bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Varieties of engagement: Japanese corporate leaders’ strategic relations with foreign shareholders and institutional change
Authors: Nemoto Kumiko 
Published: May 2024

Purpose
Applying the concept of “entrepreneur managers” from dynamic capabilities theory to the question of how some Japanese managers develop and use their relationships with foreign investors, this article explores organizational contexts in which Japanese managers use foreign shareholders as resources to enhance firm capabilities in the global marketplace, deploy assets effectively and implement changes to traditional organizational customs. The article asks why and how some top managers implemented institutional changes and adopted customs that are common in the shareholder-based system while others did not.

Design/methodology/approach
We conducted qualitative interviews with 11 inverstor relations (IR) managers of large, listed Japanese firms in Kyoto and Tokyo.

Findings
First, by inviting a hedge fund partner and using their human capital and social capital, a Japanese CEO committed to strengthening his firm’s competencies in the global market and introduced changes that are common in the shareholder-based system. Second, a CEO with an MBA degree and exceptional communication skills in English and Japanese dedicated himself to executing much of the strategic advice suggested to him by foreign shareholders and altered some of his firm’s traditional Japanese management practices. Third, even though many Japanese firms welcomed and used foreign shareholders as advisors to help them streamline and/or acquire firm assets, their top leaders’ implementation of organizational changes was limited. Fourth, the top leaders of family-owned firms were reluctant to initiate dialogue with foreign investors.

Originality/value
This article adds some useful organizational context to existing scholarship on institutional theory by examining Japanese leaders’ strategic management in their relations with foreign investors. Using the concept of dynamic capabilities, it addresses the role of innovative strategic managers in firms’ institutional changes.
Intraspecific diversity of Meriones persicus (Rodentia; Gerbillinae), the main plague reservoir in Iran, and its connection to enzootic plague in Iran
Authors: MAHMOUDI Ahmad , MOSTAFAVI Ehsan , KRYŠTUFEK Boris 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPlague, a lethal zoonotic disease, primarily circulates within rodent populations and their fleas. In Iran, the widely distributed jird, Meriones persicus, serves as the principal reservoir for plague, with a belief in the existence of five out of its six recognized subspecies within the country. However, these subspecies are classified into four mitochondrial cytochrome b sub‐lineages (IA, IB, IIA, IIB). This discrepancy, combined with the presence of an unnamed sub‐lineage in central Iran awaiting taxonomic clarification, has left intraspecific taxonomy unsettled and obscured the true alignment between mtDNA sub‐lineages and nominal subspecies. In this study, we investigated the intraspecific variation in the cytb gene across populations sampled throughout Iran, focusing on underexplored regions between the Zagros and Alborz Mountains and central Iran. While our genetic data generally support reported subspecies validity in Iran, we raise questions about M. p. baptistae, emphasizing the need for further data from its type territory in Pakistan. Two main lineages of M. persicus (I and II) exhibit geographical isolation, with limited overlap in the central Zagros Mts., where three subspecies (M. p. ambrosius, M. p. rossicus, and M. p. persicus) coexist. Superimposing infected rodents' geographic coordinates onto updated sub‐lineages' distribution revealed a potential association between sub‐lineage IA (M. p. rossicus) and all enzootic plague cases from 1946 to 2023. M. persicus rossicus extends into the Caucasus (where plague infections are common), Eastern Turkey, and Iraq. Consequently, interpreting this finding in the context of plague surveillance in Iran and neighboring areas requires caution.
The impact of devaluing Women of Color: stress, reproduction, and justice
Authors: Mayne Gabriella B. , Ghidei Luwam 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis commentary is in response to the Call for Papers put forth by the Critical Midwifery Studies Collective (June 2022). We argue that due to a long and ongoing history of gendered racism, Women of Color are devalued in U.S. society. Devaluing Women of Color leads maternal healthcare practitioners to miss and even dismiss distress in Women of Color. The result is systematic underdiagnosis, undertreatment, and the delivery of poorer care to Women of Color, which negatively affects reproductive outcomes generally and birth outcomes specifically. These compounding effects exacerbate distress in Women of Color leading to greater distress. Stress physiology is ancient and intricately interwoven with healthy pregnancy physiology, and this relationship is a highly conserved reproductive strategy. Thus, where there is disproportionate or excess stress (distress), unsurprisingly, there are disproportionate and excess rates of poorer reproductive outcomes. Stress physiology and reproductive physiology collide with social injustices (i.e., racism, discrimination, and anti‐Blackness), resulting in pernicious racialized maternal health disparities. Accordingly, the interplay between stress and reproduction is a key social justice issue and an important site for theoretical inquiry and birth equity efforts. Fortunately, both stress physiology and pregnancy physiology are highly plastic—responsive to the benefits of increased social support and respectful maternity care. Justice means valuing Women of Color and valuing their right to have a healthy, respected, and safe life.
Abnormalities in pharyngeal arch‐derived structures in SATB2‐associated syndrome
Authors: Zarate Yuri A. , Bosanko Katherine , Derar Nada , Fish Jennifer L. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSATB2‐associated syndrome (SAS, glass syndrome, OMIM#612313) is a neurodevelopmental autosomal dominant disorder with frequent craniofacial abnormalities including palatal and dental anomalies. To assess the role of Satb2 in craniofacial development, we analyzed mutant mice at different stages of development. Here, we show that Satb2 is broadly expressed in early embryonic mouse development including the mesenchyme of the second and third arches. Satb2−/− mutant mice exhibit microglossia, a shortened lower jaw, smaller trigeminal ganglia, and larger thyroids. We correlate these findings with the detailed clinical phenotype of four individuals with SAS and remarkable craniofacial phenotypes with one requiring mandibular distraction in childhood. We conclude that the mouse and patient data presented support less well‐described phenotypic aspects of SAS including mandibular morphology and thyroid anatomical/functional issues.
Effects of the nerve growth factor and its carrier protein on the inflammatory response from human monocytes
Authors: Verres Yann , Bodin Aude , Chevret Sarah , Victoni Tatiana , Gicquel Thomas , Barreto Emiliano , Freund‐Michel Véronique , Lagente Vincent 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe nerve growth factor (NGF) has been previously shown to be involved in cellular proliferation, differentiation, survival, or wound healing. This factor displays a variety of biological effects that yet remain to be explored. Previous data on cell lines show a pro‐inflammatory role of NGF on monocytes.ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to investigate the pro‐inflammatory effect of NGF, using a model of fresh human monocytes.MethodsMonocytes obtained from PBMC were exposed to NGF at various concentrations. Alternatively, monocytes were exposed to BSA, the NGF carrier protein without the NGF. Gene expression and cytokine release in the supernatant were monitored.ResultsWe found that NGF increased the expression of pro‐inflammatory, chemotactic, and remodeling genes such as interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and C‐X‐C motif ligand (CXCL)8. The protein levels of CXCL8 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9 were also increased in the cell supernatants following NGF exposure. BSA alone was found to drive part of this response, bringing nuance to the inflammatory potential of the NGF.ConclusionThese data suggest that NGF is able to enhance monocyte inflammatory responses once cells are stimulated with another signal but is possibly not able to directly activate it. This could have implications for example in patients with bacterial infections, where NGF could worsen the local inflammation by over‐activating immune cells.
The Raise Regression: Justification, Properties and Application
Authors: Salmerón‐Gómez Román , García‐García Catalina B. , García‐Pérez José 
Published: May 2024

SummaryMulticollinearity results in inflation in the variance of the ordinary least squares estimators due to the correlation between two or more independent variables (including the constant term). A widely applied solution is to estimate with penalised estimators such as the ridge estimator, which trade off some bias in the estimators to gain a reduction in the variance of these estimators. Although the variance diminishes with these procedures, all seem to indicate that the inference and goodness of fit are controversial. Alternatively, the raise regression allows mitigation of the problems associated with multicollinearity without the loss of inference or the coefficient of determination. This paper completely formalises the raise estimator. For the first time, the norm of the estimator, the behaviour of the individual and joint significance, the behaviour of the mean squared error and the coefficient of variation are analysed. We also present the generalisation of the estimation and the relation between the raise and the residualisation estimators. To have a better understanding of raise regression, previous contributions are also summarised: its mean squared error, the variance inflation factor, the condition number, adequate selection of the variable to be raised, the successive raising, and the relation between the raise and the ridge estimator. The usefulness of the raise regression as an alternative to mitigate multicollinearity is illustrated with two empirical applications.
Zoogeographical regions in the Atlantic Forest: patterns and potential drivers
Authors: da Silva Fernando Rodrigues , Oliveira‐Silva Anna Elizabeth de , Antonelli Alexandre , Carnaval Ana Carolina , Provete Diogo B. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAimTo delineate present‐day zoogeographical regions of terrestrial vertebrates (frogs, lizards, snakes, birds and non‐volant mammals) in the Atlantic Forest. Within each taxonomic group, we examine the relative importance of abrupt climatic transitions, orographic barriers, past climate change and rivers in shaping zoogeographical boundaries.LocationSouth America's Atlantic Forest.MethodsWe applied a network‐based method to delineate zoogeographical regions, using distribution data (range maps) for 455 species of frogs, 103 lizards, 220 snakes, 917 birds and 202 non‐volant mammals, in 50 × 50 km grid cells. We used hierarchical generalized linear mixed‐effects models to test environmental predictors associated with zoogeographical boundaries. Finally, we intersected the bioregion maps delineated for each group to identify general patterns across all vertebrates.ResultsWe identified four zoogeographical regions for birds and snakes, and five for frogs, lizards and non‐volant mammals. Depending on the group, contemporary and past climate conditions, elevation variation and/or rivers were associated with zoogeographical boundaries. The combined maps indicate that the Atlantic Forest retains four spatially cohesive zoogeographical regions based on present‐day distribution of vertebrates.Main conclusionsCross‐taxon congruence indicates that the geographical and environmental characteristics of the Atlantic Forest have a strong influence on the location of zoogeographical regions for vertebrates. In contrast, transition zones appear to be associated with the spatial distribution of life history traits of each group, potentially explaining the observed differences in the number of bioregions across groups and the position of zoogeographical boundaries. This work paves the way for further research into the evolutionary assembly of the Atlantic Forest's zoogeographical regions and may help inform conservation priorities for maintaining their distinctive faunas.
Enhancing quality assessment of live Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) using flexible sensors real‐time monitoring physiological signals
Authors: Liu Pengfei , Qu Xiaotian , Glamuzina Branko , Wang Xianping , Zhang Xiaoshuan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractShell‐closing strength (SCS) is commonly used to assess oyster vigor and quality as an important physiological stress indicator of the oyster organism. In this study, a quality decision support system based on flexible wireless sensor network and web services was designed and developed to explore the application of SCS in the rapid assessment of vitality and quality. Based on physiological and environmental information collected by flexible wireless sensor networks, this study proposes a novel quantitative vitality assessment method to identify oyster life decline cycles and processes. Meanwhile, TVB‐N, TVC, and pH were selected as quality indicators, and a back‐propagation artificial neural network (BP‐ANN) was used to predict and evaluate oyster quality indicators. The results showed that the root mean square errors (RMSE) for TVB‐N, TVC, and pH were 0.4624, 0.8827, and 0.1941; the coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.8919, 0.8578, and 0.6249. Therefore, the rapid assessment of oyster vitality and quality based on a flexible wireless sensor network is a reliable and effective means.Practical applicationsThis study aims to explore the application of live oyster SCS for rapid quality evaluation. In this article, a quality decision support system based on a flexible wireless sensor network (WSN) and web services is developed to improve the quality and health of live oysters in the supply chain. The use of the multi‐sensor system enables the monitoring and collection of environmental and physiological signals of live oysters throughout the supply chain process. The evaluation of the quality of live oysters using physiological and environmental information collected by flexible wireless sensor networks is a reliable and efficient method. This will provide an effective and reliable quality evaluation and management for the oyster industry.
“A saint, a heroine, and a town”: The incarnation of “rose” and poetics of resistance in Edwidge Danticat's Claire of the Sea Light
Authors: Cai Yi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEdwidge Danticat in her novel Claire of the Sea Light (2013) delineates a group of determined women who actively challenge the patriarchal norms prevalent in Haiti. This article conducts a thorough textual analysis focusing on the imagery of the “rose” and its intricate connections with women in the narrative. Through the elaborate naming of Ville Rose, the incarnation of rose as female figures in the novel, as well as the resistance and resilience that rose represents in the female genealogy, Danticat places women at the center of the stage, reclaiming the often neglected, silenced, and marginalized roles of women in Haitian history. This article argues that by foregrounding the unique perspective and experience of Haitian women, Danticat questions the patriarchal hegemonic discourse, reformulates the female discursive system, and reshapes the male‐dominated Haitian literary tradition. This exploration of her poetics of resistance not only contributes to the understanding of Haitian (women's) literature and Caribbean diasporic studies but also provides a new perspective for plant studies within the realm of literature.
SlNAC3 suppresses cold tolerance in tomatoes by enhancing ethylene biosynthesis
Authors: Wang Tao , Ma Xuemin , Chen Ying , Wang Cuicui , Xia Zhenxiao , Liu Zixi , Gao Lihong , Zhang Wenna 
Published: May 2024

AbstractLow temperature stress poses a significant challenge to the productivity of horticultural crops. The dynamic expression of cold‐responsive genes plays a crucial role in plant cold tolerance. While NAC transcription factors have been extensively studied in plant growth and development, their involvement in regulating plant cold tolerance remains poorly understood. In this study, we focused on the identification and characterisation of SlNAC3 as the most rapid and robust responsive gene in tomato under low temperature conditions. Manipulating SlNAC3 through overexpression or silencing resulted in reduced or enhanced cold tolerance, respectively. Surprisingly, we discovered a negative correlation between the expression of CBF and cold tolerance in the SlNAC3 transgenic lines. These findings suggest that SlNAC3 regulates tomato cold tolerance likely through a CBF‐independent pathway. Furthermore, we conducted additional investigations to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying SINAC3‐mediated cold tolerance in tomatoes. Our results revealed that SlNAC3 controls the transcription of ethylene biosynthetic genes, thereby bursting ethylene release in response to cold stress. Indeed, the silencing of these genes led to an augmentation in cold tolerance. This discovery provides valuable insights into the regulatory pathways involved in ethylene‐mediated cold tolerance in tomatoes, offering potential strategies for developing innovative approaches to enhance cold stress resilience in this economically important crop species.
Genetic control of root morphology in response to nitrogen across rapeseed diversity
Authors: Haelterman Loïc , Louvieaux Julien , Chiodi Claudia , Bouchet Anne‐Sophie , Kupcsik Laszlo , Stahl Andreas , Rousseau‐Gueutin Mathieu , Snowdon Rod , Laperche Anne , Nesi Nathalie , Hermans Christian 
Published: May 2024

AbstractRapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an oil‐containing crop of great economic value but with considerable nitrogen requirement. Breeding root systems that efficiently absorb nitrogen from the soil could be a driver to ensure genetic gains for more sustainable rapeseed production. The aim of this study is to identify genomic regions that regulate root morphology in response to nitrate availability. The natural variability offered by 300 inbred lines was screened at two experimental locations. Seedlings grew hydroponically with low or elevated nitrate levels. Fifteen traits related to biomass production and root morphology were measured. On average across the panel, a low nitrate level increased the root‐to‐shoot biomass ratio and the lateral root length. A large phenotypic variation was observed, along with important heritability values and genotypic effects, but low genotype‐by‐nitrogen interactions. Genome‐wide association study and bulk segregant analysis were used to identify loci regulating phenotypic traits. The first approach nominated 319 SNPs that were combined into 80 QTLs. Three QTLs identified on the A07 and C07 chromosomes were stable across nitrate levels and/or experimental locations. The second approach involved genotyping two groups of individuals from an experimental F2 population created by crossing two accessions with contrasting lateral root lengths. These individuals were found in the tails of the phenotypic distribution. Co‐localized QTLs found in both mapping approaches covered a chromosomal region on the A06 chromosome. The QTL regions contained some genes putatively involved in root organogenesis and represent selection targets for redesigning the root morphology of rapeseed.
Serratia plymuthicaHK9‐3 enhances tomato resistance against Phytophthora capsici by modulating antioxidant defense systems and rhizosphere micro‐ecological condition
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Piao Fengzhi , Di Yancui , Xu Jinxin , Wang Zichen , Wang Tao , Li Pengju , Hu Chunyan , Du Nanshan , Zhang Tao , Dong Xiaoxing , Dong Han , Shen Shunshan , Guo Zhixin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTomatoes are frequently challenged by various pathogens, among which Phytophthora capsici (P. capsici) is a destructive soil‐borne pathogen that seriously threatens the safe production of tomatoes. Plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) positively induced plant resistance against multiple pathogens. However, little is known about the role and regulatory mechanism of PGPR in tomato resistance to P. capsici. Here, we identified a new strain Serratia plymuthica (S. plymuthica), HK9‐3, which has a significant antibacterial effect on P. capsici infection. Meanwhile, stable colonization in roots by HK9‐3, even under P. capsici infection, improved tomato growth parameters, root system architecture, photosynthetic capacity, and boosted biomass. Importantly, HK9‐3 colonization significantly alleviated the damage caused by P. capsici infection through enhancing ROS scavenger ability and inducing antioxidant defense system and pathogenesis‐related (PR) proteins in leaves, as evidenced by elevating the activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and chitinase, β‐1,3‐glucanase, and increasing the transcripts of POD, SOD, CAT, APX1, PAL1, PAL2, PAL5, PPO2, CHI17 and β‐1,3‐glucanase genes. Notably, HK9‐3 colonization not only effectively improved soil microecology and soil fertility, but also significantly enhanced fruit yield by 44.6% and improved quality. Our study presents HK9‐3 as a promising and effective solution for controlling P. capsici infection in tomato cultivation while simultaneously promoting plant growth and increasing yield, which may have implications for P. capsici control in vegetable production.
The fungus Acremonium alternatum enhances salt stress tolerance by regulating host redox homeostasis and phytohormone signaling
Authors: Berková Veronika , Berka Miroslav , Štěpánková Lenka , Kováč Ján , Auer Susann , Menšíková Simona , Ďurkovič Jaroslav , Kopřiva Stanislav , Ludwig‐Müller Jutta , Brzobohatý Břetislav , Černý Martin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWhile endophytic fungi offer promising avenues for bolstering plant resilience against abiotic stressors, the molecular mechanisms behind this biofortification remain largely unknown. This study employed a multifaceted approach, combining plant physiology, proteomic, metabolomic, and targeted hormonal analyses to illuminate the early response of Brassica napus to Acremonium alternatum during the nascent stages of their interaction. Notably, under optimal growth conditions, the initial reaction to fungus was relatively subtle, with no visible alterations in plant phenotype and only minor impacts on the proteome and metabolome. Interestingly, the identified proteins associated with the Acremonium response included TUDOR 1, Annexin D4, and a plastidic K+ efflux antiporter, hinting at potential processes that could counter abiotic stressors, particularly salt stress. Subsequent experiments validated this hypothesis, showcasing significantly enhanced growth in Acremonium‐inoculated plants under salt stress. Molecular analyses revealed a profound impact on the plant's proteome, with over 50% of salt stress response proteins remaining unaffected in inoculated plants. Acremonium modulated ribosomal proteins, increased abundance of photosynthetic proteins, enhanced ROS metabolism, accumulation of V‐ATPase, altered abundances of various metabolic enzymes, and possibly promoted abscisic acid signaling. Subsequent analyses validated the accumulation of this hormone and its enhanced signaling. Collectively, these findings indicate that Acremonium promotes salt tolerance by orchestrating abscisic acid signaling, priming the plant's antioxidant system, as evidenced by the accumulation of ROS‐scavenging metabolites and alterations in ROS metabolism, leading to lowered ROS levels and enhanced photosynthesis. Additionally, it modulates ion sequestration through V‐ATPase accumulation, potentially contributing to the observed decrease in chloride content.