bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipid-based nutrient supplements for prevention of child undernutrition: when less may be more
Authors: Dewey Kathryn G. , Arnold Charles D. , Wessells K. Ryan , Stewart Christine P.
Published: June 2023

Background

Both small-quantity (SQ) and medium-quantity (MQ) lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) have been used for prevention of child undernutrition. A meta-analysis of 14 trials of SQ-LNS vs no LNS showed effects on length-for-age (LAZ, +0.14 (95% confidence interval 0.11, 0.16)) and weight-for-length (WLZ, +0.08 (0.06, 0.10)) z-scores, as well as prevalence ratios (95% CI) for stunting (LAZ<-2, 0.88 (0.85, 0.91)) and wasting (WLZ < −2, (0.80, 0.93)). However, little is known about the effects of MQ-LNS on growth.

Objective

We aimed to examine the effects of preventive MQ-LNS (∼250-499 kcal/d) provided at ∼6-23 mo of age on growth outcomes compared to no LNS or provision of SQ-LNS.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of studies of MQ-LNS for prevention, and categorized them as providing < 6 mo vs.>6 mo of supplementation; for the latter category we conducted a meta-analysis, with main outcomes being change in WLZ and LAZ, and prevalence of wasting and stunting.

Results

Three studies provided MQ-LNS for 3-5 mo (seasonal) for children 6-36 mo of age, and did not show consistent effects on growth outcomes. Eight studies provided MQ-LNS for 6-18 mo, generally starting at 6 mo of age; in the meta-analysis (max total n=13,673), MQ-LNS increased WLZ (+0.09 (0.05, 0.13)) and reduced wasting (0.89 (0.81, 0.97)), but had no effect on LAZ (+0.04 (−0.02, 0.11)) or stunting (0.97 (0.92, 1.02)) compared to no LNS. Two studies directly compared SQ-LNS and MQ-LNS and showed no significant differences in growth outcomes.

Conclusions

The current evidence suggests that MQ-LNS offers no added benefits over SQ-LNS, although further studies directly comparing MQ-LNS vs. SQ-LNS would be useful. One possible explanation is incomplete consumption of the MQ-LNS ration and thus lower than desirable intake of certain nutrients.

Registry

PROSPERO CRD42022382448:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022382448
Does physical activity in childhood or adolescence predict future anxiety, depression, or wellbeing? A systematic review of 98 prospective cohort studies
Authors: Knowles Christopher , Paradis Kyle F. , Shannon Stephen , Breslin Gavin , Carlin Angela
Published: June 2023

Physical activity (PA) is a modifiable health behaviour that can support and improve mental health. The tendency for activity levels to track over time suggests that through continued participation, those most active in youth may experience better long-term mental health than less active peers. Exploring the extent to which mental health benefits of child/adolescent PA persevere over time helps advocates and policy-makers determine whether PA promotion in youth constitutes effective allocation of public health resources and a viable means of reducing the global burden of common mental disorders and suboptimal wellbeing across the lifespan. This systematic review synthesised evidence for childhood/adolescent PA as a predictor of future anxiety, depression and wellbeing indicators (PROSPERO: CRD42021242555). Systematic searches of CINAHL, Medline, PsycInfo, and Scopus (conducted 27thOctober 2022) returned 12,703 articles with 98 retained. Included: prospective, quantitative, longitudinal designs; PA measured ages 5-17 years; anxiety, depression, and/or wellbeing indicators measured at least 12 months later; generally healthy populations. Excluded: severe mental illnesses. Risk of bias and quality of evidence were assessed following the GRADE framework. Effect sizes from moderate- and high-quality studies are discussed narratively. Studies are grouped by mental health outcome, PA type, domain, and whether participants adhered to current World Health Organisation PA guidelines. PA was negatively associated with depression in 41/67 studies (61.2%); anxiety in 20/35 studies (57.1%); and positively associated with wellbeing in 25/39 studies (64.1%). Effect sizes for all outcomes were small and evidence quality low across all timeframes. Team sports were the most consistently predictive type of PA. Whether domain-specific activities or guideline (non)adherence have differential effects remains unclear. Heterogeneity was attributed to the vastness of associations tested and psychometric measures used. Current literature offers low-quality partial evidence that childhood/adolescent PA has small beneficial effects for prospective anxiety, depression and wellbeing at least 12 months later.
SpheroScan: A User-Friendly Deep Learning Tool for Spheroid Image Analysis
Authors: Akshay Akshay , Katoch Mitali , Abedi Masoud , Besic Mustafa , Shekarchizadeh Navid , Burkhard Fiona C. , Bigger-Allen Alex , Adam Rosalyn M. , Monastyrskaya Katia , Hashemi Gheinani Ali
Published: June 2023

Background

In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) spheroid models have become increasingly popular in scientific research as they provide a more physiologically relevant microenvironment that mimics in vivo conditions. The use of 3D spheroid assays has proven to be advantageous as it offers a better understanding of the cellular behavior, drug efficacy, and toxicity as compared to traditional two-dimensional cell culture methods. However, the use of 3D spheroid assays is impeded by the absence of automated and user-friendly tools for spheroid image analysis, which adversely affects the reproducibility and throughput of these assays.

Results

To address these issues, we have developed a fully automated, web-based tool called SpheroScan, which uses the deep learning framework called Mask Regions with Convolutional Neural Networks (R-CNN) for image detection and segmentation. To develop a deep learning model that could be applied to spheroid images from a range of experimental conditions, we trained the model using spheroid images captured using IncuCyte Live-Cell Analysis System and a conventional microscope. Performance evaluation of the trained model using validation and test datasets shows promising results.

Conclusion

SpheroScan allows for easy analysis of large numbers of images and provides interactive visualization features for a more in-depth understanding of the data. Our tool represents a significant advancement in the analysis of spheroid images and will facilitate the widespread adoption of 3D spheroid models in scientific research. The source code and a detailed tutorial for SpheroScan are available athttps://github.com/FunctionalUrology/SpheroScan.

Key Points

A deep learning model was trained to detect and segment spheroids in images from microscopes and Incucytes.

The model performed well on both types of images with the total loss decreasing significantly during the training process.

A web tool called SpheroScan was developed to facilitate the analysis of spheroid images, which includes prediction and visualization modules.

SpheroScan is efficient and scalable, making it possible to handle large datasets with ease.

SpheroScan is user-friendly and accessible to researchers, making it a valuable resource for the analysis of spheroid image data.
Host adaptive radiation is associated with rapid virus diversification and cross-species transmission in African cichlid fishes
Authors: Costa Vincenzo A. , Ronco Fabrizia , Mifsud Jonathon C.O. , Harvey Erin , Salzburger Walter , Holmes Edward C.
Published: June 2023

Adaptive radiations are generated through a complex interplay of biotic and abiotic factors. Although adaptive radiations have been widely studied in the context of animal and plant evolution, little is known about how they impact the evolution of the viruses that infect these hosts, which in turn may provide insights into the drivers of disease emergence. We examined how the rapid adaptive radiation of the African cichlid fishes of Lake Tanganyika over the last 10 million years has shaped the diversity and evolution of the viruses they carry. Through metatranscriptomic analysis we identified 121 vertebrate-associated viruses among various tissue types that fell into 13 RNA and 4 DNA virus groups. Host-switching was commonplace, particularly within theAstroviridae,Metahepadnavirus,Nackednavirus,Picornaviridae, andHepacivirusgroups, occurring more frequently than in other fish communities. A time-calibrated phylogeny revealed that hepacivirus evolution was not constant throughout the cichlid radiation, but accelerated 2-3 million years ago, coinciding with a period of rapid cichlid diversification and niche packing in Lake Tanganyika, thereby providing more closely related hosts for viral infection. These data show that African cichlids contain a complex interacting pool of virus diversity, likely reflecting their close genetic relationships that lowers the barriers to cross-species virus transmission.
Accurate and Efficient 3D Reconstruction of Right Heart Shape and Motion from Multi-Series Cine-MRI
Authors: Renzi Francesca , Vergara Christian , Fedele Marco , Giambruno Vincenzo , Quarteroni Alfio Maria , Puppini Giovanni , Luciani Giovanni Battista
Published: June 2023

The accurate reconstruction of the right heart geometry and motion from time-resolved medical images enhances diagnostic tools based on image visualization as well as the analysis of cardiac blood dynamics through computational methods. Due to the peculiarity of the right heart morphology and motion, commonly used segmentation and/or reconstruction techniques, which only employ Short-Axis cine-MRI, lack accuracy in relevant regions of the right heart, like the ventricular base and the outflow tract. Moreover, the reconstruction procedure is time-consuming and, in the case of the generation of computational domains, requires a lot of manual intervention.

This paper presents a new method for the accurate and efficient reconstruction of the right heart geometry and motion from time-resolved MRI. In particular, the proposed method makes use of surface morphing to merge information coming from multi-series cine-MRI (such as Short/Long-Axis and 2/3/4 Chambers acquisitions) and to reconstruct important cardiac features. It also automatically provides the complete cardiac contraction and relaxation motion by exploiting a suitable image registration technique. The method is applied both to a healthy and a pathological (tetralogy of Fallot) case, and yelds more accurate results than standard procedures. The proposed method is also employed to provide significant input for computational fluid dynamics. The corresponding numerical results demonstrate the reliability of our approach in the computation of clinically relevant blood dynamics quantities.
Differential Inhibition of Intra- and Inter-molecular Protease Cleavages by Antiviral Compounds
Authors: Doherty Jennifer S. , Kirkegaard Karla
Published: June 2023

Enteroviruses encode two protease active sites, in the 2A and 3C coding regions. While they target many host proteins, they first need to be excised from the viral polyprotein in which they are embedded. Polyprotein cleavage can occur either intra-molecularly (incis) or inter-molecularly (intrans). Previous work suggested that antivirals targeting intra-molecular cleavages could generate inhibitory precursors that suppress the outgrowth of drug-resistant variants. Therefore, we wanted to evaluate enteroviral cleavage patterns to identify such obligate intra-molecular cleavages for drug target selection. Using translation extracts, we show thatciscleavage of the 2A protease N-terminal junction is conserved across three enteroviruses, while the mechanism for the N-terminal junction of 3C varies, with EV-D68 3C cleavage occurring incisand poliovirus 3C cleavage occurring intrans.

Antiviral agents targeting proteases are often identified via their ability to block the cleavage of artificial peptide substrates. Here, we show that antivirals identified for their abilities to block inter-molecular cleavage can sometimes block intra-molecular cleavage of the protease from its polyprotein as well, but with widely varying efficacy. Additionally, we demonstrate that, for three enteroviral species, genomes defective in 2A protease activity suppress the growth of wild-type virus in mixed populations, supporting the hypothesis that preventing intra-molecular cleavage at the VP1·2A junction can create dominantly inhibitory precursors. These data argue that, to reduce the likelihood of drug resistance, protease-targeted antivirals should be evaluated for their ability to block intra-molecular polyprotein cleavages in addition to inter-molecular cleavage of other substrates.

IMPORTANCE

Most protease-targeted antiviral development evaluates the ability of small molecules to inhibit cleavage of model substrates. However, before they can cleave any other substrates, viral proteases need to cleave themselves from the viral polyprotein in which they have been translated. This can occur either intra- or inter-molecularly. Here, we show that, for poliovirus, Enterovirus D68 and Enterovirus A71, many of these cleavages are required to occur intra-molecularly. Further, we show that antivirals identified for their ability to block cleavage of artificial substrates can also block intra-molecular self-cleavage, but that their efficacy in doing so varies widely. We argue that evaluating candidate antivirals for their ability to block these cleavages is vital to drug development, because the buildup of uncleaved precursors can be inhibitory to the virus and potentially suppress the selection of drug-resistant variants.
Normal gastric tissueHelicobacter pyloriinfection is associated with epigenetic age acceleration, increased mitotic tick rate, tissue cell composition, and Natural Killer cell methylation alterations
Authors: Vlasac Irma M. , Christensen Brock C. , Salas Lucas A.
Published: June 2023

Background

Gastric adenocarcinomas are a leading cause of global mortality, associated with chronic infection withHelicobacter pylori. The mechanisms by which infection withH. pyloricontributes to carcinogenesis are not well understood. Recent studies from subjects with and without gastric cancer have identified significant DNA methylation alterations in normal gastric mucosa associated withH. pyloriinfection and gastric cancer risk. Here we further investigated DNA methylation alterations in normal gastric mucosa in gastric cancer cases (n = 42) and control subjects (n = 42) withH. pyloriinfection data. We assessed tissue cell type composition, DNA methylation alterations within cell populations, epigenetic aging, and repetitive element methylation.

Results

In normal gastric mucosa of both gastric cancer cases and control subjects, we observed increased epigenetic age acceleration associated withH. pyloriinfection. We also observed an increased mitotic tick rate associated withH. pyloriinfection in both gastric cancer cases and controls. Significant differences in immune cell populations associated withH. pyloriinfection in normal tissue from cancer cases and controls were identified using DNA methylation cell type deconvolution. We also found natural killer cell-specific methylation alterations in normal mucosa from gastric cancer patients withH. pyloriinfection.

Conclusions

Our findings from normal gastric mucosa provide insight into underlying cellular composition and epigenetic aspects ofH. pyloriassociated gastric cancer etiology.
Loss of Tumour Suppressor TMEM127 Drives RET-mediated Transformation Through Disrupted Membrane Dynamics
Authors: Walker Timothy J. , Reyes-Alvarez Eduardo , Hyndman Brandy D. , Sugiyama Michael G. , Oliveira Larissa C.B. , Rekab Aisha N. , Crupi Mathieu J.F. , Cabral-Dias Rebecca , Guo Qianjin , Dahia Patricia L.M. , Richardson Douglas S. , Antonescu Costin N. , Mulligan Lois M.
Published: June 2023

Internalization from the cell membrane and endosomal trafficking of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are important regulators of signaling in normal cells that can frequently be disrupted in cancer. The adrenal tumour pheochromocytoma (PCC) can be caused by activating mutations of the RET receptor tyrosine kinase, or inactivation of TMEM127, a transmembrane tumour suppressor implicated in trafficking of endosomal cargos. However, the role of aberrant receptor trafficking in PCC is not well understood. Here, we show that loss of TMEM127 causes wildtype RET protein accumulation on the cell surface, where increased receptor density facilitates constitutive ligand-independent activity and downstream signaling, driving cell proliferation. Loss of TMEM127 altered normal cell membrane organization and recruitment and stabilization of membrane protein complexes, impaired assembly, and maturation of clathrin coated pits, and reduced internalization and degradation of cell surface RET. In addition to RTKs, TMEM127 depletion also promoted surface accumulation of several other transmembrane proteins, suggesting it may cause global defects in surface protein activity and function. Together, our data identify TMEM127 as an important determinant of membrane organization including membrane protein diffusability, and protein complex assembly and provide a novel paradigm for oncogenesis in PCC where altered membrane dynamics promotes cell surface accumulation and constitutive activity of growth factor receptors to drive aberrant signaling and promote transformation.
Automated data extraction of unstructured grey literature in health research: a mapping review of the current research literature
Authors: Schmidt Lena , Mohamed Saleh , Meader Nick , Bacardit Jaume , Craig Dawn
Published: June 2023

The amount of grey literature and ‘softer’ intelligence from social media or websites is vast. Given the long lead-times of producing high-quality peer-reviewed health information this is causing a demand for new ways to provide prompt input for secondary research. To our knowledge this is the first review of automated data extraction methods or tools for health-related grey literature and soft intelligence, with a focus on (semi)automating horizon scans, health technology assessments, evidence maps, or other literature reviews.

We searched six databases to cover both health– and computer-science literature. After deduplication, 10% of the search results were screened by two reviewers, the remainder was single-screened up to an estimated 95% sensitivity; screening was stopped early after screening an additional 1000 results with no new includes. All full texts were retrieved, screened, and extracted by a single reviewer and 10% were checked in duplicate.

We included 84 papers covering automation for health-related social media, internet fora, news, patents, government agencies and charities, or trial registers. From each paper we answered three research questions: Firstly, important functionalities for users of the tool or method; secondly, information about the level of support and reliability; and thirdly, practical challenges and research gaps.

Poor availability of code, data, and usable tools leads to low transparency regarding performance and duplication of work. Financial implications, scalability, integration into downstream workflows, and meaningful evaluations should be carefully planned before starting to develop a tool, given the vast amounts of data and opportunities those tools offer to expedite research.
Arylamine N-acetyltransferase-1 reveals a subpopulation of ALS patients with altered metabolic capacity
Authors: Choudhury Chandra , Allen Sally , Gill Melinder K. , Garton Fleur , Restuardi Restuadi , Butcher Neville J. , Ngo Shyuan T. , Steyn Frederik J. , Minchin Rodney F.
Published: June 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a heterogeneous disease characterised by metabolic changes at onset and throughout disease progression. Here, we investigate the role of arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1), a cytosolic protein associated with mitochondrial function, in ALS. We demonstrate that expression of the murine homolog (mNat2) increases in skeletal muscle of SODG93Amice, but not control animals, at onset of symptoms and remains elevated until end stage of the disease. Measurement of mitochondrial respiration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with ALS identified patient sub-populations with low and high metabolic potential, which was strongly associated with NAT1 activity. Those patients with high NAT1 activity had elevated basal respiration, ATP production, mitochondrial reserve, and aerobic glycolysis. NAT1 predicted increased whole body metabolic index, which may be clinically significant as these patients show increased functional decline and shorter survival. NAT1 may be a novel target in those patients with elevated activity.
Task-specific invariant representation in auditory cortex
Authors: Heller Charles R. , Hamersky Gregory R. , David Stephen V.
Published: June 2023

Categorical sensory representations are critical for many behaviors, including speech perception. In the auditory system, categorical information is thought to arise hierarchically, becoming increasingly prominent in higher order cortical regions. The neural mechanisms that support this robust and flexible computation remain poorly understood. Here, we studied sound representations in primary and non-primary auditory cortex while animals engaged in a challenging sound discrimination task. Population-level decoding of simultaneously recorded single neurons revealed that task engagement caused categorical sound representations to emerge in non-primary auditory cortex. In primary auditory cortex, task engagement caused a general enhancement of sound decoding that was not specific to task-relevant categories. These findings are consistent with mixed selectivity models of neural disentanglement, in which early sensory regions build an overcomplete representation of the world and allow neurons in downstream brain regions to flexibly and selectively read out behaviorally relevant, categorical information.
Molecular Signatures of Attention Networks
Authors: Schindler Hanna , Jawinski Philippe , Arnatkevičiūtė Aurina , Markett Sebastian
Published: June 2023

Attention network theory proposes three distinct types of attention - alerting, orienting, and control - that are supported by separate brain networks and modulated by different neurotransmitters, i.e., noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and dopamine. Here, we explore the extent of cortical, genetic, and molecular dissociation of these three attention systems using multimodal neuroimaging. We evaluated the spatial overlap between fMRI activation maps from the attention network test (ANT) and cortex-wide gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. The goal was to identify genes associated with each of the attention networks in order to determine whether specific groups of genes were co-expressed with the corresponding attention networks. Furthermore, we analysed publicly available PET-maps of neurotransmitter receptors and transporters to investigate their spatial overlap with the attention networks.

Our analyses revealed a substantial number of genes (3871 for alerting, 6905 for orienting, 2556 for control) whose cortex-wide expression co-varied with the activation maps, prioritizing several molecular functions such as the regulation of protein biosynthesis, phosphorylation, and receptor binding. Contrary to the hypothesized associations, the ANT activation maps neither aligned with the distribution of noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and dopamine receptor and transporter molecules, nor with transcriptomic profiles that would suggest clearly separable networks. Independence of the attention networks appeared additionally constrained by a high level of spatial dependency between the network maps. Future work may need to re-conceptualize the attention networks in terms of their segregation and re-evaluate the presumed independence at the neural and neurochemical level.
The relationship among relationship-selling, celebrity attachment and customer engagement
Authors: Yeh Ching-Wen
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study explores the relationship among relationship-selling, celebrity attachment and customer engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses were tested, using structural equation modeling on survey responses of 321 participants.

Findings

This study determines the connection between relationship-selling factors and customer engagement using the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory. Results demonstrate that interactional intensity, mutual disclosure and cooperative intention exert considerable positive effects on celebrity attachment, which, in turn, significantly impacts customer engagement.

Originality/value

The research findings add to the existing body of knowledge through more information on the degree to which relationship-selling factors affect celebrity attachment, and eventually, customer engagement. The study also aims to prompt researchers and organizations to consider effective communication strategies to increase online customer engagement.
Entrepreneurial orientation, proactive market orientation and society: evidence from public service organizations in Brazil
Authors: Hodgkinson Ian R. , Hughes Paul , Leite Higor , Lee Younggeun
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Public service organizations (PSOs) face a critical dilemma: how to generate more value for society but with a much-reduced resource base. The article advances the strategy axis of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) research by examining EO and proactive market orientation (PMO) as joint-strategic approaches to this end, and how the characteristics of public managers may moderate the paths to value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The article draws on a unique survey-based dataset developed from Brazilian PSOs and employs structural equation modelling for hypotheses testing. Post-hoc analysis, by way of analysis of variance, demonstrates the joint impact of the two strategic approaches on public service performance level.

Findings

Entrepreneurial and PMOs are revealed as routes to enhanced service performance, but managers’ domain expertise negatively moderates these relationships. Post-hoc analysis reveals how organizations displaying higher levels of both orientations realize superior performance, relative to those favouring either/or.

Originality/value

The study contributes new evidence for EO model specificity by examining a narrowly bounded sample of PSOs; addresses the neglect of other outcome variables beyond traditional performance, showing the value of EO for society and offers new insights to the managerial conditions that moderate the positive synergies between EO, PMO and service performance.
Examining the relationship between negative social exchange and suicidal ideation: the role of thwarted interpersonal needs
Authors: Hill Ryan M. , Pardue-Bourgeois Sarah , Perkins Kaylee Myichell , Hussain Zain
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Suicidal ideation (SI) is a serious public health concern among youth and young adults in the USA. It is critical to evaluate potential risk and protective factors associated with SI among young adults to develop prevention strategies that target novel mechanistic outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study sought to evaluate the association between negative social exchange (NSE) and SI via the framework of the interpersonal theory of suicide. Participants were a diverse sample of N = 243 college students, with a mean age of 19.98 years (SD = 3.15). Participants were predominantly female (68.3%) and Hispanic/Latinx (39.5%), white (21.4%) or multiracial/multiethnic (24.3%). Participants completed survey measures to assess each of the constructs of interest.

Findings

Results indicated a significant indirect effect from NSE to SI via perceived burdensomeness, but not thwarted belongingness.

Originality/value

While individual-level interventions target emotional reactivity and managing emotional responses, larger public health–focused interventions on campus may wish to target reductions in NSE on campus. Future work should evaluate these associations using longitudinal study designs to further evaluate the statistical models.
Link between job burnout antecedents and consequences: an empirical study on higher education faculty members in the Saudi context
Authors: Asfahani Ahmed M.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the antecedents, correlates, and consequences of burnout among higher education faculty in Saudi Arabia using the theoretical framework of the job demands-resources model.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a quantitative research design, a cross-sectional survey was employed to collect data from faculty members across multiple Saudi universities. The constructs were measured using validated scales, and data analysis included exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, factorial ANOVA, and multiple regression.

Findings

The study identified moderate levels of burnout, confirming a significant positive relationship with role conflict and a negative relationship with internal locus of control. Burnout significantly contributed to depression, insomnia, and turnover intentions. However, no significant relationship was found between burnout and workplace conflict when controlling for other variables.

Research limitations/implications

The study's findings can inform policymakers and academic administrators about measures to alleviate faculty burnout, thus contributing to healthier academic work environments aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals.

Originality/value

This research extends the job demands-resources model within the context of higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia, offering nuanced insights into burnout dynamics among university faculty in this region. Despite the model's robustness, the absence of a significant relationship between burnout and workplace conflict signals the need for a more intricate understanding of burnout's antecedents and consequences.
The influence of social network communication on the buying behavior of Cameroonian consumers on social e-commerce platforms
Authors: Kala Kamdjoug Jean Robert
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The paper explores how social networks influence Cameroonian consumers' buying behavior. Then, the authors examine customers' advertising perceptions and psychological dispositions to explain their purchase intention and behavioral consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

The research framework is developed based on Nelson's theory of advertising by studying advertising perceptions, consumer psychological dispositions associated with social network characteristics and behavioral consumption. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), the validation takes support from 231 responses collected with an online questionnaire from Cameroun.

Findings

The study reveals three critical results: (1) consumers' perceptions of advertising significantly influence their psychological disposition, (2) consumers' psychological dispositions and the social network significantly influence their intention to purchase and (3) consumers' intention to purchase significantly impacts their behavioral consumption.

Originality/value

The proposed and validated model contributes to understanding the influence of social network communication on customers' buying behavior on social s-Commerce platforms of developing country enterprises.
Prices, uses, and (r)evolutionary change: the outlook for post-pandemic office investing
Authors: Fagan Kevin , Li Xiaodi , Jabir Ermengarde , Calanog Victor
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The authors take a historical perspective and compare office market performance metrics and CMBS loan delinquency rates over the past two years with previous downturns.

Design/methodology/approach

What will happen to the office sector in the post-pandemic era? we examine this question from three perspectives. First, the authors discuss the (short-term) risk of commercial real estate investment with high inflation and rising interest rates. If investors want to use CRE as an inflationary hedge, the cash flow must increase enough to counteract growing cap rates given rising interest rates.

Findings

As it turns out, the COVID-19 recession has been notably innocuous. Third, the authors focus on medical office space – an emerging investment option for the office sector.

Practical implications

The authors remain somewhat positive (or at least less downbeat) about the future of the office market based on the data they reviewed.

Originality/value

The office market is experiencing an odyssey rather than an exodus, at least in the short run. However, the authors remain cautious and they are monitoring key signs, prepared for the possibility of (r)evolutionary change in the office sector.
Round offer prices in M&A transactions: costly negotiation and psychological preference
Authors: Huang Ying , Hu Xiankui , Hunsader Kenneth , Zheng Steven Xiaofan
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The authors of this study aim to investigate possible explanations of the prevalence of price clustering in the final offer prices of mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use final offer price in M&A deals to investigate the price clustering phenomena. The authors used regressions and logistic regressions to examine potential factors that might affect pricing strategy by looking into one-time acquirers and experienced serial acquirers.

Findings

Price clustering increases with negotiation uncertainties characterized as competitive bidding, number of bidders, challenged deals and duration. Moreover, the authors find persistent price clustering in experienced serial acquirers that are more experienced and better equipped with handling uncertainties, suggesting a preference of using round numbers regardless of levels of uncertainties. The authors' evidence shows that price clustering results from a combination of Harris' (1991) costly negotiation hypothesis where round prices may be used to lower search costs and psychological bias and preference.

Originality/value

The authors appear to be the first to investigate alternative theories that support M&A offer price clustering behavior, finding that both the costly negotiation and psychological bias and preference theories apply to M&A final price formation. Thus, the authors' major contribution, specific to the M&A process, is a clarification of physical and psychological factors associated with bidding and negotiation behavior. The authors are confident that the authors' study impacts conventional knowledge regarding M&A deal negotiation strategies, including bidding behavior, contract negotiation, financial analysis, management practices and risk management.
Investigating retailing customers' adoption of augmented reality apps: integrating the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) and task-technology fit (TTF)
Authors: Khashan Mohamed A. , Elsotouhy Mohamed M. , Alasker Thamir Hamad , Ghonim Mohamed A.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Since the advent of augmented reality (AR) technology, “Smart Retailing” has become the dominant business model in the retail sector. Therefore, comprehending the dynamics of AR adoption is essential if retailers are to successfully encourage customers to embrace this extremely innovative form of technology. As a result, the authors propose and evaluate a more comprehensive model, consisting of the task-technology fit (TTF) and unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTUAT2) models, for use in low-income countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research uses variance-based partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using WarpPLS.7 to examine 398 responses from Egyptian retail consumers.

Findings

TTF, performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), facilitating condition (FC), hedonic motivation (HM) and customer innovativeness (CI) positively affect shoppers' behavioral intentions (BI) to adopt AR Apps in retail, while perceived risk (PR) negatively affects BI.

Originality/value

The current study is the first to investigate the determinants of shoppers' BI toward AR Apps adoption in the retail context using UTAUT2 and TTF models.
A 20-year intellectual journey with “EMES” through the land of social enterprise
Authors: Nyssens Marthe , Defourny Jacques , Adam Sophie
Published: June 2023

Purpose

In 2022, the EMES Network celebrated its 20th anniversary. The purpose of this paper is to trace the intellectual path of social enterprise (SE) research that has unfolded through some of the major EMES research projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This journey is recounted through three major milestones: the emergence and development of the EMES approach; the identification of various SE schools of thought; the International Comparative Social Enterprise Models (ICSEM) Project.

Findings

The first section digs into the roots of the EMES approach – an ideal-type which allowed researchers to explore an SE field that was then largely unknown. In a second stage, a reading grid was developed to identify the different SE conceptions, their convergences and their divergences. In a third step, the ICSEM Project, acknowledging the impossibility to provide a single, universal definition of SE, aimed to identify SE models across the world. Defourny and Nyssens developed an SE typology and made the hypothesis that it was neither country-specific nor even context-specific. Based on the EMES ideal-type (which constituted a particularly relevant tool to inform the diversity of SE models), data were collected on over 700 SEs worldwide; three major SE models were found in almost all the countries covered.

Originality/value

This contribution does not aim to summarise all the – numerous and fruitful – research projects carried out by EMES members, but to show the common thread that runs through several of them.
Promoting landscapes with a low zoonotic disease risk through forest restoration: The need for comprehensive guidelines
Authors: Prist Paula Ribeiro , Siliansky de Andreazzi Cecilia , Vidal Mariana Morais , Zambrana‐Torrelio Carlos , Daszak Peter , Carvalho Raquel L. , Tambosi Leandro Reverberi
Published: June 2023

Zoonotic diseases represent 75% of emerging infectious diseases worldwide, and their emergence is mainly attributed to human‐driven changes in landscapes. Land use change, especially the conversion of natural areas to agricultural use, has the potential to impact hosts and vector dynamics, affecting pathogen transmission risk. While these links are becoming better understood, very few studies have investigated the opposite question—how native vegetation restoration affects zoonotic disease outbreaks.

We reviewed the existing evidence linking native vegetation restoration with zoonotic transmission risk, identified knowledge gaps, and, by focusing on tropical areas, proposed forest restoration strategies that could help in limiting the spread of zoonotic diseases.

We identified a large gap in information on the effects of native vegetation restoration on zoonotic diseases, especially within tropical regions. In addition, the few studies that exist do not consider environmental aspects that can affect the outcomes of restoration on disease risk, such as the land use history and landscape structural characteristics (as composition and configuration of native habitats). Our conceptual framework raises two important points: (1) the effects of forest restoration may depend on the context of the existing landscape, especially the percentage of native vegetation existing at the beginning of the restoration; and (2) these effects will also be dependent on the spatial arrangement of the restored area within the existing landscape. Furthermore, we propose important topics to be studied in the coming years to integrate zoonotic disease risk as a criterion in restoration planning.

Synthesis and application. Our results contribute to a more comprehensive forest restoration planning, comprising multiple ecosystem services and resulting in healthier landscapes for both people and nature. Our framework could be integrated into the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework targets.
Genome‐wide population structure, homozygosity, and heterozygosity patterns of Nero Siciliano pig in the framework of Italian and cosmopolitan breeds
Authors: Bordonaro Salvatore , Chessari Giorgio , Mastrangelo Salvatore , Senczuk Gabriele , Chessa Stefania , Castiglioni Bianca , Tumino Serena , Marletta Donata , Criscione Andrea
Published: June 2023

Analysis of genomic data is becoming more and more common for the effective management of livestock breeding programmes, even in the case of local populations. In this work, the genome‐wide data of Nero Siciliano pig breed were compared to that of wild boar, Italian local and cosmopolitan breeds to investigate its genetic structure, and runs of homozygosity (ROH) and heterozygosity patterns. The Nero Siciliano has been reported to have the highest rate of genetic diversity among the Italian breeds, and a genetic variability comparable to that of the cosmopolitan breeds. Analyses of genomic structure and relationships underlined its proximity to wild boar, and an internal substructure probably linked to different family lines. The breed showed a low value of inbreeding estimated from ROH, and the highest diversity index among the Italian breeds, even if lower than that of the cosmopolitans. Four ROH islands in three chromosomes (SSC8, SSC11, and SSC14) and one heterozygosity‐rich region (SSC1) were identified in Nero Siciliano, highlighting genomic regions related to productive QTL. Across breeds, SSC8 and SSC14 were the chromosomes with most ROH islands, with Mora Romagnola and wild boar showing the highest level of autozygosity. Chromosomes SSC2, SSC6, SSC8 and SSC13 showed the majority of runs of heterozygosity regions, mainly found in the cosmopolitan pig breeds, which reported several genes associated with health‐related QTL. The outlined results can help to better identify the genomic profile of this local breed in order to plan matings, maintain adequate internal diversity and exploit the production system.
Toward microfluidic integration of respiratory and renal organ support in a single cartridge
Authors: Setty Aakash A. , Chiang Tzu Y. , Santos Jose A. , Isenberg Brett C. , Vedula Else M. , Keating Rose A. , Sutherland David W. , Borenstein Jeffrey T.
Published: June 2023

Background

Extracorporeal organ assist devices provide lifesaving functions for acutely and chronically ill patients suffering from respiratory and renal failure, but their availability and use is severely limited by an extremely high level of operational complexity. While current hollow fiber‐based devices provide high‐efficiency blood gas transfer and waste removal in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and hemodialysis, respectively, their impact on blood health is often highly deleterious and difficult to control. Further challenges are encountered when integrating multiple organ support functions, as is often required when ECMO and ultrafiltration (UF) are combined to deal with fluid overload in critically ill patients, necessitating an unwieldy circuit containing two separate cartridges.

Methods

We report the first laboratory demonstration of simultaneous blood gas oxygenation and fluid removal in single microfluidic circuit, an achievement enabled by the microchannel‐based blood flow configuration of the device. Porcine blood is flowed through a stack of two microfluidic layers, one with a non‐porous, gas‐permeable silicone membrane separating blood and oxygen chambers, and the other containing a porous dialysis membrane separating blood and filtrate compartments.

Results

High levels of oxygen transfer are measured across the oxygenator, while tunable rates of fluid removal, governed by the transmembrane pressure (TMP), are achieved across the UF layer. Key parameters including the blood flow rate, TMP and hematocrit are monitored and compared with computationally predicted performance metrics.

Conclusions

These results represent a model demonstration of a potential future clinical therapy where respiratory support and fluid removal are both realized through a single monolithic cartridge.
Riboflavin protects against heart failure via SCAD‐dependent DJ‐1–Keap1–Nrf2 signalling pathway
Authors: Xu Qingping , Cao Yuhong , Zhong Xiaoyi , Qin Xue , Feng Jingyun , Peng Huan , Su Yongshao , Ma Zhichao , Zhou Sigui
Published: June 2023

Background and Purpose

Our recent studies have shown that flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) exerts cardiovascular protective effects by supplementing short‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD). The current study aimed to elucidate whether riboflavin (the precursor of FAD) could improve heart failure via activating SCAD and the DJ‐1–Keap1–Nrf2 signalling pathway.

Experimental Approach

Riboflavin treatment was given to the mouse transverse aortic constriction (TAC)‐induced heart failure model. Cardiac structure and function, energy metabolism and apoptosis index were assessed, and relevant signalling proteins were analysed. The mechanisms underlying the cardioprotection by riboflavin were analysed in the cell apoptosis model induced by tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP).

Key Results

In vivo, riboflavin ameliorated myocardial fibrosis and energy metabolism, improved cardiac dysfunction and inhibited oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in TAC‐induced heart failure. In vitro, riboflavin ameliorated cell apoptosis in H9C2 cardiomyocytes by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the molecular level, riboflavin significantly restored FAD content, SCAD expression and enzymatic activity, activated DJ‐1 and inhibited the Keap1–Nrf2/HO1 signalling pathway in vivo and in vitro. SCAD knockdown exaggerated the tBHP‐induced DJ‐1 decrease and Keap1–Nrf2/HO1 signalling pathway activation in H9C2 cardiomyocytes. The knockdown of SCAD abolished the anti‐apoptotic effects of riboflavin on H9C2 cardiomyocytes. DJ‐1 knockdown hindered SCAD overexpression anti‐apoptotic effects and regulation on Keap1–Nrf2/HO1 signalling pathway in H9C2 cardiomyocytes.

Conclusions and Implications

Riboflavin exerts cardioprotective effects on heart failure by improving oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis via FAD to stimulate SCAD and then activates the DJ‐1–Keap1–Nrf2 signalling pathway.
Support networks among immigrant parents of young children: Assessing ecologies to inform outreach efforts
Authors: Edwards Nicole Megan , Isik‐Ercan Zeynep , Lu Huan‐Tang , Sebti Latifa
Published: June 2023

Tailoring support for first and second‐generation immigrant families with young children necessitates understanding the extent to which immigrant families initiate access to community resources and perceived support from formal and informal stakeholders in their ecology. As part of an exploratory analysis, we surveyed bilingual, immigrant parents (n = 54) in a mid‐Atlantic urban community in the United States. We examined factors that may correlate with seeking child‐related advice and/or emotional support. Sixty‐one percent of the sample approached at least one formal or informal contact for emotional support or advice in the past year, and willingness to do so was correlated with having a child with a suspected or diagnosed delay or disability. Stronger parent–stakeholder rapport was more likely to be reported with informal supports among younger parents (aged 20–30). Respondents with greater perceived parenting stress and child behaviour concerns were more likely to seek out stakeholders and less personalised sources. We discuss noteworthy implications for research and practice.