bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapidly Inferring Personalized Neurostimulation Parameters with Meta-Learning: A Case Study of Individualized Fiber Recruitment in Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Mao Ximeng , Chang Yao-Chuan , Zanos Stavros , Lajoie Guillaume
Published: September 2022

Objective

Neurostimulation is emerging as treatment for several diseases of the brain and peripheral organs. Due to variability arising from placement of stimulation devices, underlying neuroanatomy and physiological responses to stimulation, it is essential that neurostimulation protocols are personalized to maximize efficacy and safety. Building such personalized protocols would benefit from accumulated information in increasingly large datasets of other individuals’ responses.

Approach

To address that need, we propose a meta-learning family of algorithms to conduct few-shot optimization of key fitting parameters of physiological and neural responses in new individuals. While our method is agnostic to neurostimulation setting, here we demonstrate its effectiveness on the problem of physiological modeling of fiber recruitment during vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). Using data from acute VNS experiments, the mapping between amplitudes of stimulus-evoked compound action potentials (eCAPs) and physiological responses, such as heart rate and breathing interval modulation, is inferred.

Main results

Using additional synthetic data sets to complement experimental results, we demonstrate that our meta-learning framework is capable of directly modeling the physiology-eCAP relationship for individual subjects with much fewer individually queried data points than standard methods.

Significance

Our meta-learning framework is general and can be adapted to many input-response neurostimulation mapping problems. Moreover, this method leverages information from growing data sets of past patients, as a treatment is deployed. It can also be combined with several model types, including regression, Gaussian processes with Bayesian optimization, and beyond.
Multivariate divergence in wild microbes: no evidence for evolution along a genetic line of least resistance
Authors: Gluck-Thaler Emile , Shaikh Muhammad , Wood Corlett W.
Published: September 2022

Trait evolution depends both on the direct fitness effects of specific traits and on indirect selection arising from genetically correlated traits. Although well established in plants and animals, the role of trait correlations in microbial evolution remains a major open question. Here, we tested whether genetic correlations in a suite of metabolic traits are conserved between two sister lineages of fungal endophytes, and whether phenotypic divergence between lineages occurred in the direction of the multivariate trait combination containing the most genetic variance within lineages i.e., the genetic lines of least resistance. We found that while one lineage grew faster across nearly all substrates, lineages differed in their mean response to specific substrates and in their overall multivariate metabolic trait means. The structure of the genetic variance-covariance (G) matrix was conserved between lineages, yet to our surprise, divergence in metabolic phenotypes between lineages was nearly orthogonal to the major axis of genetic variation within lineages, indicating that divergence did not occur along the genetic lines of least resistance. Our findings suggest that the evolutionary genetics of trait correlations in microorganisms warrant further research, and highlight the extensive functional variation that exists at very fine taxonomic scales in host-associated microbial communities.
Sex dependence of opioid-mediated responses to subanesthetic ketamine
Authors: Di Ianni Tommaso , Azadian Matine M. , Ewbank Sedona N. , Michaelides Michael , Airan Raag D.
Published: September 2022

Subanesthetic ketamine rapidly and robustly reduces depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression. While it is commonly classified as an N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, our picture of ketamine’s mechanistic underpinnings is incomplete. Recent clinical evidence has indicated, controversially, that a component of the efficacy of ketamine in depression may be opioid dependent. Using pharmacological functional ultrasound imaging in rats, we found that blocking opioid receptors suppressed neurophysiologic changes evoked by ketamine, but not by a more selective NMDAR antagonist, in regions implicated in the pathophysiology of depression and in reward processing. Importantly, this opioid-dependent response was strongly sex dependent, as it was not evident in female subjects and was fully reversed by surgical removal of the male gonads. We observed similar opioid-mediated sex-dependent effects in ketamine-evoked structural plasticity and behavioral sensitization. Together, these results underscore the potential for ketamine to induce its affective responses via opioid signaling, and indicate that this opioid dependence may be strongly influenced by subject sex. These factors should be more directly assessed in future clinical trials.

One-Sentence Summary

Subanesthetic ketamine evokes opioid-mediated behavioral and neurophysiological effects in male, but not female, rats.
Tracking N- and C-termini of C. elegans polycystin-1 reveals their distinct targeting requirements and functions in cilia and extracellular vesicles
Authors: Walsh Jonathon D. , Wang Juan , DeHart Molly , Nikonorova Inna A. , Srinivasan Jagan , Barr Maureen M.
Published: September 2022

The cilium acts as an antenna receiving and sending signals, the latter via extracellular vesicles (EVs). In C. elegans and mammals, the Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) gene products polycystin-1 (PC1) and polycystin-2 (PC2) localize to both cilia and EVs, act in the same genetic pathway, and function in a sensory capacity, suggesting ancient conservation. However, the functions of the polycystins on cilia and EVs remain enigmatic. We used our C. elegans model and endogenously fluorescent-tagged LOV-1/polycystin-1 to study LOV-1 processing, trafficking, transport, EV biogenesis, and function in living animals. Super resolution, real time imaging reveals that LOV-1 is processed into N-terminal and C-terminal forms via a conserved GPCR proteolytic site (GPS). The LOV-1 NTM is secreted into the extracellular matrix and not localized to ciliary tip EVs. In contrast, LOV-1 CTM and PKD-2 are co-trafficked, co-transported, and co-localized in cilia and on environmentally-released ciliary EVs. LOV-1 CTM requires PKD-2 for ciliary EV localization, while PKD-2 localizes to ciliary EVs independent of LOV-1. We find that LOV-1 but not PKD-2 is required for chemosensation of an ascaroside mating pheromone. These findings indicate that the polycystins LOV-1 and PKD-2 function together and independently and provide insight to how cargo selected and packaged in ciliary EVs.
Platform-Agnostic CellNet (PACNet) enables cross-study meta-analysis of cell fate engineering protocols
Authors: Lo Emily K.W. , Velazquez Jeremy , Peng Da , Kwon Chulan , Ebrahimkhani Mo R. , Cahan Patrick
Published: September 2022

The optimization of cell fate engineering protocols requires evaluating their fidelity, efficiency, or both. We previously adopted CellNet, a computational tool to quantitatively assess the transcriptional fidelity of engineered cells and tissues as compared to their in vivo counterparts based on bulk RNA-Seq. However, this platform and other similar approaches are sensitive to experimental and analytical aspects of transcriptomics methodologies. This makes it challenging to capitalizing on the expansive, publicly available sets of transcriptomic data that reflect the diversity of cell fate engineering protocols. Here, we present Platform-Agnostic CellNet (PACNet), which extends the functionality of CellNet by enabling the assessment of transcriptional profiles in a platform-agnostic manner, and by enabling the comparison of user-supplied data to panels of engineered cell types from state-of-the-art protocols. To demonstrate the utility of PACNet, we evaluated a range of cell fate engineering protocols for cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes. Through this analysis, we identified the best-performing methods, characterized the extent of intra-protocol and inter-lab variation, and identified common off-target signatures, including a surprising neural and neuroendocrine signature in primary liver-derived organoids. Finally, we made our tool accessible as a user-friendly web application that allows users to upload their own transcriptional profiles and assess their protocols relative to our database of reference engineered samples.

Highlights

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The development of Platform-Agnostic CellNet (PACNet) that classifies engineered cell populations from transcriptome data regardless of profiling method or transcript abundance estimation method

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PACNet enables cross-study comparisons of cell fate engineering protocols

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Comparison of cardiomyocyte engineering protocols emphasizes metabolic selection as a key step in achieving a strong cardiomyocyte fate.

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PACNet identifies an unexpected off-target neural and neuroendocrine signature in primary liver-derived organoids.

eTOC Blurb

Cahan and colleagues created a computational resource, PACNet, which evaluates the fidelity of cell engineering expression profiles in a platform-agnostic manner to facilitate cross-protocol benchmarking. Examining state-of-the-field cardiomyocyte and hepatocyte derivation protocols, they identified that two techniques in cardiomyocyte engineering best increase cardiac identity and that an off-target neural/neuroendocrine signature in primary liver-derived organoids may reflect a cholangiopathic signature.

Graphical abstract
Differential gene expression analysis and physiological response characteristics of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) buds under high-temperature stress
Authors: Wang Hongli , Zhao Jiucheng , Lai Miao , Zhang Yingqing , Qiu Wenwu , Li Yanyan , Tu Hailian , Ling Qichang , Fu Xinfeng
Published: September 2022

High temperature in summer is an unfavorable factor for passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), which can lead to restricted growth, short flowering period, few flower buds, low fruit setting rate, severe fruit drop, and more deformed fruit. To explore the molecular physiology mechanism of passion fruit responding to high-temperature stress, we use ‘Zhuangxiang Mibao’, a hybrid passion fruit cultivar, as the test material. Several physiological indicators were measured and compared between high-temperature (average temperature 38°C) and nonmoral temperature (average temperature 25°C) conditions, including photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, POD, SOD activity and malondialdehyde content. We performed RNA-seq analysis combined with biochemistry experiment to investigate the gene and molecular pathways that respond to high-temperature stress. The results showed that some physiological indicators in the high-temperature group, including the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, transpiration rate, and the maximum chemical quantum yield of PS∥, were significantly lower than those of the control group. Malondialdehyde content was substantially higher than the control group, while superoxide dismutase and superoxide dismutase activities decreased to different degrees. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that 140 genes were up-regulated and 75 genes were down-regulated under high-temperature stress. GO and KEGG annotation analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed many metabolic pathways related to high-temperature stress. Further investigation revealed that 30 genes might be related to high-temperature stress, such as CAO, GSH, WRKY, and HSP, which have also been reported in other species. The results of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and RNA-seq of randomly selected ten genes are consistent, which suggests that the transcriptome sequencing results were reliable. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the mechanism of passion fruit response to high-temperature stress. Also, it gives a theoretical basis for the subsequent breeding of new heat-resistant passion fruit varieties.
Image-based phenomic prediction can provide valuable decision support in wheat breeding
Authors: Roth Lukas , Fossati Dario , Krähenbühl Patrick , Walter Achim , Hund Andreas
Published: September 2022

Traditionally, breeders’ selection decisions in early generations are largely based on visual observations in the field. With the advent of affordable genome sequencing and high-throughput phenotyping technologies, enhancing breeders’ ratings with such information became attractive. In this research, it is hypothesized that G×E interactions of secondary traits (i.e., growth dynamics’ traits) are less complex than those of related target traits (e.g., yield). Thus, phenomic selection (PS) may allow selecting for genotypes with beneficial response-pattern in a defined population of environments. A set of 45 winter wheat varieties was grown at five year-sites and analyzed with linear and factor-analytic (FA) mixed models to estimate G×E interactions of secondary and target traits. The dynamic development of drone-derived plant height, leaf area and tiller density estimations was used to estimate the timing of key stages, quantities at defined time points, and temperature dose-response curve parameters. Most of these secondary traits and grain protein content showed little G×E interactions. In contrast, the modeling of G×E for yield required a FA model with two factors. A trained PS model predicted overall yield performance, yield stability and grain protein content with correlations of 0.43, 0.30 and 0.34. While these accuracies are modest and do not outperform well-trained GS models, PS additionally provided insights into the physiological basis of target traits. An ideotype was identified that potentially avoids the negative pleiotropic effects between yield and protein content.

Key message

Genotype-by-environment interactions of secondary traits based on high-throughput field phenotyping are less complex than those of target traits, allowing for a phenomic selection in unreplicated early generation trials.
Microglia protect fungi against copper starvation and promote brain infection
Authors: Mohamed Sally H. , Fu Man Shun , Hain Sofia , Alselami Alanoud , Vanhoffelen Eliane , Li Yanjian , Bojang Ebrima , Lukande Robert , Ballou Elizabeth R. , May Robin C. , Ding Chen , Velde Greetje Vande , Drummond Rebecca A.
Published: September 2022

Microglia provide protection against a range of brain infections, but how these glial cells respond to fungi is poorly understood. We investigated the role of microglia in the context of cryptococcal meningitis, the most common cause of fungal brain infections in humans. Using a series of transgenic- and chemical-based microglia depletion methods we found that, contrary to their protective role during other infections, microglia supported cryptococcal fungal brain infection. We show that microglia become hosts for intracellular fungal growth and are a site in which the fungus accesses the restricted micronutrient copper. We developed a reporter fungal strain to track copper starvation responses by the fungus and found that yeast were protected from copper starvation within microglia. Lastly, we show that stimulation of microglia with IFNγ causes restriction of phagosomal copper to intracellular fungi. These data provide a mechanistic explanation for why microglia depletion has a therapeutic effect in the context of this life-threatening fungal infection and is one of the few examples of microglia acting to promote infection. Our data demonstrate how tissue-resident phagocytes can support cryptococcal infections by acting as intracellular reservoirs and sites of microbial nutrient acquisition, and how these mechanisms may be blocked by IFNγ immunotherapy.
Noradrenergic cross-modular reciprocal inhibition within the locus coeruleus
Authors: Davy Oscar , Perrins Ray , Lavigne Marina , Kremer Eric , Tsaneva-Atanasova Krasimira , Ashby Michael , Pickering Anthony E
Published: September 2022

The Locus Coeruleus (LC) is the primary noradrenergic nucleus in the brain with widespread projections driving changes in cognitive state and animal behaviour. The LC is composed of multiple “modules” with specific efferent target domains enabling discretional neuromodulation. LC neuronal activity releases noradrenaline within the nucleus as a local feedback mechanism, but it is not known how this influences modular output. We address this question using whole-cell recordings and calcium imaging in rat pontine slices in combination with LC neuronal ensemble modelling to assess the influence of local noradrenaline release on cross-modular interactions.

Electrophysiological recordings of LC neurons from rats transduced with the optogenetic actuator ChR2 showed auto-inhibition and lateral inhibition (of surrounding non-transduced neurons). This inhibition was strongly frequency dependent and was mediated by noradrenaline acting on alpha2-adrenceptors (α2R). To allow calcium-imaging of LC neuronal ensembles a Canine-Adenoviral vector strategy was developed using the PRS promoter to drive selective expression GCaMP6s. Calcium imaging allowed resolution of both increases and decreases in LC activity (to TTX / clonidine or high potassium). Selective chemogenetic-activation of subsets of LC neurons (expressing the ionotropic actuator PSAM) revealed both a direct excitation (after application of PSEM308, 3-30µM) and an α2R-mediated inhibition of neighbouring LC cells (non-transduced). Differential retrograde targeting of PSAM or GCaMP6s to specific LC modules showed the presence of strong, reciprocal cross-modular inhibition (shown for the LC-olfactory bulb vs LC bulbospinal modules) and a subsequent rebound activity inversion.

This represents a preferential, targeted, cross-modular, lateral inhibition within the LC rather than a non-specific surround inhibition. Computational modelling showed the emergence of lateral inhibition and biphasic responses to modular activation when α2R signalling and noradrenergic reuptake saturation were included. This interaction may facilitate recruitment of neuronal ensembles by coherent inputs and represents a bottom-up differential contrast-enhancement mechanism within the LC to produce a modality specific focus.
Fluid flow sensitizes bacterial pathogens to chemical stress
Authors: Padron Gilberto C. , Shuppara Alexander M. , Sharma Anuradha , Koch Matthias D. , Palalay Jessica-Jae S. , Radin Jana N. , Kehl-Fie Thomas E. , Imlay James A. , Sanfilippo Joseph E.
Published: September 2022

Cells regularly experience fluid flow in natural systems. However, most experimental systems rely on batch cell culture and fail to consider the effect of flow-driven dynamics on cell physiology. Using microfluidics and single-cell imaging, we discover that the interplay of physical shear rate (a measure of fluid flow) and chemical stress trigger a transcriptional response in the human pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosa. In batch cell culture, cells protect themselves by quickly scavenging the ubiquitous chemical stressor hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from the media. In microfluidic conditions, we observe that cell scavenging generates spatial gradients of H2O2. High shear rates replenish H2O2, abolish gradients, and generate a stress response. Combining mathematical simulations and biophysical experiments, we find that cells in flow are sensitive to a H2O2concentration that is 100-1000 times lower than traditionally studied in batch cell culture. Surprisingly, the shear rate and H2O2concentration required to trigger a transcriptional response closely match their respective values in the human bloodstream. Thus, our results explain a long-standing discrepancy between H2O2levels in experimental and natural systems. Finally, we demonstrate that the shear rate and H2O2concentration found in the human bloodstream trigger gene expression in the blood-relevant human pathogenStaphylococcus aureus, suggesting that flow sensitizes bacteria to chemical stress in natural environments.
β-arrestin-independent endosomal cAMP signaling by a polypeptide hormone GPCR
Authors: Blythe Emily E. , von Zastrow Mark
Published: September 2022

Many GPCRs are now recognized to initiate a second phase of G protein (Gs) -dependent signaling through the cAMP cascade after endocytosis. A prevailing current view is that endocytosis-promoted signaling from GPCRs is inherently β-arrestin-dependent because β-arrestin is necessary for receptors to internalize and, for some GPCRs, it also promotes Gsactivation on endosomes. Here we revise this view by showing that the vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 1 (VIPR1), a prototypic secretin-family polypeptide hormone receptor, remains bound to β-arrestin after endocytosis but does not require β-arrestin either to internalize or to generate an endosomal signal. β-arrestin instead resolves the endosomal signal into a temporally separated cAMP peak, and it does so by attenuating signaling from the plasma membrane without detectably affecting the endosomal response. The mechanistic basis for this location-specific difference in β-arrestin function is the formation of distinct VIPR1/β-arrestin complexes at each location. The signal-attenuating complex formed at the plasma membrane does not require GRK-mediated phosphorylation of receptors, while the signaling-neutral complex present on the endosome membrane, in contrast, is GRK-dependent. To our knowledge, the present results provide the first direct demonstration that endosomal GPCR signaling can occur in the complete absence of β-arrestin. They also reveal a discrete role of β-arrestin in sculpting the spatiotemporal profile of cellular GPCR - G protein signaling through the location-specific formation or remodeling of GPCR/β-arrestin complexes.
Multi-block RNN Autoencoders Enable Broadband ECoG Signal Reconstruction
Authors: Nolan Michael , Pesaran Bijan , Shlizerman Eli , Orsborn Amy
Published: September 2022

Objective

Neural dynamical models reconstruct neural data using dynamical systems. These models enable direct reconstruction and estimation of neural time-series data as well as estimation of neural latent states. Nonlinear neural dynamical models using recurrent neural networks in an encoder-decoder architecture have recently enabled accurate single-trial reconstructions of neural activity for neuronal spiking data. While these models have been applied to neural field potential data, they have only so far been applied to signal feature reconstruction (e.g. frequency band power), and have not yet produced direct reconstructions of broadband time-series data preserving signal phase and temporal resolution.

Approach

Here we present two encoder-decoder model architectures - the RNN autoencoder (RAE) and multi-block RAE (MRAE) for direct time-series reconstruction of broadband neural data. We trained and tested models on multi-channel micro-Electricorticography (μECoG) recordings from non-human primate motor corticies during unconstrained behavior.

Main Results

We show that RAE reconstructs micro-electrocorticography recordings, but has reconstruction accuracy that is band-limited to model scale. The MRAE architecture overcomes these time-bandwidth restrictions, yielding broadband (0-100 Hz), accurate reconstructions of μECoG data.

Significance

RAE and MRAE reconstruct broadband μECoG data through multiblock dynamical modeling. The MRAE overcomes time-bandwitdh restrictions to provide improved accuracy for long time duration signals. The reconstruction capabilities provided by these models for broadband neural signals like μECoG may enable the development of improved tools and analysis for basic scientific research and applications like brain-computer interfaces.
Robust induction of functional astrocytes using NGN2 expression in human pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Berryer Martin H. , Tegtmeyer Matthew , Binan Loïc , Valakh Vera , Nathanson Anna , Trendafilova Darina , Crouse Ethan , Klein Jenny , Meyer Daniel , Pietiläinen Olli , Rapino Francesca , Farhi Samouil L. , Rubin Lee L. , McCarroll Steven A. , Nehme Ralda , Barrett Lindy E.
Published: September 2022

Astrocytes play essential roles in normal brain function, with dysfunction implicated in diverse developmental and degenerative disease processes. Emerging evidence of profound species divergent features of astrocytes coupled with the relative inaccessibility of human brain tissue underscore the utility of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technologies for the generation and study of human astrocytes. However, existing approaches for hPSC-astrocyte generation are typically lengthy, incompletely characterized, or require intermediate purification steps, limiting their utility for multi-cell line, adequately powered functional studies. Here, we establish a rapid and highly scalable method for generating functional human induced astrocytes (hiAs) based upon transient Neurogenin 2 (NGN2) induction of neural progenitor-like cells followed by maturation in astrocyte media, which demonstrate remarkable homogeneity within the population and across 11 independent cell lines in the absence of additional purification steps. These hiAs express canonical astrocyte markers, respond to pro-inflammatory stimuli, exhibit ATP-induced calcium transients and support neuronal maturation in vitro. Moreover, single-cell transcriptomic analyses reveal the generation of highly reproducible cell populations across individual donors, most closely resembling human fetal astrocytes, and highly similar to hPSC-derived astrocytes generated using more complex approaches. Finally, the hiAs capture key molecular hallmarks in a trisomy 21 disease model. Thus, hiAs provide a valuable and practical resource well-suited for study of basic human astrocyte function and dysfunction in disease.
Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)(morpholin-4-yl)methanethione
Authors: Mutalliev Lukmonjon Z. , Abdullaev Sirojiddin , Pirnazarova Nasiba , Obidova Ibodat , Turgunov Kambarali , Yakubov Ubaydullo , Ashurov Jamshid M. , Elmuradov Burkhan Zh. , Mamadrakhimov Azimjon A.
Published: September 2022

The title compound, C12H13N3OS, was synthesized via the Willgerodt–Kindler method. The benzimidozole moiety is essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0084 Å). The thioamide group is inclined by 54.80 (14)° to the benzimidazole ring system. The morpholine ring is disordered over two sets of sites [ratio 0.841 (11):0.159 (11)], with chair conformations for both components. In the crystal, molecules are linked into N—H...N hydrogen-bonded chains running parallel to the c axis. Hirshfeld surface analysis was used to quantify the intermolecular interactions.
Timing, paths and contents of the intergenerational inheritance of family firm from the perspective of HeXie theory
Authors: Wang Lixia , Zhang Xin , Yan Beibei , Boasson Vigdis
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the internal logical relationship between two intergenerational inheritance ways of passing property rights and residual control rights (RCR) and to construct a conceptual model comprising transfer elements, paths and timing of succession in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

Driven by the cases of Haixin, Tianyijiao and Changhe Group, this paper applies research methods of copying and expanding analysis logic, progressive deduction, content analysis and comparative research based on the perspective of HeXie theory to explore the deep interrelation of transfer elements, paths and timing during family business succession.

Findings

The findings present that the content of intergenerational inheritance of a family firm is the inheritance of property rights and RCR. First, the inheritance of property rights is a static inheritance of time-point delivery, whereas the inheritance of RCR is a dynamic inheritance process for a period of time. Second, the inheritance of property rights and RCR are not independent; only a “HeXie” succession of both rights can realize a successful inheritance of family firms.

Originality/value

This paper constructs the paths and timing model of intergenerational inheritance of property rights and RCR in family firms. This paper integrates the current literature studies on the family inheritance of property rights and RCR and explains their internal mechanisms. This paper also provides a theoretical foundation and empirical evidence for family business transitions in the business world.
Research on the generalization of social bot detection from two dimensions: feature extraction and detection approaches
Authors: Zeng Ziming , Li Tingting , Sun Jingjing , Sun Shouqiang , Zhang Yu
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The proliferation of bots in social networks has profoundly affected the interactions of legitimate users. Detecting and rejecting these unwelcome bots has become part of the collective Internet agenda. Unfortunately, as bot creators use more sophisticated approaches to avoid being discovered, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish social bots from legitimate users. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel social bot detection mechanism to adapt to new and different kinds of bots.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a research framework to enhance the generalization of social bot detection from two dimensions: feature extraction and detection approaches. First, 36 features are extracted from four views for social bot detection. Then, this paper analyzes the feature contribution in different kinds of social bots, and the features with stronger generalization are proposed. Finally, this paper introduces outlier detection approaches to enhance the ever-changing social bot detection.

Findings

The experimental results show that the more important features can be more effectively generalized to different social bot detection tasks. Compared with the traditional binary-class classifier, the proposed outlier detection approaches can better adapt to the ever-changing social bots with a performance of 89.23 per cent measured using the F1 score.

Originality/value

Based on the visual interpretation of the feature contribution, the features with stronger generalization in different detection tasks are found. The outlier detection approaches are first introduced to enhance the detection of ever-changing social bots.
Do subnational performance assessments lead to improved governance? Evidence from a field experiment in Vietnam
Authors: Malesky Edmund , Phan Tuan-Ngoc , Le Anh Quoc
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Single-party regimes increasingly use Subnational Performance Assessments (SPAs) – rankings of provinces and districts – to improve governance outcomes. SPAs assemble and publicize information on local government performance to facilitate monitoring and generate competition among officials. However, the evidence are sparse on their effects in this context. The authors argue that built-in incentive structures in centralized single-party regimes distort the positive impact of SPAs.

Design/methodology/approach

The staggered rollout of the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) created a natural experiment. Due to 2010 budget constraints, the first iteration of the PAPI survey covered only 30 of Vietnam’s 63 provinces before covering all in 2011. The PAPI team used matching procedures to identify a statistical twin for each province before randomly selecting one from each pair. The authors use randomization inference to compare the outcomes of these control and treatment groups in 2011.

Findings

Exposure to PAPI helped improve almost all aspects of governance; however, significant evidence of prioritization bias exist. The positive effects only persisted for the dimension of administrative procedures, which was the one area of governance that was prioritized by the central government at the time. Other dimensions only registered short-term effects.

Originality/value

Our study provides an examination of the impact of SPAs in a single-party regime context. In addition, the authors leverage the natural experiment to identify information effects causally. The authors also look past short-term effects to compare outcomes for five years after the treatment occurred.
Nonlinear effects of bank regulation stringency on bank lending in selected sub-Saharan African countries
Authors: Thamae Retselisitsoe I. , Odhiambo Nicholas M.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the nonlinear effects of bank regulation stringency on bank lending in 23 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 1997–2017.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs the dynamic panel threshold regression (PTR) model, which addresses endogeneity and heterogeneity problems within a nonlinear framework. It also uses indices of entry barriers, mixing of banking and commerce restrictions, activity restrictions and capital regulatory requirements from the updated databases of the World Bank's Bank Regulation and Supervision Surveys as measures of bank regulation.

Findings

The linearity test results support the existence of nonlinear effects in the relationship between bank lending and entry barriers or capital regulations in the selected SSA economies. The dynamic PTR estimation results reveal that bank lending responds positively when the stringency of entry barriers is below the threshold of 62.8%. However, once the stringency of entry barriers exceeds that threshold level, bank credit reacts negatively and significantly. By contrast, changes in capital regulation stringency do not affect bank lending, either below or above the obtained threshold value of 76.5%.

Practical implications

These results can help policymakers design bank regulatory measures that will promote the resilience and safety of the banking system but at the same time not bring unintended effects to bank lending.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the nonlinear effects of bank regulatory measures on bank lending using the dynamic PTR model and SSA context.
Guest editorial: The Triple-A framework for serving humanity with service research
Authors: Kabadayi Sertan , Tsiotsou Rodoula H.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a conceptual framework for service research and introduces the first ServCollab special issue on the topic “Broadening and reinvigorating the service discipline to reduce human suffering and improve well-being.”

Design/methodology/approach

Building on previous knowledge and personal reflections, the authors developed the “Triple-A framework for serving humanity with service research,” which identifies three crucial features of conducting ethical service research: authentic, advancing and applicable.

Findings

In terms of the research scope, the Triple-A framework proposes that service research should be authentic in its approach, topics of investigation, research questions and theories/frameworks used. Service scholars should close current research gaps using theories, methods, a team of investigators and data that advance service research. Moreover, service research should be applicable by positively impacting society/planet earth, policymakers, organizations and people. Finally, ethical standards should be met in the application of all three features of service research.

Practical implications

Practical guidelines are provided to service researchers for conducting research useful for theory development and practical application.

Social implications

The proposed framework pushes service research to be original, insightful, imaginative, responsible and relevant by seeking to improve individual and society’s well-being.

Originality/value

The authors propose a novel perspective, the “Triple-A framework for serving humanity with service research,” to guide service scholars in conducting state-of-the-art and methodologically rigorous research.
Methodology applied to managerial decision-making in the context of COVID-19
Authors: Garcia Mirella Bezerra , Oliveira Renata Magalhaes , Pitelli Mariusa Momenti , Vieira Jose
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a methodology for managerial decision-making based on scenario planning and a multi-criteria approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology consists of two stages, one referring to scenario planning and the other to multi-criteria decision-making. The methodology was applied to a company in the Brazilian agribusiness sector, aiming to help managers face the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

The proposal addresses a set of simple methods for developing a scenario analysis based on different approaches. Although the methodology may allow the future addition of new, perhaps more robust strategies, the purpose of the analysis is not only to tell the decision maker which strategy should be adopted, but also to provide greater knowledge about the problem and possible scenarios.

Originality/value

The contribution of this research is to propose a structured and easily applicable methodology that can help managers in the future planning of their companies, especially when faced with complex decisions and high level of uncertainty.
Pragmatic deficits in patients with schizophrenia and right hemisphere damage: A pilot study
Authors: Chakrabarty Madhushree , Bhattacharya Kaberi , Chatterjee Garga , Biswas Atanu , Ghosal Malay
Published: September 2022

Background

While pragmatic deficits are well documented in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and right hemisphere damage (RHD), there is a paucity of research comparing the pragmatic deficits of these two groups. Do they experience similar cognitive dysfunction or is there a dissociation between the two patient groups?

Aims

To investigate the nature of pragmatic deficits in these two groups and to gain an understanding of the underlying cognitive mechanisms that might be associated with these deficits to further future investigations.

Methods & Procedures

A total of 60 participants (15 patients with SCZ; 15 with RHD; 30 (15 + 15) healthy controls (HC) were administered the Bengali Audio‐Visual Test‐Battery for Assessment of Pragmatic Skills.

Outcomes & Results

Both SCZ and RHD patients were found to have significant pragmatic deficits compared with their matched controls. SCZ patients were found to score significantly better than the RHD group in six out of the 10 pragmatic skills when controlled for age and education. Discriminant function analysis was performed and 86.7% of the cases (HC = 100%, SCZ = 73.3% and RHD = 86.7%) were correctly reclassified into their original categories using the test scores.

Conclusions & Implications

The study suggests that there is heterogeneity in the nature of the pragmatic breakdown within and across patient groups. Therefore, individualized restorative measures targeting the disrupted cognitive mechanism(s) might help elevate pragmatic competence and enhance the social functioning of patients with pragmatic deficits.

What this paper adds

What is already known on the subject

Pragmatic deficits are common in adults with cognitive impairments of different etiologies. However, few studies have explored pragmatic deficits across clinical populations. Consequently, very little is known about the nature of pragmatic deficits in patients with schizophrenia and right hemisphere damage.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

This work offers preliminary data on pragmatic difficulties in patients with schizophrenia and right hemisphere damage. This study overrides the boundaries of traditional classifications and evaluates pragmatic difficulties in these two clinical populations with reference to the underlying cognitive mechanisms, which might be disrupted.

What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?

The study adds a transdiagnostic perspective suggesting that there might be heterogeneity in pragmatic deficits, both within and across patient groups, and stresses the need for individualized therapy.
Iatrogenic and spontaneous preterm birth in England: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Aughey Harriet , Jardine Jennifer , Knight Hannah , Gurol‐Urganci Ipek , Walker Kate , Harris Tina , van der Meulen Jan , Hawdon Jane , Pasupathy Dharmintra ,   the NMPA Project Team
Published: September 2022

Objective

To describe the rates of and risk factors associated with iatrogenic and spontaneous preterm birth and the variation in rates between hospitals.

Design

Cohort study using electronic health records.

Setting

English National Health Service.

Population

Singleton births between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2017.

Methods

Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (adjRR) to measure association with maternal demographic and clinical risk factors.

Main outcome measures

Preterm births (<37 weeks of gestation) were defined as iatrogenic or spontaneous according to mode of onset of labour.

Results

Of the births, 6.1% were preterm and of these, 52.8% were iatrogenic. The proportion of preterm births that were iatrogenic increased after 32 weeks. Both sub‐groups were associated with previous preterm birth, extremes of maternal age, socio‐economic deprivation and smoking. Iatrogenic preterm birth was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) (BMI >40 kg/m2 adjRR 1.59, 95% CI 1.50–1.69) and previous caesarean (adjRR 1.88, 95% CI 1.83–1.95). Spontaneous preterm birth was less common in women with a higher BMI (BMI >40 kg/m2 adjRR 0.77, 95% CI 0.70–0.84) and in women with a previous caesarean (adjRR 0.87, 95% CI 0.83–0.90). More variation between NHS hospital trusts was observed in rates of iatrogenic, compared with spontaneous, preterm births.

Conclusions

Just over half of all preterm births resulted from iatrogenic intervention. Iatrogenic births have overlapping but different patterns of maternal demographic and clinical risk factors to spontaneous preterm births. Iatrogenic and spontaneous sub‐groups should therefore be measured and monitored separately, as well as in aggregate, to facilitate different prevention strategies. This is feasible using routinely acquired hospital data.
Promotor methylation status of MAPK4 is a novel epigenetic biomarker for prognosis of recurrence in patients with thymic epithelial tumors
Authors: Guan Wei , Li Songlin , Zhang Zhimin , Xiao He , He Juan , Li Jian , He Xuan , Luo Jia , Liu Yun , Lei Lin , Ma Jungang , Chen Lizhao , Chen Chuan
Published: September 2022

Background

The prognosis of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) currently relies on the commonly adopted WHO classification and Masaoka staging system, which cannot reflect the undefined biological behaviors limiting them as prognostic factors.

Methods

In this study, we first identified 40 genes and 179 genes, respectively that were epigenetically upregulated and silenced, corresponding to a total of 509 functionally methylated CpG sites between thymomas and thymic carcinomas by using the TCGA dataset.

Results

The methylation β‐values of cg20068620 in MAPK4 and cg18770944 in USP51 were significantly associated with recurrence‐free survival (RFS). In the independent validation cohort, only WHO classification and methylation β‐values of cg20068620 in MAPK4 were independent prognostic factors for RFS in Chinese patients with TETs. A linear weighted model including these two factors was used to calculate the recurrence risk score (RRS). Time‐dependent ROC curve analysis revealed that RRS was overwhelmingly superior to WHO classification for predicting 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year RFS and Masaoka stage for 3‐ and 5‐year RFS.

Conclusions

These results suggested that the methylation site cg20068620 in MAPK4 can improve the accuracy of the WHO classification alone regarding the prognostic value of TETs recurrence.
Ecological Imperialism: A Georgist Alternative
Authors: Balce Joffre , Subramaniam Yogeswaran
Published: September 2022

Ecological imperialism has created property law and economic systems that function to dispossess Indigenous peoples from their traditional lands, territories, and resources. An application of Henry George’s perspectives on economic efficiency and individual liberties suggests that exchanges affecting Indigenous traditional areas are potentially inefficient and unjust if they fail to incorporate Indigenous perspectives of traditional wealth and connections to traditional space. In such circumstances, any loss of traditional lands and resources could be economically inefficient for the Indigenous community concerned, as the land or resource given up may be more valuable than any land or monetary compensation offered. Equally, this loss would deny the liberty of members of the community to associate and determine the use of their lands and resources in accordance with their own priorities. To an extent, this view is harmonious with the current international framework on Indigenous peoples’ rights. Accordingly, participatory legal protections that integrate two perspectives are suggested to prevent unjust exchanges of traditional Indigenous areas and to avoid the contemporary effects of ecological imperialism. Those two perspectives are: i) Georgist conceptions of economic efficiency and individual liberties; and ii) international Indigenous rights standards of free, prior, and informed consent and consultation. Despite the challenges in attaining the universal acceptance and implementation of the alternative represented by these perspectives, its further investigation is nonetheless potentially beneficial.
Mainstream Economics and Conventional Environmental Policies
Authors: Obeng‐Odoom Franklin
Published: September 2022

Is mainstream economics only about growth, efficiency, and sustainability? Many critics contend so, but the recent state of the art in economics suggests not. Respectively drawing on reformist neoclassical economics, neoclassical microeconomics “proper,” and behavioral economics, major studies show that mainstream economics provides theories of inequality and unsustainability. However, the theories of causation utilized remain largely neoclassical. Similarly, the bases for repairing the harms are grounded in neoclassical reasoning, while the mechanisms for restoration—ranging from minimalist interventions and income and substitution effects to behavioral nudges—are still mainstream. Fundamentally, they say little or nothing substantial about ecological imperialism, at the heart of which are rent theft and ecological debt, two critical cornerstones of world ecological crises. Therefore, mainstream economists certainly have, use, and apply theories of inequality and unsustainability, but mainstream economists neither have, use, nor apply transformative theories of social stratification, nor ecological imperialism generally. The overall effect of this disconnect from real‐world ecological crises is not simply that conventional environmental policies are incomplete, but that mainstream economics and conventional policies deflect attention from ecological imperialism behind veils of rhetoric, prices, and behaviors.