bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visualizing Decisions and Analytics of Artificial Intelligence based Cancer Diagnosis and Grading of Specimen Digitized Biopsy: Case Study for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Singh Akarsh , Wan Michael , Harrison Lane , Breggia Anne , Christman Robert , Winslow Raimond L. , Amal Saeed
Published: December 2022

1

The rise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning research has shown great promise in diagnosing prostate cancer from whole slide image biopsies. Intelligent application interface for diagnosis is a progressive way to communicate AI results in the medical domain for practical use. This paper aims to suggest a way to integrate state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms into a web application for visualizations of decisions and analytics of an AI based algorithms applied on cancer digitized specimen biopsies together with visualizing evidence and explanation of the decision using both image from the biopsy and textual data from Electronic Health Records (EHR). By creating smart visualizations of tissue biopsy images, from magnified regions to augmented sharper images along with image masks that highlight cancerous regions of tissue in addition to intelligent analytics and distribution charts related to cancer prediction, we aim to communicate these easily interpretable results to assist pathologists and concerned medical team to make better decisions for prostate cancer diagnosis as case study.
Seroprevalence of COVID-19 infection in a densely populated district in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Irenge Leonid M. , Bulakali Homer M. , Akonkwa Arthur Irenge , Ambroise Jérôme , Gala Jean-Luc
Published: December 2022

Data on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are scarce. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the slum of Kadutu, city of Bukavu, between June and September 2021. The survey participants were all unvaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. The crude seroprevalence rate was adjusted to the known characteristics of the assay. Participants aged 15 to 49 years old made up 80 % of the population enrolled in the study (n=507; 319 women and 188 men). The overall crude and adjusted seroprevalence rates of antibodies for COVID-19 were 59.7 % (95 % CI 55.4 % - 63.9 %) and 84.0 % (95 % CI 76.2 % to 92.4 %), respectively. This seroprevalence rate indicates widespread dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 in these communities. COVID-19 symptoms were either absent or mild in more than half of the participants with antibodies for COVID-19 and none of the participants with antibodies for COVID-19 required hospitalization. These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 spread did not appear to be associated with severe symptoms in the population of these settlements and that many cases went unreported in these densely populated locations. The relevance of vaccination in these communities should be thoroughly investigated.
Evaluation of Covid-19 Ag-RDTs self-testing in Lesotho and Zambia
Authors: Bresser M. , Erhardt R.M. , Shanaube K. , Simwinga M. , Mahlatsi P.A. , Belus J. , Schaap A. , Amstutz A. , Gachie T. , Glass T.R. , Kangolo B. , ‘Mota M.J. , Floyd S. , Katende B. , Klinkenberg E. , Ayles H. , Reither K. , Ruperez M.
Published: December 2022

Background

The use of antigen rapid tests (Ag-RDTs) for self-testing is an important element of the COVID-19 control strategy and has been widely supported. However, scale-up of self-testing for COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa is still insufficient and there is limited evidence on the acceptability of self-testing and agreement between Ag-RDT self-testing and Ag-RDT testing by professional users. A joint collaboration (BRCCH-EDCTP COVID-19 Initiative) was established between Lesotho and Zambia to address these gaps in relation to Ag-RDT self-testing and contribute to increasing its use in the region.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Firstly, 11 in-depth cognitive interviews (5 in Zambia and 9 in Lesotho) were performed to assess the participants’ understanding of the instructions for use (IFU) for self-testing. In a second step, evaluation of test agreement between Ag-RDT self-testing and Ag-RDT testing by professional user using SD Biosensor STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag-RDT was performed. In Zambia, usability and acceptability of self-testing were also assessed.

Results

Cognitive interviews in Lesotho and Zambia showed overall good understanding of IFU. In Zambia, acceptability of self-testing was high, though some participants had difficulties in conducting certain steps in the IFU correctly. Agreement between Ag-RDT self-test and Ag-RDT by professional users in Lesotho (428 participants) and Zambia (1136 participants) was high, 97.6% (404/414, 95% CI: 95.6-99.8) and 99.8% (1116/1118, 95% CI: 99.4-100) respectively.

Conclusion

Findings from this study support the use of Ag-RDT self-testing within COVID-19 control strategies in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to increase the testing capacity and access in hard-to reach settings.
Maize phytocytokines and microbial-patterns trigger antagonistic features in co-incidence with wounding and fungal pathogens
Authors: Koenig Maurice , Moser Daniel , Leusner Julian , Depotter Jasper , Doehlemann Gunther , Villamil Johana Misas
Published: December 2022

Phytocytokines are signalling peptides that activate immune responses and alarm bystander cells of danger. The pathways of phytocytokine perception and activation are thought to be shared between exogenous danger signals such as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and endogenous, passively released, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). However, downstream responses triggered by danger molecules and their effect in plant survival is still largely unknown. Here, we have identified three biologically active maize orthologues of phytocytokines previously described in other plants. The maize phytocytokines show common features with MAMPs, including the induction of immune related genes and activation of papain-like cysteine proteases. In contrast to MAMPs, the phytocytokines do not promote cell death in the presence of wounding. In infection assays with fungal pathogens of two different life styles we found that phytocytokines affect the development of disease symptoms, likely due to the activation of phytohormonal pathways. Collectively, our results show that phytocytokines and MAMPs trigger unique and antagonistic features of immunity. We propose a model in which phytocytokines activate immune responses partially similar to MAMPs but in contrast to microbial signals, they act as danger and survival molecules to the surrounding cells. Future studies will focus on the components determining the divergence of signalling outputs upon phytocytokine activation.
Nigral pathology contributes to microstructural integrity of striatal and frontal tracts in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Lin Chen-Pei , Knoop Lydian EJ , Frigerio Irene , Bol John GJM , Rozemuller Annemieke JM , Berendse Henk W , Pouwels Petra JW , van de Berg Wilma DJ , Jonkman Laura E
Published: December 2022

Background

Motor and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with dopaminergic dysfunction that stems from substantia nigra (SN) degeneration and concomitant α-synuclein accumulation. Diffusion MRI can detect microstructural alterations of the SN and its tracts to (sub)cortical regions, but their pathological sensitivity is still poorly understood.

Objective

To unravel the pathological substrate underlying microstructural alterations of the SN, and its tracts to the dorsal striatum and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in PD.

Methods

Combining post-mortemin-situMRI and histopathology, T1-weighted and diffusion MRI of 9 PD, 6 PD with dementia (PDD), 5 dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and 10 control donors were collected. From MRI, mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were derived from the SN, and tracts between the SN and caudate nucleus, putamen, and DLPFC. Phosphorylated-Ser129-α-synuclein and tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry was included to quantify nigral Lewy pathology and dopaminergic degeneration, respectively.

Results

Compared to controls, PD and PDD/DLB showed increased MD of the SN and SN-DLPFC tract, as well as increased FA of the SN-caudate nucleus tract. Both PD and PDD/DLB showed nigral Lewy pathology and dopaminergic loss compared to controls. Increased FA of the SN and SN-caudate nucleus tract was associated with SN dopaminergic loss, while increased MD of the SN-DLPFC tract was associated with increased SN Lewy neurite load.

Conclusions

In PD and PDD/DLB, diffusion MRI captures microstructural alterations of the SN and tracts to the dorsal striatum and DLPFC, which differentially associates with SN dopaminergic degeneration and Lewy neurite pathology.
“Side effects of Vero cell vaccination against Covid-19 among medical students of Nepalgunj Medical College”-A Post Vaccination survey
Authors: Rupak KC , Malla Sibika , Pandey Aashish , Shrestha Merina , Siddiqui Saharoj , Adhikari Suraj , Niranjan KC , Rumi KC
Published: December 2022

Background and aims

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible virus causing Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Its symptoms include fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. Vaccine plays a significant role in controlling infectious disease and lesser health resources are used, and there is increased allocation of those resources for disease management. Vero Cell is an inactivated vaccine against COVID-19 manufactured by Sinopharm Company of China and recommended for people above 18 years by the World Health Organization. It is administered in two doses of 0.5 ml, 14-28 days apart. The goal of our study was to determine post-vaccination side effects of both the first(1st) and the second(2nd) dose among participants of Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital (NGMCTH), Kohalpur, Banke, Nepal.

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students and intern doctors of Nepalgunj Medical College. A comprehensive structured questionnaire was designed and distributed following each dose of vaccination. Data were collected from 6thJanuary 2022 to 6thApril 2022 and entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22. Analyzed data were presented using simple descriptive statistics with appropriate tables.

Results

Out of 156 participants, the majority were males (66.7%), within the age group of 21-24. The most frequently encountered symptom was pain at the injection site, predominantly seen in males. Among all the tested variables, the second dose of vaccination showed a significant association with sex. All the predominant symptoms exhibited a significant association following vaccination, except for pain at the injection site (p-value <0.05).

Conclusions

Vaccine has proven to be a lifesaving breakthrough during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak and has been precisely efficacious in a developing country like Nepal.
Proteome sampling with e-biopsy enables differentiation between cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Vitkin Edward , Wise Julia , Berl Ariel , Shir-az Ofir , Gabay Batel , Singh Amrita , Kravtsov Vladimir , Yakhini Zohar , Shalom Avshalom , Golberg Alexander
Published: December 2022

Clinical misclassification between cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) affects treatment plans and carries risks of potential for recurrence, metastases morbidity and mortality. We report the development of a novel tissue sampling approach with molecular biopsy using electroporation. The methods, coined e-biopsy, enables non-thermal permeabilization of cells in the skin for efficient vacuum-assistant extraction of informative biomolecules for rapid diagnosis. We used e-biopsy forex vivoproteome extraction from 3 locations per patient in 21 cSCC and 21 BCC pathologically validated human tissue samples. The total 126 extracted proteomes were profiled using LC/MS/MS. The obtained mass spectra presented significantly different proteome profiles for cSCC and BCC with several hundreds of proteins significantly differentially expressed in each tumor in comparison to the other. Notably, 17 proteins were uniquely expressed in BCC and 7 were uniquely expressed in cSCC patients. Statistical analysis of differentially expressed proteins found 31 cellular processes, 23 cellular functions and 10 cellular components significantly different between cSCC and BCC. Machine Learning classification models constructed on the sampled proteomes enabled the separation of cSCC patients from BCC with average cross-validation accuracy of 81%, cSCC prediction positive predictive value (PPV) of 78.7% and sensitivity of 92.3%, which is comparable to initial diagnostics in a clinical setup. Finally, the protein-protein interaction analysis of the 11 most informative proteins, derived from Machine Learning framework, enabled detection of a novel protein-protein interaction network valuable for further understanding of skin tumors. Our results provide evidence that the e-biopsy approach could potentially be used as a tool to support cutaneous tumors classification with rapid molecular profiling.
Subsumption, Vectorization, Heat Maps, and Word Clouds Support the Visualization of Orphadata Neurology Phenotypes
Authors: Hier Daniel B. , Yelugam Raghu , Carrithers Michael D. , Wunsch Donald C.
Published: December 2022

Disease phenotypes are characterized by signs (what a physician observes during the examination of a patient) and symptoms (the complaints of a patient to a physician). Large repositories of disease phenotypes are accessible through the Online Mendelian Inheritance of Man, Human Phenotype Ontology, and Orphadata initiatives. Many of the diseases in these datasets are neurologic. For each repository, the phenotype of a neurologic disease is represented as a variable-length list of concepts selected from a suitable ontology. Visualizations of these lists are not provided. We address this limitation by using subsumption to collapse the number of descriptive features from 2,946 classes into thirty superclasses. Phenotype feature lists of variable lengths were converted into fixed-length numerical vectors. Phenotype vectors can be aggregated into matrices and visualized as heat maps that allow side-by-side disease comparisons. Individual diseases (representing a row in the matrix) can be visualized as word clouds. We illustrate the utility of this approach with a use case based on 32 dystonic diseases in Orphadata. The use of subsumption to collapse phenotype features into superclasses, the conversion of phenotype lists into vectors, and the visualization of phenotypes vectors as heat maps and word clouds contribute to the improved visualization of neurology phenotypes in Orphadata.
Human coronaviruses activate and hijack the proteostasis guardian HSF1 to enhance viral replication
Authors: Pauciullo Silvia , Riccio Anna , Rossi Antonio , Santopolo Silvia , Piacentini Sara , Santoro M. Gabriella
Published: December 2022

Organisms respond to proteotoxic stress by activating a cellular defense mechanism, known as the heat shock response (HSR), that triggers the expression of cytoprotective heat shock proteins (HSP) to counteract the damaging effects of proteostasis disruption. The HSR is regulated by a family of transcription factors (heat shock factors, HSFs); among six human HSFs, HSF1 acts as a proteostasis guardian regulating acute and severe stress-driven transcriptional responses. Seasonal coronaviruses HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1 (sHCoV) are globally circulating in the human population. Although sHCoV generally cause only mild upper respiratory diseases in immunocompetent hosts, severe complications may occur in specific populations. There is no effective treatment for sHCoV infections, also due to the limited knowledge on sHCoV biology. We now show that bothAlpha- andBeta-sHCoV are potent inducers of HSF1, selectively promoting HSF1 phosphorylation at serine-326 residue and nuclear translocation, and triggering a powerful HSF1-driven transcriptional response in infected cells at late stages of infection. Despite the coronavirus-mediated shut-down of the host cell translational machinery, high levels of selected canonical and non-canonical HSF1-target genes products, including HSP70, HSPA6 and the zinc-finger AN1-type domain-2a gene/AIRAP, were found in HCoV-infected cells. Interestingly, silencing experiments demonstrate that HSR activation does not merely reflect a cellular defense response to viral infection, but that sHCoV activate and hijack the HSF1-pathway for their own gain. Notably, nuclear HSF1 pools depletion via Direct-Targeted HSF1 inhibitor (DTHIB) treatment was highly effective in hindering sHCoV replication in lung cells. Altogether the results open new scenarios for the search of innovative antiviral strategies in the treatment of coronavirus infections.
High robustness of cytosolic glutathione redox potential under combined salt and osmotic stress in barley as revealed by the biosensor Grx1-roGFP2
Authors: Bohle Finja , Klaus Alina , Tegethof Hendrik , Schwarzländer Markus , Hochholdinger Frank , Meyer Andreas J. , Acosta Ivan F. , Müller-Schüssele Stefanie J.
Published: December 2022

Barley is a staple crop of major global importance and relatively resilient to a wide range of stress factors in the field. Transgenic reporter lines to investigate physiological parameters during stress treatments remain scarce.

We generated and characterized stable homozygous barley lines (cv. Golden Promise Fast) expressing the genetically-encoded biosensor Grx1-roGFP2, which indicates the redox potential of the major antioxidant glutathione in the cytosol.

Our results demonstrate functionality of the sensor in living barley plants. We determined the glutathione redox potential (EGSH) of the cytosol to be in the range of −308 to −320 mV.EGSHwas robust against a combined NaCl (150 mM) and water deficit treatment (−0.8 MPa) that caused growth retardation and showed only a minor oxidation after 96 h of treatment.

We conclude that the generated reporter lines are a novel resource to study stress resilience in barley.

One sentence summary

Generation and characterization of barley plants stably expressing Grx1-roGFP2 reveal high robustness of cytosolic glutathione redox potential (EGSH) under combined salt and osmotic stress.
Migration and division in cell monolayers on substrates with topological defects
Authors: Kaiyrbekov Kurmanbek , Endresen Kirsten , Sullivan Kyle , Zheng Zhaofei , Chen Yun , Serra Francesca , Camley Brian A.
Published: December 2022

Collective movement and organization of cell monolayers are important for wound healing and tissue development. Recent experiments highlighted the importance of liquid crystal order within these layers, suggesting that +1 topological defects have a role in organizing tissue morphogenesis. We study fibroblast organization, motion and proliferation on a substrate with micron-sized ridges that induce +1 and −1 topological defects using simulation and experiment. We model cells as selfpropelled deformable ellipses that interact via a Gay-Berne potential. Unlike earlier work on other cell types, we see that density variation near defects is not explained by collective migration. We propose instead that fibroblasts have different division rates depending on their area and aspect ratio. This model captures key features of our previous experiments: the alignment quality worsens at high cell density and, at the center of the +1 defects, cells can adopt either highly anisotropic or primarily isotropic morphologies. Experiments performed with different ridge heights confirm a new prediction of this model: suppressing migration across ridges promoteshighercell density at the +1 defect. Our work enables new mechanisms for tissue patterning using topological defects.
Usefulness of docking and molecular dynamics in selecting tumor neoantigens to design personalized cancer vaccines:a proof of concept
Authors: Amaya-Ramirez Diego , Martinez-Enriquez Laura Camila , Parra-López Carlos
Published: December 2022

Personalized cancer vaccines are presented as a new and promising treatment alternative for cancer, especially in those cases where effective treatments do not yet exist. However, multiple challenges remain to be resolved so that this type of immunotherapy can be used in the clinical setting. Among these, the effective identification of immunogenic peptides stands out, since thein-silicotools currently used generate a significant portion of false positives. This is where molecular simulation techniques can play an important role when it comes to refining the results produced by these tools. In the present work, we explore the use of molecular simulation techniques such as docking and molecular dynamics to study the relationship between stability of peptide-HLA complexes and their immunogenicity using two HLA-A2-restricted neoantigens that have already been evaluatedin vitro. The results obtained agreed with thein vitroimmunogenicity of the immunogenic neoantigen ASTN1 the only one that remains bound at both ends to the HLA-A2 molecule. Additionally, molecular dynamics indicates that position 1 of the peptide has a more important role in stabilizing the N-terminal part than previously assumed. Likewise, the results suggest that the mutations may have a “delocalized” effect on the peptide-HLA interaction, that is, they may modulate the intensity of the interactions of other amino acids in the peptide. These results highlight the suitability of this type ofin silicostrategy to identify peptides that form stable complexes with HLA proteins that are highly immunogenic for CD8+ T cells.
HEIP1 is required for efficient meiotic crossover implementation and is conserved from plants to humans
Authors: Singh Dipesh Kumar , Lian Qichao , Durand Stephanie , Chambon Aurelie , Hurel Aurelie , Walkemeier Birgit , Solier Victor , Kumar Rajeev , Mercier Raphaёl
Published: December 2022

Crossovers (CO) shuffle genetic information and physically connect homologous chromosome pairs, ensuring their balanced segregation during meiosis. COs arising from the major class I pathway require the activity of a well-conserved ZMMs group of proteins which, in conjunction with MLH1, facilitate the maturation of DNA recombination intermediates specifically into COs. The HEIP1 protein was identified in rice and proposed to be a new, plant-specific member of the ZMM group. Here we establish and decipher the function of theArabidopsis thalianaHEIP1 homolog in meiotic crossover formation and report its wide conservation in eukaryotes. We show that the loss of Arabidopsis HEIP1 elicits a marked reduction in meiotic COs and their redistribution towards chromosome ends. Epistasis analysis showed thatAtHEIP1acts specifically in the class I CO pathway. Further, we show that HEI1P acts both prior to crossover designation, as the number of MLH1 foci is reduced inheip1, and at the maturation step of MLH1-marked sites into COs. Despite the HEIP1 protein being predicted to be primarily unstructured and very divergent at the sequence level, we identified homologs of HEIP1 in an extensive range of eukaryotes, including mammals.
Identification of novel coloboma candidate genes through conserved gene expression analyses across four vertebrate species
Authors: Trejo-Reveles Violeta , Owen Nicholas , Chan Brian Ho Ching , Toms Maria , Schoenebeck Jeffrey J , Moosajee Mariya , Rainger Joe
Published: December 2022

Ocular coloboma (OC) is a failure of complete optic fissure closure during embryonic development and presents as a tissue defect along the proximal distal axis of the ventral eye. It is classed as part of the clinical spectrum of structural eye malformations with microphthalmia and anophthalmia, collectively abbreviated to MAC. Despite deliberate attempts to identify causative variants in MAC, many patients remain without a genetic diagnosis. To reveal potential candidate genes, we utilised transcriptomes experimentally generated from embryonic eye tissues derived from human, mouse, zebrafish, and chicken at stages coincident with optic fissure closure. Our in-silico analyses found 10 genes with optic fissure specific enriched expression:ALDH1A3, BMPR1B, EMX2, EPHB3, NID1, NTN1, PAX2, SMOC1, TENM3, andVAX1. In situ hybridization revealed that all 10 genes were broadly expressed ventrally in the developing eye, but that onlyPAX2andNTN1were expressed in cells at the edges of the optic fissure margin. Of these conserved optic fissure genes,EMX2, NID1, andEPHB3have not previously been associated with human MAC cases. Targeted genetic manipulation in zebrafish embryos using CRISPR/Cas9 caused the developmental MAC phenotype foremx2andephb3. We scrutined available whole genome sequencing datasets from MAC patients and identified a range of variants with plausible causality. In combination our data suggest that expression of genes involved in ventral eye development are conserved across a range of vertebrate species, and thatEMX2, NID1, andEPHB3are candidate loci that should be adopted into clinical diagnostic screens for patients with structural eye malformations.
Automated Workflow for Instant Labeling and Real-Time Monitoring of Monoclonal Antibody N-Glycosylation
Authors: Gyorgypal Aron , Potter Oscar , Chaturvedi Antash , Powers David N. , Chundawat Shishir P. S.
Published: December 2022

With the transition toward continuous bioprocessing, process analytical technology (PAT) is becoming necessary for rapid and reliable in-process monitoring during biotherapeutics manufacturing. Bioprocess 4.0 is looking to build an end-to-end bioprocesses that includes PAT-enabled real-time process control. This is especially important for drug product quality attributes that can change during bioprocessing, such as protein N-glycosylation, a critical quality attribute for most monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics. Glycosylation of mAbs is known to influence their efficacy as therapeutics and is regulated for a majority of mAb products on the market today. Currently, there is no method to truly measure N-glycosylation using on-line PAT, hence making it impractical to design upstream process control strategies. We recently described the N-GLYcanyzer: an integrated PAT unit that measures mAb N-glycosylation within 3 hours of automated sampling from a bioreactor. Here, we integrated Agilent’s Instant PC (IPC) based chemistry workflow into the N-GLYcanzyer PAT unit to allow for nearly 10x faster mAb glycoforms analysis. Our methodology is explained in detail to allow for replication of the PAT workflow as well as present a case study demonstrating use of this PAT to autonomously monitor a mammalian cell perfusion process at the bench-scale to gain increased knowledge of mAb glycosylation dynamics during continuous biomanufacturing of biologics using Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells.

Graphical Abstract
Vascular ultrasound forin vivoassessment of arterial pathologies in a murine model of atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysm
Authors: Hof Alexander , Guthoff Henning , Ahdab Maysam , Landerer Max , Schäkel Jasper , Niehues Jana , Schorscher Max , Winkels Holger , Geißen Simon , Adam Matti , Mollenhauer Martin , Mehrkens Dennis
Published: December 2022

Background

Vascular diseases like atherosclerosis or aortic aneurysms are common pathologies in the western world, promoting various, potentially fatal conditions. Hence, a plethora of animal models have been developed to investigate underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutics. Here we evaluate high resolution (HR) ultrasound in mouse models of atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) for noninvasive monitoring of morphological and functional vascular changesin vivo.

Methods

Eight-week-oldApoE-/-mice were used for disease models. For induction of atherosclerosis, mice were fed a western diet over 12 weeks. To trigger AAA development, osmotic minipumps were implanted, permanently releasing Angiotensin II continuously for 28 days. All animals were on C57Bl6/J background. HR vascular ultrasound of the carotid artery or the abdominal aorta was performed, respectively. Images obtained were analyzed by a speckle tracking algorithm (VevoVasc software) and were correlated with histological analyses by Picro Sirius Red staining and automated collagen quantification.

Results

Arterial wall distensibility and global radial strain (GRS) as measures of arterial wall elasticity were reduced in the carotids of atherosclerotic mice as well as in the aortas of AAA mice. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was elevated in both disease models. Intima-media thickness (IMT) was significantly increased in the atherosclerosis model. Matching those findings, area of the tunica media was enlarged inApoE-/-mice fed a western diet, and in Angiotensin II treated mice as measured by automated image analysis, depicting higher collagen depositions in diseased arteries. Simple regression analysis revealed a strong correlation of media collagen content and area in AAA with IMT and GRS, respectively. In atherosclerosis, media collagen content significantly correlated with PWV and GRS, whereas wall distensibility was associated with the size of media area.

Conclusion

Vascular imaging using latest generation HR ultrasound devices is suitable to trace changes of arterial wall properties in murine models of atherosclerosis and AAA. Obtained results not only correlate with histological findings but deliver information on functional parameters which may be used as early disease and risk markers in a longitudinal experimental approach.
Deep Generative Design of Epitope-Specific Binding Proteins by Latent Conformation Optimization
Authors: Eguchi Raphael R. , Choe Christian A. , Parekh Udit , Khalek Irene S. , Ward Michael D. , Vithani Neha , Bowman Gregory R. , Jardine Joseph G. , Huang Po-Ssu
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Designingde novobinding proteins against arbitrary epitopes using a single scaffold, as seen with natural antibodies, remains an unsolved challenge in protein design. Current design methods are unable to capture the structural dynamics of flexible loops nor search loop conformational space in a principled way. Here we present Sculptor, a deep generative design algorithm that creates epitope-specific protein binders. The Sculptor algorithm constitutes a joint search over the positions, interactions, and generated conformations of a fold, and crafts a backbone to complement a user-specified epitope. Sequences are designed onto generated backbones using a combination of a residue-wise interaction database, a convolutional sequence design module, and Rosetta. Instead of relying on static structures, we capture the local conformational landscape of a single fold using molecular dynamics, and demonstrate that a model trained on such dense conformational data can generate backbones tailor-fit to an epitope. We use Sculptor to design binders against a conserved epitope on venom toxins implicated in neuromuscular paralysis, and obtain a multi-toxin binder from a small naïve library – a promising step towards creating broadly neutralizing binders. This study constitutes a novel application of deep generative modeling for epitope-targeted design, leveraging conformational dynamics to achieve function.
Crystal structure of sodium thiosulfate dihydrate and comparison to the pentahydrate
Authors: Klein Wilhelm
Published: December 2022

Na2S2O3·2H2O has been mentioned in the literature for more than a hundred years and pure samples were prepared and investigated, however, no structural data except for a set of lattice parameters were known to date. Now crystals of this compound have been grown at the surface of an aqueous solution of Na2S2O3 and the structure has been determined at 200 and 100 K. Na2S2O3·2H2O crystallizes in the space group P21/n with two formula units in the asymmetric unit and all atoms occupying general positions. The sodium cations are five- to seven-coordinate by thiosulfate anions and water molecules and the anions act as mono- and bidentate ligands. In the extended structure, the thiosulfate anions and water molecules are connected by O—H...O and O—H...S hydrogen bonds of medium strength to form corrugated layers, which are linked by sodium cations. For comparison, the crystal structure of Na2S2O3·5H2O has been determined at the same conditions, i.e. for the first time below room temperature.
Artificial neural network in soft HR performance management: new insights from a large organizational dataset
Authors: Roedenbeck Marc , Poljsak-Rosinski Petra
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study investigates whether the artificial neural network approach, when used on a large organizational soft HR performance dataset, results in a better (R2/RMSE) model compared to the linear regression. With the use of predictive modelling, a more informed base for managerial decision making within soft HR performance management is offered.

Design/methodology/approach

The study builds on a dataset (n > 43 k) stemming from an annual employee MNC survey. It covers several soft HR performance drivers and outcomes (such as engagement, satisfaction and others) that either have evidence of a dual-role nature or non-linear relationships. This study applies the framework for artificial neural network analysis in organization research (Scarborough and Somers, 2006).

Findings

The analysis reveals a substantial artificial neural network model performance (R2 > 0.75) with an excellent fit statistic (nRMSE <0.10) and all drivers have the same relative importance (RMI [0.102; 0.125]). This predictive analysis revealed that the organization has to increase six of the drivers, keep two on the same level and decrease one.

Originality/value

Up to date, this study uses the largest dataset in soft HR performance management. Additionally, the predictive results reveal that specific target values lay below the current levels to achieve optimal performance.
Revealing mission statements in a hotel brand sector using social network analytic approach
Authors: Breznik Kristijan , Zupan Korže Saša , Ragozini Giancarlo , Gorenak Mitja
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the content of hotel brands’ mission statements (MSs) and their relationship with selected attributes of hotel brands.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis of hotel brands’ MSs was used to detect the MSs’ key words, which were further processed by methods of social network analysis, complemented by clustering techniques and correspondence analysis on the generalized aggregated lexical tables, a special type of correspondence analysis.

Findings

Hotel brands operating in luxurious markets more often emphasize experiences than those in midscale markets. Furthermore, hotel brands with longer traditions and those with a large number of controlled rooms communicate words in their MSs that represent a rather traditional approach to hospitality. Younger hotel brands with fewer controlled rooms chose words that indicate a more commercially oriented approach. Finally, cluster analysis revealed four dimensions of hotel brands’ MSs, instead of the nine most typically used in mission statement component models.

Practical implications

Understanding the frequencies and networks of keywords, and their relationship with hotel brand attributes, will help create more focussed MSs. This will strengthen hotel brands, raise their revenues and subsequently increase company performance.

Originality/value

The analysis provides valuable insight into MSs in the specific tourism context of hotel brands. The authors have achieved this with the use of a wide range of advanced network analytic methods. These insights can guide hotel brands to better position themselves in the competitive tourism accommodation market.
A novel residual shrinkage block-based convolutional neural network for improving the recognition of motor imagery EEG signals
Authors: Huang Jinchao
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Recently, the convolutional neural network (ConvNet) has a wide application in the classification of motor imagery EEG signals. However, the low signal-to-noise electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are collected under the interference of noises. However, the conventional ConvNet model cannot directly solve this problem. This study aims to discuss the aforementioned issues.

Design/methodology/approach

To solve this problem, this paper adopted a novel residual shrinkage block (RSB) to construct the ConvNet model (RSBConvNet). During the feature extraction from EEG signals, the proposed RSBConvNet prevented the noise component in EEG signals, and improved the classification accuracy of motor imagery. In the construction of RSBConvNet, the author applied the soft thresholding strategy to prevent the non-related motor imagery features in EEG signals. The soft thresholding was inserted into the residual block (RB), and the suitable threshold for the current EEG signals distribution can be learned by minimizing the loss function. Therefore, during the feature extraction of motor imagery, the proposed RSBConvNet de-noised the EEG signals and improved the discriminative of classification features.

Findings

Comparative experiments and ablation studies were done on two public benchmark datasets. Compared with conventional ConvNet models, the proposed RSBConvNet model has obvious improvements in motor imagery classification accuracy and Kappa coefficient. Ablation studies have also shown the de-noised abilities of the RSBConvNet model. Moreover, different parameters and computational methods of the RSBConvNet model have been tested on the classification of motor imagery.

Originality/value

Based on the experimental results, the RSBConvNet constructed in this paper has an excellent recognition accuracy of MI-BCI, which can be used for further applications for the online MI-BCI.
Impact of fake news on firm performance during COVID-19: an assessment of moderated serial mediation using PLS-SEM
Authors: Khan Eijaz Ahmed , Chowdhury Md Maruf Hossan , Hossain Mohammad Alamgir , Baabdullah Abdullah M. , Giannakis Mihalis , Dwivedi Yogesh
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Fake news on social media about COVID-19 pandemic and its associated issues (e.g. lockdown) caused public panic that lead to supply chain (SC) disruptions, which eventually affect firm performance. The purpose of this study is to understand how social media fake news effects firm performance, and how to mitigate such effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded on dynamic capability view (DCV), this study suggests that social media fake news effects firm performance via SC disruption (SCD) and SC resilience (SCR). Moreover, the relation between SCD and SCR is contingent upon SC learning (SCL) – a moderated mediation effect. To validate this complex model, the authors suggest effectiveness of using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Using an online survey, the results support the authors’ hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that social media fake news does not affect firm performance directly. However, the authors’ serial mediation test confirms that SCD and SCR sequentially mediate the relationship between social media fake news and firm performance. In addition, a moderated serial mediation test confirms that a higher level of SCL strengthens the SCD–SCR relationship.

Research limitations/implications

This work offers a new theoretical and managerial perspective to understand the effect of fake news on firm performance, in the context of crises, e.g. COVID-19. In addition, this study offers the advancement of PLS as more robust for real-world applications and more advantageous when models are complex.

Originality/value

Prior studies in the SC and marketing domain suggest different effects of social media fake news on consumer behavior (e.g. panic buying) and SCD, respectively. This current study is a unique effort that investigates the ultimate effect of fake news on firm performance with complex causal relationships via SCD, SCR and SCL.
Understanding lurking behavior on enterprise social media: the perspective of the transactional model of stress
Authors: Yuan Qin , Liu Chun
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Drawing on the transactional model of stress, this study develops a theoretical model to understand the lurking behavior on enterprise social media (ESM).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a questionnaire survey, this research study collected valid data from 301 ESM users in the workplace. Hierarchical regression analyses are used to analyze the conceptual framework.

Findings

The results show that Zhongyong thinking is a significant predictor of lurking and emotional exhaustion and that lurking can cause emotional exhaustion. Lurking mediates the relationship between Zhongyong thinking and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, communication overload moderates the relationship between lurking and emotional exhaustion as well as the indirect relationship between Zhongyong thinking and emotional exhaustion through lurking.

Originality/value

This article examines the antecedents of lurking by considering Zhongyong thinking and explores how lurking on ESM influences emotional exhaustion. This research contributes to the literature on techno-stressors, lurking and ESM and hopefully contributes to the growing dialog about the consequences of lurking in the workplace.
Managing tensions in resilience development: a paradox theory perspective on the role of digital transformation
Authors: Mishra Ruchi , Singh Rajesh Kr , Song Malin
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The study aims to identify the central paradoxical tensions existing in developing resilience in organisations. The main thrust of this study is to develop a thorough understanding of diverse conflicting tensions in building resilience and develop the possible strategies to surmount these tensions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the case study approach, the study applied theory-elaboration strategy as this study is based on well-established literature from both digitalisation and resilience. The study uses the paradox theory lens in a case study to reconcile both theories with contextual idiosyncrasies.

Findings

The paradox theory lens provides perspectives to understand tensions during resilience development and the role of digital transformation in this process. It assesses the potential solutions for surmounting tensions in resilient operations. The mapping of workable solutions with different paradoxes and propositions has been proposed for future empirical research.

Research limitations/implications

The study suggests that practitioners should not consider resilience and sustainability as mutually exclusive; instead, managers must embrace ongoing tensions to bring solutions to address these two essential organisational priorities.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first empirical study that applies paradox theory to understand how an organisation can build resilience while confronting several paradoxes. The study findings support that resilience practices can move in tandem with environmental sustainability goals rather than being usually mutually exclusive.
The competition-cooperation interplay for knowledge development: a headquarters-subsidiary perspective
Authors: Lagerström Katarina , Leite Emilene , Pahlberg Cecilia , Schweizer Roger
Published: December 2022

Purpose

In this paper, the authors contribute with insights on competition and cooperation in multinational enterprises with a focus on challenges related to these governance mechanisms in a knowledge development context. The mechanisms have been widely recognized as important for developing knowledge, but their contradicting nature implies considerable complexity when it comes to governance. The complexity is further increased as a result of the headquarters-subsidiary relationships. The aim of this paper is to contribute with theoretical and empirical insights on these aspects by focusing on the research question: How and why does competition and cooperation in an MNE emerge over time?

Design/methodology/approach

A manufacturing MNE with headquarters (HQ) in Sweden is analyzed on both HQ and subsidiary levels. Interviews with 24 managers in Sweden and India have been performed.

Findings

The study illustrates that competition and cooperation are integral aspects in HQ-subsidiary relationships. The results show that both competition and cooperation depend on environmental, organizational and object-related conditions and that these conditions influence the dynamics of the interplay. The importance of including a subsidiary perspective and the interdependencies in an MNE setting are emphasized.

Originality/value

The authors add to the discussion on the interplay between competition and cooperation as they play an important role for knowledge development in MNEs. The results indicate that they do not take place simultaneously, and therefore, the authors suggest that the dynamic can be better understood by focusing on the interplay and analyze the concepts separately.
Involved at work and disinvolved out of work: unraveling the implications of involvement on accountants' work–life balance
Authors: Palumbo Rocco
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Being involved at work advances accountants' contribution to organizational success. However, scholars are not consistent in discussing involvement's implications on work–life balance (WLB). The article aims to address this issue, investigating involvement's effects on the accountants' ability to manage the work–life interplay.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data on a sample of 538 accountants were collected from the sixth European Working Condition Survey (EWCS). A serial mediation analysis was designed to obtain evidence of involvement's implications on WLB through the mediating role of work engagement and work satisfaction.

Findings

Involvement negatively affected the accountants' ability to deal with the work–life interplay. Engagement and satisfaction with work mediated this relationship. More specifically, involved accountants who were engaged and satisfied with their work conditions were less likely to report struggles between work and life.

Research limitations/implications

Involvement implies an intensification of work, heralding an overlapping between work and life. Nonetheless, accountants who are engaged and satisfied with work are less touched by involvement's drawback on WLB. A precautionary approach should be taken to avoid that involvement results in workaholism, thus undermining individual well-being.

Originality/value

The article originally discusses involvement's implications on WLB across accountants. Being involved at work impairs the individual ability to achieve a balance between work and life, endangering well-being at work. Whilst the findings cannot be generalized beyond the accounting profession, they deliver some intriguing insights that highlight avenues for further developments.