bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Stratification of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Reznichenko Anna , Nair Viji , Eddy Sean , Tomilo Mark , Slidel Timothy , Ju Wenjun , Conway James P. , Badal Shawn S. , Wesley Johnna , Liles John T. , Moosmang Sven , Williams Julie M. , Quinn Carol Moreno , Bitzer Markus , Karihaloo Anil , Breyer Matthew D. , Duffin Kevin L. , Patel Uptal D. , Magnone Maria Chiara , Bhat Ratan , Kretzler Matthias
Published: September 2021

Current classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) into stages based on the indirect measures of kidney functional state, estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria, is agnostic to the heterogeneity of underlying etiologies, histopathology, and molecular processes. We used genome-wide transcriptomics from patients’ kidney biopsies, directly reflecting kidney biological processes, to stratify patients from three independent CKD cohorts. Unsupervised Self-Organizing Maps (SOM), an artificial neural network algorithm, assembled CKD patients into four novel subgroups, molecular categories, based on the similarity of their kidney transcriptomics profiles. The unbiased, molecular categories were present across CKD stages and histopathological diagnoses, highlighting heterogeneity of conventional clinical subgroups at the molecular level. CKD molecular categories were distinct in terms of biological pathways, transcriptional regulation and associated kidney cell types, indicating that the molecular categorization is founded on biologically meaningful mechanisms. Importantly, our results revealed that not all biological pathways are equally activated in all patients; instead, different pathways could be more dominant in different subgroups and thereby differentially influencing disease progression and outcomes. This first kidney-centric unbiased categorization of CKD paves the way to an integrated clinical, morphological and molecular diagnosis. This is a key step towards enabling precision medicine for this heterogeneous condition with the potential to advance biological understanding, clinical management, and drug development, as well as establish a roadmap for molecular reclassification of CKD and other complex diseases.

One sentence summary

Unbiased grouping of patients based on kidney biopsy transcriptomics profiles generated a novel molecular categorization of chronic kidney disease.
Frequencies of TP53 Germline Variations and Identification of Two Novel 3’UTR Variants in a Series of Head and Neck Cancer Cases
Authors: Ajaz Sadia , Muneer Rabbia , Siddiqa Aisha , Memon Muhammad Ali
Published: September 2021

TP53 is a tumour suppressor gene. Its inactivation plays a significant role in the molecular pathology of cancers. TP53 germline mutations increase the risk of developing multiple primary cancers. However, the role of alterations in TP53 germline DNA in head and neck cancers (HNCs) is not well-established. HNCs comprise one of the most frequent cancers in South Asia. The present discovery study reports the investigation of germline variations in the TP53 gene in a cohort of 30 HNC patients from Karachi, Pakistan. Blood samples were collected and genomic DNA was extracted from white blood cells. TP53 has 11 exons, where exon 1 is not transcribed. After quality control of DNA, amplification of seven selected exons along with their splice sites, two intronic regions (introns 2-3 and 3-4), and 3’UTR were carried out. Sanger sequencing was carried out in order to identify germline variations. Comparison with wild type sequence revealed rs1642785 G>C (intron 2-3) variation in 63.2%, PIN3 duplication (rs17878362) in intron 3-4 in 94.7%, and rs1042522 G>C in exon 4 (p.R72P) in 66.6% of the cases. In 3’UTR, 13.4% of the analyzed cases carried either one of two variants, i.e., 17:7669567_8delCA or 17:7669560C>G. The latter variations are reported for the first time in literature. In conclusion, we report three highly frequent germline variations and two newly discovered variations in 3’UTR of TP53 germline DNA in HNC patients from Pakistan. These results shall contribute to delineating the genetic component of HNCs with potential translational implications.
The Gut Microbiome of Youth Who Have Behavioral and Mental Health Problems: A Scoping Review
Authors: Leung Cherry Y. , Weiss Sandra J.
Published: September 2021

Background

Mental health conditions have increased over the past several decades. While there is growing evidence that the gut microbiome affects mental health, there are limited studies focused on children, adolescents, and young adults. This scoping review examined the existing literature and compared findings on the relationships between the gut microbiome with mental health across these younger age groups.

Methods

A literature search using PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL was performed, and bibliographies were manually searched. Eighteen articles met eligibility for our scoping review. Findings from each study were evaluated, focusing on bacterial composition and diversity among children/adolescents and young adults.

Results

There were no studies specifically on the adolescent age group, so data was synthesized comparing the child/adolescent (2 to <18 years of age) and young adult (18-25 years of age) groups. Studies utilized several different methods for gut microbiome analysis and examined various mental health conditions. Findings for both age groups were mostly inconsistent. However, Bifidobacteria seems to be associated with better mental health. Alpha diversity was lower for children/adolescents with ADHD and high stress but higher for young adults with ADHD and Major Depressive Disorder.

Limitations

There were inconsistencies across studies, likely due to differences in mental health problems examined, populations assessed, and research designs or measurements used.

Conclusions

Future research should replicate studies to confirm findings, examine lower taxonomic levels, consider longitudinal designs to assess for directionality, and consider clinical trials to examine the effects of probiotics with the same strains to manage mental health symptoms.
Long-term Services and Supports, Cognitive Impairment, and Disease Management among Older Chinese Adults
Authors: Lin Zhuoer , Chen Xi
Published: September 2021

Rapid population aging elevates burden of chronic and non-communicable diseases among older adults. Despite the critical role of self-management in disease prevention and control, effective management of diseases can be cognitively demanding and may require additional supports from family, friends and social services. Using nationally representative data from China, this paper documents the gradient relationship between cognitive impairment and disease management, and characterizes the differential effects of long-term care services and supports (LTSS) on disease management among older adults in different stages of cognitive impairment. In specific, we examine preventive care use and the management of hypertension, a highly prevalent but inadequately addressed chronic disease in China. We find that a severer stage of cognitive impairment is associated with poorer performance in disease prevention, hypertension awareness and management. While some of the LTSS offered by spouse, friends or community significantly facilitate active disease management behaviors, the effects are only evident among older adults with no cognitive impairment. By contrast, we find no significant effect of LTSS among cognitively impaired individuals. These findings reveal the vulnerability of older adults with cognitive impairment in disease management, and point to the importance of promoting targeted interventions to reduce barriers of receiving and utilizing LTSS, especially among cognitively impaired population.
Rapid realist review: Anxiolytic effects of music therapy on mechanically ventilated patients
Authors: Watson Hannah , Marshall Patrick
Published: September 2021

Aims
To review the literature focusing on anxiety and music therapy as a non-pharmacological anxiolytic for patients receiving mechanical ventilation and to determine the contexts, mechanisms and outcomes of what works for whom and under what circumstances.
Background
Mechanical ventilation is one of the numerous processes that a critically ill patient requiring single or multi organ support may experience. This is often frightening and perplexing for the patient, particularly when mechanically ventilated. The abundance of interventions, monitoring and unfamiliar noises can precipitate feelings of stress and anxiety which is common within this population of patients leading to prolonged hospital stay and increases in mortality and morbidity.
Methods
A rapid realist review was undertaken applying the realist methodology to a search of the literature using CINHAL, MEDLINE and Cochrane library, PsycIFNO, PubMed and EMBASE along with searching for the grey literature using an experience library technician, Google Scholar, Google, OpenGrey and the British Library ETHOS.
Results
Twenty-one studies were included in the review. From the heterogeneity amongst the literature and the poor quality of evidence it was ascertained what worked for whom and under what circumstances. No negative outcomes for patients were noted in the review thus suggesting that music may have a place within critical care to help reduce anxiety. Given the heterogeneity of the evidence there is scope to review this topic further.
Conclusion
The overarching conclusion was that music could help reduce anxiety in the critically ill mechanically ventilated patient. Thematic analysis helped identify what quantifies the markers of anxiety, furthermore, it noted alternative themes that could be explored through more research. Theories could be developed and implemented into a protocol for practice, however, it would be based on the researchers' own experience due to the poor-quality heterogeneous evidence.
Allopatric origin of sympatric whitefish morphs with insights on the genetic basis of their reproductive isolation
Authors: Fang Bohao , Momigliano Paolo , Kahilainen Kimmo K. , Merilä Juha
Published: September 2021

The European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) species complex is a classic example of recent adaptive radiation. Here we examine a whitefish population introduced to northern Finnish Lake Tsahkal in late 1960’s, where three divergent morphs (viz. littoral, pelagic and profundal feeders) were found ten generations after. Using demographic modelling based on genomic data we show that whitefish morphs evolved during a phase of strict isolation, refuting a rapid symmetric speciation scenario. The lake is now an artificial hybrid zone between morphs originated in allopatry. Despite their current syntopy, clear genetic differentiation remains between two of the three morphs. Using admixture mapping three quantitative trait loci associated with gonad weight variation, a proxy for sexual maturity and spawning time, were identified. We suggest that ecological adaptations in spawning time evolved in allopatry are currently maintaining partial reproductive isolation in the absence of other barriers to gene flow.
Transferrin receptor 1-mediated iron uptake regulates bone mass in mice via osteoclast mitochondria and cytoskeleton
Authors: Das Bhaba K , Wang Lei , Fujiwara Toshifumi , Zhou Jian , Aykin-Burns Nukhet , Krager Kimberly J , Lan Renny , Mackintosh Samuel G , Edmondson Ricky , Jennings Michael L , Wang Xiaofang , Feng Jian Q , Barrientos Tomasa , Gogoi Jyoti , Kannan Aarthi , Gao Ling , Xing Weirong , Mohan Subburaman , Zhao Haibo
Published: September 2021

Increased intracellular iron spurs mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration to satisfy high-energy demand during osteoclast differentiation and bone-resorbing activities. Transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) mediates cellular iron uptake through endocytosis of iron-loaded transferrin and its expression increases during osteoclast differentiation. Nonetheless, the precise functions of TFR1 and TFR1-mediated iron uptake in osteoclast biology and skeletal homeostasis remain incompletely understood. To investigate the role of TFR1 in osteoclast lineage cells, we conditionally deleted Tfr1 gene in myeloid precursors or mature osteoclasts by crossing Tfr1- floxed mice with LysM-Cre and Ctsk-Cre mice, respectively. Skeletal phenotyping by µCT and histology unveiled that loss of Tfr1 in osteoclast progenitor cells resulted in a three-fold increase in trabecular bone mass in the long bones of 10-week old female but not male mice. Although high trabecular bone volume in long bones was seen in both male and female mice with deletion of Tfr1 in mature osteoclasts, this phenotype was more pronounced in female knockout mice. Mechanistically, disruption of Tfr1 expression attenuated mitochondrial metabolism and cytoskeletal organization in mature osteoclasts, leading to decreased bone resorption with no impact on osteoclastogenesis. These results indicate that Tfr1-mediated iron uptake is specifically required for osteoclast function and is indispensable for bone remodeling.
Intracellular force comparison of pathogenic KIF1A, KIF5, and dynein by fluctuation analysis
Authors: Hayashi Kumiko , Matsumoto Shiori , Naoi Takuma , Idobata Yuki
Published: September 2021

In mammalian cells, there exist approximately 40 types of microtubule motor proteins that are assigned to specific cargo deliveries. For example, the kinesin-1 family motor KIF5 is the major motor responsible for anterograde mitochondrial transport, whereas the kinesin-3 family motor KIF1A is responsible for synaptic vesicle precursor transport. In contrast, cytoplasmic dynein is responsible for retrograde transport of nearly all cargos. The force and velocity of these microtubule motors have been investigated in in-vitro single-molecule experiments. In the present study, we compared the intracellular force and velocity of various types of motors in the mammalian neuronal axon obtained by non-invasive force measurement (fluctuation analysis) and extreme value analysis with those obtained by previous single-molecule experiments. As we found a high correlation between our results and the previous results, we next investigated synaptic vesicle precursor transport by hereditary spastic paraplegia-associated KIF1A variants (V8M, R350G, and A255V). KIF1A-V8M and KIF1A-A255V exhibited force and velocity impairment in mammalian neuronal axons, whereas the physical property of KIF1A-R350G was similar to that of the wild type. We believe that the development of new analytical techniques for investigating intracellular cargo transports is helpful to elucidate the molecular mechanism of KIF1A-associated neurological disorders.

Statement of Significance

Recent in-vitro single-molecule experiments have clearly revealed that microtubule motors only fully exert their functions when fully equipped with the proteins associated with cargo vesicle transport. This emphasizes the significance of intracellular physical measurements, in which the motors should fully function. In addition to motor force and velocity, the number of motors transporting a single cargo together is an important physical quantity to characterize cargo transport, but is difficult to estimate using in-vitro single-molecule experiments. In this study, we aimed to extract physical information on microtubule motors in the intracellular environment.
Real-time monitoring and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 nanopore sequencing with minoTour
Authors: Munro Rory , Holmes Nadine , Moore Christopher , Carlile Matt , Payne Alexander , Santos Roberto , Loose Matt
Published: September 2021

Motivation

The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has demonstrated the utility of real-time analysis of sequencing data, with a wide range of databases and resources for analysis now available. Here we show how the real-time nature of Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencers can accelerate consensus generation, lineage and variant status assignment. We exploit the fact that multiplexed viral sequencing libraries quickly generate sufficient data for the majority of samples, with diminishing returns on remaining samples as the sequencing run progresses. We demonstrate methods to determine when a sequencing run has passed this point in order to reduce the time required and cost of sequencing.

Results

We extended MinoTour, our real-time analysis and monitoring platform for nanopore sequencers, to provide SARS-CoV2 analysis using ARTIC network pipelines. We additionally developed an algorithm to predict which samples will achieve sufficient coverage, automatically running the ARTIC medaka informatics pipeline once specific coverage thresholds have been reached on these samples. After testing on run data, we find significant run time savings are possible, enabling flow cells to be used more efficiently and enabling higher throughput data analysis. The resultant consensus genomes are assigned both PANGO lineage and variant status as defined by Public Health England. Samples from within individual runs are used to generate phylogenetic trees incorporating optional background samples as well as summaries of individual SNPs. As minoTour uses ARTIC pipelines, new primer schemes and pathogens can be added to allow minoTour to aid in real-time analysis of pathogens in the future.

Availability and Implementation

Source code and documentation is available at https://github.com/LooseLab/minotourapp.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available from

https://github.com/LooseLab/artic_minotour_analyses.
Illustrated formalisms for total scattering data: a guide for new practitioners. Corrigendum and addendum
Authors: Peterson Peter F. , Keen David A.
Published: September 2021

Errors and ambiguities in the article by Peterson, Olds, McDonnell & Page [J. Appl. Cryst. (2021), 54, 317–332] are corrected and clarified, respectively.
Small-angle neutron scattering from CuCrZr coupons and components
Authors: Schoofs F. , King S. , Cackett A. J. , Leyland M. , Hardie C.
Published: September 2021

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is performed to analyse the microstructural state of a reference CuCrZr material with carefully controlled heat treatments, small-scale manufacturing mock-ups of assemblies and high-heat-flux-exposed mock-ups for fusion reactor components. The information derived from the SANS data corresponds well to existing literature data based on microscopic-scale techniques, but is obtained at millimetre scale with minimal surface preparation. The manufacturing method and high-heat-flux testing conditions are confirmed to have little impact on the microstructural properties, demonstrating the validity of these treatments for scaled-up reactor components.
Diamond channel-cut crystals for high-heat-load beam-multiplexing narrow-band X-ray monochromators
Authors: Shvyd'ko Yuri , Terentyev Sergey , Blank Vladimir , Kolodziej Tomasz
Published: September 2021

Next-generation high-brilliance X-ray photon sources call for new X-ray optics. Here we demonstrate the possibility of using monolithic diamond channel-cut crystals as high-heat-load beam-multiplexing narrow-band mechanically stable X-ray monochromators with high-power X-ray beams at cutting-edge high-repetition-rate X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) facilities. The diamond channel-cut crystals fabricated and characterized in these studies are designed as two-bounce Bragg reflection monochromators directing 14.4 or 12.4 keV X-rays within a 15 meV bandwidth to 57Fe or 45Sc nuclear resonant scattering experiments, respectively. The crystal design allows out-of-band X-rays transmitted with minimal losses to alternative simultaneous experiments. Only ≲2% of the incident ∼100 W X-ray beam is absorbed in the 50 µm-thick first diamond crystal reflector, ensuring that the monochromator crystal is highly stable. Other X-ray optics applications of diamond channel-cut crystals are anticipated.
The first infrared beamline at the Middle East SESAME synchrotron facility
Authors: Kamel Gihan , Lefrancois Stephane , Moreno Thierry , Al-Najdawi Mohammad , Momani Yazeed , Abbadi Anas , Paolucci Giorgio , Dumas Paul
Published: September 2021

SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) is the only synchrotron light facility in the Middle East and neighboring regions, officially opened in 2017. Among the identification and construction of the first operational beamlines, infrared spectromicroscopy was selected as one of the two beamlines to be opened to the general users' program (the so-called Day-1 beamlines). Being one of the most demanded techniques by various scientific communities in the Middle East, the beamline has been designed and implemented in the framework of a collaboration agreement with the French synchrotron facility, SOLEIL. The design, construction and initial performances of the IR beamline (D02-IR), nowadays operational, are reported.
De gustibus non est disputandum: analysis of the relationship between cultural omnivorousness and food
Authors: Kılıçlar Arzu , Sarıkaya Gizem Sultan , Şahin Ayşe , Bozkurt İsmail
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to synthesize theoretical and empirical studies on the food dimension of developments in cultural omnivorousness. Cultural omnivorousness is an antithesis which Peterson developed against Bourdieu's stratification theory that emerged in 1992, and it has been the subject of scientific research in different dimensions, including literature, music, art and food.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, databases were systematically searched to identify publications on cultural omnivorousness and food. The data obtained in the study was appraised using the checklist of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA).

Findings

This study concluded that research on cultural omnivoriusness and food is often investigated from a demand perspective. Findings indicated that the relationship between food and cultural omnivorousness is focused on the axis of eating out, restaurant types and preferences, regions where restaurants are located, liked/preferred food, vegetarianism, the healthy/unhealthy state of food, locality and economic value of preferred food. Moreover, comparing the reviewed study results, it was identified that multiple regression was mostly used in quantitative research, and content analysis was benefited in qualitative research.

Research limitations/implications

The reviewed studies were limited to articles with open access and peer-reviewed journals over the period 1990–2020. In addition, this study adopted a qualitative research approach. Another limitation of the research is that it only examined cultural omnivorousness in terms of food.

Practical implications

It is noticed that the results of the research conducted regarding the relationship between cultural omnivorousness and food vary by countries and cities. The reason for this situation might be the different historical processes and development levels of the countries and the difference in the symbols represented by food in this process. Additionally, in practical terms, this research offers some implications for how the relationship between cultural omnivorousness and food can be used by supply. Restaurants from a consumer perspective and destinations from a tourist perspective can use cultural omnivorousness as a strategic element in their marketing planning.

Originality/value

The literature on cultural omnivorousness is used to make sense of a striking phenomenon, namely the tastes/likes of individuals in the middle and upper classes. However, there has not been found such an examination of food and its use in cultural omnivorousness studies. This article fills the identified gap, adding to the discussion on food and cultural omnivorusness and provides a related research agenda.
Career self-management perceptions reflected in the psychological contract of virtual employees: a qualitative and quantitative analysis
Authors: Gazit Lee , Zaidman Nurit , Van Dijk Dina
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The question of responsibility for career development is critical for virtual employees who work remotely. The purpose of this paper is to (1) compare the perceptions of virtual and on-location employees in the high-tech industry about where responsibility lies for career management, as reflected in their psychological contract (PC) and (2) evaluate the ability of virtual employees to exercise behaviors capable of enhancing their career development.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods approach was used for this study. Study 1 consisted of semi-structured interviews (N = 40) with virtual and on-location employees working for the same high-tech organization, exploring perceptions responsibility for career self-management as captured by their PCs. Study 2, a quantitative survey of virtual and on-location employees (N = 146) working for various organizations in the high-tech sector, examined perceptions of career self-management through the perceived PC, as well as the perceived ability to exercise behaviors that would enhance career development.

Findings

Both categories of employees assumed that they, together with their direct manager, had responsibility for managing their career development. Nevertheless, virtual employees had lower expectations of support from their managers in this respect (Study 1) and felt that they actually received less support from their managers (Study 2). The results of both studies show, however, that virtuality does not have any significant effect on employees’ self-reported proactive career-influencing behaviors.

Originality/value

The study contributes to existing research by highlighting the perceived joint responsibility for career management and the critical role played by line management in this regard and by showing that virtuality does not have a significant effect on employees’ self-reported proactive career-influencing behaviors.
Expanding the transdisciplinary conversation towards pluriversal distributive disaster recovery: development ethics and interculturality
Authors: Waldmüller Johannes M.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

From a Latin American decolonial and transdisciplinary perspective, this article expands the increasingly relevant conversation about disaster ethics, not only in depth and scope but also both interdisciplinarily and interculturally. By reviewing key points of development ethics that are closely related but underexplored, it makes the case for focusing on disaster recovery as a relevant distributive phase for improving future prevention and mitigation, while remedying long-standing injustices.

Design/methodology/approach

To do so, against the backdrop of recently emerging postcolonial, decolonial and structural approaches to disaster and vulnerability studies, the article presents a theoretical conversation between decolonial studies, development ethics, intercultural practice and philosophy, and disaster ethics beyond utilitarian approaches.

Findings

So far, development and disaster ethics remain worlds apart, despite their relevant convergence around the key notion of “recovery” and its underlying normative determination. This article identifies that prevailing utilitarian ethics in emergency response, in addition to their problematic universalization, have prevented further engagement with deontological and process-based principles, including a nuanced distributive sensitivity. As a result of such cross-fertilization, methodological individualism in an intercultural encounter is suggested, as well as continued engagement with pluriversal deliberation about key ethical values and notions regarding disaster risk and response.

Originality/value

Calling for distributive bottom-up engagement beyond professional and academic boundaries, this article presents a new direction for decolonising disaster ethics, so far unexplored, seeking to bridge the value gap between development and disaster efforts, planning and prevention.
Robotized interior finishing operations with visual feedback
Authors: Jiang Xin , Li Xiang
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to address the problem of integrating sensor feedback in robotized interior finishing operations. Its motivation is to finally realize automatic operations necessitating no human intervention. A vision-based approach is proposed for monitoring the execution status and changing the action accordingly.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a robotic system is proposed which can realize two typical interior finishing operations, namely, putty applying and wall sanding. Second, a new method based on a deep neural network is proposed to process the visual information capturing the execution status of the interior finishing operations. It helps to determine essential parameters on where should be processed and how to execute the corresponding operation. With the proposed method, vision information is embedded into the execution of interior finishing in a closed loop style.

Findings

The experiments demonstrate the feasibility of the proposal and reveal problems for further improvement of the autonomous interior finishing robot.

Originality/value

This provides an original insight into robotized interior finishing by addressing an attempt on integrating visual feedback into the manual process.
Why do people shop together around the same screen?
Authors: Roten Yonathan Silvain , Vanheems Régine
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Increasingly, consumers shopping online are not doing so alone. This paper aims to identify motivations for and barriers to shopping together with relatives or friends on the same screen.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes an interdisciplinary theoretical framework investigating “sharing” and related commercial practices. It adopts an exploratory qualitative methodology as the phenomenon of screen sharing has not been widely investigated in prior consumer behavior literature.

Findings

Social and utilitarian motives elicit joint shopping in stores and collaborative consumption. This study reveals a third motive, related to the need for control, that drives shopping on the same screen. Screen sharing can increase efficiency, social bonds and control, due to the transparent presentation of information on the screen, but it also can cause inefficiency, social tension and struggle for control over the device.

Research limitations/implications

Screen-sharing motives reflect different logics for sharing: distribution (use with), communication (discuss with) and collaboration (control with). Defining further antecedents and consequences of joint shopping on the same screen represents relevant goals for further research.

Practical implications

By adapting their online platforms, brands can provide more agreeable, efficient and empowering experiences to screen-sharing shoppers, and thus gain competitive advantages.

Originality/value

Marketers generally assume online shoppers are alone at their screens, but in practice, many of them are often browsing together. Especially for families confined together at home, shopping together online constitutes a common practice.
Banking market structure and efficiency: an assessment of the USA and Canada
Authors: U-Din Salah , Tripe David
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The study aims to analyze the changes in banking market structure and their impact on the bank efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a one-stage stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to compare the impact of the market structure and the GFC on the economic efficiency of the major banks in both countries.

Findings

A significant negative impact of the GFC is observed on bank efficiency. Overall, Canadian banks posted better efficiency scores than their American counterparts. Additionally, cost-efficient banks are found to be more resilient to crises and more profit-efficient in the post-GFC period. The authors found that market power had a positive impact on the cost and profit efficiency of banks. Higher levels of equity, market power and concentration helped banks be more cost-efficient.

Research limitations/implications

Only large banks are selected for study although it represents the majority stake of both banking sectors.

Practical implications

Banking regulators should include more measures to assess the banking market structure and performance.

Originality/value

As per the best knowledge of the authors, it is the first study to assess the change in banking market structure and efficiency of the US and Canadian banking sectors in the post-GFC period.
Antecedents of mobile advertising value: a precedence analysis using the hybrid RIDIT-GRA approach
Authors: Sharma Anshuman , Pathak Vivek Kumar , Siddiqui Mohammad Qutubuddin
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Massive transformations in mobile communication technologies have forced marketers to recognize and emphasize the factors that influence consumers’ perception of advertising value. This paper aims to explore and rank the various antecedents of advertising value as perceived by consumers to offer meaningful conclusions to marketers on mobile platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

Responses were collected from 483 consumers using a shopping mall intercept survey and analyzed using SPSS to confirm reliability, validity and data reduction. The Relative to an Identified Distribution (RIDIT) analysis and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) methods were then applied to prioritize the scale items of the antecedents of mobile advertising value.

Findings

Five antecedents of advertising value were found: credibility, entertainment, informativeness, irritation and message relevance. A priority ranking was allotted to the antecedents’ scale items using the RIDIT analysis and was verified via GRA results with a correlation of 98% between the rankings of the two independent methodologies.

Practical implications

The findings provide a roadmap to determine which antecedents of mobile advertising value have a higher or lower impact on consumers’ overall perceptions of the advertisements they are exposed to on mobile platforms.

Originality/value

This study aims to use first-hand data to prioritize the underlying antecedents of mobile advertising value, which has rarely been done to the best of the authors’ knowledge. It also used two different approaches in a single study to rank the dimensions, thus producing more valid results.
Ethical aspects of voice assistants: a critical discourse analysis of Indonesian media texts
Authors: Arifin Anisa Aini , Lennerfors Thomas Taro
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Voice assistant (VA) technology is one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence applications at present. However, the burgeoning scholarship argues that there are ethical challenges relating to this new technology, not the least related to privacy, which affects the technology’s acceptance. Given that the media impacts public opinion and acceptance of VA and that there are no studies on media coverage of VA, the study focuses on media coverage. In addition, this study aims to focus on media coverage in Indonesia, a country that has been underrepresented in earlier research.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used critical discourse analysis of media texts, focusing on three levels (text, discourse practice and social practice) to study how VA technology was discussed in the Indonesian context and what power relations frame the representation. In total, 501 articles were collected from seven national media in Indonesia from 2010 to 2020 and the authors particularly focus on the 45 articles that concern ethics.

Findings

The ethical topics covered are gender issues, false marketing, ethical wrongdoing, ethically positive effects, misuse, privacy and security. More importantly, when they are discussed, they are presented as constituting no real critical problem. Regarding discursive practices, the media coverage is highly influenced by foreign media and most of the articles are directed to well-educated Indonesians. Finally, regarding social practices, the authors hold that the government ideology of technological advancement is related to this positive portrayal of VAs.

Originality/value

First, to provide the first media discourse study about ethical issues of VAs. Second, to provide insights from a non-Western context, namely, Indonesia, which is underrepresented in the research on ethics of VAs.
Mechanisms of constraint: a clinical inquiry of digital infrastructuring in municipalities
Authors: Khisro Jwan , Lindroth Tomas , Magnusson Johan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to contribute to research concerning the role of digital infrastructure in digital government. This is done by answering the research question: how does digital infrastructuring constrain ambidexterity in public sector organizations?

Design/methodology/approach

The research is designed as a clinical inquiry in a large Swedish municipality, involving data collection in the form of interviews and internal documents. The method of analysis involves both exploring generative mechanisms in digital infrastructuring and theorizing on the findings based on previous literature.

Findings

The findings identify four generative mechanisms through which stability and change in digital infrastructuring constrain ambidexterity in terms of both efficiency (exploitation) and innovation (exploration).

Research limitations/implications

This study’s limitations are related to international and intersectoral transferability and risks associated with its approach to clinical inquiry. The main implications are its contribution to the literature on how stability counteracts not only innovation but also efficiency and how change counteracts not only efficiency but also innovation.

Practical implications

This study identifies clear generative mechanisms that should be avoided by managers striving for digital government, and it offers clear recommendations for said managers regarding how to avoid them.

Social implications

This study offers implications for national-level digital infrastructure policy and contributes to efforts to increase the capabilities of digital government.

Originality/value

As two of the four identified generative mechanisms are novel contributions, this study offers a concrete addition to existing research. This study has resulted in factual change in the studied organization as well as at the national level through successful dissemination of the findings for both policy and practice in other public sector organizations.
Accounting for Longer‐Run Changes in Australian House Prices
Authors: Otto Glenn
Published: September 2021

Miles and Monro (2020) show a large proportion of the long‐run increase in real house prices in the United Kingdom is due to persistent, but unanticipated, declines in the risk‐free real interest rate. Applying their user cost method to Australia indicates longer‐run growth in real house prices is better accounted for by changes in the real mortgage rate than in the risk‐free rate, especially during the period 2004–2019. Declines in real mortgage rates during the COVID‐19 pandemic are consistent with long‐run growth in house prices in the range of 10–50 per cent.
Understanding Housing Affordability in Australia
Authors: Cho Yunho , Li Shuyun May , Uren Lawrence
Published: September 2021

We evaluate housing affordability in Australia particularly as it relates to the ability of households to purchase a home. An overview of trends in the Australian housing market is provided with a discussion of rising house prices and falling home ownership. We then provide an estimate of the fundamental price of housing at capital‐city level based upon the user cost of housing. We also discuss policies that have been used and policies that could be used to improve housing affordability. We conclude with a brief discussion of the long term barriers to housing affordability.
The Distributional Effects of Monetary Policy: Evidence from Local Housing Markets in Australia
Authors: La Cava Gianni , He Calvin
Published: September 2021

The effect of monetary policy on housing prices varies significantly across local housing markets. This heterogeneity across local housing markets can be partly explained by variation in housing supply conditions—housing prices are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates in areas where land is more expensive. The fact that housing prices in more expensive areas are more sensitive to changes in interest rates than in cheaper areas indicates that lower (higher) interest rates increase (decrease) housing wealth inequality. However, the effects of monetary policy on housing wealth inequality appear to be temporary. Other factors also explain the variation in sensitivity to monetary policy across local housing markets with the sensitivity being greater in areas in which incomes are relatively high, households are more indebted and there are more housing investors. This suggests that the sensitivity of housing prices to monetary policy is state dependent.
Emergency unemployment benefits and health care spending during Covid
Authors: Evangelist Michael , Wu Pinghui , Shaefer H. Luke
Published: September 2021

Objective

To estimate the impact of the $600 per week Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payments on health care services spending during the Covid pandemic and to investigate if this impact varied by state Medicaid expansion status.

Data Sources

This study leverages novel, publicly available data from Opportunity Insights capturing consumer credit and debit card spending on health care services for January 18–August 15, 2020 as well as information on unemployment insurance claims, Covid cases, and state policy changes.

Study Design

Using triple‐differences estimation, we leverage two sources of variation—within‐state change in the unemployment insurance claims rate and the introduction of FPUC payments—to estimate the moderating effect of FPUC on health care spending losses as unemployment rises. Results are stratified by state Medicaid expansion status.

Extraction Methods

Not applicable.

Principal Findings

For each percentage point increase in the unemployment insurance claims rate, health care spending declined by 1.0% (<0.05) in Medicaid expansion states and by 2.0% (<0.01) in nonexpansion states. However, FPUC partially mitigated this association, boosting spending by 0.8% (<0.001) and 1.3% (<0.05) in Medicaid expansion and nonexpansion states, respectively, for every percentage point increase in the unemployment insurance claims rate.

Conclusions

We find that FPUC bolstered health care spending during the Covid pandemic, but that both the negative consequences of unemployment and moderating effects of federal income supports were greatest in states that did not adopt Medicaid expansion. These results indicate that emergency federal spending helped to sustain health care spending during a period of rising unemployment. Yet, the effectiveness of this program also suggests possible unmet demand for health care services, particularly in states that did not adopt Medicaid expansion.
Involvement of glucose transporter 4 in ovarian development and reproductive maturation of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: Li Yan , Wang Sha‐Sha , Wang Su , Wang Shi‐Gui , Tang Bin , Liu Fang
Published: September 2021

Glucose is vital to embryogenesis, as are glucose transporters. Glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) is one of the glucose transporters, which is involved in rapid uptake of glucose by various cells and promotes glucose homeostasis. Although energy metabolism in insect reproduction is well known, the molecular mechanism of Glut4 in insect reproduction is poorly understood. We suspect that Glut4 is involved in maintaining glucose concentrations in the ovaries and affecting vitellogenesis, which is critical for subsequent oocyte maturation and insect fertility. Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) is a model organism for genetic research and a natural enemy of insect pests. We studied the influence of the Glut4 gene on the reproduction and development of H. axyridis using RNA interference technology. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that HaGlut4 was most highly expressed in adults. Knockdown of the HaGlut4 gene reduced the transcript levels of HaGlut4, and the weight and number of eggs produced significantly decreased. In addition, the transcript levels of vitellogenin receptor and vitellogenin in the fat bodies and the ovaries of H. axyridis decreased after the interference of Glut4, and decreased the triglyceride, fatty acid, total amino acid and adenosine triphosphate content of H. axyridis. This resulted in severe blockage of ovary development and reduction of yolk formation; there was no development of ovarioles in the developing oocytes. These changes indicate that a lack of HaGlut4 can impair ovarian development and oocyte maturation and result in decreased fecundity.
Technology‐mediated just‐in‐time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) to reduce harmful substance use: a systematic review
Authors: Perski Olga , Hébert Emily T. , Naughton Felix , Hekler Eric B. , Brown Jamie , Businelle Michael S.
Published: September 2021

Background and Aims

Lapse risk when trying to stop or reduce harmful substance use is idiosyncratic, dynamic and multi‐factorial. Just‐in‐time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) aim to deliver tailored support at moments of need or opportunity. We aimed to synthesize evidence on decision points, tailoring variables, intervention options, decision rules, study designs, user engagement and effectiveness of technology‐mediated JITAIs for reducing harmful substance use.

Methods

Systematic review of empirical studies of any design with a narrative synthesis. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, the ACM Digital Library, the IEEE Digital Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, the ISRCTN register and dblp using terms related to substance use/mHealth/JITAIs. Outcomes were user engagement and intervention effectiveness. Study quality was assessed with the mHealth Evidence Reporting and Assessment checklist.

Findings

We included 17 reports of 14 unique studies, including two randomized controlled trials. JITAIs targeted alcohol (S = 7, n = 120 520), tobacco (S = 4, n = 187), cannabis (S = 2, n = 97) and a combination of alcohol and illicit substance use (S = 1, n = 63), and primarily relied on active measurement and static (i.e. time‐invariant) decision rules to deliver support tailored to micro‐scale changes in mood or urges. Two studies used data from prior participants and four drew upon theory to devise decision rules. Engagement with available JITAIs was moderate‐to‐high and evidence of effectiveness was mixed. Due to substantial heterogeneity in study designs and outcome variables assessed, no meta‐analysis was performed. Many studies reported insufficient detail on JITAI infrastructure, content, development costs and data security.

Conclusions

Current implementations of just‐in‐time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) for reducing harmful substance use rely on active measurement and static decision rules to deliver support tailored to micro‐scale changes in mood or urges. Studies on JITAI effectiveness are lacking.