bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative MRI biomarker for classification of clinically significant prostate cancer: calibration for reproducibility across echo times
Authors: Kallis Karoline , Conlin Christopher C. , Ollison Courtney , Hahn Michael E. , Rakow-Penner Rebecca , Dale Anders M. , Seibert Tyler M.
Published: January 2024

Background

Restriction Spectrum Imaging restriction score (RSIrs) is a quantitative biomarker for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). However, the quantitative value of the RSIrs is affected by imaging parameters such as echo time (TE).

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to develop a calibration method to account for differences in echo times and facilitate use of RSIrs as a quantitative biomarker for the detection of csPCa.

Methods

This study included 197 consecutive patients who underwent MRI and biopsy examination; 97 were diagnosed with csPCa (grade group ≥ 2). RSI data were acquired three times during the same session: twice at minimum TE∼75ms and once at TE=90ms (TEmin1, TEmin2, and TE90, respectively). A proposed calibration method, trained on patients without csPCa, estimated a linear scaling factor (f) for each of the four diffusion compartments (C) of the RSI signal model. A linear regression model was determined to match C-maps of TE90 to the reference C-maps of TEmin1within the interval ranging from 95thto 99thpercentile of signal intensity within the prostate. RSIrs comparisons were made at 98thpercentile within each patient’s prostate.

We compared RSIrs from calibrated TE90 (RSIrsTE90corr) and uncorrected TE90 (RSIrsTE90) to RSIrs from reference TEmin1(RSIrsTEmin1) and repeated TEmin2(RSIrsTEmin2). Calibration performance was evaluated with sensitivity, specificity, area under the ROC curve, positive predicted value, negative predicted value, and F1-score.

Results

Scaling factors for C1, C2, C3, and C4were estimated as 1.70, 1.38, 1.03, and 1.19, respectively. In non-csPCa cases, the 98thpercentile of RSIrsTEmin2and RSIrsTEmin1differed by 0.27±0.86SI (mean±standard deviation), whereas RSIrsTE90differed from RSIrsTEmin1by 1.81±1.20SI. After calibration, this bias was reduced to -0.41±1.20SI, representing a 78% reduction in absolute error. For patients with csPCa, the difference was 0.54±1.98SI between RSIrsTEmin2and RSIrsTEmin1and 2.28±2.06SI between RSIrsTE90and RSIrsTEmin1. After calibration, the mean difference decreased to -0.86SI, a 38% reduction in absolute error. At the Youden index for patient-level classification of csPCa (8.94SI), RSIrsTEmin1has a sensitivity of 66% and a specificity of 72%. Prior to calibration, RSIrsTE90at the same threshold tended to over-diagnose benign cases (sensitivity 44%, specificity 88%). Post-calibration, RSIrsTE90corrperforms more similarly to the reference (sensitivity 71%, specificity 62%).

Conclusion

The proposed linear calibration method produces similar quantitative biomarker values for acquisitions with different TE, reducing TE-induced error by 78% and 38% for non-csPCa and csPCa, respectively.
Mutation of the peptide-regulated transcription factor ComR for amidated peptide specificity and heterologous function inLactiplantibacillus plantarumWCFS1
Authors: Brasino Michael , Wagnell Eli , Ozdemir Sila , Ranganathan Srivathsan , Merritt Justin
Published: January 2024

There is a growing interest in the use of probiotic bacteria as biosensors for the detection of disease. However, there is a lack of bacterial receptors developed for specific disease biomarkers. Here, we have investigated the use of the peptide-regulated transcription factor ComR from Streptococcus spp. for specific peptide biomarker detection. ComR exhibits a number of attractive features that are potentially exploitable to create an exquisitely sensitive biomolecular switch for engineered biosensor circuitry within the probiotic organismLactiplantibacillus plantarumWCFS1. By screening a library of ComR mutant protein variants, we identified mutations that increased the specificity of ComR toward an amidated version of its cognate extracellular signaling peptide, demonstrating the potential for ComR to detect this important class of biomarker.
Population estimates of the number of adults in the United Kingdom with a hearing loss updated using 2021 and 2022 census data
Authors: Akeroyd Michael A , Munro Kevin J
Published: January 2024

We update an earlier publication (Akeroyd MA et al., Int J Audiol. 2014 53(1):60-1) to derive new estimates of the number of adults in the UK with a hearing loss, using population data from the 2021/2022 UK censuses and prevalence data from the UK National Study of Hearing (Akeroyd MA et al. Trends In Hearing 2019 Jan-Dec;23:2331216519887614). Setting a criterion of a four-frequency hearing level >= 35 dB in the better ear gives an estimate of 4.6 million adults aged 18–80, which is a 17% increase on the earlier value from the 2011 census. With a criterion of >= 20 dB hearing level, the estimate is 12.3 million in total, or 1 in 4 of the population aged 18-80. The revised numbers highlight just how common hearing problems are in the population.
An ecological study of COVID-19 outcomes among Florida counties
Authors: Ali Sobur , Azarian Taj
Published: January 2024

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida reported some of the highest number of cases and deaths in the US; however, county-level variation in COVID-19 outcomes has not been comprehensively investigated. The present ecological study aimed to assess corelates of COVID-19 outcomes among Florida counties that explain variation in case rates, mortality rates, and case fatality rates (CFR) across pandemic waves.

Method

We obtained county-level administrative data and COVID-19 case reports from public repositories. We tested spatial autocorrelation to assess geographic clustering in COVID-19 outcomes: case rate, mortality rate, and CFR. Stepwise linear regression was employed to test the association between case, death, and CFR and 18 demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related county-level predictors.

Results

We found mortality rate and CFR were significantly higher in rural counties compared to urban counties, among which significant differences in vaccination coverage was also observed. Multivariate analysis found that the percentage of the population aged over 65 years, the percentage of the obese people, and the percentage of rural population were significant predictors of COVID-19 case rate. Median age, vaccination coverage, percentage of people who smoke, and percentage of the population with diabetes were significant influencing factors for CFR. Importantly, vaccination coverage was significantly associated with a reduction in case rate (R = - 0.26, p = 0.03) and mortality (R = -0.51, p < 0.001). Last, we found that spatial dependencies play a role in explaining variations in COVID-19 CFR among Florida counties.

Conclusion

Our findings emphasize the need for targeted, equitable public health strategies to reduce disparities and enhance population resilience during public health crises. We further inform future spatial-epidemiological analyses and present actionable data for policies related to preparedness and response to current and future epidemics in Florida and elsewhere.
Hyper Flexible Neural Networks Rapidly Switch between Logic Operations in a Compact Four Neuron Circuit
Authors: White Alexander James , Liu Belle , Hsieh Ming-Ju , Chang Meng-Fan , Wu Kuo-An , Lo Chung-Chuan
Published: January 2024

Biological neural circuits at various levels exhibit rapid adaptability to diverse environmental stimuli. Such fast response times imply that adaptation cannot rely solely on synaptic plasticity, which operates on a much slower timescale. Instead, circuits must be inherently hyper-flexible and receptive to switches in functionalities without changes in network structure. This biological flexibility is a fruitful mechanism for constructing artificial reconfigurable circuits, whether they are spiking or non-spiking. In this study, we demonstrate that a 4-neuron circuit can rapidly and controllably switch between 24 unique logical functions while maintaining the same set of synaptic weights. Moreover, we show that this reconfigurability works for several different underlying neuronal architectures and strikingly can be applied to a network composed of any sigmoid-shaped activation function. We conclude with proof-of-concept applications showing that we can perform standard tasks such as a full-adder, as well as event-based conditional computing, such as detecting unexpected motion.
Increased interaction between connexin43 and microtubules is critical for glioblastoma stem-like cell maintenance and tumorigenicity
Authors: Smyth James W. , Guo Sujuan , O’Rourke Lorie , Deaver Stacie , Dahlka Jacob , Nurmemmedov Elmar , Sheng Zhi , Gourdie Robert G. , Lamouille Samy
Published: January 2024

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system. One major challenge in GBM treatment is the resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy observed in subpopulations of cancer cells, including GBM stem-like cells (GSCs). These cells hold the ability to self-renew or differentiate following treatment, participating in tumor recurrence. The gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) has complex roles in oncogenesis and we have previously demonstrated an association between Cx43 and GBM chemotherapy resistance. Here, we report, for the first time, increased direct interaction between non-junctional Cx43 with microtubules in the cytoplasm of GSCs. We hypothesize that non-junctional Cx43/microtubule complexing is critical for GSC maintenance and survival and sought to specifically disrupt this interaction while maintaining other Cx43 functions, such as gap junction formation. Using a Cx43 mimetic peptide of the carboxyl terminal tubulin-binding domain of Cx43 (JM2), we successfully ablated Cx43 interaction with microtubules in GSCs. Importantly, administration of JM2 significantly decreased GSC survivalin vitro, and limited GSC-derived tumor growthin vivo. Together, these results identify JM2 as a novel peptide drug to ablate GSCs in GBM treatment.
The structural and mechanistic bases for the viral resistance to allosteric HIV-1 integrase inhibitor pirmitegravir
Authors: Dinh Tung , Tber Zahira , Rey Juan S. , Mengshetti Seema , Annamalai Arun S. , Haney Reed , Briganti Lorenzo , Amblard Franck , Fuchs James R. , Cherepanov Peter , Kim Kyungjin , Schinazi Raymond F. , Perilla Juan R. , Kim Baek , Kvaratskhelia Mamuka
Published: January 2024

Allosteric HIV-1 integrase (IN) inhibitors (ALLINIs) are investigational antiretroviral agents which potently impair virion maturation by inducing hyper-multimerization of IN and inhibiting its interaction with viral genomic RNA. The pyrrolopyridine-based ALLINI pirmitegravir (PIR) has recently advanced into Phase 2a clinical trials. Previous cell culture based viral breakthrough assays identified the HIV-1(Y99H/A128T IN)variant that confers substantial resistance to this inhibitor. Here, we have elucidated the unexpected mechanism of viral resistance to PIR. While both Tyr99 and Ala128 are positioned within the inhibitor binding V-shaped cavity at the IN catalytic core domain (CCD) dimer interface, the Y99H/A128T IN mutations did not substantially affect direct binding of PIR to the CCD dimer or functional oligomerization of full-length IN. Instead, the drug-resistant mutations introduced a steric hindrance at the inhibitor mediated interface between CCD and C-terminal domain (CTD) and compromised CTD binding to the CCDY99H/A128T+ PIR complex. Consequently, full-length INY99H/A128Twas substantially less susceptible to the PIR induced hyper-multimerization than the WT protein, and HIV-1(Y99H/A128T IN)conferred >150- fold resistance to the inhibitor compared to the WT virus. By rationally modifying PIR we have developed its analog EKC110, which readily induced hyper-multimerization of INY99H/A128Tin vitroand was ∼14-fold more potent against HIV-1(Y99H/A128T IN)than the parent inhibitor. These findings suggest a path for developing improved PIR chemotypes with a higher barrier to resistance for their potential clinical use.

IMPORTANCE

Antiretroviral therapies save the lives of millions of people living with HIV (PLWH). However, evolution of multi-drug-resistant viral phenotypes is a major clinical problem, and there are limited or no treatment options for heavily treatment-experienced PLWH. Allosteric HIV-1 integrase inhibitors (ALLINIs) are a novel class of antiretroviral compounds which work by a unique mechanism of binding to the non-catalytic site on the viral protein and inducing aberrant integrase multimerization. Accordingly, ALLINIs potently inhibit both wild type HIV-1 and all drug-resistant viral phenotypes that have so far emerged against currently used therapies. Pirmitegravir, a highly potent and safe investigational ALLINI, is currently advancing through clinical trials. Here we have elucidated structural and mechanistic bases behind the emergence of HIV-1 integrase mutations in infected cell that confer resistance to pirmitegravir. In turn, our findings allowed us to rationally develop an improved ALLINI with substantially enhanced potency against the pirmitegravir resistant virus.
Ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate alleviates CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice through regulation of mitochondrial fission and reduction of oxidative stress
Authors: Zhang Yudian , Liu Xinyi , Wang Yifan , Liu Mengyuan , Guo Ziyi , Zhang Jinbo , Wu Fuqing , Chen Guo-Qiang
Published: January 2024

3-Hydroxybutyrate (3HB) is an important metabolite and regulatory molecule produced in liver. Previous studies have shown that 3HB could be beneficial to many diseases, including brain diseases, diabetes, and most importantly, inflammation and liver related injury. Therefore, the effect of 3HB on liver fibrosis, one key step of liver diseases which proved to be reversible, is urgent to explore. In this study, the CCl4-induced mouse model of liver fibrosis has been successfully constructed and treated by 3HB. The results demonstrate that 3HB could alleviate CCl4-induced liver injury and inflammation in mice, decrease the accumulation of collagen, the expression of pro-fibrotic genes as well as inflammatory factors, and finally the degree of liver fibrosis. The transcriptome data recovers that the anti-fibrotic effect of 3HB might be exerted through several ways, such as regulating mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative stress and p53 signaling pathways, proposing a safe and relatively fast possibility for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
Frontal-Auditory Cortical Interactions and Sensory Prediction During Vocal Production in Marmoset Monkeys
Authors: Tsunada Joji , Eliades Steven J.
Published: January 2024

The control of speech and vocal production involves the calculation of error between the intended vocal output and the resulting auditory feedback. Consistent with this model, recent evidence has demonstrated that the auditory cortex is suppressed immediately before and during vocal production, yet is still sensitive to differences between vocal output and altered auditory feedback. This suppression has been suggested to be the result of top-down signals containing information about the intended vocal output, potentially originating from motor or other frontal cortical areas. However, whether such frontal areas are the source of suppressive and predictive signaling to the auditory cortex during vocalization is unknown. Here, we simultaneously recorded neural activity from both the auditory and frontal cortices of marmoset monkeys while they produced self-initiated vocalizations. We found increases in neural activity in both brain areas preceding the onset of vocal production, notably changes in both multi-unit activity and local field potential theta-band power. Connectivity analysis using Granger causality demonstrated that frontal cortex sends directed signaling to the auditory cortex during this pre-vocal period. Importantly, this pre-vocal activity predicted both vocalization-induced suppression of the auditory cortex as well as the acoustics of subsequent vocalizations. These results suggest that frontal cortical areas communicate with the auditory cortex preceding vocal production, with frontal-auditory signals that may reflect the transmission of sensory prediction information. This interaction between frontal and auditory cortices may contribute to mechanisms that calculate errors between intended and actual vocal outputs during vocal communication.
Development of a spontaneous preterm birth predictive model using a panel of serum protein biomarkers for early pregnant women: A nested case–control study
Authors: Liang Shuang , Chen Yuling , Jia Tingting , Chang Ying , Li Wen , Piao Yongjun , Chen Xu
Published: January 2024

Objective

To develop a model based on first trimester maternal serum LC-MS/MS to predict spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) < 37weeks.

Methods

A cohort of 2,053 women were enrolled in a tertiary maternity hospital in China from July 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019. In total, 110 singleton pregnancies (26 cases of sPTB and 84 controls) at 11–136/7gestational weeks were used for model development and internal validation. A total of 72 pregnancies (25 cases of sPTB and 47 controls) at 20-32 gestational weeks from an additional cohort of 2,167 women were used to evaluate the scalability of the prediction model. Maternal serum samples were collected at enrollment and analyzed by LC-MS/MS, and candidate proteins were used to develop an optimal predictive model by machine learning algorithms.

Results

A novel predictive panel with four proteins, including sFlt-1, MMP-8, ceruloplasmin, and SHBG, which was the most discriminative subset, was developed. The optimal model of logistic regression had an AUC of 0.934, with additional prediction of sPTB in second and third trimester (0.868 AUC). Importantly, higher-risk subjects defined by the prediction generally gave birth earlier than lower-risk subjects.

Conclusion

First trimester modeling based on maternal serum LC-MS/MS identifies pregnant women at risk of sPTB, which may provide utility in identifying women at risk at an early stage of pregnancy before clinical presentation to allow for earlier intervention.
HemK2 functions for sufficient protein synthesis and RNA stability through eRF1 methylation duringDrosophilaoogenesis
Authors: Xu Fengmei , Suyama Ritsuko , Inada Toshifumi , Kawaguchi Shinichi , Kai Toshie
Published: January 2024

HemK2 is a highly conserved methyltransferase spanning from yeast to humans. Despite its conservation, the identification of its genuine substrates has been controversial, and its biological importance in higher organisms remains unclear. In this study, we elucidate the role of HemK2 in the methylation of eukaryotic Release Factor 1 (eRF1), a process essential for female germline development inDrosophila melanogaster. Knockdown ofhemK2in the germline cells (hemK2-GLKD) induces apoptosis in these cells, accompanied by a pronounced decrease in both eRF1 methylation and protein synthesis. The overexpression of a methylation-deficient eRF1 variant recapitulates the defects observed inhemK2-GLKD, suggesting that eRF1 is a primary methylation target of HemK2. Furthermore,hemK2-GLKD leads to significant reduction mRNA levels in germline cell. We demonstrate that these defects in oogenesis and protein synthesis can be partially restored by inhibiting the No-Go Decay pathway. In addition,hemK2knockdown is associated with increased disome formation, suggesting that disruptions in eRF1 methylation may provoke ribosomal stalling, which subsequently activates translation-coupled mRNA surveillance mechanisms that degrade actively-translated mRNAs. We propose that HemK2-mediated methylation of eRF1 is critical for ensuring efficient protein production and mRNA stability, which are vital for the generation of high-quality eggs.
Analysis of Mid- to Late-Gestation Phenotypes in Mice
Authors: Papaioannou Virginia E. , Behringer Richard R.
Published: January 2024

Mid- to late gestation is characterized by tissue differentiation, maturation, organogenesis, and growth, and many mutant genes have detrimental effects during this phase of development. The outcome may be lethal before birth or may be compatible with life but result in birth defects. Some of the common causes of death during late gestation are hematopoietic defects, cardiovascular problems, and placental insufficiency. Many morphological abnormalities, lethal or not, can be investigated with gross and histological analyses or by visualization of the developing skeleton. Molecular characterization of mutant phenotypes, guided by the expression pattern of the mutant gene, can reveal disruptions in gene expression patterns of known developmental genes. Cell proliferation and cell death assays will reveal disruptions in cellular dynamics. Various modalities of 3D imaging of intact embryos can provide volumetric information about mutant phenotypes.
Uncovering Phenotypes in Mutant Mice by Determining Embryo, Organ, Tissue, and Cell Developmental Potential
Authors: Papaioannou Virginia E. , Behringer Richard R.
Published: January 2024

The death of an embryo during gestation does not necessarily preclude the study of the mutant embryo or the developmental potential of its individual cells, tissues, or organs. Whole-embryo in vitro culture prior to the time of death will allow real-time observation of living embryos and direct comparisons with controls. Organ anlage can be removed from embryos and cultured in vitro beyond the time of death of the whole embryo. In both whole embryos and organ anlage culture, fluorescent protein reporters may be used productively to follow cell types or specific gene expression changes. Some cells, such as hematopoietic cells, and organ anlage, may be suitable for transplantation to wild-type hosts for further analysis of their potential. Additionally, cell lines, including embryonic stem (ES) cells, trophoblast stem (TS) cells, extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) stem cells, and epiblast-derived stem cells (EpiSC), can be derived from mutant embryos to reveal the potential of the mutant cells outside the context of the whole organism. Mutant stem cells or even whole mutant embryos can be used to test potential in chimeras or in teratomas.
Isolation of XO Subclones from XY Murine Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Papaioannou Virginia E. , Behringer Richard R.
Published: January 2024

This is a simple procedure to isolate XO subclones from XY murine embryonic stem cells in situations that require transmission of a mutation through the female germline—for example, if the mutation adversely affects spermatogenesis. XY cells are plated at clonal density, and resulting colonies are genotyped by polymerase chain reaction for a Y-specific probe to identify clones that have spontaneously lost the Y chromosome.
Sex Genotyping Mice by Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Papaioannou Virginia E. , Behringer Richard R.
Published: January 2024

A simple method to determine the genetic sex of a mouse is to amplify DNA from a male-specific gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This protocol is used to detect the Y-chromosome-specific geneSryin tissue lysates of tail tip or ear punch samples.
Collective behavior of self-steering active particles with velocity alignment and visual perception
Authors: Negi Rajendra Singh , Winkler Roland G. , Gompper Gerhard
Published: January 2024

The formation and dynamics of swarms is widespread in living systems, from bacterial biofilms to schools of fish and flocks of birds. We study this emergent collective behavior via agent-based simulations in a model of active Brownian particles with visual-perception-based steering and alignment interactions. The dynamics, shape, and internal structure of the emergent aggregates, clusters, and swarms of these intelligent active Brownian particles are determined by the maneuverabilities Ωv and Ωa, quantifying the steering based on the visual signal and polar alignment, respectively, the propulsion velocity, characterized by the Péclet number Pe, the vision angle θ, and the orientational noise. Various nonequilibrium dynamical aggregates—like motile wormlike swarms and milling, and close-packed or dispersed clusters—are obtained. Small vision angles imply the formation of small clusters, while large vision angles lead to more complex clusters. In particular, a strong polar-alignment maneuverability Ωa favors elongated wormlike swarms, which display superdiffusive motion over a much longer time range than individual ABPs, whereas a strong vision-based maneuverability Ωv favors compact, nearly immobile aggregates. Swarm trajectories show long persistent directed motion, interrupted by sharp turns. Milling rings, where a wormlike swarm bites its own tail, emerge for an intermediate regime of Pe and vision angles. Our results offer insights into the behavior of animal swarms and provide design criteria for swarming microbots.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
How does COVID-19 distort the impact of information interventions on low-carbon diet transitions: a case of dairy consumption in China
Authors: Zhou Li , Su Zifan , Lei Lei , Wei Zheng
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-carbon consumption of dairy products through informational interventions. The empirical findings seek to enlighten developing countries' efforts in coping with climate change and potential dietary transitions.

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized controlled trial was designed to examine the effects of purpose-differentiated information interventions on individual dairy consumption. The experiment recruited and randomly assigned 1,002 college students into four groups to receive (or not) environmental or/and health information interventions.

Findings

The empirical analysis finds that health and combined information interventions have a positive impact on dairy consumption, while environmental information interventions' effect on dairy consumption is insignificant. In the context of the pandemic, health information interventions positively affected participants' perceptions and preferences for dairy products by delivering knowledge about their role in boosting immunity. However, environmental information interventions failed to do the same things as their insignificant effects on both perception and preference.

Originality/value

Macro-external shocks, such as public health events, may offset the impact of universal information interventions promoting pro-environmental behaviors. For a smooth dietary transition to achieve long-term environmental sustainability, diverse stakeholders must be included in more individualized interventions to guide daily consumption, especially in developing countries with large populations.
Assessing project criticality in project portfolio: a vulnerability modeling approach
Authors: Bai Libiao , Xie Xiaoyan , Sun Yichen , Qu Xue , Han Xiao
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Assessing project criticality in a project portfolio (PP) is of great practical significance to improve robustness from damage. While project criticality assessment has increased diversity in approaches, the understanding of vulnerable project impacts is still limited. To promote a better understanding of assessing project criticality, a vulnerability measurement model is constructed.

Design/methodology/approach

First, integrating the tasks, projects and corresponding relationships among them, a project portfolio network (PPN) is constructed. Second, the project's vulnerability is measured by combining the topological structure and functional attributes. Third, project criticality is assessed by the vulnerability measurement results. Lastly, the proposed model is applied in a numerical example to illustrate its suitability and effectiveness.

Findings

For academia, this study provides a novel perspective on project vulnerability measurement and expands project criticality assessment tools. For practitioners, the straightforward model provides an effective tool for assessing project criticality and contributes to enhancing project portfolio management (PPM).

Originality/value

The impact of the task on the project is considered in this study. Topological structure and functional attributes are also integrated for measuring project vulnerability due to the impact of random attacks in an uncertain environment, providing a new perspective on the requirements of project criticality assessment and the measurement of project vulnerability.
Cross-border mergers and acquisitions from emerging economy firms: a new channel for technology augmentation
Authors: Hong Eunsuk , Shin Jong-Kook , Zou Huan
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Extending the springboard perspective with the resource dependence theory, the authors posit that cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are a new channel for emerging economy firms (EEFs) to enhance their technology capabilities. This study aims to examine the impact of cross-border M&As initiated by EEFs on their technology augmentation vis-à-vis matched domestic M&A cases and investigate the factors influencing the difference in post-merger innovation capability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper estimates the post-acquisition innovation capability of acquirers from emerging economies (EEs) that engage in cross-border M&As. To remove possible selection bias, the authors leverage a difference-in-difference-style approach in combination with a matched sample constructed by pairing each cross-border M&A case with a similar domestic deal. The data set contains 266 cross-border M&As and 266 matched domestic M&A deals between 2003 and 2011, whereby acquirers are based in 6 EEs and targets are in 36 countries consisting of both EEs and advanced economies (AEs).

Findings

The present empirical results show that cross-border M&As engaged by EEFs are an important engine for improving EEFs’ innovation capability through technology augmentation. The main empirical results are as follows. First, compared with matched domestic acquirers with similar characteristics, EE cross-border M&As have a positive effect on innovation capability. Second, the positive effect of the EEFs’ cross-border M&As relative to the matched domestic M&As on innovation capability is driven largely by cross-border M&As with targets in AEs. Third, the increase in post-M&A innovation capability of the EE cross-border acquirers comes mainly from deals where targets are based in countries with relatively superior human capital and innovation capability than those of the acquirers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first systematic study of whether cross-border M&As serve as an effective channel of technology augmentation for EE acquirers compared to matched domestic acquirers with similar characteristics.
Public servants’ political activity online in an institutional environment of caution: the role of personality traits
Authors: Cooper Christopher A.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

As social media has become an ingrained aspect of our lives—including our political relationships with other citizens and the state—various governments have warned public servants that being politically active online might threaten the reputed impartiality of themselves and the public service. This study examines whether public servants are less likely to be politically active on social media than other citizens, and seeks to understand public servants’ varying disposition to be politically active online by investigating the role of employees’ underlying Big 5 personality traits.

Design/methodology/approach

Multivariate regression, along with marginal effects and predicted probabilities, are used to investigate public servants’ online political activity with survey data from Canada, a country where impartiality is a core public service value, and where governments, public service commissions and even public sector unions have voiced cautious messages about the threat online political activity presents to the reputed impartiality of public servants, and the public service at large.

Findings

Analysis of the direct effects of being a public servant and each Big 5 personality trait finds that being a public servant significantly, and substantively, reduces the probability of engaging in online political activity, meanwhile, Extraversion and Conscientiousness have consistent, significant and substantive relationships with being politically active online. Subsequent analysis investigating the dynamic between the Big 5 and being a public servant, uncovers a more complex story. Among public servants, Openness and Neuroticism, rather than Extraversion and Conscientiousness, are associated with significant and substantive changes in the probability of engaging in some online politically activities. This is consistent with research investigating the relationship between the Big 5 and risk aversion, given that public servants in Canada work in an environment with a highly cautious discourse portraying social media as a serious risk to impartiality.

Practical implications

The findings also speak to best practices for public service human resource managers by shedding light how public servants’ behavior can be better understood and managed by paying attention to their underlying personality traits.

Originality/value

This study moves beyond analyzing trends between public and private sector employees, to instead examine public servants’ online political activity. This study offers theoretical and empirical insight into how public servants’ disposition to be politically active online is, in part, influenced by their underlying Big 5 personality traits, specifically, Neuroticism and Openness.
Effect of consistency of the review set on causal attribution: the moderating roles of repeating purchase cues and product knowledge
Authors: Peng Xiao , Vali Hessam , Peng Xixian , Xu Jingjun (David) , Yildirim Mehmet Bayram
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The study examines the potential moderating effects of repeating purchase cues and product knowledge on the relationship between the varying consistency of the review set and causal attribution. This study also investigates how causal attribution correlates with the perceived misleadingness of the review set.

Design/methodology/approach

A scenario-based experiment was conducted with 170 participants to explore the relationship between the consistency of the review set and causal attribution and how repeating purchase cues and product knowledge moderates this relationship.

Findings

Findings suggest that inconsistent review sets lead to more product (vs reviewer) attribution than consistent review sets. The repeating purchase cues mitigate the negative relationship between the consistency of the review set and product attribution, whereas product knowledge mitigates the positive relationship between the consistency of the review set and reviewer attribution. Furthermore, the results indicate that high product attribution and low reviewer attribution are associated with low perceived misleadingness.

Originality/value

This study is novel because it examines the moderating effects of repeating purchase cues and product knowledge on the relationship between the consistency of the review set and causal attribution. It adds to the literature by shedding light on the causal attribution process underlying the formation of perceived misleadingness of online reviews. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for managers on how to enhance the positive effects of consistent review sets and mitigate the negative effects of inconsistent review sets.
A performance management framework for smart health-care supply chain based on industry 4.0 technologies
Authors: Hossain Md Kamal , Thakur Vikas
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The study aims to envisage upon conceptualizing and developing the scales of smart health-care supply chain (HCSC) performance in the era of the fourth industrial revolution.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has implemented structural equation modelling to analyse the survey data. To analyse the collected data from the field investigation involving a sample size of 323, the IBM SPSS AMOS 26 software package is considered to implement exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in this study.

Findings

The measurement model of the study developed using EFA and CFA has resulted in validating 32 items out of the 42 items. Resultantly, the analysis using the above-mentioned tools and the parsimony of items to scale development makes it more susceptible to contributing significantly to the current HCSC literature.

Research limitations/implications

The HC providers need to consider a holistic and systematic approach while taking into account the constructs of smart HCSC performance, specifically, the effect of HCSC responsiveness and industry 4.0 between the independent and dependent variables. The scales are validated from the perspectives of developing countries such as India, and hence, their generalizability with respect to first-world countries is practically limited.

Originality/value

The scales validated in this study would facilitate managers and key decision-makers to apply the various elements of HCSC practices, gauge the application of these scales and monitor the performance of health-care facilities.
Place and avoiding the race to the bottom of the fractured well
Authors: Pearson John
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the potential implications of the layering of regulation in relation to hydraulic fracturing (fracking) at the borders between the nations of the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a qualitative research method grounded in particular in legal geography to examine the existing approaches to regulating hydraulic fracturing and identify the places and their features that are constructed as a result of their intersection at the borders of the nations comprising the UK.

Findings

The current regulatory framework concerning hydraulic fracturing risks restricts the places in which the practice can occur in such a manner as to potentially cause greater environmental harm should the process be used. The regulations governing the process are not aligned in relation to the surface and subsurface aspects of the process to enable their management, once operational, as a singularly constructed place of extraction. Strong regulation at the surface can have the effect of influencing placement of the site only in relation to the place at which the resource sought reaches the surface, whilst having little to no impact on the environmental harms, which will result at the subsurface or relative to other potential surface site positions, and potentially even increasing them.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited by uncertainty as to the future use of hydraulic fracturing to extract oil and gas within the UK. The issues raised within it would also be applicable to other extractive industries where a surface site might be placed within a radius of the subsurface point of extraction, rather than having to be located at a fixed point relative to that in the subsurface. This paper therefore raises concerns that might be explored more generally in relation to the regulation of the place of resource extraction, particularly at legal borders between jurisdictions, and the impact of regulation, which does not account for the misalignment of regulation of spaces above and below the surface that form a single place at which extraction occurs.

Social implications

This paper considers the potential impacts of misaligned positions held by nations in the UK in relation to environmentally harmful practices undertaken by extractive industries, which are highlighted by an analysis of the extant regulatory framework for hydraulic fracturing.

Originality/value

Whilst the potential for cross internal border extraction of gas within the UK via hydraulic fracturing and the regulatory consequences of this has been highlighted in academic literature, this paper examines the implications of regulation for the least environmentally harmful placement of the process.
Platform financing and CSR performance in an E-commerce marketplace
Authors: Phan Dinh Anh , Vo Thi Le Hoa
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper investigates whether and how the financial services offered by an e-commerce platform can help budget-constrained small- and medium-sized suppliers improve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine a supply chain in which a budget-constrained supplier engages in CSR, produces a finished product and sells it on the marketplace of an e-commerce platform. This platform offers financial services to the supplier, choosing among three types of financing models: target rate of return, credit limit and CSR-linked financing. Using a Stackelberg game approach, the authors can drive the equilibrium decisions under each financing model.

Findings

The results reveal that all three financing models help improve the supplier's CSR investment as long as consumer sensitivity toward CSR exists. Moreover, the last one leads to the highest profitability of the overall supply chain and each member.

Originality/value

The findings shed light on the role of platform financing and how to design the most appropriate financing model to improve CSR for supply chain managers.
Prioritizing dark patterns in the e-commerce industry – an empirical investigation using analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Singh Vibhav , Vishvakarma Niraj Kumar , Mal Hoshiar , Kumar Vinod
Published: January 2024

Purpose

E-commerce companies use different types of dark patterns to manipulate choices and earn higher revenues. This study aims to evaluate and prioritize dark patterns used by e-commerce companies to determine which dark patterns are the most profitable and risky.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) prioritizes the observed categories of dark patterns based on the literature. Several corporate and academic specialists were consulted to create a comparison matrix to assess the elements of the detected dark pattern types.

Findings

Economic indicators are the most significant aspect of every business. Consequently, many companies use manipulative methods such as dark patterns to boost their revenue. The study revealed that the revenue generated by the types of dark patterns varies greatly. It was found that exigency, social proof, forced action and sneaking generate the highest revenues, whereas obstruction and misdirection create only marginal revenues for an e-commerce company.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the AHP study is that the rating scale used in the analysis is conceptual. Consequentially, pairwise comparisons may induce bias in the results.

Practical implications

This paper suggests methodical and operational techniques to choose the priority of dark patterns to drive profits with minimum tradeoffs. The dark pattern ranking technique might be carried out by companies once a year to understand the implications of any new dark patterns used.

Originality/value

The advantages of understanding the trade-offs of implementing dark patterns are massive. E-commerce companies can optimize their spent time and resources by implementing the most beneficial dark patterns and avoiding the ones that drive marginal profits and annoy consumers.
A systematic review of the CPTED–quality of life relationship
Authors: Songole Hillary Shiverenje
Published: January 2024

Purpose

CPTED’s premise to the improvement of quality of life (QOL) is crime prevention and safety, and yet there is little concern for the impact of CPTED implementation to QOL when the crime increases after the interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study systematically analyzed articles both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Findings

This study found that the CPTED–QOL relationship discussion was highly inadequate in research. Improvement of QOL has been elevated to an unquestionable and certain truth of CPTED and yet the evidence on this is highly inconclusive.

Originality/value

This study is a contribution to the CPTED–QOL discussion that has been lacking.
Receipt survey of prescription continuation rates for patients with onychomycosis and web‐based survey of dermatologists on prescribing policies for onychomycosis therapeutics
Authors: Tsunemi Yuichiro , Otsuka Atsushi , Nonaka Yusuke
Published: January 2024

Onychomycosis can be treated with topical and oral medications. However, it is important to appropriately select these medications according to the type and severity of the disease and ensure treatment is continued for the recommended duration. In Japan, treatment options for onychomycosis have increased in recent years. Moreover, in 2019, the guidelines for dermatomycosis treatment were revised. In this study, we conducted a receipt survey to clarify the actual treatment status of onychomycosis cases as indicated by the continuation rates of prescribed treatment drugs, together with a web‐based survey to ascertain the prescribing policy of dermatologists regarding drugs for onychomycosis treatment. In agreement with past surveys, this receipt survey showed that the prescription continuation rate for oral medications was higher than that for topical medications. The 1‐year prescription continuation rate for topical onychomycosis medications was found to be low (<10%). The web‐based survey showed that the percentage of physicians who prescribed oral medications as their first choice increased by approximately 10% for each disease type, compared with the results of the previous survey conducted around 7 years ago. However, the study also confirmed that topical drugs are still prescribed for some disease types for which oral drugs are better suited. To ensure complete cure without patient drop‐out, oral drugs with a high probability of achieving complete cure and a high continuation rate should be prescribed for patients with onychomycosis.