bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissecting aneuploidy phenotypes by constructing Sc2.0 chromosome VII and SCRaMbLEing synthetic disomic yeast
Authors: Shen Yue , Gao Feng , Wang Yun , Wang Yuerong , Zheng Ju , Gong Jianhui , Zhang Jintao , Luo Zhouqing , Schindler Daniel , Deng Yang , Ding Weichao , Lin Tao , Swidah Reem , Zhao Hongcui , Jiang Shuangying , Zeng Cheng , Chen Shihong , Chen Tai , Wang Yong , Luo Yisha , Mitchell Leslie , Bader Joel S. , Zhang Guojie , Shen Xia , Wang Jian , Fu Xian , Dai Junbiao , Boeke Jef D. , Yang Huanming , Xu Xun , Cai Yizhi
Published: September 2022

Aneuploidy compromises genomic stability, often leading to embryo inviability, and is frequently associated with tumorigenesis and aging. Different aneuploid chromosome stoichiometries lead to distinct transcriptomic and phenotypic changes, making it helpful to study aneuploidy in tightly controlled genetic backgrounds. By deploying the engineered SCRaMbLE system to the newly synthesized Sc2.0 megabase chromosome VII (synVII), we constructed a synthetic disomic yeast and screened hundreds of SCRaMbLEd derivatives with diverse chromosomal rearrangements. Phenotypic characterization and multi-omics analysis revealed that fitness defects associated with aneuploidy could be restored by i) removing most of the chromosome content, or ii) modifying specific regions in the duplicated chromosome. These findings indicate that both chromosome copy number and chromosomal regions contribute to the aneuploidy-related phenotypes, and the synthetic yeast resource opens new paradigms in studying aneuploidy.

In brief

Use of SCRaMbLE and newly synthesized Mb-scale Sc2.0 chromosome VII enables insights into genotype/phenotype relationships associated with aneuploidy

Highlights

De novo design and synthesis of a Mb-scale synthetic yeast chromosome VII, carrying 11.8% sequence modifications and representing nearly 10% of the yeast genome.

A disomic yeast (n + synVII) is constructed for dissecting the aneuploidy phenotype

SCRaMbLE enables systematic exploration of regions causing aneuploidy phenotypes

Chromosomal copy number and content both contribute to aneuploidy phenotypes

A 20 Kb deletion on the right arm of synVII leads to fitness improvement linked to up-regulation of protein synthesis
When two’s a crowd - Structural mapping of PEAK pseudokinase interactions identifies 14-3-3 as a molecular switch for PEAK3/Crk signaling
Authors: Roy Michael J. , Surudoi Minglyanna G. , Kropp Ashleigh , Hou Jianmei , Dai Weiwen , Hardy Joshua M. , Liang Lung-Yu , Cotton Thomas R. , Lechtenberg Bernhard C. , Dite Toby A. , Ma Xiuquan , Daly Roger J. , Patel Onisha , Lucet Isabelle S.
Published: September 2022

PEAK pseudokinases regulate cell migration, invasion and proliferation by recruiting key signaling proteins to the cytoskeleton. Despite lacking catalytic activity, alteration in their expression level is associated with several aggressive cancers. Here, we elucidate new molecular details of key PEAK signaling interactions with the adapter proteins CrkII and Grb2 and the scaffold protein 14-3-3. Our findings rationalize why the dimerization of PEAK proteins has a crucial function in signal transduction and provide biophysical and structural data to unravel binding specificity within the PEAK interactome. We identify a conserved high affinity 14-3-3 motif on PEAK3 and demonstrate its role as a molecular switch to regulate CrkII binding. Together, our studies provide a detailed structural snapshot of PEAK interaction networks and further elucidate how PEAK proteins, especially PEAK3, act as dynamic scaffolds that exploit adapter proteins to control signal transduction in cell growth/motility and cancer.
Structural insights into regulation of the PEAK3 pseudokinase scaffold by 14-3-3
Authors: Torosyan Hayarpi , Paul Michael D. , Forget Antoine , Lo Megan , Diwanji Devan , Pawłowski Krzysztof , Krogan Nevan J. , Jura Natalia , Verba Kliment A.
Published: September 2022

The three members of the PEAK family of pseudokinases (PEAK1, PEAK2, and PEAK3) are molecular scaffolds that have recently emerged as important regulatory nodes in signaling pathways that control cell migration, morphology, and proliferation, and they are increasingly found to be mis-regulated in human cancers. While no structures of PEAK3 have been solved to date, crystal structures of the PEAK1 and PEAK2 pseudokinase domains revealed their dimeric organization. It remains unclear how dimerization plays a role in PEAK scaffolding functions, as no structures of PEAK family members in complex with their binding partners have been solved. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of the PEAK3 pseudokinase, also adopting a dimeric state, and in complex with an endogenous 14-3-3 heterodimer purified from mammalian cells. Our structure reveals an asymmetric binding mode between PEAK3 and 14-3-3 stabilized by one pseudokinase domain and the Split HElical Dimerization (SHED) domain of the PEAK3 dimer. The binding interface is comprised of a canonical primary interaction involving two phosphorylated 14-3-3 consensus binding sites located in the N-terminal domains of the PEAK3 monomers docked in the conserved amphipathic grooves of the 14-3-3 dimer, and a unique secondary interaction between 14-3-3 and PEAK3 that has not been observed in any previous structures of 14-3-3/client complexes. Disruption of these interactions results in the relocation of PEAK3 to the nucleus and changes its cellular interactome. Lastly, we identify Protein Kinase D as the regulator of the PEAK3/14-3-3 interaction, providing a mechanism by which the diverse functions of the PEAK3 scaffold might be fine-tuned in cells.
Melaninization Reduces Cryptococcus neoformans Susceptibility to Mechanical Stress
Authors: Mattoon Ellie Rose , Cordero Radames JB , Casadevall Arturo
Published: September 2022

Melanin is a complex pigment found in various fungal species that is associated with a multitude of protective functions against environmental stresses. In Cryptococcus neoformans, melanin is synthesized from exogenous substrate and deposited in the cell wall. Although melanin is often cited as a protector against mechanical stress, there is a paucity of direct experimental data supporting this claim. To probe whether melanin enhances cellular strength, we used ultrasonic cavitation and French pressure cell press to stress cryptococcal cells and then measured changes in cellular morphology and survival for melanized and non-melanized C. neoformans. Melanized yeast exhibited lower rates of fragmentation and lower decreases in cell area when compared to non-melanized yeast after sonication and French press conditions. Our results indicate that melanization protects against some of the morphologic changes initiated by mechanical energy derived from either sonic cavitation or French press, thus supporting the notion that this pigment provides mechanical strength to fungal cell walls.

Importance

Melanin has been shown from prior experiments in microbiology to be associated with protection against environmental stressors and has often been cited as being associated with mechanical stress protection. However, there is a lack of direct experimentation to confirm this claim. By examining the response of melanized and non-melanized C. neoformans to sonication and French press, we report differences in outcomes dependent not only based on melanization status but also culture age. Such findings have important implications in the design and interpretation of laboratory experiments involving C. neoformans. In addition, uncovering some of melanin’s mechanical properties promotes further research into fungal melanin’s applications in healthcare and industry.
Volatile aroma compound production is affected by growth rate inS. cerevisiae
Authors: Visinoni Federico , Zhang Penghan , Hollywood Katherine A. , Carlin Silvia , Vrhovsek Urska , Winterburn James , Delneri Daniela
Published: September 2022

The initial growth rate of a yeast strain is a key parameter in the production of fermented beverages. Fast growth is linked with higher fermentative capacity and results in less slow and stuck fermentations unable to reach the expected final gravity. As concentrations of metabolites are in constant state of flux, quantitative data on how growth rate affects the production of aromatic compounds becomes an important factor for brewers. Chemostats allow to set and keep a specific dilution rate throughout the fermentation and are ideal system to study the effect of growth on aroma production. In this study, we run chemostats alongside batch and fed-batch cultures, compared volatile profiles detected at different growth rates, and identified those affected by the different feeding profiles. Specifically, we quantified six abundant aroma compounds produced in anaerobic glucose-limited continuous cultivations ofS. cerevisiaeat different dilution rates. We found that volatile production was affected by the growth rate in four out of six compounds assayed, with higher alcohols and esters following opposite trends. Batch and fed-batch fermentations were devised to study the extent by which the final concentration of volatile compounds is influenced by glucose availability. When compared to the batch system, fed-batch fermentations, where the yeast growth was artificially limited by a slow constant release of nutrients in the media, resulted in a significant increase in concentration of higher alcohols, mirroring the results obtained in continuous fermentations. This study paves the way to further process development optimization for the production of fermented beverages.

Importance

The production of fermentation beverages will need to quickly adapt to changes in both the climate and in customer demands, requiring the development of new strains and processes. Breakthroughs in the field are hindered by the limited knowledge on the physiological role of aroma compounds production in yeast. No quantitative data on how growth rate affects aroma profile is available in the literature to guide optimisation of the complex flavours in fermented beverages. In this study, we exploited the chemostat system, alongside with batch and fed-batch cultures to compare volatile profiles at different growth rates. We identified the aromatic compounds affected by the different feeding profiles and nutrient limitations. Moreover, we uncovered the correlation between yeast growth, esters and higher alcohols production. This study showcases the potential of the application of feeding profiles for the manipulation of aroma in the craft beverage industry.
Insomnia and risk of sepsis: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Thorkildsen Marianne S. , Gustad Lise T. , Mohus Randi M. , Nilsen Tom I.L. , Damås Jan K. , Rogne Tormod
Published: September 2022

Importance

Insomnia has been associated with reduced immune function and increased risk of infections and sepsis in observational studies. These studies are prone to bias, such as residual confounding. To further understand the causal relation between insomnia and sepsis risk we used a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Objective

Is genetically predicted insomnia associated with risk of sepsis?

Design

Two-sample MR was performed to estimate the causal effect of genetically predicted insomnia on sepsis risk. Data was obtained from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) identifying 556 independent genetic variants (R2<0.01) strongly associated with insomnia (P< 5e-8). We conducted sensitivity analyses to address bias due to pleiotropy and sample overlap, along with mediation analyses.

Setting

Observational study using genetic variants as instrumental variables in large populations.

Participants

For insomnia, 2.4 million subjects of European ancestry from the UK Biobank and 23andMe. For sepsis, 462,918 subjects of European ancestry from the UK Biobank.

Exposure

Genetically predicted insomnia.

Main Outcome and Measure

Sepsis.

Results

A doubling in the population prevalence of genetically predicted insomnia was associated with an odds ratio of 1.42 (95% CI 1.23–1.63,P= 9.1e-7) for sepsis. Sensitivity analyses supported this observation. Three quarters of the effect was mediated through body mass index.

Conclusions and Relevance

The concordance between our findings and previous observational studies support of a causal role of genetically predicted insomnia in the risk of sepsis.
Preterm birth rates among twins during the Danish COVID-19 lockdown and mitigation period
Authors: Hedley Paula L , Bækvad-Hansen Marie , Hedermann Gitte , Hjalgrim Henrik , Hougaard David M. , Melbye Mads , Breindahl Morten , Krebs Lone , Hviid Anders , Lausten-Thomsen Ulrik , Christiansen Michael
Published: September 2022

Denmark’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was to issue guidelines on containment, isolation, and surveillance. Subsequently, Denmark entered a period with variable mitigation measures including closures of schools and workplaces, travel restrictions, and restrictions on public gatherings. A Danish study covering the lockdown period (March 12 – April 14, 2020) as well as a period of mitigation measures (February 27 – September 30, 2020) showed that the reduction in extremely preterm births was not associated with an increase in singleton stillbirth rate. Subsequent studies examining the impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures on preterm birth have combined singleton with multifetal pregnancies. However, multifetal pregnancies have a different set of risk factors for preterm birth, as well as, increased risk of adverse outcomes, and a shorter expected pregnancy length. We assessed the impact of the Danish lockdown period, or the mitigation period on multifetal births and found no significant difference in the proportion of preterm twin births among all twin births, either within gestational age groups or in total, for either period.
Risk factors for gallstone disease onset in Japan: findings from the Shizuoka Study, a population-based cohort study
Authors: Higashizono Kazuya , Nakatani Eiji , Hawke Philip , Fujimoto Shuhei , Oba Noriyuki
Published: September 2022

In the research literature on factors associated with gallstones, large population-based cohort studies are rare. We carried out a study of this type to explore risk factors for the onset of gallstones. This study included Japanese participants aged 40-107 years who were followed prospectively from January 2012 to September 2020 using a dataset composed of two individually linked databases, one containing annual health checkup records and the other containing medical claims for beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance System and the Medical Care System for Elderly in the Latter Stage of Life in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Among the 611,930 participants in the analysis set, 23,843 (3.9%) were diagnosed with gallstones during the observational period (median [max]: 5.68 [7.5] years). Multivariate analysis revealed that risk of gallstone disease was increased by male sex, cerebrovascular disease, any malignancy, dementia, rheumatic disease, chronic pulmonary disease, hypertension, and H. pylori-infected gastritis. These findings provide essential insights into the etiology of cholelithiasis and may contribute to efforts to reduce the incidence of the disease.
Plasma Level of ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1 (IF1) and intrinsic capacity in community-dwelling older adults: Prospective data from the MAPT Study
Authors: da Silva Jaqueline Aragoni , Martinez Laurent O. , Rolland Yves , Najib Souad , Croyal Mikaël , Perret Bertrand , Jabrane-Ferrat Nabila , Costa Hicham El , Guyonnet Sophie , Vellas Bruno , de Souto Barreto Philipe ,   the MAPT/DSA group
Published: September 2022

Background

Intrinsic capacity (IC) is a function-related concept that reflects healthy aging. Identifying IC biomarkers is an essential step to slow down functional declines at early stages. ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1) is a multifaceted protein that regulates mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), thereby affecting cellular energy production.

Objective

To investigate the association between plasma levels of IF1 and IC changes over four years in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

Community-dwelling older adults aged over 70 years at risk of cognitive decline from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT Study) were enrolled in this study. A composite IC score was calculated (ranging from 0 to 100; higher is better) over time using data on the following IC domains: locomotion, psychological dimension, cognition, vitality, and sensory ability (vision and hearing; assessed over one year only). Plasma levels of IF1 were assessed one year after the beginning of the study. Mixed-model linear regression adjusted for confounders was performed.

Results

A total of 1090 participants had usable IF1 values (mean age 75.3 ± 4.4 years; 64% females). The mean values of plasma IF1 and IC (4 domains) were 565.62 ± 251.92 ng/mL and 74.85 ± 8.43, respectively. Compared to the lowest quartile, low- and high-intermediate IF1 quartiles were cross-sectionally associated with greater composite IC scores of four domains (βlow-intermediate, 1.33; 95% CI 0.06– 2.60 and βhigh-intermediate, 1.78; 95% CI 0.49–3.06), and the highest quartile associated with a slower decline in composite IC scores of five domains over one year (βhigh 1.60; 95% CI 0.06– 3.15). The low- and high-intermediate IF1 quartiles were cross-sectionally associated with greater locomotion (βlow-intermediate, 2.72; 95% CI 0.36–5.08) and vitality scores (βhigh-intermediate, 1.59; 95% CI 0.06–3.12), respectively.

Conclusion

This study is the first to report circulating IF1 levels as a mitochondrial-related biomarker associated with IC composite scores in cross-sectional and prospective analyses in community-dwelling older adults. Further research is needed to confirm these findings, in particular, to determine a potential cut-off defining optimal plasma IF1 levels and to unravel the potential mechanisms that can explain these associations.
Disrupted role of the connectivity between the locus coeruleus and the hippocampus in cognition of healthy, middle-aged individuals at risk of dementia: the PREVENT-Dementia study
Authors: Deng Feng , Dounavi Maria-Eleni , Ritchie Karen , Muniz-Terrera Graciela , Malhotra Paresh , Ritchie Craig W , Lawlor Brian , Naci Lorina
Published: September 2022

It is well acknowledged that Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) pathological processes start decades before clinical manifestations, but the brain mechanism of sporadic AD in midlife remains unclear. To address this gap, we examined whether risk factors for late-life AD are associated with disrupted connectivity between two key structures in AD pathophysiology – the Locus Coeruleus (LC) and hippocampus – and its role in cognition, in a cohort of middle-aged and cognitively healthy individuals. Detailed neuropsychological assessments and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging were obtained at baseline (N=210), and two-years follow-up (N=188). Associations of cognition and LC–Hippocampus functional connectivity with apolipoprotein ε4 (APOE4) genotype, and dementia family history (FHD) were investigated using linear regression. Correlations between the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) dementia risk score and cognitive and functional measures were further investigated. APOE ε4 allele was significantly associated with better performance in verbal, spatial and relational memory. Higher CAIDE scores were significantly associated with worse performance in verbal, visuospatial functions and short-term (conjunctive) memory. The CAIDE dementia risk score moderated the relationship between cognition and LC–Hippocampus functional connectivity. In individuals with low (=<3)/high (>=8) CAIDE scores, higher functional connectivity was significantly associated with better/worse cognition. These results shed light on the brain mechanism of incipient AD neuropathology in individuals, who are at high risk for late-life dementia on the cardiovascular risk score, but presently cognitively healthy.
P1 bacteriophage-enabled delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 antimicrobial activity against Shigella flexneri
Authors: Huan Yang W. , Torraca Vincenzo , Brown Russell , Fa-arun Jidapha , Miles Sydney L. , Oyarzún Diego A. , Mostowy Serge , Wang Baojun
Published: September 2022

The discovery of clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and the Cas9 RNA-guided nuclease provides unprecedented opportunities to selectively kill specific populations or species of bacteria. However, the use of CRISPR-Cas9 to clear bacterial infections in vivo is hampered by the inefficient delivery of cas9 genetic constructs into bacterial cells. Here, we use a broad-host-range P1-derived phagemid to deliver the CRISPR-Cas9 chromosomal-targeting system into Escherichia coli and the dysentery-causing Shigella flexneri to achieve DNA sequence-specific killing of targeted bacterial cells. We show that genetic modification of the helper P1 phage DNA packaging site (pac) significantly enhances the purity of packaged phagemid and improves the Cas9-mediated killing of S. flexneri cells. We further demonstrate that P1 phage particles can deliver chromosomal-targeting cas9 phagemids into S. flexneri in vivo using a zebrafish larvae infection model, where it significantly reduces the bacterial load and promotes host survival. Our study highlights the potential of combining a P1 bacteriophage-based delivery with the CRISPR chromosomal-targeting system to achieve DNA sequence-specific cell lethality and efficient clearance of bacterial infection.
Environmental DNA phylogeography: successful reconstruction of phylogeographic patterns of multiple fish species from a cup of water
Authors: Tsuji Satsuki , Shibata Naoki , Inui Ryutei , Nakao Ryohei , Akamatsu Yoshihisa , Watanabe Katsutoshi
Published: September 2022

Phylogeography is an integrative field of science linking micro- and macro-evolutionary processes, contributing to the inference of vicariance, dispersal, speciation, and other population-level processes. Phylogeographic surveys usually require considerable effort and time to obtain numerous samples from many geographical sites covering the distribution range of target species; this associated high cost limits their application. Recently, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has been useful not only for detecting species but also for assessing genetic diversity; hence, there has been growing interest in its application to phylogeography. As the first step of eDNA-based phylogeography, we examined (1) data screening procedures suitable for phylogeography and (2) whether the results obtained from eDNA analysis accurately reflect known phylogeographic patterns. For these purposes, we performed quantitative eDNA metabarcoding using group-specific primer sets in five freshwater fish species belonging to two taxonomic groups from a total of 94 water samples collected from western Japan. As a result, three-step data screening based on the DNA copy number of each haplotype detected successfully eliminated suspected false positive haplotypes. Furthermore, eDNA analysis could almost perfectly reconstruct the phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns obtained for all target species with the conventional method. Despite existing limitations and future challenges, eDNA-based phylogeography can significantly reduce survey time and effort and is applicable for simultaneous analysis of multiple species in single water samples. eDNA-based phylogeography has the potential to revolutionise phylogeography.
Sex differences in training-induced activity of the ubiquitin proteasome system in the dorsal hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex of male and female mice
Authors: Beamish Sarah B. , Gross Kellie S. , Anderson McKenna M. , Helmstetter Fred J. , Frick Karyn M.
Published: September 2022

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is a primary mechanism through which proteins are degraded in cells. UPS activity in the dorsal hippocampus (DH) is necessary for multiple types of memory, including object memory, in male rodents. However, sex differences in DH UPS activation after fear conditioning suggest that other forms of learning may also differentially regulate DH UPS activity in males and females. Here, we examined markers of UPS activity in the synaptic and cytoplasmic fractions of DH and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) tissue collected 1 h following object training. In males, training increased phosphorylation of proteasomal subunit Rpt6, 20S proteasome activity, and the amount of PSD-95 in the DH synaptic fraction, as well as proteasome activity in the mPFC synaptic fraction. In females, training did not affect measures of UPS or synaptic activity in the DH synaptic fraction or in either mPFC fraction but increased Rpt6 phosphorylation in the DH cytoplasmic fraction. Overall, training-induced UPS activity was greater in males than in females, greater in the DH than in the mPFC, and greater in synaptic fractions than in cytosol. These data suggest that object training drives sex-specific alterations in UPS activity across brain regions and subcellular compartments important for memory.
Crystal structure of Rb6[B12O18(OH)6]·2H2O
Authors: Qiu Qi-Ming , Yan Li , Song Jian-Biao
Published: September 2022

The solvothermal reaction of H3BO3, sodium tert-butoxide, Rb2CO3 and pyridine led to a new alkaline metal borate hexarubidium hexahydroxydodecaborate dihydrate, Rb6[B12O18(OH)6]·2H2O. Its structure contains a large cyclic dodecaoxoboron cluster, [B12O18(OH)6]6−, formed by six {B3O3} rings. In the crystal, O—H...O hydrogen bonds between the components lead to the formation of a three-dimensional supramolecular framework.
The influence of the personality traits and sociodemographic CEO characteristics on performance of SMEs: evidence from Chile
Authors: Inostroza M. Alejandra , Espinosa-Méndez Christian
Published: September 2022

Purpose

In this paper the authors study how sociodemographic characteristics and personality traits of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) impact financial performance in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in an emerging economy such as Chile.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied a questionnaire to 185 Chilean SME CEOs during 2017 concerning sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, experience and marital status), personality traits (extraversion, responsibility, openness to experience, agreeableness, and neuroticism) and firm characteristics.

Findings

The authors find that some sociodemographic characteristics (gender and age) significantly impact SME performance. The authors find no significant connection between personality traits and firm performance.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the business literature by investigating how sociodemographic variables and personality traits of the CEO are related to SME financial performance; by providing new evidence on the relationship between CEO characteristics and firm performance, mostly centered on developed economies, in the context of an emerging economy; and allowing for a better understanding of how CEO decisions impact firm performance.
Patient personal data protection: comparing the health-care regulations in Indonesia, Singapore and the European Union
Authors: Kharisma Dona Budi , Diakanza Alvalerie
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the reasons why cases of leakage of patient personal data often occur in the health sector. This paper also analyzes personal data protection regulations in the health sector from a comparative legal perspective between Indonesia, Singapore and the European Union (EU).

Design/methodology/approach

This type of research is legal research. The research approach used is the statute approach and conceptual approach. The focus of this study in this research is Indonesia with a comparative study in Singapore and the EU.

Findings

Cases of leakage of patient personal data in Indonesia often occur. In 2021, the data for 230,000 COVID-19 patients was leaked and sold on the Rapid Forums dark web forum. A patient’s personal data is a human right that must be protected. Compared to Singapore and the EU, Indonesia is a country that does not yet have a law on the protection of personal data. This condition causes cases of leakage of patients’ personal data to occur frequently.

Research limitations/implications

This study analyzes the regulation and protection of patients’ personal data in Indonesia, Singapore and the EU to construct a regulatory design for the protection of patients’ personal data.

Practical implications

The results of this study are useful for constructing regulations governing the protection of patients’ personal data. The regulation is to protect the patient’s personal data like a patient’s human right.

Social implications

The ideal regulatory design can prevent data breaches. Based on the results of comparative studies, in Singapore and the EU, cases of personal data leakage are rare because they have a regulatory framework regarding the protection of patients’ personal data.

Originality/value

Legal strategies that can be taken to prevent and overcome patient data breaches include the establishment of an Act on Personal Data Protection; the Personal Data Protection Commission; and management of patients’ personal data.
State observer-based model reference adaptive balance control for one-leg stance
Authors: Tran Tri Duc , Duong Van Tu , Nguyen Hung Huy , Nguyen Tan Tien
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Humanoid robots have been utilized in many fields such as medical, construction, and disaster response. While humanoid robots nowadays can achieve great capabilities, the one-leg balancing task still poses a challenging problem. This paper aims to propose a novel approach to solve the problem.

Design/methodology/approach

To aid the balance of one leg in humanoid robot, an external balance mechanism is inserted to the back of the humanoid robot. First, a dynamic model of the humanoid robot with balance mechanism and its simplified model are introduced. Second, a backstepping-based control method is utilized to build the proposed controller for one-leg stance system through two steps. For the first step, a minimum observer-based controller with a virtual control input is used to control the first sub-system reaching the desired reference input. For the second step, a virtual control input is considered as a reference input of a second sub-system, then a model reference adaptive controller (MRAC) is employed to control the second sub-system reaching the virtual control input in presence of uncertainties. By using the external balance mechanism, the sideway balancing task is separated from normal walking function. Furthermore, the utilization of the balance mechanism ensures the humanoid robot's hip adduction does not exceed the threshold of a human when walking. Finally, a simulation study is carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Findings

This paper proposes a model reference adaptive control using state observer for balancing one leg of humanoid robot in stance phase that extends our previous research (Tran et al., 2021).

Originality/value

The main research contents have been introduced.
Domestic total factor productivity with trade and heterogenous foreign direct investment in developing countries: a case of Vietnamese manufacturing
Authors: Ngoc Pham Thi Bich , Vu Huynh Quoc , Dinh Long Pham
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine spillover effects of heterogenous foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises (domestic vs. export-oriented) through horizontal and vertical linkages and absorptive capacity effect on domestic firms' total factor productivity (TFP). It clarifies the spillover effect on domestic firms in accordance with industrial zones, business size, technology sector and geographical agglomeration, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

The dataset used is based on Vietnamese manufacturing firms during 2011–2014, input–output (I–O) Table 2012. This paper is conducted in two steps: (1) TFP is estimated by using a semi-parametric approach developed by Levinsohn and Petrin (2003); (2) Regression with panel data for domestic firms, applying the fixed effect method.

Findings

In terms of domestic-oriented FDI (DFDI) enterprise group: TFP spillover through horizontal linkages is found negative for domestic firms but positive for those participating in export. Additionally, backward linkages have a negative impact on TFP for most domestic enterprises, except for those operating in the high-tech sector. In terms of export-oriented FDI (EFDI) enterprise group, horizontal linkages have a negative impact on domestic firms' TFP including domestic ones participating in export whereas backward linkage is an important channel with positive effects. Absorptive capacity enables firms to improve productivity through linkages with EFDI and DFDI enterprises. Exporters located in industrial zones or regions with numerous exporters can receive better impacts through backward linkages EFDI.

Originality/value

Comprehensively, this is the first paper to detect FDI heterogeneity in their behavior when entering a developing country like Vietnam. The added value in this study comes from the export ability of local firms which is in line with Melitz (2003) theory that they can excel in absorping the TFP spillover from competing with DFDI competitors or from supplying to EFDI enterprises. Moreover, the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), low technology, high technology and learning by regions affecting the impact through both horizontal and vertical linkages are included for analysis.
Beyond the hype: how blockchain affects supply chain performance
Authors: Markus Sven , Buijs Paul
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the debate about the value of blockchain for supply chain management by assessing empirical evidence on the relationship between blockchain and supply chain performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a structured review of the academic literature to identify and assess papers providing empirical insight on operational blockchain applications. The authors complement the findings from this review with primary empirical data from 11 interviews with blockchain providers, users and experts involved in four recent projects.

Findings

The paper presents an integrated research framework that illustrates the impact of blockchain on supply chain performance. The findings highlight that blockchain can affect supply chain performance directly – via one of its core technological features – and indirectly via the broader business project through which blockchain technology is implemented.

Practical implications

Insights from this paper should provide managers with a more nuanced understanding of how blockchain technology can be leveraged to address important supply chain management challenges.

Originality/value

Prior research addressing the relationship between blockchain and supply chain performance mostly discusses potential performance effects of blockchain, presents individual blockchain applications and/or provides little explanation for how the core technological features of blockchain affect supply chain performance. This paper systematically assesses the ways in which blockchain can affect supply chain performance. In doing so, it goes beyond the initial hype around blockchain technology while countering some of the more recent critiques.
Gamification and e-learning adoption: a sequential mediation analysis of flow and engagement
Authors: Gupta Saurabh , Priyanka Priyanka
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of gamification on students’ e-learning adoption. In addition, this paper examines the effect of two mediations, that is, flow and engagement between gamification and e-learning adoption by using sequential mediation analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used the online survey method to collect the 570 responses through convenience sampling procedure. Sequential mediation analysis technique was used to test the mediation hypothesis.

Findings

The findings of this paper revealed that gamification elements are an important feature of flow, engagement in e-learning adoption process. Also, the paper found that engagement in the learning process is a key element for students to adopt e-learning.

Research limitations/implications

This paper makes its contribution to the literature related to gamification and e-learning adoption. The paper signifies the importance of gamification as an educational application in e-learning environment and its contribution in designing an interactive learning environment.

Originality/value

Empirically, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first paper to examine the sequential mediation model of gamification in the education sector in a developing nation like India. Furthermore, this paper also extends engagement and flow theory related to e-learning process by showing how students’ engagement and flow impact the e-learning adoption in the gamified environment.
Density‐dependence produces spurious relationships among demographic parameters in a harvested species
Authors: Riecke Thomas V. , Lohman Madeleine G. , Sedinger Benjamin S. , Arnold Todd W. , Feldheim Cliff L. , Koons David N. , Rohwer Frank C. , Schaub Michael , Williams Perry J. , Sedinger James S.
Published: September 2022

Harvest of wild organisms is an important component of human culture, economy, and recreation, but can also put species at risk of extinction. Decisions that guide successful management actions therefore rely on the ability of researchers to link changes in demographic processes to the anthropogenic actions or environmental changes that underlie variation in demographic parameters.

Ecologists often use population models or maximum sustained yield curves to estimate the impacts of harvest on wildlife and fish populations. Applications of these models usually focus exclusively on the impact of harvest and often fail to consider adequately other potential, often collinear, mechanistic drivers of the observed relationships between harvest and demographic rates. In this study, we used an integrated population model and long‐term data (1973–2016) to examine the relationships among hunting and natural mortality, the number of hunters, habitat conditions, and population size of blue‐winged teal Spatula discors, an abundant North American dabbling duck with a relatively fast‐paced life history strategy.

Over the last two and a half decades of the study, teal abundance tripled, hunting mortality probability increased slightly (), and natural mortality probability increased substantially () at greater population densities. We demonstrate strong density‐dependent effects on natural mortality and fecundity as population density increased, indicative of compensatory harvest mortality and compensatory natality. Critically, an analysis that only assessed the relationship between survival and hunting mortality would spuriously indicate depensatory mortality due to multicollinearity between abundance, natural mortality and hunting mortality.

Our findings demonstrate that models that only consider the direct effect of hunting on survival or natural mortality can fail to accurately assess the mechanistic impact of hunting on population dynamics due to multicollinearity among demographic drivers. This multicollinearity limits inference and may have strong impacts on applied management actions globally.
Public Debt: What Measures Should We Use? A Case Study of Public Debt in Mid‐ and Post‐pandemic Australia and Its Economic, Policy and Social Consequences
Authors: Zwalf Sebastian , Scott Robin
Published: September 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic saw governments around the world suddenly accumulate substantially higher levels of public debt. We consider the level of debt entered into by Australia's federal, state and territory governments and compare this against three metrics for debt sustainability. Using these measures, we find that current and future public debt levels sit within what is regarded as sustainable by scholarly and practitioner opinion. However, we note that recent increases in interest rates will challenge this. We conclude by outlining a range of economic, social and policy challenges arising from the new high public debt environment.
Effects of the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act on immigrant children's healthcare access
Authors: Chu Jun , Roby Dylan H. , Boudreaux Michel H.
Published: September 2022

Objective

To estimate the effects of Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), a policy that provided states the option to extend Medicaid/CHIP eligibility to immigrant children who have not been legal residents for five years or more, on insurance coverage, access, utilization, and health outcomes among immigrant children.

Data Sources

Restricted use 2000–2016 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Study Design

We used a difference‐in‐differences design that compared changes in CHIPRA expansion states to changes in non‐expansion states.

Data Collection

Our sample included immigrant children who were born outside the US, aged 0–18 with family income below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Subgroup analyses were conducted across states that did and did not have a similar state‐funded option prior to CHIPRA (state‐funded vs. not state‐funded), by the length of time in the US (5 years vs. 5–14 years), and global region of birth (Latin American vs. Asian countries).

Principle Findings

We found that CHIPRA was associated with a significant 6.35 percentage point decrease in uninsured rates (95% CI: −11.25, −1.45) and an 8.1 percentage point increase in public insurance enrollment for immigrant children (95% CI: 1.26, 14.98). However, the effects of CHIPRA became small and statistically not significant 3 years after adoption. Effects on public insurance coverage were significant in states without state‐funded programs prior to CHIPRA (15.50 percentage points; 95% CI:8.05, 22.95) and for children born in Asian countries (12.80 percentage points; 95% CI: 1.04, 24.56). We found no significant changes in health care access and utilization, and health outcomes, overall and across subgroups due to CHIPRA.

Conclusions

CHIPRA's eligibility expansion was associated with increases in public insurance coverage for low‐income children, especially in states where CHIPRA represented a new source of coverage versus a substitute for state‐funded coverage. However, we found evidence of crowd‐out in certain subgroups and no effect of CHIPRA on access to care and health. Our results suggest that public coverage may be an important tool for promoting the well‐being of immigrant children but other investments are still needed.
Fluctuating fine‐scale spatial genetic structure in the common shrews (Eulipotyphla, Mammalia)
Authors: SHCHIPANOV Nikolay A. , ARTAMONOV Artem V. , TITOV Sergey V. , PAVLOVA Svetlana V.
Published: September 2022

The spatial genetic structure is a topical issue in the studies of various aspects of ecology and evolution. Using the multilocus autocorrelation method with hypervariable microsatellite genetic markers, we investigated a fine‐scale pattern of genetic structure in 5 local populations of the common shrewSorex araneusseparated by distances of 300–1000 m (the Moscow chromosomal race). Spatial genetic autocorrelation analysis based on 5 microsatellite loci (expected heterozygosity >0.79) with 90 alleles revealed a consistent pattern of significant positive genetic structure. By testing the autocorrelation at multiple scales from 25 to 500 m, we found that positive spatial genetic structure is detectable in distance classes of <500 m. The weaker spatial genetic structure positively correlated with a higher ratio of nonresident individuals to residents’ activity (number of captures). In contrast to nonresident animals, the residents demonstrated prominent genetic structure. Genetic difference (FST) between the populations was significant (0.016–0.051) and comparable with that between populations of different races analyzed previously (0.016–0.038).FSTwas not associated with geographic distance. These demographic patterns allowed us to propose a scheme of genetic‐structure dynamics involving periodic appearance of more related local groups and renewal of allelic profiles from а common pool where the alleles are mixed. The scheme predicts fluctuating genetic structure and random similar differences among local populations.
Safety is increasingly important in cobweb spiders based on life history
Authors: ZHANG Haixin , ZHONG Rui , YU Long , CHEN Jian , AGNARSSON Ingi , LIU Jie
Published: September 2022

Detritus‐based, bell‐shaped cobwebs are an ideal model to research the plasticity of web architecture due to clearly separate defense and foraging components. We performed a thorough field investigation on the web architectures of Campanicola campanulata to research its cobweb architecture variation during the growth process and analyzed the energy trade‐offs between foraging and defense at different developmental stages. The results indicated that as female C. campanulata grew, they dedicated more energy to defense and less energy to foraging, while males dedicated less energy to both defense and foraging through the growth period. We hypothesize that cobweb spiders dedicate an increasing amount of energy to safety based on evidence obtained from their life‐history. Meanwhile, we present a new model to investigate web architecture variation and provide a new framework to quantify the energy allocation between foraging and predator defense for web‐building spiders.
Optimal sequence similarity thresholds for clustering of molecular operational taxonomic units inDNAmetabarcoding studies
Authors: Bonin Aurélie , Guerrieri Alessia , Ficetola Gentile Francesco
Published: September 2022

Clustering approaches are pivotal to handle the many sequence variants obtained in DNA metabarcoding data sets, and therefore they have become a key step of metabarcoding analysis pipelines. Clustering often relies on a sequence similarity threshold to gather sequences into molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), each of which ideally represents a homogeneous taxonomic entity (e.g., a species or a genus). However, the choice of the clustering threshold is rarely justified, and its impact on MOTU over‐splitting or over‐merging even less tested. Here, we evaluated clustering threshold values for several metabarcoding markers under different criteria: limitation of MOTU over‐merging, limitation of MOTU over‐splitting, and trade‐off between over‐merging and over‐splitting. We extracted sequences from a public database for nine markers, ranging from generalist markers targeting Bacteria or Eukaryota, to more specific markers targeting a class or a subclass (e.g., Insecta, Oligochaeta). Based on the distributions of pairwise sequence similarities within species and within genera, and on the rates of over‐splitting and over‐merging across different clustering thresholds, we were able to propose threshold values minimizing the risk of over‐splitting, that of over‐merging, or offering a trade‐off between the two risks. For generalist markers, high similarity thresholds (0.96–0.99) are generally appropriate, while more specific markers require lower values (0.85–0.96). These results do not support the use of a fixed clustering threshold. Instead, we advocate careful examination of the most appropriate threshold based on the research objectives, the potential costs of over‐splitting and over‐merging, and the features of the studied markers.