bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of endogenous earthworm’s extracts on “plant growth-promoting fungi”
Authors: Yakkou Lamia , Houida Sofia , Raouane Mohammed , Hatipoğlu Musa , Amghar Souad , El Harti Abdellatif , Jaber Mohammed 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThis study explores the in vitro effects of earthworm-derived crude extracts on the growth of key Plant Growth-Promoting Fungi (PGPF) strains, includingTrichodermasp.,Melanocarpussp., andAcaulosporasp. Crude extracts were prepared from freshly harvested earthworms (HE) and those that had been starved and devoid of soil for 10 days (FE), and their effects on fungal proliferation were assessed at varying concentrations. Results demonstrated that both HE and FE extracts significantly enhanced fungal growth rates compared to traditional growth media (PDA and SAB), even at lower concentrations. The enriched nutrient profile and growth factors present in these extracts suggest that earthworm decomposition contributes valuable bioactive compounds to the soil, promoting PGPF activity and soil fertility. Additionally, media derived from these extracts stimulated rapid spore germination, which is critical for fungal dissemination and ecological establishment. Notably, the study found that contents within the earthworm digestive tract did not influence fungal growth, affirming that the growth-promoting effects are inherent to the earthworm tissue structure itself. These findings underscore the potential of earthworm-based media as a natural and effective growth medium for enhancing PGPF propagation, with implications for sustainable agricultural practices and soil health improvement.
Interspecies Organoids Reveal Human-Specific Molecular Features of Dopaminergic Neuron Development and Vulnerability
Authors: Nolbrant Sara , Wallace Jenelle L. , Ding Jingwen , Zhu Tianjia , Sevetson Jess L. , Kajtez Janko , Baldacci Isabella A. , Corrigan Emily K. , Hoglin Kaylynn , McMullen Reed , Schmitz Matthew T. , Breevoort Arnar , Swope Dani , Wu Fengxia , Pavlovic Bryan J. , Salama Sofie R. , Kirkeby Agnete , Huang Hao , Schaefer Nathan K. , Pollen Alex A. 
Published: November 2024

SummaryThe disproportionate expansion of telencephalic structures during human evolution involved tradeoffs that imposed greater connectivity and metabolic demands on midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Despite the central role of dopaminergic neurons in human-enriched disorders, molecular specializations associated with human-specific features and vulnerabilities of the dopaminergic system remain unexplored. Here, we establish a phylogeny-in-a-dish approach to examine gene regulatory evolution by differentiating pools of human, chimpanzee, orangutan, and macaque pluripotent stem cells into ventral midbrain organoids capable of forming long-range projections, spontaneous activity, and dopamine release. We identify human-specific gene expression changes related to axonal transport of mitochondria and reactive oxygen species buffering and candidatecis-andtrans-regulatory mechanisms underlying gene expression divergence. Our findings are consistent with a model of evolved neuroprotection in response to tradeoffs related to brain expansion and could contribute to the discovery of therapeutic targets and strategies for treating disorders involving the dopaminergic system.
Soybean Cyst Nematode-Resistant Protein AATRhg1Affects Amino Acid Homeostasis and Betalain Accumulation
Authors: Du Yulin , Jung Soyoung , Maeda Hiroshi , Bent Andrew F. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractAmino acid transporters play crucial roles in plant nitrogen metabolism but also defense responses. AATRhg1, an apparent amino acid transporter encoded byGlyma.18g022400(Rhg1-GmAAT) at the soybeanRhg1locus, contributes to resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), although thein plantafunction of AATRhg1remains elusive. In this study we discovered that overexpression ofRhg1-GmAATin soybean roots enhances the betalain pigment synthesis driven by aRUBYtransgene cassette, potentially through its transporter activity affecting tyrosine level and amino acid homeostasis. SilencingRhg1-GmAATalso moderately increased betalain accumulation while co-overexpression ofRhg1-GmAATandGmRBOHG(encoding an AATRhg1-interacting NADPH oxidase) blocked the betalain phenotype, indicating a complex role of AATRhg1in regulating cellular metabolism. Soybean AATRhg1did not show a betalain accumulation phenotype when co-overexpressed withRUBYinNicotiana benthamianaleaves, suggesting that soybean AATRhg1functions differently inN. benthamiana. In soybean, the expression of AATRhg1proteins mutated at conserved residues D122A or Y268L mitigated or enhanced the betalain phenotypes, respectively, suggesting that these residues are important for AATRhg1function. This study advances our understanding of AATRhg1while presenting a novel strategy for enhancing betalain biosynthesis by modulating transport and homeostasis of amino acids.
Needle in a haystack: culturing plant-beneficial Helotiales lineages from plant roots
Authors: Bruyant Pauline , Doré Jeanne , Vallon Laurent , Moënne-Loccoz Yvan , Almario Juliana 
Published: November 2024

AbstractRoot-associated Helotiales fungi are increasingly recognized as beneficial fungal partners promoting plant growth under nutrient-limited conditions, particularly in non-mycorrhizal hosts, lacking the ancestral arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. However, the ecology of these fungi is still cryptic as relatively few lineages have been successfully cultivated from roots for further study. Here, we attempted the mass isolation of root endophytic fungi to evaluate the recovery of known plant-beneficial Helotiales lineages using a tailored culture-based approach. We sampled six wild non-mycorrhizal species from the Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Cyperaceae, growing in nutrient-limited alpine soils. We isolated 602 root endophytes and compared this culturable diversity with the one observed via fungal ITS2 metabarcoding. Metabarcoding revealed that Helotiales taxa dominated the fungal communities, with 43% of these detected taxa also represented in our collection. Accordingly, most root endophytes in our collection (53%) were Helotiales. These isolates, some with P solubilisation potential, belonged primarily to three Helotialean clades and were phylogenetically related to plant growth-promoting or mycorrhizal-like strains. This analysis highlights that roots of alpine non-mycorrhizal plants are reservoirs of plant-beneficial root-endophytic Helotiales, and the isolates obtained are a promising resource to explore the plant-beneficial mechanisms and ecological traits of these fungi.
Oligogalacturonides, produced by enzymatic degradation of sugar beet by-products, confer partial protection against wheat powdery mildew
Authors: Carton Camille , Šafran Josip , Mohanaraj Sangeetha , Roulard Romain , Domon Jean-Marc , Bassard Solène , Facon Natacha , Tisserant Benoît , Mongelard Gaelle , Gutierrez Laurent , Randoux Béatrice , Magnin-Robert Maryline , Pelloux Jérôme , Pau-Roblot Corinne , Sahraoui Anissa Lounès-Hadj 
Published: November 2024

AbstractNowadays, it becomes urgent to use new alternative strategies for a more sustainable agriculture, by developing eco-friendly biocontrol compounds leading to an induction of plant resistance against pathogens. In recent years, oligogalacturonides (OGs), fragments of pectin resulting from the degradation of the plant cell wall, have been particularly under focus for their ability to induce plant defense, leading to plant protection against pathogens. In the current work, 2 mixtures of OGs, bio-sourced from sugar beet by-products, were produced and assessed for their protective efficacy on wheat againstBlumeria graminis f. sp. tritici(Bgt), responsible for powdery mildew. These OGs pools were obtained by hydrolysing pectins with twoA. thalianapolygalacturonases (PGs), ADPG2 and PGLR (EC 3.2.1.15), produced in heterologous systemPichia pastoris. No direct effect of OGs generated by either ADPG2, named OGs-ADPG2 (degree of polymerisation/DP 1-10 and degree of esterification/DE 41%) or PGLR, named OGs-PGLR (DP 1-16, DE 34 %), was observed onBgtspore germinationin vitro. After a preventive foliar spraying of wheat by OGs, only OGs-PGLR provided a 31 % partial protection againstBgt. Both pools of OGs triggered an increase in the expression of some plant defense-related genes (peroxidase or PR proteins encoding genes), before inoculation with the pathogen. However, only OGs-PGLR induced the expression of a gene encoding a lipoxygenase (LOX), which is the first enzyme involved in the octadecanoic pathway, leading to oxylipins production in plant defense. Taking together, these findings revealed that some OGs, produced from sugar beet by-products by enzymatic hydrolysis, could be used as an alternative of phytochemicals.
Strong
CP
problem in the quantum rotor
Authors: Albandea D. , Catumba G. , Ramos A. 
Published: November 2024

Recent studies have claimed that the strong CP problem does not occur in QCD, proposing a new order of limits in volume and topological sectors when studying observables on the lattice. In order to shed light on this issue, we study the effect of the topological θ-term on a simple quantum mechanical rotor that allows a lattice description. The topological susceptibility and the θ-dependence of the energy spectrum are both computed using local lattice correlation functions. The sign problem is overcome by considering Taylor expansions in θ, exploiting automatic differentiation methods for Monte Carlo processes. Our findings confirm the conventional wisdom on the strong CP problem.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quantifying basis risk associated with supplemental area-based crop insurance
Authors: Tsay Juo-Han , Paulson Nicholas D. 
Published: November 2024

PurposeArea-based insurance plans trigger payments based on losses which may not match actual loss experience at the farm level, an issue often referred to as basis risk. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the basis risk associated with the Supplemental and Enhanced Coverage Option (SCO and ECO) crop insurance programs, and the risk reduction that can be achieved when these area-based plans are added to farmers’ risk management portfolios.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilizes simulation techniques to build a stylized model for representative farms at the county-level for non-irrigated corn and soybean production. We model farms for each county in the 17 states included in USDA’s Crop Progress Reports for corn and soybeans, which comprise more than 90% of planted acreage for those crops. Yield and price data from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), futures price data and insurance premiums from the Risk Management Agency are used to calibrate the simulation model.FindingsArea-based plans may provide (1) insufficient coverage for actual losses, which is a risk management concern or (2) payments exceeding actual losses, which is a program efficiency concern given federal support for the insurance program. The risk of insufficient coverage (under-compensation) can be reduced by increasing the coverage level of the area plans, but that also increases the likelihood of support exceeding actual loss experience (over-compensation). The scale of basis risk associated with the area plans differs by region and crop due to differences in yield risk. Area plans do have the potential to provide additional risk reduction; however, risk reduction is inversely related to the level of basis risk.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to focus on quantifying the basis risk associated with the relatively new supplemental area options (SCO, ECO) currently available in the US federal crop insurance program. It provides important insights which could inform current and future Farm Bill debates as policymakers consider modifications and enhancements to commodity and crop insurance programs. It also provides useful information to help educate farmers and other stakeholders about the use of SCO and ECO in their risk management plans.
Effectiveness of signaling a firm family identity to jobseekers: proactiveness and innovativeness profile of the applicant
Authors: Llanos-Contreras Orlando , Cuevas-Lizama Jonathan , Sanhueza-Palma Gonzalo , Alonso Dos Santos Manuel 
Published: November 2024

PurposeThis study aims to determine how the communication of a family business identity in a recruitment call influences, directly and indirectly, the response of jobseekers, and whether this response varies according to the level of proactiveness and innovative of the applicants.Design/methodology/approachAn experimental design using job advertisements on a LinkedIn recruitment call in Peru and Chile was implemented. The experiment simulates a job offer for a professional that could be filled by a business graduate student. The sample consisted of 171 surveys applied to university students in full-time higher education programs.FindingsThe results indicate that there is a positive indirect influence of family business signaling on the intention to pursue (through perceived prestige and career development opportunity). However, signaling family ownership of a company has a negative direct influence on jobseekers’ intentions to go to the recruitment call. When it comes to jobseekers with high and low levels of innovativeness and proactiveness, the results suggest that family business identity signaling is less effective among jobseekers with higher levels of proactiveness and innovativeness.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the theory of the family firm by advancing the understanding of the challenges that family businesses face when attracting talent. Our results enable family businesses to strategically adapt their hiring processes to enhance their appeal in the competitive labor market.
Deep affection: service robots increase brand love of restaurants
Authors: Wu Shu-Hua 
Published: November 2024

PurposeService robots with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) can collect data on customer preferences, understand complex requests, improve services, and tailor marketing strategies. This study examined how perceived relatedness, perceived warmth, and customer–AI-assisted exchanges (CAIX) of service robots affect customer service competencies and brand love through service-robot intimacy.Design/methodology/approachA brand love model was developed based on the AI device using acceptance and an emotional perspective. Data were collected from customers who had dined in robot restaurants; 415 questionnaires were completed, and partial least squares analysis was adapted to the proposed model.FindingsThe results demonstrate that the perceived relatedness, perceived warmth and CAIX of service robots affect the intimacy of robot restaurants. Customers who feel friendly and satisfied with a restaurant’s service robot will recommend it to their friends.Research limitations/implicationsThis study draws on theory and existing literature to identify principal factors in robot restaurant service capabilities. Future research can include service robot data analysis capabilities and adoption process factors as the direction of customer relationship management research while also exploring the influence of AI computing on restaurant supply chains. Likewise, the agility of service robots in the stages of innovation can be discussed in future research based on different theories, which will bridge unique insights.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study emphasize the relationship between service robots and restaurant brand love and propose specific practice areas for restaurants.Originality/valueThis study expands the main issue of current brand love research from traditional restaurant operations to the novel field of humanoid service robot restaurants. It enriches our understanding of how consumers’ emotional fondness for a brand affects their behavioural intentions.
A review of AI and machine learning contribution in business process management (process enhancement and process improvement approaches)
Authors: Abbasi Mostafa , Nishat Rahnuma Islam , Bond Corey , Graham-Knight John Brandon , Lasserre Patricia , Lucet Yves , Najjaran Homayoun 
Published: November 2024

PurposeThe significance of business processes has fostered a close collaboration between academia and industry. Moreover, the business landscape has witnessed continuous transformation, closely intertwined with technological advancements. Our main goal is to offer researchers and process analysts insights into the latest developments concerning artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to optimize their processes in an organization and identify research gaps and future directions in the field.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, we perform a systematic review of academic literature to investigate the integration of AI/ML in business process management (BPM). We categorize the literature according to the BPM life-cycle and employ bibliometric and objective-oriented methodology to analyze related papers.FindingsIn business process management and process map, AI/ML has made significant improvements using operational data on process metrics. These developments involve two distinct stages: (1) process enhancement, which emphasizes analyzing process information and adding descriptions to process models and (2) process improvement, which focuses on redesigning processes based on insights derived from analysis.Research limitations/implicationsWhile this review paper serves to provide an overview of different approaches for addressing process-related challenges, it does not delve deeply into the intricacies of fine-grained technical details of each method. This work focuses on recent papers conducted between 2010 and 2024.Originality/valueThis work addresses a significant gap by employing a pioneering approach to introduce challenges in BPM alongside AI/ML techniques and integrated tools. Hence, it offers comprehensive guidelines that elucidate the alignment between ML methods and solutions to current challenges across the BPM life-cycle, including process enhancement and process improvement. Additionally, by detailing various aspects of the life-cycle phases and highlighting ML technique characteristics, this research demonstrates potential approaches for future exploration, thereby enhancing applicability for both process analysts and researchers in this context.
Principle-based decision-making: realising benefits in a scaled agile environment
Authors: Marnewick Carl , Marnewick Annlizé L. 
Published: November 2024

PurposeThis paper examines the conflict between rule-based and principle-based approaches to benefits realisation in agile projects. It proposes a principle-based framework as a more effective alternative, aligned with the iterative and adaptive nature of agile methodologies.Design/methodology/approachThe research utilises semi-structured interviews to gather qualitative data from professionals experienced in agile projects. Causal loop diagrams are employed to illustrate the relationships between identified principles. The study identifies 12 key principles essential for agile benefits realisation, with a particular focus on visibility and consequence management.FindingsThe study finds that a principle-based approach to benefits realisation is more compatible with agile methodologies compared to a rule-based approach. The flexibility of principle-based decision-making allows for continuous adaptation and improvement, aligning with the dynamic and iterative nature of agile projects. The principles of visibility and consequence management emerge as critical factors in successfully realising benefits in an agile environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are based on qualitative data from a limited number of interviews, which may not be generalisable across all agile projects. Further research with a larger sample size and diverse project types is recommended to validate and refine the proposed principles.Practical implicationsAgile teams and project managers can leverage the identified principles to enhance their decision-making processes and improve benefits realisation outcomes. Adopting a principle-based approach can lead to more flexible, responsive and effective project management practices.Social implicationsBy promoting more adaptive and responsive project management practices, the adoption of a principle-based approach can contribute to greater satisfaction and collaboration among project stakeholders, leading to more successful project outcomes.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the limitations of rule-based approaches in agile contexts and proposing a principle-based framework for benefits realisation. The identification of specific principles and their interrelationships provides a novel perspective and practical guidance for agile practitioners.
Social inclusion and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Laryea Esther , Sarpong-Kumankoma Emmanuel , Aboagye Anthony , Andoh Charles 
Published: November 2024

PurposeThe poverty puzzle persists in sub-Saharan Africa decades after some other regional bodies have recorded substantial gains in their poverty reduction efforts. This study seeks to explore the extent to which social inclusion influences poverty outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe study constructs a social inclusion index and its sub-indices using principal component analysis and employs the Lewbel instrumental variable estimation method to test the impact of the computed social inclusion indices on poverty outcomes for 19 sub-Saharan African countries.FindingsThe results have shown that social inclusion reduces the proportion of the poor and the depth of poverty within sub-Saharan Africa significantly. We also observe a U-shaped relationship between social inclusion and poverty outcomes; thus, social inclusion’s poverty-reducing effect sees a reversal when it hits a certain threshold.Practical implicationsThe study provides the evidence needed to inform the policy discourse on the poverty problem, which continues to plague sub-Saharan Africa.Social implicationsWith sub-Saharan Africa’s position as the region with the worst poverty statistics, the results of this study will prove useful in tackling poverty to ensure improved quality of life.Originality/valueThis study presents original evidence on social inclusion and its relationship with poverty.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-08-2023-0640