bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes Kidney Disease: a systematic review
Authors: Abrar Shams Mohammad
Published: October 2021

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious microvascular complication that affects 40% of diabetes patients. In the last decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has been widely used in both structured and unstructured clinical data to improve the treatment of patients/potential patients with DN.

Methods

This systematic review aims to cover all applications of AI in the clinical use of DN or related topics. Studies were searched in four open-access databases (Pubmed, IEEE Xplore, DBLP Computer Science Bibliography, and ACM digital library). Finally, the author manually searched the reference list of included studies in the study for additional relevant articles.

Results

Finally, a total of 24 original peers reviewed articles were included in this study. Through a manual data extraction, the summary of key information such as applied AI algorithm, main outcomes, performance evaluation etc. was taken. Then the included studies underwent a quality assessment criterion, assessing the reproducibility, generalizability etc. Most of the included studies revealed that the AI frameworks outperformed conventional statistical methods. A summary of the limitations, such as lack of data availability or external validation of the framework, in the included studies, was also included.

Conclusion

The rapid advancement of the AI framework and the exponential data generation in healthcare can be utilized and applied in clinical practices. The aid of AI can be instrumental in the treatment of DN.
PAGEANT: Personal Access to Genome and Analysis of Natural Traits
Authors: Huang Jie , Liang Zhi-Sheng , Pallotti Stefano , Ranson Janice M. , Llewellyn David J. , Zheng Zhi-Jie , King Dan A. , Zhou Qiang , Zheng Houfeng , Napolioni Valerio
Published: October 2021

GWASs have identified numerous genetic variants associated with a wide variety of diseases, yet despite the wide availability of genetic testing the insights that would enhance the interpretability of these results are not widely available to members of the public. As a proof of concept and demonstration of technological feasibility, we developed PAGEANT (Personal Access to Genome & Analysis of Natural Traits), usable through Graphical User Interface or command line-based version, aiming to serve as a protocol and prototype that guides the overarching design of genetic reporting tools. PAGEANT is structured across five core modules, summarized by five Qs: (1) Quality assurance of the genetic data; (2) Qualitative assessment of genetic characteristics; (3) Quantitative assessment of health risk susceptibility based on polygenic risk scores and population reference; (4) Query of third-party variant databases (e.g., ClinVAR and PharmGKB); and (5) Quick Response code of genetic variants of interest. Literature review was conducted to compare PAGEANT with academic and industry tools. For 2,504 genomes made publicly available through the 1,000 Genomes Project, we derived their genomic characteristics for a suite of qualitative and quantitative traits. One exemplary trait is susceptibility to COVID-19, based on the most up-to-date scientific findings reported.
Access to social protection by people living with, at risk of, or affected by HIV in Eswatini, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia - results from Population-Based HIV Impact Assessments
Authors: Chipanta David , Pettifor Audrey , Edwards Jessie , Giovenco Danielle , Topazian Hillary Mariko , Bray Rachel M. , Millington Monique C. , Estill Janne , Keiser Olivia , Justman Jessica E
Published: October 2021

We aimed to measure social protection (SP) coverage among the general population and women and men living with HIV (WLHIV, MLHV), female and male sex workers (FSW, MSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), adolescent girls young women (AGYW), and orphans vulnerable children (OVC). We used Population-Based HIV Impact Assessments data from Eswatini, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. We generated survey-weighted proportions for each population group receiving any SP benefits, along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using jackknife variance estimation. The proportion reported receiving SP benefits among the general population ranged from 7.7% (95% CI: 6.7%–8.8%) in Zambia to 39.6% (95% CI: 36.8%– 42.5%) in Eswatini. SP benefits by WLHIV, MLHIV, AGYW, OVC, SW and MSM – were lower than the 2017-19 global average of 45%. Data on access to SP benefits by people living with or affected by HIV from other regions is needed to estimate their SP coverage better.
Impact of Variability in Cell Cycle Periodicity on Cell Population Dynamics
Authors: Nowak Chance M. , Quarton Tyler , Bleris Leonidas
Published: October 2021

The cell cycle consists of a series of orchestrated events controlled by molecular sensing and feedback networks that ultimately drive the duplication of total DNA and the subsequent division of a single parent cell into two daughter cells. The ability to block the cell cycle and synchronize cells within the same phase has helped understand factors that control cell cycle and the properties of each individual phase. Intriguingly, when cells are released from a synchronized state, they do not maintain synchronized cell division and rapidly become asynchronous. The rate and factors that control cellular desynchronization remain largely unknown. In this study, using a combination of experiments and simulations, we investigate the desynchronization properties in cervical cancer cells (HeLa) starting from the G1/S boundary following double-thymidine block. Propidium iodide (PI) DNA staining was used to perform flow cytometry cell cycle analysis at regular intervals of 8 hours, and a custom auto-similarity function to assess the desynchronization and quantify the convergence to asynchronous state. In parallel, we developed a single-cell phenomenological model the returns the DNA concentration across the cell cycle stages and fitted the parameters using experimental data. Simulations of population of cells reveal that the cell cycle desynchronization rate is primarily sensitive to the variability of cell cycle duration within a population. To validate the model prediction, we introduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to increase cell cycle noise. Indeed, we observed an increase in cell cycle variability under LPS stimulation in HeLa cells, accompanied with an enhanced rate of cell cycle desynchronization. Our results show that the desynchronization rate of artificially synchronized in-phase cell populations can be used a proxy of the degree of variance in cell cycle periodicity, an underexplored axis in cell cycle research.
Transcriptomic analysis revealed reactive oxygen species scavenging mechanisms associated with ferrous iron toxicity in aromatic Keteki Joha rice
Authors: Regon Preetom , Dey Sangita , Rehman Mehzabin , Pradhan Amit Kumar , Tanti Bhaben , Das Talukdar Anupam , Panda Sanjib Kumar
Published: October 2021

Lowland acidic soils with water-logged regions are often affected by ferrous iron (Fe2+) toxicity, a major yield-limiting factor of rice production. The Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) was hypothesized to be crucial under severe Fe2+ toxicity conditions. However, molecular mechanisms and associated ROS homeostasis genes are still not well-explored. In this study, a comparative RNA-Seq based transcriptome analysis was conducted to understand the Fe2+ toxicity tolerance mechanism in aromatic Keteki Joha. About 69 Fe homeostasis related genes and their homologs were identified, where most of the genes were downregulated. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are associated with biological processes-response to stress, stimulus and abiotic stimulus. DEGs involved in the Biosynthesis of amino acids, RNA degradation, Glutathione metabolism etc. were induced, whereas, Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, Photosynthesis, and Fatty acid elongation were inhibited. The Mitochondrial iron transporter (OsMIT), Vacuolar Iron Transporter 2 (OsVIT2), Ferritin (OsFER), Vacuolar Mugineic Acid Transporter (OsVMT), Phenolic Efflux Zero1 (OsPEZ1), Root Meander Curling (OsRMC), Nicotianamine synthase (OsNAS3), etc. were upregulated in different tissues suggesting the importance of Fe retention and sequestration for detoxification. However, several antioxidants, ROS scavenging genes and abiotic stress-responsive transcription factors indicate ROS homeostasis as one of the most important defense mechanisms under severe Fe2+ toxicity. The CAT, GSH, APX, MDHAR, DHAR, GR were upregulated. Moreover, abiotic stress-responsive transcription factors NAC, MYB, ARF, bZIP, WRKY, C2H2-ZFP were also upregulated. Accordingly, ROS homeostasis has been proposed to be an important defense mechanism under such conditions. Thus, our results will enrich the knowledge of understanding Fe-homeostasis in rice.
Functional single cell proteomic profiling of cells with abnormal DNA damage response dynamics
Authors: Su Pin-Rui , You Li , Beerens Cecile , Bezstarosti Karel , Demmers Jeroen , Pabst Martin , Kanaar Roland , Hsu Cheng-Chih , Chien Miao-Ping
Published: October 2021

Tumor heterogeneity is an important source of cancer therapy resistance. Single cell proteomics has the potential to decipher protein content leading to heterogeneous cellular phenotypes. Single-Cell ProtEomics by Mass Spectrometry (SCoPE-MS) is a recently developed, promising, unbiased proteomic profiling techniques, which allows profiling several tens of single cells for >1000 proteins per cell. However, a method to link single cell proteomes with cellular behaviors is needed to advance this type of profiling technique. Here, we developed a microscopy-based functional single cell proteomic profiling technology, called FUNpro, to link the proteome of individual cells with phenotypes of interest, even if the phenotypes are dynamic or the cells of interest are sparse. FUNpro enables one i) to screen thousands of cells with subcellular resolution and monitor (intra)cellular dynamics using a custom-built microscope, ii) to real-time analyze (intra)cellular dynamics of individual cells using an integrated cell tracking algorithm, iii) to promptly isolate the cells displaying phenotypes of interest, and iv) to single cell proteomically profile the isolated cells. We applied FUNpro to proteomically profile a newly identified small subpopulation of U2OS osteosarcoma cells displaying an abnormal, prolonged DNA damage response (DDR) after ionizing radiation (IR). With this, we identified PDS5A and PGAM5 proteins contributing to the abnormal DDR dynamics and helping the cells survive after IR.
ONTdeCIPHER: An amplicon-based nanopore sequencing pipeline for tracking pathogen variants
Authors: Cherif Emira , Thiam Fatou Seck , Salma Mohammad , Rivera-Ingraham Georgina , Justy Fabienne , Deremarque Theo , Breugnot Damien , Doudou Jean-Claude , Gozlan Rodolphe Elie , Combe Marine
Published: October 2021

Motivation

Amplicon-based nanopore sequencing is increasingly used for molecular surveillance during epidemics (e.g. ZIKA, EBOLA) or pandemics (e.g. SARS-CoV-2). However, there is still a lack of versatile and easy-to-use tools that allow users with minimal bioinformatics skills to perform the main steps of downstream analysis, from quality testing to SNPs effect to phylogenetic analysis.

Results

Here, we present ONTdeCIPHER, an amplicon-based Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) sequencing pipeline to analyze the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogenes. Our pipeline integrates 13 bioinformatics tools. With a single command line and a simple configuration file, users can pre-process their data and obtain the sequencing statistics, reconstruct the consensus genome, identify variants and their effects for each viral isolate, infer lineage and, finally perform multi-sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses.

Availability and implementation:

ONTdeCIPHER is available at https://github.com/emiracherif/ONTdeCIPHER

Contact

emira.cherif@ird.fr

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at …
SunCatcher: Clonal Barcoding with qPCR-Based Detection Enables Functional Analysis of Live Cells and Generation of Custom Combinations of Cells for Research and Discovery
Authors: Guo Qiuchen , Spasic Milos , Maynard Adam , Goreczny Gregory J. , Olive Jessica F. , Bizuayehu Amanuel , McAllister Sandra S.
Published: October 2021

Over recent decades, cell lineage tracing, clonal analyses, molecular barcoding, and single cell “omic” analysis methods have proven to be valuable tools for research and discovery. Here, we report a clonal molecular barcoding method, which we term SunCatcher, that enables longitudinal tracking and retrieval of live barcoded cells for further analysis. Briefly, single cell-derived clonal populations are generated from any complex cell population and each is infected with a unique, heritable molecular barcode. One can combine the barcoded clones to recreate the original parental cell population or generate custom pools of select clones, while also retaining stocks of each individual barcoded clone. We developed two different barcode deconvolution methods: a Next-Generation Sequencing method and a highly sensitive, accurate, rapid, and inexpensive quantitative PCR-based method for identifying and quantifying barcoded cellsin vitroandin vivo. Because stocks of each individual clone are retained, one can analyze not only the positively selected clones but also the negatively selected clones result from any given experiment. We used SunCatcher to barcode individual clones from mouse and human breast cancer cell lines. Heterogeneous pools of barcoded cells reliably reproduced the original proliferation rates, tumor-forming capacity, and disease progression as the original parental cell lines. The SunCatcher PCR-based approach also proved highly effective for detecting and quantifying early spontaneous metastases from orthotopic sites that would otherwise have not been detected by conventional methods. We envision that SunCatcher can be applied to any cell-based studies and hope it proves a useful tool for the research community.
A High-Resolution Method for the Systematic Detection of EMS-Induced Mutations in a Sequenced Population
Authors: Simons Jared M. , Herbert Tim C. , Kauffman Coleby , Batete Marc Y. , Simpson Andrew T. , Katsuki Yuka , Le Dong , Amundson Danielle , Buescher Elizabeth M. , Weil Clifford , Tuinstra Mitch , Addo-Quaye Charles
Published: October 2021

The precise detection of causal DNA mutations is very crucial for forward genetic studies. Several sources of errors contribute to false-positive detections by current variant-calling algorithms, and these impact associating phenotypes with genotypes. To improve the accuracy of mutation detection we propose and implemented a high-resolution binning method for the accurate detection of likely EMS-induced mutations in a sequenced mutant population. The approach also incorporates a novel clustering algorithm for detecting likely false negatives with high accuracy. Sorghum bicolor is a very valuable crop species with tremendous potential for uncovering novel gene functions associated with highly desirable agronomical traits. We demonstrate the precision of the proposed method in the detection of likely EMS-induced mutations in the publicly available low-cost sequencing of the M3 generation from 600 sorghum BTx623 mutants. The method detected 3,274,606 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of which 96% (3,141,908) were G/C to A/T DNA substitutions, as expected by EMS-mutagenesis action. We demonstrated the general applicability of the method, and showed a high concordance, 94% (3,074,759) SNPs overlap between SAMtools-based and GATK-based variant-calling algorithms. We also implemented a novel clustering algorithm which uncovered evidence for an additional 223,048 likely false-negative shared EMS-induced mutations. The final 3,497,654 SNPs represents an 87% increase in SNPs detected in the previous analysis of the sorghum mutant population. Annotation of the final SNPs revealed 10,263 high impact and 136,639 moderate impact SNPs, including 7,217 stop-gained mutations, and an average of 12 stop-gained mutations per mutant. We have implemented a public search database for this new genetic resource of 30,285 distinct sorghum genes containing medium or high impact EMS-induced mutations. Seedstock for a select 486 of the 600 described mutants are publicly available in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database.
The Endocytic Recycling Compartment Serves as a Viral Factory for Hepatitis E Virus
Authors: Bentaleb Cyrine , Hervouet Kévin , Montpellier Claire , Camuzet Charline , Ferrié Martin , Burlaud-Gaillard Julien , Bressanelli Stéphane , Metzger Karoline , Werkmeister Elisabeth , Ankavay Maliki , Janampa Nancy Leon , Marlet Julien , Roux Julien , Deffaud Clarence , Goffard Anne , Rouillé Yves , Dubuisson Jean , Roingeard Philippe , Aliouat-Denis Cécile-Marie , Cocquerel Laurence
Published: October 2021

Background & Aims

Although Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major leading cause of enterically transmitted viral hepatitis worldwide, many gaps remain in the understanding of the HEV lifecycle. Notably, viral factories induced by HEV have not been documented yet and it is currently unknown whether HEV infection leads to cellular membrane modelling as many positive-strand RNA viruses. HEV genome encodes three proteins, the ORF1 replicase, the ORF2 capsid protein and the ORF3 protein involved in virion egress. Previously, we demonstrated that HEV produces different ORF2 isoforms including the virion-associated ORF2i form. Here, we aimed to probe infectious particles and viral factories in HEV-producing cells, using antibodies directed against the different ORF2 isoforms.

Methods

We generated monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize the particle-associated ORF2i form, and antibodies that recognize the different ORF2 isoforms. We used them in confocal and electron microscopy approaches to probe viral factories in HEV-producing cells. We performed an extensive colocalization study of viral proteins with subcellular markers. We analyzed the impact of silencing Rab11, a central player of the endocytic recycling compartment (ERC).

Results

One of the antibodies, named P1H1 and targeting the N-terminus of ORF2i, recognized delipidated HEV particles. Confocal and ultrastructural microscopy analyses of HEV-producing cells revealed an unprecedented HEV-induced membrane network containing tubular and vesicular structures. These subcellular structures were enriched in ORF2 and ORF3 proteins, and were dependent on the ORF3 expression and ORF2i capsid protein assembly. Colocalization and silencing analyses revealed that these structures are derived from the ERC.

Conclusions

Our study reveals that HEV hijacks the ERC and forms a membrane network of vesicular and tubular structures that might be the hallmark of HEV infection.

Lay summary

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide but many steps of its lifecycle are still elusive. Thanks to the development of new antibodies that recognize the different forms of the HEV capsid protein, we were able to visualize vesicular and tubular structures that were established by the virus in the host cell. In addition, extensive efforts to identify these structures led us to conclude that HEV hijacks the endocytic recycling compartment of the cell to form this network of vesicles and tubules, which might be the hallmark of HEV infection.
Palaeogenomics reveal a hybrid origin of the world’s largest Camelus species
Authors: Yuan Junxia , Westbury Michael V. , Chen Shungang , Hu Jiaming , Zhang Fengli , Wang Siren , Zhang Zhen , Wang Linying , Xiao Bo , Hou Xindong , Li Fuqiang , Lai Xulong , Liu Wenhui , Sheng Guilian
Published: October 2021

The extinct Camelus knoblochi is known as the largest camel in genus Camelus, but its relationship to modern Camelus species remains unclear. In this study, we reported the first mitochondrial and nuclear analyses of seven Late Pleistocene C. knoblochi samples from Northeastern China. We found that they are inseparable to wild Bactrian camel on the matrilineal side, but belong to a distinct cluster on the biparental nuclear side. Further admixture proportion analyses suggested hybrid ancestry between both the ancestors of the modern wild and domesticated Bactrian camels, with ~65% contribution from the former and ~35% from the later. By calculating the coalescence time for three Camelus species above, we estimated the hybridization event occurred between approximately 0.8 and 0.33 Ma. We also used Bayesian skyline to reconstruct the maternal demographic trajectories for different Camelus to better compare their evolutionary histories. Our results provide molecular insights into C. knoblochi and fill in a vital piece in understanding the genus Camelus.
BBX proteins promote HY5-mediated UVR8 signaling in Arabidopsis
Authors: Podolec Roman , Wagnon Timothée B. , Leonardelli Manuela , Johansson Henrik , Ulm Roman
Published: October 2021

Plants undergo photomorphogenic development in the presence of light. Photomorphogenesis is repressed by the E3 ubiquitin ligase CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1), which binds substrates through their valine-proline (VP) motifs. The UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8 (UVR8) photoreceptor senses UV-B and inhibits COP1 through cooperative binding of its own VP motif mimicry and its photosensing core to COP1, thereby preventing COP1 binding to substrates, including the bZIP transcriptional regulator ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5). As a key promoter of visible light and UV-B photomorphogenesis, HY5 functions together with the B-box family transcription factors BBX20–22 that were recently described as HY5 rate-limiting coactivators under red light. Here we describe a hypermorphicbbx21-3Dmutant with enhanced photomorphogenesis, which carries a proline-314 to leucine mutation in the VP motif that impairs interaction with and regulation through COP1. We show that BBX21 and BBX22 are UVR8-dependently stabilized after UV-B exposure, which is counteracted by a repressor induced by HY5/BBX activity.bbx20 bbx21 bbx22mutants under UV-B are impaired in hypocotyl growth inhibition, photoprotective pigment accumulation, and expression of several HY5-dependent genes. We conclude that BBX20–22 importantly contribute to HY5 activity in a subset of UV-B responses, but that additional, presently unknown coactivators for HY5 are functional in early UVR8 signaling.
Bockenheimer disease is associated with a TEK variant
Authors: Sudduth Christopher L. , Konczyk Dennis J. , Smits Patrick J. , Eng Whitney , Al-Ibraheemi Alyaa , Upton Joseph , Greene Arin K.
Published: October 2021

Bockenheimer disease is a venous malformation involving all tissues of an extremity. Patients have significant morbidity, and treatment is palliative. The purpose of this study was to identify the cause of Bockenheimer disease to develop pharmacotherapy for the condition. Paraffin-embedded tissue from nine individuals with Bockenheimer disease obtained during a clinically indicated operation underwent DNA extraction. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) was used to screen for variants most commonly associated with sporadic venous malformations (TEK [NM_000459.5:c.2740C > T; p.Leu914Phe], PIK3CA [NM_006218.4:c.1624G > A; p.Glu542Lys and NM_006218.4:c.3140A > G; p.His1047Arg]). ddPCR detected a TEK L914F variant in all nine patients (variant allele fraction 2%–13%). PIK3CA E542K and H1047R variants were not identified in the specimens. Sanger sequencing and restriction enzyme digestion confirmed variants identified by ddPCR. A pathogenic variant in the endothelial cell tyrosine kinase receptor TEK is associated with Bockenheimer disease. Pharmacotherapy targeting the TEK signaling pathway might benefit patients with the condition.
Identification of a recurrent mosaic KRAS variant in brain tissue from an individual with nevus sebaceous syndrome
Authors: Green Timothy E. , MacGregor Duncan , Carden Susan M. , Harris Rebekah V. , Hewitt Chelsee A. , Berkovic Samuel F. , Penington Anthony J. , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Hildebrand Michael S.
Published: October 2021

Nevus sebaceous syndrome (NSS) is a rare, multisystem neurocutaneous disorder, characterized by a congenital nevus, and may include brain malformations such as hemimegalencephaly or focal cortical dysplasia, ocular, and skeletal features. It has been associated with several eponyms including Schimmelpenning and Jadassohn. The isolated skin lesion, nevus sebaceous, is associated with postzygotic variants in HRAS or KRAS in all individuals studied. The RAS proteins encode a family of GTPases that form part of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway, which is critical for cell cycle regulation and differentiation during development. We studied an individual with nevus sebaceous syndrome with an extensive nevus sebaceous, epilepsy, intellectual disability, and hippocampal sclerosis without pathological evidence of a brain malformation. We used high-depth gene panel sequencing and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect and quantify RAS/MAPK gene variants in nevus sebaceous and temporal lobe tissue collected during plastic and epilepsy surgery, respectively. A mosaic KRAS c.34G > T; p.(Gly12Cys) variant, also known as G12C, was detected in nevus sebaceous tissue at 25% variant allele fraction (VAF), at the residue most commonly substituted in KRAS. Targeted droplet digital PCR validated the variant and quantified the mosaicism in other tissues. The variant was detected at 33% in temporal lobe tissue but was absent from blood and healthy skin. We provide molecular confirmation of the clinical diagnosis of NSS. Our data extends the histopathological spectrum of KRAS G12C mosaicism beyond nevus sebaceous to involve brain tissue and, more specifically, hippocampal sclerosis.
The influence of Ni on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of high-strength low alloy steel in the Cl-containing environment
Authors: Wang Dan , Zhong Qingdong , Yang Jian , Zhang Shujian
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to search the optimum content of Ni on the microstructure, phase and electrochemical behavior of high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steel in the 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution.

Design/methodology/approach

The microstructure and corrosion resistance of Ni-containing HSLA steel in the simulated marine environment was studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical techniques.

Findings

The sample containing 3.55 wt.% of nickel exhibited a finer grain size of 10 μm and a lower icorr of 2.169 µA cm−2. The XRD patterns showed that the Fe-Cr-Ni solid solution, FeC and Cr3C2 were observed in samples when Ni was added. Besides, the 3.55 wt.% of nickel addition enhanced the charge transfer resistance of the low alloy steel which suggested the sample possessed excellent inhibition of electrochemical reaction and corrosion resistance. The XPS spectrum suggested that nickel was beneficial to improve the corrosion resistance of steel by forming protective oxides, and the ratio of Fe2+/Fe3+ in protective oxides was increased.

Practical implications

Finding the comprehensive performance of HSLA steel which can be applied to unmanned surface vehicles in marine operations.

Originality/value

This study has a guiding significance for optimizing the composition of HSLA steel in a Cl- containing environment.
Research on the evolutionary game of knowledge pricing in an open innovation environment: from the perspective of social dual innovation balance
Authors: An Xuejiao , Qi Lin , Zhang Jian , Jiang Xinran
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to find out the factors that influence the choice of dual innovation strategies in the process of knowledge pricing and transaction between first-mover and late-mover companies in an open innovation environment and also to find the key factors that affect the company's strategic choice in factors such as heterogeneous market environment, demand elasticity, exploration risk intellectual property prices and transaction cost.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the Cournot equilibrium and Stackelberg two-stage master-slave game model to describe the evolutionary process of knowledge pricing in an open innovation environment of first-mover and late-mover companies.

Findings

Research shows that in an open innovation environment, the formation of a dual innovation strategy in the pricing process of corporate intellectual property transactions is a complex process. Changes in one-time transaction costs and changes in the inverse demand coefficient of the innovation market play the decisive role in the choice of dual innovation strategies. When the demand of the innovation market is moderate, the inverse demand coefficient of the innovation market and the one-time transaction cost has an invertedU-shaped influence relationship. As the innovation market's inverse demand coefficient and the one-time transaction cost increase at the same time, the degree of differentiation of the enterprise's dual innovation strategy choice gradually reduces; when the one-time transaction cost is the largest, the degree of strategy differentiation is minimized.

Originality/value

Based on the above relationship, suggestions are made to guide enterprises in the knowledge pricing and transaction process in an open innovation environment, promote enterprises to form a dislocation development and complementary advantages in the knowledge innovation ecological chain and improve the overall innovation efficiency of the industry.
Fostering individual-level absorptive capacity and adaptive performance through leadership context
Authors: Pratoom Karun
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of trait goal orientations (mastery, performance-prove and performance-avoid goals) on individual-level absorptive capacity (AC), ultimately adaptive performance. This study also explores the cross-level moderating effects of transformational leadership climate on these mediated relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 480 participants in 76 teams from accounting firms in Northeast Thailand were analyzed using the multilevel method.

Findings

Findings showed support for positive indirect effects from approach-related goal orientations (mastery and performance-prove) to adaptive performance via AC and a negative indirect effect from avoid goal orientation to adaptive performance via AC. Results showed that a transformational leadership climate strengthens the relationship between goal orientations and AC, but only when team members have a high level of approach-related goals.

Originality/value

This study extends previous work by providing an understanding of how a transformational leadership context and the differences in goal orientations interact to promote or impede an individual's AC. It also extends our understanding of the mechanism of how AC mediated the effects of trait goal orientations and transformational leadership climate on adaptive performance.
From law to regulation: re-appraising the misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Authors: Seddon Toby
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to re-appraise the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in order to develop alternative and new ideas for drug law reform.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to analyse the Act from historical and socio-legal perspectives, drawing on the inter-disciplinary field of regulation studies.

Findings

The Act has its roots in radical counter-cultural reform activism in the 1960s. Its innovative legal structure has enabled a diverse range of policy approaches to be possible over the last 50 years. Future drug law reform efforts need to broaden out from a narrow focus on law and also to engage more seriously with the politics of drug law and policy.

Originality/value

Drawing on the inter-disciplinary field of regulation studies leads to novel insights about the politics and practice of drug law reform.
Hiring schedule optimization at the Surrey fire department
Authors: He Bolong , Mitrovic-Minic Snezana , Garis Len , Robinson Pierre , Stephen Tamon
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The Surrey (British Columbia, Canada) fire department has an annual cycle for hiring full-time firefighters. This paper optimizes the timing of the annual hiring period. A key issue is handling workplace absences, which can be covered by overtime cost or full-time hires.

Design/methodology/approach

Short-term and long-term absences patterns are analyzed according to season and age cohorts of the firefighters. These are then used in both an explanatory and time series model to predict future absences. The hiring schedule is optimized based on these predictions and additional constraints.

Findings

The current practice fares well in the analysis. For the time period studied, moving to earlier hiring dates appears beneficial. This analysis is robust with respect to various assumptions.

Originality/value

This is a case study where analytic techniques and machine learning are applied to an organizational practice that is not commonly analyzed. In this case, the previous method was not much worse than the optimized solution. The techniques used are quite general and can be applied to various organizational decision problems.
Synthesis and tribological study of core-shell Ag@polyaniline as lubricant additive in lithium-based complex grease
Authors: Xia Yanqiu , Chen Chuan , Feng Xin , Cao Zhengfeng
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize a kind of core-shell Ag@polyaniline (Ag@PAN) as a lubricant additive to improve the friction reduction and anti-wear abilities of lithium-based complex grease.

Design/methodology/approach

The core-shell Ag@PAN was prepared by a simple method and was introduced into the lithium-based complex grease. The typical properties of Ag@PAN were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectrometer and thermal gravimetric analyzer. The tribological properties were evaluated under different conditions. After the tribological test, the worn surface was analyzed by SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to probe the lubrication mechanisms.

Findings

The prepared Ag@PAN could greatly improve the friction reduction and wear resistance of the friction pair under different conditions. The preferable tribological performances were mainly attributed to the synergism of various lubrication mechanisms including “mending effect,” “rolling effect” and lubricating protective film, and so on.

Originality/value

This study synthesizes a new kind of core-shell Ag@PAN as a lubricant additive, and it possesses preferable friction reduction and anti-wear abilities.
Gender diversity, board of director’s size and Islamic banks performance
Authors: Elgadi Entissar , Ghardallou Wafa
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically assess the impact of gender diversity and board of directors’ size on Islamic banks’ performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Hand-collected data set including 27 banks from 2005 to 2013 is used to investigate the effect of the above mechanisms on banks’ performance as measured by return on equities and return on assets. The study uses pooling regression, which requires estimating a single equation on different cross-sectional data. Specifically, ordinary least squares is used to estimate the model.

Findings

Obtained results suggest that the presence of women on the board of directors does not have a significant influence on banks’ performance. However, gender diversity in the management department is found to have a negative and significant impact. Besides, the findings prove that the board of directors’ size adversely affects banks’ performance.

Research limitations/implications

Findings of this study will enhance a better understanding of the interrelationships between performance measures and determinants, which can improve estimations of key inputs in the decision-making process. Such deeper understanding should provide policy and decision makers with an important part of the framework needed to provide quality outcomes. In addition, the results of this study provide some beneficial insights on performance determinants to the policymakers, industry leaders and bank managers. Accordingly, those parties could enhance the profitability of Sudanese Islamic banks by improving capitalisation and assets utilisation and by improving banks operation efficiency, leverage and by reducing the size of the board of directors. Industry leaders and bank managers could also benefit from the findings on bank age, which suggest that they can learn from the experience of newly established banks, as the latter are shown to be able to use their resources to generate more profits.

Practical implications

Results suggest that in the future, Islamic banks should focus on how to weaken the negative performance effect of female executives’ participation. Besides, banks should work to decrease labour market discrimination and increase long-term career commitment amongst women.

Originality/value

After reviewing the literature, the research objective was not accounted for by the existing empirical works. Indeed, the role of gender diversity and board of directors’ size on a bank’s performance was not examined in the case of Sudanese Islamic banks.
Experimental evidence of rapid heritable adaptation in the absence of initial standing genetic variation
Authors: Lemmen Kimberley D. , Verhoeven Koen J. F. , Declerck Steven A. J.
Published: October 2021

The success of genetically depauperate populations in the face of environmental change is contrary to the expectation that high genetic diversity is required for rapid adaptation. Alternative pathways such as environmentally induced genetic modifications and non‐genetic heritable phenotypes have been proposed mechanisms for heritable adaptation within an ecologically relevant time frame. However, experimental evidence is currently lacking to establish if, and to what extent, these sources of phenotypic variation can produce a response.

To test if adaptation can rapidly occur in the absence of initial standing genetic variation and recombination in small populations, we (a) exposed replicate monoclonal populations of the microzooplankton Brachionus calyciflorus to a culturing regime that selected for phenotypic variants with elevated population growth with either high or low phosphorus food for a period of 55 days and (b) examined population level response in two fully factorial common garden experiments at day 15 and 35 of the exposure experiment.

Within six generations, we observed heritable local adaptation to nutrient limitation. More specifically, populations with a history of exposure to low P food exhibited higher population growth rates under low P food conditions than populations with a high P exposure history. However, the capacity for such a response was found to vary among clones.

Our study finds that although standing genetic variation is considered essential for rapid heritable adaptation, the rapid emergence of de novo genetic variation or alternative sources of phenotypic variation could aid in the establishment and persistence of low‐diversity populations.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Homicides committed by delusional patients in the early 20th and 21st centuries: A study conducted in a French secure unit
Authors: Provoost Eloïse , Raymond Sophie , Gasman Ivan
Published: October 2021

Homicides committed by delusional patients are the object of a rich scientific literature, which puts the risk of such acts occurring into perspective when analyzing the offenders’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. However, few articles detail the themes and mechanisms underlying those patients’ delusions. To help bridge that gap, the authors conducted this retrospective descriptive study, including two samples of delusional homicidal patients, one from near present day and one from nearly a century ago. This study considered similarities observed in the literature (such as patients’ sociodemographic profile, clinical data, and acting‐out dynamics), but also explored the characteristics of delusion. In the 2015–2019 sample, the typical patient profile was: single male (31.5 years old on average), without child, unemployed, and with psychiatric history (56.6%). Most patients suffered from schizophrenic disease (83%) with non‐systematized delusions exhibiting multiple themes in 80% of cases. Four principal types of delusion were observed: persecutive (100%), mystical (43.3%), megalomaniac (30%), and bodily (30%). The mechanisms were interpretative, hallucinatory, and intuitive. There was a societal influence in 23.3% of the cases (most often terrorist acts). The 1910–1914 historical sample revealed several differences: patients were older, more often married and employed. There were more diagnoses of chronic delusional disorder (30%). Persecutory delusion was constant (100%), and the other delusional themes were the “intimate relationship” type (50%)—jealousy, erotomanic—and the bodily type (40%). Additional studies are useful in order to reinforce our findings, and to further investigate the possibilities of prevention.
Brigatinib treated ALK positive lung squamous cell carcinoma after failed chemotherapy: A case report
Authors: Li Shuluan , Zhang Pei , Wang Tianyu , Wang Jie , Duan Jianchun
Published: October 2021

The definitive efficacy of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors in ALK positive lung squamous cell carcinoma (sqCC) patients remain unclear. Here, we report a case in which brigatinib had a therapeutic effect on ALK‐positive lung squamous cell carcinoma. The patient in this report was diagnosed with ALK‐positive lung squamous cell carcinoma with brain metastases, and received brigatinib after failure of first‐line chemotherapy. Response duration was approximately 11 months, with tolerable side effects. In conclusion, a good clinical effect was achieved in a patient with ALK positive lung squamous cell carcinoma who received treatment with an ALK inhibitor.
Amitriptyline blocks innate immune responses mediated by toll‐like receptor 4 and IL‐1 receptor: Preclinical and clinical evidence in osteoarthritis and gout
Authors: Franco‐Trepat Eloi , Alonso‐Pérez Ana , Guillán‐Fresco María , Jorge‐Mora Alberto , Crespo‐Golmar Antia , López‐Fagúndez Miriam , Pazos‐Pérez Andrés , Gualillo Oreste , Belén Bravo Susana , Gómez Bahamonde Rodolfo
Published: October 2021

Background and Purpose

Osteoarthritis, a major cause of disability in developed countries does not have effective treatment. Activation of TLR4 and innate immune response factors contribute to osteoarthritis progressive cartilage degradation. There are no clinically available TLR4 inhibitors. Interestingly, the antidepressant amitriptyline could block this receptor. Thus, we evaluated amitriptyline anti‐TLR4 effects on human osteoarthritis chondrocytes in order to repurpose it as an inhibitor of innate immune response in joint inflammatory pathologies.

Experimental Approach

Using in silico docking analysis, RT‐PCR, siRNA, elisa, proteomics and clinical data mining of drug consumption, we explored the clinical relevance of amitriptyline blockade of TLR4‐mediated innate immune responses in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes.

Key Results

Amitriptyline bound TLR4 but not IL‐1 receptor. Interestingly, amitriptyline binding to TLR4 inhibited TLR4‐ and IL‐1 receptor‐mediated innate immune responses in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes, synoviocytes and osteoblasts cells. Amitriptyline reduced basal innate immune responses and promoted anabolic effects in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes. Supporting its anti‐innate immune response effects, amitriptyline down‐regulated basal and induced expression of NLRP3, an inflammasome member from IL‐1 receptor signalling linked to osteoarthritis and gout pathologies. Accordingly, mining of dissociated and aggregated drug consumption data from 107,172 elderly patients (>65 years) revealed that amitriptyline consumption was significantly associated with lower colchicine consumption associated with inflammatory gout flare treatment.

Conclusion and Implications

Amitriptyline blocks TLR4‐, IL‐1 receptor and NLRP3‐dependent innate immune responses. This together with clinical data amitriptyline could be repurposed for systemic or local innate immune response management in diverse joint inflammatory pathologies.
Gender dysphoria: laparoscopic sigmoid vaginoplasty. Another utility of indocyanine green
Authors: Flor‐Lorente Blas , Rosciano Jose Gerardo , Pérez‐Pérez Teresa , Sancho‐Muriel Jorge , García‐Granero Álvaro , Nohales‐Alfonso Francisco Jose , Primo‐Romaguera Vicent , Simón‐Sanz Eduardo Antonio
Published: October 2021

Aim

Gender dysphoria is the disagreement between the gender of birth and the one with which the patient identifies. For its management it is mandatory to have a multidisciplinary team. Gender confirmation surgery with penoscrotal skin flap is the procedure of choice, and a sigmoid vaginoplasty is a feasible alternative. The new technologies and the help of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence can help to guarantee a correct neovagina vascularization. The objective of this paper is to present the surgical technique of laparoscopic sigmoid vaginoplasty assisted by ICG.

Methods

We present two patients with gender dysphoria and a history of stricture of the penoscrotal skin flap vaginoplasty. We performed sigmoid vaginoplasty by the laparoscopic approach. We began the procedure with the mobilization and section of 30 cm of sigmoid colon, selective ligation of the vessels assisted by ICG, 180° sigmoid rotation, externalized on antiperistaltic position, construction of colovestibular anastomosis and promontory fixation. We finished the procedure with virtual ileostomy construction and drain placement.

Results

Patients recovered satisfactorily and were discharged on the seventh day after surgery without complications.

Conclusion

Sigmoid vaginoplasty is a safe and feasible procedure. ICG has great value, contributing to the selective ligation of the vessels, allowing 180° sigmoid rotation and guaranteeing the irrigation of the neovagina.
Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided biliary drainage with a 22‐gauge needle and a 0.018‐inch guidewire: Can it be the new standard?
Authors: Minaga Kosuke , Takenaka Mamoru , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: October 2021

This Editorial refers to the article by T. Ogura et al., p 222‐227 of this issue.