bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Soil and plant outcomes of harvesting a Noongar staple geophyte in south-western Australia
Authors: Lullfitz Alison , Pettersen Carol , Knapp Lynette , Hopper Stephen D 
Published: August 2020

AbstractGeophytes are a considerable component of Southwest Australian flora and thus, unsurprisingly, feature heavily in the diets and culture of Noongar First Nations people of this old, climatically buffered, infertile landscape-dominated global biodiversity hotspot. Of ~650 geophyte species recorded in south-western Australia, 90 are known traditional Noongar foods. Despite the significant role of geophytes in Noongar traditional lives, there is little published knowledge of the ecological effects of harvesting geophytes. We measured and observed soil and plant outcomes of tuber harvest for two Noongar staple species of Platysace Bunge to test whether it improved soil conditions for plant growth and/or aided tuber availability, as suggested for other Australian Aboriginal root crops. Harvesting of Platysace deflexa led to increases in some soil nutrient levels and, unexpectedly, to an increase in bulk density. Platysace deflexa stem abundance was restored to the pre-harvest level within 1 year post-harvest, whereas tuber weight and volume were less than pre-harvest levels after 2 years. A post-harvest increase in the proportion of small tubers in crops suggests that harvest has a renewing and homogenizing effect on tubers. Site-based differences in post-harvest P. deflexa and Platysace trachymenioides quantity of tubers were consistent with preferential harvest of some populations by present-day Noongar families and their ancestors.
A Probabilistic Functional Atlas of Human Occipito-Temporal Visual Cortex
Authors: Rosenke Mona , van Hoof Rick , van den Hurk Job , Grill-Spector Kalanit , Goebel Rainer 
Published: August 2020

AbstractHuman visual cortex contains many retinotopic and category-specific regions. These brain regions have been the focus of a large body of functional magnetic resonance imaging research, significantly expanding our understanding of visual processing. As studying these regions requires accurate localization of their cortical location, researchers perform functional localizer scans to identify these regions in each individual. However, it is not always possible to conduct these localizer scans. Here, we developed and validated a functional region of interest (ROI) atlas of early visual and category-selective regions in human ventral and lateral occipito-temporal cortex. Results show that for the majority of functionally defined ROIs, cortex-based alignment results in lower between-subject variability compared to nonlinear volumetric alignment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that 1) the atlas accurately predicts the location of an independent dataset of ventral temporal cortex ROIs and other atlases of place selectivity, motion selectivity, and retinotopy. Next, 2) we show that the majority of voxel within our atlas is responding mostly to the labeled category in a left-out subject cross-validation, demonstrating the utility of this atlas. The functional atlas is publicly available (download.brainvoyager.com/data/visfAtlas.zip) and can help identify the location of these regions in healthy subjects as well as populations (e.g., blind people, infants) in which functional localizers cannot be run.
Superior Parietal Lobule: A Role in Relative Localization of Multiple Different Elements
Authors: Vialatte A , Yeshurun Y , Khan A Z , Rosenholtz R , Pisella L 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Simultanagnosia is an impairment in processing multiple visual elements simultaneously consecutive to bilateral posterior parietal damage, and neuroimaging data have specifically implicated the superior parietal lobule (SPL) in multiple element processing. We previously reported that a patient with focal and bilateral lesions of the SPL performed slower than controls in visual search but only for stimuli consisting of separable lines. Here, we further explored this patient’s visual processing of plain object (colored disk) versus object consisting of separable lines (letter), presented in isolation (single object) versus in triplets. Identification of objects was normal in isolation but dropped to chance level when surrounded by distracters, irrespective of eccentricity and spacing. We speculate that this poor performance reflects a deficit in processing objects’ relative locations within the triplet (for colored disks), aggravated by a deficit in processing the relative location of each separable line (for letters). Confirming this, performance improved when the patient just had to detect the presence of a specific colored disk within the triplets (visual search instruction), while the inability to identify the middle letter was alleviated when the distracters were identical letters that could be grouped, thereby reducing the number of ways individual lines could be bound.
The Event-Related Potentials Responding to Outcome Valence and Expectancy Violation during Feedback Processing
Authors: Gu Yan , Liu Tianliang , Zhang Xuemeng , Long Quanshan , Hu Na , Zhang Yi , Chen Antao 
Published: August 2020

AbstractFeedback-related negativity (FRN) is believed to encode reward prediction error (RPE), a term describing whether the outcome is better or worse than expected. However, some studies suggest that it may reflect unsigned prediction error (UPE) instead. Some disagreement remains as to whether FRN is sensitive to the interaction of outcome valence and prediction error (PE) or merely responsive to the absolute size of PE. Moreover, few studies have compared FRN in appetitive and aversive domains to clarify the valence effect or examine PE’s quantitative modulation. To investigate the impact of valence and parametrical PE on FRN, we varied the prediction and feedback magnitudes within a probabilistic learning task in valence (gain and loss domains, Experiment 1) and non-valence contexts (pure digits, Experiment 2). Experiment 3 was identical to Experiment 1 except that some blocks emphasized outcome valence, while others highlighted predictive accuracy. Experiments 1 and 2 revealed a UPE encoder; Experiment 3 found an RPE encoder when valence was emphasized and a UPE encoder when predictive accuracy was highlighted. In this investigation, we demonstrate that FRN is sensitive to outcome valence and expectancy violation, exhibiting a preferential response depending on the dimension that is emphasized.
Successful transition to a market economy: an interpretation from organizational ecology theory and institutional theory
Authors: Tran Hien Thu , Santarelli Enrico 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis article investigates the rationales for the successful economic transition in a transition country through the lens of organizational ecology theory and institutional theory. Initially, the new private sector emerges and survives because of “legitimacy spillovers” from the legitimized transitional mixed sector and some market-oriented identity overlap. Over time, as the private sector builds its own legitimacy, it competes with the state and the mixed sector and challenges their existence. Finally, the Schumpeterian “creative destruction” process replaces the old out-of-date sectors with the new dominant sector. Consistent with organizational ecology theory, the evolution and dynamics of the three economic sectors take place through their interactions, which determine the emergence, prominence, decline, and exit of firm populations in each sector. Depending on whether a centrally planned or market-oriented political legacy plays the dominant role in the regional environment where the transition takes place, local institutions play a moderating role in stimulating or hindering this evolution process. Empirically, we test this mechanism using census data for firms operating in Vietnam between 2000 and 2013, applying Blundell and Bond’s generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation technique and the piecewise exponential hazard model to study the interaction effects of economic sectors in terms of profitability and survival.
Devotion at Sub-National Level: Ramadan, Nighttime Lights, and Religiosity in the Egyptian Governorates
Authors: Ciftci Sabri , Robbins Michael , Zaytseva Sofya 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
This study aims to construct reliable measures of religiosity and to cross-validate survey-based measures in operationalization of this central variable. We obtain measures of sub-national religiosity in the Egyptian governorates from the Arab Barometer surveys using disaggregation and multilevel regression and post-stratification techniques. Then, we use satellite imagery to compare these measures to the intensity of nighttime lights during the holy month of Ramadan. Although not designed to be fully representative, the analysis reveals that survey data at the sub-national level can provide approximate measures when aggregated. These findings contribute to scholarship by introducing a novel measure of religiosity based on nighttime activity during Ramadan and by cross-validating the reliability of survey-based measures of aggregate religiosity.
Racial and ethnic differences in self-reported telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary analysis of a US survey of internet users from late March
Authors: Campos-Castillo Celeste , Anthony Denise 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Widespread technological changes, like the rapid uptake of telehealth in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic, risk creating or widening racial/ethnic disparities. We conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of internet users to evaluate whether there were racial/ethnic disparities in self-reported telehealth use early in the pandemic.

Materials and Methods
The Pew Research Center fielded the survey March 19–24, 2020. Telehealth use because of the pandemic was measured by asking whether respondents (N = 10 624) “used the internet or e-mail to connect with doctors or other medical professionals as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.” We conducted survey-weighted logistic regressions, adjusting for respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics and perceived threat of the pandemic to their own health (eg, no threat, minor, major).

Results
Approximately 17% of respondents reported using telehealth because of the pandemic, with significantly higher unadjusted odds among Blacks, Latinos, and those identified with other race compared to White respondents. The multivariable logistic regressions and sensitivity analyses show Black respondents were more likely than Whites to report using telehealth because of the pandemic, particularly when perceiving the pandemic as a minor threat to their own health.

Discussion
Black respondents are most likely to report using telehealth because of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when they perceive the pandemic as a minor health threat.

Conclusion
The systemic racism creating health and health care disparities has likely raised the need for telehealth among Black patients during the pandemic. Findings suggest opportunities to leverage a broadly defined set of telehealth tools to reduce health care disparities postpandemic.
A phase II study of palliative radiotherapy combined with zoledronic acid hydrate for metastatic bone tumour from renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Harada Hideyuki , Shikama Naoto , Wada Hitoshi , Uchida Nobue , Nozaki Miwako , Hayakawa Kazushige , Yamada Kazunari , Nagakura Hisayasu , Ogawa Hirofumi , Miyazawa Kazunari , Katagiri Hirohisa , Nakamura Naoki 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Purpose
Palliative radiotherapy is the standard of care for bone metastases. However, skeletal-related events, defined as a pathologic fracture, paraplegia, surgery or radiotherapy for local recurrence, or severe pain in previously irradiated bone with radio-resistant histology type still present high incidence. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether zoledronic acid hydrate and palliative radiotherapy could prevent local skeletal-related events.

Methods
Eligible patients with bone metastases from renal cell carcinoma were treated with zoledronic acid hydrate every 3 or 4 weeks and concurrent palliative radiotherapy of 30 Gy in 3 Gy fractions. The criteria for radiotherapy were established by the treating physician, but patients with complicated bone metastases (impending pathological fracture or spinal cord compression) which needed immediate surgery were excluded. The primary endpoint was the local skeletal-related event-free survival rate at 1 year.

Results
Twenty-seven patients were included in the study. The median age was 65 (range, 50–84) years. Radiotherapy dose was 30 Gy for all patients except 1 whose radiotherapy was terminated due to brain metastasis progression at 18 Gy. Zoledronic acid hydrate was administered in a median of 12 (range, 0–34) times. The median follow-up period was 12 months and 19 months in patients who were still alive. Of 27 patients in the efficacy analysis, the 1-year local skeletal-related event-free rate was 77.6% (80% confidence interval, 66.2–89.0). Common grade 3 toxicities were hypocalcemia (1 [4%]), sGPT level increase (1 [4%]) and sGOT level increase (1 [4%]). There was no grade 4 or 5 toxicity.

Conclusion
Zoledronic acid hydrate administration and palliative radiotherapy were a well-tolerated and promising treatment reducing skeletal-related events for bone metastases from renal cell carcinoma.
Paediatric abdominal pain in the time of COVID-19: a new diagnostic dilemma
Authors: Harwood Rachel , Partridge Roland , Minford Joanne , Almond Sarah 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The diagnostic uncertainty for children with abdominal pain has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic with the additional consideration of both COVID-19 and paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome—temporally associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (PIMS-TS) alongside appendicitis, mesenteric adenitis and other less common causes of abdominal pain. We describe the cases of two children who presented with severe abdominal pain, non-bilious vomiting and high temperatures during the UK’s first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Laboratory and abdominal ultrasound features were similar for both children but symptom progression in combination with cross-sectional abdominal imaging enabled differentiation between PIMS-TS and appendicitis with concurrent COVID-19. These cases highlight the importance of regular clinical review, multidisciplinary working and the utility of early cross-sectional imaging to determine the underlying condition.
Palmitic acid induces inflammation in placental trophoblasts and impairs their migration toward smooth muscle cells through plasminogen activator inhibitor-1
Authors: Rampersaud Amanda M , Dunk Caroline E , Lye Stephen J , Renaud Stephen J 
Published: August 2020

AbstractA critical component of early human placental development includes migration of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) into the decidua. EVTs migrate toward and displace vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) surrounding several uterine structures, including spiral arteries. Shallow trophoblast invasion features in several pregnancy complications including preeclampsia. Maternal obesity is a risk factor for placental dysfunction, suggesting that factors within an obese environment may impair early placental development. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid circulating at high levels in obese women, induces an inflammatory response in EVTs that hinders their capacity to migrate toward SMCs. We found that SMCs and SMC-conditioned media stimulated migration and invasion of an EVT-like cell line, HTR8/SVneo. Palmitic acid impaired EVT migration and invasion toward SMCs, and induced expression of several vasoactive and inflammatory mediators in EVTs, including endothelin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and PAI1. PAI1 was increased in plasma of women with early-onset preeclampsia, and PAI1-deficient EVTs were protected from the anti-migratory effects of palmitic acid. Using first trimester placental explants, palmitic acid exposure decreased EVT invasion through Matrigel. Our findings reveal that palmitic acid induces an inflammatory response in EVTs and attenuates their migration through a mechanism involving PAI1. High levels of palmitic acid in pathophysiological situations like obesity may impair early placental development and predispose to placental dysfunction.
The conserved elongation factor Spn1 is required for normal transcription, histone modifications, and splicing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Reim Natalia I , Chuang James , Jain Dhawal , Alver Burak H , Park Peter J , Winston Fred 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSpn1/Iws1 is a conserved protein involved in transcription and chromatin dynamics, yet its general in vivo requirement for these functions is unknown. Using a Spn1 depletion system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we demonstrate that Spn1 broadly influences several aspects of gene expression on a genome-wide scale. We show that Spn1 is globally required for normal mRNA levels and for normal splicing of ribosomal protein transcripts. Furthermore, Spn1 maintains the localization of H3K36 and H3K4 methylation across the genome and is required for normal histone levels at highly expressed genes. Finally, we show that the association of Spn1 with the transcription machinery is strongly dependent on its binding partner, Spt6, while the association of Spt6 and Set2 with transcribed regions is partially dependent on Spn1. Taken together, our results show that Spn1 affects multiple aspects of gene expression and provide additional evidence that it functions as a histone chaperone in vivo.
Funding kidney research as a public health priority: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Zoccali Carmine , Vanholder Raymond , Wagner Carsten A , Anders Hans-Joachim , Blankestijn Peter J , Bruchfeld Annette , Capasso Giovambattista , Cozzolino Mario , Dekker Friedo W , Fliser Danilo , Fouque Denis , Gansevoort Ron T , Goumenos Dimitrios , Jager Kitty J , Massy Ziad A , Oostrom Tom A J , Rychlık Ivan , Soler Maria Jose , Stevens Kate , Spasovski Goce , Wanner Christoph 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMedical societies have a social responsibility to disseminate knowledge and inform health authorities on threats to public health posed by various diseases. Advocacy for health protection programmes and for medical research funding is now embedded into the missions of most scientific societies. To promote kidney research funding in Europe, the European Renal Association – European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA), rather than acting as an individual society advocating for the fight against kidney disease, has actively helped to create an alliance of national associations centred on kidney diseases, the European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA), and joined the Biomedical Alliance (BMA). The ERA-EDTA is fully committed to supporting its working groups (WGs) and consortia of its members to allow them to produce valuable kidney research. The framing and formalization of projects, and the regulatory issues related to submission to the European Commission, are complex. To help WGs to gain expert advice from agencies with specific know-how, the ERA-EDTA has adopted a competitive approach. The best research projects proposed by WGs and consortia of other European investigators will receive seed funding to cover the costs of consultancy by expert agencies. Via its broader platforms, the EKHA and the BMA, the ERA-EDTA will strive towards broader recognition of kidney disease and related clusters of non-communicable diseases, by European and national agencies, as major threats to the qualities of life of their populations and their economies.
Estimation of the burden of shielding among a cross-section of patients attending rheumatology clinics with SLE—data from the BSR audit of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Rutter Megan , Lanyon Peter C , Sandhu Ravinder , Batten Rebecca L , Garner Rozeena , Little Jayne , Narayan Nehal , Sharp Charlotte A , Bruce Ian N , Erb Nicola , Griffiths Bridget , Guest Hannah , Macphie Elizabeth , Packham Jon , Hiley Chris , Obrenovic Karen , Rivett Ali , Gordon Caroline , Pearce Fiona A 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objectives
We aimed to estimate what proportion of people with SLE attending UK rheumatology clinics would be categorized as being at high risk from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and therefore asked to shield, and explore what implications this has for rheumatology clinical practice.

Methods
We used data from the British Society for Rheumatology multicentre audit of SLE, which included a large, representative cross-sectional sample of patients attending UK Rheumatology clinics with SLE. We calculated who would receive shielding advice using the British Society for Rheumatology’s risk stratification guidance and accompanying scoring grid, and assessed whether ethnicity and history of nephritis were over-represented in the shielding group.

Results
The audit included 1003 patients from 51 centres across all 4 nations of the UK. Overall 344 (34.3%) patients had a shielding score ≥3 and would have been advised to shield. People with previous or current LN were 2.6 (1.9–3.4) times more likely to be in the shielding group than people with no previous LN (P &lt; 0.001). Ethnicity was not evenly distributed between the groups (chi-squared P &lt; 0.001). Compared with White people, people of Black ethnicity were 1.9 (1.3–2.8) and Asian 1.9 (1.3–2.7) times more likely to be in the shielding group. Increased risk persisted after controlling for LN.

Conclusion
Our study demonstrates the large number of people with SLE who are likely to be shielding. Implications for clinical practice include considering communication across language and cultural differences, and ways to conduct renal assessment including urinalysis, during telephone and video consultations for patients who are shielding.
Immunoreactivity and neutralization capacity of Philippine cobra antivenom against Naja philippinensis and Naja samarensis venoms
Authors: Tan Choo Hock , Palasuberniam Praneetha , Blanco Francis Bonn , Tan Kae Yi 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Background
The Philippine cobra (Naja philippinensis) and Samar cobra (Naja samarensis) are two WHO Category 1 medically important venomous snakes in the Philippines. Philippine cobra antivenom (PCAV) is the only antivenom available in the country, but its neutralization capacity against the venoms of N. philippinensis and hetero-specific N. samarensis has not been reported. This knowledge gap greatly hinders the optimization of antivenom use in the region.

Methods
This study examined the immunological binding and neutralization capacity of PCAV against the two cobra venoms using WHO-recommended protocols.

Results
In mice, both venoms were highly neurotoxic and lethal with a median lethal dose of 0.18 and 0.20 µg/g, respectively. PCAV exhibited strong and comparable immunoreactivity toward the venoms, indicating conserved venom antigenicity between the two allopatric species. In in vivo assay, PCAV was only moderately effective in neutralizing the toxicity of both venoms. Its potency was even lower against the hetero-specific N. samarensis venom by approximately two-fold compared with its potency against N. philippinensis venom.

Conclusion
The results indicated that PCAV could be used to treat N. samarensis envenomation but at a higher dose, which might increase the risk of hypersensitivity and worsen the shortage of antivenom supply in the field. Antivenom manufacturing should be improved by developing a low-dose, high-efficacy product against cobra envenomation.