bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling the Dynamics of Senescence Spread
Authors: Martin Lucy , Schumacher Linus , Chandra Tamir
Published: March 2023

Cellular senescence is a cell surveillance mechanism that arrests the cell cycle in damaged cells. The senescent phenotype can spread from cell to cell through paracrine and juxtacrine signalling, but the dynamics of this process are not well understood. Although senescent cells are important in ageing, wound healing, and cancer, it is unclear how the spread of senescence is contained in senescent lesions. In the absence of the immune system, senescence could theoretically spread infinitely from one cell to another, but this contradicts experimental evidence. To investigate this issue, we developed both a minimal mathematical model and a stochastic simulation of senescence spread. Our results suggest that differences in the number of signalling molecules secreted between subtypes of senescent cells can limit the spread of senescence. We found that dynamic, timedependent paracrine signalling prevents the uncontrolled spread of senescence and we demonstrate how model parameters can be determined using Bayesian inference in a proposed experiment.
Olfactory detection of viruses shapes brain immunity and behavior in zebrafish
Authors: Kraus Aurora , Garcia Benjamin , Ma Jie , Herrera Kristian J. , Zwaka Hanna , Harpaz Roy , Wong Ryan Y. , Engert Florian , Salinas Irene
Published: March 2023

Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are constantly exposed to pathogens, including viruses. However, serious brain infection via the olfactory route rarely occurs. When OSNs detect a virus, they coordinate local antiviral immune responses to stop virus progression to the brain. Despite effective immune control in the olfactory periphery, pathogen-triggered neuronal signals reach the CNS via the olfactory bulb (OB). We hypothesized that neuronal detection of a virus by OSNs initiates neuroimmune responses in the OB that prevent pathogen invasion. Using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model, we demonstrate viral-specific neuronal activation of OSNs projecting into the OB, indicating that OSNs are electrically activated by viruses. Further, behavioral changes are seen in both adult and larval zebrafish after viral exposure. By profiling the transcription of single cells in the OB after OSNs are exposed to virus, we found that both microglia and neurons enter a protective state. Microglia and macrophage populations in the OB respond within minutes of nasal viral delivery followed decreased expression of neuronal differentiation factors and enrichment of genes in the neuropeptide signaling pathway in neuronal clusters. Pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating polypeptide (pacap), a known antimicrobial, was especially enriched in a neuronal cluster. We confirm that PACAP is antiviralin vitroand that PACAP expression increases in the OB 1 day post-viral treatment. Our work reveals how encounters with viruses in the olfactory periphery shape the vertebrate brain by inducing antimicrobial programs in neurons and by altering host behavior.
Evidence of depression affecting multimorbidity in survey data from the Brazilian population
Authors: Silva Castro-de-Araujo Luis Fernando , de Araujo Jacyra Azevedo Paiva , Rodrigues Elisângela da Silva , Rodrigues Rodrigo Lins , Kanaan Richard A
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Depression is associated with multimorbidity, the occurrence of two or more chronic diseases. Although the effect of multimorbidity on depression is relatively well known, the opposite effect is less well studied. We aimed to examine the effect of depression on multimorbidity using data from a nationally representative Brazilian survey.

Methods

We used information from all respondents above 15 years of age of the Brazilian National Survey on Access, Use, and Promotion of the Rational Use of Medicines (PNAUM) from 2014. A structural equation model was fit to the data with a specification that included the relationship between depressive syndrome and multimorbidity, controlled by age and body mass index.

Results

The data set comprised 28,382 subjects. The model presented fit the data well, and revealed a statistically significant, positive, moderate-size effect (0.355) of depression on multimorbidity.

Conclusion

Depression appears to make a moderate contribution to the development of multimorbidity.
A central serotonin regulating gene polymorphism (TPH2) determines vulnerability to acute tryptophan depletion-induced anxiety and ventromedial prefrontal threat reactivity
Authors: Liu Congcong , Li Keshuang , Fu Meina , Zhang YingYing , Sindermann Cornelia , Montag Christian , Zheng Xiaoxiao , Zhang Hongxing , Shuxia Yao , Wang Zheng , Zhou Bo , Kendrick Keith M. , Becker Benjamin
Published: March 2023

Serotonin (5-HT) has long been implicated in adaptive emotion regulation as well as the development and treatment of emotional dysregulations in mental disorders. Accumulating evidence suggests that a genetic vulnerability may render some individuals at a greater risk for the detrimental effects of transient variations in 5-HT signaling. The present study aimed to investigate whether individual variations in the Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) genetics influence susceptibility for behavioral and neural threat reactivity dysregulations during transiently decreased 5-HT signaling. To this end, interactive effects between TPH2 (rs4570625) genotype and acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on reactivity towards angry, neutral and happy faces were examined in a within-subject placebo-controlled pharmacological fMRI trial (n = 51). An a priori genotype stratification approach of extreme groups (GG vs. TT) allowed balanced sampling. While no main effects of ATD on neural reactivity to threat-related stimuli and mood state were observed in the entire sample, accounting for TPH2 genotype revealed an ATD-induced increase in subjective anxious arousal in the GG but not the TT carriers. The effects were mirrored on the neural level, such that ATD specifically reduced ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) reactivity towards threat-related stimuli in the GG carriers. Furthermore, the ATD-induced increase in subjective anxiety positively associated with the extent of ATD-induced changes in vmPFC activity in response to threat-related stimuli in GG carriers. Together the present findings suggest for the first time that individual variations in TPH2 genetics render individuals susceptible to the anxiogenic and neural effects of a transient decrease in 5-HT signaling.
Mouse Adapted SARS-CoV-2 Model Induces “Long-COVID” Neuropathology in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Gressett Timothy E. , Leist Sarah R. , Ismael Saifudeen , Talkington Grant , Dinnon Kenneth H. , Baric Ralph S. , Bix Gregory
Published: March 2023

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused significant global morbidity and mortality and continues to burden patients with persisting neurological dysfunction. COVID-19 survivors develop debilitating symptoms to include neuro-psychological dysfunction, termed “Long COVID”, which can cause significant reduction of quality of life. Despite vigorous model development, the possible cause of these symptoms and the underlying pathophysiology of this devastating disease remains elusive. Mouse adapted (MA10) SARS-CoV-2 is a novel mouse-based model of COVID-19 which simulates the clinical symptoms of respiratory distress associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice. In this study, we evaluated the long-term effects of MA10 infection on brain pathology and neuroinflammation. 10-week and 1-year old female BALB/cAnNHsd mice were infected intranasally with 104plaque-forming units (PFU) and 103PFU of SARS-CoV-2 MA10, respectively, and the brain was examined 60 days post-infection (dpi). Immunohistochemical analysis showed a decrease in the neuronal nuclear protein NeuN and an increase in Iba-1 positive amoeboid microglia in the hippocampus after MA10 infection, indicating long-term neurological changes in a brain area which is critical for long-term memory consolidation and processing. Importantly, these changes were seen in 40-50% of infected mice, which correlates to prevalence of LC seen clinically. Our data shows for the first time that MA10 infection induces neuropathological outcomes several weeks after infection at similar rates of observed clinical prevalence of “Long COVID”. These observations strengthen the MA10 model as a viable model for study of the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 in humans. Establishing the viability of this model is a key step towards the rapid development of novel therapeutic strategies to ameliorate neuroinflammation and restore brain function in those suffering from the persistent cognitive dysfunction of “Long-COVID”.
ATG5 suppresses type I IFN-dependent neutrophil swarming and NETosis
Authors: Kinsella Rachel L. , Chowdhury Chanchal Sur , Smirnov Asya , Mreyoud Yassin , Kimmey Jacqueline M. , Esaulova Ekaterina , Kreamalmeyer Darren , Artyomov Maxim N. , Stallings Christina L.
Published: March 2023

Inflammation is critical for controlling infections, but when left unchecked can cause tissue damage and disease. For tuberculosis, the leading cause of death due to infection1, host inflammation is responsible for the clinical symptoms2, morbidity2, and mortality3,4. Specifically, neutrophil-dominated inflammation is associated with tuberculosis disease progression3,5,6. Therefore, understanding how neutrophil functions are regulated during infection is important for developing ways to prevent disease.Atg5was the first gene shown to specifically function within neutrophils to promote control ofMycobacterium tuberculosis7, the causative agent of tuberculosis. ATG5 is best studied for its role in autophagy8–11, however, the protective activity of ATG5 in neutrophils was unexpectedly independent of other autophagy proteins and remained elusive7. We report here that ATG5, but not other autophagy proteins, is required in neutrophils to suppress neutrophil NETosis and swarming that occur due to elevated type I interferon levels duringM. tuberculosisinfection. The elevated level of NETosis that results from loss of ATG5 expression contributes to the early susceptibility ofAtg5fl/fl-LysM-Cremice duringM. tuberculosisinfection. NETosis is associated with poor disease outcomes in tuberculosis12,13and COVID-19 patients14,15, as well as during other inflammatory diseases in humans16,17. Our studies identify an essential regulator of NETosis and elucidate previously unappreciated roles for ATG5 during infection, which may inform the design of host-directed therapeutics modulating these pathways.
Host genetic variation guides hepacivirus clearance, chronicity, and liver fibrosis in mice
Authors: Brown Ariane J. , Won John J. , Wolfisberg Raphael , Fahnøe Ulrik , Catanzaro Nicholas , West Ande , Moreira Fernando R. , Batista Mariana Nogueira , Ferris Martin T. , Linnertz Colton L. , Leist Sarah R. , Nguyen Cameron , De la Cruz Gabriela , Midkiff Bentley R. , Xia Yongjuan , Montgomery Stephanie A. , Billerbeck Eva , Bukh Jens , Scheel Troels K.H. , Rice Charles M. , Sheahan Timothy P.
Published: March 2023

Background & Aims

Human genetic variation is thought to guide the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection but model systems within which to dissect these host genetic mechanisms are limited. Norway rat hepacivirus (NrHV), closely related to HCV, causes chronic liver infection in rats but causes acute self-limiting hepatitis in typical strains of laboratory mice, which resolves in two weeks. The Collaborative Cross (CC) is a robust mouse genetics resource comprised of a panel of recombinant inbred strains, which model the complexity of the human genome and provide a system within which to understand diseases driven by complex allelic variation.

Approach & Results

We infected a panel of CC strains with NrHV and identified several that failed to clear virus after 4 weeks. Strains displayed an array of virologic phenotypes ranging from delayed clearance (CC046) to chronicity (CC071, CC080) with viremia for at least 10 months. Body weight loss, hepatocyte infection frequency, viral evolution, T-cell recruitment to the liver, liver inflammation and the capacity to develop liver fibrosis varied among infected CC strains.

Conclusions

These models recapitulate many aspects of HCV infection in humans and demonstrate that host genetic variation affects a multitude of virus and host phenotypes. These models can be used to better understand the molecular mechanisms that drive hepacivirus clearance and chronicity, the virus and host interactions that promote chronic disease manifestations like liver fibrosis, therapeutic and vaccine performance, and how these factors are affected by host genetic variation.
SARS-CoV-2 NSP12 associates with the TRiC complex and the P323L substitution is a host adaption
Authors: Alruwaili Muhannad , Armstrong Stuart , Prince Tessa , Erdmann Maximilian , Matthews David A. , Davidson Andrew , Aljabr Waleed , Hiscox Julian A.
Published: March 2023

SARS-CoV-2 emerged into the human population in late 2019 and human to human transmission has dominated the evolutionary landscape and driven the selection of different lineages. The first major change that resulted in increased transmission was the D614G substitution in the spike protein. This was accompanied by the P323L substitution in the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) (NSP12). Together, with D614G these changes are the root of the predominant global SARS-CoV-2 landscape. Here, we found that NSP12 formed an interactome with cellular proteins. The functioning of NSP12 was dependent on the T-complex protein Ring Complex, a molecular chaperone. In contrast, there was differential association between NSP12 variants and components of a phosphatase complex (PP2/PP2A and STRN3). Virus expressing NSP12L323was less sensitive to perturbations in PP2A and supports the paradigm that ongoing genotype to phenotype adaptation of SARS- CoV-2 in humans is not exclusively restricted to the spike protein.
Data-driven control of airborne infection risk and energy use in buildings
Authors: Risbeck Michael J. , Cohen Alexander E. , Douglas Jonathan D. , Jiang Zhanhong , Fanone Carlo , Bowes Karen , Doughty Jim , Turnbull Martin , DiBerardinis Louis , Lee Young M. , Bazant Martin Z.
Published: March 2023

The global devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to calls for a revolution in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), due to the dominant role of airborne transmission in disease spread. While simple guidelines have recently been suggested to improve IAQ mainly by increasing ventilation and filtration, this goal must be achieved in an energy-efficient and economical manner and include all air cleaning mechanisms. Here, we develop a simple protocol to directly, quantitatively, and optimally control transmission risk while minimizing energy cost. We collect a large dataset of HVAC and IAQ measurements in buildings and show how models of infectious aerosol dynamics and HVAC operation can be combined with sensor data to predict transmission risk and energy consumption. Using this data, we also verify that a simple safety guideline is able to limit transmission risk in full data-driven simulations and thus may be used to guide public health policy. Our results provide a comprehensive framework for quantitative control of transmission risk using all available air cleaning mechanisms in an indoor space while minimizing energy costs to aid in the design and automated operation of healthy, energy-efficient buildings.
Mutant forms of DDX3X with diminished catalysis form hollow condensates that exhibit sex-specific regulation
Authors: Owens Michael C. , Shen Hui , Yanas Amber , Mendoza-Figueroa Maria Saraí , Lavorando Ellen , Wei Xiaoyu , Shweta Him , Tang Hsin-Yao , Goldman Yale E. , Liu Kathy Fange
Published: March 2023

Mutations in the RNA helicase DDX3X, implicated in various cancers and neurodevelopmental disorders, often impair RNA unwinding and translation. However, the mechanisms underlying this impairment and the differential interactions of DDX3X mutants with wild-type (WT) X-linked DDX3X and Y-linked homolog DDX3Y remain elusive. This study reveals that specific DDX3X mutants more frequently found in disease form distinct hollow condensates in cells. Using a combined structural, biochemical, and single-molecule microscopy study, we show that reduced ATPase and RNA release activities contribute to condensate formation and the catalytic deficits result from inhibiting the catalytic cycle at multiple steps. Proteomic investigations further demonstrate that these hollow condensates sequester WT DDX3X/DDX3Y and other proteins crucial for diverse signaling pathways. WT DDX3X enhances the dynamics of heterogeneous mutant/WT hollow condensates more effectively than DDX3Y. These findings offer valuable insights into the catalytic defects of specific DDX3X mutants and their differential interactions with wild-type DDX3X and DDX3Y, potentially explaining sex biases in disease.
Design and Preparation Of A Novel Hydrogel Based An Maleimide–Thiol Conjugation
Authors: Jiang Song , Mohanty Monalisa
Published: March 2023

This article synthesized and characterized a novel hydrogel, which is formed using maleimide–thiol conjugation. Two precursors chitosan functionalized thiol groups and dextran functionalized maleimide groups prepared and characterized by NMR. The hydrogel studied by gelation time, swelling studies, viscoelastic properties, degradation rate. From gelation time result, we found that formed hydrogel gelation time could be changed with diffident weight percentage of precursors. Based on references, we found the best formular for the gelation and it was also determined for other studies. The swelling study indicated hydrogel has good flexibility and the degradation test indicated hydrogel is biodegradable. The viscoelastic test indicated hydrogel is elastic solid. From these studies, this a novel hydrogel could be potential for biomedical applications.
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) prevalence and characteristics in HIV-transmitting mothers and their infants in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Millar Jane , Cromhout Gabriela Z.L. , Mchunu Noxolo , Bengu Nomonde , Ndung’u Thumbi , Goulder Philip J , Matthews Philippa C , McNaughton Anna L
Published: March 2023

Background

HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence are high in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. HIV co-infection negatively impacts HBV prognosis, and can increase likelihood of HBV mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT). In an established early treatment intervention cohort of HIV-transmitting mother-child pairs in KZN, we characterised HBV serological makers in mothers, and screened at-risk infants for HBV.

Methods

Maternal samples (n=175) were screened for HBV infection (HBsAg), exposure to HBV (anti-HBc) and vaccination responses (anti-HBs-positive without other HBV markers). Infants of HBV-positive mothers were screened for HBsAg at 1 and 12 months.

Results

HBV infection was present in 8.6% (15/175) of mothers. Biomarkers for HBV exposure were present in 31.4% (55/175), but absent in 53.3% (8/15) maternal HBV-positive cases. Maternal HBV vaccination appeared rare (8.0%; 14/175). Despite prescription of antiretroviral therapy (ART) active against HBV, HBV DNA was detectable in 46.7% (7/15) HBsAg-positive mothers, with (5/7) also viraemic for HIV. Three mothers had HBV viral loads >5.3log10IU/ml, making them high-risk for HBV MTCT. Screening of available infant samples at one month of age (n=14) found no cases of HBV MTCT, and at 12 months (n=13) identified one HBV infection. Serological vaccination evidence was present in 53.8% (7/13) infants tested.

Discussion

This vulnerable cohort of HIV-transmitting mothers had a high undiagnosed HBV prevalence. Early infant ART may have reduced risk of MTCT in high-risk cases. Current HBV guidelines recommend antenatal antiviral prophylaxis but these data underline a potential role for infant post-exposure prophylaxis in high-risk MTCT pairs, warranting further investigation.
Diagnosing and staging epithelial ovarian cancer by serum glycoproteomic profiling
Authors: Dhar Chirag , Ramachandran Prasanna , Xu Gege , Pickering Chad , Čaval Tomislav , Rice Rachel , Zhou Bo , Srinivasan Apoorva , Hundal Itati , Cheng Robert , Aiyetan Paul , Chu Chih-Wei , Herzog Thomas J. , Olawaiye Alexander Babatunde , Czerwieniec Gregg , Jacob Francis , Serie Daniel , Lindpaintner Klaus , Schwarz Flavio
Published: March 2023

Minimally invasive technologies for early diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remain an unmet clinical need. CA-125, a tumor marker secreted into the circulation, is utilized to monitor treatment response and disease relapse in EOC, but has limited utility in accurately triaging patients with pelvic masses of unknown histology. To address this unmet need, we applied a novel blood-based glycoproteomic platform that relies on mass spectrometry coupled to machine learning tools, and identified glycopeptide biomarkers that differentiate between patients with benign pelvic masses and malignant EOC. We then used a subset of these markers to generate a classifier that discriminated between benign pelvic tumors and EOC with sensitivity and specificity of 83.5% and 90.1% in the training set and 86.7 and 86.7% in the testing set, respectively. On subgroup analyses, we noticed that patients with malignant EOC had higher levels of fucosylated markers, primarily of hepatic origin. Furthermore, patients with late-stage EOC (FIGO stage III and IV) had markedly higher levels of tri- and tetra-antennary glycopeptide markers containing fucose. We used these markers to build an independent algorithm that can differentiate between early- and late-stage EOC. Lastly, we detected a similar upregulation of fucosylated glycans and gene expression signatures suggestive of multi-antennary glycans in late-stage EOC tissues. We posit that common mechanisms - possibly driven by cytokines - affect both the tumor glycocalyx and liver-derived glycoproteins. In summary, we generated blood glycoproteomic profiles resemblant of distinct tumor states and identified biomarkers that differentiate between benign and malignant pelvic masses, and/or between early- and late-stage EOC. We also provide mechanistic insights suggesting a direct link between the tumor site and the circulating glycoproteome. These data may inform the development of robust clinical tests to diagnose and stage patients with EOC.
Over one year of survival difference between distinct cohorts of glioblastoma patients
Authors: Poon Michael TC , Woo Peter YM , Helali Aya El , Brennan Paul M
Published: March 2023

Understanding the differences in outcomes based on study and patient characteristics can inform better research designs and improve the interpretation of translational glioblastoma studies. This study compared the clinical features and median overall survival (mOS) of 2,203 patients from two genomic cohorts (The Cancer Genome Atlas [TCGA] and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas [CGGA]) and two consecutive regional cohorts (Hong Kong [HK] and Southeast [SE] Scotland) with histologically confirmed glioblastoma. Differences in clinical characteristics reflected the distinct patient selection criteria for surgery. While the mOS were similar, the mOS of those who completed temozolomide chemoradiotherapy were 35.2 months in SE Scotland, 22.2 in HK, and 14.1 in the TCGA cohort. Survival functions were comparable in the multivariable survival analysis. Our findings highlight how a lack of clinical data impedes the translational value of research. Therefore, there is a need to develop common data elements to derive meaningful conclusions.
Deep-learning-based white matter lesion volume in CT is associated with outcome after acute ischemic stroke
Authors: van Voorst Henk , Pitkänen Johanna , van Poppel Laura , de Vries Lucas , Mojtahedi Mahsa , Martou Laura , Emmer Bart J. , Roos Yvo B.W.E.M. , van Oostenbrugge Robert , Postma Alida A , Marquering Henk A. , Majoie Charles B.L.M. , Curtze Sami , Melkas Susanna , Bentley Paul , Caan Matthan W.A.
Published: March 2023

Background

It remains unclear if deep-learning-based white matter lesion (DL-WML) volume can predict outcome after ischemic stroke.

Purpose

We aimed to develop, validate, and evaluate DL-WML volume in NCCT as a risk factor and IVT effect modifier compared to the Fazekas scale (WML-Faz) in patients also receiving EVT in an EVT-capable center.

Methods

A deep-learning model for WML segmentation in NCCT was developed and validated internally and externally. The volumetric correspondence of DL-WML volume per mL was reported relative to expert annotation with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and a Bland-Altman analysis reporting bias and limits of agreement (LoA). In a post-hoc analysis of the MR CLEAN No-IV trial, univariable and multivariable regression models were used to report (un)adjusted common odds ratios ([a]cOR) to associate DL-WML volume and WML-Faz with the occurrence of symptomatic-intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and 90-day functional outcome with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

Results

DL-WML volumes were comparable with those of the ground truth for both the internal test set (10/20(50%) male, age median:72[IQR:67-85], ICC mean:0.91 95%CI:[0.87;0.94];bias:-3mL LoA:[-12mL;7mL]) and the external test set (36/101(36%) male, age median:59[IQR:42-73], ICC mean:0.87 95%CI:[0.71;0.95];bias:-2mL LoA:[-11mL;7mL]). 516 patients from the MR CLEAN No-IV trial (291/516(56%) male, age median:71 IQR:[62-79],) were analyzed. Both DL-WML volume and WML-Faz were associated with sICH (DL-WML volume acOR:1.31 95%CI[1.08;1.60], WML-Faz acOR:1.53 95%CI[1.02;2.31]) and mRS (DL-WML volume acOR:0.84 95%CI[0.76;0.94], WML-Faz acOR:0.73 95%CI[0.60;0.88]). Only for the unadjusted analysis, WML-Faz was an IVT effect modifier (p=0.046), DL-WML was not (p=0.274).

Conclusion

DL-WML volume and WML-Faz had a similar relationship with functional outcome and sICH.

Summary statement

Deep-learning-based white matter lesion volume in non-contrast CT can substitute human ratings to prognosticate symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and functional outcome at 90-days in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Key points

This was the first study to show that white matter lesion volume in non-contrast CT based on deep-learning segmentations (DL-WML volume) was associated with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages and a worse functional outcome.

Compared to the Fazekas scale, regression models using DL-WML volume had a similar fit to the data.

White matter lesion load might be associated with more symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages if IVT was given before EVT.
Who does the fairness in health AI community represent?
Authors: Alberto Isabelle Rose I. , Alberto Nicole Rose I. , Altinel Yuksel , Blacker Sarah , Binotti William Warr , Celi Leo Anthony , Chua Tiffany , Fiske Amelia , Griffin Molly , Karaca Gulce , Mokolo Nkiruka , Naawu David Kojo N. , Patscheider Jonathan , Petushkov Anton , Quion Justin , Senteio Charles , Taisbak Simon , Tırnova İsmail , Tokashiki Harumi , Velasquez Adrian , Yaghy Antonio , Yap Keagan
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVE

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are central components of today’s medical environment. The fairness of AI, i.e. the ability of AI to be free from bias, has repeatedly come into question. This study investigates the diversity of the members of academia whose scholarship poses questions about the fairness of AI.

METHODS

The articles that combine the topics of fairness, artificial intelligence, and medicine were selected from Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Embase using keywords. Eligibility and data extraction from the articles were done manually and cross-checked by another author for accuracy. 375 articles were selected for further analysis, cleaned, and organized in Microsoft Excel; spatial diagrams were generated using Public Tableau. Additional graphs were generated using Matplotlib and Seaborn. The linear and logistic regressions were analyzed using Python.

RESULTS

We identified 375 eligible publications, including research and review articles concerning AI and fairness in healthcare. When looking at the demographics of all authors, out of 1984, 794 were female, and 1190 were male. Out of 375 first authors, 155 (41.33%) were female, and 220 (58.67%) were male. For last authors 110 (31.16%) were female, and 243 (68.84%) were male. In regards to ethnicity, 234 (62.40%) of the first authors were white, 103 (27.47%) were Asian, 24 (6.40%) were black, and 14 (3.73%) were Hispanic. For the last authors, 234 (66.29%) were white, 96 (27.20%) were Asian, 12 (3.40%) were black, and 11 (3.11%) were Hispanic. Most authors were from the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The trend continued for the first and last authors of the articles. When looking at the general distribution, 1631 (82.2%) were based in high-income countries, 209 (10.5 %) were based in upper-middle-income countries, 135 (6.8%) were based in lower-middle-income countries, and 9 (0.5 %) were based in low-income countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of the bibliographic data revealed that there is an overrepresentation of white authors and male authors, especially in the roles of first and last author. The more male authors a paper had the more likely they were to be cited. Additionally, analysis showed that papers whose authors are based in higher-income countries were more likely to be cited more often and published in higher impact journals. These findings highlight the lack of diversity among the authors in the AI fairness community whose work gains the largest readership, potentially compromising the very impartiality that the AI fairness community is working towards.
Cell type-specific control of secondary cell wall formation by Musashi-type translational regulators in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kairouani Alicia , Pontier Dominique , Picart Claire , Mounet Fabien , Martinez Yves , Le-Bot Lucie , Fanuel Mathieu , Hammann Philippe , Belmudes Lucid , Merret Rémy , Azevedo Jacinthe , Carpentier Marie-Christine , Gagliardi Dominique , Couté Yohann , Sibout Richard , Bies-Etheve Natacha , Lagrange Thierry
Published: March 2023

Deciphering the mechanism of secondary cell wall/SCW formation in plants is key to understanding their development and the molecular basis of biomass recalcitrance. Although transcriptional regulation is essential for SCW formation, little is known about the implication of post-transcriptional mechanisms in this process. Here we report that twobonafideRNA-binding proteins homologous to the animal translational regulator Musashi, MSIL2 and MSIL4, function redundantly to control SCW formation in Arabidopsis. MSIL2/4 interactomes are similar and enriched in proteins involved in mRNA binding and translational regulation. MSIL2/4 mutations alter SCW formation in the fibers, leading to a reduction in lignin deposition, and an increase of 4-O-glucuronoxylan methylation. In accordance, quantitative proteomics of stems reveal an overaccumulation of glucuronoxylan biosynthetic machinery, including GXM3, in themsil2/4mutant stem. We showed that MSIL4 immunoprecipitatesGXMmRNAs, suggesting a novel aspect of SCW regulation, linking post-transcriptional control to the regulation of SCW biosynthesis genes.
Enhancers display constrained sequence flexibility and context-specific modulation of motif function
Authors: Reiter Franziska , de Almeida Bernardo P. , Stark Alexander
Published: March 2023

The information about when and where each gene is to be expressed is mainly encoded in the DNA sequence of enhancers, sequence elements that comprise binding sites (motifs) for different transcription factors (TFs). Most of the research on enhancer sequences has been focused on TF motif presence, whereas the enhancer syntax, that is, the flexibility of important motif positions and how the sequence context modulates the activity of TF motifs, remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the rules of enhancer syntax by a two-pronged approach inDrosophila melanogasterS2 cells: we (1) replace important TF motifs by all possible 65,536 eight-nucleotide-long sequences and (2) paste eight important TF motif types into 763 positions within 496 enhancers. These complementary strategies reveal that enhancers display constrained sequence flexibility and the context-specific modulation of motif function. Important motifs can be functionally replaced by hundreds of sequences constituting several distinct motif types, but these are only a fraction of all possible sequences and motif types. Moreover, TF motifs contribute with different intrinsic strengths that are strongly modulated by the enhancer sequence context (the flanking sequence, the presence and diversity of other motif types, and the distance between motifs), such that not all motif types can work in all positions. The context-specific modulation of motif function is also a hallmark of human enhancers, as we demonstrate experimentally. Overall, these two general principles of enhancer sequences are important to understand and predict enhancer function during development, evolution, and in disease.
Staff views on reflective practice groups in an inpatient assessment and treatment unit for people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Green Corinne , Cappleman Reed
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Although it is recommended that reflective practice groups (RPGs) are used to support staff in inpatient intellectual disability (ID) services, there is to date no research on their effectiveness or how staff perceive RPGs in these settings. This paper aims to evaluate staff perceptions of the RPGs in an assessment and treatment unit for people with ID and to ascertain the nature of any barriers for staff in attending the group.

Design/methodology/approach

Thirteen staff completed questionnaires ascertaining their views on the purpose, process and impact of the RPG run within the service. Questionnaires included a version of the clinical supervision evaluation questionnaire (CSEQ; Horton et al., 2008) adapted for this context and a questionnaire designed by the authors examining barriers to attending the group.

Findings

Staff responses indicated that they valued the group and perceived it as improving their clinical practice and their self-awareness. Staff did not always perceive group sessions as having clear aims and did not perceive the group as enhancing their well-being or their awareness of gaps in their skills. RPGs may be most effective if they form part of a service-wide approach to staff support and development.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first evaluation of RPGs in inpatient ID services. The adapted CSEQ was found to be an easily implemented method of evaluating RPGs in an inpatient ID setting.
Income inequality, shadow economy and environmental degradation in Africa: quantile regression via moment’s approach
Authors: Dada James Temitope , Ajide Folorunsho M. , Arnaut Marina
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this examine the impact of income inequality and shadow economy on environmental degradation given the growing income inequality, shadow economy and ecological degradation in developing countries. Thus, this study is motivated to offer empirical insight into how income inequality and shadow economy influence the environment in African countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 29 countries in Africa between 2000 and 2017 were used, while the novel method of moments quantile regression of Machado and Silva (2019) and Dumitrescu and Hurlin (D-H) (2012) granger causality is used as the estimation techniques.

Findings

The results established the presence of cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity in the panel, while Westerlund panel cointegration confirmed the long-run cointegration among the variables. The results from the quantile regression suggest that income inequality increases environmental degradation from the 5th to the 30th quantiles, while from the 70th quantiles, income inequality reduces ecological degradation. The shadow economy negatively influences environmental degradation across the quantiles, strengthening environmental quality. Per capita income (economic growth) and financial development positively impact environmental degradation throughout the quantiles. However, urbanization reduces environmental degradation from 60th to 95th quantiles. The D-H causality established a two-way relationship between income inequality and environmental degradation, while one-way from shadow economy, per capita income and urbanization to environmental degradation were established.

Originality/value

This study provides fresh insights into the nexus between shadow economy and environmental quality in the presence of higher levels of income inequality for the case of African region. The study applies quantile analysis via moment proposed by Machado and Silva (2019). This technique shows that the impact of income inequality and shadow economy on environmental degradation is heterogeneous across the quantiles of ecological footprints in Africa.
Quality, expenditure, and loyalty in a cultural event: a longitudinal study
Authors: Bringas-Rábago Nora L. , Toudert Djamel
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The impact of event quality on expenditure and visitors’ loyalty has been an issue seldom analyzed by festival literature. These same incidental relations were not assessed from a temporary perspective in the case of recurrent cultural events. This paper aims to explore these causal relationships and to report on the moderation effect of the temporary inquiry on the editions of the festival.

Design/methodology/approach

Nine hypotheses were examined through squares SEM techniques, and the model validation was carried out by assessing the measurement and structural model. In addition, a multi-group analysis was performed to test the temporary moderation effect. Finally, a survey was applied during three successive editions (2013 = 164 cases, 2014 = 154 cases, 2015 = 128 cases).

Findings

The local and ephemeral nature of the festival favors immediate consumption, and the budget share increase among categories passes through diversification to stimulate purchases. In this particular context, the moderation induced by the sequence of editions had a conclusive impact on the analyzed relationships, generating the need to focus on the temporary variability to understand and operate the recurrent events.

Originality/value

The strengthening of the festival went through a stage where it opened to other segments of visitors despite the dominant opinion to preserve the local character of the event. In addition, this study clarifies that a retrospective analysis of previous editions, when compared to the stationarity perspective of the festival, allows a better understanding of the required upgrading to preserve visitor loyalty.
How CSL Biotech became a global player: getting ahead of the competition
Authors: Ward Mark P. , Osiyevskyy Oleksiy
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role strategic problem identification and resolution played in identifying and capturing new sources of competitive advantage as CSL Limited (CSL) transformed itself into the world’s fifth-largest biotechnology company. Historical accounts of superior business growth are usually explained by looking back to identify a firm’s sources of competitive advantage. However, what managers really want to know is how to identify opportunities to create and capture competitive advantage ahead of competitors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examined CSL’s journey between 1994 and 2019 through a case study approach and the lens of the problem-identification and problem-solving perspective (PSP). The PSP assumes strategic problems act as antecedents to discovering and capturing new sources of competitive advantage. The problems a firm identifies and resolves influences whether or not, in what direction and for whom an organization creates value.

Findings

The authors provide examples of the strategic problems CSL identified and how they acted as the catalyst to proactively identify new sources of competitive advantage. The formulated problems helped manager to see in advance what resources, capabilities and governance mechanisms would be required to create and capture value.

Originality/value

Generalizing the lessons learned, the authors propose a business-problem classification framework and portfolio approach to encourage managers to identify, formulate and resolve different types of strategic problems. These problems could motivate firms to tackle problems beyond which they have successfully tackled before and discover new sources of competitive advantage ahead of competitors.
Exploring the impact of innovation intensity on the growth of female-led entrepreneurial firms
Authors: Arcuri Maria Cristina , Gandolfi Gino , Russo Ivan
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship between gender, innovation and growth in Italian innovative start-ups.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study based on a sample of more than 4,600 Italian innovative start-ups. In order to ascertain whether female-led firms that invest more in innovation grow more than their male-led counterparts, sales growth is analysed through a fixed-effects regression over the period 2015–2019. Propensity score matching is also used to check for potential selection bias.

Findings

Results reveal that innovation is crucial for start-up growth and, most importantly, that female entrepreneurs exploit the potential of innovative activities for their firm’s growth better than their male peers.

Originality/value

The results provide important evidence on the link between gender and innovation and how these two elements interact for the growth of firms in their early life. Results also provide insights for policymakers to use in designing programs for promoting female entrepreneurship and participation in science.
The effects of video storytelling advertising on consumers’ online reactions on Facebook: a cross cultural study
Authors: Ben Aicha Abir , Bouzaabia Rym
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to understand how digital storytelling advertising impacts online consumers’ responses towards advertisements on Facebook considering the different story features and the different consumers’ cultural backgrounds.

Design/methodology/approach

The grounded theory approach guided the development of this study that adopts an interpretivist positioning with an abductive approach that links the already existing knowledge on how storytelling affects consumer behaviour to the empirically retrieved data from two qualitative studies between France and Tunisia using a netnographic method to collect consumers’ responses to culturally adapted storytelling advertising.

Findings

The results reveal similarities and differences between Tunisian and French consumers regarding the effectiveness of digital storytelling advertising in influencing their cognitive, affective, and behavioural responses. Specifically, Tunisian consumers tended to hold more cognitive reactions originating from story plot and characters features as compared to French consumers who performed more affective responses towards the story plot feature. Interestingly, only French consumers performed behavioural reactions aligned with a cognitive and behavioural engagement with the storytelling advertising generated by story plot and verisimilitude elements. Findings also highlight the impact of some cultural influences on consumers’ reactions.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known study to explore and compare the effects of digital storytelling advertising between Tunisia and France. The major contribution of this study lies in investigating and comparing consumers’ reactions to digital storytelling advertising across countries. This study adds to the body of literature on international marketing communication by offering two frameworks associating story’s elements with their outcomes in their relevant context and providing fruitful insights for future research and for brand managers to design effective storytelling content.
A study on characteristic indexes of railway ballast bed under high-frequency radar
Authors: Wang Shilei , Peng Zhan , Liu Guixian , Qiang Weile , Zhang Chi
Published: March 2023

Purpose

In this paper, a high-frequency radar test system was used to collect the data of clean ballast bed and fouled ballast bed of ballasted tracks, respectively, for a quantitative evaluation of the condition of railway ballast bed.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on original radar signals, the time–frequency characteristics of radar signals were analyzed, five ballast bed condition characteristic indexes were proposed, including the frequency domain integral area, scanning area, number of intersections with the time axis, number of time-domain inflection points and amplitude envelope obtained by Hilbert transform, and the effectiveness and sensitivity of the indexes were analyzed.

Findings

The thickness of ballast bed tested at the sleep bottom by high-frequency radar is up to 55 cm, which meets the requirements of ballast bed detection. Compared with clean ballast bed, the values of the five indexes of fouled ballast bed are larger, and the five indexes could effectively show the condition of the ballast bed. The computational efficiency of amplitude envelope obtained by Hilbert transform is 140 s·km−1, and the computational efficiency of other indexes is 5 s·km−1. The amplitude envelopes obtained by Hilbert transform in the subgrade sections and tunnel sections are the most sensitive, followed by scanning area. The number of intersections with the time axis in the bridge sections was the most sensitive, followed by the scanning area. The scanning area can adapt to different substructures such as subgrade, bridges and tunnels, with high comprehensive sensitivity.

Originality/value

The research can provide appropriate characteristic indexes from the high-frequency radar original signal to quantitatively evaluate ballast bed condition under different substructures.
How does eliminating mercury from artisanal and small‐scale gold mining lead to achieving sustainable development goals?
Authors: Lara‐Rodríguez Juan Sebastián , Fritz Morgane M. C.
Published: March 2023

Artisanal and small‐scale gold mining (ASGM) is the principal anthropogenic activity that globally contributes to overloading our environment with mercury. Although the Minamata Convention, led by the United Nations, is a crucial instrument to eliminate its use progressively, novel approaches to accelerate this difficult transition are welcome. This article proposes a framework for policy‐making or improvement, fostering the enforcement of mercury elimination through the lens of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on the excluded artisanal and small‐scale gold miners and their dependents. We move forward with a literature review of the Artisanal and Small Mining topic, taking each SDG as a unit of analysis. Understanding the problem as a puzzle of four sets of pieces, namely: (1) social, (2) environmental, (3) economic, and (4) institutional, the paper offers potential opportunities for the decision‐makers and practitioners to accelerate the substitution of this heavy metal and develop sustainable futures for the ASGM communities. We conclude by proposing a pragmatic framework that synthesizes the means, actions, and ends to accelerate a sustainable transition.