bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome and shunt detection with bubble studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Odenbach Jeffrey , Dhanoa Sumeet , Sebastianski Meghan , Milovanovic Lazar , Robinson Andrea , Mah Graham , Rewa Oleksa G. , Bagshaw Sean M. , Buchanan Brian , Lau Vincent I.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening respiratory injury with multiple physiological sequalae. Shunting of deoxygenated blood through intra and extra-pulmonary shunts is one consequence that may complicate ARDS management. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to determine the prevalence of sonographically detected shunt and its association with oxygenation and mortality in patients with ARDS.

Data Sources

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and DARE databases on March 26, 2021

Study Selection

Articles relating to respiratory failure and sonographic shunt detection.

Data Extraction

Articles were independently screened and extracted in duplicate. Data pertaining to study demographics and shunt detection were compiled for mortality and oxygenation outcomes. Risk of bias was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale tools with evidence rating certainty using GRADE methodology.

Data Synthesis

From 4,617 citations, 10 observational studies met eligibility criteria. Sonographic detection of right-to-left shunt was present in 21.8% of patients (range:14.4-30.0%) amongst included studies using transthoracic, transesophageal and transcranial bubble Doppler sonography. Shunt prevalence may be associated with increased mortality (risk ratio: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.49, p=0.04, very low certainty evidence) with no difference in oxygenation as measured by PaO2:FiO2ratio (mean difference -0.7, 95% CI: -18.6 to 17.2, p=0.94, very low certainty evidence).

Conclusions

Intra- and extra-pulmonary shunts are detected frequently in ARDS with ultrasound techniques. Shunts may increase mortality amongst patients with ARDS, but its association with oxygenation is uncertain. Future research should explore the role of shunt in ARDS, their association with mortality, and whether targeted precision medicine interventions can improve outcomes.

PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42021245194 (March 26, 2021)

Key Points

Question:In adult critically ill ARDS patients, what is the prevalence of right-to-left shunts, and what are their effects on mortality and/or oxygenation?

Findings:In this systematic review and meta-analysis, shunts be may prevalent in ∼1 in 5 ARDS patients. They may be associated with a statistically significant increase in mortality, with no difference in oxygenation parameters.

Meaning:Intra- and extra-pulmonary shunts are detected frequently in ARDS with ultrasound techniques, and may increase mortality amongst patients with ARDS (although its association with oxygenation is uncertain).
Neural Network-Derived Potts Models for Structure-Based Protein Design using Backbone Atomic Coordinates and Tertiary Motifs
Authors: Li Alex J. , Lu Mindren , Desta Israel , Sundar Vikram , Grigoryan Gevorg , Keating Amy E.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Designing novel proteins to perform desired functions, such as binding or catalysis, is a major goal in synthetic biology. A variety of computational approaches can aid in this task. An energy-based framework rooted in the sequence-structure statistics of tertiary motifs (TERMs) can be used for sequence design on pre-defined backbones. Neural network models that use backbone coordinate-derived features provide another way to design new proteins. In this work, we combine the two methods to make neural structure-based models more suitable for protein design. Specifically, we supplement backbone-coordinate features with TERM-derived data, as inputs, and we generate energy functions as outputs. We present two architectures that generate Potts models over the sequence space: TERMinator, which uses both TERM-based and coordinate-based information, and COORDinator, which uses only coordinate-based information. Using these two models, we demonstrate that TERMs can be utilized to improve native sequence recovery performance of neural models. Furthermore, we demonstrate that sequences designed by TERMinator are predicted to fold to their target structures by AlphaFold. Finally, we show that both TERMinator and COORDinator learn notions of energetics, and these methods can be fine-tuned on experimental data to improve predictions. Our results suggest that using TERM-based and coordinate-based features together may be beneficial for protein design and that structure-based neural models that produce Potts energy tables have utility for flexible applications in protein science.

Code

Code will be made publically available at https://github.com/alexjli/terminator_public
Taxonomic, genomic, and functional variation in the gut microbiomes of wild spotted hyenas across two decades of study
Authors: Rojas Connie A. , Holekamp Kay E. , Jasso Mariette Viladomat , Souza Valeria , Eisen Jonathan A. , Theis Kevin R.
Published: August 2022

The gut microbiome provides vital functions for mammalian hosts, yet research on the variability and function of the microbiome across adult lifespans and multiple generations is limited in large mammalian carnivores. Here we use 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing to profile the taxonomic composition, genomic diversity, and metabolic function of the gut microbiome of 12 wild spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) residing in the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya over a 23-year period spanning three generations. We determined the extent to which host factors predict variation in the gut microbiome and identify the core microbes present in the guts of hyenas. We also investigate novel genomic diversity in the mammalian gut by reporting the first metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) for hyenas. We found that gut microbiome taxonomic composition was highly variable across the two decades of sampling, but despite this, a core set of 14 bacterial genera and 19 amplicon sequence variants were identified. The strongest predictors of microbiome alpha and beta-diversity were host identity and age, suggesting that hyenas possess individualized microbiomes, and that these may change with age during adulthood. Gut microbiome functional profiles were also individual-specific, and were moderately correlated with antelope prey abundance, indicating that the functions of the gut microbiome vary with host diet. We recovered 149 high-quality MAGs from the hyena gut, spanning 25 bacterial orders and 51 genera. Some MAGs were classified as taxa previously reported for other carnivores, but many were novel and lacked species level matches to genomes in existing reference databases.

Importance

There is a gap in knowledge regarding the genomic diversity and variation of the gut microbiome across a host’s lifespan and across multiple generations of hosts in wild mammals. Using two types of sequencing approaches, we demonstrate that although gut microbiomes are individualized and temporally variable among hyenas, they correlate similarly to large-scale changes in their host’s ecological environment. We also recovered 149 high-quality MAGs from the hyena gut, greatly expanding the microbial genome repertoire known for hyenas, carnivores and wild mammals in general. Some MAGs came from genera abundant in the gastrointestinal tracts of canid species and other carnivores but over 80% of MAGs were novel and from species previously not represented in genome databases. Collectively, our novel body of work illustrates the importance of surveying the gut microbiome of non-model wild hosts, using multiple sequencing methods and computational approaches, and at distinct scales of analysis.
Antagonistic interactions between odorants alter human odor perception
Authors: Fukutani Yosuke , Abe Masashi , Saito Haruka , Eguchi Ryo , Tazawa Toshiaki , de March Claire A. , Yohda Masafumi , Matsunami Hiroaki
Published: August 2022

The olfactory system detects a vast number of odorants using hundreds of olfactory receptors (ORs), the largest group of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. Each OR is activated by specific odorous ligands. Like other GPCRs, activation of ORs may be blocked through antagonism. Recent reports highlight widespread antagonisms in odor mixtures influencing olfactory neuron activities. However, it is unclear if and how these antagonisms influence perception of odor mixtures. Here we show that odorant antagonisms at the receptor level alter odor perception. Using a large-scale heterologous expression, we first identified a set of human ORs that are activated by methanethiol and hydrogen sulfide, two extremely potent volatile sulfur malodors. We then screened odorants that block activation of these ORs and identified a set of antagonists, including β-ionone. Finally, human sensory evaluation revealed that odor intensity and unpleasantness of methanethiol were decreased by β-ionone. Odor intensity of β-ionone itself is not correlated with the degree of suppression of malodor sensation. Suppression was also not observed when methanethiol and β-ionone were simultaneously introduced to different nostrils. Together, our data supports the model that odor sensation is altered through antagonistic interactions at the level of the ORs.
Single Cell Transcriptomics identifies a WNT7A-FZD5 Signaling Axis that maintains Fallopian Tube Stem Cells in Patient-derived Organoids
Authors: Alsaadi Abdulkhaliq , Artibani Mara , Hu Zhiyuan , Wietek Nina , Morotti Matteo , Gonzales Laura Santana , Alazzam Moiad , Jiang Jason , Abdul Beena , Soleymani majd Hooman , Blazer Levi L , Adams Jarret , Silvestri Francesca , Sidhu Sachdev S , Brugge Joan S. , Ahmed Ahmed Ashour
Published: August 2022

Despite its significance to reproduction, fertility, sexually transmitted infections and various pathologies, the fallopian tube (FT) is relatively understudied. Strong evidence points to the FT as the tissue-of-origin of high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), the most fatal gynaecological malignancy. HGSOC precursor lesions arise specifically in the distal FT (fimbria) which is reported to be enriched in stem-like cells. Investigation of the role of FT stem cells in health and disease has been hampered by a lack of characterization of FT stem cells and lack of models that recapitulate stem cell renewal and differentiationin vitro. Using optimized organoid culture conditions to address these limitations, we found that FT stem cell renewal is highly dependent on WNT/β-catenin signaling and engineered endogenous WNT/β-catenin signaling reporter organoids to biomark, isolate and characterize putative FT stem cells. Using functional approaches as well as bulk and single cell transcriptomic analyses, we show that an endogenous hormonally-regulated WNT7A-FZD5 signaling axis is critical for self-renewal of human FT stem cells, and that WNT/β-catenin pathway-activated FT cells form a distinct transcriptomic cluster of cells enriched in ECM remodelling and integrin signaling pathways. In addition, we find that the WNT7A-FZD5 signaling axis is dispensable for mouse oviduct regeneration. Overall, we provide a deep characterization of FT stem cells and their molecular requirements for self-renewal, paving the way for mechanistic work investigating the role of stem cells in FT health and disease.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Primary Somatosensory Cortex Bidirectionally Modulates Sensory Gain and Nociceptive Behavior in a Layer-Specific Manner
Authors: Ziegler Katharina , Folkard Ross , Gonzalez Antonio J , Burghardt Jan , Antharvedi-Goda Sailaja , Martin-Cortecero Jesus , Isaías-Camacho Emilio , Kaushalya Sanjeev , Tan Linette Liqi , Kuner Thomas , Acuna Claudio , Kuner Rohini , Mease Rebecca , Groh Alexander
Published: August 2022

The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is a hub for body sensation of both innocuous and noxious signals, yet its role in somatosensation versus pain is debated. Despite known contributions of S1 to sensory gain modulation, its causal involvement in subjective sensory experiences remains elusive. Here, in mouse S1, we reveal the involvement of cortical output neurons in layers 5 (L5) and 6 (L6) in the perception of innocuous and noxious somatosensory signals. We find that L6 activation can drive aversive hypersensitivity and spontaneous nocifensive behavior. Linking behavior to neuronal mechanisms, we find that L6 enhances thalamic somatosensory responses, and in parallel, strongly suppresses L5 neurons. Directly suppressing L5 reproduced the pronociceptive phenotype induced by L6 activation, suggesting an anti-nociceptive function for L5 output. Indeed, L5 activation reduced sensory sensitivity and reversed inflammatory allodynia. Together, these findings reveal a layer-specific and bidirectional role for S1 in modulating subjective sensory experiences.
Common neural choice signals can emerge artifactually amidst multiple distinct value signals
Authors: Frömer R. , Nassar M.R. , Ehinger B.V. , Shenhav A.
Published: August 2022

Previous work has identified characteristic neural signatures of value-based decision-making, including neural dynamics that closely resemble the ramping evidence accumulation process believed to underpin choice. Here, we test whether these signatures of the choice process can be temporally dissociated from additional, choice-independentvalue signals. Indeed, EEG activity during value-based choice revealed distinct spatiotemporal clusters, with a stimulus-locked cluster reflecting affective reactions to choice sets and a response-locked cluster reflecting choice difficulty. Surprisingly,neitherof these clusters met the criteria for an evidence accumulation signal. Instead, we found that stimulus-locked activity canmimican evidence accumulation process when aligned to the response. Re-analyzing four previous studies – including three perceptual decision-making studies – we show that response-locked signatures of evidence accumulation disappear when stimulus-locked and response-locked activity are modelled jointly. Collectively, our findings show that neural signatures of value can reflect choice-independent processes and look deceptively like evidence accumulation.

Significance Statement

To choose, people must evaluate their options and select between them. Selection is well described by a process of accumulating evidence up to some threshold, with an electrophysiological signature in the centroparietal positivity (CPP). However, decision-making also gives rise to value signals reflecting affective reactions and other selection-unrelated processes. Measuring EEG while participants made value-based choices, we identified two spatiotemporally distinct value signals, neither reflecting evidence accumulation. Instead, we show that evidence accumulation signals found in the CPP can arise artifactually from overlapping stimulus- and response-related activity. These findings call for a significant reexamination of established links between neural and computational mechanisms of choice, while inviting deeper consideration of the array of cognitive and affective processes that occur in parallel.
GATA transcription factors drive initial Xist upregulation after fertilization through direct activation of a distal enhancer element
Authors: Lustig Liat Ravid , Kumar Abhishek Sampath , Schwämmle Till , Dunkel Ilona , Noviello Gemma , Weigert Raha , Pacini Guido , Buschow René , Ghauri Afrah , Stötzel Maximilian , Wittler Lars , Meissner Alexander , Schulz Edda G.
Published: August 2022

To ensure dosage compensation for X-linked genes between the sexes, one X chromosome is silenced during early embryonic development of female mammals. This process of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is initiated through upregulation of the RNA Xist from one X chromosome shortly after fertilization. Xist then mediates chromosome-wide gene silencing in cis and remains expressed in all cell types except the germ line and the pluripotent state, where XCI is reversed. The factors that drive Xist upregulation and thereby initiate XCI remain however unknown. We identify GATA transcription factors as potent Xist activators and demonstrate that they are essential for the activation of Xist in mice following fertilization. Through a pooled CRISPR activation screen we find that GATA1 can drive ectopic Xist expression in murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs). We demonstrate that all GATA factors can activate Xist directly via a GATA-responsive regulatory element (RE79) positioned 100 kb upstream of the Xist promoter. Additionally, GATA factors are essential for the induction of XCI in mouse preimplantation embryos, as simultaneous deletion of three members of the GATA family (GATA1/4/6) in mouse zygotes effectively prevents Xist upregulation. Thus, initiation of XCI and possibly its maintenance in distinct lineages of the preimplantation embryo is ensured by the combined activity of different GATA family members, and the absence of GATA factors in the pluripotent state likely contributes to X reactivation. We thus describe a form of regulation in which the combined action of numerous tissue-specific factors can achieve near-ubiquitous expression of a target gene.
Dynamic interplay between non-coding enhancer transcription and gene activity in development
Authors: Hamamoto Kota , Fukaya Takashi
Published: August 2022

Non-coding transcription at the intergenic regulatory regions is a prevalent feature of metazoan genomes, but its biological function remains uncertain. Here, we devised a live-imaging system that permits simultaneous visualization of gene activity along with intergenic non-coding transcription at the single-cell resolution in Drosophila. Quantitative image analysis revealed that elongation of RNA polymerase II across the internal core region of enhancers leads to suppression of transcriptional bursting from linked genes. Super-resolution imaging and genome-editing analysis further demonstrated that enhancer transcription antagonizes molecular crowding of transcription factors, thereby interrupting the formation of transcription hub at the gene locus. We also show that a certain class of developmental enhancers are structurally optimized to co-activate gene transcription together with non-coding transcription effectively. We suggest that enhancer function is flexibly tunable through the modulation of hub formation via surrounding non-coding transcription during development.
Towards a framework for the scale-up of rehabilitation for patients with non-communicable disease in low-resource settings
Authors: Heine Martin , Derman Wayne , Hanekom Susan
Published: August 2022

Objective

To explore and synthesize critical factors for the scale-up of comprehensive rehabilitation care for people with non-communicable disease in low-resourced settings.

Methods

A core set of 81 articles were selected from two published scoping reviews. Using the principles of thematic analysis, the core set was analysed for factors that may directly or indirectly affect the feasibility or scale-up of rehabilitation. Categories and themes were formulated via an iterative team approach using the core set (n=81). Subsequently, we triangulated the thematic analysis against our findings from a feasibility study conducted in a low-resourced, urban, setting in South Africa. Next, a validation article set (n=63) was identified by updating the searches for the respective published reviews, and a purposeful sample of articles drawn from the validation set (n=13; 20%) was used to validate the factors identified in the primary analysis based on the principles of data saturation.

Findings

A total of 40 different themes (i.e., critical factors) were derived from 169 categories. Subsequently the identified factors could be packaged into nine system elements principal for the scale-up of rehabilitation for people with NCDs in terms of increasing population coverage, increasing comprehensiveness, and integration within existing health structures.

Conclusion

A multitude of factors which affect the feasibility and scale-up of rehabilitation for NCDs in low resource settings were identified. These factors are multi-dimensional and multi-directional. Researchers and policy makers should consider these factors and their interconnectedness when planning to address the rehabilitation needs through implementation and scale-up initiatives.
Improving access to mental health services for those experiencing multiple disadvantage
Authors: Moreton Rachel , Welford Jo , Collinson Beth , Greason Laura , Milner Chris
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the barriers to accessing mental health support for people experiencing multiple disadvantage along with some potential solutions for attempting to overcome these. It draws on evidence and learning from 12 voluntary sector-led partnerships in England funded by the National Lottery Community Fund’s Fulfilling Lives programme.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research was undertaken with frontline staff, senior leaders, volunteers, beneficiaries and stakeholders from Fulfilling Lives partnerships. This comprised focus groups (21 participants) and individual face-to-face interviews (41 participants), both of which explored barriers and local solutions to accessing statutory mental health services. Following a thematic analysis of transcripts, research participants and stakeholders were invited to a face-to-face workshop to review and validate emerging findings (34 participants).

Findings

People experiencing multiple disadvantage face significant barriers in accessing support for their mental health. These include a complex system that is difficult to navigate, long waiting lists, high eligibility thresholds and models of support that lack flexibility. Fulfilling Lives partnerships have had the funding and the flexibility to trial different approaches. Promising solutions to barriers include the use of navigators, person-centred support and multi-agency networks and training. However, overcoming systemic barriers remains the most difficult challenge.

Originality/value

Fulfilling Lives was a rare example of substantial and long-term (eight years) funding to work with people experiencing multiple disadvantage. This provided a unique opportunity to try different approaches and gather learning. The programme evaluation provides insights into the experiences of people facing multiple disadvantage and those who support them and offers evidence-based suggestions for policy and practice.
Authentic assessment and work-based learning: the case of professional studies in a post-COVID Australia
Authors: Fergusson Lee , van der Laan Luke , Imran Sophia , Danaher Patrick Alan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To explore the conceptualisation and operationalisation of authentic assessment in work-based learning and research.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationship between authentic assessment and work-based learning and research is examined using a postgraduate degree program at a regional university in Australia as a case example to identify unique pedagogical features of work-based learning as they are linked to assessment.

Findings

A dynamic is created between formative and summative authentic assessment practices and the cross-current nature of learning in work and research, leading to a range of lifelong learning outcomes. A framework for such a dynamic is presented.

Originality/value

The pedagogy informing work-based learning emphasises developing higher-order thinking through reflective practice, developing competencies and capabilities associated with professional practice and developing academic writing and research skills to enhance professional identity at the postgraduate level for mid- to senior-career professionals. However, the relationship of authentic assessment to work-based learning and research has not been explicated in the literature and its application in post-COVID work environments has yet to be fully examined.
Climate change and its impact on rice acreage in high-latitude regions of China: an estimation by machine learning
Authors: Yu Yan , Tian Qingsong , Yan Fengxian
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Fewer researchers have investigated the climatic and economic drivers of land-use change simultaneously and the interplay between drivers. This paper aims to investigate the nonlinear and interaction effects of price and climate variables on the rice acreage in high-latitude regions of China.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies a multivariate adaptive regression spline to characterize the effects of price and climate expectations on rice acreage in high-latitude regions of China from 1992 to 2017. Then, yield expectation is added into the model to investigate the mechanism of climate effects on rice area allocation.

Findings

The results of importance assessment suggest that rice price, climate and total agricultural area play an important role in rice area allocation, and the importance of temperature is always higher than that of precipitation, especially for minimum temperature. Based on the estimated hinge functions and coefficients, it is found that total agricultural area has strong nonlinear and interaction effects with climate and price as forms of third-order interaction. However, the order of interaction terms reduces to second order after absorbing the expected yield. Additionally, the marginal effects of driven factors are calculated at different quantiles. The total area shows a positive and increasing marginal effect with the increase of total area. But the positive impact of price on the rice area can only be observed when price reached 50% or higher quantiles. Climate variables also show strong nonlinear marginal effects, and most climatic effects would disappear or be weakened once absorbing the expected rice yield. Expected yield is an efficient mechanism to explain the correlation between crop area and climate variables, but the impact of minimum temperature cannot be completely modeled by the yield expectation.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the nonlinear response of land-use change to climate and economic in high-latitude regions of China using the machine learning method.
The three-phase expatriate cycle of developing global human resources in the banking industry in Taiwan
Authors: Hooi Lai Wan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the success factors needed for the development of global human resources from both the organisation’s and expatriates’ perspectives in emerging eastern economies. Specifically, this study focuses on pre-expatriation preparation, during-expatriation adjustment and post-expatriation repatriation.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 23 Taiwanese personnel contributed to this case study. Data collected from the focus group discussion and open-ended asynchronous email interviews was analysed using the content analysis approach.

Findings

The results of this study revealed four main selection criteria for the selection process and five desired preparation methods from the organisation and the expatriates’ perspectives.

Originality/value

This study makes two main contributions to cross-cultural related global human resources research. Firstly, this study deepens understanding on the pathway to developing culturally intelligent global human resources for successful mission accomplishment from both the organisation and expatriates’ perspectives based on a three-phase expatriation process in emerging eastern economies. Secondly, this study provides an insight into the best practices that HR practitioners can use in developing global human resources for expatriation.
Philosophical understanding of the dynamics and control of occupational fraud in the public sector: contingency analysis
Authors: Maulidi Ach
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the roles of organisational control, structure, culture and technology in preventing occupational fraud. This study is essential in the current time. It brings a significant impact on both theory and practice. In the existing studies, there is a lack of clarity on a specific mechanism to prevent organisational fraud. The problem is that they tend to generalise the types of organisational fraud. Conceptually, organisational fraud may include corruption, double funding, asset misappropriation, bribery or falsification of documents. However, many scholars tend to neglect such diversities. Consequently, many occupational fraud cases become unstoppable, particularly corruption. To deal with this topical issue, the current study applies the term “occupational fraud” cited by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, consisting of corruption, asset misappropriation and fraudulent financial statement.

Design/methodology/approach

This study surveyed three Indonesian Local Governments. This study focussed on management levels that have strong power for coordinating governmental activities. The author chose these local governments because their local leaders (the regents) were jailed due to corruption scandals. As expected, this study gives us different perceptions of how fraud mitigation should be designed in the organisation.

Findings

The results suggest that corruption is a little bit complex than other types of occupational fraud. It is improbable to be prevented through technological and administrative approaches. As such, organisations need to think of extra efforts that could perfectly tailor the organisational control and organisational culture, organisational structure and technological advancement. The benefit of this effort is related to diagnosing the fit or misfit of organisation designs in addressing the dynamic dimensions of corporate governance. Then, it can also strengthen the efficacy of preventive measures to deal with occupational fraud.

Originality/value

This study provides a provocative discussion regarding the public perception of occupational fraud, consisting of corruption, asset misappropriation and financial statement fraud. And this study also offers a new refined conceptual analysis of how to deal with such types of occupational fraud by incorporating contingency theory and the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO’s) internal control components.
Agglomerative clustering enhanced GA for optimal seed selection in online social networks
Authors: Mehta Shikha
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The social media revolution has brought tremendous change in business strategies for marketing and promoting the products and services. Online social networks have become prime choice to promote the products because of the large size of online communities. Identification of seed nodes or identifying the users who are able to maximize the spread of information over the network is the key challenge faced by organizations. It is proved as non-deterministic polynomial-time hard problem. The purpose of this paper is to design an efficient algorithm for optimal seed selection to cover the online social network as much as possible to maximize the influence. In this approach, agglomerative clustering is used to generate the initial population of seed nodes for GA.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper agglomerative clustering based approach is proposed to generate the initial population of seed nodes for GA. This approach helps in creating the initial populations of Genetic algorithm from different parts of the network. Genetic algorithm evolves this population and aids in generating the best seed nodes in the network.

Findings

The performance of of proposed approach is assessed with respect to existing seed selection approaches like k-medoid, k-means, general greedy, random, discounted degree and high degree. The algorithms are compared over networks data sets with varying out-degree ratio. Experiments reveal that the proposed approach is able to improve the spread of influence by 35% as compared to contemporary techniques.

Originality/value

This paper is original contribution. The agglomerative clustering-based GA for optimal seed selection is developed to improve the spread of influence in online social networks. This paper is of immense importance for viral marketing and the organizations willing to promote product or services online via influential personalities.
Covid pandemic, politics and bank performance
Authors: Fayman Alex
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The paper aims to highlight differences in bank performance based on state politics during the onset of the Covid pandemic. The response to Covid pandemic created an unusual opportunity for an investigation of how politics impacts banking due to the initial response to the pandemic being heavily impacted by political affiliation states' governors and dominant parties in state legislatures. Previous research looked at impact of elections on the federal level (both executive and legislative branches) on bank risk and performance. The response to the Covid pandemic in 2020 allows for an investigation on how political influence on the state level impacted banks performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The Covid pandemic was an unexpected storm that entered the United States with a vengeance in 2020, taking countless lives and ravaging the economic landscape. The response to the pandemic quickly took a political spin as republican governors showed greater reluctance to shutter business activity in hopes of slowing down the spread of the virus than their democratic counterparts. This paper examines the impact of the two Americas created along the lines of political influence as it impacted bank performance over four-quarters beginning with the fourth quarter of 2019. All US banks are split into groups based on the political affiliation of state governors and the dominant party in state legislatures to measure impact of politics on bank performance and risk.

Findings

This research finds that banks operating in states with republican governors produced greater profits and exhibited higher liquidity levels. The same results held for banks in states where both the governorship and the legislature were controlled by republicans versus banks in states where both the governor and the legislature were democratic. Interestingly, the findings present a reversal when examining banks in states led by republican governors and democratic legislatures versus banks in states with democratic governors and republican legislatures. In those instances of mixed leadership, banks in states with democratic governors tend to show greater profits, greater liquidity while demonstrating lower asset quality.

Originality/value

A paper published in Managerial Finance in 2018 discussed the impact of the parties in control of the White house and the legislative branch on bank performance and risk. There have been no studies, to the author’s knowledge, that look at how states' political leadership (gubernatorial and legislative) impact on bank performance. Because the response to the Covid pandemic became a politically polarized issue, the onset of the crisis allowed for measurement of how different responses by republican and democratic state leadership impacted bank performance and risk.
Is employer collection of diversity data attractive to potential job seekers? Ethnicity and sex differences and a UK–Sweden comparison
Authors: Heath Amanda J. , Carlsson Magnus , Agerström Jens
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Many organisations monitor statistics on the background of job applicants to inform diversity management, a practice known as equality monitoring (EM). The study examines perceptions of EM and employers that use it. Additionally, it aims to assess potentially salient group differences in attitudes towards EM, focussing on perceived history of employment discrimination, ethnicity, sex, and a comparison between the UK and Sweden – two countries which differ extensively in EM prevalence.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional self-report survey assessed attitudes toward EM, attraction to employers using it, pro-equality and diversity attitudes, perceived history of employment discrimination and background characteristics (e.g. ethnicity and sex), and compared a UK and Sweden sample (N = 925).

Findings

The results reveal positive perceptions of EM overall. Although no differences were observed between UK ethnic majority and minority respondents, White British men rate employers using EM as less attractive with increasing levels of perceived past discrimination. Women have more positive perceptions than men. Finally, the UK sample rated EM more positively than the Sweden sample.

Originality/value

Despite EM being widespread, the study is the first to investigate detailed perceptions of it, making group and country comparisons. Results support the use of EM in HRM but highlight the need for clear communication to avoid confusion with positive discrimination, which is perceived negatively in some majority group members, and to allay fears of data misuse. Recommendations are made for future implementation.
Calcium alginate film with excellent shape memory effect
Authors: Wang Wenjun , Shen Luting , Si Yinsong , MD Zahidul Islam , Abdullaev Azim , Dong Yubing
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Sodium alginate (Na-Alg) is a natural polysaccharide with a rich and renewable production that is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and daily necessities industries, among other fields. The purpose of this study is to obtain a green and degradable shape memory material, calcium alginate (Ca-Alg) film was prepared and the mechanical properties, the shape memory effect of the film were investigated and confirmed.

Design/methodology/approach

The Ca-Alg films were prepared by Na-Alg, calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution, and flow extension method. Dissolve sodium alginate powder, remove bubbles, pour into petri dish, dry at 60°C, add calcium chloride solution cross-linking and finally dry naturally. The effect of CaCl2 solution concentration on the mechanical properties of the films were investigated and discussed by universal tensile tester. The shape memory behavior and degradation performance of thin films were verified and studied by the fold-deploy shape memory test and soil embedding method, respectively.

Findings

The Ca-Alg films exhibited good mechanical and shape memory properties, with a 72.2% shape memory fixity ratio and a 92.3% shape memory recovery ratio, respectively. For a period of 120 days, the film treated with a 6 wt% CaCl2 solution degraded at a rate of approximately 53%.

Research limitations/implications

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) as intelligent materials are an important research direction for the development of modern high-tech materials. On the other hand, plastic pollution is a major problem today; as a result, preparing green degradable SMPs is essential.

Originality/value

This study synthesized transparent and degradable shape memory Ca-Alg films using Na-Alg and CaCl2 solution and the flow extension method.
Development of functional textile via microencapsulation of peppermint oils: a novel approach in textile finishing
Authors: Tariq Zeeshan , Izhar Fatima , Malik Mumtaz Hasan , Oneeb Muhammad , Anwar Faiza , Abbas Mudassar , Khan Asfandyar
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The efforts of researchers in the 21st century have been devoted to developing novel approaches to leave planet earth green for future generations. This study aims to report the synthesis of microcapsules from natural essential peppermint oil and their application to a bleached polyester and cotton (PC) blended fabric.

Design/methodology/approach

Microcapsules were prepared by a complex coacervation process and applied through the conventional pad-dry-cure method. The liquid suspension of the microcapsules was examined by optical microscopy to investigate the surface morphology of the microcapsules. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the surface morphology of the fabric after the application of the microcapsules. The finished fabric was checked for its mosquito repellent activity at the lab scale using a standard test protocol (cage test) by inserting a human arm and hand enfolded with microcapsules treated fabric.

Findings

PC fabric treated with 6% microencapsulated peppermint oil at zero wash showed 95.3% repellency against mosquitoes, and after 30 washes, the repellency was 85.8% which confirmed the durability of the developed finished fabric. The finished samples exhibited excellent air permeabilities and absorbencies.

Originality/value

This study successfully developed peppermint oil microencapsulated fabric with excellent efficacy against three mosquito species.
A case of infantile tinea of vellus hair confirmed by dermoscopy and scanning electron microscopy and detection of infected source
Authors: Xu Xiaoxi , Pradhan Sushmita , Zhang Chaoliang , Ran Yuping
Published: August 2022

Tinea of vellus hair is an unusual form of superficial skin infection, with a distinct prognosis from ordinary tinea. We report a case of tinea of vellus hair in a 7‐month‐old infant. Infected hairs were observed by dermoscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection confirmed the pet cat as a source causing the infection. A literature review was performed to summarize the clinical characteristics of this form of infection.
Anticipating infection: How parasitism risk changes animal physiology
Authors: Lopes Patricia C.
Published: August 2022

Uninfected animals can attempt to prevent parasitism in many ways. Behavioural avoidance of parasitized conspecifics, for instance, is documented in several species.

Interactions with parasitized conspecifics can also, however, lead to physiological changes in uninfected animals, an effect that is much less well studied, and consequently, less well understood. The way in which exposure to parasitism risk changes the physiology of uninfected animals and the impacts of those changes on animal fitness remain a significant gap in knowledge.

Determining how the disease environment experienced by animals impacts their physiology, survival and reproduction has major implications for our knowledge of how parasites affect populations beyond their consumptive effects. If the physiological changes triggered in uninfected animals help reduce disease burden or speed up recovery from disease, they can have cascading effects on disease dynamics; therefore, they are important to study and understand.

In this perspective, I highlight studies in vertebrates and invertebrates that demonstrate the existence of these responses. I also consider how these responses may be adaptive and instances when they should occur. Finally, I briefly discuss the importance of studying these responses in relation to animal welfare, human health, disease dynamics and experimental design.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Evaluation of subjective anterior disc space widening on trauma cervical spine CT as a potential sign of ligamentous injury
Authors: Harisis George Nicholas , Kavnoudias Helen , Zia Adil , Paul Eldho , Marovic Paul
Published: August 2022

Introduction

MRI is commonly accepted as the gold standard imaging technique for identification of isolated discoligamentous injury to the cervical spine. Widening of the anterior disc space (ADW) has been suggested as signs of injury to the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL). The purpose of this study aimed to assess the accuracy of ADW reported on CT as a sign of ligamentous injury compared.

Methods

The study was performed at a level 1 trauma centre. All patients over a 5‐year period from 1 January 2015 to 31 January 2019 who underwent a cervical CT scan for the indication of trauma and who subsequently received a cervical spine MRI during the same admission were included if no fracture was found on the initial CT. Demographic data were collected along with mechanism of injury and time period between CT and MRI. Presence or absence of subjective CT‐ADW along with presence or absence of ALL injury on MRI was recorded by retrospective review of the radiology reports. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were then calculated.

Results

Over a 5‐year period, 1,305 patients fulfilled the study criteria. CT‐ADW had a sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of 8.2% (95% CI: 2.7–18.1%), 96.2% (95% CI: 95.3–97.4%) and 10.2% (95% CI: 3.4–22.2%) respectively.

Conclusion

Subjective CT‐ADW is a poor predictor of ALL injury as assessed by MRI and should not be relied upon in isolation to diagnose ligamentous injury of the cervical spine in the setting of trauma.
A case of palmoplantar pustular psoriasis induced by hydroxychloroquine in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Karaalioğlu Bilgin , Yıldırım Fatih , Mutlu Melek Yalçın , Akkuzu Gamze , Özgür Duygu Sevinç , Bes Cemal
Published: August 2022

Palmoplantar pustular psoriasis (PPP) is a rare clinical form of psoriasis. It is usually seen on the palms and soles, and affects patients’ quality of life. In most cases, topical or systemic treatments are not sufficiently effective, so management of PPP is generally difficult. Hydroxychloroquine (HQ) is an antimalarial drug that is widely used in many autoimmune rheumatic diseases, mainly in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Several reports describe the induction and exacerbation of psoriasis by HQ. Within this report, we aimed to put emphasis on considering possible drug effects by presenting a case of PPP, induced by HQ.
Mid‐regional plasma pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide and stroke volume responsiveness for detecting deviations in central blood volume following major abdominal surgery
Authors: Strandby Rune B. , Secher Niels H. , Ambrus Rikard , Gøtze Jens P. , Henriksen Amalie , Kitchen Carl C. , Achiam Michael P. , Svendsen Lars B.
Published: August 2022

Background

A reduced central blood volume is reflected by a decrease in mid‐regional plasma pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide (MR‐proANP), a stable precursor of ANP, and a volume deficit may also be assessed by the stroke volume (SV) response to head‐down tilt (HDT). We determined plasma MR‐proANP during major abdominal procedures and evaluated whether the patients were volume responsive by the end of the surgery, taking the fluid balance and the crystalloid/colloid ratio into account.

Methods

Patients undergoing pancreatic (n = 25), liver (n = 25), or gastroesophageal (n = 38) surgery were included prospectively. Plasma MR‐proANP was determined before and after surgery, and the fluid response was assessed by the SV response to 10° HDT after the procedure. The fluid strategy was based mainly on lactated Ringer's solution for gastroesophageal procedures, while for pancreas and liver surgery, more human albumin 5% was administered.

Results

Plasma MR‐proANP decreased for patients undergoing gastroesophageal surgery (−9% [95% CI −3.2 to −15.3], p = .004) and 10 patients were fluid responsive by the end of surgery (∆SV > 10% during HDT) with an administered crystalloid/colloid ratio of 3.3 (fluid balance +1389 ± 452 ml). Furthermore, plasma MR‐proANP and fluid balance were correlated (r = .352 [95% CI 0.031–0.674], p < .001). In contrast, plasma MR‐proANP did not change significantly during pancreatic and liver surgery during which the crystalloid/colloid ratio was 1.0 (fluid balance +385 ± 478 ml) and 1.9 (fluid balance +513 ± 381 ml), respectively. For these patients, there was no correlation between plasma MR‐proANP and fluid balance, and no patient was fluid responsive.

Conclusion

Plasma MR‐proANP was reduced in fluid responsive patients by the end of surgery for the patients for whom the fluid strategy was based on more lactated Ringer's solution than human albumin 5%.