bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome‐wide association study of shank length and diameter at different developmental stages in chicken F2 resource population
Authors: Emrani H. , Masoudi A. A. , Vaez Torshizi R. , Ehsani A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn order to find SNPs and genes affecting shank traits, we performed a GWAS in a chicken F2 population of eight half‐sib families from five hatches derived from reciprocal crosses between an Arian fast‐growing line and an Urmia indigenous slow‐growing chicken. A total of 308 birds were genotyped using a 60K chicken SNP chip. Shank traits including shank length and diameter were measured weekly from birth to 12 weeks of age. A generalized linear model and a compressed mixed linear model (CMLM) were applied to achieve the significant regions. The value of the average genomic inflation factor (λ statistic) of the CMLM model (0.99) indicated that the CMLM was more effective than the generalized linear model in controlling the population structure. The genes surrounding significant SNPs and their biological functions were identified from NCBI, Ensembl and UniProt databases. The results indicated that 12 SNPs at 12 different ages passed the LD‐adjusted 5% Bonferroni significant threshold. Two SNPs were significant for shank length and nine SNPs were significant for shank diameter. The significant SNPs were located near to or inside 11 candidate genes. The results showed that a number of significant SNPs in the middle ages were higher than the rest. The MXRA8 gene was related to the significant SNP at week 1 that promotes proliferation of growth plate chondrocytes. A unique SNP of Gga_rs16689511 located on chicken Z chromosome within the LOC101747628 gene was related to shank length at three different ages of birds (weeks 8, 9 and 11). The significant SNPs for shank diameter were found at weeks 4 and 7 (four and five SNPs respectively). The identifications of SNPs and genes here could contribute to a better understanding of the genetic control of shank traits in chicken.
Husbands’ and wives’ risk preferences and improved maize adoption in Tanzania
Authors: Magnan Nicholas , Love Abby M. , Mishili Fulgence J. , Sheremenko Ganna 
Published: July 2020

AbstractResearch on technology adoption typically assumes that the preferences of a single individual—the household head—determine household‐level decisions. This study uses experimentally derived prospect theory‐based risk preferences from couples in Tanzania to test whether men's and women's risk preferences, which often diverge, influence the adoption of improved maize varieties. We find that women's risk aversion and men's loss aversion are negatively correlated with improved variety use. The tendency of men to overweight small probabilities is negatively associated with adoption, whereas the tendency of women to do so is positively associated. These findings suggest that technology adoption research should look beyond the preferences of the household head, and that technology promoters should consider targeting both men and women in their education and dissemination efforts.
Variance estimation in inverse probability weighted Cox models
Authors: Shu Di , Young Jessica G. , Toh Sengwee , Wang Rui 
Published: July 2020

AbstractInverse probability weighted Cox models can be used to estimate marginal hazard ratios under different point treatments in observational studies. To obtain variance estimates, the robust sandwich variance estimator is often recommended to account for the induced correlation among weighted observations. However, this estimator does not incorporate the uncertainty in estimating the weights and tends to overestimate the variance, leading to inefficient inference. Here we propose a new variance estimator that combines the estimation procedures for the hazard ratio and weights using stacked estimating equations, with additional adjustments for the sum of terms that are not independently and identically distributed in a Cox partial likelihood score equation. We prove analytically that the robust sandwich variance estimator is conservative and establish the asymptotic equivalence between the proposed variance estimator and one obtained through linearization by Hajage et al. in 2018. In addition, we extend our proposed variance estimator to accommodate clustered data. We compare the finite sample performance of the proposed method with alternative methods through simulation studies. We illustrate these different variance methods in both independent and clustered data settings, using a bariatric surgery dataset and a multiple readmission dataset, respectively. To facilitate implementation of the proposed method, we have developed an package ipwCoxCSV.
A panel data analysis of FDI and informal labour markets
Authors: Baez‐Morales Antonio 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to examine whether informal labour markets affect the stock of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and also whether this effect is similar in developed and developing countries. Panel econometric models are estimated for a sample of 65 countries over a 10‐year period (1999–2007). While the results show that informal labour markets are significant and do positively affect FDI, they do so more for developing countries than developed countries and are robust to several checks.
Are local workers better‐off from foreign presence? A firm‐level panel data analysis of a service industry
Authors: Nguyen Dao Thi Hong 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis study extends the international investment literature by shedding light on the impact of foreign presence on the host country's workforce in a highly skilled service industry. The empirical analyses utilize a rich panel dataset of firms in the professional, scientific and technical service industry of Vietnam's emerging economy. The adopted estimation strategy takes into account possible endogeneity problem and measurement bias. The results indicate that local workers in the industry are generally better‐off from the presence of foreign firms which pay much higher and simultaneously induce domestic counterparts to pay higher. The subgroup analyses provide deeper insights into the heterogeneous impact of foreign presence, carrying important implications for the local labour market.
Sociodemographic Determinants of Occupational Risks of Exposure to COVID‐19 in Canada
Authors: St‐Denis Xavier 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe activities performed by Canadian workers in some occupations may increase the risk of exposure to infectious diseases such as COVID‐19. This research note explores how occupational exposure risks vary by labor force characteristics using publicly available Canadian data in combination with a data set providing information on the level of physical proximity and frequency of exposure to infections or diseases faced by workers in different occupations. The results show important sociodemographic differences. First, women work in occupations associated with significantly higher average risks of exposure to COVID‐19 than men. This is driven by their overrepresentation in high‐risk broad occupational categories such as health occupations. Second, older workers (65 years or more), a group vulnerable to COVID‐19, appear to work in occupations requiring performing activities characterized by a lower level of physical proximity than their younger colleagues, with minimal differences in the frequency of exposure to diseases or infections. Finally, workers in low‐income occupations are employed in occupations that put them at greater risk of exposure to COVID‐19 than other workers. This is especially the case for women, immigrants, and members of visible minority groups in low‐income occupations. More broadly, this research note provides insights into the health‐related dimension of the literature on occupational tasks and labor market stratification.
Characterization of tumors with ultralow tumor mutational burden in Japanese cancer patients
Authors: Hatakeyama Keiichi , Nagashima Takeshi , Ohshima Keiichi , Ohnami Sumiko , Ohnami Shumpei , Shimoda Yuji , Naruoka Akane , Maruyama Koji , Iizuka Akira , Ashizawa Tadashi , Mochizuki Tohru , Urakami Kenichi , Akiyama Yasuto , Yamaguchi Ken 
Published: July 2020

AbstractTumor mutational burden analysis using whole‐exome sequencing highlights features of tumors with various mutations or known driver alterations. Cancers with few changes in the exon regions have unclear characteristics, even though low‐mutated tumors are often detected in pan‐cancer analysis. In the present study, we analyzed tumors with low tumor mutational burden listed in the Japanese version of The Cancer Genome Atlas, a data set of 5020 primary solid tumors. Our analysis revealed that detection rates of known driver mutations and copy number variation were decreased in samples with tumor mutational burden below 1.0 (ultralow tumor), compared with those in samples with low tumor mutational burden (≤5 mutations/Mb). This trend was also observed in The Cancer Genome Atlas data set. In the ultralow tumor mutational burden tumors, expression analysis showed decreased TP53 inactivation and chromosomal instability. TP53 inactivation frequently correlated with PI3K/mTOR‐related gene expression, implying suppression of the PI3K/mTOR pathway in ultralow tumor mutational burden tumors. In common with mutational burden, the T cell‐inflamed gene expression profiling signature was a potential marker for prediction of an immune checkpoint inhibitor response, and some ultralow tumor mutational burden tumor populations highly expressed this signature. Our analysis focused on how these tumors could provide insight into tumors with low somatic alteration that are difficult to detect solely using whole‐exome sequencing.
Genomics‐based re‐examination of the taxonomy and phylogeny of human and simian Mastadenoviruses: an evolving whole genomes approach, revealing putative zoonosis, anthroponosis, and amphizoonosis
Authors: Kang June , Ismail Ashrafali Mohamed , Dehghan Shoaleh , Rajaiya Jaya , Allard Marc W. , Lim Haw Chuan , Dyer David W. , Chodosh James , Seto Donald 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWith the advent of high‐resolution and cost‐effective genomics and bioinformatics tools and methods contributing to a large database of both human (HAdV) and simian (SAdV) adenoviruses, a genomics‐based re‐evaluation of their taxonomy is warranted. Interest in these particular adenoviruses is growing in part due to the applications of both in gene transfer protocols, including gene therapy and vaccines, as well in oncolytic protocols. In particular, the re‐evaluation of SAdVs as appropriate vectors in humans is important as zoonosis precludes the assumption that human immune system may be naïve to these vectors. Additionally, as important pathogens, adenoviruses are a model organism system for understanding viral pathogen emergence through zoonosis and anthroponosis, particularly among the primate species, along with recombination, host adaptation, and selection, as evidenced by one long‐standing human respiratory pathogen HAdV‐4 and a recent re‐evaluation of another, HAdV‐76. The latter reflects the insights on amphizoonosis, defined as infections in both directions among host species including “other than human”, that are possible with the growing database of nonhuman adenovirus genomes. HAdV‐76 is a recombinant that has been isolated from human, chimpanzee, and bonobo hosts. On‐going and potential impacts of adenoviruses on public health and translational medicine drive this evaluation of 174 whole genome sequences from HAdVs and SAdVs archived in GenBank. The conclusion is that rather than separate HAdV and SAdV phylogenetic lineages, a single, intertwined tree is observed with all HAdVs and SAdVs forming mixed clades. Therefore, a single designation of “primate adenovirus” (PrAdV) superseding either HAdV and SAdV is proposed, or alternatively, keeping HAdV for human adenovirus but expanding the SAdV nomenclature officially to include host species identification as in ChAdV for chimpanzee adenovirus, GoAdV for gorilla adenovirus, BoAdV for bonobo adenovirus, and ad libitum.
Comparative phylogenomics reveal complex evolution of life history strategies in a clade of bivalves with parasitic larvae (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Ambleminae)
Authors: Smith Chase H. , Pfeiffer John M. , Johnson Nathan A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractFreshwater mussels are a species‐rich group with biodiversity patterns strongly shaped by a life history strategy that includes an obligate parasitic larval stage. In this study, we set out to reconstruct the life history evolution and systematics in a clade of freshwater mussels adapted to parasitizing a molluscivorous host fish. Anchored hybrid enrichment and ancestral character reconstruction revealed a complex pattern of life history evolution with host switching and multiple instances of convergence, including reduction in size of larvae, increased fecundity, and growth during encapsulation. Our phylogenomic analyses also recovered non‐monophyly of taxa exhibiting multiple traits used as the basis for previous taxonomic hypotheses. Taxa with axe‐head shaped glochidia were resolved as paraphyletic, but our results strongly suggest the complex morphology is an adaptation to reduce larval size, with reduction in size further accentuated in taxa previously assigned to Leptodea. To more accurately reflect the evolutionary history of this group, we make multiple systematic changes, including the description of a new genus, Atlanticoncha gen. nov., and the synonymy of the genus Leptodea under Potamilus. Our findings contribute to the growing body of literature showing that cladistic hypotheses based solely on morphological characters, including larval morphology, can be flawed in freshwater mussels.
Abdominoperineal excision in Australasia: clinical outcomes, predictive factors and recent trends of nonrestorative rectal cancer surgery
Authors: Smith N. , Waters P. S. , Peacock O. , Kong J. C. , Lynch A. C. , McCormick J. J. , Heriot A. , Warrier S. K. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAimThe decision to perform an abdominoperineal excision (APR) rather than restorative bowel resection relies on a number of clinical factors. There remains great variability in APR rates internationally. The aim of this study was to demonstrate trends of APR surgery in low rectal cancer (< 6 cm from the anal verge) in Australasia and identify predictors of nonrestoration.MethodThis study reviewed a prospectively maintained colorectal registry – the Binational Colorectal Cancer Audit (BCCA) – from general/colorectal surgical units across Australia and New Zealand. Data were analysed to determine factors predictive of nonrestorative resection. Patients were analysed based on the presence (control) or absence (comparison) of a primary anastomosis.ResultsOf 3628 patients with rectal cancer, 2096 were diagnosed with low rectal cancer between 2007 and 2017. The incidence of APR remained constant over the study period, with 58% of all resections of low rectal cancer being APR. The majority of resections were performed by consultants in urban hospitals (86% vs 14%). Tumours ≤ 3 cm from the anal verge, T4, M1 disease and neoadjuvant therapy were the greatest predictors of APR (P < 0.001). A significantly increased rate of restorative surgery was observed in public hospital settings (59% vs 41%, P < 0.05). The rate of positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) was 7.95%, with significantly increased rates in patients undergoing APR (12.2% vs 6.2%, P < 0.001). CRM positivity was increased in open approaches, T4, N2 and M1 staged disease and in an emergency/urgent setting (P < 0.001 and P < 0.045, respectively). Significantly increased wound and pulmonary complications were observed in the APR cohort (P < 0.01).ConclusionThe rates of APR in Australia and New Zealand remain high but are comparable to international figures, with one‐third of rectal cancers being treated by APR. The main determinants of APR are tumour height, T stage and neoadjuvant therapy requirement. CRM positivity was higher in APR patients.
European Society of Coloproctology Colorectal Robotic Surgery Training for the Trainers Course – the first pilot experience
Authors: Eardley N. J. , Matzel K. E. , Gómez Ruiz M. , Khan J. S. , Riley S. A. , Donnelly M. T. , Tou S. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAimCurrently, there is no established colorectal specific robotic surgery Train the Trainer (TTT) course. The aim was to develop and evaluate such a course which can then be further developed to be incorporated within the planned European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP)/European School of Coloproctology (ESC) robotic colorectal surgery training curriculum.MethodAfter identifying the need for such a course within a training programme, the course was developed by a subgroup of the ESCP/ESC. A scoping literature review was performed and the content and materials for the course were developed by a team consisting of two gastroenterologists with a combined experience of 30 years of facilitating TTT courses, a robotic surgeon and proctor with laparoscopic TTT faculty experience and experienced robotic and laparoscopic colorectal trainers. The course was evaluated by asking delegates to complete pre‐ and post‐course questionnaires.ResultsThere were eight delegates on the course from across Europe. Delegates increased their knowledge of each of the course learning objectives and identified learning points in order to change practice. The feedback from the delegates of the course was positive across several areas and all felt that they had achieved their own personal objectives in attending the course.ConclusionThis pilot robotic colorectal TTT course has achieved its aim and demonstrated many positives. There is a need for such a course and the evaluation processes have provided opportunities for reflection, which will allow the development/tailoring of future robotic colorectal TTT courses to help develop robotic training further.
Operationalizing Design Thinking in Business Intelligence and Analytics Projects
Authors: Chongwatpol Jongsawas 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACTDesign Thinking has been applied successfully in many fields; however, in Information Systems research most early studies focus on applying the specific toolsets to developing product and system designs to solve strategic, managerial, and operational problems. There is little research on how Design Thinking can be embedded in the learning processes in design‐oriented IS research and enabled in the context of business intelligence (BI) and business analytics (BA). How can Design Thinking be embedded in the learning processes and enabled in the context of BI/BA projects in the classroom environment, especially in the proof of concept stage? A practical view on integrating the mindset and toolset of the Design Thinking approach and in the learning process as a case based in‐class experience is presented along with a guideline for coaching the Design Thinking team and the lessons learned from each stage of Design Thinking. The results of this study show that Design Thinking practices can be enlisted to help students frame their creations and that these practices have a valuable contribution as alternatives when designing curricula for teaching and learning.
Drebrin expression patterns in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis
Authors: Dombroski Thaís Caroline Dallabona , Peixoto‐Santos Jose Eduardo , Maciel Karina , Baqui Munira Muhammad Abdel , Velasco Tonicarlo Rodrigues , Sakamoto Americo Ceiki , Assirati João Alberto , Carlotti Carlos Gilberto , Machado Hélio Rubens , Sousa Gleice Kelly de , Hanamura Kenji , Leite João Pereira , Costa da Costa Jaderson , Palmini André Luiz , Paglioli Eliseu , Neder Luciano , Spreafico Roberto , Shirao Tomoaki , Garbelli Rita , Martins Antonio Roberto 
Published: July 2020

AbstractObjectiveDrebrins are crucial for synaptic function and dendritic spine development, remodeling, and maintenance. In temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients, a significant hippocampal synaptic reorganization occurs, and synaptic reorganization has been associated with hippocampal hyperexcitability. This study aimed to evaluate, in TLE patients, the hippocampal expression of drebrin using immunohistochemistry with DAS2 or M2F6 antibodies that recognize adult (drebrin A) or adult and embryonic (pan‐drebrin) isoforms, respectively.MethodsHippocampal sections from drug‐resistant TLE patients with hippocampal sclerosis (HS; TLE, n = 33), of whom 31 presented with type 1 HS and two with type 2 HS, and autopsy control cases (n = 20) were assayed by immunohistochemistry and evaluated for neuron density, and drebrin A and pan‐drebrin expression. Double‐labeling immunofluorescences were performed to localize drebrin A–positive spines in dendrites (MAP2), and to evaluate whether drebrin colocalizes with inhibitory (GAD65) and excitatory (VGlut1) presynaptic markers.ResultsCompared to controls, TLE patients had increased pan‐drebrin in all hippocampal subfields and increased drebrin A–immunopositive area in all hippocampal subfields but CA1. Drebrin‐positive spine density followed the same pattern as total drebrin quantification. Confocal microscopy indicated juxtaposition of drebrin‐positive spines with VGlut1‐positive puncta, but not with GAD65‐positive puncta. Drebrin expression in the dentate gyrus of TLE cases was associated negatively with seizure frequency and positively with verbal memory. TLE patients with lower drebrin‐immunopositive area in inner molecular layer (IML) than in outer molecular layer (OML) had a lower seizure frequency than those with higher or comparable drebrin‐immunopositive area in IML compared with OML.SignificanceOur results suggest that changes in drebrin‐positive spines and drebrin expression in the dentate gyrus of TLE patients are associated with lower seizure frequency, more preserved verbal memory, and a better postsurgical outcome.
The “Flip”—Sustaining Complexity and Multiplicity Post‐Quarantine
Authors: Dickerson Victoria C. 
Published: July 2020

This article describes poststructural ways of responding to the pandemic by looking for openings or gaps within more traditional ways of interacting with dilemmas. The author situates herself within a “positive deviance” epistemology, which looks for what already works rather than getting captured by the current problem. We “flip” what are the usual ways of responding and explore three different programs that illustrate inventive and assets‐based approaches. Linking‐Lives Storython, created specifically to utilize our COVID shelter‐in‐place experience; Re‐Authoring Teaching: Creating a Collaboratory, begun 12 years ago to meet the needs of a widespread community; and Witness to Witness, a current response to contemporary disastrous situations—all have utilized technology to open possibilities for those who are helped as well as those who are helpers. The article shows how each program has specifically flipped more traditional ways of responding, but also how this “flip” employs a practice of “disciplined improvisation.” Each program has a built‐in structure that depends on technology to make it work; each has a disciplined approach that allows the helpers to improvise to meet the needs of the receivers. It is this “flip,” this way of thinking, that can sustain us and our work in times of great complexity and multiplicity.