bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
METTL3 regulates breast cancer-associated alternative splicing switches
Authors: Achour Cyrinne , Groza Paula , Bhattarai Devi Prasad , Román Ángel-Carlos , Aguilo Francesca
Published: April 2022

Alternative splicing (AS) enables differential inclusion of exons from a given transcript, thereby contributing to the transcriptome and proteome diversity. Aberrant AS patterns play major roles in the development of different pathologies, including breast cancer.N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant internal modification of eukaryotic mRNA, influences tumor progression and metastasis of breast cancer, and it has been recently linked to AS regulation. Here, we identify a specific AS signature associated with breast tumorigenesisin vitro. We characterize for the first time the role of METTL3 in modulating breast cancer-associated AS programs, expanding the role of the m6A-methyltransferase in tumorigenesis. Specifically, we find that both m6A deposition in splice site boundaries and in splicing and transcription factor transcripts, such asPHF5AandMYC, direct AS switches of specific breast cancer-associated transcripts. Finally, we show that five of the AS events validatedin vitroare associated with a poor overall survival rate for patients with breast cancer, suggesting the use of these AS events as a novel potential prognostic biomarker.
Neural mass modelling for the masses: Democratising access to whole-brain biophysical modelling with FastDMF
Authors: Herzog Rubén , Mediano Pedro A.M. , Rosas Fernando E. , Luppi Andrea I. , Perl Yonatan Sanz , Tagliazucchi Enzo , Kringelbach Morten , Cofré Rodrigo , Deco Gustavo
Published: April 2022

Different whole-brain models constrained by neuroimaging data have been developed during the last years to investigate causal hypotheses related to brain mechanisms. Among these, the Dynamic Mean Field (DMF) model is a particularly attractive model, combining a biophysically realistic single-neuron model that is scaled up via a mean-field approach and multimodal imaging data. Despite these favourable features, an important barrier for a widespread usage of the DMF model is that current implementations are computationally expensive – to the extent that the model often becomes unfeasible when no high-performance computing infrastructure is available. Furthermore, even when such computing structure is available, current implementations can only support simulations on brain parcellations that consider less than 100 brain regions. To remove these barriers, here we introduce a user-friendly and computationally-efficient implementation of the DMF model, which we call FastDMF, with the goal of making biophysical whole-brain modelling accessible to neuroscientists worldwide. By leveraging a suit of analytical and numerical advances – including a novel estimation of the feedback inhibition control parameter, and a Bayesian optimisation algorithm – the FastDMF circumvents various computational bottlenecks of previous implementations. An evaluation of the performance of the FastDMF showed that it can attain a significantly faster performance than previous implementations while reducing the memory consumption by several orders of magnitude. Thanks to these computational advances, FastDMF makes it possible to increase the number of simulated regions by one order of magnitude: we found good agreement between empirical and simulated functional MRI data parcellated at two different spatial scales (N=90 and N=1000 brain regions). These advances open the way to the widespread use of biophysically grounded whole-brain models for understanding the interplay among anatomy, function and brain dynamics in health and disease, and to provide mechanistic explanations of recent results obtained from empirical fine-grained neuroimaging data sets, such as turbulence or connectome harmonics.

Highlights

We present the FastDMF, a user-friendly and computationally efficient implementation of the Dynamic Mean Field model for simulations of whole-brain dynamics.

Using analytical and numerical tools, we develop a novel estimation of the feedback inhibition control based on the structural connectivity, bypassing an important computational bottleneck.

The FastDMF is coupled with a Bayesian Optimization algorithm significantly reducing the number of simulations required to fit the FastDMF to empirical neuroimaging data.

Our advances open the possibility of simulating thousands of brain regions in a biophysically grounded whole-brain model.
Trascriptome meta-analysis of microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta under stress condition
Authors: Panahi Bahman , Farhadian Mohammad , Mohammadi Seyyed Abolghasem , Hejazi Mohammad Amin
Published: April 2022

Microalgae are photosynthetic organisms, which are considered as a potential source for sustainable metabolite production. Furthermore, stress conditions can affect metabolite production. In this study, a meta-analysis of RNA-seq experiments was performed to evaluate the response of metabolite biosynthesis pathways in Dunaliella tertiolecta to abiotic stress conditions, including high light, nitrogen deficiency, and high salinity. The results indicated down-regulation of light reaction, photorespiration, tetrapyrrole, and lipid-related pathways in salt stress. In comparison to salt stress, nitrogen deficiency mostly induced light reaction and photorespiration metabolisms. The up-regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, phosphoglucose isomerase, bisphosphoglycerate mutase, and glucose-6-phosphate-1-dehydrogenase (involved in central carbon metabolism) was observed under salt, high light, and nitrogen stress conditions. Interestingly, the results indicated that the meta-genes (i.e., modules of genes strongly correlated) tended to be located in a hub of stress-specific PPI (Protein-Protein Interaction) networks. Module enrichment of meta-genes PPI networks highlighted the cross talk between photosynthesis, fatty acids, starch, and sucrose metabolism under multiple stress conditions. Moreover, it was observed that the coordinated expression of the tetrapyrrole intermediated with meta-genes involved in starch biosynthesis. The results of the present study also showed that some pathways such as vitamin B6 metabolism, methane metabolism, ribosome biogenesis, and folate biosynthesis responded to different stress factors specifically. In conclusion, the results of this study revealed the main pathways underlying the abiotic stress responses for optimized metabolite production by the microalga Dunaliella in future studies. PRISMA check list was also included in the study.
Independent acquisition of short insertions at the RIR1 site in the spike N-terminal domain of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 lineage
Authors: Greco Samuele , Gerdol Marco
Published: April 2022

Although the SARS-CoV-2 variants BA.1 and BA.2 share over 30 non-synonymous substitutions in the spike glycoprotein, they show several unique mutations that were likely acquired after the split between these two major omicron lineages. One of the most intriguing mutations associated with BA.1 is the presence of the inserted tripeptide Glu-Pro-Glu within the N-terminal domain. While the functional implications of this insertion are still unclear, several other SARS-CoV-2 lineages had previously independently acquired similarly short insertions at the very same site, named RIR1. We have previously identified this site, located approximately between codon 212 and codon 216, as a hotspot of insertions, which usually involve small nucleotide sequences including three or four codons.

Here we show that similar insertion events have independently occurred at least 13 times in early 2022 within the BA.2 lineage, being occasionally associated with significant community transmission. One of these omicron sublineages, characterized by a Ser-Gly-Arg insertion in position 212, is responsible of over 2% of all SARS-CoV-2 cases recorded in Denmark, as of early April 2022. Molecular surveillance data highlight a slow but steady growth compared with the parental BA.2 lineage in all Danish regions, suggesting that the RIR1 insertion may confer a selective advantage. We report the identification of other currently circulating BA.2 sublineages showing similar insertions, whose spread should be therefore carefully monitored in the upcoming months.
Expansive Linguistic Representations to Predict Interpretable Odor Mixture Discriminability
Authors: Dhurandhar Amit , Cecchi Guillermo A. , Meyer Pablo
Published: April 2022

Language is often thought as being poorly adapted to precisely describe or quantify smell and olfactory attributes. In this work, we show that semantic descriptors of odors can be implemented in a model to successfully predict odor mixture discriminability, an olfactory attribute. We achieved this by taking advantage of the structure-to-percept model we previously developed for monomolecular odorants, using chemical descriptors to predict pleasantness, intensity and 19 semantic descriptors such as ‘fish’, ‘cold’, ‘burnt’, ‘garlic’, ‘grass’ and ‘sweet’ for odor mixtures, followed by a metric learning to obtain odor mixture discriminability. Through this expansion of the representation of olfactory mixtures, our Semantic model outperforms state of the art methods by taking advantage of the intermediary semantic representations learned from human perception data to enhance and generalize the odor discriminability/similarity predictions. As 10 of the semantic descriptors were selected to predict discriminability/similarity, our approach meets the need of rapidly obtaining interpretable attributes of odor mixtures as illustrated by the difficulty of finding olfactory metamers. More fundamentally, it also shows that language can be used to establish a metric of discriminability in the everyday olfactory space.
An electro-optical bead-nanochip technology for the ultrasensitive and multi-dimensional detection of small extracellular vesicles and their markers
Authors: Dias Tomás , Figueiras Ricardo , Vagueiro Susana , Domingues Renato , Hung Yu-Hsien , Persia Elnaz , Arsène Pierre
Published: April 2022

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), including exosomes, are enriched in multiomics information mirroring their parental cells. They have been investigated in health and disease and utilised in several applications from drug discovery to diagnostics. In disease diagnostics, sEVs can be sampled via a blood draw, enabling the convenient liquid biopsy of the tissue they originate from. However, few applications with sEVs have been translated into clinical practice.

We developed a Nanoparticle EXOsome Sensing (NEXOS) technology, for the ultrasensitive and multi-dimensional detection of sEVs. NEXOS comprises two methods: a novel nanoelectronics method, E-NEXOS, and a high-throughput optical detection method, O-NEXOS. Both methods share the same steps for the immunocapture and antibody-labelling of sEVs and can be combined to derive differentiated detection parameters.

As a proof of concept, we show the analytical detection and sensitivity of these methods in detecting pre-prepared cancer cell-derived CD9+CD81+and CD9+HER2+sEVs. Both sEV populations were diluted in PBS and spiked in processed plasma. We also provide a novel approach for the determination of target sEVs (TEVs), target epitopes in sEVs (TEPs), and epitopes per target sEV, as yet unseen from current and emerging technologies.

Further, we demonstrate the higher sensitivity of O-NEXOS compared to the gold standard techniques, as well as demonstrating that E-NEXOS possesses commensurate sensitivity whilst only being powered by 36 nanogap-based sensors per nanochip.

Finally, this manuscript lays the groundwork for a scalable electronics miniaturization of E-NEXOS nanochip with millions of nanogap-based sensors for the translation of NEXOS into standard clinical practice.
Discrimination of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages BA.1 and BA.2 using a high-resolution melting-based assay: A pilot study
Authors: Aoki Akira , Adachi Hirokazu , Mori Yoko , Ito Miyabi , Sato Katsuhiko , Okuda Kenji , Sakakibara Toru , Okamoto Yoshinori , Jinno Hideto
Published: April 2022

The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide. As of March 2022, Omicron variant BA.2 is rapidly replacing variant BA.1. As variant BA.2 may cause more severe disease than variant BA.1, variant BA.2 requires continuous monitoring. The current study aimed to develop a novel high-resolution melting (HRM) assay for variants BA.1 and BA.2 and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of our method using clinical samples. Here, we focused on the mutational spectra at three regions in the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD; R408, G446/L452, and S477/T478) for the variant-selective HRM analysis. Each variant was identified based on the mutational spectra as follows: no mutations (Alpha variant); L452R and T478K (Delta variant); G446S and S477N/T478K (Omicron variant BA.1); and R408S and S477N/T478K (Omicron variant BA.2). Upon analysis of mutation-coding RNA fragments, the melting peaks of the wild-type fragments were distinct from those of the mutant fragments. The sensitivity and specificity of this method were determined as 100% and more than 97.5%, respectively, based on 128 clinical samples (40 Alpha, 40 Delta, 40 Omicron variants BA.1/BA.1.1, and 8 Omicron BA.2). These results suggest that this HRM-based assay is a promising screening method for monitoring the transmission of Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2.
Interneuronal network model of theta-nested fast oscillations predicts differential effects of heterogeneity, gap junctions and short term depression for hyperpolarizing versus shunting inhibition
Authors: Via Guillem , Fernandez Fernando R. , White John A. , Canavier Carmen C.
Published: April 2022

Theta and gamma oscillations in the hippocampus have been hypothesized to play a role in the encoding and retrieval of memories. Recently, it was shown that an intrinsic fast gamma mechanism in medial entorhinal cortex can be recruited by optogenetic stimulation at theta frequencies, which can persist with fast excitatory synaptic transmission blocked, suggesting a contribution of interneuronal network gamma (ING). We calibrated the passive and active properties of a 100-neuron model network to capture the range of passive properties and frequency/current relationships of experimentally recorded PV+ neurons in the medial entorhinal cortex (mEC). The strength and probabilities of chemical and electrical synapses were also calibrated using paired recordings, as were the kinetics and short-term depression (STD) of the chemical synapses. Gap junctions that contribute a noticeable fraction of the input resistance were required for synchrony with hyperpolarizing inhibition; these networks exhibited theta-nested high frequencies (∼200 Hz) similar to the putative ING observed experimentally in the optogenetically-driven PV-ChR2 mice. With STD included in the model, fast oscillations were only observed before the peak of the theta drive, whereas without STD, they were observed symmetrically before and after the peak. Because hyperpolarizing synapses provide a synchronizing drive that contributes to robustness in the presence of heterogeneity, synchronization decreases as the hyperpolarizing inhibition becomes weaker. In contrast, networks with shunting inhibition required non-physiological levels of gap junctions to synchronize using conduction delays within the measured range; synaptic depression of shunting synapses facilitated fast oscillations, suggesting that shunting inhibition in mEC is desynchronizing.

Author Summary

Fast oscillations nested within slower oscillations have been hypothesized to play a role in the encoding and retrieval of memories by chunking information within each fast cycle; networks of parvalbumin positive inhibitory interneurons contribute to the generation of fast oscillations. We show that, in the entorhinal cortex, the intrinsic dynamical properties of these neurons are sufficiently heterogeneous that electrical synapses are likely required to synchronize fast oscillations. Moreover, synchrony likely requires the chemical synapses to have a reversal potential that is negative relative to the action potential threshold of individual neurons during these oscillations. We show that the range of slow phases that support a fast oscillation is controlled by short term synaptic depression. The precise phase locking of the fast oscillation within the slow oscillations is hypothesized to allow for multiplexing of information.
Bilateral Human Laryngeal Motor Cortex in Perceptual Decision of Lexical Tone and Voicing of Consonant
Authors: Liang Baishen , Li Yanchang , Zhao Wanying , Du Yi
Published: April 2022

Speech perception is believed to recruit the left motor cortex. However, the exact role of the laryngeal subregion and its right counterpart in speech perception, as well as their temporal patterns of involvement remain unclear. To address these questions, we conducted a hypothesis-driven study, utilizing transcranial magnetic stimulation on the left or right dorsal laryngeal motor cortex (dLMC) when participants performed perceptual decision on Mandarin lexical tone or consonant (voicing contrast) presented with or without noise. We used psychometric function and hierarchical drift-diffusion model to disentangle perceptual sensitivity and dynamic decision-making parameters. Results showed that bilateral dLMCs were engaged with effector specificity, and this engagement was left-lateralized with right upregulation in noise. Furthermore, the dLMC contributed to various decision stages depending on the hemisphere and task difficulty. These findings substantially advance our understanding of the hemispherical lateralization and temporal dynamics of bilateral dLMC in sensorimotor integration during speech perceptual decision-making.
An ACAT inhibitor regulates SARS-CoV-2 replication and antiviral T cell activity
Authors: Schmidt Nathalie M , Wing Peter AC , Peters Rory , Brown Rachel , Wang Hao , Swadling Leo ,   COVIDsortium Investigators, Newman Joseph , Thakur Nazia , Shionoya Kaho , Morgan Sophie B , Hinks Timothy SC , Watashi Koichi , Bailey Dalan , Hansen Scott B , Maini Mala K , McKeating Jane A
Published: April 2022

The severity of disease following infection with SARS-CoV-2 is determined by viral replication kinetics and host immunity, with early T cell responses and/or suppression of viraemia driving a favourable outcome. Recent studies have uncovered a role for cholesterol metabolism in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle and in T cell function. Here we show that blockade of the enzyme Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) with Avasimibe inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry and fusion independent of transmembrane protease serine 2 expression in multiple cell types. We also demonstrate a role for ACAT in regulating SARS-CoV-2 RNA replication in primary bronchial epithelial cells. Furthermore, Avasimibe boosts the expansion of functional SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells from the blood of patients sampled in the acute phase of infection. Thus, re-purposing of available ACAT inhibitors provides a compelling therapeutic strategy for the treatment of COVID-19 to achieve both antiviral and immunomodulatory effects.
Genome wide screen of RNAi molecules against SARS-CoV-2 creates a broadly potent prophylaxis
Authors: Yogev Ohad , Weissbrod Omer , Battistoni Giorgia , Bressan Dario , Naamti Adi , Falciatori Ilaria , Berkyurek Ahmet C. , Rasnic Roni , Hosmillo Myra , Ilan Shaul , Grossman Iris , McCormick Lauren , Honeycutt Christopher C. , Johnston Timothy , Gagne Matthew , Douek Daniel C. , Goodfellow Ian , Hannon Gregory J. , Erlich Yaniv
Published: April 2022

Expanding the arsenal of prophylactic approaches against SARS-CoV-2 is of utmost importance, specifically those strategies that are resistant to antigenic drift in Spike. Here, we conducted a screen with over 16,000 RNAi triggers against the SARS-CoV-2 genome using a massively parallel assay to identify hyper-potent siRNAs. We selected 10 candidates for in vitro validation and found five siRNAs that exhibited hyper-potent activity with IC50<20pM and strong neutralisation in live virus experiments. We further enhanced the activity by combinatorial pairing of the siRNA candidates to develop siRNA cocktails and found that these cocktails are active against multiple types of variants of concern (VOC). We examined over 2,000 possible mutations to the siRNA target sites using saturation mutagenesis and identified broad protection against future variants. Finally, we demonstrated that intranasal administration of the siRNA cocktail effectively attenuates clinical signs and viral measures of disease in the Syrian hamster model. Our results pave the way to development of an additional layer of antiviral prophylaxis that is orthogonal to vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
The SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain facilitates neutrophil transepithelial migration and nanoparticle uptake in the mice airways
Authors: Bolkhovitina Elena L. , Vavilova Julia D. , Bogorodskiy Andrey O. , Zagryadskaya Yuliya A. , Okhrimenko Ivan S. , Sapozhnikov Alexander M. , Borshchevskiy Valentin I. , Shevchenko Marina A.
Published: April 2022

SARS-CoV-2-induced infection is still dangerous. Mouse models are convenient to the investigation of virus-activated immune response mechanisms. However, mice are not proper model organisms to study COVID-19 due to decreased interaction affinity between the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) and mouse angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) compared with human ACE2. In the present study, we propose a mouse model that allows estimating the influence of SARS-CoV-2 on the immune system. To mimic the effects of RBD– ACE2 high-affinity interaction, mice received the ACE2 inhibitor MLN-4760. To simulate virus loading, we applied 100 nm particles suspended in the solution of RBD via the oropharyngeal route to mice. In this model, MLN-4760 application enhanced neutrophil egress from the bone marrow to the bloodstream and RBD attracted neutrophils to the luminal side of the conducting airway epithelium. By contrast, inert 100 nm particles were not potent to stimulate neutrophil recruitment to the conducting airway mucosa. Using this model, and by altering the dosage of the ACE2 inhibitor, nanoparticles, and RBD, one can adapt it to investigate different COVID-19 states characterized with mild or severe airway inflammation.

Statement

This study presents a mouse model that allows estimating the influence of SARS-CoV-2 on the immune system and investigates immune cell-model virus particle interactions in the conducting airway mucosa.
Corruption and corporate investment efficiency around the world
Authors: Nguyen Xuan Minh , Tran Quoc Trung
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The paper investigates the effect of corruption on corporate investment efficiency around the world.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes 218,350 observations from 30,074 firms across 42 countries. The authors measure corruption based on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from Transparency International, Corruption Control Index (CCI) from the World Bank and Corruption Index from the International Country Risk Guide.

Findings

The authors find that corruption is negatively related to investment efficiency. The robustness checks with different measures of corporate investment and alternative regression approaches show consistent findings. Moreover, the authors also find that the effect of corruption is stronger (weaker) in strong (weak) shareholder protection countries.

Originality/value

The paper has two important contributions to the literature. First, it shows that corruption environment is also a determinant of corporate investment efficiency. Second, legal protection of shareholders can mitigate the negative effect of corruption on corporate investment efficiency.
Will university internship secure you a job?: interplaying factors from an emerging market perspective
Authors: Alawamleh Mohammad , Mahadin Bushra K.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to identify internship factors and their roles in obtaining employment, establishing relationships among them using interpretive structural modeling (ISM).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature review of more than 100 studies (1982–2020), 11 internship factors were identified. This was followed by the application of ISM technique to get insights into how these factors affect employability.

Findings

ISM technique and empirical research aided in classifying the factors on their driving and dependence power. Further analysis identified contextual relationships between all factors and how these affect each other.

Research limitations/implications

This study will be helpful for educators, students and managers to understand how internship affects employability through understanding of the factors and their relations.

Originality/value

This study is the first study presenting a holistic view of internship factors and how their relationships affect employability in the emerging market perspective of Jordan.
Omni-channel retailing resources and capabilities of SME specialty retailers – insights from Germany and Turkey
Authors: Mrutzek-Hartmann Bastian , Kotzab Herbert , Yumurtacı Hüseyinoğlu Işık Özge , Kühling Sascha
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The retail sector in a lot of countries consists of many small and medium sized specialty retailers who face a high degree of dynamics and competition. Consequently, these companies also have to constantly evolve and develop resilient strategies that promise their future success. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the resource and capability bundle for operating as and transforming to a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) omni-channel specialty retailer. Therefore, the authors followed the notions of the Resource-Based-View (RBV) and of the Dynamic-Capabilities-View (DCV).

Design/methodology/approach

To answer the authors’ formulated research questions, they applied an exploratory research method by conducting 12 semi-structured and guideline-based expert interviews from two countries.

Findings

The findings reveal a specific bundle of transformation resources and capabilities and important drivers for the implementation of an omni-channel strategy. Thereby, the human resources factor and the market as well as customer understanding play a decisive role. In addition, the authors have identified country-specific differences in the technological, logistical, product-specific and financial areas.

Practical implications

The results reflect the importance of qualified and well-trained staff for SME retailers to implement omni-channel strategies in alignment with a high level of service quality. Especially in the Covid 19 era, flexible structures and quick adaptability are essential to remain competitive. Nevertheless, everything should always be in line with the company's own philosophy.

Originality/value

The paper provides new insights into important resources and capabilities retailers need to focus on when implementing an omni-channel strategy. The paper concentrates in particular on the groups of SMEs and niche markets as well as examines country-specific differences in a developed and a developing country.
Does the CEO’s financial and accounting expertise affect the financial reporting quality? Evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Ngo Diem Nhat Phuong , Nguyen Cong Van
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the role of the financial and accounting expertise of the chief executive officer (CEO) on financial reporting quality (FRQ) in an emerging economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on data collected from a large sample of all non-financial companies listed on Vietnamese stock exchanges during the period 2016–2020 with 2,435 observations. FEM-ROBUST standard errors regression model is used to examine the relationship between the financial, accounting expertise of CEOs and FRQ through earnings management by discretionary accruals.

Findings

The results show that CEOs with financial and accounting expertise have more influence and intervention on earnings management and thus adversely affect FRQ. This behaviour is explained by the fact that CEOs not only have a firm grasp of financial and accounting policies but also know the tricks to interfere with earnings management. Moreover, in the context of emerging economies, CEOs’ awareness and management level are still limited and legal sanctions are not yet strict, so when they have power in their hands, CEOs immediately find ways to build a reputation to enhance the power and earnings for the CEOs themselves.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is first of all that the research data are not complete and rich because the companies are prohibited from disclosing information and the cooperation relationship is not close. Next is the new research in only one emerging market – Vietnam – so the generalizability is not high.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the impact of CEOs’ accounting and finance expertise on FRQ in an emerging economy, contributing to the existing literature regarding the scientific debates about CEOs, CEO characteristics, earnings management and FRQ.
The impact of the pandemic on probation: lessons for the future
Authors: Phillips Jake
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which probation services responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and to consider what this means for the future of probation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a literature review approach. Published research about the impact of the pandemic on probation services around the world was identified. Key findings around the main ways in which probation services were affected are identified.

Findings

The key themes identified in the published research are the strengths and weaknesses of remote communication, the role of probation in efforts to reduce the prison population, the importance of social support and marginalisation and the impact on staff. These findings are then examined through McNeill’s (2018) argument that systems of community punishment should be parsimonious, productive and proportionate.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first paper to synthesise international research on the impact of the pandemic on probation and thus serves as a useful starting point for future work on how probation services might learn from the pandemic.
Using social media as a platform to publicly disclose HIV status among people living with HIV: Control, identity, informing public dialogue
Authors: Philpot Steven P. , Murphy Dean , Prestage Garrett , Wells Nathanael , On behalf of the RISE Study team
Published: April 2022

Disclosure of HIV status is usually considered a private encounter involving only a limited number of people at a time. Many people living with HIV are strategic about deciding in what contexts, using which approach, to whom, and to what extent they disclose HIV status. However, social media platforms provide opportunities for people to publicly disclose information about themselves to their networks. Utilising semi‐structured interviews with people recently diagnosed with HIV in Australia, we explore how, why, and using what strategies people living with HIV use social media as a means of publicly disclosing positive HIV status. Participants placed importance on having control of how they framed their life with HIV and adopted strategies to control the audience to whom they disclosed. Public disclosure on social media helped participants come out of the ‘sero‐closet’, empowered identity affirmation, and enabled them to be voices for other people living with HIV to shift public dialogue. We conclude that public disclosure of a positive HIV status can strip HIV disclosure of being associated with delivering private and unpleasant information, and instead reframe living with HIV from a responsibility to disclose to a right to share.
Implementation of resource use measures in Medicare Advantage
Authors: Jung Jeah , Carlin Caroline , Feldman Roger , Tran Linh
Published: April 2022

Objective

To complement the previously illustrated method to measure resource use in Medicare Advantage (MA) using Encounter data and provide technical details and SAS code to validate Encounter data and implement resource use measures in MA.

Data Sources

2015–2018 MA Encounter, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR), Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information System (HEDIS), and Traditional Medicare (TM) claims data.

Study Design

Secondary data analysis.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We select MA contracts with high data completeness (≤10% missing hospital stays in Encounter data and ≤±10% difference in ambulatory and emergency department visits between Encounter and HEDIS data). We randomly sample TM beneficiaries with a similar geographic distribution as MA enrollees in the selected contracts. We develop standardized prices of services using TM payments, and we measure MA resource use for inpatient, outpatient, Part D, and hospice services.

Principal Findings

We report identifiers/names of contracts with high data completeness. We provide SAS code to manage Encounter data, develop standardized prices, and measure MA resource use.

Conclusions

Greater use and validation of Encounter data can help improve data quality. Our results can be used to inform studies using Encounter data to learn about MA performance.
Weight‐neutral interventions in young people with high body mass index: A systematic review
Authors: Hoare Johanna K. , Lister Natalie B. , Garnett Sarah P. , Baur Louise A. , Jebeile Hiba
Published: April 2022

Aim

This systematic review explored the feasibility, acceptability and effect on health outcomes of weight‐neutral interventions in health improvement‐seeking young people with overweight/obesity.

Methods

Six databases were searched to March 2021 for health, but not weight, focused interventions (PROSPERO, CRD42020152671). Eligible studies recruited young people (10–24 years) with overweight/obesity. The studies were described using narrative synthesis, with numerical results summarised. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.

Results

Six articles were included, representing three pilot studies. Study 1 (n = 37, 14–17 years) compared a 6‐week mindful eating program with single‐session lifestyle education; Study 2 (n = 35, 14–17 years) compared 12‐week weight‐neutral lifestyle education focused on intuitive eating and carbohydrate quality, with/without guided imagery; and Study 3 (n = 33, 12–17 years) compared a 6‐week mindfulness intervention with cognitive behavioural therapy in adolescents with depressive symptoms at risk of type 2 diabetes. All interventions explored feasibility (intervention group retention 57%–88%, attendance >80%) and reported interventions were acceptable. Studies 1 and 3 reported no change in mindfulness. Study 2 reported an increase (p < 0.05) in intuitive eating following weight‐neutral plus guided imagery (0.32 ± 0.36, Hawks' Scale, score 1–4), compared with weight‐neutral alone (0.15 ± 0.29). Study 1 reported decreased body mass index (p < 0.001) following mindful eating (−1.1 kg/m2), compared with single‐session lifestyle education (+0.7 kg/m2); Studies 2 and 3 found no change in body mass index or body mass index z‐score.

Conclusions

Weight‐neutral interventions may be feasible and acceptable in adolescents with overweight/obesity in the short term (≤12 weeks), but data are limited.
In vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of clove extract and its effectiveness in bio‐composite film on storage stability of goat meat balls
Authors: Singh Tarun Pal , Chauhan Geeta , Mendiratta Sanjod Kumar , Agrawal Ravi Kant , Arora Shalini , Verma Arun Kumar , Rajkumar Vincet
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to find out clove extract's antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, as well as its efficacy as a bioactive ingredient in the development of bio‐composite films to increase the storage stability of goat meat balls stored at 4 ± 1°C. The clove extracts (CLEs) were prepared in ethanol, hydroethanol (1:1), and water and evaluated for antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. In vitro assays of CLEs revealed more susceptibility for gram‐positive bacteria than gram‐negative bacteria. Among the different extracts, the clove ethanol extract (CLEE) had the highest antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms as well as total phenolics (1.14 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (8.50 µg catechin/g), and DPPH assay (39.59%). Further, the concentration‐dependent effect of CLEE (p < 0.05) on thickness and color values and antimicrobial properties of the bio‐composite film were observed. The storage qualities of the product T1 (with film; 450 µl CLEE) such as pH (6.45 ± 0.01), TBARS (0.87 ± 0.06 mg malonaldehyde/kg) value, free fatty acid (0.193 ± 0.001% oleic acid), total mesophilic count (4.98 ± 0.05 log10 CFU/g), and sensory attributes (overall acceptability score: 5.67 on 8‐point scale) were better (p < 0.05) than T0 (without film; control) on day 20 of storage. Thus, the ethanolic clove extract has a superior antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. Its inclusion in the bio‐composite film prolonged the storage stability of goat meat balls by controlling lipid oxidation and microbial growth.

Practical Application

Today's consumers are more attracted towards meat products added with natural ingredients having preservative effects. Clove extract is a classic example of a natural preservative and has excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. The present study revealed that by wrapping the ethanolic clove extract‐based bio‐composite film on goat meat balls extended the storage stability of the product due to controlled lipid oxidation and microbial growth. Thus, such bio‐composite films can be successfully applied on goat meat balls that function as a antimicrobial packaging for providing optimum organoleptic quality and better shelf life.
Elucidation of chickpea hydration, effect of soaking temperature, and extent of germination on characteristics of malted flour
Authors: Kaur Ravneet , Prasad Kamlesh
Published: April 2022

Germination is a biochemical process that has been widely used to improve the nutritional quality, functional properties, and bioavailability of the protein. Soaking is the preliminary step for germination. Effect of soaking temperature on germination parameters was studied to select the suitable soaking temperature for germination. The effect of germination time on nutritional, functional, and microstructural properties of chickpea flour was evaluated. The soaking temperature was selected as 30°C depending on the germination percentage, vigor value, and mean germination time. Physico‐chemical composition, antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, total phenolic, and total flavonoid were investigated over 4 days of germination. It was found that protein content increased on dry matter basis, whereas carbohydrate and fat content decreased during germination. Ascorbic acid content was found to increase to about 3.52 times. Antioxidant activity increased from 24.14% to 58.50% after 4 days of germination. Water absorption capacity was found to decrease, whereas oil absorption capacity increased. XRD pattern depicted a decrease in crystallinity due to the degradation of amylopectin and increased amylose content. SEM was used to study the microstructural changes with increase in germination time. DSC studies were also carried out to study the effect of germination on thermal properties of chickpea flour.

Practical Application

This research work gives an outline of the available literature on the mechanism of hydration and germination process with the associated chemical and biochemical changes in the bioactive components along with the special emphasis on the health benefits. The present work is an effort toward the development of chickpea‐based meal‐replacement beverages.
Identification of a novel circ_0001946/miR‐1290/SOX6 ceRNA network in esophageal squamous cell cancer
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Yao Wenjian , Li Jiwei , Zhang Quan , Wei Li
Published: April 2022

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to impact the development of esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Human circ_0001946 has been identified as a potential anticancer factor in ESCC, yet our understanding of its molecular basis remains limited.

Methods

Circ_0001946, microRNA (miR)‐1290 and SRY‐box transcription factor 6 (SOX6) were quantified by quantitative reasl‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) or immunoblotting. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK‐8 and EDU assays. Cell apoptosis and invasion were evaluated by flow cytometry and transwell assays, respectively. Cell migration was detected by transwell and wound‐healing assays. The direct relationship between miR‐1290 and circ_0001946 or SOX6 was determined by dual‐luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Xenograft model assays were used to assess the role of circ_0001946 in tumor growth.

Results

Circ_0001946 expression was attenuated in human ESCC, and circ_0001946 increase impeded cell proliferation, invasion, migration and enhanced apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, circ_0001946 increase diminished xenograft growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0001946 bound to miR‐1290, and re‐expression of miR‐1290 reversed circ_0001946‐dependent cell properties. SOX6 was a miR‐1290 target and it was responsible for the regulation of miR‐1290 in cell properties. Furthermore, circ_0001946 functioned as a ceRNA to regulate SOX6 expression via miR‐1290.

Conclusion

Our findings uncover an undescribed molecular mechanism, the circ_0001946/miR‐1290/SOX6 ceRNA crosstalk, for the anti‐ESCC activity of circ_0001946.
Educating the community about the opioid epidemic and medications for opioid use disorder
Authors: Williams Jill M. , Syed Muzdalifa A. , Adesanya Aderike , Gardner George , Chaguturu Vamsee , Coppola Kristen M.
Published: April 2022

Background and Objectives

Despite overwhelming evidence of benefit, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) remain stigmatizing and more efforts are needed to educate health care professionals and the general public.

Methods

We developed and evaluated an educational program for graduate students studying health sciences, teaching them to deliver 1 h presentations to the community on the opioid crisis and the usefulness of MOUD.

Results

To date, 120 graduate students have participated in this training experience on substance use disorders and delivered 59 presentations to more than 1065 community members. We found a significant increase in knowledge among students following the training. In addition, although attitudes and beliefs were generally positive at baseline, we also found significant increases in positives attitudes about the treatment of addiction and working with patients with addictions. Almost all students believed the course enhanced their professional expertise and would recommend it to others. We compared our students’ baseline knowledge and attitudes to a large sample of other graduate students and did not find significant differences indicating good external validity of our results. Finally, we evaluated change in community members' knowledge and attitudes (N = 315) following student presentations and found significant increases in knowledge and positive attitude change toward MOUD.

Discussion and Conclusions

Overall our program was feasible, enjoyable, and effective in meeting its goals of increasing knowledge acquisition and improving attitudes among students and the greater community.

Scientific Significance

Graduate students in health sciences can be trained to successfully teach the public about the opioid crisis and the usefulness of MOUD.
Treatment of facial hypertrophic capillary malformations with tumescent‐assisted sclerotherapy
Authors: Kang Mina , Parsi Kurosh
Published: April 2022

Facial capillary malformations (CMs) become hypertrophic and nodular overtime and pose great therapeutic challenge. Here, we describe safe and effective use of tumescent‐assisted sclerotherapy (TAS) in conjunction with yellow vascular laser (577 nm) for the treatment of HFCMs. Three patients underwent TAS were included in the case series, and complete resolution in nodularity was achieved in all patients with TAS, with no major complications such as skin necrosis, distal embolisation, blindness and neurological adverse events such as stroke or TIA occurred in any patients.
Canine Ministries:Co‐Instrumentalityof Human and Dog in a Christian Ontology
Authors: Frigiola Heather
Published: April 2022

Within the last century, US Americans have come to humanize dogs and place a greater personal value on them than ever before. In response to this cultural change, some US Christians have begun to use therapy dogs in ministry work. For this exploratory study, six chaplains in a canine ministry share their experiences and beliefs about their use of therapy dogs. Their stories reveal a unique form of human‐animal partnership emergent in contemporary society distinguished by a faith‐based context. The chaplain and ministry dog act together as co‐instruments of God, both being subject and object simultaneously. The dogs occupy an ontologically complex position of being subordinate to humans while also embodying virtues that Christians idealize. This paper focuses on the chaplains’ conceptualization of the relationality between themselves, their dogs, and God. Their accounts reveal changing perceptions of what it means to be human vis‐a‐vis our relationship with animals. [multispecies ethnography, dogs, religion, Christianity, ontology]
Obesity is associated with an increased risk of undergoing knee replacement in Australia
Authors: Wall Christopher J. , de Steiger Richard N. , Vertullo Christopher J. , Stoney James D. , Graves Stephen E. , Lorimer Michelle F. , Kondalsamy‐Chennakesavan Srinivas
Published: April 2022

Background

Obesity is associated with the development of knee osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of obesity in patients undergoing knee replacement (KR) for OA in Australia compared to the incidence of obesity in the general population.

Methods

A cohort study was conducted, comparing data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2017–2018 National Health Survey with data from the National Joint Replacement Registry. The distribution of patients who underwent KR from July 2017 to June 2018 by BMI category was compared to the distribution of the general population, in age and gender sub‐groups.

Results

During the study period, 35.6% of Australian adults were overweight and 31.3% were obese. Of the 56 217 patients who underwent primary KR for OA, 31.9% were overweight and 57.7% were obese. The relative risk of undergoing KR for OA increased with increasing BMI category. Class 1, 2 and 3 obese females aged 55–64 years were 4.7, 8.4 and 17.3 times more likely to undergo KR than their normal weight counterparts, respectively. Males in the same age and BMI categories were 3.4, 4.5 and 5.8 times more likely to undergo KR, respectively. Class 3 obese patients underwent KR 7 years younger, on average, than normal weight individuals.

Conclusion

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of undergoing KR, and at a younger age, particularly for females. There is an urgent need for a societal level approach to address the prevalence of obesity, to reduce the burden of obesity related KR.