bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide analysis and characterization of the LRR-RLK gene family provides insights into anthracnose resistance in common bean
Authors: Dambroz Caroline Marcela da Silva , Aono Alexandre Hild , Silva Edson Mario de Andrade , Pereira Welison Andrade 
Published: October 2022

ABSTRACTAnthracnose, caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, is a damaging disease of common beans that can drastically reduce crop yield. The most effective strategy to manage anthracnose is the use of resistant cultivars. There are many resistance loci that have been identified, mapped and associated with markers in common bean chromosomes. The Leucine-rich repeat kinase receptor protein (LRR-RLK) family is a diverse group of transmembrane receptors, which potentially recognizes pathogen-associated molecular patterns and activates an immune response. In this study, we performed in silico analyses to identify, classify, and characterize common bean LRR-RLKs, also evaluating their expression profile in response to the infection by C. lindemuthianum. By analyzing the entire genome of Phaseolus vulgaris, we could identify and classify 230 LRR-RLKs into 15 different subfamilies. The analyses of gene structures, conserved domains and motifs suggest that LRR-RLKs from the same subfamily are consistent in their exon/intron organization and composition. LRR-RLK genes were found along the 11 chromosomes of the species, including regions of proximity with anthracnose resistance markers. By investigating the duplication events within the LRR-RLK family, we associated the importance of such a family with an expansion resulting from a strong stabilizing selection. Promoter analysis was also performed, highlighting cis elements associated with the plant response to biotic stress. With regard to the expression pattern of LRR-RLKs in response to the infection by C. lindemuthianum, we could point out several differentially expressed genes in this subfamily, which were associated to specific molecular patterns of LRR-RLKs. Our work provides a broad analysis of the LRR-RLK family in P. vulgaris, allowing an in-depth structural and functional characterization of genes and proteins of this family. From specific expression patterns related to anthracnose response, we could infer a direct participation of RLK-LRR genes in the mechanisms of resistance to anthracnose, highlighting important subfamilies for further investigations.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is Associated with Increased Electroencephalographic (EEG) Delta and Theta Oscillatory Power but Reduced Delta Connectivity
Authors: Perera M. Prabhavi N. , Mallawaarachchi Sudaraka , Bailey Neil W. , Murphy Oscar W. , Fitzgerald Paul B. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition causing significant decline in the quality of life of sufferers and the limited knowledge on the pathophysiology hinders successful treatment. The aim of the current study was to examine electroencephalographic (EEG) findings of OCD to broaden our understanding of the disease.MethodsResting-state eyes-closed EEG data was recorded from 25 individuals with OCD and 27 healthy controls (HC). The 1/f arrhythmic activity was removed prior to computing oscillatory powers of all frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma). Cluster-based permutation was used for between-group statistical analyses, and comparisons were performed for the 1/f slope and intercept parameters. Functional connectivity (FC) was measured using coherence and debiased weighted phase lag index (d-wPLI), and statistically analysed using the Network Based Statistic method.ResultsCompared to HC, the OCD group showed increased oscillatory power in the delta and theta bands in the fronto-temporal and parietal brain regions. However, there were no significant between-group findings in other bands or 1/f parameters. The coherence measure showed significantly reduced FC in the delta band in OCD compared to HC but the d-wPLI analysis showed no significant differences.ConclusionsOCD is associated with raised oscillatory power in slow frequency bands in the fronto-temporal brain regions, which agrees with the previous literature and therefore is a potential biomarker. Although delta coherence was found to be lower in OCD, due to inconsistencies found between measures and the previous literature, further research is required to ascertain definitive conclusions.
Validating MEG source imaging of resting state oscillatory patterns with an intracranial EEG atlas
Authors: Afnan Jawata , Ellenrieder Nicolás von , Lina Jean-Marc , Pellegrino Giovanni , Arcara Giorgio , Cai Zhengchen , Hedrich Tanguy , Abdallah Chifaou , Khajehpour Hassan , Frauscher Birgit , Gotman Jean , Grova Christophe 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundMagnetoencephalography (MEG) is a widely used non-invasive tool to estimate brain activity with high temporal resolution. However, due to the ill-posed nature of the MEG source imaging (MSI) problem, the ability of MSI to identify accurately underlying brain sources along the cortical surface is still uncertain and requires validation.MethodWe validated the ability of MSI to estimate the background resting state activity of 45 healthy participants by comparing it to the intracranial EEG (IEEG) atlas (https://mni-open-ieegatlas.research.mcgill.ca/). First, we applied wavelet-based Maximum Entropy on the Mean (wMEM) as an MSI technique. Next, we converted MEG source maps into intracranial space, by applying a forward model to the MEG reconstructed source maps and estimated virtual IEEG (VIEEG) potentials on each IEEG channel location and quantitatively compared those with actual IEEG signals from the atlas for 38 regions of interest in the canonical frequency bands.ResultsThe MEG spectra were more accurately estimated in the lateral regions compared to the medial regions. The regions with higher amplitude in the VIEEG than in the IEEG were more accurately recovered. In the deep regions, MEG estimated amplitudes were largely underestimated and the spectra were poorly recovered. Moreover, the MEG largely overestimated oscillatory peaks in the alpha band, especially in the anterior and deep regions. This is possibly due to higher phase synchronization of alpha oscillations over extended regions, exceeding the spatial sensitivity of IEEG but detected by MEG. Importantly, we found that MEG estimated spectra were more comparable to spectra from the IEEG atlas after the aperiodic components were removed.ConclusionThis study identifies brain regions and frequencies for which MEG source analysis is likely to be reliable, a promising step towards resolving the uncertainty in recovering intracerebral activity from non-invasive MEG studies.HighlightsValidation of MEG source imaging with intracranial EEE atlasAssessment of resting state human brain oscillations from healthy brainAdapted source imaging method, wMEM, to localize resting state oscillationsIdentified brain regions with oscillations accurately estimated by MEGMEG estimated spectra dominated by oscillations in the alpha band
A conserved metabolic signature associated with response to fast-acting antimalarial agents
Authors: Simwela Nelson V. , Guiguemde W. Armand , Straimer Judith , Regnault Clement , Yokokawa Fumiaki , Taft Benjamin , Diagana Thierry T. , Barrett Michael P. , Waters Andrew P. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractCharacterizing the mode of action of antimalarial compounds that emerge from high-throughput phenotypic screens is central to understanding how parasite resistance to these drugs can emerge. Here, we have employed untargeted metabolomics to inform on the mechanism of action of antimalarial leads with different speed of kill profiles being developed by the Novartis Institute of Tropical Diseases (NITD). Time-resolved global changes in malaria parasite metabolite profiles upon drug treatment were quantified using liquid chromatography-based mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and compared to untreated controls. Using this approach, we confirmed previously reported metabolomics profiles of the fast-killing (2.5h) drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and the slower killing atovaquone (ATQ). A slow acting antimalarial lead from NITD of imidazolopiperazine (IZP) class, GNF179, elicited little or no discernable metabolic change in malaria parasites in the same 2.5h window of drug exposure. In contrast, fast killing drugs, DHA and the spiroindolone (NITD246) elicited similar metabolomic profiles both in terms of kinetics and content. DHA and NITD246 induced peptide losses consistent with disruption of haemoglobin catabolism and also interfered with the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. Two members of the recently described novel class of antimalarial agents of the 5-aryl-2-amino-imidazothiadiazole (ITD) class also exhibited a fast-acting profile that also featured peptide losses indicative of disrupted haemoglobin catabolism. Our screen demonstrates that structurally unrelated, fast acting antimalarial compounds generate similar biochemical signatures in Plasmodium pointing to a common mechanism associated with rapid parasite death. Our study describes a potential biochemical signature that may serve to identify other fast acting drug candidates.ImportanceIn malaria drug discovery, understanding the mode of action of lead compounds is important as it helps in predicting the potential emergence of drug resistance in the field when these drugs are eventually deployed. In this study, we have employed metabolomics technologies to characterize the potential targets of antimalarial drug candidates in the developmental pipeline at NITD. We show that NITD fast acting leads belonging to spiroindolone and imidazothiadiazole class induce a common biochemical theme in drug exposed malaria parasites which is similar to another fast acting, clinically available drug, DHA. These biochemical features which are absent in a slower acting NITD lead (GNF17) point to haemoglobin digestion and inhibition of the pyrimidine pathway as potential action points for these drugs. These biochemical themes can be used to identify fast drug candidates of similar profiles in future drug discovery programs.
CD95/Fas ligand mRNA is toxic to cells through more than one mechanism
Authors: Haluck-Kangas Ashley , Fink Madelaine , Bartom Elizabeth T. , Peter Marcus E. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractCD95/Fas ligand induces apoptosis through binding of the protein to the CD95 receptor. However, CD95L mRNA also induces toxicity in the absence of CD95. Dying cells exhibit features of DISE (Death Induced by Survival Gene Elimination), a form of cell death mediated by RNA interference (RNAi). DISE relies on targeting mediated by six nucleotides of complementarity between positions 2-7, the 6mer seed sequence of a RISC-bound (R-sRNA), and the 3’UTR of an mRNA, a feature that allows to predict the effect of 6mer seed sequences on cell viability. We now report that CD95L mRNA processing generates an sRNA nearly identical to shL3, a commercial CD95L-targeting shRNA that led to the discovery of DISE. Neither of the miRNA biogenesis proteins Drosha or Dicer are required for CD95L mRNA processing. Interestingly, CD95L toxicity depends on the core component of the RISC, Ago 2, in some cell lines, but not in others. In the HCT116 colon cancer cell line, Ago 1-4 appear to function redundantly in RNAi. In fact, Ago 1/2/3 knockout cells retained sensitivity to CD95L mRNA toxicity. Toxicity was only blocked by mutation of all in-frame start codons in the CD95L ORF. Expression of a toxic CD95L mRNA caused an enrichment for R-sRNAs with toxic 6mer seed sequences, while expression of the nontoxic CD95L mutant enriched for loading of R-sRNAs with nontoxic 6mer seeds. However, CD95L was not the only source of these R-sRNAs. We found that CD95L mRNA may induce DISE directly and indirectly, and that alternate mechanisms may underlie CD95L mRNA processing and toxicity.
Did the Arab Spring change female emancipation perceptions?
Authors: Hussain M. Azhar , Haj-Salem Narjes 
Published: October 2022

PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether perceptions about female workplace participation in a number of Arab countries has changed during or after the Arab Spring.Design/methodology/approachData are from the representative harmonized cross-sectional World Values Survey. Descriptive measures and regression approaches are applied. Different dimensions of perceptions about female emancipation are presented, while also a composite index derived from these dimensions is analysed.FindingsThere was some change for the better (job and education gender equality), but not uniformly across countries, e.g. generally good development in Egypt and Iraq, but a standstill in Jordan, and backsliding was seen in Morocco. Applying the composite index of female emancipation using regressions confirm these results – even when male and female respondents are analysed separately.Research limitations/implicationsMore Arab nations in the study would have been good such that the extent and consequences for an even larger part of the Arab world could be presented. Unfortunately, these data are not available. This implies that the representativeness of the results for the whole of the Arab world is perhaps reduced.Practical implicationsThe results can inform policymakers and non-governmental organizations, etc., regarding areas where more focus is needed such that women’s rights will not merely be statements on paper but also mean that females are also emancipated in practice.Originality/valueNew evidence is presented based on comparable data for Arab nations analysing the possible effects of the Arab Spring on perceptions about female emancipation.
Development finance, institutional quality and human development in the MENA region
Authors: Awdeh Ali , Jomaa Zouhour 
Published: October 2022

PurposeThe majority of MENA countries suffer low levels of human development, coupled with scarcity of funding resources, low level of governance, and poor institutional environment. Consequently, this research aims at detecting the impact of development finance resources and institutional quality on the human development in the MENA region, in order to examine if/why the MENA countries fail to efficiently exploit all the available financial inflows to promote human development and boost living standards.Design/methodology/approachThis study tests the short- and long-run impact of six financing resources representing injections in the economy and four institutional quality variables on the human development index in the MENA region. It adopts co-integration analysis, vector error correction model, and Granger causality test on a sample of 13 MENA countries over the period 1996–2019.FindingsThis research finds that domestic credit to private sector and exports of goods and services do not have any significant added value for human development in the MENA region. In contrast, government expenditures and migrant remittances are found to be crucial in promoting human development in both the short- and long-run. FDI and ODA do enhance human development, but only in the short-run. In parallel, control of corruption, government effectiveness and regulation quality are essential boosters of human development in the MENA region, but with different importance, while political stability was found to be irrelevant.Originality/valueTo the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first study that examines the impact of financial inflows and institutional quality on the overall human development index in the MENA region. The contribution of this paper lies in unlocking for policymakers the potential impactful financing resources to serve national developmental plans, in an endeavour to catch up to the SDGs amid the additional challenges imposed by governance and institutional environment.
What makes Indian domestic tourists crowd-friendly in the post-COVID-19 phase?
Authors: Tiwari Pinaz , Chowdhary Nimit 
Published: October 2022

Purpose
This study aims to explore the good crowding effect among Indian domestic travellers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of the city destination. This study uses the framework of social motivation theory to achieve the objective.

Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a qualitative research design by taking the case of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Using purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 37 respondents, and themes were drawn manually.

Findings
The analysis found four themes that create a good crowding effect among domestic tourists, namely, convenience and price; familiarity and place attachment; social affiliation; and safety. The themes indicated that despite the pandemic, and constant occurrences of new variants, Indian domestic tourists’ on-site attitude towards crowding was favourable.

Research limitations/implications
Firstly, the good crowding effect during the pandemic could have been better understood using empirical data. Secondly, the results cannot be generalized, specifically for developed economies.

Practical implications
This study offers practical implications to destination managers and local administrative bodies for whom achieving sustainability in urban tourism has always been concerning. These include developing infrastructural facilities, encouraging cultural activities in city centres and improving the perception of safety to sustain the good crowding effect.

Social implications
The affective dimension involved in making a travelling decision played a significant role in the post-pandemic phase. While suppliers needed survival, tourists needed social affiliation and escape from the mandated home isolation due to multiple phases of COVID-19 lockdown in India. This study adds value to society by emphasising that the need for social affiliation among travellers remains intact, and the tourism industry should embrace this transformation.

Originality/value
While most of the pandemic-related studies criticised crowd and tourists’ crowd averting behaviour, this study reported that the good crowding effect could also be an outcome owing to different factors. Therefore, this study offers distinctive nuance of tourists’ behaviour in the post-COVID-19 phase, allowing destination managers and tourism stakeholders to re-think their strategies.
Sharing network features analysis and dispatching strategy design
Authors: Lv Tong , Lefeng Shi , He Weijun 
Published: October 2022

PurposeA vital job for one sharing business is dynamically dispatching shared items to balance the demand-supply of different sharing points in one sharing network. In order to construct a highly efficient dispatch strategy, this paper proposes a new dispatching algorithm based on the findings of sharing network characteristics.Design/methodology/approachTo that end, in this paper, the profit-changing process of single sharing points is modeled and analyzed first. And then, the characteristics of the whole sharing network are investigated. Subsequently, some interesting propositions are obtained, based on which an algorithm (named the Two-step random forest reinforcement learning algorithm) is proposed.FindingsThe authors discover that the sharing points of a common sharing network could be categorized into 6 types according to their profit dynamics; a sharing network that is made up of various combinations of sharing stations would exhibit distinct profit characteristics. Accounting for the characteristics, a specific method for guiding the dynamic dispatch of shared products is developed and validated.Originality/valueBecause the suggested method considers the interaction features between sharing points in a sharing network, its computation speeds and the convergence efficacy to the global optimum scheme are better than similar studies. It suits better to the sharing business requiring a higher time-efficiency.
The role of supply chain resilience and absorptive capacity in the relationship between marketing–supply chain management alignment and firm performance: a moderated-mediation analysis
Authors: Salam Mohammad Asif , Bajaba Saleh 
Published: October 2022

Purpose
This paper aims to adopt a resource-based view (RBV) to investigate the link between marketing (MRKT)–supply chain management (SCM) alignment, supply chain resilience (SCR) and firm performance. It aims to cover two gaps in the SCM literature: the missing links between MRKT–SCM alignment and the performance of a firm, mediated by the SCR, and the role of absorptive capacity (AC) in shaping such links.

Design/methodology/approach
After the identification of a key capability in SCM, i.e. firms’ ability to align their’ MRKT–SCM processes and the role of AC, the relationships with performance are empirically tested in a sample of 133 firms in the fast-moving consumer goods industry in Saudi Arabia. The data was analyzed using SPSS 27 through hierarchal multiple regression and the PROCESS macro.

Findings
First, MRKT–SCM alignment capabilities provide a significant direct effect on SCR, and in turn, SCR also had a significant indirect effect on firm performance. Second, there is a significant mediating effect of SCR on the MRKT –SCM alignment and firm performance relationship. Third, a novel finding shows a statistically significant interaction effect and the interaction pattern supported that absorptive capacity would substitute the positive effect of SCR on firm performance, which implies that in the absence of SCR, AC can substitute the role of SCR. Finally, the results suggest a significant moderation and mediation effect for the overall model.

Research limitations/implications
The investigation is based on a self-reported cross-sectional analysis, and it is specific to a single economy. Nonetheless, it suggests a number of interesting implications. Achieving excellence in SCR requires the development of a distinct set of capabilities because the management of core supply chain activities and the alignment of MRKT with the supply chain are not mutually exclusive, rather they are complementary. Contrary to common expectations, an alignment of MRKT–SCM processes leads to improved interfunctional coordination.

Practical implications
In the postCOVID-19 world firms should develop and integrate their AC to capitalize on their MRKT–SCM alignment to pursue better performance. Investment in AC is required to develop, maintain and use it. It can play an important role against uncertainties in the long run.

Originality/value
This paper is unique in that it employs the RBV – to unpack the mechanisms through which MRKT–SCM activities contribute to SCR, and firm performance. It represents a first response to the call for research into the use of such theoretical frameworks which has recently been made in the SCM literature because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper also offers the first empirical test of how the MRKT–SCM interacts with existing capabilities to create SCR, providing clear guidance on how to exploit its often undervalued potential.