bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automatic Detection of Cell-cycle Stages using Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: Jose Abin , Roy Rijo , Moreno-Andrés Daniel , Stegmaier Johannes
Published: March 2023

Mitosis is the process by which eukaryotic cells divide to produce two similar daughter cells with identical genetic material. Research into the process of mitosis is therefore of critical importance both for the basic understanding of cell biology and for the clinical approach to manifold pathologies resulting from its malfunctioning, including cancer. In this paper, we propose an approach to study mitotic progression automatically using deep learning. We used neural networks to predict different mitosis stages. We extracted video sequences of cells undergoing division and trained a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) to extract image features. The use of RNN enabled better extraction of features. The RNN-based approach gave better performance compared to classifier based feature extraction methods which do not use time information. Evaluation of precision, recall, and F-score indicates the superiority of the proposed model compared to the baseline. To study the loss in performance due to confusion between adjacent classes, we plotted the confusion matrix as well, to quantify the amount of misclassification. In addition, we visualized the feature space to understand why RNNs are better at classifying the mitosis stages than other classifier models, which indicated the formation of strong clusters for the different classes, clearly confirming the advantage of the proposed RNN-based approach.
PS4: a Next-Generation Dataset for Protein Single Sequence Secondary Structure Prediction
Authors: Peracha Omar
Published: March 2023

Protein secondary structure prediction is a subproblem of protein folding. A lightweight algorithm capable of accurately predicting secondary structure from only the protein residue sequence could provide a useful input for tertiary structure prediction, alleviating the reliance on MSA typically seen in today’s best-performing models. Unfortunately, existing datasets for secondary structure prediction are small, creating a bottleneck. We present PS4, a dataset of 18,731 non-redundant protein chains and their respective secondary structure labels. Each chain is identified, and the dataset is also non-redundant against other secondary structure datasets commonly seen in the literature. We perform ablation studies by training secondary structure prediction algorithms on the PS4 training set, and obtain state-of-the-art accuracy on the CB513 test set in zero shots.
Super-resolution microscopy reveals the nanoscale organization of the DEK protein cancer biomarker
Authors: Pierzynska-Mach Agnieszka , Diaspro Alberto , Cella Zanacchi Francesca
Published: March 2023

The chromatin architectural factor DEK is involved in regulating the chromatin organization and is highly overexpressed in numerous forms of cancer. DEK is traditionally described as uniformly distributed within the nucleus by diffraction-limited microscopy studies, but super-resolution advent highlighted the formation of cluster-like DEK structures. Still, a characterization of the DEK protein cellular distribution and its role in cancer and cell proliferation is missing. In this work, we used single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) to investigate the nanoscale characteristics of DEK organization in normal-like and aggressive types of breast cancer cell lines, characterizing the number of localizations per cluster, as well as areas and density of clusters. We show how the cluster features correlate with the breast cell type and how the chromatin decompaction influences the DEK clusters in both cell lines. Our results suggest that the DEK density and nano-organization are preserved and are not influenced by protein overexpression itself or by chromatin compaction changes.
Uncovering and mitigating bias in large, automated MRI analyses of brain development
Authors: Elyounssi Safia , Kunitoki Keiko , Clauss Jacqueline A. , Laurent Eline , Kane Kristina , Hughes Dylan E. , Hopkinson Casey E. , Bazer Oren , Sussman Rachel Freed , Doyle Alysa E. , Lee Hang , Tervo-Clemmens Brenden , Eryilmaz Hamdi , Gollub Randy L. , Barch Deanna M. , Satterthwaite Theodore D. , Dowling Kevin F. , Roffman Joshua L.
Published: March 2023

Large, population-based MRI studies of adolescents promise transformational insights into neurodevelopment and mental illness risk1, 2. However, MRI studies of youth are especially susceptible to motion and other artifacts3, 4. These artifacts may go undetected by automated quality control (QC) methods that are preferred in high-throughput imaging studies,5and can potentially introduce non-random noise into clinical association analyses. Here we demonstrate bias in structural MRI analyses of children due to inclusion of lower quality images, as identified through rigorous visual quality control of 11,263 T1 MRI scans obtained at age 9-10 through the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study6. Compared to the best-rated images (44.9% of the sample), lower-quality images generally associated with decreased cortical thickness and increased cortical surface area measures (Cohen’s d 0.14-2.84). Variable image quality led to counterintuitive patterns in analyses that associated structural MRI and clinical measures, as inclusion of lower-quality scans altered apparent effect sizes in ways that increased risk for both false positives and negatives. Quality-related biases were partially mitigated by controlling for surface hole number, an automated index of topological complexity that differentiated lower-quality scans with good specificity at Baseline (0.81-0.93) and in 1,000 Year 2 scans (0.88-1.00). However, even among the highest-rated images, subtle topological errors occurred during image preprocessing, and their correction through manual edits significantly and reproducibly changed thickness measurements across much of the cortex (d 0.15-0.92). These findings demonstrate that inadequate QC of youth structural MRI scans can undermine advantages of large sample size to detect meaningful associations.
Immature myeloid cells are indispensable for intestinal regeneration post irradiation injury
Authors: Jiang Zhengyu , Waterbury Quin T. , Fu Na , Kim Woosook , Malagola Ermanno , Guha Chandan , Shawber Carrie J. , Yan Kelley S. , Wang Timothy C.
Published: March 2023

The intestinal epithelium functions both in nutrient absorption and as a barrier, separating the luminal contents from a network of vascular, fibroblastic, and immune cells underneath. Following injury to the intestine, multiple different cell populations cooperate to drive regeneration of the mucosa. Immature myeloid cells (IMCs), marked by histidine decarboxylase (Hdc), participate in regeneration of multiple organs such as the colon and central nervous system. Here, we found that IMCs infiltrate the injured intestine and promote epithelial regeneration and modulate LEC activity. IMCs produce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which promotes LEC lymphangiogenesis and upregulation of pro-regenerative factors including RSPO3. Moreover, we found that IMC recruitment into the intestine is driven by invading microbial signals. Accordingly, antibiotic eradication of the intestinal microbiome prior to WB-IR inhibits IMC recruitment, and consequently, intestinal recovery. We propose that IMCs play a critical role in intestinal repair and implicate gut microbes as mediators of intestinal regeneration.
Microbial community-scale metabolic modeling predicts personalized short chain fatty acid production profiles in the human gut
Authors: Quinn-Bohmann Nick , Wilmanski Tomasz , Sarmiento Katherine Ramos , Levy Lisa , Lampe Johanna W. , Gurry Thomas , Rappaport Noa , Ostrem Erin M. , Venturelli Ophelia S. , Diener Christian , Gibbons Sean M.
Published: March 2023

Microbially-derived short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the human gut are tightly coupled to host metabolism, immune regulation, and integrity of the intestinal epithelium. However, the production of SCFAs can vary widely between individuals consuming the same diet, with lower levels often associated with disease. A systems-scale mechanistic understanding of this heterogeneity is lacking. We present a microbial community-scale metabolic modeling (MCMM) approach to predict individual-specific SCFA production profiles. We assess the quantitative accuracy of our MCMMs usingin vitro,ex vivo, andin vivodata. Next, we show how MCMM SCFA predictions are significantly associated with blood-derived clinical chemistries, including cardiometabolic and immunological health markers, across a large human cohort. Finally, we demonstrate how MCMMs can be leveraged to design personalized dietary, prebiotic, and probiotic interventions that optimize SCFA production in the gut. Our results represent an important advance in engineering gut microbiome functional outputs for precision health and nutrition.
Episodic live imaging of cone photoreceptor maturation in GNAT2-EGFP retinal organoids
Authors: Bai Jinlun , Koos David S. , Stepanian Kayla , Fouladian Zachary , Shayler Dominic W. H. , Aparicio Jennifer G. , Fraser Scott E. , Moats Rex A. , Cobrinik David
Published: March 2023

Fluorescent reporter pluripotent stem cell (PSC) derived retinal organoids are powerful tools to investigate cell type-specific development and disease phenotypes. When combined with live imaging, they enable direct and repeated observation of cell behaviors within a developing retinal tissue. Here, we generated a human cone photoreceptor reporter line by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of WTC11-mTagRFPT-LMNB1 human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by inserting enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) coding sequences and a 2A self-cleaving peptide at the N-terminus ofGuanine Nucleotide-Binding Protein Subunit Alpha Transducin 2(GNAT2). In retinal organoids generated from these iPSCs, the GNAT2-EGFP allele robustly and exclusively labeled both immature and mature cones starting at culture day 34. Episodic confocal live imaging of hydrogel immobilized retinal organoids allowed tracking of morphological maturation of individual cones for >18 weeks and revealed inner segment accumulation of mitochondria and growth at 12.2 cubic microns per day from day 126 to day 153. Immobilized GNAT2-EGFP cone reporter organoids provide a valuable tool for investigating human cone development and disease.
Terminator-dependent facilitated recycling of RNA polymerase III couples transcriptional activation and chromatin remodeling in vivo
Authors: Vinayachandran Vinesh , Shivaswamy Sushma , Shukla Ashutosh , Kendyala Nikitha , Bhargava Purnima
Published: March 2023

Termination is a crucial step in generating the functional transcriptome of a cell. The short genes transcribed by RNA polymerase (pol) III are mostly found in the highly transcribed genomic loci. The mechanism responsible for their high transcription rate in vivo is not yet established. Transcription terminator-dependent facilitated recycling of pol III on naked DNA templates is reported to increase transcriptional output in vitro. We found that apart from defining the 3’-end of transcript, the transcription terminator is essential for achieving high-level chromatin transcription by pol III in vitro and in vivo. Using terminator-deficientSNR6gene templates or a recycling deficient pol III mutant, we show that the TFIIIC-dependent transcriptional activation of chromatin is a process with three closely linked components, viz. anti-repression to naked DNA levels with TFIIIC binding, TFIIIC-dependent chromatin remodeling for better accessibility of the sequence elements and terminator-directed full transcriptional activation. Measurement of pol III occupancy on different gene regions demonstrated a direct link between the high transcription rate and the terminator dependent recycling of pol III in vivo. This novel regulatory mechanism may be generally applicable to the highly transcribed genes in any cell and even for cancer management wherein pol III transcription is found highly elevated.
IgG4 serum levels are not elevated in cases of Post-COVID syndrome
Authors: Abel Jonas , Walter Annika J. , Glück Vivian , Magnus Clara L. , Glück Thomas , Schuster Philipp , Blaas Stefan , Montanari Ida , Koller Michael , Mohr Arno , Hinterberger Thilo , Salzberger Bernd , Renner Kerstin , Mack Matthias , Bals Robert , Schmidt Tina , Klemis Verena , Sester Martina , Kardashi Romina , de With Katja , Loew Thomas H. , Malfertheiner Maximilian , Pfeifer Michael , Gessner André , Schmidt Barbara , Schmalenberger Daniel , Peterhoff David
Published: March 2023

Recently, unexpectedly high virus-specific IgG4 levels were reported after more than two mRNA vaccinations. Class switch towards IgG4 occurs after long-term antigen exposure, downregulates immune responses and is associated with several autoimmune diseases.

Here, we examined differences in antigen-specific IgG subtypes in serum samples from 64 Post-COVID patients and an equally sized cohort of convalescent controls.

In both cohorts, the relative amounts of spike protein-specific IgG subtypes were comparable. IgG1 was the most frequent, followed by IgG3, IgG2, and IgG4. A difference between cohorts was observed only for IgG2, which was significantly lower in the Post-COVID cohort. Further analysis of the reactive IgG4 revealed a small but significant difference for the spike protein receptor-binding domain but not for the spike ectodomain.

Since the total IgG4 levels are very low, we do not expect a biologically relevant role in Post-COVID syndrome. However, reduced virus-specific IgG2 levels could contribute to the persistence of SARS-CoV-2, causing chronic inflammation in the setting of Post-COVID syndrome.
Regulated alternative splicing of Dscam2 is required for somatosensory circuit wiring
Authors: Galindo Samantha E. , Shin Grace Ji-eun , Millard S. Sean , Grueber Wesley B.
Published: March 2023

Axon and dendrite placement and connectivity is guided by a wide range of secreted and surface molecules in the developing nervous system. Nevertheless, the extraordinary complexity of connections in the brain requires that this repertoire be further diversified to precisely and uniquely regulate cell-cell interactions. One important mechanism for molecular diversification is alternative splicing.Drosophila Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam2) undergoes cell type-specific alternative splicing to produce two isoform-specific homophilic binding proteins. Regulated alternative splicing ofDscam2is important for dendrite and axon patterning, but how this translates to circuit wiring and animal behavior is not well understood. Here, we examined the role of cell-type specific expression ofDscam2isoforms in regulating synaptic partner selection in the larval somatosensory system. We found that synaptic partners in the nociceptive circuit express different Dscam2 isoforms. Forcing synaptic partners to express a common isoform resulted in nociceptive axon patterning defects and attenuated nocifensive behaviors, indicating that a role for Dscam2 alternative splicing is to ensure that synaptic partners do not express matching isoforms. These results point to a model in which regulated alternative splicing ofDscam2across populations of neurons restricts connectivity to specific partners and prevents inappropriate synaptic connections.
Mapping the global interactome of the ARF family reveals spatial organization in cellular signaling pathways
Authors: Quirion Laura , Robert Amélie , Boulais Jonathan , Huang Shiying , Astrain Gabriela Bernal , Strakhova Regina , Jo Chang Hwa , Kherdjemil Yacine , Faubert Denis , Thibault Marie-Pier , Kmita Marie , Baskin Jeremy M. , Gingras Anne-Claude , Smith Matthew J. , Côté Jean-François
Published: March 2023

The ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) and ARF-like (ARLs) GTPases serve as essential molecular switches governing a wide array of cellular processes. In this study, we utilized proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID) to comprehensively map the interactome of 28 out of 29 ARF and ARL proteins in two cellular models. Through this approach, we identified ∼3000 high-confidence proximal interactors, enabling us to assign subcellular localizations to the family members. Notably, we uncovered previously undefined localizations for ARL4D and ARL10. Clustering analyses further exposed the distinctiveness of the interactors identified with these two GTPases. We also reveal that the expression of the understudied member ARL14 is confined to the stomach and intestines. We identified phospholipase D1 (PLD1) and the ESCPE-1 complex, more precisely SNX1, as proximity interactors. Functional assays demonstrated that ARL14 can activate PLD1in celluloand is involved in cargo trafficking via the ESCPE-1 complex. Overall, the BioID data generated in this study provide a valuable resource for dissecting the complexities of ARF and ARL spatial organization and signaling.

SUMMARY STATEMENT

Generation of the ARF family interactome allowed the attribution of potential localizations and functions to previously understudied members. We found that ARL14 activates PLD1 and contributes to ESCPE-1-mediated trafficking.
Internal auditor independence as a situated practice: four archetypes
Authors: Eklöv Alander Gunilla
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to understand independence in internal auditing by investigating how internal auditor independence is constructed when analysed in its corporate governance context.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the corporate governance reports of Swedish large stock market listed non-financial companies, for three consecutive years, is undertaken, using a theoretical lens of organisational embeddedness and operational coupling to understand independence as a situated practice.

Findings

The study develops four archetypes of internal auditor independence – autarchic, instrumental, symbiotic and subservient – and discusses each archetype's implications for independence, related to tripartite relations with management and the audit committee, regarding who has the mandate to direct work and how the work is done. It finds that internal auditors always have a capacity to be independent. Although they are not independent in relation to agents in the subservient archetype, they are independent of those down the organisational chain of command, suggesting independence is both situational and relational.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis contributes a novel approach to the literature and develops a conception of independence using the dimensions of embeddedness and coupling. The archetypes offer an analytical framework for future studies on independence.

Practical implications

Internal auditors may understand their practice differently through the archetypes that result from this study.

Social implications

Internal auditors' power relations within corporate governance further an understanding of the pressures on internal auditors and their role.

Originality/value

This study contributes new knowledge on the situatedness of independence by showing how internal auditors are embedded and coupled helps build their independence.
How do front-of-package labels influence the healthy evaluation of consumers?
Authors: Schwalb Helguero Matilde , Pennano Carla , Rodriguez Pena Gustavo , Martínez-Fiestas Miriam , Linares Freddy
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of front-of-package (FoP) labels on the healthy evaluation of Peruvian consumers. This relationship was examined in cases where snacks were healthy and unhealthy. In addition, the study included the role of three consumer purchase objectives (i.e. hedonic, healthy and weight loss) and two types of consumers (high and low use of labelling) in the healthy evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 628 Peruvian youngsters aged between 16 and 24 years who frequently consume processed food. The research panel “QueOpinas” oversaw the recruitment of the participants through social media and television. Four types of FoP labels were studied in depth: Nutritional Warnings, Monochrome Guideline Daily Amount (GDA), Polychrome Guideline Daily Amount (GDA-Semaphore) and Traffic Light Labelling. A paired sample t-test and MANOVA were performed to evaluate the research objectives.

Findings

The GDA FoP label was found to be insufficient to promote a healthy evaluation. In contrast, the Nutritional Warnings and GDA-Semaphore and Traffic Light FoP labels had a significant and positive effect on the healthy evaluation of the snacks at a 95% confidence level. However, a comparative analysis of the labels revealed that some can be more efficient than others in promoting healthy purchase decisions. For the nutritional warnings (NWs) and traffic light FoP labels, the results revealed that consumers better distinguish unhealthy and healthy cereal bars when these products display traffic light labels.

Originality/value

This research topic has not been investigated in Peru and relevant research in this region is still incipient. In addition, the findings are important for policymakers as the findings will be able to implement specific labelling systems that will help consumers make healthier choices and support the debate about the effectiveness of the main FoP systems.
I'm only joking!(?) the role of disparaging humor in the communicative constitution of inclusion/exclusion in organizations
Authors: Wolfgruber Daniel
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to investigate the communicative constitution of organizational inclusion and/or exclusion through humorous acts at the expense of members of minorities and/or historically disadvantaged groups.

Design/methodology/approach

Semistructured interviews with 84 employees in Austria and Germany dealing with their experiences regarding diversity and inclusion (D&I) at work were conducted and analyzed in two steps. First, a thematic text analysis was performed to structure the content and identify relevant themes and anecdotes for further analysis. Second, a ventriloquial analysis sought to identify the physically absent yet present voices in these anecdotes.

Findings

The interviews revealed that jokes and quips mostly target colleagues of observable foreign origin. The analysis further identified three themes that show that disparaging humor can simultaneously reinforce inclusion/exclusion across hierarchies and create boundaries within teams – but in different ways. The findings also indicate that above all prejudices “participate” in such events and that in most cases the collective is invoked to increase the joke's “authority”.

Originality/value

This research is the first one that investigates humor in the context of D&I through a communicative constitution of organization (CCO) lens, which facilitates studying the constitutive character of humorous communication in terms of inclusion and exclusion. Moreover, this is one of the first empirical humor studies to draw on established theory-driven concepts of inclusion-exclusion in its analysis.
Role of B2B reliance and brand image in reducing risk perceptions: a serial mediation model
Authors: Kittur Prathamesh , Chatterjee Swagato
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The study aims to explore the role of reliance and brand image (goods-based and service-based) in risk perceptions related to business-to-business (B2B) purchases. In particular, time risk (TR), performance risk (PR) and financial risk (FR) has been explored in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based survey data has been collected from 152 respondents from different industries, and the model was validated using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study highlights the importance of reliance and brand image for reducing the effects of perceived risk. While reliance is negatively related to all the risk dimensions, the relationship between reliance and FR is serially mediated by service-based brand image (SBBI) and TR. The same is also mediated by PR. Furthermore, PR and TR are positively related to FR.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study highlight the importance of reliance and brand image for reducing the effects of risk dimensions. Reliance plays an important role in reducing all risk perceptions. Findings also highlight the importance of SBBI in reducing TR.

Practical implications

The findings provide managers with key insights for reducing risk perceptions by creating a strong reliance and B2B brand image, leading to long-term relationship strategies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the few papers in B2B marketing that focuses on the importance of reliance and brand image in reducing the effects of perceived risk.
Factors driving consumer attitude to online shopping hate
Authors: Jamal Yasir , Islam Tahir , Ghaffar Abdul , Sheikh Altaf Ahmed
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the determinants and consequences of psychological reactance in the online shopping context. Leveraging the psychological reactance and self-congruity theories, functional and symbolic discrepancies enhance the psychological reactance toward online shopping. In addition, trustworthiness moderates the impact of online customers attitude ambivalence on their psychological reactance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct an empirical study on online customer cognitive factors. In this research paper, the postpositivism research view is used. The Smart PLS-SEM is used to analyze the data.

Findings

The current study findings reveal that self-concept and operational incongruence (i.e. symbolic and functional) are the main factors that lead to psychological reactance and resulting in online shopping hate. Poor website quality and other matters are so significant they create functional incongruence. Moreover, low trustworthiness strengthens psychological reactance in the online shopping hate context.

Originality/value

This study extends the psychological reactance and self-congruence theories to online shopping. Previously, literature has extensively studied the social commerce intention.
Developing adaptability and agility in leadership amidst the COVID-19 crisis: experiences of early-career school principals
Authors: Fernandes Venesser , Wong Winnie , Noonan Michael
Published: March 2023

Purpose

During the COVID-19 crisis in Victoria, Australia the complexity of school leadership increased greatly for school principals. This study focused on the lived experiences of early career principals in the independent school sector from March to November 2020 in Victoria, Australia. It investigates transformative work that was undertaken by these leaders in leading their schools over a protracted crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The study builds on constructs of crisis leadership, adaptive leadership, agile leadership and emotional intelligence, exploring the leadership approaches undertaken by twenty-two early career principals in Victoria, Australia. Using a narrative inquiry approach, across three temporal points in 2020, storied productions drawn from the findings present four emergent types of emotionally intelligent leadership approaches undertaken by these principals. These leadership approaches are presented as the commander-leader, the conductor-leader, the gardener-leader and the engineer-leader with each approach demonstrating both organisational leadership approaches as well as individual leadership styles used by these principals as they led their schools.

Findings

The findings have direct implications for professional development programs focusing on aspiring principals and early career principals with emphasis on the importance of developing emotionally intelligent skillsets in principals for use during periods of rapid change or high crisis in schools. The findings present insight into the support useful for early career principals in the first five years of principalship.

Originality/value

This study uses a unique emotional intelligence approach to understand school leadership during and after a crisis.
Rural electrification and women's empowerment in Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Bago Jean-Louis , Djezou Wadjamsse , Tiberti Luca , Achy Landry
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper assesses the impact of this program on the rural women's employment opportunities using data from the 2015 round of the household's living standard survey (HLSS) of Côte d'Ivoire.

Design/methodology/approach

In 2013, in order to improve the living conditions of the rural population, the Ivorian government launched the National Program for rural electrification (PRONER) to electrify all localities with more than 500 inhabitants.

Findings

The results show that PRONER, while reducing the time allocated to performing household chores, increases women's employment through the reallocation of time to full-time paid work in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The authors also find that the allocation of men's time is not affected by this programme. A possible mechanism that would explain such a pro-women effect is the labour-saving technology introduced to home production as an effect of the reform.

Research limitations/implications

As a limitation, it is important to note that these results were obtained in the specific context of PRONER in Côte d’Ivoire and are not necessarily applicable to rural electrification programmes in other contexts. Furthermore, the choice of other indicators to measure women's empowerment is limited by the quality of the data available. It would be interesting for future research to extend this analysis to include other aspects of women's empowerment and household welfare.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to the author’s knowledge to apply a robust econometric method by combining an inverse probability weighted regression adjustment model with Heckman sample selection method to access a robust causal effect of the PRONER in Côte d'Ivoire.
The social media industry: where is it heading?
Authors: Zhang Yanli , Nguyen Huy Will , Jung Young Hoon , Ren Isabelle Yi
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The social media industry has entered a new stage with intensifying competition and heightened uncertainty about future directions. The purpose of this paper is to provide analyses of the current challenges and to identify industry-wide trends that may offer a roadmap for the future.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on publicly available key performance metrics, company reports and press reports, this paper offers critical analyses of the challenges facing the major social media platforms and new trends in the social media industry.

Findings

This study identified five major trends in the current social media industry: 1) content is king, and that content is moving to visual; 2) artificial intelligence is key to competitive advantage; 3) network effects still matter, but business model innovation can overcome that barrier; 4) the need to broaden revenue sources; and 5) the strive for the everything app. In this changing environment, social media companies need to adapt and innovate their business models proactively to stay ahead.

Originality/value

This paper not only sheds light on the current challenges of individual social media platforms but also identifies industry-wide trends that may apply across all platforms. Taken together, these insights paint a comprehensive picture of the current industry landscape, as well as offer clues about its future directions.
Challenges in determining whether youth with autism spectrum disorder have been sexually abused: implications for forensic interviewing
Authors: Goldberg Edelson Meredyth
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to educate forensic interviewers about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and tools for interviewing youth with ASD when there are concerns of child sexual abuse (CSA).

Design/methodology/approach

Research is reviewed to discuss risk factors for CSA in youth with ASD, why CSA is often not recognized and research-based strategies for forensically interviewing youth with ASD.

Findings

Youth with ASD are at increased risk of CSA compared to neurotypical peers, but recognition of CSA in youth with ASD can be difficult. Forensic interviewing strategies can help interviewers obtain reports of CSA from youth with ASD.

Practical implications

Given the increase in prevalence of ASD and the increased risk of CSA, forensic interviewers need to have information about ASD, about why CSA may not be recognized, about risk factors for CSA and, especially, about how to accommodate for ASD when conducting forensic interviews.

Originality/value

This paper provides a novel framework for considering evidence-based practices for forensically interviewing youth with ASD when there are concerns of CSA. Specifically, this paper includes multiple, but related areas, in one article including research related to ASD, risk factors for CSA in those with ASD, obstacles to identifying CSA and the implications of this research for specific strategies regarding how to forensically interview youth with ASD when there are concerns of CSA.
Working Online During the Contemporary COVID‐19 Pandemic1
Authors: Merchant John
Published: March 2023

Within the psychoanalytic school there has been substantial and ongoing debate about the efficacy of teleanalysis. However, as a result of the current COVID‐19 pandemic and the online work with which the Jungian analytic community has now had to engage, this paper initially focuses on analysts’ actual experiences of working by teleanalysis. These experiences highlight a range of issues like “Zoom fatigue”, “online disinhibition”, dissonance, confidentiality, the frame and working with new patients. Alongside these issues, there were ample experiences by analysts of both productive psychotherapy apace with analytic work involving transference and countertransference phenomena, all indicating that a genuine and good enough analytic process can occur with teleanalysis. An overview of the research and literature both prior to the pandemic and as a result of it, confirms the validity of these experiences so long as analysts are cognizant of the specifics of such an online modality. Conclusions to do with the question, “what have we learned?”, alongside training, ethics and supervision issues are subsequently discussed.
Good practice: The experiences with the utilization of residual cancer burden—A single institution study
Authors: Sejben Anita , Hegedűs Fanni , Almási Szintia , Berta Márton , Oláh‐Németh Orsolya , Zombori Tamás
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The use of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has been showing an incraesing tendency in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer. The evaluation of residual cancer could be performed by Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) calculator. The prognostic system takes the two largest diameters of the tumor, the cellularity, the amount of in situ carcinoma, the number of metastatic lymph nodes, and the size of the largest metastatic deposit into account. The aim of our study was to examine the reproducibility of RCB in NAT treated patients.

Methods

Patients who were treated with NAT and had resection specimens between 2018 and 2021 were selected. Histological examination was performed by five pathologists. After assessment of the examined variables, RCB points and RCB classes were defined. For statistical analysis, interclass correlation was used (SPSS Statistics V.22.0 software).

Results

Altogether 100 patients were included in our retrospective, cohort study (average age: 57 years). In two‐thirds of the cases, third generation chemotherapy was used, and mastectomy was performed. Significant concordance was found in the two largest diameters of the tumor (coefficients, 0.984 and 0.973), the cellularity (coefficient, 0.970), and the largest metastatic deposit (coefficient, 0.998). Although the amount of in situ carcinoma proved to be the least reproducible factor, it resulted in almost 90% of agreement (coefficient, 0.873). Regarding RCB points and classes, similar results were observed (coefficients, 0.989 and 0.960).

Conclusions

Significant agreement was observed between examiners based on almost all RCB parameters, points, and classes, reflecting the optimal reproducibility of RCB. Therefore, we recommend the use of the calculator in routine histopathological reports in NAT cases.
Veno‐arterial CO2 difference and lactate for prediction of early mortality after cardiac arrest
Authors: Lundin Andreas , Annborn Martin , Borgquist Ola , Düring Joachim , Undén Johan , Rylander Christian
Published: March 2023

Patients admitted to intensive care after cardiac arrest are at risk of circulatory shock and early mortality due to cardiovascular failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the veno‐arterial pCO2 difference (∆pCO2; central venous CO2 – arterial CO2) and lactate to predict early mortality in postcardiac arrest patients. This was a pre‐planned prospective observational sub‐study of the target temperature management 2 trial. The sub‐study patients were included at five Swedish sites. Repeated measurements of ∆pCO2 and lactate were conducted at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48, and 72 h after randomization. We assessed the association between each marker and 96‐h mortality and their prognostic value for 96‐h mortality. One hundred sixty‐three patients were included in the analysis. Mortality at 96 h was 17%. During the initial 24 h, there was no difference in ∆pCO2 levels between 96‐h survivors and non‐survivors. ∆pCO2 measured at 4 h was associated with an increased risk of death within 96 h (adjusted odds ratio: 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.29; p = .018). Lactate levels were associated with poor outcome over multiple measurements. The area under the receiving operating curve to predict death within 96 h was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.48–0.74) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72–0.92) for ∆pCO2 and lactate, respectively. Our results do not support the use of ∆pCO2 to identify patients with early mortality in the postresuscitation phase. In contrast, non‐survivors demonstrated higher lactate levels in the initial phase and lactate identified patients with early mortality with moderate accuracy.
When my neighbors matter: Spillover effects in the adoption of large‐scale pesticide‐free wheat production
Authors: Wang Yanbing , Möhring Niklas , Finger Robert
Published: March 2023

We investigate the spillover effects in farmers’ adoption decisions of a novel pesticide‐free wheat production system. To this end, we exploit the variability and asymmetry in the social ties among neighboring farmers. We find evidence of spillover effects in farmers’ adoption decisions as well as in farm and farmer characteristics. Our results further highlight the importance of accounting for potentially heterogeneous social ties in farmer networks beyond pure measures of spatial proximity: spillover effects are only robust once we account for the strength of social ties through farmers’ stated tendency to consult peers on agricultural decisions. Our findings highlight the relevance of peer influence in the diffusion of sustainable agriculture practices even in contexts of well‐functioned institutions and high interest in environmental protection such as European agriculture. We discuss implications for the design of policies and programs for sustainable agriculture, which are currently in the center of attention in agricultural policymaking.
A novel XPA splice‐site mutation identified in a 4‐year‐old Filipino girl with xeroderma pigmentosum
Authors: Reyes Haider H. , Lin Yu‐Chen , Hsu Chao‐Kai , Guevara Bryan Edgar K.
Published: March 2023

We herein report a case of a 4‐year‐old Filipino girl initially seen through online consultation from a general physician. She was born to a 22‐year‐old primigravid mother, with no birth complications nor a history of consanguinity in the family. During the 1st month of life, she developed hyperpigmented macules over the face, neck, upper back, and limbs, which were exacerbated by sun exposure. At 2 years old, she developed a solitary erythematous papule on the nasal area, which gradually enlarged within one year and developed into an exophytic ulcerating tumor extending to the right supra‐alar crease. Xeroderma pigmentosum and squamous cell carcinoma were confirmed by whole‐exome sequencing and skin biopsy, respectively.
Childhood manifestations of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A Finnish nationwide register‐based cohort study
Authors: Wahrmann Sakari , Kainulainen Leena , Kytö Ville , Lempainen Johanna
Published: March 2023

Aim

The aim of the study was to describe the clinical manifestations of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome patients in the Finnish paediatric population.

Methods

Nationwide registry data including all diagnoses and procedures of every public hospital in Finland between 2004 and 2018 along with mortality and cancer registry data were retrieved. Patients born during the study period and with an ICD‐10 code of D82.1 or Q87.06 were included as having 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. A control group was formed with patients born during the study period and with benign cardiac murmur diagnosed under the age of 1 year.

Results

We identified 100 pediatric patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (54% males, median age at diagnosis <1 year, median follow‐up 9 years). Cumulative mortality was 7.1%. Among patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, 73.8% had congenital heart defects, 21.8% had cleft palate, 13.6% had hypocalcaemia, and 7.2% had immunodeficiencies. Furthermore, 29.6% were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases, 92.9% had infections, and 93.2% had neuropsychiatric and developmental issues during follow‐up. Malignancy was found in 2.1% of the patients.

Conclusion

The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is associated with increased mortality and substantial multimorbidity in children. A structured multidisciplinary approach is necessary for managing patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
Long‐term milrinone therapy in children with dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Brown Samuel , Nolan Oscar , Poole Esther , Kidd Justine , Cassidy Jane , Botha Phil , Chaudhari Milind
Published: March 2023

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of long‐term milrinone therapy in children with acute decompensated heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods

A single‐centre retrospective study of all children ≤18 years with acute decompensated heart failure and DCM who received continuous long‐term (≥7 consecutive days) intravenous milrinone between January 2008 and January 2022.

Results

The 47 patients had a median age of 3.3 months [interquartile range (IQR) 1.0–18.1], weight of 5.7 kg [IQR 4.3–10.1] and fractional shortening of 11.9% [±4.7]. Idiopathic DCM (n = 19) and myocarditis (n = 18) were the most common diagnoses. The median milrinone infusion duration was 27 days [IQR 10–50, range 7–290]. No adverse events necessitated milrinone termination. Nine patients required mechanical circulatory support. Median follow‐up was 4.2 years [IQR 2.7–8.6]. On initial admission, four patients died, six were transplanted and 79% [37/47] were discharged home. The 18 readmissions resulted in five more deaths and four transplantations. Cardiac function recovered in 60% [28/47], as measured by normalised fractional shortening.

Conclusion

Long‐term intravenous milrinone is safe and effective in paediatric acute decompensated DCM. Combined with conventional heart failure therapies, it can act as a bridge to recovery and thereby potentially reduce the need for mechanical support or heart transplantation.
Mitochondrial respiratory chain activity is associated with severity, corticosteroid response and prognosis of alcoholic hepatitis
Authors: Solís‐Muñoz Pablo , de la Flor‐Robledo María , García‐Ruíz Inmaculada , Fernández‐García Carlos E. , González‐Rodríguez Águeda , Shah Naina , Bataller Ramón , Heneghan Michael , García‐Monzón Carmelo , Solís‐Herruzo José A.
Published: March 2023

Background and Aims

Little is known about the extent of mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) activity dysfunction in patients with alcoholic hepatitis (AH). We aimed to assess the hepatic MRC activity in AH patients and its potential impact on the severity and prognosis of this life‐threatening liver disease.

Methods

MRC complexes were measured in liver biopsies of 98 AH patients (non‐severe, 17; severe, 81) and in 12 histologically normal livers (NL). Severity was assessed according to Maddrey's Index and MELD score. Corticosteroid response rate and cumulative mortality were also evaluated.

Results

The activity of the five MRC complexes was markedly decreased in the liver of AH patients compared with that of NL subjects, being significantly lower in patients with severe AH than in those with non‐severe AH. There was a negative correlation between the activity of all MRC complexes and the severity of AH. Interestingly, only complex I and III activities showed a significant positive correlation with the corticosteroid response rate and a significant negative correlation with the mortality rate at all‐time points studied. In a multivariate regression analysis, besides the MELD score and the corticosteroid response rate, complex I activity was significantly associated with 3‐month mortality (OR = 6.03; p = 0.034) and complex III activity with 6‐month mortality (OR = 4.70; p = 0.041) in AH patients.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that MRC activity is markedly decreased in the liver of AH patients, and, particularly, the impairment of MRC complexes I and III activity appears to have a significant impact on the clinical outcomes of patients with AH.
Same‐day discharge robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: feasibility, safety and patient experience
Authors: Hill George Thomas , Jeyanthi Mekha , Coomer William , Bryant Richard J. , Colmsee Matthew T. , Tozer James , Cox Adam Christopher , Wilson Jim R.
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To report a single centre's experience of the feasibility, safety and patient acceptability of same‐day discharge robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP).

Subjects/Patients and Methods

Between June 2015 and December 2021, a total of 180 pre‐selected consecutive patients underwent RALP with the intention to discharge on the same day as surgery. Cases were performed by two surgeons. An enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme was used. The feasibility of same‐day discharge was analysed, along with the complication rate, oncological outcomes, and postoperative patient experience.

Results

Of 180 patients, 169 (93.8%) were successfully discharged on the same day as surgery. The median (range) age was 63 ( 44–74) years. The median (range) console time was 97 (61–256) min and blood loss was 200 (20–800) mL. The resection specimen pathology results were: pT2 69.4%, pT3a 24.4% and pT3b 6.5%. With regard to Gleason Grade Group (GGG), 25.9% had GGG 1, 65.7% had GGG 2–3 and 8.4% had GGG 4–5 disease. Positive surgical margins were present in 25 cases (14.7%), 18 (15.5%) of which occurred in pT2 cases, and seven (13.4%) in pT3 cases. There were no early (<90 days) biochemical relapses (defined as prostate‐specific antigen level >0.2 ng/mL). The 30‐day readmission rate was 3%. A total of 13 early (0–30 days) complications were observed, five of which were Clavien–Dindo grade ≥3, however, none of these would have been avoided had the patient remained in hospital on the first postoperative night. Of 121 consecutive patients, 107 (88%) returned a satisfaction questionnaire, and 92% of responders stated they preferred recovery at home, with 94% stating they felt ready to go home.

Conclusion

Robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy combined with an ERAS programme allows patients to be safely discharged home on the same day of their surgery. This is a feasible option, well‐liked by patients, with morbidity and oncological outcomes similar to non‐day‐case or 23 h stay RALP.