bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review assessing the state of analytical validation for connected, mobile, sensor-based digital health technologies
Authors: Sharma Yashoda , Djambazova Katerina V. , Marquez Celine D. , Lyden Kate , Goldsack Jennifer C. , Bakker Jessie P.
Published: May 2023

Background

Despite the recent proliferation of digital health technologies (DHTs), there is a lack of formal, industry-wide standards to evaluate the performance of the product’s algorithm in terms of its ability to measure, detect, or predict a clinical state. The advancement and successful use of DHTs in medicine requires that all stakeholders – clinicians, patients, payers, regulators, pharmaceutical companies, and the medical products industry – have a common understanding of what it means when a DHT has been analytically validated.

Objective

We conducted a systematic review to assess the state of the science on analytical validation for DHTs, using the criteria established by the V3 Framework and EVIDENCE checklist.

Methods

The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A multi-tier PubMed search identified studies published between April 15, 2020, and April 15, 2023, on analytical validation of DHTs; thereafter, each paper was assessed against the EVIDENCE checklist items specific to analytical validation. All studies were required to report quantitative data collected from a connected, mobile sensor product for the measurement, diagnosis, and/or treatment of a behavioral or physiological function, and compare the outcome measures to an established reference standard.

Results

Of the 1201 papers identified in the literature search, we identified 303 reporting the results of a DHT analytical validation study. The most prevalent therapeutic areas of focus were neurological (26%), cardiovascular (18%), and sleep conditions (17%). Health outcome categories most frequently captured by DHTs were gait (15%), heart rate/rhythm (15%), blood pressure and/or arterial stiffness (11%), sleep staging (10%), and mobility (9%). Only 208 papers (69%) reported all components of the EVIDENCE checklist focused on analytical validation, with the exception of software version and race/ethnicity, thereby meeting our definition of high-quality evidence reporting.

Conclusion

We are encouraged by the emerging literature evaluating whether outcome measures assessed by DHTs adequately reflect the physiological or behavioral parameter of interest; however, the quality of reporting is not yet sufficient to ensure the advancement of digital clinical measures that are fit-for-purpose for all members of a defined population and eliminate the need for redundant studies. We recommend that journals publishing analytical validation studies require the use of the EVIDENCE checklist as a reporting standard for these manuscripts.
Age-related phenotypes in breast cancer: a population-based study
Authors: Svanøe Amalie A. , Humlevik Rasmus O.C. , Knutsvik Gøril , Sæle Anna K.M. , Askeland Cecilie , Ingebriktsen Lise M. , Hugaas Ulrikke , Kvamme Amalie B. , Tegnander Amalie F. , Krüger Kristi , Davidsen Benedicte , Hoivik Erling A. , Aas Turid , Stefansson Ingunn M. , Akslen Lars A. , Wik Elisabeth
Published: May 2023

Breast cancer in young (<40 years) is associated with a higher frequency of aggressive tumor types and poor prognosis. It remains unclear if there is an underlying age-related biology that contributes to the unfavorable outcome. We aim to investigate the relationship between age and breast cancer biology, with emphasis on proliferation. Clinico-pathologic information, immunohistochemical markers, and follow-up data were obtained for all patients aged <50 (Bergen cohort-1; n=355) and compared to previously obtained information on patients aged 50-69 (Bergen cohort-2; n=540), who participated in the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program. Data from the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) was applied for validation and for analyses of gene expression signatures. Young breast cancer patients presented more aggressive tumor features such as hormone receptor negativity, HER2 positivity, lymph-node metastasis, the HER2-enriched and triple negative subtypes, and shorter survival. Age <40 was significantly associated with features of stemness and higher proliferation (by Ki67), also in molecular subsets. Ki67 showed weaker prognostic value in young patients. We point to aggressive phenotypes, increased tumor cell proliferation and stem-like features in breast cancer of the young. Hence, tumors of young breast cancer patients may have a unique biology, also when accounting for screen/interval differences, that may open for new clinical opportunities, stratifying treatment by age.
Reduction of retinal ganglion cell death in mouse models of familial dysautonomia using AAV-mediated gene therapy and splicing modulators
Authors: Schultz Anastasia , Cheng Shun-Yun , Kirchner Emily , Costello Stephanann , Miettinen Heini , Chaverra Marta , King Colin , George Lynn , Zhao Xin , Narasimhan Jana , Weetall Marla , Slaugenhaupt Susan , Morini Elisabetta , Punzo Claudio , Lefcort Frances
Published: May 2023

Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a rare neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease caused by a splicing mutation in the Elongator Acetyltransferase Complex Subunit 1 (ELP1) gene. The reduction in ELP1 mRNA and protein leads to the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and visual impairment in all FD patients. Currently, patient symptoms are managed, but there is no treatment for the disease. We sought to test the hypothesis that restoring levels of Elp1 would thwart the death of RGCs in FD. To this end, we tested the effectiveness of two therapeutic strategies for rescuing RGCs. Here we provide proof-of-concept data that gene replacement therapy and small molecule splicing modifiers effectively reduce the death of RGCs in mouse models for FD and provide pre-clinical data foundation for translation to FD patients.
Bat cellular immunity varies by year and dietary habit in an increasingly fragmented landscape
Authors: DeAnglis Isabella K. , Andrews Benjamin R. , Lock Lauren R. , Dyer Kristin E. , Volokhov Dmitriy V. , Fenton M. Brock , Simmons Nancy B. , Downs Cynthia J. , Becker Daniel J.
Published: May 2023

Monitoring the health of wildlife populations is essential in the face of increased agricultural expansion and forest fragmentation. Loss of habitat and habitat degradation can negatively affect an animal’s physiological state, possibly resulting in immunosuppression and increased morbidity or mortality. We sought to determine how fragmentation may differentially impact cellular immunity and infection risk in Neotropical bats species regularly infected with bloodborne pathogens, and to evaluate how effects may vary over time and by dietary habit. We studied common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus), northern yellow-shouldered bats (Sturnira parvidens), and Mesoamerican mustached bats (Pteronotus mesoamericanus), representing the dietary habits of sanguinivory, frugivory, and insectivory respectively, in northern Belize. We compared estimated total white blood cell counts, leukocyte differentials, and infection status with two blood-borne bacterial pathogens (Bartonellaspp. and hemoplasmas) of 118 bats captured in a broadleaf, secondary forest over a three-year period (2017-2019) of increasing habitat fragmentation. We found evidence for bat species-specific responses of cellular immunity between years, with neutrophil counts increasing inD. rotundus, but decreasing inS. parvidensandP. mesoamericanusfrom 2018 to 2019. However, the odds of infection withBartonellaspp. and hemoplasma spp. between 2017 and 2019 did not differ between bat species, contrary to our prediction that pathogen prevalence may increase with increased fragmentation. We conclude that each bat species invested differently in cellular immunity in ways that changed over years of increasing fragmentation. We recommend further research on the interactions between habitat fragmentation, cellular immunity, and infection across dietary habits of Neotropical bats for informed management and conservation.
Molecular Dynamics studies of Long Neurotoxins against nAChR provide key insights towards design of therapeutic peptides for Dyskinesia
Authors: Pandit Shivam , Saha Gargi , D Jagadeesh Kumar. , Nagendra H.G.
Published: May 2023

Peptide-based drugs are widely used as therapeutic products that exhibit strong binding affinities with high specificity and low toxicity. To develop novel therapeutics against severe involuntary muscle movement and trembling disorder (Dyskinesia), the study explored the design of peptides that could target the nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) as antagonistic leads. The work aimed to suggest that the pharmacological interaction of snake venom toxins and its associated peptides with nAChR’s could be exploited as plausible solutions for PD. Molecular docking and Molecular dynamics exercises were carried out using long chain neurotoxins (α-BTx, 1NTN) to analyze the efficacies of their binding to nAChR’s, with both the entire toxin and short peptide moieties. The study demonstrated that thenovel-peptide (F8J2D7)system appears to possess better affinity with the nAChR than the entire toxin, which is a first step towards designing peptide-based drugs from snake venom proteins that could facilitate further research in the peptide-engineering and drug designing prospects for various neurodegenerative diseases.
Discovering pathways through ribozyme fitness landscapes using information theoretic quantification of epistasis
Authors: Charest Nathaniel , Shen Yuning , Lai Yei-Chen , Chen Irene A. , Shea Joan-Emma
Published: May 2023

The identification of catalytic RNAs is typically achieved through primarily experimental means. However, only a small fraction of sequence space can be analyzed even with high-throughput techniques. Methods to extrapolate from a limited data set to predict additional ribozyme sequences, particularly in a human-interpretable fashion, could be useful both for designing new functional RNAs and for generating greater understanding about a ribozyme fitness landscape. Using information theory, we express the effects of epistasis (i.e., deviations from additivity) on a ribozyme. This representation was incorporated into a simple model of the epistatic fitness landscape, which identified potentially exploitable combinations of mutations. We used this model to theoretically predict mutants of high activity for a self-aminoacylating ribozyme, identifying potentially active triple and quadruple mutants beyond the experimental data set of single and double mutants. The predictions were validated experimentally, with nine out of nine sequences being accurately predicted to have high activity. This set of sequences included mutants that form a previously unknown evolutionary ‘bridge’ between two ribozyme families that share a common motif. Individual steps in the method could be examined, understood, and guided by a human, combining interpretability and performance in a simple model to predict ribozyme sequences by extrapolation.
Towards a definition of unicellular eukaryote phototrophs functional traits via metabolic modelling
Authors: Burel Marie , Régimbeau Antoine , Eveillard Damien , Pelletier Eric
Published: May 2023

Defining biological functional traits for unicellular organisms relies on comprehending the set and combination of the biochemical reactions their genomes encode for. This network of biochemical reactions defines the metabolic strategy organisms and communities use. Understanding the functional traits of unicellular organisms involves studying the combination of biochemical reactions encoded in their genomes. These reactions determine the metabolic strategy that organisms and communities use to grow in a specific environment. While prokaryotes have been extensively studied for their metabolic networks, eukaryotes have lagged behind due to the complexity of their genomes and the need for a better understanding of their metabolism. We have createdPhotoEukstein, a meta-metabolic model for unicellular phototrophic eukaryotes. This meta-model enables quick and automated derivation of Genome-Scale Metabolic models directly from genomes. We have used it to analyse 533 environmental genomes and marine eukaryotic unicellular plankton transcriptomes. These models can help predict functional traits that cannot be purely deducted from taxonomic information or the listing of metabolic reactions encoded by the genome. They provide the opportunity to build connections with Earth System Models to pinpoint environmental parameters to capture specific functional traits.
Divergent lineages in a young species: the case of Datilillo (Yucca valida), a broadly distributed plant from the Baja California Peninsula
Authors: Aleman Alberto , Arteaga Maria Clara , Gasca-Pineda Jaime , Bello-Bedoy Rafael
Published: May 2023

Premise

Globally, barriers triggered by climatic changes have caused habitat fragmentation and population allopatric divergence. Across North America, oscillations during the Quaternary have played important roles in the distribution of wildlife. Notably, diverse plant species from the Baja California Peninsula, in western North America, exhibit strong genetic structure and highly concordant divergent lineages across their ranges, as they were isolated during the Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles and thus accumulated genetic differentiation in their genomes. A representative plant genus of this Peninsula isYucca, withYucca validahaving the widest range. WhereasY. validais a dominant species, there is an extensive distribution discontinuity between 26° N and 27° N, where no individuals have been identified, suggesting restricted gene flow. Moreover, the historical distribution models indicate the absence of an area with suitable conditions for the species during the Last Interglacial, making it an interesting model for studying genetic divergence.

Methods

We examined the phylogeography ofY. validathroughout its range to identify the number of genetic lineages, quantify their genetic differentiation, reconstruct their demographic history and estimate the species’ age.

Key results

We assembled 4,411 SNPs from 147 plants, identifying three allopatric lineages. Our analyses support that genetic drift is the driver of genetic differentiation among these lineages. We estimated an age under one million years for the common ancestor ofY. validaand its sister species.

Conclusions

Habitat fragmentation caused by climatic changes, low dispersal, and an extensive geographical range gap acted as cumulative mechanisms leading to allopatric divergence inY. valida.
Novel TRPM7 inhibitors with potent anti-inflammatory effectsin vivo
Authors: Busey Gregory W. , Manjegowda Mohan C. , Huang Tao , Iobst Wesley H. , Naphade Shardul S. , Kennedy Joel A. , Doyle Catherine A. , Seegren Philip V. , Lynch Kevin R. , Desai Bimal N.
Published: May 2023

TRPM7, a TRP channel with ion conductance and kinase activities, has emerged as an attractive drug target for immunomodulation. Reverse genetics and cell biological studies have already established a key role for TRPM7 in the inflammatory activation of macrophages. Advancing TRPM7 as a viable molecular target for immunomodulation requires selective TRPM7 inhibitors within vivotolerability and efficacy. Such inhibitors have the potential to interdict inflammatory cascades mediated by systemic and tissue-specialized macrophages. FTY720, an FDA-approved drug for multiple sclerosis inhibits TRPM7. However, FTY720 is a prodrug and its metabolite, FTY720-phosphate, is a potent agonist of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors. In this study, we tested non-phosphorylatable FTY720 analogs, which are inert against S1PRs and well toleratedin vivo, for activity against TRPM7 and tissue bioavailability. Using patch clamp electrophysiology, we show that VPC01091.4 and AAL-149 block TRPM7 current at low micromolar concentrations. In culture, they act directly on macrophages to blunt LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine expression, an effect that is predominantly but not solely mediated by TRPM7. We found that VPC01091.4 has significant and rapid accumulation in the brain and lungs, along with direct anti-inflammatory action on alveolar macrophages and microglia. Finally, using a mouse model of endotoxemia, we show VPC01091.4 to be an efficacious anti-inflammatory agent that arrests systemic inflammationin vivo. Together, these findings identify novel small molecule inhibitors that allow TRPM7 channel inhibition independent of S1P receptor targeting. These inhibitors exhibit potent anti-inflammatory properties that are mediated by TRPM7 and likely other molecular targets that remain to be identified.
Detection of mycobacterial pulmonary diseases via breath analysis in clinical practice
Authors: Su Biyi , Feng Yong , Chen Haibin , Zhu Jialou , He Mengqi , Wu Lijuan , Sheng Qing , Guan Ping , Chen Pinru , Kuang Haobin , Li Dexian , Wang Weiyong , Feng Zhiyu , Tan Yigang , Liu Jianxiong , Tan Yaoju
Published: May 2023

Background

Current clinical tests for mycobacterial pulmonary diseases (MPD), such as pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary diseases (NTM-PD), are inaccurate, time-consuming, sputum-dependent, and/or costly. We aimed to develop a simple, rapid and accurate breath test for screening and differential diagnosis of MPD patients in clinical settings.

Methods

Exhaled breath samples were collected from 93 PTB, 68 NTM-PD and 4 PTB&NTM-PD patients, 93 patients with other pulmonary diseases (OPD) and 181 healthy controls (HC), and tested using the online high-pressure photon ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometer (HPPI-TOF-MS). Machine learning models were trained and blindly tested for the detection of MPD, PTB, NTM-PD, and the discrimination between PTB and NTM-PD, respectively. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by metrics of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

The breath PTB detection model achieved a sensitivity of 73.5%, a specificity of 85.8%, an accuracy of 82.9%, and an AUC of 0.895 in the blinded test set (n=141). The corresponding metrics for the NTM-PD detection model were 86.4%, 93.2%, 92.1% and 0.972, respectively. For distinguishing PTB from NTM-PD, the model also achieved good performance with sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and AUC of 85.3%, 81.8%, 83.9% and 0.947, respectively. 22 potential breath biomarkers associated with MPD were putatively identified and discussed, which included 2-furanmethanol, ethanol, 2-butanone, etc.

Conclusions

The developed breathomics-based MPD detection method was demonstrated for the first time with good performance for potential screening and diagnosis of PTB and NTM-PD using a refined operating procedure on the HPPI-TOF-MS platform.
Wiring between close nodes in biological networks evolves more quickly than between distant nodes
Authors: Gil-Gomez Alejandro , Rest Joshua S.
Published: May 2023

As species diverge, a wide range of evolutionary processes lead to changes in protein-protein interaction networks and metabolic networks. The rate at which biological networks evolve is an important question in evolutionary biology. Previous empirical work has focused on interactomes from model organisms to calculate rewiring rates, but this is limited by the relatively small number of species and sparse nature of network data across species. We present a proxy for variation in network topology: variation in drug-drug interactions (DDIs), obtained by studying drug combinations (DCs) across taxa. Here, we propose the rate at which DDIs change across species as an estimate of the rate at which the underlying biological network changes as species diverge. We computed the evolutionary rates of DDIs using previously published data from a high throughput study in gram-negative bacteria. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we found that DDIs diverge rapidly over short evolutionary time periods, but that divergence saturates over longer time periods. In parallel, we mapped drugs with known targets in protein-protein interaction and co-functional networks. We found that the targets of synergistic DDIs are closer in these networks than other types of DCs and that synergistic interactions have a higher evolutionary rate, meaning that nodes that are closer evolve at a faster rate. Future studies of network evolution may use DC data to gain larger-scale perspectives on the details of network evolution within and between species.
Orthologs of theC. elegansheterochronic genes have divergent functions inC. briggsae
Authors: Ivanova Maria , Moss Eric G.
Published: May 2023

The heterochronic genes ofC. eleganscomprise the best-studied pathway controlling the timing of tissue and organ formation in an animal. To begin to understand the evolution of this pathway and the significance of the relationships among its components, we characterized 11C. briggsaeorthologs ofC. elegansheterochronic genes. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we made a variety of alleles and found that several mutant phenotypes differ in significant ways from those ofC. elegans. Although most mutant orthologs displayed defects in developmental timing, their phenotypes could differ in which stages were affected, the penetrance and expressivity of the phenotypes, or by having additional pleiotropies that were not obviously connected to developmental timing. However, when examining pairwise epistasis and synergistic relationships, we found those paralleled the known relationships between theirC. elegansorthologs, suggesting that the arrangements of these genes in functional modules is conserved, but the modules’ relationships to each other and/or to their targets has drifted since the time of the species’ last common ancestor. Furthermore, our investigation has revealed a relationship to this pathway to other aspects of the animal’s growth and development, including gonad development, that is relevant to both species.
Lean and BIM integration benefits construction management practices in New Zealand
Authors: Likita Ayuba Jerry , Jelodar Mostafa Babaeian , Vishnupriya V , Rotimi James Olabode Bamidele
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The construction industry is inefficient in terms of quality products, productivity and performance worldwide, including in Australia and New Zealand. The construction industry is becoming more innovative, competitive and complex; and more participants are involved in construction projects. There are new attempts to implement the Lean construction philosophy, integrated project delivery method and building information modelling (BIM) technology in construction industry to improve productivity and efficiency. This paper aims to identify Lean and BIM integration benefits in construction industry globally and in the New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review and case studies were used to identify various benefits of the integrating Lean and BIM in construction industry. It focused on articles published between 1995 and 2021.

Findings

Lean and BIM benefits identified in the study were documented such as benefits over the traditional approach, critically increased efficiency and visualization, better building process, better building performance, mitigating risk and reduce cost. Also, several factors were identified as major benefits such as improved onsite collaboration, better coordination, improve onsite communication, increase productivity, mitigating risk, reducing waste and reduced cost. The study showed integrating Lean and BIM in construction management practice will help reduce several challenges which affect expected goals and customer anticipation. The research outcome ultimately will assist different stakeholders in applying Lean and BIM in construction management practice.

Originality/value

This study practically focused on using the integration of BIM and Lean principles to improve the construction industry productivity and performance.
Navigating cyber resilience in seaports: challenges of preparing for cyberattacks at the Port of Rotterdam
Authors: Punt Eline , Monstadt Jochen , Frank Sybille , Witte Patrick
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Cyber resilience has emerged as an approach for seaports to deal with cyberattacks; it emphasizes ports’ ability to prepare for an attack and to keep operating and recover quickly. However, little research has been undertaken on the challenges of governing cyber risks in seaports. This study aims to address this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

Governing cyber resilience is shaped by distributed responsibilities, uncertainties and ambiguities. The authors use this conceptualization to explore the governance of cyber risks in seaports, taking the Port of Rotterdam as a case study and analyzing semistructured interviews with stakeholders, participatory observation and policy documents and legislation.

Findings

The authors found that many strategies for governing cyber risks remain dedicated to protecting computer systems against cyberattacks. Nevertheless, port stakeholders have also developed strategies in anticipation of disruptions. However, these strategies appear informal and uncoordinated due to a lack of information exchange, insufficient knowledge regarding cyber risks and disagreement about how to make the Port of Rotterdam cyber resilient. What mainly hampers the cyber resilience of the port is the lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework and economic incentives. The authors conclude that resilience is merely an ideal at the Port of Rotterdam, meaning related governance strategies remain incremental and await institutionalization.

Originality/value

This paper offers insights into the cyber resilience of critical socio-technical systems, which have been underexposed in cyber resilience debates, but, when exploited, can manifest in large-scale disruptions.
Metadata construction scheme of a traditional clothing digital collection
Authors: Ye Qingzhu
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a digital collection and database of traditional clothing that is convenient for the digital dissemination and application of traditional clothing and provide resources for research on clothing fashion, traditional clothing techniques, clothing culture, history and clothing teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

A real object analysis method was used in this paper, based on 15 core elements of the internationally common DC metadata standard, and with consideration to the characteristics of clothing products and clothing industry application specifications, the core elements of DC are expanded to facilitate the detailed record of the characteristic information of clothing, especially the implicit clothing culture. A code symbol compilation method was developed to give each piece of clothing a unique number, facilitating identification, classification and recording. At last, a metadata construction scheme for traditional clothing was developed. A traditional embroidered children's hat and Mamianqunt serve as examples to demonstrate the metadata elements.

Findings

The clothing meta-database provides a main body of traditional clothing while also paying attention to the collection of cultural elements. It is composed of five layers of classified data, source data, characteristic data, connotation data and management data, as well as 28 data elements, providing ease of sharing and interoperation.

Originality/value

This paper expands the subset of fashion metadata by describing traditional clothing metadata, especially the excavation of clothing cultural elements, and developing code compilation methods so that each clothing product can obtain a unique identification number, thereby building a traditional clothing metadata construction scheme consisting of five data layers and containing 28 data elements. This scheme records the information about each layer of traditional clothing in detail and provides shared data for discipline research and industry applications.
Implementation of design for construction safety (DfS) in the Vietnam context: awareness, attitude and practices
Authors: Phan Phuong T.C. , Zhou Zhipeng
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to inquire into the awareness of Vietnamese architects about design for safety (DfS) and the level of engagement in applying DfS among them to get a generic view of the implementation of DfS in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative research was used, in which a questionnaire was sent to Vietnamese architects to evaluate how they consider and apply DfS in the design process. Inferential and descriptive statistics then analysed the obtained data to identify the role of each factor.

Findings

The results from the survey conclude that Vietnamese architects have low engagement in applying DfS despite their high awareness and positive attitude towards DfS. Besides, the participants showed the need for further DfS education and training, which is lacking in Vietnamese formal education. In addition, the research also confirms that DfS education and training have positive impacts on the frequency of DfS implementation in Vietnam.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributes to the knowledge of DfS implementation in developing countries. In line with this, further studies on the DfS concept in developing countries are needed to draw a more objective overview and give the solution for the low DfS appliance.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study inquiring into the implication of DfS in Vietnam, contributing to improving the lack of knowledge in this field in developing countries and Vietnam in particular.
Resolution and depositors’ trust empirical analysis of three resolution cases in Poland
Authors: Iwanicz-Drozdowska Małgorzata , Kurowski Łukasz , Witkowski Bartosz
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the role of depositor-specific features in a bank resolution. As the resolution framework in the EU is rather new, there are no empirical studies referring to the efficiency of this mechanism in protecting financial stability. Thus, the authors have checked the role of societal awareness of deposit guarantee schemes and the resolution, as well as the trust in public institutions, in avoiding bank runs in the case of resolution scenarios.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on telephone interviews conducted with 1,000 Poles, including bank customers whose banks have undergone resolution in recent years, and basic statistics of the resolved banks. The authors then apply two classes of models: binary probit regression and ordered probit regression.

Findings

The findings have indicated that the trust in public institutions and the experience gained with age play a key role in overall depositor behaviour. However, for resolutions, declared trust is replaced by case-specific trust based on the obtained information.

Research limitations/implications

The survey is based on a sample of Polish citizens. In the future, international surveys may help diagnose cross-country differences among depositors. Moreover, studies on communication approaches may also support finding highly effective ways to reach various cohorts of depositors.

Originality/value

The existing literature on depositor behaviour in bank failure scenarios has relied on an experimental approach to test various research hypotheses. The research sample is not based on an experiment but on the responses of customers whose banks have actually undergone resolution.
Mapping the research on sustainable stock indices: a bibliometric review from 2001 to 2022
Authors: Seth Neha , Singh Deepti
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a bibliometric review and visualisation analysis of the literature on Sustainable Stock Indices (SSI) between January 2001 and March 2022. The purpose of performing this bibliometric analysis is to empirically report the trend, intellectual structure, knowledge development directions and identify prospective research topics in the area of SSI.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 222 publications were selected after evaluating, identifying and synthesising the extensive publications using the Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach. The articles were extracted from the databases of SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The study uses VOSviewer and RStudio software to answer four research questions.

Findings

The results signify that there has been a considerable increase in the level of research considering SSI. Further, the study shows that SSI is among the top five trending keywords in the research related to finance and environment. Most papers considered as a sample for this study are based on Dow Jones Sustainable Indices. Noteworthy, very few economies are participating in this research domain, and the significant contribution is from the developed countries.

Practical implications

The present review paper may assist the researchers in identifying the trending research topics in this domain. It may serve as a roadmap for several further studies in the area.

Originality/value

This study is unique in terms of reviewing the literature based on SSI. Further, it provides a holistic view of the current trend, global position and research hotspots of SSI, which has important implications for future research.
Flattening or addressing complexity? The future role of GRI in light of the sustainability accounting (r)evolution
Authors: Pesci Caterina , Vola Paola , Gelmini Lorenzo
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper discusses the evolution of sustainability reporting and the role of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in relation to the social and environmental accounting (SEA) literature calling for a revolution in the standardization of sustainability reporting and the inherent complexities. This paper focuses on the future role of GRI in light of the changes resulting from harmonization supported by the International Sustainability Standards Board and the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group’s draft European Sustainability Reporting Directive.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on Bourdieu (1983, 1992) and SEA studies, the authors adopt a critical and qualitative approach to theorize power dynamics in the sustainability reporting field. After identifying the main issues arising from the complexity of the sustainability reporting standards and practices according to SEA scholars, the authors connect them with Bourdieu’s (1992, 1983) field theory to discuss the future role of GRI.

Findings

The findings suggest two distinct but intertwined roles that GRI could play in the future, namely, power related and theoretical/technical, aimed at engendering revolutionary rather than evolutionary changes in sustainability reporting.

Practical implications

This study offers practical implications for GRI to strengthen its future role in sustainability reporting standardization.

Social implications

The limited time available to mitigate the disastrous consequences of non-sustainable business on society and the environment calls for urgently addressing the complexities of sustainability accounting to foster a positive impact on society and the environment.

Originality/value

The authors’ reflections reclaim the SEA literature as central to identifying sustainability complexity and Bourdieu’s (1983, 1992) notions of power as key to understanding the role of GRI in the sustainability field. Furthermore, this paper emphasizes the intersection of different critical concepts, including power, complexity, value, capital and materiality.
Using “CEO-speak” to prioritize a safety culture
Authors: Craig Russell , Amernic Joel
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper points to five features that CEO language should have to help enable a robust safety culture.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws empirical support mainly from the CEO-speak of the CEO of Norfolk Southern Railway in the year prior to the major derailment of a company train and subsequent toxic chemical spill in East Palestine Ohio in February 2023.

Findings

CEOs should incorporate the following five features into their CEO-speak. They should actually use the word safety but “in doing so” avoid platitudes about safety. They should exude genuine commitment to safety “cite meaningful safety performance measures” and not ignore operating risks.

Originality/value

Safety is a critically important aspect of corporate endeavor. Yet discussion of it is grossly under-represented in the professional and academic literature. This paper offers sound suggestions that reinforce the need for CEOs to write and speak in a way that ensures their company’s commitments to a strong safety culture are not merely platitudinous buzzwords but are genuinely key strategic elements of their company’s business model.
One size does not fit all: Heterogeneous economic impact of integrated pest management practices for mango fruit flies in Kenya—a machine learning approach
Authors: Mulungu Kelvin , Abro Zewdu Ayalew , Muriithi Wambui Beatrice , Kassie Menale , Kidoido Miachael , Sevgan Subramanian , Mohamed Samira , Tanga Chrysantus , Khamis Fathiya
Published: May 2023

Most previous studies evaluating agricultural technology adoption focus on estimating homogeneous average treatment effects across technology adopters. Understanding the heterogeneous effects and drivers of impact heterogeneity should enable interventions to be better targeted to maximise benefits. We apply machine learning using data from a randomised controlled trial to estimate the heterogeneous treatment effect of fruit fly IPM practices (i.e., parasitoids, orchard sanitation, use of food bait, biopesticides, male annihilation technique, and their combinations) in Central Kenya. Results suggest significant heterogeneity in the effect of IPM practices conditioned on household characteristics. The most important covariates explaining differences in treatment effects are wealth, distance to the mango fruit market, age of the household head, labour and experience in mango farming. Results further indicate that those with fewer mango trees benefit more from most IPM practices. Additional analysis across other covariates shows mixed results but generally suggests significant differences between households benefiting the most and those benefiting the least from IPM practices.
Combined use of the Da Vinci robot system and the LungPoint Virtual Bronchoscopic Navigation system in the management of lung cancer: First Hong Kong experience
Authors: Lau Ho Chun Frederick , Lin Ming Fai , Li Ki Kwong , Chan Hoi Ming Herman , Ng Wing Shun
Published: May 2023

Small ground‐glass opacity intrapulmonary lesions without preoperative histological diagnosis are difficult to localise in minimal invasive thoracic surgery, especially in robotic‐assisted surgery which has limited haptic feedback. Here we present two cases of using the LungPoint Virtual Bronchoscopic Navigation system for indocyanine green injection to assist with localization during robotic thoracic surgery, which might be a safe and feasible technique for such cases with impalpable lesions with no prior histological proof.
Metagenomic analysis and antibacterial activity of kefir microorganisms
Authors: González‐Orozco Brianda D. , García‐Cano Israel , Escobar‐Zepeda Alejandra , Jiménez‐Flores Rafael , Álvarez Valente B.
Published: May 2023

The microbiota composition of kefir grain and milk kefir was assessed via a metagenomic approach. Significant microorganisms were isolated and identified using molecular methods. A safety assessment was conducted based on antibiotic susceptibility and blood hemolysis. Probiotic traits such as resistance to gastric tract conditions, surface characteristics, adhesion to intestinal cells, and antibacterial activity were also assessed. Metagenomic analysis revealed that kefir grains are a more stable community with clear dominant species as compared to milk kefir. Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens BDGO‐A1, Lactobacillus helveticus BDGO‐AK2, and Lactobacillu kefiri strains showed tolerance to acidic pH and the presence of bile salts, adhesion capability to Caco‐2 cells, in vitro antibacterial activity, and the production of antibacterial proteins. In the metagenomic analysis, contigs associated with these species showed the presence of genes involved in exporting polyketide antibiotics and bacteriocin production. To fully exploit the potential probiotic properties of these microorganisms to help human health, further investigation is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms behind the biological activity and the genotypic characteristics of the isolated strains.
Potential activity of adiponectin‐expressing regulatory T cells against triple‐negative breast cancer cells through the cell‐in‐cell phenomenon
Authors: Chikaishi Wakana , Higashi Toshiya , Hayashi Hirokatsu , Hanamatsu Yuki , Kito Yusuke , Futamura Manabu , Matsuhashi Nobuhisa , Saigo Chiemi , Takeuchi Tamotsu
Published: May 2023

Background

A population of regulatory T cells (Treg), which reside within thymic nurse cell complexes, express adiponectin and abrogate breast cancer development in transgenic mice. In this study, we examined whether adiponectin‐expressing Treg could impair triple‐negative breast cancer, which is defined by a lack of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor‐2.

Methods

CD4‐ and CD25‐positive cells were sorted from cultured T lymphocytes of a previously characterized experimental thymic tumor model composed of thymic nurse cells and abundant lymphoid stroma. These sorted cells were examined for FOXP3 and adiponectin immunoreactivity and subsequently exposed to triple‐negative breast cancer MDA‐MB‐157 and ‐231 cells.

Results

Adiponectin‐expressing Treg were obtained by CD4‐ and CD25‐positive sorting and cell death was induced in triple‐negative breast cancer cells through the cell‐in‐cell phenomenon.

Conclusions

Adiponectin‐expressing Treg may be candidates for adoptive cell therapy against triple‐negative breast cancer.
Using baited remote underwater videos to survey freshwater turtles
Authors: Coleman Daniel , Wood Rebecca J. , Deeth Caitlan , Haeusler Tim
Published: May 2023

New and innovative techniques utilizing underwater cameras have the potential to track changes in turtle populations whilst being less invasive and time intensive than traditional trapping surveys. In this study, we trialled the use of Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUVs) in five upland streams to test if BRUVs could be used for abundance, size and sex estimates of freshwater turtles. We also compared BRUVs to cathedral traps and identified key considerations for future use of this method, such as whether the time of day influenced results. Our study successfully detected 83 turtles from 52 h of footage and identified all species known to occur in the study area. The deployment time did not significantly influence relative abundance. BRUVs also produced statistically similar catch per unit effort estimates to cathedral trapping techniques. No small turtles (i.e. juveniles) were detected, and difficulties with visibility, sex accuracy and carapace measurements are discussed for future BRUV use. Our study shows that BRUVs are a useful, time effective, non‐invasive technique to collect relative abundance and species richness estimates for freshwater turtles.
Amazonian vegetation types and indigenous lands threatened by upcoming climate change: Forecast impact for Brazilian biomes
Authors: Arruda Daniel M. , Schaefer Carlos E. G. R. , Fonseca Rúbia S. , Fernandes‐Filho Elpídio I. , Veloso Gustavo V. , Gomes Lucas C. , Oliveira Fábio S. , Corrêa Guilherme R. , Espírito‐Santo Mário M. , Oliveira Guilherme C. , Solar Ricardo R. C.
Published: May 2023

Changes in vegetation cover due to increasing frequencies of extreme climate events and anthropogenic pressure are already underway; so, predicting the impacts of the near‐future climate will be essential for developing mitigation strategies. We modelled the responses of Brazilian biomes to a future scenario (2070) of steady increases in atmospheric CO2levels, adding soil data to better represent the multidimensional space of the environmental suitability of each biome. We also assessed the effects of changes in environmental suitability on the Brazilian network of protected areas and projected those effects on 1 km resolution maps. The area predicted to be affected by future climate change in Brazil and the consequent loss of suitable habitat surface is 2.59 Mkm2– larger than the combined areas of Central America and Mexico – leading the current vegetation to a progressive replacement. We project major changes in the vegetation of the Amazon basin, with the replacement of rainforest by dryer vegetation in the southern and eastern regions of that basin, and the opening of a dry corridor in Pará State. We also project an expansion of 41% of the current caatinga cover in the Brazilian semiarid region, with large losses of suitable habitat surface of the current deciduous forest. Approximately, 37% of the coverage of protected areas in Brazil will be affected – with greater damage to indigenous lands. The speed of current environmental change is now unprecedented for the post‐glacial era, and will almost certainly lead to increased rates of extinction and the collapse of transition ecosystems. We propose the urgent creation of protected areas in regions designed without significant impacts, but contiguous to those that will be more seriously affected by climate change. Those areas will act as refugia preserving biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the cultural heritages of traditional populations.
Evaluation of the angiogenic factors sFlt‐1, PlGF, and the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio in preeclampsia and associated features
Authors: Gannoun Marwa Ben Ali , Mehdi Meriem , Zitouni Hedia , Boussabah Manel , Zouari Ines , Jlali Ali , Almawi Wassim Y.
Published: May 2023

Problem

Soluble Fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFLT‐1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) were previously reported to play a key role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). We tested the link between altered PlGF and sFLT‐1 levels, and their ratio (sFlt‐1/PlGF) with PE and PE‐associated featured in Tunisian PE cases and age‐ and BMI‐matched normotensive women.

Method of Study

Peripheral blood specimens from 88 women with PE, and 60 control women were tested for PlGF and sFLT by commercially available ELISA.

Results

Significant increases in sFlt‐1 levels and in the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio, more than changes in PlGF levels were noted in PE subjects when compared to control women. Elevation in sFlt‐1 and sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio was observed at different percentile values in PE cases. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) for sFlt‐1, PlGF, and sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio were 0.869 ± 0.031, 0.463 ± 0.048, and 0.759 ± 0.039, respectively. A systematic shift in sFlt‐1, but not in PlGF, distributions for higher values occurred in PE subjects. A progressive increase in the adjusted OR paralleled increased sFlt‐1 and the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio percentile values; no similar trend was noted for the PlGF percentiles. Increased sFlt‐1 levels and sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio were significantly correlated with dysmenorrhea, hypertension, baby weight, and C‐section. In contrast, no correlation was found between PlGF and the PE‐associated features tested.

Conclusions

Increased sFlt‐1 levels and corresponding sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio, but not circulating PlGF levels, constitute an independent risk factor for PE.