bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cryptocurrencies value‐at‐risk and expected shortfall: Do regime‐switching volatility models improve forecasting?
Authors: Maciel Leandro 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis paper evaluates the presence of regime changes in the log‐returns volatility dynamics of cryptocurrencies using Markov‐Switching GARCH (MS‐GARCH) models. The empirical study compares the prediction performance of MS‐GARCH against traditional single‐regime GARCH methods for one‐, five‐ and ten‐steps‐ahead volatility forecasting of six leading digital coins such as Bitcoin, Dashcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Monero and Ripple. Using a Bayesian approach, different MS‐GARCH structures are estimated considering specifications up to three regimes, three scedastic functions and six error distributions, resulting in a total of 54 models for each cryptocurrency. Forecasts are compared according to an economic criterion, that is, through the estimation of Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) and Expected Shortfall (ES) risk measures. The results support the evidence of regime changes in the volatility process of selected cryptocurrencies and show that MS‐GARCH models do provide more accurate VaR and ES forecasts than their single‐regime counterparts.
Bank efficiency in Vietnam: Do scale expansion strategies and non‐performing loans matter?
Authors: Le Chau , Šević Aleksandar , G. Tzeremes Panayiotis , Ngo Trong 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn Vietnam, following the process of financial liberalization, the rapid banking expansion has resulted in structural frangibility and bad debt proliferation with negative implication for bank performance. This is the first comprehensive study that evaluates the performance of the Vietnamese banking system at the start of the Global Financial Crisis in 2008 up to 2016. We show that the Vietnamese banking system experienced a downward trend in technical efficiency over the liberalization period. However, there persists an efficiency gap among banks with different ownership structure, suggesting that privatization matters for performance improvement. One of the major contributions is the analysis of the impact of non‐performing loans on bank performance. We argue that this category of loans and bank size have nonlinear effects on the estimated efficiency levels. Medium‐sized banks are more efficient than big and small banks. This finding implies that the ongoing restructuring scheme pushing banks' scale expansion via capital build‐up should be carefully taken into consideration.
The impacts of oil price shocks and United States economic uncertainty on global stock markets
Authors: Kwon Dohyoung 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis article examines interdependence between oil price shocks and United States economic uncertainty and their effects on global stock markets within a structural VAR model over the last 40 years. I find that aggregate demand shocks cause a transitory rise in global real stock returns, whereas precautionary oil demand and United States economic uncertainty shocks decline the returns. Especially, oil demand shocks significantly increase United States economic uncertainty, indicating that their direct impacts on global stock markets are amplified by its endogenous response. Variance decomposition analysis shows that oil price shocks and United States economic uncertainty explain 17% and 6% of long‐run variations in global real stock returns, respectively. These figures have more than tripled when the model is estimated on post 2000 data, suggesting that oil market fundamentals and United States macro uncertainty are an important determinant of global stock market movements.
Analysis of business process management capability and information technology in small and medium enterprises in the garment industry (multiple case studies in East Java, Indonesia)
Authors: ER Mahendrawathi , Nurmadewi Dita 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis research explores the interrelationships between internal and external factors, business process management (BPM) capability of garment‐based SMEs, and the IT that matches this capability. Multiple case studies are conducted in three SMEs in East Java, Indonesia. The data is collected using in‐depth interviews with the owners and employees of SMEs. A grounded theory approach is used to analyze the findings. Analysis of the three cases found two main factors that affect the BPM in the garment SMEs. The first is the owner's business aptitude and expertise, and the second is the connection between external factors, business context and business strategy. Business strategy is closely related to the way SMEs define their business process, organize their employees, and develop culture. The BPM capabilities needed by SMEs in Indonesia include business process documentation and business process improvement. The business process and business process capability determine the IT needs of garment SMEs. IT is used to support sales, marketing, and payment processes in the three case companies. SMEs are very careful about their IT investment decisions due to resource constraints. SMEs will choose IT systems requiring minimal investment which are less risky to implement, such as social media and the e‐marketplace.
Anti‐MDA‐5 antibody‐positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease treated with therapeutic plasma exchange: A case series
Authors: Saito Tomohiro , Mizobuchi Masahide , Miwa Yusuke , Sugiyama Motonori , Mima Yuuki , Iida Ayana , Kanazawa Nobuhiro , Morikawa Tomoki , Hayashi Junichi , Fukuda Kei , Shikida Yasuto , Suzuki Taihei , Honda Hirokazu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWe present six cases of antimelanoma differentiation‐associated gene 5 antibody (anti‐MDA5‐Ab)‐positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP‐ILD), which is known to have a poor prognosis. The outcomes of these cases are described after treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Clinical and therapeutic data for patients with CADM with RP‐ILD were collected retrospectively from medical records. All six patients received early intensive care including high‐dose corticosteroids, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and a calcineurin inhibitor, but lung disease and hypoxia became more severe. TPE was performed over a median of 9.5 sessions (range 3‐14) per patient, and the median duration from admission to TPE was 23 days. Three patients received combined direct hemoperfusion using a polymyxin B‐immobilized fiber column (PMX‐DHP) therapy on successive days to manage acute respiratory failure. Four patients survived and two died due to respiratory failure. In the survival cases, ferritin decreased, and ferritin and KL‐6 were lower at diagnosis. The patients who died had a higher alveolar‐arterial oxygen difference and more severe lung lesions at the time of initiation of TPE. These findings indicate that a combination of conventional therapy and TPE may be useful for improvement of the prognosis of CADM with RP‐ILD at the early stage of onset.
Fitting continuum wavefunctions with complex Gaussians: Computation of ionization cross sections
Authors: Ammar Abdallah , Leclerc Arnaud , Ancarani Lorenzo Ugo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWe implement a full nonlinear optimization method to fit continuum states with complex Gaussians. The application to a set of regular scattering Coulomb functions allows us to validate the numerical feasibility, to explore the range of convergence of the approach, and to demonstrate the relative superiority of complex over real Gaussian expansions. We then consider the photoionization of atomic hydrogen, and ionization by electron impact in the first Born approximation, for which the closed form cross sections serve as a solid benchmark. Using the proposed complex Gaussian representation of the continuum combined with a real Gaussian expansion for the initial bound state, all necessary matrix elements within a partial wave approach become analytical. The successful numerical comparison illustrates that the proposed all‐Gaussian approach works efficiently for ionization processes of one‐center targets.
Simultaneous quantitation of four androgens and 17‐hydroxyprogesterone in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients by LC‐MS/MS
Authors: Cao Zheng , Lu Yifan , Cong Yuting , Liu Ying , Li Youran , Wang Husheng , Zhang Qiaoli , Huang Wenxi , Liu Jingrui , Dong Ying , Tang Guodong , Luo Yiqi R. , Yin Chenghong , Zhai Yanhong 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundDue to the low concentration of androgens in women and the limitation of immunoassays, it remains a challenge to accurately determine the levels of serum androgens in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients for clinical laboratories. In this report, a liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantitation of testosterone (T), androstenedione (A4), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 17‐hydroxyprogesterone (17‐OHP) that are associated with PCOS.MethodsThe serum samples were processed by protein precipitation and solid phase extraction before analysis with the in‐house developed LC‐MS/MS. The chromatographic separation was achieved with a C18 column, using a linear gradient elution with two mobile phases: 0.02% formic acid in water (phase A) and 0.1% formic acid in methanol (phase B). The separated analytes were detected by positive or negative electrospray ionization mode under multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).ResultsThe assay for all the five analytes was linear, stable, with imprecision less than 9% and recoveries within ±10%. The lower limits of quantification were 0.05, 0.05, 5, 0.025, and 0.025 ng/mL for T, A4, DHEAS, DHT, and 17‐OHP, respectively. In the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses with the PCOS (n = 63) and healthy (n = 161) subjects, the AUC of the four‐androgen combined was greater than that of any single androgen tested in PCOS diagnosis.ConclusionsThe LC‐MS/MS method for the four androgens and 17‐OHP showed good performance for clinical implementation. More importantly, simultaneous quantitation of the four androgens provided better diagnostic power for PCOS.
Paddy‐soaked rice mill wastewater treatment by phycoremediation and feasibility study on use of algal biomass as biofertilizer
Authors: Umamaheswari Jagannathan , Shanthakumar Subramainam 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDSustainable wastewater management mostly implicates treatment cost, viability, and performance of an appropriate system, in addition to reuse and recycling, to meet the present social needs. In the current study, algal technology was coupled with paddy‐soaked rice mill wastewater (PSRMW) treatment to enhance the efficient treatment and economic feasibility of algal‐based eco‐friendly products. Initially, the selected microalgae, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, were cultured in raceway ponds using PSRMW as a growth medium. Then, the harvested live algal biomass was carried forward to subsequent study, after primary seedling experiments of Indian okra (Abelmoschus angulosus), which involves soil amendment treatment samples T1 (control soil – no amendment), T2 (soil + live algal biomass), and T3 (soil + chemical fertilizer).RESULTSThe maximum ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3‐N) and phosphate (PO4‐P) removal of ~70% (average yield coefficient (YN): 5.78 mg biomass mg−1 of N) and ~65% (YP: 14.13) were obtained from the phycoremediation experiments. The biochemical composition such as lipid, protein, and carbohydrate contents of harvested biomass were recorded as ~35%, ~30%, and ~9%, respectively. From the biofertilizer experiments, the maximum absolute growth rate (AGR) of 0.40 day−1 was obtained in T2 plants with better growth characteristics of chlorophyll, fresh and dry shoot, root weights (which were ~30% more than that of T3), and control soil (T1) does not exhibit the plant growth as the soil was low in nutrients.CONCLUSIONThe present study revealed the phycoremediation potential of C. pyrenoidosa in PSRMW treatment and the application of produced algal biomass as a soil amendment for the growth of A. angulosus. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)
Faculty perspectives of an entrustable professional activity (EPA) framework in predoctoral dental education
Authors: Wolcott Michael D. , Mason Matthew R. , Broome Angela M. , Tittemore Ashley J. , De Rossi Scott S. , Quinonez Rocio B. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPurposeThe entrustable professional activity (EPA) framework is an assessment approach used to define the educational outcomes of a program by outlining discrete work tasks learners are expected to perform independently upon graduation. This study outlines the development and evaluation of an EPA framework for predoctoral dental education at the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry.MethodsThe draft EPA framework was created in collaboration with a group of faculty members and included 15 statements that were mapped to relevant Commission on Dental Accreditation standards. The draft EPA framework was distributed to faculty via an electronic survey, requesting participants to evaluate whether the EPAs were well‐defined; observable; measurable; expected of a general dentist; transferable to other practice settings; and required application of relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes. In addition, participants were asked to identify the percentage of graduates who could perform these tasks independently and whether learners must be able to perform the list of EPAs upon graduation.ResultsSixty‐eight faculty members completed the survey (72% response rate); participants represented all divisions across the school and had extensive dental practice experiences. Overall, participants agreed the EPAs met the defined criteria and were considered important for graduates to be able to demonstrate. Feedback from faculty voiced support for the EPA framework and identified concerns regarding the implementation due to potential faculty calibration and time constraints.ConclusionEvidence from this study supports additional research to explore how the EPA framework can be further developed in predoctoral and postgraduate dental education programs.
Analysis of payments to GI physicians in the United States: Open payments data study
Authors: Gangireddy Venu Gopala Reddy , Amin Rajan , Yu Kevin , Kanneganti Praveen , Talla Swathi , Annapureddy Amarnath 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackground and AimThe purpose of this study was to review and analyze the nature of industry payments to gastroenterology and hepatology (GI) physicians.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of open payments (OP) data for the year 2017. Payments to individual physicians were aggregated using a unique physician profile identification number. General payments to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regions were also analyzed. The nature of financial transactions in general payments was reported overall and per physician payment. Research, ownership, and general payments were aggregated and analyzed by drug/device companies.ResultsDuring the study period, more GI physicians received contributions in the form of general payments compared to ownership or research payments. A small percentage of physicians received contributions greater than $100 000. The most frequent contributions were for food and beverages. Only 10 manufacturers made about 71% ($43 271 938) of general payments.ConclusionsWe found that only a small number of GI physicians received a significant portion of industry payments. A large portion of those payments came from drug or device companies. The impact of these payments on gastroenterologists needs to be examined further.
Uptake and impact of facility‐based HIV self‐testing on PrEP delivery: a pilot study among young women in Kisumu, Kenya
Authors: Wanga Valentine , Omollo Victor , Bukusi Elizabeth A , Odoyo Josephine B , Morton Jennifer F , Kidoguchi Lara , Johnson Rachel , Hughes James P , Celum Connie , Baeten Jared M 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIntroductionHIV testing is a required part of delivery of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. However, repeat testing can be challenging in busy, under‐staffed clinical settings, which could negatively impact PrEP uptake and continuation. We prospectively evaluated optional facility‐based HIV self‐testing (HIVST) among young women using PrEP in an implementation programme.MethodsBetween February and November 2019, we collected data from young women receiving PrEP at two family planning facilities in Kisumu, Kenya. At each PrEP follow‐up visit, women were given the option to choose between provider‐initiated testing and HIVST. We assessed factors associated with HIVST uptake and compared satisfaction with HIV testing and clinic experience between acceptors and decliners of HIVST.ResultsA total of 172 women were offered HIVST at 202 PrEP follow‐up visits. The median age was 21 years, 27% had multiple partners and 15% reported previously using HIVST. HIVST was accepted at 34.7% (70/202) of visits. Age (adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.09 per year, 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.01 to 1.18), never being married (aRR 1.81, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.95) and having more PrEP follow‐up visits (aRR 1.13 per visit, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.23) were associated with HIVST uptake. Compared to HIVST decliners, HIVST acceptors were more likely to be very happy with their overall testing experience (73% vs. 47% of visits, p = 0.003) and were more likely to say they would use HIVST in the future (96% vs. 76%, p < 0.001). Women who accepted HIVST had shorter visits than those choosing standard provider‐initiated HIV testing (median [IQR]: 33 [32, 38] vs. 54 [41.5, 81] minutes, p = 0.003).ConclusionsIn this pilot evaluation in Kenya, about one‐third of women using PrEP opted for HIVST over provider‐initiated testing, and those choosing HIVST spent less time in the clinic and were generally satisfied with their experience. HIVST in PrEP delivery is feasible and has the potential to simplify PrEP delivery and give clients testing autonomy. Additional studies are needed to explore optimal HIV retesting strategies in PrEP delivery, including the use of HIVST in PrEP at a larger scale and in different settings.
Label‐free liquid biopsy based on urine analysis using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy for noninvasive gastric and breast cancer detection
Authors: Lin Xueliang , Wu Qiong , Lin Jinyong , Liu Xiaokun , Jia Xianggang , Peng Min , Lin Duo , Qiu Sufang , Feng Shangyuan 
Published: August 2020

AbstractLiquid biopsy is currently a nondestructive and convenient cancer screening method, which has attracted the attention of many researchers in the field of biomedicine. Moreover, the diagnostic applications of liquid biopsy based on surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), as a candidate method, potentially offers opportunities for cancer detection. In this work, we mainly evaluated the influence of Au nanoparticles with different sizes on urine SERS signals and analyzed the urine SERS spectra obtained by gastric cancer patients (n = 50), breast cancer patients (n = 43), and healthy volunteers (n = 48) through the principal component analysis combined linear discriminant analysis (PCA‐LDA). The detection sensitivity for identifying gastric cancer versus healthy, breast cancer versus healthy, and gastric cancer versus breast cancer was 90.0%, 96.0%, and 62.0%, respectively. And the corresponding diagnostic specificities for each combination were 93.8%, 93.8%, and 81.4%, respectively. These results show that urine SERS technology based on Au nanoparticles holds promising potential to be a rapid, noninvasive, and label‐free clinical tool for both gastric and breast cancer detection.
Water and heat stresses during grain formation affect the physicochemical properties of waxy maize starch
Authors: Wang Jue , Mao Yuxiang , Huang Tianqi , Lu Weiping , Lu Dalei 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDMaize is frequently subjected to simultaneous water (drought or waterlogging) and heat (HS) stresses during grain formation in southern China. This work examined the effect of high temperature combined with drought (HD) or waterlogging (HW) during grain formation on the starch physicochemical properties of two waxy maize hybrids, namely Suyunnuo5 (SYN5) and Yunuo7 (YN7).RESULTSHeat stress enlarged the starch granule size, and water stresses aggravated this effect. Heat stress reduced the ratio of small molecular weight fractions for both hybrids, and HD aggravated this reduction only in SYN5. Relative crystallinity in SYN5 was increased by stresses but in YN7 it was unaffected by HD, reduced by HS, and increased by HW. Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry results showed that the 1045/1022 cm−1 ratio in SYN5 was not influenced by HW but was increased by other stresses, and that in YN7 it was increased by all stresses, with the highest value induced by HW. Peak viscosity was decreased, whereas gelatinization temperatures and retrogradation percentage were increased by all of these stresses. These effects were exacerbated by combined heat and water stresses. The maximum decomposition rate was severely increased by HW.CONCLUSIONDrought or waterlogging at grain formation stage aggravated the detrimental effects of HS on the starch physicochemical properties of waxy maize. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Xanthine oxidase inhibitory peptides derived from tuna protein: virtual screening, inhibitory activity, and molecular mechanisms
Authors: Yu Zhipeng , Kan Ruotong , Wu Sijia , Guo Hui , Zhao Wenzhu , Ding Long , Zheng Fuping , Liu Jingbo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDThere has been growing interest in the use of xanthine oxidase (XO) as a therapeutic agent to prevent gout and hyperuricemia. In the present study, XO inhibitory peptides were identified from tuna protein by virtual screening, and molecular docking was used to elicit the interaction mechanism between XO and peptides.RESULTSA novel tetrapeptide, EEAK, exhibited high XO inhibitory activity with an IC50 of 173.00 ± 0.06 μM. Molecular docking analysis revealed that EEAK bound with the pivotal residues of XO's active sites (i.e., Glu802, Arg880, Glu1261) through two conventional hydrogen bond interactions, two attractive charge interactions, and one salt bridge. EEAK could also bind with the residues Phe649, Leu648, Lys771, Ser876, Phe914, and Thr1010 of XO.CONCLUSIONThis study suggested that conventional hydrogen bond interactions and electrostatic interactions play an important role in XO inhibition. The novel XO inhibitory peptide EEAK from tuna protein could be used as potential candidate for controlling gout and hyperuricemia. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry