bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microbial helpers allow cyanobacteria to thrive in ferruginous waters
Authors: Szeinbaum Nadia , Toporek Yael , Reinhard Christopher T. , Glass Jennifer B. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe Great Oxidation Event (GOE) was a rapid accumulation of oxygen in the atmosphere as a result of the photosynthetic activity of cyanobacteria. This accumulation reflected the pervasiveness of O2on the planet’s surface, indicating that cyanobacteria had become ecologically successful in Archean oceans. Micromolar concentrations of Fe2+in Archean oceans would have reacted with hydrogen peroxide, a byproduct of oxygenic photosynthesis, to produce hydroxyl radicals, which cause cellular damage. Yet cyanobacteria colonized Archean oceans extensively enough to oxygenate the atmosphere, which likely required protection mechanisms against the negative impacts of hydroxyl radical production in Fe2+-rich seas. We identify several factors that could have acted to protect early cyanobacteria from the impacts of hydroxyl radical production and hypothesize that microbial cooperation may have played an important role in protecting cyanobacteria from Fe2+toxicity before the GOE. We found that several strains of facultative anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria (Shewanella) with ROS defense mechanisms increase the fitness of cyanobacteria (Synechococcus) in ferruginous waters.Shewanellaspecies with manganese transporters provided the most protection. Our results suggest that a tightly regulated response to prevent Fe2+toxicity could have been important for the colonization of ancient ferruginous oceans, particularly in the presence of high manganese concentrations, and may expand the upper bound for tolerable Fe2+concentrations for cyanobacteria.
Insights into substrate-mediated assembly of the chloroplast TAT receptor complex
Authors: Ma Qianqian , New Christopher Paul , Dabney-Smith Carole 
Published: May 2020

AbstractTheTwinArginineTransport (TAT) system translocates fully folded proteins across the thylakoid membrane in the chloroplast (cp) and the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. In chloroplasts, cpTAT transport is achieved by three components: Tha4, Hcf106, and cpTatC. Hcf106 and cpTatC function as the substrate recognition/binding complex while Tha4 is thought to play a significant role in forming the translocation pore. Recent studies challenged this idea by suggesting that cpTatC-Hcf106-Tha4 function together in the active translocase. Here, we have mapped the inter-subunit contacts of cpTatC-Hcf106 during the resting state and built a cpTatC-Hcf106 structural model based on our crosslinking data. In addition, we have identified a substrate-mediated reorganization of cpTatC-Hcf106 contact sites during active substrate translocation. The proximity of Tha4 to the cpTatC-Hcf106 complex was also identified. Our data suggest a model for cpTAT function in which the transmembrane helices of Hcf106 and Tha4 may each contact the fifth transmembrane helix of cpTatC while the insertion of the substrate signal peptide may rearrange the cpTatC-Hcf106-Tha4 complex and initiate the translocation event.One sentence summaryProtein subunits of the thylakoidal twin arginine transport complex function together during substrate recognition and translocase assembly.
Tolerance of combined drought and heat stress is associated with transpiration maintenance and water soluble carbohydrates in wheat grains
Authors: Habti Abdeljalil El , Fleury Delphine , Jewell Nathaniel , Garnett Trevor , Tricker Penny J. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWheat (Triticum aestivumL.) production is increasingly challenged by simultaneous drought and heatwaves. We assessed the effect of both stresses combined on whole plant water use and carbohydrate partitioning in eight bread wheat genotypes that showed contrasting tolerance. Plant water use was monitored throughout growth, and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and starch were measured following a three-day heat treatment during drought. WSC were predominantly allocated to the spike in modern Australian varieties, whereas the stem contained most WSC in older genotypes. Combined drought and heat stress increased WSC partitioning to the spike in older genotypes but not in the modern varieties. Glucose and fructose concentrations in grains measured 12 days after anthesis were associated with final grain weight in the main spike. At the whole plant level, combined drought and heat stress differentially altered daily water use and transpiration response to vapour pressure deficit during grain filling, compared to drought only. Final grain yield was increasingly associated with aboveground biomass and total water use with increasing stress intensity. Ability to maintain transpiration, especially following combined drought and heat stress, appears essential for maintaining wheat productivity.One sentence summaryHigher yield following drought and heat stress in wheats that maintain transpiration and have higher water-soluble carbohydrates content in grains.
The loss of the pyoverdine secondary receptor inPseudomonas aeruginosaresults in a fitter strain suitable for population invasion
Authors: González Jaime , Salvador Manuel , Özkaya Özhan , Spick Matt , Costa Catia , Bailey Melanie J. , Avignone-Rossa Claudio , Kümmerli Rolf , Jiménez José I. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe rapid emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens constitutes a critical problem in healthcare and requires the development of novel treatments. Potential strategies include the exploitation of microbial social interactions based on public goods, which are produced at a fitness cost by cooperative microorganisms, but can be exploited by cheaters that do not produce these goods. Cheater invasion has been proposed as a ‘Trojan horse’ approach to infiltrate pathogen populations with strains deploying built-in weaknesses (e.g. sensitiveness to antibiotics). However, previous attempts have been often unsuccessful because population invasion by cheaters was prevented by various mechanisms including the presence of spatial structure (e.g. growth in biofilms), which limits the diffusion and exploitation of public goods. Here we followed an alternative approach and examined whether the manipulation of public good uptake and not its production could result in potential ‘Trojan horses’ suitable for population invasion. We focused on the siderophore pyoverdine produced by the human pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosaMPAO1 and manipulated its uptake by deleting and/or overexpressing the pyoverdine primary (FpvA) and secondary (FpvB) receptors. We found that receptor synthesis feeds back on pyoverdine production and uptake rates, which led to strains with altered pyoverdine-associated costs and benefits. Moreover, we found that the receptor FpvB was advantageous under iron-limited conditions but revealed hidden costs in the presence of an antibiotic stressor (gentamicin). As a consequence, FpvB mutants became the fittest strain under gentamicin exposure, displacing the wildtype in liquid cultures, and in biofilms and during infections of the wax moth larvaeGalleria mellonella, which both represent structured environments. Our findings reveal that an evolutionary trade-off associated with the costs and benefits of a versatile pyoverdine uptake strategy can be harnessed for devising a Trojan horse candidate for medical interventions.
The antimicrobial peptide DGL13K is active against resistant gram-negative bacteria and subinhibitory concentrations stimulate bacterial growth without causing resistance
Authors: Gorr Sven-Ulrik , Brigman Hunter V. , Anderson Jadyn C. , Hirsch Elizabeth B. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAntimicrobial peptides may be alternatives to traditional antibiotics with reduced bacterial resistance. The antimicrobial peptide GL13K was derived from the salivary protein BPIFA2. This study determined the relative activity of the L-and D-enantiomers of GL13K to wild-type and drug-resistant strains of three gram-negative species and againstPseudomonas aeruginosabiofilms. DGL13K displayed in vitro activity against ESBL and KPC-producingKlebsiella pneumoniae(MICs 16-32 μg/ml), MDR and XDRP. aeruginosa, and XDRAcinetobacter baumanniicarrying metallo-beta-lactamases (MICs 8-32 μg/ml).P. aeruginosashowed low inherent resistance to DGL13K and the increased metabolic activity and growth caused by sub-MIC concentrations of GL13K peptides did not result in acquired bacterial resistance. Daily dosing for approximately two weeks did not increase the MIC of DGL13K or cause cross-resistance between LGL13K and DGL13K. These data suggest that DGL13K is a promising candidate antimicrobial peptide for further development.
Nutrient Source and Mycorrhizal Association jointly alters Soil Microbial Communities that shape Plant-Rhizosphere-Soil Carbon-Nutrient Flows
Authors: Chowdhury Somak , Lange Markus , Malik Ashish A , Goodall Timothy , Huang Jianbei , Griffiths Robert I , Gleixner Gerd 
Published: May 2020

AbstractInteractions between plants and microorganisms strongly affect ecosystem functioning as processes of plant productivity, litter decomposition and nutrient cycling are controlled by both organisms. Though two-sided interactions between plants and microorganisms and between microorganisms and litter decomposition are areas of major scientific research, our understanding of the three-sided interactions of plant-derived carbon flow into the soil microbial community and their follow-on effects on ecosystem processes like litter decomposition and plant nutrient uptake remains limited. Therefore, we performed a greenhouse experiment with two plant communities differing in their ability to associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). By applying a13CO2pulse label to the plant communities and adding various15N labelled substrate types to ingrowth cores, we simultaneously traced the flow of plant-derived carbon into soil microbial communities and the return of mineralized nitrogen back to the plant communities. We observed that net13C assimilation by the rhizosphere microbial communities and their community composition not only depended on plant-AMF association but also type of substrate being decomposed. AMF-association resulted in lower net13C investment into the decomposer community than absence of the association for similar15N uptake. This effect was driven by a reduced carbon flow to fungal and bacterial saprotrophs and a simultaneous increase of carbon flow to AMF. Additionally, in presence of AMF association CN flux also depended on the type of substrate being decomposed. Lower net13C assimilation was observed for decomposition of plant-derived and microorganism-derived substrates whereas opposite was true for inorganic nitrogen. Interestingly, the decomposer communities assembled in the rhizosphere were structured by both the plant community and substrate amendments which suggests existence of functional overlap between the two soil contexts. Moreover, we present preliminary evidence that AMF association helps plants access nutrients that are locked in bacterial and plant necromass at a lower carbon cost. Therefore, we conclude that a better understanding of ecosystem processes like decomposition can only be achieved when the whole plant-microorganism-litter context is investigated.
How do organizations implement an effective LSS initiative? A qualitative study
Authors: Sony Michael , Antony Jiju , Naik Subhash 
Published: May 2020

PurposeLean Six Sigma (LSS) is one of the most popular and widely used business improvement methodologies. However, many organizations discontinue LSS despite a plethora of studies on the critical success factors. The purpose of this study is to answer the research question how do organizations implement an effective LSS initiative?Design/methodology/approachQualitative study is conducted on managers working in companies using LSS for a long time. The data were analysed using Colaizzi method.FindingsTwelve factors were identified which were responsible for the effective implementation of LSS. They are financial performance, organization-wide LSS culture, organization-wide innovation culture, continuous training and retraining of employees on LSS, continuous top management support, linking LSS to business strategy, linking LSS to the customer, project selection strategy, communication, recognition and compensation systems, social benefits and green benefits.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate the effective implementation of LSS initiative in the organization.
From transactions to interactions: the value of co-creation processes within online brand consumer communities
Authors: Ardley Barry , McIntosh Eleanor , McManus John 
Published: May 2020

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine the extent of value co-creation activity that exists in online brand communities. The approach was to use elements of practice theory to analyse the member-to-member Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL) communityDesign/methodology/approachThe method adopted was netnography based on a study of eight LEGO Facebook groups. The study involved the collection of data in the form of text and images. Over a period of several months, the interactions between the AFOL ‘MEMBERS’ was examined and analysed.FindingsUsing the characteristics of brand communities established by Muniz and O'Guinn as an investigative framework, the research established that there exists a range of co-creation practices in the AFOL communities revolving around engagement procedures and understandings.Practical implicationsA range of strategies is revealed into how co-creation is established and maintained in an online community having key implications for the management of business processes.Originality/valueWith limited previous research on member-to-member brand communities using practice theory, this paper demonstrates that customer skills and knowledge are now a central aspect of value creation, demonstrating a shift away from the firm as the sole provider of worth.
Fourth industrialization-oriented offsite construction: case study of an application to an irregular commercial building
Authors: Moon Sungkon , Ham Namhyuk , Kim Sungjin , Hou Lei , Kim Ju-Hyung , Kim Jae-Jun 
Published: May 2020

PurposeThis study, a research project, aims to examine the distinct characteristics of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), with a focus on construction. Following this examination, the paper presents a field study to evaluate the impact of the 4IR on the construction process.Design/methodology/approachThe first half of this project is dedicated to defining the 4IR by reviewing existing literature. The other half of the project presents a case study to demonstrate the concept of the 4IR and measure the effect of its application. To validate the defined concept of the 4IR, the study focuses on the following: autonomous system for producing drawings and robotics in construction.FindingsThe intensive literature review revealed three unequivocal features of the 4IR: defined tasks, undefined tasks and improvement possibilities. The following case study showed that the incorporation of the three 4IR features resulted in improved productivity and efficiency during the construction of the podium for the Lotte World Tower. For example, the macro-based autonomous system achieved 5.52 shop drawings per hour, highlighting the potential impact of independent, autonomous machinery.Originality/valueThe originality of this project stems from its attempt to quantify the effectiveness of applying autonomous technologies to a practical project. While previous works in this field have focused on system development and improvement, this paper presents an autonomous system at work in an actual project, in which junior engineers were able to be entirely replaced. The system was successful in independently creating numerous required shop drawings. The value of this analysis is to generate scientific evidence to evaluate the efficacy of the adoption of 4IR-oriented technologies.
Screening patents of ICT in construction using deep learning and NLP techniques
Authors: Wu Hengqin , Shen Geoffrey , Lin Xue , Li Minglei , Zhang Boyu , Li Clyde Zhengdao 
Published: May 2020

PurposeThis study proposes an approach to solve the fundamental problem in using query-based methods (i.e. searching engines and patent retrieval tools) to screen patents of information and communication technology in construction (ICTC). The fundamental problem is that ICTC incorporates various techniques and thus cannot be simply represented by man-made queries. To investigate this concern, this study develops a binary classifier by utilizing deep learning and NLP techniques to automatically identify whether a patent is relevant to ICTC, thus accurately screening a corpus of ICTC patents.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs NLP techniques to convert the textual data of patents into numerical vectors. Then, a supervised deep learning model is developed to learn the relations between the input vectors and outputs.FindingsThe validation results indicate that (1) the proposed approach has a better performance in screening ICTC patents than traditional machine learning methods; (2) besides the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that provides structured and well-written patents, the approach could also accurately screen patents form Derwent Innovations Index (DIX), in which patents are written in different genres.Practical implicationsThis study contributes a specific collection for ICTC patents, which is not provided by the patent offices.Social implicationsThe proposed approach contributes an alternative manner in gathering a corpus of patents for domains like ICTC that neither exists as a searchable classification in patent offices, nor is accurately represented by man-made queries.Originality/valueA deep learning model with two layers of neurons is developed to learn the non-linear relations between the input features and outputs providing better performance than traditional machine learning models. This study uses advanced NLP techniques lemmatization and part-of-speech POS to process textual data of ICTC patents. This study contributes specific collection for ICTC patents which is not provided by the patent offices.
A hybrid risk prioritization approach in construction projects using failure mode and effective analysis
Authors: Karamoozian Amirhossein , Wu Desheng 
Published: May 2020

PurposeConstruction projects involve with various risks during all phases of project lifecycle. Failure mode and effective analysis (FMEA) is a useful tool for identifying and eliminating possible risk of failure modes (FMs) and improving the reliability and safety of systems in a broad range of industries. The traditional FMEA method applies risk priority number method (RPN) to calculate risk of FMs. RPN method cannot consider the direct and indirect interdependencies between the FMs and is not appropriate for complex system with numerous components. The purpose of this study is to propose an approach to consider interdependencies between FMs and also using fuzzy theory to consider uncertainties in experts' judgments.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed approach consist of three stages: the first stage of hybrid model used fuzzy FMEA method to identify the failure mode risks and derive the RPN values. The second stage applied Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (FDEMATEL) method to determine the interdependencies between the FMs which are defined through fuzzy FMEA. Then, analytic network process (ANP) is applied in the third stage to calculate the weights of FMs based on the interdependencies that are generated through FDEMATEL method. Finally, weight of FMs through fuzzy FMEA and FDEMATEL–ANP are multiplied to generate the final weights for prioritization. Afterward, a case study for a commercial building project is introduced to illustrate proficiency of model.FindingsThe results showed that the suggested approach could reveal the important FMs and specify the interdependencies between them successfully. Overall, the suggested model can be considered as an efficient hybrid FMEA approach for risk prioritization.Originality/valueThe originality of approach comes from its ability to consider interdependencies between FMs and uncertainties of experts' judgments.
Sport, media and actual consumption behavior: an examination of spectator motives and constraints for sport media consumption
Authors: Koronios Konstantinos , Travlos Antonios , Douvis John , Papadopoulos Andreas 
Published: May 2020

PurposeThe present study is an initial attempt to assess the impact of motivators and constraints on individual's intention for sport media consumption. The advancement of sport media consumption has been underlined by the academic literature during the past few years. In fact, one of the most conspicuous concerns that experts in the sport industry face nowadays is the fans' preference to stay home and watch sport events. The objective of this research is to determine the impact of motivations and constraints for individuals' sport media consumption intentions.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative method was used for the purpose of this study, and a sum of 1,704 fulfilled questionnaires were obtained and analyzed by means of SPSS and AMOSFindingsAccording to the results, internal and external motivators such as attachment to team, achievement, social, drama, role model and promotion observed to have a considerable impact on participants' consumption intention. Moreover, results pointed out a significant impact of structural and intrapersonal constraints on consumption intention.Originality/valueThe aim of the present research was to analyze the link between the constraints of spectator purposes and actual media consumption. In addition, there is an examination of generation-based factors among the spectators within the scope of possible contrasting aspects, a variable which has not been examined in any previous studies until now.