bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multicellular Aligned Bands Disrupt Global Collective Cell Behavior
Authors: Jebeli Mahvash , Lopez Samantha K. , Goldblatt Zachary E. , McCollum Dannel , Mana-Capelli Sebastian , Wen Qi , Billiar Kristen 
Published: May 2022

AbstractMechanical stress patterns emerging from collective cell behavior have been shown to play critical roles in morphogenesis, tissue repair, and cancer metastasis. In our previous work utilizing microcontact printing to geometrically constrain valvular interstitial cell monolayers into specific shapes, we demonstrated that the general patterns of observed cell alignment, size, and apoptosis correlate with predicted mechanical stress fields if nonuniform cell properties are used in the computational models. However, these radially symmetric models did not predict the substantial heterogeneity in cell behavior observed in individual circular aggregates. The goal of this study is to determine how the heterogeneities in cell behavior emerge over time and diverge from the predicted collective cell behavior. Cell-cell interactions in circular multicellular aggregates of valvular interstitial cells were studied with time-lapse imaging ranging from hours to days, and migration, proliferation, and traction stresses were measured. Our results indicate that individual elongated cells create strong local alignment within pre-confluent cell populations on the microcontact printed protein islands. These cells influence the alignment of additional cells to create dense, locally aligned bands of cells which disrupt the global behavior. Cells are highly elongated at the endpoints of the bands yet have decreased spread area in the middle and reduced mobility. Although traction stresses at the endpoints of bands are enhanced, even to the point of detaching aggregates from the culture surface, the cells in dense bands exhibit reduced proliferation, less nuclear YAP, and increased apoptotic rates indicating a low stress environment. These findings suggest that strong local cell-cell interactions between primary fibroblastic cells can disrupt the global collective cellular behavior leading to substantial heterogeneity of cell behaviors in constrained monolayers. This local emergent behavior within aggregated fibroblasts may play an important role in development and disease of connective tissues.
Neural mechanisms for the localization of externally generated tactile motion
Authors: Chinta Suma , Pluta Scott R. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractDuring tactile localization, animals must differentiate stimuli caused by their own volitional movement from externally generated object motion. To determine a neural basis for this ability, we examined the mouse superior colliculus (SC), which contains multiple egocentric maps of sensorimotor space. By placing mice in a whisker-guided virtual reality, we discovered a rapidly adapting neural response that strongly preferred external over self-generated changes in tactile space. This transient response only emerged when external motion gained contact with a whisker, arguing that stimulus adaptation was whisker-specific. The accumulation of sensory evidence through active sensing and repetitions in external motion controlled the size of the transient response. Population-level firing rates among transiently responsive neurons accurately encoded the direction of external motion. These data reveal that stimulus-specific adaptation together with accumulating sensorimotor predictions in SC neurons enhance the localization of unexpected motion in the environment.
T cell Egress via Lymphatic Vessels Limits the Intratumoral T cell Repertoire in Melanoma
Authors: Steele Maria M. , Dryg Ian D. , Murugan Dhaarini , Femel Julia , Bois Haley du , Hill Cameron , Leachman Sancy A. , Chang Young H. , Coussens Lisa M. , Lund Amanda W. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractAntigen-specific CD8+T cell accumulation in tumors is a prerequisite for effective immunotherapy, and yet, the mechanisms of lymphocyte transit remain poorly defined. We find that tumor-associated lymphatic vessels control T cell exit from tumors via the chemokine CXCL12, and intratumoral antigen encounter tunes CXCR4 expression on effector CD8+T cells. Only high affinity antigen downregulates CXCR4 and upregulates the CXCL12 decoy receptor, ACKR3, thereby reducing CXCL12 sensitivity and promoting T cell retention. A diverse repertoire of functional tumor-specific CD8+T cells exit the tumor, thereby limiting tumor control. CXCR4 inhibition and loss of lymphatic-specific CXCL12 boosts T cell retention and enhances response to therapeutic immune checkpoint blockade. Strategies that limit T cell egress, therefore, provide a new tool to boost immunotherapy response.One-Sentence SummaryLymphatic vessel-mediated, antigen-dependent CD8+T cell egress limits T cell accumulation in melanomas and impairs anti-tumor immunity.
Wide genome transcription and metabolome profiles reprogrammed by sucrose under xenobiotic constraints
Authors: Berthomé Richard , Dumas Anne-Sophie , Jarde Emilie , Ryzhenko Nataliia , Barbas Evangelos , El Amrani Abdelhak 
Published: May 2022

AbstractPlants have developed strategies to adapt quickly to environmental changes. However, the regulation of these adaptive responses and coordination of signals network remains poorly understood for many environmental constraints. Indeed, signalling molecules play a central role in environmental stimuli and may coordinate plants development under environmental cues. Sucrose is the major transport carbohydrate in higher plants, in addition to its metabolic role; recent investigations suggested that sucrose impact the plasticity of plant development by controlling gene expression. Sucrose was also suggested as a ROS scavenger and as a signalling molecule. In this paper we showed that sucrose mitigated phenanthrene induced stress. Since, exogenous sucrose allowed growth and chlorophyll accumulation in the presence of high phenanthrene concentrations, whereas Arabidopsis development was blocked and seedlings were unable to accumulate chlorophyll in the presence of phenanthrene solely. To decipher the earlier molecular changes involved in sucrose tolerance to phenanthrene, wide transcriptional genes analysis and targeted metabolic profiling were carried out. We showed that sucrose driving plant response was associated with a deep reconfiguration of both genes expression and metabolites accumulation during the first hours of treatment, suggesting that sucrose, allowed plants to sustain the primary metabolism and to overcome the phenanthrene induced injuries.
The histone variant H2A.W cooperates with chromatin modifications and linker histone H1 to maintain transcriptional silencing of transposons in Arabidopsis
Authors: Bourguet Pierre , Yelagandula Ramesh , To Taiko Kim , Osakabe Akihisa , Alishe Archana , Lu Rita Jui-Hsien , Kakutani Tetsuji , Chen Pao-Yang , Berger Frédéric 
Published: May 2022

SummaryTransposable elements (TEs) are marked by a complex array of chromatin modifications, but a central unifying mechanism for how they are silenced remains elusive. Histone H3 Lysine 9 methylation (H3K9me) is an important component of heterochromatin in most eukaryotes, including plants. In flowering plants, the specialized histone variant H2A.W occupies nucleosomes found at TE sequences. This variant is deposited by the chromatin remodeler DDM1 and confers specific biophysical properties to the nucleosomes.Here we use genetic and genomic strategies to evaluate the role of H2A.W in transposon silencing in Arabidopsis. Compared with mutants lacking either H2A.W or H3K9me, the combined loss of both H2A.W and H3K9me causes a dramatic increase in both the number of expressed TEs and their expression levels. Synergistic effects are also observed when H2A.W is lost in combination with histone H1 or CH methylation. Collectively, these TEs are also upregulated in mutants lacking DDM1, which are impaired in H2A.W deposition and lose heterochromatic marks.We conclude that H2A.W acts in combination with different elements of heterochromatin to maintain silencing across a large spectrum of TEs present primarily in pericentric heterochromatin in Arabidopsis. In mammals, the DDM1 ortholog LSH deposits macroH2A to heterochromatin and silences TEs. We thus propose that specialized H2A variants localized to heterochromatin interact with a complex array of histone modifications to silence TEs in eukaryotes.
Leveraging a natural murine meiotic drive to suppress invasive populations
Authors: Gierus Luke , Birand Aysegul , Bunting Mark D. , Godahewa Gelshan I. , Piltz Sandra G. , Oh Kevin P. , Piaggio Antoinette J. , Threadgill David W. , Godwin John , Edwards Owain , Cassey Phillip , Ross Joshua V. , Prowse Thomas A. A. , Thomas Paul Q. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractInvasive rodents, including house mice, are a major cause of environmental damage and biodiversity loss, particularly in island ecosystems. Eradication can be achieved through the distribution of rodenticide, but this approach is expensive to apply at scale, can have negative impacts (e.g. on non-target species, or through contamination), has animal ethics concerns, and has restrictions on where it can be used. Gene drives, which exhibit biased inheritance, have been proposed as a next generation strategy to control invasive alien pests and disease vectors. However, synthetic gene drives including CRISPR homing drives have proven to be technically challenging to develop in mice. Thethaplotype is a naturally-occurring segregation distortion locus with highly biased transmission from heterozygous males. Here we propose a novel gene drive strategy for population suppression,tCRISPR, that leveragesthaplotype bias and an embedded SpCas9/gRNA transgene to spread inactivating mutations in a haplosufficient female fertility gene. Using spatially explicit individual-basedin silicomodelling, we show that polyandry, sperm competition, dispersal, and transmission bias are critical factors fortCRISPR-mediated population suppression. Modelling of realistic parameter values indicates thattCRISPRcan eradicate an island population of 200,000 mice while the unmodifiedthaplotype fails under the same conditions. We also demonstrate feasibility of this approach by engineeringtCRISPRmice in a safe split drive format.tCRISPRmice exhibit high transmission of the modifiedthaplotype, and efficient generation and transmission of inactivating mutations in a recessive female fertility gene, crucially, at levels for which the modelling predicts that population eradication can occur. This is the first example of a feasible gene drive system for invasive alien rodent population control.
Visuomotor learning promotes visually evoked activity in the medial prefrontal cortex
Authors: Peters Andrew J. , Marica Andrada-Maria , Fabre Julie M.J. , Harris Kenneth D. , Carandini Matteo 
Published: May 2022

SUMMARYThe medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is necessary for executing many learned associations between stimuli and movement. It is unclear, however, whether activity in the mPFC reflects sensory or motor aspects of sensorimotor associations and whether it evolves gradually during learning. To address these questions, we recorded cortical activity with widefield calcium imaging while mice learned a visuomotor task. The task involved associating a visual stimulus with a forelimb movement. After learning, the mPFC showed stimulus-evoked activity both during task performance and during passive viewing, when the stimulus evoked no action. This stimulus-evoked activity closely tracked behavioral performance across training, exhibiting jumps between training days. Electrophysiological recordings localized this activity to the secondary motor and anterior cingulate cortex. We conclude that learning a visuomotor task promotes a route for visual information to reach the prefrontal cortex, which develops responses to the relevant visual stimuli even outside the context of the task.
Revitalising project management office operations in an engineering-service contractor organisation: a key performance indicator based performance management approach
Authors: Mahabir Randell Jared , Pun Kit Fai 
Published: May 2022

PurposeExisting studies on project performance improvement mainly investigate project management (PM) execution processes. Limited publications investigate the project management office's (PMO) proficiency in facilitating proper PM practice. This paper identifies the key performance indicators (KPI) of PMO operations and develops a KPI-based performance management system (KPMS) for revitalising PMO performance for an engineering-service contractor (ESC).Design/methodology/approachA four-phase study was initiated at an ESC in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). Phase-1 established historical project performance and PMO challenges via documentary analysis. Empirical data from the PMO staff and management was acquired at Phase-2 to determine PMO process value-drivers and strategic roles. Phase-3 comprised the development of a modified PMO process and the KPMS, whereas Phase-4 evaluated the efficacy of the PMO process and the KPMS framework in a trial period.FindingsThe ESC's existing PMO process lacked significant value-drivers of its PM practice. The company also overlooked strategic PMO roles. Trial implementation of the modified PMO process achieved improved project performance, which stakeholders attributed to the value-driven processes and guidance provided by the KPMS. The KPMS, when used in tandem with Earned Value Management (EVM) index score review revealed core performance aspects that could facilitate continuous improvement of the PMO process at the ESC.Practical implicationsFindings provide an adequate basis for policy creation regarding PMO performance evaluation and guidance for companies contemplating a similar endeavour. A viable model for PMO performance management and improvement is proffered. The findings and the model would provide a platform for subsequent research in the areas of PMO development and business process improvement.Originality/valueThis is the first study conducted to obtain management and practitioners' inputs on developing a PMO performance management framework in a project-based contractor organisation in T&T. Various PMO challenges and implications of improvements specific to engineering-service contractors and similar organisations were determined.
Impact of environmental scanning on organizational resilience and competitive advantage: a study of Egyptian SMEs
Authors: YahiaMarzouk Yasmine , Jin Jiafei 
Published: May 2022

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the impact of environmental scanning (ES) on competitive advantage (CA) through the mediation of organizational resilience dimensions within manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a cross-sectional design to collect data. This study used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 249 Egyptian SMEs. This study employed the Smart partial least square structural equation modeling technique to test the hypotheses.FindingsES positively affects CA both directly and indirectly through the mediation of organizational resilience dimensions, namely, robustness and agility. However, ES does not affect integrity; therefore, integrity does not mediate the ES–CA relationship. These results indicate that organizational resilience partially mediates the relationship between ES and CA.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size was small, covering only Egyptian manufacturing SMEs. The results may be different in the service sector and other countries. The study was cross-sectional which could not trace the long-term effects of ES and organizational resilience on CA. Therefore, a longitudinal study should be conducted, based on resource availability.Practical implicationsManagers in Egyptian SMEs should scan their environments to build organizational resilience and, in turn, enhance their CA.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is among the first endeavors to investigate the role of ES in building CA through organizational resilience in the context of Egyptian SMEs.
Institutional determinants of IJV partner choice in Europe: a host-country, a home-country or a third-country partner?
Authors: Konara Palitha , Yang Yi 
Published: May 2022

PurposeThis study aims to examine the international joint venture (IJV) partnership strategy in Europe from an institutional perspective. A firm operating in a foreign country via an IJV can partner with a local firm from the host country, a firm from the same home country or a firm from a third country. This study takes the first step in examining the determinants of these partner choices.Design/methodology/approachThis study tests hypotheses based on a data set of 637 IJVs in Europe.FindingsForeign firms are less likely to operate in a partnership with a firm from the home country or from a third country (compared to operate in a partnership with a local firm) when the host country institutions are weaker or institutional distance is larger. Also, foreign firms’ disinclination to operate in a partnership with a firm from the home/third country when the host country institutions are weaker or institutional distance is larger will diminish with greater host-country experience.Practical implicationsThis study provides important insights for firms for evaluating partner choice and potential collaborations in the European region with heterogenous institutions.Originality/valueThe partner choice among the above three forms has been neglected in the literature. This study first conceptualized that the institutional profile of the host country and institutional distance between the host country and the home country can determine the partner choice.
Cause analysis of construction collapse accidents using association rule mining
Authors: Shao Lijia , Guo Shengyu , Dong Yimeng , Niu Hongying , Zhang Pan 
Published: May 2022

PurposeThe construction collapse is one of the most serious accidents since it has several attributes (e.g. accident type and consequence) and its occurrence involves various kinds of causal factors (e.g. human factors). The impact of causal factors on construction collapse accidents and the interrelationships among causal factors remain poorly explored. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to use association rule mining (ARM) for cause analysis of construction collapse accidents.Design/methodology/approachAn accident analytic framework is developed to determine the accident attributes and causal factors, and then ARM is introduced as the method for data mining. The data are from 620 historical accident records on government websites of China from 2010 to 2020. Through the generated association rules, the impact of causal factors and the interrelationships among causal factors are explored.FindingsCollapse accident is easily caused by human factors, material and machine condition and management factors. Furthermore, the results show a close interrelationship between many causal factors and construction scheme and organization. The earthwork collapse is greatly related to environmental condition and the scaffolding collapse is greatly related to material and machine condition.Practical implicationsThis study found relevant knowledge about the key causes for different types of construction collapses. Besides, several suggestions are further provided for construction units to prevent construction collapse accidents.Originality/valueThis study uses data mining methods to extract knowledge about the causes of collapse accidents. The impact of causal factors on various types of construction collapse accidents and the interrelationships among causal factors are explained from historical accident data.
From teamwork to psychological well-being and job performance: the role of CSR in the workplace
Authors: Kim Ho-Seok , Kim Minseong , Koo Dongwoo 
Published: May 2022

PurposeAlthough the positive impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives on personal and organizational outcomes has been studied in the fields of human resource management and the hospitality industry, scholars in these fields still consider CSR as a promising area with potential. Drawing upon the dual concern and the attribution theories, this study aims to identify three stages of formations from teamwork with colleagues and personal benefits to organizational benefits from social responsibilities of hospitality companies via an integrated research model.Design/methodology/approachWith the data collected from 324 frontline employees in hospitality enterprises in South Korea, this study empirically investigated the interrelationship to predict frontline employees’ job performance.FindingsThe empirical results from structural equation modeling indicated that perceived management support for CSR and perceived colleague support for CSR had significant influence on empathetic concern for colleague and anticipated positive affect, separately. Also, empathetic concern significantly affected psychological well-being and job satisfaction, while an anticipated positive affect significantly influenced job satisfaction. Finally, psychological well-being and job satisfaction had a significant impact on job performance.Practical implicationsThis study provides several managerial implications for maximizing the effectiveness of hospitality companies’ CSR practices, enhancing frontline employees’ psychological well-being, job satisfaction and job performance.Originality/valueBased on the empirical findings, this study provided meaningful theoretical and managerial implications to maximize the effectiveness of CSR initiatives and maximize frontline employees’ job performance in the hospitality industry.
A systematic review of empirical studies of pro-environmental behavior in hospitality and tourism contexts
Authors: (Brian) Lin Mao-Tang , Zhu Dan , Liu Claire , Kim Peter B. 
Published: May 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to gain a holistic view of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) among hospitality and tourism consumers through a systematic review of empirical studies. Based on this comprehensive review, this study demonstrates how the literature has been created and has evolved over time, thereby providing proposals for future research agendas.

Design/methodology/approach
The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method was used as a rigorous searching method to provide an updated picture of the research on the PEBs of consumers in hospitality and tourism contexts. A total of 234 empirical studies from both hospitality and nonhospitality publications were selected for the review.

Findings
The results reveal a growing interest in PEB in the hospitality and tourism context. Focal points, theories and research designs used to explain PEB among hospitality and tourism consumers were identified. In addition, the findings from the cross-tabulation analyses have provided valuable insights for tourism and hospitality research in this area.

Research limitations/implications
Based on the research findings, this study makes significant contributions to the literature by providing theoretical and practical implications with detailed directions for future researchers and practitioners.

Originality/value
This study offers one of the first reviews to comprehensively and systematically analyze the empirical research into PEBs among hospitality and tourism consumers. PEB has received significant attention from researchers, practitioners and those policymakers concerned with the sustainability of environments. The findings of this research provide a comprehensive overview of the literature relating to hospitality and tourism through the identification of gaps that require further investigation. Future suggestions to assist practitioners and policymakers in eliciting PEBs are also discussed.