bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid identification of mosquito species, sex and age by mass spectrometric analysis
Authors: Wagner Iris , Grigoraki Linda , Enevoldson Peter , Clarkson Michael , Jones Sam , Hurst Jane L , Beynon Robert J , Ranson Hilary 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackground:A rapid, accurate method to identify and to age grade mosquito populations would be a major advance in predicting the risk of pathogen transmission and evaluating the public health impact of vector control interventions. Whilst other chemometric methods show promise, current approaches rely on challenging morphological techniques or simple binary classifications that cannot identify the subset of the population old enough to be infectious. In this study, the ability of Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (REIMS) to identify the species, sex and age of mosquitoes reared in the laboratory and derived from the wild was investigated.ResultsThe accuracy of REIMS in identifying morphologically identical species of theAnopheles gambiaecomplex exceeded 97 % using principal component/linear discriminant analysis (PC-LDA) and 84 % based on random forest analysis. Age separation into 3 different age categories (1 d, 5-6 d, 14-15 d.) was achieved with 99 % (PC-LDA) and 94 % (random forest) accuracy, after including three species and storing samples at room temperature for up to 11 days. When tested on wild mosquitoes from the UK, REIMS data could determine the species and age of the specimens with accuracies of 91 and 90 % respectively.ConclusionsThe accuracy of REIMS to resolve the species and age ofAnophelesmosquitoes is comparable to that achieved by chemometric approaches. The processing time and ease of use represent significant advantages over current, dissection-based methods. Importantly the accuracy was maintained when using wild mosquitoes reared under differing environmental conditions, and when mosquitoes were stored frozen or desiccated. This high throughput approach thus has potential to conduct rapid, real- time monitoring of vector populations, providing entomological evidence of the impact of alternative interventions.
Droplet size and surface hydrophobicity enhance bacterial plasmid transfer rates in microscopic surface wetness
Authors: Orevi Tomer , Sørensen Søren J. , Kashtan Nadav 
Published: March 2022

AbstractConjugal plasmids constitute a major engine for horizontal gene transfer in bacteria, and are key drivers of the spread of antibiotic resistance, virulence, and metabolic functions. Bacteria in terrestrial habitats often inhabit surfaces that are not constantly water-saturated, where microscopic surface wetness (MSW), comprised of thin liquid films and microdroplets, permanently or intermittently occurs. How physical properties of microdroplets, and of the surfaces they reside on, affect plasmid transfer rates is not well understood. Here, building on microscopy-based microdroplet experiments, we examined the relation between droplet properties (size and spread) and plasmid transfer rates at single-cell and individual droplet resolution, using Pseudomonas putida as a model species. We show that transfer rates increase with droplet size, due to higher densities of cells on the surface in larger droplets, resulting from lower ratio between the area of the liquid-solid interface and droplet volumes. We further show that surface hydrophobicity promotes transfer rates via the same mechanism. Our results provide new insights into how physical properties of surfaces and MSW affect plasmid transfer rates, and more generally, interactions mediated by cell-to-cell contact, with important implications for our understanding of the ecology and evolution of bacteria in unsaturated environments.
SOYBEAN RESPONSE TO INITIAL STAGE OF Fusarium virguliforme INFECTION
Authors: Giachero María Lorena , Marquez Nathalie , Ortega Leandro Ismael , Ducasse Daniel Adrian 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACTFusarium virguliforme causes the Sudden Death Syndrome, an important disease in soybean crops. In this work, we investigated the defensive response mechanisms in soybean root, at cell wall level, during F. virguliforme infection using an in vitro culture system. We measured total root lignin content by the acetyl bromide method and estimated the in-situ lignin and suberin deposition by confocal microscopy on local and systemic root tissues, i.e. adjacent and distant to the pathogen entry site respectively. Moreover, the expression dynamics of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT) and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) was evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR. The results showed that, although the most significant increment of lignin deposition was observed in the epidermal cells of local tissues, F. virguliforme also induced lignin deposition changes in a sistemic fashion. In fact, inoculated plants presented a higher deposition of lignin in hypodermis and cortex than the control ones, independently of the distance from the inoculum source, while suberin deposition was higher in local zones. Moreover, the gene expression analysis showed an up-regulation of PAL, HCT and CAD genes after the inoculation with the pathogen, which correlates with the cell wall modifications observed in the local tissues. The results presented here suggest that the increase in lignin and suberin deposition during soybean root/F. virguliforme interaction is probably a strategy not only to stop the pathogen entrance, but to provide the plant more time to prepare its defences as well.
Rapid phenotypic differentiation and local adaptation in Japanese knotweed s.l. (Reynoutria japonicaandR. ×bohemica, Polygonaceae) invading novel habitats
Authors: Yuan Wei , Pigliucci Massimo , Richards Christina L. 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACTPREMISEMany plant invaders like the Japanese knotweeds are thought to colonize new habitats with low genetic diversity. Such species provide an opportunity to study rapid adaptation to complex environmental conditions.METHODSUsing replicate reciprocal transplants of clones across three habitats, we described patterns of phenotypic response and assessed degree of local adaptation.KEY RESULTSWe found plants from beach habitats had decreased height, number of leaves, leaf area, and biomass allocation to roots and shoots compared to plants from marsh and roadside habitats when grown in their home habitat. In the marsh habitat, marsh plants were generally larger than beach plants, but not different from roadside plants. There were no differences among plants from different habitats grown in the roadside habitat. Despite this evidence of differentiation in beach and marsh habitats, we found mixed evidence for local adaptation. In their “home site” plants from the marsh habitat had greater biomass than plants from the beaches but not compared to plants from roadsides. Biomass comparisons in other habitats were either maladaptive or not significant. However, plants from the roadside had greater survival in their “home site” compared to foreign plants. There were no differences in survival in the other habitats.CONCLUSIONSWe found phenotypic differentiation associated with habitats despite the low reported genetic diversity for these populations. Our results partially support the hypothesis of local adaptation in marsh and roadside habitats. Identifying whether these patterns of differentiation result from genetic or heritable non-genetic mechanisms will require further work.
Comparative metaproteomics demonstrates different views on the complex granular sludge microbiome
Authors: Kleikamp Hugo B.C. , Grouzdev Dennis , Schaasberg Pim , van Valderen Ramon , van der Zwaan Ramon , van de Wijgaart Roel , Lin Yuemei , Abbas Ben , Pronk Mario , van Loosdrecht Mark C.M. , Pabst Martin 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACTThe tremendous progress in sequencing technologies has made 16S amplicon and whole metagenome sequencing routine in microbiome studies. Furthermore, advances in mass spectrometric techniques has expanded conventional proteomics into the field of microbial ecology. Commonly referred to as metaproteomics, this approach measures the gene products (i.e., proteins) to subsequently identify the actively-expressed metabolic pathways and the protein-biomass composition of complete microbial communities.However, more systematic studies on metaproteomic and genomic approaches are urgently needed, to determine the orthogonal character of these approaches. Here we describe a deep, comparative metaproteomic study on the complex aerobic granular sludge microbiome obtained from different wastewater treatment plants. Thereby, we demonstrate the different views that can be obtained on the central nutrient-removing organisms depending on the ‘omic’ approach and reference sequence databases. Furthermore, we demonstrate a ‘homogenized’ Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) that subsequently enables a more accurate interpretation of data from different omics approaches. Ultimately, our systematic study underscores the importance of metaproteomics in the characterization of complex microbiomes; and the necessity of accurate reference sequence databases to improve the comparison between approaches and accuracy in scientific reporting.
In silico screening and testing of FDA approved small molecules to block SARS-CoV-2 entry to the host cell by inhibiting Spike protein cleavage
Authors: Ozdemir E. Sila , Le Hillary H. , Yildirim Adem , Ranganathan Srivathsan V. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic began in 2019, but it is still active. The development of an effective vaccine reduced the number of deaths; however, a treatment is still needed. Here, we aimed to inhibit viral entry to the host cell by inhibiting Spike (S) protein cleavage by several proteases. We develop a computational pipeline to repurpose FDA-approved drugs to inhibit protease activity and thus prevent S protein cleavage. We tested some of our drug candidates and demonstrated a decrease in protease activity. We believe our pipeline will be beneficial in identifying a drug regimen for COVID-19 patients.
Intermittent Fasting Activates AMP-Kinase to Restructure Right Ventricular Lipid Metabolism and Microtubules in Two Rodent Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Kazmirczak Felipe , Hartweck Lynn M. , Vogel Neal T. , Mendelson Jenna B. , Park Anna K. , Raveendran Rashmi M. , O-Uchi Jin , Jhun Bong Sook , Prisco Sasha Z. , Prins Kurt W. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIntermittent fasting (IF) extends lifespan via pleotropic mechanisms, but one important molecular mediator of the beneficial effects of IF is AMP-kinase (AMPK). AMPK enhances lipid metabolism and modulates microtubule dynamics. Dysregulation of these two molecular pathways causes right ventricular (RV) failure in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In two models of rodent PAH, we show IF activates RV AMPK, which restores mitochondrial morphology and peroxisomal density and restructures mitochondrial/peroxisomal lipid metabolism protein regulation. IF also increases electron transport chain (ETC) protein abundance and activity in the RV. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic measures of RV function are positively associated with fatty acid oxidation and ETC protein levels in correlational heatmapping analyses. IF also combats heightened microtubule density, which normalizes t-tubule structure. In summation, we demonstrate IF-mediated AMPK signaling counteracts two key molecular drivers of RV failure. Thus, IF may be a novel treatment approach for RV dysfunction, a currently untreatable and lethal consequence of PAH.Highlights-Intermittent fasting activates AMPK to restructure right ventricular mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid fatty acid metabolism in two rodent models of PAH.-Intermittent fasting prevents downregulation of multiple electron transport chain proteins in both monocrotaline and Sugen-hypoxia RVs.-Pathological microtubule-mediated junctophilin-2 dysregulation and subsequent t-tubule remodeling is mitigated by intermittent fasting.-Intermittent fasting suppresses the induction of both the canonical and peroxisomal ferroptosis pathways in RV failure.
Lipocalin 2 dictates cancer cell plasticity elicited by therapy-induced senescence
Authors: Morales-Valencia Jorge , Lau Lena , Martí-Nin Teresa , Ozerdem Ugur , David Gregory 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe acquisition of novel detrimental cellular properties following exposure to cytotoxic drugs leads to aggressive and metastatic tumors that often translates into an incurable disease. While the bulk of the primary tumor is eliminated upon exposure to chemotherapeutic treatment, residual cancer cells and non-transformed cells within the host can engage a stable cell cycle exit program named senescence. Senescent cells secrete a distinct set of pro-inflammatory factors, collectively termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Upon exposure to the SASP, cancer cells undergo cellular plasticity resulting in increased proliferation, migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The molecular mechanisms by which the SASP regulates these pro-tumorigenic features are poorly understood. Here, we report that breast cancer cells exposed to the SASP strongly upregulate Lipocalin 2 (LCN2). Furthermore, we demonstrate that LCN2 is critical for SASP-induced increased migration in breast cancer cells, and its inactivation potentiates the response to chemotherapeutic treatment in mouse models of breast cancer. Finally, we show that neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment leads to LCN2 upregulation in residual human breast tumors, and correlates with worse overall survival. These findings provide the foundation for targeting LCN2 as an adjuvant therapeutic approach to prevent the emergence of aggressive tumors following chemotherapy.
Returnable transport packaging as a company value driver
Authors: Taschner Andreas 
Published: March 2022

PurposeReturnable transport packaging (RTP) solutions have found increasing attention in the recent past. It is not clear, however, under what conditions an RTP system improves a company's financial performance. This paper investigates the operational factors that influence the financial attractiveness of an RTP solution in a manufacturing environment and discusses how these factors are related to each other.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents the results of five empirical RTP use cases and compares the case study findings with the results found in literature in order to develop a taxonomy of RTP cost effects. Drawing on the concept of value-based management (VBM), the operational drivers of these RTP cost effects are systematized and categorized in a value driver model that relates RTP cost effects to overall economic value added (EVA).FindingsBased on the use case findings, additional cost factors are identified that have not been previously discussed in literature. The amended taxonomy of influence factors is further operationalized in a value driver model.Originality/valueThe present paper is the first one providing a taxonomy of RTP cost effects and putting these effects in a conceptual framework that can be used for decision-making and performance benchmarking.
Principal self-efficacy, mindset and performance outcomes: exploring the connection
Authors: Justus Kristen , Arghode Vishal , Barker David 
Published: March 2022

Purpose
This study aims to explore the relationship between principals’ performance on the Pennsylvania Framework for Leadership evaluation tool and the corresponding self-reported degree of self-efficacy and growth mindset.

Design/methodology/approach
The data analysis involved linear regression of principal performance on principals’ mindset, moral leadership self-efficacy and instructional self-efficacy scores. Additionally, correlation matrices identified the presence and direction of relationships between self-efficacy levels and the degree of growth mindset reported by principals.

Findings
The results demonstrated a positive association between principals’ instructional self-efficacy reports and their overall performance evaluation. Alternatively, both growth mindset and moral leadership self-efficacy evidenced a negative association. There was no association reflected between growth mindset and either the overall self-efficacy measure or the sub-scale self-efficacy measures. A secondary relationship revealed a negative association between school performance profile and growth mindset. This relationship held true in subsequent regression analyses.

Originality/value
The study adds to the limited research available on examining the relationship between principals’ self-efficacy levels and their performance ratings on a common tool.
Examining teamwork competencies and team performance in experiential entrepreneurship education: emergent intragroup conflict as a learning triggering event
Authors: Pazos Pilar , Pérez-López María Carmen , González-López María José 
Published: March 2022

PurposeAlthough the importance of teamwork competencies and effective conflict management in entrepreneurship education is recognised, we have limited knowledge of how these factors interact to influence performance in entrepreneurial teams. This research explores teamwork competencies as a predictor of entrepreneurial team performance and the moderating effect of emerging cognitive and interpersonal team conflict as levers in entrepreneurship learning.Design/methodology/approachA time-lagged survey method was used to collect data from 49 teams (156 individuals) of undergraduate students in an experiential new venture creation course. A predictive model of entrepreneurial team performance through hierarchical regression analyses and moderated-moderation analyses was tested.FindingsResults reveal that teamwork competencies have a significant and direct influence on entrepreneurial team performance and that intragroup conflict strengthens that relationship when high levels of cognitive conflict and low levels of interpersonal conflict emerge.Practical implicationsThe findings have implications for the design of entrepreneurial training programs, which will benefit from interventions aimed at teamwork competency development that incorporate strategies promoting constructive cognitive conflict while preventing the emergence of interpersonal conflict.Originality/valueThis study is a step forward in entrepreneurship education research from the perspective of social and interpersonal processes by identifying the patterns of intra-team conflict that lead to more effective entrepreneurial teams and more productive use of teamwork competencies in a learning-by-doing entrepreneurial context.
A novel miniaturized, multiband, AMC-integrated CPW-fed antenna operating at millimetric wave frequencies suitable for IoT applications
Authors: Shaik Khader Zelani , Siddaiah P. , Satya Prasad K. 
Published: March 2022

PurposePlanar periodic metallic arrays behave as artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) surfaces when placed on a grounded dielectric substrate, and they introduce a zero-degree reflection phase shift to incident waves. The antenna designers have new challenges while designing the AMC structure. The steps followed in designing the structure are as follows: 1) Designing the antenna, aimed to operate at millimetric wave frequencies, (2) Designing the AMC at desired frequencies, (3) Integrating the antenna design and AMC to resonate at millimetric wave frequencies and (4) Validate the output parameters of the antenna to be suitable for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.Design/methodology/approachThe antenna is integrated with artificial material known as high impedance surface (HIS) for performance enhancement. A miniaturized, multiband, enhanced gain, AMC-integrated CPW-fed antenna is proposed and aimed to operate at millimetric wave frequencies, which is most suitable for IoT applications. The developed antenna operates at an extremely high range (30–300 GHz), i.e. from 40 to 60 GHz with the return loss values at lesser than −20 dB, and gain is greater than 10. The antenna is developed and simulated by using HFSS software.FindingsAn extensive research study has been carried out to develop a low profile, high gain and optimized antenna. The first two steps are separately designing the antenna and the AMC unit cell at the desired frequencies. The third step is finding the antenna or AMC radiating parts responsible for each resonant frequency by analysing the surface current distribution. CPW fed along with AMC integration has made the antenna feasible to achieve the extremely high frequency (EHF) range, i.e. 40–60 GHz, which is highly adoptable in IoT applications.Originality/valueThe result represented that the developed antenna is resonating at EHF rank with high gain and good imped matching when it is being compared with the previous models and has only CPW fed without having AMC structure integration. It is evident that the antenna which has only CPW fed has resonated at lower frequency than EHF range and justified output characteristics. But when it is embedded with the AMC structure, it resonates at the EHF range, which makes the antenna highly suitable for IoT applications, with more accuracy and high data rate possibility.
Corporate R&D spending, subsidies and stock market reactions to seasoned equity offering announcements: evidence from China
Authors: Xiang Xin 
Published: March 2022

PurposeThis study focuses on an emerging market, China, and investigates the effects of corporate research and development (R&D) spending and subsidies on stock market reactions to seasoned equity offering (SEO) announcements.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a sample of SEOs announced over the period of 2003–2018 in the Chinese A-share market. The cumulative abnormal stock returns (CARs) are adopted to measure the stock market response to SEOs. The R&D spending-to-sales ratio (R&D subsidies) in 2 years before SEO announcements is used to measure the pre-SEO R&D spending (R&D subsidies). The instrumental variable (IV) regression method is applied to address the endogeneity problem in the robustness test.FindingsThis study demonstrates that firms with high R&D spending suffer stock overpricing and experience a negative market reaction when they announce SEOs, but R&D subsidies alleviate stock overpricing and mitigate the negative relationship between R&D spending and SEO market reactions.Originality/valueAlthough the prior studies have demonstrated that information asymmetry, which causes stock overpricing, explains negative stock market reactions to SEOs, it is unclear if a certain factor that causes information asymmetry affects SEO market reactions. This study fills this gap and focuses on R&D spending, demonstrating that R&D spending is negatively related to SEO performance.