bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of exercise on hepatic steatosis: Are benefits seen without dietary intervention? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Baker Callum John , Martinez‐Huenchullan Sergio Francisco , D'Souza Mario , Xu Yu , Li Mian , Bi Yufang , Johnson Nathan Anthony , Twigg Stephen Morris 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundInterventions involving both exercise and dietary modification are effective in reducing steatosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, exercise alone may reduce liver fat and is known to have other positive effects on health. The primary aim of this study was to systematically review the effect of exercise alone without dietary intervention on NAFLD and to examine correlations across changes in liver fat and metabolic markers during exercise.MethodsRelevant online databases were searched from earliest records to May 2020 by two researchers. Studies were included where the trial was a randomized controlled trial, participants were adults, exercise intervention was longer than 4 weeks, no dietary intervention occurred, and the effect of the intervention on liver fat was quantified via magnetic resonance imaging/proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.ResultsOf 21 597 studies retrieved, 16 were included involving 706 participants. Exercise was found to have a beneficial effect on liver fat without dietary modification (−2.4%, −3.13 to −1.66) (mean, 95% CI). Pearson correlation showed significant relationships between change in liver fat and change in weight (r = 0.67, P = .007), liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (r = 0.76, P = .002) and alanine aminotransferase (r = 0.91, P < .001), and cardiorespiratory fitness VO2peak (peak volume oxygen consumption) (r = −0.88, P = .004). By multivariate regression, change in weight and change in VO2peak significantly contributed to change in liver fat (R2 = 0.84, P = .01).ConclusionsThis systematic review found that exercise without dietary intervention improves liver fat and that clinical markers may be useful proxies for quantifying liver fat changes.
Understanding Film Co‐Production in the Era of Globalization: A Value Chain Approach
Authors: Parc Jimmyn 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe film industry is closely linked to the nation’s culture and economy. With globalization, however, it has become more engaged in international operations through film co‐production. Paradoxically, this instrument emerged as a type of discriminatory measure as well as reflected growing interest in regionalism, notably among European countries facing the dominance of US films. To strengthen this scheme, state subsidies have been widely offered, which has led to it being positively adopted in Europe and beyond. Given this political context, the double‐facet of co‐production should be carefully understood when this scheme is implemented to promote the film industry. In this regard, it is important to understand clearly how co‐production functions and crucially its real impact on the film industry. This paper reveals that in contrast to the common perception, co‐production leads easily to cultural paucity, rather than cultural diversity across various aspects. Additionally, subsidies to promote co‐production distort it further and make it easier to be exploited. Therefore, such a consideration should be taken into account when redesigning the co‐production scheme if governments wish to help promote the national film industry and cultural diversity in the era of globalization.
A customizable, low‐cost optomotor apparatus: A powerful tool for behaviourally measuring visual capability
Authors: Caves Eleanor M. , Troscianko Jolyon , Kelley Laura A. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Vision is the dominant sense for many animals, and there is an enormous diversity in visual capabilities. Understanding the visual abilities of a given species can therefore be key for investigating its behaviour and evolution. However, many techniques for quantifying visual capability are expensive, require specialized equipment or are terminal for the animal.

Here, we discuss how to measure the optomotor (or optokinetic) response, an innate response that can be elicited without any training in a wide range of taxa, and which is quantifiable, accessible and non‐invasive, and provide guidance for carrying out optomotor experiments.

We provide instructions for building a customizable, programmable optomotor apparatus using 3D‐printed and low‐cost materials, discuss experimental design considerations for optomotor assays, including a guide that calculates the dimensions of stimuli of varying spatial frequency, and provide a table summarizing experimental parameters in prior optomotor experiments across a range of species.

Ultimately, making this simple technique more accessible will allow more researchers to incorporate measures of visual capability into their work. Additionally, the low cost and ease of construction of our apparatus will allow educators in a variety of settings to include optomotor assays in classroom activities or demonstrations. Although here we focus on using optomotor to measure visual acuity—the ability to perceive detail—the apparatus and stimuli described here can be adapted to measure visual capabilities including spectral, contrast and polarization sensitivity, as well as motion detection, among others.
Nudging farmers in crop choice using price information: Evidence from Ethiopian Commodity Exchange
Authors: Belay Dagim G. , Ayalew Hailemariam 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe lack of reference price information is often regarded as one of the most pervasive aspects of incomplete commodity markets in developing countries. Previous studies on the effects of price information emphasize the market participation and performance of rural households. This paper argues that access to reference price information influences farmers’ crop choice decisions, the most important decision in farming activity. The study exploits the variation in timing and spatial distance of the publicly run Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) price tickers as an indicator for variation in the intensity of access to reference price information among rural villages in Ethiopia. The paper finds that access to price information increases the average farm‐gate prices for traded commodities and incentivizes farmers to allocate more land, fertilizer and improved seeds to commodities traded in the ECX. It also nudges farmers to produce more of the traded commodities, increasing the output share of ECX‐traded commodities.
Hypothermic preservation of endothelialized gas‐exchange membranes
Authors: Pflaum Michael , Merhej Hayan , Peredo Ariana , De Adim , Dipresa Daniele , Wiegmann Bettina , Wolkers Willem , Haverich Axel , Korossis Sotirios 
Published: July 2020

AbstractEndothelialization of the blood contacting surfaces of blood‐contacting medical devices, such as cardiovascular prostheses or biohybrid oxygenators, represents a plausible strategy for increasing their hemocompatibility. Nevertheless, isolation and expansion of autologous endothelial cells (ECs) usually requires multiple processing steps and time to obtain sufficient cell numbers. This excludes endothelialization from application in acute situations. Off‐the‐shelf availability of cell‐seeded biohybrid devices could be potentially facilitated by hypothermic storage. In this study, the survival of cord‐blood‐derived endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) that were seeded onto polymethylpentene (PMP) gas‐exchange membranes and stored for up to 2 weeks in different commercially available and commonly used preservation media was measured. While storage at 4°C in normal growth medium (EGM‐2) for 3 days resulted in massive disruption of the ECFC monolayer and a significant decline in viability, ECFC monolayers preserved in Chillprotec could recover after up to 14 days with negligible effects on their integrity and viability. ECFC monolayers preserved in Celsior, HTS‐FRS, or Rokepie medium showed a significant decrease in viability after 7 days or longer periods. These results demonstrated the feasibility of hypothermic preservation of ECFC monolayers on gas‐exchange membranes for up to 2 weeks, with potential application on the preservation of pre‐endothelialized oxygenators and further biohybrid cardiovascular devices.
Resilience, Social Support, and Coping as Mediators between COVID‐19‐related Stressful Experiences and Acute Stress Disorder among College Students in China
Authors: Ye Zhi , Yang Xueying , Zeng Chengbo , Wang Yuyan , Shen Zijiao , Li Xiaoming , Lin Danhua 
Published: July 2020

BackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic outbreak might induce acute stress disorder (ASD) to people living in the epidemic regions. The current study aims to investigate the association of COVID‐19‐related stressful experiences with ASD and possible psychological mechanisms of the association among college students.MethodsData were collected from 7,800 college students via an online survey during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 outbreak in China (from 31 January to 11 February 2020). Existing scales were adapted to measure stressful experiences, resilience, coping, social support, and ASD symptoms. Path analysis was employed to examine the research hypotheses.ResultsAmong the 7,800 college students, 61.53% were women and their mean age was 20.54 years. Both direct and indirect effects from COVID‐19‐related stressful experiences to ASD symptoms were significant. The relationship between COVID‐19‐related stressful experiences and ASD could be mediated by resilience (β = 0.01, p < .001), adaptive coping strategies (β = 0.02, p < .001), and social support (β = 0.01, p < .001); while not being significantly mediated by maladaptive coping strategies.ConclusionThe findings presented the ASD symptoms related to the COVID‐19 outbreak and the mediating role of interpersonal and intrapersonal factors in the association. Identifying the risk and protective factors is important to reduce acute psychological responses.
The affordances of AI‐enabled automatic scoring applications on learners’ continuous learning intention: An empirical study in China
Authors: Fu Shixuan , Gu Huimin , Yang Bo 
Published: July 2020

AbstractTraditional educational giants and natural language processing companies have launched several artificial intelligence (AI)‐enabled digital learning applications to facilitate language learning. One typical application of AI in digital language education is the automatic scoring application that provides feedback on pronunciation repeat outcomes. This research is motivated by the usage of automatic scoring‐empowered digital learning tools by language learners, and set out to uncover the influencing mechanisms of AI‐enabled automatic scoring application affordances on learners’ continuous learning intention. Specifically, based on affordance theory, we found several automatic scoring application affordances through in‐depth interviews. Considering the current lack of investigations on the mechanisms underlying automatic scoring application and its implications for learners’ learning behaviors, we built a model to examine the role of automatic scoring application affordances on cognitive/emotional engagement and following continuous learning intention. We further examined the moderation role of in‐job learners and student learners on the above relationships. The model was tested using a survey of 260 Chinese foreign language learners who used AI‐empowered learning tools to facilitate their language learning practices. This study explores why learners continuously use AI‐enabled automatic scoring applications by identifying the affordances that differentiate it from traditional educational technologies. Practitioners could take the identified affordances into account when designing AI‐enabled language learning applications.
Neutropenic sepsis rates in patients receiving bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy using olanzapine and reduced doses of dexamethasone compared to a standard antiemetic regimen
Authors: Gjafa Ernese , Ng Kenrick , Grunewald Tami , Galazi Myria , Skyllberg Erik , Wilson Peter , Alifrangis Constantine , Shamash Jonathan 
Published: July 2020

ObjectiveTo investigate whether the use of a steroid‐sparing antiemetic protocol (substituting dexamethasone with olanzapine) affects the incidence of neutropenia and associated hospital admissions in patients receiving bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy.Patients and MethodsRecords from 108 patients who received BEP at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London were divided into two groups according to antiemetic regimen. Group 1 (treated 2008–2013) were treated with a steroid‐containing antiemetic protocol and group 2 (treated 2014–2017) were treated according to a steroid‐sparing protocol, i.e. using olanzapine. Outcomes included incidence of neutropenia at nadir blood count, severity of neutropenia, hospital admissions attributable to febrile neutropenia (FN) and baseline risk factors associated with FN. Statistical analyses were performed using two‐sided chi‐squared tests.ResultsThe baseline characteristics of the two groups were balanced with regard to age, gender, histology, and proportion of patients with International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group poor‐risk disease. The incidence of neutropenia of any grade (group 1, 96.2%; group 2, 98.1%) was similar, although group 2 had more patients with severe neutropenia than group 2 (77.7% vs 88.8%). There was a significant difference in FN incidence (group 1, 22%; group 2 7.5%; P = 0.030). Most cases of FN occurred in cycle 1. Two baseline characteristics were over‐represented in patients who developed FN: female sex and age ≥50 years.ConclusionBy comparing two cohorts who received prophylactic antibiotics, our audit suggests that rates of FN‐related admissions were lower in the cohort of patients in whom we employed a steroid‐sparing antiemetic protocol.
Accumulation of amyloid beta in human glioblastomas
Authors: Zayas-Santiago A , Díaz-García A , Nuñez-Rodríguez R , Inyushin M 
Published: July 2020

Summary
Many cancer types are intrinsically associated with specific types of amyloidosis, in which amyloid is accumulated locally inside tumors or systemically. Usually, this condition relates to the hyperproduction of specific amylogenic proteins. Recently, we found that the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide immunofluorescence is linked to glioma cells in mouse tumors. Here we report that amyloid-specific histochemical dyes reveal amyloid accumulation in all human glioma samples. Application of two different antibodies against Aβ peptide (a polyclonal antibody against human Aβ1–42 and a monoclonal pan-specific mAb-2 antibody against Aβ) showed that the amyloid in glioma samples contains Aβ. Amyloid was linked to glioma cells expressing glial-specific fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and to glioma blood vessels. Astrocytes close to the glioma site and to affected vessels also accumulated Aβ. We discuss whether amyloid is produced by glioma cells or is the result of systemic production of Aβ in response to glioma development due to an innate immunity reaction. We conclude that amyloid build-up in glioma tumors is a part of the tumor environment, and may be used as a target for developing a novel class of anti-tumor drugs and as an antigen for glioma visualization.
Biallelic variants in PPP1R13L cause paediatric dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Robinson H.K. , Zaklyazminskaya E. , Povolotskaya I. , Surikova Y. , Mallin L. , Armstrong C. , Mabin D. , Benke P.J. , Chrisant M.R. , McDonald M. , Marboe C.C. , Agre K.E. , Deyle D.R. , McWalter K. , Douglas G. , Balashova M.S. , Kaimonov V. , Shirokova N. , Pomerantseva E. , Turner C.L. , Ellard S. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractChildhood dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of heart failure requiring cardiac transplantation and approximately 5% of cases result in sudden death. Knowledge of the underlying genetic cause can aid prognostication and clinical management and enables accurate recurrence risk counselling for the family. Here we used genomic sequencing to identify the causative genetic variant(s) in families with children affected by severe DCM. In an international collaborative effort facilitated by GeneMatcher, biallelic variants in PPP1R13L were identified in seven children with severe DCM from five unrelated families following exome or genome sequencing and inheritance‐based variant filtering. PPP1R13L encodes inhibitor of apoptosis‐stimulating protein of p53 protein (iASPP). In addition to roles in apoptosis, iASPP acts as a regulator of desmosomes and has been implicated in inflammatory pathways. DCM presented early (mean: 2 years 10 months; range: 3 months‐9 years) and was progressive, resulting in death (n = 3) or transplant (n = 3), with one child currently awaiting transplant. Genomic sequencing technologies are valuable for the identification of novel and emerging candidate genes. Biallelic variants in PPP1R13L were previously reported in a single consanguineous family with paediatric DCM. The identification here of a further five families now provides sufficient evidence to support a robust gene‐disease association between PPP1R13L and severe paediatric DCM. The PPP1R13L gene should be included in panel‐based genetic testing for paediatric DCM.
A homozygous HOXA11 variation as a potential novel cause of autosomal recessive congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract
Authors: Saygili Seha , Atayar Emine , Canpolat Nur , Elicevik Mehmet , Kurugoglu Sebuh , Sever Lale , Caliskan Salim , Ozaltin Fatih 
Published: July 2020

AbstractCongenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) is the leading cause of end‐stage kidney disease in children. Until now, more than 50 monogenic causes for CAKUT have been described, all of which only explain 10% to 20% of all patients with CAKUT, suggesting the presence of additional genes that cause CAKUT when mutated. Herein, we report two siblings of a consanguineous family with CAKUT, both of which rapidly progressed to chronic kidney disease in early childhood. Whole‐exome sequencing followed by homozygosity mapping identified a homozygous variation in HOXA11. We therefore showed for the first time an association between a homozygous HOXA11 variation with CAKUT in humans, expanding the genetic spectrum of the disease.
Artificial intelligence‐based novel scheme for location area planning in cellular networks
Authors: Vimal Vrince , Singh Teekam , Qamar Shamimul , Nautiyal Bhaskar , Udham Singh Kamred , Kumar Abhishek 
Published: July 2020

AbstractPlanning of location area (LA) in cellular networks plays a vital role in utilizing the resources efficiently and economically. Location update and paging costs directly affect the cost to the service provider. When the size of the Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) is large, the paging cost becomes maximum. Though, no location update is required for this case. On the contrary, paging cost shoots high if each cell forms individual LA, but in this case, location update cost shoots to the maximum value. Therefore, deducing the network to the optimal amount of LA's is an intractable combinatorial optimization problem. In this paper, we intend to optimize the partitions of the MSC service area into an optimal number of LA, to curtail the total location management cost. We propose a novel scheme bearing in mind cell attributes of the network to deduce an optimum number of location areas, leading to minimum cost per call. It is revealed by the results of this work, attained after simulating the scenario on MATLAB 2018a that Cell Attributes Based Algorithm is a very promising scheme for cellular networks, and it outperforms the existing algorithms in a practical scenario.
Interventional cytopathology in the COVID‐19 era
Authors: Ronchi Andrea , Pagliuca Francesca , Zito Marino Federica , Montella Marco , Franco Renato , Cozzolino Immacolata 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe dramatic spread of COVID‐19 has raised many questions about cytological procedures performed in and out of the laboratories all over the world.MethodsWe report a heterogeneous series of fine needle aspirations performed during the period of phase 1 of the lockdown for the COVID‐19 pandemic to describe our experience and measures taken during this period.ResultsA total of 48 fine needle aspirations (ultrasound, computed tomography and endoscopic ultrasound guided) were processed and reported.ConclusionsPre‐existing procedures have been modified to allow healthcare professionals to work safely ensuring patients the necessary assistance with samples suitable for cellularity, fixation and staining for an accurate cytological diagnosis.
An introduction to the history of infectious diseases, epidemics and the early phases of the long‐run decline in mortality†
Authors: Shaw‐Taylor Leigh 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis article, written during the COVID‐19 epidemic, provides a general introduction to the long‐term history of infectious diseases, epidemics and the early phases of the spectacular long‐term improvements in life expectancy since 1750, primarily with reference to English history. The story is a fundamentally optimistic one. In 2019 global life expectancy was approaching 73 years. In 1800 it was probably about 30. To understand the origins of this transition, we have to look at the historical sequence by which so many causes of premature death have been vanquished over time. In England that story begins much earlier than often supposed, in the years around 1600. The first two ‘victories’ were over famine and plague. However, economic changes with negative influences on mortality meant that, despite this, life expectancies were either falling or stable between the late sixteenth and mid eighteenth centuries. The late eighteenth and early nineteenth century saw major declines in deaths from smallpox, malaria and typhus and the beginnings of the long‐run increases in life expectancy. The period also saw urban areas become capable of demographic growth without a constant stream of migrants from the countryside: a necessary precondition for the global urbanization of the last two centuries and for modern economic growth. Since 1840 the highest national life expectancy globally has increased by three years in every decade.
Integrin expression and adhesivity to fibronectin in primary acute myeloid leukemia cells: Impact of NPM1 and FLT3 mutations
Authors: Kuželová Kateřina , Obr Adam , Marková Jana , Gašová Zdenka 
Published: July 2020

AbstractObjectivesInteraction of leukemia cells with the bone marrow extracellular matrix promotes cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy. In this work, we analyzed integrin expression and adhesivity to fibronectin in primary cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia.MethodsSurface expression of integrins β1 and αVβ3 on primary leukemia cells (N = 46) was correlated with the stem cell marker CD34, as well as with cell adhesivity to fibronectin. The results were analyzed with regard to the mutational status of NPM1 and FLT3 genes.ResultsThe integrin β1 was omnipresent, whereas αVβ3 was often more expressed on CD34‐positive cells. In particular, higher αVβ3 expression on CD34+ cells was associated with NPM1 mutation (P = .0018). Monocytic leukemias had significantly higher αVβ3 expression compared to less maturated cases (P = .0008). Cells from patients with internal tandem duplications in FLT3 (FLT3‐ITD) had lower adhesivity to fibronectin compared to cells with wild‐type FLT3 (P = .031), specifically in less differentiated myeloblasts. Inhibition of a putative FLT3‐ITD target, EZH2, increased cell adhesivity in MV4‐11 cell line (P = .024).ConclusionsThe integrin αVβ3 is expressed in particular on CD34+ cells with NPM1 mutation and might have a prognostic value in patients with mutated NPM1. FLT3‐ITD is associated with lower cell adhesivity, especially in patients with less differentiated leukemias.