bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Linking ecological specialization to its macroevolutionary consequences: An example with passerine nest type
Authors: Zenil-Ferguson Rosana , McEntee Jay P. , Burleigh J. Gordon , Duckworth Renée A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractA long-standing hypothesis in evolutionary biology is that the evolution of resource specialization can lead to an evolutionary dead end, where specialists have low diversification rates and limited ability to evolve into generalists. In recent years, advances in comparative methods investigating trait-based differences associated with diversification have enabled more robust tests of this idea and have found mixed support. We test the evolutionary dead end hypothesis by estimating net diversification rate differences associated with nest type specialization among 3,224 species of passerine birds. In particular, we test whether the adoption of hole-nesting, a nest type specialization that decreases predation, results in reduced diversification rates relative to nesting outside of holes. Further, we examine whether evolutionary transitions to the specialist hole-nesting state have been more frequent than transitions out of hole-nesting. Using diversification models that accounted for background rate heterogeneity and different extinction rate scenarios, we found that hole-nesting specialization was not associated with diversification rate differences. Furthermore, contrary to the assumption that specialists rarely evolve into generalists, we found that transitions out of hole-nesting occur more frequently than transitions into hole-nesting. These results suggest that interspecific competition may limit adoption of hole-nesting, but that such competition does not result in limited diversification of hole-nesters. In conjunction with other recent studies using robust comparative methods, our results add to growing evidence that evolutionary dead ends are not a typical outcome of resource specialization.
Mismatch repair deficiency is not sufficient to increase tumor immunogenicity
Authors: Westcott Peter M K , Muyas Francesc , Smith Olivia , Hauck Haley , Sacks Nathan J , Ely Zackery A , Jaeger Alex M , Rideout William M , Bhutkar Arjun , Zhang Daniel , Beytagh Mary C , Canner David A , Bronson Roderick T , Naranjo Santiago , Jin Abbey , Patten JJ , Cruz Amanda M , Cortes-Ciriano Isidro , Jacks Tyler 
Published: August 2021

AbstractDNA mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) in human cancer is associated with high tumor mutational burden (TMB), frameshift mutation-derived neoantigens, increased T cell infiltration, and remarkable responsiveness to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Nevertheless, about half of MMRd tumors do not respond to ICB for unclear reasons. While tumor cell line transplant models of MMRd have reinforced the importance of TMB in immune response, critical questions remain regarding the role of immunosurveillance in the evolution of MMRd tumors induced in vivo. Here, we developed autochthonous mouse models of lung and colon cancer with highly efficient ablation of MMR genes via in vivo CRISPR/Cas9 targeting. Surprisingly, MMRd in these models did not result in increased immunogenicity or response to ICB. Mechanistically, we showed this lack of immunogenicity to be driven by profound intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH). Studies in animals depleted of T cells further demonstrated that immunosurveillance in MMRd tumors has no impact on TMB but shapes the clonal architecture of neoantigens by exacerbating ITH. These results provide important context for understanding immune evasion in cancers with high TMB and have major implications for therapies aimed at increasing TMB.
Feedforward regulatory logic underlies robustness of the specification-to-differentiation transition and fidelity of terminal cell fate duringC. elegansendoderm development
Authors: Ewe Chee Kiang , Sommermann Erica M. , Kenchel Josh , Flowers Sagen E. , Maduro Morris F. , Rothman Joel H. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractDevelopment is driven by gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that progressively dictate specification and differentiation of cell fates. The architecture of GRNs directly determines the specificity and accuracy of developmental outcomes. We report here that the core regulatory circuitry for endoderm development inC. elegansis comprised of a recursive series of interlocked feedforward modules linking a cascade of six sequentially expressed GATA-type transcription factors. This structure results in a reiterated sequential redundancy, in which removal of a single factor or alternate factors in the cascade results in no, or a mild, effect on endoderm development and gut differentiation, while elimination of any two factors that are sequentially deployed in the cascade invariably results in a strong phenotype. The strength of the observed phenotypes is successfully predicted by a computational model based on the timing and levels of transcriptional states. The feedforward regulatory logic in the GRN appears to ensure timely onset of terminal differentiation genes and allows rapid and robust lockdown of cell fate during early embryogenesis. We further found that specification-to-differentiation transition is linked through a common regulator, the END-1 GATA factor that straddles the two processes. Finally, we revealed roles for key GATA factors in establishing spatial regulatory state domains by acting as transcriptional repressors that appear to define the boundaries of the digestive tract. Our findings support a comprehensive model of the core gene network that describes how robust endoderm development is achieved duringC. elegansembryogenesis.Graphic abstract
ICOS expression is required for maintenance but not the formation of germinal centers in the spleen in response to P. yoelii infection
Authors: O’Neal Kara A. , Latham Leah E. , Ntirandekura Enatha , Foscue Camille L. , Stumhofer Jason S. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractInducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) plays a key role in the differentiation and maintenance of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and thus germinal center (GC) formation. Previously, our lab showed in a Plasmodium chabaudi infection model that Icos-/- mice did not form GCs despite a persistent infection and thus a continued antigen (Ag) load. Here, we show that resolution of a primary infection with P. yoelii, was delayed in Icos-/- mice. This phenotype was associated with a reduction in the accumulation of Tfh-like and GC Tfh cells and an early deficiency in Ag-specific antibody (Ab) production. However, Icos-/- mice maintained their ability to form GCs, though they were less frequent in number than in wild-type (WT) mice. Furthermore, while Ab production in Icos-/- mice matched that of WT mice after the infection cleared, the Abs lacked signs of affinity maturation, suggesting functional defects associated with these GCs. Eventually, these GC structures dissipated more rapidly in Icos-/- mice than in WT mice. Moreover, the ability of Icos-/- mice to form these GC structures is not reliant on the high Ag load associated with P. yoelii infections, as GC formation was preserved in Icos-/- mice treated with early with atovaquone. Finally, mice were unable to form secondary GCs in the absence of ICOS after re-challenge. Overall, these data demonstrate the necessity of ICOS in the maintenance of Tfh cells, the formation and maintenance of sufficient numbers of functioning GCs, and the ability to generate new GC structures after re-infection with P. yoelii.
The cyclin Cln1 controls polyploid titan cell formation following a stress-induced G2 arrest in Cryptococcus
Authors: Altamirano Sophie , Li Zhongming , Fu Man Shun , Ding Minna , Fulton Sophie R. , Yoder J. Marina , Tran Vy , Nielsen Kirsten 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans produces polyploid titan cells in response to the host lung environment that are critical for host adaptation and subsequent disease. We analyzed the in vivo and in vitro cell cycles to identify key aspects of the C. neoformans cell cycle that are important for the formation of titan cells. We identified unbudded 2C cells, referred to as a G2 arrest, produced both in vivo and in vitro in response to various stresses. Deletion of the non-essential cyclin Cln1 resulted in over-production of titan cells in vivo, and transient morphology defects upon release from stationary phase in vivo. Using a copper-repressible promoter PCTR4-CLN1 strain and a two-step in vitro titan cell formation assay, our in vitro studies revealed Cln1 functions after the G2 arrest. These studies highlight unique cell cycle alterations in C. neoformans that ultimately promote genomic diversity and virulence in this important fungal pathogen.ImportanceDysregulation of the cell cycle underlies many human genetic diseases and cancers. Yet numerous organisms, including microbes, also manipulate the cell cycle to generate both morphologic and genetic diversity as a natural mechanism to enhance their chances for survival. The eukaryotic pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans generates morphologically distinct polyploid titan cells critical for host adaptation and subsequent disease. We analyzed the C. neoformans in vivo and in vitro cell cycles to identify changes required to generate the polyploid titan cells. C. neoformans paused cell cycle progression in response to various environmental stresses after DNA replication and before morphological changes associated with cell division, referred to as a G2 arrest. Release from this G2 arrest was coordinated by the cyclin Cln1. Reduced CLN1 expression after the G2 arrest was associated with polyploid titan cell production. These results demonstrate a mechanism to generate genomic diversity in eukaryotic cells through manipulation of the cell cycle that has broad disease implications.
Characterization of a novel Lbx1 mouse loss of function strain
Authors: Decourtye Lyvianne , McCallum-Loudeac Jeremy A. , Zellhuber-McMillan Sylvia , Young Emma , Sircombe Kathleen J. , Wilson Megan J. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAdolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the most common type of spine deformity affecting 2-3% of the population worldwide. The etiology of this disease is still poorly understood. Several GWAS studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located near the gene LBX1 that is significantly correlated with AIS risk. LBX1 is a transcription factor with roles in myocyte precursor migration, cardiac neural crest specification, and neuronal fate determination in the neural tube. Here, we further investigated the role of LBX1 in the developing spinal cord of mouse embryos using a CRISPR-generated mouse model expressing a truncated version of LBX1 (Lbx1Δ). Homozygous mice died at birth, likely due to cardiac abnormalities. To further study the neural tube phenotype, we used RNA-sequencing to identify 410 genes differentially expressed between the neural tubes of E12.5 wildtype and Lbx1Δ/Δ embryos. Genes with increased expression in the deletion line were involved in neurogenesis and those with broad roles in embryonic development. Many of these genes have also been associated with scoliotic phenotypes. In comparison, genes with decreased expression were primarily involved in skeletal development. Subsequent skeletal and immunohistochemistry analysis further confirmed these results. This study aids in understanding the significance of links between Lbx1 function and AIS susceptibility.
Comparison of biopolymer-based edible coatings incorporating Piper nigrum and Schinus terebinthifolia applied on minimally processed pineapple
Authors: de Araujo Camila Ianhes Martins , Bonato Leticia Bicudo , Mangucci Carolina Bragine , Malpass Geoffroy Roger Pointer , Okura Mônica Hitomi , Granato Ana Claudia 
Published: August 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to prepare alginate and chitosan-based edible coatings incorporating Schinus terebinthifolia and Piper nigrum essential oils. The prepared films were applied on minimally processed pineapple to study the microbial inhibition of Gram + and Gram – bacteria and fungi and to evaluate the shelf life of the minimally processed fruit.Design/methodology/approachIn this study alginate and chitosan-based edible coating were prepared and applied on minimally processed pineapple. The edible coatings were evaluated microscopically, by the power of reducing microbial contamination, by the shelf-life improvement.FindingsThis study demonstrates that the incorporation of the essential oils P. nigrum and S. terebinthifolia contributed to the inhibition of all the microorganisms studied and improved the shelf life of minimally processed pineapple. This is especially true for P. nigrum in the chitosan-based edible coating, where the shelf life was improved by 45 days.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the pandemic, it was not possible to perform the sensory analyses of the antimicrobial alginate and chitosan-based edible coatings prepared.Practical implicationsFrom the results obtained, it is possible to state that the antimicrobial alginate and chitosan-based edible coatings incorporating S. terebinthifolia and P. nigrum essential oils can be used on minimally processed fruits and prolong their shelf life.Social implicationsDue to the lifestyle of modern consumers, who demand speed and practicality and the need to consume fruits for health and quality of life, minimally processed fruits covered with edible coatings incorporating natural antimicrobial additives can provide a practical solution.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that alginate and chitosan-based edible coatings that incorporate P. nigrum and S. terebinthifolia applied on minimally processed fruit, have been studied.
Mapping unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) 2: a taxonomical study using bibliometric visualisation
Authors: Taneja Bharat , Bharti Kumkum 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
This study aims to examine the research pattern and growth trends of published research on a unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2) from 2012 to 2019. The study also examines the research scope of UTAUT2 for future researchers.

Design/methodology/approach
This study has adopted a bibliometric approach followed by a structured literature review analysis to synthesize the research on UTAUT2 since 2012. In total, 163 documents were analyzed for type of studies, theories and frameworks, methodologies, author wise collaboration, organizations that contributed to the body of knowledge in the UTAUT2 research and journals that published studies in this domain. VOSviewer and Tableau were used for the data visualization, whereas TCCM, which means theory (T), context (C), characteristics (C) and methodology (M) framework is used to propose the future research directions.

Findings
The findings reveal research on UTAUT2 is growing. The structured literature analysis of the top 15 cited articles further analyzed the parsimony of new models in detail. In addition, the study highlights the inception by and promoters of UTAUT2 in a separate section. The data for this study was collected by searching the title, abstract and keywords of documents in the Scopus database.

Research limitations/implications
This study is based on research papers, published in the UTAUT2 research area, that have been extracted from the Scopus database by keywords only. Future studies can also perform a meta-analysis of various clusters generated by bibliometric analysis.

Practical implications
This study is useful for practitioners to devise strategies for increasing technology acceptance, adoption and utilization in the times to come.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the very few and early studies, which examined patterns and growth trends of the UTAUT2 studies with the TCCM framework, to suggest scope for future research studies.
Work family conflict and professional self-efficacy among career persistent women: the mediating role of managerial support
Authors: Alok Swati , Banerjee Sudatta , Singh Swati 
Published: August 2021

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between work-family conflict (WFC) and personal self-efficacy among career persistent women in India. Further, this relationship was explained with the help of the mediating role of perceived managerial support.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from 510 career persistent women working in the Information Technology (IT) sector in India. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and mediation was tested using Process- Macro.FindingsFindings depicted a positive relationship between WFC and professional self-efficacy demand and self-efficacy challenges. Perceived managerial support was also found to be positively related professional self-efficacy. Furthermore, perceived managerial support was found to have a significant mediating effect in WFC and professional self-efficacy relationships.Originality/valueFindings of the study may enhance the understanding of WFC in emerging economies, as most of the research has been done in the western context. Findings of the study are crucial, as it highlights the relationship between WFC and professional self-efficacy in the presence of perceived managerial support. Moreover, the paper uniquely discusses the role of WFC in professional self-efficacy among career persistent women in IT sector.
Exploring incivility and moral foundations toward Asians in English-speaking tweets in hate crime-reporting cities during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kim Bumsoo , Cooks Eric , Kim Seong-Kyu 
Published: August 2021

PurposeThis study aims to explore the extent to which Twitter users engaged in uncivil and morally questionable expressions in their comments about specific Asian countries and citizens. The integrated threat theory (ITT) was used to formulate questions surrounding incivility and moral foundations within Twitter discourses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected tweets and retweets posted by English-speaking Twitter users in the United States (US) across the following three phases: (1) initial discovery of COVID-19 in China, (2) high US mortality rate from COVID-19 and (3) the announcement that a vaccine would soon be available in the US.FindingsThe authors found a significant difference in uncivil tweets posted in cities with higher levels of reported hate crimes against Asians than cities with low levels. Lastly, English-speaking Twitter users tended to employ moral virtue words and moral vice words when discussing China and Chinese culture/populations.Research limitations/implicationsThe bags-of-words employed are limited in capturing nuanced and metaphorical terms. In addition, the analysis focused solely on Tweets composed in English and thus did not capture the thoughts and opinions of non-English speakers. Lastly, this study did not address all Asian countries. In this sense, the findings of this study might not be applicable to Tweets about other nations.Practical implicationsGiven that many Twitter users tend to use terms of moral virtue in support of Asians and Asian communities, the authors suggest that non-governmental organization administrators provide morally supportive social media campaigns that encourage users to engage in civil discourse.Social implicationsThese findings have theoretical implications as the frameworks of integrated threats and moral foundations were used to offer group-level explanations for online behavior. Additional research is needed to explore whether these frameworks can be used to explain negativity in other communication environments.Originality/valueThis study expands the findings of prior studies that identified the extent to which Twitter users express hate speech, focusing on general Twitter discourse across three specific periods of the pandemic: degrees of incivility and moral foundations, and comparison of incivility based on the prevalence of reported hate crimes.
Community and public-private partnership projects in Uganda: community engagement, trust and performance
Authors: Magoola Isaac Wanzige , Mwesigwa Rogers , Nabwami Ruth 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide the initial evidence of the relationship between the community and public-private partnership (PPP) projects by focusing on community engagement, trust and performance.

Design/methodology/approach
This study is cross sectional and correlational and it uses project level data that were collected by means of a questionnaire from a sample of 47 PPP projects in Uganda.

Findings
Results indicate that trust and community engagement are significantly associated with the performance of PPP projects.

Research limitations/implications
This study was cross-sectional, and thus monitoring changes in behaviour over time was not possible. The study used a quantitative research approach and this limits respondents from expressing their feelings fully. The study was conducted in Uganda and it is possible that the results of this study can be generalized to developing countries with environments similar to that of Uganda.

Practical implications
The results are important for PPP projects to understand the role that trust and community engagement play in as far as the performance of PPP projects is concerned.

Originality/value
Whilst there have been a number of studies on the performance of PPP projects, this study provides initial empirical evidence on the influence of trust and community engagement on the performance of PPP projects using evidence from PPP projects of an African developing economy – Uganda.
Product market competition, board gender diversity and corporate sustainability performance: international evidence
Authors: Kamarudin Khairul Anuar , Ariff Akmalia M. , Wan Ismail Wan Adibah 
Published: August 2021

PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether board gender diversity is associated with corporate sustainability performance and whether industry-level product market competition moderates the effect of board gender diversity on corporate sustainability performance.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses international data extracted from global ESG data set from Thomson Reuters (Refinitiv) database. Using data of 23,137 firm-year observations from 37 countries, the authors perform regression analyses to examine the hypotheses.FindingsThe findings show that firms with high board gender diversity exhibit high corporate sustainability performance. The authors also find firms in highly competitive industries to have low corporate sustainability performance. In highly competitive industries, the positive relationship between board gender diversity and corporate sustainability performance is weakened. The results are robust to various specification tests such as alternative measures for corporate sustainability performance, board gender diversity, product market competition and also the use of propensity score matching to address endogeneity issue. Overall, the results support the prediction that board diversity and product market competition play a substitutive role in influencing corporate sustainability performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study offers empirical evidence that the appointment of female directors is a useful way to improve a firm’s corporate sustainability performance, hence, providing significant benefits in terms of stakeholders’ values and corporate reputation.Practical implicationsThis study provides useful insights to investors and policymakers that intense industry competition might mitigate the role of board governance, particularly board gender diversity, in enhancing corporate sustainability performance.Originality/valueUsing an international data set, where the observations operate in various market and institutional differences, this study is able to extricate the positive impact of board gender diversity and product market competition on corporate sustainability performance. This study corroborates evidence that sustainability strategy and initiatives are reflections of integrated factors, including corporate governance as internal driver and market forces faced by firms as external driver.