bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building an RNA switch-based selection system for enzyme evolution in yeast
Authors: Kong Deze , Smolke Christina
Published: June 2022

Recent advances in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering have enabled yeast as a favorable platform for synthesis of valuable natural and semi-synthetic compounds through expression of multiple heterologous enzymes sourced from plants, fungi and bacteria. However, these heterologous enzymes can suffer from low activity, specificity, stability and solubility in yeast, resulting in arduous iterations of design-build-test-learn cycles to optimize their production often performed on a single enzyme basis. Laboratory directed evolution has proven to be a powerful and high-throughput method for protein engineering, albeit its limited application for biosynthetic enzymes. Here, we harness small molecule-sensing, RNA-based switches to develop a generalizable selection system facilitating enzyme evolution. Our design utilizes an RNA-based switch for detection of intracellular compound production, which then regulates the expression of a selection gene. Our initial data shows that the auxotrophy selection gene SpHIS5 exhibits the highest selective capability in combination with a theophylline-responsive RNA-based switch. Using the theophylline-responsive RNA-based switch, we demonstrated the enrichment of a high-producing variant of caffeine demethylase, in a population size of 103. We target to demonstrate the use of this RNA-based selection system as a general approach for enzyme evolution.
GWAS identifies candidate genes controlling adventitious rooting in Populus trichocarpa
Authors: Nagle Michael F. , Yuan Jialin , Kaur Damanpreet , Ma Cathleen , Peremyslova Ekaterina , Jiang Yuan , Willig Christopher J. , Goralogia Greg S. , de Rivera Alexa Niño , McEldowney Megan , Goddard Amanda , Magnuson Anna , Muchero Wellington , Fuxin Li , Strauss Steven H.
Published: June 2022

Adventitious rooting is critical to the propagation, breeding, and genetic engineering or editing of trees. The capacity for plants to undergo these processes is highly heritable; however, the basis of its genetic variation is largely uncharacterized. To identify genetic regulators of these processes, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using 1,148 genotypes of Populus trichocarpa. GWAS are often limited by the abilities of researchers to collect precise phenotype data on a high-throughput scale; to help overcome this limitation, we developed a computer vision system to measure an array of traits related to adventitious root development in poplar, including temporal measures of lateral and basal root length and area. GWAS was performed using multiple methods and significance thresholds to handle non-normal phenotype statistics, and to gain statistical power. These analyses yielded a total of 277 unique associations, suggesting that genes that control rooting include regulators of hormone signaling, cell division and structure, and reactive oxygen species signaling. Genes related to other processes with known roles in root development, and numerous genes with uncharacterized functions and/or cryptic roles, were also identified. These candidates provide targets for functional analysis, including physiological and epistatic analyses, to better characterize the complex polygenic regulation of adventitious rooting.
Highly effective removal of formaldehyde from aqueous solution using mesoporous ɛ-MnO2 crystals at room temperature
Authors: Liu Xuan , Wu Jialin , Li Qiang , Wu Zhaojun , Zhang Jianbin
Published: June 2022

Without additional templating agent or surfactant, porous and sparse MnCO3 was synthesized hydrothermally from Mn2+ with a CO2-storage material (CO2SM). Through thermal decomposition of the as-synthesized MnCO3, ɛ-MnO2 crystals with good catalytic performance and stability in HCHO degradation were prepared. The optimum preparation conditions were determined by tuning the preparation conditions and carrying out response surface studies, and the resulting ɛ-MnO2 crystals could degrade 66.1% of a 10 ml 10 mg l−1 HCHO solution. After the HCHO degradation conditions were optimized, the thermodynamic data could be fitted with the Langmuir isotherm and quasi-secondary kinetic models at T = 25–50°C. The degradation mechanism of HCHO is discussed. This work provides a new strategy for the degradation of HCHO at room temperature.
LaueNN: neural-network-based hkl recognition of Laue spots and its application to polycrystalline materials
Authors: Purushottam Raj Purohit Ravi Raj Purohit , Tardif Samuel , Castelnau Olivier , Eymery Joel , Guinebretière René , Robach Odile , Ors Taylan , Micha Jean-Sébastien
Published: June 2022

A feed-forward neural-network-based model is presented to index, in real time, the diffraction spots recorded during synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction experiments. Data dimensionality reduction is applied to extract physical 1D features from the 2D X-ray diffraction Laue images, thereby making it possible to train a neural network on the fly for any crystal system. The capabilities of the LaueNN model are illustrated through three examples: a two-phase nanostructure, a textured high-symmetry specimen deformed in situ and a polycrystalline low-symmetry material. This work provides a novel way to efficiently index Laue spots in simple and complex recorded images in <1 s, thereby opening up avenues for the realization of real-time analysis of synchrotron Laue diffraction data.
Influence of cryogenic impacting and succeeding annealing on electrochemical corrosion behavior of coarse-grain Cu bulk in sodium chloride solution
Authors: Zhu Jun , Luo Wei , Xv Wentao , Xv Shuigen , Zhang XinYang , Zhao Jiefang
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to study the electrochemical corrosion performance of ultrafine-grained (UFG) Cu bulk in 0.5 M NaCl solution.

Design/methodology/approach

UFG Cu bulk were prepared by impacting at −196°C and following heat treatment. The electrochemical corrosion behaviors of coarse-grained (CG), impacted and subsequently annealed at 190°C Cu bulks were studied.

Findings

All the bulks displayed typical active-passive-transpassive behaviors (dual passive films without stable passive regions). The resistance to corrosion of impacted Cu bulk was notably superior to that of CG Cu bulk, and subsequently annealing further improved its corrosion resistance.

Social implications

Except for mechanical properties, corrosion performance has been considered to be one of the most important aspects in bulk UFG metallic materials research for the prospective engineering applications.

Originality/value

Cryogenic impacting could effectively reduce grain size of CG Cu bulk to UFG scale and induce high density dislocation. Subsequent annealing resulted in a further decrease of grain size even to nanoscale, as well as nanometer twins. The grain refinement, high density dislocation and annealing twins effectively enhance the passivation capability, resulting in an increase in the corrosion resistance.
Attitude control and laser link acquisition strategy for a large-scale distributed satellite system with super long distance
Authors: Han Yaquan , Wang Jihe , Huang Haifeng , Sun Jun , Sun Yue
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to establish the laser links between satellites among large-scale distributed satellite systems; a combined attitude control strategy containing two stages is proposed in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

These two stages are: one is the attitude initial pointing control to change the attitude of satellite pointing to the other satellite based on the position information of each satellite; the other one is the high precision attitude tracking control to scan the uncertainty cone because the initial pointing control accuracy is not enough to establish the laser link. At the initial pointing control stage, a method to determine the target attitude of each satellite is presented based on the position information of each satellite, and the fuzzy adaptive control algorithm is used to control the satellites to its calculated attitude. Then, at the high precision attitude tracking control stage, a strategy for laser link acquisition and scanning the uncertainty cone by the lasers of the spacecraft is proposed, and an angular velocity tracking scanning controller is designed while the convergence of the attitude tracking error is ensured through Lyapunov–Krasovskii theory.

Findings

Simulations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm, and the laser link for a large-scale distributed satellite system with super long distance is achieved through a combined attitude control strategy.

Research limitations/implications

A combined attitude control strategy is valid for a large-scale distributed satellite system with super long distance.

Practical implications

A combined attitude control strategy can be used to achieve laser link acquisition for a large-scale distributed satellite system like space gravitational wave detection.

Originality/value

A combined attitude control strategy can provide a way to solve the typical problem that pointing control accuracy is not enough to establish the laser link for a large-scale distributed satellite system.
The effect of social support on job performance through organizational commitment and innovative work behavior: does innovative climate matter?
Authors: Vuong Bui Nhat , Tushar Hasanuzzaman , Hossain Syed Far Abid
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of social support (SS) on job performance (JP) through the mediating role of organizational commitment (OC) and innovative work behavior (IWB) as well as the moderating role of innovative climate (IC).

Design/methodology/approach

The present research used a self-report questionnaire from a sample of 694 full-time employees in the Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test studied hypotheses.

Findings

The findings revealed that a high level of social support at work could enhance employees’ job performance. The findings also indicated that this positive relationship was partially mediated by organizational commitment and innovative work behavior. Besides, an innovative climate strengthened the positive association between social support and innovative work behavior.

Practical implications

The result of this study provides practical implications for the contemporary human resource (HR) management practice and policy in organizations. Organizations may have an enduring HR policy to strengthen robust social support to enhance employees’ job performance at work.

Originality/value

Perhaps, the largest benefit of this research is that the research provided statistical evidence of the relational values between a system of variables to add to the limited academic literature available on the subject. While plenty of literature suggested that social support played a crucial role in organizational commitment, innovative work behavior, and job performance, the researchers failed to determine if a moderating role of innovative climate existed between social support and innovative work behavior. This study filled the gap in literature by introducing that a moderation exists of IC between SS and IWB instead of using SS and IWB as separate factors.
Evaluating water sorption isotherms, drying kinetics and exergy performance of traditionally earth mortar drying system based on hybrid solar-electrical dryer
Authors: Kouhila Mounir , Bahammou Younes , Lamsyehe Hamza , Tagnamas Zakaria , Moussaoui Haytem , Idlimam Ali , Lamharrar Abdelkader
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The paper aims to evaluate drying performance of earth mortar by solar drying for more durability, minimize pathologies in traditional construction and determine the influence of temperature and humidity on the microstructure of earth mortar using static gravimetric method.

Design/methodology/approach

A convective solar dryer was used for the pretreatment of building and solid materials for construction.

Findings

The humidity influences the mortar sorption – surface water sorption of earth mortar increased with increasing temperature.

Originality/value

The study used a novel method for pretreatment building materials by using solar dryer.
Effect of leadership and quality culture on quality management practices and operational performance of construction companies in Oman
Authors: Khalfan Issa , Jamaluddin Zaharuzaman , Widyarto Setyawan
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Construction companies play a vital role in the development of any country. The objective of the study is to evaluate the influence of leadership and quality culture (QC) on quality management (QM) practices and operational performance (OP).

Design/methodology/approach

The questionnaire method was used to collect raw data from 325 construction companies in Oman. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to evaluate the measurement, model reliability and validity. The relationship between the latent constructs was investigated by Partial Least Square – Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The findings indicate that, leadership significantly affected QM practices and OP. Moreover, while the QC has significantly influenced QM practices, QC had not influenced OP. One reason is the lack of knowledge of the employee that the quality procedures have the power to reduce rework, waste, and decrease the project's period. And the study found that the QM practices have significantly influenced OP.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this research is that some construction companies have no quality assurance leaders in the project; therefore, the questionnaires were circulated to project managers or project management leaders and that negatively affect the quality of data collecting from the responses. Eventually, the framework is considered to be the main contribution and is recommended for usage in the project. This study gives guidelines for leadership and leadership's accountabilities to provide a keen decision that to improve OP and to ensure the competence of employees.

Originality/value

The limitation of this research is that some construction companies have no quality assurance leaders in the project and so the questionnaires were circulated to project managers or project management leaders, which could influence the value of the responses. Eventually, the framework appeared to be the main contribution to awareness and is recommended for use to ensure a successful construction project in both the public and private sectors. The current study lays out some relevant roles for leadership and its accountabilities to provide a keen decision to improve OP and to ensure the competence of employees.
Class or individual habitus? Willingness to spend more on reconciliation policies in Europe
Authors: Doblytė Sigita , Tejero Aroa
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Public willingness to pay for extra public benefits and services may demonstrate a tension between the common good (more services) and economic motives (higher taxes for all). In this article, the authors present an analysis of this trade-off by drawing upon the Bourdieusian theory of social reproduction and habitus.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing the European Social Survey (2016), the authors first examine the patterns of relationships between the agents' position in the social structure and their attitudes across care regimes in Europe. The authors then analyse whether this link is mediated by agents' individual trajectories and dispositions, such as their beliefs towards equality or tradition, political orientation, or religiosity.

Findings

The findings support the importance of both sociation and individuation in habitus formation, albeit to varying degrees across the regimes. Individual attitudes are therefore shaped not only by interests of reproducing or maximising social positions but also by more reflexive propensities to think about the common good.

Originality/value

In this article, the authors draw upon the theory of social reproduction and habitus by Pierre Bourdieu, who has been thus far rarely employed in the study of welfare attitudes. The article also contributes to the literature that studies the trade-off between the expansion and financing of reconciliation policies.
Influence of COVID-19 on student campus ratings: a sentiment analysis
Authors: Chou Shih Yung , Luo Jiaxi , Ramser Charles
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Given the disruption of the COIVD-19 pandemic in higher education, this study seeks to understand possible changes in students’ ratings and textual reviews of higher education institutions posted on Niche College Rankings (niche.com) prior to and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized a text analytics technique to identify the positive and negative keywords of students’ sentiments expressed in their textual reviews provided on niche.com. After identifying the positive and negative sentimental keywords, this study performed ordinal logistic regressions and analyzed the statistical effects of these positive and negative sentimental keywords on the types of student ratings of a higher education institution.

Findings

Results from 15,666 online reviews provided by students on niche.com indicate the following. First, eight positive sentimental keywords such as “outstanding” and “love” have a significant impact on students’ positive ratings of a higher education institution prior to COVID-19, whereas eight positive sentimental keywords such as “amazing” and helpful” have a significant impact on students’ positive ratings of a higher education institution after COVID-19. Second, twenty-eight negative sentimental keywords such as “difficult” and “frustrating” have a significant impact on students’ negative ratings of a higher education institution prior to COVID-19, whereas thirty negative sentimental keywords such as “complex” and “hate” have a significant impact on student negative ratings of a higher education institution after COVID-19.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first few studies investigating higher education institution ratings and reviews provided by students. Additionally, this study provides an understanding of student positive and negative sentiments expressed in textual reviews posted prior to and after the COVID-19 pandemic. By doing so, this study provides a basis for future research seeking to understand student textual reviews of higher education institutions. Additionally, this study offers higher education administrators some recommendations that may foster student positive campus experience while minimizing negative sentiments.
Caught in the spider's web: an investigation of dysfunctional behavioural patterns in a family firm
Authors: Ferrari Filippo
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Drawing on the theory of goal systems applied to family business this case study focuses on the interdependence between non-economic goals and family goals, in order to identify if and how achieving non-economic goals generates dysfunctional behavioural patterns for family members in the long term.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an inductive, 20-year longitudinal case-study based methodology.

Findings

This case study shows how the business family faces ethical/affective dimensions, struggling every day for a balance and often undermining the legitimisation and differentiation of its children. Findings show that the achievement of non-economic goals can occur to the detriment of family goals, such as by generating a dysfunctional system, specifically in business family adaptability.

Research limitations/implications

The principal limitation is that this single case study evidently does not allow for complete generalization of the findings.

Practical implications

This case study makes a contribution to alerting the family business system to the long-term risk they face in trying to simultaneously maintain both harmony/cohesion and ethics/responsibility. Practitioners and consultants are therefore called on to help family firm owners with adopting a strategic vision by considering possible long-term counterfinal (i.e. mutually incompatible) goals.

Social implications

SMEs are the most widespread type of firm in the world, and consequently dysfunctional behavioural patterns within business families represent a prominent socio-economical problem for policy makers and institutions.

Originality/value

This study shows that, in the long term, that which is perceived to be a desirable goal can transpire to be a dysfunctional pattern. In doing so, this research introduces a new point of view to the literature on goal systems in family business.
Educational leaders' coping with loneliness: the unique perspective of school principals and vice-principals
Authors: Dor-haim Peleg
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore school principals' and vice-principals' perceptions of their strategies of coping with loneliness at work. The study posed two questions: (1) how do educational leaders perceive their strategies of coping with loneliness at work? (2) What are the differences in the style of coping with loneliness between school principals and vice-principals, as they perceive it?

Design/methodology/approach

Based on 41 semi-structured interviews with 22 school principals and 19 vice-principals three main coping strategies were found.

Findings

This study differentiated between three strategies for coping with a sense of loneliness in the workplace: (1) receiving support from within and outside of the school, (2) action-oriented coping strategy, and (3) perspective-focused coping strategy. Some of these strategies characterized school principals while others characterized vice-principals.

Practical implications

Educational leaders' familiarity with a variety of coping strategies with a sense of loneliness, appropriate to their specific difficulty should be expanded.

Originality/value

The issue of coping with loneliness has barely been explored in the context of leaders and managers. This issue is of particular importance, given the negative effects of loneliness on leaders' mental well-being and their functioning at work.
The PropTech investors' dilemma – What are the key success factors that secure survival?
Authors: Kassner Andreas Joel , Cajias Marcelo , Zhu Bing
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The real estate industry is known as a late adopter when it comes to changes and innovations. While the industry is slowly evolving, parts of the sector are increasingly being conquered by property-related start-ups, known as “PropTechs”. These companies offer solutions and cutting-edge technologies to increase efficiencies and solve industry-wide problems. However, little is known about these companies' survival. This paper analyses the survival rate of PropTech firms and the determinants.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 1,052 firms, factors that influence the firms' survival rate are analysed using the Cox Proportional Hazards Model, which is expanded with non-linear splines to capture turning points in the survival.

Findings

The authors find that in addition to the size, financing condition plays the most critical role in the success of Prop-Tech firms, including the number of financing rounds and maximum number of investors over lifetime. Moreover, the relationships are non-linear. Founding years and technology focus can also statistically influence the success rate. Companies founded before 2008 focussing on Sustainability Technology, Data and Business Analytics, Real Estate-related FinTech and Visualisation show the highest success rates.

Practical implications

The results are critical for investors interested in PropTechs to understand the success of their investments better. The importance of financing conditions shows that both investors and PropTechs may benefit from better financing processes that provide funds in a timelier manner.

Originality/value

The authors exploit a new and comprehensive data set that includes over 6,000 PropTechs globally. The authors' study fills in the literature gap on the determinants of the survival rate of PropTechs.
Business against violence: assessing how business impacts peace
Authors: Katsos John , Forrer John
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to advance theory on business in conflict zones (often termed “business for peace”) so as to enable the categorization of empirical work testing the field’s assertions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this conceptual paper, the authors present an assessment framework for categorizing research on the peace impacts of business entities, as suggested by Oetzel et al. (2009). This framework allows researchers to make comparisons across methodologies and fields on whether particular business actions contribute to peace.

Findings

Drawing on peace and conflict research, this study proposes a three-stage process in response to the presence of violence and its level of intensity, identify applicable research methods to assess the impact of business actions on peace at each of the three stages and offer suggestions for future research.

Social implications

Categorizing research impacts in the business for peace field will allow societal actors to evaluate the efficacy of claimed business for peace efforts. This is particularly true for those in within international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who work with the private sector and for those in the private sector whose work attempts to enhance peace.

Originality/value

As a societal actor, business has a key role to play in peacemaking. The past decade has seen a proliferation of qualitative research work surrounding this theme. In a seminal work, Oetzel et al. (2009) suggested a research framework building on the theories of Fort and Schipani (2004) and suggested five actions that businesses could take to promote peace. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one to respond to that suggestion by proposing a means of categorizing the impacts of business actions.
Advances of genetic engineering in streptococci and enterococci
Authors: Kurushima Jun , Tomita Haruyoshi
Published: June 2022

In the post‐genome era, reverse genetic engineering is an indispensable methodology for experimental molecular biology to provide a deeper understanding of the principal relationship between genomic features and biological phenotypes. Technically, genetic engineering is carried out through allele replacement of a target genomic locus with a designed nucleotide sequence, so called site‐directed mutagenesis. To artificially manipulate allele replacement through homologous recombination, researchers have improved various methodologies that are optimized to the bacterial species of interest. Here, we review widely used genetic engineering technologies, particularly for streptococci and enterococci, and recent advances that enable more effective and flexible manipulation. The development of genetic engineering has been promoted by synthetic biology approaches based on basic biological knowledge of horizontal gene transfer systems, such as natural conjugative transfer, natural transformation, and the CRISPR/Cas system. Therefore, this review also describes basic insights into molecular biology that underlie improvements in genetic engineering technology.
Drivers of Global Banking Stability in Times of Crisis: The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Li Teng , Trinh Vu Quang , Elnahass Marwa
Published: June 2022

This study examines the effect of environmental and social (ES) activities on global banking stability in the shadow of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Using a sample of 244 commercial banks across 52 countries from 2002 to 2020, we provide evidence that during the global health crisis, banks with higher levels of ES activities are more financially stable (i.e. lower credit and liquidity risk exposures). Drawing on social capital and stakeholder theories, we find that ES activities increase firm‐level social capital and establish a stakeholder‐centred culture within a bank, strengthening social trust and public confidence in the bank's risk oversight. Accordingly, ES activities constrain excessive and aggressive bank risk‐taking during turbulent times when short‐termism prevails. Our additional analysis reveals that investors value such beneficial effects of ES activities. The findings offer new insights into the increasingly significant roles of social capital creation and stakeholder‐centred culture in maintaining banks’ financial stability.
Clinical parameters of therapeutic apheresis induction in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis patients with rapid progressive interstitial lung disease
Authors: Kagitani Maki , Nomi Hayahito , Azuma Haruhito
Published: June 2022

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to clarify the clinical parameters of therapeutic apheresis (TA) induction in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis patients with rapid progressive interstitial lung disease.

Methods

Literature publications prior to November 2021 from PubMed and Ichushi‐Web were used. We collected details of TA and clinical features. The data were divided into two groups determined by the outcome, survived and deceased. Then, we estimated clinical parameters between them.

Results

There were 151 cases, 134 of which had reported outcomes and 64 of which were positive for the anti‐MDA5 antibody. Eighty patients survived. Forty‐eight patients were treated with plasma exchange and 34 with polymyxin‐B immobilized fibers direct hemoperfusion. Regarding clinical parameters, only the PaO2 to FiO2 (P/F) ratio was useful. The cut‐off point of the P/F ratio was 174 on the ROC curve.

Conclusion

The parameter for induction is considered when the P/F ratio is lower than 200.
Selection of minimally invasive surgical approaches for treating esophageal cancer
Authors: Lee Yu‐Kwang , Chen Ke‐Cheng , Huang Pei‐Ming , Kuo Shuenn‐Wen , Lin Mong‐Wei , Lee Jang‐Ming
Published: June 2022

Minimally invasive esophagectomy has gradually been accepted as an active treatment option for surgery of esophageal cancer. However, there is no consensus about how to perform the procedures in the thoracic and abdominal phase including anastomosis in the neck (McKeown) or chest (Ivor Lewis), VATS, robotic‐assisted or reduced port approaches or various endoscopic abrasion techniques. Further studies to investigate the roles of these novel techniques are required to treat the various patient populations.
Real earnings management: A review of the international literature
Authors: Habib Ahsan , Ranasinghe Dinithi , Wu Julia Yonghua , Biswas Pallab Kumar , Ahmad Fawad
Published: June 2022

We provide a systematic literature review of the determinants and consequences of real earnings management (REM) in an international context. We provide a theoretical framework for REM, the development of REM measures, and review the determinants of REM, categorising these into financial reporting, auditing, governance and controls, capital market incentives, and regulatory determinants. We then review the empirical literature on the consequences of REM. We provide some suggestions for future research on measurement issues related to REM, and on filling gaps in the empirical research investigating its determinants and consequences.
Difference of opinion among investors versus analysts
Authors: Cao Zhiqi , Wu Wenfeng
Published: June 2022

We construct an investor‐based measure of differences of opinion (DO) to investigate the different implications of DO between retail investors (DOR), institutional investors (DOI), and analysts (DOA) on asset pricing. Using Chinese stock data, we find that three DO measures (DOR, DOI, and DOI) are negatively related to future returns; DOI’s ability to predict returns can be partly explained by DOR and DOA, whereas DOR contains incremental information not available from DOI and DOA. DOR is more strongly associated with the severe overvaluation caused by retail investors’ optimism than DOI or DOA, emphasising the specific role of retail investors in China’s market. We further show that DOI and DOA are the results of the differences in their information sets, whereas DOR are the results of different interpretations of public information.
Developments and Implications of Central Bank Digital Currency: The Case of China e‐CNY
Authors: Xu Jianguo
Published: June 2022

China has been both active and cautious in developing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). China CBDC has been in research and development since 2014. The process speeded up in 2019. It is currently at the stage of expanding real field experiments. Residents in 11 areas can open e‐wallets linked to nine major banks. It is centralized digital cash designed to gradually replace traditional paper cash and coins (M0). It will be supported by the traditional double‐layer banking system. It is not blockchain based at issuance but is technology neutral in distribution. Internet and technology companies may join commercial banks in distributing the China CBDC. In the short run, the China CBDC will help improve domestic financial monitoring and policy implementation. In the long run, it may play a role in the RMB's internationalization or even the international monetary system's evolution.
Altered vitamin D metabolism is involved in the dysregulation of γδT cell function and their crosstalk with trophoblasts in recurrent pregnancy loss
Authors: Xu Qian‐Han , Muyayalo Kahindo P. , Zhang Yu‐Jing , Wang Huan , Lin Xin‐Xiu , Liao Ai‐Hua
Published: June 2022

Background

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a common disease characterized by immune dysfunction and vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to investigate vitamin D metabolism and γδT cell phenotypes at the maternal–fetal interface in women with early normal pregnancy (NP) and RPL and to determine the effects of vitamin D on the functions of γδT cells and their crosstalk with trophoblasts.

Methods

The levels of 25‐(OH)VD3, the expression of vitamin D metabolic enzymes in the villi, and the proportion of γδT cells in the decidua were detected in women with NP and RPL. After treatment with different concentrations of vitamin D, the mRNA expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), cytokines, and transcription factors were detected in Vδ2+γδT cells. In addition, the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HTR‐8/SVneo trophoblasts were determined by coculturing them with vitamin D‐treated Vδ2+γδT cells and their supernatants.

Results

In women with RPL, the level of 25‐(OH)VD3 in the villi was increased; however, that of CYP27B1 (enzyme converting 25‐(OH)VD3 into 1,25‐(OH)2VD3) was decreased. In addition, the proportion of Vδ2+γδT cells increased, whereas that of Foxp3+Vδ2+γδT cells decreased in the decidua of women with RPL. An in vitro study showed that vitamin D increased the expression of VDR mRNA and Foxp3, but decreased the expression of IFN‐γ mRNA, in Vδ2+γδT cells. Finally, vitamin D‐treated Vδ2+γδT cells promoted trophoblast migration and invasion.

Conclusions

Abnormal vitamin D metabolism and γδT cell proportions were present at the maternal‐fetal interface in women with RPL. Under normal pregnancy conditions, vitamin D can induce the differentiation of decidual Vδ2+γδT cells toward an anti‐inflammatory phenotype (Treg‐like γδT cells) and modulate the crosstalk between Vδ2+γδT cells and trophoblasts.
Leveraging anthropological expertise to respond to the COVID‐19 global mental health syndemic
Authors: Azevedo Kathryn J. , Kalvesmaki Andrea F. , Riendeau Rachel P. , Sweet Philip A. , Holmes Seth M.
Published: June 2022

This commentary asks anthropologists to work within communities to actively address the global mental health impact of COVID‐19 and contribute to the pandemic response. Multiple social and physical losses, worsened by numerous factors, have produced syndemic traumatic stress and suffering across populations, highlighting persistent inequalities further amplified by the effects of COVID‐19. Specifically, anthropologists can work to contribute to the development of mental health programs; confront the racialization of COVID‐19 alongside marginalized communities; support real‐time policy making with community responses; and innovate transparent collaborative research methods through open science. This pandemic can serve as an opportunity to prioritize research endeavors, public service, and teaching to better align with societal needs while providing new opportunities for synergy and collaborations between anthropologists in and outside the academy. Anthropologists collaborating directly with mental health clinicians and the public can contribute to knowledge specifically through direct program development and implementation of interventions designed to improve mental well‐being. Innovating to find impactful solutions in response to the unprecedented mental health challenges exacerbated by the COVID‐19 pandemic has the potential to promote more equitable recovery around the world.
Influence of membership in outgroups varying in competence and warmth on observers' Level‐2 visual perspective taking
Authors: Vanbeneden Antoine , Woltin Karl‐Andrew , Yzerbyt Vincent
Published: June 2022

Visual perspective taking (VPT), the ability to adopt another person's viewpoint, entails two distinct processes, Level‐1 (L1)‐VPT and Level‐2 (L2‐VPT), referring to the ability to perceive whether and how a target sees an object, respectively. Whereas previous efforts investigated the impact of targets' social characteristics on L1‐VPT, the present work is the first to do so regarding L2‐VPT. Specifically, we investigate the impact of targets' membership in outgroups varying in perceived competence and warmth, the two fundamental dimensions of social perception. Participants in four experiments engaged in a L2‐VPT task. Avatars belonged to a low competence low warmth group (LCLW; e.g. the homeless) or to a high competence low warmth group (HCLW; e.g. bankers) in Experiments 1–3, and to a LCLW or high competence high warmth group (HCHW; e.g. female students) in Experiment 4. Participants answered as quickly as possible whether a cued number matched a number present in a scene from either their own or the avatar's perspective. We consistently found support for the presence of both egocentric and altercentric interference, but this was not modulated by group competence and warmth, suggesting that membership in outgroups varying in competence and warmth does not influence L2‐VPT. We discuss the findings' implications in the light of recent views on VPT.
Endoplasmic reticulum‐stress and unfolded protein response‐activation in immune‐mediated necrotizing myopathy
Authors: Preusse Corinna , Marteau Theodore , Fischer Norina , Hentschel Andreas , Sickmann Albert , Lang Sven , Schneider Udo , Schara‐Schmidt Ulrike , Meyer Nancy , Ruck Tobias , Dengler Nora F. , Prudlo Johannes , Dudesek Ales , Görl Norman , Allenbach Yves , Benveniste Olivier , Goebel Hans‐Hilmar , Dittmayer Carsten , Stenzel Werner , Roos Andreas
Published: June 2022

Patients suffering from immune‐mediated necrotizing myopathies (IMNM) harbor, the pathognomonic myositis‐specific auto‐antibodies anti‐SRP54 or ‐HMGCR, while about one third of them do not. Activation of chaperone‐assisted autophagy was described as being part of the molecular etiology of IMNM. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)‐stress accompanied by activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) often precedes activation of the protein clearance machinery and represents a cellular defense mechanism toward restoration of proteostasis. Here, we show that ER/SR‐stress may be part of the molecular etiology of IMNM. To address this assumption, ER/SR‐stress related key players covering the three known branches (PERK‐mediated, IRE1‐mediated, and ATF6‐mediated) were investigated on both, the transcript and the protein levels utilizing 39 muscle biopsy specimens derived from IMNM‐patients. Our results demonstrate an activation of all three UPR‐branches in IMNM, which most likely precedes the activation of the protein clearance machinery. In detail, we identified increased phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2a along with increased expression and protein abundance of ATF4, all well‐documented characteristics for the activation of the UPR. Further, we identified increased general XBP1‐level, and elevated XBP1 protein levels. Additionally, our transcript studies revealed an increased ATF6‐expression, which was confirmed by immunostaining studies indicating a myonuclear translocation of the cleaved ATF6‐form toward the forced transcription of UPR‐related chaperones. In accordance with that, our data demonstrate an increase of downstream factors including ER/SR co‐chaperones and chaperones (e.g., SIL1) indicating an UPR‐activation on a broader level with no significant differences between seropositive and seronegative patients. Taken together, one might assume that UPR‐activation within muscle fibers might not only serve to restore protein homeostasis, but also enhance sarcolemmal presentation of proteins crucial for attracting immune cells. Since modulation of ER‐stress and UPR via application of chemical chaperones became a promising therapeutic treatment approach, our findings might represent the starting point for new interventional concepts.
RITA1 drives the growth of bladder cancer cells by recruiting TRIM25 to facilitate the proteasomal degradation of RBPJ
Authors: Tang Huancheng , Li Xiangdong , Jiang Lijuan , Liu Zefu , Chen Lei , Chen Jiawei , Deng Minhua , Zhou Fangjian , Zheng Xianchong , Liu Zhuowei
Published: June 2022

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, but it lacks effective targeted therapy due to its elusive molecular mechanism. Therefore, it is important to further investigate the molecular mechanisms that mediate BC progression. By performing a tumor tissue–based gene microarray and shRNA library screening, we found that recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region (RBPJ) interacting and tubulin associated 1 (RITA1) is crucial for the growth of BC cells. Moreover, RITA1 is aberrantly highly expressed in BC tissues and is also correlated with poor prognosis in patients with BC. Mechanistically, we determined that RITA1 recruits tripartite motif containing 25 (TRIM25) to ubiquitinate RBPJ to accelerate its degradation via proteasome, which leads to the transcriptional inhibition of Notch1 downstream targets. Our results suggest that aberrant high expression of RITA1 drives the growth of BC cells via the RITA1/TRIM25/RBPJ axis and RITA1 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for BC.
Antitumoral RNA‐targeted oligonucleotide therapeutics: The third pillar after small molecule inhibitors and antibodies
Authors: Taniguchi Hiroaki , Suzuki Yasunori , Imai Kohzoh , Adachi Yasushi
Published: June 2022

Oligonucleotide therapeutics, drugs consisting of 10–50 nucleotide‐long single‐ or double‐stranded DNA or RNA molecules that can bind to specific DNA or RNA sequences or proteins, include antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), aptamers, and decoys. These oligonucleotide therapeutics could potentially become the third pillar of drug development. In particular, ASOs and siRNAs are advanced tools that are widely used to silence gene expression. They are used in clinical trials, as they have high specificity for target mRNAs and non‐coding RNAs and limited toxicity. However, their clinical application remains challenging. Although chemotherapy has benefits, it has severe adverse effects in many patients. Therefore, new modalities for targeted molecular therapy against tumors, including oligonucleotide therapeutics, are required, and they should be compatible with diagnosis using next‐generation sequencing. This review provides an overview of the therapeutic uses of ASOs, siRNAs, and miRNAs in clinical studies on malignant tumors. Understanding previous research and development will help in developing novel oligonucleotide therapeutics against malignant tumors.
Chronic remote ischemic conditioning for symptomatic internal carotid or middle cerebral artery occlusion: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Li Sijie , Zhao Wenbo , Liu Guiyou , Ren Changhong , Meng Ran , Wang Yuan , Song Haiqing , Ma Qingfeng , Ding Yuchuan , Ji Xunming
Published: June 2022

Aims

Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) has been demonstrated to reduce recurrent stroke in patients with intracranial artery stenosis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of RIC in patients with the symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) or middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion.

Methods

This study is based on a high‐volume single‐center prospective cohort study in China, which included patients with symptomatic ICA or MCA occlusion with impaired hemodynamics and receiving chronic RIC. Clinical follow‐up visits were performed regularly, and cardio‐cerebrovascular events were assessed.

Results

In total, 131 patients (68 with ICA occlusion and 63 with MCA occlusion; mean age, 52.6 ± 13.7 years; stroke, 73.5%; transient ischemic attack TIA, 26.5%) qualified for the analysis; the mean follow‐up period was 8.8 years (range, 3–14 years). The compliance of RIC was 95.6 ± 3.7%, and no associated severe adverse events happened. The annual risk of ischemic stroke and ischemic cerebrovascular events was 2.4% and 3.3%, respectively. The cumulative probabilities of ischemic cerebrovascular events and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were 32.8% and 44.8% at 14 years, respectively.

Conclusion

In patients with symptomatic ICA or MCA occlusion with impaired hemodynamics, chronic RIC is well‐tolerated, and it appears to be associated with a low annual risk of ischemic stroke and cardio‐cerebrovascular events.
Chlorophylls, lutein and β‐carotene play great but different roles in colour of rapeseed oil
Authors: Yao Yingzheng , Xuan Pu , Xiong Wei , Zhao Ling , Xu Xia , Liang Qiang
Published: June 2022

Natural colourants have great effects on the colour of vegetable oil. A series of colourant–oil simulation systems were constructed to study the effects of chlorophyll, lutein and β‐carotene and their interactions on the colour of rapeseed oil. CIE L*a*b* and Lovibond RYBN colour codes were used to evaluate the colour of the simulation systems. There were good negative linear correlations between the concentrations of the three natural colourants and L* value in both single colourant–oil and two colourants–oil simulation systems. Chlorophyll had greater effect on lightness of rapeseed oil than lutein and β‐carotene. The contribution of the two carotenoids to the yellow colour was greater than that of chlorophyll. Lutein and β‐carotene contributed positively to the red colour of rapeseed oil. They had superposition effect on colour of rapeseed oil, and β‐carotene might contribute more to the colour than lutein. It provided a method to evaluate the contribution of colourant to the colour and a possibility to regulate oil colour in edible oil industry.