bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non-selective inhibition of the motor system following unexpected and expected infrequent events
Authors: Iacullo Carly , Diesburg Darcy A. , Wessel Jan R. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMotor inhibition is a key control mechanism that allows humans to rapidly adapt their actions in response to environmental events. One of the hallmark signatures of rapidly exerted, reactive motor inhibition is the non-selective suppression of cortico-spinal excitability (CSE): unexpected sensory stimuli lead to a suppression of CSE across the entire motor system, even in muscles that are inactive. Theories suggest that this reflects a fast, automatic, and broad engagement of inhibitory control, which facilitates behavioral adaptations to unexpected changes in the sensory environment. However, it is an open question whether such non-selective CSE suppression is truly due to the unexpected nature of the sensory event, or whether it is sufficient for an event to be merely infrequent (but not unexpected). Here, we report data from two experiments in which human subjects experienced both unexpected and expected infrequent events during a simple reaction time task while CSE was measured from a task-unrelated muscle. We found that expected infrequent events can indeed produce non-selective CSE suppression – but only when they occur during movement initiation. In contrast, unexpected infrequent events produce non-selective CSE suppression even in the absence of movement initiation. Moreover, CSE suppression due to unexpected events occurs at shorter latencies compared to expected infrequent events. These findings demonstrate that unexpectedness and stimulus infrequency have qualitatively different suppressive effects on the motor system. They also have key implications for studies that seek to disentangle neural and psychological processes related to motor inhibition and stimulus detection.
Glycyrrhizic acid improves cognitive levels of aging mice by regulating T/B cell proliferation
Authors: Jiang Ruichan , Gao Jiaming , Shen Junyan , Zhu Xiaoqi , Wang Hao , Feng Shengyu , Huang Ce , Shen Haitao , Liu Hailiang 
Published: March 2020

Dear Editor,Licorice is the root ofGlycyrrhiza glabraL. (Leguminosae), which grows in various warm climates such as the Middle East, Asia, and Southern Europe. It is one of the oldest known medicinal herbs and is referred to as “the father of herbal medicine.” Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) (Fig. 1A), a triterpenoid saponin, is a major component of licorice. It has a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, and immune effects, among others.[1]. Previous studies indicated that GA produces robust neuroprotection via the modulation of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic factors, primarily through the ERK signaling pathway and its anti-inflammatory properties against high-mobility group box 1 phosphorylation and the suppression of inflammatory cytokine induction[2-4]. These results were based on pathological models. Although numerous pathways have been implicated in the neuroprotective effects of GA, the molecular mechanisms are not yet completely understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of GA in preventing age-related immune involution and cognitive disorders, the relationship between immune involution and cognition, and the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Unhealthy Behaviours and Parkinson’s Disease: A Mendelian Randomisation Study
Authors: Heilbron Karl , Jensen Melanie P. , Bandres-Ciga Sara , Fontanillas Pierre ,   The 23andMe Research Team, Blauwendraat Cornelis , Nalls Mike A. , Singleton Andrew B. , Smith George Davey , Cannon Paul , Noyce Alastair 
Published: March 2020

AbstractObjectiveTobacco smoking, alcohol intake, and high BMI have been identified in observational studies as potentially protective factors against developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). Because of the possibility of residual confounding and reverse causation, it is unclear whether such epidemiological associations are causal. Mendelian randomisation (MR) uses genetic variants to explore causal effects of exposures on outcomes; minimising these sources of bias. Using MR, this study sought to determine the causal relationship between tobacco smoking, alcohol intake, and high BMI, and the risk of PD.MethodsWe performed genome-wide association studies to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the exposures. MR analysis of the relationship between each exposure and PD was undertaken using a split-sample design. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used to combine SNP-specific effect estimates.ResultsEver-smoking causally reduced risk of PD (OR 0.955; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.921-0.991; p=0.013). An increase in daily alcohol intake causally increased risk of PD (OR 1.125, 95% CI 1.025-1.235; p=0.013) and a 1 kg/m2BMI causally reduced risk of PD (OR 0.988, 95% CI 0.979-0.997; p=0.008). Sensitivity analyses did not suggest bias from horizontal pleiotropy or invalid instruments.InterpretationUsing split-sample MR in over 2.4 million participants, we observed a protective effect of smoking on risk of PD, warranting the prioritisation of related therapeutic targets, such as nicotinic agonists, in prevention trials. In contrast to observational data, alcohol consumption causally increased risk of PD. Higher BMI had a protective effect on PD, but the effect was small.
Prevalence, Severity and Mortality associated with COPD and Smoking in patients with COVID-19: A Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Alqahtani Jaber S. , Oyelade Tope , Aldhahir Abdulelah M. , Alghamdi Saeed M. , Almehmadi Mater , Alqahtani Abdullah S , Quaderi Shumonta , Mandal Swapna , Hurst John R. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an evolving infectious disease that dramatically spread all over the world in the early part of 2020. No studies have yet summarised the potential severity and mortality risks caused by COVID-19 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and we update information in smokers.MethodsWe systematically searched electronic databases from inception to March 24, 2020. Data were extracted by two independent authors in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Study quality was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We synthesised a narrative from eligible studies and conducted a meta-analysis using a random-effects model to calculate pooled prevalence rates and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).ResultsIn total, 123 abstracts were screened and 61 full-text manuscripts were reviewed. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria, which included a total of 2473 confirmed COVID-19 patients. All studies were included in the meta-analysis. The crude case fatality rate of COVID-19 was 6.4%. The pooled prevalence rates of COPD patients and smokers in COVID-19 cases were 2% (95% CI, 1%–3%) and 9% (95% CI, 4%–14%) respectively. COPD patients were at a higher risk of more severe disease (risk of severity = 63%, (22/35) compared to patients without COPD 33.4% (409/1224) [calculated RR, 1.88 (95% CI, 1.4– 2.4)]. This was associated with higher mortality (60%). Our results showed that 22% (31/139) of current smokers and 46% (13/28) of ex-smokers had severe complications. The calculated RR showed that current smokers were 1.45 times more likely [95% CI: 1.03–2.04] to have severe complications compared to former and never smokers. Current smokers also had a higher mortality rate of 38.5%.ConclusionAlthough COPD prevalence in COVID-19 cases was low in current reports, COVID-19 infection was associated with substantial severity and mortality rates in COPD. Compared to former and never smokers, current smokers were at greater risk of severe complications and higher mortality rate. Effective preventive measures are required to reduce COVID-19 risk in COPD patients and current smokers.
Attentional Focus Modulates Automatic Finger-tapping Movements
Authors: Zhang Xilei. , Jiang Xingxun. , Yuan Xiangyong. , Zheng Wenming. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe majority of human behaviors are composed of automatic movements (e.g., walking or finger-tapping) which are learned during nurturing and can be performed simultaneously without interfering with other tasks. One critical and yet to be examined assumption is that the attention system has the innate capacity to modulate automatic movements. The present study tests this assumption. Setting no deliberate goals for movement, we required sixteen participants to perform personalized and well-practiced finger-tapping movements in three experiments while focusing their attention on either different component fingers or away from movements. Using cutting-edge pose estimation techniques to quantify tapping trajectory, we showed that attention to movement can disrupt movement automaticity, as indicated by decreased inter-finger and inter-trial temporal coherence; facilitate the attended and inhibit the unattended movements in terms of tapping amplitude; and re-organize the action sequence into distinctive patterns according to the focus of attention. These findings demonstrate compelling evidence that attention can modulate automatic movements and provide an empirical foundation for theories based on such modulation in controlling human behavior.
A comparison study of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody between male and female COVID-19 patients: a possible reason underlying different outcome between gender
Authors: Zeng Fanfan , Dai Chan , Cai Pengcheng , Wang Jinbiao , Xu Lei , Li Jianyu , Hu Guoyun , Wang Lin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the difference of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody between male and female COVID-19 patients and figure out a possible explanation for different outcome between male and female patients.MethodsA total number of 331 patients confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled. The plasma of these patients were collected during hospitalization and were detected for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody. Afterwards, the difference of IgG antibody between male and female patients was analyzed.ResultsThe level of IgG antibody in mild, general and recovering patients showed on difference between male and female. In severe status, the average IgG antibody level in female patients tended to be higher than that of in male patients. Compared with male patients, most of the female patients generated a relatively high level of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in severe status. In addition, the generation of IgG antibody in female tended to be stronger than male patients in disease early phase.ConclusionsThe inconsistent of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody generation in male and female patients may account for the different outcome of COVID-19 between gender.
AESA radar and IRST against low observable threats
Authors: Gaitanakis George-Konstantinos , Limnaios George , Zikidis Konstantinos 
Published: March 2020

Purpose
Modern fighter aircraft using active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radars are able to detect and track targets at long ranges, in the order of 50 nautical miles or more. Low observable or stealth technology has contested the radar capabilities, reducing detection/tracking ranges roughly to one-third (or even less, for fighter aircraft radar). Hence, infrared search and track (IRST) systems have been reconsidered as an alternative to the radar. This study aims to explore and compare the capabilities and limitations of these two technologies, AESA radars and IRST systems, as well as their synergy through sensor fusion.

Design/methodology/approach
The AESA radar range is calculated with the help of the radar equation under certain assumptions, taking into account heat dissipation requirements, using the F-16 fighter as a case study. Concerning the IRST sensor, a new model is proposed for the estimation of the detection range, based on the emitted infrared radiation caused by aerodynamic heating.

Findings
The maximum detection range provided by an AESA radar could be restricted because of the increased waste heat which is produced and the relevant constraints concerning the cooling capacity of the carrying aircraft. On the other hand, IRST systems exhibit certain advantages over radars against low observable threats. IRST could be combined with a datalink with the help of data fusion, offering weapons-quality track.

Originality/value
An original approach is provided for the IRST detection range estimation. The AESA/IRST comparison offers valuable insight, while it allows for more efficient planning, at the military acquisition phase, as well as at the tactical level.
Adoption of smart technologies and circular economy performance of buildings
Authors: Windapo Abimbola Oluwakemi , Moghayedi Alireza 
Published: March 2020

PurposeThis paper examines the use of intelligent technologies in buildings and whether the use of smart technologies impacts the circular economy performance of buildings in terms of energy and water consumption, their marginal cost and the management decision time and quality, for building management companies.Design/methodology/approachThe study is initiated through the detailed build-up of the proposition that employs a systematic literature review and adopts the case study research design to make a cross-case analysis of the information extracted from data. The data are derived from the operating costs of two buildings in which most advanced smart technologies are used in Cape Town and interviews with their facility managers. These data provide two research case studies. The results of the investigation are then analysed and linked back to the literature.FindingsThe results of the research suggest that the implementation of smart technologies to create intelligent infrastructure is beneficial to the circular economy performance of buildings and the time taken for management decisions. The results of the study have proven that the impact of smart technologies on the circular economy performance of buildings is positive, as it lowers the cost of utilities and decreases the time required for management decisions.Research limitations/implicationsThe research reported in this paper is exploratory, and due to its limited sample size, its findings may not be statistically generalizable to the population of high-occupancy buildings in Cape Town, which incorporate smart infrastructure technologies within their building management systems (BMSs). Also, the empirical data collected were limited to the views and opinions of the interviewees, and the secondary data were obtained from the selected buildings.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that investment in smart technologies within buildings is of significant value and will improve the circular economy performance of buildings in terms of low energy and water use, and effective management decisions.Social implicationsThe results imply that there would be more effective maintenance decisions taken by facilities managers, which will enable the maintenance of equipment to be properly monitored, problems with the building services and equipment to be identified in good time and in improved well-being and user satisfaction.Originality/valueThe study provides evidence to support the concept that advanced smart technologies boost performance, the time required for management decisions and that they enable circularity in buildings. It supports the proposition that investment in the more advanced smart technologies in buildings has more positive rewards.
Agricultural product price forecasting methods: research advances and trend
Authors: Wang Luyao , Feng Jianying , Sui Xiaojie , Chu Xiaoquan , Mu Weisong 
Published: March 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide reference for researchers by reviewing the research advances and trend of agricultural product price forecasting methods in recent years.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reviews the main research methods and their application of forecasting of agricultural product prices, summarizes the application examples of common forecasting methods, and prospects the future research directions.Findings1) It is the trend to use hybrid models to predict agricultural products prices in the future research; 2) the application of the prediction model based on price influencing factors should be further expanded in the future research; 3) the performance of the model should be evaluated based on DS rather than just error-based metrics in the future research; 4) seasonal adjustment models can be applied to the difficult seasonal forecasting tasks in the agriculture product prices in the future research; 5) hybrid optimization algorithm can be used to improve the prediction performance of the model in the future research.Originality/valueThe methods from this paper can provide reference for researchers, and the research trends proposed at the end of this paper can provide solutions or new research directions for relevant researchers.
Internationalization and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises from emerging economies
Authors: Manotas Eva Cristina , Gonzalez-Perez Maria Alejandra 
Published: March 2020

PurposeThis paper aims to introduce the use of hazards functions for studying the relationship between internationalization and performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from emerging economies.Design/methodology/approachHazards functions analysis is applied to a sample of 64 companies, previously grouped into two subsets of manufacturing SMEs from an emerging economy. The first group contains firms that have attained an accelerated internationalization. And the second one those that have followed a sequential internationalization.FindingsThe results show strong evidence that internationalization positively affects the probability of a better performance, and therefore more competitiveness of SMEs.Practical implicationsThe proposed methodology is an invitation to use models other than linear regression to explain the relationship between internationalization and performance, studying the risk function of poor performance, whose characterization in the lifetime of SMEs. The result of this study clearly illustrates how internationalization affects the performance of SMEs for both those SMEs with accelerated internationalization and those with a sequential process of internationalization.Social implicationsThe implementation of quantitative methodologies, such as the analysis of hazards, has implications in the social practice of research in international business, by inviting the return of data from primary sources, obtained from direct sources, which, although they are not large samples, they are representative, and therefore the results of the well-applied methodology offer powerful and high-reliability information. Irreproducible and non-replicable research results threaten the credibility, usefulness and the very basis of all scientific fields. Studies in entrepreneurship, management and in international business are not exempt from this problem that affects the ethics and credibility of research works.Originality/valueA literature review is presented exposing the disadvantages of the use of traditional correlation methodologies and proposes the methodology traditionally used in industrial engineering studies of hazard functions as a simple option, free of previous assumptions about the relation between internationalization and performance. Finally, the methodology is subjected to triple testing of conceptualization and measurement of internationalization, performance and the relation between internationalization and performance.
TISM for analysis of barriers affecting the adoption of lean concepts to electronics component manufacture
Authors: D. Senthil Kumar , Vinodh S. 
Published: March 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the analysis of barriers affecting the adoption of lean concepts to electrical and electronics component manufacturing.

Design/methodology/approach
Lean concepts are being increasingly applied by electrical and electronics component manufacturers to enhance product value through streamlined process. To facilitate smooth adoption of lean concepts, barriers need to be analyzed and prioritized. In this context, a structural model of 24 barriers is developed through total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach.

Findings
‘Changing governmental policies,’ ‘poor selection of change agents and improvement teams,’ ‘lack of top management commitment understanding and support of the system,’ ‘lack of team autonomy,’ ‘lack of flexibility and versatility’ and ‘lack of customer focus/involvement’ are found to be the dominant barriers based on TISM study. Interpretation statements are being derived from TISM model. Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification analysis is conducted.

Research limitations/implications
In the present paper, 24 barriers are considered. In future, additional barriers could be considered to deal with managerial advancements.

Practical implications
The paper reports the practical case of analysis of barriers to lean adoption in electronics component manufacture. Hence, the inferences have practical relevance.

Originality/value
The development of structural model for the analysis of barriers to lean implementation in electronics component manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises is the original contribution of the authors.
Information management in lean office deployment contexts
Authors: Freitas Rodrigo de Castro , Freitas Maria do Carmo Duarte 
Published: March 2020

PurposeLean office covers the improvement of administrative processes and information flows. In offices, one of the essential challenges is to coordinate the development of information management capabilities. Thus, this paper aims to identify the key factors of information management in lean office deployment contexts.Design/methodology/approachBy adopting a qualitative approach, it consists of theoretical research that applies grounded theory's coding technique and exploits 27 scientific studies on lean office published in the past 20 years.FindingsIt identifies five key factors for managing information into an organizational structure that optimizes information flow, such as “information-seeking,” “access to information,” “information quality,” “information processing” and “use of information and communication technology”.Research limitations/implicationsData analysis was restricted in scientific research regarding lean office deployment. Therefore, the accuracy of the concepts and categories of information management proposed in this paper can be adjusted and validated in future research, thus deepening the discussion of its findings.Practical implicationsIt highlights issues for managing information in contemporary organizations such as failures in information retrieval, restrictions on access to information, lack of quality information, inadequate information processing criteria and inefficiency of information systems infrastructure.Originality/valueIt analyzes the lean office deployment from the theoretical framework of information management. Thus, it differs from other studies in this field because it is not limited to the operational aspects of lean management. Nevertheless, it shows that lean office reconfigures information flows and continually improves organizations’ strategic management.