bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stock Return Volatility, Firm Real Option Value, and Mergers and Acquisitions Premiums
Authors: Nguyen Uyen (Wendy)
Published: June 2021

Considerable effort has been devoted to indicate the critical determinants of acquisition premiums. However, the determinants of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) premiums are not yet fully understood. This research paper empirically examines the effect of stock return volatility on mergers and acquisitions premiums through real options value of bidder and target firms. With a sample of 2,559 completed M&A deals in the US during 1986-2016, we find that bidder firms tend to pay more premiums for the targets that have more future real option value and higher risk. To be more specific, when targets have more real options measured as high Research and Development (R&D) to market value, high sales growth rate, and low leverage ratio, the relationship between target return volatility and acquisition premiums is stronger. This study contributes not only to the literature regarding the determinants of mergers and acquisitions premiums but also to the literature of real options value.

Keywords: Mergers and acquisition premiums, acquisition premiums, stock return
volatility, real options, growth options
Entrepreneurial Foresight: Role of Foresight in Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition
Authors: Hajizadeh Ali
Published: June 2021

Opportunity recognition, as the first step of venture creation and business development, plays an essential role in entrepreneurship. Previous research studied various factors that can influence opportunity recognition, but they failed to consider the potential role of foresight in this process. Thus, this research aimed to explore whether and how individuals apply foresight to identify entrepreneurial opportunities. In order to answer the research questions, qualitative research was designed and semi-structured interviews were employed for collecting the data from 16 participants including entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs who search for business opportunities. Thematic analysis method was used for identifying and analyzing meaningful patterns within the data set. The findings showed that the majority of participant tend to be future-oriented during opportunity recognition. Also, the results provided significant themes that demonstrate how the participants apply foresight to identify more and better opportunities.
Examining factors that predict user engagement on YouTube
Authors: Qureshi Tahoor I.
Published: June 2021

This research proposes a model to examine factors that predict user engagement with sports brand-related YouTube videos. This research also investigates which type of YouTube channels generate more user engagement. Prior research on social media engagement, YouTube, social influencers and sports marketing will be analyzed. Ten hypotheses are derived to carry out the research. The model concludes that factors such as the number of channel subscribers, channel
age, video age, video duration and video definition have statistically significant relationship with YouTube engagement. Additionally, channel types: brand, private vlogger and news/updates also have a statistically significant relationship with YouTube engagement. Brands channels, having access to a larger network and the ability to feature sports celebrities, are likely to generate four times more engagement than other YouTube channels. This study contributes to the research on social media engagements in terms of examining the type of factors important in predicting user engagement on YouTube.

Keywords: Social Media, Social Media Engagement, YouTube, Social Influencers, Vloggers, Sports Marketing and Soccer.
More Than Words: an Analysis of Communication on Twitter for an Apparel Heritage Brand
Authors: Afroze Tasmina
Published: June 2021

Advances in technology and society have changed the way people use the Internet. While customers use online platforms for interactions and information exchange, businesses strive to create brand awareness or engagement. This thesis is an exploratory study to understand online communication of a heritage brand by analyzing its Twitter brand community. Using grounded theory approach, Dann’s classification (2010) was used on branded and non-branded tweets to identify the types of messages that dominated the online community. Driven by the findings, types of users for non-branded communication was analyzed to expand understanding. The results suggest that engagement should be modified in accordance to the type of user for whom the message is addressed. The findings present new insights for marketers who are willing to explore the full potential of online communication. The study highlights the importance of online brand communities while expanding the understanding of Twitter communication through Dann’s classification.
An analysis of the impact of implementing a new Interactive Voice Response system (IVR) on client experience in the Canadian banking industry
Authors: Manatsa Priscilla
Published: June 2021

Banks are constantly competing to find new ways to satisfy clients and meet their growing, heterogenous needs. Clients can access round the clock banking services worldwide. One way to access information is through Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems. This research is an analysis of the process of implementing an IVR system and the impact on client experience using the case study of a Canadian bank. The research question is: “What is the impact of an IVR system upgrade on client experience in the Canadian banking industry?” The Productivity Paradox and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model (UTAUT) are leveraged and a thematic analysis of the feedback provided from Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys is done. The results show that although the IVR system can be an attractive automation interface for clients, there are many unanswered concerns about customer satisfaction as demonstrated by NPS feedback.
Lost in translation: increasing engagement between angel investors and immigrant startups in the Canadian entrepreneurial ecosystem
Authors: Shirai Erina
Published: June 2021

Immigrant entrepreneurs are an important and growing segment of Canada’s startup scene. They contribute to the Canadian economy and lower unemployment rates by creating job opportunities through their ventures. However, they face a challenge in receiving funding from local investors in the initial stages of their startup. Angel investors are experienced professionals with an extensive network in the entrepreneurial ecosystem who specialize in early stage funding. Increasing engagement between Angels and immigrant entrepreneurs can create greater opportunities for the immigrant community in Canada and help Angels diversify their portfolio. The objective of this research is to adapt the Investment Decision Making Criteria for Angels (IDMCA) to analyze the factors that influence an Angel’s decision making process, and determine whether these factors are moderated by an entrepreneur’s immigrant status. Results from the study have shown that the Passion & Commitment (P&C), Integrity & Trust (I&T), and Open-mind & Adaptability (O&A) are important factors for an Angel’s decision making in respect to immigrant startups, whereas Industry Experience (IE), Track Record (TR), and Technology Knowledge (TK) are not important factors.
Investigating the Impact of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and International Protocols on Co2 Emissions
Authors: Nejad Samin Shaaban
Published: June 2021

Our life hangs in the delicate balance of the natural environment, on which many of us would agree that human-induced activities are promptly degrading it. Businesses as the engine of an economy play a crucial role in both enhancing and degrading the natural environment. This study aims to investigate the role of international protocols and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in reducing carbon emissions. For this study, the author has conducted quantitative research in which both micro and macro level approaches were used. The findings indicate that both international treaties and ICT have an inverse impact on the overall model, while they were found to be statistically significant factors in reducing carbon emissions globally. The author has further narrowed down the findings to a micro level to conduct a comparative study between Canada and Norway to evaluate the performance of these two countries on climate mitigation initiatives. This study has further investigated some of the reasons that have caused Canada to perform insufficiently in meeting its climate change targets despite its active role in the negotiations that led to both the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.
MODIFICATION OF PSB QUASI-NEWTON UPDATE AND ITS GLOBAL CONVERGENCE FOR SOLVING SYSTEMS OF NONLINEAR EQUATIONS
Authors: Dauda Muhammad Kabir
Published: June 2021

Nonlinear problems mostly emanate from the work of engineers, physicists, mathematicians and many other scientists. A variety of iterative methods have been developed for solving large scale nonlinear systems of equations. A prominent method for solving such equations is the classical Newton’s method, but it has many shortcomings that include computing Jacobian inverse that sometimes fails. To overcome such drawbacks, an approximation with derivative free line is used on an existing method. The method uses PSB (Powell-Symmetric Broyden) update. The efficiency of the proposed method has been improved in terms of number of iteration and CPU time, hence the aim of this research. The preliminary numerical results show that the proposed method is practically efficient when applied on some benchmark problems.
Analisis Leverage, Firm Size, Deviden Payout terhadap Stock Price Volatility Pada Perusahaan LQ45 di BEI Tahun 2015-2019
Authors: Suryani Arna
Published: June 2021

This study examines and analyzes the effect of Leverage, Firm Size, Dividend Payout on Stock Price Volatility. This research was conducted on companies listed in the LQ45 index on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2015-2019. The sample was selected based on purposive sampling so that 27 sample companies were selected. Multiple linear regression analysis tool with classical assumption test and hypothesis testing. The results based on the analysis show that Leverage has a positive effect on Stock Price Volatility, while Company Size, Dividend Payout has a negative effect on Stock Price Volatility. This research can prove that the actions taken from the company's management can be seen from how the company should position the company's assets and liabilities as well as the distribution of dividends. This research is expected to make a positive contribution to all parties, especially investors in investing in the capital market while still paying attention to the level of leverage, company size and dividend payout ratio of the company to be invested.
JURIDICAL ANALYSIS ON THE LEGAL POWER OF COLLATERAL SEIZURE ON MATRIMONIAL JOINT ASSETS IN THE DECISION OF MANNA RELIGIOUS COURT NO. 54/PDT.G/2019/PA.MNA BASED ON ISLAMIC LAW
Authors: Fauzi Fauzi , Subanrio Subanrio , Muslih Akhmad
Published: June 2021

The objectives of the study were to find out and analyze: (1) the reasons of collateral seizure on matrimonial joint assets where it can guarantee the Plaintiff's rights and (2) The views of Islamic law on the collateral seizure of matrimonial joint assets in the decision of Manna Religious Court No.54/Pdt.g/2019/PA.Mna. This study was normative legal research. The reasons for the seizure of the collateral filed by the Plaintiff in the lawsuit case No.54/Pdt.G/2019/PA.Mna were: a) the reasons for collateral seizure on matrimonial joint assets were due to the Plaintiff’s claim in the lawsuit concerning the assets under the Defendant's authority; b). Judge panel considered the rules based on Al-Qur'an surah An-Nisa verse 32, regulation in Marriage Law, and Compilation of Islamic Law that  state the right of Matrimony Joint Assets belongs to both parties, and since the assets were under the Defendant's authority, a collateral seizure is considered necessary; c) the reasons of collateral seizure on matrimonial joint assets were also to provide legal certainty and equal rights to each party; d) to ensure the integrity of the assets, to get them to remain maintained and present; and e) the seizure was to avoid the right transfer of the asset to other parties and to prevent the assets from being misused or damaged. The legal power of collateral seizure of matrimonial joint assets in the decision of Manna Religious Court No.54/Pdt.g/2019/PA.Mna could give the Plaintiff's legal rights in writing, but when viewed from Islamic law it could not be able to achieve the objectives of Islamic law itself, namely the benefit and usefulness principles. This was due to the absence of sanctions and strong foundations for those who did not carry out the decision. The court only granted the seizure stamp and joint assets seizure but did not decide the execution over the joint assets, so the Plaintiff's rights could not be fully protected. Islamic law considered the collateral seizure on matrimonial joint assets in the decision of the Manna Religious Court No.54/Pdt.g/2019/PA.Mna as something that is not prohibited and mentioned in surah Al-Baqarah verse 188.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION OF INHERITANCE DISTRIBUTION FOR THE SUBSTITUTE HEIR IN TERMS OF ISLAMIC LAW
Authors: Larasati Putri , Darudin M. , Dahwal Sirman
Published: June 2021

This study was aimed to determine the settlement of disputes regarding the distribution of inheritance to substitute heirs left by their grandparents in terms of Islamic law and to determine the position of substitute heirs for the assets according to Al-Quran and Hadith provisions. The data collection technique used in this study was a normative legal research methodology based on a literature study. From this research, it is known that (a) The rights of grandchildren as substitute heirs to replace their deceased parents are the same as the rights which obtained by their mother's sister. It caused by the 2 sons and 3 daughters so that the distribution of inheritance is based on a ratio of 2:1. In accordance with the provisions of Q.S An-Nisaa'/7:4. To give the inheritance to a grandchild who replaces their deceased parents’ position, he/she can use a mandatory will so that he/she can receive the inheritance left by their grandparents. And if there is a dispute regarding the distribution of inheritance to the replacement heirs, it should be resolved by a mediation process as a tools of dispute resolution because it is considered as faster, easier, and less costly than the litigation process, (b) Al-Quran does not regulate the provisions regarding substitute heirs, but the Article 185 of the Islamic Law Compilation stipulates that the substitute heirs can replace their parents and the asset share of substitute heirs,must not exceed the share of the heirs which is equal to was replaced.
Atuação em ensino, pesquisa e extensão no Herbário do Instituto de Biologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Manão Carla Y Gubáu , Edon Diego , Medeiros Erika von Sohsten de Souza , Oliveira Jorginaldo William de , Paiva Valéria Ferrão , Sylvestre Lana , Lopes Rosana Conrado
Published: June 2021

O Herbário do Departamento de Botânica (RFA), do Instituto de Biologia pertencente à Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, foi criado em 1954, pelo professor Paulo Occhioni, para atender às atividades de ensino e pesquisa. A coleção teve início a partir das coletas resgatadas na Faculdade de Medicina do Rio de Janeiro, representadas por 794 exsicatas da Coleção da Flora Europeia do botânico J.C. Ducommun. Posteriormente, a coleção foi incrementada com amostras da Flora do Rio de Janeiro, resultado de excursões botânicas periódicas. Atualmente, constam no herbário 45.260 espécimes de todos os grupos vegetais e fungos. Destacam-se 118 tipos nomenclaturais e duas coleções auxiliares, como a Carpoteca e a Fototeca. O RFA é uma coleção dinâmica que se preocupa com a divulgação científica e com as atividades que envolvem o ensino, a extensão e a pesquisa, principalmente por ser parte da universidade.
FEATURES OF FORECLOSURE ON INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AS COLLATERAL
Authors: Костянтин Оверковський
Published: June 2021

The article is devoted to the features of foreclosure on industrial property rights as a pledged item. The purpose of the article is to substantiate proposals for improving the legislative regulation of the procedure for foreclosing property rights of industrial property as collateral. The article investigates the special legal literature and the current legislation in the field of pledging industrial property rights and foreclosure procedures.Based on the study, generalized methods of foreclosure are inherent to secured industrial property rights: judicial — sale of pledge through electronic bidding, out-of-court — by concluding an agreement on satisfying the requirements of the pledge holder. All out-ofcourtmethods of collection are analyzed, based on them a method is proposed that will correspond to the nature of industrial property rights, namely, conclusion of an agreement on satisfying the requirements of a pledge holder. Also, in the article, considercases where the out-of-court method of foreclosure on property rights of industrial property cannot be applied, and foreclosure should only take place in a judicial proceeding, these cases are proposed to be fixed in the Law on pledges.Given the specificity of industrial property rights, certain proposals are proposed to improve the collection of such rights in the enforcement proceedings. Thus, the assessment of intellectual property rights requires a different approach than the assessment of things, so it is proposed to supplement Part 3 of Art. 57 of the Law of Ukraine«On Enforcement Proceedings» is such an object of valuation as property rights of intellectual property.In order to regulate the procedure for the realization and enforcement of industrial property rights, the legal bases for the transfer of these rights and their state registration require systematic refinement, in particular by supplementing the relevant state registers in the field of industrial property by such types grounds for the transfer of rights, such as: a fixed-price bidding act, an electronic bidding act, an ordinance and act of transfer of property to a debt collector, an agreement on satisfying the requirements of a pledge holder.The conclusions suggest amendments to the current legislation regarding the issues discussed above.
Some aspects of establishing the conformity of an industrial design to the criteria for protection
Authors: Doroshenko Oleksandr , Rabotiahova Liudmyla
Published: June 2021

Keywords: registered industrial designs, novelty, individual character, administrativeprocedure, invalidity

The new edition of the Law of Ukraine «On the Protection of Rights to Industrial Designs» No. 3770-XII,adopted on October 14, 2020, introduced significant changes to the regulation of thelegal protection of industrial designs. The basic norms of the law were harmonizedwith the articles 212−217 Chapter 9 «Intellectual Property» of the Association Agreementbetween Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the EuropeanAtomic Energy Community and their Member States, on the other hand. The conceptsof «individual character», «the overall impression», «the informed user» and «thedegree of freedom of the designer», «the circles specializing in the relevant industry»have been introduced into the sphere of legal protection. These concepts were not previouslyused in the legislation of Ukraine. The article analyzes the content of theseconcepts on the basis of European law enforcement practice, Decision of the EuropeanUnion Intellectual Property Office Board of Appeal, Judgment of the Court of Justiceof the European Union и Judgment of the General Court of the European Union. Inaccordance with the new edition of the Law, an industrial design can be declared invalidin an administrative procedure. Authors reviewed the administrative procedure

for establishing the conformity of a registered industrial design to the criteria for protection(a novelty and an individual character). A registered industrial design shall beconsidered to be new, if no identical design has been previously disclosed to the publicand to have an individual character if the overall impression it produces on the informeduser differs from the overall impression produced on such a user by any previouslydisclosed design. A design shall be deemed to have been made available to thepublic (i) if it has been published following registration or otherwise, or exhibited,used in trade or otherwise disclosed, (ii) except where these events could not reasonablyhave become known in the normal course of business to the circles specializing inthe relevant industry in Ukraine. Authors analyzed this two-step test. Particular attentionwas paid to the disclosure of industrial designs as a trade mark, copyrightwork, patent, utility model or otherwise on the Internet. Criteria for assessing disclosureof designs on the internet considered.
LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE INDIAN MODEL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARKS AND SPECIFIC ECONOMIC ZONES AS THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE INNOVATION STRUCTURE
Authors: Тетяна Постригань
Published: June 2021

The article details important historical and legal aspects of the creation and operation of science and technology parks and specific economic zones as the major elements of the innovation structure in India, a set of measures that stimulate innovation.The author notes that in India much attention is paid to the formation of a common legal framework for innovation, established bodies, associations, funds that support companies.The author reviews the legislation of India on issues of activities of science and technology parks and specific economic zones, their features as innovative structures in India, legislation on technological innovations, tax benefit, exemption of export operations from duties and export taxes. The author traces the history of the development of legislation on science and technology parks and specific economic zones in India from the moment of their creation to modernity.The article is an exposure of the research on the state regulation of India’s innovation structure elements: research institutions, science and technology parks, and specific economic zones, problems in the legal regulation of activities, the reasons for the  economic success of India as a whole and trends in the further development of elements of the innovation structure of the state.The author examined the current state of science and technology parks and India’s specific economic zones, the policy of tax and customs incentives for science and technology parks and specific economic zones, identified types of tax and customs benefits, the specifics of labor legislation, energy tariffs, preferential loans, and the overallprocess of state support for science and technology.The article discloses the tax benefits available to the Software under government STPI scheme presented to promote software exports, which has helped make India one of the world's leading centers for software and business outsourcing.
Conserved Mechanisms in the Formation of the Airways and Alveoli of the Lung
Authors: Warburton David
Published: June 2021

Branching is an intrinsic property of respiratory epithelium that can be induced and modified by signals emerging from the mesenchyme. However, during stereotypic branching morphogenesis of the airway, the relatively thick upper respiratory epithelium extrudes through a mesenchymal orifice to form a new branch, whereas during alveologenesis the relatively thin lower respiratory epithelium extrudes to form sacs or bubbles. Thus, both branching morphogenesis of the upper airway and alveolarization in the lower airway seem to rely on the same fundamental physical process: epithelial extrusion through an orifice. Here I propose that it is the orientation and relative stiffness of the orifice boundary that determines the stereotypy of upper airway branching as well as the orientation of individual alveolar components of the gas exchange surface. The previously accepted dogma of the process of alveologenesis, largely based on 2D microscopy, is that alveoli arise by erection of finger-like interalveolar septae to form septal clefts that subdivide pre-existing saccules, a process for which the contractile properties of specialized alveolar myofibroblasts are necessary. Here I suggest that airway tip splitting and stereotypical side domain branching are actually conserved processes, but modified somewhat by evolution to achieve both airway tip splitting and side branching of the upper airway epithelium, as well as alveologenesis. Viewed in 3D it is clear that alveolar “septal tips” are in fact ring or purse string structures containing elastin and collagen that only appear as finger like projections in cross section. Therefore, I propose that airway branch orifices as well as alveolar mouth rings serve to delineate and stabilize the budding of both airway and alveolar epithelium, from the tips and sides of upper airways as well as from the sides and tips of alveolar ducts. Certainly, in the case of alveoli arising laterally and with radial symmetry from the sides of alveolar ducts, the mouth of each alveolus remains within the plane of the side of the ductal lumen. This suggests that the thin epithelium lining these lateral alveolar duct buds may extrude or “pop out” from the duct lumen through rings rather like soap or gum bubbles, whereas the thicker upper airway epithelium extrudes through a ring like toothpaste from a tube to form a new branch.
Identification of TAZ-Dependent Breast Cancer Vulnerabilities Using a Chemical Genomics Screening Approach
Authors: Shen He , Chen Yanmin , Wan Yin , Liu Tao , Wang Jianmin , Zhang Yali , Wei Lei , Hu Qiang , Xu Bo , Chernov Mikhail , Frangou Costa , Zhang Jianmin
Published: June 2021

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) represent a subpopulation of tumor cells that can self-renew and generate tumor heterogeneity. Targeting BCSCs may ameliorate therapy resistance, tumor growth, and metastatic progression. However, the origin and molecular mechanisms underlying their cellular properties are poorly understood. The transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) promotes mammary stem/progenitor cell (MaSC) expansion and maintenance but also confers stem-like traits to differentiated tumor cells. Here, we describe the rapid generation of experimentally induced BCSCs by TAZ-mediated reprogramming of human mammary epithelial cells, hence allowing for the direct analysis of BCSC phenotypes. Specifically, we establish genetically well-defined TAZ-dependent (TAZDEP) and -independent (TAZIND) cell lines with cancer stem cell (CSC) traits, such as self-renewal, variable resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, and tumor seeding potential. TAZDEP cells were associated with the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, embryonic, and MaSC signature genes. In contrast, TAZIND cells were characterized by a neuroendocrine transdifferentiation transcriptional program associated with Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). Mechanistically, we identify Cyclin D1 (CCND1) as a critical downstream effector for TAZ-driven tumorigenesis. Overall, our results reveal a critical TAZ-CCND1-CDK4/CDK6 signaling axis, suggesting novel therapeutic approaches to eliminate both BCSCs and therapy-resistant cancer cells.
Black American and Latinx Parent/Caregiver Participation in Digital Health Obesity Interventions for Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sanchez-Flack Jennifer , Buscemi Joanna , O'Donnell Alexander , Clark Withington Margaret H. , Fitzgibbon Marian
Published: June 2021

Parents/caregivers are consistently described as integral targets given their influential role in supporting and managing behaviors such as diet and physical activity. Identifying effective obesity prevention interventions to enhance and sustain parent participation is needed. Digital obesity prevention interventions are a promising strategy to improve parent/caregiver participation. Digital health interventions demonstrate acceptable participation and retention among parents/caregivers. However, our understanding of digital obesity prevention interventions targeting Black American and Latinx parents/caregivers is limited. This systematic review aims to identify Black American and Latinx parents'/caregivers' level of participation in digital obesity prevention and treatment interventions and determine the relationship between parent/caregiver participation and behavioral and weight status outcomes. This review adheres to PRISMA guidelines and is registered in PROSPERO. Eligibility criteria include: intervention delivered by digital technology, targeted Black American and Latinx parents/caregivers of young children (2–12 years), reported parent/caregiver participation outcomes, targeted diet or physical activity behaviors, and randomized controlled trial study design. Searches were conducted in September 2020 in ERIC, PsychInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science. Initial searches returned 499 results. Four reviewers screened records against eligibility criteria and 12 studies met inclusion criteria. Across all studies, parent/caregiver participation ranged from low to high. Only half of the included studies reported significant improvements in behavioral or weight status outcomes for parents/caregivers and/or children. Of these studies, three reported high parental/caregiver participation rates, and three reported high satisfaction rates. These findings suggest that participation and satisfaction may impact behavior change and weight status. The small number of studies indicates that additional research is needed to determine whether engagement or other factors predict responsiveness to the digital health intervention. Our results lay the groundwork for developing and testing future digital health interventions with the explicit goal of parental/caregiver participation and considers the need to expand our digital health intervention research methodologies to address obesity inequities among diverse families better.
Agricultural Transformations and Their Influential Factors Revealed by Archaeobotanical Evidence in Holocene Jiangsu Province, Eastern China
Authors: Li Haiming , Liu Zhen , James Nathaniel , Li Xinsheng , Hu Zhujun , Shi Hongwei , Sun Liqiang , Lu Yong , Jia Xin
Published: June 2021

The development and adoption of agriculture has been investigated for decades, and remains a central topic within archaeology. However, most previous studies focus on the crop’s domestication centers, leading to gaps in knowledge, particularly in transitional zones between these centers. This paper reviews published archaeobotanical evidence and historical documents to reconstruct the trajectory of agricultural systems in Holocene Jiangsu Province. Comparing these new results to paleoclimate information, historical documents, and archaeological data enables us to better understand the underlying influences of past agricultural development. Our results indicate that a warm and wet climate may have promoted ancient peoples to first settle in Jiangsu between 8,500 and 6,000 BP and adopt rice farming. The continuous warm and wet climate may have facilitated the rapid development and expansion of rice agriculture, ultimately contributing to large-scale human settlement in 6,000–4,000 BP in Jiangsu Province. Between 4,000 and 2,300 BP during a cooler and drier climate millet agriculture diffused southward, facilitating a mixed rice and millet agricultural system. This mixed farming supported a continuesd widespread settlement and population growth in Jiangsu. After 2,300 BP, political instability in north China resulted in further southeastward migration, advanced planting technology was brought about to south China, facilitating highly developed agricultural systems and rapid population expansion in Jiangsu. Population growth led to the establishment of Jiangnan as the regional economic center, where people chose high-yielding rice and wheat rather than millet.
A locational Marginal Price-Based Partition Optimal Economic Dispatch Model of Multi-Energy Systems
Authors: Jin Hongyang , Teng Yun , Zhang Tieyan , Wang Zedi , Deng Bofu
Published: June 2021

The large-scale penetration of renewable energy and deeply integrated multiple energy forms pose a major challenge for the accounting and allocation process of additional adjustment cost in multi-energy system and electricity market. The variable wind power and the operating status of multi-energy systems faced by the electricity market have driven researchers towards the decision of electricity spot market with complicated pricing mechanism. This paper presents a locational marginal price-based partition optimal economic dispatch model of multi-energy system with a high proportion of renewable energy. First, a model of the additional adjustment cost of multi-energy adjustable units to improve the power grid adjustment capacity is studied based on the power balance model of multi-energy conversion and storage. In the second, to improve the effectiveness of the ESM mechanism, an optimal economic dispatch model is established, with the goal of minimizing the additional adjustment cost of multi-energy adjustable units. Moreover, according to the characteristics of the model and the mechanism of locational marginal price-based economic dispatch, a solution method based on lagrangian relaxation is proposed. The incentive compatible locational marginal price is obtained. Finally, a simulation model of multi-energy systems based on IEEE 39-nodes power system and 7-nodes natural gas system is established. And the model is based on operating data of an actual grid with high proportion of renewable energy in Northeast China. The results of the examples show that the proposed method can effectively improve the efficiency and flexibility of multi-energy system. Another advantage of the proposed method is that the capabilities of the complementary multi-energy coordination can be promoted.
The Role of Microorganisms in Mobilization and Phytoextraction of Rare Earth Elements: A Review
Authors: Jalali Jihen , Lebeau Thierry
Published: June 2021

Rare earth (RE) elements are a group of 17 chemical elements including the 15 lanthanides plus Yttrium and Scandium. RE have been identified as critical elements due to their special properties (e.g., catalytic, metallurgical, nuclear, electrical, magnetic, and luminescent) and various applications in many modern technologies, environment and economic areas. Thus, the demand for RE has increased significantly during the last decades. This demand has induced an increase in mining activities and consequently a release of RE into the surrounding environment, causing a potential threat to human health and the environment. Therefore, investigations leading to new solutions for the RE recycling from alternate resources like electronic, mining and industrial wastes, has been rapidly growing. In spite of that, recycling stays extremely difficult, expensive and is currently not seen as a significant solution. The concept of phytomanagement is a promising solution when conventional mining methods are no longer cost-effective, not to mention all the ecosystem services provided by plants. The phytoextraction service allows the extraction and recovery of RE from soils or industrial wastes (e.g., phosphogypsum from phosphoric acid production) with the prospect of economic added value. To date, some twenty hyperaccumulator plant species (almost ferns such as Dicranopteris dicthotoma) accumulate high concentrations of RE especially in their erial parts. While the potential roles of native bacteria in mobilization of RE from ores remains slightly documented, those of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) is much less. PGPR are indeed able to mobilize metals and/or to stimulate plant development in the aim to increase the amount of RE extracted by the plant with then a higher phytoextraction efficiency. Yet to date, only a few studies have been devoted to RE using coupled bioaugmentation-phytoextraction. This review summarizes the data regarding 1) the source of RE (RE-accumulating sediments, soils naturally rich in RE, wastes) and their bioavailability in these matrices, 2) plants identified as RE hyperaccumulator and their potential for RE phytomining, 3) isolation and selection of indigenous bacteria stemming from RE contaminated matrices, such as soil, for their potential ability to increase phytoextraction performances and 4) bioaugmentation-assisted phytoextraction studies dealing with RE.
Leishmania Parasites Drive PD-L1 Expression in Mice and Human Neutrophils With Suppressor Capacity
Authors: da Fonseca-Martins Alessandra M. , de Souza Lima-Gomes Phillipe , Antunes Maísa Mota , de Moura Renan Garcia , Covre Luciana P. , Calôba Carolina , Rocha Vivian Grizente , Pereira Renata M. , Menezes Gustavo Batista , Gomes Daniel Claudio Oliveira , Saraiva Elvira M. , de Matos Guedes Herbert L.
Published: June 2021

Neutrophils play an important role in the outcome of leishmaniasis, contributing either to exacerbating or controlling the progression of infection, a dual effect whose underlying mechanisms are not clear. We recently reported that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells of Leishmania amazonensis-infected mice present high expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, respectively. Given that the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction may promote cellular dysfunction, and that neutrophils could interact with T cells during infection, we investigated here the levels of PD-L1 in neutrophils exposed to Leishmania parasites. We found that both, promastigotes and amastigotes of L. amazonensis induced the expression of PD-L1 in the human and murine neutrophils that internalized these parasites in vitro. PD-L1-expressing neutrophils were also observed in the ear lesions and the draining lymph nodes of L. amazonensis-infected mice, assessed through cell cytometry and intravital microscopy. Moreover, expression of PD-L1 progressively increased in neutrophils from ear lesions as the disease evolved to the chronic phase. Co-culture of infected neutrophils with in vitro activated CD8+ T cells inhibits IFN-γ production by a mechanism dependent on PD-1 and PD-L1. Importantly, we demonstrated that in vitro infection of human neutrophils by L braziliensis induced PD-L1+ expression and also PD-L1+ neutrophils were detected in the lesions of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Taken together, these findings suggest that the Leishmania parasite increases the expression of PD-L1 in neutrophils with suppressor capacity, which could favor the parasite survival through impairing the immune response.
NLRP3 Inflammasome Promotes the Progression of Acute Myeloid Leukemia via IL-1β Pathway
Authors: Zhong Chaoqin , Wang Ruiqing , Hua Mingqiang , Zhang Chen , Han Fengjiao , Xu Miao , Yang Xinyu , Li Guosheng , Hu Xiang , Sun Tao , Ji Chunyan , Ma Daoxin
Published: June 2021

NLRP3 inflammasome has been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of multiple solid tumors. However, the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unclear. We showed that NLRP3 inflammasome is over-expressed and highly activated in AML bone marrow leukemia cells, which is correlated with poor prognosis. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in AML cells promotes leukemia cells proliferation, inhibits apoptosis and increases resistance to chemotherapy, while inactivation of NLRP3 by caspase-1 or NF-κB inhibitor shows leukemia-suppressing effects. Bayesian networks analysis and cell co-culture tests further suggest that NLRP3 inflammasome acts through IL-1β but not IL-18 in AML. Knocking down endogenous IL-1β or anti-IL-1β antibody inhibits leukemia cells whereas IL-1β cytokine enhances leukemia proliferation. In AML murine model, up-regulation of NLRP3 increases the leukemia burden in bone marrow, spleen and liver, and shortens the survival time; furthermore, knocking out NLRP3 inhibits leukemia progression. Collectively, all these evidences demonstrate that NLRP3 inflammasome promotes AML progression in an IL-1β dependent manner, and targeting NLRP3 inflammasome may provide a novel therapeutic option for AML.
SFRP5 Enhances Wnt5a Induced-Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes
Authors: Mahmoud Dorra Elhaj , Kaabachi Wajih , Sassi Nadia , Mokhtar Amel , Moalla Myriam , Ammar Lobna Ben , Jemmali Samia , Rekik Sonia , Tarhouni Lamjed , Kallel-Sellami Maryam , Cheour Elhem , Laadhar Lilia
Published: June 2021

Background

Tissue derived fibroblast-like synoviocytes (td-FLS) are key actors in pannus formation and contribute to joint destruction and inflammation during rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Several members of the Wnt family, including Wnt5a, may contribute to RA td-FLS activation and can potentially serve as therapeutic targets.

Objective

The present work aimed to investigate the expression of Wnt5a signaling elements in RA td-FLS and their potential precursors (fluid derived (fd) FLS and fibrocytes). We also studied the role of Wnt5a in RA td-FLS pro-inflammatory activity and whether the inhibitor SFRP5 could restore Wnt5a-induced synovial dysfunction in vitro.

Materials and Methods

The levels of Wnt5a, SFRP5, Wnt5a receptors/coreceptors and Wnt5a pro-inflammatory targets were determined in cultured RA td-FLS, fd-FLS and fibrocytes using qPCR under basal conditions. The expression of pro-inflammatory molecules was assessed after RA td-FLS stimulation with Wnt5a and SFRP5 at different time points.

Results

Our data showed that td-FLS, fd-FLS and fibrocytes from patients with RA expressed similar levels of Wnt5a and a set of Wnt5a receptors/coreceptors. We also demonstrated that Wnt5a stimulated the expression of the pro-inflammatory targets, especially IL1β, IL8 and IL6 in RA td-FLS. Wnt5a-induced inflammation was enhanced in the presence of SFRP5. Furthermore, Wnt5a alone and in conjunction with SFRP5 inhibited the gene expression of TCF4 and the protein levels of the canonical coreceptor LRP5.

Conclusion

Wnt5a pro-inflammatory effect is not inhibited but enhanced by SFRP5 in RA td-FLS. This research highlights the importance of carefully evaluating changes in Wnt5a response in the presence of SFRP5.
Responses of Mast Cells to Pathogens: Beneficial and Detrimental Roles
Authors: Jiménez Mariela , Cervantes-García Daniel , Córdova-Dávalos Laura E. , Pérez-Rodríguez Marian Jesabel , Gonzalez-Espinosa Claudia , Salinas Eva
Published: June 2021

Mast cells (MCs) are strategically located in tissues close to the external environment, being one of the first immune cells to interact with invading pathogens. They are long living effector cells equipped with different receptors that allow microbial recognition. Once activated, MCs release numerous biologically active mediators in the site of pathogen contact, which induce vascular endothelium modification, inflammation development and extracellular matrix remodeling. Efficient and direct antimicrobial mechanisms of MCs involve phagocytosis with oxidative and non-oxidative microbial destruction, extracellular trap formation, and the release of antimicrobial substances. MCs also contribute to host defense through the attraction and activation of phagocytic and inflammatory cells, shaping the innate and adaptive immune responses. However, as part of their response to pathogens and under an impaired, sustained, or systemic activation, MCs may contribute to tissue damage. This review will focus on the current knowledge about direct and indirect contribution of MCs to pathogen clearance. Antimicrobial mechanisms of MCs are addressed with special attention to signaling pathways involved and molecular weapons implicated. The role of MCs in a dysregulated host response that can increase morbidity and mortality is also reviewed and discussed, highlighting the complexity of MCs biology in the context of host-pathogen interactions.
Clinical Profile, Pharmacological Treatment, and Predictors of Death Among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients With Acute Kidney Injury: A Population-Based Registry Analysis
Authors: Gutiérrez-Abejón Eduardo , Martín-García Débora , Tamayo Eduardo , Álvarez F. Javier , Herrera-Gómez Francisco
Published: June 2021

Introduction: One of the worst clinical outcomes of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: This manuscript presents results from a population-based registry study assessing treatment, comorbidities, and predictors of hospital death among COVID-19 patients with AKI from March 1st to May 31th, 2020. Death, oxygen delivery and ventilation, acute dialysis need, use of medications, and various clinical outcomes, in addition to the length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), were evaluated.

Results: In Castile and Leon, the largest region of Spain, 10.87% of the patients admitted for COVID-19 (n = 7,307) developed AKI. These patients were known by having hypertension (57.93%), cardiovascular disease (48.99%), diabetes (26.7%) and chronic kidney disease (14.36%), and they used antibiotics (90.43%), antimalarials (60.45%), steroids (48.61%), antivirals (33.38%), anti-systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) drugs (9.45%), and tocilizumab (8.31%). Mortality among patients with AKI doubled that observed in patients without AKI (46.1 vs. 21.79%). Predictors of hospital death in COVID-19 patients with AKI were ventilation needs (OR = 5.9), treatment with steroids (OR = 1.7) or anti-SIRS (OR = 2.4), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurrence (OR = 2.8), and SIRS occurrence (OR = 2.5).

Conclusions: Acute kidney injury is a frequent and serious complication among COVID-19 patients, with a very high mortality, that requires more attention by treating physicians, when prescribing medications, by looking for manifestations particular to the disease, such as SARS or SIRS.
A Synthetic Riboswitch to Regulate Haloarchaeal Gene Expression
Authors: Born Johannes , Weitzel Kerstin , Suess Beatrix , Pfeifer Felicitas
Published: June 2021

In recent years, synthetic riboswitches have become increasingly important to construct genetic circuits in all three domains of life. In bacteria, synthetic translational riboswitches are often employed that modulate gene expression by masking the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence in the absence or presence of a cognate ligand. For (halo-)archaeal translation, a SD sequence is not strictly required. The application of synthetic riboswitches in haloarchaea is therefore limited so far, also because of the molar intracellular salt concentrations found in these microbes. In this study, we applied synthetic theophylline-dependent translational riboswitches in the archaeon Haloferax volcanii. The riboswitch variants A through E and E∗ were chosen since they not only mask the SD sequence but also the AUG start codon by forming a secondary structure in the absence of the ligand theophylline. Upon addition of the ligand, the ribosomal binding site and start codon become accessible for translation initiation. Riboswitch E mediated a dose-dependent, up to threefold activation of the bgaH reporter gene expression. Raising the salt concentration of the culture media from 3 to 4 M NaCl resulted in a 12-fold increase in the switching capacity of riboswitch E, and switching activity increased up to 26-fold when the cultivating temperature was reduced from 45 to 30°C. To construct a genetic circuit, riboswitch E was applied to regulate the synthesis of the transcriptional activator GvpE allowing a dose-dependent activation of the mgfp6 reporter gene under PpA promoter control.