bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetically-based adaptive trait shifts at an expanding mangrove range margin
Authors: Kennedy John Paul , Johnson Giles N. , Preziosi Richard F. , Rowntree Jennifer K. 
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACTMany species are expanding beyond their distributional range margins in response to a warming planet. Due to marginal environmental conditions and novel selection pressures, range margins may foster unique genetic adaptations that can better enable species to thrive under the extreme climatic conditions at and beyond their current distributional limits. Neotropical black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) is expanding poleward into temperate salt marsh along Atlantic Florida, USA, with field evidence of adaptive trait shifts within range-margin A. germinans populations. However, whether these adaptive shifts have a genetic basis remains to be answered.We monitored twenty A. germinans maternal cohorts from areas in both the Atlantic Florida range core and margin in a greenhouse common garden with annual temperatures analogous to range-margin conditions. We measured variation in a series of phenotypic traits starting at initial planting of field-collected propagules and continuing until two years development.Maternal cohorts from the Atlantic Florida range margin consistently outperformed those from the range core throughout the experiment. Range-margin cohorts survived in greater numbers, established faster, and were less stressed under winter chilling and sub-zero temperatures that are often reached at the Atlantic range margin, but not within the range core. Range-margin cohorts did not grow taller, but instead invested more into lateral growth and biomass accumulation that presumably reflects adaptation to their colder and open canopy environment. Range-margin cohorts also exhibited leaf traits consistent with greater resource acquisition that may compensate for a shorter growing season and reduced light quality at higher latitude.Synthesis. We confirmed that there is a genetic basis to adaptive trait shifts towards an expanding mangrove range margin. Our results suggest that genetically-based phenotypic differences better enable these range-margin mangroves to thrive within their stressful environment and may facilitate further poleward expansion in the future. In addition, our documentation of adaptive trait variation among maternal cohorts of an ecologically-important mangrove foundation species, quantitative data that is lacking for mangroves, should help inform mangrove restoration initiatives.
Darwin’s small and medium ground finches might have taste preferences, but not for human foods
Authors: Lever D. , Rush L. V. , Thorogood R. , Gotanda K. M. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractUrbanization is rapidly changing ecological niches. On the inhabited Galapagos Islands, Darwin’s finches consume human-introduced foods preferentially; however, it remains unclear why. Here we presented pastry with flavour profiles typical of human foods (oily, salty, sweet) to small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) and medium ground finches (Geospiza fortis) to test if latent taste preferences might drive selection of human foods. If human-food flavours were consumed more than a neutral or bitter control only at sites with human foods, then we predicted tastes were acquired after urbanization; however, if no site-differences were found then this would indicate latent taste preferences. Contrary to both predictions, we found little evidence that human-food flavours were preferred compared to control flavours at any site. Instead, finches showed a weak aversion to oily foods, but only at remote (no human foods present) sites. This was further supported by behavioural responses, with beak wiping occurring more often at remote sites after finches tasted flavours associated with human foods. Our results suggest, therefore, that while Darwin’s finches may have acquired a tolerance to the flavours of human food, latent taste preferences are unlikely to have played a major role in their dietary response to increased urbanization.
ARF4-mediated Retrograde Trafficking Drives Chemoresistance in Glioblastoma
Authors: Budhiraja Shreya , Baisiwala Shivani , Perrault Ella , Cho Sia , Nandoliya Khizar , Dara Gabriel , Zolp Andrew , Chen Li , Dmello Crismita , Park Cheol H. , Sonabend Adam M , Ahmed Atique U 
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACTGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of adult malignant brain tumor, with a median survival of only 21 months. This is partly due to the high rate of resistance to conventional therapy, including temozolomide (TMZ), leading to recurrence rates close to 100%. It still remains unknown what drives the development of this resistance. To identify the unknown genes driving the development of this resistance, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen comparing a DMSO-treated population with a TMZ-treated population over 14 days. We identified 4 previously unstudied genes – ARF4, PLAA, SPTLC1, and PIGK – that showed significant elevations in expression in recurrent tumors in patient datasets, along with significant survival benefits corresponding to low gene expression. Further investigation of ARF4, known to be involved in retrograde trafficking, allowed us to identify a mechanism of resistance that is mediated by increased retrograde transport of EGFR into the nucleus. Ultimately, our CRISPR-Cas9 screen has identified a promising therapeutic target, ARF4, which may drive GBM’s high resistance to chemotherapy.
The age and mouse sperm quality – a flow cytometry investigation
Authors: Zacchini Federica , Bochenek Michal , Bisogno Simona , Chan Alan , Ptak Grazyna Ewa 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPostponement of fatherhood is growing worldwide due to socio-economic factors. The choice to conceive the first child above the age of 35 years is often associated with reduced fertility and poor pregnancy outcome. As widely known, several factors (e.g., lifestyle, environment, health problems) can affect spermatogenesis leading to poor reproductive outcome. Currently, the debate on the influence of aging on male gametes and safety/risk of conception at advanced age is still ongoing. Controversial results have been published so far on the changes in semen features of aging men and other mammalian species (mainly rodents). In this study, we aimed to assess how aging affects sperm quality in an inbreed mouse model, without underlying infertility, using a flow cytometry approach. Our data showed that aging is associated with increased sperm chromatin condensation, but not changes in the DNA integrity, metabolic activity or viability. These data suggest a mild effect of aging on sperm quality in a mouse model without underlying infertility.
Identification and characterization of hPSC-derived FOXA2+ progenitor cells with ventricular cardiac differentiation potential
Authors: Calderon Damelys , Wickramasinghe Nadeera , Sarrafha Leili , Schaniel Christoph , Chen Shuibing , Tomishima Mark , Dubois Nicole C. 
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACTWhile much progress has been made in understanding early cardiac development, the precise mechanisms that specify the different cardiomyocyte subtypes remain poorly understood. Recent data from our lab have shown that transient Foxa2 expression identifies a progenitor population with exclusive ventricular differentiation potential in the mouse heart. Here we have translated this concept to the human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) system. Using a FOXA2-GFP reporter cell line we characterized expression of FOXA2 during hPSC cardiac differentiation and found that a subset of cardiac mesoderm precursors transiently expresses FOXA2. Gene expression analysis of FOXA2+ and FOXA2- cardiac mesoderm revealed that both populations similarly express early cardiac specification markers such as PDGFRA, TBX5, and ISL1, while other key candidates including TBX20 and GATA4 are significantly upregulated in the FOXA2+ population. Isolation and subsequent differentiation of FOXA2+ and FOXA2- populations demonstrates their comparable differentiation potential to both cardiomyocytes and epicardial cells. However, cardiomyocytes derived from FOXA2+ precursors showed enhanced differentiation efficiency toward ventricular cardiomyocytes compared to cardiomyocytes derived from FOXA2- precursors. To identify new mechanisms that regulate ventricular specification, we performed small molecule screening and found that inhibition of the EGFR pathway strongly increased the cardiac mesoderm population in general, and the FOXA2+ precursors in particular. Finally, we have identified a combination of cell surface markers to specifically isolate FOXA2+ cardiac precursors. In summary, our results suggest that FOXA2+ cardiac mesoderm harbors ventricular-specific differentiation potential and isolation of these cells permits the generation of cultures enriched for ventricular cardiomyocytes. Generating such enriched cardiac populations will be relevant for regenerative medicine approaches, as well as for disease modeling from induced pluripotent stem cells.
SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated individuals of old age strongly boosters the humoral immune response
Authors: Müller Lisa , Andrée Marcel , Ostermann Philipp Niklas , Jazmati Nathalie , Flüh Greta , Fischer Johannes , Bölke Edwin , Wisplinghoff Hilmar , Schaal Heiner , Drexler Ingo , Walker Andreas , Adams Ortwin , Timm Jörg 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIntroductionProphylactic vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is one of the most important measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, break-through infections following vaccination against this virus have been reported. Here, we describe the humoral immune response of break-through infections in fully vaccinated individuals of old age from an outbreak in a nursery home.MethodsIn cooperation with the local health authority, blood samples from fully vaccinated and infected as well as fully vaccinated and uninfected residents of the nursery home were collected four weeks after the onset of the outbreak. The humoral immune response was determined in a neutralisation assay with replication-competent virus isolates and by a quantitative ELISA.ResultsIn this outbreak a total of 23 residents and four health care workers were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Four residents were unvaccinated, including one with a severe course of disease who later deceased. Despite their old age, all vaccinated residents showed no or only mild disease. Comparison of the humoral immune response revealed significantly higher antibody levels in fully vaccinated infected individuals compared to fully vaccinated uninfected individuals (p<0.001). Notably, although only a minority of the vaccinated uninfected group showed neutralisation capacity against SARS-CoV-2, all vaccinated and infected individuals showed high-titer neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 including the alpha and beta variant.DiscussionLarge SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks can occur in fully vaccinated populations, but seem to associate with mild disease. SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated individuals is a strong booster of the humoral immune response providing enhanced neutralisation capacity against immune evasion variants.
The impacts of introducing voids combinations on indoor ventilation performance in high-rise residential buildings
Authors: Laloui Hamza , Abdul Majid Noor Hanita , Sanusi Aliyah Nur Zafirah 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate and evaluate the impacts of the voids combination as a passive design feature on wind-driven ventilation performance in high-rise residential building units. It proposes a series of building models and thereon indoor ventilation performance and outlining why and how these building models designed with architectural design features are important. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how natural ventilation as a passive cooling strategy in living units of high-rise residential buildings can be applied through improving the provision of the architectural design feature of voids configurations.Design/methodology/approachThe study was carried out through field measurements experiment and the computational fluid dynamics methods. A series of numerical simulations were carried out to calculate the indoor ventilation rate inside the case studies of the generated building models based on various variables such as horizontal voids type, size and wind directions.FindingsThe results indicate that the provision of a single-sided horizontal voids in building models can improve the indoor ventilation rate in units with cross ventilation mode up to 4 times, depending on wind direction and living unit location. The indoor ventilation performance in units located in models with single-sided horizontal voids is 17.54% higher than the units located in models without voids configuration. Furthermore, higher indoor ventilation performance was achieved in the case scenarios located at higher levels compared to the middle and lower levels in both horizontal voids types.Originality/valueThis study explores the application of voids combinations for natural ventilation performance, investigates the numerical simulation results and validates field measurements experiment data using CFD simulation.
Radiative MHD hybrid-nanofluids flow over a permeable stretching surface with heat source/sink embedded in porous medium
Authors: Agrawal Priyanka , Dadheech Praveen Kumar , Jat R.N. , Baleanu Dumitru , Purohit Sunil Dutt 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the comparative analysis between three hybrid nanofluids flow past a permeable stretching surface in a porous medium with thermal radiation. Uniform magnetic field is applied together with heat source and sink. Three set of different hybrid nanofluids with water as a base fluid having suspension of Copper-Aluminum Oxide

(Cu−Al2O3), Silver-Aluminum Oxide

(Ag−Al2O3) and Copper-Silver

(Cu−Ag) nanoparticles are considered. The Marangoni boundary condition is applied.

Design/methodology/approach
The governing model of the flow is solved by Runga–Kutta fourth-order method with shooting technique, using appropriate similarity transformations. Temperature and velocity field are explained by the figures for many flow pertinent parameters.

Findings
Almost same behavior is observed for all the parameters presented in this analysis for the three set of hybrid nanofluids. For increased mass transfer wall parameter (

fw) and Prandtl Number (Pr), heat transfer rate cuts down for all three sets of hybrid nanofluids, and reverse effect is seen for radiation parameter (R), and heat source/sink parameter (

δ).

Practical implications
The thermal conductivity of hybrid nanofluids is much larger than the conventional fluids; thus, heat transfer efficiency can be improved with these fluids and its implications can be seen in the fields of biomedical, microelectronics, thin-film stretching, lubrication, refrigeration, etc.

Originality/value
The current analysis is to optimize heat transfer of three different radiative hybrid nanofluids (

Cu−Al2O3/H2O,

Ag−Al2O3/H2O and

Cu−Ag/H2O) over stretching surface after applying heat source/sink with Marangoni convection. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is new and never published before.
Problems of adoption of solar power and subsequent switching behavior: an exploration in India
Authors: Roy Subhadip , Mohapatra Subhalaxmi 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The challenges and factors of household adoption and the use of alternative energy sources have been a point of discussion among researchers. The purpose of this study is to apply a variant of the unified theory of adoption and use of technology (i.e. UTAUT 2) to explore the effect of various constructs that influence technology adoption on the consumers’ intention to adopt (and use) solar power generators (SPG) at the household level and the subsequent switching behavior.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on survey data collected from six cities in India (n = 1,246), factor analysis and structural equation modeling are applied for data analysis and testing the study hypotheses.

Findings
The results of the structural equation model found UTAUT constructs performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and hedonic to positively affect behavioral intentions to adopt SPG. However, facilitating conditions and perceived value was not found to affect behavioral intentions to adopt SPG. Behavioral intentions to adopt SPG was found to positively influence the switching behavior.

Research limitations/implications
The present study augments the domain of alternative energy usage behavior by applying the UTAUT 2 in the adoption of alternative energy sources (namely, solar) and subsequent switching behavior from traditional sources at the household level.

Practical implications
The findings from the present study will guide the marketers and policymakers on the consumer attitudinal and behavioral aspects of solar energy usage at the household level and subsequent switching behavior.

Originality/value
The present study is novel as it moves beyond household-level behavioral intention to use solar energy and includes the switching behavior to shift to solar power from traditional energy sources.
Advantages and disadvantages of regularly using a laptop computer in class, in primary and secondary schools and in higher education from the point of view of preservice teachers
Authors: Zilka Gila Cohen 
Published: July 2021

PurposeEducation systems worldwide are facing the question whether to adopt the “Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)” approach and allow students to bring their personal laptops to school. The purpose of the study was to understand the advantages and disadvantages of using a laptop during lessons in schools and in institutions of higher education, from the perspective of preservice teachers who watch the lessons and practice teaching in schools, while studying at an institution of higher education.Design/methodology/approachThe research questions were: What are the pros and cons of a regular use of personal laptops during lessons? How do learners use their laptop during lessons in schools and colleges? This was a mixed-method study with emphasis on quality analysis. Methods. Participants were 215 preservice teachers studying at academic institutions for teacher training in Israel.FindingsThe findings indicate that the benefits of using laptops are in the availability and accessibility of the digital environments and the many possibilities to integrate these environments and achieve goals of acquiring skills in the process of learning and teaching that takes place in the classroom. The findings further show that all learners, and especially adolescents, extensively and frequently use various digital developments.Research limitations/implicationsThis study examined the integration of laptops in the teaching and learning processes of preservice teachers who are in the process of forming their identity as future professionals teaching in the twenty-first century. The lessons chosen by preservice teachers to conduct during their teaching practicum have not been examined, therefore it is desirable that future studies examine the way in which preservice teachers choose the lessons to teach and how they practice teaching: whether in the traditional or the constructivist way, and if so, why?Practical implicationsIt is advisable to enable preservice teachers to look at a combination of digital environments in teaching and to experience teaching in these environments, to increase e-readiness for teaching in a digital environment.Social implicationsHow do learners use their laptops during lessons in school and in higher education?Originality/valueAcquiring skills in the process of learning and teaching that takes place in the classroom.
Regional economic integration, natural resources and foreign direct investment in SADC
Authors: Adika Gameli 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the role of economic integration and natural resources and foreign direct investment (FDI) complementarity in explaining economic growth in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).Design/methodology/approachThe study employed the ordinary least square-random effects and the generalized two-stage least square instrumental variables (IV) regression to examine the relationship between the variables.FindingsThe authors find that regional economic integration and natural resource abundance are essential for promoting economic growth. The results further show a potential resource curse phenomenon, offset by the complementary effect of FDI in resource-rich countries. The findings are robust after conditioning for different measures of institutional quality.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest the need for deeper regional trade integration and international cooperation, prudent natural resource management and concerted effort toward economic diversification.Originality/valueMany studies have examined the determinants of economic growth in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). However, these studies did not incorporate or assess the potential of economic integration in the region. Moreover, studies that examined the growth effects of FDI did not assess the complementary role of the region's natural resource endowment which potentially drives FDI inflows. This study fills these gaps and provides a robust analysis of economic growth drivers in the region.
How do executive pay and its gap with employee pay influence corporate performance? Evidence from Thailand tourism listed companies
Authors: Ferry Laurence , He Guanming , Yang Chang 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThe authors investigate how executive pay and its gap with employee pay influence the performance of Thailand tourism listed companies.Design/methodology/approachThe authors manually collect data on the executives' and employees' remunerations for Thailand tourism listed companies and use the data for the authors’ OLS regression analysis. To check the robustness of the results to potential endogeneity issues, the authors employ the two-stage least-squares regression analysis and the impact threshold for a confounding variable approach.FindingsThe authors find that short-term executive compensation enhances firm performance, and that long-term executive compensation reduces the likelihood of unfavorable corporate performance. The authors also find that the gap in short-term pay between executives and employees has an inverted-U relation with firm performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study suggests that higher executive pay relative to employee pay could encourage executives to work hard to improve corporate performance, but that too large a pay gap between executives and employees could impair employees' morale and harm firm performance.Practical implicationsIt is important for tourism companies to not only pay executives well but also avoid too large a pay gap between executives and employees.Social implicationsThis study implies the important role of compensation design in contributing to employee engagement and good performance for tourism firms.Originality/valueThis study sheds light on agency problems between executives and employees in tourism companies and provides new evidence and insights on compensation research in the tourism sector in emerging markets.