bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ketogenic diet alters microglial morphology and changes the hippocampal lipidomic profile distinctively in stress susceptibleversusresistant male mice upon repeated social defeat
Authors: Ibáñez Fernando González , Halvorson Torin , Sharma Kaushik , McKee Chloe , Carrier Micaël , Picard Katherine , Vernoux Nathalie , Bisht Kanchan , Deslauriers Jessica , Lalowski Maciej , Tremblay Marie-Ève
Published: August 2023

Psychological stress confers an increased risk for several diseases including psychiatric conditions. The susceptibility to psychological stress is modulated by various factors, many of them being modifiable lifestyle choices. The ketogenic diet (KD) has emerged as a dietary regime that offers positive outcomes on mood and health status. Psychological stress and elevated inflammation are common features of neuropsychiatric disorders such as certain types of major depressive disorder. KD has been attributed anti-inflammatory properties that could underlie its beneficial consequences on the brain and behavior. Microglia are the main drivers of inflammation in the central nervous system. They are known to respond to both dietary changes and psychological stress, notably by modifying their production of cytokines and relationships among the brain parenchyma. To assess the interactions between KD and the stress response, including effects on microglia, we examined adult male mice on control diet (CD)versusKD that underwent 10 days of repeated social defeat (RSD) or remained non-stressed (controls; CTRLs). Through a social interaction test, stressed mice were classified as susceptible (SUS) or resistant (RES) to RSD. The mouse population fed a KD tended to have a higher proportion of individuals classified as RES following RSD. Microglial morphology and ultrastructure were then analyzed in the ventral hippocampus CA1, a brain region known to present structural alterations as a response to psychological stress. Distinct changes in microglial soma and arborization linked to the KD, SUS and RES phenotypes were revealed. Ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy showed a clear reduction of cellular stress markers in microglia from KD fed animals. Furthermore, ultrastructural analysis showed that microglial contacts with synaptic elements were reduced in the SUS compared to the RES and CTRL groups. Hippocampal lipidomic analyses lastly identified a distinct lipid profile in SUS animals compared to CTRLs. These key differences, combined with the distinct microglial responses to diet and stress, indicate that unique metabolic changes may underlie the stress susceptibility phenotypes. Altogether, our results reveal novel mechanisms by which a KD might improve the resistance to psychological stress.

Highlights

Ketogenic diet tends to promote resistance to psychological stress

Hippocampal microglia show morphological adaptations to stress and diet

Microglia of stress-susceptible mice make less synaptic contacts

Microglia of ketogenic diet-fed mice show less signs of cellular stress

Lipids are differentially regulated in the hippocampi of susceptible mice
Environmental circadian disruption re-programs liver circadian gene expression
Authors: Duong Hao A. , Baba Kenkichi , DeBruyne Jason P. , Davidson Alec J. , Ehlen Christopher , Powell Michael , Tosini Gianluca
Published: August 2023

Circadian gene expression is fundamental to the establishment and functions of the circadian clock, a cell-autonomous and evolutionary-conserved timing system. Yet, how it is affected by environmental-circadian disruption (ECD) such as shiftwork and jetlag, which impact millions of people worldwide, are ill-defined. Here, we provided the first comprehensive description of liver circadian gene expression under normal and after ECD conditions. We found that post-transcription and post-translation processes are dominant contributors to whole-cell or nuclear circadian proteome, respectively. Furthermore, rhythmicity of 64% transcriptome, 98% whole-cell proteome and 95% nuclear proteome is re-written by ECD. The re-writing, which is associated with changes of circadian cis-regulatory elements, RNA-processing and protein trafficking, diminishes circadian regulation of fat and carbohydrate metabolism and persists after one week of ECD-recovery.

One-Sentence Summary

Environmental-circadian disruption re-writes the circadian gene expression process which persists after one week of recovery.
A Novel Computational Approach for the Mining of Signature Pathways Using Species Co-occurrence Networks in Gut Microbiomes
Authors: Kim Suyeon , Thapa Ishwor , Ali Hesham
Published: August 2023

Advances in metagenome sequencing data continue to enable new methods for analyzing biological systems. When handling microbial profile data, metagenome sequencing has proven to be far more comprehensive than traditional methods such as 16s rRNA data, which rely on partial sequences. Microbial community profiling can be used to obtain key biological signals that pave the way for better and accurate understanding of complex systems that are critical for advancing biomedical research and healthcare. There have been few attempts to uncover microbial community associations with certain health conditions. However, such attempts have mostly used partial or incomplete data to accurately capture those associations. This study introduces a novel computational approach for the identification of co-occurring microbial communities using the abundance and functional roles of species-level microbiome data. The proposed approach is then used to identify signature pathways associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Furthermore, we developed a computational pipeline to identify microbial species co-occurrences from metagenome data. When comparing IBD to a control group, we show that co-occurring communities of species are enriched for potential pathways. We also show that the identified co-occurring microbial species operate as a community to facilitate pathway enrichment. The obtained findings suggest that the proposed network model, along with the computational pipeline, provide a valuable analytical tool to analyze complex biological systems and extract pathway signatures that classify or diagnose certain health conditions.

CCS CONCEPTS

• Applied computing→Biological networks;Bioinformatics;Systems biology.

ACM Reference Format

Suyeon Kim, Ishwor Thapa, and Hesham Ali. 2023. A Novel Computational Approach for the Mining of Signature Pathways Using Species Co-occurrence Networks in Gut Microbiomes. InProceedings of ACM Conference (Conference’17). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 10 pages.https://doi.org/10.1145/nnnnnnn.nnnnnnn
Effective mechanical potential of cell–cell interaction in tissues harboring cavity and in cell sheet toward morphogenesis
Authors: Koyama Hiroshi , Okumura Hisashi , Otani Tetsuhisa , Ito Atsushi M. , Nakamura Kazuyuki , Kato Kagayaki , Fujimori Toshihiko
Published: August 2023

Measuring mechanical forces of cell–cell interactions is important for studying morphogenesis in multicellular organisms. We previously reported an image-based statistical method for inferring effective mechanical potentials of pairwise cell–cell interactions by fitting cell tracking data with a theoretical model. However, whether this method is applicable to tissues with non-cellular components such as cavities remains elusive. Here we evaluated the applicability of the method to cavity-harboring tissues. Using synthetic data generated by simulations, we found that the effect of expanding cavities was added to the pregiven potentials used in the simulations, resulting in the inferred effective potentials having an additional repulsive component derived from the expanding cavities. Interestingly, simulations by using the effective potentials reproduced the cavity-harboring structures. Then, we applied our method to the mouse blastocysts, and found that the inferred effective potentials can reproduce the cavity-harboring structures. Pairwise potentials with additional repulsive components were also detected in two-dimensional cell sheets, by which curved sheets including tubes and cups were simulated. We conclude that our inference method is applicable to tissues harboring cavities and cell sheets, and the resultant effective potentials are useful to simulate the morphologies.
A novelf-divergence based generative adversarial imputation method for scRNA-seq data analysis
Authors: Si Tong , Hopkins Zackary , Yanev John , Hou Jie , Gong Haijun
Published: August 2023

Comprehensive analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data can enhance our understanding of cellular diversity and aid in the development of personalized therapies for individuals. The abundance of missing values, known as dropouts, makes the analysis of scRNA-seq data a challenging task. Most traditional methods made assumptions about specific distributions for missing values, which limit their capability to capture the intricacy of high-dimensional scRNA-seq data. Moreover, the imputation performance of traditional methods decreases with higher missing rates. We propose a novelf-divergence based generative adversarial imputation method, called sc-fGAIN, for the scRNA-seq data imputation. Our studies identify fourf-divergence functions, namely cross-entropy, Kullback-Leibler (KL), reverse KL, and Jensen-Shannon, that can be effectively integrated with the generative adversarial imputation network to generate imputed values without any assumptions, and mathematically prove that the distribution of imputed data using sc-fGAIN algorithm is same as the distribution of original data. Real scRNA-seq data analysis has shown that, compared to many traditional methods, the imputed values generated by sc-fGAIN algorithm have a smaller root-mean-square error, and it is robust to varying missing rates, moreover, it can reduce imputation bias. The flexibility offered by thef-divergence allows the sc-fGAIN method to accommodate various types of data, making it a more universal approach for imputing missing values of scRNA-seq data.
The citrate transporter SLC13A5 as a therapeutic target for kidney disease: evidence from Mendelian randomization to inform drug development
Authors: Gill Dipender , Zagkos Loukas , Gill Rubinder , Benzing Thomas , Jordan Jens , Birkenfeld Andreas L. , Burgess Stephen , Zahn Grit
Published: August 2023

Background

Solute carrier family 13 member 5 (SLC13A5) is a Na -coupled citrate co-transporter that mediates the entry of extracellular citrate into the cytosol. SLC13A5 inhibition has been proposed as a therapeutic target for reducing progression of kidney disease via its effects on citrate metabolism. However, evidence of its efficacy in humans is limited. The aim of this study was to leverage the Mendelian randomization paradigm to gain insight into the effects of SLC13A5 inhibition in humans, towards prioritizing and informing clinical development efforts.

Methods

The primary Mendelian randomization analyses investigated the effect of SLC13A5 inhibition on measures of kidney function, including creatinine and cystatin C based measures of estimated glomerular filtration rate (creatinine-eGFR and cystatin C-eGFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR), and risk of chronic kidney disease and microalbuminuria. Secondary analyses included a paired plasma and urine metabolome-wide association study, investigation of secondary traits related to SLC13A5 biology, a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS), and a proteome-wide association study. All analyses were compared to the effect of genetically predicted plasma citrate levels using variants selected from across the genome, and statistical sensitivity analyses robust to the inclusion of pleiotropic variants were also performed. Data were obtained from large scale genetic consortia and biobanks, with sample sizes ranging from 5,023 to 1,320,016 individuals.

Results

We found evidence of associations between genetically proxied SLC13A5 inhibition and higher creatinine-eGFR (p=0.002), cystatin C-eGFR (p=0.005), and lower BUN (p=3×10-3). Statistical sensitivity analyses robust to the inclusion of pleiotropic variants suggested that these effects may be a consequence of higher plasma citrate levels. There was no strong evidence of associations of genetically proxied SLC13A5 inhibition with uACR or risk of CKD or microalbuminuria. Secondary analyses also identified evidence of associations with higher plasma calcium levels (p=6×10-13) and lower fasting glucose (p=0.02). PheWAS did not identify any safety concerns.

Conclusion

This Mendelian randomization analysis provides human-centric insight to guide clinical development of an SLC13A5 inhibitor. We identify plasma calcium and citrate as biologically plausible biomarkers of target engagement, and plasma citrate as a potential biomarker of mechanism of action. Our human genetic evidence corroborates evidence from various animal models to support effects of SLC13A5 inhibition on improving kidney function. Further study in the form of early-stage clinical trials may now be warranted to help translate these findings towards improving patient care.
Streptococcus pneumoniaeserotype 3 population structure in the era of conjugate vaccines, 2001-2018
Authors: Cella Eleonora , Sutcliffe Catherine G , Grant Lindsay R , Tso Carol , Weatherholtz Robert C , Littlepage Shea , Becenti Ladonna , Jubair Mohammad , Simons Brenna C , Harker-Jones Marcella , Reid Raymond , Yazzie Del , Santosham Mathuram , O’Brien Katherine L , Hammitt Laura L , Azarian Taj
Published: August 2023

Background

Despite use of highly effective conjugate vaccines, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and disproportionately affects Indigenous populations. Although included in the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), which was introduced in 2010, serotype 3 (ST3) continues to cause disease among Indigenous communities in the Southwest US. In the Navajo Nation, ST3 IPD incidence increased among adults (3.8/100,000 in 2001-2009 and 6.2/100,000 in 2011-2019); in children the disease persisted although the rates dropped from 5.8/100,000 to 2.3/100,000.

Methods

We analyzed the genomic epidemiology of ST3 isolates collected from 129 adults and 63 children with pneumococcal carriage (n=61) or IPD (n=131) from 2001–2018 of the Navajo Nation. Using whole-genome sequencing data, we determined clade membership and assessed changes in ST3 population structure over time.

Results

The ST3 population structure was characterized by three dominant subpopulations:clade II(n=90, 46.9%) andclade Iα(n=59, 30.7%), which fall into Clonal Complex (CC) 180, and a non-CC180 clade (n=43, 22.4%). The proportion ofclade II-associated IPD cases increased significantly from 2001-2010 to 2011-2018 among adults (23.1% to 71.8%; p<0.001) but not in children (27.3% to 33.3%; p=0.84). Over the same period, the proportion ofclade II-associated carriage increased; this was statistically significant among children (23.3% to 52.6%; p=0.04) but not adults (0% to 50.0%, p=0.08).

Conclusions

In this setting with persistent ST3 IPD and carriage,clade IIhas increased since 2010. Genomic changes may be contributing to the observed trends in ST3 carriage and disease over time.
Novel autoantibodies help diagnose anti-SSA antibody negative Sjögren’s disease and predict abnormal labial salivary gland pathology
Authors: Parker Maxwell , Zheng Zihao , Lasarev Michael , Alexandridis Roxana A. , Newton Michael A. , Shelef Miriam A. , McCoy Sara S.
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Sj□gren’s disease (SjD) diagnosis requires either positive anti-SSA antibodies or a labial salivary gland biopsy with a positive focus score (FS). One-third of SjD patients lack anti-SSA antibodies (SSA-), requiring a positive FS for diagnosis. Our objective was to identify novel autoantibodies to diagnose ‘seronegative’ SjD.

Methods

IgG binding to a high density whole human peptidome array was quantified using sera from SSA- SjD cases and matched non-autoimmune controls. We identified the highest bound peptides using empirical Bayesian statistical filters, which we confirmed in an independent cohort comprising SSA- SjD (n=76), sicca controls without autoimmunity (n=75), and autoimmune controls (SjD features but not meeting SjD criteria; n=41). In this external validation, we used non-parametric methods for peptide abundance and controlled false discovery rate in group comparisons. For predictive modeling, we used logistic regression, model selection methods, and cross-validation to identify clinical and peptide variables that predict SSA- SjD and FS positivity.

Results

IgG against a peptide from D-aminoacyl-tRNA deacylase (DTD2) was bound more in SSA- SjD than sicca controls (p=.004) and more than combined controls (sicca and autoimmune controls combined; p=0.003). IgG against peptides from retroelement silencing factor-1 (RESF1) and DTD2, were bound more in FS-positive than FS-negative participants (p=.010; p=0.012). A predictive model incorporating clinical variables showed good discrimination between SjD versus control (AUC 74%) and between FS-positive versus FS-negative (AUC 72%).

Conclusion

We present novel autoantibodies in SSA- SjD that have good predictive value for SSA- SjD and FS-positivity.

KEY MESSAGES

What is already known on this topic- Seronegative (anti-SSA antibody negative [SSA-]) Sjögren’s disease (SjD) requires a labial salivary gland biopsy for diagnosis, which is challenging to obtain and interpret.

What this study adds- We identified novel autoantibodies in SSA- SjD that, when combined with readily available clinical variables, provide good predictive ability to discriminate 1) SSA- SjD from control participants and 2) abnormal salivary gland biopsies from normal salivary gland biopsies.

How this study might affect research, practice or policy- This study provides novel diagnostic antibodies addressing the critical need for improvement of SSA- SjD diagnostic tools.
Infection Risk Perception, Reporting and Post-Exposure Management of Occupational Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in District Hospitals (Yaoundé, Cameroon)
Authors: Takougang Innocent , Lekeumo Cheuyem Fabrice Zobel , Ndungo Jonathan Hangi , Lyonga Emilia Enjema , Mbopi-Keou François-Xavier
Published: August 2023

Background

The risk of infection among healthcare workers (HCW) is a looming public health problem worldwide. Developing countries are most affected. The present study aimed to identify knowledge gaps, risk perceptions, reporting patterns, and post-exposure management, following needle stick and sharp injuries and contact with other body fluids HCW.

Methods

A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out from January to April 2022 in six District Hospitals in Yaoundé. An auto-administered questionnaire was addressed to consenting HCW. Data were analyzed using R statistic version 4.2.3 andp-value<5% was considered significant.

Results

Out of the 217 HCWs that were enrolled, some 10% were unaware of sources of exposure to blood and other body fluids (BBF). Respondents displayed insufficient awareness (74-94%) of the main infectious agents that are likely to be transmitted during an accidental exposure to body fluids (AEB). Some HCWs (6,9%) reported a lack of knowledge of the vaccine against Viral Hepatitis B (VHB). Almost half of participants did not know the appropriate recommended action for post-exposure case management (42.9%). Most HCW who had experienced exposure (53.7 %) reported that they did not receive any post-exposure care. Such exposure was often (56.4%) not reported. There was a horizontal variation in underreporting for the same level of healthcare facilities, as it was higher in the Efoulan (OR=3.33) and Nkolndongo (OR=5) District Hospitals. Reasons explaining AEB underreporting were underestimation of vulnerability (51 %) and lack of unawareness of existing post-exposure prophylaxis procedures (42%).

Conclusion

While most HCW are aware of the risk of infection associated with exposure to blood and body fluids, reporting was low. Continued educational activities on the risk of infections associated to AEB is warranted. There is a need to implement and scale up structural facilities to enforce measures to prevent exposure, report cases of accidental exposure, ensure post-exposure prophylaxis and counselling.
Step-wise activation of a Family C GPCR
Authors: Kumar Kaavya Krishna , Wang Haoqing , Habrian Chris , Latorraca Naomi R. , Xu Jun , O’Brien Evan S. , Zhang Chensong , Montabana Elizabeth , Koehl Antoine , Marqusee Susan , Isacoff Ehud Y. , Kobilka Brian K.
Published: August 2023

Metabotropic glutamate receptors belong to a family of G protein-coupled receptors that are obligate dimers and possess a large extracellular ligand-binding domain (ECD) that is linked via a cysteine-rich domain (CRDs) to their 7-transmembrane (TM) domain. Upon activation, these receptors undergo a large conformational change to transmit the ligand binding signal from the ECD to the G protein-coupling TM. In this manuscript, we propose a model for a sequential, multistep activation mechanism of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5. We present a series of structures in lipid nanodiscs, from inactive to fully active, including agonist-bound intermediate states. Further, using bulk and single-molecule fluorescence imaging we reveal distinct receptor conformations upon allosteric modulator and G protein binding.
ZC3H11A mutations cause high myopia by triggering PI3K-AKT and NF-κB mediated signaling pathway in humans and mice
Authors: Chen Chong , Liu Qian , Tang Cheng , Rong Yu , Zhao Xinyi , Li Dandan , Lu Fan , Qu Jia , Liu Xinting
Published: August 2023

High myopia (HM) is a severe form of refractive error that results in irreversible visual impairment and even blindness. However, the genetic and pathological mechanisms underlying this condition are not yet fully understood. From a adolescents myopia survey cohort of 1015 HM patients, pathogenic missense mutations were identified in theZC3H11Agene in four patients by whole exome sequencing. This gene is a zinc finger and stress-induced protein that plays a significant role in regulating nuclear mRNA export. To better understand the function and molecular pathogenesis of myopia in relation to gene mutations, aZc3h11aknock-out (KO) mouse model was created. The heterozygous KO (Het-KO) mice exhibited significant shifts in vision towards myopia. Electroretinography revealed that the b-wave amplitude was significantly lower in these mice under dark adaptation. Using immunofluorescence antibodies against specific retinal cell types, the density of bipolar cell-labelled proteins was found to be decreased. Transmission electron microscopy findings suggesting ultrastructural abnormalities of the retina and sclera. Retinal transcriptome sequencing showed that 769 genes were differentially expressed, andZc3h11awas found to have a negative impact on the PI3K-AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways by quantitative PCR and western blotting. In addition, myopia-related factors, including TGF-β1, MMP-2 and IL-6 were found to be upregulated in the retina or sclera. In summary, this study characterized a new candidate pathogenic gene associated with high myopia, and indicated that theZC3H11Aprotein may serve as a stress-induced nuclear response trigger, and its abnormality causes disturbances in a series of inflammatory and myopic factors. These findings offer potential therapeutic intervention targets for controlling the development of HM.
Influence of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 on the angiogenic potential of Bone Marrow derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Adwan Sofia , Hammad Hana , Ahram Mamoun , Awidi Abdalla
Published: August 2023

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used as novel therapeutic tools in cell-based therapies including diabetic complications. However, diabetes may negatively affect the therapeutic potential of autologous MSCs. In order to enhance the utilization of diabetic MSCs, better characterization of their angiogenic capacity should be performed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the angiogenic potential of bone marrow derived MSCs. MSCs were isolated from DM subjects and were compared with MSCs isolated from non-DM subjects. The angiogenic potential of MSCs was assessed in which there was insignificant difference in the proliferation and expression of angiogenic factors between the two groups. Moreover, no statistically significant change was found in the viability and angiogenic activities of endothelial cells isolated from both groups. Results indicate that the hyperglycemic milieu had no significant impact on the angiogenic-related functional properties of MSCs and they are able to survive the harsh diabetic conditions.
Crystal structure of the nucleoside 2′-deoxyguanosine dimethyl sulfoxide disolvate
Authors: Spingler Bernhard
Published: August 2023

The title compound, C10H13N5O4·2C2H6OS, which is of interest with respect to its biological activity, at 183 K has orthorhombic (P212121) crystal symmetry. The structure displays a network of intermolecular N—H...N, N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. 2′-Deoxyguanosine molecules are linked to each other and to the two dimethyl sulfoxide solvent molecules by hydrogen bonding.
μ-1,6-Dioxo-1,6-diphenylhexane-3,4-diolato-bis[(2,2′-bipyridine)chloridocopper(II)] dihydrate
Authors: Nye Luke , Telfer Shane G. , Turnbull Mark M.
Published: August 2023

The reaction of CuCl2 with 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5,6-hexanetetrone and 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) in ethanol gave crystals of the corresponding bimetallic complex, [Cu2(C18H12O4)Cl2(C10H8N2)2]·2H2O. The molecule is centrosymmetric with each CuII ion coordinated to two oxygen atoms from the tetronediate, two nitrogen atoms from a bipy ligand and one coordinated chloride ion. A water molecule of crystallization forms hydrogen bonds to the chloride ions, linking the molecules into a chain parallel to the bc-face diagonal.
Does crop insurance attenuate farm financial risk?
Authors: Regmi Madhav , Featherstone Allen M. , Tack Jesse
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Federally subsidized crop insurance aims to mitigate farm risks of crop producers. A body of literature has examined informational problems under this program. However, few studies empirically link crop insurance participation with farm financial performance. Most use county-level aggregates to argue that crop insurance participation is associated with increased farm financial debt. Using farm-level data, this study provides empirical evidence of crop insurance's effects on farm financial risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The impact of crop insurance on farm financial risks is assessed using farm-level data from Kansas. The sample consists of at least 1,600 farms each year from 2002 to 2015. Financial risks are measured using the probability of falling into the critical zone of five different financial ratios. The study uses two matching estimators to estimate the causal effects of crop insurance participation on farm financial risks. Several alternative empirical approaches account for unobserved heterogeneity and potential endogeneity.

Findings

Crop insurance participation has reduced the farm's likelihood of being in the critical liquidity risk by 8%. This result is robust across matching estimators and alternative specifications to account for unobserved heterogeneity and potential endogeneity.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies to examine whether crop insurance reduces farm financial risks. This study provides empirical evidence of the extent to which crop insurance enrollment impacts farm financial risks. Findings suggest that crop insurance is critical to maintaining the financial well-being of crop producers, and significantly reduces the likelihood of producers being in a critical liquidity risk.
Automatic retrieval of health case reports for public needs using deep learning techniques
Authors: Liu Yi-Hung , Chen Sheng-Fong , Wen Dan-Wei (Marian)
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Online medical repositories provide a platform for users to share information and dynamically access abundant electronic health data. It is important to determine whether case report information can assist the general public in appropriately managing their diseases. Therefore, this paper aims to introduce a novel deep learning-based method that allows non-professionals to make inquiries using ordinary vocabulary, retrieving the most relevant case reports for accurate and effective health information.

Design/methodology/approach

The dataset of case reports was collected from both the patient-generated research network and the digital medical journal repository. To enhance the accuracy of obtaining relevant case reports, the authors propose a retrieval approach that combines BERT and BiLSTM methods. The authors identified representative health-related case reports and analyzed the retrieval performance, as well as user judgments.

Findings

This study aims to provide the necessary functionalities to deliver relevant health case reports based on input from ordinary terms. The proposed framework includes features for health management, user feedback acquisition and ranking by weights to obtain the most pertinent case reports.

Originality/value

This study contributes to health information systems by analyzing patients' experiences and treatments with the case report retrieval model. The results of this study can provide immense benefit to the general public who intend to find treatment decisions and experiences from relevant case reports.
Computations and measurements of the magnetic polarizability tensor characterisation of highly conducting and magnetic objects
Authors: Elgy James , Ledger Paul D. , Davidson John L. , Özdeğer Toykan , Peyton Anthony J.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The ability to characterise highly conducting objects, that may also be highly magnetic, by the complex symmetric rank–2 magnetic polarizability tensor (MPT) is important for metal detection applications including discriminating between threat and non-threat objects in security screening, identifying unexploded anti-personnel landmines and ordnance and identifying metals of high commercial value in scrap sorting. Many everyday non-threat items have both a large electrical conductivity and a magnetic behaviour, which, for sufficiently weak fields and the frequencies of interest, can be modelled by a high relative magnetic permeability. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned idea.

Design/methodology/approach

The numerical simulation of the MPT for everyday non-threat highly conducting magnetic objects over a broad range of frequencies is challenging due to the resulting thin skin depths. The authors address this by employing higher order edge finite element discretisations based on unstructured meshes of tetrahedral elements with the addition of thin layers of prismatic elements. Furthermore, computer aided design (CAD) geometrical models of the non-threat and threat object are often not available and, instead, the authors extract the geometrical features of an object from an imaging procedure.

Findings

The authors obtain accurate numerical MPT characterisations that are in close agreement with experimental measurements for realistic physical objects. The assessment of uncertainty shows the impact of geometrical and material parameter uncertainties on the computational results.

Originality/value

The authors present novel computations and measurements of MPT characterisations of realistic objects made of magnetic materials. A novel assessment of uncertainty in the numerical predictions of MPT characterisations for uncertain geometry and material parameters is included.
Quantitative calculation of electromagnetic scattering characteristics from drag plate of aircraft afterbody
Authors: Zhou Zeyang , Huang Jun
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the electromagnetic scattering characteristics of the afterbody model with two drag plates.

Design/methodology/approach

The plane shape of the drag plate model is designed as a rectangle. High-precision unstructured grid technology is used to treat the target surface. A calculation method based on multiple tracking and dynamic scattering module is presented to calculate the radar cross section (RCS).

Findings

The results show that under the given observation conditions, the RCS and surface scattering characteristics of a single drag plate change with the increase of the opening angle, which makes the forward RCS of the afterbody model change more than 8.43 dBm2. The opening of two resistance plates at different fixed angles has little effect on the peak value and position of the RCS of the afterbody model. The dynamic deflection of the two drag plates can bring 16.78 dBm2 fluctuations to the forward RCS of the afterbody model, and more than 25.59 dBm2 fluctuations to the side RCS.

Practical implications

The installation positions of the drag plate on the aircraft are various, so the method in this paper can provide reference and support for RCS analysis of the speed brake at other positions.

Originality/value

The presented calculation method is of engineering value to analyze the electromagnetic scattering characteristics of the drag plate.
Symmetry-breaking and trade in neoclassical economies with domestic policies having diminishing effect to production scale
Authors: Shinozaki Tsuyoshi , Tawada Makoto , Yanagihara Mitsuyoshi
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether a Nash equilibrium of a two-country trading economy is symmetry-breaking or not.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach to tackle this topic is a theoretical treatment by the general equilibrium trade theory and game theory.

Findings

If each government's domestic policy serving private production is diminishing to the private production scale, the Nash equilibrium is not symmetry-breaking.

Originality/value

In the existing study of Chatterjee (2017), a similar result is derived by focusing on the properties of each country's GDP function. The authors, however, consider an economy where each country's PPF is strictly concave and show that the Nash equilibrium uniquely exists and this equilibrium is symmetry.
Foreign direct investment, technological transfer, employment generation and economic growth: new evidence from Ghana
Authors: Obeng-Amponsah William , Owusu Erasmus
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study examines the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on employment and economic growth in Ghana and examines the role of technology in these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration and Granger causality tests to data from 1995 to 2017.

Findings

Based on the empirical analysis, the key findings are as follows: FDI does not affect economic growth or employment in Ghana. However, technology moderates the relationship between FDI and economic growth and FDI and employment in the short run. The study also finds that technology exerts a positive effect on economic growth in both short and long run, whereas trade has a significantly negative effect on economic growth in Ghana.

Research limitations/implications

The greatest constraint that faced the authors is the nonavailability of data,.

Practical implications

The transfer of technology agreement enshrined in the GIPC Act should be made more robust and unambiguous, to make it a strict requirement for MNEs to be allowed to operate in Ghana. This increases Ghana's gains from FDI inflow.

Social implications

The GIPC should tighten its monitoring regime so that MNEs do not exceed their expatriate employment quotas. This will ease the burden of unemployment among the youth in Ghana.

Originality/value

This study adds a new dimension to the literature on the impact of FDI on emerging economies by examining the role of technology in the association between FDI and growth, and FDI and employment.
Augmented reality in the metaverse market: the role of multimodal sensory interaction
Authors: Chen Chongyang , Zhang Kem Z.K. , Chu Zhaofang , Lee Matthew
Published: August 2023

Purpose

In the growing information systems (IS) literature on metaverse, augmented reality (AR) technology is regarded as a cornerstone of the metaverse which enables interaction services. Interaction has been identified as a core technology characteristic of metaverse shopping environments. Based on previous human–technology interaction research, the authors further explicate interaction to be multimodal sensory. The purpose of this study is thus to better understand the unique nature of interaction in AR technology and highlight the technology's benefits for shopping in metaverse spaces.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment has been conducted to empirically examine the authors' research model. The authors use the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to analyze the collected data.

Findings

This study conceptualizes image, motion and touchscreen interactions as the three dimensions of multimodal sensory interaction, which can reflect visual-, kinesthetic- and haptic-based sensation stimulation. The authors' findings show that multimodal sensory interaction of AR activates consumers' intention to purchase via a psychological process. To delineate this psychological process, the authors use feelings-as-information theory to posit that experiential factors can influence cognitive factors. More specifically, multimodal sensory interaction is shown to increase multisensory experience and spatial presence, which can effectively reduce product uncertainty and information overload. The two outcomes have been considered to be key issues in online shopping environments.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first ones that shed light on the multimodal sensory peculiarity of AR interactions in the extant IS literature. The authors further highlight the benefits of AR in addressing major online shopping concerns about product uncertainty and information overload, which are largely overlooked by prior research. This study uses feelings-as-information theory to explain the impacts of AR interactions, which reveal the essential role of the experiential process in sensory-enabling technologies. This study enriches the existing theoretical frameworks that mostly focus on the cognitive process. The authors' findings about AR interactions provide noteworthy guidelines for the design of metaverse environments and extend the authors' understanding of how the metaverse may bring benefits beyond traditional online shopping settings.
Facebook-based social media marketing and Facebook-based online purchases: evidence from the Facebook page admins of selected South Asian fashion retailers
Authors: Hosain Md Sajjad , Mamun Abdullah Mohammad Ahshanul
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study intends to explore the connection between Facebook-based social media marketing (FSMM) and Facebook-based online purchase order (FOPO) for 20 popular online fashion retail brands across three South Asian countries: India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. FSMM was further divided into four components: Perceived trust (PT), Perceived informativeness (PInf), Perceived interactivity (PInt) and Perceived benefit (PB). 

Design/methodology/approach

The authors selected 20 popular Facebook-based online fashion brands involved in clothing and fashion accessories businesses in those three countries. Later, the authors purposively selected 114 region-based Facebook page administrators (admins) responsible for operating those brands' Facebook pages and taking Facebook-based online orders. The authors collected primary data from those admins as respondents through a structured survey instrument. The authors applied SPSS 25 for descriptive analysis and a covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) (through AMOS 25) for testing the hypothesized relations.

Findings

Based on the valid responses and application of proper statistical measures, it was revealed that three FSMM components: PT, PInf and PB have significant positive relationships with FOPO, while PInt has an insignificant relationship with FOPO. 

Originality/value

South Asia is a growing business hub and the largest consumer market in terms of population. This study was conducted to identify the relationship between FSMM and FOPO in the three most prominent South Asian countries. As the first study was undertaken ever on customer perceptions of FSMM in a multi-country South Asian context, this paper is expected to be helpful for academics in conducting further empirical investigations on Facebook-based marketing as well as practitioners and policymakers in formulating and implementing Facebook-based marketing strategies.
Effect of curing media on the performance of clay bricks partially stabilised with pulverised cow bone ash
Authors: Edike Uche Emmanuel , Adenuga Olumide Afolarin , Idusuyi Daniel Uwumarogie , Oke Abdulkabir Adedamola
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to advance the application of pulverised cow bone ash (PCBA) as a partial replacement of cement in soil stabilisation for the production of bricks. The study investigated the impact of PCBA substitution on the characteristic strength of clay bricks under variant curing media.

Design/methodology/approach

Dried cow bones were pulverised, and an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence test was conducted on PCBA samples to determine the chemical constituents and ascertain the pozzolanic characteristics. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and PCBA were blended at 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% of cement substitution by mass to stabilise lateritic clay at 10% total binder content for the production of bricks. The binder-to-lateritic clay matrixes were used to produce clay bricks and cylinders for compressive and splitting tensile strength tests, respectively.

Findings

The study found that PCBA and OPC have similar chemical compositions. The strength of the clay bricks increased with curing age, and the thermal curing of clay bricks positively impacted the strength development. The study established that PCBA is a suitable substitute for cement, up to 25% for stabilisation in clay brick production.

Practical implications

Construction stakeholders can successfully use a PCBA-OPC binder blend of 1:3 to stabilise clay at 10% total binder content for the production of bricks. The stabilised clay bricks should be cured at an elevated temperature of approximately 90°C for 48 h to achieve satisfactory performance.

Originality/value

The PCBA-OPC binder blend provides adequate soil stabilisation for the production of clay bricks and curing the clay bricks at elevated temperature. This aspect of the biomass/OPC binder blend has not been explored for brick production, and this is important for the reduction of the environmental impacts of cement production and waste from abattoirs.
Family entrepreneurship: a perspective article
Authors: Randerson Kathleen
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The author synthesizes research at the genesis of the field of family entrepreneurship, allowing to distinguish it from the field of family business. Indeed, family entrepreneurship is at the intersection of family, entrepreneurship and family business and is dedicated to the understanding of entrepreneurial behaviors of family, family members and family businesses. Here, the author emphasizes the importance of context as well as bidirectional relationships to grasp the multiplicity of behaviors and their antecedents and outcomes. The author offers an overview of possible futures: how family entrepreneurship can be instrumental in understanding and taking action in face of ecological, economic and societal issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The author synthesizes, critically assesses and integrates extant research, offering a state of the art of the field of family entrepreneurship accessible to a wide audience of readers.

Findings

The author reviews and integrates the literature that undergirds family entrepreneurship, flushing out its idiosyncratic value relative to family business. The author underscores how framing situations and issues with family entrepreneurship is a promising avenue to better understand and navigate pending ecological, economic and societal stakes.

Originality/value

This perspectives paper distinguishes family entrepreneurship from family business, the former building on and expanding the latter. It highlights how the augmented view is useful to understand entrepreneurial behaviors of families, family members and family businesses because it triangulates family, entrepreneurship and family business. Consequently, the present state of the art provides a useful synthesis and perspectives of possible futures. The originality of this research relies in offering a snapshot integrating prior research at the genesis of the field and demonstrating how the field can fruitfully support future research and practice, in particular to address grand challenges and wicked problems.
A Before‐After Control‐Impact experiment reveals that culling reduces the impacts of invasive deer on endangered peatlands
Authors: Comte Sebastien , Bengsen Andrew J. , Thomas Elaine , Bennett Ami , Davis Naomi E. , Brown Daniel , Forsyth David M.
Published: August 2023

Invasive deer have undesirable impacts on native ecosystems. Culling is commonly used to reduce those impacts, but is expensive and sometimes controversial. It is therefore important to robustly assess how culling reduces the impacts of invasive deer.

We conducted a Before‐After Control‐Impact (BACI) experiment to determine how culling affects the impacts of invasive sambar deer Cervus unicolor in an endangered alpine peatland ecosystem in south‐eastern Australia. We established two blocks, each with four 4300‐ha experimental units, in which two units were randomly assigned to a treatment of deer culling and the other two were non‐treatment areas. Sambar deer relative abundance (faecal pellet count) and three impacts (ground degradation, pugging intensity and water turbidity) in three peatland features (peatlands, natural pools and sambar deer wallows) were surveyed before and after culling was implemented. We used four metrics to quantify the culling intensity in each treatment unit: treatment versus non‐treatment, number of deer culled on each unit, deer culled within a 500‐m buffer of impact monitoring sites and local probability of use by the cullers (1‐ha grid). The effects of culling on deer abundance and impacts were estimated using Bayesian generalised linear mixed models.

Our analysis revealed that the effect of culling differed between the two experimental blocks. In one block, culling reduced deer abundance and three impacts. In the other block, culling did not reduce deer abundance but reduced three impacts and increased two impacts. The effects of culling were generally stronger when culling was estimated using finer‐scale (500‐m) than coarser‐scale (experimental unit) culling metrics.

Synthesis and applications. Our study provides experimental evidence that culling invasive sambar deer reduces some of their undesirable impacts on endangered peatlands. That not all impacts were reduced by culling suggests that some effects of invasive species are slow to recover or require higher culling intensities to be reversed.