bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of higher education in a post‐COVID‐19 world
Authors: Dennis Marguerite J.
Published: January 2021

By the time this article is published and read, vaccines and therapeutic remedies should have become available to alleviate the worst of the pandemic. But while scientists have been successful in finding a cure for this virus, there is no vaccination for the economic, political, and societal upheaval caused by COVID‐19.
Find alternatives to enhance student well‐being during COVID‐19
Authors: Parks Rodney , Taylor Alexander
Published: January 2021

Over the last few months following the arrival of COVID‐19, the traditional strategic enrollment management playbook for higher education has been thrown out. Institutional leaders are struggling to address student concerns about taking classes remotely and trying to create a stable environment for students to thrive. Students are experiencing heightened levels of stress and anxiety (see https://www.jmir.org/2020/9/e21279/) related to the pandemic. However, institutions do not have the traditional support avenues they had before the pandemic. Greater anxiety and isolation lead to students struggling to find social outlets, causing students to feel distant from the institution's sense of community.
Pandemic opportunities lead to largest, most diverse enrollment yet
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: January 2021

When COVID‐19 hit the nation and courses were forced into online learning, the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University had a secret weapon to offer students. “Sometimes it's better to be lucky than it is to be smart,” Richard D. Phillips, Ph.D., Dean of the College, said. Months before the COVID‐19 pandemic, GSU had started work on a new classroom facility located in downtown Atlanta, which included a suite of high‐end digitally enabled classrooms with high‐end simulcast capabilities to stream lectures. “The goal 18 months ago was just to make it easy for students at their desk at five o'clock to decide where and how they want to participate that day,” Phillips said.
Energy, exergy, economic, and environmental (4E) analyses and optimization of a CCHP system with steam turbine
Authors: Chahartaghi Mahmood , Namdarian Reza , Hashemian Seyed Majid , Malek Rahmat , Hashemi Seyedesmail
Published: January 2021

Due to finding solutions to reduce energy consumption and improve the electricity production efficiency in the power cycles, using the waste heat of power cycles in the combined generation systems can be a useful approach. Also, by using the wasted energy of the power generation cycles, the cooling and heating demands can be met. Therefore, this study presents energy, exergy, economic, and environmental evaluations of a new configuration of combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) or tri‐generation system with a steam turbine. This CCHP system includes a steam boiler, a steam turbine, a heat exchanger, a single‐effect absorption chiller, and pumps. Some important performance parameters such as electrical efficiency, combined electrical and cooling efficiency, combined electrical and heating efficiency, and tri‐generation efficiency, as well as exergy efficiency, are considered. Also, various output and environmental performance parameters such as percentage of operational cost reduction, percentage of fuel consumption reduction, percentage of pollutant emission reduction, and economic and technical issues based on different inlet temperatures and pressures of the steam turbine are investigated. In addition, the performance of the absorption chiller at different operating conditions has been investigated. This study shows that the usage of the CCHP system leads to reduction of 24.91% in carbon dioxide emission, 15.83% in fuel consumption, and 35.34% in operating costs compared with conventional systems. Also, the results show that there is a good improvement in the overall performance of the system with the tri‐generation efficiency of 82.46%.
Numerical investigation of fluid flow in fracture junctions with consideration to effect of fracture morphology
Authors: Liu Chunting , Li Mingzhong , Zhang Guodong
Published: January 2021

Because the fracturing fluid flow at fracture junctions directly affects the proppant distribution in fracture networks, it is very important to quantitatively investigate the fluid flow in fracture junctions. In this study, the fluid flow in a laboratory‐size fracture junction was investigated, and equations for calculating the fluid split ratio were established. The correlations between the pressure loss coefficients and the width ratio, approaching angle, and fluid split ratio were obtained by simulation. Using a custom‐made Visual Basic program, the fluid split ratios in an actual‐size fracture or complex fracture networks with several secondary or tertiary fractures were calculated. The results reveal that the fluid split ratio is significantly affected by the approaching angle and width ratio in laboratory‐size fractures. In contrast, in an actual‐size fracture junction, the fluid split ratio is mainly affected by the length of the fracture channel and the width ratio. The split ratios in laboratory‐size and real‐size fracture networks with several secondary or tertiary fractures are quite different, which indicates that the split ratio should be quantitatively estimated when investigating the proppant distribution by experiment or simulation. The findings of this study can be useful in the quantitative investigation of the proppant distribution in fracture networks.
Neonicotinoid Insecticides from a Marine Perspective: Acute and Chronic Copepod Testing and Derivation of Environmental Quality Standards
Authors: Moeris Samuel , Vanryckeghem Francis , Demeestere Kristof , De Schamphelaere Karel A.C.
Published: January 2021

Neonicotinoid insecticides have become of global concern for the aquatic environment. Harpacticoid copepods are among the organisms most sensitive to neonicotinoids. We exposed the brackish copepod Nitocra spinipes to 4 neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) to investigate acute toxicity on adults (96-h exposure) and effects on larval development (7-d exposure). We used these results in combination with publicly available ecotoxicity data to derive environmental quality standards (EQS). These EQS were ultimately used in a single-substance and mixture risk assessment for the Belgian part of the North Sea. Acute toxicity testing revealed that immobilization is a more sensitive endpoint than mortality, with 96-h median effect concentration (EC50) values of 6.9, 7.2, 25, and 120 µg L–1 for clothianidin, thiacloprid, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, respectively. In addition, the larval development tests resulted in 7-d no-observed-effect concentrations (NOECs) of 2.5, 2.7, 4.2, and >99 µg L–1 for clothianidin, thiacloprid, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, respectively. The derived saltwater annual average (AA-)EQS were 0.05, 0.0048, 0.002, and 0.016 µg L–1 for clothianidin, thiacloprid, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, respectively. Finally, the risk characterization revealed some exceedances of the AA-EQS in Belgian harbors for imidacloprid (number of exceedances, n = 2/4), for thiacloprid (n = 1/4), for thiamethoxam (n = 1/4), and for the mixture of the 4 neonicotinoids (n = 4/4), but not at the open sea. At the open sea site, the toxic unit sums relative to the AA-EQS were 0.72 and 0.22, suggesting no mixture risk, albeit with a relatively small margin of safety. Including short-term EC10 (96-h) values of N. spinipes for the AA-EQS derivation led to a refinement of the AA-EQS for clothianidin and thiamethoxam, suggesting their use for the AA-EQS derivation because one of the overarching goals of the definition of EQS is to protect species at the population level. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1353–1367. © 2021 SETAC
In vitro activity of encapsulated lactic acid bacteria on aflatoxin production and growth of Aspergillus Spp
Authors: mohammadi Rouhollah , Abbaszadeh Sepideh , Sharifzadeh Aghil , Sepandi Mojtaba , Taghdir Maryam , Youseftabar Miri Najmeh , Parastouei Karim
Published: January 2021

This study aimed to investigate the potential ability of simultaneously used L. acidophilus(LA‐5), L.rhamnosus(LGG), and L.casei(LC‐01) in encapsulated (E) and nonencapsulated (NE) forms in mycelial growth of Aspergillus spp and aflatoxin production by A. flavus. In order to assess the zone of fungal growth inhibition by E and NE lactic acid bacteria, the agar well diffusion method was applied. Quantification of aflatoxin was performed using a high‐performance liquid chromatography technique. Lactic acid bacteria exhibited high antifungal activity and significantly reduced AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 production in both E and NE forms compared to the control group. The percentage of reduction in total AFs production in treated samples with E and NE lactic acid bacteria was 94.1% and 95.5%, respectively. These results suggested that simultaneously used lactic acid bacteria in E and NE forms can prevent growth and decrease aflatoxin production of toxigenic aspergilla.
Utilization of Plantago major seed mucilage containing Citrus limon essential oil as an edible coating to improve shelf‐life of buffalo meat under refrigeration conditions
Authors: Noshad Mohammad , Alizadeh Behbahani Behrooz , Jooyandeh Hossein , Rahmati‐Joneidabad Mostafa , Hemmati Kaykha Mohsen Ebrahimi , Ghodsi Sheikhjan Mitra
Published: January 2021

This study is aimed to develop a novel edible coating based on Plantago major seed mucilage (PMSM) and Citrus limon essential oil (CLEO) to increase the shelf‐life of buffalo meat during cold storage. The CLEO was firstly isolated by the hydrodistillation method, and it contained mainly limonene (40.5%) and carene (15.4%) with remarkable antioxidant activity (55.7%, 63.8%, and 51.85% based on the DPPH‐radical scavenging, ABTS‐radical scavenging, and carotene‐linoleic acid bleaching tests, respectively) and antibacterial effect against some pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. The CLEO (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) was then incorporated into PMSM solution to develop a novel CLEO‐loaded PMSM edible coating for improving the shelf‐life of buffalo meat. The edible coating was able to significantly reduce the progression of lipid oxidation (peroxide value) and microbial growth (total viable count, psychrotrophic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and fungi) in buffalo meat during storage period of 10 days at 4°C in comparison with the control (noncoated sample). The meat hardness and sensory properties (i.e., odor, color, appearance, texture, and overall acceptability) were also maintained better upon edible coating applications. Based on the results, the CLEO‐rich PMSM edible coating could be applied as a new and effective preservative to improve the stability of meat products to lipid oxidation and microbial spoilage.
Informed options trading around holidays
Authors: Ryu Doojin , Yu Jinyoung
Published: January 2021

We use a high‐quality microstructure data set of KOSPI 200 index options to examine the patterns of informed options trading around holidays, depending on options market characteristics. The information content of options trading increases around holidays, and this holiday effect is pronounced for out‐of‐the‐money calls and at‐the‐money puts. Informed large trades reinforce the holiday effects for out‐of‐the‐money call options. Foreign investors are generally informed, and their out‐of‐the‐money options trades are even more informed after holidays. Although domestic investors are less informed than their foreign competitors, their options trades seem to convey information both before and after holidays.
Disproportionate costs of uncertainty: Small bank hedging and Dodd‐Frank
Authors: Kim Raymond
Published: January 2021

Uncertainty in banking regulation may impose widespread economic costs by increasing financial constraints on credit availability. Four years of Dodd‐Frank uncertainty over undecided risk weightings increased regulatory uncertainty for smaller banks, restricting “vanilla” interest rate hedging activities. This paper uses newly reported mortgage banking data as an identification strategy and finds that when costs of uncertainty are removed, small banks hedge 97%–120% more interest rate risk while mortgage securitization income increases by 65.2% compared to large banks. These findings support the need for tailored regulations that consider the higher costs of regulatory uncertainty for smaller banks.
Third Parties
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E.
Published: January 2021

The lead article in the Hastings Center Report's November‐December 2020 issue reconsiders the rationale for requiring that patients have a prescription from a physician to obtain a drug. Madison Kilbride, Steve Joffe, and Holly Fernandez Lynch conclude that growing respect for patient autonomy should lead to a new default for drug access: drugs should be available over the counter unless there are special concerns about harms to third parties or about patients' ability to make decisions for themselves. This conclusion would be a substantial reorientation of drug policy in the United States. Bioethics at a societal level is a theme in the second article, “The Social Risks of Science,” and throughout the issue.
Structural Injustices in Our Nonideal World
Authors: Chung Ryoa
Published: January 2021

Madison Powers and Ruth Faden's book Structural Injustice: Power, Advantage, and Human Rights (Oxford University Press, 2019), is an invaluable contribution to help us grasp the contemporary ills of our nonideal world. The authors' general claim is that the concept of structural injustice allows us to identify the causes and social processes leading to the violation of human rights and the production of unfair systems of disadvantage and privilege. Building on Powers and Faden's well‐known thesis that social justice is concerned with the achievement of a sufficient level of well‐being, the book delves into an in‐depth discussion of their conceptual framework, incorporating concrete examples to illustrate their analysis.
Human Genome Editing and a Global Socio‐bioethics Approach
Authors: Nie Jing‐Bao
Published: January 2021

A global socio‐bioethics is called upon to address the ethical challenges arising from the revolutionary gene editing technologies such as CRISPR‐Cas9, which offers the capability to rewrite the human genome. The ethical inquiry Françoise Baylis has undertaken in the book Altered Inheritance: CRISPR and the Ethics of Human Genome Editing (Harvard University Press, 2019) operates at individual, societal and global levels. Baylis has not only presented insights on how to practice “slow science” and achieve broad societal consensus through empowering the public, but she also shown what a global socio‐bioethics approach can offer for the further development of bioethics.
Ethnoracial patterns of violence in Guatemala: An empirical examination of the relationship between Mayan‐majority municipalities and homicide rates in Guatemala
Authors: Lesniewski Jacob , Kang Ezer , Qin Lu , Helmuth James
Published: January 2021

The current study empirically tests the relationship between homicide rates and the population of indigenous Mayans at the municipal level in Guatemala. Using data from the most recent Guatemalan Census (2018) and independently aggregated national police data on homicides, we also propose models of possible pathways for the relationship between the ethnoracial composition of municipal population and homicide rates. Due to consistent non‐normal distribution of demographic data in Guatemala, we used a maximum likelihood estimation of linear regression models and nonparametric bootstrapping method to test the theoretical relationships. The results showed a strong negative relationship between Mayan majority municipalities and homicide rates, mediated by living in municipality of birth. Findings suggest that attachment to place in Mayan majority municipalities in Guatemala is a strong protective factor for exposure to homicide, even in areas of high out‐migration.
A study of community knowledge, attitudes, practices, and health in Pakistan during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Nadeem Muhammad , Khaliq Nayab
Published: January 2021

The ongoing outbreak of novel Coronavirus originated from Wuhan, China, and vigorously spread throughout the globe causing serious concerns. This study aimed to appraise the community demographics, knowledge, attitudes, practices mental health, symptoms, and precautionary measures during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Pakistan. This study was a cross‐sectional and observational study. An online semi‐structured questionnaire was designed by freely available Google Forms. A Referral Sampling technique was used, a total of 439 responses were recorded and analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Regression analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis were done to test the hypothesis. This study shows more than 63% of participants maintain social distancing at their workplaces, offices, markets, and so forth and 59% of participants stayed at their homes during the lockdown. Almost 75% of participants did not attend any gathering during COVID‐19. Most participants (75.4%) wear masks and gloves, and 85.6% of participants wash their hands with soap and using hand sanitizer regularly. This study shows that 40.8% and 36.2% of participants felt anxiety and fear due to Coronavirus. This study shows that knowledge among the population in Pakistan about COVID‐19 was low. Continued efforts are needed to address knowledge, attitudes, and practices to interrupt novel Coronavirus transmission.
Program staff perspectives on implementing youth‐initiated mentoring with systems‐involved youth
Authors: Spencer Renée , Drew Alison L. , Horn John P.
Published: January 2021

Youth‐initiated mentoring (YIM) is an approach to mentor recruitment that represents a significant departure from how formal mentoring typically has been conceptualized and carried out, most notably by having youth identify their own mentors. Despite enthusiasm for YIM, implementation can require significant shifts in program practices. Given the limited resources with which most mentoring programs have to work, it is important to discern staff investment in YIM and what it takes for programs to implement this approach. This study explored YIM implementation at the organizational level through interviews with mentoring program staff (n = 11) and addressed motivations of mentoring program staff to implement YIM, how their programs implemented this approach, and their perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to successful YIM implementation.
Amelioration of diabetes‐induced inflammation mediated pyroptosis, sarcopenia, and adverse muscle remodelling by bone morphogenetic protein‐7
Authors: Aluganti Narasimhulu Chandrakala , Singla Dinender K.
Published: January 2021

Background

Diabetic myopathy involves hyperglycaemia and inflammation that causes skeletal muscle dysfunction; however, the potential cellular mechanisms that occur between hyperglycaemia and inflammation, which induces sarcopenia, and muscle dysfunction remain unknown. In this study, we investigated hyperglycaemia‐induced inflammation mediating high‐mobility group box 1 activation, which is involved in a novel form of cell death, pyroptosis, diabetic sarcopenia, atrophy, and adverse muscle remodelling. Furthermore, we investigated the therapeutic potential of bone morphogenetic protein‐7 (BMP‐7), an osteoporosis drug, to treat pyroptosis, and diabetic muscle myopathy.

Methods

C57BL6 mice were treated with saline (control), streptozotocin (STZ), or STZ + BMP‐7 to generate diabetic muscle myopathy. Diabetes was established by determining the increased levels of glucose. Then, muscle function was examined, and animals were sacrificed. Gastrocnemius muscle or blood samples were analysed for inflammation, pyroptosis, weight loss, muscle atrophy, and adverse structural remodelling of gastrocnemius muscle using histology, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results

A significant (P < 0.05) increase in hyperglycaemia leads to an increase in inflammasome (high‐mobility group box 1, toll‐like receptor‐4, and nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain, leucine‐rich repeat and pyrin domain containing protein 3) formation in diabetic muscle cells. Further analysis showed an up‐regulation of the downstream pyroptotic pathway with significant (P < 0.05) number of positive muscle cells expressing pyroptosis‐specific markers [caspase‐1, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐18, and gasdermin‐D]. Pyroptotic cell death is involved in further increasing inflammation by releasing pro‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐6. Structural analysis showed the loss of muscle weight, decreased myofibrillar area, and increased fibrosis leading to muscle dysfunction. Consistent with this finding, BMP‐7 attenuated hyperglycaemia (~50%), pyroptosis, inflammation, and diabetic adverse structural modifications as well as improved muscle function.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we report for the first time that increased hyperglycaemia and inflammation involve cellular pyroptosis that induces significant muscle cell loss and adverse remodelling in diabetic myopathy. We also report that targeting pyroptosis with BMP‐7 improves diabetic muscle pathophysiology and muscle function. These findings suggest that BMP‐7 could be a potential therapeutic option to treat diabetic myopathy.
Exposure to glucocorticoids alters life history strategies in a facultatively paedomorphic salamander
Authors: Bohenek Jason R. , Leary Christopher J. , Resetarits William J.
Published: January 2021

Polyphenisms, where two or more alternative, environmentally‐cued phenotypes are produced from the same genotype, arise through variability in the developmental rate and timing of phenotypic traits. Many of these developmental processes are controlled or influenced by endogenous hormones, such as glucocorticoids, which are known to regulate a wide array of vertebrate ontogenetic transitions. Using the mole salamander, Ambystoma talpoideum, as a model, we investigated the role of glucocorticoids in regulating facultative paedomorphosis, an ontogenetic polyphenism where individuals may delay metamorphosis into terrestrial adults. Instead, individuals reproduce as aquatic paedomorphic adults. Paedomorphosis often occurs when aquatic conditions remain favorable, while metamorphosis typically occurs in response to deteriorating or “stressful” aquatic conditions. Since glucocorticoids are central to the vertebrate stress response and are known to play a central role in regulating obligate metamorphosis in amphibians, we hypothesized that they are key regulators of paedomorphic life history strategies. To test this hypothesis, we compared development of larvae in outdoor mesocosms exposed to Low, Medium, and High exogenous doses of corticosterone (CORT). Results revealed that body size and the proportion of paedomorphs were both inversely proportional to exogenous CORT doses and whole‐body CORT content. Consistent with known effects of CORT on obligate metamorphosis in amphibians, our results link glucocorticoids to ontogenetic transitions in facultatively paedomorphic salamanders. We discuss our results in the context of theoretical models and the suite of environmental cues known to influence facultative paedomorphosis.
Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of peripheral blood reveals an epigenetic signature associated with severe COVID-19
Authors: Corley Michael J , Pang Alina P S , Dody Kush , Mudd Philip A , Patterson Bruce K , Seethamraju Harish , Bram Yaron , Peluso Michael J , Torres Leonel , Iyer Nikita S , Premeaux Thomas A , Yeung Stephen T , Chandar Vasuretha , Borczuk Alain , Schwartz Robert E , Henrich Timothy J , Deeks Steven G , Sacha Jonah B , Ndhlovu Lishomwa C
Published: January 2021

The global pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly pathogenic RNA virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. Although most patients with COVID-19 have mild illness and may be asymptomatic, some will develop severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ failure, and death. RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 are capable of hijacking the epigenetic landscape of host immune cells to evade antiviral defense. Yet, there remain considerable gaps in our understanding of immune cell epigenetic changes associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection pathology. Here, we examined genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 9 terminally-ill, critical COVID-19 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 plasma viremia compared with uninfected, hospitalized influenza, untreated primary HIV infection, and mild/moderate COVID-19 HIV coinfected individuals. Cell-type deconvolution analyses confirmed lymphopenia in severe COVID-19 and revealed a high percentage of estimated neutrophils suggesting perturbations to DNAm associated with granulopoiesis. We observed a distinct DNAm signature of severe COVID-19 characterized by hypermethylation of IFN-related genes and hypomethylation of inflammatory genes, reinforcing observations in infection models and single-cell transcriptional studies of severe COVID-19. Epigenetic clock analyses revealed severe COVID-19 was associated with an increased DNAm age and elevated mortality risk according to GrimAge, further validating the epigenetic clock as a predictor of disease and mortality risk. Our epigenetic results reveal a discovery DNAm signature of severe COVID-19 in blood potentially useful for corroborating clinical assessments, informing pathogenic mechanisms, and revealing new therapeutic targets against SARS-CoV-2.
Baseline incision characteristics and early scar maturation indices following cardiac device implantation
Authors: Mehta Nishaki Kiran , Morgaenko Katerina , Haines David , Rojas‐Pena Edward , Heard Brittney , Malhotra Rohit , Darby Andrew , Mangrum James Michael , Mason Pamela , Campbell Christopher , Bilchick Kenneth
Published: January 2021

Aims

Dermatologic evaluation for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has not been established. We sought to ascertain baseline wound scar features using quantifiable surgical tools and scar scales on post‐CIED patients.

Methods

A single‐center, prospective observational case‐control study was performed where 92 study subjects (40 healthy volunteers and 52 post‐CIED patients) completed the study. Durometer was used to quantify skin pliability before CIED placement, postprocedure, and 2 weeks postprocedure. Higher durometer readings signified reduced skin pliability. Durometer readings were compared to the patients’ contralateral pectoral skin and to a healthy volunteer's cohort skin within the prepectoral region. Patient wounds were observed and graded using the Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and Manchester Scar Scale (MSS).

Results

Baseline pectoral skin pliability readings were similar in healthy volunteers and CIED patient population. In comparison to preprocedural measurements, surgical site skin pliability decreased in postprocedural and 2 weeks follow‐up time points (P‐value .004 and <.001, respectively). The increases in durometer readings were higher in the older population (age >75 over time, P = .008). POSAS evaluations showed on average a thin painless hypopigmented scar with moderate stiffness. MSS scar evaluation showed a palpable scar with slight contour differences and color mismatch and appeared to be slightly better in the African American population. There was no difference in scar characteristics with preprocedural use of antiplatelet or anticoagulation or staple closure or gender.

Conclusions

Serial measurements could be of value for development of new strategies for cosmesis and improved wound healing.
Enhancing the performance of micro‐enterprises through market orientation: Evidence from Harare, Zimbabwe
Authors: Chikerema Lyn , Makanyeza Charles
Published: January 2021

In most developing economies, micro‐enterprises provide an important source of jobs and make a major contribution to economic growth. However, many of these businesses struggle and often fail within a short space of time. This study was conducted to understand the extent to which micro‐enterprises have implemented market orientation, the effect of market orientation and its associated dimensions on performance, and the influence of a manager's individual characteristics on the relationship between market orientation and performance. Data were collected from a cross‐section of 342 managers of micro‐enterprises, which were randomly selected from local industries in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. The results show that competitor orientation, inter‐functional coordination, and market orientation each had a significant positive effect on performance. However, it was also found that managers' characteristics—gender, age, and education—did not moderate the effect of market orientation on performance. The results indicate that micro‐enterprises should embrace market orientation to improve their performance.
Huawei's linkages with local firms in Tanzania: Idiosyncratic benefits and risks
Authors: Rwehumbiza Deusdedit. A.
Published: January 2021

Multinational enterprises are often characterized as forming a link between domestic firms and the overall welfare effect in host economies. However, there have been few studies of the idiosyncratic benefits and risks of firms in low‐income developing countries. Moreover, existing studies have been mainly based on archival, large‐scale datasets. Hence, based on spillover and linkage theories, this paper employs a triangulation technique to study Huawei in Tanzania to fill this gap. The findings show that concerted efforts need to be made between the host government and local firms to encourage appropriate linkages to avoid risks and to serve as channels for beneficial spillovers. The implications for practice and future research are discussed and a conceptual model is developed which this study suggests could be used to spur welfare effects in low‐income developing countries.
Effects of different solid‐state fermentation ratios of S. cerevisiae and L. plantarum on physico‐chemical properties of wheat bran and the quality of whole wheat bread
Authors: Zhang Duqin , Tan Bin
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND

The addition of wheat bran (WB) could improve the nutritional quality of whole wheat bread (WWB); however, it also caused many negative effects on the quality of bread. To improve the physico‐chemical properties of WB and the quality of WWB, WB was solid‐state fermented with different ratios of commercially available S. cerevisiae and L. plantarum, and utilized to prepare WWB.

RESULTS

The physico‐chemical properties of WB including dietary fiber content and its components, amino acid composition, and antioxidant activities were determined. After solid‐state fermentation, the physico‐chemical properties of WB were improved. WBSac:Lac = 2:1 showed higher antioxidant activity (only the total antioxidant activity was slightly lower than WBSac:Lac = 1:1), and greater concentration of soluble dietary fiber (9.22%) and essential amino acids / total amino acids (42.04) than the other WB samples. Whole wheat bread quality was investigated by measuring specific volume, porosity, texture, aroma, and volatile compounds. The WWB made with WBSac:Lac = 2:1 showed a higher specific volume, more uniform porosity structure, better texture, and more volatile compounds than the other samples.

CONCLUSION

Using a ratio of yeast and lactobacilli of 2:1, the solid‐state fermentation maximally improves the processing properties of WB, and prepares WWB with the best quality. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Herp knockout protects against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice on a high fat diet
Authors: Lei Zhi‐Xiong , Wang Juan‐Juan , Li Kang , Liu Ping
Published: January 2021

This study aims to discover the role of Homocysteine‐induced ER protein (Herp) deficiency in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). After 8 weeks of feeding with normal‐fat diet (NFD) or HFD, WT (wild type) and Herp−/− mice were measured for the body weight, liver weight and serum biochemical parameters. HE, Oil Red O, and Sirius red stainings were used to evaluate the histopathological changes of liver tissues. QRT‐PCR, Western blotting and Immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the mRNA and protein expression. TUNEL staining was used to observe the hepatocyte apoptosis. Herp knockout reduced the liver/body weight ratio of mice fed with HFD with the decreased serum levels of TG, TC, HDL, LDL, GGT, Hcy, ALT, and AST. Besides, WT mice fed with HFD presented obvious steatosis, inflammation and hepatocytes ballooning, which was relieved in Herp−/− mice. HFD‐induce NFALD mice demonstrated increased Oil Red, Sirius red, and α‐SMA staining than NFD‐induced mice, but mice in the Herp−/− + HFD group was lower than the WT + HFD group. HFD‐induce NFALD mice showed up‐regulated expression of Grp78, Chop, and Atf4 in liver tissues when compared with NFD fed mice. However, regarding to the mice fed with HFD, Herp deficiency decrease in the expression of Grp78, Chop, and Atf4 in liver tissues with the reduced hepatocyte apoptosis. Herp was highly expressed in HFD‐induced NAFLD mice. Herp knockout improved liver function and histopathological conditions with the decreased hepatocyte apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) of HFD‐induce NFALD mice.
Fast Hydrolytically Degradable 3D Printed Object Based on Aliphatic Polycarbonate Thiol‐Yne Photoresins
Authors: Wu Yimei , Simpson Miriam Cather , Jin Jianyong
Published: January 2021

Like the thiol‐ene addition reaction, the thiol‐yne addition reaction can be initiated thermally and photochemically. The latter route therefore can be utilized for vat photopolymerization‐based additive manufacturing (AM). In this work, the following is reported (1) the synthesis of an aliphatic polycarbonate oligomer with a pendant alkyne functional group as a hydrolytically degradable “yne” component; (2) a new thiol‐yne photoresin formulation that has been applied in digital light processing (DLP) 405nm 3D printing to print objects with high resolution (50 µm layer thickness); and (3) the successful demonstration of fast hydrolytic degradation of a 3D printed object in aqueous alkaline solution. Therefore, the incorporation of an aliphatic polycarbonate alkyne component and ester thiols in the photoresin formulation is effective for imparting the ability to do fast hydrolytic degradation of 3D printed objects.
Testing repository engineered barrier systems for cracks ‐ a challenge
Authors: Effner U. , Mielentz F. , Niederleithinger E. , Friedrich C. , Mauke R. , Mayer K.
Published: January 2021

Im Jahr 2011 hat der Bundestag in Deutschland den Ausstieg aus der Kernenergie beschlossen. Der angefallene Abfall wird mehr als hunderttausend Jahre eine derartig hohe Aktivität besitzen, dass er eine erhebliche Gefahr für nachfolgende Generationen darstellen kann. Dieser radioaktive Abfall soll in tiefen geologischen Formationen (z. B. Salz, Ton oder Kristallin) sicher endgelagert werden. Die Endlager werden mittels sogenannter geotechnischer Abdichtbauwerke (Schacht‐ bzw. Streckenverschlüsse) verschlossen, wofür u. a. Zement‐ oder Sorel‐basierte Baustoffe (Betone) in Frage kommen. Die Beschreibung des Dichtvermögens dieser Bauwerke ist unabdingbar. In der Forschungsphase werden verschiedene Werkstoffe untersucht und Methoden für die zerstörungsfreie Untersuchung der Bauwerke als Mittel der Qualitätsprüfung entwickelt. Hierbei ist der Nachweis der Rissfreiheit bzw. die Detektion möglicher Risse ein vorrangiges Thema. In den letzten Jahren konnten bereits umfangreiche Erfahrungen mit der Untersuchung von in‐situ‐Versuchsobjekten in Realmaßstab gesammelt werden. Die Messungen wurden im Endlager für radioaktive Abfälle Morsleben am in‐situ‐Versuch “Abdichtbauwerk im Steinsalz” und in der Grube Teutschenthal am Großversuch GV2 durchgeführt. Es ist gelungen mit einem neu entwickelten Ultraschall‐Messsystem Eindringtiefen bis ca. 9,0 m zu realisieren. Die Messungen mit dem Large Aperture Ultrasonic System in Kombination mit der Rekonstruktion‐Methode Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique zeigen, dass die zerstörungsfreie Prüfung von Abdichtbauwerken möglich und die Nutzung des Messsystems zur Qualitätssicherung bei der Erstellung der Verschlussbauwerke vielversprechend ist.
Phenylketonuria in Portugal: Genotype–phenotype correlations using molecular, biochemical, and haplotypic analyses
Authors: Ferreira Filipa , Azevedo Luísa , Neiva Raquel , Sousa Carmen , Fonseca Helena , Marcão Ana , Rocha Hugo , Carmona Célia , Ramos Sónia , Bandeira Anabela , Martins Esmeralda , Campos Teresa , Rodrigues Esmeralda , Garcia Paula , Diogo Luísa , Ferreira Ana Cristina , Sequeira Silvia , Silva Francisco , Rodrigues Luísa , Gaspar Ana , Janeiro Patrícia , Amorim António , Vilarinho Laura
Published: January 2021

Background

The impairment of the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) causes elevation of phenylalanine levels in blood and other body fluids resulting in the most common inborn error of amino acid metabolism (phenylketonuria). Persistently high levels of phenylalanine lead to irreversible damage to the nervous system. Therefore, early diagnosis of the affected individuals is important, as it can prevent clinical manifestations of the disease.

Methods

In this report, the biochemical and genetic findings performed in 223 patients diagnosed through the Portuguese Neonatal Screening Program (PNSP) are presented.

Results

Overall, the results show that a high overlap exists between different types of variants and phenylalanine levels. Molecular analyses reveal a wide mutational spectrum in our population with a total of 56 previously reported variants, most of them found in compound heterozygosity (74% of the patients). Intragenic polymorphic markers were used to assess the haplotypic structure of mutated chromosomes for the most frequent variants found in homozygosity in our population (p.Ile65Thr, p.Arg158Gln, p.Leu249Phe, p.Arg261Gln, p.Val388Met, and c.1066‐11G>A).

Conclusion

Our data reveal high heterogeneity at the biochemical and molecular levels and are expected to provide a better understanding of the molecular basis of this disease and to provide clues to elucidate genotype–phenotype correlations.
The Human Milk Oligosaccharides 3‐FL, Lacto‐N‐Neotetraose, and LDFT Attenuate Tumor Necrosis Factor‐α Induced Inflammation in Fetal Intestinal Epithelial Cells In Vitro through Shedding or Interacting with Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1
Authors: Cheng Lianghui , Kong Chunli , Wang Wenjia , Groeneveld Andre , Nauta Arjen , Groves Matthew R. , Kiewiet Mensiena B. G. , de Vos Paul
Published: January 2021

Scope

Human milk oligosaccharides (hMOs) can attenuate inflammation by modulating intestinal epithelial cells, but the mechanisms of action are not well‐understood. Here, the effects of hMOs on tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) induced inflammatory events in gut epithelial cells are studied.

Methods and results

The modulatory effects of 2’‐fucosyllactose, 3‐fucosyllactose (3‐FL), 6’‐sialyllactose, lacto‐N‐tetraose, lacto‐N‐neotetraose (LNnT), lactodifucotetraose (LDFT), and lacto‐N‐triaose (LNT2) on immature (FHs 74 Int) and adult (T84) intestinal epithelial cells with or without TNF‐α are determined. Interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) secretion in FHs 74 Int and T84 are quantified to determine hMO induced attenuation of inflammatory events by ELISA. 3‐FL, LNnT, and LDFT significantly attenuate TNF‐α induced inflammation in FHs 74 Int, while LNT2 induces IL‐8 secretion in T84. In addition, microscale thermophoresis assays and ELISA are used to study the possible mechanisms of interaction between effective hMOs and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1). 3‐FL, LNnT, and LDFT exert TNFR1 ectodomain shedding while LNnT also shows binding affinity to TNFR1 with a Kd of 900 ± 660 nM.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that specific hMO types attenuate TNF‐α induced inflammation in fetal gut epithelial cells through TNFR1 in a hMO structure‐dependent fashion suggest possibilities to apply hMOs in management of TNF‐α dependent diseases.
Design of an optimized multilayer absorber into the MWIR and LWIR bands
Authors: Bolakis Christos , Vazouras Christos , Michalis Pantelis , Giakos George
Published: January 2021

In this article, we propose a new approach for effective detection of infrared (IR) radiation, using an absorber consisting of two successive metal‐dielectric layers. To this end, a low cost, high‐efficiency composite IR absorber structure consisting of a set of two double‐layered element of thin metal layers paired with dielectric materials is presented. The proposed composite absorber can be tuned based on the metal layer sheet resistance and the thickness of various poly‐Si media; by appropriate choice of physical, electrical, and optical parameters, so that maximal absorption over both mid‐wave IR band regions (MWIR) and long wavelength IR band regions (LWIR) (3–12 μm), is achieved. The outcome of study indicates that the presented absorber configuration may be a promising candidate for integration into microbolometric detectors; while offering improved efficiency and functionality, for not critical timing applications, synchronously in both the MWIR and LWIR atmospheric thermal windows.
Monte Carlo computation of 3D distributions of stopping power ratios in light ion beam therapy using GATE‐RTion
Authors: Bolsa‐Ferruz Marta , Palmans Hugo , Boersma David , Stock Markus , Grevillot Loïc
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper presents a novel method for the calculation of three‐dimensional (3D) Bragg–Gray water‐to‐detector stopping power ratio (sw,det) distributions for proton and carbon ion beams.

Methods

Contrary to previously published fluence‐based calculations of the stopping power ratio, the sw,det calculation method used in this work is based on the specific way GATE/Geant4 scores the energy deposition. It only requires the use of the so‐called DoseActor, as available in GATE, for the calculation of the sw,det at any point of a 3D dose distribution. The simulations are performed using GATE‐RTion v1.0, a dedicated GATE release that was validated for the clinical use in light ion beam therapy.

Results

The Bragg–Gray water‐to‐air stopping power ratio (sw,air) was calculated for monoenergetic proton and carbon ion beams with the default stopping power data in GATE‐RTion v1.0 and the new ICRU90 recommendation. The sw,air differences between the use of the default and the ICRU90 configuration were 0.6% and 5.4% at the physical range (R80 — 80% dose level in the distal dose fall‐off) for a 70 MeV proton beam and a 120 MeV/u carbon ion beam, respectively. For protons, the sw,det results for lithium fluoride, silicon, gadolinium oxysulfide, and the active layer material of EBT2 (radiochromic film) were compared with the literature and a reasonable agreement was found. For a real patient treatment plan, the 3D distributions of sw,det in proton beams were calculated.

Conclusions

Our method was validated by comparison with available literature data. Its equivalence with Bragg–Gray cavity theory was demonstrated mathematically. The capability of GATE‐RTion v1.0 for the sw,det calculation at any point of a 3D dose distribution for simple and complex proton and carbon ion plans was presented.
Possible utilization of salivary IFN‐γ/IL‐4 ratio as a marker of chronic stress in healthy individuals
Authors: Takemori Yuika , Sasayama Daimei , Toida Yukiyo , Kotagiri Minori , Sugiyama Nobuhiro , Yamaguchi Masaki , Washizuka Shinsuke , Honda Hideo
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Several studies show that psychological stress reduces Th1/Th2 ratio in blood samples. However, evidence is scarce regarding the cytokine alterations during stress in saliva. We investigated the influence of chronic stress on Th1/Th2 ratio and cytokine profiles in the saliva of healthy individuals. Further, we examined the associations of the salivary cytokine levels with sleep and attention problems, which are closely related with psychological stress.

Methods

Salivary levels of 27 cytokines were measured by multiplex bead array assays in 31 healthy young individuals (health science students and hospital staff consisting of 11 men and 20 women, mean age [standard deviation] =21.5 [0.8] years). The Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K10) and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) were administered to assess subjective chronic psychological stress and sleep problems. Further, participants were asked to wear Actigraph GT3X accelerometers for 3 days to assess the total sleep time. Attention problems were assessed by administering the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA‐CPT).

Results

Thirteen cytokines with >80% detectable results were included in the main analyses. The IFN‐γ/IL‐4 ratio, which is a commonly used index for Th1/Th2 ratio, showed significant negative correlations with the K10 and AIS scores. None of the cytokines were significantly associated with sex, body mass index, sleep index measured by Actigraph, or IVA‐CPT scores.

Conclusion

Chronic stress may be associated with alterations of the Th1/Th2 balance in salivary cytokine production. IFN‐γ/IL‐4 ratio in saliva may serve as a potential biomarker of chronic stress in healthy individuals.
RAS Amplification as a Negative Predictor of Benefit from Anti-EGFR–Containing Therapy Regimens in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Schrock Alexa B. , Lee Jessica K. , Sandhu Jaideep , Madison Russell , Cho-Phan Cheryl , Snider Jeremy W. , Castellanos Emily , Venstrom Jeffrey M. , Fakih Marwan
Published: January 2021

Background

RAS short variant (SV) mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) are associated with lack of benefit from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody (EGFRmAb). However, the clinical implications for RAS amplification (RASa) as a biomarker for anti-EGFR therapy in CRC remain ill defined.

Methods

Genomic analysis was performed using the Foundation Medicine (FM) comprehensive genomic profiling database of 37,233 CRC cases. Clinical outcomes were assessed using two independent cohorts: the City of Hope (COH) cohort of 338 patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) and the Flatiron Health–FM real-world clinicogenomic database (CGDB) of 3,904 patients with mCRC.

Results

RASa was detected in 1.6% (614/37,233) of primarily mCRC. RASa 6–9 (n = 241, 39%), 10–19 (n = 165, 27%), and ≥ 20 (n = 209, 34%) copy number subsets had co-RAS SV/BRAF V600E in 63%/3%, 31%/0.6%, and 4.8%/0% of cases, respectively. In the COH cohort, six patients with RASa (13–54 copies) received EGFRmAb, four of six had progressive disease, two had stable disease, and median time to treatment discontinuation (TTD) was 2.5 months. Of the CGDB EGFRmAb-treated patients, those with RASa (n = 9) had median TTD of 4.7 months and overall survival (OS) of 11.4 months, those with RAS SV (n = 101) had median TTD and OS of 5.3 and 9.4 months, and those with RAS/BRAF wild-type (n = 608) had median TTD and OS of 7.6 and 13.7 months.

Conclusion

Patients with RASa without RAS mutations (1.1% of mCRC) may have poor outcomes on EGFRmAb, although numbers herein were small, and interpretation is confounded by combination chemotherapy. Larger independent studies are warranted to determine if RASa, including degree of amplification, may act similarly to RAS mutation as a resistance mechanism to EGFRmAb therapies.

Implications for Practice

Genomic data suggest that RAS amplification occurs as the sole RAS/RAF alteration in >1% of colorectal cancer cases and that degree of amplification inversely correlates with co-occurring MAPK pathway alterations. Preliminary clinical evidence suggests that RAS amplification may function similarly to RAS mutation as a negative predictor of benefit from anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapies in colorectal cancer. More clinical data are needed, and comprehensive genomic profiling, including detection of RAS amplification, should be used in trial design to inform therapy selection.