bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peculiar morphologic characteristics of adrenal veins and similarity to fibromuscular dysplasia of artery: implication of pathogenesis
Authors: Zhang Peilin , Rafii Daniel , Arenas Minerva Romero
Published: January 2023

Background

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a peculiar abnormality of arterial wall with characteristic bead-like features on angiogram that commonly occurs in renal arteries and carotid arteries. The morphologic features of FMD of arteries share significant similarities to those described for adrenal veins. The pathogenic mechanism of FMD remains largely unknown and genetic susceptibility appears important.

Methods

We examined the morphologic characteristics of adrenal vessels to compare with fibromuscular dysplasia and segmental arterial mediolysis. We have retrospectively reviewed 30 cases of adrenalectomy specimens associated with or without adrenal neoplasms including cortical adenomas and pheochromocytomas regarding the histomorphologic features of adrenal vessels within the normal tissue and the tumors.

Results

Adrenal veins showed characteristically asymmetrical muscle bundles in normal adrenal glands in all cases except for one adrenal cortical adenoma in which normal adrenal gland was absent. These morphologic features shared significant similarities with those of FMD of arteries. A spectrum of vascular changes including hyalinization, intimal fibroplasia, myxoid degeneration and atherosis was observed in 10 of the 15 cases of adrenal cortical adenomas and 5 of the 10 cases of pheochromocytomas. Most common complications were hemorrhage/hematoma and thrombosis. There is no statistically significant differences in patients’ baseline characteristics including race/ethnicity, marital status, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI).

Conclusion

The unique vascular changes in adrenal glands and adrenal neoplasms suggests the importance of tissue specific milieu likely related to adrenal hormones/hormone receptors, providing direction of further investigation of pathogenic mechanisms and potentially management of FMD and similar diseases.
Oxytocin administration enhances pleasantness and neural responses to gentle stroking but not moderate pressure social touch by increasing peripheral concentrations
Authors: Chen Yuanshu , Zou Haochen , Hou Xin , Lan Chunmei , Wang Jing , Qing Yanan , Chen Wangjun , Yao Shuxia , Kendrick Keith M
Published: January 2023

Background

Social touch constitutes a key component of human social relationships although in some conditions with social dysfunction, such as autism, it can be perceived as unpleasant. We have previously shown that intranasal administration of oxytocin facilitates the pleasantness of social touch and activation of brain reward and social processing regions, although it is unclear if it influences responses to gentle stroking touch mediated by cutaneous C-touch fibers or pressure touch mediated by other types of fibers. Additionally, it is unclear whether endogenous oxytocin acts via direct entry into the brain or by increased peripheral blood concentrations.

Methods

In a randomized controlled design, we compared effects of intranasal (direct entry into the brain and increased peripheral concentrations) and oral (only peripheral increases) oxytocin on behavioral and neural responses to social touch targeting C-touch (gentle-stroking) or other (medium pressure without stroking) cutaneous receptors.

Results

Although both types of touch were perceived as pleasant, intranasal and oral oxytocin equivalently enhanced pleasantness ratings and responses of reward, orbitofrontal cortex, and social processing, superior temporal sulcus, regions only to gentle-stroking not medium pressure touch. Furthermore, increased blood oxytocin concentrations predicted the pleasantness of gentle stroking touch. The specificity of neural effects of oxytocin on C-touch targeted gentle stroking touch were confirmed by time-course extraction and classification analysis.

Conclusions

Increased peripheral concentrations of oxytocin primarily modulate its behavioral and neural responses to gentle social touch mediated by C-touch fibers. Findings have potential implications for using oxytocin therapeutically in conditions where social touch is unpleasant.

Funding

Key Technological Projects of Guangdong Province grant 2018B030335001.

Clinical trial number

NCT05265806
Evolution takes multiple paths to evolvability when facing environmental change
Authors: Kumawat Bhaskar , Lalejini Alexander , Acosta Monica , Zaman Luis
Published: January 2023

Living systems are surprisingly effective at exploiting new opportunities, as evidenced by the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance and novel pathogens. How populations attain this level ofevolvabilityand the various ways it aids their survival are major open questions with direct implications for human health. Here, we use digital evolution to show that particular kinds of environments facilitate the simultaneous evolution of high mutation rates and a distribution of mutational effects skewed towards beneficial phenotypes. The evolved mutational neighborhoods allow rapid adaptation to previously encountered environments, whereas higher mutation rates aid adaptation to completely new environmental conditions. By precisely tracking evolving lineages and the phenotypes of their mutants, we show that evolving populations localize on phenotypic boundaries between distinct regions of genotype space. Our results demonstrate how evolution shapes multiple determinants of evolvability concurrently, fine-tuning a population’s adaptive responses to unpredictable or recurrent environmental shifts.
Patterning of membrane adhesion under hydraulic stress
Authors: Dinet Céline , Torres-Sánchez Alejandro , Arroyo Marino , Staykova Margarita
Published: January 2023

Hydraulic fracturing plays a major role in the formation of biological lumens during embryonic development, when the accumulation of pressurized fluid leads to the formation of microlumens that fracture cell-cell contacts and later evolve to form a single large lumen. However, the physical principles underpinning the formation of a pattern of microlumens from a pristine adhesion and their subsequent coarsening are poorly understood. Here, we use giant unilamellar vesicles adhered to a supported lipid bilayer and subjected to osmotic stress to generate and follow the dynamics of hydraulic fracturing akin to those in cells. Using this simplified system together with theoretical modelling and numerical simulations, we provide a mechanistic understanding of the nucleation of hydraulic cracks, their spatial patterns and their coarsening dynamics. Besides coarsening, we show that microlumens can irreversibly bud out of the membrane, reminiscent of endocytic vesicles in cell-cell adhesion. By establishing the physics of patterning and dynamics of hydraulic cracks, our work unveils the mechanical constraints for the biological regulation of hydraulically-driven adhesion remodeling.
Reconstruction of 3-dimensional tissue organization at the single-cell resolution
Authors: Fu Yuheng , Das Arpan , Wang Dongmei , Braun Rosemary , Yi Rui
Published: January 2023

Recent advances in spatial transcriptomics (ST) have allowed for the mapping of tissue heterogeneity, but this technique lacks the resolution to investigate gene expression patterns, cell-cell communications and tissue organization at the single-cell resolution. ST data contains a mixed transcriptome from multiple heterogeneous cells, and current methods predict two-dimensional (2D) coordinates for individual cells within a predetermined space, making it difficult to reconstruct and study three-dimensional (3D) tissue organization. Here we present a new computational method called scHolography that uses deep learning to map single-cell transcriptome data to 3D space. Unlike existing methods, which generate a projection between transcriptome data and 2D spatial coordinates, scHolography uses neural networks to create a high-dimensional transcriptome-to-space map that preserves the distance information between cells, allowing for the construction of a cell-cell proximity matrix beyond the 2D ST scaffold. Furthermore, the neighboring cell profile of a given cell type can be extracted to study spatial cell heterogeneity. We apply scHolography to human skin, human skin cancer and mouse brain datasets, providing new insights into gene expression patterns, cell-cell interactions and spatial microenvironment. Together, scHolography offers a computational solution for digitizing transcriptome and spatial information into high-dimensional data for neural network-based mapping and the reconstruction of 3D tissue organization at the single-cell resolution.
IL-15 enhances functional properties and responses of cytotoxic CD4+CD28−T cells expanded in Systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Wang Tingting , Wei Laiyou , Meng Shuihui , Song Wencong , Chen Yulan , Li Heng , Zhao Qianqian , Jiang Zhenyou , Liu Dongzhou , Ren Huan , Hong Xiaoping
Published: January 2023

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that results in an attack by body’s immune system of its own tissues, causing chronic inflammation and tissue damage. T cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of SLE, as they secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as mediate direct effects on target tissues. Recently, CD4-positive T cells with cytotoxic potential were showed to be involved in autoimmune disease progression and tissue damage. However, whether this cell type expands and plays effector functions in SLE patients remain to be elucidated. Analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) data and flow cytometry data, we find that cytotoxic CD4+CD28−T cells are present in SLE patients. We also show that these cells expand most prominently in patients affected by lupus nephritis, and they exhibit cytotoxic activity against human renal glomerular endothelial cells in vitro. In addition, our study suggests that Interleukin-15 (IL-15) promotes the expansion, proliferation and cytotoxic function of CD4+CD28−T cells in SLE patients. Tofacitinib, a selective JAK3 inhibitor, inhibits the effect of IL-15 on CD4+CD28−T cells. Together, our study clearly demonstrated that CD4+CD28−T cells characterized by proinflammatory properties and cytolytic function expand in SLE patients. The pathogenic potential of these CD4+CD28−T cells is driven by IL-15/IL-15R/JAK3/STAT5 signaling pathway, which may open new avenues for therapeutic intervention to prevent progression of SLE patients.
Detailedin vivocharacterization of the players and impact of individual loop extrusion trajectories
Authors: Han Ruiqi , Huang Yike , Robers Michelle , Magnitov Mikhail , Vaandrager Iwan , Allahyar Amin , Verstegen Marjon J.A.M. , Zhang Kexin , de Wit Elzo , de Laat Wouter , Krijger Peter H.L.
Published: January 2023

The cohesin complex shapes chromosomes by DNA loop extrusion, but individual extrusion trajectories were so far unappreciablein vivo. Here, we developed and validated TArgeted Cohesin Loader (TACL), a system enabling the strong activation of anchored loop extrusion from dozens of defined genomic sites in living cells. Studying their individual loop extrusion trajectories revealed that extruding cohesinSTAG2stops not only at domain boundaries but at all flanking CTCF sites, engaging them in a complex transient looping network that supports intradomain contacts. CohesinSTAG1cannot associate with weak CTCF binding sites and fails to similarly support intradomain interactions. NIPBL-MAU2 remains associated with cohesin when stalled at looping CTCF sites, suggesting these factors may also be required for loop stabilization. TACL induces cohesin traffic jams and illegal loops with divergent CTCF sites, demonstrating that stalled cohesin can block extruding cohesinin vivo. Genes exposed to TACL-induced loop extrusion were collectively hindered in transcription and the underlying chromatin altered its accessibility and reduced its H3K27ac marks. Thus, by enabling the study of individual loop extrusion trajectoriesin vivo,we could assign new functions to players, identify new looping networks and uncover an interplay between loop extrusion, gene transcription and chromatin composition.
Unravelling cell type specific response to Parkinson’s Disease at single cell resolution
Authors: Martirosyan Araks , Pestana Francisco , Hebestreit Katja , Gasparyan Hayk , Aleksanyan Razmik , Poovathingal Suresh , Marneffe Catherine , Thal Dietmar R. , Kottick Andrew , Hanson-Smith Victor , Guelfi Sebastian , Metzakopian Emmanouil , Belgard T. Grant
Published: January 2023

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and is generally characterized by impaired motor functions. It currently affects 6.3 million people aged 60 years and more, worldwide. The pathological hallmarks of PD are Lewy bodies (abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein inside cells), which are observed primarily in the substantia nigra (SN) region of the midbrain. It is yet not known how different cell types in SN respond during PD and what are the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. To address this question, we generated a large-scale single cell transcriptomics dataset from human post-mortem SN tissue of 29 donors including 15 sporadic cases and 14 controls. We obtained data for a total of ∼80K nuclei, representing major cell types of the brain (including neurons, astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes). Pathway and differential gene expression analysis revealed multicellular character of PD pathology involving major cellular response from neuronal and glial cells.
MuLan-Methyl - Multiple Transformer-based Language Models for Accurate DNA Methylation Prediction
Authors: Zeng Wenhuan , Gautam Anupam , Huson Daniel H.
Published: January 2023

Transformer-based language models are successfully used to address massive text-related tasks. DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism and its analysis provides valuable insights into gene regulation and biomarker identification. Several deep learning-based methods have been proposed to identify DNA methylation and each seeks to strike a balance between computational effort and accuracy. Here, we introduce MuLan-Methyl, a deep-learning framework for predicting DNA methylation sites, which is based on five popular transformer-based language models. The framework identifies methylation sites for three different types of DNA methylation, namely N6-adenine, N4-cytosine, and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. Each of the employed language models is adapted to the task using the “pre-train and fine-tune” paradigm. Pre-training is performed on a custom corpus of DNA fragments and taxonomy lineages using self-supervised learning. Fine-tuning aims at predicting the DNA-methylation status of each type. The five models are used to collectively predict the DNA methylation status. We report excellent performance of MuLan-Methyl on a benchmark dataset. Moreover, we argue that the model captures characteristic differences between different species that are relevant for methylation. This work demonstrates that language models can be successfully adapted to applications in biological sequence analysis and that joint utilization of different language models improves model performance. Mulan-Methyl is open source and we provide a web server that implements the approach.

Key points

MuLan-Methyl aims at identifying three types of DNA-methylation sites.

It uses an ensemble of five transformer-based language models, which were pre-trained and fine-tuned on a custom corpus.

The self-attention mechanism of transformers give rise to importance scores, which can be used to extract motifs.

The method performs favorably in comparison to existing methods.

The implementation can be applied to chromosomal sequences to predict methylation sites.
A model forcis-regulation of transcriptional condensates and gene expression by proximal lncRNAs
Authors: Natarajan Pradeep , Shrinivas Krishna , Chakraborty Arup K.
Published: January 2023

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) perform several important functions in cells including cis-regulation of transcription. Barring a few specific cases, the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation by lncRNAs remain poorly understood. Transcriptional proteins can form condensates via phase separation at protein-binding loci (BL) on the genome (e.g., enhancers and promoters). lncRNA-coding genes are present at loci in close genomic proximity of these BL and these RNAs can interact with transcriptional proteins via attractive heterotypic interactions mediated by their net charge. Motivated by these observations, we propose that lncRNAs can dynamically regulate transcription in cis via charge-based heterotypic interactions with transcriptional proteins in condensates. To study the consequences of this mechanism, we developed and studied a dynamical phase-field model. We find that proximal lncRNAs can promote condensate formation at the BL. Vicinally localized lncRNA can migrate to the BL to attract more protein because of favorable interaction free energies. However, increasing the distance beyond a threshold leads to a sharp decrease in protein recruitment to the BL. This finding could potentially explain why genomic distances between lncRNA-coding genes and protein-coding genes are conserved across metazoans. Finally, our model predicts that lncRNA transcription can fine-tune transcription from neighboring condensate-controlled genes, repressing transcription from highly expressed genes and enhancing transcription of genes expressed at a low level. This non-equilibrium effect can reconcile conflicting reports that lncRNAs can enhance or repress transcription from proximal genes.

SIGNIFICANCE

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) form a significant part of the human genome but do not code for any proteins. They have many hypothesized functions in the cell, including the regulation of transcription. Transcriptional condensates are assemblies of transcriptional proteins that concentrate at specific genomic sites through phase separation and can regulate transcription. In this study, we propose that lncRNAs can regulate transcription by interacting with proteins in transcriptional condensates to modulate condensate formation. We find that this model can explain some puzzling observations such as conflicting reports of gene activation and repression by lncRNAs, and conservation of genomic distances between lncRNA-coding genes relative to protein-coding genes in metazoans. Experimentally testable predictions that can further explore our model are discussed.
Organometallic Pillarplexes that bind DNA 4-way Holliday Junctions and Forks
Authors: Craig James S. , Melidis Larry , Williams Hugo D. , Dettmer Samuel J. , Heidecker Alexandra A. , Altmann Philipp J. , Guan Shengyang , Campbell Callum , Browning Douglas F. , Sigel Roland K.O. , Johannsen Silke , Egan Ross T. , Aikman Brech , Casini Angela , Pöthig Alexander , Hannon Michael J.
Published: January 2023

Holliday 4-way junctions are key to important biological DNA processes (insertion, recombination and repair) and are dynamic structures which adopt either open or closed conformations, with the open conformation being the biologically active form. Tetracationic metallo-supramolecular pillarplexes display aryl faces about a cylindrical core giving them an ideal structure to interact with the central cavities of open DNA junctions. Combining experimental studies and MD simulations we show that an Au pillarplex can bind DNA 4-way junctions (Holliday junctions) in their open form, a binding mode not accessed by synthetic agents before. The Au pillarplexes can bind designed 3-way junctions too but their large size leads them to open up and expand that junction, disrupting the base pairing which manifests in an increase in hydrodynamic size and a lower junction thermal stability. At high loading they re-arrange both 4-way and 3-way junctions into Y-shaped DNA forks to increase the available junction-like binding sites. The structurally related Ag pillarplexes show similar DNA junction binding behaviour, but a lower solution stability. This pillarplex binding contrasts with (but complements) that of the metallo-supramolecular cylinders, which prefer 3-way junctions and we show can rearrange 4-way junctions into 3-way junction structures. The pillarplexes’ ability to bind open 4-way junctions creates exciting possibilities to modulate and switch such structures in biology, as well as in synthetic nucleic acid nanostructures where they are key interconnecting components. Studies in human cells, confirm that the pillarplexes do reach the nucleus, with antiproliferative activity at levels similar to those of cisplatin. The findings provide a new roadmap for targeting higher order junction structures using a metallo-supramolecular approach, as well as expanding the toolbox available to design bioactive junction-binders into organometallic chemistry.

Abstract Figure
Integrative proteogenomics using ProteomeGenerator2
Authors: Kwok Nathaniel , Aretz Zita , Takao Sumiko , Ser Zheng , Cifani Paolo , Kentsis Alex
Published: January 2023

Recent advances in nucleic acid sequencing now permit rapid and genome-scale analysis of genetic variation and transcription, enabling population-scale studies of human biology, disease, and diverse organisms. Likewise, advances in mass spectrometry proteomics now permit highly sensitive and accurate studies of protein expression at the whole proteome-scale. However, most proteomic studies rely on consensus databases to match spectra to peptide and proteins sequences, and thus remain limited to the analysis of canonical protein sequences. Here, we develop ProteomeGenerator2 (PG2), based on the scalable and modular ProteomeGenerator framework. PG2 integrates genome and transcriptome sequencing to incorporate protein variants containing amino acid substitutions, insertions, and deletions, as well as non-canonical reading frames, exons, and other variants caused by genomic and transcriptomic variation. We benchmarked PG2 using synthetic data and genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analysis of human leukemia cells. PG2 can be integrated with current and emerging sequencing technologies, assemblers, variant callers, and mass spectral analysis algorithms, and is available open-source fromhttps://github.com/kentsisresearchgroup/ProteomeGenerator2.
ElasticBLAST: Accelerating Sequence Search via Cloud Computing
Authors: Camacho Christiam , Boratyn Grzegorz M. , Joukov Victor , Alvarez Roberto Vera , Madden Thomas L.
Published: January 2023

Background

Biomedical researchers use alignments produced by BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) to categorize their query sequences. Producing such alignments is an essential bioinformatics task that is well suited for the cloud. The cloud can perform many calculations quickly as well as store and access large volumes of data. Bioinformaticians can also use it to collaborate with other researchers, sharing their results, datasets and even their pipelines on a common platform.

Results

We present ElasticBLAST, a cloud native application to perform BLAST alignments in the cloud. ElasticBLAST can handle anywhere from a few to many thousands of queries and run the searches on thousands of virtual CPUs (if desired), deleting resources when it is done. It uses cloud native tools for orchestration and can request discounted instances, lowering cloud costs for users. It is supported on Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform. It can search BLAST databases that are user provided or from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Conclusion

We show that ElasticBLAST is a useful application that can efficiently perform BLAST searches for the user in the cloud, demonstrating that with two examples. At the same time, it hides much of the complexity of working in the cloud, lowering the threshold to move work to the cloud.
Coordinated electrical and chemical signaling between two neurons orchestrates switching of motor states
Authors: Bach Maximilian , Bergs Amelie , Mulcahy Ben , Zhen Mei , Gottschalk Alexander
Published: January 2023

To survive in a complex environment, animals must respond to external cues, e.g., to escape threats or to navigate towards favorable locations. Navigating requires transition between motor states, e.g. switching from forward to backward movement. Here, we investigated how two classes of interneurons, RIS and RIM, fine-tune this transition in the nematodeC. elegans. By Ca2+imaging in freely moving animals, we found that RIS gets active slightly before RIM and likely biases decision-making towards a reversal. In animals lacking RIS, we observed lowered Ca2+-levels in RIM prior to a reversal. Combined photo-stimulation and voltage imaging revealed that FLP-11, a neuropeptide released by RIS, has an excitatory effect on RIM, while tyramine, released from RIM, inhibits RIS. Voltage imaging of intrinsic activity provided evidence for tight electrical coupling between RIS and RIM via gap junctions harboring UNC-7 innexins. Asymmetric junctional current flow was observed from RIS to RIM, and vice versa. We propose that the interplay of RIS and RIM is based on concerted electrical and chemical signaling, with a fast junctional current exchange early during the transition from forward to backward movement, followed by chemical signaling, likely during reversal execution.
Reciprocating RNA Polymerase batters through roadblocks
Authors: Qian Jin , Cartee Allison , Xu Wenxuan , Yan Yan , Wang Bing , Artsimovitch Irina , Dunlap David , Finzi Laura
Published: January 2023

RNA polymerases (RNAPs) must transit through protein roadblocks to produce full-length RNAs. Here we report real-time measurements ofEscherichia coli(E. coli) RNAP passage through different barriers. As intuitively expected, assisting forces facilitated, and opposing forces hindered, RNAP passage through LacI bound to natural operator sites. Force-dependent differences were significant at magnitudes as low as 0.2 pN and were abolished in the presence of GreA, which rescues backtracked RNAP. In stark contrast, opposing forces promoted passage when the rate of backtracking was comparable to, or faster than the rate of dissociation of the roadblock, particularly in the presence of GreA. Our experiments and simulations indicate that RNAP may transit after roadblocks dissociate, or undergo cycles of backtracking, recovery, and ramming into roadblocks to pass through. We propose that such reciprocating motion also enables RNAP to break protein-DNA contacts holding RNAP back during promoter escape and RNA chain elongation, facilitating productive transcriptionin vivo.
Poor neutralizing antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BQ.1.1 and XBB in Norway in October 2022
Authors: Vikse Elisabeth Lea , Fossum Even , Erdal Magnhild Sekse , Hungnes Olav , Bragstad Karoline
Published: January 2023

New sub-lineages of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants with enhanced ability to evade existing antibody responses continue to evolve. A better understanding how susceptible emerging virus variants are to immunity induced by vaccination or infection could help predict which strains will become dominant going forward. Here we evaluate neutralizing antibodies against several clinical isolates of omicron variants including BQ.1.1 and XBB in sera from 3x mRNA vaccinated individuals and individuals with breakthrough infections with early (BA.1 or 2) or late (BA.5) omicron variants. In addition, we evaluate neutralizing antibodies in serum samples harvested from 32 individuals from the middle of October 2022, to provide a more recent estimate of immunity. As expected, serum samples harvested after breakthrough infections were more efficient at neutralizing all the omicron variants, compared to sera from non-infected individuals. While neutralization remained high against variants such as BA.2.75.2, BR.1 and BF.7, there was a marked reduction in neutralizing titers against BQ.1.1 and XBB. Similarly, most serum samples harvested in October 2022 had very low neutralizing antibodies against BQ.1.1 and XBB, suggesting that these variants and their descendants will dominate infection waves in Norway this winter season.
Conventroad.com: a fashion curation experiment
Authors: Johnson Irene , Thomas Nobin , Joseph Joshy , Narayanan Priya , Nambudiri Ameya
Published: January 2023

Learning outcomes

The case is an example of the dilemma and constraints an entrepreneur faces as they go forward in implementing ideas while setting up an enterprise. Through the eyes of John, the case helps the participants to understand and analyse two distinct business models, the bricks and clicks model and an online aggregator model and evaluate them using a visual business tool like the business model canvas (BMC). Thus, the case helps the participants to:▪ Analyse the customer segments and demand.▪ Apply frameworks for analysing a new venture’s prospects.▪ Understand two distinct business models and learn how to sketch a business model using the BMC.▪ Compare various business model designs using the BMC template.

Case overview/synopsis

Set against the backdrop of high consumerism and haute couture, conventroad.com is an example of fashion aggregation and curation in the online platform. Once known as the fashion hub of Kerala with its crowded streets, cramped with boutiques on each corner, Convent Road lost its following as big and major stores left the miniscule space for better facilities in the name of development. This case follows Rijin John, founder and developer, through the course of his idea conceptualisation. In an attempt to regain its popularity through the internet, John set out to rope all the popular Convent Road boutiques into one platform. But, as more options became available, John was in a dilemma about whether he should continue to try to convince the indifferent boutique owners to be a part of his enterprise or explore an alternative model and create a platform for weavers while sacrificing the brand value of Convent Road.

Complexity academic level

The case is designed for use in an undergraduate or graduate-level course on entrepreneurship, marketing, business policy and managing growing ventures.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
Climate change and extremes: implications on city livability and associated health risks across the globe
Authors: Leal Filho Walter , Tuladhar Liza , Li Chunlan , Balogun Abdul-Lateef Babatunde , Kovaleva Marina , Abubakar Ismaila Rimi , Azadi Hossein , Donkor Felix Kwabena Kwabena
Published: January 2023

Purpose

As global warming intensifies, climatic conditions are changing dramatically, potentially affecting specific businesses and cities’ livability. The temperature increase in cities significantly affects urban residents whose percentage is to reach about 70% by 2050. This paper aimed at highlighting the climate change risks in cities, particularly focusing on the threats to people’s health due to a continuous temperature increase.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted in three main steps. First, the literature review on the effects of climate change, particularly on the continuous temperature rise in cities, was conducted based on the publications retrieved from PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Research Gate. Second, the survey was conducted for the sample cities for one month. Third, the questionnaire was used to assess possible climate change threats to the livability of cities.

Findings

The findings showed that urban areas are usually warmer than the surrounding rural areas, mainly due to the urban heat island effect, causing more hot days in metropolitan areas compared to rural areas. This paper outlines some mitigation and adaptation measures, which can be implemented to improve the livability in cities, their sustainability and the well-being of their populations.

Originality/value

This study reports on the climate change impacts on the health and livability of 15 cities, in industrialized and developing countries. It examines the average and maximum temperature and relative humidity of each city and its correlation with their livability. It was complemented by a survey focused on 109 cities from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania.
DO-VTON: a details-oriented virtual try-on network
Authors: Luo Weihao , Zhong Yueqi
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The paper aims to transfer the item image of a given clothing product to a corresponding area of the user image. Existing classical methods suffer from unconstrained deformation of clothing and occlusion caused by hair or poses, which leads to loss of details in the try-on results. In this paper, the authors present a details-oriented virtual try-on network (DO-VTON), which allows synthesizing high-fidelity try-on images with preserved characteristics of target clothing.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed try-on network consists of three modules. The fashion parsing module (FPM) is designed to generate the parsing map of a reference person image. The geometric matching module (GMM) warps the input clothing and matches it with the torso area of the reference person guided by the parsing map. The try-on module (TOM) generates the final try-on image. In both FPM and TOM, attention mechanism is introduced to obtain sufficient features, which enhances the performance of characteristics preservation. In GMM, a two-stage coarse-to-fine training strategy with a grid regularization loss (GR loss) is employed to optimize the clothing warping.

Findings

In this paper, the authors propose a three-stage image-based virtual try-on network, DO-VTON, that aims to generate realistic try-on images with extensive characteristics preserved.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ proposed algorithm can provide a promising tool for image based virtual try-on.

Practical implications

The authors’ proposed method is a technology for consumers to purchase favored clothes online and to reduce the return rate in e-commerce.

Originality/value

Therefore, the authors’ proposed algorithm can provide a promising tool for image based virtual try-on.
How footwear companies can use online CX to WOW customers
Authors: Silva Susana C. , Dias Joana Carmo , Braga Beatriz
Published: January 2023

Purpose

E-commerce has become an essential and highly competitive channel for e-retailers, who have felt the need to invest in the experience delivered to customers. Therefore, it becomes necessary to unveil the online customer experience so that brands can improve their offerings. In this study, the authors proposed a model that explores customer experience on websites, namely, what concerns the use of the latest technological developments such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality.

Design/methodology/approach

The study offers a model to explore and compare the online consumer experience in e-commerce websites, considering eight dimensions that cover recent technological advances. A multiple case study that evaluated companies in the footwear industry was used to assess the model's applicability. The case study methodology considered two distinct segments, the high-price and low-price segments.

Findings

The data collected by the websites' examination enabled us to confirm part of the suggested propositions. However, propositions concerning new technologies were not proved. Opportunities for improvement were identified, especially for high-price segment companies, since the results showed that these companies provide a less pleasant consumer experience than those of the opposing segment.

Originality/value

This study extends the scope of the online consumer experience by introducing more contemporary dimensions. Additionally, the model allows an evaluation and comparison of the knowledge delivered by several online retailers, using the Portuguese footwear industry as a reference.
Toward a debugging pedagogy: helping students learn to get unstuck with physical computing systems
Authors: Hennessy Elliott Colin , Gendreau Chakarov Alexandra , Bush Jeffrey B. , Nixon Jessie , Recker Mimi
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how a middle school science teacher, new to programming, supports students in learning to debug physical computing systems consisting of programmable sensors and data displays.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study draws on data collected during an inquiry-oriented instructional unit in which students learn to collect, display and interpret data from their surrounding environment by wiring and programming a physical computing system. Using interaction analysis, the authors analyzed video recordings of one teacher’s (Gabrielle) pedagogical moves as she supported students in debugging their systems as they drew upon a variety of embodied, material and social resources.

Findings

This study presents Gabrielle’s debugging interactional grammar, highlighting the pedagogical possibilities for supporting students in systematic ways, providing affective support (e.g. showing them care and encouragement) and positioning herself as a learner with the students. Gabrielle’s practice, and therefore her pedagogy, has the potential to support students in becoming better debuggers on their own in the future.

Originality/value

While much of the prior work on learning to debug focuses on learner actions and possible errors, this case focuses on an educator’s debugging pedagogy centered on the educator debugging with the learners. This case study illustrates the need for educators to exhibit deft facilitation, vulnerability and orchestration skills to support student development of their own process for and agency in debugging.
Supplier monitoring and procurement performance in the public sector in Tanzania: the moderating role of contract management difficulty
Authors: Changalima Ismail Abdi , Mchopa Alban Dismas , Ismail Ismail Juma
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of supplier monitoring on procurement performance in the Tanzanian public sector, as well as how contract management difficulty moderates the effect of supplier monitoring on procurement performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper cross-sectional data were collected from 179 Tanzanian public procuring organizations using a structured survey questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the PROCESS macro were used to analyse the collected data.

Findings

Supplier monitoring has a positive and significant relationship with procurement performance in terms of cost reduction, lead times and buyer satisfaction. Furthermore, contract management difficulty has a negative moderating effect on the relationships between supplier monitoring and procurement performance dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

Because public procurement is governed by laws and procedures, generalization of results should be done with caution. This is because the study is currently limited to Tanzanian public procurement. Apart from contract management difficulty, future research can look at other factors that may be needed to moderate the link between supplier monitoring and procurement performance.

Practical implications

Procurement practitioners must monitor major suppliers’ timeliness, product quality and order accuracy in order to improve procurement performance. Furthermore, proper contract management is required, which necessitates effectively reinforcing procurement contract managers’ responsibilities and providing contract management training for practitioners in order to control anomalies when suppliers and contracts are involved.

Originality/value

By adding a moderating variable, the study adds to the literature on supplier monitoring in public procurement and the on-going debate on supplier monitoring and performance.
Space transition and the vulnerabilities of the NFT market to financial crime
Authors: Al Shamsi Mohammed , Smith Deborah , Gleason Kimberly
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how non-fungible tokens (NFTs) can be used in the commission of financial crime, including money laundering and crypto-fraud schemes, using the framework of the Space Transition Theory.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review relating the Space Transition Theory to crime vulnerabilities related to NFTs is conducted and practical examples illustrating NFT schemes are provided.

Findings

The authors find that the Space Transition Theory explains the evolution of financial crimes into the NFT space. The transformation of the art industry from the physical to the virtual space through NFTs underlies the criminal activity surrounding them. NFTs enable crime because of the flexibility, dissociative anonymity, lack of deterrence and anonymity.

Research limitations/implications

Criminals can easily take advantage of the users’ limited knowledge of blockchain to defraud them of their money or tokens. These risks accentuate the need to adopt appropriate measures to augment the accountability of NFT transactions. Until such interventions are implemented, the NFT market remains a highly viable space for the perpetration of financial crimes.

Practical implications

The dynamic nature of the cyberspace and fast-past underlying technology provide a greater chance to escape than crimes committed in the physical space. The state of security on NFT platforms has elicited concerns from diverse quotas. NFTs pose significant money laundering risks because of the lack of appropriate regulatory mechanisms, generating a need for enhanced oversight and enforcement of sectors of the economy in physical space vulnerable to abuse in the NFT space, including entities such as art galleries, museums, sports teams and luxury brands.

Social implications

The Space Transition Theory is also supported in that norms and values regarding ethics and criminal actions in the physical space do not transfer to cyber space.

Originality/value

The novelty aspect of this research is in applying the Space Transition Theory to financial crime schemes based on NFTs.
Unpleasant surprises? Debt relief and risk of sovereign default
Authors: Ahiadorme Johnson Worlanyo
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The Covid-19 pandemic has rekindled interest in sovereign debt crises amidst calls for debt relief for developing and emerging countries. But has debt relief lessened the debt burdens of emerging and developing economies? The purpose of this paper is to empirically address this question. In particular, the focus is on the implications of debt relief and institutional qualities for sovereign debt in emerging and developing economies.

Design/methodology/approach

The model extends the framework on the probability of default by incorporating the receipt of debt relief by a debtor country. Doing so allows to better explain movements of sovereign defaults relating to debt relief. The model is estimated via the regular probit regression.

Findings

The analysis shows that the debt relief provided, thus, far, failed to ease the debt overhang problems of developing and emerging countries and reduced investment. The current debt relief schemes may underscore the prospects of self-enforcing and self-fulfilling sovereign debt crises rather than eliminating the dilemma completely. Regarding the forms of debt relief, the analysis shows that debt forgiveness offers favourable prospects in terms of debt sustainability and economic outcomes than debt rescheduling. Perhaps, the sovereign debt crises, particularly in low-income countries, hinge on insolvency problems rather than transitory illiquidity issues.

Practical implications

Any debt relief mechanism should consider seriously the potential incentive effect that reinforces expectations of future debt-relief initiatives. Importantly, solving the sovereign debt problem requires a programme for sustained investment and economic growth, while not discounting the critical role of prudent debt management policies and institutions.

Originality/value

This study contributes a different angle to the debate on sovereign debt distress. Aside from the structural and economic factors, this study investigates the role of debt management policy in the debtor nation and the implications of debt relief benefits for sovereign risk. The framework also focuses on whether the different forms of debt relief exert distinctive impacts.
Supply chain resilience strategies and their impact on sustainability: an investigation from the automobile sector
Authors: Singh Jagroop , Hamid Abu Bakar Abdul , Garza-Reyes Jose Arturo
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a framework comprising supply chain (SC) resilience strategies to handle low-frequency high impact disruptive events. This study also evaluates the impact of SC resilience strategies’ implementation on the triple bottom line of SC sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

A hybrid three-phased method is proposed to meet the research objectives of this study. In the first phase, this study uses the Delphi technique to select SC resilience strategies and SC sustainability dimensions. In the second phase, the best–worst method is used to assess the relative weights of resilience strategies. Finally, in the third stage, summative Likert scoring is used to understand the impact of SC resilience strategies on the SC sustainability triple bottom line.

Findings

The outcomes reveal that firms give due importance to inter-organizational relationships and supplier nearness for supply continuity. In the sustainability context, the obtained scores proved that resilience strategies have the maximum impact on economic sustainability, followed by environmental sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that examines aspects of SC resilience strategies and quantifies their impact on the triple bottom line of SC sustainability. This study is specific to the automobile sector; sectoral diversity may expose similarities and dissimilarities in the approach.

Practical implications

The outcome establishes that supplier–manufacturer relationships need to be strengthened further to tackle any future uncertainties. Besides, supplier location decisions may also be revisited. The strategies proposed will aid SC managers to make informed decisions to prepare for uncertain events.

Originality/value

In the face of uncertain events, often SCs trade-off sustainability in pursuit of resilience. It manifests that resilience is a prerequisite for SC sustainability. While planning SCs, organizations often choose either sustainability or resilience. Thus, this study acknowledges the need to develop effective SC resilience strategies that are in harmony with the sustainability agenda.
Recent advances in cutaneous HPV infection
Authors: Shimizu Akira , Yamaguchi Reimon , Kuriyama Yuko
Published: January 2023

More than 200 types of human papillomavirus (HPV) have been reported to date and have been associated with various dermatological diseases. Among dermatological diseases, viral verrucae are the most commonly reported to be associated with HPV. Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) consists of three types: typical EV is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder with TMC6/TMC8 gene mutations, atypical EV develops due to various gene mutations that cause immunodeficiency, and acquired EV develops due to acquired immunodeficiency. Generalized verrucosis differs from EV in that it involves numerous verrucous nodules (mainly on the limbs), histopathologically no blue cells as seen in EV, and infection with cutaneous α‐HPVs as well as β‐HPVs. HPV‐induced skin malignancies include squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) caused by β‐HPV (especially HPV types 5 and 8) in EV patients, organ transplant recipients, and healthy individuals, and SCC of the vulva and nail unit caused by mucosal high‐risk HPV infection. Carcinogenesis of β‐HPV is associated with sunlight. Mucosal high‐risk HPV‐associated carcinomas may also be sexually transmitted. We focused on Bowen's disease of the nail, which has been the subject of our research for a long time and has recently come to the fore in the field of dermatology.