bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resolving intergenotypicStrigaresistance in sorghum
Authors: Mutinda Sylvia , Mobegi Fredrick M. , Hale Brett , Dayou Olivier , Ateka Elijah , Wijeratne Asela , Wicke Susann , Bellis Emily S. , Runo Steven 
Published: December 2022

AbstractGenetic underpinnings of host-pathogen interactions in the parasitic plantStriga hermonthica,a root parasitic plant that ravages cereals in sub-Saharan Africa, are unclear. We performed a comparative transcriptome study on five genotypes of sorghum exhibiting diverse resistance responses toS. hermonthicausing weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). We found thatS. hermonthicaelicits both basal and effector-triggered immunity – like a bona fide pathogen. Resistance response was genotype-specific. Some resistance responses followed the salicylic acid-dependent signaling pathway for systemic acquired resistance characterized by cell wall reinforcements, lignification and callose deposition while in others the WRKY-dependent signaling pathway was activated leading to a hypersensitive response (HR). In some genotypes, both modes of resistance were activated while in others, either mode dominated the resistance response. Cell-wall-based resistance was common to all sorghum genotypes but strongest in IS2814, while HR-based response was specific to N13, IS9830 and IS41724. WGCNA further allowed for pinpointing ofS. hermonthicaresistance causative genes in sorghum. Some highlights include a Glucan synthase-like 10, a pathogenesis-related thaumatin-like family, and a phosphoinositide phosphatase gene. Such candidate genes will form a good basis for subsequent functional validation and possibly future resistance breeding.HighlightParasitic plants of theStrigagenus are major pests to cereals in Africa. We pinpointed genetic causes ofStrigaresistance in sorghum that can be harnessed for future resistance breeding.
Shear Stress Induces a Time-Dependent Inflammatory Response in Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages
Authors: Jui Elysa , Kingsley Griffin , Phan Hong Kim T. , Singampalli Kavya L. , Birla Ravi K. , Connell Jennifer P. , Keswani Sundeep G. , Grande-Allen K. Jane 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMacrophages are innate immune cells that are known for their extreme plasticity, enabling diverse phenotypes that lie on a continuum. In a simplified model, they switch between pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes depending on surrounding microenvironmental cues, which have been implicated in disease outcomes. Although considerable research has been focused on macrophage response to biochemical cues and mechanical signals, there is a scarcity of knowledge surrounding their behavior in response to shear stress. In this study, we applied varying magnitudes of shear stress on human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) using a cone-and-plate viscometer and evaluated changes in morphology, gene expression, protein expression, and cytokine secretion over time. MDMs exposed to shear stress exhibited a rounder morphology compared to statically-cultured controls. RT-qPCR results showed significant upregulation of TNF-α, and analysis of cytokine release revealed increased secretion of IL-8, IL-18, fractalkine, and other chemokines. The upregulation of pro-inflammatory factors was evident with both increasing magnitudes of shear and time. Taken together, these results indicate that prolonged shear exposure induced a pro-inflammatory phenotype in human MDMs. These findings have implications for medical technology development, such asin situvascular graft design wherein macrophages are exposed to shear and have been shown to affect graft resorption, and in delineating disease pathophysiology, for example to further illuminate the role of macrophages in atherosclerosis where shear is directly related to disease outcome.
Coding-sequence evolution does not explain divergence in petal anthocyanin pigmentation betweenMimulus luteusvar.luteusandM. l. variegatus
Authors: Orr Walker E. , Kim Ji Yang , Raj Tejas , Hom Ellen K. , Person Ashley E. , Vonada Anne , Stratton John A. , Cooley Arielle M. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPhenotypic transitions in related taxa often share a common genetic basis, which suggests that there are constraints that shape the process of evolution at the genetic level. For example, noncoding changes in a gene might be favored relative to coding changes due to being less constrained by pleiotropic effects. Here we evaluate the importance of coding-sequence changes to the recent evolution of a novel anthocyanin pigmentation trait in the monkeyflower genusMimulus. The magenta-floweredMimulus luteusvar.variegatusrecently gained petal lobe anthocyanin pigmentation via a single-locus Mendelian difference from its sister taxon, the yellow-floweredM. l. luteus. Previous work showed that the differentially expressed transcription factor geneMYB5a/NEGANis the single causal gene. However, it was not clear whetherMYB5acoding-sequence evolution (in addition to the observed patterns of differential expression) might also have contributed to increased anthocyanin production inM. l. variegatus. Quantitative image analysis of tobacco leaves, transfected with highly expressedMYB5acoding sequence from each taxon, revealed robust anthocyanin production driven by both alleles compared to a negative control. Counter to expectations, significantly higher anthocyanin production was driven by the coding sequence from the low-anthocyanin taxonM. l. luteus. Together with previously-published expression studies, this supports the hypothesis that petal pigment inM. l. variegatuswas not gained by protein-coding changes, but instead via non- codingcis-regulatory evolution. Finally, while constructing the transgenes needed for this experiment, we unexpectedly discovered two sites inMYB5athat appear to be post- transcriptionally edited – a phenomenon that has been rarely reported, and even less often explored, for nuclear-encoded plant mRNAs.
Comparison of Two Budding Yeast Disome Model Systems: Similarities, Difference, and Conflict
Authors: Vinton Peter J. , Langston Rachel E. 
Published: December 2022

ABSTRACTHere we define chromosome instability as the propensity of error-prone DNA repair and maintenance to generate chromosomal alterations known as gross chromosomal rearrangements (GCR), which can be found in a variety of forms in a variety of diseased cells. Insights and study of GCRs and chromosome instability can be gained through experimentation using a disome system (a haploid strain with an extra copy of one chromosome). Chromosome instability has previously been investigated and identified in a budding yeast ChrVII disome model. Here we extend and compare the study of chromosome instability using a similar ChrV disome system. As with the ChrVII disome system, cells containing unstable chromosomes form a distinctive “sectored” colony phenotype and through the use of genetic markers, we also find evidence of allelic recombination and chromosome loss. We also found the same DNA integrity pathways suppress chromosome instability and that unstable chromosomes are not generated through homologous recombination (HR) or non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), similar to the ChrVII system. But in contrast and more interestingly, we did not detect any altered ChrV sizes, which conflicts with a previous ChrVII disome study where it was thought that unstable chromosomes often resulted in altered sizes. We also discovered a distinct increase in frequency of instability in the ChrV system compared to the ChrVII system.
An in silico FSHD muscle fibre for modelling DUX4 dynamics and predicting the impact of therapy
Authors: Cowley Matthew V. , Pruller Johanna , Ganassi Massimo , Zammit Peter S. , Banerji Christopher R. S. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractFacioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an incurable myopathy linked to over-expression of the myotoxic transcription factor DUX4. Targeting DUX4 is the leading therapeutic approach, however it is only detectable in 0.1-3.8% of FSHD myonuclei. How rare DUX4 drives FSHD and the optimal anti-DUX4 strategy is unclear. We combine stochastic gene expression with compartment models of cell states, building a simulation of DUX4 expression and consequences in FSHD muscle fibres. Investigating iDUX4 myoblasts, scRNAseq and snRNAseq of FSHD muscle we estimate parameters including DUX4 mRNA degradation, transcription and translation rates and DUX4 target gene activation rates. Our model accurately recreates the distribution of DUX4 and target gene positive cells seen in scRNAseq of FSHD myocytes. Importantly we show DUX4 drives significant cell death despite expression in only 0.8% of live cells. Comparing scRNAseq of unfused FSHD myocytes to snRNAseq of fused FSHD myonuclei, we find evidence of DUX4 protein syncytial diffusion and estimate its rate via genetic algorithms. We package our model into freely available tools, to rapidly investigate consequences of anti-DUX4 therapy.
Improvement of UAV: design and implementation on launchability
Authors: Gökbel Etka , Güllü Aydin , Ersoy Sezgin 
Published: December 2022

Purpose
This study aims to a launchable design has been made to prevent wasted time in time-critical areas, and increase the efficiency of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In this way, a UAV can reach the mission height quickly.

Design/methodology/approach
A unique launchable UAV and launcher mechanism have been designed. The launchable UAV will be folded into the launcher mechanism and will automatically start flight after launch. The study includes mathematical calculations, 3D designs steps and produced UAV tests for the designed UAV. The launcher mechanism was designed in accordance with the tests for the UAV, and appropriate choices were made for the altitude and launch acceleration required by the UAV. According to the calculations, material selection and production were made.

Findings
In the tests, the climbing time was reduced by 1 s compared with the existing UAVs. With the launch, it enabled it to reach the altitude quickly and silently. In addition, because the launch energy was provided externally, it provided an advantage for the flight time.

Practical implications
A rotary-wing UAV with a launch mechanism and a fast launch was designed and prototyped. The maximum climb speed of the designed drone is 6.52 m/s. Frame arm length is 9.2 cm, propeller diameter is 15.24 cm and hover flight time is 7.2 m.

Originality/value
The UAV design can be launched. Design, calculation and experimental studies have been carried out for rapid take-off of the rotary wing UAV. The parts used in the UAV are originally produced. It is not a commercial product.
Social media, brand communication and customer engagement in Michelin-starred restaurants during a time of crisis
Authors: Fissi Silvia , Gori Elena , Marchi Valentina , Romolini Alberto 
Published: December 2022

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyse the brand communication on social media (SM) made by two- and three-starred restaurants and the customer reaction in terms of engagement effects during a crisis. The research highlights the connections between brand communication and engagement dynamics on Instagram by looking for differences in the strategies of two and three-starred restaurants and by highlighting the changes in the background engagement drivers.Design/methodology/approachUsing data collected from 5,666 Instagram posts by 34 Italian Michelin-starred restaurants, the authors analysed the crisis-driven changes in online communication and customer engagement comparing three phases of the COVID-19 pandemic by applying a linear regression model with fixed effects.FindingsMichelin-starred restaurants changed their strategies of brand communication to overcome the effects of the crisis. The findings highlight the importance of SM as a tool to stay in touch with consumers and the pivotal role of customers in engagement, especially during a pandemic.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is among the first studies to investigate the changes in brand communication and the effects on customer engagement during a pandemic, with a focus on Instagram. It contributes to understanding the role of platform and the main drivers of engagement on Instagram, as well as suggesting how managers can improve brand value using SM.
Be close to government and academy: TMT social capital, network prestige and firm’s innovation performance
Authors: Zhou Yu , Zhu Huaiqian , Zhu Li , Liu Guangjian , Zou Yufeng 
Published: December 2022

Purpose
Drawing from social capital theory and resource dependence theory, this paper aims to test the relationship between top management team (TMT) government social capital and firm’s innovation performance via firm’s network prestige, and the moderating effect of TMT academic social capital.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected data from the China Stock Market and Accounting Research Database as well as A-share listed firms’ annual reports, and finally generated a sample of 922 firms and 2,464 firm-years from 2008 to 2014. UCINET 6.0 was used to analyze the data.

Findings
The authors find that the government social capital of TMT is positively related to firms’ innovation performance and firms’ network prestige plays a mediating role in this relationship. In addition, TMT academic social capital can strengthen the links between TMT government social capital and innovation performance through firms’ network prestige.

Originality/value
This paper not only contributes to literatures on the mechanism in the relationship between government social capital and firms’ innovation, but also to literatures on the effectiveness of the heterogeneity of firm’s social capital.
The effect of changes in negative feedback on task performance: the role of goal orientation and feedback utility
Authors: Chang Shih Cheng , Wei Feng , Xu Lixing , Chen Zhaoyu , Wang Yifei 
Published: December 2022

Purpose
Drawing upon the feedback intervention theory, this study aims to focus on the concept of negative feedback change (increase or decrease) to analyze the dynamics of performance feedback and its relationships with goal orientation, feedback utility and task performance.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a two-wave survey by tracking 195 employees and their supervisors from two representative semiconductor-related equipment companies in China for one month.

Findings
Results showed that learning goal orientation positively moderates, and performance-approach goal orientation negatively moderates the indirect relationship between negative feedback change and employees’ task performance through employees’ perceptions of feedback utility.

Originality/value
This study provides new directions for performance feedback research by treating negative feedback from a dynamic perspective and addressing the mediating and moderating mechanisms. Furthermore, the findings also remind managers to not only consider feedback actions at a single moment but also manage it as a series of actions in the ongoing stream of time.
Corporate social responsibility transparency and trade credit financing
Authors: Hendijani Zadeh Mohammad , Naaman Karen , Sahyoun Najib 
Published: December 2022

Purpose
This study aims to examine whether a company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) transparency (reflected in two separate dimensions of social transparency and environmental transparency) affects a company’s dependence on expensive trade credit (TC) financing.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a panel of S&P 500 index companies between 2012 and 2019 and ordinary least squares estimators. Transparency ratings represented by Bloomberg scores capture both the quantity and quality of verified CSR practice information.

Findings
CSR transparency (CSRT) is negatively associated with a firm’s dependence on expensive TC financing. This study’s results continue to hold after a battery of robustness tests like substitute proxies for TC, use of two-stage least squares regression, industry-adjusted dependent variable, generalized linear model and bootstrapping approach. This association is stronger among companies with higher information asymmetry (IASY) and lower quality regarding governance and financial reporting. Further investigation indicates that potential channels through which CSRT mitigates a company’s reliance on TC financing are the cost of debt (CoD) and stock liquidity. This study’s findings suggest that transparent companies have a lower CoD and higher stock liquidity. This helps these companies to be more financially flexible and eventually less dependent on expensive TC financing.

Originality/value
By combining two separate research lines of TC and CSR, this study adds to both works of literature as it is the first (to the best of the authors’ knowledge) to present evidence of the effect of CSRT proxied by Bloomberg scores on a company’s reliance on TC (a real economic decision and financial policy). Additionally, this study documents the moderating effects of financial reporting quality, IASY and corporate governance on the relationship between CSRT and TC financing. In conclusion, this study provides empirical evidence regarding the potential mechanisms of CoD and stock liquidity, through which CSRT influences a company’s reliance on TC financing.
Development risk and unit size within the UK property market
Authors: Moore Cassandra Caitlin 
Published: December 2022

Purpose
This paper aims to explore the relationship between market pricing and design quality within the development industry. Currently, there is a lack of research that examines real estate at the property level. Development quality is widely believed to have diminished over the past decades, while many investors seem uninterested in the design process. The study aims to address these issues through a pricing model that integrates design attributes. It is hoped that empirical findings will invite broader stakeholder interest in the design process.

Design/methodology/approach
The research establishes a framework for assessing spatial compliance across residential developments within London. Compliance is assessed across ten boroughs, with technical space guidelines used as a proxy for design quality. Transaction prices and spatial assessments are aligned within a hedonic pricing model. Empirical findings are used to establish whether undermining spatial standards presents a significant development risk.

Findings
Findings suggest a relationship between sale time and unit size, with “compliant” units typically transacting earlier than “non-compliant” units. Almost half of the 1,600 apartments surveyed appear to undermine technical guidelines.

Research limitations/implications
It is suggested that an array of design attributes be explored that extend beyond unit size. Additionally, future studies may consider the long-term implications of design quality via secondary transaction prices.

Practical implications
Practical implications include the development of a more scientific approach to design valuation. This may enhance the position of product design management within the development industry and architectural services.

Social implications
Social implications may include improvement in residential design.

Originality/value
An innovative approach combines a thorough understanding of both design and economic principles.
Engraving customer experiences through digital technologies
Authors: Chiang Chang-Tang 
Published: December 2022

Purpose
In recent decades, customer experiences (CXs) have gained considerable attention from both academics and service industries. However, the role of digital technologies in CXs is largely ignored. This study aims to explore the manners of digital experience (DX) and to leverage these manners for service design.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 2,178 journal articles published as of January 2022 were collected from nine high-impact service journals. Social network analysis and cluster analysis were used to analyze 5,289 keywords and 22,645 edges.

Findings
Four DX manners (utility, sociability, informativeness and arousal) are identified from the keywords of the qualifying articles.

Originality/value
A digital experience service model is developed based on the concept of CX and DX manners. Academic and managerial contributions are discussed.
Tree dissimilarity determines multi‐dimensional beta‐diversity of herbivores and carnivores via bottom‐up effects
Authors: Li Yi , Du Yuan‐Bao , Chen Jing‐Ting , Wang Ming‐Qiang , Guo Shi‐Kun , Schuldt Andreas , Luo Arong , Guo Peng‐Fei , Mi Xiang‐Cheng , Liu Xiao‐Juan , Ma Ke‐Ping , Bruelheide Helge , Chesters Douglas , Liu Xuan , Zhu Chao‐Dong 
Published: December 2022

AbstractGlobal biodiversity decline and its cascading effects through trophic interactions pose a severe threat to human society. Establishing the impacts of biodiversity decline requires a more thorough understanding of multi‐trophic interactions and, more specifically, the effects that loss of diversity in primary producers has on multi‐trophic community assembly.Within a synthetic conceptual framework for multi‐trophic beta‐diversity, we tested a series of hypotheses on neutral and niche‐based bottom‐up processes in assembling herbivore and carnivore communities in a subtropical forest using linear models, hieratical variance partitioning based on linear mixed‐effects models (LMMs) and simulation.We found that the observed taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional beta‐diversity of both herbivorous caterpillars and carnivorous spiders were significantly and positively related to tree dissimilarity. Linear models and variance partitioning for LMMs jointly suggested that as a result of bottom‐up effects, producer dissimilarities were predominant in structuring consumer dissimilarity, the strength of which highly depended on the trophic dependencies on producers, the diversity facet examined, and data quality. Importantly, linear models for standardized beta‐diversities against producer dissimilarities implied a transition between niche‐based processes such as environmental filtering and competitive exclusion, which supports the role of bottom‐up effect in determining consumer community assembly.These findings enrich our mechanistic understanding of the ‘Diversity Begets Diversity’ hypothesis and the complexity of higher‐trophic community assembly, which is fundamental for sustainable biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.
Combining γ‐GT, PIVKA‐II, and AFP to predict long‐term prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy
Authors: Sun Lin , Gu Meixiu , Cai Jiabin , Yang Wenjing , Pan Baishen , Wang Beili , Zhang Chunyan , Guo Wei 
Published: December 2022

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the top five contributors to the cancer burden in China, with a poor prognosis and heavy disability‐adjusted life year burden. The criteria used for HCC prognosis are complicated and therefore restricted in routine clinical practice. Multiple factors influence HCC malignancy and progression. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated 173 patients with HCC who underwent curative resection for 9 years to evaluate the correlation of a combination of γ‐glutamyl transferase (γ‐GT), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist‐II (PIVKA‐II), and α‐fetoprotein (AFP) with the long‐term survival of patients with HCC. Multivariate analysis revealed that the γ‐GT level was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence. The prediction rate of early recurrence with γ‐GT, PIVKA‐II, and AFP levels individually was 63.5%, 79.4%, and 39.7%, respectively, whereas the prediction rate of early recurrence was 95.2% with the combination of γ‐GT, PIVKA‐II, and AFP levels as a composite indicator. Our long‐term retrospective study revealed that γ‐GT, PIVKA‐II, and AFP can aid in predicting long‐term prognosis of HCC recurrence. The combination of γ‐GT, PIVKA‐II, and AFP can further aid in identifying patients with early recurrence. Together, γ‐GT, PIVKA‐II, and AFP may a be used to develop a new prediction method to improve the prognosis of patients with HCC, and our results indicate the requirement of more active HCC treatment strategies.