bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Political connections, legal environments and firm performance around the world
Authors: Pang Caiji , Wang Ying 
Published: August 2020

AbstractTheoretically, political connections may be a double‐edged sword to a firm. On the one hand, political connections may help the firm to reduce the policy risk and access to more critical resources. On the other hand, political connections may introduce the government or politicians as influential stakeholders who may impose their own interests on other stakeholders and cause multiple agency conflicts. Although there are many studies have investigated the effects of political connections on firm performance in single countries, the worldwide effects of political connections are still ambiguous. Moreover, whether the value and costs of political connections are contingent on legal systems, regulatory institutions and industry characteristics are also under‐explored. By using a sample covers 49 countries and 151,475 firm‐year observations, we find that firms with financial constraints, firms in heavily regulated industries, and firms in countries with worse legal environment or shareholder protection mechanism are more likely to establish political connections. We further find that political connections have an adverse net effect on the firm's operating performance as well as the firm value. This adverse effect is especially pronounced if a firm is in heavily regulated industries. However, the cost of rent‐seeking activities involved in political connections can be restrained in a better legal system or by a better shareholder protection mechanism, thus significantly mitigating the adverse effect.
Asymmetric exchange rate pass‐through into import prices of Slovenia's manufacturing sector
Authors: Kurtović Safet , Maxhuni Nehat , Halili Blerim , Talović Sead 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe goal of this paper is to estimate the asymmetry of exchange rate pass‐through into aggregate and disaggregate import prices and the composition of imports of Slovenia's manufacturing sectors. We used the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model and the monthly data from 2007:M1 to 2017:M12. We found that, in the long run, there was an asymmetry in the complete pass‐through into aggregate import prices due to currency appreciation. Moreover, we found that for 6 out of 14 manufacturing sectors, there was a long‐run asymmetry complete and partial pass‐through due to the appreciation of the nominal effective exchange rate. Compared with depreciation, long‐run appreciation has a stronger impact on aggregate and disaggregate import prices of the manufacturing sectors. On the other hand, we found that there was a short‐run asymmetry due to depreciation in the complete and partial pass‐through for the majority of manufacturing sectors. Compared with appreciation, short‐run depreciation has a stronger impact on aggregate and disaggregate import prices of the manufacturing sectors. The degree of asymmetric pass‐through is higher for aggregate and disaggregate import prices of the manufacturing sectors compared to the degree of symmetric pass‐through. Finally, we confirmed that the degree of pass‐through is higher for homogenous products than for heterogeneous products.
Should stock investors include cryptocurrencies in their portfolios after all? Evidence from a conditional diversification benefits measure
Authors: Demiralay Sercan , Bayracı Selçuk 
Published: August 2020

AbstractHigher media coverage and stronger investor interest in cryptocurrency market may create closer linkages with traditional assets, leading to deteriorated diversification benefits. Cryptocurrencies have recently emerged as an alternative digital asset class; however, very little is known about their portfolio performances. In this study, we investigate the time‐varying investment benefits of cryptocurrencies for stock portfolios using a correlation‐based conditional diversification benefits (CDB) measure. We construct six portfolios consisting of cryptocurrencies, developed and emerging equity markets and find that the time‐varying correlations between cryptocurrencies and stock markets are generally low. However, the level of correlations significantly increases in turbulent periods, such as Brexit referendum and Coincheck hack. The dynamic CDB measures suggest that adding cryptocurrencies to equity market portfolios enhances portfolio diversification; however, the benefits of diversification have diminished after late 2017. Our results offer significant insights and potential implications for market participants.
The Musculoskeletal Knowledge Portal: Making Omics Data Useful to the Broader Scientific Community
Authors: Kiel Douglas P , Kemp John P , Rivadeneira Fernando , Westendorf Jennifer J , Karasik David , Duncan Emma L , Imai Yuuki , Müller Ralph , Flannick Jason , Bonewald Lynda , Burtt Noël 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACT
The development of high-throughput genotyping technologies and large biobank collections, complemented with rapid methodological advances in statistical genetics, has enabled hypothesis-free genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which have identified hundreds of genetic variants across many loci associated with musculoskeletal conditions. Similarly, basic scientists have valuable molecular cellular and animal data based on musculoskeletal disease that would be enhanced by being able to determine the human translation of their findings. By integrating these large-scale human genomic musculoskeletal datasets with complementary evidence from model organisms, new and existing genetic loci can be statistically fine-mapped to plausibly causal variants, candidate genes, and biological pathways. Genes and pathways identified using this approach can be further prioritized as drug targets, including side-effect profiling and the potential for new indications. To bring together these big data, and to realize the vision of creating a knowledge portal, the International Federation of Musculoskeletal Research Societies (IFMRS) established a working group to collaborate with scientists from the Broad Institute to create the Musculoskeletal Knowledge Portal (MSK-KP)(http://mskkp.org/). The MSK consolidates omics datasets from humans, cellular experiments, and model organisms into a central repository that can be accessed by researchers. The vision of the MSK-KP is to enable better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal disease and apply this knowledge to identify and develop new disease interventions. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
IRE1α/NOX4 signaling pathway mediates ROS‐dependent activation of hepatic stellate cells in NaAsO2‐induced liver fibrosis
Authors: Tao Ye , Qiu Tianming , Yao Xiaofeng , Jiang Liping , Wang Ningning , Jiang Jintong , Jia Xue , Wei Sen , Zhang Jingyuan , Zhu Yuhan , Tian Wenyue , Yang Guang , Liu Xiaofang , Liu Shuang , Ding Yang , Sun Xiance 
Published: August 2020

AbstractLiver fibrosis is a severe health problem worldwide, and it is characterized by the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and excessive deposition of collagen. Prolonged arsenic exposure can induce HSCs activation and liver fibrosis. In the present study, the results showed that chronic NaAsO2 ingestion could result in liver fibrosis and oxidative stress in Sprague–Dawley rats, along with representative collagen deposition and HSCs activation. In addition, the inositol‐requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α)–endoplasmic reticulum (ER)‐stress pathway was activated, and the activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4) was upregulated in rat livers. Simultaneously, the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) could induce HSCs activation, and NOX4 played an important role in generating ROS in vitro. Moreover, ER stress occurred with HSCs activation at the same time under NaAsO2 exposure, and during ER stress, the IRE1α pathway was responsible for NOX4 activation. Therefore, inhibition of IRE1α activation could attenuate the HSCs activation induced by NaAsO2. In conclusion, the present study manifested that inorganic arsenic exposure could activate HSCs through IRE1α/NOX4‐mediated ROS generation.
Molecular characteristics and physiological roles of Na+–K+–Cl− cotransporter 2
Authors: Marcoux Andree‐Anne , Tremblay Laurence E. , Slimani Samira , Fiola Marie‐Jeanne , Mac‐Way Fabrice , Garneau Alexandre P. , Isenring Paul 
Published: August 2020

AbstractNa+–K+–Cl− cotransporter 2 (NKCC2; SLC12A1) is an integral membrane protein that comes as three splice variants and mediates the cotranslocation of Na+, K+, and Cl− ions through the apical membrane of the thick ascending loop of Henle (TALH). In doing so, and through the involvement of other ion transport systems, it allows this nephron segment to reclaim a large fraction of the ultrafiltered Na+, Cl−, Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− loads. The functional relevance of NKCC2 in human is illustrated by the many abnormalities that result from the inactivation of this transport system through the use of loop diuretics or in the setting of inherited disorders. The following presentation aims at discussing the physiological roles and molecular characteristics of Na+–K+–Cl− cotransport in the TALH and those of the individual NKCC2 splice variants more specifically. Many of the historical and recent data that have emerged from the experiments conducted will be outlined and their larger meaning will also be placed into perspective with the aid of various hypotheses.
Impact of experiential learning on dental students’ training in nitrous oxide inhalation sedation
Authors: Crivello Brandon J. , Reddy Avanija A. , Pazdernik Vanessa K. , Davis Joan M. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPurpose/ObjectivesCompetence in nitrous oxide/oxygen (N2O/O2) inhalation sedation is expected of dental graduates, but applying what is learned through didactic instruction to patient care can be challenging without firsthand experience. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the impact of experiential learning on dental students’ confidence and sense of preparedness for administration of N2O/O2.MethodsA biphasic, mixed methods study was conducted at a Midwestern dental school and included 2 cohorts of dental students. In Phase 1 (spring 2019), a cross‐sectional study design was used to survey outgoing third‐year and fourth‐year students who received didactic N2O/O2 instruction alone. In Phase 2 (summer 2019), a nonrandomized, preintervention‐postintervention study design was used to survey incoming third‐year students before and after a hands‐on N2O/O2 laboratory exercise.ResultsOf the 79 Phase 1 students (99% response rate), all believed a firsthand learning experience with N2O/O2 during didactic learning would increase their confidence and preparedness when administering to a patient (both P < .001). Of the 41 Phase 2 students (100% response rate), after the lab exercise, all felt that firsthand experience enhanced classroom instruction and increased confidence and preparedness when administering N2O to a patient (all P < .001). Fifty‐six (71%) Phase 1 and 39 (80%) Phase 2 students believed classroom instruction alone was inadequate to prepare them to administer N2O/O2 (both P < .001).ConclusionsOur results strongly suggest that experiential learning of N2O/O2 inhalation sedation through a hands‐on laboratory exercise should be incorporated into the predoctoral curricula of dental schools.
The outcome of COVID‐19 in patients with hematological malignancy
Authors: Yigenoglu Tugce N. , Ata Naim , Altuntas Fevzi , Bascı Semih , Dal Mehmet Sinan , Korkmaz Serdal , Namdaroglu Sinem , Basturk Abdulkadir , Hacıbekiroglu Tuba , Dogu Mehmet H. , Berber İlhami , Dal Kursat , Erkurt Mehmet A. , Turgut Burhan , Ulgu Mustafa Mahir , Celik Osman , Imrat Ersan , Birinci Suayip 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this study, we aim to report the outcomes for COVID‐19 in patients with hematological malignancy in Turkey. Data from laboratory‐confirmed 188 897 COVID‐19 patients diagnosed between 11 March 2020 and 22 June 2020 included in the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health database were analyzed retrospectively. All COVID‐19 patients with hematological malignancy (n = 740) were included in the study and an age, sex, and comorbidity‐matched cohort of COVID‐19 patients without cancer (n = 740) at a 1:1 ratio was used for comparison. Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (30.1%), myelodysplastic syndrome (19.7%), myeloproliferative neoplasm (15.7%) were the most common hematological malignancies. The rates of severe and critical disease were significantly higher in patients with hematological malignancy compared with patients without cancer (P = .001). The rates of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admission were higher in patients with hematological malignancy compared with the patients without cancer (P = .023, P = .001, respectively). The length of hospital stay and ICU stay was similar between groups (P = .7, P = .3, retrospectively). The rate of mechanical ventilation (MV) support was higher in patients with hematological malignancy compared with the control group (P = .001). The case fatality rate was 13.8% in patients with hematological malignancy, and it was 6.8% in the control group (P = .001). This study reveals that there is an increased risk of COVID‐19‐related serious events (ICU admission, MV support, or death) in patients with hematological malignancy compared with COVID‐19 patients without cancer and confirms the high vulnerability of patients with hematological malignancy in the current pandemic.
Convalescent plasma is a clutch at straws in COVID‐19 management! A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sarkar Soumya , Soni Kapil D. , Khanna Puneet 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn the absence of definitive therapy for coronavirus disease (COVID‐19), convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) may be a critical therapeutic option. This review was conducted to evaluate the impact of CPT in COVID‐19 patients based on the publications reported to date. A robust screening of electronic databases was conducted up to 10th July 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and case series with a control group evaluating the effectiveness and safety of CPT in patients with COVID‐19 are included for the meta‐analyses. Our search retrieved seven studies, including two RCTs and five cohort studies, with a total of 5444 patients. In patients with COVID‐19, the use of CPT reduces mortality (odd's ratio [OR] 0.44; 95% CI, 0.25‐0.77), increases viral clearance (OR, 11.29; 95% CI, 4.9‐25.9) and improves clinically (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 0.8 to 4.9). However, the evidence is of low quality (mortality reduction, and viral clearance), and very low quality (clinical improvement). CPT may be beneficial for reducing mortality, viral shedding and improving clinical conditions in COVID‐19 patients. However, further randomized control trials (RCT) are required to substantiate the safety margin, initiation, optimal dosage, titre and duration of CPT.
Neuroanatomy of transgender persons in a Non‐Western population and improving reliability in clinical neuroimaging
Authors: Sorouri Khorashad Behzad , Khazai Behnaz , Talaei Ali , Acar Freya , Hudson Anna R. , Borji Nahid , Saberi Hedieh , Aminzadeh Behzad , Mueller Sven C. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAlthough the neuroanatomy of transgender persons is slowly being charted, findings are presently discrepant. Moreover, the major body of work has focused on Western populations. One important factor is the issue of power and low signal‐to‐noise (SNR) ratio in neuroimaging studies of rare study populations including endocrine or neurological patient groups. The present study focused on the structural neuroanatomy of a Non‐Western (Iranian) sample of 40 transgender men (TM), 40 transgender women (TW), 30 cisgender men (CM), and 30 cisgender women (CW), while assessing whether the reliability of findings across structural anatomical measures including gray matter volume (GMV), cortical surface area (CSA), and cortical thickness (CTh) could be increased by using two back‐to‐back within‐session structural MRI scans. Overall, findings in transgender persons were more consistent with sex assigned at birth in GMV and CSA, while no group differences emerged for CTh. Repeated measures analysis also indicated that having a second scan increased SNR in all regions of interest, most notably bilateral frontal poles, pre‐ and postcentral gyri and putamina. The results suggest that a simple time and cost‐effective measure to improve SNR in rare clinical populations with low prevalence rates is a second anatomical scan when structural MRI is of interest.
Gross rates of nitrogen transformation in soils of a global biodiversity hotspot (Western Ghats, India)
Authors: Sharma Niharika , Kumar Sanjeev 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackground:Being one of the important nutrients required by plants during photosynthesis, nitrogen (N) exerts a significant control on primary productivity and carbon dioxide sequestration. Therefore, it is essential to quantify the rates of N cycling processes, such as gross N mineralization and nitrification, to understand the flow and availability of N in different ecosystems. Lack of such data in tropical regions, particularly the Indian subcontinent, has constrained our understanding of N dynamics in soils of the subcontinent.Aims:Here, we report the results of gross N transformation rates from the hot and humid tropical forest soils of the Western Ghats, one of the global biodiversity hotspots located in India.Results:The experiments conducted using the15N isotope dilution technique showed higher average gross N mineralization (2.6 ± 1.1 mg N kg−1d−1) and gross nitrification (1.7 ± 1.1 mg N kg−1d−1) rates in the top soil layers (0–20 cm), which decreased significantly with depth (20–40 cm) indicating potential for higher microbial activity in the top soils. The overall consumption rate of mineral N exceeded its production rate with higher consumption of ammonium () than nitrate () suggesting as a preferred N source for microbes. The consumption of was higher through immobilization than nitrification indicating active N conservation mechanism and an efficient microbial adaptation.Conclusion:Despite high rates of consumption, accumulation of and in soils of the Western Ghats suggested additional sources of mineral N other than internal recycling of N. Long residence time of and in soils implied longer availability of unutilized mineral N leading to high soil acidity and potential for loss of N through leaching and denitrification.
Raman and X‐ray fluorescence glaze characterisation of Maria Keil's decorative tile panels
Authors: Mortari Camila , Nobre Pais Alexandre , Esteves Lurdes , Gago da Câmara Alexandra , Carvalho Maria Luísa , Manso Marta 
Published: August 2020

AbstractA set of decorative contemporary tile panels, created by the Portuguese artist Maria Keil (1914–2012) for the Lisbon metro stations, was studied under a noninvasive analytical methodology. This methodology combines X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (μ‐XRF) and Raman spectroscopy in microscopic (μ‐Raman) mode for an elemental and structural composition characterisation of the glaze (glass matrix and network modifiers such as fluxes, opacifiers and colouring agents). μ‐XRF quantitative evaluation of the glassy matrix shows that all glazes have a lead silicate glass base. Results obtained by the combined use of μ‐XRF and μ‐Raman show that a zirconium‐based opacifier was used. Naples yellow (Pb2Sb2O7), lead–tin yellow type II (Pb(Sn,Si)O3), Pb–Sn–Sb triple oxide, cobalt blue (CoAl2O4), chromium oxide (Cr2O3) and malayite sphene (CaO·SnO2·SiO2) have been identified by μ‐Raman as some of the colouring agents, either used by themselves or in mixtures for obtaining the desirable colours intended by the artist.
Survival outcomes after surgical management of sporadic or familial adenomatous polyposis associated duodenal cancer
Authors: Augustin Toms , Moslim Maitham A. , Cengiz Turgut Bora , El‐Hayek Kevin , Simon Robert , Bhatt Amit , Tang Andrew , Burke Carol A. , Matthew Walsh Richard 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundDuodenal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients. In this study, we compare oncologic outcomes between sporadic and FAP‐associated duodenal cancer.MethodsIn this retrospective study, all patients who underwent surgeries between 2000 and 2014 for either sporadic or FAP duodenal cancer were identified. The patients were grouped based on diagnoses and perioperative and survival outcomes were compared.ResultsA total of 56 patients with duodenal cancer (43 sporadic, 13 FAP) who underwent surgery were identified. Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) was the most common procedure performed. The overall median survival was 7.5 years (1 year: 92%; 5 years: 58.1%). FAP patients had earlier tumor, node, and metastasis stage, less margin involvement, less perineural, and angiolymphatic invasion but had a comparable survival to sporadic patients. The median survival for FAP duodenal cancer was 7.4 vs 9.6 years for sporadic (P = .97) with similar utilization of adjuvant chemotherapy. Although not statistically significant, PD had an improved median survival compared to segmental duodenal resection (SDR) (9.6 years for PD vs 3.6 years for SDR, P = .17). Non‐periampullary location and presence of positive lymph nodes were significant predictors of mortality on multivariate analysis.ConclusionsFAP duodenal cancer has no survival advantage compared to sporadic duodenal cancer despite an improved stage of resection with extraampullary lesions having a worse survival.
Quantitative assessments of adenosine triphosphatase hydrolytic activity by ultrafiltration‐coupled ion‐pair reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Jing Changheng , Yu Fangzhi , Zhang Ning , Liu Yan , Wang Hailin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAdenosine triphosphate is a universal energy currency that can directly provide energy required for a multitude of biochemical reactions and biophysical actions through adenosine triphosphatase catalyzed hydrolysis. Adenosine triphosphatase activity is thus one important feature for the characterization of protein function and cell activity. Herein, we optimized ion‐pair reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography technique for highly efficient separation of adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, and adenosine monophosphate, and the method demonstrated good linearity. Moreover, by coupling a protein‐removable ultrafiltration, we developed a sensitive and robust approach for quantification of adenosine triphosphatase hydrolytic activity. By this assay, we demonstrated that RecA filaments‐catalyzed adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis approached a second‐order reaction, and its rate constant was estimated as 0.057 mM−1 min−1. In addition, we explored the effects of DNA length on this reaction and revealed that the increase of the length of single‐stranded DNA can promote the adenosine triphosphatase hydrolytic activity of RecA filaments. All these results confirm the feasibility of this new method in quantification of adenosine triphosphatase hydrolytic activity assays. Compared with previous complicated enzyme‐coupled or homogeneous colorimetric measurements, the developed approach with high resolution separation allows a simple reaction system for adenosine triphosphatase assay and a sensitive detection free of interference from background noise.