bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scale-related governance challenges in the water–energy–food nexus: toward a diagnostic approach
Authors: Pahl-Wostl Claudia , Gorris Philipp , Jager Nicolas , Koch Larissa , Lebel Louis , Stein Christian , Venghaus Sandra , Withanachchi Sisira 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe notion of a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus was introduced to encourage a more holistic perspective on the sustainable development of natural resources. Most attention has been directed at identifying potential synergies and trade-offs among sectors that could be addressed with improved technologies and management. The governance of the WEF nexus more broadly has received comparatively little attention, and the importance of scale in space and time has been largely ignored. Inspired by scholarship on multi-level governance in individual sectors, this paper identifies four scale-related governance challenges in the WEF nexus, namely: (1)scalar fit, which arises when planning and operating procedures work at different levels along the scales of space and time in different sectors; (2)scalar strategies, wherever the levels at which actors have influence and in which action takes place are contested and negotiated; (3)institutional interplay, where rules and norms in different sectors influence each other at different levels; (4)scalar uncertainty, arising out of the complexity of multi-level and multi-scale interactions. The relevance of these four challenges is illustrated with case studies from developed and developing countries. These examples show the importance of considering multiple levels and scales when assessing the likely effectiveness of WEF nexus governance mechanisms or proposals. The cases underline the need to pay close attention to issues of power, contestation, and negotiation, in addition to the analysis of institutional design. Thus, this paper recommends that nexus governance efforts and proposals be scrutinized for scale assumptions. The four identified challenges offer a suitable starting point for diagnosis.
Prognostic value of skeletal muscle mass during tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rinninella Emanuele , Cintoni Marco , Raoul Pauline , Ponziani Francesca Romana , Pompili Maurizio , Pozzo Carmelo , Strippoli Antonia , Bria Emilio , Tortora Giampaolo , Gasbarrini Antonio , Mele Maria Cristina 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLow muscle mass has been associated with worse clinical outcomes in various cancers. This work investigated whether, during tyrosine kinases inhibitors (TKIs) therapy, low muscle mass was associated with treatment toxicity and survival outcomes. A systematic literature search was performed in Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from inception to June 2020, based on fixed inclusion and exclusion criteria. Effect sizes were estimated with hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and heterogeneity was assessed by measuring inconsistency (I2) based on the Chi squared test. A total of 24 retrospective studies were identified, enrolling patients treated with sorafenib (n = 12), sunitinib (n = 6), lenvatinib (n = 3), regorafenib (n = 2), gefitinib (n = 1), imatinib (n = 1), and pazopanib (n = 1). Thirteen studies were deemed eligible for pooled analyses. Meta-analyses found a significant effect of low muscle mass on dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.26–4.58, p = 0.008, I2 = 51%) in patients treated with TKI therapy. A subgroup analysis by treatment showed an association between DLT and low muscle during sorafenib or sunitinib, although not significant. A significant association between low skeletal muscle index and poorer overall survival was observed in HCC patients treated with sorafenib (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.07–1.96, p = 0.02). For other TKIs, although some results showed an association between low muscle mass and worse outcomes, the number of studies for each TKI therapy was too small to reach conclusions. Skeletal muscle mass could influence the prognosis of some TKI-treated patients. This effect is demonstrated in sorafenib-treated HCC patients but remains almost unexplored in other cancer patients undergoing TKI therapy. Further prospective studies with large sample size and sufficient follow-up are needed to clarify the role of muscle mass in the metabolism of TKI-based cancer treatment, and its association with toxicity and survival.
Neurochemical and Behavioral Effects of a New Hallucinogenic Compound 25B-NBOMe in Rats
Authors: Wojtas Adam , Herian Monika , Skawski Mateusz , Sobocińska Małgorzata , González-Marín Alejandro , Noworyta-Sokołowska Karolina , Gołembiowska Krystyna 
Published: December 2020

Abstract4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxy-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)phenethylamine (25B-NBOMe) is a hallucinogen exhibiting high binding affinity for 5-HT2A/C serotonin receptors. In the present work, we investigated its effect on dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), acetylcholine (ACh), and glutamate release in the rat frontal cortex, striatum, and nucleus accumbens. Hallucinogenic activity, impact on cognitive and motor functions, and anxiogenic/anxiolytic properties of this compound were also tested. The release of DA, 5-HT, ACh, and glutamate was studied using microdialysis in freely moving animals. Hallucinogenic activity was investigated using head and body twitch response (WDS), cognitive functions were examined with the novel object recognition test (NOR), locomotor activity was studied in the open field (OF), while anxiogenic/anxiolytic effect was tested using the light/dark box (LDB). Neurotoxicity was evaluated with the comet assay. 25B-NBOMe increased DA, 5-HT, and glutamate release in all studied brain regions, induced hallucinogenic activity, and lowered the recognition index (Ri) vs. control in the NOR test. It also decreased locomotor activity of rats in the OF test. The effect of 25B-NBOMe in the NOR test was inhibited by scopolamine. In the LDB test, the time spent in the dark zone was longer in comparison to control and was dose-dependent. In contrast to MDMA, 25B-NBOMe showed subtle genotoxic effect observed in the comet assay.Our findings indicate that 25B-NBOMe shows hallucinogenic activity in the wide range of doses. The changes in neurotransmitter levels may be related to 25B-NBOMe affinity for 5-HT2A receptor. Alterations in the NOR, OF, and LDB indicate that 25B-NBOMe impacts short-term memory, locomotion, and may be anxiogenic.
SeSaMe: Metagenome Sequence Classification of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-Associated Microorganisms
Authors: Eun Kang Jee , Ciampi Antonio , Hijri Mohamed 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are plant root symbionts that play key roles in plant growth and soil fertility. They are obligate biotrophic fungi that form coenocytic multinucleated hyphae and spores. Numerous studies have shown that diverse microorganisms live on the surface of and inside their mycelia, resulting in a metagenome when whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data are obtained from sequencing AMF cultivated in vivo. The metagenome contains not only the AMF sequences, but also those from associated microorganisms. In this study, we introduce a novel bioinformatics program, Spore-associated Symbiotic Microbes (SeSaMe), designed for taxonomic classification of short sequences obtained by next-generation DNA sequencing. A genus-specific usage bias database was created based on amino acid usage and codon usage of a three consecutive codon DNA 9-mer encoding an amino acid trimer in a protein secondary structure. The program distinguishes between coding sequence (CDS) and non-CDS, and classifies a query sequence into a genus group out of 54 genera used as reference. The mean percentages of correct predictions of the CDS and the non-CDS test sets at the genus level were 71% and 50% for bacteria, 68% and 73% for fungi (excluding AMF), and 49% and 72% for AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis), respectively. SeSaMe provides not only a means for estimating taxonomic diversity and abundance but also the gene reservoir of the reference taxonomic groups associated with AMF. Therefore, it enables users to study the symbiotic roles of associated microorganisms. It can also be applicable to other microorganisms as well as soil metagenomes. SeSaMe is freely available at www.fungalsesame.org.
SeSaMe PS Function: Functional Analysis of the Whole Metagenome Sequencing Data of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
Authors: Eun Kang Jee , Ciampi Antonio , Hijri Mohamed 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this study, we introduce a novel bioinformatics program, Spore-associated Symbiotic Microbes Position-specific Function (SeSaMe PS Function), for position-specific functional analysis of short sequences derived from metagenome sequencing data of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The unique advantage of the program lies in databases created based on genus-specific sequence properties derived from protein secondary structure, namely amino acid usages, codon usages, and codon contexts of 3-codon DNA 9-mers. SeSaMe PS Function searches a query sequence against reference sequence database, identifies 3-codon DNA 9-mers with structural roles, and creates a comparative dataset containing the codon usage biases of the 3-codon DNA 9-mers from 54 bacterial and fungal genera. The program applies correlation principal component analysis in conjunction with K-means clustering method to the comparative dataset. 3-codon DNA 9-mers clustered as a sole member or with only a few members are often structurally and functionally distinctive sites that provide useful insights into important molecular interactions. The program provides a versatile means for studying functions of short sequences from metagenome sequencing and has a wide spectrum of applications. SeSaMe PS Function is freely accessible at www.fungalsesame.org.
mrMLM v4.0.2: An R Platform for Multi-Locus Genome-Wide Association Studies
Authors: Zhang Ya-Wen , Tamba Cox Lwaka , Wen Yang-Jun , Li Pei , Ren Wen-Long , Ni Yuan-Li , Gao Jun , Zhang Yuan-Ming 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Previous studies have reported that some important loci are missed in single-locus genome-wide association studies (GWAS), especially because of the large phenotypic error in field experiments. To solve this issue, multi-locus GWAS methods have been recommended. However, only a few software packages for multi-locus GWAS are available. Therefore, we developed an R software named mrMLM v4.0.2. This software integrates mrMLM, FASTmrMLM, FASTmrEMMA, pLARmEB, pKWmEB, and ISIS EM-BLASSO methods developed by our lab. There are four components in mrMLM v4.0.2, including dataset input, parameter setting, software running, and result output. The fread function in data.table is used to quickly read datasets, especially big datasets, and the doParallel package is used to conduct parallel computation using multiple CPUs. In addition, the graphical user interface software mrMLM.GUI v4.0.2, built upon Shiny, is also available. To confirm the correctness of the aforementioned programs, all the methods in mrMLM v4.0.2 and three widely-used methods were used to analyze real and simulated datasets. The results confirm the superior performance of mrMLM v4.0.2 to other methods currently available. False positive rates are effectively controlled, albeit with a less stringent significance threshold. mrMLM v4.0.2 is publicly available at BioCode (https://bigd.big.ac.cn/biocode/tools/BT007077) or R (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/mrMLM.GUI/index.html) as an open-source software.
Divided government, delegation, and civil service reform
Authors: Ash Elliott , Morelli Massimo , Vannoni Matia 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis paper sheds new light on the drivers of civil service reform in US states. We first demonstrate theoretically that divided government is a key trigger of civil service reform, providing nuanced predictions for specific configurations of divided government. We then show empirical evidence for these predictions using data from the second half of the 20th century: states tended to introduce these reforms under divided government, and in particular when legislative chambers (rather than legislature and governor) were divided.
(Mis)Calculations, Psychological Mechanisms, and the Future Politics of People of Color
Authors: Pérez Efrén 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis essay comments on three questions about race, ethnicity, and politics in the contemporary United States—Howdid we get here?Whoare we now? And,whereare we going next? I grapple with these questions as a political psychologist steeped in the study of intergroup politics. In this capacity, I will argue that structural (mis)calculations have paved the road toward present intergroup relations, where identity politics reigns supreme. I then discuss America's current racial landscape, arguing that reality is more complex than before, especially as it concerns political relations between Whites and non-Whites. In this regard, I will claim that political psychology holds special insights to generate new knowledge about how (non-)Whites are navigating this changing racial landscape. Finally, I will advocate, strongly, for a greater sense of wonder about the multiplicity of identities that people of color hold. In particular, I will claim that byrelaxingour assumption that race is the main identity that matters to people of color, we stand to better appreciate just how adaptive non-Whites are to their political surroundings, leading us toward new insights about the origins and nature of mass political engagement and involvement.
New analytical tools and frameworks to understand dementia: what can a human rights lens offer?
Authors: Cahill Suzanne 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe biomedical model has traditionally informed the dominant discourse on dementia and has significantly shaped practitioners’, policy makers’ and researchers’ responses. This model contextualises dementia as a progressive neuro-degenerative cognitive disorder and focuses on deficits and underlying pathology, often overlooking the fact that the person can and should be an active partner in the treatment process. Beginning in the late 1990s, the exclusive reliance on the bio-medical model has come under increasing scrutiny with a growing awareness that by recasting dementia in broader social and more humanitarian terms, much can be done to promote the individual's quality of life. Different frameworks and analytical tools have been forwarded to help us better understand dementia. These include personhood, citizenship, public health, disability and human rights. This review examines the merits of framing dementia as a disability, a citizenship concern and a human rights issue. It highlights some of the potential gains that can arise for the individual in using a human rights model to enhance practice, inform policy and create a more balanced research agenda. The article concludes by arguing that the complexities and magnitude of dementia are such that it requires multiple responses and a broad range of interpretative frameworks.
Optimal Architecture Planning of Modules for Reconfigurable Manipulators
Authors: Dogra Anubhav , Padhee Srikant Sekhar , Singla Ekta 
Published: December 2020

SUMMARYModules are requisite for the realization of modular reconfigurable manipulators. The design of modules in literature mainly revolves around geometric aspects and features such as lengths, connectivity and adaptivity. Optimizing and designing the modules based on dynamic performance is considered as a challenge here. The present paper introduces an Architecture-Prominent-Sectioning (APS) strategy for the planning of architecture of modules such that a reconfigurable manipulator possesses minimal joint torques during its operations. Proposed here is the transferring of complete structure into an equivalent system, perform optimization and map the resulting arrangement into possible architecture. The strategy has been applied on a set of modular configurations considering three-primitive-paths. The possibility of getting advanced/complex shapes is also discussed to incorporate the idea of a modular library.
Poor vitamin D status and the risk of maternal depression: a dose–response meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Tan Quansheng , Liu Shuai , Chen Dajie 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjective:The association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and maternal depression (MD) is deemed to be inconclusive. The current analysis aimed to quantify the relationship between 25(OH)D serum concentrations, the main indicator of vitamin D nutritional status, and MD.Design:Dose–response meta-analysis.Setting:A systematic search in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science from inception to June 2019.Participants:Relevant observational studies reporting risk estimates and 95 % CI of random effects for 25(OH)D concentration on MD were identified.Results:Twelve observational studies with thirteen independent reports involving 10 317 pregnant women were included. Compared with the lowest category of 25(OH)D, the pooled OR for the highest category of MD was 0·49 (95 % CI 0·35, 0·63); a high heterogeneity was observed (P= 0·001,I2= 82·1 %). A non-linear association between 25(OH)D and MD was found (Pfor non-linearity = 0·001); the dose–response analysis indicated that the lowest pooled OR was at blood 25(OH)D concentrations of 90–110 nmol/l. Subgroup analyses suggested a stronger association between 25(OH)D and MD in summer time (OR 0·25, 95 % CI 0·08, 0·43) than in other seasons (OR 0·68, 95 % CI 0·52, 0·83) (Pfor interaction = 0·008). A visual inspection of funnel plot and Begg’s and Egger’s tests did not indicate any evidence of publication bias.Conclusions:Low circulating 25(OH)D is associated with MD, and our analysis suggests that they influence each other. Further randomised controlled trials would be needed to determine the direction of causation.
Association of sugar-sweetened beverage intake with maternal postpartum weight retention
Authors: Mahabamunuge Jasmin , Simione Meg , Hong Benjamin , Horan Chrissy , Ayala Sujata G , Davison Kirsten , Redline Susan , Taveras Elsie M 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjective:During the perinatal period, modifiable behaviours contributing to excess weight gain, including sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake, are understudied. We examined the extent to which perinatal SSB intake affects postpartum weight retention (PPWR).Design:We measured SSB intake frequency in the third trimester and 1-month postpartum using the NHANES Dietary Screener Questionnaire. We assessed the association between SSB intake and PPWR (difference between 6-month postpartum and pregravid weight) using multivariable regression adjusted for socio-demographic and anthropometric variables.Setting:Greater Boston area.Participants:Three hundred forty-eight mother–infant pairs in the Rise and SHINE prospective birth cohort.Results:Mean age was 32·7 (sd 5·0) years; the sample was 47 % white, 32 % Hispanic, 14 % Asian and 7 % Black. Women reported mean daily SSB intake frequencies of 0·9 (sd 1·2) and 0·7 (sd 1·0) times/d in the third trimester and 1-month postpartum, respectively. At 6-month postpartum, average weight retention was 3·4 (sd 5·7) kg; 108 (sd 31 %) women had substantial PPWR, defined as a ≥ 5 kg increase between pregravid and 6-month postpartum weight. Each 1-time/d increment in SSB intake frequency during the third trimester (β = 0·46 kg (95 % CI, 0·07, 0·86)) and 1-month postpartum (β = 0·52 kg (95 % CI 0·03, 1·00)) was associated with higher weight retention at 6 months. Increased SSB intake frequency in the third trimester (OR: 1·37; 95 % CI 1·10, 1·75) and 1-month postpartum (OR: 1·17; 95 % CI 0·92, 1·52) resulted in higher odds of substantial PPWR.Conclusions:SSB consumption during the perinatal period is associated with higher weight retention at 6-month postpartum. Avoiding SSB may reduce the risk of excess weight retention.
A new dawn for the human rights of international migrants? Protection of migrants’ rights in light of the UN's SDGs and Global Compact for Migration
Authors: Desmond Alan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis paper undertakes a sceptical analysis of the significance for the protection of migrants’ rights represented by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and the UN Global Compact for Migration (GCM). Despite the positive view taken by many of these frameworks, I argue that, taken together, the SDGs and the GCM represent an acknowledgement of the failure of the international system of human rights protection to deal effectively with the protection of migrants’ rights. With particular reference to the UN Migrant Workers Convention, I argue that adoption of the GCM underscores a decisive shift from the realm of binding international law to soft law for the purposes of dealing with migrants’ rights. While acknowledging some of the signal benefits of this new regime, I highlight some of the many signs suggesting that these twin international developments do not guarantee progress on the road to the protection of migrants’ rights.
Digit ratio, a proposed marker of the prenatal hormone environment, is not associated with prenatal sex steroids, anogenital distance, or gender-typed play behavior in preschool age children
Authors: Barrett Emily , Thurston Sally W. , Harrington Donald , Bush Nicole R. , Sathyanarayana Sheela , Nguyen Ruby , Zavez Alexis , Wang Christina , Swan Shanna 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPrenatal hormones have been proposed as key factors impacting child development as well as long-term health and disease. Digit ratio (the ratio of the lengths of the second to fourth digits; 2D:4D) has been proposed as a sexually dimorphic, noninvasive marker of prenatal androgen exposure that can be reliably measured in children and adults. To date, few longitudinal pregnancy cohort studies have examined childhood digit ratio in relation to other relevant measures including prenatal hormones and androgen-sensitive outcomes. To augment the current literature on this topic, we measured right-hand digit ratio in 4-year-old children participating in The Infant Development and the Environment Study, a multicenter longitudinal cohort study that has been following mother–child dyads since the first trimester of pregnancy (n = 321). We assessed sex differences in digit ratio and fit multivariable linear regression models to examine digit ratio in relation to: (1) child sex; (2) maternal sex steroid hormone concentrations in early pregnancy; (3) newborn anogenital distance, another proposed measure of sensitivity to prenatal androgens; and (4) gender-typical play behavior as measured by the Preschool Activities Inventory (PSAI) at age 4. We observed no sex difference in digit ratio; the mean 2D:4D was 0.97 ± 0.05 mm in both sexes. Furthermore, digit ratio was not associated with maternal sex steroid concentrations in early pregnancy, anogenital distance in either sex, or PSAI scores in either sex in covariate-adjusted models. In conclusion, we observed no evidence that early childhood digit ratio was associated with child sex or hormone-sensitive measures in this cohort.
How Bad is it? Elite Influence and the Perceived Seriousness of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Authors: Moniz Philip 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn spite of its immense global impact, Republicans and Democrats disagree on how serious a problem the coronavirus pandemic is. One likely reason is the political elites to whom partisans listen. As a means of shoring up support, President Trump largely downplayed but at times hyped the severity of the virus. Do these messages influence the perceived seriousness of the virus’s death toll, how the president is evaluated as well as support for and compliance with social distancing guidelines? Results suggest that Republican identifiers had by early June crystallized their views on the virus’s seriousness, the president’s performance, and social distancing policies and behaviors. Unexpectedly, information critical of President Trump’s policy decisions produced a backlash causing people to show less concern about the virus’s death toll and rate the president’s performance even more highly.