bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Syndrome Trajectories and Objective Physical Performance in Mid-to-Early Late Life: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
Authors: Napoleone Jenna M , Boudreau Robert M , Lange-Maia Brittney S , El Khoudary Samar R , Ylitalo Kelly R , Kriska Andrea M , Karvonen-Gutierrez Carrie A , Strotmeyer Elsa S
Published: July 2021

Background

Little is known about how adverse, midlife metabolic profiles affect future physical functioning. We hypothesized that a higher number of midlife metabolic syndrome (MetS) components are associated with poorer physical performance in early old age for multiethnic women.

Methods

MetS status from 1996 to 2011 (8 visits) and objective physical performance in 2015/2016 (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB; 0–12], 40-foot walk [meter/second], 4-meter gait speed [meter/second], chair stands [seconds], stair climb [seconds]) were assessed in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN; n = 1722; age 65.4 ± 2.7 years; 26.9% African American, 10.1% Chinese, 9.8% Japanese, 5.5% Hispanic). Poisson latent class growth modeling identified MetS component trajectory groups: none (23.9%), 1 = low-MetS (28.7%), 2 = mid-MetS (30.9%), and ≥3 = high-MetS (16.5%). Adjusted linear regression related MetS groups to physical performance outcomes.

Results

High-MetS versus none had higher body mass index, pain, financial strain, and lower physical activity and self-reported health (p < .0001). Compared with White, African American and Hispanic women were more likely to be in the high-MetS groups and had worse physical functioning along with Chinese women (SPPB, chair stand, stair climb, and gait speed—not Hispanic). After adjustments, high-MetS versus none demonstrated significantly worse 40-ft walk (β: −0.08; 95% CI: −0.13, −0.03), gait speed (β: −0.09; 95% CI: −0.15, −0.02), SPPB (β: −0.79; 95% CI: −1.15, −0.44), and chair stands (β: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.09, 1.28), but no difference in stair climb.

Conclusions

Midlife MetS groups were related to poor physical performance in early old age multiethnic women. Midlife management of metabolic function may improve physical performance later in life.
Automatic first-arrival picking method via intelligent Markov optimal decision processes
Authors: Luo Fei , Feng Bo , Wang Huazhong
Published: July 2021

Picking the first arrival is an important step in seismic processing. The large volume of the seismic data calls for automatic and objective picking. In this paper, we formulate first-arrival picking as an intelligent Markov decision process in the multi-dimensional feature attribute space. By designing a reasonable model, the global optimization is carried out in the reward function space to obtain the path with the largest cumulative reward value, to achieve the purpose of automatically picking up the first arrival. The state-value function contains a distance-related discount factor γ, which enables the Markov decision process to pick up the first-arrival continuity to consider the lateral continuity of the seismic data and avoid the bad trace information in the seismic data. On this basis, the method of this paper further introduces the optimized model that is a fuzzy clustering-based multi-dimensional attribute reward function and structure-based Gaussian stochastic policy, thereby reducing the difficulty of model design, and making the seismic data pick up more accurately and automatically. Testing this approach in the field seismic data reveals its properties and shows it can automatically pick up more reasonable first arrivals and has a certain quality control ability, especially the first-arrival energy is weak (the signal-to-noise ratio is low) or there are adjacent complex waveforms in the shallow layer.
OpenFOAM solver of the methane behaviour near the coal mine tunnelling face and its application
Authors: Li Chengwu , Zhao Yuechao , He Yonghang
Published: July 2021

The methane near a tunnelling face seriously affects production safety in coal mines. A model considering methane seepage, adsorption, desorption and coal damage processes was established in this research. The open field operation and manipulation (OpenFOAM) solver was compiled to numerically solve the established model. The model is validated against data published in a previous theoretical study. The solver was used to investigate the effect of different parameters on methane emission regularity. This solver demonstrates that the effects of the original stress, coal cohesion and coal internal friction angle on the methane emission rate are limited, but their effects on the width of the fractured zone and effective stress are great. The effects of the initial methane pressure and coal adsorption parameters on the methane emission rate are also notable, but their effects on the width of the fractured zone and effective stress are limited.
Artificial cell factory design for shikimate production in Escherichia coli
Authors: Lee Han-Na , Seo Seung-Yeul , Kim Hey-Jin , Park Ji-Hoon , Park Eunhwi , Choi Si-Sun , Lee Sang Joung , Kim Eung-Soo
Published: July 2021

Shikimate is a key intermediate in high demand for synthesizing valuable antiviral drugs, such as the anti-influenza drug and oseltamivir (Tamiflu®). Microbial-based shikimate production strategies have been developed to overcome the unstable and expensive supply of shikimate derived from traditional plant extraction processes. Although shikimate biosynthesis has been reported in several engineered bacterial species, the shikimate production yield is still unsatisfactory. This study designed an Escherichia coli cell factory and optimized the fed-batch culture process to achieve a high titer of shikimate production. Using the previously constructed dehydroshikimate (DHS)-overproducing E. coli strain, two genes (aroK and aroL) responsible for converting shikimate to the next step were disrupted to facilitate shikimate accumulation. The genes with negative effects on shikimate biosynthesis, including tyrR, ptsG, and pykA, were disrupted. In contrast, several shikimate biosynthetic pathway genes, including aroB, aroD, aroF, aroG, and aroE, were overexpressed to maximize the glucose uptake and intermediate flux. The shiA involved in shikimate transport was disrupted, and the tktA involved in the accumulation of both PEP and E4P was overexpressed. The rationally designed shikimate-overproducing E. coli strain grown in an optimized medium produced approximately 101 g/l of shikimate in 7-l fed-batch fermentation, which is the highest level of shikimate production reported thus far. Overall, rational cell factory design and culture process optimization for microbial-based shikimate production will play a key role in complementing traditional plant-derived shikimate production processes.
COVID-19 in fully vaccinated Everest trekkers in Nepal
Authors: Amatya Bhawana , Pandey Prativa , Dawadi Suvash , Manandhar Shanta
Published: July 2021

COVID-19 in a fully mRNA-1273 vaccinated aspiring Everest summiteer and an Everest trekker who had two doses of ChAdOx1nCoV-19 is presented. Delta B.1.617.2 variant was sequenced in one of the cases. Travellers should be wary of starting up travel to under-vaccinated regions, particularly if they are at high risk for severe disease.
Uptake of nitrogen forms by diploid and triploid white poplar depends on seasonal carbon use strategy and elevated summer ozone
Authors: Wang Miaomiao , Li Guolei , Feng Zhaozhong , Liu Yong , Xu Yansen , Uscola Mercedes
Published: July 2021

The ability of plants to acquire soil nitrogen (N) sources is plastic in response to abiotic and biotic factors. However, information about how plant preferences among N forms changes in response to internal plant N demand through growth phases, or to environmental stress such as ozone (O3), is scarce. Diploid and triploid Chinese white poplar were used to investigate N form preferences at two key developmental periods (spring, summer) and in response to summer O3 (ambient, 60 ppb above ambient). We used stable isotopes to quantify NH4+, NO3− and glycine N-uptake rates. Carbon acquisition was recorded simultaneously. Both ploidy levels differed in growth, N form preferences, and N and C use strategies. Diploid white poplars grew faster in spring but slower in summer compared with triploids. Diploid white poplars also showed plasticity among N form preferences through the season, with no preferences in spring, and NO3− preferred in summer, while triploids showed an overall preference for NO3−. Carbon acquisition and NO3− uptake were inhibited in both ploidy levels of poplar at elevated O3, which also reduced diploid total N uptake. However, triploid white poplars alleviated N uptake reduction, switching to similar preferences among N forms. We conclude that N form preferences by white poplar are driven by internal C and N use in response to nutrient demands, and external factors such as O3.
The quiescent center and root regeneration
Authors: Matosevich Rotem , Efroni Idan
Published: July 2021

Since its discovery by F.A.L Clowes, extensive research has been dedicated to identifying the functions of the quiescent center (QC). One of the earliest hypotheses was that it serves a key role in regeneration of the root meristem. Recent works provided support for this hypothesis and began to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. There are two scenarios to consider when assessing the role of the QC in regeneration: one, when the damage leaves the QC intact; and the other, when the QC itself is destroyed. In the first scenario, multiple factors are recruited to activate QC cell division in order to replace damaged cells, but whether the QC has a role in the second scenario is less clear. Both using gene expression studies and following the cell division pattern have shown that the QC is assembled gradually, only to appear as a coherent identity late in regeneration. Similar late emergence of the QC was observed during the de novo formation of the lateral root meristem. These observations can lead to the conclusion that the QC has no role in regeneration. However, activities normally occurring in QC cells, such as local auxin biosynthesis, are still found during regeneration but occur in different cells in the regenerating meristem. Thus, we explore an alternative hypothesis, that following destruction of the QC, QC-related gene activity is temporarily distributed to other cells in the regenerating meristem, and only coalesce into a distinct cell identity when regeneration is complete.
Serum potassium variability is associated with increased mortality in a large cohort of hospitalized patients
Authors: Lombardi Gianmarco , Gambaro Giovanni , Ferraro Pietro Manuel
Published: July 2021

Background

Few studies have examined that the role of serum potassium concentration [K+] variability on clinical outcomes is still poorly investigated. The aim of our study was to analyse the association between serum ([K+]) disorders, with focus on [K+] variability and mortality in a large, unselected cohort of hospitalized patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational cohort study on the inpatient population admitted to Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014 with inclusion of adult patients with ≥2 [K+] measurements. The outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. The exposures of interest were [K+] fluctuations, hypohyperkalaemia and mixed dyskalaemia during hospital stay. [K+] variability was evaluated using the coefficient of variation (CV). Logistic regression models were fitted to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between the exposures of interest and in-hospital death.

Results

Overall, 64 507 patients met our inclusion criteria. During a median follow-up of 8 days, 965 patients (1.5%) died. Multivariable adjusted logistic models suggested a higher risk for death in patients in the third (OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.13–1.88; P = 0.003) and fourth (OR = 3.30, 95% CI 2.64–4.16; P < 0.001) highest quartiles of [K+] CV compared with those in the lowest quartile with a significant linear trend across quartiles (P-trend <0.001). Results did not change after restricting the analyses to patients with normokalaemia (NK). All [K+] disorders were independently associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death compared with NK.

Conclusions

High [K+] variability is an independent risk factor of in-hospital mortality, even within the normal [K+] range.
Comparison of the effect of lemborexant and other insomnia treatments on driving performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: McElroy Heather , O’Leary Beth , Adena Michael , Campbell Renee , Tahami Monfared Amir Abbas , Meier Genevieve
Published: July 2021

Study Objectives

This systematic literature review and meta-analysis explored the impact of lemborexant and other insomnia treatments on next-day driving performance.

Methods

Searches were conducted in MEDLINE and Embase on May 16, 2019, supplemented by clinical trial registries. Randomized controlled trials in healthy volunteers or people with insomnia were included if they reported a standardized on-road driving test, were published in English and included ≥1 group receiving a recommended dose of flunitrazepam, estazolam, triazolam, temazepam, brotizolam, etizolam, alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem, eszopiclone, zaleplon, zopiclone, trazodone, ramelteon, lemborexant, or suvorexant. Pairwise random-effects meta-analyses used the difference between each active treatment and placebo in standard deviation of lateral position (ΔSDLP). ΔSDLP of +2.4 cm, established as equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%, was considered clinically significant.

Results

Fourteen studies were included. Clinically significant differences in ΔSDLP were shown in healthy volunteers for zopiclone (10/10 studies) and ramelteon (1/1 study), and in people with insomnia for flunitrazepam (2/3 studies). Premature test termination was reported most frequently for zopiclone (5/10 studies) and was reported in two subjects for suvorexant (1/2 studies), one for flunitrazepam (1/3 studies), and one for placebo (1/12 studies). Lemborexant had no statistically or clinically significant ΔSDLP, and no premature driving test terminations.

Conclusions

Zopiclone, flunitrazepam, and ramelteon were associated with impaired driving performance, similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. Premature test termination was reported most frequently for zopiclone, and also for suvorexant, flunitrazepam and placebo. Lemborexant had no statistically or clinically significant effect on driving performance.
Ventilation and detection of airborne SARS-CoV-2: elucidating high-risk spaces in naturally ventilated healthcare settings
Authors: Styczynski Ashley , Hemlock Caitlin , Hoque Kazi Injamamul , Verma Renu , LeBoa Chris , Bhuiyan Md. Omar Faruk , Nag Auddithio , Harun Md. Golam Dostogir , Amin Mohammed Badrul , Andrews Jason R.
Published: July 2021

Background

In healthcare settings in low- and middle-income countries, which frequently rely upon natural ventilation, the risk of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 remains poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in naturally-ventilated hospital settings by measuring parameters of ventilation and comparing these findings with results of bioaerosol sampling.

Methods

We measured outdoor and room CO2 to estimate absolute ventilation (liters per second [L/s]) from 9 hospitals in Bangladesh during October 2020 - February 2021. We estimated infectious risk across different spaces using a modified Wells-Riley equation. We collected air samples from these same spaces at 12.5 L/min over 30 minutes and performed RT-qPCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 N-gene. We used multivariable linear regression and calculated elasticity to identify characteristics associated with ventilation.

Results

Based on ventilation of 86 patient care areas and COVID-19 case numbers, we found that over a 40-hour exposure period, outpatient departments posed the highest median risk for infection (5.4%), followed by COVID intensive care units (1.8%). We detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 18.6% (16/86) of air samples. Ceiling height and total open area of doors and windows were found to have the greatest impact on ventilation.

Conclusion

Our findings provide evidence that naturally-ventilated healthcare settings may pose a high risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2, particularly among non-COVID designated spaces, but improving parameters of ventilation can mitigate this risk.
The safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of COVID-19-associated pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Junwu Wang , Pengzhi Shi , Dong Chen , Shuguang Wang , Pingchuan Wang , Xinmin Feng , Liang Zhang
Published: July 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy is considered one of the most promising treatments in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the safety and effectiveness of MSCs in the treatment of COVID-19-associated pneumonia patients need to be systematically reviewed and analyzed. Two independent researchers searched for the relevant studies published between October 2019 and April 2021 in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, WAN FANG, and CNKI databases. A total of 22 studies involving 371 patients were included in the present study. MSCs were administered in 247 participants, and MSCs were allogeneic from umbilical cord, adipose tissue, menstrual blood, placenta, Wharton’s jelly, or unreported sources. Combined results found that MSCs group significantly reduced the incidence of adverse events (OR = 0.43, 95%CI. = 0.22∼0.84, P = 0.01) and mortality (OR = 0.17, 95%CI. = 0.06∼0.49, P < 0.01), and the difference compared with control group was statistically significant. No MSCs treat-related serious adverse events were reported. The lung function and radiographic outcomes, and biomarker levels of inflammation and immunity all showed improvement trends. Therefore, MSCs therapy is an effective and safe method in the treatment of COVID-19-associated pneumonia and shows advantages in less adverse events and mortality. However, a standard and effective MSCs treatment program needs to be developed.
Locality-sensitive hashing enables signal classification in high-throughput mass spectrometry raw data at scale
Authors: Bob Konstantin , Teschner David , Kemmer Thomas , Gomez-Zepeda David , Tenzer Stefan , Schmidt Bertil , Hildebrandt Andreas
Published: July 2021

Mass spectrometry is an important experimental technique in the field of proteomics. However, analysis of certain mass spectrometry data faces a combination of two challenges: First, even a single experiment produces a large amount of multi-dimensional raw data and, second, signals of interest are not single peaks but patterns of peaks that span along the different dimensions. The rapidly growing amount of mass spectrometry data increases the demand for scalable solutions. Existing approaches for signal detection are usually not well suited for processing large amounts of data in parallel or rely on strong assumptions concerning the signals properties. In this study, it is shown that locality-sensitive hashing enables signal classification in mass spectrometry raw data at scale. Through appropriate choice of algorithm parameters it is possible to balance false-positive and false-negative rates. On synthetic data, a superior performance compared to an intensity thresholding approach was achieved. The implementation scaled out up to 88 threads on real data. Locality-sensitive hashing is a desirable approach for signal classification in mass spectrometry raw data. Generated data and code are available at https://github.com/hildebrandtlab/mzBucket. Raw data is available at https://zenodo.org/record/5036526.
Detecting phylodiversity-dependent diversification with a general phylogenetic inference framework
Authors: Richter Francisco , Janzen Thijs , Hildenbrandt Hanno , Wit Ernst C. , Etienne Rampal S.
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Diversity-dependent diversification models have been extensively used to study the effect of ecological limits and feedback of community structure on species diversification processes, such as speciation and extinction. Current diversity-dependent diversification models characterise ecological limits by carrying capacities for species richness. Such ecological limits have been justified by niche filling arguments: as species diversity increases, the number of available niches for diversification decreases.

However, as species diversify they may diverge from one another phenotypically, which may open new niches for new species. Alternatively, this phenotypic divergence may not affect the species diversification process or even inhibit further diversification. Hence, it seems natural to explore the consequences of phylogenetic diversity-dependent (or phylodiversity-dependent) diversification. Current likelihood methods for estimating diversity-dependent diversification parameters cannot be used for this, as phylodiversity is continuously changing as time progresses and species form and become extinct.

Here, we present a new method based on Monte Carlo Expectation-Maximization (MCEM), designed to perform statistical inference on a general class of species diversification models and implemented in the R packageemphasis. We use the method to fit phylodiversity-dependent diversification models to 14 phylogenies, and compare the results to the fit of a richness-dependent diversification model. We find that in a number of phylogenies, phylogenetic divergence indeed spurs speciation even though species richness reduces it. Not only do we thus shine a new light on diversity-dependent diversification, we also argue that our inference framework can handle a large class of diversification models for which currently no inference method exists.
Atypical gaze patterns in autism are heterogeneous across subjects but reliable within individuals
Authors: Keles Umit , Kliemann Dorit , Byrge Lisa , Saarimäki Heini , Paul Lynn K. , Kennedy Daniel P. , Adolphs Ralph
Published: July 2021

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have atypical gaze onto both static visual images1,2and dynamic videos3,4that could be leveraged for diagnostic purposes5,6. Eye tracking is important for characterizing ASD across the lifespan7and nowadays feasible at home (e.g., from smartphones8). Yet gaze-based classification has been difficult to achieve, due to sources of variance both across and within subjects. Here we test three competing hypotheses: (a) that ASD could be successfully classified from the fact that gaze patterns are less reliable or noisier than in controls, (b) that gaze patterns are atypical and heterogeneous across ASD subjects but reliable over time within a subject, or (c) that gaze patterns are individually reliable and also homogenous among individuals with ASD. Leveraging dense eye tracking data from two different full-length television sitcom episodes in a total of over 150 subjects (N = 53 ASD, 107 controls) collected at two different sites, we demonstrate support for the second of these hypotheses. The findings pave the way for the investigation of autism subtypes, and for elucidating the specific visual features that best discriminate gaze patterns — directions that will also inform neuroimaging and genetic studies of this complex disorder.
Edge-centric analysis of time-varying functional brain networks with applications in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Esfahlani Farnaz Zamani , Byrge Lisa , Tanner Jacob , Sporns Olaf , Kennedy Daniel P. , Betzel Richard F.
Published: July 2021

The interaction between brain regions changes over time, which can be characterized using time-varying functional connectivity (tvFC). The common approach to estimate tvFC uses sliding windows and offers limited temporal resolution. An alternative method is to use the recently proposed edge-centric approach, which enables the tracking of moment-to-moment changes in co-fluctuation patterns between pairs of brain regions. Here, we first examined the dynamic features of edge time series and compared them to those in the sliding window tvFC (sw-tvFC). Then, we used edge time series to compare subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and healthy controls (CN). Our results indicate that relative to sw-tvFC, edge time series captured rapid and bursty network-level fluctuations that synchronize across subjects during movie-watching. The results from the second part of the study suggested that the magnitude of peak amplitude in the collective co-fluctuations of brain regions (estimated as root sum square (RSS) of edge time series) is similar in CN and ASD. However, the trough-to-trough duration in RSS signal is greater in ASD, compared to CN. Furthermore, an edge-wise comparison of high-amplitude co-fluctuations showed that the within-network edges exhibited greater magnitude fluctuations in CN. Our findings suggest that high-amplitude co-fluctuations captured by edge time series provide details about the disruption of functional brain dynamics that could potentially be used in developing new biomarkers of mental disorders.
Dasabuvir inhibits human norovirus infection in human intestinal enteroids
Authors: Hayashi Tsuyoshi , Murakami Kosuke , Hirano Junki , Fujii Yoshiki , Yamaoka Yoko , Ohashi Hirofumi , Watashi Koichi , Estes Mary K. , Muramatsu Masamichi
Published: July 2021

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are acute viral gastroenteritis pathogens that affect all age groups, yet no approved vaccines and drugs to treat HuNoV infection are available. In this study, with a human intestinal enteroid (HIE) culture system where HuNoVs are able to replicate reproducibly, we screened an antiviral compound library to identify compound(s) showing anti-HuNoV activity. Dasabuvir, which has been developed as an anti-hepatitis C virus agent, was found to inhibit HuNoV infection in HIEs at micromolar concentrations. Dasabuvir also inhibited severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human A rotavirus (RVA) infection in HIEs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to screen an antiviral compound library for HuNoV using HIEs and we successfully identified dasabuvir as a novel anti-HuNoV inhibitor that warrants further investigation.
Dissociation of β2m from MHC Class I Triggers Formation of Noncovalent, Transient Heavy Chain Dimers
Authors: Dirscherl Cindy , Löchte Sara , Hein Zeynep , Kopicki Janine-Denise , Harders Antonia Regina , Linden Noemi , Karner Andreas , Preiner Johannes , Weghuber Julian , Garcia-Alai Maria , Uetrecht Charlotte , Zacharias Martin , Piehler Jacob , Lanzerstorfer Peter , Springer Sebastian
Published: July 2021

At the plasma membrane of mammalian cells, major histocompatibility complex class I molecules (MHC-I) present antigenic peptides to cytotoxic T cells. Following the loss of the peptide and the light chain beta-2 microglobulin (β2m), the resulting free heavy chains (FHCs) can associate into homotypic complexes in the plasma membrane. Here, we investigate the stoichiometry and dynamics of MHC-I FHCs assemblies by combining a micropattern assay with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and with single molecule co-tracking. We identify non-covalent MHC-I FHC dimers mediated by the α3domain as the prevalent species at the plasma membrane, leading a moderate decrease in the diffusion coefficient. MHC-I FHC dimers show increased tendency to cluster into higher order oligomers as concluded from an increased immobile fraction with higher single molecule co-localization. Invitrostudies with isolated proteins in conjunction with molecular docking and dynamics simulations suggest that in the complexes, the α3domain of one FHC binds to another FHC in a manner similar to the β2m light chain.

Significance Statement

MHC class I molecules are cell surface transmembrane proteins with key functions in adaptive immunity against viral infections. The spatiotemporal organization of fully assembled MHC I at the cell surface and its function with respect to trans-interactions with T and NK cells has been studied in detail. By contrast, the consequences of peptide and β2m dissociation yielding to formation of free heavy chains (FHC) have remained unclear. We have discovered that class I free heavy chains form distinct non-covalent dimers at the cell surface rather than non-specific clustering, and we have identified a dimerization interface mediated by the α3domain. We propose that these non-covalent dimers are the basis of distinct signaling and endocytic sorting of MHC I FHC. This is to be explored in further work.
Exploring the Interactome of Cytochrome P450 2E1 in Human Liver Microsomes with Chemical Crosslinking Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Davydov Dmitri R. , Dangi Bikash , Yue Guihua , Prasad Bhagwat , Zgoda Victor G.
Published: July 2021

Aiming to elucidate the grounds of system-wide effects of the alcohol-induced increase in the content of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) on drug metabolism, we explored the array of its protein-protein interactions (proteome) in human liver microsomes (HLM) with chemical crosslinking mass spectrometry (CXMS). Our strategy employs membrane incorporation of purified CYP2E1 modified with photoreactive crosslinkers benzophenone-4-maleimide (BPM) and 4-(N-succinimidylcarboxy)benzophenone (BPS). Exposure of bait-incorporated HLM samples to light was followed by isolating the His-tagged bait protein and its crosslinked aggregates on Ni-NTA agarose. Analyzing the individual bands of SDS-PAGE slabs of thereby isolated protein with the toolset of untargeted proteomics, we detected the crosslinked dimeric and trimeric complexes of CYP2E1 with other drug-metabolizing enzymes. Among the most extensively crosslinked partners of CYP2E1 are the cytochromes P450 2A6, 2C8, 3A4, 4A11, and 4F2. Of particular interest are the interactions of CYP2E1 with the latter two enzymes, which are involved in the synthesis and disposal of vasoactive and pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. We also detected the conjugates of CYP2E1 with UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) 1A and 2B, fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH3A2), epoxide hydrolase 1 (EPHX1), disulfide oxidase 1α (ERO1L), and ribophorin II (RPN2). These results demonstrate the exploratory power of the proposed CXMS strategy and corroborate the concept of tight functional integration in the human drug-metabolizing ensemble through protein-protein interactions of the constituting enzymes.
Impact of overconfidence bias in stock trading approach: a study of high net worth individual (HNI) stock investors in India
Authors: Parhi Shiba Prasad , Pal Manas Kumar
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to check whether Indian high net worth individual (HNI) investors are suffering from overconfidence bias in personal life and in-stock investment approach. The study is to benchmark an ideal behaviour that an investor should exhibit under the overconfidence bias.

Design/methodology/approach

Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to study the Indian HNI investors with overconfidence bias. As a first step, an exploratory study was conducted to identify the variables to define overconfidence bias. An extensive literature review along with in-depth interviews was conducted amongst investors, fund managers and the subject experts to check the content validity of the variables. The survey instrument was designed based on the objective of the study and theoretical framework. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as the Z proportion test, logistic regression and structural equation model were applied to test the hypotheses.

Findings

It was found that there is a moderate impact of overconfidence bias amongst the investors both in normal life and whilst making investments in stock. This study found the influence of overconfidence bias in stock investment with respect to forecasting of the stock price movements, overtrading, overanalysis and overreaction.

Research limitations/implications

This paper will help in understanding the Indian HNI investors’ behaviour under the impact of overconfidence bias. There is an empirical study to understand the implication of overconfidence bias on stock investors specifically for the HNI investors.

Practical implications

This study gives an insight into the fund managers to understand the Indian HNI investment behaviour. It is also helpful for HNI investors to understand and correct their behavioural biases related to overconfidence.

Social implications

This paper will guide investors to understand the symptoms and repercussions of overconfidence bias in stock investment. They can also realize the subtle impact of overconfidence bias in personal and professional life, thus preventing them from making losses.

Originality/value

This work is the extension of the works of Terrace Odean on behavioural finance in the Indian Stock Investors' context. The concept of overconfidence bias and its implications of finance were developed by Kahneman and Tversky, and later by other behavioural finance researchers such as Malmendier, Hirshleifer, DeBondt, Odean, Barber, Shefrin and others. This paper studies stock investing behaviour with specific reference to Indian HNI investors.
Innovation ability of universities and the efficiency of university–industry knowledge flow: the moderating effect of provincial innovative agglomeration
Authors: Zhang Shaopeng , Wang Xiaohong , Zhang Ben
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the innovation ability of universities (IAU) on the efficiency of University–Industry knowledge flow and investigate whether the level of provincial innovative agglomeration (PIA) moderates the relationship between IAU and the efficiency of the University–Industry knowledge flow.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the super-efficiency data envelopment analysis model to measure knowledge research efficiency (KRE) and knowledge transformation efficiency (KTE) and then studies the influencing mechanism of the two kinds of efficiency using the spatial Tobit model with panel data from 2008 to 2017.

Findings

The results show that the overall KRE in Chinese universities is higher than the KTE. IAU has a significantly positive impact on KRE and KTE. PIA has a significantly inverted U-shaped influence on KRE and KTE and positively moderates the promoting effect of IAU on KRE and KTE.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the limitations of the data, this paper only selects several secondary indicators to measure KRE and KTE with reference to previous studies.

Practical implications

This study enriches the future research of University–Industry cooperation and knowledge flow and it is conducive to promoting the efficiency of University–Industry knowledge research and transformation from the perspective of universities, enterprises and local governments.

Originality/value

This study proposes the concept of University–Industry knowledge flow and divides the knowledge flow into the knowledge research stage and the knowledge transformation stage based on the knowledge supply chain theory. Moreover, the paper expands the theoretical framework of the impact of IAU on the efficiency of University–Industry knowledge flow and provides findings on the moderating effect of PIA.
Linking CEO relationship-focused leadership and corporate entrepreneurship: a multilevel moderated mediation model
Authors: Liu Yueyue , Xi Meng , Li Feifei , Geng Xiulin
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Corporate entrepreneurship is an important way for organizations to gain competitive advantages and achieve sustainable development. However, few studies pay attention to the influence of CEO strategic leadership on corporate entrepreneurship. Drawing on social identity theory and uncertainty-identity theory, this study aims to investigate whether CEO relationship-focused leadership impacts corporate entrepreneurship through middle managers’ (MMs’) organizational identification and whether the indirect effect is moderated by environmental uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 192 Chinese samples with 192 firm-level and 716 department-level observations, this study uses multilevel structural equations modeling by Mplus 8.0 to test the theoretical model.

Findings

This study finds that CEO relationship-focused leadership positively predicts MMs’ organizational identification and corporate entrepreneurship, and MMs’ organizational identification mediates the relationship between CEO relationship-focused leadership and corporate entrepreneurship. In addition, environmental uncertainty moderates not only the relationship between CEO relationship-focused leadership and MMs’ organizational identification but also the indirect effect of CEO relationship-focused leadership on corporate entrepreneurship through MMs’ organizational identification.

Research limitations/implications

This study enriches the understanding of process and contextualization of CEO strategic leadership influencing on corporate entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to explore the influence of CEO relationship-focused leadership on corporate entrepreneurship.
Content analysis-based documentation and exploration of research articles
Authors: Phyo Shwe Sin
Published: July 2021

Purpose

With the wealth of information available on the World Wide Web, it is difficult for anyone from a general user to the researcher to easily fulfill their information need. The main challenge is to categorize the documents systematically and also take into account more valuable data such as semantic information. The purpose of this paper is to develop a concept-based search system that leverages the external knowledge resources as the background knowledge for getting the accurate and efficient meaningful search results.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces the approach which is based on formal concept analysis (FCA) with the semantic information to support the document management in information retrieval (IR). To describe the semantic information of the documents, the system uses the popular knowledge resources WordNet and Wikipedia. By using FCA, the system creates the concept lattice as the concept hierarchy of the document and proposes the navigation algorithm for retrieving the hierarchy based on the user query.

Findings

The semantic information of the document is based on the two external popular knowledge resources; the authors find that it will be more efficient to deal with the semantic mismatch problems of user need.

Originality/value

The navigation algorithm proposed in this research is applied to the scientific articles of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The proposed system can enhance the integration and exploration of the scientific articles for the advancement of the Scientific and Engineering Research Community.
Using system dynamics modelling to understand behaviour in UK commercial property markets
Authors: Trevillion Edward
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the benefits of using system dynamics modelling as a research tool to understand the dynamics of commercial property markets in the UK and their long-term behaviour. It highlights areas for future work.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a concept paper that outlines a simple systems model of rental change in UK commercial property markets as a way of illustrating how a systems approach can be used to describe and model the market. The model concentrates on the user market and offers a view of market operation, according to which development activity is initiated by demand (linked to economic growth) and to which supply responds by producing development.

Findings

The model demonstrates how a systems approach can be used to model the impact of a wide range of market variables on rental growth. The approach allows non-linear modelling of the complex relationships and behavioural factors that are difficult to include in existing econometric models of the market. It highlights where existing knowledge is deficient, especially with regard to price elasticity of demand, the relationship between economic activity and take up, the potential impact of redevelopment on the supply of new property and rental growth and response times of various parts of the market development process to market signals. It outlines where further research is needed to incorporate real market data.

Originality/value

Despite the wide application of the systems theory to business and other related areas, its use in commercial property research has been limited and has not gained much traction as a research tool. The work represents one of a very few studies applying the systems theory to the UK commercial property market.
What effect does gun-related violence have on the attractiveness of a residential area? The case of Stockholm, Sweden
Authors: Wilhelmsson Mats , Ceccato Vania , Gerell Manne
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the effect of gun-related violence on housing values, controlling for the area's crime levels and locational factors. Previous studies that aimed to find a causal connection between crime and housing values used instrument variables to solve the endogeneity problem. Here, the authors have instead been able to take advantage of the fact that shootings have occurred in random time and space. This has made it possible to estimate models to create windows around the shooting (event) and to estimate the causal effects of the shootings. Thus, the authors aim to contribute to the regression discontinuity design method in this context to estimate the short-term effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the regression discontinuity design method, the authors can estimate the short-term effects of shootings.

Findings

Findings from the analysis indicate that shootings directly affect those who are impacted by shootings and indirectly affect the environments where shootings occur. The indirect effect of shootings is momentary as it is capitalised directly in housing values in the immediate area. The effect also appears to be relatively long-term and persistent as housing values have not returned to the price level before the shooting 100–200 days after the shooting. The capitalisation effect is higher the closer one gets to the central parts of the city. On the other hand, the capitalisation effect is not higher or lower in areas with a higher crime rate per capita.

Originality/value

The article contributes to the previous literature in several ways. First and foremost, it provides an explicit analysis of shootings in built-up areas and their hypothesised effect on property prices through the impact on attractiveness and perceived safety. As far as the authors know, no study has analysed this issue on the international level or in Sweden. In this way, the authors aim to develop a study that can provide critical knowledge about one of the adverse effects of shootings. The authors also contribute to the literature by utilising unique data material, which allows the authors to merge information from the police about the exact location of shootings in the Stockholm area with data on sales of apartments in the same residential areas. In addition to the exact location of the shootings (coordinates), the authors also have access to data about whether the shootings led to injuries or deaths. Thus, the authors have separated the effect of shootings and fatal shootings, which has not been done before. Finally, the authors set out to highlight the results as a contribution to the debate on shootings.
Strengths use and work-related flow: an experience sampling study on implications for risk taking and attentional behaviors
Authors: Liu Wei , van der Linden Dimitri , Bakker Arnold B.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Using positive psychology theories, the authors build a model to test whether episodic fluctuations in strengths use coincide with changes in flow experiences and further predict risk-taking behavior and attentional performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A field study covering five working days was conducted among 164 Chinese employees; twice a day, they were asked to complete questionnaires regarding their strengths use and flow experiences during the previous hour (N = 938 observations). Immediately afterward, their risk-taking behaviors and attentional performance were tested using computerized tasks.

Findings

Multilevel analyses showed that when employees used their strengths more often in the previous hour, they also reported an increase in flow. Episodic fluctuations in flow were positively associated with risk taking and negatively related to attentional performance.

Practical implications

Employees should be encouraged to use their strengths more at work, as this might increase their flow experiences. At the same time, they should pay attention to the downsides of flow (i.e. less attention after flow) at an episodic level.

Originality/value

The authors add to previous studies by using a more objective approach, namely employing computerized tasks on risk-taking behavior and attention to capture the behavioral outcomes of work-related flow.
Informing, implying or directing? Testing the effects of message sidedness, conclusiveness and their interaction in national and local Google Ads campaigns
Authors: Yao Qingjiang
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to apply and test the effectiveness of message sidedness and conclusiveness in Google Ads advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

Four field experiments on Google Ad campaigns were conducted on the topics of energy and environment, the water–energy–food nexus, and a Higher-Ed program (at the national and local levels).

Findings

Two-sided search engine advertisements are more effective than one-sided advertisements in national campaigns but less effective in local campaigns. In national campaigns, conclusive search engine advertisements are more effective in increasing impressions and clicks, but inconclusive advertisements are more effective in increasing the click-through rate (CTR); in local campaigns, inconclusive advertisements are more effective when being one-sided, while conclusive advertisements are more effective when being two-sided. Overall, the two-sided and inconclusive advertisement generates the best results in a national campaign, but the one-sided and inconclusive advertisement generates the best results in a local campaign.

Originality/value

As the first to test sidedness and conclusiveness with Google Ads advertising, the paper provides theoretical and practical suggestions to search engine marketers by identifying the effective copywriting strategies, moderating factors and more measurements of effectiveness.