bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological Association of Cannabinoid- and Drug- Exposures and Sociodemographic Factors with Limb Reduction Defects Across USA 1989-2016: A Geotemporospatial and Causal Inference Study
Authors: Reece Albert Stuart , Hulse Gary Kenneth 
Published: September 2020

AbstractReports of major limb defects after prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) in animals and of human populations in Hawaii, Europe and Australia raise the question of whether the increasing use of cannabis in USA might be spatiotemporally associated with limb reduction rates (LRR) across USA. Geotemporospatial analysis conducted in R. LRR was significantly associated with cannabis use and THC potency and demonstrated prominent cannabis-use quintile effects. In final lagged geospatial models interactive terms including cannabinoids were highly significant and robust to adjustment. States in which cannabis was not legalized had a lower LRR (4.28 v 5.01 /10,000 live births, relative risk reduction = −0.15, (95%C.I. −0.25, −0.02), P=0.021). 37-63% of cases are estimated to not be born alive; their inclusion strengthened these associations. Causal inference studies using inverse probabilty-weighted robust regression and e-values supported causal epidemiological pathways. Findings apply to several cannabinoids, are consistent with pathophysiological and causal mechanisms, are exacerbated by cannabis legalization and demonstrate dose-related intergenerational sequaelae.HighlightsLimb reduction rates (LRR) were associated with cannabis use, and THC potencyThese relationships were robust to adjustment for ethic and economic covariatesThey were maintained at geospatiotemporal regressionLRR elevated as stillborn and aborted cases were consideredCriteria of causality was fulfilled
A model assessing potential benefits of isolation and mass testing on COVID-19: the case of Nigeria
Authors: Chirove Faraimunashe , Madubueze Chinwendu E. , Chazuka Zviiteyi , Madubueze Sunday 
Published: September 2020

AbstractWe consider a model with mass testing and isolation mimicking the current policies implemented in Nigeria and use the Nigerian daily cumulative cases to calibrate the model to obtain the optimal mass testing and isolation levels. Mathematical analysis was done and important thresholds such the peak size relation and final size relation were obtained. Global stability analysis of the disease-free equilibrium indicated that COVID-19 can be eradicated provided that and unstable otherwise. Results from simulations revealed that an increase in mass testing and reduction of transmission from isolated individuals are associated with benefits of increasing detected cases, lowering peaks of symptomatic cases, increase in self-isolating cases, decrease in cumulative deaths and decrease in admissions into monitored isolation facilities in the case of Nigeria.
Modeling SARS-CoV-2 infectionin vitrowith a human intestine-on-chip device
Authors: Guo Yaqiong , Luo Ronghua , Wang Yaqing , Deng Pengwei , Zhang Min , Wang Peng , Zhang Xu , Cui Kangli , Tao Tingting , Li Zhongyu , Chen Wenwen , Zheng Yongtang , Qin Jianhua 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACTCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has given rise to a global pandemic. The gastrointestinal symptoms of some COVID-19 patients are underestimated. There is an urgent need to develop physiologically relevant model that can accurately reflect human response to viral infection. Here, we report the creation of a biomimetic human intestine infection model on a chip system that allows to recapitulate the intestinal injury and immune response induced by SARS-CoV-2, for the first time. The microengineered intestine-on-chip device contains human intestinal epithelium (co-cultured human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells and mucin secreting HT-29 cells) lined in upper channel and vascular endothelium (human umbilical vein endothelial cells, HUVECs) in a parallel lower channel under fluidic flow condition, sandwiched by a porous PDMS membrane coated with extracellular matrix (ECM). At day 3 post-infection of SARS-CoV-2, the intestine epithelium showed high susceptibility to viral infection and obvious morphological changes with destruction of intestinal villus, dispersed distribution of mucus secreting cells and reduced expression of tight junction (E-cadherin), indicating the destruction of mucous layer and the integrity of intestinal barrier caused by virus. Moreover, the endothelium exhibited abnormal cell morphology with disrupted expression of adherent junction protein (VE-cadherin). Transcriptional analysis revealed the abnormal RNA and protein metabolism, as well as activated immune responses in both epithelial and endothelial cells after viral infection (e.g., up-regulated cytokine genes, TNF signaling and NF-kappa B signaling-related genes). This bioengineeredin vitromodel system can mirror the human relevant pathophysiology and response to viral infection at the organ level, which is not possible in existingin vitroculture systems. It may provide a promising tool to accelerate our understanding of COVID-19 and devising novel therapies.
Efficient isolation of protoplasts from rice calli with pause points and its application in transient gene expression and genome editing assays
Authors: Poddar Snigdha , Tanaka Jaclyn , Cate Jamie H. D. , Staskawicz Brian , Cho Myeong-Je 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAn efficientin vivotransient transfection system using protoplasts is an important tool to study gene expression, metabolic pathways, and multiple mutagenesis parameters in plants. Although rice protoplasts can be isolated from germinated seedlings or cell suspension culture, preparation of those donor tissues can be inefficient, time consuming, and laborious. Additionally, the lengthy process of protoplast isolation and transfection needs to be completed in a single day. Here we report a protocol for isolation of protoplasts directly from rice calli, without using seedlings or suspension culture. The method is developed to employ discretionary pause points during protoplast isolation and prior to transfection. Protoplasts maintained within a sucrose cushion partway through isolation, for completion on a subsequent day, per the first pause point, are referred to as S protoplasts. Fully isolated protoplasts maintained in MMG solution for transfection on a subsequent day, per the second pause point, are referred to as M protoplasts. Both S and M protoplasts, 1 day after initiation of protoplast isolation, had minimal loss of viability and transfection efficiency compared to protoplasts 0 days after isolation. S protoplast viability decreases at a lower rate over time than that of M protoplasts and can be used with added flexibility for transient transfection assays and time-course experiments. The protoplasts produced by this method are competent for transfection of both plasmids and ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). Cas9 RNPs were used to demonstrate the utility of these protoplasts to assay genome editingin vivo. The current study describes a highly effective and accessible method to isolate protoplasts from callus tissue induced from rice seeds. This method utilizes donor materials that are resource-efficient and easy to propagate, permits convenience via pause points, and allows for flexible transfection days after protoplast isolation. It provides an advantageous and useful platform for a variety ofin vivotransient transfection studies in rice.
Dysregulation of hippocampal adult-born immature neurons disrupts a brain-wide network for spatial memory
Authors: Bao Hechen , Hu Zhiqiang , Lee Sung-ho , Kolagani Ramya , Chao Tzu-Hao Harry , Luo Yan-Jia , Ban Woomi , Sullivan Heather Anne , Gamero-Alameda Sergio , Lybrand Zane R. , Yu Yuguo , Hsieh Jenny , Wickersham Ian R , Brenner Steven E , Shih Yen-Yu Ian , Song Juan 
Published: September 2020

SummaryMounting evidence suggests that cognitive deficits associated with various neurological disorders may arise in part from a small population of dysregulated adult-born neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG). How these dysregulated adult-born neurons contribute to brain-wide network maladaptation and subsequent cognitive deficits remains unknown. Using an established mouse model with a small number of time-stamped dysregulated adult-born immature neurons and spatial memory deficits, we performed resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging and found that approximately 500 deficient immature neurons (<0.1% of total DG granule neurons) are sufficient to induce a significant decrease in the functional connectivity between DG and insular cortex (IC), two brain regions without direct anatomical connections. Furthermore, using a combination of rabies-based retrograde tracing andin vivofiber photometry recording, we demonstrated that dysregulated adult-born neurons induce aberrant activity and synchrony in local hippocampal CA3 and CA1 regions, as well as distal medial-dorsal thalamus and IC regions during a spatial memory process. These results suggest that a few hundred dysregulated adult-born immature neurons can impact brain-wide network dynamics across several anatomically discrete regions and collectively contribute to impaired cognitive functions.
The lateral periaqeductal gray and its role in controlling the opposite behavioral choices of predatory hunting and social defense
Authors: Marín-Blasco Ignacio Javier , José Rangel Miguel , Baldo Marcus Vinicius C. , Motta Simone Cristina , Canteras Newton Sabino 
Published: September 2020

AbstractEvasion from imminent threats and prey attack are opposite behavioral choices critical to survival. Curiously, the lateral periaqueductal gray (LPAG) has been implicated in driving both responses. The LPAG responds to social threats and prey hunting while also drives predatory attacks and active defense. However, the LPAG neural mechanisms mediating these behaviors remain poorly defined. Here, we investigate how the LPAG mediates the choices of predatory hunting and evasion from a social threat. Pharmacogenetic inhibition in Fos DD-Cre mice of neurons responsive specifically to insect predation (IP) or social defeat (SD) revealed that distinct neuronal populations in the LPAG drive the prey hunting and evasion from social threats. We show that the LPAG provides massive glutamatergic projection to the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). Optogenetic inhibition of the LPAG-LHA pathway impaired IP but did not alter escape/attack ratio during SD. We also found that pharmacogenetic inhibition of LHAGABAneurons impaired IP, but did not change evasion during SD. The results suggest that the LPAG control over evasion to a social attack may be regarded as a stereotyped response depending probably on glutamatergic descending projections. On the other hand, the LPAG control over predatory behavior involves an ascending glutamatergic pathway to the LHA that likely influences LHAGABAneurons driving predatory attack and prey consumption. The LPAG-LHA path supposedly provides an emotional drive for prey hunting and, of relevance, may conceivably have more widespread control on the motivational drive to seek other appetitive rewards.
Data-driven analysis of facial thermal responses to an emotional movie reveals consistent stimulus-locked physiological changes
Authors: Sonkusare Saurabh , Breakspear Michael , Pang Tianji , Nguyen Vinh Thai , Frydman Sascha , Guo Christine Cong , Aburn Matthew J. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractFacial infra-red imaging (IRI) is a contact-free technique complimenting the traditional psychophysiological measures to characterize physiological profile. However, its full potential in affective research is arguably unmet due to the analytical challenges it poses. Here we acquired facial IRI data, facial expressions and traditional physiological recordings (heart rate and skin conductance) from healthy human subjects whilst they viewed a 20-minute-long unedited emotional movie. We present a novel application of motion correction and the results of spatial independent component analysis of the thermal data. Three distinct spatial components are recovered associated with the nose, the cheeks and a respiratory component. We first benchmark this methodology against a traditional region-of-interest based technique. We then show significant correlation of all the physiological responses across subjects, including the thermal signals, suggesting common dynamic shifts in emotional state induced by the movie. Finally, we show that thermal responses were significantly anti-correlated with the positive emotional content of the movie thus an index of emotionally-driven physiological response. In sum, this study introduces an innovative approach to analyse facial IRI data and highlights the potential of thermal imaging to robustly capture emotion-related changes in ecological contexts.
Identification and evolution of Cas9 tracrRNAs
Authors: Dooley Shane K. , Baken Erica K. , Moss Walter , Howe Adina , Young Joshua K. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractCas9 trans-activating CRISPR RNAs (tracrRNAs) form distinct structures essential for target recognition and cleavage and dictate exchangeability between orthologous proteins. As non-coding RNAs that are often apart from the CRISPR array, their identification can be arduous. In this paper, a new bioinformatic method for the detection of Cas9 tracrRNAs is presented. The approach utilizes a co-variance model (CM) based on both sequence homology and predicted secondary structure to locate tracrRNAs. This method predicts a tracrRNA for 98% of CRISPR-Cas9 systems identified by us. The identified tracrRNAs exhibit wide variation in sequence identity, however, CM analyses allow 94.7% to be categorized into just 10 related groups. Finally, association between Cas9 amino acid sequence-based phylogeny and tracrRNA secondary structure is evaluated, revealing strong evidence that secondary structure is evolutionarily conserved among Cas9 lineages. Altogether, our findings provide insight into Cas9 tracrRNA evolution and efforts to characterize the tracrRNA of new Cas9 systems.
Forecasting China's energy intensity by using an improved DVCGM (1, N) model considering the hysteresis effect
Authors: Meng Zhaosu , Liu Xiaotong , Yin Kedong , Li Xuemei , Guo Xinchang 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of an improved dummy variables control grey model (DVCGM) considering the hysteresis effect of government policies in China's energy intensity (EI) forecasting.Design/methodology/approachEnergy consumption is considered as an important driver of economic development. China has introduced policies those aim at the optimization of energy structure and EI. In this study, EI is forecasted by an improved DVCGM, considering the hysteresis effect of energy-saving policies of the government. A nonlinear optimization method based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is constructed to calculate the hysteresis parameter. A one-step rolling mechanism is applied to provide input data of the prediction model. Grey model (GM) (1, N), DVCGM (1, N) and ARIMA model are applied to test the accuracy of the improved DVCGM (1, N) model prediction.FindingsThe results show that the improved DVCGM provides reliable results and works well in simulation and predictions using multivariable data in small sample size and time-lag virtual variable. Accordingly, the improved DVCGM notes the hysteresis effect of government policies and significantly improves the prediction accuracy of China's EI than the other three models.Originality/valueThis study estimates the EI considering the hysteresis effect of energy-saving policies in China by using an improved DVCGM. The main contribution of this paper is to propose a model to estimate EI, considering the hysteresis effect of energy-saving policies and improve forecasting accuracy.
Disability and influence in job interviews
Authors: Ameri Mason , Kurtzberg Terri , Schur Lisa , Kruse Douglas 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
This purpose of this paper is to explore to efficacy of influence tactics at the outset of a job interview. Across three empirical studies, five influence tactics were manipulated during a simulated job interview to explore first impressions for candidates with or without a visible disability.

Design/methodology/approach
Participants viewed videos of candidates (either in a wheelchair or not) responding to the opening question in a job interview by using one of five influence tactics (i.e. revealing a strong alternative, setting a numerical anchor, demonstrating approachability through imperfections, presenting hard skills that described job-related competencies or presenting soft skills including connecting well with and leading others). Perceptions of trustworthiness, fit for the current job and perceived appropriate salary amount were rated.

Findings
Results show that, in general, tactics that might have beneficial effects when used at later moments, including the use of a strong alternate, anchor or imperfection display, may instead harm first impressions of anyone. When discussing specific skills, hard skills helped in both cases. However, the presentation of soft skills helped only the non-disabled job candidate. Trustworthiness acted as a mediator for most of these relationships in both populations.

Originality/value
Results provide insight into how the use of these tactics very early in an interaction unfolds. Further, parsing the use of influence tactics into their effects on specific populations (such as people with disabilities) allows us to better understand the conditions under which they may help or hurt perceptions of employability.
The impact of job content on employability and job performance in public organizations
Authors: Marzec Izabela , Austen Agata , Frączkiewicz-Wronka Aldona , Zacny Bogna 
Published: August 2020

PurposeThe increased expectations regarding job performance accompanied by changes in employment relationships in public organizations require special concern for the employability enhancement of their workers. Literature on the subject points out the importance of job content in the context of employability enhancement. The purpose of this paper is to answer the following question: what are the relationships between job variety, the learning value of the job, employability and job performance?Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents the results of a survey which was carried out in 2016. The sample consisted of 566 pairs, i.e. employees and their immediate supervisors in 147 public organizations which provide key public services in Poland. A model of the relationships between job variety, the learning value of the job, employability and job performance was proposed and tested using path analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsIt was found that both job variety and the learning value of the job were positively connected to employability, which mediated their relationships with job performance. However, the analysis revealed that the examined predictors not only affected employee work outcomes indirectly, through their impact on employability, but also directly influenced the quality of job performance.Originality/valueThe study has provided empirical evidence regarding the relationships between job content, employability and job performance, which was hitherto absent from public organizations. An original conclusion from the research is that employability enhancement brings positive results for both employees and organizations.
Digital love – inviting doubt into the relationship: the duality of digitalization effects on business relationships
Authors: Hadjikhani Annoch Isa , Lindh Cecilia 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
This study aims to hypothesize that the implementation of information technology (IT) in industrial business relationships entails both positive and negative effects for the relationship’s continuation. The purpose is to study the digitalization of business relationships with a focus on effects on commitment in context with uncertainty and cooperation.

Design/methodology/approach
Hypotheses are tested with data from 353 customer relationships in the industrial market. The model suggests the impact of IT on business relationship commitment.

Findings
The results show that IT use in industrial relationships has a direct impact on commitment, as well as an indirect effect via uncertainty and cooperation, which both can increase as a result of IT use. When IT use increases uncertainty, it negatively impacts commitment, and when it increases cooperation, the effect on commitment is positive.

Research limitations/implications
IT use in industrial relationships has a direct impact on commitment, as well as an indirect effect via uncertainty and cooperation, which both can increase as a result of IT use. When IT use increases uncertainty, it negatively impacts commitment, and when it increases cooperation, the effect on commitment is positive.

Practical implications
Awareness of the effect of IT use and the factors involved entails working with cooperative activities to counteract the negative impact there may be if the IT leads to increased uncertainty. Companies need to have knowledge regarding the effect of IT use in each of their business relationships to manage them according to their given situation.

Originality/value
This study contributes to industrial marketing by demonstrating that digitalization can increase uncertainty and cooperation (differently), and they have different effects on commitment, thus that there is a “bright,” as well as “dark” side to it, evident in the business relationship dynamics.