bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IDEAL IMPLANT ® Structured Breast Implants: Core Study Results through 10 Years
Authors: Nichter Larry S. , Hardesty Robert A. , Zimmerman Terry J.
Published: February 2023

Background:

The IDEAL IMPLANT ® Structured Breast Implant utilizes different technology than unstructured saline or silicone gel implants, making it a third type of implant. FDA and Health Canada granted approval in November 2014. This saline-filled implant has an internal structure consisting of a series of nested shells that support the upper pole when upright and control movement of the saline to provide a natural feel. Because women can look in the mirror to know their implants are intact, they have peace of mind. In contrast, most women are concerned about silicone gel implant ruptures, which are silent and require FDA-recommended MRI or ultrasound scans for detection.

Methods:

This US trial enrolled 502 women: 399 for primary and 103 for revision augmentation. Investigators were 45 ABPS certified plastic surgeons at 35 sites. Of the 502 women enrolled, 426 (84.9%) completed 10-year follow-up visits, a higher percentage than all other FDA breast implant trials.

Results:

Through 10 years of follow-up, surgeon satisfaction was 94.8% for primary and 87.4% for revision augmentation; patient satisfaction was 92.7% for primary and 82.3% for revision augmentation. Cumulative Kaplan-Meier risk rates for two major adverse events were lower than in the silicone gel implant trials: Baker Class III & IV capsular contracture was 6.6% for primary, 11.5% for revision augmentation; rupture/deflation was 3.7% for primary, 4.7% for revision augmentation.

Conclusion:

10-year results from 426 women show the IDEAL IMPLANT has high patient and surgeon satisfaction, a low rate of capsular contracture and a low rate of rupture/deflation.
Do Corporate Payments Influence Research Related to the Use of Acellular Dermal Matrices in Breast Surgery?
Authors: Lee Z-Hye , Diep Gustave K. , Brydges Hilliard , Berman Zoe P. , Alfonso Allyson R. , Ramly Elie P. , Chaya Bachar F. , Thanik Vishal
Published: February 2023

Background:

No study has assessed the impact of financial conflicts of interests (COI) on the reporting of breast reconstruction outcomes with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in peer-reviewed publications. We hypothesized that there is: (1) an association between financial COI and likelihood of studies reporting benefits in using ADM, and (2) inconsistent reporting of financial COI.

Methods:

The PubMed database was used to identify articles that reported on the use of ADM in breast surgery in four leading plastic surgery journals from January 2014 to December 2019. Financial COI for authors were determined using the open payments database.

Results:

Fifty-five articles were included. Twenty-four (43.6%) articles supported use of ADM, 12 (21.8%) did not promote ADM use and 19 (34.5%) were neutral. 92.7% (n=51) of studies had either a first or senior author with a COI and authors with a COI more commonly reported positive outcomes (p=0.02). Studies with positive outcomes featured first authors who received significantly larger financial payments ($95,955 vs. $15,642, p= 0.029) compared to studies with negative or neutral outcomes. ROC curve demonstrated studies with first authors receiving over $376.28 were more likely to report positive results. Eight senior authors and three first authors received greater than $500 from ADM producers yet did not report any financial disclosure.

Conclusions:

Financial COI is associated with higher likelihood of studies reporting benefit of using ADM in breast surgery. There remains inconsistent reporting of COIs and better oversight is needed to ensure unbiased publication on the use of ADM in breast surgery.
Functional and aesthetic outcomes of no dissection nasal dorsum using sub dorsal Septal Excision in preservation rhinoplasty
Authors: Qaradaxi Kurdo Akram , Mohammed Ayad Ahmad
Published: February 2023

Background:

Dorsal preservation cause privileges change in the concept of rhinoplasty and a promising superior functional and aesthetic transformation in rhinoplasty surgery. Avoiding dissection of the dorsal nasal bone and cartilage will leave the soft tissue enveloped intact leading to a fine and smooth appearance, faster operation with less subsequent edema, and overall preservation of the dorsal aesthetic line.

Patients and methods: This is a prospective study which included 113 patients who underwent dorsal preservation rhinoplasty for nasal hump treatment with minimum dissection of nasal dorsum soft tissue envelope were included and results were evaluated using the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS).

Results:

The mean preoperative SCHNOS score was 7.21, the mean obstructive score was 2.95 (SD: 1.068) and the mean aesthetic score was 4.27 (SD: 0.771). The average lowering of the dorsal hump was 4.4 mm. About 96% of the patients showed improvement in the SCHOZ score after surgery, 86.7 % of patients (98 patients) showed improvement in the obstructive symptoms and 95.6% of them (108 patients) showed improvement in the aesthetic score. Complications seen in 22.11%, most commonly residual hump in 13.27% of the cases and dorsal indentation in 5.31%, bleeding and granuloma formation at the dorsal osteotomy site constituted 2.65% and 0.88% respectively. There was a very significant improvement in the aesthetic, obstructive, and the overall SCHNOS score (P values 0.000) for each parameter.

Conclusion:

Dorsal preservation rhinoplasty is safe and very effective procedure, with very low risk of complications. The majority of patients have improvement of the obstructive and aesthetic outcome after surgery.
Characterizing the Heart and the Myocardium With Photon-Counting CT
Authors: Zsarnóczay Emese , Varga-Szemes Akos , Emrich Tilman , Szilveszter Bálint , van der Werf Niels R. , Mastrodicasa Domenico , Maurovich-Horvat Pál , Willemink Martin J.
Published: February 2023

Noninvasive cardiac imaging has rapidly evolved during the last decade owing to improvements in computed tomography (CT)–based technologies, among which we highlight the recent introduction of the first clinical photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) system. Multiple advantages of PCD-CT have been demonstrated, including increased spatial resolution, decreased electronic noise, and reduced radiation exposure, which may further improve diagnostics and may potentially impact existing management pathways. The benefits that can be obtained from the initial experiences with PCD-CT are promising. The implementation of this technology in cardiovascular imaging allows for the quantification of coronary calcium, myocardial extracellular volume, myocardial radiomics features, epicardial and pericoronary adipose tissue, and the qualitative assessment of coronary plaques and stents. This review aims to discuss these major applications of PCD-CT with a focus on cardiac and myocardial characterization.
Gene and schizophrenia in the pregenome and postgenome-wide association studies era: a bibliometric analysis and network visualization
Authors: Zakaria Wan Nur Amalina , Sasongko Teguh Haryo , Al-Rahbi Badryia , Al-Sowayan Noorah , Ahmad Asma Hayati , Zakaria Rahimah , Ahmi Aidi , Othman Zahiruddin
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis on genetic studies in schizophrenia in the pregenome-wide association studies (GWAS) and post-GWAS era. We searched the literature on genes and schizophrenia using the Scopus database. The documents increased with time, especially after the human genome project and International HapMap Project, with the highest citation in 2008. The top occurrence author keywords were discovered to be different in the pre-GWAS and post-GWAS eras, reflecting the progress of genetic studies connected to schizophrenia. Emerging keywords highlighted a trend towards an application of precision medicine, showing an interplay of environmental exposures as well as genetic factors in schizophrenia pathogenesis, progression, and response to therapy. In conclusion, the gene and schizophrenia literature has grown rapidly after the human genome project, and the temporal variation in the author keywords pattern reflects the trend of genetic studies related to schizophrenia in the pre-GWAS and post-GWAS era.
Characterization, and in vitro antibacterial activity of sulfated  polysaccharides from freshwater algae Cladophora crispata

Authors: jasem mohanad , Merai Abd- Alwahab , Nizam Adnan Ali
Published: February 2023

Barada River is characterized by an abundant growth of freshwater algae. Algae have been emerged as a new source for bioactive compounds, in this research Cladophora crispata was cultivated in the outdoor method, and algae sulfated Polysaccharides (SPs) were extracted by ultrasonic-assisted extraction methods. After extraction, Gel filtration was used to purify the crude SPs; SPs compounds were determined and selected and we investigated the effect of SPs as antibacterial agents. the purified extract gave two fractions (F1 and F2).  The chemical components of both crude and purified SPs were then determind. The highest carbohydrate content (74.12%) and protein content (4.02%) was found in the crude extract, while the highest sulfate content (12.17%) was found in F2, and the highest uronic content (18.46%) was found in F1. Fourier transforms infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used for confirmed that the crud and fractions consist of sugar, uronic acids, protein unite, and sulfate groups. Both  F1, and F2 was found to consist of rhamnose, galactose, xylose, and ribose based on the High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation. Each fraction showed an inhibitory effect on the gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. F2 has the lowest minimum inhabit concentration (MIC) value against Enterobacter aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus; where its MIC values were  28 and 10 (mg/ml) respectively. Algae polysaccharides had the most important interest due to their antibacterial properties, which is makes them included in pharmacy and food applications.
Temporal change in etiology and clinical characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in a large cohort of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Joseph Yeoh Yuen Kang , Dore Gregory J. , Lockart Ian , Danta Mark , Flynn Ciara , Blackmore Conner , Levy Miriam T , George Jacob , Alavi Maryam , Hajarizadeh Behzad
Published: February 2023

Background

Viral hepatitis and alcohol-related liver disease (ALRD) are the main risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in many countries. In Australia, given the access to hepatitis C virus (HCV) direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy since 2016, a temporal change in HCC etiology was hypothesized. This study evaluated the temporal change in the etiology and characteristics of HCC in New South Wales (NSW).

Methods

Patients diagnosed with HCC, admitted to three public hospitals in NSW between 2008-21, were included in analyses. We assessed the annual frequency of each HCC etiology and the distribution of HCC characteristics in participants.

Results

Among 1,370 patients, the most common HCC etiologies were HCV (n=483, 35%), ALRD (n=452, 33%), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (n=347, 25%), and hepatitis B virus (n=301, 22%). The proportion of HCV-related HCC was the highest in 2011-16 (41%), and significantly declined to 30% in 2017-21 (OR: 0.53, 95%CI 0.35–0.79; p=0.002). The proportion of HCC with earlier diagnosis (BCLC stage O/A) increased from 41% in 2008-09 to 56% in 2020-21 (OR per annum: 1.05; 95%CI: 1.02–1.08; p=0.002), and proportion of patients receiving curative HCC management increased from 29% in 2008-09 to 41% in 2020-21 (OR per annum: 1.06; 95%CI: 1.03–1.10; p<0.001).

Conclusion

The contribution of HCV to HCC burden has been decreasing in the DAA era, suggesting the role of HCV elimination in decreasing HCC risk. Increasing frequency of less advanced HCC at diagnosis over time suggests improved HCC surveillance.

Lay Summary

In New South Wales, the trend of liver cancer caused by hepatitis C increased during 2008-2016, and then significantly declined after 2016, most probably due to wide access to new hepatitis C treatment (direct-acting antiviral therapy). During 2008-2021, the proportion of patients with liver cancer whose cancer was diagnosed at early stage and proportion of those receiving curative liver cancer management increased.
New Genetic Insights in Rheumatoid Arthritis using Taxonomy3®, a Novel method for Analysing Human Genetic Data
Authors: Kozlowska Justyna , Humphryes-Kirilov Neil , Pavlovets Anastasia , Connolly Martin , Kuncheva Zhana , Horner Jonathan , Manso Ana Sousa , Murray Clare , Fox J. Craig , McCarthy Alun
Published: February 2023

Genetic support for a drug target has been shown to increase the probability of success in drug development, with the potential to reduce attrition in the pharmaceutical industry alongside discovering novel therapeutic targets. It is therefore important to maximise the detection of genetic associations that affect disease susceptibility. Conventional statistical methods used to analyse genome-wide association studies (GWAS) only identify some of the genetic contribution to disease, so novel analytical approaches are required to extract additional insights. C4X Discovery has developed a new method Taxonomy3®for analysing genetic datasets based on novel mathematics. When applied to a previously published rheumatoid arthritis GWAS dataset, Taxonomy3®identified many additional novel genetic signals associated with this autoimmune disease. Follow-up studies using tool compounds support the utility of the method in identifying novel biology and tractable drug targets with genetic support for further investigation.
Glioma genetic profiles associated with electrophysiologic hyperexcitability
Authors: Tobochnik Steven , Dorotan Maria Kristina C. , Ghosh Hia S. , Lapinskas Emily , Vogelzang Jayne , Reardon David A. , Ligon Keith L. , Bi Wenya Linda , Smirnakis Stelios M. , Lee Jong Woo
Published: February 2023

Distinct genetic alterations determine glioma aggressiveness, however the diversity of somatic mutations contributing to peritumoral hyperexcitability and seizures is uncertain. In a large cohort of patients with sequenced gliomas (n=1716), we used discriminant analysis models to identify somatic mutation variants associated with electrographic hyperexcitability in a subset with continuous EEG recording (n=206). Overall tumor mutational burdens were similar between patients with and without hyperexcitability. A cross-validated model trained exclusively on somatic mutations classified the presence or absence of hyperexcitability with an overall accuracy of 70.9%, and improved estimates of hyperexcitability and anti-seizure medication failure in multivariate analysis incorporating traditional demographic factors and tumor molecular classifications. Somatic mutation variants of interest were also over-represented in patients with hyperexcitability compared to internal and external reference cohorts. These findings implicate diverse mutations in cancer genes associated with the development of hyperexcitability and response to treatment.
Angiopoietin-like 4 promotes the proliferation and migration of epidermal stem cells and contributes to the re-epithelialization of cutaneous wounds
Authors: Yang Yuan , Yu Chenghao , Le Yingying , Gong Weijuan , Ju Jihui , Zhang Guangliang , Ji Pengxiang , Zuo Rui , Liu Zhe , Zhang Ping , Hou Ruixing , Fu Yi
Published: February 2023

Proliferation and migration of epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) are essential for epithelialization during skin wound healing. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) has been reported to play an important role in wound healing, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Here we investigate the contribution of ANGPTL4 to full-thickness wound re-epithelialization and the underlying mechanisms usingAngptl4knockout mice. Immunohistochemical staining reveals that ANGPTL4 is significantly upregulated in the basal layer cells of the epidermis around the wound during cutaneous wound healing. ANGPTL4 deficiency impairs wound healing. H & E staining shows that ANGPTL4 deficiency significantly reduces the thickness, length and area of regenerated epidermis postwounding. Immunohistochemical staining for markers of EpSCs (α6 integrin and β1 integrin) and cell proliferation (PCNA) shows that the number and proliferation of EpSCs in the basal layer of the epidermis are reduced in ANGPTL4-deficient mice. In vitro studies show that ANGPTL4 deficiency impedes EpSC proliferation, causes cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase and reduced the expression of cyclins D1 and A2, which can be reversed by ANGPTL4 overexpression. ANGPTL4 deletion suppresses EpSC migration, which is also rescued by ANGPTL4 overexpression. Overexpression of ANGPTL4 in EpSCs accelerates cell proliferation and migration. Collectively, our results indicate that ANGPTL4 promotes EpSCs proliferation by upregulating cyclins D1 and A2 expression and accelerating cell cycle transition from G1 to S phase, and ANGPTL4 promotes skin wound re-epithelialization by stimulating EpSC proliferation and migration. Our study reveals a novel mechanism underlying EpSC activation and re-epithelialization during cutaneous wound healing.
A novel method for multiple phenotype association studies based on genotype and phenotype network
Authors: Cao Xuewei , Zhang Shuanglin , Sha Qiuying
Published: February 2023

Joint analysis of multiple correlated phenotypes for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can identify and interpret pleiotropic loci which are essential to understand pleiotropy in diseases and complex traits. Meanwhile, constructing a network based on associations between phenotypes and genotypes provides a new insight to analyze multiple phenotypes, which can explore whether phenotypes and genotypes might be related to each other at a higher level of cellular and organismal organization. In this paper, we first develop a bipartite signed network by linking phenotypes and genotypes into a Genotype and Phenotype Network (GPN). The GPN can be constructed by a mixture of quantitative and qualitative phenotypes and is applicable to binary phenotypes with extremely unbalanced case-control ratios in large-scale biobank datasets. We then apply a powerful community detection method to partition phenotypes into disjoint network modules based on GPN. Finally, we jointly test the association between multiple phenotypes in a network module and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Simulations and analyses of 72 complex traits in the UK Biobank show that multiple phenotype association tests based on network modules detected by GPN are much more powerful than those without considering network modules. The newly proposed GPN provides a new insight to investigate the genetic architecture among different types of phenotypes. Multiple phenotypes association studies based on GPN are improved by incorporating the genetic information into the phenotype clustering. Notably, it might broaden the understanding of genetic architecture that exists between diagnoses, genes, and pleiotropy.
Fear conditioning biases olfactory stem cell receptor fate
Authors: Liff Clara W. , Ayman Yasmine R. , Jaeger Eliza C.B. , Lee Hudson S. , Kim Alexis , Albarracín Angélica Viña , Marlin Bianca Jones
Published: February 2023

The main olfactory epithelium initiates the process of odor encoding. Recent studies have demonstrated intergenerationally inherited changes in the olfactory system in response to fear conditioning, resulting in increases in olfactory receptor frequencies and altered responses to odors. We investigated changes in the morphology of the olfactory epithelium in response to an aversive stimulus. Here, we achieve volumetric cellular resolution to demonstrate that olfactory fear conditioning increases the number of odor-encoding neurons in mice that experience odor-shock conditioning (F0),as well as their offspring(F1). We provide evidence that increases in F0 were due to biased stem cell receptor choice. Thus, we reveal dynamic regulation of the olfactory epithelium receptor composition in response to olfactory fear conditioning, providing insight into the heritability of acquired phenotypes.

Graphical Abstract

One-Sentence Summary

Odor-shock pairing is inherited by naïve offspring and biases neurogenesis in the nose.

Highlights

Olfactory fear conditioning leads to an increase in conditioned-odor-responsive cells in parents (F0) that is heritable (F1)

Increase in conditioned-odor-responsive cells is sustained through at least 9 weeks of cell turnover in the main olfactory epithelium

Olfactory fear conditioning in F0 biases neurogenesis specifically toward conditioned-odor responsive cell fate
Chemogenetic activation of corticotropin-releasing factor-expressing neurons in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis reduces effortful motivation behaviors
Authors: Maita Isabella , Bazer Allyson , Chae Kiyeon , Parida Amlaan , Mirza Mikyle , Sucher Jillian , Phan Mimi , Liu Tonia , Hu Pu , Soni Ria , Roepke Troy A. , Samuels Benjamin A.
Published: February 2023

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (aBNST) is associated with chronic stress and avoidance behavior. However, CRF+ BNST neurons project to reward- and motivation-related brain regions, suggesting a potential role in motivated behavior. We used chemogenetics to selectively activate CRF+ aBNST neurons in male and female CRF-ires-Cre mice during an effort-related choice task and a concurrent choice task. In both tasks, mice were given the option either to exert effort for high value rewards or to choose freely available low value rewards. Acute chemogenetic activation of CRF+ aBNST neurons reduced barrier climbing for a high value reward in the effort-related choice task in both males and females. Furthermore, acute activation of CRF+ aBNST neurons also reduced effortful lever pressing in high-performing males in the concurrent choice task. These data suggest a novel role for CRF+ aBNST neurons in effort-based decision and motivated behavior.
A mechanistic simulation of molecular cell states over time
Authors: Erbe Rossin , Stein-O’Brien Genevieve , Fertig Elana
Published: February 2023

Computer simulations of cell behaviors and dynamics allow for investigation of aspects of cellular biology with a ground truth that is currently difficult or impossible to generate from experimentally generated profiling data. Here, we present a mechanistic simulation of cell states that models the stochastic interactions of molecules revealing the DNA accessibility, RNA expression, and protein expression state of a simulated cell and how these states evolve over time. By designing each component to correspond to a specific biological molecule or parameter, the simulation becomes highly interpretable. From the simulated cells generated, we explore the importance of parameters such as splicing and degradation rates of genes on RNA and protein expression, demonstrating that perturbing these parameters leads to changes in long term gene and protein expression levels. We observe that the expression levels of corresponding RNA and proteins are not necessarily well correlated and identify mechanistic explanations that may help explain the similar phenomenon that has been observed in real cells. We evaluate whether the RNA data output from the simulation provides sufficient information to reconstruct the underlying regulatory relationships between genes. While predictive relationships can be inferred, direct causal regulatory relationships between genes cannot be reliably distinguished from other predictive relationships between genes arising independently from a direct regulatory mechanism. We observe the same inability to robustly distinguish causal gene regulatory relationships using simulated data from the simpler BoolODE model, suggesting this may be a limitation to the identifiability of network inference.
ThelasandrhlQuorum Sensing Systems inPseudomonas aeruginosaForm a Multi-Signal Reciprocal Network Which Can Tune Reactivity to Variations in Physical and Social Environments
Authors: Thomas Stephen , El-Zayat Ayatollah Samir , Gurney James , Rattray Jennifer , Brown Sam P.
Published: February 2023

Researchers often view the multi-signal quorum sensing systems ofPseudomonas aeruginosaas a hierarchy, topped by thelassystem which acts as a master regulator. By experimentally controlling the concentration of auto-inducer signals in a signal null strain (PAO1ΔlasIΔrhlI), we show that the two primary quorum sensing systems—lasandrhl—act reciprocally rather than hierarchically. Just as thelassystem’s 3-oxo-C12-HSL can induce increased expression ofrhlI, therhlsystem’s C4-HSL increases the expression level oflasI. We develop a mathematical model to quantify relationships both within and between thelasandrhlquorum sensing systems and the downstream genes they influence. The results show that not only do the systems interact reciprocally, but they do so cooperatively and nonlinearly, with the combination of C4-HSL and 3-oxo-C12-HSL increasing expression level far more than the sum of their individual effects. We computationally assess how our parameterized model responds to variation in social (population density) and physical (mass transfer) environment and demonstrate that a reciprocal architecture is more responsive to density and more robust to mass transfer than a strict hierarchy.
Replay as a basis for backpropagation through time in the brain
Authors: Cheng Huzi , Brown Joshua W.
Published: February 2023

How episodic memories are formed in the brain is an outstanding puzzle for the neuroscience community. The brain areas that are critical for episodic learning (e.g., the hippocampus) are characterized by recurrent connectivity and generate frequent offline replay events. The function of the replay events is a subject of active debate. Recurrent connectivity, computational simulations show, enables sequence learning when combined with a suitable learning algorithm such asBackpropagation through time(BPTT). BPTT, however, is not biologically plausible. We describe here, for the first time, a biologically plausible variant of BPTT in a reversible recurrent neural network, R2N2, that critically leverages offline-replay to support episodic learning. The model uses forwards and backwards offline replay to transfer information between two recurrent neural networks, acacheand aconsolidator,that perform rapid one-shot learning and statistical learning, respectively. Un-like replay in standard BPTT, this architecture requires no artificial external memory store. This architecture and approach outperform existing solutions and account for the functional significance to hippocampal replay events. We demonstrate the R2N2 network properties using benchmark tests from computer science and simulate the rodent delayed alternation T-maze task.
RNA in extracellular vesicles during adolescence reveal immune, energetic and microbial imprints of early life adversity
Authors: Korobkova L , Morin EL , Aoued H , Sannigrahi S , Garza KM , Siebert ER , Walum H , Cabeen RP , Sanchez MM , Dias BG
Published: February 2023

Exposure to early life adversity (ELA), including childhood maltreatment, is one of the most significant risk factors for the emergence of neuropsychiatric disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Despite this relationship being well established, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. One way to achieve this understanding is to identify molecular pathways and processes that are perturbed as a consequence of childhood maltreatment. Ideally, these perturbations would be evident as changes in DNA, RNA or protein profiles in easily accessible biological samples collected in the shadow of childhood maltreatment. In this study, we isolated circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) from plasma collected from adolescent rhesus macaques that had either experienced nurturing maternal care (CONT) or maternal maltreatment (MALT) in infancy. RNA sequencing of RNA in plasma EVs and gene enrichment analysis revealed that genes related to translation, ATP synthesis, mitochondrial function and immune response were downregulated in MALT samples, while genes involved in ion transport, metabolism and cell differentiation were upregulated. Interestingly, we found that a significant proportion of EV RNA aligned to the microbiome and that MALT altered the diversity of microbiome-associated RNA signatures found in EVs. Part of this altered diversity suggested differences in prevalence of bacterial species in CONT and MALT animals noted in the RNA signatures of the circulating EVs. Our findings provide evidence that immune function, cellular energetics and the microbiome may be important conduits via which infant maltreatment exerts effects on physiology and behavior in adolescence and adulthood. As a corollary, perturbations of RNA profiles related to immune function, cellular energetics and the microbiome may serve as biomarkers of responsiveness to ELA. Our results demonstrate that RNA profiles in EVs can serve as a powerful proxy to identify biological processes that might be perturbed by ELA and that may contribute to the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders in the aftermath of ELA.
Surveillance ofNeisseria meningitidisCarriage Four Years After menACWY Vaccine Implementation in the Netherlands Reveals Decline in Vaccine-type and Rise in Genogroup E Circulation
Authors: Miellet Willem R. , Pluister Gerlinde , Sikking Meike , Tappel Marcia , Karczewski Jurgen , Visser Linda J. , Bosch Thijs , Trzciński Krzysztof , Mariman Rob
Published: February 2023

Carriage ofNeisseria meningitidisis an accepted endpoint in monitoring meningococcal vaccine effects. We applied molecular methods to assess the impact of menACWY vaccine implementation on meningococcal carriage and genogroup-specific prevalence in young adults in Fall of 2022, four years after the introduction of the tetravalent vaccine in the Netherlands. The overall carriage rate of genogroupable meningococci was not significantly different compared to the pre-menACWY cohort investigated in 2018 (20.8% or 125 of 601 versus 17.4.% or 52 of 299 individuals,p=0.25). Of n=125 carriers of genogroupable meningococci n=122 (97.6%) were positive for either vaccine-types menC, menW, menY or non-vaccine types menB, menE, menX and menZ, Compared with a pre-vaccine-implementation baseline, there was 3.8-fold reduction (p<0.001) in vaccine-type carriage rates and 9.0-fold increase (p<0.0001) in non-vaccine type menE prevalence. These findings imply that menACWY vaccination reduced circulation of vaccine-type meningococci, but lead to serogroup replacement in carriage.
A fast two-stage algorithm for non-negative matrix factorization in smoothly varying data
Authors: Gu Ran , Billinge Simon J. L. , Du Qiang
Published: February 2023

This article reports the study of algorithms for non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) in various applications involving smoothly varying data such as time or temperature series diffraction data on a dense grid of points. Utilizing the continual nature of the data, a fast two-stage algorithm is developed for highly efficient and accurate NMF. In the first stage, an alternating non-negative least-squares framework is used in combination with the active set method with a warm-start strategy for the solution of subproblems. In the second stage, an interior point method is adopted to accelerate the local convergence. The convergence of the proposed algorithm is proved. The new algorithm is compared with some existing algorithms in benchmark tests using both real-world data and synthetic data. The results demonstrate the advantage of the algorithm in finding high-precision solutions.
Pitting corrosion of 2A12 aluminum alloy long-scale specimen in simulated seawater splash zone, dynamic waterline zone and full immersion zone
Authors: Zhu Yesen , Hu Taoyong , Li Yujie , Hao Junhua , Han Bin , Yuan Quan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to construct a device that simulated the seawater splash zone, dynamic waterline zone (splash zone) and full immersion zone. Localized corrosion of 2A12 aluminum alloy long-scale specimen was studied.

Design/methodology/approach

Corrosion morphologies before and after the corrosion product removal were used to identify corrosion intensity at full seawater immersion zone, dynamic waterline zone (splash zone) and atmospheric zone. The average depth and diameter of corrosion pits in the three zones were evaluated by three-dimensional optical microscopy. The impact of wetting time of the atmospheric zone on the localized corrosion was investigated.

Findings

Corrosion pits were observed on the surface on day 4 for the wetted atmospheric zone (Case 1), and on the surface on day 8 for the alternant wet/dry atmospheric zone (Case 2). The corrosion product layer on the surface for Case 1 was partially broken down while the layer on the surface for Case 2 was intact. Average pitting depth and pitting diameters for Case 1 were more serious than that for Case 2.

Originality/value

The above findings revealed that the humidity of the atmospheric zone had great impact on the localized corrosion of aluminum alloy at the seawater splash zone.
The practice of consanguineous marriage and the risk of diabetes among offspring in the province of Tetouan (Morocco)
Authors: Hajjaji Mohamed , Khadmaoui AbdErrazzak , El Bakkali Mohamed
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The practice of consanguinity has been culturally preferred in most Arab countries, including Morocco. This behavior leads to an increase in genetic abnormalities, such as hypertension and diabetes. This paper examines the prevalence and determinants of first-cousin marriages and their impact on diabetes among offspring.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on 882 couples were collected through face-to-face interview via a pre-established questionnaire based on the variables selected within the objectives of this study. The authors used the multiple logistic regression modeling procedure in this study.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that the prevalence of first-cousin marriages were 15% among students’ parents. From the multiple logistic regression modeling, the authors found a significant effect of paternal and maternal grandparents’ first-cousins marriage on that of parents (aOR = 3.27 and aOR = 3.36, respectively). However, an 11-fold higher risk of first relative marriages among parents once the paternal and maternal grandparents were first-cousins and the father was illiterate (aOR = 11.01). Moreover, the authors reported a diabetes risk of more than 14 times when the effects of first-cousin maternal grandparents and parents and the hypertension among mother or her sibling were combined (aOR = 14.48) or when the effects of first-cousins maternal grandparents, first-cousin parents and mother’s age at marriage between 21 and 29 years were combined (aOR = 14.56).

Originality/value

First-cousin marriage depends on the father’s illiteracy and the consanguinity of grandparents’ factors. The cumulative effect of first-cousin marriage among grandparents, parents and a family history of hypertension among mother or her sibling increase the risk of diabetes among these mothers.
Is China ready for change? Consumer behaviour towards buying plant-based meat alternatives: applying the COM-B model
Authors: Jiang Mingyu , Farag Karim W.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Many consumers express interest in plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA); however, they are reluctant to change their meat consumption behaviour. To support the transition to a “meat-free” diet, it is necessary to understand the influencing factors to purchase PBMA. This study responds to a gap in the literature and aims to explore the factors influencing Chinese consumers' willingness to purchase PBMA in terms of “Capability, Motivation and Opportunity”.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional data were collected through an online survey in China (n = 591). Correlation testing and multiple linear regression were used to identify factors that may influence consumers' willingness to purchase PBMA by applying the COM-B model; which refers to Capability (C), opportunity (O), and motivation (M) as three key factors capable of changing behaviour (B).

Findings

The results show that consumers with better income and education are more likely to consume PBMA. Familiarity with purchasing channels and cooking knowledge were “capability” catalyst for purchase intentions; support from people around and who also consume PBMA provided opportunities; animal welfare, food safety, sustainability and emotional benefits were motivating factors for facilitation. With capabilities and opportunities, consumers are more likely to be motivated to purchase PBMA. It was also clear, environmental support and appropriate purchasing conditions overweigh knowledge and previous experience in motivating PBMA purchase. Additionally, the study found that familiarity, past experience, high status symbols of meat and health concerns were positively associated with but did not affect purchase intentions (p > 0.05).

Social implications

The current study did not find a substitution effect for PBMA, as participants tended to consider PBMA as a type of meat and did not substitute it for their daily meat consumption unless motivated.

Originality/value

This study provides a theoretical framework and insights for future research, and production companies can develop marketing initiatives based on the contributing factors using the COM-B model.
The relative importance of culture in urban tourism: implications for segmentation
Authors: Smith Melanie Kay , Pinke-Sziva Ivett , Berezvai Zombor
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to urban tourism segmentation studies by examining the role of culture as a motivation for city visits, different preferences for activities and the demographic factors that influence activity choices. This study also compares the memorability of the trip across the segments identified based on their undertaken activities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on questionnaire data that was collected from 614 tourists in Budapest, Hungary. Tourist segmentation was based on a two-step procedure: principal component analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to reveal the effect of different demographic and travel-related characteristics on the segments.

Findings

The research revealed that cultural activities are still the most important motivation for urban tourists and that cultural tourists constitute the biggest segment (43%). They show a preference for heritage sites, museums and galleries rather than performing arts and festivals. Multinomial logistic regression showed that party tourists can be differentiated from cultural tourists and city break tourists predominantly by age and travel status. Older age groups and women are more likely to be interested in heritage sites, museums and galleries. Party tourists found their experience significantly more memorable than any other group and were much more likely to re-visit and recommend.

Research limitations/implications

Overall, this study provides useful information for destination management organisations and city agencies about which activities to promote and how to segment and potentially target tourists. This study did not include lifestyle and personality factors, secondary and complementary attractions or cultural proximity and distance.

Originality/value

There have been relatively few recent studies on urban cultural tourism segmentation, especially in whole destinations rather than at individual attractions, it was therefore considered timely to re-visit this area of research. This paper reinforces the importance of segmentation studies in tourism and analyses the changing motivations and activity preferences of urban cultural tourists over time.
The impact of managerial ability on corporate tax risk and long-run tax avoidance: empirical evidence from a developing country
Authors: Saragih Arfah Habib , Ali Syaiful
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of managerial ability on corporate tax risk and long-term tax avoidance using the upper echelons theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative method with regression models, using a sample of listed firms on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2018.

Findings

The regression results report that managerial ability negatively influences tax risk and positively impacts long-run tax avoidance. Companies with more able managers have a relatively lower tax risk and greater long-run tax avoidance. The results reveal that firms with managers that possess greater abilities are more committed to long-run tax avoidance while concurrently maintaining a lower level of their tax risk. The impacts the authors report are statistically significant and robust, as proved by a series of robustness checks and additional tests.

Research limitations/implications

This study only includes firms from one developing country.

Practical implications

The empirical results might be of interest to board members while envisaging the benefits and costs of appointing and hiring managers, as well as to the tax authority and the other stakeholders interested in apprehending how managerial ability influences corporate tax risk and long-run tax avoidance practices simultaneously.

Originality/value

This study proposes and tests an explanation for the impact of managerial ability on corporate tax risk and long-run avoidance simultaneously in the context of an emerging country.
Grounding system impedance influence on the surge arrester frequency-dependent model parameters using PSO-GWO algorithm
Authors: Khodsuz Masume , Mashayekhi Valiollah
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the inclusion of the frequency behavior of grounding system effect on surge arrester (SA) model parameters’ estimation.

Design/methodology/approach

The grounding system impedance and its frequency behavior are the factors that have influence on the SA performance. Up to now, the grounding system impedance effect and the frequency behavior of the soil parameters have not been studied for the estimation of the parameters of the SA frequency-dependent model. In this paper, the grounding system’s influence on the SA dynamic model has been simulated for rod- and counterpoise-shaped electrodes. Particle swarm optimization with a grey wolf optimization algorithm has been implemented as an optimization algorithm to adjust the parameters of the SA dynamic model.

Findings

The results show that the frequency behavior of the grounding impedance and soil electrical parameters can impress the optimum parameters of the SA frequency-dependent model and should be considered for more reliable results. Also, the results evidence that the proposed optimization method provides more accurate results compared to other optimization methods.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is one of the first attempts to investigate the effect of frequency grounding system on SA frequency-dependent model parameters.
Sharing intractably tacit knowledge: the case for nepotistic selection
Authors: Powell Benjamin C.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper focuses on the problem of knowledge that is difficult to share because it cannot be articulated: intractably tacit knowledge. It offers knowledge sharing between relatives or friends, a nepotistic practice, as a potential solution.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of a US Supreme Court decision in favor of a nepotistic hiring practice provides insights into how such a nepotistic approach can facilitate the sharing of intractably tacit knowledge. The paper builds on this analysis to articulate the conditions under which nepotistic selection can be useful to managers.

Findings

The US Supreme Court decided in favor of a nepotistic hiring practice based on its potential effectiveness in selecting and developing river pilots. Such a nepotistic approach is problematic, but it can be valuable in a very specific and narrow application, i.e., when organizations need to transfer intractably tacit knowledge. A nepotistic approach should thus be employed only if the benefit of sharing intractably tacit knowledge exceed the cost of nepotism. Organizations should enhance the benefit by ensuring effective knowledge transfer and reduce the cost by mitigating the discrimination and inequity that nepotism enhances.

Originality/value

While much has been written on tacit knowledge, the portion of tacit knowledge that cannot be articulated has been ignored in some studies and neglected in others. Managers responsible for the sharing of such knowledge need guidance. This paper explores an unusual solution: nepotistic selection.
How the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic affected housing sector? Empirical evidence from Turkey
Authors: Cutcu Ibrahim , Atay Guven , Gerlikhan Selcuk Gokhan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the consequences of the pandemic and the housing sector with econometric tests that allow for structural breaks.

Design/methodology/approach

Study data were collected weekly between March 9, 2020, and February 4, 2022, and analyzed for Turkey. In the model of the study, housing loans were used as a housing market indicator, and the number of new deaths and new cases were used as data related to the pandemic. The exchange rate, which affects the use of housing loans, was added to the model as a control variable. This study was analyzed to examine the relationship between the pandemic and the housing sector, time series analysis techniques that allow structural breaks were used.

Findings

Based on the result of the analyses, it was concluded that there is a long-run relationship between the pandemic stages and housing markets along with structural breaks. As a result of the time-varying causality test developed to determine the causality relationship between the variables and its direction, a bidirectional causality relationship was identified between all variables at certain dates.

Research limitations/implications

Study data were collected weekly between March 9, 2020, and February 4, 2022, and analyzed in the case of Turkey.

Practical implications

Based on results of the study, it is recommended that policy makers and market actors take into account extraordinary situations such as pandemics and create a budget allocation that is always ready to use for this purpose.

Originality/value

The empirical examination of the relationship between the pandemic and the housing sector in Turkey provides originality to this study in terms of its topic, sample, methodology, contribution to the literature and potential policy recommendations.