bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of urine acidification on calcium oxalate relative supersaturation in cats
Authors: Bijsmans Esther S. , Quéau Yann , Feugier Alexandre , Biourge Vincent C.
Published: February 2021

There is an apparent reciprocal relationship between magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP, struvite) and calcium oxalate (CaOx) urolithiasis incidence rate in cats. The number of struvite uroliths submitted for analysis over the past 35 years has been decreasing, with an increase in CaOx urolith submissions. Commercial diets aimed to dissolve struvite uroliths are typically acidified, and it has been suggested that dietary acidification increases urinary calcium excretion and the risk of CaOx crystallization. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of urine acidification on the relative supersaturation (RSS) of CaOx in cats, as a representation of crystallization risk. Four diets were extruded to contain identical nutrient contents, but with gradual acidification (0, 0.6, 1.3 and 1.9% sodium bisulphate substituted sodium chloride in diets A, B, C and D respectively). Thirteen adult cats were fed each diet sequentially for a minimum of 10 days. Average urine pH was 6.4, 6.2, 6.0 and 5.9 on diets A, B, C and D respectively (p < 0.0001). Struvite RSS decreased on diets inducing more acidic urine pH (p < 0.0001). Urinary calcium excretion and concentration increased with diets inducing lower urine pH (p < 0.0001), but oxalate excretion and concentration decreased (p < 0.001). CaOx RSS was not different between diets (p = 0.63). These results suggest that a lower diet base excess and resulting urine pH to support struvite dissolution do not increase the risk for CaOx crystallization in the range of urine pH representative of most commercial feline diets. Long‐term studies are needed to confirm this.
Obligate Brominating Enzymes Underlie Bromoform Production by Marine Cyanobacteria
Authors: Thapa Hem R. , Agarwal Vinayak
Published: February 2021

Marine algae are prolific producers of bromoform (CHBr3). This naturally produced molecule is a potent environmental pollutant as it volatilizes into the atmosphere and contributes to depletion of the ozone layer in a manner akin to, and in magnitude similar to, man‐made chlorofluorocarbons. While phototrophs such as seaweeds, diatoms, and dinoflagellates are known sources of bromoform, additional as yet unknown biogenetic sources of bromoform exist in the oceans. Here, using halogenating enzymes as diagnostic genetic elements, we demonstrate that marine cyanobacteria also possess the enzymological potential for bromoform production. Using recombinantly purified vanadium‐dependent bromoperoxidases from planktonic and bloom‐forming marine cyanobacteria in in vitro biochemical assays, we reconstitute the enzymatic production of bromoform. We find cyanobacterial bromoform synthesizing enzymes to be obligate brominases possessing no chlorinating activities. These results expand the repertoire of marine biotic sources that introduce this pollutant in the atmosphere.
Impact of direct‐acting antiviral regimens on mortality and morbidity outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis c: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sahakyan Yeva , Lee‐Kim Victoria , Bremner Karen E. , Bielecki Joanna M. , Krahn Murray D.
Published: February 2021

The long‐term effects of direct‐acting antiviral therapies (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remain uncertain. The objective of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to assess the impact of DAAs on CHC progression and mortality. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and PubMed databases (January 2011 to March 2020) for studies that compared the efficacy of DAAs to a non‐DAA control in patients with CHC. Main outcomes were the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality, liver decompensation, HCC occurrence and recurrence. Pooled estimates of HRs were determined using random‐effects meta‐analyses with inverse variance weighting, with sensitivity analyses and meta‐regression to explore the effects of clinical factors. We identified 39 articles for the primary analysis. Compared with unexposed individuals, patients treated with DAA had a reduced risk of death (HR; CI = 0.44; 0.38‐0.52), decompensation (HR; CI = 0.54; 0.38‐ 0.76) and HCC occurrence (HR; CI = 0.72; 0.61‐ 0.86). The protective effect of DAA on HCC recurrence was less clear (HR; CI = 0.72; 0.44‐1.16). Sustained virologic response (SVR) attainment was a significant predictor of reduced mortality (HR; CI = 0.33; 0.23‐0.46), decompensation (HR; CI = 0.11; 0.05‐0.24), HCC occurrence (HR; CI = 0.31; 0.27‐0.37) and HCC recurrence (HR; CI = 0.32; 0.20‐0.51). Meta‐regression showed no evidence of effect modification by patient age, sex, presence of cirrhosis or length of follow‐up. In conclusion, our findings show protective effects of DAA treatment and DAA‐related SVR on CHC progression and mortality.
Low individual diet variation and high trophic niche overlap between the native polecat and invasive American mink
Authors: Zalewski A. , Szymura M. , Kowalczyk R. , Brzeziński M.
Published: February 2021

Introductions of invasive species increase competitive interactions in a community proportionally to the similarity between the ecological niches of invasive and native species. Food represents one of the most important resources influencing competition, and differences in the trophic niche of native and invasive species can affect their ability to coexist. Moreover, in sympatric native and invasive species of similar body size and high sexual dimorphism, competition for food between individuals of the same sex may be higher than intraspecific competition between males and females, thus making the overall competitive interactions more complex. The aim of this study was to investigate the intraspecific and intrasexual competition for food resources between two sexually dimorphic mustelids, the native polecat Mustela putorius and invasive American mink Neovison vison, in riparian habitats of Białowieża Forest (Poland). Based on an analysis of 1215 scats, we studied the food habits of eight polecat and 24 mink individuals. The trophic niches of the polecat and mink were narrow and overlapped considerably. The diet of both predators was dominated by amphibians (mainly the common frog Rana temporaria), which comprised up to 94.1% and 89.7% of polecat and mink prey biomass, respectively. Individual diet variation was low within each sex group of both species. Interspecific similarities in body mass of the sexes and intraspecific differences in body mass between the sexes did not affect pairwise niche overlaps. However, we observed some mechanisms of food segregation between the sexes and species that reduced intra‐ and interspecies competition. Polecat males hunted more common toads Bufo bufo than polecat females, mink males and mink females. They also hunted larger frogs than polecat females, and the opposite pattern was recorded in mink. We conclude that two predator species exploiting abundant prey can coexist despite a very high overlap in their food niches.
Analysis of factors associated with discrepancies between predicted and observed liver weight in liver transplantation
Authors: Addeo Pietro , Naegel Benoit , Terrone Alfonso , Faitot François , Schaaf Caroline , Bachellier Philippe , Noblet Vincent
Published: February 2021

Background

Even using predictive formulas based on anthropometrics in about 30% of subjects, liver weight (LW) cannot be predicted with a ≤20% margin of error. We aimed to identify factors associated with discrepancies between predicted and observed LW.

Methods

In 500 consecutive liver grafts, we tested LW predictive performance using 17 formulas based on anthropometric characteristics. Hashimoto's formula (961.3 × BSA_D‐404.8) was associated with the lowest mean absolute error and used to predict LW for the entire cohort. Clinical factors associated with a ≥20% margin of error were identified in a multivariable analysis after propensity score matching (PSM) of donors with similar anthropometric characteristics.

Results

The total LW was underestimated with a ≥20% margin of error in 53/500 (10.6%) donors and overestimated in 62/500 (12%) donors. After PSM analysis, ages ≥ 65, (OR = 3.21; CI95% = 1.63‐6.31; P = .0007), age ≤ 30 years, (OR = 2.92; CI95% = 1.15‐7.40; P = .02), and elevated gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels (OR = 0.98; CI95% = 0.97‐0.99; P = .006), influenced the risk of LW overestimation. Age ≥ 65 years, (OR = 5.98; CI95% = 2.28‐15.6; P = .0002), intensive care unit (ICU) stay with ventilation > 7 days, (OR = 0.32; CI95% = 0.12‐0.85; P = .02) and waist circumference increase (OR = 1.02; CI95% = 1.00‐1.04; P = .04) were factors associated with LW underestimation.

Conclusions

Increased waist circumference, age, prolonged ICU stay with ventilation, elevated GGT were associated with an increase in the margin of error in LW prediction. These factors and anthropometric characteristics could help transplant surgeons during the donor–recipient matching process.
Petrology of the opaque assemblages in unequilibrated ordinary chondrites
Authors: Alpert Samuel P. , Ebel Denton S. , Weisberg Michael K. , Neiman Jeremy R.
Published: February 2021

Opaque assemblages (OAs) are small (submillimeter) objects composed primarily of metals, sulfides, and oxides that exist in nearly all chondritic meteorite groups as discrete objects in the matrix or associated with chondrules. The size, morphology, and petrology of OAs vary greatly between different chondrite groups, with petrologic grade within a single group, and by their apparent textural setting. Two hypotheses may explain the formation of matrix OAs: (1) they were separated from chondrules via surface tension during heating events, or (2) they formed as free‐floating objects in the solar nebula; however, this is the first comprehensive study of the petrology of OAs in ordinary chondrites (OCs) as a group, which seeks to determine if one hypothesis is sufficient to explain all such objects. Here, we use a newly developed machine learning algorithm to show that all OAs from the least equilibrated OC, Semarkona (LL 3.01), are composed of kamacite, taenite, troilite, pentlandite, magnetite, and other minor phases. These OAs form two distinct groups based on their modal mineralogy: one group in and associated with chondrules, and the other group free‐floating in the matrix. Chondrule OAs exhibit a bimodal distribution between sulfide‐ and metal‐rich endmembers in agreement with previous findings. Matrix OAs cluster at roughly equal abundances of sulfides and metals and universally exhibit magnetite rims. The two populations of chondrule OAs cannot be combined to form the modal mineralogies observed in matrix OAs and some matrix OAs exhibit mineralogical layering consistent with fractional condensation. Both observations support the hypothesis that matrix OAs were not formed by expulsion from chondrules and instead formed as free‐floating objects in the solar nebula; however, chondrule OAs must have formed with their host chondrules during heating events.
The Political Economy of Fiscal Decentralization under the Islamic Republic of Iran
Authors: Tajbakhsh Kian
Published: February 2021

A key challenge for democratizing local government is the extent to which local policy is responsive and accountable to local voters’ preferences. The goal of this paper is to assess the potential relevance of this thesis in the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) by focusing on the fiscal dimensions of elected local government first established in 1999. In this paper, I present descriptive data and empirical analysis to provide a comprehensive picture of fiscal decentralization and municipal finances under the IRI, which up till now has been a “black box.” To peer inside, I present the results of a unique dataset on almost ninety cities gathered over an eight‐year period covering the first phase of decentralization (1998–2006). I find that elected municipalities in Iran possess limited fiscal and legal autonomy on both the revenue and expenditure sides. The findings provide support for the broader thesis that the structure of local government finance has acted to thwart the Islamic reformists’ project of local democratization and strengthening local government accountability.
Body weight in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis
Authors: Parkman Henry P. , Van Natta Mark , Yamada Goro , Grover Madhusudan , McCallum Richard W. , Sarosiek Irene , Farrugia Gianrico , Koch Kenneth L. , Abell Thomas L. , Kuo Braden , Miriel Laura , Tonascia James , Hamilton Frank , Pasricha Pankaj J.
Published: February 2021

Background

The classic clinical picture of gastroparesis is a symptomatic patient losing weight. In addition, a number of patients with delayed gastric emptying are obese and/or gaining weight. Our aim was to investigate the factors impacting body weight in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis.

Methods

In patients with idiopathic gastroparesis, detailed history and weight were acquired at enrollment and after 48 weeks. Questionnaires assessed symptoms, food intake, physical activity, and quality of life. Patients underwent laboratory testing, gastric emptying scintigraphy, and water load testing.

Results

Of 138 patients with idiopathic gastroparesis, 10% were underweight (BMI < 18.5), 39% were normal weight (BMI 18.5‐25), 20% were overweight with BMI 25 to 30 kg/m2, and 29% were obese with BMI > 30 kg/m2. Body weight at enrollment was positively associated with oral caloric consumption (P < .001), following a gastroparesis diet (P = .04), nutrition consultation (P = .001), upper abdominal pain (P = .01); and negatively associated with energy expenditure (P = .05), alcohol use (P = .003) and severity of bloating (P < .001). When followed over 48 weeks, 53% patients stayed stable (within 5% of baseline weight), 30% gained, and 17% lost weight. Weight gain over 48 weeks was positively associated with oral caloric consumption (P = .003) and constipation severity (P = .005) at enrollment, and negatively associated with lower abdominal pain severity (P = .007) at enrollment, and associated with improvement in inability to finish meal score (P < .001) at 48 weeks.

Conclusions

In this series of patients with idiopathic gastroparesis, 10% were underweight whereas 29% were obese. Over 48 weeks, 30% of patients increased their body weight ≥ 5%. Diet, activity, and symptoms are important factors associated with body weight in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis.
Progranulin promotes bone fracture healing via TNFR pathways in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ding Yuanjing , Wei Jianlu , Hettinghouse Aubryanna , Li Guangfei , Li Xin , Einhorn Thomas A. , Liu Chuan‐ju
Published: February 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) significantly increases bone fragility and fracture risk. Progranulin (PGRN) promotes bone fracture healing in both physiological and type 1 diabetic conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the role of PGRN in T2DM bone fracture healing. MKR mice (with an FVB/N genetic background) were used as the T2DM model. Drill‐hole and Bonnarens and Einhorn models were used to investigate the role of PGRN in T2DM fracture healing in vivo. Primary bone marrow cells were isolated for molecular and signaling studies, and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting were performed to assess PGRN effects in vitro. PGRN mRNA and protein expression were upregulated in the T2DM model. Local administration of recombinant PGRN effectively promoted T2DM bone fracture healing in vivo. Additionally, PGRN could induce anabolic metabolism during endochondral ossification through the TNFR2–Akt and Erk1/2 pathways. Furthermore, PGRN showed anti‐inflammatory activity in the T2DM bone regeneration process. These findings suggest that local administration of exogenous PGRN may be an alternative strategy to support bone regeneration in patients with T2DM. Additionally, PGRN might hold therapeutic potential for other TNFR‐related metabolic disorders.
The association between childhood adiposity and appetite assessed using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire and Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kininmonth Alice , Smith Andrea , Carnell Susan , Steinsbekk Silje , Fildes Alison , Llewellyn Clare
Published: February 2021

This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to quantify associations between Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) and Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire (BEBQ) appetitive traits (food approach: Food Responsiveness [FR], Enjoyment of Food [EF], Emotional Overeating [EOE], and Desire to Drink [DD]; food avoidant: Satiety Responsiveness [SR], Slowness in Eating [SE], Emotional Undereating [EUE], Food Fussiness [FF]) and measures of child adiposity. Searches of six databases up to February 2019 identified 72 studies (CEBQ, n = 67; BEBQ, n = 5), and 27 met the meta‐analysis criteria. For cross‐sectional studies reporting unadjusted correlations with body mass index z‐scores (BMIz) (n = 19), all traits were associated with BMIz in expected directions (positive: FR, EF, EOE, and DD; negative: SR, SE, EUE, and FF). Pooled estimates ranged from r = 0.22 (FR) to r = −0.21 (SR). For cross‐sectional studies reporting regression coefficients (n = 10), three traits (FR, EF, and EOE) associated positively, and three traits (SR, SE, and EUE) negatively, with BMIz (β = −0.31 [SR] to β = 0.22 [FR]). Eleven studies reported prospective relationships from appetite to adiposity measures for six scales (positive: FR, EF, EOE, and DD; negative: SR and SE). Five studies reported relationships from adiposity measures to appetite for five traits (positive: FR, EF, and EOE; negative: SR). All BEBQ traits were consistently cross‐sectionally associated with adiposity measures. Overall, CEBQ/BEBQ‐assessed appetitive traits show consistent cross‐sectional relationships with measures of child adiposity.
Studies of Articular Cartilage Repair from 2009 to 2018: A Bibliometric Analysis of Articles
Authors: Duan Wang‐ping , Huang Ling‐an , Dong Zheng‐quan , Li Hao‐qian , Guo Li , Song Wen‐jie , Yang Yan‐fei , Li Peng‐cui , Wei Xiao‐chun
Published: February 2021

Objective

To perform a bibliometric analysis of research on articular cartilage repair published in Chinese and English over the past decade. Fundamental and clinical research topics of high interest were further comparatively analyzed.

Methods

Relevant studies published from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2018 (10 years) were retrieved from the Wanfang database (Chinese articles) and six databases, including MEDLINE, WOS, INSPEC, SCIELO, KJD, and RSCI on the website “Web of Science” (English articles), using key words: “articular cartilage” AND “injury” AND “repair”. The articles were categorized according to research focuses for a comparative analysis between those published in Chinese vs English, and further grouped according to publication date (before and after 2014). A comparative analysis was performed on research focus to characterize the variation in research trends between two 5‐year time spans. Moreover, articles were classified as basic and clinical research studies.

Results

Overall, 5762 articles were retrieved, including 2748 in domestic Chinese journals and 3014 in international English journals. A total of 4937 articles focused on the top 10 research topics, with the top 3 being stem cells (32.1%), tissue‐engineered scaffold (22.8%), and molecular mechanisms (16.4%). Differences between the numbers of Chinese and English papers were observed for 3 topics: chondrocyte implantation (104 vs 316), osteochondral allograft (27 vs 86), and microfracture (127 vs 293). The following topics gained more research interest in the second 5‐year time span compared with the first: microfracture, osteochondral allograft, osteochondral autograft, stem cells, and tissue‐engineered scaffold. Articles with a focus on three‐dimensional‐printing technology have shown the fastest increase in publication numbers. Among 5613 research articles, basic research studies accounted for the majority (4429), with clinical studies described in only 1184 articles. The top 7 research topics of clinical studies were: chondrocyte implantation (28.7%), stem cells (21.9%), microfracture (19.2%), tissue scaffold (10.6%), osteochondral autograft (10.5%), osteochondral allograft (6.3%), and periosteal transplantation (2.8%).

Conclusion

Studies focused on stem cells and tissue‐engineered scaffolds led the field of damaged articular cartilage repair. International researchers studied allograft‐related implantation approaches more often than Chinese researchers. Traditional surgical techniques, such as microfracture and osteochondral transplantation, gained high research interest over the past decade.
Rice MutLγ, the MLH1–MLH3 heterodimer, participates in the formation of type I crossovers and regulation of embryo sac fertility
Authors: Mao Bigang , Zheng Wenjie , Huang Zhen , Peng Yan , Shao Ye , Liu Citao , Tang Li , Hu Yuanyi , Li Yaokui , Hu Liming , Zhang Dan , Yuan Zhicheng , Luo Wuzhong , Yuan Longping , Liu Yaoguang , Zhao Bingran
Published: February 2021

The development of embryo sacs is crucial for seed production in plants, but the genetic basis regulating the meiotic crossover formation in the macrospore and microspore mother cells remains largely unclear. Here, we report the characterization of a spontaneous rice female sterile variation 1 mutant (fsv1) that showed severe embryo sacs abortion with low seed‐setting rate. Through map‐based cloning and functional analyses, we isolated the causal gene of fsv1, OsMLH3 encoding a MutL‐homolog 3 protein, an ortholog of HvMLH3 in barley and AtMLH3 in Arabidopsis. OsMLH3 and OsMLH1 (MutL‐homolog 1) interact to form a heterodimer (MutLγ) to promote crossover formation in the macrospore and microspore mother cells and development of functional megaspore during meiosis, defective OsMLH3 or OsMLH1 in fsv1 and CRISPR/Cas9‐based knockout lines results in reduced type I crossover and bivalent frequency. The fsv1 and OsMLH3‐knockout lines are valuable germplasms for development of female sterile restorer lines for mechanized seed production of hybrid rice.
Contraception among women on probation and parole on the United States–Mexico border
Authors: Greenwald Randee C. , Keele Rebecca , Huttlinger Kathleen
Published: February 2021

Objective

Effective contraception prevents unintended pregnancy which disproportionately affects women in the criminal justice system. This study examined selected variables associated with contraceptive use by women on probation and parole living on the United States–Mexico border.

Design

This quantitative correlational study examined individual and interpersonal variables—age, parity, ethnicity, prior contraception, self‐efficacy, pregnancy attitudes, and reproductive autonomy—that may influence contraception among 52 women under community supervision.

Measures

Variable were examined with bivariate, multivariate analyses, and hierarchical logistic regression. Data were collected from a demographic and contraceptive use survey, and validated scales measuring reproductive autonomy and pregnancy attitudes.

Results

Contraceptive methods were used by 89% of the women; 65% used effective methods, but this decreased to 35% among those released within the past year. Reproductive autonomy was associated with effective contraceptive use. Prior contraception and contraceptive self‐efficacy were significant, but wide confidence intervals suggested instability. The remaining variables were insignificant.

Conclusion

No known studies have examined contraception use among women on probation and parole on the border. More women used some form of contraception than might be predicted. Collaborative efforts between correctional facilities and the community are needed to expand access to contraception.
Decoding chromaticity and luminance from patterns of EEG activity
Authors: Sutterer David W. , Coia Andrew J. , Sun Vincent , Shevell Steven K. , Awh Edward
Published: February 2021

A long‐standing question in the field of vision research is whether scalp‐recorded EEG activity contains sufficient information to identify stimulus chromaticity. Recent multivariate work suggests that it is possible to decode which chromaticity an observer is viewing from the multielectrode pattern of EEG activity. There is debate, however, about whether the claimed effects of stimulus chromaticity on visual evoked potentials (VEPs) are instead caused by unequal stimulus luminances, which are achromatic differences. Here, we tested whether stimulus chromaticity could be decoded when potential confounds with luminance were minimized by (1) equating chromatic stimuli in luminance using heterochromatic flicker photometry for each observer and (2) independently varying the chromaticity and luminance of target stimuli, enabling us to test whether the pattern for a given chromaticity generalized across wide variations in luminance. We also tested whether luminance variations can be decoded from the topography of voltage across the scalp. In Experiment 1, we presented two chromaticities (appearing red and green) at three luminance levels during separate trials. In Experiment 2, we presented four chromaticities (appearing red, orange, yellow, and green) at two luminance levels. Using a pattern classifier and the multielectrode pattern of EEG activity, we were able to accurately decode the chromaticity and luminance level of each stimulus. Furthermore, we were able to decode stimulus chromaticity when we trained the classifier on chromaticities presented at one luminance level and tested at a different luminance level. Thus, EEG topography contains robust information regarding stimulus chromaticity, despite large variations in stimulus luminance.
Event‐related network changes unfold the dynamics of cortical integration during face processing
Authors: Maffei Antonio , Sessa Paola
Published: February 2021

Face perception arises from a collective activation of brain regions in the occipital, parietal and temporal cortices. Despite the wide acknowledgment that these regions act in an intertwined network, the network behavior itself is poorly understood. Here we present a study in which time‐varying connectivity estimated from EEG activity elicited by facial expressions presentation was characterized using graph‐theoretical measures of node centrality and global network topology. Results revealed that face perception results from a dynamic reshaping of the network architecture, characterized by the emergence of hubs located in the occipital and temporal regions of the scalp. The importance of these nodes can be observed from the early stages of visual processing and reaches a climax in the same time‐window in which the face‐sensitive N170 is observed. Furthermore, using Granger causality, we found that the time‐evolving centrality of these nodes is associated with ERP amplitude, providing a direct link between the network state and local neural response. Additionally, investigating global network topology by means of small‐worldness and modularity, we found that face processing requires a functional network with a strong small‐world organization that maximizes integration, at the cost of segregated subdivisions. Interestingly, we found that this architecture is not static, but instead, it is implemented by the network from stimulus onset to ~200 ms. Altogether, this study reveals the event‐related changes underlying face processing at the network level, suggesting that a distributed processing mechanism operates through dynamically weighting the contribution of the cortical regions involved.
Open innovation in the face of the COVID‐19 grand challenge: insights from the Pan‐European hackathon ‘EUvsVirus’
Authors: Bertello Alberto , Bogers Marcel L.A.M. , De Bernardi Paola
Published: February 2021

Being a grand challenge of global scale, the COVID‐19 pandemic requires collective and collaborative efforts from a variety of actors to enable the expected scientific advancement and technological progress. To achieve such an open innovation approach, several initiatives have been launched in order to leverage potential distributed knowledge sources that go beyond those available to any single organization. A particular tool that has gained some momentum during COVID‐19 times is hackathons, which have been used to unleash the innovation potential of individuals who voluntarily came together, for a relatively short period of time, with the aim to solve specific problems. In this paper, we describe and analyze the case of the hackathon EUvsVirus, led by the European Innovation Council. EUvs Virus was a 3‐day online hackathon to connect civil society, innovators, partners, and investors across Europe and beyond in order to develop innovative solutions to coronavirus‐related challenges. We have identified four dimensions to explore hackathons as a crowdsourcing tool for practicing effective open innovation in the face of COVID‐19: broad scope, participatory architecture, online setting, and community creation. We discuss how these four elements can play a strategic role in the face of grand challenges, which require, as in the case of the COVID‐19 pandemic, both urgent action and long‐term thinking. Our case analysis also suggests the need to look beyond the ‘usual suspects’, through knowledge recombination with atypical resources (e.g., retired experts, graduate students, and the general public). On this basis, we call for a broader perspective on open innovation, to be extended beyond openness across organizational boundaries, and to explore the role of openness at societal level.
Sustainable large‐scale production of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) seed for ecological restoration and aquaculture: a review
Authors: Colsoul Bérenger , Boudry Pierre , Pérez‐Parallé María Luz , Bratoš Cetinić Ana , Hugh‐Jones Tristan , Arzul Isabelle , Mérou Nicolas , Wegner Karl Mathias , Peter Corina , Merk Verena , Pogoda Bernadette
Published: February 2021

The conservation and active restoration of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) populations are a major focus of ecological restoration efforts to take advantage of the wide‐ranging ecosystem functions and services this species provides. Accordingly, additional and new demands for seed oysters have arisen. In commercial aquaculture (mariculture), the production of O. edulis is still largely based on natural seed collection. Considering the specific requirements, related to ecological restoration, such as the absence of pathogens and the preservation of high genetic diversity, the current supply is insufficient. Despite the development of breeding and controlled reproduction techniques for this species since the late 1930s, seed production today is mainly based on empirical concepts. Several of the issues that producers still face are already subjects of research; many others are still unanswered or even unaddressed. This review provides a summary of all available knowledge and technologies of O. edulis seed production. Furthermore, it provides a detailed reflection on implications for restoration, future challenges, open questions and it identifies relevant research topics for sustainable seed supply. The study covers the following aspects on (i) biology of the species, (ii) stressors – including pathogens and pollutants, (iii) genetics, (iv) history of production technologies, (v) seed production in polls, (vi) seed production in ponds and (vii) seed production in hatcheries. Future research needs on sex determinism, gametogenesis, cryopreservation, nutrition, selective breeding, pathogens and disease, and the development of reliable protocols for production are highlighted.
A multidisciplinary review ofTetradesmus obliquus: a microalga suitable for large‐scale biomass production and emerging environmental applications
Authors: Oliveira Carlos Yure B. , Oliveira Cicero Diogo L. , Prasad Ravindra , Ong Hwai C. , Araujo Evando S. , Shabnam Nisha , Gálvez Alfredo O.
Published: February 2021

Microalgae biomass is among one of the most promising sustainable raw materials for many industrial sectors especially biodiesel production. Although a great diversity of microalgae species has been described and isolated, few have been used for large‐scale cultivation. This review presents a multidisciplinary overview of studies onTetradesmus obliquus– a freshwater microalga suitable for large‐scale production and emerging environmental applications. It reviews the taxonomic history ofT. obliquusand its potential commercial applications, including cultivations techniques and environmental parameters, production systems, harvesting and drying of biomass, and its biochemical composition. In addition, a model refinery forT. obliquusis proposed that combines the main productive bioprocesses. Finally, a bibliometric analysis is presented and opportunities for future research withT. obliquusare identified.
Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs in serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) of Kazakh sheep at early pregnancy
Authors: Sun Yishan , Xu Mengsi , Gao Ruonan , Xie Su , Sun Xiaomei , He Junfei , Chen Xin , Li Qingchun , Lu Shihao , Yang Min , Li Mengxun , Yang Hua , Huang Tao , Sun Jingli
Published: February 2021

MiRNAs‐containing extracellular vesicles (EVs) possess the unique function of mediating intercellular communication and participating in many biological processes such as post‐transcriptional gene regulation of embryo implantation and placental development. In the present study, Illumina small‐RNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in serum EVs of pregnant (P) and non‐pregnant (NP) Kazakh sheep at Day 17 from mating. The specifically and differentially expressed miRNAs at early pregnancy in sheep were verified by using RT‐PCR. The target genes of DE miRNAs were predicted by bioinformatics software, and the functional and pathway enrichment analysis was performed on Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) terms. A total of 562 miRNAs (210 novel miRNAs) were identified by sequencing, of which 57 miRNAs were differentially expressed, 49 were up‐regulated, 8 were down‐regulated and 22 novel miRNAs were specifically expressed in the pregnant sheep. Eight highly expressed known miRNA (miR‐378‐3p, miR‐320‐3p, miR‐22‐3p, let‐7b, miR‐423‐3p, miR‐221, miR‐296‐3p, miR‐147‐3p) in pregnant group were down‐regulated in the control group. miRNAs‐containing pregnancy‐related terms and regulatory pathways regulation were enriched using both GO and KEGG analyses. Moreover, we also envisioned a miRNA‐mRNA interaction network to understand the function of miRNAs involved in the early pregnancy serum regulatory network. The results of RT‐PCR verification confirmed the reliability of small‐RNA sequencing. Among them, miR‐22‐3p and miR‐378‐3p were significantly differentially expressed (DE) between pregnant sheep and non‐pregnant group (p <  0.01). The site at which oar‐miR‐22‐3p binds MAPK3 was determined with a dual‐luciferase system. This is the first integrated analysis of the expression profiles of EV‐miRNAs and their targets during early pregnancy in ewes. These data identify key miRNAs that influence the implantation of sheep in the early stage of pregnancy, and provide theoretical basis for further molecular regulatory mechanisms research.
Social Network Analytics for Supervised Fraud Detection in Insurance
Authors: Óskarsdóttir María , Ahmed Waqas , Antonio Katrien , Baesens Bart , Dendievel Rémi , Donas Tom , Reynkens Tom
Published: February 2021

Insurance fraud occurs when policyholders file claims that are exaggerated or based on intentional damages. This contribution develops a fraud detection strategy by extracting insightful information from the social network of a claim. First, we construct a network by linking claims with all their involved parties, including the policyholders, brokers, experts, and garages. Next, we establish fraud as a social phenomenon in the network and use the BiRank algorithm with a fraud‐specific query vector to compute a fraud score for each claim. From the network, we extract features related to the fraud scores as well as the claims' neighborhood structure. Finally, we combine these network features with the claim‐specific features and build a supervised model with fraud in motor insurance as the target variable. Although we build a model for only motor insurance, the network includes claims from all available lines of business. Our results show that models with features derived from the network perform well when detecting fraud and even outperform the models using only the classical claim‐specific features. Combining network and claim‐specific features further improves the performance of supervised learning models to detect fraud. The resulting model flags highly suspicions claims that need to be further investigated. Our approach provides a guided and intelligent selection of claims and contributes to a more effective fraud investigation process.
Bayesian estimation of the Eurozone currency union effect
Authors: Carpio Ronaldo , Guo Meixin
Published: February 2021

This paper uses Bayesian methods to estimate the European (Monetary) Union effect on trade. The high dimensionality of the parameter space when estimating gravity equations with many dummy variables results in standard hypothesis tests with a large Type I (false positive) error. Bayesian methods are able to handle this problem; they also provide a principled method of model selection that can be applied to different specifications of the dummy variables. Bayesian model selection tests prefer our most unrestricted dummy specification, which includes asymmetric bilateral effects, as well as time‐varying, country‐specific factors. Our estimate shows a zero Euro effect on trade, but a 14.8% increase in imports for a member of the European Union during 1980–2004.
Human‐tick encounters as a measure of tickborne disease risk in lyme disease endemic areas
Authors: Hook Sarah A. , Nawrocki Courtney C. , Meek James I. , Feldman Katherine A. , White Jennifer L. , Connally Neeta P. , Hinckley Alison F.
Published: February 2021

Entomological measures have long served as proxies for human risk of Lyme disease (LD) and other tickborne diseases (TBDs) in endemic areas of the United States, despite conflicting results regarding the correlation between these measures and human disease outcomes. Using data from a previous TBD intervention study in Connecticut, Maryland and New York, we evaluated whether human‐tick encounters can serve as an accurate proxy for risk of TBDs in areas where LD and other Ixodes scapularis‐transmitted infections are common. Among 2,590 households consisting of 4,210 individuals, experiencing a tick encounter was associated with an increased risk of both self‐reported (RR = 3.17, 95% CI: 2.05, 4.91) and verified TBD (RR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.39, 4.84) at the household level. Household characteristics associated with experiencing any tick encounter were residence in Connecticut (aOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.51) or New York (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.25, 2.22), head of household having a graduate level education (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.08), owning a pet (aOR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.46, 2.23) and a property size of 2 acres or larger (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.42, 3.70). Results for individual characteristics were similar to those for households. Future prevention studies in LD endemic areas should consider using human‐tick encounters as a robust proxy for TBD risk.
Geometric morphometrics reveal sister species in sympatry and a cline in genital morphology in a ghost spider genus
Authors: Wilson Jeremy D. , Zapata Lorena V. , Barone Mariana L. , Cotoras Darko D. , Poy Dante , Ramírez Martín J.
Published: February 2021

Morphological boundaries between species of the maculatipes‐group in the ghost spider genus Sanogasta Mello‐Leitão are ambiguous, and the most widespread species, S. maculatipes, is unusually variable and may represent multiple cryptic species. To resolve these issues, we perform a geometric morphometric analysis on the female genitalia of the group, visualizing and testing for differences in shape between described species, and between putative cryptic species within S. maculatipes. We complement this with a multi‐locus phylogenetic analysis of the group, to place the morphological results in a phylogenetic context. Our study reveals that two species in the group, S. alticola and S. mandibularis, are morphologically and molecularly distinct lineages that can be objectively distinguished. However, we reveal that S. maculatipes actually consists of two widespread sister species which occur in sympatry throughout the grasslands of northern Argentina. We further discover a geographical cline in the shape of the female genitalia of one of these sister species, such that specimens from the east and west of the range display morphological differences comparable to those between species, despite being virtually identical at the COI locus. Our study demonstrates the strength of a geometric morphometric approach for delimiting species in species‐complexes where morphological differences are subtle and confounding factors such as overlapping ranges, allometry and high levels of intraspecific variation are present.
Service Quality Dimensions of Higher Education Institutions and Students’ Satisfaction: Bangladesh Perspective
Authors: Barua Dhiman , Uddin Md. Sarwar
Published: February 2021

Higher education institutions (HEI’s), both public and private are increasingly focusing on meeting students’ demand as students’ perception on quality of higher educational services are becoming more important. This paper is mainly attempted to examine the relationship between service quality dimensions (tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy) and students’ satisfaction. To conduct the study, a total number of 207 respondents were taken as sample from eight universities including four public universities located in Dhaka and Chittagong. Five point Likert scale type questionnaire was used to collect the data. In this study, some statistical measures such as mean, standard deviation, correlation were used to analyze the linkage. The results found that there is a positive relation between service quality dimensions and students’ satisfaction specifically tangibles and reliability have significant influence on students’ satisfaction. The study also revealed that responsiveness, assurance and empathy have insignificant relation with students’ satisfaction. This paper concludes with limitation and future research direction.
Load-Sharing and Kinematics of the Human Cervical Spine Under Multi-Axial Transverse Shear Loading: Combined Experimental and Computational Investigation
Authors: Whyte T. , Barker J. B. , Cronin D. S. , Dumas G. A. , Nolte L.-P. , Cripton P. A.
Published: February 2021

The cervical spine experiences shear forces during everyday activities and injurious events yet there is a paucity of biomechanical data characterizing the cervical spine under shear loading. This study aimed to (1) characterize load transmission paths and kinematics of the subaxial cervical spine under shear loading, and (2) assess a contemporary finite element cervical spine model using this data. Subaxial functional spinal units (FSUs) were subjected to anterior, posterior, and lateral shear forces (200 N) applied with and without superimposed axial compression preload (200 N) while monitoring spine kinematics. Load transmission paths were identified using strain gauges on the anterior vertebral body and lateral masses and a disc pressure sensor. Experimental conditions were simulated with cervical spine finite element model FSUs (GHBMC M50 version 5.0). The mean kinematics, vertebral strains, and disc pressures were compared to experimental results. The shear force–displacement response typically demonstrated a toe region followed by a linear response, with higher stiffness in anterior shear relative to lateral and posterior shear. Compressive axial preload decreased posterior and lateral shear stiffness and increased initial anterior shear stiffness. Load transmission patterns and kinematics suggest the facet joints play a key role in limiting anterior shear while the disc governs motion in posterior shear. The main cervical spine shear responses and trends are faithfully predicted by the GHBMC cervical spine model. These basic cervical spine biomechanics and the computational model can provide insight into mechanisms for facet dislocation in high severity impacts, and tissue distraction in low severity impacts.
A Novel Auto-LSTM-Based State of Health Estimation Method for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Wen Long , Bo Nan , Ye Xingchen , Li Xinyu
Published: February 2021

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely applied in modern society. The state of health (SOH) estimation can provide helpful guidance to maintain LIBs in advance. Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) have been widely applied to pursue the high accuracy SOH estimation. However, the accuracy and performance of ML/DL methods heavily rely on their hyperparameters, and the hyperparameters tuning process for ML-/DL-based SOH estimation is mainly optimized by manual search, which are very time consuming and can hardly find the good hyperparameters configuration within the limited time resource. In this study, a new automatic long short-term memory (LSTM) method, called auto-LSTM, is developed for the SOH estimation, which can tune the hyperparameters in feature selection, LSTM structure, and its training algorithm in the automatic way. First, a LSTM model is developed for the SOH estimation. Second, the hyperparameters of the proposed LSTM are collected to be optimized by random search (RS) and tree Pazen estimator (TPE) automatically. Third, as the hyperparameters of auto-LSTM are characteristic as the hierarchy high dimension, a novel hyperparameter reduction algorithm (HRA) is developed to promote RS and TPE. The proposed auto-LSTM is tested on the NASA dataset and CALCE dataset. The results show that the proposed auto-LSTM with HRA can promote both RS and TPE on most case studies, validating its potential for providing a user-friendly and easy method for the SOH estimation on LIBs.
Modeling and Development of Passively Adaptive Assistive Tools for the Assembly of Press-Fit Components
Authors: Landuré Jérôme , Laliberté Thierry , Gosselin Clément , Abdallah Muhammad E.
Published: February 2021

This article discusses passive mechanical architectures for accuracy correction during assembly operations. A specific solution for passive force generation with thresholds is presented. Then, the kinematics of several rotational and translational mechanisms is presented. Afterwards, a case study is introduced and the design of a prototype is presented together with some tests performed on a spark plug assembly task.