioning by intraperitoneal injections of low-dose LPS for 3 consecutive days, and 24 h later, they were intravenously infected with pRBCs ofPlasmodium yoelii17XL. LPS preconditioning markedly increased the murine survival and reduced parasitemia, while it did not reduce TNF secretions, only delaying the peak of plasma IFN-γ after malaria infection in mice. Anin vitrophagocytic clearance assay of pRBCs showed that the CD11bhighF4/80lowliver macrophages of the LPS-preconditioned mice had significantly augmented phagocytic activity against pRBCs. The adoptive transfer of CD11bhighF4/80lowliver macrophages from LPS-preconditioned mice to control mice significantly improved the survival after malaria infection. We conclude that LPS preconditioning stimulated CD11bhighF4/80lowliver macrophages to augment the phagocytic clearance of pRBCs, which may play a central role in resistance against malaria infection. LPS preconditioning may be an effective tool for preventing malaria infection.
Disclosure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its implications on company value as a result of the impact of corporate governance and profitability
Authors: Kamaliah Kamaliah
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of corporate governance and corporate profitability on firm value with corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure as the intervening variable.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of this study was all companies listed in the LQ 45 Index group in the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2013-2014. The inferential statistics used in this study applied the partial least square (PLS) based structural equation model (SEM) method with the assistance of SmartPLS 2.0. The PLS method was selected based on the consideration that there was a construct formed with reflective indicators in this study.

Findings

From the results of this study, it can be concluded that corporate governance does not have any effect on CSR disclosure, profitability of company has an effect on CSR disclosure, CSR disclosure has an effect on firm value. In addition, CSR disclosure does not mediate the effect of on firm value. These results showed that corporate governance can have an effect on firm value directly, and there is no role of CSR disclosure in mediating the effect of corporate governance on firm value, and profitability of company has an effect on firm value through CSR disclosure.

Originality/value

The originality of this research is on the reason that many studies that have been conducted still indicated the inconsistency in the results and diversity of the indicators, so that a similar research was conducted by involving the indicators used for measuring the corporate governance variable, which were the proportion of independent commissioners and audit committee. Meanwhile, for the profitability variable, return on assets and return on equity were used as the indicators.
In pursuit of corporate sustainability: factors contributing to employees' workplace behavior
Authors: Lee Stacy H. , Ha-Brookshire Jung E.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Achieving sustainability is imperative for all businesses but perhaps even so more in fashion retail. As a vital group of stakeholders, employees interact with all other stakeholders and play a critical role in the sustainability of an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is to investigate internal and external factors that influence employees' harmful or useful behaviors based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) of morality.

Findings

The findings show that employees' perceptions of the moral responsibility of achieving corporate sustainability both as an internal corporate ethical value and as an external factor influenced their organizational citizenship behavior, as well as their propensity toward displaying counterproductive workplace behavior. Higher quality relationships with managers were found to strengthen the relationship between corporate ethical values (CEVs) and organizational citizenship behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

The objective of this study focused exclusively on the US fashion retail employees. Therefore, it is suggested that future research compares the cultural influences on employees as related to the moral responsibility of corporate sustainability.

Originality/value

This study is one of few studies which have explored the level of employees' perceived moral responsibility toward the notion of how corporate sustainability should be accomplished.
How outward investment from emerging markets affects economic development at home: using the eclectic paradigm to synthesize two IB literatures
Authors: Hendriks Guus
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to use the eclectic paradigm as a broad organizing framework to bring together two somewhat parallel international business (IB) literatures, one on the development effects of multinational enterprise activity and the other on the internationalization of emerging market multinationals (EMNEs). The author does so to better understand how outward foreign investment shapes economic development in firms’ home countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering that the characteristics of foreign investment by EMNEs likely differ from that of their developed economy counterparts and that such characteristics may have unique development consequences, the author revisits one of IB’s overarching theories to rethink how ownership, location and internalization advantages take shape and stimulate diverse development outcomes.

Findings

My narrative review and conceptual analysis indicate that the eclectic paradigm is a valuable framework that can be used to shed light on underexplored phenomena and thereby inform important policy debates. The analysis suggests that unique characteristics of EMNE investment simultaneously have positive and negative development consequences in their home countries.

Practical implications

The author sets out a research agenda that revolves around six propositions that separately relate one of these three distinct characteristics of EMNE investment to two development outcomes, namely, spillovers and direct effects on home-country employment. My propositions suggest that important policy dilemmas potentially apply, in that each of the three characteristics positively affects one of the aspects of development, but negatively the other.

Originality/value

My research agenda presents international business scholars with new opportunities to build on a history of policymaking impact, now geared toward resolving society’s grand challenge of underdevelopment.
Spatial variation in diet–microbe associations across populations of a generalist North American carnivore
Authors: Colborn A. Shawn , Kuntze Corbin C. , Gadsden Gabriel I. , Harris Nyeema C.
Published: May 2020

Generalist species, by definition, exhibit variation in niche attributes that promote survival in changing environments. Increasingly, phenotypes previously associated with a species, particularly those with wide or expanding ranges, are dissolving and compelling greater emphasis on population‐level characteristics.

In the present study, we assessed spatial variation in diet characteristics, gut microbiome and associations between these two ecological traits across populations of coyotes Canis latrans. We highlight the influence of the carnivore community in shaping these relationships, as the coyote varied from being an apex predator to a subordinate, mesopredator across sampled populations.

We implemented a scat survey across three distinct coyote populations in Michigan, USA. We used carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic values to reflect consumption patterns and trophic level, respectively. Corresponding samples were also paired with 16S rRNA sequencing to describe the microbial community and correlate with isotopic values.

Although consumption patterns were comparable, we found spatial variation in trophic level among coyote populations. Specifically, δ15N was highest where coyotes were the apex predator and lowest where coyotes co‐occurred with grey wolves Canis lupus.

The gut microbial community exhibited marked spatial variation across populations with the lowest operational taxonomic units diversity found where coyotes occurred at their lowest trophic level. Bacteriodes and Fusobacterium dominated the microbiome and were positively correlated across all populations. We found no correlation between δ13C and microbial community attributes. However, positive associations between δ15N and specific microbial genera increased as coyotes ascended trophic levels.

Coyotes provide a model for exploring implications of niche plasticity because they are a highly adaptable, wide‐ranging omnivore. As coyotes continue to vary in trophic position and expand their geographic range, we might expect increased divergence within their microbial community, changes in physiology and alterations in behaviour.
Scented nectar and the challenge of measuring honest signals in pollination
Authors: Burdon Rosalie C. F. , Raguso Robert A. , Gegear Robert J. , Pierce Ellen C. , Kessler André , Parachnowitsch Amy L.
Published: May 2020

Nectar scents are thought to function as honest signals of reward used by pollinators, but this hypothesis has rarely been tested.

Using Penstemon digitalis, we examined honest signalling of the nectar volatile (S)‐(+)‐linalool and pollinator responses to linalool in both field and laboratory settings. Because our previous work showed that linalool emission was associated with higher female fitness and that nectar is scented with linalool, we hypothesized that linalool was an honest signal of nectar reward. To assess honesty, we measured linalool–nectar associations including nectar volume, sugar amount, concentration and production rate for inflorescences and flowers in several populations. We also assessed whether Bombus impatiens, the main pollinator of P. digitalis at our sites, can use linalool as a foraging signal. We supplemented real or artificial flowers in the field and laboratory with varying linalool–nectar combinations to measure pollinator behavioural responses.

We found that an inflorescence's linalool emissions could be used to predict nectar rewards in P. digitalis, but this was driven by indirect associations with display size rather than directly advertising more profitable flowers. For flowers within inflorescences there was also no evidence for an association between signal and reward. Field tests of bumblebee behaviour were inconclusive. However, in laboratory assays, bumblebees generally used variation in linalool emissions to choose more profitable flowers, demonstrating they can detect differences in linalool emitted by P. digitalis and associate them with reward profitability. These results suggest experiments that decouple display size, scent and reward are necessary to assess whether (and when) bees prefer higher linalool emissions. Bees preferred nectars with lower linalool concentrations when linalool flavoured the nectar solution, suggesting the potential for conflicting pressures on scent emission in the field.

Synthesis. Our results highlight the challenges of assessing function for traits important to fitness and suggest that the perception of floral signalling honesty may depend on whether pollinators use inflorescences or flowers within inflorescences when making foraging decisions. We conclude that future research on honest signalling in flowering plants, as well as its connection to phenotypic selection, should explicitly define honesty, in theoretical and experimental contexts.
Community‐level direct and indirect impacts of an invasive plant favour exotic over native species
Authors: Allen Warwick J. , Wainer Ralph , Tylianakis Jason M. , Barratt Barbara I. P. , Shadbolt Marcus‐Rongowhitiao , Waller Lauren P. , Dickie Ian A.
Published: May 2020

Indirect interactions mediated by shared enemies or mutualists (i.e. apparent competition) can influence whether invasive plants harm or benefit co‐occurring species. However, studies to date have largely examined single pairwise interactions, limiting our understanding of the interplay among different types of interactions and whether indirect impacts systematically favour native or exotic species. Predicting indirect interaction strength has also proven challenging, and it remains unclear whether the strengths of different indirect interactions are correlated.

We conducted a field experiment in a grassland invaded by Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius to compare the strength of its indirect impacts, via both soil fungi and herbivores, on 21 native and exotic legume species growing in pots buried in the ground. Direct interactions of plants with soil fungi were controlled using nylon mesh pot windows of differing porosity (1 or 38 µm) to prevent or allow soil fungi hyphal growth. Arthropod herbivores were controlled through spraying pyrethrum pesticide. To assess indirect impacts, interactions were compared between plants adjacent to or 50 m away from an extensive Scotch broom invasion. We measured plant performance (survival, height and biomass), arthropod and hare herbivory, and rhizobia nodulation.

Despite increasing arthropod herbivory of both native and exotic plant species, Scotch broom had a net positive impact on their survival and growth, through sheltering them from abiotic stress, and indirectly via beneficial soil fungi and release from hare browsing. Soil fungi also increased arthropod herbivory, decreased rhizobia nodulation and disproportionately promoted the growth of exotic plants. Overall, exotic plants experienced stronger interactions, which favoured them with beneficial soil fungi and rhizobia but not hare browsing. Finally, indirect interaction strength was not correlated among indirect interactions mediated by different interaction partners.

Synthesis. We demonstrate that invaders affect their competitors through multiple interacting indirect pathways that were stronger than direct ‘nurse plant’ effects, emphasizing the importance of a community‐level approach to studying biological invasions. Exotic species experienced stronger positive and negative impacts than natives, but were facilitated overall, potentially contributing to exotic dominance in communities.
Scale dependence of ecological assembly rules: Insights from empirical datasets and joint species distribution modelling
Authors: Mod Heidi K. , Chevalier Mathieu , Luoto Miska , Guisan Antoine
Published: May 2020

A comprehensive understanding of the scale dependency of environmental filtering and biotic interactions influencing the local assembly of species is paramount to derive realistic forecasts of the future of biodiversity and efficiently manage ecological communities. A classical assumption is that environmental filters are more prevalent at coarser scales with diminishing effects towards the finest scales where biotic interactions become more decisive. Recently, a refinement was proposed stipulating that the scale dependency of biotic interactions should relate to the type of interaction. Specifically, the effect of negative interactions (e.g. competition) should diminish with coarsening scale, whereas positive interactions (i.e. facilitation) should be detected irrespective of the scale.

We use multiple vascular plant species datasets sampled at nested spatial scales (plot size varying from 0.04 to 64 m2) and recently developed joint species distribution models to test the hypotheses.

Our analyses indicate slightly stronger environmental filtering with increasing plot size. While the overall strength of biotic interactions did not vary consistently across scales, we found a tendency for negative interactions to fade away with increasing plot size slightly more than positive interactions.

Synthesis. We provide partial, but not unambiguous, evidence of the scale dependency of ecological assembly rules. However, our correlative methodology only allows us to interpret the findings as indication of environmental filtering and biotic interactions.
Marketing efficiency and determinants of marketing channel choice by rice farmers in rural Tanzania: Evidence from Mbeya region, Tanzania
Authors: Mgale Yohana James , Yunxian Yan
Published: May 2020

Rice production is an increasing source of income and food security for smallholder farmers in many parts of Tanzania. Improving market access for rice farmers is essential to raise rural incomes and reduce poverty. This paper aims to determine the most efficient rice marketing channel and analyse the factors affecting marketing channel choices by smallholder rice farmers. Marketing efficiency was tested using Acharya and Aggarwal's composite index method. A multinomial logit model was used to analyse the marketing channel choices. The results showed that the miller–wholesaler marketing channel is the most efficient. The results show that most farmers in rural areas still sell their rice to local collectors because of failure, fear or inability by farmers to venture out of the farm gate into the markets. The findings suggest that there is a need to improve rural infrastructure, market information systems, smallholder access to productive assets, prudent use of credit and strengthening collective action through well‐organised farmer groups in the country.
‘What research was carried out on this vaginal mesh?’ Health‐related concerns in women following mesh‐augmented prolapse surgery: a thematic analysis
Authors: Izett‐Kay ML , Lumb C , Cartwright R , Kupelian AS , Cutner AS , Jackson S , Price N , Vashisht A
Published: May 2020

Objective

To understand health‐related issues in women following mesh‐augmented prolapse surgery.

Design

Inductive thematic analysis of free‐text comments from participants in a cross‐sectional study of laparoscopic mesh sacrohysteropexy.

Setting

Tertiary urogynaecology centres, United Kingdom.

Population

Women who underwent laparoscopic mesh sacrohysteropexy by surgeons based at two tertiary urogynaecology centres between 2010 and 2018.

Methods

A total of 1766 potential participants were contacted by post and invited to complete paper, online or telephone questionnaires containing a free‐text comments section. Of 1121 participants (response proportion 63.5%), 752 (67.1%) provided such comments. These were analysed with a six‐stage inductive thematic analysis, using NVivo 11® software.

Main outcome measures

Themes developed from free‐text comments.

Results

Following familiarisation, 29 codes and 189 sub‐codes were identified. These defined six themes: pelvic floor symptoms, health status, treatment success, mesh, pain and care received. The majority of comments centred on the first of these six themes. There were concerns about mesh use and a desire for more information. A range of pain symptoms were mentioned, often associated with pelvic floor symptoms, prolapse surgery or mesh.

Conclusions

Despite the mesh controversy, pelvic floor symptoms and their impact on quality of life remain the principle concern of women following mesh‐augmented prolapse surgery. There is a need for quality, accessible and evidence‐based information sources for those women with concerns, and for those considering such surgery in the future, particularly regarding mesh safety and postoperative recovery. The relationships between pain, prolapse, mesh and pelvic floor surgery require further study.

Tweetable abstract

Following mesh‐augmented prolapse surgery, pelvic floor symptoms remain women’s main focus; pain deserves further research.
A chromosome‐scale genome assembly of Antheraea pernyi (Saturniidae, Lepidoptera)
Authors: Duan Jianping , Li Ying , Du Jie , Duan Erzhen , Lei Yuyu , Liang Shimei , Zhang Xian , Zhao Xin , Kan Yunchao , Yao Lunguang , Yang Xinfeng , Zhang Xingtan , Wu Xiangwei
Published: May 2020

Antheraea pernyi is a semi‐domesticated lepidopteran insect species valuable to the silk industry, human health, and ecological tourism. Owing to its economic influence and developmental properties, it serves as an ideal model for investigating divergence of the Bombycoidea super family. However, studies on the karyotype evolution and functional genomics of A. pernyi are limited by scarce genomic resource. Here, we applied PacBio sequencing and chromosome structure capture technique to assemble the first high‐quality A. pernyi genome from a single male individual. The genome is 720.67 Mb long with 49 chromosomes and a 13.77‐Mb scaffold N50. Approximately 441.75 Mb, accounting for 60.74% of the genome, was identified as repeats. The genome comprises 21,431 protein‐coding genes, 85.22% of which were functionally annotated. Comparative genomics analysis suggested that A. pernyi diverged from its common ancestor with A. yamamai ~30.3 million years ago, and that chromosome fission contributed to the increased chromosome number. The genome assembled in this work will not only facilitate future research on A. pernyi and related species but also help to progress comparative genomics analyses in Lepidoptera.