bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Synthesized Tyrosinase Inhibitors: A Systematic Patent Review
(2012-Present)
Authors: Beltran Erika , Serafini Mairim Russo , Alves Izabel Almeida , Aragón Novoa Diana Marcela
Published: February 2023

Tyrosine is an enzyme responsible for melanin production. Its abnormal accumulation
in different parts of the body is known as hyperpigmentation. Tyrosinase inhibitors
have been used as one of the main approaches to treat these kinds of cosmetic and
medical issues. This review aimed to discuss the advances in patents for this class of inhibitors,
focusing on synthetic ones, by studying recent patent applications (2012-2022).
We performed a screening using the European Patent Office’s Espacenet database, from
which 15 inventions were selected and fully studied. China has more patent applications,
all of them were focused on synthetic methods and the majority declared at least two additional
applications as antibrowning agents for fruits and vegetables, biological pesticides,
and medicine to treat diseases like Parkinson’s or melanoma. The strategies employed by
the investigators focused on the examination of previous literature, which oriented on the
type of structures that have been found to show good inhibitory activity; the study also
examined aspects of their reaction mechanisms and information about the structureactivity
relationship. For some groups of inhibitors, such as benzaldehyde and anthraquinone
derivatives, the data were meaningful and extensive. In contrast, arginyl and troponoids
compounds were difficult to analyze due to the limited research works.
Research Progress on Antiviral Activity of Heparin
Authors: Wang Yi , Zhang Yanqing , Wang Ping , Jing Tianyuan , Hu Yanan , Chen Xiushan
Published: February 2023

Heparin, as a glycosaminoglycan, is known for its anticoagulant and antithrombotic
properties for several decades. Heparin is a life-saving drug and is widely used for
anticoagulation in medical practice. In recent years, there have been extensive studies
that heparin plays an important role in non-anticoagulant diseases, such as anti-inflammatory,
anti-viral, anti-angiogenesis, anti-neoplastic, anti-metastatic effects, and so on. Clinical
observation and in vitro experiments indicate that heparin displays a potential multitarget
effect. In this brief review, we will summarize heparin and its derivative's recently
studied progress for the treatment of various viral infections. The aim is to maximize the
benefits of drugs through medically targeted development, to meet the unmet clinical
needs of serious viral diseases
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Associated with a Higher Risk
of Hypoxemia and COVID-19 Severity
Authors: Shayan Sepideh Karkon , Nasrollahi Elham , Bahramvand Yaser , Zarei Mahdi , Atarodi Ahmadreza , Farsi Yeganeh , Tavakolizadeh Mitra , Shirvaliloo Milad , Abbasifard Mitra , Jamialahmadi Tannaz , Banach Maciej , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: February 2023

Objective:

The primary goal of the present study was to measure the implications
of hypoxemia in COVID-19 patients with a history of coronary artery disease
(CAD).

Methods:

A systematic search of the literature published from November 1, 2019 to May
1, 2021, was conducted on PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases.
Afterwards, an observational study was designed based on the electronic health records
of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in a tertiary referral hospital during the same period.
A total of 179 COVID-19 cases were divided into two groups: cases with a history of
CAD and percutaneous coronary intervention (CAD/PCI+, n = 89) and controls (n = 90).
Clinical data were extracted from the electronic database of the hospital and statistically
analyzed.

Results:

After the application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, only three studies were
deemed eligible, one of which was concerned with the impact of CAD on the all-cause
mortality of COVID-19. Results from our observational study indicated that the cases
were older (median age: 74 vs. 45) and more likely to develop hypoxemia (25.8% vs.
8.8%) than the controls. CAD/PCI+ was correlated with a more severe COVID-19 (11%
vs. 1%). Age was a moderately significant independent predictor of increased COVID-19
severity, while hypoxemia was not.

Conclusion:

Considering the negative impact of hypoxemia on the prognosis of
COVID-19 and its higher prevalence among COVID-19 patients with underlying CAD,
further research is warranted to unravel the negative effects of COVID-19 on the mechanisms
of gas exchange and delivery in patients with pre-existing CAD.
Investigating the Effects and Mechanism of Rhodiola Rosea Injection on
Cardiac Function in Rats with Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Li Xiuqin , Chen Shaopeng , Shao Weihua , Wang Suxing , Yao Lixia
Published: February 2023

Aim:

To study the effect of Rhodiola rosea injection on cardiac function and the reninangiotensin-
aldosterone system (RASS) in rats with chronic heart failure

Background:

Rhodiola rosea injection, a traditional Chinese medication for relieving blood stasis and
improving blood circulation, is an excellent therapeutic for treating coronary heart disease-angina pectoris.
Rhodiola rosea injection's major component, salidroside, protects the cardiovascular system. But there
isn't much first-hand evidence about how injectable Rhodiola rosea affects heart failure

Objectives:

In this study, a rat model of heart failure was established, and the effect of Rhodiola
rosea injection on myocardial cell morphology, cardiac function, and ventricular remodelling in
rats with heart failure was investigated.

Methods:

66 SD male rats were selected; 10 were randomly selected as a blank control group, and
56 were treated intraperitoneally with doxorubicin (4 g/g). After 6 weeks, all animals had LVEF
60%. Established a heart failure model. Each group had 14 rats: model control, low-dose, mediumdose,
and high-dose Rhodiola rosea injection. The 2mL/kg of Rhodiola rosea injection was injected
into the tail vein once a day for 2 weeks. Both the blank and control groups received normal daily
saline. After 2 weeks, the echocardiographic index, RASS-related index, and serum BNP level
were assessed in all rats, and myocardial tissue morphology was observed. MiRNA423-5p, miRNA499-
5p, and miRNA210-3p were extracted from peripheral blood. Rhodiola rosea injection on
its expression was compared to healthy control rats.

Results:

6 mL/kg Rhodiola rosea injection lowered LVEDV and LVESV while increasing LVEF
and LVFS. Injections of 6 mL/kg Rhodiola rosea reduce plasma levels of miR-210-3p, miR-423-
5p, miRNA-499, and BNP in heart failure model rats. The 6 mL/kg Rhodiola rosea injection can
restore the RASS indexes of heart failure rats to the level of the normal group.

Conclusion:

The present study offers preliminary evidence supporting the use of Rhodiola rosea
injection in the treatment of heart failure and offers a solid foundation for clinical off-label medication
use.
WITHDRAWN: LncRNA MCM3AP-AS1 Enhances Cell Invasion, Migration and Tumor Formation in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Epigenetic Inhibition of miR-34a
Authors: Zhang Hong , Cao Yu , Tang Jianming , Wang Rui
Published: February 2023

Since the authors are not responding to the editor’s requests to fulfill the editorial requirement, therefore, the article has been
withdrawn from the journal Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.

Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused.

The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php.

BENTHAM SCIENCE DISCLAIMER:

It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously
submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure or table that has been published elsewhere
must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and by submitting
the article for publication the authors agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the
authors, if plagiarism or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript the authors agree that the copyright
of their article is transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication.
Application of Cell Membrane-Coated Nanomaterials for Tumor Treatment
Authors: Zhu Yanzhao , Cui Hengqing , Zhang Jin , Bei Ying , Huang Yu , Li Meiyun , Liu Jieting , Wu Yan , Gao Jie
Published: February 2023

Tumors are a major cause of human mortality worldwide, and the rapid development of
nanomaterials (NMs) for tumor therapy and drug delivery has provided new treatment methods. However,
NMs’ high immunogenicity, short circulation time, and low specificity limit their application in
tumor therapy. In recent years, bionanomaterials using cell membranes have emerged to overcome the
shortcomings of monomeric NMs. Cell membrane-encapsulated NMs extracted from multiple cells
not only retain the physicochemical properties of NMs but also inherit the biological functions of the
source cells, aiding in drug delivery. The combination of the cell membrane and drug-loading NMs
offers an efficient and targeted drug delivery system tailored to the tumor microenvironment. The
research and application of this method have been widely carried out in the academic field of tumor
diagnosis and treatment. This review presents the recent research progress of cell membrane-coated
NMs as drug carriers in tumor therapy, including cell membrane extraction methods, encapsulation
strategies, and the applications of cell membrane-encapsulated NMs in tumor therapy. We believe that
biomimetic nanomaterials will be a promising and novel anticancer strategy in the future, and their
wide application will certainly bring vitality to the field of tumor diagnosis and treatment. The combination
of membrane and drug-loading nanomaterials embodies a highly efficient and target drug delivery
system tailored to the tumor microenvironment, which broadens a new path of drug delivery for
future cancer treatment. Meanwhile, it is also a perfect combination and application of biomedical
nanomaterials, which is of great significance.
Emerging Roles of Microglia in Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity in Aging
and Neurodegeneration
Authors: Zhang Simeng , Meng Rui , Jiang Muzhou , Qing Hong , Ni Junjun
Published: February 2023

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective interface between the blood and the
brain parenchyma. It plays an essential role in maintaining a specialized environment for central nervous
system function and homeostasis. The BBB disrupts with age, which contributes to the development
of many age-related disorders due to central and peripheral toxic factors or BBB dysfunction.
Microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the brain, have recently been explored for their ability
to directly and indirectly regulate the integrity of the BBB. This review will focus on the current understanding
of the molecular mechanisms utilized by microglia to regulate BBB integrity and how this
becomes disrupted in aging and age-associated diseases. We will also discuss the rationale for considering
microglia as a therapeutic target to prevent or slow down neurodegeneration.
The Gut-Brain Axis and the Microbiome in Anxiety Disorders,
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: MacKay Marnie , Yang Bohan H. , Dursun Serdar M. , Baker Glen B.
Published: February 2023

A large body of research supports the role of stress in several psychiatric disorders in which
anxiety is a prominent symptom. Other research has indicated that the gut microbiome-immune system-
brain axis is involved in a large number of disorders and that this axis is affected by various
stressors. The focus of the current review is on the following stress-related disorders: generalized anxiety
disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessivecompulsive
disorder. Descriptions of systems interacting in the gut-brain axis, microbiome-derived
molecules and of pro- and prebiotics are given. Preclinical and clinical studies on the relationship of
the gut microbiome to the psychiatric disorders mentioned above are reviewed. Many studies support
the role of the gut microbiome in the production of symptoms in these disorders and suggest the potential
for pro- and prebiotics for their treatment, but there are also contradictory findings and concerns
about the limitations of some of the research that has been done. Matters to be considered in future research
include longer-term studies with factors such as sex of the subjects, drug use, comorbidity, ethnicity/
race, environmental effects, diet, and exercise taken into account; appropriate compositions of
pro- and prebiotics; the translatability of studies on animal models to clinical situations; and the effects
on the gut microbiome of drugs currently used to treat these disorders. Despite these challenges, this is
a very active area of research that holds promise for more effective, precision treatment of these stressrelated
disorders in the future.
Whole-cell Lipase Catalytic Synthesis of Short-chain Fragrance Esters
using Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Rath Santosh K. , Kaur Gurpinder , Sharma Anirudh , Singh Anmol , Prakash Ranjana , Mandal Sudip , Prakash Nagaraja Tejo
Published: February 2023

Background:

Fragrances are the collection of unlike functional assemblies, most likely alcohols,
esters, aldehydes, ketones, and acids in organic products/hydrocarbons. Short-chain aliphatic fragrance
esters have immense applications as flavors in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries
and also have remarkable commercial significance in cosmetics and personal care products like perfumes,
face creams, shampoos, soaps, lotions, jams, jellies, etc.

Objective:

This study aimed to synthesize short-chain fragrance esters using a whole-cell lipase catalyst
from Aspergillus flavus (RBD-01).

Method:

The present study emphasizes the synthesis of artificial flavoring compounds by using a wholecell
biocatalytic process, which can have wide significance. Herein, the preparation of ethyl alkanoates
(ethyl propanoate to ethyl decanoate) was performed to investigate the flavors and fragrance excellence.
The biomass from Aspergillus flavus (RBD-01) was used as a catalyst to facilitate the remarkable esterification
activities towards the synthesis of important aroma esters with the help of a series of short-chain
acids and alcohols.

Result:

The ethyl hexanoate (4) among all synthesized alkanoates was found to have a fruity fragrance
with a good conversion rate. Further synthesized alkyl hexanoates (4A-4I) were found to have good
fruity/pineapple/berry flavors and significant aroma quality.

Conclusion:

These results implied that whole-cell lipase of Aspergillus flavus (RBD-01) is a promising
biocatalyst in the production of flavor aroma esters and can boost production in the food/cosmetic manufacturing
industries.
Synthesis and Activity of Aurone and Indanone Derivatives
Authors: Wu Heng , Zhao Haiqing , Lu Tong , Xie Baoxing , Niu Chao , Aisa Haji Akber
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

Based on bioactive group splicing, classical bioisosterism, and the rule of
alkene insertion, forty-eight aurone, and indanone derivatives were designed and synthesized. They
were evaluated for inhibitory activity against C. albicans, E. coli, and S. aureus. Among them, thirty
compounds exhibited moderate to excellent antibacterial activity.

Method:

The maximum circle of inhibition was 18 mm (compounds B15, B16, and E7), and the
minimum values of MIC and MBC were respectively 15.625 μM (compounds A5 and D2) and 62.5
μM (compounds A6, A8, and E7).

Results:

The SAR showed that aurone and indanone derivatives could strongly inhibit the growth of
Gram-positive bacteria. The introduction of electron-withdrawing groups or hydroxyl is beneficial to
the activity. It was exciting that the 3-phenylallylbenzofuranone and 3-allylindanone skeletons with
antimicrobial activity were first reported in this study. Compounds A5 and E7 were selected for molecular
docking studies with targets MetRS (PBD: 7WPI) and PBP (PDB: 6C3K) to determine the
binding interactions at the active site.

Conclusion:

On this basis, the physicochemical and pharmacological properties of the compounds
were predicted and analyzed. The influence of these properties on antimicrobial activity and their
implications for subsequent work were discussed. The ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism,
Excretion, Toxicity) predictions showed that most of the compounds had good pharmacokinetic
profiles and high safety profiles.
Establishment of HLB-UPLC-MS/MS Method to Determine Hainanmycin
Sodium in Chicken Liver
Authors: Zhao Junjie , Cheng Linli , Chen Yanan , Chen Kexin , Luan Yehui
Published: February 2023

Objective:

Controlling coccidiosis disease in poultry is significant for healthy breeding, but
antibiotic residues can pose a great threat to food safety, the ecological environment, and human
health. A special anticoccidial drug called Hainanmycin has been widely used in Asian countries for
many years, while a few studies focus on its detection. In this study, we established a hydrophiliclipophilic
balance (HLB) purification and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass
spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method to determine the hainanmycin in chicken liver.

Methods:

It was extracted from the sample with 0.1% formic acid-methanol (10+90, v/v) and then it
was purified on a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) cartridge. Chromatography separation was
performed on an RP-C18 column, and detection of the hainanmycin was done by positive electrospray
ionization (ESI＋) under the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes.

Results:

The quantification ion pair was m/z 907.5 and m/z 846.4. The calibration curve showed excellent
linearity in the range of 10 to 1000 μg·L-1, with a correction coefficient of 0.99. When spiked
at 5, 100, and 500 μg·kg-1, the recoveries ranged from 80.82% to 88.09%, with the intra-day and interday
coefficients of variation from 10.76% to 13.48% and from 10.80% to 12.71%, respectively. The
limit of quantification (LOQ) and detection(LOD) were 5.05 μg·mL-1 and 1.55 μg·mL-1, respectively.

Conclusion:

This method showed high sensitivity and accuracy for determining hainanmycin in
chicken liver.
Review on the Encapsulation, Microencapsulation, and Nano-
Encapsulation: Synthesis and Applications in the Process Industry for
Corrosion Inhibition
Authors: Gujar Jotiram , Patil Sanjay , Sonawane Shriram
Published: February 2023

Background:

Surfaces of materials often corrode and deteriorate due to environmental
conditions. There are various widely used methods of reducing corrosion rates to increase the
lifetime of materials and equipment. Recently, there has been a growth in the use of nanotechnology
to protect metals against corrosion. The application of nano-encapsulation techniques in
the process industry is one of the important eras of nanotechnology. This review paper focuses
on encapsulation, microencapsulation, and nano-encapsulation methods, emphasizing nanoencapsulation
applications as corrosion inhibitions in the process industry.

Methods:

Materials based on the self-healing mechanism were used in advanced applications
such as structures, batteries, and coatings. These technologies may be studied in two ways: compounds
with intrinsic self-healing properties and extrinsic self-healing materials with additives
such as microcapsules filled with healing agents. Nano-coatings have advantages, like accelerated
ground hardness, adhesive energy, long-time period and/or high-temperature corrosion resistance,
tribological residence enhancement, etc. Nano-coatings can also be carried out in thinner
and smoother layers, considering flexibility, accelerated performance, decreased fuel costs,
and smaller carbon footprints, as well as occasional maintenance. The review of corrosion characteristics
of polymeric nanocomposite material was discussed in this paper.

Results:

This review paper presents an updated overview summarizing the latest advances in the
various micro/nanocarriers used for self-healing corrosion protective coatings.

Conclusion:

With this information, the investigators will be able to modify the structure of the
inhibitor to get the necessary corrosion inhibition capabilities. The need for a physical examination
is rising as a result.
Effects of Active Compounds of Nigella sativa in COVID-19: A
Narrative Review
Authors: Usmani Hina , Malik Saloni , Arya Anshu , Mahto Pintu Kumar , Kant Ravi , Dua Ruchi , Sindhwani Girish , Mirza Anissa Atif , Panda Prasanna Kumar
Published: February 2023

Background:

SARS-CoV-2 infection that led to the COVID-19 pandemic has
changed human health and the economy globally. SARS-CoV-2 is a type of Coronaviruses
that has caused pneumonia and its complications with many deaths over the past two years.
The use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, accepted as generally safe for patients
with autoimmune diseases or malaria, was attempted in many trials for COVID-19 treatment.
Nigella sativa (NS) (black caraway, also known as black cumin, Nigella or Kalonji)
is an annual flowering plant of the Ranunculaceae family, chemically composed of the
main constituent natural Thymoquinone (TQ) (30%-48%) in forms of thymohydroquinone,
dithymoquinone (Nigellone) is a native to wider regions, including parts of eastern Europe,
west Asia, North of Africa and east of Myanmar. In this review, we explored the Randomized
Controlled Trial, Controlled Trial, and Systematic review studies that support Nigella
sativa Thymoquinone-targeted SARS-CoV-2 targeting. Therefore, A literature search was
performed for publications published on the electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus,
CNKI, and Google Scholar) for Nigella sativa, black seeds, Kalonji, coronavirus,
SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. This review aimed to find relevant evidence of Nigella sativa
preferences as a natural feasible remedy with no side effects in COVID-19. Studies reported
the benefits of NS as beneficial, another appropriate remedy for patients with
COVID-19. However, all studies have shown limitations, such as limiting clinical symptom
outcomes due to regulations imposed by isolation policies and lack of adequate funding.
Therefore, the evidence suggests that the chemical contents of NS are a safe and possible
treatment for COVID-19 patients that helps to improve COVID-19 infection in patients
with no side effects.

Conclusion:

Nigella sativa seeds were one of the well-documented herbal products. Three
reviewed randomized controlled trials reported that NS reduced COVID-19 risk and could
improve immune function. It was also helpful in upper respiratory infections such as asthma
and bronchitis, with one RCT showing that honey and NS significantly improved
symptoms, viral clearance, and mortality of COVID-19 patients. This review concludes
that NS has a positive barrier effect on people at risk of acquiring a COVID-19 infection.
The Internet of Things and Temporal Reflex
Authors: Mickunas Algis , Pilotta Joseph
Published: February 2023

Uncovering the temporal reflex of the Internet of Things within the
organizational environment affirms the transformational mode of our technological
life-world. We live in an atemporal reflex, which involves more than the combination
of past, present, and future, and more than the mere interconnectivity of a series of
nodes, but it is a self-pacing system, creating some possibilities which are unintended
consequences. The unintended consequences can be anticipated in what may be
foreseen as a type of foresight of what can be next. Such fore-knowledge allows risk
mitigation at all levels of society: organizational, interpersonal, cultural, and, of course,
civilizational. Temporal reflexivity is the link or hinge of human-machine co-operation
and complementarity.
The Limits of Artificial Intelligence and the Public
Authors: Mickunas Algis , Pilotta Joseph
Published: February 2023

Contrasting the phenomenological perspective with that presented by
Enlightenment thinking and its particular valuative structure, Chapter 10 delineates
some of the often-overlooked, negative effects of artificial intelligence on the general
populace. We review a variety of philosophical perspectives that treat the
underpinnings of Enlightenment thinking, leading to a discussion of the legitimation
crisis and its negative effects on democracy. The discussion then turns to a detailed
discussion of the practical and theoretical implications of apprehending time from a
phenomenological perspective as related to artificial intelligence. The final section of
the chapter is devoted to a critique of artificial intelligence, highlighting the
significance of instrumental reason and the notion of “progress”, and focusing on the
discursive power inherent in inventions that leverage AI.
Mobile Phone Apps for HIV Prevention Among College-Aged Black Women in Atlanta: Mixed Methods Study and User-Centered Prototype
Authors: Tesema Naomi , Guillaume Dominique , Francis Sherilyn , Paul Sudeshna , Chandler Rasheeta
Published: February 2023

Background

Black women in college are disproportionately affected by HIV diagnoses. Mobile apps can facilitate the innovative delivery of accurate HIV and sexual and reproductive health information. However, mobile health interventions are severely underused in this population.

Objective

We aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively explore the perspectives of college-aged Black women on using a mobile health app for HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health. The data obtained from Black women were used to design preliminary mobile app wireframes and features.

Methods

This explanatory, sequential mixed methods study took place from 2019 to 2020 and targeted Black women who were enrolled in college or who had recently graduated from college. Convenience sampling was used during the quantitative phase, followed by purposive sampling in the qualitative phase. A cross-sectional web-based survey evaluating the willingness to use a mobile app for HIV prevention was conducted in the quantitative phase. Descriptive statistics were used for all variables. A separate focus group discussion was conducted with Black women in college to expand on the quantitative results. Focus group discussions explored their perceptions on HIV and health content delivered through a mobile app along with potential features that participants desired within the app. Using the data obtained, we selected the primary features for the app prototype.

Results

In total, we enrolled 34 participants in the survey, with 6 participating in focus group discussions. Over half of the respondents reported a willingness to use an app that contained pre-exposure prophylaxis content. Women who claimed recent sexual activity reported being more likely to use an app feature that would allow them to order an at-home HIV testing kit than their non–sexually active counterparts. The emerging themes from the focus group session were Black women’s health concerns, HIV risk, sources of health information, and preferred app features. The content in our prototype included speaking with a specialist, HIV and pre-exposure prophylaxis information, holistic wellness, and features promoting engagement and retention.

Conclusions

The results of our study guided the design of wireframes for an app prototype targeting HIV prevention in college-aged Black women. The rapid growth of mobile devices in Black communities, coupled with high rates of smartphone ownership among Black youth, makes mobile health interventions a promising strategy for addressing sexual and reproductive health disparities. Participants in our sample were willing to use a culturally appropriate and gender-considerate app for their sexual health needs. Our findings indicate that Black women in college may be excellent candidates for mobile app–based interventions.
Predicting Generalized Anxiety Disorder From Impromptu Speech Transcripts Using Context-Aware Transformer-Based Neural Networks: Model Evaluation Study
Authors: Teferra Bazen Gashaw , Rose Jonathan
Published: February 2023

Background

The ability to automatically detect anxiety disorders from speech could be useful as a screening tool for an anxiety disorder. Prior studies have shown that individual words in textual transcripts of speech have an association with anxiety severity. Transformer-based neural networks are models that have been recently shown to have powerful predictive capabilities based on the context of more than one input word. Transformers detect linguistic patterns and can be separately trained to make specific predictions based on these patterns.

Objective

This study aimed to determine whether a transformer-based language model can be used to screen for generalized anxiety disorder from impromptu speech transcripts.

Methods

A total of 2000 participants provided an impromptu speech sample in response to a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). They also completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. A transformer-based neural network model (pretrained on large textual corpora) was fine-tuned on the speech transcripts and the GAD-7 to predict whether a participant was above or below a screening threshold of the GAD-7. We reported the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) on the test data and compared the results with a baseline logistic regression model using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) features as input. Using the integrated gradient method to determine specific words that strongly affect the predictions, we inferred specific linguistic patterns that influence the predictions.

Results

The baseline LIWC-based logistic regression model had an AUROC value of 0.58. The fine-tuned transformer model achieved an AUROC value of 0.64. Specific words that were often implicated in the predictions were also dependent on the context. For example, the first-person singular pronoun “I” influenced toward an anxious prediction 88% of the time and a nonanxious prediction 12% of the time, depending on the context. Silent pauses in speech, also often implicated in predictions, influenced toward an anxious prediction 20% of the time and a nonanxious prediction 80% of the time.

Conclusions

There is evidence that a transformer-based neural network model has increased predictive power compared with the single word–based LIWC model. We also showed that the use of specific words in a specific context—a linguistic pattern—is part of the reason for the better prediction. This suggests that such transformer-based models could play a useful role in anxiety screening systems.
Medio ambiente y derechos humanos a la luz de la jurisprudencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
Authors: Quispe Remón Florabel
Published: February 2023

El trabajo estudia el contenido de los diversos instrumentos marco de derechos humanos del sistema interamericano para ver cuál es la situación del derecho al medio ambiente en ellos; y la interpretación que de ellos realiza la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, desde el inicio de su funcionamiento hasta la actualidad, para incorporar y desarrollar el derecho al medio ambiente en el sistema interamericano de derechos humanos, a través de sus sentencias y opiniones consultivas. Sin perder de vista que la función de la Corte es la interpretación y protección de los derechos recogidos en la Convención Americana, especialmente los derechos civiles y políticos.
Estatuto de la persona que cae en poder del enemigo habiendo participado en el conflicto armado internacional, precisiones desde el derecho internacional humanitario
Authors: Reyes Parra Paola Diana
Published: February 2023

El término “combatiente” y, consecuentemente, el término “prisionero de guerra” se precisan en tratados de derecho internacional humanitario; mientras que, el término combatiente “ilegítimo”, “ilegal” o “no privilegiado”, no sólo no está precisado en el marco jurídico convencional, sino, además, los Estados suelen recurrir a este a fin de generar particulares efectos sobre las personas que se encuentran bajo su poder. No obstante, según el régimen de protección aplicable, las personas capturadas son combatientes, transformándose luego en prisioneros de guerra; o, no lo son, transformándose en civiles. Así, todas las personas que caen en poder del enemigo durante un conflicto armado internacional están protegidas por el derecho humanitario.
Supervisor–subordinate guanxi and work engagement: Self-efficacy as a mediator
Authors: Ma Wenbao , Li Yiyuan
Published: February 2023

Despite the increasing amount of research attention work engagement has received, there are still some gaps in understanding of its antecedents. We examined the relationships among supervisor–subordinate guanxi, employees' work engagement, and self-efficacy with a sample of 354
employees from six Chinese hotels. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. Results revealed that supervisor–subordinate guanxi was positively related to employees' work engagement and self-efficacy, and that self-efficacy was positively related to work engagement.
This study is the first to find that selfefficacy is a mediating mechanism that transmits the effect of supervisor–subordinate guanxi to employees' work engagement, which highlights the importance of supervisor–subordinate guanxi and the mechanisms that contribute to enhancement
of employees' work engagement. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
The effect of Internet addiction on mind wandering: Resilience and academic burnout as mediators among Chinese adolescents
Authors: Wang Fang , Huang Meiling , Qu Jianguo
Published: February 2023

Attention, particularly mind wandering, has garnered research interest because of the development of technologies that empower a person to focus on several tasks simultaneously. This study investigated the mediating roles of resilience and academic burnout in the relationship between
the Internet addiction and mind wandering of Chinese adolescents. Participants were 2,335 adolescents who anonymously completed questionnaires on Internet addiction, resiliency, academic burnout, and mind wandering. We used descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling for data analysis.
The results showed that Internet addiction was positively and directly associated with mind wandering, and that there was also an indirect effect via resilience, academic burnout, and a sequential mediating effect of resilience and academic burnout. These results highlight the importance of
resiliency as a construct in explaining mind wandering and have implications as regards the necessary steps to prevent mind wandering in adolescents.
Interactivity and live-streaming commerce purchase intention: Social presence as a mediator
Authors: Zhang Lei , Liu Xiaoli
Published: February 2023

We investigated the relationship between interactivity and consumer purchase intention in the context of live-streaming commerce, with consideration of social presence as a mediator. Participants were 339 undergraduate students at six universities in China who had experience of live-streaming
commerce. The results indicated that interactivity in live-streaming commerce had a direct and positive relationship with consumers' purchase intention, with social presence acting as a mediator of this relationship. Our findings shed light on how interactivity in live-streaming commerce helps
to enhance consumers' purchase intention. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Executive compensation, share ownership, and earnings management of banks in Nigeria
Authors:   Department of Management Accounting, College of Private Sector Accounting, ANAN University, Kwall, Plateau State, Nigeria, Farouk Musa Adeiza , Ahmed Zik-Rullahi Abubakar ,   Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
Published: February 2023

Aim/purpose – Higher compensation and increased share ownership are believed to drive fewer earnings management. Therefore, the study examines the moderating impact of share ownership on the relationship between executive compensation and earnings management of listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – Panel Least Square regression and Stata 13 were used for the estimation. The secondary data source was employed and extracted from the banks’ published financial statements covering the period from 2007-2018. Post- estimation tests, including normality tests of standard error, heteroscedasticity, and mul- ticollinearity, were carried out to validate the outcome. Executive compensation variable is represented by Chief Executive Officer Pay (CEO Pay), Board Chairman’s compensa- tion, and the highest-paid director, while executive share ownership represents the mod- erator variable. Chang et al. (2008) model was used to proxy earnings management. Findings – The findings revealed that CEO Pay increases the banks’ level of earnings management, while after moderation with executive share ownership; CEO pay decreas- es the possibilities of earnings management by banks. Compensation to Chairmen of the banks decreases the level of earnings management of banks. However, an increase in share ownership of the board with an increase in compensation to chairmen of banks’ boards increases the earnings management practices of the management of the banks. Research implications/limitations – The findings imply that the executive ownership interest should be made to align with that of the minority shareholders following an increase in their stake so that they can act in the overall best interest of the owners. The study is limited to only the banking sector and some specific executive compensation variables. Originality/value/contribution – The utilization of the highest paid director variable and use of share ownership as a moderator between executive compensations and earn- ings management. Keywords: earnings management, executive, share ownership, compensation, and expectan- cy theory. JEL Classification: M21, M41, M42, G32
Correction: Al-Khraif et al. Saudi Arabia’s City-Ranking Index (SACRI) methodology executed: Preliminary findings
Authors:   Center for Population Studies King Saud University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Al-Khraif Rshood M. , Elsegaey Ibrahim ,   Center for Population Studies King Saud University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Al-Mogarry Mohamed ,   Department of Geography, King Saud University, Faculty of Arts Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Salam Asharaf Abdul ,   Center for Population Studies King Saud University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Published: February 2023

The original article: Al-Khraif, R. M., Elsegaey, I., Al-Mogarry, M., & Abdul Salam, A. (2022). Saudi Arabia’s City-Ranking Index (SACRI) methodology executed: Preliminary findings. Journal of Economics & Management, 44, 376-392. https://doi.org/10.22367/jem.2022.44.15 Text Correction Errata is essential due to (i) updating of database with more relevant infor- mation, (ii) more objective evaluations and analyses carried out, and (iii) appraisals with benchmarked variables. So, errata could justify continuation of this research.
Message from the Editors
Authors: Harding Kelly D. , Pei Jacqueline
Published: February 2023

This special issue was created to reflect the evolving approaches to conducting and conceptualizing research in the FASD field.
IX INTERNATIONAL MEETING of the Latin American Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (LASBRA)
Authors: LASBRA
Published: February 2023

Activity organized by LASBRA executive committee, with the financial or logistical help of Secretaría de Prevención y Asistencia de las Adicciones (Gobierno de Córdoba), IBRO, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Instituto Ferreyra (INIMEC-CONICET) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (Gobierno de Córdoba)
Ratifikasi Perjanjian Penyesuaian Wilayah Informasi Penerbangan antara Indonesia dan Singapura: Pilihan Rasional atau Status Quo?
Authors: Sutrisno Nandang , Romdoni Rafi Nasrullah Muhammad
Published: February 2023

The ratification of the Agreement on Realignment of Flight Information Region (FIR) between Indonesia and Singapore by Presidential Regulation Number 109 of 2022 produced controversies. Such controversies occurred between the Indonesian government on one side, and the academicians and practitioners on another. The former claims that the ratification indicates the hard work of the Indonesian government to take over the FIR that has been delegated to Singapore. However, the latter questions the status of Indonesia as a sovereign state and its security that would potentially be arose from the ratification. It is because Singapore still takes control over Indonesia’s airspace from 0-37.000 feets. This article studies and analyzes whether the ratification was the best choice taken by Indonesia. The discussion shows that it was not the best yet rational and realistic. It was not, because the possibility of harm and threat to Indonesia’s national security are bigger than the advantages arising from the agreement. It was rational and realistic because it was not ratified, the control of FIR would be status quo and return fully to Singapore without limitation of time.

Abstrak

Pengesahan Perjanjian Penyesuaian Wilayah Informasi Penerbangan (Flight Information Region/FIR) antara Pemerintah Indonesia dan Pemerintah Singapura melalui Peraturan Presiden Nomor 109 Tahun 2022 menuai polemik. Hal tersebut terjadi antara pihak pemerintah dengan pihak akademisi serta praktisi. Pada satu sisi, pihak pemerintah mengklaim bahwa pengesahan tersebut mengindikasikan kerja keras pemerintah dalam mengambil alih FIR yang didelegasikan kepada Singapura. Oleh karena itu, kini kedaulatan ruang udara dikontrol penuh Indonesia. Namun di sisi lain, para akademisi dan praktisi mempersoalkan status kedaulatan dan juga keamanan yang berpotensi timbul dari pengesahan ini. Hal tersebut dikarenakan Singapura sebenarnya masih memiliki kontrol di ruang udara Indonesia pada ketinggian 0-37.000 kaki. Artikel ini akan mempelajari dan menganalsis apakah pengesahan perjanjian tersebut merupakan langkah yang tepat. Hasil dari kajian artikel ini menunjukkan bahwa pengesahan perjanjian tersebut bukan merupakan langkah terbaik, namun rasional dan realistis. Ia bukan langkah terbaik, disebabkan peluang kerugian dan ancaman terhadap keamanan negara tampak lebih besar dibandingkan keuntungan yang diperoleh dari persetujuan tersebut. Meski demikian, pengesahan ini juga rasional dan realistis, dikarenakan jika tidak disahkan, status FIR akan status quo, tetap sepenuhnya kembali ke Singapura tanpa batas waktu.
Innovation and Internationalization: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises
Authors:   , Dong Guowei
Published: February 2023

Innovation plays a key competitive role in globalization. Despite China’s rapid technological advances and the prominence of its internationalization strategy in the country’s economic development, few studies have investigated the relationship between innovation and internationalization. Through three standalone studies investigating the impact of international technology learning channels on innovation performance, the impact of innovative capability on export performance, and the effect of innovative capability on outward FDI (OFDI) using data of China’s manufacturing firms, this article-based dissertation contributes to a more granular and multifaceted understanding of innovation and internationalization in emerging market enterprises (EMEs). This dissertation is positioned at the intersection of international business and innovation research and is rooted in international economics. Drawing on the empirical cases of EMEs in China’s manufacturing industries, the overarching research question guiding this thesis is: how do international technology learning channels affect the innovation performance in EMEs and in turn how does innovation capability impact EMEs' internationalization? To answer this research question, this dissertation uses several large datasets and various econometric methods to study the relationship between innovation and internationalization in emerging economies from three perspectives, resulting in three articles.
Capricious commensalisms: Consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum)
Authors: Williamson Olivia M. , Mustard Alexander T. , Bright Allan J. , Williams Dana E. , Ladd Mark C. , Baker Andrew C.
Published: February 2023

Many reef invertebrates reproduce through simultaneous broadcast
spawning, with an apparent advantage of overwhelming potential predators
and maximizing propagule survival. Although reef fish have been observed
to consume coral gamete bundles during spawning events, there are no
published records of such predation by benthic invertebrates. Here, we
document several instances of the ruby brittle star, Ophioderma
rubicundum, capturing and consuming egg-sperm bundles of the
mountainous star coral, Orbicella faveolata, and the symmetrical
brain coral, Pseudodiploria strigosa, during spawning events in
the Cayman Islands in 2012 and the Florida Keys in 2022. These
observations are widely separated in space and time (>600
km, 10 years), suggesting that this behavior may be ubiquitous on
western Atlantic reefs. Since O. rubicundum spawns on the same or
subsequent nights as these coral species, we hypothesize that this
opportunistic feeding behavior takes advantage of the coral’s lipid-rich
bundles to recover energy reserves expended by the brittle star during
gametogenesis. The consumption of coral gametes by adult brittle stars
suggests a novel trophic link between reef invertebrates, and also
provides evidence that ophiuroid-coral symbioses may oscillate between
commensalism and parasitism depending on the ontogeny and reproductive
status of both animals. Our observations provide insights into the
nuanced, dynamic associations between coral reef invertebrates and may
have implications for coral fecundity and resilience.
Pengelolaan Potensi Taman Wisata Desa Di Taman Wisata Tanjung Mas Bogorejo
Authors: Ciptawaty Ukhti , Edwin Russel  , Dedy Yuliawan  , Syarifah Nurbaiti  , Melati Wanda Aprillia
Published: February 2023

Kelemahan pengelolaan Badan Usaha Milik Desa (BUMDS) dalam proses regulasi ini juga teridentifikasi di Provinsi Lampung. Provinsi Lampung banyak mengalami pasang surut perubahan administrasi. Perjuangan yang dihadapi BUMDS Desa Bogorejo dapat diatasi dengan menggunakan bantuan akademisi khususnya terkait aturan dan pengalaman organisasi untuk meningkatkan jaringan kerja. Pengabdian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kualitas manajemen perusahaan yang dilakukan di Desa Bogorejo dengan kegiatan pelatihan best practice manajemen baru dan manajemen perusahaan. Metodologi yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah, menggunakan pelatihan best practice manajemen dan administrasi usaha baru guna meningkatkan kualitas manajemen perusahaan. Kegiatan pengabdian ini juga bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kualitas pengelolaan perusahaan yang berbadan hukum. Selain itu dilakukan kegiatan edukasi mengenai diversifikasi produk, dan strategi pemasaran, guna mengedukasi masyarakat mengenai perbaikan kualitas dan kuantitas produksi usaha tekstil. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah, Kegiatan pengabdian di BUMDS Bogorejo telah mampu memberi perubahan bagi para pengurus dan masyarakat maupun institusi BUMDS jangka pendek maupun jangka panjang. Perubahan jangka pendek yang dimaksud adalah perubahan struktur organisasi yang telah dilaksanakan segera setelah pelaksanaan kegiatan pengabdian oleh pihak akademisi sedangkan perubahan jangka panjang yang diharapkan adalah tercapainya kemampanan organisasi BUMDS yang bergerak di masyarakat Bogorejo. Harapan yang ingin dicapai adalah organisasi BUMDS dapat menjadi wadah dan sarana pengembangan perekonomian masyarakat desa.