bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generation of a nanobody against HER2 tyrosine kinase using phage display library screening for HER2-positive breast cancer therapy development
Authors: Lamtha Thomanai , Tabtimmai Lueacha , Bangphoomi Kunan , Kiriwan Duangnapa , Malik Aijaz A , Chaicumpa Wanpen , van Bergen en Henegouwen Paul M P , Choowongkomon Kiattawee
Published: November 2021

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein overexpression is found in ~30% of invasive breast carcinomas and in a high proportion of noninvasive ductal carcinomas in situ. Targeted cancer therapy is based on monoclonal antibodies and kinase inhibitors and reflects a new era of cancer therapy. However, delivery to tumor cells in vivo is hampered by the large size (150 kDa) of conventional antibodies. Furthermore, there are many disadvantages with the current anti-HER2 drug, including drug resistance and adverse effects. Nanobodies (15 kDa), single-domain antibody (sdAb) fragments, can overcome these limitations. This study produced the recombinant sdAb against the HER2-tyrosine kinase (HER2-TK) domain using phage display technology. Three specific anti-HER2-TK sdAbs were selected for further characterization. Hallmark VHH residue identification and amino acid sequence analysis revealed that clone numbers 4 and 22 were VH antibodies, whereas clone number 17 was a VH H antibody (nanobody). The half-maximal inhibitory concentration of VHH17 exhibited significantly greater HER2 kinase-inhibition activity than the other clones. Consistent with these results, several charges and polar residues of the HER2-TK activation loop that were predicted based on mimotope analysis also appeared in the docking result and interacted via the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 loops of VHH17. Furthermore, the cell-penetrable VHH17 (R9 VHH17) showed cell-penetrability and significantly decreased HER2-positive cancer cell viability. Thus, the VH H17 could be developed as an effective therapeutic agent to treat HER2-positive breast cancer.
Superior Mesenteric Artery Stenosis Due to Disseminated Tuberculosis in a Pediatric Patient
Authors: Martinson James , Tronetti Tara , Goel Nidhi , Sarkar Rajabrata , Strauch Eric , Lumpkins Kimberly
Published: November 2021

Disseminated tuberculosis (TB) associated with mesenteric arteritis has not been established in children. We present the case of an 8-year-old woman who presented with TB and superior mesenteric artery stenosis. Although rare, large vessel involvement from Takayasu arteritis can occur in TB. Evaluation for mesenteric vessel involvement should be considered in pediatric patients presenting with widely disseminated TB and abdominal pain.
The Expression and Prognostic Value of ILK and YAP1 in Glioma
Authors: Wang Qian , Sang Wei , Xue Jing , Zhai Yangyang , Hu Yanran , Su Liping , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2021

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a widely expressed serine/threonine-protein kinase that has been implicated in cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Yes-associated protein (YAP), as the most important effector of Hippo signaling pathway, which is considered to be a tumor suppressor pathway, acts as an oncogene in a variety of human cancers. The present study aimed to explore the expression of ILK and YAP1, the relationship between them, and the effect of ILK, YAP1 on prognosis in gliomas. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of ILK and YAP1. The χ2 test analyzes the relationship between ILK, YAP1, and pathologic parameters. The Spearman correlation analyzes the relationship between ILK and YAP1. Survival analysis was used to investigate the effect of ILK and YAP1 on prognosis. High expression of ILK was associated with the age above 50 (P=0.003), higher World Health Organization (WHO) grade (P<0.001), recurrence (P<0.001), and Ki-67 expression≥10% (P<0.001). High expression of YAP1 was associated with higher WHO grade (P<0.001), recurrence (P=0.043), and Ki-67 expression ≥10% (P=0.037). In lower grade gliomas, the high expression rate of ILK in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 wild-type was higher than that in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutant (P=0.048). The high expression rate of YAP1 in 1p19q non-codeletion was higher than that in 1p19q codeletion (P=0.022). There was a positive correlation between ILK and YAP1 (r=0.344). The patients with high expression of ILK and YAP1 had worse OS and PFS. As an upstream factor of the Hippo signaling pathway, ILK may affect the development and prognosis of gliomas by regulating YAP1.
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells and the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus infection
Authors: Yaseen Mahmoud Mohammad , Abuharfeil Nizar Mohammad , Darmani Homa
Published: November 2021

There are several mechanisms by which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can mediate immune dysfunction and exhaustion during the course of infection. Chronic immune activation, after HIV infection, seems to be a key driving force of such unwanted consequences, which in turn worsens the pathological status. In such cases, the immune system is programmed to initiate responses that counteract unwanted immune activation, for example through the expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Although the expansion of immune suppressor cells in the setting of systemic chronic immune activation, in theory, is expected to contain immune activation, HIV infection is still associated with a remarkably high level of biomarkers of immune activation. Paradoxically, the expansion of immune suppressor cells during HIV infection can suppress potent anti-viral immune responses, which in turn contribute to viral persistence and disease progression. This indicates that HIV hijacks not only immune activation but also the immune regulatory responses to its advantage. In this work, we aim to pave the way to comprehend how such unwanted expansion of MDSCs could participate in the pathology of acute/primary and chronic HIV infection in humans, as well as simian immunodeficiency virus infection in rhesus macaques, according to the available literature.
Mechanotransduction as a major driver of cell behaviour: mechanisms, and relevance to cell organization and future research
Authors: Puech Pierre-Henri , Bongrand Pierre
Published: November 2021

How do cells process environmental cues to make decisions? This simple question is still generating much experimental and theoretical work, at the border of physics, chemistry and biology, with strong implications in medicine. The purpose of mechanobiology is to understand how biochemical and physical cues are turned into signals through mechanotransduction. Here, we review recent evidence showing that (i) mechanotransduction plays a major role in triggering signalling cascades following cell–neighbourhood interaction; (ii) the cell capacity to continually generate forces, and biomolecule properties to undergo conformational changes in response to piconewton forces, provide a molecular basis for understanding mechanotransduction; and (iii) mechanotransduction shapes the guidance cues retrieved by living cells and the information flow they generate. This includes the temporal and spatial properties of intracellular signalling cascades. In conclusion, it is suggested that the described concepts may provide guidelines to define experimentally accessible parameters to describe cell structure and dynamics, as a prerequisite to take advantage of recent progress in high-throughput data gathering, computer simulation and artificial intelligence, in order to build a workable, hopefully predictive, account of cell signalling networks.
Coherent wave reflection in integrable or chaotic symmetrical acoustical billiards
Authors: Tyrode Victor , Totaro Nicolas , Maxit Laurent , Le Bot Alain
Published: November 2021

This study is concerned with the distribution of flexural vibrations in plates excited with a Gaussian white noise. The distribution of energy can be characterized by its homogeneity and isotropy. Some particular geometries like the Bunimovitch stadium generate a field that is both homogeneous and isotropic. But other geometries produce a field that is homogeneous but not isotropic (like the rectangle panel) or non-isotropic and not homogeneous (like the circular panel). It is known that these features drive the establishment of diffuse field. However, in the present work, we show that even at high frequency and for these three particular geometries, the diffuse field cannot be reached rigorously. Owing to symmetries, the vibrational response is always enhanced on some particular lines and points by the effect of coherence between rays. The enhancement factors are predicted theoretically with the image-source method. The presence of energy enhancement is also shown experimentally by measuring the vibrational energy density in the 20 Hz–4 kHz frequency range for these three plates excited with a random white noise. Measurement of enhancement factors shows a good agreement with their theoretical predictions.
Hyperconnectivity and altered dynamic interactions of a nucleus accumbens network in post-stroke depression
Authors: Oestreich Lena KL , Wright Paul , O’Sullivan Michael J
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common complication after stroke. To date, no consistent locus of injury is associated with this complication. Here, we probed network dynamics in four functional circuits tightly linked to major depressive disorder and investigated structural alterations within these networks in PSD.

Methods

Forty-four participants with recent stroke and 16 healthy volunteers were imaged with 3T structural, diffusion and resting-state functional MRI and completed the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Associations between GDS and functional connectivity were investigated within networks seeded from nucleus accumbens (NAc), amygdala and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In addition, the default mode network (DMN) was identified by connectivity with medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Circuits that exhibited altered activity associated with GDS were further investigated by extracting within-network volumetric and microstructural measures from structural images.

Results

Functional connectivity within the NAc-seeded network and DMN correlated positively with depressive symptoms. Normal anticorrelations between these two networks were absent in patients with PSD. PCC grey matter volume as well as microstructural measures in mPFC and the medial forebrain bundle, a major projection pathway interconnecting the NAc-seeded network and links to mPFC, were associated with GDS scores.

Conclusions

Depression after stroke is marked by reduced mutual inhibition between functional circuits involving NAc and DMN as well as volumetric and microstructural changes within these networks. Aberrant network dynamics present in patients with PSD are therefore likely to be influenced by secondary, pervasive alterations in grey and white matter, remote from the site of injury.
Variance-quantitative trait loci enable systematic discovery of gene-environment interactions for cardiometabolic serum biomarkers
Authors: Westerman Kenneth E. , Majarian Timothy D. , Giulianini Franco , Jang Dong-Keun , Florez Jose C. , Chen Han , Chasman Daniel I. , Udler Miriam S. , Manning Alisa K. , Cole Joanne B.
Published: November 2021

Gene-environment interactions (GEIs) represent the modification of genetic effects by environmental exposures and are critical for understanding disease and informing personalized medicine. GEIs often induce differential phenotypic variance across genotypes; these variance-quantitative trait loci (vQTLs) can be prioritized in a two-stage GEI detection strategy to greatly reduce the computational and statistical burden and enable testing of a broader range of exposures. We performed genome-wide vQTL analysis for 20 serum cardiometabolic biomarkers by multi-ancestry meta-analysis of 350,016 unrelated participants in the UK Biobank, identifying 182 independent locus-biomarker pairs (p < 4.5×10−9). Most vQTLs were concentrated in a small subset (4%) of loci with genome-wide significant main effects, and 44% replicated (p < 0.05) in the Women’s Genome Health Study (N = 23,294). Next, we tested each vQTL for interaction across 2,380 exposures, identifying 846 significant GEIs (p < 2.4×10−7). Specific examples demonstrated interaction of triglyceride-associated variants with distinct body mass-versus body fat-related exposures as well as genotype-specific associations between alcohol consumption and liver stress at the ADH1B gene. Our catalog of vQTLs and GEIs is publicly available in an online portal.
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-α can promote the repair of fatty liver cell oxidative stress injury and fatty liver ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Tan Yuying , Qiu Jiali , Zhang Weiqi , Xie Yan , Chen Chiyi , Li Junjie , Li Jiang , Jiang Wentao
Published: November 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have great prospects for the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) after liver transplantation. At this stage, the main factor limiting MSCs in the treatment of fatty liver IRI of the donor liver is the residence time of stem cells at the site of inflammatory injury. This study investigated whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) can promote the repair of fatty liver cell oxidative stress injury and fatty liver IRI in rats. The results indicated the BMSCs treatment group stimulated by TNF-α had lower indexes and significantly improved oxidative stress damage in vitro through Transwell chamber co-culture experiment, compared with the control group. In vivo, compared with the PBS group and the BMSCs group, the indexes of the BMSCs treatment group stimulated by TNF-α were reduced, and the degree of tissue damage was significantly reduced. BMSCs can repair fatty liver cell oxidative stress injury and fatty liver IRI, however, BMSCs stimulated by TNF-α can promote the repair of tissues and cells.
The role of social entrepreneurship in socio-economic development: a meta-analysis of the nascent field
Authors: Ahmad Shabir , Bajwa Ishtiaq Ahmad
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to present the first meta-analysis of the research on social entrepreneurship and socio-economic development (SESED). Nation-states, researchers and organizations realized the pivotal role of social entrepreneurship in socio-economic development in the recent two decades. The body of knowledge in this domain witnessed consistent research growth, but it still lacks a critical review to map the scholarly literature and to guide future researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used meta-analysis that combines bibliometric and content analyzes of 83 most relevant articles from 910 initially retrieved articles from the Web of Science, published in 75 different journals and 45 countries during 2005 and 2020. The analysis was performed using Histcite, VOSviewer and Biblioshiny software to identify the most influential aspects and to conduct citation and content analyze of selected publications.

Findings

The findings showed an overall consistent growth in research publications during the past 16 years with “Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise: International and Innovation Perspectives” as the most influential article, “Entrepreneurship and Regional Development” as the most influential journal, and the USA and the UK as the most productive countries. The keyword co-occurrence analysis exposed five thematic clusters and content analysis revealed five streams within the selected publications.

Practical implications

This study provides 10 research questions that urge future researchers to conduct a thorough investigation on how social entrepreneurship while solving social, cultural, environmental and community issues, contributes to socio-economic development.

Originality/value

This study identifies prominent trends, intellectual structure, leading research streams and specific future research directions in the field of SESED.
Water migration, texture and oral processing properties of semi‐waxy rice during retrogradation
Authors: Liu Guodong , Zhang Chao , Gao Hui , Zhang Hongcheng , Wei Haiyan
Published: November 2021

Semi‐waxy rice, a low‐amylose content (8%–13%) rice variety, can resist retrogradation. It is becoming more and more popular and widely cultivated in East China where consumers prefer cooked rice with soft and tender texture. In this study, water migration, texture and oral processing properties of cooked rice during retrogradation were investigated in order to characterize semi‐waxy rice. The results confirmed that the water mobility and migration of semi‐waxy rice during retrogradation is weaker than that of waxy rice and stronger than that of nonwaxy rice. Simultaneously, the hardness of semi‐waxy rice was higher than that of waxy rice and lower than that of nonwaxy rice. The oral processing properties confirmed that freshly waxy rice was too adhesive and needed more work to breakdown slow breakdown structure (Type Ⅱ structure) compared to freshly semi‐waxy rice. Meanwhile, nonwaxy rice was too hard, and more work was needed to break both fast breakdown structure (Type I structure) and slow breakdown structure (Type Ⅱ structure). The oral processing properties confirmed that retrograded semi‐waxy rice generated more reducing sugar than retrograded waxy rice and nonwaxy rice. Thus, semi‐waxy rice can retard retrogradation, and the texture of cooked semi‐waxy rice is neither too adhesive as waxy rice nor too hard as nonwaxy rice.

Practical Application

Semi‐waxy rice cultivars have been widely cultivated in East China and well accepted by the consumers. This study aims to characterize semi‐waxy rice and provide theoretical basis for semi‐waxy rice study.
Direct costs of hospital care of self‐harm: A national register‐based cohort study
Authors: Dyvesether Susanne Mahmood , Hastrup Lene Halling , Hawton Keith , Nordentoft Merete , Erlangsen Annette
Published: November 2021

Objective

To estimate national direct hospital costs associated with treatment of self‐harm and to analyse whether costs differ with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods

A cohort design was applied to register data on all people living in Denmark (5.8 million inhabitants) from Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2016. Self‐harm presentations at all hospitals by persons aged 10 years and older were included. Total costs and costs related to somatic and psychiatric care and treatment setting (inpatient, emergency department and outpatient) were calculated (in US dollars). The association between specific characteristics and somatic inpatient costs was analysed adjusted using generalized linear models and expressed as Odds Ratios (OR).

Results

In all, 42,634 (97.3%) self‐harm presentations by 30,366 persons were included. Annual somatic and psychiatric costs amounted to $25,241,518 and $34,696,388, respectively, and the median cost per episode was $2248 (IQR: $1553–$4138). Predictors of high somatic inpatient costs were: admission to intensive care (OR = 15.6; 95% CI, 13.7–17.9), particularly dangerous methods of self‐harm, such as being hit by moving objects (OR = 6.5; 95% CI, 2.7–15.7) and shooting (OR = 6.0; 95% CI, 3.4–10.7), and age ≥75 years (OR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5–2.2). A small group of persons (0.7%) with ≥10 presentations accounted for 8.2% of somatic and 15.3% of total hospital costs.

Conclusion

Substantial hospital costs were noted for inpatient treatment. Although one‐time presenters accounted for the major share of costs, smaller patient groups accounted for considerable shares. Hospital costs of self‐harm should be included in evaluation of initiatives for prevention and treatment.
Accuracy of anterior nasal swab rapid antigen tests compared with RT‐PCR for massive SARS‐CoV‐2 screening in low prevalence population
Authors: Jakobsen Kathrine Kronberg , Jensen Jakob Schmidt , Todsen Tobias , Kirkby Nikolai , Lippert Freddy , Vangsted Anne‐Marie , Klokker Mads , von Buchwald Christian
Published: November 2021

The aim was to determine the accuracy of anterior nasal swab in rapid antigen (Ag) tests in a low SARS‐CoV‐2 prevalence and massive screened community. Individuals, aged 18 years or older, who self‐booked an appointment for real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) test in March 2021 at a public test center in Copenhagen, Denmark were included. An oropharyngeal swab was collected for RT‐PCR testing, followed by a swab from the anterior parts of the nose examined by Ag test (SD Biosensor). Accuracy of the Ag test was calculated with RT‐PCR as reference. We included 7074 paired conclusive tests (n = 3461, female: 50.7%). The median age was 48 years (IQR: 36–57 years). The prevalence was 0.9%, that is, 66 tests were positive on RT‐PCR. Thirty‐two had a paired positive Ag test. The sensitivity was 48.5% and the specificity was 100%. This study conducted in a low prevalence setting in a massive screening set‐up showed that the Ag test had a sensitivity of 48.5% and a specificity of 100%, that is, no false positive tests. The lower sensitivity is a challenge especially if Ag testing is not repeated frequently allowing this scalable test to be a robust supplement to RT‐PCR testing in an ambitious public SARS‐CoV‐2 screening.
20‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20‐HETE) is a pivotal endogenous ligand for TRPV1‐mediated neurogenic inflammation in the skin
Authors: Hamers Alexander , Primus Christopher P. , Whitear Charlotte , Kumar Nitin Ajit , Masucci Michael , Montalvo Moreira Shanik A. , Rathod Krishnaraj , Chen Jianmin , Bubb Kristen , Colas Romain , Khambata Rayomand S. , Dalli Jesmond , Ahluwalia Amrita
Published: November 2021

Background and Purpose

Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) is localized to sensory C‐fibres and its opening leads to membrane depolarization, resulting in neuropeptide release and neurogenic inflammation. However, the identity of the endogenous activator of TRPV1 in this setting is unknown. The arachidonic acid metabolites 12‐hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoyl acid (12‐HpETE) and 20‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20‐HETE) have emerged as potential endogenous activators of TRPV1. However, whether these lipids underlie TRPV1‐mediated neurogenic inflammation remains unknown.

Experimental Approach

We analysed human cantharidin‐induced blister samples and inflammatory responses in TRPV1 transgenic mice.

Key Results

In a human cantharidin‐blister model, the potent TRPV1 activators 20‐HETE but not 12‐HETE (stable metabolite of 12‐HpETE) correlated with arachidonic acid levels. Similarly, in mice, levels of 20‐HETE (but not 12‐HETE) and arachidonic acid were strongly positively correlated within the inflammatory milieu. Furthermore, LPS‐induced oedema formation and neutrophil recruitment were substantially and significantly attenuated by pharmacological block or genetic deletion of TRPV1 channels, inhibition of 20‐HETE formation or SP receptor neurokinin 1 (NK1) blockade. LPS treatment also increased cytochrome P450 ω‐hydroxylase gene expression, the enzyme responsible for 20‐HETE production.

Conclusion and Implications

Taken together, our findings suggest that endogenously generated 20‐HETE activates TRPV1 causing C‐fibre activation and consequent oedema formation. These findings identify a novel pathway that may be useful in the therapeutics of diseases/conditions characterized by a prominent neurogenic inflammation, as in several skin diseases.
Defence intelligence and the Crown prerogative in Canada
Authors: Lagassé Philippe
Published: November 2021

This article examines the role of the Crown prerogative in the intelligence activities of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces. Defined as the legal authorities of the Crown as recognized by common law, the prerogative was at the centre of two reports by Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP). These reports questioned the prerogative as a source of authority for defence intelligence and argued for its displacement by parliamentary statute. This article critiques NSICOP’s findings about the prerogative, notably regarding its continuing relevance and the comparisons that were drawn between defence intelligence and Canada's civilian intelligence services. In addition, the article argues that the prerogative is democratically legitimate, being subject to parliamentary limitation and scrutiny, and to judicial review when appropriate. The article concludes that expanding the scope and authorities of defence intelligence is the strongest rationale for displacing the prerogative.
Young carers, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing: A realist synthesis
Authors: Janes Ed , Forrester Donald , Reed Hayley , Melendez‐Torres G. J.
Published: November 2021

Growing evidence demonstrates that the mental and psychosocial health impacts of caring vary significantly for individual children, depending on who they are, the person that they care for, their responsibilities and the wider family situation. Although individual studies have made progress in identifying the range of impacts, there is a lack of clarity around which impacts affect who and in what circumstances. This synthesis, based on RAMESES realist protocols, aims to increase clarity concerning how and why the mental and psychosocial health impacts of caring for a family member vary for different children. There were 12 391 unique search results screened at title, abstract and full‐paper levels. Forty‐four retained studies were analysed, resulting in the development of a model with 17 context‐mechanism‐outcome configurations. The model divides the configurations into three interlinking domains. The caregiving responsibilities domain considers how the impacts of caring vary with the circumstances of the individual young carer, the person they care for and their family. The identity domain details the development of a caring identity that potentially mitigates the negative effects of caring and enables positive benefits. The support domain concerns the support provided from family, community and services that, depending on quality, can mitigate or exacerbate the impacts of caring. Support also moderates the care identity by affecting self‐perception of the caring role. The model has the potential to inform the development of interventions that target particular mechanisms to enable positive change for young carers. This potential can be enhanced by further research to test the model, with a focus on refining configurations where less evidence is available. There is a particular need to focus on identification which is under‐represented in the model as both a mechanism and a contextual factor due to unidentified young carers being largely absent from past research.
Language Signaling High Proportions and Generics Lead to Generalizing, but Not Essentializing, for Novel Social Kinds
Authors: Hoicka Elena , Saul Jennifer , Prouten Eloise , Whitehead Laura , Sterken Rachel
Published: November 2021

Generics (e.g., “Dogs bark”) are thought by many to lead to essentializing: to assuming that members of the same category share an internal property that causally grounds shared behaviors and traits, even without evidence of such a shared property. Similarly, generics are thought to increase generalizing, that is, attributing properties to other members of the same group given evidence that some members of the group have the property. However, it is not clear from past research what underlies the capacity of generic language to increase essentializing and generalizing. Is it specific to generics, or are there broader mechanisms at work, such as the fact that generics are terms that signal high proportions? Study 1 (100 5–6 year‐olds, 140 adults) found that neither generics, nor high‐proportion quantifiers (“most,” “many”) elicited essentializing about a novel social kind (Zarpies). However, both generics and high‐proportion quantifiers led adults and, to a lesser extent, children, to generalize, with high‐proportion quantifiers doing so more than generics for adults. Specifics (“this”) did not protect against either essentializing or generalizing when compared to the quantifier “some.” Study 2 (100 5–6 year‐olds, 112 adults) found that neither generics nor visual imagery signaling high proportions led to essentializing. While generics increased generalizing compared to specifics and visual imagery signaling both low and high proportions for adults, there was no difference in generalizing for children. Our findings suggest high‐proportion quantifiers, including generics, lead adults, and to some extent children, to generalize, but not essentialize, about novel social kinds.
Female representation on boards and corporate ethical behavior in Latin American companies
Authors: Briano‐Turrent Guadalupe del Carmen
Published: November 2021

Research Question/Issue

Based on the resource dependence theory and the ethics of care theory, this study aims to analyze whether female representation on boards enhances corporate ethics performance in listed companies.

Research Findings/Insights

Using a study sample composed of 1285 company‐year observations from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico during the 2004–2014 period, empirical results reveal a positive effect of female representation in boardrooms over the board's ethical functioning, the conflicts of interest transparency index, the creation of ethics codes, and the adoption of a stakeholder orientation. Moreover, the research evidences a greater effect in some ethical dimensions when women on the board make up a critical mass of three women.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

This paper motivates the ethical side of corporate governance in a setting where women's rates on top positions are low, corruption and bribery are high, and cultural environment inhibits gender parity in terms of reaching higher positions in an organization. It can be specifically deduced that a higher female representation as board members may have an essential role in establishing and advocating a business ethics culture.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

For boards, having more female directors can enhance corporate ethical practices. For practitioners and regulators, this study shows that female directors tend to be more ethically responsible, emphasizing the necessity of mitigating gender imbalance on corporate boards.
Deficient neural encoding of speech sounds in term neonates born after fetal growth restriction
Authors: Ribas‐Prats Teresa , Arenillas‐Alcón Sonia , Lip‐Sosa Diana Lucia , Costa‐Faidella Jordi , Mazarico Edurne , Gómez‐Roig María Dolores , Escera Carles
Published: November 2021

Infants born after fetal growth restriction (FGR)—an obstetric condition defined as the failure to achieve the genetic growth potential—are prone to neurodevelopmental delays, with language being one of the major affected areas. Yet, while verbal comprehension and expressive language impairments have been observed in FGR infants, children and even adults, specific related impairments at birth, such as in the ability to encode the sounds of speech, necessary for language acquisition, remain to be disclosed. Here, we used the frequency‐following response (FFR), a brain potential correlate of the neural phase locking to complex auditory stimuli, to explore the encoding of speech sounds in FGR neonates. Fifty‐three neonates born with FGR and 48 controls born with weight adequate‐for‐gestational age (AGA) were recruited. The FFR was recorded to the consonant‐vowel stimulus (/da/) during sleep and quantified as the spectral amplitude to the fundamental frequency of the syllable and its signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). The outcome was available in 45 AGA and 51 FGR neonates, yielding no differences for spectral amplitudes. However, SNR was strongly attenuated in the FGR group compared to the AGA group at the vowel region of the stimulus. These findings suggest that FGR population present a deficit in the neural pitch tracking of speech sounds already present at birth. Our results pave the way for future research on the potential clinical use of the FFR in this population, so that if confirmed, a disrupted FFR recorded at birth may help deriving FGR neonates at risk for postnatal follow‐ups.
Atlantic salmon in regulated rivers: Understanding river management through the ecosystem services lens
Authors: Watz Johan , Aldvén David , Andreasson Patrik , Aziz Khadija , Blixt Marco , Calles Olle , Lund Bjørnås Kristine , Olsson Ivan , Österling Martin , Stålhammar Sanna , Tielman Johan , Piccolo John J.
Published: November 2021

Known as the “king of fishes,” the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, Salmonidae) is an iconic freshwater species whose contribution to human well‐being has long been recognized, as have widespread declines in its abundance, partly due to river regulation. To understand how salmon conservation has been addressed within the ecosystem services (ES) framework, we synthesized the peer‐reviewed literature on ES provided by salmon in regulated rivers. We developed a search string to capture allusions to provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural ES and assessed the results to identify knowledge gaps. The effects of hydropower on fisheries catches and on modelled populations were shown in several publications. Overall, few studies focused explicitly on ES from salmon and hydropower; this is surprising given the considerable body of literature on salmon in regulated rivers. Wild salmon as a food source and other provisioning services are less important today than historically. Because predators such as salmon are important for facilitating biodiversity by cycling nutrients and controlling food webs, there is a scope of work for future assessments of these regulating and supporting services. Few papers explicitly addressed cultural ES, despite the salmon's longstanding iconic status; this is a knowledge gap for future ES assessments in relation to hydropower. The influence of ES assessments for policy makers is growing through the Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the post‐2020 biodiversity strategy. Explicitly addressing ES poses an opportunity for river managers to raise awareness of aquatic conservation efforts and well‐informed decision‐making for sustaining ES.
Structural and chemical analysis of resistant starch effected by pre‐treatments, cooking methods, reheating and storage condition in parboiled germinated brown rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Srichamnong Warangkana , Lasukhang Wararat
Published: November 2021

Resistant starch (RS) content could be altered by the processing method, including pre‐treatment, cooking method and storage conditions. This study determined the influence of RS formation in white rice (WR), brown rice (BR) and parboiled germinated brown rice (PGBR) as affected by various pre‐treatment and processing conditions. This is the first report to chemically and structurally analyse WR, BR and PGBR of the same rice variety using X‐ray diffraction, DSC and SEM. The results showed that the PGBR prepared by a non‐soaking process cooked with steaming and stored cold contained RS content (92.1 mg/g, wet basis) followed by BR processed by soaking, steamed and then stored cold (91.8 mg/g, wet basis). The formation of RS3 as not affected by the parboiling and germination process compared to WR and BR. Reheating reduced resistant starch content by changing the RS structure conformation from crystalline to amorphous under higher temperatures. Moreover, the scanning electron microscope revealed that WR, BR and PGBR of the same rice variety show similar starch granule and microstructure patterns but slightly different in thermal conductivity value.
Functionality of different probiotic strains embedded in citrus pectin based edible films
Authors: Nisar Tanzeela , Alim Aamina , Iqbal Taimoor , Iqbal Muneeb , Tehseen Saima , Zi‐Chao Wang , Guo Yurong
Published: November 2021

The inclusion of probiotics into the packaging films has emerged as a novel approach to provide edible packaging with new functionalities. In this study, probiotic films were developed by embedding four different probiotics (Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus) into citrus pectin films and their viability was checked at 25 and 4 °C for 30 days. A reduction of 0.44, 1.04, 0.32, and 1.0 log CFU g−1 was observed in probiotic films containing L. casei, B. bifidum, L. acidzophilus, and L. rhamnosus respectively during drying process of film’s formation. The viability of all probiotics (except B. bifidum) was decreased from 109 to 106 CFU g−1 in 30 days storage at 25 °C. Whereas, only 2 log reduction was observed for films stored at 4 °C during 30 days. The physical and optical properties of the films were affected slightly by inclusion of bacterial cells. The presence of live cells in films made them less resistant to elongation and less stretchable. All bacterial films inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes by 1.5 logs compared to control. The results suggest the entrapment of probiotics in pectin can be used as an effective packaging technology for ensuring food safety.
Germination improves the functional properties of soybean and enhances soymilk quality
Authors: Hu Miao , Du Xiaoqian , Liu Guannan , Zhang Shuang , Wu Haibo , Li Yang
Published: November 2021

The effects of soybean variety and germination time on structural changes, antinutritional factor content, antioxidant activity of germinated soybean, and on the functional properties of soymilk were comprehensively investigated. The results showed that the antioxidant activity increased with increasing germination time. The content of antinutritional factors decreased with increasing germination time. Soybean varieties with the lowest tannin and trypsin inhibitor content were DN690 and HJ1. Lipoxygenase activity and phytic acid content showed no significant differences among soybean varieties. The content of α‐helices and β‐turns in soybean protein decreased with increasing germination time, while the content of β‐sheets was increased. Soybean protein was progressively broken down into smaller molecular peptides during the germination process. The digestion and content of soluble protein in soymilk increased with germination. In summary, we show that germination is an effective, cheap, and green method that improves the functional properties of soybean and soymilk.
How should the neonatal retrieval team respond to the neonate referred with bilious vomiting?
Authors: Nundeekasen Sunaina , Dalrymple Hannah , Moustafa Ahmed , Thomas Gordon , Carmo Kathryn Browning
Published: November 2021

Aim

Bilious vomiting (BV) in the neonatal period may herald malrotation with life‐threatening volvulus. In New South Wales, contrast fluoroscopy is not available in non‐tertiary paediatric centres; therefore, transfer is required. An infant with BV referred to Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service is prioritised for urgent retrieval to a surgical centre for contrast fluoroscopy and paediatric surgical review. This study analysed how many neonates with BV needed retrieval to prevent bowel loss or to save one life and to identify predictors of malrotation and/or volvulus.

Methods

All neonatal referrals (<29 days) to Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service between 31 July 2014 and 31 July 2020 with BV or aspirates were examined. Data on time of onset of BV, time of call for retrieval, vital signs, lactate level and blood glucose at referral, time of arrival at the surgical centre and outcome were analysed.

Results

Of 391 neonates referred with BV, 113 (28.9%) had a surgical cause and 31 (7.9%) had a time‐critical malrotation and/or volvulus. All 31 neonates were well at referral with normal vital signs including three neonates who subsequently died. Lactate levels at referral (1–7.5 mmol/L) were not predictive of outcome. The odds of a time‐critical diagnosis increased with every day of age (odds ratio = 1.097), heart rate >140 (P = 0.04) and decreased for each kilogram of birthweight (odds ratio 0.475; confidence interval 0.294–0.768).

Conclusions

Neonates with BV require urgent referral to paediatric surgery and contrast fluoroscopy. Thirteen urgent transfers are required to preserve the bowel integrity and life in one baby.
Infants’ prenatal exposure to opioids and the association with birth outcomes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Graeve Richard , Balalian Arin A. , Richter Matthias , Kielstein Heike , Fink Astrid , Martins Silvia S. , Philbin Morgan M. , Factor‐Litvak Pam
Published: November 2021

Background

Prenatal exposure to opioids (PEO) is a worldwide public health issue. Opioids cross the placental barrier and may affect the developing foetus and the birth outcomes.

Objectives

This review aimed to explore newborns’ weight, length and head circumference, preterm birth, and perinatal death as primary outcomes in relation to PEO. The secondary outcomes were gestational age at birth, Apgar scores and length of hospitalisation after delivery.

Data sources

PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo and the Web of Science.

Study selection and data extraction

Inclusion criteria were (i) cohort, case‐control or cross‐sectional peer‐reviewed studies published in English through 1 March 2021; (ii) comparing outcomes between prenatal exposed and unexposed groups to opioids (prescribed or obtained illegally). Exclusion criteria were foetal alcohol syndrome and non‐opioid primary exposure.

Synthesis

Data were extracted by two authors. The Newcastle‐Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used for study quality assessment. Due to heterogeneity across studies, we used random effects models to obtain pooled standardised mean difference (SMD), pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Data from 80 studies were extracted. In meta‐analyses, opioid‐exposed neonates had lower birthweight (SMD −0.77, 95% CI −0.90, −0.64, I2 = 82%), smaller head circumference (SMD −0.67, 95% CI −0.86, −0.48, I2 = 84%), shorter birth length (SMD −0.97, 95% CI −1.24, −0.70, I2 = 91%) and gestational age (SMD −0.45, 95% CI −0.60, −0.30, I2 = 80%) than unexposed neonates. Pooled risks of neonatal death and preterm birth were higher among opioid‐exposed compared to unexposed neonates (RR 4.05, 95% CI 2.12, 7.72, I2 = 73%; and RR 1.92, 95% CI 1.57, 2.35, I2 = 99%).

Conclusions

We found increased risks of adverse birth outcomes in relation to PEO. Caution should be used in interpreting the findings, as many studies were rated as poor quality, and with substantial inter‐study heterogeneity. Future studies should ensure comparability of opioid‐exposed and ‐unexposed group to strengthen internal validity.
Comparative study of the collapsed cone convolution and Monte Carlo algorithms for radiation therapy planning of canine sinonasal tumors reveals significant dosimetric differences
Authors: Lee Ber‐In , Boss Mary‐Keara , LaRue Susan M. , Martin Tiffany , Leary Del
Published: November 2021

Computer‐based radiation therapy requires high targeting and dosimetric precision. Analytical dosimetric algorithms typically are fast and clinically viable but can have increasing errors near air‐bone interfaces. These are commonly found within dogs undergoing radiation planning for sinonasal cancer. This retrospective methods comparison study is designed to compare the dosimetry of both tumor volumes and organs at risk and quantify the differences between collapsed cone convolution (CCC) and Monte Carlo (MC) algorithms. Canine sinonasal tumor plans were optimized with CCC and then recalculated by MC with identical control points and monitor units. Planning target volume (PTV)air, PTVsoft tissue, and PTVbone were created to analyze the dose discrepancy within the PTV. Thirty imaging sets of dogs were included. Monte Carlo served as the gold standard calculation for the dosimetric comparison. Collapsed cone convolution overestimated the mean dose (Dmean) to PTV and PTVsoft tissue by 0.9% and 0.5%, respectively (both P < 0.001). Collapsed cone convolution overestimated Dmean to PTVbone by 3% (P < 0.001). Collapsed cone convolution underestimated the near‐maximum dose (D2) to PTVair by 1.1% (P < 0.001), and underestimated conformity index and homogeneity index in PTV (both P < 0.001). Mean doses of contralateral and ipsilateral eyes were overestimated by CCC by 1.6% and 1.7%, respectively (both P < 0.001). Near‐maximum doses of skin and brain were overestimated by CCC by 2.2% and 0.7%, respectively (both P < 0.001). As clinical accessibility of Monte Carlo becomes more widespread, dose constraints may need to be re‐evaluated with appropriate plan evaluation and follow‐up.
Failure of Composites Under Combined Loading
Authors: Yerramalli Chandra S. , Waas Anthony M.
Published: November 2021

The response of polymer matrix composites under combined proportional axial and torsional loading has been studied. Experiments were performed on solid cylindrical specimens of glass/vinylester and carbon/vinylester composites at a fiber volume fraction, Vf equal to 50%. The specimens were loaded under displacement and rotation control in a proportional manner. The Budiansky-Fleck kinking model was specialized to the case of a solid cylindrical specimen and the predictions were compared to the experimental results. It was found that the compression strength of carbon composites is approximately a linear function of the applied rotation but in the case of glass composites the compression strength is initially unaffected due to shear. At a critical value of shear, the compression strength is seen to diminish rapidly. This suggests that the Budiansky-Fleck model might not be suitable for predicting the effect of shear on compression strength of glass fiber composites.
A Target-Driven Development Process of Frontal Crashworthiness in Extruded Aluminum Space Frame for Electric Vehicle
Authors: Hong Seung Jun , Park Young Won
Published: November 2021

A successful target-driven development process of frontal crashworthiness crucial to the best practice of systems engineering environment was described to design the front structure of extruded aluminum space frame (ASF) for an electric vehicle development. System analysis and optimization tasks to support requirement analysis, functional analysis and synthesis work were performed. An average acceleration pulse level in a frontal crash is defined to determine front structure target for crashworthiness. Both the axial and bending collapse characteristics of rectangular and circular aluminum extruded members are examined statically and dynamically. Also, material stress-strain property for aluminum 6061T6 and 6063T6 is presented. Concurrent engineering approach taking into account mount functions and package requirement determines the force distribution and energy absorption concept of front structure for frontal crashworthiness. The average acceleration, effective crash space, and the collapse characteristics of aluminum tubes provide the idealization of the plastic collapse stiffness curve of ASF front longitudinal member. The dimensions of rectangular and circular front longitudinal members in axial collapse zone are determined using mean crushing force database of aluminum extrusion. Also, quasi-static simulation is performed to determine the dimensions of front rail in bending collapse zone. The study demonstrates the results of the full vehicle crash simulation and the limitations of aluminum vehicle crash analysis. The development process of this study is applied to vehicle manufacture. Full vehicle crash test is conducted to verify CAE prediction and to provide a successful accomplishment of proposed process.