bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Information, power, and location: World Bank staff decentralization and aid project success
Authors: Honig Dan 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUsing data on World Bank staff identity and field placement, this article examines the relationship between staff presence in recipient countries and aid project performance. I find that merely placing World Bank staff in developing countries has little effect on the success of development projects. Greater field decision rights are, however, associated with differential project performance. In the most fragile states, the presence of senior personnel (World Bank Country Directors) is associated with greater project success after the “Strategic Compact” increased Country Directors' power. However—consistent with a bargaining model in which greater World Bank authority is in tension with recipient country direction of projects—as countries become less fragile, the net effect of the presence of Country Directors becomes negative. The impact of World Bank staff decentralization is mixed and appears to be driven primarily by the power of senior personnel in the field, not the ability of field staff to gather local information.
Initial treatment response to transarterial chemoembolization as a predictive factor for Child–Pugh class deterioration prior to refractoriness in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Maesaka Kazuki , Sakamori Ryotaro , Yamada Ryoko , Tahata Yuki , Imai Yasuharu , Oshita Masahide , Ohkawa Kazuyoshi , Kodama Takahiro , Hikita Hayato , Tatsumi Tomohide , Takehara Tetsuo 
Published: August 2020

AimRepeated transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for intermediate‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) eventually leads to either deteriorated hepatic reserve or TACE refractoriness. Switching to molecular targeted agents after TACE requires preservation of hepatic reserve. This study aimed to investigate the predictive factors associated with early deterioration of hepatic reserve by repeated TACE prior to refractoriness.MethodsNinety‐three patients with intermediate‐stage HCC who underwent TACE as the first‐line treatment and had a Child–Pugh class A hepatic reserve were retrospectively analyzed. The time to Child–Pugh class deterioration (TTCPD), defined as the duration from initial TACE to the diagnosis of Child–Pugh class B or C prior to TACE refractoriness, was assessed. Patients who progressed to TACE refractoriness prior to Child–Pugh class deterioration were censored at TACE refractoriness.ResultsThe radiological response to initial TACE was assessed as responders and non‐responders in 59 (63.4%) and 34 (36.6%) patients, respectively. The median TTCPD was 40.6 months in all patients. The hepatic reserve in 31 (33.3%) patients deteriorated to Child–Pugh class B or C prior to TACE refractoriness. In the multivariate analysis, non‐response to initial TACE, albumin–bilirubin grade 2, and non‐selective TACE were identified as independent predictors associated with a shortened TTCPD. The TTCPD was significantly shorter in the non‐responders than in the responders to initial TACE (median, 19.6 vs. 55.9 months; P < 0.001).ConclusionsFailure to respond to initial TACE was a predictive factor for early deterioration of hepatic reserve prior to TACE refractoriness in intermediate‐stage HCC patients with repeated TACE.
Morphological changes and their thermal conductivities of MgO crystals containing various impurities (B, Ca, Si)
Authors: Ishikawa Toshihiro , Tsujikura Keiko , Tanaka Masaki , Nishida Naoto , Mitani Atsuyuki 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMgO is industrially produced from seawater or dolomite as the raw material. MgO synthesized from seawater has a relatively low impurity concentration. However, these impurities strongly affect the fine structure and physical properties (especially the thermal conductivity) of MgO. In this research, the influence of impurity concentration on the MgO grain growth and its thermal conductivity was investigated. The processing conditions for MgO powder synthesis were optimized by a polymer complex method using magnesium nitrate hydrate, citric acid, ethylene diamine, and chemical compounds containing B, Ca, or Si, which are the main impurities of MgO produced from seawater. The morphology and phase composition of the MgO powders were investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS). The morphological changes and differences in the thermal conductivity of MgO crystalline systems containing impurities (B, Ca, and/or Si) were clarified, and the relationship between the fine structure of MgO crystals containing impurities and their thermal conductivities was described in detail.
Cytoskeleton protein 4.1R regulates B‐cell fate by modulating the canonical NF‐κB pathway
Authors: Liang Taotao , Guo Yuying , Li Mengjia , Ding Cong , Sang Siyao , Zhou Tingting , Shao Qi , Liu Xin , Lu Jike , Ji Zhenyu , Wang Ting , Kang Qiaozhen 
Published: August 2020

SummaryDuring the immune response, B cells can enter the memory pathway, which is characterized by class switch recombination (CSR), or they may undergo plasma cell differentiation (PCD) to secrete immunoglobulin. Both of these processes occur in activated B cells, which are reported to relate to membrane‐association proteins and adaptors. Protein 4.1R acts as an adaptor, linking membrane proteins to the cytoskeleton, and is involved in many cell events such as cell activation and differentiation, and cytokine secretion. However, the effect of 4.1R on regulating B‐cell fate is unclear. Here, we show an important association between B‐cell fate and 4.1R. In vitro, primary B cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide combined with interleukin‐4; results showed that 4.1R‐deficient (4.1R–/–) cells compared with wild‐type (4.1R+/+) B cells augmented expression of activation‐induced cytidine deaminase and germline, resulting in increased IgG1+ B cells, whereas the secretion of IgG1 and IgM was reduced, and CD138+ B cells were also decreased. Throughout the process, 4.1R regulated canonical nuclear factor (NF‐κB) rather than non‐canonical NF‐κB to promote the expression of CSR complex components, leading to up‐regulation of B‐cell CSR. In contrast, 4.1R‐deficient B cells showed reduced expression of Blimp‐1, which caused B cells to down‐regulate PCD. Furthermore, over‐activation of canonical NF‐κB may induce apoptosis signaling to cause PCD apoptosis to reduce PCD number. In summary, our results suggest that 4.1R acts as a B‐cell fate regulator by inhibiting the canonical NF‐κB signaling pathway.
On Two Existing Approaches to Statistical Analysis of Social Media Data
Authors: Patone Martina , Zhang Li‐Chun 
Published: August 2020

SummaryUsing social media data for statistical analysis of general population faces commonly two basic obstacles: firstly, social media data are collected for different objects than the population units of interest; secondly, the relevant measures are typically not available directly but need to be extracted by algorithms or machine learning techniques. In this paper, we examine and summarise two existing approaches to statistical analysis based on social media data, which can be discerned in the literature. In the first approach, analysis is applied to the social media data that are organised around the objects directly observed in the data; in the second one, a different analysis is applied to a constructed pseudo survey dataset, aimed to transform the observed social media data to a set of units from the target population. We elaborate systematically the relevant data quality frameworks, exemplify their applications and highlight some typical challenges associated with social media data.
EXPRESSION OF CD44 SPLICE VARIANTS IN BLADDER CANCER
Authors: Kan Masaharu , Furukawa Atsuko , Aki Masashi , Kanayama Hiro‐omi , Kagawa Susumu 
Published: August 2020

BackgroundRecently, it was noted that CD44 participates in a wide variety of cell‐cell or cell‐matrix interactions including tumor metastasis and the altered expression of CD44 splice variants is helpful in the diagnosis of colon and breast cancer. The purpose of the study was to investigate altered expression of CD44 in bladder cancer.MethodsThirty‐three surgical specimens of 22 patients and seven bladder cancer cell‐lines were analyzed by various methods including RT‐PCR‐Southern blotting, Northern blotting, and flow‐cytometric analysis.ResultsIn RT‐PCR analysis, the hematopoietic variant and numerous additional variants were detected in all cell‐lines and almost all surgical specimens. In three out of seven cell‐lines of bladder cancer (42.9%), especially numerous larger bands (ladder pattern) were detected using RT‐PCR. These three cell‐lines expressed a smaller quantity of CD44 mRNAs and CD44 molecules than the other four cell‐lines. In eighteen out of 22 (81.8%) bladder cancer specimens, we detected larger variants that exceed 1500 base pairs, compared with the detection in four out of eleven (36.4%) visually normal mucosa specimens (P < 0.05). However there was no correlation between the expression of the larger variants and clinicopathological features.ConclusionThe quantitative and qualitative change of CD44 variants were demonstrated in bladder cancer.
IN SITU NON‐ISCHEMIC ENUCLEATION OF MULTILOCULAR CYSTIC RENAL CELL CARCINOMA USING A MICROWAVE COAGULATOR
Authors: Kagebayashi Yoriaki , Hirao Yoshihiko , Samma Shoji , Fukui Yoshinao , Hirohashi Rina 
Published: August 2020

A case of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma is reported, in which nephron‐sparing surgery was done using microwave tissue coagulation. A 37‐year‐old man was referred to our outpatient clinic for a multilocular cystic tumor, 4.5 cm in diameter, in the middle‐lower portion of the right kidney, which was detected by ultrasound during a health checkup. The patient had been found to have the same cystic mass on a CT done during another health checkup 1.5 years before. The tumor showed no growth during the 1.5‐year period. With a diagnosis of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma, T2N0M0, in situ non‐ischemic tumor enucleation was done using a microwave tissue coagulator (Microtaze, Heiwa Electronics Industry Inc., Tokyo). Operation time was 150 minutes and blood loss was 135 cc. The histological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma, T2N0M0V0, cystic type, clear cell subtype, grade 1. Diagnostic imaging done postoperatively showed no sign of damage to renal function.In this report, the characteristics of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma are reviewed from the literature, and the advantages of nephron‐sparing surgery for this type of renal tumor are discussed. In addition, an operative technique of tumor enucleation used in this case and the characteristics of Microtaze are introduced.
The use of physical restraints in Chinese long‐term care facilities and its risk factors: An observational and cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wang Jun , Liu Weichu , Peng Daomei , Xiao Mingzhao , Zhao Qinghua 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAimTo investigate the use of physical restraints among Chinese long‐term care facilities older adults and to identify its risk factors.DesignObservational and cross‐sectional study.MethodsA total of 1,026 older adults from six long‐term care facilities in Chongqing were recruited by cluster sampling method from July ‐ November 2019. Data on physical restraint use and older adults’ characteristics were collected using physical restraints observation forms and older adults’ records. Organizational data were collected by questionnaires asking nursing managers. The independent risk factors for physical restraints use were assessed using chi‐square test and binary logistic regression.ResultsThe study found that the prevalence of physical restraints in six long‐term care facilities in China was 25.83%. Waist belt (55.47%) and wrist restraint (52.83%) were most frequently used. Only 61.51% of physical restraints were signed with informed consent. 71.70% of physical restraints were caused by the prevention of falls, 89.06% of physical restraints were without nursing documentation, and 13.58% restrained older adults were observed to have physical complications. According to the binary logistic regression analysis, facility type and ownership, older adults per nursing assistant, length of residence, cognitive impairment, care dependency, mobility restriction, fall risk, physical agitation, and indwelling tubes emerged as important risk factors for the use of physical restraints.ConclusionThe use of physical restraints among Chinese long‐term care facilities older adults was at a relatively high level and lack standardized and regulated practices. Moreover, Physical restraint use was associated with facility type and ownership, older adults per nursing assistant, length of residence, cognitive impairment, care dependency, mobility restriction, fall risks, physical agitation, and indwelling tube.ImpactThis study will provide an effective reference for nursing staff in long‐term care facilities to assess high‐risk older adults in their use of physical restraints, which can support them to implement effective minimized restraint approaches to targeted people.
Development and feasibility of a multidisciplinary education program on adherence to treatment in persons with venous leg ulcers in the clinical setting: A pilot study
Authors: Probst Sebastian , Saini Camille , Buehrer Skinner Monika 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study is to: (a) develop an evidence‐based multidisciplinary educational intervention for patients with a venous leg ulcer; and (b) conduct a pilot study to assess the feasibility of the intervention in the clinical setting.DesignA two‐stage study design was used: (a) an multidisciplinary expert committee designed an educational intervention including support materials; and (b) a pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the feasibility of the intervention in one wound care outpatient clinic in Western Switzerland.MethodsA multidisciplinary expert committee identified evidence for effective care interventions to improve venous leg ulcer patients’ wound healing and recurrences rates. They subsequently designed the educational intervention and support materials. In this pilot study venous leg ulcer patients were then randomly assigned to receive multidisciplinary education or standard care from March–July 2018. The objective was to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention in the clinical setting. Allocation to groups was achieved to concealed, simple randomization. Participants and study nurses were not blinded, data analyst was blinded.ResultsThe intervention, including support material was developed. Twelve of 16 invited venous leg ulcer patients were recruited and randomized (control group N = 6; intervention group N = 6). Participation rate was 75%. The implementation of the intervention was feasible in the clinical setting. The performance of the Venous Leg Ulcer Self Efficacy Tool for measuring adherence to therapy and the Mini Nutritional Assessment and Frequent Food Questionnaire for the assessment of the nutritional intake was satisfactory. However, Fitbit smartwatch for measuring activity was not a suitable device in this study population.ConclusionThe implementation of the designed multidisciplinary educational program was feasible. The pilot study identified weaknesses in the study protocol, which will be amended for the full‐size clinical trial.ImpactFindings of the pilot study informed the improvement of the design of the main study.
The slowdown in the reduction rate of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases puts the Americas at risk of achieving SDG 3.4: A population trend analysis of 37 countries from 1990 to 2017
Authors: Martinez Ramon , Soliz Patricia , Mujica Oscar J. , Reveiz Ludovic , Campbell Norm R. C. , Ordunez Pedro 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCardiovascular diseases (CVD) are leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the Americas, resulting in substantial negative economic and social impacts. This study describes the trends and inequalities of CVD burden in the Americas to guide programmatic interventions and health system responses. We examined the CVD burden trends by age, sex, and countries between 1990 and 2017 and quantified social inequalities in CVD burden across countries. In 2017, CVD accounted for 2 million deaths in the Americas, 29% of total deaths. Age‐standardized DALY rates caused by CVD declined by −1.9% (95% uncertainty interval, −2.0 to −1.7) annually from 1990 to 2017. This trend varied with a striking decreasing trend over the interval 1994‐2003 (annual percent change (APC) −2.4% [−2.5 to 2.2]) and 2003‐2007 (APC −2.8% [−3.4 to −2.2]). This was followed by a slowdown in the rate of decline over 2007‐2013 (APC −1.83% [−2.1 to −1.6]) and a stagnation during the most recent period 2013‐2017 (APC −0.1% [−0.5 to 0.3]). The social inequality in CVD burden along the socio‐demographic gradient across countries decreased 2.75‐fold. The CVD burden and related social inequality have both substantially decreased in the Americas since 1990, driven by the reduction in premature mortality. This trend occurred in parallel with the improvement in the socioeconomic development and health care of the region. The deceleration and stagnation in the rate of improvement of CVD burden and persistent social inequality pose major challenges to reduce the CVD burden and the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Target 3.4.
Lactate induced up‐regulation of KLHDC8A (Kelch domain‐containing 8A) contributes to the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of human glioma cells
Authors: Zhu Xiaolong , Chen Tianbing , Yang Hui , Lv Kun 
Published: August 2020

AbstractGlioma is a common type of malignant brain tumour with high mortality and relapse rate. However, the molecular mechanisms of glioma development have not been clarified. Differentially expressed genes in normal brain tissues and glioma tissues, low‐grade and high‐grade gliomas were screened out with GEO database analysis. We found that KLHDC8A (Kelch domain‐containing 8A) expression level was significantly increased in high‐grade glioma tissues and that high KLHDC8A expression was closely related with poor prognosis. Function assays indicated that KLHDC8A knockdown inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion, blocked the cell cycle and promoted apoptosis in glioma cells. Mechanistically, KLHDC8A regulated various functions in glioma by directly mediating Bcl2, BAX, p21, CDK2, MMP2 transcription and ERK and P38 MAPK activation. KLHDC8A overexpression enhances glioma tumorgenesis such as cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The ERK and P38 MAPK which activated by KLHDC8A overexpression could be reversed by U0126 and SB203580, respectively. Meanwhile, stimulation of lactate which produced by glycolysis is responsible for induction of KLHDC8A expression. Collectively, we demonstrated that KLHDC8A plays an important role in tumorgenesis of glioma, suggesting that it is a promising prognostic marker and a potential therapy target for the treatment of glioma.
Prevalence and population analysis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in retail aquatic products from the southern Fujian coast, China
Authors: Hu Yuanqing , Li Fengxia , Zheng Ying , Zeng Zhichao , Zhang Guoguang , Zhang Danfeng , Jiao Xinan , Guo Liqing 
Published: August 2020

AbstractVibrio parahaemolyticus is one of the most hazardous pathogens causing seafood‐borne diseases in the southern Fujian coast, China. From June to October 2016, a total of 250 samples were collected from retail markets in the Xiamen, Quanzhou, and Zhangzhou regions. Seventy‐seven V. parahaemolyticus isolates were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then, molecular typing was performed using repetitive extragenic palindromic‐PCR (REP‐PCR). The distribution of seven virulence genes was detected by PCR. In aquatic products, the prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus was 30.8%, and the prevalence of tdh+ and trh+ was 2.6 and 1.3%, respectively. The prevalence of type III secretion system‐2 (T3SS2) and the ureC gene was 5.2 and 3.9%, respectively. All 77 strains and the reference strain V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 were classified into seven molecular types using REP‐PCR. Thus, our findings demonstrated that the prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus was severe in the southern Fujian coast and that the regulations for aquatic food safety should be strengthened.
Incidence of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol in food commodities from Turkey
Authors: Cüce Mustafa 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Alternaria species which produce toxic metabolites, create a big problem in terms of the production of reliable human food and animal feeds. This study was conducted to determine the mycotoxin contents of foodstuff collected uniformly in each year of 2017, 2018, and 2019 in Şebinkarahisar, Turkey by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The highest total aflatoxin, and aflatoxin B1 were determined in red pepper in 2018 with 6.47 ± 0.07 and 4.58 ± 0.01 μg kg−1, respectively while the highest ochratoxin amount was obtained again in the red paper in 2019 with 7.97 ± 0.57 μg kg−1. Contrarily, the highest incidence of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol was determined in wheat and corn flour with 12.49 ± 0.3 and 397.6 ± 7.34 μg kg−1, respectively. Weather changes have also been found to affect the incidence of mycotoxin. But, determined mycotoxin values do not pose a risk according to the Turkish Food Codex Contaminants Regulation.
Rapid quantification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in lettuce and beef using an on‐chip staining microfluidic device
Authors: Tokunaga Yusuke , Yamaguchi Nobuyasu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractQuality assurance is one of the fundamental ways of preventing infections from foodborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, which produces a deadly toxin. Simple, rapid, and accurate methods for the detection of foodborne pathogens are necessary for healthcare management. In the present study, we applied our microfluidic device, which uses a fluorescent staining‐based detection system, to enumerate E. coli O157:H7 cells in lettuce and beef samples. E. coli O157:H7 cells spiked into lettuce or beef samples were collected using a 0.2‐μm‐pore‐sized filter or a two‐step centrifugation process. The recovery ratios of inoculated E. coli O157:H7 cells from the lettuce and beef samples counted using fluorescence microscopy were 84 (± 10)% and 90 (± 7.3)%, respectively. The counts of E. coli O157:H7 inoculated into lettuce and beef obtained using the microfluidic system were close to the counts obtained using fluorescence microscopy. Our microfluidic approach offers a semi‐automated platform for the quantitative detection of microbial cells from complex food samples and facilitates quantification of microbes in food and food production lines within 1 hr.