bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review and meta-analysis of cancer patients affected by a novel coronavirus
Authors: Venkatesulu Bhanu Prasad , Thoguluva Chandrasekar Viveksandeep , Giridhar Prashanth , Advani Pragati , Sharma Amrish , Hsieh Cheng En , Elumalai Thiraviyam , Elghazawy Hagar I , Verma Vivek , Krishnan Sunil
Published: May 2020

Background
Cancer patients with COVID-19 disease have been reported to have double the case fatality rate of the general population.
Materials and methods
A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central, Google Scholar, and MedRxiv was done for studies on cancer patients with COVID-19. Pooled proportions were calculated for categorical variables. Odds ratio and forest plots were constructed for both primary and secondary outcomes. The random-effects model was used to account for heterogeneity between studies.
Results
This systematic review of 31 studies and meta-analysis of 181,323 patients from 26 studies involving 23,736 cancer patients is the largest meta-analysis to the best of our knowledge assessing outcomes in cancer patients affected by COVID-19. Our meta-analysis shows that cancer patients with COVID-19 have a higher likelihood of death (odds ratio, OR 2.54), which was largely driven by mortality among patients in China. Cancer patients were more likely to be intubated, although ICU admission rates were not statistically significant. Among cancer subtypes, the mortality was highest in hematological malignancies (OR 2.43) followed by lung cancer (OR 1.8). There was no association between receipt of a particular type of oncologic therapy and mortality. Our study showed that cancer patients affected by COVID-19 are a decade older than the normal population and have a higher proportion of co-morbidities. There was insufficient data to assess the association of COVID-directed therapy and survival outcomes in cancer patients. Despite the heterogeneity of studies and inconsistencies in reported variables and outcomes, these data could guide clinical practice and oncologic care during this unprecedented global health pandemic.

Conclusion
Cancer patients with COVID-19 disease are at increased risk of mortality and morbidity. A more nuanced understanding of the interaction between cancer-directed therapies and COVID-19-directed therapies is needed. This will require uniform prospective recording of data, possibly in multi-institutional registry databases.
Cell clusters adopt a collective amoeboid mode of migration in confined non-adhesive environments
Authors: Pagès Diane-Laure , Dornier Emmanuel , De Seze Jean , Wang Li , Luan Rui , Cartry Jérôme , Canet-Jourdan Charlotte , Raingeaud Joel , Voituriez Raphael , Coppey Mathieu , Piel Matthieu , Jaulin Fanny
Published: May 2020

Cell migration is essential to most living organisms. Single cell migration involves two distinct mechanisms, either a focal adhesion- and traction-dependent mesenchymal motility or an adhesion-independent but contractility-driven propulsive amoeboid locomotion. Cohesive migration of a group of cells, also called collective cell migration, has been only described as an adhesion- and traction-dependent mode of locomotion where the driving forces are mostly exerted at the front by leader cells. Here, by studying primary cancer specimens and cell lines from colorectal cancer, we demonstrate the existence of a second mode of collective migration which does not require adhesion to the surroundings and relies on a polarised supracellular contractility. Cell clusters confined into non-adhesive microchannels migrate in a rounded morphology, independently of the formation of focal adhesions or protruding leader cells, and lacking internal flow of cells, ruling-out classical traction-driven collective migration. Like single cells migrating in an amoeboid fashion, the clusters display a supracellular actin cortex with myosin II enriched at the rear. Using pharmacological inhibitors and optogenetics, we show that this polarised actomyosin activity powers migration and propels the clusters. This new mode of migration, that we named collective amoeboid, could be enabled by intrinsic or extrinsic neoplasic features to enable the metastatic spread of cancers.

One Sentence Summary

Clusters organise as polarised and contractile super-cells to migrate without adhesion.
Sox9EGFPdefines biliary epithelial heterogeneity downstream of Yap activity
Authors: Tulasi Deepthi Y , Martinez Castaneda Diego , Wager Kortney , Alcedo Karel P , Raab Jesse R , Gracz Adam D
Published: May 2020

Intrahepatic bile ducts are lined by biliary epithelial cells (BECs). However, defining the genetic heterogeneity of BECs remains challenging, and tools for identifying BEC subpopulations are limited. Here, we characterize Sox9EGFPtransgene expression in the liver and demonstrate that GFP expression levels are associated with distinct cell types. BECs express “low” or “high” levels of GFP, while periportal hepatocytes express “sublow” GFP. Sox9EGFPdistribution varies by duct size, with GFPhighBECs found at greater numbers in smaller ducts. RNA-seq reveals distinct gene expression signatures for Sox9EGFPpopulations and enrichment of Notch and Yap signaling in GFPlowand GFPhighBECs. All GFP+populations are capable of forming organoids, but demonstrate interpopulation differences in organoid survival and size, dependent on media conditions. Organoids derived from Sox9EGFPpopulations also demonstrate differential activation of HNF4A protein in hepatocyte media conditions, suggesting variable potency in BEC subpopulations. We find that Yap signaling is required to maintainSox9expression in biliary organoids, and that bile acids are insufficient to induce Yap activity orSox9 in vivoandin vitro. Our data demonstrate that Sox9EGFPlevels provide a readout of Yap activity and delineate BEC heterogeneity, providing a tool for assaying subpopulation-specific cellular function in the liver.
Keratin 19 maintains E-cadherin localization at the cell surface and stabilizes cell-cell adhesion of MCF7 cells
Authors: Alsharif Sarah , Sharma Pooja , Bursch Karina , Milliken Rachel , Collins Meagan , Lam Van , Fallatah Arwa , Phan Thuc , Dohlman Priya , Nehmetallah Georges , Raub Christopher B. , Chung Byung Min
Published: May 2020

A cytoskeletal protein keratin 19 (K19) is highly expressed in breast cancer but its effects on breast cancer cell mechanics are unclear. UsingKRT19knockout (KO) cells and cells where K19 expression was rescued, we found that K19 is required to maintain rounded epithelial-like shape and tight cell-cell adhesion of MCF7 cells. A loss of K19 resulted in a lower level of plakoglobin and internalization of E-cadherin in early and recycling endosomes. Inhibiting internalization restored cell-cell adhesion ofKRT19KO cells, suggesting E-cadherin internalization contributes to defective adhesion. Ultimately, while K19 inhibited cell migration, it was required for cells to form colonies in suspension. Our results suggest that K19 stabilizes E-cadherin complexes at the cell membrane to maintain cell-cell adhesion which inhibits cell migration but provides growth and survival advantages for circulating tumor cells. These findings provide context-dependent roles of K19 during metastasis.
The Bgee suite: integrated curated expression atlas and comparative transcriptomics in animals
Authors: Bastian Frederic B. , Roux Julien , Niknejad Anne , Comte Aurélie , Fonseca Costa Sara S. , de Farias Tarcisio Mendes , Moretti Sébastien , Parmentier Gilles , de Laval Valentine Rech , Rosikiewicz Marta , Wollbrett Julien , Echchiki Amina , Escoriza Angélique , Gharib Walid H , Gonzales-Porta Mar , Jarosz Yohan , Laurenczy Balazs , Moret Philippe , Person Emilie , Roelli Patrick , Sanjeev Komal , Seppey Mathieu , Robinson-Rechavi Marc
Published: May 2020

Bgee is a database to retrieve and compare gene expression patterns in multiple animal species, produced by integrating multiple data types (RNA-Seq, Affymetrix, in situ hybridization, and EST data). It is based exclusively on curated healthy wild-type expression data (e.g., no gene knock-out, no treatment, no disease), to provide a comparable reference of normal gene expression. Curation includes very large datasets such as GTEx (re-annotation of samples as “healthy” or not) as well as many small ones. Data are integrated and made comparable between species thanks to consistent data annotation and processing, and to calls of presence/absence of expression, along with expression scores. As a result, Bgee is capable of detecting the conditions of expression of any single gene, accommodating any data type and species. Bgee provides several tools for analyses, allowing, e.g., automated comparisons of gene expression patterns within and between species, retrieval of the prefered conditions of expression of any gene, or enrichment analyses of conditions with expression of sets of genes. Bgee release 14.1 includes 29 animal species, and is available athttps://bgee.org/and through its Bioconductor R package BgeeDB.
Sample preparation and imaging conditions affect mEos3.2 photophysics in fission yeast cells
Authors: Sun Mengyuan , Hu Kevin , Bewersdorf Joerg , Pollard Thomas D.
Published: May 2020

Photoconvertible fluorescent proteins (PCFPs) are widely used in super-resolution microscopy and studies of cellular dynamics. However, our understanding of their photophysics is still limited, hampering their quantitative application. For example, we do not know the optimal sample preparation methods or imaging conditions to count protein molecules fused to PCFPs by single-molecule localization microscopy in live and fixed cells. We also do not know how the behavior of PCFPs in live cells compares with fixed cells. Therefore, we investigated how formaldehyde fixation influences the photophysical properties of the popular green-to-red PCFP mEos3.2 in fission yeast cells under a wide range of imaging conditions. We estimated photophysical parameters by fitting a 3-state model of photoconversion and photobleaching to the time course of fluorescence signal per yeast cell expressing mEos3.2. We discovered that formaldehyde fixation makes the fluorescence signal, photoconversion rate and photobleaching rate of mEos3.2 sensitive to the buffer conditions by permeabilizing the yeast cell membrane. Under some imaging conditions, the time-integrated mEos3.2 signal per yeast cell is similar in live cells and fixed cells imaged in buffer at pH 8.5 with 1 mM DTT, indicating that light chemical fixation does not destroy mEos3.2 molecules. We also discovered that some red-state mEos3.2 molecules entered an intermediate dark state that is converted back to the red fluorescent state by 561-nm illumination. Our findings provide a guide to compare quantitatively conditions for imaging and counting of mEos3.2-tagged molecules in yeast cells. Our imaging assay and mathematical model are easy to implement and provide a simple quantitative approach to measure the time-integrated signal and the photoconversion and photobleaching rates of fluorescent proteins in cells.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Making quantitative measurements with single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) has been impeded by limited understanding of the photophysics of the fluorophores, which is very sensitive to the sample preparation and imaging conditions. We characterized the photophysics of the green-to-red photoconvertible fluorescent protein mEos3.2, which is widely used in SMLM. We combined quantitative fluorescence microscopy and mathematical modeling to measure the fluorescence signal and rate constants for photoconversion and photobleaching of mEos3.2 in live and fixed cells under a wide range of illumination intensities. Our findings provide a guide to compare conditions for imaging and counting mEos3.2-tagged proteins in cells. The presented approach is generally applicable to characterize other fluorescent proteins or dyes in cells.
Atypical B cells are a normal component of immune responses to vaccination and infection in humans
Authors: Sutton Henry J. , Aye Racheal , Idris Azza H. , Vistein Rachel , Nduati Eunice , Kai Oscar , Mwacharo Jedida , Li Xi , Gao Xin , Andrews T. Daniel , Koutsakos Marios , Nguyen Thi H. O. , Nekrasov Maxim , Milburn Peter , Ethala Auda , Berry Andrea A. , Natasha KC , Chakravarty Sumana , Sim B. Kim Lee , Wheatley Adam K. , Kent Stephen J. , Hoffman Stephen L. , Lyke Kirsten E. , Bejon Philip , Luciani Fabio , Kedzierska Katherine , Seder Robert A. , Ndungu Francis M. , Cockburn Ian A.
Published: May 2020

The full diversity of the circulating human B cell compartment is unknown. Flow cytometry analysis suggests that in addition to naïve and memory B cells, there exists a population of CD11c+, CD27−CD21−“atypical” B cells, that are associated with chronic or recurrent infection and autoimmunity. We used single cell RNA-seq approaches to examine the diversity of both antigen-specific B cells and total B cells in healthy subjects and individuals naturally-exposed to recurrent malaria infections. This analysis revealed two B cell lineages: a classical lineage of activated and resting memory B cells, and an atypical-like lineage. Surprisingly, the atypical lineage was common in both malaria exposed individuals and non-exposed healthy controls. Using barcoded antibodies in conjunction with our transcriptomic data, we found that atypical lineage cells in healthy individuals lack many atypical B markers and thus represent an undercounted cryptic population. We further determined using antigen specific probes that atypical cells can be induced by primary vaccination in humans and can be recalled upon boosting. Collectively these data suggest that atypical cells are not necessarily pathogenic but can be a normal component of B responses to antigen.
The Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome geneFOXC1contributes to left-right patterning
Authors: Chrystal Paul W. , French Curtis R. , Jean Francesca , Havrylov Serhiy , van Baarle Suey , Peturson Ann-Marie , Xu Pengfei , Crump J. Gage , Pilgrim David B. , Lehmann Ordan J. , Waskiewicz Andrew J.
Published: May 2020

Normal body situs requires precise spatiotemporal expression of theNodal-Lefty-Pitx2cascade in the lateral plate mesoderm. The ultimate output of this patterning is establishment of the left-right axis, which provides vital cues for correct organ formation and function. Mutations, deletions and duplications inPITX2andFOXC1lead to the rare genetic disease Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome (ARS). While situs defects are not a recognised feature of ARS, partial penetrance of cardiac septal defects and valve incompetence is observed; both of these congenital heart defects (CHDs) also occur following disruption of left-right patterning. Here we investigated whetherfoxc1genes have a critical role in specifying organ situs. We demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 generated mutants for the zebrafish paralogsfoxc1aandfoxc1brecapitulate ARS phenotypes including craniofacial dysmorphism, hydrocephalus and intracranial haemorrhage. Furthermore,foxc1a-/-;foxc1b-/-mutant animals display cardiac and gut situs defects. ModellingFOXC1duplication by transient mRNA overexpression revealed that increasedfoxc1dosage also results in organ situs defects. Analysis of known left-right patterning genes revealed a loss in expression of theNODALantagonistlefty2in the lateral plate mesoderm. Consistently,LEFTY2mutations are known to cause human cardiac situs defects. Our data reveal a novel role for the forkhead-box transcription factorfoxc1in patterning of the left-right axis, and provide a plausible mechanism for the incidence of congenital heart defects in Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome patients.

Author Summary

This manuscript investigates the functional consequences of abrogating the activity of Foxc1 (Forkhead Box C1). We demonstrate that loss of zebrafishfoxc1aandfoxc1bresults in phenotypes that resemble human patients with deletions in theFOXC1locus. Notably, such phenotypes include alterations to the morphology of the heart. Investigations into the mechanisms underlying this phenotype led to the discovery that Foxc1 functions as a regulator of left-right patterning. Most components of left-right specification function normally infoxc1a/bmutants, but there is a pronounced loss oflefty2, a known inhibitor of Nodal signaling. This supports a model in which Foxc1 regulates situs of the heart via the regulation of Lefty2.
Antineoplastic kinase inhibitors: a new class of potent anti-amoebic compounds Antineoplastic kinase inhibitors againstEntamoeba histolytica
Authors: Sauvey Conall , Ehrenkaufer Gretchen , Shi Da , Debnath Anjan , Abagyan Ruben
Published: May 2020

Entamoeba histolyticais a protozoan parasite which infects approximately 50 million people worldwide, resulting in an estimated 70,000 deaths every year. Since the 1960sE. histolyticainfection has been successfully treated with metronidazole. However, drawbacks to metronidazole therapy exist, including adverse effects, a long treatment course, and the need for an additional drug to prevent cyst-mediated transmission.E. histolyticapossesses a kinome with approximately 300 - 400 members, some of which have been previously studied as potential targets for the development of amoebicidal drug candidates. However, while these efforts have uncovered novel potent inhibitors ofE. histolyticakinases, none have resulted in approved drugs. In this study we took the alternative approach of testing a set of twelve previously FDA-approved antineoplastic kinase inhibitors againstE. histolyticatrophozoitesin vitro. This resulted in the identification of dasatinib, bosutinib, and ibrutinib as amoebicidal agents at low-micromolar concentrations. Next, we utilized a recently developed computational tool to identify twelve additional drugs with human protein target profiles similar to the three initial hits. Testing of these additional twelve drugs led to the identification of ponatinib, neratinib, and olmutinib were identified as highly potent, with EC50values in the sub-micromolar range. All of these six drugs were found to killE. histolyticatrophozoites as rapidly as metronidazole. Furthermore, ibrutinib was found to kill the transmissible cyst stage of the model organismE. invadens. Ibrutinib thus possesses both amoebicidal and cysticidal properties, in contrast to all drugs used in the current therapeutic strategy. These findings together reveal antineoplastic kinase inhibitors as a highly promising class of potent drugs against this widespread and devastating disease.

Author Summary

Every year, nearly a hundred thousand people worldwide die from infection by the intestinal parasiteEntamoeba histolytica, despite the widespread availability of metronidazole as a treatment. Here we report that six anticancer drugs of the kinase inhibitor class possess potent anti-amoebic properties, with one of them killing both actively dividing parasite and its transmissible cysts. These anticancer kinase inhibitors, including the dual-purpose drug with both amoebicidal and cysticidal activities may be used to treat amoebiasis, especially in cancer patients or in life-threatening brain- and liver-infecting forms of the disease.
Bioinformatics approach reveals Nur77-regulated genes common to the central nervous and immune systems
Authors: Olivares-Costa Montserrat , Parada Guillermo , Andrés María Estela
Published: May 2020

Neurons and immune cells have similar mechanisms for cell to cell communication. Exists active crosstalk between neurons and immune cells. Neurotransmitters can activate or inhibit immune cells, and cytokines modulate neuronal activity. The transcription factor Nur77 (NR4A1) is highly and transiently induced by several stimuli in neurons and T-lymphocytes, suggesting that Nur77 is involved in the coordination of the genetics response in both cell types. By analyzing publicly available databases, we found Nur77 target genes common to the nervous and immune systems. Functions as cell adhesion and anchoring appear as processes regulated by Nur77 in neurons and immune cells.
Oxygen transport parameter in plasma membrane of eye lens fiber cells by saturation recovery EPR
Authors: Stein N. , Subczynski W. K.
Published: May 2020

A probability distribution of rate constants contained within an exponential-like saturation recovery (SR) electron paramagnetic resonance signal can be constructed using stretched exponential function fitting parameters. Previously (Stein et al.Appl. Magn. Reson.2019.), application of this method was limited to the case where only one relaxation process, namely spin-lattice relaxations due to the rotational diffusion of the spin labels in the intact eye-lens membranes, contributed to an exponential-like SR signal. These conditions were achieved for thoroughly deoxygenated samples. Here, the case is described where the second relaxation process, namely Heisenberg exchange between the spin label and molecular oxygen that occurs during bimolecular collisions, contributes to the decay of SR signals. We have further developed the theory for application of stretched exponential function to analyze SR signals involving these two processes. This new approach allows separation of stretched exponential parameters, namely characteristic stretched rates and heterogeneity parameters for both processes. Knowing these parameters allowed us to separately construct the probability distributions of spin-lattice relaxation rates determined by the rotational diffusion of spin labels and the distribution of relaxations induced strictly by collisions with molecular oxygen. The later distribution is determined by the distribution of oxygen diffusion concentration products within the membrane, which forms a sensitive new way to describe membrane fluidity and heterogeneity. This method was validatedin silicoand by fitting SR signals from spin-labeled intact nuclear fiber cell plasma membranes extracted from porcine eye lenses equilibrated with different fractions of air.

Statement of Significance

Multi-exponential spin-lattice relaxation in complex membranous systems can be described by a stretched exponential function that provides a continuous probability distribution of relaxation rates rather than discreet relaxations from separate domains. The stretched exponential function has two fitting parameters, the characteristic spin-lattice relaxation rate (T1str−1) and the stretching parameter (β), obtained without any assumption about the number of membrane domains and their homogeneity. For membranes equilibrated with air, collisions with molecular oxygen provide an additional relaxation pathway for spin labels that depends on the oxygen-diffusion-concentration product in the vicinity of spin labels. This new approach allows separation of membrane fluidity and heterogeneity sensed by motion of lipid spin labels from those described by the translational diffusion of molecular oxygen.
Chronic optogenetic stimulation of hippocampal engrams variably modulates social behaviors in mice
Authors: Doucette Emily , Leblanc Heloise , Monasterio Amy , Cincotta Christine , Grella Stephanie L. , Logan Jesse , Ramirez Steve
Published: May 2020

The hippocampus processes both spatial-temporal information and emotionally salient experiences. To test the functional properties of discrete sets of cells in the dorsal dentate gyrus (dDG), we examined whether chronic optogenetic reactivation of these ensembles was sufficient to modulate social behaviors in mice. We found that chronic reactivation of dDG cells in male mice was sufficient to enhance social behaviors in a female exposure task when compared to pre-stimulation levels. However, chronic reactivation of these cells was not sufficient to modulate group differences in a separate subset of social behaviors, and multi-region analysis of neural activity did not yield detectable differences in immediate-early gene expression or neurogenesis, suggesting a dissociation between our chronic stimulation-induced behavioral effects and underlying neural responses. Together, our results demonstrate that chronic optogenetic stimulation of cells processing valent experiences enduringly and unidirectionally modulates social interactions between male and female mice.
Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis of COVID-19 Blood, Lung, and Airway
Authors: Daamen Andrea R. , Bachali Prathyusha , Owen Katherine A. , Kingsmore Kathryn M. , Hubbard Erika L. , Labonte Adam C. , Robl Robert , Shrotri Sneha , Grammer Amrie C. , Lipsky Peter E.
Published: May 2020

SARS-CoV2 is a previously uncharacterized coronavirus and causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The host response to SARS-CoV2 has not yet been fully delineated, hampering a precise approach to therapy. To address this, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of gene expression data from the blood, lung, and airway of COVID-19 patients. Our results indicate that COVID-19 pathogenesis is driven by populations of myeloid-lineage cells with highly inflammatory but distinct transcriptional signatures in each compartment. The relative absence of cytotoxic cells in the lung suggests a model in which delayed clearance of the virus may permit exaggerated myeloid cell activation that contributes to disease pathogenesis by the production of inflammatory mediators. The gene expression profiles also identify potential therapeutic targets that could be modified with available drugs. The data suggest that transcriptomic profiling can provide an understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 in individual patients.

Graphical Abstract
Rules of Contact Inhibition of Locomotion for Cells on Suspended Nanofibers
Authors: Singh Jugroop , Camley Brian A. , Nain Amrinder S.
Published: May 2020

Contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL), in which cells repolarize and move away from contact, is now established as a fundamental driving force in development, repair, and disease biology. Much of what we know of CIL stems from studies on 2D substrates that fail to provide an essential biophysical cue – the curvature of extracellular matrix fibers. We discover rules controlling outcomes of cell-cell collisions on suspended nanofibers, and show them to be profoundly different from the stereotyped CIL behavior known on 2D substrates. Two approaching cells attached to a single fiber do not repolarize upon contact but rather usually migrate past one another. Fiber geometry modulates this behavior: when cells are attached to two fibers, reducing their freedom to reorient, only one of a pair of colliding cells repolarizes on contact, leading to the cell pair migrating as a single unit. CIL outcomes also change when one cell has recently divided and moves with high speed– cells more frequently walk past each other. In collisions with division in the two-fiber geometry, we also capture rare events where a daughter cell pushes the non-dividing cell along the fibers. Our computational model of CIL in fiber geometries reproduces the core qualitative results of the experiments robustly to model parameters. Our model shows that the increased speed of post-division cells may be sufficient to explain their increased walk-past rate. Our results suggest that characterizing cell-cell interactions on flat substrates, channels, or micropatterns is not sufficient to predict interactions in a matrix – the geometry of the fiber can generate entirely new behaviors.

Significance

When cells heal a wound or invade a new area, they coordinate their motion. Coordination is often studied by looking at what happens after pairs of cells collide. Post-collision, cells often exhibit contact inhibition of locomotion– they turn around and crawl away from the point where they touched. Our knowledge of repolarization on contact comes from studies on flat surfaces, unlike cells in the body, which crawl along fibers. We discover that cells on single fibers walk past one another– but that cells in contact with multiple fibers stick to one another and move as pairs. This outcome changes to walk-past after cell division. Our experiments and models reveal how the environment regulates cell-cell coordination after contact.
Expression, purification, crystallization and X-ray diffraction studies of a novel root-induced secreted protein from Trichoderma virens
Authors: Bansal Ravindra , Mistry Hiral U. , Mukherjee Prasun K. , Gupta Gagan D.
Published: May 2020

Small secreted cysteine-rich proteins (SSCPs) from fungi play an important role in fungi–host interactions. The plant-beneficial fungi Trichoderma spp. are in use worldwide as biocontrol agents and protect the host plant from soil-borne as well as foliar pathogens. Recently, a novel SSCP, Tsp1, has been identified in the secreted protein pool of T. virens and is overinduced upon its interaction with the roots of the maize plant. The protein was observed to be well conserved in the Ascomycota division of fungi, and its homologs are present in many plant-pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum and Magnaporthe oryzae. However, none of these homologs have yet been characterized. Recombinant Tsp1 protein has been expressed and purified using an Escherichia coli expression system. The protein, with four conserved cysteines, forms a dimer in solution as observed by size-exclusion chromatography. The dimerization, however, does not involve disulfide bonds. Circular-dichroism data suggested that the protein has a β-strand-rich secondary structure that matched well with the secondary structure predicted using bioinformatics methods. The protein was crystallized using sodium malonate as a precipitant. The crystals diffracted X-rays to 1.7 Å resolution and belonged to the orthorhombic space group P212121 (R
meas = 5.4%), with unit-cell parameters a = 46.3, b = 67.0, c = 173.2 Å. The Matthews coefficient (V
M) of the crystal is 2.32 Å3 Da−1, which corresponds to nearly 47% solvent content with four subunits of Tsp1 protein in the asymmetric unit. This is the first report of the structural study of any homolog of the novel Tsp1 protein. These structural studies will help in understanding the classification and function of the protein.
2-O-Monoalkyl isosorbide ethers with C8, C10, C12 and C14 chain lengths
Authors: Geburtig Felix , Vill Volkmar
Published: May 2020

The title compounds, 6-(octyloxy)hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-3-ol, C14H26O4, 6-(decyloxy)hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-3-ol, C16H30O4, 6-(dodecyloxy)hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-3-ol, C18H34O4, and 6-(tetradecyloxy)hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-3-ol, C20H38O4, consist of a polar headgroup (isosorbide) and a lipophilic alkyl chain linkedviaan ether bridge. Isosorbide is a biobased diol, containing two fused furan rings. One intermolecular hydrogen bond connects the molecules between the freeendohydroxy group and the opposing ether oxygen of the V-shaped head group. Thus the molecule layers interlock like in a herringbone pattern parallel to thebcplane.
BIM-based life-cycle environmental assessment of prefabricated buildings
Authors: Ji Yingbo , Qi Kai , Qi Yuan , Li Yan , Li Hong Xian , Lei Zhen , Liu Yan
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This research aims to propose a comparative environmental analysis of conventional and prefabricated construction techniques utilizing a building information modelling (BIM) technique.

Design/methodology/approach

A set of indicators are selected to assess the environmental emissions throughout the construction life cycle, based on BIM platform. An existing project involving ten apartment buildings in Shanghai is selected as a case study.

Findings

The results reveal that prefabricated construction demonstrates environment-friendly performance with some exceptions of acidification and mineral resource consumption. Environmental impacts can also be further reduced by increasing the projected area ratio and percentage of project prefabrication.

Originality/value

Overall, the proposed method can be used to identify relevant environmental merits and for decision-making of appropriate construction techniques in building construction projects.
Factors influencing internet usage for health purposes
Authors: Sumaedi Sik , Sumardjo Sumardjo
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to analyse the simultaneous effect of intention, attitude, knowledge, injunctive norm, descriptive norm, facility access, perceived Internet health information, hedonic motivation, utilitarian motivation, and perceived threat of non-communicable diseases (NCD) on Internet usage for health purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data were collected through a survey. The respondents of the survey are 369 Jakarta residents. Multiple regression analysis was conducted.

Findings

Internet usage for health purposes is significantly affected by intention, knowledge, descriptive norm, and the perceived threat of NCD. Internet usage for health purposes is not influenced by attitude, facility access, perceived Internet health information, hedonic and utilitarian motivation.

Research limitations/implications

This research was conducted only in Jakarta. It also employed a purposive sampling technique. Future research should be conducted in other locations and used a probability sampling technique.

Practical implications

To improve the level of Internet usage for health purposes, it is essential to increase the public’s intention to use the Internet for health purposes, their knowledge on Internet usage for health purposes, and their awareness of the dangers of NCD. It is also important to persuade the community influential leaders/persons to use the Internet for health purposes.

Originality/value

This study is the first to develop and test an Internet usage for health purposes model that involves intention, attitude, knowledge, injunctive norm, descriptive norm, facility access, perceived Internet health information, hedonic motivation, utilitarian motivation, and perceived threat of NCD.
Supplier–supplier coopetition and supply chain disruption: first-tier supplier resilience in the tetradic context
Authors: Durach Christian F. , Wiengarten Frank , Choi Thomas Y.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The present study considers disruption in the buyer–supplier–supplier triad. This triad has a common second-tier supplier as the disruption source, which gives us the tetradic context. The goal is to advance the knowledge on how a first-tier supplier's resilience against lower-tier disruptive events can be developed through horizontally connecting with the other first-tier supplier and how the buyer can benefit from its first-tier suppliers' resilience capability.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 33 triads was collected and analyzed.

Findings

As predicted, coopetition between two first-tier suppliers increases the first-tier supplier's capability to be resilient to disruptive events emanating from a lower tier source. However, contrary to initial theorization, the first-tier supplier's resilience capability affects the buyer's performance during disruptive events negatively. With increasing buyer–supplier social bonds, this negative relationship can partly be alleviated.

Research limitations/implications

Analyzing resilience within a triad to a disruption in the tetradic context reveals unexpected dynamics. Individual supplier's resilience may have a negative impact on the buyer's resilience in certain disruption events.

Practical implications

The buyer can increase collective suppliers' resilience through establishing horizontal links. To prevent becoming a victim of the supplier's resilience in the event of a second-tier disruption, a buyer needs to become a member of the supplier's relational network.

Originality/value

We propose that resilience can rest with the suppliers. This observation has implications for the buyer when selecting and coordinating suppliers. Further, it considers a context beyond a triad by venturing into the tetradic context. We anticipate more studies in tetrads in future and this study can serve as a bridge.
Digital transforming capability and performance: a microfoundational perspective
Authors: Sousa-Zomer Thayla Tavares , Neely Andy , Martinez Veronica
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Drawing on the literature on dynamic capabilities and digital transformation, this paper conceptualises and investigates the relevant antecedents of an essential capability for digital transformation – the digital transforming capability – and its effect on the competitive advantage of firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework with individual and organisational microfoundations of the digital transforming capability is proposed based on previous research. The digital transforming capability is conceptualised as a second-order construct. The model is tested using data from a broad spectrum of large US companies. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is applied to test the proposed framework.

Findings

The study identifies three main microfoundations that, when combined, build a digital transforming capability (digital-savvy skills, digital intensity and context for action and interaction); in addition, the study tests the relationship between digital transforming capability and firm performance. The results validate the proposed theoretical framework. In addition to proposing relevant microfoundations of the digital transforming capability, we advance knowledge on the performance effects of those microfoundations.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to advancing the understanding of the digital transformation phenomenon by revealing the role of the primary components underlying the digital transforming capability. Yet the mechanisms by which the micro-level aspects are important for digital transformation and organisational outcomes are only suggested by anecdotal evidence. The paper also contributes to ongoing calls for further investigation to extend the understanding of the microfoundations of dynamic capabilities. Finally, by drawing on archival data, this study also contributes to calls to broaden the toolkit used in dynamic capabilities research.
Identification of key variables and constructs in the context of wine tasting room: importance-performance analysis
Authors: Haverila Matti , Haverila Kai , Twyford Jenny Carita
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Relying on importance–performance theory, this paper uses a distinctive statistical analysis instrument to investigate the importance and performance of crucial wine tasting room constructs and indicators with a purpose to make real and tangible recommendations for wine tasting room managers to improve the winery visit experience.

Design/methodology/approach

The surveys (N = 402) were conducted among 14 wineries in British Columbia, Canada. The data was analysed by using partial least squares structural equation modelling software SmartPLS with importance–performance functionality embedded in it.

Findings

The findings indicate the importance and performance of the service quality constructs, assurance, empathy, reliability, responsiveness, and tangibility and their respective indicator variables in importance–performance map analysis (IPMA). The responsiveness construct showed the highest need for improvement in terms of performance of exogenous service quality constructs in wine tasting rooms. Empathy, value for money and reliability constructs got “no change” recommendation and “tangibility” and “education” recommendation. The assurance construct was not significantly related to customer satisfaction and was not included in the IPMA analysis.

Originality/value

The approach provides an easy to use and visual tool for wineries to assess the importance and performance of the various service quality elements. The tool provides the management of wineries guidance for the identification of strategic areas of service quality improvement.
Ferrofluid lubrication for ball bearings to avoid starvation
Authors: Xu Mancheng , Jin Guanghu , Dai Qingwen , Huang Wei , Wang Xiaolei
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to prevent oil starvation and improve the service life of the rolling bearings.

Design/methodology/approach

A thrust ball bearing with magnetic circuit structure is proposed for ferrofluid lubrication. With the aid of magnetic field, ferrofluid can be maintained in the contact area of rolling bodies to delay lubricant loss. Experiments are performed to ensure the validity of the designed bearing.

Findings

Compared with conventional lubricant, service life of the ferrofluid lubricated bearing can be prolonged under magnetic field. In addition, with a proper magnetic field distribution, lubricant starvation may be limited under the conditions of present experiments.

Originality/value

This work provides a method to control the starved lubrication of rolling bearings with restricted lubricant supply.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2020-0132/
Pay inequality and job satisfaction of law firms: the role of strategic positioning
Authors: Song Ki Kyung , Whang Eunyoung
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Using Porter’s (1980) generic strategy to define strategic positioning of law firms, this paper aims to explain why some law firms have more/less pay inequality than others do and examine the impact of pay inequality on law firms’ partners and the job satisfaction of their associates.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses data fromThe American Lawyer. The strategic positioning, compensation and job satisfaction scores of 614 firm-year observations of US law firms are hand-collected over the period from 2007 to 2016.

Findings

Non-equity partners at law firms with differentiation strategy (Porter, 1980) are more likely to build rainmaking ability than those at law firms relying on billable hours. As a result, law firms with differentiation strategy have a narrower pay gap between their equity and non-equity partners than those firms relying on billable hours. After controlling for the effects of strategy on pay inequality using two-stage and three-stage least squares models, this paper finds that a wider pay gap deprives associates of job satisfaction.

Originality/value

Considering strategic positioning, this paper validates why some law firms have more/less pay inequality and proves how pay inequality affects job satisfaction.
Does culture influence whether a society justifies tax cheating?
Authors: Bani-Mustafa Ahmed , Al Qudah Anas , Damrah Sadeq , Alameen Mamoon
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether culture has an impact on justifications for tax cheating, and if there is, indeed, a rationale for justifying this behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

World surveys (V201) were used to measure justifications for tax cheating in 39 countries. Hofstede’s culture dimensions were used as a measurement scale for the relevant cultural aspects that could have an impact on tax cheating.

Findings

The results show that individualism and power distance increase the justification, while masculinity and uncertainty avoidance decrease the justification for tax cheating. Accordingly, when budgeting for tax revenues, governments need to consider the cultural dimension in their risk assessments for tax evasion.

Originality/value

The findings of this research provide some implications for legislators and policymakers. For example, they need to give more consideration to their respective society’s cultural dimensions and to the structure of their communities when they are imposing taxes. Legislators need to put more effort toward convincing people why it is necessary to impose and/or increase certain taxes, how society benefits directly and indirectly and why action needs to be taken when these taxes are not paid.
Voluntary disclosure of intellectual capital information by deposit money banks in Nigeria
Authors: Onuoha Nnachi Egwu , Ofoegbu Grace Nyereugwu , Okafor Regina Gwamniru , Onodugo Vincent Aghaegbunam
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent and quality of voluntary intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) by deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a survey of 271 informants and content analysis of the annual reports of 12 DMBs in Nigeria. The data collected were analysed using factor analysis,t-test, Friedman test for related sample and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Findings

The findings of this paper indicate that the extent of ICD is significant and higher than the quality of ICD, which is insignificant, with the extent of disclosure highest in the relational component of intellectual capital. It also shows that a significant difference exists amongst the extent of human capital, structural capital and relational capital disclosures, with the significant difference traced to the difference between the extent of disclosures of relational capital and human capital.

Research limitations/implications

The results can be interpreted across the target sample where the study covers a five-year period and 12 DMBs in Nigeria. However, the study provides a robust empirical basis for policymakers and regulators to develop future ICD regulatory guidelines for banks and push for improvement in the quality of ICD by DMBs.

Originality/value

No previous studies of voluntary ICD have considered the extent and quality of ICD by DMBs in Nigeria. Further, this study shed the light on a new human capital item related to “employee health and mental state”; therefore, it extends and supports the previous empirical literature on ICD.
Modelling value co-creation in triadic B2B industrial relationships
Authors: Sales-Vivó Vicente , Gil-Saura Irene , Gallarza Martina
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study examines the triadic approach of value co-creation (VcC) in B2B relationships between the industrial manufacturer, its main supplier and its main client, by validating VcC as antecedent of Trust and Commitment, which, in turn, affect Satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A model studies the association of VcC to Trust, Commitment and Satisfaction, the latter in its economic and social dimensions. The relationships in the model are empirically contrasted twice (with suppliers and clients) for a sample of 77 firms participating in an industrial panel, the Spanish Furniture Market Observatory.

Findings

Using PLS-SEM, results suggest that, in industrial B2B relationships, VcC acts as antecedent of Trust and, to a minor extent, of Commitment. It also has a positive effect on Social Satisfaction, the latter having a positive effect in turn on Economic Satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Results are limited to the Spanish furniture industry with a cross-sectional approach. The linkages between VcC and Commitment, as well as the differences found between Social Satisfaction and Economic Satisfaction, need replications.

Practical implications

The study suggests that VcC is the core of B2B industrial relationships. VcC may also boost Economic Satisfaction.

Originality/value

Literature on VcC has been extensive in B2C and B2B mostly for service contexts; this paper contributes by bringing evidence from a B2B manufacturing context. At the same time, it depicts a triadic approach of VcC in B2B, by measuring the relationships with both the manufacturer's main supplier and main client. The study also contributes with evidence to the role played by Trust and Commitment in the relationship between VcC and two Satisfactions.
Fundamental solutions of two 3D rectangular semi-permeable cracks in transversely isotropic piezoelectric media based on the non-local theory
Authors: Liu Haitao , Wang Liang
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to present the non-local theory solution of two three-dimensional (3D) rectangular semi-permeable cracks in transversely isotropic piezoelectric media under a normal stress loading.

Design/methodology/approach

The fracture problem is solved by using the non-local theory, the generalized Almansi's theorem and the Schmidt method. By Fourier transform, this problem is formulated as three pairs of dual integral equations, in which the elastic and electric displacements jump across the crack surfaces. Finally, the non-local stress and the non-local electric displacement fields near the crack edges in piezoelectric media are derived.

Findings

Different from the classical solutions, the present solution exhibits no stress and electric displacement singularities at the crack edges in piezoelectric media.

Originality/value

According to the literature survey, the electro-elastic behavior of two 3D rectangular cracks in piezoelectric media under the semi-permeable boundary conditions has not been reported by means of the non-local theory so far.