bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal SMCHD1 controls both imprinted Xist expression and imprinted X chromosome inactivation
Authors: Wanigasuriya Iromi , Kinkel Sarah A , Beck Tamara , Roper Ellise A , Breslin Kelsey , Lee Heather J , Keniry Andrew , Ritchie Matthew E , Blewitt Marnie E , Gouil Quentin 
Published: October 2021

AbstractEmbryonic development is dependent on the maternal supply of proteins through the oocyte, including factors setting up the adequate epigenetic patterning of the zygotic genome. We previously reported that one such factor is the epigenetic repressor SMCHD1, whose maternal supply controls autosomal imprinted expression in mouse preimplantation embryos and mid-gestation placenta. In mouse preimplantation embryos, X chromosome inactivation is also an imprinted process. Combining genomics and imaging, we show that maternal SMCHD1 is required not only for the imprinted expression of Xist in preimplantation embryos, but also for the efficient silencing of the inactive X in both the preimplantation embryo and mid-gestation placenta. These results expand the role of SMCHD1 in enforcing the silencing of Polycomb targets. The inability of zygotic SMCHD1 to fully restore imprinted X inactivation further points to maternal SMCHD1’s role in setting up the appropriate chromatin environment during preimplantation development, a critical window of epigenetic remodelling.
A Null Allele of the Pol IV Second Subunit is Viable in Oryza sativa
Authors: Chakraborty Tania , Trujillo Joshua T. , Kendall Timmy , Mosher Rebecca A. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTAll eukaryotes possess three DNA-dependent RNA polymerases, Pols I-III, while land plants possess two additional polymerases, Pol IV and Pol V. Derived through duplication of Pol II subunits, Pol IV produces 24-nt siRNAs that interact with Pol V transcripts to target de novo DNA methylation and silence transcription of transposons. Members of the grass family encode additional duplicated subunits of Pol IV and V, raising questions regarding the function of each paralog. In this study, we identify a null allele of the putative Pol IV second subunit, NRPD2, and demonstrate that NRPD2 is the sole subunit functioning with NRPD1 in small RNA production and CHH methylation in leaves. Homozygous nrpd2 mutants have neither gametophytic defects, nor embryo lethality, although adult plants are dwarf and sterile.
Temperature-dependent local conformations and conformational distributions of cyanine dimer labeled single-stranded – double-stranded DNA junctions by 2D fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Heussman Dylan , Kittell Justin , von Hippel Peter H. , Marcus Andrew H. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractDNA replication, and the related processes of genome expression, require binding, assembly, and function of protein complexes at and near single-stranded (ss) – double-stranded (ds) DNA junctions. These central protein-DNA interactions are likely influenced by thermally induced conformational fluctuations of the DNA scaffold across an unknown distribution of functionally relevant states to provide regulatory proteins access to properly conformed DNA binding sites. Thus, characterizing the nature of conformational fluctuations and the associated structural disorder at ss-dsDNA junctions is likely critical for understanding the molecular mechanisms of these central biological processes. Here we describe spectroscopic studies of model ss-dsDNA fork constructs that contain dimers of ‘internally labeled’ cyanine (iCy3) chromophore probes that have been rigidly inserted within the sugar-phosphate backbones of the DNA strands. Our combined analyses of absorbance, circular dichroism (CD) and two-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (2DFS) permit us to characterize the local conformational parameters and conformational distributions. We find that the DNA sugar-phosphate backbones undergo abrupt successive changes in their local conformations – initially from a right-handed and ordered DNA state to a disordered splayed-open structure and then to a disordered left-handed conformation – as the dimer probes are moved across the ss-dsDNA junction. Our results suggest that the sugar-phosphate backbones at and near ss-dsDNA junctions adopt specific position-dependent local conformations and exhibit varying extents of conformational disorder that deviate widely from the Watson-Crick structure. We suggest that some of these conformations are likely to function as secondary-structure motifs for interaction with protein complexes that bind to and assemble at these sites.
BRCA1 and ELK-1 regulate Neural Progenitor Cell Fate in the Optic Tectum in response to Visual Experience in Xenopus laevis tadpoles
Authors: Huang Lin-Chien , He Haiyan , Ta Aaron C. , McKeown Caroline R. , Cline Hollis T. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIn developing Xenopus tadpoles, the optic tectum begins to receive patterned visual input while visuomotor circuits are still undergoing neurogenesis and circuit assembly. This visual input regulates neural progenitor cell fate decisions such that maintaining tadpoles in the dark increases proliferation, expanding the progenitor pool, while visual stimulation promotes neuronal differentiation. To identify regulators of activity-dependent neural progenitor cell fate, we used RNA-Seq to profile the transcriptomes of proliferating neural progenitor cells and newly-differentiated immature neurons. Out of 1,130 differentially expressed (DE) transcripts, we identified six DE transcription factors which are predicted to regulate the majority of the other DE transcripts. Here we focused on Breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and the ETS-family transcription factor, ELK-1. BRCA1 is known for its role in cancers, but relatively little is known about its potential role in regulating neural progenitor cell fate. ELK-1 is a multifunctional transcription factor which regulates immediate early gene expression. We investigated the effect of BRCA1 and ELK-1 on activity-regulated neurogenesis in the tadpole visual system using in vivo time-lapse imaging to monitor the fate of turbo-GFP-expressing SOX2+ neural progenitor cells in the optic tectum. Our longitudinal in vivo imaging analysis shows that knockdown of either BRCA1 or ELK-1 altered the fates of neural progenitor cells, and furthermore that the effects of visual experience on neurogenesis depend on BRCA1 expression, while the effects of visual experience on neuronal differentiation depend on ELK-1 expression. These studies provide insight into the potential mechanisms by which neural activity affects neural progenitor cell fate.
Corrosion behaviour of hot-dip Zn-Al-Mg coatings with different Al content
Authors: Rai Prabhat Kumar , Rout Dinesh , Kumar D. Satish , Sharma Sanjay , Balachandran G. 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to simulate the industrial hot-dip process of Zn-2.5Wt.%Mg-3 Wt.%Al and Zn-2.5 Wt.%Mg-9 Wt.%Al-0.15 Wt.%Si coatings and to study the effect of low and high Al variation on their microstructure, microhardness, adhesion and corrosion behaviour.Design/methodology/approachThe hot-dip Zn-2.5 Mg-xAl coating simulation on steel substrate was carried out using a hot-dip process simulator. The microstructure of the coatings was characterized using a scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The corrosion behaviour of the coatings was studied using a salt spray test in 5% NaCl solution as well as dynamic polarization in 3.5% NaCl solution.FindingsMicrohardness of the developed Zn-2.5 Mg-xAl coatings has been found to be approximately two times higher than that of the conventional galvanized coating. Zn-2.5 Mg-3Al coating has exhibited two times higher corrosion resistance as compared to that of Zn-2.5 Mg-9Al-0.15Si coating because of formation of more homogeneous and defect-free microstructure of the former. The MgZn2phase has undergone preferential dissolution and provided Mg2+ions to form a protective film.Originality/valueThe relative corrosion resistance of the two Zn–Al–Mg coatings with different Al content has been studied. The defect formed because of higher Al addition in the coating has been detected, and its effect on corrosion behaviour has been analysed.
The role of foreign direct investment in growth: Spain, 1964–2013
Authors: Bajo-Rubio Oscar 
Published: October 2021

PurposeForeign direct investment (FDI) has played a major role in the deep process of transformation experienced by the Spanish economy since the first 1960s, which even intensified, following the integration with the now European Union in 1986. This paper aims to analyse the long-run effects of FDI in Spain by estimating a production function including the foreign capital stock over the period 1964–2013.Design/methodology/approachThe author estimates a production function including the foreign capital stock over the period 1964–2013, from which the contributions of the different explanatory variables on the accumulated growth of gross domestic product (GDP) are computed. Next, the author tested for the possible presence of structural change in the previously estimated equation, by means of the tests of Bai and Perron, re-estimating the production function for the different subperiods delimited by the structural breaks found. Finally, the analysis is completed by performing Granger-causality tests on the variables GDP and foreign capital stock in a multivariate setting.FindingsThe author finds a significant contribution of foreign capital on the accumulated growth of GDP over the period of analysis, which seems however to have been greater during the first years of the period analysed. Foreign capital can play a positive role in the economic growth of an economy, provided that FDI inflows are stable and permanent enough, but this effect on growth seems to be more important in the first stages of a growth process.Originality/valueThe author presents a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between FDI and growth for a particular country, which seems to be a more promising empirical approach rather than the approach based on panel regressions, where sometimes some dissimilar experiences are added together. The Spanish economy can provide a relevant case study, given the substantial process of growth it enjoyed starting from the early 1960s, characterized by the arrival of vast inflows of foreign capital.
Determining the pointer positions of aircraft analog indicators using deep learning
Authors: Tunca Erdem , Saribas Hasan , Kafali Hasim , Kahvecioglu Sinem 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to monitor the backup indicators in case of indicator failure and to minimize the situations when the pilot may be unable to monitor the indicator effectively in emergency situations.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the pointer positions of different indicators were determined with a deep learning-based algorithm. Within the scope of the study, the pointer on the analog indicators obtained from aircraft cockpits was detected with the YOLOv4 object detector. Then, segmentation was made with the GrabCut algorithm to detect the pointer in the detected region more precisely. Finally, a line including the segmented pointer was found using the least-squares method, and the exact direction of the pointer was determined and the angle value of the pointer was obtained by using the inverse tangent function. In addition, to detect the pointer of the YOLOv4 object detection method and to test the designed method, a data set consisting of videos taken from aircraft cockpits was created and labeled.FindingsThe analog indicator pointers were detected with great accuracy by the YOLOv4 and YOLOv4-Tiny detectors. The experimental results show that the proposed method estimated the angle of the pointer with a high degree of accuracy. The developed method can reduce the workloads of both pilots and flight engineers. Similarly, the performance of pilots can be evaluated with this method.Originality/valueThe authors propose a novel real-time method which consists of detection, segmentation and line regression modules for mapping the angle of the pointers on analog indicators. A data set that includes analog indicators taken from aircraft cockpits was collected and labeled to train and test the proposed method.
Assessing risk attitudes and time preferences on the rural–urban interface of Bengaluru, India
Authors: Wegmann Johannes , Hermann Daniel , Musshoff Oliver 
Published: October 2021

PurposeUrbanization is a main driver of the transformation from agricultural-based economies to service-based economies. At the same time, urbanization might also alter preferences and attitudes such as risk and time preferences that contribute to economic growth and foster this transition. To study the effect of urbanization, few studies have compared individual time or risk preferences in rural and urban settings, reporting mixed results. This study analyses how risk and time preferences alter along the rural–urban interface and assesses the correlation of socio-economic, socio-cultural and demographic characteristics with these preferences. Using such an approach provides insights how preferences are altered in areas of transition as the rural–urban interface mirrors different stages of urbanization.Design/methodology/approachUsing experimental approaches, risk attitudes and time preferences of 1,117 agricultural and non-agricultural households were elicited along the rural–urban interface of the fast-developing Indian megacity Bengaluru in 2016/17. The study reports joint estimations of risk and time preferences and discusses the influence of urbanization on these preferences.FindingsResults show that households are on average slightly risk-averse and highly impatient. The results also indicate a decline in discount rates towards rural areas while risk preferences do not considerably differ between those areas. This puzzling result may be explained by difference response of rural and urban areas to the Demonetization policy of the Indian government in 2016.Originality/valueThe research design compares jointly estimated risk and time preferences of agricultural and non-agricultural households of a rapidly urbanizing area in a low-medium income country.
Understanding entity shared product usage: an innovation-adoption coupling model
Authors: Chen Chuanhong , Li Xueyan 
Published: October 2021

PurposeConsumer adoption of shared products is a prerequisite for successful commercialization. The purpose of this paper is to explore what innovative characteristics of entity shared products can accommodate consumers' concerns and are likely to motivate adoption of consumers.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used a conceptual model that combined the innovation diffusion theory and technology acceptance model to explore shared products adoption. It identified the direct and indirect effects of perceived app ease of use/online, perceived convenience of access/offline, perceived utility advantages and personal innovativeness on shared products adoption intention. Structural equation modeling was used for analyzing the questionnaire data from a sample of 479 users who used entity shared products such as shared cars, shared bicycles and shared power banks for mobile phones.FindingsThe empirical tests indicate that perceived utility advantages based on market innovation, perceived accessibility of usage rights based on technology innovation (including perceived app ease of use/online and perceived convenience of access/offline) and consumer personal innovativeness are the key factors affecting consumer adoption.Originality/valueThis paper constructs an innovation-adoption coupling model of entity shared products to understand shared products usage. The findings provide useful practical guidance for the design and development of shared products and “usage rights economy” business applications.
An innovative maturity model to assess supply chain quality management
Authors: Cubo Catarina , Oliveira Rui , Fernandes Ana Cristina , Sampaio Paulo , Carvalho Maria Sameiro , Afonso Paulo 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis paper aims to present and discuss an innovative maturity model (MM) to assess supply chain quality management (SCQM). The SCQM MM can be used to guide organizations in the development and improvement of quality in their supply chains (SCs). Additionally, this paper intends to better understand that integration and its impacts on organizational performance.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed MM was developed based on an exhaustive literature review of the most relevant MMs developed in the areas of quality management, supply chain management and other relevant domains.FindingsThe proposed MM consists of a matrix with 100 criteria organized in five organizational dimensions and five maturity levels, embracing the most relevant SC issues and describing a progressive path towards a state of full maturity.Originality/valueIt is an innovative tool useful for both academic experts and practitioners to integrate quality management across the SC, thus promoting and improving organizational performance from an integrated and sustainable perspective.
Non-financial variables related to governance and financial distress prediction in SMEs–evidence from Egypt
Authors: Ragab Yasmine M. , Saleh Mohamed A. 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis study examines the effect of non-financial variables related to governance on the accuracy of financial distress prediction among Egyptian listed small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by using the logistic regression technique.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a sample of 24 Egyptian-listed SMEs in each year, totaling 120 firm observations, of which 25 were classified distressed and 95 of them non-distressed between 2014 and 2018. The variables for the study included five financial variables and thirteen non-financial variables related to governance. The models were developed using financial variables alone as well as combining financial and non-financial variables related to governance.FindingsThe results showed that the model with financial variables had a prediction accuracy of 91.7% , whereas models with a combination of financial and non-financial variables related to governance predict with comparatively better accuracy of 92.7 and 93.6% .Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the results seem to be conclusive, it could be noted that the non-distressed sample was not paired with the distressed sample. Other studies showed that paired samples increase the financial distress prediction rate. Furthermore, due to the small sample size, this study was unable to create a hold-out sub-sample for the accuracy test.Practical implicationsThe proposed distress prediction model for SMEs is effective for stakeholders, including banks and other financial institutions, in the assessment of the credit risk of SMEs. Using such a model, they could better identify SMEs with a higher risk of failure in their lending decisions. Moreover, SME managers' could be interested in using such models as a tool for planning corrective action, in addition to planning and controlling current operations to avoid financial failure in the future.Originality/valueThis study contributes to financial distress prediction literature in different ways. First, few studies were conducted in the area of financial distress among SMEs. Second, neither of these studies was conducted within the Egyptian context, nor any of them had used non-financial variables related to governance in the prediction of financial distress among SMEs.
Serving the low-income consumer in a rich economy: Dollar General racks up sales
Authors: Atwal Glyn , Bryson Douglas 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
The conceptualization of the Base of Pyramid (BOP) proposes that low-income markets can lead to profitable opportunities for businesses. The purpose of this study is to identify key success factors of a BOP business strategy based on a case study of the discount retailer, Dollar General, in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach
The research design used in this research is an in-depth case study of Dollar General in the USA. Qualitative methods are applied in both the primary and secondary data collection and during the follow-on data analysis of Dollar General.

Findings
Dollar General’s strategic profile is achieved through the combination of the following four actions which are tailored to compete effectively at the BOP in the USA: creating the neighborhood discounter, raising aspirational appeal, reducing service and eliminating internationalization.

Research limitations/implications
The case is specific to Dollar General in a US cultural context.

Practical implications
The case of Dollar General demonstrates how a discounter retailer should not only follow a low-cost strategy to compete at the BOP. Its ability to craft a distinctive strategy is coherent with meeting the logistical, rational and emotional needs of the low-income consumer in the USA.

Social implications
Many businesses have neglected rural areas of the USA as being unprofitable. The ability for businesses such as Dollar General to serve the BOP segment can foster the socio-economic well-being of communities.

Originality/value
The overwhelming body of the BOP literature is based on emerging markets. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the few studies to investigate BOP business strategy in the USA.
Fraud schemes during COVID-19: a comparison from FATF countries
Authors: Murrar Firas 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
This study aims to define fraud crimes, its most prevalent categories and examines the most common of these schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic by drawing on the experiences of several countries and the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) updated paper issued during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a comparative analysis methodology in conjunction with a descriptive analytical approach to compare four FATF member countries in light of the fraud activities that occurred on their territory during the pandemic and their respective law enforcement measures. It makes use of secondary data sources, namely, the theoretical literature on the subject and FATF’s updated paper on money laundering and terrorism financing during COVID-19.

Findings
This study found that fraudsters exploited the difficult circumstances during the pandemic in the majority of countries worldwide and identified various fraud schemes based on the incidents reviewed, such as the abuse of economic stimulus in Italy, counterfeiting medical goods in Brazil and investment fraud schemes in California, USA. In Spain, the fraud schemes tended to be cyber related. Such variations were also observed by the law enforcement agencies in the above-mentioned countries.

Originality/value
Numerous studies on fraud schemes are available to researchers. However, few such studies have been conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study makes a unique contribution to the literature.