bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surplus men and scarce women: The impact of mating competition on the desire for sons in China*
Authors: Dong Zhiqiang , Alhaj‐Yaseen Yaseen , Jiao Yang , Zhong Yuejun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe conducted this research to explore the possible factors shaping son preference, with a view to understanding the persistently high male/female sex ratio. Using data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) and the Population Census of China, we find a significant impact of regional sex ratio on people's preferences for the sex of their future children. Specifically, the extent of son preference decreases with the increase in the male/female sex imbalance in the local area. We also find that sex imbalance has a positive impact on a wide range of outcomes that capture the pressure on males to enter marriage markets, such as regional housing prices, the number of houses owned, and family economic status. This result is consistent with the view that greater sex imbalance exerts larger pressure on men in the marriage market, leading to changes in son preference. Omitted variable bias is addressed by using climate changes in the month preceding the fertilization period as an instrument for sex ratio. Instrumental sex ratio negatively impacts son preference, offering strong support for our hypothesis.
Review of thermal and non‐thermal based endovenous treatment: Our local experience
Authors: Au‐Yeung Chung Ling Karen , Tse On Ho Ronald , Pang Yin Chun Skyi , Tang Chung Ngai 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundEndovenous treatment for varicose veins has become increasingly popular over the last decade. Compared to conventional surgery, endovenous options promise lower wound infection rates, less pain and quicker return to normal activities. Treatment modalities can be divided into thermal (EVLT / RFA) or non‐thermal based (Cyanoacrylate glue / MOCA). Literature review has not shown much difference between the two branches of treatment, and there remains a paucity of local data, hence we decided to conduct our own study to investigate the question.MethodsA retrospective single centre study was performed by pooling data from the Hong Kong Health Authorities electronic patient database between March 2012 and July 2018. Patients who had the procedure done under local anaesthetics were then contacted by phone and interviewed regarding their peri‐operative pain.ResultsThe study included 223 patients, 155 patients underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) thermal treatment and 68 patients underwent VenaSeal (Cyanoacrylate glue) non‐thermal treatment. Patients were demographically similar in terms of age, comorbidities, severity of varicose vein disease. More patients with thermal treatments had their procedure performed under general anaesthesia (GA) or monitored anaesthetic care (MAC) as compared to non‐thermal treatments. Patients were followed up for an average of 2.4 years in the thermal group and 1.3 years in the non‐thermal group. Patients in the non‐thermal group reported less perioperative pain, but overall, there were minimal complications and recurrence in both treatment modalities.ConclusionBoth types of endovenous treatment seem equally effective with few complications. Future prospective studies can be performed to reduce study bias.
UK after Brexit – a Massive Field Experiment for CAP Reform?
Authors: Hill Berkeley 
Published: October 2020

SummaryAs a consequence of the UK leaving the EU (‘Brexit’) and after almost five decades of sharing the Common Agricultural Policy, its objectives and instruments, the UK is about to embark on a set of four national agricultural policies, one for each constituent country. Legislation for England, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of UK aggregate farm income, will provide for some continuity, such as agri‐environmental schemes and multi‐annual programming. However, there will be a radical reform of the income support system as direct payments are progressively scaled down over seven years, a move that has been widely advocated inside and outside government. Similar change within the CAP has been rejected by the EU as a whole. The diverging paths will provide a valuable and rare opportunity to compare policy approaches in what is really a massive field experiment. Careful monitoring should be capable of casting light on the impact that removing direct income payments has on issues such as production levels, farm household incomes, innovation and investment, structural change, succession and the social contributions made by the farm sector. This information could be of great relevance to the EU‐27 if in the future it chooses to follow a similar path of reform.
Age‐induced mitochondrial DNA point mutations are inadequate to alter metabolic homeostasis in response to nutrient challenge
Authors: Moore Timothy M. , Zhou Zhenqi , Strumwasser Alexander R. , Cohn Whitaker , Lin Amanda J. , Cory Kevin , Whitney Kate , Ho Theodore , Ho Timothy , Lee Joseph L. , Rucker Daniel H. , Hoang Austin N. , Widjaja Kevin , Abrishami Aaron D. , Charugundla Sarada , Stiles Linsey , Whitelegge Julian P. , Turcotte Lorraine P. , Wanagat Jonathan , Hevener Andrea L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMitochondrial dysfunction is frequently associated with impairment in metabolic homeostasis and insulin action, and is thought to underlie cellular aging. However, it is unclear whether mitochondrial dysfunction is a cause or consequence of insulin resistance in humans. To determine the impact of intrinsic mitochondrial dysfunction on metabolism and insulin action, we performed comprehensive metabolic phenotyping of the polymerase gamma (PolG) D257A “mutator” mouse, a model known to accumulate supraphysiological mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutations. We utilized the heterozygous PolG mutator mouse (PolG+/mut) because it accumulates mtDNA point mutations ~ 500‐fold > wild‐type mice (WT), but fails to develop an overt progeria phenotype, unlike PolGmut/mut animals. To determine whether mtDNA point mutations induce metabolic dysfunction, we examined male PolG+/mut mice at 6 and 12 months of age during normal chow feeding, after 24‐hr starvation, and following high‐fat diet (HFD) feeding. No marked differences were observed in glucose homeostasis, adiposity, protein/gene markers of metabolism, or oxygen consumption in muscle between WT and PolG+/mut mice during any of the conditions or ages studied. However, proteomic analyses performed on isolated mitochondria from 12‐month‐old PolG+/mut mouse muscle revealed alterations in the expression of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, electron transport chain components, and oxidative stress‐related factors compared with WT. These findings suggest that mtDNA point mutations at levels observed in mammalian aging are insufficient to disrupt metabolic homeostasis and insulin action in male mice.
Repair Avoidance: When Faithful Informational Exchanges Don't Matter That Much
Authors: Galantucci Bruno , Langstein Benjamin , Spivack Eliyahu , Paley Nathaniel 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCommon‐sense intuition suggests that, when people are engaged in informational exchanges, they communicate so as to be reasonably sure that they perform the exchanges faithfully. Over the years, we have found evidence suggesting that this intuition, which is woven into several influential theories of human communication, may be misleading. We first summarize this evidence and discuss its potential limitations. Then, we present a new study that addresses the potential limitations. A confederate instructed participants to “pick up the skask” from a tray containing six objects and move it to a specific location. Since skask is a non‐word invented by us, participants had to ask for clarification to perform the instruction faithfully. In contradiction with the intuition that people pursue faithfulness when engaged in informational exchanges, 29 of the 48 participants we tested performed the instruction without asking for clarification. We identified a possible cause for this behavior, which occurred more frequently when avoiding the clarification was unlikely to result in an overt consequence (an error in the execution of the instruction that could be noticed by the confederate or the experimenter). Other factors such as individual differences and the specific interpersonal dynamics of the experimental settings, if they played a role at all, did it to an extent that is unlikely to be comparable to that of the role played by overt consequences. Considered together, our various assessments of the extent to which people engage in faithful informational exchanges converge on a simple conclusion: Communicating faithfully is a substantially demanding task, and people often fail at it. We discuss the implications of this conclusion and speculate on its relevance for understanding the evolutionary past of human communication.
Long‐lasting cluster of nosocomial pneumonia with a single Pneumocystis jirovecii genotype involving different organ allograft recipients
Authors: Hosseini‐Moghaddam Seyed M. , Dufresne Philippe J. , Hunter Gutierrez Elaine , Dufresne Simon F. , House Andrew A. , Humar Atul , Kumar Deepali , Jevnikar Anthony M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) outbreaks may occur in solid organ transplant (SOT) patients. Transmissibility of Pneumocystis jirovecii among SOT and non‐SOT patients has not been investigated. Ten SOT (ie, 4 heart, 4 kidney, 2 liver allograft recipients) and 11 non‐SOT (ie, 7 HIV‐infected, 3 hematologic malignancies, and 1 stem cell transplant) patients with PCP were admitted to London Health Sciences Center (LHSC) from October 2014 to August 2016. We investigated the course of illness and outcome of PCP in SOT and non‐SOT patients. Post‐transplant PCP was frequently an acute‐onset disease (90% vs. 18.2%, p = .01) requiring ICU admission (70% vs. 20%, p = .03) and hemodialysis (60% vs. 0, p = .003). Mortality was more frequent in SOT patients (40% vs. 18.1%, p = .36). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) demonstrated circulation of a single genotype of P. jirovecii among SOT patients. However, 8 different genotypes were detected from non‐SOT patients. Reinstitution of prophylaxis successfully controlled post‐transplant cluster until end of observation period in October 2019. No transmission was detected from non‐SOT patients to SOT recipients. Detection of a single P. jirovecii genotype from all SOT recipients highlights the likelihood of nosocomial transmission. No source control method is recommended by current guidelines. Improvement of preventive strategies is required.
Correlation Analysis Among the Level of IL‐35, Microvessel Density, Lymphatic Vessel Density, and Prognosis in Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhang Tenglong , Nie Jing , Liu Xiaojiang , Han Zenglei , Ding Ning , Gai Kai , Liu Yang , Chen Ling , Guo Chengye 
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the expression of IL‐35 and the lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) in the pathological tissues from patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to analyze their correlation with other common clinical prognostic factors, as well as patients’ overall survival and progression‐free survival. We analyzed the pathological characteristics of 130 patients with NSCLC and determined the IL‐35 expression, MVD, and LVD changes in the pathological tissues by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that IL‐35 expression was significantly correlated with tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, T staging, LVD, and MVD (P < 0.05) but was not associated with age, sex, smoking, and other factors. Univariate analysis of risk models showed that age, lymph node metastasis, T stage, and high IL‐35 expression, LVD, and MVD were significantly associated with NSCLC prognosis (P < 0.05), whereas sex, smoking, and high differentiation were not correlated with prognosis. Multivariate analysis of the proportional risk model showed that the IL‐35 expression, lymph node metastasis, high LVD, and high MVD were significantly correlated with NSCLC prognosis (P < 0.05). In conclusion, IL‐35, MVD, and LVD may be independent prognostic markers. In addition, IL‐35 might represent a promising clinical drug target for the treatment of NSCLC.
Preservation of biomarkers immunoreactivity on cytospins protected with polyethylene glycol
Authors: Srebotnik Kirbis Irena , Praça Maria José , Roque Ruben Rodrigues , Košuta Tina , Saudade André , Strojan Flezar Margareta 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the preservation of biomarkers immunoreactivity on cytospins protected with polyethylene glycol (PEG).MethodsIn two independent cytopathology laboratories, immunocytochemical reactions were retrospectively evaluated on methanol‐fixed and PEG‐protected cytospins stored at room temperature (RT) for different time periods and compared with immunocytochemical reactions on corresponding baseline methanol‐fixed cytospins. Semi‐quantitatively assessed immunoreactivity, using scores from 0 to 3, was considered reduced if two sequential scores were lowered by at least one point.ResultsImmunocytochemical reactions for 40 biomarkers with membrane (10), cytoplasmic (22) and nuclear (8) localisation were performed on 921 slides prepared from 183 cytological samples. For the majority of biomarkers (29/37, 78%), immunoreactivity on PEG‐protected cytospins stored at RT remained unchanged in the first 12 months. Immunoreactivity for GFAP, p40 and hepatocyte antigen was monitored and remained unchanged for 1, 8 and 7 months, respectively. Partial or complete loss of immunoreactivity on PEG‐protected cytospins stored for less than 12 months was found on a single sample out of the total evaluated for CD3 (1/7), CD30 (1/4), CD45 (1/10), CK5/6 (1/7), MelanA (1/7) and vimentin (1/7), while more frequent changes of immunoreactivity were found for Ki67 (4/7) and p63 (2/7).ConclusionImmunoreactivity on cytospins protected with PEG and stored at RT is well‐preserved for at least 12 months for the majority of biomarkers.
Discrete sampling in perception via neuronal oscillations—Evidence from rhythmic, non‐invasive brain stimulation
Authors: Kasten Florian H. , Herrmann Christoph S. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA variety of perceptual phenomena suggest that, in contrast to our everyday experience, our perception may be discrete rather than continuous. The possibility of such discrete sampling processes inevitably prompts the question of how such discretization is implemented in the brain. Evidence from neurophysiological measurements suggest that neural oscillations, particularly in the lower frequencies, may provide a mechanism by which such discretization can be implemented. It is hypothesized that cortical excitability is rhythmically enhanced or reduced along the positive and negative half‐cycle of such oscillations. In recent years, rhythmic non‐invasive brain stimulation approaches such as rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) are increasingly used to test this hypothesis. Both methods are thought to entrain endogenous brain oscillations, allowing them to alter their power, frequency, and phase in order to study their roles in perception. After a brief introduction to the core mechanisms of both methods, we will provide an overview of rTMS and tACS studies probing the role of brain oscillations for discretized perception in different domains and will contrast these results with unsuccessful attempts. Further, we will discuss methodological pitfalls and challenges associated with the methods.
Elements of disease in a changing world: modelling feedbacks between infectious disease and ecosystems
Authors: Borer Elizabeth T. , Asik Lale , Everett Rebecca A. , Frenken Thijs , Gonzalez Angelica L. , Paseka Rachel E. , Peace Angela , Seabloom Eric W. , Strauss Alexander T. , Van de Waal Dedmer B. , White Lauren A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAn overlooked effect of ecosystem eutrophication is the potential to alter disease dynamics in primary producers, inducing disease‐mediated feedbacks that alter net primary productivity and elemental recycling. Models in disease ecology rarely track organisms past death, yet death from infection can alter important ecosystem processes including elemental recycling rates and nutrient supply to living hosts. In contrast, models in ecosystem ecology rarely track disease dynamics, yet elemental nutrient pools (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus) can regulate important disease processes including pathogen reproduction and transmission. Thus, both disease and ecosystem ecology stand to grow as fields by exploring questions that arise at their intersection. However, we currently lack a framework explicitly linking these disciplines. We developed a stoichiometric model using elemental currencies to track primary producer biomass (carbon) in vegetation and soil pools, and to track prevalence and the basic reproduction number (R0) of a directly transmitted pathogen. This model, parameterised for a deciduous forest, demonstrates that anthropogenic nutrient supply can interact with disease to qualitatively alter both ecosystem and disease dynamics. Using this element‐focused approach, we identify knowledge gaps and generate predictions about the impact of anthropogenic nutrient supply rates on infectious disease and feedbacks to ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling.
Spatial co‐localisation of extreme weather events: a clear and present danger
Authors: Dodd Rosalind J. , Chadwick David R. , Harris Ian M. , Hines Adrian , Hollis Dan , Economou Theodoros , Gwynn‐Jones Dylan , Scullion John , Robinson David A. , Jones David L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractExtreme weather events have become a dominant feature of the narrative surrounding changes in global climate with large impacts on ecosystem stability, functioning and resilience; however, understanding of their risk of co‐occurrence at the regional scale is lacking. Based on the UK Met Office’s long‐term temperature and rainfall records, we present the first evidence demonstrating significant increases in the magnitude, direction of change and spatial co‐localisation of extreme weather events since 1961. Combining this new understanding with land‐use data sets allowed us to assess the likely consequences on future agricultural production and conservation priority areas. All land‐uses are impacted by the increasing risk of at least one extreme event and conservation areas were identified as the hotspots of risk for the co‐occurrence of multiple event types. Our findings provide a basis to regionally guide land‐use optimisation, land management practices and regulatory actions preserving ecosystem services against multiple climate threats.
An Examination of Classification Accuracy in the Continuous Testing Framework
Authors: Coggeshall Whitney Smiley 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe continuous testing framework, where both successful and unsuccessful examinees have to demonstrate continued proficiency at frequent prespecified intervals, is a framework that is used in noncognitive assessment and is gaining in popularity in cognitive assessment. Despite the rigorous advantages of this framework, this paper demonstrates that there is significant inflation in false negatives as both passers and failers continually take a test, especially for examinees closer to the passing score. Several passing policies are investigated to control the inflation of false negatives while maintaining low false‐positive rates for fixed‐length tests. Lastly, recommendations are made for testing professionals who wish to utilize the rigorous nature of the continuous testing framework while also avoiding the inflation of qualified examinees failing.
The economic benefit of timely, adequate, and adherence to Parkinson's disease treatment: the Value of Treatment Project 2
Authors: Dodel R. , Tinelli M. , Deuschl G. , Petersen G. , Oertel W. , Ahmerkamp‐Böhme J. 
Published: October 2020

BackgroundParkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurological disorder with a high psychosocial and economic burden. As part of the European Brain Council (EBC)‐led Value of Treatment project, this study aimed to capture the economic benefit of timely, adequate, and adherence to PD treatment.MethodsThe EBC Value of Treatment Initiative combined different stakeholders to identify unmet needs in the patients’ journey according to Rotterdam methodology. The economic evaluation focused on three major topics identified as major gaps: start of treatment; best treatment for advanced disease; and adherence to treatment. Two separate healthcare systems (Germany and the UK) were chosen. Cost‐effectiveness was determined by using decision‐analytical modelling approaches. Effectiveness was expressed as quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs) gained and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER).ResultsTreatment intervention in PD was found to be cost‐effective regardless of the initial health state of the patient receiving the treatment. Cost savings were between ‐€1000 and −€5400 with 0.10 QALY gain and ‐€1800 and ‐€7600 with 0.10 QALY gain for Germany and the UK, respectively. Treatment remains cost‐effective within the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence thresholds. Availability of adequate treatment to more patients was also found to be cost‐effective, with an ICER of €15,000–€32,600 across country settings. Achieving the target adherence to treatment would generate cost‐savings of €239,000–€576,000 (Germany) and €917,000–€2,980.000 (UK) for every 1,000 patients treated adequately.ConclusionsThe analyses confirmed that timely, adequate, and adherence to PD treatment will not only improve care of the patients but is also cost‐effective across healthcare systems. Further studies with a distinct identification of gaps in care are necessary to develop better and affordable care.
Diversification benefits of cat bonds: An in‐depth examination
Authors: Demers‐Bélanger Karl , Lai Van Son 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe investigate whether the inclusion of Cat Bonds in portfolios composed of traditional assets and common factors is beneficial to investors. Various mean‐variance spanning tests performed for the period of 2002 to 2017 show that under different market conditions, the addition of Cat Bonds gives rise to previously unattainable portfolios. Using the Engle (2002) Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC) model, we find that including Cat bonds increases significantly the time‐varying Sharpe ratio and the Choueifaty and Coignard (2008) maximum diversification ratio. Cat Bonds provide needed diversification during critical times particularly during episodes of crisis and of high volatility. Under the second‐order stochastic dominance efficiency (SDE) tests, the null hypothesis that portfolios without Cat Bonds are efficient cannot be rejected. Out‐of‐sample analyses indicate that the performance of portfolios with Cat Bonds included varies depending on the performance measures employed, the portfolio construction techniques used and the assets or factors considered.