bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photon-Counting Detector CT With Quantum Iterative Reconstruction
Authors: Racine Damien , Mergen Victor , Viry Anaïs , Eberhard Matthias , Becce Fabio , Rotzinger David C. , Alkadhi Hatem , Euler André
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To assess image noise, diagnostic performance, and potential for radiation dose reduction of photon-counting detector (PCD) computed tomography (CT) with quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR) in the detection of hypoattenuating and hyperattenuating focal liver lesions compared with energy-integrating detector (EID) CT.

Materials and Methods

A medium-sized anthropomorphic abdominal phantom with liver parenchyma and lesions (diameter, 5–10 mm; hypoattenuating and hyperattenuating from −30 HU to +90 HU at 120 kVp) was used. The phantom was imaged on (a) a third-generation dual-source EID-CT (SOMATOM Force, Siemens Healthineers) in the dual-energy mode at 100 and 150 kVp with tin filtration and (b) a clinical dual-source PCD-CT at 120 kVp (NAEOTOM Alpha, Siemens). Scans were repeated 10 times for each of 3 different radiation doses of 5, 2.5, and 1.25 mGy. Datasets were reconstructed as virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) at 60 keV for both scanners and as linear-blended images (LBIs) for EID-CT. For PCD-CT, VMIs were reconstructed with different strength levels of QIR (QIR 1–4) and without QIR (QIR-off). For EID-CT, VMIs and LBIs were reconstructed using advanced modeled iterative reconstruction at a strength level of 3. Noise power spectrum was measured to compare image noise magnitude and texture. A channelized Hotelling model observer was used to assess diagnostic accuracy for lesion detection. The potential for radiation dose reduction using PCD-CT was estimated for the QIR strength level with the highest area under the curve compared with EID-CT for each radiation dose.

Results

Image noise decreased with increasing QIR level at all radiation doses. Using QIR-4, noise reduction was 41%, 45%, and 59% compared with EID-CT VMIs and 12%, 18%, and 33% compared with EID-CT LBIs at 5, 2.5, and 1.25 mGy, respectively. The peak spatial frequency shifted slightly to lower frequencies at higher QIR levels. Lesion detection accuracy increased at higher QIR levels and was higher for PCD-CT compared with EID-CT VMIs. The improvement in detection with PCD-CT was strongest at the lowest radiation dose, with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.917 for QIR-4 versus 0.677 for EID-CT VMIs for hyperattenuating lesions, and 0.900 for QIR-4 versus 0.726 for EID-CT VMIs for hypoattenuating lesions. Compared with EID-CT LBIs, detection was higher for QIR 1–4 at 2.5 mGy and for QIR 2–4 at 1.25 mGy (eg, 0.900 for QIR-4 compared with 0.854 for EID-CT LBIs at 1.25 mGy). Radiation dose reduction potential of PCD-CT with QIR-4 was 54% at 5 mGy compared with VMIs and 39% at 2.5 mGy compared with LBIs.

Conclusions

Compared with EID-CT, PCD-CT with QIR substantially improved focal liver lesion detection, especially at low radiation dose. This enables substantial radiation dose reduction while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Evidence for Anti-inflammatory Effects of Adalimumab in Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Pilot, Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Abbasian Fatemeh , Bagheri Sayna , Moradi Kamyar , Keykhaei Mohammad , Etemadi Ali , Shalbafan Mohammadreza , Shariati Behnam , Vaseghi Salar , Samsami Farhane-Sadat , Akhondzadeh Shahin
Published: September 2022

Background

Literature has suggested that major depressive disorder (MDD) is accompanied by higher concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers, which could sabotage response to conventional treatments.

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab adjunct to sertraline in adults with MDD and increased levels of systemic inflammation.

Methods

In a 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 36 patients with MDD and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥3 mg/L were equally assigned to receive sertraline plus either adalimumab or placebo. Participants were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) at baseline, week 3, and week 6. Moreover, serum concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers were measured at baseline and trial end point. Finally, patients were assessed for any adverse event during the trial.

Results

Fifteen patients in each group completed the trial course. All baseline characteristics of participants were similar between the groups. Adalimumab adjunct to sertraline resulted in a greater improvement in HAM-D score compared with placebo over the trial period (P < 0.001). Participants receiving adalimumab significantly experienced greater response to treatment (≥50% reduction in the HAM-D score) than those receiving placebo (P = 0.042). Furthermore, after 6 weeks of adalimumab combination therapy with sertraline, inflammatory biomarkers significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.001), whereas no significant alteration was found in the placebo group. No serious adverse event was documented in the treatment arms.

Conclusions

Adalimumab adjunctive therapy remarkably improves depressive symptoms of patients with MDD. Further investigations with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm the findings.
A Case of Priapism in a Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Possibly Due to Risperidone Treatment With Addition of Atomoxetine
Authors: Bulut Ömer Faruk , Tanir Yaşar
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Risperidone is an effective drug used for the treatment of irritability in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Atomoxetine (ATX) is a well-tolerated drug used in first-line therapy in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, uncommon adverse effects of risperidone and ATX are a concern among mental health professionals. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of priapism after addition of ATX upon existing treatment with risperidone.

Methods

Written informed consent for publication was obtained from the patient and his parents, and their identities were concealed for ethical reasons.

Results

Here, we report a case of priapism as an adverse effect of ATX and risperidone treatment in a 7-year-old boy with ASD and comorbid ADHD. In this case, priapism was not observed with risperidone until ATX was added.

Conclusions

Priapism is a condition viewed as a medical emergency. Although risperidone-induced priapism is a rare phenomenon, it is advised for clinicians to consider the drug interactions in treatment of ASD and ADHD in terms of early diagnosis and intervention.
Apilactobacillus apisilvae sp. nov., Nicolia spurrieriana gen. nov. sp. nov., Bombilactobacillus folatiphilus sp. nov. and Bombilactobacillus thymidiniphilus sp. nov., four new lactic acid bacterial isolates from stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria and Austroplebeia australis
Authors: Oliphant Scott A. , Watson-Haigh Nathan S. , Sumby Krista M. , Gardner Jennifer , Groom Scott , Jiranek Vladimir
Published: September 2022

Four strains, SG5_A10T, SGEP1_A5T, SG4_D2T, and SG4_A1T, were isolated from the honey or homogenate of Australian stingless bee species Tetragonula carbonaria and Austroplebeia australis. Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, core gene phylogenetics, whole genome analyses such as determination of amino acid identity (AAI), cAAI of conserved genes, average nucleotide identity (ANI), and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH), chemotaxonomic analyses, and the novel isolation sources and unique geography, we propose three new species and one genus with the names Apilactobacillus apisilvae sp. nov. (SG5_A10T = LMG 32133T = NBRC 114991T), Bombilactobacillus thymidiniphilus sp. nov. (SG4_A1T = LMG 32125T = NBRC 114984T), Bombilactobacillus folatiphilus sp. nov. (SG4_D2T = LMG 32126T = NBRC 115004T) and Nicolia spurrieriana sp. nov. (SGEP1_A5T = LMG 32134T = NBRC 114992T). Three out of the four strains were found to be fructophilic, where SG5_A10T and SGEP1_A5T belong to obligately fructophilic lactic acid bacteria, and SG4_D2T representing a new type denoted here as kinetically fructophilic. This study represents the first published lactic acid bacterial species associated with the unique niche of Australian stingless bees.
A widely-used pollutant causes reversal of conspecific mate preference in a freshwater fish
Authors: Powell Daniel L. , Rose Aaron D. , Rosenthal Gil G.
Published: September 2022

Chemical communication is an important mechanism of mate choice across the animal tree of life. However, anthropogenic perturbation of the signaling environment can disrupt chemical communication and result in a breakdown of behavioral reproductive isolation. Here we find that calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), a common and deliberately introduced anthropogenic pollutant, profoundly disrupts chemical communication in the swordtail fish Xiphophorus birchmanni. Moreover, it acts in a way that should promote hybridization, causing female X. birchmanni to prefer the chemical cues of the parapatric sister species X. malinche. We find that this flip in the direction of preference is attributable both to a reduced preference for conspecific signals and to a coupled strengthening of preference for sister-species signals.
Mathematical bridge between epidemiological and molecular data on cancer and beyond
Authors: Chakravarty Saumitra , Islam Khandker Aftarul , Mohtashim Shah Ishmam
Published: September 2022

Background: At least six different mathematical models of cancer and their countless variations and combinations have been published to date in the scientific literature that reasonably explain epidemiological prediction of multi-step carcinogenesis. Each one deals with a particular set of problems at a given organizational level ranging from populations to genes. Any of the models adopted in those articles so far do not account for both epidemiological and molecular levels of carcinogenesis. Methods: We have developed a mathematically rigorous system to derive those equations satisfying the basic assumptions of both epidemiology and molecular biology without incorporating arbitrary numerical coefficients or constants devoid of any causal explanation just to fit the empirical data. The dataset we have used encompasses 21 major categories of cancer, 124 selected populations, 108 cancer registries, 5 continents, and 14,067,894 individual cases. Results: We generalized all the epidemiological and molecular data using our derived equations through linear and non-linear regression and found all the necessary coefficients to explain the data. We also tested our equations against non-neoplastic conditions satisfying equivalent mathematical assumptions. Conclusion: The aim of this treatise is not only to provide some novel insight into the mathematical modeling of malignant transformation but also to revive the classical tools we already have at our disposal to pave the way towards novel insight into integrated approaches in cancer research.
Literature-based predictions of treatments for genetic disease pathology
Authors: Deisseroth Cole A. , Lee Won-Seok , Kim Ji-Yoen , Jeong Hyun-Hwan , Wang Julia , Zoghbi Huda Y. , Liu Zhandong
Published: September 2022

Identifying genetic modifiers of disease-causing genes can guide drug discovery for treatment of genetic disorders, but selecting promising drugs to test requires extensive and up-to-date knowledge of drug-gene and gene-gene relationships. To address this challenge, we present PARsing ModifiErS via Abstract aNnotations (PARMESAN), a computational tool that searches PubMed for information on these relationships, and assembles them into one knowledgebase. PARMESAN then hypothesizes on undiscovered drug-gene relationships, assigning an evidence-based score to each hypothesis. We compare PARMESAN’s drug-gene hypotheses to all of the drug-gene relationships displayed by DrugBank, and see a strong correlation between the prediction score and the predictive accuracy—such that predictions scoring above 10 are 11 times more likely to be correct than incorrect. This publicly available tool provides an automated way to prioritize drug screens to target the most-promising drugs to test, thereby saving time and resources in the development of therapeutics for genetic disorders.
Mice with humanized livers reveal the involvement of hepatocyte circadian clocks in rhythmic behavior and physiology
Authors: Delbès Anne-Sophie , Quiñones Mar , Gobet Cédric , Castel Julien , Denis Raphaël G. P , Berthelet Jérémy , Weger Benjamin D. , Challet Etienne , Charpagne Aline , Metairon Sylviane , Piccand Julie , Kraus Marine , Rohde Bettina H. , Bial John , Wilson Elizabeth M. , Vedin Lise-Lotte , Minniti Mirko E. , Pedrelli Matteo , Parini Paolo , Gachon Frédéric , Luquet Serge
Published: September 2022

The circadian clock is an evolutionarily acquired gene network that synchronizes physiological processes to adapt homeostasis to the succession of day and night. While most mammalian cells have a circadian clock, their synchronization at the body-level depends on a central pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus that integrates light signals. However, peripheral organs are also synchronized by feeding cues that can uncoupled them from the central pacemaker. Nevertheless, the potential feedback of peripheral signals on the central clock remains poorly characterized. To discover whether peripheral organ circadian clocks may affect the central pacemaker, we used a chimeric model in which mouse hepatocytes were replaced by human hepatocytes. These human hepatocytes showed a specific rhythmic physiology caused by their blunted response to mouse systemic signals. Strikingly, mouse liver humanization reprogrammed the liver diurnal gene expression and modified the phase of the circadian clock. The phase advance was also reflected in the muscle as well as the entire rhythmic physiology of the animals, indicating an impact on the circadian function of the central clock. Like mice with a deficient central clock, the humanized animals shifted their rhythmic physiology more rapidly to the light phase under day feeding. Our results indicate that peripheral clocks may affect the central pacemaker and offer new perspectives to understand the impact of peripheral clocks on the global circadian physiology.
Digital Spatial Profiling of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms: Towards a Molecular Framework for Risk Stratification
Authors: Iyer Matthew K. , Shi Chanjuan , Eckhoff Austin M. , Fletcher Ashley , Nussbaum Daniel P. , Allen Peter J.
Published: September 2022

The histopathologic heterogeneity of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) complicates the prediction of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) risk. Intratumoral regions of pancreaticobiliary (PB), intestinal (INT), and gastric foveolar (GF) epithelium may occur with either low-grade dysplasia (LGD) or high-grade dysplasia (HGD). We used digital spatial RNA profiling of dysplastic epithelium (83 regions) from surgically resected IPMN tissues (12 patients) to differentiate subtypes and predict genes associated with malignancy. The expression patterns of PB and GF lesions diverged from INT, suggesting that PB and GF arise from a common lineage. Transcriptional dysregulation within PB lesions mirrored that of PDAC, whereas INT and GF foci did not. Tumor necrosis factor/nuclear factor κB (TNF-NFκB) and cell cycle (cycling-S, cycling-G2/M) programs occurred with relative prominence in PB and INT subtypes, respectively. Taken together, this study delineates markers of high-risk IPMN and insights into malignant progression.

One Sentence Summary

Spatial profiling of the intratumoral heterogeneity of IPMN yields markers of high-risk disease and insights into malignant progression.
Pyrfume: A Window to the World’s Olfactory Data
Authors: Castro Jason B. , Gould Travis J. , Pellegrino Robert , Liang Zhiwei , Coleman Liyah A. , Patel Famesh , Wallace Derek S. , Bhatnagar Tanushri , Mainland Joel D. , Gerkin Richard C.
Published: September 2022

Advances in theoretical understanding are frequently unlocked by access to large, diverse experimental datasets. Olfactory neuroscience and psychophysics remain years behind the other senses in part because rich datasets linking olfactory stimuli with their corresponding percepts, behaviors, and neural pathways underlying this transformation, remain scarce. Here we present a concerted effort to unlock and unify dozens of stimulus-linked olfactory datasets across species and modalities under a unified framework called Pyrfume. We present examples of how researchers might use Pyrfume to conduct novel analyses uncovering new principles, introduce trainees to the field, or construct benchmarks for machine olfaction.
Malian children infected with Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium falciparum display very similar gene expression profiles
Authors: Tebben Kieran , Yirampo Salif , Coulibaly Drissa , Koné Abdoulaye K. , Laurens Matthew B. , Stucke Emily M. , Dembélé Ahmadou , Tolo Youssouf , Traoré Karim , Niangaly Amadou , Berry Andrea A. , Kouriba Bourema , Plowe Christopher V. , Doumbo Ogobara K , Lyke Kirsten E. , Takala-Harrison Shannon , Thera Mahamadou A. , Travassos Mark A. , Serre David
Published: September 2022

Plasmodium parasites caused 241 million cases of malaria and over 600,000 deaths in 2020. Both P. falciparum and P. ovale are endemic to Mali and cause malaria illness, with P. falciparum infections typically being more severe. Here, we sequenced RNA from nine pediatric blood samples collected during uncomplicated, symptomatic infections with either P. falciparum or P. ovale and characterized the host and parasite gene expression profiles. We found that human gene expression varies more between individuals than according to the parasite species causing the infection, while parasite gene expression profiles cluster by species. Additionally, we characterized DNA polymorphisms of the parasites directly from the RNA-seq reads and found comparable levels of genetic diversity in both species despite dramatic differences in prevalence. Our results provide unique insights into host-pathogen interactions during malaria infections and their variations according to the infecting Plasmodium species, which will be critical to develop better elimination strategies against all human Plasmodium parasites.

Author Summary

Multiple species of Plasmodium parasites can cause human malaria. Most studies and elimination efforts target P. falciparum, the most common cause of malaria worldwide and the species responsible for the vast majority of the mortality. Other Plasmodium species, such as P. ovale, typically lead to less severe forms of the disease but little is known about the molecular mechanisms at play during malaria infections with different parasites. We analyzed host and parasite gene expression from children successively infected with P. ovale and P. falciparum and found that, while the parasite gene expression differed significantly, the transcriptional profiles of the host immune cells were similar in P. ovale or P. falciparum infections. This suggests that infected individuals respond to uncomplicated malaria infections similarly, regardless of the Plasmodium species causing the infection, and that alternative immune processes may become important during the progression to severe P. falciparum malaria (rather than being inherent features of P. falciparum infections). Additionally, we observed similar levels of genetic diversity among P. ovale and P. falciparum parasites, suggesting that the P. ovale population might be larger than currently thought, possibly due to extensive misdiagnosis or the existence of hidden reservoirs of parasites.
Localized nanoparticle-mediated delivery of miR-29b normalises the dysregulation of bone homeostasis caused by osteosarcoma whilst simultaneously inhibiting tumour growth
Authors: Freeman Fiona E. , Dosta Pere , Riojas Javelly Cristobal J. , Mahon Olwyn R. , Kelly Daniel J. , Artzi Natalie
Published: September 2022

Patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma undergo extensive surgical intervention and chemotherapy resulting in dismal prognosis and compromised quality of life owing to poor bone regeneration, which is further compromised with chemotherapy delivery. This study aims to investigate if localised delivery of miR-29b—which has been shown to promote bone formation by inducing osteoblast differentiation and also to suppress prostate and glioblastoma tumour growth—would suppress osteosarcoma tumours whilst simultaneously normalising the dysregulation of bone homeostasis caused by osteosarcoma. Thus, we studied the therapeutic potential of miR-29b to promote bone remodelling in an orthotopic model of osteosarcoma (rather than in bone defect models using healthy mice), and in the context of chemotherapy, that is clinically relevant. We developed a formulation of miR-29b:nanoparticles that were delivered via a novel hyaluronic-based hydrogel to enable local and sustained release of the therapy, and to study the potential of attenuating tumour growth whilst normalising bone homeostasis. We found that when miR-29b was delivered along with systemic chemotherapy, compared to chemotherapy alone, our therapy provided a significant decrease in tumour burden, increase in mouse survival, and a significant decrease in osteolysis thereby normalising the dysregulation of bone lysis activity caused by the tumour.
The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer: Using an Interactive Application to Improve the Public Understanding of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
Authors: Iannucci Sarah , Harvey William T. , Hughes Joseph , Robertson David L. , Poyade Matthieu , Hutchinson Edward
Published: September 2022

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019 and has resulted in millions of death globally. The need to understand the pandemic means that detailed descriptions of features of this virus are now of interest to non-expert audiences. In particular, there has been much public interest in the spike protein that protrudes from the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike is the major determinant of viral infectivity and the main target for protective immune responses, and included in vaccines, and so its properties influence the impact of the pandemic on people’s lives. This protein is rapidly evolving, with mutations that enhance transmissibility or weaken vaccine protection creating new variants of concern (VOCs) and associated sub-lineages. The spread of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs has been tracked by groups such as the COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium (COG-UK). Their online mutation explorer (COG-UK/ME), which analyses and shares SARS-CoV-2 sequence data, contains information about VOCs that is designed primarily for an expert audience but is potentially of general interest during a pandemic. We wished to make this detailed information about SARS-CoV-2 VOCs more widely accessible. Previously work has shown that visualisations and interactivity can facilitate active learning and boost engagement with molecular biology topics, while animations of these topics can boost understanding on protein structure, function, and dynamics. We therefore set out to develop an educational graphical resource, the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer (SSPME), which contains interactive 3D molecular models and animations explaining SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variants and VOCs. We performed user-testing of the original COG-UK/ME website and of the SSPME, using a within-groups design to measure knowledge acquisition and a between-groups design to contrast the effectiveness and usability. Statistical analysis demonstrated that, when compared to the COG-UK/ME, the SSPME had higher usability and significantly improved participant knowledge confidence and knowledge acquisition. The SSPME therefore provides an example of how 3D interactive visualisations can be used for effective science communication and education on complex biomedical topics, as well as being a resource to improve the public understanding of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
Identifying Pathogen and Allele Type Simultaneously (IPATS) in a single well using droplet digital PCR
Authors: Notsu Kosuke , El Daous Hala , Mitoma Shuya , Wu Xinyue , Norimine Junzo , Sekiguchi Satoshi
Published: September 2022

A combined host biomarker and pathogen diagnosis provides insight into disease progression risk and contributes to appropriate clinical decision-making regarding prevention and treatment. In preventive veterinary medicine, such combined diagnosis could improve risk-based livestock herd management. We developed a single-well based test for combined diagnosis of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and bovine MHC (BoLA)-DRB3alleles. A fourplex droplet digital PCR method targeting the BLVpolgene, BLV-susceptibleDRB3*016:01allele, resistantDRB3*009:02allele, and housekeeping RPP30 gene (IPATS-BLV) successfully measured the percentage of BLV-infected cells and determined allele types precisely. Furthermore, it discriminated homozygous from heterozygous carriers. Using this method to determine the impact of carrying these alleles on the BLV proviral load (PVL), we foundDRB3*009:02-carryingcattle could suppress the PVL to a low or undetectable level, even with the presence of a susceptible allele. Although the population ofDRB3*016:01-carrying cattle showed significantly higher PVLs when compared with cattle carrying other alleles, their individual PVLs were highly variable. Because of the simplicity and speed of this single-well assay, IPATS could be a suitable platform for the combined diagnosis of host biomarkers and pathogens in a wide range of other systems.
Turning Lung Clearance Index on its head. Reference data for SF6 Multiple Breath Washout Derived Ventilation distribution efficiency (VDE)
Authors: Sandvik Rikke Mulvad , Lindblad Anders , Robinson Paul D , Nielsen Kim G , Gustafsson Per
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by increased ventilation inhomogeneity (VI), as measured by multiple breath washout (MBW), from infancy. Lung clearance index (LCI) is the most reported VI outcome. This study aimed to evaluate historically published reference equations for sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) MBW outcomes, to data collected using updated commercial SF6MBW equipment and to produce device specific equations if necessary.

Method

SF6MBW was performed in 327 healthy children aged 0.1-18.4 years (151 [46%] girls), 191 (58.4%) < 3 years. Z-scores were calculated from published reference equations (FRC and LCI) and multivariate linear regression performed to produce device specific reference equations. Due to increasing residual standard deviations with increasing LCI values, investigation of methods for improvement, were investigated, based on the relationship between VI and dead space ventilation (VD/VT; dead space volume/tidal volume) in a cohort of 59 healthy children, 26 children with CF (n=138 test occasions) and 49 adults with lung disease.

Results

Historical SF6MBW reference equations were unsuitable for Exhalyzer D® data. In contrast to LCI and log10(LCI), 1/LCI (ventilation distribution efficiency; VDE) was linearly related to VD/VT, with z-scores linearly related to its absolute values. Reference equations were reported for VDE and log10(FRC). Significant predictors for VDE and log10(FRC), respectively, were log10(age) and gender, and log10(height), gender and posture.

Conclusion

1/LCI (e.i., FRC/CEV[%]) reflecting ventilation distribution efficiency (VDE) in the lungs was a superior index of ventilation inhomogeneity compared to LCI and log10(LCI) due to its linear relationship to VD/VT.
Emotional responses in online social interactions: the mediating role of flow
Authors: Herrando Carolina , Jiménez-Martínez Julio , Martín-De Hoyos Maria José , Asakawa Kiyoshi , Yana Kazuo
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Drawing on the three flow-channel model and the stimulus–organism–response model, this research aims to understand how the influence of interactivity on purchase intention is mediated by the state of flow.

Design/methodology/approach

This research entails a neurophysiological experiment combined with a survey-based study. This study analyzes, first, participants' heart rate variability through the parasympathetic and sympathetic indexes during five different activities, and, second, the mediating effect of flow through a structural equation model.

Findings

This study contributes to research on the role of flow in interactive marketing. The findings reveal that flow state is associated with less stressful activities, such as navigating highly interactive websites and playing online games. This research confirms the mediating effect of flow between interactivity and purchase intention.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to interactive marketing and flow theory by combining traditional methods with a peripheral physiological technique that draws on neuroscience. In addition, it confirms the positive but indirect effect of interactivity on purchase intention in online contexts.
The effects of executives’ overseas background on enterprise digital transformation: evidence from China
Authors: Hu Dongmei , Peng Yang , Fang Tony , Chen Charles Weizheng
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of executives’ overseas education and work experience on enterprise digital as executives’ overseas background is critical to the development of enterprises. It also explored the mediating role of enterprise digital transformation on the relationship between executives’ overseas background and enterprise growth.

Design/methodology/approach

Chinese A-share companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges for the period 2018–2020 were analyzed using regression analysis and bootstrapping to verify hypothesized relationships.

Findings

Executives’ overseas study and work experience both enhanced enterprise digital transformation significantly, thus improving enterprise growth. The level of employee education moderated the mediating role proposed in the theoretical model. Moreover, the promoting effect of executives’ overseas background on enterprise digital transformation was more significant for non-state-owned enterprises and those in eastern China.

Practical implications

The findings provide reference for the formulation and optimization of companies’ human resource structure and have implications on the improvement of enterprise digital transformation and enterprise growth.

Originality/value

This study explored the factors influencing enterprise digital transformation at the microlevel of corporate human capital, thereby providing microlevel empirical evidence for research on the factors influencing enterprise digital transformation. Its findings shed light on the mechanism and context under which executives with overseas backgrounds may enhance enterprise digital transformation and growth.
It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play: customer delight in unpredictable experiential encounters
Authors: Barnes Donald C. , Pelletier Mark J. , Collier Joel E. , Beatty Sharon E.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if customer delight is possible when the service encounter result may not be successful. Such a scenario is increasingly likely with the experiential, sticky and unpredictable nature of many competitively based experiential encounters where one side wins and the other loses.

Design/methodology/approach

Across four studies using both field and panel data, this research provides a framework to evaluate how firms can still create customer delight even if the result of the encounter is unpredictable or possibly negative. Further, the authors combine qualitative data, structural equation modeling and experimental design to test the models across four competitively based experiential contexts.

Findings

Findings indicate that firms can create delight through a variety of antecedent variables, including employee expertise, servicescape, social congruence and atmosphere. Neither importance of winning nor expectations for a win significantly alter the relationships of these antecedents in creating delight. Further, evidence from this research indicates that both feelings of nostalgia and geographic self-identity enhance delight’s effect on behavioral intentions, while geographic self-identity also enhances delight’s effect on customers’ evangelizing to others.

Research limitations/implications

This research extends the field’s understanding of the customer delight construct, sticky vs smooth encounters, as well as providing guidance to both practitioners and academics on new possibilities in the delight realm.

Practical implications

This research provides insights for practitioners on how to maximize customer emotions aside from surprisingly disconfirming customer expectations, as well as leaning into different tactics to influence the customer that are not outcome based.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research to evaluate customer delight in competitively based experiential encounters where the encounter result is unpredictable and possibly negative.
Social factors impacting student’s choice of institution for higher studies in India
Authors: Srivastava Khusboo , Dhamija Somesh
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study intends to build up a thorough understanding of social factors that largely influence students’ decision-making to opt institution for higher studies in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This descriptive research follows two sequential phases consisting of the literature review to identify social factors and validate the factors through the questionnaire method. Factor analysis was applied to identify the various factors that influence the student’s institution choice.

Findings

The research work explores and identified four factors and their associated attributes that impact students’ decision-making to opt institution for higher studies. It was found that the career advisor influence variable has the highest level of variance, followed by societal norms, social platform and cohort influence.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is limited to social factors only. Therefore, many other determinants which may influence the student’s decision-making to opt the institute for higher studies remain unaddressed in this study.

Practical implications

The findings of the study can guide the institutions' admission management in underpinning the acceptance of social factors to observe their influence on student’s choice of an institution. An important implication is the identification of career advisor influence as the strongest social factor which may bridge the student's career fit in the institution and social platform influence which may help higher education institutions to redesign their marketing strategies to augment students’ enrolment.

Originality/value

This study provides insight into the important role of social factors that impact the student's decision-making regarding institution choice in India.
Energy intensity among European Union countries: the role of renewable energy, income and trade
Authors: Gyamfi Bright Akwasi , Kwakwa Paul Adjei , Adebayo Tomiwa Sunday
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The International Energy Agency states that the global energy intensity must reduce by 2.9% yearly before attaining Sustainable Development Goal 7.3 by 2030. However, the European Union (EU) seeking to attain a climate-neutral EU by 2050 shall require a substantial rate of reducing energy intensity. Consequently, this study aims to investigate how (clean) renewable energy, income, trade openness, technological innovation and nonrenewable energy consumption impact energy intensity for the EU countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantile regression, augmented mean group and causality techniques were used for analyses. Panel data for 26 EU nations over the 1990 and 2019 period was used.

Findings

The empirical evidence indicates that the variables have long-run equilibrium relationships. However, the analysis revealed that clean energy and income reduce energy intensity whiles trade, technological innovation and nonrenewable energy consumption increase energy intensity. An interactive term analysis shows that renewable energy and trade interact to reduce further, the negative effect of income on energy intensity. Causality results revealed a feedback connection between energy intensity and clean energy, income, trade liberalization as well as the interaction between income and trade liberalization. A one-way causality was obtained between energy intensity and technological innovation, nonrenewable energy consumption and the interaction between clean energy and income.

Practical implications

The results imply that EU countries stand to gain if more resources are committed to encouraging the production and consumption of cleaner/renewable energy. Advancement in policies that support renewable energy and facilitate green growth will help reduce energy intensity for the region. Trade policies that promote lower energy consumption should be strengthened.

Originality/value

The effect of renewable energy on energy intensity is assessed. The moderating impact of renewable energy and trade openness on the income–energy intensity relationship for the EU countries is examined. Moreover, this study uses the quantile estimation technique to assess the nonlinear effect of the explanatory variables on energy intensity.
Are expensive decisions impulsive? Young adults’ impulsive housing and real estate buying behavior in India
Authors: Sehra Satleen Kaur , Godwin Benny J. , George Jossy P.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to determine website quality, materialism, psychological factors, hedonic value and social media as factors that influence the young adults’ impulsive housing and real estate buying behavior in India. In addition, this study also measures the mediating effects of social media influence between psychological factors and hedonic value and young adults’ impulsive housing and real estate buying behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Related literature, quantifiable variables with a five-point Likert Scale, hypothesis testing and mediators are used to study the model. A systematic questionnaire that was divided into six sections was used. A total of 385 valid responses were collected and analyzed through a structural equation model.

Findings

The results suggest that materialism, psychological factors and social media have a considerable impact on young adults’ impulsive housing and real estate buying behavior. The findings also ascertained that website quality and hedonic value do not have a considerable impact on young adults’ impulsive housing and real estate buying behavior.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to the responses of young consumers from a limited number of brokers and regions in India. Future studies could be more widespread across the globe.

Originality/value

As per the review of existing literature, this research is the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to determine the factors affecting the impulse buying decision mainly in the housing and real estate sector with the target consumers being young.
Who uses deceptive impression management to succeed at job interviews? The role of ethical ideologies and work locus of control
Authors: Bhaskar Uday , Mishra Bijaya , Yadav Nidhi , Sinha Paresha
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Drawing upon theories of ethical ideologies (idealism and relativism) and work locus of control, this study aims to examine how ethical ideology in job seekers influences their use of deceptive impression management (deceptive IM) behavior during job interviews.

Design/methodology/approach

A time-lagged study was conducted with two measurement waves to test our hypotheses. AMOS-SEM, which included bootstrapping (5,000 re-sampling) procedures to analyze the data, was used.

Findings

Results indicate that a job seeker's relativistic ethical ideology influences their use of deceptive IM behavior during job interviews and work locus of control – internal [WLOC (internal)] mediates this relationship. Exploring the relationship between ethical ideologies of job seekers and their deceptive IM behavior at job interviews, this study found that relativistic individuals with WLOC (internal) were more inclined to engage in deceptive IM.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to explore the role of ethical ideology in influencing deception IM behavior during job interviews. Knowledge of the relationship between job seekers ethical ideologies and deception IM behavior at job interviews would alert HR managers to adopt additional screening processes to detect candidates who indulge in deceptive IM behavior to exaggerate their image to influence the interviewer's perception.
An approach for DoS attack detection in cloud computing using sine cosine anti coronavirus optimized deep maxout network
Authors: Boopathi Mythili , Chavan Meena , J. Jeneetha Jebanazer , Kumar Sanjay Nakharu Prasad
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The Denial of Service (DoS) attack is a category of intrusion that devours various services and resources of the organization by the dispersal of unusable traffic, so that reliable users are not capable of getting benefit from the services. In general, the DoS attackers preserve their independence by collaborating several victim machines and following authentic network traffic, which makes it more complex to detect the attack. Thus, these issues and demerits faced by existing DoS attack recognition schemes in cloud are specified as a major challenge to inventing a new attack recognition method.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims to detect DoS attack detection scheme, termed as sine cosine anti coronavirus optimization (SCACVO)-driven deep maxout network (DMN). The recorded log file is considered in this method for the attack detection process. Significant features are chosen based on Pearson correlation in the feature selection phase. The over sampling scheme is applied in the data augmentation phase, and then the attack detection is done using DMN. The DMN is trained by the SCACVO algorithm, which is formed by combining sine cosine optimization and anti-corona virus optimization techniques.

Findings

The SCACVO-based DMN offers maximum testing accuracy, true positive rate and true negative rate of 0.9412, 0.9541 and 0.9178, respectively.

Originality/value

The DoS attack detection using the proposed model is accurate and improves the effectiveness of the detection.
Effects of different temperatures and loads on the tribological behavior of foamed iron-reinforced SiCp/A359 composites
Authors: Liu Yinfu , He Guoqiu , Liu Xiaoshan , Pan Jiaqi , Zhou Zhiqiang , Liao Yiping , He Qiao , Xu Xiaojun
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To improve the high-temperature wear properties of the SiCp/A359 composite, foamed iron-reinforced SiCp/A359 composite (A359–SiCp/Fe) is prepared. The purpose of this study is to investigate the tribological behavior and mechanism of the A359–SiCp/Fe composites at different temperatures (100–500 °C) and loads (7 N, 10 N and 12 N).

Design/methodology/approach

The A359–SiCp/Fe composite was fabricated by vacuum-assisted infiltration. The dry sliding tribological behaviors of A359–SiCp/Fe composite were investigated using the ball-on-disc-type tribometer. The worn surface and wear morphology of the longitudinal section were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and metallographic microscope.

Findings

The critical transition temperature for severe wear in A359–SiCp/Fe composite was 50–100 °C higher than in SiCp/A359 composite. Foamed iron prevents exfoliation cracks from penetrating deeper into the matrix. The friction coefficient stability of the A359–SiCp/Fe composite was higher than the unreinforced composite at elevated temperatures. With the increase in temperature, the friction-affected layer was severely worn, and the wear mechanism transferred from abrasion and delamination to oxidation and plastic flow, respectively.

Originality/value

The preparation procedure for aluminum matrix composites reinforced with foamed metal has been less reported, and the research on the tribological behavior and mechanism of A359–SiCp/Fe composite at various temperatures is insufficient. The foamed iron structure considerably enhances the wear properties of SiCp/A359 composite in elevated temperature conditions.
How does perceived organizational justice mediate talent management of non-high potential employees and their outcomes?
Authors: Alimansyah Maman , Takahashi Yoshi
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study examines how perceived organizational justice mediates the relationship between talent management (TM) and non-high potential employees (NHPE) outcomes (i.e. affective commitment, job satisfaction, and the intention to leave) in the public sector, thereby clarifying the underlying mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a causal mediation analysis of the findings of a scenario-based survey with 748 public-sector NHPEs by adopting a post-test experimental design.

Findings

Perceived distributive justice and perceived procedural justice mediated the relationships among equal resource distribution/TM procedures and NHPE outcomes, respectively.

Originality/value

This study extends and clarifies the argument for fairness judgments based on the gap in resource allocation and the presence or absence of the six rules of procedural justice that affect the attitudes and behaviors of NHPEs, who are generally more affected by TM but underexplored, in the public sector in which NHPEs are considered to be more sensitive to TM due to the egalitarian culture of public sector.
Challenges of orientalist productions and frames of an imagined other: a media monitoring analysis
Authors: Loza Yasmine
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper offers a critical discussion to contribute to sociological work by emphasizing deconstruction(s) of the markers of gendered and racialized borders and epistemological injustice(s) in theory and practice of contemporary global frames of representation and women's intersectional identities and rights. Through a postcolonial, situated feminist approach, the theoretical framework aims to scope and review literature from the South and North.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employs a mixed-methodology of a survey paper and media critical discourse analysis of media monitoring frames of Egyptian women's rights post–Arab spring. The content, layout and imageries produced by representations are assessed to explore whether there are lingering subtle and blatant hints of continued orientalism in knowledge canons.

Findings

The underlying causes for misconceptions and reductionist sociopolitical attitudes may be styled by patriarchal and orientalist imposition and are highly found to be somewhat maintained by persistent Western-centric epistemologies claiming to define or speak for the so-called other. The above-mentioned structures are evidently channelled through languages which essentialize and control women of the South, urging for further research in knowledge canons which calls oppressive frames into question.

Originality/value

More feminist contributions from non-Western gazes are needed to fill gaps in canons of knowledge and deconstruct patriarchal and colonial codes which impose inequalities on women as seen through the survey paper of theoretical representation and media politics.