bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Presence of concurrent sarcoid-like granulomas indicate better survival in cancer patients
Authors: Murthi Mukunthan , Yoshioka Keiichiro , Cho Jeong Hee , Arias Sixto , Danna Elio , Holt Greg , Tatsumi Koichiro , Kawasaki Takeshi , Mirsaeidi Mehdi
Published: March 2020

Introduction

An increased risk of sarcoidosis and sarcoid-like reactions in subjects with a history of malignancy has been suggested. We assessed the incidence and clinical characteristics of cancer patients with biopsies containing sarcoid-like granulomas on cancer metastasis and patient survival.

Methods

This is a retrospective, multicenter, observational study involving patients who underwent Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) at the University of Miami Hospital, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the USA and Chiba University in Japan. Subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer and who subsequently developed granulomas in different organs were enrolled. The study was registered at Clinicaltrial.gov (NCT03844698).

Results

One hundred and thirty-three patients met the study’s criteria. The most common primary cancer sites were the skin (22.5%), breast (20.3%), and lymph node (LN) (12.8%). Twenty-four (18%) patients developed sarcoidal granulomas within 1 year of cancer diagnosis, 54(40.6%) between 1 and 5 years and 49(36.8%) after 5 years. Imaging showed possible sarcoidal granulomas in lymph nodes in 51 cases (38.3%) and lung tissue and mediastinal lymph nodes in 73 cases (54.9%); some parenchymal reticular opacity and fibrosis were found in 5(3.7%) and significant parenchymal fibrosis in 2(1.5%) subjects. According to logistic regression analysis, the frequency of metastatic cancer was significantly lower in patients with sarcoidal granulomas than in controls. Moreover, multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed a significant survival advantage in those with sarcoidal granuloma.

Conclusion

Sarcoidal granulomas are uncommon pathology findings in cancer patients. There is a significant association between the presence of granulomas and reduced metastasis and increased survival. Further study is warranted to understand the protective mechanism involved.

Take home message

Our findings suggest that patients with underlying malignancy who develop sarcoidosis and sarcoid-like reactions have a lower risk of stage 4 metastatic disease and better survival compared to patients who do not develop such granulomatous reactions.
Genetically encoded live cell sensor for tyrosinated microtubules
Authors: Kesarwani Shubham , Lama Prakash , Chandra Anchal , Reddy P. Purushotam , Jijumon AS , Bodakuntla Satish , Rao Balaji M , Janke Carsten , Das Ranabir , Sirajuddin Minhajuddin
Published: March 2020

Microtubule cytoskeleton exists in various biochemical forms in different cells due to tubulin post-translational modification (PTMs). These PTMs are known to affect microtubule stability, dynamics and interaction with MAPs and motors in a specific manner, widely known as tubulin code hypothesis. At present there exist no tool that can specifically mark tubulin PTMs in live cells, thus severely limiting our understanding of tubulin PTMs. Using yeast display library, we identified a binder against terminal tyrosine of alpha tubulin, a unique PTM site. Extensive characterization validates the robustness and non-perturbing nature of our binder as tyrosination sensor, a live cell tubulin nanobody specific towards tyrosinated or unmodified microtubules. Using which, in real time we followed nocodazole, colchicine and vincristine induced depolymerization events of unmodified microtubules, and found each distinctly perturb microtubule polymer. Together, our work describes the tyrosination sensor and potential applications to study microtubule and PTM processes in living cells.
Vesicular Trafficking Permits Evasion of cGAS/STING Surveillance During Initial Human Papillomavirus Infection
Authors: Uhlorn Brittany L. , Jackson Robert , Bratton Shauna M. , Li Shuaizhi , Van Doorslaer Koenraad , Campos Samuel K.
Published: March 2020

Oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) replicate in differentiating epithelium, causing 5% of cancers worldwide. Like most other DNA viruses, HPV infection initiates after trafficking viral genome (vDNA) to host cell nuclei. Cells possess innate surveillance pathways to detect microbial components or physiological stresses often associated with microbial infections. One of these pathways, cGAS/STING, induces IRF3-dependent antiviral interferon (IFN) responses upon detection of cytosolic DNA. Virion-associated vDNA can activate cGAS/STING during initial viral entry and uncoating/trafficking, and thus cGAS/STING is an obstacle to many DNA viruses. HPV has a unique vesicular trafficking pathway compared to many other DNA viruses. As the capsid uncoats within acidic endosomal compartments, minor capsid protein L2 protrudes across vesicular membranes to facilitate transport of vDNA to the Golgi. L2/vDNA resides within the Golgi lumen until G2/M, whereupon vesicular L2/vDNA traffics along spindle microtubules, tethering to chromosomes to access daughter cell nuclei. L2/vDNA-containing vesicles likely remain intact until G1, following nuclear envelope reformation. We hypothesize that this unique vesicular trafficking protects HPV from cGAS/STING surveillance. Here, we investigate cGAS/STING responses to HPV infection. DNA transfection resulted in acute cGAS/STING activation and downstream IFN responses. In contrast, HPV infection elicited minimal cGAS/STING and IFN responses. To determine the role of vesicular trafficking in cGAS/STING evasion, we forced premature viral penetration of vesicular membranes with membrane-perturbing cationic lipids. Such treatment renders a non-infectious trafficking-defective mutant HPV infectious, yet susceptible to cGAS/STING detection. Overall, HPV evades cGAS/STING by its unique subcellular trafficking, a property that may contribute to establishment of infection.

Importance

Persistent infection is the main risk factor for all HPV-associated cancers. However, cellular innate immune pathways exist to detect and limit viral infections. The cGAS/STING pathway senses cytosolic DNA to initiate antiviral IFN responses. Such responses would likely be detrimental towards the establishment of persistent HPV infections. We therefore hypothesize that HPV evades cGAS/STING detection via its unique vesicular trafficking mechanism. Here, we show that indeed HPV is a stealthy virus, capable of infecting keratinocytes with minimal activation of the cGAS/STING pathway. Such evasion is dependent on HPV’s vesicular trafficking, as perturbation of vesicular integrity during infection results in sensing of virions.
Input dependent modulation of olfactory bulb activity by GABAergic basal forebrain projections
Authors: Böhm Erik , Brunert Daniela , Rothermel Markus
Published: March 2020

Basal forebrain modulation of central circuits is associated with active sensation, attention and learning. While cholinergic modulations have been studied extensively the effect of non-cholinergic basal forebrain subpopulations on sensory processing remains largely unclear. Here, we directly compare optogenetic manipulation effects of two major basal forebrain subpopulations on principal neuron activity in an early sensory processing area, i.e. mitral/tufted cells (MTCs) in the olfactory bulb. In contrast to cholinergic projections, which consistently increased MTC firing, activation of GABAergic fibers from basal forebrain to the olfactory bulb lead to differential modulation effects: while spontaneous MTC activity is mainly inhibited, odor evoked firing is predominantly enhanced. Moreover, sniff triggered averages revealed an enhancement of maximal sniff evoked firing amplitude and an inhibition of firing rates outside the maximal sniff phase. These findings demonstrate that GABAergic neuromodulation affects MTC firing in a bimodal, sensory-input dependent way, suggesting that GABAergic basal forebrain modulation could be an important factor in attention mediated filtering of sensory information to the brain.
CytoTalk:De novoconstruction of signal transduction networks using single-cell RNA-Seq data
Authors: Hu Yuxuan , Peng Tao , Gao Lin , Tan Kai
Published: March 2020

Single-cell technology has opened the door for studying signal transduction in a complex tissue at unprecedented resolution. However, there is a lack of analytical methods forde novoconstruction of signal transduction pathways using single-cell omics data. Here we present CytoTalk, a computational method forde novoconstructing cell type-specific signal transduction networks using single-cell RNA-Seq data. CytoTalk first constructs intracellular and intercellular gene-gene interaction networks using an information-theoretic measure between two cell types. Candidate signal transduction pathways in the integrated network are identified using the prize-collecting Steiner forest algorithm. We applied CytoTalk to a single-cell RNA-Seq data set on mouse visual cortex and evaluated predictions using high-throughput spatial transcriptomics data generated from the same tissue. Compared to published methods, genes in our inferred signaling pathways have significantly higher spatial expression correlation only in cells that are spatially closer to each other, suggesting improved accuracy of CytoTalk. Furthermore, using single-cell RNA-Seq data with receptor gene perturbation, we found that predicted pathways are enriched for differentially expressed genes between the receptor knockout and wild type cells, further validating the accuracy of CytoTalk. In summary, CytoTalk enablesde novoconstruction of signal transduction pathways and facilitates comparative analysis of these pathways across tissues and conditions.
Dynamic inhibition of sensory responses mediated by an olfactory corticofugal system
Authors: Quintela Renata Medinaceli , Bauer Jennifer , Wallhorn Lutz , Brunert Daniela , Rothermel Markus
Published: March 2020

Processing of sensory information is substantially modulated by centrifugal projections from higher cortical areas, yet their behavioral relevance and underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear in most cases. The anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) is part of the olfactory cortex and its extensive connections to lower and higher brain centers put it in a prime position to modulate early sensory information in the olfactory system. Here, we show that optogenetic activation of AON neurons in awake animals was not perceived as an odorant equivalent cue. However, AON activation during odorant presentation reliably suppressed odor responses. This AON mediated effect was fast and constant across odors and concentrations. Likewise, activation of glutamatergic AON projections to the olfactory bulb (OB) transiently inhibited the excitability of mitral/tufted cells (MTCs) that relay olfactory input to cortex. Single-unit MTC recordings revealed that optogenetic activation of glutamatergic AON terminals in the OB transiently decreased sensory-evoked MTC spiking, regardless of the strength or polarity of the sensory response. These findings suggest that glutamatergic AON projections to the OB suppress early olfactory processing by inhibiting OB output neurons and that the AON can dynamically gate sensory throughput to the cortex.

Significance Statement

The anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) as an olfactory information processing area sends extensive projections to lower and higher brain centers but the behavioral consequences of its activation have been scarcely investigated. Using behavioral tests in combination with optogenetic manipulation we show that in contrast to what has been suggested previously, the AON does not seem to form odor percepts but instead suppresses odor responses across odorants and concentrations. Furthermore, this study shows that glutamatergic cortical projections to the olfactory bulb suppress olfactory processing by inhibiting output neurons, pointing to a potential mechanisms by which the olfactory cortex can actively and dynamically gate sensory throughput to higher brain centers.

Highlights

AON stimulation suppresses odor responses across odorants and concentrations

AON activation is not perceived as an odorant equivalent cue

The AON dynamically shapes olfactory bulb output on a fast timescale

AON input to the olfactory bulb strongly suppresses mitral/tufted cells firing
Reconstruction of microbial haplotypes by integration of statistical and physical linkage in scaffolding
Authors: Cao Chen , He Jingni , Mak Lauren , Perera Deshan , Kwok Devin , Wang Jia , Li Minghao , Mourier Tobias , Gavriliuc Stefan , Greenberg Matthew , Morrissy A. Sorana , Sycuro Laura K. , Yang Guang , Jeffares Daniel C. , Long Quan
Published: March 2020

DNA sequencing technologies provide unprecedented opportunities to analyze within-host evolution of microorganism populations. Often, within-host populations are analyzed via pooled sequencing of the population, which contains multiple individuals or ‘haplotypes’. However, current next-generation sequencing instruments, in conjunction with single-molecule barcoded linked-reads, cannot distinguish long haplotypes directly. Computational reconstruction of haplotypes from pooled sequencing has been attempted in virology, bacterial genomics, metagenomics and human genetics, using algorithms based on either cross-host genetic sharing or within-host genomic reads. Here we describe PoolHapX, a flexible computational approach that integrates information from both genetic sharing and genomic sequencing. We demonstrated that PoolHapX outperforms state-of-the-art tools tailored to specific organismal systems, and is robust to within-host evolution. Importantly, together with barcoded linked-reads, PoolHapX can infer whole-chromosome-scale haplotypes from 50 pools each containing 12 different haplotypes. By analyzing real data, we uncovered dynamic variations in the evolutionary processes of within-patient HIV populations previously unobserved in single position-based analysis.
Host-parasite tissue adhesion by a secreted type of β-1,4-glucanase in the parasitic plantPhtheirospermum japonicum
Authors: Kurotani Ken-ichi , Wakatake Takanori , Ichihashi Yasunori , Okayasu Koji , Sawai Yu , Ogawa Satoshi , Suzuki Takamasa , Shirasu Ken , Notaguchi Michitaka
Published: March 2020

Tissue adhesion between plant species occurs both naturally and artificially. Parasitic plants establish symbiotic relationship with host plants by adhering tissues at roots or stems. Plant grafting, on the other hand, is a widely used technique in agriculture to adhere tissues of two stems. While compatibility of tissue adhesion in plant grafting is often limited within close relatives, parasitic plants exhibit much wider compatibilities. For example, the Orobanchaceae parasitic plantStriga hermonthicais able to infect Poaceae crop plants, causing a serious agricultural loss. Here we found that the model Orobanchaceae parasite plantPhtheirospermum japonicumcan be grafted on to interfamily species, such asArabidopsis, a Brassicaceae plant. To understand molecular basis of tissue adhesion between distant plant species, we conducted comparative transcriptome analyses on both infection and grafting byP. japonicumonArabidopsis. Through gene clustering, we identified genes upregulated during these tissue adhesion processes, which include cell proliferation- and cell wall modification-related genes. By comparing with a transcriptome dataset of interfamily grafting betweenNicotianaandArabidopsis, we identified 9 genes commonly induced in tissue adhesion between distant species. Among them, we showed a gene encoding secreted type of β-1,4-glucanase plays an important role for plant parasitism. Our data provide insights into the molecular commonality between parasitism and grafting in plants.

Significance Statement

Comprehensive sequential RNA-Seq datasets for parasitic infection of the root and grafting of the stem betweenP. japonicumandArabidopsisrevealed that molecular events of parasitism and grafting are substantially different and only share a part of events such as cell proliferation and cell wall modification. This study demonstrated that a secreted type of β-1,4-glucanase gene expressed in cells located at the parasite–host interface as an important factor for parasitism in the Orobanchaceae.
ELP-dependent expression of MCL1 promotes resistance to EGFR inhibition in triple-negative breast cancer cells
Authors: Cruz-Gordillo Peter , Honeywell Megan E. , Leete Thomas , Lee Michael J.
Published: March 2020

Targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer are generally thought to exploit oncogene addiction, a phenomenon in which a single oncogene controls both the growth and survival of the tumor cell. Many well-validated examples of oncogene addiction exist; however, the utility of oncogene targeted therapies varies substantially by cancer context, even among cancers in which the targeted oncogene is similarly dysregulated. For instance, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling can be effectively targeted in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but not in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where EGFR is activated to a similar degree. We find that EGFR controls a similar signaling/transcriptional network in TNBC and EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells, but only NSCLC cells respond to EGFR inhibition by activating cell death. To address this paradox and identify mechanisms that contribute to insensitivity to EGFR inhibition in TNBC, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 genetic knockout screen. Our screen identifies the Elongator (ELP) complex as a mediator of insensitivity to EGFR inhibition in TNBC. Depleting ELP proteins caused high levels of apoptotic cell death, in an EGFR inhibition-dependent manner. We find that the tRNA-modifying function of the ELP complex promotes drug insensitivity, by facilitating expression of the anti-apoptotic protein MCL1. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of MCL1 synergizes with EGFR inhibition across a panel of genetically diverse TNBC cells. Taken together, we find that TNBC “addiction” to EGFR signaling is masked by the ELP complex, and our study provides an actionable therapeutic strategy to overcome this resistance mechanism by co-targeting EGFR and MCL1.

One sentence summary

The Elongator Protein (ELP) Complex masks TNBC oncogene “addiction” to EGFR signaling, by promoting expression of the anti-apoptotic protein MCL1.
Effects of temperature on COVID-19 transmission
Authors: Pawar Shrikant , Stanam Aditya , Chaudhari Mamata , Rayudu Durga
Published: March 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), it was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China and has resulted in the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic. As of March 1, 2020, 79,968 patients in China and 7169 outside of China had tested positive for COVID-19 and a mortality rate of 3.6% has been observed amongst Chinese patients. Its primary mode of transmission is via respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. The virus can remain viable for up to three days on plastic and stainless steel or in aerosols for upto 3 hours and is relatively more stable than the known human coronaviruses. It is stable in faeces at room temperature for at least 1-2 days and can be stable in infected patients for up to 4 days. Heat at 56°C kills the SARS coronavirus at around 10000 units per 15 minutes. Thus, temperature is an important factor in survival of COVID-19 virus and this article focuses on understanding the relationship between temperature and COVID-19 transmission from the data available between January-March 2020.
Complete representation of action space and value in all striatal pathways
Authors: Weglage Moritz , Wärnberg Emil , Lazaridis Iakovos , Tzortzi Ourania , Meletis Konstantinos
Published: March 2020

The dorsal striatum plays a central role in motor and decision programs, such as the selection and execution of particular actions and the evaluation of their outcomes. A standard model has emerged where distinct output pathways encode separate motor-action signals, including selection-evaluation division in the matrix versus patch compartments. We used large-scale cell-type specific calcium imaging during motor and decision behaviors to determine and contrast the activity of individual striatal projection neurons (SPNs) belonging to one of the three major output pathways in the dorsomedial striatum – patch Oprm1+ SPNs versus the D1+ direct and A2A+ indirect pathway. We found that Oprm1+ SPNs were tuned to a number of different behavioral categories, such as to different movements, or to discrete actions and decisions in a two-choice task, and these complex representations were found to the same extent in all three striatal output pathways. The sharp tuning of individual SPNs was highly stereotyped over time while performing a specific task, but the tuning profile remapped between different behavioral contexts. In addition to action representations, SPNs showed pathway-independent representation of decision-variables such as the trial strategy and the action value. We propose that all three major output pathways in the dorsomedial striatum share a similarly complete representation of the entire action space, including task- and phase-specific signals of action value and choice.
Subtilase activity in the intrusive cells mediates haustorium maturation in parasitic plants
Authors: Ogawa Satoshi , Wakatake Takanori , Spallek Thomas , Ishida Juliane K. , Sano Ryosuke , Kurata Tetsuya , Demura Taku , Yoshida Satoko , Ichihashi Yasunori , Schaller Andreas , Shirasu Ken
Published: March 2020

Parasitic plants that infect crops are devastating to agriculture throughout the world. They develop a unique inducible organ called the haustorium, which connects the vascular systems of the parasite and host to establish a flow of water and nutrients. Upon contact with the host, the haustorial epidermal cells at the interface with the host differentiate into specific cells called intrusive cells that grow endophytically towards the host vasculature. Then, some of the intrusive cells re-differentiate to form a xylem bridge that connects the vasculatures of the parasite and host. Despite the prominent role of intrusive cells in host infection, the molecular mechanisms mediating parasitism in the intrusive cells are unknown. In this study, we investigated differential gene expression in the intrusive cells of the facultative parasitePhtheirospermum japonicumin the family Orobanchaceae by RNA-Sequencing of laser-microdissected haustoria. We then used promoter analyses to identify genes that are specifically induced in intrusive cells, and used promoter fusions with genes encoding fluorescent proteins to develop intrusive cell-specific markers. Four of the intrusive cell-specific genes encode subtilisin-like serine proteases (SBTs), whose biological functions in parasitic plants are unknown. Expression of an SBT inhibitor in the intrusive cells inhibited their development, inhibited the development of the xylem bridge, and reduced auxin response levels near the site where the xylem bridge normally develops. Therefore, we propose that subtilase activity plays an important role in haustorium development in this parasitic plant.

One sentence summary

Tissue-specific analysis showed that the subtilases specifically expressed in intrusive cells regulate auxin-mediated host-parasite connections in the parasitic plantPhtheirospermum japonicum.
Ccr4 is a novel shuttle factor required for ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis by the 26S proteasome
Authors: Kandasamy Ganapathi , Pradhan Ashis Kumar , Palanimurugan R
Published: March 2020

Degradation of short-lived and abnormal proteins are essential for normal cellular homeostasis. In eukaryotes, such unstable cellular proteins are selectively degraded by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Furthermore, abnormalities in protein degradation by the UPS have been linked to several human diseases. Ccr4 protein is a known component of the Ccr4-Not complex, which has established roles in transcription, mRNA de-adenylation and RNA degradation etc. Excitingly in this study, we show that Ccr4 protein has a novel function as a shuttle factor that promotes ubiquitin-dependent degradation of short-lived proteins by the 26S proteasome. Using a substrate of the well-studied ubiquitin fusion degradation (UFD) pathway, we found that its UPS-mediated degradation was severely impaired upon deletion ofCCR4inSaccharomyces cerevisiae.Additionally, we show that Ccr4 binds to cellular ubiquitin conjugates and the proteasome. In contrast to Ccr4, most other subunits of the Ccr4-Not complex proteins are dispensable for UFD substrate degradation. From our findings we conclude that Ccr4 functions in the UPS as a shuttle factor targeting ubiquitylated substrates for proteasomal degradation.
COVID-19 transmission in Mainland China is associated with temperature and humidity: a time-series analysis
Authors: Qi Hongchao , Xiao Shuang , Shi Runye , Ward Michael P. , Chen Yue , Tu Wei , Su Qing , Wang Wenge , Wang Xinyi , Zhang Zhijie
Published: March 2020

COVID-19 has become a pandemic. The influence of meteorological factors on the transmission and spread of COVID-19 if of interest. This study sought to examine the associations of daily average temperature (AT) and relative humidity (ARH) with the daily count of COVID-19 cases in 30 Chinese provinces (in Hubei from December 1, 2019 to February 11, 2020 and in other provinces from January 20, 2020 to Februarys 11, 2020). A Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was fitted to quantify the province-specific associations between meteorological variables and the daily cases of COVID-19 during the study periods. In the model, the 14-day exponential moving averages (EMAs) of AT and ARH, and their interaction were included with time trend and health-seeking behavior adjusted. Their spatial distributions were visualized. AT and ARH showed significantly negative associations with COVID-19 with a significant interaction between them (0.04, 95% confidence interval: 0.004–0.07) in Hubei. Every 1°C increase in the AT led to a decrease in the daily confirmed cases by 36% to 57% when ARH was in the range from 67% to 85.5%. Every 1% increase in ARH led to a decrease in the daily confirmed cases by 11% to 22% when AT was in the range from 5.04°C to 8.2°C. However, these associations were not consistent throughout Mainland China.
Experimental determination of precision, resolution, accuracy and trueness of time-of-flight neutron diffraction strain measurements
Authors: Noyan I. C. , Bunn J. R. , Tippett M. K. , Payzant E. A. , Clausen B. , Brown D. W.
Published: March 2020

A simple statistical analysis which yields the precision, resolution, accuracy and trueness of diffraction-based lattice strain measurements is discussed. The procedure consists of measuring the thermal expansion induced in each component of an ideal non-reacting two-component crystalline powder sample in situ. One component, with a high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), serves as an internal thermometer. The quantities of interest are obtained by determining the smallest statistically significant thermal lattice strain which can be detected through diffraction analysis in the second, low-CTE, component in response to controlled temperature changes. This procedure also provides a robust check of the alignment of the diffraction system and is able to reveal the presence of systematic errors. The application of this technique to a time-of-flight engineering diffractometer/strain scanner is presented.
Monte Carlo simulation of neutron scattering by a textured polycrystal
Authors: Laliena Victor , Vicente-Álvarez Miguel Ángel , Campo Javier
Published: March 2020

A method of simulating the neutron scattering by a textured polycrystal is presented. It is based on an expansion of the scattering cross sections in terms of the spherical harmonics of the incident and scattering directions, which is derived from the generalized Fourier expansion of the polycrystal orientation distribution function. The method has been implemented in a Monte Carlo code as a component of the McStas software package, and it has been validated by computing some pole figures of a Zircaloy-4 plate and a Zr–2.5Nb pressure tube, and by simulating an ideal transmission experiment. The code can be used to estimate the background generated by components of neutron instruments such as pressure cells, whose walls are made of alloys with significant crystallographic texture. As a first application, the effect of texture on the signal-to-noise ratio was studied in a simple model of a diffraction experiment, in which a sample is placed inside a pressure cell made of a zirconium alloy. With this setting, the results of two simulations were compared: one in which the pressure-cell wall has a uniform distribution of grain orientations, and another in which the pressure cell has the texture of a Zr–2.5Nb pressure tube. The results showed that the effect of the texture of the pressure cell on the noise of a diffractogram is very important. Thus, the signal-to-noise ratio can be controlled by appropriate choice of the texture of the pressure-cell walls.
X-ray characterization of self-standing bent Si crystal plates for Large Hadron Collider beam extraction
Authors: Camattari Riccardo , Romagnoni Marco , Bandiera Laura , Bagli Enrico , Mazzolari Andrea , Sytov Alexei , Haaga Simon , Kabukcuoglu Merve , Bode Simon , Hänschke Daniel , Danilewsky Andreas , Baumbach Tilo , Bellucci Valerio , Guidi Vincenzo , Cavoto Gianluca
Published: March 2020

Bent crystals can be used to deflect high-energy charged particles for beam extraction and/or beam collimation at accelerator facilities, thanks to the channelling phenomenon. In the present paper, two perfect silicon mono-crystals were bent using two different methods: sandblasting and the application of a carbon fibre composite. In particular, these samples were obtained for the realization of bent crystal prototypes to be used to steer the 7 TeV proton beam of the Large Hadron Collider in the context of the CRYSBEAM project. The two bending methods were selected since they allow a very homogeneous curvature of the crystals to be obtained, which is essential for high channelling efficiency. Moreover, the deformation obtained is self-standing, i.e. there is no need for any external device to keep the samples bent. Self-standing curvature can be useful because the presence of an external bender could be a severe limitation in the collider beam-pipe. The curvature of the samples was measured through high-energy X-ray diffraction at the ID11 beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, France. Since the diffraction efficiencies obtained were in good agreement with theoretical expectations, it follows that the manufacturing techniques did not damage the samples, i.e. the crystallographic quality was preserved. Finally, the crystal quality of the sandblasted sample was investigated in detail at the synchrotron source at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology by X-ray white-beam topography. The measurements showed no diffusion of defects from the machined surfaces to the crystal bulk.
Anchoring in international merger and acquisition equity decisions: evidence from Chinese firms
Authors: Xiao Huimin
Published: March 2020

Purpose

In uncertain environments, top managers may be inadvertently affected by the anchor information and make sticky decisions. The purpose of this paper is to examine how anchoring influences international merger and acquisition (M&A) equity decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the data of Chinese international M&A deals from 2007 to 2018, this paper uses the Tobit regression method to examine the anchoring effects on international M&A equity decisions.

Findings

The study shows that the acquiring firm's previous international M&A equity level as a self-generated anchor has a positive impact on the focal international M&A equity level. The local market's previous international M&A equity level as an externally provided anchor has a positive impact on the focal international M&A equity level. When there are self-generated anchors and externally provided anchors, the self-generated anchoring effect is stronger than the externally provided anchoring effect. The anchoring effect is stronger when the acquiring firm enters less stable host countries.

Research limitations/implications

The acquirers in a single-country context may limit the generalizability of the results, and this study does not explicitly determine whether managers' decisions are unintentional or deliberate.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the discussion of equity-based foreign entry mode decisions by exploring anchoring behavior in strategic decisions. It provides an empirical investigation of the different anchoring effects and draws attention to the boundary conditions surrounding anchoring.
Business intelligence and organizational performance
Authors: Suša Vugec Dalia , Bosilj Vukšić Vesna , Pejić Bach Mirjana , Jaklič Jurij , Indihar Štemberger Mojca
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Organizations introduce business intelligence (BI) to increase their performance, but often, this initiative is not aligned with the business process management (BPM) initiative, which also aims to improve organizational performance. Although some findings from the literature indicate that BI implementation has a positive impact on organizational performance, the impact seems to be indirect. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of how BI maturity is translated into organizational performance. Alignment of BI and BPM initiatives seems one possible way for creating business value with BI, particularly because BI enables process performance measurement and management, which allows the BI initiative to become more business focused.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was prepared and used to collect data in Croatian and Slovenian organizations with more than 50 employees. A BI–BPM alignment measurement instrument was developed for the purpose of this study using the recommended process of scale development and validation. A total of 185 responses were analyzed by the structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

Our results provide evidence that the effect of BI on organizational performance is fully mediated by alignment of BI and BPM initiatives, and therefore, BI business value can be generated through the use of common terminology and methodologies, as well as a strong communication between BI and BPM experts, managers and teams in order to coordinate the two initiatives.

Originality/value

This study has responded to the call for better understanding of how the impact of BI on organization performance is realized. It confirmed that BI and BPM initiatives should be aligned in order to give BI a business value.
Jack Black's Brewing Co.: Strategic growth from recipe to market to tap
Authors: Brauteseth Gareth , Schueler Johannes , Bick Geoff
Published: March 2020

Subject area of the teaching case

The case can be used in the subject areas of marketing, strategy, business model innovation, and general business growth, particularly those with a focus on emerging markets.

Student level

This case can be used in postgraduate and post-experience business courses such as Master's degrees in Business Administration, postgraduate diplomas, executive education, or specialist Master's degrees.

Brief overview of the teaching case

This case looks at craft beer business Jack Black's Brewing Co. started in 2006 in Cape Town. After humble beginnings, protagonist McCulloch grew the company rapidly with a focus on the strategic “tap” market across the country. After systematically working with a number of contract brewers the company finally invested in their own, industrial-scale brewery and brewpub. The dilemma facing McCulloch and Jack Black's Brewing Co. is one of cash flow. In order to generate cash flow, the management team needs to drive sales so that the brewery operates at full capacity. While it strives to attain this goal, there are considerable cash flow and liquidity challenges.

Expected learning outcomes

The development of an understanding of an effective marketing mix to position a niche and young brand.

An understanding of the concept “co-opetition” and how it works in a growing market.

The ability to assess the various growth stages of a business.
Managing STEM learning: a typology and four models of integration
Authors: Cheng Yin Cheong , So Winnie Wing Mui
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To develop a framework for conceptualizing and managing integration in STEM learning, that can help address key issues in its research and implementation worldwide.

Design/methodology/approach

Integration in learning is a complicated but not a well-defined concept and therefore it is difficult to illustrate in theory and practice how to conceptualize, manage and implement integrated STEM learning with aims to enhance students' learning effectiveness and multiple-thinking ability. Based on a typology in integrated learning, this article re-conceptualizes integrated STEM learning into a comprehensive framework of three categories, six subcategories and four basic models. With this framework, how to manage integrated STEM learning and related issues in schools for effectiveness are discussed.

Findings

As a typology, integration in STEM learning can be classified as content integration, pedagogical integration and learner integration. They can be further differentiated as six subcategories: subject integration, domain integration, method integration, cognitive integration, SEN integration and diverse ability integration in STEM learning. Depending on the extents of content integration and pedagogical integration, four basic models of integrated learning can be identified in theory and practice. The categories, subcategories and basic models have their own characteristics, strengths and limitations. Strategies are developed to address the characteristics and related key issues of each category of STEM learning.

Research limitations/implications

The framework may help to analyze the key issues of integrated STEM learning in research and development, such as “Why and what integration in STEM learning is important and necessary in curriculum reforms for the future?”, “How the integrated STEM approach is different from the traditional subject approach?”, “How the STEM learning activities can be integrated and managed effectively for enhancing students' learning effectiveness and multiple thinking capacity?”, and “What key implications can be drawn for managing and implementing STEM learning?”

Practical implications

Based on the proposed typology and models of STEM learning, various strategies of managing STEM are discussed and developed, which will contribute to policy formulation and professional practice of integrated STEM learning locally and internationally.

Originality/value

The proposed typology and models of STEM learning and related new ideas and perspectives will contribute to future research and development in this area locally and internationally.
Markov chain based modelling and prediction of natural gas allocation structure in Pakistan
Authors: Ahmad Hussaan , Hayat Nasir
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the historical gas allocation pattern for seeking appropriate arrangement and utilization of potentially insufficient natural gas supply available in Pakistan up to 2030.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents Markov chain-based modeling of historical gas allocation data followed by its validation through error evaluation. Structural prediction using classical Chapman–Kolmogorov method and varying-order polynomial regression in the historical transition matrices are presented.

Findings

Markov chain model reproduces the terminal state vector with 99.8 per cent accuracy, thus demonstrating its validity for capturing the history. Lower order polynomial regression results in better structural prediction compared with higher order ones in terms of closeness with Markov approach-based prediction.

Research limitations/implications

The data belongs to a certain geographic region with specific gas demand and supply profile. The proposition may be tested further by researchers to check the validity for other comparable structural predictions/analyses.

Practical implications

This study can facilitate policy-making in the field of natural gas allocation and management in Pakistan specifically and other comparable countries generally.

Originality/value

Two major literature gaps filled through this study are: first, Markov chain model becomes stationary when projected using Chapman–Kolmogorov relation in terms of a fixed, average transition matrix resulting in an equilibrium state after a finite number of future steps. Second, most of the previous studies analyze various gas consumption sectors individually, thus lacking integrated gas allocation policy.
Retailer-brand collaborations: testing key strategies to increase consumers' urgency to buy
Authors: Childs Michelle , Jin Byoungho Ellie
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Retailer-brand collaborations (e.g. Target–Lilly Pulitzer) attract media attention and generate excitement, and may encourage buying the product right away rather than waiting until a sale. To clearly establish factors that contribute to consumers' urge to purchase retailer-brand collaborations, the purpose of this study is to test the effects of: (1) collaboration duration (limited edition vs ongoing) and (2) perceived retailer-brand fit (high vs low) on consumers' urgency to buy.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experimental studies (n = 499) manipulate and test the effect of collaboration duration (Study 1), perceived retailer-brand fit (Study 2) and the combined effect (Study 3) on consumers' urgency to buy.

Findings

Findings indicate that urgency to buy retailer-brand collaborations are favourable when products are offered as limited edition versus ongoing (Study 1), when there is high-perceived fit versus low-perceived fit between retailer and brand partners (Study 2) and when both conditions are true (Study 3).

Practical implications

To enhance consumers' urgency to buy retailer-brand collaborations, the partnerships should be limited in duration (vs collaborating in an ongoing fashion). Additionally brands and retailers need to strategically align with well-fitting partners.

Originality/value

Despite the prevalence and success of retailer-brand collaborations in industry, research on such collaboration is surprising scant. Additionally, while previous studies often measure purchase intentions as consumers' response, an understanding of factors that discourage consumers from delaying their purchase (i.e. factors that lead to urgency to buy) help to identify strategies to cultivate greater profits.
The ex/inclusion paradox in heritage management: the Mobarak mosque in The Hague
Authors: van Knippenberg Karim , Duineveld Martijn , Buizer Marleen
Published: March 2020

Purpose

In the field of critical heritage studies, it has often been argued that a more inclusive and participatory heritage management approach neutralises differences and can contribute to a more contemporary, plural, democratic and inclusive notion of heritage. Yet, the needs and aspirations of those assumed being excluded from heritage making are not always taken into account, because the analysis and critique often focussed on the dominant heritage discourses, organisations and institutions. This paper conceptualises heritage from below and explores and reconceptualises how subdominant notions of heritage relate to dominant, institutionalised conceptualisations of heritage.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a case study of the Mobarak mosque in The Hague, the authors present the multiplicity of subdominant conceptualisations of heritage, the ways heritage is (expected to be) recognised and represented by the community and the complexity of issues of social inclusion/exclusion.

Findings

The authors conclude that inclusive and/or participatory heritage management practices are inclusive in name only when the needs and aspirations of those seemingly being “excluded” are not fully understood and taken into account.

Originality/value

A binary heritage/non-heritage framework, the authors argue, is limited to understand matter that matters. Also the authors find that the assumption that there is a growing desire among local community groups to include their histories and related materialities as heritage in the dominant heritage discourse should be challenged.
Investigating the agricultural competitiveness of ASEAN countries
Authors: Hoang Viet Van
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to (1) identify the agricultural competitiveness of ASEAN countries in the global markets; (2) analyze the dynamics of these indicators for the period 1997–2015; and (3) test the consistency between trade indices.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses RCA, RTA, and NRCA for the first objective; OLS method and Markov matrix for the second objective; and statistic tool for the final purpose.

Findings

The results show that: (1) ASEAN countries achieve the strongest competitiveness in rice, rubber, spices, vegetable fat and oils, wood, fuel wood, fish, and crustacean. Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are the strongest competitive whilst Brunei, Singapore, and Cambodia are the weakest competitive; (2) They have convergent patterns in agricultural competitiveness; (3) They successfully maintain rankings of the strong competitive sectors; and (4) ASEAN countries obtain benefits from the regional integration and the specialization in competitive products.

Research limitations/implications

ASEAN countries with strong competitiveness should specialize in and maintain their rankings to enhance competitiveness and maximize social welfare while the countries with weak agricultural competitiveness should specialize in the processed products and services based on their advantages of economic resources.

Originality/value

Comprehensive results of the static and dynamic agricultural competitiveness of ASEAN countries as a whole are provided. The findings and policy recommendations can be used by policymakers and enterprises to improve competitiveness and benefit. The discussions and findings should be a significant reference for economists.
Facilitating weaker firms’ market knowledge in asymmetric B2B relationship from structure, process, and strategy aspects – a case of travel industry
Authors: Chen Kuan-Yang , Huan Tzung-Cheng
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore three critical factors, namely, specific assets investment (SAI), knowledge integration mechanism (KIM) and complementary capability (CC), the antecedents of market knowledge from on structure, process and strategy aspects. This study then tests their effects on the market knowledge-market performance linkage in an asymmetric commerce relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study identified the asymmetric business-to-business (B2B) channel relationship of travel service industry. A total of 248 responses were received from the two waves of data collection and the data was analyzed by the structural equation modeling method.

Findings

Based on the managerial theory related to transaction cost, knowledge-based view and resource-dependent, SAI, KIM and CC all affect market knowledge, and had an indirect effect on market performance; market knowledge significantly and positively affects market performance.

Research limitations/implications

In addition to relationship marketing or social exchange theory, this study provides an integrated framework with different theoretical studies to supplement the explanation of relationship marketing theory in the non-significant relationship between trust and commitment and their outcomes.

Practical implications

This study provides answers for weaker firms how to enhance their market knowledge from their stronger partners.

Originality/value

No current studies have explored how service firms with weak bargaining power could enhance their market knowledge under an imbalanced B2B relationship. This supports the call for the possible factors as the key antecedents of market knowledge on the asymmetric B2B relationship.