bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficiency in Uganda’s seed potato systems
Authors: Aheisibwe Ambrose R. , Lokina Razack B. , Hepelwa Aloyce S.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the level of economic efficiency and factors that influence economic efficiency among seed potato producers in South-western Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses the economic efficiency of 499 informal and 137 formal seed producers using primary data collected through a structured questionnaire. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study sites and specific farmers. A one-step estimation procedure of normalized translog cost frontier and inefficiency model was employed to determine the level of economic efficiency and the influencing factors.

Findings

The results showed that mean economic efficiencies were 91.7 and 95.2% for informal and formal seed potato producers, respectively. Furthermore, results show significant differences between formal and informal seed potato producers in economic efficiency at a one percent level. Market information access, credit access, producers' capacity and experience increase the efficiency of informal while number of potato varieties, market information access and producers' experience increase economic efficiency for formal counterparts.

Research limitations/implications

Most seed potato producers, especially the informal ones do not keep comprehensive records of their production and marketing activities. This required more probing as answers depended on memory recall.

Practical implications

Future research could explore panel data approach involving more cropping seasons with time variant economic efficiency and individual unobservable characteristics that may influence farmers' efficiency to validate the current findings.

Social implications

The paper shows that there is more potential for seed potato producers to increase their economic efficiency given the available technology. This has a direct implication on the economy through increased investment in the production and promotion of high yielding seed potato varieties to meet the growing national demand for potatoes.

Originality/value

The paper bridges the gap in literature on economic efficiency among seed potato producers, specifically in applying the normalized translog cost frontier approach in estimating economic efficiency in the context of potato sub-sector in Uganda.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-10-2021-0641
Universities’ journey towards sustainability- systematic literature review
Authors: Popowska Magdalena Maria , Sady Monika
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to identify a sustainable university’s key features. It is an essential step in tracing the topics discussed in the context of a sustainable university and their evolution in the scientific discourse.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper relies on a systematic literature review (SLR) conducted using two scholarly databases: Emerald and Scopus. The timeframe selected by the authors for reviewing the available sources spans from 2001 to 2021.

Findings

The analysis distinguished seven sustainable university categories, each revealing critical features of sustainable higher education. Each of these categories represents an intriguing area for in-depth analysis. The SLR reveals gaps requiring further scientific exploration.

Research limitations/implications

The performed literature review was determined by the choice of entries (keywords) to identify the scientific papers in the selected databases. Moreover, as the authors aimed to focus on peer-reviewed sources, this SLR did not include books and doctoral dissertations dealing with the studied issues.

Practical implications

The results of the analysis can be used practically by both researchers and practitioners in the field of sustainable development (SD). Identified scientific gaps become a potential research field, and practitioners interested in the transition toward SD may contribute by accompanying universities in this journey. Collaboration and networking with business stakeholders are critical vectors for spreading the idea of SD.

Social implications

Society’s growing concern for climate change requires accurate and specific actions from institutions. As entities educating future generations, universities have a unique role in transforming toward SD. The findings allow us to get acquainted with the existing main activities undertaken by higher education institutions in this field and understand the importance of this topic for researchers.

Originality/value

SLR is a cornerstone of research synthesis and helps integrate scientific evidence from qualitative and quantitative published studies. Conducted research presents knowledge about university sustainability and can help scientists find research gaps.
The impact of streamer emotions on viewer gifting behavior: evidence from entertainment live streaming
Authors: Xi Dinghao , Xu Wei , Tang Liumin , Han Bingning
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The boom in live streaming has intensified competition among streamers for viewers' gifts, which makes it meaningful to study the factors that affect the viewers’ gifting behavior. Given the emotional attachment between streamers and viewers, the authors set out to elucidate a new driver on viewer gifting: expressions of the streamer. This research aims to explore the impact of streamer emotions on the viewer gifting behaviors, including free and paid gifting. The loyalty level of the viewers is also introduced as a moderating factor to investigate the heterogeneous effect of streamer emotions on gifting behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The dataset the authors collected consists of two parts, including 1809.69 h of live streaming videos and 358,002 gift giving records. Combined with deep learning methods and regression analysis, the authors performed empirical tests on the 81,110 valid samples. Several robustness checks were also conducted to ensure the reliability of main results.

Findings

The empirical results show that streamer emotions do have effects on viewers' free and paid gifting behavior. The authors’ findings show that positive streamer expressions, such as happiness and surprise, have a positive influence on viewer gifting behavior. However, some negative expressions, like sadness, can also have a positive impact. Moreover, the authors discovered that higher viewer loyalty amplifies the positive effect of streamer emotions and reduces the negative effect.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the study about streamer emotions and viewers' consumption behavior, which extends the application of emotion as social information model (EASI model) in the live streaming setting. The authors carefully divide the gifting behavior into two types: free and paid, and study how these two types are affected by streamer emotions. Besides, these effects are analyzed within viewers of different loyalty levels. This study offers practical emotion management strategies for streamers and live streaming platforms to gain more economic profits.
Behavioral and Islamic economics critique mainstream views on unemployment: a joint perspective
Authors: Yilmaz Ekrem
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to discuss the behavioral economics and Islamic economic joint criticisms against the conceptual and economic political view of the mainstream.

Design/methodology/approach

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of mainstream economic policies in addressing unemployment. Furthermore, it critically assesses the mainstream perspective on unemployment within the contexts of Islamic economics and behavioral economics, separately. The commonalities and disparities between the approaches of Islamic economics and behavioral economics regarding unemployment are evaluated. Subsequently, the conventional viewpoint on unemployment is scrutinized from the combined standpoint of Islamic economics and behavioral economics. This article employs a theoretical approach to address these concerns.

Findings

Although there are some differences, the recommendations and values of Islamic Economics and behavioral economics in the context of unemployment are almost the same. And, more importantly, both approaches are similar in their emphasis on the ineffectiveness and distance from human values of mainstream economic policies.

Originality/value

This article is the first to examine unemployment from the joint perspectives of Islamic economics and behavioral economics. It is also the first article to criticize the mainstream view of unemployment from the common framework of these two approaches.
Post-offshoring manufacturing strategies: decision-making and implementation
Authors: Bettiol Marco , Chiarvesio Maria , Di Maria Eleonora , Di Stefano Cristina , Fratocchi Luciano
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The advantages of offshoring are increasingly under scrutiny, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has advanced the debate, calling for a redefinition of firms' production location strategies. While attention has primarily focused on the relocation of second-degree strategies, such as back-shoring, near-shoring and further offshoring, there are also other alternatives, including home country-based domestic product and process innovations, and the development of new business activities. The objective of the authors' paper is to identify which factors influence decision-makers when they select and implement such post-offshoring strategic alternatives.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors consider 11 Italian manufacturing companies that implemented these strategies and analyze triggers, drivers, enabling factors and barriers of the decision phase, as well as content, governance mode and timing of the implementation phase.

Findings

Based on the collected findings, the authors suggest a set of propositions for further research. First of all, firms can simultaneously manage multiple strategies by adopting an ambidextrous approach through which to mitigate supply chain risks. They may integrate their domestic and international production activities, but the home country remains central for innovations and production of high-end products and Industry 4.0 technologies increases the probability of investing in their home country. At the same time, lack of competence induces selective near- and back-shoring, while full back-shoring is mainly a consequence of managerial mistakes. Competence availability acts as a barrier to relocation in the home country, inducing the implementation of either an insourcing strategy or a combination of insourcing and outsourcing.

Originality/value

The authors' work identifies post-offshoring as a dynamic process and provides insights into the post-pandemic scenario. The conceptual framework may represent a useful tool for company managers in re-evaluating their initial offshoring strategies.
Indigenous cultures and employee efficiency: the moderating effect of cronyism in state-owned enterprises in Ghana
Authors: Awaah Fred , Olanrewaju Morounkeji
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper examines the relationship between indigenous cultures and employee efficiency and how cronyism strengthens or weakens the relationship in the Ghanaian state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in response to the employee efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a quantitative approach by a cross-sectional survey to collect data from 400 workers in ten SOEs in Ghana. The analysis is done by using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression techniques.

Findings

The findings indicate that showing gratitude is the predominant indigenous culture in the SOEs of Ghana while irregularity (absenteeism) is not dominant. Moreover, the practice of cronyism is high. It reveals that the indigenous cultures, except for respect for the elderly, relate negatively to employee efficiency, and cronyism strengthens the relationship between indigenous cultures and employee efficiency.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence that cronyism effectively strengthens the relationship between indigenous cultures and employee efficiency in a developing country. Strategies to discourage cronyism should be the key focus of public administrators, as well as mechanisms to limit the practice of adverse indigenous cultures.
Methodological fitness-for-purpose in the phygital age: the case of luxury
Authors: Parnwell Michael J.G. , Meng Kelly
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to this special issue on interpretivist research methodologies and the phygital consumerist landscape by exploring some underlying issues within the specific context of luxury consumption. The paper starts with a critique of current research, drawing particular attention to problems of reductionism, poor representativeness and weak contextualisation in research that adopts a positivist epistemology. The paper then highlights some of the contributions that interpretivist scholarship is making, and can potentially make, to our understanding of the experiential and humanistic aspects of luxury consumption, presented in a nuanced, discursive and deeply contextualised manner.

Design/methodology/approach

This commentary is informed by an in-depth examination of the methodology and approach adopted in the 327 most-recently published academic articles on luxury (from late-2021).

Findings

This opinion piece suggests the need for a sea-change in the way that scholars approach luxury research in online, offline and hybrid phygital settings to capture and convey its true complexity, diversity, contingency and contextuality and its emotional and symbolic character, and to help ensure that it delivers findings that are of relevance and value to luxury industry practitioners.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to look comprehensively and critically at the methodological approaches adopted by academics writing in the field of luxury consumption.
Method for manufacturing ergonomic bespoke external breast prostheses using low-cost computer-aided technology
Authors: Regina Lucia , Foggiatto José Aguiomar
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer in the world, and mastectomies to remove tumors are still common. An external breast prosthesis (EBP) can be used to minimize the asymmetry, due to the ablation. Some governments do not cover costs of that assistive technology, and women end up using socks and fabric pockets filled with seeds, to simulate the volume lost in the surgery. This study aims to offer to those women a decent solution, ergonomic, but still affordable.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors interviewed 20 mastectomized Brazilian women, listened to their relate and 3D scanned them, to give rise to personalized external lightweight breast prostheses. The authors used free software for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, and low-cost 3D printers. From the strategy of bespoke products, this study generalized the method, to conceive mass customized prostheses, in a compromise solution that reduces personalization, conserving the best features of design.

Findings

This study achieved a method to manufacture ergonomic, bespoke external breast prostheses, using low-cost technology. Previous literature made them using expensive scanners, software and printers.

Research limitations/implications

The authors validated this method during pandemic, which restricted the number of patients the authors could have access to. This impacted authors’ possibility to work on matching the color of the final product and real skin. The authors understood, though, that precision of color, in the final product, is challenging, because of the peculiar aspects of human skin.

Originality/value

Using the method the authors proposed, personalized external breast prostheses can be manufactured using low-cost resources, democratizing better quality of life for more breast cancer survivors.
Investment decisions and small and medium-sized enterprise indebtedness: Heckman’s two-stage approach
Authors: Qerimi Argjente , Krasniqi Besnik A. , Balaj Driton , Aliu Muhamet , Ahmeti Skender
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Insufficient internal financing capacities and challenges to accessing external finance are crucial to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) investment and growth. This study aims to investigate how SME leverage of bank financing is related to the investment decision.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Heckman’s two-step econometric modelling to correct for sample selection bias, this study investigates the effect of entrepreneur characteristics, firm characteristics and performance on firms’ capital structure choices conditional on new investment decisions.

Findings

The main results reveal that larger firms with growth aspirations tend to make new investments. In the second stage equation, empirical results demonstrate that among SMEs who made a new investment, those SMEs with highly educated owner/managers, on average, use more external financing (i.e. banks loan) rather than internal funds – also, the smaller the company, the less bank leverage. Compared to the limited liability legal form, SMEs registered as individual businesses have less bank financial leverage. These results confirm that internal capacities for funding new investments are limited, and hence small firms must rely on external finance.

Originality/value

This study provides a unique empirical investigation and evidence based on a sample of SMEs in Kosovo. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to empirically analyse investment behaviour in relation to capital structure for SMEs in Kosovo and one of the few, in general, to consider the sample selection bias issues underpinning the other studies in this field. The analysis corrects for sample selection bias, using growth aspiration as an instrumental variable.
The causality between gut microbiota and ankylosing spondylitis: Insights from a bidirectional two‐sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Wang Danyan , Li Rongqun , Jin Yue , Shen Xiangfeng , Zhuang Aiwen
Published: October 2023

Background

The association between gut microbiota and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been reported in the literature; however, whether the two are correlative is unclear.

Methods

Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the gut microbiome composition and AS (968 AS cases and 336 191 controls) were obtained from published genome‐wide association studies in this two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. The causal relationship between gut microbiota and AS was estimated using the inverse‐variance weighted method, and the robustness of our findings was confirmed through a comprehensive series of sensitivity analyses.

Results

Anaerotruncus (OR = 0.9984, 95% CI, 0.9968–0.9999, p = .0405) and Ruminococcaceae UCG002 (OR = 0.9989, 95% CI, 0.9979–0.9999, p = .0375) were protective against AS. Defluviitaleaceae (OR = 1.0015, 95% CI, 1.0005–1.0025, p = .0048), Butyricicoccus (OR = 1.0016, 95% CI, 1.0001–1.0032, p = .0429), Coprococcus 3 (OR = 1.0016, 95% CI, 1.0000–1.0032, p = .0463), and Defluviitaleaceae UCG011 (OR = 1.0016, 95% CI, 1.0005–1.0027, p = .0041) exhibited significant positive correlations with heightened susceptibility to AS. Reverse MR revealed that AS does not affect the gut microbial composition.

Conclusion

Our study has established a genetically‐based causal relationship between gut microbiota and AS. This finding suggests that we may be able to target and regulate specific bacterial groups in the gut to prevent and treat AS.
Computed tomography imaging and clinical characteristics of pulmonary ground‐glass nodules ≤2 cm with micropapillary pattern
Authors: Guo Chen‐ran , Xu Lin , Li Xiao , Fu Yi‐lin , Wang Hui , Han Rui , Li Geng‐sheng , Feng Zhen , Li Meng , Ren Wan‐gang , Peng Zhong‐min
Published: October 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the imaging features, lymph node metastasis, and genetic mutations in micropapillary lung adenocarcinoma (imaging with mixed ground‐glass nodules) ≤2 cm, to provide a more precise and refined basis for the selection of lung segment resection.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 162 patients with surgically resected pathologically confirmed cancers ≤2.0 cm in diameter (50 cases of micropapillary mixed ground‐glass nodules [mGGNs], 50 cases of nonmicropapillary mGGNs, and 62 cases of micropapillary SNs [solid nodules]) was performed. mGGNs were classified into five categories according to imaging features. The distribution of these five morphologies in micropapillary with mGGN and nonmicropapillary with mGGN was analyzed. The postoperative pathology and prognosis of lymph node metastasis were also compared between micropapillary mGGNs and micropapillary with SNs. After searching the TCGA database, we demonstrated heterogeneity, high malignancy and high risk of microcapillary lung cancer cancers.

Results

Different pathological subtypes of mGGN differed in morphological features (p < 0.05). The rate of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in micropapillary mGGNs than in nonmicropapillary mGGNs. In the TCGA database samples, lactate transmembrane protein activity, collagen transcription score, and fibroblast EMT score were remarkably higher in micropapillary adenocarcinoma. Other pathological subtypes had a better survival prognosis and longer disease‐free survival compared with micropapillary adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

mGGNs ≤2 cm with a micropapillary pattern have a higher risk of lymph node metastasis compared with SNs, and computed tomography (CT) imaging features can assist in their diagnosis.
Comparing abundance estimates of a cryptic carnivore in southern Patagonia using two experimental methods
Authors: Elbroch L. M. , Williams S. H. , Ohrens O. , Pilgrim K. , Moeller A. , Arroyo‐Arce S. , Parker M. , Goic D. , Robinson H. , Schwartz M. K.
Published: October 2023

Determining the abundance of cryptic carnivores is central to building successful conservation management to mitigate conflicts and support coexistence strategies. For these reasons, there is considerable investment in developing reliable, cost‐effective tools for estimating the abundance of wildlife. Nevertheless, field‐based comparisons of abundance methods remain uncommon, even while essential to refining methods and coming to consensus around best practices. Here, we compare two approaches still being tested in real‐world application for an emblematic puma (Puma concolor) population in the Torres del Paine UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in southern Chile: (1) the unmarked estimator, space‐to‐event model (STE), which utilizes photographs gathered with camera traps, and (2) the genotype spatial partial identity model (gSPIM), which is an adaptation of the more established spatially explicit genetic capture‐recapture method (SECR) based on genetic data extracted from scats collected in systematic surveys. We show the tremendous variation in resulting STE estimates depending upon the start time of the analysis and length of the sampling window, and showcase a refined iterative sampling approach in a Bayesian framework to both utilize the full camera data and to stabilize density estimates for a given sampling window. Across all sampling, estimates from the STE model ranged from 3.19 (1.6–5.1 representing 10th and 90th percentile of credible intervals) to 7.38 (3.3–11.6) independent pumas 100 km−2. By comparison, our gSPIM model estimated 5.1 independent pumas 100 km−2 (excluding kittens) (with credible intervals of 2.2–10.3). Neither method was compared with any known density to determine their accuracy. Nevertheless, we provide initial density estimates to guide conservation strategies for wildlife agencies and local communities overseeing and hosting nascent puma tourism and livestock ranching, as well as guidelines for the use of these methods for any wildlife species.
Potential for using simulated altitude as a means of prehabilitation: a physiology study
Authors: Brown L. A. , Griffiths J. A. , Santer P. , Jakeman P. M. , Smith T. G.
Published: October 2023

The current pandemic of surgical complications necessitates urgent and pragmatic innovation to reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality, which are associated with poor pre‐operative fitness and anaemia. Exercise prehabilitation is a compelling strategy, but it has proven difficult to establish that it improves outcomes either in isolation or as part of a multimodal approach. Simulated altitude exposure improves performance in athletes and offers a novel potential means of improving cardiorespiratory and metabolic fitness and alleviating anaemia within the prehabilitation window. We aimed to provide an initial physiological foundation for ‘altitude prehabilitation’ by determining the physiological effects of one week of simulated altitude (FIO2 15%, equivalent to approximately 2438 m (8000 ft)) in older sedentary volunteers. The study used a randomised, double‐blind, sham‐controlled crossover design. Eight participants spent counterbalanced normoxic and hypoxic weeks in a residential hypoxia facility and underwent repeated cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Mean (SD) age of participants was 64 (7) y and they were unfit, with mean (SD) baseline anaerobic threshold 12 (2) ml.kg‐1.min‐1 and mean (SD) peak V̇O2 15 (3) ml.kg‐1.min‐1. Hypoxia was mild (mean (SD) SpO2 93 (2) %, p < 0.001) and well‐tolerated. Despite some indication of greater peak exercise capacity following hypoxia, overall there was no effect of simulated altitude on anaerobic threshold or peak V̇O2. However, hypoxia induced a substantial increase in mean (SD) haemoglobin of 1.5 (2.7) g.dl‐1 (13% increase, p = 0.028). This study has established the concept and feasibility of ‘altitude prehabilitation’ and demonstrated specific potential for improving haematological fitness. Physiologically, there is value in exploring a possible role for simulated altitude in pre‐operative optimisation.
Systematic review: Glycomics as diagnostic markers for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Butaye Emma , Somers Nicky , Grossar Lorenz , Pauwels Nele , Lefere Sander , Devisscher Lindsey , Raevens Sarah , Geerts Anja , Meuris Leander , Callewaert Nico , Van Vlierberghe Hans , Verhelst Xavier
Published: October 2023

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary liver cancer with one of the highest cancer‐related mortality rates worldwide. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving the therapeutic options and reducing the disease‐related mortality.

Aim

To investigate serum N‐glycomics as diagnostic markers for HCC.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive search in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus through August 17, 2023. Eligible studies assessed the potential use of serum N‐glycomics as diagnostic biomarkers for HCC. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers.

Results

Of the 48 articles included, 11 evaluated the utility of N‐glycomics for the diagnosis of HCC in whole serum while the remaining articles focused on specific protein glycoforms or protein levels. Of these specific proteins, haptoglobin, alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), kininogen (Kin), α‐1‐antitrypsin and Golgi protein 73 (GP73) were the most frequently studied. Increased levels of fucosylation and branching presented as the most prevalent post‐translational modifications of glycoproteins in patients with HCC compared to controls. Notably, glycomics‐based biomarkers may provide a clinical benefit for the diagnosis of early HCC, as several algorithms achieved AUCs between 0.92–0.97. However, these were based on single studies with limited sample sizes and should therefore be validated.

Conclusions

Alterations in serum N‐glycomics, characterised by increased levels of fucosylation and branching, have potential as diagnostic biomarkers for HCC. Optimisation of study design, patient selection and analysing techniques are needed before clinical implementation will be possible.
Retrospective cohort study: Effect of age as a barrier to diagnosis of eosinophilic oesophagitis
Authors: Kiran Akshatha , Dellon Evan S. , Reed Craig C.
Published: October 2023

Background

Prior work suggests eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is rare in those aged over 65 years. However, elderly patients with EoE experience a substantial diagnostic delay from symptom onset to diagnosis.

Aims

To assess if age predicted whether oesophageal biopsies were obtained in patients with EoE symptoms, what clinical features predict EoE in the elderly, and if EoE phenotype differs between elderly and non‐elderly patients.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilising the University of North Carolina (UNC) electronic medical record, EoE clinicopathologic database and UNC endoscopy software from July 2008 to April 2021. A sample of 193 elderly and non‐elderly patients with dysphagia, chest pain and/or heartburn were assembled. Patients with EoE were newly diagnosed per contemporaneous guidelines. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics and procedural data were extracted. Summary statistics, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Results

Of 193 patients, we included 91 elderly (47%) and 102 non‐elderly (53%). Age independently predicted the odds of biopsies (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.44 elderly vs. non‐elderly; 95% CI: 0.21–0.92). Endoscopic features of EoE, but not symptoms, were more common in elderly than non‐EoE elderly patients. Elderly patients with EoE differed from non‐elderly only by time to diagnosis (aOR per year of symptoms preceding diagnosis: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.11).

Conclusions

Elderly patients with EoE have <50% the odds of oesophageal biopsies. There were no significant differences between elderly and non‐elderly EoE patients, although endoscopic features helped discriminate the two groups. Our findings suggest that older age represents a barrier to EoE diagnosis.
Development of T cell receptor‐engineered T cells targeting the sarcoma‐associated antigen papillomavirus binding factor
Authors: Hamada Shuto , Tsukahara Tomohide , Watanabe Yuto , Murata Kenji , Mizue Yuka , Kubo Terufumi , Kanaseki Takayuki , Hirohashi Yoshihiko , Emori Makoto , Nakatsugawa Munehide , Teramoto Atsushi , Yamashita Toshihiko , Torigoe Toshihiko
Published: October 2023

We previously identified papillomavirus binding factor (PBF) as an osteosarcoma antigen recognized by an autologous cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone. Vaccination with PBF‐derived peptide presented by HLA‐A24 (PBF peptide) elicited strong immune responses. In the present study, we generated T cell receptor‐engineered T cells (TCR‐T cells) directed against the PBF peptide (PBF TCR‐T cells). PBF TCR was successfully transduced into T cells and detected using HLA‐A*24:02/PBF peptide tetramer. PBF TCR‐T cells generated from a healthy donor were highly expanded and recognized T2‐A24 cells pulsed with PBF peptide, HLA‐A24+ 293T cells transfected with PBF cDNA, and sarcoma cell lines. To establish an adoptive cell therapy model, we modified the PBF TCR by replacing both α and β constant regions with those of mice (hybrid PBF TCR). Hybrid PBF TCR‐T cells also showed reactivity against T2‐A24 cells pulsed with PBF peptide and to HLA‐A24+ 293T cells transfected with various lengths of PBF cDNA including the PBF peptide sequence. Subsequently, we generated target cell lines highly expressing PBF (MFH03‐PBF [short] epitope [+]) containing PBF peptide with in vivo tumorigenicity. Hybrid PBF TCR‐T cells exhibited antitumor effects compared with mock T cells in NSG mice xenografted with MFH03‐PBF (short) epitope (+) cells. CD45+ T cells significantly infiltrated xenografted tumors only in the hybrid PBF TCR T cell group and most of these cells were CD8‐positive. CD8+ T cells also showed Ki‐67 expression and surrounded the CD8‐negative tumor cells expressing Ki‐67. These findings suggest that PBF TCR‐T cell therapy might be a candidate immunotherapy for sarcoma highly expressing PBF.
SCD1 inhibition enhances the effector functions of CD8+ T cells via ACAT1‐dependent reduction of esterified cholesterol
Authors: Sugi Toshihiro , Katoh Yuki , Ikeda Toshikatsu , Seta Daichi , Iwata Takashi , Nishio Hiroshi , Sugawara Masaki , Kato Daiki , Katoh Kanoko , Kawana Kei , Yaguchi Tomonori , Kawakami Yutaka , Hirai Shuichi
Published: October 2023

We previously reported that the inhibition of stearoyl‐CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) enhances the antitumor function of CD8+ T cells indirectly via restoring production of DC recruiting chemokines by cancer cells and subsequent induction of antitumor CD8+ T cells. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of direct enhancing effects of SCD1 inhibitors on CD8+ T cells. In vitro treatment of CD8+ T cells with SCD1 inhibitors enhanced IFN‐γ production and cytotoxic activity of T cells along with decreased oleic acid and esterified cholesterol, which is generated by cholesterol esterase, acetyl‐CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1), in CD8+ T cells. The addition of oleic acid or cholesteryl oleate reversed the enhanced functions of CD8+ T cells treated with SCD1 inhibitors. Systemic administration of SCD1 inhibitor to MCA205 tumor‐bearing mice enhanced IFN‐γ production of tumor‐infiltrating CD8+ T cells, in which oleic acid and esterified cholesterol, but not cholesterol, were decreased. These results indicated that SCD1 suppressed effector functions of CD8+ T cells through the increased esterified cholesterol in an ACAT1‐dependent manner, and SCD1 inhibition enhanced T cell activity directly through decreased esterified cholesterol. Finally, SCD1 inhibitors or ACAT1 inhibitors synergistically enhanced the antitumor effects of anti‐PD‐1 antibody therapy or CAR‐T cell therapy in mouse tumor models. Therefore, the SCD1–ACAT1 axis is regulating effector functions of CD8+ T cells, and SCD1 inhibitors, and ACAT1 inhibitors are attractive drugs for cancer immunotherapy.
Short‐term photovoltaic power forecasting using hybrid contrastive learning and temporal convolutional network under future meteorological information absence
Authors: Lu Xiaoyang , Chen Yandang , Li Qibin , Yu Pingping
Published: October 2023

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation is widely utilized to satisfy the increasing energy demand due to its cleanness and inexhaustibility. Accurate PV power forecasting can improve the penetration of PV power in the grid. However, it is pretty challenging to predict PV power in short‐term under precious future meteorological information absence conditions. To address this problem, this study proposes the hybrid Contrastive Learning and Temporal Convolutional Network (CL‐TCN), and this forecasting approach consists of two parts, including model training and adaptive processes of forecasting models. In the model training stage, this forecasting method firstly trains 18 TCN models for 18 time points from 9:00 a.m. to 17:30 p.m. These TCN models are trained by only using historical PV power data samples, and each model is used to predict the next half‐hour power output. The adaptive process of models means that, in a practical forecasting stage, PV power samples from historical data are firstly evaluated and scored by a CL based data scoring mechanism to search for the most similar data samples to current measured samples. Then these similar samples are further applied to training a single above‐mentioned well‐trained TCN model to improve its performance in forecasting the next half‐hour PV power. The experimental results tested at the time resolution of 30 min demonstrate that the proposed approach has superior performance in forecasting accuracy not only in smooth PV power samples but also in fluctuating PV power samples. Moreover, the proposed CL based data scoring mechanism can filter useless data samples effectively accelerating the forecasting process.
Pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect: How accurate is the fetal echocardiography, and do the major aortopulmonary collateral arteries matter?
Authors: Uygur Lütfiye , Demirci Oya , Yücel Ilker Kemal
Published: October 2023

Objective

To assess the accuracy of prenatal echocardiography in defining pulmonary vasculature in pulmonary atresia with VSD (PAVSD). The second aim is to compare the perinatal and postnatal outcomes of different pulmonary blood supply types.

Study design

The cases prenatally diagnosed with PAVSD between 2017 and 2022 in a single tertiary fetal medicine center were identified on the electronic database. Fetal echocardiography reports and images were reviewed retrospectively. Postnatal outcomes were acquired from the hospital records of relevant pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery clinics. Fetal echocardiography results were compared with postnatal results. Perinatal and postnatal outcomes were compared between the different pulmonary vascular supply types.

Results

Among the 24 PAVSD cases, six were diagnosed with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCA) dependent, eleven were diagnosed with ductus arteriosus (DA) dependent pulmonary supply, and seven were diagnosed with double pulmonary supply (MAPCA + DA) on prenatal echocardiography. Seventeen cases were live‐born and have undergone postnatal investigations. Fetal echocardiography was 88.2% accurate about the type of pulmonary supply. The accuracy of fetal echocardiography regarding pulmonary vascular anatomy was 82.3%. Postoperative survival was 69.2%. Mortality before surgery and postoperative survival did not differ between pulmonary supply groups. Survival was impaired by the extracardiac anomalies. The need for early interventions was significantly higher in the DA group.

Conclusion

Pulmonary vascularization in PAVSD can be defined precisely on fetal echocardiography. The source of pulmonary blood supply does not impact postnatal short‐term outcomes significantly but it impacts the management. The associated anomalies highly contribute to postnatal mortality.
Prognostic impact of abnormal sodium burden in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Zhen Zhe , Choy Manting , Dong Bin , Dong Yugang , Liang Weihao , Liu Chen , Xue Ruicong
Published: October 2023

Background

Sodium abnormality is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of abnormal sodium burden on long‐term mortality and hospitalization in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods

We analysed participants from the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial with available baseline and follow‐up data (n = 1717). Abnormal sodium burden was defined as the proportion of days with abnormal sodium plasma levels (either <135 mmol/L or > 145 mmol/L). To determine the independent prognostic impact of abnormal sodium burden on the long‐term clinical adverse outcomes (The primary outcome was any cause death, the secondary outcomes include cardiovascular disease death, HF hospitalization, any cause hospitalization and the primary endpoint of the original study), a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model and time‐updated Cox regression model were performed.

Results

Abnormal sodium burden occurred in 717 patients (41.76%). A high abnormal sodium burden was associated with 1.47 (95% CI, 1.15–1.89) higher risk with any cause mortality, 1.51 (95% CI, 1.08–2.09) higher risk with CVD death and 1.31 (95% CI, 1.02–1.69) higher risk with HF hospitalization when compared with no burden group. When sodium level changes over time were accounted for in time‐updated models, abnormal sodium level was still associated with poor clinical outcomes. Diuretic and spironolactone usage did not show a statistical interaction effect on the prognostic significance.

Conclusions

In HFpEF patients, abnormal sodium burden was an independent predictor long‐term any‐cause mortality and HF hospitalization.
Interim analyses of the multinational real‐world prospective cohort HEM‐POWR study evaluating the effectiveness and safety of damoctocog alfa pegol in patients with hemophilia A
Authors: Reding Mark T. , Álvarez‐Román María Teresa , Castaman Giancarlo , Janbain Maissaa , Matsushita Tadashi , Meijer Karina , Schmidt Kathrin , Oldenburg Johannes
Published: October 2023

Objectives

To assess effectiveness and safety of damoctocog alfa pegol in interim analyses of the ongoing real‐world hemophilia A HEM‐POWR study.

Methods

HEM‐POWR (NCT03932201) is a multinational Phase 4 prospective observational study. The primary objective was annualized bleeding rate (ABR) in previously treated patients (PTPs) with hemophilia A. Secondary objectives included adverse events and number of affected joints.

Results

At data cut‐off (August 17, 2022), the safety analysis set included 268 patients and the full analysis set (FAS) included 161 patients. The most common dosing regimen during observation period was prophylaxis (FAS = 158/161, 98.1%) every 3–4 days (twice weekly; FAS = 78/158, 49.4%) and a median (min, max) infusion dose of 37.5 (10, 72) IU/kg. PTPs receiving prophylactic damoctocog alfa pegol have fewer infusions compared with prior treatment. Median total ABR (Q1, Q3) was 0.0 (0.0, 1.8) and mean total ABR (SD) was 2.4 (8.2). The proportion of patients with no affected joints increased between initial visit and follow‐up. No FVIII inhibitors, treatment‐related adverse events, or deaths were reported.

Conclusions

Damoctocog alfa pegol shows effectiveness and acceptable safety, as well as consistent utilization, in real‐world PTPs with hemophilia A, including in patients with non‐severe hemophilia and those with a history of inhibitors. Please see video for a summary of this study.
Risk of subarachnoid haemorrhage reduces with blood pressure values below hypertensive thresholds
Authors: Ewbank Frederick , Gaastra Benjamin , Hall Samuel , Galea Ian , Bulters Diederik
Published: October 2023

Background

Hypertension is a known risk factor for subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between blood pressure and SAH using a large cohort study and perform a meta‐analysis of the published literature.

Methods

Participants in the UK Biobank were followed up via electronic records until 31 March 2017. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyse the association between baseline blood pressure (systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP] and MABP [mean arterial blood pressure]) and subsequent aneurysmal SAH. Linearity was assessed by comparing models including and excluding cubic splines. Electronic databases were searched from inception until 11 February 2022 for studies reporting on blood pressure and SAH.

Results

A total of 500,598 individuals were included with 539 (0.001%) suffering from aneurysmal SAH. Nonlinear models including cubic splines visually appeared linear between SBP of 110 and 180 mmHg and there was minimal difference in fit between linear and nonlinear models. When values were stratified, those with SBP 120–130 mmHg were at higher risk compared to those with SBP <120 mmHg (hazard ratio [HR] 1.41 [1.02, 1.95]). The meta‐analysis demonstrated a similar increased risk of SAH in individuals with SBP 120–130 mmHg relative to those with <120 mmHg (HR 1.41 [1.17, 1.72]). A stepwise increase in risk was also seen at each subsequent threshold (130–140 mmHg: HR 1.85 [1.53, 2.24], 140–160 mmHg: HR 2.16 [1.57, 2.98], 160–180 mmHg: HR 2.81 [1.85, 4.29], >180 mmHg: HR 5.84 [1.94, 17.54]).

Conclusions

The rate of SAH increases linearly with higher SBP in the general population and specifically appears lower in those with SBP <120 mmHg.
Analyzing complex networks: Extracting key characteristics and measuring structural similarities
Authors: Gul Haji , Al‐Obeidat Feras , Amin Adnan , Moreira Fernando
Published: October 2023

This paper discusses the importance of feature extraction and structure similarity measurement in the analysis of complex networks. Social networks, biological systems, and transportation networks are just a few examples of the many phenomena that have been modeled using complex networks. However, analyzing these networks can be challenging due to their large size and complexity. Feature extraction techniques can help to simplify the network by identifying key nodes or substructures. Structure similarity measurement techniques can be used to compare different networks and identify similarities and differences between them. Previous research has suggested that real‐world complex networks are influenced by multiplex features and either local or global features. However, the interaction between these characteristics is not well understood. The proposed approach outperforms other graph similarity methods on publicly available datasets, with accurate estimations of overall complex network structures. Specifically, the approach based on cosine similarity outperforms as compared to existing methods. Overall, this study highlights the importance of considering various graph features–local and global features and their interactions in the analysis of complex networks.
Android malware analysis and detection: A systematic review
Authors: Dahiya Anuradha , Singh Sukhdip , Shrivastava Gulshan
Published: October 2023

Android malware has been emerged as a significant threat, which includes exposure of confidential information, misrepresentation of facts and execution of applications without the knowledge of the users. Malware analysis plays an essential role in dealing with the unlawful behaviour of such malicious applications. Android malware analysis involves examining and understanding malware behaviour and its characteristics. It also includes potential adversarial impacts on Android devices. This paper presents a quick understanding and a holistic view of malware detection and analysis. The current investigation conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to recognize the salient shifts in malware detection by examining a range of scholarly journals and conference papers. The SLR investigated 99 articles published between the years 2018 and 2023. The key observation of this SLR is that static analysis is the most implemented approach for detecting Android malware; Apktool and Androguard are the most frequently used tools. This study also conceded that deep learning and machine learning models have more potential to analyse the malicious behaviour of malware. Certain challenges are faced in Android malware analysis, that is, obfuscation techniques, dynamic code loading, and issues related to experimented datasets. Further, this study focuses on the following areas: the definition of the sample set, data optimisation and processing, feature extraction, machine learning application, and classifier validation. This investigation differs from previous analyses of Android malware detection by emphasizing additional methods based on machine learning.
Rethinking geographies of sovereignty: Towards a conceptual framework of situated sovereignty
Authors: Lange Bastian , Pütz Marco , Herlo Bianca
Published: October 2023

We engage with debates on shifting geographies of sovereignty in the digital age by providing a conceptual framework for “situated sovereignty”. Our contribution draws on a review of the scholarly literature and current sovereignty practices. We aim to move beyond state‐centred and territorial understandings of sovereignty. A common discussion is the necessity of reconfiguring notions of sovereignty. However, hardly any studies have discussed the sociospatial configurations of practising sovereignty in the digital present. We conceptualise practices of sovereignty along intersecting strands of scholarly literature that have scarcely been related, drawing from political geography, science and technology studies, and critical digitalisation studies. Reviewing the literature, we identify three fields framing current practices of sovereignty—(i) state and territory, (ii) civic engagement, and (iii) digitalisation—based on which we develop a conceptual framework of situated sovereignty. Our framework addresses the situated role of sovereignty practices from a spatial point of view. We propose pragmatism, legitimacy, and governance as three analytical themes for better understanding current and future shifting geographies of sovereignty and enhancing sovereignty studies.