bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Australian local governments and climate emergency declarations: Reviewing local government practice
Authors: Chou Mark 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn recent years, a growing number of Australian local governments have reaffirmed their longstanding climate leadership by declaring a climate emergency. Indeed, since 2016, when Melbourne's Darebin council became the world's first local government to declare a climate emergency, close to 100 local governments – or a little under one fifth of all Australian local governments – have taken the extraordinary step and made a similar declaration. But although these local government climate emergency declarations have received widespread government and media scrutiny, the precise nature and obligations of climate emergency declarations for local government remain unclear. Indeed, there is currently little analysis and understanding of what obligations local governments incur from declaring a climate emergency, whether those that have made such a declaration have fulfilled their obligations, and whether climate emergency declarations exceed the remit of existing local government environmental and climate roles and policies. This practice insight article seeks to answer these questions in both theory and practice. It finds that, at present, much of the talk about climate emergency by local government may merely be symbolic and broadly aligned with their existing local environmental and climate roles and policies.
TMEM107 inhibits EMT and invasion of NSCLC through regulating the Hedgehog pathway
Authors: Xu Huihui , Dun Song , Gao Ying , Ming Jian , Hui Linping , Qiu Xueshan 
Published: October 2020

BackgroundTransmembrane protein 107 (TMEM107) is a key regulator of the cilium composition and Hedgehog signaling. Lower TMEM107 gene copies are correlated with poor prognosis in non‐small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, TMEM107 protein expression, localization, and function in NSCLC remain unclear.MethodsWe first evaluated TMEM107 expression in 12 newly diagnosed cases of NSCLC and paired adjacent healthy tissues by western blotting. We then used an immunohistochemical method to detect TMEM107 expression in 106 paraffin‐embedded NSCLC and corresponding normal samples and analyzed its relationship with clinicopathological parameters. Moreover, we determined the impact of TMEM107 upregulation and downregulation on invasion, EMT and Hedgehog pathway in NSCLC cells.ResultsOur results showed that TMEM107 is localized in the cytoplasm and that its expression was lower in NSCLC. TMEM107 expression was positively correlated with cell differentiation and negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis. In A549 and HCC460 cells, downregulation of TMEM107 facilitated cell invasion and upregulated the expression of the Hedgehog pathway target protein Gli1, invasion‐associated proteins N‐cadherin, vimentin, MMP2, and MMP9, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inhibited the expression of E‐cadherin. Treatment with the Hedgehog pathway inhibitor GANT61 attenuated TMEM107‐knockdown–induced EMT and invasiveness.ConclusionsThese results indicate that TMEM107 inhibits EMT and invasion by negatively regulating Hedgehog signaling and that it is downregulated in NSCLC.Key points
TMEM107 expression is lower in NSCLC tissues and correlates with poor prognosis
TMEM107 inhibits invasion of NSCLC cells
TMEM107 inhibits EMT of NSCLC cells
Downregulation of TMEM107 activates the Hedgehog signaling pathway
Downregulation of TMEM107 promotes EMT and migration in NSCLC by activating the Hedgehog signaling pathway
Predictors of survival among Japanese patients receiving first‐line chemoimmunotherapy for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ogura Yuri , Kataoka Nobutaka , Kunimatsu Yusuke , Tachibana Yusuke , Sugimoto Takumi , Tani Nozomi , Sato Izumi , Hirose Kazuki , Kato Daishiro , Takeda Takayuki 
Published: October 2020

BackgroundFirst‐line chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) has improved overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) outcomes among patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The immunological and nutritional statuses of patients fluctuate during treatment using immune checkpoint inhibitors, and are closely related to treatment outcomes. However, it is unclear whether these markers are significant in patients who are receiving CIT.MethodsThis retrospective single‐center study evaluated 34 consecutive Japanese patients with NSCLC who were treated using first‐line CIT. Previously reported markers that reflect immunological and nutritional statuses were evaluated at three time points: at the start of CIT, after three weeks, and at the end of induction therapy.ResultsThe median PFS was 7.2 months (95% confidence interval: 6.3 months–not reached) and the median OS was not reached (95% confidence interval: 9.6 months–not reached). The PFS duration was significantly associated with the baseline neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and the three‐week values for the modified Glasgow prognostic score, C‐reactive protein‐albumin ratio, prognostic nutrition index, and advanced lung cancer inflammation index. The OS duration was significantly associated with the pre‐treatment values for the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and advanced lung cancer inflammation index, as well as the prognostic nutrition index at the end of induction therapy.ConclusionsImmunological and nutritional markers could be useful for predicting the outcomes of CIT for Japanese patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer. The timing of their evaluation may also be important.Key pointsSignificant findings of the studyOverall survival in patients receiving first‐line chemoimmunotherapy for advanced lung cancer were associated with pretreatment values of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, advanced lung cancer inflammation index, and the prognostic nutrition index at the end of induction therapy.What this study addsRepetitive evaluation of immunological and nutritional markers may be useful for guiding prognostication and treatment selection for Japanese patients with advanced lung cancer.
A Late Iron Age settlement in Wādī Banī Ḫālid: First season of the joint Omani‐Italian archaeological project
Authors: Loreto Romolo 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis paper introduces the first results of the joint Omani‐Italian archaeological project at Wādī Banī Ḫālid (northern Šarqiyyah governorate, eastern al‐Ḥaǧar), where a dense Iron Age and ancient Islamic occupation was detected. The aim of the project is the definition of the Iron Age settlement patterns along the eastern al‐Ḥaǧar landscape and its relationship with both the coastal areas and the al‐Ḥaǧar inner piedmont sites of central Oman. In fact, this project follows previous studies of the coastal environment between Muscat and Raʾs al‐Ḥadd, where several seasonal fishermen villages were investigated, and their connections with inner permanent sites, such as Lizq, recognised during the Early Iron Age II (1300–600 BCE). Therefore, Wādī Banī Ḫālid stands as a peculiar case of an Iron Age territorial unit, a natural scenario made of a narrow alluvial valley which provided natural conditions for the development of a complex culture. Moreover, the material culture emerged after a first excavation campaign proved that the main occupational phase of the imposing fortified settlement WBK1 is the Late Iron Age (late first millennium BCE to third–fourth centuries CE), thus hopefully allowing new questions to be posed for the definition of Late Iron Age cultures and the chronology in central Oman, which is mostly known based on the excavation of funerary evidence. For this reason, the first part of the paper focuses on the results of the first season in Wādī Banī Ḫālid, and the second part discusses the links between Wādī Banī Ḫālid and the south‐eastern Arabia general framework during the Late Iron Age.
Correlation between Genotype and Phenotype in 69 Chinese Patients with USH2A Mutations: A comparative study of the patients with Usher Syndrome and Nonsyndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa
Authors: Meng Xiang , Liu XiaoZhen , Li YingYing , Guo Tong , Yang Liping 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this study was to analyse 69 Chinese patients with USH2A mutations and to assess the genotype–phenotype correlation.MethodsAll 36 Usher syndrome type IIA patients and 33 nonsyndromic RP (retinitis pigmentosa) patients underwent clinical examinations. Eye examinations included best‐corrected visual acuity, slit‐lamp biomicroscopy, fundus examination with dilated pupils, fundus fluorescent angiography, visual field test, full‐field electroretinography and optic coherence tomography; audiological assessment included pure tone audiometry and hearing thresholds. The molecular diagnosis of genotype combined the single‐gene Sanger sequencing and next‐generation sequencing. This study is a retrospective study.ResultsThe mean age of first symptoms with Usher syndrome type IIa and nonsyndromic RP patients was 13.7 versus 29.8 years (ocular phenotypes, p < 0.001); 17.7 versus 29.9 years (nyctalopia, p < 0.001); 44.7 versus 54.8 years (low vision based on VF, p < 0.001); 41.7 versus 54.7 years (low vision based on VA, p < 0.001); and 46.0 versus 56.7 years (legal blindness based on VF, p < 0.001). There was significant difference in variants in the two groups (p < 0.05). Among patients with mutation c.2802T > G (p.Cys934Trp), more (66.7%) presented with normal hearing. All patients (3/3, 100%) with the variant c.8232G > C (p.Trp2744Cys) had hearing loss. Furthermore, we identified 23 novel variants in USH2A.ConclusionsPatients with Usher syndrome type IIa had an earlier onset of the disease, inferior visual function and presented with more truncating variants, compared with the nonsyndromic RP patients.
Seasonal variations and climatic factors on acute primary angle‐closure admission in southern China: a 5‐year hospital‐based retrospective study
Authors: Zhong Xin , Li Yan , Huang Chukai , Ng Tsz Kin , Weng Limei , Zhang Jing , Zhang Mingzhi , Huang Yuqiang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPurposeTo delineate the seasonality of acute primary angle‐closure (APAC) admission in a coastal city of southern China and its association with climatic factors.MethodsA total of 1155 Chinese subjects with principal diagnosis of APAC attack were recruited from 2012 to 2016, and their medical records were retrieved. Monthly climatic factors were obtained from the Meteorological Bureau of Shantou. Monthly and seasonal APAC admissions were compared, and its correlation with climatic factors was evaluated.ResultsAPAC admission was higher in female subjects (75.9%) with an overall mean age of 64.7 ± 9.3 years. APAC admission was highest in summer with the peak onset in June. The peak of APAC admission for female subjects aged ≤ 65 years was in June, and that for> 65 years was in July. The peak of APAC admission for male subjects aged > 65 years was in August. Precipitation was positively correlated with APAC admission rate for both aged ≤ 65 (β = 0.415, p = 0.001) and > 65 years old (β = 0.364, p = 0.004) female subjects. In contrast, surface temperature was positively correlated with APAC admission rate for male subjects aged > 65 years (β = 0.441, p < 0.001). No climatic factor was correlated with APAC admission rate for male subjects ≤ 65 years.ConclusionsThis study revealed the peak season of APAC admission in summer, and surface temperature and precipitation are the associated factors. Close monitoring of climate changes could help to reduce the incidence of APAC attack.
The role of midwifery and other international insights for maternity care in the United States: An analysis of four countries
Authors: Kennedy Holly Powell , Balaam Marie‐Clare , Dahlen Hannah , Declercq Eugene , de Jonge Ank , Downe Soo , Ellwood David , Homer Caroline S. E. , Sandall Jane , Vedam Saraswathi , Wolfe Ingrid 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe United States (US) spends more on health care than any other high‐resource country. Despite this, their maternal and newborn outcomes are worse than all other countries with similar levels of economic development. Our purpose was to describe maternal and newborn outcomes and organization of care in four high‐resource countries (Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and United Kingdom) with consistently better outcomes and lower health care costs, and to identify opportunities for emulation and improvement in the United States.MethodWe examined resources that described health care organization and financing, provider types, birth settings, national, clinical guidelines, health care policies, surveillance data, and information for consumers. We conducted interviews with country stakeholders representing the disciplines of obstetrics, midwifery, pediatrics, neonatology, epidemiology, sociology, political science, public health, and health services. The results of the analysis were compared and contrasted with the US maternity system.ResultsThe four countries had lower rates of maternal mortality, low birthweight, and newborn and infant death than the United States. Five commonalities were identified as follows: (1) affordable/ accessible health care, (2) a maternity workforce that emphasized midwifery care and interprofessional collaboration, (3) respectful care and maternal autonomy, (4) evidence‐based guidelines on place of birth, and (5) national data collections systems.ConclusionsThe findings reveal marked differences in the other countries compared to the United States. It is critical to consider the evidence for improved maternal and newborn outcomes with different models of care and to examine US cultural and structural failures that are leading to unacceptable and substandard maternal and infant outcomes.
Understanding university students’ behavioral intention to use Edmodo through the lens of an extended technology acceptance model
Authors: Unal Erhan , Uzun Ahmet Murat 
Published: October 2020

AbstractEducational social network sites have many uses in the field of education. The present paper aims to determine factors influencing students’ behavioral intention to use a popular educational social network site, Edmodo. Using an extension of the technology acceptance model, we analyzed quantitative responses of 218 university students, registered in an Edmodo supported course. Data were analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results highlighted that intention was significantly predicted by its antecedents. More specifically, the attitude was the most important factor, whilst perceived usefulness had a moderate impact on predicting intention. Perceived ease of use predicted perceived usefulness directly and also it influenced intention indirectly through attitude. External antecedents of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were all significant. Discussion and implications were drawn based on the results.
Practitioner NotesWhat is already known about this topic

Understanding why users accept or reject a particular information system is a common research area.
Technology acceptance model (TAM) is used to explain individuals’ acceptance and adoption of different technologies.
Social Networking Sites (SNSs) have been used to enrich learning. However, the adoption of educational SNS studies is limited.
What this paper adds

This study is one of the first attempts for employing extended TAM that scrutinizes factors influencing university students’ intention to use Edmodo as an educational SNS and a learning management system (LMS) in teaching and learning environments.
External antecedents included in the model (subjective norms, output quality, perceptions of external control, perceived enjoyment, technological complexity, and self‐efficacy) significantly predicted university students’ intention to use Edmodo as an educational SNS and LMS.
Major factors driving the intention to use Edmodo were attitude and perceived usefulness.
Implications for practice and/or policy

Considering that the attitude was found to have the strongest influence on the intention to use Edmodo, instructors may attach prominent importance to foster students’ positive attitudes toward Edmodo use.
Instructors may design virtual learning environments with collaborative activities on SNS to increase students’ perceived usefulness.
Designers and developers of an educational SNS should design interfaces that should be not only less complex but also more enjoyable.
“I'm Glad She Chose Me as Her Parent”: Rewards of Caregiving for Adults With Autism
Authors: Marsack‐Topolewski Christina N. , Perry Tam E. , Chan Keith T. 
Published: October 2020

ObjectiveThis research examines perceptions of rewards associated with caregiving experienced by older parents of adult children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).BackgroundMore individuals with ASD are reaching adulthood, often requiring some form of lifelong support from parental caregivers. Past research has examined caregiving challenges for adult children with ASD, with little focus on rewards.MethodOne‐on‐one, semistructured interviews were conducted among 51 parents (aged 50 years and older) of adult children (18 years and older) diagnosed with ASD. Interviews focused on exploring experiences of older parental caregivers. Using a phenomenological approach, data were coded through a line‐by‐line analysis using Atlas.ti 7 software.ResultsFour themes emerged from interview responses: (a) pride in adult child's progress and growth, (b) feelings of personal competence, (c) changed perspective on life, and (d) deeper connections to others.ConclusionOur findings provide insight into how older parents of adult children with ASD experience rewards from caregiving.ImplicationsPractitioners who work with individuals with ASD can help parental caregivers and their families find and promote strengths by highlighting the rewards in the caregiving process.
Drought stress effect on polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity of cowpea pods and seeds
Authors: Carvalho Márcia , Gouvinhas Irene , Castro Isaura , Matos Manuela , Rosa Eduardo , Carnide Valdemar , Barros Ana 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a protein‐rich grain legume with high adaptability to heat and drought and can be consumed during all stages of the plant development. Drought is a severe environmental stress with major impacts on plant development and productivity. This study main objective was to understand the effects of drought stress on polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity in plant tissue at different stages of cowpea development. Four cowpea genotypes grown until the anthesis under well‐irrigate conditions and then were submitted to two watering regimens (0% and 75% of field capacity) for one week. Immature pods and seeds and dry seeds were collected, and polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity were evaluated by spectrophotometry. In general, differences between genotypes, plant growth stage and treatments were observed. A variation of phenolic content and antioxidant capacity has been detected in all cowpea genotypes and plant tissues at different development stages. Immature pods showed the highest values in all the parameters evaluated, while the dry seed presented the lowest values. The samples submitted to drought stress showed a slight decrease in all the parameters evaluated compared to control samples being this decrease only significant in some parameters and growth stages. This study shows that drought stress did not significantly influence the quality of cowpea through phenolic content and antioxidant capacity.
Cav 1.3 damages the osteogenic differentiation in osteoporotic rats by negatively regulating Spred 2‐mediated autophagy‐induced cell senescence
Authors: Fan Ping , Pu Dan , Lv Xiaohong , Hu Nan , Feng Xiuyuan , Hao Zhiming , Sun Yining , He Lan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCav 1.3 can affect the classical osteoclast differentiation pathway through calcium signalling pathway. Here, we performed cell transfection, real‐time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR), flow cytometry, SA‐β‐Gal staining, Alizarin Red S staining, ALP activity test, immunofluorescence, Western blot and cell viability assay to analyse cell viability, cell cycle, osteogenesis differentiation and autophagy activities in vitro. Meanwhile, GST‐pull down and CHIP experiments were conducted to explore the influence of Cav 1.3 and Sprouty‐related EVH1 domain 2 (Spred 2) on bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The results showed that OS lead to the decreased of bone mineral density and differentiation ability of BMSCs in rats. Cav 1.3 was up‐regulated in OS rats. Overexpression of Cav 1.3 inhibited the activity of BMSCs, the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt‐related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and osteocalcin (OCN), as well as promoted the cell cycle arrest and senescence. Furthermore, the negative correlation between Cav 1.3 and Spred 2 was found through GST‐pull down and CHIP. Overexpression of Spred 2 increased the expressions of microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin 1 of BMSCs, which ultimately promoted the cell activity of BMSCs and ALP, RUNX2, OCN expression. In conclusion, Cav 1.3 negatively regulates Spred 2‐mediated autophagy and cell senescence, and damages the activity and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in OS rats.
Single‐cell multi‐omics analysis presents the landscape of peripheral blood T‐cell subsets in human chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome
Authors: Zhang Meng , Liu Yi , Chen Junyi , Chen Lei , Meng Jialin , Yang Cheng , Yin Shuiping , Zhang Xiansheng , Zhang Li , Hao Zongyao , Chen Xianguo , Liang Chaozhao 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCumulative evidence suggests that abnormal differentiation of T lymphocytes influences the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Thus, understanding the immune activation landscape of CP/CPPS would be helpful for improving therapeutic strategies. Here, we utilized BD™ AbSeq to digitally quantify both the protein and mRNA expression levels in single peripheral blood T cells from two CP/CPPS patients and two healthy controls. We utilized an integrated strategy based on canonical correlation analysis of 10 000+ AbSeq profiles and identified fifteen unique T‐cell subpopulations. Notably, we found that the proportion of cluster 0 in the CP/CPPS group (30.35%) was significantly increased compared with the proportion in the healthy control group (9.38%); cluster 0 was defined as effector T cells based on differentially expressed genes/proteins. Flow cytometry assays confirmed that the proportions of effector T‐cell subpopulations, particularly central memory T cells, T helper (Th)1, Th17 and Th22 cells, in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations of patients with CP/CPPS were significantly increased compared with those of healthy controls (P < 0.05), further confirming that aberration of effector T cells possibly leads to or intensifies CP/CPPS. Our results provide novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of CP/CPPS, which will be beneficial for its treatment.